Chapter 23: Gerudo Fortress

A/N: I'm really trying to avoid world combining (except in visions and with names) and keep it mostly OOT, but alas, the Gerudo in BOTW are just so much more fleshed out. I'll be taking some of that, thank you very much.

The rest of the trip to Gerudo Fortress was fairly uneventful. They talked the entire time, but Link tried to steer clear of talking about anything related to their past lives.

As they got closer, Zelda took the reins from Link and stopped Epona. "So, Link, we talked about this already, but you haven't really answered. How do you plan to get in and get through the gate to the desert? They don't allow men inside."

"Well," Link started. Zelda was already sure she wouldn't like his plan. "I was thinking you could just… poof us behind the gate?"

'Poof?' That's not how it works. First off, I need to know what somewhere looks like, at least vaguely, before I do that. If I picture a desert, we could die from being stuck in there because we could be anywhere. Second, do you actually know anything about the Gerudos? Your closest friend is the Sage of the Spirit Temple. The Gerudos are incredibly religious, and they pray to the Goddess's Colossus form. It protects them, probably thanks to your friend, from people being able to sneak up on them like that. No magic. What's your next plan?"

"All right," he said, irritated. "What if you just go in and ask to let us through? I don't even need to look at any of them. They can blindfold me, if they must."

"They won't break their most sacred law because I ask them to. I think you'll just have to sneak through. Or we both will. Sheik apparently fools some people into thinking I'm a man."

Link sighed and hopped off of Epona. "Sneaking it is."

Zelda smirked and took a step back. "Don't get caught!"

In a puff of smoke, Zelda vanished.

Link threw his hands up in the air and shook his head. "I know you're somewhere listening to me! It's not really fair that you get to go up to the gate and I have to duck in and out! Princess? I hope you get caught, too!"

There was no response, and he continued across the bridge through the Valley on his own. When he could hear the chatter of a lively community, he knew he was there.

Sneaking up the stairs, he was stunned by the massive fortress built right into the cliff walls. The sand blew into his face, and he had to look away. Moving back down the stairs and rounding a corner, he was able to get a better view of the fortress and the surrounding area. There were female guards clad in purple patrolling the perimeter, while citizens were dressed in white, mulling around, conducting their day-to-day tasks.

When the nearest guard turned her back, Link ran into the fortress, realizing that the outside was too well-guarded. He made his way through the winding halls, in and outside of the fortress, dodging the wandering eyes of guards and citizens alike.

He reached a room that had several stone tables and chairs, as well as a large pot in the center of the room. There were a few Gerudos inside, enjoying their meals, and he ducked down behind a large crate, looking for a way across. If he had the jumping capabilities that Zelda had, he could have used a large shelf that was above their heads, but there was no way he could make that jump on his own.

"Guards!" someone called.

Link spun around to see a young Gerudo girl standing behind him, her hands over her face in horror. The guards ran from the kitchen and one from outside, surrounding Link. "Great," he muttered, imagining Zelda laughing at him if she could see him now. "Wait, let me explain! My name is Link! I-"

The nearest guard whacked Link in the head with the back of her staff, and another pulled him to his feet, leading him away with the point of her spear in the small of his back. "Hands on your head, Voe!"

"Voe?" he asked, resting his hands against the back of his neck as he followed the guiding point of the spear.

"Man!" spat one of the Gerudo as she walked in front of everyone to open a cell. "We will figure out what to do with you once our leader returns. Expect death, Voe."

Link leaned out the bars of the cage, "I usually do."

The woman turned around and glared at Link before leaving him. He was sweating in the desert heat, and sat down, closing his eyes, but Rauru never called him into the Sacred Realm. When he heard footsteps, he finally opened his eyes. When he did, he just wanted to close them again. Fighting back a laugh, he ran his hands over his face and sat up, leaning casually through the bars. As he looked at her, he had to fight back an entirely different feeling.

Princess Zelda stood behind a guard, watching him with an amused expression on her face. She was dressed in a sleeveless white dress, with a belt across her waist. Her arms were adorned with long golden bracelets, and her necklace was the royal symbol. Her long hair flowed down her back and she moved almost soundlessly in sandals that ran up her legs.

"Why is this one locked up?" Zelda asked the guard.

"The Voe was caught inside the Fortress."

Zelda moved closer to Link, close enough that the guard couldn't see her face, and she smiled smugly at him. "What's to become of him?"

"Likely he will be put to death, if the Spirit deems him guilty."

Zelda turned to the guard. "Does he seem familiar to you? Have you seen him before?"

"Not before today, Your Highness."

Raising her head to the ceiling, she closed her eyes. Link struggled not to grin at her show. Zelda looked over at the guard with wide eyes. "I can hear the Goddess! She's calling a name. Do you know his?"

