Zelda followed the witches deep into the Desert Colossus, past sun paintings on walls and mirrors set in snake statues. Something deep inside Zelda told her there was time long ago when this place was holy but dangerous. Now, the danger had passed.
A long time passed in silence, letting Zelda take in the architecture, the art, and the sun that passed through square windows high above.
Finally, Kotake spoke. "Our child," she said. "Have you known him long?"
"We met when we were very young," Zelda said. "He came to visit the castle with ambassadors."
She must have been no more than seven at the time, but she remembered his dark face, long cloak, and piercing yellow eyes. She thought him an evil man back then.
"And you turned him down, I bet?" Koume asked.
Zelda felt heat rise into her face and she looked away. This wasn't something she wanted to answer. Especially when they'd been able to assume something she was a bit embarrassed about. "I did," she said. "I was raised to distrust Gerudo." The reasons sounded dull even to her own ears.
"We all learn in time."
"And we all grow as we learn."
Strange as the two witches were, they were also wise. It was more than Zelda had expected. When she'd heard Ganondorf speak of mothers, she'd imagined crazy old hags. Certainly, these women were strange, floating along on their broomsticks just like in stories Zelda had read as a child. But they weren't madwomen. They were worthy of Zelda's respect.
But after a good thirty or so minutes passed, she figured it was alright to question them. "Pardon me, but… Where are we going?"
"Just a bit further," was all they said.
Zelda ignored her aching feet and followed in silence. It wasn't much longer before they reached a giant statue of Din. Koume helped Zelda on her broomstick and flew up to an opening where the goddess' face ought to be.
They passed the door and met a dead end. Inside were five raised platforms, a ground floor below that, and Gerudo writing decorating the walls around them. Zelda eyed the markings enviously. She couldn't read the swirls and circles that made up the Gerudo language. She was far more familiar with the lines, angles, and triangles of Hylian and Common. She'd never needed to know of anything else until then.
"What does it say?" she asked.
"These walls tell the legend of the goddess of the sand and how she created our people."
Koume nodded in agreement, then added, "She taught us to fight ,to write, to live. Without her guidance, we would not have survived until now."
Zelda was interested but not surprised. The Hylians had a similar legend with the golden goddesses. She only wished she could read these walls and know every detail the witches left out.
"Would you two be able to teach me your language one day?" Zelda asked.
"We don't have the time."
"Oh."
"But our Ganny may if you ask him."
Zelda wasn't sure if she really wanted to learn from him. From what she'd seen, even if Ganondorf cared for the wellbeing of his people, he was rash and sarcastic. The princess would rather learn from these wise matriarchs rather than a headstrong king.
But they thought highly of her son. It would be best not to voice her true feelings, so she settled with "If you say so."
Zelda spared once last glance to the decorate walls. Koume and Kotake hadn't brought her here to interest her in Gerudo mythology and history. They brought her here to help reclaim her kingdom, though Zelda wasn't sure how some dead end room would do so.
"Welcome to our throne room, princess. Please come inside."
"We have the perfect plan to bring your revolution forwards."
All she saw were two thrones – one on the leftmost pillar, the other one the rightmost one. Those likely had nothing to do with the plan. But if they didn't, then what did? She walked into the throne room and jumped to the middle pillar.
"Stand there," Kotake said
"Hold still," Koume added.
The two witches flew to their thrones but didn't sit. Instead, they outstretched their wrinkled hands. Kotake's hands glowed and crackled like a fireplace. Koume's hands shone with an icy blue that reminded Zelda of the harsh winters up north. Then she felt the heat and chill on either side of her, before two lights – one red, one blue – shot from the witches' hands. They swirled, mingled, and intertwined until the two magic beams met on a large Gerudo symbol painted on the wall.
The symbol glowed a bright gold, before the light dispersed into little orbs of flare and snow. The symbol was now covered by a map of the continent of Hylia. Countries were marked in beautiful, swirling letters – a surprising take on the Common Zelda knew so well. Even the Great Sea and King's Ocean were included in the map.
But that was all it was – a beautiful, ornate map of the continent and surrounding waters.
Zelda opened her mouth, but the witches hushed her before she could voice her concerns.
"There is one last step to this task, princess."
"We need you to pray to the golden goddesses. Ask them for aid in restoring your kingdom."
"We will boost your prayers with our magic and channel their answer onto this map as best we can."
The two witches spoke in unison. "Are you ready, princess of Hyrule?"
Zelda nodded. "I am. Let us begin."