Himmels: You know, this story would be updated a lot more if it wasn't so complicated to write. O.O' Seriously.
Draculina: Usually ideas just come to us, but with the story, we actually have to think. Which sucks. Ja.
Himmels: Anyway, nobody is being introduced in this chapter. The next chapter is finally the battle! This one just...well, you'll see I guess.
Draculina: No point in ruining it for all of you. Enjoy!
Chapter 14
A Call from Hyrule
"Someone told me love will all save us.
But how can that be, look what love gave us.
A world full of killing, and blood-spilling
That world never came.
And they say that a hero can save us.
Im not gonna stand here and wait.
I'll hold onto the wings of the eagles.
Watch as we all fly away."
--Nickelback
After the interrogation issued from the schizophrenic king, Asad, the Gerudos were taken back to their prison cell. Numair didn't mind pointing out to Emir that their king told them that they could do whatever they wanted to the captives now. Emir didn't take any mind to it, for he obviously wasn't interested in performing any obscene acts of unimaginable torture. Imaginable either, if he really thought about. He wasn't the torturing type of fellow, he told his companion sarcastically. This conversation wasn't hidden in the least from the girls. Numair even had the nerve to play with Johara all through it.
The Ghazi men had the Gerudos sit upon the stone bench and started to unchain their limbs. As Emir started to undo the wrist bindings from Serena, she made to slip her hands out quicker, but a swift and rough grab from Emir with a sharp look made her stop grudgingly and let him do it. When they both were through, they stood up cautiously, obviously expecting the Gerudos to lunge and try to escape. However, the prisoners just stared at them with malice and then down at their knees. They knew that they wouldn't be able to get through them if they tried, so why waste the energy when they could find a better opportunity later?
"It seems the pretties have given up." Numair stroked Johara's chin with a finger.
She slapped his hand away with a growl and aimed a strike at the man's face. However, Numair managed to catch her wrist before it connected and pin it above her head. Johara gasped when he squeezed painfully and crushed it against the stone wall and before she could fight back with the other hand, he grabbed that one also.
"Mind who you are dealing with, little girl." Numair whispered to her and then abruptly let go.
Thinking that she was going to protect her friend, Emir grabbed a hold of Serena's hair when she moved toward Johara. Their eyes locked for the longest time, just staring, until gradually Emir loosened his grip and let go.
"Numair, we're leaving." Emir commanded and made for the prison door.
"Aw, so soon?" he responded, not looking away from Johara.
"We're leaving." Emir repeated and held the door open for him, "I'll have Fadi come to check on them later."
"Why Fadi?" Numair asked with distaste.
"I trust him not to kill them, unlike you." Emir said without a hint of hesitation.
Numair glared, "He'd give us all up in a minute."
"I'm relatively fair to him, so I'm not worried." Emir said simply and then motioned for him to hurry up, "You, however, should watch your back, because he is going to snap one day and you will be the first he takes out."
Numair rolled his eyes with a smirk, "That weak bastard isn't capable of anything and you must be aware of that."
The captain slowly shook his hand, but didn't say anything. At that moment, Fadi leaned into the entry way, his sad eyes with the heavy lids looking to Emir, "You called me?"
"Yes. Come." He walked outside the cell and spoke in a tone that was loud enough to hear a few syllables here and there, but other than that nothing could be heard.
Sighing, Numair looked to Johara again, while standing and saying, "I'll be back later, sweetness."
Securing the lock after he left, Numair and the others disappeared until their voices could no longer be heard. Serena and Johara didn't speak. What is there to say? From their encounter with Asad, the Gerudos were tired, so eventually, they fell into a shaky sleep that was easily interrupted by the smallest of noises.
O.oxo.O
Serena jumped awake when she heard a prison door open. Her eyes were bleary, but when she looked forward to their own, it didn't appear open. Seeing nothing out of the ordinary of late, Serena drifted back off into her slumber. She assumed that the tapping that signified a partially closed door was from someone on the other side, but when the pressure of Johara left from her side and a small squeak of surprise and fear was heard, Serena jolted awake once more.
Muffled shouts from Johara escaped from Numair's hand as he covered her mouth. Leaping forward, Serena attempted to help her friend, but was surprised when something held her back. A man was standing behind her and she was quickly grabbed and a chain was forced onto her wrist. She slid away and backtracked, but apparently, the man didn't seem interested in taking her away. Instead, he locked the other end of the chain to a loop above the stone bench and laughed as he ducked underneath the taut links.
"We only want her right now." Numair told her.
Rushing forward, Serena managed to extend her hand and catch Johara's. The chain had reached its limit, so Serena had to stretch and Johara had to try to pull away from the strong arms of Numair.
"None of that." The unknown man said and wretched Serena's hand from her companion's.
