A Lesson Learned - Ganondorf

I heard the galloping of hooves briefly, before the monstrous moth emitted an ear splitting screech of pain. The claw restraining me was completely removed. It was stunned, and I could see why. An arrow pierced its eye ball, and then a second, and a third.

You have got to be kidding, I remember thinking.

I dreaded before I even looked, I knew I could not be wrong. While I caught my breath, I peered over, and there was my beautiful, strong, and stubborn wife galloping into battle. Dora stood in the stirrups of the saddle with her sword drawn, and her lavish crimson hair whipped in the wind behind her.

Why does she refuse to listen to me?

I would have to deal with her once the beast was eliminated.

I was on my feet quickly. Dora lunged from the horse's back to the back of the moth, and began cutting its wings so it could no longer fly. She used the exoskeleton to hold on when it flailed to toss her off. Just as she was tenacious in obeying, she refused to be thrown off so easily. With the fourth wing removed, the moth was stunned. It collapsed, its one red eye staring at me for mercy as I neared it menacingly. I formed the orb of death again and shoved it into the bug's eye. It was obliterated to dust.

I glared at Dora as she approached me with her arrogant walk. I knew what she was about to say, the cocky tone in which she would say it, and how I would react.

"I guess it's a good thing I showed up when I did."

I said nothing. I allowed her to come stand before me. With one hand clenched into a fist, I smacked my open hand against her cheek.

I had forgotten we were not alone, and my actions created a gasp of surprise from the audience of other Gerudo.

Dora was shocked, and it apparently removed her strength because she fell to her knees. The white of her wide open eyes turned pink. She gazed up at me, hurt and humiliated, confused.

No one else could have made me feel such remorse.

"Ganondorf... I--."

"I ordered you to stay at the castle. You disobeyed me," I reminded her darkly, loudly. I refused to let her break me. "There is nothing more disrespectful!"

"I- I didn't think about it that way. I am so sorry. I was worried," she admitted, choking on her tears. "I couldn't just stand by and do nothing. And if I had you would have been killed."

"Why? Do you lack faith in my strength?" I asked. My voice echoed around the valley in the emptiness surrounding the buildings. I realized the Gerudo were inconspicuously eavesdropping, instead of minding their own business.

"No," she yelled, unnecessarily loud. "If I lost you though... If I did nothing and let you die... I would never forgive myself. I consider it the highest honor to risk my life for yours. Can't you be the slightest bit grateful that I just saved your life?"

Apparently the reason I was angry became invalid the moment my existence came into question. "I admit that you played a large part in subduing the creature, but disobeying me is the greatest act of dishonor."

Her tears suddenly flowed freely.

I heaved a huge sigh. A sigh big enough that my shoulders sank. I know women are complicated, but she always seemed to be a step above the rest in every aspect.

"Then what would you have me do? I thought we were a team. I thought we were going to face your foes together." She gasped and choked around her sobbing. "I love you, and all I ever dreamed of was being at your side to make your ambitions reality."

I overheard a woman express a sigh of tenderness, and I glared at her. That one evil look returned all Gerudo to their previous tasks.

I was quiet while I listened to Dora's hurtful sobs. The truth was I did not delight in her sorrow. I needed to see her smile, more than I ever needed something so foolish before. This frown, these tears, because of me, stole her beauty. I despised this curse she cast on me, which forced me to thrive on her happiness. Honestly, I chose not to resist. I needed her so desperately, to possess her in such selfish ways, without a reasonable explanation.

I could not excuse her actions though. I reached down to her face and slid my fingers tenderly along the side I hurt. I tilted her head up to me, and stared at those mesmerizing yellow eyes and her pouting expression. I pressed my thumb to her lips, and guided her to her feet with my fingers under her jaw. "Who am I to prevent my best warrior, my queen, from fighting at my side, when not even the goddesses could hinder her? From now on, you fight  beside me. You must obey my every command during battle. The next time I will not be so lenient."

I stepped back on one foot to catch my balance when she thrust her arms eagerly around my torso and pressed her head against my chest. "I promise to faithfully listen to you from now on, my king."

I rested my arms around her shoulders. I needed no further proof that she understood her mistake. Nor was there additional evidence needed to prove she was irrevocably mine, and I protected what belonged to me with all my power and strength.