Ears ringing, head throbbing, she slowly opened her eyes. Even that felt painful.
She squeezed her eyes shut as she took in a deep breath trying to stop the spinning. She opened her eyes again but could barely tell she had.
It was pitch dark.
Taking another deep breath she tried to focus. There was a dim light. Where was it coming from? She couldn't tell. She just focused on her breathing.
Slowly the ringing in her ears quieted. She took another deep breath as she lifted her head and began to push herself up on her elbows. She was lying on her back, it was still hard to tell where she was.
Suddenly she felt sick. Turning on her side she couldn't hold it in. Once she had emptied her stomach, she pushed herself into a sitting position, wiping her mouth on her arm. Her head pounded. She had to squeeze her eyes shut again, trying not to move, for the pounding to ease.
Think. Where am I? She tried to focus her mind.
Nothing...
She couldn't remember anything.
Her eyes went wide for a moment.
Ok let's start with an easy one. She thought. My name...
She pondered for a moment, still she drew a blank.
This can't be right.
Taking another long deep breath to calm the rising panic, she focused again, thinking.
What happened?... She closed her eyes tightly and leaned against the wall behind her. Nothing came to mind. She slowly raised a hand to her head and felt the back of her head.
Sticky wet, and a large bump that hurt to touch. She flinched at the touch a sharp shooting pain went through her skull.
Well that might explain some things.
She had hit her head and hard.
I probably have a concussion. She wasn't sure how she knew that.
She felt tired, but she knew it was a bad idea to sleep right now. She just needed to sit and rest for a little bit. She needed to stay awake and focus. Try to remember... she told herself, somehow those words seemed familiar.
Striking blue eyes flashed through her mind. Her eyes shot open. Her mind was trying to remember something.
Her head still hurt, she felt very cold and weak. Her whole body ached. A new pain in her back became apparent. She felt nauseous again. Slowly, even though she fought it the best she could, she drifted off to sleep. Uneasy dreams drifted through her mind of things she couldn't remember or comprehend at the moment.
*Splash*
Link jolted awake as ice cold water was poured over him. He sputtered and coughed trying to gasp for air only to find that something blocked his mouth. His eyes went wide as he took as deep breaths he could through his nose.
His vision double, everything was spinning as he tried to focus. He blinked then squinted his eyes in an attempt to focus. He heard a mumbling of words but couldn't make out what it was they said.
A bucket came into focus first. Then he a saw red and black from. A tall muscular man. His face covered with a white mask with an upside down eye shape painted on it.
A yiga blademaster.
Link gasped and pulled with his arms trying to back away, but he realized his arms were stuck. He glanced to his side looking to see what was the matter. His wrists were shackled, pulled straight out to his sides and chained to the walls on either side of him. He was in a sitting position on a stool he glanced down and saw his legs were bound around his knees and ankles. And to his shame he realized he was naked.
There was a chuckle from the blademaster. He looked back up at him with a scowl.
"Oh poor little hero." He said in a deep voice. "You look scared." He laughed again before turning around and walking away. He closed the cell door and Link watched him walk out of the far door and close it with a clang, then heard a locking sound.
He glanced around his surroundings once he was alone. He could see he was in some sort of dungeon cell. There was nothing else in the dimly lit room with him, but to be fair he could barely move so couldn't get a very good look around.
I must be in the yiga hideout. He thought. Then began pulling and squirming in an attempt to free himself, but only managed to cause his wrists to bleed from the shackles.
He let out a sigh, going limp in his restraints. He was sure in it this time. How had this even happened? He began to recall the events that had led up to his being captured.
Running... heart beating fast... someone was with him.
His eyes shot open and a tear formed in the corner of his eye.
Zelda...
The sun was shining now, having just risen over the horizon.
Zelda opened her eyes fighting off nausea again as she leaned back against the rock wall behind her.
Her head spun. She breathed deeply for a moment until the spinning finally stopped.
She opened her eyes and was able to take in her surroundings. A rock wall was visible in front of her and also behind her. She seemed to be in some sort of crevice. She glanced up and could make out the rays of the sun shining down through a crack above.
Her body ached, she felt bruised all over. As slowly as she could she moved looking her body over for any serious injuries. Aside from some minor cuts and bruises, a rather large bruise on her back, she seemed ok. The biggest problem obviously being the large bump on her head and the fact she still couldn't remember anything.
Alright what to do now? She asked herself. Do I have any supplies?
She found a pouch on her waist and dug through it. A bottle of water, a small supply of food, a short knife and a rope.
Thank Hylia. She thought. Perhaps I can manage to climb out of here.
She pushed herself up to her feet. Her legs wobbled and the feeling of nausea started to creep up again. She leaned against the wall panting. She reached into her pouch and pulled out the water bottle taking a drink. It felt cool and nice going down her throat. She put the bottle back in her bag then pulled out some dried fruit to eat. Her stomach soon felt much better.
