WARNING THERE IS STRONG LANGUAGE AND GRAPHIC DEPICTIONS OF VIOLENCE IN THIS CHAPTER!
Castle town was bustling with life, people from all over Hyrule were milling about the town center. The citizens of Hyrule were buzzing with excitement for the coming celebration. Aeris wandered among the crowd, she stopped and spoke with the people often. A few of them recognized Aeris and politely asked her a myriad of questions.
Most of Hyrule's citizens were open minded and saw her marriage as a sign of good relations between Hyrule and the mysterious Gerudo. There were still some that gave Aeris nasty looks and whispered as she walked by.
Ganondorf was trapped in a similar situation on the other side of the plaza. A group of Hylian children had him cornered and were asking him every question that came to mind. Aeris laughed lightheartedly at her husband's obvious discomfort, but he humored them. Children, whether they be Gerudo or Hylian, were just children. They viewed the world through means that would eventually fade away, he would let them have that innocence for now.
Aeris' cheeks flared a deep crimson when a particularly busty woman asked about the physics behind her marriage. She sputtered and quickly excused herself and disappeared back into the crowd.
"How does that work?"
Aeris spun at the sudden question, she met a pair of familiar blue eyes. Kilus stood before her, he was wearing armor that was much more ceremonial than he had been when they met, even the sword at his waist was much more intricate. "Kilus,"
"You didn't have to lie," The man sounded hurt. "I'm sorry I said what I did about your mother not being at rest. I never would have said those things if I would have known,"
"Don't be," Aeris gave the man a smile.
"So that little girl really did marry the King of the Gerudo," Kilus smiled as he rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. Why was the design of his sword so familiar to her?
"It makes for one hell of a story," The crowd was still bustling around them.
"That it does," An uncomfortable silence filled the space between them. "What's it like? The desert."
Aeris hummed, "Vast and hot, but that's obvious isn't it? It's beautiful but terrible." Aeris doubted any words could actually do the desert justice.
"Are you happy there?" Kilus' question took her by surprise. The man seemed genuinely interested in Aeris' well being.
Aeris turned to look at Ganondorf, who was still talking to the group of children. "Yes," Aeris smiled and turned back to Kilus. "I'm very happy,"
The sudden sound of trumpets filled the air and the two turned to watch the young Princess Zelda ride into the town center on a white mare. Her nursemaid Impa rode behind her, the woman's strong arms wrapped around the princess protectively.
The towns people watched in awe as Zelda rode past, King Daphnes was not far behind and kept a watchful eye on his daughter as she interacted with the people.
Watching the town celebrate their princess's birthday made Aeris' heart happy, but she longed for the familiar embrace of the Gerudo.
A month passed and Aeris and Ganondorf were still in Hyrule. King Daphnes seemed to enjoy Ganondorf's company and the two spent hours going over possible trade agreements, leaving Aeris to her own devices.
She went training grounds meant for Hyrule's soldiers as a final act of boredom. she'd received strange looks from the men, most of whom were shirtless. She walked the perimeter studying the various dummies and targets. "Can I help you Ma'am?"
One of the older soldiers approached Aeris and she smiled at him warmly. "No," She fingered the hilts of her daggers. "Can I use this one?" She nodded toward the closest dummy.
A few of the soldiers snickered and the guard who'd approached her looked around nervously. "Does your husband know you're here?"
Aeris felt her eyebrow twitch, the men of Hyrule seemed to think that women, especially those of the court were useless. Most of them treated Aeris like one of Ganondorf's possessions, like she was a doll he dressed up and showed off. Her grip on her daggers tightened, "Do you know about the Gerudo?" The guards eyes widened. "I have you sparred with MY guards?"
"Yes Ma'am," He licked his lips nervously. "But you're a queen." The other men behind him were beginning to murmur. "If your husband knew you were here-"
"If my husband knew I was here," Aeris caught a glimpse of Ganondorf and King Daphnes standing in the open corridor. Ganondorf was smirking and Daphnes looked more than a little concerned. "He would be telling you to leave me be,"
Ganondorf leaned toward Daphnes and whispered something that made the king laugh. "Which of my guards did you spar with?"
