Chapter 32 - The Push
Telma's bar had become a strange kind of refuge for Link and the Ordon villagers. They didn't just come for drinks, but to unload. Everyone involved seemed happier for it.
Now, however, it was something different for Link. A nursery and a babysitters.
Ilia passed Lilia to him as he took her with utmost care. He had made sure to wash himself and put on casual clothes before he came here. His green tunic was tough and reliable, but after the journey to the Goron City, it stank of sweat and was caked in dust from the road.
He played with her, smiling serenely into her innocent gaze. She babbled nonsense as she tried to figure out how to articulate herself.
A strange sense of awe settled over him, unlike any he had felt before. He viewed her with a sense of unlimited potential, hoping that she would not have to face anything close to what he already had.
"This is wonderful…" he said aloud
Ilia and her dad, Mayor Bo, both smiled.
"You two take to this naturally. If things were different, you'd both make fine parents."
Link sunk his head a little, as did Ilia.
"I know it's hard, Dad. I would like to have Link involved in her life. But I still recall what happened between him and Ghirahim."
Suppressing a weary sigh, he nodded to her.
He was eternally grateful that she didn't have to suffer through the worst parts of his journey. On the same hand though, she hadn't experienced horror like he had. It made him feel a little resentful. But, he held his tongue. It wouldn't have made anything better to complain.
"How has she been since I saw her last?" he asked, hoping to change the topic.
"She's very sweet. Doesn't fuss when I put her to sleep, she feeds well and grabs everything in sight."
Ilia smiled weakly.
"Like if she could learn everything through touch, she would prefer to"
They sat and talked for a while, catching up. Ilia had her hands full looking after Lilia, so she didn't have a lot of free time. Link got the sense she was grateful for the break.
Bo had taken a role of a junior councillor in Hyrules court. His straightforward approach hadn't earned him many friends, but it had helped resolutions get passed around town far faster than normal.
Doing his best to keep it brief, he explained how he had helped pass a law preventing loopholes from being used to bypass trade restrictions in the town square.
Link didn't fully understand it, but Bo seemed happy to be in his element where he could solve problems.
He told them both about what he had experienced in the Gorons home, though he was careful to not give them the full details.
"Goddesses…" Bo said weakly. "What manner of creature could commit such cruelty without so much as batting an eye?"
Link had thought over that some times before, realising trying to explain solved nothing.
"Every time I hear more about Ghirahim, I think I can't be shocked anymore… but then I am." Ilia said.
"Link, have the other Gorons in town been told this yet?" Bo asked.
"I don't know. The survivor, Darumon, is going to gather them and tell them everything."
He paused for a moment, then exhaled
"So if you see a Goron, give them whatever they need. A drink. A place to sit. Or just space. They've lost everything."
Ilia and Bo both nodded to him.
They spent some more time together, arranging another time where Link could meet them both.
Then, after cuddling Lilia once more and making her laugh, he set off back to the castle.
Ilia waved after him along with her father.
Having seen Lilia was like a balm to him. Her innocent babbling had eased his mind. He was still having flare ups of paranoia, checking behind him or backing away from dark areas. But at least for now, he had a small respite from it.
As he made his way back to the castle, he soon tracked down Zelda again. She had been busy for the entire day as she prepared her army to march towards Ghirahim.
Soldiers from the battle of Lake Hylia spotted him as they packed gear, some offering quick salutes, others calling his name. A few bumped into him in the crowded halls, flashing eager grins before hurrying off.
They were fresh and experienced. A lot of them had been field promoted and would be leading squads of men now.
Seeing them filled with confidence was heartening. But they had likely not faced Stal before. He would need to make sure they knew the risks involved, unless Zelda already had a plan for that.
Walking further along, circumstance favoured him as he saw her step out into the hallway with her attendants, rushing to bring her a drink or some new document to pore over.
"Princess?"
"Oh! Hello again, Link" she said with a polite incline of her head. She was in her professional mode now.
"I wanted to ask about the soldiers. Have they been briefed on the Stal?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No, though I intend to brief them in an hour. We intend to depart soon after that"
"May I assist?"
She smiled warmly, knowing he was trying to make her day a little easier.
"Please do. See the quartermaster and replenish your supplies in the meantime" she said as she quickly read a document and leafed over to a new one.
"Join me in the library once you are done. Apparently, the scholars have learned something useful." she said, not giving away too much in the open castle halls.
"Of course, your majesty" he said with a formal bow. He still didn't like the formalities he had to put on, but he was at least finding them easier to do now.
Zelda set off somewhere else at a brisk pace, flashing him a small smile before she left.
Smiling to himself, he left to find the barracks.
It didn't take too long for him to find. He was getting used to the layout of the castle now. At least the hallways. He recalled what she had said about her father integrating various hidden mechanisms all over the castle, in case they needed to escape. There could have been ten or a thousand, and he likely wouldn't discover all of them in a whole year, he thought.
Entering the barracks, nobody was still. Men moved in to squads, others wrapped leather grips around maces, some of them confused as to why they were wielding different weapons now.
The quartermaster was a familiar face at least. He could recognise Egon easily amongst the sea of metal armour and helmets.
"Oh my, is that you, Link?" he said eagerly.
"You should meet my cousin, Rivet. And my brother, Chain" Link replied, without thinking.
Egon gave a warm smirk in response. "Then I hope your father, Comedian, is well too. And more skilled"
Link grinned, something about Egon just made him feel more relaxed. Maybe it was the snarky wisdom of someone his senior.
"Good to see you, Egon" he said, looking around the organised chaos of the barracks. "So, custodian of the archives and now quartermaster?"
"Aye, I had different jobs in my life. Was the quartermaster a few decades ago, seemed a natural fit for a quick response" he shrugged.
"Anyway, it's rather busy as you can you're after that drink I mentioned, might need to postpone it. Unless I can help with material need?"
"Please. The Princess said I should come and restock before we march out."
