Chapter 22: More than meets the eye
A blonde woman slowly strode across one of the mighty halls of Hyrule Castle. It was so awfully quiet around her and no one would ever have guessed a fierce battle was being fought in that very moment.
Heavy, scarlet curtains hung on either side of the large windows and she lazily rested against the cold glass, gazing down at the castle grounds below. The stables were burning and it seemed as though the Hylians were managing to press the Gerudos back. She felt like a god, or rather a goddess, watching them from above, wondering if they, like her, could see who were having the upper hand in this pandemonium.
Well, things could change easily. It was only a matter of time before the Gerudos would conquer this castle. Any tries from the Hylians, or any other race, would be futile since Ganondorf Dragmire was the leader of these ferocious warrior women. She sighed and whispered his name.
It was so very quiet up here.
Hands sliding over her slim, pale shoulders startled her and with a jolt she turned around, hand aiming for about where the throat of a full-grown man should be, but her hand was stopped by another grabbing her wrist.
"I told you to come to me immediately", Ganondorf hissed close to her face. Princess Zelda's lips curved into a smile that looked unsuited for her pretty face.
"Oh, the boy left barely a minute ago", she replied and kissed his cheek lightly. "You have plenty of time."
With a snap of his fingers a wave of light erupted from the floor and swept over the princess. In the princess's place, dressed in the princess's gown, now stood Aveil.
"Changing appearance is advanced magic and very draining. You think I have time to waste it on you?" he snarled irritably.
"Strange how you became so very intimate when I looked like our lovely princess", Aveil snapped back at him, not in the mood for another scolding. "You never rest your hands on my shoulders or…" she leant closer. "…speak close to my face. Thinking of replacing Nabooru with her?"
Ganondorf pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dear Farore, why did you create jealous women?" he mumbled. Aveil crossed her arms.
"Oh, what did you do with the earrings, by the way? They would have looked gorgeous along with this dress, or perhaps you wanted a memento from her room while we were there?"
"I just wanted to show them to somebody", Ganondorf explained tiredly, but the thought of one of the earrings they were speaking of dangling before the king's face moments before his death, made him smile wickedly. Aveil, raised an eyebrow at him, imagining him thinking of the princess.
"The boy was a rather good kisser, you know", she said. "He was so cute the way he stiffened before he kissed me back."
"And you gave him all the Spiritual Stones, the Ocarina of Time and the notes for the Song of Time? Including those I stole?"
"Why, certainly and he didn't suspect a thing. You'd think he'd trust his own memory of the ocarina being stolen a bit better."
"Let's hope he's the right one, if not, we're as good as dead", Ganondorf mumbled and he sounded aged as his shoulders sagged.
"It doesn't matter if he is the right one or not", Aveil ensured him. "They can't possibly defeat us!"
This woman was so very naïve. Her faith in the Gerudos, and him, were admirable but she could never seem to see things from a different perspective and that was the reason he didn't find her as much company, even less as a partner.
At least she was of good use as she blindly listened to his every word, not that any other Gerudo, with the exception of Nabooru, was any different. Aveil had successfully posed off as Princess Zelda and managed to fool that green clad boy to go and open the Door of Time. Still Ganondorf couldn't allow himself to breath easy just yet. Zelda was still out there somewhere, and the boy, what if he wasn't right? What if… No, Zelda wouldn't let him near her if he wasn't right.
"I better leave so I don't miss the show", he said and adjusted his short cape. "I won't be long."
"I think I can manage it here", Aveil replied and tilted her head to the side. "May Din protect you, My Lord."
Zelda nearly collided with the charcoal black bars at the gate to the castle. Of course they were closed. Her one visible, red eye peered upwards before she bent her knees deep and then she jumped. For a second she was weightless before she plumbed down on the other side of the gate, landing safely and silently as a cat.
The smoke rising from the castle had forced her not to slow down despite the long way she had run and she didn't waste another moment now either.
Ruto was safe, the Zoras were lost, the Deku Tree was as good as dead and her home, no, Hyrule's heart was under attack. She could feel a lump form in her throat but swallowed it and looked straight ahead instead of staring down at the depressing sight of her own two feet not running fast enough.