The guard looked around begging one of his comrades to help him. "I'm not sure your majesty,"
"Well it wasn't Imeone or Inaufe," The two older guards would have told Aeris of any escapades. "So that leaves Usoki or Neraki," Aeris liked the way the poor man before her was so obviously intimidated. "And of those two, Neraki is the most hot headed. The most likely to need to blow off a little steam."
One of the other guards stepped forward, "I believe it was Neraki, Ma'am" The new guard seemed more confident.
"Well then," Aeris smiled darkly. "If you can spar with her," Aeris made eye contact with Ganondorf who had a similar smile. "You can spar with me. I helped train her after all."
Aeris knew the guards wouldn't call her bluff, not that it was that much of a bluff. Neraki was only a year older than Aeris and the two had trained together. "Which of you is it going to be then?"
"Queen…" The first guard faltered, he didn't even know her name. "My lady, If you get hurt,"
"I assure you I can handle myself." Aeris groaned internally. "Pair me with a trainee if you must. I won't even use my daggers, give me a spear,"
The two guards exchanged worried glances, but ultimately decided it was best not to argue any further. "Rowan!"
One of the younger men in the yard jumped to attention, his white blonde hair bounced as he did so. "Yes sir!"
"Get two staves from the barracks and prepare to spar with…" Oh this poor man.
"Aeris," An older guard perked up across the yard.
It only took the young man a few moments to return with two staves. Aeris grumbled as she took one from him, spears and staves were her least favorite weapons, they made her feel short, well shorter than she was.
Aeris watched the poor boy across from her ready himself, he wasn't much younger than her. He was maybe sixteen or seventeen, his torso was thin and his shoulders narrow. His legs were still to long for him and his arms were awkward.
"Aeris dear, don't hurt the boy to badly," Ganondorf's voice rang across the yard and Aeris watched the souls of the two older guards leave their bodies.
"I won't darling," Aeris readied herself and turned to the first guard. "Are you going to begin or what?"
The older man stepped forward. "Ready…" Aeris watched her opponent, he was sizing her up. "Begin!"
Aeris didn't move, she let the boy come to her. He moved clumsily and his hands were in the wrong positions for offense. This was going to be a piece of cake. Aeris waited until the boy was a few steps from her before she took a step to the right and spun around him toward his open back. He tried to whirl around and face her but tripped and had to turn his attention to keeping himself upright.
Aeris let him steady himself just enough for her next move to hurt his ego. She swept the back of his knees with her staff, sending him crashing to his knees. She jammed the end of her staff roughly against the base of his skull. "If this were a real fight you'd be dead and your head would have a new home on a spike,'
Aeris helped the thoroughly embarrassed boy to his feet and handed to staff back to him. "Never underestimate your opponent. Always assume that they are more experienced and better equipped than you," The boy nodded and scurried off and Aeris turned her attention to the two older guards. "I was a warrior before I was a queen. I'm not a pretty trinket for my husband to show off. Do your best to remember that,"
Aeris heard Ganondorf's uproarious laughter as she stalked out of the training yard toward a much needed bath.
Aeris lounged in her chambers reading a book she borrowed from the library still in the intricate outfit Ganondorf had insisted she wear to dinner that night. She was more than happy to be back in Gerudo style clothes, but was unsure why Ganondorf had been so adamant she wear this specific outfit.
He'd been acting strangely for a few days, he rarely acknowledged Aeris unless she forced his attention on her, and he rarely slept for more than a few hours at a time. When he did sleep it was fitful and he mumbled incoherently. Aeris was more than a little worried, he was on the verge of looking like a walking corpse. His temper was much worse as well, he'd nearly snapped the head off of a poor maid when she asked him a question that morning.
Though one moment in particular from the last few days stood out in Aeris' mind. Ganondorf had woken up in a cold sweat muttering about making things right as if he was speaking to someone that wasn't there. She'd tried to ask him about what he'd been dreaming about but he's quickly changed the subject.
He'd avoided her for days after, in fact when he'd told her to wear this outfit was the first time they'd spoken since.
Dinner had been… tense. Ganondorf was eerily calm, though he still made pleasant conversation with King Daphnes. Aeris found herself pushing her food around her plate unable to shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong. The last time she'd felt like this was during the wedding ceremony. She could feel her own anxiety, but there was something else. Something coiled deep inside of her. Her stomach churned and she'd excused herself and returned to her room.