"Reasonable. I can set you up with some rations easily enough, a few large canteens for water. Don't think I need to worry about weapons, you're practically a small armoury as it is…" he said as he stared into space, thinking about the journey ahead.
"Hmm. How about clothing? Socks tend to be in high demand"
"No, that should be fine. I don't know what goes on with the garb I use, but the socks never seem to get wet or frayed. Do you have some bombs? Arrows too."
Egon turned and spoke to someone in the armoury who then disappeared behind a wall of racks and boxes.
A moment later, he returned with a box and Egon laid it out on a counter in front of him.
"Here we go! Ten explosives, five second fuses with a blast radius of ten feet. Then a stock of thirty arrows"
Egon handed him the arrows. "So…still carrying the weight of the world, I see."
Link exhaled through his nose. "Yeah… at least this time, it's a tangible threat we can focus on"
He took the equipment, nodding gratefully to Egon.
"Thanks"
"Not a problem, Link."
Egon looked concerned, but whatever his worries, he kept them to himself. Likely he knew they were all about to march and face Stal. But voicing worries wouldn't have helped anything.
"Well. Do come back for that drink when you're back." he said simply.
"Oh, I promise. I'll have you meet the Gerudo too"
Egon nodded with a smile, then set about his work. There was still much more for him to do.
Link still had some time to kill. He had changed into his plain clothes in the castle, one of the maids had stowed his armour and weapons. She was easy enough to find.
Getting his equipment back, he found a room and got himself dressed, letting the Zora chainmail rest on his chest over the padded undershirt. The armour had been cleaned and even smelled of citrus a little. It made a nice change from the tang of sweat that usually came from it.
The room had a full length mirror. He adjusted the straps on his bandolier, tightening it until it felt just right. The mirror reflected back the familiar green tunic, brightened from the recent wash, but it was his eyes that caught him by surprise. They looked tired. It made him look older than he felt. He pulled the leather gauntlets tighter.
"One more time" he muttered to himself.
He guessed that he had about one hour before it would need cleaning again, if the desert didn't destroy it first.
Stepping out of the room, he left to go and find Zelda. They both needed to address the assembling troops and set out. Ghirahim would not wait for them
Weaving through the castle, he found his way to the library. He saw Shad at the head of the table he had sat at the night before. Link rounded the corner.
"Hello again" Link said, his nerves tensing a little.
Shad looked to him, but this time he seemed happier. Link didn't have to waste long wondering why. Ashei was sat next to him.
"There you are!" she said without hesitating.
Shad's mood soured slightly. Link tried to pay it no mind, but walked over to them both.
"Good to see you both. Glad to see you out of bed too Ashei."
Shad maintained a pleasant enough smile, but refused to break eye contact with him.
"Better to be out of it. The princess herself was kind enough to heal me, so no more waiting around" she said eagerly. Link knew firsthand how frustrating it was to be stuck in bed, waiting.
"I'd drink to that" he remarked
He thought it strange how he wasn't feeling shame at what he did to her. He wondered if the events at Goron City had numbed him but tried not to overthink it. Still, now that she was awake and alert, he needed to make up with her.
"I'd also like to apologise for what I did to you, during our duel. I completely lost it and should have acted smarter. Ashei, and you Shad? I'm sorry that this ever happened"
Ashei smiled whilst Shad remained implacable.
"Thanks, Link. Though we did agree to a duel and I wanted to see you at top form" she said, giving a side look to Shad who lowered his head.
He felt a little bad for Shad under Ashei's scrutiny. Still, Zelda had explained it well when he spoke to her about it.
"Well, I suppose if someone had rendered Princess Zelda into a similar state, then I wouldn't be happy with them, at best" he remarked idly.
There was a quiet moment as Ashei and Shad just looked at him with wide eyes. Link looked back, wondering what had shocked them.
"Wait…do you mean to say that you and the Princess…are together?" Ashei said, awestruck. Shad looked as if he had forgotten how to breathe.
Link's mind started racing. He didn't know if it was even alright to mention it out loud, or if it would cause Zelda problems. He wasn't nobleborn by any standard, but she had never mentioned it to be a cause of concern either.
"Well…yes" he said quietly, looking away from them both.
Silence broke out between them all as they processed what he had said, whilst Link was torn between regret and suddenly wanting to tell everyone.
"Well, that explains why you're spending so much time around her, crisis notwithstanding…" Shad finally managed to say.
"Yeah! I wasn't expecting that" Ashei continued. "What about that Midna girl though? You two seemed like an ideal match after you both solved the Twilight Crisis."
Link let out a humorless laugh.
"Trying to get back to her cost me a year of my life, spent in misery that she wasn't there" he explained. "I'm done wasting away over what should have been impossible."
"Barring how you spar, I wouldn't think to tell you how to live or love, Link" Shad offered. "But there are nobles in town who will take exception to you being involved with her. Especially if they think it weakens the crown.
"Weakens it?" Link asked, confused.
"They think in alliances, not feelings" Ashei cut in. "They expect Zelda to marry for land or power, not… well, you."
Link scowled. "Then I invite them to complain to me directly."
Ashei smiled at hearing him stand up for himself. Shad did too, surprisingly.
"I invite the same." Zelda said, appearing from behind a bookshelf.
Ashei and Shad quickly rose from their seats to bow to her, which she quickly dismissed.
"Please, it is only us here at the moment. No formalities right now" she said wearily. "I wanted a brief moment with people I actually like"
Taking a seat, she leaned back with her eyes shut.
"Sorry, Princess. Didn't mean to make it seem like we thought of your private life as simple gossip" Ashei said, with far more formality than LInk had ever seen from her.
She managed a small smile. "No need to apologise. You are correct after all and it is an issue worth considering"
Helping herself to a glass of water, she continued.
"Still, no matter what people say or how they threaten to no longer support the throne, I still have the final say on how I live my life. So, as you said Link, let them come to complain."
Link broke out into a satisfied smile, Zelda following straight after.
"I must admit, I quite like the idea of nobles facing you Link, only to face unrelenting honest critique"
He smiled wider.
