Karzad and Nayru inched down the dank hallway. The came to a corner, Karzad motioned for Nayru to stop and he ventured around. He was about to come back and tell Nayru that it was all clear, when from around the bend there came a bloodcurdling scream. Karzad whipped around the corner to find Nayru being held by a Gerudo guard. She held a razor sharp blade to Nayru's neck. "One more step, and I slit her throat, boy." She growled huskily. Karzad froze. "Now drop your weapons," She said. Karzad took off his quiver and unhooked his bow he unsheathed his dagger and dropped them on the floor. "Now kick them over to me," she added. Karzad kicked them, sending them skidding across the stone floor. She kicked the weapons behind her, where he saw she had already stowed Nayru's shield and sword. "And the bag," she grunted. Hesitantly he unlatched his satchel and slid that too across the floor. She then lifted on hand, still with the other keeping a steady blade on Nayru's neck. She put her fingers to her gold-painted lips and whistled long, loud, and clear. Almost instantly three other guards came to her aid. In a flash they had bound and gagged them both and were dragging then across the floor to goddesses knew where.
***
They were dragged through unending labyrinths of halls and tunnels until they reached a dungeon type area. They were stricken by fear at the sight of the cruel torture devices that were here and there. "For later," grunted one of the guards, laughing at their fearful faces. They threw them into a cell together, and guards advanced on each with a dagger. At this point both thought that they were as good as dead, but the guards instead of stabbing each, simply sliced through the cords that bound them, and pulled out their gags. Then they turned and locked the iron gate of the cell behind them. The guards walked away, and Nayru slumped onto the floor, in exhaustion and fear. "What are we going to do?" she sobbed to herself, "I'm going to die, looking for my father who's already dead," She wept bitterly, grinding her face into the hard stone floor. The guards meanwhile were talking. One was shorter than the other, and appeared to be younger, she was whispering angrily to the other, "I don't care what our orders are!" she hissed, "The girl is no more than 15, do you have any idea what he would do to her?" "You and I both know perfectly well what he'll do with her, and then he'll probably kill her," the other said, "No one ever survives imprisonment here, especially not young girls." "I can't do it, I can't tell her," said the smaller one, "Then you will be reassigned and someone else will," She said, the smaller one ground her teeth in anger, and then bit her lip, "Alright," she said, "I'll do it. "The younger guard approached the cell and Karzad stood. "The girl," said the guard, shaking her head, "I'll never let you take her," He shouted, moving across the cell, blocking Nayru from view. The guard pulled out her sword, "I will not harm her," the guard said, "Or if you prefer, I could kill you both now," She said brandishing the sword angrily. Karzad looked back at Nayru uncertainly, she nodded slowly and he moved aside. The guard came in and pulled Nayru to her feet, binding her hands behind her back. She led her out of the cell, "Where are you taking her?" Karzad cried, "Where!?" he screamed when he received no reply. "Nayru!" He screamed, "Nayru!"
****
Nayru was led away, she cried softly as the guard led her through the halls, and at last took her into a small chamber where she then spoke. "I have strict orders for all girls to be given to Prince Ganoldaz for his disposal," "Who?" asked Nayru, "The heir apparent to Ganondorf's throne. He was conceived of darkness and born into fire, all good that was in him has been consumed into overpowering evil." "What will he do to me?" asked Nayru, her voice quivering, "He—he will—he will have his way with you—then—then he'll probably kill you," she said softly. Nayru looked shocked. And then began to scream and cry and beg, "Please," she sobbed, "Let me die with dignity, please, just--just kill me," she threw herself to the floor, baring her neck to her, "Kill me," she sobbed quietly. The guard drew her sword hesitantly, looking at this little girl, begging for death. "I can't," said the guard slowly. "Kill me!" Nayru screamed "Kill me!" "I can't, no, he might not kill you, he may not, you have to try." Nayru looked up, her face red and streaked with tears, She looked up at the guard for a long time. "My name is Zarij," the guard said at last. "I do not swear any loyalty to King Ganondorf, but I have to serve him, or my family and I will be murdered." She said, drawing out some garments. They were skimpy and beaded and gold. "Wear these," said Zarij, Nayru swallowed and took them and changed into them deftly. "There, and—if he is pleased with you, he—he will not kill you—yet…" Zarij said. She cleaned Nayru up a bit more, and then led her through some more passages. Zarij said nothing, but prayed to the goddesses that they would have mercy on this poor girl. They reached to huge doors and Zarij pushed one of them open and a wide chamber stood behind them. It had high ceilings, and walls covered in tapestries of silk and a fire blazed at the end of the hall though it was already stifling. Sweat poured off Nayru as she was led forward into the room. She saw in the corner a huge bed, and shivered, feeling tears burn the corners of her eyes. Then with a crack like a whip a man appeared before them. What little human was left in him made him look to be about twenty, but his skin was rough, dark and scaly. He had sharp fangs in his charred mouth, and his eyes glowed a venomous yellow, with cat-like slits for his pupils. He had flaming red hair and wore only a pair of black trousers exposing his scabby dry skin on his chest. He growled. "Another virgin Zarij?" He hissed looking at Nayru. "I grow weary of young fawns that cannot please me," he said scraping a blackened claw across Zarij's cheek. "But she will suffice for now, thought I suspect this visit to my chambers will be her last." He said, "Tell the guards outside to prepare a pyre, when I'm done you can come collect her remains," he growled in hard cruel laughter. "Now leave!" he shouted suddenly, and Zarij went over to Nayru, who was trembling from head to toe, with little tears leaking from her eyes. "I'm so sorry," Mumbled Zarij in sorrow as she unshackled Nayru. "Forgive me," she whispered tearfully, and then she swept out of the room. The door slammed behind her with a bang, leaving Nayru alone with the beast.
