The small Hylian girl clung tightly to her mother's skirts as they made their way through the strange makeshift market. The sounds and smells were completely foreign to the small child, so very different from the markets of Castle Town that she was familiar with. The sharp scent of spices mingled with the distinct smell of sweat as the sun rose high into the sky.

The sun had only risen an hour before, but sweat already trickled down the child's face. Her cotton skirt was far from suitable for the desert climate, but it was all that she owned.

"Vasaaq, Ahia!" The child jumped as her mother's name echoed across the market. One of the impossible tall women around them was waving at them, and her mother waved back. The woman was strikingly beautiful, that much was certain. Her skin was a deep brown that seemed to glow against the dark red hair that fell across her shoulders.

"Hello, Kaumoru," The child did little to hide her panicked gaze as the woman shifted the wickedly sharp spear in her hands.

"And vasaaq to you little one," The Gerudo woman leaned forward, her crimson painted lips split into a wide grin behind her gossamer veil.

Kaumoru and Ahia laughed as the small girl let out a startled squeak and buried her face further into her mother's skirt. She stared intently at her feet, idly kicking the loose sand as her mother and the Gerudo guard had a short conversation.

Until she grew bored.

She lifted her head from her mother's skirts and turned her gaze to the market. It barely qualified to be called a market, a rag tag group of hastily thrown together brightly colored tents. Each with a beautiful Gerudo behind the counters peddling various goods and foods. Though they all had the same deeply tanned skin and crimson hair, they varied just as differently as Hylians did. Some were thin, while others boasted thick bands of rippling muscles, and no two women had their hair styled the same. Some sported short bobs, others had their hair pulled into high tight ponytails, with small variations of the styles, but the ones that caught the girls eye the most were the braids. Some of the women had their long hair coiled into intricate groups of small braids or wrapped in brightly colored patterned cloths.

So different from the simple chignons and single plaits that Hylian women typically wore.

Ahia finished her brief conversation with the guard, who waved at the child laughing as she averted her eyes, crimson crawling up her cheeks and ears. The Hylian woman clicked her tongue and the large goat tethered to their small cart moved forward, following behind the mother and daughter as they made their way through the small market.

The girl kept a wary vigil as her mother moved from stall to stall, delivering packages of salted meats and cheeses from their farm, alongside furs and other small goods the Gerudo didn't have access to in their secluded fortress.

The Fortress itself loomed beyond the market, made of pale sandstone and dotted with open windows covered by bright fabrics. Guards routinely patrolled the various levels, disappearing into a door only to appear shortly after through another one on another level. Some of these guards were followed by a younger girl, eagerly gripping a blunted spear of her own with a bounce in her step.

The Hylian girl squeaked sharply as their goat nudged her, searching her pockets for the small oatcakes she kept there for the beast. Her mother and several of the Gerudo around her laughed as the girl pulled one of the cakes from her apron and fed it to the goat, crimson from neck to ears. "Good Go-Go,"

The ram bleated softly and pushed his muzzle against her tiny palm, drawing a soft giggle from the girl. The ram, which the girl had named Go-Go when she was barely two, had been her constant companion for most of her life. Never far from her side and a vigilant guardian from the daily hazards of life on the farm. The number of Cuccos that had met their ends at the goat's deadly bite were too numerous to count, but the persistent birds still gave their all, chasing the girl around their pen until one of her parents or Go-Go came to her aid.

"Good morning, Urora," Her mother's voice drew her attention from the goat, and she found herself eye to eye with a stunning Gerudo. The woman was nearing middle-aged, with fine lines around her eyes and mouth from years of smiling. Her hair was obscured by an intricate wrap made of layers of pink, orange, and teal fabric, that matched her shirt and sirwal. Her top seemed to be made of a single piece of fabric twisted around her shoulders like a harness, and her pants ruffled slightly in a barely there breeze.

Urora smiled, the skin around her golden eyes crinkled. "Sav'otta, Ahia, I see your little one has joined you today," The child buried her face into her mother's skirt, intimidated by the tall woman's kohl lined gaze. Urora made a small click with her tongue as she leaned closer. "There's no need to fear, Vehvi. No harm will come to you in these lands,"

The girl wrinkled her nose. "My name is Aeris," She lifted her face to Urora, her fists still balled in her mother's skirts. "Not Vehvi," She stumbled over the strange word, but stood as tall as she could as her mother and Urora chuckled.

