(warning: long chapter & lots of zelink mushiness. i'm shuddering)
gerudo valley part 1
A beautiful young woman with piercing green eyes stared woefully at the defunct series of buildings that sat before her. They had housed a once beautiful and almost prestigious institution. An institution that no longer existed…
She turned away, knowing that if she continued to stare, her anger would only grow. She needed to stay levelheaded. Tomorrow night would be the most important one of her life so far.
"Riju," a feminine voice called out to her. She turned, the trinkets and jewels on her traditional garb clinking with her as she did. A tall, muscular woman clad in Gerudo armor strode toward her, a few others of her stature trailed behind her.
"Buliara." She greeted her bodyguard with a warm smile. "Sav'otta."
"My dear, what are you doing up so early?" Buliara asked. She looked past Riju at the complex that rested comfortably on the desert plains. Every inch of the building was covered in sand. Anyone who glanced at it without a thought would think it was a worthless lot waiting to be demolished. They wouldn't understand how beautiful it once was. Riju wanted so desperately to restore it to its former glory that she brushed off any and all attempts to renovate it into something new. Buliara personally didn't agree with the grudges she held, but she made an oath. She would be loyal to Riju until the bitter end.
"I got a good night's sleep." Riju shrugged, glancing back at the lot.
"You'll need an even better one tonight."
"I know. It'll be a change of pace. Not many Hylians like to frequent our desert. And we'll be opening our gates to…" She shudders, "…men."
Buliara chuckled.
"Not all voe are bad. What about Ganondorf?"
Riju smiled at the thought of her confidante.
"You got me there. Is he bringing a plus one?"
"Yes. Nabooru."
The smile on Riju's face faltered at the thought of the seductress. She didn't have any personal issues with Nabooru, but her relationship with Ganondorf was a troublesome one. Nabooru had always been a wildcard, and while she trusted Ganondorf to carry out their plans with no hesitation, she wasn't sure about Nabooru. It had been a long time since the desert beauty came back to her homeland, constantly working for her on-campus media team and taking on internships in Castle Town.
"He's still in love with her?" Riju asked bitterly.
"Does that bother you?"
"Not in the way you might be thinking." Riju waved her off. "Those two were always so bad together."
"It's working to your advantage now though, isn't it?"
"Maybe. Maybe not. Things could still go wrong."
"There's no use in thinking that way."
"I need to assess all possible scenarios. It's best if I don't get my hopes up."
Buliara studied her face carefully. Riju tried her best to remain stoic and composed, but her longtime bodyguard knew her well – too well for her to be able to hide the anger she felt deep inside.
"Makeela…" Buliara said, causing the young woman to tense up.
"You know I hate it when you call me that."
"What are you thinking?"
Riju sighed, looking down at the sand beneath her feet. She then closed her eyes, reaching out in the air, spreading her fingers to feel the desert breeze.
"My mother died too soon. And I miss her. So much…" she paused, forcing back the lump that began to form in her throat. "I need tomorrow night to be perfect. Absolutely perfect." She grazed her fingers against the gems scattered across her body.
"It will be. Now come, my dear. Let's go to our venue."
Riju, Buliara and the other Gerudos who had followed Buliara headed down to the plaza, which was littered with a few visitors from other regions. They perked up at the sight of Riju, waving and greeting her respectfully. Riju smiled, satisfied with the attention.
"Remind all of our citizens to give me this kind of attention when our guests arrive." Riju told Buliara, who rolled her eyes.
"You really want to take full advantage of this situation, don't you?"
"Of course I do. Prestige and reputation is important to fancy rich white folk, is it not?"
"Rupees are important to fancy rich white folk. It's how they stay fancy… and rich. You need to convince them that they are making a worthwhile investment, which will be difficult."
"That," Riju pushed open the double doors to enter the building they had been looking for, "is why we are going to flaunt our wealth."
The interior was adorned with pristine furniture. Hues of red and gold gave the room an imperial glow. A few women were arranging decorations and making sure the walls were devoid of any stray sand or dust.
Riju walked up behind one particular Gerudo with thick red hair. She smiled, placing a kind hand on her shoulder.
"Tali." She greeted her friend warmly.
The woman turned around and wasted no time pulling Riju in for a hug.
"Juju!" She exclaimed, pulling back to smile at Riju lovingly.
"Everything here looks lovely." Riju commented, gesturing around the room.
"Sarqso. How are our food options looking?"
"Delicious. We'll have the finest chefs cooking classic dishes with our most delicious herbs and spices."
"You're really going all out, aren't you?"
"Of course." Riju crossed her arms. "Why wouldn't I?"
"I'm sure your mother is looking down at you from the heavens with pride. You push yourself too hard."
"I have to. The one academia this goddess-forsaken desert ever had was shut down. The next generation of women growing up in this desert will never know of it, how amazing it was at its best… and…" She stopped, swallowing hard as she tried to contain her anguish.
"I know, Riju, I know." Tali said sympathetically. She tried to extinguish some of the tension by shifting to a different topic. "Should we bring the sand seals out? I know Shabonne would love to put on a show…"
Riju stopped listening, walking away from Tali and Buliara who were now engaged in a conversation about entertainment. She sat down on one of the ornate couches in the room, crossing her arms while she thought about her plans.
"Ganondorf, Nabooru… You better not fail me now." She murmured to herself, "because I'm going to restore this desert back to its former glory… no matter what it takes."
»°«
Shad gagged, putting the beer bottle down and pushing it as far away from him as possible. Pipit chuckled at his bookish friend. The two of them were lounging on the couch, taking advantage of the fact that Zelda and Link would be gone for the weekend on their group retreat.
Pipit sighed, grabbing Shad's bottle and taking a generous swig.
"You know I hate beer. I'm almost convinced the reason you want to sit down and drink it with me is so that you have an excuse to down both your bottles and mine."
"Are you just catching on? You're supposed to be the smart one…" Pipit teased lightly. He looked at the couch they were sitting on.
"Still thinking about her?"
"Yup…" Pipit pursed his lips.
"It's only been a couple of hours. You two have been attached at the hip for the past few weeks. Let her live a little." Shad rolled his eyes.
Pipit glanced at him cautiously.
"Are you still upset?"