Lightning cracked across the sky causing Aeris too look up just in time to see a group of heavily armored guards run past the open door. She closed her book and placed it on the bed before peeking her head out of the room. The halls were eerily quiet, until another group of soldiers ran by, Aeris ducked back into the room to grab her daggers and hurried down the hall after them.
She followed them to the throne room, there were raised voices coming from behind the heavy oak doors. Aeris cracked the door open just enough to see what was happening, her heart sank as she saw Ganondorf standing before King Daphnes. He was wearing the heavy black plate she's seen in the Gerudo workshop, a deep red cape was draped over he wide shoulders.
He gripped a sword with a wide flat blade tightly in his hand, it shone gold in the light of the braziers. Aeris watched in shock as Ganondorf raised the blade to King Daphnes, "Tell me, How does it feel to be King of nothing?"
King Daphnes took a step away from the large Gerudo man, "King of nothing?"
"You wouldn't know, would you?" Ganondorf's voice was flat. "You have no idea what it means to suffer. You're lands are caressed by a gentle breeze, crops thrive and your people have never known hunger." Aeris felt bile rise in her throat as Ganondorf stepped forward. "Do you know what my people endure?"
The King took several steps back until he bumped into his throne and was forced to sit. He looked to his guards with fear in his eyes.
None of them moved.
"When the sun rises into the sky, a burning wind punishes my lands, searing our world, killing any crops that dare try and grow, and when the moon climbs into the dark of night, a frigid gale pierces our homes. No matter when it comes, the wind carries the same thing… Death." Aeris covered her mouth to stifle the noise that left her throat.
Ganondorf motioned to a guard near him. "Make him kneel,"
Aeris watched in horror as two of the guards grabbed Daphnes roughly and forced him to his knees in front of Ganondorf. Daphnes was too stunned to say anything, he only stared up at the mountain of a man before him. Ganondorf placed the end of his blade against the kneeling man's throat and lifted his head. "Do you know why your damned kingdom is so blessed?"
"The Goddesses smile on our lands," King Daphnes' voice was hoarse. "Their golden grace resides here,"
"And where are your pathetic Goddesses now?" Ganondorf laughed darkly. "Will they come to your aid?" When Daphnes didn't answer Ganondorf lowered his blade. "I am going to take your precious "golden grace" and use it to remake the world,"
Aeris could barely breathe, she couldn't comprehend what was happening. This wasn't her husband, this couldn't be Ganondorf.
"I only regret," Ganondorf's voice cut through her, "That you won't be here to see it,"
Aeris had to bite her hand to stifle the scream that threatened to spill from her, as Ganondorf raised his blade and brought it down on Daphnes' neck, severing his head from his body. The head made a sickening thud as it fell to the ground.
The nausea clawed at her throat, and she tried to force down the bile, but it was too late. Chunks of partially digested food spewed out of her coughing, choking mouth. Her stomach kept on contracting violently and forcing everything up and out. Her face was white and dripping bile, sweat, and tears. She lurched forward and sunk to her knees. The pungent stench invaded her nostrils and she heaved even though there was nothing left to go. She tried to wipe her mouth but gagged again.
She watched through bleary eyes as Ganondorf wiped the thick red blood from his blade. "Bring me the princess," Her blood ran cold and she forced herself back to her feet. She forced another wave of nausea down before turning and sprinting into the darkened hallways.
Lighting flashed again as Aeris rounded the corner to the princesses tower, she would have stopped to comment on the irony of this but she didn't have time. She flew up the stairs, her skirt swirled around her as she ran. Her mind was racing, she was trying her best not to think of what would happen if she was caught.
She threw herself through the door to the princesses chambers and rushed to where the sleeping princess lay. She shook the small girls form, "Princess, I need you to wake up!"
The princess sat up and rubbed her eyes, "Aeris?" The girl yawned. "What's going on?"
"I just need you to come with me," Aeris helped the girl out of the bed and wrapped a cloak from nearby around the girls shoulders. "I need you to be strong ok,"
Aeris' own father flashed through her mind, she'd had years to mourn her family, but the princess before her wouldn't have such a luxury.
"Aeris what's happening?" Aeris was interrupted by the sound of armor clad soldiers clambering up the stairs.
