Gerudo Forest Chapter 36

They ended up spending a few days more with the zora. When she had returned to the room he said nothing of her hasty retreat. She had needed time to think on how she truly felt for Ganon. The more she thought about what to do the more lost she felt.

Today he didn't fight with her when she got up. He seemed to be even more tired than the day before. How much longer could he keep the spell up? He really needed to go somewhere he could recuperate and be himself for a little while.

She still felt weak but at least her legs didn't give out underneath her. Her arm itched like crazy after they redressed her wrist and when she complained about it they just told her it meant the herbs used to keep out infections were working. They didn't force her to drink anymore of the nasty liquid at least.

Leaving Ganon to rest she decided to spend the day walking the stone walkways staring into the depths of the pool below her that filled the cavern. She thought of the day before and of what she truly wanted.

"You seem deep in thought. What troubles you?" a male voice said behind her.

She turned to see King Ralis behind her leaning against the banister.

"It's nothing I can really talk about." She said looking back to the water.

"Matters of the heart are rarely an easy subject." He responded casually.

"What makes you think this is a matter of the heart?" Melissa asked trying to play dumb.

"I see more than you think. You have feelings for your companion do you not." He said coming to stand beside her.

They watched a group of zora children racing and chasing fish beneath them.

" Why does everyone seem to say that? Did someone stick a sign on my back while I wasn't looking or something?" Melissa said watching the fish dart away just before the children could catch them.

The Zora laughed. "No it was clearly on your face when you were in the audience chamber begging him to come with you the other day. It's also the way he stayed by your side when you returned unconscious. It shows he feels the same way." He said with a smile.

"It's more difficult than that." she said leaning against the rail.

"Oh? How so?" Ralis asked still watching the children.

They now seemed to be playing a game of tag.

"I am promised to another who I love as well. How do I choose without hurting either of them?" She asked really needing advice.

She didn't think that he would be able to help her with her decision but it was worth asking.

"That is a predicament." The zora said giving her a look of pity.

"I don't know what to do. I... I think I love both of them equally." Melissa  replied upset that she had let this happen.

" No one can really make the choice for you. You will know when the time comes who your meant to stay with. For now don't stress over it. If this helps in any way consider this. You were brought to this world for a reason. Because you belong here." And with that the zora left her to her thoughts again.

Did she belong here? Sure there were things she missed about her home but this world would also hold things she would miss if and when she left. She loved the slower pace of this place. She even didn't mind the lack of technology. Her mom had always said she had been born in the wrong time period. That thought made her laugh to herself.
She felt a step closer to making up her mind and having walked as far as  she could she made her way back to her room to check on how Ganon was doing. He was still resting when she got back. She sat on the bed beside him watching him sleep. He looked content and at peace.

She placed her hand to his cheek and he didn't even stir.  He must be really tired she thought. His face was warm beneath her fingertips as she traced the shape of his face. Was he the one she was meant to be with for the rest of her life?

He opened an eye and looked at her making her jump in surprise. Grabbing her before she could move further away he pulled her on top of him.

"Rest with me." He said closing his eyes again with a smile.

She had spent a lot of energy walking and didn't have the strength to protest. She laid her head against him as he stroked her hair.

There was something she wanted him to understand now that she was close to a decision. If she did choose to stay she wanted this done right. She still hadn't made her mind up but she needed to lay the cards on the table.

"Hypothetically if I choose to stay..." She stopped not knowing how to say this to him.

"What do you mean hypothetically?" he asked cockily making himself comfortable against her.

"Well aren't you full of yourself?" She joked making him laugh.

"Do you really love me or is this because your expected to? Is it because of the sword of kings? How do I know this is for real?"She asked needing to know.

"At first It might have been about you being the sword but it hasn't been that way for a while. Yes my dear. I Love You." He said with a loving look.

She saw no deceit in his face.

"But why? I don't understand why?" She said trying to come to grips with the fact someone other than Jimmy was actually interested in her.  

Melissa knew she wasn't the ugliest person in the world but even in high school no one had ever shown any interest other than her Ex who ended up being gay and had used her as a guinea pig. It had always made her feel there was something wrong with her.

"You put yourself down when you shouldn't. Have more confidence in yourself." He said taking her glasses off to look directly into her eyes. "I love looking in your eyes. I love the feel of you next to me." He hugged her to him.  "You don't treat me like everyone else. You know some of my past yet you are not scared of me. I can be more myself when I am with you. More so than I have ever been able with anyone else I have met. You accept me as I am. You have never tried to change me. I found myself changing on my own. Willingly for you. That is why." He said finishing.