Shad frowned, thinking back to the day he apologized to Zelda. He remembered how happy she was, before and after he had talked to her. If she wasn't spending time with Pipit, she was almost always with Link. This was the most peaceful the apartment had been in a while, but Shad knew that this 'peace' wouldn't last very long. He looked over at Pipit, thinking carefully about what to say.
"I've accepted you and Zelda being together. There's no use in moping over it. But… how are you guys? Is everything solid between you two?"
Pipit nodded.
"Yeah, everything's great."
"You sure?"
"I am." His gaze hardened. "Why? Hoping there's trouble in paradise so you can – "
"Don't even finish that sentence." Shad warned him. "I was just thinking about…" He paused, not wanting to breach the topic of Link and his budding friendship with Zelda.
"About what?" Pipit asked.
"…Uh… Karane."
"What about her?"
"Zelda's your first girlfriend since her. Are you sure you're completely over her?"
Shad wasn't expecting Pipit to answer his question seriously, but Pipit frowned and looked down at his hands.
"That isn't a fair question. I don't think I'll ever move on from her completely… but I have to try."
"So Zelda is your test run then?"
"No. She's the first girl I've liked enough to be with since Karane." Pipit clasped his hands together. "I'm always going to love Karane. That's the wholehearted truth. I miss her like crazy. But what happened fucked me up big time."
"I really don't think she cheated on you." Shad commented, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "If that's why you've held back on her."
"We aren't getting back together, Shad."
"Hey, I want things between you and Zelda to work out. I'm just saying… when you broke up with her, you let go of her completely. You lost a girlfriend AND a best friend. And I know you haven't been the same ever since."
Pipit would have been suspicious of Shad reminding him of this if it didn't already occupy his thoughts constantly. Zelda was sweet and affectionate, everything he ever could have wanted in a girlfriend. Their relationship was like a fairytale, most of the hiccups had been due to keeping their mutual attraction to each other a secret before Shad eventually found out. Being with her was new and different. He liked the change of pace. He liked being in her presence and holding onto her, kissing her… Intimacy was something he had been craving for a long time. Feminine companionship was something he had been craving for a long time. Being with Zelda was nice because she could distract him. Of course he didn't think of her as just a distraction. Living together meant that their friendship was an important aspect of their relationship as well. His feelings for her were genuine, genuine enough to want something more than a temporary fling.
"I'm gonna go take a piss." Shad announced, heading over to the bathroom.
… But when he was alone, without Zelda or even Link and Shad to distract him, he was forced to face the thoughts and feelings he had grown accustomed to repressing. He thought he would have been able to move on from what happened, especially given that it had been a few years since the break-up. But he never really did. Karane was the first to steal his heart, and getting it back proved to be a challenge.
He bit his lip, grabbing his phone and dialing Zelda's number. She didn't pick up, and it hadn't been too long since she left, but Shad broaching the topic of Karane forced him to remember how much he missed her. She had been everything to him. The greatest consistency in his life. They grew up together and fell hopelessly in love with each other. Being with her was familiar and comforting. She was everything he ever wanted, everything he ever needed –
"…No. I can't think like that anymore." He chastised himself out loud.
Shad came out of the bathroom right after he made that statement.
"Did you say something?"
"Huh? Oh, no. I didn't…"
Before they could continue their conversation, there was a knock on the door.
Pipit quickly walked over to answer it, believing it would be some annoying salesman or a tiny girl scout selling cookies.
However, he wasn't expecting to see the very girl that had crossed his thoughts.
"Pipit! …Hi." Karane smiled and rubbed her neck awkwardly.
"What are… what are you doing here?" Pipit pointed at Strich, who was standing behind Karane timidly. Although not as aggressive as Groose or Cawlin, Pipit still had a personal vendetta against him considering how he enabled Cawlin and Groose's antagonizing of Karane and anyone else Groose decided he didn't like. At this very moment however, that wasn't what Pipit's main issue was.
"It's okay, he's with me!" Karane reassured him. "Pipit, there's something I need to tell you."
"Come on in then…" Pipit bit his lip, looking back at Shad who was just as surprised. He was quick to grab Strich before the lanky boy could scurry past him. "I have a few questions for you."
"O-Okay!" he stammered nervously.
"Why are you here?"
"Oh… Uh, I think Karane wants to – "
"No. Not that. You've been cleaning the dorms with Link and Zelda. They left this weekend for a retreat."
"They did? What kind of retreat?""
"A group retreat, dummy. For those of you who clean the dorms. Are you playing dumb with me right now?"
Strich frowned.
"No, I'm not… I never got an invite."
"Gee, I wonder why…" Shad said, sarcasm practically dripping from his voice.
"Guys can we simmer down please?" Karane tried to capture their attention.
"Wait, if there wasn't a 'group retreat,' then where the hell did Link and Zelda run off to?" Pipit asked.
"I-I don't know." Strich stammered.
"Pipit, I know you're the dumb jock of our group, but does it even make sense for them to have a group retreat? Especially when they're almost done with their hours…" Shad grumbled.
"HEY!" Karane shouted, irate with the boys' ramblings. "Can we save the bickering for later?"
Pipit looked over at her apologetically.
"…I'm sorry. What's up?"
"It's about Groose. He isn't happy. Things are getting messy. And I'm pretty sure he's coming after Link and Zelda."
»°«
Zelda's head rested against the window of Link's car. Even though he had been driving for hours to get to Gerudo Valley, they still had a long way to go.
"Don't do that. It isn't safe." Link reprimanded, giving her a side-eye as he said it.
"What?" Zelda mumbled sleepily, shifting as she tried to get comfortable in her seat.
"What if we get into a car crash and that window breaks? You'll get hurt."
"I think I'd get hurt either way… But fine. Your car, your rules. Now how the hell do I push my seat back?" Zelda bent down, her hands desperately searching for the adjuster.
"I don't know."
"Really? You don't know how to work your own car? Come on Link."
Link shrugged, keeping his eyes on the road.
"I don't want to tell you."
"What?" Zelda's whipped her head toward him, "Why?"
"Because I'm bored, and I want someone to talk to."
"Why didn't you just say that?" Zelda sighed, rubbing her eyelids. "What do you want to talk about?"
