It's short, but I am trying to catch up! Enjoy and if you would like, leave a review! Those are always encouraging and sometimes help my lack of inspiration.
Chapter 16.
Grace was silent as she brushed her hair. She contemplated getting dressed, but even Ganondorf had not woken up. She grunted as she pulled on a knot, careful not to make too much noise.
She thought of last night, their strange conversation. She wasn't entirely surprised that Ganondorf would have known about the royal torture chambers, he had been through a war. What surprised her is that he lived through it. Her father had once talked about the chambers in a hushed voice. She knew she wasn't supposed to listen, but it was alluring. The things she had heard that night never left her. The things they had done to people she wasn't sure the goddesses could forgive them for.
"Va-!"
She jumped, not expecting the quiet outburst from the floor. She frowned, crawling across the bed, peering down at him in curiosity. His face was twisted in discomfort as he continued to sleep. She giggled, realizing he was talking in his sleep. She never had pictured him being capable of such human things. She always pictured him to sleep lightly, be able to wake at the slightest hint of presence. To see him helpless, talking nonsense, sleeping so deeply brought her joy.
She kicked her feet, listening to him say unfamiliar words. She wondered what he could have been dreaming about that he would talk so much. The more she listened though, she doubted that he was sleeping well at all. He started to seem panicked. He shouted something and her heart sank. It frightened her as he thrashed around momentarily. She crouched down beside him, unsure of what to do. She had never seen someone work themselves into a fit in their sleep before. He mumbled something else before panting.
She had read once that people relieved their past in dreams, that they suffered through memories that they had rather forget. She wondered if she had made him suffer through something.
"You should wake up." She squeaked, unsure of how to wake him. He looked as if he would kill her.
"Wake up." She tried again louder, but he only continued to sleep. Hesitantly she poked his arm. He did nothing. Which in turn made her laugh. She wondered if it would be considered rude to touch him but waking him seemed a bigger priority. She cautiously put her hands on his shoulders, shaking him slightly. His eyes shot open and for the first time in many years, she felt that she was in fatal danger. His eyes had looked so frightened it shook her to her soul.
"What are you doing?" He asked quietly, leaning back on the floor. Grace fell back, embarrassed that she had woke him.
"You were talking in your sleep…" She stammered. He slowly sat up, staring blankly at the floor.
"So I was…" He replied, eyes fixed downwards. Grace scooted forward, sitting in front of him. She wasn't quite sure how to feel. He looked almost sad in the early morning light.
"What were you dreaming about?" She asked gently, not entirely sure it was appropriate for her to ask. He said nothing and stood up, walking to his desk.
"You don't have to say if you don't want to but, it seemed like you were having a nightmare." She tried again, slowly walking to his side. He remained silent, holding himself against the desk. He coughed before pulling the chair out and sitting down, continuing to ignore the girl that hovered over him like a lost child.
"You know...it helps to talk about the things that bother you." She stated, giving a small smile.
"Why would I talk to you?" He scoffed, burying his face in his hands. She sighed as she took a step backwards.
"I'm only trying to help-"
"I am aware! Please...stop." He hissed bitterly, slamming his fists into the table. Tears stung Grace's eyes. She swallowed hard before grabbing her garb and walking into the washroom. He stared forward blankly. She didn't need to know about anything more than she already did. Then again, he wondered if he had told her if it would have put his mind at ease.
There was a small whimper as she entered the room, her stiffness hinted at embarrassment. She had never wore so little in front of anyone before.
"You look like a true citizen." He stated unfeelingly. She nodded, unsure of how she felt in the Gerudo garb. She made her way to her bag and shuffled through it, gathering her hair things.
"You can't wear your hair that way." He stated, watching her put her hair into a bun.
"Why not?"
He snorted at her question.
"Sit." He ordered, standing up. Cautiously, she went and sat down. He took her brush and began to comb through her hair. She played with her clothes nervously as he pulled her hair back tight and neatly.
"What are you-"
"Hush!"
She frowned but continued to let him tug at her hair.
"Ouch!" She yelped as he tightened his grip.
"Hold still!" He growled, fastening something in her hair.
"What's that?" She asked, brushing her fingers against the cold gemstone.
"A gift." He replied before pointing to the mirror. She walked towards the mirror, touching her hair ever so slightly.
"I look...beautiful." She gasped, admiring her new self. He smirked watching her whip her hair around.
