The Gerudo Era, part 2

The tension was palpable.

As each warriors and guards stood on the side, their arms held firmly and proudly, many could feel a fair amount of stress as a watchful and near-scornful eyes gazed upon them. Their king was back and, in his stern expression, there was an obvious disdain. Followed by a cohort of shadowy creatures, monstrous beings and otherwise unsavory characters, it seemed that the one that was their ruler and monarch had changed quite a lot, brought up in his lot by his ambition and his ruthlessness. Convinced that they would show their faraway leader quite a spectacle, it was instead them that went on to be shockingly surprised by this parade of beastly strangeness.

Standing atop a tall and dark-looking horse, Ganondorf looked ahead of him, placing his gaze not on the people, but on a few things that he found to be disturbing. Children playing instead of being put in regiment for training, a few Gerudo that went on to plow in fields instead of being eternally vigilant, some seemingly more interested in jokes, dancing and other such trivial activities rather than what had made the pride of his people once: their unrelenting preparedness. ''This is what I get to see when I return home, Namira? A relapse in our true warrior spirit? Laughs and games? Had I known that this was what awaited me, I would not have bothered to come. Beggars, however, can't be choosers,'' he lamented, unseating himself from his horse as he looked down at Namira, towering her in every senses of the word.

Aghast at just how blunt and intimidating their king was, Namira was struck silent for a few seconds. She had believed that he'd be pleased, that their advancement from skillful thieves to a downright functioning and self-sufficient society would only amount to praise and joy. Yet, he seemed malcontent, disappointed by what he saw as she snapped back to reality, trying to retain her composure before the righteous ruler of their people, as stipulated by the ancient laws. ''Ganondorf, oh tall and mighty king, what did we do wrong? Can you enlighten us as to our faults?'' she said, trying to still be diplomatic in face of such a challenging moment.

''You've grown soft, all of you. I had heard that my people grew, that I had 150 warriors at my disposal now, but I believe that my source was mistaken. I don't count many warriors amongst you,'' Ganondorf said harshly, eyeing a few children playing instead of already understanding the few principles that governed the use of a bow or a spear. ''In my times, that would have never been accepted. For you to accept that shows me that I'm in the right and that the Gerudo tribe has grown weak. How did it come to this, Namira? What happened to make it so your leadership has been so feeble and so poorly-oriented to my needs?'' he demanded, his eyes scornful, his expression barely keeping his rage in check.

Namira, under the watchful eyes of everyone, held the idea that she could perhaps embellish the truth, perhaps even tell a different version just to perhaps escape the rough treatment she was receiving. However, this was not how she perceived the Gerudo way, thus she sighed, then told the truth. ''We captured a man, a strong, perfect candidate for mating. He...agreed to become a mate to us all so we went on to build our society without having to resort to the old ways. This is why we have so many children and how it came to this, great lord.''

''So, instead of going with the traditional man hunt that is customary, you decided to rely on a cheap trick to make it so you could be sedentary and well off. You made it so the tribe fell prey to easy debauchery instead of relying on their instincts and pride to continue their lineage and legacy. I find this to be unacceptable, Namira, but I am going to give you all a chance to make this right,'' he began to say, his tone harsh, yet controlled as he looked around, observing that he was being listened to carefully. ''You're going to return to the old ways, and for that I want you, Namira, to kill that mate of yours. End his life, then come to my castle in Hyrule and regain your glory as a warrior. Gather the entire tribe and help me in my conquest, as is your duty. Do I make myself clear?'' he then asked, his brows frowning as he crossed his arms in an intimidating pose.

The very idea that she would do this was inconceivable. She held no desire to vanquish all the progress she had made, all the contentment her decision had created. And yet, he was their king and his decree was absolute. By the ancient ways, he had to be obeyed and that's all there was to it. Bowing down in silence, she nodded in approval, however feeble it looked, as Ganondorf barely took the time to acknowledge it.

''I want you by my domain in a week. Tardiness shall be seen as an affront to my rule, as well as desertion,'' Ganondorf threatened, not even taking an effort to veil them at this point as he returned as swiftly as he arrived, leaving everyone in a stupor as the cohort following him disappeared into the horizon along with him. With a silent stupor hitting the whole area, words were unneeded at this point as emotions were eloquent enough to translate the confusion and fear all around. It seemed that these golden years were not made to last as amongst the few children that understood what had just happened, a few began to apprehensively mourn their father in advance. Others were torn between duty and between their comfort, seeing the reasoning that their lord brought up, yet undecided whether they felt it was right or not. For Namira, though, this was most difficult as she'd have to be the one to officially end all of this with her own hands.

She would have to kill Link, then bring her people to war.

