Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda, let alone skyward sword. I simply write about it.
Sky Child
Chapter Two:
Helping Hands
"What happened?"
"I'm not sure, sir, but -"
"Is he injured?"
"Get Owlan!"
Zelda's eyes blinked open. She yawned and stretched, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the darkness. The noise from outside her door continued, and she listened. Her father seemed to be talking to one of the guards and General Eagus about something.
Yawning once again, Zelda crawled out from under her blankets and plopped her bare feet onto the floor. She paused to readjust her pale-pink night gown and padded out into the hall.
"Go, get him there quickly!" Gaepora whispered to Owlan. The white-haired instructor rushed off, a bundle wrapped in cloth in his arms. The headmaster watched him go before giving the rest of his orders. "Horwell, get a report from the guard, and be thorough! Eagus, please organize a search party, just in case she somehow survived. Quickly and quietly, people, lets go!"
Each man rushed off to complete his duty, leaving Gaepora standing alone in the dark hallway. He sighed, and rubbed his temples. Poor child, he thought. He's no older then Zelda, but where's his father and mother now?
"Daddy, what's going on?" Zelda asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes.
Noticing her presence, Gaepora picked up his little girl and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "Nothing, little bird," he cooed. "Why are you awake?"
"You woke me up," she grumbled. "Why's Mr. Eagus making a searching party?" Zelda sat up in his arms, refusing to be brushed off. "I'm five now, Daddy! I'm all grown up, just like you!" She crossed her arms and glared at her father.
Despite the severity of the situation, Gaepora chuckled at his daughter's antics. Even half-asleep as she seemed to be, she still managed to be stubborn as a mule.
"Ok, How about this? I'll tell you if you're still up to it in the morning," he tried to negotiate.
Zelda yawned once more, dropping her arms and leaning onto her father's shoulders. "Ok, that works."
Gaepora chuckled once more, shaking his head. He carried his child into her room and tucked her back into bed. She was asleep again upon hitting the pillow, and sucking adorably on her thumb. The headmaster smiled, brushing some of her hair out of her face.
There was a light knocking on the door. "Sir?" Horwell whispered loudly.
Gaepora frowned, remembering the crisis going on. He had to go take the report, and oversee the search parties. If they turned up nothing, he'd have to release details to the public and ask if any one of them could identify the small, blond boy, assuming he was unharmed and would live. And the man would have to be the one to explain to the small child that his parents were dead, and he was an orphan. It was all up to him, the headmaster, and by default, the unofficial leader of Skyloft.
Giving his daughter one last kiss on the cheek, he returned to his duties.
The next morning, Zelda ran hurriedly down to the dining hall. Her hair was tied back into a braid, leaving only her bangs hanging in her face. She wore a baby-blue dress over white leggings, which disappeared into her new black leather boots. The collar and sleeves of the dress had white bird designs lining the edges. The outfit was Zelda's favorite, seeing as she thought it made her look older, which was important now that she was a big girl.
She dashed over to the table where Pipit and Karane already sat, and pulled herself up onto the bench in between the two. She folded her hands neatly in front of her, swinging her legs and waiting for her meal.
"Hey, watch it, squirt!" Karane barked, sliding away from the intrusive girl. She flipped her pony tail over her shoulder, and crossed her arms angrily. "This table is for students only, which means ten and up, miss four-and-a-half!"
"Five, miss ten-and-three-quarters," Zelda responded calmly without breaking her 'good-girl' pose. "And you think she would be nicer like me, huh Pipit?" Zelda said to the older boy.
"Yeah, Karane, lay off. The little bird is cool." Pipit scruffled the blonde's hair good-naturedly, much to Zelda's distaste. She wanted him to see her as a grown-up girl, not a little sister.
"Whatever," Karane scoffed, rolling her eyes. She stared into the hallway, just in time to see Eagus rush by, followed by multiple soldiers. Her eyes widened with excitement. She turned back to Pipit, and completely ignored Zelda. "What's going on? Do you know?"
Pipit glanced out into the hall. "It's some kind of search, but I have no idea other then that."
"Why won't they tell us anything? We're student's here!"
"Yes, but only first years. We haven't even begun sword training, just history, Karane. A crisis is only for the upper classmen, you should know that," Pipit explained, as if disciplining a child.
Karane glowered at him. Zelda took this moment to pipe up, and grinned at the red-headed girl. "I know what's going on," she said smugly. "My daddy told me, because I'm a mature adult."
"Your younger then me you little twirp!" Karane snapped. Headmaster's daughter or not, this girl was a brat.
