"You may forget your childhood, but your childhood never forgets you."
-Michael Dibdin-
Shards Of Time
An Ocarina of Time FanFiction
Chapter 9: Market
~Interlude~
Nisah twirled the small blade in her hand, twisting the tip of the blade against her fingertip. She had lost her last blade to that scumbag of a "friend", so now she only had three of her prized possessions left: her throwing knives. Her great aunt, Zarna, had given them to her shortly before she had passed away in battle in her will. From then onward, she had kept them... until her "friend" had acted up and escaped.
The old Nisah had always trusted Ciren, until her King had shown Nisah how to really live the Gerudo pride; something which Ciren obviously didn't want to have a part in.
Nisah shrugged. Ciren didn't matter any longer. She was off somewhere, no doubtingly dying from her wound or lost in a world that will end up killing her. Nisah was the Head of the Reds now, nothing more or nothing less, being recognised and raised to a higher level at the King's demand. These new levels had been introduced the morning after Ciren had left, but Nisah liked the new level – the power it held.
And once I get my hands on that Triforce... She mused with a grin, flashing her teeth at the silver blade. The Gerudo may have a new leader. Leaders like Nabooru were traitors, much like Ciren, and was having any information tortured out of her without even a moment of doubt.
The King was planning something for the White, what it was Nisah didn't know. Still, Nisah cared nothing for the White any longer. She may have promoted Nisah to being a Red, but it would have been classed as illegal in some book in the Library and meant nothing. The King had given Nisah the real power, but the Triforce would give the Red more power than she could ever desire.
Shifting into a lying position and draping herself over the seat in her new Chamber, a room dedicated the the new Head of the Reds, she smiled deviously. Yes... Nisah smiled even more, more pearly white teeth being revealed to the blade. The greatest power in our world. It will be mine... and not even His Majesty will stop me from getting my wish.
~Ciren~
I can't help but stare at the beauty of the Town, both mine and Link's mouth in the shape of O's. The houses are exactly the same as the ones on the Ranch, but the amount of greenery sprouting out of the open shutters is so beautiful. I hear the calls and grumbling of carts in the distance from the central part of the Town, people moving out of the central part of the Market and nodding towards us with a smile
"Welcome to the peaceful and prosperous town of Castle Town, young ones." The guard to our right greets happily, the Hylian Crest shining in the morning sunlight. "The central part of the Town is the daily Market, and—I haven't seen you two around here before... a Kokiri and a Gerudo?" His dark eyes watch us for a long time before shaking his head. "Enjoy your time here."
I can feel his eyes boring into the back of my head in particular as I guide Luz further into the Town...
The Market is crammed with people, reminding me a little of the Feast with a pang of pain, calls ringing through my ears of offers that "you simply cannot refuse". Small dogs skip past, their owners pushing past people to get them back on their leashes - and the stalls are bringing in hundreds of people in even this early.
With hesitation, I leap off of Luz with Link behind me and take my stallion's reigns into my hand. "This is incredible." Links whispers from beside me. I turn to him. "I don't think I've seen so many people in the same place at once before... it's amazing." He takes a step forwards, only for him to easily crash into a person before I can stop him. He steps back in surprise, looking back at me. "What's that crooked smile for?"
"Because you're an idiot." I tell him, my hand on my hip. "Stay close to me, kid. Let's just get that Stone to the "Princess of Destiny" and then we can... start living, I suppose." I shrug and end it there, just because I don't know what else to say. Link, thankfully, sees this and leaves it – or just doesn't understand...
He opens his mouth to speak, however we start to get surrounded by people who are attempting to get across the Market and around the horse in the way. He grabs my hand suddenly and pulls me through the crowd, Luz following behind and dodging who he can. Link pulls me across the Market square, dodging who he can as we rush past a fountain in the centre of the square and across to the other side where a large shop with a big mask decoration sits on.
Now that we aren't in the very centre of the Market, I can finally breathe. I stroke Luz's nose with my nose lovingly. It takes a long time for either of us to speak, but it is Link who breaks the silence first. "I think we should check out the Market first."
"What?"
He shrugs. "Well, I know that the Great Deku Tree wanted me to give this to the Princess of Destiny... but I just know that he would also want me to be seeing the world before I—" He shakes his head at the thought. "Never mind. I think it would be nice, anyway." I watch him for a long time. I never had a childhood like he had, so being around loads of people like this doesn't really faze me after being with the Gerudo for my entire life. But with the said boy here, it might help me see into a different childhood.
Or make my actual one worse.
"It would be a good idea." Navi says from Link's head as he leaps off of Luz, pulling out the wallet of Rupees that Malon also left for us. "And Link here will only be like a child on Potions until he actually sees a lot of the town, Ciren. I think that it would be a better idea to get his excitement out before we see the Princess of Destiny." They stare at me for a long time before I huff and let my shoulder slacken.
