XIX – Vah Rudania


Sheik hated Eldin. He hated the heat, he hated the mountain, and he hated the fact that Gorons apparently didn't need to drink in order to survive. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and glanced at Robbie who, despite the warm overcoat, didn't seem to mind the heat one bit. He ran from one side to the other, obviously overexcited at their discovery, and barked orders at his fellow researchers.

"Just look at this beauty!" he shouted and touched the glossy black head of the ancient war machine. "Who would've thought that it'd be a salamander! We should give it a name. Quick, think of something."

Sheik shrugged. "Shouldn't you do that yourself?" but Robbie wasn't even listening.

He sighed and examined the salamander. It was huge compared to the Guardians, with a large platform on its back, containing four round vents, and long segmented legs ending in claws. The head could fully open to reveal a powerful laser cannon and the tail with its hammer-shaped tip steered the whole thing. According to Robbie, it was also perfectly fireproof and wouldn't melt even in a pool of lava.

"You know," he said, now standing next to Sheik again, "according to ancient history, those machines were piloted by four champions, chosen from different tribes. Rito, Goron, Zora and Gerudo. When we march to war with these beauties, suitable pilots need to be chosen, by order of the king. Who has sent his daughter here, by the way."

Sheik groaned. He wasn't prepared to meet Link, especially not after having fled from him that night. The memory was still vivid, that feeling of losing all control over his body and mind still haunting him. Link had seen him at his lowest, humiliated and vulnerable and naked – and yet he had held him and... Sheik felt a heat crawl from the pit in his abdomen up his thorax into his cheeks when his brain filled in the rest. He was ashamed of his reaction – or lack of reaction.

"You're not listening," Robbie stated, arms crossed over his chest.

"I'm sorry," Sheik mumbled, shaking off the memory.

"Well, don't just stand around there. Make yourself useful. Get on there, we need to find out how to operate the main control unit."

"Don't you think your researchers are more suited for the job?"

"Why do you think I brought you along? You're one of the last Sheikah of the ancient bloodline. You can read ancient Sheikah, can you not? They can't. Now up, up."

Sheik didn't even try to argue any further. He entered the machine through a hatch in its belly and found it dark inside apart from a soft blue glow emanating from several terminals. He made his way up to the main control unit, and examined it.

Now what? he thought as he stared at the pedestal and the terminal. It did look similar to the one he had discovered on top of the Sheikah tower, but Sheik didn't have the slate.

"Looking for this?" Robbie said, holding up a Sheikah slate.

"Goddammit Robbie, stop appearing out of nowhere all the time!" Sheik startled.

The scientist laughed and then placed the slate into the terminal. The main unit activated and lit up in the same blue light that any Sheikah appliances used, humming softly. Ancient Sheikah runes appeared on the screen, forming some sort of code. Sheik and Robbie looked intently at it, trying to decipher it.

"Well," Robbie said, scratching the back of his head, "I know both you and I can read ancient Sheikah, but this looks like a code."

"Can you crack it?"

"Why don't you give it a try?" He patted Sheik on the shoulder, grinning. "My notes are in my bag. Take as much time as you need."


Sheik sat cross-legged in front of the unit, a quill between his teeth, and looked at the runes - a combination of letters and numbers – that he had scribbled down from the main control unit, when he heard voices from underneath the deck. He put the quill away and pulled his face mask up and over his nose, looking into the direction of the upper hatch. Before long, he heard Robbie's voice and relaxed, but when the group of people emerged from below, his courage sank. Not only did Robbie bring people up to their working space, but he was also in the worst imaginable company. Sheik nervously got up from his spot on the ground and lowered his head, hoping the princess wouldn't recognise him. Behind her, three Gorons, and, of course, her loyal personal knight. He felt Impa's eyes on him, but refused to look up. Keeping his head low, he feigned to take a respectful stance, but felt gullible to believe that wearing different clothes was enough to fool the princess.

