Hey! Here's chapter eight. There are only three more chapters... and a short epilogue left. It's so weird to think the story is almost over. Anyway, enjoy chapter eight, and don't forget to review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Zelda.
-SM
Chapter Eight
I woke up, once again, to Sheik's lyre. She was strumming various chords on it, but stopped when she realized I was awake. I realized I was laying down - at that it was night. My head was on her lap as she sat with her back against the dead tree.
Suddenly it occurred to me that I probably shouldn't lay on a noble. I started to sit up, but Sheik gently pushed me back down. "It's okay," she said in an amused voice. "You need your rest."
"So that's why you sometimes talked in a high voice," I mused aloud.
"Still in shock, huh?" she said.
"Apparently. It's a little bit… Well, its not easy to take on the news that you're a… girl."
"Well, now I know how Link will act when I tell him. He'll pass out."
"He doesn't know?"
"Only you, me, and Impa know." she said. "And make sure it stays that way."
"Is that an order?" I asked her.
"No." She laughed. She had a nice, clear laugh.
I realized, as I looked closer at her face, that the white shawl usually hiding the bottom half of her face was gone. When I asked where it was, she just said, "It was getting stuffy in there. Also, we ran out of bandages. And I needed to use something to stop the bleeding for the minor cuts, which can heal on their own." She held up her white shawl, which now had red stains on it.
"Oh…sorry."
"It's okay. No need to apologize. I said, it was stuffy." She traced her fingers along my tunic absently. I sat up.
"So, tell me about you," she said.
'Well… there's not much to tell. Only people to talk about are Kelly, her little brother, James, Liam… and you," I started uncertainly. "Take your pick."
"How about we start off with Kelly and James?"
So I took a deep breath and told her about how we ran into each other, Kelly cared for me, we went to the Gerudo Fortress… and everything after that. "So then," I said, "I woke up, and I saw Anju crying, James sitting on the bed, and Liam with his arm around Kelly."
"Wait," she said. "Now tell me about Liam."
I rolled my eyes. "Sheesh, you're demanding. 'Tell me this, tell me that,'" I mimicked, as she laughed.
"So, ah, basically, Liam Curr is… sort of the last person in his family."
She raised an eyebrow. "Sort of?"
"Well, he has an older brother, but nobody knows where he went."
"Oh."
"Anyway, he scored a big hit for the Sheikah against Ganondorf. So Ganondorf wanted him killed, and sent me to do it."
"And you failed?" She asked.
"You sound hopeful," I laughed. "No. What happened was I walked in, told him I was a messenger, we argued for a little bit, he stabbed me with his knife - clever little Sheikah - and I fell to the floor. He hauled me up off the floor and we talked a bit more. I told him I promised not to kill him if he laid low. He exploded with anger, and I took off through the shadows. This was all in the Sheikah Caverns."
Silence. I looked over at her for the first time since I started telling her about Liam. She was also staring out at the horizon. I thought about taking her hand, but decided against it.
"And then I had a dream…" I told her about the weird dream where I was Ramian.
"That's odd," she told me. "Usually, you wake up and know at some point or another, with crystal clarity, that it was a dream. And in this case, since it was real, you were either experiencing Ramian's memories, or… or they're yours."
"But they're not my memories!" I exclaimed.
"Okay, then in that case you were just remembering something someone else did."
"Does that happen often?" I asked her.
"I've never heard of it," she admitted.
"Oh." We sat in silence for awhile, until I broke it by asking her, "So… how were the embroidery lessons?"
She smirked. "I only had a few before Ganondorf attacked and drove us out of the castle."
"Us? And I thought he captured everyone, not drove them out. The only person he chased was Princess Zelda and Impa, her attendant - hey, wait a second," I said after a moment. "You said Impa knows? Er, knew?"
"Well," she said quickly,"I told Impa later, after she warned me to hide and escape the castle. This was right as Ganondorf broke into the castle I… I was only just able to make it out."
