Chapter Four: Blood of Heroes
"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open." - Alexander Gram Bell
"Presenting his lord, Link of Ordon."
Zelda nodded to the servant presenting the former hero, watching as the blond approached the throne before kneeling. She blinked at the small figure kneeling just behind him, before dismissing it, turning her attention back to Link. "Welcome Link, I'm glad you could come."
"One does not ignore a royal summons, especially one that has traveled all the way to Snowpeak. Might I inquire, your majesty, what you have requested me for?"
"Two visitors arrived last week, searching for something...a door of some kind. while I have never seen such a thing as they have described, I summoned you, as one of the few Hylians to venture across our country."
"I have seen many doors, my queen. Perhaps if you were more specific..."
"It is a door of light. Pure, radiant, and nothing of the natural worlds." A voice said and link turned, glancing at the figure cloaked in black, wisps of silver hair peeking out from his hoot. "About three feet tall, a foot wide and glowing."
"I have seen nothing such as these in my travels," Link said, before turning his attention back to Zelda who looked rather disappointed. "But, I have not been everywhere in Hyrule. In fact, there is one location I have not yet had a chance to explore. With your permission, I would be willing to escort our guest to the desert in order to do so."
"The desert? What could be in the desert that you have not yet seen?" Zelda asked, frowning.
"The Goddess of the Sand."
Zelda clutched at her throne's armrests, half out of her seat. "You've seen it?!"
"I have. It's still carved into the walls of the desert, about a days ride from the prison."
Zelda sat back with a heavy thump, wide eyed as she stared off into space. A small hand reached out, tugging on Link's cloak.
"What is the Goddess of the Sand?" Colin asked in a low whisper.
Link smiled, turning his head slightly. "You know of the Hero of Time, correct?"
"Of course, everyone knows about him."
"Well, the Goddess of the Sand is one of the temples he saved. It is where the Sprint Sage used to pray. All of the other temples were lost...until now."
"So we're going to visit one of the seven great temples he restored?!"
"I, and if they wish, the guests will. You are staying here."
"Link! You promised not to leave me behind!"
"This isn't some fun adventure, Colin. This is serious. There is a more then likely chance that darkness has re-claimed the temple as it's own. I can't allow you to come with us, you're not...this isn't something that you can handle."
"You. Promised!" Colin said and stood, angrily storming from the throne room.
Link sighed, watching the boy go before turning back to Zelda and the black cloaked figure who was watching him. "Please, excuse us." he said softly.
"I grant permission for you, and our guests if they agree, to journey to the Goddess of the Sand and see what you can find." Zelda said, waving Link away.
Link sighed, standing, drawing his cloak around him. "As you wish, your highness." he said, turning to follow Colin only to be stopped by the sound of Zelda's voice.
"Oh, and Link...please stay in your rooms until you leave. Few of the servants know that you are here."
Link's body stiffened, catching the meaning behind her words. "Do not fear, your majesty. I have no intentions of frightening your poor servants." he said, his voice a low growl before striding from the throne room.
Zelda watched him for a moment before turning to the black clad man. "I would advise you not to journey with him, but it is your choice. He is...dangerous."
"Trust me, your highness, I can handle anything." the man said before following the path the others had taken, eager to get away from the woman who made his skin crawl. He met up with his companion who had waited outside the throne room, spotting him easily considering the bright red cloak he wore.
"No luck, but we might have a lead, some temple." The man in black said, leading his companion towards the chambers they had been given.
"What are your thoughts of the man and boy?" his companion said, entering their chambers and pulling back his hood, revealing a head full of rich chocolate hair and blue eyes.
"Darkness." the man in black said, before turning to his companion. "The man stank of it. The boy however...there is something there, I have not felt it in years."
"Ronin, are you sure we should do this? Perhaps it is not here, perhaps..."
"I want to know more of this place, Soren. I want to know why that man reeks of darkness, yet was the hero of the world."
"If you wish it,"
Ronin reached up, gently touching Soren's cheek. "I promise, if this is a lost cause, we'll go home, but I have to know."
"Curiosity killed the cat," Soren muttered, leaning into the touch.
--
Link found Colin in one of the smaller castle gardens, sitting on a fountain and throwing rocks at the carp in the pool. Link smiled at the pout on the boy's face, before sighing, remembering why he was there in the first place, taking a seat next to Colin.
"Colin.."
"Don't talk to me." Colin growled, throwing a rock hard, hitting one of the fish who darted away.
"Come on, don't be like this. You have to understand, I would take you with me if it was safe..."
"It's never safe, that's the excuse you always use, Link!"
"Colin, you can't even use a sword, how am I supposed to take you when you'll just be a liability?" Link growled out, frustrated with the moody teen. "I've done this before, I've nearly died before, because I wasn't strong enough, fast enough, good enough. I don't want that to happen to you!"
"And what if you die this time, because something was that much quicker, Link?! I want to be there!"
"Colin..."
"And if you're so worried about me not being able to use a sword then teach me!"
"I can't just...teach you, not in the amount of time we have."
"You can at least teach me the basics! Enough to defend myself, and then I can come and you can stop being a bitch about it." Colin said, crossing his arms over his chest, huffing.
Link growled before throwing his arms up into the air. "Fine. I'll teach you, but you have to see the doctor before we leave and I want the knight general to approve your going."
"What, that's not fair!"
"That's the deal, take it or leave it." Link said, crossing his own arms over his chest.
Colin glared up at him before grunting. "Fine."
--
"How is he?"
The doctor glanced back at the boy resting on the exam table before ushering Link out of the room. He sighed, taking a seat at his desk and removing his glasses, rubbing his eyes. "For all intents and purposes, he's dying."
"So there's no hope?" Link asked, deflating.
"I'm not saying that. It is...strange. I have seen many cases of the disease he now carries, I know the symptoms better then the back of my hand," The doctor raised his wrinkled, gnarled hand at this before shaking his head, lowering the hand. "But in all my years, I have never seen such a case as this boy."
Link took a seat, frowning. "Please, doctor, I need to know what's going on."
