Mid-Morning, June 22, Year of the Great Kingdom 597
Telma slowly returned to the waking world thanks to a thin rectangle of light that shone in through the small window in her room. For the briefest moment, she hoped that everything from the past few days had been nothing more than an awful nightmare. But when she sat up and looked around herself, she realized that was not the case. Her father's beautiful home was gone and she was trapped in this strange, dust filled room, alone.
Curiously, the broken wash basin beside her had been removed and a replacement left on the table. A small plate of unfamiliar bread and a waterskin lay beside it. She did not trust these little gifts, but her pounding headache and shaking body told her that she needed to eat and drink something. Dropping her feet to the floor and sitting on the edge of her bed, she carefully sniffed at the food and took a small bite. It was a little bitter, but it did not taste spoiled or foul. The water too had a strange odor to it, but once the bread hit her stomach her thirst returned and she could not resist it.
Though her ordeal was still fresh in her mind, the deep sleep that Rose had placed her in allowed her mind to quiet some and compose itself. Telma slowly turned over the events in her mind – trying desperately not to remember her father's final moments – and began to form a plan for how she could escape. "They don't recognize me… as long as I keep my ears covered." She realized. "If I can just get back to Hyrule… maybe I can find help!" It was a doubtful plan, most of the Hylians she would meet would regard her as an invader – just as her father warned. But still, she was convinced that she would be safer in Hyrule than in the desert.
Drifting in her thoughts, she did not hear the soft footsteps approach her door. A gentle knock startled her and she quickly rose to her feet. "Hello?" came a very soft, quiet voice. "Are you awake?" She was speaking Hylian, but her voice carried a heavy Gerudo accent, which frightened Telma, and only reminded her that she was in the land of her enemies. Trembling, she debated with herself whether to answer or not – she couldn't escape without being seen… but she was trapped in this small room. They would come for her if they wished. "I know you're afraid." The voice continued, "But no one here will harm you, I promise. I am going to open the door now, please don't be afraid of me."
Her heart nearly leapt out of her chest as she heard the key slide into the lock and slowly turn. Telma was cornered, trapped, and completely unarmed. Were they going to gut her like they did her father?! The door groaned on its hinges as it drifted open and she laid a hand over her own mouth to keep from crying out in fear. Outside, a rather timid looking Gerudo woman stood with her hands nervously folded in front of her chest. She was a bit smaller than Telma and dressed in the desert fashion, but her eyes seemed soft and kind and she was not holding any weapons.
They stared at each other in mutual fear for a few seconds without speaking. Safflina had been "volunteered" by the others to rouse their "refugee" – reasoning that she had the softest voice, and kindest manner. The girl was terrified at the prospect of approaching the mad woman once again, but her heart ached with pity for her, and she bravely agreed to make the attempt. When she saw that Telma was not going to attack her, but was still consumed by fear, she very slowly lowered herself down to her knees – to make herself seem less intimidating – and very softly said, "It. Is. Alright. I will not harm you."
With every fiber of her being, Telma wanted to scream at this stranger to close the door and leave her alone, but that would only leave her trapped and she couldn't stay here forever. "W-w-where… am I?" she managed to stutter out, still holding her hands up to her chin. Safflina smiled sweetly at her, "You have a pretty voice." She answered quietly. Telma blinked. She didn't know what to make of the compliment – why would someone who was about to murder her, tell her she had 'a sweet voice'?! Was this some kind of mental torture before the execution?!
Safflina's smile slowly faded to a look of embarrassment as Telma remained silent. "Sorry," she muttered after a few moments, "You are in the village of Outlast -in the Gerudo domain. You are safe here. No one will hurt you!" Without thinking, Telma reached up and traced her fingers over her ears – mercifully, they were covered by her handkerchief. Her hand brushed against the string of beads still tied around her hair. "You must be strong!" Echoed in her mind. "What do you want from me?" she asked, trying to steady her voice. The kneeling woman in the hall looked confused for a moment before answering, "Nothing… just to talk."
They stared at one another for a few more moments before Safflina continued, "Listen, are you ok? We've all been very worried about you. Are you hurt?" Telma opened her mouth slightly but wasn't sure how to answer. She was terrified of the Gerudo, but this woman seemed to be doing everything she could to be non-threatening and kind. Was it a trick? That seemed pointless – she was already cornered; a trick wouldn't be needed.