Chapter Nine

Link moaned, his body aching all over and the pain in his foot sent colorful spots into his eyes even though they were still closed. He grit his teeth and struggled to breath deeply through his nose. He screamed in pain when he felt his bones crack and whimpered as something bound it tightly before setting it down. He fell flat on the bed, not realizing that he arched off of it in an attempt to ease the pain running rampant through his exhausted body.

"How is he?"

"He's still in pain, but give the medicine a bit of time to work."

He knew that voice... But where was he?

Slowly opening his eyes, Link blinked away the spots and turned his head to the side to see Bertha's battle scarred body hunched over him as she smiled at him and pet his hair while a man was hunched over his foot.

"Finally awake, boy? You seem to have a streak of bad luck. Don't worry, we'll take care of you from now on," Bertha said.

"What?" Link asked not sure what was going on.

"Bertha. . ." She looked at the man beside her and he growled something out in the Gerudo tongue and Bertha's eyes got wide before they narrowed and she asked him something back as he nodded.

"Ms. Bertha?" Link asked nervously.

"Hm? No, it's alright. You only need to relax... We've got a rough week ahead of us, but I promise nothing will happen to you," she whispered softly, a major change from her usual brash self.

Link nodded, though he still didn't understand what was happening; he vaguely remembered hearing Bertha saying something about taking him away and Isis saying she would keep him for herself. Were they really going to take him away? He had thought it was a joke.

As Link was in his thoughts, he slowly drifted off to sleep and when he was sleeping peacefully, the man nodded to Bertha who backed up as far as she could as the man held a large hand over the boy and a black and dark purple mist appeared around his hand and he moved it over the boy. There was a flash of light and it looked like a shield had broken as he put his hand back down.

"The princess tried to seal his memories. This is the magic of the royal family," the man growled out as Bertha snarled before her face softened and she moved the boy to lay more comfortably.

"His Excellency wishes that nothing happens to this boy. We are to do as he wishes."

"And the boy will be unharmed. Go."

She bowed low to him before jumping out the back and climbing on the side of the wagon and jumped onto her horse. The man shook his head, for such a heavy set woman, Bertha was light on her feet. He looked at the boy sleeping before him and had to admit that he was very pretty. He looked down at the boy's foot and growled again. Whoever had set it the first time didn't do it properly. If they hadn't found him and it healed that way, he'd never be able to walk let alone run away in the face of danger.

'I have a feeling I know why,' he thought darkly before he sat down more comfortably and kept his golden gaze out the back, his hood hiding his face from view still...

Meanwhile, hidden deep in the wastelands of Termina, an army was growing, festering like an infected wound. Standing on a cliff, above where the army was growing out of the death and muck that littered the land, was a man with a mask. He had found his precious mask and couldn't stop the smile from ripping his face in half.

"Lord Majora!"

He turned his head at the call of his name and saw his most trusted servants.

"Where is the boy I sent you to get?"

"It seems he's protected by the power of the goddesses. As well as something. . . stronger," one servant said.

"The Stalfos and Stall hounds nearly had him, but there was interference from the villagers," another said as the final one said: "He was injured in the attack, but we doubt he'd be able to get far without help."

Majora said nothing as he looked at them.

"Did it ever occur to you that they could travel by wagon?"

"Yes, but when we attacked them, we were attacked by the Gerudo," the first servant said.

"The Gerudo? Were they under orders from HIM?" Majora asked, sounding both excited and enraged at the same time.

"No... This is the time of year were they collect men to impregnate them so they can give birth to the next generation," the third one said as the second one nodded.

"So they must have felt threatened that one of their targets was being attacked. This is why the Gerudo are called the Devils of the Sand," Majora laughed a bit as he turned back to his army. "I want that boy, and I want him now."

"We, the Garo, understand and will carry out your will," the three of them claimed simultaneously before vanishing.

Majora laughed darkly, soon he'd have enough power to take over this land and with that boy's hidden power, he'd be able to fight and kill the goddesses.

