Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 5, 2020 15:52:35 GMT

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 5, 2020 15:52:35 GMT

On the outskirts of Gerudo Desert, a little out of the way of the usual trade route, there existed a memorial statue.

It was erected at the end of a calamitous event known as The Great Disturbance, some eighteen years ago. At that time, an uncommonly intelligent Bulblin known only as “The Beast” rose to unite the disparate Bulblin Groups in Bulblin Camp under one banner, becoming one of the few Bulblin Warlords recorded in history. And certainly among the most devastating ones. He subdued other monsters in the region around Gerudo Desert and Lower Lanayru to form a mighty warhost, before rampaging in a path of destruction around Gerudo Desert and Lanayru Province, all the way to Ordon and even threatening Hyrule Castle Town itself. Againts his horde the brave Gerudo Tribes of the desert fought valiantly in defense of their sacred grounds, but they, too were pushed back by the relentless monster assault. The first wave of Hyrulean Army reinforcements were slaughtered to a man. As was the second. Fear struck in the hearts of people in Hyrule, and King Daphnes the VI called for reinforcements from both the Goron and the Zora to aid the beleaguered Gerudo.

It was at that time words reached the King’s ear about the exploits of one Redwing Battalion. This battalion, a part of Hyrule Army, had for years been garrisoned near Gerudo Desert and was one of the first to face The Beast’s Horde in fight. The battalion leader was a dashing Hyrule officer descended from a mighty Gerudo Witch, who managed to keep the battalion together after their initial defeat. For a year he and his battalion waged a successful guerrilla raid in support of his Gerudo kinsmen, who regarded him as one of their own. Soon, he was called to Hyrule Castle where he gave advice to the King and his generals and knights on how to best combat the monsters. In subsequent years he was often seen in the castle, meeting with The King and The Queen and other leaders in determining the course of the war. He rose through the ranks rapidly, becoming one of the few people with Gerudo blood to ever attain the rank of General of The Army of Hyrule.

On the third year of the first appearance of The Beast, a fully equipped Hyrule Field Army was launched with the Gerudo general at its helm. While it contained elements from all the Hyrule Military Branch and Goron and Zora allies, the original Redwing Battalion formed the core of the army. Indeed, the now-famous battalion was the one the general utilized the most in the campaign and was used to their most fearsome potential. Victories after victories were gained from the The Beasts’ Horde, as more and more regions were liberated and declared safe with each passing month. Well-known for his close ties with the Gerudo Tribes, the general incorporated their forces to his own and was always quick to defend their interests. This proved decisive, as when the Beast’s Force were pushed back into the Gerudo Desert from whence he came, the knowledge and help the Gerudo provided was invaluable. Each time the general returned to Hyrule Castle to present his latest exploits to The King and Queen, the population erupted in cheers, for they knew he would deliver to them the news of another victory. Another progress. Another glory attained.

or two years the campaign went on, each day bringing the curtain of The Great Disturbance closer to its grand finale.

Until one day, the finale did arrive.

LAST EDIT: Dec 5, 2020 17:35:24 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 5, 2020 15:54:06 GMT

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 5, 2020 15:54:06 GMT

Having received reports from his Gerudo Youth Scouts about the main camp of The Beast, the general decided to end the menace once and for all in one pitched battle. It was no easy task, for although The Beast’s horde had been severely reduced in number, they were still more than a match for the Hyrule Military. The military would need a strong support from The Gerudo Tribes, along with a decisive commander with brilliant tactical acumen who was willing to take the necessary risks.

Fortunately for Hyrule Military, both aspects were fulfilled in the form of the general. After days of preparations, raids and counter-raids, the general finally made his final gamble. Utilizing the rapid and overwhelming assault tactic he was well-known for, The Hyrule Army broke through the lines of the monsters on the second day of engagement, after which the general aggressively pushed his advantage. On the fifth day he executed the now famous Redwing Maneuver, completely obliterating the main army of The Beast. On the verge of defeat, The Beast itself was cornered, his mightiest warriors cut down around him, but even then he was far from over. In one last act which would forever fill historians with dread whenever they read about the war, The Beast let out a fearsome roar and went on a death rampage through The Hyrule Army, slaughtering any and all in his path. Hundreds fell upon his blades alone, and after the blades were broken, by its claws and fangs and bloody horns. Witnesses said that only after his body was riddled with countless arrows, his left leg and right arm cut off, and his skull half-broken, was The Beast finally defeated, beheaded by a certain Gerudo Warrior.

The Great Disturbance was over. For one day and one night of glorious victory the Hyrule Army scoured the field of battle, claiming victory over The Beast for one last time.

Little did anyone notice that, at the exact moment the dying Bulblin Warlord let out his last howl of defiance to the world, a newborn girl was screaming her first cry to the same world, far away in The Queen’s chamber in Hyrule Castle.

Then disaster struck the very next day.

The records were sketchy as to what happened on that tragic day. Reports of witnesses were confusing and somewhat contradictory, owing to the complete and utter shock of what happened right after the general’s finest hour. From what could be gathered, and would later be reconstructed as the official record, it seemed that as the victorious army rested and was preparing their march back to Hyrule Castle, the remnants of The Beast’s Horde; the various monsters which had been subjugated by the fearsome Bulblin Warlord, suddenly and unexpectedly launched a furious assault of vengeance on the unsuspecting army. Thinking that they had won the war by killing The Beast and destroying his main force, the attack came as a complete surprise, and the Hyrule Army command structure collapsed. The very same cliffs which had been used by the general to trap The Beast’s Horde now also became the army’s doom, for the fierce monsters advanced from all sides.