Alright she glanced up at the rock wall in front of her she followed it up with her eyes trying to determine the best route to try and climb. She reached into her bag again and pulled out the rope and tied it around her waist. She felt pretty confident with the knot she had tied.
A vague memory of being taught how to tie knots suddenly came to her. A familiar laugh, a man's hands grabbing the rope in her hands and showing her how she had messed up the knot. She tried to follow the arms up to see his face but the memory vanished.
She reached up and rubbed her face with her hands. I can do this. She confidently told herself as she grabbed hold of the wall and placed a foot in a good foothold pushing up, she began to climb. She would use the rope to assist her as she climbed.
Link awoke to a firm slap to the face. He turned to see who had hit him. He was surrounded by yiga. A blademaster stood in front of him he was pretty sure it was the same one from before.
Suddenly he was pulled up to his feet by the shackles on his wrists. They were being raised by the yiga on his sides. The stool was taken away and his arms pulled up so high on either side of him that he felt like he could barely reach the ground with his feet. His legs still bound at the knees and ankles. He now stood in a Y position.
"Well hero the time has come." The blademaster spoke. "I'm sure you are wondering why we have brought you here rather than just killing you when we had the chance."
Link furrowed his brow. The thought had in fact crossed his mind, but he was more concerned about Zelda. He wondered if they had found her, was she alright? He knew he had to get out of here and find her.
The blademaster stepped aside suddenly to allow another yiga to step forward. This one was slightly shorter and slimmer, clear curves yet muscular like all the others. A female yiga, she had a large collar on her uniform and something of a crown coming from the top of her mask. Possibly the new leader?
Link was suddenly more embarrassed by his nakedness as she walked forward and stood rather close to him.
She reached up and removed her mask and pulled her hood down as well revealing long black hair. She smiled at him then signaled to a yiga behind him. The gag was then removed from his mouth. His jaw was sore from having had it in there for so long.
"Well now that's better isn't it?" She asked. Link didn't respond. She furrowed her brow and looked deep in his eyes. Leaning ever so slightly closer to his face. "You better answer me when I ask you a question or you will soon regret it if you don't." Her eyes trailed down the length of his body lingering slightly downward. Link took a deep breath and looked up at the ceiling trying not to think about what she was looking at.
His eyes were pulled back to her when he felt her hand grab his jaw firmly, digging her nails in. "You will look at me when I am talking to you understood?" Again Link didn't answer.
She raised her fist a punched him in the jaw. Sending his head sideways. He turned his head back toward her running his tongue over his lips tasting blood from his now split lip.
"Now I have a few more questions to ask you. And if you behave I might have a reward for you." She reached out and placed a finger on his chest and ran it down towards his belly button. He cringed trying to pull away from her touch.
She smiled before turning to the blademaster and nodding. "I will be back, and I hope you will be ready to talk." She proceeded out of the cell.
The blademaster turned to a table just outside the cell and grabbed something before turning and walking back over to Link. Link gulped when he saw what was in his hand and began to mentally prepare himself for what was sure to come.
A short three-tailed whip hung in his hand. "Your training is about to begin. Please feel free to scream." He couldn't see his face but Link was sure he was smiling.
Slowly he raised the whip, then with a quick motion he brought it down with a snap across Link's chest. A gasp escaped Link's lips but he bit his lip to keep from screaming at the pain. He wouldn't give him the satisfaction.
The blademaster only grunted before lifting the whip again and bringing it down with another snap. The pain jolted through Link he did his best to hold his tongue, but as the lashes kept coming, the blademaster circling his body making sure to whip him on every side, he couldn't hold it back anymore and soon his screams echoed through the dungeon.
Zelda flashed through Link's mind. He had to be strong and make it out of this for her. The last thing he remembered seeing of her she was...
"ZELDA..." he cried out as the next lash struck him I'm sorry. Tears welled up in his eyes, he couldn't hold them back and they began to roll down his face.
ZELDA!
She thought she heard a voice calling as she pulled herself over the ledge and on the the surface. She rolled onto her back panting heavily for a moment, happy to be free of the crevice she had apparently fallen into.
She suddenly sat up looking around, she had heard a voice hadn't she? Or what that in her head, another memory? There was no one in sight. Where was she exactly?
She stood up and looked around to get a better view of the area. The surrounding area seemed vacant of most living things. It was dry and desert like with only a few bushes or tufts of grass. There were a few mountains in the distance, and she was on some sort of plateau area herself. A cliff continued to jut up behind her and off to her left there was some sort of sandstone pillar a short walk away. She then turned her gaze to the right, she looked over the edge of the cliff she was on and could see a grassland below with large trees. She squinted in the hazy morning light, she thought she could see something else far below.
