Reluctant Allies

Link had no room for gratitude. As soon as the mysterious man infamously known as Sheik cut his bindings, he lunged. Somehow, Sheik managed to twist out of the way and used momentum to drop Link to the ground. Okay, so he was ready for that one.

As Link got his feet, Sheik went about his business of freeing Zelda and Ganondorf as if Link's assault didn't just happen. He stomped over to Gudric, snoring in his drugged unconsciousness, and drew his uncle's sword from its sheath. It was a fine blade, better than the scrap metal the Gerudo had given him. Gripping it firmly, he trudged over to Shiek as Ganondorf's cords were cut free.

Without a word of warning he swung his sword angrily in a high arch, as though to cut the man clean in half. Sheik stepped aside and the sword hit the dirt. Angrily, Link launched into a flurry of attacks, but each swing and thrust of his sword caught only air as the agile man dodged left and right with ease.

"Stop!" yelled Zelda.

Link held fast and glared at the man. "Why are you here?!"

The man spoke surprisingly clearly through the mask. "My presence should be quite obvious given that all but the three of you are unconscious and you are now free to do what you wish, even if it means attacking your rescuer."

"I'd rather rot in the castle dungeons than be rescued by the likes of you."

"I did as was requested by the fairy, so do what you like with your freedom."

"Fairy?" asked Link. "Navi?" Link's eyes darted around looking for her. "Where is she?"

"Couldn't say. She asked a favor of me: to rescue the three of you, but she refused to come along."

"And you just run around doing what fairies ask of you?" asked Link suspiciously.

Ignoring Link's question, Sheik spoke to Zelda, "Gather your gear and your horses. Pack light and travel swiftly." He knelt and touched Impa. "This Sheikah is very resilient and cunning. She will awaken soon and be upon you before you know it."

Link wondered if he knew Impa or if he just held all Sheikah in such high esteem.

The man looked up. "Go!" He slunk into the shadows. Link made out several other shapes running off into the night, some big, some small. Link wondered what kind of misfits would join a rogue like Sheik. Then again, Link was a misfit himself.

The light of early dawn was just breaking over the horizon when Impa slowly began to open her eyes. She blearily began to move, and as she did so, a sharp pain in her neck forced her face into a wince. She reached to her nape and plucked out the culprit and examined it. A small dart delivered by blowgun filled with a sleeping agent.

She stared at it for a while as her mind slowly regained its function. She had seen this dart many times before: Sheik. Many would-be criminals tried their hand at nonlethal darts like these, but they rarely worked as desired. They either did nothing but inconvenience the target with a little neck pain or they would simply kill the victim outright. Sleeping darts were difficult to make. The Shiekah had been using them effectively for centuries.

Sheik. It was a slap in the face of her people. Impa never could decide if he really was Sheikah or if he just impersonated one out of sheer spite. Either option sickened her.

She slowly got to her feet, shaking off the dart's effects. She looked at the tree. The ropes that had bound her prey were predictably in shambles. Her men's horses were gone; Sheik had freed them. She wondered how he managed to get involved in this. Did the Gerudo send him, or did he have his own agenda?

She made her way to her lieutenant and shook him awake. It took him a while, but he managed to push through the daze after plucking out his own dart. "What in the blazes?" he said.

"Sleeping darts. The prisoners are gone."
"Who did this?"

"Sheik."

"Sheik? Why in the name o' the Goddesses would he—"

"I don't know." She grabbed her things resting near the smoking embers of last night's fire and began packing supplies into a sack. "I need you to wake the men and get them back to the castle safely. You'll have to report to the king."

"Ya goin' alone? On foot?"

Impa put her things into the saddle bags saying, "No choice, and I certainly can't catch up with an entire regiment marching at my heels. There's a village not too far from here. I can secure a horse. If I'm lucky, maybe I'll find one of ours grazing on the way. Just make sure you get back to the king."

"Ah, great. Nothin' more lively than bein' the messenger. The king'll have a fit."

"No doubt," she stated unconcernedly as she packed.

"What do I tell him?"

"Tell him I will bring back everything he lost, and perhaps more." Impa slung her sack over her shoulder and started toward a place she dreaded seeing most. Home.

Ganondorf's horse walked easily along the road. It had been a long three day journey of silence, save for a few necessary words here and there when stopping for rest and supplies. It was just as well. He didn't want to talk anyway.

Zelda's horse stepped alongside his while Link rode ahead on the narrow road. She had stayed by his side during the journey never saying more than a cordial word or two, though he sensed more than once that she wanted to talk about what happened at the canyon. How could he explain it when he couldn't explain it to himself? He knew it would frighten her more to hear that it just came out of him swift and sudden, like cursing when you stub your toe.

