Disclaimer: I don't own the legend of Zelda


She led him down to the ground floor of the fortress and out around the back of it, up a hill that gave way to a long stretch of sand with a myriad of large targets and wooden structures.

She left him little time to marvel at them, however, leading him through another doorway back into the fortress.

When they entered, he inhaled deeply at the familiar scent of hay and horses.
Despite the natural darkness and chill of the stone room, none of the animals seemed bothered.

"I'm sure you don't need me to explain that these chambers are the stables." Zanora said, knocking on a wooden beam of one of the pens.
From a doorway in the wall, a girl entered, a wooden bucket in one emaciated hand and a brush in the other.

Zanora beckoned the girl with the brush and bucket over with a wave. The girl brushed her hair away from her large golden eyes. Though the action proved futile when it all come falling back, covering one eye from sight.

"Lady Zanora! Sav'otta! It is nice to see you. What can I do for ya?" She beamed, Her eyes were bright as her smile despite the sickly tint of her skin.
"Nanya, this is Link." Zanora introduced "He'll be helping you out today."
The girl, Nanya, looked between them as he did a double take. "He is?" "I am?"

Zanora nudged him with her shoulder, giving him a sly grin. "Yeah, I can't be bothered to babysit you, and Nanya and the other stable hands could benefit from another pair of hands once in while." She said, turning to Nanya. "If you're up for watching him that is."
"Depends," Nanya shrugged, turning to him. "You know anything 'bout stable work?"
He nodded, and despite the fact that he had little choice in the matter either way, the prospect of working down here sounded appealing. "I live… I lived, on a farm. It's in my blood." He said proudly.
"Well then," She tucked the brush under her arm and offered her hand. "Welcome aboard."

"Right then," Zanora dusted her hands together. "Nanya, I'll leave him under your watch. I'll be by later to collect him." She waved a hand, disappearing through the doorway.

"Well," Nanya smiled, motioning to a handful of brooms leaning against the wall. "Lets get sweeping shall we?"
"Right."


They'd swept one chamber clean and she directed him to another. One that was meant to be for cuccos.
But instead of roaming amongst them they were stacked along the wall in cages made of wood and wire.

"Well you must be somethin' special to catch a girl like Zanora's attention. Good to see she aint the possessive type."

He paused mid sweep "What do you mean?"
"Well I a lotta times vai get real possessive over their fellas, seeing as how there's a fair bit more vai here than voe, if you get my drift."

He flushed and sputtered slightly. Nanya paused and looked up at him, leaning on her broom. "You alright there pal?"
"It's- you don't know?"
"Don't know what?"
"I'm not- She's not- We're not…. I'm her slave."

Nanya blinked. "What? That doesn't sound like her to keep a slave."
"It's a long story."

Nanya resumed her sweeping, shooting him an inquisitive look. "Well we got all day, I'm all ears if you're willing to talk."
"I… I'm just surprised you didn't know."
She shrugged. "Well I find myself alone during most of my shifts, and since not many people are jumping to speak with me, gossip is hard to come by."

"Why?"
She outstretched her broom and playfully knocked him with it. "Don't go changing the subject." She chided. "But tell you what, you tell me your sob story, and I'll tell ya mine."

He gave his boom another push across the floor. "I was charged with keeping a delivery safe, but we were ambushed and when they ran they took me with them to keep me quiet. Next thing I know, I'm rotting in a cell. I refused to cooperate." He explained. "They were going to kill me, I think. But Zanora talked em out of it and she took me as her own instead."

Nanya clicked her tongue, shaking her head with a soft smile. "Now that sounds like Zanora."
"Yeah. They would have left me for the Leavers if she hadn't stepped in."
"Sounds like her," Nanya smiled. "So what's it like, livin' under her rule? She treat ya nicely?"
"It's alright," He shrugged. "Wish I was home, but it could be a lot worse I guess."
"Yeah, no place like home." She agreed. "But, considering the situation you're in, you probably won the pot. She's a kind soul." She said.

