Hours of Darkness
This is the final installment of the "Sands of Destiny" trilogy! Please read part 1 (Sands of Destiny) and part 2 (Beneath an Amber Sky) before reading this one!
Raiquen rubbed the toes of his boot into the dirt and squinted past the glare of the sun. He held his sword firmly in his right hand and slightly shook his shield that strapped around his left arm. Looking up, he smiled slightly and shook his head.
"Just like Link," he muttered, "Always waiting for the first move."
His long hair swayed slightly in the breeze as he stared his foe down. Then he grinned and took a quick step forward, triggering the movement from the other side. Link darted forward, rolling to the side and caught Raiquen's blade with his own.
Raiquen spun on his heel to face his opponent just as Link rolled again to come up behind the boy. Thinking fast, Raiquen raised his arms behind his head and caught Link's blade just before it hit its mark. Spinning again, he shoved hard with his weapon and tried to catch Link off guard.
Link faltered slightly, but recovered quickly enough to catch Raiquen's blade in a dead-lock. The two pushed against each other, locked in a staring contest.
"What's wrong? Can't handle the pressure?" The boy grinned.
Link grinned and forced all his weight onto his blade, causing Raiquen to stumble backwards. Hopping to the ground and spinning, Link's boot caught the boy's legs and he fell to the ground. Link jumped back up to his feet and aimed his sword at the boy, panting slightly but smiling.
"You're just a rookie, kid." He spun his sword back around and sheathed it, then offered his hand to help Raiquen to his feet. Rolling his eyes, Raiquen stood back on his feet and dusted his tunic off.
"Yeah, well if I were using both of my blades, you wouldn't have had a chance." he said as he sheathed his blade. Link rolled his eyes.
"At age 21, you're the youngest knight in Hyrule...yet you still act like you did 5 years ago." Raiquen shoved him and caught Link in a head-lock. Thus triggering their daily wrestle.
"Oi! You two better quit the rough-housing and get in for breakfast, or there won't be any left!" Begonia's voice echoed across the courtyard. The two boys scrambled to their feet and raced each other past a startled Begonia and into the castle. Screeching to a halt in front of the kitchen, Link looked inside as Raiquen's feet skidded and he flew past the door and into a wall. Stomach growling, he strided right into the room and took a seat, laughing at Raiquen as he entered moments later - rubbing his cheek.
"So...how're you and that wall getting along?" Link chuckled. The boy glared at him and took a seat across from his Uncle. "Where were we? Ah yes..." Suddenly two left elbows were on the table and their hands were locked in an arm-wrestle.
A little voice piped up from Link's side. "Get 'im, daddy! Beat his bottom!" Link burst out laughing and lost his grip, causing his arm to crash to the table. Raiquen looked smug and leaned back on his chair as he crossed his arms behind his head.
"Great job distracting your daddy, little Aidyn!" The girl's head barely reached the top of the table as she glared across at her uncle Raiquen.
"My daddy is the best fighter in the whole world! He could-" She broke off into giggles as Link scooped her up and laid her on his lap, poking her nose with his finger.
"How's my little Aidyn today?" Link asked, kissing his daughter's forehead.
"I saw a butterfry! It went away dhough..."
"Oh really? What did it look like?"
Aidyn grinned and her excitement grew. "It was...it was red! Like Raiquen's hair! And then it went away...like whoosh!" she said, animating her hands and arms as she spoke.
Link laughed and put his forehead to hers. "I know where there's a whole flock of fairies! Navi can talk to them for us and perhaps they'll let us play a game of tag with them. How does that sound?" Her eyes grew large and she gasped.
"Oh wunderful, daddy! Can we go, pwease? Pretty pwease?" Lear was suddenly by their sides.
"After you eat your breakfast, little missy. Adventuring can wait."
Link greeted his wife with a kiss, gaining an 'ew' from both Aidyn and Raiquen. Begonia had now entered the room and she ruffled her son's hair.
"Come now, Raiquen, being a knight you should probably think about finding a wife soon..." Raiquen stood from his seat and left in a hurry.
"What's gotten into him?" Lear inquired. Begonia only shook her head and ran off to find her son. She caught up to him in one of the hallways that crisscrossed the castle's interior.
"Raiquen, slow down!" She huffed. "What's wrong?" He stopped and turned towards her with a heavy sigh.
"I'm sorry...it's just that.." Raiquen sighed and brushed his hair from his face, "I'm starting to look more like Dad...and I don't think anyone is going to like me." he finished quietly.
Begonia chuckled and looked up at her son, "That's nonsense! You're a very handsome young man. Who wouldn't like you?"
