Chapter Three: The Princess of Hyrule
By sun-high, the large wall protecting the town came into view. Two guards flanked the open drawbridge, both welcoming and dismissing visitors. The Gerudo troupe slowed their mounts to a trot and changed their formation. Now Ganondorf was at the head of the party, followed by Niut and Nabooru, then Aveil and Rinna. In front of their party was a cart containing bottles of milk, which a large man with a voluminous mustache was driving. Niut couldn't help but glance at the blue sign the cart bore, advertising Lon Lon Ranch's delicious and nutritious milk. The name sounded oddly familiar.
"My lord," she whispered, leaning closer to him than she had ever been before, "the man in front of us is from the ranch." She needn't say more, for Ganondorf nodded slowly, then his dark grin spread across his lips.
"We'll simply see if we can sell his horses back to him, at an even higher price than they're worth," he remarked before turning to face forward again. Although her stomach still had a sinking, nervous feeling, Ganondorf did not seem to be concerned, so Niut trusted his judgment.
After the cart entered the town, the troupe approached the wooden bridge. Niut brought her gaze to the guard on the right side of the entrance. He was staring straight ahead, his eyes glazed over. She wondered if the guard even registered that a group of five thieves was trying to gain entry into Castle Town.
Holding his head high, Ganondorf led the group through the grand archway. The barrier opened into an immense courtyard, where Hylians of all shapes and sizes wandered from shop to shop, bartered for wares, and sampled delicious foods from the many stalls. Niut tried to keep her head up and not make eye contact with the civilians, but their aghast and frightened looks intrigued her. She had only been in Castle Town one other time in her life, and while she remembered receiving an odd look or two, no one ever stared at her with wide eyes and a gaping mouth. She never heard several women gasp at the sight of her, or see children run to their mothers' skirts. Even the men looked as if they were not at ease.
The group stopped outside of an animal supplies store. Ganondorf relayed the plan—he, Niut, and Nabooru would go to Hyrule Castle and present Nabooru's horse to the King. In the meantime, Aveil and Rinna would sell the other two stolen horses and restock their supplies.
Aveil and Rinna dismounted and pulled their mounts and stolen cargo into the market. The other three remained on their horses and turned towards Hyrule Castle, which stood proud and tall behind the town. Drawing in a deep breath through her nose, Niut lightly nudged Dusty's sides and had her follow Ganondorf towards the castle.
"You nervous, Niut? It's just an old king!" Nabooru teased. Niut forced a smile, but couldn't find any words to respond with. As she aged she had become more and more cautious, but never had she faced a challenge that caused her to feel so much anxiety. Perhaps it was because she knew something was not right.
As they approached the hill leading to the castle, the trio halted before a pair of guards. The taller one stepped forward, gripping his staff tightly.
"State your business!" he commanded. With his twisted grin, Ganondorf reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of parchment.
"I am Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo, and I have an official order to see the King of Hyrule," he responded, his voice booming with confidence. Niut noticed the guard tighten up when he met Ganondorf's gaze. It appeared that the guard didn't even look at the letter for fear of angering the domineering man. He simply bowed his head and stepped away. With a slight nod, the King of Thieves nudged his horse into a canter, leading the group up the hill and towards the castle.
After reaching the top of the hill, they crossed another drawbridge that led them into a courtyard. Niut had never seen a place with so much greenery and light. The courtyard was lush with plant-life, and the bubbling fountain in the middle made the area seem even more alive. The grass looked soft enough to be a bed, the water clear enough to drink straight from the fountain, and the flowers colorful and plump enough to be delicious fruit. Why couldn't all of Hyrule be like this garden?
There was something else in the garden that caught Niut's eye. It was a small figure that was dressed predominantly in white. Niut glanced to her side, where the unknown entity stood. It was a Hylian girl with big blue eyes and a staid expression that made her look more mature than her small stature suggested. She couldn't have been older than nine years old. Like Miry, her inner voice pondered. It made Niut realize that she only thought of her daughter one other time during the long journey away from home. This guilt began to gnaw at her heart, making her feel ill. What was the last thing she said to Miry? When was the last time she said she loved her daughter? When was the last time they shared an embrace?
"Well, if it isn't Princess Zelda," Ganondorf's low voice cut in. Niut turned to face her king, who was grinning at the child. There was almost something charming in his smile, but the coldness in his eyes gave away that he had no warm feelings towards the young princess. He seemed to be eyeing her suspiciously, wondering if she would pose a threat to his operation. Princess Zelda bowed her head briefly.
