Chapter 30: To the Point of Exhaustion
"I've told you everything," the fairy cowered in the corner of the bottle. "I don't know anything else. Please. I don't know anything."
Gan had never been so close to one of the fae. Some watched when he spoke with the Guardian of the Forest, but they never descended from his branches. His mothers taught him of these creatures, how they were beings born of pure magic could sustain themselves and those who could tap into their power for centuries.
And yet, despite their long lifespans, they did not prove particularly wise or powerful in themselves. And their courage? This one's screams answered that.
He shook the bottle and the little pink light tumbled within, rolling over its wings and striking the glass walls that encased it.
"Stop! Please! Stop!"
"Tell me more of your Great Mother," Ganondorf said. "If I should confront her, what would she use against me?"
"Whatever she likes. She has crafted illusions that can fool even other fairies. And she's enchanted the walls of our home with mighty spells."
"And what do the enchantments do?"
"Anything. Everything."
"That's not an answer," he shook the bottle again.
"Stop!" She screamed, almost like a human. That was the worst of this business, but mercy is the enemy of necessity.
"Then tell me details. What do these enchantments do?"
"I don't know all of them. But she's using some on the one that brought us the Emerald."
"The Kokiri?"
"No. Maybe? I don't know. The fairy. The Great Mother is forcing her to join us. To never wish to leave."
"How?"
"I don't know the details. All I know is that I'm supposed to make her feel important and lead her to a meeting. Mother does the rest."
"You don't see anything?"
"None of it is real. I took her to an empty room, every day. That's it. That's all I know."
Ganondorf put the bottle down, the fairy continued to gasp and sob. So the Great Fairy could make vivid illusions centered on only a single person. And perhaps even taking more direct methods of altering their mind. Difficult to do. The Twinrova taught him to overwhelm someone completely, make their will his own. That required strength, the power to break a mind and shape it as you want. But to simply tinker with it, let someone still retain their own personhood as you twist them from within? That required finesse.
Dangerous to face such a foe, especially in her own lair. But he defeated the Great Deku Tree, given time he could think of a way to turn a Great Fairy's magic against herself.
"Tell me more about the fairy that brought the Emerald. Why is the Great Mother corrupting her?"
"Corrupting? No, no the Great Mother wouldn't. Saving. When she arrived she was near dead. So weak she could barely fly. The Great Mother decided that it would be best if she remained there, rather than traveling the world with a child that would get her killed."
"And the child, what happened to him?"
"I don't know, I only brought him to Mother. I think she's using him as well."
"Using him how?"
"Don't hurt me again. Please, I don't know. I handled Navi- the fairy. She didn't tell me her plans with the boy."
"Did you ever see him?"
"No, I just brought the fairy to an empty pool every day. I don't know what became of the boy."
"Fickle friends are fairies," Ganondorf muttered. Good news, finally. The Great Fairy would have no need to keep the boy alive. She likely let him die of his wounds and disposed of the remains away from her children.
That dark part of him howled in delight at the death of an enemy, while cursing he could not kill it himself.
A child. Ganondorf frowned. Happy at the death of a child. A doomed one at that, sent out into an unfamiliar world just to be slaughtered. He had not even gotten a good look at him. Nothing but a green tunic and a blue fairy that disappeared in an instant. All the child likely wanted was to avenge the Great Deku Tree or perhaps protect the Emerald.
Either were worthy causes. Would he do any less in the Kokiri's position?
And Nabooru wants me to share these burdens with her? What horror would she show if she knew he celebrated the murder of children? No. He would handle these dealings alone.
He rubbed his eyes. How long had he been awake? Beneath the tentflap, in the small space where light from outside tumbled into his tent he could see the world was starting to brighten. He had worked throughout the night. Again. Perhaps if he laid down now, he could get maybe an hour of shut eye before his guards were forced to get him moving.
Would that little bit even help? More likely he would stumble through the day even groggier than he was now. Too little rest to give him energy, too much to keep his momentum going to carry him throughout the day. No, best to stay awake.
"Thank you, Telti," Ganondorf said and walked to the wooden box. He placed the fairy inside beside his demon-bone top, and a few other magic trinkets he protected. "We will talk more tonight."