Smoke... a small house.
Her heart leapt at the thought of other people, she needed to get down off this plateau and see if someone was there that could help her. She wasn't sure if she could scale down the side of the cliff, and and was pretty sure her rope was not long enough anyway. Perhaps there is another way down. She looked around trying to see if there was some sort of path, but couldn't see anything from where she stood.
She turned around and began walking towards the pillar behind her, the only thing she could do at the moment was explore her surroundings and see if she could find something that would help her. As she walked a memory began to come to her mind...
"Run!" A man's voice. Her heart was beating loudly. "I'll draw them off, I don't think they saw you." He said. He grabbed her hand and gave it a squeeze before turning and running the opposite way.
She recalled running back the way she had just come from. Perhaps she had slipped and fell into that chasm? The man she had seen he ran in this direction. She thought as she continued forward. There had to be a clue to who he was or... who she was, and what exactly they had been running from.
Link fell to the ground with a grunt of pain. The yiga had released the chains holding him up. He breathed heavily. One yiga stepped closer and removed the chains from the shackles, then pulled his arms behind his back and connected the shackles together, now they were keeping his wrists behind his back.
"Are you having fun yet, hero?" The blademaster asked stepping forward again. Link looked up at him from where he lay on his side, but made no reply. A sharp kick to his side from one of the yiga behind him made him suddenly gasp.
What did they want with him or from him? Their leader had mentioned asking him some questions, but then left. He had yet to be asked any real questions. The blademaster mentioned 'training', what did he mean by that?
They continued to kick and punch him as he lay on the ground. He could only lay there and take it. He squirmed and tried to shield himself as best he could.
"Stop!" A female voice called out. The yiga stepped back allowing Link a chance to breath. The same female yiga came forward and bent down to Link as he lay on the cold ground. He opened his eyes and looked up at her. He now had a black eye, a gash above the other eye and a swollen, slit lip, along with all the bruises and whip marks down the rest of his body.
"How are you feeling?" She asked and ran her fingers through his hair. "Thirsty?"
Not wanting the beating to start again, Link managed to nod, remembering what she had said before.
"Very good." she gave him a pat on the cheek, before reaching over and grabbing a cup of water. The yiga behind him pulled him up to a somewhat sitting position, and she tipped the cup to his lips. He eagerly took a drink, now realizing how truly thirsty he really was.
"Now then," she said standing up. "Here's what is going to happen. I will ask you some questions and you will answer." She smiled "and if you don't..." she looked back over at the blademaster. Link took a deep breath knowing what she was saying.
"I'm glad you understand." She said seeing the fear in his eyes.
"Let's begin. First tell me where that little brat of a princess is you hang out with!" Link felt relieved at this question knowing now that they didn't have her or know where she was. He paused before attempting to answer, she must have disapproved of his taking too long to answer because she suddenly turned and nodded to the blademaster, who in turn signaled to the other yiga who again began kicking and punching Link.
After a few moments it stopped and Link, panting for breath, opened his eyes to see the female yiga in front of him again. "Now, answer my question and quickly this time or I'll let them resort to more drastic measures."
"I-I..." He gasped for breaths "...w-ill never...tell you." He managed to say, before being drug to his knees by his hair. He winced in pain, as the female yiga again turned and walked out of the cell, leaving Link with the blademaster again. He stepped forward with a knife in his hand this time, and an evil looking smile on his face.
Zelda slowly stepped toward what she found laying on the ground. She paused a moment as she looked at the items. A sword, a bow and quiver of arrows, a shield, and a pack. They seemed to have been dropped. She looked at the ground around the area, there were dozens of footprints, it looked like a struggle had happened. She couldn't tell how many there had been, but it seemed like a lot.
She bent down and opened the bag, a few supplies, a weird looking rectangular device, and some sort of cloth glider? Perhaps she could use this to get down from this place.
A smell hit her nose, suddenly making her feel sick. She couldn't hold it in and turned to throw up. What was that smell? Not far off she could see some sort of dead animal. She quickly gathered up the items, sure that they had to belong to the man she was trying to find. She held her breath to keep from being sick again, and turned and quickly made her way back to the cliff's edge.
It didn't help getting away from the smell, she still felt sick. Perhaps she was hungry? She sat down and pulled out some of the food in the bag and ate some, then took a drink of the water she had. She felt a little better, but the sick feeling lingered slightly in the pit of her stomach never fully going away.
Well time to try and get down from here. She thought to herself. She packed the items as best should could into the bag and used the rope to strap everything to herself, leaving only the glider out. She opened it, feeling like she had done this before, again a brief memory of being taught by the same man who seemed to be in all her memories, this time a glimpse of dirty blonde hair blowing in the wind.
