I feel like I'm becoming a broken record with my apologies regarding the lateness of this chapter… So I'll skip on ahead.
There are times where Zelda is not living up to her Triforce of Wisdom. Don't worry folks, it's all for a reason.
Also, considering how much music plays a great deal in being my inspiration, I've decided to state them here: Inception ~ Mind Heist and Ryan Taubert ~ Art of Survival.
Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy it.
The walk to the training grounds, albeit short, was exhausting. The sun was relentless in its heat and its rays felt like tendrils of fire against any bare skin. As Aveil had informed them, a Gerudo woman by the name of Raja stood guard outside, her fierce demeanour as powerful as Aveil's. As both Hylians came closer, her eyes narrowed, surveying them with obvious dislike.
Yet as Zelda flashed the Gerudo token, her behaviour shifted as quickly as lighting a candle. The condescending smirk upturned into a grin as bright as the sun overhead. "Twenty rupees to enter."
Zelda handed the red rupee over, only mildly surprised that there was an entrance charge. The Gerudo needed to make money somehow and she supposed it was better to gain it via commercial means than thievery.
With a sharp smile, Raja clapped her hands. The metal gate securing the grounds retracted with a rattle and revealed only darkness ahead. Even though the woman smirked again as they waited for the gate to fully settle, Zelda only lifted her head higher and strode forward, letting the darkness envelop her.
Much like every other place within the fortress, sand coated the floor and the supports were the dull beige of sandstone. Yet differences dotted the room: intricate designs were embedded into the pillars, the white paint bright against the otherwise sandy monotony.
In the centre sat several burning torches, their crackling flames echoing in the room. Her quick glances also showed that above each of the three doors was the head of a lion, sculpted to look ferocious. Zelda was impressed at the craftsmanship, but she only continued to look for a few more seconds before she placed her weapons onto the floor and transformed into Sheik. Having done so, she slipped all her weaponry into the designated pouches and belts with gratitude, relived that they were back in her possession. Her hand reached into one of the pouches, searching through the plethora of items. It was only as her fingers touched the gold of the lye and the leather of her grandmother's journal did Zelda truly feel sated.
Of course, there were several rather gaping holes in her attire that left more skin on show than she would have liked, but she would fix them later. As she retied the bandages around her wrist to conceal one of her daggers, she watched as Link made his way forward to the middle door and waited for her. He looked at her expectantly and she nodded, ready to face whatever was on the other side.
Yet before he could even lay his hand on the stone, a voice rang out clear and loud, its frequency neither male nor female. "If you can overcome the trials in the chambers ahead, then and only then will you be qualified to hold our secret treasure."
Both of them gave each other the same glance - guessing that the treasure was in fact the medallion. As they entered through, nothing but doors to either direction greeted them, each locked shut with a heavy padlock and several chains. Zelda jingled the chains experimentally, the weight enough to tell her that brute force alone would not break the bonds.
"That is it? The trial consists of gathering keys and unlocking doors?" she questioned sceptically.
"Of course not, they'll be a few monsters waiting to ambush you," Link replied, sounding neither glad nor annoyed at the prospect.
"Delightful." Zelda sighed.
Link only chucked in response and lifted the previous door for them both to go through. Only seconds after re-entering the beginning location did Link already had his bow out. The collision of arrow to stone had her looking up to see where exactly it had struck. She had only begun to open her mouth to question the point when two treasure chests fell from seemingly nowhere.
Zelda hesitated, expecting them to contain something unpleasant. Link, however, did not wait to kick them open and uncover the rupees waiting inside.
"Well that's a shame; I thought they'd contain keys."
"I doubt it will be that easy," she said.
"There would be no fun if it was," he joked and headed to the door on the far right.
Zelda watched him for mere seconds before asking, "Where are you going?"
"To the moon. It looks so lonely up there, I thought I'd give it some company."
"Hilarious," she deadpanned.
"You ask a stupid question and you shall be met with a stupid answer," he replied sardonically. "Where do you think I'm going?"
"Would it not make more sense to begin from the left?"
He looked at her amusedly. "Does it matter?"
"No."
Link continued heading to the right.
"But I think left would be a better alternative."
"You know, it's called right, because it's the right way to go."
Zelda mirrored his movements, but in the opposite direction. "And yet, when I looked at the floor plans of temples, most items were acquired from the left."
Link looked over at her, the bemused smile never once waning. "Odd, because I usually get things from everywhere."
"And you're an expert on temple structure?"
He considered the question pensively. "No, actually. I've only been through two defined temples, all the rest were cities, mines, ruins, prisons or palaces." Then he grinned. "Which is more than you, so in this scenario, I suppose I am the expert."
"Very well, but I'm still going left," she responded. She was beginning to realise that many of her conversations with Link were the most random she had ever had. If not also sometimes rather pointless. It did not truly matter which way they went, but so accustomed was she to many unquestionably following her judgement that Link's other plans was actually refreshing. It probably should have annoyed her that he was not as patriotic as she had claimed to Aveil, but if anything, to have such a petty disagreement over meaningless things made her smile.
"Then you can go left, I'll head right and who knows, maybe we'll meet in the centre," he called to her.
"Fine," Zelda said nonchalantly and went to open her chosen door. At a leisurely pace, she opened the door to another room coated in sand. She could guess that the grounds were old, but the amount of sand everywhere was ridiculous. She missed the sight of vegetation.
Musing over the lack of greenery, Zelda all but forgot she was in a trial as she walked forward until a blade whipped by her head. Only fast thinking had her ducking and rolling to safety and reaching for her own knife.
Eyes focused on the two lizard-like creatures, she didn't hear the whir of machinery stimulated to life. Instead, she only saw the bolt of light from her peripheral and quickly dived to avoid it, only to dart forward again when flames rose behind her.
Constantly moving to avoid the three different dangers, Zelda only partially regretted having chosen left. She was far more concerned on not getting charred to death or a blade stuck in her anatomy to give it much more thought.
