Ganondorf fell to the ground, clutching the wound in his chest as blood ran freely down his shirt and armor. Link stepped back so that he couldn't grab him, watching as the once-king finally sank to the dirt and dead grass on his stomach. Link waited a little longer until he could no longer hear Ganondorf's rattling breaths, only the whistling wind through the trees' empty branches. When he was sure he could walk away, he immediately ran to the wrecked carriage. Zelda lay motionless in a pile of glass pieces, and his boots crunched as they broke under foot. He hesitated over her, waiting. Surely the spell of the glass coffin would be broken? After a long thirty seconds, she gasped sharply and started coughing, turning to one side and curling in on herself to brace for a fit.
"Zelda!" he cried out, relieved to see the color rushing into her pallid face. She coughed as she turned to look at him in surprise, tears welling up in her eyes from the exertion of it all. Finally, the fit subsided, and she started to sit up, moving to put her hands down in a pile of glass.
"Stop, stop. There's glass everywhere," he urged her. He glanced down at her bare feet, then crouched, reaching out with his hands to help her up. She stood slowly, mindful of the sharp little shards under her feet. But there was a minefield of it around them from when the coffin exploded, so instead, Link turned, half-crouching and encouraging Zelda to climb on.
"It's safer," he assured her, as she wrapped her legs around his waist, and her arms around his neck. When she was ready, he straightened, and carried her until he was certain they were far enough away from the glass. He set her down again, and they turned to look at the castle in the distance.
"I suppose I should be getting back," Zelda said softly. She ran her fingers through her limp hair, but it refused to stay put as the wind picked up, turning cold. Thunder rumbled in the sky. She paused and turned to Link, smiling. "Thank you… again. You've done so much for Hyrule…"
The storm they'd been waiting for all summer finally broke into a warm rain, as they walked back towards the castle.
/
I AM SO SICK OF THIS, Din boomed. She slammed her fist down on the edge of the observing pool, sending a crack of thunder through Hyrule's skies.
Nayru and Farore looked at her in surprise. Farore raised her eyebrows, and Nayru put one hand out to stop Din in her rage.
WHAT IS IT, SISTER? Nayru asked.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS, Din replied peevishly. EVERY TIME. EVERY TIME MY SON GOES MAD, AND HIS LIFE MUST BE CUT SHORT.
YOU KNOW AS WELL AS WE DO; THIS IS HIS FATE, Farore interjected. MY SON SEEKS COURAGE THROUGH HIS DEEDS. NAYRU'S DAUGHTER SEEKS WISDOM THROUGH STUDY, AND PRACTICING HER METHODS OF MAINTAINING A KINGDOM. THIS IS HOW THEY FEED EACH OTHER, TO IMPROVE.
YOU CAN TALK SO EASILY; YOUR CHILDREN DO NOT SEEK TO SLAUGHTER MILLIONS TO FEED THEIR OWN AGENDA, THEIR OWN NEEDS. Din summoned Ganondorf's face in the air and touched one cheek sympathetically.
NO, BUT THEY NEED EACH OTHER TO THRIVE, REGARDLESS.
I WANT A TRADE.
Her sisters looked at Din in surprise.
A TRADE? Farore asked, raising her eyebrows.
YES. PERHAPS I TAKE LINK; GRANT HIM THE TRIFORCE OF POWER. WE WILL SEE HOW YOU FEEL, FARORE, WHEN YOU SEE YOUR SON BLEEDING OUT ON THE GROUND.
Farore narrowed her eyes now, and folded her arms. I HAVE WATCHED LINK DIE MANY TIMES, AS MANY AS YOU HAVE WATCHED YOUR SON, she replied.
BUT WHAT IS A NATURAL DEATH COMPARED TO BEING SLAIN OVER A DESIRE YOU NEVER UNDERSTOOD?
Farore looked into the pool, where Link was holding his shield over Zelda's head, to keep her dry from the storm. DO NOT ACT AS IF HE HAS NEVER HAD DESIRES HE CANNOT ACT ON, she muttered.
Nayru sighed and ran her fingers over the water of the pool; the storm lessened some. WHY NOT?
WHAT?
WHAT?