"No! Johara!" Serena cried, futilely trying to reach toward her again.
"You'll have her back when I'm done." Numair giggled, rubbing his face against the Gerudo's, "Or maybe not. She's just so adorable. Now see, if you weren't so sassy and uncooperative, you would've been able to join the fun."
Struggling, but not able to break free, Johara was dragged out of the cell and soon her covered yells were gone. Serena fought against the chain, but a wave of weariness coursed through her and she was forced to lean against the stone wall, panting. She stayed in that position for a good thirty minuets, thinking of nothing, lost in a trance, until her prison door opened. Startled, she straightened and fisted her hands, ready to lunge at Numair.
Serena was caught off guard when she saw that it was Fadi. He seemed slightly panicked as he scurried forward, but he stopped short when he saw Serena in chains.
Sighing, he said to himself, "I thought she escaped…"
"She wouldn't leave without me." Serena huffed.
Fadi blinked at her and then said after a pause, "Was it…Numair?"
Jaw tightening, she nodded.
The Ghazi also nodded slowly and almost regretfully, "I should have kept a closer eye, I guess."
"What?"
"Emir doesn't want anything terribly bad to happen to you both while King Asad still wants answers. He thinks that if Numair traumatizes either of you, then you won't speak at all." Fadi explained, "He told me to keep an eye on this cell. He said that I didn't have to devote myself to it, just make sure that nothing terrible happens…You'll be sent back to Asad tomorrow, I believe."
Serena didn't speak at first. She didn't expect that this Ghazi warrior would be so chatty. He was so shy and disrespected and seemed that he'd stick to orders no matter what and Serena was sure that telling her the plans was against orders.
Finally, she asked, "How do you know that something terrible is happening to Johara?"
"Is that her name? I like that." Fadi said unexpectedly, "Numair doesn't have any control and he's been watching Johara in an inappropriate way."
"Inappropriate?" Serena almost wanted to laugh.
"You didn't notice?" Fadi blinked.
"Of course, I noticed!" Serena yelled, "Go help her if you want to follow orders!"
The man hesitated, "I also have to follow Numair's orders…I can't…I…"
Serena gave him a look of disgust, "Why are you so afraid? You are a Ghazi just like the rest of them! Even if you are at the bottom of the ranks, that doesn't mean you don't know what's right!"
"You don't understand." Fadi shook his head miserably.
"Oh, I think I do understand." Serena sneered, purposely egging him on, despite the risk, "You're weak." She said simply, "Following orders doesn't make you strong."
Fadi stared at her, silent. Those sad eyes examined her, reading her credibility. As he opened his mouth slowly to speak, shouts were heard down the prison hall. Fadi spun around and listened. Hearing the shouts escalade, but not say something of coherence, Fadi shot off out of the cell, not bothering to shut it. Serena wasn't able to run anyway.
The Gerudo listened hard at the shouts, but it was difficult for her to make anything out. The echoes inside the hall and the muffled stones didn't help either. Jumping up on the bench, Serena stretched up, so her fingertips hit the metal bar that ironed the small window. With another small hop, she managed to grip the bar and pull herself up to look out.
People were running every which way and Emir was standing and giving orders. She couldn't see pass the walls, but she had a certain feeling…Is Nabooru finally here?
Pacing has seemed to become a regular habit of Sheik's of late. The Sheikah and Royal family were inside the gardens of Hyrule Castle once more. There still was no word from Kheisho and his family was becoming more and more anxious. Khema's anxiety had finally grown to a deep depression from worry. The trees she passed each day were becoming wilted as time flew by.
"I'm sure he's fine, my friends." Zelda smiled reassuringly and placed a hand on top of Khema's.
Though Link held a face of worry also, he agreed, "Yes, you heard Impa. He'll be back soon, I'm sure."
Dark placed a comforting hand on the small of Shema's back, but even he couldn't bring Shema out of her silence. Not getting any expression out of her, he frowned and looked toward the shadows where Impa leaned against a pillar. She was gazing out of the window, as if watching for something.
Navi suggested then, "Ivan and I can fly into the desert and find him."
Sheik smiled at her, "That is unnecessary and dangerous, but thank you."
"The offer is on the table." Ivan nodded.
Everyone looked over when Impa had quite suddenly straightened from her place and walked forward, "I'll be back. I need to think."
"Oh, yes." Zelda nodded, "Don't worry too much though, Impa. At least try not to. All of you."
Impa nodded to her and then proceeded through the arches that led to the hall. She didn't really need time to think, she just noticed the Dark Lady's cloud resting on top of the castle. Hurrying through the next vestibule, Impa climbed a few staircases before she reached a tower that had a window on the side of it that could easily access the roof. With an easy jump, she landed on the stone rooftop and walked forward to the cloud.
