Fan Fiction ❯ Roam ❯ Of Knights and Men ( Chapter 1 )

Of Knights and Men

The snow was clean, the land white at long last. The woods looked no longer haunting to the peasantry. Hyrule was truly at its greatest peak of both peace and prosperity.

The morning flakes had just fallen over the underbrush of the forest path to the castle. My flight was unhindered by the snow. In essence, it enhanced it. I was fast, but somehow the thunder of the hoofs wouldn't let me go…

Thseww! Thseww! Two arrows blocked my paths. When I turned I received a serious blow to the chest, ramming me against a tree. Two short swords struck the tree around me, flanking my figure. I could feel my long, golden hair mat against my forehead. There would be no wind tonight.

"Stand back, Charles, a thief is not to be trusted." The larger rider warned. Damn straight, maybe you're the only smart one of these oafs.

"Maybe, but he's got exquisite skill with that crossbow 'a his." The younger knight turned the large rider, who had dismounted his horse. The horses exhaled gray mist from their nostrils. The great, black beasts towered over me. They were the only ones that would gain my respect…

The two soldiers were talking. "…The archers could use a marksmen. You know that we need them."

"Yes, but taking a thief? In place of a loyal, and trained, soldier?"

You think you can decide my fate? Who the hell do you think you are?

I was young then, well, I still am. But at the time I never expected myself to be running down that same path when the sun had broken the clouds. Following the clatter of hoofs, hoping to finally do my duty to the knights.

This thief was a simple one. He had a simple mind. I know this, I was one. Well, not really. I was a sniper for hire, but most of my customers were thieves, to which I gladly accepted. Amazing what a little studying will do for the mind when interacting with them.

Anyway, the morning was cold. It didn't bother me much. However, the knight to my right, the one puffing wisps of his own frozen breath out from under his helmet, seemed to be rather anxious to get back. Another rode on my left. This knight, whose armor had a heavy blue tint to it, went by the name of Charles. I only respected him because of his allowance for me to keep my crossbow.

All at once, the roars of the horses ahead stopped, and assumed a light tapping. The knights flanking me rushed on ahead and I relaxed into a jog. The knights no doubt had lost track of their prey, and had now simulated a circle of protection with their horses. I hate it when they're so stupid. Charles, though, hung back a bit, and upon seeing me slow and look around, he trotted his horse more toward me. His partner didn't seem to notice…or care.

I took out my black crossbow. It was sleek and smooth, the black metal showing my reflection. I'd never shined it, it was simply made that way. I also armed one of my arrows. My arrows were very different from the other archers, made specifically for this crossbow. They were smaller, gray metallic points, much like thin spikes. They supposedly could pierce anything. For as long as I'd had that crossbow, I had used those arrows. The arrows were stored in an also small, black quiver located on my belt, against my back, not slung cumbersomely over my shoulder.

Charles watched the road, I watched the trees. This guy's good. The trees yielding no help, I closed my eyes and listened. Being a sniper, you also learn to track your prey. Leaves rustled, but with no forcefulness…it was only the wind. Then…

CRACK! My eyes flashed open and shot to the right, my crossbow up. I listened again. A small creak was summoned. There was unnatural weight on a branch. My eyes ascended slightly to the trees again.

I took careful aim…

"OUT OF MY WAY!" black armor shunned my crosshairs, then proceeded to pelt me back. I landed hard on my quiver, looking up just enough to see the thief wiggle his tongue at me, then disappear.

The Black knight pulled his horse all around, searching for his prey. I hiked myself back up, yelling before I had time to think. "What the hell do you think you're doing, he was right in my sights!"

One massive black and gold-laced gauntlet shoved me and pointed. "DO NOT QUESTION THE ACTIONS OF A KNIGHT!"

I didn't care, he ruined my Sight. "I don't give a damn, he's getting away." I boiled.

That silenced the knight. He didn't know what to think, let alone do. It was Charles' call that shook him back to reality. "Huasu! What're you waiting for? C'mon!" his hoofs clattered away.

The Black knight turned to leave, but paused, hesitant to leave his new rival. He instead cast a powerful glare, to which I met with greater malevolence. He finally stormed away. Idiot.

