Chapter 37- Unlikely Allies

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Chapter 37

Unlikely Allies

A deafening cacophony assaulted Link's ears, dragging him painfully back to reality. He recognised the distant guttural calls of Bulblins, shrill neighs, Gerudo voices, and the ever-present rumble of passing carts. Even without opening his eyes, he knew he was in the Gerudo camp. The noise rattled his throbbing skull, and Link couldn't help but wonder why he felt so wretchedly ill after the healing. It was worse this time, perhaps because the damage had come so close to killing him.

Blinking the sleep from his eyes, Link quickly realised his hands were bound to a pole behind his back, the rough wood digging into his skin. He was in a dimly lit tent, sparsely furnished save for a table, upon which rested a glowing figure in a cage.

Link blinked, still disoriented. The gloom did little to help, and it took him a moment to realise the ethereal light he could see was Navi. He almost called out and caught himself just in time. He glanced around the tent to see if they were alone, and just as he did, someone whispered his name.

They weren't alone.

Sheik. She sat tied to a second pole on the far side of the tent. Link stared at her, certain some foul magic had knocked him silly. Was it someone's idea of a cruel prank - a means to give him some false hope? What was she doing here?

Sheik looked at him, and now that his vision had regained some clarity, Link could see she was in no better condition than he was. An ugly cut ran across the side of her head where she'd been struck. The sleeve of her odd, dark blue exoskeleton was melted on one side, revealing skin that was red, raw, and blistered. It must have hurt, but if she was in pain, Sheik hid it well.

"Are you all right?" she asked, but Link was too shocked to respond. Noticing his look of utter dismay, she added, "Your eyes do not deceive you."

"How?" Link asked, his voice dry and gravelly. "You and Impa... you went to Kakariko? How did you end up here?" He looked over at Navi, who was still asleep. It wasn't surprising; he knew she'd been tired after Dark Link's attack, though she had tried to hide it. "Navi... is she?"

"Navi's injuries were minor. Mine were survivable," Sheik assured him. "As for how I came to be here..." She hesitated. Her eyes showed the briefest hint of emotion, but it was gone before Link could so much as blink. "Rin and I met one of our allies who assured us that the seal on the Shadow Temple was intact. It was then that we learned Ganondorf's forces were closer to the lake than our earlier reports indicated, and that they were headed there at speed. We met Ruto in the forest. She told me you had been taken."

"You came after us? Why?" Link asked before he could stop himself. How long had he been out? Surely it would have taken some time for her to reach the camp. She was hardly the type to use the portal foolishly while the Gerudo were camped on top of it. She might have taken them by surprise using the portal in the Temple of Time, but they were unlikely to be caught out by the same trick twice.

"Rin came with me. It was a rash choice, to be certain, but I wasn't prepared to risk handing our enemy every advantage we have. Once I was certain they had left the lake, we followed," Sheik answered. "I was caught by their mages before I could find you. Rin and I were separated."

"Sheik..." Link tried to swallow. She was here because of him. How was that even possible? "Why didn't you send someone to find us?"

Sheik seemed to guess his thoughts, interrupting before he could finish. "It was always my intention to join you once I knew the seal on the Shadow Temple was secure, no matter the danger. There was no one else who could reach you quickly," Sheik said. "The choice was mine. It was not your burden to bear..." Then she added in a lighter tone, "I had to stop Ruto from coming after you. She did not think highly of my plan."

"What do you think happened to Rin?" Link asked, hoping Impa hadn't been captured too.

"I suspect she has gone to seek help. Ruto gave her my harp, so she has the means to find help quickly," Sheik's eyes flickered to the tent flap. Their voices were too low to carry far. "Navi said you were in an awful state when you arrived..." She paused, and there was a strange softness to her voice. "She told me about the witches. You were unconscious for over a day."

Navi made a soft noise as she finally stirred from her sleep. Seeing Link was conscious, she quickly jumped up. "Link! Are you okay? I wasn't sure what to expect after..."

Navi's voice trembled, and Link had no doubt she was lost in the memory of what the witch had done. He was glad she hadn't seen him coughing up blood. The mental image this conjured made him feel cold and sick.

"One of the Gerudo made her stop... It was horrible." He choked, stumbling on the last few words as he remembered the agonising pain.

