The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. Any and all OCs and original locations belong to me unless specifically stated to belong to someone else.

The Voice
Chapter 80 – New Sleeping Arrangements

The Gerudo's arrival wasn't nearly as joyous as that of the Gorons'. The column of horses, twenty-one in all, rode into the city at full speed, each animal burdened by at least two riders, some even three. Sheik saw the blood first, and then the slumped-over forms of the extra riders, the limp hands dangling at their sides.

"Healers!" the front rider shouted. "We need healers!"

It took him a moment to recognise Riju as the first rider, her voice positively hoarse either from shouting or...crying. Her eyes red-rimmed and wet as she desperately clutched the unconscious, bleeding form of Risa in front of her. It was a wonder the girl was even standing, judging by her vitals.

There was a flurry of activity as the Zora surged forward, helping to receive the wounded Gerudo. Further down the column, Sheik spotted Buliara. She was carrying a heavily bandaged Gerudo in her arms, directing the other riders to where they were to unload their passengers.

"Someone help, please!"

Riju's call drew his attention back to the chief, who was dangerously close to collapsing, her strength threatening to give out under Risa's weight. His legs started moving without his input, and he was at her side immediately, taking Risa's other arm and stabilising her. The woman was actually semi-conscious, but her vitals were weak.

"Tiny, what the fuck happened?!" he demanded, noting that the chief herself hadn't been spared, her face, arms and legs covered in little scrapes and cuts. A large bandage had been tied across her forehead as well, coloured light red from the blood that had seeped through.

Riju's green eyes met his, the pupils darker than he'd ever seen them. "Ambush," she spat. "Yiga were waiting for us in the hills."

Sheik cursed inwardly. So that's where the third group had gone, then. The Sheikah had been scouring the area surrounding the Domain for weeks, unable to find a single trace of the missing group, their results so lacking they were beginning to doubt there was a third group in the first place.

It was so ingrained in the Sheikah to operate in the vicinity of each other that they hadn't even considered searching outside of the projected zone, that the Yiga would choose to break with established strategies. This was partly Sheik's fault as well—he'd drawn up the estimated operative zone based on data both from the Sheikah themselves as well as the Sheikah Network.

"Casualties?" he asked, directing Riju to carry Risa towards the healer's quarters, which had been set up near Mipha's statue—the most logical place for it, according to some.

"Too many," Riju replied, refusing to elaborate. "We decided to bring the critically wounded here as quickly as possible."

"Wise choice," Sheik said, worriedly pinging Risa's vitals once more and finding them even weaker as they finally dragged her through the doorway, where more Zora waited to take her weight off them.

"We will take it from here," a female Zora with dark purple scales and a no-nonsense tone told them as they managed to wrangle Risa onto a bed that was, in truth, a little too small for her tall frame. She then gave Riju a calculating look. "Perhaps you, too, should see a—"

"Save my people first," Riju bit through clenched teeth, wobbling where she stood.

The healer frowned sceptically, looking to Sheik for assistance.

"She's too stubborn to be bargained with," he said with a shrug.

"Hmph, very well," the healer said as, behind her, another healer began to remove Risa's soiled bandages. The wounds were not pretty. "Then please vacate the area. We need space to work. Master Sheik, I trust you to look after the young lady until further notice."

That was new. Being ordered around generally wasn't something Sheik tolerated, but coming from this particular healer? He felt more than a little obligated to obey. But only because he wanted to, of course, and not because he had a feeling the healer would do unpleasant things to him with a scalpel if he tried to refuse. Also...well, because Tiny looked like she was about to pass out, and that wasn't a good look for a newly arrived ally who was supposed to bolster their forces by quite a bit.

"Fine," he said, snaking an arm around her waist—ignoring the way she gasped with outrage—and pulling her to his side, supporting most of her weight. "Let's go, Tiny."

"Unhand me, damn it!" she growled, trying to pull herself out of his grasp, but she was clearly too weakened and exhausted by the ambush and subsequent ride to actually break his hold.

