The Desert Princess

The Gerudo Desert

Naravene Dragmire kicked at the sand at her feet. Sand, sand, sand. Everything was always sand. And hot. Very hot. But to young Nara, the possibility of being able to see her father, even just a few minutes sooner, was worth the heat. 

"Nara!" a voice called. The ten-year-old's head shot up. She grinned and ran over to her father, Ganondorf, King of the Gerudo. He was riding his large black horse, but it took his little energy to hoist his daughter into the saddle in front of him. 

"What is Hyrule like?" Nara immediately asked. She was always curious about the world outside the desert.  

The king sighed, "It's beautiful. Lush green fields and forests. Many lakes and streams. Bustling towns and villages. I wish you could've seen it." He looked at Nara, his gold eyes twinkling, "I will make sure you see it one day. I already have plans." 

A large smile grew on Nara's face as she gazed at her father, "Oh really?! When will I see it?!" 

Ganondorf turned his eyes to the desert ahead, "Soon, I hope." 

Nara turned to the desert as well, "I can't wait!" 

Ganondorf's smile faded, "Neither can I."

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A few weeks later, Nara was sitting on one of the tall walls of the Gerudo Fortress, twisting a small doll in her hands. Suddenly, several Gerudo were running towards the front gate, armed and prepared for battle. Nara stood up and ran to them. 

"What is going on?" she asked a young Gerudo warrior.

"Hylians are trespassing on our land. You better go back to the fortress, where you're safe Miss Naravene." the Gerudo replied. She grabbed the small child's hand, "Come, I'll take you." The two Gerudo were stopped by Hylian soldiers.

"Are they Hylian?" Nara whispered, scared.

The older Gerudo didn't answer her question, but she drew her two scimitars, "Young Princess, get out of here!" 

"Halt! By order of the King of Hyrule!" one Hylian soldier ordered. The Gerudo woman charged at them.

"Run Princess!" she cried.

"Men! Apprehend the Princess of the Gerudo! The daughter of Ganondorf, the traitor!" another soldier yelled. 

So this is what men other than Dad are like... Nara thought as another Gerudo grabbed her arm and pulled her towards the fortress. 

The Gerudo ran into the fortress, dashing down the many cracking and fading walls. Eventually, they were stopped in a dead-end. They pushed Nara to the far wall, standing in front of her, swords drawn as they heard the Hylian soldiers running toward them.

"Girls! Protect the Princess at all costs!" The leader shouted, raising her swords. The other Gerudo hoisted their weapons. Nara's heart started to pound. 

Hylian soldiers poured into the room and began to fight the Gerudo. Nara turned away, not being able to bare watching her people get slaughtered. She held the doll to her chest and started to cry. After a while, the sounds of fighting stopped. Nara felt a strong hand on her shoulder. She turned to look at the person. It was a Hylian. Nara started to try and look around the room, but the Hylian put a hand on her cheek and turned her gaze. 

"Everything will be okay," the Hylian said in a soft voice.

"Where is my daddy?" Nara whispered, tears still running down her face. 

The Hylian's expression turned sad, "You'll see him soon," he replied quietly. He gently picked Nara up, cradling her like a baby. Nara took one last look over his shoulder into the room. She dropped her doll. She started crying again. Blood was everywhere. The Gerudo's mangled bodies were strewn across the floor. 

"What have you done?" Nara hiccuped, burying her face in her hands. She felt the soldier sigh. 

"What had to be done."

=======

Ganondorf looked at the demolished fortress. Anger filled his entire being. 

"Lord Ganondorf! We found a survivor!" a Gerudo soldier called out. Ganondorf ran to her. 

"Where is my daughter?!" he asked, teeth clenched.

The Gerudo blinked in surprise, "The Hylians took her." 

Ganondorf growled. First, the Hylian boy in green ratted his plans out to the King and Princess of Hyrule, and now this?  "Where?"

"They said the Lost Woods." 

Ganondorf's jaw dropped, "When did they leave?"

"About a day ago my Lord." the Gerudo replied before breaking into a coughing fit.

Ganondorf narrowed his amber eyes. The Hylians practically killed his daughter, and they slaughtered his people. "Get her ready to fight. Get everyone prepared for battle."

"Why?"

"Because, this is war."

========

Nara pulled her legs to her chest. She never thought she would wish more for the hot desert air. In the cold, damp, wagon, she wanted nothing more than warmth.

The wagon the Hylians had placed her in jostled and shook. The air was cold and heavy. The room was dark. After what Nara saw, she was miserable, and furious.

After what felt like days, the Hylians dragged her out of the wagon. Nara gasped, they were in front of a giant forest. Looking behind her, she saw a expansive green field. She had never seen anything so large and alive before.

The Hylians shoved her into the forest, closing a colossal gate behind her. Not knowing what else to do, she started to walk. She walked for hours, and hours. The trees rose hundreds of feet above her. A ghost-like mist surrounded everything. After a while, Nara started to feel truly panicked.

"Hello!" she shouted desperately, "Is anyone here?! Hello!" She yelled until her voice was hoarse. She cried until her tears were all gone. She walked until her feet felt like they would fall off. She collapsed into the roots of a large tree. Soon, her young mind comprehended what kind of situation she was in. 

She would never find a way out of this forest.

She would never see her father again.

The Hylians brought her here.

They killed her people.

They brought her here to die.

She was going to die.

Alone.