The Gerudo Troop began gathering supplies in Castle Town for the remainder of their long journey. They still had to travel first to the Kokiri region, then Death Mountain to discuss with the Gorons, and finally to the Zoras. Each piece of this journey depended upon the others, and any broken link would destroy the outcome.
They quickly realized that most Hylian vendors were disingenuous when selling to Gerudo. While some would outright refuse to trade, most would cast watchful eyes over the entire group. Ganondorf was not quick to envy or anger, but it did wear on him to constantly hear his guards belittled in front of him, before being belittled himself. "What a beautiful set of guards you have, you dog you!" "The King of the Gerudo, what are you doing in Castle Town? Finally tired of playing in that hot, good-for-nothing desert you all come from?!" "Wait, are they your guards or harem? One Gerudo male every 100 years you say? Man you don't even have to share!" "Why are you folks out here this way? I much prefer the Hylian mannerisms to the ways of you desert people. The desert has made you all savages I say!" This last one was from a Zora, hinting to Ganondorf that the distrust of Gerudo was not simply limited to the Hylians who stood to gain from making the Gerudo inferior. Other races had joined in on the side of the Hylians. It was only self-interest. If the Hylians had access to the power of the Kingdom, then why not align with them? The Gerudo had a long journey to return to the good graces of the rest of the races of Hyrule.
As all trouble foreigners in a land do, they sought out their own. While outwardly pretending to scorn the Gerudo troop just like the other vendors, the Gerudo shopkeepers would invite them back into their private section and give gifts of support.
Ganondorf felt the pride of the Gerudo well within him. "It warms my heart to see you here with your shop, making your living. Do you make it back to the valley often?" Ganondorf asked.
The dark-skinned shopkeeper cast her gaze down, looking up at him from her bowed head. "My King, you know my family. I don't know if you remember but we met when you were just a boy. My aunt helped train you in the early history of the Gerudo. But we could not take another year in the Valley. We left a decade ago and have never looked back. I pity those who stay there. The dry conditions and heat make us strong, but I am tired of being strong. Here I eat well, my kids are growing, and I have found a husband. He is a Hylian, a bit lazy for my taste but with so much abundance around me, his laziness doesn't affect me too much."
"How quickly things change. It is wise of you to adapt though. No use living the way of the desert in the heart of the kingdom. I wish we Gerudo could have such riches. I feel we could use them more appropriately than the excess I see her. So many games, so much money flying around. People hide rupees under rocks and inside pots, and then kids run around smashing them and taking the money. I understand that the kids from the other environments have to make a living somehow. Yet it does not bother the adults. To live such carefree lives; I find my mind growing envious."
Just then, a small Hylian child, but wearing the Kokiri tunic, came running through the store. He began to pick up pots and shake them around, listening for the rupees the Hylians seemed to hide exclusively in the clay pots they all owned.
The shopkeeper shouted at him, first in Gerudo slang, then remembering that this would mean nothing to a Hylian boy. "What are you doing? We don't hide our money in pots! I keep it in a safe! Get out of here! Go bother some other shopkeeper. You're the fifth kid this week to try my pots! I cook with those! We store our desert fruit in these pots. Unless you want a cactus plum, be gone!"
The boy looked startled, then set the pot down. Ganondorf felt for the boy. He looked alone and abandoned. He wondered if the boy was an orphan? He could barely manage to keep the Gerudo together, and could offer the boy nothing more than his well wishes. "Hi my boy, what is your name? Are you from Castle Town? Would you like to try some dried meat from the Gerudo? It's our specialty, I hope you don't mind some spice with your food. You Hylians don't add much to your meat or potatoes; we Gerudo have access to a whole culinary spectrum that would amaze you."
The boy grabbed a small piece and ate it gratefully. He looked up at Ganondorf with his big eyes, and smiled gratefully. "Link," the boy said timidly. "My name is Link. I live in the Kokiri forest with the Great Deku Tree."
Ganondorf smiled back at him. "What a coincidence! We are traveling to see your friend then! I want to ask a favor of the Great Deku Tree, and offer Gerudo jewelry and other services in return. Would you like to travel back home with us?"
"I'm here to see the princess!" Link bragged. His chest puffed out; it was cute for the boy. He seemed to have a brash sort of confidence.
Ganondorf nodded. "Hmm, let us trade places then. We just met with the Hylian King, and his daughter is quite friendly. I hope you get to see her." With that, the boy turned and strode out, confident in his ability to address the King of Hyrule after addressing the Gerudo King.
The head guard turned Ganondorf away. "We have spent enough time here, again I urge us to continue the journey. The Valley awaits your return." She bit her lip, looked away, then returned her gaze to Ganondorf. "It may be for some Gerudo to find their way out of the valley, but you are our king. The burden of responsibility rests upon you. While others see it as the mantle of power, we know it for what it is: you owe your life to your people, and I owe my life to protecting you. I don't feel good in this town, we should leave soon."
They gathered some warm clothes for the trip to Kokiri forest and set off for the Great Deku Tree, bidding the generous Gerudo shopkeeper farewell just as her husband walked back from the carnival. "Honey, you'll never believe it! The Gerudo King is here! Did you see him? What a sorry lot they make, I'm so glad you made it out of the Valley to meet me. You must thank whatever god you worship every day that you are out of that hellhole."
The Gerudo couldn't help but tense at the conversation. Ganondorf cast one last glance at the shopkeeper. Her head was up, but her eyes were looking out into the world. Maybe looking for a last trace from Gerudo Valley, a sign she had made the right choice. All he could think is that at the time, it seemed she had. We can all become the victim of hindsight, imagining we would have known then what we know now. But in that moment, she had chosen right. He knew it unfortunately. Nabeela, that was her aunt's name. She had met the shopkeeper before, even if he couldn't remember her name. He wished to Nayru that she would continue to feel peace despite the troubles of her life so far. And that one day, Gerudo Valley would be green and rich enough for her to choose to return, with or without her husband.