The fairy sobbed as he picked up the Phantom Mask and Demon Top. He spread out the map of Hyrule and cast the first of his spells and released the top. It spun up Death Mountain and stopped below the summit. Good, his little minion was near the Crown. By extension, King Dodongo was right where he needed to be.
With the location set, Ganondorf closed his eyes and put the skeletal mask over his face. Where the mask touched skin it felt like fire. He took a deep steadying breath, ignoring the sting. Think of the mountain. Think of the Lizalfos. Let my spirit bring me there. He pulled the magic into himself and opened his eyes through the glowing holes of the Phantom Mask. For a moment all he saw was bright flame.
His vision cleared. Before him a group of Lizalfos pulled back, screaming and hissing. Only one among them did not retreat from his presence. It stepped forward and pulled its only arm across itself and knelt.
"My king," the lizard hissed. The others followed as their surprise ebbed, each taking positions beside the one-armed Lizalfos. All bowing before him.
"How goes the preparations for the assault?"
The creature hissed. "Should the weather remain favorable, King Dodongo has ordered the lines drawn tomorrow. We shall assault the Crown and-"
"No. Tell him he must wait. I will give the orders when to attack."
One-Arm snout rose from the dirt and met Ganondorf's eyes. "Why? If we delay, the Gorons will have time to prepare."
"You will wait, because I have commanded you to wait. Do not forget who rules your army, and what I can do to those who displease me."
The lizard's emotionless eyes did not blink. The cold-blooded creature did not shiver or give any clear sign of discomfort. But of all the Lizalfos he could have used as a messenger, this one had a brain. Perhaps it would have been simpler to pick some mindless thug who would blindly follow orders. But a clever tool had its uses as well.
"If that is what would please you, my king. How long shall we wait?"
"Stay close to King Dodongo, I will speak to you again when it is time to assault the Crown. Tell him to continue making preparations, reveal fractions of your numbers. Just enough to keep the Gorons scared."
"Raids?"
"When necessary."
"It will be done, my king."
"It better be, for your sake." Ganondorf took off the mask and the world went dark. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting what magic remained within leak out. When he opened them again, he was back in his tent. Now the brightness of the morning clawed its way into the room.
He shut his eyes once more and simply stood. Just for a breath. He let all the pressures of the world drift away from him. If he could, he would have fallen asleep on his feet. But there was work to do. There was always more work to do.
Lifting the heavy lids of his eyes, he searched his room for a waterskin. Then a bowl to pour some of the water into. When he campaigned in the desert, this would have been an extravagance. Something he would never hope for, even as a king. But here? Now? With the support of Hyrule and all the rivers and lakes within? Their supply chain held barrels beyond count filled with water. Enough for him to dip his hands in and splash it over his face and eyes. Letting the coolness wash away the night's work.
Water dripped down his forehead, over his nose, and onto the stubble around his chin. He gave a quiet laugh and did it again. Letting the water splash down over his shirt and splatter to the ground, completely wasted. One day every Gerudo would live with such luxury. He would bring it to them. Everything he did, he did for them.
It would all be worth it.
"Please," Link said to the two Goron guards. "I need to see him." Should he go down on his knees? He'd seen some people back in Castle Town bow or kneel before the different nobles. Do they do that to their guards too?
He did not get a chance to try. The Gorons that stood before Chief Darunia's home held out their hands each as big as Link's torso. "No," one said. "It is too early. If you come much later, maybe."
"Should the Chief wish to speak with you," said the other.
"But there's not time." He spent most the night searching for the chief. After his attempts to discover the Ruby personally ended in failure. "I need to talk to him, now. It's important. I'm- I'm a messenger from the Royal Family."
"You don't look like a messenger."
"You aren't wearing a messenger's uniform."
"No, I don't. But the Princess sent me."
"Do you have an official seal?"
"Or a letter of introduction?"
"I have that!" Link said and grabbed for his bag. But he did not have it anymore, or the letter the princess wrote for him. Both had been destroyed in the fight. He looked back to the guards and frowned. "No. I lost it. But I have-"
"Go, little Hylian," the first guard said. "We have been polite enough. The Chief needs his rest. So do you, by your look." The Goron put his hand on Link's shoulder to nudge him away.
