A/N -For the record, I did have this one done on time but failed to upload it. It's a little shorter, but to make up for that I'll post the next chapter next week- no bi week this time. Not much else to say besides that... I'm deep into writing chapter 23, and it is good to be back! - A/N
One Year Later...
Cedric removed the golden helm from his head and wiped the sweat from his brow The brass bowl sitting atop his head absorbed the heat from the sun, baking his skull like a piece of dinner. He paused to enjoy the moment, before reteaching the helm. It could be worse, he and the other seven members of the company were permitted to ride on the wagons rather than marching. They were skirting the southern edge of the great desert, and it seemed that the wind was blowing the scorching air in their direction.
In front of the wagon rode a pair of dragoons. A relatively new addition to the nation's military, the dragoon corp was formed to serve as Labrynnia's counterpart to the Hylian knights. Though they mirrored the warriors from the north in that they each possessed a sword and shield, they swapped out the standard-issue spear for a shortened halberd- weighted on the base to make it a little more manageable while on horseback. Though noble blood was traditionally the biggest asset to a soldier's candidacy for knighthood, the military elite selected the dragoons based solely on merit.
When he heard that they were being assign to work with a dragoon squad, Cedrick could barely contain his excitement. If only he had known at the time that that assignment consisted of guarding supply caravans...
A sudden horn blast made him wish that he had been grateful when things were boring. Immediately, the dragoons pulled back towards the caravan, ordering the men to dismount and to take a defensive formation. Bandits? They wouldn't dare strike against a government convoy would they? Unless... A sense of dread seized Cedric by the stomach. They were on the southern end of the desert, that could mean...
His fears were confirmed when he saw a series of riders come over the dunes from both the northwest and northeast. He clutched his rapier to his side to confirm it was there before drawing his crossbow.
"Do not fire or attack unless ordered otherwise!" The left dragoon called out. Cedric hesitated, wanting to shout back that these were Gerudo! Regardless, he kept the weapon at his side- though not without notching a bolt first. The riders drew closer, fifteen from each direction, as the dragoons looked on passively.
"Sir!" A soldier to Cedric's left called out. "They are not slowing down."
The dragoon turned to the man, "We have our orders, and you have yours. Stand down."
The soldier nervously played with his weapon, watching the charging wall. At no more than ten meters away, the advancing line came to a sudden stop.
The dragoon held up a fist in salute, "Hail people of the sands, I hope that your journey to meet us was well?"
"As well as things ever are in these parts." The rider removed his face-wraps and Cedric fought to keep his jaw up. The riders were clearly Gerudo, yet this youth bore the face of a full blooded Hylian- from his bright blue eyes to his pointy ears.
The dragoon responded, "The ambassador wished for me to pass on his regards, do you have a report?"
The youth flashed a handsome smile, holding his hand to one side. One of the other riders came forward and handed him a scroll. "My report for the month, I hope you shall find it illuminating. For as long as you are this generous with the shipments we will keep the intelligence coming."
"Of course," the dragoon responded, turning his horse to the side and trotting back towards the caravan. "Move away from the wagons men, the Gerudo will be taking them."
"What?" One of the soldiers called out, Cedric also feeling a groan rise up from within. "You mean we have to walk back?
"Well... about that." The Gerudo started to move forward again, the dragoon turning to his side. "You may attempt surrender if you wish, but we cannot have you returning to the capital."
"Wait, what!?" The Gerudo galloped forward, knocking down the soldier to Cedric's left before he had a chance to responded. In a panic, Cedric pulled up his crossbow and pulled the trigger. With a sudden snapping sound, the frame of the weapon snapped. Hurling the useless block of wood to his side, Cedrec drew his rapier and looked for the next threat. Before he could put up a defense, his vision was suddenly taken up by a red horse, bearing down on him.
...
Ganondorf clutched the reigns of his steed as he inhaled the scent of the field. One year... it had been one year since he last beheld the majesty of the planes around him. For one year he shadowed Gustaff and the knights of the north, tracking down and putting an end to the established brigand groups. He couldn't fathom why the crown hadn't dispatched them sooner, it was clear by their infrastructure that the bandits had been operating in the area for some time.
Ganondorf smiled as the tall spires of the castle reached up and over him. After the endless expanse up north the cramped quarters of the city was something of a strange relief. Children ran along the streets as their parents bartered and traded goods from the harvest. It is almost like I never left, like the whole world paused until I returned. The castle gate opened before him and he rode into the grounds, the guards nodding as he past. But there have been changes, many of them.
He reached into his pocked and fingered his charm, The Lieutenant and his fellow men, men whom Ganondorf had come to regard as brothers while he was away, had presented it to him as a going away present of sorts. The whole unit would be returning to the castle soon, but he knew that that chapter of his life was now over. Though they may be in close proximity to eachother, they now walked widely divergent paths.
"Seven encampments have we razed together." Gustaff spoke as the knights looked on somberly. "As you go on to serve the princess, know that we recognize you as a true warrior."
