Scattering petals

Link & Zelda

Chapter 18: Women's world

When hero and princess recruit the Gerudo matriarch as the third champion.

Author's note: Shall we begin to see how Link and Zelda develop an actual bond in the next chapters, finally? I think not. Yet.

I planned that up until chapter 20 we will reach the first arc of this story. These chapters are more extensive than the previous ones. You have been warned. I prefer to take this story slowly and make sure to develop the main characters despite the crazy desire to actually start writing some zelink action. Slowburn. Very slow. COnsuming.

Enjoy!


"Princess, stop." Link called her, pacing behind her trace.

He should have seen it coming. They had been finally getting along. It all seemed too good to be true. She had been trying to earn his trust so he would lower his guard, he realized later. It was obvious that she had been planning to slip off from his watch at some point. Especially when they were staying in an all-female village that he couldn't enter. Zelda had the odds in her favor to accomplish getting away from him at last. It was the perfect plan. She wasn't the embodiment of wisdom for nothing, after all.

"You cannot tell me what to do." She reminded him to rejoice in her victory.

Princess Zelda managed to escape while staying at Kara Kara Bazaar under the pretext of needing a rest from the relentless sun that ruled over the valley. After two days of traveling, overcoming the threat of a looming sandstorm, and defeating several hordes of mighty monsters, Link couldn't deny a well-deserved time to get his head together. The princess even booked a room in the name of Hyrule's royal family for a few days to stay. Once they left the luggage inside, she insisted on Link taking a shower, claiming he had to try the quality of the water in Gerudo. Only because of her persistence, the knight agreed and left the princess alone in the room to change into her royal gown prior to the diplomatic meeting where he would escort her later.

He would usually take three minutes maximum to shower, but much to his dismay Zelda was right. The water in Gerudo Valley was gentler to the skin and even tastier than the one in Goron hot springs. Though he was pained to admit it, Link took his damned time to wipe the heat's sensation off his body. The dirt and dry blood on his frame after fighting their way there were also complicated to wash off. Luckily, the bathroom had its own liquid soap supply for them to use. He may have gotten too relaxed to forget about the ticking of time. In light of this, more than five minutes went by as he started drying himself with a towel.

Little did he know that the princess would be long gone when he exited the refreshing shower.

For then, Princess Zelda was already out in the wild, crossing the desert. She could recall Link's shameless yells calling her from inside the bazaar's inn. She had never heard him being so loud outside of the battlefield. The intensity of his voice was new to her. But none of that stopped her from hurrying to the gates of Gerudo Town where he wouldn't be allowed.

Whereas the knight exited the perimeter, forgetting his chainmail and armor inside the room. The clothes stuck to his body due to the still-wet skin, making it difficult to advance through the sand. Nevertheless, the princess had more struggles as wearing a long dress was way more uncomfortable than his damp hylian clothing. The water that ran down from his dark blonde hair fell in drops that refreshed his figure with the traces of the wind. It made his beige shirt stick awkwardly to his thorax. The master sword on the back weighed twice now that he was walking through the valley.

"Stop walking." He pleaded.

"Stop following." She ordered back.

But Link couldn't break his oath. He swore specifically to the king that he wouldn't be apart from the princess during their journey to Gerudo. Impa also lectured him for a while before leaving the castle. She explained that the attacks of the Yiga clan, which was known to have their hideout somewhere close to the town, were increasing with the looming prophecy of Calamity Ganon's return. The knight couldn't allow her highness to leave like that on her own in the wilderness. The desert region was way more dangerous than any other terve they had traveled to. Foes could be hidden on every corner. But Princess Zelda was stubborn and wouldn't listen to him. She kept moving forward, the blue tail of her dress making a path in the sand. Her golden locks moved in hypnotizing waves among the clear sand of the landscape. If it weren't for the clouds, she could pass as part of the beauty of the wastelands.

Link sprinted to overtake the holy heiress, getting on her way to the entrance to the town. She made everything possible to ignore his presence, not even making eye contact, gaze set at the walls that embraced the village. She was determined to go inside alone as the knight had nothing to do against the strict rules of the right of admission.

