Link was confused. He had been happily curled up in his bed in kokiri
forest sleeping off his latest exploits, when all of a sudden, twenty armed
and armored guards were outside yelling for him to come with them, by the
command of Queen Zelda. Only fifteen minutes later he was riding Epona down
Hyrule field, accompanied by the guards, heading towards Gerudo Valley. He
had asked Navi to explain it to him twice and he still didn't get it. All
he was hearing was that he was supposed to meet the new gerudo king for
something called "diplomatic reasons". Nobody had been able to explain what
he was actually supposed to DO. From what he had been told, he wasn't
supposed to fight the new king, nor was Hyrule in danger. He finally
contented himself with the fact that Zelda had ordered it, therefore it was
probably important.
"We're almost there" said one of the guards.
Link looked up. They were indeed approaching Gerudo Valley. 'Thank the goddesses' thought Link. 'Much as I like Epona, it will be good to get off of this damn saddle, my ass is killing me.'
Once they had crossed the bridge, a group of gerudos came and told the guards to turn back, and that they would ensure Link's safety for the rest of the way. 'As if they could stand a chance against anything that I couldn't handle, they just want to make sure that I don't bolt without paying a visit' thought Link bitterly.
"Sir Link, we are to escort you to Lord Sauron" said one of the gerudos.
"Just Link, I have no surname. Just point the way and I will follow."
The gerudo blinked at this, but said, "Very well, Link. This way."
The gerudos led him up to a granite tower. "Very nice," commented Link, "that granite must have been imported, the tower isn't overly impressive, but extremely defensible, this new king of yours knows his strategy very well."
One of the nearby gerudos gave him an odd look, then smiled. "We are glad to see you appreciate it, it took a lot of resources to build it, but worth the trouble I think."
Link agreed readily, and started wondering if this new king would be as war-like as his predecessors, or whether there was a chance for peace. 'Hopefully the latter,' he thought grimly, 'but I will be prepared for the former.'
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Welcome to my humble abode, I was just sitting down for dinner, will you join me?" asked Sauron when Link entered. "The ladies make the most exquisite stew." Sauron was wearing a red suit with purple lining, and sat before a knee-high table, on a well cushioned pillow. On the table lay various tantalizing dishes, each one emitting an enticing scent.
"Thank you, don't mind if I do. I can't recall the last time I had a decent meal" said Link in a courteous tone.
"Really? Then we must remedy this. Come, be seated, I would come to know the Hero of Time" said Sauron in a hearty tone.
"As I would like to know you, I hope you will come to consider me as a friend and Hyrule as an ally" said Link.
"I think you and I will get along quite well, but I am unsure of the rest of Hyrule" said Sauron, carefully keeping his tone neutral.
Link stiffened at this. "I must warn you, if you declare war on Hyrule, I will be bound to stop you."
"Don't worry, I would hate to start a war, but I don't like the concept of joining in an alliance with a land that keeps slaves" said Sauron, speaking slowly for added impact.
Link spat out the wine he had been drinking. "What are you talking about? Hyrule doesn't keep slaves."
Sauron raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then tell me, haven't you wondered why all of Zelda's 'servants' have such a subdued look in their eyes? Why the guards and merchants never say what they're guarding or selling? This isn't the only immoral practice in Hyrule. Did you know that Hyrule is receiving monthly 'tributes' from the gorons and zoras in exchange for their continued existence? No, I'll bet you didn't. Zelda has kept you in the dark, only telling you the things that paint her in a favorable light. She doesn't even like you. She uses you as an errand boy, only calling upon you to save her own selfish values."
"No, that's not true. Zelda is a good person, and Hyrule has always been a beacon of hope for the world" said Link, trying desperately to cling to his delusions, "I don't believe you, you're lying."
Sauron sighed. "I wish that were the case. Hyrule was once a land of beauty, the old king always tried to do what was best for his people. But that all changed when he died and Zelda ascended. I know this hurts, it hurts to realize that everything you've fought for is a lie. It is hard to accept so much all at once, and I won't force this on you. You must come to terms with it in your own time. Take as long as you wish, this place will always be a sanctuary for you if you need it."
"I thank you Sauron, I know what you say is true. I have tried so long to pretend nothing was wrong, that I was only imagining things, but it is wrong. It's wrong to let this continue. But how can I stop it? I am just one man, Zelda has an entire amassed army. This isn't like Ganondorf" Link said in a desolate tone.
"I will help you" said Sauron. "I will try to negotiate, but I doubt it will work. It will likely come to war, and if it does, I want you on my side. War may yet be avoided, I want you to be my diplomat, and if it comes to war, I will make you my most trusted general and successor. None of this is obligatory. You may leave unhindered at any time you choose."
Link weighed the options carefully in his head, and then looked to his heart for the answer. "I will aid you Sauron, too long have I sat idle and ignored the true threat to Hyrule."
Sauron appraised the noble warrior before him. "I have faith in you Link, you will right the wrongs. It is your destiny."
"No," said Link, "not destiny, destiny is a lie. It is my duty. I shall perform that duty to the best of my abilities, and woe to those who stand in my way."
Sauron smiled grimly. "Duty then. Let us make a toast, to duty, and to a better world."
Link grinned. "I'll drink to that."
Together these two unlikely allies toasted their friendship, and pledged to make right the sorry state of affairs in Hyrule. Whether the kingdom agreed or not.
