Chapter 6:

Night was full on, and by the light of the torches lining the walls of the throne room, Zelda surveyed the horror about her. Corpses, monsters and men alike, were strewn about. She saw severed heads with rotten tongues, flopping out of their mouths, gazing blankly at her, and she saw brave Hyrulian soldiers, their screams of deaths caught in their throats, still and silent. Blood stained every inch of the floor. Zelda's knights and protectors remained close; Ser Hectur began barking orders to the Royal Guard to form a perimeter and sweep the castle halls and passages. They scrambled to obey. When he was finished, he turned to Geras, who was hunched on the ground before Zelda with a pained look.

"Speak now, villager, and explain how you came to us. You spoke of forgiveness; first, confess your crime." As he spoke, a hush fell over the room.

Geras trembled and looked up. "My lord, I am but a simple smith from Kakariko Village. I am a loyal and loving citizen of Hyrule, and you must know that I am the princess's man. But I found myself caught in matters larger than myself, and before I could escape, I was trapped. I could not flee, and I could not seek help. They… they threatened my family, Ser. My beloved wife and children. They would have killed them!"

"Who would have killed them?" Ser Hectur asked brusquely.

"The Hyrulian Brethren," Geras answered quietly. A few audible gasps were heard from the remaining lords, knights and villagers in the throne room.

"So these rumors of a band of vigilantes were true," Hectur muttered. "I surmised as much, but I could not have guessed they would be so self righteous as all that."

"They are more than vigilantes, Ser. They have incredible people with them. Strong, powerful people. They have magics that we can only dream of. The worst of them is a very powerful mage named Darkhava, their leader. And as you've found, they have no shortage of warriors and sentries, man and monster alike."

"So it seems," Hectur replied. He glanced downward at the piercing in his gilded armor. "And some of them more dangerous than others. I should very much like to know where that woman came from." Geras said nothing. Suddenly, Hectur grabbed him by the shirt and hauled him to his feet. "Out with it then! What did you tell them? What did you do for them?"

Geras cringed and closed his eyes, clearly ashamed. "I gave them detailed plans of the castle. I provided information on secret halls and passages… when and where to strike. I was on the team who reconstructed the castle last year, Ser. That's why they targeted me." He looked down.

"That's why they knew exactly where to attack, and how to cripple our defenses," Zelda said as comprehension dawned. "At least it was not someone in my court," she added wryly.

Geras continued. "At first, I told them I would never betray the secrets of the princess. I am a loyal Hyrulian. But they said they would kill my family. And after the attack on Kakariko, which I was present for…" he trailed off and struggled for words. "I swear to you…"

"Save your swears for the Goddesses," Hectur spat. "You're a treasonous rat. You should have come forward as soon as they approached you. You're a coward and a turncloak, and you may have cost the Hero Of Hyrule his life. You almost cost Princess Zelda hers!" He raised his hand as if to hit the small Hylian man. Geras shrank back.

"Hectur…" Zelda said. The Captain of the Royal Guard stopped, but the flame of fury in his eyes burned bright. "The man has done wrong, but he is no threat to us now. And it shall relieve you to hear that Link is alive. I know this in my heart." Ser Hectur looked back at her, and he relaxed slightly.

"You know this, Your Grace?"

"My magical powers have been stripped of me, but Link and I shall always be connected by the veins of the Goddesses. Nothing but death could ever sever that. I can feel him. He remains in this world." She turned to Geras. "Villager, you must tell us all that you can of these people. These… Brethren. Their numbers, their provisions, their armaments. Most importantly, you must tell us where to find them." Geras nodded and smiled weakly. "Do not misinterpret me. You shall share a dungeon with anyone else found to have any part in this conspiracy, at least until I decide your fate. You have erred greatly, and you will not go unpunished. But we are not monsters, and we are not coldhearted. Tell us all you know, and we shall send a troop of guards to fetch your family in Kakariko and bring them under the protection of the royal family."

"Thank you, Your Grace," he replied resolutely. "The first thing you should know about is a lair in an underground dwelling in Hyrule Castle Market…"

* * *

Faida knelt before her master, shaking from head to foot. She knew he was seething with anger, yet he said nothing. His cold, yellow eyes looked down on her in sinister disapproval. He was still as stone and his face was hard as rock. The wound in her hand throbbed, but she made no noise or movement. The silence was unbearable; she almost wished he would loose his anger in one fell swoop and be done with her punishment, but as he bore into her eyes, she felt a cold grip tighten over her heart and she knew it would not be so easy. Finally, after an eternity, he reached down and stroked her face. She was too rigid with fear to cringe away.

"Dear, dear Faida… what am I to do? The most important mission I've ever given you, and you fail so spectacularly."

She dared not speak. He continued to gently caress her with his long, boney fingers. The darkness surrounding them was thick and impenetrable. Faida could feel the eyes of dozens of onlookers surrounding them, eagerly awaiting her punishment. She didn't even know where she was. After she had returned to the base beneath Hyrule Castle Market, Darkhava had quickly cast some enchantments and then whisked them away to some new lair; one she had no prior knowledge of. The army presently stationed with them had come as well.

