A/N: I realized I never mentioned it before, but the italics are thoughts. Usually Link's.
"I can't wait to get married so I can have my own children," Ilia said, squeezing her doll baby and rocking it back and forth. "You have to get married before you can have children. What about you, Link? Do you want to get married?"
What? I can't get married and you know that.
The little blonde bearing the mark of the goddesses shook her head with a smile, and let out a single word. "Can't."
"Oh, that's right," Ilia said. "But you'll be able to tell everybody you're a girl someday, right? You can get married then. Maybe we'll get married together. We can have matching weddings!"
You're only seven years old, why are you talking about marriage?
Link shrugged and picked up her toy sword, while Ilia kept rambling about her dream man. "I want to marry someone nice. There aren't many boys here, though. Colin and Talo are babies, and Fado is old and gross. Besides, I like a certain kind of boy. Light hair, same height as me, clumsy but kind. What kind of man do you like?"
Brave... Not afraid to defend those he loves from danger.
"Brave."
"Wooow. So you want a warrior then? Hee hee. What kind of voice?"
Commanding and deep, but not too low.
"Deep."
Ilia's eyebrows raised. "Mysterious, huh? What kind of body? I don't want somebody as big as my dad, that's probably why I want a skinny guy."
Definitely larger than me. I've had to save and protect others all my life, so I just want someone to cradle me, to comfort me when I am vulnerable.
"Strong."
"Sounds great. I hope you find someone like that. You're pretty, so I'm sure you'll get what you want. Just start acting like a girl!" Ilia hugged Link, and went back to playing with her doll.
I remember this... Ilia used to ask me about my interests in men. What did I tell her, 'brave, deep voice, tall, dark, and strong?'
Wait... I know someone like that. He's not exactly upstanding, and he can be demanding. But he takes care of me, and I can be myself more than I could in the village. He even gave me back my best friend.
Maybe what Kona said made me mad for a reason... Maybe I... like Ga...
The chime signaling sunrise rang out through the fortress, stirring Link out of her dreams. She grumbled and squeezed the pillow in her arms tighter, trying to will the noise away. It was a comfy and warm pillow, and she buried her face in deep. But then the pillow pulled her in tighter.
Link yelped and jumped backward, nearly rolling off the edge of the bed. The 'pillow' caught her and pulled her in, chuckling with a familiar baritone. She then realized that she was sleeping nuzzled against Ganondorf.
"No need to wake just yet, my pumpkin," he whispered, running his fingers through her bangs. Link wiggled against the man's bare chest. "Stay with me. We may not get quality time like this again for a while." His voice was somber and his gaze drifted, the weight of the coming battle on his mind.
The two laid together in silence until the sun shone brightly through the window. Ganondorf finally sat up, but immediately leaned back down over Link. "Listen to what I have to say well, Link."
Something in his eyes burned with a passion. Link's eyes opened wide, and she gave the man her whole attention. "This menace is dangerous, and I will not expose you to him until you've learned all you can from my people. You are skilled beyond belief, but the desert is harsh and unforgiving. Put your all into absorbing their technique, so that if need be, we can take this demon out together. Do this for me, and when all is right, I will make it up to you with whatever you desire. Do you understand?"
The Gerudo king frowned at Link, waiting for a reply. But instead, a pair of small hands reached up and gently grabbed his head. Link put her thumbs on his eyebrows and lifted them up out of a scowl, just like her mother used to do. Link had done it on impulse, as if it was her way of telling him that everything would be okay.
Ganondorf was touched by this simple gesture, and smiled down at Link. Her cheeks were reddened from slight embarrassment, but her big blue eyes lit up her face, recalling the innocence that drew him in from the beginning. It was too much for the king to handle, and without a word, he leaned in and let their lips meet.
"Mmm!" Link was surprised, but the feeling wasn't unpleasant. Ganondorf wasn't overbearing; he was forceful but not so much that she couldn't get away. His hands slid along her head and chest, caressing her and sending her body temperature through the roof. She moaned when he tugged her ear, and he used the opportunity to slide his tongue into her mouth.
