The desert heat was something that she was used to now.
The desert sand was part of her daily life.
The Gerudo were her people, even if she wasn't born amongst them.
Their king was her husband and she loved him dearly.
But, their king also happened to be a giant idiot at times.
She had watched him stress and fawn over the new trade agreements with Hyrule for weeks after their return from the neighboring kingdom. He didn't sleep, he didn't eat, and he was mentally and physically exhausted.
"Love, please come lay down," Aeris stood behind Ganondorf where he sat at his desk rubbing his shoulders lightly. "There's nothing more you can do right now,"
Ganondorf laid his head back to rest on her chest and sighed. "There is always something to be done,"
"Well, right now that something is getting some rest," Aeris dug her fingers into a particularly tense spot in his shoulders drawing a low groan from him.
"If you keep doing that I'll do anything you want," He sighed and slid further down in the chair as she kneaded the thick muscles of his shoulders.
"Anything?" She leaned so that he could see her face and waggled her eyebrows drawing a soft chuckle from him.
"Anything within reason," He scolded her jokingly as he allowed her to guide him from his seat and toward their shared bed.
"You're no fun," She laughed lightly as she pulled him onto the soft surface and motioned for him to lay down. "You need to loosen up, love,"
He eyed her warily as he laid back on the bed and she motioned for him to roll onto his stomach. "I don't know if I like where this is going,"
She laughed as she moved to straddle his hips and slowly ran her fingers up his spine until she was leaned over his shoulder enough to whisper in his ear. "Relax love,"
He shuddered under her touch as she kissed his temple lightly and she would be damned if she let this moment get away from her. She kissed slowly along his shoulder and down his spine as she ran her fingers over the thick bands of muscles that made up his back. "I've got you,"
She dug her thumbs into a knot just above his hips drawing a strangled scream from him that turned into a soft moan as she slowly worked over the tense muscle until she was satisfied with her work and moved up to the next area that needed her attention.
She made her way up the expanse of his back working out knots and relishing in the soft sounds he was making beneath her. He needed this and she was happy to provide the service.
Once she reached his shoulders she shifted so she could use both hands to work the tenseness out of the right one before moving to the left. Once she was satisfied she pushed his thick crimson hair away from his neck and gently began rubbing her thumbs along his vertebra until she felt him tense under her hands.
"Here?" She prodded the area in question with her fingers tips drawing a soft groan from him as he nodded ever so slightly.
She placed both hands firmly on either side of his neck with her thumbs on either side of his spine and applied slow even pressure. He squirmed under her until she jerked his head to the left and a resounding crack filled the room and his head fell limply onto their pillows. She chuckled as she manipulated his head and tweaked it back to the right until she heard another satisfying pop followed by a low groan. She rubbed his neck gently as he continued to let out a long low moan.
"Are you alive?" She pulled her hands away from him as he nodded and mumbled something into the pillows. "What was that?"
She leaned closer and her ebony hair fell around them shielding them from the outside world. He turned his head just enough for her to catch a glimpse of one of his golden eyes and swallowed thickly. "I think I love you,"
She sat back still straddling his hips and laughed. A true laugh that neither of them had heard in ages it seemed. "Well, I would hope so,"
He shifted enough to grab a hold of her hips so that he could flip to lay on his back with her sitting on his chest. Once they were settled he lifted a hand to lightly trace the edge of her jaw. His usually intense golden eyes were soft as he looked up at her. "Never doubt that I love you,"
Ever since their trip to Hyrule, he had been working double-time to make sure she knew how much he appreciated her. Their small fight the night before they had left the neighboring country had shaken him more than he had let on and when she had raced after that boy in the market he had almost been sure that she was gone for good.
She caught his hand in hers and held it close to her face. She said nothing as he pulled her to lie next to him. She didn't need to, they had come to a silent agreement that something had happened in Hyrule and he wouldn't push the subject further. Even if it pained him to not know what had left her so shaken.
She buried her head into his side and gripped the edge of his robe tightly between her fingers. "You would never hurt me, right?" Her voice trembled as she slowly looked up at him.
He caught her chin in his fingers and lifted her gaze to him. "If the day ever comes that I purposefully hurt you, I've gone insane and need to be put down,"
She gave him a shaky smile as his intense golden gaze bore through her. "I think Nabooru can handle that,"
He chuckled softly and loosened his grip on her. "I wouldn't doubt it,"
The amber gem that sat between his brows was cool against her skin as he pressed his forehead gently against her own. They laid in silence until a small snore rumbled deep in his throat, she snuggled closer to his chest and closed her eyes.
They both needed to rest.
- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -
Her eyes fluttered open as a bright ray of sunlight danced across her face rousing her from her slumber. She moved to stretch but found that she was unable to move from her current position. An iron grip kept her locked in place against a firm surface that rose and fell with each breath she took.
She struggled to lift her head off of the surface enough to take in her surroundings and smiled softly as she realized that she was laying on top of Ganondorf and his arms were wrapped tightly around her middle keeping her trapt against him.
She took a moment to observe his face, he always looked so peaceful when he slept. She smiled broadly as a loud snore ripped through the otherwise silent room. He always argued with her that he didn't snore and she loved teasing him about it.
"Gan," She wiggled against his hold enough so she could reach his face. "Love,"
She kissed the end of his nose and he jolted awake with a loud snort. "Wha!" His grip on her tightened enough to force the air from her lungs.