"My turn then, eh?" She leaned her broom against the wall, swiping the hair from her face. "When I was 'bout eight or so, a rather daring Poe invaded the fortress. It got my mother while she slept, and nearly got me. I was saved when some of the others came to recruit my mom in the hunt for it. And I've been sickly ever since." Her gaze fell on her arm. "That's why nobody ever wants to be near me. They think I'm cursed because of the encounter and they don't want to risk exposing themselves to evil magic like that."

So that was why she seemed so unnaturally gaunt. Though he never did hear of Poes cursing people like that.
But then again, what would a rural farm boy know about the habits of malicious ghosts?

"Zanora didn't seem to bat an eye." He commented, thinking back on the friendly way she'd talked to Nanya.
"No… No Zanora's not afraid. In fact she's often the one that comes to my side when I have a bad night. Sometimes we'll even get together and she tries to fix me. …. Never does work but I'm immensely grateful nonetheless. Personally I like to consider her a right good friend." She picked up her broom again. "My earlier point still stands though."

"What?"
"That you must be somethin' special to catch her eye."
"Oh," He gave another halfhearted sweep. "Honestly I think she just felt sorry for me."
"Maybe." Nanya shrugged. "But she's awful clairvoyant now and again."

"She said something about that to me before. That she sometimes has strange dreams."
"Uhuh. It's one of the reasons she's so revered. Her dreams tend to mean things. She's done more than a few favors to the tribe by figuring out what they mean. Like this one time a few years back, she was telling everyone she had a dream where everything was dark and the winds had threatened to blow her away. Very next day a sandstorm pretty much destroyed the marketplace. But since she'd warned us about her dream, everybody had already been hunkered down and safe."
"So that's why people call her Lady sometimes?"
"Yup. Rumor has it she was blessed by the goddess as a baby." She said. "And to be frank I wouldn't be surprised if its true."

She took his broom from him and left him for a moment, and returned without them. "But I already know about Zanora, and you'll learn soon enough." She said, stalking over to on wall of cages. "I wanna know 'bout you. I've never gotten to talk to a Hylian like you before. What's it like out east? Got any family out there?" She opened one of the cages, and the Cucco inside jumped at the chance to be free.

"Just three in my family aside from me." He answered. He took her lead and began opening cages "It's a lot greener in Hyrule than it is here."
"No duh. Pretty sure Death Mountains got more green than here." She laughed. "You said you grew up on a farm yeah? You guys got a lot of animals?"
"The usual. Horses, cows, and Cuccos." He jumped back as a particularly aggressive Cucco made to bite at his hand. "I have my own little orchard though. Grandfather let me plant my own apple trees."

"Oh lucky." She pouted. "I'd kill for my own apple tree."

He'd found throughout his time in the stables that he enjoyed Nanya's company greatly.
She had an easy smile and a laid back air about her that almost made him feel like he wasn't so far from home. He found himself joking and laughing easily until Zanora had appeared in the doorway in the middle of a laughing fit between them.

Nanya brightened at her presence. "Lady Zanora! Good to see you."
"Good to see you smile." Zanora said softly before giving him an appraising look. "He didn't give you no trouble did he?"
"Nah, He was actually pretty useful." Nanya beamed. "You can drop him off again anytime you want."
Zanora gave her a grin. "Good to know. I'm here to take him back now, if you don't mind."

Zanora and Nanya had said quick goodbyes. But when Nanya turned to him she took hold of his hand and gave it a firm shake with a strength belied by her fragile look.

As they crossed back into the fortress, he ventured to say something. "Zanora, is Nanya... Is Nanya really cursed?"
She nodded dolefully. "Yes. Whenever I work on her, I can feel an evil presence within her, fighting me and gnawing at her lifeforce."
"She told me you help her.
"I do what I can for her, but I don't know enough about dark magic to really help her."
His gaze fell to his shuffling feet. "That's terrible."
"It's not so bad though, Nanya is a strong one. To be honest, nobody expected her to live a year past the attack, but look at he now. Sure she's on the frail side and she oft has to rest, but overall she can pull her weight and keeps going."
"She shouldn't have to be so alone though." He said, brow furrowed. "She can't help it."
To his surprise Zanora let out a small laugh. "Well well, It seems that you've taken a liking to her."
"She's nice." He agreed. "That's why it's so terrible she's so alone."
"She's got a sister, She's not totally alone." She pointed out. "But either way, complaining to me won't help her."

