Welcome to chapter 2! I had a skeleton of this chapter sitting and finally filled it out. If it feels like it's moving a little quick (sorry if so), I'm intending to stretch this fanfic as long as you guys want it to go. don't worry queens
Thank you to the few reviews so far! I appreciate it. to answer a question, yes, Midna is in her Twili form. I think the other Hylian races exist but not in the context of any game, they're just there lol (so there isn't some twilight alternate universe, that would make this fanfic way more complicated than I was planning for it to be). They're just kinda existing in no particular Zelda universe :)
Anyway, enjoy!
"Are you implying an execution, your majesty?"
The throne room fell into a hush, the only sound being the rattling of heavy chains tightly bound around the wrists and ankles of a dirty, dark-eyed man. A guard stood to either side of the man, tightly gripping the chains in their armor-covered hands, lower faces covered by metal faceguards.
A wiry, mustached man standing off to the side of the throne looked hesitantly from the prisoner to the woman on the throne. He wrung his hands together, before wiping one clammy hand on his embroidered tunic.
He cast another glance at the woman, whose misty, grey eyes were narrowed. Her entire visage was rarely seen in public, her lower face typically covered by a thin veil, but now in the emptiness of the throne room, her mouth was pulled tight, a flat line that betrayed no emotion. Her gaze was fixed on the kneeling man in front of her, who glowered right back.
The older man cleared his throat. "A-an execution? May I confirm -"
The woman's hand twitched slightly on the throne's arm, something which the man caught, his question faltering. Her voice was calm. "I said nothing about an execution, governor. Transfer him to the Gerudo Prison and get him out of my sight."
"Bu-but - your majesty, if I may -"
The thin, older man's protests were ignored by the two guards, who were roughly pulling the prisoner to his feet and dragging him away before the governor could get another complaint in. The woman on the throne stood straight, walking down the few steps that elevated the throne on its low platform, turning towards the doors behind the throne to its left.
The governor swallowed, restarting his stammering sentence. "You-your majesty -"
"I cannot discuss the stringencies of my decision now, Governor Oslo." The woman turned to look at the man before she opened one door, the heavy wood groaning slightly. Her brow remained slightly furrowed, head held high in regality. "Please send your grievances to me through a letter."
The governor's stammering was cut short by the oak double doors slamming shut behind the woman, the noise echoing down the hall that the woman elegantly walked down.
The high-flung windows to the left of the hall brought in sunlight, illuminating the tiny dust particles that floated in the air. To the right, past the stone pillars that held up the curved ceiling above, steps led down to an open courtyard, occasionally falling into shadow and sunlight from the partly cloudy day. Various castle goers were walking along the other open-air paths surrounding the courtyard, all pausing briefly if the woman came in close distance to them.
The breeze that moved through the open hall whistled slightly, throwing the woman's pale-blue dress up behind her, the fabric seeming to become part of the wind itself.
The woman's walk down the halls was rather silent as she walked further from the throne room, the only noise the taps of her shoes hitting the stone floors, the heavier footsteps of soldiers and butlers, all stopping in their tracks to bow lightly as the woman passed.
However, what felt like audible silence was beginning to be drowned out, as the woman's destination was a pair of massive, fortified double doors. She could hear the faint clashes of metal upon metal, calls of instruction, and loud conversation, worlds away from where she had been just a few minutes before.
Her arrival through those doors was practically unnoticed, a nice change from her regular life of people standing stick straight for her, stopping everything they had been doing, even when they caught just one glimpse of her. The dynamism and energy in the training yard she now faced was a striking contrast. Various soldiers and recruits training, fighting one another, striking at dummies, standing around to rest. All were spread out on the massive yard, surrounded on two sides by open-air hallways, a large wood staircase leading up to the ramparts of the yard in the far corner of the area. The rest of the yard opened up into the expanse of the castle's training grounds, where the barracks were separated from the main structure of the castle.
The sun was peeking out from behind a thick cloud, warming the air and offering a balance to the slight chill that the wind brought. The woman let the side of the door slip from her hand as she began to walk towards the low stone steps that led into the basin of the training grounds.
