Chapter 2
Thats not how we do things here.
It wasn't long before Link was woken up again. He sighed, giving up on his attempt at a nap to sit up and look around. What was it this time?
"Epona?", he queried. The bay mare was tossing her head anxiously, whuffling and pawing the ground. Link jumped up in alarm as she suddenly reared to her hindlegs, pawing the air and letting out a frightened whinny.
"Epona!" The young hero leapt to his feet, stumbling forward and seizing the frantic mares reigns. "Easy girl, easy!" he cried, pulling her forward to get her down on all fours again. He made hushing sounds while stroking her nose and throat with one hand, the other digging in a saddlebag for a carrot or apple to sooth her with. She wouldn't take the proffered treat, but did start to calm down at his continued pets and reassurances.
"Easy girl, easy, shhh..." he said, making soft clucking sounds with his tongue. "What's the matter girl, what's got you so riled up?" One might find it a little odd, the ease with which he spoke to the young mare, but really, it wasn't unusual for someone who'd had chats with Deku Scrubs as a boy. The sound of hoof-beats finally alerted him to her troubles-- His head jerked up in time to see an enormous black stallion thunder by, startling Epona into rearing again and flinging Link flat down on his back. Several moments of chaos, shouting and the excited cries of several horses, went by before Link managed to right himself and calm Epona down again.
"Ahoy! Ye alright there, mate?", came a concerned female voice. The blonde turned his head-- The large stallion was nearest, it's dark red mane and tail decorated with braids and it's rider leaning forward in interest. Link could only assume she was near his age by her voice, as her body was hidden in a cloak of heavy, blood-red silk. Behind her, three women-- Gerudos? -- waited, also on horseback and wearing rougher, cream colored cloaks with hoods down.
"Err... Yeah, I'm alright. You gave my horse quite a spook though." Link responded, touching his hand to his cap and nodding his head politely. It had taken him a moment to get past her unusual accent. At his reply, the young woman hunched her shoulders, gloved hands fiddling sheepishly with the gold embroidery on her cloak.
"Ehhh, sorry about that... Should'av gave a 'gangway', eh? Kumate here doesn't always like to watch where he's going, ye see..." She patted the horse affectionately on the flank, to which it gave an oddly gentle nicker, giving Link a once-over with unusual red eyes. He gave a weak smile-- That was a Gerudo war-horse, no mistake. They were known for their fierce tempers and loyalty to their riders in battle, as well as vibrant and unusual colors. (Though how the Gerudo people had obtained the latter traits in their beasts was a great mystery to the rest of the world.) The last time Link had seen one, it had been when Ganondorf nearly mowed him down as a child.
Before either could exchange more pleasantries, one of the other women called out--Those three were riding more common Gerudo breeds, Link noticed.-- and raised her arm.
"Oit, Cap'n! Yer old man'll 'ave us dancin' the hempen jig if we're late, ye know tha'!", she cried, and Link blinked. Were these really Gerudo women? He'd never heard such an accent. And what in the world were they talking about? Gangway? Hempen Jig? He could hear "Cap'n"s exasperated sigh as she turned to address the other women.
"Oh, belay that whining. We'll make it in plenty of time, s'not like the Fortress is some Chase. And to ye, stranger, my apologies for givin' yer saucy beauty there a fright, but we'd best be on our way. Fair winds, lad!" With that, she was off, her entourage triangulating behind the black stallion. Link stared after them for a long moment, absently stroking the still-anxious mares nose. What... had just happened? Gerudo women with strange accents, a girl in the traditional cloak of a Gerudo leader, and a familiar looking war-horse...
Link set his jaw and practically leapt into the saddle, sending Epona rocketing off after the group. The hero wore a fierce grin. Something was going on, and he wanted to know what!
~[/list:you]
The women continued on, unaware they were being tailed for the time being. They chatted amongst themselves, cheerily discussing their awaited arrival at the Gerudos Fortress, and the scenery; Two of the four were completely new to Hyrule.
"Bli-mey! If I didn't know it fer a fact, I'd swear this was the Talminian plain!", said the one on the right. The one on the left replied.
"Aye, but use yer deadlights! Is that a ranch? I almos' thought Clock Town'd be there!"
"It smells difer'nt, too. I cannae smell the sea at all."
"Nah? Well I can! Ye reek!" the left-most female joked, laughing.
"Why ye pock-marked little--!"
