On the day Zelda crept out of the castle in broad daylight was when she truly understood what it felt like to be a delinquent. When the king forbid something, for any reason, it meant death if his rule was not abided. Zelda had no intention of being caught, but that did not ease her speeding heart as she snuck through the market, sticking to shadows and trusting that the disguise hiding her face would be enough. She wore baggy pants, a brown shirt, and cloth over her face to hide all but her eyes. Her hair was tucked inside a cowl covering her head. To her great fortune, once she was outside the castle grounds it was smooth sailing. Within the grounds, if someone saw her, she would be arrested and her identity would be realized. No one questioned her in town because she did not look like a princess.
In fact, her disguise worked so well that when Ganondorf saw a concealed stranger approaching he drew his weapon. Zelda removed her hood and revealed her face to ease his worries. "It is only me, silly."
Ganondorf sheathed his sword. "It is a testament to your disguise that even I did not recognize you." He was very relieved to see her well. To see her smile destroyed the barrier he worked on building since the last time they were together. Despite her letter that indicated she would visit his village, he remained worried that she would forget him. Why did he fear being alone when before that was all he ever knew? "Join me on my horse. We will arrive shortly." He held out his hand to Zelda and without hesitation she took it, swung her leg over the horse, and sat in the saddle behind him. For stability, she wrapped her arms around his torso.
"Will Koume and Kotake be there?" Zelda asked as he turned the horse westward.
"They are hunting for a relic. We have a few hours before they return."
Twenty minutes of nearly constant galloping and thirty of trotting and walking passed before the terrain finally transitioned from green forests, to tall brown grasslands, to barren desert. The trees that managed to grow were leafless and jagged. The ground was cracked open in grotesque patterns as if begging for water to nourish it. The sun was merciless and Zelda regretted the heavy cowl she chose for her disguise, until a fierce wind blew sharp sand, like sewing needles, at her face. She pulled the hood down around her face more and pushed the fabric over her mouth again, leaving only her eyes to experience the wonders of the desert.
They traveled a bending path around a desert mountain, the sides and top made smooth and flat by years of corrosion by the coarse sand. Zelda was shocked to see that burrowed into the side of the mountain that was saved from the east blowing wind, was a village of homes made entirely of stone. "Welcome to my home," Ganondorf said, gesturing with his hand and bringing his horse to a stop.
Outside of the tactical placement, there really was not much fantastic about the village. The women that marched in and out of homes to go about their daily chores were malnourished and rugged, dirty and scowling. A cart was pulled around to all the houses to gather laundry. Zelda gasped. A list of tasks that her servants performed everyday suddenly became impossible without water or food. She regretted her breakfast and even her dinner the night before.
Although he could not see her, her sadness weighed on him. "I can take you home, if you like."
"No. I want to see more, please," Zelda said, her voice quiet and solemn. She dismounted the steed, and Ganondorf did the same. "Are they taking those clothes to be washed?"
"Yes. Every week someone volunteers to take the clothes to the river to be washed and dried," He explained, leading her forward toward the homes. "We make what clothes we can, but since we are forced to live a life of thievery, even the cloth, down to the needle and thread, are stolen."
Zelda eyed the children, about four and five years old, playing outside, much the same as the children in her kingdom would, but rougher, as if exerting dominance. They were well fed and their clothes looked brand new. She swallowed hard, unbelieving of the sacrifices that their mothers made. "I must speak to my father about this. No one deserves to live this way."
"My people have lived this way for so long that the other kingdoms have forgotten why we do in the first place." Ganondorf shook his head though. "No, you can't speak to him about this. He will know you were here and then I won't even be able to get an owl to you."
"Ganondorf, these are your people," Zelda said sternly, narrowing her eyes. She lowered her hood and mask to free her hair and reveal her entire earnest expression. "They need you to provide for and protect them, no matter what the sacrifice. They finally have a leader, one capable of kindness, and they need you." He looked at her with hurt eyes that she could not avoid. To know that he cared for her in such a way surprised her. Had she unintentionally built this relationship between them in her quest to help purify his soul? If she searched her heart, were the same feelings also blossoming for him? She smiled encouragingly at him to ward off any other intentions. She would support him and encourage his selflessness.
"What is she doing here?" One of the Gerudo asked, pointing out Princess Zelda. "Hasn't your family done enough damage already?" She approached them, gathering a small crowd along the way. Zelda was surprised to see such anguish in the woman's eyes, almost a murderous gaze.
Zelda stepped back as Ganondorf stood in front of her when the Gerudo revealed a weapon. "I brought Zelda here." At his words the Gerudo back down. "She has persuaded me to talk to the King of Hyrule to convince him we are thieves only because we need to be, because of what they did to us, and that we deserve better."
Zelda smiled proudly, but the Gerudo was obviously scorned. "That will never happen, unless you have leverage!" She raised her weapon again and focused her eyes on the princess.
Ganondorf did not toy with her though. He may have only been thirteen years old, but when he unleashed his power from its cage, the weight of it was overwhelming and anyone sensitive suffocated on it. Zelda felt goose bumps travel up her arms and raise the hair on her skin. The corruption that flowed from him sickened her stomach but the Gerudo backed down, weak and defeated. "Zelda will help in giving the Gerudo, your children and grandchildren, a better life. You will not harm her, or you will suffer." He looked back at Zelda as he said it, successfully hiding the fear in his voice that was so easily expressed in his fierce eyes. He did not fear a person or a deity, but he feared loss. He feared losing her forever. They left immediately before Ganondorf changed his mind.