Moving On Chapter 9
Lightning crackled across the sky, catapulting from the heavens and piercing the earth with fierce wrath in a swirling storm without rain or end. Flashes of light illuminated a dark battle, three combatants, two against one. A Sheikah, against a Gerudo and Hylian. While the tide was in the favor of the Gerudo and Hylian, it shifted as the Sheikah repelled an attack from the Gerudo and reached for her head with his arm swirling with gloom and malice. But he was stopped, by the Hylian jumping in the way, getting grabbed in her stead. He screamed in pain as the Sheikah took control of him like a puppet, wresting the will from his soul. The Gerudo watched in horror and had only one option left. She held her scimitars out and called down a bolt of concentrated lightning from the heavens, striking the Sheikah and Hylian, killing both. Saving herself but at a high cost.
Riju shot upward, a cold sweat running down her back. Wide-eyed she saw her bedroom and the world outside through the doorway, she was still in her bed. She sighed in relief and fell back down onto her sheets in relief. Just a dream. She brought her hand to her chest, felt her heart beating. She forced herself to be calm, as a warrior, as a chief, she had to remain calm before the storm came. She got out of bed, pushing her seal plushies gently to the side and getting dressed. Affixing the crown of the seven and all her additional jewelry used to take time, but she'd done it so many times by this point it was like putting on any other article of clothing, quick and mostly thoughtless. Taking a step outside, she looked to the sky, the moon is still a ways off from falling, she wouldn't be able to get back to sleep now though.
Riju noticed a silhouette slumped by the doorway as she passed through, instinctively she booted them down the stairs, revealing through the sound of his yelp that the figure was Link, or maybe someone pretending to be Link. He steadily rose back up to his feet, taking a couple berries from his pocket and eating them as he did. That's all the conformation she needed to know it was really him. He chuckled and said he probably should've seen that coming, Riju chuckled with him.
"Sorry, I can never be too careful with things as they are." She sighed, getting an understanding nod from Link. "What were you doing there by the way?"
"Keeping watch for assassins."
"Link, you should be getting some rest, I don't think I need to remind you how important that is before such an important battle." She scolded him, though he told her it was fine and that he was doing both, resting and watching. Riju laughed, that was like him. Though if it came down to it, she was certain an assassin couldn't get past him even in his sleep.
"Well, I suppose I can't argue with that." She shrugged as she walked down the stairs toward him. Though she stopped dead in her tracks when she heard the sound of footsteps other than her own, something Link also heard. He ducked behind the railing of the stairs, as did Riju and they listened in. Footsteps, only a few, some light, some heavy footed, sounded like two people. They seemed to walk into the throne room and stop for a bit, until Link heard them coming up the stairs. He crept beside the doorway, Riju following behind, and waited. As soon as one of the intruders passed through, Link brought the master sword to their neck in an instant, stopping it just before it sliced skin, Riju behind him unsheathed her scimitars and readied her lightning.
"L-Link!?" The princess looked at him with wide, shocked eyes, an expression he returned to her. Hastily he withdrew his attack, putting the master sword away in its sheath and kneeling.
"Lady Riju!? What is going on!?" Buliara yelled, readying her hand upon her blade.
"Apologies princess, the Yiga clan have forced our guard." Link explained, face trained upon the floor.
"It is as he says, the Yiga clan have been making serious efforts for our lives, it has put everyone on edge." Riju added, sheathing her weapons and standing behind him. Though a chief bowed before no other ruler especially in her own lands, she gave the princess a respectful nod.
"...It is quite alright. In such a situation, your reaction is understandable. Despite the poor reception I am glad to see you safe again Link, I was worried when you didn't return from your expedition to the depths, you'll have to tell me what you found when you get the time." Zelda gave him a warm smile, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder as if to tell him she wasn't upset with him, though his muscles remained tense.
"Though as fate would have it, after the talks in Hateno, we came here to discuss a plan to deal with the Yiga who infest these deserts." Zelda said.
"Ah that is good to hear indeed, we have already established something of a plan at dealing with the desert menace ourselves. Come, we may discuss this further in the throne room." Riju said, motioning towards her throne.
"Of course." Zelda replied, courteously stepping out of the way and letting Riju pass. She noticed Link stay by Zelda's side and Buliara follow her and couldn't help but think in the back of her mind that it was funny how the roles had reversed for a bit, Buliara guarding the princess and Link guarding her. She was going to miss having Link by her side.
"So, we shall start with you Zelda, what's the plan you've all put together in Hateno." Riju asked as she sat calmy upon her throne. Zelda stood before Riju with her hands held together in front of her midriff, Link kneeled by her side, and so she began.