There was a brief pause. Link looked out the window, taking in the blurred scenery that his car sped past. The whites, blues, reds, and yellows. He looked back at Zelda, who was staring at him expectantly.
"…I don't know."
Zelda sighed, looking at the radio.
"Why don't we listen to some music?"
"You mean listen to the same shitty mainstream songs on repeat for the next couple of hours? No thanks. Besides, we're far out from Castle Town now. No doubt we've lost the signal, and I don't know the stations out here."
"Fine. Let's talk about… you."
"Pass."
"What? Come on, Link. I know you're worried about your mom. And you haven't talked about it with Pipit or Shad."
"Observant, aren't we? If that's the case… What makes you think I want to talk about it with you?"
"For one, you want to have a conversation with me. You admitted it a minute ago. And secondly, bottling it up is only going to end in disaster. You don't think I hear you asking your bosses for more hours, or see you writing all those letters?"
Link didn't respond, but he had his signature frown plastered on his face.
"Link?" Zelda prodded, "Come on. Say something."
"Okay. Let's change the subject."
"No!" She crossed her arms stubbornly. "Why are you so insistent on not talking about this?"
"Because it isn't your goddess-damned problem, that's why!" He snapped, his voice softening instantly as he chose his next words carefully, "it… it isn't any of your guys' problem…"
"I mean, that's true but… That's hardly a reason to keep it to yourself."
"Princess…" he muttered, turning to look at Zelda. His voice was uncharacteristically gentle, and his eyes were full of remorse. "Everything that's been going on with my mom has been happening long before you came into the picture. When I got fired from Din's Garden I blamed you for it… and I shouldn't have." He sighed, focusing on the road before him.
Zelda remained silent until he was ready to speak up again.
"Ugh. I don't wanna do this here. If you really care to hear about all of this, can it at least wait until we get to Gerudo Valley?" He looked down at the GPS on his phone, and began murmuring to himself, "We should be getting there well before sundown… Which I'm counting on so that we can…"
"Hey!" Zelda snapped her fingers at him. "Stay on topic. We can save the conversation for later, but I won't forget about it. What are we going to talk about instead?"
"You." He replied.
"…Of course. Why do you get to change the subject and talk about me? How is that fair?" Zelda grumbled.
"I'm not changing the subject, I'm simply postponing it. Unless you want to drive, then we're talking about you."
"What do you want to know?" Zelda complied, knowing that there was no point in arguing.
"How are you?"
Zelda glanced over at Link. His eyes were glued on the road but there was sincerity in his voice. She was pleasantly surprised since she had readied herself for a much more intrusive question.
"I'm… good?"
"Are you? Even with everything going on right now?"
"It IS stressful. Groose and his pathetic 'kidnapping' has put me on edge… Things still feel tense at the apartment despite me making up with Shad, and of course there's my classes. My grades are fine, but when finals come up I just…" She exhaled sharply. "Okay, I guess I'm not as 'good' as I thought I was."
Link chuckled.
"You're telling me. Life is messy like that. But if anyone is going to land on their feet, it'll be you. You have nothing to worry about."
"Really?"
"You've beat out thousands of students at the most prestigious scholarship that could possibly be attained at the best university in Hyrule. And I would say your detective skills are pretty damn good."
Zelda blinked a few times, puzzled.
"I'm sorry, but are you having a voluntary conversation with me about my thoughts and feelings?"
"Yes. Why do you sound so surprised? Is that the first time we've done this?"
"I mean, no… But it still seems odd."
"As much as I hate saying this, you're right. About me, that is. I do have a lot on my plate right now. And it's difficult to keep to myself. I figured that if you felt the same way, maybe you need someone to talk to as well."
Zelda smiled lightly, looking down at her feet.
"I guess underneath that grouchy exterior there is a heart, huh?"
Link scoffed.
"Don't tell anyone, random people will start thinking it's okay to approach me."
"Yeah, yeah, whatever…" Zelda laughed, before both of them once again fell into an uncomfortable silence.
Link continued to drive, occasionally looking over at the girl sitting next to him, studying her expression. She didn't look like she was completely at ease, like there were still some things she needed to say.
"Don't tell me you already got everything off your chest…" He murmured, capturing her attention once more.
Zelda bit her lip.
"Is it that obvious?"
"Of course it is."
"…When you declared your major, how did you know you made the right choice?" She fumbled with her fingers nervously as the words came out of her mouth.
Link noticed her nervous demeanor, softening up at the sight.
"I didn't… I still don't."
"What? But you're about to graduate and get your degree next year!"
Link frowned at that particular statement but shrugged it off.
"Er, well… Princess, you're never going to know for sure what the right decision is. You just need to go with what your gut tells you to do."
"My gut isn't telling me anything, though."
"You don't need to decide until the end of sophomore year. You have plenty of time. You should consider yourself lucky…"
"That's one way of looking at it. This all just feels so sudden. I don't want to make a mistake and end up doing something I hate."
"I understand what you're saying. But you have your whole life ahead of you. If you're going to make mistakes, it's better to make them now."
Zelda nodded appreciatively.
"That's true. Thanks, Link."
"No problem." He replied.
They continued to talk, shifting topics and discussing whatever came to mind. It wasn't much different from the conversations they would have in the dorms, and while it kept Link entertained, when he gave Zelda the occasional glance, he could tell she was still tired.
After a few more minutes of talking, he ended the conversation.
"Reach beneath your seat." He commanded.
"…Huh?" Zelda asked, puzzled by the sudden change in topic.
"You've been feeling the side of your seat. It's underneath."
"I…" Zelda gave him a puzzled look before doing as he said. She felt a lever. She turned it until her seat reclined enough so she could lay back in a comfortable position. "Oh…"
She shifted, turning and giving Link a gracious smile.
"Thanks."
He said nothing, only winking at her as he continued to drive.
»°«
Ganondorf grimaced at the sight of the two giggling girls sitting a few seats behind them. Despite knowing it was wrong, he was hoping he and Nabooru would be able to have some special alone time. Their plane was just about to land at Gerudo's regional airport, and under any other circumstances, Ganondorf would have been excited to be returning home. However, this was not a trip for pleasure, and if anything, Nabooru extending invitations to Lana and Ashei at the last second made it even more discomforting. As if she had been reading his thoughts, Nabooru placed a hand on his arm.