"At least it's over," Navi tried to reassure him.

For now.

Link's cheeks flushed as he forced back the tears that threatened to come. Becoming so emotional in front of Sheik was embarrassing. Shame gnawed at him. He wished he could be more like Sheik, hiding everything behind that cold, emotionless exterior. It would make his task far more bearable.

"I don't want to go through that again," he said, swallowing back a sob. He didn't want to cry in front of Navi or Sheik. Especially Sheik. "I can't... I keep wishing none of this had ever happened. Or that I could go back and do something differently."

Sheik sighed.

"You are not alone in that," she said.

Link blinked back tears, looking up at Sheik, whose fierce red eyes met his. "Why do the Goddesses make us suffer like this?" he asked. "It's one thing knowing I can do something, but now... Stuck here..."

He tried to gesture at their surroundings but only tugged helplessly at his restraints.

"Did you say one of the Gerudo helped you?" Sheik asked.

Link nodded. "Yes. She made them stop."

Sheik furrowed her brow in a rare display of puzzlement.

"I don't know what happened." Link's voice wavered as he recalled the pain. Whatever courage he had found felt very far away now; he couldn't sense the Triforce of Courage, or perhaps he was too drained to reach for it.

"Curious," Sheik murmured.

"What's curious?" Link asked.

"Either the witches' hold over her was broken, perhaps by Moriko, or their spell is weakening."

"How does that help us?" Link asked heatedly, the sudden anger in his voice causing both Navi and Sheik to stare at him. He drew a deep breath and lowered his voice. "One Gerudo cannot help us escape, and the rest... they did nothing."

That wasn't quite true. One of the other Gerudo had tried to stop the witches.

Navi must have been thinking the same thing because she spoke up. "They asked me if we knew where Zelda was."

"And?" Sheik asked without inflection.

"I told them Link knew, so the witches would stop what they were doing, but it was a lie."

"A necessary one, perhaps," Sheik replied evenly. She paused, considering something, her head cocked slightly to one side, red eyes staring into his own. It was not a comforting gesture. "One of the Gerudo said you blocked the witches' magic. Do you remember how you did it?"

Puzzled, Link shook his head. "No. I don't. I..." Something had happened when he'd blacked out, but he couldn't wrap his head around it. "Sheik," he began, sure he'd sound mad. "Do the Triforce shards ever... speak to their bearers?"

"Speak?" Sheik echoed, sounding puzzled by the question. "No. Not that I'm aware of... why?"

Great. Now she probably thinks I'm crazy.

Try as he might, Link couldn't dismiss his recollection of seeing that strange apparition again. For a moment, its mind had touched his own, leaving him with the distinct impression that there was still much it hadn't told him, but it was silent now. The Triforce of Courage was seemingly dormant.

"Link?"

Link almost jumped, realising that Sheik was staring at him.

"I... It's nothing," Link said hastily. Eager to change the subject, he turned to Navi. "Any idea how to get out of here?" he asked, hoping for some comforting words.

"Without any outside help, our chances are slim at best," Navi answered. "There's always the 'my cellmate is ill' trick. You know, attract the guard's attention and escape when she thinks you're no threat."

Sheik was not amused. "They would just bring a troop of guards in here and a few healers, and probably knock you out if they were annoyed enough. No guard would be caught dead falling for that."

"Well, they probably would be dead if they fell for it," Navi joked.

"Helpful," Sheik muttered, in a tone Link had only heard her use with Ruto. "Right now, our best option is to wait for one of Zelda's allies. Failing that, we may still be able to reach the Desert Colossus. The portal there would allow us to escape."

"We have no way to open it," Link pointed out. "You said so yourself... Wait, where's the ocarina?"

And where was the rest of his gear? Where was the Master Sword? The belt? And where was Epona? Had the Gerudo taken everything?

"I think it's under guard," Navi offered. "I heard their commander talking while you were out. I think she shocked herself touching the Master Sword."

Even my sword is putting up a better fight than me, Link thought morosely. That didn't make him feel much better; the blade remained entirely out of reach, leaving him feeling utterly defenceless.