I shall die here in this spot, she thought miserably. Alone, lost, surrounded by darkness. Such I lived my life, and such I die. Fate is a cruel master…

"Nothing to say, Faida? Have you no excuse? No explanation for me?"

Her lip trembled, but she remained ever silent.

"Speak, wench!" he snarled.

"Master, I was so close to victory, but the hero appeared and ruined everything," she said in a quavering voice. "I defeated her guard, and I was about to strike the killing blow when he came."

Darkhava landed a vicious backhand blow to her right temple. She crashed to the floor.

"I rid you of the hero! You begged and pleaded, and I answered." He raised his right palm upward, and a rush of blue flame engulfed her body. She screamed in agony as pain filled her every pore. She felt as if her body, her hair, her heart, her very bones were on fire. "Such an excuse is unacceptable. You dare to worm your way back to me when Zelda still lives?" He cackled maliciously. Faida writhed and squirmed, her limbs thrashing about as she danced maniacally on the floor. She tried to beg him for mercy, but her words came out as only screams.

Finally, he released her. She remained on the ground, shaking and crying.

"What excuse have you now? I should hope it is better than the last one."

She gathered her wits to sob out an answer. "M-m-master… while I battled with the hero, Zelda revived her guard… the b-b-blue-haired warrior… I was gravely outnumbered, and injured." She closed her eyes and clenched her fist, ready for his next attack. But it did not come as she expected. Instead, he glided over to where she lay and reached down to grab her by the neck. He easily lifted her off her feet. He turned her to face away from him, and then looked over her shoulder as he spoke.

"Perhaps this was too much for you. Perhaps I was wrong to place my faith in one of Sheikah descent. After all, your ancestors served the royal family, our most hated enemies. Perhaps you're still loyal to them?"

As she gasped for air, she tried to choke out an answer, but he tightened his grip on her neck and she was silenced.

"Yes, I see, now. You still believe the power of the Goddesses to be greater than that of my tribe, like you did when first we met. You fear the powers of Nayru and Farore, and those who wield them. If that's so, then I shall remind you what true power is." He lifted her even higher and began punching her in the small of her back, over and over as she struggled for breath. He laughed and laughed as he felt her bones crunch beneath his fists. He hit her until blood poured from her mouth and she went limp, and then he hit her some more. Finally he was satisfied and threw her to the ground where she landed with a thud and didn't move. She was alive, but barely conscious and her breathing was shallow and raspy. He approached her once more and knelt down, his black robes spilling over her broken body as he whispered in her ear.

"I know this is a painful lesson, my dear, but it's important that you learn what it means to fail Darkhava. You will be made a stronger and better warrior, and a more loyal servant for it. I do this for you, because I love you. We are of a kin, you and I. We were both betrayed and banished by the royal family. But be thankful that our plans were not lost to your ineptitude. Zelda has evaded us this time, but it need not be her death which fuels our designs. A sweet song that would be to sing, but alas, all we need is one of royal blood." Faida moaned in reply. "Rest now, my dear. When you are healed, we will begin again. And next time, I'm sure you'll make certain to commit no errors."

* * *

Link awoke to muggy heat. He was soaked with sweat and his tunic was matted to his body. He sat up abruptly and reached for his sword, but he found nothing in his sheath. It was dark, but a light breeze told him he was outside. The moon shone a pallid light, but his eyes were not adjusted. He was confused and lost. He remembered battling that agile woman, and then a fiery black apparition appearing and zapping him with some form of dark energy. After that, he recalled nothing. He licked his lips and found them dry and cracked. His throat was scratchy. He spit sand from his mouth, and all at once comprehension dawned on him.

He gathered his wits and stood to survey the Gerudo Desert.

Lovely, Link thought as his vision slowly came into focus. He checked his immediate surroundings and found the Ordon Sword lying a few yards away. He quickly bounded over and snatched it up. So that dark crystal was just a simple transportation spell. I suppose I'm lucky to be alive, but I may as well be dead. I can't discern exactly where in the desert I am, and I have no way to return to the castle. He groaned as he remembered the situation he had left. What of Zelda? What of Hectur? Were they safe?

How long was I out? I must get back as soon as I can, but how? he thought to himself. If only she were still with me…

There was nothing to be done now but travel. He was tired and hungry, but he had no rations and no supplies, save for the weapons and items he always carried. He looked to the stars and read the constellations to determine his bearing.

Shall I go west, towards the mainland, and try to find some hidden path back to Hyrule? Or shall I go east, to the Arbiter's Grounds, and try to find an answer there? He couldn't decide on a course of action just yet, so he began trekking north. His stomach growled. I wonder how roasted Leever would taste, he pondered, only partially joking.

As he jogged northward, trying to keep a steady pace, his thoughts kept wandering to Zelda. When he had been transported away, the circumstances were dire, and yet he had a feeling that Zelda was still alive and well. He couldn't say why. That apparition, though… Link thought. Whoever that was… I'm almost certain he was Twili. This bodes ill. How did he breach the barrier between worlds? Has Ganondorf truly returned, or is some other force at work? And if a Twili has returned to the world of light… does that mean that she could as well? He felt a renewed sense of vigor, and quickened his pace.