All three of the riders were hot and sweaty. Roana, she was grateful for the canteens she was getting splashed with, she was getting dangerously dehydrated due to the heat. It was sundown by the time they reached the temple. There, it was when all three of them...Wait I hear the guard. He brought food! I'll finish this after.
"How far is this temple?" Darwyn, he was afraid for Roana, she was passed out from the heat and dry humidity. He covered her with a blanket to protect her from the dangerous sun's rays.
"Don't worry, we're almost there." Mirabel was hot and thirsty as well. Their trip took longer than it should have due to the monsters that kept attacking. She knew if they don't reach water soon, Roana will die. "There! Dammit! Whoa! Whoa!"
"What is it?" Darwyn stopped when Mirabel did.
"Geruldo." She took out her whip. "Darwyn. Get ready to fight."
The pathway to Hyrule Water Temple was blocked off with an iron fence. But that wasn't what worried Mirabel. It was the sight of the thieves hiding in the cliffs. She hoped they wouldn't attack here, not with things going on. But this was the path leading to the country's border. Many tourists were beaten and robbed passing here, unless they paid the exorbitant "taxes" the Geraldo charged. Both Mirabel and Darwyn got ready to fight. They knew of the Geruldo's reputation, they will kill any witnesses if no one plays the taxes.
"Halt!" A voice called out. A woman wearing a hoodie stopped in front of the gates. "Beyond here is our territories. To pass here, you need to pay tax."
"This land belongs to the King of Hyrule. He doesn't charge to pass through these lands." Mirabel calls out.
"The border is nearby. Beyond the temple is the border. The King has no authority beyond these lands." The hooded woman says. "Leave your rupees and valuables, and you can walk away with your lives." She threatened.
"I have a ill woman. She is a Zora. She will die soon without water. Let us pass." Darwyn already had his weapons ready to go, they were hidden in his pants.
"Pay your taxes, and you can go on." She countered back.
Mirabel shook her head at Darwyn. She knew them well, even if they pay the so called "tax," they will be followed and possibly killed for the treasures inside the Water Temple. It was impossible to get in, they needed a certain item to open its gates. Sensing their hesitation, the hooded woman gives her signal.
"So be it."
The fight was long and bloody. Mirabel, she was glad she kept herself in shape, she had a difficult time counteracting the Geruldo's attacks. The woman she was fighting, she knew her by reputation.
"Rheda, its been a while. Glad to see you never lost your touch." Mirabel jumps out of the way before she got hit with her sword.
"Hmph. You shouldn't have crossed us." Rheda swore when Mirabel misses her head. "Too slow."
"Like I said, that wasn't me! That was my sister!" Mirabel, she warned Remy not to go after Nahara's fiance. He walked away from his wedding day minutes before the ceremony started. Remy claimed he wasn't ready to marry. That he wanted to open his own business instead.
"Twin or not, you humiliated my family. Now I have to charge you double."
Darwyn dove seconds before the arrow hit him. These women, they were deadly. He went behind the woman who nearly hit him and knocked her out with a chokehold. He then did a back flip to give a woman holding a mace a surprise, by hitting her over the head.
Rheda swore. Mirabel wasn't just a spoiled ranch hand's daughter. She was a formidable fighter. Plus that Sheikah man she was with. Who was that? Her lover? No matter, she has an advantage. His girlfriend. Even with a blanket, she recognized the Zora. She went to her side and pulled out her dagger.
"Enough! Put down your weapons, or she will be fillet." She was holding the unconscious Roana by the throat. Both Mirabel and Darwyn had no choice but to put down their weapons and surrender. She wasn't stupid, she knew she'll be attacked once her back was turned. She was about to walk away with her hostage till a voice called out.
"Enough!" A beautiful Gerudo woman appeared from the direction of the Fortress.
Their fight stopped in their tracks right there. The Gerudo leader's oldest, the one named Nahara appeared on the cliff.
"Sister! These are dangerous trespassers!" Rheda insisted. She gestures to the other unconscious Geruldo. "Look! Our sisters! They need medics!"
""It is because of you Rheda." Nahara shook her head in disgust. "No wonder we never see visitors. All of you! Stand down!" She ordered. Spying the unconscious Zora, she ordered one of the Geruldo to check on her. When she shook her head, she jumps down. "My Goddess. She needs water. ASAP." She ordered her sister to open the gates. "My apologies. There is a doctor. He will cure the Zora. But you must hurry. She won't last till nightfall."
"Thank you." Both Darwyn and Mirabel ride away. Their horses running as fast as they can.
Rheda was furious.
"Why did you let them go! Especially the ranchhand."
Nahara had her hand over her face.
"That was a long time ago. I didn't love him. He gave me a excuse to walk away. Remy did me a favor." Nahara was humiliated that day, she turned down hundred of suitors for that fisherman. But she was too young. "If I had married him, I would be stuck raising babies while he runs his fishing shack. Not being Mother's Right Hand." Over time, realized how grateful she was for her position.
"But..."
"Enough. You! Help me carry the injured. We have to get back to the fortress. Mother is coming home tomorrow with her treasure."
Roana was deep underwater, with a breathing tube down her throat. She was incredibly lucky, she had only minutes left before she was completely dehydrated. Both Mirabel and Darwyn were conversing with the old doctor and his assistant.
"How long will she be like that?" Darwyn was staring helplessly at Roana's helpless body. She was almost still. Too still.
"She is in a deep sleep. It was the only way I can keep her alive. I cannot tell you if she'll wake up. It can be days or weeks." The old doctor tells him grimly.