"Auugh!" Link swatted at the hand. But the massive fist felt like stone. The Goron's hand didn't budge, but Link's stung from the effort. "Fine!" He stomped away from the guards. There had to be something he could do. What if he broke in? He had managed to climb the tower to steal from Ganondorf, there had to be a way that he could see Darunia.
Though Darunia's home was nothing like the castle. Instead of massive towers and walls to climb, leading to windows he could crawl inside, the Gorons carved their homes from within the mountain itself. Link couldn't tell where the buildings started or ended, except for the massive stone doors. No windows to look through, or side entrances, or anything.
He backed away, and the two guards stopped paying attention to him. They turned and talked to each other, their massive cudgel and pickaxe resting on their shoulders.
What if he just charged? Scamper under their legs and rush inside. Could he do it? He was definitely faster than the Gorons, unless they did that rolling thing. But then, how would he open the door?
What if he waited until someone opened the door for him?
But as he watched one of the two guards shifted their footing and his leg blocked the path to the door. It was a dumb plan. The exact kind that kept getting him in trouble. He was just too tired. The sun didn't brighten the depths of the mountain, and he'd seen three of the lanterns that lit the tunnels refilled while he searched for the Ruby. The only reason he knew it was night at all was that hours ago the streets emptied as the Gorons went to sleep. And since then he'd accomplished nothing.
He trudged away from the chief. Not that it would matter. If he waited for Ganondorf in front of the Goron chief or with the Gerudo he'd fail just the same. Nevertheless, his feet kept him moving to the Gerudo camp. For a few moments he shut his eyes as he walked, and his head drooped until his chin almost rested on his chest.
No. I can't get tired. I need to find the Ruby. He shook his head and forced his eyes to stay open. But every few steps he stopped to yawn or pinch himself to keep going. Somehow, he reached the upper level of the caverns where the Gerudo tents stood huddled together. Maybe if he could find some corner to curl up and rest, even if only for a few moments, he could focus and figure out a new way to meet the Goron chief.
He reached the tent he shared with a few of the servants and grabbed the tent flap.
"There you are," a sharp voice came behind him. "Where have you been?"
Link spun around, and near toppled over. "Barkan?"
She turned her head and shouted over her shoulder. "I found him! He's here!"
"What's going on?" Link blinked a few times, trying to get his eyes to focus.
But Barkan brushed past him into the tent. "What makes you so special?" She hissed before she disappeared inside the tent.
What was that about?
"Link," Bethmasse's deep voice made him turn back around. "Come, voe."
"What? Why?" Link said. He was so close to the tent. If he could just get inside and collapse on one of the blankets.
"I must look my best today. You must come." The Gerudo nodded for Link to follow and then headed away.
Link let out a small groan, but he followed her. He tried to think of some way to get away from the woman, but his brain felt like goop.
"It is normal," Bethmasse said as they walked through the servant's tents, "for young warrior to celebrate youth. But not to true weariness. A warrior must be alert. Always."
"I don't know what you're saying."
"Tonight you must get full sleep. No whatever you did. Again."
"I can't get some now?"
"No, now you work." They reached the tent that Bethmasse shared with several of the other leaders of the vanguard. The big warrior opened the tent and ushered Link to enter before her. Inside did not have much more room than the servants, the tent itself was larger and held fewer people than the camp follower's tents. But most of the room was taken up with weapons and armor all tucked away into separate piles.
None of the warriors slept, each of them had their own pieces of equipment across their laps or held out before them. The one named Mulli looked at Bethmasse and smiled as she wiped away at her armor with a damp looking cloth. She spoke Gerudo, but Link picked up some of the words. "You were gone longer than I thought, Bethe. We're all almost done."
The Gerudo warriors sometimes called Bethmasse 'Bethe.' Most of them had little shortened names for each other. Like when they called Commander Nabooru 'Nabs.' It was a sign of friendship. Sometimes Link thought of them by their shortnames on accident. But he tried to always correct himself. These people were not his friends, no matter how often he forgot.
