The group of Gerudo and Aria left early in the morning, before the light of the sun touched the sky. It was a quiet affair, no more than 10 women on their horses. They traveled across the desert for most of the day, hardly speaking as the sun beat down upon them and the sand sizzled from beneath them. The gerudo's horses were well built for this type of terrain, robust and much lighter than Titan was, They had arched thick necks, robust hindquarters and shoulders, and their back and legs were rather thin and long. Their heads were slightly concave and rather petite, colors varying between chestnuts, lighter bays, dun, buckskin, and even a bright palomino. They didn't stop riding the entire day, and well into the night until they came upon a small oasis with two trees shriveling under the intense rays of the sun of early the enxt morning.. Aria scooped some water into her palm, willing it larger, increasing the amount and re-filling everyone's canteens without drawing much more water from the drying up oasis. She poured more water into the oasis, until Aveil stopped her- telling her to save her energy for the rest of the ride. Reluctantly she did so, but not before plucking a small bagful of the palm tree's seeds. They left the oasis, Aria glancing back at the sad looking pool of water, wishing there was something more she could do.
After riding through a canyon for the entirety of the second day, as the sun began to sink beneath the horizon the gerudos reached a large crack in the ground and a broken bridge.
"Don't lean over too far, or you'll fall off. I wouldn't want to have to go fishing for you" Aveil joked as Aria stared into the ground's crevice, seeing how far beneath the bridge lay a swiftly flowing river and the rushing sounds of the water and nearby waterfalls filled the air.
"Does this mean we have to go back?"
"Of course not. That's what the horses are for." Aveil patted her dun mare's neck. Aria glance down at Titan. He much heavier than any of the mares and Aria hadn't had much experience in jumping him before. She already knew he was slower than the gerudo's smaller horses.
"Don't worry about it." As if reading her mind, Aveil nudged Aria. "I'm sure your horse can make it over the bridge. Trust your horse- he hasn't let you down yet."
Nodding, Aria pulled back, away from the edge. The gerudo backed away from the bridge a good ways away, before they turned their horses and sped up to take their turns jumping across the broken bridge. Aria was third behind Aveil, Titan tucking his legs up under him and stretching as they made the jump. Aria held on tightly. The stallion gave a half stumble as they landed on the hot stone on the other side, but he kept upright, striding up the stairs and snorting when they stopped a few feet away from the crevice.
"See, I told you he could do it." Aveil patted her shoulder, before they moved forward, officially in the land of Hryule as the land slowly transformed from the barren wasteland to a lush green field. They'd had to cross a large creek, before they truly reached the vast field. They spent the night in that field, a few girls taking shifts to keep an eye out for monsters that could try to attack them at night. The next morning as the sun rose into the sky, Aria stared in awe at her surroundings. After almost a year of living with the Gerudo in the harsh desert, so much greenery was a wonder to see. Flowers and trees dotted the rolling hillsides, creeks branched across the country side. In this distance was a large knoll that lead up to what looked like a farm of sorts. Even farther in the distance, was the faded view of a large castle, and behind it was a tall outline of a mountain, with a hoop of smoke around it's dark peak.
"Welcome to Hyrule." With a whoop, the gerudos urged their horses onwards, towards the nearest village. Titan took off after them, the heavier horse quite a bit slower, but also no putting as much effort. It wasn't a flat run, racing up and over hills.
It was night when they came upon the first village. It was small and most of them had no candles flickering in the darkness. They were tired, their horses were tired, but they didn't stop at this village- instead they left it and camped a few miles away from the village. Aria had no complaints, remembering the words of how Aveil was so certain the Hylians wouldn't accept them.
Aveil's words were proven to her the next sunset, when they reached another village, much closer to the castle in the distance. The guards had watched them closely as they passed. From the corner of her eye, Aria noticed one guard step forward, hand on the hilt of his sword. She tensed up, catching the golden eyes of Aveil, but the guardsman's fellow held him back. Hardly anyone in the village would speak to them. They were ignored for the most part, even when they were looking for a tavern to stay in. They offered money, and were turned away. The one place that was vaguely willing to 'accept' them, wanted three times as much as it would cost for a Hylian, and one of their steeds. Of course, the Gerudo turned away from that place. The tavern owner, a chubby man with a dark mustache and balding head didn't seem to notice when his plump purse was several rupees short.
Two days later they reached the largest town in Hryule, only to be denied entrance to it. Tired of the rudeness and sleeping on the ground, Aria tugged off her shawl and glared at the guard.
"Why can't we enter."
"The city is closed to outsiders Ma'am." The guard gulped nervously, eyeing the women behind her who sat back on their horses. She watched as a caravan with several odd looking characters walking giant blue goats slip by with no interference from the guards. Aria snapped her fingers in his face, forcing his attention away from the gerudos on horseback and to her glaring green eyes.