"Fine... you can go and see the—" He passes me a look. "We can go and check out the Market, okay? You're such a child."
He smirks. "So are you. Unless you're an adult trapped in a child's body." I open my mouth to retort a response, only for my eyes to catch a group of three Hylian men getting themselves ready to go into the shop to the east of where we entered, next to the mask shop. The sign has a large target on it, an arrow sticking out of the centre and the main sign reading: Castle Town Archery Shop.
My eyes sparkle in delight as I guide Luz over to the alleyway in which we entered. "Go out into the Field. I'll be back soon, okay?" His brown eyes watch me hesitantly, yet moves into a gallop when I pass him a stern look. I don't want to leave Luz on his own after being stabbed in the back while riding him, but I don't want anybody stealing him or trying to get near him. He's my horse, not theirs.
Link looks a little concerned when I return, but brushes it off when he pieces together my intentions. "So, where to first?" I nod over to the Archery Shop and then look back with a slight pleading look. "It sounds fun... but I have no idea how to use a Bow and Arrow."
I smirk. "Watch and learn."
The bell shakes with a light twinkling sound as I push open the door to the Archery Shop. The door off to the left is open a little, but I can't see through it as Link closes the door behind me. At the sound of the bell, a large man walks in through the door and rests his arms on the counter. "Hello there, do you want to play the game? Shoot at the Rupees and try to get them all. Only 20 Rupees a game."
I nod and pass Link a pleading look, remembering that he had the money. He sighs and passes the large man a red Rupee. The man leans underneath the counter and pulls out a wooden Bow along with a Quiver of fifteen arrows. Stepping up onto the podium, those three Hylian men watch me with crossed arms. Passing them a glare, I draw back the Bow string with an arrow in a single movement and wait for the game to begin.
A string of Rupees begin flying around the course, but I don't strike straight away like I have heard the Hylians do a lot. Much like the Sheikah, you need to have the patience required to strike at the exact time.
The men begin mumbling behind me about what they think I will do, and why I am waiting for so long, but they are stunned into a silence when I strike all of the Rupees in a stream of arrows – taking them all out in the space of a few seconds. I smirk greatly as I lower the Bow, realising that I had taken out a few of the Rupees with a single arrow – so I still have six arrows remaining.
"Ciren..." Link breathes from behind me. "That was incredible!"
"I try." I smile even more as I place the Bow and Quiver back on the counter. "Thanks for letting me have a go. You've got good Bows here." I catch Link's eye and smirk as I reach for the door knob, however the man calls out and I spin around in curiosity.
He holds the Bow and Quiver. "No one has ever done that before. I know that the Gerudo are good, but I haven't seen anyone be that good before."
I shrug. "The Bow is my thing, I suppose."
"How did you learn to shoot like that?" I open my mouth to answer, only for my body to feel numb when I realise what my answer will be. "Nisah, how come you want to show me how to shoot? I'm just a Green..." I shift my gaze downcast as the memory returns, her voice echoing around my brain. "And a Gerudo nonetheless. Now pick up that Bow and show us what you're made of."
When I open my mouth to reply, however, I hear a burst of excitement from outside when the door. A average-sized boy bursts in to the Archery Shop, seeming to be around my age, his dark hair falling around his crimson eyes. "The Gerudo are here!" He pants, resting on the door frame from the apparent running her had been doing moments ago.
My blood runs cold.
The Gerudo... Nayru, tell me he is wrong. The boy holds a scrap of paper in his hand as his eyes cross over the people in the room. The three Hylians, done with watching my archery skills, leave; pushing the boy out of the way in the process with a laugh. "The Gerudo?" The Archery Shop owner wonders in disbelief. "Kaei, don't be messing with me. You know how much I hate the messing around, K—"
"I'm not messing with you, Theo. I swear on my life that I am not—" His eyes soon fall onto me as I subconsciously shuffle closer to the only boy I know in here. The boy's eyes flicker between the sheet of paper and myself, and I know near automatically what he holds in his hand.
I must be seen as so much of a threat that I've been placed on a wanted poster...
I should be offended and angry, but it's rather amusing to me. The King is afraid of a twelve year-old. That isn't even right, I can't help but think to myself with a smirk. The boy, noting my smirk, drops the sheet of paper and his eyes shift between anger and hesitation – a mix I never knew worked until now, I suppose. The anger wins, however, and he lunges for me...
And I react with violence myself by knocking him back with a clean punch to the cheek.
He staggers back, clutching the cheek, his eyes narrowing towards me as I bounce on the balls of my feet; my fists still raised just in case this Kaei tries to go at me again. Before I can retaliate myself, Link softly touches my arm. I whirl around and pass him a glare that he... actually doesn't react to. He offers back a soft look. He doesn't want me fighting, as much as I want to.
