Chapter 20: Blasts
Each step Link took felt weighted. His instincts screaming at him to return behind the shield wall. But even with his chest tightening even further, he carried on. Hopefully the plan would work.
Countless milky white eyes shone in the moonlight, looking straight at him. Their faces contorted in hatred as their tridents aimed to his heart. With each step he took, he held his two torches high.
In the pitch blackness of night, they burned far brighter, casting intense light all around him. The idea seemed to be working.
The milky eyes of the Zora were squinting hard to try and shut out the light as they maintained a distance from him. He pressed forward as his arms ached from keeping the heavy torches held up.
Walking further in, head heard footsteps behind him as the Zora encircled him. He was cut off. Everything depended on the next part. He walked further and all he could see were more eyes, tridents and misshapen silhouettes. He couldn't get any further.
Closing his eyes, he shouted as loud as he could.
"Now!"
A short moment later, he heard the crackle of a bomb fuse fly overhead. It detonated with a furious and bright blast as the entire area was bathed in blindingly light. Through closed eyes, he could see the flash. His hearing rang as he lost his sense of orientation, stumbling a little as he felt something trickle out of his ears.
Opening his eyes, he saw bright flashes appear in his vision, making his sense of balance worse. Surely this must have affected the Zora somehow.
Trying to refocus himself, he stared towards the dark horizon, allow his eyes to fix themselves.
It took a full minute, but the visions of flashes eased off a little. His ears still rang though.
To his surprise, he saw soldiers from the shield wall around him walking amongst the collapsed and twitching bodies of some fifty Zora.
Looking around, he saw that the effect had been an enormous success. As far back as the crest of the slope down to the shoreline, Zora all lay on the floor twitching.
Looking ahead of him, he observed them. The ones nearest to him had lost their fixed look of rage, but wore a face of pure shock, their eyes wide but still milky white.
Amongst the pile of twitching Zora, he saw a familiar one. Prince Ralis was among the mass, underneath a couple of others who had fallen on him.
He ran straight over and lifted the twitching prince out. He made no attempt to fight back as he convulsed. Link guessed that the parasite had been overwhelmed by the bright flash and was having trouble asserting control over Ralis and the other Zora.
Link felt a tap on his shoulder. Turning around, he saw Zelda but something was wrong. He saw her mouth move as she looked scared. But she made no noises. He saw soldiers in splint mail running past her, but he couldn't hear the metal armour clinking as they ran.
Zelda waved to him, exasperated.
"What?" Link tried to say, realising he couldn't even hear the echo of his own voice.
He brushed his ear with his hand, trying to see if there was something wrong. As soon as he flicked it, a burst of pain shot through his head. Grimacing, he saw that Zelda had mouthed something to him.
"Can't hear you" he mumbled.
He realised he wasn't forming coherent words either. They slurred together as he couldn't hear himself speak. Link felt stunned. He dreaded the prospect of not hearing anything again.
Before he could worry further, Zelda waved her hand at him to grab his attention.
She pointed to him, gestured lowering something, pointed to herself, then her own ears and gave a thumbs up.
"...What?!" Link said, missing what she was trying to say entirely.
She walked over to him and closed her eyes as she channelled her magics once more. The now familiar soft golden light stung his vision. She brought her hands to his ears as he felt an intense burst of a writhing itch inside his own skull. Reflexively grabbing his ears, he found that they didn't hurt any more and the sensation of sound came back to him.
The clink of metal armour, the trees rustling in a gentle breeze and several voices clamouring over one another.
"Link, are you alright?" came Zelda's worried voice.
He looked over to her.
"Much better. Thank you." he smiled back to her. "I don't know if this effect is permanent." he said, nodding his head to his side. "We should get back inside, restrain the prince, and resume our guard. We're at a disadvantage if they get their senses back".
Zelda smiled widely, her concerns alleviated.
"Of course. I am relieved you are alright."
Without pausing, she turned and addressed all of the soldiers who had come out to look at the disabled Zora, ordering everyone back inside the camp.
Link made his way back inside, seeing Sabbah pass water to her Gerudo. He caught her gaze and gave a thumbs up back to her, thanking her for throwing the flash bomb so perfectly. He would have to make sure Dr Villesna got a reward for helping him create the bomb in the first place too.
For the moment, he took Prince Ralis to the medical tent, where the autopsy on the other Zora had happened.
As he made his way through, the scout he had met earlier ran to him.
"Master Link, the Zora are retreating in to the lake again. Those not affected by the blast of light turned as soon as they saw it."
