Chapter 3: Education Is the Most Powerful Weapon

Perfect, Zelda set the last of the books into a pile on the table. So long as she angled the chair just right no one would be able to see her. She knelt behind the chair and desk, leaning out just enough for her eye to look over the castle library.

She did not need to wait long before heavy footsteps approached. Pulling her head back behind the books she held her breath, hoping that her opponent had arrived.

"Sav'aaq," the Gerudo King, Ganondorf, announced himself to the librarian. Though if kind old Sir Mesihoff responded, Zelda did not hear. The footsteps came closer, though he did not move toward the tables, instead he passed along the bookshelves aligned over the walls. Zelda peaked out, trying to see which shelf he went to, what books he collected. When she couldn't get a clean view she craned her neck out even further.

What if he turns around?

She pulled her head back and ducked down again. But that was no good either, now she couldn't see anything.

What if I… no. Just be patient. I have a good plan.

Ganondorf seemed to be a man of strict regimentation, something she did not expect form the barbarian. Every morning he went out to exercise with his fellow Gerudo, joining many of the castle knights. By afternoon he'd work on any matters of state, often discussing them with her father. But by mid-afternoon he always came to read something at the library, and stayed the rest of the day, sometimes even missing the call for supper.

Once he was engrossed in his books, then she could risk peaking out and looking.

His heavy boots stomped closer, to his regular chair by the window. A thud meant he put his books down at the nearby table. A metallic screeching followed by a gust of fresh air indicating he opened the window. And now all he had left to do was sit down and read.

She waited for the chair to groan under the weight of the giant and the flipping of pages before she peaked out again. He had a pile of books himself, the one he held had a thick leather cover with letters in gold leaf that read The Lost Gifts of the Three.

Before she could look at the others in the pile the Gerudo put the book down, picked all the books back up and walked away.

What was he doing now? She wanted to yell at him for being so confusing. But, as Impa her governess often chided her, she needed to have patience. The plan hadn't changed. It was perfect, so long as she didn't get overexcited and reveal herself.

His heavy plodding steps soon returned, followed by another thunk from his research and the strain on his chair. Zelda peaked around her barricade again. This time he held a scroll, no way to see what that was about.

Maybe, if she could angle herself slightly, she could see if any of the books had their titles on the bindings?

"Princess!" a voice called out from outside the library. "Princess!"

Zelda ducked down behind the books and covered her hair making certain nothing about her could be seen.

"Sir Mesihoff," Impa's voice came louder and clearer. "Is the princess in here? She's supposed to be at her studies."

"Why, no," said the old former knight turned librarian. "I don't believe so, but then I was gone for a moment to get a drink."

"Princess Zelda!" Impa called again, even closer. She was coming this way! If Impa found her it would all be over. She'd be revealed, she'd be forced to leave and the barbarian would know what she was doing. "Zelda! Are you in- oh. Gerudo."

"Sheikah," the vile man said.

"Have you seen the princess?"

"Can't say I have. It's surprising, I didn't think a Sheikah could lose such a little vai. Though perhaps you find it easier to keep track of them when they're in chains?"

What does that mean?

Whatever it was, Impa seemed to understand. She let out a long angry breath. The kind she had given when Zelda acted up as a child. "If you see the princess, would you please send her to me?"

"Of course, anything to help my new friends."

There was the sound of movement and a scroll being reopened, and the slightest shifting of cloth as Impa left the room. "Princess! Princess Zelda!" she called from the hall.

Zelda smiled, she'd done it. She'd even gotten past Impa! Hah, this plan was working even better than she hoped. She dared to look back out onto the library. The barbarian had the scroll in his hands and leaned back in his chair making the wood squeak. Then with his foot he hooked around a chair of a nearby empty table and dragged it until it sat across from him.

Don't put your gross dirty boots on the chairs! How typical of a barbarian born and raised without the slightest etiquette to treat the finery of the world like a common tavern stool.

But Ganondorf didn't put up his feet. Instead, he cleared his throat. "Shall I continue to pretend I do not notice you? Or do you wish to tell me why you're spying on me? Poorly, I might add." Then he looked directly at Zelda and her stack of books.

Zelda gasped and ducked back behind the chair. But in her jerking motion she nicked the corner of one book with her head. It spun and rattled, nearly toppling over the entire stack. Zelda grabbed and steadied it. Then looked back around to see the Gerudo king still staring at her. Though now he had the smallest hint of a smile.

