~33~

The slow, thundering steps drew closer. Link/Ganondorf stepped from the shadows. His eyes had an odd gleam in them, and an evil smiled twitched at the corner of his lips.

"Father," said Nayru bravely. "I know that somewhere within your broken body you can hear me. I know you are sorry for what you are going to do—" here Nayru's voice cracked in a sob. "And I'm sorry for whatever pain I have ever caused you…
I love you." Then she held her hands out and created a blue spherical beam around the three. Londaris and Zarij pushed just their hands out of the edge of the beam, and then blasted a stream of lightning and fire straight at Link/Ganonodorf. It hit him and he stumbled backward into the shadows. Londaris and Zarij put their hands down.

"What happened?" Londaris said, trying to see where he had gone.

"What's going on?" said Nayru, putting her hands down and letting the shield fall away.

"Where'd he go?" Zarij said, but was cut of by a whooshing sound and the clink of chains behind them.

Nayru lifted her hands quickly and formed the shield just in time to fend off a deadly blow of Link/Ganondorf's black flail. Zarij and Londaris quickly continued their attacks, hitting him dead on each time, but leaving him still unscathed. And as they continued to fight, fending off his vicious attacks, and continuing their own, they began to realize the hopelessness of their situation.

****

Karzad rode as fast as he could, Lapeze galloped like the wind, neighing furiously, with flecks of foam dripping from his mouth as he roughly clamped his teeth on the bit. Karzad urged him still harder as they made their way to the desert. Karzad spurred Lapeze on more furiously as they passed through the gates into the Gerudo Valley.

****

Nayru held her arms up once more, fending off another powerful beam of purple light thrown by the enemy. With each second she held up the shield, she felt her strength draining out of her, and as she fended off another fierce attack of the dark master sword, her knees buckled beneath her. She lifted her arms still, putting up a smaller shield. Londaris and Zarij stepped closer to stay within the blue sphere.

They didn't look very good themselves. As they continued their attacks they began to perspire, and weaken, their attacks becoming smaller each time. Link/Ganondorf laughed as their feeble attacks hit him, and seemed to be only strengthened at the sight of their exhaustion, making his attacks even more powerful than before. And Nayru began to realize that the end was drawing near.

*****

Karzad reached the desert plain and plowed through it, not heeding the pursuing guards. He came to the line of boulders and dismounted from Lapeze, he patted her quickly in thanks and then squeezed through a crack in the boulders, running flat out toward the fortress. He grabbed an abandoned scimitar lying in the sand outside the fortress. Straight to the main entrance he raced, passing the guards all by. He blasted all in sight with his staff, destroying the reddened boulders, and cooling the blazing heat.

He swung the sword in his other hand, fending off all others. He reached the main gate and sent a beam of light straight at the huge metal doors. They buckled, and then crashed to the ground, sending up clouds of red dust. Karzad ran through the gateway, and as he ran through a corridor, collided with someone he knew. It was the tall guard who had been friends with Zarij.

"You!" she said in amazement, recognizing Karzad. Karzad grabbed her arm and led her into an abandoned side passage and began to speak to her very quickly.

"I am not who I appear to be, I am the prince of Hyrule and have been working to liberate Hyrule. I am here to fight your master, Ganondorf. You must tell me where he is if you wish to live." The woman looked a bit overwhelmed, but nodded quickly and then began to lead him through the halls. They came to a familiar corridor. It was the wide one Zarij had once led them through, and he recognized the towering doors where Zarij had told them led to Ganondorf's lair.

"Through those doors," the woman said. "Good luck, you'll need it." And then she raced away. Karzad ran to the doors, hitting them with beams of white light from his staff. Like the outer gates they buckled, swaying for a moment then crashed to the ground in a heap of twisted iron. Karzad raced over it and up a spiraling flight of stairs he came to a wide corridor and at the end there was another set of giant doors. From behind them he heard noises so he raced over and quickly made rubbish of them as well. He raced into the chamber to a sight that took his breath away.

