Chapter 1: Peace For Our Time
The Great Hall of Hyrule was silent, or at least as silent as Zelda had ever heard it. There were always the whispering of the palace guards as they gave instructions to each other, and the footsteps of the servants rushing about just out of sight.
But for the hall being as packed as it was, it was unsettling how no one in the room seemed to wish to speak. Representatives form all the major cities, as well as allies of the Zora and Gorons all sat at crowded tables that ran along the wall so they could all see whoever entered and the king upon his throne. And me beside him, Princess Zelda thought. The only times her father even brought her out was to parade her before the important dignitaries, and what could be more important than this? She tried to catch the eye of Chief Darunia who used to dance and roll around to entertain Zelda as a child, but he did not notice her. He sat in his reinforced chair his gargantuan hands under his chin, and a deep frown as if what he thought of was distasteful.
All of them, each of her father's greatest advisors and allies sat silently. They all must know that something was wrong, that this decision was wrong. But none of them said anything.
"Father," Zelda broke the silence and turned to the man on the gilded throne beside her. "I do not like this."
King Liotidos Beramus Hyrule gave his daughter a stern glance, the one he gave her when she talked about her dreams or spoke out against his advisors. The one that told her she needed to be silent. But she couldn't just remain silent. Someone needed to speak, and if no one else in the court had the courage to speak, then it must be her. "Father, I think you're making a mistake."
"Silence, daughter," the king grumbled.
"We cannot trust them. I've seen him, in my dreams. I see him laughing."
"I told you, to be silent."
"Perhaps you should let the child speak?" Chief Darunia said. "Some dreams bring with them answers."
"Harump," King Zora said as he adjusted himself on his chair. "Are we taking the word of children to make decisions of state?" King Zora asked. "Will we let her get in the way of the united Hyrule?"
"No," her father said, as he finally looked away from Zelda and back toward his hall. "We shall not."
The door to the hall opened and the last of her father's guests entered. The flag of truce held out before them as horns sounded and the marshal of court stepped forward. "King Ganondorf Dragmire, ruler of the Gerudo Desert, protector of its people, and victor of Zirgo Mesa and Sotari Pass, and guardian of the West."
The tallest man that Zelda had ever seen walked into the room, as though it were already his. An ugly man with an ugly soul. Every step seemed a dare, that anyone who dared could challenge him at any time. And he was assured he would win.
Zelda looked around the room at the guards and knights stationed around, and all of them seemed terrified by the man. And with good reason, if even half of the stories told about the war were true.
"I apologize for being late," Ganondorf said. "The city streets are new to me. Though I do hope to grow comfortable with them in time." The King of the Gerudo's yellow eyes wandered the hall. First to Darunia, then King Zora, then to the King of Hyrule himself. Each one froze under his gaze, waiting for the man to do or say something that would break the call for peace. Finally his eyes fell to Zelda and shudder crawled up her spine. "I do hope you can forgive me."
The King of Hyrule stood up, and when the king rises so too do all his subjects. Zelda got to her feet as all around the Gerudo kings and warriors of all the races stood. Her father was trying to intimidate him, but if the Gerudo even noticed he did not show it. "King Dragmire, you have called for this this ceasefire. The floor is yours."
The giant smiled and held his arms out to address all within the hall. "This war has been long. Too long. Started by vai and voe a century in the ground. It has been all we've ever known. In the last hundred years, what has this war brought any of us but death and famine?"
"Death, caused by you," Chief Darunia said. "Famine from crops burned by you."
"You think I am the only one with blood on my hands, great chief?" Ganondorf gave his black chuckle. "How long did you pretend we were at peace, only to send Hyule iron to make its weapons?"
"That is fair trade."
"There is nothing fair about war."
"Brother Darunia," Zelda's father said. "We are not here to rehash old grievances, but to prevent future ones."
"Most wise, good king," King Zora said.
"Yes," Ganondorf stepped up to the king's throne.
Zelda gripped at the armrests of her chair. Could no one else feel it? The vile power that clung to the man like the smell of horse. Could no one else see it in his eyes, the way he lied with every other word? The way he paused and seemed to muse when others spoke. He was about to make the biggest lie of his life, and no one else in the room could tell.
"I am here to end hostilities. I have come to join the united Hyrule Kingdom. I wish for my people to be able to wander across the green fields and woods without fear of danger. I want open trade between all our peoples."
"Father," Zelda stood up and tugged at the king's sleeve. "Listen to what he is saying. He wishes to spread his people throughout our lands. He wants to bring our wealth into his desert. He wishes to send his spies to probe us for weaknesses."
"Hah," Ganondorf laughed. "Is that the Princess I've heard so much about?"
"Yes," the king said as he tugged his sleeve out of her grasp. "My daughter, who despite all her tutors informing me of her intellect, has not yet learned to keep her mouth shut. I am sorry if she has offended you. She will be punished for this insolence."
