Ganondorf jolted awake when the carriage driver had called for the horses to stop. He righted himself in his seat as he had slumped while sleeping. The carriage door opened and a guard dressed in white welcomed him with a deep bow and a genuine "My Lord."

"What is the cause for this unexpected welcoming, Yilla?" Ganondorf signaled for her to stand straight again and she obeyed.

"Your visitor is in a guest room. He arrived with Princess Zelda yesterday." Yilla clasped her hands behind her back. 

"Wonderful." Ganondorf grinned. "Be sure to treat him well. And keep an eye on him. I don't suspect he's a traitor, but you never know.

"Yes, My Lord." She dropped into another graceful bow and rushed off. 

Ganondorf entered his chamber and sat in a plush red chair. He stared out the window as the last of the sun's light burned on the edge of the desert. He loved that scene. A stream of blood flowing across the sparkling sand.

Suddenly, the castle shook violently. It wasn't quite enough to throw the king out of his chair, but he did have to hang on to it's arms. His gaze still lying o the horizon, he let out a fearful gasp. The red line of sunset had melted into an eerie green and flashes of lightning struck at the ground without clouds.

"It's real." He almost whispered and then he was grinning again.

***

Vaati lay in a plush bed surrounded by a nest of gold-embroidered blankets and sheets. The bed's frame was four-barred cage of elborate knots and twists seemingly carved out of iron. The walls were sandstone covered in rich tapestries and curtains displaying vibrant colors beyond imagination. 

He didn't notice any of it. What caught his attention was the way the whole room shook. A vase fell from a table and shattered. He grabbed onto the blankets and curled up inside their safety, willing the quake to end. He was scared senseless.