Clearer in Time

XIII. The Sands of Time (pt.II)

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The wind howled outside in the desert air. Sheik twisted and turned in her sleep, kicking off her blanket. Nightmares plagued her slumber.

“It’s almost time, my dear…” A voice that only the sleeping Sheikah could hear. A beautiful voice, like a choir of angels.

Sheik moaned in her sleep. She knew all too well that it was almost time. She remembered, not so long ago, when she had counted the days. Now the hour was almost upon her, and she felt not relief, but reluctance. Why? Was it any different? Surely she was still herself, as she had been all these years?

After all, who else could she be?

…

Link stared into the past with disbelief. Ganondorf. His enemy. How could this be? How could such a monster have ever been so… human? Not just human, but good. Righteous. Loving. Not unlike Link, himself.

He remembered how he had felt before arriving in the desert. So full of hatred. He had vowed to himself to destroy Ganon, no matter the cost. But could he do it now, knowing that the Evil King was not born a monster? What would that make him?

He looked to Nabooru. She had said this would be hard on her. Silent tears streaked her face. She didn’t meet his eyes, just stared at the window into the past. Link returned his attention to it. The story appeared to be far from over.

…

The sun beat down ruthlessly upon the desert. The dry heat of Gerudo Valley was visible. It was dangerous this time of year. The weather was unforgiving.

Nabooru was alone. She sat upon the roof of the fortress, looking out towards the desert. Her face was solemn.

Ganondorf. It had been three months now. It only made sense that she would not have heard from him, but somehow it still worried her. Was he on the right path? Or was he lost in the wasteland? Was he even alive? She had heard stories about the Haunted Wasteland. There were worse than monsters in that desert. There was stronger evil. Daemons.

Nabooru shook her head. He’s fine, she told herself. He had promised. She smiled. Besides, she wasn’t the only one that would be awaiting his return.

She rubbed at her belly. It was starting to swell noticeably. Of course, she had been forced to conceal it. Her and Ganondorf were not yet wed. For now she could make due with dresses to cover her stomach. She tried not to think about what she would do in the later stages. And what about when the child was born? She couldn’t keep it a secret forever.

Nabooru’s mother suspected, she knew. Her mother was not by any stretch a stupid woman. Nabooru had always wondered if perhaps her mother had known of her relationship with Ganondorf.

Perhaps it would be wisest to tell her mother. She would understand. Nabooru and Ganondorf were going to be married anyway. Her mother could help her with the child until the father returned. Yes, she thought. The more she toyed with the notion, the better it seemed.

Nabooru made to get to her feet and almost fell back down. She felt dizzy from the heat of the sun. She had to be careful. The desert climate was treacherous. She got up slowly and made her way along the top of the fortress. The entrance to her quarters was at the other end of the stronghold.

The heat shimmered just above the ground. Nabooru’s body was filmed in a sweat. It was so hot. A breeze wafted across her body, but even the wind was arid and dry. She had felt this way before. A heatstroke, they called it. Usually she wasn’t so vulnerable, but she was carrying more than just herself.

The entrance to the fortress was almost in reach. Nabooru’s vision seemed to swim before her eyes, fading in and out of color and grayness. Her breathing was heavy and labored.

She fell to her knees, just a few yards from the dark, inviting entrance of the stronghold. The sun shined down ruthlessly. The wind gusted, bringing with it the heat and loose sand that ground against her skin.

Nabooru collapsed.

…

She awoke to a splitting pain in her head. She opened her eyes slowly, lest the sun shine into them. But she wasn’t outside anymore.

She was in her room. The curtains were drawn and her door was shut. She looked around to see one other person within her quarters.

It was her mother. She busied her hands with a cloth in a bowl of water, wringing it out before folding into a neat little square. She saw Nabooru was awake and smiled at her. Something about it was strange.

“You’re awake,” she said. She approached Nabooru and placed the damp cloth upon her forehead. It felt heavenly. “You’ve been unconscious for a few hours.”

Nabooru winced through her migraine. She had collapsed. She was suddenly struck with worry. What of her child? Suddenly she remembered her resolve to tell her mother. She must have noticed, when she brought Nabooru inside?