"In every case I've seen before this, by the time the disease progressed to this point the damage to the lungs was severe. To severe to be compatible with future life. At best, the patient would go home, live a few weeks to months, and die. But," Here the doctor rubbed his eyes again, weariness setting in. He was getting too old to keep up with his work. "But there is no damage to the boy's lungs. It's as if he were still in the first stages of the disease. Every test I've administered has come up with the same results. Logically, it makes no sense."
"This is Hyrule, doctor. Logic does not exist here." Link said with a smile.
The doctor had to smile back, nodding. "Aye, in a world of faerie folk and magic, what are us men of science to do." He sobered, leaning on a hand. "I can't give him a diagnosis or a treatment plan until I know more, but for now, he seems healthy enough to accompany you. Just make sure he rests, and continues to wear his face mask. The disease is highly infectious, so be sure that he keeps his mouth covered when he coughs and doesn't bleed on anything you don't want infected."
Link nodded, offering his hand to the doctor. The man hesitated for a moment before shaking the offered hand, leading Link back to Colin's room, un-consciously wiping the 'tainted' skin on his apron as he did so.
--
The horses were saddled, bags packed. Colin was already astride Epona, toying with the belt across his chest that secured the Ordon sword to his body. Link had given the sword to the teen, once the captain of the guard had approved of Colin's skills, meager as they were.
Link shook his head, pulling his eyes from the blond and looking instead at the approaching party. Zelda and her guards stopped before the foursome, staring at each in turn silently, before looking at Link. "You have another journey before you, are you sure you are up to the challenge?"
Link gave a smile, his eyes hiding the same emotions of despair and anger he always felt around his queen. "I am always ready for a new challenge, your majesty. Especially one that will greatly benefit Hyrule."
"I have been requested by the royal archivist that you take notes on what you find that may be of value. He understands that some note taking may be impossible, given the likelihood that the temple has fallen back into darkness, but he still requests you do what you can."
Link startled at the mention of Shad, biting his lip to keep a true smile from crossing his face. "Tell him I will take what notes I can, and that maybe one day he can climb out of that stuffy library and see it for himself...if he can find the door."
Zelda had to smile at that, giving a nod. "Be safe, Link. Hyrule still needs you."
Link's mood dropped at this and he turned away from Zelda, swinging himself up onto Epona's back. "Hyrule has no need for a monster, your majesty, she has made that perfectly clear." He spurned Epona into movement, dashing off down the hill, followed after a startled moment by two other horses as Ronin and Soren followed.
Zelda watched the group leave, until they were no more then tiny specks in the field before her. "Hyrule will always need a hero, Link. We're just waiting for him to return to us." she whispered before nodding to her guards and entering back into Castle Town.
--
"The temple is a day's ride from the prison, which is a two day ride from here...unless we get lost."
"Lost?" Colin asked, quirking an eyebrow, looking up from his lunch of roast beef on wheat, he was going to miss the castle's kitchens.
Link rubbed the back of his head, smiling in an embarrassed fashion. "It's quite easy to get turned around in the desert."
"Oh." Colin went back to his sandwiches, watching as the older men discussed what they were doing.
"And that's not including the time spent in the temple," Soren muttered, making a note on the small pad of paper he held in his lap, sandwich forgotten next to him. "Are you sure we have enough supplies?"
Link nodded, glancing at the packs that were resting within reach. "We have enough for a week and a half, any time after that, and we can savage."
"Savage?" Colin asked, wrinkling his nose, not liking the idea he was getting.
"Bokoblin are quite good if cooked over an open fire." Link said and Colin put his sandwich down, suddenly not as hungry as he had been.
"Tell us of the enemies we might be facing," Ronin said, dismissing talk of food and supplies for the moment.
"That, I'm not to sure on," Link said with a sigh, sipping his tea. "There could be anything from leftover over monsters of twilight, to natural enemies...even decedents of the original monsters Ganondorf brought with him from the Dark Realm. I know some of what the Hero of Time faced when he first freed the temple, and I have read accounts of what the sages dealt with after, but the temple has been left bare for so long..."
Ronin nodded, sipping his drink, silently thinking it over.
--
They had been inside the temple for three days, and so far hadn't seen much beyond the first floor. They were currently camped out in a room with a giant golden statue, her arms stretched out in offering. Every so often one of them would glance up at one of the hands, eying the tantalizing chest on the palm of one of her hands before returning to their tasks of fixing dinner, checking supplies or healing Colin's latest battle injury. Colin had a...knack, for getting into danger. It wasn't that he was a bad fighter, he wasn't, but he just had...a damnable curiosity that nearly got him killed. He had been strangled by floor master, swallowed by a like like, tripped over one of those razor blades that roamed the floor of the temple for some odd reason.
But it wasn't just monsters that Colin had problems with, he had a terrible sense of direction and often got turned around in puzzle rooms, re-setting the room and thus making the other three jump, duck and hide, before they had to scramble back to the beginning, retrieve Colin and start the puzzle over again. Link soon learned to keep Colin in front of him in puzzle rooms, despite the boy's protests and monster magnet status.
"Tomorrow, we should try for the top of the statue. First for that chest, and then for her head." Ronin said, eying the statue.
"Her head?" Colin asked, confused, hissing as Soren dabbed a potion on his wound.
Ronin nodded, turning his attention back to the pot he was stirring. "I feel something from there."
Link looked up from cleaning his sword, glancing at Ronin before looking up at the Statue's face, tilting his head in silent question before shrugging. "Whatever works."
--
Link growled and pounded at the rock beneath his head serving as a pillow before shifting again, unable to sleep. He sighed and sat up, glancing at the small lump next to him before smiling, brushing a lock of Colin's bangs from his face before groaning as he stood, stretching out his muscles. His gaze flickered to the large statue before him as he grabbed his tunic, pulling it on.
He gave another glance at his companions before moving closer to the statue, staring up at the goddess' face. He knelt, bowing his head before her, much like the sages had done long before, placing his hand on the platform the statue stood on.
He screamed, the sound choking off as he covered his eyes, a bright, golden light blinding him, a rush of power flooding his body. It took a moment for the after effects of the light to fade, and the sight before him caused his jaw to drop in shock.
