Last Shiekah

So, they said (most wonderfully) in Pirates three this summer that "the problem with being the last of something is that soon there none of it..." Well, I had already started this little story about the Last Shiekah, so We'll see wht you guys think

The Last Shiekah

A Song of Loss and Sorrow

Given that the Zora Rebellion saw the end of the Shiekah race, I have seen fit to write out a brief account of how the last distinguished members of this ancient and noble race met their ends. I, the last of my race, hope that this account will aid future generation learn something not only of who and what the Shiekah people were, but of responsibility, of courage, of hope, of pain, of loss, and of death.

Master Jeedtha, Spearman of the Plain Shiekah

Shiekah are taller normally than Hylains, but by no means giants. Jeedtha was tall though, even for a Shiekah. Ugly too… in fact, the plain Shiekah often laughed at him… said he was obviously part Moblin. Jeetha would laugh back, taking it all in his long stride, but it was obvious he felt a deep need to prove himself. And maybe that is why he rose to the rank of Master so quickly.

Jeedtha was as skinny as he was tall, much like his weapon, the spear. He was large enough to carry three into battle, one in his hands, with two more strapped to his back. A thorough warrior and a peerless teacher in the art of the pole arm. I had the privilege of learning the Hylian Pike from him and, during that time, the honor of serving at the battle of Beldia Glade during the Civil War of Ducha House Rebellion. That was during Queen Nira’s reign, three summers before the Zora Revolt, and ensuing campaign. At Beldia Glade, Jeedtha fought like a whirlwind in flesh. We all knew there were rebel Shiekah in the Ducha House Ranks, but Jeedtha was adamant. They had chosen to violate their vow to serve Hyrule and its Royal House, and they would share the fate of their new masters. If he ever flinched on this, he hid it too well for us to see.

At Beldia Glade we served under ignorant, arrogant, incompetent Hylian commanders. There are Shiekah children with more knowledge in the way of stratagem than the whole of the Hylian War Council. Our salvation lay in the fact that the Ducha House seemed to be even less inclined to listen to their Shiekah warriors than Queen Nira was. Jeedtha was deployed to lead the Hylain and Shiekah center foot units. A hoard of bristling spears arrayed not against the enemy’s cavalry, but armored infantry and light skirmagers. Of course, Jeedtha knew the disastrous effects the foot units could have on unbacked spears, so he defied orders and, rather than holding to the center, floated his troops towards the right flank. The Ducha cavalry saw the pressing soldiers and swung away from running down the Royal Guard swordsmen to meet them. Hylian Paladins are brave, but rather foolish. They saw the enemy, and they charged it… counter-tactics are something of an after thought.

Jeedtha’s presence of mind most likely save the battle that day, and kept the Ducha Rebellion from becoming a major war like the old Blood Line Civil War of Queen Zelda and Lord Toran’s reign. This distinguished him, and the Elders considered bestowing upon Jeedtha the honor of eldership. However, “General” Morious, the commander at Beldia Glade, reported the victory as his, and Jeedtha as costing many lives with his disobedience. Nira was furious, and demanded that the Elders strip Jeedtha of all rank and title. The Shiekah serve Hyrule, and the Elders felt they had no choice. Jeedtha saved the battle, but lost his chance at eldership, his position as a Master and teacher, and, in HIS mind, his honor. He never lost his zest, but something died in Jeedtha that day… his pride was gone.

After that day, I would not see Jeedtha again, not even at the last fateful battle of the Zora Revolt. However, I know he was there, among the forward skirmagers. From the pieces I was able to put together from the lay of the bodies and the tales of the Hylian infantry that fought alongside him, I think Jeedtha died in the initial charge. I found his body along with the fallen the footmen were the first engagement would have made contact. He had been felled by a sword to the lower chest, probably a Hylian who couldn’t reach the taller Shiekah’s head. It was a common enough death for a warrior, Shiekah or otherwise. After death, Jeedtha was reinstated as a Master, for his skill in the arts, primarily the Vendi Style and the Hylian Pike.

So died Master Jeedtha of the Plains Shiekah, last of his clan. He died with nobility and courage. Disgruntled in life, he received honor in death and rests in the Void remembered by his successors.

