There was no reason for him to be cold, but he was? Feeling a deep, lingering guilt, Blue made her way across Kakariko to the gates. Jake and Ariza followed on her heels, as quiet as ever, mourning in their own ways.
She had to remember that she had her own life that didn't need to intersect with Link's. He was fine on his own. He always commented about the fact he disliked working with people. His social skills were indeed not the best, and he wasn't very good at teamwork.
When the three of them left though... why did he seem so... disappointed?
She had her own life, though. They all did. Jake, Ariza, Derek, and Link. So much had happened over the last few days. Surely their paths had to split in different directions.
Blue noticed Jake casting Ariza a few glances, obviously displeased with her presence. She knew he wanted to talk to her privately about her involvement in the Thieves Guild, and how she had come to know random lowlife people like Link and Derek. She knew his interrogation would happen the second they were alone, so she was trying her best to avoid that for as long as possible. She felt awkwardly embarrassed in his presence, hoping her decisions had not ruined how he felt for her.
But his hand came out a few times, brushing along her back and gently prodding her attention. He did not seem outwardly angry at her specifically. His frustrated venting on Link seemed to calm any other arguing he may have harbored for either Ariza or her, but that only relieved Blue somewhat. Without a word she turned her head to meet his surprisingly calm gaze after he murmured something unintelligible.
"I hope we find them." He said again louder, peering at her earnestly.
Her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected him to say that.
"I hope so too." She replied weakly, managing a smile at his words.
He returned the smile to the best of his own ability. "I am sorry for being so difficult."
"It's all right." Blue supplied as she caught sight of the cloaked thieves manning the entrance, a book and quill in each of their hands. There were still crowds of Castle Town refugees piling in through the entrance, keeping them exceptionally busy.
"No, it's not all right. I shouldn't be so cold, especially now." Jake huffed out, displeasure evident in his voice. "When we- when we have time, I mean, we should... talk."
Not wishing to have the conversation escalate any further with Ariza behind them (and obviously listening in), Blue gave a curt nod with a short, "okay."
"Am I being intrusive?" Ariza inquired, snooping as she always tended to do. "I'm sorry. There is obviously much for you two to discuss..."
"No, no. In fact," Blue looked at her friend quickly as they continued to walk, catching Jake's frown in the side of her eye, "this is a conversation I could have with the both of you. But let's just... focus on one thing at a time for now. We need to see if our families made it."
Jake made no argument, but the mild irritation in his expression betrayed his idea toward Ari being involved. Ariza's face lit up briefly for the first time in a while, and Blue felt somewhat better.
Blue led the two other Hylians through the advancing crowd, searching for someone she may recognize. There were countless, and while some faces were familiar, none were anyone she personally knew. It wouldn't be long before everyone was crammed and packed tight in Kakariko until they couldn't move. As their little trio approached one person with a quill and book, the cloaked head looked up to reveal an older woman.
"Have you checked in?" The thief inquired as Blue's face lifted and stared at the book. The book practically had the answers to her future in it.
"We came to inquire about... about a few people. We need to know if they, uhm, came to Kakariko."
Not bothering to hide her annoyance, since she was most likely extremely busy, the woman huffed and stared at the contents of the book. Thankfully, she complied. "What are their names?"
"Evelyn and Tye Oscabellow."
For a few agonizing moments, the woman licked her finger and shuffled to a certain section near the middle of the book. Time seemed to stop for Blue as the thief flipped page by page, searching for her answer.
What if they were not there? What if they were? But what if they weren't? What would she do? Where would she go?
What-
"I am sorry miss, but I do not see anyone here by the name of Evelyn or Tye Oscabellow."
Blue's heart sank as low as it could possibly go. Her skin felt immediately cold. It took her a few moments to process exactly what the woman said and what it implied, but when the full reality set in, the world swerved out from under her feet and grew fuzzy.
"Blue!" Jake's distressed call echoed in her ears. She felt large hands wrap around her before her knees gave out completely.
"I'm... sorry?" The thief woman gazed down at Blue as her vision swayed.
"I- I need to sit down." Blue supplied weakly, gripping her head as it pulsed. Jake complied, helping her sit on grass that suddenly felt like a bed of nails.