****

Zarij and Londaris lay to the side, unconscious, he hoped was all. And Nayru, on her knees, looking defiantly at the figure standing before her. Karzad squinted in the darkness, trying to see what the figure was doing. A flash of light shone off a swinging blade as Karzad watched in horror as the dark figure brought the sword towards Nayru's neck.

"NO!" Screamed Karzad and a blinding flash of light exploded from his staff. After a moment the light faded and a new scene met his eyes. Nayru stood over the enemy, who lay below. Londaris and Zarij were picking themselves up. Nayru lifted her eyes. "Karzad!" she cried. Nayru ran to his side.

"What are you—" she suddenly gasped, seeing the staff in his hands. "You…you are the staff bearer?" she asked breathlessly.

"Yes," Karzad said, while Londaris and Zarij ran to their side.

"Karzad," Nayru said. "It's my father! He is being possessed by Ganondorf and—" Londaris cut in.

"Nayru! That's just it! Ganondorf! He's disappeared!"

"What?" cried Karzad

"He's just vanished," Zarij said.

"How?" cried Karzad dashing over to the spot where he had lay. The others came over.

"Come on! We have to find him!" said Nayru. They began to search the dungeon now, looking everywhere for some sort of passageway or door.

*****

They were all in separate corners when they heard a scream. Nayru ran out of her corner, being pursued by—by Link! Karzad gasped, he really was her father.

"Help!" she cried. The four came to the middle of the room.

"Come on!" Karzad cried. "Let's finish this!" Suddenly Link/Ganondorf began to move strangely. His body began to shake. Suddenly his form changed. And then standing before him were four Ganondorfs. All of them laughed maniacally. "I suspected you would be coming!" He said to Karzad. "But now with my power divided into separate forces, I will be unstoppable!" he laughed again and then surrounded them. "I'll take this one, you take the other three," said Karzad. "We can't lose is we combine our forces against them." Londaris blasted his with beam after beam of greenish lightning. Columns of fire blasted through the chambers from Zarij's hands as she attacked her enemy. Karzad fought hand to hand, sending arrow after arrow and beams of light into his own. Nayru it seemed was having more trouble. She was the weakest of all, and only had defensive powers. She drew her sword and fought as best she could but it soon became obvious that she needed help.

They could not help her though, for they all had their hands full it seemed. Suddenly a scream came forth from Nayru. Karzad whipped around just in time to see a huge black flail come flying straight at Nayru and then she was tossed to the side, her flesh ripped and gored.

"Nayru!" he screamed, and as the other Ganondorf charged at her, he sent a blast of light straight into his armor, penetrating it and sending that Ganondorf reeling, looking for who had hurt him. Now Karzad had two enemies on his hands. He looked over at Nayru. She lay crumpled in the corner. He could see a soft rise and fall in her breathing, but she was grievously injured, to be sure. Suddenly a scream came from the Ganondorf being battled with by Zarij, and he vanished. Then soon after, from Londaris's. Soon one of the ones being battled by Karzad disintegrated too. One was left, and the energy remaining from the three others was absorbed into him.

"One of your ring bearers cannot fight," he laughed. "You all shall die now."

******

He began to fight with them, sending flashes of powerful magic at them, along with fierce blows from sword and mace. The fight continued but the battle seemed one-sided without all four of the heirs.

"Londaris!" Cried Karzad, "I need you and Zarij to hold him off while I go wake up Nayru…She's our only chance now!" Londaris nodded and then Karzad broke away from the fighting and raced over to Nayru's broken and bleeding form. He shook her shoulders gently, trying to make her wake up. After a moment her eyes fluttered open weakly. "Nayru!" Karzad cried in relief. "Nayru, I know you are hurt and weak, but I need your help if we are going to win. We need to use the power of our rings combined if we ever are going to destroy him. Can you do it? Are you strong enough?" he asked urgently. Nayru looked into his eyes then nodded slowly.

