Well, here is the second chapter! As per usual, I do not own these characters. I do not own Link, Alucard, or Howl.
This chpater is a bit short, like the last, simply because my mind has been a bit frazzled for ideas. Once I get the ball rolling, this will get better, but until then, you'll simply have to forgive me...PWEASE!?
As usual, please Read and Review!
Everything hurt.
That was the first recognizable thought that crossed Link's mind as he shuddered and awoke from his sleep. He moved around, his eyes still closed, and found that he was not lying in his bed. He couldn't open his eyes for some reason, so instead, had to rely on his other senses to find out exactly where he was. He was lying on something soft, a mattress, though he couldn't be sure, for the only bed he had ever known was the old thing he slept in on the farm. Blankets, warm and smooth, lay about and over his body. He felt stiff, and the pain came and went as he moved around. The air smelled of wood, and the sounds of a fireplace burning brightly, crackling and biting over in the corner, caught his ear.
Finally, opening his eyes, he saw the wood ceiling above him. It was squat, though definitely not his house's roof. This one was made of a pleasant oak...or maybe it was cherry, Link couldn't tell. Whatever it was, it was a rich, homey sort of color, and he instantly felt relaxed. Flexing his hands, he realized this wasn't his home, and the thought that somehow hadn't seemed to matter a moment ago, now meant a great deal, and he sat up with a jerk, before wincing in pain at the effort. His blue eyes caught a glance of white, and he looked down at himself, to find he was dressed in a white, linen shirt, clean and without stain. This was not his shirt! He looked at it, and then realized it was. The thing had been cleaned and pressed nicely, and now felt light and fluffy.
"Where am I?" Link muttered, and found his voice to be a bit hoarse. He coughed twice, his throat suddenly feeling very parched, and his blue eyes darted about for some sign of another living being. There was only one door to this sparsely furnished room, and so, out of nothing more then natural curiosity, and a bit of concern, Link threw his feet out of the bed, however hesitant he was to leave it, and strode, barefoot, over to the door. Throwing it open, the smell of flowers, roses and hyacinths, filled his nostrils. It was a sweet and pleasant scent, and cast a calming feel over the worried farmhand. He peaked around the corner, down a hallway that stretched down for what seemed forever. Doors lined the whole length of it, each one exactly the same as the last. Wherever he was, he knew it had to be a dream of some sort. There was no reason for him to be here. None at all.
One of the doors opened, and before even waiting to see who it was, Link ducked back into his room, throwing himself on the bed, unsure of what to do, or how to present himself. What if that person came here? Boots echoed down the hall, their light clunk coming closer and closer and a sweat began to bead on Link's forehead. Here he was, in a strange place, with no idea how he had gotten here, and someone was coming. A million thoughts raced through his mind as he sat, his pointed ears listening to the steps drawing closer and closer.
"Oh, you're awake," a man smiled gently, coming into the doorway. In the fire light, Link was able to see his feature clearly, though they were cast in an orange light. The man, who was certainly ten years older then Link, had a handsome, pale face, with bright, blue-green eyes, that shone slightly, like glass. His smile was warm, almost as though he could read Link's thoughts and found them humorous. "I thought you would never awaken."
Link could say nothing at first, but look the man up and down, taking in the rich clothing he wore. A white shirt, rather like Link's, though this man's actually had sleeves. Over this, he wore a lavish coat, a rosy color, and decorated with shimmering blue patches, laid out in a nice pattern along the sleeves. A pendant, round and made of some pretty, green gem, hung about the man's neck on a silver chain.
"Have you lost your voice?" the man asked, looking at Link with his glass-green eyes. "You've been asleep for two days, so you may have."
"Two days!?" Link gasped, his first words to the man so far. "I've been asleep for two days!? How-I-Master Ingo will be furious! I-" Link fumbled for words, struggling with the sheets to get to his feet. The man was faster, however, and moved to stop him, placing a thin hand on Link's shoulder in a calming manner.
"It's alright," he laughed, shaking his head, his dark hair swaying about his thin face. "You're not on your farm any more...in fact...well, I'll let Alucard explain later..." The man seemed hesitant to speak on the subject of Link's farm, but Link barely noticed. Two days! He had been asleep for two days! He didn't know a person could sleep for two days! The man must have noted Link's panic, for he only shook his head again, before explaining. "You took a nasty blow to the head. We managed to save you, but the farm...well, don't worry about it right now. Just settle yourself for a minute while I go and tell my friend you have awakened. When he get's here, he'll explain everything."
Without waiting for a reply, the man turned and walked to the door, pausing only for a minute to look back. "I'll bring you back some food as well. You must be starving." The rumble in Link's stomach only confirmed this, and Link blushed, embarrassed by the response. The man simply laughed lightly, before walking out of the room.
Settling back against the pillow, the young farmhand tried to piece together what had happened. He was not even on the farm anymore? But how? He couldn't recall ever leaving. His last memory was going to sleep...it was a week before the Harvest Festival...and then nothing. He couldn't recall there even being more to the story. With sigh of resignation, Link dropped down, slumping against the soft pillow, and felt himself drifting off to sleep. He must have dozed for only a few minutes, for the sound of boots, now two pairs instead of one, came down the hall after a bit, and he opened his eyes to see the man had returned, though now, he had a companion with him.
