Chapter 30: To the Point of Exhaustion
"I've told you everything," the fairy cowered in the corner of the bottle. "I don't know anything else. I promise. I don't know anything."
Ganondorf shook the bottle and the little pink light tumbled within, rolling over its own wings.
"Stop! Please! Stop!"
"Tell me more of your Great Mother," Ganondorf said. "What magic have you seen her use?"
"Whatever she likes, she can craft illusions, she can make things fly. She can change her shape. She can," the faery stopped. Thinking about how much it can get away with not telling, most likely.
Ganondorf spun the bottle more and the fairy shouted as it slammed against one side of the bottle then the other. It sounded human. That was the worst of this business, but it needed to be done. No point letting guilt and pity stop him now. Not when he had come so far, and there was still so much more to go. "What else?"
"The one that brought the Emerald!" the fairy said when it caught its breath. "She's trying to place enchantments on her, to make her join us."
"What kind of enchantments?"
"I don't know all the details. All I know is that I'm supposed to make her feel like she's important, and lead her to a meeting. Mother does the rest."
"You don't see anything else?"
"No, it's not a real meeting. I just bring her to an empty room. That's it. That's all I know."
Ganondorf put the bottle down. Directly tinkering with someone's mind was powerful magic. Dangerous to face. But what could be expected from a being forged from some of the oldest magics known? But he had defeated the Great Deku Tree he could face this one down. It would take time for him to prepare.
"Tell me more about the fairy that brought the Emerald. Did she come with a child?"
"Yes," the fairy almost shouted, latching on to some new information to share with him. "He was near dead."
"And what happened to him?"
"I don't know, I only brought him to Mother. I think she's using him as well."
"Using him how?"
"I don't know," the fairy pressed up against the bottle, close enough that Ganondorf could almost make out the shape within the light. "Please, you have to believe me. I was tasked with dealing with Navi- with the fairy. She didn't tell me her plans with the boy."
"But he's still there?"
"I haven't seen him since I brought him to the Fountain. I've just been bringing the fairy to an illusion every day."
"Fickle friends are fairies," Ganondorf muttered. Finally good news. The Great Fairy would have no need to keep the boy alive. She likely let the boy die and disposed of the remains away from her children.
He felt that part within him celebrating in the death of an enemy, while also cursing that he could not kill the child himself.
A child, he was happy about the death of a child. Ganondorf frowned. He had not even got a good look at the boy, He was nothing but a green tunic and the blue fairy that disappeared after a moment in his view. He had not even gotten a good look at the boy's face. And he wanted to kill him? In all likelihood the child had wanted was to avenge the death of the Great Deku Tree. Or perhaps his duty to protect the Emerald.
Either were worthy causes. Would he do any less in the Kokiri's position?
And Nabooru wants me to share these burdens with her? What horror would she show if she knew he celebrated the murder of children? No. He would handle the messy dealings and his dark desires within him alone.
He rubbed at his eyes. How long had he been awake? Beneath the tentflap, in the small space where light from outside tumbled into his tent he could see the world was starting to brighten. He had worked throughout the night. Again. Perhaps if he laid down now, he could get maybe an hour of shut eye before his guards were forced to get him moving.
Would that little bit even help? More likely he would stumble through the day even groggier than he was now. Too little rest to give him energy, too much to keep his momentum going to carry him throughout the day. No, best to stay awake.
"Thank you, Telti," Ganondorf said and walked to the wooden box. He placed the fairy inside beside his demon-bone top, and a few other magic trinkets he protected. "We will talk more tonight."
The fairy's quiet sobbed as he picked up the Phantom Mask and Demon Top. He spread out the map of Hyrule and cast the first of his spells and released the top. It spun up Death Mountain and stopped below the summit. Good, his little minion was near the Crown. By extension, King Dodongo was right where he needed to be.
With the location set, Ganondorf closed his eyes and put the skeletal mask over his face. It was cold, he hated using the thing. He took a deep steadying breath. Think of the mountain. Think of the Lizalfos. Let my spirit bring me there. He pulled the magic into himself and opened his eyes through the glowing holes of the Phantom Mask. For a moment all he saw was bright fire.
His vision cleared. Before him a group of Lizalfos pulled back, screaming and hissing. Only one among them did not react in fear. It stepped forward and pulled its only arm across itself and knelt.
