Confession

I was not as excited about being rescued as I should have been. I turned away from Ganondorf, into the adjacent corridor where one torch in the center lit up an intersection of halls. He didn't ask, because he was probably able to put the pieces of the puzzle together, but I told him what happened anyway. "I was going to bed, and they jumped me right there outside my room." I looked down at my wound. It stung, it hurt like nothing I'd ever experienced. There was blood everywhere. My breathing was quick and shallow, and I closed my eyes to focus on something other than the pain. I leaned against the wall for support. I lost more blood than I realized. I turned my head to look back at him, wondering why he hadn't made a comment, but his eyes were on the trail of blood on the floor. Genuine concern flashed through his eyes.

I closed my eyes for a second and Ganondorf appeared at my side. "You're wounded," he said, as if I hadn't realized.

"I'll be fine," I lied, and hobbled away from him.

"You're impossible. Why didn't you tell me?"

This was not at all the reaction I expected from someone who obviously cared little about my well being. If that was true, why was he there in the first place? As crazy as it sounds, he went to scoop me up in his arms. Yes, literally scoop me up with one arm behind my knees and one behind my shoulders, and I limped away from him before he could. My pride was like steel.

"Because I'm fine," I repeated through gritted teeth. "I'll have the medical team look at it," I said, and kept walking away from him. "You should stop worrying about me, and go find Nabooru," I added sourly. I just couldn't look at him. This was all his fault. Had he just gotten rid of her before, I would have never been hurt so badly. I was mad for refusing his help, because I'd have loved nothing more than for him to sweep me off my feet, but my pride couldn't accept it.

"The only one who should be worried is you," he said defensively. He followed me. It's not like I was hard to keep up with. I grew dizzy. I reached forward and gripped the wall to pull myself forward, and leaned on it after every step. I knew I needed help fast. The reality of my impending death started to sink in. Ganondorf knew it too, because he stuck his arm out in front of me, with his fingers pressed against the wall, to block my path. His head was level with mine, so when he turned and glared at me it made my stomach jump. "You are so stubborn. You would rather die than accept my help?"

I glared right back at him defiantly. "I refuse to let you help because I'm so mad at you." Apparently being prideful was more important than living. I tried to push passed him, but the effort I exerted made me so dizzy I collapsed. Guess what? He caught me, in his big strong arms. He picked me up and carried me across his chest as if I were a child. It was like a dream. No, it really was because I lost so much blood everything felt surreal. It was the most significant display of affection he had ever shown. I know this part was real, because I will never forget the last thing I did before passing out. I tenderly grazed his face, from forehead to chin, with my fingertips, and then lost consciousness.

I didn't know what to think when I came to my senses. I opened my eyes and jolted upright. At least, I tried to, but this strong hand pressed on my chest and forced me to stay laying down. I must have thought I was still fighting or something. My heart pounded in my chest out of panic. It was seconds before I took in my surroundings. The bed I lay in was huge, the room was dark except for the hearth which burned bright and warm. The hand on my chest moved away since I was calm, and I found the hand belonged to...

"Ganondorf? What happened? Where am I?" I questioned, taking deep breaths.

"Let me answer that in reverse order so you can't be too surprised or humiliated. First of all, you're in my bed. Secondly, you almost died."

My mind sparked with the last few minutes before I passed out. I slowly sat up to reach down and checked my side. The wound was practically gone. Only a scar remained as if it was ten years old. I did feel surprised, and humiliated. Jerk. "Did you heal me? I didn't know you could do that."

"Yes. It would have been poor judgement for the key player in my victory to fight with a severe wound, or allow my esteemed general to die."

I twisted so my legs hung over the edge of the bed and my feet rested on the floor. I couldn't bring myself to look at him. "Th-thank you, for saving my life," I said quietly, my pride severely wounded.

"At least you haven't forgotten how to be grateful, or maybe you realize how foolish you've been acting," he said with a cocky attitude.

I folded my hands together. "Maybe. What were you doing in the corridor to my room?" I wondered.

I counted the seconds before he answered. I finally looked up, to watch and wait. I'd never seen him hesitate like that before. He did not look at me when he said, "It's not important."

That just fired me right back up. "Why didn't you just put me back in my room, or in the infirmary? Nabooru probably flipped out when she found me here."

"You only slept for thirty minutes, not several hours. Besides, we need to talk before I have words with her."

"What is there to talk about? Nabooru will give you a reason to turn a blind eye to this, just like everything else she's done against the Gerudo," I remarked, the volume of my voice growing.

"Did sparring with me teach you nothing about who I am?" he asked sharply, and I saw his piercing, yellow eyes again. "Or did you forget to pay attention because you were too busy living in denial?"

"I did pay attention. It was during our matches that I... Nevermind! That's why I keep telling you that I know you aren't blind, I know you can't possibly believe her act. You are wise, cunning, powerful, a true leader." Perfect. I should have said perfect. 

"Then you should already know why it was important to keep Nabooru close. I told you to trust me. Do you?" No matter how angry he looked, his voice and tone were constantly even and superior, as if he had practiced to keep it that way.

"Yes," I answered, without hesitation. "I'm just really mad at you."

I couldn't admit it, but I was still heartbroken. Not that he cared if I was in love with him or not, but he had made it obvious he already knew. It still didn't mean I could speak the words out loud!

"I can't say I blame you, but these feeble emotions blinded you to my entire scheme," he explained with a smirk.

My eyes widened with shock and I felt like a naive child. "You did this on purpose?"

"Your emotional nature is intriguing. You fight so fiercely because you feel so passionately. It was amusing to watch your struggle to win my affection from Nabooru, when she never really possessed it."

I was relieved, so I smiled softly. "You are a cruel man to play with a woman's heart, but I already knew you weren't a kind, selfless man. However, because you dragged her around for so long she tried to have me killed."

"For that, Dora, I... I did not anticipate that. That is why it is time to end this farce."

I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I didn't know how to feel, but I was just glad to be talking normally with him again. "Anyway, what type of leader has her minions do all the dirty work for her?" I mocked with a cruel chuckle. He agreed.

I can't explain in words how special and important I felt. I rested in his bed after almost dying, because he had come to my rescue and carried me there. He explained his goal to me, and my instinct had been right all along. I was elated that, in the end, I had truly known Ganondorf best, inside and out. Perhaps he didn't need me to save him from Nabooru, but looking back, I know we both regret not banishing her sooner. The damage she caused the Gerudo was irreversible.