A/N: Watch out, there are some suggestive scenes, but nothing you should be afraid of. Trust me. Link finally makes it to the Valley! No Shonen-ai yet. This is the longest chapter, I believe, so far.
Disclaimer: Zelda characters aren't mine. There, my disclaimer!
To Travel Through Time
Chapter Two
Link sighed, thankfully sinking down into the cool grass. They had been marching across the field for three days, without rest. The Gerudo had the capability, he noted, to travel for long periods of time without stopping. After his own quest, he found it wasn't that harsh on him, but it was for the other men. They were now sprawled out, as best they could be, on the grass. They hadn't been fed either, but Link wasn't bothered about that much, having done the same on his quest. It would be nice if they did, however. Water would also be appreciated. It would help with his wounded leg, which was starting to bleed again.
The man chained to him rolled over on his back, looking up at him. "How can you stand it?"
"Stand what, sir?"
"This, thiscaptivity. We aren't even there yet and already we're suffering."
"I've had to do something similar to this before."
"You're a warrior then?" The man examined him, quietly. "Not a Shiekah, I can see. You look Hylian, but then again, those clothes you wear are strange."
"You may call me a warrior if you wish. And, I am believed to be Hylian."
"Ah," the man was silent a moment, still watching him.
Link only nodded, looking up at the Gerudos, who were busily making camp. The sun was setting over the mountains, casting shadows across the clearing.
"What's your name, lad?"
Link snapped out of his reverie, glancing back at the man. "Link."
The man raised an eyebrow. "Link, that is quite interesting. I am Nanthal, Nanthal Evertyne," he chuckled, although there was no humor in it, "I would shake your hand if I could-" He was speaking of their bindings.
"If I still had my weapons, I could easily get us out of here," Link said softly. "But they took them away after they attacked me."
"Did you put up a fight?" the man asked, suddenly.
"Yes. At least if you call fending off at least twenty women as a fight," Link remarked, with slight bitterness.
"I take it you have lived through worse, and now you are sore because it only took twenty women to capture you."
Link stared at the man, Nanthal, in amazement. "What?"
Nanthal shrugged. "Just a guess," he smiled, lightly.
Link shook his head, glancing off in the direction of the castle. "How did you get caught?"
"Well, this may sound stupid, but-" the man looked sheepish. "It was done quite easily, you could say. One acted as a hooker. I was drunk," he glanced up at the Hero. "One thing leads to another, and there you have it."
"So, you really were unfaithful to your wife."
"Well, she isn't my wife yet-"
Link only shook his head. He could never imagine doing something like that. If he ever found someone, he would never think of being unfaithful. In his opinion, trust and love seemed so fragile. Anyone who had been through what he had would think the same. It had been destroyed so quickly during the Evil Reign. But such things were so far away, especially now.
During the lapse in conversation, Link turned his attention back to his original problem. He was starting to move slower, due to the wound. He knew that if he didn't mend it, there would be a good chance that he would have to be dragged by the chain, since he wouldn't be able to walk. But, how could he mend it with nothing?
A Gerudo woman appeared in the corner of Link's vision, and he turned to face her. She held a water flask. Kneeling down beside him, she held it out for him. Hesitantly, he took a sip. It tasted normal, nice and cool. After taking several gulps of the refreshing liquid, he motioned to Nanthal, who watched on expectantly.
The Gerudo shook her head, abruptly. Scolding him in her own language, she motioned for him to drink. Confused, Link protest, "I had enough. The others need some."
The Gerudo replied, shortly, in her own language, motioning for him to drink again.
Again, Link argued. "No, I do not need it anymore."
"Sarea will not listen to you, Hylian," a familiar voice remarked. Link looked over the woman's shoulder and saw the Gerudo from before, the one who had attacked the Hylian woman. She was the leader, he'd found out, and was called Ayana.
"Why not?"
"You are the one she chose as a mate."
Link looked at her, suspiciously. "What do you mean by that?"
"I mean, that you are hers. Sarea is my most loyal friend, and I have allowed her to choose from the prisoners first, in pay for a favor. She chose you and I must comment on the choice," she smiled, her eyes scanning him over. Her gaze made Link uncomfortable. "Since you are hers now, I allowed her to look after you."
Sarea remained silent throughout the conversation, watching Link intently. Link watched her warily. She was pretty, but he had no intention of anything. All he wanted to do was get to the Valley.
