They ran to the entrance to the temple stopping just long enough for Orin to use his wings to fly up into the doorway with Link under his arm. Once they landed they took of again weaving and climbing their way to the temple's basement. The closer they got the colder it seemed to get and the more the scent of blood and monster filled the air. They were getting close, but when they opened the door to the basement room Link had fought Phantom Ganon those short few years ago he was left confused. There was blood on the ground but nothing was there.
Where's the dragon? Where did the dragon go? This is the place where the strongest concentration of magic would be isn't it?
"Link. Look up."
His eyes traveled upwards to find a hole on the ceiling. It led straight up past all three floors and into a fourth Link had never even known about. When did that get there?
"I was in here once before and I didn't even know that was there."
AS he stood there a drop of liquid landed on his face. He whipped the liquid with his hand to see red appearing on his gloves. Something sparked within him and a inhuman growl came out of him. It was a sound a normal Hylian could never make. He felt a rage, stronger than any rage he had ever felt well up in him like lava from death mountain. He ground his teeth and swore he felt his canines slid downward just a bit.
"Orin."
The gruffness of Link's voice threw him off guard. He could here a very dragon like growl behind it. But despite it having startled him it brought his full attention to Link with an unwavering stare.
"Aye." "Can you fly up there from here?"
"Yeah."
Link looked at him and the expression on his face sent a chill down his spine. The fire behind his eyes was not that of Hylian rage but that of a dragon's wrath. His blue eyes were burning and started to take on a green and topaz hue.
"There still up there. Fly me up." Orin couldn't argue with him. He grabbed Link around the waist from behind and spread out his wings. But just before he went to jump he felt something dig into his leg. What the hell? He looked down and saw something move ever so slightly near Link's tail bone. What the…? But Orin had no time to contemplate it. He could figure it out later.
"Up we go!"
The flight was short in and of itself but Link felt they couldn't get there soon enough. AS they sailed through the air he unsheathed his sword, the vision around his eyes turning red as they climbed. Once they were clear Orin dropped him. Link landed in a crouch his cloak billowing around him from the air current his fall caused. He straightened when he heard Orin roar as he hovered in the air.
"You bastards! How dare you attack a dragon!"
Link looked up and saw five large monsters he had never before seen in Hyrule. They looked like demons. Two of them had wings like Orin that he battled in the air. The other three looked like banshee's nearly transparent in their ghost like forms. One of the ghost like monsters held a red jewel in her hand like the one the Black dragon wore. Saria was using her magic to fight them off best she could but her strength had gone and she now was at their mercy. Five dragon lings laid at the feet of there injured mother one of them badly injured. Who could do this? Why?
It was then that rage boiled over and erupted. They had lost the black dragon and now they planned on taking this dragon mother to the same fate. He wasn't going to let that happen.
A bloodlust roar ripped out form Link's lungs as he charged. Fire burned through his veins searing him from the inside out. He could feel his eyes burn and his hands feel as if they were being ripped apart from the inside. His vision went red as he could feel his logical mind recede. By the time he got to the apparitions all he could think about was protect, kill, destroy.
Orin flew and dodged as the winged gargoyle like creatures came at him. He hissed and growled as they swung and clawed at him. One swung hitting a wing but not enough to prevent flight. Orin grabbed his bow from his back and cocked two arrows onto the string. The gargoyles swung at him again one from each side but Alex was able to twist out of it. Again and again they came at him but there clumsy aerial flight was no match for his flight mastery. Orin kept his bow at the ready as he corrected his position. But once he was stable and looked up he saw one of the gargoyles missing. A scream announced he saw one of the tiny dragon lings in the things claws. He flew to the other one who held it out as if in ransom. Hmm… they had some semblance of intelligence it seemed. But they underestimated him.
Damn! Link swung again his sword going right through it. They laughed at him as he kept trying to swing. The monsters bodies were like mist and vapor, no matter how hard he swung he couldn't lay a mark on them. There sing song voices flitted about him as they laughed and circled around him. By din! How did you kill these creature's?
