Zelda coughed as a strong gale blew sand in her face again. The wasteland seemed to go on forever. If it hadn't been for Ganondorf's constant encouragement, she swore she would have given up and passed out. Even now, her footsteps were heavy, as if marching in time to a drum beat only she could hear. As long as her legs were moving, she would eventually make it. She couldn't dare stop.
The Gerudo king walked a few paces ahead, head high, cloak blowing in the wind. It was like the heat, sand, and wind didn't bother him. It probably didn't. He was raised in the desert.
"You're almost there," he said. It felt like the hundredth time, but it kept Zelda walking. She welcomed it.
"Almost…"
As the sandstorm began to die down, Ganondorf finally stopped and turned back to look at her. "Are you faring well?" he teased.
Zelda bit back harsh retorts. Thank the golden goddesses for her self-control. After a moment, she spoke through grit teeth. "You know I'm new to this terrain," she said. "Don't act so high and mighty with me."
"As if you didn't act the same every time I visited your castle."
Was that what this was about? Revenge over childish stupidity? She had been young and naïve then, raised to think the desert folk no more than dirty thieves. They were second class citizens not just to her but all the people of Hyrule proper.
But that was a long time ago. And this was now.
"You realize I've changed, right?"
He scoffed at her, lips curved upwards in a mocking smile. "I'm sure you have." He turned away from her, towards the structure before them. "Anyways, we're here. Take a look."
Carved into a tall cliff was a woman, arms outstretched with her palms pointing towards the heavens. Her expression was one of calmness, though she lacked a smile. The woman stared ahead into the desert wasteland before her. She was dressed as immodestly as the Gerudo, covered only in a bikini. Her legs were replaced by a serpentine lower half.
"What… is this thing?"
"This thing," Ganondorf snarled, "is the goddess of my people – the goddess of the sand. Your people call her Din."
"As in the golden goddess of power?"
Ganondorf nodded. "One and the same."
Zelda had wondered a few times why the goddess of power gave her piece of the Triforce to one eternally destined to be at war with her kingdom. A pure soul like that wasn't supposed to aid the enemy. Now she understood. The Gerudo weren't her enemy at al. She was their patron goddess.
Ganondorf's expression softened as he offered Zelda his arm. "Are you ready to meet my mothers?"
She gave a small shrug. "As ready as I'll ever be." She took hold of the crook of his arm.
Ganondorf tugged the princess inside. His golden gaze remained focused forwards, unsurprised by the interior. The same couldn't be said for Zelda. She looked all around the room and its clay floor, walls, statues. Gerudo territory was so new to her, having been more or less banned from her studies all her life. Now Zelda wanted to know everything she could possibly drink in. But now wasn't the time for that.
Inside was a smaller statue of this Goddess of the Sand. Before this strange Din were two other women – near identical in appearance. Zelda could only tell them by the details in their clothes; one had red, the other blue.
"You… must be Ganondorf's mothers," Zelda said hesitantly. It was hard to tell what these women were like just from appearance. Formality would be her best chance at making a good impression.
The one in red nodded. "Yes, princess. Our son has sent word of you."
The one in blue held her chin in her hand. "We'd thought you long dead, princess."
"I am Koume, a fire sorceress and Gerudo matriarch."
"Amd I am Kotake, a Gerudo matriarch and ice mage."
The two bowed and spoke in unison. "We're pleased to make your acquaintance."
Their almost robotic oneness made Zelda anxious. She'd never seen anyone quite like this. Even so, she gave a quick, awkward curtsy. "I-it's a pleasure to meet you both as well."
The fire sorceress gave a hearty laugh. "No need to be so formal, princess. We'd much rather focus on helping you."
"Indeed. Can't stand that Link boy at all. Our son would look much better on the Hylian throne, perhaps with you by his side. It's near time he take a wife after all."
Zelda looked from the old women to Ganondorf and back again. The Gerudo king was red in the face and looking off to the side so he didn't have to meet her gaze. She could say she was just as horrified. Just the thought of marrying the Gerudo king was enough to send shivers down the princess' spine.
"If he marries the queen of Hyrule, prosperity will surely come to the land!" they agreed in unison.
"Mothers!" Ganondorf finally exploded. "Sheik came here for a reason!"
"Sheik?"
"But her name is-"
Zelda's lips were sealed in a tight smile. "Koume, Kotake – I am in hiding. I would prefer my true name not be spoken, okay?"
The two witches exchanged glances, then looked back to Zelda. "This place is safe," they said. "We will refer to you by your title, princess."
"And you have a reason for calling us here," Ganondorf interrupted impatiently.
Zelda couldn't believe it. This was almost like a scene from home. She'd seen parents embarrass their sons time and time again in Castle Town. But this wasn't Castle Town, and these weren't any ordinary people.
She never thought she'd get used to life among Gerudos. She likely wouldn't have to stay much longer though. She was grateful for that.
"We need you to wait out here, Ganny," Kotake said.
"D-don't call me that in front of Sheik!" he insisted, cheeks reddening with embarrassment.
Zelda briefly considered teasing him about the nickname, then changed her mind. It would likely cause too much of an annoyance.
"I don't see why I can't watch either!" He stared at them for a long time, golden gaze meeting their bulging eyes. Zelda was sure some sort of silent conversation was going on between them. Finally, Ganondorf let out a loud groan and took seat on the floor, leaning back on his hands. "Do what you must, Mothers…"
"That we shall," Koume said.
"Yes, we shall," Kotake agreed.