Urora lowered herself to Aeris's level and smiled. "And that is a beautiful name," She chuckled softly as Aeris's pout deepened. "But, vehvi is our word for child,"

Aeris blushed fiercely as Urora and her mother began laughing once again, and quickly pushed her face back into her mother's skirts.

How was she supposed to know their language? It was her fault she didn't know what the funny word meant. She was only six, after all.

Urora joined Aeris and Ahia for the rest of their rounds around the market, talking idly with Ahia about random topics. From politics to life on the farm and the climate of things in Hyrule. Aeris cared little for their grown up talk, and soon lost interest, instead she faded into the bright daydreams of a child. Occasionally, she would reach into her apron and give Go-Go another oatcake, giggling when his whiskers tickled her palm.

Many of the Gerudo they passed fawned over Aeris, they cooed over how small she was, how her black hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders, still allowed to be kept loose due to her age, a few even praised how her eyes sparkled green in the sunlight.

All things that seemed utterly mundane to the child, they were the ones that were worthy of praise. All of them with their sharp features and golden eyes, their brightly painted make up and hair that burned like fire in the ever climbing sunlight.

By the time the sun reached its apex in the sky, Aeris's ebony curls were plastered to her forehead and her skirt clung to her legs, sticky with sweat. The heat was unbearable, and Aeris panted lightly as Her mother and Urora finally paused to rest in the shade of a nearby building. Her breath burned in her lungs as the arid air was forced into her with every breath.

Her cheeks and ear were flushed red as sweat poured down her neck and back, the thick cotton of her dress was uncomfortably heavy as she settled onto the back of the now empty cart. Maybe, she was beginning to understand why the Gerudo wore such revealing, loose fitting clothing. The Gerudo continued bustling around them, seemingly unfazed by the blistering heat.

Even Ahia only had a slight sheen of sweat on her brow, but her mother had been coming to the desert to trade for many years.

How long would it take for Aeris to grow accustomed to the dry climate of the desert?

Urora ruffled Aeris's damp hair. "Just a moment vehvi, I will bring water,"

Ahia smiled. "Thank you, Urora," She settled onto the cart next to her daughter and sighed as Urora hurried off.

Aeris blinked up at her mother. Many people had told her that she strongly resembled her mother, they had the same tanned skin, their hair was the same shade of black and fell in barely manageable curls, even their eyes were the same shade of green. Aeris's father even joked that the two of them made the same faces.

The small girl turned her attention away from her mother, and found herself staring idly at the passing Gerudo. Each of the women shared similarities like a large family, and they all spoke with each other like sisters would, or rather, what Aeris though sisters would speak to each other like.

Urora returned shortly, sporting an earthen jug and a plate heaped with colorful sliced fruit. The jug, like everything else here, was painted with bright geometric designs, and Aeris couldn't tell what the fruits on the plate were, but they were as brightly colored as everything else here as well.

"Water and food," Urora handed the plate to Ahia and produced three cups from the sash tied around her hips to form a pocket. "Important things for a growing Vehvi, and her hardworking Vatta,"

Urora poured water into two of the cups and handed them to the two Hylians. Aeris took the one extended to her with both hands and gulped greedily from the painted clay cup, only to have it pulled away from her lips, she whined softly and reached for the cup that her mother cruelly held away from her.

"Slowly darling. If you drink too quickly in this heat, you'll make yourself sick," Aeris gingerly took the cup as it was handed back to her and took a small sip. Her mother gave her a nod of approval before going back to check the inventory of their cart, sipping from her own cup between bites of fruit.

"Here vehvi," Urora took a piece of fruit, an orange triangle, and held it out to Aeris. "Try this,"

Aeris eyed the fruit warily, unsure of the strange food. Until Ahia reached and took a similar piece and placed it between her own lips, while tying down a package. Aeris gingerly took the fruit. "What is it,"

"Hydromelon," Urora smiled softly as Aeris took a small bite. The girl's eyes widened, and a small squeal left her lips. "Good isn't it?"

"Very!" Aeris reached for another piece of the crisp orange fruit, but was stopped by Urora placing a cube in her outstretched hand. It was white with a spongy texture, and was dotted with black specks.

"Volt fruit," Urora provided. "Not as sweet, but much heartier,"

Aeris gave the piece of fruit a small squeeze and looked to her mother for assurance. Ahia nodded softly, and Aeris slowly took a bite of the cube.