"You tired out youngling? You can't kill us with that blade. It is useless."
Link watched as she hung her head back and laughed. A second joined in the taunting from behind as he hunched over, his breathing severely labored from carrying such a heavy weapon.
"We will take this dragon back to master dead or alive. And you can't stop us."
It was when the second one laughed he noticed it. There was a red jewel that appeared in their neck just beneath the jaw line when they laughed or stood still. As long as they kept moving you couldn't see it but when they were still… That had to be it. A wicked grin went across his face as he reholstered his two hander for a simple dagger he had gotten from Mallon to help cut herbs with.
"Aww…you giving up already youngling? Your not much fun."
"We will see how much fun you have in the after life banshee."
Link lunged forward and stabbed the dagger into the jewel like organ. His body fell through but the dagger remained. The demon screamed as the red jewel shattered. Soon all that was left was the shattered pieces that burst into flame and disappeared. One down two to go.
Orin hovered with his bow at the ready. Despite they were smart enough to use the young dragon ling as a shield they were not smart enough to protect there obvious weak spot. If they had kept moving it would be difficult to hit it but when they just hovered there like proud idiots it was easy. Two arrows, one shot.
In the blink of an eye the arrows flew. They shown silver as they streaked across the air and embedded themselves right into the red crystals in-between there eyes. The monsters screamed and crumbled the young dragon ling falling towards the ground. It squealed for a moment as it shot downwards but not for very long. The small dragon flipped his body over and spread out newly formed but capable wings. He flapped them a few times and stopped in mid air and hovered. Orin smiled. Oh good. He was going to be fine.
A scream alerted him to Link's fighting. He looked down near where the mother dragon rested and he couldn't believe his eyes. A bright and fiery aura surrounded Link. Gold and green flames had erupted around his feet and hands, green streaks ripped through his blonde hair. Gold marks appeared under his eyes as Link roared. Those were marks of one of his race. How could?
When link rose his sword above his head, Orin's mind went reeling. Another memory appeared before his eyes as he hovered there. This time he was young again but about the age of ten. And someone was with him.
He was playing with a young blonde haired boy with mismatched eyes of topaz and green. They were laughing and chasing each other around with swords playing knights. And when Orin caught him they fell to the ground the two of them snuggling into each other laughing even harder. AS the memory faded he heard the young boy's voice…
"We will always be together won't Orin? Promis me."
"We will always be together Lorin, I swear it."
"Lorin…"
A tear ran from his cheek down to his chin. A deep wave of sadness came over him when he heard that name. He couldn't remember much beyond that but he could feel a deep connection with the person in his vision. And when he looked at Link, he saw that boy fully grown. He looked exactly like what that boy would look like as an adult. Could Link somehow be a descendent? Or maybe he was him and had lost his memory. But that couldn't be right. He grew up here.
"Orin look out!"
Huh? He turned around to see a third gargoyle had appeared form now where and was heading right for him. The beast was too close to dodge, he was going to get hit. And it would be a near mortal wound by the looks of it. Of all the times too space out.
Link had his bow cocked and ready by the time he had yelled. He knew Orin wouldn't be able to avoid it. With out a second thought he aimed and let it fly. The arrow shot straight and true, causing the gargoyle to crumble just before it's claws reached Orin's skin. Shortly after the gargoyle crumbled, Orin dropped to the ground. Link saw him fall and went running praying to the goddesses that he hadn't been to late.
But by the time he had gotten there Orin was already standing.
"Are you all right Orin?"
Orin held his head the room still spinning form that last sudden vision.
"Orin, are you all right?"
"Huh? Oh, yeah. I'm fine. Just had a vision is all."
"What triggered it?"
"You actually?"
"Me?"
Orin looked up to look Link in the eye and his eyes widened. His irises had changed color. They now matched the color of the boy in his vision. He stared. How could Link be… How could it be possible…
"Orin, are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh. Sorry."
