Gerudo Fortress
Brown stone passageways blended together, connecting into a labyrinthine layout that was deliberately confusing. Unique markers were absent from the walls, corners and floors, making navigation impossible.
Already, Sheik was hopelessly lost within the maze. He had forgotten where the entrance was, and had seen no exit. As cold as its structure was, the ambiance of the fortress was warm; physically so from the abundance of torches and aesthetically so from the colourful Gerudo tapestries and wall decorations, the same in every corridor, it seemed.
Sheik and his Gerudo escort passed under a square archway, accented by a bovine skull with blue and green feathers tied to it. In the entire stone structure, there wasn't a single door. For a fortress carved into the side of a canyon, it didn't lack for open spaces.
"Wait here," the Gerudo guard said tersely, pulling back a dyed cloth barrier that obstructed his view of the other room. She disappeared from sight, her spear making a soft tapping sound as it struck the floor.
Sheik waited less than a minute, standing perfectly still. He attracted attention nonetheless. The guard had left him in another open room, circular, with a higher ceiling. There were at least a dozen Gerudo sitting at or standing around various wooden tables, watching him. Their outfits, a deep purple color, marked them as low-ranked guards. They remained close together, in a group.
Sheik understood their tense silence as apprehension. The relationship between Gerudo and Sheikah was complicated at best. He knew not all of them trusted the Sheikah.
His escort returned, holding back the cloth for him. Sheik nodded and passed through into the other room. This one was smaller, but brightly lit. Another woman stood in the center, waiting for him. There was a faint rustle as his escort let the cloth drop into place, leaving him alone with this second woman.
This Gerudo wore an emerald green top and pants that left her arms, stomach and calves bare. On her hips were two wickedly curved swords. Her face was uncovered, unlike the low-ranked guards, and she wore decorative armour over her outfit. She approached him without the hesitation of her subordinates, searching him for weapons with efficacy and quickness. Satisfied, she nodded and gestured for him to follow her.
"She will see you now," the woman announced, holding aside a second cloth barrier for Sheik. He passed her without comment, finding himself at last at his destination.
Sheik reached into his pouch for the execution warrant, unfurling it and holding it out to the woman standing on a raised dais before him.
"I have come—"
"I know why you've come," she interrupted. Her back was turned, arms crossed over her chest as she studied a tapestry on the back wall.
This room was the most richly furnished of all; the stone floors had been covered with thick, brown-red carpet, the brown stone walls concealed with tapestries and more bone-and-feather mounts. Several weapons were also hung ceremoniously on the walls, from decorative daggers to the same wide, curved blade as the Gerudo who had searched him.
The woman on the dais, her crimson garb denoting her as the fortress's captain, turned to him.
"You've come for the execution."
Her crimson hair was arranged practically and securely at the base of her neck, but woven through it were tiny gemstones, as if she were attending a celebration. Matching make-up covered her eyes and lips, accentuating her exotic features and tanned skin.
"Just in time," she added, smiling.
Sheik scanned her appearance, formulating a plan in his mind. "Yes, I bring this order directly from Lord Ganondorf himself."
The woman laughed without warmth. "No need, messenger boy," she said softly, condescending. "I have proceeded without his orders. And tonight we celebrate."
"Celebrate?" Sheik asked, puzzled.
"Our lord need not interfere in our petty affairs," she explained, stepping down from the dais. "One traitor is not cause for concern. He shouldn't trouble himself."
Sheik watched, carefully neutral, as the captain strode past him, dismissing the matter.
"She has been executed already?" Sheik asked, unable to keep slight alarm from his voice.
The Gerudo captain halted by the doorway. "That is my message to Lord Ganondorf, yes."
Sheik caught the care with which she chose her words. "I shall deliver him your words, exactly."
The woman nodded, then added, "Our friend leaves tonight, during the festivities."
"Then I wish to speak with her immediately."
She walked back towards him, stopping when she was inches away from Sheik's face. With an iron grip she grasped his arm, edging close so she would not be overheard.
"Do not make the mistake of thinking you will be safe, should it come to light that you are his spy. If harm befalls her, or anyone at this fortress, you will be the responsible party in my eyes."
Sheik kept his expression blank. "We must all appear to be something we are not," he stated. "Even his closest allies."
She chuckled ruefully. "He has no allies here." Her expression grew sad, constrained. "But he continues to control all our fates." Releasing her grip, her eyes became hard and serious as the stone, hiding underneath the opulence of the room. "Enjoy your free passage here, Sheikah."
