Repaying a Debt

Disclaimer: Haven't managed to steal any of them yet - yet...

In this chapter, we see the three of them in disguise as travelling bards. Which is going to be rather interesting. I have absolutely no idea what exactly to make happen, but my muses will hopefully take over and give me some ideas. If not, I'm gonna have to sit here and stare at the computer for hours until I do get an idea.

[Gathers a large bag of coffee, some potato chips, cookies, and other such nibbles around her.] I could be here all night. [Draws up a million pillows] best make myself comfortable then.

Sheik: [Coughs] I wouldn't mind one of those pillows.

Soda: Oh really? [Smiles sweetly, and throws one at him]

Sheik: [Mutters under his breath]

Soda: What was that Sheikah boy? [Holds up a bikini threateningly]

Sheik: [Squeaks] nothing - nothing Soda. Just saying how - urm - great you were - and stuff

Soda: [Preens]

~/*\~/*\~/*\~

We'd spent the best part of two days riding through unceasing torrents of rain to get to the fortress. After a small while on the first day, we'd had to just stop and hold up under a copse of trees to give the horse a rest, and clean the mud from the spokes of the wheels. Also, so that our disguises would still be fresh for when we arrived, we dove back into our own roles again. It felt great to have some substantial fabric covering my skin against the elements again.

Navi spent much of the time attempting to think up songs and dances that we could use in our 'act'. It was something none of us had really thought about until then, though it was to be the most essential part of the whole plot! Xenia had (without my knowledge) packed a guitar amongst my belongings, which I took to practicing when one of the other two took the reins. Soon enough, I was able to fall back into the habit, and the chords and notes all came flowing back.

"So, our list of songs is...?" Link prompted Navi from his place at the driver's seat, and she looked up from the small sheet of parchment she'd been scribbling on for the best part of half an hour. Sheik raised his head from where he had been slumbering and looked over with interest.

"We have got: 'The Goddesses' Eulogy', just because every bard in this land knows it. 'Ode to a Goron hero' - that's about the first hero who killed the Dragon in Death Mountain. 'The Zoran songster', which should keep them happy. All that talk of water and everything. 'The Sheikah ballad.' That's beautiful, but Blaise will have to sing it instead of Sheik."

"Obviously," Sheik tutted, and Navi just shushed him.

"Then that one which Saria taught you even before you met me Link - the Spirit something or other..."

" 'The call of the Forest Spirits,'" he answered mechanically, and tugged the reins to correct the horse's path on the road.

"Yes, that one - and, Blaise. Do you have any you can think of?" I racked my brains - I didn't know much about the songs on this world. I knew the most about those on earth. So, I decided on a little white lie.

"Well, there are a few from over the waters which we could use. I'd need some parchment to write down the words - do you think you'd be able to learn a couple of songs in a few days?" Link nodded the affirmative, and Sheik just picked up his harp.

"Play it once, I'll remember it forever. It's one of the perks of being a Sheikah."

"All right," I laughed. "Well, I suppose that one that you heard me sing before..."

"On Death Mountain you mean?"

"Yes, that one. Would that one work?"

"Yes - perhaps for a quieter number, but I think it'd work quite well."

"What would work?" Link asked, twisting his head around to look at us. "Just cos I'm driving doesn't mean you can leave me out of the conversation!"

"Sorry - it's just a song that Blaise sang once. You know, to fill out our repertoire with." He nodded, and whipped the reins, making the horse pick up from the slack pace he had let it go down to. "So, we have the song of dreams - what else Blaise?" I just picked up my guitar, and began playing a simple tune.

"It's called 'Wherever you will go', but I can't quite remember the words." I carried on going through the notes, whilst turning to Navi. "Have you got any extra parchment on you?" She just nodded, and seemed to pull a whole sheaf of parchment out of thin air. "Thanks - pencil?" Again, she did the 'making things appear out of thin air' trick, and handed the pencil to me.

"Go ahead then - and then we'll start teaching you the other songs so we can practice and make this look half believable," Sheik urged, picking up his lyre.

"Hey, Navi, do you think you could grow and take the reins for a while?" Link asked, with his Ocarina in one hand, and the reins held out in the other.