Master Reef, Lore Crafter of the Far Rock Clan

It is unusual for a Shiekah to study our lore, or magic as you might call it, to the exclusion of all other arts. Some Elders have come to devote their lives to Spell Weaving, or Lore Craft as we called it, but that is only after years of mastering other arts. Reef, however, was not like other Shiekah. At a mere twelve winters, Reef fell during what should have been a normal jumping exercise. Normally, a Shiekah would have been able to land the fall, but that day the rocks were wet from a rare rainstorm over Greudo Valley and Reef’s foot slipped. He shattered his shin, and twisted his knee horribly. The healers of the Far Rock Clan set the leg and, had fate been on his side, Reef might have healed completely. Fate however, chose bring the local noble house of Sethida into conflict with a Greudo Thieve Din. Duke Sarpha demanded every Shiekah ten winters and older search out and destroy the din, and the Far Rock Clan was the only to fall in his land. Reef helped search on a leg barely fit to hold weight for nearly three days and nights.

Far Rock healers were able to save Reef from complete lameness, but he would require a special made brace to stand and walk; a thin pole that ran from his heal up to be strapped just above his knee. He eventually became accustom to it enough that he could hide his injury from most. He could walk, even had some limited fighting ability, but it was clear he would never be a master of any normal art.

It was five winters to the day after the fall when I met Reef. Even at such a young age, he was already gaining a reputation as a noted Lore Crafter. At our first meeting Reef was wearing a lose fit ninja suit; unusual for day-to-day activities, though I suspect he wore it to hide his leg brace under the shin wraps. Violet eyes were not as common among the Far Rock Clan, but Reef had them, along with straight hair as black as pitch. He wore his hair long, pulled into tail that fell to his mid-back, but with forelocks that neatly framed his face. Reef, as I found, had always been a bit of a lady-killer. In fact, there were two pretty girls hovering over him the whole time I was with him. He was as smooth and dark as he looked, and I would soon come to number him among my friends.

I was visiting the Far Rock with the Elders, who were there to review Reef for the mastership of the Shadow Art Sokinda. As the youngest master present, I had been chosen to stand against him in the evaluation ring. He was still in the ninja tunic, pants and wraps… it was obvious I was testing a Lore Crafter. I remember he moved so fast. I barely blinked and Reef’s arms curled up, palms towards me. Something that looked like a mixture between shadows and wires shot out at me. It was something I had seen before, but never from someone that young. I was able to overcome Reef after a battle that I am not likely to forget, but it was enough for myself and the Elders. Reef would become a master, and at a mere fifteen winters. Only myself, and my ancestor the great Mistress Impa, had received the honor at a younger age.

After the ceremony that officially recognized Reef’s mastery of Lore Craft, I was able to spend more time with him. He was only three winters younger than myself, and we soon bound as comrades. That was the summer Master Jeedtha had been removed from teaching, and as both he and I felt I sufficiently learned the Hylian Pike, I decided to stay on at the Far Rock and learn what I could of the Sokinda Art from Master Reef. I would study under Master Reef for a full two summers, and came to know him very well.

Reef rose to prominence quickly, but would burn out just as fast. Perhaps it was the way the Hylian Empire had cost him a leg, perhaps it was a keen insight into the nature of Queen Nira, perhaps it was the time of study he spent in the forsaken south lands of Turmina… I do not know the reasons, but Reef was one of the first Shiekah to join in openly supporting the Zora Revolt. I wish I could have had the chance to ask him, to see what had motivated him to follow the handful of Shiekah clans that tried to change the course of Hyrule’s bloody descent, but he, like all the others, died that sad, bloody day.

In actuality, it was another Shiekah, Master Tife of the Palace Shiekah, which killed him. Reef had been on a rise overlooking the battle, but out of action along with the other members of the Zora king’s war council. I believe he had exhausted much of his strength shrouding an entire division of troops as they moved into place, normally the work of several Elders, and was resting to regain his focus. Master Tife, a ninja by training, and his small band had been dispatched to take out the Zora war council. Master Tife was the best at what he did, and while what he did was not pretty, it was efficient. The Zora would be lost without their Shiekah, so Master Tife’s first target was Master Reef and his fellows. There was a brief struggle, but Master Reef and his students were Lore Crafters, completely unable to match the ninja in combat.

And so it was that Master Reef of the Far Rock Clan died, along with ten students of the Sokinda Shadow Art. Together they composed the last of the Far Rock Clan. They died estranged from the eldership as Rebel Shiekah. Master Reef was a good friend, and dedicated to his principles. I lament the fate that places us against each other for the last Shiekah battles.