"Good afternoon, Lord Ganondorf," she responded, perfectly restrained. She was unlike any child Niut had met before. Even the Gerudo children feared Ganondorf when he strolled into the training rings or through the fortress halls. This princess had no fear. Instead she raised her head and looked at the King of Thieves straight in the eyes. She was calm and collected. Ganondorf was correct—this girl would not be won over by a pretty mare or sparkling jewels.
"I assume you are here to pay homage to my father. That is a fine steed you've brought," she said, glancing towards the gelding Nabooru was towing. "A thick red mane, taut muscles, a broad back and strong legs. It has a nice, steady gait, perfect for riding. Although it looks much weaker than a genuine, Gerudo trained horse. He is nicely decorated, though." The younger warrior's eyes widened and she glanced at Niut, who kept a stale face. Niut in turn looked at her king, who was staring down at the princess with a gaze so sharp it could cut a person in two. There was a deep frown on his lips and he took a deep steady breath through his nose.
"You know much about horses, for a child," he responded evenly.
"I like to sit in the stables from time to time," she said. She peered to the side, in the direction of the castle's stables. "I could escort your horses there if you would like."
"That won't be necessary," a female voice cut in. Niut looked again towards the main entrance to the castle. A tall, well-muscled woman with short white hair approached the group. Her red eyes were stern and she walked with a strong grace. She stood next to the princess, looking down at her with a hard yet motherly look. "You shouldn't be bothering your father's guests, Princess," she scolded. "Stable hand!" she barked in the direction of the stables. In a matter of moments a flustered teenager came running and bowed towards the princess and the tall woman.
"Y-yes, Miss Impa?" he stammered.
"Take the King's guests' horses to the stables. Make sure they're properly groomed and fed before their masters must leave."
"Y-yes, ma'am!" The Gerudo dismounted and handed the reigns to the stable boy, who looked even smaller compared to the black stallion that towered over him. Nabooru kept a tight grip on the gelding, which would occasionally try to walk away but for the most part stayed perfectly still. She shifted the tapestry to make sure it was perfectly aligned.
A guard approached the group, bowed, and asked them to follow him into the main chamber. Niut glanced to the side one last time before entering the castle. Princess Zelda and Impa stood like statues at the side of the courtyard, but the Gerudo warrior could feel the young princess's eyes watching closely.
"I don't very much like that woman," Nabooru hissed.
"She is a Sheikah," Ganondorf grumbled. "A member of the ancient warrior tribe, sworn to protect the Hylian royal family." Niut felt no concern towards the Sheikah warrior—she was confident that she could take the woman in a fight. It was the princess who worried Niut more. The way her eyes followed the group of Gerudo when they left the courtyard, the way she fearlessly looked Ganondorf in the eye and saw past his lies; Princess Zelda knew that Ganondorf was planning something. He was right in what he said—this princess was wise beyond her years. This both frightened and amazed Niut. How could a mere child see beyond appearances? How could she uncover the truth so easily? How could she look past her own limitations and be more than a small, weak, helpless child?
A pair of trumpets signaled their arrival. Niut raised her eyes from the ground and stared ahead of her. The King of Hyrule's throne was grand, adorned with depictions of the three golden goddesses and the Triforce, the emblem of the Hylian royal family. Decked in red, the King matched the velvet covers on the throne. He appeared aged but not old, the years of ruling a kingdom slowly withering him away. He sat up straight on the throne, staring intently at the Gerudo as they entered his chamber. Niut and Nabooru stayed a few steps behind their King, kneeling before the throne.
"My King," Ganondorf greeted him with a magnificent bow, "I humble myself before you, and I thank you for your correspondence, as well as your hospitality today. It is an honor and a pleasure to finally meet your Highness in person." He kept his head bowed and his weight on one knee. Niut couldn't help but feel caught off guard. She had never seen the King of Thieves kneel before another. In the Gerudo Valley he was the sole king, their God.
"Yes, it is a pleasure to finally meet you as well, Lord Ganondorf," replied the King. He was oddly quiet for a king, while Ganondorf spent little effort in projecting his powerful voice. He nodded his head in the direction of the two Gerudo warriors standing behind their King. "And who are these women you have brought with you?" he asked, almost nervously.
"Two of my finest warriors, here to protect me should I need it. However I see no reason to keep them here, for this is a peaceful meeting. Shall I dismiss them, your majesty?" He spoke eloquently and effortlessly, and was certainly not the dark and brooding king Niut knew him to be. He was a chameleon, able to adapt himself to any situation. He could be a powerful magician, a wise commander, a courageous soldier, a tactful diplomat, or a cunning and manipulative strategist. Niut wondered, who was the real man underneath the armor?