"I suppose so," she said resignedly, and dropped the parchment she'd been writing on onto one of the packs, and then grew to sit on the driver's seat. There, she sat up straight-backed and proud, and urged the horse ever forwards. In this weather, it was going to take at least double time to get to Gerudo fortress, which meant we still had another day, perhaps even two, left to go. Not much time to learn a whole medley of songs, but to us, it seemed like an eternity of peace and rest.

*

Sheik crossed over to sit next to me, allowing Link to get at his pack and put his ocarina away. "Budge up," he said, shoving me up the small bench so that he could sit down as well. "Hey, Navi, maybe we should stop for the night," he called forwards.

"Whoa," Navi said softly to the horse, which slowed to a stop. "Where to? We can't stay out in the open," she asked, turning to look at the three of us. I stepped up and around Sheik to look out over the field. In the gathering dusk, it was bathed in gold and red. To the East, where there were already stars out, I could just spy the shadows of a clump of trees.

"Over there," I pointed - Sheik and Link had followed me and were leaning out of the front of the canvas-covered cart. Navi nodded,

"Those trees then?"

"Yeah - they'll be good enough cover for the one night," Link agreed. Navi bought the reins up, and then whipped them down swiftly.

"Go!" The horse took off, and all three of us, who hadn't been quite prepared for the sudden move, fell backwards into the cart. Navi looked around with a guilty smile, "sorry about that."

"Navi!" Link moaned; his mouth was somewhere near my shoulder. Everything was all the wrong way round, and it took me quite a while to realise how we'd fallen. Link was trapped underneath me, and then Sheik had fallen on top of me - at least, I had a mouthful of silver blond hair, so I guessed it was him. "Sheik, get up man!" Link said, and he reached an arm around me to prod the Sheikah in the side.

He sprang up with an annoyed yell, and then reached down like a gentleman to help me up. "Don't do that again if you please Navi," he said levelly.

"I said sorry!"

"Sorry isn't going to fix this guitar," Link said from behind us. I turned around to see him holding up the guitar, with the neck broken clean off.

"Ah," Navi flushed, and then looked quickly down at the horse, concentrating on the copse we were heading to.

"What are we going to do now?" Sheik fumed. "We needed that guitar! Navi, I'm gonna..." I grabbed his raised fist, and yanked it to back down by his side.

"Calm down. I'll just sing instead - if I dance, then no one will notice the lack of guitar. Bards are all different, are they not?" He swallowed, and the angry fire in his eyes seemed to die back.

"Yes - yes, of course. I'm sorry; I don't know what came over me."

"Don't mention it," Navi said cheerfully. "There's a bit of rough ground up ahead," she said. "Just thought I'd warn you," she added. I reached out and held onto one of the wooden ribs that held up the canvas roof of the cart. We bumped over tree roots and ruts in the ground, before halting about a dozen yards into the clump of trees. "Welcome to your hotel - we hope you enjoy your stay," Navi had jumped into the air and turned back to her original size, to curtsey, and hold out her arm so that our attention was drawn to the clearing around us.

In the short ride to the trees, the moon had come up, and lit the whole field with ghostly light. A small spring was tinkling out of the ground in the clearing's centre, and sparkled like a Zora's skin. "Good spot Blaise," Sheik congratulated me, clapping a hand on my shoulder. Then, he swung down, and strolled over to the spring, where he bent down to scoop a handful of water and drink it.

An awe-inspired, "Wow," was all that Link could manage. He too went to the spring, and stuck his head into the jet of water. "Cold!" he exclaimed, standing back up and shaking his hair like a dog. It hung in straggles around his face, and he grinned. "Hey, where does the stream go d'you think?"

"Don't know," Navi said. "Why don't we follow it? May as well, we can't go much further tonight."

"At least the rain's stopped," Sheik commented, and indeed, it had. The trees around were still dripping, and a lush green from the moisture in the air, but it was not actually raining anymore.

We followed the stream along a winding path, which at points we thought was going to leave the trees all together. Instead, it curled through the vegetation, to end up in a large granite bottomed pool, and then plunge over a waterfall and then out of sight underground. "Bath," I said wistfully, and the other two looked at me amused. "Hey, a girl's gotta have her hygiene!"

"True - so does a guy," Link said, running a hand through his wet hair, which had begun to curl as it dried. "Sheik - bath perhaps?"