"There are people entering and exiting. You are not stopping them. You aren't inspecting that caravan with all the goats and questionable figures."
"They are Hylians."
"So, because they aren't Hylians, a group of women can't enter the town - women who are looking for a warm meal and a soft bed."
"Yes Ma'am." The guard nervously swallowed again, taking a subtle step backwards. "I mean.. you may enter, as you are Hylian, but the gerudos who accompany you are not from this kingdom and so they may not enter."
"That seems rather unbeneficial to the kingdom, don't you think. Refusing to trade and deal business with another kingdom."
"The gerudo hardly have a kingdom. They're a bunch of thieves and desert rats." The guard sneered at the women behind Aria and she had to stay her hand from slapping him for his prejudice. "Anyways, it's not my rules that keep them from entering Hyrule Castle Town. The king has declared all outsiders are refused entry unless they are ambassadors. Seeing as none of them are that big bloke, they're not allowed in."
A giant boulder-looking creature passed by, it grunted as it walked and Aria was momentarily shocked.
"And that person?" She asked pointing.
'Him? Gorons are native to Hyrule, and are considered an ally. Gerudos aren't allies, and I highly doubt they ever will be. So please, take your.. acquaintances and leave. You may come back without them at any time." Disgusted, Aria turned away and they rode around the outskirts of the town.
Some time later, Aveil moved towards the center of their group to ride next to Aria. Aria glanced up, once more covered in her tattered red cloak.
"Don't worry, when we get to Kakariko village, we'll be accepted there. There aren't many guards, and the humans are much more friendly." Aria nodded numbly.
The next few days it took to get to Kakariko were mostly silent. They didn't hunt all that much, strangers to the land, but the monsters that dare attack them at night made decent meals- from the ones that were of flesh and blood. Aria had taken a seed from just about every different type of tree they came across, putting it in the same pouch that had the palm seeds. No one questioned her why she was doing it, they were just grateful that with Aria around it was easier to start the campfire and keep their water stocked up. The closer they got to Kakariko the more excited the ladies were. Aveil and the other chatted a lot of how many 'boyfriends' there were in the village. Aveil in particular had a guy whom she'd visited with several times. He was, to put it in her words "very skillful with his tongue".
Aria tried not to blush in response, but failed. The gerudo ladies had a good laugh at her expense. She didn't mind it so much.
Kakariko Village wasn't what she expected. It looked rather homely, people laughing and lazing about, chickens loose everywhere, a large windmill near the center of the town, and the further they went into town, the more Aria noticed the gorons who spent their time in town. There was apparently even a 'hot spring' somewhere further up ahead, more towards the Goron's home. The village wasn't half as big as the town next to the castle, but there were plenty of people there.
When the Gerudo entered the village, they weren't paid attention to, until the girls took off their cloaks and started flirting with the nearest group of men. Aria sat there awkwardly, more than a little nervous. They took their horses to a stable nearby. First things first, making sure their steeds were well taken care of, then paying for their rooms, all in the same large two-storied tavern.
"This is where the fun begins!" Aveil winked at Aria, before helping her get dressed.
"Are you sure I can't have a bit more coverage in, you know, this area?" Aria motioned at all of her torso and abdomen that was mostly bare.
"Of course not, just let me adjust these." Aveil grabbed Aria's 'shirt', if the revealing garment could truly be called such a thing, and pushed her breast to the side a bit, making them stand out a bit more. It was rather plain outfit, maroon in the torso, with pale white-sand pants.
"Trust me, you'll find a man tonight, have a great time, and tomorrow afternoon we'll start taking the trip back home. Who knows, maybe you'll find a couple of young studs." Aveil winked as they walked out of the room, arm in arm. There were several men in the tavern already, and the gerudo ladies had flocked to them. Some of them were apparently very familiar with each other, and were wasting no time becoming better acquainted.
Aria chuckled to herself, rubbing her mostly bare arm as men wolf whistled and flirted with them.
"Relax, have a seat. Bartend. Lon Lon Special." Aveil slid her an oddly pale drink that the bartender had set down. "Try it. You'll like it."
Aria took a sip. It was sweet, too sweet, but the alcohol was obvious enough to her. She shivered and took another sip.
"See, told you it's good. Sip it though, it's pretty strong stuff, and I wouldn't want you waking up next to one of them." Aveil motioned towards the carpenters boasting in the background. Aria nodded, laughing as she continued to take small sips from the drink.
She was on her third one when she saw him. He had been there for a while, sitting at the other end of the bar, but she hadn't really noticed him before. Perhaps it was because Aveil had just moved to go visit a man about a 'cuckoo'. He was taller than her, which didn't often say much, wore glasses, and had light orange-brown hair, that was parted to the side. He glanced her way and she gave him one of her best 'come hither' looks.