The thought never leaving her, she tried to push this uneasy task away for as long as she could. Preparing the war gear, checking in for supplies and training along with her warrior-sisters, her heart felt heavy and her mind was clouded by fear, afraid to commit a deed she would forever regret. However, she had no choice but to agree to that sentiment. If she didn't, Ganondorf would eventually find out and his ire would not be nearly as bad as the punishment he'd serve out. Judging by the appearance and behaviour of those beneath him, at his service, there was a chance that he had grown to become something wicked and horrible, a far cry from how he was as a child, or so she was told. It had been said that he was arrogant at times, perhaps even a little difficult and pompous in his bad days, but this was a behaviour on another level entirely. Not willing to risk her neck and those of her people, she sighed heavily as she then entered Link's chamber, doing so for the last time.

Having prepared to send him on a painless ride toward his end, she did so with grandiloquence as she wore her dancer outfit. Clad with the finest of jewellery, painted with more intricacy and with a more delicate touch than usual and with oil on her whole body, she wanted the last thing he'd see to be beautiful, a last gift to his senses. ''Link, are you ready for our little session, my sweet?'' she said, trying to keep her composure, yet her heavy heart seemed to betray that sentiment. Whether Link noticed or not, he did not seem to show as he looked at her with extreme interest, his expression instead being one that was strangely comfortable and sweet, happier the second she had entered his room.

Gathering up her courage and testing her will, Namira then went on to start her dance once more. Determined to make him feel bliss one last time before his inevitable demise, she did not want for his last memory of her to be anything less than pleasant, a culmination of all those years that he had served and loved them all. Her performance was one of passion and regret, making it sumptuous as her hips swayed with a grace rarely seen. Her stomach, taut and lean, was one with her spirit as it seductively rolled for his eyes only, the jewellery catching on the light just like the fine oil on her body did. Closing her eyes, she did not want to have second thoughts about this, not when things would be so dour and pessimistic for her people's future. Still, she danced, perhaps for the final time considering her lord's reaction to what he saw.

Link, as per usual, eyed the performance with interest, yet there was something in his eyes that was unusual. The hunger to please was there, as well as his enthusiasm, yet there was another emotion that Namira failed to see due to her decision: worry. In the numerous years that Link had passed amongst that tribe first as a slave, then as something else entirely, he had grown to be very observant of certain facts, of certain traits. Something was wrong and he couldn't quite put his finger on it as the dance did its effect on him, numbing his body and spirit with submission and love. All those suggestions and fetishes came running to the forefront of his mind, cementing him in place for the time being.

Filled with sad determination, Namira then took one step toward Link, followed by another. Doing so reluctantly, it became an unending task as time stretched out, with seconds seeming like minutes. Opening her eyes as she was certain she was close enough to him, she then went to look for a dagger hidden in her baggy pants, ready to just be done with it and move on. This would be painful, but it was necessary as she went to her knees before Link, his hypnotized expression, however changed, bringing a small amount of comfort to her. ''The years with you were the best part of my life, Link,'' she began to whisper, before preparing her strike. ''I'm sorry.''

Her dagger up in the air, she only had one decisive move left to accomplish and it would be done. About to commit herself to it, she was surprisingly then held back by an event she could not have foretold as Link simply moved a little closer to her as he then embraced her warmly and tenderly. Shocked about this, Namira's hand began to shiver as he was supposed to be helpless, to feel nothing and do nothing unless she had actually ordered it. Was it possible that, in all this time, Link did possess the sufficient amount of willpower to disobey her if he tried? Could it be that, perhaps, something else was at work right now, preventing this tragedy from happening?

''Those were the best years of my life too, Namira. I love you all,'' he then said, being in an especially vulnerable position right now. If she so wished, Namira could simply stab his back multiple times and be done with it. However, her dagger soon left her hand, clanging on the ground as she embraced him back, crying openly for the first time in years. How could she have ever believed that she'd go on and kill him? He was the father to dozens of children here, including her own. He was a sweet lover, a thoughtful person, a true warrior and an affectionate man, a being that deserved nothing but showering love from all that he touched. If he died, it would have been akin to kill the new soul of the Gerudo people. Not entirely certain if this was a wise decision, Namira merely wished for this moment to never end, his strong touch reassuring her as they went on to make love as if it was the first time again, discovering their bodies once more as well as the affection that animated them.

Then came morning, with the heat and the sunlight welcoming back the two lovers to the reality of the situation. Namira being awake before Link, she then gently placed a hand on his cheek as she looked at him with a loving, but worried expression.

''I'll convince everyone that you have to live, my love. Even if that means that we have to rebel against our ancient ways and that I be damned a fool, I will ensure your survival. This I swear.''