"Hell yeah," he nodded his head furiously. "But, who's going first?" We all looked at one another, and smiled falsely, before all making our way to the pool. On the edge, we stopped, and teetered.

"That's not gonna work," Navi commented. "Why not draw straws?"

A minute later, the fates had decided to let Link have the pool first, then Sheik, and then me. "Aww, no fair," I grumbled, but followed Sheik and Navi back to the cart anyway. We climbed back in, as the night was beginning to gain a little chill wind. "Shall we get on with that Sheikah ballad? I still can't do the third verse off by heart."

"Yeah - good idea. I'll sing it with you for a bit. Are you sure you want to sing alone in front of all those people?" He was looking unsure. I just batted him round the head with the back of my hand.

"Of course - we need to gain their trust don't we?" he nodded, and picked up his lyre.

"Shall we?"

"Lets. Navi, can you call us when Link gets back?"

"Of course," she called back from where she was sitting on a branch, acting as lookout.

"Oi, just remember, I'm using the pool next," Sheik said, wagging a finger.

"Damn, thought I'd fooled you," I said in a joking whisper, and he just threw back his head and laughed. "Come on, are we going to do this song or not?"

"Yes, yes of course. Sorry," he sniggered a little more, and had to struggle before he managed to keep his face straight again. "Now, what verse was it again?"

"The third I think."

"OK - this is how it goes...

...

..." He set down his lyre, and nodded encouragingly. "That's it, I think you've pretty much got it." He looked impressed and perplexed and happy and afraid and all other kinds of things at the same time. I wondered what on earth he was thinking about, but his burgundy eyes gave no clue.

With a sudden intake of breath, he grasped my hands; a small static shock ran between our fingers. "I just wanted to say - that; well, you're not all that bad, you know?" he stammered.

"Uh...thanks..." I said, unsure of what exactly had spurred this. Just so that Navi wouldn't interfere and break this interesting moment, I added an extra lock over my internal link.

"Your welcome," he answered vaguely. Those eyes are intimidating when they stare straight at you. I was tempted to try and shrink away, but that would have been a bit obvious. And there wasn't really anywhere to go in the cart. "What I'm trying to say is...what I mean is...oh, I don't know how to say it. Just...I heard what you were saying in Xenia's house when you though I was asleep, and, well-"

"You heard what I was saying?!" I dragged my hands back and crossed them defensively over my chest. "And you didn't have the decency to even wake up and say so at the time?" He looked shocked, and leaned forwards to attempt to grab my hands again. [Oh no,] I thought angrily. [Don't you dare Sheikah boy.]

"Get off," I threw his hands away. "I take back what I said - you deserve every bloody hardship those extra senses give you. And you know what, maybe I'm glad that you don't like me, that you don't trust me. At least it means you can't get hurt in the end for knowing me!" [Shit, too far, shit, shit!]

His pupils had dilated to probably as far as they could go. A flicker of hurt spasmed over his face, followed by one of pity. "Oh, Blaise, I didn't mean to hear. It's just; I wasn't really fully awake, and your shoulder was comfortable and...Oh Goddesses, I'm talking rubbish. What I'm trying to say is, is that I do trust you." It was my turn to gawp.

"What?" my voice didn't seem to want to work.

"I trust you. There's something odd about you, granted, but I trust you still. Maybe I...maybe I do sense other things. But your intentions seem good enough. And, perhaps it's more than trust," he was stammering again, and stopped to take in a deep, shuddering breath. "I mean...well, since I've gotten to know you - without yelling at you and stuff I mean - I've come to like you. Quite a bit actually," he laughed nervously.

"Spit it out," I urged, still sounding a little croaky. [If he's trying to say what I think he's trying to say...Then it's more than I dreamed.] Then, I snapped back at that voice in my head immediately. [Even if he is, which he most certainly isn't, nothing would come of it. You *know* that!]

"OK!" he held up his hands in defeat. "It'd probably be easier if I just showed you - I'm not quite sure how to say this, so..." He reached out to take my hands again, which I relinquished from my sides. After a piercing look, right into my eyes and ostensibly into my mind - my thoughts and feelings - he shuffled forwards.

