Oi... well, after almost four months, here's a chapter for you. If you're still interested (though I suppose if you weren't, you wouldn't even be reading this). And, even four months late, it's shorter than I wanted it to be. But that's because my computer crashed and I had to rewrite a lot and got discouraged. Chapter 16 will be up Sunday though, promise! Oh, and a note to those who may have forgotten some of the things that have happened to this point: chapter 16 will include a short in-story "summary" of the events thus far, so you don't have to bother rereading 14 chapters. I owe you that much, right? And I promise I'll try not to let this happen again... sorry. Just had lots of stuff happening in life, ya know?
P.S: In case you recognize a certain character from this chapter from another Zelda (not OoT), please don't spoil it for others in your reviews. Thanks!
The booming voice of King Umbar Fait of Hyrule pulled Erryn from her unconscious slumber. Several feet away, she saw Impa lifting herself from the ground and followed suit. Both Sheikah, barring several minor cuts and bruises, along with favorably-sized lumps to the head, were fortunately spared injury.
By the time Erryn had regained her bearings, King Fait was in close conference with Ambassador Dorcas and the head of the castle guard, High Lieutenant Daphnes Nohansen. The lieutenant's armor was scorched, patches of his skin displaying minor burns. He had led the group of reinforcements that had been incinerated by the old Gerudo's blast and was the only non-Sheikah survivor of the attack. Those four Sheikah had already given chase to the fugitive Gerudo. A score of fresh guards stood at the throne room entrance, awaiting orders from their commander.
The three men conferred for several minutes longer. King Fait was obviously leading the discussion—giving orders to the other two. Dorcas appeared to argue briefly with the king, but Fait seemed in no mood for insubordination, and the ambassador's protests were quickly quelled. Nohansen, in contradiction, was the perfect picture of deference, nodding respectfully and offering no resistance. When the king finished his orders, both men bowed, though the High Lieutenant slightly more deeply.
Erryn's eyes followed Dorcas as he exited the throne room, obviously put into a sour mood from his orders. The more alert of the guards in his way stepped smartly aside; the others earned themselves a sharp shove. When she turned back, Erryn found Nohansen standing before her. She was only sixteen years of age, and he in his early twenties, so she felt awkward as he dropped to one knee before her, as always.
"Honored Sheikah, His Highness has relayed to me his wishes for the recapture of the escaped Gerudo. If I may, I will detail your part of the plan."
"Thank you again for your words of healing last week, great sage. My daughter owes you her life."
Rauru, eldest sage, and Keeper of the Temple of Time, gently lifted the kneeling woman before him from the ground. "Please, Dora, why must you insist on such pompous titling? I am 'Rauru'—just 'Rauru'—and I am no great healer. The Goddesses are the great healers; I am simply their voice."
"And I thank the Goddesses every minute of every day for their gift," the somewhat-ragged looking peasant woman replied. "But still, I wish I had some real way to repay you."
The old sage laughed, touching Dora reassuringly on the shoulder. "You bake the best cookies in Hyrule—better than His Highness' own baker—and have given me enough to feed me for weeks. And regardless, I desire no repayment for helping those in need."
Dora clasped the Keeper's hand, tears in her eyes. "You are a blessing to us all, Rauru."
Rauru watched the woman as she left and said his farewells to the final straggling townspeople leaving after the day's service. Within an hour, the other members of the temple had left, and Rauru was alone. He idled around, tending the temple gardens outside, straightening and dusting furniture and objects of worship inside. He stopped in the gardens to greet the Gossip Stone—an ornately carven oval statue with a single large eye. Though he felt foolish for it, he always got the feeling that the statue listened to him when he spoke to it. Finally, duties done for the day, the Keeper stood behind the temple altar, hand and eyes upon the blue stone that had, as far back as he could remember, resided there. It was larger and wider than he, and bore a carving the three golden triangles that served as the symbol of the three Goddesses and as the royal family's crest—the Triforce. He knew it blocked access to another room—it was obvious by simply viewing the outside architecture of the temple—but no power had ever been able to move it. He spent many days wondering at what this azure barrier guarded, but knew that it would open only for one worthy of that knowledge.