I gazed into her eyes, which held a mixture of fear and fury. I reached out and put my arm around her, drawing her close to me. I looked up at the stars, until I heard her sniff. I looked back at her. She had tears streaming down her face, but she made no move to wipe them away. She just looked off into the distance, at the moon. "The guards tried to protect me… and… they…" She buried her head in my shoulder.
I wrapped her up in my arms and murmured comforting things to her. "It's okay," I told her gently at one point. "I'm here, I've got you, and everything is going to be alright…"
"No," she whispered suddenly. "Things won't be okay, until Link defeats Ganondorf. Then everything will be alright…"
I wiped her tears away with the dirty shawl, careful not to touch her. "Until then, we'll have to keep you safe, okay?"
She nodded like a small child. "Okay."
I brushed her blond bangs away from her eyes, which were red like a normal Sheikah. "What's your real name?" I asked her. "Sheik just… doesn't suit you now."
"My name is" -she looked deep into my eyes- "Clarinda."
We stood up. She had a firm grip on my arm brace - careful not to touch my skin. At that moment I hated Ganondorf so much it hurt. I wanted to hold her hand… so much. "I have to go," she said, almost like a question. Like she was asking if it was okay. I smiled at her a little bit.
"Okay…" and I wrapped my right arm around her waist, pulling her close and staring into her eyes… I never noticed how her beautiful her eyes were… she stepped forward.
Her eyes closed. So so did mine. Our lips met; she had the softest lips. And that was the single, briefest, happiest moment I'd ever experienced. But I barely noticed. I was using all my self-control to keep myself from pulling away - apparently the curse laid by Ganondorf was still in effect.
She pulled away and looked down. "I… I have to go." She looked… guilty, almost. "I'm so, so sorry," she said.
"Don't be," I told her with a gentle, crooked smile.
"I…" she backed away from me. "I'll see you around… Dark Link." And then, in a flash of light, she was gone.
I sat down hard, my back against the dead tree. I reached my right hand up and touched the each of the three claw marks on the tree. I closed my eyes and thought back to the day those marks were made.
I had been over with the Gorons at Death Mountain when the first event took place. I was climbing around the mountains, when I found a cave - more like an opening on the back side of Death Mountain, with pools of lava everywhere - and a huge, snake-like dragon curled up in one of them.
I was so surprised it was there.
To make a long story short, Volvagia chased me out of his cave when I accidentally woke him up. I warped to Lake Hylia, to this exact spot - and sat down next to this tree, staring at the rising sun.
Funny, the sun was going to rise soon to mark the dawn of a new day.
Well, anyway, as I sat here, the Lake Scientist's wife came out - she was nice, and since I was only an 11-year old kid, she pitied me. So she came over with a sandwich and offered me some. I took it, naturally - shadow food isn't very satisfying.
We sat there for a couple hours. I should have known not to stay in one place for too long, because Volvagia was still after me. But she was nice. I think her name was Clarinda. Huh. Just like Sheik.
Interesting. Well, anyway, Volvagia came back here, and Clarinda saw him coming towards us. We were looking at our reflections in the water, and occasionally throwing bread for the fish in the lake. She shoved me into the tree, which wasn't dead at that time and she wasn't quick enough to get out of the way.
Volvagia hit her. She screamed, and the Lake Scientist hurled out his front door just in time to see Volvagia slam into her and knock her off the edge of the island. Then both of them - Volvagia and the Lake Scientist - looked at me murderously.
Volvagia attacked me; I tried desperately to block with my short little sword - and wooden shield, which ended up catching fire and burning into ashes.
I stood up again, using the tree for support as I recalled the stink of Volvagia's breath and that battle, so many years ago. I drew the anti-Master Sword and took up a battle stance, sans shield - I didn't have one now, or then.
Volvagia had flown around, his body blotted out the sun - he tried to burn me up, but I rolled to the side - straight into his hide. I was saved for the moment, but he got ready to blow fire again - and this time I had nowhere to run. So I sat there, wide-eyed - until the Lake Scientist chucked something (who knows what) at the dragon, which roared, and for a split second forgot about me. He turned and shot toward the Lake Scientist, who stood there petrified like me.