He stopped, a though coming to him. "Maybe it will."
She slowed and turned to him. "What do you mean?" She inquired. "I can't force anyone to spend time with her."
"Yes you can. And you have. Me." He said somewhat eagerly. "I wouldn't mind helping her out in the stables again."
"What, you want me to set you up for the same shifts as her or something?"
"I guess so, yeah."

Her lips turned up into a small smile that was as soft as her gaze. "Well alright, I'll see what I can do." She said softly. "I don't think anyone will object to that. I know I don't. She could use a good friend."


She came to him the next morning, much as he'd become accustomed to. She set her tray down upon the low table and witha flourish flashed a piece of parchment in his face. "You got your wish." She said cheerily. "This is a schedule for your new shifts at the stables."

He took the paper happily, but his smile fell as he inspected it. "Do you um, happen to have another copy? I can't read this."
She shook her head and he set the paper down. "Sorry, but this is what they gave me."
He sat on the fl oor with a heavy thump, and she dropped crosslegged to the floor, swiping a fig off the tray and biting into it all in one smooth motion. "Y'know, that's something I've been thinking about. You've been here for a little over a fortnight now. So perhaps It's time I civilized you. And that should start with learning to read I should think."

"I can read! And I am civilized!""
"Sure, you can read your language." She leaned over and tapped the parchment with a tinted nail. "But you can't read Gerudo script. And jeez chill out I know your not some savage, I'm only toying with you." She pushed a fig towards him. "But hurry and eat up. A proper bath is way past due for you."

He looked to the bowl and sponge sitting upon the shelf that he'd been given in his first days. "Right now? I only spent a few hours in the stables I can't smell that bad."
She chortled. "True you do smell a bit like the stables, but I mean a real bath. Dunk yourself in the water kind." She explained. "It's a bit of a trek to the bathes, so we'll be gone most of the day."

He ate quickly, at her nagging, and she led him to the base of the fortress and to a wagon that was filled with Gerudo young and old.
The woman at the head of the wagon waved at them. "Zanora! I was starting to think you weren't coming. Yosha is the only one were waiting on now, but she should be here any second."
Zanora urged him into the wagon and he sat uncomfortably between her and another, much more muscular woman.
"We're going to the Gerudo valley, There's an outpost there and the Zora's river runs through it." Zanora explained, as if she knew he'd been going to ask. "Its about a four hour ride from here, so get comfy."

A few minutes later another woman came running up and once she had climbed into the wagon, the woman at the reins got them moving.


He was glad for several reasons when the wagon finally came to a stop at the edge of the a bridge.
first off it was for his legs, which hadn't fared well squashed amongst a cartful of women, and second was because it meant an blessed end to the slew of embarrassing and invasive questions he'd been subjected to during the ride.

Zanora prodded him on, pointing at some point further along the canyon wall where the other women seemed to be headed. "Up ahead."
They came to a large, twisting set of ramps that reminded him of the different platforms in the city. The stairs led far down to the bottom of the valley, and at it's bottom, in the river he could make out a few dozens moving dots.

When they got to the bottom she led him closer to the edge of the water, and he froze when she grabbed the edge of her top and began pulling it over her head. He looked away, but found that that did nothing to help.
All around them the other women from their ride had begun stripping down to their small clothes and every person young and old in the water splashed about mostly naked.

He brought his hands up to shield his eyes and hide his burning face and Zanora snorted beside him. "Whats the matter? You can't go in the water still dressed." Her casual words did nothing to mask the amusement in her voice. "C'mon don't be so ridiculous nobody but the infants get to go naked."

