Her bare feet ached, dirty and cracked by the harsh canyon path, each step she took sent sharp pains up her legs, but she didn't dare stop running. Her mother had told her to not stop for anything until she was safely behind the sandstone walls of the Gerudo Fortress.

But, her lungs burned, each breath was like ragged glass being forced between her ribs. She wanted to scream, to bellow out the molten fire in her chest, but she dared not make a sound any louder than her panting breaths.

Her small body shivered violently, cold seeped down into her bones, and her thin cotton nightdress did little to keep the cold at bay. She was unused to being out in the elements so late at night. When dew clung to everything like a fine mist, even in the arid desert climate.

Aeris wanted nothing more than to sleep, to curl up in the middle of the canyon path and let her exhaustion take her far away. But, she had to keep running.

The bridge couldn't be far. If she just kept running, there would be guards at the bridge, and guards would keep her safe.

The guards would bring her to Urora if she asked, and then they would wait for her mama.

Her mama wouldn't be far behind her.

A sudden squeal tore from her aching lungs as her toe caught the edge of a rock. Her knees hit the stony path first, and pain flared from the broken skin. She tumbled over herself, impacting her shoulder and hip as she sprawled across the damp, dusty road. A burning broken sob wracked her body as fresh tears fell down her cheeks, she was alone and in pain. Lost in the dark, unsure of the way forward.

Everything hurt as she rocked to her skinned knees, hiccuping as she desperately drew air into her lungs. She rubbed her eyes, smudging her face with dirt and soot, but froze, hands trembling as she realized that she was empty-handed.

The Gerudo Slip was gone.

The slip of cloth embossed with the Gerudo crest was nowhere to be found. Lost when she had fallen somewhere on the empty, dark path.

She scrambled, using her hands to feel the dirt around her, it was too dark, she could barely see even with the faint moonlight that filtered through the dense clouds above her. Panicking, she spun on her skinned knees to feel the path behind her, ignoring the pain that flared as she did.

She needed the slip, she wouldn't be allowed into the fortress without it. What would she do then? Where would she go?

She didn't have anyone else.

She started sobbing harder, as she searched the darkened path with her hands. Blindly brushing her fingers along the ground, desperately hoping to find her ticket to safety. Her fingers were growing numb and her vision blurred, until with trembling hands she brushed a scrap of fabric.

She snatched up the cloth, and relief washed over her as a leather cord tapped against her arm in the darkness. Still, she squinted in the darkness, needing to be absolutely sure that what she was holding was her ticket forward. She turned to the moon, letting its light shine on the cloth.

A trembling smile spread across her face, as the light illuminated the scrap.

It was, dirty and blurred, but there it was inked in red on the cloth was the all too familiar sigil.

Her relief was short-lived, though, as a twig somewhere in the darkness snapped. Sending an icy spike of fear through the girl's heart. She pushed herself up onto her burning, aching feet, and darted down the darkened path once again.

She ran for what felt like several more hours before the outline of the bridge became visible against the night sky, a new burst of energy filled her at the sight of it. She pushed her legs harder, propelling herself even faster across the bridge.

Aeris shrieked when her feet suddenly left the ground, as a strong hand wrapped around the back of her night dress, and hoisted her from her feet.

"Please!" Her whole body shook as she sobbed, the slip of cloth held tightly in her fists for her assailant to see.

"Vehvi?" The familiar voice of Isha came from behind her, and Aeris relaxed, safe. She went limp in the familiar woman's grasp, sobbing quietly as she dangled. "What are you doing here?"

Isha lowered Aeris to the ground, but scooped the girl up into a protective embrace as her legs gave out from under her. She sent her partner, Nali, a worried glance as the state of the child in her arms became evident.

Aeis took a deep shuddering breath. "M…a...mama told me to run…" Another sob wracked her small body, "The barn was on fire and people were trying to break down the door," Sobbed against Isha's arm, unable to say anymore.

