~Enjoy~
Chapter Three – The Journey Begins
Hearing birds chirping rather loudly outside, Alex shifted, waking up. Her eyes slowly fluttered open and she saw that she was in her bed, back at home.
My bed…back at home…? What…?
The birds chirping so loudly already then clicked into her mind, it must've been at least noon…or later. Alex shot up from her bed, throwing off the covers and then rushed over to the window. Looking around, she saw that the sun was already high and the village was already loud with their work.
Biting her bottom lip, she hoped that Link hadn't yet left; she wanted to see him off before he left for his journey. She quickly pulled away from the window and then climbed down the ladder but pain rushed through her left arm, causing her to slip and stumble down, barely landing on her feet. She looked down at her left arm, seeing that it was already treated and bandaged…Link. He must've treated her arm when she'd fainted…
Not wanting to waste any more time, she shook herself out of her thoughts and carefully climbed down the second ladder. As she reached the bottom, the door creaked opened. Alex, in hopes of it being Link, turned around and there, in the doorway stood Ilia, holding onto a bucket filled with what seemed like fruits. She blinked a few times, staring at the beautiful young woman with such eye-catching emerald green orbs.
"Alex, you're awake, I'm so glad that you're okay." Ilia smiled, "You had us a little worried there."
Alex smiled weakly, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to give everyone such a scare."
"That's alright, you've just been sleeping for so long that we—"
Ilia paused mid-sentence as she saw the alarmed look on Alex's face and then laughed.
"Oh, don't worry, Link hasn't left yet. He knew that you'd be upset if he left without a goodbye." She walked over toward the younger woman but past her and set the bucket of fresh fruits down on the table, "Although, Link is worried about you so I think that's the main reason why he postponed his journey."
Alex nodded, relaxing a little; happy that Link knew her at least that much.
"How long have I been asleep?"
Ilia looked up at the ceiling, thinking before she responded and met Alex's eyes, "About a day, I think? A little longer, maybe? I don't know, somewhere around there. You lost a lot of blood so…"
"I see...okay, then. Well, I'm going to go to the village and let everyone know I'm okay before someone has a heart attack." Alex joked, smiling.
Ilia laughed, "As if we haven't had one already."
Alex joined in with a chuckle of her own before leaving with Ilia. They walked back to the village and did a small tour to let everyone know Alex was better. The kids practically jumped her, except for Beth and Malo, though she still hugged Alex; as much as she disliked Alex, she didn't hate her enough to want her to die.
"We're so glad that you're okay!" Colin smiled up brightly at her.
"Yeah, we thought for a minute you were a goner!" Talo exclaimed, then said softly, "And I thought maybe it was because of me…"
Alex ruffled his hair, "Hey, don't think too much about it, I'm here now, aren't I?"
"Yeah!" The kids yelled and then laughed, running around.
"You should go see Link, Alex; he's over by the ranch." Beth said, smiling.
Alex nodded, "Thanks, Beth."
Beth's smile warmed before she ran with the other kids. Ilia and Alex looked at one other before smiling and made their way to Ilia's house. Just then, Ilia gasped as she looked up and saw Link appear from the hill of the pathway that led to the ranch.
"Link!" She exclaimed and then ran over to his side.
Alex stood there, watching him smile at Ilia and then listen to Ilia talk. She wanted to greet him as well but she couldn't find herself to do so…especially with Ilia by his side. Now, she wasn't jealous, she knew that Link didn't have feelings for Ilia…at least she didn't think so, but she could be wrong.
"Alex! Oh thank goodness, you're alive!" a loud, deep voice rumbled, causing Alex to jump.
She turned around and saw Ilia's father, the mayor of the village, approach her and then take her up in his arms, embracing her tightly. Her feet left the ground for a moment before he set her down and she couldn't help a laugh. He wiped his tears and spoke in a hoarse voice, as if he'd been crying.
"Oh, you gave me such a scare, Alex, I thought maybe…"
She laughed and clapped his shoulder, "Well, worry no longer sir, I'm safe and alive."
"And a good thing too." A younger, masculine voice sounded from behind Alex.
She slowly turned around and came face to face with Link. Her eyes found his blue ones and saw genuine relief that she was alright flash through them; however, dark circles lied under his eyes as if he hadn't been getting enough sleep.