She jumped grabbing tightly to the glider then slowly drifted down to the grassland below. She landed gently on the ground below, near the tall trees, then packed away the glider. She then turned and began walking in the direction of the house she had seen, in hopes of finding someone who could help.
It only took a few minutes to make her way to the house, smoke still could be seen coming out of the chimney. There had to be someone home. She knocked on the door a little hesitantly. After a moment the door opened, a small woman stood on the other side questioningly. "Yes? Can I help you?" she asked.
"Um...yes." Zelda began. "I'm in a bit of trouble." She said. The woman welcomed her in after seeing her dirty, torn clothes and sat her down at the table.
"Are you hungry, thirsty? Please have a seat and you can let me know what happened." She said showing Zelda to the table. Zelda sat down feeling a bit weak. She nodded as the woman brought her a glass of water.
Zelda slowly explained having woken up and not knowing what happened. She said she must have fallen and hit her head. She explained how she climbed out and found the paraglider, and found her way here.
"Oh dear, how awful." Said the lady. "We will certainly help you figure this out."
We? Thought Zelda.
Suddenly a man came walking through the front door, with a small boy. He stopped when he saw Zelda sitting there, a look of bewilderment on his face. "Princess Zelda...?" He said closing the door behind him. She looked at him in surprise, eyes wide. She remembered then hearing that name when she had climbed out of the crevice.
The woman explained everything to her husband, who came and sat at the table. Zelda filled in a few more details about remembering she was running from something.
"Do you know where Link is? Was he with you?" the man asked. Zelda stared at him confused.
"I'm... sorry. I don't know who that is." She replied. The man and woman looked at each other in shock.
"This is worse than I thought." He said. They talked for a few more minutes before deciding that the man would go out and look to see if he could find any more information. Zelda said she was feeling tired so the lady told her she could wash up and rest in their guest room, while they waited for her husband to come back with hopefully more information.
Zelda felt a little better after having cleaned up, but she still had a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She laid down on the soft bed. It felt nice after having been out in the cold. She wished she could remember more, she tired to concentrate and remember something... anything more. Nothing came.
She turned and pulled the strange rectangular device out of the bag and fidgeted with it. What was this thing? Suddenly the screen lit up. She jumped a little, sat up leaning against the headboard of the bed and tapped on the device some more. A map came into view. Interesting. She slid her finger sideways and now she saw...pictures. Many of plants or animals, and other things. She stopped suddenly seeing one of herself and next to her the man that kept popping up in her memories. His arm around her shoulders pulling her in tight, they both had big smiles on their faces, looking so happy. He had striking blue eyes and dirty blonde hair, her heart seemed happy at seeing him, and a longing almost empty feeling came with it. He must mean a lot to her. She needed to remember more about him. He was missing and she needed to find him.
Blood dripped down Link's chest, sides and back from the multiple cuts. He gasped as the blade was pulled out of his left shoulder, his throat hurt from the screams he had let out. Blood gushed out of the wound and ran down his chest. He was again in a standing position, with his arms outstretched to his sides, shackled to the walls. His vision was beginning to darken, his breathing heavy.
A figure approached him, he didn't look up, letting his head hang staring at the floor.
He saw a hand reach out and rest on his side just above his hip, fingers spread out as the hand slowly grazed over and up across his abs and up his chest, feeling every indent of his well sculpted body. Link lifted his head looking at the face of the female yiga, she smiled at him and raised a finger stroking up a drip of blood on his chest. She brought the finger with the blood on it to her lips and licked it off.
She reached over and grabbed his jaw again lifting his face to look into her eyes. His eyes were dull, his expression blank. This made her smile more. She leaned in close to his face only inches away. "It looks like your training is going well. You soon will break." She said almost in a whisper.
A trail of blood went down the side of Link's face along his jaw and down his neck. She leaned over and ran her tongue up the trail of blood, up his neck and along his jaw. Link flinched away at this, only to receive a hard slap across the face. She grabbed his jaw firmly in her hand and turned his face back to her and glared into his dull bloodshot eyes. "I see you still need more training. But soon you will do anything I say. We will break that so called 'unbreakable spirit' of yours." She smiled, then before he knew what was happening she leaned in and pressed her lips firmly to his. He pulled his head back away from her. She stood up straight with a smirk on her face, then turned to the blademaster behind her.
"He's close, continue with his training." Then she proceeded out of the cell.
The blademaster smiled and came closer to Link. "Now for one of my favorite 'training' exercises." He said. He walked back to the table and grabbed something before turning and walking back over to Link.
Link focused his eyes trying to see what it was he now held in his hand. His eyes went wide upon seeing the electric spear in his hand.
The blademaster smirked then lowered the tip of the spear and pressed it into Link's side.
Link jolted as the current ran through his body making it spasm. He couldn't even scream in pain, as his muscles twitched and his back arched. It slowly died away as the spear was taken from his side. Link panted, gasping for air, his heart rate rapid. He looked up again only for the electricity to once again jolt through his body.
