Queen of the Banished

What are you doing? Ganon’s voice rumbled through his head. Ganondorf made his way into the dungeon, through the full upper levels to the very bottom where Rabia’s friends were locked up. The boy, Gunner, sat up when he pushed the cell block door open, though the older man stayed where he was lounging in the corner and offered Ganondorf a lazy salute. Ganondorf looked at them thoughtfully.

“You two broke into the castle, but… I think you’ve been punished enough.”

What are you doing?! Ganon demanded again. He ignored the voice and unlocked the cell, then stepped aside. The boy, Gunner, stared at him suspiciously and made no move to leave.

“What are you playing at?” he demanded. The man pushed himself up and stretched.

“Well, if you’re not gonna leave, I am,” he said. He sauntered out the door and waved goodbye to the kid. Ganondorf waited, eyebrow raised.

“Well?” he asked. Gunner frowned. Ganondorf sighed.

“You were looking out for her,” he said. “Leave, before I change my mind.” Gunner nodded once, then made his way out of the dungeon.

What did you do that for?! Ganon demanded once their footsteps had faded away.

“It’s part of my plan to distract Rabia. It’ll be fine.”



“Ganondorf!” Rabia called in a panic. Her voice echoed up the cold stone stairway of the dungeon as she hurried up at as fast a pace she could manage while carrying Zaide. He ran to the steps as she reached the top, gasping for breath.

“Rabia? Are you alright?” he asked, looking from her to Zaide and back again, as if expecting one of them to be injured.

“Where did you move my friends?” she asked, eyes simmering with rage.

“Your friends? Oh! I thought I told you - I let them go,” Ganondorf said. “They broke into the castle but… they didn’t actually do anything wrong.”

“...I need to go see them,” Rabia said. His eyes, ringed in red, earned him no trust from her. “Now.”

“Of course, dearest. Why don’t you and Sheik go into Castle Town together? I have some work to get done, and I’m sure your parents would love to meet the baby,” he suggested. He smiled when Zaide cooed in Rabia’s arms and the reddish hue to his eyes faded for a moment.

“You mean it?” Rabia asked. Ganondorf nodded.

“Of course I do,” he said. “You’re not a prisoner here, Rabia,” he frowned. “I hope I haven’t made you feel that way. Actually,” he rubbed his beard. “I’m going to be pretty busy this week with work. Why don’t you go see them for a couple days?” Rabia smiled at him brilliantly.

“I’ll go tell Sheik!” she started off down the hallway.

“I’ll have your bags packed and send word to your parents,” Ganondorf called to her retreating back.

“Okay!” Ganondorf watched her as she rounded the corner.

Good… with her out of the way we can finally get to work.



Sheik and Rabia made their way through the Castle Town streets, Sheik carrying their bags, and Rabia carrying Zaide. It wasn’t long until they reached the Hudson family mansion, but before they’d even opened the front gate the door was flung open.

“Rabia!” Rob came sprinting down the walkway and pulled the gate open to embrace
her.

“Oh, careful!” Rabia said, pulling back so he wouldn’t squish Zaide.

“Is this him?” Rob asked, peeking into the blanket bundle in her arms. Zaide gurgled. Rob gasped and took him from her arms. “He’s so precious!” he cooed. He handed Zaide back to Rabia. “It’s cold out here, let's get you guys inside.” He took the bags from Sheik and ushered them into the warm house.

“Sissy, sissy, sissyyyy!” Lance and Chase ran over and hugged Rabia’s legs, jabbering at her excitedly. Rob shook his head in amusement and headed upstairs with the bags as Rabia and Sheik shucked off their cloaks and shoes.

“Hey guys,” Rabia smiled at the two boys attached at her hips. “Want to meet your nephew?” she asked. She knelt down so the two boys could peek over her shoulders.

“Were we ever that tiny?” Lance asked, eyes wide. Chase reached over to touch Zaide’s hand. Zaide latched onto his finger and yawned.

“Yep, you were,” Rabia said. “Before you turned into little terrors, anyway.” She straightened. The boys ran off excitedly, and Rabia led Sheik to the living room. As they crossed the threshold, Petra snuck Zaide out of Rabia’s arms to coo at him as Saul pulled Rabia into his.

“I’m so glad you’re safe,” he said as he hugged her tight.

“Hi, dad.” She hugged him back just as tight as her brothers ran around their legs, screaming. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too,” he said.



As soon as Rabia left, Ganondorf’s demeanor changed. A strange, unearthly darkness seemed to shroud him as he strode through the castle hallways. Everyone he passed stepped aside quickly as they saw him coming, avoiding eye contact. He made his way to the training grounds where Kamilah and Nabooru were going through training regimes with the few Gerudo remaining in Castle Town. They stopped as he approached and bowed.

“My King,” Nabooru greeted, crossing a fist over her chest. “What can I do for you?”

“I want you and Kamilah to round everyone up and send them back to the desert. The two of you are to remain here,” he said.

“Are you certain?” Nabooru frowned. “We’ve been training them for weeks an-”

“Do not question me,” he snapped. She bowed deeply again.

“Yes, my King.” She straightened and turned to the trainees gathered there. “You heard him!” she said sharply. The women scattered. She waited for them to leave, then turned back to him. “What are we to do when Link comes?” she asked, voice low.

“I have a larger, more dispensable army for this fight,” Ganondorf said.

“The moblins,” Kamilah said softly. He nodded to her, then turned on his heel. They fell into step beside him, though Kamilah did so more hesitantly than Nabooru.

“Gather them up and have them take over the shifts of the guards. When Link and Zelda return, we’ll be ready.”