The gerudo were in full festival spirits as the caravan wove its way through the desert. Each gerudo wore intricate colorful outfits and golden jewelry. They sang songs and laughed excited for the coming week. Aeris rode behind Urora and Nabooru admiring the way the wind carried their voices. Nabooru turned to check on Aeris and frowed she slowed her horse to ride beside her. "What's wrong A?"

"Can you keep a secret?" The kiss was still eating away at her mind, she needed to tell someone and Nabooru was like a sister to her.

"You know I can," Nabooru quirked a brow, "Why you got dirt on someone?"

Aeris sighed, "You could say that,"

Nabooru gave Aeris a confused look and Aeris motioned for her to ride just outside of the line of gerudo to give them room to talk, "You have to promise me you won't tell anyone or freak out,"

"Aeris come on, what is it?" Mild concern crossed her face.

Aeris let out a breath, "Ganondorf kissed me,"

Nabooru's eyes widened, "DO WHAT!" Several of the gerudo close to them stopped singing and look at them. "When!"

"After you left the training grounds before my trial," Aeris shrank back from her friend.

Rage crossed Nabooru's face, "I'll kill him," Her kohl lined eyes burned, "Where is he?" She tried to look to the front of the caravan, "Did he hurt you?"

Aeris flinched when Nabooru's smoldering gaze turned back to her suddenly, "Hurt me? No," Nabooru's eyes softened, "It was just confusing,"

"How was it?" The sudden change in temperament confused Aeris.

"Soft, weird, I don't know," She hung her head and Nabooru put had on her shoulder, "You left and he gave me new daggers, then he just kissed me,"

"Did he say anything after?" Nabooru sat forward in her saddle trying to catch a glimpse of the king.

"No, Ralusa interrupted and he just left," She could still remember the look on his face when he pulled away from her. "But he seemed strange during my trial and I think he was arguing with Koume and Kotake before the opening ceremony,"

"Huh," Nabooru sat back and smiled at Aeris, "I guess that explains all the presents," She laughed, "I'll still kill him though,"

"No, don't do that," Aeris shoved Nabooru playfully. "I just…" A whoop from the front of the caravan cut her off, and the group began moving faster.

"Forget him, let's party!" Nabooru whooped and rode to rejoin the group.

Aeris stared up at the approaching colossus and smiled Nabooru was right, this week was going to be fun.

"Aeris I love your outfit!" Maili, who was wearing a pink monstrosity of a sirwal, gushed as Aeris made her way through the crowd searching for Nabooru.

"Oh, thank you," Aeris looked down at her light green skirt, "You look great to,"

"The pink and green make you look like a cactus!" The girl giggled, "A sexy cactus!"

Aeris couldn't tell if that was a compliment or not, "Are you drunk?"

Maili's eyes widened, "Don't tell my mom!"

Aeris laughed, "I won't don't worry," She laughed again as the girl sighed dramatically, "Just don't wander off alone," Maili nodded and Aeris made her way back into the crowd.

Damn it where was Nabooru? She cursed her height as she pushed her way through the dancing gerudo, the bonfire illuminated their bodies in an orange ethereal glow. She apologized as she bumped into a dancing gerudo, the woman merely laughed and resumed her dance. Aeris watched the woman as she moved admiring the way her body moved. Somewhere drums were being played and the woman moved her body to their beat, her hips swayed in circles as her arms snaked above her head.

Distracted Aeris collided with something hard, she lost her balance and hit the ground hard. She sat there dazed for a moment but took the hand that was extended to her, "I'm sorry I wasn't paying atten…" Her words faltered as she looked at the person she had bumped into. Ganondorf was wearing white robes with a swirling red pattern and his hair was pulled into intricate braids. Her mouth went dry as she realized her hand was still in his, she pulled it away.

His face was almost pained as he looked down at her. He reached to touch her face but pulled back and turned away from her disappearing into the crowd. Aeris rushed after him, weaving through the crowd trying to catch him. When she lost sight of him she stopped and stared in the direction he had gone. How did someone that big disappear like that?

"Aeris!" Nabooru suddenly appeared in front of her. "There you are! I've been looking all over for you," Nabooru grabbed her hand and pulled her through the crowd. "It's time for you to learn how to dance,"

Aeris paled, her dance? Like that gerudo earlier? "Dance?"

"Yeah," Nabooru laughed and brought Aeris to the edge of the ring around the bonfire. Several gerudo girls dances around the fire, the bells tied around their waists jingled as they moved to the beat of the drums.

Aeris shook her head and pulled away from Nabooru, "No, I'm not doing that,"

Nabooru grabbed her wrist lightly, "Come on A. It's easy, the music does all the work," someone handed Nabooru two strings of bells and she tied one around Aeris' waist and the other around her own.

"Nabs I don't want to," Her heart was hammering in her chest.

"Well that's a shame," Nabooru's smile was almost cat like. "It looks like someone was really looking forward to it," Aeris followed her gaze, to see ganondorf seated on a pillow in between his mothers, he averted his gaze when his eyes met hers.

Aeris looked back to Nabooru, "Teach me,"

Nabooru laughed, "That's it! Ok watch me," She moved her hips and the bells chimed.

The movements were simple but dynamic. "Ok, like this?" Aeris mimicked Nabooru.

"Fantastic, you're a natural!" Nabooru pulled Aeris into the ring of dancers and started dancing.

Aeris began to move to the beat of the music, following Nabooru's movements. She was self conscious of her movements and kept them small and tight, but as she moved around the fire she lost herself in the beat. The heat of the flames flushed her face and the music pulled at her soul. Her body moved with out her mind, she was lost in the music. Her skirt swirled around her as she spun, the bangles on her wrists and the bells at her waist created their own melody as she moved.