Nayru shrugged her shoulders. WE SHOULD TRY IT. IT IS ONLY FAIR. IF DIN FEELS THAT SHE IS BEING DISADVANTAGED BECAUSE OF THE CORRUPTING FORCE OF POWER, THEN… SHOULDN'T WE…?
Farore shook her head. IF WE ARE AGREED… BUT WHO WILL TAKE WHO?
/
Ganondorf clutched at the blade in his chest; Link ripped it free, leaving gashes on his open palm. Ganondorf roared in anguish, slumping to his knees.
"You were too bold for your own good," Zelda muttered angrily, pulling her own sword free. "Would have been better for you, should you have lived as a coward."
Link stepped back and bowed his head as Zelda raised her blade, bringing it down to behead Ganondorf. He cried out, but only for a second as his voice and life were cut down. It was disturbing to see a headless torso on its knees, so Zelda raised one boot and pushed the body over, blood spattering over the cracked earth. Simultaneously, Link and Zelda put the fingers of their left hands to both shoulders, then to their forehead, and then kissed the back of their hands.
"You were wise to see him for what he really was," Zelda said quietly, looking to Link. "Thank you."
"You were the only one who had the strength to help," he replied.
They looked again at Ganondorf, then, silently, they both headed towards the castle.
/
THERE. SATISFIED?
NO.
WELL, WHY NOT?
IT WAS ONLY ONE TIME. TEST IT AGAIN.
/
Ganon roared in defeat when Zelda's arrows pierced his chest and head. She'd used almost the whole quiver, and finally she'd brought him down long enough for Link to raise the Master Sword against him. He brought the point down upon the red crystal in Ganon's skull, and it shattered. The massive boar-monster screamed in rage and defeat. Link struck again at the place where the crystal had been, and this time the Master Sword sank deep into Ganon's head. Zelda lowered her bow, her hair tangled around her face, and a cut on her lower lip finally starting to clot.
Link slowly removed the sword and cleaned it on Ganon's cape before sheathing it.
"Are you alright?" Zelda asked, gesturing towards the gash on Link's shoulder, from Ganon's claws. Link nodded. Zelda looked around the valley, then back to him. "I need to return. I have to summon the guards; send them to Gerudo, to ensure order among the thieves. They won't take kindly to their leader being put down, even if he was manipulating them."
"Do you want my assistance?" he asked suddenly. "I can lead them there, direct them."
Zelda nodded. "I will appoint you as a consulting knight."
"Don't I have to be knighted for that?" he asked pointedly.
She smiled a little and gestured at him, and Link sank to one knee, putting his left hand to his chest.
/
I LIKE HIM, Din said with a grin.
WELL OF COURSE YOU DO. HE HAS YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR NOW.
YOU'RE BITTER BECAUSE YOU'VE LOST.
TECHNICALLY; YOU LOST. YOUR SON STILL WENT MAD AND THREATENED ALL OF HYRULE. HE WAS JUST BOLD ENOUGH TO DO IT.
HOW ARE WE EVEN DETERMINING WINNING AND LOSING IN THIS, AGAIN? But Nayru's question went ignored.
Din was pouting, staring into the pool at the three figures.
YOU KNOW WHAT IT IS… she started.
WHAT?
THEY'RE STILL BEING RAISED IN THE SAME ENVIRONMENT. LINK IS STILL STARTING OFF AS A FOREST CHILD, BUT HE HAS THE POWER OR WISDOM TO BETTER HIMSELF. ZELDA IS STILL STARTING AS A PRINCESS, SO SHE IS USED TO POWER, AND IT ALREADY TAKES COURAGE TO RULE ALONE. GANONDORF IS BORN TO THE GERUDO, IN A FAIRLY DESOLATE AND SQUANDERED SCRAP OF LAND; OF COURSE HE IS GOING TO CHASE POWER, OR USE WISDOM, OR BE BOLD ENOUGH TO DO BETTER.
Farore and Nayru stared at her. WHAT ARE YOU PROPOSING?
WE NEED TO START THEM OFF IN DIFFERENT BEGINNINGS. LINK CAN BE BORN THE PRINCE OF HYRULE. ZELDA CAN RULE THE GERUDO, WHICH FRANKLY, WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE. AND MY SON CAN BUILD HIMSELF UP FROM NOTHING. PERHAPS THEN HE WOULDN'T GO MAD.
