Archive of Our Own

Gerudo Town was absolutely heaving with people, even more so than usual. If Link had known the place would be so busy, he probably wouldn’t have come. But he was here, standing outside the main gate, and he’d already gone to the effort of disguising himself, so he might as well do what he came here for. But if Link was going to try and brave the inside of the town right now, he needed to put his equipment away first; it was far too crowded in there to be walking around with all these weapons strapped to his back.

Normally, Link didn’t worry too much about using the Sheikah slate in public, but here, that wasn’t a risk he was willing to take. He ducked behind the shrine that he had just teleported here with to quickly stash everything in the slate without anyone seeing. He then mentally braced himself, and ventured through the main gate and into the town. Weaving his way through the crowds, it became evident that the sea of people consisted mostly of the resident Gerudo. Lorn, Pritana, Olu—plenty of familiar faces. But there were Hylians and Rito there too, and even a couple of Gorons. No Zora, but that was to be expected. With the scorching heat and lack of water there in the desert, it would be quite an achievement for a Zora to make it all the way to Gerudo Town. The journey was hard enough for most Hylians, Link mused. The whole town was decorated, and many of the Gerudo were bustling around and getting ready for what looked like some kind of party. But that also meant the market stalls were all packed away to make room for more people, and Link wouldn’t be able to restock his supplies there after all. He should probably have just left, but now he couldn’t help his curiosity. He didn’t remember hearing about some big event like this in the time since he woke up, or from before the Calamity, but it was obviously gearing up to be quite a special occasion. Most people around him looked busy, but his eyes eventually fell on Rinsui - the younger of Ganondorf’s sisters. She was dressed up to dance, like she usually was when Link saw her in the market, but she didn’t seem to be doing anything at that particular moment, so Link made a beeline to go talk to her. He at least knew she could understand his signing.

He walked up behind Rinsui, tapping her on the arm to get her attention, and she gasped softly when she turned around. “Link!” she exclaimed. “Does Ganon know you’re here?” she asked excitedly.

Link shook his head. [I just got here,] he signed.

“You’ll have to try and meet up with him later then. He’s gonna be so happy to see you. Perfect timing, by the way—everything’s just about to kick off.”

[What’s going on? I’ve never seen the town so busy before,] Link signed.

“You… don’t know about the festival?” Rinsui asked.

Link slowly shook his head again.

“Really? It's only the biggest annual celebration held in the entire desert,” she said, and Link gave an apologetic shrug. “Huh. Well, the gist is that we’re celebrating the anniversary of Ganon’s coronation. We do it every year for whoever our current leader is, but it’s an extra big party this time because we’re celebrating not only five whole years under Ganon’s rule, but also a certain someone’s victory over the Calamity.”

A jolt of anxiety hit Link, and Rinsui laughed.

“Don’t worry, no one knows,” she added with a wink.

Link breathed a sigh of relief. He was still extremely glad that he managed to convince Ganondorf not to tell the town about his involvement. It would have been all too easy for people to connect the dots and realise who he really was, that the Link who calmed Naboris was the same Link who just defeated the Calamity. The same Link who was Princess Zelda’s appointed knight. The same Link who was very much not a woman, and should never have been able to enter the town in the first place. Hylia, the backlash both Link and Ganondorf would have faced... It would have been a nightmare for them both. As much as Link hated disguising himself like this - as awful as it felt to be seen as something he wasn’t, something that he’d worked so hard not to be - it really was for the best right now.

“Plus, for Ganon, these festivals are also—" Rinsui turned her head as someone suddenly called for her in Gerudo, and she replied before looking back down at Link. “Shit, I’ve gotta run. I’m performing in a minute.” She quickly glanced around. “Hey Saula! You know sign language, right?” she shouted.

Saula quickly joined them. “Yes? What’s going on?”

“Our little friend here hasn’t been to the festival before. Fill her in on the details, would you?” Rinsui asked.

“Oh, sure thing!” Saula said cheerfully.

Rinsui leaned in towards Link. “Make sure you go see him, okay?” she quickly added before hurrying away.

Link gave a nod and waved goodbye as she went. Internally, he appreciated how effortlessly Rinsui kept his secret when talking to other Gerudo, and also that she had brushed up on her own sign language just for him—after some prodding from Ganondorf, of course.

“How much did Rin tell you?” Saula asked.

[Only that you’re celebrating the anniversary of your king’s coronation, and it’s an extra special party this time?] Link replied.

“Ah, alright then! Let's see… Every Gerudo leader has their own little traditions that they like, so these festivals can vary a bit depending on who we’re celebrating. King Ganondorf normally has Rinsui and her group perform a dance for everyone to start things off, and then the dancing opens up to everyone. There’ll be plenty of drinks and food to go around all day long, but there’s also a grand feast later on, and that’s when the king gives his official speech before we all get back to partying for the rest of the evening. The festival only ends when we get too tired to keep going, usually well past midnight,” Saula explained.

[Am I allowed to join in?] Link asked. This sort of thing really wasn’t his scene, but if Ganondorf would really be so happy to see him here, then he should at least try to say hello.

“Of course! Every vai in all of Hyrule is welcome to celebrate our king with us,” Saula said, and Link winced at being called a woman again. “In fact, King Ganondorf always joins in the celebrations himself. He’ll start by just dancing with his sisters, but he switches partners a lot to give us all a chance. It's a rare honour to dance with him, so during the festival, everyone always hopes to be the next one to take His Majesty’s hand!”

Link found himself unexpectedly intrigued. [Have you ever danced with him?]

Saula nodded. “Mhm, twice, actually! I know he might not seem the type, but King Ganondorf is an incredible dancer. The way he moves is just mesmerising, and you can tell that he enjoys it too. Especially after he's had a few drinks—oh, he really gets into it!” she giggled. “You know, if you managed to be in the right place at the right time, you could probably dance with him too.”

That did sound quite entertaining, to see Ganondorf drunk and dancing… Link quickly made up his mind. He thanked Saula.

“You’re welcome—and good luck!” she added, and Link walked away.

Without even thinking, Link’s nose brought him towards the food that he’d been smelling since before he even set foot into the town. The area from Ashai’s house to the communal cooking pots had been cordoned off with wooden barriers, and a handful of Gerudo were busy preparing quite a sizeable amount of food. Link recognised Ashai herself among them; her vibrant pink hair would stand out anywhere. In order to teach a cooking class to the other Gerudo, she must be quite a talented cook herself, Link thought.

“Most of that food is for the feast later,” said one of the nearby Hylian visitors, having noticed Link. “But there’ll be some snacks soon, and drinks are already on offer. There are people walking around with them, or you can go to the Noble Canteen if you want something specific.”

Looking around him, many of the other partygoers were sipping away already, and there were indeed a couple of Gerudo walking around with trays of drinks, but Link didn’t take any. He wasn’t there to get drunk. He was just going to say hello to Ganondorf - and maybe watch him dance a little bit - and then be on his way.

…Or that was the plan, at least. Despite Link’s best efforts, and a lot of wandering around, Ganondorf was nowhere to be found. Ganondorf must not be out here yet, Link realised; this festival was to celebrate him, so maybe he would have some kind of grand entrance when everything started. He was probably still in the palace for the time being, and it didn’t look like the guards were letting anyone in there right now. Link resigned himself to sticking around for a bit if he didn’t want to let Rinsui down, and quickly found himself a spot on the outskirts of the crowds to wait in. Goddesses, he could finally breathe over here. Rinsui said that he’d arrived just in time for the start of the festival, so Link hoped he wouldn’t have to suffer these crowds for too much longer. Sure, it was good that Gerudo Town had bounced back so well after he and Ganondorf calmed Naboris, and Link was glad to have been able to help them so much, but that didn’t make being around this many people any less uncomfortable.