"SHEIK!" Navi's voice came from above, and I jumped so high that I hit my head against one of the wooden ribs of the cart. "Link's back!" Sheik blinked, and drew back, his face as crimson as his eyes, and hopped out before I could say a word. Link came into view at the front of the cart, shivering and dripping all over the ground.

[Navi!] I thought angrily.

{What?}

[Oh, you just - never mind!] I slammed my end closed, and sat fuming silently within the cart. [Stupid timing. Why can nothing ever go my way? He was going to...going to what, kiss you?] My thoughts turned on me venomously. [And why? Perhaps for the same reason that Lucifer wants you in that case. It isn't for you, it's because he can get rid of you when he's through, because he *knows* you're worth nothing!]

[No, you're wrong] I protested weakly, shattering the hissing voice mid sentence. [He - he cares!] I was more confident, and the darker side of my mind cowered away. I repeated it [he cares.] It sounded nice, so I did it again. [He cares. He cares. He caaaaaaaaaaares!]

"Hey Blaise," Link hopped up into the cart, and took out his ocarina. "I heard you practicing on the way back. Shall we just carry on?" I nodded dumbly, and sang along to the sweet sound of the Ocarina of Time.

*

The water in the pool was cool against my skin. After a few seconds of lingering on the edge, with the water up to my knees so I could adjust, I literally dove in. It was deep enough so that I couldn't touch the bottom in the deepest part. I resurfaced, absolutely frozen, and gasped a lungful of chilly air.

Even with the cold, it was a luxurious feeling to be on my own for once. I could stay here for as long as I pleased, and just soak in the water, which I was already becoming habituated to. Paddling over to the edge of the pool, I grabbed a bar of soap and rubbed it between my hands to create a foamy lather, which I then applied to my hair. I may as well take the opportunity after all.

A small crack in the undergrowth drew my attention, and I sank down into the water so that all but my nose and eyes were submerged. Squinting, I could see a low scrubby bush rustling. The distance to my weapons wasn't great - however, they were in between me and whatever creature was in the dense undergrowth. Panicking, I backed away in the water into the very centre, where I floated, staring at the bush.

And, what else should emerge into the moonlight but a small rabbit, hopping this way and that in great lolloping steps. I let out a shaky breath of relief, and moved back into the shallower water. Feeling a biting cool wind blow across me, I quickly washed the suds from my hair, and clambered out of the pool. There, I wrapped the towel I'd bought with me around me, and sat down on the bank, intent on doing a spot of stargazing.

It wasn't to be however - I'd had all the quiet time I was allowed for that day. Navi buzzed through the trunks of the trees, closely followed by a stumbling Link and Sheik, who were wearing their full disguises. In Sheik's hand, there was a patch of lighter material, which when they drew close enough, I saw to be my wig. And, also there, in Link's arms, were the clothes Eloise had made me.

"Ganondorf's moving this way - he must be following our tracks in the mud," Navi panted. "We haven't got long - he's only a mile away, and on horseback. *With* a whole train of cronies."

"Get changed quickly," Link said, stuffing the clothes into my hands. Sheik dropped the wig onto the pile of my other clothes.

"Hurry up," he urged in a low whisper. I ambled over to the same patch of vegetation the rabbit had emerged from, and slipped into the desert pants and shirt. Hurriedly, I tied the bandages into place, and then rushed back out. "The wig!" Sheik plonked it onto my head, and then kicked my clothes out of the way. "We'll get them later - quickly, back to the cart."

"Try to look like you've been asleep all this time," Link said as we got nearer the cart.

"I'll stay over here," Navi said, peeling away from the group, and alighting on a tree branch. By the time we got to the cart, she was completely out of sight.

"Up you go," Sheik said, bodily lifting me onto the floor of the cart. There was no time for delicacy now. Hoof beats were fast approaching.

"Where are the blankets?" Link asked, looking around.

"Here," I threw one to him and one to Sheik - they both lay down on the small bench/beds on either side, and I took the floor in the middle. As soon as I'd closed my eyes and pulled the blanket into place, the flap of material that served as a door at the back was thrown open. Just to make it look a little more convincing, I sat up with a startled sounding scream, which in turn 'woke up' Link and Sheik.

