Chapter rating: PG13, again for language and violence, with some, er,
suggestive stuff mixed in. Heh heh, enjoy!
I crept out of Carlos's tent at around midnight. Oh, there'd been no fun for him. The poison had kicked in just as he was preparing himself. I love me.
Unfortunately, though, I had to borrow some of his clothes for my escape, as one couldn't very well ride and climb and fight in a dress, could one? His clothes didn't fit me well: my hips were wider than the pants would comfortably allow, and the shirt was much too big, although an oversized shirt made it much easier to conceal weapons.
It had taken me a good twenty minutes to get all my weapons together. I'd strapped my daggers to my thighs, tied my whip chain around my waist, and managed to hide everything else as well. Ayden had always told me never to let on that you're armed, and to keep weapons concealed where no one would think of looking. Hence, hiding a knife in a shoe, or the bodice of a dress, as my case had been.
"Now, for a ride outta here," I muttered, once I'd gotten to the horses. "Choices, choices." There was a nice red mare I hadn't seen before. Probably a recent acquisition of Carlos's. Too bad.
"Hey, honey," I said softly, cutting her free. "You'll let me ride you, won't you? That's a good girl." I patted her on the nose and proceeded to climb onto her back. Apparently she did not want to let me ride her. In a matter of seconds I went flying through the air and landed hard right on my far-to-confident ass.
"Damn wretched beast!" I spat. "Ow!"
"You know, Miss, stealing a man's horse doesn't qualify as a proper introduction," an amused voice said from behind me. I whirled around to give the jerk a piece of my mind - or rather, my fist -, and found that it was not one of Carlos's cronies, but the young man from earlier who was watching me with a cocky sort of amusement. Oh, shit, she's his horse? Millerna, you idiot! I scolded myself.
"I'm Link," he said, his smirk turning into a heart-melting smile as he offered his hand to help me up. He was adorable, but I was not about to let on that I'd screwed up. I gave him my best 'don't-you-dare-try-to-help- me' glare and got to my feet.
"I'm Millerna," I replied, "and if you don't mind, Pretty Boy, I've gotta get out of here, fast." "So you decided to steal my horse?"
"Dammit, I didn't know she was yours, alright!? I need to get far away before his guys catch me, and yours was the first horse I saw, get it?"
"So, you apologize for being a little thief?"
"I will not waste time with you! I have to get away before that bastard regains consciousness and gets a chance at me!" Link looked confused.
"Get's a chance at you?" he asked. Oh, God, I knew I sensed innocence in this guy. I decided to explain this very clearly.
"If I do not get out of this place, I will become asshole's"- I jerked my head toward Carlos's tent - "little sex toy. Do you understand my motivation, here, cutie?" He looked embarrassed.
"Uh, yeah, now I do..." he mumbled, looking at the ground.
"Good boy."
"Hey," he said, looking back at me, "I could help you get away, if you, you know, want me to. I know some women who'd let you live with them. Have you heard of the Gerudos?" Had I heard of them? They were legendary! And they hated men! Oh, it would be an honor just to be around them!
"Y-you know them? Really?" I asked, my eyes widening with a new respect for the Pretty Boy. If the Gerudos liked him...he must really be something!
"Yeah, no big deal," he said, shrugging. No big deal? The Gerudo women were like deities! "But I can't take you directly to them. I need to report back to the Princess about Carlos and his band first."
"You know her, too?" I asked, amazed.
"I'm technically her advisor-slash-bodyguard," he answered nonchalantly. My jaw dropped. Damn, this guy had friends in high places! How did he manage that?
"You must be a pretty important guy," I remarked, trying to sound less impressed than I was.
"Oh, legendary," he said, grinning. "Literally. I'll tell you about it later. Now kindly select a different horse, and we'll be on our way," he teased. Was it bad of me to notice the way his muscles rippled as he climbed onto the red mare's back? Was it bad of me to wish my outfit were a bit more form fitting in the legs and chest, for reasons other than comfort?
I stopped admiring his body and cut loose Carlos's black mare, appropriately named Ebony. She liked me more than she liked him, anyway.
"And she steals another horse," Link commented.
"Oh shut up, Pretty Boy," I replied as I hoisted myself onto the horse. "Carlos can find a new horse, because Ebony's my baby, aren't you?" She snorted softly and shook her head up and down. "I taught her to do that," I informed, smiling.
