Aeris had been six years old when she first visited Gerudo Valley with her mother, she had instantly fallen in love with their culture. She soon found herself counting down the days until the next visit.
She was ten now and even though everyone around her told her she was growing into a beautiful young woman she didn't really feel any different. Even so it was hard not to notice that people had begun to treat her differently. Her mother spent hours painstakingly brushing and braiding her hair where she use to let her black curls run wild. Her father no longer picked her up and spun her around and he rarely hugged her anymore and when he did they lasted only seconds.
Other things were changing as well. They rarely made trips to Castle Town anymore. She could hear her parents talking in hushed voices when they thought she was asleep, something about a war and the roads being too dangerous. She didn't quite understand what they were talking about but if they said it was dangerous she would believe them.
So she stayed on the farm helping with the goats and the few crops her mother grew, counting down the days until she and her mother would make the trip to Gerudo Valley. The Gerudo didn't treat her differently in the same way her parents did. They still told her she was becoming a beautiful young woman, but they also made comments on how strong she was becoming when she helped her mother unload their cart. One of the guards said she would make a fine warrior one day and had let her hold a spear, Aeris had smiled for days after. Urora gave the young girl a veil on one of their visits and Aeris cherished it, feeling strong and mysterious each time she put it on. Aeris loved their trips to the Fortress, she loved the farm too, but something about the Gerudo drew her in.
Maybe one day she could ask them to teach her how to use a spear.
"Aeris dinner is ready," Her mother knocked on her door lightly.
"Coming Mama!" Aeris quickly made her way down the stairs to the kitchen, the smell of stew filled the room.
Her father was already seated at the round oak table, he looked exhausted after a long day of work, but he managed a smile when he saw Aeris. "Hey Sweet Pea," His deep voice rumbled deep in his chest.
"Hey Papa!" Aeris took her seat, A bowl of stew was placed in front of her, the smell was mouthwatering.
They ate mostly in silence with her mother and father occasionally making small talk about the farm, Aeris quickly drifted into her thoughts. Tomorrow they would make their monthly trip to the Fortress and she couldn't wait to see Urora, and somewhere in the back of her mind she hoped to see the young king again.
She hadn't seen him since that day two years ago but he had stayed in her mind. Remembering the way his eyes had briefly met her made her blush lightly, she ducked her head, hoping to hide her burning cheeks from her parents. She wondered if his hair had grown or if someone had cut it short like her father's. She was so lost in her thoughts about the boy king she barely heard when her mother asked if she was done with her stew.
"Not yet Mama," She took a bite of the lukewarm stew before putting her spoon down. "Do you think the Gerudo king gets lonely? Do you think he had friends?"
Her parents chuckled lightly. "I'm sure he has plenty of things to keep him busy," Her mother stood to take her fathers empty bowl. She kissed him lightly on his brow before taking her own bowl.
Her father stood and headed for the stairs, he kissed Aeris on the top of her head. "The boy is a king Sweet Pea. Finish your dinner, you have a long day tomorrow,"
She sighed and quickly finished her long cold stew. Her mother rested a hand on her head, "We can ask Urora about him tomorrow. How does that sound?" When Aeris nodded her mother gave her a soft pat on the head. "Now get up to bed, we have to leave early in the morning,"
Sleep didn't come to Aeris easily that night. She laid in her bed lost in thought, briefly wondering if the king ever did the same thing. His gold eyes flashed through her mind, and she pushed her thoughts aside. She rolled onto her side hoping a change in position would help her sleep.
It did not…
Morning came far to soon and Aeris got far too little sleep. She groaned when her mother shook her lightly signaling it was time to get up. Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes and tried her best to stifle her yaws, as her mother brushed and braided her hair, finding herself slightly less groggy when her mother finished the simple plait.
"Let's get some breakfast then we can head out," Her mother kissed her head then headed down the stairs. Aeris dressed quickly and followed behind her mother.