Her small knives were enough to dispatch the walking lizard-like things with well-placed blows, but against the laser-shooting eye machine, they hardly created a dint. Staying well out its range, she struggled to think of a way to combat it. Knowing that blades were ineffective, that out-ruled most of her weapons. But she still had her whip.
Working quickly, she unwound it from her forearm and attached it round the head of the machine. Exerting as much force as physically possible, she tugged. With the groan of metal bending, its head came soaring off easier than she had expected. The abrupt loss of her whip's attachment left her reeling to find her footing, but she watched as the head landed close to the body. Zelda was not ready for the explosion that followed and for the umpteenth time, she fond herself crouching to the floor and shielding her face.
When at last the room was as silent as she had found it, she laughed breathily. Rising from her position, she wondered how she could have been so blind as to not notice the enemies before. Reminding herself to be more observant of her surroundings, she made her way to the chest - which she was sure had not been there previously - and uncovered a key. Using the end of the bandages on her arm to tie the key onto, she moved cautiously into the next room.
Having learnt from the previous ordeal, Zelda waited at the door as she scanned the area. First glances led to the belief nothing was amiss, but she would not fall privy to such thinking. Her steps slow and hesitant, she inched further into the room and was met with an ear-splitting howl.
Unlike many other monsters she had encountered, she knew of Wolfos from tales of past heroes. Their origins were unknown, but many believed that they were a product of experimental magic. Resembling a wolf more than anything, Zelda did wonder why their name was derived Wolf and Fossa.
Having a background on some of their history was no aid to Zelda though and she mentally scolded herself for becoming distracted. It didn't take her long to realise why they had half the name of a cat when its extended claws raked out towards her.
She had already lost many of her throwing knives to the room before, yet she somewhat doubted an item so small would fare well against such a large animal. Still, she threw a shuriken at its eye, cringing when it howled in a near shriek, but no less amazed that despite being partially blinded, it continued to stalk towards her.
Still, she was determined not to be undermined by a beast of magic. Waiting until it struck for her again, she dodged at the last second. Manoeuvring under its outstretched limb with her dagger in hand, she sunk the blade into its back with the hope of spearing its heart. But luck was not on her side as it yelped and spun for her, teeth gleaming with saliva.
Zelda was running out of options and with the room being completely barren, nothing gave her any inspiration. With the beast moving too fast, close range was risky at best, fatal at worst. She dived to the ground to miss its snapping jaws, but her momentary relief was gone as quickly as it had came.
Another howl joined that of the first.
Her mouth threatened to drop as she observed the much larger and much more terrifying white Wolfos that ambled towards her. Even though its eyes bore no pupil, the malicious intent was unmistakable. Now was the time she truly regretted not having gone with Link.
She needed a sword, badly. Though she would have preferred something akin to Link's sword, even her thin rapier would have aided her… Hadn't she taken it with her? Whilst still moving in a random direction and using her right hand to throw whatever she could at the Wolfos, her left felt out for the rapier in her shadows. As her fingers clasped around the hilt, she nearly cried out in triumph.
Compared to the size of the Wolfos, the blade was pathetic. But she knew it was more powerful than it looked. Being light on her feet, she nimbly avoided the blows of the two Wolfos and slashed at every inch she could reach. She was neither as graceful or as mighty with a blade as Link was, but her hits struck true and soon the grey Wolfos fell at her feet.
Her gaze now solely upon the white one, the adrenaline that pumped through her veins swarmed her senses. In the few occasions she had seen Link battle, she had often watched as he would twirl his sword in his grasp. Being a spectator, she had thought him insane. Such cockiness was certainly a sure way to lead to decreased defence. Yet for some inexplicable reason, she had the urge to spin her rapier. And so she did, her audacious display of flagrance beckoning the beast closer.
Zelda stood, unmoving as it heeded her taunts and barrelled for her. She smiled as the Wolfos jumped and she raised the rapier up. The blade sunk effortlessly into its chest, its own downward momentum securing its dastardly fate. She braced herself as the weight sank onto her and used both her hands to push the blade up further into its body. Struggling under the weight, she teetered as she tried to stabilise her centre, but it proved too much for her smaller frame.
Abandoning her rapier, she let her body drop to the side whilst taking care to avoid being crushed by the beast. As it burst into smoke as its companion had, Zelda fully collapsed onto the sand, her chest heaving with every breath and sweat clinging to the loose tendrils of her hair.
It was several long moments before she rose into an upright position and inspected the grazes she had acquired. They were numerous, but they were not deep and so she left them alone.
Picking up her rapier and keeping it in her hand, she turned to door, expecting it to be free from the bars keeping it impassable. When she saw that nought had changed, she stopped. Her eyes closed as she gritted her teeth and heaved a sigh. She briefly hoped that it would miraculously open when she looked at the door again, but of course, it didn't.
Zelda stood staring at it, her eyebrows knitted in confusion. She had killed two murderous Wolfos, but it hadn't opened? She rubbed her temples against the frustration she could feel mounting. Her eyes scanned laboriously over the floor of the room, and found nothing other than her scattered weapons.
Zelda bit her lip. There has to be something…she thought as she began to search the room more intensively, collecting her various items along the way. She kicked up sand with her feet, hoping for there to be some trap door hidden under it all, all the time reasoning that there had be something she had missed. As the time ticked by, she was becoming increasingly perplexed. Concentrate, she willed herself and breathed deeply before returning to her search.
She had scanned the floor a multitude of times and with nothing to draw her eyes, her gaze moved upwards. Using both her hands and eyes, she looked for anything that appeared unusual as her hands ran across the wall. She crouched low and jumped high to reach as much of the brickwork she could. Twice, she used this method and on both accounts, her meticulous search yielded nothing.