The four of them spent a little time together as they caught up. Ashei was ready to head out with her junior knights along with the Hylian army, calling it their first practical assessment.
Though Link liked her proactive attitude, Shad didn't look happy that she was about to willingly throw herself into danger again. He kept his thoughts to himself though. He and her had probably already spoken about it.
"What is it you plan to do, exactly? I mean when you find this Ghirahim?" Shad asked.
She took a sip of her water as she explained. How she would take the Hylian army across the desert at a fast march. Then, arriving at the Arbiter's Grounds, try and lay a trap for Ghirahim. If he got there before them, they would still likely have time to engage before he set about his plans to get to the Twilight Realm. Then, she would try to sustain the portal so the Hylian army could get through it to reinforce the Twilight Realm.
It took her a few minutes and everyone paid attention. Ashei more so now that there were military tactics and strategy mentioned.
"Did you or the Scholars learn much more about portals, Shad?" Zelda asked.
In an instant, he perked up.
"Actually, yes! We found several books and tomes which were loosely related. Strangely though, all facets gleaned from each of them paint a larger picture on the concepts and practices. One of them was…"
"Shad?" Zelda interrupted. He went quiet in an instant.
"I am eager to hear the full story, but we do not have much time. I will have to address our soldiers soon, as we do not have long before we intend to leave."
"Yes, your majesty" he replied, thinking on the spot on how to trim what he was saying.
"I do not know your expertise with portals, but loosely speaking? It's essentially like punching a hole through a board with a concentration of magic. The difference is, when you 'punch' through the solid surface, you need to align the power with one that matches the destination" he explained.
Link sat quietly and focused. He couldn't use magic but learning about the process could be useful somehow. Ashei did her best too but her eyes were already unfocused and glass-like.
"I have never been to the Twilight Realm, I do not know what the ambient power is like there" Zelda admitted.
"Hm" Shad said simply, holding his chin in thought. Ashei did her best to be polite but looked like she'd rather be anywhere else.
"Link, you've been there before. Can you recall feeling any different when you first arrived? It would be akin to crossing from a desert to an ocean."
Link visualised what he said. He imagined the dry stinging heat and smell of sand. Then, the shift to salty cool air. It had been more than a year since he'd gone to the Twilight Realm with Midna to face the usurper Zant and reclaim the fused shadow artefact.
What had been different? He remembered that it felt as if it was Hyrule, but with a cool evening air. There was some kind of tinge in the air. What was it?
He searched his mind and memories but couldn't place the sensation.
"I know there was a difference…I just can't recall what it was…" he admitted.
"Link? Think of Midna and your time together. There is a chance she may have had this difference about her when she was in our world" Zelda suggested bluntly.
He thought back to her, already regretting doing so. He hadn't really noticed much during his day to day travels with her. Then, he recalled the first time he had turned to a wolf after he was dragged through a Twilit portal.
He shuddered as he recalled how it felt, as if his body was snapping and boiling over every square inch.
When he finally awoke in Hyrules dungeon, the sense of smell he had was incredibly sharp.
Midna had introduced herself for the first time, phasing through the cage as if it was air.
The air smelled a little like burned herbs. It was a specific smell that Link had on the tip of his tongue.
"Toasted Thyme!"
The others looked at him, confused.
"The herb, Thyme!" he clarified. "The first time I met Midna, she came into a cell I was in. There was a faint smell of toasted Thyme about her. Faint, but there. It smelled the same in the Twilight Realm!"
Zelda raised eyebrow, Shad lowered his and furrowed them as he thought whilst Ashei was still looking lost.
"Thyme…" Shad muttered under his breath, drawing the attention of the room to him.
"How…did you make that comparison?" Ashei wondered.
"Oh, Telma makes a cheese on toast with toasted Thyme. It's distinctive, but really good" he explained.
There was a moment of blissful silence as each of them imagined eating the dish. Shad was first to refocus them.
"Once you reach this portal, I would suggest you do your best to focus on the 'sensation' of Thyme as you maintain the portal. With any luck, it will be enough to suit your needs."
He looked sullen.
"What troubles you?" Zelda said, not missing a beat.
"I wish I could do more to help. I feel as if I haven't done enough" he said quietly.
"I always thought saving the world would feel… I don't know. Grand. Noble." Shad chuckled dryly. "Turns out, it's mostly just panic and paperwork."
Zelda managed a dignified smile.
"If you and the scholars had not discovered this, then we would not have had this chance" she said, sighing gently. "This whole plan is not solid. As it stands though, it is all we have. So, we shall see it through, considering what is at stake."
Shad seemed a little more relieved, if not entirely at peace. Then Ashei spoke for the first time in a while.
"Your talents outshone mine here. I barely followed any of that talk about spells, but you made it look easy! Have more faith in yourself would you?" she said kindly, squeezing his hand.
That was enough to get a smile from him.
"Still, I'd like to know more about this in general. Suppose this spell of yours fails princess. What then? There's a chance that if you and Link make it through first, you could get cut off from us, or perhaps our forces will be split between both realms."
She raised a good point. There were no contingencies yet.
"Ideally, I'd like to know if there's a way we can insure ourselves against failure."
Zelda explained how she and Link planned to manipulate it so they would arrive a week prior to warn Midna and the Twili people. The troops would follow Ghirahim's forces through and be immediate reinforcements when the invasion began a week later, from their perspective.
"Oh! That's pretty smart actually. Even if some of our forces don't make it through, prepared defences are hell to fight through" Ashei responded.
She still looked a little uneasy.
"There's too many unknowns here. Shad? Did you find any kind of…safeguards for these portals?"
Shad perked up, eager to assist.
"Well, from what we learned reading the texts, it's important that the amount of power supplied to the portal remains as consistent as possible. Slight variations may be enough to make it unstable" he explained. "Princess, it would require the utmost concentration. I presume that you are well versed in these matters?"
Zelda nodded silently, paying close attention.