"Aveil will be here after morning meal. She will tutor you." He said calmly, picking up the assorted things he used for bedding.
She smiled as she turned. "I can't thank you enough...Ganondorf." Her eyes gleamed as she spoke, it almost made him feel guilty.
oOo
"Why do I have to teach her? She's just like any other pompous...arrogant Hylian vai!" Aveil whined. Nabooru laughed, shoving a book in her sister's arms.
"Because I don't want to and Vaba must teach the other girls. Besides, I think you two will find you have a lot in common." Nabooru explained.
"What could I have in common with a Hylian vai?" She protested.
"Well… you both like to talk...especially when it's unnecessary. You are nosey-"
"Nabooru. Really?" Aveil rolled her eyes, watching her sister slice fruit. Nabooru smiled, tossing her sister a piece.
"Aveil, if you behave yourself, maybe I'll be able to talk Ganondorf out of your ban." Nabooru winked, silently telling her sister that things were in her favor if she didn't say anything more. Aveil nodded, a small grin spread across her lips.
"I hope she doesn't talk about Hylian feminine dignity." Aveil stated as she joined her sister at the table. Nabooru shook her head.
"I think you will find that she is much different than what you expect…"
oOo
Princess Zelda hummed to herself as she traced letters then rewrote them on her own. Her little legs swung impatiently underneath the table as she continued to write. She loved her tutoring room. It had one large window that took up the entire wall, it had a balcony attached too. The window stretched from floor to ceiling and had been clad in curtains matching the Royal Family colors. There was a long table in the center of the room surrounded by carefully carved chairs. In the back of each chair was carved the three goddesses and the Triforce. Zelda had once heard that the Royal Family shared a bloodline with the goddess Hylia, but as a child, she figured it was something her father told her to make her feel special. She was quite aware when people would make something up for the sake of her smile.
On either side of the table there were bookcases that almost touched the high ceilings. The doors were large and wooden, carved with the Royal Family seal, and above the table, a beautiful chandelier that little Zelda would often become distracted by. She wondered if anyone would be able to count so many jewels. She once asked Impa if she could have a maid count them to which Impa responded, "We do not boast of our blessings."
Zelda put her pencil down, glancing up at her nursemaid. Impa had remained at the window, looking towards Kakariko. She stood perfectly still, not smiling, not frowning, just staring blankly into the distance. The little princess had begun to wonder why her nursemaid had been so drawn to the windows these last few days. Impa did not like to talk about where she came from, her friends, her family, or her past in general. Zelda was fascinated by this, it made her mysterious and intriguing.
"Impa?"
The woman turned, facing the little girl, her face still blank of any expression.
"Yes, princess?"
Zelda smiled a toothy grin before holding up her paper.
"I'm done." She stated proudly. Impa took the paper, looking over it thoroughly.
"So you are." She replied, giving her a small grin.
"Impa, why do you look outsides'?" Zelda inquired, pointing to the window. Impa frowned, gently forcing the girl's hand to her side.
"We do not point." She said quickly, before walking to the shelf. The little princess pushed away from the table, walking towards the window.
"When will daddy be home?"
Impa pulled a book from the shelf, watching the little girl stare sadly out the window.
"Not for a long time. You must be patient. Now, let us read our history book." Impa said calmly, waving her arm for the princess to come closer. Zelda sighed, walking to the table.
"Impa...can we learns about the Sheikah?"
Impa blinked, unsure of how to answer the little princess. She sat the little girl in a chair, sitting down beside her. Zelda was confused by this, Impa almost always answered immediately. After a moment of silence, the Sheikah woman took the princess's hands.
"Zelda, I want you to listen to me very carefully."
The little girl's eyes grew wide. Impa had never sounded so nervous before. It was unlike Impa to be so concerned with her small questions.
"There are some things we can not learn… Not because they aren't important, but because they are best left unknown. As for the Sheikah, all you will ever know is that we come from Kakariko. We are sworn to serve the Royal Family, and we are not entirely what we seem." Impa's voice was so hushed the princess trembled.
"Why, Impa?" She whispered, her hands beginning to shake. Impa frowned, pushing a blonde lock behind the princess's ear.
