Chapter 31 - S.S.D.D
Caked in dust and sweat, Link dismounted Epona and led her back to the royal stables. The sun had long since set as he, Zelda and Williams had made their way back to the castle, with the lone Goron survivor in tow. He was too heavy to ride any horse, so Williams and his men retrieved a wagon from Kakariko village.
They returned looking worse for the trouble, sickened by the sights. He had ridden in the cart with one of Karlsmans men who kept trying to talk to him, but barely got a flicker of recognition out of them.
Nobody had slept in more than a day and the toll was upon them. Shoulders slumped, some were becoming irritable, others were having trouble keeping their eyes open. But all of them were pale at the sights they had seen.
As the rest dismounted and tied up their horses, Zelda was the first to say anything.
"I need to find some expert help for this Goron. Link? Williams? I suggest you take some time off. Goddesses know we need to" she said dryly.
Link nodded, eager to try and relax. Williams and his men left to go and make their reports.
Zelda stayed behind. She looked more pale than Link had ever seen her. Staring aimlessly, she rubbed her temples then tightly folded her arms. It looked as if she was trying to keep herself from literally falling apart.
"I feel vile, Link…" she said quietly.
Unsure of what to say, he thought for a moment.
"Ghirahim will pay for what he's done. I promise that" he said sternly. "As for right now? Take things as easy as you are able to. Let me help you, if I can."
She smiled for a second.
"I appreciate that, thank you. But I am not the only person here who experienced all of that. What about you Link? How are you….dealing with this?" she asked carefully.
He thought about it, but couldn't summon any energy to explain it properly.
"I don't know. Maybe it'll all hit me later or maybe I've suddenly become immune to horror" he shrugged.
He looked over to the Goron they had rescued. He seemed to be a little more focused than before. What he was going through was anyone's guess, he thought.
They were looking around more, taking in the environment some more, trying to get a sense of place. Link recalled seeing some Gorons around town. There was a chance they didn't know about what had happened. So they would likely have a great deal of questions for this one.
"Hey. There are likely some Gorons in town. Do you think you'd like to see them, or maybe leave it for a while? I have to imagine they'd want to hear the story from you" he asked.
- The Goron -
The world came into focus again. He hadn't even realized how numb his senses had been until now
The Hylian's voice sounded distant to him.
"What did you say?" he asked, his voice quiet. "My people are… here?"
His chest tightened. He was afraid to ask, or believe.
The Hylian nodded. "I've seen several of them. I don't know how many, but far more than none."
The Goron swallowed. His massive fingers twitched slightly as something stirred deep in his chest.
Not everyone had been killed.
He opened his mouth, then closed it. His mind reeled as questions clashed into one another.
He nearly refused, some instinct somewhere wanting to prevent him.
But then, something clicked. If he didn't tell them, who would?
He clenched his jaw and inhaled deeply, though his hands still trembled.
"I must see them," he said at last.
The Hylian nodded to him respectfully.
His mind started working once again. Trying to think of what he could tell his brothers and sisters. His mind seemed thick and like soup at points. But he focused as best as he could. He had been unable to do anything to help when the demon Ghirahim had come.
He paused for a moment as he saw his visage in his mind as clearly as he recalled his attack.
Replaying the fall of the tall and proud Patriarch didn't unsettle him which he found concerning. Replaying the fall of their tall and proud Patriarch should have shaken him. Instead, the numbness held firm, and that unsettled him more than anything else.
Was there something wrong with him? He thought for a moment longer, but shrugged it off as he thought more about what to do.
The little Hylian waited patiently for him. He was the one who pulled him back from the brink of pure despair. Gave him new purpose. He needed to show gratitude.
"Though I wished you had arrived earlier, I can't deny how much help you've all been since you found me. I wanted to thank you for that" he said simply. Hoping it conveyed his gratitude.
"Hey, I'm sorry that I couldn't get there sooner. I wish I had…"
The Hylian looked to him, straight in the eyes. He was at least honest.
In the numbness, he felt a flicker of warmth. Though it was quickly snuffed.
"But make no mistake. I am hunting him. Until either he dies, or I do" the Hylian continued.
The flicker of warmth came back this time, with a hint of satisfaction too.
"If by then I have become myself again, then I will join you."
