From the author: Inside every one of us is a tiny little person who is the biggest Nabooru fan ever! My little fan-type person inside of me really wanted to write this story. So now I am.

This is the first chapter of what I hope is basically a prequel of Nabooru's life to Ocarina of Time. I'm writing more lengthy chapters than I usually do. I really hope people enjoy. Thank you.

~*~

~* Chapter One: Princesses of the Desert *~

This might have been the longest lesson that Lynu had ever taught, but Nabooru had lost the will to even continue to time them anymore. Her attention had been drawn away to the large grated window across the room and outside to the large desert sky. As the outside world drew her in, she began to imagine she was riding across it on her horse, Fuhluno, who was currently tethered inside, much like her owner. Nabooru and her beloved horse would have to wait until the fierce dust storms had died down to go outside again. And even then, there was still the matter of her lessons. But those mattered little now, not when the world was calling. Nabooru hunched over on her crossed legs, resting her head on her hand. Her long, red hair fell over her shoulder, almost draping itself to the ground. As she stared at the window she watched the particles of dust and sand dance in the light and fall onto the stone floor within the room. She wondered what it was like, if she could go anywhere right now, like a speck of dust on the wind. She thought about that for a moment and decided she would probably have rode to Hyrule to the markets to see what was going on. Maybe she would listen in on the travelers in the tavern again to hear where the newest treasure hunters were going and perhaps see that cute boy that worked in the town bakery...

"Nabooru?"

"Hmm?"

Nabooru's cousin Aleniha always looked confused, even as she touched Nabooru's shoulder to see if she was still awake. "Nabooru, lessons are over. Let's go eat, please?" She asked quietly. Aleniha was a good girl: too good, Nabooru thought. They would be expected for the afternoon meal right after their lessons finished and Aleniha would never dare to doddle. Standing up stiffly from her pillow, Nabooru dusted off her purple pants and brushed stray hair from her tanned face.

"I have to go visit Subia. She promised to fix my dagger." Nabooru told her cousin, knowing full well it would upset her.

"Oh, Nabooru, you know we have to get home. My mother will beat me if we don't get there on time!" Aleniha whined, her fat lips quivering. While it was true that Aleniha was a kind and gentle girl, she was not all that attractive. She was pudgy and had the body of a pear. Her own thick red hair was cut short, which only seemed to emphasize her large nose. Because of these cosmetic flaws, she had few friends among the other Gerudo girls. Luckily, Nabooru protected her, even though she was two years younger than Aleniha. Yet Nabooru's best quality was her toughness. Only being fourteen, she had made a name for herself among her peers for being a fast sword fighter and possessing a keen mind while retaining a sense of humility about her abilities.

Taking Aleniha's hand tightly, Nabooru sighed, "We won't get in trouble, and your mother will not beat you. My mother will see to that."

Aleniha appeared reluctant, but she trusted her cousin to protect her. If Aleniha's mother did try to beat her, it would not be the first time Nabooru or her mother, Yurria, would step in to stop it.

Before the two girls could leave, Lynu called, "Aleniha, come here girl." The old woman wrapped her thick, purple shawl around her tighter as they kneeled before her velvet pillow.

"Aleniha," Lynu began with her raspy voice. She had a thick Hylian accent as it was well known to the rest of the Gerudo tribe that she had once lived with a Hylian man for twenty years in her youth before returning to the desert when he died. Nabooru had always admired her for that and her stories of her time living beyond the desert were the only things Nabooru could listen to for longer than five minutes. "Aleniha, you will have to undergo your stamina testing again soon. Have you been practicing with Balinu?" She asked the shy girl.

Aleniha nodded politely, "Yes, I'ama." She said, addressing her teacher with the title that all Gerudo women used to address their superiors.

"And have you been practicing on your own as well?" Lynu asked.

"Yes, she has I'ama!" Nabooru interrupted quickly, "I have been making sure that–"

"Nabooru, hold your tongue." Lynu snapped. "I want to hear from Aleniha."

Aleniha looked down to the floor for a moment, biting her nails. "I have been trying..."

"You have not, have you?" Lynu said, disappointed. "And stop chewing your nails, girl!"

Aleniha took her hand away from her mouth quickly, biting her lower lip. Nabooru watched her closely. "No, I'ama."

"Aleniha, you have failed this test three times. You do want to be a warrior, do you not?" Lyna asked.

Aleniha nodded slowly. "Yes, I'ama."

"Are you sure you would not rather be a scholar? I heard that your father was a famous Hylian scholar."

"No, I'ama, I want to be like my mother."

"Nabooru," Lyna turned to her, "Make sure that Aleniha practices harder then with Balinu. I will tell her to give Aleniha extra time."

"Yes, I'ama." Nabooru said as Lyna dismissed them both.

Aleniha quietly followed Nabooru outside to a courtyard where a small reflecting pool cast glowing lines along the cool stone walls. Arched columns circled the area, which opened up wide to the sky.

"Aleniha, are you sad again?" Nabooru asked, looking back to her cousin.

"No, I'm not. I'm just thinking about what I'ama Lyna said." She looked up to Nabooru, "Do you think she is right? Should I be a scholar?"

"Aleniha, you can do whatever you want. Just do what you think is right."