One man a few yards from the door ceased in his training at the echoing boom of the doors falling shut, a group of men behind him and watching. Looking back briefly, the man handed his blade to one of the other soldiers as the woman paused in going down the steps.
"Good morning," He called, waving a careless hand back at the group of men behind him as he met the woman halfway on the low steps. As he stepped up, the woman turned back around, stepping back up onto the stone walkway, slowly walking with the man beside her.
The collar of his loose shirt was darkened with sweat, the tan turned a more medium brown from exertion. His golden hair looked as if it had been attempted to be slicked back, but strands were falling back over his tanned face, a sheen of sweat on his forehead. One of his elven ears had piercings all up the bottom, tiny rings in gold and silver.
His face was handsome, eyes narrowed and speculative as he smiled at the woman beside him, who only cast him a small glance. Her tense expression had softened slightly, lips slightly parted and brow not as furrowed.
"Good morning Sheik," The woman said as the two began to walk in the direction of the staircase to the ramparts. "is your training going well?"
"My training?" Sheik immediately countered, tossing his head slightly to clear his face of loose strands of hair. The movement didn't do too much - hair still fell over his face, and he huffed slightly, rustling the strands as he did. "The trainees are doing well. You will be well defended for years to come, your majesty."
They didn't speak for a few moments as they neared the large stairs up to the ramparts, the only sounds being from men driving their bodies to extreme levels of exertion with shouts and yells. The woman sighed in exasperation, thinking back at Sheik's last few words as the duo took on the wide steps slowly, carried farther and farther away from the organized chaos in the grounds to the silent ramparts above.
"Sheik…"
Sheik looked sideways, raising a brow.
"What? Am I making you tense, sister?"
"You exhaust me, brother. Your candor is one thing, physical energy another."
The breeze on the ramparts had morphed into stronger ripples of wind, making the woman squint slightly as she walked to the low stone wall, leaning against it. She was given a clear view down into the expansive town below, past the sweeping grounds surrounding the palace. In the gardens below, she could see smaller figures of maids and other palace workers, some congregating around fruit trees, others simply walking along the gravel paths. Castletown was expansive, but not as expansive as the Hyrule Great Plains beyond. If she looked intently to her left, the east, she could see the distant Death Mountain ranges.
So much freedom and openness, all within sight.
"...We were planning on going to town today, weren't we?"
"Hm? Well, yes, we planned on it, certainly," Sheik off-handedly responded to his sister's musing question as he fiddled with the tape wrapped around his long, thin fingers. "but...don't you fear a ruckus? Unannounced ventures, especially around this time…"
"Sheik, you're the last person I'd think of to fear "ruckus" and "unannounced ventures"," The woman turned to face him, a regal brow raised slightly. "Don't you bore of being stuck inside these walls?"
Sheik stood next to his sister, leaning over the rampart walls. He nudged her slightly with an elbow. "You bore of being stuck inside these walls, Zelda. Forgive me, but I can really come and go. You, on the other hand, are -"
"What? The Empress? Sheik, I have a duty - and it is to lead the nation." Zelda stepped away from the parapet. "How can I do that if I'm cooped up?" As she walked away, Sheik turned, now slouching against the worn stone.
He raised a brow, seemingly unconvinced. Zelda pouted, a rare expression of hers that made Sheik smile slightly at his sister.
"I'll cover myself up, no one will recognize me," She said in a tone that was intended to make Sheik's stomach flop slightly under the emotional pressure. Any sort of begging, "I'm-your-older-sister-but-I'm-taking-this-time-to-grovel" tone always shoved Sheik's conscious in between a rock and a hard place. "If I remove my jewels, heavy clothing…no one will recognize me. I'll even wear one of your touring cloaks," she finished as Sheik rolled his eyes. Now that sort of excuse was weak-willed.
"As if a cloak makes every Hylian forget your face," Sheik remarked, and Zelda stepped towards him, jabbing him in the ribs playfully, making him squirm away slightly.
"We did it as teenagers and it worked perfectly," She emphasized, before turning away to walk back down the wooden stairs to the training courtyard. "meet me at the gate in an hour?"