Only a few minutes later, something drew the attention of everyone around him, and they all began crowding around a certain area of the market. Link swiftly followed suit, weaving his way through the mass of people until he had a good view of the second area that had been cordoned off: a large space in front of the palace stairs and going partway down the middle of the plaza. Rinsui and the other dancers stood there in the centre, ready to perform. The crowd soon stilled and fell silent in anticipation.

The opening notes of music gave the dancers their cue. Link watched as they put on a beautiful performance, simultaneously energetic and elegant. Every movement graceful, silks flowing and jewels sparkling. Rinsui’s smile never left her face, even through the faster and more complicated moves that would leave any normal person breathless.

But before he knew it, the show was over, and Rinsui was basking in the audience’s raucous applause. Beaming with pride, she looked to the crowd around her.

"Sarqso, sarqso, everyone! I hope you all enjoyed that as much as we did. Don’t worry, this isn’t the last you’ll see of us. But I know you’re all really here to see someone else—the true star of the show today! I’m sure you all know who,” she teased, drawing a murmur of excitement from the crowd. “So, vai of Gerudo Town! Friends from afar! Please put your hands together and say a big vasaaq to His Majesty, King Ganondorf!”

The other dancers stood to the sides and they each held an arm out towards the palace as the curtains were pulled open. Ganondorf stepped out, dressed even more lavishly than usual , wearing a sirwal and draped in elegant silks with vibrant colours and numerous jewels. His hair was styled and decorated, flowing beautifully down his back in a loose fishtail braid, and complemented by a full face of makeup. Link didn’t expect blue lipstick to suit him so well; he would be lying to himself if he said that Ganondorf was anything other than stunning right now. But then, something else caught his eye, and he looked a little closer at Ganondorf’s earrings before breaking out into a smile under his veil.

Those were the ones Link had given to him.

The crowd erupted into cheers the instant Ganondorf appeared. He headed down the steps to join his sister in the middle, shoulders squared proudly, exuding the same calm confidence and sense of authority that he always did. But his presence was softened just a little by a smile – a true one, not too obvious, but with a warmth that reached his eyes - even as he waited a moment for everyone to quiet down.

"Vasaaq, welcome, everyone! I am delighted to see so many people here, in our little oasis in the desert. My kin, my friends, cherished visitors from across the kingdom, I thank you all for joining me for this special celebration: the fifth anniversary of my rise to the throne… as well as my birthday. I am certain it will be a day to remember. Now, it is my great pleasure to declare this year’s festival officially underway. Music!” he said and clapped his hands twice.

The music promptly started up again. Rinsui offered him her hand, and he took it. The pair showed no hesitation and took right to dancing on their own while the barriers were moved out of the way and the other dancers beckoned people over to join them, opening the dancing up to everyone. Most everyone who joined in seemed to already know the dance, the same moves rippling across the group in time with the music. Link watched them - mainly Ganondorf - and was mesmerised by his every move, just like Saula said. Hylia, who knew he could sway his hips like that? Link was almost tempted to call it downright seductive, followed by a moment of surprise at himself for thinking that.

Ganondorf and Rinsui eventually separated, and Link kept to the sidelines as Ganondorf took someone else’s hand. He kept watching for a few minutes as Ganondorf went through several different dance partners, giving everyone who wanted to a chance to enjoy themself with him, and clearly having a good time himself. But when Ganondorf let go of his current partner again and looked to the people around him for another…

“Link!” Ganondorf suddenly called, jolting Link out of a trance he hadn’t realised he was in. “Come, join me!” he shouted over the music, gesturing enthusiastically for Link to come over, an even bigger smile on his face than before.

A thousand eyes were on Link in an instant. When he didn’t immediately move, the people around him ushered him onward, and Link reluctantly stepped forward to take Ganondorf’s outstretched hand.

“I am very pleased to see you, my little friend. I’ve been looking forward to this,” Ganondorf said, sounding absolutely delighted, as he led Link into the group of dancers.

As soon as they came to a stop, Link let go of Ganondorf’s hand. [Wait—I can’t dance,] he quickly warned. The last thing Link wanted was to make a fool of himself in front of the entirety of Gerudo Town. Or embarrass Ganondorf, for that matter.

“No, no, I insist—you are more than deserving of this honour. Just follow my lead,” Ganondorf confidently assured him.

Link looked up at him. Ganondorf was positively glowing right now. To reject such an offer from the king himself, at an event as important as this one, and with everyone watching…

Link eventually gave a nod. He took Ganondorf’s hand again and did his best to keep up as Ganondorf resumed. He stumbled before long, and Ganondorf kept him steady. But rather than continuing on like Link’s lack of skill wasn’t an issue, Ganondorf slowed down, allowing Link time to watch and copy his movements, even guiding him with a gentle hand and soft words. Link could follow him far more easily, even if they were now completely out of sync with the music. It was awkward at first, and Link felt a twinge of guilt that Ganondorf was sacrificing his performance for him. But he also felt that it was only fair for him to do his best to do as Ganondorf said. For him, Link would give it his all. Focusing just on the two of them, he followed Ganondorf’s lead, and soon managed to pick up most of the moves.

“That’s it, very good!” Ganondorf praised as Link copied him, the two of them more and more in sync.

With Link’s confidence suddenly boosted, the two of them found a good rhythm together, speeding back up to match the music and everyone around them again once Link had a decent grasp on the dance. Admittedly, it wasn’t that difficult once he’d gotten the hang of it. They put all their passion into it - a real show for their audience - whose cheering only grew louder. The pair stayed together, Ganondorf failing to swap partners a single time from then on, and kept going, lost in each other’s moves until the music reached its climax and then finished. All of the dancers came to a stop. Yet more applause and cheering erupted from all around them.

“You underestimate your own talents, Link,” Ganondorf said, looking down at him with an air of smugness. “But we should take a break.”

[Already?] Link asked. Surely Ganondorf wasn’t tired from just that?

“We have the whole rest of the day to enjoy ourselves; I don’t want to wear you out too quickly,” he purred.

Oh. Link felt heat suddenly rise on his cheeks at those words, but he dismissed them just as quickly. Goddesses, he hadn’t even had any alcohol yet, and he already wasn’t thinking straight. Simply being there, participating in this festival at all had already really thrown him off, and Ganondorf was seemingly expecting him to stay for the entire day. Link would have to try and find an opportune moment to break the news to him. But he had to admit… that was kind of fun.

He and Ganondorf headed away from the dancing, and in the background, the musicians soon began playing once again. Without him even asking, Ganondorf found someone walking around with a tray of drinks and took a pair, handing the second one to Link before swiftly getting caught up in conversation with other partygoers. Link was left standing around on his own, slowly sipping at his drink. He began to zone out a bit as the noise of countless people talking and laughing droned on around him, all the conversations blending into one. But his ears perked up at the mention of a familiar name.

“–you managed to calm Naboris?” one of the Gerudo women was asking.

“It was the Thunder Helm, once successfully reclaimed from the Yiga Clan, that granted me the power to subdue the beast. Without it, I would never have stood a chance,” Ganondorf explained. The same explanation that Link had heard him give a hundred times already ever since their victory. Fortunately, it seemed that no one had dug further into that story yet.

“I just find it incredible that you were able to do it by yourself, My Lord, when apparently all the other divine beasts could only be calmed with the aid of Princess Zelda's knight,” said another.

