Disclaimer: The Legend of Zelda, its characters and locations are all property of Nintendo. All original characters and locations belong to me.
Chapter I: The Ruin
A burning wind blew across the sand dunes of the Haunted Wasteland, molding them into new ones. The heat baked the horizon in waves. The blazing sun slowly descended the blue, cloudless sky. A young woman walked along a sand ridge, trying to avoid the soft, leeward side.
Stray red hair blew out from beneath her tan headscarf. The sun's heat had dried the dark bronze skin of her small face and her golden eyes. She looked delicate but her expression was firm. Her frame was thin and tall. She wore a white tunic down to her wrists and ankles, a brown cloak with arm openings, and leather sandals. A woven belt secured her tunic to her waist. She had attached a knife and a waterskin to the belt. She carried supplies and gear in a backpack. Her name was Azalia, referring to the flower known as dahlia.
Seven years ago, at the age of ten, she had bid farewell to her family and friends, and wandered off into the desert. The Gerudo Tribe had helped raise her, but she couldn't thrive in their culture and environment. She hadn't formed meaningful relationships with them either.
From an unknown cause, the majority of the Gerudo race was female. They were desert-dwelling folk, indigenous to Gerudo Valley where they congregated in the Gerudo Fortress. The dry climate made them tough and resourceful. They were warriors and thieves by reputation, feared by the country and the Kingdom of Hyrule they inhabited.
Ten might have been too young to try the dangerous journey alone on foot, but being an explorer was already the biggest part of her identity and she had explored the desert countless times to become one. The tribe knew that she was capable, and they were a strong proponent for freedom of choice. It would have been safer to go to Hyrule, but she didn't want the Hyruleans to reject her as a Gerudo. Instead, she crossed the desert, searching for new people in unknown lands.
She held onto the Gerudo religion because its goddess continued to answer her prayers and provide guidance. The Goddess Saya, whose name meant sand, was known as the Goddess of the Sand. She was a mother figure to all Gerudos, even those that went their separate ways.
The years passed by, and Azalia didn't find a place that felt like home. Seeing her lost motivation, Saya suggested that she meditate at the Spirit Temple to manifest what she wanted in her mind. Gerudo ancestors built the temple to symbolize the Goddess of the Sand and embody their culture. Azalia agreed that might help her rethink her life, since it was part of where she originated.
Thankful for the advice, she traveled from a distant land, seeking the Spirit Temple. When she reached the Haunted Wasteland, Saya gave her cardinal directions and traced a path in the sand whenever she strayed far off course. This had helped save Azalia time because she had forgotten the details of the local geography.
As the sun began to set, it was time to rest. She set down her backpack and pitched a tiny tent. She placed her knife and water beside her backpack and draped her cloak over it. She unrolled her bedroll and curled up inside.
The absence of the sun and the low humidity caused the desert to become frigid cold. She was warm enough, wrapped in a wool blanket and shielded from the sandy wind. A cloudless sky of stars blanketed the landscape in midnight hues of blue and purple. She fell asleep to the ruffled beating of the wind against her tent.
She slept in dreamless peace. Hours passed by before she was ready to wake up. However, velvet darkness shrouded her in sleep. She needed to open her eyes somehow, move a part of her body. That way she could claw her way took hold as she realized her peril.
She kept trying until she broke through the veil. As she moved her body, she discovered a similar obstacle in the waking world. It felt like there were solid chains around her wrists and ankles, and that she lay on her back against a smooth, stone surface. She opened her eyes, but it was too dark to see. She stilled and listened. There weren't any sounds she could hear.
The chains were short and allowed little movement. She pulled hard and yanked on them. No matter the direction or how hard she tried, they held tight.
This wasn't a dream, there was a logical explanation. She wouldn't let fear be in control. At least someone must have taken her hostage while she was asleep. How had she not woken up? And their reason was unknown to her, but even if there was no one other than them nearby, she needed help. Saya might have been aware of her problem, but she provided guidance and never interfered with anyone's life. Azalia understood this, because she couldn't live her own life with someone holding her hand the whole time.