"Very well. Then, if I recall, there's a method called 'mantling' that allows you to weave currents in a casting cone…"
Shad explained in detail what he had found. Now, Link was feeling lost too. Ashei caught his attention and gestured around the corner. Link quietly got up and followed her as Shad was focused entirely on Zelda now.
"Heh! For all of Shad's worrying about feeling like he could do more? I know how he feels when. This spellcasting stuff…makes the head hurt" she said, rubbing her temples.
"I know, right? Well, he got his wish to help at least. But how are you doing?" Link asked
"I'm as good as new. Her majesty is thorough with her healing abilities."
Link smiled, having been on the receiving end of it a few times now.
"It's good to have you back. You feel ready for this plan?"
She nodded without hesitation.
"Oh, of course I am. A chance to help both you and the Princess? I'd consider it a privilege"
They both shared an eager smile when they heard the chairs moving. Ashei gave Link a serious look.
"Sorry to be the fatalist, but there's a lot of assumptions going on here. That everything will go to plan" she said, sighing at the end. "You and I both know plans never go flawlessly. If we fail here…"
"Then a lot of people will be screwed" Link shrugged. "If we do nothing though, everyone will be screwed. Come on, let's cross those bridges when we get to them."
Nodding to him, they headed back to the table, they saw Zelda looking more determined and Shad looking pleased with himself.
Link and Zelda said their goodbyes, Ashei wanting a moment alone with her partner. As they walked, he explained what Sabbah had organised, sending some of her sisters back to the Gerudo with the treaty Zelda had officiated. Sabbah and her two remaining sisters joined them, eager to see what they planned to do next.
"If our sisters reach the wise ones in time, there is good chance Gerudo will be there. It will help you if I am there to talk with them. I assume this fine?" she asked, matching their pace.
"I was not joking when I said I wanted our peoples to work together. I look forward to your support, even if the Gerudo do not come" Zelda replied.
Sabbah nodded wordlessly and followed along
They made their way to the courtyard outside, to a balcony overlooking a large parade ground.
Stepping outside, Link stared awestruck at the columns of soldiers assembled. He recognised the burly frame of Captain Williams near the front. Karlsman too, at the head of his squad of ten men. Their numbers were significant, as the sun made all of their armour glint, some two hundred soldiers.
Murmurs amongst them stopped as they looked up to the balcony. Williams shouted something at the assembled men. In unison, they all stood to attention.
"Soldiers of Hyrule. Today, we march not just for our kingdom, but for a realm that stands on the brink of invasion. An enemy unlike any you have faced prepares to invade a world tied to our own. If they succeed, we risk more than their annihilation, we risk the usurper king, Ganondorf, returning to life."
The soldiers remained silent, but Link could see wide eyes and occasional trembles.
"The enemy commander, Ghirahim, leads an army of Stal. Relentless, tireless, merciless. They will not relent, they will not flee, but they can be destroyed.
She paused, letting the soldiers process.
"We face numbers that dwarf our own. But this battle will not be won through numbers alone. It will be won through precision and unity. Link, our hero of the Twilight Crisis, will explain how these enemies can be shattered."
Zelda stepped aside, keeping her posture perfect, and let Link stand before the crowd.
"Stal don't think. They charge. They overwhelm. But they're brittle. Snap the spine — and they stay down."
"That's why you've been issued maces. Swords won't cut it. These things don't feel pain and will always push. Watch your flanks. Protect your squad. And if you see one reforming?
"Break them again."
Now, he just needed something to end on. Something to stir their spirit a little. It took him a brief moment to think.
"We're outnumbered, but Hyrule's been outnumbered before. And we're still here."
Stepping back, Zelda came forward to finish. Link saw flashes of determination amongst the crowd.
"Our enemy is cruel and manipulative. Whilst they will attack civilians, we will ensure that the innocent live. Whilst they aim to inflict misery and death, we will stand fast and break them. Whilst they have numbers, we have purpose. And when the moment comes, they will taste our fury at their perversion of life."
Speaking with passion, she extended her hand out, as if to grasp the crowd.
"For Hyrule!"
The soldiers erupted into cheers, shouting defiantly against whatever fate awaited them.
Each face that Link could make out showed an iron determination and resolve. Though he did not know what to expect with Ghirahim, he did feel more confident in the soldiers.
Various sergeants had orders given to them from William as the mission ahead began in earnest.
Link, Zelda and Sabbah went back into the castle to collect their things.
The sun eventually cast a soft golden light over Castle town as the army assembled outside of the town gates. Women and children lined the streets, waving off husbands, fathers and brothers alike. Children cheered excitedly whilst adults remained stoic and calm, at least on the surface.
Link knew what the adults were thinking. There was a chance that some of them would never come home, silently praying that that nightmare would befall someone else and spare them.
He swore he would do his best to ensure as many of them returned as possible.
Arriving at the head of the column, Zelda led her horse next to Captain Williams, who blared a loud horn, signalling the start of the long march into the desert.
Boots drove into the earth in cadence, horse-led carriages followed and Link rode with Sabbah behind him. Epona didn't mind her at all.
The army moved like a great, rolling beast. From the high vantage of the castle walls, it must have looked like a rolling column of steel and banners.
At first, the landscape was familiar. Golden wheat fields, scattered farmsteads and the occasional herds of grazing livestock. The sun crept through the sky, eventually casting long shadows over the swaying grass. The soldiers marched in a steady rhythm, their footfalls beating against the packed dirt roads.
But as the hours stretched into a full day, the green gave way to stone and the ground beneath them became harder. By the time the sun dipped beneath the horizon on the first night, the first wagons reached Lake Hylia.
A hushed awe settled over the front ranks as the bridge over the lake came into view. Its single arch spanned the whole chasm beneath as the now clear waters rippled far below. The bridge was barely a year old at this point, having been commissioned by Zelda in the wake of the end of the Twilight Crisis. Its modern design had allowed it to be built far faster than a traditional one.