The two shared a look, a flash of steel determination in both of them.
Another Goron arrived in the castle yard. The young princess seemed to have been true to her word. Upon seeing the brother, he exhaled a pent up breath he had been holding. His tense shoulders finally relaxed. He wasn't alone.
"Brother! I've heard terrible things…are you alright?" The new Goron said, rushing past the Hylian guards who made no move to stop him.
"I…" he began to say. It was so easy to just say 'fine' that it had become a lazy standard. He was far from that and needed to be honest with the others, as he had told himself.
"No. I am far from alright. But it is good to see another brother" he replied.
He looked bright, optimistic and full of vigor as he had been once. He thought for a moment, perhaps telling him now could help get the demons out of his mind. Surely sharing what he had seen would be better than keeping it quiet.
He shook his head to shift the thought. He did need to tell him, but better to face all of the misery in one go, he thought.
"We… need to gather any other of our brothers and sisters and tell them all at once."
His voice caught in his throat. Voicing it suddenly felt impossible. He took a deep breath as he closed his eyes, trying to regain the stomach for the idea.
"I do not wish to retell what I've seen more than once."
The younger Goron nodded, understanding immediately. He turned but looked back, wondering if he should stay and help, uncertainty his only feature. But he knew what he had been tasked to do.
"I know all of the Gorons here. I will bring them all, brother."
Pride stirred in his chest now. The younger were honor bound to serve their elders and this young one had taken Goron pride to his strong heart
In an instant, the younger Goron turned and headed back into town as fast as he could, several Hylians jumping out of his way.
A cold knot of dread coiled within him. The thought of explaining everything seemed impossible. Alien. It still didn't feel real.
He stayed locked in his mind, as fleeting thoughts crashed into one another and rendered the world even more senseless.
"Do you know them?" the young Hylian asked, providing a much needed distraction.
He shook his head.
"No, I never met him before. We don't give our trade names to each other very often."
The Hylian looked confused.
"Trade name?" he asked.
"Gorons do not have names for each other, for we are all brothers and sisters. We give ourselves names for other races to make it easier to talk or trade. But we barely use them on our own."
"Oh, I didn't know. Well, I'm Link. What's your 'trade name'?"
"Darumon"
"Then it's good to meet you, Darumon. Despite the circumstances" said Link, offering his hand to him.
Darumon took his hand and shook it firmly. He couldn't show a weak grip now. To his surprise, the Hylian matched his grip easily.
A small smile crept onto his lips. Though Link likely didn't know, matching a Gorons grip was a sign of equal respect, normally shared amongst family members.
"And you, Link. When the time comes, I hope we claim our revenge. Together."
- Link -
Darumon's firm grip was reassuring. Despite the carnage that had destroyed his home, he held himself together, refusing to break.. It would have been all too easy, even understandable, if he fell apart.
Instead, there was someone new who wanted to bring Ghirahim to an end.
"Then I look forward to the opportunity. I'll keep you informed of anything I know. But now, we have to plan our next moves. If you need any help, find me or Princess Zelda and we will do what we can."
"Thank you, Link. Your help means a great deal to me" he responded. "It will take some time, but I will explain everything to the other Gorons and after that? We shall see."
Link nodded to him and turned to head back into the castle. He hadn't forgotten what Zelda had said. That Ghirahim was likely going to invade the Twillight Realm. He had spent the ride back to the castle trying to explain it away or why it wouldn't be likely. But none of his excuses stood up against the cold logic Zelda had put forward.
She had left to begin organising the Hylian army once more, preparing for… an invasion of their own? A rescue force? He had no idea. So, he focused on finding her first.
The halls of the castle pulsed with movement.
Messengers darted through the corridors, scrolls clenched tight in their fists. Footsteps echoed from the war chambers, boots pounding with purpose. Tension didn't hang in the air. It moved, swirling through the halls, pushing everything forward.
Everyone knew what was at stake. Hyrule was no stranger to war or disaster.
Asking for directions, he eventually found Zelda in the Library. To his surprise, he saw Shad amongst the swell of people sitting at a large ornate table with Zelda at the head of it. They appeared to be in deep discussion.
Whatever his feelings, or Shad's, they would have to be buried for now.
