Chapter 24: The Endless Cycle
Zelda shut the entrance to the tunnels behind her and climbed to the bottom of the ladder. Once on the ground she took a moment to focus and called forth her light. It appeared before her, no longer bobbing and flickering. It stood still a fixed point hovering and brilliant. Precisely where she wanted it. She still needed to focus, or it would disperse, but now she drew on no energy but her own to cast the spell.
She gave a satisfied little sigh, as she imagined how proud Rauru would be on their next lesson. But that wouldn't be for a few more days, for now she moved through the passage, her light always staying two steps before her, exactly as she wanted it. Only changing when she sent it above her head to light the way up the second ladder. She did not stop until she stood above the king's quarters. Though today it was silent, except for the scratching of a quill. He did not play any music, he hadn't in weeks. Not since their argument.
Of all the days to try and be a parent. Why did it have to be that day?
At least he wasn't making forlorn sighs and pacing the floor anymore. That had to be a good sign. Though she wished to hear his music again as she worked. No helping it, though. She needed to keep reading whether or not she was granted a pleasant serenade.
Counting the stones along the wall she reached the appropriate distance and knelt. Waving her hand at a stone that stood at the height of her hip, she pulled the magic she placed upon it. The illusion dispersed, revealing the small crook in the masonry. Reaching inside, her fingers found the scroll and pulled it free, making certain not to damage the centuries old parchment along the rough edges of the stones.
No one had found the Prophecies and Songs of Nayru, and they had been looking. She could not put her finger on how she knew exactly, but she was certain that someone had been through her rooms a few days after Link gave it to her. And Rauru mentioned in their lessons how a few Gerudo warriors once more visited the temple.
For once, Zelda felt she was a few steps ahead of Ganondorf. And finally, being in control of the situation was a wonderful feeling. But the Gerudo was a clever one, she had to at least grant him that. She could not let herself grow overconfident. So, the scrolls were tucked in a place he didn't know existed.
Unfortunately, storing them in such a safe place came with its fair share of downsides. She could not simply pick them up whenever the mood to read them struck her. Half the time she could get away from her responsibilities, she'd find a Gerudo following her. Never aggressive or threatening, the smarter of them even taking time to at least pretend to engage in conversation with each other. But their presence meant she could not risk them discovering her secrets. And when she found herself free of them, she'd make her way to the gardens only to discover the bench in use.
But she could be patient. Wasn't that the lesson both Impa and Rauru drilled into her day after day? They wouldn't find the scrolls if they didn't know where she kept it. That was worth the delay in studying the text. And that wasn't all they didn't know.
With any luck, Link would already be at Death Mountain. By her calculations Link should already be at Death Mountain. Give him a few more days to reach Uncle Darunia and inform him of the coming dangers and he would be off to Lanayru and the Zora. And if Lord Jabu-Jabu proved half as wise as the Zora claimed, he would understand their need and offer the last of the stones willingly.
All the pieces were in place. Not bad for a 'little vai.'
She sat with her back to the wall and laid the scroll out before her. Her light hovered over her head making the script clear and legible. She rolled the parchment to where she had left off.
The next section was a song, The King Below, it was called. By its tempo and the arrangement of the notes, it seemed almost like a funeral dirge.
Sorrow, sorrow King Below
In sunless lands his hatred sow
Sister's love twisted to woe
Sorrow, sorrow King Below
Jealous of the Queen Above
Who soared so high and free with love
Her lands a paradise to all within
Covetous would lead to sin
A bitter song as far as Zelda could make out. A tale of the King Below and his sister the Queen Above. The King Below sought to conquer the Queen Above. His sister stopped him, but one of the lines was confusing.
Through her death, she gave her soul
To eons endless, her will consoles
Born in cycles, gold and whole
To drive back the King Below
Sorrow, sorrow King Below
In sunless lands, his hatred sow
Sister's love twisted to woe
Sorrow, sorrow King Below
So the sister dies and is born again? But how does that help anything? If she died and was born again, then was she just a child? How does she drive back the King Below?
His final words a promised curse
Scarring all upon this earth
Sister's gift a sin its own
Brother follows his malice sown
Evermore our hated foe
Sorrow, sorrow King Below
What a strange song. The Goddess Nayru wrote it? It must mean something. Who is the sister and who the brother?
She stopped and looked around the empty hall, as if the stones would give her some clue. Here she was, with the words of a literal goddess in her hands. Everything within it should shine with the wisdom of eternity, and half of it she could not understand. Was it only a parable to say how jealousy is destructive? Did it mean something more? It had to.
