The sounds of our gasping breaths and bodies mashing together filled my ears as I lay beneath Link in his dimly lit room.
"How am I supposed to release all my stress when you're gone?" I barely heard him say, his voice husky and breathy.
I stifled a moan as I felt his body thrust into mine, my legs wrapped around his waist and my hands tangled in his damp hair.
Our bodies were covered in sweat and the smell of sex was clouding my mind. The feeling of Link's body against mine was driving me crazy with passion and want.
"Is that all I'm good for?" I managed as his lips burned a trail on my neck.
He chuckled and his hand slid down to where our bodies met, and he began massaging the tender flesh there.
I raked my nailed down his back at the pleasure his fingers brought about, needing more contact than I already had.
There was a sensation that was beginning to build up inside my body, and the more Link thrust and moved his fingers, the more intense the need for release was.
"Link, I-I ahhmph!" Link's hand clamped down on my mouth as a feeling of pure bliss came over me and I dug my nails into his back, bucking my hips to meet his.
I felt his arms cage me as I went quiet and his body pulled out of mine and then went still.
His head fell into the crook of my neck, and I ran my hands through his hair. Dropping his body to the side, he pulled me close to him and our damp bodies molded together as we lay on his bed.
"You know I don't just use you for sex." He said suddenly, after we had both just listened to our breathing calm for a bit.
I sighed and ran a hand through my hair, "I know, it's the same for me."
He leaned up on his elbow and looked at me in the scarce light, frowning he began to ramble. "Look I know you're supposed to go marry some random man, but why not just stay here and marry someone? I know Zelda would be beyond thrilled to have you stay. And hey, if you didn't want anyone here, we could just tell everyone to fuck off and we could get married. I mean, I am a very rich and sought after bachelor here, it wouldn't be a bad match and your brother could take over and-"
"Link." I whispered, looking up at him.
His face, which had become animated, fell and he grimaced. "I know that you're a very good choice for any woman, but..." Sighing I sat up and faced away.
"I have to marry some kind of prince or noble, then I must become queen of the Gerudo Desert." I looked back at him sadly. "It's my duty and job."
He blew out a big breath and rolled out of the bed and onto his feet. "You should go now."
Standing up I faced him, my heart quickly beating. "Don't you go and push me away like that, it's not fair."
"Fair?" He whirled around and his face was a mask of anger, hurt and sadness. It hurt me to see it.
"Don't talk to me about fair!" He stalked over to me and got right up in my face, but I didn't move away.
"Link, lower your voice or else-"
"Or else what? Someone will hear us?" He interrupted, his voice getting louder.
"Maybe I want everyone to hear me so they come running and see us naked together, because you know what? I'm tired of us sneaking around and I'm tired of having to hide my feelings for you around everyone, even Zelda!" He shouted.
I couldn't believe he was saying this, after all this time. The whole time we had been here and started having sex behind everyone's backs, we had both decided to just fool around and not make it serious.
Because I would have to marry when I went back to the Desert, and he knew that!
"You can't tell me this now!" I shouted right back, pushing his chest so he stumbled back.
"After all this time and you decide you want to make this public when I'm about to leave? Well it's too late Link!" I couldn't stop myself from hitting his chest and pushing him until his back hit the wall.
"You just had to open your mouth and say it out loud, making this harder and more painful for the both of us... didn't you." The last part I said in a whisper, my head dropping and my hands sliding down his chest.
I had always tried to suppress any feelings I thought I might have for Link, knowing it would be terrible when I leave. There was no future for us, I couldn't leave my family in such a bad position of finding someone to rule if I left. Then there was no way that Link would be accepted as my husband, and I didn't even know if I would want that If it could happen.
It was all just a big mess, and now it was even worse.
"Boo, I-" He said, his voice soft, but he stopped. His hands slid up my arms, but then he pushed me away, and when he did I still didn't look at him.
I didn't want to see his face, or have him see mine in fear of what it would look like.
