Chapter 41 - An Eventful Decision

Summary: Zelda elects to begin the exploration of the Forgotten Temple.

It had been two weeks since Zelda's meeting with Mipha, Link, Impa, Purah, and Robbie, and for the first week after, Zelda was lost in introspection. She was weighing her thirst for knowledge against potential unforeseen consequences. Royce couldn't help but notice her preoccupied state whenever they were together.

"You seem quiet and distracted lately sweetheart," Royce said as they strolled through the castle gardens holding hands. "I hope it's not something I said or did."

"I apologize for not being better company. It's not you, dear. I just have a difficult decision to make," Zelda replied.

"You're always perfect company to me," Royce replied, squeezing her hand. "Everyone has their ups and downs. Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Actually, you could help by distracting me from thinking about it while we're together. I don't want you to influence my decision and possibly feel guilty afterward if things go wrong. I'd rather keep my personal life and duties separate for now."

"I understand completely and won't bring it up again. What do you think about cross-pollinating some of the plants in the garden?"

In the end, despite her inner turmoil, Zelda couldn't resist deciding to explore the mysterious Forgotten Temple. She tasked Robbie with leading the project, and he returned from inspecting the temple to give a report during a meeting with herself and Purah one late afternoon.

"The team's initial objective will be to clear away the vast amount of debris that has accumulated over the years, possibly from landslides. The temple has suffered from years of neglect, though signs of past excavation work can be seen, along with patches of wall where newer bricks were used for repairs. This task will involve removing rocks and rubble that may conceal hidden chambers or passageways. The presence of numerous Guardians protecting the temple hints at the significance of this location for the ancient Sheikah people. This sacred site likely held secrets worth defending against intruders."

"Or perhaps it was simply a sacred place for them, as it holds the oldest statue of the Goddess Hylia," Purah said.

"True, there is no guarantee we will find anything useful," admitted Robbie. "I've made that abundantly clear from the outset."

"I still believe it's worth exploring," asserted Zelda. "At the very least, by clearing away the rubble, we can restore the temple to something of its former glory. Restoring Hyrule has been my ultimate goal since the Calamity, and we've already made great progress on the towns and villages."

Robbie hesitated before mentioning another matter, wondering if it was worth it, then decided he should.

"There is something else, Your Majesty, although I cannot be certain," he began cautiously. "But now that the decision to explore the temple has been made, I feel it's important to mention it. About two weeks ago, I noticed my translation notes were not arranged as I believed I had left them. It seemed as though someone had secretly entered our lab and looked through them. To confirm my suspicions, I set a trap in case they returned. But either the perpetrator returned to the lab and was exceptionally clever, or they never returned at all."

"Or perhaps there never was any intruder involved, and you simply failed to organize your notes as neatly as usual," observed Purah.

"Yes, that is also a possibility," conceded Robbie. "So, I didn't want to worry you unnecessarily, Your Majesty, but I thought it worth mentioning."

"I'm glad you did mention it, as I believe it's best to be cautious when you learn of something suspicious," said Zelda, expressing her concerns. "I will arrange for guards to monitor the lab. In the meantime, I will also have a team of workers organized to begin clearing the rubble at the temple. And I'll contact Darno in Goron City to see if they can spare some people to help with the digging. Will you be able to oversee their work in three days?"

"Certainly, Your Majesty," Robbie responded respectfully.

"Excellent!" Zelda exclaimed. "I can hardly wait to see what is unearthed. This brings back memories of years ago, when we scoured the land for ancient Sheikah technology and stayed up late, whispering about our discoveries after my father had gone to bed so I wouldn't get yelled at. How I wish I could join you on this excavation! But, as much as I yearn for adventure, I fear my days of venturing into the unknown are behind me now."

"And well they should be, Your Majesty," said Robbie. "You are Hyrule's hope for the future and cannot put yourself in such danger."

"But I know how you feel," Purah added with a grin. "Those were fun times, weren't they, Your Majesty?"

Purah and Robbie departed while Zelda instructed one of her guards to summon the minister responsible for Hyrule construction to her office.

Meanwhile, as the sun descended over the Gerudo Desert, casting a warm orange glow over the landscape, two Gerudo soldiers stood atop a red and yellow sandstone cliff overlooking the Karusa Valley. Their eyes were fixed eagerly to the south, impatiently searching for any signs of movement.