He watched silently as she left the room, the cloth fluttering behind her. Behind him, the Gerudo emblem stitched upon the tapestry beckoned to him. Sheik turned to study it, a representation of the Spirit element.
The Gerudo had long held an association with it. In the tapestry's design, the two forces of Spirit wove together, each inseparable from the other, balancing each other. It reflected the tribe's belief that the mortal soul was governed by the two forces of the world: darkness and light.
He frowned at the image. Lately, there had been no balance in Hyrule. For too long, darkness had snuffed out the light.
~oOo~
Kakariko's late morning hustle and bustle proved too much to ignore. Wakefulness imposed itself upon Dark, forcing him to open his eyes. With a groan, he sat up in the bed, gently pulling Sienna's arms from around his waist.
The window shutters were rattling in the easy breeze; with some reluctance he rose to close them, shutting out the light and noise so as not to wake her. Moving silently to the wash basin nearby, he picked up the pitcher. Water tossed about in the basin, settling into a few stray ripples. Dark cupped his hands, bringing them up to wash his face. Sputtering, he smoothed his hair back from his forehead.
He'd just pulled on a pair of trousers when he heard footsteps thudding up the stairs. A moment later, Link's blonde head appeared on the other side of the railing, already dressed in his odd green tunic and floppy cap.
"Morning," Dark said, buckling his belt around his hips.
"Morn—Oh, sorry," Link muttered, stopping so suddenly he had to grasp the railing to avoid tripping.
His eyebrow rose, wondering what had embarassed his brother. The amused expression froze on his face as he realized he'd mentally referred to the other man as his brother. Which he suspected he was, but it didn't make him feel less strange. Dark cleared his throat, reaching under the bed for his boots as Link continued to stare awkwardly at his feet.
As he continued to dress, Link crossed to the window, moving to throw the shutters open again. Sunlight tumbled into the room, falling onto the bed where Sienna was still sleeping. With a soft moan, she stirred in her sleep, tossing the covers aside as she turned over.
Hearing the noise, Link spun around, muttering another apology. His eyes fell on Sienna's bared back, a view Dark had been enjoying as he wrestled into a shirt.
"I'm so sorry," Link exclaimed, his face burning red as he averted his eyes.
Chuckling, Dark leaned over to throw the covers over her. "What," he asked, "never seen a naked woman before?"
He was surprised when Link's eyes went wide and he started stammering a nonsensical reply.
"I—uh—it's complicated," he settled on, walking brusquely to the stairs and thudding back down the steps.
Dark hurried to the plain wooden desk in the room, scribbling a note to Sienna to explain where he'd gone before following after Link. He found him downstairs, strapping his Hylian shield onto his back. Dark took a moment to admire the craftsmanship as Link finished putting on his gear. When he turned for the door Dark held him back with a hand on his shoulder.
He laughed lightly. "Link, I didn't mean to embarrass you." The foreign urge to give his sibling a brotherly taunt gave him pause. He pulled his hand away.
The blonde shrugged, reaching for the door knob. "It's fine."
Dark intercepted him again as he stepped out the door. He grabbed hold of Link's shoulder, steering him away from Impa's house and down the stone steps just outside.
"Come with me," he said conversationally, but Link heard the steel edge in his tone. "We need to talk."
They sat on the grassy knoll behind Kakariko's distinctive windmill. The sheltered valley was at its busiest, the sun at its zenith in the sky. On their way they had stopped to buy food, and then Dark had shown Link the secret path up behind the windmill.
Dark lay on his back, munching on an apple. He watched Link from the corner of his eyes, taking mental notes. He was a bit…strange to say the least. He glanced behind them often, observing the expanse of prairie beyond the border fence of the village. Dark couldn't bring himself to. He knew that just miles behind him lay their hometown.
Link grabbed an apple from the pile. Dark noticed how he took it in his left hand, tossing it once before bringing it to his teeth. He set down the remains of his own snack, resisting the habit to toss it in the same way.
"You wanted to talk?" Link asked, wiping his chin.
He sat up, picking stray pieces of grass off his dark shirt. "I did."
When he said nothing more, Link raised a brow. "About what?" he prompted.
Dark crossed his legs in front of him, taking a breath in before answering. "I thought perhaps I could learn more about you."
He could see from his face that Link didn't buy it, but the kid didn't call him on his false pretense. Dark sighed, deciding it might be faster to get to the point.
"Where are you heading after this?"