"Why is he here?" Zelda asked between clenched teeth, taking a step back to be closer to her knight.

Sheik looked up and his eyes met Link's, but the latter quickly looked away.

Robbie gave her a half-confused and half-apologetic look. "Sheik is my assistant. Do you know each other?"

"He's a Yiga who escaped from the royal dungeons and is wanted for his crimes," she said with as much disdain as she could muster, "I must insist that he's taken and sent back to prison to await his death penalty."

"He's no Yiga. And he is under my protection," Impa said sharply, tolerating no dissent. "Sheik has helped Robbie attain remarkable results in the search for the divine beasts. He's one of the last survivors of the ancient bloodline, and only those with ancient blood have the ability to revive these war machines. No matter if you like it or not, your highness, we need him to reclaim the castle and these lands."

Sheik felt as if he had been hit by lightning, and even he didn't dare object. Since when has Impa become so scary? he thought.

"So, Sheik, have you made any progress in deciphering the code?" she asked him directly, and Sheik shook his head.

"I am on it, but it may still take a while."

"Your highness," Impa now addressed Zelda directly, "would you be gracious enough to introduce your champion to my protégé?"

Zelda shot her a glare that would have killed her if she had possessed such a power, and Sheik couldn't shake off the feeling that Impa wasn't very fond of the princess.

She cleared her throat and introduced Daruk, champion of the Gorons, to Sheik and Robbie, as well as Bludo, the Goron chieftain and Daruk's grandson Yunobo. Sheik looked over to Link, but the knight stubbornly refused to pay him any attention, and it bothered him that it affected him emotionally.


Sheik, after having politely declined Daruk's invitation to dine with them in the Goron's chief's hall, continued to work on deciphering the code even after nightfall. He could feel that he was close; he had worked through almost all possible scenarios and only five that he had come up with were left to test. He connected the slate once more to the pedestal and ran the program that Robbie had installed back in Akkala, then proceeded to type in the last test series that he had prepared. The first one still didn't give him access, but when he ran the second through the program, the unit suddenly switched from blue to orange and finally granted Sheik access to the operational system. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed happily.

The machine was pretty linear and the system easy to conceive. The salamander's legs could be moved individually, and the machine had five control terminals that had to be activated in order to fully take control over the beast. Sheik downloaded the beast's internal map onto the slate, changed the code of the operational system so that it could be easily accessed, and then removed the slate from the pedestal, shutting off the main unit. Walking down into the belly of the beast and then leaving it through the hatch below, he made his way to Goron city.


The Goron champion turned out to be a fast learner despite his chubby fingers and his inability to properly use the control units, so Robbie promised to create a device for him to better handle the beast. Once the control units were activated, Sheik showed him how to maneuver the salamander.

"Wanna go for a test ride?" Robbie asked grinning, and Daruk couldn't hide his excitement.

"You bet I do!" the Goron rumbled and before anyone could get ready, he set the beast in motion. Sheik held onto a pillar when the salamander sprang forward, but Robbie tumbled and rolled over the floor.

"Oops. Sorry," Daruk said, scratching the back of his head.

"Go easy on us!" Robbie shouted while getting on all four. The beast slowed down and then walked casually around the mountain.

"Can it climb?"

"The legs can be positioned individually, so I guess it's possible. You might wanna give it a try on the gentle slope over there," Sheik suggested.

Daruk did as he was told, and steered the salamander towards the slope. The claws automatically gripped the protruding rocks and brought them safely to the other side.

"Wow! Amazing!" Daruk exclaimed, "this is fun."

Robbie joined them, looking a little seasick. "Enough for the test ride. Please return to the starting point."

Daruk looked disappointed, but when Robbie promised him that he could practice some more later on, he brought them back to where they had climbed on. Below, the princess was waiting for them in Impa's and Link's presence, looking content for once.