The moon hung low, turning the lake's surface into rippling silver, stretching far in either direction. The army crossed in waves. First the vanguard, then the supply caravans, then the rear guard, a slow and methodical procession that took the rest of the day to complete. As the first men reached the desert's edge, the last carts were still rolling onto the bridge.
Beyond the bridge, the vast Gerudo Desert loomed. Green faded to yellowed grass, then to dry, cracked earth. Even from here, the heat pressed against them. Not oppressive, but a promise of what lay ahead.
That night, the army made camp on the edge of two worlds. The last breath of Hyrule behind them and the endless sands ahead. Tomorrow, they would enter the desert, and there would be no turning back.
Link and Sabbah hadn't spoken much on the ride so far. There was no need to. Instead, they both enjoyed a companionable silence
The camp settled like a temporary town at the desert's threshold, lanterns flickering against the darkening sky. Fires dotted the landscape. Soldiers moved with quiet efficiency. Some checked their weapons, others tending to the horses or rolling out their bedrolls. The scent of cooked rations and burning wood mixed with the dust-laden air.
The veterans remained calm, treating the march as another deployment, their movements practiced and sure. Newer recruits, however, were restless. Some sat in quiet clusters, adjusting their armor for the hundredth time, fingers twitching as they traced the hilts of their weapons. Others simply stared into the fire, absorbing the weight of what was to come. There was no drunken revelry or boasting. Just preparation.
Williams made his rounds. Moving between the units he murmured words of reinforcement or sharp orders where necessary. Karlsman, though a natural leader, took cues from him and ensured his men were set. He adjusted a young soldier's armor without a word, patting him once on the shoulder before moving on.
Zelda stood near one of the larger fires. Her arms were folded and her gaze distant. Though she had barely spoken since they set camp, her presence alone kept the soldiers steady. Every so often, someone would pass by and offer a stiff salute. She acknowledged each with a nod but spoke little. The weight of command weighed on her tonight.
Sabbah however was a silent observer, studying the camp. She took note of how the Hylians organized and prepared. When she finally moved, she helped around the camp. Adjusting some saddle straps, testing the weight of a Hylian mace in her hands and whatever else needed doing. She spoke briefly to a few soldiers, offering small corrections where needed, but otherwise let them be.
The evening wore on as meals were shared and the bedrolls became occupied as the night turned cold. Link was given a private tent and, exhausted from a day of full travel, fell straight asleep.
The next morning, after a quick portion of rations, the tents were taken down and stowed quickly. It took under an hour for the column to pack up and enter the blazing heat. The army moved with purpose, but the desert was unforgiving. As the sun crept higher, the golden dunes roasted those who walked it. Each breath carried the taste of dust as it clung to the back of the throat.
They had planned for this. Marching in shifts, sleeping in the covered carriages while fresh soldiers took their place. The system worked, ensuring no one collapsed under the relentless sun. Even so, the exhaustion crept in. Sweat soaked into cloth and armor, boots sank into the loose sand, and simple conversation dwindled.
The dunes stretched for miles in every direction and their patterns were ever-changing. In the distance, flocks of Kargoroks observed them. Further out, herds of wild boars moved away from the approaching columns. No wild beast dared challenge an army of this size, or so they hoped.
As the afternoon sun blazed, Link rode with Sabbah behind him. His shoulders damp with sweat as his tunic stuck to his back. Epona handled the terrain well, but even she snorted in irritation at the shifting sand beneath her hooves.
"You should cover your head" Sabbah said, pointing to her own head wrap.
Link smirked. "I figured if I pass out, you'd catch me."
Sabbah scoffed, shaking her head. "If you pass out, I let you fall. Less weight to slow us down. I take your horse too."
Link arched a brow. "Oh, I do like my friends."
She leaned forward slightly. "Maybe I was serious?"
Link chuckled, shrugging. "Then good luck controlling this one without me" he said, patting Epona's strong neck.
Sabbah smirked. "You are fine. Happen to like you."
They marched on, pushing through the heat. As they continued, several soldiers succumbed to heat stroke, being taken to some of the water caravans to rest and recover. Even warmed by the desert sun, the water proved its worth.
Nobody spoke, the effort too much to contend with as the sun did not relent. Link recalled several small landmarks he had passed with Midna when he had first walked the desert with her. He smirked to himself, wondering how he had survived it with almost no preparation.
He moved alongside Karlsman, the sun in the west. Epona's large frame provided him some welcome shade.
Karlsman wiped the sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist before speaking. "I think I've done a good job in the army, you know."
Link braced himself. "Go on."
"Rallied the troops at Lake Hylia. Organized the defense. Got field promoted." Karlsman nodded to himself. "So why don't I get a horse?"
Link snorted. "You still have to move with your horse, you know. You don't just sit still in the saddle."
"I know how to ride! My point is that we'd all get there faster if we all had one."
Link sighed. "If we had enough horses for everyone, there wouldn't be any grasslands left."
Karlsman squinted at him. "Oh, those poor patches of earth. Otherwise doing nothing."
Link smirked. "Those patches of earth don't complain. Learn from them."
Sabbah burst out laughing. It was sudden, sharp, and genuine. Karlsman blinked, then grinned despite himself.
It was still miserably hot, everyone was tired and coated with sweat. For a brief moment though, that didn't matter.
The column pressed on, undaunted. Soldiers swapped with the others in the caravans to continue the march. Link chose to ride next to Zelda and Williams for a while, Sabbah still with him and being perfectly at peace in the harsh desert. She actually seemed a little smug about it.
"We may not be suited to the desert, but I hope our efforts are not embarrassing at least" Williams said to her, picking up on her small grin.
"You have prepared. That is the best you could do" she replied simply.
"How do the Gerudo fare in such an environment?" Zelda asked earnestly.
Sabbah looked thoughtful for a moment as she gazed ahead.
"Is not easy. No matter how long we live here, water is always the biggest concern. We dig wells that dry very fast, so we always chase springs. Our main settlement sits above an aquifer, so we do alright" she explained.