“Mother…” she said nervously. Her mother said nothing, not even looking at her. Nabooru forged on. “Mother, I have something I must tell you…”

Nabooru’s mother looked to her daughter, just for a moment. Her eyes were filled with grief. What was wrong Nabooru wondered?

“I’ve known of your child, Nabooru.” Nabooru gasped. So she had been wise to her pregnancy. “You’re my daughter. You can’t hide such things.” Nabooru was uneasy. Why did her mother look so distraught?

“Mother?” she dared. “Mother, what’s wrong?” Her heart was struck with real fear as she saw tears begin to spill from her mother’s eyes.

“I’m so sorry, my daughter,” she said. “You shouldn’t have been outside.” Nabooru’s heart sank. She clutched instinctively to her belly, her stomach that had so recently begun to swell. It felt wrong, somehow.

“Mother?” She said, her voice now full of panic. “What’s happened?” Still, Nabooru’s mother would not look at her. She spoke in hushed tones.

“I’m sorry, Nabooru,” she said. “You have lost you child… while you slept. You’ve had a miscarriage.”

…

The twilight sky was a pale gold, the sun setting in the desert sky. There was a large gathering in front of the gargantuan, wooden doors that blocked the entrance to the Haunted Wasteland. The Gerudo waited anxiously. He had been spotted by one of the sentries, not an hour away. It had been just short of a year, and any moment now, the new Gerudo King would arrive at the double doors.

The crowd was silent, the air heavy with anticipation. The only noise was the wind blowing through the sand. Nabooru stood amongst the crowd, her face solemn.

Finally a noise came. A dull thud against the wooden doors. To guards rushed to each large handle and pulled in opposite directions. The doors creaked open. A lone figure stood before the race of thieves. It was there king.

Slowly but steadily, applause began to sound from the crowd, until the entire company roared in cheer. The Gerudo King smiled at them all, walking through the doors and amongst his people. Nabooru pushed her way through the crowd. She needed to see him.

She made her way to the front of the group just as Ganondorf walked past. She called out his name, but he seemed not to hear her. Not so much as a backward glance. The crowd closed behind him, obstructing Nabooru’s view. She cried out in frustration. If only these insufferable women would move.

No matter, she thought. He would retire to his quarters soon. She knew the way there.

…

She entered without knocking, like always. Ganondorf was facing away from her, looking out the window. He turned to see who had entered. Nabooru gasped.

Ganondorf had changed. His body was even more muscular than it had been upon his leaving, rendering him absolutely massive. His hair was even longer than before, hanging down about his shoulders, and he had sprouted a beard. His skin was darkened, no longer a sun kissed bronze, but scarred black by the unforgiving desert sun. It was his eyes that bothered her most, however. His once golden irises, so vibrant and full of emotion, now seemed blank and yellow.

“Hello, Nabooru,” he said. His voice was deeper, gritty. Nabooru almost flinched. Still, she approached him, tentatively wrapping her arms around him.

“Ganondorf,” she whispered, tears streaking her face. She took no notice of Ganondorf’s failure to embrace her in return. Finally she pulled away from him, so that she may face him.

“How are you?” she asked him. Ganondorf smiled, causing Nabooru’s heart to skip a beat. It wasn’t how she remembered it. His smile now seemed sinister, somehow. Hungry.

“I’ve never felt better, my darling.” Ganondorf stepped away from her, his hands behind his back.

“My year in the wasteland has opened my eyes,” he continued. Once again, his back was turned from her. “I’ve grown since we were last together.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean,” the Gerudo King said. “That I’ve matured. I’ve grown much wiser. Much, much more powerful. I’ve realized the fallacies of my foolish, boyish dreams. I am now truly fit to become king.”

“Fallacies?” Nabooru didn’t like what she was hearing. This didn’t seem like Ganondorf at all. He looked at her.

“Yes,” he said. “Fallacies. I’ve discovered many things. There are inscriptions all over the walls of the Spirit Temple, Nabooru. Hyrule’s entire history, there for me to learn. I read, and read, and read.”

