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Chapter 35
From the moment his sword met the Augurer's helmet in the 'Helm Splitter' attack, he knew for certain that the one concealed within the armor was not the king of old. It was not the one whom rose in tandem with every cycle of rebirth that was spun, that fiendish Ganondorf. It was no king at all.
Therefore as he landed on the stone of the terrace and spun around, he was not surprised to discover that the Augurer was someone completely different.
Golden brown eyes connected with his, a deep molten hue that threatened to unhinge anything that was submitted to their vicious gaze. Long red hair billowed out in waves, secured at the nape of a long curved neck, skin pale as swan feathers. A jewel was beset on the forehead, a golden opal, inset into an intricate wiring of metal that served as a coronet. And then that face, heart-shaped, lips curved in a feminine smirk that was somehow sweet and condescending all at once, turned in his direction and gave way to the figure's identity.
"My my, what precision. If I were not ordered to kill you I'd have taken you for myself. I do love the warrior types, hmmhmm."
Zelda pushed herself up to her feet and stood on shaky legs, disbelief betrayed on her visage. "It can't be. We thought…"
"What?" replied Vivienne with snark. Her sword was held firmly in her grasp, eyes dancing in amusement. "That I was the great Thief King? That it was Ganondorf you were chasing all along? Your minds had no room for speculation. It was not even in your consideration to believe that it was anyone other than he. And I did nothing to prevent you from thinking it. Watching you both running around cluelessly was a source of endless entertainment for me."
Link had only seen her a few times, and all of those instances had left a bad feeling in him, similar to a distinctive foul aftertaste.
Vivienne Dalousi, he recalled. She had shown up Adra in the archery game, had then subsequently caused the great scar that was spread on Adra's collarbone, and had lastly turned Vrel away from him and collected him as one of her trophies. Dasril, had mentioned her as someone to be feared and had reported the sorts of vile acts this woman committed to entice men to her servitude, and it infuriated him that his friend had fallen for the same trap.
Link assessed the woman, fitted in black armor that appeared far too large for her lithe body, the symbol of the Triforce emblazoned as a coat of arms on the flat breastplate, cape billowing out behind her, shredded at the ends and giving her a predatory flare. Her horned helm had fallen ten feet away from him, large and impressive. It must have been able to latch to the armor. Nothing that big could possibly fit snuggly around her head. Her entire ensemble should have weighed a good few tons more than he'd be willing to carry on himself, yet she moved with ease, hefting her enormous jagged sword as simple as if it were a twig.
She stepped forward, armor clanking and – he swore – cracking the stone beneath her boots. Was this magic in effect or did her strength really supersede that of normal limitations?
He shifted his weight to his rear leg, not daring to lower his sword for one moment.
"Where is Vrel?"
From his periphery he saw Zelda give him a curious glance, taking advantage of the reprieve to catch her breath. He couldn't see Zellandus, nor the shadow beast that had attacked the Augurer before him, but he felt them hovering in the background, recovering or preparing to use this distraction to strike.
"Oh?" spoke Vivienne with saccharine sweetness, twirling her large blade in a wide circle. "You miss your little friend? Fear not. He is well taken care of."
Link fought not to become incited by that. His temper had run afoul a good too many times since he had reawakened and each instance it left him feeling worse than before.
He barely noticed his Triforce burning hot against his skin as he retorted, "No. I want him here so I can beat his cowardly arse to the dark realm and back!"
The heat bubbled hotter, scalding as golden liquid pooled through his veins.
"Just precious," responded Vivienne, sliding a heavy metal boot forward and readying her sword. The glimmer of bloodlust flashed in her eyes, reflecting his own with equal vitality. "But that's the fragility of friendship for you. Base desires always outflank chummy loyalties. I merely had to crook my finger and he came running."
The shadow beast leapt. In that swift second Link was almost fooled into believing the sky had darkened as the shadow flew overhead, landing with powerful paws in front of him, whip-like tail slashing the air. It snapped at Vivienne, the Augurer, who bounded out of its range. Once again he was astounded by the ease of her movements.
Vivienne ducked the swipe of the beast's enormous paw, and unsheathed one of the knives at her waist with her free hand.
That prompted Zelda to shoot across the terrace, hair flailing in tangled knots behind her. Link was quick to follow parallel to her. An anxiousness in her eyes caught his attention. They appeared fixated on the scene in front of her. He saw them convert to something wild and frantic.
"Carus!" she called, adding on a burst of speed. "No don't!"
Carus, in beast form, snapped again at Vivienne, teeth nearly grazing one of her armored shoulders. It was then that Link saw the glee that spread across Vivienne's face as she flew up and plunged the dagger down.
The dagger hit its mark, stabbing hilt deep into Carus' wraithlike pelt. Zelda gave a shriek but it was nothing compared to the ferocity of Carus' howl. The sounds from the battle around them dimmed. A clash of light erupted from the contact, so bright that Link was momentarily blinded. The flash faded and Carus began to shrink. No… not shrink. She was being consumed. Her darkness was being absorbed by the knife.
Link and Zelda were both forced back from the backlash, wind slicing at their clothes. Forks of light zapped across the ground and Link had to bring an arm over his face to protect against the electrical charge.
Vivienne grinned widely, sadistically, as the dagger sucked in the Sheikah's essence. Smaller and smaller the shadow became, distorting and bubbling until there was nothing. Carus was gone. All that was left was a black smirch on the stone, and the wispy tendrils of darkness that swirled across the blade of the knife.
It hadn't even taken a second.
Link felt a heavy weight settle in his gut. He stared in bemused horror at the scene.
A cry rent the air, earthshattering and deranged. His heart could have imploded by that sound alone.
