Time Cannot Erase

He's magic and myth
As strong as what I believe
A tragedy with
More damage than a soul should see
And do I try to change him
So hard not to blame him
I'm longing for love and the logical
But he's only happy hysterical
I'm searching for some kind of miracle
Waited so long
So long
But he's so beautiful
Such a beautiful disaster
~Kelly Clarkson "Beautiful Disaster"

Chapter 11
Never Clean Again

"And so it is with great courage that we must look forward to the future of Hyrule, free from the terror of the rogue Gerudo bandits. Too long the innocent people of our land have suffered, and with this pact I intend to stop the threat once and for all. I am confident that Nabooru, Chief of the Gerudos and a longtime friend of the Royal Family will sign this pact and do her part.

"This pact is an ultimatum. Nabooru will stop these attacks, or we as Hylians will do so. Either way, they will be stopped.

"I ask only for your support in this important matter," Zelda ended and silence filled the chamber. She had kept her comments brief and to the point: she would no longer look the other way as the Gerudos hurt her people. Every eye in the room was on her, and none were looking upon her kindly. It said a lot that she had riled up feelings of any level of excitement in the group of nearly completely apathetic men.

"Preposterous!" one shouted. "It will lead to war!"

"Then so be it," Zelda shot back. "If they will not go without a fight then we will fight to stop them. We cannot lie down and beg any longer!"

"You have been preaching words of discord for years, Princess," another piped up. "One might think you wish there to be war."

"On the contrary, I want peace. That is why we must protect ourselves. There is no peace in the current situation."

"Nabooru is a strong willed and powerful leader. If she opposes the pact then war is not only likely, it is inevitable! We would then not be fighting only the rogue bandits but the entire Gerudo population! Who would be foolish enough take on such a task?" Yet another spoke out.

"I wish to be the one to hand deliver the pact to Nabooru," she continued, stopping tentatively, and with good reason.

"What?" her father burst out. "You cannot travel to the Gerudo deserts alone. It is too dangerous. It's out of the question!"

"Your Highness," Zelda replied calmly, being careful to address him formally, "I am capable of taking on such a task."

"You, capable of traveling across half of the Kingdom to meet with dangerous thieves and outlaws?" he scoffed.

Zelda had to bite her tongue. He had no idea….

"Besides," he continued. "We have not even decided to issue such an ultimatum to the Gerudos."

"We have no choice," Zelda spoke adamantly. "If we don't do something it will only lead to more death. Talking is useless. We must act and we must act now."

"The council does not approve your motion," the top ranking councilman spoke out.

Zelda was ready for this. She had planned well for this moment. Her only regret was that she had not looked into this matter sooner. Desperation had finally driven her to it. She had anticipated their every thought, their every move, and she was ready. The board was set and they had made their first move. Now, she was ready to fire back.

"I am afraid it does not matter what the council says in this matter," Zelda spoke calmly as a collective gasp came from the room. "The council is just what its name implies: you are here to council the royal family in their rule over the kingdom. You have no power."

"Not over the King, no, of course not!" the councilman sputtered. "Though you may be Princess, you are but a junior member of the council. It is you who does not have authority over us in such matters!"

"Section 4, article 5 of the Hyrule Kingdom Charter states quite clearly that the council 'shall retain no power to exercise authority over the royals nor any decisions they choose to make involving the rule of the kingdom'," as she spoke she picked up a massive, ancient book and dropped it heavily onto the table. Its yellowed and parched pages echoed Zelda's words. It was all there, right before their eyes.

"The royals refers to the King and Queen," Zelda's father hissed at her menacingly. "You are not the queen."

"Section 2, articles 17 and 18," she began to quote, "'Royals refers to the ruling patriarch and matriarch of the Royal Family, specifically the King and Queen. If, however, the king or queen perishes or is rendered unable to rule the title of head patriarch or matriarch passes down to the heir to the throne of king or queen'," Zelda paused, ending her quote. "This means that although I am the crown princess only, I am the head matriarch of the Royal Family and therefore afforded all of the powers that mother held before me. This council holds no power over me or my decisions."