Zelda turned her head and saw him. She gestured for him to come over, the only open seat being right next to Shad. He swallowed and sat next to him. He nodded to him as all eyes were on him, then focused on Zelda who took the initiative.
"Link, welcome back. We were discussing how Ghirahim might form a way into the Twilight Realm" she explained. "I am convinced his former master would have passed on knowledge to him of the realm itself. He spent years there as prisoner until he could finally consolidate his power and break free. But, then we had the mirror of Twilight."
Now, it was shattered. Midnas departure had forever severed their worlds. Still, it had been done already and it would be reasonable to think there was another way to get there.
Zelda continued.
"We have several theories. The one we agreed on is that Ghirahim would likely raise a force of Stal at the Arbiters grounds, then immediately use his considerable power to force open a portal, just long enough to take his Stal with him and begin his invasion."
Whispered discussion broke out amongst the assembled scholars. Link leaned to Shad and swallowed again, trying to steady his nerves in talking to him.
"You owe me nothing Shad. But you had done research on the Twilight Mirror. Have you told them?" he asked plainly.
Shad looked back to him.
"Not yet. I want to hear if there are other options first. See if there's a way that won't cost us more than we can afford."
His voice still lacked his pomp and cheer. Ignoring it, Link wanted to press further.
"Was there an issue with the methods you found?"
"Yes. It requires…"
Zelda spoke over them both.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, we cannot underestimate our foe nor can we take light measures. We intend to commit as many of our troops as we can to this operation. Even if you have outlandish ideas, propose them. Whatever means we have to do this, then that only advances our position."
Shad and Link looked at each other wordlessly. Link nodded to him, hoping he would explain his plan.
"Your Majesty. I had been researching the Twilight Mirror for a short while. Link had brought pieces of it back to me and bid me to investigate it."
"What did you find?" Zelda asked, wasting no time.
"The mirror itself, the original one I mean, wasn't made by any Hylian hand. Its construction was too perfect. Every single contour or edge that made up a piece of it was perfect."
"My theory is that the mirror itself was either a gift from the goddesses, for reasons known only to them. Or, the work of their agents. The seven sages."
Nods and murmurs spread around the room. The scholars seemed like they agreed with his idea. It made sense to Link too. Though the mirror existed to imprison Ganondorf, he didn't know how long it had existed before that point.
"The mirror wasn't made by mortal hands. Its surface was impossibly smooth. Not a single imperfection, even at the microscopic level. But the truth is, it isn't glass at all. It's condensed, inert magic, shaped into a form we barely understand. No mortal craftsman could hope to recreate it. Not because of skill, but because we lack the ability to shape raw magic itself."
Shad almost seemed to envy its construction.
Link felt a quiet reverence for the mirror now. He had never thought about how the mirror was made or how it worked. Hearing about it from Shad was eye opening, even if there were still no suggestions.
"However, it may be possible to build another by using a different method.
Shad waited for a moment to let everyone process what he was saying. That it would take some time to build one.
Zelda spoke before he could.
"Then tell us. With an estimate of the time it would take."
Shad raised his eyebrows and exhaled.
"To create a portal large enough to funnel people through it? My most educated guess would be…"
Silence fell over the room as Shad's brow furrowed. He muttered to himself, fingers tapping at the edge of the table, rapid and restless. Zelda waited with her expression unreadable, as the scholars leaned in.
Finally, Shad exhaled and spoke.
"A decade."
The room erupted. Some scoffed whilst others whispered to each other in hushed disbelief. A few scholars shook their heads, already running their own mental calculations, but none spoke to refute him
Zelda didn't blink. "And if we doubled the workforce?"
"Seven years. That's being optimistic too."
She exhaled through her nose, her fingers steepled in thought.
"It is currently our only option. Tell us about this hidden method." she said calmly.
Shad began explaining, but LInk stopped listening as he thought over an idea. Everyone had completely missed a simple opportunity. He didn't understand much about magic, but Zelda did. If his idea was possible, it could cut out the need to build anything at all. He ran through his options mentally as Shad explained something about diamonds.
"...and several tonnes of pure carbon." Shad finished explaining.
"You mean to say that it may be possible to make synthetic diamonds?" Zelda asked, her eyebrows raised ever so slightly.
"Yes, your majesty. It would be necessary for building a surface that has a hope of mimicking the Twilight Mirror."