He set his jaw and looked at the ground. Lately he'd seen Beth around the city with another knight, one who was constantly surrounded by friends and looked as if he could buy her anything she desired. He wanted to offer her the same and more, but felt like she would laugh in his face if he told her how he felt.
Begonia could read her son like a book, "Don't worry, whoever she is...she'll come around. Just you wait and see." Raiquen opened his mouth to speak, but closed it as he watched his mother walk away. Was he really that easy to read? He just let out a large breath and followed the hallway to a door that led to the outside.
Aidyn was already playing outside. "Hullo, Raiquen." She said while staring down at her hands. Raiquen raised an eyebrow.
"What have you got there?" He said as he walked over. A bird appeared in her little palms and hopped up and down, chirping cheerily. When the boy approached, it flew off in a flurry of excited chatter.
"You scared 'im. He said that you need to lurn some mahners." Raiquen furrowed his brow.
"Birds don't talk, Aidyn. Do your parents know you're out here alone?" Aidyn rushed to her feet and followed him as he headed towards the market. "Yes. Are you going to the market, uncle Raiquen? Will you bring me back sum birdseed?" He turned and bopped her lightly on the head with his hand.
"Yes, I'll bring you some birdseed. Stay here, okay? I'll be back in a while."
"M'kay. Bye Uncle Rai-Rai!!" she waved her arms after Raiquen, who now left the garden. He didn't even watch where he was going as he rushed through the crowds. He only had one thing on his mind, and it pestered him like an annoying mosquito. Quickly around the central fountain and through the eastern part of the market, he just kept going until he was stopped by a sudden thud and sounds of vegetables rolling on the ground.
"Ouch!! Watch where you're going, you...oh! I'm sorry, forgive me!" A young woman pleaded as she looked at Raiquen. He suddenly forgot that he was a knight and stared into the eyes of her...
"N-no, it's my fault, Beth." He kneeled down and helped her gather her things.
"Oh Raiquen! I didn't even recognize you...!"
He felt a moment of sharp fear. Did he look so bad that she couldn't recognize him? "Um, sorry. Here's your vegetables." She gathered her things into her arms and smiled at him, causing his heart to skip a beat.
"Thank-you, Raiquen!" There was a slight awkward pause. Raiquen cleared his throat uncomfortably then turned to go.
"Nice to see you again, Beth. I'll talk to you later."
"Wait! Are you in a hurry?" She said and stepped in front of him.
"Uh, no, not really..." He mumbled. She smiled again.
"Well, that's fantastic! Would you like to walk around with me for a while? I'd like to hear about how Link and the others are doing, including you."
Raiquen stammered slightly, "Uh…y-yeah!", he cleared his throat, "I mean, yes." Beth flashed him a smile, but before they could walk anywhere, a child's voice reached their ears.
"Uncle Raiquen!! Uncle Raiquen!" Little Aidyn ran through the crowds, and the Knight turned with a groan to see the little girl on the other side of the market, an excited smile on her features. Her path, however, was suddenly blocked by a figure in a cloak, and she bounced off the legs of the man and onto the ground.
"…ah, forgive me, child." The man spoke. His voice was like a dark silk. Mysterious and smooth. He scooped up Aidyn from the ground and turned to Raiquen and Beth as they found their way to them. Aidyn stared at the man; she could slightly see some features beneath the shadows of the man's hood, and she noticed that his hair was silver…or possibly purple? Her attention was quickly drawn to Raiquen as he approached them.
"Ah…is she yours?" Raiquen shook his head.
"No, she's my cousin--"
"My Daddy's name is Link! He's the best!" the girl chirped. The man handed Aidyn over to the Knight, "Link, hm? How…interesting. Well, I must be on my way. Take care…" And with that, he disappeared into the crowds. Raiquen stared after him for a moment, then turned to Aidyn.
"Aidyn, I told you to stay at the castle! You could've caused a lot of trouble, you know." The little girl wasn't paying attention to him. At the moment, she was talking to Beth.
"My, you've grown big, Aidyn! How are you? Keeping your cousin Raiquen on his feet?" Aidyn smiled and nodded.
"I call him Uncle Raiquen though. He's always teasing me, until my daddy beats the tar out of him." Raiquen felt his face burning hot as Beth laughed. He faked a chuckle and quickly covered Aidyn's mouth.
"That's enough, Aidyn...where did you hear that expression? It's not very polite."
Aidyn only giggled at her cousin. "I dunno...I can't 'member." The Knight groaned and looked towards the towering castle.
"Listen, Beth...I gotta take Aidyn home, so..."
"That's okay! I've got to get going as well, so maybe we can talk some other time?" She flashed her gorgeous smile at him once again, and he nodded his head. However, he was very disappointed, even though he got to see her. They turned their ways, and Raiquen rushed through the crowds with Aidyn in his arms.
