Contains mild spoilers!!
No words left
Am I so beautiful that you've no words left? Midna asked teasingly. Her deliciously luminescent eyes sparkled in amusement at Link's shocked features. He managed to pull himself enough together for a grin, exhaling in relief, his friend was back! It was that moment that it had hit him; hit him so hard it took his breath away.
But now she had gone again. She had purposely sealed the twilight realm, had she thought the same as Zelda? Could their worlds truly never unite?
Even in love?
Sighing heavily again, the beauty of the southern Faron woods was lost to him as Epona cantered eagerly through the golden fire of the sunset streaming through the trees to home.
So
lost in his melancholy thoughts, the emotions he had felt through the
past few months flitting through him like lightning- he didn't even
register his own name being called- Annoyance, fear, hate, happiness,
anger…and now this.
It was only when Epona skidded to a halt that
he looked up, hooded blue eyes desperate and lonely. He felt
strangely hollow without his small friend making snide comments and
helpful tips, ever the ego manic, at his side.
"Link!"
Illia came rushing to him "you finally came back!" her green eyes
shone with relief and happiness, eager to talk to him again; to hear
of his adventures, how he had managed to find her and her memories
and save the whole of Hyrule as well as meeting the princess.
He gazed at her with saddened eyes. He knew she could tell
immediately that something was wrong. But he didn't want to talk
about it, not now, not ever.
He
wanted to shut himself away and never see his cheery village again,
just fall to sleep and live in a dream with Midna for eternity.
He
thought back now. He had always enjoyed her company, she had been
there helping him when no one else would. She hadn't been annoying,
she had always been right. He should have helped her more; he could
have stopped her sacrificing herself, pleaded with her not to return
to the twilight. Dragging his feet slowly to his house, ignoring
Illia completely, he climbed the ladder and threw himself onto the
bunk, too miserable to even cry.
How
could he have only seen this now? When she had been around he had
ignored her, been so cold to her. How could he have done that? She
had given herself up so selfishly. She had wanted to save him from
Gannondorf, gave her life for the world of light.
Staring
at the ceiling, watching the sun play gently on the bark patterns, he
finally let tears slip down his cheeks, the memory of his friend
floating fondly in his mind.
Illia
stood in the middle of glade, staring at the ladder leading to Link's
house. That look in his eyes, she had never seen it before; such
sadness and hopelessness. She had wanted to throw her arms around
him, hug him to make it go away. Help him like he had helped her.
And
she would.
Face
turning to a frown of determination; she glanced once more at her
friend's home. No matter what it took she would find out what was
upsetting him like this and put it right. Making her way back to the
village, she waved the clamouring children away as they pestered to
know how Link was. "He needs his rest, he'll answer your
questions in the morning" she told them, glad of her ability to lie
flawlessly. It had fooled her trusting father so many times. A gleam
of rebellion flashed in her eyes as she yanked the door open, turning
her back on the dusk, and heading inside to rest.
She
would need all the energy she had to get what ever it was out of
link. He could close up so suddenly, as stubborn as he was, she had
never even dared to try to crack his shell of solidarity before. This
time was different. She could be stronger. Determined, she slipped
beneath the soft sheets of her bed and let sleep carry her off.
Link
woke up half asleep and comfortable in the mid day sun shafting
through his window. In his own bed at last. He had dreamed of this on
his travels but now it was here, he wanted to turn back Time.
Thinking about it, suddenly he was too hot; the sheets trapped him
itchy and snaring. Untangling himself, he fell to the floor. He
didn't want to be here. He rolled up onto his haunches. A bad taste
was in his mouth. He wanted her back so badly. A stinging sensation
caused him to look down to his elbow.
A long gnash, inflicted by some
monster or other had reopened sending rivers of deep red down his
skin, tanned and thick from the sun and wind. It laced over countless
scars, they covered his lean body like ribbons. Like the scars that
had covered her body. Rising from a crouch, he couldn't take it
anymore. Everything reminded him of Midna. Still in his boxers, he
slid down his ladder, landing unsteadily at the bottom, eyes filling
with tears. Turning round, he burst out through his door, remembering
just in time to jump off the raised platform out side.Rolling
automatically, he let the coarse grass press into his spine. Coming
on his feet, he ran without pausing through the woods to Ordon
spring.
Illia
watched in shock. Link had just run right infront of her clad only in
a pair of white boxers. Maybe this was something worse than even she
could think of. What had happened to him? Remaining stock still just
near the entrance to Ordon village, she blinked a few times, trying
to analyse the situation. Should she go and get an adult?
But
all of them were about as clueless and inexperienced as the
next when it came to emotions. She had learnt that the hard way
during adolescence. Now at the slightly more mature age of sixteen
she new better than to ask anyone else for help. Resigning herself to
fate, she took off after him. No doubt he had gone to the spring.