The two Gerudo looked to each other, then back to the exhausted child. Aeris was too tired to care when the two exchanged words, in their native tongue. She rested her head against Isha's metal chest plate, finding comfort in the cool metal. She turned toward the two women as she caught two familiar words.

"Koume and Kotake," The two guards continued as Aeris panted softly, trying to catch her breath.

"No, bring her to Urora first, comfort and a friendly face are what she needs right now," The sudden Hylian words made Aeris turn and Nali's stroked her matted black hair. "I'll stay here and cover for you, if anyone asks,"

"Will you wait for my mama?" The two women froze as Aeris, spoke up. Both of them had been sure that the child had been sleeping. "She's supposed to be right behind me,"

Nali's hand paused on Aeris' head, before she ruffled her hair with a soft smile. "Of course, vevhi, I'll wait here for her,"

Isha and Nali shared a knowing look, before Isha turned and began the trek toward the fortress gates.

Aeris stayed mostly quite as she rocked slightly in Isha's grasp, only a few small hiccups left her small form as the weight of her exhaustion finally washed over her completely. "Have you ever met Urora's daughter?"

Aeris looked up at the woman carrying her, blinking slowly at Isha's sudden words. "Urora has a daughter?"

In all the years that her Mother and Urora had been friends, Aeris had never heard of a daughter. Not that she had ever paid very much attention to the talk between the two grown-ups.

Isha nodded, and gave the girl a soft smile. "Yes, Nabooru," Aeris pondered the name, and came to the conclusion that she had never heard it before. "She's a few years older than you, but I'm sure that the two of you will get along just fine,"

Aeris hummed softly, but furrowed her brows, unsure why she would need to get along with the older girl. Not when her mama would be there any second to get her.

Aeris turned her attention to the fortress as Isha lapsed back into silence. She had never been inside the walls after dark before, and was surprised by how empty it seemed. During the day it was always busy, with women bustling back and forth, talking and laughing throughout the day. But, at night, the walls were dark and empty except for a few guards that kept their usual patrols.

Isha quickly crossed the open courtyard, and passed into the fortress itself, and Aeris lifted her head. She had never been inside the walls, before, and she marveled sleepily at the interior as she took it in for the first time.

The limestone walls were adorned with various brightly woven tapestries, and strange animals skulls decorated with feathers. They passed darkened doorways, either covered with a cloth or shut with an intricately painted wooden door. A single guard crossed their path, and Aeris buried her face into Isha's side as the two women exchanged words.

She didn't emerge again, until Isha halted in front of a brightly painted door, and shifted Aeris into one arm to rap her knuckles against the pale wood. Several moments passed with no sound coming from behind the door. Isha rapped her knuckles against the door, harsher this time, more urgently.

Isha tapped her toes as more time passed, with nothing from beyond the door. Impatient, the woman raised her hand to knock a third time, but halted when a crash sounded beyond the painted wood, followed by a string of Gerudo curses.

The door swung open, revealing a very disgruntled Urora, her hair fell in curls around her shoulders, and Aeris realized for the first time that she had never seen the woman's hair free from its usual head wrap. Urora's gaze was sharp as she barked out something in husky Gerudo.

Then her face fell, as she noticed Aeris cradled against Isha's chest. "What in Din's name happened?"

Aeris hiccuped, fighting back new tears as Urora reached for her and Isha passed her into the other woman's arms. "Rora,"

Urora's arms wrapped around Aeris, holding the child close as she trembled. The two women exchanged panicked words that the girl didn't understand, but she was relieved to be held in familiar arms.

Urora turned and nodded for Isha to follow her into the doorway. Aeris could barely keep her eyes open as the two women continued their conversation.

The room behind the door was cozy, a fire was burning low in a fireplace carved into the limestone wall, the smoke from it curled upward into a chimney carved into the ceiling. A low couch covered in colorful blankets sat against the far wall, and a table and four chairs made from ash-colored wood sat in the center of the room.