"My king," the lizard hissed. The others around him got over their surprise and took positions beside the one-armed Lizalfos. All of them bowing or scraping before him.
"How long until the assault on the Crown is ready?"
"King Dodongo is ready. He will assault them tomorrow if the weather remains favorable."
"No. Tell him he must wait. I will give him the orders on when to attack."
The Lizalfos looked up from the ground and met Ganondorf's eyes. "But why? If we delay, won't we be giving the Gorons time to better prepare-"
"You will wait, because I have commanded you to wait. Do not forget who rules your army, and what I can do to those who displease me."
The lizard's emotionless eyes did not blink. The cold-blooded creature did not shiver or give any clear sign of discomfort. And yet Ganondorf could feel it just the same. Of all the Lizalfos he could have used as his messenger, he had to chose the one with a brain. It would be simpler if he had picked some brainless thug who would blindly follow orders to save its own skin- or scales as the case may be.
"If that is what would please you, my king. How long shall we wait?"
"Stay close to King Dodongo, I will speak to you again when it is time to assault the Crown. Tell King Dodongo to continue making preparations, reveal fractions of your numbers. Just enough to keep the Gorons scared."
"Raids?"
"When necessary."
"It will be done, my king."
"It better be, for your sake." Ganondorf took off the mask and the world went dark. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, letting what magic remained within leak out. When he opened them again he was back in his tent. Now the brightness of the morning clearly clawing its way to him.
He shut his eyes once more and simply stood. Just a moment, just a breath. He let all the pressures of the world drift away from him. If he could he would have fallen asleep on his feet. But there was work to do. There was always more work to do.
Lifting the heavy lids of his eyes, he searched his room for a waterskin. When he held it in his hand, he smiled. He grabbed a small bowl and poured the water into it. Were he campaigning within the desert, this would have been considered too great an extravagance to hope for, even for a king. But here, now, with the support of Hyrule and all the rivers and lakes within it? He dipped his hands into the water and splashed it over his face and eyes. Letting the coolness wash away the night's work.
Water dripped down face, over his nose, and onto the stubble around his chin. He gave a quiet laugh and did it again. Letting the water splash down over his shirt and fall to the ground, completely wasted. One day every Gerudo would live with such luxury. He would bring it to them. Everything he did, he did for them. It would all be worth it.
It had to be.
"Please," Link said to the two Goron guard. "I need to see him." Should he go down on his knees? He'd seen some people back in Castle Town bow or kneel before the different nobles. Do they do that to their guards too?
If it would he did not get the chance to find out, the Gorons that stood before Chief Darunia's home blocked his path with their hands. "No," one of them said. "It is too early. If you come much later, maybe."
"But I don't have time for much later." He had searched for the chief through most the night. After his attempts to discover the Ruby personally ended in failure. "I need to talk to him, now. It's important. I'm- I'm a messenger from the Royal Family."
"You don't look like a messenger," the other guard said.
"You aren't wearing a messenger's uniform," said the first.
"I don't have that."
"Do you have an official seal?"
"Or a letter of introduction?"
"I have that!" Link said and grabbed at his bag. But he did not have his tattered bag anymore. And if he did the letter the princess wrote had been destroyed in that stupid fight. "No. I lost it. But I have-"
"Go, little Hylian," the first guard said. "We have been polite enough. The Chief needs his rest. So do you, by your look." The Goron put his hand on Link's shoulder to nudge him away.
"Auugh!" Link swatted at the hand. But the massive fist felt like stone. The Goron's hand didn't budge, but Link's stung from the effort. "Fine!" He stomped away from the guards. There had to be something he could do? What if he broke in? He had managed to climb the tower to steal from Ganondorf, there had to be a way that he could see Darunia.
Though when he looked upon Darunia's home he did not see a way to do it. Hyrule Castle was a massive structure, but the towers had windows that he could climb inside. The Gorons seemed to carve their homes from within the mountain itself. They did not have windows looking out, or side entrances or anything. Just the passage that led to whatever was inside. And that entrance was guarded.
The two guards stopped paying attention to him as he backed away. They turned and talked to each other, their massive looking cudgel and pickaxe resting on their shoulders. What if he just charged? Try to scamper through under their legs and get inside. Could he do it? He was definitely faster than these Gorons, unless they did that rolling thing.
