Aeris sat at the kitchen table her head buried in her arms sobbing as Urora fumed, "What in the hell were you thinking?" Aeris flinched, "Sneaking around with the KING!" Urora scoffed, "How did you think that was a good idea? Please tell me, how did you think that would end?"

"Mom!" Nabooru rubbed Aeris' back as she sobbed, "He started it,"

"And she entertained it! She's not innocent here, she could have walked away," Urora was seething. "And you!" Her attention turned to Nabooru, "You knew and you let it happen! I raised you better than that!"

"I didn't like it at first either!" Nabooru stopped rubbing her back, "But look at what they went through just to get a few moments together whenever they could. Doesn't that count for anything?"

"No, it doesn't!" Urora snapped. "He used her to get what he wanted and she was stupid enough to let him!" Aeris flinched at her adoptive mother's harsh words, "What would your mother think? Would she have approved of you laying with a man before marriage?"

Aeris sobbed harder, choking on what little air she was getting. "MOM!" Nabooru shrieked, "That was uncalled for!" Nabooru had to catch Aeris from falling out of the chair. She wrapped her arms around the sobbing girl, "Our whole civilization is built on going out and finding any hylian man willing!" Urora stepped back surprised by her daughters boldness, "You need to take a step back,"

Urora stomped over to the door and flung it open, several gerudo scattered. "I wish I could, but I've got a fucking wedding to plan!" The door slammed harshly behind her.

Aeris hiccuped, "We never," A sob racked her body, "It didn't get that far," She dissolved again, leaning heavily on Nabooru.

"Shh, she'll calm down eventually," Nabooru stroked Aeris' hair softly, "Do you love him?"

Aeris wiped her face, "I think so," She hiccuped again,

"Well you better find out cause you're about to be his queen, girl," Nabooru laughed, "I mean it's not under the best circumstances, but still," Nabooru gripped Aeris' face and rubbed away any lingering tears, "Who would have thought, the little hylian farm girl turned into a Gerudo queen,"

Aeris choked out a laugh, "Well it's either that or be beheaded,"

"Oh come on, you could have chosen flowery war torn Hyrule," The two laughed together, "There she is," Nabooru brushed Aeris' hair out of her face, "It's going to be ok, there are worse things than being a queen,"

"Everyone thinks I'm a whore," Aeris averted her gaze, "They're going to think I just want the power,"

Nabooru wrapped her in another crushing hug, "You know the truth and so does he, that's all the matters," She paused, "Fuck everyone else," Aeris sputtered and Nabooru laughed, "I mean don't actually fuck them, save that for your wedding night,"

Aeris blushed furiously, "Nabooru!"

The girls sat in the middle of the kitchen laughing until a knock at the door interrupted them. Aeris' heart stopped as Nabooru went to open the door. She opened it just enough to see who it was, after a few moments she opened it fully revealing a guard Aeris didn't recognize, "The king requests Aeris' presence,"

She stood shakily, dusting off her pants. Nabooru watched her carefully as she made her way to the door, "Where is he?"

"The throne room, with Koume and Kotake," Aeris heart sank, "I am to escort you,"

Nabooru grasped Aeris' hand "I'll be with you the whole time,"

Aeris nodded and turned to the guard, "Take me to him,"

Aeris held her head high as they made their way through the fortress halls, trying her best to ignore the whispering gerudo they passed. She could feel nabooru giving each woman they passed nasty glares,

The guard stopped before the beaded curtains leading to the throne room, she nodded for Aeris and Nabooru to enter. Aeris pushed aside the curtain and entered the large room, Ganondorf was seated on a large mound of colorful pillows on a raised dais, with Koume and Kotake standing on either side of him, Urora stood before them her hands clasped tightly in front of her.

Aeris and Nabooru moved to stand beside Urora, Ganondorf's eyes followed Aeris and she approached, his face contorted in pain as he noticed the redness around her eyes. Koume and Kotake hadn't changed, they still gave off the strange aura Aeris remembered had wafted off of them the night she came here.

