Sheik's magic placed them on the side of a dusty mountain. Beneath them, the Gerudo hideout hummed with its quiet evening activity.
"Where is he?" Sheik demanded, hand pressed to the heated sand.
Nabooru had the audacity to glance sideways at him, "I hope you have a plan. You can't walk in there looking like that."
"Where."
Nabooru pointed to the doorway, "Eastern cells. You'll have to carry him, or heal him, because he won't be able to walk."
"Do you see Ganondorf anywhere?"
With typical timing, the Gerudo King appeared in a thunderous blast of energy, outline dark in front of the wasteland gate. He let out a wordless bellow of fury and dismounted his horse, drawing his sword and charging up the sand slope toward the fortress.
"No," Nabooru said crisply, "I don't see him at all."
Sheik's visible eye was roving back and forth with furious speed, "He's headed for Avin."
The Sheikah pushed off and leapt athletically to a ledge far below. Nabooru followed, landing gracefully beside him and grasping his arm.
"You can't just---"
"Distract him," Sheik ordered her.
"But---"
A hushed crack and a blinding light diverted Nabooru's attention. She blinked a few times. Sheik had vanished from sight.
"Great," she muttered, sliding down the ledge to a lower precipice. As the mountain sloped off, she broke into a run, and rushed through the ranks of Gerudos toward the eastern cells. She formulated the worst plan she had ever thought of and prayed it would work.
"Jekrine!" she shouted to one of her comrades, "The western block!"
The woman abandoned her post and ran for Nabooru, "What?!"
"They're escaping!" Nabooru stopped breathlessly in front of the younger woman, "cut off their exit!"
"Who-- But Lord Gano---"
"I will warn him! Take your guards and go!"
"Yes, my lady!"
Nabooru began running again and sincerely hoped the Sheikah was not stupid enough to attempt escape via the obvious route. She charged toward the eastern cells, drawing a folding knife from her belt and flicking it open. As she reached the doorway, she glanced behind her to make sure the guards had gone inside. They had.
"My Lord Ganon!" she screamed as loudly as she could, bursting into the room.
Her attempt at distraction echoed vainly. The room was empty, its Gerudo guard dead on the floor, and no sign of the Sheikah or his missing Hylian. Nabooru stared into the blank eyes of her dead comrade and felt an upwelling of hatred. No doubt this was the Sheikah's doing.
"Damn you," she muttered, beginning to move toward the opposite doorway. The wall beside the opening was smeared with blood.
Nabooru was only a few steps away from the corner when a rush of energy flowed through her like a freezing wind. She stopped in place, and was aware only of a blue frost on the edge of her vision before she was overcome with the desire to sleep.
"W... wait..." she told herself, falling to the floor. She slid sideways as exhaustion cramped her mind.
Sleep now, commanded a soft voice.
The Gerudo's eyes fluttered shut as her head rested gently against the sandy stone.
Impa could hear the trudging footsteps following behind her, but her grip on Avin's weak body and her beating heart encouraged her to move faster. She rounded another corner. Shadows danced across the opposite wall.
"Avin," she held him at arm's length, "Are you prepared to move?"
"Yes," he managed, clearly steeling himself against his pain. He could stand on his own now, albeit unsteadily. The potion had done its work well.
"I will send you into hiding with a spell. The Gerudo won't see you. When they've all rushed past, head toward the back of the fortress and climb to the roof."
He looked terrified, but nodded, "And what then---?"
"No time," Impa became suddenly aware of the footsteps growing louder, and could hear a panting voice, "You'll go now. Tell him I sent you."
She grasped his blood-stained face in her hands and closed her eyes, sending him into a deep recess of the hideout where only a few guards would be. He was gone with a small flash. As her hands fell, she resolved to give them reason enough to leave their posts.
She built her magic and summoned two short swords, glowing blades laced with the ancient power of the Sheikah.
The footfalls were just behind her now, furious voice ringing out like a rockslide.
"Impa!" it called to her, "Where are you?!"
She smiled a little. He was angry.
The footsteps were suddenly deafening, then stopped in stark silence. With her back to him, Impa could feel the leaking darkness of Ganondorf's presence. She shifted a sword in her palm.
"Where is he," the Thief King demanded.
Impa made no answer.
"No matter," Ganondorf continued, "I have a greater prize."
This surprised the Sheikah, and her head twitched slightly before she could stop it.
Ganondorf laughed at her, "You can't think he's worth more to me than you."
The recognition of her place in the world washed over Impa. Her body went slack as a feeling of great calm took over her senses. Of course she was worth more. She was a Sage, an unbreakable soul.
"A suitable sacrifice," she whispered to herself.
A heavy chuckle from behind her was accompanied by the sound of a sword being unsheathed, "Poor thing. You're so predictable."
She closed her eyes and took a breath.
For a moment, neither of them moved.
Ganondorf took a fast step forward, and Impa ducked low in a whirl, swords flashing. He charged at her, and she leapt back. He paused, watching her intently.
"If you care," his voice was coated with bitterness, "I would have preferred to kill you last."
Impa twirled a sword, "We are both slaves of fate, then."