"Good. We've bought ourselves more time. Keep watch, maybe with a hot drink if you can find one" he said back.
Nax smiled at him. "Yes, sir!" he said eagerly as he went to find a drink.
Stepping through the doctors tent, he found it empty, save for the table the previous Zora had occupied. Carefully, he lay down the young Zora prince. Not wanting to take any chances that the parasite in his brain would regain control, he tied his amrs and legs down tightly with leather strips the doctors had kept nearby.
A few minutes passed as he made sure each were secure, immobilising the Prince. Dr Villesna and his colleague came back in to the tent.
"Master Link? What is this?" he wondered.
"This is the afflicted body of Prince Ralis of the Zora. I would much rather we kept him alive. Do you think you could perform your surgery again and shine the bright light on his parasite? Without killing him I mean?" he asked nervously.
The two doctors looked at each other.
"I think so. Though nothing like this has ever been done before. I cannot guarantee success. But we can make every effort to try." he explained.
"Alright. I know this is the leader of a foreign nation. I'll ask the Princess for permission to do this first. Don't want things like this happening without her being aware of it" Link said.
"I thank you for your consideration, Link."
Zelda walked in to the tent with a perfect sense of timing.
The two doctors bowed low to her. She looked over the restrained Prince, finally being able to view an afflicted Zora so closely. The growths on his body looked alien. Like green rocks jutting out of smooth, blue tinted skin.
"I want you both to operate on the Prince and destroy his parasite. Do everything you can to ensure he does not die." she commanded.
"At once, your majesty"
Dr Wenbream prepared some vials of liquid and Dr Villesna placed a neck brace on to the young prince. Link prayed he would not recall any of this if he survived, concern etched on to his face.
"Ah, you worry about him?" Dr Wenbream asked.
"Yes. He's young after all. Shouldn't have to be dealing with this. Especially as ruler. Will he be alright?" Link asked.
"I truly do no know, Master Link. I'm going to give him a powerful sedative. His body will remain unconscious whilst we do this, but as for the parasite? We still do not know enough about it. Perhaps it will resist the drug, or it may not. But if we are able to remove it? Well then the effort will be worth it." he explained. He looked over the young man, a glint of sadness about him that he quickly shook off. He had a job to do after all.
"This will take us some time. Princess Zelda, if we are successful, may we ask for your healing powers to mend his skull? It's a...brutal thing to recover from naturally…" Dr Villesna asked.
Zelda nodded wordlessly as she gestured for Link to follow her out of the tent.
As they walked out and back through the camp, they stopped by the cliff overlooking the lake. The sickly green water sparkled with odd colors in the moonlight, casting eerie reflections that danced on the surface.
Zelda's gaze remained fixed on the water, her expression heavy with the weight of what had just transpired.
"I do not know how things with the Zora are going to be after this… If Prince Ralis recovers, then I will have to explain to him why so many Zora died at our hands."
Her voice was quiet, almost as if she were speaking more to herself than to Link.
The burden of responsibility seemed to sap the last bits of energy from her, and she sank into the chair the scout had been in earlier, looking out at the troubled waters. Link stood beside her, unsure of how to comfort her but knowing he had to try.
"What do you suppose I should do? Should I be honest about what happened or deny our involvement?" she asked, her tone soft yet laden with uncertainty.
Link was taken aback by the question. He hadn't expected to share an opinion about such a serious diplomatic issue, especially not from Zelda, who was always so composed. But he could see the conflict in her eyes, the doubt that was so uncharacteristic of her.
He considered the options, but the idea of lying turned his stomach. "Tell them the truth," he said, his voice steady with conviction. "Even if you manage to hide our involvement, you'll live with that hanging over you for the rest of your life. And if somehow they find out, then you'll face their wrath—and I won't be there to defend you."
Zelda looked up at him, surprised by the intensity in his voice. Slowly, a small, tired smile curved her lips, the shadows of doubt beginning to lift.
"Thank you, Link. I think I just needed to hear someone else with strong beliefs say the same thing. Do not worry, I will tell them the truth as I intended."
They sat together in a companionable silence, the weight of the moment still pressing down on them but starting to ease. The moon hung high above them, its light soft and calming. Zelda leaned her head against Link's side, finding a small measure of comfort in his presence.
"You smell horrible," she said suddenly.
Link blinked, caught off guard by the comment.
"Sorry, I haven't quite figured out how to sweat perfume yet. Next time, maybe" he said with a half smile.
