Ganon. That information brought an immediate flash to the woman's eyes: clearly the name was as known to her as it was hated. Although Impa's stand was relaxed, arms folded over her chest, Link knew just how quick to action she was. A Sheikah, trained specifically for the purpose of defending the royal families, she was always ready. He had crossed blades with her only once or twice, and never seriously. Even the Hero of Time had struggled against her skill.
"Quite distant," the woman echoed. "From where do you hail, princess? I don't think I recognize your face or your name, and it is my duty to know a great deal about the royal families." She listened intently, the intense gaze of her single eye never leaving Peach's face. She stayed silent for a moment or two after the princess had finished speaking. When Link opened his mouth, however, she again held up a hand. "I believe I understand," she replied. "In your efforts to return to your own land and to discover the reason for Ganon's machinations... you have of course come here, to the Gerudo homeland."
Link caught and held his breath. He stood rigid beside Peach and watched Impa carefully, but after a moment instead of bursting into action she just slowly nodded. "It is true that Ganon hails from the Gerudo of old, but I will believe you came here simply because you were... closest." Link let out the breath he'd been holding in a slow, mediated whoosh and released the tension in his hands. That had been the danger of coming her first: it was equally likely the proud Gerudo would react with hostility when confronted with the reality of Ganon as it was that they would comprehend the lack of ulterior motive--or blame. "And so you are here to warn and to ascertain the safety of the princess. I will pass along the message but I fear you will be unable to meet with the princess at this time. She has shut herself away in her quarters and refuses to answer any entreaties."
She had forgotten he hailed from this land, there was no hiding the little break in her composure-- the quick glance to Link. Had he mentioned that? She felt a little guilty, though she hadn't even thought of it that way, but didn't allow it to overtake her sense. It would do no good to any of them to allow herself to be swept up in those kinds of thoughts. If she spoke of no ill-will, Peach would hope it was in earnest. "I hail from the Mushroom Kingdom, it is a land just past Sarasara land, though it seems that none have heard of it. I admit, I've not heard of any of your homelands either, which is what makes it all the more distressing. Even the farthest maps we have been able to find offer no real answers." A little furrow of her brow before she presses on, ever stubborn when she needed to be.
"I know it's not my place," she began, biting her cheek and hoping that she would not come to regret her own words. "But have you spoken to her, or does she deny everyone?" A pause as she glanced to Link again before allowing herself to continue, not sure how much she should say-- but knowing she wanted to do everything she could, even at her own cost. Especially if it could stop someone else from going through what she has had to.
"I ask, only because, he was able to slip into my castle unannounced, through all my subjects, even past the guise of our enemies and steal me away and I think had I not managed to make a bit of a fuss before he drew me into his..." She lacked the word, before she drew a circle in the air, indicating a portal of some sort. "Ring of magic, none might have known I was being taken at all. It took naught but an instant-- and I do not know of your ways or nature, but..." She paused, looking for the right, proper and formal words, before just giving in. "I just ask, because I do hope if nothing else you can be assured of her safety. Stubborn as I know many a princess can be, being alone... you can't. Not if he can do the same here, or anywhere."
She was almost pleading, hands clenched together over her chest, worry tinting each word and expression.
Link was almost ready to turn and walk out of the palace but was stopped by Peach's earnest plea. Although internally he was as tense as a spring he did his best not to show it: he honestly wasn't sure if Princess Peach, for all her skill in speech, would be able to phrase her concerns in a way that the Gerudo--and Impa especially--would be able to interpret as anything but an insult. And indeed she grew furiously stormy, her brows knitting together over eyepatch and her one intense orb.
"You imply that the great enemy," Impa bit out, "the traitor of all histories would be able to simply walk in... and take our princess from under our noses?" The fury in her voice was palpable and it was clearly shared by the guards to the sides of the walkway: they stiffened, clenched their weapons, creaked in their armor. Enmity echoed from all around them and Link stepped ever so slightly in front of Peach. His mind was racing: what could he accomplish with the few tools he'd thought to bring? His sword was strapped to his back, and his shield--could he reach them in time? Why had he left the rest of his gear with Epona? He cursed himself for his foolishness and turned one foot very slowly, very carefully outward. Ready to spring.