"Then it's a good thing I will have help." Bethmasse took her spear and sword and handed them to Link. The spear was twice the size of Link, if not bigger. Just trying to hold onto it, made it wobble. "Here," Bethmasse switched back to Hylian. "You oil," and she handed Link another rag glistening in the torchlight.
The warriors showed Link how to properly care for the equipment, as Bethmasse cleaned her armor and put it on. While they worked, Bethmasse tried to tell him some story about her spear. But her Hylian couldn't handle some of the words, and when she switched to Gerudo, Link could only make out about half of it. But she spoke of an old lost spear with such reverence. Something about a gift of her ancestors and their history written upon the blade. She sounded so sad as she spoke about it.
Part of Link wanted to comfort her and tell her that this spear would serve her just as well as the last. But Link could barely form the words. The repetitive task of oiling and rubbing at the weapons did little to help keep him awake.
"Good," Bethmasse said once he finished, and she inspected his work. "Now, your sword. You must look respectable."
For what? Link wanted to say, but he was too tired for anything but a grunt. He unsheathed his sword and wiped it down with the oiled rag.
He barely covered half of it when a horn sounded. A bit quiet, the thin remains of what could pass into the mountain. All around him the Gerudo stopped whatever they were doing, all idle conversation ended. Then they all rushed to strap on the last of their armor, or furiously finished oiling their own equipment.
"Oh no," Link whispered. It had to be him. The black rider.
The horn sounded again, slightly louder this time. The women cheered then rushed outside of the tent. Only the one called Mulli seemed a little apprehensive.
"Voe," Bethmasse said as she pulled her spear up to align at her side. She looked every inch a warrior of legend. "Come with us."
"I'm sorry," Link said with a nod of his head. "Thank you, but I have work that I need-"
"No sense," Bethmasse frowned, then corrected herself. "Nonsense. You must come. That is why I find you. See the arrival of a great man." She ushered him out of the tent into the cavernous paths of the mountain.
There had to be a hundred places to hide. If only he could get away from Bethe and-
A strong hand found his shoulder. "Come," Bethmasse said again. "It is normal to fear, but our king is good. You see." She smiled as the other warriors lined up. "He saved-" but whatever else she was going to say was drowned out by the crash of the Goron drums.
They deafened him when he arrived out on the mountainside, now that he was stuck inside the cavernous city the sound reverberated through the walls. Link could not hear what anyone said. But the warriors lined up into factions, with Bethmasse taking her place near the front with Mulli and few of the others that she shared a tent with. Only Nabooru stood before them all, she tried to shout some order, but the drums grew even louder.
She ended up waving her hand as a signal, the warriors seemed to know what she meant, and they started marching to the side. Bethmasse never let go of Link's shoulder, pulling him with them so he wouldn't be trampled by the other women. Only releasing him when she was certain he was safe.
A moment later the leader of the Gorons, Chief Darunia, marched past with his retinue. Link could not tell if the smashing noise was the footsteps of the hundred Gorons or the pounding of their drums.
The Gerudo waited for the Gorons to file past before they followed. The noise was better once the drums passed, but now a high-pitched ringing would not leave his ears. He tried to cover them, but the sound would not stop. After wiggling his fingers in them he gave up. The ringing would not last forever, he hoped anyway.
Around him, the Gerudo all had their own discomforted frowns. Link searched for a path to slip through the crowd and get away from Bethmasse, but they were all too closely packed. And what would happen if any of the Gerudo found him again? How would he explain himself? Was it any better if he faced down the man now?
And then what? What would happen if he saw the murderer now? Without the Ruby, without the Gorons.
Alone.
The drums stopped and the crowd of woman moved. In unison, marching out of the caves, pulling Link along with them. Just be a shadow. Gorons and Gerudo all taller than him, with their weapons and drums. He could just be one among the crowd. Perhaps the murderer would never see him.
But once they passed beneath the entrance to the Goron Caverns, Link saw that all the stonemen moved to the side, leaving room for the Gerudo behind Commander Nabooru to line up beside him. There wouldn't be hundreds of people between him and the rider in black. Bethmasse stood at the front. And he'd be right behind her.