Despite Link's near panic and Navi's interruption, Sheik's face remained unreadable. "We may not be able to use it to travel elsewhere in Hyrule, but..." Here, she lowered her voice. "Did you ever wonder what Ganondorf's phantom was trying to do with Saria when he captured her?"

Link swallowed, Sheik's words opening the gateway to a host of unwanted memories.

"Well... yeah, I did," he said slowly, looking at the floor.

"Rauru believes that the temples can act as a portal."

"A what?" Link broke in, surprised. "As in... the entire temple? How does that even work?"

Sheik ignored the interruption. "Using the medallions, the Sages can open a gateway to each temple's counterpart in the Sacred Realm. We think this allowed them to travel there quickly in the event of danger. From there, Rauru could reach them, and perhaps he could reach us as well." Link was aware of her gaze falling on him, but he didn't meet her eyes. "That is why I asked if you wondered why Ganon chose to kidnap your friend. At first, I thought it was because he suspected she was a Sage, but that was only part of it."

Link was still digesting this information when Navi spoke up.

"Ganon must have found out," she said softly, sounding a little disturbed. "If only a Sage can use those portals, that means he wanted to use Saria as a puppet so he could gain access to the Sacred Realm..."

"And kill Rauru," Link finished, suppressing a shiver and finally looking into Sheik's red eyes. "So once we find the Sage of Spirit, we can use these portals to get into the Sacred Realm and make our way to one of the other temples?"

"Provided we find the medallion and a Sage who can use it," Sheik answered.

"That still leaves the hard part," Link muttered, looking towards the tent flap. "We just have to escape and get there, but I can't see any way out. Not unless someone rescues us before-"

Link trailed off, his final words left unspoken. Even the fear of being handed over to Ganondorf seemed a pale threat in comparison to the torture he'd endured at the witches' sorcery. The pain made even the agony of being possessed by Dark Link seem tolerable. "I'm not ready to face Ganondorf yet... I know I'm not... Think of it, Sheik. How many people has he personally killed? Hundreds? Thousands? Not even the Sheikah could best him, and how does my skill compare to their own?" His voice became the barest whisper as he spoke his greatest fear. Both Sheik and Navi stared at him in pity. "I've faced him twice now, out in the open, and both times I've been unable to beat him." He laughed without humour. "I even wet myself the first time. Not exactly what you'd call heroic."

The tent fell silent at those words, and Sheik looked away from him.

"Link-" she began in a voice so soft that Link struggled to hear her. "I-"

"That's where they're taking us, isn't it?" Link demanded, finding the strength to force the words out. "To Ganondorf?"

Sheik still didn't look at him. He had a feeling that his last words had struck a painful blow.

"Sheik?" he asked, concerned.

"I do not know," Sheik replied, whispering the words. She turned to look him in the eyes.

Was it just his imagination, or were there tears in her eyes?

It was probably just the light. That, or the healing potion was still muddling his head.

"Whatever happens, Link, you must not give up the hope that we will be rescued," Sheik continued.

"Not much chance of that," Link muttered, but this did give him an idea. He looked at Navi, wondering if they could somehow get her out.

Navi noticed him staring. "What's wrong?"

"We can get Navi free," Link said. Judging from the way Sheik looked at him, her brow furrowed in concern, she understood. Before she could reply, Navi objected.

"Do you really think the Gerudo are going to ignore an escaped fairy?" she asked with an angry squeak. "We agreed to stick together. Besides, I can't take my eyes off you for a second without you trying to get yourself killed."

"That's not fair," Link retorted, earning a reproachful look from Navi. "Besides, you need to get help, and you're the best chance we have."

Their argument was cut abruptly short when they heard footsteps outside the tent, and Sheik silenced both of them. Then someone laughed. It was an eerie and unnervingly familiar chuckle that made Link's hair stand on end.

"You have met with a terrible fate, haven't you?"

Halvard, the Happy Mask Salesman, stepped into the tent. He was still wearing that infuriating grin, garbed in his royal blue robes, hemmed with a pattern of gold. Nobody returned his smile, but this didn't seem to bother him.

"Halvard, you have to help us," Link blurted, his heart soaring at the sudden change in their circumstances. Navi did not join in his enthusiasm; her face went sour as five Gerudo walked in behind the mask seller.

This can't be possible! He saved my life!