After Daruk's small improvised inauguration ceremony, they all assembled in the Goron hall to feast. Sheik's stomach growled when a whole roasted boar was brought in, reminding him that he hadn't properly eaten for the past days, but he didn't intend to eat with all these people. Backing down into a corner, he sat on a rock and waited for the feast to be over.

"You should eat." A plate was shoved under his nose, the delicious smell of grilled meat entering his nostrils. Sheik looked up and into Paya's eyes.

"Can I sit with you?" she asked and when he nodded, she sat down beside him, placing her own plate on her knees.

"I wanted to thank you for saving me the other day," she said, "I've never had the chance to do it."

"What makes you think I saved you?"

She sighed. "Even if you didn't intend to, you saved me by going to Kara Kara with Sorren."

"Temporarily. Valen is not going to rest until he sees your head on a stake."

"How did you get away this time?"

"Valen brought his men on a suicide mission to conquer the castle, believing that whatever is occupying it will remember their alliance."

"What do you mean by alliance?"

"I have reasons to believe that Ganondorf is responsible for the rise in monsters, the infections and the rogue guardians. But to just march in there and hope to put an end to the king's reign is pure madness. Valen didn't listen. When we arrived in Hyrule field, it was crawling with Guardians. I took chances and fled to Kakariko on my own."

"They might not have survived this."

Sheik snorted. "Valen's alive. Bad weeds grow tall."

"By the way, did Link return you your talisman?"

Sheik lowered his gaze to look at his plate. "So that's where it went," he mumbled.

Paya raised an eyebrow, but said nothing. "You know, he was really worried about you when you left for the desert. Did something happen between you two? Did you fight?"

Sheik finished his plate and then stood up. "Why are you being so inquisitive? I don't remember us being on such good terms."

"Yes, you are right," she said and got up as well, "you've basically been a dick to me from the start. You insulted me, threatened me, stole from me and intended to expose me. But look how the tables have turned. Now it's you who's afraid to be exposed and sent to the gallows. Your arrogance is nothing but a facade. Deep down you are hurt and afraid and..."

Sheik's fingers bore into the nape of her neck and silenced her. He pulled her into a dark corner and out of view of the party and brought his face close to hers, pressing his lips tightly together. "You've got some guts after all," he said quietly, "the sweet Paya, who would've thought. But I advise you to not test my patience."

She shook her head. "I really don't understand what Link sees in you and why he's trying so hard to be your friend," she answered.

"Does it bother you because you're into him?" he scoffed.

She slapped him. Her hand was trembling when she realised what she had just done. The hall had become quiet all of a sudden, the conversations dying down. Everyone was looking at them. It took all of Sheik's willpower to maintain his composure and not lash out at her. Without another word, he left the dining hall, feeling Link's eyes burn into his back as he walked past him. Paya's words had made him angrier than he wanted to admit. What did she know about him anyway? Growing up in a safe environment, never having to worry about Hylian raiding parties or having enough food and water to survive.

He didn't feel like returning to the sleeping quarters and left the village, making for the mountainside instead. The salamander was waiting silently, the light of the moon reflecting on its glossy black surface. Sheik sighed as he entered the machine through its belly. He sat down on its back, leaning against the main control unit and looked into the starry sky. The serenity of the night calmed his nervous system and let him properly breathe again. He hated large gatherings, hated the sound of people laughing and cheering loudly, even hated the sight of them. His cheek where Paya had slapped him was still a little red. He grimaced. He wasn't sure why she smacked him, but it felt like they were two individuals fighting over a love interest. Although Sheik was convinced that he was neither in love nor particularly interested. No, he was better off alone anyway. Link's presence was creating too much drama already, and he absolutely despised drama over petty little things. Best he stayed away from all of it. From all of them. And especially from Link.

When he finally fell asleep that night, with his body resting against the control unit of the salamander, his dreams were haunted by images of the Hylian knight, and when the sun kissed him awake at an ungodly hour, his underpants and trousers had become unusually tight.