Her fragrance sneaked to enchant him with the smell of vanilla and floral petals. He tried to equal the same swiftness, grabbing her hand in the most delicate way despite the urgency. Zelda snapped at the physical touch. Her sparkly eyes reminded the knight of her last outburst back when measuring him for the confection of the champion's cloth. She had the same expression on her face. Dangerous, explosive, intense, insightful… He could think of several adjectives to describe Princess Zelda but none he was allowed to say out loud.

"Don't go alone." She almost felt sorry for his big blue eyes as he begged.

"What do you even think you can do to enter the town? You have to stay outside." She slid the hand out of his reach, rejecting the touch. It was an actual fact that he wasn't allowed to come with her. What was he even thinking?

"It's dangerous." He argued.

The princess contemplated the possibility of talking to Urbosa personally. But she was in no mood for having the escort following her around. Plus, she was sure Link wouldn't be the exception to the ancient laws that the gerudo respected. Hero or not, he had to stay outside and put up with it. In the end, Zelda had to break their eye contact as his navy gaze was far too powerful for her to say 'no' with enough authority to actually make him obey.

"Having trouble, ma'am?"

One of the gerudo guards posted at the western gates of the town came to Zelda's aid. Her stealth surprised both knight and princess.

Link had never fought a gerudo and despite his courage, he wasn't looking forward to it either. The women from the western region were taller than the average, most of them reaching two meters tall. Their strong personality was just the cherry on top. Besides, the gerudo were known to craft the sharpest spears in Hyrule's market. The warrior before Zelda and Link was the ideal display to illustrate what people talked about when referring to threatening weapons. Even without the spear, just meeting the muscular frame of the guard's complexion was enough. The gerudo prototype was very specific: broad shoulders, tall frames, sharp jawlines, long noses, strong hips, and voluminous red hair. All of those characteristics were present before Link, who found the edge of the weapon pointed at his chest.

"Voe are not allowed in gerudo town." The other soldier posting the door said loud enough for them both to listen. She gave her a glance that he interpreted as an 'I already told you'.

Link had to admit it: Princess Zelda had outsmarted him. Not only that but she also got over his security methods sketched to perfection, or that was what he had thought. Apparently, his precaution wasn't enough. He had officially failed his rightful duty. But, on the other hand, there had to exist some way to enter the town without being spotted. The sun and light surrounding the scenery decreased the number of possibilities.

"Look, you'll have to wait in the bazaar. I'll be back before you notice." Despite her words, the knight wasn't convinced of it. "Take it as some free time for yourself. I'll be fine. Gerudo guards are naturally-gifted fighters."

Well, in theory, he was also a naturally-gifted swordsman. And a knight at that. But she had proved his self-perception wrong.

"I need to make sure personally that you are safe." He insisted, taking two steps forward into the barrier that separated wilderness from the community.

"Halt! I won't ask twice." The edge of the spear was now pointed at Link's face. The princess took advantage of his surprise to place herself on the other side of the walls, protected by the exclusively-feminine town. "Abandon the area at this moment."

"I'm sorry, Link." The princess meant it though she looked forward to having some alone time. The knight looked like a lost puppy, hair damp and messy clothes. "I won't get in trouble, I swear."

She remained deaf to his pleas, which didn't come up short. However, the culture and diversity inside the town walls called the princess loud enough for her to forget about the escort's insistent requests. Despite the physical distance drawing apart between them, Link didn't allow his eyes to abandon her figure disappearing among the crowd. Eventually, looking straight at the horizon wasn't worth the effort. The possibility of getting beaten for standing in the way increased with each second. The gerudo guard nailed her sharp eyes at him severely.

Link, nevertheless, wasn't willing to move an inch until the princess returned.


The vibrance of Gerudo's market soon swallowed the princess' attention. Females from all regions came to find the exclusive products one could only find in the wasteland region of Hyrule. All kinds of travelers carried large backpacks with all sorts of products to exchange in the stands of the main square. Food, accessories, weapons, drinks, souvenirs, clothes… The broad offer of the trading system in the desert brought altogether products of other regions for the gerudo women to keep through swap without the need to exit their town if they didn't want to. For a fierce culture so protective of its members, the marketplace was a great advantage that no other society in the kingdom had achieved yet.

