Thank you for favoriting and/or following if you did. Thank you Ripple, Superpeach7, and James Birdsong for reviewing chapter two. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well.

Chapter 3

Zelda had not been expecting such a young girl to be the chieftain. Sitting on the throne was a girl who hardly looked old enough to be at most fifteen years old. But as soon as the girl had spoken Zelda had realized that she was someone who was certainly beyond her years. The way she spoke and held herself as she stood before Zelda gave her the aura of someone who was ready for such a position. Regardless of that however, Zelda was unable to shake the fact that she was younger than herself and had been named leader of an entire civilization. She knew when she was her age that she wouldn't have been ready to lead anyone. But Zelda hadn't exactly had the preparation for one becoming Queen of Hyrule. Most of her time had always gone to awakening the sacred power she had inside her. Her father had always pushed her to do that over anything else. Zelda understood why, but she wished that he had taught her more about ruling a kingdom. Sure, awakening her power to seal Calamity Ganon had been the most important thing back then, but it hadn't been the only thing she should have been doing.

The three of them stood in Riju's beautfully designed second floor bedroom. Standing before the small desk in front of the door she looked at Riju's huge bed and was surprised to hear the sound of water within the room. On both walls was one of small waterfall basins that Zelda had seen throughout Gerudo Town. The noise made for a peaceful atmosphere within the large room. As Riju turned and looked to both of her visitors, she was smiling a lot, Zelda noticed. Something was off, she could just tell. Did Riju know that Link wasn't a woman? If she did, why was she smiling about it? Zelda began to get nervous. She didn't want to make a bad impression of herself with the leader of the Gerudo.

Riju looked to Link beside her. Zelda looked between the two of them and noticed that Link's blue eyes looked nothing close to relaxed. This made her start to panic a little inside,instead of panicing he should have been trying to keep his cool. But on side note, Zelda did find it odd that he was expressing so much emotion as he usually kept up a calm, stoic demeanor. Link would be kicked out of town if Riju realized he was a man. This was so stupid, she shouldn't have ever brought this stupid idea up with him outside. She wished he had just said no.

"It's nice to see you again, Link. I was hoping you would visit Gerudo town again someday."

Zelda gaped between the two of them for several seconds. Riju glanced over at her and put a hand over her own lips as she smiled with a very amused look on her face. Zelda turned to Link and saw his eyes dart from her at that exact moment.

"Again?!"

"Well, uh…yes. I have been here before."

"You didn't tell her." Riju said to Link with a quiet snicker.

Zelda blinked. Why was this such a shock to her? Zelda realized suddenly she should have known he had been here before. Of course he had! He had obviously come to this town when he had been traveling the country to take down the divine beasts. How had he done that exactly? Before Zelda could ask Riju began to speak.

"Link snuck into Gerudo Town when he helped us regain control Divine Beast Vah Naboris. He is a welcome hero here, as long as of course he stays in disguise. The fact that he is the one who saved Gerudo Town before Naboris decided or didn't decide to come for us is a secret only I and my bodyguard Buliara are aware of. My people would not accept him into this town regardless. I knew he was a man right away when he came to see me, but it is totally okay. He is the secret exception to our strict "no voe allowed" policy. Lady Urbosa would have wanted him welcomed with open arms. I am sure of that with all my heart."

Zelda felt a dull pain in her heart at Urbosa's name. She had been closest to her when it came to the Champions. The woman had been like a wise older sister or sort of mother figure to Zelda. It was sort of strange to think of her that way, but it was how Zelda felt towards her. The memories of traveling with her and the other champions rushed into the thoughts. The cold guilt of what had happened when she had failed to awaken her powers in time before Calamity Ganon awoke filled her body. She wished that things had happened differently for the umpteeeth time, and that Urbosa, Daruk, Revali, and Mipha were still with them today. Standing in front Riju, Zelda felt guilt and sorrow as she bowed her head in shame.

"I am so sorry about Lady Urbosa, it's my fault she was trapped inside Vah Naboris when I failed Hyrule."

Riju stepped over to her and put a friendly hand in her shoulder. Zelda was confused by the smile that spread across her lips.

"Princess Zelda, I do not blame you. I'm told that Lady Urbosa always talked fondly of you. She would be proud of you and Link for saving Hyrule. You never failed us."

Zelda wiped an unexpected tear from her cheek. She couldn't help but be a little amazed by the girl's choice of words. Her voice had sounded strong as well.

"You loved Urbosa didn't you?"

Zelda nodded.

"She was very dear to me. Urbosa was very amazing woman."

"That she was. I hope every day I can be a great of a chief to my people as she was."

"I'm sure that you will be one day. You're already walking in her footsteps, Chieftain."

Riju stepped forward and hugged Zelda.

"There's no need for formalities between us, princess."

"Well, if that's so then please do call me Zelda, Riju."

"Of course."

Riju had insisted that they spend the day with her. After some convincing to her guards and advisors that she could take one day to spend with a very special guest, they agreed. She asked Link and Zelda if they wanted to go sand seal surfing, Zelda said yes and Link nodded. Riju said she would meet them outside the main entrance after they got their sand seals. Zelda stood with Link and waited for the Chieftain. It was only a couple minutes before she came with Patricia, her personal sand seal.

