A high-pitched scream tears the girl away from her nightmares. Malon bolts upright and looks around in the darkness. It was the middle of the night and there were no candles lit.
"Saria?" she called frantically into the dark space. "Sheik? Are you guys alright?"
"I'm fine," Saria said. Her face suddenly became illuminated as her fairy and its glowing light appeared. Without waiting for instructions Saria's fairy zoomed over to Sheik's bed making herself brighter as she went.
"Sheik!"
As the soft light cascaded over her, the two girls could see that Sheik was sitting up in her bed, knees hugged tight to her chest, crying.
Malon clambered out of bed and joined Sheik in hers. Saria was up now too.
"Sheik, what's wrong?" Malon asked. She sat alongside the older girl and draped her arm over her. Sheik flinched at first but then relaxed and leaned into the kind farm girl.
"Did something happen to Link?" Saria asked. Her voice was filled with concern.
Sheik shook her head, trying unsuccessfully to stem the flow of tears. Malon gently rocked the girl side to side whispering, "it's gonna be okay," again and again.
"Then what is it? Was it a vision? What did you see?" Saria asked. Malon shot the insensitive Kokiri a glare.
Slowly Sheik managed to bring her gaze up to meet Saria's. The princess-in-disguise's eyes were puffy and red. Snot was dripping from her nose in the least pleasant manner, but Sheik made no move to clean herself up. She just stared at Saria, then began trembling.
"I'm sorry," she said quietly.
"What?" Saria strained to hear her friend's words.
"I'm sorry!" Sheik sobbed.
"I'M SORRY!" As though a damn had been demolished, tears cascaded down her face. She threw herself back into Malon's arms and wept uncontrollably. The whole time she just kept repeating those same words.
Saria stood where she was, stunned.
The attacking bandits had been the only exciting thing to happen during the entire journey. Only a few hours after it had happened even the residual excitement from the skirmish had subsided. The marshes had become hotter and more humid with each mile of ground covered. Not even Link of Many Questions felt like conversing in the miserable conditions. After eight days of muggy hell, the earth had become solid under the horses' hooves. Well, not solid, Link had learned, but dry.
The mud and still water slowly gave way to sand and clay, while the humid mosquito ridden air became dry and empty. The heat doubled and the sun somehow seemed to grow to Link's eyes but he was glad that now his sweat could evaporate off his body. Nabooru had given Link a dark green hooded cloak to wear to keep the worst of the sun's rays off.
"Mind your tongue and your actions, boy," Nagina said when they were surrounded by sand and clay hills on every side. "You are in the realm of the Sand Gods now. Your Sheikah cannot protect you from the desert or the Gerudo."
"Is there anything I should know before we enter your city?" Link asked. He was praying that the Gerudo city was not filled with women like Nagina. He wasn't sure if he would survive the journey.
"Keep your mouth shut around the queen," Nagina instructed. "You are only to speak when she commands you, even if you are not talking to her. You will not touch your sword or your bow from the moment we enter until we leave. And lastly," a mischievous grin reached across the red woman's face. "Do not make eye-contact with the prostitutes."
"What's a prostitute?" the boy asked.
Nabooru nearly fell from her horse laughing. Nagina had to hold place a hand over her own mouth. Link looked to Navi for help. The fairy offered none.
A few hours before nightfall the group was met by a Gerudo rider. The woman was atop a desert horse similar to Nabooru's or Nagina's, and carried, what Link could only assume was, a guandao. The woman had the same red hair and red skin as Nagina, with a similar build. Unlike the queen or the escort though, the woman wore a cloth over her face that concealed everything below her eyes. The accessory made her look like a bandit in Link's opinion. Her outfit was as light and revealing as the other two Gerudo women's. Link suspected that was the norm for the female race.
"Your Highness," the woman said when she reached Nabooru. She bowed so low that her face was resting on the neck of her gelding. "I am delighted to see you have arrived safe and sound."
"Thank you, soldier." The queen said returning the gesture in a more regal fashion. "Did anything of note occur in my absence?"
"I cannot. . ." the woman's head twitched to the side when she spotted the blond haired male behind the queen, but she recovered quickly. "I cannot speak on such matters my Queen. I am just the sentry who had the fortune of spotting you across the sands. Would you have me escort you back to Messa?"