"But promise me," she whispered hoarsely. "Promise me you'll save him," she said softly. "Don't let him die yet. Not like this…" Karzad looked at her for a moment, his eyes burning with tears, and then he nodded too,

"I promise," he said. Nayru managed a weak smile, and then set her face. Karzad propped her up and led her forward, into the center of the room with the rest. He held her up beside him and then began to speak.

"Ganondorf, you're wrong. You won't win. You can't. It is impossible for us to lose, not with the strength and spirit I know that we all posses. It is impossible, and though you deny and fight, we will win, so prepare to face your fate." Then he held his staff high and Londaris then raised his ring and Zarij hers, and then Nayru, her impaled arm shakily rising into the sky. Ganondorf looked uncertain. A blast of shimmering white light exploded from the end of Karzad's staff, and then a column of fire from Zarij's, a burst of green electricity from Londaris's, and a beam of blue light from Nayru's. They entwined around the light coming from Karzad's staff, and then he turned the beam towards Ganondorf. A deafening explosion and an agonized scream knocked them off their feet. They stood once the dust had cleared. Nayru did not. Karzad raced to her side. She lay there, half-conscious on the bare stone floor, blood poured from her wounds, and she looked deadly pale.

"Nayru, hold on, I'll save you." He said shakily, fumbling with the crystal phial that still hung about his neck.

"No," she muttered softly. He continued to work at its top until one of Nayru's weak hands lifted up to his and tried to pull it away. "No," she said again. "You promised me," she whispered softly, looking deep into his pale grey eyes. "You promised me you'd save him." She said softly. Karzad's tears fell down his face.

"You're dying Nayru, you're dying…I can't let you, I won't let you leave me."

"I won't," she said softly. "I can't…. As long as I love you…I can't leave you…not ever…now go, don't break your promise." She whispered, touching his hand softly. Karzad bent his face to her and kissed her softly.

"I love you," he sobbed silently. Nayru nodded.

"I know,"

He stood slowly and then ran to Link's crumpled form. The spirit of Ganondorf had left for good; that he knew, but it had been the only thing that was keeping Link alive. Karzad checked for a pulse and breathing, but Link lay stone still. Karzad glanced back at Nayru's laboring form, being tended gently by Londaris and Zarij, who too cried softly. He had made a promise. He looked back at Link and recalled Melasef's words about the phial's contents.

"Some say it can even raise the dead,"… Karzad pulled the stopper from the phial and then pushed Link's lips apart. He dribbled every drop down Link's throat, and then closed his eyes and prayed silently. Suddenly a cough erupted from Link's battered chest. Karzad looked down and saw short labored breaths being breathed in by Link. The armor that covered Link's body was so tight; it was restricting his breathing. Karzad unfastened Link's breastplate and the tight linked chain mail that squeezed around his middle.

Soon Link was breathing freer, and Karzad dribbled a bit of water from his canteen down Link's throat, letting it spill out onto his quickly coloring face. He lifted one of Link's eyelids up and looked. It was gone, all the blackness, it was gone, his eye was white again, with deep blue rims around a still blankly staring pupil. "He's going to be alright," shouted Karzad in relief.

******

He sat there for a moment, hoping to hear some sound from the three behind him, but silence was all that he was met with. He stood slowly. And turned around. Londaris and Zarij looked at him silently with tears pouring down their faces. Karzad walked over slowly, in a daze and stood over Nayru's still form. Her chest did not rise with breaths, and her skin was now as white as snow against the blackened stones of the floor about her.

