The Hylian Prince was putting his clothes back on, Naboru and a few bold Gerudo were watching him with longing. He may have set rules that they do not agree to, but they had been in fear of extinction for so long due to not having a King. And now that they finally had one, he was not staying with them.
Deep down, they all understood his reasoning as to why he needed to head back. It was in their best interest not to stir Hyrule, and that included keeping the existence of a new Hylian Gerudo King a secret. Naboru will continue functioning as their leader on appearance, but in reality, she will be receiving instruction from the Gerudo King.
LINK POV
*Do not lie to me, were you planning this all along?*
No, I was just going for the membership. But Tali refused to acknowledge me and mentioned that the sand goddess would disapprove. THAT gave me the idea, and the opportunity was too good to pass on.
*Having a group of mercenary females at your disposal does sound good, but you now have to tend to them*
And you think I can't? I won't be having sex with any of them, I just have to come up with a plan to keep them relatively well feed, dressed and away from outlaw practices. I still am Farore's champion, luck has always smiled my way, something will present itself.
*If you say so, my all-mighty King of the thieves HAHA*
Link mounted Epona, briefly nodded at Naboru and rode off. While riding the mare, he started thinking about the realization that the Gerudo tribe resorted to thievery due to lack of resources, not because they enjoyed it.
Watching how they were interacting with Epona made him absolutely sure of one thing, the red head thieves were not evil. That realization made him willing to bet that the tribe could easily leave behind criminal practices.
Ziel arrived to the castle, dismounted his mare and headed inside. Once he entered his room, he immediately noticed Zelda reviewing some papers that currently lay on his desk. The Princess noticed Link's arrival, but she didn't get up from the desk chair.
"Why are you here?" Link closes the door "Do those papers involve me in anyway?"
Zelda finally looks up at him and smiles "No, its information about my latest suitor and some blank paper to write him a letter… I am here because I felt the need to share the good news with you" she smiles "I think I found the next king of Hyrule"
Links eyes open wide and then he frowns.
What the fuck? Who is he? Which are the metrics she is using to measure his capability for the task?
"Do I know him?"
"I don't think so; he became a noble a year ago"
Ziel leaned over her from behind, his arm brushing hers as he reached for the papers, eyes scanning the lines she had just been reading. The page showed a picture of Agus and information about his trade.
"Meaning you don't know him either, he has not been around long enough to evaluate his performance as a noble. Yet, he was able to draw your attention, please tell me it was not because he is young and attractive"
Zelda flushes a little and shakes her head "Of course not, his looks are definitely a plus though. Agus does not smell like sweat, or like he bathed in cologne. He is very respectful, even to the servitude. And he is very shy, but if push comes to shove, he is capable of biting back to defend himself or other people that may need it… Similar to Robert, but less edgy"
All right, that does not sound bad at all.
The Princess sighs "I just hope he is able to maintain his nobility title a few more years. He had a stroke of luck last year with his business, but right now he is struggling to keep the earnings high enough to maintain his nobility title"
Link raises the papers again and asks. "Here it says that he deals in livestock products, what does that mean exactly?"
"Agus sells goat milk and butter, right now he is trying to sell the heard's baby goats, but nobody wants to buy them since they are too young to produce milk or too small to feed on them"
BINGO!!!
"And yes, I am aware I may be making a huge claim, but the rest of the suitors have been… I feel like I was searching for cooper, but found gold"
Link smiles "Not gold sweetheart, I think you found a diamond" the Hero tousles Zelda's hair playfully. She squeals with a smile.
"I am interested in meeting him for a trade; do you want me to deliver your letter when I meet him tomorrow?"
Zelda shakes her head "No need, he said he will be back in short, to show some products to Ivanna, I will hand him my letter then"
"Are you writing him a love letter? It should be him courting you, not the other way around"
The Princess turns on the chair and punches Link on the stomach earning a groan from the Prince.
"ITS NOT A LOVE LETTER, just to notify him that I will be traveling a lot, hence he may not always find me, but if he really needs to tell me something, he can write a me letter. I will read every time I get back to the castle" she chuckles "Just making sure my trips to the quantum world won't affect this relation"
I had completely forgotten about that.
