Chapter 18
Utter Embarrassment
"I can't believe you two would try something like this!" a woman with flowing green hair berated two other women, one possessing hair of fiery red and the other hair of ocean blue.
"But Farore…It's my fault this whole thing started!" the red head exclaimed.
"I don't care, Din, we're not supposed to interfere with worldly matters and you know that!" the woman, now known as Farore retorted. "And what would your story be, oh wise Nayru?" she jibed in a slightly mocking tone.
"Din helped so I figured that gave me every right to help," Nayru replied calmly, twiddling her long hair between her fingers.
Farore fixed them each with a stern glare and was about to say something when Din cut in, "Why are you so against us helping? You know my son is an evil abomination who needs to be stopped at all costs…what makes you so bitter about us breaking a simple rule? Normally you wouldn't care."
"If Zen needs to be stopped then those foolish humans should not have released him in the first place!" she spat back, an uncontrolled rage bubbling beneath the surface.
"You can't hide it from us, there's something keeping you back…" Nayru whispered. "Although, I have yet to determine what…"
"You know nothing!" Farore screamed before turning on her heels and stomping away, accenting each step to make it echo off the walls of their well-furnished dwelling.
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Ever onward they trekked, over the sandy land that separated them from any form of civilization. Link and Nabooru were unable to seek any form of refuge from the blistering sun and violent wind that tormented them so; it felt almost as if the wrath of an angry goddess was upon them.
Link was submitted to helping Nabooru along as well as she was no longer able to walk on her own, he feared her foot wound may have become infected. Supporting her and also having a painful wound definitely wasn't easy to say in the least.
Stupid desert…Stupid Ocarina…Stupid warp song…Stupid heat…Stupid sand… Link's mind proceeded to continue with more childish thoughts such as these each time his oh so creative mind could think up another thing to call stupid. STUPID ZEN!
Did the sun ever set in such a place? It still appeared to the two tired wanderers that it hadn't moved at all from its position high up in the sky…surely a great amount of time had to have passed by this point?
"How much longer do you imagine this will take?" Link questioned Nabooru, seeing as how she was technically the one leading the way.
"About…another half hour or so…" she voiced weakly. "You wouldn't happen to have any water would you?"
"I'm sorry to say that I don't…"
"Oh..." Nabooru mumbled in a disappointed tone.
The remainder of the trip passed onward in silence between the two, each feeling they needed to conserve their energy and use it for walking instead of talking.
Blasted sun! Link found himself thinking as the object spoken of sent rays beaming down on the two. Once they were free of this accursed place, Link was actually toying with the idea of becoming a nocturnal being, sleeping during the day and going about his business at night…of course this was not likely to happen.
Finally the wind died down and they set foot into Gerudo Valley, their hopes were raised considerably as they stumbled closer to the aid they needed.
"Just a little bit longer and we will be there," Nabooru huffed, her thirst for water increased with every step she took.
"Yeah, just a little longer…" Link said sarcastically.
"Lady Nabooru has returned!" came the sudden shout of one of the lookouts. Following this shout, they were instantly greeted by a large group of the Gerudo women, each talking amongst themselves as to what could have caused Link and Nabooru's disheveled condition.
"Nothing happened in my absence did it?" Nabooru queried them.
"Not here, but news from other parts have reached our ears," one of them spoke up.
"Very well then, I expect to hear that later, but right now I want my bath and some water," Nabooru said, hoping they would catch her drift that this was an order.
"Right away, milady!" Several exclaimed at once as they quickly scurried away to do her bidding.
"Don't forget Link over here now!" Nabooru called after them.
In no time, the two weary travelers were marched into Thieves Hideout…Link couldn't help but feel antsy under all the strange glances he was receiving…in fact he caught a few winks several times…He had no idea what they were indicating but he was sure it had something having to do with him being the only male in a society of women…
After a refreshing meal and plenty of water, Link soon found himself sinking into the bubbles of a luxuriously hot bath. His tense muscles relaxed and he laid his head back, hoping to catch up on some well-deserved rest.
…
A few hours later, Link jumped to alertness. How long have I been out? He pondered, glancing around with his tired eyes. The water had gone cold…that was his first indicator that it had to have been a while…Breathing a sigh, he grabbed the towel that had been set out for him and climbed out. Once drying off, he then discovered something…his clothes had gone missing…He knew this for a fact because they should have been on the floor next to the bathtub where he had set them…but they weren't there.
He wrapped the towel around his waist and stomped towards the door agitatedly, he was going to get to the bottom of this little prank and that was all there was to it.