Ganondorf was scrutinizing the three of us closely, and I prayed that we'd hidden our weapons well enough under instruments and parchment. Then, he jumped down from his horse, and cleared his throat with a short cough. "Good evening fair ladies," he bowed his head slightly. I returned the bow, and then had to carefully hold onto the end of the blonde wig to stop it falling off.

"Evening sir," I said, and the accent came out like that of Malon the Ranch girl's. Behind him, I could see a train of guards, some of which had been at the party only a few days earlier. Also, were a few miserable looking girls, some of whom were younger than I. Judging by their clothing, they must have come from quite rich families, and I wondered what was to happen to them.

"May I ask what you are doing out here in the field?" he asked, though by the way he was picking at a loose thread in his cloak, he did not much care. It must be routine now to stop people, wake them up, and terrorize them for a while by now.

"We're travelling to the Gerudo fortress to offer our talents as bards," I answered simply, sitting up more, so that I could spring out of the other end of the cart if need be.

"Indeed?" he seemed a little more interested now. "I happen to be travelling there also - it is likely that you will perform whilst I am there."

"It would be an honour to do so," Link said, his voice sickly sweet, but thankfully, feminine enough not to arouse suspicion. Ganondorf raised an eyebrow at him, and Link feigned a giggle. He was certainly getting into his role at least.

"Perhaps my men and I could hear a sample?" he suggested commandingly.

"But we're not nearly ready for a performance, begging your pardon sir," I said. He frowned,

"Bards are always ready; don't be coy girl!" He snapped his fingers, and six of his men proceeded to 'escort' us out of the cart. "We have had a hard ride, and the music would sooth us before we must go on in a few hours. So, play!" Another click of the fingers saw us dropped onto the floor, in front of a semi-circle of leering men. I self-consciously stood up, and brushed some leaves from the gauze around my middle.

"For Goddesses' sake, stand like a woman," I hissed to Link, who had been standing with his legs firmly apart, and slouching like there was no tomorrow. Then, I turned and looked up at Ganondorf. "We need our instruments sir."

"Get them then," he sighed. "Just be quick about it, lest I get bored and give you to my men as play things." He was much coarser then he had been - no surprise, seeing as in Hyrule, some bards were no better than the common prostitute on other worlds. I hurried back to where the cart was, and clambered inside. There, I grabbed Sheik's lyre, and Link's Ocarina; then, I pulled the wig more firmly onto my head.

"Hello darlin'," one of his men slapped me on a place that I'd rather not mention. I whirled around and clonked him on the head with Sheik's lyre. This caused another couple of them to advance on me, but at a bark from Ganondorf, they let me be.

"How rather amusing," he smiled dryly. "I see you've got some spunk after all, girl. Now, come on, give us a few songs." I bequeathed the other two their instruments, and then stood in between them both, looking forwards and over the heads of the men, who were now sitting on the floor, into the night sky beyond. There were a few carrying torches, who had stationed themselves near the makeshift 'stage', so that the three of us were bathed in light.

" 'Wherever you will go,'" I whispered to the other two, who nodded, and began to play it perfectly on their respective instruments. I waited for the two bar intro, and then gave it all I had. "So lately, been wondering

Who will be there to take my place

When I'm gone you'll need love to light the shadows on your face

If a great wave shall fall and fall upon us all

Then between the sand and stone, could you make it on your own...

...

If I could, then I would,

I'll go wherever you will go

Way up high, or down low, I'll go wherever you will go." I wavered a little on the last note, and then finally it was over. Biting my lip, I turned around to nod a well done to the other two. Turning back, I was confronted by the tall bulk of Ganondorf, who was clapping softly.

"Bravo indeed. 'Tis a song I have not heard before - pray tell, what is it?"

"A song from across the waters sir - my homeland. It's called 'Wherever you will go', and I learnt it from a fellow musician."

"Musician is it now?" he purred, sitting down. He motioned for the three of us to sit. "I thought you looked a little too respectable to be the kind of bards we're used to in this land. Are you all from across the waters?" We exchanged quick looks with one another, and then Sheik answered,

"Aye - but we all came across many a year ago now." His voice was perfectly pitched to that of a sultry flirtation. I was sure I saw the smallest of blushes creeping over Ganondorf's face, but he dipped his head and hid it.

