The Legend of Midna: Shadow Falls
Chapter Twenty-One
Link hoisted the Armor of Isil and Shield of Kings off the body of Isil. The Shield was incredibly similar to his Hylian shield, except that it was made of blackened steel and rather than bearing the Hylian eagle and the Triforce, it was emblazoned with green lines that formed the image of a wolf. He was surprised to find that its weight seemed to be half that of the Hylian shield. The armor was likewise as light. The Twilight armor consisted of a pair of vambraces, boots, greaves, and a cuirass with tassets, all made of the same blacked steel and bearing green markings similar to those on the Twili people's skin, as well as the same wolf that emblazoned the Shield.
"This stuff is awfully light," said Link, as he inspected the Sword of Kings. It, just like the armor and Shield, was made of blackened steel, and bore the image of a wolf in profile. "How is this supposed to help me take down Ganon?"
"That is not ordinary steel," said Patar. "Notice its black color. I realize that steel in Hyrule can be blackened, but this is special. This equipment is made of Twilight Cold Steel. This special ore is forged far below the surface in cold forges, in temperatures well below freezing. I know that sounds impossible but the nature of this world is much different than the one from which you came."
"I suppose so," said Link. "So I guess I'll put this on, then." He donned the Armor of Isil without much trouble, even though he wasn't used to wearing armor save for the chain shirt under his tunic. Once the armor was on he took the Shield of Kings in his right hand and the Sword of Kings in his left.
"Well," he said, "how do I look?"
"Impressive," said Sheik.
"Indeed, like the hero of prophecy," said Patar.
"Like a King," said Midna, who was, for a change, beaming.
"Excellent," said Link. "Well, then, let's get back to Hyrule and take Ganonjora down."
"Thank you so much, Patar," said Midna. "We'll be back to return this equipment once it has served its purpose."
"That won't be an issue," said Patar, "just so long as you survive. Now go. The fate of the worlds is in your hands."
They made their way outside in silence. Once they had reached the portal to the Mirror of Twilight, Midna turned again to face Patar.
"Thank you again, Patar. You don't know how helpful you've been."
"Oh, I think I do," he replied. "I've been around much longer than you have. I know what's at stake. But I have faith. You will come back, won't you?"
"Of course," she said with a false smile. In truth, she didn't know if they would return. "Well, see you later."
The stepped into the light from the Mirror, and moments later found themselves in the Mirror Chamber of the Arbiter's Grounds. When they had reached the base of the Arbiter's Grounds, Sheik was the first to speak.
"We should rest," he said. "We've been at this for a long time."
"For once, we agree," said Midna.
Link said nothing, but rather prepared a rudimentary campsite. Sheik was the first to fall asleep, followed soon by Midna. Link was having more trouble than the other two, however. What is that noise, he thought. Oh well, maybe it's just a – SHIT! With a loud thunk, everything went black.
When he awoke, he was with Midna and Sheik, but they were in a small room with none of their gear. The walls were made of a sort of red clay and there were no windows aside from a small opening fitted with bars in the heavy iron door. He could hear voices outside, but could not tell what they were saying. He got to his feet, and shortly after Midna and Sheik came around as well.
"What…where are we?" came Midna's groggy voice.
"Good question," said Link. "From what I can tell, we're in some kind of prison or something."
"Well, that's alright. I'll have us out in a minute." She charged her Twili magic, which fizzled out as soon as she tried to use it. "Well hell, that didn't work."
"So now what do we do?" came Sheik's voice from behind them.
"I guess we just wait," said Link. "See what whoever's captured us wants to do with us."
Just then, two brown-skinned women in loose clothes wielding spears came towards the door. They seemed to be taunting their prisoners.
"Bem, ceui einem uli xe ul aduna queret? Lue n'jiu simbem mu pursui." She turned to the other woman. "Queu penxes-ti?"
"Jeu tiu tuafc. Bem, nue wynbegeiums liu kendre naul aduna."
"What are they saying?" Link hissed to Sheik. "You're good at this stuff."
"I'm not sure," he whispered back. "They're using and ancient Gerudo dialect, but I think they said something about their master, or their Lord, or something to that effect."
"Oh, great," said Midna, "as if we didn't have enough evil overlords to worry about."
The two spear-carrying women ushered them out of their cell, not bothering to be careful, and led them down a series of corridors that eventually opened into a large room with no walls, the ceiling instead being supported by columns. Heaps of pillows and cushions were scattered around the room, and on the largest heap was a man in superb physical condition who appeared to be around 30 years old, with olive skin and curly hair that was a dark red. He wore a linen tunic that came to just above the knee, with a thick belt at the waist, along with a long red cape that covered his left was flanked by four women who looked very similar to those with the spears.
"So," he said. He had a strange accent that none of them were familiar with. "I understand I have royalty in my presence. Your Highness, I bid you welcome. Please, have a seat."
They sat, or rather were forced to sit, on a large pile of cushions near where he lounged. As he sprawled out, Link estimated the man stood somewhere around six feet tall.
"Now," he said, "I'm sure you are wondering who I am and why you are here. Well, the reason you are here is simple: I am going to kill you, because it is what my father wishes."
"If you're going to kill us, why are you being so hospitable?" Midna shot.
"There is no need to be angry," said the olive-skinned man. "It is nothing personal. I have no ill will towards you, it's just that my father wishes you dead and I will do everything I can to help him achieve his goals, so I see no reason why we can't be civil. Now, as for who I am. My name is Zagros, and I am the King of the Gerudo, son of the great Ganondorf."
"Ganondorf never had any sons," Sheik said, more intrigued than anything else. "I think that would have been in the stories. Besides, he had been trapped in the Twilight Realm for a hundred years. There's no way."