Zellandus staggered forward, drastically favoring his right leg as he pushed his body to move. His breaths were coarse as he shouted, "What have you done?! Carus! CARUS!"
Vivienne offered a smug smile and tucked the knife back into the sheath at her belt, thumbing the pommel with a gauntleted hand almost caressingly. The swirling darkness surrounding the blade seemed to pulse angrily in reaction.
"Give her back!" Zellandus snarled, trying to run forward despite his limp. He stumbled in the process, landing unceremoniously on his knees. He panted brusquely in exhaustion before lifting his head and glaring furious pale blue eyes at her. "I command you to give her back!"
Vivienne chuckled jubilantly at him and shook her head. "I am under only one person's authority and it is not yours. A little prince about to be executed holds no sway over someone of my station."
Link ground his teeth at her tone. She could bring an emperor to his knees by her condescension alone.
"What have you done to Carus?" said Zelda in a deceptively soft voice. She stood prone, weapons at her side, at ease. It was a misleading stance that was associated with the Sheikah. In battle every millisecond was vital. It took time for one to raise their weapons, however most were wont to underestimate a Sheikah's speed. The Mortal Draw hadn't originated from pure experimentation, after all.
Vivienne's amused gaze alighted on Zelda and she tapped the pommel of the knife with a thick leather-wrapped finger. "You want to know? Do you really? I have imprisoned her. Unfortunately we haven't found a method to completely exterminate the Sheikah parasites. Hmmhmm, yet. All in good time."
"Release her!" shot Zellandus, trying to get up before emitting a cry as he landed hard on his injured leg.
"Zellan!"
Zelda was instantly at her brother's side, tucking her daggers away in their holsters on her back as she hovered worriedly over him. Link cautiously approached them walking backwards, eyes trained on the smirking redhead. He dug in his heels, Courage thrumming, awaiting for the second he called upon it.
Not yet. Not until he knew for certain that he would need it.
"Zellandus, this is doing nothing but aggravating your wounds," hissed Zelda, pushing him back down when he stubbornly attempted to get up again.
Vivienne gave a saccharine smile. "Yes, dear prince. Listen to her. We would not want you dying too soon. There are many of whom you've slighted who would love to have their fun with the Prince of Hyrule. I would simply hate to have to kill you beforehand-" She suddenly hissed and snapped her head to the side. A cut had appeared on her cheek, oozing blood. Link took a quick glance to the side to see Zelda's hand still poised in throwing position, two more needles at the ready between her fingers. It had been a warning throw. They weren't strong enough to pierce the skull from such a long range, and Vivienne's neck was mostly covered by her armor, otherwise Zelda would have aimed for that.
"You will not touch him!" Zelda intoned in a threateningly low voice.
Vivienne wiped the blood off her cheek with the leather pad of her thumb and chuckled. "Oh, but haven't I already? See the wound on his leg?"
"Nothing a red potion cannot fix."
"You think?" continued Vivienne merrily. "That wound happens to be a fey wound. It cannot be healed by ordinary means, magical or otherwise." She held out her sword in front of her, scrutinizing its sheen before her eyes darted to meet hers. "This you see is not an ordinary blade but what is known as a rabid sword. A living weapon. The soul of the blade awakened by years of feasting on blood while wielded with less than noble purposes. It has chosen me as its mistress now, temporary as that arrangement may be. For every contact it makes with flesh its archaic powers seeps into the body and will eat away at all magic that comes in contact with the wound. Your little prince has no choice but to heal naturally."
Zelda frowned and turned away from her then reached into her pouch, rifling for her potions.
"Oh?" spoke Vivienne, taking a step closer, to which Link reacted by drawing his blade back, arm muscles tensing to strike if she dared to come in range. "Too accustomed to healing yourselves in a snap? It's horrible to think what would become of all you privileged Hyruleans if those amenities were taken away."
There was something in the way her eyes flickered with glee that he didn't like. Zelda's hand paused in its rummaging and she stared absently at the ground.
Link slid a step forward and hissed, "Zelda, give him the potion. She's trying to trick us. Heal him, Zelda."
Zellandus grunted, a sound coaxed from pain and agreement. "He's right. That flaming harpy's is trying to pull one over us. Tongue's all coated in silver. Nasty feature, eh."
Brows furrowing, Zelda ransacked her pouch and withdrew the bottle, uncorking it before thrusting it at Zellandus. The prince took the potion and, glaring through his sweat-matted frond of hair at Vivienne, downed it in one toss.
They waited for that split second it would take for bone and flesh to mend, skin knitting itself back together as his injuries disappeared. Link was rather amazed that the prince didn't bolt to his feet right then.
But then Zellandus dropped the bottle with a hiss and clutched at his abdomen. Zelda hurriedly caught him as his frame swayed to the side, eyes widened in fear.
"Zellandus, what's wrong?" she called, frantically running a hand over his vitals, fingertips glowing lightly with magic as she scanned him. "Zellan?"
Link could hear the growing panic in her voice as readily as he felt it rise up within himself. He shot his head toward Vivienne and witnessed a chiding smirk spread over her features. She shook her head, tisking, red curls bouncing with the motion.
"Zelda…" said Zellandus, in a painful groan. "Make her give back Carus for me." His head was bowed, one hand straining against the stark white stone, the other still gripping his stomach as he bent over. The sounds he was making indicated that he was holding back the urge to vomit. "When we were young, you always took charge when I was too helpless to do anything. Do this for me now."
One thing was apparent. He hadn't healed. If anything, the potion had only made it worse. Vivienne was right. Some power was causing it to reject any assistance.
Zellandus collapsed on himself and Zelda helped him to lie on the ground. She then shot to her feet, rounding on the Augurer. "You."