"Is that so?" He stood up again, and we followed suit. "Well, I believe that the thieves will be pleased enough with your music. Fare thee well," with another swift bow like the one he had greeted us with, he and his men moved away.

As soon as they were out of sight, I sank to the ground, and just lay on my back amongst the grass, staring at nothing. There may have been tears in my eyes - and then again, there might just as easily not have been. I was at a level of fear and exhaustion that made it impossible to tell. I didn't want to move. I wanted to let the smothering blackness to take me into the nice oblivion of the unconscious world. Time passed, though I know not how much.

"Come on Blaise," Sheik said softly, putting an arm under the crook of my knees, and the other under my shoulders. "We all need sleep," I leant against his chest quite happily enough, which was now devoid of the sacks of flower we had used to serve as the necessary extras to be a woman.

"I'm sorry for yelling at you earlier," I told him, and he looked down.

"I know - now shush, I think Navi and Link are already asleep." He set me back down onto the space that I had been pretending to sleep on, and pulled the blanket over me. Then, he got his own blanket, and put that over me as well.

"Hey, won't you be cold?" I protested, but he just shook his head.

"I'll use my cloak - anyway, you're still in that ridiculous disguise, which isn't exactly all that warm, is it?" He stepped carefully over me and onto his bed. "But, before you go to sleep, take this bloody thing off. It doesn't suit you," he tugged at the wig, and I pulled it off, sending my real hair sticking out at odd angles.

"Night," I yawned, and gathered the blankets around me, curling into a small ball on the floor.

"Night," he said back, and turned over to face the canvas wall.

~*~*~*~

"I can't do this," Link wailed, looking up at the distant walls of the fortress. He was raking a hand through his hair, and Navi was helping him pull the disorderly mess into some kind of order.

"Of course you can - we've already performed in front of Ganondorf. If we can fool him, we can fool anyone," I assured him. "Sheik, stay still!" I said sharply to the Sheikah, who had been tugging at the skirt of his dress nervously. "Hang on, I'm almost done," I flicked a brush laced with dark blue eye powder just under his brow, and then put it back down.

"Thanks - I'll never be able to understand why women put themselves through all this. How do you have time in the morning?" Sheik was peering into a sliver of mirror, and arranging his hair in a more girlish fashion.

"I don't," I said bluntly, and then added, "though, it must be quite obvious when you poor three have to see me in the mornings without!"

"I don't mind awfully," Sheik smiled quietly. I just dipped my head down and pretended to be cleaning the brush of the blue powder. Link's winces as Navi pulled his hair into elaborate braids punched through the otherwise silent air.

"That's it! Leave it how it is, it's fine!" Link suddenly yelled, dragging himself away from Navi and clutching his hurting head. "Ow, ow, ow!" He sat and looked so dejected that Sheik and I were compelled to go over and sit with him.

"What is it?" I asked, sitting down on his right side, whilst Sheik took up the left.

"Lots of things - silly things really," he answered, smiling obscurely.

"Tell us," Sheik urged.

"Well, we've been so close to that - Gerudo man - so many times, and yet we haven't even been able to challenge him. So how are we going to be able to anyway?"

"The Sages will help," Navi said softly, and we all turned to look at her.

"How?" Link asked, surreptitiously wiping his eyes when he thought we couldn't see.

"They're watching us now from the Sacred Realm, so they know what's going on. And once we've freed the last Sage, they can extend their powers back to Hyrule. Which means, in that sword you've been given," she circled above the glinting blade of the Master Sword, "they can channel their powers into Hyrule." Her voice had deepened to one which showed deep wisdom, gathered from the experience of living. Link nodded silently, and smoothed down his skirt.

"Come on, let's get this show on the road," Sheik yawned, stretching his arms up and then slipping into the driver's seat. From the back, in his blue dress, he looked like any normal Hylian girl. I hopped up into the seat next to him. "Hello," he said distractedly, tapping the horse to make it go.

"How long do you think it'll take us to gain their trust?" I asked, and he frowned.

"I'm not sure - hopefully not as long as it's taken me to give mine..." he laughed sheepishly. Then, he sobered up. "I don't think it's a matter of trust with the Gerudo. If we can prove ourselves to them somehow, then they'll tell us what we need to know."

"Like where the Temple is, for instance?"

