Dinner Guests
Link cried out in pain as he hit the dirt. Navi emerged from his cap fretfully orange.
"A fairy?" said Aveil. "How novel."
The knife was lodged deep; nevertheless, rage consumed Link. Ignoring the agony, he scrambled toward Aveil in a pathetic attempt to grapple her to the ground. Aveil simply stepped away laughing, enraging him all the more. "Come here and fight, you coward," he yelled, but the taunt only added to his humiliation. Navi meanwhile pestered Aveil like a bright red angry fly. The multitude of women around him erupted into a chorus of laughter and jeering. Only Nabooru and Ganondorf remained silent, and it was Ganondorf who eventually came to his aid.
"Enough!" yelled Ganondorf, and all the women, including Aveil, stopped laughing instantly. As he helped Link up he said to them, "All this time, where have you been? Did any of you open my prison door? No! This one man did what you couldn't!"
Aveil confronted Ganondorf angrily, and through wincing pain Link noticed the other women gasping scandalously. "How dare you!" spat Aveil. "We tried! Countless lives have been thrown away trying to bring you home! Look at us," she yelled, tousling her own hair in irritation. "We don't exactly blend in!" Aveil stomped over to Link, and despite his silent protest she grabbed his right arm and hoisted him. He tried to grab back at her, but the pain in his leg was getting the better of him. "This boy only succeeded because Harkinian couldn't see it coming! It was an inside job! And don't think we didn't try to buy our way into that as well.
"Congratulations!" she hissed at Link. "You're the first soldier to turn traitor, and you did it for free." She chucked his arm loose forcing him to flop embarrassingly back to the dirt. Aveil marched back to Ganondorf yelling, "Shall I introduce you to all the mothers whose children died in vain for you?"
Silence permeated the atmosphere as the women waited to see Ganondorf's reaction. Link caught a glimpse of anticipation in Aveil's countenance, as though she hoped her sharp tongue would provoke a response.
"I'm sorry," said Ganondorf, "I didn't realize." The apology rippled through the crowd like a pestilence. Disappointment filled Aveil's eyes as many of the onlookers turned away in disgust. Such acts of contrition were clearly not acceptable in a tribe that thrived on the raw strength of its members, which gave Link an idea.
"I'm not sorry!" yelled Link, garnering Aveil's attention. The Gerudo seem to respect boldness. He gritted through the pain and stood to his feet. He puffed out his chest as much as a wounded person could. "I'm not sorry for your losses. I don't even care whether your so-called king is returned to you. To me, he's just a commodity. I'm not here for a family reunion. I came to bargain."
Aveil looked at him in silence. Before her wobbled a bleeding, defeated soldier making outrageous demands. Beside her was the great Gerudo leader they had longed hoped for, yet submissive and weak. Whether or not she could see Link's showmanship for the ruse that it was remained unclear to him, but it seemed to work well enough. Finally she said rather calmly, "Whether or not I give the princess to you is up to her."
"Up to her?"
"Yes. After tonight, perhaps she won't want to come with you."
Could this be true?
Aveil announced, "Our Ganondorf is home. Let us have a feast in his honor." The Gerudo women started immediately to work as Aveil turned to Nabooru. Motioning to Link she said, "Clean and mend his wound and seat him at tonight's banquet table. I'll see to the princess. It's time for a little royal reunion."
"Why tend my wound?" Link asked Aveil pointedly.
"We're not monsters, boy."
"Then why all the stabbing?!" he exclaimed through gritted teeth.
Aveil only grinned.
Navi responded back with a larger-than-fairy raspberry. Link collapsed.
Zelda stood upon a moss-covered ground that felt cool and plush beneath her bare feet. The tree canopy above whispered to her as a gentle breeze waltzed with some wayward flower pedals. Rays of sunlight caressed her as a distant songbird offered a pleasant accompaniment. She breathed deep the sweet smell of spring life. Zelda had dreamed of the forest many times, but never had it felt so real.
Magically, hundreds of bright lights emerged from the forest floor, swirling around her. Fairies! Zelda giggled as her nightgown billowed amidst the amusing whirlwind, and on impulse she twirled on the spot. One by one the fairies departed until only one remained and the dance was over. She was a beautiful little thing. The fairy flew a short distance away, then motioned Zelda to follow.