Before him was a the forests of old, before Hyrule's capital city moved, before half of their country was overtaken by the woods. He stood, staring around him, in awe of the beauty now lost to time. On a log, not far from him, sat a young man, holding a blue instrument. He was studying the small flute before putting it to his lips, a sweet, gentle melody spilling from it as a small blue light danced around his head.
"Uh..hello?" Link called, moving closer to the man on the log.
The music trailed off and the man sighed, raising his head, flicking a long section of bangs from in front of his eyes. "I've waited a long time, Link of Ordon."
Link was speechless again, staring at a man that could have been his twin, had time and fate been kinder to them. "You..." Link couldn't speak, feeling stunned.
"The Hero of Time...at least, that's what they once called me." the man said, smiling softly. "And you are my heir...or you have really bad fashion sense."
"I...I guess I am. Or at least that's what they kept telling me." Link sighed as he took a seat on the grass, running a hand through his hair. "So why exactly am I blessed to be hallucinating the greatest hero in Hyrule's history?"
The apparition shrugged, leaning back on his hands. "I'm guessing you need my hep with something. That's usually how these things work."
Link raised an eyebrow, drawing one of his legs up. "I can't imagine what I would need help with." he said evenly.
"And something tells me you're lying."
"Could it be the fairy you happen to have whispering in your ear?" Link questioned, tilting his head and looking at Navi. He held out a hand silently, wondering if the small faerie would consent to join him. The small fairy studied him, swirling around the young hero before lightly landing on his outstretched hand.
Link's mouth moved as he stared down at the small blue woman. "You're real..."
"Of course I'm real," Navi said, wings fluttering rapidly at the idea of her existence.
"I'm sorry, it's just...I never expected...the fairies of the Kokiri are gone from our world. I never imagined I'd see one."
"I guess that's better." Navi said, dusting herself off before sitting in the palm of Link's hand, staring up at him. "You're very conflicted," she murmured, tilting her hair, long blue hair spilling over her shoulder.
"I'm not your partner, how can..."
Navi smiled, playing with a long strand of hair braided together with leaves an rope. "You have his blood. You're not just his heir in terms of being the hero of Hyrule."
Link blinked, glancing at his companion who smiled, shrugging. "My family died in the Great War, all I know of them is my mother who left me in the care of the Great Deku Tree."
Link nodded before looking at the small fairy again. "So, what am I conflicted about?"
Navi tilted her head again, closing her eyes, almost swaying to a music no one else could hear. "You're scared, about your relationship, you think he's too young and in-experienced for your life, but you want desperately to forget those facts because you've loved him for years. You're aggravated about the twilight in you, and the reactions of your people. You gave so much and yet they turned against you. You just want to return to your simple life in Ordon, to forget about ever touching the Master Sword, about ever seeing a way out of the Twilight. You would have rather been trapped, then the hero."
Link snorted. "Yeah." he sighed, his chin falling onto his chest. "It's just...tiring."
"So you would have rather lost everyone to the Twilight...to Ganon, instead of simply dealing with the fact that humans are scared, irrational creatures?" his companion asked, polishing his flute again as he watched Link.
"No...I just...I tried so hard. I did everything I could to make things right and now...I never asked for this!" Link exclaimed, sending Navi up into the air.
"None of us did," said the apparition, along with another voice behind Link. Link stood, turning so quickly he almost tripped over his own feet.
Soren stood there, his head tilted forward, hiding his face in the hood of his red cloak. "No one asks, for their life to change, Link. No one asks to be handed a sword and told to go save the world. Especially not as a teenager, who barely knows the world outside his own little spot in it."
Soren raised his head and held out his hand. A flash of light later, a sword rested in his palm, gleaming brilliant in the false sunlight. He stared at the blade, almost as if hypnotized by it. "I was fourteen, when I was given this. In that night my entire world was destroyed...I lost everything to the darkness." Soren swallowed before looking at Link. "I've wanted to get rid of this sword since it was first handed to me."
"So why haven't you?"
Soren threw his sword away, crossing his arms over his chest. It only took a moment, and his hand shot back out, the sword re-appearing in his hands. "I can never be rid of it, Link. Not until I die or it's taken from me by another master...and trust me, if they take it, I will die shortly after. This is my burden to bare, a sword that will never leave me, a destiny that won't stop until I do. But you...you can choose to walk away Link, you can choose to forget everything, but would it be worth it? Could you really stand back if Darkness tried to claim Hyrule again?"
Link sighed, his head dropping, running a hand through his hair. He was silent for a long moment before snorting. "Of course not," he muttered, allowing himself to fall back, staring up at the sky. "But that doesn't mean it doesn't hurt."
Soren laughed and sat next to him on the grass. "Of course it does, but Link, what really matters? The thoughts of people who don't know you? The fears of a few who can't look beyond their own noses, or those that will stand by you, no matter what? It's time to live up to your name, hero boy. Forget about those that have problems with you, they're not worth the energy."
"Easy for you to say, Link muttered, before looking cross-eyed at the small fairy now resting on his nose. "Yes?"
"It's time to wake up, Link. We'll see you again."
Link blinked at her and suddenly there was another flash of light and Link found himself still kneeling before the giant statue, only this time, Soren was next to him, blinking as he struggled to adjust from the dreamscape to reality.
Soren turned to Link once most of the bright white spots had vanished from his vision, giving a small smile. "You alright?"
Link was silent for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I think I just might be." he said, giving Soren a smile.
--
"Duck!"
"Kinda hard at the moment!"
"What the hellis this thing?!"
"Less chatting more smacking, boys!"
Link leaned heavily against a stone pillar, fumbling in his pockets for a potion, eagerly drinking as he watched Soren run in circles, trying to confuse the giant armored knight...which wasn't working quite well.
"SOREN!" Ronin yelled, taking a shot at the knight, a stream of dark energy flowing through the air and impacting against the knight's armor, having very little effect.
"I've got it, I've got it..." Soren mumbled, before promptly having the flat edge of the knight's axe slam into his stomach, sending him flying into a wall. "I don't got it," he muttered, coughing.