"Please don't be mad at me, Ganondorf. We still have a reservation at the best hotel, and we're sharing a room with a cozy single… Don't even get me started on the bathtub, it'll be really sexy – "
"Keep your voice down." He cut her off, giving her a disapproving glare. "This wasn't part of the plan."
"I know you were looking forward to some quality alone time with me, but we can still have that. We don't even need to spend a single rupee on any of this, Riju is taking care of everything, and she thought it was a great idea."
"A great idea? She's just happy to see you actually thinking of a way to help out your sistren."
Nabooru frowned.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"It means that she doesn't feel like you're as intact with your desert roots as you used to be."
"That's not true!" Nabooru said defiantly. Her shoulders drooped as she took in Ganondorf's expression. "Is that what YOU think?"
Ganondorf shrugged.
"Correct me if I'm wrong, but sometimes it feels like you're only doing all of this for me. And aside from that you've already admitted that your priority is finishing up at school. I don't blame Riju for having her doubts."
"You say that like it's a bad thing. Besides, I think this could work in our favor."
Ganondorf leaned in close to Nabooru, their faces only inches apart as his voice dropped to a whisper.
"You think bringing two students from the institution we are trying to dismantle into what is essentially the belly of the beast… is going to work in our favor?"
"Yes." She replied confidently. "Riju and the other guests will keep them away from the conference room. From their point of view, we'll be trying to raise money for HU, and improving the overall status of the school. That's what they will relay to the other students when they get back."
Ganondorf shook his head.
"That is absolutely ridiculous. Nabooru, nobody was supposed to know about the gala except for us. And then you went off and told two students!"
"One student," she was quick to correct him, "and the way I see it, there is only so much we have within our realm of control. If this fails, I doubt it would be Lana or Ashei's doing."
"I'm holding you to them. Riju and Buliara and whoever the hell else can watch after those two, but first and foremost, they are your responsibility. You better be right about this."
"I will be right about this." Nabooru said stubbornly, crossing her arms. The two of them sat in silence, looking down below and watching as green pastures slowly began to shift into light brown desert sands. It was a beautiful sight to both of them, bringing in a warm feeling; a combination of nostalgia and endearment. Without thinking, Nabooru slowly allowed her head to fall gently onto her companion's shoulder. Instead of pushing her away, Ganondorf let her lay like that, his hand gently grazing hers while they awaited an announcement from the flight attendant.
"Ganondorf." Nabooru murmured. His name came out of her mouth as a whisper, but not the seductive kind, nor the kind with urgency. It was gentle and imploring, and when he looked at her she was staring at him, sadness and curiosity in her gaze.
"What is it?"
"How can you work as a dean at a university for years and have no regard for what happens to it?"
He raised an eyebrow, not expecting such a question to come from her.
"Hylians have been running Hyrule for as long as I can remember. I understand that Hyrule University is a diverse and even welcoming environment. But when it's all said and done, nothing's really changed. This world is just as cruel to us as it was centuries ago."
Nabooru shook her head.
"That's a toxic mindset."
"Maybe, but it's the kind we need to protect our own."
Nabooru didn't respond, lifting her head up and turning to look back at Lana. Even with all the other passengers bunched up together, she could see the younger girl clearly. That vibrant, blue hair matched with those purple eyes were impossible to miss. Lana caught sight of her and smiled, waving at her shyly. Nabooru looked away, sighing to herself.
"You care about her." He commented lowly.
"Huh?"
"Admit it."
"Why should I? Are you jealous?"
"No. But if you ARE getting attached to her, I suggest you stop. It won't end well for us."
Nabooru huffed.
"Whatever. You just can't stand the idea of me caring about someone else, other than you."
Ganondorf chose not to respond to that, even if it was somewhat true.
The flight attendant's voice rang out soon after, silencing all the passengers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, as we start our descent, please make sure your seat backs and tray tables are in their full upright position. Make sure your seat belt is securely fastened and all carry-on luggage is stowed underneath the seat in front of you or in the overhead bins. Thank you."
Nabooru sighed, noticing the glare plastered on Ganondorf's face.
"What? You have something to say, so say it."
"I always thought your promiscuity would be what got us in trouble. I was wrong. If anything, it's your heart."
»°«
After a gentle shake of the shoulder, Zelda woke up and slowly opened her eyes. She began to sit upright, but her seatbelt, unbearably tight, slammed her back against the seat.
"Ungh… Ouchie…" She mumbled.
"You okay, princess?" Link asked, trying his best to hold back laughter.
She glanced at him, unamused.
"Just peachy."
He reached down and adjusted her seat for her. She immediately gasped when she looked out the window and saw that they were no longer on the green expanses of Hyrule Field, but well into the plains of the desert.
"We finally made it! Where's the city?"
"Up ahead. We're closer, but still on the outskirts of Gerudo Valley. We won't actually be there for another 40 minutes…"
"40 minutes? Ugh. Why would you wake me up now?"
"Because we need to get our plan together. Ganondorf and Nabooru absolutely cannot know that we're going to be at the gala tomorrow night. We'll need fake names, a fake story, and to keep our distance from them at all times."
"Okay, that sounds reasonable. We can say that we're HU alumni. That way we aren't completely lying, we're just telling a truth that isn't true yet!"
Link arched his eyebrow, lightly amused.
"A truth that isn't true yet?"
"You know what I mean."
"Look, you are going to get in just fine. I'm the one we need to worry about."
"Hmm…" Zelda thought for a couple of moments. "In one of the ancient legends about the hero of Hyrule, he cross-dressed to get into Gerudo Valley…"
"Great," Link said sarcastically, "Should I wear your extremely expensive Celeeb dress we have stashed in the trunk?"
"I was just thinking out loud, smart-ass. I still think we should say we're HU alum. And we can pretend to be dirty rich!"
"I don't know anything about being dirty rich."
"That's fine. I'll do most of the talking!"
Zelda looked over at Link, noting the look of skepticism on his face.
"What?"
"Just trying to make sure I'm going in the right direction. What's our story?"