It was on rare instances that he'd ever seen her looking so wrathful. Ordinarily she was the silent killer. Her emotions concealed deep within her, composure unaffected as she engaged in battle. Only ever for the protection of others did she rile up like this.
"And here I was being honest, tut tut," responded Vivienne as daintily as if they were arguing over a simple matter at a garden party. "No one appreciates good candor these days."
"Zelda, please," hissed Zellandus through his whimpers of pain. "Get Carus back for me!"
"Lie still, Zellandus."
Link saw her make the motions of erecting a protective shield around him. She fortified it with multiple layers and Link felt reassured that at least Zellandus would be safe.
Vivienne's eyes danced in thrill. "Just the one Sheikah, hon?"
They all looked up. Vivienne's hand was achingly slow as she pulled aside her flowing cape, revealing a line of knives belted at her waist. Many of them bore that same black aura radiating from the hilt. Link' insides sank with realization.
Vivienne quirked her full red lips. "Eight Sheikah bound to shadow. And I only need two more to complete my set."
"Impa, stay down," urged Zelda.
Link agreed with her and gave the same orders to Laval. If there was nothing for the Augurer to strike, then she wouldn't be able to trap them.
If it comes to it I will take form. I am assigned to protect you. No matter what may occur to me, that is my duty and I will not waver from it.
"And I will not see you captured," hissed Link to Laval. Ultimately he had no control over the Sheikah, but his partner had a good track record so far of listening to his requests. Hopefully he'd obey him now.
"Shall we get on with it then?" called Vivienne casually from across the terrace. "I'm not one for talk during battle. Usually I just go straight for the kill. It's more efficient, you see. No time wasted at all. But I suppose dear Reth must have rubbed off on me." She pulled her sword back, the dark sheen of the blade catching the light and illuminating the still wet blood that ran up and down its flank. "You wanted a battle with the Augurer. Well here I am!"
And she vaulted. She cleared the terrace in two quick bounds, sword raising high and Link was quick to deflect a pulsating burst of black energy with his shield. Had he the Mirror Shield, he mused, he would have been able to reflect the magic back at her.
In the wake of the blast, Vivienne came at them.
Zellandus cried out in shock as Link clashed his sword against Vivienne's. The muscles of his biceps screamed at the pressure, stunning him with the pure rawness of her strength. If he did not know better, he'd say it was Ganondorf himself, fighting through Vivienne as his host. Link's arms, forge and battle-hardened as they were, shook with exertion, the metal of their blades screeching against one another.
He saw a movement from the right as Zelda came in aiming for Vivienne's midriff where the leather fasteners held her armor together. Vivienne noticed her too and pulled back, wheeling her massive sword overhead as she maneuvered away.
"I think not," she exclaimed. "If you want your darling Sheikahs back, you must earn them by prying them from my decaying body."
Zelda hadn't been going for the armor, Link realized. She'd been aiming for the belt at the Augurer's waist, and the knives sheathed there.
"How did you know there were eight Sheikah?" demanded Zelda, skidding back, the tips of her double daggers lighting up with her light energy. They trailed light whenever she slashed them through the air. "Everyone is deceived into thinking there are far more of them left. Only a select few know their real numbers."
Dashing in, Zelda slashed her daggers before her, crossing her arms then spreading them out, hitting Vivienne's quickly raised shield with each jab and slice. Vivienne's sword swung out and missed grazing Zelda's side by inches as she spun away.
"Eight cursed to shadow," said Vivienne, now fending off Link, who with the disguised Master Sword's longer reach, didn't have to worry as much about evasion. "And one in possession of a mortal form. But that one will be dealt with in time."
He was struck away and rolled backwards to cushion his fall before springing up. He could have sworn the Master Sword had keened that time. He briefly considered Vivienne's weapon, its menacing size giving him an odd feeling of doubt.
He paced to the left, slowly circling the Augurer, keeping well out of range. "You seem to know a great many things," he said contemplatively as he sized her up with new insight. "You knew our numbers, where our troops would be stationed, and how best to overcome them. You knew of the spells placed on the gates and how to bring them down."
"I see," stated Zelda from the opposite side, where she too began circling their adversary. "You were aware of our strategy from the very beginning and had planned to counter it. The beasts were just the distraction. Furthermore, you knew we were seeking you out."
Vivienne eyed them both through uninterested brown eyes, lashes lowered in feigned nonchalance. She allowed them their wolf-like prowling and smiled. "Presumptuous."
"That's why you came here," Link continued. "Instead of leading the charge you simply provided the means of entry for your troops then came straight here, to the perfect battleground."
"You were waiting for us," said Zelda, with growing assuredness. "Because your aim was similar to ours. To cleave the head and finish the battle as quickly as possible, and to eliminate any potential resistance you'd have once you claimed Hyrule."
"Possible," said Vivienne, inclining her head.
But Link wasn't done. He caught Zelda's eyes and detected that they were on exactly the same wavelength. "The Anathema are no concern to you. They never had been, have they? Nor are the council and the high nobles, not even Zellandus. If he were to live and start a rebellion after you hypothetically take over, he'd be no more than a prick to yours and Xerthos' side. You fear us. Your concern is Zelda and I. Zellandus was your bait, but we were your targets. Which means, you know even more than you let on."
"Clever little male," retorted Vivienne, amused as she swayed her head to keep track of them both. Two wolves against a towering bear.
The cries of continuing battle rang all around them, yet in their remote area it was as if they were the sole players on the battlefield. And Vivienne appeared to be in no hurry to deal with them. Biding her time as if savoring a long tantalizing meal.
"So that's it. That's how you discovered we were using the Sheikah as a connection between the divisions," said Zellandus abruptly. Link glanced at him from the corner of his eye to see him wobbling to his feet, frowning as he hit Zelda's barrier, hand splayed flat against it.