"Hi Link; I'm sorry for making you worry." Alex gave a weak smile, feeling a rush of guilt rise within her, "I—"
A soft gasp escaped her lips as Link's arms wrapped around her and pulled her close against him, embracing her tightly. Her eyes widened but she melted in his arms as heat rose to her cheeks and hid her face into his shoulder.
"I was so worried; you have no idea how scared I was of losing you…" Link whispered into her ear, holding her close and tight as if she was the most precious thing to him in the world.
"Link…" Alex choked out, the only she could say.
After a few moments, Link pulled away and stared into her eyes, smiling. Alex returned his smile, although meekly. The mayor stepped up then, wrapping a single arm around Link as he pulled him away for a small talk.
"So then, Link, when exactly do you plan on leaving for Hyrule? You see…"
Alex smiled as she watched the two men talk and moved to leave but paused as she heard Ilia's voice exclaim.
"What's this?" Ilia crouched down to get a better look at Epona's leg, "She's injured!?"
She turned onto Link then, so fast that he shrank back, "Link! You were pushing her over her limit again, weren't you?! I bet it was from jumping fences all day!"
"But Ilia—" the mayor tried to defend Link but ended up cutting himself off as Ilia moved her attention to him.
"Father!" She yelled, placing her hands onto her hips, "You're the mayor of this village, you should start acting like it!"
Her father's shoulders drooped as he sighed in defeat. Link flinched as she hmphed loudly before gently turning toward Epona and grabbed a hold of her rein.
"Don't worry, Epona, I'll soothe you in the Ordon's Spring and you'll feel better in no time."
Ilia's father's eyes widened as he stepped after her, "But wait, Ilia! Link needs Epona…to send the gift…."
He sighed as he watched his daughter storm off toward the village's spring and then turned to Link.
"I'm sorry, Link but looks like the journey will have to wait until Ilia calms down."
Link let a small smile toward the mayor before walking off. Alex watched Link go toward Rusl's house and then looked at the direction Ilia had gone. Wondering if she could explain to Ilia, Alex headed off to the Ordon Spring.
~X~X~X~
Arriving back at the house, Colin seemed to be having some trouble from the other kids. Alex made her way over, "What's going on?"
"Hmph, Colin here had to go and tattle to everyone in the village about my disappearance so I got in trouble yesterday." Talo crossed his arms, sneering at Colin.
"Now Talo, you know that Colin was simply worried about you, that's why he told his dad. He didn't tell everyone, only his dad." Alex said calmly to the boy who kept his arms crossed in front of his chest.
"But I got in trouble because of him! All because of—"
"Talo, did you father really yell at you? Or did he simply lecture you about the Faron Woods?"
Talo paused then, thinking before opening his mouth but a look from Alex shut him up. He sighed deeply then, his shoulders drooping.
"He was simply lecturing me about being careful…" He mumbled.
Alex smiled gently as she patted his head, "Don't fret, Talo, your father only seems to be against you because he loves you. He would be very upset with himself if anything happened to you, don't you think?"
The boy nodded, "Yeah…I guess you're right."
Alex smiled again as she straightened, "Well, now that that's all understood…C'mon Colin, let's go see Ilia and Epona together."
Colin looked up at Alex, smiling brightly, "Okay."
Talo opened his mouth to object but the two had already made their way pass him.
~X~X~X~
Arriving in front of the closed and locked gate of the Ordon Spring, Alex and Colin stepped up to it.
"Ilia, open the gate, I have to tell you something." Colin spoke, his hands gently pulling at the gate.
"Oh, Colin, I thought you were Link." Ilia said before she walked over and unlocked the gate.
Pulling one side of the door open, Alex and Colin stepped inside. They turned toward Ilia who closed and locked the gate once again.
"Why are you locking the gate, Ilia?" Colin asked, raising an eyebrow.
She took in a deep breath before she said anything, "Because—I just can't forgive Link for always injuring Epona and not bother to treat her. Epona's a girl, he should start treating her like one."
Alex bit her lips, remembering that day when her and Link rescued Talo; plus, maybe Link had had Epona carry her on her back when she'd fainted.