Ayana glanced over at the camp. It was twilight now. "It's time for a meal now."
Sarea nodded, holding out her hand. Ayana dropped a key into it. She questioned her in Gerudian, and Sarea nodded. Ayana glanced at Link with a sly smile, before walking off.
The Gerudo woman took up Link bonds, using the key to unlock them. All the other men watched on in amazement, as the Hero was set free from the chain. "I will feed you now, Oriole," she remarked, in Hylian, although it was choppy and thickly accented.
With a strong arm, she pulled him to his feet, nearly dragging him behind her. Link stumbled after. Although he wasn't pleased about entering the small camp, he would be glad to get some food. He glanced back at the rest of the men, who watched him go forlornly. He felt pity for them, but could not do anything until he saw what situation he would be in. Until then, they would have to be happy with the bottle they'd left behind.
*
A fire was blazing in the center of camp. Sarea pushed Link down on a log, sitting down beside him. She wove a chain in between his hands, tying it around the sturdy rope. It was to be his leash.
The other women watched on, eyeing up the Hero. Link felt very uncomfortable, but refused to squirm. Many spoke to one another in their own language, in whispered conversation, sometimes pointing out something on his body. Once or twice someone laughed.
Link tried to ignore them, watching the meat cooking over the flames. There was more food there then he'd seen in awhile. Many different varieties of meats, some odd looking soup, things that looked suspiciously similar to potatoes, and other edibles. The Hero's stomach growled. He hadn't felt so hungry when he was with the chain. It must have been the sight of the food.
Sarea was determined to feed him well. She fed with her own hands, forcing even the most detestable looking food in his mouth. Along with all that was a sweet tasting liquor. Link at first refused, until Sarea literally had to open his mouth manually.
The other women ate heartily, watching them the whole time. Some snickered, while others shouted out in Gerudian.
Link started to feel very tired, and it was a struggle to keep his eyes open. That was only expected after all the wine Sarea had made he swallow. Although he had spit some of it out, the majority had found its way in. He now swayed in his seat. His eyes felt like lead, wanting to close. But he wouldn't allow them to, not with all the women around. He didn't trust them at all.
It was hours later before the dining was finished. Sarea leaned over the Hero, her lips brushing against his ear as she spoke, in her rough Hylian, "Was that good?"
Link shook his head, although it took most of his strength to do so. "No."
"No?" the Gerudo asked in disbelief, sitting back "I see you will hard to please."
Link shifted to the side. "I thank you for the meal. Now, I'll just take some of the leftovers up to the others and we can call it a night-"
The look the woman gave him told him the night was far from over. Link gulped, struggling, for the first time that night, in his bonds. But, his body had other ideas. Slowly, the Hero's eyes closed, his head falling forwards, so that his chin rested on his chest. The wine had won and now the Hero was completely defenseless.
*
Light flooded into the area, falling upon the sleeping figure, who groaned, softly. Link blinked, shielding his eyes. Where was he?
After a few moments, he was able to study his surroundings. He was in a small tent, lying, on his back, on a mat, and was buried under a large quilt. His hands were also untied.
He sat up groggily, quickly realizing that now the Gerudo had taken everything from him. His clothes were missing. Searching frantically with his eyes, Link surveyed the ground, but found no trace of them. Cursing angrily, he drew the blanket up around his chest. This wasn't going to be his day.
"Looking for these?" a smooth voice questioned, from the doorway. Link glanced up and saw Ayana standing there, his clothing under her arm.
"Yes."
She threw them at him, taking the Hero by surprise. They hit him right in the face. "Bad catch, Hylian."
Link ignored her, quickly pulling his tunic over his head. Then he struggled to pull on his hose, while still under the quilt. "I don't think I want to know what happened last night, do I?"
"Depends," Ayana leaned against the nearest pole, crossing her arms. "Of course I won't get into details, seeing that Sarea will be the best to tell those."
Link felt a shiver weave its way up his spine. "Disgusting-" he muttered, under his breath. "Absolutely sickening."
Ayana grinned, hearing him. "Well, Oriole, Sarea didn't think so."
Link's ears perked up at the name. His apparent mate' had called him that earlier. What did it mean? "Why do you call me that?"
"Oriole? That's what we call all blonde Hylians, which we find very rarely. It means fair-haired."
