Traveling was slow.
Slower than what Link would particularly like.
For two days and two nights, he and his newfound companion found in Ganondorf kept to the road. It was exhausting but not that he would be so vocal as to protest about it. Yet, as he looked at how weary Epona was, Link knew he would have to speak up soon. She looked close to collapsing, even though Ganondorf's unearthly beast of a stallion looked nowhere near her condition. Link even dared to make the judgment that he looked fresh out of the gate, flaming orange eyes gleaming bright and constantly gnawing at the bit in his mouth in energetic anticipation of going for a run.
Link had the feeling that if trusted with such a wild horse he wouldn't be able to restrain him, while Ganondorf on the other hand handled the stallion quite well. When the black horse were to jerk his head in aggravation and try to move at a brisker pace, he was given less rein, the thin leather wrapped tightly around Ganondorf's clenched hands.
Eventually, the horse would settle and he would be given more room to move his head.
Epona showed no signs of struggle or any eager desire to move any faster than the pace they had established. Ears sagging to the sides of her head, which hung low, her loving brown eyes had lost their gleam due to exhaustion. The mare's hooves looked weighted with how she picked them up only to let them drop without the grace she normally carried in her gait. Constantly, Link slipped off of her back to give her a break from carrying him, but even that didn't seem to do much.
And when he looked to Ganondorf to summon forth words of suggestion, the silent look he was greeted by from the other man smothered any such ideas of conversation. It was hard to read into what the Gerudo man was feeling, with his stone-cold eyes flickering with yellow fire that bore no warmth, his expression void of emotion. It was as though he were locked in a state of neutrality, unnerving Link and rendering him speechless. He didn't even know what to say about this situation overall.
Being taken beneath Ganonodrf's wing had occurred hardly in a few moments. One second he was settling with joining his side, and the next he was gripping Epona's reins as he walked alongside Ganondorf and his own steed, his dusty boots sending up puffs of dry soil from the dirt road they followed. The country was full of hills, the road they kept to long and winding, like a snake. Livestock wandered aimlessly through fields of green, grazing under the watchful eyes of their shepherd and googling the two passerbies with their own blank stares. Children observed the two foreigners walk by with their wide, curious eyes from gaping farm house doorways, especially enraptured by the man in green for his foreign clothing.
But if they had been able to lay eyes upon Ganondorf, perhaps they would have been more interested in him. The man hadn't been keen on leaving his cloak off despite the weather not being terribly cold, keeping his head and face well-hidden. While not very well known in these parts, Ganondorf was wary of being revealed and attacked. Drawing attention to himself was the last thing he needed.
Link ponderously gazed at the man in curiosity. He hadn't quite realized how meticulous Ganondorf was until being set in his company. Everything had to be perfect, everything put carefully into action. From a savage tyrant with no coordination, Link realized him to be quite more intelligent than he tended to reveal in his plans.
Catching his eye, Ganondorf looked over with a raised brow, Link blinking before his face flushed with humiliation at being caught, quickly looking away. Unseen by the red-faced blonde, Ganondorf smirked. Link's curious observations hadn't gone unnoticed over the time spent together, despite how conversation lacked. Occasionally, Ganondorf would catch him lost in thought, especially when his eyes were locked on the horse he rode. The black stallion was certainly an admirable beast, flaming red mane and tail catching in the wind to flicker like actual fire. Each stride was full of pride, his head lifted up with arrogance. His haughty personality showed bright like the morning sun, something that had compelled Ganondorf to make him his own to begin with. As sassy as the horse could be, he was useful in battle and eager to partake in nearly anything. Full of energy, he was of better quality, in Ganondorf's mind, material in comparison to Link's own mare, Epona.
She was nice and loyal, yes, but tired easily. His own horse could go on for days more with just a few mouthfuls of grass and water.
Then again, the stallion had been born in the deserts of Gerudo, made to be hardy and to endure everything that faced him. Epona was more than likely bred from some old farm horses.
"Ganondorf we should stop to rest."
Disturbed from his thoughts, the Gerudo man looked back down upon Link, who refused to meet his gaze. The Hylain's cheeks were still highlighted with faint red, but his expression had sturdied from its surprised look. Expecting Ganondorf to fully deny the idea of stopping, Link had to hide his shock when the older man shrugged.
"Fine. Your horse looks as though it needs the rest, and it is getting dark," agreed Ganonodrf, slipping from the saddle of his stallion, who snorted in protest. He wanted to go for a run, feeling as though he could stretch his legs for miles. But Ganondorf, clasping the reins firmly, merely clucked his tongue commandingly and his horse followed him closely, Link patting Epona's neck soothingly as he tentatively followed after. Ganondorf looked like he knew where to go.