Urora was right, it wasn't nearly as sweet, but had more substance to it than the Hydromelon had. She finished the cube in another bite and took a sip of water, smiling proudly when Urora praised her restraint.

The small group, sat silently, eating and drinking until Aeris felt that her stomach would burst. Her mouth and hands were sticky with fruit, and Urora helped her clean them with the last of the water and the end of her sash, which apparently had multiple functions.

Aeris watched as a group of Gerudo children, varying from mid-teens to toddlers, were ushered across the market and down a path near the side of the fortress.

All of them girls.

She finished that last of her water before looking at her mother thoughtfully, "Mama, why doesn't Papa come with you when you come here?"

Ahia stopped briefly before continuing, sharing a look with Urora "The Gerudo don't allow men into their fortress,"

Aeris scrunched her nose," Why not? Is it because boys are icky?"

Ahia and Urora shared a soft laugh. "Yes, it's because boys are very icky,"

It made Ahia's heart happy to see her daughter still so young and innocent, untouched by the troubles of the world. "We just have one more thing to deliver, then we can head home to Papa,"

"Do you think Daisy had her baby while we were gone?"

"She may have," Ahia turned to her daughter with a raised brow. Unsure of where the sudden question had come from. But, six-year-olds seemed to have infinite curiosity about the most random of subjects. "Are you excited about the new baby?"

The thought of a new baby made Aeris smile, they were so cute and wobbly, but another question had her attention. "Mama, If the Gerudo don't have any boys, how do they have babies?"

Ahia blanched at her daughter's question and turned to Urora who was struggling to hold her laughter. Sure, Aeris was smart and growing up on a farm taught her things about life, but how in Hylia's name was she supposed to explain the Gerudo's method of conception to a six-year-old?

"Well... You see…" She sent silent praise to the Goddesses when a sudden commotion drew the young girls' attention.

Aeris turned, forgetting the question, and her mother's embarrassment, intrigued by the growing group of Gerudo forming around the main entrance of the fortress. Urora rose from her place near Aeris, and gave a small nod. "I should go and see what that is about,"

Ahia nodded in agreement and turned back to the remaining packages on their cart. It took barely a moment for the woman to disappear into the crowd, easily merging with her kin.

"Mama, can we go see?"

"I think we should wait until it dies down some," The six-year-old pouted and flashed her green eyes at her mother.

"But Mama! I want to see what's happening," The whine that left the small girl was impressive, and Ahia found herself sighing. "We have one more delivery for the kitchens, which are that direction,"

Aeris squealed, and rushed to her feet, wrapping her arms around Ahia's legs, repeatedly thanking her. Ahia barely had time to call for Aeris to slow down before the child had dashed off and disappeared into the murmuring crowd.

Some of the Gerudo cried out and stumbled back as Aeris pushed through their legs, eager to reach the front of the crowd to see what was happening. She was making progress through the masses, until two teens holding hands broke through the crowd moving swiftly to one side, giggling to each other, unaware of the small Hylian child.

The wind was knocked from her as one of the girls slammed into her, sending her spinning into the sand.

She laid on the hard ground gasping for air, suddenly scared of the height of the Gerudo once again as the weight of the group pressed down against her.

"Get up, vehvi," A pair of strong hand lifted her from the ground, and she found herself being hoisted onto someone's shoulders.

Urora smiled up at her and wiped a stray tear from her eye. "Don't cry, we all fall sometimes,"

Aeris sniffled. "Thank you," She wrapped her arms around Urora's neck and adjusted to get a better vantage. She scanned the crowd for any clues, and smiled sheepishly when she spotted her mother on the edge of the crowd with her hands on her hips, looking relieved. "What's going on?"

"The king is visiting the training grounds today," There was a wistfulness to Urora's tone, that made Aeris strangely happy. "It is a very rare occasion that we get to see him, you will have to excuse our excitement,"

"King?" Aeris looked down at Urora. "But, mama said that you don't have boys," Aeris scanned the crowd again, thinking that maybe her mother had been wrong, but found not a single male face.

"Yes, that is usually the case vehvi," Urora shifted Aeris further up onto her shoulders. "But, every hundred years, a single voe, a boy is born, and tradition and law says that the voe is to be our king," Aeris nodded softly, not really understanding, but not questioning either. "His birth brings about a new age and a new royal family that will rule until the birth of the next king generations after his death,"

Aeris mulled this information over and thought of what it would have been like to be born into royalty. Hyrule had a king and a queen, and they just had a new princess, they were royalty. Or, so her mama and papa said, Aeris really wasn't sure what royalty was other than fancy titles and getting to live in a castle.