Karzad fell to his knees, he felt as though he couldn't breathe. He pushed open her lips and breathed air into her, pumping her bloody chest, willing her heart to beat again. He pushed harder and harder, tears flowing down his face, until Londaris and Zarij had to pull him away from her motionless form. It was useless, she was dead. His chest tightened and a lump blocked his throat as he let out a strangled howl of anguish and sprawled onto the floor, convulsing in sorrow. Her cold wet blood pooled around his face and he recoiled at the touch of it, wiping it off his cheek with shaking fingers. His throat ached and sobs wracked his body as he lay beside Nayru's still form, he twined his fingers around hers, and stroked them softly.

They were so cold. His tears fell in cascades down his face. Howling sobs echoed through the still chamber. Finally he could not cry any longer. His breath came in jerking sobs, and he lifted himself up, still gripping her pale small hand tightly in his own.

"Why?" he whispered, trembling.

He felt coldness going through them, like ice had running through his veins. Reality hit him like a sledgehammer as he looked at her white face. He would never see her smile again. He would never feel a soft kiss of her lips on his again. He would never hear her bell like laughter again. She was gone. Gone. The word echoed through his mind. He grabbed her other hand and lifted them both to his face and looked at the ring on her left finger. He would never…marry her. He knew that they had spoken so long and so much about loving each other forever….but….here she was, lying here on the floor, cold and pale….and….all warmth that had remained in Karzad's body drained from it and he howled even louder.

Suddenly he felt a strong hand grip his shoulder. He looked up, it was Link. He stood there, still as a statue looking down at Nayru. Karzad swallowed hard and tried to speak, but as he tried to get words out a sob burst out instead. His shoulders shook in sorrow as he looked up at Link through bleary eyes. He finally managed to choke out three words. "I loved her,"

he breathed softly. Link nodded.

"As did I," he spoke quietly.

Tears welled in Karzad's eyes, and he held her hands to his face. A single tear fell from his eye; it dripped onto her pale knuckle and down her finger. It ran down and then rolled onto her silver ring. It dripped over the stone and then twined through the runes on her ring, sinking into them and vanishing.

"I love her." He muttered in afterthought. "I love you," he said, whispering softly into Nayru's cold hands. He pushed her hands against his face and held her. He held her cold still form in his strong arms, rocking back and forth and sobbing dryly, whispering over and over. "I love you, I love you,"

******

The stillness of the chamber was only broken by Karzad's wracking sobs. The others sat in silent disbelief, tears falling freely. Link stood in silence, looking down at his dead daughter.

"We have to…to clean her up some I think," Link said after a moment. Karzad nodded mutely, lying her back down and pulling his satchel open. He took out a clean white rag and wiped Nayru's spattered blood from her face and off her clothes.

They lifted her body softly and pulled it away from its previous place, leaving behind the sickening pool of blood. Karzad sobbed dryly, his tears spent, as he went about cleaning her. How many times had he done this? Training as a physician in the castle, how many times had things gone wrong and he cleaned up the blood? He was always the one…the little assistant who washed the bloody sheets…who cleaned up the messes. Who pulled the blanket over the face of the poor unfortunate whose operation had…gone wrong.

But this was different! Things weren't allowed to go wrong now! They couldn't! Karzad loved her, this wasn't right; it wasn't part of the deal! If you loved someone how could they ever die? Pain echoed through him. He felt as though someone had placed a lead weight on top of his heart. He wanted to die…he wanted to go where Nayru went. To be with her…Love forever was a lie! How could he love this still, cold form, once a vibrant precious life? He continued to deftly clean her wounds, his heart aching with sorrow.

He went back to his bag. There was a long cloth sheet. He remembered this was the linen. The linen for bodies. Standard equipment of a physician, just one of the tools of the trade, he even remembered absentmindedly packing it into his bag so long ago. But now…. It seemed unreal… impossible that he would need it. He pulled it out slowly, shaking the white sheet gently to unfold it, and a memory flashed through his mind. It was late winter when a strange call came in around 5:00 or so. A girl had been mauled by a wolfo on Hyrule field.

"Why don't they just take her to the regular hospital?" Karzad had asked one of the nurses.