"But apparently she is more grown-up, Karane!" Pipit scolded, sending his peer a disapproving look before returning his attention to Zelda. "What's happening, little bird?"
Pretending not to hear her nickname, Zelda began to repeat all her father had told her. Slowly, other staff members began to listen in. By the end of her story, almost half of the academy knew every detail of the boy's strange appearance. Even Karane was listening intently.
"Do they plan to let him train?" Pipit asked. He felt sorry for the poor kid, he really did. Life was probably going to suck for the child, so Pipit made a promise to help him when times were rough, like a mentor of sorts.
"I dunno, probably. Daddy's nice enough to let him."
"Without paying tuition? My mom had to pay a hundred rupees just to get me a room, let alone a full education! That's so unfair!" Karane stood up, outraged.
Pipit thought of his own mother, and what he had had to do to get the money to send himself here, and he felt jealousy rise up in his chest. He had had to grow up fast, considering how lazy his mother was, and work his butt off to be able to come. He couldn't bring himself to get angry, though. It wasn't like the poor kid had had a choice.
"Come on, Karane, cool it. It'll all work out," Pipit tried to calm the red-head, succeeding partially.
"Yeah, Karane, cool it!" Zelda said mockingly from her place next to Pipit.
"Ugh, that's it!" Karane screeched, stomping her foot and balling her fists. She marched out of the dining hall and outside, Pipit watching her go.
Zelda blinked, surprised. She didn't mean to make Karane that angry. She felt horrible. Henya placed breakfast on the table in front of Pipit and Zelda, but the five-year-old only shoved her's away before running out of the room and up the stairs, back into her own room.
She dove under her covers, trying to hold back tears. Angry shouting filled the hallway, which Zelda tried to block out.
"Horwell, do you mind explaining to me why half of Skyloft knows more about the boy the most of the soldiers do?"
"I- I don't know, sir, but I can assure you, Owlan and I have not said a word!"
"It had to be you two, because it most certainly wasn't Eagus! And the only other person who knows about this is… is…" The voices became quiet, and Zelda felt the lump in her throat grow. Oh no, her and her big mouth.
The door to her room opened and shut quickly, but Zelda did not come out of her hiding place.
"Zelda."
She whimpered.
She heard her father sigh, and felt his weight as he sat down on her bed. "Zelda, come out from under there." Zelda peeked her head out meekly, trying to blink back tears.
"Was it you who told everyone about the little boy?" She couldn't speak without her voice shaking, so she nodded in response. She ducked her head down just as the tears started to come.
"Oh, my little bird, what am I going to do with you?" Gaepora enclosed his little girl in a hug as she began to sob. He rocked her back and forth, planting kisses on her head. "But you have to learn that things I tell you aren't always supposed to be shared, ok?" This only made Zelda cry harder for reasons she couldn't explain.
"Now, now, there's no reason to cry."
"Y-yes… The- There… i-is…" she choked out between sobs. She then tried to explain to her father what she had done to Karane, and how horrible she felt about it.
"Hmm, little bird, that's quite the predicament," he murmured, continuing to rock her back and forth. "But we all make mistakes, and we need to learn from them. How about this: you make a present and go apologize to Karane, and then I'll give you a special job."
Zelda pushed herself up off his should to look Gaepora in the eye. "R-Really?"
"Really," he smiled. His daughter was a good girl, if slightly misguided at times. He had not doubt her apology would be sincere, and that the task he would give her would be carried out.
She gave him a small smile, wiping her nose on her arm. She jumped out of her father's arms and dashed around her room, quickly collecting a scrap of paper and her watercolor paints. "I'll paint her a picture!" she exclaimed, mood already improving.
Gaepora smiled before leaving her to her work.
"Hawlo, you best not bring my child anywhere near that bird!"
"Loftwing, Aera, and you're overreacting. He'll be fine. Most kids his age have already ridden with an adult."
Link stood between his parents, glancing excitedly from one to the other. How cool would it be to ride the birdy, if only his mother would let him.
"No. No way, absolutely not."
Link's heart sank. "Please please please please please, Momma! Papa will keep me safe, and I'll be super good, I pinky swear!" Link tugged on his mother's skirt with one hand and offered up his pinky with the other.
Aera looked into her son's deep blue eyes, and felt her resolve waver. She looked back at Hawlo. "What if he falls?"
"The bird is trained to keep that from happening, and if it does, we'll be high enough where I can catch him long before he's in any danger."
