XI - The Battle Of Windvane Meadow


Sheik did not see how the fire started, but the whole garrison was suddenly ablaze. In the light of the flames, he saw a flash of metal and gold, and shadows in the dark. Amidst the loud clanging of sword against sword and the battle cries, he saw blades slit open throats, heads being severed and spears thrust into abdomens. The wind carried not only the scent of burnt embers across, but also the smell of fresh blood and rust.

The Gerudo warriors ploughed mercilessly into the Hyrulean soldiers, fighting with mighty swords, spears and arrows, and they were clearly starting to gain the upper hand. The Hyrulean soldiers were more and more desperate to hold their ground as they were driven back. Ganondorf grabbed a Gerudo banner, raising it to the sky, and his powerful voice drowned out every other noise.

"Victory!" he yelled, "Victory!"

His warriors chimed in, and soon the battlefield was filled with cries of victory. Sheik could clearly see that the remaining Hyrulean soldiers were intimidated, knowing that they had lost the flight. He relaxed as he followed Valen onto the battlefield, but kept his hand on his kunai, just in case.

And then he heard it. A clicking sound, like nails on a stone floor, a whizzing and humming sound, and suddenly the ground before him exploded. He lost his balance for a short moment, but quickly regained it. His eyes widened in horror as he saw them coming; spiderlike legs crawling over the plains, and glowing blue eyes.

They were incredibly nimble and impossibly fast. A red laser pointed at a Gerudo standing not far from him, and only a few seconds later, a blue beam tore her to shreds.

"Run!" he screamed, and he dashed off, away from the fire, away from the battle, and away from those terrifying machines.

The Gerudo and Hylians scattered. The air was filled with smoke, screams and the smell of blood and fear. Sheik saw Paya struggling to get away, and he grabbed her hand and dragged her along. The earth around them seemed to explode itself as the machines fired at them again and again, in a blinded frenzy. Whenever their eyes caught a movement, they'd shoot. A Hyrulean soldier was suddenly next to Sheik, running for his life. Sheik barely managed to see the red dot and then was thrown off his feet, landing with his face in the dirt. Paya screamed. Something sharp dug into his shoulder and he hissed, realising that he had fallen into a blade. But there was no time to stop if he wanted to live. He bobbed up, ignoring the pain that shot from his shoulder into his fingertips and started running again. The edge of the forest was close. He could make it if he'd just speed up a little. He heard a humming and Paya's voice screaming "watch out", and before the laser could rip him apart, he threw himself down and rolled over the ground, finding his footing quickly again. Like a hare, he zigzagged his way into the shelter of the trees, hiding behind a large rock. His heart was hammering in his chest as he tried to catch his breath, afraid to make a sound. Then there was another explosion outside the forest, and he knew that the machine had taken up pursuit of someone else. He gasped and let his head sink against the rock. He gingerly touched his shoulder and his fingers came away with warm blood.

"Dammit," he cursed, but there was no time. He needed to get to safety before he was killed. Looking around, he saw that he was alone, and he straightened up, making a few cautious steps further into the forest. He saw movement not far from him. Holding his breath, he ducked down and waited.

The person in the tree slowly climbed down, and as their feet touched the ground and they turned around, Sheik recognised them.

"Paya," he whispered, motioning her to move away from the tree.

She saw him and, silent as a mouse, scurried over, her eyes filled with fear.

"What was that," she gasped, but Sheik shushed her.

"We need to find shelter," he whispered, and she nodded.

"There is some sort of alcove not far from here, we could fit in both and hide until it's over," she whispered back.

The alcove was neither deep nor very wide, but it would do. Sheik put one hand over the other and knelt down, creating a make-shit ladder for Paya to climb up to the alcove. She put her foot on his palms and he hoisted her up. Her fingers grabbed the rim of the niche and she pulled herself all the way up until she was inside. Sheik shoved a bundle in her lap before trying to hoist himself up.

