Chapter 8
When the two Hylians and Sheikah returned to the camp, Impa had called for all the inhabitants to gather to share the news. Once everyone had gathered, Impa proceeded to explain everything. She told how Farore came down to reveal Link and Zelda to be the ones to face Ganondorf and take him down once and for all.
Naturally, a small group of them did not believe this. Some even claim that the goddesses abandoned them. It took Link showing The Master Sword and Zelda demonstrating with her Light Arrows by destroying a large rock to fully convince everyone in the camp.
Once all that was settled down, the pair returned to Rusl's tent to better explain everything to their group, including the new details. Link learned about his father, which shocked the man and his wife.
"You guys knew nothing of this?"
"We didn't," Rusl confirmed. "Your father wasn't very open about his past. As far as I know, he never told any of us, or anyone in the village, that he was a royal guard or a rebel for the matter...And now there's you two."
"We know this is a lot to take in," Link stated.
"What's gonna happen now?"
"Impa is going to put us in training so that we can participate in missions," Zelda explained.
"What about Ganondorf? When will you face him?"
Nothing came out of young adults until Zelda answered. "We don't know. Neither Impa nor...Farore told us exactly. 'Only when the time is right,' they said."
"I still cannot believe you two met a goddess," Uli uttered in disbelief.
"Believe me, neither can I."
"Did Farore say that people from our village are...still around? Does that include our parents?" Beth stressed.
A hopeful look was brought upon Beth, along with Talo & Malo.
"It's possible," Link answered, though not entirely sure.
The inside of the tent grew quiet. Uncertainty was written on the older couple's expressions.
"If you guys have any objections, we understand."
"It's not that we're against this. The thought of you two putting yourselves in danger is worrisome," Uli admitted.
"I think they can do it," Colin said after several moments of silence. "They both got us out of the village and fought against those Bublins."
"Colin is right. If they can do all that, then I believe in them," Beth declared.
Talo responded, "Yeah. They can kick Ganondork's butt!" while Malo nodded.
"The children do bring good points," Uli stated.
"Indeed," Rusl agreed with his wife. "While I may not be behind this fully, you two have our full support."
Relief filled Zelda's chest, happy that the couple had faith in her and Link. However, Ilia had not said anything throughout the conversation. "Are you alright with this, Ilia?"
"Oh, sure." Zelda could detect uneasiness in her voice. "I'm gonna get some air."
The teen left the tent. With a nod from Link, Zelda left to pursue her sister, who she found just outside their tent.
"Ilia, are you okay?"
"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You and I both know you're a bad liar." A frown came across Ilia's face. "If you want to share something, I'll listen."
"Fine. I'm not sure I'm okay with this. What if you get killed or...worse?!"
"I understand if you're afraid, I am too, but the goddesses choose me to help Link. Even if they didn't, someone has to stand up against Ganondorf. If I don't, no one will, and many others will meet the same fate as the village. And you heard Link say, Farore told us some of our people survived. Maybe Mom & Dad did as well. This could be my chance to find them."
"...Alright," Ilia spoke after a few minutes. "If you're content with this, I want to help."
This was something Zelda did not expect to hear. "WHAT!?"
"Someone's gonna watch your back."
"Ilia, you have to understand, this isn't like my hunting trips or my spars with Link. I'm taking part in a civil WAR! You don't even have any fighting experience."
"Can't I at least learn? What if something happens to you or Link, and I must defend myself?"
Zelda rubbed her finger and thumb against her chin. Given the circumstances, it was a good idea. "I will allow you to learn to fight, but I will not allow you to participate in missions."
"Fine."
Ilia gave a scoff as she walked away. Familiar footsteps came up behind Zelda. "You saw that?"
"Yeah." Link walked to her side. "Don't beat yourself over it. I'm certain once she calms down, she'll realize."
"I hope you're right, Link."
Many guards & Gerudo warriors stood at both ends of the massive throne room. Ganondorf sat on the throne while Ghirahim stood by his side. On the other side of the throne stood a short man with orange hair & long mustache, dressed in a green shirt & red pants and wearing a green top hat. This man is none other than Chancellor Cole.
Since the beginning of Ganondorf's reign, Cole had been his most loyal supporter, next to Ghirahim. Once he was part of King Daphnes' royal court but switched his loyalties to the Gerudo man. While others remove threats outside the castle walls, Cole does the same from within. A skill that never fails to prove his loyalty to Ganondorf to this day.