His vision grew cloudy, as time and time again he was electrocuted, barely getting any time in-between to catch his breath. His throat hurt from the few screams of pain he was able to get out.
Slowly his consciousness began to fade, darkness closed in around him, and he was lost in horrible dreams.
Zelda lay in bed dreams coming in rapidly, or perhaps memories, about being a child growing up in the castle, a princess. She recalled her father and her mother. Losing her mother at the age of six. She remembered the Calamity, and Link, she remembered Link. At first she recalled not liking him, but later... she felt a deep love for him. She saw him die. Tears rolling down her face as he was placed in a chamber where she would not get to see him again for a long time. She remembered being trapped, alone for a time she didn't know how long, fighting to keep back the great evil until Link could return. And then, like a light, a weight lifted. Link was there, the Calamity defeated. She sealed it away. Her and Link could finally be together again, but now he was missing, again she was alone, afraid she wouldn't find him again. Where was he...?
Zelda woke, the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach grew. She sat up feeling like she was about to loose it again. She breathed deeply for a while until the feeling eased enough for her to stand. The memories coming back to her mind. She remembered who she was, she remembered Link. She needed to remember the rest of what had happened though.
She stepped out of the room to find the lady and the man that had been so welcoming and helpful to her sitting at the table talking in low tones. They looked up when they heard her open the door, and beckoned her to come over. She walked over and sat at the table.
"I'm sorry," she began "but I don't think I even got your names." She said. The lady smiled at her, before introducing herself as Celia and her husband as Liam. They had a two year old son, named Oliver.
Zelda explained that many of her memories had returned, but the last few years since sealing the Calamity, especially the last few days, were still vary hazy. It would take more time for those memories to return.
Liam told her he had gone back to where she said she had fallen and found Link's items. He saw that there had been a struggle. He estimated that at least twenty yiga had surrounded Link in an ambush. He found a trail of blood that he believed to be from yiga that Link had injured in the struggle. They must have been able to get the upper hand on him and knock him unconscious before teleporting him away. The most logical place they probably would have taken him was back to their hideout.
They made a plan to head to the desert. Liam would help Zelda travel to Gerudo town where she could ask for help in attempting to rescue Link. There wasn't any time to waste, they needed to hurry if there was any hope to rescue him before they killed him. If they hadn't killed him already...
Link woke to some liquid being poured down his throat. He coughed and sputtered, as he nearly choked on the foul tasting liquid. As bad as it tasted, it also seemed to rejuvenate him. Some of his minor wounds closed up and healed, leaving only dried blood behind. While the more major wounds eased in pain, feeling slightly better. Obviously the yiga didn't want to heal him too mush, just enough so they could continue to 'train' and torture him to their hearts content.
He opened his eyes and lifted his head slightly. He found he was again laying on the ground on his back. The female yiga leaning over him. She smiled as he came to, gently stroking his hair.
"Well that's better. Glad to see you are still with us." She said then stood and began walking in a circle around him. She smiled as her eyes grazed over every inch of his body, lingering in a few places.
Link realized his arms were free. The shackles still on either wrist, but they were no longer chained to the wall. His legs were still bound however. He squinted as he watched the female yiga walk around. Now a little more of his senses had returned, he turned his head to see around the cell. There was a yiga footsoldier standing near his legs holding what looked like a staff or spear of some sort. The blademaster stood outside the cell with his back turned toward him. The cell door wide open. A thought came to Link, he wasn't sure he could win. But he needed to get out of here, and back to Zelda. Had she been able to escape, was she still waiting for him to return?
With a swift movement, Link kicked his legs to the side kicking the yiga footsoldier down, he dropped his spear as he fell. Link reached out and grabbed it before it even hit the ground, then swung it around from where he lay hitting the legs of the female yiga. She stumbled forward, but didn't fall. Link rolled over stumbling to get to his knees. He had just managed to get on his hands and knees, about to try any push himself to his feet when a sharp kick to his side, then another to his back making him fall onto his stomach. He dropped the spear as he sprawled out on the ground, arms out to his sides.
Link gasped trying to catch the breath that was knocked out of him, and began to push himself back up. A foot coming down hard on his right hand caused him to cry out in pain and fall back onto his stomach. The foot on top his hand now pressed down harder, and something cracked within Link's hand. The searing pain made Link roll to his side once the foot lifted off his hand, and he pulled his arm in and cradled his now broken hand.
"Weak attempt." Said the female yiga. "If you still have that much fight in you then perhaps we still have quite a bit of work to do." She said turning with a smile. "Let us continue."