She thought quietly to herself. The rest of the room remained quiet as they thought out possibilities.
"Excuse me. I may have another idea" Link said.
The whole room turned to him, Shad included, eager to hear another option. Hopefully more practical.
Zelda looked at him eagerly.
"I don't think we need to build anything. Rather take and use one that is already there"
"Link, there is no mirror any more…" Zelda said cautiously.
"I know. But Ghirahim likely plans to invade the Twilight Realm, so may already have a method of opening a portal without a need for a mirror. Why don't we just use this?"
Zelda blinked. Her lips parted slightly as she processed his words. Then, to Link's surprise, she blushed. Not out of embarrassment, but realization. She hadn't thought of it. He had.
"That…" Zelda paused, considering. "That could work." Her fingers curled slightly against the table. "But it means we shall be reacting, not acting. Ghirahim's forces will already be inside the Twilight Realm before we have a chance to stop them."
"I actually have another idea about that, though I'd rather discuss it privately" he replied.
Zelda considered for a split second.
"Very well. Follow me" she said as she stood.
He walked with her to a private booth in the library, normally used for sensitive research. As she closed the door behind her, she wasted no time.
"I imagine it has something to do with the Triforce power we have?"
"Exactly. Changing a situation to be advantageous to yourself sounds like a stroke of wisdom to me. So, assuming we can keep the portal open on our side, then we would also need to use your Triforce to alter the time we arrive in the Twilight Realm, by maybe a week or something. That would give us enough time to warn…Midna…"
In an instant, his heart sank. He had only just fallen for Zelda and accepted that he may never see Midna again. Now, assuming the idea would work, he was about to run straight back to her.
"If this works, we gain the upper hand" Zelda said as she frowned.
"If it does not? What if altering the time of arrival disrupts the spell? We might miss the invasion entirely."
Link took a breath. No plan was flawless after all.
"I know we're leaving a lot to chance here. But I have no other ideas. Crossing back to the Twilight Realm? I never considered how I would do that myself, that's why I asked for Shads help initially. But every instinct I have is screaming at me, that this is the best way. And it sends me straight back to Midna when I had just gotten over her…"
She took a moment to collect herself, and held his hand.
"I am sorry, Link. Circumstance, or maybe even fate, is cruel."
She squeezed his hand gently, leaving it feeling a tingle of warmth.
"Assuming this works, we could save a great many lives and finally tip the balance in our favour."
He looked her in the eyes. There was cold determination, rationale but a sense of vulnerability too. He wondered how he had learned to read her eyes, but felt butterflies again at the small intimate gesture. He squeezed her hand back, unable to think of anything to add.
"I believe this could work, though we are trusting a lot to chance. I will weave my Triforce piece to our ends, as I try to sustain the portal to the Twilight realm."
Link sighed as he slumped. It was risky and had no guarantee of success. Still, he had overcome greater odds before.
"Alright. Let's get back to it. I'd really like to be done with today soon" he admitted.
"As would I. Come, let's finish it" Zelda said, pulling on his hand gently.
They both left the private booth and returned to the talks with the scholars.
The others were talking animatedly as Zelda sat in her seat.
"Ah, your majesty" one of them said as they bowed, followed by the others.
"Did you discuss much?"
Zelda nodded, suddenly looking much more unfocused.
"Yes. What have you discussed?" she replied flatly.
The senior scholar perked up.
"Well, we thought to shift our focus to portals instead of mirrors. We believe there may be texts in our library that cover at least some of the fundamentals such as…"
Link tried to focus, but the words blurred together. The voices in the room became distant, rising and falling like waves crashing on the shore. His thoughts were tangled, sluggish, thick.
He blinked, trying to snap himself back. It didn't help.
Nothing made sense. His limbs felt impossibly heavy too.
How much time passed, he didn't know. He processed movements that blurred together. He tried pinching himself a little, but it just irritated him.
Now, his eyes felt heavy. Some sense of urgency kept him from closing them entirely. He tried to shift his focus, to keep his mind busy.
His chin dipped forward for half a second before he jerked awake. He saw Zelda. She looked like he felt. Her eyes were glazed, and she was very still.
He heard a voice.
"Uh…your majesty?" Shad said.