With nowhere else to go, he stepped behind Bethmasse's shadow. Hoping that somehow that would be enough.
Coming up the mountain path, a dark man rode atop a dark horse. At his back an army large enough to fill all of Castle Town by the look of them.
The drums stopped.
He was too close. Far too close.
The rider in black rode to the Gorons and dismounted, as Chief Darunia stepped forward. The two men spoke to each other in a voice too quiet for Link to hear. But the two men stood eye to eye. How tall was this man? Nabooru approached the two. Facing the black rider, she tapped her chest as some of the other warriors did to her, before the murderer pulled her into a hug. The top of her head barely made it to his chest.
"Watch, voe," Bethmasse said. "He is the greatest man of the age."
To Link's left one of the warriors muttered an agreement. "He saved my life at Daphnes."
"Watching him fight is like watching art," said another in decent Hylian. "A bloody and cruel art, but beautiful just the same. There is no warrior like him under the sun."
"I heard at Satori he routed an entire company of knights alone," piped up the voice of a young warrior a few rows behind Link.
"Some stories," Bethmasse said. "Have been exaggerated." She looked over her shoulder at the young warrior.
"How do you know?"
"I fought with him at Satori. We were outnumbered, but never fought alone."
He'd come to know Bethmasse over the last weeks, in a strange way he trusted her. She did not mean anything by her words other than praise for her master. But Link only grew angry. He knew his enemy was a great warrior, the Princess told him. What he didn't want was a reminder that everyone around him was his enemy as well. Even Bethmasse and Nabooru and Mulli. Perhaps those three more than all the others.
How could he face them all?
The leaders appeared to finish their conversation, Chief Darunia went back to his Gorons. For a moment, Link had hoped that Ganondorf would move back to his army, but he didn't. Nabooru and he headed straight toward Link.
"Faces forward!" Nabooru shouted when they were still a few paces away. "Your king approaches!" Not that she needed to say anything, as far as Link could tell everyone around him fell silent and straightened themselves up as soon as Ganondorf took his first step toward them.
The two stopped in front of the crowd. By the Goddesses, he was huge. Bethmasse was the largest woman Link had ever seen and she did not come to his shoulder. Nabooru was not short by any means, but she looked like a child next to him. Do I even come up to his knee?
Ganondorf's yellow eyes roamed over the Gerudo, he cleared his throat. "My sisters." The crowd went completely silent. Link could have heard a squirrel climbing a tree half a mile away. He spoke in Gerudo, his voice a deep rumble. Link could only make out half the words. But as far as he could tell he spoke of climbing the mountain together to rid the world of monsters.
A good sentiment if Link believed a word of it.
The yellow eyes passed over Link and to the Gerudo that stood beside him. Ganondorf stopped mid-sentence, and his eyes fell back to Link. That was it. Did he recognize him? It had only been a passing glance when the Black Rider traveled past him on the road to Hyrule Castle.
He must recognize me. I'm dead. Is there a way I can signal to the Princess and tell her I failed? But if there was, he did not think of it. Maybe if he had slept the night before?
There was no point wasting time on ifs and maybes. This would be his end. Well the murderer would get nothing from him. Nothing.
"But we are the children of the desert," Ganondorf continued, his eyes finally leaving Link behind. "There is no land more treacherous than our home. And there are no monsters more deadly than we. Together we will rid this land of all that ills it. For the Gerudo!"
The crowd cheered, the warrior women stomped their feet and tapped the tailspikes of their spears into the ground.
Ganondorf called something above the crowd that Link could not catch. The clamor masking what little he could understand of their language.
The woman smashed their spears down once more and gave a trilling yell of celebration. Then they dispersed, some heading back into the mountain, others staying to get a more personal greeting from their king. Link's arm shook, he'd been gripping his sword the entire time. His fingers hurt.
But now was his chance. He could step back and move away with the crowd. Disappear into the caverns and find the Ruby. Somehow.
A hand found his shoulder and stopped him. He froze. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He peaked up and saw Bethmasse leaning over him. "Come." With her hand still on his shoulder she guided Link toward the murderer.