Zelda stood against one of the walls, undoubtedly confounded. She shifted her position on the wall, wishing it was like one of the suspense novels she had once read; that the wall was in fact a glamour that she would unsuspectingly fall through to another room. Her eyes widened, considering the off-hand thought in greater depth. Glamours were predominantly used by the Sheikah, but they were not exclusive to only the Shadow folk.
Silently willing that she was right, she let her eyes become unfocused on the surroundings. As though waiting for an object to rise to the surface of water. When at last the very far corner to her left shifted and swirled, the once brick wall now a clear passage, Zelda exhaled in relief.
The height was unreachable when she held her hand up to gauge the distance, but a run up would aid her. She placed her rapier back in the protection of her shadows and crossed to the other side of the room - the gap amongst the bricks directly in her view. She sprinted forward and as soon as she was within two feet, she pushed her feet hard against the floor and lifted into the air. Clearing the jump easily, she tucked herself into a roll - going over her shoulder rather than her head - and stood back up in the new area.
And of course, there was what she had spent at least a good half hour looking for - the switch. Zelda stomped her foot onto it, exerting more pressure than needed, and immediately the whir of the door unlocking sounded. "About time," she muttered to herself, but there was a triumph to her words.
Preparing to head back to the opened door, it was only as she turned that she saw the other door before her. Curious as to where it would lead, she headed through and found herself atop a curved stone path. Four ghastly statues came into her view, but her sights were not on them. Rather she focused on the chest at the end of the path.
Another key added to the first, Zelda was halfway back to the door when the thwack of an arrow had her looking down, certain she would find Link.
As the platform below continued to move, she soon noticed the Hero carelessly loading his bow and firing. There was a simultaneous awe and irritation in her gaze that he could aim with such a lazy nonchalance, but still acquire a perfect hit. She was proficient with a bow, but even she still needed to concentrate.
When the platform he stood on ceased its moving, he turned to look at her with a grin. "Came to watch the show did you?"
"Actually, I had no idea where this room would lead. But from my standing, it's not a bad view," she said with a laugh.
"'Not a bad view'?" he repeated in mock shock. "This is probably the best view you've had since deciding to go left."
"You are more visually appealing than a white Wolfos I'll admit."
"Wolfos? See, you should have came right. The worst I've had are Stalfos," he replied, moving to open the chest that had appeared only moments before.
"Perhaps, but how many keys do you have?" Zelda asked.
Link held up the most recently located key. "With this one, that makes four."
"And is this your last room?"
"Yep," he announced, popping the P.
"Then you'll have to wait whilst I continue going left. There are rooms still to be explored," she told him.
Even from the distance, she could see his eyebrow quirk in question. "I've gone through four rooms, which included crossing a sea of fire, and you've only killed some Wolfos? What in Hyrule have you been doing?"
"Have you ever tried to kill those beasts with a thin rapier? It's considerably harder than what you may think," she answered, feeling the need to defend her strength.
"You might be surprised to hear that I haven't actually, but I'll be sure to give it a go sometime," he informed mockingly.
Zelda crossed her arms, positive that he was smirking, and began to turn back to face the door. "I'll meet you back in the beginning room," she said dismissively.
Link chuckled. "Try not to take too long."
She narrowed her eyes at him, moving further to the exit. "We can't all be as powerful or have the level of expertise that you do."
"I'm just too perfect," he sighed dramatically, but she was able to tell it was in jest.
"I think you'll find the title of perfection belongs to me," Zelda replied, grinning beneath her veil. She didn't believe it such ridiculous ideals, but she enjoyed the banter.
"My, my, aren't you conceited?" Link remarked.
"And you're not?" she replied, her hand on the door.
"It ain't conceited if it's true!" he yelled back humorously as she disappeared back through the door, chuckling as she did.
As it were, the room following on from where she had fought the Wolfos had only taken little over a few minutes to search. Three large, grey gelatinous masses had occupied the room, but her rapier had made quick work of them. Though they had been nothing difficult, it had still been disappointing to only uncover menial things. Other than being considerably richer than when she started, she held no more keys than previously.
With only two keys hanging from her bandages, Zelda ventured back into the central room which contained the three doors. She was unsurprised to see Link already leaning against one of the pillars, idly drumming his fingers atop his crossed arms.
"How many keys have you got?" he inquired as she approached him.
"Two. I searched the entire place, but there was nothing more to be found."
Link nodded. "Six should be enough. I couldn't find any others either, so my guess would be that's the lot of them."
Zelda made a noise of agreement and headed towards the central door, only to face the dilemma; "Which way do we go?"
Link laughed. "I hadn't though about this. Considering right yielded more keys, I'd go with that. But I also think that streak of good fortune won't last."
"So left it is?" she inquired.
"Maybe. There is a possible certainly of likelihood."
Zelda raised a brow. "That makes no sense."
"Exactly. It sums up the ambiguous nature of the task set before us."
At that, she chuckled and unthreaded one of the keys from her wrist. Yet before putting it into the lock, she paused and looked at the other key hanging from her wrist. "The keys are absolutely identical."
"So?"
"If they are all exact copies, then surely only one would be needed to work as a skeleton key. Which then makes me wonder what the point of venturing through several different rooms was," she pointed out.
"As annoying yet useful that would be, I doubt that'll be the case," Link said.
"One way to find out," Zelda said as she fitted the key into the lock. It was a curious combination of irritation and relief that followed when the key didn't budge. She was relieved that the exploration had been for something, but her following sigh was at how much more complicated the task had become.
And thus began the tedious method of fitting every key into the lock until finally hearing a click.
When at last the key turned, the lock and key disintegrated into nothing more than ash, disappearing before touching the ground. As she raised her hand to the door, it rumbled and lifted of its own accord. It was not something she had regular contact with, but the door's own opening did not startle her. It was the sounding of flapping that permeated the air that did.
Acting in reflex, they backed against the wall, both with equal looks of surprise on their features. Yet Link recovered far quicker than she and in the time it took for Zelda to locate her rapier, Link had already disposed of the bats, the screeches and batting of wings vanishing into puffs of smoke.