He had presented Ganondorf with a braid of hair, only a few inches in length and woven with three separate shades of red. No more words were needed, Ganondorf understood the significance. After that first Gerudo he had defeated almost a year ago, they discovered the hard way that two other bandit groups also possessed a Gerudo leader.
Ganondorf narrowed his eyes, he had spent many sleepless nights trying to figure out just was the Gerudo presence in the north had meant. Did it mean they were actively recruiting and working with other bandit elements? It seemed unlikely, as they usually didn't trust working alongside men. Alternatively, they could be some sort of fringe group...
Sighing, he drove the matter from his mind as he dismounted, Sahasar would know what to make of the issue. A small portion of him was surprised that the wizard wasn't present to greet him, not to mention disappointed when he didn't see Zelda either. He hadn't expected a hero's welcome or anything, but surely somebody would have taken notice of his return. Walking up to the main entrance to the castle, he nodded at the guards before entering.
The softness of the carpet, the faint echoing on the stone- it was a the same time nostalgic and foreign to him. He intended to immediately return to his quarters, Gustaff would submit the official report upon his return, yet found himself following the ornate rug towards the throne room. The standard echos which traditionally greeted him upon his approach were absent this day, though as he approached the doors a friendly call finally acknowledged his return.
"Why young Ganondorf, I am glad to see that you have returned."
Ganondorf smiled and turned, "That makes two of us Captain, how have things been in my absence?" Captain Russell stood at attention behind him, a welcoming smile spread over his features.
"As far as the day-to-day is concerned, fairly uneventful. Don't let the quiet surroundings fool you- this place is as much a center of chaos as ever."
"I noticed the quiet." Ganondorf responded, "Everything is alright then? I expected the king to be taking audiences at this time of the day."
Russell shrugged, "Right now there is some private meeting with the Labrynnian ambassador, more politics and games I am sure. As for the change of the schedule... I'll probably let the princess fill you in on that when she is able. If you do not have a place to be right now, I do believe she would be glad to see you."
"Certainly; thanks to the cool autumn air I don't have to worry about arriving after a journey covered in sweat. What do you mean though that she'll fill me in?"
Russell turned, "It will become clear soon enough, may I show you to her?"
Ganondorf fell in line behind the Captain, his unease gradually growing. Surely Zelda would have written had something serious happened at the castle while he was away. He frowned as he realized he hadn't heard from Zelda in the past few weeks, then frowned further when he remembered that the last time he had written was over a month ago.
No more, though I was busy on the field I can now return to my rightful place at her side. To his surprise, Russell led him past the gardens and towards the bureaucratic wing, a cross-crossed series of corridors and offices. They stopped before one door, which Ganondorf remembered as being a conference room for entertaining foreign parties.
The guards on either side of the door saluted Russell, who responded in kind. "Is the meeting still ongoing?"
"Yes sir, though the allotted time is nearly up."
"Very well," Russell added, "The princess' squire shall wait here with you here until then." He turned to Ganondorf and patted him on the shoulder. "It is good that you have returned." Without further elaboration, he strode down the corridor.
Wordlessly taking a position along the wall opposite the doors, Ganondorf rested his back against it and closed his eyes. He heard muffled voices from the room beyond, though never quite making out what was being discussed. At a few moments, one of the voices would pick up in volume, only to settle back down after the other hand a chance to answer. Finally, the discussion ceased and the door opened.
"Ah, now here is a man who understands action!" Ganondorf looked up to see Ambassador Felix stride through the door. "How have you been sir? You seem to have been away for quite some time on whatever quest that was."
The representative offered Ganondorf a hand, which the latter accepted. "Quite well, ambassador. I do what the crown desires." Ganondorf saw one of the guards slip into the room.
"A good man, willing to play his part no matter what it may entail. Well I must be off, but I shall certainly make your acquaintance later."
"Until then, good Ambassador." Felix spun and began to walk briskly away, his curls bouncing in time with his step. Ganondorf watched him go, perplexed by the man's demeanor. After a few moments, the guard to had slipped into the room returned.
"The princess requests your prescence."
"Of course," Ganondorf responded, though a bit puzzled. He had expected a torrent of advisers to follow the ambassador, along with the king. Accepting that his questions would soon be laid to rest, he entered the room.
Aside from a single occupant, the room was empty. The King was noticeably absent, and Zelda occupied the royal seat at the end of the table alone, her chin cradled in her palm as she stared at the wood before her. Ganondorf hesitated a moment, "Zelda, what is going on?"
The princess' head snapped up and Ganondorf felt his breath catch in his throat. She was beautiful- a silver circlet ran around her head but aside from that her golden hair flowed freely down her back, much like the waterfalls which dotted the landscape to the west. Her eyes glowed fiercely with the deep blue of sapphires, one far more radiant than when he had departed a year ago, but her shoulders slumped. Seeing his arrival, she jumped out of her chair and approached him, a smile breaking out on her face as her fatigue was forgotten.
"Ganondorf, I'm so glad to see you!" She wrapped her arms around him in a rather decorum-breaking hug, and he was embarrassed to see that he stood only as high as her chin.