It was during this dire time that the general made his last act of bravery. Realizing that he and his guards, comprising of a cadre of Royal Guards, were cut off from the bulk of his army, and that retreating with them was impossible anyway, he valiantly drew the monster horde to a closed place. Then, once there he ordered his magicians to blow up the cliffs while he himself held the line. Giant boulders soon fell and rubbles filled the area, trapping the general and his guards with the monster horde, but allowing the bulk of the army including the majority of the Redwing Battalion and the Gerudo forces to escape the slaughter. Witnesses reported that the noble magicians who stayed with the general then unleashed one last desperate spell, and the whole place collapsed soon after. The general met his end at the pinnacle of his glory.

A later expedition by the military to the area would find traces of a fierce last stand. Many bodies of the brave warriors were recovered and many more corpses of the monsters were strewn about, but the majority of the Royal Guards, including the general himself, were never found. To this day, legends persisted among the Gerudo in the area that, on certain nights, the sounds of battle could still be heard at the place of The Beast and the general’s last battle, their armies locked in battle for all eternity.

Exactly one year after the end of The Great Disturbance, after most of the damage had been re-assessed and were in the process of being repaired, a memorial statue was unveiled on the spot where the general and his army first entered Gerudo Desert early in their campaign. It depicted the handsome general twice as large as he was in life, his dashing countenance and stalwart body forever immortalized in a slab of white marble, his lance raised and his sharp eyes stared defiantly at the direction of Bulblin Camp, as if challenging his sworn enemies to battle once more. Inscribed on the decorated pedestal on which he stood were the names of every Hylian, Gerudo, Goron, and other heroes who fell during that bloody campaign, their names crowded together where their bodies could not, a tribute from the living to the dead. In attendance were the King and Queen themselves, accompanied by their children Prince Leon and Princess Beatrix along with their new sibling Princess Marianne, who slept soundly in The Queen’s arms through the whole proceedings. With them were the leaders of all the four provinces and representatives of all the races, each and every one of them affected by The Great Disturbance, directly or indirectly.

That was the epic triumph and tragedy of The Great Disturbance, and the origin of that memorial statue, a little off the way of the main trade traffic to Gerudo Desert.

LAST EDIT: Dec 5, 2020 17:40:12 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 5, 2020 15:54:45 GMT

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 5, 2020 15:54:45 GMT

Perhaps it was because of its position, situated in a place where people rarely tread, or perhaps because of the somber memories the memorial depicted, or even perhaps because the memorial was not as grand as other war memorials in Hyrule, the statue of the Gerudo general rarely received visitors. When someone came there, they had to specifically made the journey to the place, for it led neither to another route nor another settlement. So it was that people who visited the memorials were either the relatives of someone whose name was inscribed there or scholars wanting to know more about The Great Disturbance. There were little flowers and offerings, and overtime the marble statue had been dirtied by dust and desert sun, no longer gleaming white like it used to be.

This fine autumn morning, the memorial had received no visitors for a long time. Until someone riding a horse cantered along the path.

The rider was a woman of scrawny build, wearing a crimson cloak with a hood which both protect her from the scorching heat and partially covered her face. Her clothes seemingly were made to travel, and although their designs were somewhat plain it was clear that they were made of high quality material. The woman could be a noble of sorts on a journey, riding her horse alone after a night rest in nearby Gerudo village. Keeping her hood in place was a clasp adorned with a ruby engraving of the symbol of The Royal Family of Hyrule.

The woman gently lead her horse to a tying post near the memorial, made especially for visitors. The through for the horses to drink there was almost dry, and there were no hay left. This seemingly made the woman sighed as he clumsily climbed down her horse and tied it carefully to the post. The woman then walked to the foot of the statue pedestal, a bouquet of roses in her hand. There, the woman opened her hood and looked up at the visage of the noble general, forever vigilant in his stone cold silence.

“Hi, Dad,” said Princess Marianne, staring at the face of the father she had never known, “I am sorry I haven’t visited for some time.”

LAST EDIT: Dec 5, 2020 17:42:03 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 5, 2020 16:02:08 GMT

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 5, 2020 16:02:08 GMT

Slowly, she put the bouquet of roses on the foot of the statue. There were other flowers there too, but all of them had dried and withered. It seemed that it had been months since anyone put a flower in this memorial. Marianne sighed.

“I should have come sooner after Rularu brought me back,” she continued, now wiping the dust-covered plaque bearing the names of the fallen with her sleeves, “But I couldn’t. Our Kingdom was in disarray, Dad. And I felt I was needed. Leon is magnificent leader and is a great inspirer, but he is no administrator of realms. Trixie is a source of comfort and a perfect diplomat, but she needs someone to plan things for her.” A bitter smile. “This is where I come in, like I always have done. Dad, I.... I called the sixth Twilight Table.”

Slowly she moved from the plaque towards the foot of the statue, brushing the sands which had accumulated there with her gloved hands. “Will you be proud if you know your daughter formally called the Twilight Table, like the kings and queens of old? I did. Yes, I did. And now I know why there were only five Twilight Table in history….”

Slowly, her tone became more bitter as she continued.

“The endless discussions…. The sleepless nights…. How everyone seemed to fight with each other…. People told me that you used to loathe long meetings, Dad, and I think I really understand now. It was different when I was with father... an observer while he directed the ministers. Now I was the one who directed, and it was…difficult. There will always be someone who oppose you. There will always someone who doesn’t like what you decide. For each and every person I please, two others hate me.” She opened her palms, “It is true what the old adage said. You cannot please everyone…. But I tried, Dad. I tried my best. All I wanted was to speed up our Kingdom recovery, and that was the only thing I focused on. And when it was all finished and the ministers told me that I did well, I felt... I felt very happy…. I felt as if I have accomplished something….”