He gave in rather easily. No words were spoken between the two of them as she lead him away from the bar, back towards her room. She was nervous certainly, but during the ride to Kakariko the girls had given her plenty of advice on how to seduce a man, how to take control. Closing the door behind them, he managed to stutter out a "h-h-hello-oh. ohh…" before he saw her laying back on the bed, a hand running down her own curves. He spoke no more that night.
He was no master at making love, she decided, but he could get the job done. It was quick and he wasn't her ideal man. His body was slimmer when she prefered a man who could hold his own against her. She allowed him to flip her onto her back without short brown hair looked almost red in the candlelight, and for a moment she could have sworn his blue eyes were gold, but when she blinked as he thrusted into her- they were just a dark blue. She squeezed her eyes tight as she reached completion.
"Ga-aahh!" Her mind took over for her, imagining there were larger, strong arms wrapped around her, that the man above her wasn't who he actually was. He left a mess on her stomach and was out the door before she passed out on the bed.
Later that night Aveil visited her, helped her clean up the still slightly damp mess on her skin and the bed. She fell asleep wrapped in strong tanned arms that night, smiling. The next morning came too soon, golden light filtering in from behind the curtains, unbearable bright. Aria groaned, crawling out of the covers and packing up for the ride home.
"Huh… whatsabighurreh" Aveil asked, brushing her straight hair out of her face.
"It's the afternoon already."
"Shit. Really?"
"Yeah. Really."
Aveil groaned, dragging herself out of bed. Her knees made with the floor first. "Heh, guess I had quite a bit to drink last night." She shakily got up, her knees threatening to buckle for a while until she got her bearings.
"Yeah. Thankfully I didn't drink too much last night."
"I still can't believe that guy just 'll find you more next time. It'll be a real party."
"Eh. It could've been worse. He could've.. well.. I mean.. I'm just not ready to be a mother quite yet."
"Mmm. fair enough, besides you should go for a strong man, one with broad shoulders, a warrior." Aveil froze for a moment, a particular man coming to mind. "You know… King Ganondo-"
"Wait, what, no! He's.. he was my mentor, besides he's he's.." Aria trailed off, her cheeks heating up when she remembered just who she'd imagined last night.
"He's an available warrior who you could spend alone time with, and would sire extremely skilled gerudo children."
"He's your king!"
"Well, yeah, but that doesn't mean he can't have a lover or two."
"Aren't kings supposed to have queens, or princesses to make their wives? Wouldn't that make him a prince?"
"He was married once. She died during childbirth. It was a long time ago. He's had lovers since then, but he hasn't "settled down". "
"That's great… I guess? That doesn't change that he's still a king and I'm just.. I'm not even gerudo or royalty. Not to mention that he and I haven't been getting along."
"That's not what I saw in the training ring."
"You mean when he pinned me to the ground and later I called him a pig and we avoided each other for months?"
"..." Aveil opened her mouth, but nothing came out and she quickly shut it instead of gaping like a hylian bass.
"In any case, we need to get back home, get back to my training." Aria packed her bags as Aveil concentrated on packing her own.
"Oh, that reminds me, I received a message before we left, the tournament is going to be pushed back several months, so we have more time to train you more thoroughly. I'm thinking since you've been learning how to dance, we can incorporate dancing into your fighting style with daggers."
"Um.. maybe once I've learned more about dancing? I'm still not as agile as the rest of you."
"It takes years to get that agile. You're improving very quickly."
"Why do you want me in the tournament anyways?"
"I believe you can win. I think you bring something new to the tournament, and I believe you could get to the finals, maybe even win against Nabooru if you work hard at it enough."
"I think your expectations are a little high, don't you?"
"Not at all. I believe you can do it" Aveil patted her back, grinning.
They met up with other gerudos, grabbed their horses and set out for the Gerudo Valley once more. The trip back home was an interesting one, everyone having their own wild stories of the lovers they'd taken that night or previous months. Aria wondered why she hadn't been brought before, and Aveil admitted it was because they hadn't been positive they could trust her, or the power she carried with her. She didn't take any offence at that. She hardly trusted her own powers half the time. It took them over a week to reach the canyon that connected the two kingdoms.
"Race ya!" Aveil called. Of course all the gerudo and their quicker horses had jumped over the crevice before Aria had even reached the edge. Titan pushed off near the edge, his hooves flinging dirt everywhere.
His front hooves clipped the edge as they were landing and they tumbled backwards.
"ARIA!" Aveil called as Aria and Titan plummeted into the rapid waters below. Aria swam to the surface only to be forced down by the current. She couldn't see anything as she gasped for air every time she came up. Desperately she tried to use the water's spark to slow the are around her, which failed to work. Then she tried to pull the air into her lung using the magic, but she hadn't worked with wind and she was just so exhausted.
Everything went dark.