Breakfast consisted of a slice of bread and cheese, they ate quickly before heading outside. The sun wasn't up yet, it wouldn't be until they crossed the gorge leading into the valley. Her mother secured a few loose parcels before climbing into the driver's seat of the small cart. Go-Go was already harnessed and seemed to be impatiently waiting to go, trade days meant extra pets and treats for him, The Gerudo seemed to have an oddly soft spot for the goat.
Aeris hoisted herself into the small cart and her mother gently nudged the reins urging Go-Go forward. Aeris was back asleep before they made it off the farm.
Ahia chuckled at her daughter and wrapped an arm around her, cradling the small girl against her side, she could sleep for now
Aeris was jostled awake when the cart transitioned from the smooth dirt path to the wooden bridge that crossed the deep gorge separating Hyrule from Gerudo Valley. She rubbed her eyes and blinked blearily. "Morning Mama,"
"Morning sleepyhead," The woman lifted her arm allowing her daughter to scootch away from her, the young girl yawned and stretched her arms above her head.
Two Gerudo stood at the end of the bridge their spears glinted in the early morning light. The guards use to only stand outside the gates but over the last few months they had moved closer and closer to the edge of their land. Aeris wondered if it was because of the war thing that her parents whispered about at night.
Her mother slowed the cart to a halt before the two guards. "Isha, Nali, It's a beautiful morning," She smiled at the two intimidatingly beautiful guards.
"Ahia, The roads are dangerous these days," The slighter of the two, Isha, leaned on her spear heavily.
"Koume and Kotake told me to give you this. You'll need it to enter the fortress," Nali handed her mother a slip of cloth with the Gerudo crest on it. "King's orders,"
"Aeris watched her mother place the slip into her bag, wondering why they needed a special thing to get into the fortress? Aeris waved as her mother bid the guards goodbye and started the cart moving again.
The rest of the day went as most of their visits did. Aeris spent the day trailing after her mother going from stall to stall delivering goods and speaking to the Gerudo, who seemed to be on edge which made her mother nervous, though they carried on as usual, despite the tension in the air.
The sun was hanging low in the west by the time they made it to Urora's stall. Aeris ran to greet the tall woman while her mother grabbed the last of the days parcels.
"Hello little one," Urora greeted Aeris with a calm smile, "How are we today?"
"Good! Bas had her baby. He's so cute!" Aeris gushed over the new addition to the farm.
"Is that so?" Her mother appeared then and handed Urora several parcels. The woman thanked Ahia and turned back to Aeris. "And what is this ones name?"
"Papa named him Ade," Aeris grinned widely revealing a missing tooth.
"A fine name," Urora ruffled the girls hair.
Her mother laughed and patted Aeris on the shoulder. "Don't you have a question for Urora?"
"Urora looked intrigued by this and leaned toward the young girl. Aeris looked puzzled for a moment then remembered last night's conversation. "Oh yeah! Is the king ok?" Urora arched a brow at this. "Does he have friends to play with?"
Urora chuckled and leaned back. "I see our young king has caught someone's eye," Aeris blushed scarlet, as Urora and he mother laughed at her expense. "The king is very well taken care of, I assure you, Vahi. His mothers Koume and Kotake make sure of that,"
Koume and Kotake, the guards at the bridge mentioned them… were those the two women who were with the king that day?
Her mother rested a hand on her head. "See darling I told you he was just fine," She turned to Urora. "How old is your young king now? He's not that much older than Aeris is he?"
"He turned twelve this past winter. How old is our Aeris now?" Urora glanced at the small girl
"I turned 10 this summer," Aeris grinned flashing her missing tooth again.
"And you are turning into a fine young woman, but the sun is getting low and strong you women need their rest," Urora turned to Ahia, "These are dangerous times the roads are not safe after nightfall,"
Ahia nodded in agreement, "We should be going. We'll see you next month Urora,"
The Gerudo woman nodded, "I will see you then, stay safe,"
Aeris didn't quite understand why Urora would tell them to stay safe, or why the roads would be more dangerous at night, but of course they would be safe,
Why wouldn't they be?
A/N:I have big plans for this story and I love that i'm able to share it with you guys, so let me know if you enjoy it and tell me any ways you think I could improve!