Out of the stillness of the evening, a firm set of knocks came upon the door.
"Come in".
Aside from the slightest creak of the door's hinges, the figure made no sound as he entered the queen's personal study and Zelda only looked up from the document she had been reading when the door was closed once again.
"Link, I expected you earlier. How is your packing coming along?"
The knight's face was calm and still, his gaze travelling the distance that spanned between them to meet his queen's, but his expression revealed nothing. It had been hours since Link had his confrontation with Bohdan, hours since he had reeled at the thought that Zelda might be getting married and he was the last to know, and hours since he had sat in Epona's stall with his mare thinking about it all over and over. As evening came and the stable's lamps were lit, Link finally sat up and stonily made his way up to his room. He packed all of his necessities, made his way down the hall to where Zelda's study was, set down his packs under the curious gaze of the queen's guard, and knocked upon his friend's door. Seeing her now, the questions and confusion that Link had been thinking and feeling the past few hours swirled in his mind but his face was unreadable.
With a shrug and the ghost of a smile, Link replied, "It's fine. Lost track of time, I guess".
Smiling, Zelda nodded and slightly shook her head, "Well that's typical. I can only imagine how distracting your excitement must be. Being able to finally leave this dreaded castle". With playful emphasis on 'dreaded', Zelda's eyes sparkled with amusement as she was trying to tease her knight, to which Link half chuckled and shrugged again.
A moment of silence passed between them, each looking into the other's eyes, before Link finally spoke up and announced, "I've decided to leave before the morn. In fact, if I could, I'd like to leave as soon as possible".
This news caught Zelda a bit off guard. Standing, she came before Link with a softer smile. "Has being cooped up here really been that terrible?"
"No, no…. It's not that…." Link began, finally looking aside as he removed his hat. His hair he had tied back in a low ponytail and he admitted that he liked the new style, but the words he had been practicing for this conversation seemed to all have been for naught. "It' just… I'm already packed and I think that even if I did try and get some sleep, I wouldn't be able to. You know me, I don't like standing around when I'm ready to go".
Link hoped that Zelda wouldn't pry further, that his half-truth would satisfy her enough, and to his relief he saw her nod before heading over to her settee in front of the fireplace. Watching his queen sit, Link did his best not to show the hardness in his features or how tense he felt in his entire body. He hoped that Zelda wouldn't catch on to how much he was biting his tongue against barraging her with a variety of accusations or questions. Instead, he stood there quietly like the obedient knight he was.
"If you're wondering, I am far from surprised. As you said, you really aren't one for patience, especially when it comes to an adventure". Raising a brow at him, Zelda gestured for her knight to join her and take a seat.
Tensing his fingers that gripped his hat, Link came to sit aside her and the fire's flames illuminated the sides of their faces. Moments such as these, when no one else was around and they were alone, there always seemed to be a sort of silence between them where words ought to be. This is not to say that the pair never spoke, for they did extensively, but rather there remained unspoken words that neither dared speak. Neither one of them have ever brought up this feeling that surely both felt and for good reason. Mainly because neither of them were exactly sure what those feelings were and, more importantly, if they were appropriate .
Breaking eye contact, Link stared into the fire. After a moment of indecision, he said as nonchalantly as he could, "I ran into Lord Bohdan earlier. He said that he was looking for you. Did you speak with him?"
As casual as his tone and posture could be, Link was intently watching Zelda's reaction from his peripheral and his jaw clenched ever so slightly when he saw her vaguely flinch.
"As, yes. I did speak with the Lord Gefion. He found me while I was still going over with Sir Arvid his expectations as your replacement". Zelda matched Link's casualness with her tone, even adding a hand gesture of neutral concern.
"Oh yeah? Did he say what he wanted? He wouldn't tell me which I found… odd". Glancing over to her, Link gave her an innocent expression of curiosity and he watched her smile and slightly roll her eyes.
"I'm sure you can guess with him. It was a mix of trying to ask me to a private dinner and asking for more money from the treasury. Nothing out of the ordinary".
Zelda tone and composure spoke truthfulness and Link once again found himself in doubt as to who should he believe. Bohdan was a notorious sonofabitch and it wouldn't be beneath him to lie in order to rile Link up, but he had been so specific. Yet Zelda… what she said could very well be the only truth, for the Gefion family had a habit of regularly trying to get in closer with the queen so that Bohdan remained the most eligible bachelor on the monarch's mind.
Sighing slightly, Link genuinely smiled and gave a chuckle, replying. "Why am I not surprised?" before he decided to change the subject, "So how did Arvid fair?"
Zelda was happy to share how her other knight seemed to fit the role of replacement Personal Guard to the Queen well and that she trusted that he would do well. "You have nothing to worry about, Link, that I can assure you. You chose well with Arvid and know that I will be well looked after whilst you are away". A serene smile softened Zelda's expression as she met Link's eyes and with a glance at the fire, she continued, "I hope that while you are amongst the Gerudo that you push me to the back of your mind. I only wish for you to focus on your ailment and its cure, for I believe that with this poison that the Gerudo will be able to help you more than you fussing over my wellbeing". Chuckling lightly, Zelda gestured around her queenly study and added, "How much trouble can I get as I am unable to leave my own castle until all of this is resolved? Not only do I have Arvid to protect me, but the whole of my guard. So please, take care of yourself first, Link, and only then will I give you permission to worry about me again".
Once again silence enveloped them both as Link was unable to find the words to say in response to his queen. A faint blush spread in his cheeks and he looked down at the hat in his hands out of apparent bashfulness. In truth, however, it was out of shame. How could he ever have thought that Zelda was keeping something as large as marriage from him when she only wanted what was best for him? She was being so selfless and he had questioned her trust at the mere words of a bloated, rich buffoon. Creasing his brows at his guilt, Link let his shoulders drop only for him to jump slightly when he felt Zelda's hand come to rest upon his armoured shoulder.
Seeing her face, Link saw her eyes upon his wounded shoulder with an expression that was difficult for him to read. Sorrow? Guilt? Regret? Zelda simply looked sad as she gently smoothed the metal of his armour with her hand. Link was very much aware as to how close they were sitting together and for a second, he allowed himself to enjoy it.
"Link, there's something-" Zelda said suddenly in a quiet rush before she stopped herself. Her knight began to inquire but she simply shook her head and gave him a smile before removing her hand and met his eyes. "It's nothing. Though, I must say, that I like your hair how it is. The length really suits you. Now go on and get going, you have a desert to reach".
Link brow creased as if he was going to say something further. He didn't. Smiling in return he only nodded, choosing to remain his quiet self. Without another word he stood and left his queen to retrieve his things from the hall and do as she commanded.