"Urora, do you accept your role as Aeris' mother?" Kotake's voice shot through Aeris like a sheet of ice,

"I do," The curtness in Urora's voice hurt,

"Nabooru, do you accept your role as Aeris' sister?" Koume's voice crackled like flames,

"Of course," Nabooru's hand tightened around Aeris'.

The twins turned to Aeris in unison, she shrank back from their gaze, "Aeris do you wish to proceed?"

Aeris stood frozen, confused, she had no idea what was happening, Nabooru nudged her sharply, "Y...Yes…" She hoped that was the right answer.

Ganondorf rose and descended the stairs of the dais and stood before her, he smiled sweetly and caressed her cheek, "Aeris, I stand before you and your family to ask for your hand," He turned to Urora, "Does her mother have any objections to this request?" Aeris relaxed of this was some gerudo ritual, nothing scary.

Urora shook her head, "I have no objections, I only ask that you love her till your dying breath" Ganondorf took Urora's hand and kissed it.

He then turned to Nabooru, "Does her sister have any objections to this request"

"I have no objections, I only ask that you cause no harm to befall her," Ganondorf took Nabooru's hand and kissed it, "I will kill you," Nabooru whispered so that only Ganondorf and Aeris could hear.

Ganondorf turned back to Aeris and took both of her hands, "Aeris, do you have any objections to this request?"

She looked into his golden eyes, "I have no objections," He kissed her hand and Koume and Kotake descended to stand by his side.

Nabooru leaned toward her and whispered, "Your turn, just do the same thing he did, reverse the roles and accept his request"

Aeris swallowed thickly and turned to Ganondorf, "Ganondorf,"

"Dragmire," Kotake's sharp voice cut through the air, "Sands vehvi, you don't even know his surname,"

Ganondorf's hands tightened around hers, whether out of anger or reassurance she didn't know. "Ganondorf Dragmire," she continued sending a sweet smile to Kotake, "I accept your request for my hand," Goddesses she hoped that was right. She turned to Koume, "Does his mother have any objection to me accepting his hand?"

Koume smiled, it was cold. "I have no objections, I only ask that you stand by his side until fate separates you," Aeris took her hand, it was freezing, and kissed it.

Aeris turned her attention to Kotake, "Does his other mother have any objection to me accepting his hand?" Nabooru giggled and Urora stomped on her foot lightly.

Kotake didn't smile, "I have no objections, I only ask that you bring honor to his name," Aeris took her hand, it was oddly warm, and kissed it.

Ganondorf took her hands in his again, "We are bound to be wed, may the Desert Goddess smile on us," He kissed her hands again, "Now you have a party to get ready for,"

Urora and Nabooru grabbed Aeris and ushered her out of the room, she looked over her shoulder to see Koume and Kotake doing the same to Ganondorf. Once they were a good distance away from the throne room Aeris turned to Nabooru, "So are we married now or?"

Urora laughed darkly and Nabooru sighed, "You aren't even properly engaged yet, that comes next,"

Aeris was even more confused now but decided it was best not to ask anymore questions. She allowed Nabooru and Urora to sweep her into the room she Nabooru shared and into the outfit she had worn to the festival.

"If you two would have gone about this the right way you would have a brand new outfit to wear, but this will have to do," There was softness in her voice again. "I apologize for my reaction earlier, I was angry,"

Aeris hugged her adoptive mother, "It's ok,"

"I spoke with him and he genuinely seems to care for you," Urora swept back Aeris hair, "You will make a beautiful bride,"

Nabooru entered the room wearing the same red outfit she had worn to the festival, the gold glinted against the skin. "I'll do her hair mom, you go get ready," Urora kissed Aeris' forehead and left the room.

Nabooru sat behind Aeris and began to comb out her ebony hair, carefully untangling any knots. "See I told you she would be fine,"

Aeris giggled, "So why do the gerudo even have wedding traditions?"

Nabooru took a strand of hair and began braiding it, "Some of us do choose to marry, to leave the fortress. The last wedding we had was Kailon's, she fell for a hylian rancher. I think their daughter is about ten now." Nabooru took another strand of hair, "So this party is going to be your engagment ceremony, you'll exchange rings and Koume and Kotake will do some mumbo jumbo,"

"Rings?" Aeris deflated, "I don't have a ring to give him," Aeris cursed her stupidity for the umptenth time that day.