Zelda chuckled softly, the sound a gentle relief after the tension of the night. "I'd appreciate that."
Link grinned, the mood lightening at last. They sat together a little while longer, the night air cool around them, allowing themselves this brief moment of peace before the responsibilities of the world returned.
"Reinforcements! The reinforcements are here!" shouted Nax.
Link and Zelda looked to each other, mirroring an enthusiastic smile. They quickly left back to the gate of the camp.
As they and the others made their way to the gate, the reinforcements could be heard marching toward the camp. The drum of synchronised armoured footsteps cut through the ambient night air.
Zelda was first to the gate, people clearing a path for her.
As she stepped out of the gate, Link followed close by her side. The Zora were still twitching on the floor and the column of soldiers had their swords drawn. Before she could even give pleasantries, she addressed the commander.
"Commander, your arrival is most timely. I need all of your troops to restrain the Zora here and keep an eye on them. They have been turned hostile by a parasite and we have just learned of how to stun them." she explained quickly.
"At once, your majesty." rang the commanders voice.
The man was imposing. Clad in plate armour and with a large frame to support it, his covered face made him look like one of the Dark Nuts that Link had fought during the Twilight Crisis. Hopefully more friendly, he thought to himself.
Dismounting his horse, his footsteps almost seemed to shake the ground. He turned and ordered his troops to retrain the afflicted Zora and they all quickly got to work.
Link had no idea how many there were, but with fresh soldiers brought in, they tied the Zora's hands and feet together and started arranging them with one soldier to four captives.
As the work began, the commander approached Zelda and him. Bowing low, he introduced himself.
"Commander Williams, at your service. Master Link, it is an honour to see you here" he said sternly, but with a bow to him too.
"Well met Williams. You are all a sight for sore eyes." he replied.
"Yes, sir." he said without missing a pace. He turned to Zelda again. "Your majesty, with your permission, I will order my troops to build temporary accommodation for the prisoners. Then assign rotating guards to ensure our security"
Zelda then updated him on the situation. How the Zora attacked in swarms and this was not the full strength of them. She also told him about how bright flashes of light seemed to at least stun the afflicted.
"A sensory overload then?" he asked plainly.
"Yes. Though we do not know how long the effect lasts. The parasites in their brain, once exposed to powerful light are disintegrated though. So we are working on a solution that save them. But there is more" Zelda replied. "We believe the source of these parasites is within the lakebed temple. We cannot even enter the water without drawing the aggression of the afflicted Zora."
"I would prefer it if you could not kill any of the Zora, commander" Link added, hoping to spare the lives however many Zora he could.
"I do not answer to you, sir"
Link guessed as much, but even a little consideration would have been nice.
"Link is right in this. Your orders are to use non-lethal force on attacking Zora. If you are overwhelmed, then you may do as you need to keep yourselves safe. Am I understood?" Zelda replied coldly.
"Yes, your majesty"
Williams summoned his lieutenants and told them exactly as Zelda had instructed. At least he was loyal. With him out of the way for the moment, Link wondered about the career military man.
"He's one of our most dedicated commanders. During the Twilight Crisis, he was organising small pockets of our soldiers to do guerilla strikes against Ganondorf's forces." Zelda explained, seeing Link's curiosity. "Before that, he saved an entire outpost from being overrun by organising a stout defence and repelling a horde of bandits that were pillaging trade routes."
The Zora were soon all restrained as the supply wagons were led in to the camp. There was barely enough room for everyone, let alone the forty or so soldiers still outside the main gate.
Williams assured them both that the reinforcements would be fine camped outside if they set up some rudimentary protections.
The work began. Unpacking supplies from their carts, the new troops busied themselves with setting up their tents and arranging shifts for watching the Zora prisoners.
As the night deepened, the camp began to settle. The soldiers and Gerudo, who had fought tirelessly, finally found a moment to rest.
Link, though weary, kept himself busy helping unload the new wagons and organizing the restrained Zora. Some of the Zora had begun to stir from their disorientation, their eyes still cloudy, yet they tried to inch forward despite their restraints. Even in their bound state, there was a persistent, unsettling determination in their movements. Link couldn't help but feel a pang of sorrow for them, trapped in their own bodies by the parasite's control.