Mistress Githa, Takada Master of the River Clan

Takada is a hard art to master, but Githa was a hard woman. In many ways she was like the legendary Mistress Impa; strong, powerful, dark, yet with a gentleness that could shine through in rare moments. Mistress Githa’s clan, like many of the River Shiekah, was constantly moving, migrating slowly from the source of Zora River, all the way to Lake Hylia, and then back over the course of the year. For this reason, Takada is an art few out of the River Clans study. More a miscellany of countless other fighting styles than a true art itself, Takada is specifically geared to help the boat-riding fighter… to the best of my knowledge there is even a branch that specializes in combat while swimming.

I have a vague memory of seeing Mistress Githa as a young boy, while at Lake Hylia. She would have seen nearly twenty-five winters by that point, and was a noted student of her discipline. I think I has been wandering off alone to avoid being drug into a meaningless conversation with some of my more superficial Hylian relatives, when I stumbled over her practicing in the seclusion of our clan’s field. She was running through a practice routine… kicking, jabbing, and moving with graceful fluid motions. Kicks barrowed from the Zora, hooks stolen from the Gordons, poise and balance of a Shiekah… at the time I would have had no idea of the true beauty I was witnessing. However, my sister found me shortly after running across Githa in the field, and drew me back to the house where I was drug into the very conversation I had been trying to avoid.

I would next see Mistress Githa when we both were completing the formal trails for the degree rank of master nearly ten winters later. After the trials, I spent some time with Mistress Githa, and despite the difference in our ages, we connected quite well. When we parted ways, I counted her as my friend, and felt sure she called me one as well.

Mistress Githa would never become an Elder and, though I heard about her while traveling with the Elders, we would never cross path again. Even at the final battle of our people, on the bloody entrance to the Zora Domain, she and I were never near each other.

Short two

Sorry everybody... this has been done for a bit but I got busy...

Toran’s companion was obviously enjoying the downpour that was now soaking the two riders. They were still moving at a quick pace, but the enigmatic Shiekah would still hold out his hands to catch drops whenever possible. At one point he actually gave an odd chuckle and smirked over at the close by Toran. It was a strangely reminiscent of someone… but Toran could put a finger on whom. Thinking back, he really hadn’t known all that many Shiekah, so maybe it was someone else… not Link… maybe Draq? Toran hadn’t thought of that name in almost eight years, but suddenly memories came back. Draq… his brother had been Scela, the current palace surgeon… and there had been Plarth, Marcum, Juthia, and so many others… Din, he could even dig up a few happy memories of Keef now that his mind was to it (well, at least not intolerable ones…).

The two riders had gone on for another two hours when Toran began to recognize some of the scenery. They were quickly approaching the sweeping cliff walls that rose up into the mountain range that framed the eastern and northern boarders of Hyrule. And not just any section of the cliffs either… they were traveling towards a very specific location. Even in the rain, Toran was recognizing old landmarks he hadn’t seen in years. Rocks, hillocks, dips… no doubt about it, they were headed right for the gang’s old cave hideout. Of course, Toran had to remind himself, there would not actually be a hideout there now. Their little rebel team had never really existed at all, nor had base… Gannondorf’s reign had been totally obliterated from the fabric of this world, destroyed by Link, Zelda, himself, and those few brave others. The thought of it sent a bolt of pride through him like nothing since he had entered his new role as “Lord Toran.” There had once been a time when he had been Toran of the Village Well, swordsman and servant of the last Hylian Royal. Rather than deciding where to send troops scurrying, he had actually followed the trouble, katana in hand. Well, Zelda had always claimed that, to the contrary, the TROUBLE followed HIM… at least fate had blessed him with more than a little martial skill to keep himself and those he loved alive.

Those he loved! His sister!

Toran glanced back to the Shiekah, only to find the man shaking slightly, right hand over his mouth as his red eyes studied the reminiscing king. Toran started to ask what was wrong, then realized the man was laughing… no, not even laughing; he was GIGGLING! Glowering, Toran pointed ahead of them, hazel eyes narrowing to highlight his anger.
“If you don’t mind, my sister-”
“Is perfectly fine,” the Shiekah finished, giving a dismissive wave, “her message was for the benefit of a mutual friend, who also is in no danger,” he quickly finished, obviously seeing a second protest forming on Toran face. For his part, Toran was beginning to grow slightly uneasy about the Shiekah riding with him. Something was definitely not right about his whole demeanor… he had only ever known one Shiekah this un-Shiekah like, and she ended up being Hylian after all.