"There! I see them," Latria exclaimed as she squinted to make out two figures riding Sand Seals towards them.

"It's about time!" Nariba responded. "I need to get back and freshen up before meeting the Voe of my dreams at the Kara Kara Bazaar tonight."

"Good luck with that!" Latria laughed. "Isn't this like the fourth Voe of your dreams, Nariba?"

"Well, the other three turned out more like nightmares than dreams," laughed Nariba. "But who's counting? Let's climb down and greet the night shift."

Latria nodded in agreement, and then they secured their spears and shields to their backs before descending the cliffside to the sandy ground below. The approaching guards glided gracefully on their shields, coming to a stop as they reined in their Sand Seals when they reached Latria and Nariba.

"Sav'aaq Latria and Nariba!" greeted one of the guards, Falia.

"Sav'aaq Falia and Malinda!" replied Latria and Nariba together.

"Anything to report?" Falia asked.

Latria responded with a shake of her head. "Just a quiet day in the valley. The only excitement was a random boulder rolling down the canyon - one reason it's wise to take a position on the cliff above."

"Sorry we're a bit late," said Falia, motioning towards her companion. "Malinda had to switch Sand Seals after hers took lame. But these two are ready for the ride back."

"Then we'll be off," stated Latria, eager to begin the journey back to Gerudo Town before dark. "Nariba has a hot date tonight at the Bazaar!"

"Ooh, lucky you!" Malinda chimed in with a laugh. "Have fun!"

"I will," Nariba grinned mischievously. "And you two stay warm!"

With a final exchange of friendly words, Latria and Nariba took hold of their Sand Seals' reins, prepared their shields, and began their journey back to Gerudo Town. Falia and Malinda climbed back up the short cliff to their lookout point. The location was perfect, with a rocky overpass above providing some shelter and a clear view of the valley below.

The guards were part of a recently orchestrated round-the-clock watch on the Karusa Valley, close to the old Yiga Clan hideout. Orders had come down a week ago after one of Chief Ryla's meetings with Dendra, her second in command, during which Ryla voiced concerns about a possible resurgence of the clan. Travelers passing through the desert were suddenly being robbed more frequently, prompting suspicions that there was more at play than petty thievery.

"I see from security reports that there has been an increase in the number of robberies the past week, particularly of single travelers journeying here from the canyon stable," said Ryla. "I've also heard merchants grumble that it's hurting tourism. What do you make of it, Dendra?"

"It's strange and rather sudden, Chief," said Dendra, shaking her head. "I've ordered extra patrols along the path to deter it. But these thieves seem to excel at stealth, as victims report the culprits crept up on them suddenly and were able to keep out of sight until they struck."

"Hmm," said Ryla. "I don't like to think of it, but we both know who that sounds like."

"I also hate to think they are the ones causing trouble again, Chief. Since their lord's defeat, we have seen nothing of them."

"Perhaps we should start keeping an eye on their old hideout," said Ryla. "It might help confirm what we both fear - the Yiga Clan becoming active again. But only if you think our soldiers can remain safe while doing so."

"If they are indeed the same Yiga we know, then they will be hesitant to attack a pair of our guards, especially if they can no longer count on their lord's power to resurrect them," said Dendra. "They prefer attacking lone travelers who are less likely to offer resistance. I will have your wishes carried out at once."

"Very well, and please keep me informed," said Ryla. "I must alert Queen Zelda and the other rulers if we learn our old enemy is active again."

So, every day for the past week, Gerudo guards had been stationed here to watch for suspicious activity. And frankly, seeing anyone in this area would be suspicious. People avoided the Karusa Valley because of its sinister history and the danger of being injured or worse by the occasional giant boulder prone to fall from above and roll down the narrow confines of the valley.

"We should start a campfire," Falia suggested, rubbing her arms for warmth. "I can already feel a chill in the air."

The desert was notorious for transitioning from scorching hot to bitter cold within hours, and they both knew they had a long night ahead of them. Their replacements would not arrive until the morning. Malinda lit a fire, and they both settled next to it.

"I don't understand why we're guarding against the Yiga Clan," Malinda remarked. "I thought they could turn invisible, in which case they could sneak past us."