"Laval," hissed Link.
Laval's shadow shot from him over to the prince. His loyalty to Link may be strong, but his loyalty to the royal family was stronger. He didn't know what amount of protection his companion could provide without taking form, but his mere presence accompanying the prince gave Link reassurance.
Zellandus snarled. "Someone told you! Someone who knew of all our plans handed them over to you. Tell me, who is the traitor?!"
"And how do you know this for certain?" responded Vivienne with a trill. "I may have just happened to be Sheikah hunting."
"Don't play me for a fool!" the prince snarled, maintaining a shaky grip on his weapon, his other hand supporting himself against the barrier. It was apparent his wound was taxing him. He could barely stand. "You would not have bothered with them so soon into the attack if you didn't know they were this crucial. Link's right. You must have known what our strategy was from the start. I wouldn't put it past your loathsome mind to be informed of every single unit we had to deploy. Now tell me, who gave you this knowledge!? Only a few knew of the precise battle plans. Who is the turncoat?"
"Who do you think the turncoat is?" responded Vivienne simply.
A beat of silence passed whereupon all were tense. Vivienne eyed them like a hungry wildcat preparing to devour them, while they all watched her warily.
"Dasril," muttered Zelda in barely a whisper.
Link had to concur. Who else could it be? "It had to have been him," he said. "He was involved in all the meetings and that would explain his disappearance. He's returned to his master," he spat in digust.
"That slimy serpentine little snit," spewed Zellandus, scowling as his throbbing leg forced him back down. "I knew I should have had him executed. Not tying up loose ends, that's what it is."
Link stole a glance at Zelda to find her expression had turned a frigid cold and her eyes had taken on a blank sheen. She pursed her bottom lip and steadied her daggers.
His heart pounded for her distress. He'd never recalled hating someone as much as he loathed Dasril. The traitorous bastard was right up there alongside Ganondorf, yet Zelda had considered him a friend, and a close one at that. She'd lived over two years together with him, something that still grated on him to no end, and had been betrayed by him and made reparations with him. To her Dasril was a precious addition to her life, despite what atrocities he'd committed against her. Link would never understand it, but even though she hadn't once spoken it out loud, somehow he knew that Zelda had forgiven the man for all that he had done. She had forgiven him, and now he'd thrown her forgiveness back in her face.
Silently, Link vowed that the next time he saw Dasril there'd be no hesitation, and there'd be no Zellandus demanding him to stand down.
"Such elaborate deductions you've made. I applaud you on your accuracy, but there is one slight misapprehension you lot are all dallying under," said Vivienne, idly twirling her blade. "There will only be one definite kill today. Your prince may or may not live depending on my fancy, but you, great hero have no alternative but to die."
Link's gaze flickered to Zelda and Vivienne anticipated the question flowing through his mind.
"Ah, of course I've no intention of doing away with her," Vivienne chuckled, delighted at the turn of the conversation. "You see, dear Dasril wasn't very happy with the outcome of the punishment you gave him, so he came running back to us. He never quite got what he wanted in the end, so we have orders. Princess Zelda is to remain intact and untouched so that we can return her to him. A small gift for the traitor."
Zellandus made a sound of repulse in the back of his throat while Zelda remained stone silent. Link felt the heat of Courage once again flooding his being, desperately urging him to use it.
"The lengths that sick man will go to astounds me," sneered Link, dipping his head, ears erect. "For a short while I've even been fooled into believing he was at least somewhat honorable."
"Men as self-serving as Dasril do tend to fool us," replied Vivienne, keeping her eye on Link who had stopped circling her to stand in front of her. "Anything else you've concluded and feel the need to divulge?"
"Just one thing," spoke Link harshly, sliding into a stance. "You're no human."
On a silent signal Link and Zelda attacked as one. With her opponents coming at her from both flanks, Vivienne faced a serious challenge. She turned to the side, aiming her sword at Link while protected her right with her shield. Weapons clashed and sparks flew, but the strike was only meant to temporarily thwart them before the real bout came.
"And what ridiculous assumptions have drawn you to deduce that?" replied Vivienne, smoothly evading his swing. "Too overwhelming for you for me to be a mere mortal?"
"No. You're mortal alright," Link grunted as he parried her slice and they exchanged blows. "It's because," said Link, ducking under her swipe and vaulting in a backwards flip before she could crash her shield into his face. "You're Gerudo."
Vivienne revealed no shock at his denouncement, rather she flashed a lustrous smile at him.
"Again presumptuous," she stated, eyeing him with new found interest. "But correct. I admit, I don't like you. Men with minds that can actually think turn out to be too headstrong than what's good for them. How the bloody did you ever figure that out?"
They fought as Link replied, "for one, you called me 'male'. Only the Gerudo refer to us by that word. Anyone else would have said 'man'. And second, your fighting style. It resembles the form of an Iron Knuckle, your elite warriors. Only a woman who is Gerudo can bear the weight of that heavy armor without resorting to magic, and only a Gerudo's strength can equal and oftentimes surpass that of Hylian men."
"I'm not fond of your wit," said Vivienne with some consternation. "Although I do admire it. But then, how would you account for my features? My skin tone is hardly tan, wouldn't you say?"
"Glamor?" inquired Link, frowning and bending down under the swish of her blade. If not for their perilous exchange they could have been having a normal conversation.
Vivienne smirked solemnly. "No, actually. It was an unfortunate circumstance of my birth. It led to this ghastly defect, but it has proven quite useful," she went on, smiling gleefully with ruby red lips. "Before you no one has ever suspected my heritage. I can wander where I will and not be accosted by those desiring to earn themselves a Gerudo head."