"Hello!" she cried as loud as she could. There was no answer. "Is anybody out there!"
After waiting a minute in silence, she kept screaming. "Can you hear me! I'm trapped! I need help! Get me out of these chains!"
She persevered, until her throat became tight, sore, and dry. It refused to project any more words. No one had heard her cries for help, yet there was still hope. She took a while to catch her breath. It was possible they had gone somewhere and would return. She would try again later.
A lock clicked and a door creaked open. A flame glowed from a lantern, held by a tall figure cloaked in black. The light revealed parts of the wooden door, sandstone brick wall and floor hidden in layers of sand. They locked shut the exit and she watched in horror as they ambled toward her. Judging by their entrance, they must have been her captor.
As they approached, she could see that she was on a platform. They placed the lantern beside her and spoke in a soothing, male voice, "Don't be frightened. You're safe from harm."
She doubted that and their manner of speaking didn't fool her. "What do you want from me?" she asked. She struggled to speak with her strained voice.
"I'll tell you that, but you're thirsty. Let me offer you a drink of water." He acted kind, even apologetic.
He took out her own waterskin from within his cloak, lifted her head and touched it to her lips. She tasted the liquid before swallowing. It was just her water, as far as she could tell. She drank as much as she needed and then he put it away.
"I'll explain myself." He stood close to the lantern and gazed at her from beneath his hood. She paid close attention. "I serve in Hyrule's army. We're trying to stop the Gerudos from continuing their invasion. I was conducting reconnaissance in the desert when I spotted you. After you fell asleep, I took you here through a magic portal. I want to know who you are and why you were wandering in the desert."
If he was using portals, he might have been an experienced mage. That would explain why her sleep wasn't disturbed, besides the unpleasant dream. Relations between Gerudos and Hyruleans were never friendly. He could see her face now if he hadn't already. With her features, there was no way she could convince him she wasn't at least related to his enemy.
She should have asked him to free her before giving in to his questions. "Please, won't you let me out of here, set me free?" She used a brave front to combat and hide fear, but traces still broke through her facial expression.
"If you prove to be an enemy, I'll send you through a portal to a safe location far away from Hyrule. If you prove not to be an enemy, there's a task you must complete before I let you go. Either way, I'm going to question you first."
That wasn't good but it was better than expected. He might be lying, though, especially about not harming her and letting her go if she was an enemy. She remained wary and suspicious. She was at his mercy and didn't want to test his patience further in this situation, so she'd cooperate for now. "I'm a nomad. I was going to the Spirit Temple."
"Are you a Gerudo?"
"I was raised as one, but I haven't been part of the tribe in years."
"Then why were you going to the Spirit Temple?"
"I continue to follow their religion."
"What's your stance toward Hyrule?"
"I have nothing against them, nor would I work to cause them trouble."
For five seconds, he stared at her. His face was unclear through the shadows. All she could hear was the steady cadence of his breath clashing against her shallow one. She awaited his response.
"I don't think you're an enemy and you've proven trustworthy so far. As I said before, there's a task you must complete before I let you go. You're not ready to know what it is yet. For now, I ask for your cooperation."
She was shocked that he wasn't calling her an enemy. He sounded honest and had been to this point, but she had to remain cautious and keep a level head. "I'll cooperate for my safety."
"Understood. I don't want to keep you chained any longer. Before I unlock you, I warn you not to run. There are portals hidden on the floor that will send you to a locked cell if you step on them. Stay close behind me and I'll lead you outside." He unlocked her chains with a key.
She couldn't believe she was free of them. She had to be gentle as she arose, for her body ached from the position. He picked up the lantern and held it to illuminate the floor. There was a possibility he wasn't lying about the portals. Until the right moment for escape came, she would follow him. He waited as she climbed down from the platform.
"Follow me." They took an indirect path as if traversing a short, invisible maze. The sand covered any sign of portals. Her heart beat fast as she expected to be free of the chamber. He unlocked the door with another key and pushed it open. It was heavy and creaked again on its hinges. They exited and he shut it behind them.