When he refused to budge, she slipped her fingers under the hem of his shirt, causing him to jump. "Oh come on, I'm not going to wait all day for you to get over yourself. Either get undressed or I'll do it for you."
"Okay okay!"
She directed him towards rows and rows of woven baskets and dumped both their clothes inside and empty own.

He followed her nervously into the water, trying look anywhere but the unnervingly underdressed women. It didn't help any that he seemed to garner twice as many stares as usual.
"Loosen up," Zanora chided. "You look more tightly wound than a Skullwalltula that's just spotted its prey."
"Well this isn't exactly normal!" He whispered hoarsely. "It's downright indecent for me to be here."
"Well by our standards its not indecent for you to be here, just unusual since most voe come to bathe on a different day since most vai are pretty possessive." She shrugged. "I suppose you Hyruleans are pretty prudish huh? I bet you've never even seen a womans bare ankle before you came here." She teased. "Don't worry about the stares and don't worry about staring, just stick to your own business and you'll be fine."
She pressed a silver of soap into his hand. "Now wash up."

"Its so shallow, is there anywhere deeper we could go?" He asked, noting that the water didn't quite reach his waist where ever they went.
"No, all the water in the perimeter is about the same level." She knelt down into the water and motioned to the fences at either end of the river that ran the width of it. "It's too deep to stand in past the fences, and there was many rapids through the valley that not even Zora use this part of the river." She explained. "Just kneel down like I am and you'll be fine."

Long after both of them had washed they had stayed, Zanora happily conversing amongst her peers while he stood awkwardly behind her.

Every head turned at the sound of screams coming from both child and adult.

A young girl, probably no older than five if he had to guess, had climbed up the edge of the fence that separated them from the deeper waters and the rapids downstream. Another, slightly older girl had produced the first scream, and a woman who looked to be the childs mother had given the second. The pair yelled at her, demanding she come back down before they made her. The little girls face twisted up displeasure but she made to climb down.

The girl started to lose her balance. Beside him Zanora gasped and the mother screamed again as she slipped, grabbing onto the edge of the fence and dangling above the water. He found himself bounding through the water before he'd quite realized what he was doing. The child fell into the water with a shriek of her own that was quickly cut off by the water as she was pulled under.
He hurled himself up onto the fence and pushed off, landing in the water a few feet behind the little girl, who screamed and thrashed wildly as she bobbed in the stream.

He wasn't the best swimmer- In fact it had been a popular taunt from his peers during the summer months- but compared to these women of the desert, he may as well have been a Zora. He stroked hard to catch up with the girl and snatched her round her waist with one arm as the other worked to keep them both afloat.

"I've got you." He told her in broken breaths. "It'll be okay." He said, though he himself wasn't entirely convinced by his words. This was not a part of the Zora River he knew. There were no overhanding branches to grab or roots seeking to soak in gentle waters one could use to pull themselves out with.

"Link!" Zanoras voice called over the rushing waters. He looked to the edge of the river, where she was atop a horse was running very uneasily on the thin strip of ground between the river and the canyon wall. Another woman sat in front of her, controlling the reins while Zanora held out a halberd over the water.

The woman spurred the horse on faster until they were some distance ahead of him. The woman yanked the reins, bringing the horse to an abrupt halt. Zanora slipped off the horse and knelt over the water, holding onto the top f the halberd. "Grab on!"

He did what he could to push them closer as the increasing current would let him and he grabbed on, jarring his arm painfully and pulling Zanora dangerously forward.
"Grab on," He ordered the little girl, who was all to glad to obey. She grabbed onto the poll with what strength her small arms had and the other woman took hold of the halberd from behind Zanora and together they pulled. Zanora let go of the pole to grab hold of the child from her precarious perch and pulled her none too gently away from the water And He twisted round to grab on with his now free hand.

The other womans foot slipped against the sandy rock as she pulled, sending her to her rear and him backwards into the water. He sputtered and flailed, barely hearing Zanora scream his name. She sounded panicked, and one look ahead told him why. Ahead the river dipped, giving way to the rapids she had told him about.