The muscle gliding along her teeth made Link shiver. She wasn't sure how to react, but something inside told her to touch it with her own. Ganondorf's taste was exotic, like cinnamon with a touch of mint. She wanted to taste it more, so she sucked on the Gerudo's lips.
Ganondorf responded by gripping Link's waist, sliding his hands up under her shirt and caressing up to her shoulders. He took in the feel of her skin, wanting nothing more than to rip her clothing away and take her this very second. But it was neither time nor place for that- he knew she wasn't ready to go that far, and the demon terrorizing the valley left no time for play.
"...That's enough for now," he said as he released Link's mouth, giving the girl a pained look. "We have to stop this menace."
Link watched Ganondorf prepare his armor, and as he did, he motioned to a box at the foot of the bed. She crawled over and opened it, finding her old equipment inside. There was one noticeable piece missing, the most important item of all.
"My sword?"
"I have instructed Kona to take over your training," Ganondorf answered, seemingly ignoring the question. "She is an excellent warrior, and I think it would be best to have her teach you. I'll take over the battle efforts."
"Where is my sword?" Link asked again, this time visibly agitated. "It can help. Repels evil."
Ganondorf sighed. "You think I don't know that? Your sword is wherever you left it, I wasn't burning my hand to retrieve it. Now get dressed, I'm going to get Kona."
Link waited until he left to get dressed, before pounding a fist on the bed. The Master Sword must be in Hyrule Field somewhere... I just hope it didn't fall in a chasm. She perked up a little at her familiar green tunic, but her frown returned when she noticed the bloodstains around the collar and abdomen. It's almost brown instead of green... She tied her breasts up as normal for support, but skipped the chest pillow. Just as she finished dressing, there was a knock at the door.
"Coming in, ready or not," Kona announced and pushed the door open, in time to see Link shoving her hair in the hat. "Wow, looks like a warrior. But your tunic is a little ratty... Remind me when we're done to have some fabric sent up for a new one. Okay, you have your bow? Come with me, then."
Link stumbled back to the bedroom, exhausted from twelve hours of archery training. Despite the physical strain, most of it was actually entertaining. She learned how to make a type of paralytic arrowhead known as the "Gerudo ice arrow", as well as better aiming techniques when riding on horseback. Her wrist hurt at the start, but the feeling gradually dissipated so long as she shot with her opposite hand. Link's accuracy was as sharp as ever, and she impressed the Gerudo by hitting a far target without the Hawkeye.
She hadn't seen Ganondorf all day, as he apparently went to the Arbiter's Grounds to investigate. His horse was not in the stable when she brought Epona back, so she debated waiting to eat until he returned. The decision was made for her, however, when she conked out over the dinner table.
It's been a week... Where is he?
Link was starting to get worried. The other Gerudo seemed confident that their king was working to eradicate the mysterious demon, but Link couldn't shake her intuition. Ganondorf had the Triforce of Power, so there's no way he would take a whole week to kill a single demon, no matter how powerful. Link had a piece of the Triforce as well, and it took him only a matter of hours to subdue her.
"I'm going after him," she announced in the middle of her magic spell training.
"Uh, I don't think so," Kona interjected. "You've only had archery and magic lessons so far, and that wrist of yours isn't strong enough to fight with. Are you confident enough to wield a sword with your right hand?"
"He might be in trouble. Have to help." Kona watched as Link gathered her equipment and buckled one of the Gerudo sabers to her back. She really wanted to try and find the Master Sword, but there was no time to waste. "Kona, help me?"
"You want me to come along?"
"No. Find my sword. Dropped in Eldin field. Might need it." Link had greatly improved her conversational skills, but she tended to drop subjects when she was flustered. Kona read the look on the Hylian's face as one of determination and compassion, and understood immediately why the king was so taken with her.
"All right, I'll look for it. Be careful kid, and remember what I've taught you today. There are countless spectres in the Arbiter's Grounds, some immune to weaponry."
Link nodded, and ran for the stable. There's nothing to worry about. He's probably just taking his time torturing the demon. I'll get there and it'll all be over. He'll just laugh and embrace... Wait, that's not what I meant! He'll scold me. Geez, I sound like some little girl.
Just don't be dead, Ganondorf. Some people need you...