Alas, though Zelda didn't want to make Urbosa wait for her, she couldn't help but become mesmerized by all sorts of colors and aromas as she walked around the stands. The jewelry shop, a solid building containing a variety of gems, had the most exquisite selection of necklaces, bracelets, pendants, and earrings. Even headpieces were crafted by the tough staff inside the workshop. The fact that the process of crafting was visible for the clients to see made the experience of shopping more enticing. If the princess hadn't already possessed her mother's royal headband, she would have considered getting one for herself to change depending on the day back in Hyrule castle. A certain piece with luminous stones on top caught her eye, but soon she discarded the idea as she imagined herself illuminated by the dim light while studying in her personal lab. She didn't want to become a two-footed lamppost for the gossip mongers to spot her still awake. The thought of it made her giggle despite being alone. Nobody around her seemed to care. Finally, she could spend some time on her own without the constant attention of people around her. She was especially glad of the lack of people expecting her to surpass the royal etiquette to have a reason to chit-chat in the court. Yes, her regal gown exposed her status as part of Hyrule's royal family, but her fellow women inside the town hadn't lashed her with dogmatic glances because of it. Instead, the shopkeepers and visitors motioned with their heads or waved softly on her way to Chief Urbosa's building. Her steps stopped at the entrance where the captain of the gerudo guard was standing. They recognized each other.

"Princess Zelda of Hyrule, welcome on behalf of the Gerudo. We have been expecting your presence." The low tones in her firm voice made Zelda shiver. "Chief Urbosa will be elated to finally see you in person."

The warm welcome made the princess smile with tenderness. Why did she feel more appreciated in Urbosa's territory rather than in her own home? Was it because of her father's strict decrees? No, admitting that would make her a bad person and a terrible daughter. Maybe it was because of the lack of pressure in general. The wastelands were isolated from central Hyrule, people there didn't depend on her sealing magic awakening soon. Strategically, the gerudo region was the most well-prepared of them all. Monsters rejected the heated climate and most of them didn't get to step past the desert's frontier. The land had been naturally blessed by the complications of the surroundings. And in consequence, the dwellers had biologically conformed to the characteristic scenery. The fact that no men were born in the period of a hundred years was just another biological quirk. Time, however, hadn't been kind to the fierce nature of the inhabitants. If anything, it was their hostile manner that scared men away. The gerudo temper was as changeable as the sandstorms that surrounded the wastelands. Despite that, the captain of the gerudo guard before her seemed to have worked on that personal aspect though she didn't doubt that she still had a strong personality, especially in combat.

"Please, follow me. I'll bring you to our matriarch." The other guard silently joined the royal escorting, replacing her knight temporarily on her way to meet Urbosa.

After going upstairs, Zelda's sacred frame met the cooling shade indoors. The sensation of relief was only prolonged when the princess laid her eyes upon the chieftain, who was waiting on the stony seat at the bottom of the room. When Urbosa spotted her presence, she immediately got up to properly exchange reverence. The royal protocol was of the utmost importance. Personal relationships were always delayed for privacy. They both had to act their part as rulers of each region meeting in a diplomatic mission.

"Princess Zelda, it's an honor to have you back." Urbosa greeted, keeping the perfect balance between authority and gentleness. "I have to thank you for your swiftness."

Well, she wouldn't have been quick in making the trip to the desert if it hadn't been for her father. Luckily, he had given his consent to assist the candidate in piloting the Divine Beast located in the wastelands.

"The pleasure is mine. I've been craving to return for a while now." The hylian princess replied with politeness. "The town has grown and become much more vivid. I'm glad to see the plentiful marvels of prosperity it offers to the visitors."

