Author's Note: OK, here's Chapter 4. Not much to say, I promise things will get more interesting. Well, what I think is more interesting. Anyway, just enjoy!
The night was still bright, but the wind eased any thoughts of eerie stillness. Zelda, as a cloaked rider, appeared to be a spectre in the night. Her attendant, who was not entirely happy to be there, followed close behind. She was worried about their safety, but had heard of Zelda's skills as a warrior. There were, of course, the legends of her disguise as a young man, but she never knew if they were true.
Zelda's countenance was as smooth as the face of the moon, and her skin was just as pale and bright. The Queen of Hyrule was no longer a figurehead or maintaining agent of peace. She was the mythical figure, riding to another legend; committing another part of the rich destiny that weaved itself around her figure like a wrap of silver. Link's residence came into view, and Zelda seem to push her own radiance upon the wall. A light appeared in a window--the Hero was awake, and the two figures seemed to unite with light through the darkness. The only witness to this was her attendant, and she was awestruck throughout the momentary scene, as well as a good while afterward.
Dismounting, Zelda walked toward the door and was met by Link after a moment. She stared at him, and he didn't seem surprised to see her at all. Her companion studied at a fair distance, wondering what on earth the two were doing--just staring at one another! Finally, Link moved aside in the doorway and Zelda stepped forward. She turned to the young woman she travelled with and urged her inside.
"Come on, Malon."
Link was startled to both hear the name and see that his suspicions were true. Malon, the rusty-haired farm girl, ignored him and kept her attention on Zelda. He pushed the door closed and waited for Zelda to begin talking, like he knew she would. Slowly, she removed her cloak and Malon did the same. There was no denying now that the woman named Malon was indeed the girl he had met so many years ago. It had been--what felt like too long.
"I'm sorry to disturb you at such a late hour." Zelda was geniunely apologetic, but her words hinted at more to come. Link excused the intrusion with a nod on his head.
They followed him as he offered to give them something to drink, and Malon admired him for the first time in a long while. She had remembered him fondly for the past years of her life, especially after she had left the farm for greater pursuits. It was true, she had been married--to a young man who turned out to be less of the knight in shining armor she so dreamed and more of an abusive, insensitive phony. He subsequently ran to the desert to marry a Gerudo. His deceitful ways, as she had last heard of them, led to his death. She was not disappointed at the news.
"I suppose you would like to know why we have come," Zelda offered, setting the glass that he gave her on the table. She was far from hunger or thirst, except for the need to communicate. "Link, I've begun to have strange dreams again, and I suppose you have as well..."
She continued with his nod, "..I have reason to believe that these dreams are once again prophecies. I've had them for--longer that I should. ...Yes, I realize I should have contacted you, but I recalled memories from our past." she paused to stare up at him. His gaze was intent, as it always was. Zelda looked down again. "I feared I would be too late, and tonight's dream persuaded me to make the move to enlist your help once again."
Link commented on Malon's presence, and Zelda seemed to be aware there were three of them again. She also realized the distant look in Malon's eyes, and her intuition pressed an impression that the two had some sort of relationship. Her heart ached at the realization, but she pushed the ache away.
"I trust Malon with my life." was all she replied on the matter, and Link's attention went back to her. He requested she tell him of her dreams, but she was a bit uneasy now. Not for Malon to hear, but for the same reasons that constantly plagued her. She would not steal his life again. Still, his gaze caused her to break, and she spilled her story.
"I fear the dreams are not good ones. The sky grows dark once again, and--for some reason, your figure wavers to me. It's as if you appear from underwater."
He waited for her to continue, and she did after a moment. Malon was skeptical due to her fear of a return to the Time of Darkness before, but she would not speak quite yet. Link glanced at her, and a smile came briefly to her mouth. Zelda struggled a little with the next part.
"I see red, Link." she murmured, "and it is near images of me..." As she paused, Link finished her statement for her. She agreed, near tears. "Yes, it is on my hands."
There certainly were a lot of possiblities being placed on the table, everyone realized this. But they could come to no conclusions about what to do tonight. Link swore to help her. as he always did, and Zelda was glad to hear it. Her happiness and relief were overshadowed by an inner weariness; not only from lack of sleep but also from the weight her high spiritual power put upon her shoulders. He knew how difficult and alientating it was to carry such a weight, so he stood and offered them repose for the night.
"Thank you, Link."
Malon smiled at him, but he did not see it. Helping Zelda up, he noticed the weakness under her integrity. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to her, tried to be a friend during these long years. He could have used some sort of companionship when he fell into loneliness, and Zelda was never far from his thoughts. It was remarkable that he could have acted in so many different quests and travels, but he could not make the short journey to have that discussion with her--the one that always hung over their heads.
First, he led Malon to a room. He would have wanted to speak with her, but Zelda required his attention at the moment. She pushed him away at the door, however, promising to speak to him at another time. He simply agreed with her, and stood at the door as she eased it closed. They each knew the other lingered on the other side of the wood, but it was Zelda who made the move again. She opened the door and pulled him inside.