Could he use the flat of his sword to smack her hand away? Was there still a chance to get out? But the yellow eyes of the Gerudo King stared at him. It was over.
"Sav'aaq, my king," she said, with a vigorous thump of her chest.
"Bethe," Ganondorf said, his eyes flicking up to the big woman. His voice low and harsh, but there was no menace in it. Not yet at least. "Nabs told me she left you in charge when she came to discuss strategy. You held my vanguard together?"
"Of course," Bethmasse said, "It was my honor to-"
"Who is that with you?"
Link swallowed hard. He was so close to the monster, he could almost touch him.
"A voe we picked up on the path. He has a desire to fight and is well trained. I am taking him as my- what is that word? The ones the knights use to describe those they train?"
"Squire," Nabooru said. Ganondorf gave her a look, perhaps annoyance? It was just the flicker of his brow furrowing before he looked back to Link.
"Of course," Ganondorf said and held out his hand. "Come here, voe."
There was nothing else to do. Link stepped to the murderer, his hand twitched over his sword hilt. He would only have time for one good strike. One chance to end the threat once and for all. No more stones, no more quests. No more loneliness.
One strike and it would all be over. For the monster and him.
His throat was dry, his heart thumped in his chest as loud as a Goron's drum. But he would not show fear.
"Look at this one," Ganondorf laughed. "Like he's facing down a sandstorm. Where did you find him, Bethe?"
"He found us. Warned us we were marching into an ambush. Brave. Skilled. I like him." Bethmasse frowned. "What is wrong with you, voe? Say something."
Link clenched his jaw as he looked up at his enemy. If he were a hero in a story he would think of some witty retort and stab him now. But Link had never been one for clever words. A thousand times he'd only think of some retort against Mido hours or even days after they argued. But he did not need to be clever. Not anymore.
Link gripped the hilt of his sword and unsheathed the blade.
Before he could even point it, Ganondorf's hand grabbed around his wrist. Link tried to pull his arm free, but it would not move.
"Let go!" Link said. "It hurts." Ganondorf's fingers clenched tight enough to dig into Link's skin. Link swung his free arm against his enemy's forearm. It did nothing.
Bethmasse said something fast in Gerudo before hissing. "What is meaning?" Behind Link, air stirred as the big woman moved. A moment later something sharp pressed into Link's back.
I'm sorry, Zelda, Navi, Father. I tried.
"Stop," Ganondorf said, his deep voice low almost bored. He twisted Link's arm. Link gasped, his fingers opened, and the sword clattered to the ground. "A fair effort, voe. But I've been surviving Sheikah assassins since before you were born." He nodded to Nabooru and out of the corner of Link's eye he saw a hand scoop up his sword from the ground.
Then the pressure was gone. Ganondorf released him, leaving behind deep red marks along Link's arm. Link tried to rub away the pain as the murderer crouched down, their eyes were almost even. He pursed his lips and waited, as if expecting Link to say or do something.
What could he say? Nothing came to him except that perhaps he could take a swing at Ganondorf's face from this distance. But that would be even more futile than the sword.
"The eyes on this one," the smallest smile twisted Ganondorf's mouth. "You must hate me. Why, I wonder?"
He's taunting me. He does know. Murderer. I'll give him nothing. Just get it over with.
"Don't want to tell me? Let's see if I can guess. You blame me for something, a death, most likely. Though one fool tried to kill me for my scouts burning down his farm. But I'm sticking with death, I've caused more than my share of those. Someone important, someone you loved."
Stop playing and get it over with!
"Guessed it in one, it seems. Who was it, voe?"
Link clenched his teeth shut.
"Well, this is growing dull. Bethe, get-"
"My father," Link said. "You killed my father."
"Ahh, some knight or soldier I faced in battle?"
"No! He was a man of peace. He wouldn't fight or hurt anyone, and you killed him."
Ganondorf frowned. "That doesn't sound like something I would do. I can't think of any time I raised a blade to a man of peace."
"Your command. You don't have to hold the blade to do the killing."
The murderer nodded. "Can't argue with that I suppose. Look at this one."
"I see him," Nabooru grumbled.