"So, you think I should be a warrior then?"

Nabooru smiled and ran back to her. "Aleniha, you don't have to think about that now. You're smart enough to do whatever you want. You do so much better in your lessons than I do. And you're more patient than I do. You're patient enough to wait to see what you want to do in this life." Nabooru took her hand. "Come on, we have to catch Subia!" She said, running out of the courtyard and into the fortress town.

The Gerudo lived within their own city in the desert. There were other cites in the desert, filled mostly with pointed-eared Hylians, but none were as secure as the Gerudo Fortress. It had not been invaded in nearly a thousand years, it was so well protected by both nature and the Gerudo themselves. To one side a huge ridge of jagged rocks stood in defense and the rest of the fortress was reinforced by large, man-made rock walls and constantly patrolled by the desert-hardy Gerudo warriors, who's entire population was female, save for the Gerudo King, who was the lone male among his subjects. It was said that one male was born to the Gerudo every one hundred years. This number was not terribly exact, but it seemed to average out to be about that much.

As the late afternoon continued, the fortress's main market was buzzing with about as much excitement as there was in the middle of the desert. A few vendors sold a variety of goods as the rest of the women went about their business. But the amount of activities was always limited by the Gerudo's own self imposed segregation from the rest of the world. No outsiders, especially foreign men, were allowed to set foot even near the fortress.

As Nabooru and Aleniha weaved their way towards the King's residence, the desert winds appeared to be dying down. Nabooru hoped she would have time to go for a ride after her chores. She just wished that Lynu had not kept them behind on this day. Nabooru had broken her favourite dagger while showing off and had taken it to Subia, her elder sister by four years and one of the king's unofficial bodyguards to fix it.

"Nabooru," Aleniha called out, short of breath from running after her younger cousin, "Will we even be allowed in right now? I heard–"

"Aleniha, I visit Subia all the time! Now hush up!" Nabooru passed by the main entrance to the King's residence, which was gated off from the rest of the fortress by large iron gates. Two guards stood outside dressed in the garb of the King's Guard. They paid no attention as the two girls ran past.

"Where are we going?" Aleniha whispered loudly to Nabooru as the two darted down a side corridor. "The entrance was back there."

"Do you think I'm stupid enough to try and go in through the front gate?" Nabooru asked back. "We don't have to walk in through the front door. This place has a thousand entrances, you should know that!"

"Mother doesn't–"

"Doesn't let you visit here, I know!" Nabooru finished Aleniha's sentence for her, for she had heard it a thousand times already. Aleniha's mother was a Gerudo princess and half sister to Nabooru's own mother, although it was obvious the two were nothing alike. "Come, we're going in the kitchen entrance."

"Nabooru, we can't–"

"We can! I've done this a million times, I told you! And if you don't stop then I'll never bring you along ever again!" Nabooru warned and Aleniha went silent.

The corridor they were in ended at a small iron gate much taller than either of them. Beyond it was a row of wooden doors leading into the King's residence. Next to the gate was a small chain. Nabooru yanked on it tightly.

After a moment of silence, Aleniha leaned forward, "Is no one home?" Nabooru only told her to hush. A second later one of the far doors opened and a small girl came out. Her hair was very short, like that of Aleniha's, but she was very skinny and covered in flour.

"Nabooru!" She said cheerfully, running to the gate. As she unlocked it for them, she looked to Nabooru, "I knew you'd come! But you're late!"

"I know, Jacklinu. We were kept after with I'ama Lynu." Nabooru explained as Jacklinu opened the gate.

"Did you get in trouble again?" Jacklinu asked with a smile.

"No, it was nothing." Nabooru looked to Aleniha, who appeared very nervous. "Oh, Jacklinu, this is my cousin, Aleniha. I've told you about her."

"Oh, Aleniha! You're the smart one who does all of Nabooru's homework!" Jacklinu exclaimed as Nabooru gave her a dirty look. She hugged Aleniha.

"Hello," Aleniha replied politely. "Do you work here?"

"Yes! I'm a baker! Or at least I will be. Someday. Come with me, I'll get you inside to your sister, Nabooru."

They followed Jacklinu to the end of the corridor and down a flight of narrow stairs.

"Where are we going, Nabooru?" Aleniha whispered, obviously afraid of the growing darkness.

"My sister said she'd meet us in the metal workshop to get my dagger." Nabooru said, "But you've got to be quiet. If we're found then we will have to answer to the king."

The thought of being punished by the king was enough to keep Aleniha from saying anything more. There was only one person she feared more than her own mother, and that was the Gerudo king, Ganondorf. Although he was still young, no older than twenty-five, he had already proven himself a capable if somewhat ruthless leader.

"Here, she told me to bring you to this room." Jacklinu said, stopping at a door to open it.

"Thank you, Jacklinu. Want to go riding later on tonight?" Nabooru asked before going inside.

"I'm gonna have chores till bedtime, Naby. I'm sorry."

"Can't you skip them?" Nabooru asked, noticing Aleniha gave her a look of shock at the suggestion.

