Gerudo Forest

Chapter 45

They went to work straight away moving benches from what looked to be a room where most of the girls went to eat. She wondered why no one had told her this was here. She had been just going to the kitchen. Oh well she knew about it now. She recognized one of the women helping her carry the bench. She was the gerudo who the hylian soldier had been choking in front of her children. The woman seemed to remember her as well because she kept glancing at her as they placed the bench at the last table. Melissa tried to talk to her but everyone dispersed after their goal had been reached to start the next set of preparations. All except Telma who sat down wiping the sweat from her face.  

"Wow I don't know how they do it. I am burning up." Telma exclaimed fanning herself.  

"Well what did you expect? This is a desert." Melissa grinned feeling the same sometimes. "So I thought I saw Anju and Talo with someone the other day. Did they find their mother?" Melissa asked curious on how the two kids were doing.  

"Why yes! There mother is quite grateful to you and..." Telma stopped not quite able to say Ganon's name. "The kids asked about you two just the other day. Anju still wants that ride." Telma said with a wink making Melissa laugh.  

Melissa watched as Hylian and gerudo alike hustled here and there. 

"He's not as bad as you think you know."Melissa said leaning back as a warm breeze blew past them but Telma hadn't heard her.  

She stared behind her looking alarmed.  

"What's wrong?" She asked turning around to see Ganon right behind her smiling.  

He was wearing a smaller version of the robes that fit much better and he had let his hair down letting it drape over his shoulders. She guessed he was in relaxed mode. It seemed it wasn't just Telma affected by his appearance. Everyone had stopped what they were doing. Was his presence really that overwhelming?  

"Mrs. Telma. How has your stay been so far?" he asked courteously with a smirk.  

She could tell he was still enjoying her fear.  

"It has been fine." She responded timidly. "I just remembered I have something I need to attend to." Telma said backing up before leaving in a hurry.  

He watched her leave then turned to Melissa with a shrug. Melissa guessed she couldn't expect the woman's feelings to change about someone she had learned to fear most of her life just like that.  

"So how about that ride?" He said putting an arm around her waist and leading her off to the stables.  

Everyone was watching them and it made her uneasy. She could already see them whisper. Ganondorf of course took no notice of it. When they had reached the stables Trinexx was already saddled waiting for them at the entrance. He placed her on the horses back and mounted behind her pulling her close in front of everyone making her embarrassed. All she wanted to do was hide as he directed Trin forward starting at a trot.  

Why was he doing this? Was he letting everyone see them together on purpose? She couldn't figure out what he was up to. It wasn't till they reached the gate to the desert that he moved Trinexx into a gallop.  

"Ok what the hell was that?!?!?" she yelled upset over the wind. 

He just laughed wholeheartedly burying his head in her hair.  

"I have something I want to show you." He said in her ear before straitening up ignoring her question.  

What could he possibly have to show her in the middle of the desert? They were going quite a ways out and she still hadn't seen any sign of what he could possibly want her to see. She thought maybe it was the withered tree but they had passed that a long time ago and were now about to crest a sand dune.