"They might indeed sneak past us, but it's not quite like that," explained Falia, who was slightly older and had more experience as a soldier. "Think about it. If they could remain invisible, they would never reveal themselves."

"I suppose you're right," conceded Malinda.

"They have levitation and teleportation abilities over short distances but only become invisible during that process. And they can only maintain their invisibility briefly before it drains their energy, and they are forced to appear."

"How do you know all this?"

"I heard it in the Noble Canteen from some retired guards," replied Falia."They once wounded and captured a Yiga Clan foot soldier before they could invoke any teleportation magic. The prisoner told them a few things while they lasted - though not willingly, of course. Unfortunately, the wound proved to be fatal before any more could be learned ."

Malinda couldn't help but shiver at the thought. She knew firsthand that her people, the Gerudo, were not known for showing mercy towards their enemies. She dreaded to think what must have been done to their prisoner to make them talk.

As the fire crackled and provided warmth, they were surrounded by a stunning landscape, impressive even at nighttime. The clear sky above was adorned with countless stars shining against the dark backdrop. Soft ribbons of sand cascaded down like waterfalls from the nearby hillside to the valley below. And in rare quiet moments, one could even hear the subtle hissing of falling sand. The only other sounds came from the gentle breeze drifting through the desert, and the tinkling of wooden Sheikah chimes that hung on ropes across the valley, jostled by the wind. These chimes were common in Sheikah locations like Kakariko Village and were believed to ward off evil spirits. It was a typical night in the desert, save for those unfortunate occasions when a sandstorm ravaged the land.

Malinda moved closer to the campfire, shivering in the cool desert night. After a brief pause, she said, "Why don't we stay inside the Yiga Clan hideout for the night? It would be much warmer."

"Have you ever been inside?" Falia asked.

"No, I haven't," Malinda admitted.

"I have," Falia replied with a grim expression, "And it always gives me the creeps. There is a sense of impending danger lurking within its walls. Some say there are hidden tunnels and passages waiting to be discovered."

"That's scary. I bet if Lady Urbosa were still with us, she'd pilot Divine Beast Vah Naboris right over here to destroy the whole place," Malinda commented.

"Perhaps," Falia nodded knowingly, "But some still hope to find valuable information inside."

As the night wore on, an almost full moon climbed higher in the sky, casting a ghostly glow over the canyon. Occasionally, they took turns standing up from the warmth of the fire and surveying their surroundings, keeping a vigilant watch over the valley below and the hillsides surrounding them.

It was during Malinda's turn on patrol that she thought she detected movement below. It seemed someone was slinking along the shadowy edge of the canyon, keeping as close as possible to the wall just below them. She rushed back to the fire.

"Falia! I think I see someone!" Malinda whispered.

"Where?" Falia asked, jumping up and grabbing her spear.

Malinda gestured for Falia to follow her, then led her to the edge of the precipice and pointed down. The area was in deep shadow, the moon's light blocked by the opposite cliffside.

"I can't see anything," whispered Falia. "Are you sure?"

"Pretty sure," said Malinda.

"Let me go down to investigate then," said Falia.

"Be careful! It's not easy climbing down in the dark, Falia!"

Moving further to one side so as not to be directly above the suspicious location, Falia slowly descended the cliff, alternately glancing downward to check on the valley below and upward to ensure she could keep her grip. For a brief instant, she thought there was a reddish glow from somewhere. Had a piece of burning wood from the fire blown loose? When she reached the foot of the cliff, she gripped her spear and approached the location Malinda had indicated. But nobody was there, and no way to tell if anyone had been. It was too dark to see any footprints, and the wind would have long since disturbed the sand by morning's light.

"Nobody here," said Falia as Malinda kept watch from above.

Relieved, Falia climbed back up to join Malinda by the fire as they warmed themselves.

"I'm sorry for getting worked up over nothing," apologized Malinda.

"Don't be," replied Falia. "I have a feeling it wasn't just your imagination."

"What do you mean?"

"We're thankfully both too young to have seen a Yiga soldier teleport," said Falia. "But I've heard stories from older Gerudo who have. When a Yiga invokes their magic, they conjure an orange ring of nine symbols and some disappearing paper talismans. I thought I saw an orange glow as I was climbing down, but I was looking up at the time. Did you see it?"