"That was unexpected," Zelda remarked.
"Be grateful they were only Keese. Nasty bite, but they don't do much damage."
Zelda nodded and proceeded to the next door, and slid her rapier through one of her belts. It was not the most comfortable place for it to be; bumping unsheathed against her thigh, but she turned it so that only the flat side made any contact.
She had only unlocked one door so far, yet already she was tired of searching through the keys. It would be a lengthy process, but one that would at least become less time consuming as more keys were used.
As the following click sounded this time, Zelda immediately took hold of her rapier and aimed her eyes to the ceiling, recalling Aveil's very charming words. Other than the cuts and grazes lining her skin, there would be no more blood drawn if she could help it.
It wasn't until the cricking of something - sounding both spider and insect like - caught her attention that she looked down. One glance at its orange skin and beady eyes was enough for Zelda to impale it with her sword. With both Link's and her sword in action, there was very little room to swing without risk of harming one another. Instead, they resorted to stabbing the things, which she thought of as being disfigured jumping crabs. It soon came to her realisation that she needed a glossary of monster names.
They weren't hard to dispatch, but it was a nuisance and Zelda was relieved to see the last one dissolve into smoke. Covered in black ichor, she held her blade out and hit it against the wall. Though she could deal with blood without care, the black gooey substance was certainly repulsive enough to make her lips turn up in disgust.
Whilst she cleaned most of it off, Link had already begun working on the door and had it unlocked when she walked nearer. Using the hand he held his sword in, Link pressed his hand against the wood and like the others, it rose without any more input.
Zelda made to step forward when Link suddenly caught her round the waist and pulled her behind him, throwing his shield up in a blur of silver. She heard the ring of arrow heads against the metal and peered round to see what had fired them.
Their short stature and squished features allowed her to recognise them instantly: Moblins. At least twelve had formed a line to the far side, each taking consecutive turns to fire the arrows so that it appeared the attack was endless. Though their method was clever, Zelda couldn't help but find it amusing how they only aimed for Link's shield.
He seemed to realise that as the same time as she, for the next thing she knew, he had thrust the shield into her arms and grabbed the knife from the sheath on her back.
Zelda only had time to grab the handle before Link was already throwing her blade into the throat of one of the Moblins. She made to follow behind him, but the arrows still pelting into the shield had her hesitating. The remaining Moblins soon became aware of the change in positions, now turning their bows towards Link. Zelda felt her eyes widen and completely abandoning the shield, she took out her own knives and threw them into the throat of the nearest Moblin.
Now attentive to both the Hylians participating, the Moblins arrows flew in random directions and Zelda found herself either ducking or throwing her needles, stars or knives. When at last she was close enough, she used her rapier to cut through the creatures, able to cut down more than one each time. Every few moments, she glanced over at Link, and despite the situation, she found herself watching him as he effortlessly cut through the arrows, their shafts split cleanly into two. That was until the head an arrow sliced across her forearm, the sting making her hiss in pain. She wasted no time in driving her rapier through the culprit.
At last, as the final the Moblin dropped, the sound muffled by the sand, Zelda retrieved her weapons. From her peripheral, she watched Link pick up any spare arrows and place them into his quiver. Much like herself, he too had cuts that were red with blood, but they were skin-surface. And considering there was a further three rooms to venture through, the wounds were not serious enough to warrant time being wasted on treatment.
"It appears it is not only I who have been susceptible to making poor decisions," Zelda said.
"It is motive that gives character to the actions of a man," replied Link sagaciously.
"Mm-hmm," she hummed. "You would sound far more astute if you were not reciting archaic words."
"Killjoy," he muttered, but his grin was disported.
"You could have been embedded with arrows due to your impulsive actions," Zelda pointed out, overlooking his smile, charming though it was.
"I knew what I was doing; I've done it thousands of times before."
"All the same, you should concentrate more on planning your actions before executing them," she rationalised.
Link gave her a lazy grin. "I tend to prefer living in the moment rather than planning for an uncertain future."
Zelda continued to look at him. "Surely you see how plans can be beneficial?"
"Of course I do," he agreed, moving to the next door. "But right now, I have no indication what's behind this door. For all I know, there could be twenty-foot serpents, or a hundred Stalfos. And seeing how I don't know, what use would planning do? Yet, if I did know there were say, two Darknuts awaiting us, I'd tell you to get a blade out because shuriken stars sure as hell won't do anything against them." With that, he stepped closer to the door, waiting it for it to fully rise before continuing forward to be met with whichever foe was awaiting them.
Only a step behind, she did not immediately see what the next room held, but could hear the thudding footsteps of something decidedly larger than Moblins.
"Well what do you know, turns out I was partially right!" Link said, rather too joyously for the occasion.
Though she was undoubtedly grateful to not see hundreds of them, the sight of three Stalfos was neither reassuring nor pleasant. Though having seen several depictions of them in heavy tomes, nothing could have prepared her for the sheer size of them. Even though Link was taller than she, the Stalfos still loomed over him, their fleshless heads forever baring a sinister grin.
Again wishing that her rapier was far larger, Zelda avoided the Stalfos Link was preoccupied with and met the sword of the one aiming for her. As she was forced to ground herself to push the sword back, she realised that her thin blade would be no match for its brute strength. Coupled with its shield and broadsword, the Stalfos made for a fierce opponent.
Zelda jumped back as it swung for her, the air whooshing past in a gust. Quickly, she scanned for any points of weakness in its front. She watched as it swung, thinking then would be the time to attack, but its shield drew closer to its body, deterring any blows. With any means of engagement from the front impossible, Zelda switched her focus to its back, and constantly turned to keep it from striking her.