"Well…" Link smiled wide, starting to jump excitedly. "Ok, fine, but if he's so much as air sick I will tan your hide!"
"Yay, I get to learn how to fly, I get to learn how to fly!" Link jumped around, punching his fists in the air.
"That's right, buddy!" Hawlo laughed, scooping up his son and tossing him up and down, much to Link's delight.
"Higher, Papa, higher!" Link giggled hysterically, flapping his arms wildly every time he left his father's hands.
"I swear, you two will be the death of me." Aera shook her head, trying to remain serious but failing. "Now, hurry up and go before I changed my mind!"
"Yes ma'am!" Hawlo smiled, catching Link and giving his wife a kiss. "Tell Momma you'll see her later, buddy."
"See you later!" Link waved from over his father's shoulder.
After reaching the barn and greeting a few neighbors, Link watched from the ground as his father readied the bird. Link memorized every detail, and paid very close attention to everything his father did.
"Well, time to go, Link." Hawlo hopped up onto the bird, and Link scrambled over and tried to climb up, only to find that he couldn't reach.
"Papa, I need help," Link said, reaching up towards is father.
"Oh no, you're not getting on that way." Hawlo smiled and winked at his son, and much to Link's horror, took off on the bird without him.
"PAAAAAPAAAAAA!" Link cried, running after the bird to the edge of the island. He stomped his feet, mad and hurt that his father would tease him. His father swooped and soared as Link watched.
He flew particularly close, and stopped a few yards away from the edge. "Well? Are you coming or what?"
"Coming? How am I gonna get on?" Link asked confusedly.
"Jump. Off the dock I built. Right over there." Hawlo took off again, flying away into the distance.
Link walked over to the dock and peered over the edge. He was supposed to jump off that? "Papa!" he called. "It's too high!"
"Get a running start, I'll catch you. Trust your Papa," Hawlo answered.
"No, just come get me!" Link gripped the railing of the platform tightly and waited for his father to return, but Hawlo didn't even acknowledge that Link had said anything.
"Papa!" No answer.
Link glared out at the bird, jealous. How he wanted to be out there with his Papa, flying and learning to be just like him… 'I bet Papa would jump,' he thought. 'If Papa can do it, so can I!'
Screwing up is courage, Link backed up onto the grass. He balled his hand into fists, eyes focused on the blue sky above him. He took a deep breath, and ran.
He launched himself off the edge of the dock, squeezing his eyes shut. He counted in his head, one, two, three, but he still felt himself plummeting. He opened his eyes, seeing the clouds far below him. He screamed and swung his arm frantically, completely terrified. But suddenly, strong arms wrapped around him, and the sound of his father's laughter surrounded him.
"That's my boy."
Link rolled over on his parent's bed, trying to find and snuggle with his mother or father. Unable to feel them nearby, Link noticed that it wasn't his house he was sleeping in. It felt too cool, and the place he was laying was too soft to be his family's bed.
He thought for a moment, his eyes still closed. He was so tired, and didn't want to have to bother getting up. He remembered… Leaving with his momma, that's right. Him and momma went on a trip, so that would explain was his papa wasn't there.
But where was-
"HURRY! THE VINE!"
Link gasped, his eyes flying open. The memory had been so vivid; he could almost hear his mother's voice echo around the room, before fading into his subconscious. It all came back to him, the last few shreds of the disorientation that comes with waking sliding away from his mind, revealing the pain and loss underneath.
He didn't cry, though. He simply stared up at the ceiling of whatever room he was in, wherever he was, and felt numb. He played and replayed the last few moments of the night before over in his mind, watching his mother fall, the clouds swallow her whole, and the strange feeling of choking on words, sounds stuck in his throat when he needed them most.
He laid emotionless, unaware of time passing, which is why he didn't know how long the girl had been in the room with him until she let out a little squeal.
Link jumped, the sudden noise surprising him out of his stupor. His eyes focused on a girl around his age who hovered above him, letting out a stream of loud, unwelcomed noise.
She was tall, at least to Link, with long blonde hair down to her waist. It was waved slightly, like his mother's would be after taking it out of a tight braid. Her skin was a pale pink, much unlike the tanned, hardened skin of the farmers in Wind's Breath. Her eyes were a bright blue, startlingly so, almost like his own. But not quite, as his were a softer shade.
She hopped up and down, clapping her hands frantically. It took Link another moment to realize that she was talking.
"You're awake! You're awake, you're awake, you're awake! I did it! I told him, I told Daddy I could wake you up! Told him, told him, told him!" She clapped her hands excitedly, much to Link's apprehension. Where was he? Who was she? What about his papa? And his momma… Link's vision clouded slightly as tears welled up.