This man was dressed just as richly as Link's first visitor, though his clothing were much more noble looking, and very dark. A black overcoat, lined with silver, and held closed with silver buttons and chains, covered a black vest. Dark, pressed pants, and high riding boots, completed the expensive ensemble, and Link felt like he should stand up and bow to the man, for fear he was royalty. However, when he looked at the man's face, he found that he could barely keep himself from bowing. The man had a stern face, his brow set slightly into a firm position, held sway over most his pointed visage. However, it was his eyes that were the most capturing portion of the man's face. Never had Link seen such piercing eyes as he had in this man. Their grey color, glimmering with a strange, almost otherworldly light, looked straight into, through him, almost, and Link felt most uncomfortable under them. He shifted in his position, the man silently regarding him for a moment from the doorway before even entering, and the silence over the room was deafening. The actual look of them were cool, collected, the eye lids half closed, as though the man was feeling very smug. However, Link couldn't not look away from those piercing orbs, no matter how hard he tried.
"It would seem Howl was right," the man stated, his voice deep and rich, as he moved towards a chair that Link hadn't even noticed, sitting at the foot of his bed. He tossed a bit of his thick, silver mane from his face, the wavy locks falling behind his shoulder perfectly. Sitting down gingerly in the chair, the man crossed his leg over the other, still regarding Link under those eyes. "You have awakened...I am certain you are wondering about your surroundings, correct?" Link could only nod in response. "I assure you, you are safe. You are in my castle, Castle Fahrenheit." He motioned with a black-gloved hand to the room about him. "This is a guest room on the third floor, if you care to know. At any rate, your question is more likely to be about how you got here, rather then where you are, correct?" Once again, Link could only nod. What could he say? He was still too awestruck by the news. A castle!? Him!? He was in a castle?
"I will start at the beginning," the man began. "My name is Alucard Fahrenheit Tepses. You may call me Alucard. As I said, you are in my castle. The man who came and got me," he said, moving his eyes over towards the dark haired man, who was now leaning casually against the door, his arms crossed over his chest. "He is the wizard Howl, and the on responsible for saving your life..."
"My life?" Link asked, the confusion on his face being revealed shamelessly. "I never knew I was in danger!"
"Neither did anyone else on the farm you come from..." Alucard replied, returning his eyes once more to Link's. "I will not mince words with you," he sighed, shaking his head. "Your farm is not what it once was. We are far from it now, many leagues, actually. However, were you to visit it now, you would find it quite changed." He paused, and Link tensed for bad news. "Every inhabitant, from the chickens to the workers, to even your master, have been turned to stone in but a single night."
Link's mouth dropped. Somehow, the idea, the thought, of all those lives, simply stopped in cold stone, their faces to never change or move, was unbearable. It did not even sound real, as though this Alucard was making the whole thing up, or that this was still a dream, or nightmare, and that he would wake up to find himself in his lumpy bed, in his run-down shack, to get up and shake off the cold sweat on his forehead, to go to work, the nightmare fading from mind. But he wasn't. He felt the fire's warmth, the fear creeping through him and gnawing on his insides, and the sheer anxiousness that was overcoming his heart.
Alucard, however, gave very little time for these sort of feelings, for he pressed on without but a moment's pause. "Howl sensed something was wrong, the flow of magics causing some sort of wicked effect on the world, and so, we went to investigate..."
"But, why did you save just me? If you could restore me, then why not the others?" Link asked. He knew he was assuming that he had been cursed as well, but surely he had not been spared that horrible fate.
"Because you did not need saving," Howl replied, finally speaking up. Alucard nodded, and Link simply continued to look baffled.
"You were the only one who was spared from the tragedy..." Alucard explained. "You're body had remained un-petrified...though the reason still eludes us..." He turned his gaze once more to Howl, as though an explanation would be forthcoming. It did not, however, for Howl simply replied, "Your distance from the main farm had nothing to do with it, either...there were animals, wild animals, that were near your home that had also suffered the same fate." His tone was solemn and quiet, and this only made Link more worried. Not only did a man, whom Alucard had labeled a wizard, a type of person Link had always understood to be immeasurably wise, did not have answers, but now, his life, his home...all of it gone in a single night. The feeling, all of it, was painful, to painful to bear, and he wanted this cruel joke to end. He closed his eyes, and heard Alucard rise from his chair, walking closer. Opening his eyes, he saw the man looking down on him, his eyes not condescending, but showing flakes of compassion and understanding.
"I am sorry for your loss," the man stated simply. "I know it must be difficult...I and Howl shall let you rest for now. Someone will be back up to check on you later, but for now, you surely have some things to come to grips with..." He turned, his heavy, black coat and cape, the collar high about his face and throat, rustling almost soundlessly, and he left, Howl giving only a sad smile, before following behind, closing the door solidly.
Link lay there, his body tensing, the pain returning once more. What had happened? How could this...why? That was the question that frequented his mind the most in those few moments before he fell asleep with grief. Why did this happen to his farm? Why did he survive? Why did his body pain him so? Why couldn't he wake up? His mind pondered this over and over as he fell into a fretful and troubled sleep.