Taking to the floor, she rolled between its legs, coming out of the roll directly behind it. Wasting no time, she shifted into a stance no further than a hips width apart, and placing her weight onto her leading leg, she spun in a full circle, bringing her right leg round in a sharp kick as she twisted her body. The force of her kick shattered its scapula, and with its shoulder blade now clearly broken, its humerus dislocated. To her relief, its shield clattered to the ground.
Zelda regretted having not aimed for its sword swinging arm, butshe still hoped it would be more tentative to attack without protection. And so, when it laughed, she was dumbfounded. Mostly because it was a greater disadvantage and also because: "How in Hyrule can it laugh?! It has no organs or brain or anything!"
"Zelda," Link said calmly, his voice coming from behind her. "In case you hadn't noticed; you are currently in a battle for your life. So I suggest you ignore the biology and get fighting!"
Taking note of his words, she made to break its arm using her blade with the hopes of rendering it unable to hold its sword. However, it flung its arm up at the last possible second. Her blade slipped between its ribs and against all possible odds, became jammed. On what exactly, she didn't know, nor did she care to find out as it gave a booming laugh and aimed its sword for her.
She watched the blur of silver rise and before she even had time to react, Link was already one step ahead. With a force far greater than she could muster, Link's own blade collided with the Stalfos head, severing it from its body. Using the same momentum, he twirled the sword effortlessly so that its tip lined with the Stalfos' spine before driving the blade in deep, completely shattering each individual vertebrae.
Zelda watched, almost transfixed at how swiftly and agilely he disposed of the skeleton. But her gaze was interrupted as he yelled, "Get working on the next door!"
With a nod she tore her eyes away from the littering of bones, grasping the keys from his hand and side-stepping the other heaps of bones. Seeing how the enemies were destroyed, she did not understand the need for such panic, but she still worked quickly through the motions of fitting the key into the lock and twisting.
She had only begun to lift the second key when Link was abruptly dragging her to the ground and lifting both his and one of the Stalfos' shields to cover them. Zelda had no time to ask the meaning behind the actions when the deafening explosion of bombs filled the small area. With the shield obscuring her vision, she only felt and heard the bombs going off and the bones being incinerated.
When at last the racket subsided, Link lowered the shields and nodded, satisfied. When he turned to her, she gave him a questioning look. "What was the need for bombs?"
"Stops them from reassembling," he explained.
Her expression was a mix of intrigue and surprise. "They posses the ability, despite having broken their bones beyond repair?"
He gave a short laugh. "Yep and damn is it annoying. Hence blowing them up into smithereens."
"Certainly an efficient method, if not rather risky in so small an area," she said, standing up as Link did the same, both brushing any dust from their clothes.
"It was why I wanted you to open the door, so we could have escaped the blast a lot better. But plan B worked just as well."
Zelda smiled, glad he was able to immediately think of an idea. "Thank you, by the way."
Link glanced at her. "What for?"
"For having power where I did not. I provided no input in that battle and thus I am grateful that you were there."
He only shrugged. "I'm guessing you're not used to battling enemies with no muscles to sink blades into?"
"Unfortunately so," she admitted as her eyes dropped to her whip. Even if unable to efficiently use close range contact, she still could have disarmed the Stalfos. Her eyes cast down, she caught sight of the Stalfos' blade. Yet even as she considered lifting it, she could deduce that its weight would not be one comfortable for her. "When fighting foes as large and protected as them, I am not as powerful as you."
Link chuckled as though in disbelief. "Everyone has power Zelda, it's how we use it that makes us strong."
Zelda regarded him curiously. "You're rather philosophical today."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Not at all," she replied. "I only think it odd that I have struggled to concentrate since arriving here and have been subject to more poor decisions than I care to admit to. Not to be haughty, but I am sure I do not usually fall prey to such things. But you have not been privy to such changes; you are still as courageous and adroit as always."
Link's expression was contemplative. "I wouldn't be sure about that. I'm tired and fed up of unlocking doors and beating whatever is waiting. And it's only because I'm trying to impress you that I'm acting determined-"
"Impress me?" she interrupted before he could continue.
"Bad judgements and difficulty thinking before I act should be added to that list…" he trailed.
"Link," she said softly, "you have already impressed me on more than one occasion. You needn't concern yourself with trying to obtain my approval. If anything, it is I who should be trying to prove to you that I am powerful and wise."
He sighed as she spoke, but as she finished, he looked at her, confused. "You're already both of those things," he tried to say, but Zelda shook her head.
"You watched me cry because of a nightmare. That does not induce images of strength and robustness."
"Why are you so concerned with perfection recently, you surely know that you're incredible?" he queried.
"Any why are you so worried about my perception of you when I already have the highest regard for you?" she countered, only then registering his compliment.
He didn't reply, but instead exhaled deeply, a smile touching his lips. Eventually, he said, "Even with a veil, your blush is so easy to spot."
Zelda tugged the fabric up higher before crossing her arms stubbornly. "I am not blushing."
With a sly grin, he moved closer to her. "Really?" he remarked and in a moment so fast, she only saw his hand as a blur, he reached to tug her veil down. Zelda twisted away from him but not before he succeeded in seeing her face.
"Link!" She made to reprimand him, but there was only humour in her voice. As she reached up to pull her veil back up, he caught her hands and held them to her sides. "You can let go of me…"
"I will, but only if you keep the veil down," he bargained.
"Whatever for?"
"So I can see when you're smiling," Link told her.
And once again, a blush rose in her cheeks, much to his amusement and to her chagrin. "Much as I can see the logic behind that reasoning, you have not said why."
He released her hands, but did not move away from her. "Other than you having a gorgeous smile, there is no real reason. You were becoming far too serious, so I thought I'd inject some humour."
Zelda chuckled and used her now free hand to place it on his cheek. "I think I need to elevate you into Dukedom so to make you a member of my court. I could use your humour when topics become grim."
He gave her a rakish grin. "I'll have to decline, a noble's life is definitely not my idea of fun."
"A shame, but I doubt the noblemen would take warmly to you either," she said with a laugh and ran her hand across the growing stubble on his jaw.