The soldiers who had been defending the camp initially sat with aching muscles, glad for the opportunity to relax. Sabbah and her sisters drank cold water brought in by the reinforcements, their exhaustion clear but their spirits unbroken. The fresh soldiers, still new to the sight of the Gerudo, kept their distance, their wariness evident. Despite hearing stories of the Gerudo's prowess, Commander Williams had ordered his men to maintain a cautious separation. He hadn't seen the Gerudo in action himself, and he wasn't about to take any chances.
Williams moved through the camp with a calculated precision, his every action measured and deliberate. He kept a close eye on the Gerudo, his expression giving nothing away as he observed them. When he finally approached Sabbah, his tone was firm, almost clinical.
"I've heard much about your warriors, but I've yet to see it with my own eyes. Until I do, my men will keep their distance," Williams said, his voice devoid of warmth.
Sabbah, though understanding, couldn't hide her irritation. "We fought alongside your men. We bled for this cause."
Williams nodded, his gaze never wavering. "I don't doubt that, but I have a duty to ensure the safety of my troops. Until I can fully assess the situation, caution is necessary."
Sabbah clenched her jaw but held her tongue. She knew better than to let her frustration show too openly. "Fine, Commander. But we are not your enemy."
Williams inclined his head slightly in acknowledgment, his expression still unreadable. "I appreciate your cooperation."
As the camp settled into the quiet of the night, Williams took charge of the watch, ensuring every detail was accounted for. Link and Zelda, exhausted from the day's events, retired to their tent. Without saying much, they both slept soundly, the comfort of the tent providing a brief escape from the weight of their responsibilities.
The night passed with an uneasy stillness. As the first light of morning crept over the horizon, it cast a pale glow across the camp. The soldiers who had been on watch began to stir those who had rested, their movements calm but purposeful.
Link awoke to the gentle warmth of the rising sun, its light filtering through the canvas of the tent. He stretched, his muscles still sore, but the brief rest had done wonders. Zelda was already awake, quietly preparing for the day ahead.
Outside the tent, the camp was coming to life, but the usual morning routines were tinged with unease. The distance Williams had imposed between his men and the Gerudo was palpable, creating an undercurrent of tension that hadn't been there before. The Gerudo, aware of the scrutiny, kept to themselves, their movements careful and deliberate.
Zelda stepped out of the tent first, taking in the atmosphere of the camp. "It feels different today," she murmured.
Link nodded, following her out.
"Williams is taking no chances," Zelda replied, glancing towards the commander, who was already deep in conversation with his lieutenants, his expression cold and calculating.
"Think we should speak to him?" Link asked, hoping to stop a problem before it could worsen. He knew that if left unchecked, such tensions could easily spiral out of control, jeopardizing the fragile unity they had fought so hard to build.
"No, unfortunately. He is rather stubborn in his ways. Until he witnesses the Gerudo's prowess, he will not easily be convinced. But I will at least have our original troops speak freely to the Gerudo. I would hate to feel like an outcast amongst people I thought to be friends," Zelda said, the last part carrying a hint of her own experiences with isolation.
She made her way to Williams and had a brief discussion with him. He nodded curtly and ordered a lieutenant to relay her instructions. The younger man moved to the troops who had been absorbed into the commander's control, and a moment later, they all began mingling with the Gerudo once more.
The effect was instant. The unease on their faces disappeared as they all started talking again, as if nothing had happened. Within a minute, both sides could be heard laughing.
Williams' men looked over curiously, but not daring to disobey their commander, they kept their distance.
Relief washed over Link as he saw the almost immediate change in atmosphere. He hoped that the commander could be convinced to try talking to them. He found it frustrating that he couldn't convey his experiences with them in a short space of time.
He shook his head, clearing his mind. There was still work to do. They both needed to get to the Lakebed Temple.
After breakfast, he went to speak to the commander. He would need the help of his men for this.
Finding his tent, he called out for him.
"Enter" came the quick reply.
Stepping in, Link was surprised by how plain his tent was. Even the soldiers tents had more personality on show. Little keepsakes from their families pinned to the canvas or a book of pressed flowers, something to make it feel more homely.
Williams tent was meticulously clean and bare. As if the concept of colour was a distraction.
"What is it?" he asked from his desk, not even looking up as he scrawled in to a thick book.
"Commander, I wanted to ask for the help of you and your soldiers." he replied. If he wasted no time with pleasantries, maybe the commander would at least appreciate that perhaps.
"For what purpose?"
"We need to reach the lakebed temple. But we can't set foot in Lake Hylia. We want to build a long bridge to it from here"
"We? You and Princess Zelda?" he asked curtly.
"Yes."