"However, Gerudo did not use to be united. Many different groups lived all over the desert. So there was a lot of struggle in the old days. It is why trade is so important"
Link paid extra attention. Gerudo history had never been discussed much beyond their involvement with Ganondorf.
She explained more about how trade had gradually formed more and more bonds of trust over the years. Then, how Ganondorf had been born and quickly rose to power in his teenage years. He was quick to bring the loose groups together into a single settlement over a bountiful source of water.
Link exhaled. To think that the biggest threat to Hyrule could have had such a noble life beforehand. The private war of the goddesses and Demise was cruel, at best.
They rode on for a while, listening to Sabbah's stories. The sun finally began to sink, the heat fading with it after a long day. Despite having access to all the water they needed, Zelda's lips were dry and showing signs of cracks. Link wasn't much better, his tunic clung to him through sweat and was starting to feel the cold of the evening before anyone else.
As the light of the day finally darkened, the unmistakable silhouette of the Arbiter's Grounds came into view. Though cresting a dune in the distance, a wave of relief washed through the marching army. Zelda, deciding everyone deserved a break, ordered that camp be made.
"Williams, ensure the men are fed and rested. They may need to march on the Arbiter's Grounds at a moment's notice" she said quietly.
Williams nodded and turned his steed about, passing the order amongst his men. The caravans were wheeled into a defensive perimeter as men unloaded tents and supplies again. Sabbah dismounted quickly.
"They are exhausted. If they go too fast, they will be unable to walk. I will help" she said, wheeling around and disappearing into the sea of soldiers.
Link and Zelda were finally alone after nearly two straight days of travel.
"Every stone here was built with injustice. Every echo in these halls is a death undeserved" she said flatly.
"I'd heard it was a place for prisoners. Beyond that, nothing else" Link replied.
"If it were that simple…" she said, trailing off. "No, it held 'dissidents' who opposed the rule of the Hylian Crown in ages past. Something as simple as saying 'I do not like the King' was enough to have you thrown in there and executed"
No wonder spirits of the dead lingered there. If what Sabbah had said about Stal was true, being the vengeful dead, then the entire structure would be perfect raising them.
"It's hard to imagine Hyrule like that" Link remarked.
"Most kingdoms have some dark history, ours is no different."
They stood silently for a moment, staring at the spectre of the grounds ahead of them. With hunger starting to gnaw at them, they walked into the camp, eager to eat anything.
Link sat with Karlsman and shared some rations. He rolled his waterskin between his hands, unable to relax. That Ghirahim could be here at any moment with his Stal unsettled him. Staring into the fire, he found himself becoming unfocused as the flames danced in the dark desert.
Across the camp, Zelda stood with Williams and Karlsman, discussing strategy. But her gaze kept drifting to the ruins.
Then, without warning, he felt a lurch. As if his whole being was being pulled towards the Arbiter's Grounds. Sounds of alarm came from the soldiers who all felt the same sensation.
He shot up. His hand went straight to his sword, eyes snapping toward the ruins. Nothing. But his heart pounded and Zelda had felt it too.
Their eyes met across the camp. No words were needed. Whatever magic had just been performed, only Ghirahim could have performed such a spell. He was already inside the Arbiter's Grounds.
Zelda broke away from the officers and walked to him. The firelight flickered against her face, but her expression was unreadable.
"He is here. I am all but certain that was his magic too."
Link nodded once. "That means the portal is open..."
Zelda's gaze swept over the camp. Two hundred soldiers. Tired. Dehydrated. Pushing them forward now would be a risk.
"They are not ready…" she said, voice quiet. "We cannot lead them into a fight they are too exhausted to win."
Williams approached, his brow furrowed. "Your Majesty?"
Zelda turned to him. "We're going in. Alone."
Williams' lips thinned. "Your Majesty, I cannot allow this. This isn't just a scouting mission, it's walking into a tomb. If you fall, the entire command structure of this army collapses."
"We don't have time to wait" Link interjected. "If Ghirahim is already inside, then we are overdue. If we delay, he might slip through before we can stop him."
Williams clenched his jaw. "Then we follow you in."
"No" Zelda said. Her voice was firm. "We do not know what we are walking into. Link and I will scout ahead, learn what we can exploit first."
She turned to the distant ruins, then back to Williams. "I will send a beacon. A bright light in the sky. When you see it, bring the army and follow us in."
The captain hesitated. His hands flexed at his sides. "Your Majesty, if something happens…"
"Then avenge me. Until then, follow your orders" she said sternly.
Williams still didn't move. He looked to Link, searching for some reason to dissuade them.
"You know we're both capable" he said with a simple shrug.
Finally, Williams exhaled sharply. "We'll be ready."
He left in a hurry to gather the soldiers and get them prepared.
Zelda turned back to Link. "We move now."
Spurring Epona as Zelda spurred Cyd, they raced over the dunes towards the imposing silhouette. They pushed them hard, galloping as they could over the sands.
Unhindered by the slower moving army, they closed the distance in under an hour. They stopped at the base of a sand dune, obscuring them from any watchful eyes ahead.
Gathering their equipment from their saddlebags, they dismounted their horses and stepped into the night. The Arbiter's Grounds awaited.
Zelda wore a hooded cloak and wrapped a dark scarf around her face to protect from the warmth. The green tunic provided some relief from the cold, but not enough. Link tried to button it up as far as he could, but to no avail. He regretted having not thought of a scarf, or even a piece of sack cloth. Undaunted, he climbed the sand dune with Zelda at his side.
At the top, they both lay flat to the ground as they observed the ruined structure. The entryway was the same as he recalled it. It had been less than a month since he had been here.
"I don't see anything. Though I don't think many others could" Zelda said quietly.
Link couldn't make anything out either. Either it was too dark to see anything or all of the Stal were already inside. Taking a breath, he steeled himself.
"Alright, there's ridges on either side of the entryway. I think if we try the right one, that would get us on to the structure. We can try to climb and get a vantage point. Maybe even see inside."
"Good plan. Let's go"
They both stood and started walking heel-to-toe to minimise the noise of their steps. It took them longer to climb the ridge, but they needed to remain unseen as they both kept low and stepped lightly.