"Belay that yappin'! Din'cha lasses enjoy the trip here?" came the one at the center, obviously a little older then the two at the sides. They nodded eagerly, and "Cap'n" turned in her saddle to look. She pulled back her hood a bit, a grin visible beneath the shadow of the heavy cloth.
"The place we came through was a ver' special place, lassies. It's called th' "Kokiri Forest", an' it's the only o' it's kind the whole world over. Legend goes tha' if ye get lost inside, ye lose yer soul, an' keep walkin' 'til yer nothin' but bones. A Stalfos." said "Cap'n", and the two side-guards shivered appropriately. The rearmost guard shook her head, laughing.
"Heh, as if ye'd believe in tha' sort o' fairy tale. Let's get a move on, lassies! I wanna get me'self OFF this ol' nag an' get splicin' the mainbrace, if ye catch me drift..." she said with a vicious grin, and the other girls cheered.
"Ya HOOOO~!"
"Smartly there, ladies! Three sails to the wind!"
They laughed, continuing forward with considerably more enthusiasm. They reached the bridge before long, the sideguards marvelling at the sandstone formations while the eldest chuckled at their antics. All three flirted outrageously with the carpenter group as they passed, making their young captain laugh. The guards welcomed them excitedly as they entered the fortress itself, and all-in-all, it seemed to be a merry occasion.
But that's what had Link so bothered.
He had tailed them all the way into the fortress ( The guards grinning cheekily as she took Epona to the stable for him-- Quite a few fancied him, the only male to come and go as he pleased in their sacred fortress ) and was watching the impromptu party that was beginning to unfold. Who were these women to be welcomed with such excitement? And their leader, to wear a cloak like that. Even Nabooru, Sage of Spirit and current Leader of the Gerudo, didn't wear such a thing.
Link blinked. Come to think of it, where WAS Nabooru? Her characteristic pale pink clothing was no where to be seen in the sea of vibrant silk. Before he could question her absence, someone yanked him aside and into the hideout.
"Hey, Link, perfect timing!" came a smooth voice with a hint of a drawl. The Hero perked up, grinning at the sight of Nabooru's green-clad second-in-command. Aria had been the one to induct him into the Gerudos secretive society in the first place, once he'd trounced the guards and freed the carpenters. Among Gerudo, she was a little different-- Her eyes were the same vibrant green as her clothing, inherited from her Hylian father. (Which wasn't all that uncommon in Gerudo society.) She pulled him into a headlock, knocking his hat off and ruffling his short ponytail affectionately.
"Ow, owww! Aria! Come on, hahah, knock it off!"
She laughed, pushing him away after one last noogie. "Heya, Newbie. Your timing is pretty good-- I need you to do me a favor. And before you say no, aaaall ya gotta do is run down to the archery track for me." she said, holding her hands up in a placating way. Link frowned, trying to pat his hair flat but nodding for her to go on. Aria gestured over her shoulder with a wave to indicate the younger girls busy preparing various foods, then clapped her hands together in front of her grinning mouth.
"I gotta watch over the girls here, but we really need our Number One here to help out. We're gonna have a big party tonight since our Little Lady's here to visit, but her old man kicked the bucket, you know, you were there, so we're gonna distract her and try to keep her spirits up when she finds out. It's gonna be great, we're breakin' out fireworks and everything yanno, and--"
"Um, Aria?"
"Um, yeah?"
"Shut up." Link's complete deadpan only made her laugh-- Aria was well known for being overtalkative when excited, despite the responsibility of being second-in-command at the Fortress. She grabbed his hat off the floor, popping it onto her own head and running into the main kitchen before he could protest.
"Just go down to the archery range, she'll be with Neera! Her hair's as pink as a Bunba Bloom, you can't miss her! And I'll be keeping your hat hostage 'till ya get her!"
Link stared after her, opened his mouth to argue, then thought better of it. Instead he started off down the hall, attempting to fix his hair while he took a short cut through the fortress, avoiding the crowd outside. That Aria was something else... All of the Gerudo were, really. For a den of thieves, Link always found it to be a very light-hearted, relaxing place...
He supposed he'd go find Nabooru once things settled down, and maybe find out more about this "Little Lady", as Aria called her, while he was wrestling his hat back from her. Link sighed in a happy way, folding his arms behind his head as he went.
Yeah. That seemed like a good plan for now...
But good plans seldom worked out the way you wanted.
~~~
This is as far as it's been written thus far. Keep an eye out for the next chapter~!
