Chapter XV - The Legend of the Gerudo
On a late afternoon, Aldar crossed the great hall. Alone he headed up the staircase. The soldiers who guarded the magnificent door saluted to him before they stepped apart to make the way free to the room behind.
Inside, the knights stood on both sides next to the ornamented windows, their weapons at hand to defeat or even strike down anybody that entered the throne room unlawfully. They did not move a muscle when Aldar crossed the room.
He looked at the throne in front of him on which he saw her, Zelda, the one he served for since she was born and would continue until his own life would come to an end. Once he stood nearby, he knelt and bowed down with his face directed to the ground when he requested, "Your Majesty, I have to speak with you."
Though he did not see Zelda, he heard how she stood up from her throne. Once she was in front of him, she said in her friendly manner, "Highgeneral Aldar, I do appreciate the formality you are willing to offer me. Still, I do not feel this to be a necessity between you and me." Her voice possessed a demanding undertone.
"But Your Majesty…," stumbled Aldar when he lifted up his head to look at her, but she already interrupted him when she dragged on his ear. A habit that remained from her youth and she often did it when she disagreed with him.
"There is no place for 'buts' and its synonyms." Her voice made clear that she did not accept complaints, albeit she sounded lighthearted. "Was it not you who swore to follow his queen's orders, regardless of the matter as long as she is the one who demands them from you?"
"Yes, of course. I would never forget my oath, madam." Though the moment he spoke out the last word, he earned a piercing glare from her. "I mean Zelda."
"In the days my father still stayed among us, you were far less stiff in my presence. I wish you would behave in your old ways again." Even though Zelda tried to hide her disappointment, Aldar knew her far too well to not notice it.
"I understand it, but back then, it was another relationship between you and me. I was still under the regency of his Old Majesty and assigned as personal protector of yours once the war had ended. Why the last duty of mine hasn't changed, my position requires to treat you in the way I have treated your father," explained Aldar. Even after all the years Zelda held the reign over the kingdom, he still felt disrespectful if he addressed her by the first name in the presence of his men or any other.
"Let me assure you anew that the years before I succeeded my father have far more significance and furthermore meaning to me compared to our current positions. As you know, I appreciate it if my people behave in the same manner in my presence as they do outside these walls." Her view was demanding and even though Aldar knew it before, he still had a hard time to follow this specific order.
Zelda must have noticed his inner struggle and did not elaborate the topic further. "Aldar, what is your reason you have taken the time to come to speak to me?" He thought how he should tell her, but it was not even necessary as she must have guessed what was on his mind. "Is the reason him again?"
Although Zelda's expression told she wished it to be otherwise, he could not spare her the truth. "I'm afraid I have to affirm the question. I'm also afraid that it can't end well if we don't act now and let him continue in his path. Yet I think we better keep this only between us." Aldar took a look around. Albeit he only ordered men he trusted to the heart to stay within Zelda's reach, he believed the conversation was meant for their ears alone.
Zelda agreed to his proposal when she left the throne room together with him to go to the conference hall. In there, Aldar ordered the soldiers inside to guard the entrance. Once they were alone, they both took a seat at the great table, sitting around a corner in order to face each other.
"Now, Aldar, what gives you the fear that letting him perform freely might end in a disaster?" Zelda's once friendly expression became severe.
"I don't think this needs many words. You've already seen what he's capable of. While I have to admit that Ganondorf fulfills his duties without questions and is successful at them, his methods aren't. They aren't at all." Aldar had to hold himself back when he continued energetically, "Everywhere he leaves, the surroundings look more like a battlefield full of bloodshed rather than anything else. When he's involved, it's a rarity to get any of the targets alive. None of my men has such a poor ratio of deaths compared to captures, or comes even close to his."
Zelda's expression told she was not keen to hear it, yet she remained sober. "Has he ever harmed a civilian or taken an innocent life on his missions?"
"No. No, he hasn't. It was always only those who were branded as outlaws beforehand that additionally drew their swords against him." Aldar grinded his teeth because even though Ganondorf's behavior was despicable, it was not unlawful and his own hands were bound as long as he had not the permission of the Sovereign of Hyrule to take actions against him. "Zelda, this man, he is dangerous. It's not only his power, but also his pride. Not to mention his unbreakable willpower. I've told you how reluctantly he acted the day I first met him, despite him being a slave, which is still up to today unbelievable for me. Yet it shows his true nature. I assume that this a remnant of his origin that even despite he has no memory of it, is deep rooted inside him, never meant to be forgotten."