The closer they got, there was still no sign of the Stal. But they both heard something.
Link could swear he heard a glass smash somewhere in the distance. They both looked at each other. He put a finger to his lips and pointed to the upper level of the structure. Zelda looked, then nodded to him. She let him lead.
The closer they crept, the more noises they heard. It wasn't breaking glass, but clay. Sometimes followed by the telltale sound of a fire bursting violently into life.
Then, muffled shouts.
They made it onto the flat stonework, above the entrance to the tall structure.
Now, there were the unmistakable sounds of battle. Shouts, clangs of metal swords and the occasional shouts of women. Link felt a chill down his spine as he also heard the sounds of bones clattering, like an eerie chorus.
Creeping to the other side of the upper level, they found a flat ledge that overlooked the other side.
As they crawled to the edge, flat on their stomachs, the sounds were far louder now.
Peering over the edge at the same time, they saw carnage and chaos beneath them.
A band of Gerudo women, some thirty of them, were engaged with a huge swarm of skeletal Stal. They were being pushed back from the Arbiter's Grounds as some of them threw clay pots that burst into bright red flame, engulfing the attacking Stal. Bodies of the Gerudo were strewn in the horde of Stal.
Zelda took a sharp and panicked breath as she saw the scene before her, looking around the battleground quickly. In an instant, she leapt to her feet before Link could react. She uttered incomprehensible words as she gathered magic to her palm, forming a bright light.
Aiming to the sky, she shot the magical light far above them. It burst into a blinding white light, illuminating the whole area beneath them as a second sun appeared nearly a mile into the sky. Soon, the Hylian army would arrive.
"Link! We have to help!" she said urgently. "Use everything you have!"
She weaved another spell at speed as the battle took a momentary lurch. The Gerudo uttered their own words of shock at the sudden change, pointing to the bright light. Some of them pointed to Link and Zelda. The Stal, however, were unrelenting as they closed the gap between them and the women.
The Gerudo were quick to react as they joined together and started throwing their pots of fire again.
Link stood quickly and withdrew his bow. A long time ago, he had learned a good trick that wouldn't require the use of his Triforce. Knocking an arrow, he took a bomb out and slipped the head in between the rope binding and lit the fuse. A moment later, he drew the bow as hard as he could and took aim. It would be hard to miss any Stal from here.
Loosing the arrow, a trail of embers followed the bomb as it arced towards the dense crowd of Stal. The blast was instant as some ten of the horrors were blasted to dust.
Wasting no time, he knocked another arrow and attached another bomb. The Stal took no notice of the two of them, hunting the Gerudo instead. They had run out of their pots and maintained a defensive wall as they desperately fought back the swarm.
Zelda's hands trembled as she reached out, whispering the ancient words. The air around her shimmered as magic rippled through the sand, a faint tremor quaking beneath them. Her breaths grew sharp, sweat beading at her temples.
Then, with a desperate cry, the desert roared to life. Sand heaved and surged forward like a tidal wave, engulfing the battlefield in a choking cloud of dust and force. The Stal had no time to react. She was trying to bury as many of the Stal as she could.
Link shot his arrow into the crowd, close to the Gerudo. His aim was true, blasting apart another six Stal and buying the women some time. Immediately after the wall of sand crashed over the flat ground with tremendous energy. The Stal were powerless against the sudden onslaught of tonnes of desert sand. A moment after the clouds of dust settled, there was a new slope down to the battlefield from their vantage point.
"Wow!" Link said, dumbfounded. He quickly came back to his senses, as Zelda was shaking and sweating profusely from her effort. She took ragged breaths as she could barely support her own weight.
In an instant, he started rooting through her supplies. She had a bandolier, each pouch containing some unknown flowers and rocks. Then, he found a pack of the familiar tablet cubes she was so fond of.
Unfurling the pack, he dumped all of them into his hand and held it in front of her mouth. She ate ravenously, eating every last one of them in a few quick bites.
She would need a minute to recover, so he took up his bow again. Looking over the scene, he couldn't use bombs any more, the surviving Stal were too close.
His fingers twitched against the bowstring. The Gerudo were running out of space. He reached for another bomb, then cursed under his breath. Too close. Too risky. His eyes darted between Zelda, struggling to recover, and the battlefield below. If he left her, she'd be vulnerable. If he stayed, the Gerudo might fall. His muscles tensed, urgency hammering in his chest.
"Come on, think. Think!"
Looking to Zelda, he saw she was slowly starting to regain her composure. They were outnumbered three to one, even with the devastation Zelda had brought.
Then, he saw one of the nearby columns, holding up the weight of the tower above them. It had the same line of grooves in it that he had used with the Spinner device…and there was a new slope in front of him. It solved both problems at once.
"Hold on to me!" he barked at Zelda. She looked up, alarmed and still breathless.
Withdrawing the device from his pouch, he set it to spin on the floor in front of him. Then, he lifted Zelda up and had her wrap her legs around his back, supporting her in front of him as he held her with his free hand.
"Don't let go! No matter what!" he said urgently.
Before she had a chance to respond, she clung to him and nestled her head into his shoulder. She still had the sense to leave his sword arm unrestricted.
Hopping on to the spinner, he quickly found his new centre of gravity as he leaned forward, steering the spinner into the grooves of the column.
The teeth bit the grooves with a grinding whir, jerking forward so hard that Link nearly lost his balance. Zelda yelped, her grip tightening as they spiraled around the column once—twice—momentum building fast. The wind roared past his ears. He clenched his teeth, calculating the perfect launch point.
"Hold tighter…" he muttered, adjusting his stance. He stomped his heel down on the Spinner's mechanism—a burst of force, a sudden lurch—then the world twisted sideways as they shot free. He landed on the sand slope, the device righting itself as it hit the sand.
"Perfect!" he exclaimed.
Zelda's fingers dug into his shoulders, her legs squeezing so tight that he could barely breathe. "What the hell are you doing now?!" she shrieked, her voice shrill with panic.