One of the Goron's shifted and it's legs blocked most of the path Link would have charged through. No. This was a dumb plan. The exact kind of thing that kept getting him in trouble. He was so tired. It was impossible to tell how late it was inside the mountain, with no view of the sun or moon or stars. All he knew was that everyone else had gone to sleep some hours ago. And in that time he had accomplished nothing.
He trudged away from the chief. Not that it would matter. If he waited for Ganondorf in front of the Goron chief or with the Gerudo he'd fail just the same. Nevertheless his feet kept him moving to the Gerudo camp. For a few moments he shut his eyes as he walked and his head lulled to the side.
No. I can't get tired. I need to find the Ruby. He shook his head, and made certain his eyes stayed open. But every few steps he stopped to yawn or pinch himself to keep himself going. Maybe if he could just curl up and sleep, for just a minute or two he could focus on getting a meeting with the Goron chief.
He reached the tent he shared with a few of the servants. He grabbed the tentflap and started to open it.
"There you are," came a voice behind him. "Where have you been?" Then Barkan shouted. "I found him! He's here!"
"What's going on?" Link turned to the older girl and blinked a few times. Trying to get his eyes to focus.
But Barkan brushed past him into the tent. "What makes you so special?" She hissed before she disappeared inside the tent.
What was that about?
"Ahh, Link," the deeper voice of Bethmasse made him turn back around. "Come, voe."
"What? Why?" Link said. He was so close to the tent. If he could just get inside and collapse on one of the blankets, for even a minute.
"I must look my best today. You must come." The Gerudo nodded for Link to follow and then headed away.
Link let out a small groan, but he followed her. He tried to think of some way to get away from the woman, but his brain felt like goop.
"It is normal," Bethe said as they walked through the servant's tents, "for a young warrior to celebrate their youth. But not to the point of true weariness. A warrior must be alert. Always."
"Huh?"
"Tonight you must get full sleep. No whatever you did."
"I can't get some now?"
"No, now you work." They reached one of the warrior's tents, Bethe's if Link was to guess. The warrior held it open for Link to enter. Inside was not so much bigger than the servants. A few of the Gerudo all slept together in blankets much like the ones Link laid on. But most of the room of the tent was taken up with weapons and armor all tucked away into separate piles.
The warriors were already awake, each of them with their own pieces of equipment. The one called Mulli looked at Bethe and smiled as she wiped away at her armor with a damp looking cloth. She spoke in Gerudo, but Link was able to pick up some of the words. "You were gone longer than I thought. We're all almost done."
"Then it's a good thing I will have help." Bethe said then she took a spear and sword and handed them to Link. The spear was twice the size of Link, if not bigger. Just trying to hold onto it, made it wobble. "Here," Bethe switched back to Hylian. "You oil," and she handed Link another rag glistening in the torchlight.
The warrior's showed Link how to properly care for the equipment, as Bethe cleaned her armor and put it on. While they worked, Bethe tried to tell him some story about her spear. But her Hylian couldn't handle some of the words, and when she switched to Gerudo, Link could only make out about half of it. But it was something about this spear not being her spear. And how her spear was special. She seemed sad as she spoke about it.
Part of Link wanted to comfort her and tell her that this spear would serve her just as well as the last. But Link could barely form the words. The repetitive task of oiling and rubbing at the weapons was not helping him stay awake.
"Good," Bethe said once he was finished and she inspected his work. "Now, do your sword. You must look respectable."
For what? Link wanted to say, but he was too tired to make any argument. He unsheathed his sword and wiped it down with the oiled rag.
He barely covered half of it when a horn sounded. A bit quiet, the thin remains of what could pass into the mountain. All around him the Gerudo stopped whatever they were doing, all idle conversation ended. Then they all rushed to strap on the last of their armor, or furiously finished oiling their own equipment.
"Oh no," Link whispered. It had to be him. The black rider.
The horn sounded again, slightly louder this time. The women cheered then rushed outside of the tent. Only the one called Mulli seemed a little apprehensive.
"Voe," Bethmasse said as she pulled her spear up to align at her side. She looked every inch a warrior of legend. "Come with us."
