Note This story is about Ganon's parents and features mostly original characters.

He was dying, there was no doubt about it. He could feel himself fading away as his soul flowed into the son Shafali was carrying. His time was at it's end. In fact, he was almost certain that tonight was his last night. He had come out here, to the roof of the Gerudo Fortress to say goodbye to it all. The stars and moon had never been more radiant to his eyes, it seemed as if they had come out to bid him farewell.

Ghabriel Dragmire was not sad or afraid to face death. All his life he'd known this day would come. It was just the way of things. The old giving away for the new. It was something he had accepted a long time ago. Soon, his son would be born, and someday he would take Ghabriel's place as king of the Gerudo. Ghabriel whished he would be able to guide the boy, to help mold him into a good king. But that was not the Gerudo's way. When a new male child was born, the father would pass on, but his spirit would remain with the child. This way, the new king would inherit his fore-father's knowledge and wisdom. Ghabriel wondered if that was enough.

There was one thing troubling him though, and that was concerning his son's mother. Ghabriel had lived through Hyrule's brutal civil wars, and in those dark years before the peace was called, he'd seen alot of ugliness. But never had he met anyone with a soul as black and corrupt as Shafali's. Looking at her was like looking at a rose infested with crawling maggots. To be sure, she was beautiful, but there was something about the woman that awaoke a quiet fear within Ghabriel. He never would have married her, but the oracles said she was the one who would produce a son. There hadn't been much of a choice. He heard a sound behind him and turned to see his first and most beloved wife, Tantari, watching him. Seeing her made him smile. They had been wed for so long, Ghabriel couldn't exactly remember when he'd ever been without her. Tantari sat beside Ghabriel and put her arm around him. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"Just enjoying the night." He smiled down at her, "it's nice to hear quiet for once."

"When I woke up and you were gone...I started thinking all kinds of things..." She shook her head and grinned in a shame faced way. "Silly, isn't it?" "No, it's not."

Tantari looked away from him, letting her gaze rest upon the moon washed deset. In the distance stood the Colossus, the great temple and tomb of the Gerudo. The resting place of all the past kings. Tantari thought of how soon Ghabriel would be laying among them, and she sighed softly.

Are you alright?" Ghabriel asked after hearing Tantari's sigh.

"Yes, yes...fine. Are you?"

Well considering everything, I feel pretty good actually."

She thought for a moment then asked, "you're not sad to be...leaving, are you?" He took her hand genty, "I'm not leaving, Tari. I'm dying. You can say it, it's not a bad word."

Tears pooled in Tantari's amber colored eyes before she could blink them away. "It's not the right one though, not for you."

"Maybe not. But no, I'm not sad. I've been here long enough, almost a hundred years now. I'm just tired, thats all."

She wiped her eyes quickly, unwilling to give in to her grief yet. "I suppose. What a hundred years it's been though, eh?"

"Yes." Ghabriel mused thoughtfully, "several wars, a tentative peace..."

"A deal with the Shiekahs, new trade agreemants with the Zoras." Tantari added, "colonization of the Northeren Palisades, better eduaction so no one can say were stupid thieves. The restoration of the Spirit Temple. Two happy wives and twenty-one beautiful children."

Ghabriel's smile faded, "and my one big mistake." He uttered lowly.

"Shafali." Tantari said and it wasn't a question.

"Yes. Proof that the Godesses enjoy irony. You should be carrying my son. Not that harlot. I dont like her, I dont trust her, and I don't trust her with my precious son." The dying king grasped both his wifes hands and looked at her intently. "Please Tantari, promise me you'll look after him for me. Promise me you'll protect him from her."

Tantari stared at Ghabriel, shocked. She had never liked Tantari either, but he had all but declared her as evil. Dumbly she nodded and Ghabriel relaxed. "Good. That is a relief to me. Now I can rest peacefully. Do you mind if I..?" He motioned to her lap.

She smiled and reached out to him, "be my guest."

Ghabriel lay with his head cradled against Tantari's breast and her arms tight around him. If there truly was a reward after death, Ghabrile wasn't sure what it would be like there. But this, he was certain, was what it would feel like. He looked up at her. "Was it always so obvious you were my favorite?"

"No." Tantari said then hesitated, "well, maybe."

There was no need for further embellishment upon there relationship. No need for quivering lipped 'I love yous'. Both knew it, both felt it.

"Could you do one more thing for me?" Ghabriel asked suddenly.

"Of course."

"Could you sing that song for me, the one you always sang our children when they were little. I'd like to hear it once more."

Tantari swallowed hard and nodded. She searched her memory for the words then began-

*"Sleep my love in the cool of night, the stars will come out and give their light. Between the river of stars and the river of sand, The Goddess shall hold you in her hand..."

Tantari looked down at Ghabriel, his eyes were closed. She knew he could probably no longer hear her. Tears ran freely down her face as she struggled to continue.

"Let your dreams take you to the Land of Gold, where your every joy will lie untold. And in the morning when you wake..."

Here Tantari faltered. In the morning Ghabriel would not wake. She felt him exhale, then waited for the sound of inhalation.

And waited.

And there was none.

Ghabriel Dragmire, king of the Gerudo was dead. A tiny smile softened his broad face. He was at peace.

Tantari did not fly into a fit of sobbing and wailing. The grief ahd left her too weak for that.Instea she simply bent and kissed Ghabriel's still brow. "I'll always love you my king." She whispered. "Wait for me in the Blessed Land."

In the room below, a lone woman sat in the dark listening. Shafali put a hand to her belly and laughed silently. Old King Fool was dead! Ghabriel the foolish, Ghabriel the pacifist, who had no idea of true power was gone! Now was her time. From the shadows the twisted figures of two old women joined her. Koume and Kotake, mistressess of the Black Arts. Together, they celebrated the king's death. And the child within Shafali's black womb stirred nervously...

*This song was inspired by the tune of 'Flying Dreams' from the movie secret of Nmh