BUT WOULDN'T IT SIMPLY FEED HIS CRAVING FOR POWER? HE WOULD CONSTANTLY BE CHASING THE NEXT HIGHER POSITION.
They looked at each other for a few minutes, considering.
VERY WELL, THEN, said Farore, nodding. I THINK WE KNOW WHAT WE MUST DO.
/
Zelda woke up, and stared at the ceiling of her room. She felt a little bubble of nerves and anticipation, and it took her a few minutes to understand why; she and her father were to travel into town today, for her wedding dress. Originally he had planned to have her wear her mother's own, but they discovered forlornly that moths and age had rendered it unwearable. So, he cobbled together some money by doing odd jobs for the other villagers (and some had donated purely out of neighborly affection for them), and they were to travel to the castle market to find her dress.
Zelda could only remember going to the market as a child; her father clung to her hand fiercely as he tried to sell the last of the year's vegetables that would go uneaten otherwise (far too many for the two of them, and neighbors were sick of turnips). Even then she had been somewhat scared and overwhelmed with the vendors, the shoppers, the arguing and the crying of babies not much younger than herself, the stink of shit underlying the delicious smells of seared duck and fresh fruit and flowers. She couldn't remember seeing anyone selling dresses; just bolts of cloth, but it had probably grown. In the worst case, she could enlist help from the fellow women of the village to help her make a gown; she was miserable at sewing.
Her father was up not much longer, and already she'd stirred the coals and added a little wood, building a small fire to warm some biscuits and cold bacon while he went to feed the horses. She fed the chickens while breakfast cooked, and dressed in her favorite green dress over a billowy underdress with long sleeves. They ate, and Zelda tacked the horses while her father stopped at the neighbors to ask them to keep an eye on the house. In the still moments while she waited, she could swear that they would never get going, that something would constantly delay them, and then she would go to wipe down their few dishes or comb her hair, and suddenly every moment was slipping by.
Soon enough, they were on horseback and riding towards town. Her father also had some small bundles packed onto the back of his horse; things he was hoping to sell off in town. Some of those things had been her mother's; she knew, because he had asked her specifically what she had wanted to keep. The rest would go towards her dowry, as would the very horse she was riding.
They waved to the few people they passed, some in the wheat fields that surrounded the village. She looked around actively as they headed beyond the land she was familiar with, trying to see everything at once.
"We'll be coming back through, you'll get a second chance to find everything you missed," her father called to her with a laugh. She nudged her horse to speed up a little.
"Maybe I should've sent you along with one of the women… isn't it bad luck to see a woman in her wedding dress early?"
Zelda shook her head. "Only if it's the groom, I think."
"I have a list of dress shops in the town; we will look as long as we need."
She nodded, but she knew she would take a dress that fit their budget first, regardless of what she wanted. The dress hardly mattered; it was only going to be worn for a few hours, after all!
/
They got to the town after noon, and Zelda forgot her thirst when she saw the sheer number of people. Well, of course there would be plenty of them; it was one of the few major markets available in the country. They corralled their horses, having to pay a fee for the space, and Zelda kept a few paces behind her father as they merged into the throng. The smells from her lost childhood memory came back to her, and she knew with certainty that nothing had changed. Maybe people had aged a bit, and new vendors had come round, but beyond that all was the same.
She loitered often behind her father, and from time to time he would turn to her, impatient, and tug her away from the stalls or the entertainers trying to earn a little extra. Again and again he checked the neatly written list of dress shops that one of the village women had written for them; she attended the market every fall to sell homemade quilts and dolls. They drug themselves into every store on the list that was still open.
There were a few dresses that Zelda claimed to enjoy, but her father had known her for too long to believe her false enthusiasm.
"What's the point, after all?" she asked him finally, when her hunger and frustration was at a fine edge. "It's for one day!"
"But it is a girl's most important day," he stressed. "And I want Alejandro to know how much I value you as my child, by getting you the best dress. The one you want."
She muttered angrily to herself. "Fine then," she said with a huff. "Let us head back to the main street."