The tactful treatment was something Zelda didn't remember from Urbosa. The gerudo matriarch had matured in the last years. Her red hair had grown admirably, waving the curvy shapes of her muscular body. Experience had given her green eyes a particular shine of energy that sparkled like the thunder she was able to summon. The embellishment on her traditional clothing had only increased until it incorporated the most thorough details. The elaborated breastplate now had two shoulder guards defining her sharp silhouette. The same type of crafting was wrapped around her hips in the shape of an intricate golden belt with gemstones and in the headpiece she wore attached to her high ponytail. In contrast with her tanned skin, her olive eyes stood out with the same volatile intensity of the sun. The accessories were too numerous for Zelda to actually count them, but she felt admiration for how well years had treated the fellow ruler of the desert.

"Well, I have to admit that lately the gerudo have been agitated because of Vah Naboris. Thunderstorms trigger the engines and nobody is capable of controlling it." A smirk adorned her bluish lips. "Yet." She added, stealing a wide smile from the hylian princess as well.

"I happen to know a thing or two about ancient technology." She admitted shily.

"So I've heard, princess." Urbosa was aware of her passion for researching sheikah relics, there was no doubt now that she had written a letter to her father to free her from the confinement she was submitted to. The matriarch glanced at the two guards escorting Zelda, motioning for them to retire. The captain, however, stayed beside the throne. "I'd like to talk about my role as Naboris' pilot. Let's start there, shall we?"

"Is that a 'yes'?" The hylian princess couldn't help but get obviously excited at Urbosa's positive reaction to the assumption that she would be entrusted with the task. With her on their team, Calamity Ganon wouldn't stand a chance. If she agreed, there would be only Princess Mipha left to decline or accept the offer.

"I will do whatever is in my hands to aid Hyrule on the battlefield." Her high heels echoed in the hall as she approached the much smaller princess. "Especially if you are the one asking, little bird."

Princess Zelda couldn't help but run at her arms when Urbosa demanded an embrace now that they were alone. The mention of her nickname drowned her with nostalgia. Only her mother, the late queen, called her that. After her death, the gerudo chief was the one to inherit the honor to continue using it in her place. Something so personal and caring didn't sound strange in Urbosa's voice. Her motherly attitude towards her ended up turning her into some sort of aunt to the heiress. The warmth of her physical touch embraced her with a sensation the princess rarely got to experience. Her father wasn't the type to touch or praise, so the matriarch was the only person she had. Zelda had to admit it, she missed her mother's hugs.

"Thank you, Urbosa." She said, containing her tears. "Hyrule will always be in debt with you."

"Don't even mention it, princess." The gerudo matriarch broke their embrace, returning to her authoritarian stance. Zelda, on the other hand, also tried to recover the composture. Over the emotional moment. "So, tell me little bird, who accompanied you on the journey? Did the lousy poet come along this time too?"

Zelda laughed while remembering how Urbosa couldn't bear Irel's chants whenever she visited the court. Macho bravado was a general characteristic of males that gerudo often rejected. The theatrical language and loud songs were an element related to that, apparently. All in all, Irel's manners made Urbosa loathe the fanfare surrounding the court.

"I have enough with a silent escort, thank you very much." She mentioned bitterly.

"A voe?" The matriarch asked, seeing no trace of a hylian knight anywhere. "I'll send word to dismiss him. It's time we girls can finally have some quality time together."

With a simple motion of her hand, the captain of the gerudo guard posted beside the throne left the hall to attend to Zelda's knight awaiting outside the town. The princess sighed with relief once they were left alone. Urbosa winked at her with complicity. Finally, some freedom with a beloved one for once. She didn't have enough words to thank the chief of the tribe for rescuing her from the castle's boredom via letter. Only a person with such authority and a close relationship with the king could have the power to accomplish so. If Revali or Daruk had been in her position, there would be no way her father would have allowed such a trip to their respective hometowns. But Urbosa, being the ruler of the strategic spot gerudo desert, had always been Hyrule's great weakness in terms of politics. Not that the hylians particularly enjoyed life there. Only the gerudo were capable of resisting the climate perfectly. Nevertheless, the unique attributes of the western region couldn't be found anywhere else.

"Naboris is expecting us. Let's not keep her waiting, shall we?"

The holy princess couldn't help but smile warmly.


