“Do you need help with that?” Zelda asked as she stepped up and pointed to the Master Sword in its scabbard, still clutched in both of Liesl’s hands. 

At first, Liesl only looked from the sword to her waist, then to her outfit. “I think I feel silly wearing it at my waist,” she admitted with a tired huff, and only mostly because she was still in a nightgown. 

“Yes…well, I do wish you were in some armor,” Zelda confessed before reaching up and taking the sword back from Liesl’s hands. Of course, she put up no fight as the princess did so, even if her curiosity piqued at what she was going to do. “Both of you.” Zelda followed the wish by flicking her eyes up to Rowan as he stepped up and crossed his arms.

“You better believe I’ll be sleeping in it from now on,” he quipped before watching Zelda lean in closer to Liesl and reach around her waist to seat the belt and fasten the buckle.

“I have a feeling we’ll all be sleeping differently now,” Liesl said before looking down where the sword hung from her waist. “And yes, I do look absolutely r–”

“Regal,” Zelda interrupted before taking a step back and nodding. “Yes, my royal knight. My royal protector.”

Well, maybe she didn’t feel that silly, after all. And as soon as Zelda was safely separated, Liesl reached down and pulled the legendary sword free before taking a moment to hold it high and observe it. And even after everything, it still looked newly forged. Immaculate. A weapon that was no doubt every bit as deadly as it was elegant. 

“Right, we’re prepared, then?” Rowan asked, interrupting Liesl’s momentary reverie. 

“Yes, let’s go,” Zelda agreed before bringing up a hand and indicating the door. Of course, Liesl said nothing because wherever the princess went, so too did she. After a quick check to ensure the room was clear, Rowan proceeded and swiftly made his way to the next door that led into the hallway. However, both Zelda and Liesl slowed and spared glances toward the man who’d spoken to them. Who’d…eaten the mushroom. 

Who were these people? Why were they doing what they were doing? Liesl couldn’t fathom the kind of hatred one must have in their heart to do all this. To attack innocent people, attack children for Goddesses’ sake. Or to end your life when you were caught. Would they ever give up? Would Zelda ever be safe?

She had to take those questions and shove them down as she stepped through the main door to the king’s study and back into the hallway. Now was not the time to let her mind wander. She needed to be as alert and sharp as the blade she carried.

“Okay, we should be able to take the staircase back down to the lower levels,” Rowan said from up ahead. “It will take some time, but it’s safe.”

Safe was good, safe is exactly what Liesl wanted. So, she only nodded to Zelda once she turned.

“Sounds good to us,” the Princess said as she stepped carefully through the hallway.

However, once they reached the stairs, the sound of boots slapping stone quickly rose to meet them. And almost as soon as Rowan peered over the side, he withdrew his head, turned, and pointed. “Back!” He hissed before bringing up a finger and pointing in the direction they came. “Go back!” 

Well, you didn’t have to tell Liesl twice! So, she suddenly grabbed Zelda’s hand and pulled her off the way they came, the Master Sword’s point leading the way. Goddesses, this was ridiculous! What would they do? Play cat and mouse all evening until they were finally caught? As more and more enemies flooded the castle, and the defenders were overrun. 

And that’s precisely what it turned into, a game of hide and seek with stakes much higher than any game she’d played as a child. Eventually, Rowan returned to the front and took over leading them. And it was a good thing, too. Once or twice, they encountered a wayward attacker, but it never took long for him to deal with the problem. Which filled Liesl’s chest with both relief and regret that he was having to do everything, having to put his life in danger for them. However, she knew the answer he would give if she tried to swap places, and the argument would only waste time. 

It was after one of these instances that Rowan finally raised a sleeve to his forehead and wiped the sweat away. Liesl knew the man had a lot of endurance, but no one could keep fighting all night like this. The edges of his clothes were now mostly torn, and she could see a random splattering of blood across his shirt and pants. 

