It was mid-afternoon when the two kings had finally agreed on the terms of the treaty.
Sheik was lying on the roof of a tower that had a clear view of the garden below, where Zelda was, and the path leading to it. She absently played simple tune on her harp as she thought about what she could do with the rest of her life. Glancing down onto the path below to check if Zelda was still there and if the guards were doing their jobs, she saw a small figure dressed in green sneaking past the guards and coming toward the garden. Sheik had always thought the guards were unobservant, but this was just sad. He was literally walking right behind them. Without a word, the young Sheikah climbed down the tower and dropped onto one of the walls surrounding the garden next to Impa, who was also watching.
"I see him." Impa informed her quietly. "Let him be for now, he resembles the boy Zelda described. Capture him if he draws any of his weapons."
Sheik nodded and disappeared into the shadows at the edges of the garden near Zelda.
The boy in green walked into the garden and stopped. After first looking around carefully, his eyes stopped on Zelda. He took a few steps closer and Sheik slipped a knife out of it's sheath attached to her leg.
The boy stepped on a twig, and Zelda spun around and gasped in surprise. She nearly yelled for Impa, but the boy looked like the figure she had seen in her dream, so she hesitated. "Who are you?" she asked.
The boy said nothing for a moment, then, softly, "Link."
Zelda looked him over, and noticed the fairy. "Is that a fairy?"
Link nodded.
Zelda leaned in close to examine it. "Oh!" Zelda said, drawing back suddenly. "I was so excited I forgot to properly introduce myself. I am Princess Zelda Nohansen Hyrule." she curtsied. "You don't by any chance have a shining green stone with you, do you?" Hope sone on her face.
Link hesitated a moment, then reached into the pouch at his waist and pulled out a shining green stone. It had gold wrapped around it and Sheik could sense the power from where she stood.
Zelda's blue eyes widened and she asked if he could keep a secret.
He nodded.
"Well, I had this dream..." she began. She told him of how the three golden goddesses had created Hyrule, how they had left behind the Triforce, and about the dream she had of a dark cloud covering Hyrule, and of a figure dressed in green with a fairy and a glowing green stone coming to save the kingdom.
She told him that she was sure the dark cloud represented the king of the Gerudo, Ganondorf, and that the figure in green must be Link.
"Do you believe me?" she asked.
Link thought for a second, then nodded.
"Thank you!" Zelda said, smiling brilliantly.
Sheik thought he seemed skeptical, but Zelda didn't seem to notice. She motioned toward the window she had been looking through. "That is Ganondorf." Zelda explained, "He is signing a peace treaty with my father right now, but as I said before, he is evil. There are two more sacred stones needed to open the Door of Time, and the sacred Ocarina of Time, which I protect. We are the only ones who can stop him. Please, gather the last two stones and protect them!" Well, that was somewhat sudden. But Link agreed none-the-less, and Impa jumped off of the wall, startling Link into drawing his small sword. Sheik instantly stepped out of the shadows near Zelda and moved in front of her, tanto* held ready.
"I am Impa, Zelda's guardian. I will escort you safely out of the castle." Impa's voice was calm and she radiated an aura of authority. Taking a few steps forward and preparing a deku nut as she moved, she took Link's arm, raised the nut above her head and prepared to teleport.
Zelda pushed Sheik out of the way and said goodbye to Link, parting with a "Be careful!"
Impa threw the Deku nut on the ground, pouring her magic into it and teleporting both her and Link away. Once they were gone, Zelda turned to Sheik.
"That was rude!" she said.
"I was told to capture him if he drew any weapons," Sheik informed her.
Zelda glared at her. Sheik met her gaze easily with her own. After a minute, Zelda turned back to the window and said, "Watch, Sheik, their signing the treaty." Both of them turned to look through the window into the throne room.
"You know this is illegal, right?" Sheik asked mildly as they watched both kings sign the piece of paper through the window.
Zelda shrugged. "Not for me."
They watched until the kings had shaken hands and everyone began to leave the throne room and head to the fancy dinner that would be held in the massive dining hall.
-0-0-0-
The Gerudo came to Hyrule Castle again six months later.
Sheik had just had her seventh birthday, and Zelda's tenth was in three months.
"You're too mature for your age," Zelda commented as Sheik helped tie the back of her dress and fix her hair.
"I am Sheikah," Sheik said simply.
Zelda frowned. "Yes, but shouldn't you still be enjoying your childhood? Not learning how to kill people and protect the kingdom, even at the cost of your life?"
Sheik shrugged, brushing her dirty-blonde bangs out of her red eyes and finished lacing up the back of Zelda's dress. "Sheikah are different from Hylians." Sheik said.
Zelda frowned again. "Not that different."
Sheik repeated her earlier reaction and didn't reply.
Zelda opened her mouth to say something more, but Impa came in, cutting into their conversation.
"Princess, it is time." Zelda sighed and checked herself in the mirror once more before reluctantly following Impa out. Once again, she was going to see the man she feared would destroy her home. That didn't sit well with her.
