| The entire council had gone completely silent when Tionie spoke up with venom that could have shaken the heavens. Even Josh would find himself picking up his head and staring at Tionie in surprise. There was a long, uncomfortable silence that followed her statement, and nobody seemed able to meet anyone's eyes. Most of them just bowed their heads for the longest while. At least, until the third rang out.
"SILENCE!"
The one who had ordered the soldier's execution would glare daggers toward the woman. "How dare you talk that way toward me! I am one of the most powerful people in Hyrule, I could order your execution in an instant if I wished it! Good sirs, I don't believe this woman is fit to serve as a-"
"Enough" The first, second and forth all spoke up. The forth would follow up. "You appear to have forgotten your place. We called Miss Green here to speak her opinions and give us some insight on the ground of the events... And she has done so. But as much as it pains me to admit it, the girl is correct. While we can sit here and make judgements, there was nobody on the field willing to take charge according to our witness. Sir Knight Captain?" He would then inquire toward the tall man standing toward the corner. "You were not present at the battle due to injury, but insight into word in the barracks would give us some idea of the truth of her claims. And as the man's commanding officer, you do have some say as to what should be done."
The Knight Captain would bow his head. "Talk in the barracks backs up what Miss Green has stated, your Lordsmanships. The commanding officer for the battle was slain on the field early on, and when the tides became too far, none of the Knights were willing to step up. Many admitted when questioned that they were not willing to take the pressure of coming back from such odds, and could not bear the shame if they were to take charge only to fail. It is true that DragonsFlame has repeatedly, and constantly, disregarded my orders. He has been a regular headache for me for a very long time now. But I cannot deny results. He has saved lives, sirs. He has prevented casualties and paved the way to a safer victory time and time again. In the Domain, and again in Kakariko in particular. And while the move he took was illegal for a soldier, yes... He has more than proven that his intentions were just, and that he was willing to sacrifice his own life to ensure that my men got to go home to their families. That is not something that the men have forgotten. And not something I will forget either.
While I understand the need for consequences... And my men are mixed on what must be done, and in their views of his actions... I refuse to hold any part in his sentencing. I will not be involved in sentencing, discharging or killing one who has given everything for Hyrule, and for us."
With that, the Knight Captain would step back, and let the councillors decide once again.
"I see..." Spoke the forth. "It seems nobody was personally harmed by his actions. The only thing he has done is broken the law. A soldier cannot take control of the armies like that, a soldier cannot disobey his commanding officer. The Knights have more freedom, for they have earned the right to be trusted with these sorts of things... But for an unproven soldier... Well...
He's not exactly an unproven soldier, is he?"
The group went silent once more, before the forth continued.
"With the blessing of the Knight Captain, I would like to call a voice on the council to promote Mr. DragonsFlame to the rank of Knight Of Hyrule. Doing so would make his actions completely legal, and abolish him of all except perhaps a stern warning for not listening to the Knight Captain... Which is something the Knight Captain can handle at his own discretion. Any objections?"
"None" "No"
"And your blessing, Knight Captain?"
"Given" The Knight Captain would answer. "And happily so."
"You're REWARDING HIM?!" The outward councillor from before would burst out, steam almost seeming to be popping from his ears in rage. "How can you do this? He disobeyed orders! Who's to say he won't play so hard and fast with them again? What of the example he is setting?"
"Enough" Spoke the forth again. "Your behaviour during this trial has called into question your capability to sit on that chair. This will be addressed after we are finished. But for now... The vote has spoken, you have been overruled... And while it is true he has done what is legally wrong... He also did what was truly right. The council has chosen to first address what has been done right... As honour should dictate. It is what King Leon would have wanted after all, he and his brother Eotholos were fond of the lad. They would have suggested this very same thing, I am sure, were they still with us today. And it is our job to adhere to the wishes of the Royal Family.
Josh DragonsFlame... Your deeds in service to the Kingdom Of Hyrule will never be forgotten. We bestow upon you the position of Knight Of Hyrule.. Should you choose to accept it."
Floored. Honoured. Surprised. Shocked. Anxious. Just so many different things, so many feelings and emotions going through Josh's head in this moment. But the rollercoaster of a trial had left him speechless. But once he was able to pick his jaw up off the floor, Josh would manage to lower his head in a respectful bow.
"I accept, Your Lordships. And thank you. It is my honour to serve Hyrule further."
Josh was overcome with emotion over all this, as the Knight Captain would approach with a blade given by the forth and dip it over the shoulder of the Hylian. And with that, it is done.
"Sir Josh DragonsFlame... As of this moment, you serve Hyrule as one of it's Knights. May the Goddess Hyrule, and the three Din, Nayru and Farore watch over you in your continued service to the Royal Family."
And with that, it was over. At least so one thought...
"But..." The forth would comment once the ceremony had finished. "Allow me to make myself clear. You will be held to a higher standard from here on... You will be expected to lead by example for your peers. Please take care to adhere to the laws of our land and of our military in future. Not doing so may lead to far harsher consequences, as you already know. But I don't think that will be a problem... You have shown a great level of dedication to our people. I am sure you will do great things."
Josh would bow his head again, respectfully. "Of course. Thank you, sir and sirs! I will do everything I can to bring honour to this position, and to the Royal Family!"
"Now lies one more question..." The forth would speak out. "And this is one I am sure that your commanding officer has been wondering... But just who are you?"
"Huh?"