Zelda carefully listened to him, Aldar could tell so by the glimmer in her eyes. She remained silent, to his chagrin as this meant she still was not convinced to take actions. "I'm afraid… No, I'm certain that if he gets to know his origin, he will follow their road. He might have been young when he was separated, but still, he had spent his early childhood among his kind and it must have shaped him significantly. And if he furthermore learns the position he holds in his tribe…"
Aldar paused. Just to think about that scenario sent a spill down his spine. It would be a horrible one. Probably even topping the cruelties he had already witnessed eye to eye in the Great War itself and afterwards when they hunted down the remains of the Gerudo. There was no doubt that once Ganondorf got to know it all, he would not hesitate even one second to strive for vengeance.
Considering the consequences he had to suffer because his tribe lost the war, and instead of being raised in a well-protected community, he had to grow up in a deadly arena, it would be more than enough to make him go berserk. Especially due to his proud and rebellious nature. In regard to his skills, he could easily create a massacre among the Hylians. Only few Aldar deemed capable of dealing with him.
"Aldar, do not think my memory has forgotten the legend you are referring to." He was brought back from his horrible vision and looked at Zelda, hoping she would finally understand and especially support him. "The old legend which is only known to few Gerudo and even fewer outsider until its time comes to rise again. This is a telling that a sovereign should never forget. That once a century a man is born into their bloodline and that he alone is destined to become their king by birthright. The evidence for whom this chosen one is, is obvious for those who know this legend."
Bewildered, Aldar stared at her. He was unable to understand her hesitation of taking actions as she knew, just like him, right from the moment they saw Ganondorf for the first time, whom he was: The Gerudo King of this century and therefore the arch nemesis of them, the Hylians.
"Then why do you hesitate? The reasons I've given you before are enough proof that he is a threat not only for those who cross his way, but for the entire kingdom. Your kingdom that I serve for." Zelda showed no signs of giving in to his pledges. "But even when this is not enough, have I to tell you how many of the greatest sorcerers of the past millennia were Gerudo Kings? And must I remind you which type of magic they used? I know that the history books erased all those facts about the Gerudo Kings and maybe not even a handful know about them and their skills, but it was the black arts, the most powerful and dangerous magic that exists in our world, reached by none other. Able to take thousands of lives, throw misery above whole tribes and even used for atrocities beyond human comprehension."
Aldar braced his hands on the table as not only his voice but his body began to tremble before he concluded in an urgent manner, "The most powerful warlocks, which includes every single Gerudo King who reached his adolescence, were all perfect masters in those arts. Who knows how the war would have ended if Ganondorf just had been twenty years older and already followed their legacy. Luckily for us, he is not, but when he becomes aware of these powers... I don't even want to think about what massacres this ruthless man can commit with them."
Zelda did not intervene. Aldar hoped that she would finally see Ganondorf the way he does, but her expression told, she did not and she soon emphasized it verbally as well. "Still you know, even though you do not say, that he is neither versed in the black arts nor in any other school of magic. Furthermore, none of our own people carry knowledge about the Gerudo's sorcery and the women who taught their male successors their secrets have presumably fallen victim to the war. What remains is that he is a swordsman, skilled indeed, yet I do believe that you as well as other of your men are able to handle him. He might be powerful but he is neither untouchable nor immortal. Though acting against him will only prove to be a necessity if the vision you are foretelling becomes a reality."
Aldar desperately ran fingers through his hair. He did not understand. He just could not understand. "In all honor, Zelda, but why are you defending him even though it's obvious he's a high threat for our kingdom?"
"Because I wish not to end one more life solely based on the aversion of Gerudo and Hylian," responded Zelda without hesitation. Her voice indicated she did not allow any complaints about it. "The Great War has claimed enough of those and you know, even though the end arrived when I was still a child, I never believed this war to be the right answer to our differences. I know there is no meaning in bewailing the past, yet the future is still a time we can shape. Which means, Aldar, you cannot blame Ganondorf for who he is. Therefore, as long as he does not give you a reason besides his origin to take action against him, I do not wish him to be punished with a capital sentence." A smile appeared on her face. "Moreover, even though I know your motives for taking him from the arena, ordering his execution would be a waste of public funds. I, as a queen, cannot support this either."
