A Walk in Kakariko
"B-beautiful?" I stammer in amazement. I must admit I am very taken back by this response. No one in my life has ever called me beautiful.
"Why, yes," the young woman replies. "It's not because you are attractive or kind. It is because there's something shady about your face. It looks as though you are about to cry. Your expression, it's almost.gentle, in a way. Like a lost little boy."
"What?" I reply in even greater astonishment. She thinks me beautiful for the same reason I think her so! I nearly burst out laughing, but I am afraid that my harsh laugh will scare her off. So, instead, I simply, yet boldly ask, "What is your name?"
"My name?" the young woman responds. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you. It's Euvaela."
Euvaela, I repeat in my head. It was quite a pretty name, better sounding than my cruel Ganondorf.
"And what is your name?" she asks curiously.
This was what I feared she'd say. I am reluctant to tell her, for I know that, if I do, she may become frightened. You see, many of the bravest warriors in Hyrule tend to flee at the mere mention of my name. Finally, I work up the courage to say it. Trying to sound as gentle and kind as I can, I quickly say, "Ganondorf." But it comes out just as evil as ever, and I want to kick myself.
She then says, "Hello, Ganondorf, pleased to meet you," as she does a small curtsy. "Would you like to come to my home? It is in Kakariko Village, and I would be happy if you could join me."
Kakariko Village. It is just across the river, so it will take no time at all to get there. Yet, I'm not sure. If I go, will the villagers be aghast by my wretched appearance? Or will they appreciate it like Euvaela did? Whichever their reaction will be, I think to myself, I don't care. I have an obligation to go, for a woman is asking me to do so and I must be a gentleman. So, I walk across the bridge over the Zora River, and I move towards Euvaela. I offer my arm in a proper manner, and she takes it softly. We walk the staircase that leads to Kakariko Village, and I am smiling for the first time in a long, long time. And it feels good.
Kakariko Village is even larger than when I last saw it, with its many houses on layers of the town, and staircases that lead to those layers. The town's well and windmill lie on the very back wall, and the townspeople walk slowly across the grassy streets and alleyways. Seeing these same townspeople, I quickly cover my face with my hands, pretending as if the Sun is too bright for my eyes. This way, Euvaela will not be angry with me for hiding my face, and the townspeople won't be able to see it. As we walk to Euvaela's house, we have a small discussion.
"Where are you from?" Euvaela asks, staring into my eyes (for she can see under my hand, since she only comes to my stomach in height).
I falter, and then say, "Gerudo Desert."
"Oh, wow!" she says in astonishment. "That means that you're the first male Gerudo to be born in a thousand years! I had no idea I was talking to such a rare flower." I am slightly shocked by this response. I've been called many things in my life, but never a "rare flower."
"Where is your house?" I ask, trying to change the subject so as not to tell her much more about myself. You see, I am afraid that if I tell Euvaela too much about me, she will become entangled in the web of danger that I always find myself in, and that she will be hurt by those who want to hurt me.
"On the third layer of the village," she replies, pointing to a small cottage on the left. By the time she has said this, we are on the first layer.
I form a sentence in my mind, but wonder if I should say it. I simply stare into her eyes, dark blue as the night sky. After we get to the second floor of the village, I work up enough courage to say, "You are very pretty." I suddenly realize the total randomness of what I just said, and again I want to kick myself.
But Euvaela simply looks back into my eyes, and says, "Thank you. You know, most people in this village wouldn't say that."
Surprised, I respond, "No? But you are!"
"Try telling that to them," she says, with a hint of frustration in her voice. "They think that, to be pretty, you must have a gorgeous face. I grow tired of their shallowness, but what can a mere, weak thing such as myself do about it? Nothing, nothing at all."
"No, you can do something," I say, taking on a larger tone. "You can fight for your rights as a citizen of the village! You don't need to take anything from anyone." I was surprised by my own words. Wasn't it me who fought back against my village just a while ago? When all of them smirked at my grotesque features? Yet, when I fought back, I became even angrier, and ended up rebelling against all of Hyrule as the Evil King. What if Euvaela ended up like I had? Alone and cold because of her need for freedom.
We were just in front of her house, so I emptied my mind of such thoughts and opened the door to let her in. I followed, and shut the door behind me.