It was getting near dusk, and she knew they would have to leave soon. Not only were the stalls and shops closing, but a dress and then a stay in a tavern, and the overnight stay for the horses would bankrupt them beyond acceptable levels. But surely her father would come to reason once he saw the price of the dresses in the higher end shops.
In the second shop (the first had already closed for the night), she found a gown that took her by surprise. It was a deep red, with tiny glass pearls and beads sewn in careful, looping patterns along the hem, long close-fitting sleeves, and a low neckline that highlighted her long neck. She stared at it for a long time on one of the dressmaker dummies, until an attendant finally coerced her to try it on. When she had wrestled with the fabric and had the dress buttoned in the back, she went to the mirror and stopped, staring. Even with her simple, country hairstyle and her unmade face…
Tears sprang to her eyes, and she looked at her father, who was also swallowing around a lump in his throat. But she had seen the price tag, and they would have to sell a horse to get it.
"It's alright," she shrugged.
"Oh, don't," her father retorted, shaking his head. "I know it's what you want."
"Maybe we can make something similar. Theona is good with a needle, I know. We can just get some fabric instead. I mean really, it's not that complicated." She craned her head over her shoulder to look at the back, and found the tidy way the seams of the back opened up into huge pleats to form the train of the dress. Maybe it would be a little complicated.
Someone else walked into the shop, then; she looked in curiosity to see a Gerudo woman. She knew them on sight from having seen a few come to their village, to trade or buy (sometimes trinkets, sometimes a husband). She knew her own betrothed had been offered a sum from them a few times. Zelda went back to looking over her dress, finding minor flaws (a loose bead here, a stressed seam there) to put off its purchase.
The door opened again, and with it came boisterous laughter, both masculine and feminine. She looked up again, and found herself facing down the Desert King.
/
Sila's favorite skirt had gotten a rip in it when an overexcited terrier mistook the bangles around her waist for a toy, and lunged at her to claim it. Though her king was laughing over the mistake, she was furious; the proprietor and she had it out for damages (the dog received barely a touch from her open palm!) and finally guards had to come around and hustle her along. Never mind the smelly ghostly crowds of people who were stopping to gawk at her king; he almost never came to the town. He rarely followed his thieves around at all, but the ruler of Hyrule had been making honest efforts to reach out to the Gerudo, and he wanted to make a show of peace between the two by casually wandering through the markets.
Plus, he had not been 'hand-buying' in so long, he'd been teased about going rusty. So far he'd picked up a few new necklaces, some bracelets, and at least three pairs of earrings (the last were harder to get; sellers had gotten wind of his arrival and began to put away their smaller items). But Sila had kicked up quite a fuss over the damn dog, and if spending a few rupees on a new gown for her would shut her up, then he would do so.
He looked around the large store at the assortment of dresses and skirts with a sad frown. Hylian women were so prudish; even showing a wrist was obscene. All the dresses had high collars and long sleeves. The skirts were ankle length, the lot of them, and so many of them designed to fit over petticoats and hoop skirts and enough layers to make a man tired before he got to anything interesting. While Sila haggled with the shop owner over clothes, he wandered through the racks, pausing to look at the dresses in cooler hues, particularly those in blues and greens. They were rare colors, especially in the desert.
"I think I'm ready to go; we can come back tomorrow and find some fabric. I can probably describe the dress pretty well to Theona, an' I bet hers would be even better."
He turned his head, curious about this country accent and its charm. As he looked, Zelda glanced up. Their eyes locked, and though she looked away first, he got the distinct sense that it was not out of defeat. He had been judged, and found… unacceptable? Dismissable? Yes, that was it. That surprised him, and he turned, walking directly towards the woman in red.
"My lady," he said, reaching for her hand. Zelda hesitated, surprised, but she lifted her fingers. He kissed the knuckles and stepped back, bowing low to her father. "And good sir. I am pleased to make your acquaintance. I am Link, King of the Gerudo."
Her father bowed as well, and Zelda offered a quick, ill-practiced curtsy.
"Pleased to meet you, sir," she said in a rush. She'd won the argument with her father, and if she spent any longer staring at the dress she might let him talk her into buying it outright.
"It is an honor for us both, Your Majesty," Zelda's father spoke up.