"It is good to be back here by your side, your majesty," Cole told Ganondorf earlier.
"It is good to see you back, Chancellor. I hope your illness hasn't dampened your skills."
"A cold can not stop me from helping you bring order & prosperity to Hyrule."
All three stayed where they were as they watched Nabooru walk towards them, with another Gerudo woman dressed in red and a male Hylian with skin paler than Ghirahim wearing purple trailed behind, along with two guards dragging a middle-aged bald man in chains. She and the other two kneel at the foot of the throne.
"My king, Lord Ghirahim, and Chancellor Cole, let me be the first to announce Aveil and Vaati's return," Nabooru expressed formally.
"You all may rise," Ganondorf echoed through the room. "Your presence is no longer required, Nabooru. You have my leave to go."
"Are you sure? I don't mind being here-"
"He is quite sure," Ghirahim jeered. "These matters are none of your concern."
"Yes. Do please leave," Cole followed.
Nabooru bowed before walking out of the room, quickly exchanging eye contact with the prisoner for a moment before looking away. The loud thud of the doors shutting echoed behind. However, she decided to stick around as she saw the doors slightly cracked open. It gave her a full view of the exchange going around the throne.
"It pleases me to see you both," Ganondorf grinned
"The feeling is mutual, sire," Vaati replied with pride.
A small groan came to Ganondorf's ears. He looked to see the Gerudo in red rubbing the side of her head.
"Are you alright, Aveil?"
"I'm fine," she said. "I got into a brawl with one of the occupants during the raid. He knocked me out with his shield."
A mocking laugh emerges from Ghirahim. "The mighty Aveil, trusted captain of the guard, leader of our army, taken out by a mere peasant? Sounds like you're getting sloppy."
"He was, admittedly, quite remarkable with a sword. I underestimated him. Regardless, the mission was a success."
"So everything in your report was correct?" Aveil gave the nod. Ganondorf glanced over to Vaati. "And... your weapon?"
"Did the job well. The Ordon province, including the traitors residing there, is no more. We also have a special guest." Vaati snapped his fingers, signaling the guards to move the prisoner, forcing him onto his knees at the throne's base. "I present Bo Lund."
Ganondorf glanced at the man, who had his head down. A smug smile grew across his lips. "Once again, you both proven yourselves worthy & reliable. Aveil for her bravery on the battlefield, and Vaati for his efforts to create the weapon."
"It still has a few tweaks to go through, but it will take little for it to be highly functional and even more powerful. I wish you could've seen it, sire. The destruction it caused was phenomenal, all from one canon."
"Can you confirm this, Aveil?"
"I can. Vaati's weapon is rather impressive."
"Oh, but imagine the effects if there were more. If only I had the resources to mass-produce them."
"And resources you shall have. I will grant you whatever you require to make these weapons. If the results are as grand as you say, we'll finally have an advantage over Impa and her...' Resistance.'
"I am grateful, sire. You shall not be disappointed."
"I hope so, but we can discuss more later."
Ganondorf slowly descends the steps below the throne until he stands directly before Bo. "Hello, Bo. It's been a while, hasn't it?" Bo did not look nor say a word to him. "Giving the silent treatment, are we now? Let's see if this will change your mind."
Ganondorf kicked Bo, knocking the man on his side, and continued to kick him, each harder than the last. Nabooru winced as Ganondorf kicked the man, but she continued to watch. The kicking went on for several more minutes. By the time Ganondorf finished, Bo was covered with bruises and blood.
"Now, are you ready to talk? If you're not, my second in command, Ghirahim, has his own ways of getting you to talk. I can assure you he's less merciful than me."
"Where is she?" Bo mumbled.
"Pardon?"
Bo slowly moves back onto his knees, letting out several groans of pain. "My wife. Where is she?"
"That doesn't matter. My main concern is your crimes."
"I am not guilty of any crime."
"You might not believe it, but we see things differently. Chancellor Cole, could you read the charges against Bo?"
"Certainly." Cole marched forward. "Bo Lund, based on the statements we've received, you will be charged with acts of treason, conspiracy against the king, and harboring a member of 'The Resistance'."
"What makes you think I did such a thing?" Bo spat.
Ganondorf gave a dark chuckle. "You should be careful of whom you trust."
Footsteps echoed throughout the room. A man that Bo was all too familiar with walked in from the side.
"Azazel? What's the meaning of this?"
"Sheltering a rebel is against the law, especially one who lived in your village," Azazel smirked at the battered man.