"You know I can't. I have to help my mother and aunt to plan the meals for the Graduates Ceremony." Jacklinu said, referring to the annual event where young Gerudo women competed in various battle and skills events. From the best fighters, the king would choose new inductees into either his standing army, his King's Guard, or even his personal bodyguards. It was exciting to everyone, except perhaps Nabooru, even though this year she would officially be allowed to participate for the first time.

"Jacklinu!" Nabooru whined, but before she could express her discontent with her friend further, she heard her elder sister call her.

"Nabooru!" Subia called, coming to the door. "Are you coming to get your dagger yet or what? I want to eat!"

Nabooru waved a quick goodbye before Jacklinu ran back to the kitchens.

"I'm sorry, Subia." Nabooru apologized as she followed her sister into the cold metal work room. It was one of many among the basement apartments of the King's residence but was not currently in use.

Subia was a tall and slender woman with a muscular build. Her hair was longer than that of Nabooru's. Her clothes were the fine, purple silk of a King's Guard but Nabooru knew that her sister had more seniority than even that of the King's Guard. Subia sat down at a wooden bench and took out Nabooru's fixed dagger. "Here you go, kiddo. I spent all last night repairing it for you, so you better appreciate my work."

Nabooru took the dagger back and examined it. Her sister's work was indeed magnificent. Subia had become a bodyguard to the king at fifteen and it was then she learned how to repair swords and armour. She had always been kind to Nabooru and a role model to her. But there were rumours the Subia and the king were lovers. Nabooru had heard this one day while training with some other girls. She was too nervous to ask her sister about it, but always hoped it wasn't true. Not that it wasn't honourable to be that close to the king, but Nabooru never seemed to trust this man that was supposed to be her king. But she had always seen little of the man, so it did not bother her terribly.

"Aleniha, you look well." Subia said, hugging her cousin. Subia had always treated Aleniha as Nabooru had, with kindness and consideration. "How is your training?"

"Very well, I'ama."

Subia laughed, "You don't need to call me I'ama', Aleniha. We are family!"

"I know, I just can't help it." Aleniha apologized. "Oh, Subia, that sword–" She said, looking towards the wall. On it hung a very old and rusty looking sword. "That sword must be very old. Can I see it? I have to do research on them for my lessons."

"Go ahead. I found it one day while cleaning out the cabinets around here. The king gave me my own room to do metal work when he found out how much I enjoyed it." Subia said.

"Oh, thank you." Aleniha said, holding in her excitement. She ran across the room to the sword and looked over it intently as Nabooru sat down on the wooden bench, wondering what was so great about a rusty old sword.

"Nabooru," Subia took her head in her hand and examined her sister's face, "You look a bit pale. Is mother feeding you well?" Her sister joked, knowing full well their mother always cooked large meals.

"Yeah, I'm okay." She lied, still thinking about her sister and the king.

"What?" Subia asked. "You sneak. You shouldn't fib to me." Her elder sister gave her a grin. "Come on..."

Nabooru reluctantly whispered, "Okay, I'll tell you, but just know that I didn't make this up. I heard it from some other girls."

"What did you hear?" Subia asked in hushed tones.

Nabooru glanced over to Aleniha quickly to see if the girl could hear them, but she was still engrossed with her rusty sword. "They say that you and the king are lovers. They were talking about it one day. I don't think they realized I was your sister."

"Do you believe them?" Subia asked.

Nabooru was unsure of what to say. "I don't know if I do."

"Nabooru, I am not allowed to discuss this with anyone. If it were to get out..." Subia glanced back over at Aleniha, who innocently continued on with her sword. "If I tell you what happened, you must keep it to yourself. You can't tell anyone, not even mother. Do you swear?" Nabooru, her eyes wide, merely nodded. "Alright. The rumours are partly true. The king and I did some things together in the past, but that is all done with."

"Okay."

"Nabooru, do you know what I'm talking about?" Her sister asked, and Nabooru partly nodded. She had a bit of knowledge about how men and women interacted in certain ways and she was sure she knew what her sister was talking about.

"Yes, I think so."

"Good." Subia smiled. "Do you feel better?"

Nabooru felt strange that her sister was asking her how she felt after admitting such a thing. "Yes, Subia." She said, trying to hold what she wanted to say inside her. But Nabooru was a girl who always spoke her mind, so she decided to tell her sister anyway. "But there is something else...I have to say this, so please don't be cross with me, but I do not like him! I mean, I've only actually seen a few times but he has such evil eyes! I always think he's–"

"Wait, Nabooru," Subia grabbed her sister, who was starting to get frantic.

"What's wrong?" Aleniha was attracted by the noise.

"Nothing. Nabooru's just stressed out." Subia lied. "She needs some rest. The Graduates Ceremony must be stressing her out. Aleniha, can you go into the room across the hall? There's a store room in there. I need a sack of wood chips. They'll be on the far wall."

"Oh, okay Subia." Aleniha seemed a bit curious, but she always seemed either scared or quiet or curious. When she was gone, Subia turned back to Nabooru.

"Nabooru, Aleniha must not find out about this. I know she means well, but she would not be able to keep a secret, not like you. Especially around Auntie."

Nabooru was still upset. "But Subia, the king... I do not want to speak badly of him, but grandfather was so much better than him. This new king, he is strange. I feel evil from him."

"Nabooru, you must not speak about things you know nothing about." Subia told her gently. "The king can be kind when he has to be."