"Oh my sweet little Deity, you can't escape from me," he preened softly. "If you happen to really be Deity then it will be a waste of such a beautiful body. . ."

He conjured an image of Link up and smiled softly at it. He really did look like Deity, he chuckled as he pulled out his Saw Blade and licked it.

"I will carve out your heart Deity; don't you worry about that," he laughed darkly...

Back in Hyrule, Zelda put on an act like she didn't know that Link was missing and when the escort, or rather the captain, came back. The captain was covered in dirt, blood and grime as he knelt before her, holding his injured side tightly.

"Princess... Forgive me, but we've lost Master Link and the Healer you sent us... We were attacked by Re-Dead and when we found the wagon, the healer was dead and Master Link is missing."

"What? But how?"

"We do not know. The four men with me have been slain, I'm the only survivor, but the others are still fine and on their way to Termina as we speak. We found this." He pulled out a small golden earring and Zelda gulped; that was hers!

She walked down the stairs and looked at it and then mentally smiled as she thought up the perfect plan. She looked at it a bit more before she gasped, her eyes wide and a hand rising to cover her mouth.

"That- That's a Gerudo earring! I saw Lady Isis and her girls wearing them!"

"Than the Gerudo's planned this attack?" the captain asked shocked. "What of the peace treaty?"

"For now, do nothing. Our main concern is to find and rescue Link. In his condition, he wouldn't be able to escape on his own." Zelda said.

The captain nodded his head and left, he needed to rest and heal anyway, but he would see what he could do about rescuing the princess's playmate from those barbarians. As soon as he was gone, Zelda smirked to herself as she walked out the room. Now that she started the fire all she had to do was wait for it to blaze and roar to life. Talk would spread soon enough that the Gerudos kidnapped Link and those still bitter about the war would rise to arms and even offer their services to save the boy so they could get back at the Devils of the Sand.

As she left the room she did not notice a dark figure hidden from view. As soon as the room was empty, they stepped out of their hiding spot, red eyes glaring darkly before smirking as they vanished. The castle was silent as they moved along the halls stopping at the library and sneaking in. The sages had long since stopped coming to the castle believing that with the end of the war there would be no need to stick around.

'Too bad; if they had, the princess might have stood a fighting chance against someone like me or even Lady Isis,' he thought darkly as he searched through the books, pulling out ones that were pretty useful while looking for his.

He found them in the back where the books were carelessly tossed about. He sucked his teeth as he gathered up a bunch and looked them over, growling silently when he saw that they were detailed records of the Deity, the only hints of his reign that still remained besides what his people and several more knew and followed. Opening his magic satchel he began putting all the books in, making sure to do it neatly so they wouldn't get ruined anymore than they already were.

Once he got both his books and the records, even a few blueprints of the castle and the castle town, he smirked as he vanished once more and appeared outside of Zelda's bedroom balcony. He snapped his fingers a wrapped box appearing on the princess's bedside table before he laughed, disappearing with the wind that blew by...

He whimpered, his foot hurt a lot and it felt like it would rip right off. He struggled to move, but something held him down before a scream was ripped from his throat. Link opened his eyes in pain as the pain lacing up his leg continued before it suddenly stopped and he collapsed back onto the cot he was resting on. He whined and slowly looked down at his leg and gasped. The cloaked figure stood at the end of the bed, one hand hovering over his leg, a black and purple mist healing it as his other hand crushed a viper's head.

"What's happened?" cried Isis as she ran into the tent.

"A pest sunk in looking for shelter and bit him... I'm almost done purging the venom from the wound." He said lowly, before he finished and then he chucked the dead snake out the tent before going to clean off his hands.

"Are you alright, Link?" Isis asked and Link blinked his eyes.

He slowly sat up and she smiled maternally at him before hugging him close. Feeling her there, feeling her breath on his hair and her heart against his ear, Link began to cry. He had been so scared and confused in the last few days he just needed someone to hold him. Isis soothed him, cooing and whispering sweet little nothings as he held her tight.