She looked up at the mute statue once again, “Will you be proud of me?”

And once again, only the silent howl of the desert wind answered her question.

Marianne’s eyes dimmed.

“But it doesn’t matter, does it, Dad?” she shrugged, “I have never even met you. The only eyes of yours I’ve seen were in those statues and pictures. How should I know whether you will be proud of me or not?”

Yet as she said so, tears started to streak down her cheeks. She hung her head, staring at the foot of the monument of her father, so familiar yet so alien to his own daughter.

“I…I wish it wasn’t so….” She gritted her teeth. “I wish that you were still here, with me…. Now with father and mother gone…. Leon and Trixie are busy with themselves. I...I’ve never felt this lonely…. Even before my…my…disappearance,“ she gulped, the memory of that experience still a chilling knife to her heart, “They said I can never understand. They said it wasn’t my father who was killed in front of their very eyes. They said that. Even if I have never regarded King Daphnes as nothing less than my own father!”

Her hands had tightened into fists right now. Slowly, the trickle of tears intensified. “He was more of a father than you have ever been.... Everywhere I went I heard people saying good things about you…. But for what? Why should I know? What good will it do me if you’ve never been with me anyway…? And now… And now they are treating me once again as if I was not one of their own. All because of you… Because you decided to go the moment I appeared!”

Then, without meaning to, Marianne was already sobbing, standing alone under the shadow of her father’s statue. Her fists were shaking, her shoulders heaved up and down. But still Marianne gritted her teeth, attempting to stop the flow of tears.

“I am sorry, Dad.... It’s not fair for me to say that….” she whispered weakly, “I...I wish you were here…. I wish you can be here… And speak to me…. I want to know how your voice sounds like, Dad.... I really do.... When Leon and Trixie are gone, whom can I trust? Who will see me as their family again now that I have none...? I wish you were here, Dad…. I wish I had a chance to know you...."

And so, anyone who visited the memorial would be greeted by a strange sight. A grieving family member, perhaps, staring at the foot of the statue while gentle tears were streaking down her cheeks, glittering like pearls under the desert sun.

Theo
Starting their interactions with feels~

LAST EDIT: Dec 5, 2020 17:44:19 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Theo

"With hope in hand, let us sail into a glorious future!"

GROUP:Gerudo

AGE:30 yrs old

WRITTEN:20 posts

TAG:@theo

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 5, 2020 17:38:38 GMT

Post by Theo on Dec 5, 2020 17:38:38 GMT

The Redwing Battalion, truly the desert’s finest. Polished by the blistering sandstorms and hardened by the golden sun, they were a force to be reckoned with, much less challenged by lesser creatures.

“Redwing! Redwing!”

Ahhh... how the chant itself bolstered a man’s soul. They were the heroes of many youths, the fountain of courage of a thousand people, and the grand epitome of what it meant to be a steadfast warrior until the very end of their days! Why, today, it seems as though their very own people had forgotten the glorious past of the Gerudo and what had transpired to prevent Hyrule from falling to chaos.

No... such a thing should not be. Such a tale should be remembered for time eternal! This new generation of warriors should remember and be provoked to action with an increase of valor!

“HYEH-HAH!”

There was a strong voice that carried on in the wind, along with the incredibly faint crash of metal, followed by the breeze of silence.

“HAH! HA-HO!”

Again? But the voice was closer and far more distinct. Even so, there was yet no one around beyond the dunes...

Ah, there was something, an unusually large silhouette, in fact, with a big cloud of dust following behind it. Soon, the sound of trampling hooves filled the air and the cries of lesser Bulblins. One could even see the tiny creatures falling from the shadow on the hill and lost upon the sands in the hazy desert heat.

But beyond that were the shouts and exclamations of a might-filled voice, defiant in nature and undeniably loud.

As it came closer, it naturally became more clear, there was a robust Bullbo huffing and charging down the sandy hills, ridden by a tall, muscular, olive-skinned figure with vibrant, fire-like hair. Bulblins were holding onto the mount by the ropes upon its body, dangling by their arms as they attempted to gain control of the rampaging boar.

Soon, they came in sight and full view of the memorial to the General of the Redwing Battalion. Upon seeing it, the large man raised his left arm and struck the Bullbo on the top of its head with a loud clang, from which the creature let out a pig-like squeal as its body shuddered and tumbled forward with its momentum, tossing the stranger into the air, and prompted him to flip acrobatically.

Then, with a big thud, landed on his feet and shield-clad fist upon the ground in a kneeling position.

”General Redwing!” he boomed with his head bent low toward the statue, ”Master and friend! I have returned to pay homage to your NAME!!!” He became eerily silent, and he looked next to him to the lass who was here before him. He blinked then nodded in her direction, “... Hello.” Even as the tone of his voice dropped slightly, his volume did not.

The Bulblin he had left behind took off in the direction they had come from, while the Bullbo lay on its back with its legs sticking out.

Marianne de Hyrule

LAST EDIT: Dec 5, 2020 17:48:56 GMT by Theo

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 5, 2020 18:20:59 GMT

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 5, 2020 18:20:59 GMT

A distinct sound of metal and shrill cries approaching put Marianne on edge. 'A Bulblin attack? Impossible,' her thoughts raced as her still teary eyes tried to look further into the desert, 'The area was secured and there were no signs of any activities...'

But then the screams of Bulblin and the trampling hooves of a Bullbo came closer and closer. There was no mistake. It was another invasion. Right at this moment, at this place, when all she wanted was an alone time with her father after that dreaded Twilight Table.... Marianne could not believe her lot in life.