Why couldn't she figure it out? Zelda excelled at these sorts of problems. She should be smart enough to figure out everything within these scrolls and more. Ganondorf had learned what he needed from them. Certainly, she was cleverer than that barbarian.
What had the forest boy called it? Riddles?
And she had mocked him for it! And he'd been right all along. Now if he returned she'd have to admit that she couldn't hold up her part of the agreement, to discover the secrets of these scrolls and figure out how to use them to defeat Ganondorf. And in all likelihood, he'd just smile and offer another handshake. Acting all kind and sweet, with not an iota of decorum about him. It wasn't normal.
Now was not the time to think on him. Let him go off on his adventure, she needed to focus on the important work of deciphering the messages of the Goddesses.
The next section had no musical notation, so not a song, must be a prophecy.
Through struggle and victory the Goddesses will alter the world
One raised in glory with the wisdom to find the proper path
One raised in ruin with the power to demand change
One raised apart with the courage to do what is right
The eternal echo, the Chosen of Goddesses
Three, as the Goddesses always seemed to work. Each of them with a champion or servant to enact their will upon the world. Many of the legends spoke of three figures. The three who freed the surface. The three who faced the wind demon. The three who divided the lands of Greater Hyrule. Their names lost to time.
And now she was one of them, if Rauru is to be believed. And she did, after all only eleven and already mastering the mystic arts and outmaneuvering one of the greatest generals of an age. Of course the Goddesses would choose her.
And her place among the three was obvious. Raised in glory and bearer of wisdom. As princess of Hyrule, no one was more prestigious than here, except perhaps her father. And he was only a regent. And certainly not the Chosen of Wisdom.
Link was one of the others, a Kokiri raised apart. And he definitely was courageous. To the point of foolishness, if he believed challenging Ganondorf would lead to anything but his death.
That left only the one raised in ruin with the power to demand change. Would they still be in ruins? Was that metaphorical or literal? Did they truly live in an ancient ruin, or had their childhood somehow been ruined? And how much power would this third ally have? Perhaps enough to challenge Ganondorf as Link wished.
And how could she find this third Chosen? There were ruins scattered about from abandoned cities, or villages destroyed by the Gerudo during the war. She'd even heard of a sunken city within Lake Hylia, though she knew not if that was true. Or could it be any harsh environment? Death Mountain, perhaps? Or the lands overrun by the Moblins and Lynels? Maybe even the desert of the Gerudo? That would serve as divine justice, wouldn't it? One of Ganondorf's own people being an instrument for his defeat.
"Come in," her father's voice sounded below her. Had someone knocked at the door? She had been too lost in thought to notice.
The door opened and the heavy step and rattle of an armored guard entered. "Sire."
"Is it time?"
"Almost, the Gerudo have finished their preparation to join with their army, but there is something else. Their envoy has just arrived as well."
"A week late," the king muttered. "I assume the Gerudo King will wish to delay leaving for his expedition then. In order to coordinate with his ambassadors."
Good news and bad intermixed. She'd known Ganondorf called for ambassadors from the desert to take his place in the war councils. When they did not arrive, she hoped they were lost to the sands and would not have to deal with their influence. But no such luck, unfortunately. The Goddesses must not wish for things to go too easy for her.
"I cannot say, your grace," the messenger said. "I came directly to you, when we received message that they were arriving."
"Of course, Sir Bors, I was simply thinking out loud. See if you can find my daughter. She should be with me to greet our new guests and see our old ones away."
"At once, sire," the door shut.
Alone in the room, Zelda heard her father sigh. "Zelda, help me."
A strange thing for him to say. Almost like a prayer, as someone would ask for guidance from the Three, or forgiveness from Hylia. And she was trying to help him, despite how it may appear to him. It was almost like he knew she was there. But that was impossible.
Zelda rolled up her scroll, tucked it back among the stones. Now the practice. She pressed her hands against the wall, capturing the image of the stones in the air and pulled their appearance from the wall. The ghostly stones light as air in her hands. She moved to the scroll and pushed the illusion into place, making certain that the edges aligned perfectly with the stones around it.
There. Secure from what prying eyes may stumble upon her passage. She stood up and stretched her legs. She would need to figure out how to get a chair in here, next time.
"No," Ganondorf called from across the yard as he noticed what two of his warriors were preparing to do. They stood thirty paces apart, five spears at each of their feet. He jogged to them waving them off. "Bethe, Makeela we don't have time for you two to fool around. We're trying to leave."
"Very well, my king," Makeela sighed and bowed her head.
"But," Bethmasse frowned. "We're about to go to war. Someone should do Spear Dance. It's tradition."