She looked up to see Bertha and the man peek in and she shook her head as if to tell them not to come in. The man nodded and left, most likely to go meet with their good friend the Wind Mage. Bertha sighed and stood before the tent door, self appointing it as her job to keep intruders away from their Excellency's fiancé.

Link soon calmed down, just sniffles and hiccups as Isis cleaned his face before she kissed his forehead and smiled.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"...Yes..." he mumbled, sniffling still.

She smiled and picked him up with ease, Link blushed brightly as she carried him bridal style and out the door. Bertha took one look and burst into a fit of laughter as Isis rolled her eyes and kicked her in the shin before walking forward, an air of authority and dominance around her. She got to the fire pit and set him down on the large cushion that she normally sat on before she took a seat on a floor cushion and looked at the stunned girls.

"You will show Master Link respect, and his wishes are to be granted. His requests, and orders are to be followed. If anyone tries to harm him, or touch him without my consent will be punished. Now then, any objections?"

Link looked at the group of women as they looked back at him then to Isis and then back at him before they gave a chorus of, 'No, my lady,' before returning to their previous activities. One girl knelt before him and offered him some fruit to snack on and he thanked her kindly. He was starving and wasn't sure if he'd be able to hold out. He picked at the grapes as Isis spoke with a woman who looked at him and his injured foot.

"But my lady, you should have let me kill her..."

"No. It would have started a war we're not ready to fight. Once we complete this mission, things will fall into place. His Excellency will woo and court his bride while we prepare for the war. The Gorons and Zoras have already begun and we need to get started as well once we get the boy to the safety of the Iron Fortress," she told her just as harshly in a low voice.

The woman nodded. She had wanted to kill Zelda for the boy's injuries and because she didn't like the little bitch, but Bertha had stopped her before telling her to calm down and worry about getting the boy back home where he would be hidden away from the world and protected. She looked the boy over and could see why Bertha had been so cheery about when she and Isis got back with the the treaty. The boy was cute and the blush that seemed to attach itself whenever one of the girls came to ask him anything or teased him was adorable.

"I don't like this; there's something that wasn't right. His Highness found the memory spell she placed on him. Why would she do that if he was her cherished friend as she had claimed." The woman asked.

"Alice... I honestly don't know... We've never trusted the Hylian royal family for that reason. They cannot be trusted not as a friend nor as family... Girls enough, he's still has a fever and you making him uncomfortable will not help him." Isis ordered as she noticed that Link was starting to get a bit tired.

The girls bowed and sat down, though the new topic of the next few days was, of course, the Hylian they had captured...

Link woke up to feel himself moving, but at the same time not moving. He sat up to see he was in a wagon, though this one was more lavish than he deserved. The royal plum and blue pillows and drapes made it dark and cool and to be honest he wanted it to be cold so his overheated body would cool off. He sat up and noticed that the cot he laid on was a lot more comfortable than the first one.

He wondered why the sudden change in decor? Was it because Isis wanted him as her pet since she was too old to get pregnant?

He didn't get to dwell on that for long when said Gerudo queen entered the wagon followed by the cloaked figure. They smiled seeing he was awake and Isis poked her head back out and called for something before a bundle and jar was handed to her followed by a pitcher and a goblet. She brought them in and set them beside him before she began preparing his meal while the man called his attention.

"How is the pain?" he asked, lifting the thin sheet off his leg and carefully picking it up to look at the wounds and clean them up.

"Ah, I haven't felt any. At least not for a while," Link answered, blushing as the man focused his eyes on his face before looking back down at his foot.

"There's no reason to be scared. We haven't hurt you and we won't hurt you. I'm pretty sure my grandmother will keep her promises."

"That I do, my dear boy, that I always do," she said before handing him a pita bread stuffed with meat, cheese and something that looked like plant leaves.

He thanked her and took a bite, his eyes going wide before he ate almost ravenously. Isis stifled a giggle or two as the man snorted softly and finished tending to his foot. He was glad the numbing spell he placed on it was working far better than the one the princess had put. He set the foot down on the pillows it was on before and moved back so his back was against the wooden planks.

