The wind whistled in her ears, the horse beneath her running quickly across the plains of Hyrule. The poor thing was close to exhaustion, but she was nearing the castle and soon it could rest. The wail of an infant was caught on the wind and though she could hear it, she paid it no heed. This was no time to be stopping. If they found out - if they found her, they would surely kill her. She cared not for her own life but the life of the crying child in her arms. If they found him they would, without question, kill him. A tear dried upon her cheek as the horse raced on.

The marketplace gates were fast approaching, but as dusk fell on the land, the gates began to close. She gritted her teeth. They would not close on her - she wouldn't let them. She kicked the sides of horse and clutched the infant ever tighter to her chest.

"Ride fast, Malkon. You'll rest soon, I promise," she whispered into the steed's ear. The horse galloped faster, as though understanding her words, riding as fast as it's long legs would carry it. Reaching the edge of the small moat that surrounded the castle and it's village, the horse leapt hard over the closing gate. The guards that were raising the gate gave a yell of surprise and momentarily let go of the chain that held the gate aloft. But she didn't stop. No, she couldn't stop. She had to see the Queen of Hyrule. She had to speak with Zelda.

The horse's hooves clapped loudly against the cobblestone street. Marketplace goers were wide-eyed as she flew past them, hardly more than a passing blur. There was no hurry now that she was past the gates. Even the Gerudo Thieves would not be able to penetrate the castle town. Even so, this was urgent. The Queen and her King must know of the trouble that pursued her.

"Let me pass!" she shouted at the man that guarded the entrance to the castle courtyard. Her horse came to an abrupt halt, whinnying at the sudden stop. She held tightly to the bundle in her arms.

"I can't just let anyone through these gates, y'know. If something happened to the Queen, it would be my head!'

"You fool! I am Nabiri, sister to the Great Sage Nabooru and the leader of the Gerudo Tribe. Let me through, or so help me, I will cut you down myself!" she snarled, becoming slightly hysterical and angry. Was there no hurdle she could avoid? It was at times like these she could not understand the Queen's want for male guards. They were so dimwitted! She looked down at the child in her arms. "Please, the infant and I must see the Queen. It is of extreme importance."

Drawn by the commotion, one of the guards atop the gate drew to the edge. "Oi! Orrick, you fool, let her through!" he called, glancing from the woman and child to the slow guard. The guard that blocked her path straightened, his eyes widening. He hurried to the side and quickly opened the gate, fumbling in his sudden nervousness. Her horse snorted threateningly as they passed through the gate and the man cowered away. Nabiri paid no attention to him and hurried on. The rest of the guards didn't bother her as she pushed her horse into a canter through the castle yards.

Once she was safely inside the secondary gates, she dismounted and looked upon a stout guard nearby.

"Please take care of my horse. We have ridden a long way," she said. Not waiting for an answer, she hurried into the familiar castle and made her way towards the throne room. The horse, though soaked thoroughly with sweat from it's hard journey and huffing from exhaustion, pawed the ground anxiously and shook it's large head.

Nabiri pushed past the guards, her garbs enough proof of her identity to allow her to pass. The King was a member of the Gerudo Tribe, as it were, and the Hylians and Gerudos were fairing well in relations. As she entered the throne room, she hurried to where the Great Queen Zelda and her husband, the Hero of Time, sat in quiet discussion.

The Gerudo leader knelt hurriedly, drawing their attention. "Your majesty."

"Nabiri?" the Queen stood from her throne and descended the marble steps. Link remained where he sat but leant forward in interest. Not the most well-mannered King to be sure, he leant his elbow upon his knee and put his chin in the palm of his hand. If this were any other occasion, his antics might have made Nabiri smile. As it were, however, she could not look at him for any amount of time. "Nabiri, we had word of your successful birth, but you should not be riding! What is so urgent that you have endangered your health to come all this way?"

"Your highness," Nabiri bowed her head, her eyes falling upon the child swaddled in her arms. "I have fooled the Gerudo Tribe too long and they have found me out."

"Nabiri?"

"The child - my child - is male," the Gerudo spoke quietly, tears stinging her eyes. Men were born into the Gerudo Tribe ever one hundred years or so. It had not been one hundred years since Ganondorf had been conceived and born. He had quickly become the leader and, young and power-hungry, he had become corrupt. The child in her arms was an anomaly. "I kept him secret and and announced he was female. I told them the baby was a girl and I was praised. I named him Oru, a female name to be sure, but the nurse attending to me discovered him. Because of the evil King, because of Ganondorf, they will not stand for a male Gerudo so early in years. They threatened to kill him. They were to kill us both; the child for being male, which he cannot help, and myself for deceiving them as their leader."

"Nabiri, what would you have us do?" Zelda asked, moving forward and placing the palm of her hand against the Gerudo's shoulder. "Please, let us help."

"I'm afraid that my coming here will have endangered the relations between our nations. I'm not sure it is wise for you to do anything at all, but I had to speak to someone. I have to get the child away. His father may have been wicked, but he is not! He is not evil!" Nabiri felt ready to collapse, but the Hylian Queen steadied her. Tears soaked her dark cheeks and the infant squirmed in his blankets. "I know. I - I just know."

Link stood and descended the throne steps. "I fought the evil Lord Ganondorf, together with Zelda and the Sages of the Sacred Realm. We sealed him and his darkness away. His evil no longer threatens our land." Standing before Nabiri, shoulder to shoulder with his wife, he took the child from the Gerudo's arms. He moved the blankets aside and two watery, bright eyes stared up at him. The child's own dark cheeks were flush from crying. "This child... is not evil."

Nabiri gave a choked sob. "What do I do? I cannot keep him, no matter how I long to. There is - there is a small chance I can reestablish my position as Gerudo leader if I send him away and say that I had done away with him myself, but I don't know if they would believe me. Not after I have deceived them once before. I cannot kill an innocent being! He is new to this world and hasn't committed any sins!"

"Nabiri," Zelda spoke gently. "You are a treasured friend and an honored guest in our Royal household. You are a great leader of your tribe and an even better person. Link and I have only been wed a few months, but... I would be honored if you would allow us to keep the child."

"Your highness!" Nabiri gasped through her tears. "I do not wish my treachery upon you! Our nations will surely become enemies!"

"Not if they do not know he is here, alive and well. Ride quickly back to your tribe and tell them the child is gone. We will keep young Oru hidden here, with us. Perhaps, when the time comes, we will reveal him as our own son."

"But his skin is not fair as the Hylians."

Zelda smiled, never daunted by the seemingly impossible. "I once became a Sheikah to hide myself from enemies. I will think of some way to protect your child. I'm told I'm rather good at that."

"Oh, Zelda," Nabiri clutched her valued friend. "Thank you. I know he will be good. May I -"

"Don't be foolish, Nabiri, you are always free to visit him as you will," Zelda said, giving the other woman a warm smile. It was said she could light up rooms with such a smile. "If things don't go well with your tribe, return as quickly as you can. We will protect you and your son, I give my word. Now go, before it is too late."

Nabiri nodded, taking one last look upon Zelda and her husband, before pausing to look at her son. She breathed deeply before nodding once and leaving the throne chamber. She would fetch her horse immediately and attempt to make amends. She would try to set things right. Oru was safe and that set her heart at ease and gave her confidence.

Zelda leant against her husband, looking down at the dark skinned child.

"Link, how am I ever going to explain this to the people?"

Link grinned, despite the dire situation.

"You'll think of something," he said. "I hear you're good at that."

Zelda glared good-naturedly at him.

"Oh, hush."