Then he remember the time Zelda had been asking Impa how the empire should best deal with a certain house, no, clan, or faction, however it was the Shiekah divided themselves… he could not remember all the details, at the time it had apparently been purely a diplomatic affair and ergo Zelda’s domain… something called the Rebel Shiekah… It had to do with disputes about Royal House succession, but that was all he knew…

By now they were at the cave entrance and Toran divorced the thoughts from his mind long enough to take in the old, yet familiar, view of hideout entrance. It seemed as though some had gone through the trouble of recreating the fake bush and rock door that had hidden the entrance for his old team. In fact, it was close enough to be nearly identical. Holding a hand to his forehead in a vain attempt to keep the pouring rain out of his eyes, Toran surveyed the entrance. It was uncanny… a perfect likeness.

His companion had dismounted and was walking towards the cave, so Toran followed suit. He would be wary of his new “friend,” but concern was beginning to outweigh that. If this person did mean him harm, then he had to have gotten Jistine’s necklace by an equally nefarious ploy. He needed more information. Drawing his katana, Toran stepped in the door.

The small, round room looked the same as ever. Table in the center, lone flickering candle on it illuminating the room, domed rock ceiling… as though he had just stepped into his mind, burying himself into his memories. Stepping into the room, Toran laid his hand on the wooden table and closed his eyes, feeling a surge of past dreams flood over him.

“I told you it was a warp point…”

Toran whirled at the sound, katana whipping out. The blade stopped just shy of slicing the Shiekah’s throat, actually resting against his Adam’s Apple… or rather where his Adam’s Apple SHOULD have been. Wait a second…

Toran started, looking up and down his companion. “He” was leaning back against the door, smirking, arms crossed over chest, one hip tossed slightly to the side. Now that Toran had a closer look in better light, he noticed the short Shiekah’s legs had been slightly proportionally longer than he had at first thought. The figure was slightly shapelier as well… either he spent a massively disproportionate amount of time working on lower body and pectorals, or he was, in fact…

Toran’s eyes quickly raised to the face. It had changed ever so slightly, to a degree that Toran couldn’t even name what exactly was the difference. Parts were sharper, shades were thinner, the nose had altered slightly… nothing had changed drastically, but the entire thing was completely different. One of the thin yellow eyebrows arched, as the other narrowed, red eyes perfectly matching the smirk pulling at the thin lips.

How had he not seen it before?

“Shiek?” Toran lowered his sword, but kept it in front… what if were just another dream?
“Been too long since anyone’s call me that,” the giggle was like the tinkle of a fairy’s wings, “but I see we’re not fully convinced? Go ahead, ask me something only Shiek would know…”
“When did we first-”
“Night after Malon’s 18th birthday, we had spent the day riding all over the plains with her and Link… we snuck back into the palace, and I wouldn’t let you say goodbye.”
“How did you know I was going to ask-” Toran began, head cocking to one side.
“Toran, I’m your wife…” a smile pulled at her lips as the arms uncrossed and her hands moved to her hips, “plus, you only ever think about one thing anyway…”

Normally Toran might have argued the point, but at that moment he was more interested in the woman before him. He opened his mouth to ask how she had arranged this, but the words never came; he was too preoccupied with the fact that the woman in question had stepped in and grabbed the sides of his head, pulling him into a kiss. Toran was fairly certain he had just lost control of fine-motor skills, and the sound of his katana ringing as it fell to the floor confirmed the theory. Of course, he almost missed the metallic clatter under the pounding, rushing sound that was now dominating his ears. His hands slipped slowly around Zelda’s waist, pulling her tighter as she continued to push up to his mouth. Zelda had let her hands slip down around Toran’s neck. After a few seconds that seemed to last an eternity, Toran pulled back to take in a breath. Giving a sigh, the blond head slipped into the crook between his chin and shoulder, her arms slipping from around his neck to push under his arms and around his sides, until her fingers were massaging at the tunic on his shoulder blades. Her hair ticked slightly, but Toran really didn’t mind at all.