*******
Zarij ran through the long winding halls barely noticing where she went, trying to keep from crying. She was so young, the youngest they'd ever had, only 14! She would be raped…. She would die…Without a shred of dignity left. She suddenly realized she was back in the dungeons. She also realized she wasn't the only one crying. In the cell where Nayru had been lay the boy who was with her. He was curled into a ball crying bitterly. He looked up when Zarij came in. "What did you do to her?" he sobbed, "Where is she? Is she alive? If she isn't—so help me, I—I will kill you myself…I--I love her," he cried, "I love her!" he began to scream, "Let me see her again—just—just let me see her again…" He put his head down and began to cry again. Zarij walked over to the cell. "She will be killed," Said Zarij softly. "I—it is against my will I assure you, but…Ganondorf's son, he is all powerful, and his rule tells that all female prisoners are for his disposal," she said. "What do you mean disposal?" He cried, "Damn you! I love her! He's going to rape her isn't he? And then what? He—he'll just kill her?" Zarij nodded slowly. "Damnit!" he screamed beginning to sob, he was all alone.
*****
Ganoldaz circled her slowly looking her up and down. "Oh yes," He muttered softly, "I will enjoy spoiling you," he growled. He continued to circle her for a few moments, muttering inaudibly to himself, while Nayru began to weep quietly. Suddenly he flicked his hand at her and at once she felt and irresistible force dragging her to the bed. She tried to defy it, but it only got stronger, making her lift one foot and then put it down again. Walking her closer to the wide bed. She fought the walking and it took her a few minutes to reach the bed. Ganoldaz watched in amusement as she hopelessly tried to defy his magic. She was then forced onto the bed, and she lay there, unable to fight the force holding her down. Ganoldaz strode over quickly and looked her up and down. Then he snapped his fingers and her clothes disappeared. She lay there naked, and a hungry look appeared in Ganoldaz's eyes. He unbuckled his belt and dropped his pants down. He walked over to the bed slowly. And looked down at her. She looked fearfully into his eyes as he stared at her. He crawled onto the bed and lowered himself down until he was right above her. His putrid smell was right in her face and she choked on his own foul breath. He licked her lips then and she felt his acidic saliva on her, it made her want to vomit. He forced his tongue into her mouth, kissing her roughly, shoving his tongue down her throat. After a moment he pulled away. "Hmm, did you like that?" He hissed. He was just about to lower himself down again when the door flew open with a crash. An arrow splattered through the back of Ganoldaz's head. He fell on top of her; she could feel his body all over hers. She couldn't get him off of her and his blackish blood spilled out of him on her naked body. She screamed wildly, wondering if she was dreaming. Then she heard a familiar scream, "Nayru!" Karzad screamed, "Nayru!" He ran over to her, pulling Ganoldaz's corpse off her. He looked down, seeing she was naked, "I'm sorry!" He cried, "I'm sorry, oh Nayru, what did he do to you?" he said standing her up and wrapping her in his cloak. "It's okay," Nayru cried, "It's okay you came just in time, but…how?" Karzad looked behind him. Zarij stood at the door with her saber drawn. "Come on!" she whispered, "The coast is clear, I can take you somewhere that no one knows of where we can talk."
******
Nayru and Karzad tiptoed after her through the winding halls, down flights and flights of stairs. Then they came to a small chamber. In the corner were a small straw palette and a little chest, candles lit the tiny room, in the corner there was a little carpet. "This is my room, come over here." She locked the door behind them and then lit a lantern and went over to the corner. She walked over to the little rug and lifted it up. Underneath was a little tunnel dropping down into a small cave. Zarij dropped down and motioned for them to follow. They jumped down and Zarij looked up and then pulled the carpet back over, concealing them completely. Zarij hung the lantern from a hook in the ceiling and motioned for them to sit on the floor. To their surprise the floor was pure rock and was very cool. Nayru quickly changed into her other clothes, which were returned to her along with her weapons, from Zarij. Zarij started to speak "I began to dig this hole about six months ago, I was digging one day after about two months, using only a small knife and spade. I struck the soil and it fell away revealing a small natural cavern. I imagine that an underwater section of the Gerudo River runs underneath, because the stone is often damp and always pleasantly cool. It became much harder to dig my way to freedom when I found that I had reached sheer rock cave, but I have been chiseling away at it day by day, my progress is in that little hollow over there." She said pointing to the far-left corner. There was a small crevice beginning in the stone that a thin person could fit through, but for now it was only about five or six inches deep. "When I hit water I'm going to use a reed as an air pipe to breathe the air above the little underground river, and find my way to freedom and my family… They were put in prison camps…All men and children. Girls are put to work in the castle at age sixteen; I'm eighteen now…. All women over fifty don't have to work in the palace, which is lucky for my mother, her spirit wouldn't survive long here… But there's something about my mother anyway…I'm not sure what it is, she never told my father or me about her past, but it must be something important, and Ganondorf must know something about it. He put her and my father in the highest security encampment in the valley and sealed it with powerful magic…. I miss her so much…She used to write me letters, but I know little of her condition now because the letters stopped a few weeks ago…" There was a long pause where nothing could be heard but the soft drip drip of water falling from the ceiling of the cave to the floor. Karzad finally spoke, "What did you say your mother's name was?" he asked, Zarij looked up. "Well I didn't mention her name, but if you want to know her name is Naburoo,"
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I'm BACK sorry I took so long, I had a really bad case of the damned writer's block, but
I'm back none the less, so review please…. BYE!
-ZeldaFanFic22