"Thank you." She continued to smile and bow, most might have been bothered, but she had no doubt their jobs were not as easy as some might think. The protection of the Princess and others was a task she could not look down upon. There were probably many other reasons, but Peach took it with stride, it was clear they held no ill will-- and neither would she. Following Link she made sure to try and follow his pace as to not offend anyone, though it seemed much Quieter in the area they were in. She was, admittedly, thankful for that.
"Well..." She thought about it for a moment, head tilting to the side before she glanced at him. "I suppose it's a bit of both-- but I couldn't say. I've been training my whole life to rule a kingdom and to be a Princess, so if it was natural to me there's no way to tell." Not that she always did everything perfectly, as they both probably knew by now, but moments like that were far easier for her than navigating a desert of giant worms. "Mr. Toadsworth was a wonderful treasure, when I was younger I thought many of his lessons were silly, but as I aged I saw the value in what he was trying to teach me."
"I have to do negotiations on occasion, as there's things I need for my people we may not have, and it's good manners. Beyond that..." A little puff of breath to ruffle her soft bangs. "I do really hope we are here in time in order to help." She admitted casting another sidelong glance to him before watching her step-- the last thing she wanted to do was embarrass herself in front of any royalty or people.
"Then you're a natural as much as you're practiced," he complimented her. "You should see how many people they turn away, day by day. Even I have to fight a little to get in sometimes." He shook his head ruefully. "But they mean well. It's their princess they want to protect. And I'm sure even your kindly Mr. Toadsworth would fight tooth and nail to keep you safe." Link's smile was a little sad: he understood she must miss him. She must miss her entire kingdom and the life she'd had before she was so rudely yanked into his own world. It was easy to forget the point of this whole expedition was to find out why and how Peach had been wrested from the Mushroom Kingdom... but unavoidably, to also return her where she belonged. He preferred not to think about that part. Already he was getting attached to having her along.
It didn't take them long to reach the palace, carved right out of the brown-red sandstone. Spires traveled up and up and up, merging with the living rock and re-emerging once more as the shape of the stone demanded. Guards stood at nearly every step along the entrance but Link walked on. He was tempted to take Peach's hand, knowing this might be a distressing or at least unnerving experience, but also knew that it would show weakness. They had to keep up a strong front or the Gerudo would be likely to reconsider their entry. They passed through the large, carved entrance and underneath the many glyphs and pictures struck into the stone. Carvings depicted the culture's victories, their defeats and their many mythologies, all fairly incomprehensible to the outsider's eye but no doubt instantly recognizable to the Gerudo. The culture shock ended as soon as they entered the palace proper, however; like a Hylian castle (and like a Mushroom Kingdom castle, Link assumed) a long straight path led to a throne. However, as they drew nearer it became quickly obvious the stone chair was unoccupied. In fact, aside from the guards that stood stiffly on either side of the walkway, only one person joined them in that room: a woman with a single eyepatch and chain mail covering nearly every part of her body below her collarbones.
"State your business," she said crisply. But when Link opened his mouth she raised a hand. "Princess Peach. As royalty, please speak your intentions for this unannounced visit." She inclined her head, paying due respect to the visiting royalty. Clearly a runner of some sort had communicated just who her visitors were. "Impa," Link whispered to his companion. "She's the princess's royal guard. You can trust her."
Another bow, no less polite than the first-- though she knew not if the woman was the princess or another guard till Link offered some assistance. She smiled a bit more, nodding her head ever so faintly before she allowed her hands to fold again, resuming her previous stance-- it was a habit more than anything else. Also, it made her far more comfortable when speaking in situations in which she wasn't entirely secure. It was good training, she supposed as Link had mentioned, that kept her doing what she ought to be doing even when her world was upside down.
Upside down and gone.