Seeming to remember something, the girl stopped her noise and froze. "I've gotta get Mr. Owlan, and Daddy! Bye, kid! I'll be right back!" And with that, she dashed out the door and into whatever lay beyond.
Link blinked, trying to take in what had just happened. He sat up in his cot, grasping the warm blanket tightly in his fists. He let a few tears slip from his eyes before falling back into a safe numbness. Deciding that the loud girl had gone away, he took a moment to take in his surroundings.
He seemed to be in a bedroom of sorts, but much nicer and larger then the ones he was used to. In fact, it was almost the same size as his entire house, not including the fields and sheds, of course, but still. There was a bed next to his, a desk, and book shelves lining the walls. Each one was packed with thick texts, none of which Link could read. There were what seemed to be small gardens, filled with plants of all types. Though none seemed to be like the crops his family grew, he recognized a few edible herbs, and ones his father had told him had healing qualities. But the plants were the only familiar things, as the room held no clues as to where he was.
Just then, the door flew open again and in rushed the girl and two older men. One was large, in both sense of the word, and balding with a thick monobrow, which stuck up above the top of his head. Her wore long orange robes, interrupted only by what seemed to be an incredibly thick brown belt. Over all this was a red scarf-like thing with golden accents, hanging down almost to the floor. Behind him stood a very thin man, with long, white hair falling just past his shoulders. He wore an off-white robe with a smaller, red belt. His scarf was blue, running down to his waist. He was tanned, a sharp contrast to the other two people he had seen so far.
As the girl scrambled up to him once more, Link leaned back and pulled the cover up to his chin for protection. The girl didn't seem to notice his aversion to her, and gave him a wide smile. She turned and shouted over her shoulder, "See? Told you, told you, told you! He's awake, I prayed to the goddess just like you said, and I woke him up!" The girl looked back at Link, and finally realized that he was half-hiding from her. Trying to aid her father and Owlan's view of her accomplishment, she pulled the blanket out of Link's hands.
Link let out a small shout, trying to grab the blanket back from her, which she ignored. "See?"
"Zelda!" Gaepora shouted. He marched up to the pair, causing Link to scramble backwards off the cot in an attempt to stay away from the strange man. The headmaster snatched the blanket out of Zelda's hands. "Leave the boy alone! By the goddess, he just woke up!" Zelda stood staring wide-eyed at her father, as it was not often he yelled at her, or at all. She hung her head in shame, and after giving Link an apologetic look, left the room.
Link still sat huddled against the other bed, simply looking at the faces of the other two men. The big one did not meet his eyes, while the thin one studied him. Link focused on the man, and simply watched him watch him.
Gaepora waited for Owlan to approach and analyze the boy for wounds properly, now that he seemed to be awake and functioning. However, the thin man continued to do nothing but stare at the child. Gaepora glanced between the two, at a loss as of what to do. He thought for a moment, weighing his options. He could stand there for who knows how long waiting for whatever the pair was doing to be over, or he could start talking with the child. After another minute of silence, Gaepora went with the latter.
He cleared his throat, catching the child's attention and his unwavering gaze. "Hello, little one," he said, kneeling down next to the boy. He offered the blanket back to the boy wordlessly, but in return received only a blank stare. Gaepora dropped it back on the cot. "You're safe, child. You're in Skyloft."
"OK, Momma. Where are we gonna go?"
"To Skyloft, sweetie."
Link relaxed. So they had made it.
"HURRY! THE VINE!"
The boy tensed again. He. He had made it.
Seeing the quick relief that had given the child, Gaepora proceeded with more confidence. "We want to try and find your family, child, but first you need to answer some questions, alright?"
Link nodded.
"Ok," Gaepora sighed. He looked at Owlan for hints on where to start, but the other man still seemed lost in his own thoughts. He returned his attention to the matter at hand. "First off, what is your name?"
A long time went by; long enough for Gaepora to think the child really had no intention of answering, when his small voice spoke. "Link."
Gaepora smiled, "Link. A good name. Tell me, what was your father's name?"
"Hawlo."
"I knew it." The noise from the back of the room, quiet though it was, startled both Link and Gaepora. Owlan stood in the back of the room with an unreadable expression. "I knew it. You look just like him."
"Who, Owlan?"
"His father, an old friend, Hawlo. I had family in Wind's Breath. That's where you're from, isn't it, Link?"