“Yes, quite remarkable, isn't it?” Ganondorf said, without falter. “Such was the power of our distant ancestors who created the helm. We can only aspire to their greatness.”

“And you went out there alone! It was so risky, not even taking Buliara with you as you faced the beast…” chimed in a third.

“I couldn’t put Buliara or any other soldiers at further risk. Truth be told, I was not certain that the Thunder Helm alone would be enough. But I had to try. For the sake of my people - for the sake of bringing peace back to the desert - it was worth the danger to myself.”

“You know, I’ve heard a lot of stories about this knight, and all the amazing things he’s apparently done. Sounds like he’s pretty impressive, for a Hylian voe,” the second woman continued.

“Indeed. If any of us ever meet him, we will have to give him our sincerest thanks. His service to Hyrule has been immeasurable. We all owe him greatly for his courage.”

Link couldn’t help but smile. But he had to keep an air of nonchalance about him; he couldn’t outwardly react to the praise, or someone might get suspicious. He let his eyes and ears wander again as the conversation moved on and he kept sipping at his drink. It was always awkward trying to drink with a veil on and having to lift it for every sip, but never far enough to expose too much of his face. Link had long made a habit of avoiding eating or drinking while he was there in Gerudo Town for exactly that reason. He supposed that now was as good a time as any to practice it, though, especially since Ganondorf was seemingly always the centre of everyone’s attention. The most Link got was a few glances when Ganondorf was around.

The crowd around Ganondorf eventually thinned, at least for the moment, leaving him talking to Tonelle and only Tonelle. Link had never seen her out of her uniform before. Her outfit today was more relaxed and comfortable, still flashy enough for the festival, but certainly not as extravagant as Ganondorf or Rinsui. Link didn’t know her that well, but he didn’t think this seemed like her scene either. He definitely got the impression that she was the mature one of the three. It wasn’t too surprising, considering that she was also the oldest.

Tonelle noticed him from the corner of her eye and turned to face him with a soft smile as he walked up to them. Ganondorf followed her gaze, and as Link looked up at the two siblings, he amusedly noted that Ganondorf, for all his size, was actually a good couple of inches shorter than his sister.

"Sav'aaq, Link. It’s good to see you here too,” Tonelle said. “I know Ganon was really hoping you’d be here today.”

[Aren’t you normally on duty at this hour?] Link asked. He would often see her patrolling the bazaar or sometimes stationed at the main entrance to the town, when she wasn’t busy training in the barracks. He’d even walked in on her and Ganondorf in the middle of a vicious sparring session once. She pushed herself hard, he could tell.

“I try not to take any time away from my work unless I absolutely have to, but Ganon gave me the day off for the festival. He always says that, as his sister, it’s only right that I should get to celebrate with him,” Tonelle explained.

“Especially since Rinsui gets to do so by default simply by being a dancer. It wouldn't be fair for you to be denied a chance to join the festivities,” Ganondorf added.

Tonelle smiled. “And yet, for all of the other soldiers - Buliara included - whether they get to join in or not depends on whether they did last year. They all take turns, a few at a time, so that everyone eventually gets a chance, while the others have to stay on duty like they would on any other day.”

“Just because we are celebrating doesn’t mean we can afford to let up on security,” Ganondorf argued. “Now would be the perfect time for the Yiga Clan to infiltrate the town, with how many outsiders are already present and how busy everyone is.”

“I know, and I agree, but… a king isn’t really supposed to have favourites, you know,” she said, a gentle tease, before turning to Link again. “I’m the only soldier with a guaranteed day off for the festival. Every year, no exceptions.”

Ganondorf went to reply but hesitated for a moment. “...Being my sister does have its privileges,” he said and sipped his drink.

Tonelle chuckled. Knowing the Yiga Clan’s history with the Gerudo, Ganondorf’s concerns about security were more than warranted. Making sure both of his sisters could spend the day with him was very kind of him, Link thought.

“At least I’m not the only person enjoying their one and only day off today,” Tonelle remarked.

“Indeed. This is the one day of the year that I get to truly relax. I can enjoy myself, freely and completely, with virtually no consequences because everyone else is just as drunk as I am,” Ganondorf said, sounding rather pleased.

“Apart from me,” Tonelle said. “Someone has to keep you out of trouble when you get so drunk you can hardly stand up straight.” She leaned down to whisper to Link, “He can’t hold his alcohol.”

“I heard that,” Ganondorf said and let out a huff. “I give you this day off for a reason, Tonelle. You’re supposed to be enjoying your time off duty. It isn’t much of a break if you’re still worrying yourself over me, is it?” He handed his glass to Link for a moment and shooed Tonelle away. “Go on, go dance with Rin or—something.”

“And leave you two alone?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “Alright… if you say so.” She turned to leave, a mysterious smile on her face.

Link furrowed his brows slightly as he watched her walk away. He handed Ganondorf’s drink back, looking up at him with confusion.

“Ignore her,” Ganondorf said bluntly. “The feast isn’t for a while yet, so I suggest we find ourselves something to eat in the meantime.”

[I thought the rice balls looked pretty good,] Link suggested. There were a range of small meals and snacks for people to choose from – skewers, pastries, pieces of flatbread with various dips – but the rice balls were particularly enticing. They’d had quite the selection of flavours on offer: meat, veggie, mushroom, and even seafood, despite the nearest sea being halfway across Hyrule.

“An excellent choice—the vegetable ones are my favourite. Fetch some for us both, and I’ll get us some Noble Pursuits.” Ganondorf gestured to his drink. “These are good, but I want to indulge in something stronger while I have the chance to enjoy it.”

Link gave a nod, and the two of them split up. Link headed over to where the food was now on offer - a stand near the cooking area - and got enough for them both to eat. All the snacks were free, the woman giving them out had said, just like the drinks on trays, so he grabbed a handful of rice balls on a plate for himself and Ganondorf to share. There was nothing better than free food, Link mused as he walked back over to where the two of them just were, only to find Ganondorf mid-conversation yet again.

Link understood, of course; the whole point of this festival was to celebrate Ganondorf. It was better than having all the attention directed at him, he supposed, but the rest of the festival would be painfully boring at this rate.

Ganondorf soon noticed him. “Link, perfect. I’ve ordered our drinks. There’s quite a backlog at the bar, but I have priority; they should be ready soon,” he said.

[Do you want me to go get them?] Link asked, glancing at the many people around them who were clearly vying for Ganondorf’s attention.

Ganondorf thanked him and accepted the plate before swiftly resuming conversation while Link headed for the Noble Canteen. Furosa was absolutely swamped with customers, but Link managed to squeeze his way through to the bar.

[I’m here to get the drinks for me and Gan—King Ganondorf,] he signed, quickly correcting himself.

Furosa looked down at him sceptically at first. “Oh yes, you’re his little Hylian friend, aren’t you?” She turned her back briefly before returning with two glasses. “Here. A regular Noble Pursuit for you, and one without any palm fruit for the king,” she said as she set each one down on the counter.

[No palm fruit?] Link asked. Those were the best part of a Noble Pursuit!

“His Majesty is deathly allergic—so you’d better not get those drinks mixed up!” Furosa sternly added, and Link nodded as he grabbed them. “It’s a shame he’s never been able to enjoy the splendour of a proper noble pursuit. There’s truly nothing like it… I pity him.”

Link suppressed a chuckle as he left to find Ganondorf again, being careful to remember which drink was which.

Ganondorf was, unsurprisingly, still busy talking to people when Link came back. Right now, it was a pair of Hylian women, who looked to be from Lurelin Village, based on their clothes. But upon noticing that Link had returned again, Ganondorf swiftly excused himself, and wished the two Hylians an enjoyable rest of the festival.