Sun shining, a warm breeze blowing. Her heart overflowing with joy as she walked toward the man she loved. His gorgeous eyes staring at her, a smile planted on his face. Her long white dress flowed around her ankles as she walked. Her wedding day, the happiest moment she had been waiting for.
That is until she had found out a month ago she had even happier news. They had been married for almost a year now, two years since sealing away the calamity and finally reuniting after being separated for so long.
How would she tell him the news? He was going to be so excited to be a father.
She had planned a trip, just the two of them. She would surprise him with the news then.
She never got the chance. They were ambushed. Link had seen them coming and made her run to hide and drawn them off.
Now he was missing. They probably had him. What were they doing to him? Was he already dead?
Zelda jolted awake, tears streaming down her face. Memories flooding back to her, everything... she remembered everything. She couldn't help but shake as she sobbed.
Link!
She threw the covers off herself glancing down at her stomach. She tenderly placed a hand on her belly thinking of the child she carried, praying all was well after her fall. She had thought the constant sickness she had been having was due to the concussion she had suffered, now she realized it had been more than just that.
She hurried out of the room of the inn at the stable to find Liam sitting at a nearby table. They had made it as far as the outskirts stable the previous day, before they had to stop for the night.
"What is the matter?" Liam asked when he saw her.
"I... remember..." Zelda sobbed. Falling down into one of the chairs at the table. She leaned forward crying into her hands. She explained everything she now remembered.
The two hurried out of the stable and left immediately heading for Gerudo town, they hoped they could reach it before the end of the day.
Zelda hoped it wouldn't be too late to save Link... it just couldn't be too late. She needed him, he didn't even know he was going to be a father.
Link shivered, his bare skin pressed against the cold stone floor, as he lay curled into a fetal position near the back wall of the cell. The beating that he had gotten after his attempt to escape had been brutal. He cradled his still broken hand, his right shoulder was now also dislocated, and he was pretty sure he had at least one or more broken ribs. Breathing was painful. Link slipped in and out of consciousness. He didn't know how long he had been here, in this nightmarish dream. His throat and mouth were dry, his stomach empty. How much longer could he survive without food or a drink?
A distant whistle or horn, he couldn't tell for sure. Was it part of a dream? He heard the cell door open, his eyes fluttered open and he saw a figure moving toward him. He closed his eyes again, and curled tighter in a ball, not wanting whoever it was to hurt him some more. He felt a hand rest on his shoulder and gently shake him as if to rouse him. He moaned in pain, that being his dislocated shoulder.
"Wake up Link." Came a voice, a female voice.
He squeezed his eyes shut tighter, not wanting to see that female yiga again.
"Wake up, we need to move." The voice came again. It was different somehow. Not the same voice he had been listening to the last few days. He opened his eyes, and struggled to focus. Red hair came into view. This was a Gerudo warrior.
"I'm Daria." She said, "I'm here to get you out of here."
"Can you sit?" She asked, and began to help Link up and lean back against the wall behind him. He winced in pain from the broken ribs and dislocated shoulder, but managed to sit up with her assistance. First she pulled out a bottle of water from her pouch and leaned it to his lips allowing him to take a deep drink. She put the bottle back before retrieving a knife from her pouch, then proceeded to cut the ropes from his legs. There were purple and red bruises from where the ropes had been, but he was glad to finally be able to move his legs more freely.
"Can you stand?" She now asked looking into his eyes that had become clearer. He nodded.
"I need you to help with with something first." He said with a scratchy voice.
She looked up at him questioningly.
"It's my shoulder... I need you to help put it back in place." He glanced at his right shoulder. She looked at it for a moment, then reached into her pouch and pulled out a cloth.
"Bite on this." She said handing it to him, and she moved to his right side. Once he had the cloth between his teeth, she grabbed his arm placing one hand near his elbow and the other just above his wrist and lifted it to a 90 degree angle from his body. He flinched in pain and bit down on the cloth. The fact that his hand was broken as well made it all the worse. She pulled on his arm until she saw it, and he felt it, pop back into place. He grunted in pain, but it felt a lot better being back in place. She lowered his harm back down. Then reached back into her pouch pulling out a longer cloth that she helped secure around his left shoulder making a sling for his arm and hand to rest in.
"Now we must hurry, I'm not sure how much more time we have." She said standing and looking back at the door. "They have made a distraction for us, but it wont be long before they catch on and come back here." She helped him to his feet. He wobbled a little as she helped him walk out of the cell, making their way toward the door of the dungeon. He glanced to his left as they walked out and saw a pile of clothing in the corner, a familiar blue.
"Wait." He said. Turning and walking over to them. He pulled his trousers on, followed by his boots that were also thrown there. He tucked the blue tunic in the sling under his arm, unable to put it on at the moment. Then turned back to the Gerudo. She looked impatiently between him and the door as he made his way back over to her. She opened the door and glanced out looking both ways to make sure the coast was clear. She glanced back over to him making sure he was alright and ready to follow.