The Spinner shot down the slope like thunder, and Zelda clamped onto him like a vice."Goddesses, Link!" she shrieked as they barreled straight toward the horde. Her grip around his chest was so tight he thought his ribs might crack. "This is a terrible idea!"
"Most of mine are!" he yelled over the wind.
Her panicked voice was lost beneath the deafening crunch as the Master Sword carved through the first Stal, then four more.
Learning the spinner around, he kept the huge surge of momentum from the slope and looped back around. Zelda screamed in shock as showers of bone fragments peppered them both on the second attack.
As he leaned away, he felt the momentum slow. He steered it back up the slope to the vantage point they had.
"Link! Soldiers!" Zelda said breathlessly.
As the spinner ground to a halt, he saw the Hylian cavalry charge through the gap where the sand dune had been, charging with warhammers in to the back lines of the Stal, exploding bones as they charged in.
"Got my damn horse!" came a familiar voice from behind them.
Snapping his head around too quickly, he overbalanced on the spinner and fell onto his back, Zelda's head flying into his with a dull whack.
Finally, she unfurled her legs and iron grip as she moaned, holding her head. Link saw flashes of red light in his vision as he cradled his own head.
"Aahh…" he uttered through gritted teeth.
Karlsman however, mercilessly burst out laughing.
"Oh, that will stay with me to the grave" he said, barely suppressing the laughs.
"Oh, come on…" Link moaned, trying to get to his feet.
A moment later, he saw a waterskin in front of him. He took it wordlessly, draining half of it in an instant to clear his new headache. He passed it to Zelda, who promptly finished the rest.
It took a minute, but they stood again and did their best to focus.
"You got here quick" Link managed to say.
"Told you horses would get us here quicker. Regular troops will be here soon, they're moving at double pace." Karlsman reported.
Zelda was preoccupied with the bewildered looking Gerudo, who kept their swords drawn at the sudden arrival of the Hylians.
"Please tell me Sabbah is…oh wait…" she half finished.
Looking over, Link saw Sabbah's imposing figure atop her own horse, riding it comfortably.
Before the Gerudo, she raised a clenched fist, and the murmurs died. Zelda translated what she heard.
"Brave sisters! You stand here because you are Gerudo!" she bellowed, her voice sharp as steel. "You do not retreat. You do not falter. And today, you do not stand alone!"
The tension snapped like a taut bowstring. A cry of warrior pride erupted from the gathered women, swords raised, eyes alight with renewed fury. They slammed their blades against their shields in a steady rhythm, a sound like thunder rolling across the dunes. Sabbah turned and pointed to Zelda. "They will fight with us. Let us end the Stal properly."
Zelda nodded, a brief flicker of relief crossing her face.
But before she could speak, a pulse of magic cracked through the air.
From the depths of the Arbiter's Grounds, a piercing, violet light split the night apart. It surged upward in a twisting column. The sand trembled beneath their feet, and everyone stilled for a fraction of a heartbeat.
Then, an eerie roar followed. A hollow, unnatural sound that ripped through the bones of the dead.
Link's stomach dropped.
The portal was open, its eerie rippling energies were visible through one of the side entrances of the structure.
From there and the depths, they emerged in an unstoppable wave.
More Stal than they had ever anticipated. Not hundreds. Thousands. The ground boiled with movement as the dead poured forth, their spoiled remains gleamed in the unnatural glow. Some crawled from the sand, half-formed, their skeletal fingers clawing their way up. Others shambled forth fully armed, ancient rusted weapons in hand.
Visible through the crowding doorway, there stood Ghirahim, a few feet from the portal.
His sadistic eyes glowed with amusement, and his smile was a knife's edge. He swept his hand outward, and the Stal surged forward in an instant.
Zelda didn't hesitate.
"All forces! Hold the line!" she commanded, her voice ringing through the battlefield.
The Hylians and Gerudo charged together. Steel met bone, and the battle erupted into pure chaos.
The air was choked with dust and the screams of battle.
Link fought his way forward, hacking through the Stal without pause. For every one that fell, another two took its place. He spun, parried and cleaved. His blade was a blur of silver light.
Karlsman and Williams fought side by side, using war hammers and maces to shatter ribcages and crush spines. The Gerudo fought with blazing speed, their curved blades flashing through the dark. Sabbah was relentless, her twin scimitars carving a path of destruction.
Zelda wielded her magic like a storm. With every motion, golden light seared through the enemy ranks. A single gesture obliterated a dozen Stal, their bodies turning to dust.
But they were being surrounded.
Ghirahim, standing near the portal, laughing at their efforts. His arms spread wide, as if conducting a grand performance.
"You came all this way, all this effort and for what? To throw yourselves into the grave with the rest?" His voice dripped with amusement. "Such beautiful resistance. But the outcome? The same."
The ground ruptured as more Stal burst forth.
Link's breath came fast and ragged. They had to get to the portal before they were completely overwhelmed.
"Zelda!" he called, slashing through a Stal in his way. "We have to go! Now!"
She turned, locking eyes with him. She nodded once. Channeling the magic Shad had told her about, she also weaved the energies of her triforce into the spell. The only foil to Ghirahim's plans.
Their final push began.
The Hylians and Gerudo fought viciously to clear a path, knowing what was at stake. The portal pulsed with magic, its unstable surface rippling like a darkened pool.
Ghirahim watched them approach, his smirk unwavering. "Oh, darling boy," he purred. "You're so very predictable."
He stepped through the portal along with a host of his Stal, mere feet from them.
Then, Zelda screamed.
A Stal's rusted mace struck the back of her head, the force sending her stumbling.
Link's heart stopped.
She collapsed just as he leapt into the portal.
"ZELDA!"
Her name ripped from his throat as he reached back, one moment too late.
The portal changed, its colour shifting from purple to gold.
The last thing he saw was her body falling, surrounded by enemies. The world vanished in a burst of violet light as his body dematerialised to be flung to the Twilight Realm. Alone.