Link cursed as he realized only Ronin was left actively fighting while Colin ran to Soren with a potion. He darting around the pillar, letting out a cry as he jumped, launching himself at the knight's head, hoping to take it off or at least get a good shot in. His charge was met with the axe aiming at him and he struggled to shift his position, managing to get hit in the side instead of in the middle of his chest.
He fell heavily on the ground, groaning as his body cried out in protest of the treatment, scrambling backwards as best he could to get out of range and grab yet another potion. As he popped the top of the bottle and started to drink, he watched as Ronin went flying, the boy shifting in the air for a better landing, but still meeting the stone floor in a rather abrupt fashion.
The knight's helm shifted, looking around at the scattering of the four people who woke him from his slumber, before launching himself, faster then one could really follow, towards the most injured. Colin screamed, trying to raise his sword in order to defend Soren. The sword went flying with one swing of the giant axe, and Colin was forced to duck under the back-swing, kissing the ground. He started scrambling for his sword the second he could move, managing to grab it just as the axe slammed into the ground inches from his face.
"COLIN!"
"HIT HIM!" Ronin yelled, wiping blood from his lips.
Colin eeped and scrambled to his feet before jumping at the knight, hacking away at him, before being sent flying as the knight finally got free of the ground. He landed heavily on top of Soren, staring down at the man's bright blue eyes before realizing something was slightly wrong, there was more blood then when he had left Soren's side.
Looking down, Colin's face paled as he realized he had landed on his sword, pressing the sharp metal in towards Soren's neck, just above where the man's armor started. "Oh Din, I'm sorry, I didn't mean..."
Soren rolled his eyes and shoved hard, rolling away from Colin, just as the axe split the earth where they had been. "Fight now, apologize later!" Soren said, touching his neck hesitantly and wincing.
Colin nodded and jumped on the knight again, hacking away once more, this time joined by a recovered Ronin and a weak Link. It took to the limits of their strength, but finally the knight collapsed, armor falling to pieces, causing the two more injured fighters to fall on top of it.
Colin sat down weakly, panting, brushing his sweaty bangs from his face. He fell back, small chest heaving. He gingerly touched his stomach, where a large cut had appeared after he moved the wrong way in attempting to avoid the swinging sword, wincing as pain flashed through him.
He felt someone move next to him and he turned his head, smiling weakly at an exhausted Link. Link reached out a hand and Colin's eyes closed as Link gently brushed his fingers through the boy's sweat slick hair. Colin shifted closer, lowering his face scarf and pressing his lips against Link's, smiling as he felt Link responding.
Link wrapped his arms around Colin, drawing the boy in closer, opening his mouth as he felt Colin's tounge brushing over his lips, allowing the boy to explore, his own tongue sliding out to taste the boy, his hands gently sliding under Colin's cloak, exploring the boy through his clothes, checking for injuries, re-assuring himself that Colin was still alive and whole.
Colin hissed as Link's gloved hand brushed over a large wound on his arm and he shifted away from the older man, adjusting their positions so that he was now straddling Link's hips, pouting down at him. "Not nice," he murmured before leaning down again, licking a long line up Link's neck before sucking lightly on the bobbing Adam's apple that kept taunting him.
Link groaned deeply, his hands sliding up Colin's legs, this time not to examine the boy for injuries, but instead to just feel him, memorizing the small curves and planes of Colin's body. He sat up, capturing Colin's lips in a hungry kiss as he held the back of Colin's neck and waist, gently pressing Colin back against the floor, twisting to get his legs out from under them. Reaching his hand between their bodies, he carefully un-clasped Colin's cloak, pulling the pin from the fabric and allowing it to fall to the side, pulling away from the kiss in order to taste the curve of Colin's neck as he started pushing up the boy's tunic, hand finding warm flesh.
Colin whimpered, his neck arching slightly as Link sucked, exposing more flesh to the pleasurable mouth, his hands gripping at Link's tunic, before sliding up under, also exploring, nails raking across the sensitive flesh of Link's sides, causing Link to growl and nip at Colin's neck. Colin giggled, doing it again.
Link pulled away from Colin's neck, grabbing one of Colin's hands, pulling it out from under his tunic. "Stop being a brat," he ordered, causing Colin to pout. Link smiled and leaned down, sucking on the jutting lip before pushing the boy's tunic up further, lowering his mouth to the tender flesh of Colin's stomach, licking abstract designs across the goose fleshed skin, trying to force back the wolf inside of him who wanted more to rip and tear then lap.
The initial rush of fear from Colin was intoxicating, making Link's head swim, even as the boy calmed himself. Link wanted nothing more then to tear into Colin, to drink the fear as it grew larger with each bite. Link closed his eyes, body stilling, every bit of strength he contained focused on forcing that part of him deep down inside his body and mind. The wolf that shared his mind snarled viciously before retreating, curling up in the back of Link's consciousness, watchful, waiting for just one moment when Link's control slipped.
Link's eyes opened, and he felt a small hand touch his face, turning him to look up into Colin's concerned gaze. Link tried to smile re-assuringly, leaning in for a soft kiss as his fingers un-laced Colin's leggings, gently pulling the fabric open. Link sat back on his legs, drinking in the sight offered to him, licking his lips. For once, man and wolf were in complete agreement, both wanting the body displayed to them.
Link could smell the rush of blood, faint in human form, as it rushed up Colin's cheeks, colouring it a brilliant reddened pink. Link smirked slightly at the sight and leaned forward, gently gripping Colin's half hardening erection, stroking it as he wrapped his mouth around the tip, sucking softly.
Colin gave a startled cry, hands gripping at Link's hair as his hips bucked, almost trying to shove himself further into the white heat enveloping him. Link pulled off of Colin in order not to be choked, chuckling softly as he adjusted his grip to Colin's hips, greater strength forcing the boy's hips back against the floor. "Don't pull," he ordered before returning his mouth to the task at hand, taking more of the boy into his mouth in order to compensate for the lack of sensation from his other hand.