"What do you mean by which we find very rarely'?" Link decided to press his luck in asking questions. The Gerudo woman seemed willing to answer.
"Exactly what I said. We barely mate with the pure Hylians, which the blonde are thought to be."
Link digested that information, then moved to a more serious question. "Why did you kidnap us?"
"I would rather say mannapped," Ayana remarked, smiling. Link glared at her. The woman's smile faded. "Don't you know about the war, boy? When we are not fighting, we usually just go into town for the night, but now we can't stay there very long. So, to compensate, we take men back with us. Sometimes they are let go, sometimes they aren't," she finished, with a halfhearted shrug.
Link remained silent. Thinking he had no more questions, Ayana turned to leave.
"Wait," Link called.
The woman turned. "Yes?"
"What you said before, about your King condoning the murdering of Hylians. Is it true, or did you lie?"
Ayana chuckled. "Of course I lied. And he is not our King yet, Oriole, only a Prince. Still has to grow." With that, she disappeared under the flap.
The Hero sat in silence, contemplating his new information. That puts a twist on things.'
*
"Up we go." Link, newly bound, was hoisted up into the saddle. Sarea leapt up behind him, taking his chain leash in her one hand. The other was woven through the space between his arm and his waist, so that she could hold the reigns. She'd insisted upon him riding with her, and not going back on the chain. That didn't bother Link too much. At least his leg wouldn't hurt anymore.
They traveled up front, beside Ayana. The two women chatted together in their own tongue as Link watched the familiar countryside go by. There really wasn't much to do.
The group traveled without stopping for the rest of the journey. Link would occasionally glance back at the men in the chain, but could never see them. He worried about them, for they were not in the shape for nonstop traveling. If he ever tried to say anything, Ayana would not listen, telling Sarea that she should teach him to be silent.
As darkness fell on the third night of travel, Link started to nod off. He shook his head, not wanting to fall asleep, but the swaying of the horse and the night started to get the better of him. He yawned, forcing himself to sit up straighter. He had fallen asleep before, and that had gotten him into trouble. Now he would force himself to stay awake, even if the boredom in itself was enough to put anyone out.
Sarea noticed his yawn. Mumbling in her own language, she used the hand that held his chain to pull him back, allowing his head to rest on her shoulder. She wrapped that arm around his waist to keep him in place.
To say Link was surprised would be an understatement. His muscles stiffened, and his once drooping eyes grew wide, glancing up at Sarea. As if noticing his attention, she pressed a kiss against his temple, tightening her grip. Must be very possessive of their mates', he thought, dryly.
He remained like that for sometime, before Ayana spoke. "You may sleep, Oriole. Sarea wants you too." Link glanced over at her. The Gerudo woman smiled, leaning back and closing her eyes in imitation. "We only have half a days journey, Hylian. Are you afraid that we'll drop you?"
Not wanting to have to listen to Ayana anymore, Link ignored that comment, drifting off to sleep.
*
"Oriole," a voice whispered. Link woke from his light dozing, which he'd been doing for the last hour, and opened his eyes. He had to squint in the abnormally bright light. They were no longer in the field. The ground was no longer green, but a sandy color. A sparkling blue sky could be seen over the canyon, through which they were passing. Now that he was awake, Link could feel the heat rising. They were approaching the Valley.
Link sat up from the Gerudian woman's embrace, looking around. From what he remembered, they should be coming upon the village soon. Behind them, he could see the bridge, over which the chain was being dragged. The Hero felt another stab of pity, and turned to Ayana.
Before he could speak, however, she said, "Don't start, Hylian. We shall be there soon. Then your friends will then get nourishment, before the auction."
"Auction?"
"Yes, auction. Haven't you realized that we do this for a living during wartime? The Sisters are willing to trade almost anything for a mate during these times."
Link grimaced at the thought. Selling men?
Ayana continued. "You should be lucky. I've seen auctions before," she shook her head. "They aren't pretty, on the male's part. Lots of inspecting, if you know what I mean-" She finished, slyly, letting the sentence hang.
Link understood completely. "I would say you were all disgusting, but you could probably make a remark about me, am I not right?"
Ayana smiled. "Did I ever tell you how much I like you, Hylian? That's a compliment coming from me, boy. If I didn't promise Sarea one from this lot, you would be riding with me now."