She didn't respond for a moment, lost in some reverie. Then, she blinked and realised she had been called.
"What is it?" she said, her voice heavy and slowed.
"How long have you both been awake for?" Shad asked.
Link took a minute to process what he had said. He remembered the Gorons, then almost sleeping in her bed the night before. How long had it been?
"About two days. We rode to the Gorons City and back" she said quietly.
Shad and some of the other scholars looked between him and Zelda. Some of them looked troubled.
"Your majesty, please… You need rest before you collapse." he said gently
He shot a quick look at Link.
"And you. You both look as though you've never slept before"
Several of the other scholars nodded and murmured something incomprehensible.
Link was in no mood to argue. The only thought in his mind was rest now.
Zelda blinked slowly, her mind sluggish. She pressed two fingers to her temple before exhaling.
"Continue research on portals" she said, her voice quieter than before.
"We shall reconvene tomorrow."
She pushed herself up from the table, swaying slightly before steadying herself.
Link got up himself, slowly. He followed her out of the door, not even looking back to the scholars.
Shuffling along with Zelda, they wordlessly made their way through the castle. He had no idea how long they both walked for. All he was aware of was the sluggish impact of his feet on the floor.
Link barely registered the flickering candlelights as they passed. Zelda's steps were steady but slow, as if her body was moving on instinct alone.
An eternity later, they both arrived at her bedroom once again. They stepped inside, Zelda slipping out of her shoes, whilst Link lazily kicked one boot off of the other.
Zelda flopped onto the bed, using the last of her strength to crawl up to her pillow. Link loosened his belt, threw his long green hat off somewhere, then crawled up the bed next to her.
"Night" she whispered quietly, sleep a second from taking her.
"G'night" Link mumbled, his words slurring.
With one final effort, he wrapped his arm around her and gently pulled. She, with her final effort, rested her hand on his. Then, shuffled slightly back into him.
Her warmth, the comfort, the sheer relief of rest. It was too much. Within moments, they both fell into deep sleep.
- Zelda -
Through her bedroom window, the soft warmth of the sunlight caressed her skin, gentle against her chest. She didn't open her eyes, savoring the heat as it slowly pulled her from the depths of sleep.
Behind her, she felt Link stir. His hand resting against her stomach was warmed by the sunlight too. The light touch sent a ripple of warmth through her, making her heart race a little faster.
The past two days had been hell, but for now, she allowed herself to linger in the moment, savoring the peace. She was rarely afforded these quiet moments. Too often duty, the crown, and the weight of the kingdom's needs kept her from truly resting. But in this moment, with the sun warming her skin and Link beside her, it felt like a rare gift.
She pulled his hand a little closer to her, squeezing it just a little.
"Mrrmph…" he murmured.
For all the tales of his strength and bravery, none ever spoke of this—the man beneath the legend, stirring in the warmth of the morning sun.
She smiled as she idly started stroking the back of his hand, drawing a happy hum from him in his sleep.
She sat still for a while longer, enjoying the quiet moment together.
"Link?" she whispered, drawing lazy circles against the back of his hand.
Nothing. Just a quiet, sleepy snore.
She smiled, amused, and tried again.
"Link?"
"Mhm?" came a slightly more alert murmur.
"Time to wake up. Tempting as it is to stay like this all day."
He let out a wide yawn as he stirred.
"No. Sleep more." he said quietly.
She felt him pull her closer, her heart warming more.
"How I wish I could, Link. I'm sorry, but we have to get up."
"Can't Hyrule go save itself, just this once?" he teased.
She felt him shift, rolling onto his back with a long stretch, arms arching overhead before flopping back down. His half-mumbled yawn was followed by a lazy sigh.
She sat up in the bed next to him, stretching her arms. They tingled as she pushed the stretch.
He looked to her, she returned his gaze.
"I've not shared a bed with anyone before, you know. I think I could get used to nights like this" she said warmly.
He grinned. "Well then, let's go save the world. We'll come right back to this later."
She felt herself lighten at the idea. Gratitude swelling in her, she leaned over and planted a kiss on his lips. Now, she felt even lighter.
"Of course. Please, could you go and get some breakfast? I need to get changed"
"Ah, of course. I'll see you soon. Want me to get you anything? I assume you're heading to the dining hall?"