* * * * * * * * * * *
She-Wraith: If this seems out of character, remember that Sauron is speaking from his point of view. He did not make these things up, Zelda really is doing those horrible things. This is how REAL villains are, convinced that what they are doing is what's best. Believe it or not, Sauron may be the best thing to happen to Hyrule since Link. If you disagree, tell me so. WRITE A REVIEW. Even though you won't change my mind.
"We're almost there" said one of the guards.
Link looked up. They were indeed approaching Gerudo Valley. 'Thank the goddesses' thought Link. 'Much as I like Epona, it will be good to get off of this damn saddle, my ass is killing me.'
Once they had crossed the bridge, a group of gerudos came and told the guards to turn back, and that they would ensure Link's safety for the rest of the way. 'As if they could stand a chance against anything that I couldn't handle, they just want to make sure that I don't bolt without paying a visit' thought Link bitterly.
"Sir Link, we are to escort you to Lord Sauron" said one of the gerudos.
"Just Link, I have no surname. Just point the way and I will follow."
The gerudo blinked at this, but said, "Very well, Link. This way."
The gerudos led him up to a granite tower. "Very nice," commented Link, "that granite must have been imported, the tower isn't overly impressive, but extremely defensible, this new king of yours knows his strategy very well."
One of the nearby gerudos gave him an odd look, then smiled. "We are glad to see you appreciate it, it took a lot of resources to build it, but worth the trouble I think."
Link agreed readily, and started wondering if this new king would be as war-like as his predecessors, or whether there was a chance for peace. 'Hopefully the latter,' he thought grimly, 'but I will be prepared for the former.'
* * * * * * * * * * *
"Welcome to my humble abode, I was just sitting down for dinner, will you join me?" asked Sauron when Link entered. "The ladies make the most exquisite stew." Sauron was wearing a red suit with purple lining, and sat before a knee-high table, on a well cushioned pillow. On the table lay various tantalizing dishes, each one emitting an enticing scent.
"Thank you, don't mind if I do. I can't recall the last time I had a decent meal" said Link in a courteous tone.
"Really? Then we must remedy this. Come, be seated, I would come to know the Hero of Time" said Sauron in a hearty tone.
"As I would like to know you, I hope you will come to consider me as a friend and Hyrule as an ally" said Link.
"I think you and I will get along quite well, but I am unsure of the rest of Hyrule" said Sauron, carefully keeping his tone neutral.
Link stiffened at this. "I must warn you, if you declare war on Hyrule, I will be bound to stop you."
"Don't worry, I would hate to start a war, but I don't like the concept of joining in an alliance with a land that keeps slaves" said Sauron, speaking slowly for added impact.
Link spat out the wine he had been drinking. "What are you talking about? Hyrule doesn't keep slaves."
Sauron raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Then tell me, haven't you wondered why all of Zelda's 'servants' have such a subdued look in their eyes? Why the guards and merchants never say what they're guarding or selling? This isn't the only immoral practice in Hyrule. Did you know that Hyrule is receiving monthly 'tributes' from the gorons and zoras in exchange for their continued existence? No, I'll bet you didn't. Zelda has kept you in the dark, only telling you the things that paint her in a favorable light. She doesn't even like you. She uses you as an errand boy, only calling upon you to save her own selfish values."
"No, that's not true. Zelda is a good person, and Hyrule has always been a beacon of hope for the world" said Link, trying desperately to cling to his delusions, "I don't believe you, you're lying."
Sauron sighed. "I wish that were the case. Hyrule was once a land of beauty, the old king always tried to do what was best for his people. But that all changed when he died and Zelda ascended. I know this hurts, it hurts to realize that everything you've fought for is a lie. It is hard to accept so much all at once, and I won't force this on you. You must come to terms with it in your own time. Take as long as you wish, this place will always be a sanctuary for you if you need it."
"I thank you Sauron, I know what you say is true. I have tried so long to pretend nothing was wrong, that I was only imagining things, but it is wrong. It's wrong to let this continue. But how can I stop it? I am just one man, Zelda has an entire amassed army. This isn't like Ganondorf" Link said in a desolate tone.
"I will help you" said Sauron. "I will try to negotiate, but I doubt it will work. It will likely come to war, and if it does, I want you on my side. War may yet be avoided, I want you to be my diplomat, and if it comes to war, I will make you my most trusted general and successor. None of this is obligatory. You may leave unhindered at any time you choose."
Link weighed the options carefully in his head, and then looked to his heart for the answer. "I will aid you Sauron, too long have I sat idle and ignored the true threat to Hyrule."
Sauron appraised the noble warrior before him. "I have faith in you Link, you will right the wrongs. It is your destiny."
"No," said Link, "not destiny, destiny is a lie. It is my duty. I shall perform that duty to the best of my abilities, and woe to those who stand in my way."
Sauron smiled grimly. "Duty then. Let us make a toast, to duty, and to a better world."
Link grinned. "I'll drink to that."
Together these two unlikely allies toasted their friendship, and pledged to make right the sorry state of affairs in Hyrule. Whether the kingdom agreed or not.
* * * * * * * * * * *
She-Wraith: If this seems out of character, remember that Sauron is speaking from his point of view. He did not make these things up, Zelda really is doing those horrible things. This is how REAL villains are, convinced that what they are doing is what's best. Believe it or not, Sauron may be the best thing to happen to Hyrule since Link. If you disagree, tell me so. WRITE A REVIEW. Even though you won't change my mind.