He had given her more reasons than she had expected. She could sort of believe the part about her eyes because even Jimmy and her Ex had said that was one of the things they had loved about her but she was uncertain about the rest of it.

"So tell me about this hypothesis on staying." He said nuzzling his head against her yawning.

That brought Melissa back to the main point she had wanted to make. She had gotten sidetracked but she didn't regret doing so.

"Um... I just wanted to say if for some reason I did stay... Well I... I want to be married before I go all the way... with you." She said embarrassed.

Her cheeks flushed at the thought.

"You would marry me?" He whispered in her ear toying with the necklace around her neck.

"I don't know. I have a big decision to make. I have been grappling with this for a while now. I am still not sure but I guess if I did stay... I might." She admitted.

There was an awkward silence between the two. Neither of them knew what to say to each other. Had she really just said might marry him?

"You know we are going to have to go to the Temple of Time next." Melissa said trying to change the subject thinking of the next destination.

"Don't remind me." He said with a sigh.

"We could always check another temple if your not ready to see her. We could go to the Forest Temple or even go to see if Link was successful at the Shadow Temple." Melissa offered trying not to say Nabooro's name.

"No... It's okay. We should get it over with." He said clenching his fist. "I guess it is time to tell you of Nabooro and I." He said a look of pain crossing his face. "I was King and she the leader and most skilled of our people. We were told we would marry." He said looking distant.

" So it was an arranged marriage?" She asked interested on what could of happened that he wouldn't want to talk about it.

He nodded. "She felt forced into it but I had never felt that way. She was the first women to intrigue me. I don't know if it was love or not but I felt for her at one time."

Melissa wondered who else had intrigued him if Nabooro had been the first.
"Did you ever get married?" Melissa asked curious.

" We never had the chance. Things at that time were hectic and when I found out that she was betraying me and our people I..." He stopped.

He looked away unable to finish.

"You used her. You made her fight against her will using sorcery. Using her as a weapon." Melissa finished for him.

He didn't deny it.

"What must you think of me?" He said placing his head in his hand.

When she stayed silent he continued. "I would never do anything like that to you. I was younger then and less in control of myself. As king my people expected a lot of me. I know it doesn't excuse what I did but the easiest way to gain their obedience was through fear. I had... have a reputation to uphold. As king I am not allowed to show any sign of weakness." He said with a look of sadness.

Melissa was unsure of how to respond.

"Please say something to me." He said worriedly.

Was he really troubled by what she thought?

"It isn't up to me to forgive you. That is up to Nabooro." She finally said trying to be diplomatic about it.

He studied her face for a moment. What was he looking for?

"You know much about me yet I know only a little about you."He said sitting up dragging her with him.

" Well there is not much to know." she said not really wanting to talk about herself.

She felt stupid saying stuff like how much she loved to draw or that her last favorite movie had been Avatar. That she had even dressed up like a Na'vi at the last convention she had went to. Blue body paint and everything. He wouldn't even know what she was talking about. She shook her head.

"Fine my mysterious girl. I have a lifetime to learn your secrets." He chuckled.
She was relieved that he dropped the subject.

"Very confident aren't you." she said pushing herself away from him to get up and tidy the room. "Your so messy but I guess I don't really have any right to judge since my apartment is always a mess as well." She sighed picking up stuff she hadn't even known he had packed.

Apparently he had even brought books from his library. Thank god this wasn't his real room or she would be at this all night.

"I can do that later." He said getting up placing an arm around her waist to still her. "You seem to be feeling better." He observed. "Do you think you would be up to moving on tomorrow? Trinexx is probably wondering where we went." He said with a tired smile.

"I'm ready now. Do we have to wait another night?" She asked ducking under his arm and resumed cleaning.

"What is your hurry?" He asked watching with a smirk  as she rushed around the room putting stuff up .

She was starting to feel antsy. Like something bad was coming and she wanted to be gone before it did. She had never told anyone about the voices that guided her at the temple nor the feelings she would get when Agahnim was near. She feared they would only think her crazy but when this feeling came over her trouble was never far behind. Should she say something? She didn't think he would believe her.

"We just need to get out of here before you let that spell drain you completely. What if the wizard finds a way up here?" She said stuffing the last of his things into his bags.

"You worry too much. He can not make it up here and even if he did I could still take him." Ganon said confidently.

She frowned not convinced.