A gruesome practice that many lowlife cutthroats engaged in. To cut off a Gerudo's head and steal the opal jewel on their brow would gain anyone instant notoriety, especially among the reprobates. It didn't matter that it was murder and illegal, the infamy followed them anyways. It was no easy endeavor, bringing down a Gerudo. Not that there were many sightings of them in Hyrule these days. Beyond Ganondorf, Link hadn't expected to see one at all in this life.
"Not that I fear anyone who would challenge me," exclaimed Vivienne, diverting Zelda's daggers with an upward sweep of her shield. "I have enough poor sods trailing after me already."
Link grit his teeth. And Vrel was one of those sods. The fool.
"But I am no mere Gerudo," Vivienne continued, eyes flashing in delight. She let loose a scythe of black magic.
Zelda took a leap straight up, her cape propelling her into the air while Link simply rolled beneath the attack, feeling the hairs on the back of his neck rise as the scythe whooshed overhead.
Alighting deftly, Zelda held her daggers at guard. "Queen of the Gerudo?"
"That's right." Vivienne laughed. "An undefeated queen."
She charged and the fight waged on, the Augurer against two of the Goddesses' chosen.
Gerudo society was different from Hyruleans. Unlike Hyrulean royalty, whose status was based on lineage, when they hadn't a king to follow the Gerudo's matriarch was determined by the Blood Challenge that took place every decade whereupon the current queen would duel against the strongest of her warriors in contention for the crown. Whomever won would inherit the throne and be titled Queen of the Gerudo. It was a brutal display of power and dominance. Link had only attend one Blood Challenge and had no desire to do so ever again if he could help it.
Link constantly felt the thrum of his Triforce now, but until he was certain that he couldn't defeat Vivienne without it, he wouldn't risk using it.
Vivienne fought well, but he and Zelda fought better. Despite his worries, his heart lightened at the notion. How he'd missed battling alongside her. It had been so long, yet undeniably they knew each other perfectly when it came to combat.
In that instant Zelda jabbed both daggers at Vivienne's flank, this time aiming properly for the straps. Vivienne was forced to guard her right, leaving an opening for Link to come in at her left, going for her head, the only part of her that wasn't protected.
He grinned and even though his attempt was thwarted as Vivienne kicked out her leg, banging it hard against his thigh and throwing him off course, his smile still remained.
Had Ganondorf really thought he stood a chance against both him and Zelda at once? Did Vivienne, this Augurer warlord and disguised Gerudo, and Xerthos, with his revived demonic powers, really think they stood a chance now? But back then they'd been prepared. The Master Sword had shone with radiance while here it had dulled, not yet fully awakened from its sleep. And Xerthos was a demon. Whatever advantage he and Zelda possessed, he couldn't underestimate any enemy of his again. It's what got her killed.
"Zelda!" a muffled voice shouted in warning across the terrace, just in time to spur Zelda into leaning back as the tip of Vivienne's blade sliced in a clear streak across her throat in a sneak attack. It caught on her cloak and tore down the front.
Link felt his heart thud when blood welled up, seeping into her cape and dribbling down the arch of her neck.
Zelda went on as if the wound was nonexistent, unfeeling as she came at Vivienne with poise. Vivienne raised an eyebrow and countered.
"Don't fancy coming along quietly do you?"
"Don't count your life on it," shot Zelda before snapping her wrists forth and hooking the tip of her daggers on Vivienne's gauntlet. The straps were severed and the gauntlet was flung off, dangling by a thin strip. Vivienne cleared the vicinity in a few long strides back.
"I see you don't warp like DeSange did during a fight," called Link as he went in for a killing strike to the back of Vivienne's head. The Augurer cast his blade aside with her own, both of them resonating as they met.
"A cowardly practice, exercised when one is not confident in their own capabilities," replied Vivienne evenly, shoving him back then pulling the rest of her gauntlet off and flinging it to Zellandus' corner where it rebounded off the barrier Zelda had put up. "And I am no coward, but nor am I a fool."
A flash of black magic tore across the terrace and the ground collapsed beneath his feet.
As soon as she felt the stone foundation sinking, Zelda shot to the air, but she could not stay afloat for long. Below her the ground receded, tremors breaking apart their battlefield as it crumbled apart.
Zellandus slammed against the wall of her shield while Link lost his footing and hit hard against the stone, landing on his hip. Vivienne laughed and turned away, leisurely ambling toward the castle entrance. A wave of her hand caused the glass doors to shatter, the wood of the frame splintering. Rubble crashed down and a beam broke from its perch, crunching into the ground behind her as she disappeared through the door.
Zelda flew to Zellandus, who cried out at the tussling his injured leg was receiving. She alighted next to him and removed her barrier. Tucking her daggers away in their holsters on her back, she leaned down and hefted her brother's arm over her shoulder.
"Laval, take him to safety," she called.
There is no safety.
Glancing around Zelda confirmed that he was right. Everywhere soldiers, both Hyrulean and the black-armored invaders, were dying. Beasts charged through the courtyard. The smell of burnt flesh emanated from the gatehouse where hot scalding oil had been poured on a group of the creatures before the Augurer had arrived and destroyed that part of the wall.
Her only choice was to send Zellandus to one of the warp points. Where were her council? Where was somebody who could help him?
"The grave site, there's a Goddess Mark on one of the tombs," she plead, agonizing over ever whimper her brother let out. "Activate it."
Clawed hands formed from the shadows and took hold of the prince. Zellandus was sweating profusely now, clutching at his stomach and writhing from pain. The potion had done more harm than good. How had she never heard of a fey wound before?
After assuring that Laval had a firm hold on Zellandus and that he'd make it away safely with him, she turned to Link, only he was gone. The ground had stopped trembling and Link was nowhere to be seen.
Her gaze panned toward the gash in the wall where the doors to the terrace had once stood. Quickly, she gathered her daggers to her hands and followed through.
