Sequel: A King and A Girl

A Hidden Kindness

(it's easy) Being With You

2699 words

Sunday, Early Morning

Rabia arrived in Gerudo Valley early in the morning, while it was still dark. During the ride, she had stripped off her warm layers for the summer clothes underneath. There were women bustling about, finishing up preparations for the celebration. She dismounted Duke and cautiously approached the guards posted outside the valley.

“State your business,” the first one said as she brandished her spear at Rabia.

“I’m here for Ganondorf’s birthday party,” she said. “He invited me.”

“The king invited an outsider to a traditional celebration?” she raised an eyebrow. “Name?”

“Rabia.” There was a silence.

“VésΛeλu, va Tif sakt néž nasu(1)!"

“Ša, Aveil(2)," The second guard hurried off. Rabia chewed her lip while the guard, Aveil, regarded her suspiciously. The guard returned shortly with a grumpy looking Ganondorf.

“Kaf d as bi hi ü, Aveil? Ha’as ze-ti nævu va must i(3)...” he grumbled as he followed her. When he caught sight of Rabia, his face split into a huge smile. “X! Rabia, e’ata ti saλa b’af ž i no(4)!” He pulled her into a hug.

“Um… what?” she asked. He chuckled.

“Right, sorry. I’m glad you’re here,” he kissed her lips sweetly. Rabia smiled.

“Did you really think I’d miss your birthday?”

“No,” he stifled a yawn. “But you arrived a little early,” he said. He noticed her shivering and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go inside. It’s freezing out here at night,” he said. “VésΛeλu, va λìstr kada ho(5),” he called back to the guards. He pulled Rabia towards his home next to the fortress. “I’m sorry they made you wait outside,” he said to her as he led her upstairs. He closed the bedroom door behind them and stripped off his shirt before climbing back into bed. Rabia blushed and looked away. After a minute, Ganondorf opened his eyes again and looked at her. “Are you coming?” he asked.

“Yes, yeah, I’ll just… change first,” she said.

“Hmmkay,” he yawned. She set her bags down, grabbed some pajamas and started to change.

“Well don’t watch!” she said. She covered herself with her shirt when she realized he was still looking. Ganondorf sat up, frowning.

“What happened to your arm?”

“My arm? Oh, I bumped into a door,” she shrugged. He stood and walked over to her.

“A hand-shaped door?” he asked.

“Apparently.” Rabia pulled on a tank top quickly. “Weren’t you tired?” Ganondorf sat her down on the bed.

“Wait here for a minute,” he said. He walked into the adjoining bathroom and searched through cabinets, then came back with a jar of salve and some gauze. He sat beside her on the bed and gently rubbed some of the salve onto the bruise before covering it. “That should help,” he said. He tilted her chin up and kissed her again, then climbed back into bed. He pulled her close and buried his face in her hair. “Goodnight,” he mumbled. Rabia smiled to herself and the two fell asleep.

~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~


“Rabia… Rabia, it’s time to wake up,” Ganondorf said. Rabia wrinkled her nose and wrapped her arm tighter around his midsection.

“Mmmno…” she mumbled. Ganondorf let out a laugh that Rabia felt more than she heard. It rumbled through his chest, a warm, purring sound that made Rabia think of a dragon. His big hand swept up her back.

“Come on, it’s time for breakfast,” he said, amused. She pressed her face into his shoulder and ignored him. Her breathing evened out as she began to doze. “Alright, you asked for it.” Suddenly, the world around her tilted and Rabia let out a shriek. She gripped onto Ganondorf’s shoulders as he lifted her into his arms, bridal style.

“Ganondorf!” She glared at him tiredly and he let out another rumbling laugh.

“Well, now that you’re awake, you might as well get ready for the day,” he smirked at her. She let out a grumpy huff and threw a pillow at him. She stalked into the bathroom, pouting as he chuckled behind her. Ganondorf showered after her, and came back into the room to Rabia anxiously digging through her bag, hair still wrapped in a towel.

“Shit, shit, shit!” She said. “I forgot my hair straightener! I’m gonna look like a poodle…” Ganondorf laughed.

“I doubt that, Rabia. Come on, we’re going to be late for breakfast.” He offered her a hand and pulled her up, then took the towel off her head and bounced one of the curls spiraling around her shoulders. “See? Great.” He led her out of his house and towards the fortress, where the women had gathered for breakfast. Rabia pressed herself close to Ganondorf’s side. They seemed to turn heads and women lowered their voices to whispers as they passed.

“Why are they looking at us like that?” she whispered to Ganondorf as they walked. He quirked a smile.

“Don’t worry about it, sa mewadaλa(6),” he said as he sat down with her across from a familiar looking Gerudo. After a moment, it clicked - the guard from last night. “Da must i(7), Aveil,” Ganondorf greeted her.

“Da must i(7),” she replied. She gave Rabia another mistrustful glance. A look passed between her and Ganondorf before she turned to Rabia. “Rabia, how come we’ve never met before? I thought I knew all the Gerudo,” she asked. Rabia blinked, confused.

