Oh my god. I did not think so much time has passed since my last update! I'm so sorry! Here is chapter 2! :)

The years slowly dragged on and the war continued with heavy casualties on both sides, the only race to have remained relatively unscathed from the violence were the Gerudos. Their fierce, loyal, and protective nature between one another was the only force standing between them and destruction, they were united against those who sought to invade their desert and for the past seventeen years they have been successful. They were humble and instead gave credit to their goddess. They proclaimed each year that it was the will of the goddess that allowed them to thrive in their sandy home and that she protected them against the invaders. It was an answer that satisfied everyone for now.

Walking through the sandy dessert was the leader of the Gerudo Nabooru and beside her was her second in command Link, perched atop his shoulder was a colorful bird that did not seem even the slightest bit bothered by the harsh wind and the sand that was thrown in their faces. Nabooru held her hand up signaling Link to stop and motioned towards a caravan not bothering to whisper since the wind would mask their voices from the unsuspecting occupants," Link. We cannot afford to let this caravan escape, our supplies are dwindling. We need the supplies on this caravan, we cannot make the same mistake as last time."

Link remembered last time really well, the operation was going smoothly and they had surrounded the caravan and were about to overtake it, but he made a mistake. He did not notice that there were archers trailing behind the caravan in case the caravan ventured into an ambush and so they were forced to retreat. He had been the look out and he failed them causing the death of one of their best swordman. He bowed his head in shame with the memory as the bird on his soldier said in a crystal clear voice as it ruffled its feathers and bowed its head," It was an error. Should have been more careful, it won't happen again!"

She spared a moment to give the young boy a small smile stating as she took her spear from her back," It seems that bird was not as useless as I thought it would be. He reads your facial expressions and body language well Link, but I wonder if that creature can truly portray the thoughts and emotions that you possess. Do not always depend on Anis to say your words. Sometimes parroted words will not be enough to help you, but enough of this. We can speak more of it at the camp. Remember Anis can serve as a distraction while we flank them, there are no more than five guards with the caravan. An easy steal don't you think? Perhaps your reputation will finally make it to Castletown."

Giving a chuckle she roughly patted Link on the back before jumping from the sand dune they were perched on. The heavy winds causing the sand to create a natural smokescreen and hide their movements from the guards. It would only last for so long though, once they got close then they would be easily spotted and so Anis finally took flight. His feathers the only source of color amidst the dull brown sand, his piercing amber eyes looked over the caravan confirming there were only five guards. It was rare to see a common bird so far out in the dessert and could only stare at the magnificent bird wondering why it was circling them. For a moment they thought that perhaps it was lost and could not find it's way out of the dessert. One of the guards placed his weapon down and was about to approach Anis when he landed and began to 'innocently' groom himself.

The guard did not get the chance to approach Anis before an arrow was sent through his neck, the other guards had no time to react before they were jointly eliminated by Nabooru and Link. Once the skirmish was over Nabooru began to inspect the caravan stating as she ripped the canvas off the wooden frame," As I suspected. A human war caravan. Do they believe us to be fools? We have seen their attempts at camping on our land, they are trying to keep out of the reach of the Zora and Hylians but in doing so they are dragging their useless war onto our soil and tarnishing our sacred ground! Our people are starving because they cannot reconcile."

Her composure slipped as she threw the canvas to the sand and threw a barrel of daggers out glaring at the weapons, she rarely lost her composure and usually held an aloof stoic air about her, but they were on the brink of starvation. The dessert was no longer providing for them and the caravans they depended on were few and far between, no one wanted to travel and remained huddled at home hoping that the war would end soon. It's bee seventeen years and it was only escalating.

Anis flew back to Link and landed on his shoulder while the young man inspected the caravan, the bird stated as it moved down Link's arm and peeked inside as well," Not much, but it has supplies. Enough for the children and elderly at least. "

Link did not know how he could comfort Nabooru or put her mind at ease, he never knew what peace was like or what the outside world was like. All he knew was the heat of the desert, the glare of the unforgiving sun in the sky, and the isolation of being forced to remain in the valley while the others were able to go and gather supplies. Was there really a world outside of the valley? He often imagined it being a black hole that he would fall into if he ever got close to the edge of the valley, what was beyond the line where the sand meets the sky?

He was snapped out of his thoughts when Nabooru started to take the supplies out of the caravan," It will have to be enough…I will send some of our best into the town to see if they can get more..I do not wish to ask this of them.."

Link helped her with the supplies looking at them and how little it was, they had been hoping for a merchants caravan but their luck had run out years ago and they were barely scrapping by. Not even the men in town gave the Gerudo women the time of day, they were seen as traitors for not taking a side in the war and the Hylians had gone so far as to murdering some of the Gerudo who went into town. Turning to Nabooru he got her attention and pointed to the horizon knowing that Castletown was beyond that point.

"You want to go to Castletown? Ha! Link, you know you have too many duties here. If you are to become king you have to be here for the people. Give them advice and lead them, we have gone over this many times before. I will not always be in charge, once you are eighteen you will take the throne and I will remain by your side as your advisor. In that time you are to remain in the valley and train." Nabooru sternly told him, time and time again he would practically beg to be allowed to leave the valley and go into town. Each time he was denied, she hoped that one day he will stop asking and accept that he was not meant to leave the valley.

