Hello fellow Zelda fans ! Took me some time to get back into this story, mostly side work and studies ... anyway I had to rewrite a good portion of thi chapter because I intended to have Zelda tell the truth to Freya, thought about it for a few days and then- ... nah. It was too early.

Instead I rolled a natural one on random encounters and came up with this two part chapter. Thanks for the support.


"What is wrong with the desert today !? Why did this have to happen now !" Freya and Zelda were having a lot of troubles to reach Gerudo Town, a weak sandstorm took them by surprise. Zelda wasn't experienced with this kind of event but according to Freya their best move now was to reach Kara Kara Bazaar and to wait there until the storm stops.

Zelda was doing her best to keep up and stay near Freya, they both enrolled their travel coat around their heads to protect their face from the sand. Af this point they were mostly yet blindly heading in the right direction.

They heard bells nearby "This must be the bazaar ! Hold on Sheik we are almost-" Freya froze, and so did Zelda. Something had moved in front of them, they saw it only briefly but the thing was hidden in plain sight.

A lezalfos most likely, Freya and Zelda looked at each other to make sure they both saw it without raising the lezalfos alarm. They were off road, no wonder they encountered one here. With so much noise the Lezalfos probably didn't hear them, it must have been waiting for the sand storm to end too.

The monster was easy to avoid, Freya and Zelda were more alert as they continued their progress toward the bazaar, at the same time the storm seemed to calm. They managed to make their way to the inn safely, they were quickly greeted by a rather young Gerudo.

"Come in ! Make yourself comfortable, are you alright ? This sandstorm is pretty nasty." Freya and the young Gerudo engaged a friendly conversation. Meanwhile Zelds signaled to the engineer that she would check their belongings.

They weren't the only travelers who happened to get caught into the sandstorm, another group of travelers was present, turning their belongings inside out to remove as much sand as they could.

"Damned sand, I don't ever want to hear anyone complaining about snow" a Rito complained, the princess felt his discomfort, flying with sand in his plumage would be like walking with pebbles in your boots.

"You could have just waited for the storm to be over but you decided to go into the desert anyway, if a letter isn't delivered the day it has been written it can't be that bad right ?" This time it was an Hylian traveller who responded, an old man carrying a box with fancy ornaments.

"I would let you know sir that a letter may have no value but the words it contains might as well be worth more than all the rupees in this province. You cannot say the same about your shipment." The Rito answeres with a friendly tone sitting in front of the Hylian.

"This crate IS worth a lot of rupees and someone must be really worried about me in Gerudo Town ... well hehehe, probably more about their delivery than the old bag of bones who is in charge of it." The old brought his gourd to his lips and noticed Zelda starring at them. "What about you young ladies ? What brings you at the edge of the map ?"

Zelda stuttered, she suddenly felt herself unable to answer. Freya had been paying attention and quickly joined the conversation "We are just having a regular trip to Gerudo Town. Sheik here is having some mid life crisis and we thought it would be a good idea to spend some time together. But indeed this tempest arrives at the wrong time." The engineer smiled at Zelda, if she wasn't comfortable enough yet she could just let Freya speak.

"Ah I see, I won't bother you with your problems then. The Gerudos reported that the tempest should be gone in the next hour but that we should still be careful if we intend to reach the city." The old man replied before returning to his conversation with the Rito.

Freya and Zelda sat at a table, a bit later the innkeeper brought some food for the travelers "I'm afraid I cannot serve any meat at the moment. Our chief has decided to close the border with Hyrule so we cannot go hunt too deeply into the land anymore."

Zelda felt a shiver running down her spine, as a leader she knew what this meant for Hyrule and the Gerudos. Their land wasn't prosperous, no dirt or water to cultivate anything or breed animals. Gerudo Town had a special system to make sure that the inhabitants would always have plenty of water. But food ... it was completely different, there were treaties established between the two kingdoms to help each others ...

"The border has been closed ? We-" Zelda looked at Freya to see if the engineer wasn't signaling her that she was making a mistake, but her friend seemed as equally worried as the princess was. "We didn't notice anything unusual in our way, what happened ?"