The commander scratched a few more things in to his book. Satisfied, he left the ink to dry as he sat straight in his seat.
"I saw the logs you had all felled. You would need men to cut them to size, bind and lash them, then help deploy it, yes?"
Link supposed he shouldn't be surprised at his shrewd mind. A man of his position must have far more to contend with then the average soldier.
"That's right."
Williams stared in to space for a minute as he ran through options in his mind.
"I am unwilling to contribute to a plan that places the Princess of our nation in peril"
"That's the other thing we need of you. When we cross this bridge, we expect the afflicted Zora to attack us. We would need you, the Hylian soldiers and the Gerudo warriors to contend with them whilst the Princess and I deal with our objective" he replied honestly.
"Hm. If you are still attacked, even if we contend with the Zora, what then?"
Link thought for a moment. He had no idea if he could fully protect Zelda as they crossed the bridge. There wouldn't be enough room to respond to ranged attacks. Even though the camp was on a cliff, Link had seen the gap they needed to cross. At its lowest point, they would both be about ten feet from the surface of the lake. Well within range of thrown tridents.
"I do not know. But if we cannot complete our objective, then the Zora will remain afflicted. Whatever parasites control them, they have their origins in the Lakebed Temple."
"You know this for a fact?" he asked quickly.
"No. But the Zora all...migrated here. After they were first afflicted I mean. The lake itself is purified by the temple. Those two facts lead me to believe that the temple is our best option at resolving this." Link replied.
Williams looked thoughtful for a moment. Meanwhile, Link's stomach knotted. He needed the soldiers to help defend. They had no viable way of getting across without it.
"Very well. Is there anything else?"
Link felt the knot tighten further.
"Have you reached a decision?" he asked.
"No. If there is nothing else, then you are excused. I have things to do" came the blunt reply.
"Would you rather I had to ask the Princess herself to reiterate all of this?" Link replied intently.
"Do as you wish. However, Master Link, I am responsible for a significant number of lives here. If I act without considering all of my options, then I may be sending these men to their deaths. That is why I have not reached a decision yet. It would do you well to not assume people would be so quick to potentially die for what amounts to just an instinct of yours."
Williams voice didn't raise, but it did carry a gravitas. Link stood there, unable to think of a counter. The commander did have a point. He had nothing solid to focus on and the fresh troops hadn't seen the ferocity of the afflicted Zora yet.
Stumped for a response, Link slowly turned to leave but realised something on the way out.
"If we do not act, then the Zora will attack again. We will be forced to kill them. Prince Ralis is undergoing surgery to try and bring him back from the parasites control. There is not a single guarantee this will work, or that we will survive a focused attack from the Zora again.
If we act on my instinct, then we could save a great many more lives than just your own soldiers."
"I shall consider your point." he said as he opened another book and started scratching away at it, head buried in the pages.
Link left the tent, a pit forming in his stomach where the knot had been moments before. The conversation with Commander Williams had left him with more doubts than answers. If the commander wouldn't help, he'd have to find another way.
He wandered through the camp, trying to clear his mind, but the tension lingered. The fresh recruits eyed him curiously as he passed, their gazes full of expectation. It only added to the weight he felt pressing down on him. He needed a plan, something to keep himself busy, to push away the looming despair.
As he walked, his thoughts drifted to how much he had changed. It was easier now to push past the melancholy that had once consumed him. Thoughts of Midna still surfaced in quiet moments, but they didn't sting as much as they used to. Perhaps staying busy was the key, a lesson learned through necessity rather than choice.
His path led him to the far end of the camp, where Sabbah, her Gerudo warriors, and the original defenders had gathered. The Hylians were huddled around, eagerly learning the basics of the Gerudo language now that they had some downtime. Sabbah, her usual stern demeanor softened by the moment, held a slate with the Gerudo alphabet written on it, demonstrating how to form words. The soldiers listened intently, scribbling notes on scraps of paper.
Link paused for a moment, watching the scene. The soldiers could have spent their downtime in idle pursuits, but instead, they were learning. It filled him with a quiet sense of pride.
Sabbah noticed him, her expression brightening as he approached. "Oh, it is you!" she greeted him warmly. "You look like you ate bad food. What bothers you?"
"Tried asking the commander for help with something. Didn't go well," he responded dryly.
Sabbah's eyes narrowed, but she nodded, understanding. "I see. Well, what do you want doing?"
Link smiled at her straightforwardness, grateful for her support. Even before he explained the details, she was ready to help. He began to outline his plan about building the bridge, admitting he wasn't sure how to go about it.