"But I do," her father looked nearly murderous.

Slightly fearful she closed her eyes, remembering what Marth had told her, then she plunged ahead, turning the pages of the Hyrule charter to a new section.

"Section 16, article 9 states that in times of war and peril both the head patriarch and matriarch have equal decision making power and authority over the kingdom. In this time of war, I have the same amount of power as you, Father."

Zelda's father seemed enraged beyond words at his daughter's impudence.

"We are not at war, yet!" someone shouted.

Zelda smiled inwardly. She had indeed pegged them completely. Unflinchingly she turned the page once more.

"Section 5, article 2: times of war and peril are designated as many things, including any period of time in which any group of people or creatures intentionally attacks the people, cities, villages, dwellings, etc… of the Hylian people with malicious intent and without provocation, resulting in the death of Hylian(s).

"This is preposterous!" the comment rang out through the stunned council.

"Three days ago a farmer and his daughter were attacked on their way to sell goods in the castle market," Zelda's voice flamed out, her eyes burning with intensity. "In an effort to save his daughter from the marauders the farmer fought back. He fought back to save his livelihood and his child, and he was killed! They murdered him, in cold blood. Do you understand me?

"Less than two weeks ago a village was plundered. Twenty families were burned from their homes. Not everyone survived.

"A month ago a caravan of traders traveling from the shores of Lake Hylia were attacked and their goods absconded with. The market in town suffered greatly at that loss.

"Two months ago a cattle herder had an entire herd of cows stolen from him. His entire life was robbed from him, just like that!

"I need not continue, for I think my point is clear. We are in a time when the powerful sit and twiddle their thumbs while the meek are left to take the blows. They take blow after blow, and finally one brave man says, "no more" and fights back. He was killed for it.

"We are at war, whether you choose to fight back or not. I for one will fight. I will exercise my authority and I will deliver the Gerudos an ultimatum. I will have no more blood upon our hands. That is my decision."

Zelda finished and the room fell utterly silent. They had nothing left to fire at her. They had no reply to her impassioned words. Still breathing hard through the intensity of her feelings, she cheered inwardly. She had won.

"I shall exercise my authority as well," her father said quietly, but extremely powerfully. "I am the king. You are my daughter. I make the rules. I can change the rules. You will do nothing without my approval."

Zelda had seen this coming as well, and she had prepared herself. While the pompous members of the council could be silenced by flinging their own rules and regulations back into their faces, she knew her father would be different. He was a proud, stubborn man, but ultimately unwilling to put forth a lot of action behind his bellowed words. She simply had to play to his weaknesses.

"Our people are ready to fight back," she spoke more calmly, but retained strength in her voice as well. "They are ready to rise above this. They only need a leader. You speak of your Legacy often. How gloriously will you be remembered when you are the one who frees our people from this tyranny? How beloved will you be? You will live forever through legend and history, remembered always as the king who had the courage to protect his people."

Instantly she could see his greedy eyes soften, working through this new idea. He knew Zelda was headstrong and he knew that keeping a hold of her would be difficult. This new scenario, of him as the adored leader, whose greatness would be remembered through the ages, appealed to him greatly. Zelda knew it would. Though he put up a big show he was ultimately ruled by his pride and his laziness. All she had to do was pull the right strings.

"You are sure that Nabooru will agree?" he said slowly and casually.

"Yes," Zelda replied, her heart jumping. He was giving in!

"I don't want you wandering through Hyrule alone," he grumbled.

"Impa will accompany me. The entire council can attend," she waved her arm across the room.

"No, couldn't possibly… all the way to the desert," they began to mumble, scandalized. "We will not be a part of this madness."

"If you have any suggestions, Father…" Zelda wanted him to see this as his idea. If he did, maybe, just maybe, he would give in.