"Yes, you know Papa?" Link got excited, even hopeful, for the first time since he woke up. He stood on his feet, although he wobbled slightly on his feet.
"Knew, child, knew," said Owlan.
"What do you mean? Owlan?" Gaepora reached out from his position on the floor to grasp Link's shoulder, guessing what was coming.
"I received word last night from a colleague on a nearby island," Owlan took a deep breath. "They had seen smoke, and owning two Loftwing's, had flown out to see what was going on. Wind's Breath had burnt to the ground. Enough bodies were found to determine that only two citizens escaped. I would have mentioned it earlier, but I didn't know it was relevant…" Owlan trailed off, noticing how strange the boy looked.
Link stood, his jaw dropped, a severe change from his previous lack-of-emotion. He trembled slightly. He began to cry silently, almost unaware that he was doing so. He wanted to call out to his father and mother, to bring them back. He wanted to not be there, with a bunch of strangers, in a strange place, with everything so wrong.
"P… P…" It was that same feeling from before, when he had turned to see his mother fall. The feeling of not being able to speak, like somehow the word was stuck in his throat. Why couldn't he say it? Why couldn't speak?
"What's he doing?" Gaepora asked, growing panicked. Link's face was contorting with effort, and his fists flexed at his sides. He still wore the same horrified expression, but it was now mixed with something that looked like frustration.
"Link. Link!" Owlan approached the boy for the first time since originally carrying him into his room for healing. He shook him, forcing their eyes to meet. Link's eyes focused on Owlan's, filled with so much sadness. "Calm down, stop trying to speak."
It took Link a moment to register what the elder had said, and he stopped trying to talk. However, soon wailing filled it's place, and Link crumpled down to the floor and into a small ball, curled inward and convulsing with the strength of his sobs.
Gaepora gave Owlan a questioning look, which was only returned with he slight shake of the head. Understanding that the instructor had meant for them to talk about it later, Gaepora pulled Link into a tight hug. Owlan stood by and watched. The three stayed like that for nearly two hours before Link had cried himself to sleep.
Gaepora picked him up and laid him back on the cot. Link's mouth hung open slightly, and his face was stained with snot and tears, but he was sleeping peacefully. Gaepora pulled out his own handkerchief and cleaned off the boy's face gently, careful not to wake him. He pulled the blanket up to the child's chin, and gave Owlan a nod. Both men left the room quietly, closing the door behind them.
By this time, it was nearly dinner. The hallways were empty, as everyone was currently waiting down in the dining hall for Henya to serve the food. The two were free to talk openly, if not loudly.
Gaepora turned to glare at Owlan, and said harshly, "First off, why would you say that in front of a five-year-old child who just watched his mother die?"
"I'm sorry, sir, I wasn't thinking, I… I apologize."
"Yes, well, you better. Don't do anything like that again, that was completely inappropriate!" Gaepora sighed. "Although, your story made me wonder, if there was an island close enough to see the smoke, why didn't they fly there?"
"That confused me as well, but I suppose we'll never know," Owlan mused to himself, "She could have been worried about being able to maneuver through the smoke, or perhaps coming here for something specific, or maybe she simply didn't think of it," Owlan shrugged.
"It's sad, a boy that small losing his family," Gaepora shook his head. "What that boy must be going through… Which brings me to my next questions, what happened to him? It was like he was choking."
Owlan thought for a moment about how to phrase what he was about to say, "I believe I know, sir, but I would need to consult my texts for confirmation, which are in my room. I can't very well search for the proper ones with him sleeping, though."
"Then just tell me what you think, please," Gaepora sighed and cracked his neck, feeling stiff from the hours on the floor.
"Please keep in mind that knowledge of this condition is slim at best, and I do not know it all by heart. But I am pretty sure that the boy, Link, might have what's called a stammer."
"And? What does that mean? Is it curable, or contagious?" Gaepora looked at his friend wearily; it had been a long day, he really just wanted to sleep.
"He was probably born with it, and I don't think it's contagious. Whether or not it was a problem before he arrived, we don't know, but it is possible that it was brought on by the trauma of losing his family," Owlan explained. "Unfortunately, there is no cure. The best we can do is help him with it, and hopefully it will sort itself out."
Gaepora took a deep breath before speaking again, "So, he'll just have to live with it?" Gaepora looked back at the closed door. "Poor child…" Owlan looked between the headmaster and the door, debating whether or not to ask what he wanted to. Oh, might as well.