“Sarqso,” Ganondorf said as he took the glass Link handed him, visibly relieved at the excuse to get away. He smelled it briefly and had a very small taste before taking a proper sip; a well-formed habit from many years of being cautious. “Exquisite. Furosa never disappoints.”

All the nearby benches and seats were currently taken, and Link was about to start snacking where they stood when Ganondorf made pointed eye contact with one of a pair of women sitting nearby. She nudged her friend and said something to her before they graciously vacated their bench for him. He shot Link a smug little glance and went to sit down. Perks of being royalty, Link supposed. They sat side-by-side, resting their legs for a bit as they gradually sipped away at their drinks and enjoyed their food. Eating with a veil on was just as awkward as trying to drink. Goddesses, it would be so much easier if Link didn’t have to hide. He would have liked to take the time to enjoy his food a bit more, but he could make rice balls himself anytime he wanted, so he finished his share quickly. Ganondorf didn’t seem to be in any particular hurry, however.

[So, it’s your birthday too? I didn’t realise,] Link signed.

“It was a few days ago, actually. I was crowned as soon as I turned twenty-one, so my birthday and my coronation are celebrated in one larger, joint festival rather than holding two smaller ones only days apart. The logistics are much simpler that way—and it means I get to party harder,” he explained.

[Doesn’t it bother you? Not having your birthday celebrated on its own, I mean.]

“Only in the beginning. While my situation isn’t typical of female Gerudo leaders, who often inherit the throne when their predecessor retires, historically it’s almost always been the case for Gerudo kings, as tradition dictates that we take the throne as soon as we come of age. It’s not mandatory, as such, but that’s how it was for most if not all of my predecessors, and I myself am quite used to it now.”

[Makes sense… I wish I’d known, though. I would have brought you a present.]

Ganondorf chuckled. “Your kindness knows no bounds, does it, Link? While I admit that I greatly enjoy receiving gifts, and can hardly turn one down, your presence today is enough for me to be satisfied. I get plenty of gifts from the townspeople, as well as my family. In any case… there’s always next year,” he added, and Link could have sworn Ganondorf subtly winked at him.

That made Link wonder, what could he get Ganondorf next year? He knew Ganondorf had loved the custom earrings Link had had made for him before, so perhaps some more jewellery? Ganondorf seemed to enjoy things like that - the sort of finery that put his wealth and status on clear display. He had quite a collection too, if the sheer number of different pieces Link had seen him wear over the months were anything to go by. Maybe more jewellery wasn’t the best option, then, if Ganondorf already had so much. It needed to be something special, something personal. A gift from the heart. But Ganondorf undoubtedly lived a life of luxury and decadence; what else could a king possibly want, when he already had everything? At least Link had an entire year ahead of him to figure it out. He hopes that he and Ganondorf would still be so close a year from now. Ganondorf certainly seemed to think they will be, and that thought gave Link a warm, fuzzy feeling as he sipped at his own glass.

“Those two Hylian vai that I was just speaking with were Seldie, and her wife Oreia,” Ganondorf began, drawing Link’s attention again. “Seldie visited the town on her own a few weeks ago. She had questions, as many travellers often do, and I took her on a walk around the town while we talked. She caught me in an amicable mood, I suppose. Seldie evidently thought this was rather special, and while it is indeed an honour to speak with me… truth be told, I have conversations like that one practically every other day. They always ask me if I am truly the only Gerudo voe, what it’s like for me to be the only one of my kind, and so on—totally ignorant of the fact that what is so strange and foreign to them is completely normal for me. They always think they're unique for getting that kind of treatment from me, but making polite conversation with foreign visitors is simply part of my job,” he said, his frustration thinly-veiled.

Every time Link heard Ganondorf talk about what day-to-day life as a king was like, the more relieved he was that his duties as a champion had never required that much interaction with the public. Just one day of it sounded exhausting, let alone every day without a break for presumably the entire rest of his life. At least Ganondorf was getting somewhat of a break from that today, though even this was clearly still frustrating for him. Ganondorf paused a moment to take a deep breath, calming himself as Link had seen him do many times before. Now would be the worst possible time to lose his temper, with so many around to see it.

“Naturally,” Ganondorf then added, “you are an exception to that. Visitors swiftly become tiresome, but you are far more interesting to me. I’m not sure I could ever get bored of you.”

Link couldn’t help but blush. He shyly signed a thank-you to Ganondorf, hoping that his veil was keeping it hidden.

Ganondorf gazed down at him for a few moments. “Truly, I’m glad that you’re here. You were in quite a hurry the last time I saw you—we hardly got to speak to each other. It’s fortunate that you were still able to make it.”

[Actually, I had no idea this festival was even happening until I arrived earlier,] Link signed.

"Oh? What brought you here this time, then—restocking again?"

Link nodded. [I was just going to quickly stop at the market for some supplies, but then I saw all the crowds and decorations, and I got curious. So I asked Rinsui about it, and I talked to Saula too, and they explained what was going on. It didn’t really sound like my sort of thing, to be honest, but Rinsui said you’d be really happy if I was here, so I decided to stick around,] he explained. He certainly wasn’t planning on staying this long, and would definitely have left already if it weren’t for Ganondorf, but he didn’t need to know that part.

“Rin knows me very well,” Ganondorf said with a smile. He then paused a moment before chuckling softly and leaning in a bit closer to Link, lowering his voice. “When I was younger, I once thought I was in love with Saula.”

[Really?] Link asked in surprise. Ganondorf, with a crush?

"Really. I think I was about… fourteen at the time. Saula and I had been friends for a couple of years, but then I noticed my feelings towards her start to change, and since I was so young, inexperienced and…” he gestured vaguely, “naive about everything, I assumed that because I had strong, positive feelings towards a vai, it must be love! It wasn't, of course. My feelings for her were totally platonic in hindsight; I simply didn't understand my own emotions well enough to tell the difference between true romantic attraction and… close friendship."

[So what happened between you two?] Link curiously asked.

“It took me a little while - a few weeks, perhaps - to muster the courage, but I decided to express my interest in her.”

[And..?]

"She rejected me," Ganondorf said plainly.

[You must have been really upset...] Link signed.

"Oh, I was—very upset. At the time, I couldn’t rationalise her reaction in my mind. I was royalty, destined to become the reigning king of the entire desert—how could she not want me? But I couldn’t convince her... After that, every interaction between us was painfully awkward. Before long, we had stopped talking to each other at all, and for about a year and a half, we avoided each other like a plague, which was no easy task when neither of us could leave the town’s walls. After a while, the hurt began to fade, I gradually moved on, and eventually, Saula and I started to get along again. Now I tend to look back on it all and laugh at how immature we both were." Ganondorf chuckled fondly at the memories before meeting Link's eyes again. "What about you? Have you ever been in love?" he asked.

Link hesitated for a moment, considering his next words carefully. [Not really. I've just… never been interested in anyone that way,] he signed.

“I can’t say I blame you. Romance is… complicated,” Ganondorf said. “Although, I don’t suppose that you’ve had a lot of time for that sort of thing. You’ve been so busy until recently, and you were nothing if not dedicated to your quest.”

Link simply nodded.

“That reminds me, how is the princess now? I do hope she’s recovering well from all she’s been through this past century.”

[She’s doing okay. It’s been a lot for us both to process, but she seems pretty happy now that it’s all over,] Link explained. [It’s definitely been a big relief—for both of us.]

“Good, good. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been for her all this time.”