"A dozen soldiers, at least. Impa as a personal guard…" he decreed.

"I would like a large amount of soldiers, if you will allow it. Let us put up a strong front- show them that we mean business."

"Very well," he replied coldly.

"Marth could accompany us as well," Zelda suggested sweetly. "He is a master swordsman and could prove invaluable to the safety of the mission."

Now the cogs in her father's brain were really working. This was the clincher. He trusted Marth. He valued Marth's alliance.

"Yes, and Marth as well," he said, as though he had thought of it. Already visions of his own grandeur were swimming through his mind.

"You are going to allow this… this… insanity?" one of the elders exclaimed.

"We will end this conflict," her father spoke, staring at Zelda threateningly, "Failure to do so will rest solely upon the head of the crown Princess."

Zelda didn't care that if she did succeed he would take every bit of glory for himself. She had worked too long and too hard to set her plan in motion and finally help her people to not be there as a part of it when it happened.

"Yes, Sire," she replied, inwardly dancing. She had done it.


"Marth!" she shouted, tearing down the halls, her royal bearing forgotten. "Marth!" He hadn't been there waiting as she had left the council room moments earlier, and she was dying to tell him the news.

"I believe he's in the library, Princess," a nearby guard informed her.

"Thank you!" she called as she spun on her heel and shot towards the library.

She flung the library doors open and hurried inside. The library was a cavernous room. Four stories high, it contained every book imaginable. Histories, tales, legends, genealogical records, literature, poetry, it was all there. Not only Hylian books were represented, but countless books of Goron, Gerudo, Zora, and even a few Kokiri, origin lay upon the mountainous shelves.

Zelda loved the library, and had spent many hours there throughout her life. She was normally the only one there, but today Marth was sitting at a table with a pile of books before him, completely engrossed.

He heard her footsteps and looked up.

"Zelda!" he exclaimed, closing his book. "I must have lost track of time. I couldn't put this down," he indicated the book. Zelda looked at the title. It was a collection of recorded Hylian legends.

"You like reading those sorts of things?" she asked in awe.

"I find them fascinating," he replied sincerely.

"I've never met anyone else who enjoys this sort of reading!" she smiled. She had never had anyone to share her feelings about such topics before. She now saw Marth in a whole new light. "I must have read nearly every book in this library at some point."

Marth looked at her in shock.

"I don't get out much," she replied with a laugh, blushing slightly.

He laughed politely. "Your kingdom has a fascinating history. I have been coming here every morning that you are in your council. Today, I must have just gotten absorbed…."

"I know what you mean," she replied, and then she remembered why she had been looking for him so frantically. "Speaking of the council-"

"Of course!" he exclaimed, hitting himself in the forehead with the palm of his hand. "What happened? How did it go?"

"It worked, just like you said! I threw the laws at them so fast they didn't have time to think before I had hit them with another!"

"I knew it would. Bureaucrats are easily staved off. Their bark is always worse than their bite. Your father was the hard part, I'm sure. Did you use my advice?"

"I did," she replied. It had been Marth who had encouraged her to stand up to the council. He had helped her look up the different parts of the charter that would be most useful and organize it as her artillery. She had been working so long to find a way to get Hyrule to take action, and Marth had informed her that Hyrule could not act unless their Princess did first. It had been Marth who had helped her put her plan into action. He wouldn't allow her fear of her father's retribution deter her any longer. Since their day in town he seemed to have taken a particular interest in getting her to make a stand.

Zelda knew why. When they had finally returned to the castle the evening after their tour of the city it had been to find a guard blocking the gate with orders to take them both to her father instantly. It was the same old thing. Her father sat in his throne, shoulders hunched and his face twisted with rage. Zelda stood frozen: ready to take her verbal beating.

"Well, what is the meaning of it!?" He bellowed. "Missing the council- leaving the castle for an entire day!? Shirking off your responsibilities without a thought!? Explain yourself!"