I must look ridiculous. There was no way around it. She was a princess after all. She took a breath, preparing herself to feel that dark presence all about him once again. Zelda raised her head high and marched up to the king of thieves. "How long did you know I was there?"

"Quite some time." It was odd, now he seemed just a man. The darkness didn't reach out to smother her as it had before. And though she tried to search for it, all she felt was the giant's amusement.

"How?"

"Many reasons." He stopped himself for a moment. "Let's start with the simple one, shall we?" He reached toward Zelda. He's going for my throat! She stumbled back a step. But he hooked his finger under the necklace she wore and jiggled it a little. "Loose jewelry rings a little when you move your head back and forth stealing glances."

She pulled her necklace from his hand and gripped it tight. Forcing her heart to stop pounding now that he wasn't grabbing at her. Of course, how had she not thought of that. "What else?"

"That's all I'll give you for now. Your bodyguard is a Sheikah Needle, and a famous one at that. Has she not taught you how to move unheard and unseen?"

"My father told me such knowledge is unbecoming of a princess."

"So?"

"So? Well, then. I can't do it, can I?" Why would he ask such a silly question?

"By the Three," the man frowned, as though he were actually disgusted by what he heard. "Where is the girl that tried to shout down the king's council when I joined myself to him? Who cares if your father doesn't want you to learn something. If you desire knowledge, you take it."

"I can't just disobey my father."

"Why not? I disobeyed my mothers plenty. Most times it was well worth it.'

"Didn't they punish you?"

"Oh yes. And I can assure you, little vai, their punishments were far worse than anything your father would do to you." He absently touched a part of his arm. Was something there? Did they do something to that arm? "But harsh punishment are good. They make one strong and quick-witted."

"How is that supposed to work?"

"Because," he smiled again. But it wasn't like Impa's smiles, or even her father's smile when he was having a good day. It reminded her the most of one of the royal hunting dogs before they were fed. Toothy and about to pounce on something. "The harsher you are reprimanded, the more you work to make certain you don't get caught. Now, since I have caught you, you're going to tell me why you are spying on me."

"No," Zelda held up her chin again. "I won't tell you, anything."

"Well that would make for dull conversation. Let's see if I can guess. You don't trust me."

Zelda remained silent. Of course, she didn't trust him. She had told him as much the day they met.

"And since you don't trust me, you think you can uncover some dark conspiracy by watching me. Because I am so foolish I'd carry out plans to destroy Hyrule right out in the open. How am I doing?"

Zelda folded her arms. Somehow, him saying that did not make her plan sound nearly as clever as it had a moment before.

"Would you like to see what I'm actually reading?" He gestured toward the chair.

Zelda sat down, making certain to keep her back straight and proper like a princess should. She would not let the man think she was intimidated into being anything less than a proper princess. But when Ganondorf leaned back as far as the chair allowed, her head barely reached his chest.

"What is this?" She smoothed out the scroll. "Aqueduct construction?" She lifted the corner of the scroll to see the books beneath it. "Irrigation Methods of the Interlopers? The Sewers of Castle Town?"

"If water flows in, it must flow out."

"I don't understand. This is just-"

"Research, that's all it is. Research to save my home."

This couldn't be it though, could it? Zelda looked through the entire pile of books, and there was nothing that wasn't about the flow of water and how to work stone.

"You don't realize how lucky you have it, do you?" Ganondorf said as she reached the bottom of his stack of old texts. "To live here, with one of the greatest libraries in the world around the corner. I was born in a desert. Even as royalty, I was forced to gather food, and fortify my home just to survive every year. We have some scrolls, but nothing like this. How much knowledge is just a quick walk away? You could learn everything there is to know under the Sun. If I had this before me at your age? Well, who knows what great things I could have accomplished. But now I must start late and look at what will directly aid my people. And my people need water."

"No," Zelda met the giant's eyes. He didn't look like he was lying, but he must be. "No, you had different books when you first came here. I saw them. You knew I was here the entire time, didn't you? This is all just some show."

Ganondorf didn't admit his wrongs or deny them. He just gave that same smile, as if being figured out was a petty amusement and nothing more.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted. I see you! You pretend to be nice. But you're not, you're the monster everyone said you were all my life.

"Monster am I?" And the smile was gone. "Monster?"

