In The Hand of The Goddess
Disclaimer: I do not own LoZ. If you thought I did, that would be pretty sad!
A/N: Hello!Yes, It's me again! I know, I haven't finished my other fics, but I will! I just wanted to get this started to get you all interested! I will be returning to Hylian Nights, and the Light of Hope soon, so look for them! As always, read and review! Thank you!
Part One: Power
From the tops of his fortress, he stared down at what compromised his world. Anger rippled through him at the sight, a barren, burning wasteland, nothing but sand as far as the eye could see, speckled with pathetic palm trees that offered little shade.
Why? He thought bitterly, turning his back on his realm, moving into the cool darkness of his chambers. Why do the Goddesses curse me this way?
"My Lord, the reports are good."
His golden eyes fell on the slender young woman who stood in the doorway, her hand resting on a curved sword at her waist. She was beautiful, in an exotic, wild way. Her own golden eyes stared back at him coolly, long red hair held back from her face. He chose not to respond, moving to the gilded chair that served as his throne. His fingers tapped on the gold, his face growing more thunderous by the minute.
"The people have begun the irrigation ditches, and some farmers are actually having successful crops." She noted that he wasn't paying attention and stopped. A frown flickered across her features, and she spoke again. "My Lord Ganondorf, we are thriving. What troubles you?"
His fist came down on the arm of his chair as he stood up abruptly, glaring at her. "What troubles me?" he sneered mockingly. "This wasteland that we live in, that is what bothers me Nabooru!"
Her light brown skin creased in anger, but she held it in check. He might have a horrible temper, but he was still King of the Gerudos, and that position demanded her respect. "We are doing better than we have for years," she replied evenly. "Does that not make you pleased? We have made use of this desert that the Goddesses gave us to live. Why are you dissatisfied?"
"Why am I dissatisfied?" he hissed, grabbing her arm in a bruising grip and hauling her over to the window. "Look! That is why I am dissatisfied!"
Nabooru winced in pain, raising her eyes to see what he wished of her. Her eyes turned to the east, where she could barely see the lush green fields of Hyrule, a place blessed with rich soil and good vegetation. It was far different from their world of sand and stone.
"Hyrule?" she inquired cautiously, wincing again as his grip tightened at her words. "I don't understand, my Lord."
Ganondorf pulled her away from the window, throwing her across the room. She hit the cold stonewall, grunting in pain. She wasn't badly hurt; she had sustained far worse injuries in her days, but that did not give him the right to treat her this way.
"You don't understand?" he growled, returning to his chair. "How can you not? Do you not see their lands? They are thriving with life! And what of ours? A desert filled with nothing but death."
Nabooru stared at her king in undisguised shock. "My Lord, that is not true!" she protested, propping herself up on her wrists to see him better. "Our lands are different, yes, but not filled with death. There is life here as well!"
Ganondorf seemed not to hear her, running his fingers through his thick red hair, golden eyes narrowed. "In the day, the wind brings burning heat, and at night, freezing temperatures. But the wind that blows across the green fields of Hyrule brings something other than suffering and ruin." His long fingers tightened into a fist. "Why do the Goddesses curse us?"
She gasped, pulling herself to her knees. What he said bordered on madness; he would bring the wrath of the Goddess down upon them! "My Lord, do not speak that way," Nabooru pled, bringing herself slowly to her feet. "We are not cursed! The Goddesses favor us, that is why we are doing better!"
Ganondorf had heard enough from her. "How could you know such a thing?" he spat. "Get out of my sight!"
Watching her bow and hurry away gave him some satisfaction, but it was short lived. With a growl, he rested his head in his hands, mind working furiously. So deep in thought he was that he barely took note of the scent that wafted past his nostrils, a sent of the exotic flowers that grew only within the deep oasis of the desert.
"She is right, you know."
His flaming head snapped up, staring in shock at the woman who stood where no one had been mere moments before. She was unnaturally tall and willowy, her eyes a brilliant gold, her own long locks as fiery red as his own. Her clothing was in Gerudo fashion, but she was no one that he had ever seen before, her white veil fluttering around her body in the breeze.
"Who are you?" he demanded, drawing his sword as he rose to face the woman. "These are my private chambers, get out!"
A mocking smile twitched the corners of the woman's bewitching face. She did not seem at all bothered by the fact that he was threatening her life; if anything, she seemed amused by it. "Ganondorf, I would expect you to give a better greeting to a visitor from the heavens."
His hand holding the sword came down slightly, putting together the pieces of the puzzle as he took in the sight of the woman and the golden aura that flickered to life around her. Ganondorf could almost feel the color draining from his face as he dropped to his knees, placing his fist over his heart as he bowed his head.
"My Lady Din. Forgive me, I never excepted to meet a Goddess in my own private rooms." He fought to keep his voice from trembling, feeling her eyes boring into him.
