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The running sound of sand fills the cave with a gentle fizzing sound. I t calms her down, eases her mind as she watches the waterfall like sand fall from the top of the cavern to the distant ground. The sand stream crumbling beautifully away as it falls into a current of wind.
Oh how she enjoyed the desert. Visiting her adoptive sisters of the Gerudo was always a highlight for them. Since the defeat of Ganondorf and the Calamity things had begun to stabilize in Hyrule. Zelda though had decided to step down as the princess. After centuries of holding back the calamity, and even more centuries as an immortal dragon…she needed time to truly live. She still had dreams of it all, both good and bad. Dreams of the horrors of the calamity ... .dreams of the cloud and island filled sky ... .dreams of corruption…and dreams of comfort.
As she stared at the falling sand stream at the mouth of the cave she couldn’t help but smile. She had used this cave many many years ago when she was traveling with…her…
Back before she truly knew her,, they had used this cave as a respite from a sandstorm on an envoy assignment from the King. She had chosen this hole in the face of the mountainside overlooking the desert. They could make out the large mountain of Gerudo Town in the far distance, the large stone structure sticking out like the crown jewel of the sands. The view of the setting sun falling behind the towering structure was absolutely gorgeous.
She sat here, alone this time. Her legs pulled to her chest. Her dark black leggings hugged her skin as she curled her bare toes on the rock and sand. Returning to the present hadn’t been the easiest for her. Having to relearn the written word was a challenge even for someone as gifted as her. Having become a different species entirely can take a toll on motor functions and something as simple as writing or using her hands to pick up objects took time to become graceful as they once were. She did not mind it, just more reason for her to step down from her position. In no position at all to be working on regal documents, diplomatic treaties, or other such things.
WIth it came a sense of…proper rebirth. A sense of wide open freedom. Her role was finished. Her suffering and imprisonment had finally come to an end. She was now free. Truly free of royal expectations…of divine intervention…of prophetic duty. Free.
It brought a smile to her face though…is this how Link felt when they had awoken with no memory? This wild sense of freedom stretched out before her. As if on cue from the goddess, she heard the familiar grunt and rattle of her traveling companion. A green jade stone arm gripping to the ledge near wear she sat. Pulling herself out of her thoughts was the familiar form of her chosen hero. She wore her climbing set as she called it, red bandana wrapped snugly around her equally red long hair. The blue hooped earrings sticking out amongst the fiery strands.
No….she couldn’t be more free than the woman before her. Who once was a duty bound and stoic swordsman….now was her faithful wife. Marin pulled herself over the edge, her chest heaving slightly as the jade covered arm wiped away some of the sweat from her forehead trickled down.
“Why didn’t you use a zonai device?” Zelda giggled out as she watched her collapsed beloved.
Catching her breath and laying down on the stone and sand floor of the cave, Marin simply signed to her a simple, yet still sarcastic, response. She had wanted to make sure she still had the strength to climb.
Zelda simply rolled her eyes at the response. Sitting up from her perched seat and walking over to Marin.
She ran a finger along Marin’s prosthetic arm, her fingers a pale white while her nails, which had become blue clawed talons, tracing along the Jade zonai prosthetic. Even with Rauru’s arm vanishing and granting Marin a new one…it had only been temporary. After she caught her upon her regeneration, the arm had faded away. Thankfully Mineru’s constructs had helped with crafting a new one for her. Green life energy connected it to Marin’s shoulder. It almost resembled Rauru’s arm, minus the see through elements now.
Her talon tracing up it to Marin’s shoulder, then to her neck, before coming to the red heads cheek. She leaned down to plant a gentle kiss on her wifes lips. Cherishing it like she did every kiss…every hug. Every embrace, every morning seeing her, every night saying good night to her. After Centuries of isolation…she would make sure to cherish every small moment she could have with this woman.
When she had truly met Marin, it was strange at first. She was so different from Link. She was brash, she was witty. She moved with more confidence than Link had. And the long red hair of the Gerudo, her adopted family, complimented her eyes and her favorite blue earrings more than the blonde ever had.
As Zelda’s lips left hers, Marin sat up, the various ropes and locks jingling on her as she signed out “Riju sends her regards. She wanted to know if you still plan on attending the festival tonight?”
Zelda nodded in assurance. “I do…but…I want to stay here at least until after sunset.” She got up, offering a hand to her beloved. “I want to enjoy our spot to the fullest.” As Marin took her hand, she placed a gentle kiss on the index finger before grabbing firm to set up. She needed to change out of her climbing set before she could join. As Zelda returned to her sitting spot, she closed her eyes as she felt the sun beaming down on their alcove. Her pointed and scaled ears listened to the echoing mix of her wife changing, and the falling sands. She truly loved the desert sands. Her wife sat down next to her gently. Placing her arm around her waist and leaning her head hair on Zelda’s shoulder. Oh how she loved her just as much.