Upon opening the door however, he was immediately greeted by numerous giggles and murmurs such as, "Told you his got muscles…" or, "Look at those abs..."
Link turned crimson as he stared at the three Gerudo women who appeared to have nothing better to do than sit there, stare at him and whisper among them.
"Would you happen to have seen a green tunic lying around?" Link mumbled this question staring down at the floor…so much for a fierce approach…
"Oh yes, I saw that tattered thing…threw it away," the woman to the left spoke up with a mischievous smile tugging at the corner of her mouth.
Link fixed her with a glare, "And what exactly am I supposed to wear!"
"Nothing is always fine with me…" she snickered. "Or I guess you can keep that towel…"
"You better get my clothes back now or something else to wear…" Link snarled.
"You could borrow a few of my outfits if you want," the one in the middle giggled.
"I want my clothes and I want them now!"
The three just sat there giggling, totally unfazed by his outburst…
"Is something wrong?" Nabooru's questioning voice entered through the doorway moments before she did. Upon entering and seeing Link in his current state, she couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at him…Link had the feeling that inside she was struggling to control a fit of laughter threatening to escape. She had obviously freshened up quite a bit, she was now garbed in a silver Gerudo outfit and her foot was swathed in bandages…like Link's leg should have been…but obviously it wasn't…
"No, nothing's wrong, milady!" all three Gerudo women said hurriedly.
Nabooru narrowed her eyes at them as Link exclaimed angrily, "Nothing's wrong? That's a big lie if I ever heard one! You freakin' people stole my clothes!"
"We did nothing of the sort…" one of them spoke up in their defense.
"You three were told to have him a new set of clothes ready for him!" Nabooru snapped.
"But look at those muscles…that face…oh…he's so dreamy…" the all breathed a deep sigh, their eyes roaming over his half-naked body…
Technically Link was lucky…they had at least been generous enough to leave him a towel…
"I don't care! Any other man you can do whatever you want with, but not this one! Get him his clothes now!" Nabooru ordered in an annoyed tone of voice.
The one in the center rolled her eyes, "The clothes are right here, we were just gonna see how long it would take for him to find them. We never meant any harm, we were just toying with him, that's all..." she mumbled, pulling out a stack of green clothing from a small dresser behind her.
She tossed them at Link who in turn, caught it easily. "We patched it up for you and cleaned it…it should look brand new when you put it on…"
Link stomped off back into the bathroom and slammed the door behind him in an attempt to add more emphasis to the fact that he was angry with them.
Before dressing, Link took the opportunity to take a quick glance at his wound…Now that there was no more blood seeping out of it, it actually didn't look all that bad…although it certainly hurt…Maybe when he got out of here he could have a doctor take a closer look at it…even though he was sure they had people skilled in medical related things, he was not letting any of the women touch him or even come within two feet of his perimeter. Zelda was the only woman he loved and he was going to remain totally loyal to her.
Once he was fully dressed, tights and all, he opened the door only to have his sword, shield, and gauntlets shoved into his arms and the three annoying women walked off with their heads hung guiltily as if Nabooru had just given them a serious beat down.
"That was embarrassing…" he mumbled, his cheeks were flushed red.
Nabooru laughed, "There's no men around here as you know, you'll have to excuse their behavior…"
"That's not going to be easy…"
"Well once you hear the information I have for you, I am sure you will be heading out of here so it shouldn't be such a big deal."
"Information, what information?" Link immediately perked up.
"Zen's forces have not attacked here, but apparently the Hylians of all people are suffering…there's trouble in Zora's Domain…they say that the water is reaching extreme temperatures and it's killing them off-…"
"Then are you suggesting I should take a look into that?"
"I've suggested nothing, but I have a feeling if you check that out then maybe a clue to the whereabouts of the next temple will be revealed to you."
"Then I'm on it!" Link exclaimed, obviously ready to leave as his eyes darted towards the open doorway behind Nabooru.
"The eagerness in your eyes is clear, give me time and I will arrange for a pack of provisions to be readied for you," Nabooru said calmly as she turned to do this task.
"That would be great…and Nabooru…thanks…for everything," Link said.
"It was nothing," she shrugged off his thank you and limped out the door to get the supplies.
In no time Link had the provisions and he was set to head to his next destination…Zora's Domain.
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Ugh…that chapter didn't seem all that great to me…but I'd rather hear what you have to say so be sure to review! A big thank you to all who have reviewed thus far: ) Don't forget to check out reviewer replies!
-blondie91
Disclaimer: I still don't own the Legend of Zelda…anything made-up in this fanfic is mine however.