"Ah, I'm much too roughish for their liking," Link noted with fake regret.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it," she said and finally stepped away from him to unlock the next door. "I find the ruggedly handsome look to be rather becoming on you." She grinned at his surprise before tugging her veil up and raised her hand to signal the door to open.
Link's optimistic nature had amplified her own mood and she stepped through with confidence. Even as a chorus of howls rippled the air, Zelda was not perturbed. Knowing now that her rapier was efficient enough, she took it into her hands and stalked towards the Wolfos.
Recalling how the others had fought, she matched up her previous encounter to now. She was observant of their attacks and after noting they were right handed, she ensured her footing was so that she could easily dodge any upcoming swipes. Though it was not any easier to fight than before, Zelda did find it less troublesome to evade its attacks when expectant of its manoeuvres. However, when it changed its dominant hand to its left paw, Zelda found herself reanalysing its technique.
Twice it lunged for her, its longest teeth the length of her finger, and each time Zelda only narrowly avoided being clamped between its jaws. Mindful of the spontaneous strikes, she never once let her guard drop.
With time, she soon developed an understanding of how best to defeat it so that when it struck out with its right paw, she ducked and sliced her blade across its torso. As she landed more cuts to its abdomen, its power became less and less until at last, she sunk her blade into its heart. Its howl cut off as its body fell limp and sagged to the floor as she ripped her blade out.
Link had taken to fight the only other one, and though it was a larger white one, he killed it with ease far quicker than she.
"That almost appeared too easy for you," said Zelda.
"It is when you simply deflect their blows with a shield and strike them whilst they're recovering," Link explained.
"I should have given you only my rapier then."
He only chuckled and moved hopefully towards what was presumed the final door as only one key was left. Zelda readied her blade and checked that her weapons were secure. She did not know what would greet them in the next chamber, but with each enemy becoming progressively more difficult, she was in anticipation of the next foes.
Upon entering, the first thing she noted was the size of the room and how it was far larger by comparison to those previous. Then she saw the four, heavily armoured monstrosities before her.
"Darknuts," Link muttered with a frown. And yet, despite the grimace, he rotated his sword in his grasp, his eyes shining with the promise of a challenge.
"They look delightfully fun," Zelda murmured. Unlike him, she felt her mouth go dry at the sight of them. Though she could see no signs of eyes in their helmets, each one of them turned towards the Hylians. Their slow, weight-laden steps reverberated in the chamber.
"Just do not let them hit you," Link warned, his gaze set on the enemies. "And when you get that armour off, remember to duck."
"Anything else?"
Link looked at her, sighing at her lack of shield. "Unless you can find a gap in their armour, don't even try getting too close. I'd say stun them… But seeing how you don't have a shield…"
"I'll find a way," she told him. The Darknuts pounded forward and Zelda grounded herself, watching closely to infer a method of attack.
He nodded without looking at her but she could still see the calculations running through his head. "One more thing," he begun.
"Yes?"
"Don't die." And he charged forward, slamming his shield into the first Darknut in his path.
Long ago, in the warmth of her library, he had once told her of the challenges he had faced during his journey. Of monsters fought and triumphed over and of the skills and techniques that had led him to those victories. In those days, she had found the tales of moves he executed hard to believe, but witnessing him now, she felt privileged to watch him perform manoeuvres that were a combination of grace and power.
So lost in her admiration of the series of moves - how effortlessly he ducked the swing of one and arched in leaps over another, removing helmets in swift blows before following up with strong swings that effortlessly stripped their armour - she did not realise how close a Darknut had approached her until the booming steps alerted her. As she dived to the side, a weapon swung by her head and she watched as red wisps from the end of her braid floated to the ground.
It was then that she adopted an actual battle stance and regarded the foe before her. She had thought the Stalfos tall, but the Darknut made them appear as mice. Her head only reached to its breastplate. Yet, though she felt insignificant compared to its mass, she did not flinch as it drew the sword back. Nor did she cower as it drew closer, its entire presence dominating.
Instead she waited as it raised its sword higher before she rolled. As its weapon thundered against the floor, Zelda immediately used her rapier to tease in-between the gaps of its armour before lifting it clean off, flicking it to some far off corner.
When it turned, she jumped back, giving her the room to circulate and avoid being coerced against a wall. Upon hearing the ear-shattering sound of metal against stone, Zelda did not take her eyes away from the Darknut, but still she saw Link surface from a crouch, a broadsword laying directly behind him.
So that's what he meant by "duck", Zelda realised, noting to be prepared for such an attack.
Waiting until it again struck its sword out towards her, she used the same manner of rolling behind it to remove it from its armour. With more than two thirds of the black layering scattered throughout the room, Zelda kept circling, waiting for it to execute the same movement again. Yet, much to her despair, it had grown wise of her technique.
Now considerably lighter, it charged forward and she was forced to think fast to avoid its hefty kick. Taking to the floor, she bit back her gasp as its kick was followed by its sword crashing down - barely missing her foot.
Stun them, she thought, but with what? Link's shield proved effective for him, but with no such weapon for herself, Zelda had to be creative. Her whip uncoiled, she snapped it out and around the Darknut's weapon and using the extent of her strength, she pulled.
Zelda was never more grateful when the sword clattered behind her, but the relief was only temporary as it unsheathed the sword at its side. Though still clad in some armour, it did nothing to hinder its speed as it lunged for her. With less weight dragging it down, its attacks became nimbler and faster. Instead of using heavy swings, it now opted for measured blows that were far more carefully aimed than before.
Whereas she had felt confident when it was slow and lumbered, now she was biting back her growing panic. She didn't dare meet its sword head-on for she knew a duel would not be to her advantage. And with consideration to both its strength and agility, she didn't risk attempting to attack it from behind.