Zanora ran, her bare feet flying against the rough ground. Desperate, she threw out her arm, and the water ahead iced over at the top in a jagged, even line. The ice looked thin and fragile, but when he was pushed against it by the current, it held. He clung to it, despite the burning feeling the magic gave him and slowly pulling himself along the length of it until he came close to the bank, where Zanora knelt and held out her hand.
He took her offered hand and pushed off the ice, helping her pull him out of the water.

He rolled onto his back, letting his head rest in her lap and closed his eyes, panting to catch his breath. His eyes snapped open, however, when Zanora ran her hand through his dripping hair. "Are you alright? Do you need medical attention?" She looked down at him, her large eyes filled with concern.
He gave a weak nod in answer and made to sit up. She helped him up and offered him a wary smile. "Wanted out so bad you jumped into the river, huh?" She teased, albeit halfheartedly. She untied the sheer wrapping from around her waist and threw it over his shoulders. He drew it tighter around him as they stood and began walking back to the outpost.
"Should've known I couldn't get out that easy." He joked.

She nudged him with her elbow and placed her hand upon his back, and he sighed at the gentle heat that spread from her palm. "Thanks, that feels great."
"Don't mention it."

When they got back, the mother and the older girl both preened over the little girl, alternating between expressing their relief at her safety and berating her for her carelessness; and the woman who'd been on the horse with Zanora was slowly guiding it up the ramp.
The mother and girl stopped their preening as they neared.

The little girl padded up to him, letting out a barrage of foreign words that sounded like thanks before darting behind the older girl. The girls mother approached them and he stiffened as she pulled him into an embrace. "Sarsqo, sarsqo! My daughter owes you her life. Should you ever need a witness, we are honor bound to help you." She released him, and herded the two children towards the lines of baskets.
It seemed that every pair of eyes was on him again but the gazes seemed different, less invasive than before.

"C'mon, let's go grab our clothes, we can probably wait around the outpost until we can catch a wagon." She took hold of his hands and pulled his arms out in front of him, inspecting the angry red skin where he had touched her hastily formed ice. "Does it hurt? I can probably heal some of that while we wait."

"What does sarsqo mean?" He inquired.
"In your language, It means thank you."


When they returned to his room, he all but collapsed onto his bed with a tired sigh. They hadn't had to wait too long for another wagon to show up and the ride back had been blissfully quite compared to the ride there.

Zanora picked up the brush she had bought him from the shelf and knelt next to the bed. "Sit up, your hair is a wreck." He obliged, somewhat grudgingly, and took the brush.
She fidgeted with her nails. "What you did out there... I can't decide whether it was incredibly selfless or incredibly stupid."
"Probably both." He mused, running the brush back through his hair. "Can't any of you people swim?"
"Gee, you think that living amongst all this sand we should all be swimming like Zora!" She rolled her eyes. "Most of the river running through the valley is too rough for most fish even. So no, Gerudo can't swim."

"...Why did you come after me? You could've fallen in yourself." She flushed at the sudden question, looking away.
"Well I couldn't very well leave you to get bashed up and drowned now could I? Not after all the strings I had to pull for you." She said curtly. Then, lightly scratching at her forearm she said with a sigh "I... I don't know, I panicked I guess and just ran. I just... I couldn't let that happen to you, okay?" She sighed again, venturing to look at him. "Don't expect me to say it in front of the others, but you were really courageous out there. I respect that."

He offered her a tired smile and held out the brush. "Here, your hairs not looking to fancy either."
She took the brush, but shook her head softly. "It's okay, I'll take care of mine when I get back to my room." She stood and gently set the brush back on the shelf. She bent quickly, pressing her lips to the crown of his head for one fleeting moment before heading for the door. "Get some rest, okay? I'll see you tomorrow."


A guide to known Gerudo words

Voe=Man/men

Vai= woman/women

Sarsqo= Thank you

Sav'otta= good morning

Sav'aag= good day

Sav'saaba= good eveing

Sav'org= good bye

Vasaag= This seems to be a greeting used by shop keepers

Vaba= Grandmother