Turning around I quickly found my clothing, threw it on, and dashed out of his window without looking back.
It was the first time I had ever felt so sad and heart broken before, I almost wished I had never gotten involved with him.
Almost.
The next day there was a huge feast held in my honor of leaving. Everyone that I had become friends with and met while in Hyrule was there. It wasn't just nobles, but anyone I wished had been invited and attended.
Everyone but Link, Zelda had tried to get him to come but he had made some excuse about training that was a complete lie.
I was actually a bit relieved I didn't have to fake being happy around him, I was able to enjoy the company of so many people I had come to love in one place.
"Nabooru, you will be missed!" A local rancher said coming up to me.
"Yes, nobody could ride or train a horse like you could!" His daughter, Malo, said to me. They both ran a ranch not too far from here, and I had gone there many times to ride horses, and had ended up helping around whenever I could.
"I wanted you to take something to remember us by in that far away desert of yours, so we've decided that we want you to take Epona back with you." Her father said, them both smiling at me.
I grinned and hugged them, "I would be honored!"
The rest of the night went similar to that, with people giving me gifts and saying their goodbyes, some with tears and others with smiles of encouragement.
Everyone knew I was to be married and told me to return with my husband to meet everyone someday. I promised I would, but it was one I did not intend to keep, for fear of what he would be like.
I still did't know who I was to marry, or who any of the suitors were.
Thinking back on that, made me think of everyone that I had already met, and even now I still wouldn't marry any of them. Though I probably would have been the happiest with the last one I had met before leaving.
But I had already refused him, so now it was a matter of finding the one I would be able to bare the easiest.
The night went well and I was sad to see everyone go at the end of it, knowing it would be a very long time if I ever saw them all again.
Before everyone was gone, I had been informed that my escorts back to the Gerudo Desert had arrived. That meant that I would be leaving sooner than I thought. Or wanted.
"At least when you get back, you won't have long until you may take off your veil for good!" Zelda pointed out to me the next morning as the last of my things were packed in a carriage and I finished readying my new horse for the journey.
I laughed. "Thank the goddess for that! And I can leave also knowing that you will have a new husband and soon children and a kingdom to take care of!"
Zelda laughed and threw her arms around me and I hugged her back tightly. I held back tears, I would need to toughen up for when I got back.
"I will miss you my dear friend," she said, then added, "and I know Link will also, no matter what happened between you two."
She pulled away and smiled at me. "I wish you the best of luck, and even more to the man that will try to tame you!"
We both laughed and I quickly kissed her cheek before someone spoke behind me.
"My lady, it is time we depart to make it back by your mother's wishes." Said the voice of one of my guards.
Grimacing I backed up to my horse and swung myself onto Epona's back. I turned back to look at Zelda as we began to move, my escorts taking ranks around me.
"I will miss You Zelda, but I promise I will come back to see you and meet your beautiful children!" I shouted to her, smiling with a sad hole forming in my heart.
I looked back once more before she was out of sight just in time to see Link running up to Zelda. He stopped and she turned to him and hugged him, and he hugged her back. The he shouted loud enough for the whole castle to hear.
"We love you Aiya, come back soon!" His words made me smile, and I had a grin on my face until I could no longer see the castle beyond the hills and plains.
As time went on and a day had passed we were stopped for a break and I turned to the closest guard. "I don't remember coming this way to get here, are we taking a different route?" I asked, confused.
He chuckled and removed his helmet from the rest of his Gerudian palace armor, but something was wrong.
He did not have the features or air of a palace guard, and something about him seemed almost vaguely familiar.
I stopped my horse at the same time our eyes met and he grinned at me, but it was not a friendly grin.
"I am not taking you home, my lady." He said and as he did the rest of the guards stopped and formed a close circle around me.
The man before me was very largely built with red hair, dark skin, a finely shaped face and piercing eyes.
"I do not suppose you would happen to remember me, would you your highness?" He asked in a deep, mocking voice.
I stared and my eyes widened, "...Ganon?"