"Coffee, like you made for me some time ago. And a cinnamon pastry, please"
Link nodded and left the room.
Zelda took a moment to relax. As she opened her dresser, she thought over what she had to do today.
She had to organise the Hylian army and give them direction. Then, she would need to meet her councilors again and give out tasks. After that, she would need to delegate tasks amongst her staff… then it would be time for lunch.
She took a weary breath. She hadn't even changed and already the day was promising to be busy again. She looked back to her bed, wishing she could have just wasted some of the day with Link.
Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and refocused. This was expected of her and she was good at it.
She saw a clean dress, with her favourite purple accents and white trim.
"Alright… time to begin," she murmured, more determined now. She started to undress as she plotted what to do after lunch.
- Link -
Entering the canteen again, Link searched for Sabbah.
He and Zelda had shared a nice breakfast in a private dining room, him serving her the coffee she had asked for and her favourite cinnamon pastry. They had discussed their plans for the day, Zelda being tied up with royal duties again.
He was happy to hear that she was trying to delegate more tasks to reduce the burden on her. Still, nothing happened overnight in her world. That she was making any effort to make things easier on herself was already good news.
He had asked where Sabbah and her Gerudo were. It had been a while since he had spoken to her and was missing her company. It would also help to let her know what was being planned.
They had parted ways with a quick kiss, both with renewed vigor after a long sleep.
As he entered, the rush of noise and smell of cooking food warmed his senses. It was lively here, a stark contrast to what had become of the Goron city.
He rolled his shoulders. It had become a reliable exercise to refocus his wandering thoughts. He couldn't afford to think for too long on the horror he had seen.
At the back of the large hall, he finally saw them.
Sabbah sat with her remaining six sisters as they ate plates of beef and potatoes. They seemed to like it, from what he could see. She turned to see him walking to their table.
He waved at them with the best smile he could manage.
"Link! Come, join!" she said over the noise, gesturing at a seat next to her. He didn't need telling twice.
"Good to see you Sabbah."
Then, he hoped he had paid enough attention to what Zelda had taught him.
"Salama wanahu. Hurma jenta" he said carefully.
All of the Gerudo smiled at once, even the normally stoic Sabbah.
"Na wa tahib" several of them responded, almost in sync.
He breathed a sigh of relief. He hoped he hadn't butchered the pronunciation.
"You learn well, Link. Perhaps we have a full talk one day, in our own tongue" Sabbah suggested.
"I would love to. Might need to give me some time for that. I don't learn languages as easily as Peyton"
He recalled Peyton having a natural grasp of the Gerudo language when they were stationed at Lake Hylia. He had absorbed the language faster than anyone, quickly becoming in demand from the regular soldiers who wanted to ask the Gerudo questions.
"No, but you can still learn. That you even try? It is nice" she said happily.
"Peyton is sharp with language, but a rather dull man otherwise. Does not have much to say"
She raised an eyebrow to Link.
"You, however? We not forget your wolf howl"
One of her sisters made a small howl of her own, teasing him.
"Of course not…" He said, blushing. "I'll never live this down, will I?"
Sabbah explained what she had said to her sisters, getting laughs from all of them.
He was eager to refocus on anything other than himself.
"I'm sorry that I haven't been able to see you since we got back to Castle Town. It's…been a busy few days. How have you all been?" he asked.
Sabbah asked her sisters for him and looked thoughtful for a moment.
"We hate diplomacy" she said abruptly.
"So much talking" Sabbah groaned, stabbing a piece of beef with unnecessary force. "We have never sat still this long in our lives."
The toll of bureaucracy had hit them hard. As important as the talks were, the details sifted over were complex. Though he had exactly as much patience for it as Sabbah did.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. It'd be nice to just be able to carry on without all the sitting down."
She nodded wordlessly.
"Still, was important. If our peoples are to talk, important to set out rules." she shrugged.
"How do Gerudo do things like this?" he asked, wondering how trade or treaties were formed in the desert.
"Simple. Two groups agree to meet, one say what they want to have. Other group says what they can give. If both are happy, meeting ends then celebrate with new friends. Or agree to war, if enemies."
As much as he liked the sound of their direct approach, he knew from experience that it left too much to be interpreted. For all the faults with bureaucracy, it was good at laying out ironclad rules.