"A natural born killer. I bet that's what you did. Used that sword to stab the one that actually committed the murder already, didn't you?"
"Yes," Link glared into Ganondorf's eyes. I killed the monster you sent. I'm tougher than I look.
"You know, I actually believe you. You're brave, I'll give you that."
"Should I have him executed, my king?"
"Bethe, it's a child," Nabooru said. "Throw him out of the tents. Beat a lesson into him if you must-"
"Why?" Ganondorf interrupted her but did not take his eyes from Link. "That would be a terrible thing to do to your own squire." He stood up and looked to the women behind Link. Without those eyes on him, Link found himself blinking and took a ragged gasping breath. "Nabs, give him back the blade."
"What?" Link squeaked. Why was he doing this? It had to be a trick. Give Link some false hope before taking it all away from him.
Nabooru pushed the sword into Link's chest, forcing him back a step as he grabbed at the hilt. She glared at him, "Fool," she muttered as she stepped away.
"What's your name, squire?" Again, the yellow eyes found him. This time from high above, like a hawk perched over its prey.
Was there any way he could know his name? Would saying it out loud reveal anything? "Link."
"Well, Link. Are you a warrior or some coward assassin?"
"A warrior."
"Good," Ganondorf turned away from him took a few steps then held out his hand and a great dark blade appeared within it. It was huge, bigger than any of the swords he'd seen the knights use. Gleaming black and jagged.
Was he going to challenge him? Link looked about him. Other Gerudo and even a few Gorons took notice. A small crowd gathered about him. Most of them giving confused looks to each other. It must be a sight, this giant leering over a child. "Come squire. If you're a warrior, prove it." He waved the greatsword before him into a salute. Somehow wielding the weapon with only one hand.
Link held out his sword and pulled his shield forward. He performed the salute the Gerudo drilled into him. The murderer chuckled as he raised his own blade. It was huge, far too large and heavy to safely parry. What had Bethmasse and Nabooru told him? When your opponent is stronger-
Ganondorf rushed toward him. The massive black blade swung down. Fast. Far faster than Link expected. He raised his shield high. The blow crashed upon the shield. Shock ran across Link's arm, and his strength crumbled before Ganondorf's. The shield crashed against Link's forehead, sending him to his knee. His vision blurred, and all turned brown and grey. No. No! He shook his head, trying to clear his sight before the next strike brought his death.
"Too rigid," Ganondorf said. A rush of movement swept passed Link. Something smacked one of his ankles then the other. "And your feet were too close together."
Link whirled around, shouting and swinging his sword. There was no skill or accuracy in the strike. A wild blow, but poor form could still kill if the blade is swung fast enough. He struck nothing but air, Ganondorf no longer stood close to him.
The Gerudo had given Link enough room to stand safely outside the reach of that massive black sword. Overconfidence, maybe Link could use that?
Link scrambled to his feet. One more shake of his head and he could see well enough. Ganondorf had not moved. He held his blade down, almost lazily at his side. Completely open, as if he did not think Link could ever reach him.
Was it a trick? Link remained out of reach, searching for some sign of what his opponent planned.
"Well, voe? I'm waiting." Ganondorf said. "I thought you said you were a killer. You're not going to avenge anyone from all the way over there." He laughed. The murderer dared to laugh! As if all the pain he caused had been nothing but a joke!
Link lurched forward into a thrust. No more wild, uncoordinated strikes. This one he aimed true, just as Bethmasse taught him, straight toward the gap in the giant's defense.
Ganondorf shifted his weight, swiveled, and raised his sword fast and high.
The gap closed before Link could reach it. The massive blade met his own. The force behind the parry sent Link's arm back, and near tore his sword from his grip. He managed to clench tight around the pommel, preventing the weapon from flying free of him. Link stumbled, trying to steady himself. Ganondorf still stood within his reach, leering at him. Link screamed and struck at his opponent again, and again. He aimed at the gap where the breastplate met his tasses, toward his unarmored thigh, the inside of his elbow, anything weakpoint Link could hope to reach.
The enemy parried two and dodged another. Link roared and swung down with all his might trying to catch the murderer between motions. He had him! He was going to win!
