Aeris rose with the sun spurred but a sharp kick to her ribs that had her hissing in pain. Across the room Nabooru lurched upright, awoken by the sharp noise.
"What?" She rubbed her eyes hastily as she stumbled out of her bed managing to get tangled in the blanket in the process. "Is it the baby?"
Nabooru clattered to the floor with a loud thump as she kicked herself free of the blanket and another louder thud echoed from beyond the wall of their childhood room. Aeris couldn't help but giggle as a bleary-eyed Ganondorf burst through the door. He had discarded his armor but had slept in the tight black under layer and his hair was half pulled back into a thick bun. "What's wrong?"
He and Nabooru were both at Aeris's side in an instant but she waved them away. "I'm fine," She rocked herself forward, but huffed under her breath as she found her center of balance was finally at the point that setting herself upright was a task that required assistance.
"Someone just thinks my ribs are a musical instrument," She took a hand that was extended to her, not knowing whether it was Ganondorf's or Nabooru's.
Across the room a match was struck and a candle lit revealing that it was Ganondorf's hand she was holding. The flame flickered in his golden eyes as he looked down at her clearly concerned.
"I'm fine," Her hand found his face and he leaned into the embrace. "Help me up,"
He pulled her gently to her feet and Nabooru scoffed from across the room. "Sands, you two just keep getting more and more disgusting as time goes on," There was a playfulness to her voice underneath the disgust.
"Oh hush you," Aeris chuckled as she leaned against Ganondorf for support. "You know you love us,"
"Only when you aren't being disgusting," She crossed the room and bumped Aeris's shoulder. "Mom probably left for the market hours ago, you two get breakfast sorted and i'll go check on your guest,"
Aeris hummed, the two of them had discussed their situation at length throughout the night and had agreed that it would be best for Link to awaken to another familiar face. "We'll see what we can do,"
"Indeed," Ganondorf's voice rumbled against Aeris's back, sending a welcome familiar chill down her spine.
Nabooru left swiftly and Aeris decided that a simple rice porridge would be best and quickly got to work. It was an easy enough recipe, one that she and Nabooru had eaten many mornings in their youth. It was full of protein and fiber perfect for any growing child.
She hummed happily as she stirred the porridge one last time and left it to simmer over a low fire. she jumped slightly startled as sturdy arms wrapped around her frame. "You look absolutely divine," His hands moved to cup her stomach as he kissed the side of her face.
"Do I?" She chuckled and cradled Ganondorf's hands against her stomach. "I rather feel like a bloated cow,"
"Nonsense," He pulled her closer and kissed her temple. "You're absolutely radiant,"
"If you say so,"She spun so that she could smile up at him. Her smile quickly turned into a deep frown. "Oh, love you look tired,"
He looked exhausted, his eyes were dull and there were deep purple bags under his eyes. "I've slept on that couch before I know that it's not the most comfortable.,"
"The couch was fine," He more or less grunted against the top of her head. "Had some nasty dreams is all,"
"Oh?" Her frown deepened. She didn't like the edge to his voice. "Do you want to talk about it?"
His fingers lingered on her stomach before he turned and lowered himself into one of the kitchen chairs. "Not really, no,"
Aeris really didn't like the way he was leaning against the table, like there was years worth of burden on his shoulders, but she wouldn't question him further. There was a time not so very long ago that he had done her the same courtesy.
"Well then," Aeris waddled out of the room to retrieve something and quickly returned to the kitchen. "Sounds like you need some tender love and care,"
She brandished the thick wooden comb she had retrieved from Nabooru's room and watched as a lazy smile spread across Ganondorf's face. "You spoil me,"
"I try," She smirked as she made her way around him, careful not to bump him with her belly. They fell into silence as she pulled his hair from its half assed bun and bagan carefully pulling the comb through the thick locks of crimson hair.
Moments passed in comfortable companionship as she carefully combed his hair back into order. "Listen about Link,"
"You don't have to explain, Aeris," He tilted his head back so that she could reach more of his hair. "I understand,"
"Thank you," She sat the comb down on the table and ran her fingers through his now tamed hair and began winding it into a single thick braid.
"Though next time maybe a conversation would be nice before taking in any strays, hmm," She froze with strands of his hair still between her fingers. For a moment she could have worn there was an edge of ice to his voice.
"Of course darling," She finished the braid and gave his shoulder a gentle pat just as the door to the home burst open.
Aeris turned to the sound of a child's laughter, Nabooru was ducking through the door with Link perched happily on her shoulder's giggling at a joke that knowing Nabooru was questionable for a child his age.
"Something smells great!" Nabooru swung Link around so that he was perched in her arms with his legs dangling.
"Good morning Link, did you sleep well?" Aeris smiled , pushing her sudden unease to the back of her mind.
The boy nodded excitedly and then froze as his gaze moved past Aeris as to the man sitting behind her. Ganondorf's back was still turned away from the door and Aeris kept a gentle hand on his shoulder, as if willing him to stay seated.
Aeris and Nabooru shared a look as Link began trembling in Nabooru's arms and she pulled him closer to her side. Nabooru whispered something in the boy's ear that seemed to calm him.
Ganondorf turned slowly, and tired golden eyes met wide blue ones. The two shared a long stare as the tension in the room rose, no one said anything, no one dared to even move.
Until Nabooru cracked a smile. "Sands, Ganny you look like shit,"
Aeris and Link burst into peals of laughter as Ganondorf's face twisted into an unamused grimace. "Very funny Nabs,"
"Ganny!" Aeris doubled over, leaning against the table for support. "Oh, I'm definitely using that one!"
"Please don't," Ganondorf dropped his head against the table with a loud groan.