Her mother.
Her brother.
He was only six.
A momentary flash of anger coursed it's way through Blue's body, though she quickly pushed it aside.
There was still a chance, right? There are still loads of people piling in from Castle Town still, getting checked in. Maybe they hadn't arrived yet. Maybe they had snuck in without alerting anyone. Maybe... maybe their names were in one of the other thieves' books? They couldn't be missing. They couldn't be gone. They couldn't be dead.
They were probably dead.
"Ma'am?" A fuzzy woman's voice made her look up. It suddenly felt too bright outside. Everything was swerving, and everything was too vivid or too loud.
"Blue, can you hear me?" Jake's face came into view, more refined and recognizable than the woman's. He hovered, kneeling in front of her, worry plastered over his handsome features.
Yes, she thought, but words refused to form in her dry throat.
"Blue!" Ariza's face came next, clearly panicked. "What are we going to do, Jake? Tye and Evelyn..."
Oh no.
"Ari!" Jake interrupted harshly, shoving the girl with his shoulder.
Oh no.
"Blue!" Jake's attention swerved back to Blue, grip tightening on her shoulders.
Do not panic.
"Blue, please listen to me!"
Do. Not. Panic.
The air seemed to leave her lungs, and when she tried to gasp, she couldn't breathe. She tried to get her lungs to work properly, but all she could do was wheeze in panic, feeling lightheaded. She closed her eyes, feeling suddenly nauseous.
"Blue!" Jake reached forward, grabbing her face with both of his hands. They were agonizingly cold against her warm skin. "Please listen. Please calm down. This is one book. We need to see the others. They could be here. They could still be traveling."
Blue tried to focus her gaze on Jake's green gaze, placing her hands on top of his and holding them against her face. She needed to think, she needed to not panic. They still had time. They still could be here. She shouldn't come to such horrid conclusions based on one answer.
Over and over she tried to get control over her breathing, attempting desperately not to pass out. Jake continued to talk her through her panic, offering anything from reassurances to condolences. All the while, she kept her gaze on his, trying to ground herself back to reality.
After what felt like an eternity, Blue tightened her grip on Jake's hands and let out a sigh to the best of her ability, finding air easier to obtain as her throat and chest loosened. Her skin was still an awkward mix of cold and hot, and she was sure there was an unappealing layer of sweat on her by now, but she hardly cared. The nauseous feeling remained in her gut, but was far less severe. All she could think was how happy she was to be able to breathe again.
Jake's hands fell from her face, but she kept a death grip on them as he relaxed.
"Thank the Goddesses," he breathed, "we did not need you passing out on us."
Ariza jumped forward, kneeling beside Blue. "I got some water from nearby." She quickly handed her friend the water pouch, a damp rag in her other hand.
"Let's-" Blue managed, finding her throat incredibly dry even after a drink, "-let's check the other books."
"Great idea!" Ari's voice held a hint of relief as she placed her arms around her friend and helped her to her feet. "There has to be more than one person keeping tabs on everyone coming into Kakariko Village."
Jake said something in response, probably something else encouraging, but it was lost to Blue's ears. The dreaded pit in her stomach returned. Despite their encouragements, she felt that even if they continued looking all day for not only her family, but their own as well, they would never find them.
They had asked all of the other thieves. They had searched all around Kakariko for familiar faces. They had waited almost the entire day, hoping that their families were just running late.
They never showed.
They never saw a glimpse of anyone familiar.
They never heard a word.
By now, Blue had taken to silence, sitting uncomfortably in the grass against the brick wall of a building. Ariza had split from them, proclaiming she wasn't going to give up searching. Jake had an increasingly hard time containing his frustration and anger about the situation, irritated by even the slightest question or misstep.
The sun in the sky had already begun to set, casting a reddish hue on the village as day slipped away to night. Jake was standing beside Blue, facing the wall and pressing his forehead against it. To her surprise, he hadn't said anything for a while, managing to contain his anger somewhat and redirect it at the resilient wall. Blue sat, staring at her hands in her lap, a million thoughts running through her already pounding head.
