Gerudo Desert – Gerudo Town
Liena patiently waited as Chief Urbosa languidly sat on her throne, reading the letter His Majesty King Rhoam had penned.
Once she finished, Chief Urbosa arched an eyebrow at her. "You're a Knight of Hyrule?"
"Indeed. I am Dame Sortiliena Serlut," Liena formally answered.
"I'm surprised they didn't send a member of the Royal Guard."
"I believe it's because I was the knight that trained Sir Link Faron," Liena said. "Since we worked together for years, he would trust me with this task. I believe His Majesty took that into consideration when he appointed me."
"You trained him?" Urbosa asked.
There was something in Urbosa's tone that Liena couldn't identify and wasn't sure she liked, either. Link had warned her about their verbal disagreement more than a week earlier and had given his version of the event. Liena was interested in hearing Princess Zelda's point of view of it later.
Liena doubted that she would get Chief Urbosa's take if she asked.
Proudly, Liena replied, "I did, in addition to overseeing his training under other masters."
"Then I have to question how fit you are to guard the princess," Urbosa replied, almost in a bored, lazy tone. "Oh, don't get me wrong. Sir Faron is a talented warrior, worthy to wield the sword of legend so proudly, I'm sure, but it seems he's lacking in… well, everything else."
The words shocked Liena. She wasn't sure if there had ever been a time when Link had proven to be incompetent. He'd had the occasional setbacks and moments where he'd stumbled, but he had never been incapable of the myriad trials placed before him. Liena felt the worst critiques of him were that he was foolhardy, stubborn, and prone to taking risks, but they were hardly flaws worth remarking upon.
"I'm certain I don't know what you mean," Liena replied calmly. "Link—Sir Faron has been one of the most talented, respectful, and humble men I've ever known."
"Perhaps you don't know him as well as you think, then," Urbosa replied dismissively.
"With all due respect, I trained him for years," Liena said, just barely able to keep her voice in check. The snide insinuations were beginning to grate on her patience. "The time you've spent with him can likely be measured in hours. And you're wrong about that sword. Any fool can pick up a sharp bit of steel and cut someone down with it. What you're seeing isn't pride; it takes discipline, courage, and honor to know when to use such a blade. If you can't recognize that, then perhaps that's a reflection of you rather than him."
Urbosa sat up, her brow twitching slightly in annoyance or irritation. Or both.
"I don't know what grievances you might have with my former squire," Liena said tightly, "but I know that whatever problems you have with him, they originated with you first. Sir Faron is one of the strongest men I know, perhaps the strongest. And whether you agree with me or not, I do not care. He would never act in such a manner unless you pushed him first. If you offered him courtesy or respect, he would pay you in kind, but do not misinterpret that as an excuse to do whatever you wish and not expect any retaliation, verbal or otherwise."
"I see he picked up his sense of diplomacy from you," Chief Urbosa said snidely.
"And the camaraderie he's been shown by you has been utterly overwhelming," Liena retorted. "Let me be clear: you overestimate your position, Chief Urbosa. Her Highness is heir to the throne of Hyrule. She is a guest here and not a Gerudo citizen. Whatever rumors there are of the relationship between you, Her Late Majesty, and Her Highness are irrelevant. A Hylian will be overseeing her safety at all times. This is non-negotiable from His Majesty, King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule. If you have a problem with that, you are more than welcome to come to Hyrule Castle and take it up with His Majesty in person."
Chief Urbosa set her jaw tightly. The guards and servants in the throne room were watching with undisguised interest.
Liena knew Chief Urbosa was in a diplomatic bind, though. Princess Zelda wasn't just an ambassador, researcher, or any other foreign guest; she was much more than that—an heir to an entire kingdom. The standard rules did not apply.
"So be it," Chief Urbosa said irately, clearly not used to being pushed around. "Will that be all King Rhoam requires of me?"
Liena nodded. With how much tension there was in the room right now, she didn't trust herself to keep a civil tongue if she uttered another word.
Chief Urbosa glanced at one of the Gerudo servants in the room.
"I will take you to your quarters so that you may drop off your belongings," the Gerudo servant said. "After that, I can take you to Her Highness's quarters if you would like."
"That would be best," Liena replied. She glanced at Urbosa, who dismissed her with a wave of her hand. Following protocol, Liena saluted before following the Gerudo handmaiden to her new quarters.
The palace's layout wasn't large or complicated, so Liena had little trouble memorizing the route. She felt that her own family estate was larger.
Once she dropped off her belongings, Liena was led to a nearby bedroom.
"This is where Princess Zelda is staying," the guide said. "Down the hall are the stairs that lead to Chief Urbosa's room, at the top floor."
Liena nodded. "Thank you. That will be all."
The servant nodded back and left. Liena approached Princess Zelda's room and lightly rapped on the door.
"Come in," Princess Zelda said.
Liena opened the door, stepped inside, and saluted. "Good afternoon, Your Highness."
"Sav'aaq—I mean, good afternoon. Hmm… I remember you," Princess Zelda said. She studied Liena for a few more moments before her eyes widened. "Oh, yes. I spoke to you before I left for Death Mountain to speak to Daruk. Dame Sortiliena Serlut, correct?"
"Yes, Your Highness," Liena replied dutifully. "I am honored you remember me."
Princess Zelda blushed a bit. "Actually, I remembered you were from the Serlut family, and they only have a daughter…"
"It's quite all right, Your Highness," Liena said amicably.
Princess Zelda shook her head. "No, you are a Knight of Hyrule. Your background shouldn't matter."
Liena faintly smiled. "I cannot keep track of every noble house in Hyrule. I certainly shouldn't expect you to know the names of every knight in service to Hyrule, either."
"I suppose you have a point," Princess Zelda said. "What brings you here?"
Withdrawing another envelope, Liena handed it to Princess Zelda and patiently waited while the royal scanned its contents. Whatever she read, it didn't make her happy.
"I see," Princess Zelda said neutrally. "Even though I am perfectly safe within Gerudo Town, my father still believes I need someone to watch over me?"
"Even though one could argue that Chief Urbosa, Chief Komali, and the Zora Royal Family should be safe within Hyrule Castle, they still travel with an entourage consisting of their own forces whenever they are invited to visit," Liena said carefully. "As Sir Faron is not allowed within Gerudo Town, I must assume his duties here. His Majesty is adamant on this."
Princess Zelda looked like she wanted to argue the point further before realizing the futility of it. Liena was here in Gerudo Town, in the Gerudo Desert, as a Knight of Hyrule, under the direct order of King Rhoam. Even if Liena had misgivings of her own, it was a moot point and therefore not an argument worth merit.
Sighing, Princess Zelda looked back up at Liena. "Do you know him, Dame Serlut? When we last spoke, you informed me about Daruk and Death Mountain, but neglected to tell me that you had traveled there with him."
Assuming that the princess was referring to Link, Liena nodded. "Sir Faron was my squire. He and I both went to Death Mountain, acting as ambassadors to determine if the Gorons had dug out Vah Rudania for Purah and her team."
"Your squire, hmm?" Princess Zelda noncommittedly asked.
"It's likely why I am here instead of the Royal Guard, Your Highness," Liena replied. "I was asked for by name, by His Majesty."
"I see," Princess Zelda simply said. "Well, I am afraid there will be little to do for you. Nothing troubles me here."
"I would make a poor guard if I desired trouble, Your Highness," Liena replied. "Trouble means danger, and danger is exactly what I'm hoping to avoid going forward."
"And does he share your views?" Princess Zelda asked.
It didn't escape Liena's notice that the princess had not uttered Link's name once during their entire conversation.