"Exactly. And maybe we'll be able to get some insight into Ganondorf from their point of view." Link had come over as well, and was sitting on the bench, looking out as we drew ever closer to the fortress.

"From what Xenia told me, they're not on the best terms with him," I said. "But they can't do anything about it because he's so powerful."

"It's not just that," Navi scorned. "He's a tyrant too - he says jump, you only pause long enough to say how high, and you don't worry about what you land on when you get back down."

"Nice analogy," Sheik murmured dryly.

"Aye," I agreed, and then turned around to Link. "Can you pass me my wig?"

"Sure - hang on," he stood up and moved down to the far end of the cart to retrieve it. A rut in the road caused the whole cart to shudder, and he fell over. "OW!"

"Sorry! Are you all right?" Sheik called back through a grin. I gave him a silent reprimand by way of a poke in the ribs, and he struggled to lose the grin.

"Yeah, I'm all right," he stood up again, and held onto the beams of the cart roof to protect against another fall. "Here you go," he handed me the wig, and I jammed it onto my head.

"Thanks." The gates of the fortress came into view, before which stood four guards dressed in a purple uniform, their red hair tied back from their faces to show rounded ears. From the corners of my eyes, I could glimpse strategically placed guards, ready to shoot down any unwanted intruders. "Let me do the talking," I whispered to both Sheik and Link. [Navi, are you well hidden?]

{Yeah - I'm in Link's pack. Keep your link open so I know what's happening, won't you?}

[Of course].

"Halt!" one of the guards raised her spear, and the other three hovered behind her menacingly brandishing their own weapons. "What is your business coming here to our land?"

"We're travelling bards here to offer our services," I answered, flourishing a hand and holding it out. The guard didn't seem to know what to make of that, so I dropped the hand. "We heard that his Lordship Ganondorf was coming to stay, and, having performed for him before, we thought he may like to indulge in our music again." Now she looked stunned.

"Sire Ganondorf has never mentioned any such bards before. How can we be sure that you are telling the truth?" She was a shrewd one, and her eyes were narrowed mistrustingly.

"I do not tell of all my exploits Aveil," came a scathing voice, and who should appear but the Gerudo man himself. "I did not expect to see you so soon ladies," his manner was completely different now; soft and accommodating. "Aveil, see to it that they are given food and comfortable quarters for their stay," he barked, and the guard jumped to attention.

"Yes sire," she saluted, and then looked at the other guards under her charge. "Well, what are you waiting for? Let them through," the guards withdrew, and Sheik urged the horse to pull us forwards into the fortress.

"Oh boy," Sheik said under his breath. "This is going to be fun."

*

We were lead into a lush sitting room, with a table at the centre filled with all kinds of food. Fruits and vegetables that must have been exported in from Hyrule proper, as well as bread, and a couple of pitchers of wine. We were left alone to 'settle in', as Aveil put it. As soon as the canvas door fell shut over the flap, we had descended onto the food and drink thankfully. Sheik and Link stayed at the table, whilst I grabbed a grapefruit and went to explore the rest of the room.

In doing so, I discovered a doorway that led into a little hall. From here, four doorways branched off; two at either side, and at the end of the hall, there was a small balcony which overlooked the fortress. It was getting late, and the desert was beginning to cool as the sun set behind the cliffs in the west. All around, I could see splodges of purple and red, which were patrolling guards.

Someone walked up behind me, and looking around, I saw Sheik, holding two goblets of wine. "Thanks," I said, taking the one he offered.

"Your welcome. This is one heck of a view," he looked around appreciatively. "See - over there - the gate to the desert." I looked where he pointed.

"Oh yes - so that's what we have to get through when we find out where the temple is?" He nodded, and then froze in fear. I stopped, and listened as well, only to hear the sound of voices from the main room. There was a high laugh from Link, and a bit of girlish chatter from him.

"Come on," Sheik whispered, and we walked surely back into the main room. There, standing with the shifty looking Link, was the Lady Nabooru - leader of the Gerudo.

"Hello there," she said, looking over at us. "I was just wondering whether you would be ready to perform tonight?"

"Of course ma'am," I answered quickly. "Won't we?" I looked at the other two, who nodded.