'Darn.'

Her heels had started turning around towards her horse, trying to perhaps to alert her guardians and forces in the area. Already she had already started thinking of the best settlement to build a fortification upon, when and where to send messengers, how to coordinate attacks from the Hyrule Castle Town or whether they could hold the line here or opted for a more defensible position inland....

When a small voice in her head whispered. 'Why bother?'

Part of her...found it romantic. To die at the place where it all started. A daughter who survived, found dead under the statue of her father, finally found each other in the afterlife when they could not in life. No more burdens. No more responsibilities. No more thinking about the unknown tomorrow. Leon and Trixie had to try to manage by without her help....

Such morbid thoughts were what glued the princess to her feet. She didn't found the willingness whether to flee or to stay and hide. Were it a real invasion, it would have been too late for her. Her wish would have come true....

Until she saw what appeared in the horizon.

For a moment she was witnessing one of the Great Spirits of The Desert, as described by oral traditions of The Gerudo which she had learned. Riding on top of a Bullbo, his fierce eyes burning and his flaming hair and beard flowing majestically in the air, was a giant of a man. Olive skinned, bare-chested, and with a masculine figure that would take the eyes of anyone, the one riding the Bullbo was like a fierce God of Storms leading one of his Wild Hunts.

Marianne could only stare half-agape as the giant stopped the Bullbo with a punch, somersaulted in the air, and landed right near her!

”General Redwing!” he boomed, and little Marianne had to take several steps backwards before regaining her balance, ”Master and friend! I have returned to pay homage to your NAME!!!”

Then the giant turned towards her.

"Hello."

"A-ah. Hello. Too...." Panicking, Marianne vigorously wiped her eyes, which was still obviously red and moist from tears, "Good day, Sir. Lord. Your Storminess." She used one of the names of the Great Spirits in her confusion, just in case he was the real thing. "Good day to you."

Theo

I just realized Mari has a somewhat broken psyche....

LAST EDIT: Dec 5, 2020 18:21:25 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Theo

"With hope in hand, let us sail into a glorious future!"

GROUP:Gerudo

AGE:30 yrs old

WRITTEN:20 posts

TAG:@theo

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 6, 2020 1:21:42 GMT

Marianne de Hyrule likes this

Post by Theo on Dec 6, 2020 1:21:42 GMT

The man's left brow crooked upward.

Sir? Lord? Your Storminess?

His eyes gazed inquisitively into the girl's own, then he rose to his full height.

"Hmmm...!" he emphatically folded his strapping arms and stuck out his stout chest. The shield upon his left arm shown brilliantly in the sun, and a twinkle shone in his eye. "Hah! Tis' an auspicious lass to weep before the grave of the late and great General Redwing! Few dare cross the sands to pay their respect to him!"

"Hmh!" The giant cocked his head upward in the direction of the town of the Gerudo, far, far in the distance. "Even his own people forget the courage it took to face 'The Beast!' Let it be known that I have not forgotten! YES!" He cupped his hands on the sides of his mouth and yelled to the establishment, "I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN!"

He returned his bodily direction to the lass, "And it seems you have not either, young..." He bent side to side with his hand stroking his beard, and confusion presented itself on his face, "Hylian? Ah, yes, that is right! I shall introduce myself!" His hand raised into the air as he made a sweeping bow.

"I am the 'Roar of the Winds,' Armetheo Barrasshu. You may call me Theo, for short!"

Marianne de Hyrule

LAST EDIT: Dec 6, 2020 1:33:34 GMT by Theo

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 6, 2020 3:33:12 GMT

Theo likes this

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 6, 2020 3:33:12 GMT

‘H-have I said something wrong?’

The giant stared at her for a moment before rising to his full majestic height. He strapped his muscled arms across his broad, chiseled chest, which inadvertently drew Marianne’s gaze. Such a physique worthy of the heroes of old! Might he really be The Father or Storms, here to somehow shout at her father’s memorial?

"Hah!“ the giant said. Erm, shouted. "Tis' an auspicious lass to weep before the grave of the late and great General Redwing! Few dare cross the sands to pay their respect to him!"

“I should be…. He is…was, my father…,” timid Marianne mumbled under her breath. Most likely, though, the words were too soft to be heard by the giant, who had already turned towards the Gerudo settlement.

"Hmh!. Even his own people forget the courage it took to face 'The Beast!' Let it be known that I have not forgotten! YES!" He cupped his hands on the sides of his mouth and suddenly yelled to the establishment, which made Marianne took another few steps backward, "I HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN!"

Even her horse in the post some distance away was startled. She neighed and yanked furiously at her leash, thinking that a storm was coming.

Then the giant introduced himself. Armetheo Barassu. The Roar of Winds. Marianne could not pick a more appropriate title for this giant of a Gerudo. Perhaps it was given by the winds itself.

And to his sweeping bow, Marianne’s manners automatically took over. She brought her right leg backwards and crossed her left, bending in a perfect curtsy using the edges of her cloak. She might try to be careful, but Marianne could not hide the grace of her mannerisms. She was one of the nobles, no matter how much she wanted to hide that fact right now.

“My name is Marianne…. Marianne Crescentia,” For a moment she hesitated, but decided to use her middle name which would sound easier to a Gerudo. Besides, this Theo could be a slave trader for all she knew. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Barrasshu.” She snorted and once again rubbing her eyes vigorously to clean the traces of tears. “It is rare to see people paying their respects to General Redwing nowadays… Not only him, actually. Most people are not very fond of the idea of paying tributes to the past….”