[She said she doesn’t really remember it; it’s mostly just a blur. She gained some awareness back when I woke up so she could guide me and then help me in the final battle against the Calamity, but apart from that…] Link shrugged.

“The princess is fortunate. Such memories would have been a terrible burden to carry,” Ganondorf said. “What will you do with yourself now that the Calamity is gone?”

Link paused. [...I’m not sure yet, to be honest, but I guess I’ll just keep looking after Zelda. I was her appointed knight. Calamity or no Calamity, it’s my job to protect her.]

With almost all of his life from before still a mystery to him, it was the only purpose Link had ever known. And even now, with the threat to Hyrule gone, an enormous task still loomed over its princess: that of rebuilding the kingdom, and helping its people to prosper again in the wake of the Calamity’s destruction. Link had no doubt that Zelda would prove to be the strong and capable leader that Hyrule needed, but he couldn’t let her shoulder that burden alone. Not when he could help.

“I hope that doesn’t mean I will see less of you, going forward,” Ganondorf remarked.

Link shook his head. [I should still be able to come by now and then like I do now. Zelda knows that I’ve made friends while she was gone, and she doesn’t mind me spending time away. I… didn’t really have a lot of friends before the Calamity, so she was quite happy for me, actually,] he bashfully explained.

Ganondorf let out a hum. “I would like to meet the princess now that she’s free. Gerudo Town would welcome a visit from her.”

[She’s got a lot on her mind right now, and she’s really busy, but I could ask her next time I see her, if you wanted,] Link offered. He would have rejoined her already if he hadn’t gotten caught up here. As soon as he could find a way out, without letting Ganondorf down, he’d go straight back to her side.

“Yes, please do. I believe there will be great potential for further trade and diplomatic relations between the Gerudo and the wider population of Hyrule in the near future. The princess will be a valuable connection to have. Thank you,” Ganondorf said with a smile.

Link agreed. To have Ganondorf and the other Gerudo’s help and support in the wider rebuilding process would surely do Zelda some good as well. If Link could bring the two of them together to talk, to trade, to collaborate, that could be huge, for both them and the kingdom as a whole. Next time he saw Zelda, he’d bring it up to her.

Time passed easily. The pair sipped away at their drinks and kept talking as Ganondorf finished his share of the food. The party raged on around them, loud and raucous as ever, but Link hardly noticed, with Ganondorf to distract him. Not until Omela - Tonelle’s young daughter, and Ganondorf’s niece - suddenly came up to them.

“Uncle Ganon!” she said excitedly as she stopped in front of the two of them. Her hair was slightly mussed, and her makeup a little smudged. Link had seen her and some of the other kids running around earlier, weaving through the crowds as they played and chased each other. “Can you come dance with me? My friends are all tired already, but I really want to keep going.”

Ganondorf happily accepted her request, setting his glass down on the bench. “Of course, just a moment.” He stood up and briefly turned to Link to add, “Wait for me—I’ll be back.”

Link watched as Ganondorf took Omela’s much smaller hand in his own and walked with her towards where everyone was dancing. His gaze lingered, almost wistfully. Should he have gone with them?

“The whole town has noticed you by now, you know,” said a voice at his side, and Link jolted in surprise.

He whipped his head around to find another Gerudo partygoer sitting beside him all of a sudden, one that he didn’t recognise. Brows furrowed, she looked him up and down, scrutinising him for no apparent reason. Shit, had she figured it out?

“How you’re always coming and going from the palace, sparring with him in the barracks, even leaving the town with him to go on trips out into the desert—and now you’re here drinking and dancing with him. You just showed up one day, and suddenly you’re his favourite person in the world,” she continued. “What did you do?”

[I didn’t really do anything… It just sort of happened,] Link slowly signed. He glanced over to see Ganondorf with Omela in his arms, happily dancing with his niece. At any other moment, the sight would have been a sweet reminder that Ganondorf was as much an uncle as he was a king, but Link couldn’t ignore the potential danger sitting next to him.

The woman’s expression didn’t falter. “Some of us would kill to be as close to him as you are. You’re not, like, secretly dating him or something, are you?”

Link vigorously shook his head. [No, of course not!] he signed. Goddesses, did he and Ganondorf really give off that impression?

Before she could say anything in response, the two of them were blissfully interrupted by Omela running over again.

“Miss Link, Uncle Ganon said he wants you to come join us!” she explained with a smile, holding out her hand to him, and in the distance, he could see Ganondorf waiting for them.

Link took it without hesitation, and Omela began leading him over to Ganondorf. He looked back at the woman as they went. She was still watching him intently. Hylia, Link thought, he had to be careful. People were already suspicious of him, albeit for completely the wrong reason, and they didn’t know even a fraction of the truth.

It didn’t take long for Omela to wear herself out. Once she was finally tired enough, she left to hang out with her friends again, and Link quickly seized the opportunity to talk to Ganondorf.

[We need to be more careful,] he began, doing his best to keep his signing subtle while they continued to dance. [People are starting to notice something is different about us. I really, really don’t want to get found out, or we’ll both be in trouble.]

“If anyone here did find out the truth and dared to try and spread it to the rest of the town, she’d have to go through me first,” Ganondorf assured him, also keeping his voice down. “Don’t worry yourself over it—and forget about those drinks we left behind on the bench. We’ll get more.”

Uncertainty lingered in the back of Link’s mind. Ganondorf asking for Link specifically to dance with him earlier had probably tipped everyone off to the fact that something was going on between them, if they didn’t suspect it already. But if Ganondorf was so confident, then he might as well try to relax, and enjoy the rest of the festival while he was here.

Link held out for a while, doing his best to focus on dancing and on Ganondorf rather than worrying about the dozens, maybe hundreds of people around him who could be watching him, just waiting for the mask to slip and the truth to be revealed. But he was eventually offered a proper distraction in the form of Rinsui passing by them. She let go of her current partner and took Ganondorf’s hands once more.

“Well, fancy seeing you here again,” she said with a playful little grin.

“Don’t tell me you’re surprised,” Ganondorf retorted, equally playful.

She giggled. “Of course not. This is your favourite bit of the whole festival, even if you won’t admit it.”

“You’ve got me there.”

“I know I do. As an older sister, it is my solemn duty to know every single one of my baby brother’s secrets, no matter how small, and whip them out at the most inopportune moments to achieve maximum embarrassment.”

Ganondorf affectionately cursed at her in Gerudo, and they both broke out into a laugh as they kept dancing. But then Rinsui glanced at Link, who’d ended up on his own, and a mischievous grin crept onto her face.

“Oh, but we can’t forget Link, can we?” she said, letting go of Ganondorf and beckoning Link towards her. “C’mere little guy.”

Before Link could react, Rinsui slotted her hands under his armpits and picked him up effortlessly. She hooked one arm under his thighs, holding him so that they were chest-to-chest with his legs around her waist, her other hand on his side to keep him upright. Link instinctively grabbed onto her in return, wrapping his arms around her neck.

“Wow, Ganon wasn’t lying. You really don’t weigh anything, do you?” she asked with a chuckle.

Link blushed, and Ganondorf laughed softly in the background. He must have told his sisters everything, Link realised. Rinsui twirled around a bit with him in her arms, and he’d be lying if he said he didn’t enjoy it. He already knew from experience how nice it felt to be held by someone bigger and stronger than him, and Rinsui’s plump figure only made her more comfortable to hold onto.

The next time he and Ganondorf took a break, Rinsui followed, and she volunteered to fetch some more drinks for them all.