She didn't give much time for Sheik to give a response, but Sheik smiled, shaking his head as he followed her down the steps.
Might as well listen to her, he thought, unable to hold back a small chuckle as his sister reached the lower walkway, her steps quicker and a little more lively, worlds away from her poised appearance in the throne room.
"I despise this hellhole," Midna bitterly muttered as she and Link walked across the expansive wooden bridge to the entrance of the Hyrulian capital. "people are too nosy for their own good here."
"Cry me a river Midna." Link countered, glancing at the guard that was stationed at the middle of the bridge as they drew close to the massive, fortified open wood doors. The guard's gaze swept from person to person on the bridge, but the intensity of his inspection was lazy. Link said nothing as he noted the guard's posture. A fledgling.
Midna tried a glance past the thick railings of the bridge, where underneath the structure was the rolling river, flowing out into the distance towards the Death Mountain Ranges.
"Looks full enough to me."
Link could only roll his eyes as the duo reached the other side, stepping into the bustling main street of the capital. In the middle of the street was a post, a wood sign decreeing 'Welcome to Castletown'.
"Nothing has changed," Link murmured as he and Midna moved more to the side of the road, avoiding being run over by various merchants with carts and other wares. "it looks even busier since the last time we visited."
"Keep in mind," Midna began as they turned to the right, down a still wide, but slightly more narrow street. "it's been months since we last visited. No thank you," Midna directed at a woman standing in front of a vendor, holding out a handful of spices and herbs to her.
"If it were up to me, we'd be going here more often," Link said, tugging on his companion's arm slightly as he pulled her across the street, skirting around a cart pulled by an ox. "the connections Ganondorf made here for the Legion are precious, and after all," He smirked slightly. "the castle's right there. Riches galore, so to speak."
"Right. Get off me," Midna retorted, yanking her upper arm from Link's grip. "I don't need you parading me around."
"Without me, you'd walk into traffic not looking once." Link shot her a bored look before looking away, and Midna mocked his words silently.
The duo continued through Castletown's winding streets, moving away from the main bustle of vendor-sides and shops to the quieter, albeit seedier side of the city. Buildings moved from strong stone or fortified wood ones to more derelict, tilted cousins - pubs and brothels becoming more common than food vendors and merchant stores.
In a particularly large alley with broken cobbles beneath feet and people sitting and standing to the sides, Link and Midna turned into a small opening between two buildings, where uneven stone steps led them down to a wide landing. To the right of the steps was a door, a sign hanging over it from a rusted-over pole, the carving of 'Telma's Bar' distinct and deep in it.
The two of them paused, looking up at the sign as they stepped down to the landing. Link only sighed slightly, putting a hand on his hip as Midna took purposeful steps towards the door.
"Wonder what she'll say when she sees us stroll in?" Midna inquired, hand wrapped around the thick handle of the door when she reached it. "Glad of us to drop in? Get the hell out of my sight?"
"She'll kick you out Midna. She'll have softened up if she doesn't." Link nodded slightly in the direction of the door for Midna to open it, and the young woman pulled it open, the duo stepping inside.
The bell inside the entrance jangled as they entered, the noise barely audible over the raucous talk and laughter in the underground pub. Dim lanterns were hanging from chains around the pub, heavy wooden tables and chairs scattered about the pub floor, occupied primarily by hulking men with weapons that were definitely not allowed in the open on the main streets of Castletown. On the walls were various paintings and tapestries, the tapestries depicting either sweeping landscapes or what looked vaguely like battle scenes from ancient manuscripts. The skin of a massive bear was pinned onto the back wall, near the back room where a large, discussion-style table was situated.
The bar was up against the right wall, teetering shelves behind the counter holding varieties of every Hyrulian liquor and beyond, most illicit. There were some stools at the bar, only a few occupied, compared to many of the tables having groups among them. If there was a moderately peaceful part of the pub, the bar was it. And even there, a pub-goer wouldn't escape the gusto of the rest of the establishment.