Daruk's interest in the beast was immense. Before the sun had even fully risen, he was standing at the base of the salamander's parking spot and asked to be let in. When his huge form appeared on the beast's back, he was grinning widely, asking Sheik's permission to pilot the war machine.

"It's all yours. You are the chosen champion," he replied.

Daruk promised to be back for lunch and it made Sheik think of a little boy asking permission to use a toy. He left the salamander and watched as the Goron champion set it in motion, walking around the mountain as if he was going on a Sunday morning stroll. The salamander's eyes, the vents and several openings in its body glowed in the distinctive blue Sheikah light as it closed in on the volcano.

"Where is he going?" Link asked, suddenly standing next to Sheik, causing the latter to almost drop the Sheikah slate.

"Goddammit, what is it with everyone sneaking up on me?" he exclaimed out of reflex.

Link chuckled softly. "Maybe you are distracted too much lately. But honestly, where is he going?"

The salamander had now reached the base of the volcano. When it gave off a deafening, but mechanical roar, both Sheik and Link flinched.

"I didn't know it could do this," Sheik murmured. And then the hair on the back of his neck stood up and something made his skin crawl.

The salamander began to climb up the volcano, the hammer-shaped tip of its tail swaying from side to side to keep the balance as its claws gripped the rocky surface. When it had almost reached the mouth of the volcano, it gave off another roar, causing the mountain to tremor and rumble. Link instinctively reached out for a sword on his back that he wasn't carrying.

"What is he doing?"

"Something's wrong," Sheik answered.

Another roar, another tremor, and the volcano suddenly began to spit out big boulders.

"Run!" Sheik shouted. Seconds later, a boulder crashed down on the spot where they had just been standing.

"Sheik, look!" Link said and pointed at the beast. In the distance, the glowing blue light was fading and died down. A minute later, it glowed up in a bold, pink-red light.

"Go to Goron city, warn the others. I will check if I can get into the salamander's system via the slate."

Link grabbed Sheik's wrist. "If you stay here you will be crushed by a boulder."

"I will be fine. I have to help Daruk."

Link released Sheik's wrist. "I will be back," he said and then ran off.

Sheik took cover under a protruding rock and switched on the slate. The internal map of the beast showed up, but as soon as Sheik tried to connect to one of the terminals, the system automatically rebooted and denied him access. This is just like the Guardians, he thought, only ten times worse. If it manages to activate the laser cannon, we'll all be obliterated. Dammit Daruk, what the hell is happening up there?

When Link came back, he wasn't alone. The young Goron called Yunobo came jogging up behind him, face flushed from the exercise. Link had changed into a heat protecting armour, a sword and shield strapped around his back, a bow and quiver attached to his armour, and thrust a bundle into Sheik's arms. "Wear this," he said, "it'll protect you from the heat and fire. We're going up."

"What?" Sheik stared at him in disbelief.

"Daruk needs us. Put it on."

"I don't remember signing up for this," Sheik mumbled as he unwrapped the bundle and put the heavy armour over his clothes.

"We need to stop it before it manages to go down into the volcano," Yunobo said, "let's make use of the cannons."

"Cannons?"

"Come on, Sheik," Link said, dragging him along. They followed the mountain trail, staying close to the protective rock walls as best as they could, and avoided boulders and smaller rocks that the volcano spit at them.

"There it is. A Goron cannon," Yunobo said and pointed at a ledge not far from where they were standing.

"Ehrrr...do we have any explosives?" Sheik asked.

"We don't need any. I will climb into the cannon. It's operated by a lever. Come on, let's go."

They ran over to the Goron construction that turned out to be bigger than Link or Sheik. Yunobo released the security handle, showed them how to position the cannon and then hopped in it, rolling into a ball.

"Dammit, it's heavy," Link grunted as he tried to move the thing, "clearly made for Gorons and not humans. A little help please?"