Zelda willingly followed the fairy at a brisk pace until she came to a stop at the edge of an open glade glowing in the warmth of daylight. At the center of the clearing stood a young man clothed in green. The fairy flew to him and rested upon his shoulder, and he gave the fairy a friendly poke with his finger prompting the two to laugh like old friends. Zelda took gingerly steps toward the boy, who in turn invited her with a welcoming smile. When she reached him, he gently took her hands into his.
Without words, the man led her in a dance as the fairy flittered about them. She could not help but get lost in the moment, her heart quickening with each step. Each second filled her with a lifetime of joy until the duet came to a stop. In spite of herself, Zelda blushed as she looked the gentleman in the eyes. Zelda knew of romance from books, and she had always figured she could live without it. Feeling romance, however, changes everything.
Her eyes drifted away from his and settled upon a lone figure staring back at her from the trees. Ganondorf gazed at her, his face adorned in betrayal. Ashamed, Zelda looked away and saw her father at the opposite end of the clearing, stern and proud as ever. The boy in green released her hands in an obvious gesture: choose. Zelda felt a twinge of panic at the thought of such a difficult position: a father's love she always craved, the brotherly love of an old friend, or a romantic love sensual and new. Ganondorf and her father silently walked to her, until all three choices were at arm's length.
Zelda turned to her father first. He was always the first in her life, no matter how much she tried to hide the pain of his neglect. She reached out to touch him, but as she did so, he faded away into nothingness. Tears emerged swiftly as she cried, "Daddy, no! Don't go!" The echo of her weeping was the only reply.
She turned to face Ganondorf. Lifelong isolation bonded them more deeply than any other friendship could. He truly knew her. She reached out to touch him, but he backed away. Turning his back on her, he left the glade without a second glance.
Lastly, she turned to the young man. A light began to glow from his chest, and Zelda was overwhelmed with a sense of security. She knew he wouldn't fade or walk away, so she reached out to touch the light of his heart. Affection rippled through her and she felt unsurpassed joy once more.
The boy never stopped smiling, nor did he flinch or waver as his body turned to dust right before her eyes and gradually blew away in the breeze. Then the fairy's light flickered out as it floated sadly down to the ground, leaving her all alone. The birds stopped singing, the breeze fled, and the daylight was choked away by dark clouds. Zelda fell to her knees upon dry, cracked earth in the center of a dead clearing surrounded by lifeless trees.
Zelda was awoken by the sound of her name. Glad to escape such a terrible dream, she willingly returned to consciousness. The hard bed left her stiff, and the dream had made her sleep restless, but she still felt better having enjoyed even a modest amount of rest. Aveil was sitting at the foot of her bed, smiling that roguish smile of hers. "Bad dream?" she asked.
"Yes, actually," she replied. Feeling a bit vulnerable she asked, "Have you been watching me long?"
"Only for a few minutes. Given your expression, it looked like you might be at the interesting part, and I didn't want to interrupt."
"How… er… kind of you," said Zelda uneasily.
"We having a celebratory feast tonight and you are in dire need of cleaning."
"You're inviting me to dinner?"
"It's a bit confusing, I know," replied Aveil. She almost seemed playful. "You must be thinking 'Am I a prisoner. Am I a guest?' The answer is 'yes' and 'yes.' Either way, I wouldn't possibly miss the look on your face tonight when you see our special guest."
"Who?"
"Now, now, Princess. Mustn't ruin the surprise."
Ganondorf stared at his reflection. He wore a dark blue robe embroidered in gold with fanning sleeves that extended beyond his hands. The open rope revealed a maroon tunic embellished by a silver bejeweled belt. Silk leggings with hand stitching finished the ensemble of a king.
Gone was his long, ragged, and filthy hair. Gone was the stench of prison life. In its place came the smells of perfumes and oils. Hand maidens tied his hair into elaborate braids locked into place with fine jewelry. He looked regal. More importantly he felt regal. For the first time in his life, he couldn't see a monster.
On the table was his demon carving, his name still etched into its base. A few days ago, the statue was his only comfort, odd as it was. It was a secret expression of his hidden insecurities. Now, he pitied the man that had crafted it. He tossed it out the window. He didn't need it anymore. He was not a monster after all.
His thoughts turned to Zelda. What would she think? Were they friends only because she had pitied the boy locked away in a cell? He shook his head in an effort to rid himself of doubt. Once again he looked in the mirror. Here was a man no longer crushed by the weight of oppression. This was a better, more desirable man. Surely she would see that.