“We can’t keep running,” he finally said while leaning up against a wall at the intersection of two hallways. “Or we can’t keep running like this. We’re getting farther and farther from where we need to go…” 

“He’s right,” Zelda said with a nod. “Avoiding fights is the right thing unless we never get where we need to. We can’t avoid them forever.” 

Liesl wanted to protest, wanted to press back on that claim. She didn’t want to fight anymore because every time was a risk. But how long could she really hope to escape such a thing? “What do you suggest?” she asked before turning her head and looking back down the hall to ensure it was clear. 

Rowan hesitated for a moment, clearly knowing his following suggestion wasn’t going to be popular. “We move across the courtyard,” he said with a nod, as if trying to reassure himself that it was a good idea. “If we follow the north wall and get back inside, all we’ll need to do is go straight down.” 

Well, the hesitation in his voice wasn’t for nothing; Liesl absolutely did not like this plan. “With Zelda out in the open?” She asked before shaking her head.

However, before he could argue back, Zelda turned and looked up at her with that soft, understanding gaze she so often wore. “Liesl, it’s going to be okay.” A hand came up to gently cup her face, and a thumb stroked her soft skin to provide just a little bit more comfort. “We have to try. Besides, I have you two to keep me safe, right?”

Liesl didn’t immediately respond, but the twisting feeling in her gut meant her thoughts hadn’t really changed. However, she knew deep down they were both right. They would just have to take a risk. Of course, that didn’t mean it had to be a wild risk. 

“Alright,” she finally agreed. “But we have to go as fast as we can.” Then, Liesl’s eyes shifted to Rowan. “And we can’t stop to fight or help everyone we see, okay?”

For his part, Rowan actually managed to look sheepish for a moment but nodded in agreement soon after. “Yes, we need to get you two to safety, or else I suppose it won’t matter in the end.” 

While she was relieved Rowan understood as much, Liesl couldn’t help but feel bad for the man. As far as she could tell, he cared about each and every one of his soldiers dearly, and to see them dead and dying around him must have filled his heart with an unfathomable amount of pain. Honestly, she didn’t know how he was still going, still fighting. 

With their plan in place, the older soldier turned and made down a different hallway, one that eventually ended in a small room. However, before heading outside, Rowan raised a hand and told them to wait a few feet back. At which point he strode the last few remaining steps and opened the door ever so slightly so he could peer outside, just barely enough to see what was going on. But he didn’t need to tell them, because in addition to the cool night’s air, a veritable racket of other sounds raced in to meet them. Fighting. There was more fighting going on outside. 

Liesl could see the discomfort that kicked up on Rowan’s face even before he turned and closed the door, and it made her stomach drop. “Some soldiers are holding out around the entrance to the barracks,” he started before biting his lip and thinking. “If everyone is focused on them, we might be able to slip along the shadows without being noticed.”

Well, that didn’t sound too bad, right? The soldiers were holding their own, and there was hope that the trio could sneak by without alerting anyone to their presence, especially in the dark. 

“Alright, lead on,” Zelda said before anyone had a chance to object or linger.

Rowan nodded then and turned to open the door just enough to slip out. Zelda followed next, staying in the middle of the three while Liesl brought up the rear. As soon as she stepped outside, the sound of clashing steel, grunts, and expletives grew louder, and she could see what had upset Rowan.

A group of Hylian soldiers stood with shields locked off to one corner, while a large group of disorganized attackers were trying to sneak a hooked blade past the wall of wood and iron. Unsuccessfully, it seemed. Thankfully, that meant the soldiers were safe for now, and the assailants kept their attention away from the skulking trio.

She kept her eyes glued to the fighting, and each step bloomed a hope in Liesl’s chest that they would actually make it through this unharmed. That the plan would work and they would be able to slip by unnoticed. At least until a door they were passing swung open, revealing another woman with unfiltered rage in her red eyes. Which widened when they found exactly who everyone was looking for. 

Liesl turned at the noise and the sudden presence of extra light, but the attacker had already made her choice. Whether it was because Liesl was the closest or it was because she held the Master Sword in her hand, she didn’t know. Either way, she couldn’t raise her weapon in time before the curved one was up and falling toward her. 