I jumped onto Volvagia's back, and struck it as hard as I could with my little, itsy bitsy sword. I had been so disappointed when it didn't bite through his scales, I thought to myself. But then he threw me off his back - I went higher, and higher - and then started falling.
I fell, and by pure luck it was right on Volvagia's head. It hurt like crazy, and I remember hearing a rib cage and I think the bone protecting my spine crack. I definitely felt it.
Apparently he felt something, too, because he reared, throwing me off his head and into the lake. As my bones mended, I drifted back towards the island with the tree. As I got there, I pulled Clarinda onto the island again. Everything was healed by that point. Volvagia, as I dripped water everywhere, turned towards me and roared. He tried to blow fire but just blew sparks.
I laughed, which probably didn't improve his mood. Anyway, he took a swipe before flying off back to his cave at Death Mountain.
And that was why the claw marks were on the tree, and the grave was next to it. The grave for Clarinda.
Clarinda was such a pretty name. I sighed and sat down in a little nook that the tree roots made. The tree was long dead, now, thanks to the fire Volvagia had blown. I had carried Clarinda's charred body back to the Lake Scientist.
Which is really why he hates me so much. So, yes, I lied to James. But it was a good thing… right?
I closed my eyes. But something shifted. I opened them - only to find the world was dissolving - I was being wrapped in shadows…
Almost like… like I was portaling to the Dark Realm. But I hadn't caused that portal to appear…
Oh no.
I appeared back in the Dark Realm, inside of Ganondorf's Castle. I ground my teeth together as I saw the tall, cloaked figure standing in front of me, yelling at a couple of Stalfos. His back was turned. They chattered uncertainly. Then one of them pointed behind him at me. Ivan slipped out from under my hat and flew away. Way to encourage me. Some fairy, I thought to myself. Then all thoughts of Ivan vanished when Ganondorf spun around.
He saw me. "Leave," he snapped at the two Stalfos.
I tried to swallow the lump that had formed in my throat, unsuccessfully. "You," he sneered at me. "You're a weakling and an idiot."
I just glared at him. "And you're a coward and a pig. That is," I added after a moment, "a stubborn, pigheaded idiot."
He drew his wicked-looking sword. "I think you're quite acquainted with her, aren't you?" he asked me, running his finger along the edge of the blade. I drew the anti-Master Sword.
"And I think you're familiar with her?"
But he only laughed. "That blade is the opposite of the legendary Master Sword, which means it effectively does the opposite - strengthens evil, instead of destroying it. You should know about that, with all the time you've spent away from home." As he said "home" he gestured around to the midnight-black palace.
"This was never my home," I told him. "This was my prison."
He raised an eyebrow. "Well then, tell me about the world outside your 'prison.'"
The imbecile was trying to get information! Well, how about that. "Uh… there's nothing of interest. It's just… more homely."
"Homely?" the word sounded strange coming from Ganondorf's mouth.
"Yep."
"How about the people there? What about the one who killed you?"
My jaw dropped. How did he know? I thought… I thought he was gone! Well… I guess he was still there during the battle with the Hero. Or was he talking about the one with Sheik? "I… I never died!" I told him.
He reached out a hand and closed my mouth. I shuddered as we touched, and backed away a step. "Or how about all those meetings with Sheik?" he whispered to me.
"Sheik…" I muttered. I had to protect her. Er, him? Ganondorf can't find out. "I just met with him and talked."
"About what?" he pried.
"Nothing," I snapped at him. "She - he, that is - just gave me some medicine to drink. Worm guts or something weird like that."
"She?" he asked.
I rolled my eyes. "He! Sorry. I had been thinking about Clarinda when you pulled me back here." That was close.
"It was close?" He asked me. My eyes widened. Then I blinked and they went back to normal.
"What are you talking about?" I demanded, my mind racing.