The east terrace was connected to the dining room. Zelda silently appraised her surroundings, taking in the stellar placement of the décor, how the chairs were tucked neatly beneath the table, dishes perfectly placed on the surface from when the servants had prepared for the morning meal before they'd been ordered to evacuate.
An empty cart had toppled over near the door and Zelda approached it warily then headed down the corridor. She heard no sound but the muted rage of combat going on outside. She slithered into an alcove when footsteps ran along the next corridor over. Heavy and clanging, not the light tapping of leather boots that she was keenly listening for.
She stealthily carried on until she came to one of the grand halls where a staircase led up to a second level mezzanine. Vivienne stood at the top, her back toward her. On the opposite end at the bottom of the staircase was Link, sword drawn and lips pulled back in distaste.
Vivienne's hair had come loose, and the way she stood, unmoving and calculative, was so reminiscent of Ganondorf that it caused something heavy to pitch inside of her.
Not Ganondorf, Zelda reminded herself. Out of relief or frustration, she didn't know.
She hadn't realized until now how comforted she'd been by the false belief that the Augurer was their dreaded enemy. Just knowing he was alive as well, where he stood in the placement of the Goddesses scheme, had filled her with familiarity. And now they were back to square one. Where was Ganondorf? Was there even a Ganondorf in this era, or perhaps things were more straightforward than she'd permitted herself to believe. Xerthos had to be the reason that she and Link were reincarnated once more. A new evil of demonic nature, just like the Great Fairy had told them.
"Deary me," Vivienne's voice echoed in the empty chamber and languidly she turned around to peer down at them. "I haven't even told you my name. My real name."
Zelda hurried over to Link, who cast her a quick look of appraisal before tightening his grip on his sword.
Zelda felt the weight of his brief scrutiny and determinedly ignored the stinging wound at her throat, blood smeared all over her neck and collar bone. She would not be a burden to him now. Afterwards she'd patch herself up. The wound wasn't fatal. Vivienne's sword hadn't pierced further than the muscle tissue. Although she wasn't too predisposed to the idea of bearing a fey wound, and even less to having to let it heal naturally.
Vivienne's molten brown eyes shimmered in the dull light of the few lit chandeliers. "I am… Nabooru."
Her free arm shot forth and a black whip-like limb extended from her hand, quick as lightning, zooming toward them. It caught Link by the collar and dragged him up. The castle shuddered and an unseen force shoved Zelda to the floor. A creak sounded and she rolled to the side just as a chunk of masonry fell down next to her.
Frantically she lifted to her elbows, eyes widening when she saw Link carried toward the Augurer like an offering. The black limb had grown fingers and were coiling around his neck. Link grasped at them, forced to drop his sword as his grip grew weakened.
Zelda's heart pounded.
No! He had to have the Master Sword. He couldn't fight without it!
The back of her hand burned and she realized it was in reaction to his. Link's Triforce was blazing so brightly she couldn't even see his left hand as he tore at the limb. She could tell the instant he drew on Courage's power. A gold hue surrounded his body, his eyes became a deeper swirl of blue, and Wisdom on her right hand pulsated in accord with its partner.
Yet somehow he could not break free.
Zelda waited with growing anxiety for him to tear away, for him to bear down on Vivienne with all his might.
Nabooru… Was it just coincidence, or was there some deeper purpose for that being her name? How popular was the name Nabooru in Gerudo societies anyways? And what if… but no. Only she, Link and Ganondorf were strung in the cycle of reincarnation. It was impossible.
The Augurer pinched her elegant brow as she gazed up at her captive inquisitively. "A boy. Always a boy. To defeat the great King of Darkness with such a weak body…" She scoffed and yanked him even closer, seemingly ignorant in the way he glowed or of the drastic increase of magical force around him.
Link had stopped struggling, glaring at her with blatant hatred. The next instant he wrenched out of her grip. Vivienne's eyes widened as he shredded the black limb with his bare hands. Link aimed a coiled fist at her face and Vivienne instinctively brought her hand up to catch it. A black cloud seeped out of her palm at the contact and Link screamed.
Soon he and Vivienne were engulfed in the darkness.
Zelda darted to her feet, nearly tripping over herself when one of her ankles twisted in her haste.
"Link!"
His screaming continued before it suddenly stopped and then he came shooting out of the miasma. He was flung down the flight of stairs and landed hard, rolling on the debris covered parquet fifteen feet from her.
Zelda hastened over to him, biting her bottom lip when her ankle protested against the movement. She turned his face toward her to find him unconscious, his breathing slow and labored. Link was unresponsive, but still alive. A quick observation showed her he bore no injury other than a few scrapes and cuts he'd endured from the fighting and the few gashes from where he'd met with Vivienne's sword. Deep purple bruising was slowly blossoming on his throat and she touched the skin gently with her fingertips.
The clicking echo of boots tapping stone rang in her ears. The miasma dissipated and Vivienne swiped her hair back, looking out of sorts but no worse for wear.
"That's two down for the count, and one to go," Vivienne spoke calmly. Blinking long lustrous eyelashes, she inclined her head as she regarded her. "What will you do now, hon? Will you stay to die with your brother and beloved, or will you come willingly to become Dasril's plaything?"
"You bear your name no justice," spoke Zelda calmly, getting up, drifting her weight to her uninjured side. "Nabooru…"
A name. Zelda brought himself back to focus, brow scrunching. Just a name. It didn't mean anything. And it definitely didn't bother her that this bearer of that name was fighting against her rather than alongside.
It was left to her now. Whatever had happened between Vivienne and Link while her vision had been obscured, it had sapped his energy.