His insistent eye contact and silent demeanor ended up awakening uneasiness in the pair of guards posted at the western gates of the town. The unforgiving rays of the sun, the constant threat of the spears, and the sand getting in his shoes were no obstacles for Link. He waited for his lady to return like a champion, without complaints or cons. It was a rare view for the security staff who were used to seeing weary travelers. And, especially for a voe. Showing admiration towards the opposite gender could be considered a weakness due to inferiority but in this case, none of the vai fighters watching seemed to care.

The pair of vai stopped staring when a superior role inside the official guard stepped off the town. Link found before him a much taller woman with tanned skin and vibrant waves of reddish hair. Her expression showed concern.

"Captain Teake." The pair of guards showed their respect, lowering the spears for her to exit and meet Link at the entrance.

"Chieftain Urbosa informed of your presence outside the town's walls." The captain spoke without much enthusiasm, scanning him up and down, not impressed by his smaller frame.

"Is the princess still inside?"

"Worry not, voe. Our matriarch herself is guarding her at the moment. They left for Vah Naboris, heading south." With the dagger attached to her captain belt, the captain pointed at the divine beast standing proudly in the distance. "Your presence is required there." She added later.

The hylian knight only nodded and left for Vah Naboris with determination. The guards now looked impressed by the lack of protocolary manners displayed in front of the gerudo captain. She, nevertheless, maintained a stony expression, watching his every step as Link disappeared between the soft wind that gently carried the desert's sand.

The lack of Epona's presence in this travel had been noticeable. Traveling on foot was draining all of his energy, especially through the desert where his footsteps drowned in the sands. Maybe after a while, one could forget about the sensation but his feet needed an extra boost of effort with each stride. Eventually, the difference compared with actual strolling on regular land was definitely there. He had taken a shower about two hours ago and yet a thin layer of sweat was already covering his forehead. It had been a long time since he had last felt so tired. The glowing shapes of Vah Naboris slowly grew closer absurdly slow. The sandseals around the desert, however, seemed to have a good time witnessing his struggles. Maybe trying to tame one as a mount would have been easier… Their scalp, however, seemed complicated to hold onto, so maybe some kind of ridding saddle would be needed. Considering that option was out of the question now that he was halfway down the path. Well, not a path because the desert was unable of creating natural roads unlike the rest of Hyrule. The dunes swallowed his shoes, creating an uncomfortable stratum between his feet and the insole.

The first thing he did once he found himself at the Divine Beast's location was get rid of that spare sand. Straightaway, he drained the canteen full of water down his dry throat. Link could feel the desert's particles descending to his stomach and cringed at the feeling. Sometimes he was so absorbed in his job that he forgot about the most elemental needs of his own body such as healing, eating, and drinking often. If he were in his right mind, he would have left for Kara Kara Bazaar and given up the princess' chase. Any other knight back at Hyrule's barracks would have done so. But given the king's direct orders, he just couldn't abandon his duty. He had the oath to respect and follow. And so he did, even if he ended up worn out because of it.

During the small moment of self-awareness, the knight felt the weight of worry in his chest. He was somehow disappointed with the princess' avoidance of his presence. It was true that he couldn't enter Gerudo Town, but leaving him without informing beforehand, practically sneaking behind his back… He just couldn't help but sense that he wasn't wanted around her. He tried to perform his duty as an appointed knight as best as he could. He would even cross the sun of the gerudo region if it was needed. Despite all of the insecurity and hesitation the master sword brought with its retrievement, Link at some point had thought the greatest present implied with being the chosen one would be getting to work alongside the heiress to the throne. Now, a few months later, he rather believed that the stillness of the sword was way preferable to the princess' outbursts. He almost felt bad for admitting such a fact, even if it was just in his mind. It was personal. At least that was what he wanted to believe. It just frustrated him. The contradiction of excelling in his job and not succeeding in getting along with her highness was incredibly burdening. It was best to remain silent around her for now in order to not trouble the waters. Maybe if he didn't find himself implicated in the princess' inner turmoil, he would actually be capable of noticing when she was trying to fool him. Though most of the time it was inevitable. As much as he wanted to seem unwavering, Zelda's humanity was overwhelming in a way he had never experienced before.