"Fine. As soon as I have gathered some supplies we will go. You might want to go thank Rutulla before we leave. Meet me back here when you are done." He said giving in.

Melissa forgot she hadn't seen the sage in a few days. She wondered if she would be with Ralis in the audience hall. Making her way across the stone bridges she felt her worry grow stronger. They needed to leave soon.

She ran into the hall.  Startling Rutulla and Ralis  who had been chatting but stopped as she she entered breathless.

"What is the matter?" Ralis asked alarmed by her entrance.

Once she had caught her breath she answered him.

"I came to thank Rutulla for saving my life." She said giving them both a bow.

"You are quite welcome." Rutulla said giving her a warm smile. "You seem to be feeling much better but why were you running?" She asked concerned.

" We are going to continue the quest as soon as my friend has gathered what we need for the journey. I fear the wizard might be on his way and..." She stopped when they gave her a strange look.

"How do you know he is coming?" The sage asked pulling her to the side.

"I... just have this bad feeling." She stammered knowing the zora wouldn't understand.

"Do you get them when the wizard is around?" She asked urgently.

Why did she want to know that?

" Recently yes." She admitted.

Well they weren't looking at her like she was crazy yet. The zora took her hand and let out a sigh.

"I should have known. Especially after the temple when you lit the lights. Do you hear the voices?" Rutulla seemed to know something.

"What is wrong with me?" Melissa asked waiting expectantly for an answer.

"There is nothing wrong with you. I fear for now it is better if you not know the answer." the zora said with a worried look.

What was Melissa supposed to do with an answer like that? This made her more uneasy than before.

"Be safe." the zora said urging her to go.

What was going on? The zora wasn't giving her anytime to ponder and was already ushering her to leave as quick as she could.

"I thank you for all you have done. After we leave just don't open the waterfall." Melissa said giving them one last look before running back to the room to wait for Ganon.

All she could do was pace the room till he returned. Every time she learned something new it always led to more questions. Why could she not get a straight answer? Ganon returned shortly and put what he had bought into the bags.

"What's wrong?" He asked noticing the look of frustration on her face.
She was so tired of people asking her that.

" Nothing's wrong. You ready to go?" She asked struggling to pick up one of his bags.  
He gave her a skeptical look but didn't push it.

"Give that to me. I can carry the bags." He said lifting it from her shoulder effortlessly.

"Don't treat me like a weakling. I can carry something." She argued.

"Hold this then." He said tossing a key her way.

"And what is this for?" She asked catching it.

"That will power the rope car." He said with a smile. "I thought you might enjoy riding down."

"Did you steal this?!?" Melissa asked upset but not really shocked.

"We are just borrowing it. I don't want you straining yourself so soon after just getting better." He said defensively .

Melissa shook her head but couldn't help but smile. It was sweet of him to think of her like that even if it was wrong of him to take the key without permission. Oh well... he was the king of the Gerudo thieves after all.

"I promise it will be returned. Now if you are ready we should go before it is missed." He said opening the door.

They made it out without any complications. No one had noticed the key missing and Melissa hoped the zoras would forgive them for this. The weather seemed to have cleared up on the mountain. The snow had melted and even the trees and plants were budding out anew. She breathed in the fresh air as sun warmed her face. It felt good to be outside. Everything was returning to normal at least for the zoras.

Looking to Lake Hylia she could see dark clouds gathering. It might rain. Maybe she had picked the wrong time to want to leave. They made it to the station and opened the door. There was no one there to operate the car. Hopefully it wouldn't be hard to figure out.  She didn't see controls anywhere.

"In here." Ganon said motioning her to the car.

Inside there was a lever and a hole for a key. She inserted the key he had given her and it fit perfectly.

"Alright let's go!" She said enthusiastically pulling the lever down and with a lurch they were off.

It traveled slowly giving them time to enjoy the sights below. Lightning flashed in the distance and the lake reflected it. It was almost as if they were getting their own private light show as they traveled down to the lower car station.

As they reach the bottom the clouds had rolled in completely and the rain was starting to fall. The clown man looked shocked when they stepped out of the car.

"Stay here." Ganon said dropping his bags with a heavy thud.

He went back in and pulled the lever sending the car and the key back making it impossible for anyone who was down here to use it. Is that what he considered returning? Oh well at least it was on its way back up. It actually made her relieved. She was worried that Agahnim might get a hold of the key and terrorize the zora.

"What did you do that for?" The clown asked.

"Cars are still closed." Ganon said not even bothering to explain.

