It's been a while, I know. I got stuck in a rut – not knowing how to slowly corrupt Ganondorf. Real Life interceded, and Doctor Who and Phantom of the Opera stole my soul. I've gotten it back, now, and have set a very strict rule for myself: no updating a chapter until the next chapter is already written. This fic will get done, I swear.
Thanks for everyone who reviewed in the meantime. Thanks also to Shay, who beta'd this last minute.
One more note: Rabiyu is important. She's not a Mary Sue. But she is pivotal to this fic's plot.
Disclaimer: Defying copyright lines since 2002. Everything that doesn't belong to Nintendo in this fic belongs to me. Seriously.
The Legend of Zelda: Child of the Sun
by Rin
Chapter Three: Of Rabiyu
Nabooru woke to a child's happy laugh and the sound of gravel shifting in the courtyard. She blinked a little, threw back the blanket and stretched her limbs, pleased to find that the wearied tension of last night had disappeared. Zombie-like, she changed into her day clothes, and rolled up the mat she'd slept on. Reya and Link were gone, Reya's cradle pushed out of the way. She was certain that Dinah or Aya had taken Reya to the nursery, but what about Link?
She ran a damp cloth over her face and neck to freshen up, and stepped outside to the blinding desert sun, ready to find her son. Heading down the apartment stairs, she entered the courtyard that doubled as free space for the tenants that lived in the eight levels of the whitewashed adobe apartment complex. No one had objected to Nabooru's proposal of a rock garden in the courtyard – if anything, they were quite pleased with the garden's simplistic beauty.
"Good morning, Nabooru." She was greeted by a girl, simply dressed, red hair like a spray of molten copper. The girl wore a somber expression unusual for her twelve years of age. Rake in hand; she deftly changed the straight rows of fine gravel to a swirling wave pattern. Link was sucking on his thumb at the edge of the gravel pit, watching the girl with fascinated eyes. Relief washed over Nabooru.
"Thank you for watching him, Rabiyu." Rabiyu smiled slightly, ducking her head.
Rabiyu's lineage was a bit of a controversy; her mother, Naotu, was a traitor and weakling who ran away from her Gerudo life to the arms of a Hylian man. Leaving behind her only daughter. However, she was Ganondorf's firstborn daughter, and so, his heir. A princess, in her own right. Rather than leave Rabiyu to the doting care of her maternal grandmother, the King had raised her on his own.
"It wasn't a problem. He was crawling around on the second floor, so I brought him down here, and I always enjoy spending time in your garden." She set the rake aside.
"I thought you had a garden in your father's home."
"Father is very bad with plants." The girl admitted, making Nabooru chuckle.
"Then you are welcome any time."
"Thank you." Rabiyu tentatively offered a finely patterned jug to Nabooru. "I brought you some water for your cactuses." Nabooru took the beautiful, but heavy jug from the princess, touched by the thoughtful gift. Carefully, she set the jug down onto the courtyard flagstones.
"Thank you so much. With all the excitement lately, I had forgotten." The little smile on the girl's face grew.
"It's to congratulate you. I think Father chose the right woman." Rabiyu gulped a little "And I… I was wondering if you could teach me magic? I'm old enough to be learning but Father won't approve anyone. He forbade me to learn from my grandmo–I mean, his mothers. I could help with your duties as Queen or look after your son or do chores or--"
"Rabiyu." Nabooru cut the girl off. "You don't need to beg. I would be happy to help."
"Oh." Rabiyu blushed. "Thank you." A loud trumpet sounded, then repeated several times before tapering out of hearing with a squeal.
"Ah – the Luncheon Horn. Eat with me today, Rabiyu, if you'd like. I have much I want to talk with you about."
"Of course!" The girl nodded eagerly. "Thank you, Nabooru." Nabooru smiled and picked Link up.
"Now then. Let's get this rascal fed."
"How… How dare you!" Tabiya seethed, standing enraged in Ganondorf's private quarters. He had left to eat lunch with the community, and upon his return, found he was no longer alone in his home.
"Tabiya, why are you here?" He groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. She smiled, humorless, henna-reddened lips pressed thin. Her long hair – dyed black to suit her olivine skin better – bristled catlike with agitation.
"I heard a little rumor last night. I didn't like what I heard."
"And what did you hear?"
"I heard you made a big offer to someone that you shouldn't have."
"Someone?"
"No games, Ganondorf, not this time."
"No games?" He snorted sardonically, "I think not. When I'm involved with anything, it's called politics."
"Then why did you choose her?!" She slammed a hand down on his desk, making a carefully blown glass quill holder fall to shattered pieces on the stone floor. "Choosing another woman over me – against both your mothers' approval!"
"You broke my vase."
"Nabooru is barren – she doesn't deserve to be Queen."
"My daughter made that!" He growled, "You're allowed – and I am allowing you - to come in here and yell at me, shake your finger in my face and tell me I am a fool. What I will not allow is destruction of my personal properties as you decry my judgment on delicate political decisions."
"I don't care!" Hysteria made her voice rise. "My mother ruled before you were born, and my grandmother, and great-grandmother ruled before them. By my blood I am worthy to be queen!"
"They all passed the Queen's Ordeal."