"Who knows?" the girl said, "You know how it is, peasants keep getting more and more special treatment these days." Karzad nodded, sharing her annoyance. Yet, even when they brought Nayru in for the first time Karzad had been struck by her beauty, it was a strange beauty at that. Her ivory skin, her softly pink cheeks. Her silken blue hair, and her muscular body. The operation went well and little blood was lost. And he remembered putting away the white linens. They wouldn't be needed that day. But today… Karzad snapped back to reality as he looked at these sheets. Nayru and he had been through so much together and now…now this. He recalled her face once more, closing his eyes softly. A picture this time in alternate situations, this time he was lying in the hospital wing and she, she stood above him, as he woke from a healing sleep.

"Love never fails," he remembered her voice in an echo of it's past self. Suddenly Karzad felt a bit of warmth seeping into his veins. Love never fails. Love never fails. He remembered now, no matter what he knew he loved her and that he would for eternity! His first love, his last love! He couldn't forget, he couldn't stop. The love he had for Nayru was too strong for death's grasp.

"Love never fails," he muttered softly at first warmth flowing through his body. "Love never fails!" he shouted suddenly, dropping the sheets and running to Nayru's side, drawing her close in a tight embrace. "I'm so sorry," he whispered. "I'm sorry I forgot, but I won't anymore, not ever, I know now…I love you so much…and love. True love…never, ever fails."

Suddenly the darkness of the dungeon began to subside. The rock in the walls trembled and then a blast of glittering light burst through the ceiling of the towering chamber, surrounding Karzad and Nayru. Blue light in turn exploded from Nayru's ring, shining out from behind the glowing runes, and it and swirled around her still form, lifting her from Karzad's arms. The beam of white light from above thinned, only surrounding Nayru now, while the glittering blue light swirled around her as her limp form was lifted higher and higher. Karzad watched in wonder and amazement and as she lay, suspended in the air above. Suddenly a blast of white light shone out from Nayru that nearly knocked them off their feet, blinding them momentarily. When the light faded after a moment, Karzad saw her body begin to slowly ascend. Karzad stood there waiting and then ran to her form when she at last had reached the floor again. He knelt down and put out a shaking hand. He lowered it down to her face and brushed away a lock of hair, stroking her face gently. As they touched Nayru's chest lifted in a heaving gasp and she coughed lightly. Karzad cried out in joy, grabbing Nayru's hands and placing them against his face. They were warm again.

He looked down at her face and saw the color flood back into her cheeks. He laughed out loud and then Nayru's eyelids fluttered. Suddenly they flew open, and he was met with their loving gaze, one he never had expected to see again. She coughed again, taking a deep breath and slowly sitting up.

******

"Karzad," she whispered softly, looking up at him. "What happened to me?" She looked down at her chest and stomach. The wounds that had once torn her flesh there now were gone without a trace. And the blood that had stained her blouse had vanished as well. Karzad at this point was almost overwhelmed, and he simply pulled Nayru into a strong embrace.

"I'm so glad you're alright," he whispered into the top of her head as he rocked her gently in his arms. "I was afraid you were gone for good," he mumbled. Nayru and Karzad broke away after a moment and looked back. Her eyes lit in joy as she saw her father standing behind them.

"Father!" she cried joyfully, standing up and running to his side, grabbing him in a warm hug. "I missed you so much," she said softly, tears welling in her eyes.

"Thank your friend for all of this," Link said, "He saved my life," Nayru turned around.

"Oh Karzad, thank you so much…for keeping your promise to me." Karzad smiled.

"It was hard to leave you lying there…Nayru…you must know that…while I was nursing your father…you died." Nayru looked at Karzad with a puzzled expression.

"Died? That's impossible, I'm fine now, how could I have died?"