"You were snoring love," She coughed as he looked up at her groggily.
"Was not," He closed his eyes and laid his head back against the pillows
She loved how gruff his voice was when he was first waking up before he got his wits about him and he slid into his everyday kingly cadence and the fact that she was the only person that got to see him like this made it all the more special. She blinked at him slowly, his breathing had evened out and his mouth was opened slightly making him look like a teenager again.
She shook her head lightly and kissed the end of his nose again giggling softly as his face twitched. He cracked his eyes open and growled softly. "What do you want?"
"It's time to get up," She would have loved to stay in bed with him all day but they had things to do, the tribe wasn't going to run itself.
He rolled them so that they were laying on their sides and tucked her tightly against his chest. "Not yet,"
"Gan, we have to meet with the elders," His eyes snapped open and he groaned loudly as he released her from his grip and flopped back onto his back.
"Why did you have to remind me of that?" He flicked his eyes back to her. "You know I've been dreading that for weeks,"
"Yes, because I've so been looking forward to it," She propped her head up with her arm and rolled her eyes at him.
Ganondorf may be the king, but the council of elders still held a considerable amount of power over the tribe and acted as advisors to the acting leader. Whether that be Ganondorf or the vai that was acting as chieftess during those periods of time between kings.
The council had been pressuring them into a meeting with them ever since they returned from their trip to Hyrule, it was strange that they wanted to meet with both Aeris and Ganondorf though. Most of the time they only met with Ganondorf.
"We have some time before the meeting though," She scooted closer to him and traced her fingers in a circular pattern on his slightly exposed chest. "We cou-"
She didn't have time to finish her sentence before he took her by the hips and easily flips them so that he was straddling her thighs. "Do you want to finish that thought?" He loomed over her with a predatory grin. "Little Hylian,"
She sneered up at him. "And if I do?"
He bowed his head closer to her until she could feel his breath puff against her face. "You kno-"
The door to their room burst open causing the pair of them to jump apart. "Rise and shine!" Nabooru stood in the doorway with a manic grin on her face. "Glad to see you two are just as disgusting as ever,"
"Nabs, what the hell?" Aeris scrambled to grab her robe while Ganondorf sat up on the edge of the bed visibly fuming.
"The elders sent me to get you two lovebirds," Nabooru pointed out into the hall with her thumb.
Aeris threw her robe on as she stepped off the edge of the bed and gave Ganondorf a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "Give us a minute to get ready, please,"
Nabooru threw her hands in the air and backed out of the room. "Alright, but I'll be in the hall so no funny business you two,"
Once the door closed Aeris chuckled and wrapped her arms around Ganondorf's shoulders. "Let's get this over with," She kissed him on the temple and pulled him to his feet. "The sooner the better,"
He nodded in agreement and swept her into his arms. "We'll finish this later," He placed a soft kiss on her lips and lowered her back to the floor. Aeris slipped into a simple full-length skirt and bandeau top with traditional Gerudo designs embossed onto the fabric white Ganondorf slipped into is usual cream-colored robes.
"Here," Ganondorf turned to her holding her simplest circlet in his hands. It was made of tiny golden chains that held a small amber gem between her brows, meant to mimic the gems the Gerudo wore. She ducked her head so he could settle the delicate piece of jewelry onto her head.
"Thank you," She stood on her tiptoes to place a small kiss on his cheek.
He swiped his thumb over her cheek "Let's not keep them waiting any longer,"
She nodded and made her way out into the hall where Nabooru was leaning against the wall opposite their door.
"Took you long enough," Nabooru kicked off of the wall and motioned for Aeris and Ganondorf to follow her through the fortress toward the council chamber. Ganondorf held Aeris' hand lightly in his own as they made their way through the fortress and greeted each via they passed with a warm smile.
Nabooru paused before the doors to the council chambers and turned to make sure that Aeris and Ganondorf were still behind her and then pushed the doors open.
The council was waiting for them within and Aeris trembled lightly as they stepped into the large circular room, six Gerudo of varying ages turned toward them and Aeris froze before Ganondorf squeezed her hand gently boosting her confidence to continue forward.
Ganondorf bowed his head and Aeris followed suit. "Goeiah, Ghaeih," He addressed the two vai in the center of the room that could almost be mistaken for Koume and Kotake. They were the only other twins amongst the Gerudo and were the oldest members of the council. "Might I ask why this meeting has been called?"
Kulori stepped forward and Aeris was happy to see the vai that had trained her, it put her mind at ease to know that at least one of the members of the council would be on her side, if sides were being chosen. "We apologize for interrupting your very busy schedules but there is a matter that must be addressed,"
"And what would this matter be?" Ganondorf's grip on her hand tightened and she gently tapped her fingers on the back of his hand.
"You two have been married for two years now, Yes?" Amearu spoke up, Aeris wasn't as familiar with her but she had always seemed like a sensible vai.
"Almost three now," Aeris looked up confused as to what their marriage had to do with anything.
"Almost three," One of the twins, Aeris wasn't sure which, seemed to mull over the time frame.
"Then we must call something into question," The other twin stood and Aeris took a shaky breath as the vai approached them.
"Are you going to continue being cryptic or are you going to tell us what the issue is?" Ganondorf was becoming visibly agitated and Aeris was quickly becoming more and more nervous.
The twin that was approaching them stopped just short of them and looked directly into Aeris' eyes.
"Why have you not produced an heir?"
.