The Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction ❯ Gerudo Forest ❯ Chapter 22 ( Chapter 22 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

They opened the gate up the next day. Melissa knew they were going to have to be very cautious when going to villages from then on. Agahnim was looking for them and possibly the escaped Gerudos. She wondered how the others were and hope they were well. It was odd that she felt a kinship to them now even though she hadn't known them long. As Trinexx sped away from the village she thought about how nice staying there had been. She almost wished they could stay there and forget about everything else. Melissa would constantly sneak looks at Ganon. He had a look of fierce determination staring straight ahead and she wondered what he was thinking about. He was so focused on the path in front of him it took a few moments for him to notice when she turned and leaned into his chest. He just looked so serious and she wanted to see him smile. She saw his face relax and he wrapped his arm around her. Strangely enough she felt safe with him. “Do we have a game plan for when we get to Death Mountain?”She asked shyly, fully aware she should probably not be getting so close to him. “Well I guess we will have to ask the gorons what they know first.” He said brows furrowing. Melissa had completely forgot that the gorons lived at the mountain’s base. “Are gorons friendly? Last tales I had heard was that they were untrusting of outsiders.” She said worried. “They understand strength and it might come to a match but it shouldn't be a problem.” He said with a smirk. He looked like he was itching for a fight and Melissa hoped it wouldn't come to that. They stopped that night by a clearing surrounded by trees. A river ran through it and the trees created a perfect screen from prying eyes. It was very beautiful place to spend the night. After starting a fire Ganon striped off his shirt and rinsed off. Melissa averted her eyes feeling that she should give him some privacy. Fireflies sparkled in the woods and she watched them twinkling listening to the sound of the running water. It gave her a sense of peace. When she turned back to see if he was done she found that he had reverted back to his old self. He had changed into the under layer of clothes that went under his armor and looked quite relaxed With his hair in a ponytail. He tended the fire and went to making something for dinner. She noticed that he had tossed his dirty clothes to the side of the river and decided to try and clean them with some of the soap she had nicked from the hotel room. He had made fun of her when she insisted on taking it but it was going to come in handy. Melissa washed them thoroughly and hung them on a branch to dry. They should be ready by the morning. He never even noticed and seemed deep in thought. Melissa didn't mind. She wanted to feel like she was pulling her weight so next she took care of Trinexx. She brought him to the river to drink and found his brush in the saddle bag dipping it in the water to clean him off. Trinexx seemed to enjoy the cooling water. Melissa hummed to him as she brushed till she felt a hand on her back and froze. She should have known it was Ganon because Trinexx made no fuss. When she turned to Ganon he looked unsure. He had been acting strange since the night before. He seemed to be in a good mood but a lot of the time she found him quiet and deep in thought. He would stare at her when he thought she wasn't looking and would turn his head quickly when she would look his way. What was causing this weird behavior? Had she done something wrong? “ I didn't mean to startle you. It's just dinner is ready.” He said looking back to the fire. She nodded and tied Trinexx back up before coming to sit beside him. As Armos he wasn't quite as imposing. She guessed that was why most people didn't realize who he was even though both forms looked so similar. His true form made her a little more nervous. You couldn't pretend he was someone else then. He seemed to notice her unease. “Have I done something?” he asked looking at her confused. She shook her head and decided to try and get over her fear. He was the same person no matter what he looked like. If she felt safe with him as Armos she should still feel just as safe with him in his true form. “ Everything’s fine.” she said grabbing the plate he had prepared for her. “ I was just thinking about stuff.” she didn't want to hurt his feelings so she decided not to tell him what about. “ So what was the song you were humming? It sounded familiar. Like a song I used to hear when I was a child.” He asked curious. Melissa looked at him surprised. She didn't realize that some of the theme music might actually be songs here. “It is the song played for Gerudo Valley in the game.” she said facing him. He looked reminiscent. “I think it was a tune played on the night at my coronation. I was so young back then. Too young to be a king maybe, but it has always been tradition. I remember a big bon fire and a lot of dancing but not much else. It was a simpler time back then. That song hasn't been played for me since.” He said with a wistful look. Melissa smiled and started to hum it again for him. He stood up suddenly and held his hand to her. “ Would you care to dance for me?” He asked. Melissa didn't really dance in front of people. She really didn't want to embarrass herself. “ I don't know any dances. Besides I can't sing and dance at the same time. I would only look a fool if I tried.” she said thinking about it. “ Well we will have to remedy that when things are back to normal.” He said deep in thought once again. He looked kind of disappointed. What the hell. Why not. “ You ready to laugh at me?” She asked getting up. “ I will try and dance if you sing the song for me.” she said trying not to chicken out. She liked to make him smile and if this didn't do the trick nothing would. He looked at her amused and nodded. She didn't actually think he would agree. Could he actually sing? When he