Behind the bar was a heavier-set woman, darker-skinned and hair did up high, jewelry and clothing eccentric and loud. Her sharp eyes darted this way and that, mouth pulled into a one-sided smirk, as if she knew what every person in the pub was thinking and could call out their thoughts at any moment. A fluffy, white cat sat at the counter near her, blue eyes large and soul-piercing.
The woman's gaze found the newcomers to the pub, and she raised a sharp brow before beckoning for the two to come closer. Link and Midna walked to the bar, taking two spots directly in front of the woman as she bent under the counter, before emerging with two empty mugs.
The woman's smile was inquisitive as she looked between the two younger people before she spoke.
"I'd have thought you two were lying in graves, I haven't seen you two roughing up my humble pub for months now," she began as she filled both mugs with amber-colored ale. "I dare say it's been getting quiet."
Link looked back at the table-goers, who seemed almost louder since he and Midna entered. "Really? By all means Telma, it feels as if the ante was just raised." He nodded in thanks as the namesake of the bar placed an ale in front of him.
"Then I must be growing deaf to the own ruckus I keep," Telma joked, chortling lightly as she did. "I will admit, however, that the lack of your voices has certainly left a particular void here."
"You're just saying that to butter us up, aren't you Telma?" Midna smiled, cat-like, as Telma shot her a playful gaze.
"Don't make me kick you out," The barkeep warned, but under the serious tone was a lighter one that only Link and Midna could catch. She placed the mugs in front of the two as she chuckled, putting her hands on her hips. "what is your father making you do now?"
"Link won't tell me. He's keeping it under such tight wraps I think you'd have to get him close to death to say anything." Midna's tone was slightly sulking.
Link kept his face impassive. It didn't make sense to parade around, boasting to Telma that they wanted to dismantle Hyrule as it stands. At least, that would be what Midna would do; who knows how far that news would travel. Too far, in his opinion - he'd learned his lesson from Holodrum.
Most importantly, angering his father wouldn't be in either of their lucky stars. If anything, it would mean more bad luck and mistrust that would set back the reason why Link took this assignment in the first place.
"You'd blab," He responded frankly after a pause, much to Telma's amusement and Midna's frustration.
"I wouldn't blab! I wouldn't blab," Midna crossed her arms as Link took a long draw from his mug. "it was one time anyway," She muttered, more to herself than anyone else.
Link brought his focus back to the barkeep, who had started to clean an empty mug. "Is Jovani open?"
Telma raised a brow.
"You want to see Jovani?"
"Father asked."
That was true. And something Midna knew about, so at least Link had Midna's sweet talk on his side to convince Telma.
Telma looked up in thought, setting down her rag. "He's not looking for visitors," She mused, and Link rolled his eyes.
"He's never looking for visitors. That's why we come uninvited."
"Oh, well, he wouldn't like that."
"It doesn't matter what he likes, we want his wares."
Telma let out an exasperated sigh. "He moved locations. The law caught up to him."
Midna scoffed. "He should've seen it coming. Running a whore house -"
"His first mistake."
"- Should've just stuck to weapon smuggling," Midna sniffed in slight disapproval. "he did give those men and women a home but he's an awful businessman."
"Last time I remember, he spent too much money on giving them whatever they wanted?" Link shook his head, laughing slightly, "He's so impressionable."
"Which is why -" Midna emphasized, leaning closer to Telma, " - there would be no harm in visiting. He loves us."
Telma looked at Midna with an unimpressed expression, and the younger woman quailed slightly under her steady gaze.
"Uh - he - he really does like us," She said hastily, shrugging. "We'd also behave…"
A moment passed, then two, before Telma sighed, seemingly in defeat.
"He's on the west side of town, alley past the collector. You'll know when you see it," Telma turned away from them, looking over her shoulder with a small smile on her face. "you two better skedaddle."
A half-baked cliffhanger & introducing Zelda, which I'm glad to do. I always seem to switch in between her being overly serious and being way more relaxed while writing her, but I can see her being half naive and half logical? Also having Sheik as a brother seems cool & I have nothing to base that off of. Anyway please review, favorite, stick around for the next chapter!