"Enough about rules and talks. Heard you have been busy! Victim of thief, duel with Knight-Commander, argument with scholar… It seem trouble follows your every step"
Link exhaled, shifting in his seat. He wasn't sure if he wanted to bring this up now, but… Sabbah needed to know.
"That and more," he said. "I actually ran into Ghirahim again."
Sabbah's casual expression vanished in an instant. The mood shifted like a sandstorm rolling in.
"Where?" she demanded.
"At the Gorons home city"
"What was he doing?"
Link clenched his jaw, forcing himself to keep his voice steady. "He killed them all"
He let the words hang, their weight hanging in the air between them.
"He ripped the skeletons from their bodies, turned them into Stal. They serve him now."
Sabbah did a double take. Surprisingly, so did the other Gerudo, without the need for Sabbah translating. It was when he said 'Stal'.
"Khara'mun…" Sabbah said. Link didn't need her to translate to know what she meant.
The table went quiet, drawing curious looks from the regular soldiers sat around the canteen.
Sabbah remained silent, staring at her plate. One of her sisters slowly set down her fork, as if the taste had turned to ash in her mouth.
Then, finally, Sabbah spoke.
"We know 'Stal', Link. They roam the deserts at night, growing strong under full moon. They say it is curse of the hateful dead. Those who died under anger or injustice." she explained grimly.
"Their hatred guides them, causing them to attack in anger at anything living. Does not matter if you are Gerudo or beetle, Stal attack you anyway. Even when you kill them, their hatred makes them reform and carry on"
A curse of the hateful dead. Link felt a cold weight settle in his stomach. If that was true, then every Goron who had been slaughtered in their own home was now bound to rise again and again, driven by hatred. And Ghirahim had made sure of it.
"They can be destroyed, but only if broken apart. My sword works. Bombs too."
Sabbah nodded, as if it was common knowledge.
"We know this. Have fought them before" she said briskly. "But what of Ghirahim and his Stal?"
"Me and Princess Zelda think he plans to invade somewhere. A place called the Twilight Realm" he explained.
Sabbah looked confused. She turned to her sisters and asked them something.
They discussed things back and forth for a moment. Link didn't understand the language, but like he had before, he tried to read their body language.
They all looked as if they were staring into space, trying to figure something out. Some spoke to Sabbah with hopeful expressions, as if they were hoping what they offered was helpful.
"We do not know this Twilight Realm. But if Ghirahim plans to invade it, then we need to stop him"
Sabbah took a slow breath. "If he is raising Stal, then he will want more for an invasion."
She drummed her fingers on the table, eyes narrowing.
Then, her expression darkened. "The best place for that? The Prison."
She explained what she was saying to her sisters, keeping them involved.
"The Prison? Where's that?" Link asked, at a loss.
"Hylians call it 'The Arbiter's Grounds' because it sound nicer than what it was"
Link swore under his breath. She had come to the same conclusion that he and Zelda had the night before.
"Halls and halls of bones. Full of anger and injustice, from a time of Hyrules tyrant kings. This will be the most likely place he go" she finished.
"Then we can't let him use them. I need to go back there and destroy as many as I can" Link said, already planning ahead.
He held his chin as he thought of what he would need. The amount of bombs this would take… He shuddered at the thought of driving a huge cart of explosives through the roasting desert.
Sabbah spoke with her sisters urgently. They looked as if they were talking with purpose and had a good idea. Some gestured with their hands, as if there were multiple ideas being spoken.
Sabbah turned to him finally.
"My sisters will do this. They will be home faster than you can get there" she explained.
"They can also deliver the treaty we made to our wise ones. And, if wise ones believe this threat needs to be dealt with, then they can send more Gerudo to destroy bones"
Link blinked. He had already been planning ahead. How many bombs he'd need, how to navigate the desert with a cart of explosives. But now… he wasn't needed?
For the first time in his life, someone else had volunteered to step into the fire first.
"If you like, I could help?" he asked, feeling oddly left out.
Sabbah studied him for a moment, then smirked.
"No. It is closer to Gerudo lands, so easier for us to reach Prison."
She leaned back, crossing her arms with a knowing grin.
"Also… you have princess to look after."