started she couldn't believe it. His voice was a beautiful deep baritone. He stopped when she hadn’t moved. “Aren't you supposed to dance?” He asked smiling at her shock. He started over and this time she was ready. She tried to mimic what she had seen the dancers in the hall do but ended up tripping a lot which caused him to cringe at how bad she was. After that she decided to do her own thing by incorporating her own style in. It was easier that way. To pretend certain movements were on purpose. He looked to be enjoying it after that. When he finished the song she stopped out of breath. “ You have a wonderful voice. I wasn't expecting you to sound that well.” She said huffing and grinning at him. “ And I wasn't expecting you to dance that well. “ He responded. “You didn't do so well in the beginning but the second half was wonderful. Where did you learn it?” He asked curiously. “ I made it up.” She admitted. “You have potential. Something I would expect of a future queen.” He said testing the waters of the subject once again. Melissa didn't know how to respond. He was getting the wrong idea again. Maybe she was being too friendly. “ You know I can't marry you.” She said with a frown. “Why not?” he asked getting up walking to her. “You know why!” Melissa said crankily. “Ah yes the other man.” he said with a growl. Something about the look in his eyes made Melissa pray the two would never meet. “Why did you have to ruin a perfect evening?” She asked trying not to be agitated at him. “ We were having fun and then you had to bring it up. Can't you just drop it? I know it's Gerudo tradition, but do you think Link and Zelda are going to marry their Guardians? I don't. Which means we don't have to. There are plenty of women out there who would want you. I just don't understand why you would want me over any of the other Gerudos. I'm plain compared to the rest of them.” Strangely he looked sad at her remark. “ You should give yourself more credit. Besides you have qualities they don't. I have lived with them all my life and yet none make me feel the way you do.” He responded. “I just don't understand. What do I make you feel?” Melissa asked frustrated. He shook his head and looked at a loss of what to say. Instead he put his hand to the side of her face and searched her eyes. Melissa didn't quite know what to do. “ See... you can't even answer that question.” Melissa said lowering her head. As Melissa began to back away he roughly grabbed her by the arm. “ Don't you understand how hard I've been trying to please you?” He asked looking just as frustrated as she. As he held her there she had to admit that this Ganon was a little different than the other versions of him had been but was it just deception? Was he just trying to convince her he was someone completely different or was he changing a little? Was this what the old Ghost had meant? She didn't want to think it was her causing this change in him. He let her go and sat back down at the fire with his back to her when she didn't respond. He stayed quiet and Melissa worried she had done it now. She sat beside him and tried to talk to him. To try and fix the mess her stupid mouth had caused but he just ignored her eating his food in silence. “Come on. Talk to me!” she pleaded. He turned to her finally. “Why should I? You have obviously made your decision. You are so obsessed with getting back to that other world that you won't give your true home a chance. No matter how long your ancestors have been in that world you are still gerudo and I am your king.” He seemed to have spent most of his anger. “I could always order you to be my queen.” He said holding her gaze for a moment. “Do you really think I would obey you?” she said looking down. His expression softened as he thought about it. “No. I guess you wouldn't would you.” He chuckled. “ I don't know why but it is one of your infuriating qualities that I like. Most are so afraid of me that they only tell me what I want to hear. You on the other hand either like to flirt with danger or are ignorant of the peril you are putting yourself in.” Melissa was unsure how to take that. He liked that she resisted him? It made no sense. Many questions popped into head and she could have asked him anything but what came out of her mouth surprised even her. “Exactly how old are you?” She asked him trying to change the subject. He looked unsure. “Is this a matter of age? Do you find my appearance displeasing? ” he said looking at the fire. Did he really think she would judge based on what he looked like? “It's not what you look like at all. Men only get more distinguished as they age. You have character. If I was that shallow I wouldn't be with Jimmy. I like the strange ones.” she said with a grin remembering the joke her and her fiance always shared. “ I just meant that I am in my mid 20's. I wanted you to be aware of the age difference was all.” Melissa said biting her lip. “How old do you think me?” He finally asked. “I wouldn't have asked if I knew.” She said not really wanting to answer in case it would offend him if she said the wrong answer. “ I have always liked older men if that helps.” She said with a giggle. He looked a little shocked at that bit of news. “Jimmy is probably around your age.” She admitted. “ Most people frown on our age difference but age is only a number. You can't help who you fall for so why worry.” Melissa said with a shrug. ”I just didn't know if it was the same here.” Melissa said twirling her hair around her finger nervously. He seemed pleased that she thought that way. She just worried he would think this an advantage in convincing her to stay. It was starting to get cold and Melissa started to shiver. Even though the fire was warm it didn't protect her exposed back. He noticed and moved closer wrapping an arm around her trying to warm her. She should have pushed away but she really did like the attention he gave her... at least sometimes. It was truly unfair of her to let this go on. It would only confuse him, but she couldn't make herself do it.