With her knight gone and once again she was alone, Zelda hung her head and rested her forehead against her palms as her guilt consumed her. "Coward…" she whispered to herself.
/
Urging Epona into a steady canter as soon as her hooves touched the bridge of the western entrance of Castle Town, Link waved at the soldiers stationed there. The sun was dipping low towards the horizon and soon the hour of twilight would descend upon Hyrule before the darkness of night ruled. With each stride his mare took, Link could feel his heart lift and his smile grew with sheer excitement. He was free! With one last look, the knight sent a glance up at the looming outline of Hyrule Castle against the darkening sky. Epona rounded the rocky corridor that lead towards the western section of Hyrule field and the castle disappeared from view. Directing his gaze forward, Link wanted to push his mount faster but he managed to control himself and maintained their pace as they crossed the field. Soon enough they came upon the gate of the Fence and Link reined Epona in.
Giving the patrolmen atop the wall a wave, Link saw the soldiers immediately recognize him and Epona and without question the heavy, reinforced gate of the Fence began to swing outwards. The gears were too slow for Link's liking, but foot by foot Hyrule's outer wilderness opened up for him and with another wave of thanks, the hero spurred his mare into a gallop out through the gate. Taking a deep breath of the rich and cool spring air, the knight felt like his old self. Goodbye castle politics, cold stone walls, and Zelda acting him like he was about to break at any moment! At the pace he was pushing Epona, the spot where he and Zelda were ambushed quickly came and went with Link barely giving the explosion marks upon the rocks a second glance. That was in the past and soon the pain in his shoulder would be too. He was certain that the Gerduo would have the answers to help him and to solve the riddle that was his dream in the Dark Realm.
Almost as if she knew where her master needed to go, Epona needed little goading as she pressed on and soon her shod hooves thundered over the stones of the Great Bridge of Hylia. Once on the other side, Link slowed his horse to a trot and directed her to descend towards the lake. A few years ago Zelda had commissioned the Gorons to create a passageway wide enough for horses and wagons to the lake's level. That project in addition to re-opening the passageway up from the lake into the Great Desert was to ensure the opening of trade and transport of materials in and out of the desert region. Soldiers, both Hylian and Zora, were permanently stationed at the newly built garrison situated half within the lake's wall. It was an impressive structure and it had been some time since Link had come to the garrison, probably not since his last visit to the Gerudo. The reason for the constant presence of soldiers was plain and there was no denying the correlation between the garrison and the fact that the Gerudo had returned.
Arriving at the garrison, Link chatted shortly with the captain there and made his intent clear: that he'd be out with the Gerudo for a week. There were soldiers stationed up upon the ridge bordering the desert and Link would tell them the same once he got there. Such layers of protection stemmed from Hyrulean paranoia, but it did also ensure a steady system of trade between the guards and the Gerudo. Epona had made this trip many times now, so with ease she trotted up the incline towards the top of the ridge and just as the moon began to rise her hooves touched sand.
Nighttime in the desert was cold and if the winds kicked up the sands could feel like shards of glass. Donning his crimson cape, Link nodded and greeted the soldiers stationed at the edge of the desert before pressing onwards. Not far in the distance rose the dark structure of the newly reconstructed Gerudo fortress. Built on the ancestral grounds where the original stood, the fortress was built of thick blocks of golden sandstone and encircled around a hidden oasis that only the Gerudo had known was there. From what Link had heard, the structure was nowhere near as large as it had been during the reign of Ganondorf, but it was a start. The Gerudo had been without a home for so long that they had dedicated day and night to erect to fortress as it was, even daring the midday sun to complete a walled square with dwellings inside as quickly as they could.
Not that Link had ever entered the structure, no man had. The Gerudo had refused any male help when the queen had offered, only female Goron had been able to give aid to lift the heavy sandstone blocks. When Link had been to the settlement in the past, he camped outside the walls in a tent simply because he wasn't allowed. Gerudo culture was complicated and mysterious and even as their Hylian ambassador, Link knew very little about the daily lives of the tribeswomen. Even scouring the library in the castle turned up very little, which Link thought a true shame.
Epona whinnied softly when they neared the fortress' main entrance and Link dismounted. Taking his mare's reigns, the Hylian approached the two tall, cloaked figures standing near the entrance archway, naginata in their hands. Gerudo women towered over Link, and Hylians in general, for the race were much taller with their bronze skin, red hair, amber or green eyes, hawk-like noses, and impressive physiques. No matter how long or how many times Link spent time with the women, it was difficult for him to feel equal to them. Height wasn't the issue, or even gender, but the swordsmanship skills of the women were unlike anything Link ever faced. Swift and graceful were the best ways to describe the women when they bore their scimitars, they moved like deadly dancers.
"Sav'saaba," greeted one of the women to Link, to which he nodded.
"Vasaaq," he replied in greeting. "I decided to come earlier, but Nabila should be-"
"You will follow us, voe," the other Gerudo interrupted, catching Link off guard.
"Ah… what?" he asked, clearly confused as to what she meant.
"Follow us now. Bring your beast," the second Gerudo said once again, motioning for Link to enter the fortress ahead of her.
Dumbfounded and a bit apprehensive, Link looked between the two women with a confused expression before blinking and saying, "Umm… okay," and took unsure steps forward. He was truly walking into unknown and probably dangerous territory, but the unwavering and sharp gaze from both women beneath their hoods told him to move quicker. Swallowing his anxiety, Link walked beneath the archway and entered the fortress proper, Epona at his side with her ears perked. Taking in what sights he could make out by the few lamps situated here and there, Link could see sandstone dwellings, awnings and tents. Trickling water filled the still desert air, so he could tell that at least a couple of fountains were hidden in the shadows. In the past Link had noticed that the fortress could be quite the lively place at night from what he had heard in his tent, but tonight it was dead. There wasn't a soul in sight aside from Link, Epona and the two guards.
Looking around, Link was unsure what to do next and he looked up at one of his escorts to ask, "Where is everyone?" but for the most part the woman ignored him and simply stared ahead towards one of the dwellings.
Following her gaze, nothing could be seen amongst the shadows until a group of figures emerged from the house and stepped towards them. There were two more Gerudo and once they came into the light of a nearby lamp, Link recognized the woman leading to be Nabila, chief of the Gerudo.
"Sav'saaba," the chief greeted, her amber eyes burrowing into Link's with her intense gaze. Glancing at the two guardswomen, Nabila gave them a nod and a quiet "Sarqso" in thanks before returning her gaze down upon Link.