When the cannon was finally in place, its muzzle pointing at the salamander, Link pulled at the lever with all his might. Sheik heard the sound of a fuse going off and Yunobo was sent flying out. When his rock-hard body made contact with the salamander, it gave off a roar and stopped moving.

"Watch out!" Link shouted as a boulder came rolling down at them, pushing Sheik out of the way. The boulder came to a halt right before them, revealing a very dizzy Goron.

"Good shot, goro," he said, stars still dancing in front of his eyes. When he came to it, he pressed on.

The further up the trail lead them, the hotter the air became. Lava poured from several openings of the volcano into shallow fiery pools, and both Sheik and Link had to watch their every step. Hitting the salamander with Yunobo seemed to slow it down, but it still moved relentlessly towards the opening of the volcano. When they had almost reached the top and fired the last Goron cannonball at the beast, it roared one last time and then went still, perched dangerously close to a pool of lava. Its claws were on fire, the flames dancing harmlessly around its body.

Sheik's lungs ached. It was hard to breathe and the heat threatened to scorch his skin. Link looked in no better shape, only Yunobo seemed perfectly fine, standing with one foot in the lava.

"How are we supposed to get inside?" Link asked.

"I can shoot you up with the cannon," Yunobo suggested and grinned innocently at the expression of sheer horror on both humans' faces. "Or you can climb on my back and I will bring you close to the hatch in its belly."

The entrance area, as well as the whole interior of the beast was shrouded in complete darkness. Although by now, Sheik knew the map of the beast by heart, he had troubles navigating through the murkiness. Link followed closely behind, while Yunobo was waiting outside.

"Can you see anything?" Link asked. He was completely blind.

"Just a little," Sheik answered, "although I have night vision, my eyes are not of much use in this thick, unnatural darkness. Stay close."

He moved forward until he heard a bang followed by Hylian curses, figuring that Link had run into a wall, and couldn't hold back a sneer.

"Yeah yeah, laugh all you will. This isn't funny, Sheik. I am completely blind. Care to help?"

"I am sorry," Sheik laughed, reaching out to grab Link's wrist, and brushed against his outstretched fingers instead. Link took the opportunity to interlace their fingers, his warm palm pressing against Sheik's.

"Sheik," he said, drawing closer, "I am sorry that...that I kissed you. I never meant to make you feel uncomfortable."

"I..."

"I get it. You don't feel that way. I didn't think before I acted, I am sorry. I don't want things to be awkward between us. I have grown rather fond of you."

"Why? I don't get you. Everyone despises me. And I can't blame them."

"Does it matter? I don't know why. Can we have a fresh start? Become...friends?"

Before Sheik could answer, they heard a loud thump and an eerie screeching sound coming from above.

"I remember where the closest terminal is. Come on," Sheik said and with Link's hand still in his, navigated through the darkness. When he connected the slate to the terminal, he gained access to it at last. The shutters in the ceiling opened and let in light, and Link reluctantly let go of Sheik's hand. They ran up the stairs, opened the hatch and arrived at the upper deck.

Sheik ducked down only in time before getting roasted by three fireballs, and Link deflected them with his shield.

"There is Daruk and...what the hell is that thing?" he shouted. Sheik's gaze followed his and his face paled. In the middle of the platform hovered a creature unlike anything Sheik had ever seen. It only seemed to have a head and an upper body, with one single eye that reminded him way too much of a Guardian. Part of its body consisted of the same material that any Sheikah-created machines were made of, and the rest was a mess of pink and black organic matter and tufts of vivid red hair. Its right shoulder was bulky and the arm ended in an ancient Sheikah blade, while the other arm was thinner and had an actual hand with sharp claws. When it spotted the new intruders, it changed its focus from Daruk to the smaller humans.

"Kiddos!" Daruk shouted, "stay away!"

"Sheik," Link said, "take the bow. I think its weak spot is its eye. I trust you had training in archery?"

