Chapter Nine
The Peasant King
A clear fanfare announced the arrival of the invading Gerudo Lord. Rael and Elane had only a limited view of the room from their hiding place, but they both saw him. He strode through the great doors confidently, pacing through the throne room towards the throne with purpose and pride. His grey steel armour plated his mighty, tall figure from chest to toe, his strikingly handsome face beneath abundant flame-red hair was fixed in a victorious smile.
Two columns of men followed him in, soldiers with grey and brown breeches and shirts, proudly wearing red headscarves. They all walked with the same air of purpose, and almost as much authority. There was an unmistakeable sense of satisfaction and conquest in the room. They formed two lines along the hall, coming to attention with their long spears slanted across their chests. The Lord had stopped short of the dais steps, turning to look back towards the grand doors.
"I am home!" he declared in a powerful baritone voice, raising his arms up triumphantly. "We are home, my brothers!" The soldiers, who were indeed all men, cheered and raised their fists. The leader lowered his arms and they snapped back to attention.
Before they were barely finished their own self-aggrandising victor celebration, more trumpets sounded from somewhere not visible. They were of a different tone - more regal and rich, like gold as though the former were silver. Marching footsteps again began, and now two columns of familiar female Shaylin soldiers entered the room, garbed in traditional purple silk. They filed in side by side and split apart on either side of the purple carpet, turning to face the men with their spears in a moderately aggressive stance, hands poised on sword hilts. Even when all the women had entered, the men outnumbered them. There were perhaps one hundred men, to sixty women.
Another woman entered, garbed in red silk. She began to speak with a well-spoken Gerudo accent, unlike any he had yet heard. "All kneel," she said. "The Lady presents herself to the court. Let her name be heard. Queen Lana, Queen of the Gerudos, High Seat of House Dragmire, Right Hand of the Royal House of Nohansen. Her Majesty, the Amethyst Queen."
The women who had been facing outwards towards the men, now fell in line. All but the Lord kneeled, and bowed their heads. A final fanfare announced the arrival of the Queen. The anticipated woman walked through the doors of the throne room as though into her private chambers, coming calmly and sombrely, as though nothing were out of the ordinary. She was a full two feet shorter than the Lord, but she held her chin high and strode with more grace and authority than Rael had ever seen in a person, including Zelda.
Her abundant green silk dress flowed from her bosom to her waist and blossomed down into a wide skirt that trailed behind her along the carpet. Her face showed that she was in her later years, but her lustrous raven-black hair was as thick and radiant as a woman half her age, and un-greyed by her time. It was clear that she owned the room, it was obvious that she owned the city and all those in it, including all the souls present in her hall at that moment. Her entire appearance and manner spoke of years of power before she even opened her mouth, and when she did a beautiful autumn tone addressed the assembly.
"Jaendral Rashan," she said, making first eye contact with the tall man. She stopped approximately four feet in front of him, not coming too close but showing she was unafraid of him. "Kneel before your Queen. You are on sacred ground."
"Jaendral…" whispered Elane in Rael's ear, "the first-born male Gerudo after Ganondorf." Rael nodded, and beckoned her to be quiet lest they be heard. Rael now realised that though he looked to be only forty years old, Jaendral was the oldest Gerudo man he had ever seen. Indeed Jaendral was the oldest Gerudo man in the world.
"This is a time of change," Jaendral declared, spoken to the entire room as much as to Queen Lana. "I have come to reclaim what is rightfully mine as the King of the Gerudos. I am The Amethyst King." He stared down at with contempt and anger, and she back at him with scorn. A low murmur began to rise up between the ranks of soldiers, whispers and quick comments that began to grow to a buzz.
The voices fell silent as Queen Lana swept past Jaendral, climbed the steps up to the Amethyst Throne and turned to face the hall. With a deliberate stare upon Jaendral, she sat down and relaxed into the arms of the mighty seat. "Jaendral Rashan you have entered into my presence by force, and refuse to kneel in my presence. This is a crime for which the sentence is execution."
Jaendral folded his arms and smirked at the Queen. "I am the first born male of the Gerudos, the throne is mine and I shall bow to no-one." He gestured around the room. "Open your eyes. Shaylin is under my control, and you are sitting in my palms all but waiting to be crushed. It is I that should have you executed for opposing me, Lana."