Their relationship must be worse than I thought.
"He does," Liena answered. "That being said, he also goes out of his way to ensure that if there are dangerous elements around, they are… preemptively taken care of. Lessons we learned among the Sheikah."
Princess Zelda nodded, though how much she understood, Liena didn't know.
"Well, I keep to my room during the hottest parts of the day. The waters that run around the palace keep the interior cool," Princess Zelda said. "Usually, I will be working here at my desk. During the morning, I will go around the town with Chief Urbosa. Close to dusk, I will leave to conduct work on Vah Naboris with Chief Urbosa, Jade, and a few Gerudo guards to accompany us to the East Barrens."
And Link.
Again, Liena had to re-evaluate exactly how poor Princess Zelda and Link's relationship was, despite having been working together for almost a year.
"I understand, Your Highness," Liena said. "As before, Sir Faron will resume his duties when you depart. I will take over when you return. I shall do my level best to keep my presence discreet."
"I appreciate that, Dame Serlut."
Saluting, Liena left the room, closed the door, and settled into her post.
~o~O~o~
A week later, Liena was escorting Princess Zelda back to her room late one evening.
As planned, Liena watched over the princess whenever she was in Gerudo Town. It was usually during the hottest hours, though twice, the princess stated that an excursion to the Divine Beast was necessary during the daylight hours. Liena dispatched a message to Link during those times, and he would always be at the East Gate, ready to go. Regardless, whenever Princess Zelda embarked, she barely spared Link a look as she sat down on a sled that Chief Urbosa was handling. It was the same when they returned: Link would escort Princess Zelda right up to the gate, give a brief report to Liena, and then surf back in the direction of the Kara Kara Bazaar. Princess Zelda did her level best to ignore Link's presence entirely.
To date, Liena had not yet learned of the disagreement Link had shared with Princess Zelda and Chief Urbosa from the latter's point of view. In fact, the less spoken about Link, the better it seemed.
Not that Liena was going to let the issue lie.
She had brought Link to the snowy tundra of Hebra, the harsh tutelage of the Sheikah in Kakariko Village, and the hellish landscape of Death Mountain. Any complaints Link had ever made were always joking or half-hearted, but he had never begged to go home or quit any challenge outright. In fact, Liena felt that Link had handled everything thrown at him with a kind of stoic grace and poise that she was somewhat envious of.
So for him to have snapped at both Princess Zelda and Chief Urbosa was of interest to her.
"Thank you, Dame Serlut," Princess Zelda tiredly said. "I shall see you in the morning."
Realizing that they were already in front of the princess's quarters, Liena summoned her resolve. "Your Highness? Might I speak to you first?"
Pausing at the doorway, Princess Zelda quizzically looked at Liena before nodding. "Please, come in."
After Liena entered and closed the door behind her, Princess Zelda languidly stretched and sat down at her desk.
"What would you like to talk about?" the princess asked.
"When I arrived, my first stop was the Kara Kara Bazaar," Liena said as diplomatically as she could. She knew there was a real chance this conversation would become extremely uncomfortable and had to tread carefully. "I spoke to Sir Faron to get a report before beginning my duties here."
Princess Zelda lost her approachable tone and took on a flatter one instead. "Did you."
The tone in her voice made it sound less like a question and more like a statement.
"It was prudent," Liena replied. "I had only arrived and needed to get the lay of the land. He also informed me of a disagreement you shared with one another not long ago. I have heard his side of the event, and I feel it would be wise to hear yours as well."
"And what did he say?" Princess Zelda asked.
"Forgive me, Your Highness, but I believe it would be best to hear your version, rather than color it with Sir Faron's," Liena said. She wanted to avoid bias—mostly her own, since she was more inclined to believe Link over her future monarch. However, the slight evasion and change in the princess's attitude seemed to lend credence to Link's version already.
"He was informed that his service was not required for the day," Princess Zelda said imperiously. "He took offense to that notion and confronted Chief Urbosa and I with disrespect."
Liena carefully kept her expression impassive. The mandate she'd received from the king was that she was not to leave Princess Zelda's side—barring personal issues—whenever she was in Gerudo Town. According to Link, his mandate was even harsher; 'like a rock', he had put it. Even Princess Zelda did not have the authority to dismiss him.
And what was more, the princess had glossed over an important detail.
"Because you were ill, correct?" Liena asked. "However, you proceeded to Vah Naboris regardless? Was Sir Faron given notice of the change of plans?"
"Exactly what are you insinuating, Dame Serlut?" Princess Zelda asked.
Another evasion.
"Insinuation carries with it an element of accusation, Your Highness. I am simply trying to gather accurate information," Liena said.
Princess Zelda's eyes narrowed. "I am exhausted. I believe I shall retire for the evening, Dame Serlut."
Resisting the urge to frown—especially at the princess—Liena automatically saluted and left to assume her post.
~o~O~o~
"Sav'aaq, Liena," Link said.
"Sav'aaq, Link," Liena replied. She glanced at the sled Chief Urbosa and Princess Zelda were preparing before taking Link aside. "I might have made your job a little bit harder today. Sorry."
"What happened?" Link asked.
"I tried to talk to the princess about what happened between you two, and she didn't care about discussing it," Liena said contritely. "I wanted to find a way to smooth out the tension between you both, but I fear I made it worse."
Link shrugged. "As long as she's safe, we're doing our jobs. I can handle the rest."
Liena frowned. "You shouldn't have to."
Again, Link shrugged. "I shouldn't have to fight some incarnation of ancient evil, but that's what I have to do. Looks like I have to go. Thanks for caring. I do appreciate it."
Liena nodded and stepped back. Chief Urbosa and Princess Zelda were already sledding away. Link yelled, "Hyah!" and easily caught up to them.
Sighing in equal parts resignation and frustration, Liena trudged to the Gerudo Guard's training area. Even after a week, Liena still found it difficult to sleep during the day, no matter how tired she felt. When Link had informed her that he often used the day to train and exhaust himself further—either by studying Gerudo fighting techniques from the women stationed at the Kara Kara Bazaar or hunting monsters in the desert to ensure Princess Zelda's continued safety—Liena had decided to adopt that same strategy. The Gerudo guards were more than happy to host her and teach her new combat techniques. The fundamentals were similar to her own sword style, but there were definitely new moves to incorporate that she found pleasing. She just had to take care to train to the point of fatigue but not exhaustion. She still had her duty to fulfill, after all. Once she felt satisfactorily tired, she finally trekked back to her room to catch up on some sleep.
However, in what felt like no time at all, there was a persistent knocking on her door.
"Dame Serlut? It's time to get up," one of the servants' muffled voices called out. "We're expecting Chief Urbosa and Princess Zelda to return soon."
Groaning softly to herself, Liena rubbed her eyes and said, "I'm up. Thank you."
Liena laid in bed for a moment longer before sitting up and forcing herself awake. Stumbling around her room, she put on her equipment, poured herself a cup of water, and greedily drank its contents before finally walking back out to greet the desert evening.
By the time she arrived at the East Gate, the Gerudo lookouts were declaring that they could see Chief Urbosa surfing in.
After ten minutes of waiting, the group arrived. As always, Link approached Liena and gave her a brief report of what had occurred. Then he would give a salute to Princess Zelda—she didn't acknowledge it—before hopping onto his sand seal and surfing in the direction of the Kara Kara Bazaar… usually.
Sometimes he would head elsewhere, though Liena didn't always know where. She would hear of reports directly or indirectly from the Gerudo patrols of a voe archer/swordsman attacking nearby monster camps, or how some of the Gerudo scouts were being 'ambushed' by Link—Liena suspected they were having a bit of fun in the desert, since they were always laughing about it later in the cantina.