-0-0-0-
"Princess Zelda, wake up!" Impa whispered urgently.
Sheik was awake and had her armor on in seconds. She grabbed her Bottomless Bag, designed by the castle's magicians, from the table. She was already packed and prepared for anything. That's how the Sheikah lived.
She slipped silently into Zelda's room and Impa quickly briefed her while Zelda got dressed.
"The king is dead. Ganondorf and his warriors have occupied Hyrule Castle." she said.
Sheik took a moment to process this, then shoved the chaotic emotions and panic that arose into the back of her mind to think on later.
Zelda was ready a few minutes after, and Impa led them through the secret passages until they emerged in the stables. Impa swiftly dispatched the few Gerudo who were in the stable before saddling and bridling Zelda's horse, Sila. She then placed Zelda, who was shaking, on the horse and mounted in front of her. Zelda clamped her arms around Impa and sat still in shock.
Sheik mounted one of the other horses. "I will go out first." she rode up next to Zelda, switched their cloaks, then pulled her hair out of it's tight braid. "I look very similar to you and nobody will be able to tell the difference in the dark, so once the Gerudo are chasing me, run. I will meet you in Kakariko," Sheik said, her tone leaving no room for argument, not that Zelda was about to do anything at all right now.
Impa hesitated, then nodded.
Zelda didn't even look up as Impa wrapped Sheik's cloak around her shoulders. The shock of losing her family and home had paralyzed her.
Sheik kicked her horse's flank and they shot out of the stable. She galloped out of the castle, the gate guards, who were still unaware of the massacre in the castle, opened the gate for her and she raced into Castle Town. Some gerudo spotted Sheik and followed, yelling at her to stop. Then Ganondorf himself, on his black steed, galloped out of the castle.
Sheik rode through the back streets of Castle Town, leading the Gerudo following, including Ganondorf, around in circles, buying time for Impa and Zelda.
As soon as Sheik had left, Impa and Zelda set off for the draw bridge as fast as the horse could run.
Ganondorf threw a glowing ball of magic at Sheik. She tried to dodge, but the narrow stress made maneuvering her horse near to impossible. The attack hit her horse and knocked them both to the ground. Sheik was surrounded in seconds, and her white hood was violently thrown back.
"That is not Zelda!" thundered Ganondorf when he saw her. Sheik scrambled to her feet and pulled her tanto from it's sheath. She was shaking, but she forced herself to stand still and occupy the Gerudo for as long as she could. She new it was impossible for her to win, but every second counted. Sheik sent a silent prayer to the Goddesses, and even prayed to the elemental spirits. Although she doubted anyone would do anything to help her right now.
A short skirmish ensued, and the Sheikah was captured within minutes. Ganondorf dismounted from his pitch-black horse and stood before her.
"Sheikah, eh?" Ganondorf met Sheik's defiant crimson gaze with his amused yellow one. He turned away carelessly. "Take it to the dungeon," he ordered.
The Gerudo instantly obeyed and Ganondorf galloped away.
-0-0-0-
The massive draw bridge slammed open, startling Link, and a white horse galloped out. Link recognized the two people on it's back as Princess Zelda and her Sheikah caretaker, Impa.
"Link!" Zelda yelled, a desperate look on her face.
Link met her eyes for a moment and in that second she seemed to come to a decision. Reaching into the pocket in her dress, she twisted in the saddle and threw a blue ocarina into the moat behind him. Then she was gone, her white horse carrying her and her guard into the dark , rainy night.
A minute later, a black horse came out and stopped, towering over Link.
"Boy, which way did the white horse go?" it's rider demanded.
Link didn't answer, instead he drew his sword and glared at the man who he now recognized as Ganondorf.
"Foolish boy." Ganondorf smirked and threw a ball of magic at Link, knocking him down. A searing pain spread through his chest, leaving Link gasping for air. As his world went black, Link heard Ganondorf say; "Learn who your dealing with, boy." His menacing laugh echoed through Link's brain as he finally lost his grip on the conscious world.
-0-0-0-
The rain was falling hard, and everything was soaked within a few minutes.
Impa was leaning low over the horse's neck to avoid being blinded by the heavy rain, Zelda sat behind, her thin arms wrapped tightly around Impa's waist.
They had been riding for twenty hours since the start of their frantic escape from Hyrule Castle. They had stopped once at Lon Lon Ranch, the midway point between the castle and Kakariko village, to feed and water themselves and their horse. Sometime during the day, Zelda had fallen asleep, but now she was awake again, and all too aware of the horror of the previous night.
"Almost there," Impa told her, her voice nearly lost in the sound of rain and hooves pounding against the ground. Impa urged Sila to run faster, the tired horse responded by quickening her pace almost imperceptibly. Impa stopped the horse a few minutes later as they reached the bottom of the stairs leading up to Kakariko.