"I'm sorry," Link said with a nod of his head. "Thank you, but I have work that I need-"
"No sense," Bethe frowned, then corrected herself. "Nonsense. You must come. That is why I found you. See the arrival of a great man." She ushered him out of the tent into the cavernous paths of the mountain.
There had to be a hundred places to hide. If only he could get away from Bethe and-
A strong hand found his shoulder. "Come," Bethe said again. "It is normal to fear, but our king is good. You see." She smiled as the other warriors lined up. "He saved my-" but whatever else she was going to say was drowned out by the crash of a drum.
The sound of had been near deafening when Link arrived, now that he was stuck with them still inside the mountain where the sound reverberated through the walls. Link could not hear what anyone was saying. But the warrior's lined up into factions, with Bethe taking her place near the front with Mulli and few of the others that she shared a tent with. Only Nabooru stood before them all, she tried to shout some order but the drums grew even louder.
She ended up waving her hand as a signal, the warriors seemed to know what she meant and they started marching to the side. Bethe grabbed at Link's shoulder and pulled him with them so he wouldn't be trampled by the other women.
A moment later the leader of the Gorons, Chief Darunia marched past with his retinue. Link could not tell if the smashing noise was the footsteps of the hundred Gorons or the pounding of their drums.
The Gerudo waited for the Gorons to file past before they followed. The noise was better once the drums past, but now a high-pitched ringing would not leave his ears. He tried to cover them, but the sound would not stop. After wiggling his fingers in them he gave up. The ringing would not last forever, he hoped anyway.
Around him, the Gerudo all had their own discomforted frowns. Link tried to see if there was a way for him to slip through the crowd and get away from Bethe, but they were all too closely packed. And what would happen if any of the Gerudo found him again? How would he explain himself? Was it any better if he faced down the man now?
Either path looked like doom to him.
No he couldn't think like that. There had to be something he could do.
But the only thing he could think of was to drag a step behind Bethe and hope that the woman's size would shield him. He was just one person among the crowd. And there were Gorons and Gerudo and weapons and drums. Just be a shadow. But even as tired as he was he knew that was a slim hope of a plan.
The drums stopped, and a few moments later the crowd of women slipped out of the caves and around the Gorons. A dark man atop a dark horse rode forward, at his back an army that seemed large enough to fill Castle Town.
Link shut his eyes and swallowed. He was too close to the front. He'd be seen.
Before them, the Black Rider dismounted as Chief Darunia stepped forward. He must have enjoyed his rest because the old Goron seemed strong, perhaps even a bit aggressive as he moved to the Gerudo. The two men spoke to each other in a voice too quiet for Link to hear. Nabooru followed the chief, first she tapped her chest as some of the other warriors did to her, before the big man pulled her into a hug.
"Watch, voe," Bethe said. "He is the greatest man of the age."
To Link's left one of the warriors muttered an agreement. "He saved my life at Daphnes."
"Watching him fight is like watching art," said another in pretty decent Hylian. "A bloody and cruel art, but beautiful just the same. There is no warrior like him under the sun."
"I heard at Satori he routed an entire company of knights alone," piped up the voice of a young warrior a few rows behind Link.
"Some stories," Bethe said. "Have been exaggerated." She looked over her shoulder at the young warrior.
"How do you know?"
"I fought with him at Satori. We were outnumbered, but never fought alone."
They were trying to impress him, but Link felt little more than annoyance. He knew his enemy was a great warrior, the Princess had already told him. But now he was reminded that everyone beside him was his enemy as well. Even Bethe and Nabooru. Perhaps especially those two.
And against all them, it was just him. He was alone. His only allies were Zelda and- well she was it.
How could he face them all?
The leaders appeared to finish their conversation, Chief Darunia went back to his Gorons. For a moment, Link had hoped that Ganondorf would move back to his army, but he didn't. Nabooru and he headed straight toward Link.
"Listen up!" Nabooru shouted when they were still a few paces away. "Your king approaches!" Not that she needed to say anything, as far as Link could tell everyone around him fell silent and straightened themselves up as soon as Ganondorf took his first step toward them.
The two stopped in front of the crowd. By the Goddesses, he was huge. Bethmasse was the largest woman Link had ever seen and she did not come to his shoulder. Nabooru was not short by any means, but she looked like a child next to him. Do I even come up to his knee?
