Nightmares
"Link. . . . . . . . .Hey Link you awake yet?"
Link's eyes blinked open. He remained motionless his gaze wandering from the ceiling to the dresser in front of him to the bed next to him, but his mind was blank. His surroundings foreign to him.
"LINK!"
Something clicked and the room suddenly made sense. He was lying on his back on the floor of his bedroom. It had happened again.
For months now he had felt an uneasiness that he just couldn't shake. He talked to his father and brother but they didn't have an answer for it. But something changed a couple of weeks ago. At first it was just nights of tossing and turning. Then came the images. Horrific visions of monsters ransacking towns he had never seen before. Finally there was yesterday. All day long he felt the uneasiness slowly weigh him down despite his efforts to shake it off. After all if the farm wasn't taken care of his family and a good part of the village would starve. But as the sun drew closer and closer to the horizon Link felt the growing weight pressing down on his entire body. It had gotten so bad that just walking from one side of the room to the other was exhausting. So he had decided to go to bed before sunset. However, his bed offered no relief and every time he closed his eyes the dark images flooded his mind. However, just before dawn Link did get a break when a new image entered his mind. This bright new image dispelled the monsters and brought peace to his mind, but he couldn't remember what the image was.
"LIIIIIIINK!"
The voice was much closer this time and was accompanied by a fist pounding on the door.
"I'm awake Aria," Link called out, but the raspy sound in his voice surprised him and he noticed his throat felt sore. Moving to a sitting position Link became aware of a slight burning sensation on his left hand.
"Finally," the relief and concern in her voice was unmistakable, "We thought you were going to sleep all day."
"What time is it?"
"About noon."
NOON! Link scrambled to his feet and began frantically searching for his work clothes. He was supposed to start his chores before sunrise today so when his father came back from town he would be free to help unload the supplies. He finally settled on his tan pants and green tunic. He had never been fond of this outfit and it didn't help that his brother would tease him about looking like a fairy. The only reason he kept it was because as a baby he was found wrapped in these clothes. Why had he been abandoned in the woods and with such a strange idea for a blanket? But no time to think about that now.
"Slow down," Aria warned as Link threw open his bedroom door nearly crashing into her, "Don't worry your brother was able to pick up the slack."
Aria followed Link across the open room that served as the main room of the house. Stopping at the wood stove he quickly spooned out some of the leftover stew into a bowl he found on the counter.
"When your dad came into the butcher's shop this morning he was really worried about you," she continued, "and after hearing him talk about what he heard last night so am I. Are you ok?" Aria put her hand on Link's shoulder.
Her gentle touch surprised Link. Growing up she spent very little time with the girls of the village. Much to the dismay of her father Aria instead preferred to hang out with the boys. But the boys didn't accept a girl being part of their group at first. But when Aria sent the town bully Herdman crying home to his mother with a bloody nose she was in. Link and Aria, however, had always been buddies; even before she was accepted by the rest of the boys. As a kid he saw her as a great playmate, she became a great friend when they got a little older, and now. . .
"I'm fine," Link replied keeping his back to her he continued eating.
"Really?" Aria used her hand on Link's shoulder to turn him around so she could look directly into his eyes, "look at me and say it again."
Link stared back at her eyes. Aria stood as tall as Link her face was smooth and elongated with one feature flowing gently into the next, but her most predominate feature were her green eyes. Her face was framed by her black wavy hair that fell from her head and disappeared behind her shoulders. Probably not by choice, she wore a tan and brown dress that accentuated her slender frame well. Just to look at her you'd never know you were dealing with a tough tomboy.
"I'm waiting."
Link hated it when Aria did this. No one not even her own father could get anything past her. She could even tell you when a complete stranger was lying to her.
Link stared back at her piercing green eyes, "I'm fine."
"Liar."
"Look, right now I don't care whether or not you believe me, I'm very late. Father had to go to town early this morning and that means that Ruairi was left alone with the chores and you know how he is with tools."
It was a flimsy excuse. His brother could handle the farm tools just as well as Link, although he didn't always know his own strength. Aria studied him for a minute. Link could tell she still didn't believe him, but she moved aside.
"Thank you," Link placed his bowl in the sink and passed her.
"Don't think we're done talking about this," Aria warned as Link ran out the front door. Link already knew he would have to give her a better answer, but for now he was just glad the interrogation was over.
Even though the sun was high in the sky the temperature was still comfortable. Of course the large trees surrounding the house helped. When the farm was built just enough of the ancient trees were cleared from the surrounding forest to make room for the house, barn, and stable and not a single scrap of lumber was wasted in their construction.
The farm house was small with three smaller rooms attached to the larger main room in the center. About a stone's throw away stood the barn where they kept the feed for the cattle and the farming tools. A small stable attached to the back of the barn housed a few horses. Beyond the barn was one of two fields that had been carved out of the forest. The cattle spent their day in that field while the other field behind the house was used for crops. There was a path that connected the barn to the house and then another wider path that connected the barn to the road leading into town.
Following the sounds of splitting lumber Link eventually found Ruairi around the backside of the house chopping firewood. His brother stood at least a foot taller than Link with short brown hair on top of a face with very angular features surrounding his dark brown eyes. A large strong neck connected Ruairi's head to his huge muscular frame. Link secretly envied the fact that his brothers arms were bigger than Link's legs.
But Ruairi wasn't actually related to Link. Ruairi's father Eoghan had found Link abandoned in the woods when he was a baby. After trying to find Link's parents Eoghan decided to adopt him. Ruairi was about five years old at the time, and as Link grew the two of them became as close as if they were brothers.