Aeris blinked half lidded eyes as she was sat on the couch, and was wrapped in one of the beautiful blankets that was draped across the back of it. She was vaguely aware of Isha and Urora's continued conversation as she drifted into a fitful sleep.

- - ┈┈∘┈˃̶༒˂̶┈∘┈┈ - -

Aeris woke hours later to the sound of raised voices. She shifted uncomfortably, as her sore limbs protested at the slightest movement.

"She's not a Goddess damned spy!" Aeris froze as Urora's voice barked out in Gerudo. Her usual calm demeanor was long gone, and Aeris shank back. She had never heard Urora's voice deviate from the usual gruff, but motherly tone she usually carried.

"I know that Urora, Koume and Kotake just want to speak to her," Isha held out her hands in an attempt to calm the other woman, or to possibly deflect any blows thrown her way.

Aeris looked from Urora to Isha as the pair squared off. She had only recognized the names that had been said, and once again Koume and Kotake and been brought up. She wasn't sure, why the pair of twins kept being mentioned, but by the tone in Urora's voice it couldn't have been good.

"Absolutely not, I'll be damned if I let those WITCHES anywhere near her, not now and not ever!" There was a venom to Urora's voice as she practically spit around a particular word, and her hands balled into fists.

Aeris went unnoticed by both women as she sat up, taking in her surroundings, unclouded by the haze of exhaustion. The home she was in was warm, and well lived, with signs of life and love scattered about the main room. But, the warm environment was being cut by tension that rolled off of the two women at the center of the room.

Urora and Isha stood on either side of the kitchen table, glaring at each other. Urora's hands were crossed firmly across her chest, she looked more put together than she had when Aeris had fallen asleep. Her hair was once again wrapped in its usual pink and orange cloth, but there were bags under her eyes, and she looked as if she had been crying at some point while Aeris slept.

But, standing to the side of the two bristling women, was a girl that Aeris had never seen before. She remembered that Isha had mentioned Urora having a daughter, but Aeris found herself thinking that this girl didn't look very much like Urora. They did resemble each other in the way that all the Gerudo resembled each other, but the girl's nose was straighter than Urora's and her eyes were more angular, with a mischievous glint to them.

Those golden eyes passed over the couch, and Aeris found something oddly familiar about them. But, the girl paused, and Aeris shank away from her gaze. The two girls blinked silently at each other for a moment before the older girl leaned toward Urora.

"Uh, Vatta," The girl looked from Urora back to Aeris as if she was checking to make sure she was still there.

"Not now, Nabooru," Urora snapped something at the girl, not letting her gaze leave Isha and their test of wills.

The girl, Nabooru, rolled her eyes and gave Aeris a blank look. "Mom, she's awake,"

Urora and Isha both turned toward Aeris abruptly, and the girl shrank back even further into the couch. Urora's gaze softened as she crossed the room toward her, and settled on the couch next to her. "Did you sleep well, darling?"

Aeris nodded softly, suddenly unsure of all the eyes on her. "Did mama ever make it?"

Somewhere deep down Aeris knew the answer to her question, Ahia's absence was enough, but she couldn't make herself believe it.

Urora's gaze softened as she tucked a piece of Aeris's hair behind her ear. "I haven't been to speak with Nali yet, but as soon as I hear anything I will let you know,"

"Aeris, do you feel up to speaking about what happened?" Isha stepped forward and Urora shot her a withering glare. "Koume and Kotake would like to speak to you,"

Urora shot to her feet and the two women began bickering in Gerudo once again. Nabooru, rolled her eyes at the two women and threw her hands up in exacerbation. She moved from her place across the kitchen, and made her way toward a beaded curtain that separated the room they were in from another.

She stopped short of the curtain, and turned to Aeris. "Good luck with those two, kid," Then she was gone, leaving only the clacking of beads in her wake.