"That would not be necessary. As you said, this is a peaceful meeting," replied the King. With a nod, Ganondorf slowly stood and stepped back to be in the same plane as the warriors. He gestured towards the kidnapped gelding decorated in the Gerudo tapestry. It was bobbing its head and pulling against the reigns. Ganondorf seized the reigns from Nabooru and walked the horse forward, kneeling once again before the Hylian king. He leaned forward from his throne slightly, intrigued by the gift.
"Your majesty, I present to you this humble offering, a gelding bred and trained by the Gerudo. We have decorated it in the finest tapestry that decorates our fortress. I regret that I cannot offer your majesty anything more magnificent, for we are a poor and desolate country. I can assure you, though, our horses are well trained and this one will serve your majesty well." Niut wondered why he was lying about the status of the Gerudo. Contrary to what Ganondorf proclaimed, the Gerudo were actually quite rich, and they hid these riches both in the fortress and in their hideout deep in the desert. The so-called "finest tapestry" upon the horse's back most likely would have served as a tablecloth in an average Gerudo warrior's home.
The King, not knowing any better, seemed immensely impressed. There was a glimmer of a smile on his lips and his hands itched to reach out and touch the horse, to feel its strength and power. He kept himself at bay, however, and simply nodded.
"My deepest gratitude, Lord Ganondorf. It is truly a magnificent steed. Guards, call a stable hand and have him bring this horse to his new home." As one of the guards at the back of the room ran off to find a stable hand, the King turned back to Ganondorf, who was handing the reigns back to Nabooru. He stepped closer to the throne once more and fell to one knee.
While the business with the horse was being taken care of, Niut allowed her eyes to wander about the throne room. She couldn't help but admire the decorations of lustrous and colorful tapestries and the tall windows that illuminated the room. Glancing to her right, she saw a window that provided a view of an enclosed garden. In the bottom corner of the window, she caught a bubble of white. It shifted up a little, revealing a pair of inquisitive blue eyes. Niut's amber eyes met the princess's gaze, never once faltering. The young princess, despite her suspicion, appeared oddly serene, as if she was entering a state of deep thought. If a child so small could be so brave and sure of herself, then perhaps any child could overcome her weaknesses.
Again, the tall-statured figure approached Princess Zelda from behind. The Sheikah showed no shame in being seen in the window. Her red eyes glared back at Niut, like she shared the young princess's suspicion. She placed her arm around Princess Zelda and gently led her away from the window. Even with their backs turned, even when they left the danger, Impa's arm remained around the princess's shoulders, a warm and comforting gesture. She remembered that feeling of security whenever she felt her mother's touch.
"Niut...this is your daughter. She's beautiful. Don't you want to hold her?"
"Mommy hold me, I'm scared!"
"Miry is having a hard time adjusting. She isn't making friends with any of her classmates."
"Why can't you do anything right, Miry?!"
"She hasn't been making any progress. Don't you train with her after lessons, Niut? Is there something going on?"
"Damn it, Miry, you need to think before you strike!"
"Maybe she isn't cut out to be a warrior…"
"Mother…I'm sorry…I'm trying my best but no matter what I do I…I can't please you. I'm trying so hard and practicing so much… Why do you hate me Mother?"
"Niut only cares about Miry's training."
"Niut's too harsh on Miry."
"Niut never embraces her daughter."
The voices and memories came so quickly that she felt she might collapse right there on the marble floor. Her throat began to burn and her eyes felt red. Her strong arms trembled, arms that she only used to fight and never to love. Her knees shook under her, threatening to drop her. "I never loved her enough…"
"I humbly thank you for your audience, your highness. I'm sure your majesty is expecting many more important guests, so I shall take my leave," Ganondorf said, bending over his knee in a bow. Niut snapped out of her daze and mimicked his gesture, keeping her eyes on the floor.
"May your journey back to the Gerudo Valley be a safe one," said the King as the troupe turned around and exited the throne room. Nabooru's eyes shifted in Niut's direction. The older warrior was staring straight ahead with a gaze that was almost as sharp and cold as Ganondorf's. The small, intricate muscles in Niut's face were hard at work, pushing against the force of emotion. The older warrior was a master at keeping her face rigid and her mind rational. She exuded confidence when she stepped into the battle ring, for she trusted her calculated fighting strategy, and she knew from years of experience what worked and what didn't. What was her greatest strength was also her greatest weakness. She did not allow her emotions and instincts to overtake her. She suppressed them in battle. She had also suppressed them in life.
They met the other two Gerudo warriors in the marketplace. After greeting their king and senior warrior properly, they turned to Nabooru and grinned broadly, showing off the pouch of rupees they collected from selling the horses. The younger warriors went into the shops to purchase supplies while Niut and Ganondorf hid silently in the shadows. They exchanged no words.
When the warriors returned, they packed the supplies on their horses and mounted. As the sun set over Hyrule, they left Castle Town with their mission complete.