Oh dear, there goes the small amount of powder she had applied to her cheek. So much for trying to put even a little makeup…. One of these days she would stop listening to Beatrix’s nagging and went clean all the time.

Theo
The thread Starlight Festival page 8 mentioned William Marshal, the current commander of Redwing Battalion, in case you are interested

link

LAST EDIT: Dec 6, 2020 4:52:26 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Theo

"With hope in hand, let us sail into a glorious future!"

GROUP:Gerudo

AGE:30 yrs old

WRITTEN:20 posts

TAG:@theo

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 6, 2020 5:27:19 GMT

Marianne de Hyrule likes this

Post by Theo on Dec 6, 2020 5:27:19 GMT

"Mmm! Marianne Crescentia! A beautiful name! Your hair reminds me of General Redwing's own!" Armetheo followed with an emphatic nod as he raised himself back up, "Listen now! We are the few who pay tribute, Marianne! In paying tribute, we remember the past, and if we remember the past, heroes will never truly die! Please sit! Let me tell to you a tale of General Redwing!"

He suddenly sat down cross-legged and began brushing his beard, his eyes closed briefly, then inhaled the desert air deeply.

"I shall bring us to the past. Listen well."

Somehow, his voice had quieted, and the breeze upon the wind became calm.

"When Theo was still a lad, before the town of the Gerudo, and before Redwing was general, he led our people through the desert sands. He was a man of great courage, passionate for the tribe. His men obeyed him without question, many of our youth admired his strength, and our elders were oft swayed by his charisma. Even in our darkest days, he was a beacon of hope.

The monsters were on our heels, but little Theo was as stubborn as a mule. He would not budge from his spot when they got closer to the camp.

So, I sat naïve in the sand like I sit before you now, until the monsters ran into his tent and dragged him out with clubs raised in the air...

... But Redwing would not even leave a child behind! When mother realized she left me behind, Redwing came back, armed with nothing but his shield, for he had left his sword in camp when he left to meditate in the wilderness. Even so, he moved with great agility!"

He used his fingers to illustrate this, where his shield hand illustrated the general dodging and smashing his opponents, and made little battle noises with his mouth.

"Like so! Like so! When he was done, the ground was covered in the bodies of monsters, and Redwing stood before little Theo to chide him!

'You should run when there is danger, young Theo. You are too little to fight them.'

I said to him, 'I am not afraid, Redwing does not run, so I will not run.' But he shook his head and kneeled on the ground to tell this to little Theo..."

He beckoned her to lean toward him.

"... 'A fool sits and waits for danger to come to him, but a wise man will take up his shield to meet it!'" He leaned back and snapped his fingers, "It clicked for little Theo! So I decided from that day on to use a shield, because he wants to be a wise man like Redwing!"

Marianne de Hyrule

LAST EDIT: Dec 6, 2020 5:30:25 GMT by Theo

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 6, 2020 13:23:34 GMT

Theo likes this

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 6, 2020 13:23:34 GMT

Theo praised her name, saying it was a beautiful one. But even then Marianne still flinched. Even when complimenting something he just had to be so loud. Him saying that she reminded him of her father, however, immediately took Marianne’s interest. Could it be that he was another veterans who knew her father? That general sure like collecting quirky personalities around him….

The giant ordered Marianne to sit and she looked around the ground in confusion, her uncertain face almost had the words ‘Here?’ written all over it. But the giant himself sat without hesitation so…. Who was Marianne to say otherwise? She chose a patch of ground that at least had no small thorns or ants on it and sat down after wiping it a little with her hands. Bending both of her knees on her right side and leaning on her left hand, Marianne listened to what the giant had to say.

"I shall bring us to the past. Listen well." And Marianne nodded meekly, still somewhat afraid of this giant of a man.

Somehow, his voice had quieted, and the breeze upon the wind became calm.

"When Theo was still a lad,” he began, “before the town of the Gerudo, and before Redwing was general, he led our people through the desert sands. He was a man of great courage, passionate for the tribe….”

...It was a story about her father.

Marianne could not believe her ears. In this deserted memorial, just after the endless stress of Twilight Table, a story about her father was the last thing the princess expected.

Her mind inadvertently flew to a time long gone.

When she was little, she was often visited by a group of battle-scarred veterans whom Marianne had never met before, but who seemed to know her and dote on her like she was their own niece or little sister. She had known several of these “uncles” over the years. Little Marianne used to love being brought to the barracks, where her uncles would shower her with candies or little trinkets that they brought from afar. Overtime, Marianne learned that these were the men who used to serve under her dead father, and who knew the truth of her bloodline. They often told her stories and exploits of her father, sometimes with tears in their eyes. Back then it was a source of inspiration and pride for the little princess, who treated those stories as would any other heroic stories she often read on her books.

But as years passed, those people who knew her father slowly passed away one by one or moved to faraway places, and Marianne heard tales about her father less and less. When she was older she immersed herself with her magic training and other academic pursuits, meaning she had even less time to entertain the old veterans like she used to do. Some, such as Sir William Marshal, still met with her sometimes and Marianne still treat him fondly as one of her uncles, but her remembrance of her father grew more distant with time. There was even a time when she wished that her father was King Daphnes VI instead of the faceless, careless gerudo general who had never lifted her even once in his arms.

So now, listening again to the tales of her father from this unexpected source brought those childhood memories back flooding in Marianne’s mind. Already she felt her eyes becoming warm with tears once more.

And as Mr Barrasshu continued his tale, all of a sudden the statue in front of them came to life in Marianne’s mind. No longer was she in this remote corner of Gerudo desert, sitting on scorched ground listening to a giant under the memorial of her father. Now she was in the past, in Gerudo Desert many years ago, sharing the experience of little Theo with her own eyes.