“So, since you ended up staying, you must have seen our big performance back at the beginning. What did you think?” Rinsui asked as she handed Link his second Noble Pursuit of the day, having returned from braving the crowds at the bar.

[It was beautiful. You’re all very talented,] he signed, being careful not to spill his drink in the process.

“I’m pretty proud of that routine—we spent months practising it. Only the best of the best for my baby brother,” she said with a smile. “I didn’t expect to see you join in afterwards, though. Or at all, really. I figured you’d just say hi to Ganon and then leave.”

[I wasn’t going to, but someone,] he jerked his head towards Ganondorf, [insisted that I join him.]

Rinsui laughed. “That’s Ganny for you.”

“Rin,” Ganondorf said warningly.

“What?” she asked, obviously feigning innocence. “You already let him call you ‘Ganon’.”

“Perhaps, but you know how much I dislike that name, even coming from you and Tonelle.”

[Come on, it’s cute!] Link signed.

“Precisely my point!” Ganondorf argued. “It’s not becoming of a king to be called such a thing, especially in public.”

“Yeah, because kings obviously can’t also be little brothers, can they?” Rinsui asked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

Ganondorf rolled his eyes at her. She then noticed something off to the side of them, and Link followed her gaze to see more food being set out - a lot more food - and people being ushered out of the way to make room for more tables and chairs all throughout the main plaza. This must be the feast everyone’s been waiting for, he thought.

“Looks like it’s time to eat. Better have your speech ready,” Rinsui said and leaned in close to Ganondorf with a grin. “Ganny.”

Ganondorf shot her an absolutely murderous glare, and she turned to leave with a giggle.

“Rinsui Kairosa Dragmire, one day, I will have your head,” he muttered to himself, and then glanced down at Link. “I swear to Hylia, she goes out of her way to annoy me.”

[I’m pretty sure that’s normal for siblings,] Link signed, smiling under his veil.

“I am well aware,” Ganondorf dryly replied and gave a nod towards the tables, signalling for Link to follow.

The two of them headed over together and then went their separate ways as Ganondorf joined his sisters at a special table reserved just for them while Link went right over to check out the food. There was an even wider array of dishes available now. Most were traditional, Gerudo-style cooking, but there were also a mix of different cuisines from all over Hyrule. As Link considered what to choose, one of the Gerudo women serving it said to the crowd that there should be something for everyone there no matter where they hailed from, and that one was allowed as much as they liked, as long as they left enough for everyone else. Link seized the opportunity to pile his plate high, ignoring an amused comment from someone nearby that he must have quite an appetite for someone so small. He quickly found a spot to perch while he ate, and just in time too, as Ganondorf was stepping up onto a chair so everyone could see him. The crowd quieted, all eyes on him.

“I know you are all keen to enjoy your food and resume partying, so I won’t bore you with a long speech,” he began. “It has been a challenging year for us all. The most difficult one we’ve faced in a long time. But look at what we have been through and survived—all that we’ve accomplished in the face of near-disaster. It’s a testament to your strength, your determination, and your unending resilience. Truly, I am the luckiest man in all of Hyrule. I could not be more proud to be your king!”

He raised his glass.

“A toast: to the continued prosperity of the Gerudo; to the calming of Naboris…”

Ganondorf found Link in the crowd, and met his eyes with a knowing smile.

“...And to Princess Zelda’s loyal knight, who vanquished the Calamity once and for all!” he finished and looked to the people all around him, beaming with pride.

Everyone joined him with a cheer, raising their glasses high and unknowingly celebrating Link, right there amongst them. Apart from Ganondorf, of course, who knew exactly what he was doing. Link lifted his veil slightly to join in as everyone drank, and silently thanked the Goddesses yet again.

Everyone started digging into their food once Ganondorf’s speech was done. Those snacks Link shared with Ganondorf earlier were barely enough to hold him, so he was glad for a proper meal. That comment from before might have been rude, but it wasn’t necessarily wrong, and dancing was rather hungry work, so Link was shovelling his food away as fast as his veil would allow. There had been a lot of options, but he’d settled on a curry. It was a nice, meaty curry with Goron spice, plenty of vegetables, and a good helping of rice to soak it up, followed by a bowl - or three - of a milk pudding topped with ground nuts : an exquisite array of flavours. Link could have sworn that Gerudo Town had some of the best food in all of Hyrule. Or maybe Ganondorf had just gone all out with the highest quality ingredients and supplies specifically for the festival. Either way, Link ate until he couldn’t possibly fit another bite. This should keep him going for however much longer he’d be stuck there. He looked towards Ganondorf again, who was currently enjoying his own meal at a table with his sisters and seemingly sharing a jovial conversation with the two of them.

Their chatter was shortly interrupted as someone approached Ganondorf. “Nalaru,” he greeted, his posture stiffening slightly.

“Lord Ganondorf,” she began. “I wanted to tell you how pleased I am with how you’ve handled everything this past year. The Yiga Clan, Naboris, the Calamity’s thwarted return—and all in such a short period of time. There could be no greater test of your ability to lead our people. I’ve had my concerns, as you know, but you performed well, and I am certain that you will continue to.” Her expression softened. “I am proud of you, Ganondorf. You have grown into a most worthy successor,” she finished, with a gentle hand on his shoulder.

Link’s heart was racing listening to her, but now he was practically beaming under his veil as Ganondorf gave Nalaru his thanks. Pride swelled in his chest seeing Nalaru have such confidence in Ganondorf. When they first met, Ganondorf had been struggling greatly to earn and maintain his people’s trust, just as he had been since the very beginning of his rule despite the years that had passed in between. That Ganondorf’s troubles were largely behind him now was a relief for Link too. He’d managed to help so many people all across Hyrule ever since he woke up, but the satisfaction he felt often paled in comparison to this.

Link let his food settle for a bit until he saw that Ganondorf was done with his meal as well: flatbread with minced meat, drizzled in yoghurt and garnished with a sprinkle of herbs and fruit seeds, among other dishes that the three had split between them. Tonelle and Rinsui shared a glance and another mysterious smile as Link walked up to their table, one that he did his best to ignore.

“Ah, Link. Are you finished?” Ganondorf asked.

Link gave a nod. [The food was delicious.]

“Excellent,” Ganondorf said. He downed the last little bit of his drink and set the glass down before standing up. “Shall we?” he asked, and extended a hand to invite Link to resume dancing.

The celebrations went on until deep into the night. Rinsui and the others took centre stage and performed as a group several more times as the festival continued. Link and Ganondorf spent the evening dancing on and off and enjoying more food and many, many more drinks. The crowd was starting to thin as people grew tired, and many of the children had long gone home, but there were plenty of people still milling about. Link had lost count hours ago of how many Noble Pursuits the two of them managed to put away that night. Too many, he thought as he stumbled a bit and had to take a moment to steady himself, trying to ignore the throbbing in his head. It had been gradually getting worse over the course of the last hour or two, but now it was becoming unbearable. The noise was so loud, the crowds so suffocating. Link tried to take some deep breaths and calm down, but his hands were shaking, and he almost wanted to cry with the intensity of it all.

A laugh erupted from the current crowd surrounding Ganondorf. Link had been standing off to the side while Ganondorf continued to mingle, only moving to follow him around from a distance as he flitted from one group of people to another. Ganondorf was still smiling, as he had been practically all day. But then he made brief eye contact with Link, and his expression immediately changed.

Ganondorf excused himself from the conversation and came over, crouching down to get on eye level. “Link?” he asked, genuine concern on his face, and Link knew he’d see right through him if he claimed there was nothing wrong.