"Can you fight?" She asked in a whisper as they slowly made their way down the dark hallway. She seemed to know the way to go. Link had been here before, but didn't explore much of the lower passageways. She glanced back at him, he nodded glancing down at his right arm in the sling. He had practiced fighting with his left arm and knew he could do it, but he was definitely right arm dominate, not to mention how hurt and weak he already was, he was not going to be at his best if they did have to fight.
She handed him an extra scimitar that she carried on her back, the other she held in her own hand. He gripped it tightly in his left hand, and they continued down the passageway.
Zelda paced back and forth in the throne room, she bit at a nail as she did. Riju sat on her throne watching her. Zelda had wanted to go with the Gerudo warriors that had headed toward the yiga hideout, but they wouldn't allow it. She knew she wouldn't be much help in the fight, but she needed to get to Link. She agreed to stay not wanting to endanger her baby's life in the process, she had already been through so much trauma as it was, that it was probably best to not risk it further.
Riju was not allowed to go on the rescue mission either, being the leader of the Gerudo, and still being very young, they didn't want to risk her life in the attack.
"I'm sure they will find him." Riju said trying to calm Zelda down.
She stopped and looked over at Riju, a sad expression on her face. Yes they would probably find him, but would they find him alive? What condition would he be in?
Link had infiltrated the hideout before and killed their leader. Now that the Calamity had been sealed away, why were they even still after them? Was it revenge? Did they still think their master Ganon would return?
Zelda fidgeted with her hands, and began pacing again, this would drive her crazy waiting, but she knew nothing could get her mind off the current situation.
She listened and kept glancing over towards the entrance, impatient for them to return, with Link hopefully with them, alive.
They walked for what felt like an eternity. Link's breathing heavy, he hurt, just taking a deep breath hurt, but he continued on following Daria.
Around every corner they expected to run into the yiga, but so far had not.
Link had to stop for a moment, the burning pain in his side almost unbearable. He leaned against the wall trying to catch his breath and slow his breathing.
"We cannot stop." Said Daria looking back at him anxiously. Link nodded, sweat running down his brow. He just needed a moment.
They continued on, the passageways becoming more familiar. Link knew they were nearing the entrance. He thought they might actually make it out without running into any yiga, but that hope was soon dashed.
Rounding the next corner they walked out into the main entryway of the hideout, there were at least half a dozen yiga standing guard. Daria stopped in her tracks with Link right behind her still panting heavily. The yiga seemed surprised to see the Gerudo suddenly standing there, but soon realized what was happening when their eyes fell on Link.
Wasting no time and not giving the yiga time to process, Daria jumped into action. She leaped to the right and with a quick downward swing, slashed the first yiga deeply across the chest, he fell unmoving.
Three of them rushed toward her swinging wildly. She countered and slashed moving gracefully. The two remaining yiga turned their attention toward Link.
He raised his scimitar just in time to avoid being struck. The pressure of the hit made him fall to one knee as he pushed back against his attacker. He pushed past the pain in his body and stumbled back to his feet.
The other yiga jumped to his side trying to get a slash at him, but Link threw all his strength into a counter strike that dug into the yoga's shoulder, he fell and rolled hitting his head against the wall. He didn't get back up. Link stumbled back, leaning against the doorway. Black spots floated in his vision. His lungs burned as the pain in his side grew with each movement.
A searing pain erupted on his left arm as the other yiga slashed with his sword. A new gash with dripping blood now going across his upper arm. He managed to hold onto his own sword, then staggered forward as the yiga jumped back. His brow furrowed, his eyes like fire, fixed his gaze on the yiga. He'd had enough of this. The yiga seemed to hesitate staring at Link who stood for only a moment before springing into action, in a motion faster than seemed possible he jumped letting out a grunt, slashing down. His sword pierced the yiga in the chest, who fell clutching his chest, before going motionless. Link landed on his feet and staggered backward before dropping to his knees, the jolt sent pain through his sides and he gasped. Darkness filled the edges of his vision as he leaned forward dropping his sword and leaning on his hand.
His ears were ringing as the darkness continued to creep in. He fought to stay conscious not wanting to leave Daria to fight alone. He needed to push through... he needed...
Darkness overcame him and he remembered no more.
Daria had seen Link fall behind her, as she continued to fight off the last yiga in front of her. The other two already lay motionless on the ground. She spun around and kicked him him the chest making him stagger backward. With a swift motion she slashed her sword across his neck. He fell, and didn't get back up.
She rushed over to Link and turned him on his back, and felt his pulse. He was still alive, he had only fallen unconscious. She was glad he had managed to take out the other two yiga. She lifted him, and carried him out the front entrance.
It felt like an eternity, days had passed in her mind, what was taking so long?