*A blatant lie, you were hoping that dating suitors would force her to stay in Hyrule*
"There is not getting rid of you is there?" Link stares intensely at the Princess, as she poked her tongue out just enough to taunt him.
Raziel turns around and opens his dorm's door to leave. But once he opened the door, he froze for a split second and leaned on the door frame trying to hide Zelda from view. Agus, opens his eyes wide and slowly lowers the fist he was going to use to knock. This man stood an inch higher than Link, had short dark brown hair, and thick eyebrow over his green eyes.
"Good afternoon my Prince, I am Agus, a new noble from Hateno Village. I have come to ask if you, per chance, know where Princess Zelda is. I knocked on her door but nobody answered"
Link snaps his left hand's fingers to draw the young noble's attention, then straights his own posture and points at his eyes with his index and middle finger glaring at Agus. The merchant suitor immediately grasps what Prince Raziel was wordlessly trying to communicate: ¨Straighten yourself and hold my stare¨, so he immediately fixed his posture looking at Link straight in the eyes. He felt intimidated by the Prince, but bit down on his fear. Link half smiled.
"She is inside my dorm, out of her own volition…" Link steps out of hell and closes the door behind him nodding at the Princess.
"But right now, I want to have a business discussion with you. Zelda tells me that you sell goat products?"
Agus smiles "That is my trade. I sell goat milk, goat cheese, goat yogurt…"
Link side smiles "Excellent, are you per chance interested in making goat butter?"
"Ha Ha. Not really your highness, I have done it already and it tastes really good, but I require a lot of carbon or wood to keep the flames burning long enough to make it… not worth it"
A low chuckle rolled from the Prince's throat "You know, there is a place that during the day is constantly at 40-45 °C"
Agus opens his eyes wide and starts stuttering "G…G… Gerudo V… Valley, I…"
"They have a reputation, but in the last years, they have been cordial and respectful. Right now, they need commerce if they want to stay away from illegal behavior, and you need to up your earnings to keep your title. Perfect fit if you ask me"
The new noble looks down at the floor "If you put it like that, it's just… I don't trust them"
Link grabs Angus by the shoulders "You don't need to trust them, trust ME. I will write a treaty that benefits both parties, and supervise everything from now on about this partnership"
Link sighs "Keep in mind that the Gerudo don't value Hylian rupee, they are not a very social group that would indulge in leaving the Valley to search for necessary products. BUT they would be more than happy if you pay for their services with nourishment, which they are lacking on. Cheese, goat steak whenever you kill the goats, dried meat, goatskin"
Agus ponders a little and half smiles "could it also be sausages? I always end up having some left"
Link nods "I don't think they have tasted those, but they will love them. You need to give yourself time to go negotiate with them, and don't forget telling me when you want to do this. So I can be there too and make sure that both parties behave fairly" the Hero winks and extends his hand.
Agus thinks about it for a second, but shakes the Prince's hand closing the deal.
ZELDA POV
The Princess was done writing the letter, but she refused to get out of hell. She didn't want to interrupt their negotiation.
I wonder what the negotiation with Agus is about. And how the meeting with Naboru went for Link… I mean, he came back kind of late, but in good spirits I believe.
Zelda suddenly hears knocking on the door. She smiles, grabs the letter from the desk, and opens Link's dorm.
Angus smiled dashing Zelda with his bright green eyes "Hello my Princess… once again, I am terribly sorry for leaving in the middle of our date to tend to business. But I am here now"
"I was not bothered in the least Agus, I know tending to your business is important if you want to keep your title. All in all, I am left with the impression that you are responsible and reliable" Zelda smiles and winks at Agus, then hands him the letter.
Agus quickly reads it.
"Princess, I understand. The reason why I love my business is because I travel a lot to make deliveries. There is something magical about the voyage. If you tell me that you will be busy making trips for your own growth, I believe you. this will not cool down the courtship, at least on my end" he laughs a little.
"Why not just tell me? why the need to write it on a letter?" Agus asks.
"To make it a formality and give you power. As long as you have that letter, you can use it against me if I fail you. Is the best way I can think of for requesting you to wait for me if I am not around, and assure you that I am taking this courtship seriously" Zelda says solemnly.