The Gerudo sighed "We weren't given much details, our guards simply announced that the border was being closed for "suspicious activities in Hyrule", the only thing it means for me is that I won't be getting as much customers as I used to for an undetermined amount of time ... I hope I won't have to close."

The Yiga let out a breath of relief, Zelda did not. Urbosa was wise and thoughtful, if the border had been closed it could only mean two things, either her father thought that the Gerudos were responsible which would be unlikely but still possible ... or she managed to know that Zelda wasn't in the castle ... Impa ? ...

Freya grabbed Zelda's hand, interrupting her train of thoughts "Hey, no need to worry, we aren't enemies, just travelers." The Yiga reassured.

"Gerudos would never suddenly turn their spears against travellers, even if our chief suddenly decides to turn hostile toward Hyrule she wouldn't hurt civilians. At least I hope we never get close to this situation." The innkeeper added "Eat up, the storm will be gone for a couple hours, you will need that energy to reach Gerudo Town." The Gerudo said before leaving the two of them alone.

"So ... you wanted to tell me something else ? Does it really have to wait for us to reach the hideout ?" Freya asked between two bites in a piece of bread, the engineer was impatient, the princess wouldn't want someone to keep secrets from her either.

"It's just- ... I feel like I can trust you, but this isn't the right moment." Zelda explained.

"You are afraid of the way I might react ? It can't be that bad, what is there to hate with you ? You are literally the purest person I ever met ! Yesterday's alcohol abuse doesn't count."

"Hehe, no it doesn't it was just one bottle ... but yes I have to admit I fear what would be your impression of me if I did." Freya nodded, she understood but obviously she didn't approve Zelda's mistrust.

After their break at the inn it seemed the tempest had moved further toward the East, the Rito and the old man had decided to extend their break despite Freya offering them to travel all together just in case Lezalfos would try to ambush them. Zelda assumed her friend was only trying to push her to have more social interactions ...

"I mean, let's admit you do tell me that thing about you that you really doesn't want to tell me "yet" how do you think I would react." The engineer insisted.

"I just- ... Freya please not now we-"

"Sheik I'm trying to help you, it's what we are supposed to do as comrades. You accepted me for what I am even when I knew that most people in clan do not feel safe around my stuff, you even made the effort to feel interested by my life. So please, just tell me-"

"I'm not ready Freya ! It's just- ... it's not the right time, I trust you, I have no reason to lie or hide things from you but my life- ... my "previous" life, my old identity ... there is a reason I do not feel comfortable around the other Yigas. I used to be a part of the people you probably despise the most.

"Nobility." Guess Freya, it wasn't hard to figure it out "I don't really have anything against nobles in general unless it's the royal family of course but it's really just about the whole war against the Great Calamity ... I don't have anything against you Sheik ... But still, I'm curious, just what pushed you to give up an easy life like that ?" The engineer sounded satisfied, that was enough for now to keep the truth at bay and perhaps make it more "digestible" later.

"I- ... I am physically unable to do specific things, and my father was very mad about this, as I told you he went violent and it wouldn't be good for his reputation if his daughter was suddenly seen walking around with a dislocated jaw." Zelda rubbed her hand against her face, it didn't hurt anymore ... but she could still remember how much it did back then, as physimuch as physically than emotionally.

Freya grabbed Zelda's hand and starred at her for a second, she was pale, then out of nowhere the engineer hugged the princess, the physical contact made Zelda uncomfortable along with this lack of reason for such a gesture. "I-I think I figured it out, I'm- ... I'm sorry Sheik, it must be hard for you to- ... oh I can't even think about it."

Zelda was even more confused just what did the Yiga "figured out " ? It was most likely not her true identity, she doubted the Yiga managed to come up with this conclusion and even if she did Freya would have either tried to kill her on sight ... or called her an absolute idiot ... or even do both no matter the order. "You- ... just to be sure could you tell me what you think you just found out ?"

Freya's expression switched from sadness to confusion "Well I-I think I know what you mean It's-... you are sterile Sheik." Zelda's brain hit the back of her skull, at least this is how the princess would describe hearing from someone that they concluded she was sterile, even among the nobles she had never heard such thing ... it was funny at least, weird, akward, but funny and painful at the same time.