“So, I sat naïve in the sand like I sit before you now, until the monsters ran into his tent and dragged him out with clubs raised in the air...”

The monsters. Among them Bulblins, perhaps. Maybe part of the horde of The Beast. Marianne could see this giant Theo as a child, hard as it was to imagine, being dragged out of his tent, kicking and screaming perhaps…

”But Redwing would not even leave a child behind! When mother realized she left me behind, Redwing came back, armed with nothing but his shield, for he had left his sword in camp when he left to meditate in the wilderness. Even so, he moved with great agility!”

And there he was. Marianne could see him clearly even among this chaos. Moving between the monsters like a swift wind, his black hair with red at the edges waving as he dodged and parried while his handsome eyes gleaming in the heat of battle, was her father: The legendary general of The Redwing Battalion himself. He brought only his shield, the rounded shield of the Gerudo rather than the blocky rectangular ones of Hylians, but it was more than enough. Her uncles said Marianne’s father was unbeatable with a shield and unstoppable if paired with his lance, and here was the the truth of the story. He danced among the monsters, felling them left and right as easily as a farmer scything wheat, perhaps now and then stealing the monsters’ weapons and threw them back with deadly accuracy. Only his trusty shield remained with him, dirtied with the blood and gore of the monsters.

Then it stopped. The ground was covered in the bodies of monsters. Her father, covered in grime but not as much as being cut, slowly walked towards little Theo. His face was stern, but not angry. For people said they had never heard the general being angry to children. “They don’t know what they are doing,” he once said, “Our duty is to direct them to do what’s right. Not to scare them so that they do nothing at all.”

"You should run when there is danger, young Theo,” her father said, and Marianne felt her throat suddenly chocked with tears, “You are too little to fight them."

"I am not afraid, Redwing does not run, so I will not run," replied the brash youth. Marianne saw the general shook his head and, slowly, knelt on the ground in front of the child. And though his eyes were still as stern as before, there was a proud smile on his face. For there was nothing the general admired more than bravery.

"...A fool sits and waits for danger to come to him,” said the general, his silver eyes staring directly at Marianne’s own silver eyes. For the first time in Marianne's life, her father's voice was crystal clear. “But a wise man will take up his shield to meet it!”

*sniff*

Before she realized it, tears had started rolling down her cheeks once again. By the time Theo finished his story, Marianne was weeping.

LAST EDIT: Dec 6, 2020 13:44:51 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 6, 2020 13:26:35 GMT

Theo likes this

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 6, 2020 13:26:35 GMT

Apparently realizing that she had been crying, she tried to wipe her eyes with both of her hands in vain. Her lips, however, was smiling with pride.

“I-I am sorry… I- *sniff* I am sorry…. When you talked about my f-father like that I… I can almost see him myself…. Walking towards me…. Talking to me…. Protecting me from harm....”

Tears streaming down her cheeks, she raised her face towards the giant.

“I-I’ve never met him even once in my life...*sniff* So… knowing that you once stared directly at m-my father’s eyes… Heard him t-talking d-directly to y-you like t-that, I… I…. Uuu…Uuu….”

Unable to hide it anymore Marianne relented and buried her face in her palms. Her father. Her father. This giant of a man was saved by her father. And he did not forget. He did not forget. He kept paying tribute, after all these years. He regarded him as a hero. Her father inspired him to be a wise man like himself!

“T-thank you… T-thank you….” Marianne whispered between her breaths, “I-I have forgotten how I…used to be p-proud of him…. And-and you r-reminded me…. *sniff* Thank you… thank you….”

It seemed that the overwhelmed lass would need a little more time to compose herself. She was crying tears of happiness.

Theo
He caught her by surprise in one of her more vulnerable moments~

LAST EDIT: Dec 6, 2020 13:42:37 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Theo

"With hope in hand, let us sail into a glorious future!"

GROUP:Gerudo

AGE:30 yrs old

WRITTEN:20 posts

TAG:@theo

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 6, 2020 19:40:17 GMT

Post by Theo on Dec 6, 2020 19:40:17 GMT

Little Crescentia again wept with bitter joy at the glorious tale, and went on to thank him... but his eyes became wide as saucers as the realization hit home.

Her claims of the General being her father, her dark, red-tipped hair, those solemn, silver eyes... of course! Even with his immaculate vision, how could he have been so blind? Was it not she whom the old uncles, the loyal stalwarts of Redwing, had pledged to protect and serve until their feeble days? Armetheo remembered the melancholic return march to the city of Gerudo, the sorrow that the soldiers had felt when word of their greatest sun had passed on with a glorious end...

Then... the announcement that his child was born! How the sadness was washed away as they beheld the child of Redwing in the loving arms of the Queen of Hyrule!

The giant’s mouth hung agape at the revelation.

This was... the princess of Hyrule?

“OH!”

Armetheo suddenly brought himself to prostrate before her, as if the wind of guilt threw him down in harsh rebuke.

“P-P-Princess Marianne Crescentia! Daughter of the great General Redwing and the magnificent Queen de Hyrule!” he cried out with the top of his head on the stone, “Forgive this worm for not recognizing you and babbling on as if you were a mere sojourner! Were it that I knew, I would have ordered the finest of blue linens and pillows to be spread for Her Royal Majesty to sit!”

Marianne de Hyrule

LAST EDIT: Dec 6, 2020 19:41:03 GMT by Theo

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 7, 2020 7:49:48 GMT

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 7, 2020 7:49:48 GMT

All of a sudden the giant prostrated before her! Marianne, who was momentarily lost in the bliss of nostalgia, was yanked back to reality. For brief time, she herself had forgotten that she was a princess of Hyrule. For a short moment she was simply the daughter of the heroic general, being told tales from an old friend of his.