As she ran across the empty marketplace she thought she caught sight of something green disappearing into the alley leading to the Temple of Time, but surely that was only imagination? At least it was one thing green would make her think of, even before the holy goddess and granter of life Farore, it was Link. Peace filled her mind as she knew what he would have said if they were still young and together.
"You're being stupid Zelda!"
He would just have waited for an opportunity to explain something to her, show her the correct way of things, and she knew he would have done the same thing now. He wouldn't have been faint of heart, never.
"I won't fail you Link!" she whispered as the first pairs engaged in battle crossed the brink of her vision.
The Gerudos were inside the castle! The woman known as a general's wife and the mother of Link rushed through one of the long corridors. She was deep inside the castle and there were no windows here. The frightening feeling of claustrophobia gripped her as she ran along the narrow path. Her honey blonde hair had escaped its braid and flapped around her neck, slapping her shoulders.
She ran past a crushed porcelain vase on the floor, broken almost beyond recognition. The Gerudos had been here, they could be around the next corner. She felt tears well up and sobbed, but she kept on running. She should have searched for shelter like the other women, but Link had told her about her husband's bad feeling and she had stupidly rushed away to be at his side. She had to be the most incompetent woman there was. Just because she knew her husband's intuition about danger. Just because she had been worried. Just because she hadn't realized how close the threat was. But what reason did she have to worry? Surely she wouldn't run into a Gerudo here. All she would do was finding her husband and then she would hide and be safe for his sake.
Her sobs were quenched as she skidded to a halt and saw a Gerudo standing over a dead man's body as she rounded a corner.
"D-Dear?" she stammered, barely louder than a whisper and staggered, suddenly feeling nauseous. The Gerudo snapped her head in her direction, the long, fiery red ponytail swiping along in a wide circle. The Gerudo approached her slowly, gaze shifting from her to the dead man, but as Link's mother tried to escape in panic she collided with the wall. The world was spinning too fast for her to get away from this bloodthirsty murderer.
The Gerudo watched her doubtfully as if to decide what to do about her as the woman staggered towards her, which was much the same as walking towards your own death. Link's mother could simply not see any meaning in heading the other way, the result would be the same. The Gerudo's grip around her two swords, one in each hand, tightened as the woman, taking support from the wall, stumbled past so close they nearly brushed against each other, but she didn't attack. She made a half-hearted swing to scare her and the woman fell down sobbing on top of the man.
"What are you doing?" a voice interrupted and the Gerudo swirled around in the direction of the voice. Three of her companions were standing in the hall crossing the one she was standing in.
"She's a woman", the one who had spoken exclaimed.
"I haven't touched her", the Gerudo answered indignantly.
Link's mother tried to silent her own sobs as she clutched the dead man's clothes, burying her head against him. She had already confirmed that it wasn't her husband and, even though it made her ashamed, she was crying tears of relief that fell onto the dead man chest. She wasn't dead yet and a tiny light of hope was lit inside of her. If she just could hold still perhaps they wouldn't take notice of her. Not care. Spare her.
"Out of my way!" A much deeper voice spat and Link's mother peered up, careful not to draw any attention to herself.
"What are you all doing here?" the man asked and you could tell he expected a good explanation as he wasn't in a very good mood. Link's mother recognized him, the king's advisor, Ganondorf Dragmire.
"We…"
"Never mind, just get back to work", he growled and stormed past them, knocking aside one of them that stood in his way. Link's mother held her breath as he passed and her body froze, she didn't dare to move a muscle. There was something very strange about all of this. Why would the Gerudos attack? And why did their leader, the king's faithful counsellor, still speak to them as if he was in command?
She had heard the whispers, the worried friends' words as they stopped her in her tracks as she searched for her beloved, she had heard the screams. Was it true then? That Ganondorf Dragmire who had served Hyrule since years back, would have betrayed them? She would rather rip her heart out than see Hyrule thrown into another civil war.
Ganondorf stopped and turned his head slowly in her direction. She could hear him stop and his eyes burn on her back. She stiffened.
Ganondorf's eyes darkened. That woman was just a little too quiet, a little too stiff, her position odd and the lack of blood worrisome. Annoyed over all despicable Hylians he growled and stabbed his sword forcefully through her back. He barely had time to listen to her surprised and agonized gasp, her last stroke of breath he assumed, before he coldheartedly pulled the sword out and walked away, the blood dripping from the tip of his sword leaving a dotted trail on the floor.