The stone steps seemed to suck my boots into them. Greetings were never a welcome to me. These weren't my people…

I made my way to the only tower the castle possessed that was separated. It was old stone, cracked and sunk into the ground. Many labeled me as the Shadow Walker for my choice to live in this tall tower.

I must admit, the tower had the perfect solitude. A place to think, and watch the moonlight when I wanted. I wanted to every night…

Some of the archers say that I'm the only one of them that dreams every night. Not about anything in particular, but I'm the only one guaranteed sleep. It's strange, I could count and recall all of my sleepless nights before I met the pureblood Hylians, but now, it didn't matter. Very strange.

The dreams were short, pieced together like six puzzles with mixed up pieces. One was of a warrior performing his death in a far-off land, another land ruled by swords and honor. Another was a quiet scene, atop a hill. I could see myself leaning against a tree, watching the sun set under the horizon. I wished that that one had been longer.

CLANG! I awoke with a start to swords clashing and much yelling. My blanket was hurled from me as I bolted into my lightweight armor. Pity they didn't give Snipers better protection. No matter, my crossbow would suit me fine.

I bolted down the corridors. There was no one to be seen on the way. I guessed they were all outside.

The shouts increased and I heard the taunt. "You idiots couldn't catch a chicken with its head cut off!" then the intensity of pounding hoofs. I bounded down two more sets of stairs, then sprang halfway down the third, thrusting my boot into the door. The moldy planks fell to splinters and I rolled over the stone. A few scared horses had fled into the street. I targeted one medium-sized brown mare.

The thief took to the hills, I leapt to the horse. "Roam, you can't catch him!" Charles called.

"Try me." I murmured. "Yah!" the horse pushed harder. The dust was gulped up and tossed behind my opponent. I even felt its itchy sensation on my skin, and I grinned with it. This was to be a real chase.

Thseww-wiing! An arrow zipped past my head suddenly. What the hell was that? Well, of course I knew what it was. It was the reason this thief was getting away so easily. He's got great aim for a fleeing commoner.

The commoner kept his pace, racing through one of the outer camps for training soldiers. He rode directly through the center of the rows of tents, shaking multiple stew pots and resting apprentices alike. One such soldier stood at his passing, hiking up his Hylian shield and waving it malevolently at his disappearing form.

I grinned as I entered the camp, making the effort to pass him even faster than the thief. Oh yeah, and snatch his shield on the way by. I caught its tip, waved it back at him, and tossed it onto my arm. Hey, I'd give it back later.

We began to ride along Hyrule River, our galloping reflections shuddering over the water. The Woods lay beyond the River, and I knew those Woods well. He knew that too…

As we rode, we both assumed a relaxed pace. This was fun, exhilarating, but still fun. I noticed, however, that in his reflection, he carried no quiver and no bow was slung over his back.

Kaaa-suung! Another arrow skimmed off of my shield. When I looked back, the thief had abruptly altered course. As I tried to follow, a second arrow sliced just past my tunic. The thief changed course again, but this time I halted my horse and watched as a brilliant stone arrow imbedded itself in the grass only a few feet in front of me. I considered that arrow for a moment.

He's playing with me. I had my horse trot around in place. I stopped when we faced the edge of the Hylian forest, the Lost Woods, as they were dubbed. The thief, noticing my halt, called to my back, "What's the matter, archer? Too tired to follow? Hahahahaha!"

I ignored his voice, and watched the trees. My eyes caught a glint of stone in the sun. I hiked up my stolen Hyrule shield. Thunk! The arrow sunk into the thick metal. Lowering the shield, I theorized on the truth. I had to be sure.

"Hey, archer!" the thief called again, much less annoyed and more curious as to my silence. I turned my face slowly to him, my eyes saying with tranquility, 'I know what's going on'. With that, I turned back and directed my horse toward that tree, at a rushing pace. The tree that stood just aside from the rest of its brethren.

My shield remained level, the arrow still protruding from it. With my other hand, I held my crossbow, and began to pull back its string and unload one of the smaller arrows from my belt's quiver.

Another flash of stone! Thseww! This arrow as well struck my shield. Yes, it was the tree on the edge of the Lost Woods. My black crossbow was loaded. I lifted it up, lowered my shield, aimed, and fired.

My thin arrow smacked into one of the higher branches. A black jumble of cloth fell from the twisting timber and landed in the dusty grass. The cloth rose and formed a person, complete with a large quiver, and a bow. A Sniper.