Sabbah listened carefully, then nodded decisively. "Hm. Well, we try anyway?"
"I'd love to," Link replied, feeling a flicker of hope return.
Sabbah turned to her warriors and told them what she was about to try. To Link's surprise, one of the Hylian soldiers asked what she meant when she said 'make a bridge.' Sabbah bounced on her feet and clapped her hands at how quickly the soldier had learned enough parts of her language to understand her.
The soldier, Peyton, blushed at her praise. Trying to ignore it, he asked about what she was doing. She and Link explained their plan and suddenly, they had ten extra hands to help. Drawing looks from their counterparts, they all walked to the logs they had felled the day before.
Link, the Hylians, and the Gerudo quickly realized, ironically, that none of them had any real experience in building bridges.
They sat around a board, trying to come up with ideas. Link suggested long planks tied and nailed together, but as they discussed the details, doubts began to surface.
"This bridge would need to be around eighty feet long to reach the island," Link said, sketching out the plan on the board. "Maybe we should add a few extra feet, just to be safe?"
Sabbah translated for the Gerudo, who nodded thoughtfully, but as they began discussing how to secure the structure, Zelda arrived and quietly observed the proceedings.
After listening for a few minutes, she finally spoke up. "Link, there's a problem with this plan," she said, her tone careful yet firm.
"What do you mean?" Link asked, puzzled.
Zelda pointed to the sketch on the board. "A bridge that long, without proper anchoring, will be unstable. The logs will shift and the structure could collapse under its own weight, especially if the Zora attack while you're crossing. It is too risky."
Link frowned, realizing she was right. "Then what do we do?"
Zelda paused, clearly deep in thought. The group fell silent, watching her expectantly. "We need to think of another way," she murmured, mostly to herself.
She began pacing, her mind working through various possibilities. The group exchanged glances, unsure of where this was going.
"If we can't build a stable bridge," Zelda said, her thoughts still racing, "then what if… No, that wouldn't work… But maybe…"
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks, her eyes lighting up with inspiration. "A zip-line!"
Link blinked, confused. "A what?"
"A zip-line!" Zelda repeated, her voice rising with excitement. "It's a device used to transport supplies across difficult terrain. We could use one to carry both of us to the island. It would be much faster and safer than a bridge."
She began explaining rapidly, the enthusiasm in her voice contagious. "We'll need strong rope, which we have plenty of, thanks to the supply carts. We can build a tower on this side to secure the rope, then shoot the other end across to the island with a heavy arrow. We'll attach a metal pulley to the rope, add a handle, and slide down directly to the temple's entrance."
Link's initial confusion melted away as he started to see the brilliance of her idea. "That… actually sounds perfect. But I'll need help setting it up. Do you think Commander Williams could assist somehow?"
Zelda nodded, immediately taking charge. "Yes, of course. I'll speak with Williams and have his men help build the tower. They have the expertise to do this right."
Without wasting any time, Zelda left to find him. Link watched her go, feeling a renewed sense of hope. Link spent some time learning who would be best for each role. The Hylian soldiers all liked the idea of building a tower and had energy to spare. The Gerudo seemed fine with anything as long as they were helping. Braiding the ropes together would be a time consuming process, so he suggested to Sabbah that they help with that.
As Link finished speaking with Sabbah, Zelda had returned, accompanied by several soldiers hauling coils of thick rope and a box containing the pulley devices. She had been gone less then fifteen minutes.
Williams himself walked beside her, his usual stern expression softened by his respect for her orders. "My men will assist in constructing the tower," he said, addressing Link directly. "Some have experience in engineering and will ensure the structure is sound."
"Thank you, Commander," Link replied sincerely.
With the supplies gathered, Zelda quickly took charge, her voice clear and authoritative as she explained the mechanics of the zip-line. She demonstrated how the ropes would need to be tightly braided into a single, strong line, and how the tower would serve as the anchor point. Williams, standing close by, listened intently, occasionally interjecting with technical suggestions that his men quickly made note of. Under his supervision, a group of soldiers began constructing the tower, ensuring every beam and support was placed with precision. Meanwhile, Zelda worked alongside the others, showing them how to rig the pulley device that would carry them safely across.
As the work progressed, Link felt the weight in his chest lift. The zip-line plan wasn't just feasible; it was ingenious. With Zelda's leadership, Williams' expertise, and the combined efforts of everyone in the camp, they had a real chance of success.