"Hungry?" Isis asked as Link paused to breathe and then blushed even brighter when he realized just how rude he was a moment ago. "Relax. You've been sick for a few days and the pain hasn't helped with that either. You must be starving."

"... Yes... I'm sorry if I offended you..." Link said, taking a smaller bite of what was left of his pita sandwich.

"Nonsense!" Isis said, waving a hand like she was shooing of a fly. "You should eat to keep your health up or the fever will never go away."

Link blinked and then nodded his head. The man looked up and sighed before pulling off his hood. The reaction was almost instant. Link's eyes got big taking in the fire red hair the heavily bronzed skin, he was almost black from how dark his tan was, the full lips and large regal looking nose to the piercing golden eyes. But the most striking thing about him was the golden scarab embedded in his forehead and the crown of golden wires and beads that decorated his hair.

He could never forget that face, he had seen it before the war began. The man before him was none other than Ganondorf himself. Ganon looked at the Hylian and gave him a smile, but with his sharp features and the piercing gaze, it looked almost sinister.

"It's been some time, boy. Do you still play music for that spoiled brat?" he asked.

Link stared in shock, his skin paling and then his eyes rolled and he collapsed back. Isis quickly checked on him, making sure he didn't choke on food or his own tongue before she glared at her grandson and scolded him. Ganon just laughed at her and told her he had the same reaction when they had met the first time at the palace. Isis grumbled about evil grandchildren as she tended to Link..

When he woke up again, they had set up camp for the night and Ganon walked into his tent and picked him up. Link tensed and tried not to freak out as the man carried him with ease and brought him out to sit with the girls for dinner.

"We should arrive home tomorrow, mid-morning or around noon the latest. We have to ride fast because the sand storm will roll in fast." Link heard Isis telling the girls before she looked to see Link.

"Awake?"

"Yes, Lady Gerudo..." he mumbled shyly and she smiled softly.

The girls stared at the phenomenon with wide eyes. Lady Isis was a cold hard killer and always gave a smirk or a slight crinkle of the eyes to show she is smiling, but with the Hylia she gave him a full smile that reached even her cold eyes and it softened her beautiful face even more.

"Please, you can call me Isis. After all you will be living among our tribes from now on. Please do not think ill of us, but it's for your own good," she assured him and Link nodded, though he doubted he'd be able to handle the desert for long. He was born in the forest and felt most comfortable there. He did want to see what the desert was like, though.

Ganon set Link down on the large pillow and pulled out a cloak and wrapped it around him. Link thanked him quietly and smiled at as Bertha dropped her hand on his head and messed up his bed hair even more.

"How's sleeping beauty holding up, brat?" she asked Ganon who glared playfully at the brash woman.

"He's alive, isn't he?" he shot back and she laughed loudly before she smacked Ganon's head and thrust a plate in his hands.

"Don't be a smart ass before I tan ya one," she threatened and Ganon just scowled at her. "Here you go, boy."

Link looked at the sandwich she made him and smiled, he saw it was a in a pita bread still, but he could see the Ordon Goat cheese and smoked ham in it. He thanked her kindly before digging in, being mindful to eat slower and to take smaller bites. Isis laughed softly as Link ate in bliss, he looked like a little puppy eating a big bowl of minced meat. The girls giggled and cooed as they also ate, Bertha plunked down beside Isis and began eating as well.

"Well I know what I'm coming back for," Bertha said.

"Oh?"

"The Goat cheese," she answered, holding up her own sandwich.

Isis snatched it from her hand and took a quick bite before the woman could yell in protest before setting it back in her hands. Bertha just scowled and Isis gave her an impish smile. The goat cheese was sweet compared to most and had a bit of a kick to it. It was really good!

"It's delicious, but which goats produced this?"

"Oh, this is from the goats in my village, Ordon, but no one's there anymore and the goats are with them."

"What happened?" Isis asked, noting the sadden look on the boy's face.