Ganondorf's yellow eyes roamed over the Gerudo, he cleared his throat. "My sisters." The crowd went completely silent. Link could have heard a squirrel climbing a tree half a mile away. He spoke in Gerudo, his voice a deep but passionate rumble. Link could only make out half the words. But as far as he could tell he spoke of climbing the mountain together to rid the world of monsters.
A good sentiment, if Link believed a word of it.
The yellow eyes passed over Link. Ganondorf stopped mid speech, and his eyes fell back to Link. That was it. Did he recognize him? It had only been a passing glance when the Black Rider traveled past him on the road to Hyrule Castle.
He must recognize me. I'm dead. Is there a way I can signal to the Princess and tell her I failed? But if there was, he did not think of it. Maybe if he had slept at all the night before?
There was no point wasting time on ifs and maybes. If this was the end, he'd make it one to remember.
"But we are the children of the desert," Ganondorf continued, his eyes finally leaving Link behind. "There is no land more treacherous than our home. And there are no monsters more deadly than we. Together we will rid this land of all that ills it. For the Gerudo!"
The crowd cheered, the warrior women stomped their feet and tapped the tailspikes of their spears into the ground.
Ganondorf called something above the crowd that Link could not catch. The noise of the spears masking what little he could understand of their language.
The woman smashed their spears down once more and gave a trilling yell of celebration. Then they dispersed some heading back into the mountain, others staying to get a more personal greeting from their king. This was Link's chance, he could simply move away with the crowd.
A hand found his shoulder and stopped him. He froze. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He peaked up and saw Bethe leaning over him. "Come." With her hand still on his shoulder she guided Link toward the murderer.
Could he use the flat of his sword to smack her hand away? Was there still a chance to get out?
But the yellow eyes of Gerudo King found him again. It was over.
"Sav'aaq, my king," Bethe said, with a vigorous pounding of her chest.
"Bethe," Ganondorf said, his eyes flicking up to the big woman. His voice low and harsh, but there was no menace in it. Not yet at least. "Nabs told me she left you in charge when she came to discuss strategy. You held my vanguard together?"
"Of course," Bethe said, "It was my honor to-"
"Who is that with you?" Again the eyes fell upon Link. Probing, searching, but were they recognizing? Link swallowed hard.
"A voe we picked up on the path. He has a desire to fight, and is well trained. I am taking him as my- what is that word? The ones the knights use to describe those they train?"
"Squire," Nabooru said. Ganondorf gave her a look, perhaps annoyance? It was just the flicker of his brow furrowing before he looked back to Link.
"Of course," Ganondorf said and held out his hand. "Come here, voe."
There was nothing else to do. Link stepped to the murderer, his hand twitched over his sword hilt. He would only have time for one good strike. One chance to end the threat once and for all. No more stones, no more quests. No more loneliness.
One strike and it would all be over.
His throat was dry, his heart thumped in his chest as loud as a Goron's drum. But he would not show fear. Not in front of him.
"Look at this one," Ganondorf laughed. "Like he's facing down a sandstorm. Where did you find him, Bethe?"
"He found us. Warned us we were marching into an ambush. Brave. Skilled. I like him." Bethe frowned. "What is wrong with you, voe? Say something."
Link clenched his jaw as he looked up at his enemy. If he were a hero in a story he would think of some witty retort and stab him now. But Link had never been one to think of anything clever to say in the moment. A thousand times he only thought of something clever hours or even days after an argument with Mido. But he did not need to be clever. Not anymore.
Link gripped the hilt of his sword and pulled the blade free.
Immediately, Ganondorf's hand grabbed around his wrist. Link tried to pull his arm free, but it would not move.
"Let go!" Link said. "It hurts." Ganondorf's hand was strong, and his fingers clenched tight enough to dig into Link's skin. Link swung his free arm against his enemy's forearm. It did nothing.
Bethe said something fast in Gerudo before hissing. "What is the meaning?" Behind Link, air stirred as the big woman moved. A moment later something sharp pressed into Link's back.
I'm sorry, Zelda, Navi, Father. I tried.
"Stop," Ganondorf said, his deep voice low almost bored. He twisted Link's arm. Link gasped, his fingers opened and the sword clattered to the ground. "Nice try, voe. But I've been surviving Sheikah assassins since before you were born." He nodded to Nabooru and out of the corner of Link's eye he saw a hand scoop up his sword from the ground.
