Zelda looked calmly across the table, showing no sign that her heart was pounding furiously and her palms were breaking into a nervous sweat. Slowly, to keep her voice from quivering, she asked, "is he still alive?"
The Gerudo's teeth flashed, a smile that was only slightly forced though it still faded quickly. "I know, it's not funny. But you ask that question each time. Do you expect him to be killed still? After three years?"
"We're dealing with Ganon. I expect nothing but the worst from him. He is alive then?"
"He's alive." Zelda visibly relaxed, leaning back in her chair and unclenching her hands. "But Zelda, he's not in his best condition. Even if you free him, and give him the sword, he might not be able to-"
"I don't want to hear it. We have time to deal with that later. Is there any other news?"
The older woman shook her head. "I'm afraid nothing too substantial. But here are the names of a few gerudo's getting antsy about Ganon's leadership. If you send the bugs over – fairy's over, sorry – then perhaps you could recruit more help. These three will probably be willing." She hesitated, wondering if she should go on and risk saddening Zelda.
But then, recently, nothing seemed to sadden Zelda, or at least not make her any more miserable than she already was. The leader of the resistance took everything the same way, with a look of grim determination on her face and look of soul-wrenching exhaustion in her eyes. "Zelda, there really isn't much time. No one can get alone with Link to tell him we're still fighting back, and it looks like he's losing hope. Ganon's toying with him, and he can't take much more of it." Everyone knew Zelda hated hearing anything bad about link, but she didn't even wince this time, just nodded slowly.
"I understand. We'll find a way to rescue him in time. But until then, you are to accuse this group of Hylians-"Zelda handed her a slip of paper –"of conspiring with the resistance. According to your sister they've become suspicious of several of our spies --including you -- and false evidence has already been planted in their rooms. Most of the evidence consists of personal letters by myself, which should be convincing if Ganon remembers anything about how I wrote. He did get awful nosy ten years ago when he was using my father as a puppet."
Kahola suppressed a sigh. No one could have missed the hint of anger in her voice, and it was no secret Zelda privately blamed her father for much of catastrophe Ganondorf had caused, simply because he didn't believe his own daughter. The spy decided to move on quickly. "What's in the letters?"
"Mostly pathetic wailing's of our diminishing numbers." The gerudo cocked her head and Zelda explained. "If Ganon thinks there's a threat of someone rescuing Link, he may remove the threat by killing our Hero. Besides, we're going to need the element of surprise. And some luck. Perhaps a few miracles would be nice. Not to mention thick fog the night of the rescue, and a few sleeping guards, and the protection of the goddesses. Of course, what'd be really nice would be Ganon having a change of heart. Maybe he'll decide he likes me after all and invite us all in for tea."
"At least you haven't lost your sense of humor." Came the dry response. Sometimes the things Zelda said really worried Kahola, though she felt honored her leader trusted her enough to tell her the truth, whereas most people heard a sugar coated version intended to keeps spirits up as high as possible. "Try to get more sleep Zelda. We're not that desperate. You're eyes are so red someone could mistake you for a demon. And get some more food. You look worse than usual."
Zelda wiped a hand tiredly over her face. "A kokiri kid accidentally started a fire in one of the food stores."
Great. They were starving as it was. "For Din's sake. Which one?"
"They won't tell. They're very protective of each other. I think they've tried to become each other's fairies ever since they lost their own."
"At least maybe they'll keep each other out of the way when the rescue comes."
Zelda shook her head wearily. "They'll be fighting along side the rest of us. Zek and Ket have been training them as well."
"Surely you don't mean to make little children fight against Ganon's horrors."
"It's all or nothing. If they're going to die against Ganon it might as well be alongside the rest of us for our last shot at victory, rather than cowering and alone a year from now after the rest of us have been killed."
Kahola shook her head. "We've really reached our last resort then; relying on children to fight and trusting thieves to spy." She grinned half-heartedly, sighing when Zelda made no attempt to return it and walking from the room grimly, slip of paper in hand.
~*~
Malon came into the small room next, her smile oblivious of her paling skin and thinning face. "Good morning Zelda. Any good news?" She was still sweating from the sheikah training, her thick red hair stifled into a few ribbons and her breath coming out in gasps. She was even skinnier than Zelda now, only muscle and bone showing through a tattered dress.
"Nothing new. Link is still alive. Ganon is still our enemy. The deadline is still coming closer."
Malon clucked her tongue. "You can at least pretend to be happy every now and then. I know there's little to be happy about, but you should make an example for your people."
Zelda nodded slowly, then sighed. "I'm too busy to smile. And too tired." She stared at her hands, the scars just beginning to fade. She could still remember how much it had hurt, grabbing the Master Sword from the fire after Link had been thrown across the battle ground and knocked unconscious, his wounds smearing blood all over the courtyard. She had run with the red hot hilt searing her flesh, run so long Ruto had had to cut most of her skin off from the hilt by the time she stopped.
Malon's cheery voice brought her back to the present. "The kokiri's plants have finally started growing fruit, which will hopefully make up for their accident a week ago." She ticked the item off on her finger and continued. "The fairies have nearly finished the map of Ganon's castle, all of them without being noticed or jeopardizing anything else. Epona's colt, Talon, was put under the saddle for the first time today, and handled it beautifully. Oh, and Kota finally worked up the courage to give Ruto that necklace he made." Malon hesitated as she thought, a slight frown tugging at her cheeks. She brightened a moment later, holding out another too-skinny finger.
"And Teiong finally kissed Ket. They make such an adorable couple Zelda. All the other Hylian boys seem intimidated by Impa's daughter, but not this one. Maybe because Ket's little brother has taken a liking to the boy. Little Tad has taken it up as his life mission to protect his older sister, and it's just precious. Oh, and I fixed the flute and Zek finished the fiddle, so now there will be even more music. It seems to be helping the children and the kokiri while they-"
"Malon, why are you doing this?" Zelda asked plaintively. "Or rather, how? You spend every waking moment smiling and bringing up the bright side and acting as if nothing had gone wrong. And yet I can hear you sobbing in your room every night and sometimes you scream in your sleep. What motivates you to keep up the act?"
Malon smiled at her, though it quivered and her eyes were bright. "My father always told me that even in the darkest of days you can make your own sunshine, and that I had always been his. I guess that's my way of remembering him. Making sure I try to spread the light even if it is dark outside."
Zelda sighed. "I'm glad you're here then. We can use all the sunshine we can get. Getting inside the castle is going to be a bitch, making it through the rooms full of Ganon's followers is going to be devastating, and getting to link is going to be next to impossible. The fact that we have to get him out of there as well is what keeps me up at night. At least, it's one of the main things keeping me up. He probably won't be able to fight Ganon when we free him. Apparently he can't make his own sunshine."
Malon offered her best smile. "Then we'll bring some to him."