"Ouch!" Link grimaced as Nabooru flushed the deep wound in his leg with water.
"Take it easy!" demanded Navi as she uninvitingly supervised the operation. She zipped around in green streaks giving orders Nabooru didn't need. Link appreciated Nabooru's patience since the cleaning was painful enough as it was.
"One more time," said Nabooru as she reached for another clean cloth. She shooed Navi away before plunging the cloth deep into the wound to scrap away that last of the desert dirt he had acquired during his angry tirade with Aveil. Nabooru rinsed the wound one more time, and after a reluctant final approval from Navi, she took to work suturing it with strong thread.
With the worst of the pain behind him, Link felt a surge of sincere gratitude. "Thanks," he said finally.
Keeping her eyes on her work, Nabooru acknowledged, "My mother can be a bit… unpredictable."
"She's your mother? Now I see where you get your aggressive side." Link rubbed his jaw theatrically. It didn't hurt anymore, of course, except for the bruising of his ego.
Nabooru grinned. "All Gerudo have an aggressive side. My mother, however, likes to toy with her victims." Her expression went a little sour and she paused ever so briefly before saying, "It's not simply about victory or defeat with her. She wants to know what people are made of. A warrior will stab who she must, but my mother… she twists the knife. She's the only warrior I'll ever fear." Link watched her quickly shake her thoughts away and continue her labor.
Nabooru expertly completed the task of closing and dressing his injury. She left the room and momentarily returned with a water bucket and some clothes. "I take my leave. Wash up and change into these," she said, indicating the folded clothes she set upon the floor beside him.
"What about my uniform?"
"Don't worry," said Nabooru, "we won't steal your clothes. They'll be washed and returned to you." On her way out the door, she added, "Try not to get your bandages wet."
A short while later Link was clothed in a plain white tunic over tan pants cinched together with a plain rope. He wondered if Aveil had chosen this attire; he personally would have preferred his dirty military uniform over this. "What do you think?"
Navi cocked her head and finally decided, "Not bad."
"Yeah, not great either."
Navi sighed. "Fretting over Miss Prissy Pants?"
Link furrowed his brow. "That's harsh, Navi, even for you. What have you got against her anyway?"
"Oh nothing," said Navi as Link adjusted the belt in an effort to make the most of the outfit.
"Look," said Link taking on a somber tone. "I think… perhaps you should stay in here during dinner."
Navi immediately turned gray. "Why?" she asked in her smallest voice.
"It's just that," stammered Link, "I know you make jokes about her to tease me, but I know you mean some of those things too, even if it's just a little bit."
Her head sank as she listened to his harsh words. Link's chest began to ache but he pressed on. "Navi, I don't expect you to understand. I like this girl. I don't know why. I don't even know her, but I do. And if you can't accept that, then… well, that's a problem. So, for tonight, I'd like you stay here. I'm nervous enough as it is and I'm worried your jabs will make things worse."
Navi said nothing. She simply flittered out of the room. Link hated drawing such a hard line, but he also wished she could be more understanding. It wasn't their first real fight though. They'd work though it like good friends always do. Link took a deep breath, collected himself, and headed to dinner.
Zelda's loaned dress was pleasantly comfortable and attractive, and the bath was quite refreshing. Several hand maidens had brushed and braided her hair. It was a most unusual feeling being treated like a princess in a place that did not otherwise seem to respect her station or that of her father. Still, it was nice to have shed the filth of many days' travel.
Aveil, who had remained with her during the entirety of her preparations, commented, "Shall we go, or do you need a few more moments to revel in your reflection?"
Zelda replied kindly, "The dress is beautiful. Thank you. I am ready."
Aveil led her into a hall were everyone was already seated at a great stone table. The aroma of roasted meat and vegetables made her mouth water. As she approached the head of a table, she saw a Gerudo man in magnificent robes. Had Aveil lied to her about there being only one Gerudo male?
"Hello, Zelda," he said when she reached her seat beside him.
"Ganondorf?" she carefully replied.
"Yes," he said.
She hardly recognized him. A mere week had passed since she last laid eyes on him yet this was hardly the compliant, tattered boy she grew up with. She soon found confirmation in his eyes. While he looked like a king, she could see that he felt insecure in this new role. "How?" she asked.
"Him," he said, and he motioned toward a young man on the other side of her seat.