He closed his eyes and sighed. Of course she would know about the two of them. Still, there was no sense denying it.
"Yeah…you're right…" he said weakly.
Sabbah laughed at his embarrassment. Then she discussed something with her sisters. It seemed to be a long discussion, so Link excused himself to go and get a drink from the canteen.
The server brought him a coffee and some toast. Before he left, he wanted to ask something.
"S'cuse me Link? How is it you're able to talk to them so easily? 'Alf the lads wanna chat to 'em too but ain't none got the stones."
"...What?" he said, taken aback.
"Yeah! They're real interestin' women. Think our lads think they're larger than life or somethin'. Like yerself"
Then it made sense to him.
"You're talking to me just fine though. Same goes for them. I bet if they just gave it a try, they'd find it easier than they think. No matter what you think of me, I'm still just a Hylian."
The server nodded to him. "Right you are, Link."
Then he went back to the kitchen, as if nothing had happened. Blinking, Link shook his head. How was it so hard for some people to just talk to other people?
He hadn't really considered it before. To him, Sabbah and her sisters weren't some untouchable warriors. They were just them. Friends. Maybe that was the difference.
He refused to dedicate any more thought to it and went back to join them again.
As he sat, he observed them talking through their body language again, enjoying his coffee and toast.
They moved more slowly now, in a more reserved tone of voice. As if they were discussing the finer points of something. There were a few shakes of heads one moment then nods the next. He felt grateful that most cultures he had met shared that one communication method.
As he was on the last drops of his coffee, Sabbah finally reverted to Hylian.
She folded her arms, thinking. "Three of my sisters will go. They will carry the treaty to our wise ones. They will tell of Ghirahim and his plan. I will add letter of my own—it shall carry weight."
She exhaled through her nose. "Then, if the wise ones are truly wise, they send Gerudo warriors to the Prison to crush the loose spines they find."
Link raised an eyebrow. "The spines? Why those?"
"If dark magician want to raise a Stal, the magics must go through the spine, where all nerves and directions go. Without it, nothing to make a Stal with" she explained.
It hadn't even been half an hour, and he had already learned far more valuable information from them than he could have alone.
"Alright. It bothers me that I don't need to go and help. But if the time comes that you do, I hope you will ask me" he said earnestly. It still felt strange that they wanted to be the first ones in.
"You do not doubt Gerudo, do you?" she said, a little warily.
"No, I've no reason to doubt you. But if we are right, then it means Ghirahim is already heading there. Whatever Gerudo are there will likely have to face him, and his Stal army."
He paused, letting the concept settle over her.
"You know how dangerous he is at manipulating people, and how deadly he is in close combat. Please tell your sisters, and the ones at your home, that they shouldn't underestimate him."
"Worry less. We are not babies" she said bluntly.
"I know. I just want to see you all again. That's all" he admitted.
Sabbah softened at hearing this, showing a gentle smile.
"You shall. The reason I not go with them is because I want drinks with you. And I help talk to Gerudo if Princess need to."
Smiling at each other, they both relaxed. Three of the sisters rose from their seats, eager to get to work. Sabbah spoke to them and handed them a neat letter after she wrote down a note of her own. They said their farewells and left the canteen.
It was out of Link's hands now. He hoped they would be alright, but Sabbah was right. They knew what they were doing.
Sabbah and her remaining sisters stayed to talk with him for a while longer. They told him about the foods they had enjoyed, beef being one of the best. Some complained about how claustrophobic the castles halls were, others loved the access to water.
It felt good to catch up with them. He felt as if he had ignored them since they got back to Castle Town, so they were overdue some time together.
He chose to tell them about the genocide the Gorons at some other point. He just wanted to enjoy their company for the time being.
Sabbah eventually had to leave with her sisters. She said that she still had to try and make amends with the family of the Hylian soldiers she had killed.
As Link wandered the halls again. He looked for Zelda, thinking it would be smart to let her know what the Gerudo were doing. His thoughts drifted back to Ilia and Lilia. So much had happened in the past few days that he hadn't had much time to think.
He promised himself to go and see them both as soon as he could, wondering how already having a child would affect things between him and Zelda.
Far away, as the sun waxed through the sky, Ghirahim entered the Arbiter's Grounds. His Stal army followed behind him.