Link bit his tongue, remaining silent. This conversation was getting far out of his range. He had learned the proper knowledge, for the age of seventeen, during his sleep', but he'd never had experience. Now he was getting a bit too much of it.
Sarea growled at her friend, her grip tightening around the Hero. Link didn't mind that much, glad to have Ayana shut up.
Ayana only laughed. "Don't worry, Sarea. I gave you my word. I even swore in the Goddesses' names, my friend. He's yours."
Link let that comment pass by. He hated being fought over as if he was an object. But, if he got to his destination, that's all that mattered.
*
They were in the village now. Link only sat still on the horse as the chain was dragged up. The men on it looked exhausted, and some literally had to be dragged. But the worse was yet to come.
A cry went up from the women who occupied the square. Most of them came rushing over, shouting in their own tongue. Link couldn't even see the men anymore as the crowd set in. Sarea's grip tightened around him as she sidestepped the mob, careful to keep him hidden in her large traveling cloak. For the first time, Link was glad for her protectiveness.
It took all of the traveling women to break through the rapacious throng, dragging the chained men away, through one of the doors, into the labyrinth of halls, which the Gerudos called a Fortress.
Ayana rode beside her friend, closest to the crowd. "You should take him down so that no one notices he's missing. Then, once they are counted, you can take him."
Sarea nodded, but did not leave.
"What are you waiting for?"
Sarea spoke in her native dialect, so Link could not understand. "What of the prophecy, Ayana; the one about the fair-haired Hylian? Do you not think the Second would wish to know of him?"
Ayana snorted. "You believe such nonsense, Sarea?"
The other woman nodded, thoughtfully. "It is believable, seeing that a fair Hylian here is very rare. Usually they remain in the towns."
"True," Ayana tapped her finger against her chin, thoughtfully. "I don't think it would hurt. I will tell her for you, if you wish."
"Thank you."
Link strained to try to understand even a tiny bit of their sharp, rapid conversation, but he failed miserably. For every person he'd met, he'd had Navi to translate. Now she was gone, having left before he's been transported back to the Temple with Zelda.
Ayana broke away from her friend, bounding off in another direction. Sarea maneuvered her horse towards the door the other men had been forced through. Before they reached the door, however, she leapt off her horse, leaving Link sitting in the saddle. Yet, before anyone could notice, she swept him down, putting him on the ground.
The Hero's legs wobbled dangerously and his wounded leg screamed with pain, but he managed to stand up straight. Sarea quickly envelop him in her cloak, one arm wrapped around his waist. She pulled him close, making sure he was completely hidden.
Link just went along with it without a complaint, although he hated hiding in the broad cape. The desert heart was unbearable without that burden, but with it, the weather was almost impossible to deal with.
Sarea swept the Hero off through the endless corridors, passing by guards who just called out welcomes in their tongue. The Gerudo woman gave them similar greetings in return.
As Link was carried further through the passages, he started to feel a faint coolness creep into the air. We must be deep within the fortress now', he was thinking as Sarea halted, throwing her cloak back.
Link blinked, trying to adjust to the dim light. They were near a prison cell, but it was no ways near the size of the Carpenters. It was of a grand scale, with beds, two large windows, and best of all, food and drink. Edibles were laid out on a small table in the center of the cell. All of the men were devouring it. All that is but Nanthal, who was watching the Gerudo suspiciously. As soon as Link appeared, however, he cried out with joy, rising from his feather mattress, leaning against the bars.
"Where've you been, Link? I thought that desert dweller who released you might have killed you."
The Hero shook his head as Sarea broke his bounds. "You don't want to know."
The Gerudo woman kept a tight grasp on his arm as she unlocked the door, pushing him inside. "Someone will look at you wound," she remarked. Link nodded, sinking onto the closest bed. He hated to admit it, but he was exhausted.
Sarea left shortly after, but first she made sure that the Hero was comfortable enough. Link only nodded in answer to her inquires. He was glad when she left. When she did, he lied down, closing his eyes.
"Well?"
The Hero's blue eyes cracked open. Nanthal loomed over him. "I'm tired," he remarked, matter-of-factly, closing his eyes again.
Nanthal snorted. "Aren't you going to eat first? The boys over there will devour it before you think." He motioned over to the table.
Link sat up, groggily, watching them eat, A thought came to his mind, and he glanced over at the older man. "Did you check the drink and food first?"
"Check the drink and food? Why?"