Meeting her eyes, Link had learned long ago that when the chief of the Gerudo looked upon you that you had better not look away. Such an act was seen as cowardly and even could be seen as an act of malicious intent, as if your attention was on a possible ambush or drawing your blade. Nabila herself was as tall as any other Gerudo woman, with her sharp nose accenting her exotic features, which any man probably would describe as beautiful even though Nabila was not the youngest of the Gerudo. Her long, red hair was ornately done up in a thick braid with jewels and a golden diadem that surely signified her status as chief. Her skin tone was a light bronze and scars were evident across her luscious skin, marks of honour amongst the Gerudo. The most noteworthy feature about Nabila was the fact that her left amber eye was clouded, blinded by the world beyond the Great Desert. Not that this injury has ever dampened her ability as a fighter, in fact it has probably heightened her other senses.
"Vasaaq," Link greeted politely, although his tone clearly revealed his confusion. He really wanted to see who else stood behind Nabila but he dared not break eye contact from the chief before she did so first.
"Valqo, it is good to see you. I know that you have questions and they will be addressed soon". Nabila spoke calmly, addressing Link by the name she and the other Gerudo called him. Once Link tried to ask what it meant but he was only told that it was who he was, whatever that meant.
"Lady Nabila-"
"In due time, Valqo. Now follow us". Nabila stopped Link with her tone and the knight obediently didn't say another word. One of the guards took Epona's reins and Link glanced longingly at his mare before following Nabila. Now that she had broken eye contact, the man was able to look at the other woman who accompanied her. The Gerudo was younger than Nabila, more likely around Link's own age, and the knight had seen her a few times before. He didn't know her name but she was beautiful, that he could admit. Like all Gerudo, her red hair was as ornate as Nabila's, though it lacked the golden diadem. Her lips looked to be painted with turquoise colour, her eyes were a deep amber, while her body… Link looked away to focus on the task at hand, for he was being lead into the dwelling from which Nabila and the girl had exited from.
The dwelling was large, perhaps larger than the other dwellings but it was difficult to tell in the dim light, and once inside Link was succumbed to darkness. Until, that is, a lamp was suddenly lit and blinking against the sudden brightness Link was able to take in the interior of the building. Material was draped on on the walls along with tapestries while rugs softened the floor. A few furniture pieces were located to one side and pillows were scattered around a few tables to make the place more or less comfortable. Still, it wasn't exactly what Link had expected, for he had expected… well, something more.
Looking about, a nudge from behind caught the man off guard and he looked over his shoulder to see yet another Gerudo looming behind him and effectively blocking the entrance. Shouldering his urge to want to defend himself, Link kept his expression even and followed Nabila to the far side of the room where thicks curtains of materials covered the wall. Before he could say anything, the material was pulled aside from a hidden figure to reveal a doorway and a Gerudo standing within who was holding back the curtain. Nabila and the unnamed Gerudo proceeded forward, as did Link. Entering the hidden doorway revealed a bigger surprise, for Nabila proceeded downwards a spiralling staircase of stone. Link had no idea that there were lower levels to the fortress and why would he? Descending the stairs himself, the knight's mind began to theorize exactly how large the fortress truly was and how many levels could it extend beneath ground.
The air was cold the further they went and the light became scarce until their feet met even ground once more. The coolness made sense for a race who dwelled in a hot desert ad Link surmised that down here the temperature probably didn't change a lot. Light from a torch illuminated the space before them but it only showed that they faced a corridor. Walking forward, Link began to wonder if his presence was the cause for why the fortress was so dark and so vacant. Having an outsider inside a forbidden fortress was one thing, but another to be allowed to descend into the hidden depths, so it made sense that the Gerudo had taken measures so that his curiosity couldn't see too much. The trio more or less walked in dimness, but Link had a feeling that they were passing many doorways and other corridors. He also got the feeling that they weren't entirely alone. His honed senses told him of watchful eyes and Link was smart enough to know that if he tried to run or do anything stupid that he'd be surrounded within moments.
After walking for a few minutes, they finally rounded a corner that Link only saw because of the torch on the other side. There he saw another pair of guards before a closed door, to which they opened for their approaching chief and didn't even give Link a glance when he passed them. The room was much warmer than the hall but not as well decorated as the building at ground level. Instead only four, large pillows filled the small room and rectangular rug in the middle of the pillows. Upon two of those pillows sat two Gerudo. Link had never seen a Gerudo any older than Nabila but could tell that these women were advanced in age due to the lines in their faces and even a few white strands in their red hair. The older Gerudo both set their gazes upon Link even before he was fully in the room and instantly he felt vulnerable under their powerful stares. It was impossible to discern their expressions but Link felt as though they were stripping back his flesh in order to read his very soul.
It was rather unsettling and did not help with his confusion.
Standing there awkwardly, the yet-to-be-named Gerudo sat upon a pillow until only Link and Nabila were left standing. Behind him the door to the room closed and all eyes fell upon the Hylian.
"Take a seat on the rug, Valqo," Nabila said with a gesture towards the mat in the centre of the seating pillows, "but remove your weapons and shirt first".
Blinking at Nabila, mouth slightly agape, it took a few seconds for Link to respond. Slowly he began to undo the straps that fastened his quiver, shield and sword to his back before removing his magical pouches, and finally he started on his shoulder armour. Very much aware that four women were watching him undress very intently, Link fumbled with the clasps of his armour and fought the urge to wince when he moved his shoulder wrong. He didn't ask for help and the Gerudo did not offer it, but rather sat in observant silence as the shoulder plating was placed on the floor and Link removed his crimson cape, green tunic and chainmail. Left now with only his cotton shirt on over his trousers and boots, the man hesitated as his eyes passed between the women before taking a deep breath and he removed his shirt.
Tossing his shirt upon the pile of his other garments, the room's lamps illuminated his masculine and muscular torso, the trail of hair leading from his belly button down into his trousers, and the ugly, half-healed mar upon his toned skin where the poisoned arrow had punctured his shoulder. Feeling a bit defenceless against the intent gazes of the women, Link could do little but stand there under their scrutiny until finally Nabila spoke again.
"Now sit, voe".
Oh, right….
Link gave an apologetic smile and went over to sit upon the rug, his back to the door, so that he faced all of the women. Nabila silently went and adjusted the lamps' positions so that the majority of the light was upon Link and more specifically upon his shoulder. For the next few minutes, Link was gently pulled and prodded as the elder Gerudo examined his shoulder, not saying much save for a few words in their language to one another and only gesturing for him to raise his arm or rotate his shoulder. Link obeyed without a word, trying hard to remain calm and to not wince, though his eyes kept falling upon Nabila, who had taken her seat, and the other mysterious Gerudo. Minutes of this inspection passed and Link could not tell from the tones or expressions of the elders as to what they thought of his injury. Finally the women settled back onto their pillows and each took a turn to rely to Nabila in Gerudo their thoughts.