The bald man's eyes went from confusion to anger. "You bastard! You told them about Leal!? How could you?"
"For the right price, of course." Azazel turned to Ganondorf. "Speaking of which, you promise I get my reward when Bo has been brought here. And I want double of it since you made me wait."
"But of course." The Gerudo man snapped his fingers. Ghirahim pierces a sword through Azazel's chest from behind. Azazel looked at Ganondorf, clutching his bleeding wound. Ganondorf placed a hand on his shoulder. "You served me well." He lightly pushed the now-dead Azazel to the ground.
Bo looked in horror. While angry at Azazel, he would never wish for his death. "Why did you do that?!"
"He was willing to betray you for a couple of rupees. Nothing more. Someone like that cannot be trusted. You will beg for death by the time I'm through with you. As for you people, I have a more suitable punishment for them."
"No, Please! Let them go! They have nothing to do with this!" Bo begged.
"And risk having them turning the people against me? No. I need to set an example to those who dare goes against me. Your people will be sent to one of my labor camps as slaves." Ganondorf turned his attention to the guards that had dragged Bo. "Take this traitor to the dungeons!"
The two guards that had escorted him started dragging Bo out. Nabooru quickly ran from the door and hid behind a hall. She watches the guards drag Bo away, all while he is thrashing and screaming.
"I'm the one you should punish! They're innocent civilians! Let them go!"
Bo's yelling continued to echo when he was out of Nabooru's sight until it grew silent. It was then she decided she had seen enough and promptly left.
The soldier training yard was mainly empty, save for a few that lingered around, which was ideal for Nabooru when she practiced her combat skills with her weapon of choice, an ax. It was an excellent way to repel her stress. Events of the throne room still played out in her head. Azazel's death didn't bother her as she was used to such violence after the many executions she had witnessed, along with Ganondorf's showcases of his 'authority.' The thing that was bothering her was Bo.
The way he begged Ganondorf to spare his associates and referred to them as 'innocent civilians,' along with his expression as she walked past him, stuck to her. But why is she so bothered by that? Bo is a criminal. Someone who shouldn't be trusted. He probably said that in hopes for Ganondorf to spare them. Yeah, that had to be it.
Nabooru ceased her training, lowering her ax as she glanced around the parapets surrounding the yard. She felt fortunate to grow up in the castle. Before Ganondorf became king, her people lived in the harsh desert outside the kingdom. After he was crowned, most of the Gerudo, including herself and her mother, moved into Hyrule and worked closely with him.
Despite this luxurious life, Nabooru felt a sense of loneliness. Due to personal limitations, she could never fit in with her kind. Her only friends were her mother & Aveil. Unfortunately, her mother unexpectedly died during her tween years. She had Aveil for a while, but she eventually grew more focused on her duties as they got older.
It was a lonely life, yes, but better than one in the desert,
"Lady Nabooru?"
A voice startled her, and she turned to point her ax at two Hylians. One is a woman with red hair in pigtails, a pointed nose that almost rivaled hers, and wore a round green hat. Beside her is a taller man with brown hair with freckles. Both are dressed in soldier gear and a few years younger than her.
"Easy! It's us!" The woman pulled her arms up.
"Oh, Karane, Pipit. Sorry, you two startled me." Nabooru lowered the ax.
"It's fine. We probably should've snuck up on you like that," Pipit said.
"Is there something you both need?"
"We came here to spar, but you were staring into space. We wanted to make sure you were alright," Karane explained.
"I'm okay," Nabooru assured her. "I'm just distracted."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"I am. Now if you'll excuse me, I must get going."
Nabooru gathered her materials and left the training yard. She felt terrible leaving them off like that. Out of the staff and guards in the castle, Pipit & Karane were the only two who tended to share a concern for her. It's been that way since she met them when they joined the guard around a year ago.
Yet that wasn't enough to shake her mind off what happened in the throne room.
"Why am I getting worked up over this? King Ganondorf may be...harsh with his methods, but he cares about the kingdom. Ganondorf would never hurt innocent civilians."
Eventually, she manages to brush it all off. That didn't stop a small part of her gut from telling her she was wrong.
Oh Nabs, if only you knew.
Sorry for the short filler chapter. I've been busy with work and registering for the next semester at university.
But hey, nice of Nintendo to announce a Breath of the Wild sequel (eh Luigi?)
Favs, Follows, and Reviews are appreciated.