His tounge swirled around the tip of Colin's length, drawing tiny infinity symbols as he brushed the flat of his tounge around the sides, before sliding up over the tip, and circling back around again.
Colin whimpered, struggling against Link's hold, hands gripping Link's shoulder instead as he sat up a bit, trying desperately to get more. Somewhere in the back of his brain that was still working coherently, he realized that this was far different then the naive fumbling he and Talon had experienced back on Kakariko and Ordon, this was so much better...so much more.
Link slipped back off of Colin again, capturing the boy's lips to distract him as Link used his free hand to gently stroke Colin's length, keeping the pace slow so the boy could relax more, pulling him away from the edge. Colin whimpered in protest at the idea, trying to thrust himself into the hand wrapped around him, giving a frustrated cry when his hips still wouldn't move as he commanded. In revenge, he bit Link's lip, causing the blond to growl, the kiss growing harsher as Link bit back before lapping at the abused lip to make up for it.
Colin shifted one of his legs, drawing it up between Link's, pressing it just right before wiggling it as best he could with most of his hips and upper thighs trapped. Link groaned into the kiss and nipped at Colin's lips again, shifting his body so he could return to sucking and still allow Colin access to his own body.
He started humming an old nursery rhyme, the sound vibrations causing Colin to buck slightly, overpowering Link's hold before the older man shifted, keeping Colin still. Link tried not to smile as he returned to his humming, allowing Colin deeper into his mouth, tongue pressing Colin's length against the roof of his mouth as he swallowed, before allowing Colin into his mouth fully, forced to swallow again as he fought against the urge to breath.
Once his body was under control again, he returned to humming, this time switching to a Goron melody as he slipped Colin from his mouth almost completely before drawing him back in to the base. As he sucked, he reached up, slicking two fingers before reaching down between Colin's legs, gently stroking the sensitive skin found there, first with the pad of his fingers, then, gently, with the face of his nail, causing the boy to shudder, straining against Link's hold as he came.
Link held Colin still as he swallowed the boy's release, gently lapping his flesh clean before pulling away, smiling as he watched the panting boy. Colin blinked lazily, staring up at Link through cloudy eyes before smiling, reaching out for the older man. His lazy fingers fumbled slightly, un-lacing Link's leggings after a few try before pulling Link's hardness free, gently stroking him as he shifted closer, before wrapping his small mouth around the tip, sucking.
Colin wasn't the most experienced of lovers, having only one or two encounters before Link, but his enthusiasm more then made up for it. Link groaned softly, reaching down to gently brush his fingers through Colin's hair, the tips of his fingers massaging the boy's scalp as he forced himself to hold still and move at Colin's pace.
Colin sucked happily, humming contently as he stroked what he couldn't fit into his mouth, a slightly drunk giggle escaping him, causing Link to growl. Colin giggled again before pulling his mouth free of Link, running his teeth oh so gently up the length of Link. Link growled again, fingers scrabbling against Colin's cloak and the hard stone floor as he tried not to grip Colin's hair. Colin wrapped his mouth around Link again, sucking hard, intermixed with his giggles and humming.
Link's fingers tightened on the floor before shifting to the back of Colin's neck, holding the boy's head still as he came, pulling free of Colin's mouth as he boy struggled to swallow, choking slightly. Link reached down to pull Colin up, intending to help the boy, a small, amused smile on his face when suddenly the wolf made his move, taking control of Link.
The creature lashed out, claws slicing across Colin's bare chest, leaving four long, deep furrows across his chest. Colin cried out, staring at the wolf as he pressed a hand to his chest, almost trying to stop the bleeding, staring wide-eyed at the wolf who was sitting calmly between Colin's legs, gently lapping at his paw.
There was a sound across the room from the pair as Ronin and Soren returned from their own little gathering of re-assuring each other that the other was alive. They froze however, upon seeing the wolf, Ronin drawing his sword and standing protectively in front of Soren. "Colin, back away from him!"
"No!" Colin yelled, ignoring the cuts across his chest in favor of protecting Link. "Don't, he's harmless!"
Link however was proving this un-true as he gave a low growl, crouching in front of Colin protectively, baring his fangs at the pair, eyes trained on Ronin whom he took as a bigger threat to his and Colin's safety.
"I doubt that, Colin, just look at your chest!" Soren yelled, concerned for the boy, though a part of him was wondering how a wolf had gotten this deep into the temple, let alone survived the harsh desert.
"Please, I promise, he's harmless." Colin whispered, doing his best to tuck himself inside his leggings and re-tie the lacings. He stood, once he got himself together, swallowing against his instinctive fear and placing a hand on Link's furry head, feeling the soft black fur beneath his hand. "Please..."
Soren reached out, gently placing a hand on Ronin's shoulder. "Relax," he whispered, watching the boy and the wolf. "Come on, let's go to sleep."
"Soren, you seriously cannot..."
"Let's go, to bed." Soren said more firmly, before heading to their packs, digging out his and Ronin's bedrolls.
Ronin gave a close approximation to Link's growls before sheathing his sword and stomping over to Soren, angrily jerking on his pack and pulling free a potion. He forced Soren to stop working so he could tend to the boy's neck wound again.
Colin let out the breath he was holding, falling back onto the floor, brushing his hands through his hair. He heard Link give another growl and grabbed the wolf before he could take a step, gripping the back of the wolf's neck and jerking slightly. "Down." he commanded.
Link growled at him before pawing at the stone floor, finding it acceptable before laying down and resting his head on his paws, keeping a wary eye on the other two. Colin got out his own bedroll, laying it next to Link, yawning deeply as he slipped inside, resting his head on Link's flank, eyes slowly drifting closed.
--
"Do you often turn into a giant furry animal?"
Link paused mid-step, glancing at the nearly invisible mass of black to his left. He finished the step, pulling on his tunic. "Sometimes, why are you up...and out here?"
Ronin looked up from the sword he was sharpening, cold green eyes meeting Link's. "I find it hard to sleep with a giant wolf glaring at me." Ronin looked down the edge of his blade for errors before working the stone over the curve of the tip, edging out a knick. "Is that why you reek of darkness?"