Link simply sat there, ignorant to what was going on, until the room fell silent and Nabila took a moment to digest the elders' conclusions.
"Sa'oten…" Link heard Naila mumble, which he knew meant something along the lines of "oh dear", which didn't bode well.
"Well?" Link pressed, his fists tightening upon his knees from his nervousness.
Nabila looked up and locked onto his eyes, her expression unreadable. "I promised you answers, Valqo, and I shall give some to you. We do not know all but I believe that we just might be able to help you".
A smile breached Link's lips and he let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding. He kept his gaze upon Nabila but giddiness brimmed within his mind at the notion of finally getting some answers.
"Now, I will speak of what we know first and only after may you ask questions. There is… a lot and some will be difficult for you to understand". Crossing her arms, Nabila narrowed her eyes very slightly and her tone changed slightly too, "What I am to tell is private Gerudo culture, our culture, and matters that should not be shared with outsiders, especially a voe. However, circumstances tell a different story and you deserve to know all after what you have been through. You will swear on the name of the Desert Goddess that all that is heard and revealed while you are here shall be kept. These are Gerudo secrets and you will protect them with your blood".
Nabila's threat was clear and Link didn't hesitate to nod and respond, "I swear... I mean that I swear on the name of the Desert Goddess that what you have to say will not leave this room".
Seemingly satisfied with his answer, Nabila studied the Hylian man for a few moments more before finally she began. "That poison in your shoulder, the Atishokull, comes from a rare plant found only here in the desert. The plant is called the Atishala flower, which means "hidden fire", for it only blooms in certain conditions. This flower has great bulbs as part of its body and these can be filled with a nectar. It is from this nectar that Atishokull may be procured, but it is a timely process and only through correct ways can the poison be made. If errors are made, the resulting poison will do nothing but cause sickness for a few days. The Gerudo only make this poison for two reasons: one, as punishment for the most heinous of acts and two, for our kings. As I sure that you are aware, a voe born into Gerudo is very rare and happens only once every hundred years or so. With the birth of this voe, he is our king and we are loyal to him. During the times where there is no king, a chief leads the people and this role is passed from mother to daughter".
Nabila paused to gesture to the younger woman beside her as she said, "This is my daughter, Mahila, and she will become chief once I have joined the Goddess or step down. Though if a king comes to us before that happens, then she will bear his daughters once he comes of age if she is still fertile. Our last king was…" Nabila hesitated once again only to spit aside on the ground and the other women followed suit, much to Link's surprise. "Ganondorf Dragmire". The name was spoken as it was a dirty word, as if it was a struggle to say, but Link also noted how there was a sad tone underneath the vile that he could not quite place. "That name is forbidden to speak openly amongst us for the shame that he brought to our tribe. Over a century ago, our last king had sworn allegiance to the Hylian king, but a plot was revealed that our king intended to seize the Sacred Realm. This was proven to be true when our king rallied us to invade against the Hylians and the Sacred Realm".
The room became awful quiet and Link noticed how all of the women's eyes were downcast and how the elders were mumbling under their breath, as if in prayer. "This is our greatest shame, but we follow our king no matter his orders. Still, we Gerudo were banished from Hyrule for our crimes and our king was sentenced to execution by the Ancient Sages. He did not die but was banished to the Twilight Realm and we, his tribe were left to struggle and die in the outer lands with no promise of a king as one cannot be born when another lives. Then you, Valqo, hero of the Hylians, finally killed him five years ago".
It was a lot to take in for Link, though a lot of this he knew. Still, hearing it come the Gerudo's perspective was interesting and he was still waiting for how the history of Ganondorf had anything to do with the poison in his veins. As if she could read his thoughts Nabila raised a brow and continued her tale, "With our cursed king dead, a new one will soon be born, we are sure of it. With this birth, new Atishokull will need to be made as it is a test that all our kings must overcome. It is strength to withstand the brutality of the Atishokull, for its fire and ice can be deadly. A king only has to ingest a couple of drops but that is enough for pain and madness to overtake him for three days. You, on the other hand, took in much more than a couple of drops yet were only asleep for a five days. You, voe, should be dead, and I want you to tell me why".
Suddenly it was Link's turn to talk and with all eyes on him, he blurted out the question he'd been holding on his tongue, "Why was Ganondorf your cursed king?"
A vague look of surprise flashed in Nabila's eyes when Link didn't immediately answer her request. When she frowned, Link thought that perhaps she wouldn't answer his question, but it came as a shock with the elder to his left replied in her stead. "Ganondorf was stolen from us. Not by you, voe, but by a darkness that will forever shame Gerudo. A darkness called Ganon… It infected our king and stole his soul, leaving a Gerudo vessel for it to control. The king who Ganondorf should have been was murdered long before he could hold a sword".
The look of astonishment could not be hidden from Link's expression and he took a few good moments to digest what the elder's, heavily accented words meant. "Ganondorf…. was innocent?"
"No," came Nabila's sharp reply, "there was no Ganondorf, only Ganon. The child who was born Ganondorf never lived, there was only the evil of Ganon filling his body, practicing dark magic, corrupting Gerudo, and gaining strength to take the Sacred Realm. If it was not for a Hylian boy who warned the king of Hyrule of that monster's plans, then I am sure that all of Hyrule would have been doomed".
A Hylian boy… Nabila's words brought forth the Hero of Time's tale that he had told Link all those years ago in the Temple of Time. He had warned his princess of the threat of Ganondorf after travelling back through time… It all made sense now. Still, grasping the concept that Ganondorf wasn't all to blame for his actions, that there wasn't a "Ganondorf" exactly, and that the Gerudo had all been tricked more or less… those were difficult truths to accept. Wetting his lips, Link took a deep breath and formed his next question carefully, "So the Gerudo being banished-?"
"Was our fate and our punishment. We did not stop the evil that we saw in our king years prior to our attack on Hyrule, that or we did not wish to see it. We will bear this shame forever. No chief shall ever forget". Another silence filled the room as everyone seemed to take in the grim information. The Gerudo chief was the first to break the silence when she repeated herself in a stern tone, "Now tell me, voe, how are you alive after facing the Atishokull? You are Hylian, you lack Gerudo strength, yet you survived what would have killed four of our kings I am sure. Why you?"
"Well, to tell you the truth, I don't believe that I ought to be alive myself. What happened to me… I've been having trouble understanding any of it".
