Sorry this chapter is a little shorter than usual. The next one will be longer, I promise.

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Chapter Eight

"You are disturbing my reading time, my lord."

"It is important." Replied her companion. The voice was unmistakably that of King Ganondorf. Behind the sofa, Zelda shuddered.

"And what pray is so important that you must disturb my peace, my lord?"

"I have a new job for you, Tassia."

"Hah. I have not heard you call me that for a while, sire."

"And I have never before heard you so respectful." He laughed. She smiled at him and leaned back on the soft cushions on her chair. "So, have you caught your little runaway yet?" She asked.

"How did you know about her?"

"I am a spy, sire. It is my job to know everything." She replied, her golden eyes glinting slightly. "You employed me, remember."

"I remember." Replied the monarch, a reluctant smile softening his harsh features ever so slightly. He was a fierce-looking man and had a reputation to match his looks. He was notable for his huge size and bright red hair. He was aggressive, ruthless and powerful. Most of his subjects feared him. His fellow Gerudo's adored him to the extent that he was almost treated as a god amongst them.

Tassia did not adore him or worship him, and she certainly did not fear him. But she respected him. She had known him for most of her life. She glanced up at the powerful man seated next to her and smiled back at him. They had a lot of history together. She had worked hard to get where she was today – she was his right arm, his most trusted advisor, the only one who was allowed to have such close contact with him. He was not a soft or kind person, she knew he was ruthless and ambitious, but that callousness was his strength. Much as it had taken effort for her to win her place in his court, he had worked hard to meet the expectations of his people.

He was a true Gerudo – both of his parents were pureblooded, his family was one of the very few to not be contaminated with Hylian or Catalian blood. Males were very rare in the Gerudo nation. He had chosen to lead his people into war against the Hylians and through sheer strength and determination, they had won and Ganondorf had taken the throne.

And now his rule was almost complete. He just needed the acceptance of the Hylian Judges, Rauru, Impa and Kru – if they could be persuaded to give him the crown, then the Hylians would hail him as King. He hoped that now Daphnes was safely out of the way, he would finally be able to win over the stubborn trio.

"What else have you learned, my sweet?" He asked. His tone of his voice belying the endearment he used.

Nabooru met his fierce gaze with her blandest look. "I am told she ran because you threatened to marry her."

"Oh that." Her companion chuckled maliciously at this. "I imagine that has made you jealous. Do you know why I made you bring her here?"

"I assumed that there was a reason. However, if it was merely to amuse yourself, I am compelled to inform you, sire, that I do not find that joke particularly funny."

"Ah, you are always the same, aren't you, Nabooru?" He flicked her cheek carelessly with a finger, which was for him, a tender gesture. "You are so hot-headed."

"I may be hot-headed," She replied, with a dangerous edge to her voice, "But I am not a fool. You would do well not to undermine your status with your fellow people. Promising to marry that Hylian wench will win you no favours with your enemies."

Ganondorf laughed again, the noise was sinister. In her hiding place, Zelda cringed. "I have no great opinion of my enemies." He stated calmly. "They are unimportant and my people shall follow wherever I lead them. That is the Gerudo law – we are bound to follow the strongest amongst us. I am He. If any one of my people chooses to doubt the wisdom of my directions, then let her come and stand before me and challenge my right to lead." He glared down at his companion, his dark eyes glinting dangerously. "Do you dare defy me, Nabooru?"

"I do not seek to defy you, Lord." She replied coolly, no trace of fear sounding in her voice. She met his eyes squarely, a little contemptuously even. "I fought many others to gain my position within your army, sire. I would not throw away all that effort for nought."

"I am glad." He said. There was little in his manner to say whether he was pleased or indifferent. To the Gerudo, betraying emotion was betraying their strength. They prided themselves on being strong and ruthless, cunning and skilled. One had to learn to be selfish. One had to learn to deny oneself.

"What is my mission, sire?" Asked the spy, after a short pause.

"Seek out Aginaghn. He knows something about the child."

"And what of the child? My guards tell me she transformed herself into a wolf and ran off."

"Pah - an illusion no doubt. I trust my guards are still chasing after her. I will find her again." He shrugged. "She cannot run forever."

"It is true, my lord?" Nabooru studied her long fingers for a moment and frowned. "Is she a sage?"

"Why do you think I had you capture her?" Retorted Ganondorf, a slight smile again crossing his dark face. "What do you think?"

"From what the guards have told me, she showed no signs of greatness until tonight, and even then, her magic was nothing spectacular! Of course, I have not yet had the full report from my girls, but I believe she accomplished nothing more than Koume or Kotake could do." Nabooru met his eyes again and frowned. She rarely questioned her leader's decisions but she admitted to herself, she was curious by the significance of the girl. She had been ordered to capture her as a matter of urgency and then had been told to assassinate Daphnes. She had no idea what he was planning with her.