Once all of the supplies had been gathered she strapped them to the backs of the caravan's horses saying to him as she avoided eye contact," We each have our own place in this valley. The archers take care of the stables, the sword masters guard our homes and remain as lookouts, the elders make sure that the people are taken care of, the people cook for the town, I lead our people and try to make the proper decisions. Your place in this hierarchy is to take mine. Ever since I laid eyes on you I knew you would have the strength of a soldier, the intellect of a scholar, and the dignity of a king. You were our gift and you will be the one to lead us. It's been centuries since the Gerudo has had a male heir, but Link tomorrow is the day. Your crowning will be tomorrow and then everyone will answer to you. I've tried to get you ready for your role and the burden that comes with it, I only pray that I've been successful. You will learn our history and we will leave it all in your hands. But you must never leave this valley. No matter the reason. Will you promise me that?"

She turned to look at Link, her striking golden eyes were hard for him to look away from. It seemed like they were piercing his very soul, that she was looking for the answer that she wanted, no that she needed from him. Despite the explanations given to him time and time again he never understood why he couldn't leave the valley, but he did not want to disappoint Nabooru believing that perhaps she did have a good reason to insist that he stayed in the valley. Even though his heart was telling him to explore the world outside Link gave Nabooru a small nod promising that he would never leave the valley.

It seemed like a weight had been lifted from Nabooru when she agreed with her, she began to backtrack the horses obeying her," I will hold you to that Link. Remember a lie is worse than outright rebellion. Now we must return before the sun gets any higher or else we may boil!"

Hyrule Castle

The elegant halls were lined with unwavering soldiers the young princess noted as she silently walked to her room. She quickly averted her gaze and looked down at the red carpet, she wondered was it red to hide blood stains or to show that they were royalty? She heard the history of the town and that two days after she was born the very town was invaded and her father along with the townspeople murdered. Surprisingly the Gorons had left everything intact, maybe they held some respect towards history? She would never know. She reached the main hall and looked up at the statue of her father, what kind of man was he? She did not know and never would. Would he have been proud that at the age of thirteen she had led an army to retake the town and the castle? That she had been successful?

"Thinking of the King again, Princess?" A figure asked as he stepped out of the shadows, besides a few tufts of black hair his bright red eyes could only be seen from the cowl. He was one of the last Sheikah and was given the task of protecting the princess, he looked at the statue stating as he stood beside the princess," I can recall him. He was a fine regal man, he ruled unwaveringly but with compassion. I was only eight when we lost him but you have the same wisdom and you rule with the same certainty."

The princess jumped and put a hand to her chest feeling how her heart was racing, she should be used to how the young man would suddenly appear like that. She said to him looking away with sadness in her eyes,"Rúni..I..I was just wondering if he would have been proud of me..We've come a long way but there is still so much that needs to be done. I just hope I am doing the right thing."

"You've won back the castle and the town. I believe that he would be very proud knowing he has such a talented and intelligent daughter. Your coronation will be soon and do not worry I will remain by your side and look over your mother as well. I caught her browsing through the library today instead of laying in bed. She was reading a book about the hero of time. The fable we've all grown up reading." He believed that she would feel better knowing her mother was now walking around and that she was not entirely bedridden anymore but he was met with a fierce almost angry look instead," Did I say something out of line, Princess Zelda?"

Zelda's hand closed into a fist whispering in a strict tone," It's not a fable..It really happened…The story of Twilight and how we even came to Hyrule are all true too! They happened…I dreamt it, it was real. That's why I was also thinking we need to find him. We need to find the man from the stories! He's a hylian right? That means he can save Hyrule! He can end this war! He ca-.."

"Princess! Do you even hear yourself right now? You're talking the same garbled nonsense your mother did…They're just stories. There are no heroes of time or heroes of Twilight. We need to focus on our fortifications and counterattacks not tracking down heroes from a children's story. I apologize if this is out of line, I desire nothing more than for the stories to be true and some hero clad in green will come and rescue our beloved Hyrule but they are stories and if we depend on them we will lose everything. Please remain focused." Rúni pled with her, the princess was wise and ever since her mother stepped down as ruler she has led her people down the right path. He had no doubts on her ability to lead but he feared that if she gave into the stories like her mother then she would follow that dark and heartbreaking path. As her advisor and bodyguard he desired nothing more than to see her find her own way and lead the land into a time of peace and prosperity.

"You are out of line! It is not your place to say if they are stories or not. They happened. I know they did and if you will excuse me I have some matters to attend to. This conversation is over." She was not even done with her sentence before she had exited the room leaving the slightly angry Sheikah behind.
She could feel it, a darkness creeping up on the land and she knew she had to find the knight from the stories. She had to find him and warn him of the evil that was quickly approaching. If she didn't then Hyrule would not be the only place at stake.

None of them knew the state the world was really in. While the princess was locked away in the castle vainly trying to find a way to get the upper hand in the war while surrounded by her most trusted servants and guards; Link was sitting around a cozy campfire in the dessert with the other young adults passing around a small bowl of food taking a small sip of soup before passing it on while the children and elderly were on the other side with individual bowls both content and ashamed that they got to eat a full meal to themselves. Despite the hardships they faced Link did not believe it was a terrible life to live. He felt at home and happy with his family in the desert.

Later that night Zelda found herself back in the hall thinking over Runi's words before stopping in front of a painting depicting a tall, dark, red haired man with evil eyes. That painting terrified her and she wondered what it's purpose was but at the same time she felt like she already knew. Zelda asked the young Sheikah knowing that he had followed her into the room her gaze never wandered from the painting," What if the war is not our true problem? I feel uneasy and I've had nothing but horrible nightmares the past fortnight. It is a sign of a great evil coming…. or perhaps it's already here."

I will try to update this one more often! :)