"What is the big bad king not used to a little teasing?" Nabooru was really leaning into the teasing in any attempt to ease the tension in the room.
"Aeris sit down before you pee yourself again," It was Aeris's turn to whip her head toward Nabooru and scowl.
"That was one time, and you know it," Nabooru snorted as she set Link down. "You try growing a whole human and see how your bladder holds up,"
Link's eyes drifted toward her stomach as if he was noticing it for the first time. "You're having a baby?"
Aeris flinched internally at the rasp in his voice. "Yes I am, Link," She smiled as Ganondorf's arm wrapped firmly around her middle and pulled her into his lap.
Nabooru gave Ganondorf a playful shove as she passed them on her way into the open kitchen. "Oh ho, I missed your porridge, Aeris," She lifted the lid and used the wooden spoon that had been used to stir it to taste the meal. "I never can get mine to turn out the way yours and moms do,"
"Why thank you," Aeris chuckled as Ganondorf buried his face into her hair. "Link help yourself to as much as you want, if Nabooru leaves any for the rest of us that is,"
"Hey!" Nabooru turned with a full bowl and two spoons in her hand. "And here I was trying to be nice," She slid the bowl and spoon across the table to the pair with a sly grin.
"Thank you," Aeris smiled sweetly and handed one of the spoons to Ganondorf who was resting against her shoulder sleepily. "You're just the sweetest sister anyone could ask for,"
Aeris winked at Link as he giggled, suddenly at ease with the group of people. It was hard, she knew that much. To trust the man that the Goddesses themselves had told you to kill, but it was a start.
They ate in silence, tense but workable silence.
The bowl that Aeris and Ganondorf shared was nearly empty when the weight of his head against her shoulder increased. Nabooru and Link froze mid bite with amused looks on their faces.
Aeris swallowed her last bite and raised an eyebrow in question.
"He's asleep," Nabooru's lips moved but no sound came out.
Aeris smiled as she sat her spoon down next to her bowl. "Gan, love," The man in question snorted softly as his head jerked up.
"Guess that couch really did a number on you," Nabooru smiled through another bite of food.
Ganondorf grunted and Aeris could have sworn she saw Link crack a smile. "Come on then," Aeris rose to her feet and found that the toes in her right foot were numb. "Let's get you home and in bed,"
Ganondorf grunted something in return and allowed her to help him to his feet. The two at the table murmured their farewells as Aeris and Ganondorf left.
The man at her side put on an air of confidence as they moved through the halls, but Aeris could feel the exhaustion radiating from him. There was more weighting on his mind than an uncomfortable couch.
But, she remained silent. Leaning against his side with her arms wound around one of his. To any passerby they would seem to be on a normal morning stroll happy to have a moment together.
The closer they came to their chambers though, the further his shoulders sagged and the more concerned Aeris grew.
By the time they pushed through the door to their room, Ganondorf was struggling to stay on his feet.
"Oh, darling," Aeris helped him to settle on the edge of the bed and her heart nearly broke as her eyes met his.
They were dead tired, dull and almost broken. She brought her hands up to his face and cradled it gently between her palms. "Darling, please tell me what's wrong?"
He took a shuddering breath and collapsed against her. "It's nothing really," His voice was muffled by her hair as she rubbed his back. "Just dreams I've had since I was a child,"
Ice curled around her heart as he brought his arms around her. "They stopped for the longest time, but they started again worse than before,"
"Do you want to talk about them?" Something told her that she really didn't want to hear what he had to say, but she had to ask.
She couldn't let him suffer in silence.
"There's nothing to talk about," His grip on her tightened. "Just darkness and a voice, so low I can barely hear it,"
"What does it say?" She wrapped her arms around his head and shoulders in an attempt to pull him closer, to shield him from whatever was plaguing him.
"Some nights it's nothing more than murmuring that I can barely understand or rambling in a strange language," She felt him tremble as if a cold chill ran down his spine. "But others it's something low and dark speaking of power and darkness, it whispers things, terrible things,"
They froze, dread crawling down both of their spines. She knew nightmares, knew the familiar cold dread they brought, the panicked thoughts and racing heart.
This was different, this was a true terror. Something old and primal that she had no way to help him with.
"Aeris?" She let him pull away from her and carefully met his gaze. "If I ask you something do you promise to tell me the truth?"
"Of course, love," She smiled, a small smile in an attempt to hide her own fear.
"Have I ever hurt you?"
Her smile faltered. "What do you mean?"
"Ever at any point in time have I knowingly caused you harm?" Her heart hammered in her chest as his fingers grazed her stomach and the tiny life there kicked in response.
"Of course not, what kind of question is that?"
Cold sweat beaded down her brow as his gaze lifted back to her face. She watched as he searched her face, looking for the lie that was staring him in the eye.
He nodded and rested his forehead against her stomach with her hands held limply in his own. "They're only dreams," She squeezed his hands. "Ganondorf look at me,"
He hooked his chin with her finger and brought it to her face. "Trust yourself, but if you ever feel like you can't do that trust me,"
She prayed that he couldn't feel her trembling hands. "Trust in me and know that I trust in you above all else,"
He nodded and pulled her into a soft kiss. "I don't deserve you, either of you,"
The baby in her womb flipped happily as he rested his palm against her stomach. "Of course you do, we wouldn't be here if you didn't,"
He seemed to accept her response and simply pulled her to lay back on the bed next to him, cradled between his arms with her stomach resting gently against his own. "I love you in this world and to the next," He kissed her forehead and murmured into her hair. "Please never doubt that,"
"And I love you," She hiccuped as hot tears spilled down her cheeks and he slipped into sleep. "Beyond the limits of time, I will always love you,"
