Chapter 5
The moon was just disappearing from sight, when Link reached the top of the Gerudo fortress, still holding tightly to Zelda.
The sun was rising up, creating a new light that made it easier to see. But Link was shocked by what he saw.
The Gerudos were gone. All of them.
He expected there to be a search for he and Zelda, but there was no one in sight.
"Wait here." Link whispered, setting Zelda on her feet.
"But Link-"
"I'll be right back," he grabbed her fingers and smiled, "I promise."
She nodded, and he held on for a little while longer, and then jumped down from the top of the fortress, landing on his feet.
He unsheathed his sword, just in case it was all a trap, and looked around nervously, waiting to be jumped by a pack of Gerudos.
The wind picked up, and Link shivered, tugging at his tunic.
"Link!" Zelda hissed.
He turned, sword ready, and saw Zelda crawling from her place.
"What is it?" He asked, looking around.
"I heard something, I think someone is inside."
Link nodded, and headed through one of the openings, and listened carefully. He didn't hear anything, but went further into the fortress.
The stone walls were covered in different colored masks, and reminded Link of his travel to Termina in search of Navi. He half expected one of the masks to come to life, but they stayed in their spots on the wall.
Down another corridor, and Link still didn't hear a sound. He was starting to think that Zelda had only heard the wind when he did hear something.
He stopped, and pressed his back up against the wall, listening more carefully.
Someone was banging on something metal.
"Is anyone out there!" A familiar voice asked loudly.
Link cautiously stepped out from his hiding spot, and rounded the mountain of crates to see Nabooru behind bars, banging helplessly against them.
"Nabooru? Why are you locked up?" Link asked, sheathing his sword.
"No time to explain Link, you must let me out." She gripped the bars, looking out at Link.
He could see that her eyes were filled with fear as he neared her.
"Well I have to find the keys." He muttered to himself, touching the lock.
"Devika has them." Nabooru sighed. "Don't you have a bomb?"
"Devika. Did she lock you up?"
"Yes Link, she did. Now please-"
"But why? I thought all Gerudos stuck together." Link fumbled around in his tunic for his bomb bag while he spoke.
"I thought so too."
Link dropped his empty bomb bag to the ground.
"I used my last one to free myself."
Nabooru rolled her eyes and thought for a second.
"Link, you have to get out of here and go back to the castle before-"
"I'm not leaving you." He argued.
"Link the castle-"
"I'll be right back." Link turned and headed back the way he had come.
Zelda was still waiting in her hiding place when Link returned.
"Zelda, come on." He motioned for her.
"What is it?" She asked, coming to the ledge.
"It's Nabooru. Jump, I'll catch you." He held out his arms.
"Wait…Nabooru?"
"Yes, Nabooru."
"But she's a Sage, why is she here?"
"Devika locked her up, I don't know why. Come on I'll catch you."
"But if she's a Sage, why can't she use her power to free herself?"
That stumped Link for a minute.
The wind howled, and whipped through the fortress, and Link shivered again.
"I don't know." He answered, holding out his arms again.
Zelda, who was shivering from the chill too, jumped into Link's arms.
He felt her small body shivering, and pulled her closer, trying to warm her. But Link was cold too, and couldn't offer much heat.
Nabooru was waiting impatiently for Link to return.
The castle is under attack at this very moment. If Link doesn't return, then the Gerudos will take over the kingdom, and Devika will be one step closer to her goal for ruling Hyrule. Nabooru thought.
When she heard Link's footsteps, she wasted no time.
"Link you must go to the castle now! If you don't-"
Nabooru stopped talking when she was Link carrying Zelda as he entered the room once again.
They were both shivering, and Zelda's dress was ripped somewhere at the waist. She seemed shaken somewhat.
"Princess Zelda? Did the attack already begin?" Nabooru asked with concern, clinging to the bars.
"Attack? What are you talking about?" Zelda asked as Link set her on the ground.
Nabooru's eyes widened.
"Tell me Princess, have you been here all night with Link?"
"The Gerudos kidnapped me, and Link followed. Yes, we have been here through the night. Why? What is wrong?" Zelda asked, coming to the bars.
"You two must leave, and go somewhere safe. The castle has probably already been taken over. Now you two are Hyrule's only hope."
Link joined Zelda.
"What do you mean the castle has already been taken over?" He asked.
First there was news of Devika, Ganondorf's fiancé, coming into power, and now this news of an attack on the castle. There had to be a connection.
"Did Devika reveal to you who she was?" Nabooru asked, turning her attention to Link.
"Yes, Ganondorf's betrothed."
