Chapter 4

Faint rattles, bangs, and birdsongs drifted in through the open window near Yaido's bed. She stirred and was surprised to find Celessa still asleep in her bed. She contemplated Celessa's still frame for moment and then readied herself to see the village alone.

The sun was pleasantly warm outside, though a chill breeze carried through the air, something that Yaido could only assume by now was perpetual to the Necluda region. Travelling alone was hardly new to her, but she felt her pulse quicken with nerves as she walked down the first set of steps. She paused at the next set and took a deep breath. Ahead of her was a cooking station, and just to her right at the bottom of the steps was a stable. Down the road was the stream she and Celessa had crossed, and a large building adorned with colourful fabrics. A blue shrine sat above them all on a hill in the near distance. Yaido sighed; it seemed they were inescapable.

She walked down the rest of the steps and bumped into two children running up the road. The children fell back with gasps and craned their necks to look up at her. Yaido said hello to them, but the children only stared at her in awe. An old woman sitting by the cooking station gave Yaido a sympathetic smile. She waved Yaido over. The children scurried away up the road.

'Goodness,' said the woman. 'It's been a while since this village saw a Gerudo. We used to see quite a few of you visiting the dye shop. That's always been our most popular attraction.'

Yaido looked down along the sparsely populated road. The bustle of Hateno Village during its peak hour wasn't quite the level of excitement she was used to, but it was the most chatter she'd heard since Gerudo Town. The woman gave Yaido a knowing look. 'If you're looking to stay for the other reason, you may be in luck. There's a few lonely hearts among us.'

Yaido followed her gaze to a surly young man leaning against the stable. His posture stiffened and he quickly looked away from them. A restless cricket crawled out of his pocket and fell to the ground. It fluttered away, just as another cricket followed from the pocket and fell. The young man noticed the cricket hopping away and scrambled to catch it. Yaido and the old woman watched in silence for a moment, and then another cricket fell to the ground, and Yaido bid the woman farewell. The woman laughed apologetically. 'Just a moment,' she said. 'There's another fellow you might be interested in talking with. You'll find him up past the model houses. I heard rumour he was looking to get married.'

Yaido nodded politely. Not feeling particularly encouraged to rush however, she strolled across the stream and took in the sights. Villagers worked in fields amongst the houses or stood about chatting by the water fountain. More children were running about, and they stared at Yaido in awe when they saw her, just as the others had. Adult eyes followed Yaido as well as she passed by their shop fronts. Soon only the entrance was ahead leading back into the woods, and so Yaido took a left turn up some steps to a hill. Awaiting her were three colourful box-like houses, curiously set apart from the rest of the village homes. The model houses, Yaido presumed. A bridge lied beyond them, leading to a large house also curiously parted from the rest of the village. Yaido crossed over the water below and saw a man sitting by a campfire under the shade of a tree. His face lit up at the sight of Yaido. Yaido, unaccustomed to such a reaction, smiled despite herself. The man waved her over to the fire.

Yaido noticed certain stylistic choices as she approached - a tilted headband, a single earring, a dramatic collar, and she felt herself relax. She sat down at the fire, and the man introduced himself as Bolson. His voice had an airy, musical lilt that was oddly pleasing to Yaido's ears. 'What brings you to this side of the village?' said Bolson. 'If you're looking for the master of the house, I'm afraid he's perpetually away on business.'

'No,' said Yaido. 'I'm just wandering.'

'Ah.' He squinted at her. 'You're here on the search for a husband, right? Something tells me the dating scene must be rather dire if it's dragged you all the way to Hateno Village.'

Yaido smirked. 'I'd settle for someone who buys Guardian parts.'

Bolson leaned forward. 'But seriously, though. Is it bad out there? Enquiring minds want to know.'

Yaido looked to the fire and shrugged. Bolson harrumphed. 'You're rather nonchalant for someone who's come all this way,' he said. 'Unless you're not actually looking for a husband.'

Yaido's shoulders slumped. She shook her head. 'I'm afraid I am.'

Bolson narrowed his eyes at her for moment, and then his expression softened. He leaned forward again. 'I have a sinking suspicion I've been in your shoes.'

Yaido looked up in surprise.

'Tell me: what good do you think will come of getting a husband?' said Bolson.