With Link's part done, Liena took over and fell in step behind Princess Zelda. The entourage entered Gerudo Town before the guards and Jade split off to go elsewhere, leaving Liena, Princess Zelda, and Chief Urbosa alone. Usually, the next stop was the Noble Canteen for dinner.
Princess Zelda was animatedly telling Chief Urbosa something about Vah Naboris when the captain of the guard approached them.
"Chief Urbosa, the daily security reports," the guard captain said. "It looks like our Sheikah allies may have a lead."
Liena's eyebrows raised. Before she'd left, Impa had informed her that the Sheikah were operating in the desert, but Liena had not seen or heard hide or hair of them. Even Link had not mentioned anything about it.
The news certainly earned Chief Urbosa's attention. "Sarqso. I'll look at them now. Zelda, why don't you go to the Noble Canteen ahead of me? I'll be right along."
"Very well," Princess Zelda said.
Liena followed the princess through the cobbled pathways of Gerudo Town until they arrived at the cantina. Liena stood just inside the doorway, while Princess Zelda took her customary table and ordered dinner for both herself and Chief Urbosa.
"Dame Serlut, are you sure you don't wish to dine with us?" Princess Zelda asked.
"I am all right, Your Highness," Liena replied. It wasn't the first time the princess had offered, but Liena always refused. It would only take one careless act for a catastrophe to occur. "Thank you for your consideration."
"It is no trouble," Princess Zelda softly said. She took a sip of water, pulled out her notebook, and began scribbling something.
"Ugh, why are voe so complicated?" one of the patrons complained to her friends. "I thought for sure I was doing well in class."
"You think we should get Letty to come out and see him? Maybe she can show us how to seduce him," a second customer said.
"No way," a third patron quickly replied. "Then Letty would get the pot."
"Oh, like you have a shot?"
"I would at least like to try!"
"Hey, wait." The first Gerudo sat up and pointed at Liena. "That's the vai he was friendly with! The one with the brown hair."
"Oh, it is! Sit with us!"
Liena glanced over and shook her head. "Apologies. I'm on duty."
"Sure we can't tempt you with a Noble Pursuit?" one of them asked.
"I'm sure," Liena answered. Truth be told, she had grown fond of the Noble Canteen's signature drink, but not while she was watching over the princess.
"Well, can you at least tell us how we might get your voe to respond to us?" the third Gerudo asked. "We'll even cut you in on the winnings if the tip pans out."
Again, Liena shook her head. "No can do. He'd kill me."
"Oh, come on! Link doesn't have to know."
"What wager?" Princess Zelda suddenly asked.
"Oh, you didn't know?" The three Gerudo suddenly became more animated. "There's a bet happening on whoever can get closest to the Hero!"
"Right now, the pot is at two gold rupees for a kiss, but it has to be reciprocated," one of them said. "No flying lip locks allowed. Too easy."
Oh, my. Poor Link.
Despite her empathy for her former squire, Liena still couldn't help but grin.
"And five gold rupees to whichever vai can bed him, though that's likely to get higher soon." The Gerudo wickedly grinned. "There's a bit of a debate on whether the rupees from kissing should fold into that one. I mean, you can still sleep with someone and not kiss, but it's not as romantic, you know?"
Princess Zelda's expression turned dour. "And… are there many Gerudo in on this… wager?"
All three Gerudo glanced at each other and shrugged. "I'd say so. We were planning on going to the Kara Kara Bazaar after dinner to see if he's there. We're still trying to employ what we learned in class, so it's pretty exciting and fun."
"He's also a pretty good cook," another one of the Gerudo said. "Current strategies involve trying to get close using food to tempt him."
Again, Liena had to fight the urge to laugh out loud or encourage that line of thinking. Or both.
Princess Zelda abruptly stood up and stormed out of the building.
"Oh, wait! Your dinner is almost ready!" the proprietor shouted.
Princess Zelda didn't seem to hear. She continued stomping back to the palace. Liena quickly followed.
On the way, they passed by Chief Urbosa. She seemed startled at Princess Zelda's sudden appearance. "Little Bird, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I lost my appetite," Princess Zelda said, fuming. "I am going to bed."
When Chief Urbosa sought out Liena's eyes, the latter shrugged. Quietly, Liena said, "She found out about the wager about Link back at the cantina."
The brief explanation was all Liena could manage. Princess Zelda hadn't stopped, so the knight had to hurry after her.
Once at her room, Princess Zelda pushed open her door without a care. It banged against the wall violently. Liena quickly steadied the door and was about to close it to give the princess her privacy when she started speaking.
"That… that… ugh!" Princess Zelda screamed. "All because he draws a sword, his role is set. He hardly had to do anything. What could he know about the effort and sacrifices I've had to make?"
Liena stood there, hand on the doorknob, one foot in the hall, and the rest of her standing inside the princess's room.
"You can't possibly mean that," Liena said in disbelief.
Princess Zelda scoffed. "Of course I do. And now I have him following me wherever I go, with that damn unreadable look on his face. He's probably wondering why he's wasting his time when he has far more entertaining things to do."
Despite her upbringing, her lessons, her background and family, and her oaths, Liena's patience finally reached its end.
"You're wrong about him," Liena said quietly but firmly. She found herself clenching her jaw to prevent herself from shouting. She stepped into the room and closed the door. It took considerable effort to not slam it shut.
Princess Zelda looked shocked that Liena had spoken… and was reprimanding her. "Oh, am I?"
"He's paid too much," Liena tightly said. "He knows more about sacrifice than you or I will ever have the misfortune to know."
"What do you mean?" Princess Zelda asked warily, as if she wasn't sure she wanted to know.
"You… you really don't know?" Liena asked, incredulous.
"Know what?" Princess Zelda snapped impatiently.
"Imagine hearing that your father went missing. Then imagine that your attempt to save him was doomed from the start. Then imagine that the only thing you got in return was a sword that was a constant reminder of failure, loss, and grief," Liena snapped back. "That's what Link feels."
"His father… Sir Revan Faron?" Princess Zelda asked. She paled. "But… wait… I heard he fell in battle."
"But you didn't ask where, with whom, or why?" Liena retorted angrily. "Or perhaps you didn't care to know. The king needed to find the Master Sword. And he needed to send people after it."
"Wait, you're saying that Sir Revan was sent to search for the Master Sword…" Princess Zelda said in horrified realization.
"And he became one of the many lost spirits trapped in those woods," Liena said bitterly. "By the time Link and I heard, it was probably too late. Even then, we rode out to try to find the expedition. We failed. I almost died there, but Link managed to save me. We found the grove where the Master Sword was enshrined, Link drew it, and… it looked like it just hollowed him out."
"But… wait, all those things I said to him… I-I didn't know," Princess Zelda said feebly.
"And you didn't ask, either," Liena said, regaining a flicker of indignation. She actually had the audacity to glare at the heir to the throne of Hyrule. "Because you didn't want to ask."
~o~O~o~
"Because you didn't want to ask."
Zelda stared at the ceiling. She had trouble sleeping, but that wasn't uncommon for her these days. She often stayed up, sometimes diving into her research, sometimes worrying why she couldn't access her powers, and sometimes fretting about the looming future that seemed devoid of hope.
But this night was different.
She felt guilt. Horrible, aching, consuming guilt.
"Because you didn't want to ask."
Their conversation had lasted only a minute longer. Enough to learn that Sir Faron had been the one that trained Dame Serlut. And then she had been the one tasked to train… Link.
After that, Dame Serlut had left—despite whatever anger she harbored, she had still saluted and bade Zelda a terse good night—leaving the royal alone.
