Chapter 7:

Terri's idea was to have them climb on the vines and hike around the gate. Link didn't like the idea. The vines were rough and had thorns that pierced his flesh. He thought about complaining, but stopped when he remembered the climb up Death Mountain. This climb was easier, the wall was steep but the vines were very strong and would not break. It also comforted Link to know that if he were to fall, it would only be about fifteen feet.

As Link came closer to the top he realized he did not hear anyone below him. He glanced down and saw that Navi was by his side, but Terri was lounging against the rocks below, "What are you doing? Come on."

She looked up and shook her head, "Only one of us should go, someone should stay out here in case something needs to be done outside the castle."

Link continued to climb, and pulled himself up to the top of the rocks, "I'm touched that you'd relax out here away while I go to the castle full of guards, dangers and stress." Navi bumped against him telling him they need to get going. He didn't blame her, this fighting had to be put to rest.

However, as he left he was tempted to return to her when he heard the words, "Don't mention it." He let it go and took in what was around him. If he and Navi continued to walk along the rocks, they would be above the gate and be able to pass right by it. He could already see the castle though, he could see the drawbridge leading to its insides. The castle was white stone, its only colors were the stain glass windows that seemed to be carved into its sides. Towers with cone roofs arose from the royal home, what they contained no one knew. A few Hylian flags stood bravely in the day's wind, adding to the castle's beauty.

The pair walked along the path, when they approached the gate's top Navi hid underneath Link's hat and he made sure that his footsteps were not heard. The guard did not here them, he actually didn't even seem to be paying attention to what he was doing. That worried Link because it was showing what kind of security the castle had, it seemed the castle was weak.

The pair successfully made it past the gate but a new problem arose A large amount of soldiers were around the path that led to the castle. They were talking and laughing about things that Link could not hear. He would have to climb down the rocks he was currently on but he did not know where to go from there. Everywhere he looked there were soldiers.

'This was a mistake.'

"Link look over there!" Navi whispered as she gestured toward the path's end near the gate to the castle's drawbridge. On the ground were several water jars. The sun's heat would often tire the guards and cause their throats to crave water, when that time came they drank from the jars to ease their cravings.

"You're a good eye, go ahead." It was then that he understood Navi's words. She wanted him to shoot an arrow and break a jar to try to cause a distraction. Men were scattered all over the road, it would be too risky, he could kill an innocent man.

"Navi, I could hit someone, plus they would see the arrow when they go to see what happened." He shook his head in disbelief that that could be their plan.

"I know, that's why you wait until you have a clear shot even if it takes a few minuets."

"And what do you suggest we do once we get a distraction, where will we go?" Link was beyond stressed out, thoughts were flying through his mind. One was thinking of what the Gerudo was doing.

'Probably not a damn thing.'

Navi looked around, studying the area very closely. She was good at doing that, "Once we climb down far enough on the rocks we jump and run towards those bushes over there." Link looked over to see rose bushes growing near the bottom of the rocks, a perfect place to hide, "Then we wait and if they don't see us we wait to run for the castle." She said it so confidently that she must have been serious.

"Great plan."

"Thanks so much!" The fairy's voice was so peppy and cheerful that it put Link in a better mood. They had to do something soon since the security increases at night and Link wanted this journey to end. He didn't say anymore to his partner, he reached behind his back and felt around until he felt the soft black feather on the end of a single arrow. When he got out the arrow he then reached for his bow made out of Deku sticks and brought it out in front of him with the arrow. He lifted both tools and brought them together into one. While concentrating on what he was doing, he pulled the arrow back, causing the string on the bow to stretch and the wood to bend. Link kneeled down and aimed the arrow at the awaiting target, he closed one eye to help his concentration and waited for the guards to clear out of the way.

A pain began to grow along his arm from the waiting. A group of soldiers were walking in the area and there would be a possibility of the arrow striking one of them. The pain seemed to increase, as if the tip of the arrow was cutting his flesh. His arm began to grow numb and still men were in the way. A sound filled Link's ears, and he saw that one of the soldiers called his comrade over to him. The soldier that followed the call was the one who was in danger of being wounded by an arrow.

When the men were clear Link said a quick prayer and let the arrow leave his fingers. It hit the clay jar perfectly, and the guards reacted just like Navi had hoped, they ran towards the noise. Some had glanced in their direction wondering what it could have been, when that happened Link and Navi ducked behind a boulder until they looked away and followed their comrades.

'Now.'

Link jumped out from behind the rock and lowered himself below the edge of the rock wall and began to quickly climb downward. As he reached for vines and bumps along the wall he heard the soldier's voices, he knew he needed to hurry so he released his grip on the rocks and jumped down to the dirt road.

When his feet touched the ground after the fifteen to ten foot drop a shiver ran through him from the bottom of his feet to his thighs. He grimaced at the quick pain and struggled to run to the bushes that were farther away from him than he thought.

Navi was trailing right behind him but for some reason her voice seemed to be a hundred feet away, "Link watch out." A force grabbed Link by his shoulders and pulled him away from where he was going, he was pulled out in the open.

The tight grip softened but when Link tried to run, fingers squeezed into his flesh so hard that Link almost cried out, "I have the trouble maker, go back to your stations!" Link recognized the voice, he had meet the voices owner before. When he glanced up he saw Teivel holding on to him. He still wore the same black armor he was seen in before, and his brown hair was flowing in the wind, free of any helmet. He could easily been spotted in a group of the other guards, why hadn't the seen him?

'He hid and waited for us to make a move.'