I wish he was there when I fought Aveil that one time.
My shoulders slump in "defeat". "Fine." I whisper. "But I need to see what's going on outside." I pass a look of apology over to Theo before grabbing Kaei's clothes and forcing him to stare right at me. "Try anything like that again, and I won't go so easy on you. All right?" He simply nods, and I slip out of the Archery Shop before either Link, Kaei, or Theo can say any more on the matter.
Long live Gerudo pride...
The Market is awash with people, but less than there was when we had first gotten here. Mothers, fathers, children, and all of the fifth cousins twice-removed are all here as well; standing around the edge of the Market, their errands here forgotten by the new arrivals. Guardians of children hold the latter close to them as the jet black horse trots through the entrance to the Market - three horses, two white and the other black also.
The King is at the front, obviously, handing a dark glare to the audience of people while holding a smug smirk as he snaps his head towards a view ahead. Aveil rides on the left behind him, Izia on the right of him, and just behind the King – almost next to him – is— "Goddesses..." I breathe, stepping forwards as Link shuts the door behind him. "Nisah..."
Her head his held high, the scarlet uniform Nabooru gave us on the night of the Feast still being worn by her. She casts no glance towards myself, and neither do the other Gerudo. It is only Ganondorf who does, and his eyes twinkle with recognition. His hand not holding the reigns of his steed twitches for a scimitar, however he has no weapons on show (strangely, for the Gerudo King) so he cannot attack.
And yet, he doesn't even call for people to go after me. He merely continues onward towards what he was looking at before: Hyrule Castle.
I tilt my head as the Gerudo leave, leaving behind a silent crowd. Why didn't he send people after me? I ask myself silently, moving towards the edge of the crowd. There's a flipping wanted poster for me and— "I'm so sorry!" I gasp when I walk into someone. The dark hood covers their face, but I can see a curl of red hair sticking out of the edge of the hood. "I didn't mean to—"
They raise their hand at me and walk off without anything else to say. I watch as they leave, their aura leaving me more confused about the lack of attacks against me with Ganondorf. Maybe it was because we're in a public area. He wouldn't ruin whatever reputation he has here... Link walks up to me. "Hey. Is that...?"
"The King?" I cut in. "Yeah. And the one in the Red uniform is Nisah."
There's a long silence between the two of us as the crowd dissipates and goes back to their usual business. "Just keep out of their sights, and we'll be fine." He pauses. "You know what, we can go to the Princess of Destiny later on before sundown. But first, we're going to get your mind off of everything, okay?" I open my mouth to object automatically, but he's all ready grabbed my wrist and is carting me off towards a random shop – my mind confused over all that has happened already...
~Interlude~
Kaei watched as the two went off to another shop, casting his eyes down to the wanted poster every few moments. He didn't know what to think of the Gerudo, and her in particular. He had never despised the Gerudo, but after what they did in the Hyrulean Civil War... he just didn't know any longer.
The Civil War had began when the races had begun to wonder about the ideas of the Triforce and the Sacred Realm more than usual, and many began searching for the latter so they could take the former for their own. The Gerudo made deals with other races about helping them acquire the Triforce, but the Gerudo were the only race that were not pacifists about the whole event.
When the races realised that they were losing vast amounts of their people to the efforts in finding the Triforce, the Gorons, Sheikah, Hylians and Zoras began turning on each other – creating the Civil War that Gerudo said they were playing no part in, when it was actually them who had been killing off people within the races.
The War raged on for years on end, and many family members of Kaei had fought and died for Hyrule, and it took a long time before the people turned on the Gerudo – and the new King of Hyrule stepped up to unite the rations against one common enemy: the Desert Folk. The other races fought the Gerudo across the Valley until the were forced to surrender.
The King then cut off the Desert Folk from Hyrule, and it was left like that until the new Gerudo King – Ganondorf – became the new leader and pleaded to the Hylian King that the Gerudo should have a place back in Hyrule, as the past should be placed in the past and nothing like the War would happen again with the new King of the Gerudo.
It took a long time, but the King did accept the offer no more than seven years ago now.
Kaei had no reason to leap at the nameless Gerudo like that, but he felt something in him that made him do it. It was something from the past, something about the Civil War which he had barely been born into, that sparked that something in him. She fought back like the arrogant Gerudo that they were, nothing that he didn't expect, but there was something in her eyes as well.
She looked... almost lost.
Kaei shrugged, screwing up the poster into a ball and setting it alight with a simple spell; allowing the ashes of it to be picked up by the fresh breeze. Kaei had a bad feeling that he would be crossing paths with that Gerudo again, and they would both have to be civil with each other...