"And let you fall in front of half the army?" he asked, looking around them. Gawkers and peepers had, naturally, come out of the woodwork to stare at the new arrivals, bloodied and bruised from an enemy attack. The Gerudo's arrival was supposed to bolster the army's confidence, but seeing them like this...

Riju noticed his annoyed stare, realising who was observing them. "Eugh, fine," she said. "Bring me to Buliara."

The bodyguard still cut an impressive figure among the Gerudo, having taken charge of the riders after delivering the wounded, ordering them to take care of their mounts.

"You don't rest until they rest," she said firmly. The Gerudo all looked exhausted but didn't complain as they began to lead their horses out of the square. It was for the best—the moment the Gerudo relaxed, they'd likely pass out on the spot. Best to get them squared away, so there wouldn't be passed-out Gerudo littering the city streets. Several Hylians rushed to help them, directing them towards the stables.

"How long were you riding?" Sheik asked, having only picked up on the column when they neared the Sheikah Tower.

"Two days without rest," Riju replied. "We...we lost a few along the way."

Sheik clenched his jaw. "I'm sorry," he said. "I hope you gave as good as you got."

"No Yiga survived," she growled.

"Good."

"My lady!" Buliara exclaimed, spotting them. "What are you doing out here? You were supposed to see a healer—"

"That would take up resources better spent on tending to our wounded," Riju said, leaning a little more into Sheik's side. Why the hell wasn't she going to Buliara? He couldn't imagine Riju being particularly keen on using him for support any longer than necessary. "I will see one later."

"My lady—"

"It is decided, Buliara! My wounds are little more than bruises and cuts, anyway! Not much to do about those!"

"They require cleaning, and fresh bandages—"

"I can take care of that," Sheik said. Why? Only the gods could possibly know. Maybe because he was some sort of masochist, or something. Buliara gave him an incredulous look.

"You?" she said. "No offence, Master Sheik, but I do not recall medical training being part of your skillset."

"It isn't, Slagathor," Sheik said lightly. "But it doesn't take medical training to scrub a cut and tying some clean fucking linen around it. But hey, if you don't trust me, why don't you come along and supervise?" He nodded towards the palace steps. "This way."

He didn't really give Buliara time to disagree, pivoting with Riju in his grasp (surprisingly difficult—the girl was bloody heavy thanks to all that muscle) and beginning to drag her towards the steps.

"My lady—"

"Bul, please stay and look after the girls!" Riju shouted behind them. "I trust him!"

The bodyguard didn't protest, but the warning look she gave Sheik was more than enough. He'd better not fuck this up.

"Since when did you trust me?" Sheik muttered.

"Don't start," she hissed back.

Her heartbeat was slowing down as the adrenaline began to leave her system. Sheik could tell. She was crashing, and soon. Two days of non-stop riding, combined with the battle? He'd be surprised if she was even conscious five minutes from now.

Where the fuck was everyone? Link and Sidon were off showing Yunobo around the Domain, and Muzu...well, who the fuck knew where that fucking pancake had gone off to. Probably his fifteenth afternoon nap that day. Dorephan...well, was rather immobile.

Eugh, why me? he wondered.

"Sheik!"

Fucking finally, a friendly face!

"Paya, give me a hand!" he shouted to his cousin, who'd appeared from Din knew where, gesturing to the increasingly limp Gerudo chief at his side. "Help me get her to Sharky's rooms!"

"Sh-Shouldn't sh-she see a h-healer?" Paya asked, nonetheless taking Riju's other arm and slinging it over her shoulders.

"She doesn't want a single healer to be wasted looking at her, apparently," Sheik said with a snort, glaring down at the Gerudo chief, whose eyes had turned glassy with exhaustion. "Fucking dumbass."

"Who're you calling dumbass?" Riju said, her words slurred. "You piece of...melon!"

Paya couldn't contain the snort—whether it be from suppressed laughter or just not expecting to hear such a thing from Riju.

"You," Sheik said simply. "You're the dumbass."

The badly aimed swat at his head at least told him nothing had changed there, personality-wise.