Nabooru waved her hand in front of her face. "That will not be necessary, my thoughtful sentry. Nagina will be escorting me to Al Quasar."
The rider turned and bowed, not as deeply, towards Nagina. "Sahib Nagina," she said.
Nagina nodded back.
"When you return from your duties see to it that a message is sent to the council. Inform them I have matters to attend to in Al Quasar, but I will return to Messa when I am done."
The woman bowed to her queen. "As you command." Understanding that she had been dismissed the rider turned and rode off on her tan steed.
When she was nothing but a speck in the distance Link turned to Nagina. "What does 'Sahib' mean?"
Nagina rolled her eyes, which strangely enough seemed to be changing from their dark brown color to a luminescent red. "In our language, 'Sahib', would most closely translate to, 'Master', in the common tongue."
"So your rank is well known?" he asked with a friendly smile.
The woman turned her long nose up and away, not offering the boy a response.
"Where is Al Quasar?" he asked after pulling his map out. He could see Messa but there was nothing to the west of it, which was the direction they were headed.
"It is a fortress to the west," Nagina answered. "Our most western settlement. It serves as the frontlines against the warring human tribes of the desert."
Link struggled to fold the map against the snapping wind that had appeared out of nowhere. "I didn't realize there was still ongoing conflict on the borders."
Nabooru looked over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow.
"From the outside, I mean," he clarified.
"Pissants who can barely stay in their saddle let alone carry a sword," Nagina said with a wave of her hand. "Every now and then a tribe leader feels bold enough to lead his men away from their respective oasis in an attempt to seize a real stronghold, Al Quasar."
"Oh, so it's not men from Sur or Hara?"
Nagina shook her head. "Between Al Quasar and Hara are thousands of miles of desert sprinkled with ruined cities that once belonged to Hyrule, and an occasional oasis. The king of Hara could not convince enough of his citizens to brave the harsh desert in order to maintain a settlement, so they have fallen to bandits and hooligans. Enough outlaws gathered in each place, chose leaders amongst themselves, and declared themselves individual tribes." Nagina snorted aloud. "They spend their lives conquering other oases and rubble cities, and fund their warmongering by demanding taxes from caravans and merchants."
"Ahhh," sighed Nabooru, interrupting Nagina and Link's conversation. "The lights and scent of home."
Link maneuvered Epona to the side so he could get a better look. A wall of red stone rose up ahead of them, with not but the most narrow of paths visible in the middle. As Link squinted his eyes he could see that here were indeed lights visible from within the gap. He could smell nothing but his own filth though.
"The entrance to Al Quasar?" Link asked.
"The southern entrance, yes." Nagina tilted her head to the east. "The main entrance is a bridge that crosses a chasm carved by the Hylian River." She tilted her head towards the west. "The canyon's widest opening, and the fortress, faces the open desert."
Link marveled at the canyon wall. It seemed to be reaching higher and higher as they approached. By the time they reached it only half of the sun was visible on the horizon. Link had to strain his neck upwards to see the top. It was at least ten times taller than the walls of Hyrule and was more than one hundred yards thick. There was a gate and three armed guards at the entrance of the canyon path, which was also wider than Link had expected. More than ten horses could likely walk side by side comfortably along the trail.
The guards recognized their queen immediately. "Queen Nabooru!" one of the women shouted. This one chose to salute instead of bow like the rest of the soldiers. "We received a falcon that announced your arrival. Al Quasar celebrates your presence."
"Thank you, Captain. Your diligence is commendable." She returned the salute then led Link and Nagina through the opened clay and wood gate. Link felt three pairs of eyes assault him as he passed the soldiers. He couldn't tell if their gazes were curious or angry.
Nagina leaned over and whispered in his ear, "They're hungry."
Link gulped.
The boy's estimate of the depth of the canyon had been accurate. After about one hundred yards the canyon walls came to a halt and the path opened up to Al Quasar. Link had never seen anything like it. The fortress was not shaped like any castle or fortress or even building that Link had ever seen. Instead of the traditional rectangular shape of Hyrulian buildings, the fortress seemed to be a pile of lots of smaller cubes, stacked on top of each other every which way.
Torches were lit everywhere, throwing shadows in every direction. Link was truly impressed by the structure.
"Is it," Nagina hissed at him before he could finish the question. Link clasped his hand over his mouth remembering what he had been told.