Marth looked at Zelda for a moment, waiting for her to speak, but she couldn't. She looked at her father and Marth saw in her eyes sincere and paralyzing fear. Instantly he felt a pang of anger for her father. What kind of man inspired such fright into the heart of his daughter?

The king opened his mouth to continue his tirade, but Marth jumped forward with a smile. "Your Highness, I can explain completely."

"Who are you?" the King turned, venom in his eyes. "That bum she brought in half dead? I've had enough of her using this castle as a homeless shelter. You have worn out your welcome, I assure you. Goodbye," He motioned and two guards stepped forward, weapons raised.

"Allow me to introduce myself," Marth continued as though nothing had happened. "I am Marth, Prince of Aritia. Your daughter has been of great assistance to me, and I cannot thank you enough for your hospitality, Sire." He bowed deeply. "Aritia thanks you for your kindness. It will not be forgotten."

The King waved his hand once more and the guards stopped in their tracks. "Prince, eh? I do not believe I have ever, heard of your Kingdom before."

"It is a beautiful, prosperous land with goodly people," Marth said smoothly. "We do not lightly forget those who have aided us. If there is any way we can repay your kindness, do not hesitate to ask."

The King's eyes had grown dark and beady as he appraised Marth from his finely tailored clothes to his glimmering armor to the gold crown which lay upon his head.

"Well, I must say you are a large step above the usual trash she brings into the castle," he glanced at Zelda. Her fear melted as a shot of anger flew through her blood, but she did not speak. "In that case, it is a pleasure to meet you, Prince of Aritia."

If Marth was offended by Zelda's fathers "compliment" he didn't show it. "You are very kind, Your Highness. I was highly impressed by the tour your daughter gave me of your kingdom today. Your trade market seems to be booming!"

"We are thriving, yes," the King laughed now. Zelda stood forgotten on the sidelines as Marth approached more closely to the throne. The guards had returned to their posts.

"I wonder, however, if you have need for textiles. Artitia has a flourishing silk market."

"Silk," the King stroked his chin, "Why, silk is extremely rare in Hyrule."

Marth had turned and quickly winked at Zelda at this point before turning back to her father and continuing their discussion. She felt herself sigh in relief. Marth had done it. Her father could not care less about her truancy. She felt like throwing her arms around Marth in gratitude.

When they finally left the throne room she thanked him profusely, though she resisted the urge to hug him.

"He shouldn't treat you like that," Marth had replied seriously, looking back at the throne room with a dark glance.

"I know, but-"

"There is no but. If I didn't want to get you in more trouble I would have told him myself, but that would only hurt you more, and that's the last thing I want. You have to stand up to him yourself."

So, when Marth heard Zelda's idea to make a stand in the council he had given her the extra shove she needed. Now it was done. She had done it, thanks to him. She smiled at him warmly and he put a hand on her shoulder.

"I have another favor to ask you," she said.

"Anything."

"Will you come with us to Gerudo Valley?"

"It would be my pleasure."


Zelda, Marth, Impa and their troupe of soldiers set out almost immediately. Zelda was adamant that they could not delay, for every moment they waited left the innocent in danger.

Marth had gladly agreed to accompany Zelda to the Gerudo desert, and was pleased that he had done so. If he had enjoyed her company in the castle he reveled in it now as they traveled.

For the first time in many, many years she was tasting freedom. Riding her horse across the vast expanse of grassy Hyrule field she seemed to come alive. Once again she felt the sun on her face and the wind in her hair. She chased after the horizon, watching the world brighten with sunrise, glow in the sunlight and burst into flames as the sun set. With beauty all around her and not a wall in sight, she felt she might just sprout wings and fly away.

As they journeyed, her mood continued to lighten. Happiness radiated from her entire being. Her eyes danced with light. Her laugh rang like bells. Her smile was as radiant as the sun.

