Desert Child

What lead Nabooru to be a Gerudo thief?

Chapter Twenty Six: When Death Comes Knocking On The Door

It all had to be a dream. Things were so bad that they couldn't be real. They were in the bed, and then - it just happened. The doors were slammed open on not one - but TWO sides of Nabooru's room. On one side, that evil looking man, which Link assumed was the Ganondorf Nabooru had been talking about, and a small girl, that magical Destiny child, on the other side, his wife.

That was the worst part. His wife had never done anything to him, she was just a little more...practical, prim, proper...the adjectives could go on and on...Link liked Nabooru because she was just opposite of that.

He felt like an idiot. He was a guy, the girl he loved, and he, were going to die within the day, and he couldn't even attempt a rescue for them both.

Link looked up at the rising sun. Then he looked where he had been ever since he started walking wherever Ganondorf was making them go. It was Nabooru's bright red hair, up in a tight braid. She was walking ahead of him, her head bowed. She felt just as shameful.

Ahead of Nabooru was Ganondorf and Isannah, both on their horses. They were trotting slowly. Silence filled the fields surrounding them. Ganondorf had the still unconscious Destiny on the back of his horse.

'If only I could be a hero,' Link thought. It didn't matter if he died now. Nabooru probably thought of him as a coward by now anyway...

After a another good half hour of walking, the group reached the gate entering the valley. The guard moved and let them through. She automatically recognized Nabooru. Her eyebrows creased in bewilderment. "Nabie?"

Needless to say, Nabooru ignored her words and kept her head bowed down. She knew where Ganondorf was headed, although Link did not. It wasn't as bad for him. He didn't know what was going to happen, when thousands of arrows would pour down on him, and that was for the better.

They reached the archery field. She was right. There was a crowd watching. What scumbags. What heartless cretin would want to gather around and see people die like it was a social event? It was none of their damn business, Nabooru thought. All of Gerudo was a big group of assholes. Right then and there, she wanted to die. 'Just put me out of my misery if you know what's best,' she thought to herself.

Ganondorf and Isannah stopped their horses and as if on cue, the entire crowd hushed.

"We have here a well-know member of the Gerudo Clan, Miss Nabooru," said Ganondorf more solemnly than Nabooru had expected.

Naboruu took a step towards Ganondorf, who had already dismounted his horse. Isannah had done the same thing. Destiny was sound asleep on it, and Link stood beside it.

"Nabooru broke many rules of the Gerudo," said Isannah. "We are ashamed to have such a woman represent us!"

Nabooru felt like smacking Isannah right then and there. What difference would it make, anyway? She was going to die.

"Indeed," agreed Ganondorf, talking as if he was preaching to the crowd. "This woman left Gerudo quarters without notice...AND..." Ganondorf snickered to himself. "Here's the kicker, everyone! She slept with a man outside of the Gerudo race!"

The crowds reaction was much expected. Many calls of 'Slut!' or 'Whore!' rang throughout the archery field. Boo's were made and a few rocks were pelted. One hit Nabooru's shin, but she didn't do so much as flinch.

"But this bold, very bold man here," said Ganondorf, pointing at Link. "He will be the first to die! I don't like this kid, let me tell you all!"

The crowd booed for Link, too.

"I must admit, he is handsome," said Isannah in a seductive voice, as she began to pace, "And tempting...But! It's a rule of the Gerudo's that this woman broke!"

More boos. What else?

"This man will be the first to die!" Ganondorf said. He didn't dare call Link 'Kid' like he wanted. This kid was the same age, if not older, than he.

The crowd cheered. Sick minded people.

Naboruu took a glance past the crowd. Past the cheering people, past everyone. Lined up along the northern wall of the archery field were woman, armed with the arrows.

Heck, Naboruu felt bad for those women. If there was any job which compared to how she felt bad about hers, it was working at the archery field part time, aside from guarding the fortress. Nabooru couldn't imaging bearing with the fact that she had to KILL in order to LIVE.

Link was brought to the middle of the field, and the women drew back their aim, calculating with such precision.

Naboruu studied the look on Link's face. It was twisted with fear and hate. He had probably expected a short and sweet death, but no. He was going to suffer because Ganondorf was King and he chose to make it that way.

"Let 'er rip!" cried Ganondorf as if he was announcing for some sort of game show.

Then, the arrows all zoomed towards Link at lightning speed. Link stood there, ready for them to break into his skin and kill him.

They all landed in his chest area, and the last one flew into him and pierced his heart. Blood poured and soaked his shirt.

With a grunt of pain, he bowed over on both knees. The women began to draw the second group of arrows back, aiming again.

"Goodbye...Nabie..." he said hoarsely, using her affectionate nickname.

Then he toppled over completely, landing on his stomach.

(What a dramatic ending. How original!)

With a gulp, Nabooru was fully prepared for her turn.

She walked where Link was, just beside his dead body.

"One down, one to go!" said Isannah. You could tell she was over enthused.

The women stood, ready.

'Here goes,' said Nabooru to herself. 'The moment the women of my own kind kill me...'

The woman drew back their arrows and got ready to let go.

"Wait!" cried Ganondorf. "Stop! Hold your fire!"

The crowd groaned and Nabooru let out a breath of relief. Maybe he wasn't going to kill her, but then again, maybe she shouldn't let her hopes raise so high.

Ganondorf walked towards her, talking so nobody else could hear. Obviously he wanted a private conversation. Naboruu could hear the people say things like, 'What the heck?' or 'What's going on?' 'Is our King mad?' 'What is he doing?'

In a hushed tone, he said, ''I just want to say that I'll miss your fine thieving. You were a good friend while you were actually there for me, and if you killed Kira, fine. Goodbye, Nabie."

He used her nickname, also. Then he leaned in and pecked her closed lips. He studied her intently with his big, mean eyes, which actually weren't so mean looking now, and said, "But it's your turn."

Nabooru nodded boldly and stepped forward.

"Aim!" cried Ganondorf. "I'm going to regret this," he added, then finished by saying, "Fire!"

The arrows flew light speed, but for Nabooru, it seemed eternity.

Then she heard a voice. "Stop!" it cried.

Nabooru looked over in the direction from where it came from. Destiny was now standing, and he right hand was lifted up.

"This isn't how it's supposed to be!" she cried. Then, the arrows stopped flying in midair, and they landed in the middle of the field.

All of a sudden, a blue light whooshed down from the sky and picked Naboruu. She was being carried away from the desert...