Link made a face at the comparison to the dark before nodding. "Are you going to attempt to kill me now?"
Ronin looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "Depends, why'd you scratch up your little boyfriend?"
"Instinct." Link muttered, not looking at Ronin. "Colin's mine, the wolf marked his territory."
"I thought wolf's urinated to mark their territory," Ronin mused.
"That's just wrong," Link said, making a face.
Ronin snorted, sheathing his sword again. "So you cut him up to mark him as yours? Kinky. You can stop flexing, I'm not going to kill you."
Link let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding, his body relaxing. "Why not?" Link asked without thinking, causing Ronin to look up at him, surprised.
Then Ronin smiled, a bitter smile that made Link's heart twist violently. "Because I've looked into the depths of mankind's darkness and barely survived it." Ronin said.
"Sounds like a story," Link said, taking a seat next to Ronin.
Ronin snorted, staring at his hands before sighing. "Jealousy can do evil things to people...worse things, when you're jealous of your very reason for being."
"Soren?" Link guessed and Ronin nodded.
"I used to be better then everyone... but Soren...he always tried to top me, to be better, and I was so jealous of him, because of his abilities, because of his strength...his heart. Not only that but I felt trapped, a prisoner of our small..er.."
"World?" Link suggested with a smile. "I can tell you two aren't from Hyrule."
"Ah. World, yes. So in my jealousy and in my feeling of being a prisoner, I allowed the darkness to enter our worlds. After it was destroyed, I made a deal with the devil in order to find my friends who still lived. But when I found Soren, I found him with new friends, with a new destiny and a shiny new sword to dictate it."
Link nodded, understanding. "Bet that didn't help your jealousy," he said with a laugh, almost picturing the boy next to him seething, green to the gills.
Ronin snorted. "No, it didn't." He gave a sigh. "My jealousy gave the darkness an opening into me, and eventually, it overtook me, even shaped my own destiny. You see, Soren wasn't supposed to be the one with the shiny sword and the destiny to save the world, but fate changed it's plans when the darkness got a hold of me. Soren became the hero and I became the enemy. I was gifted with my own, not so shiny sword, the opposite of Soren's...meant to destroy. Soren defeated me...fought against the darkness inside me, but in the end, we were separated, forced onto different paths. I spent two years, watching him...protecting him, trying my best to help him, while staying just out of sight, too ashamed to face him."
"What happened?"
"He found me," Ronin said, a touch of fondness in his voice. "I had once more opened myself to the darkness, attempting to master it as I helped him, I needed to, to be able to exist without tearing myself apart. He found me, consumed by the darkness...and he took my hand, crying about how long and hard he had searched for me."
Ronin went quiet for a moment, staring up at the dark ceiling above him, a small tear winding it's way down his chest, un-headed. "It tore me up so badly to see him kneeling their, crying so hard...I wanted to just kiss him, drive away the pain inside him."
"Did you?" Link asked, tilting his head.
"Na, I thought he was dating someone else. It wasn't until we got back home and I found him doodling my name all over his notebook absently that I got a kiss."
Link laughed, watching the ceiling himself, following a lone spider's trek across the stone. "Better then waiting for him to be old enough," Link muttered.
"That is something that's been interesting me, how did you end up dating someone almost ten years younger then you?"
Link gave a sigh. "We grew up in the same small town down south...I was ten years old when he was born and since that first moment I saw him...he's had me wrapped around his finger."
"Please tell me you didn't fall in love with him until he was older," Ronin begged and Link laughed.
"Four years ago, I saw him as something more then just this kid who followed me around, but yes, it wasn't until he was older that I started developing feelings other then friendship...of course, I hadn't seen him in all that time, it was more for the boy I heard in stories about him."
Ronin shook his head, a small smirk on his face. "Makes me gladder then ever that Soren is only a year younger then me...I would not relish dating a kid just entering puberty."
Link snickered before sobering as he heard the sound of movement in the cavern next to him, intermixed with pained moaning. He stood almost instantly, Ronin joining him, the other man's sword drawn.
The pair moved back towards the cavern they had bedded down in for the night, peering around the corner to keep from giving whatever was moving around in there a clear shot at their bodies. Link's eyes widened at what he saw and he reached out, grabbing Ronin's arm before the other man could move into the cavern and disrupt what was going on.
Ronin glanced at Link questioningly before looking back at the scene. Colin was kneeling over Soren, one of the boy's hands on Soren's throat, his other hand resting over the man's heart. A faint green glow surrounded his hands, climbing up his arms to engulf his body. Colin had stripped down at some point, now clad simply in just his leggings, baring the scars of childhood, the wounds of previous fights, and the faint, wispy traces of something coming out of his back.
"A changeling..." Link breathed and Ronin stared at Link in confusion. The blond shook his head, still staring at Colin. "A child of the faeries."
"Aren't faeries about yay high?" Ronin asked in confusion, holding his fingers only a bit apart.
"Some, but is a line of faeries far larger, the smallest being the size of a normal child. The Great Fairies of Hyrule hold sway over all magic, if they die out, the magic the goddesses gave us die with them. Every few decades they take a human lover and produce a child. The females they keep to be the next Great Fairy in their place, the boys go back with their father to spread the seed of the fairies through out Hyrule, spreading magic with it. Each family line born from the son of a Great Fairies are some of the greatest magician's in Hyrule."
"So...what exactly is he doing?"
"Healing, just watch."
Ronin did so, claiming his mouth on his questions, watching the scene closely. Soren gave another pained moan before sleeping peacefully, the large gash across his throat vanishing with each breath he took. In exchange, blood started dripping down Colin's neck and chest faster with each breath the boy took, until a long gash rent his skin, in comparison to Soren's smooth, perfectly healed neck.
"What the hell?"
Link smiled sadly. "Fairies are creatures of healing. Some species can even bring you back from the dead. Some, on the other hand, take a person's wounds onto themselves, thus sparing the victim from suffering it, yet being forced to endure it to a lesser extent."
"Lesser?"