Yaido wanted to look away again but managed to resist the temptation. 'An obligation fulfilled,' she said.

Bolson sighed. 'I thought as much. Let me tell you something; there's no sense in trying to be like the others. I played that game for most of my life, and yes,' he swept his arm to the model houses, 'in the process I managed to carve a visionary business out of it, but do you know what else came of that? I'm giving it up. I have to.'

Yaido blinked at the garish houses. 'Why?'

'For love! For satisfaction! For the sake of no longer being a square peg trying to fit through a round hole. Trust me, darling. You'll only hurt your heart if you keep this up.'

Yaido looked down. 'I know.'

Bolson pumped his fist. 'Then get out of here. And send any eligible bachelors you happen upon my way instead.'

A small, sad smile appeared on Yaido's face. She rose to her feet. 'Thank you for the encouragement,' she said, 'but I'm not going anywhere. I have a duty to my people.' She retreated from the fire, and Bolson cupped his hand to his mouth.

'Okey-doo', he called. 'I'll keep my spot at the fire warm for you, shall I?'

Yaido raised a hand in farewell and kept her mouth tightly shut. With a heavy heart, she crossed the bridge back into the village and let herself drift back up the road. As she drew near the inn, she considered heading back inside to check on Celessa, but the more she thought about seeing her, the more she realised she wasn't ready for that yet. Instead, she continued up the road and along a hill amongst the windmills. She spotted a woman seated under a tree up ahead, looking over the hillside to the windmill below. The woman didn't stir as Yaido came up the hill, and only when Yaido was close enough to see the glassy look in her eye did the woman snap out of her reverie. Yaido was content to keep walking, but then the woman smiled at Yaido. 'Sav'aaq,' she said.

Yaido froze mid-step. The woman laughed. 'Oh dear. Did I say it wrong?'

'No,' breathed Yaido. Before she knew it, she was already beside the woman. 'That was perfect. I take it you've done some travelling?'

'Oh, no. I recently visited my home village and met another Gerudo there. I was surprised to see her at first, but Lurelin Village is certainly beautiful enough to attract visitors. What brings you to Hateno Village? The dye shop?'

Yaido had stopped listening. She moved closer. 'Did the Gerudo give you her name?'

The woman's brow furrowed in thought. 'She might have, but I'm afraid I don't remember.'

Yaido's breath grew shallow as she took this in. There was no doubt in her mind that the Gerudo was Perda. 'Was she with …' Yaido began, and then lost her nerve. 'Did she seem happy?'

The woman chuckled. 'Happy? She was miserable! It was raining so much, I can't say I blame her.' Yaido's face fell. The woman noticed this, and softly cleared her throat. 'What's your name? I'm Ralera.'

'Yaido.' She was quiet for a moment as she tried to gather herself back in. 'I'll leave you be,' she said. 'I didn't mean to disturb you.'

'No, please, stay,' said Ralera. 'I need the distraction. All I've been able to think about since I got back from Lurelin is beach sunsets and the sound of waves.'

Although eager to be alone again, Yaido acquiesced at the mournful edge to Ralera's voice. 'It sounds like you'd rather be at Lurelin than here,' she said.

Ralera's cheeks grew pink. She looked up past Yaido to somewhere unseen beyond the hill. 'It's hard to be away,' she said. 'But my father wanted to see me settle down, and once I was married there was no choice in the matter; my husband's work is here. And I, of course, must help him.'

Yaido listened to this with a growing sense of intrigue. 'Maybe you can help me as well,' she said.

Ralera looked back down at her in surprise. 'I'll try.'

'You see, I've left my home too, for a similar reason,' said Yaido. She found herself starting to pace. 'Only I'm not married yet. And I find it hard to imagine myself that way. But it must happen.' She stopped moving. 'How did you make it work?'

Ralera looked down over the village. 'Well, since you ask, I'll tell you that time management is key. Right now, I'm actually working. My job is to watch the windmills during the day while my husband sleeps. In a few hours he'll wake and take over the job during the night.'

'So you barely see each other?'

Ralera nodded.

'Interesting.' Yaido tried to picture herself in such a marriage, and the heaviness inside her lifted a little. 'That sounds more manageable than what I was dreading. Much more … peaceful. Solitary, maybe. But then I'm sure it has its benefits. You could become one of Hyrule's great thinkers one day.'