Stun it, she repeated to herself. Stun...Stun…
Then it clicked. With an increasing urgency, she fumbled through her satchels until she felt the gnarled surface of the small object. Without even pausing to look at the Deku nut, she threw it to the ground, sparking the white flash the nut was known for.
To her utmost relief, it stumbled backwards, bringing its arms and sword up to block its head - presenting Zelda with the perfect time to strike. She brought her rapier up in blinding motions as she used her left hand to continuously throw Deku nuts, ensuring that the Darknut was too blinded to respond. She was not aware how long it took, but eventually, the creature dropped to its knees, its hand releasing its weapon before collapsing to the ground.
And yet, Zelda did not give herself the time to relax. Across the chamber, she could hear the metallic steps of the last Darknut. She realised then that she had left Link to fend off the three other Darknuts and her stomach contracted with guilt. As she quickly ran to his side to offer what assistance she could, she found herself preoccupied with how he only fought with a sword. His left arm was tucked tightly against his chest, and all she could see was red. The deep laceration rendered him defenceless, yet he still persevered determinedly.
Even with her concentration not up to par, Zelda knew that the wound needed immediate treatment and she needed the Darknut gone to give that need. Sprinting in front of Link, she watched the thing arc the sword higher and she brought both her arms up. One to cover Link's eyes from the light, the other she used to slam a Deku nut before the foe.
Most of its armour already removed, Zelda saw her opening and praying it had internal organs, she jumped before lodging her rapier diagonally down through its left shoulder. When it teetered, Zelda went to grasp her dagger at her back, only to recall how Link had taken it but not returned it.
Damning herself for forgetting, she unsheathed the smaller one at her thigh, ready to throw it wherever there was a gap. But, to her immense joy, her weapon was unneeded as much like its brethren, it fell with an almighty bang and blew up into diminutive particles of ash and metal.
With silence finally falling, Zelda breathed out in relief, now feeling the pulling strain of her fatigued muscles. She almost allowed herself to drop to the floor to regain her energy when she thought of Link.
Despite the blood steadily dripping to the floor and the paleness to his complexion, he was grinning. Strained and tired, but beaming. "I suddenly have a much greater appreciation for that Deku nut."
Zelda's reply was between a cough and gasp of incredulity. "You're hurt, but you choose to comment on useful items instead?"
"Because this." His hand rose from the wound slightly to emphasise his point. "Is nothing that can't be solved with a few potions. Whereas those Deku nuts are severely unacknowledged."
Zelda walked closer to him, her answering "ah-huh," highly disbelieving that the abrasion was nothing more than a mere cut. Especially considering how he kept it hidden from her view. There was no need in her opinion to continue acting plucky, not when he so clearly required aid. "Then you will not mind my verdict upon the wound will you."
"It's fine. Though if you could be kind enough to get the potions out of my satchel…"
She grabbed his wrist, darkly satisfied when he yelped. The scolding for undermining ready on her lips, she looked at the jagged skin, only for her eyes to grow wide instead. "Link! How can you be so nonchalant about this?!"
"It's noth-" he began but she cut him off.
"Don't you even dare say that this is nothing! I can see your bloody bone!" she yelled. Distantly she realised that as a healer, such a belligerent approach was highly unprofessional and unneeded. But to act so unfazed by a wound of such magnitude was both foolish and ridiculous.
"One of the Darknuts got a lucky hit is all," he said indifferently.
Zelda only sighed. "Will you stop acting so placid. The battle is over, there is no need for the continuous machoism." He made to refute, but she silenced him with a look. "Sit down and do not even so much as think about moving."
With her mouth set into a firm line, Zelda did at first think of stitches, iodine and gauze, to teach him to be more careful. But not only did look at his draining colour overrule mundane options, but that it would teach him no lesson. She was just as much at fault for leaving him to take the brunt of the force.
Only once he had leaned against the wall did Zelda kneel beside him and inspected the wound. The layers of muscle were the red she had seen earlier, not just blood as she had thought it to be. Only a strong stomach and years of experience kept her calm as she gently lifted his arm, able to see the whiteness of bone against the red. Though a potion would work well, she was concerned at the depth of the wound and she had much faster method for healing.
Far more careful to touch him now, she brought her hand as close to the skin without contact. She used her other hand to keep his arm steady. Quietly but assuredly, she chanted the required spells, the familiar creamy peridot transfusing from her hands to his arm. The process triggered the memories of him in the hospital ward, of the tension she had witnessed in his features and the marks of beasts she had only then heard of. It was somewhat a relief to see him conscious this time as her magic brought the two halves of muscle together. It was a slow effect, but altogether faster than healing through natural means.
Although grimacing, Link showed no other outward signs of pain, but she still numbed his arm. She suspected the adrenaline in his system had acted as a block to the pain, and so she prepared for when those effects would wane.
"Are there any other injuries?" she asked tenderly.
"Only a few cuts and bruises that I can't feel anymore," he replied softly.
Zelda nodded and placed his arm down; contented that it was healing well and that he was regaining colour. "I apologise for shouting. Only to see such a deep lesion and for you to act so unconcerned…" She did not know whether to smile or frown. "Not many are as composed as you, though why you chose to cover it from my view…"
Link gave a slow smile. "I had the suspicion you would worry unnecessarily. I've been through worse, so a potion to sterilise and some bandages would have worked."
Zelda's eyes narrowed at his easy attitude. "I'm grateful you only sustained an injury to your arm. With how indifferently you are treating this, Goddesses forbid how you would react to anything more serious."
"Nothing I haven't been through before," he said with a ghost of a smile. She dreaded to think of all the injuries he had collected over the years. "But I'm still thankful that you're here."
"And I too, am thankful that you are with me. I could not have managed more than one of most of the foes we fought. For you to combat each without problem is rather exceptional," she noted.
"Experience and trial and error," Link stated.
"Both of which I unfortunately lack," she bemoaned.
"But make up for in innovation and magic."
Zelda smiled. "We cannot be perfect."
"Overrated anyway."