"Then you should have done it this morning."
"I didn't think about it this morning. It won't take long."
"Let me make this very clear, Bethe. You and Makeela are not throwing any spears at each other or anyone else. Because if one of you makes a mistake we'll be delayed even further than we already are."
Bethe's bottom lip pushed out, as if she was confused and thinking about something. "But neither of us are going to make a mistake. And if we do, that just means the ancestors disapprove of-"
"I said 'no' why are we still discussing this?" He walked away from Bethe before she could come up with some other argument. He loved the big woman, as he did all his sisters. But she could be so stubborn. It made her beyond reproach in the lines, but now was not the time to find out what the ancestors thought about his war. And he did not have time to explain that to her.
He glanced up to the sky. The sun shown high, far too high. They would be lucky if they made it half the distance they intended to reach by nightfall. The rest of his personal guard had most of their packs still laid out or were placing food and drink in the carts.
As he oversaw what they were doing, he passed by Mulli. As soon as his shadow touched her, he noticed the girl's shoulders tighten, her back straighten. She slowly turned her head to look at him. Giving a tight smile that never touched her eyes.
"Good work, Mulli," he said. She seemed of all of them the most prepared, with her pack and horses set. Her equipment polished, and wearing her armor so they could leave Castle Town with fanfare, even if they would take it all off as soon as they got away from the city's eyes.
"Yes. I mean, thank you, Ga- my king." Terrified. Absolutely terrified of him now. She had charged heedless into a line of knights by his side. They had fought together in the Moblin camp when they had been outnumbered by hundreds or more. But now just looking at him, and she was afraid.
And he couldn't blame her.
"Well," he said. "Keep up the good work."
"I will, I promise. I won't misstep again."
"You didn't-" Ganondorf sighed. "Thank you, Mulli."
He had apologized to her once already, and to Desqueza. They could not have known what conspired against him. He held those prophecies in his possession for over a decade. As soon as he learned the spell of marking, he should have cast it upon them. Arrogance and stupidity. He had been so used to being the only one who knew of their existence, he never dreamed anyone would steal them. After all, who would dare steal from a king? From him? Champion of many battles and killer of many Sheikah Needles. Foolishness and vanity. And he paid the price.
"Where is Nabooru?" He asked the air. Of all his warriors he had expected her to be the one keeping the rest on task. That was her job as second. But she wasn't even here.
Some of his guard shrugged.
"Perhaps she's with Jora?" Desqueza said with a laugh. "Saying her... goodbyes."
"Hmm," Ganondorf muttered. That was not as unlikely as he would have preferred.
Though on this occasion, it proved incorrect. Evidently, his words had the power to summon people, though not the one he wanted. Sir Jora appeared on the far side of the yard, calling for Ganondorf and waving.
Ganondorf sighed and waited for the man to reach him. "Sir Jora, have you seen my second anywhere?"
"Yes, she gave me a message, King Dragmire," he had that friendly guileless smile that Nabooru seemed to like so much. "Nabs asked me to deliver good news. Your envoys appeared, they sent riders ahead and Nabooru has ridden out to meet them and help lead them into the city."
"Thank the Goddesses," Ganondorf gave half a chuckle. They made it. He had been worried about them. They were supposed to arrive days prior to give him time to discuss what he wanted of them in person. How they were supposed to interact with King Liotidos, what to focus on. "This will delay me even further."
"I'm sorry for that, King Dragmire," Sir Jora said. "But it can't be helped. I believe the Royal Family is already scrambling to make a formal greeting. If you wish to join them."
"Of course, just give me a moment here first. Thank you, Sir Jora. I understand being a messenger is not your usual duties."
"Ahh, but what is lowering yourself a little for a friend? I'll tell the King and Princess you're to meet them." Then he gave a respectful bow and headed back toward the castle.
"Good that they're not lost," Bethmasse said as she approached his shoulder. "Since we're going to be delayed, does that mean that we have enough time for myself and Makeela to-"
"No spears. We're still leaving as soon as we're able. I'm just going to make an appearance at their reception." He looked around the field. "Dessi, get over here."
Desqueza stood up from her pack and walked over quickly. "Yes, my king?" She also looked at him with a bit of suspicion. But at least she didn't seem like she would burst into tears if he spoke to her.
"While I'm gone, you're in charge. Get the rest of our sisters organized, we are leaving in an hour. Understood?"
"Of course," she said, with none of her usual quips or jokes. Still not great, but he'd work on it. He needed to continue showing that he trusted them. That what happened with the scrolls was not their fault. He would win them back. He just needed more time.