Marth would find himself just watching her as they rode, completely enthralled. All the splendors of the Hylian landscapes paled in comparison to her beauty. With every hour that passed he found himself falling deeper and deeper, and by the end of the first day of their journey he knew there was no way back.

He loved her, and he loved her deeply. In his life of turmoil and constant peril he had had little time for love. His responsibilities were too great. So many people counted on him, day after day. He had always worked simply to survive and help those who depended upon him. He had never given love a second thought.

Now she was all that filled his mind. He loved her, and he wanted to shout it to the world. He wanted to sweep her off her feet. He wanted her to feel for him what he felt for her. Like a beautiful poison she had worked her way into his very soul. He couldn't escape her, and he didn't want to.

His thoughts terrified and electrified him all at once. Such feelings were all so new to him, but he wouldn't allow himself to be afraid. He had never let fear rule his actions. In fact, it was his defiance of fear that drove him. He would make her love him. She would be his.

As time passed they journeyed through an increasingly barren and hostile landscape. The heat was now nearly unbearable. The rocky terrain beneath their feet had given away to dunes of sand. Vast stretches of golden, wind blown mountains of desert sand extended before them. Even with the conditions continually worsening Zelda's mood only continued to brighten.
"Captain Shepard says we should reach the main Gerudo settlement sometime tomorrow," Zelda told Marth late on their third night of travel. The two sat staring into the fire. Impa and the rest of the soldiers, save their first night watchman, had long since gone to sleep, but the Prince and Princess had continued to keep each other company.

"Have you ever been this far into Gerudo territory before?" Marth asked her. "You know, in the old days?"

Zelda furrowed her brow. Somewhere inside she knew what he was talking about. In her mind flashed a picture of a huge temple made of weather beaten sandstone. Its golden face stood towering over a desert oasis. A warrior dressed in green stood at the entrance. Zelda could see herself there as well. The images began to pain her. Wincing she put her hand to her head, letting the memories go: no longer striving to hold onto them.

"I… I'm not sure," she replied. "I don't think so…." Maybe she had just seen a picture of the Gerudo Temple. She had read many books about it. It was one of the oldest structures in all of Hyrule. She would remember it if she had been there. Besides, her father would never have allow her to visit the Gerudo lands before.

"No, this is my first time here," she replied finally.

"Ah," he replied with a nod.

"I'm excited to meet Nabooru and her people, here in their home."

"It's dangerous, you have to admit it," Marth said. "I think you're just looking for a thrill."

Zelda was taken aback by that comment, "I know it's dangerous, but I'm doing this to protect my people. There's no other reason," she replied half defensively, "This has nothing to do with me and what I want." His tendency to simply speak whatever thought happened to cross his mind still shocked her at times, and he was not quite through.

"Why then? Why do you work so hard to help the people that, from what I understand, have betrayed you?" Marth asked her, a hint of disbelief in his voice. "Don't you hate them for what they've done to you?"

Zelda hesitated, and Marth turned towards her sharply. "Come on, it's me. Tell me the truth," he grinned slyly.

"Yes," she replied suddenly, surprising even herself. "Sometimes I do hate them. Then I remind myself that they really can't be blamed. They have no knowledge of what happened, because it didn't happen." Marth distinctly noticed a note of envy in her as she made this statement. "They don't know what I went through, or what Link did," Marth had continued to watch her closely, and had not missed the slight flinch in her expression when she spoke Link's name, or how her eyes had suddenly grown painfully sad as she gazed into the firelight. "I have to remind myself that while some act out in ways that are despicable and utterly disgraceful they are by far the minority. Most Hylians are blameless and completely innocent. They have done nothing to deserve my scorn. I do not want to become bitter…."

"Like me?" Marth asked.

Zelda's head flew up. "I never said that!" she exclaimed, looking apologetic.

"No," Marth laughed dryly, "I did."

"What do you mean?" she asked slowly.