“What? I’m not-” she started, but broke off when Aveil started giggling. “What?”

“Nothing,” she said. “Opri ìλ šan ji nr a as’müs, aš opri ìλ(8)?” Aveil directed at Ganondorf. Rabia wasn’t sure exactly what Aveil had said, but she knew it was an insult. Ganondorf glared at Aveil, so she turned her attention back to her food, still giggling to herself. Rabia peered between the two, but said nothing. The woman beside Aveil munched on her own food and stared at Rabia with a frown. She glanced at Ganondorf curiously.

“Gx aš ra(9)?” the girl asked. Aveil poked at her food, a mean smile on her face.

“Daék pr ì λ Ti Ganondorf’s. Op’as éša I va Zelda’s (10),” she remarked. The other girl froze and stared at Rabia with her eyebrows raised high. The table became uncomfortably silent. Ganondorf held Rabia’s hand tight under the table.

“Well I’m really glad you came out here for the week, Rabia. There are some places I’d like to take you this morning if you’re okay with that.” He ignored the girls staring at them, though Rabia’s eyes flicked between them. They finished their meals quickly, and as they stood to leave Aveil gave them a snarky wave.

“Nice to see you again, fano[/](11),” she said. Ganondorf glowered at her.

“Keep talking Aveil, I’ll have you locked away with Nabooru for good,” he growled. Rabia gently tugged on his hand.

“It’s fine, Ganondorf,” she sighed.

“No no, it’s okay, Rabia. I’d rather be around Nabooru anyway. At least I know where her loyalties lie,” Aveil added. Ganondorf leaned over the table threateningly.

“Do not talk to me about loyalties. Nabooru is loyal to no one.” With that, he pulled Rabia away and left the fortress. Rabia was quiet as they walked.

“Where are we going?” she asked after a while, looking around. There seemed to be more women and children in the direction they were walking, even though they had just come from the fortress. Ganondorf smiled.

“I thought you’d like to see the oasis. It’s a nice place to go swimming.”

“Swimming? I didn’t bring anything to swim in,” Rabia answered. He looked at her, confused.

“What do you mean?” He led her down a well-worn path to the oasis.

“I… didn’t bring a bathing suit,” she said. Children were running around the oasis, laughing and screaming while their mothers, aunts and older sisters sunbathed. Rabia blushed.

“I have no idea what that is,” Ganondorf said.

“I can see that!” Rabia squeaked as she ducked behind him. Most of the women milling about were nude, except for a few. Ganondorf took his cape off and spread it out on the sand, then started stripping off his clothes. Rabia blushed darker, if that was even possible. He glanced over at her and started laughing.

“Do the Hylians really wear clothes while they’re swimming? Do they do it while they’re bathing, too?” He snorted.

“Don’t be silly, of course not,” she said. “It’s just a modesty thing I guess? I mean, there’s usually more than one guy around, and some of them are creeps…” Ganondorf glanced around.

“Well, I’m the only guy here. But do whatever makes you comfortable,” he said as he folded his clothes into a neat pile atop his cape. Rabia followed him into the water as-is and stopped once the water reached her knees so her shorts wouldn’t get wet. The water was very clear, and she could see all the way down to her feet. She smiled to herself as she squished the sand between her toes. Ganondorf swept her up into his arms as he lumbered deeper into the water.

“Ganondorf!” Rabia clung to his shoulders. “NO, no, don’t you dare!” She shrieked as he dropped her into the water with a splash. She stood up, and shook out her hair, glaring at him while trying not to laugh. “You know… that’s not very nice!” She splashed him.

“Well, it didn’t look like you were getting in the water any time soon,” he reasoned, splashing her back. She laughed.

“Hey!!” She splashed him back again, resulting in a splash war between the two of them. They spent the day at the oasis, laughing and having fun in the water. If they noticed the looks they were getting, they didn’t care. The sun was starting to set when they decided to head back. Ganondorf pulled on his clothes, shook out his cape, and wrapped it around Rabia’s shoulders.

“You’re soaked,” he said to her with a grin.

“And whose fault is that?” She poked his stomach gently and leaned against his side as they walked. He responded with a booming laugh. When they returned to the fortress, a campfire had been started. There was food set up outside, and women were playing music and dancing around the campfire. Ganondorf sat down close to the fire and pulled Rabia onto his lap. The women sitting closest to them leaned together and started whispering to each other while Ganondorf had a servant bring some food over. He accepted the plate and thanked her, then offered it to Rabia, but she was too interested in watching the dancers to notice.

“So… I noticed you brought your flute with you,” he said once the song had finished, offering her the food again. She took a bite and winked at him.

“I might have…” she said, taking another bite. “I seem to remember a certain somebody asked me to play for him again.” Ganondorf hummed thoughtfully.