“Sorry to trick you like that, but I thought we should both get away for a bit,” the queen murmured, obviously enjoying the hug Toran had her in.
“What do you mean?” Toran asked, letting the fingers of his hand begin to play with the end of Zelda’s long, yellow braid.
“Well, look at you… you got all dressed up in adventuring gear and strapped on your katana and set out yourself, when you could have just as easily donned armor, your crown and two paladins to fight for you… you’re itching to do something as Toran the swordsman, not Lord Toran, don’t think I don’t know it!”

She had him there… He had enjoyed even just riding about that he had even forgotten to worry about his supposedly endangered sister. Which brought up the question about the necklace… Wife or no, Zelda wasn’t supposed to have it any more than some random Shiekah. However, she only laughed and laid her head back on his shoulder when he asked.
“Jistine gave it to be because we were both afraid we were losing you… she wanted us to have this time as much, maybe even more, than I did. She’s your sister, Toran, and has been my best friend since before I met you for the first or second time… she saw the situation as an emergency ‘ever so much greater than life itself’,” Zelda ended with a very fair rendition of Jistine’s Akinda accent. Toran chuckled, and gave his wife a little squeeze.
“Watch it, she’s my sister you know…”

Zelda forced Toran to take a seat at the table, then moved over to the food chest near the wall of the round room. She returned, setting a small plate of dried figs and a sliced apple in front of him, then sat down in the room’s other chair and proceeded to give him her plan for the upcoming “adventure.” Apparently, she had already informed Impa of the proceedings. The Shiekah Elder had, of course, expressed concern over the safety of her ward and step-daughter, but it was hard to argue that anything in Hyrule was more likely to be dangerous than what she had already survived. Ainee would be “severing” the royal couple, sick in bed, for the next two days, and Impa would, with official written permission from Zelda, be handling emergency affairs. She was not only wise, but widely respected and trusted, so everything should proceed smoothly.

“As for US,” Zelda concluded, taking a bite of apple slice, “tomorrow, we’ll be heading south. The palace gets about two hundred letters a day by way of suits of injustice I am supposed to look over. Normally the Legal Guild deals with them, but I selected one about a hostile ranch take over for you and I to go settle personally. We’ll just check it out, and if the rancher really has suffered an injustice, will have fun righting it. If not, then we can move on to the next one I picked out… We’ll be in disguise and do it all ‘wandering adventurer’ style.”
“Still trying to keep the Saga of Shiek going, eh?” Toran laughed, picking up the last fig before Zelda got a chance.
“You got it!” she replied, standing, “and I’ll be using magic to alter your looks as well, Toran… I figured black hair and sapphire eyes will do the trick…”
“Just so long as I don’t have to change genders as well…” he ribbed back. Zelda laughed hard at this, harder than Toran had heard in nearly a year. The sound was worth more than all the rupees in Hyrule to him. Leaning forward, he placed a gentle kiss on her forehead.

“It sounds WONDERFUL Zel, thank you so much for bringing me out here…”
“Well, I didn’t marry you for money you goof… I love you, and this kind of thing was what first got us together.”
“Well, that covers the next two days,” Toran said, smiling as he brushed back some lose strands of hair from Zelda face, “but we have a bit until dawn…” he left the question unstated, merely raising his eyebrows.
“When I said this place was a Warp Point, I was stretching the truth slightly,” Zelda said, raising and taking his hand, “I wanted it to Warp us through time… to those lost years… I can’t REALLY do it of course, but I had the place set up as close as I could make out. My old room is the same,” she explained, pointing towards a door at the far side of the room, “I’ll be honest, over those long seven years there was more than one night I dreamed of you joining me in there…”
“There were a hell of a lot more time I actually wanted to,” Toran replied, smirking. He knew in reality he hadn’t viewed Shiek in that way until near the end of their time together, but for tonight that was trivial…
“Well, I’m going into my bed… and THIS time I have a husband who can hopefully keep me from needing to dream… come on in whenever!”

With this, Zelda entered her room, letting the door close. Toran heard her humming the familiar tune of the lullaby Impa used to sing her, just like she had done every night since he had first met the skinny, tomboyish princess that would become his very heart and soul. Looking around the round room once, Toran remember all his friends one more time. Hyrule was a land built from courage, adventure, and nobility… what better way for its ruler to relax than this? No wonder Zel was the Sage of Wisdom…

Giving a contented sigh, Toran grabbed the handle of Shiek’s room…