Chapter Sixteen

Ganondorf

He had wanted to see the Princess locked away, thrown into the dungeons to never be heard from again for the insolence she had displayed toward him. As much as he wanted her to suffer, though, he knew that he needed her. Without her, the people of Hyrule would be more likely to rally against him, to form a revolution. And that was the last thing he needed.

He had maintained his composure long enough to watch her escorted from the Throne Room, but not long after that. In his anger, he had struck one of his faithful advisors. Such an action never would have been tolerated back in the desert. His mothers would have punished him harshly. But his mothers were no longer around. He was the King. He did not need their petty rules.

Perhaps the princess had been correct in her assumption that he would merely anger Ralis and his people more angry with him. Still, it was a risk he needed to take. If anything, it would send a message to those who remained in open, even in closed, rebellion against him, and as long as the brat of a Hero still had friends around... No, he could not think of that. The boy had already given up his friends twice. Ganondorf held no doubts the boy would reveal more, if given the proper motivations. He motioned for two of his guards to follow him and made his way to the dungeons once more. He could not make the princess pay for her insolence, but he could make the boy.

He smirked as he took the fallen hero's appearance in. The boy who had once stood so strong, so proud, was all but a shell, half-starved, filthy, if the King did not know any better, he would have even said helpless, though he knew that could not be the case. The mark on the back of the boy's hand would always leave some fight in him. He smirked when he saw the boy's chest rising and falling in a slow, even manner, knowing that would not last long, and kicked him in the ribs, watching as the boy cried out and gasped, woken from his sleep.

"Unchain him," he commanded and watched as his guards did as he said. His smirk broadened when he noticed the Hero's eyes, full of confusion, though still full of that pride Ganondorf was hellbent on destroying. He laughed, low and deep, as the boy tried to get up, only to stumble and fall back to the ground. "Restrain him." He watched as the boy struggled to move away from the two guards who had grabbed the boy by the arms and forced him to look at his king. "No words today, Hero?" He waited a moment, only to be greeted by silence. "Then I suppose I'll do all the talking," Ganondorf sighed dramatically and knelt before him. "I am going to have my soldiers hunt down every last one of your little village's children. You are going to tell me where they are, and you are going to watch as I end their pathetic little lives."

"Fuck you," the boy spoke at last, struggling harder against the guards.

"Of course it will not be quick either," he drew his dagger from his hip, running a hand along the blade as he studied the boy who now shook with fear, with hatred. "I do have some experts in medicine on hand after all," he added before sliding his dagger under the boy's wrist, deep enough to hurt, though not so deep as to hit a nerve.

The boy hissed in pain and tried to move away, but the guards would not let him move. "I won't give them up," he shook his head.

The King laughed and slid his blade down at an angle, watching as the boy screamed, as his face turned deathly pale. "Oh you will," he argued. "Though these things do take time." He pulled his dagger back and watched as the boy's blood flowed freely. He raised the blade again, studying it thoughtfully. "Of course, you could always inform me where your little friends are. That may buy the children some time to get away." He studied the boy's eyes, watching them flash between fear, thoughtfulness, confusion... "You're a smart boy, for a ranch hand," he continued. "You know I have limited forces. I cannot have them looking for two groups at a time."

He waited a moment, though nothing but silence came from the boy. "Nothing?" he raised an eyebrow. "Some time to think then." He picked up one of the shackles from the floor and fastened it tightly around the new wound on the boy's wrist, watching as the fallen hero hissed in pain, and was pleased to see one of the guards had shackled the boy's other wrist, twisted behind him and chained to the wall. "Try to ignore the rats," Ganondorf added as he stepped back. "They do love the scent of fresh blood." He turned and motioned for his guards to follow him back to the surface, nodding approvingly when one took the only torch illuminating the cells with her.

He had barely made it through the first corridor when Amunet came running toward him, a smirk on her face. "Blood of my blood," she greeted. "The Zora were awaiting us. We lost a few, but they lost more."

"Well done, blood of my blood," he praised, unable to keep a smile from his lips. "And their precious little king?"

"Is being held prisoner by Niset and her best fighters," she spoke, pride in her tone. "They are to bring him here to face your justice."

"Well done," Ganondorf smiled and headed to his chambers, one step closer to total control of Hyrule.