"Girl."

The storm raged by the time Zelda's eyelids fluttered open. But that wasn't what had woken her up. She rubbed an eye sleepily as she looked towards the mouth of the cave.

"Good. You're awake."

Sleep no longer clouded her mind, as Zelda's body grew stiff. She tried to stand, but her legs wouldn't hold her weight up. They trembled just with the attempt.

Before her stood a large man – tall and heavy set. His skin was tanned like the desert sands, and his eyes were golden like the blazing sun. His armor was made of what appeared to be onyx and gold, emblazoned with something that did not surprise the princess: the Gerudo symbol.

But this wasn't just any Gerudo. It was the sole king of this century – the new Ganondorf Dragmire.

He approached her with caution before kneeling by her side. He reached his hand out, hesitated, then placed it to her forehead.

"As I suspected. You're ill, Sheikah girl.'

"Don't touch me."

She swatted his hand away, brows knit with some mix of fear and anger. Of course the holder of the Triforce of Power would come for her. As if she didn't have enough things piled up against her already.

He blinked a few times, a bit taken aback by her harsh response. "You… Are you stupid?"

She replied without hesitation. "I know who you are, King of the Gerudo."

"And you think me your enemy?"

Zelda covered her left hand with the other. It burned with holy power gifted to her by the gods. The Triforce of Wisdom. She had to hide it before he realized her identity.

"I do," she said. "I know of your kind, and I know what you're capable of."

He opened his mouth to speak, but something else caught his eye. It wasn't her he noticed. He wasn't even looking at her. His eyes were focused on his left hand.

The Gerudo king's mouth fell agape and his crimson brows knit together. "How?" he questioned, more to himself than Zelda. "How is this possible?"

She should have remembered. She wasn't the only one here holding a piece of the Triforce. She had one, and so did he. And so did the tyrant she refused to give name to. Ganondorf was bound to discover who she was eventually. They were tied by the same destiny after all.

Finally he looked up from his hand and met her eye. "Remove your headgear." It wasn't a suggestion. It was an order.

And it was one Zelda refused to give in to. "Why should I do anything for you?"

"Because I'm the one person willing to keep you alive, you daft girl. Now remove your turban."

"Keep me alive?" she questioned.

He gave no answer, only an order. "Just do it."

With shaking hands, she removed her turban and pulled down the mask hiding her face. Below the dark material was a face still healing from combat. Blue-violet eyes watched the Gerudo king carefully, trying to judge if he was going to attack or not, if he could be an ally or not. Her pale brunette hair stuck up at strange angles from being hidden for so long.

But sure enough, she was who he expected. She was Zelda.

"You," he breathed. Ganondorf reached out a hand to the princess. She flinched away, but felt his fingers stroke her skin nonetheless. "You're alive. How?"

"Three years ago, Impa helped me flee from the castle." She drew her head away from him, a cold look in her eyes almost daring him to touch her again.

"Impa?" He looked around. "But… I don't see her."

"I know," she said softly. Her harsh gaze softened. "A year ago, she stayed behind in Kakariko so I could get away safely."

"So she's dead?"

"I don't know."

He shook his head and stood. "I'm sorry for your loss either way."

"Don't lie-"

"Princess," he said through grit teeth. "Let me show some compassion. I'm not the demon you make me out to be."

"You should be." She gathered her things in her pack and tried to stand using the wall as support. This time, she made it to her feet. "Now, if you're finished teasing me, please… leave…" Her legs wobbled and gave out of her. She tumbled forwards.

"H-hey!"

Strong arms caught her, steadying her long enough to remove her pack and put it on his back.

"You don't have to act so tough. Whether you like it or not, I'm helping you."

"B-but-"

He lifted her into his arms. His large hands trembled slightly, as if he were afraid he might break her somehow like a porcelain doll.

"You're not the only one whose life has been destroyed by Link."

She winced. That name… Even though she knew that courageous youth wasn't just the Tyrant of Hyrule, she preferred that to the name of all the heroes that came before him. It was easier that way. It kept Zelda from remembering her prophecy had brought her own kingdom to ruin.

"Let me help you, Zelda."

"Sheik," she corrected him quietly.

"What?"

"Call me Sheik. It's safer that Link not know I'm alive." She didn't deserve to be the true heir to the throne anyhow. She was better off as a lone Sheikah. Her kingdom deserved more than she could ever offer it.

"Fine, Sheik," the Gerudo king corrected himself. He held her to him with one arm as he pulled his hood back over his crimson mane. "I'll call you by that fake name. But let me help you."

"I'll… allow that."

Her eyelids fluttered as the Gerudo king stepped out into the world outside. The rain was still coming down heavy, but he hunched his large body over her to keep her dry, pulling her into his cloak for good measure.

"Rest for now, princess. We'll be in my territory soon enough."

"It's… Sheik."

And that said, his steady gait lulled her back to sleep.