It was odd, wasn’t it? How time seemed to slow enough that she could witness and understand what was happening without being able to do anything about it. The Master Sword was lighter in her hands, but not that light. Her reflexes were good, but not that good. All she could do was stand there and wait for her end. At least it wasn’t Zelda. Maybe the king was right? Maybe there was someone else who could wield the sword, and the princess could escape to find that person?

However, as soon as the blade had traveled halfway to her chest, a sudden flash of light made Liesl slam her eyes shut and flinch backward. And then…nothing. There was no burst of pain, no blow that sent her staggering backward. Instead, when she opened her eyes, she found the attacker crumpled against the door, eyes distant and unseeing. A circle of clothing was burnt away on her chest, revealing a grievous, and apparently fatal, wound underneath. 

What? 

How? 

Then Liesl turned and saw Zelda with her hands outstretched, eyes wide with disbelief. 

“Zelda?” Liesl asked hesitantly. 

“She…she was going to hurt you,” the Princess said before looking down at her hands. “I-I, couldn’t let that happen…” But then her expression turned to horror as she realized what she had done with her power. She hadn’t healed an injury but caused one, one severe enough to end someone’s life. 

But while the sudden burst of energy may have saved Liesl, it filled the courtyard with enough light that everyone turned and regarded the three where they stood. They even stopped fighting, it had been so unexpected. At least until a booming voice broke the silence that settled over the courtyard. 

“Princess Zelda,” it called, drawing everyone’s eyes to a figure that emerged from a far set of double doors. One’s that led into the Grand Hall. “And her little Hero…” 

There, a man emerged, flanked by two guards in the red and black armor Liesl had seen so many times now. Along with the white mask and its strange symbol, of course.

It was hard to make out the details of this newcomer, but even from where she stood, Liesl could see the fiery red hair that sat wild upon his head. It flowed down the side of his face, turning into a matching beard that covered the man’s square jaw. His arms were held wide, as if welcoming them both with a hug. One that would be uncomfortable, given his black armor, which somehow seemed darker than even the night. Worse yet was the wicked-looking spear he held in one gauntleted hand.

Whoever it was towered over the men and women around him as he strode forth, and Liesl couldn’t help but feel unease when she looked at him. She couldn’t pinpoint exactly why she felt that way; it just felt wrong somehow. Zelda must’ve felt it too because she even took a step closer and grabbed her protector’s arm. 

“What’s the matter? Are you not pleased to see me?”

How was he talking so loudly from so far away? Like his voice not only carried across the courtyard but also entered her mind. It was almost debilitating were it not for the feeling of the Princess to her side and the melodic hum that seemed to rise up from the Master Sword in her hand. 

“No,” Rowan whispered beside them before shaking his head. “It can’t be…”

But before Liesl had a chance to ask who this was or what was going on, the older man brought his arms up and corralled her and Zelda toward the open door the dead woman had come through only a few moments ago. In their shock, the two didn’t protest, and it wasn’t until they were inside and Rowan shoved the body out of the way of the door that Liesl finally seemed to snap out of it. 

“What are you doing?” However, he didn’t answer and did something she hadn’t been expecting. He tried to shut the door. Tried to because Liesl caught it midway and protested against further attempts to continue. “Rowan! What are you doing!?”

“Liesl,” he started in a soft voice. “Listen to me.” As he spoke, Rowan turned, and over his shoulder, she could see the red-haired man continuing his slow approach while everyone looked on. “You need to go down to the sparring room and then one room over. That’s where the tunnel is.” He looked back a heartbeat later and reached into the top of his shirt before pulling something out. A key? Which he subsequently tugged on, snapping the leather string that held around his neck so he could shove it in her direction. 

“This is to the gate. There are two packs hidden by it, and inside you’ll find clothes and a few other things.”

Why was he saying this? Why was he telling her this? He didn’t need to; he was coming with them, after all. 