"Zelda, the feeling is mutual, but again- what is going on? Why are you in charge of this meeting, you father didn't..." He trailed off.
"No, no of course not! My father is still with us but he is growing... weaker." She held him for another moment, and he could feel her grip tighten a bit. "I took over many of his less formal duties a month ago, allowing him to save his strength for major appearances and such." Finally releasing him, she took a step back. "But look at you, riding around and hunting bandits has filled you out- you almost look ready to be officially knighted!"
"Well, perhaps in a few years." Ganondorf rubbed his arms. "But I'm definitely stronger, ready to fight your enemies and defend your honor!"
Zelda raised a gloved hand and stifled a giggle. "Very well sir, would you please see me to the gardens? This was my last meeting for the afternoon and I would like to take advantage of my time until the evening appeals start."
"Of course, princess." Ganondorf gave an exaggerated bow- causing Zelda to giggle again, before stepping back and opening the door. He allowed her to pass through before following, seeing her turn to address the guards.
"Thank you for your escort, but you may now leave me. I am in capable hands."
The two soldiers saluted, before breaking their vigil and leaving for the barracks. "Alright," Ganondorf turned to Zelda as they began to walk. "So back up, what exactly has happened?"
Zelda cast him a sideways glance, before dropping her voice. "My father's malady which I told you about... it's getting worse. It isn't anything particularly life-threatening, but it saps his energy and makes him collapse after just a few hours of exertion- even on green potion. Officially, he is just backing off from his duty to allow me to exercise more power- gradually allowing me to prepare for the role of running the kingdom."
"I'm sorry, I didn't realize..." Ganondorf hesitated. After a few silent strides, he continued. "They're putting a lot of responsibility on you, aren't they?"
Zelda shrugged, "I've been training for this for quite some time, I can handle it."
"Of that I have no doubt, just remember to take a break every now and then, okay?" He threw her a smile, which she returned although hers was twice as radiant. "So... I heard some pitched voices in there. What did the Labrynnian ambassador want?"
Zelda didn't say anything as they came to one of the arches leading to the castle grounds, a group of maids passed by- curtsying as they went. After they had passed into the structure, she spoke, "Apparantly, the Gerudo have been causing them a bit of trouble."
Ganondorf's senses immediately became alert. "Oh? In what way?" They stepped alongside the hedges leading to the royal gardens and entered into the maze.
Zelda continued, "Allegedly, the Gerudo have started to make a habit of raiding Labrynnian supply and trade shipments. They've lost two caravans this month so far, as well as three the previous month. Felix would like it if we used our newfound... diplomatic influence with the Gerudo to discourage them."
"And? What was your response?"
Zelda sighed, "I told him that I would try, but that up until a few months ago the Gerudo were still harassing our traders as well. It took so much effort for us to just arrange a ceasefire with the desert people- and that still hasn't stopped some of their members from acting independently. I am grateful though, for the past six months there haven't been any official hostilities between us."
Ganondorf self-consciously felt the braid in his pocket... Hasn't there been? The two of them entered into Zelda's private courtyard, nestled along the castle side and between the towering walls of vines.
"For now, there really isn't much more we are positioned to offer Labrynnia. If anything, at least the Gerudo threat may make them a little less... aggressive. We've been having some political disputes along the border towns. The whole situation just feels odd to me though... I'm going to ask the Gerudo prince about his people's actions during his visit next week.
His stride breaking, Ganondorf paused and took a few moments to breathe before speaking. Zelda took a few more steps before realizing he had stopped and turned around.
"You've met with him?" He asked, his tone of voice dropping from that which had characterized their conversation so far.
"Yes." Zelda responded, looking her friend in the eye. "When it became clear that I would be assuming many of the castle's diplomatic responsibilities, my father made the introduction and I have since spearheaded the outreach to the Gerudo."
"And?" Ganondorf carefully kept his emotions in check. He didn't want to turn their reunion into a lecture.
"He's certainly cunning, always observing what is around himself and will pick up on subtle things you didn't want to share. But..." Ganondorf cringed at the qualifier "... I think he genuinely wants to do right by his people- and in the interest of peace he can be trusted. He also just seems to understand things."
"Understand things?" This time Ganondorf let a bit of hostility drip into his voice.
Zelda looked over at him, nervously plucking at her glove. "Just... you know. He bears the weight of his people on his shoulders at such a young age. Especially with my father's failing health, I can empathize with him and I feel as though he does the same for me. Also..." Zelda hesitated. "No, I guess that is pretty much it."
Ganondorf hesitated, this wasn't good- he would have to speak to Sahasar. "Well, I trust your judgment and your ability to discern people's motives. Just... be careful with him. I suspect that he is more crafty than any of us realize."
He was taken aback as Zelda suddenly sprang forward, wrapping her arms around him from the side and pulling him in close. Opening his mouth to question her, he thought better of it and shut it- enjoying the warmth of her touch. "Thank you... for understanding. I'm glad to have my oldest friend back by my side."
Ganondorf immediately felt guilty, but reminded himself that everything he was doing was to protect her; Sahasar would know what to do. "Always."