Freya must have realised that her theory wasn't really founded on anything with Zelda's deadpanned expression. "It's logic, that's what you physically can't do, as a result your father is mad at you because he is a stupid pig can't make you marry a man to get free money or title or anything that comes up with noble marriage as a result."

Zelda let out the laugh she had been suppressing, with this reasoning it did sound logic, as a princess Zelda had to admit this was the harsh reality of being born as a noble. If it wasn't for the Great Calimity her father would be presuring her to find a proper husband or at least suitor to keep some kind of public appearence.

"Well sorry Freya but I am not aware if I do happen to be sterile, and hopefully I am not. It's not the reason I left, you were into something though, with the Great Calamity it wasn't really the priority of my father ... bedside I don't really know anything about love and romantic relationships." The princess admitted.

Freya shrugged and kept on walking toward Gerudo Town ... though, the way the Yiga reacted, did Freya-? "Hum I'm curious now, when you thought I was- ... I mean you assumed I was sterile but the way you reacted, you were trying to bring me some comfort, Freya are you-?"

"Me ? Oh no hehehe, I mean I can't tell if I am it's just- well I can of course like anyone but I'm uh, it's just-" Freya was almost gasping at this point "I can't do it because it's just- ... I mean it's a very specific thing and I just can't find a partner to do that with them, I mean there are plenty of guy at the hideout and I don't think I'm unattractive and hum-"

"You are looking Freya." Zelda interrupted the Yiga, she was used to this kind of mumbling when working with Purah, except it was about ancient technology and science, not gibberish spiralling around romance and procreation.

"Oh yes Hum straight to the point then ? I'm uh ... I'm into women."

...

"Oh" the princess didn't really had anything against that fact, it was just ... yet another aspect of the engineer's personality that she wasn't expecting. "So that's what you meant by- I get it now, sorry for pushing the question." It was uncommon, at least in Hyrule and their wasn't really any custom regarding such orientations. But as with everything that is different from what people expect, of course people would rather keep quiet about this to avoid finding themselves into less than desirable situation to say the least.

"You didn't push anything though, I just talk too much ... please do not spread the word though, guys already think I'm a weirdo, I don't need the other girls at the hideout to see me as some kind of deviant ... not that I think they wouldn't accept it, but I guess when you know what attracts someone else it does affect your relationship with them."

"I can't deny that. It's fine though, you aren't really interested by me right ?" The princess assumed the Yiga wasn't otherwise it would have been more obvious considering her friend's usual blunt behaviour.

"You ? Hum no sorry, I'm more into- ... hehehe ... strong willed people with a poetic aura." Zelda raises an eyebrow, it sounded way too metaphorical to be anything precise. "Also a clever mind,t heir ability to understand other people's feeling and as a bonus their tolerance to a margin of error and failure in life ... yes, that's my type of people. What about you Sheik ?"

"I- ... I'm not sure. I guess I just like people who fight for something they truly believe in." Freya snorted, it did sound stupid compared to her but Zelda would not rephrase it, her words perfectly described her preference as she thought about it a second time. The princess responded, they were only a few people that met this requirements, Impa, the champions, Freya ... and perhaps Sooga and Khoga ... maybe not Khoga. "Romance sounds like a luxury for nobility, I never really considered that I would have to engage into such a relationship before, and now I'm just- ... I don't think I will ever be ready. Do you already have someone in mind Freya ?"

The Yiga sighed "I'm not "picky" in general but no I haven't found anyone that really make my soul go- uh whatever it's supposed to do when you are attracted to someone else. It will happen eventually ..."

The princess had a sneaky moment of realisation creeping up her mind "Are we going to Gerudo Town because you are-"

"No !" Freya interrupted with a high pitched tone that clearly indicated her frustration, she switched back to a more friendly voice "I'm- I'm not interested by big muscles, it's Uh- I have too many bad memories with tall bulky muscular people, although I do like exotic people."

"Exotic ?"