***
Okay, so Millerna had a bit of an attitude problem and swore more than a girl was supposed to; Link couldn't help noticing how attractive she was. The glossy black hair that fell to her waist; the cat-like green eyes framed by long black eyelashes; the full red lips; the creamy skin that seemed to glow in the moonlight: the effect was stunning, and he found himself glancing at her more often then he should have. It wasn't proper for a man to admire a girl's looks as much as he was admiring Millerna's, and he felt guilty about it. Every now and then he caught her looking at him, but she would look away as soon as he returned her gaze.
He couldn't help but smile when that happened. He knew he was handsome - he'd been told so many times, and it was all that could be assumed by the way the young women in the kingdom made eyes at him - but he tried not to let it get to his head. To be honest, it embarrassed him when women looked at him that way. He didn't like it when someone undressed him with her eyes.
And yet, Millerna appeared to have done just that more than once, and it hadn't bothered him at all. In fact, it had almost flattered him. Maybe Millerna just wasn't a normal girl.
***
"So," I said, "exactly what kind of a name is Link?" We'd stopped to give the horses a break, and were now sitting under a tree as the sun began to rise.
"What kind of a name is Millerna?" he countered.
"My aunt came up with it, actually," I replied. "Apparently it means something in the Ancient Language, but I'll be damned if I know what. And apparently someone named you after chain maille."
"Can we talk about something else?" I thought about this.
"We could talk about your boss, Zelda," I offered.
"My boss, Zelda?" he repeated. "Kindly refer to her as Princess Zelda, would you?"
"We could talk about your boss, Princess Zelda - is that better? I want to know something about her before I have to meet her. So what's she like? Short, tall; fat, skinny; pretty, ugly; smart, dumb? Gimme a vague description of this broad." Link treated me to a look of utter disbelief, as though lack of respect for the princess was completely unheard of; which, I reminded myself, it probably was. He sighed as if I were draining him of all his patience, then said,
"The Princess is a very kind and beautiful woman. I'm very honored to know her as well as I do."
"Uh-huh," I said, giving him a sly glance. "I see."
"You see what?"
"You're having an affair with the almighty Zelda, aren't you?" I accused, grinning evilly.
"W-what? Me? No way!" Link insisted. "We're good friends, that's all!"
"Sure. I've never known a Pretty Boy to deny his relationships; you must just be special."
"You know, I'm really beginning to wish I'd left you with Carlos," he grumbled.
"I'm not too fond of you, either," I informed. Link groaned and got to his feet.
"Alright, since you and I are most likely going to be stuck together for a while, I need to get some things straight with you: first off, you show me and the Princess a little more respect; secondly, I make the calls if we get into a dangerous situation; and thirdly - and most importantly -, if I need to fight someone or something for any reason, you stay back so you don't get hurt. Do I make myself clear?"
"Wait...I stay back so I don't get hurt?" I repeated indignantly. "Exactly what the hell makes you think I will get hurt?" Link gave a small laugh.
"Well, come on, Millerna," he said. "You're a woman. Women don't know how to fight." Link was soon corrected. In a matter of seconds I had knocked him to his knees, grabbed a handful of his hair, and locked my leg around his throat. I held him there.
"You were saying?" I asked in my sweetest, girliest voice, tightening the grip on his throat.
"Y-you win!" he choked.
"I'm sorry?" I asked, still in feminine character. "I'm sorry; I didn't quite catch that?"
"YOU WIN!" he yelled. I released my hold on him, pushed him onto his back, and pinned him to the ground. I leaned down close to his face.
"Now let me get something straight with you," I purred. "I am not like the girls you know. I am not some helpless little bimbo who needs to be saved on a daily basis by a big, strong man. I do not cry if I break a nail, I do not wither and die if left to my own devices, and I do not break if I have to fight some stupid goon. I prefer to do the breaking." I tangled my fingers into his hair and pulled his face closer. "Do I make myself clear?" This, perhaps, was taking it a little too far. He was still bigger and stronger than me, and managed to flip me onto my back. He gave me a charming grin.
"Don't start with me, Millerna." I threw my legs around his neck in a choker-hold. He may have been stronger, but I had technique, flexibility, and the element of surprise on my side.
"Don't piss me off, Linkie-Boy," I shot back. "I could kill you like this."
"There are worse ways to go," he panted, smiling at me, "than with a woman's legs around your neck."
"H-how dare...? OOOHHH!" I kicked him away from me and scrambled to my feet.
"Aww, did I make you nervous, Millerna?" he teased, still giving me that damn cute smile.