He released Link's shoulders, and that gave Link more hope, but the hope disappeared when his grasp was replaced by a blade against his back. Teivel pointed the blade slightly into his back to usher him forward in the direction of the castle.

He shoved Link forward with his free hand hard to get him to move faster, "Forget this one men, I'll have him given the proper punishment by a royal family member, since it was their home that was in danger." As they passed guards nodded to Teivel in a sign of respect and honoring him.

When they were out of earshot Teivel loosened the pressure of the blade on Link's back and leaned in to whisper into his ear, "If you want to get anywhere in life you'll need to be better at knowing your surroundings."

* * *

As Verena strolled through the pathway to the castle she saw Terri on a boulder lying on her back. At first she thought that her fellow Gerudo was sleeping, but as she came closer her eyes shot open and she lifted her head to see who was in her presents. She looked tired, depressed and lonely.

'Perfect.'

"Greetings Terri, it's strange I never considered the castle's gateway to be a comfortable place to take a nap." Verena strolled closer making sure her eyes stayed on the girl who was now sitting on the stone. She enjoyed toying with her mind, and it pleased her even more that she could do it with a simple stare.

"You never know until you try." Terri avoided Verena's gaze, she glanced around the surroundings as if she'd never seen them before. Verena knew something was up since she usually challenges her with a gaze of her own.

Verena came closer to the other Gerudo so that she was standing by her side, "Yes that seems to currently be your life nowadays. How are the trips you never used to take with the boy you never used to consider being around?" Still Terri did not look at her as she spoke. She seemed to be avoiding her, but Verena knew she was paying attention, "I mean there must be something about the journeys that make you happy, or maybe it's this Link fellow eh?"

Terri closed her eyes and flinched at the words as they were said. They seemed to send shivers down her spine because Verena could have sworn she saw her shake.

'Ah what is this? I think we're starting to get somewhere.'

"Ya know, I must say you have good taste, he seems nice and knows what he's doing." This got the Gerudo's attention, she met Verena's gaze with a look of fear and anger.

Terri sat up, she was giving her full attention now, "How would you know? Have you spoken to him? What did you say? What did he say?"

'Bla, bla, bla, bla.'

"Well we only had a quick chat but he did mention some things about you." Verena waited for Terri to speak but she only waited for her to continue, "Well, he believes on doing the right thing, so he said he was going to report you to the athority for all the things you have done."

Terri raised an eyebrow in confusion. She looked at Verena as if she had spoken in a different language, "Why, there are others who do the same as me. Is he going to turn us all in?" The final words were sarcasm, it was one of her gifts at birth. Verena didn't see it as a gift though, she saw it as an annoyance.

Verena changed her voice to a more serious tone, she knew Terri would buy it, "He has proof of what you are doing! Gerudos are meant to steal, but stealing is still stealing and you could be locked in a prison."

Again nothing came out of the Gerudo's mouth, she just sat there taking in what had been said from Verena's lying mouth. When Verena found out that she wasn't going to reply she found a perfect way to end their conversation, "Just remember this..." She began to turn her back and return to the market place, "You brought it upon yourself to be hanging around the people who don't welcome you."

With that Verena left the silent Gerudo alone to think over what had been said. Verena thought wondered if Terri believed her words, she was almost positive she did, she wasn't sure on how she would react to them.

* * *

"I hope you are here for a good reason for causing all this trouble." Teivel had lead them into a part of the castle that Link had never seen. They walked through quiet halls that seemed to go forever. A single crimson carpet ran down the white marble floor that shone in the light that came from the candlelight, and Navi. Along the white stone walls were a variety of paintings. The pictures captured the life of Hyrule from the perspectives of every race and creature. They were all paintings of beauty and peacefulness. At the end of the hallway was a single wooded door with a golden boarder.

"Where are you taking me?" Link wasn't that scared, he was nervous for not knowing where he was going. Teivel had explained that he wouldn't hurt Link or have him be punished, but he didn't explain what would happen to him.

"Don't worry kid, this is probably what you came to the castle for." The soldier replied as he quickened his pace down the hall.

'How would he know what I came here for?'

They were silent the rest of the way. The only noise was the sound of the soldier's metal boots making a muffled, clanking sound on the soft carpet. As the distance between the men and the door grew shorter, Teivel cleared his throat and spoke, "I will not ask your true reason for coming here since that is none of my business." He paused as they approached the door and he knocked. A distant voice could be heard saying "Enter", "But I am sure that you will find your needs in here." He left Link standing by the door that awaited to be opened.

Curious Link knocked again to make sure that he wouldn't be inturrupting anything, after a few seconds the same distant voice came again, "Usually when someone says enter it means the person knocking can come in."

Navi flew in front of him and teased him, "I don't want to sound like a Gerudo, but being too polite might get you killed one day."

He smiled and shrugged as he opened the door and entered. The room was darker then the hallway, only a few candles were lit around the walls that were covered with books. The wall's color could not even be seen, the wooden bookcases seemed to be the walls. The flooring was a soft green rug to go with the brown bookcases and give the room a forest look. In the center of the room was a circle of brown chairs for reading, and a small table that was covered with many books that Link could not see the titles of.

He took a step forward when he didn't see anyone inside, "Hello?"

"You seem to have someone gotten the guards to bring you here instead of the dungeons young traveler. The question is how did you manage to do that?" The voice said again, it was young, female and familiar to Link. Out of one of the chairs that had its back facing Link came a small hand the dropped a book onto the table that seemed it was ready to collapse. The voice's owner appeared from the chair, At first Link only saw the girl's golden hair and dress. Soon the Hylian's form was clear in the boy's site, Princess Zelda stared at him through her soft blue eyes.