Marth's expression was suddenly hard and rugged as he too stared into the fire, not meeting her eyes. "Life has beaten me, whipped me, knocked me about and pushed me down at every turn. You can only be thrown down into the mud so many times before you begin to wonder whether its even worth trying to get back up and wipe yourself off, because you know it's just a matter of time before you're pushed back down," his voice was distinctly cold and, Zelda had to admit, rather bitter. "You know you'll never be clean again.

"After so long, you can't help but wonder if it's even worth it to try anymore. After so long you can't help but come to the conclusion that you'd better look out for yourself, because no one else is going to. It's then that you realize that if you're going to do something you've got to go all the way because there's no room for compromise. Compromise is just another word for failure. It's all or nothing, and sometimes people get hurt. Sometimes you have to make sacrifices to survive… to save yourself," he ended dryly, tossing a bit of wood into the flames and turning to Zelda.

"I don't believe that," she replied simply.

"What?"

"Well, yes, sometimes sacrifices must be made, but you cannot choose who to sacrifice. Who are you to make such a decision?"

"The Prince," he replied with a shrug. "The one who holds the responsibility holds the power. It's my duty to make such decisions."

Zelda gave him a sharp look. "You don't really believe that," she told him.

"Don't I?" he asked, a slightly amused expression on his face.

"No,"

"How do you know that?"

"Because you're here, trying desperately to save your people."

"Maybe I lied. Maybe I just ran away," Marth said briskly, but his eyes gave him away.

"No, you didn't run. It's killing you to be here. Every day you wait is torture," Zelda said softly. "You told me it was, and I don't believe I've ever heard you be more honest about anything."

Marth sighed, giving up. "I feel like a coward, being here while I know they're still in danger… but I have no choice. Without Link, we're doomed, whether I am there or not. I hate waiting, though. I hate feeling so powerless."

Zelda felt a shiver go down her spine. Those words were too all too familiar.

"You're not a coward," she assured him, "and you aren't a heartless, selfish person looking out only for yourself, either."

Marth shrugged once more. "I meant what I said about looking out for yourself, but if you're going down, you're going down. If there's no hope then there's nothing left to loose. Hardin has invaded my land. He's begun the final stage in our destruction. I've been pushed once more, and if I'm falling back into the mud I might as well try to save others from getting dirty as well. It's too late for me," there was no fear in Marth's voice, but Zelda could feel his sorrow.

"That is not bitter at all. That is extremely noble," she said with a faint smile.

"Noble… I don't know about that," he replied. "I do feel different here, though. Back home I feel like I'm carrying the entire weight of the world on my shoulders at all times. I feel some of that weight has lifted while I've been here, with you," he stressed the last two words. "I guess you might say you bring out the best in me."

Zelda searched his face and found nothing but sincerity. She could find nothing more to say.

Instead she let her head fall back, her eyes gazing up towards the cloudless sky. A million stars twinkled in the blackness, shining down upon her. A faint breeze picked up, blowing across the fire, warming her.

"It's late," she said finally. "I should probably get some sleep." She stood up and stretched. "Good night, Marth," she said as she turned.

"Good night, Princess," he replied. She made her way towards her bedroll. She and Impa were located north of the fire ring while Marth and the soldiers were located to the south. Zelda had thought that Marth would get up and retire as well, but he did not move.

Impa was already asleep, lying on her back, her arms crossed over her chest holding a sheathed knife. Even in sleep her poise and strength were not lost. Her tense, catlike readiness was obvious even now. Moving quietly so as not to disturb her, Zelda knelt down beside her pack and found a single flower laying there, its stem entwined in the pack's laces. She pulled it out slowly, her eyes moving from it back to Marth's figure, silhouetted by the firelight against the black night. He shifted slightly, leaning forward and resting his elbow on his knee and his chin in his hand, staring into the fire as though deep in thought.

Zelda brought the flower to her nose, unable to keep a smile from gracing her lips as she brought in the sweet smell.

She quickly and silently readied herself for sleep and soon found herself comfortably snug in her blankets. However, it was a long while before her eyes finally closed and sleep took her.