"Zelda, we are here." Impa jumped gracefully off the horse then helped Zelda down. She then led Sila carefully up the stairs with Zelda beside her. As they walked Zelda wiped away her tears, thankful that the rain hid them. She had to be strong right now. She was now the queen of her kingdom, and she had to give her people a strong leader to look up to.
When they entered the village the gate guard saluted and said,
"Good evening, your highness." Zelda looked up and nodded in acknowledgement, not yet trusting her voice.
As they walked through the village Zelda took deep breaths to clear her mind. The reality of the last day had hit Zelda hard. Her father was dead. Many of the soldiers and servants were dead. Zelda felt like curling up into a ball and crying, but she couldn't afford to break down right now.
Impa led Zelda to her old house, stopping in front of the door to give Sila's reigns to a stable boy who had come precisely for this purpose.
"Good evening, Princess Zelda." the soldier in front of Impa's house saluted and opened the door. She nodded and entered, followed by Impa. Zelda walked to the room in the back, which she had used when Impa had taken her and Sheik to visit Kakariko in the past, and sat down on the bed.
Impa sent for food then came to sit by Zelda, putting an arm around her shoulders comfortingly.
"It's okay to cry now, Zelda."
Zelda didn't respond, her azure blue eyes filling with tears. She wiped the ors that fell off of her cheeks. "Is Sheik here yet?" she asked.
Impa shook her head.
"It's been an entire day... Does that mean..." new tears filled Zelda's eyes and Impa hugged her.
An entire day was too long. Either Sheik was dead or had been captured. There was no way she could have hidden for all of this time, and even with the head start they'd had, Sheik wouldn't have stopped, and her horse would have been faster, carrying only one very light person. Impa closed her eyes, hugging Zelda tighter.
Finally, morning came. It was still raining, it had been since their escape. Zelda was sitting at Impa's kitchen table, picking at her breakfast dejectedly.
"Impa, can you go look for her?" Zelda asked.
Impa hesitated. It would be risky going back to the castle. Already the world was looking so much darker. People were coming to Kakariko from all over Hyrule and most of Castle Town was already here, or traveling to get here. They had said monsters came and drove them out, and that Hyrule castle and Castle Town had fallen to the Gerudo.
"Yes." Impa eventually replied. She knew it was probably a bad idea, but Zelda would be safe here for the time being, and if Sheik was still alive, now was as good a time as any to try and help her. It wasn't fair to leave a little kid in a dungeon at Ganondorf's mercy.
"Thank you." Zelda half smiled, and stood up to go back to her room, leaving Impa to pack for her upcoming trip.
-0-0-0-
Impa left early the next day after making sure Zelda would be safe, and there were people to look after her. She rode back to Castle town without stopping once, it would have been quicker to teleport, but if Sheik was injured or she had to fight, she may not have enough energy or magic left to get back.
Once there, she discovered a nearly deserted town. The last residents were leaving, and the whole area had a dark and dismal feel to it. Not the jubilant, over-busy town Impa was used to.
She quickly surmised that Sheik had been captured, and went to where Hyrule castle had once stood. In it's place was a massive lava filled crater, the grounds the castle had stood on had been ripped out and was suspended in the sky. It looked black and ominous, like a place of evil, and Impa could feel black magic pouring off of it in waves. It was an incredible feat of magic for such a short amount of time. Impa suppressed the despair welling up inside of her. This man was powerful, but he could still be killed. All hope was not yet lost.
She looked around, trying to find any way to get up, since she was fairly sure that Sheik was in that castle. After an hour of thinking and searching, Impa found she could not reach the castle. There was a anti-magic shield around it as well, which prevented her from teleporting in.
Sighing in defeat, and sending a silent apology to her apprentice, Impa was forced to return to Castle town. She decided she would try to help the people move. But before that, there was somewhere she wanted to go.
-0-0-0-
The Temple of Time was old, but was still maintained and not at all dilapidated.
Impa silently walked into the temple. It was beautiful inside, all built of marble, with high ceilings, stained glass windows, and soaring arches. The ceiling was so far up Impa couldn't see the top, even with her sharp eyesight. She walked up to the altar and was surprised to find the Door of Time was open. Her crimson eyes widened in amazement. That meant that the young Kokiri boy was the Hero of Time, and that he had entered the room beyond, and in extension, the sacred realm.
Cautiously, Impa walked in. Inside the circular room beyond the Door was the Master Sword, resting on it's pedestal, and radiating power. High above was a single stained glass window depicting the Triforce being held up by the three Goddesses. Above the Master Sword was Link. He was encased in a floating blue crystal, his eyes closed in a magically educed sleep. Despite the depressing past few days, Impa felt hope and awe well up inside her. Hyrule wasn't going to be ruled by Ganondorf forever.
The Hero had returned.
-0-0-0-
*- Tanto, a knife used by the Japanese, like a mini-katana, which is a single edged sword made of folded steel and used by the samurai.
If you like weapons I suggest you read the wiki article on tantos, wakizashis, and katanas. They're really cool.