"He won't die from the wound, but it'll be annoying for a while. It's merely a reflection of what Soren was suffering, not an actual, lethal wound." Link was silent for a moment, turning the situation over in his head before giving a laugh. "Would explain the doctor's odd findings."
"Huh?"
Link shook his head. "Nothing." He moved into the room, moving quietly so as not to startle Colin. The boy's glow started to fade, the glassy look in the boy's eyes vanishing as he collapsed, drained and un-used to using so much of his innate magic.
Link smiled, gently lifting the boy in his arms, carrying him back to his bedroll. "Good night, Ronin." he called.
The other man nodded, checking on Soren before laying down himself.
--
"All that work, fighting a really big and really ugly...rather smelly as well demon knight...and our reward? A big empty room." Ronin muttered, kicking a wooden chair.
Link frowned, looking around the sage's study, a bit disappointed himself. He had expected more after searching the temple and finally defeating the bastard that had been guarding the room. Granted, he was rather relieved he hadn't found Twinrova (or even their ghosts), but he had expected something more in the room the Sprint Sages had lived in since the cleansing of the temple.
"This is so cool!" Colin murmured, staring around at the artifacts left over by the last Spirit Sage, not that there was much, but each item was a piece of history, some traveling even back to the great Nabooru herself.
"You've spent way too much time with Shad," Link muttered, sighing as he moved to an un-searched corner of the room, deciding to give everything a once over before cataloging it for Shad. He heard a giggle and turned, looking back at the group, before shrugging and returning to glancing through books.
There was another giggle, this time followed by the sound of small bells jingling. He glanced to his left, where the sound was coming from, and nearly fell over, surprised.
Navi giggled again, reclining on a small leaf hammock. She wiggled her fingers at him, blowing a kiss. "Told you I'd see you again," she said.
"What..."
"Kokiri Faeries are immortal, Link..well, unless we get smacked with something large or heavy...or our charge dies." She nodded her head towards the corner, where a shadowy figure sat.
Link moved closer to the figure and yelped in surprise as he found himself against the wall, a ghostly blade at his neck before he could even think of reaching for his own. He heard the other three's swords clearing their sheath's before they started mumbling in confusion, un-sure how their blades would fair against a see through assailant.
Link swallowed carefully, before raising a hand and gently testing the blade against his throat, relaxing as he realized he could push through it. He moved forward standing almost nose to nose with the spirit. "Link?" he whispered.
The hero of time gave a little half smile, sheathing his blade again. "I thought you had skills, hero." he said, before turning away to look over at the other three, examining them. Navi was already doing her own examining, floating in front of each one for a moment before fluttering back to the two fated hero's.
"I like your boyfriend, he's cute." She said with a giggle, causing Link to blush and swat at her lightly.
"Why are you two here?"
"I go with him," Navi said, pointing to the hero of time.
"I'm trapped here, no place to go since half of my soul was sent back in time. I came here when that happened, eternal and barely able to touch anything. I just...exist."
"We think its' tied to those," Navi said, nodding towards her hammock.
Link moved back over to the area and blew out a sharp breath, staring at the two round, dull metal objects. He leaned over, blowing on the discs, coughing as a cloud of dust rose up into the air. He waved his hand through the dust, whistling as he stared at the orange and purple medallions. "Are these..."
"The Spirit and Shadow medallions respectively." the hero said, staring at them with exasperated fondness, remembering the women who once held them, rather then the tortuous tasks themselves.
"But, why are they here?"
The ghostly Link smiled at that, more fondness slipping into his gaze. "Nabooru and Impa left them here, when they left the last time. They were lovers, and often came here to be together, away from the world. When time caught up to them...they left the medallions here, in their spot. By then the temple was eroding, the creatures were coming back and the desert was re-claiming it, they figured it would be safe...never realized they had an eternal bodyguard."
"You never appeared to them?"
The hero shook his head, leaning back against the table. "You know what war's like, the memories you carry. Nabooru and Impa had lived through not only the Great War, but the Imprisoning War against Ganondorf...Nabooru had seen worse, being his right hand. I was afraid if I appeared to them, I would remind them. Both had lost so much that it didn't seem worth it, to chat up old friends. Besides, it was enough to see them happy."
Link frowned, thinking about this. In their isolation, neither were that different from each other. Both survived the quest only to find themselves on the outside, looking in. But while Link was bitter and angry about his place, his ancestor, his namesake was calm, accepting of the hand fate dealt him, content to simply observe.
"So you exist only where those two medallions are?" Link questioned, turning an idea over in his head.
"As far as I can tell...or it might be the temple, I just know I can't leave."
"Would you like to?"
The former hero started, before looking up at Link. "What do you mean?"
"Would you like to leave, if you could?"
"Yes," he breathed. "Desperately."
Link smiled, picking up the purple Shadow Medallion, turning it over between his fingers. "Then let's try something..." He put the medallion in his pocket, followed by the orange Spirit medallion. He then set about categorizing what was left on the table.
The ghost watched him, confused, but followed along complacently, curious himself, though not about the things in the room, those he had examined in length already. Instead he was curious instead about his decedent, this new hero that was so broken. He was also curious about the younger blond who looked so adoringly on Link, making Link smile whenever their eyes met.
Ronin and Soren for their part tried to ignore the fact a ghost and a small fairy were now joined to their group, instead discussing possible locations for the door they were looking for, a bit disappointed that they hadn't yet found it, wondering if they were wrong.
The group was interrupted by a roar that caused Soren to drop the vase he had been inspecting. Link gave him a look before pulling the sword from his sheath, edging down the stairs and out of the front room, peering down into the main hall of the temple.
Below him was a giant two-headed dragon, stomping around, nostrils flaring as it searched for the delicious morsels that had left their scent in the room.
"Gleeok." said a small voice and Link turned, glancing at Navi.
"Any idea of how to destroy him?"
Navi shook her head, wings drooping. "Never faced one, they were once more plentiful in Hyrule, but they were slowly killed off either by hunters or by the dark monsters. They're guardians usually, protecting some treasure or another, their species also evolved centuries ago but the Gleerok have mostly died out about now."
"Any advice?"
"Running is always a valid strategy."