The Gerudo regarded him with intent interest, so Link took a deep breath and licked his lips before he delved into his tale. He told of how the queen and him had been out for a snow-day ride when they were ambushed. He recalled moment to moment of him being hit by the arrow and the burning pain that began to pulse from it. Having never been a good speaker, Link struggled to put his memories into words but he managed at least to try and relate how his whole body became consumed in fire, how the arrow was removed, and how the others felt him as cold rather than feverish. At points he had to pause to enable Nabila to rely what he said in her language for the elders to better understand.
Pausing once more, the knight found himself at the point where in his story the poison and fire within his veins had begun to change him into a wolf and he wavered whether or not he should tell them. Instead, he chose to simply state that the poison really affected him physically, changing him even, until suddenly everything stopped.
"I just… one moment I was screaming, the next... time had stopped. I saw the queen through the fog of my fever, could feel my body again, was aware of where I was, and in that instant I thought I was going to be fine. But then… then, I… I was pulled away, violently. In an instant it felt as if I was yanked from the bed down towards darkness, as if some giant hand had grabbed me and stole me away".
Eyes narrowing, Link had been so absorbed with recalling his experience that he failed to notice that his hands had begun to shake and that his shoulder wound was burning. Placing his right palm over the wound, the hero looked up through narrowed, determined eyes directly at Nabila and with a tone torn between desperation and bewilderment he uttered, "I woke in a realm of grey, a Dark Realm, where I was without any recollection of who I was. There was no colour, no life, in that place. I was hunted. I was chased down by these demonic wolf-beasts and was met by…" A violent shiver stole the words from his lips and Link gritted his teeth as the pain in his shoulder intensified.
Anger was beginning to raise in him and Link broke his gaze with the women to look back at the Master Sword. "I met myself in that place. A dark version… my mirror image. Before he could reach me, however, I jumped into a sea of pure blackness and I nearly drowned if I weren't saved-"
Catching himself from about to say too much, the knight bit his lip and looked back at the Gerudo. The women watching him bore expressions impossible for him to read. His anger began to bubble and it took every inch of his self-control to not raise his voice. "I was saved because I am the Saviour of Hyrule, that is all I can say. Now, tell me the truth: what happened to me? If anyone would know why I'm not dead, it's you".
His question wasn't directed at no one in particular but at the Gerudo in general. If the anger inside of him hadn't strangled his calm sense of reason, perhaps Link would have realized that his wording was not the most eloquent and might sound like he was blaming the tribeswomen. After all, it had been their poison that had done all of this to him, so surely what he had experienced they knew why it had happened. Looking from face to face, inscrutable expression to expression, the knight finally managed to pour some water on his anger and his tone began to bleed desperation.
"Please. Just tell me…. What was that place? It haunts me. I can still see in my dreams or even during the day in the shadows when I recall it. I have not told anyone about this, not even the queen". Gripping his wounded shoulder, Link slowly pulled his hand away to see fresh blood upon his hand and he miserably regarded the crimson smeared across his palm. "It… it frightens me". Finally those words were spoken and Link shivered, though it wasn't exactly the place he was referring to any longer. As he stared at the red of his own blood, a face flashed in his mind causing him to flinch. Shutting his eyes and closing his fist tightly to hide the blood, Link focused all of his energy to rid his mind of that face but even from afar, eerie red eyes mocked him.
"We know of this place that you speak of".
"Or rather, we have heard of such a place".
Snapping his eyes open, Link looked between both of the elderly women until the one on his right sighed. "It is a cursed place and one that can only be reached by those touched with a dark curse".
"A curse?" Link repeated, his heart hammering all of a sudden.
The woman only calmly nodded, though when she continued her tone held a melancholy tone. "We do not speak of this. This dark knowledge is only passed down from chief to chief and the elders of the Gerudo, for it is not for the ears of youth". The woman glanced at Mahila before continuing. "It's said, that if the Atishokull was to be tainted by dark magic, that the poison could be used as the most darkest of curses. Not only would a person suffer from the poison, but also a fate worse than death. For you see, this poison with its dark magic can take a person's very spirit and trap it in a place where no light or hope or even time can survive. A place of eternal suffering".
Folding her hands, the woman gave Link a very serious look as she said slowly, "The attempt to make such a poison is forbidden. The rites of how are long lost. For generations we were lead to believe that it was impossible to achieve, yet here you are. Your spirit was stolen from this realm and nearly suffered a truly terrible fate, but you survived. How very interesting".
The elder sat back and her expression softened with true interest. Link only blinked at her, his expression indescribable, as he watched her turn to Nabila and simply nod. The chief of the Gerudo tapped her fingers upon her arms for a few seconds before smirking.
"Very interesting indeed. I cannot recall a time in our history when a voe or vai has survived such an amount of Atishokull you endured, let alone tainted with dark magic. You, Valqo, are ever surprising and I believe your words". Cocking her brow upwards, Nabila leaned over and whispered some words to her daughter who then wordlessly rose and walked over towards Link. His mind still reeling, the knight only watched the beautiful Gerudo come near him and in his moment of shock, he didn't even react or blush when she kneeled behind him.
"As I said before," Nabila continued, "Atishokull is meant for our kings and our criminals, but it is not supposed to be a means of death, only trial or punishment. As you are no criminal, your only offence it seems would be that you are a Hylian voe, and you are no Gerudo king…"
The snap of Nabila's fingers echoed in the small room and so many things happened at once. Strong hands suddenly gripped Link's shoulders and he was pulled back down onto the mat roughly, pain shooting his shoulder from the assault. Before he could fight back, Nabila shot forwards and Link's blush finally woke in full when the Gerudo chief pinned him down with her strength, her smirk mocking him. Her body was fully upon his and he was very much aware just how strong her legs and arms were when he tried to move his but couldn't.
"What the fuck- Hey! What's going on! Get off of me! What are you-!"
Link's words were cut short when Mahila took the opportunity of his shouting to jam a thick cloth between his teeth, stopping him to form words. His eyes were wild and wide, anger and confusion fuelled his struggles, and the more he did the more his wound bled and burned. He could feel that dark anger rising in him once again and the knight began to shout against his gag. Turning his head, the hero managed to glimpse the hilt of his sword and he willed it towards him before Mahila yanked his head back to keep it still. His fury and his fire was rising in him and his muscles began to bulge with strain, so much that Nabila had to push back much to her surprise.