“The tunnel will put you on the other side of the river, far from this. From there–”

“Stop it!” Liesl said with a shake of her head as tears formed in her eyes. “Stop it right now. I’m not leaving you behind!” Not again, she couldn’t run away again.

But he was unmoved by her words, and his description only became more frantic as the seconds passed. 

“From there, you need to follow it until you reach the Great Wood. Travel along its edge until you hit the mountains. There’s a village a few days’ hike among the foothills, that’s–”

“What? What village? Why there?” 

“Tensa,” he said with a shake of his head. “But it’s not easy to find…” 

“Then you need to stay with us,” Zelda said after shaking herself out of her stupor and coming to stand next to Liesl. “You need to show us where it is!” 

“No, I have to make sure you get out of here. You two make it, I know you can.”

“I need you, Rowan,” Liesl whimpered as the tears began to flow in earnest. “I can’t lose you, too.”

That seemed to finally have an effect, and he had to swallow hard before bringing up a hand to run along her jaw in a tender touch. “Oh, Liesl. I love you like you are my own. But, please, I need you to shut that door and lock it behind you. To use the time I can give you to get far away.” 

“Don’t do this,” she said, even though it pained her to ignore that admission.  

But instead of responding to her, Rowan used his hold to pull her close and plant a kiss on her head as she shoved the key in her hand. Right before he backed away and started running at the man, sword ready.

“Rowan!” 

Liesl didn’t know if it was the panicked shout or the fact that Rowan was nearing, but she swore the strange grinned as he brought up his spear and sent the tip driving forward, causing Rowan to step to the side and parry it. 

Fighting broke out once more among the remaining Hylian soldiers and those that surrounded them, but they couldn’t break free of their containment without being cut down. No one could rush to Rowan’s side and help. No one but Liesl.

However, as soon as she moved to do so, a hand reached out and grabbed her sleeve, causing her to turn and find Zelda shaking her head. “No,” she said with strain clear in her voice. “You can’t go out there…something’s not right.” 

“But Zelda, I can’t leave him!”

“Liesl, listen to me. I’m telling you, something is off about that man.” 

Following her insistence, Liesl looked back at the struggle happening in the middle of the courtyard. She watched as Rowan fought with that same expertise he had all night, wielding his sword as if it were an extension of his arm. But this time, the stranger in the black armor easily deflected every blow and kept the old soldier at a distance with his spear. 

However, each strike was defensive or used to push Rowan back, never charging forward or press an advantage when one was to be had. All the while, that strange feeling grew more intense. Where it was subtle before, it now made her skin crawl with goosebumps. Zelda was right; something was off. So, Liesl came to a stop, no longer straining against her friend’s grip. And as soon as she did so, the stranger’s grin turned sour.

“I’m surprised; you won’t even rush to help your mentor? No matter. If you won’t come to him, I’ll come to you.” Almost as quickly as he said the words, the tip of the spear picked up speed, knocking the sword aside, and as the armor-clad man took a step forward, he rammed it toward Rowan’s chest. 

Despite that swiftness, Rowan still managed to deflect it…but only enough to send it deep into his shoulder instead. 

“No!” Liesl could barely hear the grunt of pain from Rowan over her own scream, and this time, when she started moving, Zelda had to wrap both hands around her arm and pull her back. “Rowan!” 

Another grunt, and Rowan finally dropped his sword, something she’d never seen him do. Time seemed to stand still for a moment, and all she could do was stare at him with blurry vision. His breath grew more labored with each one, and a heartbeat later, he reached up to grip the shaft with both hands, only to be forced to one knee by the firm grip of the stranger. But where Liesl had assumed Rowan needed to hold on to stay upright, it actually appeared he was preventing the other man from pulling it free, much to his apparent annoyance.

“You can’t save them,” the stranger sneered in that same loud voice as if the intended recipients were actually the two women. “You’ve already lost.”

But Rowan ignored the goading and turned his head, looking at them both in turn with a look of pleading in his eyes. “Run, girls! Run!”