Aeris watched wide-eyed as Urora and Isha continued arguing. Urora looked as if she would leap over the table at any moment, and Isha stood ready to meet her.

"I… I don't mind," Aeris meekly tried to answer Isha's question, but her voice was drowned by raised voices.

"I said I don't mind," She tried, and went unheard again.

She took a deep breath and gripped the hem of her tattered nightgown. "I SAID!" Her voice reverberated through the room, and both Gerudo snapped their attention toward Aeris, eyes wide.

Nabooru was cackling in the other room as Aeris meekly repeated herself. "I don't mind,"

Isha laughed lightly as she turned toward Urora. "The little one has some bite to her,"

Urora deflated, but nodded. "If you're sure that you feel up to it," She turned to Isha and sighed. "If they do anything to her, it's on your head,"

The fortress was still eerily silent as they made their way through the halls, Aeris held herself as close to Urora as she could, following closely behind Isha as she guided them through the empty rooms of the fortress until they came to a stop in front of a door that was larger than every other they had passed so far.

Isha and Urora paused before the door and shared a tentative look before Isha stepped through the threshold into the room beyond. There was a pause, then muffled voices before Isha reappeared, and nodded toward Aeris. "They are ready for you, vehvi,"

Urora nodded and took Aeris's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "Together,"

Aeris smiled softly, and squeezed Urora's hand, thankful for her kindness.

Two women, that Aeris remembered ever so vividly, were waiting for them beyond the door. In a room that looked like it was for meetings with a large group of people. A long sandstone table sat against the far wall, with eight low stools with pillows on top of them, and one larger more ornate chair placed in the middle.

The twins stood side by side, leaned against either side of the central chair, staring intently as Aeris and Urora entered the room. They looked almost exactly as Aeris remembered them, though slightly older, with crows feet forming at the corners of their eyes.

Aeris found herself glancing about the room, from behind Urora, happening for some slim chance of seeing the boy that took up so many of her thoughts. But, said boy king was nowhere to be seen.

The twin dressed in black with blue accents to her clothing and accessories stepped forward and spoke with a voice that sent chills down Aeris's spine. "So this is the little Hylian vai?"

The other twin, this one in black and red, followed suit, with a voice that crackled like fire. "So, it would appear sister,"

The pair turned their gaze toward Aeris, and she shrank back behind Urora's legs in an attempt to make herself as small as possible. "Tell us, little vai, what brings you to our home?"

Aeris stood frozen under their gaze, somehow both burning hot and icy cold, unable to answer.

"What's the matter, little vai?" Aeris's breath caught in her chest as icy eyes settled on her.

"I think that we've made her nervous, sister," Heat roared to life in Aeris's cheeks and the tips of her ears.

"No, matter," The two women surged forward, and Urora stepped forward only to find herself behind Aeris, instead of shielding her from the twins. "We will get the information we seek,"

Aeris was frozen in fear as the twins leaned toward her in eerie synchronicity. She was barely aware of Urora reaching for her, her name silent on her lips, as the twins each laid a hand on her cheeks.

One burned like fire, and the other chilled like ice.

The air stuck in her lungs as her entire life flashed before her eyes. Her first memories, her first steps, and words left her unable to breathe. Somewhere in the distance Go-Go bleated as her mother and father looked down on her just out of reach. She could feel the heat from her first visit to the fortress, and sad golden eyes that plagued her dreams.

Then her mother screamed, and she smelled smoke and hot metal as the barn roof caved in.

Tears leaked from her eyes, as air rushed into her lungs, and the twins stepped away from her, seemingly satisfied.

"What the hell was that?" Urora's arms wrapped around Aeris, lifting her from the ground as she sobbed quietly.

"Not a spy then," Koume seemed almost disappointed as she turned to her sister.

"But still a problem,"

Urora continued barking at the twins, but her curses fell on deaf ears, as the pair completely disregarded the chaos they had called. "What to do with her?"