He kept telling himself that silence was better. Perhaps later he would show them that he was still on their side, even if he didn't agree with their strict pacifism. But the quiet ate at him more and more each day. She was his best friend, and he longed to return to the days they spent bantering and dreaming. So, with great pain, he decided to address it.

"So," he said carefully, "let's talk about it." She was going to ask why he had done it, and he began formulating an answer that would spin it in the best light.

"Can I trust you?"

Ganondorf hesitated, unprepared for a question even more direct, even more difficult to answer. Truthfully, he didn't trust himself lately.

"Yes," he lied.

She looked him in the eyes. "Do you trust me?"

"Yes," he said sincerely. That was very true.

"Do you trust him?" she asked with a nod towards Link.

"No," he said honestly.

"Then you do not trust me," she said flatly, and she nudged her horse to catch up with Link leaving him there to think about her stinging words. He could see her talking to him, and moments later Link slowed his horse until he and Ganondorf were traveling in a pair.

"Just got the 'Do you trust me' test," said Link.

Ganondorf nodded his understanding.

"Didn't pass," he added, as though Ganondorf didn't get the drift.

"It's no secret," Ganondorf said dryly.

"True," replied Link. "Truth is, I think you're dangerous."

"I think you're soft." Ganondorf watched Link's reaction, but if Link's ego felt bruised, it wasn't showing.

"Fair enough," said Link. Thoughtfully, he continued, "The guy you killed, his name was Lance."

"If you want remorse, I—"

"No, no. Lance wasn't a great soldier. We weren't close or anything, but we were brothers in arms. I trained with him day and night for most of life. At first, I thought I was upset because he was my friend, but I think it's because I am only now beginning to realize what's at stake here."

"What's that?"

"Power."

Ganondorf raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Sure. The power of the realm. The king is losing control in the most crushing way possible: his daughter. She's making her own decisions, like a Queen really, but he's not ready to give up control. I had this stupid idea that Impa or the king would understand what we're doing and just go along with it."

"No chance of that."

"Yeah," agreed Link. "I'm coming around to that reality."

"So, does that mean you trust me now?"

Link paused. "I trust that Zelda sees something in you I don't. That'll have to do for now."

Ganondorf pondered Link's precisely worded answered. "Likewise" he said at last.

"I know one thing for sure: we're on the right side of this battle, and no battle is won without teamwork. We don't fully trust each other, but if we can trust Zelda, then let's agree to follow her lead."

Ganondorf found his proposal annoying, since it just so happened that Zelda's last orders coincided with Link's plans. Still, he had to play nice. It wasn't like he could control the power inside him anyway. Better to play along. Link was right, he couldn't fight this battle alone. He needed both of them.

"Agreed."

Link slept fitfully, images of his father's murderer intruding into every dream. He forced himself to wake, and as he did so, he leaned over to check on Navi, who still wasn't there. Had she really sent that horrible man to save them? Didn't she know who he was?

Dawn had just broken. He stretched and yawned, glancing at the smoky remains of their campfire. Ganondorf was buried deep in his sleeping pack, the bundle rising and falling with each snore. Zelda slept much more quietly. He'd give them another hour or so to rest before rousing them for their final day of travel. It wasn't until he rose from his bed that he noticed Impa lying still and asleep on his other side.

Link instantly scrambled for his sword, which he kept with his gear next to him. Just as he found the hilt, he heard her speak.

"What are going to do," she said, "kill me?"

He paused. Without looking back he said, "I mean to defend myself."

"I arrived hours ago," she argued. "If I wanted to hurt you, I could have done so without you ever knowing."

True. Link sighed, released the sword, and faced her. "Pretty bold, sleeping with the enemy."

"I've been riding nonstop for several days to catch up with you. I needed the rest."

Riding? Link looked up and only now noticed a fourth horse standing still with its eyes closed. "So, what now?" Link asked. "You think you can just show up by yourself and we'll just come quietly?"

"No. I mean to join you."

Link glanced at her with suspicion. "You're going to help us? Just like that?"

"I'm going to do my primary duty of protecting Zelda, just like you have sworn to do. Our goals are more aligned than you give credit."

"Aligned? I think you and I have very different ideas of what it means to protect her."

"Perhaps," she said stoically. "Lucky for you, I am outnumbered."

"For now," Link retorted. He got up and nudged Zelda awake gently. As she came to, he let her know the situation.

"Good morning, Impa," said Zelda rather calmly through a morning yawn.

"Good morning, my princess," Impa replied.

It was time to wake Ganondorf, which Link did not look forward to. As he stirred awake, Link braced himself for the reaction. To no one's surprised, when Link gave him a heads up regarding Impa's presence, he leaped from his bag and searched frantically for his sword just as Link had done.

Link tried to calm him. "It's okay! She can't stop us. We're in control here."

"Ganondorf, please listen," echoed Zelda.