“Did you know,” he asked. “That long ago, before Hyrule existed as one kingdom, there was a war? A war between two lands, one of which eventually became Hyrule. It wasn’t written how the war started, but the ending was there, Nabooru. The defeated nation, at the mercy of the newly born Hyrule, was banished to the desert in the west.” Nabooru understood what Ganondorf was speaking of.

“We are those people, Nabooru. Our ancestors were banished here, in this forsaken wasteland, where even the winds bring pain and death.” Ganondorf was trembling, his yellow eyes alight with rage.

“But, I read of other things, as well. Of secrets. Things that few people know of. I know Hyrule’s weakness. I know the secret to conquering the land! Our people will take back the land that should’ve been ours!”

The sound seemed to echo softly within the room as Nabooru’s open hand flashed out. Ganondorf’s face was turned to one side, the impression of a handprint upon his skin.

“What is the matter with you!?!” Nabooru cried. “What have you become, Ganondorf? Your intentions used to be pure! You wanted to help your people! Listen to yourself! You sound like a power hungry fool!”

Nabooru hitched in a breath to say more, but her neck was suddenly squeezed shut by Ganondorf’s large hand. He raised her off the ground. His eyes burned fiercely.

“What do you know of anything!?!” he spat. “How dare you speak to your king in such a manner! If you weren’t the mother of my child…” he released his grip on Nabooru, who collapsed against the wall in a dry sob.

“Ganondorf,” she breathed, her voice raspy. “Our baby is gone… there was a miscarriage.”

The Gerudo King froze, his eyes wide. A moment later they blazed fiercer than ever.

“Liar!” he screamed. “What do you mean gone! How could you allow this to happen, you useless whore!” Amazingly enough, Nabooru attempted to apologize.

“I’m… sorry…” she croaked between raspy breaths. But Ganon paid no mind. The Gerudo King turned away from his former lover and left the room.

…

The sand stopped spinning, falling into an unspectacular heap. Link turned his head up to face Nabooru. She had stopped crying, and her eyes were different. Relieved, somehow.

“It’s a sad story,” she said. “But it feels good to relieve myself of it.” Link smiled at her, offering his condolence. She smiled back.

“I’m sure you can piece together the rest of the story from there,” she continued. “Ganondorf never took a bride, and began searching for the Sacred Realm. I became Head of the Gerudo Guard, and caretaker of the Spirit Temple.”

“Now you know your adversary better, and that is the first step to victory. Learn from his mistakes, Link. Hatred and spite can turn even the most righteous into what they despise most.”

Link nodded, thinking not just of Ganon, but the shadow warrior, as well. What ever became of him?

“Now, if you don’t mind,” Nabooru said. “I think I’ll retire. We have an entire sun’s journey tomorrow.”

Link nodded and turned to leave the tent.

“Your friend can be trusted, Link.” He turned back around to face Nabooru. She eyed him sternly. “Don’t turn your back on someone who cares for you, or you’ll be no better than Ganondorf.”

Link merely nodded and exited the tent.

Outside, the wind howled furiously. Link’s eyes were closed, giving him a better view of his surroundings. His tent was just across from him. To his right, however, was another tent.

Nabooru said Sheik was indeed an ally. That was more than he needed. Regardless of her allegiance, Link felt the same for her. Since they had been reunited once again, he had decided that it didn’t matter to him. If she felt the same, then that’s all that did matter.

Foregoing his own tent completely, Link turned right and approached the third tent. It was quiet inside. Link undid the flap and entered.

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It's getting closer to the ending stages. What will happen?!?! dun dun dun!!! Next chapter will probably be a few days. PLEASE REVIEW in the meantime!!! I'm actually adding subplots and stuff now, so I'd really like some feedback. Till then!!!

To "mikey." I don't really need a "beta" guy, I don't think. But I have no problem e-mailing these if your having computer trouble. If you still have access to this site, then repost your e-mail address in the review section as soon as possible(there's a typo in the first one, and I don't wanna send this to the wrong address). If you've already left for your job place, I'll just do my best to send this to you within the next few days. I'd prefer the former, so if you're still there, repost your e-mail address : )