"Send her back to Hyrule, if the Hylian buffoon of a king discovers that she is here," Koume and Kotake turned toward Aeris.

"Absolutely not!" Urora lowered Aeris to the ground, and turned to face Koume and Kotake. "You cannot send a child alone across a country in the throes of a civil war!"

Aeris moved on trembling feet, still disoriented from the intrusion into her mind, and unable to understand the words being thrown across the room. She made her way out of the room, only to collapse against the wall beyond, with tears streaming down her face.

She knew that her parents were gone, that everything she had known her entire life was gone. She would never see her home again, would never feel Go-Go's fur in her hands, and she would never feel her mother's arms around her.

Some part of her hoped if she kept asking they would come back, but she knew deep in her heart, it wouldn't happen. She didn't know anyone in Hyrule, what would she do if they sent her to Castle Town? Could she even make it there on her own?

"Are you alright?" Aeris jerked her head up and met golden eyes.

Her jaw dropped as she looked up at the Gerudo king. He wore loose cream-colored clothes with no jewelry or adornments, and his hair was pulled into a low ponytail with a simple leather band.

"Your…" The boy stumbled, clearly not sure of what word to use. "Vatta, is the hylian vai that comes to market, is she not?"

He lowered himself to her level, with his elbows propped on his knees.

"You're the king," Aeris's voice was barely a whisper as she quickly wiped her eyes in an attempt to make herself presentable.

The boy's eyes darkened for a moment before he sighed. "Yes, but do you require a king or a friend?"

Aeris shifted uncomfortably as he sat next to her against the wall. She had spent so many years thinking of what she would say to him, if they ever met, and here he was offering her a shoulder in her time of need, but she couldn't find the words to say.

So she nodded.

"I will take that as a request for a friend," He stared at the wall across from them for a moment. "I can hear my mother's in the council room yelling," He turned to her. "Are they the problem?"

He stiffened as Aeris collapsed against him, wracked by broken sobs. Between gasping breaths, she managed to tell him everything that had happened, and he tentatively wrapped an arm around her.

"I cannot bring your parents back, but I can fix something," Her used the arm around her to help lift her to her feet, and wiped away her tears. "Come,"

He led her back into the council room, and cleared his throat as they crossed the threshold.

"Ganondorf!" Koume and Kotake turned abruptly as they entered, and Urora averted her gaze. "My King!"

Ganondorf nodded toward Urora, and pushed Aeris sending her into waiting arms. Her throat was raw, and she buried her face into Urora's legs.

"Did we not tell you to stay in your chambers?" Koume and Kotake darkened their gazes as they addressed Ganondorf in Gerudo.

"Did you not just tell me that it was time for me to start behaving as a king and not a child?" Koume and Kotake pulled away, taken aback but the boy's sudden boldness.

"She stays here," Urora's grip on Aeris's back tightened as Ganondorf spoke. "We have no way of knowing who burned her farm, and it is far too dangerous to send her across Hyrule in the mists of a war,"

"So she stays, by my order," Aeris stared as Ganondorf rose to his full height and set his shoulders, appearing far older than his twelve years.

Koume and Kotake balked, but nodded. "Of course," They bowed low in unison. "My king,"

Ganondorf, turned and gave Aeris a soft wavering smile, before he turned and left the room quite in his wake.

"She will stay with me," Urora lifted Aeris into her arms, after a tense moment had passed. "It is what Ahia would have wanted,"

"Yes, you do have a penchant for taking in unwanted daughters," Aeris couldn't tell if it was Koume or Kotake, but their voice was dripping with malice as Urora turned from them.

"Someone has to," Urora shot one final glance over her shoulder toward the two women, before she ducked through the door.

They moved in silence as Urora carried Aeris toward her home.

Aeris watched as the walls passed, and understood that this was her new home.

Here she would be safe