"Yes ! Exotic ! Admit it, at some point you had the dream of hugging a Rito and feel their big fluffy feathers against your skin ?"

Zelda shrugged "You have a point I admit it." Revali was fairly short compared to the rest of his tribe, he was pretty young too, a teenager ? She didn't know how old the archer was exactly but she had the thought a few times. "How does it feel ? How did you figure out for yourself ?"

"Not yet, I don't remember when I figured out I had made up my mind about this subject, it just seemed logic, even natural for me. I know at least like ... three Yigas at the hideout who are in the same situation than me, some actually joined because their choice wasn't tolerated either by their families or their villages, when they did decide to "come out of the closet" as they say it just really didn't go well, I can't imagine what it would have been if I did share any bit of it at my old home ... Oh no I just realised, is this how it feels to be single ? I haven't even dated anyone yet !"

Zelda wanted to tell her that she should not force herself to get into a relationship with anyone unless she felt ready to, but it was hard to know if Freya just wanted to be with someone or if she was really looking for love. Company was better than no company at all ... depending of the company of course.

"And you Sheik ? Ever had the occasion to "court" someone ?" Oh, the question had to come up now. Zelda never had the occasion or the time to think about it. Her father never pushed the issue most likely because the king was too scared with a giant boar demon about to come back from the depth of the world and bring chaos and ruin to the kingdom.

A few tried to get the princess attention though ... none did out of romantic feelings, her mother never spoke about her wedding with the king, Zelda guessed why. Blond hair, blue eyes, it wasn't even an union for political reason, the king picked the first woman who looked like a Goddess and a few years later Zelda arrived with no "Godlike features" and years later she still had nothing.

Yet another fool plan from her father.

Urbosa spoke a lot about Zelda's mother, ironically Zelda only had six years to know her, Urbosa probably had seven or eight, the queen was encouraged to continue the royal lineage as soon as possible. The Gerudo Chieftain said that Zelda's mother was a very reserves woman, even during diplomatic visits when they were alone and free to speak, but when Zelda was born she was introduced to Urbosa of course, the Gerudo said that she felt like the queen really trusted her as a friend when she showed her daughter.

"Unconditional love." This is how Urbosa described her mother's affection toward the princess. Something that could only be found in fairy tales and tragic stories. Zelda shivered for a moment, she pretends it was the wind of the desert she softly answered . "No, I didn't have enough time I guess."

Gerudo town was in their field of view now, they reaches the main gate about ten minutes later. "So Sheik what's our cover ?" Freya asked out of nowhere.

"Y-you are asking that NOW ?" Zelda was caught off guard, she didn't really think about using a cover in the first place.

"Better now than never, don't worry I got an idea, just follow along ok ?" Freya took the lead before the princess could protest or even ask the Yiga to take a minute to think about a plan of action. The engineer's was stopped by the guards Zelda immediately noticed that their behaviour was ... tense.

"Halt, what is your business in our city ?" Asked one of the guards.

"Sav'aaq !" Greeted Freya using Gerudo has politeness "My sister and I would like to spend the night here, recently she has a lot on her mind due to recent events and we thought that there was no better place to recover than Gerudo Town." Zelda tried to keep a neutral yet friendly face, she felt like she had been pushed into a cold river right as she was about to dive in ... it didn't sound so bad after all to be Freya's sister after all, they had a little resembling while Zelda had her hair died.

The Gerudo guard looked at her partner and nodded "I have to check with my superior if we can allow travelers, with the border being closed we haven't had the time to figure out all our procedures, it will only take a few minutes."

"Sarqso" They both thanked in Gerudo. Freya dropped her backpack on the ground and stretched a bit, as she did Zelda noticed a lot of sand falling from the folds of her travel coat, not much could disturb Freya not even a full pound of sand apparently.

"So" began the Yiga "How about we start with this massage you told me abou-"

"Guard ! Did you see me daughter ?" A very panicked Gerudo ran toward the guard at the gate, she looked exhausted, Zelda could clearly see sweat running down her exposed skin.

"N-No I- ... I didn't see anyone leave the town, where did you see her for the last time ?" The guard asked, sounding as worried as the mother.