Link sighed, removing his green cap. He ran his fingers through his dirt-encrusted hair. "They may try to drug you. They did it to me."
Nanthal sat down beside him, nodding his head slowly. "Why didn't any of us think of that?" he shrugged. "Well, it's too late now to stop them."
"Have you had any?"
"No, although I desperately wanted some. I was busy waiting for you."
"Me?"
Nanthal nodded again. "I had the feeling that if you were still alive, you would give us such advice," he motioned to the feasting men with a jerk of his head. "Seems I was right."
Link yawned suddenly, and the older man laughed. "Seems the little boy needs his nap." He stood up, picking up the closest pitcher. "I have the feeling that that Gerudo, who went through so much trouble to get you down here, wouldn't give you this jug if it was drugged, do you?"
"No," Link said, quietly, "She wouldn't. I'm her official mate, now."
Nanthal froze. "What?" he snorted, trying to refrain from laughing. "So that's what they did to you, huh? Made the little boy those his virginity."
"It's not much worse from what will happen to you. Ayana told me that you will all be sold at an auction. With very inquisitive buyers."
The pallor, which spread over Nanthal's face, told Link he understood. "Damn," he whispered. "Damn damn damn!" None of the other men heard his cries. "This is all very good, isn't it. We've been dragged across the majority of Hyrule, only to be sold at a Gerudo auction," he set the water jug back in its place. "You can have this. I think I need a real drink now."
*
"Wake up, Oriole," Ayana'a voice hissed.
Link stirred, raising his head sleepily. His leg had been mended already, but it was still sore. All of the other men were slumped on the tables, excepted Nanthal, who had gone to bed. Link was the only one whose mind wasn't clouded by liquor.
"Hm?"
Ayana glared at him. "Get up, you lazy Hylian!"
Link obeyed, pulling himself into the sitting position. "What is it?"
Ayana leaned against the bars. "Second in Command Nabooru wishes to see you."
Nabooru. The name hit the Hero like a rock. She was there. Someone familiar was actually there. For some odd reason, Link couldn't wait to see her. His heart started to race. "All right, then," he remarked, slowly.
"I wasn't waiting for your consent, Hylian."
The sound of the metal door being slammed open broke through the stillness, and two Gerudo women appeared in the cell. They grabbed his arms on both sides, and escorted him out of the cell.
"Come with me," Ayana remarked, briskly. "And whatever you do, don't make a sound, understand?"
*
Heads turned as the Hylian was lead through the passages. Link, for the first time, as able to study the faces. All of them wore a mask of confusing and curiosity as he passed.
The halls had become more sumptuous as they went on. Braziers lit the way, and guards were positioned at regular intervals. The walls themselves were covered with beautiful woven tapestries, each depicting some important Gerudo event.
Ayana stopped the group before a large, heavily guarded door. She nodded, and one of the guards, who geld the Hero, forced his head down, as to appear humble. "I hope you remember to mind you manners, Hylian, and stay that way. You will be speaking to the High Power now."
Link wasn't listening. The only thing that filed his mind was the thought of seeing Nabooru. She was someone he knew would be on his side, even if she didn't know who he was. They were both against the Gerudian Tyrant.
Two guards open the door for the tiny entourage. If Link could have seen his surroundings, he would have found himself in a grand room. It was remarkably different from the earthen halls he'd seen. The floor was wood, true, but it was done in a mosaic-type design, featuring many different kinds of lumber. The ceiling was high, allowing there to be mammoth windows along the left wall, which, in turn, allowed the desert sun to steam in. The playful beams were now frolicking on the wooden floor, bouncing off it happily. They also glanced off the large, oval table, which took up the middle of the room. At the head of the table, on a dais, there stood a tall, majestic, oaken chair.
"Greetings, Ayana. Is this the Hylian?" a familiar voice questioned. It sounded distant, as if it was across the room.
"Yes, Mistress," Ayana replied.
"We shall see you now."
Link was dragged, his head still forced downwards, across the room and thrown down at the foot of the dais. Footsteps approached his prone figure. Link didn't move, waiting to see who it was. As a pair of feet came into his line of vision, Link suppressed a gasp. It was a child who stood before him. Was Nabooru a child?
"Mandrag what are you doing here?" Ayana's voice asked.
Link slowly lifted his head, his eyes focusing on the personage before him. His eyes grew wide on their own accord as he stared. It was Ganondorf.