"B-beautiful?" I stammer in amazement. I must admit I am very taken back by this response. No one in my life has ever called me beautiful.
"Why, yes," the young woman replies. "It's not because you are attractive or kind. It is because there's something shady about your face. It looks as though you are about to cry. Your expression, it's almost.gentle, in a way. Like a lost little boy."
"What?" I reply in even greater astonishment. She thinks me beautiful for the same reason I think her so! I nearly burst out laughing, but I am afraid that my harsh laugh will scare her off. So, instead, I simply, yet boldly ask, "What is your name?"
"My name?" the young woman responds. "I suppose there's no harm in telling you. It's Euvaela."
Euvaela, I repeat in my head. It was quite a pretty name, better sounding than my cruel Ganondorf.
"And what is your name?" she asks curiously.
This was what I feared she'd say. I am reluctant to tell her, for I know that, if I do, she may become frightened. You see, many of the bravest warriors in Hyrule tend to flee at the mere mention of my name. Finally, I work up the courage to say it. Trying to sound as gentle and kind as I can, I quickly say, "Ganondorf." But it comes out just as evil as ever, and I want to kick myself.
She then says, "Hello, Ganondorf, pleased to meet you," as she does a small curtsy. "Would you like to come to my home? It is in Kakariko Village, and I would be happy if you could join me."
Kakariko Village. It is just across the river, so it will take no time at all to get there. Yet, I'm not sure. If I go, will the villagers be aghast by my wretched appearance? Or will they appreciate it like Euvaela did? Whichever their reaction will be, I think to myself, I don't care. I have an obligation to go, for a woman is asking me to do so and I must be a gentleman. So, I walk across the bridge over the Zora River, and I move towards Euvaela. I offer my arm in a proper manner, and she takes it softly. We walk the staircase that leads to Kakariko Village, and I am smiling for the first time in a long, long time. And it feels good.
Kakariko Village is even larger than when I last saw it, with its many houses on layers of the town, and staircases that lead to those layers. The town's well and windmill lie on the very back wall, and the townspeople walk slowly across the grassy streets and alleyways. Seeing these same townspeople, I quickly cover my face with my hands, pretending as if the Sun is too bright for my eyes. This way, Euvaela will not be angry with me for hiding my face, and the townspeople won't be able to see it. As we walk to Euvaela's house, we have a small discussion.
"Where are you from?" Euvaela asks, staring into my eyes (for she can see under my hand, since she only comes to my stomach in height).
I falter, and then say, "Gerudo Desert."
"Oh, wow!" she says in astonishment. "That means that you're the first male Gerudo to be born in a thousand years! I had no idea I was talking to such a rare flower." I am slightly shocked by this response. I've been called many things in my life, but never a "rare flower."
"Where is your house?" I ask, trying to change the subject so as not to tell her much more about myself. You see, I am afraid that if I tell Euvaela too much about me, she will become entangled in the web of danger that I always find myself in, and that she will be hurt by those who want to hurt me.
"On the third layer of the village," she replies, pointing to a small cottage on the left. By the time she has said this, we are on the first layer.
I form a sentence in my mind, but wonder if I should say it. I simply stare into her eyes, dark blue as the night sky. After we get to the second floor of the village, I work up enough courage to say, "You are very pretty." I suddenly realize the total randomness of what I just said, and again I want to kick myself.
But Euvaela simply looks back into my eyes, and says, "Thank you. You know, most people in this village wouldn't say that."
Surprised, I respond, "No? But you are!"
"Try telling that to them," she says, with a hint of frustration in her voice. "They think that, to be pretty, you must have a gorgeous face. I grow tired of their shallowness, but what can a mere, weak thing such as myself do about it? Nothing, nothing at all."
"No, you can do something," I say, taking on a larger tone. "You can fight for your rights as a citizen of the village! You don't need to take anything from anyone." I was surprised by my own words. Wasn't it me who fought back against my village just a while ago? When all of them smirked at my grotesque features? Yet, when I fought back, I became even angrier, and ended up rebelling against all of Hyrule as the Evil King. What if Euvaela ended up like I had? Alone and cold because of her need for freedom.
We were just in front of her house, so I emptied my mind of such thoughts and opened the door to let her in. I followed, and shut the door behind me.