"If I may ask, what are your names? I'm Nabooru," she bowed politely. Now this was something that we hadn't discussed - names. I made it up on the spur of the moment; the spiritual stones were the first things that came into my head, so I used those.

"I'm Ruby," I said, and bowed. "This is Sapphire," I pointed to Sheik, who bowed as well. "And this is Emerald." Link bowed, and the introduction was complete. [Phew]

{Well done for the quick thinking} Navi praised me.

Nabooru just nodded, and looked a little suspicious - however, she seemed to brush it off. "Ah, and another thing," she said, seeming to remember something else. "His Lordship Ganondorf was wondering whether these rooms were adequate?"

"Yes, more than adequate thank you kindly," Sheik answered, smiling graciously. Nabooru's face broke into the first real smile I'd seen from her.

"Very good; I look forward to hearing your performance at dinner - it starts at nine, which gives you," she looked down at a timepiece on her tanned arm, "two hours." She whirled around, and left, tossing the canvas door aside.

Link let out a huge sigh of relief. "Well done for those names Blaise," he said, clapping a hand on my shoulder.

"It was nothing - I was thinking of the spiritual stones at the time, which was lucky," I answered. He laughed, and drained the wine from his goblet.

"Come on - if we have two hours, we may as well start mingling now," Sheik said, making for the door. I grabbed him and pulled him back.

"Just remember you have to act like *girls* now," I said to him sternly, and looked at Link to make sure he got the point too.

"Of course Ruby," Link answered in a falsetto, and fluttering his eyelashes. I snorted, and pushed him through the door.

"Don't bloody overdo it Emerald," I warned, punching him on the arm.

"I won't," he said, and then wandered off down the hallway straight across from our rooms. I looked from right to left, and decided on the right, which led out into a courtyard of some kind. Sheik called out to me from the doorway.

"Hang on, come back here Ruby," his voice was tuned into a feminine one now, and I felt proud of him.

"Yes?" I asked as I stopped in front of him.

"Surely I don't have to act like a girl *all* the time," he grinned mischievously, and darted in to kiss me on the cheek. I bought my hand up to my cheek in surprise; he was looking at me hopefully.

"Well, maybe not *all* the time," I stood up on my toes to return the gesture, and then turned back to go down the right corridor. "See you later Sapphire," I called back with a smile, and waved a hand behind my back.

"Later," he answered, and turning to look back, I saw him going the opposite way, down the left corridor.

~/*\~/*\~/*\~

It's taken me fifteen chapters, but finally I got a kiss in.

Sheik: About bloody time

Alexis: But - him - I like Ganondorf better...Sheik's such a goody-two- shoes

Soda: [Nods] I agree - I like a man with attitude. Oh God, I love that magazine [slavers] *ahem*

Sheik: EXCUSE ME! Many people seem to find me wonderful enough

Ganondorf: [Nods]

Sheik: O.o NO WAY! Get away from me Ganondorf! You did enough of that psyching me out stuff in the Untold Tales.

Ganondorf: [Looks lovingly at Sheik]

Sheik: Aiyee! [Runs away]

Ganondorf: [Sniggers]

Alexis+Soda: [Sigh]

Soda: He's so evil

Alexis: And so wonderful

Ruto: And so *mine*

Soda+Alexis: What the...? [Sweat drop]

Soda: Oh, the depraved love web becomes ever more tangled. Will it never end?

Draco the purple dragon: Not with you as author.

Soda: [Wipes away a joyous tear] I know - it's great, isn't it?

Draco the purple dragon: I'm not complaining. [Snuggles with Volvagia]

Various characters+readers: [Hold their heads] I'm going insane, heeeeeelp!

Soda: [Shakes head] At least you lot aren't me - now that would really confuse you.

Various characters+readers: [Feel queasy at the very idea, and all return to the muse cupboard/review box (HINT), carrying water bottles and cups of lem-sip]

And with that VERY confusing end bit that I always seem to put in to piss readers off with, I shall tootle off. [Bounce] kissy kissy! If anyone wishes to give me a kiss in their review, I would be most obliged [flirts overtly with anything that moves]. This is what happens to me if you coop me up in a room on my own for four hours! ACK! And now that it's three in the morning, there's no one to flirt with.

Damn it.

Oh well - you go review, and I shall mope at the lack of flirting opportunities.