The last lights of evening began to fall in the Western sky. Zelda's heart felt heavy, as she stood and watched the sun sink, her heart sinking with it. How many days had it been exactly since he had gone missing three, four? A week? Was there really any hope?
Sudden commotion behind her drew her out of her trance. She jumped up from where she sat, looking out the back window of the throne room. Her heart jumped and began to pound in her chest. She ran towards the doorway, and bounded down the stairs. She stopped in her tracks seeing the Gerudo warriors walking through the town's entrance, her eyes searching for one face. She didn't see him. The color fell from her face in that moment, her heart skipping a beat. She felt numb.
Just as her knees began to feel weak, she saw two Gerudo woman carrying a makeshift stretcher with someone on top, walk through the entrance. A hand went to her mouth as a half gasp half sob escaped her lips. Even from here she could see the blood stains all over his body and the pale complexion of his skin, he almost looked...
Her knees felt weak again as tears welled up burning her eyes. She forced herself to walk forward slowly approaching his side, she was afraid to find out, but had to know. Once she was next to his lifeless body, she couldn't hold back the tears as they began to roll down her cheeks. She slowly reached out her hand, almost involuntarily, and placed it on the side of his beaten, but still very handsome face. It was then that she noticed the small rising and falling of his chest. He was still alive.
She let another sob escape her lips, then she leaned down and tenderly placed a kiss on his forehead.
"You're safe now." She said softly.
A soft warm breeze. Fresh air, and a ray of sun shown down falling across his face. He slowly opened his eyes, unsure of where he was. He realized he was laying in a soft bed, a light sheet lay over his bare chest. He blinked slowly as the thoughts of what had happened the past few days came back to him.
He focused his eyes at the ceiling, as he began to realize where he was. He glanced around, then looked to the bed next to him and saw a familiar golden gleam of hair lying next to him, one arm draped over him.
Joy filled his heart as he pushed himself up on his left arm, he noticed his right hand had been wrapped, his arm placed back in a sling. A dull pain in his side still lingered, but it was considerably better than it had been.
Upon feeling him stir, Zelda opened her eyes, and glanced up at him a smile lit up on her face, as she quickly sat up and wrapped her arms around his neck. Tears began welling up in her eyes. "You're awake!" She said with a shaky voice. He wrapped his arm around her turning his face into her hair and breathing deeply. She really was there, she was alright. He hadn't been sure if he would see her again.
"Zelda... how..?" He began, wondering how she had found him.
She recalled everything that had happened to her, leaving out one little detail, since he had gone missing. He hugged her again placing a gentle hand on her head.
"I'm sorry," He said "I wish I had been there for you. You shouldn't have had to..."
"After all the times you have risked your life to save me, I knew I couldn't stop at anything until you were safe." She said cutting him off. She pulled back and looked at him in the eyes. "You don't have to be sorry for being the one that needed recuing this time."
"But what you went through..." He began
"Was only as taste of what you went though only a few short years ago." She said. "It was a horrible feeling, not knowing." She glanced down. "I don't know how you did it, for so long. And still do." She said knowing he still did not have all his memories back from before.
"What..." She hesitated. "What did they do to you?"
He got a distant look in his eye and his brow furrowed slightly. "Perhaps I will tell you some other time, for now I'd rather not think about it." He said at last.
Sorrow filled her as she saw the pain in his eyes.
He looked up and glanced around the room again. "Are we... in Gerudo town?" He asked.
"Uh, yes at the palace. Riju let us stay in one of the lower guest rooms." She said.
He smiled. "They allowed a voe within the city?" He laughed.
"Ah, well yes, it was an extraordinary circumstance." She smiled. "They couldn't very well leave you outside in the sand."
He laughed again. "I wouldn't be surprised if they had."
She liked to hear him laugh. Especially after she had feared she would never get to hear it again, never see him again.
"Thank you for coming for me, Zelda." He said looking deeply into her eyes.
"Of course." She said. "It's what you would have done. I couldn't leave you in the hands of those monsters." She smiled glancing down at her hands in her lap. "And besides, it's not only me that needs you now more than ever."
He cocked an eyebrow.
"Link, you're going to be a father." She said looking back up into his blue eyes. They went wide for a moment as the news set in.
"You mean you're...?" He said. She nodded with a smile.
A large smile came to his own lips as he again wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in a tight, but not too tight, hug. He pulled away, sliding his hand up the the back of her head then leaned in and gave her a tender loving kiss on her lips.
The best mission of their lives was just beginning.
A lone yiga woman stood in the now empty cell. She stared at the blood stains on the floor, and the shackles that no longer held a prisoner. A smirk twisted on her lips.
"You may have escaped for now, but don't get too comfortable yet." She spoke softly to no one. A small chuckle left her lips as she turned and walked back out of the cell.