He had blondish hair and a face that seemed somehow familiar. The gentlemen stood and greeted her nervously. "The name's Link," he said as he fidgeted, apparently unsure on how to greet royalty. She nodded politely, and he continued. "I am a soldier in training in your Royal Guard. I brought him here to secure your safe return." She heard Aveil scoff quietly in reaction to his stiff introduction.
The news was good indeed. She said to Ganondorf, "So, my father has released you!"
"Not exactly," replied Ganondorf. "Sit. Eat," he said. "We'll fill you in."
Zelda listened eagerly to the story as she ate, nearly choking when she learned about Link's treason. When it was all said and done, the room went quiet in anticipation of her reaction. She wasn't sure what to say other than the truth. "It could be worse."
"'It could be worse?'" repeated Link, appearing a bit disheartened.
"Yes. Whatever anger I might have felt at your treachery is moderated by the joy I feel in seeing my friend returned at last where he belongs." She emphasized 'friend' for Aveil's benefit.
"Fair enough," replied Link. "If it's any consolation, I'm not thrilled about my so called treachery any more than you are."
"So what drove you to it?"
Link hesitated a moment before saying, somewhat forcefully, "You know. It was the right thing to do, I guess."
Zelda suspected that wasn't his true motivation, but she decided not to probe and instead asked Aveil, "So, what now?"
Link prompted also, "Yeah, are you releasing her or not?"
Aveil spoke through the giant chunk of meat in her mouth. "I told you, boy, the choice is hers after tonight."
"I can choose to leave?" asked Zelda in disbelief.
"Of course," said Aveil nonchalantly. "You just have to listen to our story first."
Zelda felt a bit annoyed at her cavalier attitude. "Then why kidnap me in the first place?"
"Listen, Princess," said Aveil, pointing to Ganondorf. "We took you because your father took him. We hoped we could use you to get back our lives, but that boy gave us a nice little bonus gift."
"What do you mean by 'get back your lives'?"
"Look around you," she said. "This is it. This is all that's left of the Gerudo. One male born every hundred years is all we get, and when that's taken from us for thirteen years, things go from bad to worse. Our numbers are dropping like flies."
"But he is here now. Surely you can—"
"It's rude to interrupt, Princess." Zelda, Ganondorf, and Link all stiffened at her sudden seriousness. "It's not about breeding, if that's what you think. The Gerudo don't simply need him for offspring. Tell me. What's the first thing you would wonder about a race with only one male every hundred years?"
"Well, it would seem vulnerable. Should that one male die, the entire race would go extinct."
"Exactly. So the next question is?"
"How have you survived through all these centuries?"
"Good girl," said Aveil. "We are the design of Din, the Goddess of Power. She wanted to build a formidable race, a people imbued with supernatural abilities. Of course, the Three Great Goddesses never do anything apart. They balance each other out, you know. The Goddess of Wisdom, with her obscene fascination with order, felt that such a race would easily dominate the others, so she decided that only the males would have such power. The Goddess of Courage, as you know, views all life as precious. It was her decision that there be only one male at a time and that supernatural power would bind him to the rest of the Gerudo spiritually."
Ganondorf cautiously interjected, "What kind of powers?"
Aveil grinned at his curiousity. "All in good time, my lord. You see, Princess, our males survive because they are stronger in ways that no one else in Hyrule will ever experience, but that power comes at a price. The power that binds him to us also binds us to him. Our presence fills and strengthens his spirit as his presence does ours. When he leaves us—or is taken from us—then the spiritual disconnection weakens him."
Zelda understood where this was going. "And in his absence, what happens to the females?"
"We become weak also. Spiritual weakness means physical weakness. We've lost far more of our sisters to disease and famine than we have to battle."
Zelda's heart sank at the realization.
"That's right, your father has been slowly murdering us."
"I don't understand," she lamented. "Why would he do this?"
"So?" interrupted Link. "Ganondorf's back. The spirit connection thing should kick back in now, right?"
Aveil's expression turned grim. "A few years ago, maybe. But our numbers are too few and he's been gone too long."
Link got visibly irritated, "Then what is all this? Revenge? You just wanna stick it to the crown? I thought the whole point was to get your king back."
"No," replied Aveil. "We just wanted Zelda. Ganondorf was an accidental bonus."
"You wanted me? Why?" asked Zelda bewildered.
"Princess, we stole you because you're the only one that can save our people."