A long, stormy silence. And then: "Perhaps he has found some manner of conveyance that even our wards cannot stop." Impa spoke the words with obvious and intense distaste. "Although I don't believe it for a moment... perhaps you can coax her from her isolation. I know she has often spoken of wishing she had another princess to fraternize with." She turned abruptly on her heel and beckoned. "Come."
Link, and the guards to his sides, let out a sigh at once. The tension in the room had lessened... for now. Somehow Peach had done it.
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"Quite distant," the woman echoed. "From where do you hail, princess? I don't think I recognize your face or your name, and it is my duty to know a great deal about the royal families." She listened intently, the intense gaze of her single eye never leaving Peach's face. She stayed silent for a moment or two after the princess had finished speaking. When Link opened his mouth, however, she again held up a hand. "I believe I understand," she replied. "In your efforts to return to your own land and to discover the reason for Ganon's machinations... you have of course come here, to the Gerudo homeland."
Link caught and held his breath. He stood rigid beside Peach and watched Impa carefully, but after a moment instead of bursting into action she just slowly nodded. "It is true that Ganon hails from the Gerudo of old, but I will believe you came here simply because you were... closest." Link let out the breath he'd been holding in a slow, mediated whoosh and released the tension in his hands. That had been the danger of coming her first: it was equally likely the proud Gerudo would react with hostility when confronted with the reality of Ganon as it was that they would comprehend the lack of ulterior motive--or blame. "And so you are here to warn and to ascertain the safety of the princess. I will pass along the message but I fear you will be unable to meet with the princess at this time. She has shut herself away in her quarters and refuses to answer any entreaties."
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"I know it's not my place," she began, biting her cheek and hoping that she would not come to regret her own words. "But have you spoken to her, or does she deny everyone?" A pause as she glanced to Link again before allowing herself to continue, not sure how much she should say-- but knowing she wanted to do everything she could, even at her own cost. Especially if it could stop someone else from going through what she has had to.
"I ask, only because, he was able to slip into my castle unannounced, through all my subjects, even past the guise of our enemies and steal me away and I think had I not managed to make a bit of a fuss before he drew me into his..." She lacked the word, before she drew a circle in the air, indicating a portal of some sort. "Ring of magic, none might have known I was being taken at all. It took naught but an instant-- and I do not know of your ways or nature, but..." She paused, looking for the right, proper and formal words, before just giving in. "I just ask, because I do hope if nothing else you can be assured of her safety. Stubborn as I know many a princess can be, being alone... you can't. Not if he can do the same here, or anywhere."
She was almost pleading, hands clenched together over her chest, worry tinting each word and expression.
no subject
"You imply that the great enemy," Impa bit out, "the traitor of all histories would be able to simply walk in... and take our princess from under our noses?" The fury in her voice was palpable and it was clearly shared by the guards to the sides of the walkway: they stiffened, clenched their weapons, creaked in their armor. Enmity echoed from all around them and Link stepped ever so slightly in front of Peach. His mind was racing: what could he accomplish with the few tools he'd thought to bring? His sword was strapped to his back, and his shield--could he reach them in time? Why had he left the rest of his gear with Epona? He cursed himself for his foolishness and turned one foot very slowly, very carefully outward. Ready to spring.
A long, stormy silence. And then: "Perhaps he has found some manner of conveyance that even our wards cannot stop." Impa spoke the words with obvious and intense distaste. "Although I don't believe it for a moment... perhaps you can coax her from her isolation. I know she has often spoken of wishing she had another princess to fraternize with." She turned abruptly on her heel and beckoned. "Come."
Link, and the guards to his sides, let out a sigh at once. The tension in the room had lessened... for now. Somehow Peach had done it.