"Um…Ilia, there's something I have to tell you." Alex said softly, stepping up to Ilia.
The older woman turned to her with confused eyes.
Alex and Colin explained the story of Talo's capture and how Link rescued him. Ilia still seemed doubtful but when she looked at Alex's arm, she felt guilt flash within her.
"Oh…I didn't know about Talo…" Ilia looked away, feeling really guilty but paused as she saw Link by the crawl space.
She turned away and moved to pet Epona but the horse whinnied and shook her head, causing Ilia to gasp and take a step back.
"I see you still choose your master over me, Epona…" She said softly, her eyes not meeting Link's.
Link slowly made his way over to them but kept his distance. Ilia sighed, meeting his eyes, "Link, I guess you can take Epona with you, her injury doesn't seem serious…But can you promise me at least this?"
He stared at her, waiting for her question.
"Don't do anything that's out of your league…" She blew a sigh before turning and looking directly into his eyes, "Just come back home safely."
She gave him a warm smile, her eyes with genuine care for him. Link blinked a few times but then nodded, smiling. Alex stared at the two before smiling herself.
Just then, loud poundings against the earth sounded throughout the area, breaking the peaceful silence. A loud crack filled the air as a large boar with two bulbins on its back broke through the gate of the Ordon spring, stopping in front of the others. Colin, being the closest to the gate had been blown to the side and fainted on the grass. Ilia, Link, and Alex gasped, stumbling backwards. Ilia separated herself from the two as she ran to the left—only to groan out in pain as one of the bulbins shot an arrow into her side. Link gasped, stepping forward and reaching out to help her but the second bulbin appeared behind him and hit him across the head with its club, causing Link to fall onto the ground, unconscious.
Alex gasped, looking from Ilia and to Link. She moved to rush to Link's side but as she approached, the bulbin with the club swung its arm and knocked her aside. Her body flew into the bushes of the Ordon spring, hiding her just as a second boar trotted in; the King Bulbin riding its back.
He stopped beside Link's body, his eyes glancing around as if searching for anyone else before he blew into his horn, letting out a loud honking sound. A red warp point appears in the sky and King Bulbin smirks; then taking off with Ilia and Colin.
After a few moments, Link's eyes fluttered open. He laid there for a moment, his head still spinning. Then, he shot up as his mind cleared and then stood to his feet, looking around for the others. Seeing the bushes a little messed up, he ran over and saw Alex, scratched up a little from the branches that must've clawed at her when she fell. He gently pulled her out and then held her in his arms, shaking her to wake up.
"Alex?" His voice was low but tensed, in need of her being alright.
Slowly, her eyes shifted and then opened. She looked up at into Link's eyes as her vision cleared.
"Link…" Her voice slurred slightly, but then stronger as she shot up, "Ilia—Colin!"
A rush of dizziness surged through her head and she fell backwards, Link catching her. She lied there in his arms for a moment, before getting up to her feet—slowly that time.
"Where's Colin and Ilia?" She asked, her voiced dripped with worry.
Link's blue-eyes shifted a little, then a flash of guilt passing through them. Alex blinked at him, realizing that they'd been taken and then shook her head.
"No, they can't!" She exclaimed and then ran off.
Link's eyes widened as he stood and reached for her but his fingers missed her arm. He bit his bottom lip and pursued after her.
Both of them ran out of the Ordon spring and turned left, down onto the bridge that led to the Faron Province. But as they should've arrived into the Faron Province, they instead, came upon a black wall with orange lining that covered the whole passage.
Alex skid to a stop as she looked at it with confused eyes—this wall wasn't here before. Link came up beside her, stopping in his tracks as well as he saw the black wall. He turned to look at Alex for an answer but she shrugged and shook her head. Stepping closer to see better, a sudden black, gooey hand appeared and grabbed onto Link. A gasp escaped his lips as he tried to pull free but the hand was pulling him in, toward the black wall.
Alex saw this happening, gasped, and then ran over to him, grabbing onto his hands as he reached for her. She pulled with all of her might, Link slowly coming back to her. But—just as she would've gotten him, Link's hands slipped from hers and he was dragged into the black wall.
"Alex!" Link exclaimed before being swallowed up.
She quickly got up to her feet as she stared after where Link had been taken, "Link!"