"I'm an heiress to a multimillionaire, and you're a lowly farm boy who went from rags to riches."
Link glared at her.
"Why does this sound so passive aggressive?"
"Hey, I'm trying to work with what we have. You said it yourself, you don't know much about being rich, so why not give you a humble background? I can be old money, and you're new money."
"What?"
Zelda sighed.
"It means I inherited my wealth. Yours is newly acquired."
"…What?"
"Oh dear." Zelda pinched her nose, "You know what, don't worry about it. You just focus on driving, I'll think of something."
"Fine. We can't use our real names. Do you have any ideas for fake names?"
"Yes! My name could be Hilda."
"Hilda? Seriously? That's only two letters off from your real name!" Link complained.
"Yeah, but it sounds different enough."
"I disagree. You should choose something completely left-field, like… Tetra."
"Tetra, Zelda, Tetra, Zelda, Tetra, Zelda…" Zelda repeated, comparing the two names to herself.
She eventually shook her head.
"No. I like Hilda better. That was always my pseudonym growing up."
"You had a pseudonym growing up? For what?"
"For whatever I needed. It's nice to pretend to be someone else."
"Yeah, until you get caught."
"Okay then Link, enlighten me. What do you plan on using for YOUR fake name?"
"Ravio." He replied instantly.
"Ravio…" Zelda repeated, clearly puzzled.
"See? It sounds nothing like Link."
"Hilda and Ravio… I guess it has a nice ring to it."
They continued bouncing ideas off of each other, from names to stories, which proved futile since they were unable to come to a consensus. Before either of them knew it, Link had pulled up to the entrance gate of the town, looking to Zelda worriedly.
"We still don't have our story straight Zelda."
"Hilda," she corrected him, "And I told you, I've got this…" She said confidently, giving him a reassuring nod.
Link frowned, slowly pulling up to the gate, where a tall Gerudo woman stood. He rolled the window down before giving Zelda another look that said 'don't screw this up.'
"Oh, look. A little voe." The Gerudo muttered, stepping closer to get a better look at him. "Ah, a handsome voe…"
Link bristled underneath her gaze.
Zelda cleared her throat, "Hello! My name is Hilda, and this is Ravio. He's my, uh…" She paused, before speaking again.
"Husband!"
"Chauffeur!" Link blurted at the same time.
The woman raised an eyebrow, looking at both of them.
"Excuse me?"
"He's my husband," Zelda said, lightly placing a hand on Link's shoulder. "Don't be modest, sweetheart."
At a loss for words, Link stared at her in disbelief.
"Ah, I see it. You two look good together. We have a strict policy on admitting voe into our town, though…"
"Oh, we're here for the gala tomorrow night, you see my father is a – "
"Right, the big event at the plaza. Very well. You may pass." She walked back and pressed a few buttons, opening the gate to the town.
"What? You're letting us in just like that?" Zelda gasped.
"Zelda!" Link hissed beneath his breath, "Do not question her."
"It's just that I didn't expect it to be so easy…"
"We have a large influx of foreigners coming to our desert this weekend. It's easier to just let everyone through. Besides, the event itself will have a more thorough screening."
Zelda opened her mouth to say something else but Link rolled the window up and quickly drove past the gate before she could.
"What was that for?"
"To ensure that your big mouth wouldn't ruin things for us."
"Geez, okay. My bad for trying to help us prepare for tomorrow."
"Let's just check into our hotel and then grab some dinner. I'm hungry."
"Which hotel are we staying at?"
"Hotel."
"Yeah, but like… Which one?"
"Hotel. The name of the hotel is Hotel."
"What? The hotel is called Hotel?"
"How many times do you want me to say it?" Link said impatiently. "It isn't the best place, but it's what I can afford." He pulled into the parking lot, wasting no time in hopping out and heading to reception.
Zelda went to the trunk and pulled out their bags, handling their outfits carefully. She walked inside, noting Link and the receptionist in the midst of a tense conversation.
"All of the gala attendees made reservations at Hotel Oasis. Not to discredit our fine establishment here, but I do find it rather odd that you would make a reservation here of all places… Oh… And on such short notice too." The receptionist commented, scrutinizing her computer screen before turning to give Link a skeptical look.
"We're frugal with our money. That's how you get rich, isn't it? Can I have my key now?" Link tapped his fingers against the counter, an edge to his voice.
Zelda quickly swooped in, placing down their bags so that she could use a free hand to place on her shoulder.
"Darling, there's no need to get so defensive. She's just doing her job."
"Oh! You have a vai here with you. Are you two together?"
"Yes." Zelda said warmly, turning to give Link a smile. The moment his eyes caught sight of her he softened up immediately, the tension in his shoulders releasing. He knew she was only putting up an act, but the loving look on her face was so sincere that he almost found himself smiling back.
The receptionist noticed it too, and her suspicion was dispelled and replaced with adoration.
"Well, you two must really love each other…" She sighed dreamily, "And while it is admirable that you two want to save money, there's nothing wrong with spoiling yourselves as well. I believe there is still a room available at Hotel Oasis. I'll call Romah and set it up for you two."
Link and Zelda looked at each other frantically.
"Uh, Hotel Oasis is a bit expensive th –"
"Rupees are no object, right? Besides, you don't need to worry about the price. We're more than happy to accommodate."
"Wait. You're giving us a room? For free?" Zelda asked in disbelief.
The receptionist didn't respond, having already dialed the number. She talked to the woman on the other line for a couple of minutes, they shared some laughs, then she hung up.
"All done. You two are set. Hotel Oasis is just five minutes away from here. Would you like their valet parker to come get your car?"
"Yes. I will be taking my… wife… to dinner." Link coughed awkwardly, grabbing the bags Zelda had set on the floor and placing them back into the trunk. She followed him out, and soon enough another worker had come to take his car.
"What… just happened?" Zelda asked, stunned.
"I feel like I should be asking that question. I thought you'd be used to this. I mean, your little friend at Celeeb gave us those thousand-rupee outfits for free."
"That's different! I've never even been to Gerudo Valley until now, and yet they're treating us like celebrities."
"It's almost like rich people have privilege…" Link said in a mock-shock tone.
"Shut it, Ravio." Zelda shoved his arm lightly.