Zelda had gone through the motions automatically: she had changed into her sleeping attire; put her books, notes, and the Sheikah Slate away; blew out the candles; and simply laid in bed.
Which led to her current problem of insomnia.
Zelda had thought herself intelligent, but she felt the mistake she had made bordered on imbecilic.
"Because you didn't want to ask."
I should have, though.
Zelda sat up. She got out of bed and started pulling clothes out of the bureau before her mind caught up with the guilt in her heart.
Link was likely asleep now. Or out monster hunting—
To keep the Gerudo and myself safe.
She hadn't seen it before, but seeing things clearly now, Link wasn't just guarding her, he was going out of his way to protect her, just as he had been ordered to do. It was why the route to Vah Naboris and the surrounding area was always devoid of monsters and why the guards around Gerudo Town were more relaxed.
Zelda looked down at the blouse in her hands. Going to the Kara Kara Bazaar at this hour would be a pointless endeavor. Plus, she would have to explain to Urbosa why she wanted to go there, and that wasn't a conversation she wanted to have. Not after she'd spent the last two weeks making disparaging remarks and complaints to Urbosa about Link.
Once again, the guilt wrapped itself tightly around her heart, enough to almost make her feel nauseous.
Zelda carelessly threw her blouse aside and slowly trudged back into bed. As she drew the thin covers back over herself, she swore she would apologize to Link. And then she promised to do whatever it would take to earn his forgiveness.
Tomorrow. First thing tomorrow, I'll apologize.
~o~O~o~
"Your Highness. Your Highness, please wake up," an unfamiliar voice said urgently.
Zelda groaned tiredly. Her rest had been fitful and poor, leaving her disoriented and groggy. However, the voice continued to try to stir her awake. She managed to crack an eye open to see a Sheikah warrior—female, thank Nayru—kneeling near her bed. Sitting up immediately, Zelda clutched the covers over her chest. "Wh-what is it?"
"An emergency, Your Highness," the Sheikah answered. "We have reason to believe you're in danger."
"Danger?" Zelda repeated numbly.
"Yes. Please get dressed. We must evacuate Gerudo Town immediately," the Sheikah said insistently.
Getting out of bed, Zelda quickly picked up her travel clothes from the top of the dresser and moved behind the partition to change. "What danger? And who are you?"
"I am Rei, and we have reason to believe that some of the Gerudo guards are Yiga in disguise," Rei said grimly. "We are attempting to inform Chief Urbosa of this development, but your safety is our first priority."
"We can't leave if Urbosa is in danger!" Zelda said hotly. Finished dressing, she stepped out and planted her hands on her hips. "We must inform her now!"
"If we do so, the resulting fight might harm innocent people. Including you," Rei said. "She will be informed once we are a safe distance away. We hope to lead the infiltrators out of Gerudo Town before attempting to… deal with them."
Zelda clenched her jaw before stiffly nodding. "So be it. But she had better be appropriately warned."
"You have my word, Your Highness." Rei walked over to the door and opened it slightly. She peered around and nodded in satisfaction. "The coast is clear for now. Come, let us go."
~o~O~o~
Liena quickly marched back to the princess's room as she replayed the events of the previous ten minutes back in her mind to report to Link later. A Yiga had managed to enter Gerudo Town posing as a trader—female, naturally—and had been spotted trying to infiltrate the palace. Thankfully, the Sheikah had sent word to the Gerudo guards on duty, and they'd managed to stop her from getting anywhere near the princess. It galled Liena, but she had to leave her post for a few minutes to ascertain if the Yiga was working alone or with any others.
The Yiga wasn't talking, but the Gerudo captain said she had ways to extract information. Liena didn't press for details.
Instead, she bumped into Rei, who had just finished speaking to Chief Urbosa. Sadly, they did not have the time to catch up.
"We do believe there's a small group working here or nearby," Rei quickly said. "Our task is not finished yet. I have to go, and you must return to your duty. Hylia watch over you."
Upon returning to her post outside the princess's room, Liena peered out of a nearby window and saw that the sun had risen sufficiently in time for breakfast. However, there were reports of a sandstorm that was expected to brush just north of Gerudo Town and skirt the Kara Kara Bazaar. Currently, their daily plans to visit the Divine Beast were still going forward unless the storm diverted south. Liena paused to take a deep breath and regained her calm. After the previous night's conversation, she resolved to speak to the princess again if Her Highness so wished; hopefully in a more civil—and respectful—tone.
Liena knocked on the door and patiently waited. However, after a minute, she heard nothing—there were no footsteps or any reply whatsoever.
"Your Highness? It's time for breakfast," Liena called out. She knocked on the door more insistently.
Again, nothing.
Dreading the protocol that she was about to follow, Liena drew her sword, pounded on the door, and shouted, "Princess Zelda?! It's Dame Serlut! I ask that you answer me quickly!"
She counted to five, then slowly opened the door. Either the princess would be on the other side, or Din have mercy, there would be an ambush. Once it was more than a fourth of the way open and there was no sign or indication that Princess Zelda would be opening the door, Liena took a quick step back and kicked it the rest of the way open. The wooden barrier swung violently and crashed against the wall, indicating that there were no attackers hiding behind the door.
Liena cautiously stepped into the room, sword ready, and…
Saw nothing.
She quickly checked the adjoining rooms and found them to be empty as well.
There were no signs of a struggle—Thank Farore!—but after having apprehended a Yiga just moments earlier, it was imperative that Princess Zelda be found.
Blood running cold, Liena ran back into the hall, saw a Gerudo guard, and screamed, "Alarm!"
~o~O~o~
Gerudo Desert – South of the Great Cliffs
Once they had successfully snuck out of Gerudo Town, Rei led Zelda towards a sand seal with a sled. They quickly rode off, but not directly toward the Kara Kara Bazaar. Rei stated that they weren't sure how safe it was there and had other Sheikah inform Link of the possible threat so that he could handle the situation. When Zelda saw the approaching sandstorm, Rei assured her that they would stay away from it. After thirty minutes of sledding, Zelda could see five other Sheikah waiting underneath the shade of a rocky spire.
"I have her," Rei said. She pulled on the reins and ordered the seal to stop.
"Good," one of the larger Sheikah replied. "Well done."
"What do we do now?" Zelda asked as she got off the sled.
Rei turned around. "Now we kill you and take your head to Master Koga as proof of the deed. I couldn't very well lug your decapitated head through the cobblestones of Gerudo Town without notice, now, could I?"
Zelda froze, her mouth opening and closing, but no sound issued forth. The blood in her veins seemed to turn to ice as her eyes widened in terror.
In plumes of smoke, the 'Sheikah' all changed into red outfits, adorned with white masks with the perversion of the Sheikah Eye stamped on their faces.
"And now nothing will stand in the way of the Calamity—urk!" Rei had her sickle-like weapon raised high before freezing. She fell, revealing a kunai lodged in the back of her neck.
Several more kunai were thrown in quick succession, but the Yiga leapt away to avoid them except one. The sole Yiga rolled forward instead, avoided the knives, and made a beeline for Zelda.
He attempted to stab her when a Sheikah suddenly appeared and locked blades with him.
"Princess, flee!" the Sheikah screamed. "We'll hold them as long as we can!"
Another Sheikah appeared and tried to fend off the other three. "Run!"
Zelda turned, stumbled a bit in the sand, but managed to scramble away.
"Kill her!" someone shouted.
Zelda didn't dare look back. She didn't know where she was going, but she knew she needed to get away. And she knew she needed help. Running as fast as she could, she took a deep breath and screamed.
