A/N: I'm not even gonna try to apologize for the late update but you guys should be used to my bullshit my now... and I mean that as a dig to myself. You guys are fantastic and I'm honestly surprised that you're still here for this rollercoaster of a trashcan
The sounds and smells of the market filled Aeris's senses as she milled through the thick crowds of people. A quick glance over her shoulder told her that the two guards that had been following her all day were still behind her, their spears were propped loosely against their shoulders as they pushed through the crowds. It gave her peace of mind to know that someone would be there if anything happened.
It had been days since her last episode, but there was a nagging feeling in her gut that it would only be a matter of time before she had another one.
The small bag in her hand crinkled as she reached into it and popped one of the treats within into her mouth. The roasted nuts had been glazed in honey and then dusted with a fine coat of sugar. She had, had the treat once before when she had visited Castle Town with her parents and she hummed happily as the sweet taste burst in her mouth along with a wave of nostalgia.
"Aeris!" She looked up as a familiar voice rang through the crowd and saw Nabooru making her way toward her.
"Hey, nabs," She popped another of the sweets into her mouth and smiled at the woman.
The taller woman glanced from the bag in Aeris's hand back to her face and smirked softly. "How many of those have you had today?"
Aeris stopped chewing and looked down at the bag. "More than I would like to admit,"
Nabooru laughed as she slung her arm over Aeris's shoulder. "Careful people might think you're eating for two,"
A beat of silence passed before the bag in Aeris's hands crinkled loudly as her fist tightened around it.
"Shit," Nabooru froze before she took her arm from around Aeris's shoulder. "Sorry, I wasn't thinking,"
"It's fine," The smaller woman gave a weak smile before extending the bag toward Nabooru. "Here take the rest of these, I've got some stuff to go do,"
Nabooru took the bag gingerly and watched as Aeris and her two guards disappeared into the crowd.
- - ┈┈∘┈༒┈∘┈┈ - -
Aeris ran her fingers over the beautifully crafted wares that were displayed on the table in front of her. The craftsmanship was exquisite, each of the delicate wooden pieces were hand carved with impeccable attention to detail. She gently lifted one of the pieces and looked at it closely, it was a double-sided comb that was wide enough to fill the palm of her hand and was just shorter than her fingers. The teeth on one side were thinner and spaced closely together while the others were thicker and spaced further apart and there were delicate swirling patterns carved into the dark wood.
A strange honeyed metallic smell filled her nose as she lifted the comb closer to her face.
"That's a beard comb," She looked up and smiled at the Hylian man that had spoken up. He was older with salt and pepper hair, and wood shaving dusted the front of his apron. "You might be more interested in one of these," He motioned to a row of more delicate single edged combs and brushes.
"A beard comb?" She vaguely remembered a comb similar to this that used to sit on her father's bedside table next to his shaving kit.
"Helps keep the beard tidy," He motioned to his beard and smiled at her. "I soak them in oils to help with different things, that on there has Neroli oil it's supposed to promote inner balance, but most folks just think it smells nice,"
"Inner balance, huh," Aeris chuckled softly as she lifted the comb to smell it again. "That sounds like something my husband and I could both use a little of,"
"Couldn't we all," The man laughed and wiped his hands on the front of his apron. "Names, Darrol," He extended his hand to her, and she took it.
"Aeris," He froze mid-shake and looked over her shoulder, noticing the guards for the first time.
"As in Queen of the Gerudo Aeris?" It was her turn to smile as she slipped her hand from his grasp. "Should I bow?"
"Please, don't," She chuckled as he began what probably would have been an exaggerated bow. "You would think that I'd be used to it by now, but the whole royalty thing takes some getting used to,"
"I'm sure it does," Darrol chuckled as he wiped his hands on his apron again.
"How much for this?" She turned the comb over in her hands and smiled up at the man. Ganondorf was always giving her little gifts, small pieces of jewelry or new dresses, it would be nice to return the favor for once.
She handed the comb over to the man as he reached for it. "For you, ten,"
Aeris paused as she reached for her wallet and Darrol began the process of wrapping the comb in sturdy brown paper. "Only ten?"
"Ten," The man confirmed without looking up from his task.
"Craftsmanship like this is worth at least fifty," She pulled a purple rupee from her wallet and held it toward Darrol.
"I won't take more than fifteen," He shook his head as he held the wrapped comb out to her. "It's enough to know that someone of your caliber thinks so highly of my work,"
"Darrol, I'm just a girl with a crown," She took the wrapped bundle from him and placed the purple gem into his open palm. "I grew up on a tiny farm and just so happened to catch the right eye. Take the money and feed your family,"
"Thank you," She watched as he slipped the gem into a locked box under his wagon.
"Sarqso," She bowed her head before turning away from him and disappearing back into the crowd.
- - ┈┈∘┈༒┈∘┈┈ - -
Aeris was sitting on the bed brushing her still damp hair when the door to her bed chambers opened and Ganondorf stepped into the room. "How was your day?"