"I've heard the stories! You slaughtered innocents. You put defenseless towns to the torch. Who would do that but a monster?"

"There are no innocents in war, child. Only tools to be used or lost or turned against their master. Your father knows this as well as I."

"That's not true! What you're saying is evil. The Goddesses will punish you for it."

"Heh, perhaps they will. But if they punish me, what do you think they'll do to that Sheikah guardian of yours?"

"Impa?" First her father then Impa. Why was he just bringing up the people closest to her? "They won't do anything. Impa's a good person."

The King of the Gerudo gave a guttural stabbing laugh. "You don't know, do you? No, of course you don't, little vai. In Hyrule you're allowed to grow up slow. I learned the foul truth of war and governance as quick as my mothers could teach me. Your caretakers will wait. Perhaps, they'll never tell you at all."

"Stop pretending my father and Impa are bad people. You're not going to scare me."

"Ask your guardian about Kakariko. Or, no, you'd only get lies from her. But remember that name, visit it yourself someday. Search hard, they could not have buried all their sins."

"You're trying to trick me." But he didn't sound like he was lying. His voice was strong, the details came to him so quick. What was there? Why would he want her to go to some place she'd never heard of?

"No, little vai. Not now, I don't need to. If war made me a monster, what did it make those who performed evils I could not comprehend before I witnessed them with my own eyes?" Then he slapped his thighs and stood up. "Now, as interesting as this conversation has been. I have a lifetime of unattainable wisdom to get through. And I believe I was asked to deliver you should I see you."

"Very well," Zelda stood up. "Take me to Impa."

"As you command, my princess."

But he didn't take her to Impa, he led her through the halls of the castle. Past the main hall, and numerous servants. Not once asking where Impa could be found.

"No," she whispered when she realized where he was taking her. But before she could move, he took hold of her hand. She couldn't run away. It would be unseemly to scream, and in truth she did not know if she could.

The darkness rolled off of the man as he towered over her. It grew with each step until it blotted out every other thought but terror. Her legs shook and threatened to collapse beneath her, but the brute kept her upright and marching.

When they reached her father's study, there was nothing but that dark presence. She stumbled as the weight of the hate that rolled off him swallowed her, until the only thing she could see through the darkness were his yellow eyes, gleaming and twisted into pure rage.

Gasping, Zelda tried to pull her arm away form him, but he was so much stronger than her.

Ganondorf slammed his free hand into the door. It smashed back into the wall in a thunderous crash.

"What is the meaning of this!" Her father stood up. Three of the royal bureaucracy sat with him. One, Sir Jora, tried to put his body between the king and Ganondorf, but the other two just looked terrified. "Ganondorf! What are you- Zelda! What is going on?"

"Your child is spying on me," he said, pure malice stabbing out of his voice. "Is this how you treat your allies, king?" He pulled Zelda into the room and tossed her forward. She stumbled and landed on her knees. No one had ever treated her that way before, and yet, all she could think about was the slight peace granted from being even a few feet away from the monster.

"Zelda!" Was that shock or anger in her father's voice. She couldn't tell.

She took a breath, trying to clear her head of the angry presence.

"Among my people it would be my right to take a hand and foot from her for such an offense. But instead of showing me any respect for showing her leniency she questioned my honor. She called me a liar, a beast, a monster. She will need to answer for such disrespect."

"No, father. That's not what happened." She struggled to her feet.

"Zelda," her father's voice was cold. "Be silent."

"He's twisting things. That's not what happened. He's a liar. He was supposed to take me to Impa."

"And she does it again. What more proof do you need?"

"Zelda if you speak out of turn again, I swear on Hylia's crown I will send you to a nunnery. Do I make myself clear?"

It wasn't fair. He was plotting something. How had she let herself get tricked like this? No, it hadn't been a trick at all really. She had said all those things freely. She was right, but she had said them. And now he used them against her.

"Do I make myself clear." Her father repeated. His brow furrowed in anger, but it was nothing compared to the hate of the presence she had just felt.

"Yes, father."

"Good, Sir Jora. Take the girl to Impa, and tell that woman I will be speaking to her soon." He stepped past Zelda to the Gerudo. "I am most sorry, King Dragmire. The words of my daughter do not reflect my beliefs or the policies of the kingdom. I hope our alliance can remain strong despite this unpleasantness."