~o~O~o~
Gerudo Desert – North of the Kara Kara Bazaar
"I think they do it like this…" Link mumbled to himself. He thrust his spear forward, holding it by the bottom end of the shaft while holding out his other arm in the opposite direction as a counterweight to maintain his balance.
The maneuver wasn't something he often saw, but the Gerudo fighting styles were almost akin to dancing. He honestly found it extremely graceful and privately thanked Master Impaz for her foresight in giving him dancing lessons. It was serving him well now as he practiced.
And as a bonus, he was safely hidden away from his 'admirers'.
He found it to be a strange feeling: being both flattered by the attention as well as uncomfortable.
I wonder… what sort of advice Father would have for me in a situation like this. I wonder if he was ever in a situation like this.
Nearby, his seal barked at him.
"I'm trying my best here," Link argued. "I swear I saw those guards practicing it like this."
Thankfully, it seemed not all of the Gerudo had taken a fancy to him. The guards around the bazaar continued to do their jobs, as well as train nearby. Link spent hours watching their fighting styles in swords and spears, and would sneak off to the north to practice what he saw.
The problem was that the sand and rocks around the oasis were firm, while Link's training area was not. It made footwork the real limiting factor in his attempts to incorporate Gerudo fighting styles into his repertoire, but he remained persistent.
The seal seemed to disagree and gave him another haughty bark.
"Keep that up, and there'll be no fruit for you," Link retorted.
Comically, the seal ducked his head down and covered his face with his flippers in supplication.
Laughing, Link dug around his bag until he found an apple and tossed it into the air. His sand seal leapt after it and snatched the treat in his powerful jaws before it could hit the sands.
"Good boy!" Link said.
Their fun was cut short when Link thought he heard someone screaming in the distance. The approaching sandstorm brought winds that made it hard to tell if it was a trick of the mind or if it was genuine.
Still, he wasn't about to ignore it.
"Let's go, boy," Link said to the sand seal. "We still have a while before the desert heat picks up. We can investigate this."
The sand seal barked out an affirmative and spun in place.
Link pulled at his Champion's Tunic and glanced at the sand-obscured sunrise. The temperature didn't necessitate putting on his Desert Voe outfit just yet, so he was fine for now, though time was running short. The sandstorm didn't look menacing, but it would certainly limit visibility, not to mention putting sand in places that would drive him crazy. He quickly packed up his things, looped the rope around the seal, and hopped onto his Gerudo Shield. "Hup!"
The seal dove into the sand as if it were water and swam exactly how Link imagined a Zora would be able to swim if sand had been their element. Bending his knees slightly, Link grinned as he gracefully swayed with the sands, even going out of his way to do a few tricks.
Link had to admit, while he loved horseback riding, seal surfing had its own charm.
Although… I wonder if it's possible…
He put aside his idle plans for the future when he thought he heard the voice again, though it either sounded further away, or the winds were covering it up.
"Whoa there," Link commanded, and he pulled on the rope. The seal slowed to a stop.
Link strained his ears. He was sure he heard—
There, someone is screaming. Maybe I missed a monster camp?
Thinking one of the Gerudo patrols was in trouble, Link bade his seal to head for the source of the shout.
~o~O~o~
"Someone help!" Zelda shouted. It came out weaker than the previous attempt. Her legs were burning something fierce, and she was taking gasping breaths as she ran for her life.
Her mind instinctively supplied her with useless information; about how the loose sand made it difficult to run on and how it was robbing her of her energy to keep up her frantic pace. Not one idea on how to get out of this situation ever came up.
I'm going to die here! Wait, the sand!
Zelda diverted towards the nearby rock formations, hoping that the sands there were more compact, easier to run on, and maybe gain more distance from her pursuers. It was working a bit. The burning in her legs subsided, and she felt more traction, but exhaustion was still beginning to creep up on her.
She wanted to scream for help again, but the burning in her chest was too great.
Rapid footfalls tickled the edge of her hearing. She foolishly turned around and spotted a Yiga assassin giving chase. She cursed her mistake as she lost speed and forced herself to face forward and to keep running.
I have to hide!
It was the first good idea she'd had. Her eyes desperately darted around, seeking someplace suitable. Suddenly, two more Yiga appeared in front of her, cutting off her route.
She stopped; her eyes locked on to their sickles. She whirled around, only to nearly bump into the Yiga that had been chasing her.
The change in direction and momentum cost her, and she fell onto her backside. The Yiga twirled his weapon menacingly.
Zelda fearfully scrambled backward on her hands and feet. She looked over her shoulder and belatedly remembered that she was surrounded.
Oh, Great Goddesses! I'm going to die!
The Yiga pursuer callously approached her and twirled his blade twice before raising it high for the killing blow.
I don't want to die!
Zelda averted her eyes and prayed.
Someone save me!
~o~O~o~
Link's blood froze when he spotted the familiar blue tunic Princess Zelda favored. She was running from at least three red-clad individuals. The one behind her was easily gaining, driving her toward the other two to trap her.
Untying himself from his sand seal, Link kept a grip on the rope with his left hand as he drew the Master Sword in his right. He urged his seal faster, ready to leap into the fray.
The sandstorm was working in his favor. The Yiga hadn't spotted him, or they would've been quick with the execution. Instead, they surrounded her and approached slowly; they were either toying with their prey, or they were savoring the moment before the kill.
It was their mistake, buying Link precious seconds as he closed the distance. Even his sand seal didn't make a sound as they surfed towards them at breakneck speeds.
I can make it!
The blade of the Yiga rose high, preparing to strike a killing blow.
There was no time to intercept the steel, not with his current angle of approach.
Fortifying his resolve, Link summoned his years of training to prepare himself for what he needed to do.
Letting go of the rope, his shield continued to slide on momentum alone. He maintained his balance and prayed he wouldn't fall.
The sickle was coming down now. Link lowered his stance and readied his sword.
I can make it!
His upward strike ran true. The tip of the Master Sword easily pierced the flesh of the Yiga, starting at the hip and rising upward, cutting through muscle, organs, and bone with surprising ease.
He leapt off the shield, letting it clatter off somewhere. He felt, rather than heard, the body of the Yiga fall to the ground with a sickening thud. The sickle that had nearly killed the princess flew off into the distance.
Link didn't allow himself the luxury of feeling about what was his first Hylian kill. His attention was solely focused on Princess Zelda's safety as he prepared to square off against the other two attackers. Link flicked his blade menacingly at the surviving Yiga. The blood easily left the steel, leaving it pristine.
The Yiga cautiously stepped back.
Link stepped forward. He kept his senses hyperaware, refusing to get tunnel vision regarding the foes in front of him, just in case there was another Yiga he may have missed that would flank him and strike the princess while he was distracted.
The two Yiga took a hesitant step back.
Seeing this, Link lowered his sword and turned the blade so that the flat side was facing his opponents. He idly wondered if the Yiga knew what it represented.
It was an ancient Sheikah custom, an offer of mercy.
Judging from the way their gazes darted towards Princess Zelda, Link knew they weren't going to take it.
One will come at me directly to distract. The other will try to slip by and finish the job. They're too close to accomplish their goal. They won't back down. This is the closest they've probably ever been.
Link vowed that the line would be drawn here and that none would cross it. This would be the closest anyone would get to the princess and no closer.
The Yiga on the right was looking at Link, but the one on the left was focused entirely on the princess.
Seeing this, Link feigned an attack towards them. As he'd predicted, the two Yiga split up, hoping that their numbers would ensure their victory. With his sword still pointed downward, Link dipped the tip into the sand and hurled it at the Yiga attacking Princess Zelda directly.
The Yiga reflexively turned his head away, forgetting that he was wearing a mask.
