Disclaimer: Characters and Setting belong to Nintendo. I just wrote the story. Please don't sue me.
The fortress, which was bustling with activity during the day, seemed deserted by night. Aside from the few purple ghosts making their nightly rounds, the place was still and silent. Even the wind that mercilessly pounded the fortress with its freezing blasts at night was but a gentle breeze tonight. The Gerudo that led such harried lives had long since fallen into deep sleep, secure within the stone walls of their barracks. In the stillness and quiet a lone figure seemed out of place; pacing and sitting restlessly in turn on the topmost level of the fortress. She now sat cross-legged, slumping over and rubbing her arms to ward off the cold.
"You do know that it is warmer inside, right?" A deep sarcastic voice called from the doorway. She knew he had been watching her, but didn't particularly care. He had returned from one of his prolonged absences just yesterday, and they had yet to decide whether they were on good terms or not.
"The cold doesn't bother me," Nabooru lied, trying to warm her numb fingers beneath her arms.
"Yes it does," he countered, taking great strides across the stones and sitting next to her. He knew her well enough to know she despised the cold. Nabooru had more than once refused to travel into Hyrule during its winter. The Valley and nearby Desert didn't have a proper winter, just a bit more rain when the nearby fields were covered in snow. But every night was freezing just the same, regardless the time of year. "What are you thinking about?"
Nabooru paused to think about her answer. "I was remembering my first time on night watch," she answered tentatively. "I thought I was going to die, from both the cold and the exhaustion. Yet somehow I survived. We have become very good at surviving, haven't we?"
"That we have," He replied glumly. "Someday we are going to do better than just survive. I have big plans for the Gerudo."
"Ganondorf!" Nabooru snapped before shaking her head. "Nevermind, I don't feel like having that old argument again. I was just remembering the times when we were younger and we were doing better."
"Except we were never doing much better than we are now."
"What do you mean, I never remember having food shortages the way we have now. We had more targets for raiding. Life just seemed a whole lot easier."
Ganondorf chuckled, "You only say that because you weren't in charge back then. Yeresft and Bonshie were always worried about food and trade, as were the leaders before them. You can go check the records. Bonshie was anal about keeping them. It is just different when you are in charge." Nabooru rolled her eyes but made no reply.
"I miss them," Nabooru finally whispered.
"I know."
"Sometimes I don't think I was cut out for this job. I probably never would have gotten it had we not been so close at the time."
"Yes, you would have," Ganondorf replied confidently. "There isn't another Gerudo who can take charge like you can."
"That isn't true," She countered stubbornly. "More people get along with Aveil."
"Aveil is sweet, I am not saying that," he replied, training his gaze on the moon rising over the desert. "People love her, she has a natural charm. She isn't as assertive as you, though. We never would have made it through the war without your leadership. Once you set your mind to doing something you get it done. Gerudo respect that. She may be everyone's friend, but you are their role model."
"Some model I turned out to be. I can't even keep the storerooms stocked," Nabooru snorted.
Ganondorf straightened up and pointed to the purple clad guards making their rounds. "I am sure if you asked any Gerudo they would say we are just fine. Sure, we had a rough time during the war but so did everybody else. We've always had enough, though."
"Funny hearing that from you," Nabooru scoffed. Ganondorf looked sullen as he pondered their conversation.
"You should head in," Ganondorf declared as he stood up, still looking quite moody. "You may be strong willed, but the Desert's will is stronger. You cannot make the night any less blood will freeze if you stay out much longer."
"In a minute," she replied, shrugging and resuming her slump. Ganondorf turned and walked back into the relative warmth of the fortress.
It was a scant fifteen minutes later when Nabooru's bare feet padded through the hallway into a room that was not her own. She silently crept across the floor and nudged the man who had just fallen asleep. "Move over, I'm cold," she commanded. Ganondorf grumbled as he made room.
He waited until she settled herself in a ball at his back before remarking, "I could warm you up." A sharp jab to his shoulder was her quick response.
Nabooru leaned over and whispered seductively in his ear, "warm these." She rammed her cold feet into the hollow behind Ganondorf's knees, causing him to twist away from their frigid state. Nabooru laughed and continued to try to wedge her feet underneath his warmth. Ganondorf eventually pinned Nabooru beside him, her feet safely away from him. She made a few last playful struggles before they both drifted off into sleep.