For Hylia, he thought protecting the princess would be way easier. The most shocking part of it was that keeping an eye on her wasn't the most complex task. Despite his preference to remain quiet he couldn't avoid being involved in her own struggles. There were no barriers that could block the mystical connection between them. It was like he could sense all of her emotions.

And at that moment, he could feel the stillness in his core. Was it because of her absence? Or the mere reflection of her sensations on his being? Why was it that his job felt so personal in spite of his efforts to remain on the sidelines? Questions plagued his mind but none of them got through his comprehension in order to seek answers.

Vah Naboris' rear foot moved silently in the air, going unnoticed by the knight. At the moment the ancient relic stomped on the sands, however, he could feel the shake of the land under him. He almost lost his balance.

"What-...?" He couldn't help but let out a form to express his temporary fright.

He stayed staring at the Divine Beast for a few seconds to make sure it wasn't going to move again before deciding to approach it. It was easy to know as its humps lit up with energy whenever it was going to need it. At the moment, there was no clue of the beast storing energy from the earth. A certain spot in the center of the earth under it, however, gleamed with blue shades of dim light. His intuition screamed that it was the source of the teleportation method. How else would anyone get in the several floors that created the structure of the relic? Would it be safe to use it if he stepped on it? Or would climbing be a wiser decision? Though seeing how everything trembled whenever the camel-shaped machine moved, he couldn't assure the necessary stability to not fall from a concerning height.

Rudania's darkness had been daunting. After all, it was the first Divine Beast he had ever witnessed. But the sight of Naboris was close enough. If the rumors of its capability to control thunder were on point, it raised the score to become the most intimidating beast of them all four. Guess it lived up to resemble the gerudo chief persona herself in some way. All Divine Beasts did in a way too.

Before Link could even realize it, he had been already teleported inside the Divine Beast. A twirling motion in his head tormented him the few seconds after feeling his feet on the machine, forcing him to find some support on its structure. Luckily, the nauseous sensation disappeared after taking three deep breaths. Straightaway, the knight used the hem of his hylian pale shirt to dry the sweat that had been covering his forehead. His bangs felt less stick to the skin once he finished. He hoped his composure was completely recovered with that. The thought of meeting Urbosa made him nervous. He could only expect an aggressive and muscular form with a strong personality. Way worse than what he had witnessed from the gerudo guards posted at the entrance. It was obvious that the pyramid of power could only show more and more power as it scaled.

He walked around the first floor while thinking too hard about it. The monstrous machine was empty on the insides of the dungeon, luckily not as dark as Rudania had been. But still, no trace of her highness anywhere. Despite the apparent absence, his inner senses remained calm.

Link finally spotted their feminine silhouettes after crossing an exterior passageway. While Princess Zelda was sleeping safe and sound, the matriarch immediately perceived his presence.

"Ah, well…" Urbosa looked impressed, not thinking much of a young voe. Then she turned to face him. "You certainly got here fast."

The knight met a warm pair of eyes that shone with kindness instead of the expected threatening glance. Later on, he realized that the princess herself was peacefully resting, with no place for nightmares that afternoon. The chief was sweetly caressing her golden mane, soothing her mind. The mere sight of it was comforting.

Now he started to understand why Zelda had been so eager to visit Gerudo.


And with memory number 6: Urbosa's hand, we finish this chapter for today.

I put a lot of thought into Link's point of view in these scenes. As a woman, I have the tendency to believe that I lack the skills or even empathy to write a male character with enough depth. Having Link not talking in the games is also a challenging fact to put into words.

But hey, I'm writing what I'd sincerely like to read. And I am glad to see other people online enjoying the content I create. I don't recall having such a flow of creativity for so long. Since I began my job at a small office, I have been writing on a daily basis. Even when I get home I continue. Or sometimes I just forget about the time and I find my coworker at reception telling me to lock the doors when I'm done because we're already closing.

Being active in fanfiction had never felt so fulfilling before. I am glad to reconnect with the community even if it is in another fandom.

Read you next week! I will expect some reviews for this extensive chapter too.

Stella.