"A farmboy from obscurity enlists into the military... And does what you do, with the dedication that you do, with the capability to lead so easily as the reports have stated... And don't think I haven't seen you spar with the other soldiers in the yard either. You stand out from the rest. This cannot be mere coincidence, no natural talent would allow for... All of this. There is an experience to you. There's a hardness to your eyes, and yet a gentleness as well. You have compassion, but you have seen much, perhaps too much. For someone who only roughly two years ago came into our fold, you walk like a warrior. You command like an experienced leader. You fight like a man who's done it all before, and done it many times before. And that blade of yours looks like it has seen much, even beyond the last few years. Even with the clear care and repair it's had... It is clear that it's seen many battles. Battles even older than you, might I add. Where did you get it? And just who are you, exactly? The name DragonsFlame is not one that I know of as a natural surname... It seems almost nonsensical, actually. I know you're hiding something, boy...
Just who. Are. You?"
Josh had stopped cold at the questions, but took a deep breath and just nodded his head. He knew that someone would realize eventually. But he was fine with not talking about it... It was a life he'd left behind a long time ago when he moved here.
"This sword belongs to my father, the great Odin. He was a knight of Labrynna, and he was the most famed and benevolent of all... And most importantly to me... He was my hero. He took the name DragonsFlame after a great act in using the magic of fire itself to slay a wrym. Something I have not been able to do singlehandedly as he had. It's... A lot to live up to, really... But I tried. I’ve been training in swordplay since I was teenager. After my family was lost to monsters, I travelled to Termina. I enlisted with the Guard Corp there, and plied my trade for many years, starting from the age of 18. I became the Guard Captain after proving my worth to them, and later went into battle with the heroine that people in Termina I hear still speak of from time to time, that stopped the monster that threatened to destroy Clock Town. Unfortunately, while I wasn’t really in it for the fame or glory… The idea that all I’d done for the town, as a guard, as an adventurer, and everything… It was completely forgotten with this new shiny thing. I was completely ignored. Never appreciated. And I guess it just… Told me that it was time to move on. So I left and found myself in Hyrule with a ranch, and retired for a few years from combat. The Starlight Tragedy prompted me to take up the sword again and enlist, and… You know the rest.”
“You’re THAT Guard Captain?” Asked the first, clearly a bit befuddled by the revelation. “I knew of a Guard Captain in Termina that did great deeds, but I never knew his name. He disappeared a long time ago, and word didn’t tend to travel much from Termina to Hyrule. But I do have my sources… Still, to think that was you. It’s… Something. But it explains so much.”
Josh took a deep breath and nodded his head. Well, here came the kicker…
“As for my name… It’s true. DragonsFlame is a clan name of sorts, I guess. A nickname that became a sort of clan name when I decided to take it on after his passing, and have used it as my surname since. Odin DragonsFlame… I took it to carry on his legacy. But… Perhaps it’s time that I focused on forging my own. It’s what he would want.”
Josh steeled himself for what he was about to say. “My name is…”
He knew he couldn’t hesitate. Like everything else… He had to dive right in.
“My name is Josh Dragelion.”
Hyrule Castle Barracks
It was... Surreal. What was happening now. Josh watched as the possessions he had stuffed into a little area in the barracks for himself were being moved, things he just sort of grabbed when he was on duty. They were being moved to the Knights area of the barracks. It would be a place to sleep in a little more privacy if ever he needed to sleep there. Once the moving was complete, Josh had arranged to meet Tionie there so the two of them could head back to Ordon Village. He needed to rest still, before he could begin his duties as a Knight.
While he waited for Tionie to arrive, Josh found himself looking around his new quarters, and it just... All began to sink in.
"We did it, honey..." Josh found himself whispering, staring upward. "This was our goal... This was what we wanted... The schedule of it, the ability to serve in a better way... But most of all, to be able to be together more, like you wanted... This was what you wanted... This was what I promised you that we'd have one day..."
As the emotion began to overwhelm him, he found himself curling his fingers. "But it's not the same... You're not here to celebrate this with me. It just... It doesn't feel right."
And finally, the tears he'd been holding back for days now had finally begun to fall as he finally broke down into sobs.
"This was ours! This was supposed to be ours! But you're gone... You're not here anymore... And I don't know if I can accept this without you. I wouldn't be here without you. I wouldn't be alive without you... You gave me life, you gave me purpose... And now I have a new purpose laid in front of me, but I don't know if I can do it without you... I don't know if I'm ready to face this alone."
And yet, despite the sobs, he couldn't help but smile a bit at a small realization.
"But you'd just tell me to grit my teeth, suck it up and take it on. You'd tell me that if this was what I wanted to do... Then I should see it through.
Thank you... For everything. I do this for you. I do this so nobody else has to suffer like we did."
Josh did his best to wipe the tears away, as he placed a hand on the wall.
"I guess this is it, then. This... This is where I move forward. This is where we go our separate ways. I knew this day was coming, that I'd reach our goal, and I'd realize that the next one I'd have to set without you by my side.
I'll make you proud. I'll visit Kakariko soon..."
Josh took a deep breath. It was time, he knew. It was time to let go. And begin the healing process proper.
"... Goodbye, my love. May the Goddess bring you peace in the world beyond. We'll be together again someday."
With that, he cleaned his face and steeled himself as he awaited Tionie's arrival.
Today was a new day... And it was time to move forward.
OOC: Tags: Tionie Green |