"Do you come to town often?" he asked.
"No, Your Grace." Zelda did not elaborate, but her father did.
"She is to be wed within a few months. We came to select a dress for the occasion."
"A pity, to be sure," Link said with a little smile. "I was hoping that I could be the one to introduce such a notion to her."
"But don't you have enough wives?" Zelda countered easily.
Her father laughed weakly, though he stared at his daughter for her impertinence. Link laughed as well.
"Come on now, not even I could marry them all if I wanted to. No, no, my lady; they are none of them my wives. And if you were, I would not need another."
"Well I beg your forgiveness, but the deal is all but said and done," Zelda replied curtly. She turned to look for an attendant to be helped out of the gown.
"Please, my lady. I did not mean to offend you." His voice turned low and soft. "Here I have barely known you a few minutes, and I know you will make that man very happy with your beauty alone. Forgive my rudeness." He reached for her hand again, but Zelda did not offer, and soon he let his own hand drop. "May I ask your name?"
She lifted her chin slightly. "Zelda Harkinian."
He nodded. "And who is the lucky man?"
She shook her head. "His name, I will not give."
Link smiled. "Fair enough. Is that the dress, do you think?"
Zelda looked down at her outfit again. "Oh, no. I don't. It's…"
Link turned his head when he heard Sila calling from the other end of the room. She'd finally picked out a skirt, in an eye-tearing shade of coral, and had talked the seamstress in the back into slitting it up both sides almost to the hip. Link turned back to Zelda and her father.
"Perhaps then, I will meet you again?" He bowed to them, Zelda again curtsying and her father returning the gesture. Then, Link turned and headed to settle their bill.
"Are you sure, dear?" her father asked her one more time.
"Yes. It's fine with me."
She called upon an attendant, finally free of Sila's demands, and she was taken to the changing rooms to fit back into her clothes. While she was there, she heard the door open and close, and it grew quiet as the Gerudos were finally gone.
Soon, she was changed, and she and her father headed towards the door.
"Wait! Miss… we need your measurements."
Zelda halted. "Whatever for?"
"For the alterations. For your dress."
"Oh, I was going to shop around…"
"His Majesty of Gerudo said you had chosen that one. The Ruby Divina. Is that not so?" The attendants looked at her with some confusion and worry.
"Well… no. I mean, I'm still shopping…"
"Ah, he must have been mistaken; he was sure that was the one you wanted."
"Look, why does it matter what he says, anyway? It's my dress, none of his business."
"Well, he said he was paying for it as a wedding gift; that's why he told us to make sure you were fitted for it before he left…"
Zelda raised her eyebrows in surprise, and looked at her father, who shrugged and said, simply, "It is a kind gesture, dear. I would take it."
So, reluctantly, she allowed herself to be measured. Her father made arrangements for the dress to be sent to them once the alterations were completed.
"Why do you think he wanted to pay for it?" Zelda asked as they left the shop.
"Perhaps he is simply a generous person, and wanted to wish you well in this way. I can add the money to your dowry, in any case."
"Why don't you hold onto it? You might need it," she replied. "I am sure that we won't need much for the dowry."
He sighed and looked at her, the two of them paused in the walkway near the street. Enough people had gone for the day that there was breathing room in the town, and the crowds left flowed around them, as opposed to pushing them along.
"You are getting so old, now," her father said with a sad smile. "Alej will be a good husband to you. I knew that from the first day I saw you playing together as children."
Zelda hugged her father, closing her eyes against the tears. "Thank you, dad," she said in his ear.
They finally separated, and he patted her cheek. "Come on; we can at least spare money to eat."
/
They were getting their horses after a quick meal, and Zelda turned to look at a brightly lit tavern, loud with noise and talking. She thought she recognized some of the voices, and she stepped towards the building.
"Zelda?" her father called after her.
"I'll be a minute," she replied. She stepped into the tavern, looking around.
The fire was roaring, and the little building was packed, with clusters of bottles and steins on every table. Peanut shells were ground into the hard wood floor, and there was sticky spots where beer and wine had spilled. But above all the din of shouting waiters and arguing chefs was a group of drunk old men, their table adjacent to a massive table where the Desert King and his entourage sat, singing drinking songs. The king was the only one not singing along, but he was keeping time by rapping his knuckles on the table, and he had a little grin of amusement on his face all the while.