But there he stood, side by side with Ganondorf's own, appearing for all the world as though he were here for nothing more than a neighbourly chat.

"It seems you have got yourselves into quite a predicament," Halvard said, as if announcing something as benign as a bogged cart. His usual sing-song lilt quickly faded, however, as he continued, "Fortunately, I have a knack for finding lost things... and people..." He eyed Link, frowning as he directed a question to the Gerudo. "Would one of you be so kind as to fetch some water? And some food, while you're at it. I suspect your healers managed little more than broth while you were drifting in and out of consciousness."

"The food can wait," objected one of the Gerudo. She wore an elaborate necklace, and judging by the deference the others offered, Link deduced she was their commander. One guard left to fetch water, leaving the others to stare impassively at the two prisoners.

"Very well," Halvard said. "But not for long, if you intend to keep him alive."

Link scowled but held his tongue. 

"You three leave us," their commander barked. "Wait outside at your posts. I will summon you if the need arises."

"Yes, Aveil," came the reply.

Reluctantly, the Gerudo left, but Link was certain they hadn't gone far. Indeed, Aveil took a moment to glance out of the tent, ensuring they were not within earshot.

This gave Sheik a moment to speak. "What do you want?" she demanded of Halvard, her voice tight with suspicion.

"Straight to the point?" Halvard chuckled, but it lacked his usual merriment. "As I said, I have a certain talent for finding things, and I also have a knack for extracting the truth from those unwilling to give it." Something in those words made Link's skin crawl, but he didn't say anything as Halvard went on, "I agreed to question you, and to that end, I have something you need... something belonging to your queen." He reached into his robes and pulled out a familiar oblong instrument with a gold band around its mouthpiece. "I admit my methods are sometimes distasteful, but I assure you, everyone within this tent, Aveil included, however reluctantly, is loyal to Hyrule's crown."

Something like a grimace passed across Aveil's face, but Link was too busy looking at the ocarina. He almost gasped. He glanced at Sheik and was surprised to see that her face was still a mask of stone.

"Give that back!" Link struggled against his bindings, wanting nothing more than to snatch the instrument back.

Sheik gave Link a warning look that told him to hold his tongue, and Link's words earned him a tsk from Halvard.

"Oh, I shall, in time. Fortunately for you, Aveil kept it from the witches after your capture," the man ventured. "But first, you must listen. Listen and believe if you care so much about your queen's beloved Hyrule. There are dangers greater than the Gerudo king out there, perhaps greater than even you realise, Sheikah."

"What are you talking about?" Link demanded, feeling increasingly infuriated by the man's eccentric demeanour. Sheik echoed his question, a noticeable frown creasing what little they could see of her face.

"A prophecy most dire," Halvard answered.

"That's original," Navi muttered. "So far as I've noticed, they're all dire."

"Not all," Sheik corrected, but everyone's attention turned back to Halvard.

"Sorcerers and deities have always had a flair for the dramatic," he said, in what seemed partial agreement, "but I assure you, this threat is quite real." Navi's sarcasm died away at those words, and Link frowned, feeling a strange disquiet in the pit of his stomach. "In a not-so-distant future, Hyrule will be lost, destroyed in a flood, a paroxysm of sea, earth, and fire. All your efforts will be for naught. For the sake of preventing this calamity, you must understand that I am on your side. I am trying to save Hyrule... We share that goal in common, do we not?"

A sudden, violent shiver racked Link's body, and he shifted uncomfortably against the pole. He had heard that same story mentioned once before and had taken it as nothing more than Dark Link's attempt to distract him.

Had there been some truth to the demon's words?

"How do you know this?" Sheik asked.

"The Hero of Legends is not the only one destined to traverse the flow of time," Halvard said in that annoying sing-song voice.

"I can vouch for what he says about the flood," Aveil said. "The Gerudo have long known of it. It was written in prophecy. Our own king saw that future in a vision at the Spirit Temple. I assure you, Hylian, it is true."

Link's mind went numb. Were the Goddesses truly so cruel? He looked at Navi for some comforting words, but she had none now, having gone rigid with horror.