Everyone paused in their chatter and looked at him, some stopped eating when they noted how sad he looked.

"There was an attack. If it had been raiders, we wouldn't have moved, but it was by Stalfos and Stall Hounds."

"What?" Alice, the woman on Ganon's left, gasped.

"That's how I broke my ankle. I had just gotten home from the palace and I was playing with the kids in my village, but we lost track of time and they were running late for supper. I climbed down first since it gets really dark out and I didn't want the kids to slip and fall. I was helping one of the boys down first when another one told me to look out. I turned around and saw the Stall hounds coming out to attack me."

Ganon looked from the boy to his grandmother and she nodded her head, her eyes almost black in the fire light before she gently urged Link to finish.

"I grabbed the boy and began to climb up again when one grabbed my foot and began to pull me down towards it. I almost slipped and banged up my right arm and side as my friend, Ilia, grabbed the boy, Malo, and pulled him back up to safety. I don't know what happened up in my house, but according to Ilia, when they went inside to hide, there were Stalfos in there. But the odd thing was they didn't attack. I lost my gripe and fell pretty hard. I had tried to brace myself on my right foot, since the Stall Hound had my left foot in it's jaws, and hands, but I didn't place it right and it rolled over a stone and well the crack was loud enough to hear."

Isis winced, that was not a pleasant way to break one's ankle, she was surprised the bone didn't come out of the skin from the way he had worded the fall. The others were all a bit green from the image in their heads as Ganon looked back at said injured foot and made a slight wince almost as if he could hear the bone snapping.

"I screamed and from there things were a blur. I remembered hearing a blowing sound and then the Stalfos shrieking. I don't really understand what happened next, but a Poe suddenly appeared and it was ready to kill me when I screamed again and suddenly a light flashed, but no one seemed to notice it but me. The light flashed and in an instant everything was back to normal minus my injuries. After the attack everyone agreed that it was best to move away from Ordon and go to Termina- OH NO! Termina's gone! No, no, no, no! Everyone went there and Zelda said it's a wasteland!"

Isis quickly pulled him into a hug as he began crying and rambling as he worried about his friends and their families. As he rambled on, he said something that caught Isis's attention and she pulled him back.

"What was that last bit?" Isis asked.

"Huh? Oh... um... You see- I-..." he bit his lip and blushed brightly, bowing his head as Isis took noticed that probably had to do with Link pretending to be Zelda.

"We know that Zelda's been forcing you to act in her stead, Link, please tell us what's happening? I promise you if it's bad we'll protect you. And I'm sure my grandson would have our sister tribe in Great Bay protect your people from harm," Isis assured him then giving Ganon a pointed look and he nodded his head, summoning one of the younger girls to his side and quickly writing a message before giving it to her to take to their sister tribe.

Link was shocked, they knew? Then why didn't they say anything? They could have had him arrested in a heart beat! So why?

"It's alright, boy, just tell us," Ganon said in a soothing tone, really shocking the Gerudo women present, their king was anything but kind and gentle.

Link looked at him and then to Bertha and Alice before looking at the other girls. They all looked at him with worry and he nodded, he didn't like seeing others worry or upset. So he took a calming breath and began to speak.

"Before I was attacked, I had been pretending to be the princess while she went to investigate the sudden disappearance of Termina. She told me about how the Goddesses came to power. She said there were two devil gods that wanted to destroy the world and the Goddesses defeated them, but now one of the masks is missing and with all these strange things happening, she thinks the devil gods are back and want to take the goddesses powers. While she was away villagers suddenly began disappearing, most of them found dead, others had run away fleeing. Poes have appeared everywhere, and demons as well."

Isis said nothing as she looked at Ganon, they both now knew why Zelda had sealed his memories, he wasn't suppose to know all that.

"And there was a man, a strange man who wouldn't stop following me. He said he was looking for his brother. He said that his brother looks similar to me but has white hair," Link mumbled.

Bertha gasped as Ganon went rigid, Isis looked wide eyed in shock.

'Shit...' was all that passed through their minds, 'HE'S back!'