This one's a tad short, but the next one will be better.

BY THE WAY vvvv

To everyone who reviews this, I need ideas for another fic...feedback if you wanna.

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Link came into consciousness with a sudden jerk. His eyes snapped open and he leapt up, his head swimming.

The woman's grip on his arm was torn loose. He ducked as another woman tried to grab his neck and rammed into her with his free shoulder. As she lost her balance he managed to catch his arm on her waist and tear her blade loose from the side of her belt. Her pant leg ripped open and he spun, clashing blades with the next Gerudo to confront him. The woman lost her hold on the hilt; he whirled, blocking another woman's attack, but felt a sharp, stabbing pain on the back of his leg.

His head was swimming, the world swirling around him in a red-brown mess. He stumbled and saw a Gerudo charge at him, her spear glinting in the red sunrise. He tried to move, but he was loosing his footing, his head aching. The point tore through his side and his teeth clenched, downing the yell that threatened to escape. The woman charged him again and link, desperate and blinded by pain, spun and across her with the blade still in his hand. The edge slit across the woman's throat and she went suddenly limp.

Tension sparked at the murder. Link knew he was as good as dead, so he spun madly, seeking one last foe. As he turned, he felt a cold Gerudo blade touch his throat.

"You'll pay for that, rat," hissed the woman before him.

Link glared at her, but she did not strike. Her glaring yellow eyes bore into his azure ones. She was wearing a purple dress, not an orange one; the female was a Senior, a Hka'tie in the Gerudo tongue. Her position was one of authority within the culture of their race. She alone bore the tattoo of a star on the side of her experienced face. The symbol was given only to those of undying loyalty. She smiled slightly, knowing she had the young man's life on a string. It was a smile that sent Link's insides blazing with fury.

"Drop it."

Link ground his teeth. Her hand clenched on the hilt and she pressed the blade harder against his throat. He let the sword fall from his hand. The Hkta'tie watched him for a moment longer and then let her sinister grin show through.

"Tie him up," she said carelessly. The blade left his neck and Link, enraged at the Gerudo's betrayal, leapt towards her. It was half a second before the blow came.

Someone kneed him in the stomach and he doubled over. Another blow came to his side and he fell, yelling, as his bleeding wound burst with fresh pain. The Gerudo were merciless, and they laughed as they beat Link into the dust. It did not seem to matter what they used to beat him, whether it was their fists, feet or spears; in fact, one or two Gerudo tore sadistically into the hero with the points of their deadly weapons. It did not matter where they hit. His head was knocked around, his legs torn up, his chest and arms beaten. Blood ran down from cuts on his face and purple-red bruises formed around his stomach. At least fifteen Gerudo joined the scene, and Link could do nothing of it.

When the beating finally came to an end, he remained still. His body was racked with pain and anger. As they started to tie him up, he lashed out at one and left her a broken jaw; the result was just what he expected. As they laid their spears on him, he watched the blood drip down over his eyelids. Not once did he cry out.

They tied his wrists roughly behind his back, using cord instead of rope so it cut deeper into his flesh, and picked him up. The Gerudo Hka'tie watched him, smiling her evil grin, as Link glared up at her through clenched teeth.

He was dragged to the Fortress, his knees torn open and bleeding as they scraped over the rocky ground. As they passed over the bridge he caught sight of the woman he had slain. Two Gerudo dragged her to the side and threw her body into the raging waters below. Silently, Link prayed to the Goddesses to bless the body of the woman.

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He was dragged into the main chamber of the Fortress, still held with his arms behind his back, and forced down onto his knees. From beneath lowered eyelids, he could see the edge of a long, wooden table; red-haired senior Gerudo filed along the side of it in their respectable chairs, watching in cold silence. Giant purple banners, bearing the moon and star, hung from the walls. The only light came from a spot on the roof, and the glimpse of morning light make him think suddenly of Navi.

Where was she? Had they captured Epona? No, Epona was too fast for their horses...but the mare would not leave his side, and Navi would never abandon him...

"Ramil!"

The voice was loud and angry. Link, his eyes on the floor, listened carefully.

"Why have you disturbed the Calling? Who do you bring within our walls? Speak clearly, speak truly!"

"I speak clearly, I speak truly," muttered the Hka'tie. Link could catch the note of annoyance in her voice. "An intruder was found on the path by Magathi. He slew Ofil as he awoke from a slumber. The punishment for murder is high. But the law states, we must bring it to you, the Advisor."

Link hesitated. Something was wrong. The Hka'tie was speaking as though she rather disliked the Advisor, which was understandable - but her tone was bitter and sarcastic, not angry.

"Watch your tongue, Ramil. I could just as easily cut it out as watch it speak. What of you, stranger? Look at me!"

A woman kicked the hero in the stomach and Link, blazing with fury, sought the Advisor's eyes in which to take out his fearsome gaze. But he stopped.

Her eyes were outlined and bright, wholesome green. She was barely as old as himself, perhaps seventeen, her body curved and well-set for her age. There was a gold chain around her hips and her waist was exposed beneath a brown, strapless midriff shirt. Her flaring white pants stopped at her knees, and there were gold bangles at her ankles. Her hair was a stunning crimson-red, but beside her beautiful face, a single lock of blond hair hung.

From her ear, a small golden hoop glittered.

Something tugged faintly in the back of Link's mind. The Fortress....a fellow thief...

The Gerudo guard holding began to lose patience.

"Speak, dog!" she yelled in his ear. Link did not look at her, but kept his bewildered gaze on the Advisor. A thief...spears...Stored Wisdom...the guard lost it.

"Show respect, bastard!" she screamed, and kicked him in the chest.

Link doubled over in pain and fury. From beneath his shirt, the blood-soaked silver moon fell out, glittering in the light.

The Gerudo Advisor froze. Her eyes watched the swirling pendant, transfixed. Trembling, she fell to her knees before him and crawled close to his face. Her hand trembled as she reached out, one finger touching the cold, red-stained surface. Her eyes lifted and their faces, barely inches apart, stared at each other.

"Where did you get this?" she whispered. A drop of blood ran down the length of Link's face.

"A fellow thief," he managed.

Then the pain consumed him and his world went dark.