"And how do we do that, when we're trapped in a giant head?"
"Got any bombs?" Navi asked with an innocent grin.
--
"So you want to destroy this wall, hope it leads to one of the outside caverns...and then run for our lives?" Ronin asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Pretty much," Link said, adding his final bomb to the giant pile. They had decided to set up in the Iron Knuckle's room, giving the larger space to protect themselves, as well as Link's poor attempt to protect the artifacts in the study from being blown to tiny little bits.
"You're insane," Soren muttered, huddling in a far corner with Colin.
"More then likely," Link said, lighting the fuse of the top bomb before dashing across the room, Ronin and Navi following.
"Nayru's Love!"
Link jumped as a blue diamond encircled the group and the ghostly Link gave a smug smirk, before during his attention back towards the bombs, plugging his ears out of habit as the bombs started exploding in a chain reaction.
The blue diamond faced as the last of the dust settled, and the former hero gave a silent thank to the goddesses who granted him the magic before joining Link as he inspected the damage.
"Success!" Link roared and scooped Colin up into a kiss before grabbing his pack, ducking through the hole in the wall and into the new tunnel, heading for the faint bit of light in the distance. The group emerged into bright desert sunlight, blinking at the sudden change, staring around, grinning despite their dusty, bedraggled, bloody appearance.
"Well, ladies and gentle fairies...we survived one of the most famous temples of history." Link said, clapping Ronin on the back before jumping from the hole of the tunnel, sliding down the rock face towards the desert floor. The others followed with various shouts, Colin using the purloined spinner to slide down.
The group (minus Colin) landed rather hard, panting slightly, attempting to re-gain their breath, Soren and Ronin getting into a mini sand fight before Navi started sprinkling rocks over both of them, causing them to team up to grab the fast little fairy.
Link sat back against the edge of the rock face, staring out at the desert before him, smiling contently at having made it into, through and back out of one of the temples of his fantasies. Ever since he was a child he had wanted to explore the temples of legend, and finally, he had his chance.
And it had been worth every bruise and broken bone he had suffered.
"Did you feel like this, when you first stepped outside the temple?" he asked his companion, glancing over at the ghostly image.
"Like what?"
"Like you could fill five dozen heart containers all on your own?"
The former hero laughed, putting his hands behind his head, resting against the rock face himself, staring out at the desert he both knew, and yet didn't at the same time. "Not the first time, no, but that second time, after Twinrova was gone and Nabooru was the new Sage...yeah. I hadn't seen sunlight for two weeks, my sword arm was broken, I was out of potions and fairies...every inch of my body...hell, everymillimeter of my body hurt...but when I saw that first touch of sun not reflected off my shield, I wept like a baby and rand circles around the front of the temple. I then took a nap on the stone out front and woke up with the world's worst sunburn."
Link laughed, watching Ronin, Soren and now Colin as they chased the giggling Navi. "Hey hero boy," Link called, causing the man next to him to raise an eyebrow as he looked at him. Link grin widened, almost splitting his face in half. "You're outside the temple."
The former hero blinked at him, before his mouth dropped open in shock, realization setting in. "I...I am."
Link reached into his pouch and pulled out the purple Shadow Medallion, giving it a flip before catching it. "Care to see what Hyrule looks like, one hundred years later?"
The hero laughed, launching himself at Link, not caring that he went straight through the other man instead of actually hugging him.
Link closed his eyes, swearing he could feel the man's strong arms around him, tears of joy wetting his shoulder.
--
"Hey Link, what's that?" Colin asked, pointing.
"A rock, as usual." Link said, not looking up as he searched his pouch for his flute. He finally pulled the ivory horn free, giving a hard blow to dislodge anything that might have gotten stuck. Giving a test play, he smiled at the clear, crisp notes before starting the familiar song to call Epona, finally looking up to where Colin was still (though now slightly annoyed), pointing. His song trailed off sharply as he stared at the white, glowing vortex in between the large archway at the front of the temple, not having the slightest idea what the hell it was. He had never seen anything like it in all of Hyrule, and he had seen a lot of odd and amazing sights.
"Uh, guys..." Link called, eyes still trained on the vortex.
Ronin and Soren stopped their spar, using their tunics to wipe off their sweaty chests as they moved closer to Link, looking at the vortex. A grin split Soren's face and he gave a cheer, almost dancing over to the glowing space.
"And this, is my destiny," he said happily. He raised his sword, giving it a fancy twirl that did nothing more then show off before pointing the blade at the vortex, a white glowing light stretching from the tip into the mass, causing it to quiver for a moment before collapsing on itself. Soren gave a satisfied nod before sheathing his sword, bouncing back to the group and pulling Ronin into a deep kiss.
"So..that is what you two were looking for?" Link asked, scratching his head in confusion.
"Yup," Soren said, still bouncing around. "Now we're do-one and we can enjoy Hyrule before Ronin gets bored and forces me to leave!"
Link shook his head, snorting before starting Epona's song again, smiling as her heard her whiny before he even finished the last note, Ronin and Soren's horses following Epona's lead. "Hey there, princess." Link whispered, nuzzling along the side of Epona's muzzle before checking her over, making sure she was fit to ride.
The ghostly Link stood behind Link, watching the boy and his horse with sad fondness, missing his own Epona, wondering what had happened to her after he faded away. He hoped Malon had taken her in again, giving her the care she desired.
Epona neighed and tugged at Link's tunic, before glancing at the former hero and the small fairy, giving a snort before padding over to the pair. She sniffed them over before giving an odd shake of her head. Link smiled, calling Epona back with a click of his tounge. "Looks like she likes you," he said before attacking his and Colin's packs to the saddle, swinging himself up and helping Colin.
The ghostly Link gave a faint smile before vanishing, Navi making herself home in Colin's good, adjusting her body so she could peek out as they traveled. Ronin and Soren climbed onto their own horses, Soren jumping slightly as arms wrapped around his waist. He glanced over his shoulder at the faded hero before shrugging and clicking his tounge, his horse jumping ahead, eager to get out of the desert and into a new, preferably cooler location.
TBC