Aldar grinned in response, though it was more desperate than pleased. Back then, he was indeed only at the arena to get distraction from all his duties. Yet of all times, it had to be in his rare leisure that he faced his arch nemesis. The one he did not even know existed at the current time and even if he did, he thought that one would have been swallowed up by the sand after one of their raids at the Gerudo settlements.
Once he had seen Ganondorf, he truly had a hard time trying to hold himself back from rushing into the arena and finish him off himself. He was relieved when he saw him losing, only to witness he still breathed and the audience wished to spare his life as not one of them knew who he really was. He hoped that the wounds would take care of his archenemy at last, but when he returned and asked Azett about him, his hopes were crushed.
Aldar had to meet him himself because he could not believe that this Gerudo had no memories of his origin or past. But it proved to be true as he doubted that Ganondorf could keep such a straight façade. His nature was far too short-tempered to remain that undisturbed in the presence of his enemies if he had known.
Still, the problem remained that he could not ignore the fact that a Gerudo King lived in this kingdom, bound to a master or not. Although the chances were slim for him to get free, he could very well imagine Ganondorf would have found a way to either attend that tournament again or another solution to escape. And by any means, he could not even risk this small chance of such a man roaming around freely in Hyrule.
He decided to offer Ganondorf to join the army, but despite all his sayings, he never intended to make it a reality. Albeit he could have paid Azett the same amount to let Ganondorf get murdered in an arena fight or do it himself when he was still considered his property instead of taking him along, those methods were against his senses of honor. Ganondorf might be strong, but without the magical powers of the Gerudo King's bloodline, this one would not stand up in a battle of steel against him. He intended to confront him later once that one would have set off in the night after his release from slavery.
However, it never happened. Ganondorf decided, against all of Aldar's own beliefs, to stay. He had never spent even one single thought on that possibility. At this point, it would have been the best if he had broken his word of letting Ganondorf join by pretending he would never be loyal enough. Yet, after he was the one who insisted on taking him along, he could not break such a promise in front of his men. He just could not. It was his honor as a knight that forbade this behavior. Again.
Back at the castle, he hoped Zelda would declare him a public enemy and order his immediate execution. But she did not, for the same reasons she had told him now. To act behind her back was out of question. In this specific case, he did not fear to commit high treason and suffer from its consequences, which would have meant he would have followed Ganondorf on the road to the afterworld soon, but he would never betray Zelda. Never.
Yet the worst was when he, on the first day, returned to Ganondorf and noticed his affection towards her. He had a hard time to refrain from losing himself and piercing him with his sword. The reluctance shining in his eyes once he warned him to forget about it made it even worse, but when he tried once more to convince Zelda to execute him, she insisted he should take him into the army.
Aldar could not get rid of the feeling that there was more for Zelda why she wanted to spare Ganondorf's life. But alone the thought of the Queen of Hyrule and the Gerudo King sharing a deeper relationship made him feel sick. It was disgusting, just utterly disgusting to the core. And it was one of the very rare matters where he was unsure if he could hold himself back from massacring and slaughtering Ganondorf if he ever got to know that he made any, even the slightest, advances towards her.
Before he would get even more enraged on these sickening thoughts, he stopped envisioning that scenario and instead addressed Zelda again. "And the decision of letting him live is final? There is no way you will allow me to take further action against him?" He asked more because of politeness rather than he had any hopes left that Zelda would decide otherwise.
"Yes, Aldar. These are my final words." Her expression softened once she added, "Still, the way you admonish his misdemeanor in the army is within your and your men's might to enforce. You are aware that you have my entire trust in regard to any matters concerning it." Zelda smiled at him once he had nodded in agreement and it lightened his mood at least a bit.
However, Ganondorf would still prove to be a hard case to come by, because even though he got punished for his misdoings, he was as resistant to learn from his faults as a stubborn toddler and just threw tantrums like one. And his arrogance made it even worse.
With every other one, Aldar would have long lost his patience to endure such a man inside his lines and the constant complaints he got from other subordinates. At this rate, he would have been thrown out of the army, maybe even sent into prison or with his head under an axe, depending on his misdoings. Yet Ganondorf was not because he would never let this man roam around the kingdom on his own and Zelda forbade the other possibility.
At least, as long as Ganondorf stayed in the army, he had control over him. He could intervene once the day would finally come where he crossed the borders too far. A day when even Zelda would finally see in Ganondorf what he had seen in that one since the day they first met. An archenemy who had no rights to live amongst them, or to live at all.