Between Timelines: A Legend of Zelda Fanfic

Chapter 12

The courtyard is empty. There is no one there. No human breath disturbs the air as Link and I step out into the dim sunlight, followed by the rest of the group.

"Where... where is everyone? The Gerudo guards..." whispers Purah.

"It's a trap," Link signs with finality, "they're probably watching us right now."

I can feel it too, there's a certain wrongness in the air, and the hairs on the back of my neck prick up. Someone is watching us.

"Should we go back inside?" asks Yunobo, and I can hear a slight panic in his voice, "what if they attack?"

"No," Link says, drawing his sword and shield, "they already know where we are. They've known. They're leading us somewhere, and we have no choice but to follow."

The air is still, and tiny dust particles float through the light, eerie in the silent courtyard. We move into a larger group, the four adults making a sort of ring around the five kids, shielding them as much as we can. Link leads us, moving us slowly up the stairs towards the throne room. As we reach the top of the steps, Purah and Yunobo gasp audibly.

There, in the center of the throne room, is a giant wooden cage positioned over a pile of sticks and hay- what looks like kindling. Off to the side, a Yiga blademaster in full uniform holds a fiery sword at the ready. Inside the cage are three limp forms.

Marianna sits directly between us and the cage, in Riju's throne. Yiga soldiers and guards surround us, meaning we have no hope of fighting our way out. I feel a feral growl travel up my throat, breaking formation and marching towards her.

"What did you do to them?!" I scream at her, even as Link catches my arm and holds me back, "why... why would you do this..."

I feel my will falter as I continue to stare at Riju's pale form, lying unconscious in the wooden cage. I notice that the Blade master with the fire weapon has tensed, waiting for a command. I collapse into Link's arms, feeling hopeless.

"That's more like it," Marianna drawls, looking satisfied. I feel Link stiffen beside me.

"Release our friends," Yunobo says in a very nonthreatening voice, "or you'll regret it."

"I'm sure," she says, looking unimpressed and checking her nails, "I just want to propose a deal, is all."

"What deal," I ask, venom coursing through my voice, "what do you want from us?"

"Well," she says, looking me over with newfound interest that makes me squirm, "I was mostly after you, princess, but I suppose both you and that knight of yours would be nice."

"He's- he's not my knight," I retort, flustered, and she grins at me from behind her dark curls, "and what do you want with us anyway?"

"Isn't it obvious?" she asks, smirking, "I want revenge. I want power. I want money. I want what anyone wants, really. I'm just being proactive about my goals," she tilts her head to the side, looking Link and I up and down, fully ignoring the others, "so here's the deal. You two come with us, and we don't kill your friends. Yet."

Link's expression hardens at this, and he straightens, lowering his shield so he can sign.

"Take me if you want," he says, "but leave her. Leave them. Let them go, and I'll come with you, without any fight."

"So you really think you can fight all of us," she says, snorting, "I knew you were unreasonable, but... come on. Your girlfriend there is badly hurt- I can tell by the way she walks- and your little friends over there probably couldn't win a fight against a crazed cuckoo. Plus," she gestures behind her, where the wooden cage could be set ablaze at any moment, "I don't really think you want to try anything right now."