The Sniper's eyes caught sight of me, and opened wide. His panic and my calm locked in. I loaded my crossbow again, still galloping forward, not breaking my gaze into the Sniper. He, however, professionally but crazily drew one long stone arrow from his quiver and balanced it on his bow. His eyes became as slits as he targeted me, but his aim shook with fear. He let the arrow fly. It merely collided with metal made to withstand it. And I was loaded once more.

The dark crosshairs found him, and the trigger was pulled. The arrow clobbered him in the right of the chest, near the shoulder, swinging him around. The trickster's tricks had been proven false.

I trotted my horse back around to face the thief. His jaw had dropped slightly, his eyes unbelieving. With that, he hiked his horse up and charged toward the canyons. There was once a miniature mountain resting there, but an earthquake had shattered it down the middle, leaving a pure pathway to the forest, and just over the horizon of Death Mountain.

My horse read my mind and dashed after the other steed. But something else exploded out from the brush, a massive and dark figure, in heavy armor; a knight.

"Watch how a knight catches a thief, archer!" the knight gloated. His horse was the same great, black stallion. That same aura of arrogance ranging off him. He powered his horse across the straightaway behind the thief. I shook my head at his idiocy and ordered my swift horse up the rocks to charge over the mountainous region.

My vantage point allowed me to watch both of them without their notice. The poor idiot on the stallion had thought I had simply cowered away, as archers are supposed to do. The horse's eyes betrayed its pace. It would grow weary very soon at this rate. Fool.

The great stallion fell further and further behind the thief's energetic steed. The knight had forced too much onto his horse in his own pride. Now he was angrily paying the price.

My leverage, on the other hand, allowed me to watch the thief's pace grow slow as his chaser fell far behind him. I took this opportunity and hastened my pace a tad. The canyon-esque path was dropping closer to the ground, ready to enter the forest. When the rocks fell closer to the blessed earth, my horse leapt before its command. I like this horse.

The thief's figure was enveloped in the green. He wouldn't last long riding in there, so I of course followed…

The flashes of green and light were liquid beside me. The thief was nowhere in my line of sight. I panicked. Damn it, where is he?

"Keerrah!" a flash of steel and cloth out of the lake of green. He collided onto me and we were flung through the brush down a long, rocky hill, struggling all the way. I was riding down on my back, he was nearly on top of me, trying desperately to slice off my head. Each attempt landed harmlessly upon passing rocks or the dust.

"This isn't working." I murmured, and thrust my knees into his chest, lifting him for a moment. My legs recoiled completely then, launching him over my head to the bottom of the hill. It only took a few more seconds for my ride to end. I grinned at the solid dirt beneath my feet then.

The thief was drunkenly wobbling about, obviously dazed by his flight. So I slowly drew my sword. Finally, a fight. His steel consisted of a long, homemade knife. I could smell his fear.

Despite himself, he rushed first. His first few jabs were formidable, but no match for my longsword, which I only had to bend down and make minor adjustments in position to block the blows. Then he got fancy. He arched his blade point down and started to box at me, as if he were one of those fighters that plagued the Lost Woods.

The first several slices I swerved around, but when a slash came that caused my mangled hair to waver, I felt my right arm pull back and drive into his left cheek. Both of us were surprised at the force behind the blow. The thief stumbled back, rubbing his jaw. Wow, I did hit him hard.

The thief spun his knife back around and glared at me. I was surprised by the hoarseness of his voice. "You'll never lay your hands on me." He hissed and charged, screaming all the way.

Exactly. I set my longsword up…

I swung hard and fast. "Gaaaaa!" he yelped. Funny, I never drew blood. The sword point merely connected with the hilt of the knife, and he, now weaponless, and still dizzy from our excursion down the hill, almost immediately fainted. Some fight… Fake…

The knife found a new home in my tunic. Hey, it was a nice knife.

Thunder behind me, betraying the clear sky. Horses. The knights were coming. Do I kill him? No, mercy would look good today…He's unconscious anyway, wouldn't be fair.

The knights arrived swiftly, but froze at the hill. Most of the Captains could decipher what went on, and either nodded in approval or looked on in angry disgust. I did catch that Black knight, with the stallion, spit upon the ground, glare at me, then turn and disappear from the cliff.

There was wind that night.