Zelda's felt her face grow hot, she looked to her feet. Stupid. If her father wouldn't listen to her before, why would he listen now? And all she had done was reveal to the enemy that she knew his game. Cloth rustled and a shadow covered her, when she looked up her eyes met the raider king. The black presence turned her stomach to knots, nearly overwhelming her.
But the Gerudo only smiled. "There is no need to punish her. Among my people quick thinking vai who speak their mind are treasured. But if it will ease her mind." Ganondorf knelt, but even on his knee he was still taller than Zelda, near as tall as her father.
"Before the Three Goddesses, I vow to take no vengeance against any here for the actions of the last hundred years of war. And should you have me, I vow to be loyal to the Royal Family. I will not cause any disruption. I will not provide refuge for any of my sisters that spread violence within your territory. They will be hunted like the bandits they are. From this day until my last day I will not break the united Hyrule."
Zelda wanted to tell him she knew he was lying. To scream how could anyone be so foolish as to believe him. But the crowds applauded, the women that stood around the raider king whistled and sang. Even Darunia slammed his heavy fist on the table in a show of agreement. If she spoke no one would hear, and if they heard no one would listen.
Only the king raising his hand silenced the crowd. "One hundred years, is long enough to let the grudges of the past control us. King Ganondorf Dragmire of the Gerudo, I bid you rise. By noble Hylia and the Three Goddesses, I vow to treat the Gerudo as my own subjects. To reward loyalty and duty with friendship and protection. For peace!"
The hall broke out in applause again, even louder than before. But Zelda did not join them, nor did the dark man who now took his place beside the king. Whispering in his ear, his shadow smothering her father. And still no one could see it, but her.
"There you are," Ganondorf said as he opened one of the many doors of the castle out onto the balcony of a tower. Behind him the revelries from the peace celebrations echoed throughout the great stone walls. He stepped beside his oldest friend, rested his arms on the ledge that overlooked the city of Castle Town.
"I don't like this," Nabooru said in the Gerudo tongue, not bothering to look at him. "The Hylians cannot be trusted."
"Who says I trust them?"
"You just swore fealty to that fat old oaf."
"I said some words." The celebration seems to have spilled out onto the city. People danced before fires and sang loud and off key. A gentle breeze blew across his face, warm and pleasant, filling his nose with cooked meats and boiling stews. "It is beautiful, isn't it?"
"You swore before the Goddesses." Nabooru stepped away from him, resting her back against the wall and glared at him. Clearly she did not come out here to enjoy the view. "You can't just brush that aside as only words."
"But they are. How many agreements have the Hyrulian monarchs broken over the years? How many times have our mothers tried to cease hostilities only to have our people pushed aside and our water taken from us? It's far time we used the same tricks on them."
"Then you will dishonor yourself, and without reason to! We could have won. Just a little further, one or two more victories like you've led us through over the years and we would be forcing these lazy cowards to join under us. Under you."
"No, we could not. One hundred years, Nabs. One hundred years of war and what has it brought us? The desert grows deadlier every year, our wells have have gone dry. The winds bring sandstorms that tear apart our home. We lose more of our sisters to the elements than we have in all the battles we've fought since I came to power. And what have the Hylians lost? They are as prosperous as ever. Their steel gets thicker, and if I win a hundred more battles that won't change anything."
"You don't know that," Nabooru stepped up to Ganondorf and prodded him in his chest. "My plan was good. Dragging their armies behind us would've left a straight path to attack the castle."
"Nabs, this isn't about you. Your plan was brilliant, but it takes more than winning battles to win a war."
"More 'wisdom' you've gotten from your scrolls I take it?"
"And my mothers."
Ganondorf did not know which upset his old friend more, mentioning the scrolls and legends he poured over at all hours of the night, or his mothers that constantly tried to advise him. Both Nabooru made quite clear she thought distracted him from the important points of how to fight battles and survive the desert. But she didn't understand what knowledge they provided him, what opportunity. How could she?
"Gan," she said, still frowning. "I will follow you. I will always follow you, you know that. But you're taking a great risk. Even if whatever you're planning works, it is not wise to anger the Goddesses."
"Leave them to me. If it all works out, I'll have enough power in my hands that even they won't dare face me."
"Ugh," Nabooru shook her head. "You know, it's when you start saying things like that. That's why people call you mad. You know that right?"
Ganondorf smiled at her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I'm only mad if I'm wrong. And when have you ever known me to be wrong?"
"The crater."
"No, that doesn't count. I saw the giant worm-thing with the hands."
"Uh-huh," Nabs said. "Keep telling me that for another fifteen years, I might believe you."
"You going to come back inside? The signing will commence soon. We could all use some entertainment after that. I haven't sen you dance in years."
"You told me I dance like a drunk mule."
"Exactly, we can all use the entertainment."
Nabs wiggled out from under Ganondorf's arm and punched him in the shoulder. Ganondorf threw his head back in a deep laugh as his closest friend scowled at him, but soon the scowl broke and she laughed beside him. Together they reentered the Great Hall, and as the crowd saw him and cheered he could only laugh and cheer with them. They didn't know. Not one of them knew what he knew. And none of them would be able to stop what he had planned.