"There you are." The Dark Lady grinned as she popped up from the midst of fluff, "Would you like an update on Kheisho and Nabooru's adventure?"
"Why else would I be near you?" Impa glared.
At that moment, another face came out from the cloud.
"Hello, Lady Impa." Rachel the deku scrub smiled sweetly up at the Sheikah, "Your precious Red Sheikah was just in Madhukar territory. As was Nabooru, actually."
"Madhukar?" Impa said quietly until she remembered from her travels where that territory was located, "That's the wrong way! They are going east!"
"Well…" Rachel said, "Let's just say that Kheisho wanted to stay with the Gerudos for now."
Fuming, Impa was at first lost for words and then she turned to the Dark Lady, "What did you do?!"
"Oh, Impa." The fairy said too casually, "I did barely anything. But then again, I couldn't just heal him and give him an escape from the Marids without payment."
Impa closed her eyes and controlled her anger, "You struck a deal with him. And now he has to fight with Nabooru." Then she blinked as she recalled what the Dark Lady just said, "The Marids?"
"Yes." Rachel nodded.
Slowly, Impa nodded also, "Are they with the Ghazi?"
"Not that we are aware of." The Dark Lady shook her head, a ghost of a smile upon her lips, "Are you forming a plan in that head of yours?"
The Sheikah didn't answer, "I'm going to have to ask you a favor, Dark Lady. You too, Rachel."
Both of them smiled, "Of course. What wouldn't we do for our Sheikahs?"
"I'll be right back. Don't you leave." Impa warned.
"We won't!" The Dark Lady grinned and then started to whisper with her deku scrub friend.
Hurrying down the stairs and through the halls once more, Impa burst inside the gardens and didn't stop before she started talking, "Kheisho is going to war with Nabooru. We need to send rupees to the Marids, so they have back-up."
"Wait, wait." Dark said, "What war?"
"Yes, what are you talking about?" Sheik asked with wide eyes.
Impa retold the vague details that the Dark Lady and Rachel gave her and then said, "If we send money to the Marids, then the Gerudos will have reinforcements. Kheisho made a deal, so he won't be coming back until that war is done or not at all. If we can't travel quick enough to help them, then at least we can help by getting the Marids. They are strong people. The leader that I used to be familiar with has passed on, but his daughter leads now, so I hope that I can make a connection once more."
"How much rupees?" Link asked.
"A lot." Impa said, "A lot so that they don't get tempted by the enemy's money."
"Easy, then." Zelda smiled, "And I bet I can round up some of our troops-,"
"They wouldn't survive the travel." Khema interrupted.
Dark agreed, "I used to live in that desert and countless times have I been attacked and hurt beyond comprehension. It was only because of Ivan that I survived this one time and I doubt that Ivan can save an entire army."
"The most we can do right now," Impa said looking around at all of them, "is pay a hefty sum for the Marids' power."
"We'll do whatever it takes." Link nodded.
Walking toward the window and leaning out of it, Impa whistled and waved to the Dark Lady and Rachel. The Royal family and Sheikahs didn't know, however, and were curious to see who had Impa's interest. They blinked and leaned away from their seats to see, but then relaxed when they saw that it was only the Dark Lady.
"Thank you for the grand welcome." The Dark Lady said sarcastically.
"LINK!" Rachel launched herself at the king.
With a cry of surprise, Link was shot backwards into his chair. When he was able to see what it was that was on top of him, he cocked his head and asked, "Hey, aren't you that one deku scrub that I always had to shoot to get out of my way when I was younger?"
"He remembers!" Rachel cried, "It's been so long, my Linky!"
Before Link could get smothered, the Dark Lady pulled the deku scrub away and said, "Alright, that's enough of that. Anyway…" she turned to Impa, "I'll take it you told them? So, what is this favor?"
"We need you to deliver a ransom to the Marids for their service and a message to Kheisho and Nabooru." Impa said.
"If that is what you want." The Dark Lady shrugged, "I hoped that it was going to be more of an adventure, but that is so easy."
Sheik wrote down a message from everyone to Kheisho and Nabooru. Link and Zelda went to find the head of treasury, so they could get a large amount to support a whole tribe. Impa recommended to give more than necessary, so a good half a million of rupees, Zelda guessed, would work to their liking. The Dark Lady smiled at how much fun she was having with all of this.
Himmels: As we were saying, the battle is going to be in the next chapter. It was about time they started kicking butt.
Draculina: But we didn't rush it, so be proud of us. XD
Himmels: We'll start writing the next installment as soon as we can. School is going to start soon, so imagine what the periods of silence are going to be like...
Draculina: I don't even want to think about it. We'll start a pattern when school comes around. Please review!