-x-
And that Ganondorf did, Link finding himself cozy around a well-made fire as darkness shrouded the soft blue sky, turning it an inky black with glittering chips of ice known as 'stars'. The moon gleamed brilliant silver, nothing more than a half of its full sphere and cast some pale light, but it was not strong enough to chase the shadows away. Epona and Ganondorf's horse were tied up nearby, having already been fed and watered, left to sleep while their masters silently gazed into the flickering flames of the campfire.
Allies or not, the barrier in between the men was obvious. Bed rolls set up on either side of the flames, they were set as far as possible from one another. Even where they presently sat near the fire spoke their differences loud and clear, Ganondorf and Link nowhere in the other's proximity. Mulling over his predicament and wondering how he would go about sabotaging the Evil King, Link was startled when hearing his foe speak.
It seemed like Ganondorf tended to take him off guard all too often.
"You do not look particularly thrilled, Link," Ganondorf noted, a touch of dark humor to his voice. Link's eyes remained trained on the fire, not speaking, but Ganondorf merely carried on. "You will have to get used to this soon enough. I realize that you may hold some attachment still to the princess and the kingdom, but trust me. If they both mean to you so much, I will leave both intact."
Still lacking a response, but seeing a brighter shine to Link's eyes at the prospect of his guilt being lessened by the concept of Ganondorf showing more mercy, he smirked.
"While I may be no man of heroics, I know better than to destroy what shall be mine. A land can be ruled by an iron fist and a reasonable mind."
On the inside, Link figured that if his plan failed, that at least Ganondorf wouldn't be burning everything to the ground. That was the cause of the relieved look to his eyes, which slowly turned up towards the Gerudo King. Legs drawn to his chest and his chin resting upon his knees, he frowned.
"What are your intentions, Ganondorf?" Link implored, referring to Ganondorf's apparent future rule.
Ganondorf smiled.
"My people for too long have sweltered in the unforgiving desert, not able to neither see the green grass of Hyrule nor drink from the gentle waters of the Zora's River. And many other races, hidden in the shadows, have been forced to endure the hardships of harsh living conditions while Hyruleans and those living with them have enjoyed what they have been blessed with, taking it for granted. I desire to create equality among the races, or else watch my people die under the hot sun alongside those other hidden races."
Link was taken aback, having expected something less honorable such as simply world domination or the satisfaction of total leadership over the lands. But no, Ganonodrf apparently desired something more than that, deeper beyond such shallow concepts of complete takeover. Unexpected, Link felt his heart soften, a piece of him reconsidering the villain this man had been made out to be when excluding his evil deeds to get where he was.
Though before he could muse on the thought, Ganonodrf yawned, sharp eye teeth glinting in the firelight.
"It is late, and you must be more exhausted than I," Ganondorf figured, standing up as he moved towards his established side of the campsite. "It is best that we sleep. Good night."
Conversation ended abruptly, Link was put to silence for a moment, before slowly nodding as he went to his own bedroll.
"Yes… Good night."
-x-
Travel was put on hold the next day, much to Link's pleasure. Instead, they visited the local town to replenish supplies, Epona allowed to rest in the stables there while Ganondorf's own stallion served as their temporary pack mule, not that the horse seemed to care. Saddle bags brimming with vegetables and fruits alongside dried meats as they walked silently through the marketplace to find some medical supplies, Link peered curiously over at Ganonodrf, who led along his black stallion in silence.
"… What is his name?" Link asked almost timidly, finding the question more so on the embarrassing side as he looked to Ganonodrf. When their eyes met, Link's cheeks grew red as they seemed to always do whenever he felt he had done something stupid, as though thinking Ganondorf would scold him for his idiotic question as he looked away. But instead, Ganondorf merely chuckled and affectionately patted the muscled neck of his stallion, who snorted in acknowledgement.
"Roraon is his name."
Link mused over the foreign-sounding name before nodding, managing to smile back at the other man. But, of course it was forced! He definitely wasn't warming up to Ganondorf… Was he?
"It fits him. It sounds proud," Link decided, Ganondorf's expression seeming to warm.
"Yes, it does fit him like that," the Gerudo man agreed, smiling at Roraon, Link turning his own eyes away as to not be caught staring in awe at seeing the other man smile in such a sincere manner. Ganondorf was a vile, evil man that deserved no justice. He had no heart and no soul, as worthless as a pig.
…
Wasn't he?
Author's Note;;
Another day, another chapter.
Or should I say another month and a half? xD Thank you guys for sticking through this mess of a story, I promise that this filler will actually lead up to something real intense soon. Hopefully.
Perhaps some confusing mess of emotions and awkward confessions… Maybe c;
If there are any errors, my sincere apologies. I always upload these late at night when I am so exhausted I can't think straight D;
Perhaps I should get a beta.
Maybe.