He smiled playfully, "Come on Hilda. Let's go eat before the sun goes down."
They walked around the town, taking in the sights and smells. Link, being one of the only men roaming about, caught the eyes of many women walking past. They winked at him and relayed flirty compliments, being sure to give Zelda an envious glare as they did so. Zelda occasionally glanced at Link, who seemed to know the city well. He walked with purpose and made all sorts of turns, until they entered a quaint restaurant.
The hostess looked up, her eyes lighting up instantly.
"Ah, look at you two! It isn't everyday we get palefaces around here. Vasaaq."
"Sav'saaba," Link said politely, the Gerudo greeting rolling off his tongue smoothly and fluently, "Can we have a table for two?"
"Of course." She obliged, guiding them to a table. "The menus are on the side. Enjoy."
Once they were seated, Zelda grabbed a menu and began skimming through the selections… Only to find that everything was written in Gerudo.
"Seriously?"
"What did you expect, princess? This is Gerudo Valley. We're in their turf, learning their language is the least we can do."
"I guess this means you'll be ordering for me again."
Link was about to say 'yes' until he noted her dismal expression. Instead, he spent the next few minutes translating the menu for her.
"Do you know what you want?"
"Honestly I would be fine with any of those choices… But after that long drive, a medium rare steak sounds amazing right now."
"Does it? It sounds pricey to me."
"It's up to you, I guess. I can't be picky. I didn't realize how hungry I had been until now. I'll take whatever I can get."
Link smirked, calling a waitress over to their table. He wasted no time in ordering them some food, surprising the waitress with his Gerudo-speaking skills, and pointing out different things on the menu.
She nodded, writing down their orders and heading to the kitchen.
"That was impressive." Zelda commented once she was gone.
"Barely. You know I took classes in high school. I still know the basics, but not much else."
"All of it sounded pretty fluent to me." Zelda said as she leaned forward, lacing her hands together.
"That's because you aren't a native speaker. Besides, learning simple points like how to order off a menu or talk about the weather is all those classes are good for."
Zelda huffed.
"Why can't you just accept a compliment?"
"… Thank you for finding my Gerudo-speaking skills impressive, for whatever reason."
Zelda rolled her eyes.
"You're welcome."
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes, getting acclimated to their new environment for the next few days. Zelda fumbled with her phone, which had died hours ago, thinking about her boyfriend. Given that they lived together & went to the same school, she wasn't used to being so far away from him. It was an odd feeling. She then turned her attention to Link, her other roommate, who had agreed to go on such a journey with her on short notice. There were so many things about him she didn't know, so many ways in which he kept surprising her.
"…Why Gerudo?" She finally asked.
Link looked up to her curiously.
"Huh?"
"I mean, out of all the languages and cultures to study…"
"Are you seriously asking me why I would be interested in a group of beautiful, headstrong women who have endured centuries of adversity?" Link asked, smiling at the flustered look on Zelda's face as he said it.
"When you put it that way, I suppose I… see it… I don't think the prejudice against Gerudos isn't that bad anymore, though."
"That doesn't mean we shouldn't try to do better, though. Right?"
"Of course." Zelda agreed.
"It's nice to talk to someone who agrees. Pipit doesn't really care about this sort of thing, and Shad…" Link cringed.
"Yikes. I don't need you to finish that sentence. Shad is a smart guy, but it's difficult to let go of a certain mindset, especially when you've grown up in Castle Town. It's becoming more and more progressive, but at its own pace."
"I wish it would hurry up." Link sighed, staring at Zelda thoughtfully. "But enough about that. Why say we're husband and wife?"
"Hmm? How else would we explain ourselves?"
"I mean, out of all the relationships…" He mocked her words, smiling at her peeved expression.
"What? Did you want me to say that we're brother and sister? Or that I'm your mom?"
"Ha! Now there's a laugh."
"It doesn't matter. They're not going to ask us to prove it or anything…"
"I just don't think your boyfriend would appreciate you saying that."
"Ugh." Zelda covered her face shamefully, "Don't remind me of that. I feel bad enough. Do you think we should tell him? Not about that particular part, but about this trip in general?"
"Definitely not." Link was quick to shut her down, "After that stunt Groose pulled, it's become clear that we aren't safe. Telling him might make things worse."
"You're right. I still feel bad for lying though."
"Me too… But it's better this way." He scratched his head, that solemn expression he had in the car returning. It was then that Zelda remembered the deal they had made.
"Are you going to tell me why you were upset earlier?"
"Damn it, I was hoping you'd forget about that."
"The deal was that we would talk about what's on your mind once we got here."
"Since I'm a man of my word, fine." He went quiet for a moment, before finally revealing what was on his mind, "I just don't know how much longer I can do this. From what my sister's told me, my mom's condition is getting worse. I know her death is inevitable, but I'm not… I'm not ready to say goodbye."
"Oh, Link…" Zelda murmured.
"I can't afford to pay her medical bills, and I can't afford to go to this fucking school." He continued bitterly. "I don't even know why I'm trying anymore."
"Because that's who you are, Link. Even when the odds are stacked against you, you continue fighting. And you're going to win this battle."
Link considered her words, then slowly nodded.
"I… I suppose you're right. I'll figure this out somehow. I have to. Not just for me. For my family."
"Hey." Zelda reached for his hand, the same way he had done for her after her falling out with Shad. "We'll figure it out."
He looked at her, surprised to hear such a thing.
"We?"
"Yes, we. Link I really don't care for how you want to define our relationship, or what you're willing to admit or not admit, but I'm here for you."
"… But why?"
"Because you're someone worth helping."
Link looked down, unable to look Zelda in the eye, but she felt him squeeze her hand back appreciatively.
"We can find scholarships, grants, and my family has lots of connections. I'm sure we can find the rupees." Zelda continued.
"I appreciate the sentiment princess, I really do, but I think you're underestimating how expensive it actually is. I barely get any federal aid, and I don't have a good enough credit score to get approved for the kind of loan I need. It's kinda difficult to keep my head up when those things are looming over me constantly."
"Maybe once the financial aid office isn't filled to the brim with angry students, we could stop by."
"You're really willing to help me with something like this?"
"Of course I am. And I'll say it over and over until you believe me."