"Good morning sleeping beauty," Ruairi teased as Link came around the corner of the house, "Did you get enough sleep little brother?"
"Yes I did," Link said sarcastically, "What's left?"
"Nothing, I was just finishing the firewood while you and Aria had that little lover's quarrel. By the way I'm very good with tools."
Link was surprised for a moment. He had forgotten the walls of the house were so thin. But his surprise didn't slow him down from shooting back.
"If you're so good with tools then how did the barn end up with a hole in the wall?"
"That was a faulty hammer you gave me."
"Oh and I suppose the axe handle you splintered last week wasn't your fault either?"
"Is it my fault the tools I work with can't keep up with me? Besides at least I don't need to take beauty naps til noon."
"I didn't mean to sleep that late."
"Sure you didn't," Ruairi replied sarcasm dripping from every word; "I have to say that your little beauty nap was perfectly timed."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, it is awfully convenient that it just happened to end right as I was finishing up all the morning chores."
"What are you trying to say? That I somehow planned this?"
"Well, what else would you expect from a green fairy."
That was it Link lunged at Ruairi, only realizing his mistake when his brother's huge arms locked around him. Ruairi had always been bigger and stronger than Link. But over time Link had figured out ways around their physical differences. He even could even turn Ruairi's strength against him. But a direct frontal assault was always doomed. Link struggled in vain to free himself but his brother's arms were like iron straps around him.
"Boys, boys, boys," Aria scolded. She stood at the corner of the house her hands on her hips and a mock scolding expression on her face, "When will you two learn to get along?"
Ruairi immediately released his hold and without his brother's support Link fell to the ground, which Link was sure Ruairi intended. Standing up Link brushed the wood chips from his tunic.
"That's better," Aria said still using that smug scolding tone, "Now shake hands and be friends again."
Link reluctantly turned to face his brother and then an idea crossed his mind. The look on Ruairi's face told him his brother had the same idea. They both turned to face Aria.
"Oh, no you don't," her smug look vanished as her hands dropped from her waist and she began to backing away, "Don't you two even think. . ."
But it was too late, Link and Ruairi lunged at Aria who moved just fast enough to get out of reach. That was Aria's strength she didn't stand a chance in a competition of brute force but she was fast, easily out maneuver her opponents. Link was the only boy in town that could even come close to matching her lightning quick speed.
Capitalizing on her advantage Aria darted around the house with Link and Ruairi close behind. As they came around the front of the house Link saw a horse drawn wagon pulling up alongside the barn. Aria must've seen it too because she immediately changed course and finally stopped right next to where Eoghan was getting down from the wagon.
Ruairi definitely got his size and strength from his father. Eoghan actually stood about an inch taller than Ruairi, even though Ruairi denied it. Eoghan had short dirty blonde hair that sat on top of a face with sharply angled features which caused him to always look as though he was angry. Even his brown eyes didn't help when Link was trying to figure out what he was thinking. His loose shirt and pants mildly concealed the huge muscles underneath and even though Eoghan was well into his forties he could still take Link and Ruairi on at the same time and win. But despite his dominating presence Link had never known a more kind or gentle man.
Eoghan eyed the situation as Link and Ruairi came to a stop just a few steps away.
"Oh gods where did I go wrong, to have raised two boys who have no idea how to properly treat a lady?" his tone was serious, but Link thought he detected a hint of sarcasm.
"It's not your fault," Aria's smug look had returned now that she stood next to Eoghan, "These two are just too wild."
"That may be true my dear," Eoghan turned his head to look at Aria, "But a lady doesn't start a fight."
"But she does finish them," Aria replied without missing a beat.
A huge smile broke across Eoghan face as a deep laughter rolled out of his enormous frame.
"In your case that is very true," still smiling he turned his attention back to Link and Ruairi, "Are you two going to stand there like statues or are you going to help your old man unload these supplies?"
Link and Ruairi immediately headed for the wagon. But as Link walked past Aria he bumped her just hard enough to make her stumble.
"Sorry," Link said picking up a bag of grain. Aria's green eyes narrowed, but she didn't say anything.
The sun was hanging just above the tree tops when the four of them took the last bags off the wagon.
"Geez, dad did you by the whole town?" Ruairi commented.
"I just wanted to be sure we were prepared."
"Prepared for what?"
"Well, Rayl from the store said that there's been some growing trouble recently and it's starting to affect his shipments," Eoghan replied, "So I just wanted to be sure that we could survive, if Rayl ran out of what we needed for a while."
Ruairi tossed his bags in place, "Oh, what kind of trouble?"
"Apparently there's been an increase in bandits and what's worse is they seem much more organized than before so the King's soldiers are having a hard time tracking them."
"What about the Gorons and the Zoras," Aria chimed in, "aren't they helping?"
"Apparently they are having troubles of their own and can't spare anyone to help," Eoghan replied, "But that's enough talk about such dark subjects. Let's finish putting these supplies away we still have to go back to town to pick up the stuff that wouldn't fit."
"What?" Ruairi and Link said almost in unison.
"Relax," Eoghan said, "It's just a few spare tools and couple more bags. Besides it'll be dark soon and we need to make sure that Aria gets back to town safely," he turned to Aria, "I'm sure your father will be wondering where you are."
Aria looked at the ground sheepishly.
They put the last couple bags away quickly and all climbed into the wagon. Eoghan and Ruairi took the seat in the front while Aria and Link sat in the back of the wagon facing the rear. The sun had sunk half-way below the tree line; by the time they reached town it would be long gone. But as they pulled out onto road Link saw something move out of the corner of his eye. He couldn't be sure but it looked like a shadow moving across the sunlit side of the barn.