Then the pressure was gone. Ganondorf released him, leaving behind deep red marks along Link's arm. Link tried to rub away the pain as the murderer crouched down, their eyes were almost even. He pursed his lips and waited, as if expecting Link to say or do something.
What could he say? Nothing came to him except that perhaps he could take a swing at Ganondorf's face from this distance. But that would be even more futile than the sword.
"The eyes on this one," the smallest smile twisted Ganondorf's mouth. "Such hate. You want to tell me about it? No? Let's see if I can guess. You blame me for something. A death, perhaps? Someone you loved. I caused more than my fair share of those."
He's taunting me. He does know. Murderer.
"Guessed it in one, it seems. Who was it, voe?"
Link clenched his teeth shut. Just get it over with.
"Well this is getting dull. Bethe, get-"
"My father," Link said. "You killed my father."
"Ahh, some knight or soldier I faced in battle then?"
"No! He was a man of peace. He wouldn't fight or hurt anyone, and you killed him."
"Hmm," Ganondorf frowned, "that doesn't sound like something I would do. I can't think of any time I raised a blade to a man of peace."
"Your command. You don't have to hold the blade to do the killing."
"Ahh," the murderer nodded. "Can't argue with that I suppose. Look at this one."
"I see him," Nabooru grumbled.
"A natural born killer. I bet that's what you did. Used that sword to stab the one that actually committed the murder already, didn't you?"
"Yes," Link glared into Ganondorf's eyes. I killed the monster you sent. I'm tougher than I look.
"You know, I actually believe you. You're brave, I'll give you that."
"Should I have him executed, my king?" Bethe said.
"Bethe, it's a child," Nabooru said. "Throw him out of the tents. Beat a lesson into him if you must-"
"Why?" Ganondorf interrupted her, but did not take his eyes from Link. "That would be a terrible thing to do to your own squire." He stood up and looked to the women behind Link. Without those eyes on him, Link found himself blinking and took a ragged gasping breath."Nabs, give him back the blade."
"What?" Link squeaked. Why was he doing this? It had to be a trick. Give Link some false hope before taking it all away from him.
Nabooru pushed the sword into Link's chest, forcing him back a step as he grabbed at the blade. She glared at him, "Fool," she muttered as she stepped away from him.
"What's your name, squire?" Again the yellow eyes found him. This time from high above, like a hawk perched over its prey.
Was there any way he could know his name? Would saying out loud reveal anything? "Link."
"Well, Link. Are you a warrior or some coward assassin?"
"A warrior."
"Good," Ganondorf turned away from him took a few steps then held out his hand and a great dark blade appeared within it. Was he going to challenge him? Link looked about him. Other Gerudo and even a few Gorons were starting to notice what was happening. A small crowd gathered about him. Most of them giving a confused looks to each other. It must be a sight, this giant leering over a child. "Well, if you're a warrior. Prove it." He waved the blade before him into a salute.
Link held out his sword and pulled his shield forward. He performed the salute Bethe taught him. So he was going to fight the Gerudo king anyway. He needed a plan. Ganondorf's sword was too large to safely parry. The force behind it would be-
Ganondorf rushed toward him. The massive black blade swung down. Fast. Far faster than Link expected. He raised his shield high. The blow crushed down, forcing shield to clank on Link's head. He fell to his knee. His vision blurred. He shook his head. No. No.
"Too rigid," Ganondorf said. There was movement around him. Link felt something smack one ankle then the other. "And your feet are slightly too close together."
Link whirled around, shouting and swinging his sword. But his enemy stepped away from him. Link scrambled to his feet. One more shake of his head and he could see well enough. Ganondorf had given Link enough room to stand up, safely outside of the reach of that black blade. The sword itself he held almost lazily at his side. As if welcoming Link to charge forward and strike at him. He was open!
Link ran forward. His sword slashing at the gap in the giant's defense.
The giant shifted his weight, swiveled, and his sword flew fast and high. The gap closed before Link could reach it. The massive blade struck the side of his own. Link's arm swung back from the force of it, he almost lost grip on his blade. He stumbled trying to steady himself. Screaming he turned and struck at him again, and again. Toward his leg, toward his gut. Toward anything within his reach.