"We're almost there!" Zelda called, turning behind her to shout to Impa and the soldiers.

"I wish she'd slow down a little," Impa said quietly as Zelda's horse seemed to pick up speed, taking Zelda further from the rest of the group.

"Good luck," Marth laughed and spurred his horse to catch up. The terrain had grown rather treacherous. On both sides huge, red walls of rock shot up into the air, creating a narrow, winding canyon. The ground was dry and dusty and the sun was already scorching, though it was not yet noon.

Marth looked up ahead, marveling at the landscape. The canyon walls were magnificently carved by some river that had long ago dried up. Huge nooks and caves dotted the walls. As he gazed upward, however, a sense of foreboding overcame him. He thought he saw something moving in up there….

"Zelda!" he called, still looking into the caves above. The sun caught something silver, and the light shone down into his eyes, momentarily blinding him. Blinking stars from his eyes he peered more closely. Another flash of silver caught his eye. There were people there, watching them from high above. They seemed to be women, veiled and heavily armed with long, glistening scythes.

"Zelda!" he screamed urgently now, tearing his eyes from the danger above. Zelda heard the change in his tone and turned, worried- but it was too late. A woman dive bombed her from a shadowed crevasse just above Zelda's head.


Zelda felt the air suddenly swept out of her lungs as something lunged into her stomach. With painful force her breath was knocked from her. Unable to even make a sound she crashed down to the hard earth. Both the princess and her assailant rolled over once or twice in the dust as Zelda's horse started and dashed forward in fear.


Completely dazed and unable to breathe, Zelda lay in pain as the dust settled around her. She sat up, clutching her stomach, taking in a sharp, labored breath and was shocked to find herself face to face with the long pointed end of the curved Gerudo blade.

"It would be a shame to hurt that pretty little face of yours," the Gerudo cackled. "Stand up."

Zelda obeyed, still stunned.

"Now," the Gerudo had been joined now by half a dozen comrades, "We'll be taking that gold and those fine jewels too, and be quick about it."

Marth and Impa were charging towards Zelda now at top speed with the soldiers right behind them. The sand was so thick that they could scarcely pick her out until they were nearly upon her. As her figure emerged through the settling dust Marth's heart leapt into his throat. The veiled women had her at blade point.

"Zelda!" Marth screamed out. Every Gerudo head turned towards him and Zelda took her chance. In a blast of smoke she had vanished and instantly reappeared behind one of the thieves. Before the Gerudo knew what had happened Zelda had dealt her a heavy blow to the head and stolen her weapon.

Marth's jaw nearly hit the ground as he watched. Zelda was vanishing and reappearing almost too quickly to comprehend. With lightning quick speed Zelda kicked and whirled and punched with the grace of a bird in flight. The Gerudos were expelling strangled yelps and dropping like flies as the sand once again began to rise in a golden fog.

Marth felt as though his breath had been swept away as he watched. Suddenly silence fell and the clouds of sand began to drift back down to the earth. There, in the clearing, stood Zelda. A long scythe was in her hands, her shoulders were slightly hunched and she was breathing short, furious gasps of breath. All seven Gerudos lie scattered on the ground around her, all motionless.

Marth looked at Impa, his face registering complete and utter shock, but Impa was gazing at Zelda proudly, a faint smile on her lips.

Zelda dropped the scythe to the ground, her breath steadying.

"Bind them," Zelda said simply to the soldiers. Her voice was different, Marth thought. She sounded stronger, more resolute than ever. Fear was gone from her eyes. There was no hesitation, only power.

"Yes, Princess," the cried, jumping into action. Zelda's eyes traveled up the side of the mountain to the many other caves and hiding places. Marth pulled his eyes from her with great effort and scanned the rock. The Gerudos were all gone. The mountain was totally barren, without any trace of their existence.

Marth's gaze fell back on Zelda. He couldn't help but stare.