"Well, after much heated discussion we have decided the best course of action would be to flee all our respective towns and take refuge within lookout landing. You may think this leaves us vulnerable but quite the opposite, we will have far more armed troops localised to one area, and the Yiga will spread themselves far too thin trying to take all our abandoned territories, allowing for us to make a powerful blow while they are weak." Zelda explained, her crazy plan earning her a strange look from Riju. It sounded crazy enough to work but... She didn't like the idea of leaving her home exposed to the Yiga.
"While that sounds as though it is just mad enough to work. The plan we have made would prove much faster and efficient in ending the Yiga menace if it works. We intend to nip their growing power in its bud before they have the chance to become even stronger." Riju began. "The warriors of Gerudo town are to set out tomorrow along with myself and Link to raid the Yiga hideout, with our strength we are confident that with a swift and heavy attack we shall strike down the enemy before they have the chance to bring havoc upon our home or the rest of Hyrule. We have already made preparations to protect our people in our absence." She explained, laying out the plan they'd set out the day before in enough detail to get their aims perfectly across.
"While that sounds like it may work, the worst mistake in a battle is to underestimate your opponent, put simply we don't know what they are fully capable of at this time, we may be putting ourselves at serious risk if you all attack now, and if Link were to fall in battle, then all of Hyrule would be at risk." Zelda countered, clearly unhappy with this idea.
"While I appreciate your concern Princess, we are familiar with the enemy, even as they are now, we know their hideout well and our own strength should not be underestimated, my warriors can certainly hold their own and with you and Buliara along with us I believe we could make a powerful strike force." Riju stood firm.
"Hmmm, I'm still not sure, the risk is too high for my liking, not after what happened in the calamity... What do you think Link?" Zelda turned and asked Link, he looked up in surprise but made his thoughts known as asked. As she already knew, he agreed with Riju, his warrior's heart spoke true. Zelda was clearly shocked at his response but respected it.
"What of you Buliara?" Riju asked her own guardswoman who stood proudly by her side.
"I think Zelda speaks true, to attack now puts too much at risk. As shameful as it may be, I prefer the safer option for the sake of our people." Buliara spoke, surprising Riju this time. She always was more of a guardian than a warrior she supposed, she would take her opinion into account even if it stood against her own wishes. There was a short silence afterward, though Zelda was first to speak up.
"I suppose we may try the preemptive attack strategy first, if we are wounded badly, I will evacuate us with the Purah pad and we shall fall back on the other idea." Zelda resolved, taking out the Purah pad as she spoke.
"Mmh, agreed, that sounds like a good comprimise." Riju smiled and nodded. "We shall depart soon, by sunrise." With an agreement finally settled once again, she could focus on readying herself once more.
"I shall be outside in the courtyard while we wait." Zelda said, turning to walk outside. "Would you like to join me Link?" She asked, receiving a nod from Link who followed her out the doorway. Riju watched the two walk out the door and couldn't help the feeling of jealousy that panged in her chest, though she repressed it all she could. She respected both of them too much to allow herself to think that way. She had picked up on something Zelda had mentioned, about the calamity, her memories of it seemed to make her paranoid about risk-taking. Someone else who survived that nightmarish event similarly had problems with his fears, so much so that he was overprotective. There was no doubt a connection there. Even if he didn't remember everything, the weight of that loss would be unimaginably high. He needs comfort she thought to herself, but her never gets it. It was quite clear he was touch-starved, by how he always flinched at every touch and wasn't always that comfortable with physical contact.
She wanted to hold him, to make him feel safe like he'd make her feel safe, share her warmth and help him heal. But he clearly didn't want that, at least not from her, and she had to accept that. Maybe princess Zelda could give him that comfort, someday. Though for whatever reason even after living together for so long they never seemed to go much farther. Maybe there was something else she was missing.
"We move out!" Riju commanded from atop her sled, thrashing the lashes, commanding Patricia to move, and move she did with great haste, followed by many others with sleds holding her soldiers. Link and Zelda sat on her sled and Buliara commanded the seal to her right, all the preperations had been made, static charged through her crown as she anticipated the battle to come. Zelda expected them to lose against such an enemy, after experiencing so many losses herself it was understandable as to why, but Riju fully intended to end everything at this battle.
"g-AAAAGH"
She was pulled from her thoughts as she heard a scream that sounded like it came Link, she hastily turned to see Zelda gripping the back of his head with her left hand, swirling with gloom and malice. A disguise! Link fell to his knees and slumped off the sled into the moving ocean of sand, Riju just barely dodged a swipe from the hand and tripped off the sled herself, pushing it to the side effectively pushing Zelda off too. Sand whirled into the air from the commotion, decorated with dozens if not hundreds of paper talismans as the Yiga clan appeared as if from nowhere, led by the one Link spoke about, Master Kaago.
