A/N: Bad chapter is bad! I've been fighting our insurance company over my fiance's immunotherapy treatments so this took a bit longer than expected and writing this chapter kicked my butt so I apologize for any issues.

Aeris' eyes fluttered open as the lack of warmth beside her roused her from her slumber. She ran her hand across the bed finding the space beside her empty, she sat up looking for her missing husband. Her eyes scanned the room and landed on Ganondorf bent over his desk, he held a piece of paper in his hand and writing furiously on another. His hair was pulled back into a single thick ponytail, he was mumbling to himself as he wrote.

Aeris slipped out of the bed and padded across the room and wrapped her arms around Ganondorf's shoulders, "What are you doing?"

Ganondorf sat his quill down and leaned back into her. "I couldn't sleep." Aeris kissed his temple lightly, "There's talk of the war ending soon. I want to have trade agreements ready for when it does."

Aeris sighed, Ganondorf had been running himself ragged for months. The gerudo tried their best to stay out of Hyrule's affairs but it was becoming harder and harder to keep to themselves. There were many nights that Ganondorf fell asleep still mumbling about food shortages and dwindling supplies. "Trade routes can wait until morning, come back to bed,"

Ganondorf allowed Aeris to take him by the hand and lead him back to their bed. He wrapped his arms around her as they laid back on the soft surface, the blankets enveloping them in warmth. Aeris tucked herself tightly against Ganondorf's chest her head rising and falling with his breathing. "Koume and Kotake need me to oversee something at the colossus tomorrow,"

Aeris whined, "Do you have to?" The twins had been whisking Ganondorf off to the Spirit Temple more and more. "How many times have you gone this month? What do you even do out there?"

Ganondorf kissed the top of Aeris' head, "Nothing important,"

Aeris groaned, "I guess I'll find something to do,"

"I'm sure you will," Ganondorf began stroking Aeris' hair lightly and she slowly drifted back into sleep, feeling safe in her husband's arms.

Wind howled in Aeris' ears, someone was yelling but the howling wind made them sound miles away. The blade in her hand was heavy, she was used to the weight of her daggers, the long sword held firmly in both hands was foreign to her.

The grass danced around her legs, a ruined castle sat broken on the horizon. Ganondorf laid in a broken heap several feet away, the traditional gerudo robes he wore were torn, thick red blood bloomed across the fabric. Aeris called out to him her voice carried by the howling winds. His shoulder shuddered, he was alive.

A splash of blue against the green caught Aeris' eye. Another broken body laid several feet away, red stained his blond hair. A blonde girl dressed in white sat cradling the blondes head, tears streamed down her face, she was yelling at Aeris but her voice was being carried away by the wind.

Ganondorf stirred, rising slowly to his feet. Aeris readied the heavy blade as purple energy swirled around Ganondorf. His limbs cracked into place like a puppet on a string, his head hung limply his hair covered his face.

Aeris called out to Ganondorf again, pleading with him to stop. A great black blade was tightly grasped in Ganondorf's hand. Aeris held her own blade tighter, it's silver blade glinted in the growing twilight. A low growl cut through the howling wind and Ganondorf lunged forward, Aeris rose the blade to meet his. Aeris' eyes met Ganondorf's his golden eyes were dull, the usual energy behind them was gone.

Ganondorf pushed against Aeris' blade, she strained against him. Aeris begged him to stop, she cried for him to remember. Ganondorf growled again and pushed forward harder, Aeris' knees began to buckle under his weight. She was forced to the ground, the silver blade trembled in her hands. Ganondorf smirked darkly as rose his blade ready to strike.

Aeris wouldn't lose him again, she couldn't but if she had to, It would be by her own hand. She screamed, years of agony and torment poured from her soul as she rammed her blade up and into Ganondorf's chest. A broken sound left his lips as he crashed down into her, Aeris sobbed against him cursing any deity that would listen.

Ganondorf raised a trembling arm and wrapped it around Aeris weakly, she melted into his final embrace. His breath rattled in his chest, blood splattered against Aeris' cheek as Ganondorf drew a final breath and plunged his blade into her back.