"Come, I want to show you something."
The night was still bright, but the wind eased any thoughts of eerie stillness. Zelda, as a cloaked rider, appeared to be a spectre in the night. Her attendant, who was not entirely happy to be there, followed close behind. She was worried about their safety, but had heard of Zelda's skills as a warrior. There were, of course, the legends of her disguise as a young man, but she never knew if they were true.
Zelda's countenance was as smooth as the face of the moon, and her skin was just as pale and bright. The Queen of Hyrule was no longer a figurehead or maintaining agent of peace. She was the mythical figure, riding to another legend; committing another part of the rich destiny that weaved itself around her figure like a wrap of silver. Link's residence came into view, and Zelda seem to push her own radiance upon the wall. A light appeared in a window--the Hero was awake, and the two figures seemed to unite with light through the darkness. The only witness to this was her attendant, and she was awestruck throughout the momentary scene, as well as a good while afterward.
Dismounting, Zelda walked toward the door and was met by Link after a moment. She stared at him, and he didn't seem surprised to see her at all. Her companion studied at a fair distance, wondering what on earth the two were doing--just staring at one another! Finally, Link moved aside in the doorway and Zelda stepped forward. She turned to the young woman she travelled with and urged her inside.
"Come on, Malon."
Link was startled to both hear the name and see that his suspicions were true. Malon, the rusty-haired farm girl, ignored him and kept her attention on Zelda. He pushed the door closed and waited for Zelda to begin talking, like he knew she would. Slowly, she removed her cloak and Malon did the same. There was no denying now that the woman named Malon was indeed the girl he had met so many years ago. It had been--what felt like too long.
"I'm sorry to disturb you at such a late hour." Zelda was geniunely apologetic, but her words hinted at more to come. Link excused the intrusion with a nod on his head.
They followed him as he offered to give them something to drink, and Malon admired him for the first time in a long while. She had remembered him fondly for the past years of her life, especially after she had left the farm for greater pursuits. It was true, she had been married--to a young man who turned out to be less of the knight in shining armor she so dreamed and more of an abusive, insensitive phony. He subsequently ran to the desert to marry a Gerudo. His deceitful ways, as she had last heard of them, led to his death. She was not disappointed at the news.
"I suppose you would like to know why we have come," Zelda offered, setting the glass that he gave her on the table. She was far from hunger or thirst, except for the need to communicate. "Link, I've begun to have strange dreams again, and I suppose you have as well..."
She continued with his nod, "..I have reason to believe that these dreams are once again prophecies. I've had them for--longer that I should. ...Yes, I realize I should have contacted you, but I recalled memories from our past." she paused to stare up at him. His gaze was intent, as it always was. Zelda looked down again. "I feared I would be too late, and tonight's dream persuaded me to make the move to enlist your help once again."
Link commented on Malon's presence, and Zelda seemed to be aware there were three of them again. She also realized the distant look in Malon's eyes, and her intuition pressed an impression that the two had some sort of relationship. Her heart ached at the realization, but she pushed the ache away.
"I trust Malon with my life." was all she replied on the matter, and Link's attention went back to her. He requested she tell him of her dreams, but she was a bit uneasy now. Not for Malon to hear, but for the same reasons that constantly plagued her. She would not steal his life again. Still, his gaze caused her to break, and she spilled her story.
"I fear the dreams are not good ones. The sky grows dark once again, and--for some reason, your figure wavers to me. It's as if you appear from underwater."
He waited for her to continue, and she did after a moment. Malon was skeptical due to her fear of a return to the Time of Darkness before, but she would not speak quite yet. Link glanced at her, and a smile came briefly to her mouth. Zelda struggled a little with the next part.
"I see red, Link." she murmured, "and it is near images of me..." As she paused, Link finished her statement for her. She agreed, near tears. "Yes, it is on my hands."
There certainly were a lot of possiblities being placed on the table, everyone realized this. But they could come to no conclusions about what to do tonight. Link swore to help her. as he always did, and Zelda was glad to hear it. Her happiness and relief were overshadowed by an inner weariness; not only from lack of sleep but also from the weight her high spiritual power put upon her shoulders. He knew how difficult and alientating it was to carry such a weight, so he stood and offered them repose for the night.
"Thank you, Link."
Malon smiled at him, but he did not see it. Helping Zelda up, he noticed the weakness under her integrity. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to her, tried to be a friend during these long years. He could have used some sort of companionship when he fell into loneliness, and Zelda was never far from his thoughts. It was remarkable that he could have acted in so many different quests and travels, but he could not make the short journey to have that discussion with her--the one that always hung over their heads.
First, he led Malon to a room. He would have wanted to speak with her, but Zelda required his attention at the moment. She pushed him away at the door, however, promising to speak to him at another time. He simply agreed with her, and stood at the door as she eased it closed. They each knew the other lingered on the other side of the wood, but it was Zelda who made the move again. She opened the door and pulled him inside.
"Come, I want to show you something."