"You have been real spacey lately are you sure you all right? You don't have some sickness you forgot about do you?"
Orin shook his head.
Link put his hand on Orin's shoulder. The warmth form his hand burned through his clothes and latched to his skin effortlessly. Orin looked as Links hand. His nails had lengthened. A Hylian's skin and hands don't do that. The pieces were starting to form in his mind. Now all he needed was the glue to put them together.
"Link! Come here!"
Link turned to Saria who held one of the dragon lings in her arms.
"Can you heal him?"
It's small wings were laying boneless his body laid lifeless. There was a large wound in it's shoulder that was deep enough to touch it's heart. A deep sadness rose up in link, stronger than he ever knew. A tear ran down his cheek at seeing the small dragon ling laying there. Link shook his head slowly.
Link took the small dragon from her arms and held it in his, his tears falling onto the young dragons body. He looked to the dragon lings mother who was holding the rest of them, tears in her eyes as well. But when he turned to Orin the look on his face nearly broke his heart. Orin's fists were clenched together tears streaming down his face like rivers. The sadness that link felt was mirrored in his tall and strong companion. There was a shaky silence for a moment before Orin's voice broke it.
"Such an innocent should never have to suffer like that. "
Link looked down to the young dragon and began to cry. He pulled the young one's body close to his almost as if he himself were the mother. He didn't know why he felt so sad. He knew to have a child die was a sad event but he felt almost as if this was his child. He could feel how the mother felt. But dragon's couldn't cry. So he was crying for her.
He felt Saria's small arms wrapping around his waist as she to cried. Orin looked on seeing him cry so sincerely. Memories came again but this time only information. Lorin had been like that, his mind said. He had the gift of mourning. He could feel and mourn for those that couldn't. And that was what link was doing.
Orin walked over and wrapped his arms around Link and the small dragon. He couldn't stand seeing Link like that. Even if his mind only played tricks and he wasn't truly the one his heart and mind told him he was, he didn't want to see his only true friend in this state.
Link continued to mourn, Orin's welcome warmth eased it some what. He knew he shouldn't be here crying. He should be preparing a proper burial for this young creature, but, he just couldn't stop. He felt his soul shattering apart even though he knew it wasn't his own. He was feeling the mother's pain. But he let it come anyways. He ran his fingers gently along the small creator's cool scales as Saria went to tend to the mother. He was so sick of evil. There was no point in it.
"I will prepare the burial."
Orin's voice was sad and cracked with holding back tears. Link had a feeling that once Orin reached outside he would start to ball. It was the aura he had gotten off of him the first time they met.
Link nodded in acknowledgement. But just as Orin got a couple steps away Link felt something. His hand had rested on the dragon's chest and he felt something. It was a spark, a warm faint warmth with a low faint pulse. And as he kept his hand there he began to feel the smallest thread of life with in the small form. Link's heart stopped. He was alive!
"Orin wait!"
He heard Orin run hurriedly back to him as he knelt on the ground and laid the dragon out in front of him on the cool stone. Link looked up to see the mother looking at him with fearful anticipation. Saria had hope shining in her eyes.
"What is it Link?"
"I felt something. When my hand rested on his heart I felt a faint energy pulsing through him. It was very faint but there. "
"You mean…?"
"He is still alive but only just."
"What are you going to do?"
Link looked up at Orin a smile on his face.
"I am going to heal him. Stand back. I need a bit of room for this."
The look of confusion that crossed Orin's face would have been confusing hadn't it been he had to work quickly. Link shrugged off his cloak and gloves and held his hands out over the dragon's body. If there was a life force he could heal him. But with this extensive damage he wasn't sure what it was going to do to himself. It had been a long time since he had used this secret ability of his. It was the main thing other than not having a fairy that caused the Kokiri to stay away from him.