Nabooru thought about that for a moment. "Subia, what is he like?"

"The king? Nabooru, he loves our people. He would protect us at all costs." Subia assured her. "Do not worry about such things."

"Subia?" Aleniha returned with a small bag of wood chips. "Is this it?"

"Yes." Subia turned back to Nabooru. "Remember what I told you. Now, you two should leave. I'll call Jacklinu to take you back out safely."

Nabooru nodded and as she and Aleniha followed Jacklinu back outside, Aleniha leaned towards her and asked, "What was Subia telling you inside. Is she okay?"

"Yes, everything is fine." Nabooru said, unsure of her own words.

~*~

An older woman stood over a large marble slab beating dough with her fist. Of all the food Yurria cooked for her daughters, they loved her spiced flat bread best, consuming it like nothing else. She continued to prepare the bread, humming an ancient folk song to herself.

"Moma," Her youngest child, who she named Nymeria, entered the tiny kitchen from the small terrace attached to their apartments. Their home sat near the southern edge of the fortress and was larger than most others. This area of the fortress city housed more prominent members within the Gerudo tribe and Yurria's status as a king's daughter always ensured that her family had more than the average tribe member. Nymeria looked worried as she entered, "Auntie is coming down the street. She looks cross."

My sister always looks cross,' Yurria thought to herself. "Nymeria, go welcome her at the gate."

"But Moma, she will just yell at me for something. She always says my clothes are dirty or my hair is mussed." Nymeria protested.

"That's because your clothes are dusty sometimes." Yurria laughed as she looked at her daughter's pale blue vest and grey pants, which appeared especially dusty. Nymeria had similar features to her elder sister, Nabooru. Nymeria had been born two years after Nabooru, and the two were always very close. When the two had been separated so that Nabooru could be sent for her final training, the two sisters mourned it as a great tragedy.

"Now, go greet your Auntie." Yurria commanded and Nymeria sullenly obeyed.

The girl walked out to the tiny, walled-in yard which held several potted palms and an outdoor stove. She spotted her aunt immediately approach the gate.

"Hurry up, girl! I can't stand out here all day!" Commanded an older woman with a very prominent nose. Aunt Uglianu did not like to wait for anything, even her nieces. Nymeria quickened her pace to the gate.

"Did you have a good day in the desert, Auntie?" Nymeria asked as politely as she could.

"Horrid day. Sand got into everything, as usual." Uglianu swept in gracefully, her long cloak hitting Nymeria. "Where is your mother?"

"In the kitchen, Auntie." Nymeria said, trying to avoid the trail of her aunt's cloak.

"You should go wash up for our meal, and fetch water from the well while you're at it." Her aunt commanded without giving her another glance. "You'd think your mother couldn't afford to wash and clothe you properly."

Uglianu entered the tiny kitchen, wrinkling her large nose. She greeted her half sister with disdain. "You should really get a servant to do this cooking. Why we can't hire Hylians to help is beyond me. They have so many who need work." She commented while Yurria worked her dough.

"You know there's a war on." Yurria reminded her, returning Uglianu's lack of proper greeting. "And we don't need servants. That's something the Hylians have. They have no work ethic of their own. Our royal family is much more self sufficient."

"And makes us look like savages." Uglianu said with disgust as she looked around the room. "Ever since we abandoned our nomadic life you'd think our society would become more like that of the Hylians. We could be a powerful nation if we tried to, and then the Sheikah would serve us instead of those elves."

"Don't you get tired of political arguments all the time?" Yurria asked breathlessly.

"This is just common sense." Uglianu said. "Where is Aleniha?" She asked, suddenly distracted.

"She and Nabooru have not returned from their lessons yet. They will be along shortly." Yurria said, obviously less concerned. She never had to worry about Nabooru being in trouble, only that she might start trouble.

"They have absolutely no responsibility!" Uglianu announced shrilly as Nymeria returned to the room, markedly cleaner and carrying a bucket of drinking water. "I hope you don't plan to follow in Nabooru's footsteps." She said, meaning Nymeria.

Nymeria did not answer. "Would you leave the children be for a moment?" Yurria asked.

"You do not discipline your children enough, Yurria." Uglianu criticized.

"I make sure not to over do it." Yurria retorted just as the gate outside could be heard opening. Nabooru was the first to enter, breathing heavily from running, and Aleniha followed.

"I'm sorry Moma, we were kept late after school by Lynu." Nabooru said quickly.

"Why would you be kept after school?" Uglianu asked. "And for this long?"

"It was nothing, Auntie." Nabooru said, turning to her mother as Aleniha tried to hide behind the door.

"I wasn't talking to you. Learn to keep your thoughts to yourself." Uglianu scolded. "And what kind of nothing keeps you this long?" She looked to Aleniha. "What kept you?"

"I'ama Lynu had to talk to me about the Graduates Ceremony. She said I should practice more." Aleniha said softly.

"Why would she have to say that?" Her mother questioned, her squinting eyes watching Aleniha closely.

"I will practice more with Balinu this week. We still have time before the ceremony." Aleniha promised.

Nabooru waited for her aunt to begin berating her cousin, but Yurria stood watch over all of them with a determined face, as if to say she would not tolerate this talk any longer. Uglianu gave her a side look and decided to leave the conversation at that.