A pain went through Sheik's body as something hard collided with his back, and then he was blind. Paya's fingers curled around the Sheikah slate inside the bundle as she watched Sheik being dragged away with wide eyes.


Sheik's body hurt in ways he hadn't felt in a while, but he was alive. His arms and legs were dangling uselessly on both sides of the horse underneath him, his body rocking back and forth with each step. He was still blind, but from time to time, a little light shone through the rough fabric of the bag that had been put over his head. He coughed. His mouth was dry and he had a faint taste of blood on his tongue.

The horse then came to a halt and he heard low voices. He strained his ears to hear what they were saying. He didn't understand coherent sentences, but picked up a few words. They were speaking in Hylian.

That's not good, he thought as the horse began to move again. The clopping of hooves became louder, and Sheik realised they were now walking over cobblestone.

When the rough bag was finally removed from his head, he had to blink from the strong light that flooded his vision. The smell of spices was in the air. Someone dragged him down from the horse and grabbed the rope that tied his hands. When he moved his head to the side, he saw that he was not alone – the soldier also had two Gerudo in tow. Both women had their eyes closed as they were dragged along the streets lined with shops and food stalls and advertising merchants. They only stopped when they stood under the arc of the first gatehouse, and it took Sheik just a second to understand where he was being brought to.

Dammit, he cursed, not the castle.


The cell was dark, cold and damp. Sheik looked over to the slumped figures of the two Gerudo in the corner of the cell. None of them had said a single word and Sheik began to doubt that they even spoke or understood the Hylian language. He didn't try to initiate a conversation because he knew it was futile. He leaned back against the cold stone wall and sighed. Compared to the dungeons in Hyrule Castle, Valen's Cell had been a one star inn. He shivered. It was very cold down there and he had nothing to cover his body. The wound on his shoulder had stopped bleeding, but was throbbing whenever he moved his arm.

"I hope this won't get infected",he said to himself, pulling his scarf over his mask. At least his face would get a bit of warmth.

Why did they capture us though? Why not just kill us? Those two will never talk. He glanced over to them, and they were still slouching in the corner. At least they could keep each other a little warm.

Sleep didn't come easy that night, but in the early morning hours, Sheik had finally drifted off, hours after having racked his brain on how to get out of this mess.


He woke with the tip of a boot to his head, and jerked up when the guard who disturbed his sleep grabbed him by the shoulder. A sharp pain went through his upper body and he gritted his teeth.

"Get up, you filth!"

Sheik stumbled into the dark room, his arms tied by a rope that cut into his wrists. The guard that dragged him along gave him a shove, and Sheik landed on his knees. He suppressed a moan and remained on the ground, head hung low. The room was windowless, situated on the floor just above the dungeon, and only sparsely lit by a few torches. As he lifted his head a little, he saw strange devices standing in the other corner of the room. So they brought me here to torture me, he thought and grimaced.

After a few uneventful moments the door opened anew, and Sheik heard heavy footsteps followed by lighter ones. The door closed again, and one of the guards pulled Sheik's head back on his braid. Sheik groaned. What was it with people pulling his hair?

"Is this the one you captivated near the garrison?" the king asked, and the soldier standing next to him nodded.

"Yes, your majesty. The Yiga scum was with the Gerudo who attacked the garrison."

The king took a step closer and bent down a little to get a better look at Sheik.

"So," he began, "teaming up with the Gerudo to conquer Hyrule, huh. See how that turned out." He laughed.

Sheik didn't answer, nor did he move. He glared at the king with his cold, crimson eyes and shot him a look that could kill. In a sparsely lit corner of the room, he spotted two hooded figures; a small, frail looking one and a taller, more muscular one. Under the hood, he saw how the smaller person's eyes widened in fear, saw how they slightly shivered, saw a bead of sweat run down their young, feminine face. Is that...the princess?

"Wipe that arrogant look off your face, Yiga. You will soon beg me to spare your life. Unless...you tell me about the riots in the west, the collaboration of Gerudo and Yiga, and the plans to attack the crown. Your choice."