Zelda had never done this before, she had never had time. But now she had a lot more time to do things, or at least currently. It would be a while before things went back to normal. There was a never ending list if things that she had to do and things that needed to happen before she would become Queen. Zelda knew that if she was going to take some time to have fun, she better do it now.

Frelly, the kind and enthusiastic girl who ran the sand seal rentals, had helped bring out the large creature before her. Riju had promised her that she would teach her the basics so Zelda listened to the girl give her the run down on sand surfing, Riju even demonstrated for her. Link surprisingly even chimed in as well with tips, clearly this was something he had done before.

Zelda took a deep breath and readied herself. She could do this, it couldn't be that hard. Riju and Link made it look so easy.

Taking the rope in her hands that connected to the sand seal's harness, and with a shield beneath her feet she told the animal to go. The rope nearly jerked out of her hand as she was tugged forward across the sand and Zelda was surprised she hadn't immediately went sprawling on the ground. She held on with her left hand as well as her right as the sand seal pulled her across the sand outside Gerudo Town. Frelly had set her up with a calm tempered sand seal when Zelda had mentioned this was her first time. She assured her that Zavia was her best behaved.

But when Zavia took a turn after going over a sand dune, Zelda lost her balance and went tumbling into the sand. She got a mouthful of dry, tasteless earth. Choking and gagging as she spit it out her eyes watered. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

Link rode over and stopped beside her holding a hand out to help her up. She took his hand even though she didn't need or actually want his help, especially at this moment since she was quite embarassed, but being rude wasn't her way. Zelda had been raised to be polite and considerate her whole life, not that she always kept that demeanor up however. On more than one occasion she has lost her composure and snapped like a little brat at him, but Link always seemed to brush it off. She wondered if she ever got in his nerves, even if she was sure that he wouldn't show it either way. Sometimes she wished he would show how he was feeling inside, instead of being so emotionless. Maybe he would open up to her eventually.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

Riju rode over to them with Patricia. She stopped and walked over. She asked Zelda if she was alright.

"Yes, I am, thank you. But, I really don't think this is something I was meant for."

"It takes a while to master riding a sand seal, Zelda. Don't worry, I wasn't much better when I started learning. Do you want to stop?"

Zelda shook her head. " I think I'll give it another shot."

"A trick to it is lean with your sand seal when it turns. Also, lean forward or back to maintain your balance. Try to relax your body as well, it helps a lot."

"Okay. I'll take that into mind."

Zelda picked up her shield and walked over to Zavia. She grabbed her rope once again after replacing the shield under her feet. This time she took Riju's suggestions and used them. A couple more tries later and a few wipeouts, Zelda could keep upright. She had gotten frustrated after hitting the sand that many times but now she was smiling as she got the hang of it. It wasn't so hard now that she had somewhat figured it out and she was actually having a lot of fun.

The other two surfed the sand dunes nearby. Zelda was glad that they hadn't been watching her. Or if they were, it wasn't obvious. Link and Riju looked like pros in the small distance. Zelda found herself watching Link in particular, he looked as comfortable doing this as he did when he wielded a sword. Come to think of it, there wasn't much he wasn't good at. Any weapon seemed to fit in his hand like it was meant to be there. He could fight with anything, even a bokoblin arm as if it were actually a practical weapon. Even when it didn't come to fighting he was exceptional with several other skills. One example was his skills in hunting, preparing, and cooking food. Everything he fed her tasted at least decent. Someday she would find out what his weakness was, he had to have one.

Zelda stopped sand seal surfing probably a hour later when she got tired and watched her guard and the chieftain have fun. She could hear laughing as Riju soared along the sand quickly, looking so carefree and happy. It had probably been quite a while since she had been allowed to do something like this. Zelda knew that leading the Gerudo was undoubtedbly a busy task and a huge responsibility for such a young girl, not that she was alone in doing so as Zelda was positive she had a whole council of advisors and mentors to guide her.

Soon Link and Riju came back where Zelda was sitting in the shade the sun tent provided. The man Link had scared off hadn't come back, but if he did Zelda figured she could take care of him. She kind of wished she had thrown the statements that had been brewing in her thoughts at the pervert. It would have felt great to express what she was feeling, but she had been completely distracted by how her guard was acting to even process a statement.

"I'm exhausted. I'm not very used to sand seal surfing now." Riju said with a light hearted laugh. "Did you not like it, Zelda?"

"Oh, I did! I just got tired. Walking across the desert took a lot out of me this morning. Sand seal surfing is quite enjoyable actually."

"Isn't it?" Riju said smiling. "I have another idea. This one is a lot more relaxing. I think you'll enjoy it."

Thanks for reading. If you see any mistakes please let me know in a private message, I always point out mistakes for other writers and I would very, very much appreciate someone doing the same for me. Please review if you liked this, I really want to know how you guys feel about it.

PS. If you follow my other story, "I'm With You" I'm having some trouble with it but I should be updating it within the next few days. I have some parts that I am really stuck on.

And...if you like Skyward Sword check out "Learning to Fly." It's an older story of mine where Zelda and Link are eight years old, it was the first one I ever posted and I think it's cute...but that is biased as it is mine but I really love it and I wish more people would check it out.