Chapter 2: Old Friends and New Acquaintances
When my small body hit the water, I woke up from the nightmare. I felt myself moving, which made my head ache slightly. The soothing sound of water and the gentle hoof beats of a horse eased away the pain, but struck confusion in my mind, groggy from recently waking up. I fluttered my eyes open, only to immediately shut them, squeezing the bright morning light from my sensitive eyes. Once my sight adjusted to the light, I stretched and rubbed my head out of habit, then found my head had been shoddily wrapped in cloth, damp from what I assumed to be blood. I looked down and found myself propped awkwardly upon Bora, who was leisurely trotting in a field in what appeared to be South Hyrule. I patted her on the head to let her know I was awake, which she gave a whinny of joy to.
Bora jerked her head to the side, gesturing her head towards a satchel attached to her saddle. Curious, I opened the bag, revealing a small message tied around a bottle. The message read, "This should help that nasty wound on your head. My medical skills aren't the best, but the bandage will stop some of the bleeding. No need to pay me back, your horse has provided sufficient security over the years. Consider this as payment. –Mr. Falbi P.S.: I sent you and your horse southwards to Ordon, there seems to be a bad storm rolling in. Didn't want you caught up in it."
I looked at the contents in the bottle and immediately recognized the liquid as fairy's tears. 'He must have been saving these for an emergency. These are extremely rare in these times.' I removed the cork and took a quick swig of the fluid. It had a unique and sweet taste to it, and the throbbing pain in my head lessened immediately. 'I must save the rest for another crucial time. This could be the best fortune I've had in days.'
I pondered at what Falbi said in his letter; something was mentioned about a storm. 'I don't remember any storm clouds, but maybe my fatigue has some blame...' I recalled him mentioning Ordon, a region of Hyrule I had yet to explore. I wasn't carrying a map, so I just had to follow a series of signs leading to the village. 'Maybe there I can get some information on my brother and this mysterious storm…' I wasn't terribly hopeful that these southerners would have much on a zora prince and a storm way up in the north, but I was running out of options at this point.
The fields of Hyrule where vast and wide, stretched beyond horizons and melting into a border-like wooded area. A calm breeze flowed over the grass, which seemed to be pulling me southward. I gratefully complied and rode Bora along the gusts, feeling a moment's peace, something I had greatly needed. After an hour or two of riding, I realized the growing hunger that plagued my body. I figured Bora must have had quite the appetite as well, so I quickly found the nearest route to the Faron Province.
Upon arriving to the entrance to the Faron Woods, I found an old friend sitting by a fire, with a few woodland creatures nestled in his wooly mane. "Well, well! If it isn't Mr. Coro! I haven't seen you since we were children!" I exclaimed, with pseudo-haughtiness, pulling Bora to a gentle halt as I dismounted, thrilled to see that Iza and Hena's brother was safe, "You really do worry your sisters by refusing to write, you know." That was just a plain lie. His sisters wanted very little to do with him. I could somewhat see why, as he was very lazy and wasn't good at managing funds, but he was always nice to me.
"Ah, you sound like my mother, Seki! Or should I call you Princess Sekhmet now?" Coro gave me a bantering glance and grinned while he stirred his soup. I gave him a bit of a glare; he knew how much I hated that nickname. He took a spoonful of the broth up to his mouth and blew, cooling the liquid down. Once he was satisfied with the temperature, he took a quick sip, and smiled in content. He glanced at me and seemed a bit startled, "Oh, where are my manners? Here, have some, it is a special recipe." I resisted the urge to vomit.
"Oh no, thank you. I must be going to Ordon soon. But I would like to ask a few things before I depart." I replied. I agreed with my self that no length of starvation would ever lead me to eat Coro's food. He had always been a terrible cook; he got it from his father. Maybe that's why his sisters don't want him around...
"Oh sure, anything for an old pal!" He didn't seem phased in the least by my dismayed expression after his offer. Apparently it was I who needed to learn some manners.
"My brother has recently gone missing. While searching I received word that a storm was approaching. Do you have any information on either topic?" As my words progressed, Coro's expression became darker and darker, which was very different from his usual jovial self. While this alarmed me, I kept a businesslike tone in my voice. No need for us both to panic.
"I… I think you should go get yourself checked out at the village; that wound looks pretty bad…" His sudden change in topic caught me off guard; there was something he wasn't telling me. I decided I wouldn't push him due to my growing hunger. I knew that if he heard my stomach's wrath he would have me eat his food even if he had to force me. We quickly exchanged farewells and I mounted Bora and rapidly rode her through the forest. Something about Coro's reaction stuck with me in an ominous way. I brushed it off immediately and focused on getting some food in my stomach.
I took the path through the woods and passed a spring along the way. I decided to continue, seeing another spring ahead on the map Coro gave me. He found no use in it since he knew the woods so well, so he was glad to give it to me. I crossed a wooden bridge connecting to the Ordona Province, but with some difficulty. Bora seemed a bit spooked by the clear visibility of the void below us. I ushered her onwards and stopped at the Ordon Spring, letting Bora get a quick drink and giving myself time to clean and dress my wounds with emergency bandages I keep in Bora's saddle. The waterfall and swaying of the trees made me sleepy. But I refused to fall asleep until I figured out what my dream before meant. 'All of those women… Where screaming my name…' I was in deep thought, so I didn't notice someone walk up beside me.
"She's beautiful. What's her name?" I was so startled by the sudden comment I couldn't help but give a quick yelp, "Oh, forgive me, did I startle you?" The voice belonged to a girl a year or two younger than me with sandy blonde hair and commoner's clothes. Well, I assumed they're commoner's clothes. Like I said, I'd never travelled there before.