"You did Nayru," Link said now. "Somehow you returned to us. Karzad's love was the only thing that could have saved you. Light came in and surrounded you, and then your ring's power combined with his own love was enough to bring you back," Nayru looked shocked. She looked at Zarij and Londaris and they nodded.

"It's true," Karzad said softly. "You were…well you were dead…until a moment ago there was blood all around…all over you. Your heart had stopped…you weren't breathing…your body was broken and cold." Nayru looked shocked.

"But Karzad…he was the only one that could have saved you…and the power of his love….it was enough…enough to bring you back to life." Nayru abruptly sat onto the floor. Karzad came over to comfort her, she was in shock to be sure. Karzad held her close while the others stood by.

"You're alright now Nayru, Everything is alright." Nayru began to cry.

"I'm so sorry Karzad," Nayru sobbed softly. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

"It's alright," he responded softly, "I won't leave you." They sat for a moment, until Nayru regained her composure and then they stood.

"Thank you," she whispered to Karzad softly. They stood in silence for a moment and suddenly they heard a noise behind them. They all turned to the doorway to see at least a hundred Gerudo women standing there in amazed silence. A familiar face came out of the crowd. It was the tall girl who had been with Zarij when they'd first met. She came over to them.

"What happened here?" she asked shakily. Zarij went over to her.

"Don't worry," she said softly. "It's over." The girl stood there shocked at first, then a smile broke over her face. She turned to face the crowd.

"It's finished." She cried joyfully to them, and a great cheer went up from the masses.

*****

The next hours were ones of and liberation. Immediately troops were sent to free the prisoners in the encampments, and all those in the dungeons were set free, including Ruto. The whole family was reunited at last. With the help of the staff of light the land was soon restored to its natural environment and as a final act for the day they demolished the entire fortress with several tons of bombs. The families were reunited from the camps. Zarij looked unhappy though.

"What's wrong?" Londaris asked her softly, seeing her downcast face.

"It's my mother," Zarij said, "I can't find her, I'm afraid of what might have happened to her."

"Don't worry," Said Londaris, "I'm sure we'll find her." They went in search of her for a long time and were about to give up hope when Zarij felt a warm hand on her shoulder. She turned around and her mother stood there, smiling at her kindly.

"Mother!" she cried in joy, flinging herself at her in a hug. Londaris stood there awkwardly, not knowing what to do, when Zarij turned around and flung her arms around him too, causing him to blush furiously. The celebration went long into the night, and then they all camped beneath the stars. The next morning, though tempting as it was to stay, the others needed to leave.

They were packing their things, but Zarij sat in silence off to the side.

"What's wrong Zarij?" said Londaris. "Aren't you coming with us?"

"I don't know," she said. "I belong here I think," Londaris looked surprised and spoke with a hint of hurt in his voice.

"Won't you miss us though?"

"Of course!" she replied, "I just…Well…" she trailed off as she looked at her three fellow friends. And then deep into Londaris's eyes.

"I think….well I suppose I will…I mean after all, they'll probably have all sorts of parades and feasts planned for us and…well it would be inhospitable for me to not be there." She laughed and Londaris nodded happily and continued packing.

******

They left late that day with the sun setting they bid the Gerudos a final farewell. They traveled through the night and found chaos had ensued in their absence. With the help of the staff of light most was cleansed and brought anew, but scars would streak this land's memory forever. In a happy reunion that evening Nayru was surprised to see a tiny blue ball huddled in a patch of tall grass quivering with fear.

"Novur!" she cried out, dashing over to the little fairy and scooping her up. Nayru squeezed her tight and smiled, greeting and then slipping the familiar fairy back into her pocket. It began to get late and they all felt tired. They built a small campfire out on the grassy slopes of Hyrule field, and ate in silence. Karzad and Nayru snuggled together to keep warm in the cool evening, as did Link and Ruto. Zarij and Londaris drew closer to the campfire, drawing their cloaks about them. They pulled out their bedrolls and soon were fast asleep.