"Very well. Aleniha, go wash up for meal time." She said quietly, obviously trying to hold back her displeasure. Nabooru looked to her mother, and Yurria nodded in agreement. Not wishing to test their luck, the girls darted off, Nymeria close behind.

"Could it be true that my sister actually thought to take my advice?" Yurria asked with a satisfied grin.

"The matter is not worth harping over. But not all of us have as many daughters as you do, Yurria." Uglianu looked down with bitterness in her eyes. "I have only Alenihu."

Yurria has always been the luckier of the king's daughters. Uglianu was the sixth daughter of King Randorf's first companion and also the youngest. King Randorf had been the king before Ganondorf, and his reign had been considered quite good, only because he had managed to keep his people out of the long civil war that had started in Hyrule among the other races. He would only enter it when it was to his advantage and even then the Gerudos always gained from whatever action they made in the war.

Uglianu's elder sisters had been proud warriors, having long since retired. Uglianu had been the least skilled among her own full sisters and her lacking performance had been increased after the birth of her half sisters, among them having been Yurria. Yurria was the first daughter of the king's second companion. As was tradition among most of the past Gerudo kings, the old king had not taken any wives, only companions', but unlike his predecessors, he had not taken a large number of them. It was said he had only three lovers in his lifetime but only the last, Malladu, still lived. She was a kindly woman, even though she was the only one to not provide the king with children. Nonetheless, her compassion and kind heart made her much loved by her sisters.

Yurria knew Uglianu had had a hard life, and Yurria's mother always insisted that she treat all her sisters with patience and kindness, so it was no wonder Yurria tried her best to put up with Uglianu's bad temper.

"Alenihu looks up to you." Yurria reminded her elder sister. "Here, help me with the flat bread." She asked, holding out a plate of seeds. Uglianu took them with a sullen look on her face.

"Alenihu has been given nothing, just as I was given nothing." Uglianu complained. "It is injustice that they should tell her she cannot be a warrior!"

"Alenihu must find out what her best skills are." Yurria explained "She just seems better suited for a life of a scholar than that of a warrior. Her intelligence might be put to waste if she's pushed in the wrong way."

"And what do you know about any of it?" Uglianu asked as she pressed grains and seeds into the flat bread dough. "What does anyone know about what my daughter can or can't do? I will take this to the king!"

"Uglianu, the king will not care about this issue." Yurria said frankly. "And it's not that serious."

Uglianu's lips darted out in a pout as her eyes narrowed. "It's should be! I am the daughter of a king!"

"So am I, but we must sometimes fend for ourselves. Nothing should come to us by name only." Yurria stated and Uglianu seemed caught. She wanted to continue fighting, but it was on this rare occasion that her elder sister remained silent and backed off from the subject.

"That Nabooru of yours gets more mouthy every day. In a few years she will be almost uncontrollable." Uglianu, when backed into a corner, always tried to get her way out of it by directing the subject onto the failings of others.

"Nabooru is headstrong, like I was as a child." Yurria admitted, smiling. "But she will learn to control it soon enough, so I do not worry."

"You ought to worry. You should not keep her on a short leash!"

"Subia was just as headstrong. So was Lashka." Yurria said, referring to her eldest daughters. "They grew out of it and so will Nabooru."

Uglianu made a low humming sound of disapproval as she tried to place the flat bread in the clay oven. "Where is that Lashka?"

"I sent her to the market." Yurria told her. Lashka was the oldest of Yurria's daughters, a woman of twenty and one. She had been born with a strange defect that had twisted one of her legs. She had to walk with a cane, making her unsuited for fighting. And to make matters worse, she was not bright enough to become a scholar. Because of these setbacks, Lashka had always had a low self esteem. She was also as bitter as her aunt Uglianu, which meant the two women who believed that life owed them so much got along very well in their common misery.

"You should not send her out to do such common work." Uglianu commented.

"Someone had to do it. Besides, she needed the exercise. She hardly ever bothers to leave the house." Yurria explained. "And I was so tired of her and Nymeria fighting."

"So then send Nymeria to fetch it!"

"Nymeria always manages to drop the fruits." Yurria sighed.

"She should learn then." Uglianu added as the gate to the courtyard swung open. A familiar clicking on the stone pathway indicated that Lashka had returned from her duties. "And you should be more compassionate with such an unfortunate child." Uglianu said as she walked out to the courtyard to help her niece.

Lashka leaned on her cane while balancing the small bag of food in her other hand. Her right foot, which had been born twisted and small, swung forward as she walked. Her aunt ran up to her and removed the bag from her hand.

"Auntie!" Lashka said with delight, "I missed you!"

"Poor thing, handling such a burden." Uglianu helped Lashka inside. "Come, let's get you some water." She sat Lashka down on a small couch in the small sitting room across from the kitchen. Yurria watched the entire thing with dismay.

"Uglianu, you don't have to baby her. She's a big girl."

"But Moma, my legs hurt!" Lashka whined.

"Lashka, you just walked to the market. Maybe if you walked more often then your leg wouldn't hurt so much." Yurria scolded her. Lashka made a frown as her aunt handed her a cup of water.