Aeris bolted upright in her bed, tears streaming down her face. The dream was quickly fading from her mind but the feeling it left made her tremble. She looked to the empty space beside her, Ganondorf was already gone, probably halfway across the wastelands by now.

Aeris swung her legs over the side of the bed, the limestone floor was cold against her bare feet. Aeris rose to her feet and made her way across the room to Ganondorf's desk, a note written in Ganondorf's thick bold scrawl waited for her there.

'I promise to be home by nightfall~G'

Aeris sighed and placed the note back on the desk before turning to get ready for the day. She decided on a simple set of leather armor and red cloak, maybe she would take Starlight out somewhere. She grabbed her daggers and secured them to her belt, their familiar weight was comforting.

She took a moment to look at the cords that hung above the bed she shared with Ganondorf, the crimson and gold cords were still knotted together. Aeris smiled softly as she closed the door to the room and began her trek to the stables.

Aeris greeted Seteli as she entered the stables, the woman looked up from the horse she was grooming, "Aeris, how are you?"

"I'm good," Aeris leaned against the stall careful not to trip over her cloak.

"Can I help you with anything?" Seteli put down her brush and leaned against the bay mare.

"I'm going to take Star out, it's been awhile." Aeris rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. It had been far too long since she had taken Starlight out for more than a few minutes.

Seteli laughed and Aeris made her way to the back of the stables were Starlight's stall sat. Starlight nickered happily when she spotted Aeris excited to see her owner. Aeris smiled and rubbed the white blaze that ran down Star's nose. "Hey girl,"

Aeris lead Starlight out of the stall and quickly groomed then tacked her. Aeris swung herself up into the saddle and clicked her tongue prompting Starlight to move forward. Aeris wondered not really thinking of where she was going. It wasn't until Isha called out to her that she realized she was leaving the fortress. "Aeris, are you leaving?"

Aeris shook her head and looked across the bridge in front of her, she hadn't been this way in years. "I guess I am," She smiled down at Isha. "I won't be long,"

Isha frowned, "It's dangerous out there, let me come with you," She tightened her grip on her spear. "If the king finds out you went out alone he'll have my head,"

Aeris chuckled, "I'll be fine Isha," Aeris patted one of the daggers on her hip, "I can handle myself."

"But the king," Isha looked concerned.

"I'll deal with the king," Aeris looked across the bridge again, a chill ran up her spine as she remembered the night she had run across this very bridge.

Isha sighed as she realized arguing was useless, "Just be back before nightfall,"

Aeris nodded and spurred Starlight forward. Aeris watched as the terrain changed from the arid desert to the lush green of Hyrule Field. She halted Starlight and looked out over the field, the bright green and blue filled her vision and a gentle breeze caressed her skin.

Aeris wandered down the winding path until she found herself in the only other home she'd ever known. The charred remains of her childhood home loomed before her, nature had slowly begun to reclaim the charred timbers. The second story was completely collapsed leaving a crumbling staircase leading to nothing. Three of the four walls of the main floor were crumbling leaving the weight of what was left of the building resting upon the fourth wall and the remaining supports.

Aeris dismounted Starlight and walked slowly toward the ruined home, glass and charred wood crunched under her boots as she stepped into what was once the kitchen. The wood burning stove still sat in the corner long since rusted through. Aeris swallowed thickly, as she reached down and pulled something from from under a pile of rubble. Half of the small plush goat's face was melted and the fabric was mildewed from years in the elements. Aeris gazed down at the small toy, her mother had made it for Aeris' fourth birthday. It had been one of her most treasured possessions.

"HO! traveler!" Aeris spun, dropping the stuffed goat to put a hand on her daggers, to face the unknown voice. A hylian soldier in heavy silver armor sitting on a chestnut horse in similar armor stood not far from Aeris.

"Easy friend," The man raised his hands. "I didn't mean to scare you," He dismounted the horse and Aeris took a step back. "I saw your horse and thought I would stop to check on you,"

"I'm fine," Aeris spoke sharply.

The soldier seemed unfazed by Aeris' curtness, "I haven't seen you around these parts before. You from around here?"