"Greetings and apologies." She nodded her head, knowing when someone wanted to get to business and respecting her time-- and information-- she knew she should keep this a bit shorter than the last. "I was brought to this land from my own, a quite distant land, by one known as Ganon?" She glanced at Link for confirmation, brief, before returning her gaze. "Or who claimed to be. He did not introduce himself to me, and unfortunately, by the time Link had arrived, he was nowhere to be seen."
A frown creased her features, falling into a more serious tone than the one before, the light smile lost. "He mentioned something of capturing many princesses for some untold reason, myself being the first. Upon hearing that we knew this was the closest kingdom to where I was being held and traveled here with a warning and perhaps to offer assistance should we be able to."
And that was that, the flowery language mostly lost, even if her manners remained. She could tell when someone had no need for dalliances, and seeing as Link trusted her, Peach sought to too. Offering more information than what had been relayed below.
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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"Well..." She thought about it for a moment, head tilting to the side before she glanced at him. "I suppose it's a bit of both-- but I couldn't say. I've been training my whole life to rule a kingdom and to be a Princess, so if it was natural to me there's no way to tell." Not that she always did everything perfectly, as they both probably knew by now, but moments like that were far easier for her than navigating a desert of giant worms. "Mr. Toadsworth was a wonderful treasure, when I was younger I thought many of his lessons were silly, but as I aged I saw the value in what he was trying to teach me."
"I have to do negotiations on occasion, as there's things I need for my people we may not have, and it's good manners. Beyond that..." A little puff of breath to ruffle her soft bangs. "I do really hope we are here in time in order to help." She admitted casting another sidelong glance to him before watching her step-- the last thing she wanted to do was embarrass herself in front of any royalty or people.
no subject
He preferred not to think about that part. Already he was getting attached to having her along.
It didn't take them long to reach the palace, carved right out of the brown-red sandstone. Spires traveled up and up and up, merging with the living rock and re-emerging once more as the shape of the stone demanded. Guards stood at nearly every step along the entrance but Link walked on. He was tempted to take Peach's hand, knowing this might be a distressing or at least unnerving experience, but also knew that it would show weakness. They had to keep up a strong front or the Gerudo would be likely to reconsider their entry.
They passed through the large, carved entrance and underneath the many glyphs and pictures struck into the stone. Carvings depicted the culture's victories, their defeats and their many mythologies, all fairly incomprehensible to the outsider's eye but no doubt instantly recognizable to the Gerudo. The culture shock ended as soon as they entered the palace proper, however; like a Hylian castle (and like a Mushroom Kingdom castle, Link assumed) a long straight path led to a throne. However, as they drew nearer it became quickly obvious the stone chair was unoccupied. In fact, aside from the guards that stood stiffly on either side of the walkway, only one person joined them in that room: a woman with a single eyepatch and chain mail covering nearly every part of her body below her collarbones.
"State your business," she said crisply. But when Link opened his mouth she raised a hand. "Princess Peach. As royalty, please speak your intentions for this unannounced visit." She inclined her head, paying due respect to the visiting royalty. Clearly a runner of some sort had communicated just who her visitors were. "Impa," Link whispered to his companion. "She's the princess's royal guard. You can trust her."
no subject
Upside down and gone.
"Greetings and apologies." She nodded her head, knowing when someone wanted to get to business and respecting her time-- and information-- she knew she should keep this a bit shorter than the last. "I was brought to this land from my own, a quite distant land, by one known as Ganon?" She glanced at Link for confirmation, brief, before returning her gaze. "Or who claimed to be. He did not introduce himself to me, and unfortunately, by the time Link had arrived, he was nowhere to be seen."
A frown creased her features, falling into a more serious tone than the one before, the light smile lost. "He mentioned something of capturing many princesses for some untold reason, myself being the first. Upon hearing that we knew this was the closest kingdom to where I was being held and traveled here with a warning and perhaps to offer assistance should we be able to."
And that was that, the flowery language mostly lost, even if her manners remained. She could tell when someone had no need for dalliances, and seeing as Link trusted her, Peach sought to too. Offering more information than what had been relayed below.
no subject
"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."
no subject
"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.