"Yurria, the girl says her legs hurt! Will you continuously work her like a slave?" Uglianu asked.

"I do not work her as a slave, I treat her as an equal. There is nothing wrong with her brain." Yurria told them both. "Now, Lashka, go fetch your sisters. I need them to set the table."

"Moma!" Lashka protested.

"Please, Lashka." Yurria asked one more time. Uglianu did not step in to fight this battle for her, so Lashka was left to go find her younger sisters for meal time.

~*~

"Stay still!" Nabooru told her younger sister as she tried to wipe the dirt from her face.

"Nabooru! My eyes hurt!" Nymeria complained.

"Then stop opening them!" Nabooru commanded. "It would take less time if you stood still!" She said as she scrubbed harder. Nymeria continued to squirm.

"Nabooru?" Aleniha asked while she sat near the well, washing her own hands with hard soap and a rag. "When we were at the king's residence, what was Subia talking to you about?"

"You went to see Subia?" Nymeria asked with great interest.

"Hush!" Nabooru said immediately, her eyes wide. "Aleniha, why did you have to go and say that?" She hissed. Aleniha hung her head low, ashamed she had upset her cousin and making Nabooru feel guilty.

"How did you get into the king's residence?" Nymeria asked. "How come you never take me?"

"Nymeria! Hush!" Nabooru told her again. "And don't go telling Moma or auntie what you heard!" The tone of her voice wiped Nymeria's happy smile from her face, and the young girl went silent. Nabooru threw her a towel. "Dry your face."

"I'm sorry, Nabooru." Aleniha said, almost in tears. "I didn't mean–"

"It's okay, Aleniha." Nabooru sighed. "Nymeria, go eat."

"What? Where are you going?" Nymeria asked.

"Nowhere."

"So then why do I have to go?" Nymeria whined.

"Because, I have to tell Aleniha something."

"It's about Subia, isn't it? About her and the king?" Nymeria said, sitting down on the wall of the well as Nabooru gave her a blank stare.

"How did you know that?" Nabooru asked after a moment of silence.

"I overheard it during my lessons." She said. "The other girls were talking about how the king's favourites and they said Subia was one of them. Nabooru, what does that mean? They giggled a lot about it."

Nabooru began to blush both because her sister knew the secret and because she had asked an embarrassing question she was not well equipped to answer. "Never mind, Nymeria." Nabooru merely said.

"Nabooru!" Her sister continued to pester her. "It's no fair! You're always lying to me! Everyone does!"

"That's because you always act so childish!" Nabooru countered. "And you're always bothering me." She said, shoving her sister lightly.

"Don't push me!" Nymeria said, shoving Nabooru back roughly. Nabooru only laughed.

"Such a child." Nabooru laughed.

"Nabooru, just let her stay. She obviously knows already." Aleniha told her. "Besides, we have to get back."

Nabooru sighed again. "Fine! But I'll be quick." She sat down beside her sister and leaned in closely to Nymeria and Aleniha. "Okay, when I was doing my training one day, I overheard some of the older girls talking about Subia. I don't think they knew I was her sister. Anyway, they started talking about Subia and the king, saying how she spends all this time with him in his private chambers and how they were..." Nabooru made sure to say the next word very softly, "Lovers. And when I asked Subia about it, she said it was true, but that she and the king aren't that close anymore, or something like that."

"What does that mean, Nabooru?" Nymeria asked much too loudly for Nabooru's liking.

"Quiet!" Nabooru said, cuffing her sister's head. "I told you to keep quiet about it!"

"Does this mean that Subia is the king's companion, like our grandmothers were to grandfather?" Aleniha asked innocently.

"No, of course not!" Nabooru said. "If they were there would be a proper ceremony." She told them, aware that when a king took an official companion, a ceremony was performed before the tribe. Subia had had no such ceremony yet.

"So, what is she doing with the king, Nabooru? Why is this so important?" Nymeria was still confused.

"Because..." Nabooru said, pausing. "Because the king is important and now she's really close with him, or at least she was."

"Does Moma even know?" Nymeria asked, which made Nabooru think for a moment. She wondered if perhaps her mother already had heard the rumours. She had just assumed her mother had not because she hadn't spoken about it. But would her mother speak about it if she knew, and would she bother to tell either Nabooru or Nymeria?

"She might know already." Nabooru admitted. "But that doesn't mean you have to go blabbing about it to her!"

"Why not?"

"Do you want Moma to know you go gossiping about each other?"

"But it doesn't matter anymore, does it , Nabooru?" Aleniha asked. "I mean, Subia said it was over, whatever relationship she had with the king in...that way." She added, blushing.

"What relationship?" Asked a voice from the doorway of the house. Nabooru, Aleniha, and Nymeria turned to see Lashka standing there, leaning on her cane. Her shallow eyes narrowed and fell on Nabooru. "What are you talking about?"

"What? Nothing." Nabooru said quickly.

"It's obviously something." Lashka said as she made her way over to the well. She removed her gaze from Nabooru and placed it on Nymeria. "What were you two talking about?" She asked her youngest sister.

"Nabooru told you already! Nothing!" Nymeria said angrily.