Ganondorf stepped aside, his arm darted out, and punched Link in the shoulder. Link stumbled, and fell once more into the dirt.
"Aggression is good. Anger is useful. And power, that's one of the best tools for a fight. But too much behind a blow you weren't certain to connect. You won't beat a better opponent by rushing in mindlessly. You need wisdom to control that power."
Link growled and spun to his feet. If he could just get inside his long arms-
The black blade came for him, too fast to think. With sword and shield Link tried to protect himself, but each strike forced him back further and further. What could he do with no moment to plan? He thought he saw an opening and struck, but Ganondorf wasn't there anymore. A hand grabbed around Link's chest and a leg went behind his feet and Link was on the ground again.
"You're outclassed. What do you do?"
"Gan, stop," a voice called. "This isn't funny."
Perhaps that would distract him? Link roared and lurched forward, first to his feet then jumping toward his opponent. Another wild thrust, a stupid thrust he knew. But if Ganondorf didn't suspect it? Halfway through the lunge and he knew he'd failed, yet he could not stop himself. The flat of the black blade smashed into Link's hand, and his sword spun free of his grip. Still Link moved forward, his arms splayed. He wrapped them around his opponent's legs. If he could trip the giant, get him on the ground, find a knife and-
Ganondorf didn't budge, even as Link put all his weight into him. "Well, you reached me. I suppose that's something. But again, you're completely open."
A heavy hand slammed into Link's back. And he fell to the ground again, his face splashed into the dust and dirt.
"Yield."
Link wiped the muck from his face. He still held his shield. His fingers tightened around the handle of that blessed wood. "You killed him. He was good and you killed him."
"Life is full of tragedies. Now, yield."
Link pushed the last gift of his father into the ground and forced himself up. Groaning as he did it. "No. I'm-"
A heavy boot found Link's side and pushed him over onto his back. Then it stepped on his chest, forcing the air out of Link's lungs. The ugly leering face of Ganondorf appeared over him. Link tried to swing at him, but his arm just lightly tapped at the man's knee.
The murderer glared down at Link his lips curled into a snarl. Link swung again, and again. Though it did nothing, he couldn't stop. Not until his arm was too weak to move.
A smile twisted the ugly face. "Good," Ganondorf said. "If something is important to you, you fight for it to the end."
The foot lifted off him. Link took a choking grunting breath. He lifted his shield over his chest, and held the last part of his father as close as he could. He laid there, staring at the sky. His lungs burning and the rest of him aching. The large shadow moved over him and then away.
"Thank you for warning my people of the ambush. Your aid and courage has now been rewarded. If you wish to challenge me again, be patient, grow strong, and face me like a warrior. If you try to strike me in the back, I will not be so forgiving again."
Someone rushed to Link's side, a coarse but gentle hand took his arm. He did not know who he was expecting to see helping him, but Nabooru's frowning face was not it. The Gerudo helped him to his feet, and even returned his sword to him. She did not speak, but looked over him, prodding at points. Satisfied she just nodded. "Nothing broken, by the look of it."
"Then he is lucky," Bethmasse growled, she stood at Ganondorf's shoulder. Her spear still pointed at him.
"That's not luck," Ganondorf said. "I break what I want to break. That's enough of this amusement. Nabs, we have much to discuss with Darunia. Bethe, see to your squire. He has talent." Then he stepped past Link, but as he did his hand touched the top of his head to ruffle his hair. But it stung. No more than that, it burned. Maybe from when his own shield smacked him in the head early in fight, but it didn't feel like that. More like a shock passed from Ganondorf's hand to the top of Link's head.
"You had me worried for a moment," Nabooru said as they walked side by side into the Goron Tunnels.
"I'm not a monster," Ganondorf replied.
Even with his hand gone, the sting on top of Link's head still felt odd. He reached to rub at it.
Crack.
Bethmasse's hand swung from behind him and sent Link stumbling forward. "Fool Hylian." She said before grabbing Link's shoulder and spinning him around to face her. Link had never seen any of the Gerudo look near as angry or fearsome. "Run. Around the camp. Run until your lungs burn then run more. When you collapse, I will think of what else you deserve. Go!"