His eyes seemed on the verge of softening, but he shook his head and growled, "I am slave to none."
"How quaint."
"And when I'm finished with you," his grin was familiar and dangerous, "I will be master of fate."
Impa flexed her fingers, sending deep blue magic sparkling up her arms.
Ganondorf ran at her again and the clang of swords echoed through the fortress.
Zelda appeared in a nearly deserted room and instantly dispatched the two Gerudo guards. They fell as one on opposite sides of the chamber, grasping at knives in their hearts. One of them hit a table with a cracking noise. Far down another hall, the princess could hear the sounds of a fight.
A spark of magic caught her eye and she turned in time to see an invisibility spell wearing off. Beneath the tendrils of energy sat Avin, battered but clearly alive.
"Avin," Sheik whispered, "are you alright?"
"Yes..." the man shuffled slowly out from under a small alcove, "Barely."
Sheik moved to support the potion maker, glancing him over and seeing at least four wounds in need of immediate attention.
"How did you get out?" Sheik asked, partially to hide his concern.
"Impa was---"
"Impa?!" Sheik's whisper threatened to become a shout, "She's here?!"
Avin made a vague gesture toward the sounds of sword-fighting.
"Goddesses," the Sheikah grasped Avin tighter, sensing the man was about to fall, "I have to help her. Hide here and---"
"She told me to go to the roof. I thought I was meeting you."
"No, I had no idea that..." Sheik's mind turned rapid circles, "Go to the roof now. She wouldn't come here without a plan."
Avin's blue eyes clouded with uncertainty, but he nodded weakly, "I trust you."
"Then go. That way. I've taken care of the guards."
The Hylian grasped Sheik's arm as tightly as he could for a brief moment, then departed, hobbling up a steep stone incline. Sheik watched until the wounded man was out of sight.
"Nayru help him," prayed Zelda, rushing toward the ringing of metal.
Her senses and magic guided her toward the battle, and she turned the last corner to see Ganondorf poised above a fallen Impa, sword raised to strike her across the throat.
Sheik made a furious dive between the two, sending at Ganondorf the most powerful burst of magic he could manage. The energy hurtled at the evil king, a wall of violet fire, and the man was thrown backwards across the hall by it. He crashed into the far wall with much clanking of armor.
Sheik knelt beside Impa, helping her up. Impa, however, grabbed the young man violently by the shoulders and shoved him aside.
"Get out of here!" Impa yelled, clearly terrified, "You can't be he---"
She was interrupted by loud, deep laughter from Ganondorf.
"This is beautiful," he stood, brushing dust from his cracked armor, "I get two Sheikah when I ask for only one."
Impa's swords flew back into her hands as she summoned them. She moved in front of Sheik, power fluttering in bright movements around her fingers.
"It seems," Ganondorf continued, "you can't do anything without dragging your pathetic bastard into the fray."
"He is not a part of this."
"Of course not," Ganondorf's hand made a casual flicking movement, and Sheik was flung headfirst past Impa and into the next wall. The impact was a flash of white and a crushing pain. Bricks fell around him as he slumped to the ground, moaning. Feeling as if he'd been run through with a lance, he reached a shaking hand to his forehead. A wet, warm sensation greeted this action.
"Who was it, Impa?" Ganondorf's voice shot through Sheik's ears like a knife, but then sounded distorted as if through glass. The Gerudo said something else that Sheik couldn't understand. He looked with some effort toward Impa, who was readying herself against an attack.
His vision left him then, and he felt his eyes moving wildly to try and regain sight of the battle. More clanging metal... Ganondorf speaking again... unconsciousness threatening... Sheik fought it back.
Two loud peals of falling swords twinged in his head but reawakened his eyes, and a blurry image appeared before him. Ganondorf held Impa by the neck, but not above the ground. Her hands were empty.
"...nnnh..." Sheik tried moving forward, but there was a sudden exhaustion in his bones and the circle of his vision grew slightly smaller, infringed upon by a pulsing blue light.
"... could have been," Ganondorf was saying in a distant voice.
"No," Impa murmured back, "never that."
Ganondorf let out a small laugh that was almost sad, "I suppose I always knew."
Sheik looked wearily for Impa's swords, but they were nowhere on the floor of the small hallway. He wondered why she did not summon them again.
Sleep, ordered a slightly panicked voice in his head. It sounded familiar.
But he could not sleep, he had to stay awake. He had to help Impa. He made another vain attempt at crawling forward. He could not move.
Sleep, you are tired, coaxed the voice, Sleep.
"No..." he breathed at it.
He was looking up at Impa in desperation when she opened her mouth. The most mournful sigh he had ever heard escaped, and Sheik thought he saw her shaking, but could not be sure of his sight.
"Why do you not fight me?" Ganondorf whispered to the Sheikah woman.
She did not respond.
"Is it true," he continued, "you loved me once?"
A pause.
Impa returned in a weak voice, "I loved a man by your name once. He died long ago. You, I have never known, nor loved."
Ganondorf's arm quavered, and the blurred outline of his head bowed toward the floor, his red hair brushing Impa's face.
His arm made a fast movement backwards. Impa did not brace for the blow.