"What?" Zelda asked finally. Marth opened his mouth, barely able to speak.

"That was… amazing!" he finally exclaimed.

Zelda smiled sheepishly, her cheeks reddening as she still panted slightly.

"Well done, Princess," Impa nodded at her, her eyes full of pride.

"We should hurry along and find Nabooru," Zelda said, looking around for her horse as though nothing had happened.

Marth held his hand down towards her, inviting her to share his steed until hers could be recollected. She lightly mounted behind him, holding her arms around his waist.

Slowly now, with their newly acquired cargo, the caravan proceeded through the canyon towards the Gerudo Valley.

Everyone was silent for a long time, until Marth could stand it no longer. "All right," he laughed, "What was all that about?"

"What?" Zelda asked again.

"What do you mean 'what'? What was all that? How can you-"

"I don't know why you're so shocked. I told you all about my past. Surely you must have known that I could fight."

"Well, yes, but… this? That was- I mean, how did you do that?"

"Impa taught me," Zelda said simply.

"That come in handy often as you sit in the Library?" he teased.

"It's very handy around the castle. Its especially good for keeping big-headed princes in their place," she teased back.

"Big-headed!?" he cried.

"I can hardly see anything around it!" she laughed, peering from side to side from behind him.

"I won't argue with you anymore!" he replied. "I don't want to get what they got!"

"See, I told you it works well!" she replied sweetly.

By noon they had made it to the massive bridge that extended over the river that led to lake Hylia. It was there that they found Zelda's horse, lazily standing in the shade of the canyon cliffs. Zelda dismounted Marth's steed and quickly recovered her little mare. After a few soothing words she mounted and they crossed the bridge, taking on the final leg of the journey. It wasn't long thereafter that the tips of the Gerudo fortress' roof appeared above the rock.

They caused quite a stir: fifty Hylian soldiers, a knight of foreign origin, a Sheika warrior and the Princess herself escorting unconscious Gerudo prisoners right into the heart of the Gerudo civilization.

Zelda did not hesitate, though. She marched their brigade right up the Nabooru's tent. A little girl sitting outside the entrance watched them closely as they approached. With a wary expression she ran inside and a moment later Nabooru appeared in the doorway looking cross.

"What's all this?" she demanded as she looked out at the odd sight that met her eyes. Then she saw Zelda and her face softened.

"Zelda! Welcome!" Nabooru called out jovially, but Zelda's stern expression did not fade.

"Nabooru, I regret that this meeting must occur under such grim circumstances. I have come here today to meet with you as one ruler to another."

Nabooru's eyes narrowed with concern as she looked up at Zelda. This was not the same Zelda she had known for so many years. All gentleness was gone from her eyes. She sat tall and erect upon her horse, ever line of her body etched in the gravity of the situation. This was no social call. Nabooru pulled her eyes from Zelda, scanning the Hylian entourage, landing on the figures of the bound Gerudos.

"This violence and mayhem has gone far enough," Zelda spoke firmly but without anger.

Nabooru's first impulse was that of anger. No one marched into the Gerudo's land with a small army and made demands of her. No one!

She unsheathed her sword, her guards falling in line behind her.

Zelda could feel Marth tense up beside her, ready for action. The sound of clinking metal behind her told her that her soldiers were preparing for the worst as well.

Nabooru, Queen of the Gerudos, looked up at Zelda with a hard, menacing expression. Zelda looked back, unflinching, and the two locked eyes.

Then Nabooru saw it. Zelda's expression softened slightly, and in her eyes was the same sweetness, the same tender-hearted kindness that Nabooru knew so well. This was still Zelda, and Nabooru knew that if she had come here like this the situation must be serious indeed. Nabooru's anger melted as she and her friend silently spoke without saying a word.

It was time. Her scowl faded and she nodded quickly. Silently her sword returned to its sheath and she motioned for her guards to stand back.

"Please, Princess," she held the tent door open, "come in and sit down."