"That's the problem, the last time I saw her she was playing with other girls near the fletcher workshop, and they- ... they told me that they challenged my daughter to go into the desert and see an Molduga, I-I know her well enough to say that she is not crazy enough to risk her life but when her pride is attacked she-"

A terrible roar was heard south from the gate of the town, everyone at the gate had come up with the same horrible conclusion, Zelda didn't feel her body react, she immediately ran toward the origin of the bestial scream.

"Sheik wait !"

As she reached the corner of the town Zelda saw it, the large cloud of sand emitted by a Molduga tunneling around it's prey, the little girl was trapped on a rock, the Molduga probably sensed her presence but couldn't find her since she was on the stone.

"Freya look ! She needs help !" The princess turned around to look at the Yiga, expecting her to be ready to jump in action and help her, but Freya's face was filled with helplessness.

"Sheik ... we can't attract attention on us." The Yiga was right ... but that girl, could Freya tell her the same thing face to face ? Probably not, it was all about survival in this world.

But Zelda was over this, anyone could be over this. The princess noticed rhe sand seal station outside the town, she hurried in it's direction "I'm still going."

"Sheik ! You heard me ! Why would you-"

"Because it's kind Freya, and above all else it's good, I'm done wasting my time for something to happen, I'm dealing with problems myself now." She felt like she was rude toward her friend and that perhaps Freya might misunderstood what she meant.

But instead the engineer joined her with a fierce smile "Then allow me to assist ok ? That's the least I can do." The two travelers rushed toward the sand seal station, the Gerudo in charge of tending to the seals had apparently heard the commotion and rushed outside.

Zelda was the first to speak "On of your people is being hunted by a Molduga we need a seal to-"

"I understand ! Come !" The seal tender seemed to guess what the two had in mind "I can give you a seal but- ... what do you intend to do exactly ?"

Zelda looked at Freya, expecting her approval, the Yiga nodded and patted her backpack. "We can distract it long enough for her to reach the surroundings of the town, then she should be safe."

"You do not look like fighters, what if I'm just sending you to your death ?" The Gerudo was right, Zelda wasn't a fighter ... but perhaps Sheik was.

"We may not be, but we are brave enough to at least try." The princess answered.

The seal tender nodded, she called a seal wearing a harness and began to install a saddle behind it. "I have a bow and a few emergency explosive arrows left inside the stable, take those with you." Zelda nodded and went to look for the weapon while Freya prepared herself to ride the sand seal into the desert.

Freya seemed to have troubles handling the reins though and the Gerudo didn't fail to notice "You never travel with a sand seal ?"

The Yiga gave the Gerudi a wide smile "Well uh-" Zelda came out of the stable with a bow and a few explosive arrows. "Sometime you gotta run before walking right ?" The princess didn't hear the exchange, she was too focused on getting behind Freya and as soon as she was standing on the saddle the Yiga shook the reins firmly as she saw other Gerudos do and the sand seal sprinted across the sands toward the big could that indicated where the Molduga was hunting.

"It's quite easy actually ! But how do I stop it ?" Freya asked enthusiastically.

"WHAT ?!" The princess had second thoughts now, meanwhile the Yiga laughed as if they weren't about to confront the second strongest predator of the desert.

"I will try to get us close enough from it to get it's attention ! Meanwhile you pull out some miracle shots with those arrows like you did when Master Khoga challenged you alright ?!" Freya spoke as loudly as she could, as they were getting closer from the beast the ambient rumbling was getting unbearable.

"I will do my best !" At least this time she didn't have to aim precisely, she could do it, as Sheik she could be strong without any magic.

The movement of the sand seal seemed to have caught the Molduga's attention, the beast emerges from under the sands and looked toward Zelda and Freya, now it had seend them. Had they arrived a minute later the poor girl might have been devored.

The young Gerudo also noticed that a rescue attempt was on it's way, Zelda noticed that the little girl was getting ready to run back toward the town, they had all their chance.

Zelda prepared an arrow, thinking back about her journey, at that point finding refuge among the Yigas did not sound so crazy.