"Rai-Rai?" No answer. "Uncle Raaaiiquen!" Aidyn wailed. Raiquen suddenly stopped in his tracks at the castle gate, where he finally let Aidyn walk on her own.
"What?" He asked, a little irritated.
"Are you mad?" He sighed and ran his hand over his face. He couldn't stay upset for long at the little girl as her blue eyes gazed up at him.
"No, I'm not upset. Just be a little more careful next time, okay? You could have been hurt." She nodded and put her hand in his. "He was funny." She said after a while. Raiquen thought for a moment.
"Who was funny?"
"That guy that I hit. He had funny hair and a funny way of talking. I think he's a wizard." Raiquen rolled his eyes.
"If he had been, then I think he would've turned you into a toad for running into him like that." They had entered the castle and continued to walk through the stone passageways.
"A toad?! I don't want to be a toad! A frog, maybe, but not a toad..." Aidyn looked thoroughly upset.
Raiquen smiled. "Why wouldn't you want to be a toad?" Aidyn looked at him like he was weird for not knowing.
"Well, toads are meany-heads. But frogs aren't mean." Raiquen laughed and ruffled her hair while she protested.
"What? It's true! The toads tell me that I'm a hairless pink monkey..." Raiquen was still chuckling.
"Toads don't talk, Aidyn. Now come on, let's find your parents before they determine my death sentence for catching you alone in the market." They passed several knights standing guard at random points in the castle, and Raiquen nodded to them and gave them a brief greeting as they walked by. He hoped that he wouldn't run into the knight that he'd seen hanging around Beth lately, as he sometimes had sentry duty at the castle. Aidyn, however, seemed perfectly care-free next to him as she stared wide-eyed at the knights that tipped their helmet to her.
"I wish I had a sword," she mumbled, "so I could fight like daddy..."
In the wake of the night, Link found himself to be restless with the thoughts of his nightmare still fresh in his mind. His nightmare was one that happened many years ago, but sometimes it would haunt him. The eyes of the one he killed...looking at him as if he had done a horrible cruelty...Link pulled himself from the covers and snuck out of the castle. 'Some fresh air will do me some good...' he thought to himself.
He walked across the courtyard and leaned against a stone pillar bathed in shadow. Barely a sliver of the moon barely shone high in the sky and he pulled his cloak tighter around his neck. Recalling the nightmares that had haunted him these last couple of days, he contemplated on what they could mean. Faces from his past and a growing darkness merged themselves together to make it impossible for him to sleep in peace. He turned his head as a Keese flapped off into the night from atop the stone archway he was standing near. Shivering slightly from the cold and his dark thoughts, he turned back towards the castle.
He stopped suddenly in his tracks as a wave of cold washed over him. Something had gone abruptly missing...as if he lost a piece of himself. He hugged himself and shook his head.
"It's probably just my imagination..." he sighed, "...stupid nightmares." A figure in the shadows watched the hero disappear into the castle...his quiet laughter flew in the wind.
"Missing something...yes, you are." he cackled, "Don't worry, you won't miss it." spoke the man from the market. His arm emerged from his cloak and his palm turned to the ground; a shadow grew and took shape on the grass.
The man watched with a smirk on his face as the shadow stood and shook it's head slowly, as if to clear it. It gazed around the courtyard and it's eyes rested on the castle for several seconds before it turned towards Vaati chuckling in the shadows.
"Not bad...not bad at all. You look just like your real self, those morons won't tell the difference." He chuckled again while the now-living shadow of Link glared at him.
"Who are you?" His voice was only slightly deeper than Link's.
"I am Vaati, and I used your counterpart's shadow to bring you to life. I can banish you away just as easily so let me make this clear: you listen to me and do what I say."
The shadow's eyes were slightly duller than his counterpart, and for a moment they flashed red as he grew angry with his "master". He crossed his arms and shrugged, small particles of shadowed dust floating from his clothing.
"Whatever. Now, what is it that you want me to do?" Vaati began to circle his creation, scrutinizing him and thinking of his capabilities. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and turned to Dark Link with a malicious grin.
"I want you to make Link's life miserable," at this, the shadow grinned with interest, "You have a bit of his memories…make good use of them."
A/N: What do you think? Please review!
This story is written by BOTH myself (Ganondorfs-Girl from DeviantArt) and Clairictures (also from DeviantArt), and we are both very excited to finally reveal part 3! More chapters are soon to come, so stay tuned!
DISCLAIMER:
I do not own any of the Zelda characters,
however I DO own Begonia and Raiquen.
Clairictures owns Lear and Aidyn.