Sheik pressed his lips tightly together.

"Talk!" he hissed, anger emanating from his eyes.

Sheik turned his face away and remained silent. His heart was beating so heavily in his chest that he had trouble breathing, his shoulder was still throbbing and he felt nauseous. Anger, hate and despair bubbled up inside of him, knowing that physical pain was about to follow, yet he kept his mouth shut.

"Strap him to the rack," the king then said.

Sheik was pulled up by the rope around his wrists and hoisted onto the rack. He tried to kick the guard with his right foot, but the latter grabbed his ankle and pushed his legs back down on the device, spread them a little and fastened the ropes attached to the lower roll around his ankles. The other guard did the same with his arms, and then they stepped away.

A few minutes later, the door opened anew, and another hooded figure entered the room, approaching the torture device.

Sheik swallowed hard. He was very much afraid and his lips trembled.

The torturer grabbed the handle and slowly started turning. Sheik felt a pull as the rolls began to move and stretch his limbs.

"So?" the king asked after one turn, "still not ready to speak?"

Sheik bit his lower lip, but remained silent still. His mind was racing. How would he be able to escape? His eyes darted from one side to the other, desperately trying to find a way to release himself from the rack.

The torturer grabbed the handle anew and spun another round. Sheik couldn't suppress a moan when a sharp pain shot through his whole body, but his ligaments and joints were still in place.

"Wait!" he heard someone scream. "Father, please stop."

The torturer stopped when he heard the princess' voice and everyone looked at her.

"I beg you, please stop."

The king turned to his daughter and caressed her cheek. "My dear Zelda, you are as soft as your mother. But you must learn how to deal with those that oppose and threaten the crown. This man would take your life without a second thought. This man has attacked our soldiers at the garrison. And this man has cut throats and burned down towers. You will stay and watch."

Sheik tried to free his hands and feet when everyone's eyes were on the king and his daughter, but to no avail.

"The prisoner fainted," he then heard someone else say, and the voice sounded strangely familiar.

Fainted? he thought, and realised how brilliant it was. Someone who fainted couldn't be interrogated. He closed his eyes and let his body go limp, hoping that the ruse would work.

The torturer stepped up to the rack and yelled at him. "Hey!"

Sheik didn't move, keeping his breath shallow. He forced his heartbeat to slow down. The torturer slapped him hard in the face, and he let it loll to the side.

"He's out," the torturer said, displeasure in his voice, "what a wimp. Can't take a bit of pain."

The king was furious. "Return him to his cell and bring him back when he comes around."

Sheik could barely believe that the ruse had worked. The guards stepped up to the rack and loosened the ropes around his wrists and ankles, heaving him off the table. Sheik released all tension in his muscles and hung like a potato sack in their arms, and they started to drag him off, not caring to tie his arms or legs. He opened his eyes ever so slightly. They were close to the king and his daughter and the hooded guard standing at the door, holding it open.

Now, he thought. The element of surprise on his side, he yanked free from the guards' grip, kicking the one on the left in the stomach and ramming his knee into the other's private parts. Both immediately let go of him, groaning in pain. He ran forward, dodged the hooded guard, and stole the knife hanging from his belt. With one swift move, he grabbed the princess' wrist who screamed out in fear. Pulling her in front of his body, he raised the knife to her throat.

"Get away from me, or I'll cut her throat," he said.

The king's face turned white as a sheet, but he did not dare risk his daughter's life by disobeying.

"Get away from the door," he said, nudging the princess towards it. The hooded guard and the king both stepped away, and Sheik pushed her through. Walking backwards, he dragged her along the corridor, making sure no one came too close.

The princess was limp in his grip. When they were out of sight of the king and the guards, he pulled the knife away and let her go. He didn't look at her, but he still heard the tears as they streamed down her face. And then he took off.