Sheik heard himself screaming as Ganondorf's sword slid through the air and did not stop when it reached Impa's midsection, did not stop as the Sheikah woman was jerked backwards and came to rest as the hilt stopped the progress of both blade and body.
The sword was pulled free with a heartless wrench, and Impa fell forward. Her eyes met Sheik's as they emptied of light. A blue flash blinded Sheik as he continued to scream, followed shortly by a painful red blaze. He heard the screaming stop abruptly and wondered how he could be falling asleep when he had to help Impa.
Sleep, the voice told him again, and he could not fight back.
Far across the Hylian continent, two bodies stirred...
Stumbling up the final stairs, Avin cursed to himself and clutched the throbbing wound in his shoulder. He was bleeding again, but at least his ribs had mostly mended. He gratefully sucked in a long breath of cool nighttime air.
He looked around at the roof of the fortress, seeing it deserted but for a dead body. There was a thin clamor of noise from far below. He nervously edged toward the mountain wall out of which the hideout had been carved.
A few minutes passed with no sign of life but Avin's own loud breathing. Bird cries echoed in the distance. Somewhere nearby, a cricket chirped.
"This seems promising," he groaned quietly, smiling at his horrible fortune. No doubt whoever Impa had sent to meet him had been killed. He slid down the wall into a seated position, his legs too tired to hold him up.
He began to wonder about Sheik and Impa, and hoped the two were alright. A vague, absurd notion that he should venture down and check on them appeared and disappeared in his mind. He was too weak for that. He allowed his eyes to close and leaned his head back.
Whether he fought or resigned, he was going to die, and soon. The Gerudo would find him within the next ten minutes, and there'd be no saving him when they did. He chuckled humorlessly, then stopped as he thought of his wife.
"You can get along without me," he told the image of her in his mind, "You're strong."
But the imaginary Malon began to cry, and there was another face, a small face not unlike his, who was also crying. Avin thought he could feel his helplessness pouring over him.
Then a strong wind, too strong be mistaken for an illusion, blew Avin's sweat-soaked hair back. A slow, resonant rushing noise caused him to open his eyes.
"Sweet Goddess!" his mangled voice echoed loudly as he pressed himself against the wall.
Standing before him with its head tilted to the side was an owl easily twice his height. The great bird cooed at him, ruffling its feathers.
"Who-hoo sent you?" the bird asked.
Avin simply stared, realizing he must have died as he sat against the wall and that the beast could only be some messenger of the first hell.
The owl switched feet and turned its head impatiently about, "Quickly! Answer me!"
"Impa," stammered Avin.
"Good enough," the owl spread its huge wings, blocking the moonlight, "grab onto my leg."
"What?!"
"Quickly now!"
Telling himself he was dead anyway, Avin pushed himself up and shuffled forward. The owl made a quick movement and Avin was knocked into a sitting position on the bird's wide foot. The Hylian wrapped his good arm around the scaly leg and let out a moan of terror.
With several mighty flaps of its wings, the great bird lifted itself into the air, outstretched leg held stiff. Avin felt the world drop off beneath him after only a few more wingbeats, and held back a dry retch.
The Gerudo Valley was suddenly tiny beneath them, and the cold night was whipping against Avin's unprepared body. He began to shiver. As they passed quickly over Lake Hylia and out into the open air over the fields, Avin began to look expectantly for Lon Lon Ranch.
During the few minutes over the empty countryside, the owl said nothing, and Avin thought it wise not to speak. He was still unsure if he was dreaming or dead, and feared the idea of angering the huge bird who was keeping him alive. They were flying so swiftly that Avin could hear little but the howl of wind and the steady whistle of soaring.
Then again, when he saw the first peak of Lon Lon's silo over the crest of a hill, he could not help but shout, "There!" and laugh with senseless joy.
The owl turned its head toward him, "I think not. You need healing first-hoo."
"But I can be healed late---"
"No," the bird said firmly, pushing higher above the ranch and flying over it in a burst of speed.
Too tired to protest, Avin admitted to himself that he would in fact need someone to stop the bleeding in his shoulder, and potentially to cure what he suspected was an infected gouge just about his hip. He watched the flowing landscape beneath. It occurred to him for the first time that the owl carrying him was flying with unnatural speed, and he looked back at their progress. Tiny shards of yellow magic rippled behind them, shining as they hit the clouds.
"What are you?" Avin mumbled.
"I am an owl, sir," the bird replied shortly, much to Avin's shock, "but you may call me Kaepora Gaebora."
"Thank you," the Hylian said truthfully, and leaned his aching head against the thick leg beside him.
Kakariko Village appeared before them, obscured by low clouds.
"I will warn you-hoo," the owl said, "things are not as you left them."
AUTHOR'S NOTE:
As always, thanks for reading. If you're reading. I've stopped receiving feedback. :/ You guys alive out there?
If you're like me and have a list of "things to read on the internet" backed up, just let me know you're still reading. Otherwise the breaks between updates will suddenly become insanely long. Also, I PROMISE things look less bleak from here on. In the words of the great Michael Westen, sometimes things have to get worse before they can get better. :) Hope I haven't scared you all off!
Love, Littoria.