Link didn't answer. He watched Dark warily, trying to pull his intentions from his expression. He kept his face carefully blank.
The blonde shrugged. "Impa has agreed to train me. I'll stay in Kakariko for a while. After that, I will continue my quest."
Dark snickered. "Your quest?" he asked mockingly. Link shot him a glare. He held up his hands, chuckling. "I have a confession; I overheard your conversation with the Sheikah woman last night."
"Why, you!"
Dark blinked. Link looked surprised, then sighed in resignation. He reached up and pulled his cap off, revealing the tiny blue fairy.
Dark smirked as the tiny creature flew towards his face, her miniscule features pinched into a disapproving frown.
"Hello, tiny fairy," he said, enjoying her disgruntled look. "Eavesdropping, were we?"
She harrumphed. "You're one to talk." Her little eyes narrowed. "How is it you can understand me?"
Link eyed him, apparently wondering the same thing.
Dark shrugged. "You're the fairy, not me. Don't some Hylians have a natural ability to understand fairy language?"
He waved his hand back and forth, chasing Navi back to Link's side. "I eavesdropped out of concern for my safety, not to mention Sienna's."
Link was shocked. "You think I'm a threat to your safety? We know nothing about you, either!" he accused. "Not to mention your weird, magical…ability," he added, waving his hands in an imitation of the strange spell Dark had used on the Gerudo the other night.
He fought a shiver at the memory, steeling himself. "And you wear green and constantly have a fairy at your side," he shot back. "You're too old to be one of the Lost Children. So what, are you mad, or just more than usually strange?" Dark grinned slyly.
Link was on the defensive. "I was one of the Kokiri," he said. "When I was an infant, my mother brought me into the forest to escape a war. She left me in the care of the Kokiri, who raised me until I was old enough to leave. That is when I started on this quest, the one you overheard about last night."
Dark kept his expression neutral. No easy feat, especially when Link mentioned their mother. "So it's true," he said, trying to ignore how much Link resembled the woman in his memories. "You are this legendary Hero."
Link looked away. "I don't go around telling everyone. It's unlikely they would believe me, anyhow."
"You mustn't tell a soul," Navi said, pointing a finger at Dark's nose. "Ganondorf's spies look for Link constantly. If he were caught—"
"I have no intention of handing him over to Ganondorf," Dark scoffed. He locked eyes with the blonde. "My parents perished in that same war. Ganondorf slaughtered them."
Link's expression softened, his eyes filling with sympathy. Dark had seen that look before. Her image flashed in his mind's eye, her gentle voice soothing him. He withdrew his gaze.
"I'm sorry," his brother murmured. He startled when he felt a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. It was a simple gesture on Link's part, but it spoke volumes to Dark.
"I want in," he said, turning back to Link. "I want in on your quest. It's why I wanted to talk with you. I want to help you defeat Ganondorf."
Navi flapped her delicate wings furiously, her voice shrill. "Have you lost all sense? Only Link can defeat Ganondorf. Besides, you've still given us no reason to trust you!"
Dark swatted at her, annoyed. "He might be the one chosen by the gods to save Hyrule, but he's going to need help. I'm offering." He looked back at Link. "You know the Din's Fire spell already, but I can teach you more that would be invaluable. Your swordplay, too, could use some work."
Link regarded him for a moment, weighing his options. Dark gave him what he hoped was a trustworthy smile. Slowly, he extended his hand.
"We have a deal then, Dark."
Navi huffed. "I hope you're right about this," she said to Link. She flew over to Dark, narrowing her eyes. "I still don't like you," she muttered, fluttering away.
Dark made a face when her back was turned. Link fought back a laugh.
He chuckled, watching as Link put his floppy hat back on his head, brushing his bangs out of his eyes. "
We start tomorrow," Dark told him, treating his sibling to his best sinister smirk. "Be ready."
It might have been his imagination, but he thought he saw apprehension cross Link's features.
"I simply can't believe it, Impa."
Impa sat at the head of her dining room table, arms crossed over her chest. She had gathered three of Kakariko's most influential to talk about what had transpired last night. To her right sat a man and a woman. The man behind her, the one who had spoken, turned to face her.
"Bokoblins inside the village's perimeter? They loathe humans; it's unlikely they would venture so close to such a populated place."
He was a stocky man, middle-aged and bald. He had drooping eyes and a stern mouth, like a bulldog.
Impa shook her head. "Unlikely, yes, but not impossible. They were stalking our newcomers."