He made his way to the front of the palace, giving nods and smiles to those he passed. He had become a fixture here, in his way. Everyone knew and trusted him. They were good people for the most part. He had even started to grow appreciative of some of the more intelligent among the nobility. Not all of them were fools as it turned out. But they did enjoy their pomposity a bit too much.
When he reached the front of the palace to stand among the King and his advisors, he vaguely noticed that he was the only one not dressed in ridiculous flowing white robes or dresses. He wore his black armor, and the only jewelry he had on was his Gerudo headdress.
"Ganondorf," the king said as they lined up on a raised platform just in front of the castle entrance. "Good to see you."
"My king," he bowed to him and his daughter before he took his place on the king's side. "I would not wish to miss the entrance of my own subjects. One should always give respect to those who serve you."
"We all have to deal with our vassals," the king agreed. That gave Ganondorf a moment's pause, as one of his vassals. Was the king just trying to handle him, was there perhaps more going on than he assumed with the fat old fool?
But before he could dwell on those thoughts the first of his people entered the gates. Camels and horses, all carrying warriors and attendants in the finest armor of the desert. He could tell each of the tribes that were arriving. Three different matrons by the look of them. The Molduga-Skinners with their brown and gray fish-scale pattern on their armor. A reasonable choice, Matron Rijya had a good head on her shoulders.
Behind them, the Star Singers, with their flags of a circle of stars on blue that they rode beneath. Now that gave him pause. Matron Ashdin? Why would Konoru send the mad woman of the desert?
Then came the last of the tribes, tattooed warriors that instead of a flag held up a helmet raised high on a staff with a boar's head draped over top of it.
The Boar-Head clan was here? Did that mean?
The Matrons entered next, and Ganondorf had to stop himself from laughing in delight. Rijya held the first position atop a thin but agile looking horse, to her right was Ashdin the Most-Feared, a woman of such size that she made Bethmasse look slight, though the age had turned her once prized muscle to fat. She rode in a wagon led by three of the fiercest warhorses that Ganondorf had seen, each of them snorting and nipping at each other. That almost ruined Ganondorf's mood, these were certainly big, and their snarling amused the crowds, but a horse acting in such a way either meant they were ill-trained or ill-treated.
The last of the matrons was the new leader of the Boar-Heads herself. And Ganondorf could not contain his laughter anymore. Bulira rode in a plain but sturdy looking camel, with none of the armor or weapons of the others. Just a little white shawl for the former scullery maid to drape around her shoulders and head. Nabooru riding her new mount by her side.
Their guard rode before King Liotidos and saluted before riding off to the sides of the pathway to make way for their Matrons. The three old women reached the front of the platform and started to get down.
"Help me out of here," Ashdin snapped to her guards, who all dismounted to aid her. Rijya slid off her own mount easy enough for a wrinkled old woman.
Ganondorf did not know why he did it. Bulira was not so weak or fat that she couldn't dismount a camel herself. And he knew it was not something one was supposed to do at one of these tedious ceremonies, but what was the point of being a king if he couldn't ignore protocol from time to time? He jumped off the platform onto the stairs below. He nearly ran to the little woman, even on her camel he was about the same size as her.
"Gan," she said, she opened her mouth to say more, but Ganondorf did not let her. His arms wrapped around Bulira and pulled her off the camel. "Oh!" she squeaked.
"Matron Bulira of the Boar-Heads, I could barely believe it when Nabs told me!"
"Gan," she said again, her voice somewhat strained. "I thought this was supposed to be a solemn and dignified occasion."
"Who cares?" he said. "I missed you."
"He never seems this happy to see me," Nabs joked as she dismounted and handed her reins to one of the stablehands.
"Ganondorf Dragmire," Bulira said her voice as firm as if she was scolding him as a child when she caught him stealing treats with Nabs. "You put me down right now."
He lowered her to the ground, as gently as he could. "I did not know they sent you."
"The Matrons voted," Bulira said, "Rijya to lead, Ashdin and I to assist. With my focus being organizing for this aqueduct of yours. Though in truth, I think Bartel just wished for me to leave the council for awhile."
"I'm glad you're here."
"So am I. Do you have time to talk?"
"Mother," Nabooru said. "Not here."
Ganondorf looked over his shoulder at the royal family. The king seemed a bit shocked at the display and the princess completely perplexed. He supposed they were not used to actual displays of affection among these stuffy aristocrats.
"I know," Bulira said. "But hopefully, before you leave."