He strode toward me. I backed away uncertainly - until felt the coolness of the palace walls behind me. I stood there, frozen, as he approached. He reached out a hand. I brandished my sword. "Stay away," I warned him in a low voice. but then our eyes met and I dropped the sword. It clattered on the ground. I started to wonder why it didn't disappear, but then stopped as Ganondorf's hand touched my forehead.
"Let go of your emotions," he commanded in a soothing voice. I never knew he could have such a soft touch, or such a soft voice. Like… a father… he just wanted to help…
I let go of everything and melted into his presence. I let go of feelings, and thoughts, and secrets.
I let go of Sheik. It can't bother me now, I thought… suddenly, a shock wave rolled throughout the whole Realm. It sliced through the spell Ganondorf had put on me. I looked at him in horror. I'd… I'd told him about Sheik! Now he knew.
He turned and looked at me. His face was filled with hatred. "You knew all along, didn't you?" he demanded.
"Knew… what?" I asked him, trying to squirm my way out of this.
"You knew who she was."
"Well… after the fight in the Water Temple, yes."
He glared at me even more now.
"And you… stayed with her for practically a whole day! When you knew what she could have done to you…"
Now I was just plain confused. "What? She's a noble. Whoop-dee-doo! So?"
"So?!" He shouted, looking a little bit confused. That made me feel good. "So?! The Seventh Sage and you say, 'So?'"
"HOLD UP!" I yelled. "CLARINDA IS THE SEVENTH SAGE?!"
So, there are seven Sages, who are basically just people - one from each race, I'm pretty sure. So far, the Hero had rescued four of the seven Sages. The only ones left: the Shadow Sage, in the Shadow Temple, the one in the Spirit Temple, and… Princess Zelda. The Seventh Sage. Problem with her was that if I ever ran into her, she could dissolve me completely, and utterly, with just a thought. They were there to help the Hero defend Hyrule from evil people - like me and Ganondorf.
Ganondorf blinked. "Clarinda?"
Relief flooded back into me. He wasn't talking about Clarinda. "Nothing," I said quickly.
But then he laughed. "Oh, so that's what she told you, eh? She told you her name was Clarinda? How original. And I suppose she told you this at Lake Hylia? Next to the real Clarinda's grave?"
My eyebrows furrowed. "But…they have matching names. So? That, uh… happens. A lot."
"Like when?"
"Like… me and the Hero. And, um…"
"Go on."
"Link and Goron Link!"
He gave me such an evil look I don't even know how to describe it. Then, faster than lightning, he drew his sword and sliced as fast as he could at me. I nimbly danced out of the way, only just managing to dodge the sharp, well-oiled blade.
However, my hand wasn't as lucky as the rest of me. His sword hit the tip of my three middle fingers on my left hand. The burning pain it caused was so bad that I wished I had my sword, because I could probably have beaten Ganondorf right then, no Hero necessary.
I snatched it up with my right hand, determined I could do it. I'm the shadow, right? So… I can do it. Ganondorf started raining blows on me - and he was so quick that even I had trouble keeping up with him. He managed to get some cuts in on me, but my resolve to beat him kept me going.
But that resolve crumbled when Ivan saw us fighting. She zipped over as fast as she could…
...and perched herself on Ganondorf's shoulder. She whispered something to him, and an evil grin lit up his features.
"Ivan?" I said, feeling thoroughly betrayed. "It was you… all along? You were informing Ganondorf of my every move... weren't you?"
"Yes," she replied simply. But instead of being angered, that just broke my heart. I felt like a dagger was slowly working its way to my heart, and it had finally found its mark.
So I turned away from Ganondorf.
And I ran. As fast as I could.
In the opposite direction.
Hoping against hope that Ganondorf wasn't a very fast runner. I'd forgotten that he could hover. And he can hover pretty darn fast when he needs to. He chased me down and cut my ankle with his excessively large sword - my right ankle.
The old wound ached, but stars exploded in front of my eyes as I stumbled, went a couple more steps - and fell. Off the cliff that Ganondorf's castle in the Dark Realm sat on and into the plateau below.