"The answer is simple then," he replied, taking his place at the table. "Don't allow any more refugees into the village. I'd be happy to have my men construct a wall."
Impa placed her palm flat on the table with a sharp slapping sound. "Out of the question, Mutoh."
He grunted. "If we close the gate, we eliminate some risks to the people already living here."
"He might have a point, Impa," the second man broke in.
Like Mutoh, he was middle-aged, bald and sported a full beard and mustache. His muscular physique and soot-darkened shirt and trousers betrayed profession as a blacksmith. His slight accent revealed his southern Ordonian heritage.
Impa stood, resting both hands on the table. "As long as I protect this village, any and all refugees will be welcomed," she asserted, eyes fixing on Mutoh.
He scoffed, shaking his head. Rising again, unable to keep still, he resumed his vigil at the window. The second man leaned across the table towards Impa.
"Mistress Impa," he implored her. "The last thing I would suggest is closing our gates to those in need. I know well that many citizens are still without homes and are vulnerable. However, it would be prudent to address our monster problem."
She sighed. "The new guard will not allow it, Taver."
Taver grunted, smoothing his beardwith a hand. He knew without asking that she was referring to the small number of armed soldiers loyal to Ganondorf that patrolled the town.
"We could handle them," he finally said, a coy smile hiding beneath his bushy mustache. "Their numbers have dwindled, no thanks to you, mistress."
Impa pretended aloofness, but a smile tugged at her lips. "Whatever do you mean?"
The other woman at the table let out a laugh. She was young, with a pretty, heart-shaped face and honey-colored hair. She wore it long and braided— a popular style. Her dress was short-sleeved and only covered her to her knees. Overtop of the dress she had wrapped a shawl like a second skirt. Around her neck and wrists was an assortment of jewelry that made light clinking noises whenever she moved. A long red feather hung from one ear, a homemade earring.
"Really, Impa," she said, giggling. "Don't play coy. You've been picking them off for months. It's their oversight that they haven't been sending reinforcements. Though I hardly think it would have made a difference to the so-called 'Night Prowler'."
Impa suppressed her own laugh and ignored the grin on Taver's face. "An open secret, it would seem," she replied. "But most of Kakariko's able-bodied are without weapons."
Taver shrugged. "My armory was raided long ago. It's likely they've hidden it somewhere nearby for their own personal use."
Impa grunted in agreement. "They have. And I have managed to discover the location. However, it wasn't prudent until now to arouse suspicion through theft."
"Then let's go take them," Taver said enthusiastically. "The time is right."
"It is possible we could find enough reinforcements to drive them out," Mutoh mused, leaning back on the sill. "This has been a very long time coming."
The young woman piped up, "Let's do it, Impa. We are stronger than they are now."
She listened to the voices, positive and excited, but knew how delicate the situation was. Kakariko had been hanging by a thin thread for years. Perhaps it was time for them to take a stab back at their longtime tyrant. But Impa knew not to be fooled.
"Don't allow yourself to think we are strong, Fayne," Impa addressed the other woman at the table. Her cheerful smile dropped from her pretty face. "We have an opportunity here, but it is not without risks. We are still vulnerable to Ganondorf and his allies."
"If we get rid of the rest of his guards, and fortify the village with a wall like Mutoh said…"she argued.
"Do not mistake Ganondorf's inaction for apathy," Impa contested. "But I do agree that his guards have overstayed their welcome."
"What do you intend to do?" Taver asked her.
Impa stood up from the table, crossing to the window and glancing outside. "Gather your men tonight, Mutoh," she instructed. "We will meet again tomorrow."
Gruffly, Mutoh bid the three of them a good day before departing Impa's house to do as she asked. Taver turned to her, curious. "And I?"
"Our newcomers may be of help to us here," she mused. "Perhaps they can get back your weapons for you."
"You think they will help us?" Fayne asked.
"Yes," Impa replied with certainty. "Tomorrow, I'd like you all to meet them. I have no doubt they will vital to our mission."
Taver grunted. "I sense you are not strictly talking about ridding Kakariko of its invaders."
Impa turned to the blacksmith and young woman. "No. I believe they will both play a role in helping us to reclaim Hyrule."
Taver grinned. "When we retrieve them, Mistress Impa, you have my weapons."
"And my magic," Fayne declared, leaning forward to place her palm flat on the table's surface.
Taver covered her hand with one of his giant ones. Impa smiled, placing her hand above theirs.
"Then I'd say it was time that Ganondorf knows we're here."