"It is best to keep Navi hidden as well," Nabooru said without turning back to look at him.
"Just don't squish me," Navi said as she crawled into Link's hood.
I would never, Link thought to himself.
"All hail Queen Nabooru!" The cheer was repeated by dozens of soldiers as they lined up bearing torches and palms.
With a grace Link doubted he could ever achieve, Nabooru stood on her horse, feet planted together in the seat of her saddle, and spread her arms out wide.
"Soldiers!" she shouted. Immediately all chatter and cheering stopped. "Daughters of the proud Gerudo tribe! Tonight the Sand Gods promise us safety and protection. Tonight we thank Din and the Sand Gods for their protection. . ." she paused and allowed her gaze to sweep across the gathered crowd. Even in the dimming light Link was sure her golden eyes could be seen and felt. ". . . by setting down our spears, and hoisting our wineskins!" A cheer of jubilation erupted from the crowd. Soldiers scattered to gather their friends and inform their sisters on watch that everyone had been ordered by the queen to party. Orders were given to bring out barrels of wine from the cellars. Female stable hands and squires rushed about trying to collect their masters' discarded weapons. Link started to chuckle but stopped himself when he caught a glare from Nagina.
"It seems Queen Nabooru is well received by her people," Navi commented from behind Link's ear. It was eerie having her voice appear from behind him all the time.
"Come," the queen gestured. "We do not have time to join in the festivities. We leave before dawn." She leapt from her saddle and led her horse on foot towards the unorthodox fortress.
Link was disappointed he wouldn't get to witness or join the party but this was his life. Work and sacrifice came before fun and wine. As they walked through the crowd Link caught more stares, but none that lingered too long. These, he could tell, were curious glances. The eyes of the warrior women would bounce from their queen, to the boy in the green hood, back to their queen. Typically a sly smile would follow. Link hadn't figured out what that was all about.
Some figures to the side caught Link's attention and confused him. I thought there were no men here? Yet there, headed towards the queen, were three of the most muscular, handsome men Link had ever seen. The one in front was easily six feet tall with wide shoulders and huge rippling pectorals. All he wore were poufy white pants that were cinched far too low below his hip bones. The color of his skin and brown hair suggested that he wasn't actually a Gerudo male, but a Human. His cut-from-marble body was completely hairless and covered in a thin layer of oil. Link was instantly jealous of the man's physique.
"My Queen," he said in an impossibly deep, gravelly voice. He and the two men behind him bowed low. The one on the right with jet black hair glanced up from his position and winked at Nagina. "Would you grace this humble body of mine with a dance this evening?"
Queen Nagina wagged her index finger at the man. "Lawrence you know better than to try and seduce your queen."
Without rising from his bow, "I assure you, my queen, my intentions are not as lewd as they seem." He looked up and smiled with perfectly white teeth.
"All the same, I have business to attend to."
It was then that Lawrence noticed Link, standing just behind Nabooru's horse. He instantly furrowed his brow. He stood up and and crossed his muscular arms in front of his chest. "Surely the queen's business ought to be handled by a man, and not some blonde child."
"You have stepped too far, Lawrence." Nabooru said raising her voice slightly. The man immediately dropped into his low bow.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, I was just concerned about my queen's satisfaction."
"Go," Nabooru pointed away, towards the gathering group of Gerudo women. "See to my subjects and to your own purse."
"Of course, Your Grace." The three men stood up, gave Link their most threatening glare, then strutted off. Nagina's gaze lingered on the one that had winked at her.
"Nagina."
Her head snapped around. "Yes, my queen?"
A knowing smile spread across the queen's face. "I will have no need of you until Link and I return from our errand." Then with a wink, "Perhaps you can find a way to spend those fifty rupees you earned."
Link thought he saw her blushing but it was hard to tell given her complexion.
"Should you have need of me. . ."
"Yes, yes, yes, I know where to find you. Go, you've earned it."
Nagina bowed then practically skipped back towards the party, horse and mule in tow.
When they were several paces from the closest person Link asked, "Have I not earned a celebration too?"
Nabooru chuckled. "Link of Cluelessness, you are too young to survive a Gerudo party. Those women would eat you alive."
Again with the hungry and the eating, he thought to himself.
"Besides," she said turning around. "You stink."