"Yes you do," Urora startled them both, she stood in the doorway her purple outfit glowed in the candle light, she held a small wooden box in her hands. "This was my husbands ring,"

Aeris and Nabooru traded glances, "Urora I couldn't,"

Urora held up a hand silencing Aeris. "I never thought I would have a daughter to give it to, much less two," Urora handed her the box, "I'm happy someone else will have use of it,"

"I didn't know you were married," Nabooru's voice was soft.

"It was a very long time ago. Go on Aeris open it," Urora smiled down at her daughters.

Aeris opened the box and her jaw dropped. The ring within was breathtaking, A dark red, almost black gem sat in a wide golden band. There were carving on either side of the gem, a large bird on one side, and a trio of triangles on the other. Aeris studied the triangles, she vaguely remembered seeing them as a child. "Urora this is too much,"

Aeris felt Urora's hands on either side of her face, "Take it and cherish it like I have. Start your new life with it," Tears slipped down Aeris' face, "Stop that, you'll ruin your makeup," Urora wiped her face gently. "Are you ready to go?"

Aeris nodded and rose to her feet, "Let's go,"

As they made their way through the halls Naboour and Urora began singing in gerudo, it was a soft happy song that spoke of new beginnings and winds of change. Doors opened as they passed and gerudo emerged from within. They joined Urora and Nabooru in their song, they approached Aeris and draped gifts of all kinds over her. Swaths of cloth, jewels, even strings of desert flowers. Aeris tried her best to thank them all, but they went so fast.

By the time they made it to throne room Aeris was struggling to hold all of the gifts. Aeris sighed thankfully when two guards took the load from her with the promise to bring them to her home. Nabooru and Urora swept back the curtains to the throne room and followed behind Aeris as she entered.

Ganondorf stood in the middle of the room, in flowing black robes with intricate gold inlays. His hair was twisted around his crown bringing attention to the jewel at the center of his forehead. Koume and Kotake were wearing floor length gowns that draped over their frames, giving them the illusion of being weightless.

She was ushered to stand next to Ganondorf, who was staring at her intently. Urora and Nabooru stood to the side of them, holding hands. Koume and Kotake stood before them hands clasped tightly in front of them. "You have expressed your desire to be wed and your families have given their blessings. Now you will prove your commitment to each other." Koume turned to Kotake.

"You will exchange rings as symbols of your commitment, and the grooms family will offer the bride a gift as a symbol of their acceptance of her into her new family," Kotake took Aeris' left hand and placed it in Ganondorf's so their arms crossed their bodies, her fingers instinctively intertwined with his, he squeezed her hand lightly.

"The groom presents his ring first, a symbol of his guidance and strength as the head of household." Koume extended her hands.

Ganondorf reached into his robe and produced and golden ring, he slipped it onto her finger. "I will guide you through this life, may you never be alone," Aeris gazed at the ring, it was beautiful, two golden snakes wrapped around her finger holding a green gem between their coils.

"The bride presents her ring as a symbol of her place as the light behind her husband's guidance," Koume and Kotake took each other's hands.

Aeris reached into the band of her skirt and pulled out Urora's ring, she ran over the words Urora had told her to say in her head one last time. "I will be the light that leads your way, may you never be lost in darkness," She slipped the ring onto his finger, fully prepared for it to not fit his large fingers, but it slid smoothly onto his finger.

"With these rings the ties that bind you are almost complete, may they serve as reminders of your commitment," Aeris was lost in Ganondorf's eyes as Koume spoke, he was looking at her so intently she wanted to melt under his gaze. They hadn't actually spoken since that moment in the dungeons, this day had been a whirlwind of emotions and she really just wanted to talk to him.

"Aeris," She blinked and turned toward Koume's voice, "Will you take this necklace as a symbol of our acceptance of you into our family?"

She was presented with a simple green teardrop gem on a slim silver chain, she took it gently. "I will wear it proudly," She could have sworn that the gem thrummed with energy at her words.