"So one would think," said Zagros, "but you can't honestly believe that when he ruled the Gerudo he sat in his tower day in and day out, can you? No, he was out bedding women, to be sure. He sired so many children, I imagine they could not be counted. Now, it is true that only one man is born to the Gerudo people every hundred years, but that doesn't explain me, does it? I was born seven years before the Hero of Time opened the Door of Time, which of course allowed my father to enter the Sacred Realm. It was a wonder and an oddity. By all rights, I should not have been born, and if I was, I shouldn't have been a man. But I was a man. Naturally, I was held in higher esteem than any other Gerudo, save my father himself. My father is a man with skill in all areas, and so he expected the same of me. I was taught the arts of swordplay and archery, equine combat, militant strategy. I learned to read and write. On rare occasions he would take me to Lake Hylia, where he taught me to swim. I was taught the fine arts, painting, sculpting, music. That was my favorite. I learned to read music, I was taught proper technique for singing, and I learned to play several instruments. Being an accomplished organist, my father insisted I learn to play it as well. It was never my favorite, though. No, my real passion is strings. I love the sound of string instruments, don't you? Especially the oud. My father was not as fond of the oud as I, but he supported me. Recently, though, I've invented an instrument, or rather, modified an older one. I found the shape of the oud to be a bit uncomfortable to play for long periods of time. This one, though, is much better. I call it the guitar. Would you like to hear it?"
"Of course," said Midna. "I'm sure it will be lovely."
"A diplomatic answer, Your Highness," replied Zagros, "but I thank you for the kindness, real or otherwise. Now, Lubna, bring my guitar, if you would be so kind."
One of the women flanking Zagros left, and moments later returned with a wooden, hollow-bodied instrument with six strings made of gut.
"Thank you, Lubna. Now, listen." Zagros crouched so that one knee was higher than the other. He rested the top half of the body on his elevated knee, and began to pluck the strings with the fingernails of his left hand while his right hand was set to work changing the pitch of the strings. Faster and faster he played, occasionally breaking and beginning again very slow only to bring the tempo back to the same driving pace. He let the final chord ring before setting the guitar down next to him on the floor.
"Well, what did you think?" he asked.
"You played beautifully," said Midna, "and this time I mean that with sincerity."
"The pleasure is all mine," said Zagros.
"I still don't understand how you are alive," said Sheik. "If you were really born when you say you were, you should be dead by now. To say you were born seven years before Ganondorf entered the Sacred Realm would make you…108 years old, give or take."
"Ah, yes," Zagros mused, "it is a mystery. I seem to have inherited several superhuman qualities from my father. I can manipulate magic, I am physically much stronger than I appear, but the greatest gift he passed on to me is longevity. He is essentially immortal thanks to the Triforce, but I am not blessed with divinity. However, some of it must have passed on because, as you say, I am 108 years old, but look at me. I am still in my prime. It is a mystery, one I have wondered at for a long, long time, but I fear I will never truly understand it. And if I am still in the condition of a 30-year-old at 108, who knows how long I might live. I do not see death in my near future, but I can't say I will be sad when the day comes for me to die. It is not easy, living this long, watching all your friends and loved ones die. But until then, I will enjoy life to its fullest. I just wish I could allow you to do the same. Unfortunately, that is not possible."
"Wait," interjected Link, "you mean to tell me that you support Ganondorf even though he's become a monster?"
"Listen," Zagros said, a bit more agitated than before, "I realize you can't like him too much, but I wouldn't go so far as to call him a monster. We all have to do things we don't want to during times of war."
"No, you don't seem to understand," said Link. "I mean he's an actual monster now. Ever since he let Majora take over his body – "
"WHAT?" Zagros jumped to his feet. "He did what? He told me stories about Majora, and talked about what a great thing it was that Majora had been imprisoned. Said he was evil without a cause. And now he's let him take over his body? This cannot be."
"But it is," Link continued. "So, perhaps you could help us."
"Why would I help you? You will surely turn on me."
"Why wouldn't you? If Ganonjora, as he calls himself now, is allowed to take over Hyrule, he will see you as a threat to his rule and do everything in his power to kill you."
"Hmm…" Zagros thought. "I suppose you're right. Perhaps we can free my father from Majora. Just know that when that happens, and Majora is no more, that we will no longer be allies, and then you will have my father and myself to contend with. I am afraid you will not win that fight."
"Well, we'll see," said Link. "I've made it through worse than you'd think. But you'll help us now, excellent. We need to get to Hyrule Castle."
"Yes, that is surely where he would be. Maha," he barked to another of his servants, "go and retrieve the belongings of these three."
"Are you sure about this," Midna whispered into Link's ear.
"No," he answered, "but it may be our only way out of here alive."
When their things had been returned to them, Zagros turned to face them.
"Now then, are we all ready?"
"Ready," they answered in unison.
"Very good, now follow me." He led them to a huge stable full of beautiful horses of all sizes and breeds.
"I have your horses here," Zagros said to Link and Sheik. "I found them near the Arbiter's Grounds. I have no idea how they were able to get into the desert, but they were too beautiful for me to let them wander around by themselves."
Link and Midna mounted Epona as Sheik mounted Maewen, while Zagros mounted a black horse that was twice the size of Epona.
"Now," he said, "we ride."
Together the three heroes set across the sands with their enemy, made allies by a common enemy. As the put distance between them and Zagros' palace, Link could not help but wonder if he had been wise. Only time would tell, and the time was approaching fast. Soon, they would be face to face with Ganonjora, where the fate of Hyrule would be decided one final time.