"Not really," Aeris was trying her best to be vague.

"Kakariko then?" This man was getting on Aeris' nerves. "It doesn't matter. My name is Kilus, and you are?"

"Aria," Aeris had no idea why she gave a false name but the combination of her and her mothers names seemed fitting.

"Aria, a lovely name for a lovely lady," The soldier was moving closer now, "You know they say this old farm is haunted,"

Aeris took a step back away from the approaching soldier, "Haunted?"

"Aye, haunted," The man was smirking, "It used to be the home of a small family, a mother and father with their young daughter. They raised goats and were known for trading with the gerudo." He paused his story to see if Aeris was still paying attention, "It was about eight years ago that it was burned down. No one is quite sure who burned it, some say the gerudo turned on the family, while others say that bandits who thought the family were betraying their country are responsible."

Aeris sucked in a deep breath as the soldier continued. "They say that they never found the daughters body and that her mother can be heard screaming for her in the night,"

"Why are you telling me this?" Aeris' mouth was dry as she spoke.

The soldier shrugged, "I dunno,"

"What do you think happened to the daughter?" Aeris didn't know why she was asking him.

"Maybe the gerudo took her," Kilus shrugged "She could be living among them now as we speak,"

Aeris chuckled, "Maybe she even married their king,"

Kilus' eyes widened, "That would make for an amazing story!"

Oh, he had no idea, "That it would,"

Starlight suddenly squealed as Kilus' chestnut gelding nipped at her flank. "I've never seen a horse that color. Where did you get her?"

"She was a gift from my husband," Aeris watched the soldiers face fall.

"So you're married?" Kilus removed his helmet, revealing pale blond hair.

"Yes," Aeris chuckled and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. The sun was beginning to set in the west. "It's getting late, I should be going." Aeris made her way to Starlight and swung herself into the saddle.

"Be careful around these parts." Kilus was suddenly serious. "They say that the king of the gerudo is a ruthless man and a powerful warlock and his guards are unforgiving."

Aeris laughed as she turned Starlight back toward the desert. "Do they now?" She rested a hand on her dagger, the gerudo sigils carved into the hilt glinted in the setting sun. "I guess it's a good thing I can handle myself then,"

Kilus watched as Aeris spurred Starlight into a light gallop up the hill toward the gerudo desert, she stopped and waved down at the hylian soldier before turning and disappearing into the canyon path.

Aeris arrived back at the stables just as Ganondorf was dismounting his black stallion, she smiled and leaned down from her saddle to kiss him softly. "Did you have a nice day?"

Ganondorf smiled and helped her down from the saddle, "I did,"

Aeris lead Starlight into her stall and began grooming her, "Any news about the war?"

Ganondorf grinned, "The king of Hyrule has hopes for the war to be over by his daughter's twelfth birthday,"

Aeris paused to do the math in her head, "That's not far from now, just a few months. Do the other leaders agree?"

"Everyone grows tired of war, even wars over divine relics end in time," Ganondorf seemed to be a thousand miles away. "What do you know of the Triforce?"

The question took Aeris by surprise. "Just what every Hylian child is told, that the three golden goddesses created the world then ascended to the heavens leaving the Triforce behind."

Ganondorf nodded slowly. "Well the Hylian religion is a strange one," He smirked at Aeris. "Do you believe the tales?"

"I'm not sure," Aeris shrugged, "My parents weren't very religious, not that I remember anyway,"

Ganondorf took Aeris hand as she exited Starlight's stall. "You my dear need a bath,"

Aeris gasped and smacked Ganondorf's chest earning her a chuckle. "I could say the same for you," She squealed as Ganondorf suddenly picked her up and slung her over his shoulder. "Gan!" She laughed as he started walking, "Where are we going?"

"To take a bath," Aeris laughed harder as they made their way through the fortress toward the bath springs earning the pair strange looks from the gerudo they passed, the events of the day fading from both of their minds.

A/N:The next chapter is going to be the start of the action and Aeris' rose tinted glasses are gong to be shattered so stay tuned!