“I wonder who that was,” he said. Rabia laughed. “I’ll have someone go get it.” He turned to a servant with dark red hair and sent her inside.

“Ganondorf, I could’ve gotten it,” she said.

“No, no, I think you should play guitar for me while we wait. That’s the only instrument I haven’t heard you play yet,” he said to her. “I’m sure one of these lovely ladies will loan you one for a song.”

“Oh, goddesses, Ganondorf no…” Someone handed a guitar to her and she sighed. “I’m so bad at guitar. You’re going to dump me after this, I can feel it.” Ganondorf chuckled.

“I highly doubt that, Rabia. Come on, it’s my birthday. Play me a song,” he said. Rabia sighed.

“Okay. You asked for it.” She took a minute to decide on a song, then started playing. About halfway through the verse, he nudged her. “I - what?” She stopped and looked at him.

“Are there any words to this song?” He looked amused.

“... no. None. Nope. Just chords.”

“You are the worst liar,” he was laughing. She rolled her eyes resumed playing.

“We’re a thousand miles from comfort, we have travelled land and sea, but as long as you are with me there’s no place I’d rather be. I would wait forever, exalted in the scene. As long as I am with you, my heart continues to beat…” Her voice wasn’t anything special, but it was pleasant enough to listen to. Once she finished playing, she handed the guitar back.

“You call that awful at guitar?” Ganondorf asked.

“To be fair, it was a lot of easy chords,” she shrugged, then leaned back into his arms. The woman who had loaned her the guitar struck up another song for the dancers. Rabia sat down in the sand beside Ganondorf, pressed up against his side. As the dancers performed, more and more people clustered around the fire in a tight-knit circle, though they left a gap beside Rabia. As the performance ended, the darker-haired Gerudo returned and sat beside Rabia. She handed her the flute case.

“Oh, thank you,” Rabia smiled at her and tucked the case between herself and Ganondorf.

The song ended and the dancers bowed, then joined the circle as well. A hush grew over the crowd as two elderly women stepped into the center of the circle. The red-hair woman raised her hands and the firelight dimmed. Rabia suppressed a shiver and Ganondorf wrapped an arm around her shoulders. The blue-haired women started speaking and her red-haired twin joined in unison, voices rising and falling theatrically. It was clear they were telling a story and judging from the looks on the children’s faces it was a good one, though Rabia was unsure what it was about. The only word she could catch was the occasional mention of Ganondorf’s name. The twins’ voices lulled her into a stupor, and the next thing she knew, she was fast asleep.

~ VAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTTVAATISPURPLEBUTT ~


Rabia opened her eyes and blinked as her eyes adjusted to the darkness around her. She was lying on something rough and scratchy that slipped from underneath her fingers as she pushed herself up - sand. Her movement were slow and languid, like she was under water. She brushed the sand off her hands and tilted her head up towards the sky. There were no clouds, but there were also no stars. Just a dark, inky black that stretched on forever. Her eyes strained in the oppressive blackness for any sign of movement, but there didn’t appear to be anyone else around. The silence pressed down on her ears like a blanket, that was broken by what sounded like a low, muffled voice, that was steadily growing louder.

“Rabia.” She jumped and spun around. All she could see in the darkness were cold, blue eyes looking back at her, too close to be comfortable. She took several hurried steps backwards. “I’ve been waiting for you.” His voice was still muffled, but growing clearer. The speaker grinned with a flash of white, white teeth. A hand grabbed Rabia’s arm roughly and pulled her closer. “Soon you will be mine, forever.” A claw-like finger trailed across her cheek and she screamed, but no noise came out. A deep, evil laugh rolled through the air like a rumble of thunder.


Rabia woke with a gasp and sat up quickly, kicking away the sheets tangled around her ankles. Her arm where the man had grabbed her was burning, but when she looked down, there was only the bruise Finn had left. She let out a shuddering breath, relaxing.

“Rabia…?” Ganondorf mumbled. “Hmm… you okay?” He rolled over onto his back and looked at her with groggy eyes.

“Yeah… yeah, I’m fine. Sorry for waking you,” she said. He yawned and pulled her back into his arms, her head pillowed on his chest. Ganondorf dozed off quickly, but Rabia drifted until she was lulled back into sleep by the sound of his steady and sure heartbeat.
♠ ♠ ♠
All Gerudo language is credited to https://gerudoshikyapril.tumblr.com/ and her amazing website, http://va-eheniv.conlang.org/gerudolang1.html

OCs: Rabia (main character), Veslelu (Gerudo guard), Finn (Rabia's ex)

Translations:
1. Véslelu, go notify the King!
2. Yes, Aveil
3. What do you want, Aveil? It's four in the morning...
4. Oh! Rabia, I'm happy you're here!
5. Véslelu, care for the horse
6. my sandflower - a pet name
7. Good morning
8. She isn't very smart, is she?
9. Who is this?
10. King Ganondorf’s girlfriend. She’s Princess Zelda’s friend
11. traitor