Sheik soon felt lost in the maze of corridors in the heart of the castle, but he figured that, since the torture chamber was situated just above the dungeon, the only way was straight on and up. Before long, he heard the guards chase after him, barking orders at their comrades. Although Sheik was lithe and fast, he was, apart from a knife, unarmed and pretty much devoid of direction.

The long corridor ended in a staircase. Sheik stopped briefly to listen if any sounds came from above, and when all seemed clear, he started to carefully make his way up. At the top of the staircase he peered out to see if the path was clear. Two guards strolled casually through the corridor, facing his direction. Sheik pressed himself flat against the wall, waiting, listening. The guards didn't seem to have taken notice of the commotion he had created yet, and when they reached the end of the corridor, they turned around and walked back. Sheik let out the breath he was holding, but soon heard voices coming from the foot of the stairs. He cursed under his breath. He had to move. He left the staircase and sneaked around the corner, keeping close to the wall. The guards walking in front of him still had not noticed him, but the footsteps coming up the stairs would soon catch their attention and there was no way to hide. Sheik decided that he had no other choice than surprise attack the clueless guards before his cover was blown. He soundlessly approached, and then leaped, hitting the first guard in the temple with the flat side of his hand. His opponent went down without making a sound, and before the second guard realised what was happening, Sheik's elbow made hard contact with his chin. He, too, keeled over. Sheik jumped over their bodies and dashed off again, the hunting party now following closely behind. As he rounded the corner, the straight corridor opened up to a fork. Sheik estimated that the right path would only lead him further inside the castle, so he opted for the left way instead. A few windows were built into the walls. Sheik stopped before them, peered out, and sighed. The outer castle wall reached up from the ground, and the distance measured at least 10 metres. He calculated his chances of making it down without breaking all of his bones, and discovered a small ledge not far below the window. If he could reach the ledge and then slowly climb down, or jump the last part, he could make it without breaking all of his bones. He opened the window and heaved himself up. At the end of the corridor, someone suddenly yelled and he knew that his cover was blown.

"Stop!"

He put one foot over the window frame and was halfway out of the window, when someone grabbed his ankle and pulled him down. Sheik hung on to the frame with both hands with as much force as he could muster, his shoulder wound burning, but the guard was stronger than him. Sheik's grip loosened and he fell backwards, but was caught by two strong arms which held him in place, despite his kicking.

"We got him!" one of the approaching guards yelled.

"Stop struggling," a familiar voice softly said in his ear. At the sound of the way too pleasant voice and the feeling of lips against his ear, he tensed. It was the same voice that had saved him from being tortured. "Did you want to plunge to your death?"

"What do you care," Sheik hissed. Being caught in the man's strong grip, his back pressed against the other's chest, Sheik had to admit defeat.


The Gerudo women were gone when he was returned to his cell, and Sheik wondered what had happened to them. Not that it really mattered anyway; threatening a member of the royal family was punishable by death, and Sheik had been sentenced to death by hanging. He laid down on the dirty floor and closed his eyes. There was no way he could escape his death one more time.

He had been dozing when he suddenly heard voices.

"Get up!" the guard standing before his cell shouted.

Sheik looked up. Before his cell was a guard and a person in a dark cloak, their face hidden under a large hood.

"The priest is here," the guard grumbled. He was clearly not convinced of the old custom of having a priest clear death row inmates from their sins the night before their death.

"You have fifteen minutes," he said to the priest, and then walked back to his seat at the end of the corridor.

Sheik blinked, trying to get a look under the dark hood. The priest approached the cell, standing close to the bars. Very close.

"I don't need you to free me from any sins," Sheik said quietly, but the priest didn't move, nor did he speak. He only beckoned him to come closer. Sheik narrowed his eyes as he slowly approached. As he stood before the priest, he saw a lock of dirty blond hair and blue eyes shimmer under the hood.

"Hold out your hand," the man said quietly. That voice again.