A young girl, after giggling towards Link, took Epona and Link's gear. It pained him to be separated from Din's Wrath and his gear but he understood he had no choice. To comfort himself he patted the deku nuts hidden in his tunic. Sure they could not kill an attacker but they would certainly stun one.
Once inside the fortress, which was a surprisingly cool temperature, Link was led by a servant to what would be his chambers for the night. The room was an exact square with a huge bed in the center, vases and pottery around the sides and a wooden dresser. The bed was a giant circular mattress that laid directly on the floor. See-through curtains hung from the ceiling and draped around the circumference of the bed. The whole color scheme was much too purple and red for Link's liking but he was excited not to be sleeping in a dead bug tonight.
Before he embraced the luxurious bed he was sure to ask the servant where the bath was. Without a word she led him down the hall where a giant caldron with steaming water was waiting for him. The servant turned her back while Link undressed, then gathered his dirty clothes and boots. She returned with fresh Gerudo clothes not moments later.
As Link eased himself into the water he almost moaned the water felt so good. He scrubbed himself clean right away then sat back and just enjoyed the comfort of luxury. He would have to think of some way to drag one of these tubs all the way back to Kokiri Village. Maybe build a second porch for it.
When the water cooled off Link begrudgingly climbed out and dressed in the clothes provided for him. The servant had left some time ago but it didn't bother Link. He knew how to get back to his room.
"Did you forget about me?" Navi asked angrily.
"Oh there you are!" Link said as he pulled the lavender (was it silk?) shirt over his head. The very fabric caressed his body.
"I was almost thrown into boiling water along with your clothes!" she fumed.
"Did they see you leave?" Link was pulling the pants on. They were the same poufy pants Lawrence had been wearing. He wondered if they were supposed to be tied as low as that man had worn them.
"No, your deku nuts exploded when they hit the hot water and knocked the poor lady unconscious!"
Link threw his head back and laughed.
"Not funny!" Navi dinged.
"Right, right, I'm sorry, Navi. Just got a little distracted."
Navi let out a, "hmph" informing Link that he would not be forgiven any time soon.
Link put on the sandals that had been left for him and headed back to his room with flopping footsteps.
"Gerudo clothes suit you, Link of Long Baths."
Link jumped as he entered his doorway. "Oh come on!" he said aloud turning his reddening face away from Nabooru.
The queen was wearing one of her typical brassieres but instead of her usual purple or pink flowing pants she was wearing transparent bottoms with only smallclothes beneath that.
"Do your women not wear nightgowns?" she asked innocently.
"That is NOT a nightgown." He had seen Zelda, Malon, and Saria in nightgowns. Nabooru was practically naked.
"Hmmm, cultural differences." She chuckled softly to herself. "I came to ensure that you remembered we have an early morning. A servant will be here to wake you up and make sure you eat. I will meet you at the stables."
"Where exactly are we going? You have yet to clarify," he said without turning around to face the queen of nudity. That mysterious scent was intoxicating even in the large room.
"To visit Ganondorf's mothers."
"What!?" Link spun around but Nabooru was already out the door. Despite the news he gave a sigh of relief.
After making sure his door was closed Link threw himself onto the mattress, which gobbled him up faster than Jabu Jabu. Somehow even the sheets smelled like Nabooru. He had to figure out what made that smell.
"Hey Navi?" Link asked when something dawned on him.
"Hmm?" she asked, still being stubborn.
"Did Nabooru say 'motherssss'?"
"I don't know. I was too distracted," she spat venomously.
"You and me both."
"What was that?"
"Nothing." A brief pause. "Goodnight Navi."
"Goodnight Link."
Author's Note: No action this chapter but I hope it was still interesting. I'm remaining brief with the descriptions about the Gerudo Fortress and city because Link will be passing through them again. That's when I'll really go into detail about what he sees.
Instead of kidnapping those carpenters I decided to give the Gerudo ladies male prostitutes. I thought it was fun. Thought about naming the guy Chip, Dale, or Magic Mike but I figured that would be too cheesy.
When I'm writing the parts where Nabooru and Nagina tease Link I have to stop and remind myself that he's barely twelve years old right now. I don't know if you guys remember the line from the game where Nabooru says "If only I'd known you would grow up to be so handsome. . .". All the sauciness coming out of her is because of that line.
Anyways hope you are all enjoying! Those of you intimate with Ocarina of Time already know who Ganondorf's mothers are so look forward to that!
Thanks!