"She is also the new appointed leader of the Gerudos."
"But she is only a Gerudo, the castle can defeat the Gerudos." Zelda said with confidence.
"Princess, you and Link still hold your pieces of the Triforce, correct?"
Zelda pulled off her glove, and showed Nabooru the Triforce symbol on the back of her hand, and Link nodded.
"I have my piece as well."
"And Ganondorf's piece?" Nabooru asked.
"Oh no. Don't tell me Devika has it." Link groaned, kicking the stone floor.
"I'm afraid she does. Her plans are to take over Hyrule, and then with the power of the Sacred Kings, she'll-"
"Sacred Kings?" Link asked, shifting his weight.
"You do not know the tale?" Nabooru asked, annoyed already that Link didn't flee when he had the chance.
"No."
"I do." Zelda offered quietly, looking down at her feet.
Link watched her as she stared, her eyes filling with tears. He reached out, and took hold of her hand, stroking the back of it with his thumb.
It hurt him terribly to see her upset. He wished that he hadn't been so stupid, and that he could have just kept the Gerudo from kidnapping her.
Now, her father's kingdom was being taken over, and Zelda didn't know if her father or Impa were safe. Besides Link, those were the only two people she loved.
"We have little time, but I will explain." Nabooru sat down cross legged on the floor, and Link and Zelda followed.
"Hundreds of years ago, there were four kings who governed the four corners of the earth. Their names were Hiroshi the generous, Kin the golden, Mamoru of the earth, and Raidon the strong.
Hiroshi was a gentle spirit, who was more concerned with the people then he was with himself. He always made decisions based on what was best for his people.
Kin was a very rich king. Everything in his castle was made of gold, even his clothing. He was said to be very spoiled and greedy.
Mamoru had a very small kingdom, because he wished to preserve the nature and culture around him. He never stayed in his castle, but went out among the people and the wildlife to learn from them.
Raidon was a brute. He fought in every war you can imagine, and always came out victorious, until one war came along.
This was the war of good and evil, and the four kings teamed up to fight the evil, but in the end, they lost.
The world was in ruins, which was why the Goddesses first came to Hyrule to restore the peace and life. That was when the Triforce was created, and evil was thought to be eliminated.
Before the Goddesses returned to the Heavens, they honored the kings by leaving behind a sacred item from each, stating that when the time came, the one who would bring peace to Hyrule again would find the items, and would be granted one wish.
However, if evil finds the items, their wish for destruction and chaos will bring an end to the world as we know it."
Nabooru sighed heavily, and got on her knees, gripping the bars. She was inches from Link's face, her eyes still filled with fear.
"Devika is the evil one, and her quest is to find the sacred items, and make the world her own. She is very powerful, she has stripped we Sages of our powers."
"Nabooru," Link touched her hand, "will you help us."
"I can be of no help to you Link. My powers are useless."
"But you can fight with us. We must recruit the Zoras and the Gorons and the Kokiri, and then we can stand up to Devika and the Gerudos."
Nabooru thought for a minute, running a hand through her hair.
"Alright Link, I will help."
She got to her feet, and Link did as well.
"Nabooru?" Zelda asked quietly, still sitting on the ground.
"Yes Princess?" Nabooru asked gently.
Zelda looked up at Nabooru, tears streaming down her cheeks. Her blue eyes were troubled.
"Would Devika…kill my father?"
Link looked down at Zelda, his heart breaking at the sight of her tears. He couldn't stand her tears.
On the inside, his anger and rage was growing. If Zelda' father was harmed, Link would kill every Gerudo, and he would show no mercy.
"I don't know Princess." Nabooru confessed.
"Nabooru-"
Before Link could finish his sentence, a purple colored energy field surrounded the locked door to Nabooru's prison, and the lock shot off of the door.
Link looked down at Zelda as she lowered her hands, breathing deeply.
Nabooru stared down at Zelda as she regained her lost breath.
"Thank you Princess." She exited the prison. "I will go to the Gorons, Darunia and I have been friends for many years, and I will ask for their help."
She looked back at Link and Zelda. Link was looking down at Zelda, worried as she still struggled a bit to regulate her breathing.
"I will find you." She whispered, and then, disappeared.
Link kneeled down in front of Zelda, and pressed his palms to her cheeks.
"Are you alright?" He asked, his voice filled with concern.
"It's just been awhile…since I've used my power." Zelda said, looking up and into Link's eyes.
He wiped her tears away, and pulled her into an embrace.
"Zelda, I will make everything right. I promise." He whispered into her hair.
"I love you Link." She whimpered.
"I love you too Zelda."