The Big Day

"Today is the day, ladies." Finally, the day I had waited for, the day I had dedicated my life to, the day I had relentlessly trained for. "It's time to conquer Hyrule!" The Gerudo responded with boisterous cheers. I beamed with pride at them, at my family. We had spent every hour for two weeks perfecting our roles and running over the plan, one detail at a time. "Remember, only once Zelda and the Ocarina of Time are secure can we reveal ourselves. Until that time, we must be entirely hidden, one with the shadows. Strike swiftly and silently!"

 I'll never forget how handsome Ganondorf was strolling to the front, along the line of the assembled Gerudo, toward me. I'll spare you the details I absorbed in that moment from the sun hitting his face just right, but if you've ever seen the way a person sways in their saddle when the horse is walking, you'll understand how delectable he looked. It was more than that. His stature was superior, his eyes confident, his expression arrogant. He commanded his horse to stop beside me and faced the Gerudo. "I expect that we shall not fail today, that we remind our enemies of the Gerudo ferocity, and why we should be feared. Today, Hyrule will be mine!"

Excitement charged the air with such energy it felt like we all had a little magic in us. I felt invincible, and failure was an impossibility.

Once we came close to Hyrule Castle, the Gerudo broke off in pairs at their preselected spots. Their primary goal would be to infiltrate the castle and eliminate as many guards as possible. The two reasons for that being less resistance once the king was dead, and less guards to defend Zelda when she was captured.

Ganondorf and I led our horses casually to the castle's entry. Stable hands came to collect our horses like on any other visit, which we allowed to occur as to avoid suspicion so early on. Except, it wasn't just another visit.

We were there to finalize the treaty.

Crowds, and I mean a massive amount of people, had gathered for the announcement that trade would once again open between Hyrule and Gerudo, and that a long term transition would begin.

Instead of being led to the room where we usually held the conference, we were escorted through the decorated halls to a balcony that over looked the yard of Hyrule Castle and the path that led from the market. There must have been two hundred people waiting for the news that they would no longer be attacked by thieves. Others were not so happy and only showed up to protest. They must not have trusted us for some reason.  Fortunately, guards were efficiently positioned to keep the peace in the crowd. The imminent chaos would surely provide a great distraction.

A podium was arranged at the front of the balcony with the final papers of the treaty. The King of Gerudo and the King of Hyrule were to take turns signing it for all to see. As a gesture of friendship, the King of Hyrule stepped up first.

"The great people of Hyrule. At long last, the good King of Gerudo and I have made an agreement to set aside our differences, and welcome an era of peace. This is a new and exciting change. I ask that we welcome them into our home as if they were family."

I gave my signal, by clicking the hand guard out of its locked place in my sheath, to the Gerudo waiting on the roof out of sight.

Ganondorf stepped forward suddenly, brandished his only blade from his side, and tore it across the neck of the King of Hyrule for all of the citizens to witness, to stain the ground with his blood.

Ganondorf made his move without hesitation, and it left everyone paralyzed for just a breath.