"Sit down or move," a waitress snapped from behind Zelda, and so she stepped further inside, making her way carefully over to the Gerudo table. Some of the girls looked up when she got close, and they scooted out of the way, so that she soon stood on the opposite side of the table from him.
"Your Majesty?" she called, lifting her chin.
He started and looked around, gazing at her as if she was there to take his dinner order. When he recognized her, his eyes focused and he broke into a warm smile.
"The Lady Harkinian!" he cried, and she was flattered he'd bothered to remember her name. "Please tell me your betrothed has run off to marry another. I can send Veru after him, if you'd like."
Zelda glanced briefly at the woman he indicated, and she laughed and gave Zelda a little wave, then went back to clapping her hands in time.
"No, nothing like that. I wanted to thank you for your generosity."
"You're most welcome. Consider it a wedding gift, if you must."
"Oh, you were the girl at the dress shop!" cried Sila, who sat to Link's left. She'd been nursing some sort of bright orange drink, and had ignored Zelda until she noticed her king talking to her. "It looked really good on you!"
"Ah, thank you."
"Do you know what jewelry you'll wear?" Sila leaned back, scratching at one ear. She was still wearing the skirt they'd purchased, and Zelda was surprised that she had bare feet, studded with toe rings and ankle bracelets loaded with bells.
"Oh, yeah, I have some things of my mother's. Something old, something new, and all that."
Link got up from the table, scooting around to go to her, and he led her outside to where it was quieter.
"Your Majesty, if I may ask; why did you buy it for me?"
"Like I said, think of it as a gift. I knew you were going to want that dress. If you want, I can even procure jewelry to match; has he a ring for you yet?"
Zelda frowned and pulled away. "Sir. While I appreciate your initial gift, you don't have to do all this."
"But I want to."
"Well, I don't. Another man shouldn't be buying my wedding ring. Despite what you may see when you look at us, my family and my betrothed's family works very hard to earn every rupee, and we do well. Whatever you are trying to do, I won't accept."
Link looked rather embarrassed, and he took Zelda's hand in his. "Please, my lady. Don't be so upset with me. I meant it simply out of good will. Honest."
Zelda looked at him, trying to determine if he was honest, and she finally squeezed Link's hand briefly. "Well. Thank you, all the same."
They stepped back from each other, and at the last second she tugged at his hand. "Would you like to come? To the wedding? You can bring one of your… women."
Link gave her that true, warm smile again. "I would be honored. Please, send me an invitation, so I don't forget."
"I will."
He kissed her hand, and Zelda stepped away, letting go of him and heading to her father and the horses. Link watched her for a minute, and turned to head inside. He went back to his seat, the ladies still leading the place in drinking songs, and Sila put a hand on his shoulder, leaning in to talk in his ear with some privacy.
"Well, did she take your offer?"
"Oh Sila," he answered, shaking his head. "She's not that kind of woman. I can tell."
She shrugged. "Every woman is that kind; they just need a high enough offer."
"Well I didn't make her such a offer, I never got to. And I think you'd find she's more bold than you'd expect." He finished his beer and put some coins down. "I'm going to go lay down. Don't stay up too late."
"Want me to join you?" she asked as he stood up.
"No, not right now." Link gave a little wave to the table, and headed up to the rented rooms in the tavern's second floor.
/
A few weeks later, Zelda's dress was delivered. Her father and the parcellier both urged her to try it on immediately, in case the fit was imperfect. Her father called over one of the other women, Milla, to help button it up. Milla was older, and well ensconced in her farming life. Babies and weddings were her top two subjects of expertise, and she had become a frequent visitor to their house to direct Zelda; when to order items, how many she would need, things of that sort. She finished buttoning the dress and had Zelda do a little twirl, and she gasped in surprise and delight.
"But what a gorgeous dress! Wherever did you find it?"
"Oh, we got it at one of the shops in town."
"Not one of the shops old Marji sent you to?"
"No, a different one."
"My, but what a dress," Milla murmured. "Alej won't know what to do with himself when he sees you."