They managed to drag the wounded chief up the palace steps and, after a moment's hasty negotiation with (and shouting at) the guards, got her inside Sidon's chambers. (He also shouted for someone to bring bandages, linen, boiling hot water, and disinfectant). By then Riju's consciousness was fading fast, and her eyes were sliding shut just as they managed to get her on the bed.

"Wh-What happened?" Paya asked, looking uncertain at the younger girl.

"They ran into the third Yiga squad," Sheik said, removing his eyepatch to scan Riju properly. The visible wounds were superficial, luckily, and there appeared to be no serious bleeding. Likely it was just the exhaustion that had taken her out. "Eliminated them, apparently, but at a cost."

"D-Damn them," Paya muttered.

There was a knock at the door, and a couple of servants hurried into the room with the things Sheik had requested (screamed) for. They hurriedly vacated the chambers, not willing to be at the business end of an angry Sheik.

"Well," he said, removing the glove on his left hand and rolling up his sleeves. "Let's get to work."

Paya nodded wordlessly and joined him.

Together, they removed the bloody bandages and cleaned every single cut and scratch that had been left on Riju's arms and legs, covering them with new and clean bandages.

There was a nasty-looking bruise near her temple, and the bandage on her forehead hid a jagged cut that almost looked like a claw mark. Cleaning that one had the chief whimpering in her exhaustion-induced sleep but did not wake her up.

Finally, Sheik looked closer at Riju's right hand, which had been wrapped entirely in bandages, hissing at the angry burn he found covering the tips of her fingers. What the hell had she done, held a torch by the wrong end?

Those too were cleaned and re-wrapped.

"T-Turn around," Paya told Sheik suddenly.

"Eh? Why?" he asked.

"We n-need to m-make sure she's n-not wounded elsewhere," his cousin said, gesturing to the bloodstains on Riju's front.

"And?" Sheik asked, confused.

Paya gave him a long, hard stare.

"Oh," he said.

"Y-Yes," she said, pushing him towards the fireplace. "S-Stand there and d-don't turn around t-till I say s-so."

"As if I'd be interested in seeing that," Sheik muttered, grimacing.

The mood inside the throne room was tense as the top brass of the allied army gathered around a table set up just beneath Dorephan's throne. The Zora king, who spent most of his days planning logistics, was looking more fatigued and aged than Link could remember, and he felt a pang of guilt at what this whole mess was putting his former foster father through.

Link looked around the table, noting that most faces around it were drawn, quite a change from the optimistic and enthusiastic miens from previous meetings. Then again, the previous meetings had also been attended by junior officers whose experience with wars were glorious depictions in novels and history books, as opposed to the ugliness that was reality.

The people gathered at the table were veterans, mostly from smaller skirmishes and not grand battles, but those alone were enough to age someone several decades in a single day.

Riju sat at one end of the table, her injuries and fatigue leaving her unable to stand for very long. Buliara stood protectively behind her, refusing to let her chief out of her sight, unlike before. She kept glancing at Sheik, who stood next to Link, alternately calculating and glaring.

Link, Sidon, and Yunobo had returned to the upper levels of the city to find it in chaos, with injured Gerudo everywhere and shouts of Yiga savagery. For a moment Link had assumed the worst, but those worries had been squashed upon being directed to Sidon's chambers and finding Riju sleeping in Sidon's bed, with Sheik and Paya guarding her.

Or, rather, Paya was guarding her. Sheik had been knitting furiously.

"She's going to be cold out of the desert," he'd explained.

Link wondered if he and Sidon were going to need to have an intervention on the knitting. It was getting out of hand. It was one thing for him to have an outlet, but this was quickly becoming an obsession.

"Thank you for coming to this meeting," Sidon said from the other end of the table, bowing his head to his fellow commanders. "I apologise for the abruptness of the calling, but I trust you understand the urgency."

"We do," the Hylian commander, General Kato, said. A middle-aged man with an impressive moustache, he was bar none the most experienced fighter and commander among the long-eared people, having led a roaming militia for decades. His junior commanders were...less experienced, but they listened to the man's every word, eager to obey. "And I would like to convey my deepest condolences to Chief Riju," he added, nodding to Riju. "Losing people is never easy, my lady."