The four Gerudos stared after him, their eyes wide and frightened. Then they all, the one who had cut down the man did it with a shudder, turned to look at the woman. The blood was spreading in the shape of a fuzzy flower on the back of her torn dress. Her head lay tilted so that they unavoidably could see her soulless eyes and her rosy lips that were slightly parted.
The one who had been leading two of her sisters tried to act unaffected and shrugged, but as she spoke her voice wouldn't carry.
"L-let's go."
Perhaps it should be brought to you attention that about when this incident was taking place Link's father was at the same time trying his hardest to make the Gerudos that had slipped inside the castle retreat. However, most soldiers were holding the castle grounds and weren't even aware of this sly trick from the Gerudos side. Link's father furrowed his brow as he tried to fend off a Gerudo woman without having to cut her down. Although he considered her lower than dirt he had a hard time overcoming the part of him that insisted on the impropriety of attacking women. What also annoyed him was the lack of assistance. Wasn't anybody thinking that they had to protect the heart? What of the king?
You could compare it to a game of chess, it wouldn't do to attack eagerly and assume that the victory would be yours, because a cleverer opponent could easily turn the wind around for his or her own benefit. You would fight till the end, content that it would be worth the losses to then find that you had been a mere puppet in someone else's game. Also, you had to think of your more valuable pieces and to always protect the king.
"They just can't think outside of the box", he muttered and had to aim a slash at a Gerudo that wouldn't stop her ferocious attacks. It helped him overcome his weaker spots that they were such excellent fighters. Often he didn't have a choice but to cut them down.
"What are you dressed in!" A Gerudo guarding the exit exclaimed as one of her sisters arrived. Link's father clamped his teeth as he caught a glance of the new appearance. Then he was forced to throw himself to the floor to avoid being cut in two pieces, but it was still enough. The Gerudo had been wearing Hylian garments, fine enough for a noble, and this enraged him.
"You dishonorable thieves", he yelled and stabbed the one nearest him as he jumped to his feet. "Vile, man-eating raiders!"
"My, such language", the one who had just arrived said mockingly.
"Don't Aveil", another warned, facing her. "He's good… for a Hylian man."
"Step back girls."
To Link's father's great astonishment they all stepped away from him and he got some time to try and catch his breath, take in his surroundings and see how many of his opponents were left.
"So you can match us", Aveil said, the irony clear, as she approached him. He couldn't help but to think of a snake wriggling against the mouse it was about to eat. She laughed and the others uneasily joined in. Despite the slight hesitation of her comrades it had a good effect.
"I want to fight you", she said with a wry smile and he nodded, steadying himself. Who was he to turn down a request from a lady?
She quickly lashed out at him but he could manage to block such a straightforward attack easily.
"Why so smug?" she asked, obviously dissatisfied.
She was awfully skilled, easily frustrated and relying on her own strength that could match that of any man. Still he could fight her evenly. The other Gerudos had formed a circle around him and he knew that there was no escape. What if he won this battle? What would they do to him?
"You look distressed", Aveil commented.
"Don't talk during a fight", he stated disapprovingly, just as if he was scolding one of his many worthless apprentices.
"You're really good", Aveil complimented with a pleased nod and tossed her sword aside and jumped at him, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck, kissing him just below his ear. This was most unexpected, even for this man who kept himself in a rather high esteem, and he felt how his throat became dry. Oddly enough he wasn't thinking of how she could have snuck past his guard unarmed, all that went through his mind was what his wife would say if she found out about this. He heard the clattering sound of his sword hitting the ground and Aveil felt him shudder. She was unaware of how the loss of his weapon cruelly illustrated his shattered heart if his beloved were to leave him because he had been unable to fend off this snake. Aveil thought it was lust and decided to torture him further.
"I love that demanding tone", she mumbled keenly. He froze in her grasp, just like that boy had done. She loved having that effect on men.
Link's father searched frantically for a way out of this dreadful trap, the color rose high from his neck to the tips of his pointed ears, but none of the Gerudos encircling them seemed the least uncomfortable, if anything they looked annoyed.
"Aveil", one grunted.
"What?" Aveil snapped, and looked up. "We can spare him if he agrees to make a little, generous donation."
"You'll have to share", one with a soprano voice said, an octave too high.
