Chapter 2
A False Allegiance
Clad in a cloak and ignored, for Ganondorf was a stranger to those that lived there, he passed through the streets easily. He got a stableman to take his horse to the castle's stables for a five rupee. Silently he followed the boy to the castle gates.
There he found two guards that let the stableman pass. Ganondorf said to one, "Good day, soldier."
"Good day, mister. Be there any business you have at Hyrule Castle?"
"Pardon, I wish to speak with Hyrule's king." Ganondorf spoke with truth.
The guard looked mistrustful, unknowingly with right reason. "I'm afraid..." he began.
The Gerudo King lowered his hood, cutting off the Hylian's words and their eyes widening. "Tell the king that an ambassador of the Gerudo Clan from the western Gerudo Deserts wishes to speak with him or he is ruder than the King of the Gerudo Clan, Ganondorf Mandrag Undurin Dragmire, remembers." Ganon growled, being one of King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule's old friends. Hastily the guard swallowed, slightly bowed, and entered the castle gates.
Suspiciously, Ganondorf looked about for he had the odd feeling of being watched. A blood vein at his temple pulsed. It seemed that Hylian guard was taking his time...! Where was he!
He looked back at the gate just in time to see them returning, with a look of heavy fear. He went to Ganondorf, in whose ear he whispered, "The king will gladly grant you an audience. I am to escort you to the throne room."
"Thank you for then heeding my request." Ganondorf said icily. He followed the guard past the gate.
If any normal man gazed upon the gardens of Hyrule Castle's courtyard they would normally be struck dumb. There are no words to describe it. There was a stone path down the center that forked in three directions. In a triangle around the gardens are statues that each bear on the top of them a stone triangle representing an ancient relic of Hyrule, the Triforce.
Ganondorf, having seen the garden over at least one time too many, was quite unimpressed by the architecture. In his mind he silently suspected that the guard took so long because he was admiring the structure. Ganondorf was glad that he still had humor.
There were only two things in the Hyrule Castle Gardens that caught Ganondorf's attention. His eyes were fixed on the mounted triangles and the shape the pillar-like statues made.
When they neared the squeaking doors that lead to the Hyrule Castle Mezzanine, he looked away from them. He entered behind the guard.
On both sides of the hall were staircases that lead to the second floor. From there, they traveled up staircases that formed squares.
They came upon a large door the branched from the staircase. After passing through Ganondorf noted they were on a balcony of the fifth floor. He stepped out, smelling the fresh air. Then he turned. Here there were staircases on either side of the door. Dragmire followed his 'escort' to the throne room.
Although it is made out of the strongest stone in all of Hyrule, the Throne Room's vast expanse is not threatening. That did not say that it was the most comfortable of rooms, but it suited its purpose well.
To the left and the right of the room were two doors. The one on the left lead to the council chamber. The one on the right lead to a corridor. Two guards flanked either sides of the doors.
The walls of the Throne Room, like the rest of the Palace's, were made of fine Goron-handcrafted stones. Light streamed through ten large stained-glass windows depicting battles and events of the past, important to the history of Hyrule, which line both sides of the Throne Room. A plush red carpet lead from the entrance to the pedestal which held the Royal Throne. On top of the pedestal was a large bejeweled gold throne with soft maroon velvet seat and back.
Standing before the throne, on the ground equal to Ganondorf, stood a rotund man. He wore small, brown buckled shoes over black stockings that covered his feet and legs. He wore white pants with golden ruffles where they ended on his legs. His immense body was covered in an indigo garment with violet designs on it, an enormous, red overcoat, and a very large, white ruff.
Ganondorf gave the white haired and crowned king a long look. The two had a long friendship, yet neither of them held any happiness in their appearance.
Ganondorf walked halfway down the room. There he went down on one knee in a bow with closed eyes.
He opened his eyes, once more getting that feeling he was being watched. Still in the kneeling position, he started searching the area with magic for a any who probably shouldn't be there. He felt none.
The time it took to find and learn all this was only a mere forty-seven seconds. Yay. A record.
The King of Hyrule said after the fifty-first second, "Ganondorf, my old friend, you have no need to bow to me. You are a king of your own people and a guest of the castle. You bow to no one."
Ganondorf stood, facing the king with an equally friendly, though false, smile, "Thank you, however, no kingdom on this earth can compare to the greatness of your kingdom over all others."
He purposely walked forward, out of sight from those that tried to spy from the window, as Daphnes asked, waving a single hand at the guards to signal them to leave, "Ganondorf, why have you come to Hyrule?" Ganondorf noted that the king didn't give the Knights of Hyrule the right of leave.
Ganondorf fingered his dark powers then sharply reminded himself that the time wasn't now to control Hyrule. "Daphnes," he said, "I come before you not just to be a friend of Hyrule. Nowadays the winds of the Gerudo Desert punish the land and my people horribly. I am here to create a truce with you or perhaps a compromise." He had already begun his web of lies. Now only to complete the betrayal.
"What are you proposing?"
"Allow my people to live in your lands with freedom, however still abiding by Hyrule's laws. In return, we will protect your lands from invasion and attack and our ways of thieving upon the Golden Lands will end." He outlined the plan, cleverly hiding many grievous loopholes.
The King of Hyrule said, "You ask for an alliance, Ganondorf?"
"No. I leave my allegiance under your command, Daphnes." Dragmire replied falsely.
The king sat, a single hand to his forehead, as if in deep thought. After several moments he gave a sigh, and said, "I accept your terms, Gerudo King. A room will be prepared for you. I will wish to see you in three days."
Ganondorf bowed once more, turned to leave, and headed to the balcony from which he had come. On the balcony he was joined by his previous escort.
Ganondorf passed down the staircase, feeling more or less at ease. His day had felt long and he felt that he had some success that day. When he passed a door on the third floor he caught a glimpse of a blond haired girl wearing a white and purple dress. But he quickly passed.
He had business to attend to. He already noticed the zoras and the Deku Tree had refused his request. They were forcing him to play rough. As he walked he knew that the curse he had set upon Jabu Jabu and the Great Deku Tree had already begun to take their toll. Soon he would have most of what he needed to complete his plan. Only one spiritual stone would remain before...
Unfortunately, none of the gorons of Death Mountain had any power over magic so Ganondorf would have to travel to Death Mountain personally. But that could wait until the next day.