The work stretched into the middle of the day, with the sun climbing higher and the heat becoming more oppressive. Despite this, the atmosphere was charged with a sense of purpose. Piece by piece, the tower began to rise. Williams' men, drawing on their engineering experience, took the lead in securing the base, driving stakes into the ground to ensure the structure would stand firm against any strain.
As the sun reached its peak again, everyone broke for lunch. Getting a portion of stew, Link noticed the newer soldiers were interacting with the Gerudo more. They had been helping to saw and shift the wooden logs for most of the morning and did so without complaint. He had even heard the Commander utter praise for their efforts.
"They work well" he had said plainly. It sounded like a compliment, coming from him.
The newer soldiers sat with the original ones as they shared stories, eager to learn about the Gerudo. They were not ignoring their commanders orders if they didn't speak to the Gerudo directly at least.
A fact that Williams did not seem to mind. He knew his own soldiers well enough, Link supposed.
Lunch blended in to the afternoon as they all sat in the shade of some trees, a gentle breeze helping to cool every person down.
Zelda was in discussion with Williams whilst Sabbah continued her lessons, paying extra attention to Peyton. Link was grateful there was a Hylian who could grasp languages more easily then most. It would be nice to have two interpreters at some point. He realised he would like to learn their language too at some point. After all of the efforts Sabbah had made with him, including not killing him, he felt it would only be fair.
The commander stood and signalled for everyone to get back to work, reminding them that the tower would not build itself.
So, the work continued late in to the afternoon. Link helping to braid the ropes together for most of the time. He spent time idly chatting with Sabbah and her Gerudo who had opted to work on the ropes too. The Hylians all changed to work on the tower instead and their progress was remarkable. Link privately wondered if they were trying to impress the Gerudo women. He hadn't seen them work this hard before today. The Gerudo focused on braiding the ropes.
As the sun started to cast golden light over the lake, Link and the Gerudo women were pulling both ends of their newly made rope to test for defects. Not a single fibre frayed. The Gerudo were experienced in tying fabrics in their homeland, Sabbah had explained, so they had chosen the role where they could help the most.
Satisfied with their work, they raised cups of water to each other as they took a well earned drink.
Zelda made her way over to them.
"Thank you all. Your work here may go a long way to helping us finally resolve this issue. I am also pleased to tell you that the tower has been completed too" she explained happily, gesturing behind her.
Looking behind the trees at the cliffs edge stood a stout wooden tower. Just by sight, it looked incredibly unyielding and rose above the treetops. The Hylian soldiers returned through the treeline, looking exhausted and drenched in sweat, picking out splinters or drinking deeply from their canteens.
Finally, it was done. The soldiers and the Gerudo both met back up with each other, enthusing about their work. Williams seemed to have been impressed enough by their efforts that he allowed his men to speak to them freely. He had noticed their burning curiosity all day and likely knew he would not be able to suppress it any longer.
As the sun began its descent, casting a warm golden hue over the camp, Zelda made her way over to Link, her face reflecting a quiet satisfaction with the day's accomplishments.
"Well, I hate to think how this would have gone without everyone's help," she remarked, her eyes scanning the tower and the carefully braided rope that stretched toward the lake.
"Me too," Link agreed, his gaze following hers. "It's good that Williams let his men talk to the Gerudo. Seems to have cut the tension from this morning."
Zelda nodded. "Very true. It's encouraging to see them working together, even if it took some time. But before we celebrate, there's still one more thing we need to do." She looked into his eyes, her expression turning serious.
Link's thoughts immediately shifted to the task ahead. "We need to cross the lake and blast our way into the temple," he said, his focus sharpening.
"Exactly. But first, let's allow the workers a moment to rest. They've earned it," Zelda suggested, glancing around at the tired but contented faces of the soldiers and Gerudo.
A makeshift mess area had been set up near the edge of the camp, where the cooks had prepared a simple evening meal. The smell of hot stew and freshly baked bread wafted through the air, drawing everyone's attention.~
"Come, let us join them for a meal" Zelda said, leading the way.
As they approached, they found the workers already gathering around the large pots of stew, their weariness giving way to smiles and laughter as they shared stories of the day's work. The tension from the morning had dissipated, replaced by a camaraderie that bridged the gap between the different groups.
Link and Zelda joined the line, accepting bowls of the hearty stew. They found a spot on the grass where they could sit together, enjoying the warmth of the food and the peacefulness of the evening. Around them, the sounds of quiet conversation and the occasional burst of laughter filled the air.
