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Palm trees swayed in the arid desert breeze. The only salvation for miles lay in the oasis and the hydromelons thriving around it. After being dragged from his duties as King to go sand seal surfing, Ganondorf was content to lay by the refreshing water with his beloved. The sun warmed his tan skin, the hydromelon cooled him down, and fingers ran tenderly through his long hair. He could wish for nothing better.
And yet, it would all have to come to an end. The sun would begin to set and they would have to surf back home, to the walls of Gerudo town. Then tomorrow, he would have to work even harder to catch up on work missed today. The thought alone set a frown upon his face. Days like this were so rare, and he cherished every second he could, but every time he had to return to reality. How he wished to stay within this moment forever, with no responsibilities, only his beloved, the sun and the water.
Soft lips pressed to his brow, followed soon after by a thumb that smoothed out the wrinkle between his brows. “What is on your mind, my love?”
Ganondorf opened his eyes and peered up at his dearest. Their lap had quickly become his favorite resting place. The perfect pillow for his weary head. When first they began courting, he was worried he would crush them. They were only Hylian, after all. But they had smiled and tugged him down anyway. Now he could not imagine resting anywhere else. And now as he gazed up at them, they were haloed by the sun, as if Hylia had crowned them with a circlet of pure golden light.
They smiled. “You are staring.”
“I cannot help it, dear heart. You look radiant today.”
“You’re avoiding my question.” They leaned down to kiss the bridge of his nose. “Please tell me what has you so upset, Gan.”
He sighed. They watched as the warmth and light in his eyes became tired and worn out. “This moment only lasts so long,” he explained. He turned his head to look out at the water. Sunlight rippled and danced along its surface. The seals rested nearby in a heap, lazily crunching on melons and napping right up against each other. His was almost double the size of his love’s. “Soon we will have to leave, go back home, and return to the real world. Meetings and planning. Politics.”
“And then…” A small hand on his cheek turned his head back to them. There was no judgement on their features. They married into their royal position, even when Ganondorf warned of the hardships that came with it. They understood better than anyone the longing for an escape and rest. “One day, soon enough, we will come back here. And we’ll laugh, and talk, and love - and we will do it over and over and over again, forever. Reality is not the end, my love.”
“How are you so sure?”
“Because we always wind up back here. Sometimes it takes a little longer, but we always come back.”
His features softened. The warmth returned to his eyes, golden as rich tea, with a spoonful of love stirred in. Only in private did he ever look this gentle. They savored every second he did not have to steel himself into the king everyone expected.
“I love you,” he whispered. It was so quiet, the breeze almost swept it away. Every time he said it like he was scared of the words, like saying it aloud would destroy Hyrule.
They smiled, bright and unapologetic. “I love you, too. Forever and always.”
Large fingers carefully cradled the back of their neck, drawing them closer. “Forever and always.”