"No, but I was watching you, ensuring you were safe as you climbed," said Malinda.

"Well, maybe the glow came from wind dislodging a glowing ember from the fire. Or maybe it was something else. We had better stay alert. And I think it's well worth reporting."

Meanwhile, in a hidden chamber within the Yiga Clan hideout, there was a room with no doors or windows. It had been built for secrecy and was only accessible by teleportation. There, a Yiga Blademaster materialized with a thud in a large open area of the room.

"Whew! That was close! Greetings, Master," said the Blademaster, catching his breath.

"Greetings. You're so late you woke me from my sleep. What happened?"

"One of the recently stationed Gerudo guards in the valley spotted me, and I had to teleport quickly. I was barely close enough to make it all the way here. Fortunately, I could wait until neither looked my way before invoking the spell."

"Here, have a banana or two to restore your strength and update me on what's happening. I hope all the Rupees you spent on our informant prove worth it. We've had to increase our thieving activities to keep our funds steady."

"Only time will tell, Master. But we do know that the Sheikah scientist Robbie visited the Forgotten Temple to make plans for its exploration. So, there is hope they will unearth something we can use to our advantage. We need to make sure we closely follow their progress."

"As my second in command, I'll leave that task for you to manage," the Yiga leader said with a yawn. "What about our other objective: eliminating the last three of the so-called Champions?"

"We haven't been able to get near any of them, though not for lack of trying. Zelda is always heavily guarded whenever she leaves the castle."

"I think I've asked this before, but why can't one of our assassins simply teleport into her bedroom at night and eliminate her in her sleep?"

"It's too risky to teleport into a room full of furniture and other items. Even I wouldn't attempt it. You don't want to end up becoming part of her dresser. However, materializing in more open parts of the castle risks encounters with guards. So, that's not an option."

"I guess that makes sense."

"As for Mipha and Link, they never leave Zora's Domain alone, and we can't infiltrate the domain without being noticed. Well, I take that back. I heard they did split up on their family trip to Gerudo Town, but both were in the company of Gerudo warriors the whole time. And frankly, everyone believes attacking Link is a suicide mission. His combat reputation is legendary. Mipha is also known as no slouch at combat, being very skilled with that spear she sometimes carries. Besides, the few recruits we can get are not as bold as in the old days. Given that we can no longer be resurrected, I can't blame them."

But there was no answer from the Yiga Clan Chief. He was already fast asleep.

Meanwhile, the following morning, in Zora's Domain, Mipha and Link finished breakfast with Raypha and Tidon before the children went to class.

"I'm glad you're not sleeping late anymore, Dad. We missed you at breakfast," said Tidon.

"Yes, it feels good to start the day together as a family and get your Hylian perspective on things, Dad," added Raypha.

"My Hylian perspective?" laughed Link. "I think you Zoras only do that to tease me."

"Maybe a little," laughed Raypha. "But we love you, Dad."

"And I love both of you with all my heart," said Link.

"But you know, Dad, you say you love Mom with all your heart, too. How does that leave any of your heart for us?" Raypha teased.

"Very funny," said Link. "As you well know, I mean, my heart is full of love for all three of you."

"Now, enough breakfast banter or you'll be late for class," said Mipha. "Save some of that love for your studies."

Everyone hugged goodbye, and Link began cleaning up, then returned to the table.

"We haven't had time to discuss Zelda's decision about the Forgotten Temple. I know you opposed the project and wondered how you felt now," said Link.

"I feel uneasy about it," said Mipha. "I was opposed to the project mostly for selfish reasons, and I worry about what it may hold for us."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that if anything floats belly up in this venture, I suspect the Hero of Hyrule will need to be involved. We came close to losing each other once, sweetheart. Now, you're my husband and a father to two wonderful children. We all love you dearly and couldn't bear to lose you. We need you here for many years to come. I hope you realize that."

Link reached out and took Mipha's hand.

"I never stop thinking of how much I love you and our children. Never. Trust me, sweetheart. I'm older and wiser now, not the reckless juvenile I once was. Should I become involved because something goes wrong, I will do so safely and with you and our family in my thoughts. I promise."

"Seal that promise with a kiss," said Mipha. "And burn it into your heart."

Then they stood as Link took her in his arms, and they shared a long kiss.