Ralera smiled appreciatively. Then she looked back over the village again, and her smile became faint. 'It's pleasant enough,' she said. She folded her arms over her stomach and shook her head. 'When you've lived by the sea though, the rhythm of the waves become such a part of you it's impossible not to feel the echo of them even now.'

'Really?'

Ralera blushed again. 'Have you ever noticed how much the wind through the grass sounds like a crashing wave? Sometimes when the wind picks up, I like to close my eyes and pretend I'm back there. Just for a moment.'

Pity shook through Yaido's excitement. Her mind searched for something consoling to say, but such words had never seemed that useful to her. 'I'll keep you in my thoughts if I ever go to Lurelin,' she finally managed. 'I've never seen the sea, but if it's even half as beautiful as it sounds, I'm sure I'll love it.'

Ralera gasped. 'Never seen the sea? Do me a favour and take the path behind that windmill over there and go up the hill to the cliffside. Trust me, it'll be worth it.'

Yaido laughed. 'If you insist. Thank you for your advice.'

'You're welcome to come speak with me again,' said Ralera. 'But if I don't see you before you leave … well, I wish you luck with your travels.'

Ralera looked back to the windmill, and Yaido made her way back down the hill and followed Ralera's directions up to the cliffside. A violent wind tossed her ponytail as she approached the edge of the cliff. Goosebumps prickled her arms. Blue and calm below her, the sea water twinkled far and wide. It stretched across the horizon, farther than her eyes could make out. Yaido closed her eyes, and beyond the wind she heard the distant rush of gentle waves. Not unlike, she agreed, the wind rustling through the grass behind her.

A blue shrine sat upon a tiny island in the water below her. Yaido stared hard at it. She looked back up at the horizon, at the point where the light blue sky met the dark blue sea. She closed her eyes again and listened to the wind again. Perhaps it was just her wishful thinking, or perhaps she'd simply never noticed it before, but in it she heard the rise and fall of sand caught on the wind.

Sundown was growing near by the time Yaido wandered back in the direction of Hateno Village. She found herself descending by a tree that overlooked the village, and although hungry and unexpectedly tired, she settled down against the tree trunk with her cloud of thoughts. She gazed at the windmills and the bend of the road behind them that wound up the hill to the strange building at the top and its smoking chimney. She imagined herself sitting in the same place each day like Ralera, moving again when the sun set to pass a barely familiar face in the twilight. She imagined sustaining herself on memories, and wondered if Gerudo Town was enough.

She straightened as she saw Celessa walk out from behind a windmill. She was heading down the hill. Warmth spread within Yaido. She waved her arms, and Celessa saw this and redirected. Yaido's heart felt light as Celessa drew nearer. But Celessa looked uncertain as she reached the tree. 'Hello,' she said. She didn't sit.

The buoyant feeling in Yaido started to shrink. 'Hello,' she echoed. 'You must be feeling well-rested.'

Celessa, stone-faced, nodded.

Yaido smiled in confusion. 'Are you just going to stand there?'

Celessa looked about her, as though doing otherwise hadn't occurred to her. She sat cross-legged in the grass, but it was an appeasement, and Yaido knew it. Celessa looked down onto the road and the children running down from the hill. 'What do you think of the village?' she said.

'I haven't decided. I met some nice people, and the atmosphere is certainly … pleasant.' She sighed. 'I can't fault it in any meaningful way, and yet there's something I don't like about this place.'

Celessa rested her chin in her hand. 'I think it's the peacefulness. It's so tenuous - any moment it could disappear.'

Yaido furrowed her brow. 'Oh, yes. Maybe that's it.'

Celessa suddenly straightened. 'I heard there's a Gerudo at Lurelin Village.'

'Yes, so did I.'

'Could be your friend, right? I suppose you'll be visiting her, then?'

Yaido looked away. 'I don't know. Maybe I should. My odds here don't seem very encouraging.'

'There's always Lover's Pond,' said Celessa. She smiled. 'Maybe your friend was in luck and you'll have a wedding to attend.'

Yaido laughed and rubbed her temples. 'Sa'oten. I didn't even think about weddings. I suppose Perda will have remembered to bring a white veil. I'll have to do without.'