"Thank you, general," Riju said, her eyes a little glassy, but her bearing nothing but dignified. "Rest assured, my people's deaths will not go unavenged."

"I can only look forward to seeing what you can do on the battlefield, my lady," Kato said, grinning a little. "Rare are the opportunities where I get to share a battlefield with a Gerudo, but they are always impressive. Ganon's forces won't know what hit them."

"Indeed, general," she replied, rubbing the bandaged tips of her fingers together. Link noticed the movement. They'd been burned, apparently. When asked how that had happened, Riju had only smiled and said an old friend of Link's had lent their assistance.

It wasn't difficult to figure out who she'd meant, and Link was infinitely grateful to Urbosa for her help. Combined with Sidon's recently realised healing abilities, and Yunobo's claimed sightings of Daruk's spirit, he had a feeling the Champions were eager to do more than simply pilot their Divine Beasts. He was interested to know if Teba had been contacted by his predecessor yet.

The other commanders, including Impa, who was standing on a bench provided to her, Robbie, and Purah. They made a slightly comical sight, but their faces were utterly serious.

"Now," Sidon said, frowning, "moving on to the purpose of this meeting: Time. Or, rather, how little left of it we have. In front of you on the table are copies of our latest supply and logistics reports. While we have been able to sustain our army with supply chains from nearby settlements and towns, we are rapidly running out of everything. Food, in particular, will be scarce if we do not get a move on within the next two weeks and make contact with the supply outposts established further south-west."

"Time to march, then?" Bazz asked, to which everyone else nodded.

"We are still missing two parts of our army," one of Yunobo's captains, Gergo, said. "The Gerudo'll be arriving in the next couple of days, right?" He cast a questioning glance to Riju, who nodded. "Anyone heard from the feather brains?"

"The Rito are on their way," Sidon said. "Though their estimated time of arrival is somewhat uncertain." He looked at Sheik. "Does your overview reveal anything, Master Sheik?"

Link hid his smile his hand upon seeing Sheik's slight flinch. He still wasn't used to being referred to as Master Sheik, especially after Sidon had begun to use the title when they were in public, and the habit had been picked up by everyone else as well. He deserved it, for all his deeds.

"They're making a steady pace again now," Sheik said after a moment's pause, wherein he most likely checked his available data. "If they continue at their current speed, taking the time needed for breaks and sleep into account, they should be here within a week. Maybe less if they get a tailwind, but the atmospheric data doesn't look promising for that."

The information was taken in stride by the commanders, who all nodded as they absorbed it.

"So, we have enough supplies for two weeks, goro," Yunobo said. "And the Rito will arrive in one? That's a good margin, goro."

"They'll probably need a day or two rest and recover from the flight," Sheik reminded him. "And there's no telling what might happen in the meantime. The Yiga cells might be eradicated, but there might be other elements out there who could sabotage our supplies. Might even be more Yiga."

Impa nodded silently, as did Purah. Robbie joined them a little reluctantly.

"Which brings me to the next point," Sidon said. "I would like to suggest that we began the march immediately for half of our forces. It will allow us to gain a foothold in the region near Hyrule Castle and prepare a defensive barrier. Securing the route itself is also a priority."

"And it will put less pressure on the Domain's supplies," Kato said, giving Sidon a knowing grin, to which the prince blanched.

"Yes," he admitted, his tail drooping a little. "I will admit there is a bit of selfishness in my suggestion, but I believe the military merits outweigh the—"

"I was just pointing out a fact, your majesty," Kato interrupted him, chuckling. "As a matter of fact, I agree. Tensions have been rising in isolated pockets throughout the city and camps—getting a move on will only be good for them. Give them something to focus on, and the soldiers won't start fighting each other over nothing."

Sidon looked a little relieved. "Ah, that...thank you, general." He looked around the table. "Are we agreed, then? Or does anyone have any objections?"