Link shook his head, but there was a genuine smile on his face.
"Thank you."
Zelda smiled back, just as the waitress came by with their food. Both of their dishes were covered with silver plate covers.
"Here you two go. Enjoy!"
Zelda narrowed her eyes at the plates. "Do they usually cover the food like this…? And are we allowed to take it off, or do we wait for someone else to take it off for us?"
Instead of answering, Link laughed at her.
"You've never had food served to you like this?"
"No. Why would I?"
"Putting our secret identities aside, you're already pretty rich, aren't you?"
"No."
"You live in Lake Hylia and get special discounts at overpriced clothing stores. You can't tell me that you aren't at least upper-class."
"I prefer upper-middle-class."
"That's a thing?"
"You are so ridiculous. And FYI, not everyone who lives in Lake Hylia is rich." Zelda said before slowly pulling off the silver cover on her plate. She gasped, looking back at Link in disbelief. "You got me the steak!"
"Well, I don't see why I shouldn't treat my lovely wife." He teased, "It really isn't that big of a deal. These people think we're rich, ordering something expensive off the menu will help keep up that façade."
Zelda blushed, her eyes widening when she took a bite.
"Oh my goddess, this tastes amazing…"
"I bet."
"What did you order?"
"The salmon. Want a bite?"
"Sure!" Zelda happily reached over, about to poke her fork on his plate when Link immediately blocked her.
"No."
"Wha…? But you offered."
He responded by scooping up some food on his spoon and reaching out to her, a taunting smile on his face.
"Are you serious? You're feeding me?"
He shrugged.
"I mean, you're my wife…"
"Yeah, you didn't seem too chipper about it when I brought it up to the woman at the entrance gate."
"That's true. But now it's just us and I can tease you all I want. Sorry princess, I need to keep myself entertained. Go on, take a bite, unless it's that big of a deal to you…"
Zelda ate the tiny piece of salmon he had offered to her, the frown on her face quickly being replaced with a smile once again.
"Mmm… Okay, it's worth it."
"Are you gonna leave me hanging?"
Zelda blushed, slicing a piece of steak and feeding it to Link as he had done for her.
He chuckled mindlessly, not thinking much of the action. Zelda, on the other hand, found herself feeling a bit guilty, her mind drifting back to her boyfriend who was waiting for her at home.
"Stop thinking about him."
"I… I wasn't thinking about anyone."
"I know you're thinking about him, and that you feel bad."
"I can't help it Link. I know I'm the one who said that we're married, but now that I think about all of this, I can't help feeling shitty. Do you think your girlfriend would be okay with you spending the weekend in another city with another girl? Or pretending that you guys are married?"
"My 'girlfriend' probably wouldn't care since she doesn't exist. Plus I'm pretty sure I pointed that out first. Besides, I'm just teasing."
"I know you are… it's just that I didn't think I'd be this anxious to get home. I never imagined I would actually want a weekend to end, but I can't help worrying about this."
"Look at it this way: we're only going to be here tonight and tomorrow night. Sunday morning we'll head back to Castle Town. But right here, right now, we're in a province filled with so much history and culture. And there's something I wanted to show you…" He trailed off.
"What?" Zelda perked up, "What did you want to show me?"
"I… We'll see it later. Let's just finish our food first."
Zelda smiled, finishing her steak and the vegetables that came with it.
After they finished and paid for their dinner, they headed out, maneuvering once more through the bustling city.
"Where exactly are we going?" Zelda asked, looking around.
"You'll see…" Link muttered.
They walked off, away from the plaza and most of the buildings. The sun was getting ready to make its descent, and the desert breeze was no longer warm. After a few more minutes of traversing, they came upon a steep path.
"Don't tell me you're planning on killing me."
"Goddesses, no. Let's just go. This has to be perfect."
They walked along the path, reaching the top, which led to the edge of a cliff.
"I knew it. You're gonna push me off, aren't you?"
"You are such a baby. Come on." He grabbed her hand, leading her over carefully and seating both of them close enough to see the view, but far enough to eliminate any risk of falling off.
"Is this what you wanted to show me? It's a really pretty view."
"Not exactly. We have a bit of time before the real show starts."
"Okay. Before the real show starts, how about you tell me why you know so much about Gerudo Valley."
"High school field trips. We would walk around the town, get watered down history lessons and eat greasy food off of food trucks." He smiled, leaning back and resting his arms against the ground. "It was fun."
"I bet it was, since you still remember this place pretty well."
He nodded and they sat in silence for a few moments.
Another breeze passed by, colder than before, especially with the higher altitude. Despite trying to fight it, Zelda found herself shivering, rubbing her arms to give herself some warmth.
"Don't you know how cold desert nights are?" Link asked.
"It… d-didn't cross my mind…"
"This is such a cliché. But here." He took off his own jacket and placed it carefully around her shoulders.
"Oh…" Zelda adjusted the jacket to fit more snugly around her, nodding at Link. "You're right… This IS pretty cliché. And I appreciate the gesture, but what about you?"
"What about me?" Link shrugged, "I'm fine."
"Mhm, sure."
"Really. I have more pressing matters to tend to than cold weather."
Zelda turned to look at him, feeling slightly guilty.
"Link, I'm really sorry about your mom."
"Why? You didn't somehow infect her with a terminal disease."
"Maybe not, but I did get you fired from Din's Garden… I didn't realize how much you needed those rupees – "
"Zelda, stop." He put his hand up, cutting her off.
"I was just…"
"No, I know. But I think this is the part where I should speak up." He cleared his throat before continuing, his thoughts drifting back to his words to her a couple of hours earlier that day. "You didn't know about any of it, at all. I never should have made you apologize. That was stupid. I'm the one who should be sorry. For what I said to you, for how I treated you, all of it…"
"Link…" Zelda placed a hand on his shoulder. "I forgive you."
"Of course you do. I wouldn't, if I were you."
"It's a good thing you aren't me, then."
He chuckled wistfully, trembling lightly as the winds continued to blow.
"See, I knew you would be cold." Zelda scolded him, inching his jacket off of her.