"Fine!" Lashka turned on Aleniha. "You'll tell me, won't you, Aleniha?" Lashka stood over her menacingly, starring the girl down. Aleniha rung her hands nervously. "Won't you?" Lashka asked again.

Aleniha looked nervously around at both Nabooru and Nymeria. They both returned her glance with wide eyes and sealed lips that insisted she remain silent.

"It's really nothing, Lashka." Aleniha insisted.

"Oh, really? You were talking about Subia, I heard." Lashka's grin grew devious. "I'm telling Moma and Auntie you were all speaking badly of Subia and spreading rumours about your own kin."

"Oh, yeah!" Nabooru stood up quickly. "If you think you're so mature how come you're threatening to tell Moma like you're some baby!" She asked boldly. Meanwhile, Aleniha's panic grew.

"Please don't tell my Moma, Lashka!" Aleniha pleaded with worry. "I wasn't saying anything bad about her."

"Ah, but you were saying something, weren't you?" Lashka asked as Nabooru gave Aleniha a frown. "I'm telling Auntie."

"Lashka!" Nabooru yelled, but her sister would not listen. She turned and walked back into the house as fast as her cane would allow her.

"I hate her!" Nymeria protested. "I'm going to put a beetle in her hair tonight!" She said to Aleniha as they watched Nabooru run after Lashka.

Lashka could not move nearly as fast as Nabooru, so her younger sister caught up with her quickly. "Wait, stop, what are you gonna do, Lashka?" Nabooru asked her quickly.

"Aleniha should learn not to fib." She said. "I'm going to teach her a lesson."

"Why are you always like this? You're so mean, Lashka!" Nabooru told her, standing between her sister and the doorway to the sitting room. "I won't let you hurt Aleniha like this."

"Get out of my way, Nabooru!" Lashka commanded.

"No!" Nabooru yelled back.

By now, Alenihu and Nymeria had caught up to them and the shouting had also attracted Yurria and Uglianu. The came upon Lashka and Nabooru shoving one another into the jamb of the doorway.

"Nabooru! What are you doing?" Her mother yelled as she tried to break the two apart.

"Are you crazy, child?!" Uglianu asked Nabooru as she grabbed her by the shoulder tightly.

"It's Lashka!" Nabooru growled as she shoved Lashka hard. Her sister's cane fell from her hands and she lost her footing. No one could move fast enough to stop Lashka's fall to the ground.

"Nabooru!!!" Her mother yelled. "That's enough!" The sound of her mother's harsh voice stopped Nabooru immediately. For a moment she watched as her elder sister lay helpless on the floor, attempting to sit up. Yurria and Uglianu attempted to help her. Nabooru looked to Aleniha, who appeared to be too shocked or scared to speak, while Nymeria seemed to be holding back nervous giggles. She knew what was coming, but she wasn't willing to wait around for it. Without another word, Nabooru took off.

~*~

The peace of the desert made Nabooru forget the strife in her home life at the moment. The winds were calming again and the heat of the day was turning into a cool evening. As the sun disappeared over the far sand mountains the sky turned to a red flame that appeared set entire horizon on fire. Riding on Fuhluno, Nabooru ran the path she had since she was but a small girl. Here, she was truly free.

But the problem at home was inescapable and she knew she would have to face it eventually. She just hoped that enough time away would calm the problems enough for her to be able to deal with them. It was just more stress for her to deal with, as if the Graduates Ceremony wasn't enough.

And then she thought of Subia and the king...King Ganondorf...how she disliked the man. Nabooru remembered the year before at the previous Graduates Ceremony. She had not been allowed to participate, but she was allowed to be a spectator. It had been fun for Nabooru to spend time with her sisters and her friends, but there had also been Ganondorf, watch over them all. There was one time, Nabooru had been watching a close match, and she glanced over at the king and caught his eyes. It had been his eyes that had struck her, for they had been so cold and empty that she had thought for a moment that she was mistaken. When she had mentioned it to her friends later on, they had just said she was being strange. They had all found Ganondorf a strong and attractive leader, so that Nabooru came to question her own feelings. Yet the feeling of unease remained, even now, and the news of Subia and the king unnerved her further.

Nabooru brought Fuhluno to a stop on a high ridge, stopping to admire the landscape. From here she could look down on the entire fortress city and onwards to the line of mountains that divided the desert from the fertile lands of Hyrule. Then she spotted a cloud of dust emerging from the town heading her way.

"Nabooru!" She heard her voice being called from across the sand. She finally saw the black dot of Nymeria on her own horse, Klalhan. "Nabooru!"

What's she doing out here...?' Nabooru thought to herself. "Nymeria, you should not be out here alone!" She called out.

"Neither should you." Her sister replied, approaching her slowly. She brought Klalhan to stop beside Fuhluno. "I got worried when you ran off."

"I know." Nabooru said. "I just had to get away."

"Moma is angry, but I think she's more worried now." Nymeria told her. "Lashka tried to tell them about us and Subia, but Moma wouldn't listen to any of it. But Auntie was cross."

"Auntie's always cross." Nabooru said with quiet anger.

"Nabooru, come home." Nymeria asked sadly. "Aleniha is crying. She thinks this is all her fault."

"She knows it's not."

"You know how she is. Aleniha is always thinking that way." Nymeria said, absently playing with Klalhan's dark mane.