"I only ask that my people be allowed to rest and recuperate when they arrive before being forced back on the march," Riju said. "That we be allowed to march with the latter half of the army."

"I fail to see any reason to object to that," Sidon said, which was met with more nods. He looked to Yunobo. "Boss Yunobo, are your people able to move?"

"Y-Yes, your majesty, goro," Yunobo said—after looking to Gergo for confirmation. "We will need time to set up the cannons anyway, and prepare fortifications, goro."

"Just leave it to me, Boss," Gergo said, bumping his shoulder against Yunobo's. "I'll get it all set up by the time you arrive."

"B-But aren't I going with—"Yunobo began.

"Best stay here and keep developing the main strategy, Boss," Gergo said, winking. "Gonna need you at your best down there, and as they say bein' prepared is half the battle!"

"A-Agreed," Link piped up. They were still a few steps away from finishing their plan of attack against Hyrule Castle, and Yunobo was one of the essential pieces in it. It was best that he was involved in the whole process.

"It is settled, then," Sidon said after no more objections were raised. "Commanders, I'll leave it to your discretion on whom to send, but please have them ready to march by dawn tomorrow."

"It'll be done, your majesty," Kato said, giving Link a piercing look. "You joining us, Hero? Or will you remain here?"

There was absolutely nothing to his tone that suggested hostility or friendliness—it was completely neutral. Link's mind, however, immediately began to pulse with thoughts of how little respect he was afforded by other Hylians in general—how little he deserved because of his failure a century before.

"I'll..."

Should he go with them? Show some solidarity? Prove that he wasn't a coward who'd rather stay wrapped in the safety of the Zora prince's bedchambers as long as possible than be out there alongside his people.

"He'll be staying," Sheik spoke up for him before he could reach an internal conclusion. "The entire strategy relies on him, so why the fuck would he go with you before the plan's finished?"

Oh, Hylia save him, of course Sheik would take an unnecessarily aggressive approach. Link was about to apologise, but Kato just laughed.

"Hah, too true, Master Sheik, too true. I was merely jesting. If anything, we have the easy job compared to Master Link's."

"Damn right you do," Sheik said with a harrumph that echoed throughout the hall.

"Calm yourself, nephew," Impa said evenly from the bench. "The general meant no offense. Though I would suggest he consider his words a little more carefully next time. Just to avoid misunderstandings." She gave Kato a placid smile to finish.

Kato's grin remained but Link definitely noticed a slight tightness to it after being spoken to. "Of course, Mistress Impa," he said. "Apologies, Master Link."

"N-No n-need," he said, cursing his thrice-damned stutter. "I t-took no offense."

"Wouldn't be alive if he did," Sheik muttered under his breath.

"Well, then I believe we have reached the meeting's end, unless there are other matters to discuss," Sidon said with some desperation, clearly hoping to avoid any further accidental insults. "Father?" he said, looking up at the king.

"Nothing else on my agenda," Dorephan said, voice booming. "My concerns about supplies have been addressed. I wish the men marching on the morrow the best of luck. I would join you myself, but..."

He left the sentence unfinished, but everyone knew what he'd meant. The king was, unfortunately, past his prime. That was why he'd left the command of the Zora to Sidon.

"You will hold the fort, Your Majesty," Impa said diplomatically. "The civilians residing in the Domain will need protection while we are gone. I will gladly put the well-being of my people in your capable hands."

Dorephan looked pleased. "I thank you for your trust, Mistress Impa. No harm shall come to yours in your absence."

Next to him, Link noticed Sheik grimacing. "Didn't realise she was coming," he muttered. "Thought she'd stay behind."

He'd probably imagined a terror-free battlefield.

"Then I declare this meeting adjourned. Good night, everyone."

The commanders dispersed with little commotion. Buliara assisted Riju out of her seat and out of the hall, heading for the city quarter set up for the Gerudo. Kato exchanged a few words with Yunobo and Gergo before they too left. Purah and Robbie were already deep in a discussion—or argument, rather—about some tech-related issue, not even saying goodbye to the others.

