CHAPTER II

The blazing Lanayru sun beats down upon my face with a harsh intensity very similar to Nabooru's slap. I touch my cheek lightly as Nabooru drones on and on about honor and loyalty.
This ceremony is hell.
Dana and I lock eyes. I had requested her to have a seat next to mine, but Nabooru said no. So here I was, on stage, in front of the entire tribe, while my best friend stood in the crowd. She smiles at me, and I smile back, while Nabooru glares without breaking her speech. Suddenly, the crowd bursts into applause, so I, thankfully, assume it's over.
"Mira, come forth." Nabooru commands. So I rise, strutting to the small make-shift podium where she stood. Two Gerudo guards stood next to her, each with their hands behind their backs. "Bestow the gifts, if you will." Nabooru commands, and the women on the right brings out a wooden shield with the Gerudo symbol carved into it. The woman on the left pulls out a sword in a sheath, her hands protected by leather gloves, and the handle a pearly sand-color with a big, fat, red gem in the center of the hilt. The sheath was decorated with gems and swirling patterns that reminded me of the sand.
"Nabooru…?" I gaze at her, then back to the gorgeous weapon. She ignores me, continuing her speech.
"The Goddess of the Sand came to me as I picked up the small babe from the burning desert sand. She told me of the child's destiny, and, in a vortex of sand, bestowed upon me this blade," She motions to the sword, still within the hands of the guard. "The Sword of the Sands. The Goddess' own weapon."
The crowd gaped. Apparently that was a big deal.
"She told me that upon the child's six thousandth, five hundred and fifty-fourth day of existence, I must present her with this blade. That day, fellow Gerudos, is today." The crowd explodes into cheers, including Dana. Wow, I am really confused. "Mira, accept these gifts. The shield, from your family." She uses her hand to motion to the entire crowd. The right guard slips the wooden shield's strap over my head and onto my chest, the shield hanging on my back. "And the sword from the Goddess herself." The guard on the left went to hand the blade to me, but, as soon as it touched my outstretched fingers, a blinding golden light enveloped the sword. I stared at Nabooru, who looked just as shocked as I. The blade began to quake in my hands like a nervous puppy.
"What the…?" I mutter. Suddenly, a form cloaked in the same golden light seemed to jump away from the blade. The light was eliminated in a flash, and before me floated a male figure with sandy blonde hair, Gerudo-style clothing, and strange yellow markings slashed the tanned skin of his bare chest, face, and arms. He bowed before me, eyes closed.
"Ah, my goddess, you have returned to me. It has been so very lonely without you. And dark." He straightened his back. "I have long await-" He opens his golden eyes, and his face twists into an expression of confusion and disgust. "Oi. You're not the Goddess."
The gathering is speechless. I stare, wide-eyed at the man.
"What? Never seen a Sword Spirit before?" His lower lip juts out in a pout and scans the crowd. "Nabooru, what are you up to? And where is my Goddess?"
"She is no longer with us." Nabooru pipes up. "You have been bestowed upon a new owner, by the Goddess herself."
"Lies. The Goddess would never relinquish me." The spirit crosses his arms defensively. "Though I am impressed that you, a simple Sage, were able to summon me without her presence."
"I did not summon you." Nabooru states firmly. "As soon as your hilt grazed the fingers of your new wielder, you must have been awoken from a centuries-long slumber."
"Nonsense. Nobody can touch me but the Goddess. I burn to the touch." He states in a matter-of-factually manner. I stared at my hands. The sword was no longer glowing, and it was obvious that my bare hands were indeed touching the hilt. But the blade did not burn. Actually, it was quite soothing.
"Spirit of this blade, please notice the woman holding your vessel." She extended a hand towards me. "Her hands are unharmed. The Goddess has presented her with your grace."
The man crosses his legs midair, levitating criss-crosslegged. "What sort of sorceress is she, Nabooru?" He glared at me. "Surely this is some sort of trick."
"I am not a sorceress, and this is not a trick." I state bitterly. He snickers at me, mocking me.
"It speaks!" He chuckles. "And what is your name, young witch?"
"I am NOT a witch. And I am NOT young anymore." My cheeks flush red. "Shouldn't you be telling me your name? You know, since I'm your new master?"
His mocking smile transforms into a sneer. "My name is Suna, and you are not my master."
"My name is Mira, now get back in the sword. You're starting to really irritate me." Then, to my shock, the blade glowed once more, and Suna was sucked back into it. I locked eyes with Nabooru, and she shrugged, not knowing what it was about. She clears her throat.
"Ladies, I give you Mira, the Hero of our tribe." The crowd erupts once more in cheers, and then I remember. Hero? Why do I have to be the hero? My face twists into a frown, and Nabooru smiles at me. I don't smile back. "Tomorrow morning we will see her off on her journey into the harsh, unforgiving world. But we will not lose faith! Because we know in our hearts that she is one of us, a Gerudo. And Gerudos are strong women! We do not let anything conquer us!" The crowd claps and whistles. My heart twists. She sees me as one of them?
The sword in my hands begins to flash. "What do you want?" I question, and Suna hops out of the blade once more.
"How the blazes did you do that?" He asks angrily.
"Like this. Get back in the sword."
The blade glows, and his form is once again sucked into the vessel. Nabooru smiles at me and comes out from behind the podium. She struts to me and, with one fluid motion, scoops me up in a strong embrace. Her tanned flesh radiates heat.
"I am so proud of you, Mira." She buries her face in my hair. She plops me back down where I stood, and raises my sword-wielding hand up to the sky. "We're all proud!" The crowd screams back in agreement. Oh god, I feel it coming.
As soon as Nabooru releases my wrists, I collapse onto the ground, suffocated by tears.