"You," I snarled, pointing at him. "GO TO HELL!"
I crept out of Carlos's tent at around midnight. Oh, there'd been no fun for him. The poison had kicked in just as he was preparing himself. I love me.
Unfortunately, though, I had to borrow some of his clothes for my escape, as one couldn't very well ride and climb and fight in a dress, could one? His clothes didn't fit me well: my hips were wider than the pants would comfortably allow, and the shirt was much too big, although an oversized shirt made it much easier to conceal weapons.
It had taken me a good twenty minutes to get all my weapons together. I'd strapped my daggers to my thighs, tied my whip chain around my waist, and managed to hide everything else as well. Ayden had always told me never to let on that you're armed, and to keep weapons concealed where no one would think of looking. Hence, hiding a knife in a shoe, or the bodice of a dress, as my case had been.
"Now, for a ride outta here," I muttered, once I'd gotten to the horses. "Choices, choices." There was a nice red mare I hadn't seen before. Probably a recent acquisition of Carlos's. Too bad.
"Hey, honey," I said softly, cutting her free. "You'll let me ride you, won't you? That's a good girl." I patted her on the nose and proceeded to climb onto her back. Apparently she did not want to let me ride her. In a matter of seconds I went flying through the air and landed hard right on my far-to-confident ass.
"Damn wretched beast!" I spat. "Ow!"
"You know, Miss, stealing a man's horse doesn't qualify as a proper introduction," an amused voice said from behind me. I whirled around to give the jerk a piece of my mind - or rather, my fist -, and found that it was not one of Carlos's cronies, but the young man from earlier who was watching me with a cocky sort of amusement. Oh, shit, she's his horse? Millerna, you idiot! I scolded myself.
"I'm Link," he said, his smirk turning into a heart-melting smile as he offered his hand to help me up. He was adorable, but I was not about to let on that I'd screwed up. I gave him my best 'don't-you-dare-try-to-help- me' glare and got to my feet.
"I'm Millerna," I replied, "and if you don't mind, Pretty Boy, I've gotta get out of here, fast." "So you decided to steal my horse?"
"Dammit, I didn't know she was yours, alright!? I need to get far away before his guys catch me, and yours was the first horse I saw, get it?"
"So, you apologize for being a little thief?"
"I will not waste time with you! I have to get away before that bastard regains consciousness and gets a chance at me!" Link looked confused.
"Get's a chance at you?" he asked. Oh, God, I knew I sensed innocence in this guy. I decided to explain this very clearly.
"If I do not get out of this place, I will become asshole's"- I jerked my head toward Carlos's tent - "little sex toy. Do you understand my motivation, here, cutie?" He looked embarrassed.
"Uh, yeah, now I do..." he mumbled, looking at the ground.
"Good boy."
"Hey," he said, looking back at me, "I could help you get away, if you, you know, want me to. I know some women who'd let you live with them. Have you heard of the Gerudos?" Had I heard of them? They were legendary! And they hated men! Oh, it would be an honor just to be around them!
"Y-you know them? Really?" I asked, my eyes widening with a new respect for the Pretty Boy. If the Gerudos liked him...he must really be something!
"Yeah, no big deal," he said, shrugging. No big deal? The Gerudo women were like deities! "But I can't take you directly to them. I need to report back to the Princess about Carlos and his band first."
"You know her, too?" I asked, amazed.
"I'm technically her advisor-slash-bodyguard," he answered nonchalantly. My jaw dropped. Damn, this guy had friends in high places! How did he manage that?
"You must be a pretty important guy," I remarked, trying to sound less impressed than I was.
"Oh, legendary," he said, grinning. "Literally. I'll tell you about it later. Now kindly select a different horse, and we'll be on our way," he teased. Was it bad of me to notice the way his muscles rippled as he climbed onto the red mare's back? Was it bad of me to wish my outfit were a bit more form fitting in the legs and chest, for reasons other than comfort?
I stopped admiring his body and cut loose Carlos's black mare, appropriately named Ebony. She liked me more than she liked him, anyway.
"And she steals another horse," Link commented.
"Oh shut up, Pretty Boy," I replied as I hoisted myself onto the horse. "Carlos can find a new horse, because Ebony's my baby, aren't you?" She snorted softly and shook her head up and down. "I taught her to do that," I informed, smiling.
