Enjoy...


Chapter 7:

Charades

-So what are we eating? Asked Willow.

-Bark, Answered Zarkan.

-I don't want to eat THAT! Cried Willow, before adding:

-Poor doggie.

-Um, Willow, I think he meant the thing that grows on trees… Tipped Maeka.

-Oh…

Zarkan rolled his eyes.

-We have… Started Jenifaël as she took down a cauldron and placed it over the fire.

-Leftover beef stew and… Link, did you bring anything else?

Link took out the apples.

-Beef stew and apples. Yum-yum. Said Zarkan sarcastically.

Jenifaël ignored his comment and plopped a bowl of stew in front of him. She then served the rest of them around the wooden table before sitting down herself. They then thanked the goddesses before digging in.

-Today, I saw a butterfly! Exclaimed Willow.

-Uh, Willow, it was a moth, Precised Maeka.

-No! It was a butterfly! It's just that he was in a bad mood, so he was gray!

They all sighed. This was followed by a moment of silence as they all ate Jenifaël's stew, delicious as always.

-So Link… Said Jenifaël, who had finished her stew and was now crunching her apple:

-What did happen?

Link put down his spoon. How do I start this?

-Yay, he's gonna tell us a story! Cried Willow.

-Tell us! Tell us! Added Meryk.

The kids loved it when Link told stories. Since he couldn't speak and they all didn't understand sign language, it was more like a huge game of charades.

So he started the silent counting of his day, starting from the moment he'd gotten out in the morning.

He told them about the market, the dark-skinned man running the apple stand, the way he stole those six apples they were eating, and (in a very suspenseful way) about how he got caught by the knight.

-Did he put you in prison? Shyly asked Meryk.

-How did you get away? Demanded Maeka.

-Did you DIE?! Asked Willow.

They all stared at her.

-What? Just asking…

-Uh, sure… Just keep going Link.

He nodded and kept telling his story. He told them about the chase, how he fell, and then about the alley. He hesitated, then told them about the rotating wall, the grass…

-Woahwoahwoah, time out! Exclaimed Jenifaël. Green grass? Last time I've seen green grass, Willow was barely a feet tall!

-That's not nice! Cried Willow.

-Well, you know what I mean! It's just not possib-…

-She was interrupted by Link's silent argument. He took out the blades of grass and leaves he'd plucked from the gardens.

In silence, they passed the objects around the table.

When they all seemed convinced the leaves and grasses were genuine, he kept going.

He told them about the trees, the bushes, the flowers… Then, about the sound of the harp and the beautiful singing… Then, finally, his meeting with Zelda.

-Okay, so… You were in the palace gardens… And you saw the princess… Resumed Zarkan.

Link nodded.

Zarkan looked around the table. And then started laughing.

-This is absurd! Practically no one has ever seen the princess or the gardens, and you're telling us you just waltzed in there and came back out?! Alive?! Like she'd even look at you.

Oh believe me, she did more than just look at me. She talked to me.

Zarkan brutally became serious:

-You're kidding, right?

Link smiled, and continued his explanation. How Zelda found a way for them to communicate, what they talked about, and then how they got caught by her father. He waited for them to pass some comments, but they all remained silent.

He told them about the guards, the tree, the wasps and how he got out. However, he hesitated about telling them of The Promise. It somehow seemed too… Personal. Lucky for him, they didn't push for details.

-So… Started Jenifaël. That's why you're late?

Link slowly nodded.

-But, that's a stupid lie! Exclaimed Zarkan.

-Shut up, Said the others.

Jenifaël took a deep breath and sighed:

-For once, I'm kind of siding with Zarkan. That story's hard to believe.

Link breathed out exasperatedly. He knew his story sounded improbable, but they should know he wasn't the kind of person to lie.

Jenifaël picked up a leaf on the table.

-You have me quite confused. Why would the palace gardens be green, when all else is dying? And how?

-Maybe because the royal family is a bunch of selfish magicians? Mumbled Zarkan.

There was silence as they all considered this.

Zelda wouldn't do that! Thought Link. He'd seen her for barely less than five minutes, but his heart screamed that it wasn't her style to do nothing. If she could help the kingdom, she would.

Her father on the other hand…

-Well… Said Jenifaël, interrupting his thoughts: Maybe we should sleep on this, and it'll be clearer in the morning. But for the meantime, I'm not sure I believe you, Link.

Link sighed loudly.

-I believe you, Link! Cried Willow.

Maeka sighed:

-Willow, you'd basically believe anything Link says.

-If he told you unicorns live at the bottom of a cliff, you'd jump down in a heartbeat. Added Zarkan.

-I would NOT! She then turned to Link: Are there really unicorns at the bottom of cliffs?

Link shook his head.

-Oh… That's too bad. She said.

Link rolled his eyes and slowly pushed her to her bed. Or, maybe "bed" is an overstatement. More like 6 rectangular alcoves dug in the earthy walls, with a pile of straw as a mattress and a scratchy wool blanket.

Since she was too small to get there on her own, Link gently lifted her onto her bed.

-But Link, did you REALLY see the princess?

He nodded.

-Was she pretty?

He nodded again.

-Did you fall in love?

He gave her a weird look.

-Just asking. Good night!

Sure… Thought Link.

He went to "bed", even though he knew he wouldn't fall asleep.

He had to see her again.

But they'd all notice if he went now. So he waited for them to fall asleep. While he waited, he quietly thumbed the holes on his ocarina. It had been a gift from his father. In the time when he still had one.

He glanced at the opposite wall, where the three girls' alcoves were. They all seemed asleep.

The snoring at his left told him Zarkan was out too. Meryk on the other hand…

Being inside the same wall, Link couldn't see him without stepping out of his makeshift bed, at which he'd be spotted if Meryk wasn't asleep.

Zelda

He decided to risk it.

He slipped out of his blankets and onto the floor. Complete silence. He looked around. Just as he'd thought, they were all fast asleep. Even Meryk was (thankfully) sleeping.

He edged silently across the floor, up the ladder and through the trapdoor, into the nightscape beyond.

I'm coming Zelda.