One thought drove Zelda onward, past the pain and doubts. They could end this all before it had begun if they killed the Augurer and Xerthos. They could end this without the need for further bloodshed. It was all for her people. All for Link and herself. If the Goddesses could grant them just one lifetime without her land been devastated by darkness…
"Your attitude appalls me," called Vivienne down to her, chin jutting in the air imperiously. "Don't you know that a princess must always kneel before a queen."
Instead of answering, Zelda brought her daggers in front of her and connected them at the handles. She inserted one into a catch and twisted it until it clicked in place and became a double-bladed sword.
"Your title holds no sway here," hissed Zelda, drawing her weapon back, sharp edge of the blade on guard before her.
"But it does," Vivienne chimed with vivid exuberance. "Don't you see, darling? Your weak soldiers are dropping by the dozen. Did you honestly think they'd stand a chance? And you've had the foolishness to send your strongest knights away. I'll have no choice but to hunt them down now. You've only managed to prolong their lives. By decree, anyone who opposes my lord's rule is to die. But better to perish than to become a trinket, like you will be."
"Dasril will never have me!" she shouted, voice hoarse.
"It would break his heart to hear you say that," Vivienne simpered in mocking compassion. "The poor fool." Her full lips then parted in a snarl. She flung out her hand. "If you will not bow then I shall have to force you down!"
Impa burst from the shadows with a roar. In a flash she'd pounced on Vivienne and knocked her to the ground. Vivienne stared in bemusement at the shadow woman, before a dreadful gleam stole across her eyes and she reached for a long knife.
"No! Impa, stop!" Zelda cried out. Yet she stayed where she was. If she went to help Impa, Link would be left vulnerable for anyone to come across and finish him off. But if she didn't go then Impa…
The knife missed inches from shadow Impa's form. Vivienne got up and aimed once more, but Impa now knew what those knives could do so she avoided her every stroke, staying well back.
Impa darted in and caught Vivienne's forearm with the sharp end of her blade as Vivienne's knife nicked her hand and some of her life force was leached from her.
"Impa!" She couldn't allow her to get caught! Not like Carus and the others!
Zelda started forward but then her arm was caught by something firm and tense and she was flung back.
She skidded on the floor and looked up to see a tall figure loom above her. James.
She stared at him wordlessly then winced as he grabbed her arm and yanked her up. He strode over to Link and lugged him over his shoulder.
Zelda instantly caught on and silently shook her head.
"Lady Zelda, we have to leave," said James, hobbling to the exit, hunched from exhaustion. "Lady Zelda!"
"I can't!" she cried. If she hadn't been wounded by Vivienne's blade she'd be able to drink a potion and heal herself so she could fight again. But she couldn't risk a reaction like Zellandus had. She'd only imperil herself and Link.
"Don't make me carry you too," James shouted. By the looks of him, weary and tired, he wouldn't be able to stand under both their weights.
"But Impa-!"
"There's no time!" He growled and leveled a hard stare at her. "Listen to me. I saw the prince. I promised him I'd get you out. We've lost…"
Zelda restrained a sob and limped over to the wall, bracing herself as she slowing followed it towards the door.
A shrill cry rang out from behind her and she made the mistake of turning back.
"No. IMPA!"
Impa's form dwindled under the blade of the knife protruding from her arm. James' breath hitched while Zelda stared on in mute horror. Another aura coated Vivienne, ugly and tar-like. Zelda hadn't sensed it before, but now it appeared stark in the torch light.
Demon…
James shoved her against the wall. Her head hit stone and Zelda blinked, dazed when the ground disappeared. Another tremor? But then she realized James was lifting her. The next instant she was falling as he pushed her out the window onto the cold blood-coated battlefield.
His home at the base of Snowpeak had been completely barren. The furniture had been covered with sheets of white, his entire staff gone and with them the few horses that had been hitched in the stables and his only means of quick transportation back to Castle Town.
As soon as he'd landed in his study, cold and bleak without that constant steady fire in the hearth, Dasril had dashed through the house, finding whatever sort of nourishment he could before barreling out the door.
The winds that had buffeted his face were not as icy as they'd been a few weeks ago. He'd become numb to the cold by the time he'd left the mountain range and come across the nearest village. From there he'd taken a horse and had journeyed without rest to the castle.
His mind formulated every horrible scenario he might come across. Visions of Zelda prone and dead, body bent at awkward angles, her alive but wrapped in chains and forced to kneel before Lord Xerthos, and most troublesome, the horror displayed through her eyes as she was told the lie about his part to play in Hyrule's collapse. Xerthos would be just the kind of sick man who would do such a thing, not because he enjoyed it as Reth would, but because he could.
The dawn streaked red against the sky when he crested the last hill. Far in the distance he saw Castle Town. Across the field, he saw it burning.
The reigns went limp in his hands as Dasril stared with watery eyes at the blazing landscape.
A hollow voice made him jerk as his horse pranced in a fearful circle.
"I knew you'd come," said Lord Xerthos from where he'd suddenly appeared on the rise beside him.
Dasril steadied his steed and drew his fire to his fingertips despite knowing how useless it would be against the demon.
"We shall go about this as if your betrayal has never happened," Xerthos went on, soothing the atmosphere with his calm demeanor. "I have won. There is nothing anyone can do about it. Despite your betrayal you're prior services have instigated the advancement of our plans, and here we are, goal achieved."
He froze beneath the demon's vapid gaze. His fire spluttered in utter anguish.
"I grant you immunity," Xerthos went on, apathetic to the torment Dasril felt. "Soon I shall release Reth to kill whomever he so wishes. Sixty lashes he has endured for his disobedience, and so he is bound by sixty deaths. Until I lift the restraint I placed on him, he will be able to kill no more. He didn't react well when I revealed that fact to him. You would have handled him better. You always had a way of calming his moods. But he will not be able to touch you. No one will. Live your life as you want. I do not care."