Celessa bit her lip and she looked away from Yaido and the village. Rather against her will, her eyes found the peak of Mount Lanayru behind Madorna Mountain. Yaido looked up at it as well. A thrill of excitement ran through her, pushing the thought of weddings from her mind. 'It must feel good to be getting so close to it,' she said.

Celessa turned her head resolutely away from the mountain. 'Yes.'

Yaido nearly laughed, but Celessa's lack of enthusiasm didn't seem to be a joke. 'How many days will it take to reach the summit?' said Yaido.

Celessa sighed. 'At least a couple. Although depending on the weather … and the inhabitants … much longer.'

Yaido blinked. 'You still want to go up there, right?'

Celessa turned red. 'Of course. There's just a lot to prepare for, that's all.'

'I'll help you, if you'd like.'

'No,' said Celessa. She was suddenly on her feet again. 'Thank you, but I need to start relying on myself. Since, well, since we won't be seeing each other much longer.' She briefly met eyes with Yaido, and it dawned on Yaido that this was what Celessa had been leading to all along. Celessa's fingers locked together as she waited for Yaido to respond, but Yaido didn't want to stand and finalise things. She looked down at her lap and said nothing.

'I'll be staying here a few more days,' said Celessa. 'So I'll be able to see you off, at least.'

Yaido considered this and then started to smile. 'That's funny,' she said. 'I was thinking of staying a few more days, too.'

Celessa turned red again. 'O-oh? But why?'

Yaido gave an exaggerated shrug. 'Since it's so peaceful here, I might as well take the opportunity to rest a bit more before I hit the road again. Who knows, I might even come around to this place.'

Concern flickered across Celessa's face, but then she held out her hand to Yaido and helped her to her feet. They smiled tentatively at each other.

Yaido's bedframe squeaked as she tossed and turned on her mattress. Her sighs followed. Then boredom triumphed. Yaido dressed and went down the stairs. Her heels clacked along the floor below, heading for breakfast. The hum of her voice chatting with the attendant followed, and then, finally, her heels clacked out of the inn. Celessa climbed out of bed and went to the window. Yaido's confident stride took her up the road towards the hill. She wore her pack, which gave Celessa a small sense of relief - Yaido apparently planned to be gone a while.

Celessa left the inn with her pack in hand as well. She went straight to the cooking station and set about turning her leftover mushrooms and herbs into meals. Her pack now brimming with fragrant steam, she made her way down the road to East Wind, where Pruce greeted her with a familiar nod. Celessa managed to sell the meals and the chuchu jellies from the copse she and Yaido had stayed at for 80 rupees. She promptly bought out the shop's supply of Hylian rice and stuffed them into her pack. Her next stop was Kochi Dye Shop. White, Sayge warned her, was an unwise colour for travellers. Celessa handed him the veil she'd snuck from Yaido's pack the night before.

Back outside with the freshly dyed veil safely hidden in her pack, Celessa crossed the stream and made her way up the steps to the home of the mayor. Housed to one side of the front courtyard was a Goddess statue. Celessa dropped her pack under a nearby apple tree and then knelt before the statue. Her heart felt lighter at she looked upon the statue's round face. Then she closed her eyes and mirrored the statue's clasped hands in prayer.

Give me strength, Goddess Hylia. I need to be strong, like Princess Zelda. Or else I don't know how I'm going to get through this.

Yaido returned to the inn at sundown. Celessa, eating at the dinner table on the ground floor, watched as Yaido snuck upstairs and then returned without her pack. Yaido jerked back at the sight of Celessa at the table. Celessa waved, and Yaido gave her a sheepish grin. 'I thought I'd beat you back,' she said.

'You must have gone far,' said Celessa. 'Or at least, I didn't see you in the village.'

'Yes, I was exploring the hill. There's a lot of pretty farmland up there.'

Celessa decided not to pursue the topic too thoroughly, lest Yaido question her about her day's doings. She went upstairs and flicked through a book while Yaido finished her dinner. But Celessa's mind wouldn't settle on the book. Instead she dwelt on every noise from below her bed. Her heart pounded as she turned the book's pages.

Yaido eventually came up the stairs and fell with a great flump onto her bed. Celessa snapped her book shut. 'Yaido - I have something for you.'