"He said it was—"

"Link," Zelda and the guard said at the same time. This time, the guard gasped in surprise, staring at Link in disbelief.

"Young man, show me your hand."

Link took off his glove, his eyes never leaving Zelda's. He held up the Triforce on his left hand and the Guard nearly fell over.

"The symbol of Colossus! He is the Goddesses Chosen!"

Zelda held out her hand. "Please, may I have the keys and a moment. I believe the Goddess has words meant only for him."

"Of course," the Gerudo said, rushing from the room.

When he was sure the guard was gone, he stood up straighter. "Was this your plan the entire time?"

"I had a feeling you wouldn't make it far. Didn't anyone ever tell you to watch your back?"

"You were watching that mess?" His eyes lit up and followed Zelda as she moved to the lock.

She held the key in her hand. "If you don't stop looking at me like that, I'm not letting you out."

"You're turning red, Princess. You can't wear that and not expect to turn heads."

Grabbing the bar of the cell, she shakily put the key in the hole, not turning it. "It's hot. This is what I had."

Link nodded, resting his hand above hers on the bar. "It is hot. Couldn't have said it better myself." He wasn't sure what had come over him, but Zelda moved her hand so her fingers threaded his. He could feel her hand shaking.

"Stop, Link," she said with an embarrassed smile. Her face was redder than if she'd stood in the sun all day.

"Okay," he agreed, but she didn't loosen her hold on his hand. He wasn't sure what she wanted, but he unthreaded their fingers and pushed the unlocked door open.

Zelda stepped outside, and Link followed her. The Gerudo all looked up at Link and bowed.

"What's happening? What did you do?"

Zelda shook her head. "This is for you, Link. You're one of their three most revered figures."

"What?" he asked, but Zelda had bowed her head, hand over her heart, like all the others.

One Gerudo in the front finally lifted her head and everyone followed suit. Link was still looking around, dumbstruck. The Gerudo guard nearest Link was the one who finally spoke. "Hero chosen by the Goddess, Princess Zelda, please follow me."

The two followed into the fortress, further away from the cells and deep into a basement. "Hero, what is your true purpose for being here?"

Link was still struggling to speak after the unexpected display outside. "I need to get to the Spirit Temple across the desert. Uh… the princess said the Goddess wants her to go as well."

"Ah, I know just the thing. Please, wait here," the Gerudo said as she disappeared into the next room.

Link quickly turned to Zelda. "Explain what you meant? Why are they bowing?"

Zelda grabbed his hand and held it up, waving his own Triforce around. "There is one man born to the Gerudo women every hundred years. The last male hasn't died yet, he's been around for some time: Ganondorf. Each time the male is born, he has been the spiritual successor to the Triforce of Power. They worship him because Colossus, their version of Hylia, blessed him. Because of that, they worship anyone who bears Colossus' power. You are one of them."

"I don't want—" Link started when the Gerudo returned. She carried in a chest and placed it in front of Link.

"These were to be for our Chosen One, but he strayed from the path. May they aid you in this desert heat. I will send someone in to assist you."

"I'll be fine," Link insisted.

"There are many straps. They will help you," she said, ignoring Link and leaving.

Zelda crossed her arms and rested against the wall. "Just let them do it."

"Is that even normal?"

"People help me dress all the time. It comes with the life."

Link scowled. "I don't want this."

"At least they're not all trying to kill you."

"Aren't they?"

Three Gerudo entered the room and opened the trunk, laying out the armor in a row. There was single sleeved spaulder that would tie around him, red pants that looked airy enough for the desert air, gold boots that were tall enough to act as greaves as well, two arm bracers, and a gold tasset.

Link stared at the odd array and started to protest when Zelda stepped forward. "I'll wait out here, I think. Can't wait to see."

Staying at the door, Zelda waited outside. She stared at the open desert and wasn't looking forward to the trek, but this was the one place she couldn't use her abilities as Sheik to help her. It would be a new challenge, for sure, but one she was up to.

She only hoped Link was up to the task of what laid ahead. Once word gets out of the Fortress that the Gerudos have found the chosen hero, Ganondorf was sure to find them. Despite the Triforce of Wisdom remaining lost, he'll want to keep control of Link. He might not even know about Link escaping his prison yet, if Ganondorf was there as often as Link said.

"I look like an idiot," Link said from behind her.

She turned, prepared to laugh, but she didn't.

He looked like a warrior, wearing the first pieces of proper armor she'd seen. The only questionable choice was that Link was shirtless, but his large scars and physical physique were enough to label him as someone who knew how to fight, and had the strength to do it.

"You don't look like an idiot," Zelda said, her voice serious. "You're starting to look more and more like the Hero."