Sheik did as he was told, and the hooded man dropped a bundle into his outstretched hand. He felt something solid under the brown cloth and wrapped his fingers around it.

"What is this?" he whispered.

"Your weapons. I trust you know how to swim?"

Sheik nodded uncertainly. Who was this man and why did he feel so familiar? Where had he heard his voice before?

The fake priest then began reciting from a bible, feigning to clear him of his sins. When he was done, Sheik caught a glimpse of his face and nearly choked on his breath.

Link, he thought.

With a sad smile, the fake priest left the dungeon.


Sheik didn't sleep for the rest of the night. He undid the shawl, wrapped it around his lower right arm, and carefully hid his kunai underneath, making sure they'd hold without poking into his arms or cutting him. Although basically a throwing weapon, Sheik had developed a liking for ancient Sheikah kunai forged out of steel as opposed to the shorter versions with blunt iron blades favoured by the Yiga. The lighter steel and the longer blade required a more precise and refined throwing technique, making it less popular as a quick throwing weapon. Sheik preferred to keep his steel blades thin and sharp.

When he was done and had secured the wrappings, he sat down on the ground with his back against the wall and waited.

Sheik couldn't see the sun rise nor hear birds sing, but his internal clock told him that it was early morning when he heard guards approach. They tied his hands with a rope this time, not making the same mistake twice, and dragged him out of his cell and out of the dungeon.

Only two of them? They still underestimate me, he thought.

They walked past the main prison guard and up an old stairway. Sheik could hear the sound of water lapping against stone, and he knew that they were close. When they rounded a corner, he saw a dozen wooden docks below, and all of them were guarded.

Shit, he cursed. He had to act fast if he wanted to escape. If the guards at the docks saw him, it'd be too late. He let the kunai hidden under his shawl slide down his arm until he could feel its top against his fingers, and then began moving his hands along its blade. He felt the rope loosen around his wrists as the kunai cut through the material. The guards didn't seem to notice the small hand movement for they just pressed on. When one hand was free, he let the kunai slide all the way down until his fingers wrapped around the hilt. With one swift move, he wrested his arm free from the guard's grip and stabbed out, pushing his blade all the way through the guard's neck.

"What?!" he heard the other guard shout before he kicked him in the back, making him stumble forwards. He quickly freed his other hand, threw himself at the second guard, and slit his throat. With a pounding heart, he looked at the bodies before his feet and then down to the docks. No one had heard them, as they were busy talking and laughing. Sheik quickly hid behind a large pillar and scanned the place for any escape route. With the docks all being watched, he could not take the stairs and he somehow had to get into the water.

And then he saw it. A small ledge protruding from the adjacent cliff, facing away from the docks. If he took a run and jumped, he could reach it. From there, he could dive into the water and swim past the docks. It would be a long dive, and Sheik wasn't sure how long he could hold his breath under water, but it was his only chance. And he'd rather drown then be hanged.

Securing his kunai around his arm once again, he took a deep breath. He started to run towards the wall and then jumped. He landed on the ledge like a cat on all four, holding on to the rock in order to avoid falling off. With his back pressed against the rock, he looked around. No one had noticed his jump, and the guards were still busy talking.

Suddenly, he heard voices and trampling coming from the dungeon, and the guards' attention was drawn away from the docks.

Now! Sheik seized the chance, and jumped into the water. It was icy cold and almost knocked the breath out of him as he resurfaced. He swam close to the rock wall until the docks came into sight. He quickly guessed the diving distance, took a deep breath, and dived under. The low temperature of the water threatened to numb his body if he didn't keep going, so he took long strides, thankful to see in the murk.

The further he swam, the harder it became to stay under water. His lungs were burning and crying for air, but he couldn't yet surface. He was still too close to the docks.

Just a little further, he reminded himself. When he finally surfaced, he was past the docks, but still too close to be out of danger. He took a few deep breaths, sucked in the air, and dived under one more time.

You'll make it. You'll live.

When he resurfaced anew, an orange sky greeted him.