"Why should I?" Aveil replied with her crooked grin.
Link's father found the whole situation awfully ridiculous. Never would he agree to have his life spared in return for, well, he knew what they were after. But for Gerudos to turn into bees gone mad by one flower's scent just because of a little strength was most troubling. He was starting to see why men who had, in his opinion shamefully, betrayed their women for a Gerudo often excused themselves with that they had no choice.
"Do you usually blackmail men?" he asked, not being one to keep his thoughts to himself.
"Blackmail?" Aveil said and laughed amusedly, the others joined in. "Why would we ever have to do that?" she added and looked around at her sisters that smiled back as if they were sharing a joke.
"He surely isn't one to flatter", one said and sounded strangely attracted by this.
"Even the most stubborn succumb to us. We can choose as we like and we only choose the best. We are like wolves. Outcasts, hunted, despised and we know how to develop perfection. We only choose mates with the most appealing talents."
"A lovely simile, you forgot to mention that you murder and are uncivilized criminals."
"Survival of the fittest", Aveil responded with a giggle as she turned back to him, it sounded horrible coming from her mouth, and he cringed anxiously. "I wouldn't mind my child to bear half your genes."
"Aveil", several growled. She groaned and gritted her teeth as she stared back at them, having to take her gaze off her prey.
"I am going to share, but I'm first!"
"Then you are the first to duel me, because I will never agree to listen to any of your demands."
Perhaps he had gone too far? Her eyes flashed dangerously as she stared at him in rage.
He had turned down quite a few women in his life and he couldn't recall ever screwing it up this badly, although it had been close a few times. But surely Gerudos were used to being rejected? Hylians were more honorable than to willingly be seduced.
"Fine!" she yelled and pushed him away.
"Sword!" she shouted and held out her hand. The Gerudos shared anxious glances among themselves.
"Let's give him another chance Aveil. He is so very cute and that stubbornness…" the one with the soprano voice sighed.
"Sword", Aveil ordered and her eyes blazed like fire. She looked as though she would rip anyone that dared to disobey her to pieces.
Being rejected by her one love, the unreachable Ganondorf Dragmire, was one thing but to no longer have weak, pathetic, Hylian men at her feet made her fly into a rage. No, she wasn't in any good mood at all and she definitely didn't have the patience for this.
Link's father had taken this opportunity to pick up his sword from the ground. Someone gave in and tossed Aveil a sword. She twisted it in her hand and then pointed it at him.
"I'll give you one chance…"
"No", he stated firmly and she flung at him with a furious cry. Gerudos were better trained than to let their feelings intervene with the way they fought and his hopes that she would drop her guard were crushed. The others cheered, obviously forgetting all about their little deal to let him free, not that he minded.
The swords clashed against each other and they were locked in position, both pushing with all their might. The strongest would definitely get the upper hand when they disengaged. He was the one to force her back but as he leapt forwards she also took a step against him and he ended up going too far. She was past his weapon and pressed her lips to his cheek. With a loud clank his sword once again fell to the floor. He swore loudly and could see them smirk at him.
"Don't be stubborn", Aveil teased, in a better mood because she had managed to so skillfully disarm him. She pressed her body against his, knowing he wouldn't budge. He could see it in her eyes, how she took advantage of knowing what was going to happen, so very typical of Gerudos. And then it hit him. She gasped as he stopped resisting and the both fell to the floor, she on top. He groaned a little as the fall hurt his back more than he had predicted.
A murmur of surprise went through the room and Aveil smirked down on him.
"And you thought we needed to blackmail people."
That's when he gripped the sword lying next to him and stabbed her. She had tried to dodge but it had been impossible. She sagged, her eyes wide, and he forcefully pushed her off him, and off the sword that were now colored red.
"Aveil!" One cried and rushed to her side. Everyone else that had been watching in silence, their cheering since long faded away, went to attack. All of them furiously ran at him with deafening battle cries.
He was nothing but a mouse in a snake pit.
This was not how he had intended to die and he tried to fight his way towards the door but he had already been cut three times and he clenched his teeth to try and shut out the pain. His vision was becoming blurry and he gripped his shoulder that pulsed with ache.