There was a rustle of movement beside the door, and Link gasped as two Kokiri came inside. They looked pitiful, gaunt and frail. He felt a surge of anger at the sight of the slave brands on their foreheads and the white tunics they had been forced to wear. Both Kokiri gawked at Navi, but a nudge from Aveil quickly put them back to work.

"Not a word," Aveil said, her voice hard. The two boys nodded, but Link was sure that the warning was meant for him.

As they unbound his hands, Link caught a glance from Sheik that warned him not to resist. He wasn't stupid; he knew that in trying to escape, he would endanger the two Kokiri and their kin. He longed to promise that he would free them, that he would rescue them from their captivity, but Link knew he couldn't offer them any comforting words. Even if Aveil hadn't forbidden it, his promises would be cold comfort when he was in no condition to rescue anyone.

One of the boys handed Link a cup, the other went to Sheik, all while casting a furtive glance at Aveil as she silently watched. Clasping the offered cup, Link sat up straighter against the pole and drank greedily. All the while, Halvard watched him with calculating eyes.

Without another word, the two Kokiri reluctantly redid Link's bonds, which Aveil promptly checked. 

"Well, I'm glad your training hasn't been wasted. It's almost a decent knot," the Gerudo said as she tightened Link's rope. She checked Sheik's next, and she took her time about it. Seeing the two Kokiri still watching her, waiting for their next instruction, she pointed to the tent flap. "Off. Both of you!"

The two Kokiri left the tent, their cups in hand. Bound once again to the pole, Link waited until he was certain they were out of earshot before he spoke; he had no intention of frightening them with Halvard's grim omens.

"What you were saying before," Link said slowly, going over what Halvard had said, "is that even if I stop Ganondorf, we are doomed anyway?"

"That does seem awfully pessimistic," Navi said, staring distractedly between Halvard and the tent flap.

"How?" Sheik asked, her voice ever so slightly pinched with pain. "What happened?"

Halvard seemed unsurprised by the uncharacteristic pain in Sheik's voice, as he proceeded to answer in cold detail. "In my Hyrule, a demon emerged from another realm, a demon thought vanquished, and indeed I witnessed its downfall. Once it regained its power, the seal on Ganon's prison was destroyed, and the two clashed. Ganon emerged the victor, and he cast his eyes once more upon Hyrule. In the chaos that followed, Hyrule was destroyed, drowned beneath a great sea." He cast a glance at the ocarina, turning it over in his hands. "This is truly a remarkable instrument. By drawing on a source of power, like the Triforce, it can send the bearer back in time."

"Was it Majora that caused the flood?" Sheik asked.

"Who?" Link and Navi asked at once, but neither Sheikah paid them any attention.

"Indeed, though I think it best not to speak her name more than necessary." Halvard's face darkened as he looked up from the treasured instrument. "I was certain the mask could stop Ganondorf. Perhaps it still can, but Impa forbade it. The demon cannot be controlled."

"Hey, what are you two talking about?" Navi squeaked indignantly.

Nobody answered her.

"You told me that demon was dead!" Sheik said in a voice that demanded answers.

"It is," Halvard replied without cheer. "But an Ancient can be resurrected by one of its own kind; such is the scope of their power."

Link just stared at him, confusion giving way to hopelessness. No matter how he fought it, the feeling only grew. It hurt too much to know that all his efforts would be in vain, that the Goddesses really were callous beings. Or had they not foreseen what Halvard saw? He slumped against the pole, feeling all of the fight and anger leave him.

"Why did Ganondorf resurrect this demon only to kill it?" Navi asked. The Sheikah finally looked at her.

"Ganon allowed Majora to destroy his enemies. Once its task was finished, it was destroyed."

"In all of this time travel, did you figure out how to stop the flood?" Navi inquired.

"Yes," Halvard replied.

"How?" Link asked, almost demanding.

"The combined power of the Sages can stop it, but you still have two to find. One I can tell you is imprisoned within the Desert Colossus. But as for what awaits you there, I cannot say. Only the Gerudo are permitted to enter. The other Sage is someone you know. You must find them soon, or else terrible things will happen."

"I would," Link replied. "But I don't suppose you have a way to get us out of here?"

"In time, but for now you must be patient," Halvard replied matter-of-factly.

"Can we have the ocarina back?" Navi asked.