While this sudden assault was going on, the elder Gerudo had been off busy in one of the corners, their backs turned towards Link's predicament until one came over to them. Catching her movements, the Hylian's enraged eyes turned deadly and his shouts became louder. Something in him, something dark, was whispering in the back of his mind amidst his screams that he should not allow that woman anywhere near him. His struggles increased tenfold and holding him down became a struggle into itself for Nabila and Mahila. Gritting her teeth in effort, the chief finally shouted something in Gerudo and the door burst open and five Gerudo warriors burst in. Three women immediately committed themselves to holding down Link's limbs while the other two stood by the door, their scimitars drawn.
Gnawing at his gag, deep growls began to emit from Link's chest and his expression was one of murder, his eyes intent on the elder who was now kneeling by his bleeding shoulder. Mahila's expression was one of fright but a sharp word from her mother steeled her and she held down the man's head as his muffled curses, shouts and growls intensified. Unbeknownst to the persons of the room, the Master Sword began to shine within its sheath and it called out to its master, who only screamed in rage, pain, and futility against his captors. The elder at his side remained seemingly unfazed by his commotion as her gaze was locked onto the ugly and bleeding wound disfiguring his left shoulder. With her so near, all of Link's efforts twisted towards her in desperate, malicious attempts to scare her away. The elder barely glanced at him she was so focused and after accessing the damage she revealed the item she'd been holding and true terror and wrath emitted from Link's conquered mind.
What she held look like a dried out, translucent gourd of some sort, with its body curved to make a natural handle and it bulged outwards like a squash would. Above the bulge was a long thorn that seemed to be a part of the entire plant. The Hylian had no idea what that thing was but the fire that had consumed him once again seem to know and he thrashed more than ever to try and scare away the woman, openly trying to do her harm.
A short, sharp command came from the elder and Nabila changed her hand's position in order to try and keep his shoulder down and somewhat still. Everyone was ignoring Link's screams, his enraged protests, his muffled threats. Whatever had taken over his mind, whatever had been hiding in the poison that remained in his system eyed the object in the elder's hands with hate and frustration. In a voice that was darker than his own, Link began to laugh against his gag just as the elder suddenly stabbed the thorn directly into his arrow wound.
The scream that filled the room wasn't entirely Link's, for his own was mixed with such hatred and malice that even some of the Gerudo warriors flinched. The elder remained calm in her procedure, repositioning her object so that the the bulge was directly overhead where the thorn was impaled into the knight's wound. With a calloused hand she squeezed the bulge and liquid oozed from the thorn into Link's blood stream.
The more liquid that entered him the more Link began to quiet down, his eyelids fluttering from exhaustion and his body was slick with sweat. When it seemed that all of the object liquid had been squeezed from the bulge, the elder let it go and the suction created began to suck liquid and blood back from the Hylian's shoulder. Except now, however, where the liquid had originally been clear, blackened blood began to refill the vessel. By the time it was full Link had quieted down. His breathing was erratic, his muscles were tense, but finally his mind was clear. The Master Sword also lost its shine and Link blinked with clarity as the elder pulled free the thorn from his wound.
Quickly, the elder stood and hurried over to where the other elder remained by the wall. The source of the warmth of the room was clear from Link's cloudy peripheral, for it turned out that there was a small alcove hidden in the wall that housed a stone furnace. The second elder had been tending the fire this entire time, so that when the object was brought to it the fire was stoked hot and ready. Without hesitation the object was thrown into the fire and the door to the furnace was closed. Almost immediately a menacing, echoed scream filled the room as the object burned with blackened smoke rising from the furnace up through a series of chimneys until it met the night air. The scream shifted into an evil chortle before finally fading off as the last of the liquid was burned away.
The room was left quiet save for the heavy breathing of the Gerudo and Link. One by one the women hesitantly released their holds upon the Hylian at Nabila's nods until finally the chief removed herself from upon Link and only Mahila remained kneeling to hold his head. She removed his gag and Link coughed before taking a deep, unsteady breath. His hair was slick with sweat, as was the rest of him, and his entire left arm was splattered with his blood.
"Well? How do you feel, voe?"
The question came so casually that it took a moment for Link to register it and to access exactly how he felt. With a couple blinks, a small smile appeared on his face. "I feel… better. Better than I have for a long time. The pain… it's gone, the fire is gone".
Smiling wider, the knight began to laugh out of pure relief and exhaustion. There seemed to be a collective sigh of relief from the Gerudo and Nabila gestured for her warriors to leave so that only herself her daughter, the elders and Link remained once again. His laughter died off into another cough and Link settled against his pillow, which turned out to be Mahila's kneeled lap. In his current state, he really didn't care even to blush. It was comfortable, after all.
Moving his head, Link turned to see his wound and he blinked in amazement when he that that the angry, red tendrils that had adorned his wound for weeks had vanished. The injury finally looked healthy and the hero knew that it would heal properly now.
"That was… wow". Link began, puffing out a breath that ended in a dry chuckle. "You could have given me some warning, you know," he said in a half-serious, half-joking tone up to Nabila, who only settled her hand upon her hip and shrugged.
"We only planned this just in case, to be prepared for anything. It was not until you confirmed your curse that we knew we had to react and in order to do so we could not give the darkness inside you any warning as to what was coming".
"I think that if it wasn't for your sword protecting you, with its bane of evil power, that the curse inside of you would have eaten away at your spirit until only darkness remained. Whoever orchestrated for that arrow to be fired at you, had been planning this attack for a long time I fear".
Link looked over at one of the elders as she spoke, the woman who had extracted the position from him, and his expression turned serious.
"If it was even me who was the target," he said quietly, more to himself than anyone. Zelda and him had been alone when they were attacked and he had forced her to flee before the arrow was fired, so how could he be sure that the arrow and this cursed poison hadn't been intended for her instead? The thought caused his stomach to twist. With that thought weighing heavy in his mind, Link finally decided that he had been resting enough and began to sit up. Firm hands immediately came upon his shoulders, albeit gently, and at first he thought that Mahila was going to pull him back. Instead, she aided him to sit up and Link turned to give her a grateful half-smile.
Sitting up made his head fuzzy a bit, but that was from the blood loss. The man took a moment to examine his wound. While it looked messy, he could tell how much better it looked. He didn't even mind that it was still seeping blood a bit. Further examining the area around the wound gently with his right hand, Link directed a question to Nabila or either of the elders.
"How did you know this would work?"
"We didn't".
Link managed to catch Nabila's shrug and he realized that she was completely serious. "You didn't know…?"
"No, but we had a vague idea as to how to extract Atishokull from blood so we tried that and…. well, it looks as though that it removed the dark magic curse as well".
Blinking up at the woman with his mouth hanging open a bit, Nabila simply smirked at him before turning to her elders, "Sarqso, vaba, sarqso. You may leave now. You too, Mahila, wait outside. I'd like to speak with the voe alone".
