Desert Child

What lead Naboruu to be a Gerudo thief?

Chapter Twenty Three: So They Meet Again

Naboruu sighed in bewilderment. Destiny had appeared out of thin air, then disappeared soon after. But Naboruu decided she couldn't spend too much time fretting on that matter.

Naboruu smiled a smile worth having and had Nina trot her way to the ranch. She was actually jittery, anxious, to see her long lost friends. The situation she was in would be hard enough to explain to them.

Naboruu perked her ears and listened a few moments. She was sure she heard Rose singing. It could have just as easily been her imagination getting to her, though.

Sighing for what seemed to be the millionth time that day, Naboruu entered the ranch.

The setting was the same way it had been before. Nothing had changed. Cuckoos cawed and horses galloped. The scent of hay and other peaceful farm things was in the air.

Naboruu jumped off of Nina and knocked on the door of the side building, the one across from the stable.

A portly, black haired young man opened the door.

"Talon?" asked Naboruu.

She could tell that Talon knew she was a Gerudo and was already in fear of her. Honestly, she had been suffering from so much stereotyping that day.

"C-can I help you?" he stammered.

Naboruu smiled. "I am Naboruu. Do you remember me? If you do not, surely you wife, Rose does."

Talon let out a deep sigh then paused, not moving a muscle. "Naboruu of the Gerudos? Of course! My wife speaks so much of you! Come in, come in!"

Naboruu entered and saw a scene that warmed her heart.

Rose was standing at a table, holding a red headed baby, burping her. Sitting at the table was Link, still as handsome as before, and what Naboruu guessed was his wife. In the corner was a crib where another baby slept.

Rose looked up and her eyes twinkled. "Nabie, dear!" she cried. "Ooh! I'd hug you, but I've got a darling baby to look after now."

"Long time no see!" cried Link from the table.

"Hello, everyone," said Naboruu. "I am not here to visit. I am here to ask a favor."

The room was hushed, but Naboruu was not uncomfortable being on the spot.

"I need a place to stay...for quite a while, actually. If you would let me tell my story..."

Talon took a seat at the table. "Oh, do tell!" he said enthusiastically.

So she told the group from the time of the Spirit Temple, to all of the other places she stole from, how bad she had felt, and when she had reached her decision to finally run away. She told of her visit from the Goddess Nayru, when they heard that they were fascinated. She told of Destiny, too and of what happened to Kira.

"Destiny told me to come here," Naboruu finished. "If that is okay."

Rose smiled warmly. "It is okay. Quite an interesting tale you have told."

"Have a seat!" said Link. He patted a chair beside him.

Naboruu took a seat.

"I think we should have some supper!" said Talon.

The group agreed.

"I can make it," said Naboruu.

Rose frowned. "Yes, but you do not know where all the food, or the earthenware, or cooking things are. Laura, could you possibly help her?"

That was when the woman beside Link stood up. She was rather pretty, with blonde hair, and big brown eyes. She was slender, but not Naboruu's type of slender. More like a delicate kind of slender.

"I will be happy to," she said.

"So it's settled," said Talon. "Cook what you please!"

Link grinned and rested his boots on the table. "Yes ladies, and hurry please. I am quite hungry!"

Laura rolled her eyes while Naboruu grinned. "Follow me," said Laura.

She lead Naboruu up a flight of stairs into a room with four big beds. On the left side of the room was yet another door, which they went through. Inside was a big, home-style kitchen with cupboards lining the walls, a stove in the corner along with a cooler, and a table in the middle.

"This is the eating room," said Laura.

"What are we eating?" asked Naboruu.

"I was thinking of shell pasta, that's Link's favorite."

She reached into a cupboard and pulled out a bag of shelled noodles. She reached into the cooler and pulled out some tomatoes. "Reach for the herb rack, over there," said Laura and pointed.

Naboruu obediently reached for the rack and placed it in front of Laura.

"So," said Laura, starting the first real conversation, "do you know Link?"

"It was awhile ago," said Naboruu, smiling and remembering the past. "He was wondering in the valley, looking for some sort of potion for you. You were pregnant then."

Laura thought for a moment, then said, "Oh, that's right! He came back to the ranch with just the right thing! Were you the one who made it?"

"No, it was my caretaker's daughter, Hessa," said Naboruu truthfully. "That was two years ago..."

"Yes. I had the baby. It was a boy. A cute blond boy. Weighed 6 pounds, the little bugger!" Laura laughed and Naboruu did with her.

Laura peeled the tomatoes, until they were nothing but a warm, red fleshy fruit/vegetable. (I don't know which one it is!)

"Could you light the fire under the kettle? There's new water in it already," asked Laura, who pulled down some herbs from the rack, and was sorting them then began to pound the tomatoes into a sauce.

Naboruu tried lighting the logs for quite some time, but they did not want to cooperate. After about ten minutes, the fire was giving off pleasant heat and making a nice roar.

Out of curiosity, Naboruu asked, "What's your baby's name?"

Laura smiled warmly for a minute. She was proud to have such a nice little baby.

"He's named after his father. It's Link. My husband suggested it. At first, I thought it was selfish, but then, I learned that Link was just proud like me."

Naboruu shook her head. "Oh no, it's not about selfishness, trust me!"

Laura gave Naboruu a prim smile. "Is the water boiling yet?"

It was, so Laura put the noodles in the kettle.

Laura and Naboruu didn't have much more of a conversation. Naboruu did learn that Rose's baby was named Malon.

After everything for dinner was finished, they served the food. It was eaten up greedily. But it was appreciated.

After dinner, Talon showed Naboruu her room. It was a nice little room, with a bed, a window, a dresser, and a nightstand with a vase of violets.

There was a door on the right side of the room, which lead to Link and Laura's room.

Naboruu wasn't sure if she liked Laura. Laura had done nothing to offend her really, but she didn't seem to be the type of person Naboruu imagined her to be. She wasn't shy, but she didn't talk much, either.

Naboruu felt the same way about Link as she did two years ago, although, she wasn't sure how she felt. All she knew was that it was the same way as she had always felt.

Naboruu turned off the bedroom light and settled into bed. She was still a little nervous of being searched by the Gerudos, but calmed herself down a little. The ranch was going to be a great place, or so she hoped.