Chapter Six: Kinswomen
Food and water were brought to their room like the woman had commanded. Along with that was brought a fresh pitcher of water for bathing which, being hot from the dust and sweat, they took with pleasure. They knew there were guards right outside the door so they refrained from speaking more than they had to. Both girls knew the other was scared so there was really no need for words. Tiamra sent for them shortly after and they had supplied Megeara with a pair of crutches to use for walking. Loraefin stuck close to her side still though.
They made their way in and out of halls, everywhere the other Gerudo staring at them curiously as they walked past. They were brought to a room that appeared to be used as a meeting hall or perhaps a dining area, either way it was larger than the rest. At one of the tables was seated the woman Megeara and Loraefin had seen before. She was busily searching through papers and did not pay attention to them when they came in. She knew they were there though, but they could wait until after she was done. Meticulously she shifted through papers, putting some off to one side and some off to the other, Megeara and Loraefin glanced nervously at one another. Tiamra raised her head and motioned the guards who had brought them here to leave. They went out silently with a nod. Tiamra smiled slightly at the girls and raised herself tall and proud.
"I hope you found everything you needed, please come over here so I do not have to shout across the room at you." Of course, she had no need to shout for her voice was powerful enough to be heard as it was. Megeara and Loraefin hesitated. "Come, it is all right," Tiamra said calmly. They moved nervously and stood close together for comfort in front of the Gerudo woman.
"Everything was fine…Ma'am?" Megeara's voice quivered a bit. Tiamra chuckled, her deep voice echoing in her throat.
"I am Tiamra, the leader of the Gerudo in the absence of my sister Nabooru, now come, sit down. Do not be afraid," she sat herself and motioned for them to do the same. Megeara had a bit of difficulty, but she managed. "I am sorry for your ankle child, I assure you it was not deliberate."
"It's fine now," said Megeara flatly though in reality it still throbbed. Tiamra smiled thoughtfully at her.
"That is good. Now, down to the point ladies, why are you here? Children such as yourselves should not be wandering about our home and---"
"We are not children," Megeara jumped in. She was sick of being called a child. "We're both nineteen, we are not infants." Tiamra's laughter rumbled again in her throat.
"I see. I apologize then," she paused and stared at them for a moment. "I have forgotten to ask your names of you."
"Megeara," Megeara said confidently, her own Gerudo nature surfacing once again. Tiamra looked to Loraefin.
"Loraefin," Loraefin spoke a little more quietly. Tiamra crossed her legs in her chair.
"Ah, that is better. Now, what were you two doing at our fortress," she paused to let them answer but the break was not long. "Or should I really be asking you about where you acquired your ears?"
Both girls looked at each other quickly, unsure about what to answer to that question. The blood started to swim to Loraefin's head. When they did not answer, Tiamra continued.
"I could assume that you might be from one of our sister nations in Cybil, but I think I can safely disregard that as an option," Tiamra spoke calmly, but forcefully, befitting of a Gerudo leader. "Or, I could think you might be from somewhere far away that I am not aware about where the people share physical traits very much like the Gerudo, but as you know that is a ridiculous answer." She stood and placed her hands on the table. "Or better yet…I could be under the impression that you are who I think you are." The woman trailed off creating a dramatic pause. Loraefin tensed.
"And who would that be?" Loraefin asked, refraining her voice from cracking. Tiamra smirked.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, kinswomen of Pamiea."
Both stared at her for a moment, and then glanced at one another cautiously. Tiamra sifted once again through her papers, handing one of them to Megeara. Megeara glanced over it, skimming with her eyes. She looked at Loraefin.
"This is about our grandmothers…" she whispered under her breath in Gerudo. Tiamra raised an eyebrow and took the paper back.
"So Pamiea and the others did survive," she continued with curiosity in Gerudo as well. " Grandchildren? Why it seems that they did quite well indeed then."
"Well enough," Loraefin said to herself. Tiamra let it pass.
"So…the children have returned hmm?" she stopped and corrected herself. "The women have returned." She sat down again and clasped her hands. "I did not expect to ever see any of them, let alone their offspring."
"We are not the only ones," Megeara replied. "There are many of us. Our grandmothers survived despite being banished by you." Her voice was accusing but Tiamra only responded in an amused smile.
"I was not even alive when your grandmothers left here," she laughed. "And in our own defense they were banished for a reason." Megeara opened her mouth to say something but Tiamra stopped her. "I will not sit here and debate it with you, neither of us were there so lets leave it where it stands. I would rather you tell me about yourselves."
Both girls stared at each other again, talking with one another with their eyes.
"My grandmothers were Re'ale and Usa, they were sixteen when she left here with the others," Loraefin started. "My grandfathers were Bruce Hake and Markson Dwite, they were Hylian."
"My grandfathers were Mattue Pearonsen and Aimous Fellari, Hylian also," Megeara said, her voice firm. "My grandmother Ventara joined with Aimous and Mattue was the husband of Pamiea."
Tiamra's eyes got a little wider when Megeara said that. She leaned back in her chair intently and inhaled deeply.