As they ate, Link observed the camp. The soldiers and Gerudo were mingling, their earlier caution and distance forgotten. Even Williams seemed more at ease, though he still maintained his usual stern demeanor. Sabbah was engaged in animated conversation with a group of Hylians, gesturing as she explained something in her native language, while Peyton listened intently, occasionally nodding in understanding.
"This is nice," Zelda remarked, her voice soft as she leaned closer to Link. "It's good to see everyone relaxed after such a long day."
"Yeah," Link agreed, taking a moment to savour the tranquillity. "But we should probably move soon. The sun will set soon, and we need to cross the lake before it gets dark."
Zelda nodded, finishing the last of her stew. "You're right. We should prepare ourselves."
They stood up, returning their empty bowls to the cooks, who were already beginning to clean up. As they made their way back to the zip-line, Zelda caught Williams' attention, signalling him over
"Commander, we're ready to make the crossing," Zelda informed him. "We will need soldiers at the lake, ready to defend against the Zora."
Williams bowed slightly. "Of course, Your Majesty. I have spoken with the scout Nax. He has informed me of how touching the water was enough to agitate them. He also detailed their fighting style. I believe we can hold the lake. Though I would ask that you both complete your task as soon as you can."
As Williams relayed her orders, the soldiers quickly began final preparations, donning their splint mail, strapping their scabbards and securing their helmets. Some carried medical supplies too, in case the worst happened.
Link watched as the troops fell in to an organised column and were led down to the shoreline with Williams leading from the front. As a testament to his skill, the soldiers arrived at the beach within minutes, breaking apart in to organised sections, far stronger than the initial defenders had been. He had also seen Williams promote the original soldiers to sergeants for this. Their experience would be pivotal in ensuring the fresher men would be able to handle the Zora.
Zelda and Link climbed the tower, where the zip-line awaited them. The structure, now fully completed, looked sturdy and reliable, a testament to the combined efforts of everyone in the camp. The rope stretched taut across the lake, disappearing into the treeline on the other side.
Link felt a surge of determination as he glanced at Zelda. "Are you ready?"
Zelda steadied herself and her breathing. The tower seemed a lot taller from the top of it.
"Alright. Let me light the torch. It will signal that we are ready to the commander."
With the torch let, they both heard the slight echoes of his voice preparing his troops as the shore became quiet and ready.
With the final checks completed, they grabbed the handles of the pulleys, Link jumping from the tower first. Zelda followed a moment after him.
The wind rushed past him, making it difficult to breathe. The rotten smell in the air getting worse with every inch. Looking over the lake, he saw no movement in stagnant water.
His felt his centre of gravity shift as a giddy rush of excitement washed over him. If it hadn't been for the threat of the Zora, he realised he would like to ride this again.
The island came in to view more quickly then he thought. Remembering what Zelda had told him about dismounting, he tucked his legs in to his chest and let go of his pulley, rolling on to the floor and to the left side. Zelda had said she would roll to the right so they didn't smash in to each other.
Getting to his feet, he looked for Zelda as the last strips of daylight wore away. He could see torches on the shore where the soldiers were prepared. They had no intention of fighting in the dark.
Wasting no time, Zelda unpacked two shovels and handed one to Link. They both dug in the centre of the island as fast as they could. They needed to get to the rock roof of the cavern below.
As the minutes passed, the lake remained strangely calm. The Zora, he hoped, were unaware of their plan.
As the dirt piled higher, day bled in to night. Finally, Link felt his shovel strike something hard.
Moving dirt aside with his boot, he found the rock layer.
Looking to Zelda, they nodded to each other as she got out of the small hole they had dug.
Standing on her tiptoes and in her travelling garb, she waved to the shoreline. It was the signal to bait the Zora. They both needed them distracted for the next part.
Link had replenished his bombs from the main camp and withdrew all of them, one by one. He stacked them in trios as he worked his way back up the hole, piling dirt on top of the dangerous stack of explosives. Leaving the fuse of one bomb exposed.
Looking over at the shoreline, he saw one of the Hylian soldiers dip his toes into the lake and sprint back. The effect was immediate. The entire lake frothed from all sides once more. Streaks appeared on the surface as they sped towards the shoreline.
As the first Zora leapt from the waters, a deafening blast shook the ground beneath Link's feet, as the rock beneath crumbled under the intense explosions.
He lost all control as both he and Zelda fell in to a cave in. Their screams reverberating around the inner cave of the lakebed temple.