"That's enough questions about that for today, now, let's read." Impa stated, clearing her throat. Zelda tried to concentrate on her lesson, but her mind was in Kakariko. She had heard her father talk about that town once, and she knew her father did not like the Sheikah as a people either. It only made her more curious as to why Impa was her nursemaid.
Whatever the reason may be, the Sheikah were hidden, a secret culture, and she would know why in time.
oOo
The Hylian king walked alongside the captain of the Hyrulian guard, stopping to look at the wasteland of the desert outside.
"Your daughter is quite… talkative." He said finally. The captain shook his head.
"I apologize, she is young. She knows more about these people than I wished she did." He said quickly, giving a small bow. The king roared with laughter.
"Stand up! Stand up! There is nothing to apologize about! She's annoying, I hate curious, clever women. They stick their noses in places where they don't belong. But that is not why I wish to talk to you… in private" He stated with a malicious grin. The captain looked around quickly.
"There is no one here, sire." The captain replied. The King of Hyrule nodded, fixing his gaze at the sand outside.
"I like how she distracts us from working on anything important, but I need something from her. She knows the language, does she not?"
"Yes, sire."
"And her unfortunate accommodations are with Lord Ganondorf, correct?"
"Yes, sire."
The king smiled widely, beckoning the captain to come closer. The captain glanced around once more before the king leaned forward to his ear.
"I need her to take any document she can pertaining to his...peace acquirement. I want her to translate them, I want to know things he refuses to tell us about this place. If she succeeds, you both will be rewarded greatly." He whispered. The captain frowned, unsure of the responsibility placed on his daughter.
"Your Highness, if I may?" He asked to speak, the king nodded, his tired eyes darkening.
"Go on then."
"My she is, immature. I am not certain she can carry this task secretly. Smuggle letters, perhaps, but she certainly can not smuggle full documents. This is spy work, my daughter is in no way a trained spy. She's mere a child involved with some fantasy with the Gerudo. I don't understand it either, sire, but she can't be held responsible with such an important task." The captain pleaded. The king frowned.
"Are you suggesting she would rather disobey direct orders from her king? You know what we do with traitors, captain."
"I'll see to it she understands her orders, sire."
"Thank you, captain."
oOo
Grace waited patiently as she listened to Ganondorf and Nabooru bicker outside the room in their native tongue. She didn't like not knowing what they were saying, but then again, in a few short hours, she might be able to pick up on it. She could hardly stand her excitement as it was now.
After the events of this morning, Ganondorf informed her of what her classes would pertain. He seemed displaced through most of their conversation, but he had also excited her with talk of her classes. He had rathered talk about what she was to learn than anything else, it seemed. She didn't mind entirely, either, for the more he talked the more questions she had. She knew it annoyed him but there was no one else to share in her thrilling new studies.
"Grace. A moment." Nabooru grinned as she invited Grace into the hall. Ganondorf did not look pleased, but then again, he never really looked pleased ever.
"The captain has sent for you, Aveil will meet you in the common room after the captain is finished with you." Ganondorf rumbled before walking away. Nabooru sighed and rolled her eyes before looking down at Grace.
"He's a big baby. He doesn't think it's wise to let you see the captain privately." Nabooru explained, eyeing him as he continued down the hall.
"The captain is my father…" Grace said quietly. Nabooru smiled.
"We know."
Nabooru escorted Grace to the common room. It was strange to see it so empty. The captain sat at the table with a Gerudo guard standing behind him. Nabooru said something to the guard and the guard left. Nabooru began to follow behind and on her way out simply said "Five minutes."
Grace smiled before kissing her father's cheek. He wrapped his arms around her, giving her a timid hug.
"I've missed you so much, father!" She exclaimed with a laugh, but he did not smile.
"I've missed you too, Grace." He replied, handing her an envelope. "Read it, then burn it."
Grace looked at him doubtedly before opening the envelope. She read the contents quietly, rereading her orders from the king. Her face turned concerned as she tried to force paper back in his hand.
"Father… I can't!" Her voice trembled as she spoke, but the captain stood, unmoved.
"Orders are orders, Grace. There is nothing you can do. Unless you are saying you would rather commit treason."
"No, father…"
He kissed the top of her head taking the paper and tossing it in the open flame in the corner of the room.
"Father? When do you need this by?" Grace asked quickly as he walked towards the door. He smirked.
"That's my girl." He laughed before leaving.
"He left so soon." Aveil stated as she came in after him.
"Yes… He did."