Ganondorf ignored them and continued to dig for his weapon within his gear.

Link spoke again hoping to appeal to an earlier promise. "We said we'd trust Zelda, remember? Look, she's not freaking out. Neither am I. It's three of us and one of her."

Ganondorf stopped, frustration scrawled on face. "How do we know there isn't an army of men waiting to ambush us?"

"Because," Zelda said soothingly, "an army can't move so swiftly or so quietly as Impa has done."

Ganondorf cursed and threw his gear to the ground. He glared at Impa. "I trust Zelda, not you." He said to her.

"I don't trust her either," Zelda assured him. "That is why she will accompany us as our prisoner."

Link grinned. For once, the three of them agreed on something.

Impa gently guided her mare as the party moved at an unhurried gait. Link had fastened her wrists with rope, cleverly tying the knots such that she could not wrench her hands free yet she had enough slack between her arms to still manage the reigns.

Zelda and Ganondorf rode side-by-side up ahead. Link was at her side playing the proud prison guard. She could pretend too. If being a prisoner lowered their defenses, so be it. She did not speak all day, waiting only for others to speak first. It had a double effect of both sustaining the illusion of capture yet maintaining her pride and control over the situation. Silence is powerful.

"So, captain," spoke Link.

"I am not your captain."

"Right," he said, "you mentioned that. So, why are you going along with all this?"

"I am your prisoner," she replied.

Link smirked. "Anyone who chooses to be a prisoner is not really one at all. What's your angle? You keeping an eye on us?"

"Should I?"

"You know, you haven't even once tried to hear us out."

"I've heard enough."

"Have you? You know Zelda more than anyone. You know she's smarter than half the people in this kingdom twice her age. You can't give her one minute to make a case?"

Sudden emotion stirred with her. "A case based on limited experience and knowledge, and don't ever accuse me of not giving anyone the credit they deserve. When I say I have heard enough, it means I know more about this situation than all three of you."

Link had that defiant look in his eyes again, the same look he had the day he charged into the burning stables. "Go ahead, enlighten me."

Impa took a deep breath to suppress her rising anger. "You wouldn't listen. You think I am too blinded by my loyalty to the crown so are too quick to dismiss my words."

"I'm loyal too, you know."

"To the crown?" Impa asked incredulously.

"To the Princess."
Impa couldn't suppress a laugh. "Spare me, boy. Do not confuse devotion with infatuation. You aren't serving anyone but yourself."

Link went quiet, so she was right.

"So," she said steering the conversation elsewhere, "what is your plan?"

"You know the gist of it. We're heading to the Sheikah."

"That's it?"

"Well, it's not really my plan. It's a plan. My plan involved returning her to the King and getting a pardon. Her plan is a bit more, well, ambitious."

Impa looked at him with penetrating eyes. "Are you not loyal to the princess?"

"I am," replied Link indignantly.

"Loyalty is more than a sigil, more than a mere declaration of fealty. True loyalty is making your master's thoughts your thoughts. If you are loyal to her, then her plan is your plan. Your failure to understand true loyalty is why you are marked a traitor."

Link said nothing for the rest of the trip. Her last words had clearly cut him deeply.

As evening approached the Sheikah village came into view. Devoid of all pretense, it was homely and practical. No great city gates awaited them, no guards stood watch, and no magnificent palace towered above the citizenry. Only one Sheikah male in ornate robes stood before the tiny town to greet them.

Once they dismounted, Zelda spoke diplomatically, "Good morning, I am—"

"Princess Zelda," said the man as he bowed reverently. "My name is Knowl and I am the elder of our people."

"It is an honor," replied Zelda who bowed respectfully in return.

"News of your kidnapping seemed to have been exaggerated," he said playfully.

"I fared better than expected. The roles have now been reversed," she said with a glance at Impa.

Knowl stepped forward to face Impa. She watched his eyes, which glanced at the ropes around her wrists. "You have come here not as an ally?" he asked.

"No, Elder, I have not." Impa bowed respectfully.

"Hmm, I doubt that very much. Too easily captured for one so cunning."

Knowl then moved to Ganondorf. "A life marked by tragedy. One wonders if your purpose here is noble."

Ganondorf straightened his posture and said, "I just want to help my people. That's all that matters."
"Yes, a noble goal, but it's the means that concern me." He then moved to face Link. "Ah, the warrior who fears nothing, not even a damaged reputation."

"I fear for the safety of my princess," replied Link. Link glared ever so briefly at Impa as he said it.

"Yes, the princess is of great concern to you, though I do not think fear is the motivation." Knowl faced Zelda. "Princess, you seek a great treasure."

Zelda's eyes could not conceal her surprise. "How did you know?"

"Because," replied Knowl serenely, "a lonely king predicted our meeting nearly a thousand years ago."