"So long as your daughter is properly disciplined, it will be as nothing." Ganondorf made a show of controlling his rage. "Though, I would wish to speak with you again. About organizing the funding for that project I spoke of."

"Oh, yes, the aqueduct." The king looked to Ganondorf then to Zelda and seemed to shrink back. The most powerful man in the kingdom and for a moment he looked as low as a beggar. "I am most certainly amenable to the proposal." He glanced to the other bureaucrats that still looked to be in shock. "Gentlemen, perhaps we can reschedule our meeting later."

Sir Jora stepped to Zelda's side. "Come on, my dear. Let's go find your handmaid."

"It's not fair," Zelda whispered to him as the bureaucrats almost ran past her to get out of the room.

"I know." The knight knelt before her and whispered as he took her arm. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head 'no' as Ganondorf moved to hold open the door for the Hylians. The barbarian king did not realize he did the job of a common servant. He gave respectful nods to each of her father's advisors. As Sir Jora led her past him and out of the room, she kept her eyes down. Hoping that if she did not look into those vile yellow eyes she would not feel that black hatred.

"Remember, little vai," Ganondorf said as she passed him. "The lesson of harsh punishments."

Jora found Impa not far away, searching for Zelda with several of the kitchen staff. After a few angry looks, Impa took her to her room shut her inside. "So you don't go sneaking off again," Impa called through the door as her keys clicked, locking Zelda in her room.

Zelda paced back and forth always thinking on the same question. What will father do to me? When she grew tired of the walking she lay down in her bed. How can I get him to see? She played the conversation over in her head. Trying to think of some stunning way to take hold of the conversation and convince her father.

But each time she got close, she realized her father would never listen to it even if she found the perfect rebuttals. Even if she knew what Ganondorf was trying to do, and she still very much didn't. She was just grasping at nothing. And nothing she said or did would make her father hear her.

Hours later, Impa returned, followed by several servants that arranged a table and brought plates of the meal prepared for those of court.

"Well?" Zelda said when the servants left her and Impa alone. "What is going to happen?"

Impa sat down on the corner of Zelda's bed. "You are to be cloistered inside your room for the remainder of the Gerudo's stay. Servants will deliver your food. I and one of the nuns of Hylia will keep you company. I'm not certain which one. If I have a say in it, I'll try to see Marian. She's kind and young."

Cloistered, her father must have truly meant the nunnery threat. I'm going to be stuck here for days. And in that time Ganondorf will do whatever he wants.

"Thankfully," Impa continued. "In two days the Gerudo will be leaving for an extended hunting trip. You will be allowed out then. What happens when the Gerudo return, I do not know."

Zelda rolled over and grabbed her pillow. She screamed into it as loud and long as she could. Until she felt a gentle hand rub her back, and even then she did not stop until she was gasping for breath. "I hate him. I hate him!"

"The Gerudo certainly outplayed you this time."

"No, not him. Well- yes, him too. But I'm talking about father."

"Zelda," Impa snapped. "You shouldn't speak about your father that way. Even if he was not your king. A child should not hate their parent."

"But he won't listen to me! He just lets that… that… pig do whatever he pleases."

"That pig is our ally. And what has he done that has gotten you so worked up? All he ever does is fight in the training yard like a common knight, and argue with your father about getting taxes to fund that ridiculous plan of his. Your father cannily avoids the issue and then he goes to a library."

"Auuugh," Zelda buried her head back in the pillow.

"Now what?"

"I think I just helped him get my father to agree to build that aqueduct."

"Oh," Impa stopped rubbing her back. "But the cost? Never mind. I'm certain your father will handle it."

"Why am I so stupid?"

"You're not stupid. You're the smartest eleven year old I know."

"And how many eleven year olds do you know?"

"Now? Only one. But through my life, I've known hundreds, including myself at one time. And you," she started rubbing Zelda's shoulders again. "Are the smartest of the lot. It's infuriating. How did you get away from me today?"

Oh no. She wasn't going to tell Impa how she managed that. "If I'm so smart, why won't father listen to me? Why won't you?"

Impa sighed, "Zelda, do you remember your mother?"

"No- I mean. Maybe a little? I think I remember other people remembering her for me. Does that make sense?"

"Has anyone told you how she died?"

"No," Zelda rolled to face Impa and sat up. "No, father always said he'd tell me when I was older. Which is also unfair. If I'm old enough to ask a question, I should be old enough to get an answer."