The other Yiga came at Link quickly, blade low and pointed at his abdomen. Link brought the Master Sword down, parried the attack, and redirected the sickle so that it stabbed deep into his compatriot's flank.
The wounded Yiga howled and fell over, clutching his wound. The other Yiga was so shocked that he involuntarily let go of his weapon and was stunned into inactivity by what he had accidentally done.
He never saw the slash aimed precisely at his throat.
The last Yiga started to crawl away.
As Link wrestled with his decision on what to do with the wounded man, a memory floated across the surface of his mind.
"People are different. Some will surrender, but others will run, and if you let them, they'll just hurt someone else."
"But you capture the ones that surrender, right?"
"It depends. You'll be called to look deep within for guidance because you won't always have someone telling you what to do. If mercy is warranted, then do so. Other times, justice is required… and it's not always feasible to bring back prisoners if you lack the means or the resources. There's no right answer for everything. Sometimes you just have to pick the answer that hurts the least."
Link swallowed but forced his hands and arms to remain steady. Flipping the Master Sword into a reverse grip, he walked up to the Yiga and pressed his boot down on the man's leg to prevent him from moving before plunging the Master Sword deep into the assassin's back.
The man gurgled, let out a long exhale, shuddered once, and went still.
Link let out a ragged breath, withdrew his sword, flicked the blood off, and scanned the area.
The fight had been bloody but brief. He closed his eyes and sighed. The full weight of his actions settled onto his shoulders, but he refused to let it weigh him down. He had done his duty, and most importantly, the princess was safe… at least for now.
There would be time to reflect on what he had done later.
Keeping the Master Sword in his right hand, he extended his left to the princess.
Princess Zelda looked up at him with an expression that was too complicated to determine, at least for him. He would have thought she would have been horrified by what he had done. Or disgusted. Or fearful. Instead, she kept her emerald eyes locked on his. She slowly reached out and took his hand. As he gently pulled her back to her feet, he did a quick visual check and did not see any obvious injuries.
"Are you harmed, Your Highness?" Link asked. He was a bit surprised by how steady his voice was, considering how much his heart was hammering in his chest.
Princess Zelda's mouth opened and closed for a few moments before she firmly closed her lips and shook her head.
Before Link could ask any more questions, another voice cut through the air. "Your Highness!"
Link turned and readied his sword. A Sheikah stopped some distance away. Blood coated her outfit and dripped off her Eightfold Blade. She was wearing the traditional suit favored by Sheikah warriors, ones that prized stealth over protection to provide a first-strike advantage. There was a bloody gash on her left arm, but it didn't seem to bother her.
Princess Zelda gasped and clutched Link's arm tightly. Leaning close, she fearfully whispered, "Link, they came to my room disguised as Sheikah. It's how they drew me out of Gerudo Town!"
Upon hearing that, Link's guard remained up and his weapon ready to strike.
"I see. They resorted to doing that," the Sheikah said angrily.
There was something familiar about the Sheikah. Link tried to pinpoint who she was. It took a few more tense seconds for him to place the voice. "Rei?"
The Sheikah nodded. "You look good, boy. Better than when we last met."
Princess Zelda's grip on his arm tightened.
"If you're Rei, prove it," Link demanded.
Rei tilted her head. Link was sure she was smiling beneath her mask. She made an exaggerated show of looking over the kills Link had claimed. "You seem calm, even after killing three Yiga. No need for deep breaths here, hmm? Seems like you passed your test this time, boy. No cunning wolf to help you here, either."
Link lowered his sword. "Yeah. I've come a long way."
"I know. I was at the Four Swords," Rei replied.
Link guessed that Rei wasn't there to cheer him on.
Rei turned to Princess Zelda and knelt. "My humblest apologies, Your Highness. We saw through the Yiga deception far too late."
Princess Zelda continued to hold on to Link's arm. She even shied away from Rei and took refuge behind him.
"It's okay," Link said soothingly. "She's the real deal."
"No, it's fine. I know the princess is safe in your hands," Rei said. "I must go. Kenji… I must see to him."
Link understood and nodded his head respectfully. "I'm sorry for your loss."
"It is what we are prepared to do," Rei said, trying to keep her voice even, though there remained an undercurrent of bitterness. "We should have been more careful."
Link glanced at Princess Zelda before turning back to Rei. "I agree. All of us should have been more careful."
Rei's red eyes met his before she nodded.
"Are you okay?" Link asked. He was looking at a wicked-looking wound on Rei's left arm. "You're hurt."
"I'll live," Rei answered after giving the injury a quick glance. "Don't worry. There are other Sheikah here. We've been trying to find the Yiga hideout in the Gerudo Desert, but no luck so far. Likely, I'll be sent back to Kakariko Village to report to Master Impaz about this development."
"Give her my regards," Link said.
"I will do that. Again, thank you for your help," Rei said before her red eyes seemed to shine with morbid humor. "Boy."
Link was sure she was smirking beneath her mask.
The sounds of seals barking could be heard in the distance, prompting Link to turn his head and attempt to gauge how far away they were. When he looked back, Rei was gone.
Sheathing the Master Sword, he continued to hold Princess Zelda's hand and led her away from the battlefield and the grisly sight of the bodies. "This way, Your Highness. Reinforcements aren't far from us."
Princess Zelda nodded and held his hand more tightly.
~o~O~o~
Gerudo Desert – Kara Kara Bazaar
Urbosa wanted to escort Princess Zelda directly back to Gerudo Town immediately, but the princess refused to go and wanted to head to the Kara Kara Bazaar instead.
It didn't escape Link's notice that the princess still held his hand the entire time and appeared reluctant to let go when she had to board the sled.
After Link brought his seal to the sand seal trainer, the group—consisting of Link, Princess Zelda, Chief Urbosa, Liena, and Jade—commandeered the inn so that they would be able to speak about the morning's events. Link put on a kettle to make some tea.
"Are you sure you're okay, Little Bird?" Urbosa asked once again.
"I'm fine," Princess Zelda answered. "Really, I am."
Link glanced over and saw that Princess Zelda's hands were clenched. He guessed that she was trying to hide the shaking. The pet name that Urbosa called the princess was also an interesting fact that he filed away for later.
"Your Highness, I humbly apologize for abandoning my post," Liena said ashamedly. "When I heard that a Yiga had infiltrated Gerudo Town—"
"She wasn't a Yiga," Jade angrily said. "She was paid by the Yiga to say that. She was a distraction to lure you away from your post, Dame Serlut. And it fooled us all."
All eyes turned to Jade.
Jade shrugged. "We went through her things. We found the rupees. And Captain Nora managed to get her to talk not long after."
Urbosa snarled and slammed her fist on the table. "She's still going to rot in jail for this."
Link didn't offer any input. The kettle was steaming, and he quickly took it off the fire and poured the water into five cups, each with tea bags inside.
"It wasn't your fault, Dame Serlut. I was fooled as well. In fact, had you come with us, your life may have been forfeit," Princess Zelda said softly. She gave Link a grateful smile when he placed the teacup in front of her. "What of the other Sheikah?"
"One dead, one wounded," Jade answered bitterly. Despite the temperature, she accepted the cup of tea when Link offered it to her and took a sip. "Our presence here will be diminished. We have to take Kenji back home. Rei will need help and an escort to do this. The others are going to remain here, but with so few, it might be dangerous—"
"We will leave first thing tomorrow if weather permits," Princess Zelda said. "I will not put more of your people at risk."
"It is our responsibility and our duty," Jade said. "We know the risks. Your presence here does not change that, Your Highness."