“P-P-Princess Marianne Crescentia! Daughter of the great General Redwing and the magnificent Queen de Hyrule!” the giant shouted, “Forgive this worm for not recognizing you and babbling on as if you were a mere sojourner!”

“No-no. Please,“ Half-surprised, half-amused, Marianne was unsure of what to do. She laughed a little, however, crisp and gentle, though her eyes were wet still. “Y-You don’t have to-“ But it seemed that it would take something stronger than words to raise the despairing giant from his position….

Gently, Marianne pushed herself up and approached the prostrating giant. With her hands extended, her palms touched the sides of the giant head. Then slowly, very gracefully, she bent down and gave him a kiss on the back of his head. Soft, warm lips coated with tears was put against Theo's generous mane, full of love and reassurance. And her way of doing it...one would remember that this small woman was not only the daughter of the fearless general, but also of the gracious late Queen of Hyrule.

“You have given me far more than any pillows to sit on, Mr. Barrasshu,” She whispered gratefully between his hair. Still hoarse was her voice, but though her eyes were blurry the inside was smiling, “You have given me back my pride of my father to rest my future days upon. That, is the finest pillow a daughter can ever have.”

She took a few steps back and suddenly raised her voice. The laughter in her words rang across the monument, full of joy.

“Now, stand up straight and raise your head proudly in the air, Armetheo Barrashu! For if you really know my father, then you will know that he only allowed her soldiers to bow to those who had bested them in fair combat!”

Her reddened eyes glinted, Marianne added softly. “...Or those who had stolen their hearts.”

For a moment, a briefest of moment, it was as if the general himself was there, shouting the very same phrase he often used.

"Stand up straight and raise your head proudly in the air! "

And so, while it would still take some time for the princess’ face to not be as damp and miserable as it was now, the waves of sadness had passed. In its place was a new smile, a hidden twinkle of reassurance that seemed to shine from the girl’s once weeping face. It was an expression more fitting for the daughter of General Redwing, whose face tears rarely touched.

“Please tell me more about yourself, Mr. Barrasshu, while I dry this tears,” She said, dabbing her still wet eyes with her handkerchief, “Where do you live and what are you doing for a living? You know my father well but I don’t seem to remember ever meeting you…I am sorry…. Are you in the military still?”

Theo

LAST EDIT: Dec 7, 2020 8:40:19 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule

Theo

"With hope in hand, let us sail into a glorious future!"

GROUP:Gerudo

AGE:30 yrs old

WRITTEN:20 posts

TAG:@theo

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 7, 2020 10:07:14 GMT

Marianne de Hyrule likes this

Post by Theo on Dec 7, 2020 10:07:14 GMT

The light sensation of her hands upon his head caused Armetheo to tense a bit, and for reasons he could not fathom, he felt ready to receive a due punishment for his lack of foresight.

And yet, that was not what he received. He felt it, a small, yet gentle touch upon his mane, and his ears heard her quiet, tender whispers.

These words... her words filled him with a sensation. Yes, she had thanked him for the retelling of her father's tales, but it never truly realized until...

"You have given me back my pride of my father to rest my future days upon. That, is the finest pillow a daughter can ever have."

This feeling! Was it pride? Yes, he felt pride in the lives of those he had known, pride for those who did righteous deeds, yes, pride even for those who decided to pick up their lives and start over. This was not an egotistical type of pride, nor one that fulfilled a selfish idea, but one that gave a man a reason to put up with himself.

Worth! That was what it was!

And so, she withdrew, and the strength of her voice actually startled the giant! Her words rung true in his ears, and he breathed in with the deepest of inhales.

The giant was a touch conflicted. There was no combat to be had, but had she stolen his heart?

Ye--whoa there, Theo! Get a good grip upon yourself! There is a way to explain this!

Armetheo let out a boisterous laugh and sprung back to his feet. As he did, the volume of his voice returned. "Ha-ha! How unfair of you to say, Princess Crescentia!" He scratched the back of his head, his spine bent forward, "And not very fair for poor Theo! Surely the princess has captured the hearts of many who look to her! Of course, I would continue to bow! Hahaha!"

He coughed into his arm and stood up straight once again as the princess began to clear her face of tears. "Well, my tale is not quite as glorious as General Redwing's, but I shall share what I can remember!"

He ran his fingers through his beard as his voice dropped again, "... Let's see... it was... ten years, so I left the military when I was... twenty! Right! I was a part of the Gerudo Youth Scouts, a bygone regiment that had the energetic youth spy on monster encampments! We were trained to hide and blend with our surroundings, and we became quite good at it, too! Ah, but it was abolished after a while because it, well, naturally it endangered the youth." It was spoken with a matter-of-fact tone and a shake of his head.

"Even so, many of us were emboldened by our experiences, and when we came of age, signed onto the battalion in honor of Redwing!" With a disappointed look on his face, he smacked his lips and sighed, "But, ah... with the threat of 'The Beast' behind us, peace had reigned over the deserts for a good while, yet it wasn't until conflict with monsters arose around Hyrule itself that the Battalion was put back into action! Excitement ran through my veins! I could finally put my training to use! The Redwing Company Eleven, that was my battalion!"

Another shake of his head, "Alas, I was installed in the next village over, Jiruda, while the true conflict rumbled thousands of miles away. Still, we believed in our orders and resumed our duties. I did a little more and helped build the agriculture, as my father was once a farmer before he was fattened by his gains. Then, it happened!"