"We need to hide," She searched the room frantically, and decided that the armoire in the corner was their best bet. She grabbed the scared princess and pulled her into the large cabinet, closing the door softly behind them. Aeris cradled Zelda in her lap with her hand wrapped around her mouth.
Aeris jumped as three soldiers burst into the room and pulled a trembling Zelda closer to her chest. "She's not fucking here!"
"What do you mean she isn't here?" The three soldiers began arguing.
"Fucking find her!" The loudest of the voices cut through Aeris, it was the guard that she spoke with in the training yard.
Two of the three bolted back down the stairs, leaving one to search the room thoroughly. Aeris listened as he moved around the room, over turning tables and chairs as he went. She grabbed one of the dresses hanging above them and wrapped it around Zelda's head. "I'm going to turn you around to face the back wall. I need you to stay silent, and whatever you do. DO. NOT. Move. from this spot until I come back," Aeris whispered in the girls ear harshly.
Aeris listened to the man's movements as she positioned Zelda in the back corner, and readied her daggers. She waited until she heard footsteps approaching the armoire, she counted the seconds until she could hear the man breathing.
She lunged out of the cabinet poised and ready to strike. She knew the weaknesses in the armor the guards wore, right at the base of the throat there was a gap between the armor and the helmet. Aeris blindly plunged her blade into that weak point and rode the falling body to the ground. The man under her gurgled as his blood sprayed hotly against her face. The mans helmet flew off as his body hit the ground with a dull thud, and Aeris' blood ran cold.
She was staring into the eyes of the trainee she'd spared with, his white blonde hair was quickly turning a sickening shade of red. He stared up at her with quickly dulling green eyes, and Aeris' empty stomach convulsed, sending burning acid up her throat. She rolled off of the body and heaved, a disgusting mixture of saliva and stomach acid spewed from her. White hot tears spilled down her face and her body convulsed again.
She forced herself back to her feet and over to the armoire, Zelda shrieked when Aeris threw open the doors. "Shh, it's me," Aeris had to stop the girl from removing the makeshift blindfold, "No princess," Another wave of nausea threatened to rise up but Aeris squashed it down, "You don't need to see this,"
Aeris wrapped her arms around the girl and hefted her up and out of the armoire, careful not to knock off the blindfold. She hurried down the spiral stairs as quickly as she could still holding Zelda tightly, it would be easier to just carry her.
"How do I get to Impa?" Aeris checked both directions as she emerged from the stairwell.
"Do you know how to get to the servants quarters?" Zelda's voice wavered.
"Yes," Aeris was praying to whatever deity would listen that the Sheikah nursemaid was still alive.
"She sleeps there," Aeris turned and sprinted down the halls.
It was slow going as Aeris stopped and scouted every corner they turned, only moving forward when she was absolutely sure that no one was coming. When they finally made it to the servants quarters she stopped and removed the blindfold from Zelda's head, and immediately had to slam her hand over the girls mouth to stop her from screaming. It was only then that she remembered she was covered in blood.
"Take me to Impa," Zelda nodded and rushed down the hallway, she stopped before a door with the Sheikah eye emblazoned across the wood.
Aeris slowly opened to door and just barely missed a kunai to the face. Zelda pushed past her and rushed into Impa's arms, openly weeping. The woman glared at Aeris and rose taking Zelda easily into her arms. "Thank you,"
Aeris simply nodded and moved to let Impa move past her. Zelda peered over Impa's shoulder her crystal blue eyes full of tears.
"Wait," Impa turned back to Aeris. "You'll need someone to distract any guards," Aeris didn't know why she was volunteering herself for this.
"You're covered in blood," Impa was a woman of few words.
"I can wash my face at least," Impa nodded and followed Aeris back into her room. Aeris quickly washed her face as best she could.
"The ocarina," Zelda's voice was soft, but enough to catch both the women's attention. "I have to get the Ocarina of Time so I can give it to Link,"
Aeris groaned internally, this was not the time for childish games. Impa nodded though and Aeris watched the woman move to a chest in the corner of the room. She set Zelda down so she could open the chest. Impa pulled out a small bundle and handed it to Zelda. "I moved it several days ago, after your last dream,"
Zelda held the bundle close to her chest as Impa lifted her back into her arms. The two women exchanged nods and headed back into the darkened halls.