***
Okay, so Millerna had a bit of an attitude problem and swore more than a girl was supposed to; Link couldn't help noticing how attractive she was. The glossy black hair that fell to her waist; the cat-like green eyes framed by long black eyelashes; the full red lips; the creamy skin that seemed to glow in the moonlight: the effect was stunning, and he found himself glancing at her more often then he should have. It wasn't proper for a man to admire a girl's looks as much as he was admiring Millerna's, and he felt guilty about it. Every now and then he caught her looking at him, but she would look away as soon as he returned her gaze.
He couldn't help but smile when that happened. He knew he was handsome - he'd been told so many times, and it was all that could be assumed by the way the young women in the kingdom made eyes at him - but he tried not to let it get to his head. To be honest, it embarrassed him when women looked at him that way. He didn't like it when someone undressed him with her eyes.
And yet, Millerna appeared to have done just that more than once, and it hadn't bothered him at all. In fact, it had almost flattered him. Maybe Millerna just wasn't a normal girl.
***
"So," I said, "exactly what kind of a name is Link?" We'd stopped to give the horses a break, and were now sitting under a tree as the sun began to rise.
"What kind of a name is Millerna?" he countered.
"My aunt came up with it, actually," I replied. "Apparently it means something in the Ancient Language, but I'll be damned if I know what. And apparently someone named you after chain maille."
"Can we talk about something else?" I thought about this.
"We could talk about your boss, Zelda," I offered.
"My boss, Zelda?" he repeated. "Kindly refer to her as Princess Zelda, would you?"
"We could talk about your boss, Princess Zelda - is that better? I want to know something about her before I have to meet her. So what's she like? Short, tall; fat, skinny; pretty, ugly; smart, dumb? Gimme a vague description of this broad." Link treated me to a look of utter disbelief, as though lack of respect for the princess was completely unheard of; which, I reminded myself, it probably was. He sighed as if I were draining him of all his patience, then said,
"The Princess is a very kind and beautiful woman. I'm very honored to know her as well as I do."
"Uh-huh," I said, giving him a sly glance. "I see."
"You see what?"
"You're having an affair with the almighty Zelda, aren't you?" I accused, grinning evilly.
"W-what? Me? No way!" Link insisted. "We're good friends, that's all!"
"Sure. I've never known a Pretty Boy to deny his relationships; you must just be special."
"You know, I'm really beginning to wish I'd left you with Carlos," he grumbled.
"I'm not too fond of you, either," I informed. Link groaned and got to his feet.
"Alright, since you and I are most likely going to be stuck together for a while, I need to get some things straight with you: first off, you show me and the Princess a little more respect; secondly, I make the calls if we get into a dangerous situation; and thirdly - and most importantly -, if I need to fight someone or something for any reason, you stay back so you don't get hurt. Do I make myself clear?"
"Wait...I stay back so I don't get hurt?" I repeated indignantly. "Exactly what the hell makes you think I will get hurt?" Link gave a small laugh.
"Well, come on, Millerna," he said. "You're a woman. Women don't know how to fight." Link was soon corrected. In a matter of seconds I had knocked him to his knees, grabbed a handful of his hair, and locked my leg around his throat. I held him there.
"You were saying?" I asked in my sweetest, girliest voice, tightening the grip on his throat.
"Y-you win!" he choked.
"I'm sorry?" I asked, still in feminine character. "I'm sorry; I didn't quite catch that?"
"YOU WIN!" he yelled. I released my hold on him, pushed him onto his back, and pinned him to the ground. I leaned down close to his face.
"Now let me get something straight with you," I purred. "I am not like the girls you know. I am not some helpless little bimbo who needs to be saved on a daily basis by a big, strong man. I do not cry if I break a nail, I do not wither and die if left to my own devices, and I do not break if I have to fight some stupid goon. I prefer to do the breaking." I tangled my fingers into his hair and pulled his face closer. "Do I make myself clear?" This, perhaps, was taking it a little too far. He was still bigger and stronger than me, and managed to flip me onto my back. He gave me a charming grin.
"Don't start with me, Millerna." I threw my legs around his neck in a choker-hold. He may have been stronger, but I had technique, flexibility, and the element of surprise on my side.
"Don't piss me off, Linkie-Boy," I shot back. "I could kill you like this."
"There are worse ways to go," he panted, smiling at me, "than with a woman's legs around your neck."
"H-how dare...? OOOHHH!" I kicked him away from me and scrambled to my feet.
"Aww, did I make you nervous, Millerna?" he teased, still giving me that damn cute smile.
"You," I snarled, pointing at him. "GO TO HELL!"