"This… was not needed, but thank you. As I said, I believe you, and I will wait whenever it comes to it. I brought some sausages, maybe we can ask the cook to prepare them and dine them before I leave?"
"Yes, let's do that… Agus, can I ask you what where the Prince and you discussing about"
Agus presents his arm for the Princess to take and starts walking with her down the stairs.
"He proposed a business alliance with the Gerudo tribe"
Zelda gasps "BUT WHY THEM? I mean, I know MY people, and I know some may be inclined to do mischief, but most of them are good working people. Of the Gerudo tibe I have only experienced how savage and merciless they can be" she says with a scowl.
Agus hesitates a few seconds before speaking "Yes, they can be monsters… but also, they themselves took care of executing the Gerudo who attacked the castle. Hylians and Gerudo are not friends, but they have shown that we can coexist. We can't judge them all by the sins of a few, like we cannot say all Hylians are good, can we?"
Zelda breaths in deeply and exhales "Fair… but the tribe is too secluded to allow us to judge their character and work ethics. Can you really trust them?"
Agus chuckles recognizing himself on the Princess "I don't need to trust them; I only need to trust Prince Raziel. He will be overseeing this arrangement. I may have only met him once… but he exudes confidence and competence. I trust him"
Of course you fucking trust Ziel… that sly wolf is too fucking charming, he can be ripping your legs off while you smile at how cute he looks doing it.
The Princess sighs "So do I. If he says you can proceed with this business alliance, then is in your best interest to do so"
Agus smiles, hugs her and gives her a kiss in her forehead. "It's getting late; I should be heading back to Hateno. Have a good and pleasant night my beautiful Princess"
The merchant suitor bows respectfully and heads down the stairs.
I think I like him, not saying that I am not going to give a shot to the rest, but he made an impression… and he also has Link's approval. What more could I ask for?
[Image of water dripping down Ziel's neck] Zelda shakes her head furiously in an attempt to dispel that image from her brain. Then enters her room closing the door.
LINK POV
Raziel had written a few instructions on a sheet of paper, folded it and opened his window noticing that the sun had finally set. So, he swung out the window, fingers scraping the cold stone as he hauled himself upward scaling the wall, boots finding their grip as he rose toward the castle's peak.
Once up there, a figure came out of hiding dressed completely in black and bowed to him. "Do you require my services your Majesty?"
"Yes Tali, I need you to deliver these instructions to Naboru"
The Gerudo tilts her head as she raises up "Instruction on what my liege?"
"I found a product only we could be able to effectively mass-produce. I know you are not interested in commerce with Hyrule, but if we make an alliance with a particular merchant, he will pay us in meat produce… All the details are already written for Naboru. I became aware of the food scarcity in Gerudo Valley, and I know it's not always the case. But it would be a mistake to deny this opportunity…"
Tali smiles behind what she was using to cover her hair and face without obstructing her eyes; it resembled a balaclava "You are our King… we would not even dare to refute if you ordered us to accept this alliance"
Link narrows his eyes at Tali "I am your King? Why do you suddenly accept me? What happened?"
Tali shakes her head chuckling "It would be stupid of me to still refuse you after this" she places her hands on her womb "I just started my period after years of its absence" she says as tears start coming out of her eyes.
Link tilts his head, but when he finally assimilates what Tali just said, his eyes open wide.
She… it worked? The Gerudo are fertile again? THIS IS HUGE.
*I believe the word to describe this is MIRACLE, and now that they are able to reproduce again, they need to have a stable food source, they need this alliance with Agus*
Ziel starts laughing low, but soon crack in loud laughter opening his arms to hug Tali. The red head continued to cry, but approaches to hug her King with a smile. After a minute, she starts backing away.
"I will start heading back to the fortress to give Naboru your instructions, and notify her of the big news. I should be back today in the middle of the night or tomorrow morning"
"Don't you need a few days to recover? Cramps, overall weakness and who knows what else"
"No need my Lord. I am a Gerudo, we are not as fragile as Hylian females. We push through this like a breeze… By the way, thank you for requesting for me to be the messenger, I don't know if you did it to save me from the whipping, or because you still found me capable… but thank you"
Link raises his left index and middle finger "Both"