The drums began to raise their tempo and so did the dancers. Aeris' heart pounded as she spun faster. She reached her hands back and undid the tie holding her hair and undid it, her ebony hair cascaded down her back and swirled around her frame like a shroud. The drums were deafening now, building toward a crescendo, and with a flourish the song ended. Aeris spun to a stop panting heavily, she looked up and met ganondorf's gaze as the crowd around the dancers exploded. He seemed to stare through her, trying his best not to meet her gaze, Aeris only broke when Nabooru crashed into her.

"That was amazing Aeris!" Nabooru lifted her into the air,

Aeris took a deep breath, "I need a drink," Nabooru laughed and took her by the hand and lead her away.

Aeris looked back over her shoulder at Ganondorf, he was having a heated conversation with Koume. If he wanted to ignore her that was fine, but she would make it hell for him.

Aeris was exhausted. A week of dancing had left her numb, muscles she didn't even know she had were sore, but she was beyond excited for her first rounds as a guard. She would have slept in her purple uniform if Nabooru wouldn't have teased her mercilessly. She practically skipped to the guard barracks and nearly crashing into Nabooru when she turned a corner.

"Ugh why are you so cheery?" The poor woman looked dead tired, she was on night shifts this week.

"First day!" Aeris was positively giddy.

Nabooru perked up a bit. "First day! You have fun with that, I'm going home and going to bed," She waved weakly and continued down the hall.

Several other first time guards were waiting in the guard barracks when Aeris arrived, they greeted her and settled into an excited conversation. Sovak one of the older guards entered the room shortly after Aeris had, the gold band on her veil was a symbol of her rank as commander.

"Welcome to your first day as guards," She scanned the small group. "Most of you have been training for this day for most of your lives, so I won't waste time with instructions. I have your rotations and schedules," She pulled a piece of parchment, "When I call your name grab your weapons and report for duty," She paused, "If you don't like your assignments take it up with the king. First up, Aeris," Aeris perked up, "Dungeons,"

The dungeons, great. Sovak called the next name as Aeris left the room. She laughed bitterly to herself, first he kissed her, then he ignored her, and now he was punishing her. She had made sure she was always in his line of sight during the festival and he had ignored her, and now he was punishing her with the most boring route possible.

The dungeons were dark and dank… and empty. She stared down the stairs into the darkness and scoffed, real mature. She checked to make sure her daggers were on her hips, her fingers danced across the golden hilts, she had almost retrieved her old blades but couldn't bring herself to. She descended the stairs scowling, her great mood from earlier was long gone. She looked down the long row of cells and sighed, this was just great.

As she passed the first cell a pair of hands reached out and grabbed her, she tried to scream but a strong hand covered her mouth. She struggled against her captor until a voice whispered harshly in her ear, "Are you always so difficult?" She was shoved roughly against the wall of the cell and Ganondorf loomed over her. "Of course you are," He was wearing black robes and his hair was falling loosely around his shoulders. He searched her face as she glared up at him. "You have no idea what you do to me do you?" He took a step back from her and ran a hand through his hair.

"And what would that be?" Aeris questioned thankful for the veil that masked her face.

"Don't be coy!" Ganondorf snapped at her, "You knew exactly what you were doing at the festival," He backed her against the wall again. "You drive me insane," He traced her face lightly. "I tried so hard to get you out of my mind, but every time I turn around there you are,"

"You kissed me, remember?" Aeris leaned up toward him and she swore she heard him growl.

"By the sands," He ducked his head, "You just don't know when to stop do you?" He put his forehead against hers and she closed her eyes, "You are unlike anything I've ever known. I've spent more time than I would like to admit thinking of you." He whispered huskily, "Do you know what it's like to want something so bad but to know you could never have it?"

"I might," Her voice was hoarse and her breath was shaky. "But who says…."

"Don't do that!" He snapped, "Don't, just don't," He leaned into her more. "There are rules and laws, social constructs. My mothers would never… they would never allow it,"

Aeris put a hand on his cheek and he leaned into it. "It's like you forget you're a king," He scoffed. "How many times have I told you that your mothers don't control you?"

"I've lost count," He put his hand on hers.

"Then why do I have to keep repeating myself?" Her knees were weak, he was so close to her. She could feel his breath against her face.

"You really don't know when to stop, do you?" He tugged the veil away from her face and pulled her closer, he caught her lips in his and her world went blank. He pulled her so close that her toes barely touched the ground but it wouldn't have mattered if they did, her legs were jelly. She buried her hands in his hair and almost instinctively gave a harsh tug, he groaned and pulled away from her. They both panted heavily as Aeris buried her face in his chest, he wrapped his arms around her. "You're going to be the death of me, little hylian," He buried his face in her hair.

"Did you really have to pick the dungeons for this though?" She pulled back and glared up at him.

He laughed, "It was the only place I could think of that we wouldn't be interrupted,"

"Yeah but what the hell am I supposed to do when you aren't down here?" She pouted and crossed her arms.

"I'm sure you'll find something to entertain yourself," She scoffed and hit him lightly, He laughed and swept her into another kiss. "We can meet at the oasis on days you don't have rounds and I can meet you here when I can,"

"That was a fast transition," She laughed when he made a face at her, "But, people will notice eventually,"

His fingers danced across her jaw, "We will deal with that when the time comes," He kissed her gain quickly, "I have to go before my mothers begin to question where I am,"

She watched as he disappeared up the stairs before sliding down the wall of the cell, her fingers pressed lightly against her lips. What in the world was she getting herself into?

A/N:Anybody notice what I'm starting to do with the chapter titles... no...

Did I get a little carried away with that last part... Probably

Did I listen to way to many 80's rock ballads while writing this... Definitely

Things are heating up! Embrace the trash!