All three women nodded to their chief before silently standing and exited the room. With the door shut once more, the room was silent while Nabila and Link regarded each other. After a solid five minutes, it was Nabila who sighed and rubbed the back of her neck, slowly massaging a tight muscle there.
"You have put me in a difficult position, Valqo…."
"I don't understand," Link replied, a question in his voice.
"Well, let me put it simply," Nabila said with an arch in her brow. "You are the only voe I have ever heard of to survive such a quantity of Atishokull, more than even one of our kings would have taken. On top of that, that Atishokull was cursed. Yet, you survived. You… are a very interesting voe and that puts me in an…. unusual position".
"And… what does that mean?" Link pressed again, feeling uncomfortable to how Nabila was eyeing him and he suddenly became well aware that he was still shirtless.
"No outsider has been permitted into our ancestral fortress or joined our ranks. Only a voe born of Gerudo has known our secrets, but you… You have proved to bear strength that might even surpass the strength of Gerudo. It is this strength that I… admire".
A smirk appeared on her ruby-coloured lips and Link responded with a bright blush in his cheeks. For the second time tonight, he felt very vulnerable. "Umm, thank you…" he said cautiously, eyeing the woman nervously and knowing full well that in his weakened state he wouldn't be able to fight her off single-handedly.
A laugh burst from Nabila's lips at seeing his nervous expression and Link jumped in surprised. Wincing at the burst of pain from his shoulder, the knight kept his eyes on the Gerudo chief through narrowed eyes and the amused and interested expression he saw in her didn't ease his worry.
A moment or two later, Nabila slightly nodded as if she had decided something and began to remove a pendant from around her neck. Once removed, she tossed the necklace casually at Link, who caught it was ease. Raising a brow at the woman, who continued to smile confidently, the Hylian looked at the pendant in his hand. It was heavy and fit neatly within his palm and it was easy to see that it was the Gerudo emblem inlaid with gold and a couple precious gems.
Confused, Link looked back up at Nabila and she eyes read seriousness while she retained his casual smile. "You have more than proven yourself as being far from useless, which I can describe any other voe who is not our kings. That medallion will tell any Gerudo of this. As long as you keep that on your person, you are welcome here amongst us. Consider it… your pass to the entire fortress and you may now train as one of us and learn from us, sword and customs. My daughter, Mahila, will be your guide and she will train you as you wish it. She will always be with you. For all intensive purposes, you are Gerudo, and are the first voe to be considered so who is not our king. This is a rare and great honour".
Smiling smugly, Nabila watched as her declaration sunk in with Link and how eyes searched the pendant in his hand as his mind registered his new status. Slowly he slipped the pendant over his head and let fall upon his bare chest; the metal felt warm against his skin.
Satisfied with his silent acceptance, Nabila stood and declared, "As chief of the Gerudo, you Link of Hyrule, warrior of the Hylian queen, hero of the land, and champion of the Atishokull, I declare you officially as Valqo of the Gerudo. You may go as you please, learn as you wish, and bed any vai who accepts your lust in this fortress".
That last part caused Link's face to go completely red, earning him another laugh from the woman. Giving him a wink from her good eye, Nabila walked past the dumbfounded Hylian to knock on the door. It opened and she exited, only for Mahila to re-enter. Link was still registering everything when the younger Gerudo came to stand over him and he finally heard her speak.
"Valqo, hurry and collect your things. I am to take you to your room and heal you.
/
"Here, drink this. It will help with your pain and relax your mind".
Comfortably seated upon a low sofa, Link's arm had been washed in sweet-smelling, healing liquids and bound with herbal leaves to help close the wound. His personal quarters had obviously been prearranged and it was clear to Link now that Nabila had planned for his entry into the Gerudo since hearing of his survival over the Atishokull. Mahila had already assured him that he was to receive and experience every luxury and opportunity open to any Gerudo and that to every woman in the fortress, he was now their equal. This honour had never been given before to an outsider, so there would be some time for the Gerudo to adjust, but apparently the entire tribe had been involved with the decision over the past few weeks so they all knew of his acceptance into their tribe.
Taking the cup offered from Mahaila, Link smiled gratefully and eyed the exotic smelling liquid. It was warm and there was a hint of herbs in its scent. Trusting that the Gerudo didn't poison their comrades, Link drank the tonic down and coughed. It tasted awful. A small smile appeared on Mahila's lips, the first that Link had seen, and she set down the tray she'd just brought in. Link saw bowls of honey-covered fruit, roasted mushrooms, and a bowl with water and cloth in it.
"Thanks," Link said, eyeing the fruit.
"Sarqso," Mahila interrupted, her voice holding a correcting tone.
"Sorry?"
"Since you are of the Gerudo now, my vama, mother, Nabila, has instructed that I aid you in properly learning our language". Mahila spoke as she took the wetted cloth and began to wipe away the dried sweat from his brow, earning a blush from Link as he listened to her. "We know your language, Hylian, but it is proper for the use of our words now that you are one of us". Mahila spoke as any instructor would and Link nodded in understanding.
"Sarqso," he repeated obediently, smiling when he saw Mahila nod in approval as she replaced the cloth back in the bowl. Settling back against the sofa's back, Link took a deep breath and let his eyes wander around his room. It was small, on the same floor where his poison had been extracted, and was moderately decorated with rugs, tapestries and a couple pieces of furniture including the sofa and a bed. Mahila had shown him where his own small furnace was located behind a hidden panel in the wall and how he could feed it with a long-burning desert plant to keep the room decently warm. The room was lit with a few candles, casting a dim warmth to fill room while keeping shadows in the corners. The liquid's aftertaste had turned sweet on his tongue and already he could feel a fogginess creeping into his mind as the herbs' effects began to seep into his system.
"This is unreal…" he muttered, not really meaning to say it out loud.
Mahila perked a brow at him before kneeling next to him on the floor so that their eyes were almost at equal height. "You must have questions," she stated softly, and Link slowly nodded.
"Yeah… but I don't even know where to begin anymore". Running his hand over his face, a wave of fuzziness washed over him and he sunk deeper into the sofa.
"Then perhaps I could ask you something," Mahila said slowly, before she cast her eyes aside when Link looked at her. "You are… the first voe I have ever met," she revealed, "and… I cannot help but wonder if all voe are like you".
"Like me how?" Link asked, thinking of how earlier Nabila made it clear that Gerudo generally thought that all men were useless in some shape or another. "How old are you, Mahila?"