"Sir?" Gaepora turned to face him. "The child… I do need my room, and there's an empty one right down the stairs…"
Gaepora gave the man a small smile. "Yes, of course, we'll move him now before the students return from their meal."
Link stood on the dock, peering out into the sky. Behind him, the fire raged. It spread quickly, burning it's way towards him. He coughed on the smoke that filled the night, clutching the railing tightly. He needed to get off the island, he needed to jump into the sky. He knew his parents had to be out there somewhere, waiting for him.
And suddenly, there was a dark shape swooping in the distance, weaving up and down, with two figures riding it. It had to be his family!
Link leaped off the dock confidently, and waited for the bird to approach and his father or mother to catch him, safe and sound.
But the bird they didn't turn towards him.
They hadn't seen him. They hadn't seen him jump. Link tried to angle himself towards them, to no avail. The clouds got closer and closer.
He opened his mouth to scream for them, but no sound came out. He struggled, trying to find his voice, but all word stuck in his throat. He watched them fly off and away, forgetting him, leaving him behind.
The clouds engulfed him.
Link opened his eyes slowly. His eyes adjusted, and the room came into focus. He was in a proper bed, in a different, slightly smaller room. From what he could tell, it was night out. He still wore the same clothes, and as his stomach growled, he realized he hadn't eaten in at least a day.
Link sat up in bed, trying to shake off his dream. It was cool, so he picked up a blanket and wrapped it around his shoulders. He silently walked over to the door, and slipped into the hall.
He looked up and down the hall, checking to see if anyone else was watching. One way lead down to what looked like to be an empty bathroom, the door standing open, and another door leading outside. On his right, a staircase led up to another floor. Deciding he was alone, he began to tiptoe up the stairs. He needed some fresh air, and maybe he could find some edible plants outside. Reaching the upper floor, he stole down the corridor and out the large doors.
The night was windy, and the moon was full above him. It lit the world in blue light, deepening every color, making them richer and deeper. Link started forward, walking slowly down the path. He glanced over the sides, seeing buildings and gates beneath him. He assumed that must have been where the bottom floor door led.
He passed a strange statue, and stopped to look. It was beautiful, depicting a stone bird perched atop a pedestal. The base had glowing bands, along with another bird. The light they provided was weak, but they glowed nonetheless. The stroked it, but it felt the same as the rest of the statue.
He looked around for more, when a green light caught his eye. A few yards away was a small, green plant, one his father had told him about. Link walked over and plucked it from its leaves. Remembering what his father had told him, he stuck his fingers through the fruit's shell, letting the juice drip down onto it's stem. Almost immediately, another plant grew in its place. Link smiled.
He widened the hole he already made, drinking the juice himself. Although still a little hungry, Link felt much better, and much more awake. He glanced around the night some more, and spotting a familiar, but large, shape in the distance, he hobbled across the bridge to his left.
Coming of the warm grass and wood, the stone felt cold against Link's bare feet. In front of him stood a large statue of the goddess, much like the one his mother had had on their mantle at home. He walked around the base of the statue, revealing the sky, completely unblocked.
Link sat down on the ground and stared up into the sky. He looked at all the stars, trying to remember each constellation his father had taught him. Big dipper, little dipper, flying Loftwing, the goddess. His papa had promised to teach him all their names one day. Link felt another tear slip down his cheek.
A warm hand slipped into his own. Link turned to see that the loud little girl from before now sat next to him, with a blanket of her own. She didn't look at him, but up at the stars. He waited for her to speak, and to disrupt his quiet world, but she didn't. Instead, she just squeezed his hand.
"You can cry, if you want to," she said softly. She looked at him. "I won't tell. But I won't let you sit out here alone." Despite himself, Link smiled, letting few more tears slip out. He squeezed her hand back.
Zelda smiled, and both turned to watch the stars in silence. The two small children held hands and shared their blankets. They sat until the sky began to turn pink, before heading back to start a new day.
Together.
A/N: Hey guys! Chapter two, here you go! I just want to take the time to say thank you for all the reviews and support you guys have given me, you have no idea how happy it made me. You people on the Zelda forums are so nice! XD Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. I hope you all like my interpretations of Karane, Pipit, and Zelda. I tried to get their characters in for a break from all of the really sad stuff going on in chapter one.
Also, if there are any weird breaks in paragraphs or spacing problems, I forgot to save this as a lower document so Creator couldn't open it, (sorry girl!) and I had to copy and paste, which meant losing all the paragraphs. :/
Hopefully I'll see you guys again soon! 3
Edited by the fabulous CreatorOfHavoc (: Peace out Zelda fans!