What were they going to do? Should they just stay in Kakariko? How long until the Gerudo came for Kakariko as well? Where was the King or Princess Zelda? Where were they going to live? Would Kakariko start having to kick people out because of the sheer amount of Castle Town residents seeking refuge? Where would they go if they couldn't stay in Kakariko? Was it just inevitable that the Gerudo were going to kill them all? Make slaves of them? Imprison them? Torture them? Banish them?
Swimming in her thoughts, Blue felt her panic rise again. Her chest constricted painfully, and her already dry throat felt like the Desert. It was suddenly both too hot and too cold, sitting in the dusk of the day wrapped in her cloak. Beginning to hyperventilate, she placed her hands on her neck.
"Please do not." Jake's impatient voice rang as he kneeled beside her again, taking her hands in his. "We do not have time for this."
"J-Jake..."
"Calm." Jake said again, though softer with more feeling.
Trying to calm her breathing yet again, Ariza appeared in the corner of her vision, trotting up to the two of them quickly. The downcast expression on her face explained her findings clearly.
"I didn't- is Blue okay?"
"She will be fine." Jake let go of her hands and stood, turning to Ari. "You didn't what?"
Without warning, trumpet blared and the clanking of armor echoed throughout the corridors of the village. Finding the sound obnoxiously loud on her already overly stimulated senses, Blue covered her ears quickly and shut her eyes. When would this end? Could this just be a nightmare they could all wake up from? Why? Why had they come? Despite finding the Thieves Guild and helping the poorer of Castle Town, had she done something to displease the Goddesses? Why had they done?
Faintly, muffled by both her headache and her hands, Blue swore she could hear "Her Majesty, Princess Zelda" and more annoying trumpets.
How lovely.
Her most gracious majesty, the beautiful jewel of Hyrule, Princess Zelda Nohansen Harkinian, had embraced Kakariko with her presence.
Annoyance radiating off of him like a newly kindled fire, Link stood leaning against the doorframe of Derek's tavern, eyes narrowed at the small band of Royal Court Guards dressed in radiant colors and glimmering armor leading a hidden Princess through the town.
How could Zelda, of all damn people, be alive? What gave her the Goddess given right to survive, when countless other hardworking people did not?
With mildly fleeting interest, Link watched as the Guards led the Princess to the back of the village and through the earthly arch leading to the graveyard.
Maybe this righteous Princess needed a little visit from a familiar criminal. She owed all of the refugees of Hyrule an explanation for what had happened to their city.
With an irate huff, Link snatched the new cloak Derek had provided him from the storage. He at least didn't look like a complete and total mess now. The suppliers at Derek's tavern were more than happy to provide him with new clothing, and he was happy to get out of the ashy bloodstained tattered mess that was his old tunic.
Picking his way through the horde of the crowd flocking to see the Princess, Link followed the pathway to the graveyard. What would the Princess of Hyrule want with the graveyard? Surely it was too late to pray for any type of salvation for Castle Town. It had to be completely obliterated and overrun by now.
Much to his disappointment, the entrance to the graveyard was guarded by a tangle of Royal Guards, fighting off other commoners as they requested audiences with the Princess.
As he approached a guard, his spear raised and pushing off a desperate unrecognizable Hylian woman, the soldier groaned in annoyance.
"Her majesty is not seeing anyone, under any circumstances. Step aside, young man."
Link looked into the guard's helmet, daring the man to recognize him. "I think the Princess owes her citizens an apology. Or an explanation. Wouldn't you agree?"
"Oh no," another guard groaned. "Look, as much as she would like, she is going through a very difficult time right now. The King has been murdered, and the city is in ruin. There is not much else to explain. Leave."
How dandy. The King of Hyrule was dead. And this made the Princess any more different than half of the other citizens of Hyrule?
Link dared to take a step forward, and all of the Royal Guards head's snapped in his direction. "What even is she doing in Kakariko's graveyard?"
Another commoner pushed past Link, clipping his shoulder as the man shouted something about also wanting an audience with the Princess to discuss his landholdings in the now destroyed Castle Town. Another person piled with him, shoving both Link and the first guy aside, shouting another absurdity about something completely irrelevant to the pressing issues.
Link was going to strangle something.