Yaido sat up. She smiled hesitantly as Celessa opened her pack. 'I hope you won't be too angry with me,' said Celessa. 'I just thought that since you'd forgotten - and might not have money you want to spend … well, here.' She thrust the white veil into Yaido's hands.

Yaido stared down at the veil. Celessa held her breath. A few expressions fought for dominance on Yaido's face, none of them a smile. Celessa's stomach lurched. She grabbed for the veil. 'I'm sorry - we can remove the dye. It was a stupid idea.'

Yaido pulled the veil close and touched Celessa's arm. 'Celessa, I have to pay you back for this. I mean, I have a diamond. You shouldn't be wasting your money on me.' She blushed. '"Waste" is the wrong word. I just … I can't believe you did this for me. It's so thoughtful of you.' She laughed. 'And sneaky.'

Celessa sank onto Yaido's bedside and let out a long breath of relief. Yaido looked back down at the veil. 'You'll look beautiful in it,' said Celessa.

Yaido didn't seem to hear her. She stared at the veil again and then folded it neatly and placed it on her bedside. 'Since we're giving gifts,' she said, 'I have something for you, too.'

Celessa's entire body grew warm as Yaido picked up her pack and heaved it onto the bed. Yaido opened it and pulled out an orange mushroom from a heap inside. 'Sunshrooms! I heard on the wind this morning that a great many of them grew in a forest beyond the farms. We can cook them up into as many meals as you can carry, and then you'll be set for your trip up the mountain.'

An intense surge of both affection and alarm struck Celessa. She stared at the sunshrooms and managed to chuckle, which nearly turned into a sob. 'You mean that while I was sneaking off to dye your veil, you were sneaking off to pick me sunshrooms?'

Yaido laughed. 'We're both sneaky river snails.'

Celessa sniffed. 'Thank you,' she said.

'How are you faring with your plans?'

Celessa wiped her eyes. 'I … I'm making progress.'

Yaido gripped her shoulder and gently shook it. 'I just want to say that I truly admire what you're doing. I know it must be daunting to see that mountain from here. I couldn't do it. But you can. You don't just have bravery on your side. You've got love, and devotion, and determination. I wish I had that.'

Celessa shrank into herself. She shook her head.

'Is this about the bokoblins?' said Yaido.

Celessa slumped forward and dropped her head face down in her hands. 'No.'

'Then what's wrong?'

Celessa took a deep breath. 'I can't do it.'

Yaido's silent confusion was palpable beside her. 'You can't go up the mountain?'

'You don't know how many times I've tried, Yaido. Every time I tell myself I'll do it this time, I get to Hateno Village and see Mount Lanayru and everything just falls away. I can't go through with it. I go back the way I came instead. Back to Dueling Peaks, like a coward, until I feel ashamed enough to try again.'

Yaido was silent.

'So please, don't call me brave,' said Celessa. 'I'm not inspiring. I'm just a failure. I've failed so many times a Yiga soldier knows my face.'

Yaido touched Celessa's arm. 'Listen to yourself. You've travelled between Dueling Peaks and Hateno Village multiple times - alone. Celessa, that is impressive. And it's given you such good endurance. All those journeys you call failures have been preparing you for this moment. You can do it this time!'

Celessa shook her head. Yaido gripped her shoulder again, and this time she gave it a mighty shake. 'Yes. Yes, you can. Because I'm going with you.'

Celessa lifted her head and gaped at Yaido. 'I can't let you do that.'

Yaido crossed her arms. 'Princess Zelda didn't go alone. Why should you? You need an escort too.' She flexed her arm and winked. 'Who better than a Gerudo warrior?'

Celessa sat up straight. She opened her mouth and then closed it. Happiness and concern waged war inside her, and she wanted to cry and smile at the same time. 'You'd do that for me?'

Yaido brushed the hair from Celessa's face. 'Of course.' They stared at each other. Yaido blushed. 'After all the hard selling you've been doing, I need to see this spring for myself.'

Celessa fell against Yaido and hugged her. Yaido froze. Then she gently stroked the back of Celessa's head. Concern rippled back though Celessa, bringing her to her senses. She pulled away and grasped at Yaido's pack. 'Good thing you picked so many sunshrooms.'

Yaido smiled. 'It was fate. Now, let's make a start on those plans for Mount Lanayru, shall we?'