"But it does," Princess Zelda said. "We were warned the Yiga Clan are active here, and I foolishly… selfishly ignored that."
"Are you sure, Zelda?" Urbosa asked.
"I'm sure," Princess Zelda replied. "Coming here was a mistake. We're leaving tomorrow if we can."
"If Her Highness is sure…" Jade said before glancing at the princess. "I will send word to the Sheikah here and inform them that they can all go home then."
"Thank you, Jade," Princess Zelda said. "I would also like to say a few words for Kenji… for his sacrifice. Would that be okay?"
"But of course, Your Highness," Jade replied.
"Did… did he have family?" Princess Zelda asked solemnly.
"A brother, Koji," Jade answered sadly. "He's here as well. They were the ones that intercepted the initial attempt on your life before Rei arrived and helped even the odds. I'm certain he would be honored if you spoke to him."
"I shall do that," Princess Zelda said. She took a fortifying drink of tea. "Can you arrange for it?"
"It will be done, Your Highness," Jade said. "They'll make for the Kara Kara Bazaar to resupply before heading to Kakariko Village. If you wish, you can wait here and speak to them tonight."
"That would be best," Princess Zelda said.
"I'm going to double the guard here, then," Urbosa said. She quickly left the room.
"I need to make arrangements," Jade said. "By your leave, Your Highness."
Princess Zelda nodded.
After Jade left, Liena took a small sip of her tea as well and kept her eyes downward.
"Please, Dame Serlut, do not feel guilty," Princess Zelda said. "I am fine. And you are, too."
Liena took a deep breath. "Yes, Your Highness. However, I swear I will not fail like that again. You have my word."
Princess Zelda reached over and clutched Liena's hand. "Thank you, Dame Serlut. For everything."
Liena managed to smile and squeezed back.
After the princess finished her tea, she stifled a yawn. "Goodness, I am exhausted."
"Would you like to rest, Your Highness?" Liena asked.
"Yes, I do believe that would be best. I want to be alert when I meet Koji," Princess Zelda replied.
"Let me speak to the innkeeper," Liena said. "We can secure a room for you."
"She can sleep in my bed," Link said. When both pairs of eyes turned to him, he added, "Urbosa gave me the best room in the inn. The others are… trust me, it's better if Her Highness sleeps here."
"Oh. W-well, u-um…" Princess Zelda blushed and looked away. "A-are you s-sure?"
"I'm sure," Link answered. "Liena—Dame Serlut and I will guard you."
Upon hearing that, Princess Zelda turned back and smiled at him. "Yes, I trust that you both will. I shall take you up on your offer, then… Sir Faron."
"Link."
Princess Zelda blinked.
He subtly swallowed. He hadn't meant to say that, not exactly. It was something he'd just blurted out. Still, it was out in the wild now, so he might as well continue. "Just Link will be fine. I'm more comfortable with that."
"O-oh. Very well… L-Link," Princess Zelda said. The way she said his name, as if testing it… "Well, if you will excuse me."
As one, Link and Liena saluted before leaving the room.
Once outside, they stood guard, as they had done before.
"You okay, Link?" Liena asked.
"I'm—"
"Link, it's me, so consider that before you answer. And you know exactly why I'm asking," Liena said sternly. "So now I'll ask again: are you okay?"
Link exhaled. "That was the first time I took a Hylian life… and I took three of them."
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"No… no, I'm okay. At least, I think I am," Link said. "It's hard to explain. It's not like what happened to me last time. This felt different."
"It is different. Worlds different," Liena said. "Link, if you feel anything, anything at all that you're concerned about, and I mean this, you come talk to me."
Link was able to meet Liena's violet eyes and nodded. "I will."
"Promise me, Link."
"I promise," Link said. He took a deep breath. "After what happened in Kakariko, I knew this would be inevitable… especially after you told me about your raid on the bandits. I… I just thought I would be talking to my father about it one day."
Liena's face went through a kaleidoscope of emotions before she moved closer and hugged Link. "I know I'm not him, but I hope you'll still talk to me anyway."
Link nodded into her shoulder. "I will. I promised, after all."
Liena smiled. They remained quiet for a time. Once again, she was the one that broke the silence first. "It startled me a little bit, too, you know."
"What did?" Link asked.
"When the princess called you Sir Faron. Even when I referred to you as Sir Faron, it felt like… like I was talking about your father," Liena said sadly. "I miss him, too."
Link lapsed into silence. There wasn't anything further to say about it. Thankfully, Liena understood and said nothing more on the matter.
Eventually, Urbosa returned and spotted them guarding the door.
"Is she asleep?" Urbosa asked.
"She is," Liena answered.
Nodding, Urbosa turned to Link. "We should talk."
Link glanced at Liena.
"I'll stay, don't worry," Liena said.
Nodding, Link followed Urbosa out. The guards that had accompanied Urbosa to search for the princess were now forming a ring around the inn. Likely, more guards would arrive within the hour to further secure the area.
"How is she doing?" Urbosa asked when they were out of earshot of the crowds.
"She continued to assure us that she was fine," Link answered. "She did seem exhausted, though. I don't think it's from the Yiga."
"Prayers, likely," Urbosa said. "She keeps trying. She told me that she hasn't been sleeping well."
"What happened, exactly? How did all this occur?" Link asked.
"I've been in touch with the Sheikah for weeks," Urbosa said darkly. "They've been trying to find where the Yiga are hiding. Failing that, they've been having the few odd skirmishes here and there. I recently got a report of a credible threat."
"That you didn't tell me about," Link said, keeping his voice even.
Urbosa glared at him before reluctantly nodding her head. "No. I believed we could handle it."
"We still haven't gotten to the part where Her Highness was being chased by assassins," Link said.
"The report mentioned how Yiga were going to try to infiltrate Gerudo Town in disguise. We captured a trader—"
"The decoy."
"—who made an initial confession," Urbosa said. She was growing angrier as the tale went on, enough that small arcs of electricity were forming along her fingertips. "We arrested her, questioned her, and in the initial confusion, Dame Serlut sounded the alarm. Zelda was missing from her room. We knew it wasn't a coincidence."
"She told me that a Yiga disguised as a Sheikah lured her out," Link said. "She followed that person, likely until they were out of Gerudo Town and away from your patrols."
"What happened then?" Urbosa asked intently.
"I was training north of the bazaar. I heard a scream," Link said. A small shiver of fear ran down his spine. If he had retired to his room to sleep instead of sneaking off… He firmly shut down that line of thinking. "I initially thought it might have been a Gerudo patrol that ran afoul of some monsters. I raced over to help, only to find… well, you know the rest."
"Well, at least you've proven competent at your job," Urbosa said.
"I think I've been more than that," Link retorted. "Rather hard to guard her when you won't even let me into your town. Or when you lie to me. Or when you keep secrets from me."
"She was safe within our walls," Urbosa argued.
"Then perhaps that's where she should have stayed," Link shot back. "You gave your assurances she was safe. That you were a town filled with warriors. That the desert was your realm. You really think this failure is mine, or yours?"
"I tried telling her—"
"Successful job all around, then," Link snapped. "Clearly, I wasn't needed."
Urbosa glared. "Fine, you've made your point."
Link nodded. "As long as we're clear on that."
Gritting her teeth, Urbosa narrowed her eyes before stomping away in a huff.
When Link returned to the inn, Liena shot him a questioning look.
"She wanted to know what happened," Link said. "And I wanted to know what occurred in Gerudo Town. That's all."
"That's it?" Liena asked.
Recalling how angry Urbosa had seemed, Link shrugged. "That's it."
Liena nodded. "Are you sure you want to stand guard? Don't you usually sleep during this time?"
