#brendathedoodler is the person you should check out

[kovacs-of-courage]

Adventure-Swap Barren Snippet.

This was written for my friend's(brendathedoodler) adventure swap AU, go check it out!

In that AU, Warriors has Hyrule's adventures. I wanted to write something about Warriors before the events of Z1. How that might begin for him. -----

Barren prowled the catacombs under the northern castle; or what was left of it. In the wake of Ganon’s return, and the death of the king--Hyrule had been teetering on the brink of collapse.

He’d only left his home in the wilds weeks ago--equipped with little else but his sword, shield, and his wits to guide him through the many dangers of his fragmented kingdom.

“I can barely see in this place, how have you not fallen over yet?”

His fairy companion too, not to mention.

Barren didn’t answer, raising an index finger to his closed lips. 

Talking would only attract unwanted attention, and he wasn’t in the mood to fight-- not while Ganon’s army was still occupying the castle. Barren was well aware of the difference between headstrong courage, and suicidal recklessness. The lessons of his many, many mentors made that abundantly clear to him. Cautiousness had been baked into his very bones. Survival was paramount.

Careful as he was attempting to be--Barren did find it odd that he hadn’t encountered a single monster. You’d figure that an army of thousands would be patrolling every square inch of their enemy’s capitol; the catacombs especially. He’d heard the stories of their brutality, even seen some of it up close on rare occasions. 

These were the same monsters that found it fit to bludgeon fleeing children into bloodied stains, to hunt down and devour the sick and wounded over an open flame. To say they were ruthless would be the understatement of the century, they were cruelty for cruelty’s sake--taking frenzied glee in the suffering of others.

So that begged the question; why weren’t they swarming the catacombs?

Before Barren could begin pondering the question--a hollow rasp echoed across the halls, reverberating from crumbling stone and cracked archways.

“Is..is anyone there? Hello?”

Barren stood still. Silent. Questioning for a split-second whether it might be a trap.

“I’m...I’m here to help. Stay where you are, I’m coming over.” Barren said.

He winced at his own words. He sounded more stilted than assured, a product of his inexperience to be sure. In time, he hoped to portray to others the confidence he had in the field.

But for now, he was going to have to make due.

Barren reached into his bag, pulling out an old bronze lamp; dented and rusted from years of use. It was a gift from an old friend--though she said it’d belonged to his family, the heirloom finally returned to its rightful owners.

Once lit, he clipped the lamp to his belt; walking over to the source of the voice.

“You shouldn’t be here boy, it’s not safe.”

It was a knight.

And he was dying.

The soldier was an older man, thrice Barren’s age at the least. It was a wonder he was even in the field, though given his current condition--that wouldn’t be for much longer. The resolve behind his eyes, and the scars littering his weathered body told of a life in service of the crown.

No matter the cost.

The knight wasn’t going to leave these catacombs in anything more than a casket, Barren could tell. He lay a mangled mess of torn sinew and splintered bones. He lay rasping over an ever expanding pool of his own blood, darker in color then any Barren had seen before. 

“Can..can you do anything?” Barren asked, tilting his head towards proxy.

“I-I’m sorry Link, I can’t. Nothing short of a great fairy can save him now.” Proxy stuttered, hovering above her companion’s shoulder. It was heartbreaking for her to be as powerless as this. 

Barren shared her sentiment. 

He reached for his medical supplies anyway, hoping to ease some of the soldier’s pain.

The knight raised a hand, speaking clearly through his bashed teeth.

“Don’t bother son, it’d be a waste..” 

Barren knelt down, meeting the old soldier’s gaze.

“What can I do, then?”

The knight didn’t respond right away, letting the offer sit for a few terse seconds, each one feeling like an eternity passing by.

“Find my comrades, give them my crest--”

The knight lifted his metal gauntlet to his neck, bringing forth a golden circlet attached to a thin silver chain--a black bird painted across it’s face. 

He placed it in Barren’s hand.

“Tell them I gave my last full measure.” The knight said.

Barren nodded, pocketing the crest.

“And what if they didn’t make it?” Barren asked, colder then he would’ve liked.

“Then it’ll fall on you to protect the princess, son.” The knight retorted.

“I assume that makes you the royal guard?” Barren realized, his eye’s widening.

“Hah, you’ve got a good head on your shoulders. You’d be correct, yes.” The knight chuckled, spitting coughs and blood between his defeated smile.

“What happened? Where is your unit headed?” Barren inquired.

“Ganon happened. We were lucky to get out with a third of our unit, nevermind the princess. One of his damn darknuts managed to nick me, and its underlings did the rest. If any of us are still alive, then we’re headed south for old hyrule castle.” The knight explained, pointing to the hallway on his left.

Barren processed the information, soaking in the reality of what he was asked to do, and the dismal odds of his survival.

“I’ll find your comrades, and the princess. You have my word.” Barren promised, steeled resolve plating his words.

He rose to his feet, tightening the straps on his shield.

The knight smiled.

For the first time in centuries; courage was burning bright in hyrule again.