Link closed his eyes and focused on the small thread of life left in him. He kept his mind focused on it and the thought of making it grow. The familiar warmth of this power surged through his system starting from his own heart and out onto his hands. He could feel the tendrils of magic reach out from his finger tips and into the baby dragon nurturing and coaxing the small bead of energy into growing.
Link began to shake as he felt his own energy wane as the magic continued to feed the dragons weak body. But just as Link's concentration began to wane and his body lost all of his strength the bead began to grow on it's own. Link sighed in relief as it began to grow larger and stronger on it's own. But link kept the connection. He had to make sure it wasn't going to leave the moment he let go. So he continued, even though he knew afterwards he wasn't going to be able to walk out of here.
Suddenly he heard a sound. It was a groan coming in the direction of the small dragon. He opened his eyes and saw the small creature stirring, his wound completely healed. The young dragon slowly opened his eyes and let out a tired squeak signaling he was now amongst the living again. Link sighed and let go of the connection, the white tendrils of his magic receding back into his body. Link was conscious long enough to see the small dragon roll over and wobbly stand before his vision went black.
Orin sat next to Link's bed at Lon Lon ranch a million things rolling through his head. Pieces were start into fall into place but at the same time still not coming together fully. So many things that he had seen recently have answered many of his questions, but left more to be answered. For example, Link's healing ability. Despite his wavering memory his instinctive knowledge told him not a single hylian could heal like that without a spell or potion handy. And the way his hair and eyes changed color like that, no Hylian was capable of such feats. And no Hylian can detect the energy of a dying dragon so close to death's door as he did. So obviously Link wasn't a Hylian.
But the problem was what he was. All the signs pointed to one of Orin's race which could be possible since the only thing known about his arrival was a young woman, assumed to be his mother, brought him to the Kokiri forest for safe keeping and left him under the care of the great Deku tree. Beyond that no one knew of his origins.
And even worse, ever since that one memory surfaced another possibility had arisen. Maybe he had know him before even they first met. But if that was the case then link would be over 300 years old. But he couldn't be that old. He was born ad raised here in Hyrule. And Navi said that he had celebrated his 21st birthday last month. The only way he could be the same one was if he had been cursed with a time rewind spell that turned him into a baby. But the only one who knew that spell disappeared almost 500 years ago. Navi had told him so.
So what the hell was going on? And where did those monsters come from? Those aren't Hyrule monsters. There smell was off. By the dragons! He was just going around and around in circles.
"Gah! What in the dragons name is going on?"
"What's…wrong?"
Orin turned to see Link's sleepy blue eyes looking at him the full moon reflecting dully in his eyes. He looked fragile in that moment. His body was covered up to the chin in blankets, his eyes had dark circles underneath them and his normally gorgeous tan skin had gone pale. That healing ability had taken a lot out of him. Orin smiled. Link was fragile but at the same time strong. So much like the one from his fading memory.
Orin rested his hand on Link's warm forehead and pushed it back through Link's disheveled blonde mane. He cleared his thoughts form his mind as Link looked up at him with those large puppy like eyes. By the dragons he was beautiful. Even when eh looked like he was about to break.
"It's nothing Link. You get back to sleep."
"It didn't….sound…like…nothing."
"It doesn't concern you link. Now get some rest."
Orin removed his hand from Link's soft hair and stood. But when eh started to head toward the door, link's voice made him stop.
"Liar."
Orin turned around and stared at him for a moment unblinking. Link just looked back with an all knowing smirk.
"What do you mean?"
"I could see it in your eyes. That look of confusion behind your concern of my well being."
Orin sighed and sat back on the stool next to his bed, knowing now link wasn't going to go back to sleep until he got answers. He knew that particular tone of voice.
"You are the observant one."
"You know something about what is happening to me. And don't tell me you don't."
Orin sighed, "I have my suspicions. But, I don't know for sure. All evidence points to it but I am still confused as to how."
"Orin?"
He felt a cold hand rest on his and he looked down. There rested Link's right hand, but instead of Hylian skin it was the soft flesh scales of a draconic in his human form. Orin ran his hand along the back of Link's feeling the soft human like skin the scales mimicked but not completely.
