The Proposal

Did you guess right? Oh, don't expect some sudden gush of emotion or outpouring of love. Just abandon that thought right now. Keep reading.

"Stand at my side," Ganondorf ordered. I walked carefully up to him, until I stood beside him, but not at his side, at the edge of the balcony. "Your skill with a sword and bow are unmatched by your peers, and you are ruthless in battle. You are loyal to a fault, even in the face of death," he praised. "You are a model for all Gerudo to idolize, and I could not have chosen a better general to lead my people to victory over Hyrule."

"Your majesty," I said, shaking my head, although my heart grew wings to hear such praise. "I take lives in the name of my king and I train because failure is not an option. That is all," I said, lying through my teeth.

"Modesty does not become you," he warned with a scowl. "Have you convinced yourself you obey my every command out of dedication alone?"

I was shocked. He was being so direct. I looked away, though in the dark he probably couldn't see the way my cheeks burned.

And worst of all, he continued! "I recognize your actions as being above and beyond the call of duty," he said, suddenly with a smirk. It was like he knew he embarrassed me. "You have always gone out of your way to stand out, to gain attention, as if you have something to prove to someone. And now you act as though you are surprised that I noticed."

Let me tell you, I felt like an idiot. "What's your point?" I asked, cold and impatient. "You can ask any Gerudo, they all thought Nabooru was your perfect queen." It was like I was saying these words just to hurt myself, to remind myself I wasn't as important as I wanted to be.

Ganondorf scoffed. "It is a curse being the king of a race of women," he complained. "No. You are well aware the traitor was never my first choice, although she was cunning, and went to extremes to make everyone believe she would be queen one day."

I clenched my hands into fists. "She never deserved you," I growled quietly.

"I intend to correct that mistake."

He said it as if he heard me. I was humiliated, and quite baffled to his intention. He returned to the throne room behind us, while I remained, thinking on his words and gazing at the shimmering stars. I didn't want to talk about her anymore. I wanted to share this enchanting moment with Ganondorf and forget the rest of the world. Then, in the silence, it hit me. "She wasn't your first choice?"

Suddenly, footsteps alerted me to his return, and I held my breath. He stopped directly behind me. I tore my sword from its scabbard and spun around to attack before he could attack me. My knees turned to water and I struggled to stand firm on my legs when I realized Ganondorf barely brandished his dagger in time to block. His expression held a familiar evil grin of satisfaction. "That, Ganondora, is why you have always been my first choice."

I submissively returned my sword, but I was in shock. "What? I don't... Are you serious? I never thought... I never expected you would say those words to me."

He quietly sheathed his dagger, and then wrapped my hand in his fingers. He led me back inside, which was when I realized the room was empty and the double doors closed tight. The only light was a candle set on a small table in front of his throne. We reached the stand and he freed my hand to pick up the item lying there. "This is an offer you cannot refuse," Ganondorf said smugly. When he turned back to me, a crown dangled in his fingers. The flame of the candle danced against an amber gem exactly like his, embedded in an elegant silver chain.

I could hardly breathe. "You are serious," I said foolishly.

"First, you must agree to be my queen," he reminded, amused at how I was so flustered.

"I... came to terms with myself a long time ago that this day would never happen, and now it feels like I'm dreaming. I never knew how to tell you, how to reach out to you, or admit how I felt because I feared your rejection would drive me insane. Ganondorf, I love you, and it would make me happy to be your queen."

He held the crown out to me and I accepted it to situate the chain around my head so the gem was centered. Tears of joy burned at my eyes. For the first time in my life I could say Ganondorf was mine. "I need to know this is more than just another dream," I whispered, gazing up at his face.

"Allow me to prove how real this is," he said deviously.

I know, I know! I'll skip the X rated stuff. But, I waited years, so just know it finally happened. I wasn't waiting a moment longer.

The ceremony was the next day. That was quite an event.