"Usually, but I can manage for now," Link replied. "We'll be heading home, assuming the sandstorm lets up by tomorrow. I'm sure I can catch up on sleep after… oh, blast it all."
Liena looked confused before also realizing that they needed to send a message back to Hyrule Castle. "Right, right. You stand guard, then. I'll draft a letter to send to His Majesty. We'll give him a full report in person."
Link nodded. "Thanks."
Left alone, Link settled in and maintained a watchful eye.
~o~O~o~
Sadly, their planned departure did not pan out as desired. The sandstorm inched even closer to the Kara Kara Bazaar, and it looked like it would last another day or more. The Sheikah decided to push forward with their plans to withdraw later that evening, stopping only to speak to Princess Zelda. She spoke to everyone, with Link hovering close by in a show of support and comfort—in case she still had any residual fears from her ordeal. Afterward, Princess Zelda spoke to Koji privately, while Link stood guard outside.
After an hour, they emerged. Link gave the Sheikah a solemn nod.
"Thank you for protecting Her Highness," Koji said before pausing. "And for avenging my brother."
Link didn't know what to say, so he only gave him another nod and held his hand out. Koji shook it before rejoining the others. Rei also stepped up and thanked Link once more for his prompt appearance and defense of the princess. She also shook his hand. The Sheikah left right after.
Urbosa returned to the Kara Kara Bazaar and gave them the news that Princess Zelda's return to Hyrule Castle needed to wait until the weather cleared. For now, the weather had cooled to the point where they could return to Gerudo Town without issues. Liena stepped up to escort Princess Zelda back and resume her duties there.
Before they left, though, Urbosa walked up to Link, her steps purposeful. "Come with me."
Arching his eyebrow at her command, Link decided to humor her and walked until they approached the guard tower just south of the Kara Kara Bazaar. Urbosa climbed up first, Link just a few ladder rungs below. Once they reached the top, Link could see the sandstorm blowing to the north, but the south remained clear. The full moon was out, giving the desert a rather interesting dichotomous look. If one looked to the south, the moon painted the desert with a majestic look, but looking to the north, it made the sandstorm look more menacing than it really was.
"A curious piece of news reached my ears," Urbosa said off-handedly. "Normally, the deserts west of Gerudo Town are off-limits. Molduga nesting grounds. You know of them?"
Link shrugged.
"I have to send some very experienced scouts to assess if we need to cull their population to prevent them from attacking Gerudo Town," Urbosa airily said. "Imagine our surprise when they found evidence of two fully grown dead Moldugas baking in the desert sun."
When Link didn't say anything, Urbosa shot him a frustrated look. "You're not going to make this easy for me, are you?"
"What do you want?" Link asked simply.
She gritted her teeth before sighing in resignation. "All right. This galls me to admit, but you were right, and I was wrong. I'm here to apologize."
Link nodded and said nothing.
"I know I have a lot of pride," Urbosa said, "and I know I can be abrasive. The desert and the Gerudo do not allow for weakness."
Again, Link nodded.
His silence earned a smile from Urbosa. She walked to the railing and peered out over the oasis below.
"This isn't an excuse, this is… I want you to understand where I'm coming from, that's all. When you live most of your life around vai, I suppose I forget that other people, other races, and other cultures approach things differently," Urbosa said. "We Gerudo live openly, passionately, and emotionally. Seeing you… silent, stoic, but your presence is always steadfast. I admit, I made the mistake of assuming you were a simple voe, but that couldn't be further from the truth."
Urbosa glanced over her shoulder and saw that she still had his attention.
"I care about her. You know that," Urbosa said. "But I should acknowledge that you appear to care about her, too. I'm sorry if I made your stay here more difficult than it ought to have been."
"Apology accepted," Link said simply. He turned to leave.
"Sir Faron."
Turning around, Link tilted his head.
"I… appreciate that you didn't have to make that apology more painful for me than it already was," Urbosa said. "You could have made this harder, and I would have rightly deserved it. Spirits know, had it been me, I would have thrown out a few caustic remarks. I would have deemed it justified, or maybe just harmless teasing, but… I suppose not everyone would accept it that way. I probably wouldn't."
Link nodded once more. However, as he turned around, he stopped and glanced over his shoulder so that Urbosa could be seen out of the corner of his eye.
"It's Link. And don't get used to it," he replied, a small smile creasing his lips, before he walked off.
Urbosa's laugh was carried on the desert winds as he slid down the ladder.
~o~O~o~
Gerudo Desert – Gerudo Town
Link offered his hand to Liena, who accepted the help and pulled herself to her feet, while Urbosa did the same with Princess Zelda on the other sled.
"The storm shouldn't be long," Urbosa said. "When it clears, I will see you all off safely to Central Hyrule."
"Thank you, Chief Urbosa," Liena said.
Urbosa turned to Link and planted her fist against her hip. "Link, you never did answer my earlier question. The Moldugas. Were they your doing?"
"Moldugas? What Moldugas?" Liena asked, eyes wide.
"There are Moldugas to the west of Gerudo Town," Princess Zelda answered. "I was told never to go that way. It's also why Vah Naboris was placed east."
"I was planning to do some weapons tests on those Moldugas one day," Urbosa said. "I'm sure there are more, but I'd have to go further west to find them. Now then, Link, were you responsible for those two Moldugas?"
Link exhaled loudly through his nose before nodding. "Yes."
That statement garnered incredulous stares in return.
"By yourself?" Urbosa asked, stunned.
"Yes."
Liena pinched the bridge of her nose. "I know I shouldn't be surprised, but I still am somehow."
"Y-you killed two of them?" Princess Zelda asked.
"Not at the same time, of course," Link muttered. "No, I just sought out their hunting grounds and… well, I hunted them."
"Why?"
"To see if I could do it," Link answered. "My father told me a story about a mission of his to help the Gerudo hunt down a Molduga when I was young. They never actually found it, and I guess I wanted to pick up where he left off, sort of. It's unlikely, of course. That particular mission was before he married my mother."
Liena and Princess Zelda still had shocked expressions on their faces, but Urbosa took on a contemplative one.
"Huh. This might interest you to know, but I actually do remember him," Urbosa said. She smirked at Link. "Quite a handsome voe. Very dashing. I wasn't chieftain, so I didn't have responsibilities holding me back yet. I believe I tried to seduce him a few times, and even attempted to sneak into his tent one evening, on a moonlit night much like tonight. Sadly, it wasn't to be, because he said that there was a vai back in Central Hyrule he had eyes for and turned down all our advances, myself and the hunting party."
"I… I didn't know that part," Link mumbled.
Urbosa burst out laughing. "Oh, you needn't look so horrified! Sir Revan was a perfect gentleman while he was here. Not one of us bedded him… or at least I didn't."
"Oh. That's good," Link hesitantly said. "I guess."
"Although, many of us did wish he was more adventurous," Urbosa added wickedly. "In fact, I think we were hoping to make him into a proper rogue."
"I'm going to bed now," Link announced firmly. He hopped back onto the sled and urged his seal to head back to the Kara Kara Bazaar.
His abrupt departure did nothing to stop the peals of laughter behind him.
~o~O~o~
Author's Notes:
A princess and her appointed knight protector. I admit, I like this trope, and I'm not ashamed to admit it.
So, a tiny tidbit I learned from John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum. In the fight against Zero, John turns his blade to the side. Apparently, it was an offer of mercy, but since Zero is a hardcore Japanese assassin, he scoffed, curled his fist, and chose to go down fighting. Obviously, that inspired a scene in this chapter.
Shoutout to readers/reviewers Valin and Somaria for almost guessing my intentions, but not quite right.