She stood over his bowed form, studying him in silence for a moment, then moved quietly to sit in another fine chair that was placed beside Ganondorf's own. There the Goddess picked up a bunch of sweet purple grapes, examining them before plucking one from the bunch and placing it in her mouth.
Ganondorf remained where he was, not daring to get up. He could feel sweat on his brow, feeling fear for the first time in his life. He knew that she had known what angry words he had spoken of her and her sisters only moments before, and did not wish to irk her further.
"My Lady, might I ask to what honor I owe this visit?"
Din picked up a silver goblet, taking a drink of the rich scarlet wine that came from his own private stores, ignoring him for the moment. Placing the goblet down, she turned her golden gaze onto him.
"I am not well pleased with you at this time," she stated at last, looking at him coolly. "You do not seem satisfied with what the Goddesses have bestowed upon you."
He swallowed hard, looking at her cautiously. "With all do respect, my Lady, I am not."
Din raised an elegantly arched eyebrow. "And why is that?" She made a sweeping motion with her hand, indicating his room. "You have food, drink, wealth, and a kingdom to rule as your own, a kingdom that is rising to become a new power. Does that not please you?"
Before he could judge the wisdom of his words, they had escaped his mouth furiously. "A kingdom that can barely make ends meet! A kingdom that lies in a wasteland! What kind of kingdom is this? Hyrule has far better!"
Ganondorf immediately regretted his words, fearing the Goddess would strike him down now. But instead, she laughed, a soft, musical sound.
"So, that is how you see the gifts the Goddesses have given you." Din rose in a smooth, effortless motion. "Yet, you seem to be the only one who is not content. Your people seem happy enough, why can you not do the same?"
She did not seem to require an answer, moving to gaze out upon the Gerudo who worked below. Ganondorf rose to his feet slowly, but did not dare move any further. He was becoming suspicious, waiting in silence for her to continue.
At last she turned back to face him, a few red strands of her hair blowing in the wind. "You have rejected the gifts of the Goddesses and cursed us, but I shall give you one last chance to make amends."
Amends? Anger began to rise within him once more. Who were the Goddesses to toy with his life and his fate? He despised feeling used by anyone, and that was how he felt now: used.
"Amends, Lady Din?"
She nodded, folding her arms in her thin, white silk veil that shrouded her slender body. "You have been my Chosen for many years, so I feel that it is only fair to give you one last opportunity." Her golden eyes flickered closed for a moment, then reopened to fix on his. "Take back your words and apologize to the Goddesses. If you do so, I will give you another chance. If you fail to do so, my favor will turn from you and I shall find another to be my Chosen."
It was so easy. Just say what she wanted and bask in the approval of the Goddesses once more. Take back his mockery of the Golden Ladies and receive their blessings and favor. Ganondorf could not do it.
"My Lady," he said coldly, almost not believing his own foolishness, "I will not. You have cursed me to be a ruler of a dead world, and I will have no more of it." He could feel his body quaking, but refused to back down now. "I will make Hyrule my kingdom, and punish those who dwell there. I will control the living lands, and be ruler of al the world."
Din did not respond, did not seem surprised by his words. "Once you set foot on this path, there shall be no turning back," she said simply. "The Gerudo will not suffer, only you."
Ganondorf drew himself up sharply, feeling rage for this being who thought she could wield him like her own little puppet. "I will not be your tool! I will surpass you," he spat, becoming more and more irrational with every word. "I will rule not only Hyrule, but the entire world! I will claim the power of the Gods for myself!"
Din's blazing eyes pierced his own, and for a moment, Ganondorf felt that he could not breath. It was as if a clamp was tightening slowly about his throat, cutting off his vital air supply. He gasped and chocked, falling to his knees before her, trying vainly to breath. In that instant, he was sure he would die.
"The favor of the Goddesses will turn from you," came her soft, authoritative voice. "You are no longer my Chosen."
"I care not!" he managed to spit out, though his entire body was bathed in sweat and shaking with unsuppressed fear.
"Then so be it."
Ganondorf gasped as the pressure on his throat eased, and he found he could lift his head again. Din was gone, leaving behind nothing except her scent on the breeze. The Gerudo King of Thieves clambered slowly to his feet, wrapping his black cloak tightly about his lean, fit body.
Despite his tremors, he found his anger mounting once more. He hated the fact that he had been helpless to stop her, helpless at a woman's feet! It would not happen again, he swore to himself. A king would not bow to a woman no matter if she be a goddess, simple farm girl, or a mortal Princess, he would not!
Very well then Goddesses, I will play your games! We shall see who's will is stronger! He raged inwardly, leaning against the railing of his porch as he glared eastward to the emerald land of Hyrule. We shall see!