"I can pass as well as they!" Power crackled white at her fingertips "Bring them on, Gerudo King, let the tests begin. I am no weakling like your beloved Naotu, I was apprenticed to the Two Witches of Twinrova, guardians of the Desert Colossus!"
"I am more than aware of the titles you flaunt, and remain unimpressed. Nabooru is just as capable as you are, yet she sees no need to inform all that she is one of my Agemates, and shared the same teacher. Barren or not, Nabooru has brought what no other Gerudo woman has– a son."
"A Hylian child." She scoffed.
"But a Gerudo at heart, if raised properly."
"You can cross that bridge when you reach it." Tabiyu snapped. Ganondorf raised his eyebrows.
"Didn't you realize," he said quietly, "that I spurn you because you curried favor with my mothers, and because I found fault not with you as a person, but as a leader? My mothers are renowned for their power, prowess in magic, and cruelty. They want every Hylian man dead, and then who would sire our daughters? The Zora? No. My mothers want a war that we don't have power, or resources for."
"So that… is why I can't be Queen?" She asked thickly. For the first time, he noticed the red, puffy skin around her eyes. She was crying. "I'm not good enough because I sought out the best of magical instructors? Made two daughters with you? Devoted myself to you and taken no scum between my legs for the sake of reproduction?"
Unflinching, he looked her in the eye.
"I chose Nabooru because she would sacrifice her live to save another – when you have left others to die under your leadership. Your ambition is proud of its heritage, but you've blinded yourself to everything except becoming Queen."
"But…"
"Go home Tabiya. Tell your daughters that their Father says hello." Dismissing her, he turned his attention to picking up the shards of his daughter's vase without bloodying himself.
She left quickly, without a sniffle. He heard her footsteps down the rich carpet of his hallway, and a new set approaching.
Rabiyu bounced in, tapping door and bell, and all but knocked him over in her enthusiastic hug.
"I'm home, Daddy!" Her attention fell to the floor, "Your vase is broken!"
"Yes, I did notice. Tabiya did it."
"I saw her in the hall. She looked upset. Were you mean to her?"
"Yes, but she started it." He stated, placing the last of the glass into the trash bin.
"She doesn't know when no means no. I'm glad you're better than that."
"What has you in such a cheery mood?" He motioned for her to follow him to the den, a room filled with rich Gerudo tapestries, thick rugs, and overstuffed pillows.
"I talked with Nabooru today and ate lunch with her."
"How are she and the boy doing settling back in?"
"Better than they might. Her sister - Aya - is married to the glassblower who helped me make your vase – the one that got busted - and they already have a baby too."
"Yes, her name is Reya. She's one of mine."
"So when you've married Nabooru she'll be my half-sister and my cousin."
"Correct."
"Do you think Nabooru will want to be my mother when you marry her?"
"I don't know."
"You think she'll pass the Queen's Ordeal?"
"Of course I do. I wouldn't choose her if she couldn't already."
"Do you think my mother could pass?" The unexpected question was like a dagger of ice. It burnt and froze at the King's chest.
"…I don't know." Was all he could manage through the knot in his throat.
"She never passed her Woman's Ordeal, so I don't think she could."
"Have you ever wanted her to come and take you away with her?"
"Yes, but I know you're a good father. She should have taken you too, and then Tabiya could be Queen." Ganondorf failed to smother his snort of laughter.
"I think Nabooru will make a fine Queen, and even if you don't get along perfectly, she's a good person. And you'll have to help raise Link to be a prince."
"I look forward to it." Rabiyu said, eyes alit with eagerness. "A little… brother! What a novel thought!"
"All in good time, as it should be." Ganondorf chuckled.
Chapter Notes:
Women's and King/Queen's Ordeal
When a Gerudo girl gets her first period, it is time for her to take the Women's Ordeal. As the test takes place in the Desert Colossus – known to Gerudos as the "Great Sand Mother", all the way across the Desert Wasteland, they usually wait until they have three or more girls who need to take the test, before they are escorted across the Desert Wasteland to take their Ordeal. So sometimes it can take up to a year for a girl's Ordeal to be postponed.
The "Great Sand Mother" is called such because it looks like a woman kneeling (the entrance to the regular Woman's Ordeal is between the folded legs so symbolically, they enter and leave the Sand Mother's womb, and are 'reborn' after their Ordeal)
It is possible, if uncommon, for a woman to fail her Ordeal. There is no second chance to retake the Women's Ordeal. Because failing it proves a weakness of character, a girl who fails will be relegated to lesser occupations. One example of a woman who failed her ordeal is Rabiyu's mother, Naotu.
As there is only one Gerudo male, Ganondorf had to take the King's Ordeal to be accepted as a legitimate king. The King's Ordeal is the harshest test to take, but all Kings are raised to be able to handle it. The King takes his test on his 15th birthday – when he passes, he ascends to the throne immediately. To date, all King have passed their test.
The Queen's Ordeal is a little easier than the King's Test. If you fail your Queen's Ordeal, you die.
Gerudo Dynasties
King Queen (Queen chosen through marriage)
Queen (chosen through bloodline King's daughter)
Queen (chosen through bloodline Queen's daughter)
And so on until 100 years later;
King (chosen through gender) Queen (chosen through marriage, often a daughter of the previous Queen)
That is how Gerudo dynasties work.
Kudos!