"Tonight will be the last time you will see each other until the day of your wedding spend it with your friends and family, celebrate as you take these next steps into your new lives," Koume and Kotake guided the couple to the double doors that lead to the main courtyard, when to doors swung open the courtyard exploded with life.

The gerudo truly loved to party, the feast laid before them was extravagant. Women kept coming and showering the couple with flowers and praises, it was exhausting. Ganondorf sat rigidly beside her, his hand clasped firmly in hers. He only spoke when spoken to, he barely acknowledged her when she reached up and plucked a flower out of his hair.

Aeris twirled the flower in her fingers as she scanned the room, the brilliant red of Nabooru's outfit caught her eye. She stood and Ganondorf gripped her hand tighter, "Don't worry I'll be right back, I'm just going to talk to Nabooru," She squinted when he only grunted and let go of her hand in response.

She wove her way through the crowd to where Nabooru stood, she grabbed the girl by the arm causing her to jump, "Sands Aeris, you scared the shit out of me!" Nabooru scanned Aeris' face, "What's wrong?"

"I need you to get us out of here," Aeris took Nabooru's hands, "We aren't allowed to be alone together, but I have to talk to him. You're the only person I trust, please,"

"Yeah I can do that," Nabooru took Aeris' hands a lead her back through the crowd back toward Ganondorf. She grabbed Ganondorf as they passed, "Come on you,let's get this over with," He followed behind obviously confused. Nabooru lead them into an empty hallway, "Now I'm going to turn my back and you two are going to talk," She turned around, but quickly turned back, "No funny business!"

Aeris waited until Nabooru's back was fully turned before enveloping Ganondorf in a hug, his arms wrapped around her slowly, "I'm sorry," She buried her face into his chest.

"No," He tilted her face up to him. "I am sorry," He cupped her face and leaned into her, "Are you alright?"

Aeris turned her head away from him, "You're stuck with me," Aeris scoffed at herself. "Look at me I'm like a little girl playing dress up,"

Ganondorf grabbed her face suddenly, pinching her cheeks between his fingers painfully. "Stop that!" He snapped harshly. "I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to. I could have walked away. I could have let my mothers take charge," He growled as he leaned down close to her, his nose brushed against hers. "I've been drawn to you since I was a child, you have plagued my dreams and my thoughts for as long as I can remember," His breath danced across her skin. "I am exactly where I want to be,"

Her eyes were still wide from the shock him grabbing her as she searched his face. There was something different behind his eyes, something borderline animalistic. She brought her hands up to his and slowly pulled his hand away from her face. "Then I'm exactly where I want to be,"

His face softened. "Good," He kissed her then, firmly holding her against him. She stood on her tiptoes, running her fingers through his beard. The way he held her by the back of her neck and hip, was thrilling.

"Alright! Ok that's enough you two," Nabooru put her hands between them. Ganondorf growled at her and tightened his grip on Aeris, like an animal protecting a prize. "That doesn't scare me,"

Aeris patted Ganondorf's cheek lightly. "It's ok, I'll see you later," She gave him a peck on the lips, his eyes never left Nabooru, but he relented and released Aeris. He kissed her again quickly before turning and disappearing into the empty fortress.

Aeris watched him go, her fingers went to the necklace Koume and Kotake gave her. It hummed under her fingertips, she undid the clasp and removed the gem. She stared at it intently, there was something odd about it that she couldn't quite put her finger on what it was though.

"Come on Aeris," Nabooru wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "It's been a long day. Let's get you to bed," Aeris followed Nabooru through the halls of the fortress, the sounds of the party fading away into the night.

A/N: Look at this eleven chapters in and we aren't even to the game yet... it shouldn't be to much longer though... no promises...

I did a bit of research for this chapter, the wedding traditions of the gerudo are a mix of middle eastern and pagan ceremonies. I thought it would be fitting.

And I have a question for you guys that I would really like and answer to: Do you guys want some wedding night smut? Or would you rather an optional one-shot?

I really would like you guy's opinion because it will change how I write the next chapter.