She chuckled at that and shifted to take the weight of her knees. "I can agree with that."
"Good, you do need to loosen up sometimes," he told her.
"And you need to stop acting infallible," she chided. "Though I should not have left you with three of the Darknuts, you did not have to engage all of them."
Link only smirked and settled further against the wall, closing his eyes. "I enjoy pushing the boundaries."
"So I have noticed," replied Zelda but there was no reprimand in her voice, only a fond perception. "Though currently, you do not look much up to attempting anything."
The corner of his mouth lifted. "I'm content just sitting here."
"There is a sage awaiting us," she reminded.
"The sage can hold on for a little longer."
Zelda sighed with a smile. "Are you tired?"
"A little bit, yeah," he said, adding a yawn for effect. "I wouldn't mind sleeping."
She scoffed, "Do you want me to come and cuddle you too?"
A devious smile took root on his mouth as his eyes opened and lazily trailed over her. "Well, now that you mention it…"
She only just evaded his right arm sweeping out to catch her around the waist, laughing as she did. "You're clearly awake enough if you can make sudden movements," Zelda pointed out as she stood up before stepping backwards. Just to ensure he didn't attempt the same move again.
Link exhaled wistfully as he followed suit and rose to his feet. "Shame it didn't work."
Zelda did not comment, but humour still danced in her eyes. Seeing that he was standing stably, and that his complexion was healthy - she would not have forced him to move if not - Zelda held her hand before the final door. Unlike the rest, there was no key and she took it to be a positive sign.
She already believed the blue portal to be awaiting them in the next room and so the agglomeration of cerulean light was of no revelation to her, though it was a welcome sight.
"Are you ready?" Zelda inquired, her eyes on the still healing wound on Link's arm. Though nothing more than a puckered pink line, she did worry about his fatigue. Magic of every level was draining both to the caster and beholder. She did not want him collapsing in the Chamber of Sages.
"I'm perfectly fine," he assured.
Though the blue light did not allow for correct measurements of physical appearance, his voice was strong as was his demeanour. Still, she relied on her earlier overview to make a judgement; considering Link had the tendency to underplay his injuries.
Zelda nodded and with him beside her, they both entered the portal. Though having encountered the effects of warping several times before, she still found the jolt of her stomach rather unpleasant.
Likewise, though she had stood previously in the very chamber she did now, she was no less dazzled by the endless roars of waterfalls that did not disrupt the calm or soft enveloping blackness that contrasted the light. Perfect balance, she thought.
Just as Gor Coron had, Aveil rose from the light that circulated the yellow medallion, an exuberant grin bright upon her features. As she regarded the two Hylians, her grin morphing into a smirk, Zelda instantly became cautious of what Aveil was thinking.
The Gerudo pointed a finger at them, her other hand resting atop her hip. "By Din, will you two just get together already! It's practically torture watching you both!"
"Not perhaps the most appropriate sentiments from a Sage who works in light's stead," Zelda remarked, not at all surprised by the woman's brazen language, but unable to prevent a blush growing on her cheeks.
"I'm only saying what many probably think," Aveil cackled. "Considering how many poor decisions you were making, I hoped hooking up with handsome here would be a wise one."
"There was a reason behind the less sensible judgements?" Zelda inquired, ignoring all else said.
"Well duh." The Gerudo's eyes rolled before she sighed. "The Solar Plexus does lend itself to poor concentration and judgments, so I guess I can't blame you in that respect."
"It would clarify many of the different emotions displayed by either Link or myself," Zelda said, "though surely there are more than those few?"
"Power, perfectionism, and blah di blah," Aveil said listlessly. "Do you really want me to name them all?"
"That won't be needed," Zelda said, knowing that the both of them had been concerned with perfectionism amongst others.
The Gerudo nodded and grinned, her amber eyes bright with mirth. "I'm happy you kids pulled through, even with all that crazy stuff happening. And what's even better - I've got a celebration for you waiting at the desert!"
She laughed and before either could reply, she raised her hands, the blinding light morphing into the yellow fire medallion. The effect were identical to the Earth medallion, apart from the yellow light that engulfed the Hylians, centred just below their ribcage. And just as it had occurred then, the yellow deepened through the spectrum until becoming blue.
"Even here, I'll still be rooting for you both!" was the last either of them heard before they were swept out of the chambers in a crystal of blue.
Outside the fortress where they landed, the sun was setting over the desert, making the heat far more tolerable than the overbearing morning. True to her word, as Zelda looked round, she could see the preparations for the celebration Aveil had mentioned. Yet, what surprised her far more was the pleasant smiles the Gerudo women offered despite Zelda still being clad as Sheik, or even their calls of, "Hey Newbies!"
Though the festivities were in full swing, Zelda did not feel in the mood. Nor did she expect Link was either judging by the dark circles ringing his eyes. She personally would have preferred rest before departing. Yet she mused whether the Gerudo would still be as accommodating without Aveil's presence. Even with their amicable nature and the Gerudo token in her possession, she did contemplate how far the trust was extended.
As one of the woman separated from the masse towards them, the Sheikah remained stationary, waiting for the Gerudo to speak first.
"Aveil already told us who you are, and if you can treat us with respect, then we will show you the same treatment."
"Though we did not begin cordially, it is my hope that the past can be left in the past. You have accepted us into your midst and we will not display ignominy," Zelda said.
The Gerudo smiled and though pleasant enough, Zelda found her calculating features almost vulture-like. "Excellent. I'll happily invite you to join our celebrations. Once you're both changed that is."
Zelda glanced at Link, her gaze questioning if he had any qualms with the events, but he only smiled and shrugged.
"We did not bring clothes accommodating to this heat," she told the woman.
"Well lucky for you both that we do." The Gerudo grinned and gestured for them to follow her back into the fortress.
And as they did, speaking idly of the trials surmounted, the ominous croak of a raven echoed above them.
Thank you for reading.
