"Are you my Daddy?"

"MINA!"

Just as Ganondorf was opening his mouth, a frumpled looking Zelda came running into the garden and dove onto the picnic blanket, scooping her daughter into her arms. "Where were you?! Oh Goddesses, I was looking for you all morning! I got so scared after you didn't show up for your lessons, and we looked all over the place..."

"But Mommy, they told me I didn't have any lessons because of your conference this week," Mina explained, confused. "And I always play in this part of the garden, you know that."

"Sounds to me like someone's screwing with the two of you," Ganondorf said in Gerudo, knowing Zelda would understand him. "She told me about the stable and the library books. I do not approve of this meddling. You must let me intervene."

"Baby, what were you doing with this man?" Zelda asked, glaring at Ganondorf instead of responding to him.

"Oh, he was nice and told me about the Gerudo. I like him," Mina answered.

"Just now she asked if I was her father," Ganondorf said in Gerudo. "I haven't said yes yet, maybe you should correct the situation before it worsens," he suggested, making Zelda sigh.

"Mina... this is Ganondorf, king of the Gerudo," Zelda said, buying herself some time to think the situation over. "He's here for the conference."

Mina fidgeted in her mother's arms, as Ganondorf tapped his fingers against his knee. After a few seconds, Mina began staring intently at Ganondorf's left ring finger. "Hey Mommy, he has the same ring that you do..."

"What?" Zelda looked up from her thoughts and realized that in her haste to find Mina, she had neglected to put her gloves on. Sure enough, the ring she couldn't bring herself to remove eight years ago was still around her finger. Just as it was for the man sitting across the blanket from her.

"Heh, you never took yours off, either?" Ganondorf grinned, before turning to Mina and winking. Mina immediately began hopping up and down, having made the connection.

"MOMMY, MOMMY! IS IT TRUE? IS HE MY DADDY?"

Zelda knew there was no sense in denying it. "...Yes, he's your daddy."

"AHH!" Mina jumped onto Ganondorf's lap and threw her arms around his neck, giggling the whole time. "I have a Daddy!"

Ganondorf rubbed Mina's back as she hugged him, and looked over to Zelda. "She's very excited that I exist; did you tell her otherwise?"

I have never spoken ill of you within earshot, Zelda replied via telepathy. This conversation is not suitable for present company, though suffice to say there's a lot you've missed. "I only said that you were gone."

"Daddy, I order you to stay here with me and Mommy."

Zelda and Ganondorf both looked in surprise toward Mina, who had crawled out of Ganondorf's lap to sit in between them.

"Honey, what did you just say?!"

"I think she said she wants me to stay here."

"Quiet, you," Zelda said, pushing Ganondorf aside. "Mina, honey, you know it's not polite to order around those older than you. As for why your daddy doesn't live here, well, he has his own kingdom to take care of. You wouldn't expect me to go live with the Zora, would you?"

"BUT MOMMY, I WANT DADDY TO LIVE HERE!"

"HEY." Mina froze at Ganondorf's booming voice. "Apologize to your mother."

"...I'm sorry, Mommy."

"Good. Now, the conference lasts for nine days, right? That means there are seven days left for you and mommy to talk things over. Now, go to your room and get dressed. Today's event is horseback riding, isn't it? I want to see you smoke those knights."

"Yes, Daddy!" Mina hopped up and kissed both Zelda and Ganondorf's cheeks before running off with her dolls, smiling and giggling the whole way. Once she was out of sight, Ganondorf scooted closer to Zelda and laid his hand atop hers.

"I'll stay..."

"You haven't been invited to stay yet," Zelda replied, staring straight ahead. "The scars I have run deeper than what can be cured by a simple kiss and apology. I won't lie and say that your presence here is unwanted- Mina strongly desires a father figure. There is also another matter that I intended to bring up with you..."

"You're losing control of your own kingdom."

The queen turned with a start. "How did you-?"

"Zelda, you're stressed way more than you should be. Any twit with sight can see Mina is your daughter, she inherited your distinctive violet eyes and long ears. These barren rumors are purely to antagonize you. They must have known you would waste your magic protecting Mina, thus tiring you out and making you weak. Then they pull shit like interfering with Mina's education so she doesn't learn about her Gerudo heritage."

Ganondorf picked up the dissenter badge that had fallen off one of the dolls. "She told me this morning that she had no classes this week because of the conference. Let me guess, you skipped the mass because you were searching for her all morning, after her teacher said she was missing. Seven year olds don't haul four dolls and a blanket through castle hallways without making noise, Zelda. Those bastards knew what they were doing."

"I... I suppose you're right," she said, bowing her head. "But what do they have to gain from all this? I have no siblings that they can replace me with."

"Perhaps they're trying to make it seem as though you need a husband. Heh, I know where you can find a husband and foil their plans..."

Zelda looked up and sighed, as Ganondorf kneaded her hand. "In case you forgot, I already have a husband who walked out on me."

"Then what are you still wearing this ring for?"

"...Well what about you? You still have yours on!"

"I'm still married. ...Aren't I?"

Zelda pursed her lips. "Hmm. Well like you said, we have the week to think things over."