"The bloody nerve of the man," Sheik harrumphed again, glaring at the retreating back of the Hylian general. "He tries that again; I'll leave him a nice surprise in his bedroll."

Link didn't want to know that meant. "M-My hero," he said quietly, giving Sheik a little smile.

He didn't miss the slight blush on Sheik's exposed cheek. He was always amazed that the artificial body had been given that ability—and loved it.

Sidon finished a quick conversation with Muzu, who'd hovered by Dorephan's side during the meeting, uncharacteristically quiet, and returned to Link and Sheik.

"I don't know about you two," he said. "But I am quite exhausted."

"Could sleep for a week," Sheik said with a yawn.

As one, the three made to leave the hall, but as they turned, they found the diminutive Sheikah matriarch blocking their way, smiling up at them.

"One moment, nephew," she said. "I've prepared new sleeping arrangements for you."

Sheik stared at her for a long moment. "Eh?" he asked.

"New sleeping arrangements," Impa repeated. "For you."

"I heard that bit, what does it mean?" he said, struggling to keep his temper in check. Impa was just about the only person he did that for, Link knew.

"I mean that, as of tonight, you will be spending your nights in the Sheikah barracks, with your fellow clansmen."

Predictably, Sheik did not agree. "Why?" he demanded. "What possible good could that do?"

"You are part of the clan, nephew," Impa said, her smile dropping and her tone turning serious. "And yet, you keep yourself apart from it. You will be working closely with your fellow Sheikah in the upcoming battle, and the more comfortable you are with each other, the better you will cooperate in the field. The best way to do that is to spend as much time with each other as possible. There are quite a few of your cousins who are curious and eager to know you better."

"And if I say no?" Sheik asked.

Impa smiled again, but there was nothing maternal about it. It was a smile of command.

"I don't recall giving you a choice, nephew."

Link gulped. He didn't dare imagine what would happen if anyone tried to argue with her. When she turned her gaze towards him, he found his strength of will wilting immediately. Not that he'd argue anyway—her reasoning had merit. Sheik was a part of the Sheikah clan, but so far, he'd spent very little time with them outside of training. If Sheik was going to work with them, he'd need to be able to trust them.

As far as Sheik was able to trust anyone, that is.

Maybe a few days in a communal bedroom was the way to do so.

"What do you say, Link? May we borrow him for a week or so?"

"A week?!" Sheik shrieked, his voice echoing through the throne room.

"S-Sure," Link said. He wasn't really thinking while saying it, but he was careful not to look at Sheik when he did.

"What?!"

"I concur," Sidon added, causing Sheik's face to turn red with outrage. The prince gave him a bright grin. "They are your family, Sheik, you ought to get to know them better! If only for better battlefield synergy!"

Sheik was weak to Sidon's enthusiasm. Link knew that. Impa knew that. Sidon knew that. Link could see Sheik's will to fight dying in the face of it.

"...you too, Sharky?" he asked quietly.

"Call me selfish, but I'd like nothing more than to see you grow closer with your family," Sidon said, delivering the final blow.

Sheik sighed. "Fine," he said. "But if anyone tries to pick a fight—"

"They will not, nephew, I assure you," Impa said brightly. "They might besiege you with questions, but they have nothing but goodwill towards you."

"What about Robbie?"

Impa paused.

"Most of them have nothing but goodwill towards you," she amended.

"He plugs anything into me, he's a dead gnome."

"Duly noted, nephew. I will ensure he asks first."

Link and Sidon watched Impa lead a despondent Sheik out of the throne room, with Sheik casting them a betrayed glance and mouthing the word traitors at them.

They themselves left the throne room quietly after bidding Dorephan goodnight, Bazz following a few paces behind, apparently unable to shed his bodyguard habits even after being given a command of his own (which he'd argued against but been forced to accept in the end).

"Do you think he'll be mad for long?" Sidon asked. "Sheik doesn't hold grudges, does he?"

Link gave him a long, unimpressed stare.

"Surely not against us?" Sidon tried.

Link didn't answer.

"Link? Please tell me we didn't just sign our own death sentences. Link? Link!"