Zelda smiled, and turned towards Milla. "We should hang it up; I don't need it getting dusty and stained."
Milla helped her out, and Zelda put the dress away carefully in her bedroom. When she went back outside for fresh air, she was delighted to see her betrothed coming up the walk. Alejandro had deeply tanned skin and dark eyes, his normally brown hair was a lighter shade from all his time in the sun, and a farming life had given him a broad chest and shoulders. They embraced briefly, and Zelda invited him in for a cool drink.
Alejandro sipped at his lemonade as they sat at the kitchen table. Zelda also had a glass, and she took her time over it. She smiled at Alejandro whenever they made eye contact, and he returned it at the same time.
"Only a few months left," he said finally.
"Yes. Are you excited?" she asked, suddenly giddy.
He laughed. "Of course I am. Marrying you will be the greatest thing I could do. Until we have children." But he winked, and she laughed as well. When he finished his lemonade, Alejandro turned to her and pulled her close. They kissed deeply, longingly. Since he proposed, they'd been pushing their boundaries physically, trying to see what they could get away with before they were interrupted.
Zelda smiled as they kissed, her hands on his shoulders, his own sweeping some of her hair back from their faces. Her father had left early this morning to help with the harvest at the south end of the village, and he was vague on his return, but she was willing to bet it wouldn't be for a while longer. Slowly, she made her way over until she was in his lap, and there they remained. Eventually though, they stopped to cool off, and she climbed off him, to pour more drinks for them both.
"Come on," he asked softly, tugging at her wrist and looking towards her room.
"Not today," she replied. "But soon."
They moved to the porch soon after, stretching their feet out into the sunny yard. Zelda was content, and calm. She would need to clean the house soon, and maybe start something for dinner, but at the moment she wanted to be right where she was.
And for no reason at all, she thought of the Desert King.
In the next second, words were coming from her mouth. "I invited the king of the Gerudos."
Alejandro frowned and looked at her as if she'd just told him her skin was purple. "What?"
Zelda cleared her throat. "The king of the Gerudo. He might come to the wedding."
"What? Why? When did you encounter him?" Alejandro sat up in surprise.
She had hesitated to tell anyone about the wedding gift of her dress, but it seemed too late to turn it back.
"The dress shop we were in… he had come in because one of the Gerudo had a ripped skirt."
"Then what?" Alejandro was surprised and curious, and he leaned forward to listen.
"Well. I'd been trying on my wedding dress, and he saw me in it." She laughed a little. "He asked me to marry him."
"Did you accept?" Alejandro grinned, and she swatted at him playfully.
"No, of course I didn't. But… well he made me a wedding gift, so I invited him."
"What was the gift? Will I have a Gerudo housekeeper as well?"
"No, it was… my dress, actually."
Alejandro raised his eyebrows. "Are you serious right now?"
"What? Of course I am. He bought me my wedding dress."
He stared at her in surprise. "Well then, if you can get strange men to buy you a dress, I fear what you will be able to make me do."
"You're marrying me, aren't you?"
Alejandro gasped in mock alarm. "What have I done!" he cried. "You siren!"
They laughed over it, and Zelda closed her eyes.
"So he's coming to the wedding?"
"I'm not sure. He didn't give me a proper answer, just asked us to send an invitation."
"He won't be trying to steal you away, will he?"
"Hm, maybe."
"Then I shall challenge him to swords at dawn."
Zelda shook her head. "You know you're the only man for me."
/
That same day, in the morning, the desert king went to the castle, requesting an audience with the king of Hyrule. Sila was dressed her best, in soft muted pinks and ivories, with her hair hanging down her back and curled at the ends. Link had gone with her to negotiate a finalized peace treaty with the Hylian king, and he hoped that offering Sila's hand in marriage would help to bridge the two countries. Gerudo did not do well in wars with Hyrule, no matter how they were carried out. Even a simple boycott of Gerudo goods could create a famine; without money, they could not buy food or the supplies to grow their own in the harsh climate.
But he still had his strong sense of pride; if the deal was unfair in any way, he would refuse it. Gerudo women had worth beyond some chickens and bolts of cloth, and Sila had always been his secret favorite. She would take a high price.