[...Can we go?] Link meekly signed. [It’s just… everything is just too much right now.]

Ganondorf stood up and swiftly glanced around, finding someone walking around with a tray of drinks. He took two glasses.

“Follow me,” he said to Link, and the two managed to slip away from the crowds.

Ganondorf led him away from the main festivities and to a more secluded corner of the town where it was a bit quieter for them to escape for a little while. The music and noise of the party were still audible, but for the moment, they seemed to be alone there. They sat side by side on a bench again, and Ganondorf handed Link one of the glasses.

[Thank you... I know how important this festival is for you,] Link signed, truly grateful for Ganondorf’s willingness to leave the celebrations behind for a while.

“Normally, I wouldn’t let anything short of an invasion by the Yiga Clan drag me away from the party, but for you…” Ganondorf trailed off, then chuckled softly. “Well, I already make all kinds of exceptions. One more won’t hurt.”

[I appreciate it.] Link still couldn’t believe his luck sometimes—that Ganondorf still allowed him into the town despite knowing his true identity. It would have been well within his power as the king to punish Link for his transgressions right from the beginning. But he never did.

“As the saviour of my people… and as a most treasured friend of mine, you deserve nothing less,” Ganondorf said.

Link couldn’t deny the warmth in his chest at those words. Ganondorf’s sincerity was… really quite touching. When he first ventured into Gerudo Town all those months ago, he never expected that he would end up becoming so close with its king. It wasn’t the first time such a special relationship came about as a result of him taming one of the divine beasts, but it still surprised him. What were the odds of this happening twice?

Silence fell over the two of them, but it was a comfortable one. Link’s head continued to ache, though not as badly now that he was away from all the noise and able to just breathe for a bit. It took a few minutes, but that suffocating feeling began to fade. His heartbeat slowed. His mind quieted. That is, until Ganondorf suddenly snaked an arm around Link's waist and pulled him closer, their bodies pressing against one another. Link was caught off guard at first, but he quickly welcomed the closeness as Ganondorf kept his arm there, resting his hand on Link’s lap. Despite all his size and strength and prowess in battle, Ganondorf was a comforting presence. Link leaned into his hold, and even started to slowly doze off in that strong, warm embrace while Ganondorf continued drinking. But after a few peaceful minutes, Link could feel someone staring, and looked up to find Ganondorf gazing softly down at him.

...Had Ganondorf’s eyes always been such a beautiful colour?

“You don’t have to hide around me, Link,” Ganondorf began, his voice oddly gentle. “Won’t you take off that veil?”

Link sat up and glanced around them. [There could still be some people nearby. They might see,] he signed, looking up at Ganondorf again. He may have taken his veil off before when they climbed Spectacle Rock, and even felt comfortable talking out loud with Ganondorf, but that was only because they were completely alone out there. Here in the town, he could easily get caught.

“Forget them.” Ganondorf let go of him, setting his drink down and reaching out towards Link’s face. “May I?”

Link hesitated. If Ganondorf really wanted it that badly… Well, maybe just a minute or two would be okay. He’d just put the veil back on afterwards, and his secret should still be safe. That would be fine, he reasoned, before giving a slow nod. A shiver ran through him at the graze of Ganondorf’s fingers against his skin, his pulse quickening. It was just anxiety from the risk of being discovered, Link told himself, as Ganondorf carefully unhooked one side of the veil and pulled the silky fabric away, completely uncovering Link’s face, and letting his hair hang freely about his shoulders.

Ganondorf pulled back slowly, breaking out into a smile. “There you are,” he said, gazing down at Link with a warmth in his eyes that was strangely… familiar.

Maybe it was the alcohol, Link thought. They’d both had so much to drink. That had to be it. That's all it was. Just the drinks.

Ganondorf set the veil down on the bench beside him and went to say something. But as soon as he met Link's eyes again, he paused, and a few moments passed of him just staring fondly at Link.

“Words fail me,” he eventually said. “Nothing I can say to you could ever truly express…”

Ganondorf cupped Link’s chin, running his thumb over Link’s lower lip. His eyes flitted downwards for a moment.

Link’s heart jumped into his throat.

“...Just what you mean to me,” Ganondorf whispered.

They locked eyes for a moment before Ganondorf moved his hand to the back of Link’s head, closed his eyes, and started to lean in.

“Lord Ganondorf?” came a voice from nearby.

Eluno, one of Ganondorf’s attendants, had arrived at just the right moment, stopping Ganondorf in his tracks before Link even had a chance to try. Ganondorf opened his eyes again, his face just inches from Link’s, burgeoning rage already twisting his features. He let go of Link and turned to Eluno with a scowl.

“Can’t you see that I’m busy?!” he yelled in abject fury.

Eluno didn’t falter, bravely stepping closer. “I apologise for interrupting, My Lord, but it’s late, and you need to rest. You should return to the palace,” she calmly explained.

“Come back in half an hour,” Ganondorf said before taking another swig of his drink. Without breaking eye contact with Eluno, he then put an arm around Link again, holding him tighter than before, almost possessively. “I’m not done here,” he spat.

“Forgive me, but I am under strict orders to retrieve you at once.”

“From who?” Ganondorf demanded.

“Buliara,” she replied, and Ganondorf raised an eyebrow expectantly. “...As well as Firas, and both of your sisters.”

“Tonelle won’t let me hear the end of it if I stay out,” Ganondorf muttered to himself, pinching the bridge of his nose, and sighed heavily as he let go of Link. “Fine. Fine!” He stood up to leave, but looked down at Link again. “You will stay the night, won’t you?”

[I tried to book a room at the inn earlier, but it was already full, and there isn’t really anywhere else to stay in the town…] Link explained. He’d probably just teleport to a stable and get a bed there for the night, he thought. Or maybe home to Hateno Village. The Zora’s Domain? Somewhere.

“Nonsense! Come to the palace with me.”

[...Isn’t there only one bedroom?] Link hesitantly asked.

“You can sleep on my sofa then. Or I’ll sleep on the sofa, and you can have the bed. Either way, you’re staying,” Ganondorf insisted.

“I’m certain your friend here can find somewhere to go on her own. The sooner you get some sleep, the better,” Eluno suggested, and a few long moments passed in silence as Ganondorf considered her words.

“...Very well,” he eventually said, much to Link’s relief. “Sav'orr, Link.”

Ganondorf reluctantly allowed himself to be escorted back to the palace. Link sat there, almost numb, as he watched them leave. Thank Hylia for Eluno, he thought. Her timing was impeccable. Before she got very far, however, she glanced back at Link.

“Go on, My Lord. I’ll catch up with you in a moment,” she said to Ganondorf.

He muttered something in response and kept walking, leaving Eluno to swiftly double back. She crouched down in front of Link.

“I must sincerely apologise for Lord Ganondorf’s behaviour. I assure you that this is very unusual of him, even when he’s had a lot to drink,” she began. “I wasn’t originally going to interrupt; His Majesty’s sisters specifically told me not to, if the two of you were together. But I could tell that something wasn’t right when he tried to kiss you. Did he upset you?”

Link shook his head. [I’m okay.]

“Are you sure?” she asked, to which Link nodded. “Good. That’s a relief. But, ah—you should probably keep yourself covered if you don’t want anyone else to find out,” she added, gesturing to her face.

Find out..?

Oh Goddesses, how long had his face been exposed?! Link quickly grabbed his veil from where Ganondorf had put it down. He pulled it on and tried to fasten it again, but between his haste and shaking fingers, he couldn’t manage the little clasp.