"I'll be leaving as soon as this ceremony is complete," he sighed. "Let's finish this then." Ganondorf held his arm out for Bulira to take it and together they walked before the king's dais. Slim Rijya at one side and the massive Ashdin waddling behind them.
"My king," he called. "I have the highest pleasure in introducing to you three of the greatest vai in all of the Gerudo Desert. Rijya, Matron of the Molduga-Skinners will speak with my voice while I am away on campaign."
Rijya stepped forward, tapped above her heart to salute Ganondorf, before turning and bowing before the king.
"Assisting her will be Ashdin the Most-Feared, Matron of the Star Singers, a stronger woman does not exist below the sun." In her youth, anyway.
The big Gerudo waddled up a few of the steps and gave a quick salute followed by a half-bow as low as her gut would allow her.
"And last, Matron of the Boar-Heads, the most wise vai I have ever known, Bulira." He ushered her forward off his arm. Bulira bowed the lowest, too low for Ganondorf's taste. A lifetime forced to stay below the wrathful eyes of Koume and Kotake had made bowing and scraping come naturally to her.
The king raised his arms high. "Each of you are welcome within my palace, and I hope to grow as close to each of you as I have come to be with your great king. We will hold a celebratory dinner tonight in your honor."
"Right," Ashdin said, adjusting her pants to make certain they did not come loose. "Enough of that, it's been a long ride and I need to relieve myself."
"Better make it a late dinner then," Rijya said in her strange emotionless tone.
"Oh," the king looked almost to blush at the fat woman's crassness. But the Star Singers were a wild tribe, not well known for manners. Why had the Matrons sent her? "Of course. My servants will see you to your rooms, and to whatever else you need."
Ganondorf bowed once more before the king, and the Matrons and their guards did the same. Only then did the king raise his arms high. "Come, my friends. And enjoy the hospitality of Hyrule!" The crowds gave their cheers, and the matrons smiled. Bulira trying to applaud along with the crowd, though Ganondorf stopped her. That was for the common people, and she had never been a common woman to Ganondorf's eyes.
Once the crowd died down, the king returned to his castle. But the princess stayed, her eyes going over each of the ambassadors and their guard. She was analyzing them. Trying to figure them out.
Go ahead and try, little vai. You will not find my servants so easy to anticipate. I will not let you fool me again.
Bulira took Ganondorf's arm again. "If you're leaving soon, I would rather find my rooms later. Is there someplace we can talk?"
"If you can speak quietly and, in our tongue," Ganondorf said and led her back toward the training yards, where he hoped his guards had finished their preparation. "Though I believe Nabs wished to show you someone."
"Yes, her knightly love. I am certain he is respectful and kind."
"What makes you so certain of that?"
"Because," Bulira gave her daughter a smile and mouthed 'one moment' to her. Nabooru dutifully backed off. "If he was anything less, I trust that you would have sorted him out by now."
Ganondorf chuckled. "You're right there. Sir Jora is a good voe. Can't say I like him all that much, but that is no fault of his." When he was certain that they were well away from prying ears, Ganondorf took a deep breath. No point delaying further. "So, what did you wish to say to me?"
She waited a long moment, then looked up into Ganondorf's eyes. "What happened to you?" She said. "I know it was hard growing up. I know I could have done more to help you."
"Don't say such things, you did everything you could. More than those crones would have allowed you."
"I could have done more," she shook her head. "But when you left their home and became the man I knew you could be I was so proud. You were strong, but you were also kind and honorable. How you managed it after living with those monsters I don't know."
"I had you. I had you and Nabs to guide me."
"No, you were always a good boy. It's in you, I know that. Your people love you; they'll follow you wherever you lead." They reached the field where his guard prepared. She looked out over the hardest women in all of the Gerudo Desert. All ready for war. "Why are you taking this dark path?"
"I am doing this for my people. For you. So no one will have to live in fear as we did."
"We lived in fear because of your mothers. Because of the war."
"I am going to stop all wars. As soon as the throne is mine there will be peace. A true peace. A peace that will last throughout this age and into the next."
"Gan, you are the smartest man I've ever known. But you cannot control the future. All you can do, is try to make peace and prosperity for now."
"That is where you are wrong Bulira." He waved to Dessi.
She marched to Ganondorf and gave a salute. "Sire?"
"Are we ready?"
"Yes."
"Tell our sisters to mount up. We leave now." He whistled and Storm ran to him. He mounted his warhorse and looked down on the frail old vai that raised him. Her hands cracked, her face wrinkled. Kindness and worry mixed along the lines of her face. Someone he would never let hardship touch again. "When this is over, the future will be exactly what I say it will be."