Thankfully, the Hylian king recognized the importance of this meeting, and they waited hardly any time at all before being escorted into his personal quarters, where he did most of the business of the day. The king stood up to greet his guests, and he and Link shook hands.
"Ah, Link. Good to see you again."
"As it is to see you, Ganondorf."
Link and Sila sat down, and Ganondorf leaned back, looking them over with an easy eye, placid as anything.
"This is Sila, one of my attendants."
Ganondorf nodded to her, and Sila bowed her head briefly. Link put on a calm, optimistic expression, but his guts were coiling with dread and revulsion. He should've picked Veru, or Brida. One of the women that could take down a Sheikah, if need be. Not Sila for this… cold, calculating bastard.
"What have you come to offer, then?" Ganondorf asked, looking for a fresh piece of parchment. He was also tired of the embargo on Gerudo; he particularly liked some of the fruit from wild cactuses, and the sand would be useful for making glass for his summer home in northern Hyrule.
"Access to the sands of Gerudo for use in glassmaking, not to exceed more than 8,000 pounds of sand a year, as well as monitored access to the copper mines, not to exceed more than 3,000 hours of total time in one year, and… the lovely Sila, as queen of Hyrule, and a way to bridge our countries."
Sila smiled at Ganondorf and leaned towards him suggestively. Ganondorf eyed her critically, then looked back towards Link. "10,000 pounds of sand a year and 5,000 hours in the copper mines, as well as Sila. If she does not work out after a year…"
Link frowned. "How do you mean?"
"Heirs. Generally, performing the duties of a queen and a wife. Can she please a man however he demands?"
"If we are wed, you would find out, Your Majesty," Sila purred, but Ganondorf ignored her.
"I have no use for a female already used by male hands, either. Unless you hope to send her in pregnant, and form a coup from the womb upon Hyrule."
Link's fists were clenching, and he had gone pale, his eyes hard, but a pleasant smile was back on his face as if they were talking about the weather. "I assure you, Sir. Sila is intact. You can call upon doctors to examine her, if need be. My ladies and I have other ways to… spend the time." He leaned forward, coughing into one hand. "I assure you, I want this peace as much as you do. I want our countries to have a camaraderie." He paused, thinking. "9500 pounds of sand, and 4250 hours in the mines, and Sila's virgin hand in marriage."
They stared at each other from across the desk. Sila waited patiently, but inside she was hot with anger and insult. She was no side of beef, she was a living being. It was all well and good to let the impudent little men talk their talk during these negotiations, but when the deal was struck, she would be certain to set Ganondorf straight on who wore the crown.
Ganondorf stroked his chin, and finally he nodded. "Yes. I think we can finally declare peace."
Link relaxed in relief, and Sila smiled all around. "How good for everyone."
"But of course, I will want her examined before the wedding. Just protecting my country."
"Oh, of course," Link agreed, nodding.
Sila's smile locked up, and she dug her nails into the arm of her chair. Ganondorf called for his notary's seal and his secretaries, and the treaty was rapidly drafted. The three of them signed, and finally, Ganondorf kissed Sila's hand. "My Lady," he said, nodding.
"Sir, may I have one last night at home, to say my goodbyes and pack belongings?"
"Yes. Actually, take your time and enjoy your home until the wedding."
She bowed gratefully, as did Link, and then they were leaving, back towards their coach to head to Gerudo.
Once inside, Link looked at Sila with a sharp stare. "The apothecary's, first thing tomorrow. And you are no longer to take any visitors, no matter their price or pleading."
"Yes, of course." She was frowning deeply now. "And another trip, we'll need a falsepiece for…"
"Yes." They were silent as the coach traveled over the uneven land, back towards the desert.
"I'm sorry for what I said," he added, when he judged Sila had calmed down.
"What part?" she said in a quiet tone.
"All of it. Sila. You know I don't like to treat you that way. It's the custom of these backwards people; women are barely more than cattle to them."
"I know… I just hate that you are marrying me to that man."
"You are a strong woman. I believe in you." He reached for her, she climbed into his lap, and they kissed deeply, longingly. She moved to his neck, and he whispered into her ear as he held her close. "I know that you can break him. Soon, I will be more than just the Desert King."