"Zelda, don't – "
She ignored his protests and scooted closer to him, close enough that they were shoulder-to-shoulder. Then, she threw the jacket over the both of them, like a blanket. It wasn't as warm as it had been on either of them individually, but it was a better alternative than having no coverage at all.
"There we go. Isn't that better?" Zelda asked, a satisfied expression plastered on her face.
Link stared at her thoughtfully, thinking back to her words of reassurance... and everything before that as well.
"…You're really sweet, you know that?" He said softly.
"It's not that big of a deal. It IS your jacket…" She tried to wave the gesture off, unable to stop herself from blushing.
"It isn't just about the jacket. You've… you've been really patient with me."
"Well, you have friends who are insistent that you aren't as bad as you seem. I guess I see now that they were right."
"By the way," he nodded towards the horizon, "That specifically, is what I wanted to show you."
Zelda followed his gaze, her breath immediately hitching in her throat at the sight. The sky, which had been a simple orange before, was now a mixture of colors. She could see purples, reds, and yellows, coming together to make for an incredible sunset. Combined with the natural scent of the surrounding flora, and the distant cries of the guays above them, it was perfect.
"Link?"
"Mm?" He mumbled, glancing at her.
"Why did you want to show me this?"
"Because it's beautiful, I haven't seen it in a long time, and I wanted to share it with someone else. Is that a problem?"
"Not at all… It's just, treating me to a fancy dinner, then showing me this sunset…"
"This better not be headed where I think it's headed."
"What I'm getting at is that lately, we've spent quite a bit of time together."
"When you're not macking on your boyfriend, that is."
"Shut it. Between hanging out on campus and at home, and well… now… I thought I would be confident on where we stand with each other."
"Please don't let this spiel be a repeat of that drinking game."
"Link. Work with me here. I'd like to think we've gotten pretty close. But that's only my take. I know you aren't as open to new friendships as me. All I want to know is what you think."
Link chewed on his bottom lip, mulling over an answer for her. As much as he hated to admit it, she was right. They had gone from hating each other and avoiding contact at all costs, to spending a considerable amount of time together. He wanted to downplay the truth, but being alone with her, miles and miles away from their real home, he felt… free. Braver than usual. More comfortable with admitting certain things to her, and more importantly, to himself.
"… I'm glad that I met you." He confessed.
Zelda smiled.
"Is that so? Despite how it happened?"
"Yes. Despite how it happened. You're a good person. You've got a great sense of humor, sort of… and… I don't know. Shad and Pipit are great, but I feel like I get more out of my conversations with you than I ever could with them. Or anyone really."
"Wow. I wasn't expecting that, at all."
"You wanted to know how I feel. That's how I feel." He gave her a sympathetic glance. "I know I'm not the easiest person to be around. I never put much thought into it before, but I am now. And I'm trying to be better about it, I promise."
"What spurred this sudden change, if I may ask?"
"I wouldn't call it sudden… I've felt this way for a while, I just wasn't sure of how I would go about addressing it. Seeing how upset Shad was over you and Pipit did set me over the edge. It's because it wasn't that far off from how I acted when you first moved in. I guess now is a better time than ever to finally tell you, since you're forcing it out of me…"
"We're getting along better than ever, and you're still a total grump."
"Some things never change."
"For what it's worth, I'm glad that I met you too. I know you don't like the idea of me and Pipit as a couple, but you've been really cool about it."
"Eh, it isn't my relationship. I just know that Pipit's last relationship ended in disaster and I want to make sure that doesn't happen to him again. He put his life on hold to help me out with my familial issues. The least I can do for him, after everything he's done for me, is make sure he's happy."
Zelda nodded in understanding.
"I'll do my best to make that happen." She focused on the sky, watching the beautiful colors fade into black.
"… And I suppose… seeing you happy… wouldn't be so bad either." He murmured quietly, just loud enough for her to hear.
At that, the meek smile on her face turned into a grin.
Link turned to look at her fully, and for a moment their eyes met. They both felt a certain heat in their chest, giving them much more warmth than Link's jacket ever could. Another cold desert breeze swept by, but neither of them felt it.
"Damn…" He murmured, looking away and scratching his head awkwardly, not used to sappy talks like these. "Are we… having a moment?"
Zelda laughed at him and leaned her head on his shoulder as a show of affection and gratitude for his kind words.
"Yes, we are."
A/N: Oh my goodness I can't stop cringing. That was probably the cheesiest ending to a chapter I've done for this story, or any story for that matter. Fun fact: I have written and re-written the last scene for this chapter at least 5-6 times because I just could not stand it (which is part of the reason why this chapter is coming out so late). I eventually decided on using this as the final version, partially because I don't think I will EVER be fully satisfied with it. I apologize for my absence, I've been sorting through lots of things in my personal life (I'm back in school now, I've taken up 2 jobs, and I'm saving up to transfer to a new university/move out of my parents' house, so I guess you could say things are more hectic than they've ever been…)
Is the phrase 'having a moment' with someone still a thing? It doesn't necessarily always need to have a romantic connotation, it can simply be about forming a special bond with someone that you don't quite have with anyone else (okay, okay... that sounds romantic. And this IS a romance story, but still). I know the progression of Link and Zelda's relationship has been agonizingly slow, and my sluggish update schedule has not done that any favors. But I hope that this chapter has taken their friendship and (gradual) romance in a more promising direction. I always enjoy writing the banter between these two, and I especially had fun writing their conversation once they got to Gerudo Valley.
In the next chapter (which will hopefully come out sooner than this one did), we will get to see Zelda and Link – er, I mean Hilda and Ravio step forward as THE ultimate power couple at Riju's fancy gala! Will they successfully infiltrate this party, or crash and burn horribly?
Before I end this note, I also want to say that in addition to being a key chapter for Link's (and Nabooru's!) character development, this chapter contained a bit of foreshadowing for what's to come. Hopefully you guys won't be TOO surprised by the outcome of events and the eventual ending of this story.
Okay, I will officially end this by saying thank you guys so much for giving this story 100 reviews! I missed the exact '100' mark but I appreciate it. Whether you like this story, or hate it and my iteration of Link (don't worry, looking back at the earlier chapters I'm not a fan either), I appreciate you all. Please bear with me as I make some big changes in my life, I'll try my best to not let it affect the progress of this story too much.