Mirabel leaves Darwyn alone. She didn't want to intrude. She looked up at the stars and prayed to the Goddesses for Roana's recovery. It was a warm night, the frogs and animals were singing loudly, a clear sign that they were happy. She looked over at the temple. It sat in top of a hill, it's stone tower pointing high at the sky, a blue jewel shining on top of the closed gate.
She felt a slight rumble, she knew earthquakes appeared here on occasion. Hopefully not before her new friends got married. But looking at the tower, how can they get in?
Her thoughts were interrupted by Darwyn.
"Well?" She only met Roana that day, but already felt sorry for her.
"She is ill. Very ill. The doctor doesn't know if she'll ever wake up." Darwyn's voice was shaking. "If I had known, I would have insisted she stay home, and use the portal instead." He said this with tears going down his face.
Mirabel puts her hand on his shoulder.
"I'm sorry." She didn't know what to say. Goddess, she felt uncomfortable asking this next question. "It is pretty late. Where will we stay?" She would have been fine camping, but had no equipment. Plus the monsters. The keese will never leave them alone.
Darwyn sighs. He saw the inn across the field, but he couldn't risk any of the Zora seeing him. He knew they'll be searching for him and Roana. He hoped Amis and Elric were okay. There was only one place, he and Mirabel knew where.
"Geruldo Fortress has a inn. Our horses need food and rest. It will take us two hours to get there." They knew it was dangerous, but had no choice. It was getting dark, and their horses will run if they see monsters that were already out and about.
Geruldo Fortress. They were feared by almost everyone, but they will never turn away anyone that needed help. Both Darwyn and Mirabel rode their horses to the fortress and were immediately detained. Especially by the leader's youngest. What started off as distrust turned into a lifelong friendship between Mirabel and Rheda.
"I cannot believe they treat us like common criminals." Mirabel was annoyed that they were basically under arrest by the Geruldo women. Heck, even as paying customers, they were under guard by two women.
"It's only for a night. Tomorrow we'll start our journey. Our horses are sleeping, and our bellies are full." Darwyn wasn't complaining. He was more worried about his girlfriend. If Roana doesn't wake up, he knew he'll never forgive himself. He'll gladly surrender and die in the never ending Ice Cavern. "Let's pay our dinner bill and go to our rooms."
Rheda stared at the two outsiders with distrust. She didn't care what her sister ordered, those two needed to pay what they did. She went and payed for a room next to the woman. She'll make sure they got exactly what they deserved.
They didn't go to the Temple. A desert storm came that night that lasted for days. The Geruldo didn't expect the storm to last so long, they called it an ill omen for things to come. They weren't wrong, the storm and the earthquake was just the beginning.
Darwyn stared helplessly at the winds. He and Mirabel weren't allowed to leave or go outside. It was too dangerous. But he knew the Geruldo race needed help for the aftermath, especially when they had missing friends and comrades lost outside. He and Mirabel became closer, especially Rheda who ended up becoming best friends with Mirabel.
"I lost again? How?" Darwyn was staring at the cards and pieces of the game they were playing with the inn staff.
"You bet with the sun. You see, the rules say the wind can work with or against the sun. You drew a left. The wind went right, therefore blocking the sun. You owe me five rupees." Cyra, the inn's owner tells him, taking the money. "Come to mama."
The other players groan.
'I'm out. You cleaned me out." Darwyn throws his cards down in disgust. He was flat broke, luckily his room and board were free thanks to the storm. Both him and Mirabel worked in the inn as payment. Neither minded, both were bored stiff.
"Me too." The inn's cook says. "Just as well, I have to get ready for the supper rush."
"Need some help?" Darwyn asks.
"Yes, that would be wonderful." The Sheikah, he taught them many canning techniques to keep their food fresh. The desert heat dried out their fruits and vegetables long before they ready to eat. "Later."
Soon, it was just Mirabel and Rheda. The other players left, and both women were tied with over five hundred rupees between them.
"I see your ten, and I'll raise you twenty." No way was Mirabel losing, she had the Goddess Card. With that card, there was no way she was losing.
Rheda glared at her back.
"Fine. I see your twenty, I raise you a hundred."
Mirabel gives her a blank stare. A hundred rupees? Bitch must be bluffing. Two can play at that game.
"You gotta be kidding me." Rheda, she didn't just have the Goddess Card, she also had a Royal Card. Mirabel storms off.
"Don't play if you know you'll lose." She saw her friend shaking her head at her. "What?" She grinned as she pulled out her 'Royal Card.'
"And you wonder why we don't get tourists." Cyra, she grew up with her older sister. Even back then, she was a con artist. She robbed the tourists blind, making them think it was the monkeys that picked their pockets.
"All's fair in love and rupees." She didn't have time to bask in her victory. Not when her sister came in the inn looking frantic.
"Sister! Cyra!"
"What is it?" Nahara, she was always so calm and cool. Rheda knew immediately there was something wrong.
"Mother! She is trapped in the storm outside the gates! I need assistance!"
"Mom? Oh Goddess." She crossed her chest.
"Is there anyone else?" Cyra asked. She wanted to help, but there were many children taking shelter here, since their homes were buried underneath the sand the storm brought in.
"Mother and four others. The Priestesses." All five were magicians. They kept the sandstorms at bay.
"I'll help." Rheda, she knew without the Priestesses, their home will forever be lost, along with the Desert Colossus. "I'm getting the outsiders." Forgetting her money, she ran to get the Hylian and Sheikah.
"Wow." Navi was in awe of the story. They knew they had to head west for their next adventure, but they still needed to solve the puzzles of this place. Link put away the diary and got up to go deeper in this evil dungeon.