Looking up from his reverie, Rauru's eye was caught by an owl perched in the window, larger by far than any bird he had ever seen. "Kaepora Gaebora, old friend. It has been some time, now. How have you been?"
The great owl clicked its beak in greeting. "Quite well, friend Keeper. Quite busy, but quite well. And yourself?"
"The same, though I feel my age gaining on me each day." Rauru was not surprised to hear the owl respond to him—indeed, they had been friends for many years. The bird claimed to be the reincarnation of the original Keeper and architect of the Temple of Time. He certainly possessed the knowledge to back up such a claim. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" Rauru inquired.
"A favor—one of grave importance. If you never acquiesce me again, at least grant me this."
The old sage recognized the conviction in the owl's tone. "You are wise beyond me, Kaepora, and I trust your word. Speak your favor."
Gaebora face contorted into what could only be assumed to be a smile, considering the limitations of a beak. "Thank you, friend. Within moments, you will be visited by two Gerudo. I ask only one thing—help them."
Rauru furrowed his brow. "An ambiguous request—but you have my word."
The owl clicked his beak again and bobbed his head. "Then I must be on my way. Thank you again, Keeper Rauru. I shall look forward to our next meeting, however distant."
As Gaebora flew away, Rauru could not help but wonder at his words, though he knew he had not long to wait until their meaning became apparent.
As if summoned by the thought, the sound of running feet drifted through the open doorway, followed by two frantic Gerudo. The female entered first, a lithe young girl, certainly no more than fifteen or sixteen years of age, though obviously a seasoned fighter. She was wrapped hastily from her underarms to her waist in a white cape which the Keeper assumed belonged to her companion. He was larger and older, though probably no more than a few years, and had a tangible air of power around him. The instant his foot stepped into the temple, a female voice ripped through Rauru's head. No—three female voices, perfectly synchronized.
He must not enter!
Shaking his head, Rauru forced the voices from his mind. He would keep his word to Kaepora.
The girl raced behind the altar and, realizing there was no other exit, dropped to her knees in front of him. "Holy one, I beg—"
Rauru raised a hand to cut her off. "I have already been warned of your coming."
With these words, the Gerudo gasped and turned to run, assuming this meant he would turn them in.
"I will help you," he said, and they turned back. He pointed to the back corner of the room, to his left. "You will find that the wall there will move. There is a small path that will bypass Castle Town and lead you to Hyrule Field, though you will have to scale the town wall."
The female Gerudo looked to her companion as if wondering if they should trust him. The male looked into Rauru's eyes for the briefest of seconds, and then nodded to the girl. She looked up to him.
"Thank you, holy one."
They hurried to the indicated wall, feeling around until it swung backward and permitted them passage, closing behind them as they escaped. Mere seconds later, Ambassador Dorcas and High Lieutenant Nohansen hurried into the temple, followed by a score of knights. Dorcas addressed the Keeper brusquely.
"Have two Gerudo come this way?"
Rauru was a man of the Temple, and no matter the situation, could not lie. "They have."
"Which way did they go?"
Rauru pointed back out the door toward town. The path that the Gerudo took did parallel the direction he now indicated, so technically, he did not lie.
Dorcas' eyes followed the sage's direction. "Yet we did not pass them on our way here," the ambassador observed, not without a hint of suspicion in his voice. After a moment of consideration, he turned to Nohansen. "We shall pursue them into the Field. To the stables."
The knights filed out of the temple, followed by the two officers. Rauru's voice called back the High Lieutenant. "Daphnes!"
Nohansen turned back to Rauru, who descended from the altar toward him. Dorcas also twisted his gaze back, an irritated expression on his face, but then turned and followed the knights out.
"I take it you will not be attending services for some time?" Rauru asked the lieutenant, a small smile resting under his white moustache.
"I am afraid not, Keeper, although I pray that my return is not too far delayed."
"As do I, Daphnes. Be safe, my friend."
Lieutenant Nohansen bowed to Rauru, then left to rejoin his men.