He snapped his fingers and bounced his hand in the air, "A large horde of monsters had broken through the defensive line, and orders of an emergency evacuation came! While I did do as I was told, my youthful, brazen heart was filled with contempt, and as everyone escaped, I stayed behind! Theo was not as wise, then, but he was strong. He would not let the efforts he put into the town be turned to nothing! No, he would live out the words that were spoken to him in his youth by General Redwing!"

"So, the horde came and..." he began to pump his fists in the air, which made audible noises from the force of his thrusts, "Theo went to work with his spear and shield, blessed by the winds of Farore! He struck hard and fierce! Yes, he killed and slaughtered whatever monster dared to face him in combat! They swarmed me, struck me with their weapons, but I did not falter, for I could not allow them to harm what I had helped build with my own to hands!" He stopped, then looked to his own hands and groaned.

"Alas, no matter my selfish intentions, I still disobeyed one who held authority and loyalty to the Gerudo people. The sin of insubordination had forfeited Theo from ever calling himself a soldier of the proud Redwing Battalion."

Armetheo looked back up to the princess and smiled, "It has been ten years since then, and I have been bringing my own fight to the monsters!" He pointed over his shoulder to the Bullbo that still lay motionless in the sand, "But it has been a tradition of mine to return here once a year, to pay tribute to the greatest hero I had ever known! Haha!" He cleared his throat, "But it is hard to live in the wilderness all alone like Theo, and it is not a lifestyle that he would recommend!"

Marianne de Hyrule

I got really into it, I sorry ><'

LAST EDIT: Dec 7, 2020 10:14:11 GMT by Theo

Marianne de Hyrule

The hurt doesn't show, but the pain still grows.

AGE:18 yrs old

WRITTEN:684 posts

TAG:@marianne

Lest We Forget (Theo and Mari)

POSTED ON Dec 9, 2020 10:01:59 GMT

Theo likes this

Post by Marianne de Hyrule on Dec 9, 2020 10:01:59 GMT

"And not very fair for poor Theo! Surely the princess has captured the hearts of many who look to her! Of course, I would continue to bow! Hahaha!" The Giant laughed, and Marianne laughed with him. “Oh, you jest…. If only it is true. Heehee.”

Still drying her tears, the princess nodded energetically as Theo started his story.

“Mm! Tell me, Mr Barrasshu. For every tale is glorious in its own right.”

And her eyes when she listened to Mr. Barrasshu’s tale was indeed delightful! Marianne was a superb listener. She gave him her utmost attention, reacting appropriately at each meaningful moment. Her expression changed in tandem with Theo’s own.

Gerudo Youth Scouts! They were some of the least of her father’s former subordinate which Marianne met, mostly because, as Theo put it, not all of them joined the military proper when it was disbanded. It also had an unacceptably high casualty rate, which was fine in the time of crisis but not thereafter. The few Gerudo Youth Scouts whom Marianne did met, though, were exceptionally brave and resourceful people.

Her expression visibly lifted with pride when Theo said he joined military in honor of General Redwing. She knew the residual conflict after The Great Disturbance, and the fate of the village called Jiruda. So, Theo was stationed there. He helped build the village. Such a thoughtful individual! And then a large group of monsters and he stayed behind.

Marianne closed her opened mouth with her hand, still holding the handkerchief. “You stayed alone….?”

And then he told how he worked with his spear and shield. He struck hard and fierce, killing the monsters all by himself. The monsters swarmed him, but he didn’t budge. And then-

Her eyes widened as the realization hit her.

“You- you are that man!” she exclaimed. It was not her habit to interrupt another’s story, but this revelation was too shocking! “You are that man who stood alone in defense of Jiruda. Who lasted one-man war against onslaught of monsters the whole night, armed with naught but a shield and boundless valor, and who screamed out victorious came the morning! You-you are the legendary Crimson Shield!”

Too consumed in her excitement, Marianne wrung her handkerchief in her hands as she paced back-and-fro. Her tears forgotten. The Roar of The Winds! The Crimson Shield! How could she have missed this connection? “I-I’ve heard tales about you. Your legend circulates in the military, and every new guard stationed at Jiruda knows about you! I thought it was an exaggeration.” She nodded half-apologetically. “I thought it was a whole company protecting the village, and overtime was condensed into one man. I’ve always thought such a feat is impossible.“ She shook her head, “I never imagine I would meet you myself! This is the greatest of honor!”

Like a child fawning over her hero whom she had heard in story book, Marianne scanned Mr. Barrasshu from head to toe, her face bright with joyous disbelief. Marianne was brought up with tales of the military by real veterans, knowing their legends by heart and imagining how they did their deeds, so meeting one of the larger-than-life figure was like her fantasy came true. And The Crimson Shield! Now that she had met him, if he was indeed this big it would be no surprise that he could hold the line all by himself.

“Mr. Barrasshu!” she said excitedly, “A hero like you should not wander in wilderness, waging sporadic war against wild Bulblins! Hyrule is in a great time of need. Hordes of monsters appeared from nowhere. Bandits are threatening every road. And there are even talks of an invasion from another realm! Come with me,“ she extended her hand, “Come with me, Mr. Barrasshu, and help me defend Hyrule like my father once did. I will ensure your return to the military-No, you should even be knighted in recognition of your deeds!”

The thought of meeting one of the legends of old made Marianne giddy. Once again, she learned not to so easily dismiss something as fantasy. The proof is right in front of her. The giant, crimson-hair-flowing-in-desert-wing proof.

Theo
It's alright! I enjoyed how he is so humble

LAST EDIT: Dec 9, 2020 10:07:58 GMT by Marianne de Hyrule