"Her name's Bora, "I responded to the question, not sensing any hostility in the girl, "Sorry we're not from around here. It's been a long travel from Lake Hylia."
"Lake Hylia? My, that is a long way to travel. You both must be tired. If you want, I can show you to my village. It's no Castle Town but it is a decent place to rest." I offered her Bora's reins and she led both of us out of the spring and past a house built in a tree. The girl took a lingering glance at the house and continued down the path. "I'm sorry, Miss. I don't believe I caught your name. I'm Ilia." She said over her shoulder with a kind smile on her face.
"Sekhmet of the Zora tribe," I told the girl absent-mindedly. I was taken by the subtle beauty of the village and its rural atmosphere. I had realized I made a mistake in my introduction, "Princess Sehkmet." I had to reassure myself of that from time to time. Plus the royal title tends to get attention from the villagers, and that could be vital when I got around to collecting information.
"Princess? My, I don't believe our little town has ever seen royalty before. Though, if I am so bold as to say, you don't look like what I imagined a Zora to look like…" The girl stopped for a moment and examined my attire and complexion. I do suppose I don't exactly fit the description of a Zora. The Zora were beautiful people with multi-colored scales that glistened in the sun, and flowing fins that almost looked like cloth. I, however, was a seventeen year old girl, Hylian I presume, with bronze skin and red hair bright as fire and eyes as blue as the ice of Snowpeak. I can see where this girl could be confused.
"Oh, that is because I'm not a Zora. I was adopted by Queen Rutela, and raised as one of the Zora people." I stated after a long pause. It hurt to talk about my mother so soon after her death, but it was obvious this girl hadn't ever left her village so she didn't pick up the saddness in my voice. The girl just stared at me in awe, creating an awkward silence. I coughed to break the pause, and then she turned away, embarrassed at her own behavior. I smiled a bit at the girl. I had a feeling she thought she was ruining her first impression on me. She latched closely to Bora, who was also enjoying herself by the looks of it. I could tell that Ilia wanted to ask why I was adopted, but didn't want to pry any further as to make me uncomfortable.
"Oh, we are at the ranch now. Over there is Fado, he owns the Ranch. And over there is…" She turned her attention to something in the field and started to blush furiously. I followed her eyes and immediately recognized what she was looking at. A boy that looked no older than myself was riding a chocolate brown mare with a white mane. He jumped the obstacles set out with ease and the horse moved with his every motion. Fado noticed Ilia and I standing at the entrance and waved towards us. He started sprinting over to us, but not before the boy and his horse could dash over to us at great speed. The boy's skill on a horse was impressive, but something told me that's not why Ilia was so flustered.
The boy pulled on the reigns and dismounted the gorgeous mare. He looked up at us and nodded towards my direction, "Hey, Ilia, who's this?"he said in a somewhat deep voice. Ilia stared at him for a moment and came back to her senses.
"O-oh… This is Sekhmet…" Ilia averted her gaze for a moment, then straightened up, "She's a princess!" she added with much enthusiasm. I laughed a bit at her energy, but ended up jarring my head in the proccess, so I kept my amusement silent for the moment.
"Oh, really? Mighty strange for royal folk to be wanderin' 'round these parts." A new voice with a thick rural accent chimed in behind the blonde boy. Once I got a good look at him I remembered him as the man out in the field earlier, Fado. His voice was a bit annoying, but I wasn't really one to judge. When I wasn't paying attention I tended to slip into an accent that nobody in my tribe could identify.
"Yes, I suppose. Anyways, welcome to Ordon. I'm Link," The sandy haired man stretched his arm out to me for a hand shake, and I accepted it gratefully. I glanced at his face and, admittedly, did lose my bearings for a moment. He was quite handsome with deep blue eyes and wafting blonde hair. But I dismissed the notion. When you look at fish people all day, any moderately handsome man could look like a god.
I quickly gained my composure and replied, "Thank you, sir. If you don't mind, I would very much like a place to rest." I rubbed the back of my head, only to curse myself for doing so. I winced and brought my hand down, it covered in blood. 'Excellent...' I wouldn't hear the end of it now. Hopefully they would let me leave soon. The particularly hospitable people can be the most troublesome when you're in a hurry.
"You're hurt," Link said as he swiftly approached me. He gently grabbed my chin and moved my head to the side, wincing slightly at the sight of my wound. I was taken back by how straightforward he was. Though I couldn't say I hated it. I didn't love it either, as even his gentle touch felt like he was jerking me around like a doll.
"I'm fine, I just need some air." I replied trying to pry my body away from his. I felt the warm fluid under my bandages drip down to my neck. He moved his hands to my shoulders and kept me steady. The more I fought against him the more the blood leaked out.
"You'll fall," he bluntly stated. I looked at him confused, and, getting irritated, pulled my body away from his. I soon regretted moving without his help, because the next thing I remembered was looking straight at the sky. I cursed myself again for being so stubborn. I knew one day my stubbornness would be the death of me.
"Oh! Your head is bleeding!" Ilia shouted, not really helping my migraine. Link and Fado helped me up while Ilia watched worriedly. "Pergie should have some medical supplies. After all she is Talo and Malo's mother…" Fado gave a quiet chuckle and Link just focused on keeping me stable. I wanted to glare at the rancher for being so casual about my wound, but I was too distracted being in intense pain.
At this point I am feeling very faint, every motion felt like I was being jerked from all directions. Link saw I was on the verge of blacking out, so he picked me up and sat me on his horse. "Hold on to Epona's neck," he commanded. I tried to thank him but I was too weak.
"Thank..." I mumbled, unable to gain enough breath to speak. Link nodded in understanding, keeping a strong hand on my back to keep me from falling, and slowly led Epona, the brown mare, out of the ranch and towards a house with a small waterwheel attached to the side.