He turned to face her and whatever stress he had accumulated over the course of the day melted away. "Long, the council is making last minute preparations for the fast and festival."
"Interesting as always I suspect?" She ran the brush through her hair one last time before setting it on the table beside the bed and beginning the process of braiding her hair.
"Always," He rolled his shoulders as he made his way further into the room. "No one has been able to make contact with my mothers since they locked themselves into the Colossus… again,"
"So, no one knows if they're going to do the ceremony at the festival this year," Aeris finished braiding her hair and watched as Ganondorf shrugged off his robe revealing the thick bands of muscle that made up his back and shoulders.
"Exactly," He sighed as he stepped out of the robe and pulled on a pair of loose pants. "The council had an idea though,"
"Oh?" The council was just full of ideas these days. "What was that?"
She sat further up in the bed as he settled down onto the soft surface with a low groan. "They want you to do it,"
There was a beat of silence as Aeris took in the information that was being presented to her. "Me?"
"They say that it's time for the rites to be performed by the queen," He rolled so that his head was in her lap, and he was looking up at her.
"I mean, if they say so," She ran her fingers through his hair as he quirked a brow at her.
"That's it, you're just fine with it?" He shifted to put one of his arms behind his head.
"I guess I have to be," She ran her thumbs over his eyebrows and smiled as he melted into her lap. "I got you something today," She turned her upper body so that she could reach over to the bedside table.
"You got me something?" Ganondorf arched his back to follow her movements with his head and cocked a brow as she grabbed a small object that was neatly wrapped in crisp brown paper.
"I saw it in the market today, and it made me think of you," She handed the gift to him, and he took it gently, it was tiny in his hands as he turned it over.
"What is it?"
"You're terrible at receiving gifts," She laughed as she raked her fingers through his beard, her fingernails grazing the skin hidden beneath the coarse hair.
He grumbled something about not receiving gifts very often and her heart dipped. She was going to give Koume and Kotake a piece of her mind one of these days. Well she was going to give them another piece of her mind, with varied results… perhaps
"Are you going to keep mumbling to yourself or are you going to open it?" Her fingered paused as he titled his head to look back up at her.
Their eyes met for a moment, and he gave her a soft smile. "I'm sorry,"
She scratched his chin softly, he had been apologizing for everything recently, and she wasn't sure why, but if it did anything to ease his conscious of something she would let him do it. "You don't have to apologize, just open it," She would do her best to reassure him though.
The paper crinkled in his grasp as he untied the piece of twine that held it together. The paper peeled away to reveal the carved woodwork inside. He let the paper and twine fall to his chest as he turned the comb over in his hands. "It's beautiful,"
"It's for your beard," She lifted one of her hands from his face to run her finger over the intricate swirling pattern that was carved into the wood. "It's infused with Neroli oil, it's supposed to promote inner balance,"
He snorted softly as he brought the comb closer to his face. "Inner balance, huh?"
"I said the same thing," They shared a soft laugh before lapsing back into a comfortable silence.
There was a resounding calm that filled the room as they sat there. Aeris ran her fingers through the coarse hair of Ganondorf's beard as he ran his thumb over the teeth of the comb. The teeth made a repetitive almost melodic sound as his thumbnail grazed across them and filled the silent room with a strange thrumming melody.
Aeris found her mind drifting further and further away from reality as exhaustion finally began settling into her bones. She was tired, no, she was more than tired, there was a dull ache deep in her bones. A weight on her chest that she couldn't seem to move or find relief from.
"You look tired," Her mind snapped back to reality and she noticed that Ganondorf was looking up at her again, the comb forgotten and sat idly on his chest.
"It's been a long day,"
He rolled off of her lap and onto his side. He opened his arms and beckoned for her to join him. "Then it's time to rest,"
She yawned loudly and stretched her shoulders before moving to lay next to him. His arms closed around her and she was asleep before her head hit the arm below it.
He chuckled softly, the sound rumbled deep in his throat, as he rolled to place the comb gently on the bedside table. Aeris didn't budge but he was still careful not to wake the sleeping woman. He sighed as he looked across the room to the lone candle that sat on his desk casting a faint glow over the room.
His glanced to Aeris and the woman nuzzled closer to his chest as a content sigh left her lips. He looked back to the candle and lifted his free hand. He snapped his fingers and the sound echoed loudly through the room as darkness settled over them.
He watched as threads of silver smoke wound their way from the now extinguished candle into the moon lit air before he rolled back onto his side and pulled Aeris closer to him. The woman hummed happily in her sleep as he placed his chin on the top of her head fully cocooning her against his chest.
He laid in the darkness for a moment, feeling each time the woman in his arms took a deep, even breath until he too was lulled to sleep by the echoes of the night.
A/N: So we got some cuties being adorable and no drama... for now. Enjoy these moments of domestic bliss as my gift to you.
The next big plot point is going to be the festival but there should be a chapter or two before we get there.