"I wish..." Nabooru sighed, "I wish I was more powerful."

"What do you mean?"

"Nymeria, don't you ever get sick of having everyone push you around? All the adults, they always tell me what to do." Nabooru complained. "I could take care of myself! I'm a warrior! I've been using the sword since I was four. I could take a full grown Hylian man! Doesn't that mean anything to them?"

"Nabooru, let's go home and play." Nymeria said. "I got a new doll from Landushu."

Nabooru looked at her sister, who had such simple wishes. "Why would Landushu give you a doll?" She asked.

"I made a bet with her and won."

"You weren't watching the gladiator fights in the border towns again, were you?" Nabooru asked. Nymeria didn't respond. "I hope Moma doesn't catch you. If she finds out you're running off to the border towns–"

"She won't." Nymeria said with confidence. "Besides, I'd be more worried about Auntie finding out."

Nabooru could only laugh and agree with that. "Auntie would certainly throw a fit!" She took a deep breath and decided it was time to return home.

As the stars began to appear in the darkening sky, Nymeria turned to her sister and asked, "Nabooru? Are you nervous about the Graduates Ceremony?"

"I don't know. Not too much, I guess." She said. "Why?"

"Just wondering." A long pause was followed by Nymeria adding, "I just think you'll be chosen as a King's Guard. I can feel it."

Confused at her sister's confidence, Nabooru had to ask, "Why do you say that?"

"I dunno. You're just really good. I've always known you'd be great. You have a strong spirit, Nabooru."

Nabooru thought for a moment on what Nymeria had just said and wondered if she felt the same way about herself. Did she truly have a strong spirit? It didn't feel that way at all to her, especially when she had been forced to run away from her problems and into the desert instead of being able to confront them.

"You should go see Aleniha, Nabooru." Nymeria said as she quietly tried to search for her house.

"I guess." Nabooru admitted reluctantly. She now seemed more concerned with Aleniha's well-being than with her own. "Come on, let's get going before they close the gates to the fortress." She reluctantly urged Fuhluno onwards as Nymeria on Khalhan followed and the two sisters made their way home, the setting sun slowly disappearing from their backs.

~*~

Quietly, the sisters took their horses into the small hut and tethered them for the evening, giving them both a quick brushing and some food. From there, they slowly crept into their own house, taking a different route than the traditional front door. Using a rear wall, Nabooru and Nymeria climbed the rough stone wall to their own bedroom that they shared with Aleniha. Just as quietly, Nabooru lifted herself in through the tiny window and lifted Nymeria in after her.

"Where is she?" Nymeria asked Nabooru, referring to the whereabouts of Aleniha.

"I don't know. I'm going to go find her." Nabooru whispered back. "Just get to bed. I don't want you to get in trouble too."

Nymeria did not fight this time. She agreed and began to get herself ready for sleep as Nabooru left the room to find Aleniha.

Their bedrooms were in the upstairs portion of the dwelling, with the living quarters below. She dared not check the two other bedrooms, which belonged to Lashka, her aunt, and her mother. Instead, she decided to look downstairs. The sitting room was dark and silent, so Nabooru moved onto the kitchen. Finding nothing, she decided she would just have to find Aleniha tomorrow and speak with her. She made her way back to the wooden staircase to return to her room when something caught the bottom of her vest. It spooked her for a moment, until she realized it had caught on a piece of rough wood. Slowly detaching it, she turned towards the staircase. Until she got yanked back by her collar.

"So!" She was spun around by a strong hand so that she now faced the darkened face of her aunt Uglianu. The woman shook her ruthlessly as she started to scold her. "Finally returned, have you? Too bad the desert didn't swallow you!"

"Ow! Leggo!" Nabooru squirmed, trying to break free. "You're holding too tight!"

"You'll hear my warning first!" Uglianu grabbed Nabooru's skinny arms and pinned them to her sides. Pulling her niece close to her face, she stared down on the girl. She was so close that Nabooru could smell Uglianu's sour breath. "You've always been a trouble maker and you always will be, but remember this: Your mother won't always be around to protect you. One day, you'll be alone, just like some of us in this world, and then no one will be here to coddle you."

Nabooru wrinkled her nose, giving her aunt a cool stare.

"You'll be alone, Nabooru." Her aunt continued. "And you'll find out that the world isn't always so ready to treat you like a princess. If there is any justice in this world, you will one day know the loneliness and cold that I have known all my life." Nabooru noticed that her aunt's mouth twisted into a cruel smile as she said the last sentence, and it scared her. "Now, go. Your punishment will come soon enough."

As Uglianu released her, Nabooru almost fell backwards. But the small handrail on the wooden staircase caught her. Quickly, Nabooru scampered up the stairs and to the sanctity of her own bedroom. Without bothering to change she crawled under the thick blankets of the bunk below her sister's.

"Nabooru?" She heard Nymeria whisper. "Nabooru? Was that Auntie?"

"Go to bed, Nymeria." Nabooru said slowly with a quiver in her voice. To that, Nymeria said nothing, doing as she had been told.

As she began to feel tears in her eyes, Nabooru was unsure of which made her more upset: Her aunt's words, or the fact that she allowed herself to be so upset by them.