“Here,” Eluno said and kindly fastened it for him, securing his veil, and his secret, firmly in place. “Make sure you get some rest as well. Sav'orr,” she said with a smile before standing up again.

Eluno hurried to catch up with Ganondorf, leaving Link on his own. Link lingered there for a minute longer, feeling almost paralysed. He could barely hear himself think over the whirlwind of emotions raging in his head, let alone move. But he had to go find somewhere to sleep before it got too much later—and too much colder. Even within the town’s walls, the desert night brought with it a bitter chill, and without Ganondorf’s warmth at his side, Link was already starting to shiver. Sleeping out in the open would be a deathwish. So once that realisation had sobered him up a bit, he willed himself to get up, and leave this little corner behind for the time being so he could find somewhere to sleep. With any luck, he wouldn’t even remember where this spot was in the morning.

------

The first thought that entered Link's mind when he awoke was, why in Hylia's name did he decide this was the best place to sleep? He sat up slowly, squinting as his eyes adjusted to the bright sun reflecting off the sand. He’d somehow ended up sleeping under the little shelter just outside the town’s main entrance, near where the herd of sand seals typically hung out. Dusting sand off of himself, it occurred to Link that he probably could have stayed with Ganondorf’s sisters if he’d asked them. At least he’d kept his veil on, so he wasn’t breathing in sand all night. And he’d thankfully been lucid enough to make himself a pillow out of some spare clothes from the Sheikah slate and throw a blanket over himself, so he didn’t freeze to death overnight. He was still shivering regardless, but it could have been a lot worse, he supposed. The throbbing in his head had made itself known the moment he woke up, and his mouth was drier than the desert around him, so he fetched a canteen of water from the Sheikah slate and quickly downed the whole thing. He grabbed some food as well and shuffled to sit in the sun while he ate, desperate for some warmth. Once he’d put everything away back in the slate, he stood up, dusted even more sand off of himself, and headed back into the town.

The place was still a bit of a mess after last night, but the Gerudo were hard at work packing everything from the festival away, taking down decorations, cleaning up, and returning the town to normal so that trade could resume. Many of the market stalls were still shut, but the most important one, at least to Link, was luckily open already.

He headed straight to Danda’s arrow store, and walked away a minute later with almost her entire stock in hand. Link was fairly sure that he’d been her main source of income these past several months. Monsters were much less of a problem now that the Calamity’s blood moons weren’t bringing them back time and time again, but so long as there were a few still plaguing Hyrule, Link would need something to fight them with. It wasn’t his responsibility to do so; he was under no one’s command but his own. And yet, just as he felt obligated to continue protecting Zelda, it would be wrong of him not to act when there were people in need. Link was a champion, a protector of Hyrule. The only one left. The Calamity may have been long gone, but his duty to the kingdom would never truly be finished.

Link shook his head to try and clear those thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to get sentimental, he told himself. There was something else a little more pressing for him to deal with.

He quickly stopped by the other stalls in the market, buying what supplies he could to try and fulfil his actual reason for being there, before heading up to the palace. Link mentally braced himself as he walked up the stairs. His mind hadn’t stopped racing since he woke up in the sand, and Link still had no idea what he was going to say to Ganondorf after last night’s rather heartfelt confession. But he entered the throne room to find the throne unexpectedly empty.

At the same time, Firas, the other of Ganondorf’s attendants, was passing through in the midst of going about her duties.

“Sav'otta,” she said with a polite smile. “Are you looking for the king?”

Link nodded. [It’s not like him to not be here yet.]

“His Majesty was up very late last night because of the festival, and he had quite a lot to drink, so we decided to let him sleep in this morning. He’ll be available later if you’d like to speak with him, or I can take a message if it’s something important,” Firas explained.

[No, it’s okay. It’s not urgent,] Link signed and turned to leave, simultaneously relieved and a little disappointed.

It was probably good that they were letting him sleep, Link thought. Ganondorf was bound to have a nasty hangover. And perhaps it was better if they didn’t talk about this now, while the emotions were still so fresh. Before he could make it out of the palace, however, movement caught Link’s eye, and he stopped just in time to see Ganondorf coming downstairs. His exhaustion was palpable, but he was seemingly still trying to maintain his composure and go about his day normally. Tonelle clearly wasn’t the only one in the family who worked themself hard.

“Link, sav'otta,” Ganondorf said, fatigue clear even in his voice. “I’m glad I managed to catch you before you left. I want to apologise for getting so emotional with you last night. My memory of it is, heh, rather blurred,” he explained, rubbing his forehead. “I do hope I didn’t say anything too untoward.”

Link’s blood ran cold.

[It’s okay,] he hurriedly began. [I was– quite flattered, actually, by everything you said. I can’t really stay for long today, but I just wanted to check on you and say goodbye before I left.]

“Of course, don’t let me keep you,” Ganondorf said. “But first, I must thank you for such a wonderful time at the festival. I enjoyed it immensely.”

[I enjoyed it too,] Link signed, not entirely untrue. [I’ll try and come next year as well, if I can.]

“I look forward to it,” Ganondorf replied with a smile. “I hope to see you again soon, my little friend. Give the princess my best.”

Link signed a goodbye to him and they headed in opposite directions, Ganondorf going to take his place on the throne while Link left the palace.

His feet didn’t stop until he was outside the town’s walls again. Even after a night’s sleep, he was still in shock, and now left wondering if Ganondorf had any idea of what happened between them last night - of the enormous secret he revealed - or if he truly didn’t remember it at all. Link sat down on the opposite side of the nearby shrine so that no one could see him as he tugged off his veil. He leaned backwards against the shrine, staring blankly at the distant mountains. The cool stone against his back brought little respite. His heart wouldn’t stop pounding. Anxiety swelled in his chest as he struggled to make sense of all the thoughts and feelings swirling in his head. At least he had more time now to think about how best to approach this; how to let Ganondorf down as gently as possible, while hopefully saving at least something of the close friendship they’d built.

Friendship… Could Link even call it that now? He felt like an idiot for not seeing the truth sooner. In hindsight, it was obvious that their relationship was unique, and not only because of the secrets they were working together to hide. Just how long had Ganondorf been keeping this from him? Weeks, months? Since their very first meeting, even? Link couldn’t be certain, but it would explain a lot of Ganondorf’s behaviour over the months. His unexpected generosity and openness with Link right from the very beginning, treating him like family despite him being an outsider, and—oh Hylia, that’s what Tonelle meant! She knew. She’d probably known all along, and that meant Rinsui had too. Even the other Gerudo seemed to have an inkling that something was going on between them.

Ganondorf was in love with him, deeply, passionately, and he was just barely restraining himself, if the fervent desire in his eyes last night was anything to go by. And Link… Link had lied about being single right to Ganondorf’s face.

Link buried his face in his hands. Goddesses, what had he done? Ganondorf may not remember his confession, but the truth was out now whether he wanted it to be or not, and Link couldn’t just ignore it. He was immensely fond of Ganondorf as well, that much he couldn’t deny. Perhaps even… more than he should have been, if he was being honest with himself. Under different circumstances, he might have been tempted by Ganondorf’s interest in him. But Link was already very firmly spoken for. He couldn’t risk leading Ganondorf on and giving him the wrong idea. It would be easier – Goddesses, it would be so much easier - to let him live on in false hope. Telling him the truth would hurt, that was unavoidable, and the last thing Link wanted to do was break anyone’s heart. But in the long run, it would probably be the kinder thing to do. As one of Link’s closest friends, he owed Ganondorf that much, and that realisation left him with just one question echoing in his mind.

How in Hylia’s name was he going to tell Ganondorf about Sidon?