Link waded in, letting the pure white sand shift between his toes, the trickling cool water lap around his muscular thighs. Watching the sand sift in the current with every step he took. In the middle of the spring he sank to his knees letting the water caress every part of his body. Getting on all fours he dipped his fringe in, watching the strands wiggle in the flow his nose almost touched the surface. Breathing in, even and calm now, he slowly exhaled rippling the water. He took in the pure aroma of the wet mosses and sweet flowers that grew in the trees around. Shifting his weight slowly forwards, watching the light playing over the sand at the bottom coming closer, he blinked the tears away and let himself submerge completely in the cool water.
Worry
gaining with every pace she took, Illia sped up, running full pelt
through the woods. The question screamed over and over in her mind,
adrenaline pumping through her blood stream: What was wrong with
Link!? WHAT WAS WRONG WITH LINK?! Thousands of grisly scenarios leapt
through her mind. She was sure the spring used to be closer.
Heart
racing, she dashed round the corner to the spring. Confronted with
Link, face down in the pool, she let out a gasp of fear, eyes
contracting as her body kicked into survival mode, over active mind
fearing the worst.
"LINK!"
She sprinted forwards into the water, uncaring of her now sodden
clothes. Throwing herself down beside him, her heart skipped a beat
as; quick as a flash he had flipped onto his back. In a shower of
droplets he grabbed her outstretched wrists in a powerful vice like
grip, muscles tensing, ready to fight. Yelping in fright she tried to
pull away. Shaking his hair from his eyes, he opened them squinting
through the droplets clinging to his lashes "I-Illia?!" He
blinked, opening them fully. Sighing in relief as he released her,
rubbing her wrists, she smiled at him. He didn't return it. The
distant look was back in his eyes "What do you want?"
"You
scared me link!" she grinned again, trying to break the ice. The
look froze on her face as she caught sight of his body. Riddles with
scars, bordering on the grotesquely thin and bound with sharply
accented muscles, "LINK!" she yelped, staring in a mixture of
shock and horror at the sight. "What?!" he snapped loudly. He
couldn't even bath in peace. On edge, he glared at his friend
determined she couldn't see him cry. "Y-your b-body" Illia
stammered.
The stare told her he couldn't care less. "I…umm" she struggled with something to say. He remained cold. "I…" she looked down into the water where she knelt, hands clasped between her knees covered in drenched fabric. "Nothing" she stood up letting the water run off her in torrents. "I'll just go…"
With that she turned on her heel, leaving a glistening trail of droplets and Link's frosty glare behind through the forest.
The
teen sank back into the water, anger instantly subsiding into regret.
Why did he do that? Why did he push people away just when he needed
them? It was too late now; he couldn't go running after her. He had
seen that look of fear in her eyes. She was scared of him now. Why
should he force his company on her? He had changed beyond anything
she had ever known.
He
didn't belong here anymore. Eyes narrowed as he gazed up through
the dappled branches of the trees towards the brilliant blue sky.
Pieces of a plan started to formulate in his mind.
Illia strode quickly back to Ordon. That encounter had shaken her up much more than she had tried to let on. When he grabbed her, he was like a stranger. She had to admit, he wasn't the caring, cautious Link he used to be. She didn't know him anymore. Still, he had been away for months. People change, regardless, something was wrong. And he was still her friend no matter what. She would help him, if only because of that.
Walking
through the town, Illia spun a tale of Link still sleeping, to the
expectant adults and children alike, hearing groans and whining from
both parties. Stopping at her house to change clothes, thanking the
gods that her trousers were so dark no one could tell they were
soaking, she set off up to the ranch.
She
soon located Epona, grazing peacefully in the field. Rubbing her
roughly, just the way the horse loved it, she lead Epona to the barn,
hunting for the brushes to give the animal a welcome home brush down.
Returning to the steed's side she began the dusty but rewarding
task. Taking off her battered saddle, Illia stopped.
Underneath
the matted hair dark with sweat, laced scars and scabs, dotting her
side like points on a battle map. Illia could even see splinters and
make out the notch of an arrow head half buried in the skin near her
rump.That
was the final straw.
If it was one thing that really got to her it was how
Link treated Epona. He was reckless, once in her saddle he thought he
could do anything! Grinding her teeth furiously, she grabbed a pair
of pliers, some antiseptic and bandages and got to work, angrily
swearing to punish Link for this.
It
took Illia well into the night to finally patch Epona up. Having her
feet trodden on harshly and having Epona run away a number of times
had done nothing to improve the jade eyed girls temper. Now seething,
she wiped the sweat from her brow and limped, cursing from the barn.
Making her way back across the field she suddenly became aware of a
figure walking towards her from the darkness.
"Link!"
She had been saying his name so much lately… The teen didn't
stop. "LINK!" she called again, striding up to him and blocking
his path, hands on hips, furious at being ignored. She was about to yell at him when
he spoke up.
Voice quiet and determined
"I'm leaving"
There! Whatcha think? For anyone interested yes I've completed TW and it was THE BEST GAME EVER!!! Though, as I'm sure you'll agree, despite what Link thinks in the story, I found Midna annoying in the game… I saw her as a Navi type character…though anyone who's completed the game will know she's far from it!
Also Link is just thinking he liked Midna because he misses her (LIKE A FRIEND) but his grief is making him think he loved her..or something like that...basically he misses her alot as anyone would a friend :)
ok then thats all for now! Review people!