Did the Gerudo have a castle? She didn't see one.

The question of how Gerudo had babies crossed her mind again, but she thought it best not to ask. Instead, she asked another question, "What's his name?"

"His name is Ganondorf,"

Aeris scrunched her nose at the strange name, and then there he was.

He was nothing like Aeris imagined, in her head, he had been an old man as wise as he was strong, but the boy before them was just a few years older than Aeris, but he was nothing like the Hylian girl had ever seen.

If Urora's eyes were molten gold, his were the sun, his crimson hair fell in waves across his brow and was long enough to brush his shoulders left in loose waves. His skin was a crisp brown and impossibly smooth, gold-adorned his arms and chest in place of a shirt, his legs were clad in a pair of loose white pants.

He scanned the crowd with those golden eyes, and Aeris felt her heart stop when they landed on her. He paused briefly, his eyes bore into hers, and she quickly ducked her head, her heart hammering in her chest and heat burning in her ears.

But Just as quickly as he appeared he was gone, whisked away by two Gerudo. One dressed in red, the other in blue, their hair pulled into tight pigtails that twirled around their elbows. They flanked the boy, guiding him with one hand on each shoulder around a corner and down the path that the group of girls Aeris had watched had gone down.

Urora let out a breath beneath her, and the crowd began to disperse around them, muttering and murmuring about what had just happened. Urora rumbled something under her breath that Aeris didn't understand, but the way that the woman shook her head told her that it was nothing good.

Aeris squirmed in her place on Urora's shoulder. When she thought of kings, she thought they should look happy, but the boy she had seen had been… sad. He looked far too world-weary for someone his age, so bone crushingly sad, she couldn't even imagine what his smile would look like.

"Urora?"

"Yes, vehvi?" The gerudo lowered Aeris from her shoulders to her hip, expertly balancing the girl there.

"Why was he so sad?" She cocked her head to the side when Urora's face fell. "Did someone die?"

"No vehvi," Urora ruffled Aeris's hair. "No one died, some people are just sad because of the world around them,"

"That's not good," The child shook her head. "Maybe he needs a new toy,"

Urora laughed at the girl's innocence. "Perhaps, do new toys make you happy, vehvi?"

"New toys always make me happy," Aeris nodded, sure of her answer. Who didn't like getting new toys?

"There you are!" Ahia appeared out of the thinning crowd. "I was worried sick!"

Aeris reached for her mother, and Urora passed her into Ahia's waiting arms. "Mama, I saw the king!"

"Did you?" Ahia looked to Urora who nodded. "Thank you so much for keeping an eye on her for me,"

"Of course, they can be so quick at that age," She chuckled softly. "Of course it only gets worse as they get older,"

"Don't remind me," Ahia sighed and pushed a strand of Aeris's hair from her face. "It's getting late, we should be heading home, the roads aren't safe at night,"

Urora's face hardened. "Let a guard escort you home, Ahia," She shook her head as Aeris buried her face into her mother's neck. "It would make me feel much better,"

"I don't think we're to that point yet, but when we get there, I'll be sure to take you up on that offer,"

Urora nodded, and walked alongside their cart until they reached the bridge that separated the desert from Hyrule Field. "Be safe,"

"Always," Ahia and Urora shared a look, and the gerudo waved until she lost sight of the cart as it disappeared into the canyon path.

The ride back to the farm was silent, Aeris spent most of the time watching the rock walls, and thinking of the young king. Wondering what could possibly be making him so sad. When they finally made it back to their small farm as the sun was setting, her father greeted both of them with a kiss, and then disappeared into the barn with the cart and Go-Go in tow.

It took her until she was laying in bed that night to make up her mind on what to do about the sad boy king.

The next month she went with her mother back to the fortress on her trade route, with a brand new wooden horse and knight in her bag, determined to give it to the boy, to see him smile at least once.

He never came.

The toy stayed in her bag for years, until her mother finally made her take it out to make room for more important things, Ahia hadn't understood when Aeris had cried over the wooden figures.

Aeris hadn't understood what could have been more important than making him smile.

Just once.

That's all she asked for.

One smile.