Remaining quiet, Link watched with interest as Mahila actually blushed and she kept her gaze off of him. Just as he was about to push further, she turned to him and spoke, "I am seventeen. Do all voe look like you?"
Caught off guard but her rushed question, Link stumbled with a reply as he looked at her. She was seventeen? He thought her to be older, not six years younger than him. Considering her question, Link looked down at himself. He had still to put on a shirt, since Mahila had to bandage his arm, so his toned torso was free for Mahila's eyes and well… Another wave of fogginess rushed into Link's mind and as if on its own account, his mouth spoke, "I am an above average example, I guess".
The Gerudo's blush only intensified before she took a deep breath and it was clear that she was trying to calm herself. "It is mandatory for Gerudo to learn of voe. We are prepared for when we are to leave the tribe to find…" Mahila paused to find the word before she continued, "partners. Still, voe are to not be trusted, but they are necessary for the Gerudo to bear children. When a vai sees a voe she likes, she can claim him and this is respected so only that voe with father a vehvi, a child, with that vai".
"Oh…" came Link's simple reply, the fog in his mind growing, but he knew that he somewhat knew this already. He had heard rumours that members of the tribe would seek out "boyfriends" amongst the Hylians in order to get pregnant and it seemed that those rumours were true. This would also explain how in the last five years new babies have been born to the Gerudo and why some soldiers stationed at the desert's entrance have asked to remain there. But, still… "Why are you telling me this?"
Mahila took a moment to think, as if she wasn't quite sure herself, before she stated, "You are to learn of our culture and I am telling you that any other voe would be sought out beyond the fortress. But you are different, you are here among us, so you must know our ways".
"Yeah… Nabila had said-"
"Lady Nabila," Mahila sternly corrected.
"Oh, right, Lady Nabila did say something right before left…. something about my lust or whatever". With each passing moment, Link's tongue seemed to become looser and the comfortable fog in his head and erasing all of his bashfulness. Actually, he was feeling very relaxed and warm, his eyes half-lidded and a smirk was peeking from his lips.
"I have been warned of a voe's lust, that it is his weakness".
"I guess it can be. I wouldn't know". Shrugging, Link turned a heavy gaze upon his companion and Mahila gave him a questioning look.
"Explain your meaning," she replied.
"Men can be lustful bastards but that has never been me. True I've felt lust but… I mean, yeah I guess… Yeah". Shaking his head to try and clear it, a small voice asked Link from the back of his mind as to why he was openly saying all of this stuff but his words just kept coming out. "I've thought about women, what man hasn't? And yeah, Ilia and I fooled around but nothing too serious. I mean, we did stuff, lots I guess... but not sex. And when I completed my knighthood, the guys sent a girl to my room and that was fun, but nothing big came of it. A blowjob and, don't tell anyone but the girl was so much better at it than Ilia was. I mean, I didn't sleep with her or any girl for that matter. I wanted to, or at least thought about it. It'd be easy because, well I'm a big deal in Hyrule. So many women want me, I've heard it all. And, don't get me wrong, I have thoughts and I have urges but... umm, but I think that the reason I haven't had sex is because… Ah… well it's because I have a lot of responsibilities. Being a hero, being Hyrule's Saviour, being a knight, being the guard of Zelda, and being the Gerudo ambassador, I don't have time for marriage and kids and settling down and… oh man I feel good".
Link's words were spilling out fasting than his tongue could form them. He had always been such a private and quiet person, yet here he was spilling his guts about his sexual feats and fears to a woman he'd met that night. He was a virgin, something that a lot of people probably didn't know, and it was true that it stemmed from his fear of impregnating a woman when he had far greater responsibilities to bear. Heroes didn't settle down, he's known this since he was laying in the goat field in Ordon Village five years ago, and he didn't have any intention to do so anytime soon. Sex… yeah he's wanted to have it, what man wouldn't? And he's had plenty of opportunities but they've just ended in him receiving a blowjob and that would satisfy his lust for the moment. He's gotten practice with how to pleasure a woman, starting with Ilia, but he'd never boast at being good at it. That came with practice and he was out fo practice, for sure. Besides… maybe he was just waiting for that special someone to sleep with for the first time, someone he truly care about, someone like...
"So…. you have never been with a vai?" Mahila spoke slowly, interrupting his thoughts.
Link shook his head with a groggy grin. "No, but don't tell anyone. I don't want people to talk. One day I will, probably... if I'm drunk enough and can get out of my head or if it's..."
The Gerudo smiled at this and she watched Link for a moment, his head slightly rolling back and the muscles in his body had lost their tension: the liquid's effects had fully kicked in. Allowing her eyes to scroll down his body, a blush appeared in her cheeks and she took a steadying breath. Mahila had been waiting for the liquid to take affect and now seemed to be the time. The woman went from her kneel upon the floor to sit on the edge of the sofa in one fluid motion. Link slowly turned to look at her as she eased herself to lounge against the back of the sofa, turned towards him, so that her body was pressed against his.
"I promise not to tell," she said softly and Link raised a brow.
Beyond his cloudy awareness, the warmth from the liquid had gathered in his loins to create a tell-tale bulge, though Mahila surely had noticed. She leaned closer to him so that her sweet-smelling breath warmed his face and Link's heart quickened. He knew that it had been some time that a woman had been so close to him and that he should feel embarrassed but he didn't and for some reason he didn't care.
Her fingers reached over to trail over the emblem of the Gerudo, the pendant that was her mother's which Link now wore. Biting her lip, Mahila looked into Link's and she spoke in a quiet voice, "You are so strong, as strong as a Gerudo king. All Gerudo will want to claim you".
"Is that right?" Link replied in a hot whisper, his heart hammering and his eyes focusing on the Gerudo's beauty. He hadn't noticed before but now, in this light, her being so close… he wanted to touch her so bad.
"Do you wish me closer?" she asked softly.
"Yes".
"Will you do as I say?"
"Yes".
"Do you wish to have me?"
"Yes".
Mahila smirked at his husky words. She ran her hand over Link's bare chest and she felt him shiver with anticipation. His abdominal muscles were hard and feeling them caused Mahila to catch her breath. She's heard from other women of how to be with a man, had learned from her classes of what to do, but now she was here she could feel fear itch the back of her mind. Mahila jumped when his hand came to her hair and he began to pull her in close. Mahila felt herself hesitate, her resolve wavering, but that all melted when it was Link who came in to gently kiss her. There were so many warning stories of voe, how they could be brutes and animals, yet here was the strongest of them all, for he had surpassed the Atisholkull and Dark Realm, and his kiss was so sweet and innocent.
Kissing him back, Mahila deepened their kiss as Link put his arms around her to pull her even closer.