Sheik nodded and took the bow from him, wishing he had brought along a few of Robbie's ancient arrows.

"I'll try to get its focus on me. Aim well." He ran forward with his sword firmly in his left hand and engaged the creature in a fight. The creature swung its heavy blade at Link, but the latter was faster and ducked down or deflected the attack with his own sword. Sheik nocked an arrow and aimed at the eye. With the creature moving around, it was hard to focus and keep a calm hand, but when it turned its face towards him, he let the arrow lose. It hit the eye and caused the creature to stagger, creating an opening for Link to land a few hits with his sword, jumping to the side when the wounds he inflicted oozed a pink-red substance. Link was still dangerously close to the creature when it floated back up, but before its sword could touch him, it bounced off an invisible shield.

"Back off kiddo," Daruk said, casting a protective shield in front of Link and himself.

Sheik sent a second arrow which missed its target, but also attracted the creature's attention. It answered with three more fireballs which it hurled at him with its left hand, and Sheik quickly rolled over the floor to avoid being scorched. Link used the opportunity to charge at it with his sword, severing its claw from its arm. The next arrow hit the eye again, and Sheik sent another straight after it. The creature went down. Link's blade inflicted more wounds to its chest and neck, and soon it was bleeding profusely, covering the floor in its acid-like substance. Although it was impossible for Link to get close, it also meant that it was weakening.

When it got back up, it was floating higher above the ground than before, making it harder for Sheik to hit it with his arrows. Looking around, he found that the only way to gain higher ground was to climb onto the spine of the beast. He slung the bow around his back and started to climb, holding the quiver between his teeth. When he reached the top, he ran over the spine until he was close enough to feel the immense heat radiating off the creature. And then he nocked an arrow and shot its eye, again and again, until the creature took a major leap backwards. It was floating lower now but also close to the edge of the platform. Sheik jumped, releasing his last arrow mid-air. The creature went down again. Link ran forward, avoiding the puddles of pink blood and sent the creature into the pool of lava underneath with one last powerful swing of his sword.


The beast brought them gently back on safe ground and away from the scorching heat of the volcano. Sheik tore off the heat protecting armour and let the now slightly cooler air refresh his overheated body. He was so done with Eldin.

"We really need to name the salamander," Daruk said, stroking the control unit affectionately.

"Hmm..." Yunobo put his thumb and forefinger against his chin in a pensive gesture and let his eyes wander over the salamander. "How about Darunia? The Goron sage from the legend?"

Daruk nodded. "We should honour the great Darunia, but I suggest we use an anagram. How about...Rudania?"

Yunobo beamed. "Amazing, goro!"

"Vah Rudania," Sheik said, "vah means divine in Sheikah."

"Vah Rudania it is!" Daruk roared so loudly, that even the masses of people who had gathered underneath could hear it.

Sheik looked at Link who was exceptionally quiet, his hand pressing against his side.

"Are you hurt?"

"It's just a scratch," he answered, but when Sheik removed Link's hand, it came away bloody.

"Why didn't you say anything?" He gently lifted Link's tunic to look at the wound, revealing a very toned abdomen and a rather deep gash.

"How bad is it?" he asked.

"I need to stop the bleeding, but I don't think any organs have been damaged. Your tough muscles saved you." Sheik removed some of the bandages that he had wound around his arm and ordered Link to keep the tunic lifted. When he touched Link's side, the knight winced, but let him wrap the bandages around his torso.

"When we're back in Goron city, it needs to be cleaned and wrapped properly. At best stitched."

"Sheik. We did good back there. Your aim was impeccable."

"You were pretty good yourself." Sheik gave him a tired smile and Link's heart sunk into his stomach, for it was the first sincere smile Sheik had ever shown him. And it was beautiful. He leaned his head against the pillar behind him and closed his eyes. Becoming friends with Sheik – and nothing but friends turned out way harder than he had imagined.