The girl was young and beautiful and was the granddaughter of the most prominent of the Hylian Judges. She was related to most of the prominent Hylian families. Nabooru personally wondered if her King's reasons for ordering Zelda's capture were that innocent. Surely he knew that an alliance with her would be the surest, easiest way to buy the loyalty of the Hylian people.

Staring up at her leader, she could read nothing in his eyes. She did not expect to, for he was a Gerudo through and through. She would never be allowed to see any weakness in him. She would never see her feelings reciprocated. All she could do was serve him to the best of her ability and continue to obey him in everything.

Ganondorf was either unaware or unconcerned about her feelings. He watched her critically. Out of all of his subordinates, she was the most valued of them all. She was the most loyal and the best soldier. She was a skilled thief and assassin and a talented spy. She was his eyes and ears amongst the people. She was also the most beautiful woman he had ever beheld. She was the epitome of what a Gerudo woman should be – strong, proud and magnificent.

"What are the guards saying she did?" He asked.

"When she ran, there was a green light surrounding her and not even the swiftest could catch her." Replied Nabooru. "And she shed those chains as if they were ribbons. And then there was the transforming into a wolf."

"I see. So she does have some magic ability." Mused Ganondorf. "I thought she must have, Daphnes guarded her so very well. I knew there was more to her than he told me. Interesting." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Perhaps she does really have the power to awaken the Chameleon Stone after all."

"The Chameleon Stone?" Nabooru had heard her King talk of this only once before. Once glance into his dark eyes convinced her that he was not going to enlighten her anytime soon.

"You are to visit Aginaghn and discover from him, through whatever means necessary, the whereabouts of this 'Chameleon Stone' and the girl's involvement in it. Remember, whatever means necessary. I expect you to report back to me by the next full moon."

Nabooru sat forward from her cushions and bowed her head. "If that is what you will, my Lord."

"Good girl." He said and allowed her kiss his hand. He remembered only a short time ago Zelda biting the same hand. He vowed to repay the little wench for that. If she were not so necessary for his plans, he would order Nabooru to kill her. His eyes glinted as he watched his captain bowed over his hand. She was extraordinarily beautiful, he thought. Her sunset red hair spilled over his arm and he found his fingers aching to touch her tanned skin.

She glanced up at him, and her lips quirked into a smile. "Sire?"

Ganondorf allowed his hand to touch her face. Of course, it would not do to show any weakness before her but secretly he admitted that she was a woman a man could be proud of. He knew he could rely on her to accomplish her mission. Regardless of the personal cost, she would do whatever she had to do to please him.


Link waited until the door had been closed behind the Gerudos for a long time before he helped Zelda move from their hiding place. She saw that the look of amusement was as virulent in his eyes as ever before.

"So, you're a sage, huh?" He whispered as he led her through the castle.

"I don't know." Admitted Zelda. "I don't know anything about myself really. Nobody ever tells me anything."

"I know what you mean." Said Link. "I mean, you didn't tell me you could swap bodies with my dog."

"They said 'wolf'."

"Nah." Laughed Link. "She's just a big dog. I suppose in the dim light, she might appear to be a little wolfish, but she's just a Hylian Terrier."

Zelda remembered the "dog's" thick fur brushing against her waist and thought about Hylian Terriers. They were never bigger than mid calf height and were brown. She remembered seeing a flash of pale fur. She glanced up at the dogs owner and smiled. "So where is she now."

"Probably running for her life still. I wouldn't worry about it, Amber can take perfect care of herself. She'll find me." Link grinned at the thought of his precious pet galloping one step ahead of the hapless Gerudo guards. There was no way they would catch her. Last time Amber decided to 'do a runner', Link had spent five hours running around a field chasing after her. The game only ended when Link had dropped from exhaustion. Obviously feeling benevolent, Amber had allowed him to catch a hold of her an hour later.

"So what do we do now?" Zelda asked.

"Isn't it obvious. It behoves us to go investigate the Lizard Pebble." He replied.

"What?"

"Lizard Pebble - Chameleon Stone." Said Link. "I like my name for it better!" He noted that his companion looked a little tired, and thin, and wary so he smiled, in what he hoped was a reassuring manner, and said "I suppose I could take you back to Impa first."

"Would you?"

"Maybe."

Zelda sighed and realised that whatever happened, it was going to be a long day.

Link ran ahead, chuckling to himself about something and she sighed again. A very, very long day.


I hoped you liked the slight whiff of Ganondorf / Nabooru lurve! I can tone it up or down, whichever you prefer. And thanks for the ideas re. the ZeLink elements. You'll have to keep reading to find out what happens to them...

And if you want to make me a happy author, please hit that review button. Tell me what ya think! Thanks for reading X