A knife was dug through his hand into his shoulder. He had to cry out and their loud chanting became even more enthusiastic. The one who kept twisting her knife deeper into his shoulder wrapped her arm tightly around his neck. As if he didn't have trouble breathing already. He was hardly aware of the abuse that wouldn't end. They kept kicking and beating and he was somewhere between consciousness and nothingness.
"See where your arrogance brought you? But that is so typical of you Hylians!" the one behind him hissed in his right ear. He froze. It was Aveil. Blood from her own wound covered her hand like a new coat of paint after she had pressed it over her torn skin to stop the blood from flowing. She was panting in his hear and leaning heavily against him. She was badly injured, he could tell.
He knew that her hand was covered in blood because it smeared over his own pierced hand that had gone from burning with pain to numb. His fingers were like tweaks, taut and still, that could be broken with a snap. With fury Aveil dug the knife even deeper and growled, her eyes bulging, when it wouldn't go deeper and she started twisting it like mad so that he was sure he would die any moment. The pain was unbearable.
The she finally pulled it out and a shudder of pain went through him. He couldn't bring himself to move his hand away from his shoulder. He didn't have much time to think before Aveil started stabbing him from behind. She did it over and over. He hardly had time to gasp before he felt it dig through his skin again. Countless of times the steel sliced him open before the light faded from his eyes and he fell to his knees. Aveil didn't even seem to notice, not even when he lay on the floor she stopped. His cape was dotted with big, ruby spots and Aveil finally seemed to notice them, and the meaning of them. She remained on top of his back gasping for breath as she realized she had been murdering him a bit too eagerly for her own good health. Her sisters were immediately at her side, giving her support and mumbling comforting words in her ear.
Princess Zelda would have cried in fury, broken into tears, curse the goddesses for this inexcusable battle. But as it was now she stuck three needles, carefully pinched between the gaps of her fingers, into a Gerudo's neck, and before even pulling them out chose another target.
"Sheik! Sheeeik", a high-pitched voice cried and she spotted a small light flying in her direction.
"Navi?"
"Sheik, what are you doing here?" Navi asked as Zelda dodged the sword of a Hylian soldier. It had it downsides to fight in a Sheikah's garments. It was as though everybody was out to kill you.
"I'm doing my duty and protecting the royal family", she answered.
"I need your help", Navi told her and gasped as Zelda gripped the wrist of a Gerudo that had tried to cut her down and dug her needles into her throat. Navi shuddered as the body became stiff and fell to the ground.
"My help?" Zelda asked as she turned to Navi again, seemingly unmoved by the murder.
"Do you know where Zelda is?"
"Yes."
"Where?"
"It is something I have promised not to share and I wouldn't dream of disobeying my orders."
"I must know Sheik! I promised Link that I would make sure she was safe."
"Link?"
Navi watched Sheik that seemed to consider this. She could tell by the veil that fell over his eyes, at least the one she could see.
"She is safe so do not worry. I will make sure she is safe for as long as the goddesses let me wander this earth they created."
"I promised Link. He will be awfully angry if I don't find her!"
"Then come with me, because Zelda is hidden."
"Well, if she is hidden already she must be safe as you said and there can't be much I can do", Navi reasoned and seemed very pleased with this turn of event. "Okay, I'll go with you Sheik. Between you and me, I would choose your company over hers any day."
Can you believe a whole year has passed? A year!
I can't believe I've had this chapter in my head for so long! I knew exactly what was going to happen as I finished chapter 20-21 (and finally I have it over with!).
Shall we summarize? So Aveil, disguised as Zelda, was the one kissing Link, Link's parents were both killed and Navi has joined forced with Sheik. That's about it.
Hmm… I think I was being rather obvious about that Link's parents were going to die (they had those really touchy goodbye scenes). But at least I tried to arrange the chapter so that it would seem like a possibility that it really was Zelda kissing Link (although I didn't try to conceal that the whole thing was a bit… wrong). Too bad Zelda was out skipping around Hyrule Field as Link was making out with a Gerudo.
And also (most important of all) thank you so, so, so, so, so, so MUCH for all the splendorously splendiful reviews!!!! You are so totally the best and I have been waiting for so long to tell you that! So, you aren't disappointed now that it wasn't a real zelink moment? Dang, it wasn't true romance! I fail even when I write romantic scenes! (To tell the truth, I plan another kissing scene in the near future).
Hopefully it won't take another year for me to get another chapter up.