The clamor of the crowd rose, shouting different types of demands and requesting to see Princess Zelda. The guards scrambled to control the crowd and it's volume, spears and shields ready but unthreatening. They did a pretty poor job of controlling the unruly crowd, but the shouting died down almost instantaneously as, to Link's own surprise, the guards were forcefully parted by two small gloved hands, revealing the tired, disheveled, but still recognizable Princess of Hyrule.
Her hair was unruly, her clothing a mess of soot , stains, and rips, but her expression was stern and unwavering.
"I know you wish to speak with me individually regarding your families, your properties, and the devastation of our kingdom, but I beseech you to cease this panic and please allow me a chance to speak in regards to all of you."
Her appearance and plead quickly led to another uproar from the crowd.
"You demand us an explanation!"
"Where is my family?!"
"What do you plan to do about this?"
"What about the King?!"
The crowd was finally speaking on the same wave as he was, and Link enjoyed watching as Zelda's face fell forward in exhaustion and frustration.
"Please stop..." He heard her quiet voice huff. "I need you to listen."
"What we need is a hero, not an incompetent monarchy!"
"Why did your family kill the previous Hero of Time?!"
"What are you doing-"
"ENOUGH!" Zelda's hands lashed out, magic sparking from her fingertips in a loud snap to hold everyone's attention. The present anger on her face made Link's heart actually skip a beat. Had the Princess ever been this angry in front of anyone in such a professional sense? "I will not discuss my families' past actions with a crowd, and I will also not praise or condone them, but I will discuss the current situation and plans that are developing to help our citizens survive!"
Link had hardly noticed that the sun had finally dipped below the horizon, shadowing the entire area in darkness. Zelda held a bright light of white magic in her hand, illuminating her face and the general area around her. What caught Link's attention more was a small light emitting from the back of her right hand, glowing golden instead.
The mark of the Triforce glowed from beneath her gloves, and the triangle of Wisdom showed the brightest. How had he never seen that before?
Zelda caught his wandering gaze, eyes narrowed in accusation.
He didn't know what happened or what she did, but the moment her gaze reached his, his left hand burned immensely. Impulsively, he gasped and grasped his hand, staring down at it with disdain. What the hell was she doing? What the fuck was her deal?
When he glanced up, it offered no answers, but he found himself staring. She had clutched her right hand at her hip, biting her lip and grunting in discomfort. What unnerved him most was the sudden change in her expression. The tired and disheveled frustration on her face melted away into a look of interest and wonder, focused directly on him.
"Aren't you Link?" Zelda questioned, lowering the light from her face to mask her outwardly growing pain.
Apprehensive, Link responded quietly, gritting his teeth. "Yes."
"Impa." She turned to her Sheikah attendant standing next to her.
Oh hell no.
Link's eyes widened before he turned on his heels and pushed through the crowd, trying to hide himself as he fled. He quickly pulled the hood of the cloak over his head. People gasped and shouted in irritation, grunting as they were shoved aside by the frantic teenager.
He knew he had little chance of outrunning or outwitting a Sheikah warrior, but he at least had to try to make it to the tavern in time. What the heck was he thinking? Telling Zelda who he was. She was trying to get him arrested even after Hyrule fell?
"Young man!" Impa's shout echoed out behind him. "STOP!"
"Link, please!" Zelda's plea came after her attendant's, less accusing. "We do not mean you any harm!"
Uncharacteristically, Link nearly tripped when he heard Zelda's shout.
Push on. Push on. Do not fall for her traps. The tavern is what he needed to reach.
The ominous familiar door cloaked in shadow appeared in his vision and he threw it open, desperate to find some sort of sanctuary.
Then he realized, dawning on him like a painful tidal wave in his panic, what he just did.
He just lead Princess Zelda and her Sheikah attendant right to the heart of the falling Thieves Guild.
Way to go Link.
A/N: Sorry, is anyone still reading this? Lol. Life got in the way. The good news is... I moved into a new apartment! And it's the summer, so I have more free time. I really really REALLY want to finish this story, so I will try my hardest to continue! I hope you are enjoying my changes to the Zelda universe thusfar! As for hints, well, we will most likely meet a new important character next chapter, and a lot of questions you may have regarding this whole "killing the previous Hero of Time" business will hopefully be answered! As always, thank you for reading and reviewing!