Picking up his bags he walked to the door to leave ushering her along with him. Melissa spotted something on the wall. It was a wanted poster with her face on it. Just what she needed! She had been worried after Agahnim had seen her in the dream at Death Mountain. Next to her's was a picture of Ganon's real form. At least Ganon could still sneak into a village or two. She noticed the reward for  the  gerudo had tripled and she was hoping they were giving the wizard hell.

"Wait" the clown man said. "Isn't that you in the picture lady?"

They turned to see the man holding a dagger. Ganon just scoffed summoning a fire ball which mad the man squeak and drop his weapon.

"We could share the reward." The clown said trying to appeal to him which only made Ganon throw the ball at the man.

The man cowered under his desk after the fire ball barely missed him. Ganondorf seemed to be enjoy the man's fear. He even laughed at it.

"Can we go now?" Melissa said a little nervous at how much her friend was enjoying this.

When he saw how she was looking at him he snapped back to being serious. He held out his hand and opened the door to a wall of rain.

"We can not go back now." Ganon said seeing the look of apprehension on her face.

"Come." He said hand still extended.

She grabbed his free hand and they stepped out into the storm.

As they ran across the bridges she kept an eye out for Trinexx. They found the Horse alright but it's reigns were being held by a figure. She had been so distracted by the rain and her thoughts of what Ganon had just done she hadn't felt the feeling of dread creeping up on her. Lightning flashed illuminating Trinexx struggling to break free from a man in a hooded robe. Though she couldn't see his face she knew right away who it was.

"Ah so this is how you have been avoiding capture." The man said dropping his hood  staring at Ganon with red calculating eyes.

Ganon put himself between her and the wizard. This was not going to go well. Ganon hadn't even had time to regain some strength.

"Have you thought over my offers?" The wizard said with a vile grin.

"I'm afraid we will have decided to decline." Ganon said dropping his things shooting an energy blast trying to take the wizard by surprise.

Agahnim only deflected it back at Ganon who in his state was unable to shield himself. He collapsed to his knees but did not cry out.

"Stop it." Melissa said rushing to Ganondorf's side.

" Does he truly speak for you as well my dear?" The wizard said appearing behind her grabbing her by the hair. The wizard yanked her to her feet causing a scream to escape her lips.

"Leave her alone." Ganon snarled getting back to his feet but before he could get closer the wizard had a knife to her throat making Ganon stop.

"Don't be rude." Agahnim said send a wave knocking Ganon back off his feet.

" I was asking the young lady a question. You must wait your turn. Learn some manners." The wizard said with a creepy laugh.

She knew Ganon had pushed himself to far the past few days. She couldn't help but feel this was her fault.

"So my dear what have you decided?" Agahnim whispered into her ear.

She needed to be brave.

"He speaks for me." She spat.

He didn't like that answer and threw her to the ground beside Ganondorf who came to her side to make sure she was okay.

"So you choose this monster over your home?" Agahnim hissed at her.

"Your the monster!" She shouted angrily trying to pick herself up.

"Ha! Then you do not know this man at all. His heart is as black as the night. Would you like me to show you?" The wizard said letting an evil smile spread across his face again.

The wizard pulled out a black wedge shaped item from his robes. Lightning revealed runes crudely carved all over it. What the hell was it? It looked like a fragment of the black stone thing they had pulled out of the centipede creature. "

I will show you the monster he truly is." Agahnim said disappearing and reappearing behind Ganon stabbing the wedge into his chest.

Ganon cried out.

"No!" Melissa screamed throwing herself at the wizard grabbing a hold of him.

She let the flames cover her trying to catch him on fire and cause some sort of damage. The rain was making it difficult letting Agahnim push her off him. She could at least see she had burned him where her hands had been. A hand shaped burn marked his wrist and his robe. Raising his hand and moving it swiftly to the right put her flames out.  She was no match for the wizard and she knew it. Ganon was writhing in pain on the muddy ground trying not to cry out.

"No more of that now." The wizard said grabbing her by the throat. " I will give you one last chance to reconsider my offer. I will not be so generous again." he said dropping her next to Ganon.

Surprisingly she saw no blood as she scrambled to his side. He was breathing heavily and wasn't responding to her touch. The wedge stuck out of his chest.

"Oh! Don't bother trying to remove it. It will only lodge its self deeper." Agahnim said with a smirk. "I must leave you for now my friend. Enjoy your monster." The wizard said turning to give Melissa a bow like he had done her some favor then disappeared.