"I wouldn't go that far, some answers are too much for a child to understand before they're ready. Some answers can make a childhood worse, or twist a mind. But, if you promise not to tell your father, I'll tell you the story of your mother."

"I promise. On Hylia's crown, I promise."

Impa laid down on the bed, one hand tucked beneath her white hair. The other she held out for Zelda to lie beside her. Zelda took the invitation. They had not laid like this since she was half her age. It calmed her, at least a little. As close to a mother's embrace as Zelda had ever known.

After some silence, Zelda checked to make certain her guardian had not fallen asleep. But Impa's eyes were open, staring up at the ceiling. Silently working through what she was gong to say.

"That man," she finally said. "Our new allies. They killed her."

"What?" And all the comfort Zelda found was gone.

"Perhaps not his sword, or even his command. But she was there when the barbarians assaulted a village. That was when we met. Not for long, but enough for me to know what an amazing woman she was. And that was when your mother handed you to me, and ordered me to protect you and flee. While she stayed behind to plan the defenses. She did not make it out, but she saved it. She did the impossible."

"That doesn't make sense! If he killed my mother, why is my father so keen on protecting him?" A cold question gripped at Zelda's stomach. Her father never spoke about her mother if he could avoid it. "Didn't he love her?"

"I did not know them when they were together. But I was there when he was told of your mother's final moments. I have never seen a man so devastated. Yes, he loved her Zelda. So much that he locked himself alone in his room. For days, he would not eat, and he sent any servant away who tried to help him. The entire palace thought he was going to starve himself to death. Do you know what saved him?

"No."

"You," she rolled over and brushed Zelda's forehead. "I had never cared for a child before you. And one day you would not stop crying. No matter what I or anyone else tried. I was at my wit's end. At that moment, if I could give you up. Well… I wouldn't. But I definitely would have considered it."

"That's not funny, Impa."

"My apologies princess. When I was pulling the hair from my head, someone stepped beside me and tapped me on the shoulder. I almost screamed at them, only to see your father. Outside his room for the first time. He plucked you from my arms and rocked you to sleep. He sang a song I had never heard before. A song your mother wrote for him years ago."

"I don't believe you."

"Oh?"

"If father truly loved my mother and myself so much, why does he make peace with them? Break bread with them? He should be trying to bring vengeance! He should make Ganondorf pay for all the harm he caused."

"He tried, for ten years, and he accomplished nothing. Would restarting a war bring your mother back?"

"No."

"Your father understands what the cost of violence better than you. And he has chosen the path that will free you from that burden. That will see no more families broken apart. And if that means Ganondorf reads all the books in the library, so be it."

"But what if I'm right? What if Ganondorf is just preparing to start the war again?"

"Then your father will protect you and the kingdom as he always has. But he must try peace first."

Zelda shut her mouth. She'd heard tales of war all her life. Veterans discussing battles, the terror of the Gerudo horde. It all sounded dreadful. Would it be worth starting it up again? "Impa?"

"Yes, my princess?"

"What village did my mother save? You did not mention its name."

"Oh? Did I not? It's a nothing little village, really."

"Well, then what was it?"

"Kakariko, it's off to the east. As I said, it's insignificant."

Ganondorf's words rushed back to her. Kakariko. Why would he want Zelda to ask about the place her mother died? Why had he said that Impa would lie about it? Was she lying? No. Of course she wasn't. Ganondorf was the one that couldn't be trusted. He likely just wanted to taunt Zelda with the fact he slew her mother.

But Impa's story was missing something. "If that's so, why would the barbarians attack it? They'd have to move past Hyrule Castle to get there, wouldn't they? And why would it be so important for my mother to defend?"

Impa rolled onto her back, looking at the ceiling. Easier to hide all the signs of discomfort that way. "I'm sorry my princess. I am not a military strategist, I cannot say."

She was lying. By the Golden Three, she was lying.

"Now," Impa sat up, and wiped a tear from her eye. "Since I'm going to be stuck in here with you for a few days, would you like to play a game? I can send for a board, we could draw?"

"Impa, while I'm here, can I have books brought to me from the library?"

"I don't see why not. Your father would like if you embraced your studies more. What books would you like to read?"

"Well… all of them, I suppose. But I would like to start with Lost Gifts of The Three."