The enemy parried two, dodged another. Link roared and swung down with all his might trying to catch the murderer between motions. He had him! He was going to win!
Ganondorf stepped aside, his arm darted out and punched Link in the shoulder. Link stumbled, and fell once more into the dirt.
"Aggression is good. Anger is useful. And power, that's one of the best tools for a fight. But too much behind a blow you weren't certain to connect. You won't beat a better opponent by rushing in mindlessly. You need the wisdom to control that power."
Link growled and spun to his feet. If he could just get his enemy-
The black blade came for him again and again. Too fast to think. Too hard to do more than dodge or block it. With sword and shield he tried to protect himself but each strike forced him back further and further. What could he do with no moment to plan? He thought he saw an opening and struck, but Ganondorf wasn't there anymore. A hand grabbed around Link's chest and a leg went behind his feet and Link was on the ground again.
"You're outclassed. What do you do?"
"Gan, stop," a voice called from the crowd. "This isn't funny."
Perhaps that would distract him? Link roared and lurched forward, first to his feet then jumping toward his opponent. A wild thrust, a stupid thrust he knew. But if Ganondorf didn't suspect it? That was the only chance he had.
The flat of the big blade smashed into Link's hand, and his sword spun out his grip. But Link still moved forward, his arms out. He wrapped them around his opponent's legs. If he could trip him up he could get him on the ground! He still had a chance!
But Ganondorf didn't budge. "Well you reached me. I suppose that's something. But again, you're completely open."
A heavy hand slammed into Link's back. And he fell to the ground again, his face splashed into the dust and dirt.
"Yield."
Link wiped the muck from his face. He still held his shield. His fingers tightened around the handle of that blessed wood. "You killed him. He was good and you killed him."
"Life is full of tragedies. Now, yield."
Link pushed the last gift of his father into the ground and forced himself up. Groaning as he did it. "No. I'm-"
A heavy boot found Link's side and pushed him over onto his back. Then it stepped on him, forcing the air out of Link's lungs. The ugly leering face of Ganondorf appeared over him. Link tried to swing at him, but his arm just lightly tapped at the man's knee.
The murderer glared down at Link his lips curled into a snarl. Link swung again, and again. Though it did nothing, but he couldn't stop. Not until his arm was too weak to move.
A smile twisted the ugly face. "Good," Ganondorf said. "If something is important to you, you fight for it to the end."
The foot lifted off him. Link took a choking grunting breath. He lifted his shield over his chest, and held the last part of his father as close as he could. He laid there, staring at the sky. His lungs burning and the rest of him aching. The large shadow moved over him and then away.
"Thank you for warning my people of the ambush. Your aid and courage has now been rewarded. If you wish to challenge me again, be patient, grow strong, and face me like a warrior. If you try to strike me in the back, I will not be so forgiving again."
Someone rushed to Link's side, a coarse but gentle hand took his arm. He did not know who he was expecting to see helping him, but Nabooru's frowning face was not it. The Gerudo helped him to his feet, and even returned his sword to him. She did not speak, but looked over him, prodding at points. Satisfied she just nodded. "Nothing broken, by the look of it."
"Then he is lucky," Bethe grumbled, she stood at Ganondorf's shoulder. Her arms crossed a furious look on her face.
"That's not luck," Ganondorf said. "I break what I want to break. That's enough of this amusement. Nabs, we have much to discuss with Darunia. Bethe, see to your squire. He has talent." Then he stepped past Link, but as he did his hand touched the top of his head to ruffle his hair. But it hurt. Maybe from when his own shield smacked him in the head early in fight, but it didn't feel like that. More like a shock passed from Ganondorf's hand to the top of Link's head.
"You had me worried for a moment," Nabooru said as they walked away side by side.
"I'm not a monster," Ganondorf replied.
Even with his hand gone, the sting on top of Link's head still felt odd. He reached to rub at it.
Crack.
Bethe's hand swung from behind him and sent Link stumbling forward. "Fool Hylian." She said before grabbing Link's shoulder and spinning him around to face her. Link had never seen any of the Gerudo look near as angry or fearsome. "Run. Around the camp. Run until your lungs burn then run more. When you collapse I will think of what else you deserve. Go!"
Author's Note: Happy New Year everyone.