LoZ Story seed

Queen Zelda sat upon her throne, idly thinking, "By the Goddesses this is uncomfortable. Did my father feel the same? Or does it merely seem so since I've yet to accept that this is my throne, not his?" as she waited for her guards to carry out her latest order.

She didn't have to wait long, as she heard the telltale rattle of chains and the heavy footfalls of armored boots. The pair of guards half-carried half-dragged the ragged prisoner between them, hauling their charge to the base of the steps leading to the Queen's throne. The guards dropped the prisoner allowing him to fall to his hands and knees as they also knelt. The sergeant-at-arms said, "My liege, here is the *gerudo* you asked after." drawing out the name of the desert dwellers with disgust.

The man between the guards forced himself to sit upright while still sitting on his knees as he slurred out, " 'm not a gerudo. I keep telling you all that."

Zelda appraised the man for a moment, a shaggy mop of bright red hair falling across his darkly tanned face. The queen noted the mans curiously round ears peeking out from his unkempt hair. Zelda waited several seconds before saying, "You are Cilin?"

The sergeant-at-arms answered in the prisoners stead, "That's what he claims my lady. I doubt it is true, 'tis a strange name for a gerudo."

Cilin leveled a vicious glare at the guard, as he spat out, "That is my name, and I ain't a goddamned Gerudo." Cilin turned and met Zelda's blue eyes with his own green eyes before addressing her, "So, why'd ya drag me out of your little pleasure dungeon, missy?"

The lower ranking guard stepped in and backhanded Cilin across the side of his head, "Watch your tongue! You will show the proper-"

The man is cut off as Zelda stood from her throne and snapped, "Guardsman, you will stand to. I will not have a prisoner abused. Especially not in my presence."

The guard quickly bowed his head again, as he stammered out, "M-my apologies my lady. I j-just-"

Zelda again interrupted the guard, "Just nothing. Such actions are inexcusable. Sergeant, I do hope that this is not how you have been treating all of our prisoners."

Cilin laughed as Zelda descended the stairs, and answered, "Not everyone Queen. Just the special cases like me. Then again, most Hylians I've seen come through were tossed in for petty things. So might be I'm getting the murderer special."

Zelda stopped in front of Cilin, and scowled at the guards as she said, "Remove his manacles."

The Sergeant looked up in protest, "My liege, you cannot be serious!"

Zelda stated firmly, "Sergeant, you queen has given you a command. Carry it out."

Cilin cocked an eyebrow as his hands were unfettered, "Well well, we have a brave royal here. Standing within arms reach of a condemned murderer."

The young guard sprung to his feet, spear leveled at Cilin, "Fiend, you shan't bring the queen to harm."

Zelda spoke commandingly at the guard, "I said stand down." As the guardsman lowered his spear, the queen addressed Cilin, "So, you accept the title of murderer now?"

Cilin regarded Zelda warily as he rubbed his wrists, finally replying, "No, I don't. But you alone presided over the circus of a trial that condemned me as such. All for defending myself against three rich ponces. While suffering a case of, what was it your physicians said? Severe Octorock fever?"

"You laid your three victims open in moments. Should not a swordsman skilled enough to win against such odds be able to deal with such an assault without resorting to lethal force?"

Cilin leaned forward to brace his arms on his thighs, "Hard to say honestly. If I was in my prime? I'd say 70% likely. At this exact moment, I'd call it even odds. At the time, with my being gravely ill, half-starved, and nearly dead of thirst? I counted myself lucky to draw my blade at all."