Aeris stayed several paces in front of Impa, far enough that she would be able to signal the woman to stop and hide if she saw any guards. They had no way of knowing if any of the guards were still loyal to the Hylian throne.
The halls were deathly silent as Aeris made her way toward the stables, no guards seemed to be patrolling this part of the castle. Most of them were probably searching for the missing princess.
Aeris quickly turned a corner and ran directly into Ganondorf, the cold steel of his armor jolted her. "Oh there you are dear!" She groaned internally, she never called him dear, but she hoped it was enough for Impa to catch on.
"What are you doing down here?" His voice was cold.
"I woke up from a nap after dinner and couldn't find anyone," Aeris was pouring on the fake innocence.
Ganondorf narrowed his eyes as she looked her over. "You should go back to bed," Aeris stared into Ganondorf's eyes and knew that the man looking back wasn't her husband. There was nothing behind the golden eyes she so loved. The spark that she'd fallen in love with was gone, replaced by an empty void.
"Will you come with me?" Aeris batted her eyelashes.
"No," His once warm voice was icy and dull.
"Please," Aeris put her hand on his chest and pushed herself closer to him, he was never able to resist when she did this.
Aeris gasped as Ganondorf gripped her arm tightly and wrenched it back, twisting it at a painful angle. He lowered his face to hers and ran his thumb across her cheek mechanically, "Is that blood?" Aeris heart sank as he grabbed her other arm roughly, with both of her arms gripped in one hand he lifted her off of the ground.
Her shoulders screamed in protest, "Your hurting me!" Sands she sounded so weak.
Her cries fell on deaf ears as the Gerudo took one of her daggers from its place on her hip. The blade was still caked in the young soldier's blood. He growled darkly and threw Aeris harshly against the stone wall. "IMPA RUN!" Her shout echoed through the passageway and the Sheikah woman complied.
Aeris grabbed the red cape and tugged it as hard as she could, she weighed next to nothing compared to Ganondorf's hulking form but it was enough to cause him to stumble as he lunged after Impa.
He spun and kicked her harshly, "Hylian bitch!" He hauled her up by her throat. She grabbed his wrist with both hands and used them to hold herself up. "I should have known you would betray me. It seems Koume and Kotake were right," His words hurt more than any physical pain.
"You're letting her get away dumb ass," Aeris croaked, struggling to breath with his hand clasped firmly around her throat.
He growled again and dropped her unceremoniously to the floor. "I'll deal with you later,"
Aeris watched him go gasping for air, then listened as his heavy footsteps faded. Once she was sure he was gone she bolted in the direction of the stables.
Aeris made it to the stables just in time to see Ganondorf spurring his horse out of the castle gates and after Zelda's white mare. She rushed to Starlight and quickly undid her restraints and mounted her, not bothering to saddle the mare.
She spurred the horse out of the stables and after the other two, Starlight rarely got to be pushed into a full gallop and Aeris felt like she was flying. With only her thighs and Star's mane to keep herself seated the ride was difficult to say the least.
Castle town was deserted as Aeris entered, she pulled Starlight's mane harshly as she spotted Ganondorf facing down a lone Hylian soldier. The man's blonde hair glinted in the moonlight, Aeris wanted to scream at Kilus, to warn him. But she was forced to watch in horror as Ganondorf cut him down with a single blow, right in the middle of the town center, then continue his pursuit without a second glance.
What was happening? Aeris mind was unraveling at the seams, nothing made sense anymore. Her entire world was crumbling around her, and she could only watch helplessly as the pieces burned.
By the time Aeris made it to where Kilus had fallen the man was gone, judging by the trail of blood he'd pulled himself into an alley. Aeris wanted to go to him, but knew that after a blow like that, the man only had moments to live.
Aeris spurred Star into a heavy gallop, nearly barreling into a small boy dressed in green. She turned Star toward the only place she knew to go. It was probably a very stupid idea, but it was the only one she had.
She would go home, if only to say goodbye.
A/N:Whooo boy this took on a life of it's own! But here we are in the meat of the story. I am taking some artistic liberties, such as changing Ganon's armor and such.
Let me know what you guys think, please. Some feed back on this chapter would really help me shape the rest of the story.