"No," Aveil said sharply. She had been quiet for so long that Link would have jumped if he weren't restrained. "You cannot."

"Why?" Link demanded.

Aveil sighed. "I cannot arouse the suspicion of the other Gerudo or the witches. You are to be taken to the Gerudo Fortress. If you want to reach the Spirit Temple, then I suggest you don't give Koume or Kotake any reason to kill you... And if you do resist, I can tell you right now that the witches will drag one of the Kokiri in here and kill them. I would be hard-pressed to stop them."

Link felt sickened to his core. He couldn't gauge the Gerudo's thoughts as she kept her emotions well guarded. What kind of sadistic monsters were these witches? His anger surged, and he wanted nothing more than to kill the two hags. They had killed Arden, almost murdered Forenz, and given the chance, they would have killed Saria and Mido.

"I'm sorry," Aveil said firmly, lowering her voice so it wouldn't carry. "Just do as I say, and I will do what I can to see that no harm comes to either them or you. Understood?"

Link nodded and then dared to ask, "What about Sheik? You didn't mention what was in store for her."

Aveil stared at them, looking between Sheik and Link with a thoughtful expression. "My sisters are hoping your capture might persuade Zelda to reveal herself. We have reason to believe you have had contact with her, and rest assured, if you have, we will find out, no matter how long it takes. Pray our patience doesn't wear out."

"Were you telling the truth about not having an invisibility mask?" Navi asked. "We could use one about now."

Halvard smiled briefly. "I was. Now, if you will excuse me, I must be off." He turned to Aveil. "Inform the witches that it will take time to find the answers we seek, but we will find them."

"What of the Sheikah who was with her?" Aveil asked, gesturing to Sheik.

"Gone, no doubt," Halvard said without inflection. "Search if you must, but I suspect she is well beyond your reach."

"You seem certain of that..." Aveil said.

"She will be back, I have no doubt, but she won't return alone. Zelda's allies will come looking for you soon enough."

"I'm aware," Aveil said, her jaw tightening. 

Halvard turned, striding towards the tent entrance. He had just reached the tent flap when he paused, considered something for a moment, and then turned back around to face the prisoners. "Wait for my signal. Both of you."

What does that mean?

Before Link could ask, Halvard turned and, with a swish of his blue robes, he was gone. Aveil followed after him without a word.

As his mind reeled from everything he had just heard, Link turned to Sheik. Her brow was furrowed in thought.

"Tell me he was lying about this whole time travel thing," Link said, almost to himself.

"He wasn't," Sheik replied, her voice little more than a grim whisper, but her face betrayed confusion. "But I don't think he travelled through time alone. I suspect he is hiding something."

"You really think we're supposed to trust him?" Navi blurted. "He's mad!"

"I wouldn't say he's mad. Dangerous, yes, but not crazy," Sheik said to her. This didn't convince Navi at all. "He was right about one thing. The only way to get to the Spirit Temple is to let the Gerudo lead us most of the way. This may be our best chance to free the other Kokiri. And if we break the Twinrova Sisters' hold, some of the Gerudo may yet see reason. Ganondorf's influence weakens with each awakened Sage, but I can still sense the sorcery within their ranks."

Sheik was right, Link supposed. If he wanted to free the other Kokiri, he would have to play along.

With that thought, he resigned himself to waiting.

Next Chapter


Reviews

SunPraiser31 chapter 38 . Feb 1, 2017 Okay what now So the mask salesman guy is basically living a Groundhog Day style life trying to stop this flood? Damn that's gotta be depressing. But are the Godesses really the ones for Link to put blame on? How exactly does Majora fit into it as opposed to Ganon? Which one is it that's inside Ganondorf's mask? So many questions, and maybe the chapter explained them better and I just missed it. I'll have to give it another read. Still, that mask guy is shady. It seems he might want to help, but might not? Guess I'll have to find out.

Shaveza chapter 38 . Jun 21, 2015 I'm really loving the way you've tied Majora's Mask in with everything. It's so exciting to see the ties to Wind Waker as well. Lord Darth Yoda chapter 37 . Dec 26, 2014 Kind of confused by what HMS is saying, the time travel thing is confusing ne as I try to figure out what it means. Hopefully once you explain more as the story goes I'll understand.