Rael expected The Queen to display her anger at such a display of arrogance, but she smiled with cool of dignity. "Perhaps," she said airily, "And yet young Jaendral, you chose not to seat yourself upon the throne upon entering this chamber. And yet, my soldiers stand side-by-side with your own when they are clearly outnumbered. And indeed, your own safety hangs by a thread as much as mine. One of my many fine archers could strike your head and shoot you dead at any moment." The Queen tilted her head and smiled almost sweetly at the man standing before her.
"You know," said Jaendral in his rich slurred tone, "that such an act would certainly result in your own death."
The Queen nodded. "Indeed, young Jaendral. It is little wonder then that I have not given such an order is it."
Jaendral was silent. Clearly he had no anticipated the Queen being so un-cooperative; or if he had expected hostility, then certainly not in this nature.
"The reason, Jaendral, that I am seated here and you are standing there, that my soldiers stand side-by-side with your own fearlessly, that you have not issued any command for my arrest, is that - as you and I both know - you need me." Jaendral clenched his fists. "I have no doubt that you are personally convicted that you are the rightful king, but nonetheless you know that if you are to defend this city against Ramades then you need peace in Shaylin, not a war within its mighty walls. You need every soldier possible if you are to win this war."
Jaendral was silent still.
"You are surprised that I have predicted this. Clearly you have underestimated my intelligence. Were you not surprised that you met such little resistance? Foolish man." The Queen laughed. "It would be little victory for you to conquer Shaylin only to have Ramades take it from you shortly after."
Jaendral, who had been fuming silently, now spoke. If his face showed irritation, then his voice held none. "You are as shrewd and calculating as you ever were, Lana. But for your sly cunning I would be seated where you are already, and this war would never have begun. You have a proposal for me then?"
The Queen folded her hands across her waist. "I have ruled this city for far too long, Jaendral. Alas, to leave office would be a most tremendous relief after so many long years. I long for a lasting peace between all Gerudos, and if this is achieved then it shall not matter who sits upon the Amethyst Throne. Consequently, this I propose for you. Join with me now and defend mighty Shaylin from Ramades. When that traitor hangs in chains and our people are united once more, I shall abdicate the throne and name you as my successor."
Jaendral laughed, "You mean to use me a shield in your right hand whilst you catch Ramades with your left. When the people are united once more, you will hang him and have me stabbed in my sleep."
The Queen shook her head. "Do not be so foolish. If you should die I know that your loyal men would rise up and overthrow me, and then new Lords would contest the throne anew. Failure on my part to fulfil my promise would have the same effect." She leaned forwards, resting her elbows on her lap and her chin on folded hands. No, I seek a lasting peace young Jaendral, and under the circumstances, you would be best advised to accept my terms. If you do not we shall continue our bloody battle and leave Ramades' people nothing but a cold graveyard for their conquest."
Jaendral shook his head in quiet wonder. "As calculating as ever, my Queen," he said, and finally dropped to one knee. "Queen Lana, I Jaendral Rashan, hereby swear my allegiance to you before all present, until such time as your Majesty release me. I will defend this city for you, your Majesty."
"Excellent," said the Queen, rising. She looked as though she were emerging from an argument that she knew would win, and had entered into only for her own amusement. Perhaps this was not far from the truth. "Your offer of assistance in this troubled time is valued Lord Jaendral. That you should offer to command my great army for me is a most valuable blessing." Standing on the dais she was at a height above everyone else. "Now, leave me," she said dismissively, at once assuming her full queenliness. "I would very much like to retire for the afternoon."
Jaendral stood up, assuming his full height slowly and deliberately. "Yes, your Majesty," he said, his arrogance not lost from his voice. He gave a command and his men stepped out into the centre of the hall, turned sharply to face the doors, and began to file out. Jaendral took three steps backwards, then turned his back on her and followed after his soldiers. When Jaendral and his men had all left, the Queen gave a dismissive signal to her own soldiers, and they too left on her command.
Stillness fell upon the throne room as the Queen sat back down, resting her head in her hands. She suddenly looked exhausted, her years catching up with her in a few seconds, burdening her with heavy tiredness. She surveyed her empty hall, and laughed quietly to herself. Rael could hear Elane's breathing, feel her breath on his neck. She was as nervous as he. After a while the Queen let out a long sigh, then raised her head and spoke up. "You can come out now, young ones. Jaendral may be a blind fool, but I am not. For which I make no apology."
Rael's heart pounded, and Elane gasped beside him. The Queen turned to look at them both, smiling with the same cunning she had faced Jaendral with. "Light, strengthen me," whispered Rael.