The fire in his core flared as he growled, "I will never condone your rule."
Xerthos brushed him off and tilted his head to watch the scene. "Rebel, whine and plead all you want. Try to kill me yourself. Raise an army to overthrow me. I do not care. There is nothing you can do against me now. There is nothing anyone can do. This is only a step in our advancement. There's no stopping it now."
With a swirl of wind Xerthos vanished and Dasril launched a tongue of flame at the spot he'd been standing out of spite.
His horse reared in terror and instantly he calmed it down.
He kicked it into a run, bolting for the city.
It wasn't over yet. For all his grand speech, Xerthos was wrong. He didn't know about the legend of the Triforce. He didn't know the true extent of the power the Hero of Legends was capable of.
It was fleeting, Link might already be dead, but it was Hyrule's last chance. If he could get to Link and get him away from Hyrule, from all of this, Link would be given the chance he needed to build his power and come back stronger.
In order to save Zelda, he'd have to save Link.
With one last burst of strength Zelda heaved Link past the threshold of the graveyard. It was here that the deceased knights were buried, the ones whose bodies weren't claimed by their houses to be lain to rest in their family tombs. And it was at the end of the graveyard where lay the King's Hall, the resting place for the dead royalty of Hyrule.
Rather than make her way to the tomb of her forefathers, Zelda rested for a bit against the stone, making certain both she and Link were concealed by the shrubbery as she caught her breath. After a short respite, she took a deep breath and began lugging Link to the tombstone two rows down, second from the right.
Her right arm had gone numb from the arrow shaft protruding from her triceps and she couldn't move her fingers, so she had to rely on her left to cling to Link as she dragged him. If only he'd wake up. She had tried slapping his face, but nothing worked. Whatever Vivienne had done to him, whatever had happened back there when he'd used his Triforce, it had put him in a comatose state that made fear claw at her.
Please be alright, Link.
After she had been hauled out the window, James had heaved Link out. She had cushioned his fall, but the result had stolen all the oxygen from her lungs. James hadn't followed. The sound of fighting had proceeded after the event, and Zelda had been too bone-weary and sore to try to climb back up and help out. Impa was gone, and now there was Link to worry about.
Tears clouding her vision, she'd then started to half carry, half drag him to the grave site where she'd sent Laval with Zellandus. They needed to regroup in a safe environment, rethink their strategy. Apple had been right, there was no preventing the darkness. They'd lost.
It had been dangerous and difficult, avoiding the battle that had ensued around them. The castle was swarming with the foreign black-armored soldiers and the beasts of the Augurer's hordes. She'd had to deplete the last quarter of her mana reserves fending off the ones who had come upon them. She only had a fraction left, but it was enough to send them both away.
Zelda dropped Link when she reached the designated tombstone and collapsed, panting harshly, again wishing for one of her potions but knowing better than to drink it, not with the fey wound on her neck.
The tombstone was only a few hand spans away, close enough for her to stretch out an arm and touch. The warping magic had faded after being activated so many times, but at this close of a proximity to it she was positive it would still work.
She grabbed a firm hold onto Link and reached out a hand then hesitated.
Memories whirled in her mind. Eras long gone where she'd lost her home, her lands again and again in a constant cycle of repetition. Sometimes she'd be forced to flee and go into hiding, others she was kept as a prisoner, always reliant on another to free her and her people. It was never within her power save her country on her own. But he was there for her each time. Her Link. And they'd always won in the end.
This time would be no different.
She licked her bottom lip, tasting the tang of blood. The guilt of once more abandoning her people became overwhelming, but she shoved it down. She had to do this.
Very well, she would acknowledge her fall, but that didn't mean they were finished.
She looked at Link's pale face and gripped him tighter.
As long as Link, her Hero, lived, Hyrule wouldn't be without salvation for long.
It was with this comforting thought that she reached out and tapped the pale weathered stone of the grave and in a flash disappeared.
Even if she had to sacrifice herself, she would make sure he lived.
When the world reformed around her she was met with chaos.
A/N: And only one person was able to put the pieces together and figure out that it was Vivienne. Clue one: she's never been seen alongside the Augurer. Clue two: Hangs out in the war camp. I even mention her polishing a gauntlet at one point, and she's always running around, teleporting to places on Xerthos' orders. Clue three: A small hint I revealed when I mentioned the Iron Knuckles actually being Gerudo. I did enjoy reading all of your guesses, and congrats to ThePredicate for getting it right *applauds* And about me potentially killing off Link or Zelda... Well I do intend for this to have a happy ending, so we'll see how it goes.
Some notes:
-I've introduced a lot of my own ideas in this chapter (fey wound, rabid sword, etc), so bear with me. Also bear in mind that a lot of the things that happened this chapter are confusing and might not make sense at the moment. Just remember that it will all be revealed as the story progressed. You can make assumptions and criticize my choices in the meantime if you like.
-I know the Iron Knuckles in the games are slow, and wow do they deal heavy damage, but here I wanted to emphasize the different physical structures of the Gerudo. I picture the Gerudo like Amazonians. When I first heard of Amazonian warriors I imagined tall kickass muscly women who are stronger and more agile than normal people. Basically the Gerudo. Therefore the Gerudo's physiology would be completely different from the other races of Hyrule, so even though they might appear too small and slight for feats of strength, their superior muscle composition allows it. That does not mean they're undefeatable though. They're just a powerful warrior race.
-Also like I said last chapter, I'm working on creating a list of all the important characters mentioned so far. It's time consuming, and I'd rather be writing my stories, but I'll have it up on tumblr soon, and I'll try to add them as footnotes for each chapter too, as Camronius advised.
Thanks for reading!