"Interesting," she commented, "please, continue." Loraefin relaxed her shoulders a bit, starting to feel a little more at ease.
"Our grandmothers and Grandfathers found a valley farther to the south and they settled there," Loraefin continued. "It was secluded from everything else and since then we've lived there, only a year ago did any of us set foot outside of the valley, and even now that has only been very few. No one knows we are even there."
"I see without the Goddesses blessings your grandmothers gave birth to sons," Tiamra said slowly and quietly. Megeara and Loraefin nodded, begin fairly well versed in the Gerudo culture they understood.
"Yes," they said together. "After they were banished, they did not go through the ritual which purifies a Gerudo's womb when a child has been conceived. Good thing too, or else we wouldn't be here."
"It is hard to imagine the birth of sons from Gerudo women, but…" she trailed off, "without the ritual and fasting and praying to our mother Goddesses that we Gerudo endure for childbearing, it is not entirely impossible. Though, if your fathers and brothers been born here, they could never have been accepted by the Nation as leader and most likely would have been sent far away for fostering." Tiamra raised her hand to keep the two from asking any questions. She did not feel like going into details about their reproductive disposition. "I am surprised that your grandmothers told you of the ritual, none but Gerudo know."
"Our grandmothers are proud to be Gerudo, despite what happened all those years ago," Loraefin said in her most official voice. "And so are we." Tiamra smiled.
"Anyway, you two must be tired, I'll send for a guard to take you back to your room. Sleep and we will continue in the morning."
***
Link awoke with a yawn and his usual stretch. The sun was gleaming into his bedroom and he could hear the birds chirping merrily outside as usual. He wasn't going to let that dream bother him; he was going to find a way to save her before then so there was no point in worrying. He did not wear his usual Kokiri tunic, but instead put on his good crimson one with the nice embroidered collar. He wanted to go to the market today to pick up some more tea since he had run out again the other day. Navi decided that she didn't want to go today for she said she didn't feel all to well. She assured Link she was fine and sent him on his way.
Spring was becoming more apparent with each passing day as the weather grew warmer and warmer. Epona trotted along the well-worn path almost mechanically since she could probably follow it if she was blindfolded. Link sighed and nodded to the guards standing on watch at the gate to Hyrule Market Town. There was nothing really to look forward to today, it was just another one of those days where nothing happened and he felt useless. He didn't like to feel useless. People were coming and going quickly, buying this, buying that, the same old same old by market standards. Link shrugged and went up to the stand that sold him his tea. He greeted the owner and they conversed for a short time before Link made up some excuse and pardoned himself. He was on his way back to Epona when a woman's voice stopped him.
"Link, how wonderful it is to see you!" Ashan squealed and hugged him with her one free arm. Link grinned and looked down at the baby in her arms.
"Ashan, I see you and Lucille are well. Look at her, just barely over a day old," he smiled and held out his finger for little Lucille to grab onto.
"I was just on my way back from my mother's, she's very thankful to you."
"It wasn't a problem, I was glad I could help," said Link simply, his natural good looks just glowing. Ashan looked him over thoughtfully.
"You are very hansom Link, why aren't you married?" She laughed and fidgeted with her babe. Link blushed.
"Haven't really been looking I guess," he smiled. "I don't want to settle down to early."
"Ah, you're like me, I was twenty-five before I married, but children and a good person to raise them by are such a blessing Link, I hope the Goddesses send you some."
She left and waved goodbye; Lucille cradled in the crook of her arm. He was young yet, just about to turn nineteen, he had plenty of time to settle down and have children.
***
"Malon! There's someone here to see you!" Talon's voice rung across the ranch. Malon was around the back of the house hanging up clean clothes on the line. She finished clipping her father's shirt there and placed the rest of the pins back down in the basket.
"Who would be coming to see me today?" She thought out loud as she turned to corner to find Rook standing there talking with her father. For some reason unknown to her, she immediately tried to fix her hair. Rook beamed at her as he saw her coming.
"Good mornin' to ya Malon," said Rook in a good-natured voice. Talon left back into the stable, letting his girl have some privacy. He's a good-looking boy, it's about time Malon started to have some suitors!
"Rook what are you doing here?" Asked Malon in a surprised, but not unfriendly voice. Rook motioned his head behind him to the cart that was there.
"I thought it be best if I brought them here myself," he chuckled, taking the tarp off of the crates that were there. "It would be less hassle for ye." Malon couldn't help but smile.
"Thank you Rook, that was very kind of you." They stood in awkward silence for a moment.
"Aye Malon, I've got the day off today, would ye like to go riding perhaps? I've packed a lunch and there's enough for two." Going out on a limb here…
"Well I…" Malon blushed, trying to think of something to say. "I'd have to ask my dad and…"
"Go right ahead!" Talon's voice came from the stable. Malon turned and glared humorously at her father for eavesdropping through the door. She wasn't mad though; it somehow touched her heart.
"I guess that answers our question then Firefly," Rook grinned and helped her into his horse.