"Link…"
"I noticed it earlier today when I got up to get a drink of water. And I am having strange dreams. I have been having them ever since you returned to your original form and that day we…"
Orin watched as Link's face grew the palest shade of pink.
"I remember. Mallon bumped into us with that milk jug."
"Yeah…"
Suddenly Link winced. He hissed through his teeth.
"What's wrong?"
"My hand hurts."
"The one I am holding onto?"
Link nodded.
Orin took it into his hands and began to rub gently with his fingers. He started at the base near the wrist and worked his way slowly up the palm. Link's skin was soft, to soft for the career he had, had as a swordsman and savior of Hyrule a product of the scales in his skin. There was no doubt about what Link was. But how he lasted so long without even turning was a mystery.
Orin slowly massaged Link's hand his skin soon becoming addicting. He watched as Link's body relaxed and his eyes slid down to half mast as he drew his hand closer to his face. Orin knew what he was doing. He knew he should stop. But he couldn't.
The moment Orin's lips touched Link's hand a vision flashed in front of Link's eyes. The bed he was resting in melted away. The room he was staying changed into a green forest and the man sitting in front of him became royalty. He knew this place somehow. He knew this moment. And it replayed before him.
"Your majesty…"
The man looked exactly like Orin but with gold filigree adornments in his hair. His white robes held the same filigree on it, the light fabric floating around him making him seem almost surreal. His deep blue orbs were rimmed with silver and looked at him lovingly as he kissed his hand.
Linkwas clothed in green armor his hair tied back. The armor was formfitting to allow movement but strong enough to stop all melee blows and most magic. A long sword was hung on his side as a deep green cape flowed back from his shoulders.
"I told you Lorin never to call me that while we are alone."
"But you are a--"
"It does not matter. I am the youngest of eight. I doubt I will be crowned anytime soon."
"Your still royalty while I am a commoner. Not even a knight to anyone. No one wants a half breed for a knight."
"Your wrong."
"What do you mean?"
He took him into his arms pulling him close. He trembled having his secret crush so near to him.
"It was the whole reason I brought you out here. I want you to be my Knight Lorin. That way, you will always be by my side. I promised you I would not leave you and I intend to keep it."
He closed his eyes as Orin leaned in.
"Orin…"
"Lorin…"
When the vision cleared they knew they had both shared it. The vision had made Link sit straight up in bed and when his eyesight cleared his hand was still in Orin's grasp. He looked to Orin who had stopped his ministrations. Link didn't want him to stop. His body was screaming for more of Orin's touch. He grabbed Orin's hand and placed it on his chest, Links hand reaching to rest against his neck. He felt Orin start to pull him close and his body trembled.
The longing only those that had known each other before drew them together. Their souls knew each other even if there minds hadn't yet caught up. Their hearts were pounding, their skin burning. Their body's yearning and longing for each other. And as there eyes drew closed and there lips were mere moments form touching they realized they were drowning.
"Link, I don't know what I am doing…"
"Neither do I…"
"AHHHHHHH!"
The moment was shattered to pieces by Mallon's scream and shortly after the whole place shook after a violent explosion. A loud intake of air and another explosion signaled an all to familiar fighting style.
"What in din's fire was that?" Link yelled.
Orin ran to the window and what he saw he couldn't believe. Out on the edge of the ranch was a young fire dragon being ridden by a bunch of goblin looking monsters. The dragon was setting fire to the stables where Epona and Adin where shacked up for the night.
Without a second thought Orin ran towards the door, grabbing his gear as he went.
"Orin what is going on?"
"We are under attack."
"I am going with you!"
Orin turned around and pushed Link back onto the bed.
"No, you are still too weak. You must stay here."
"But Orin!"
"Stay!"
Link watched as Orin ran outside to help Mallon. But after sitting in the bed for a mere moment he ran to the window. When he saw the dragon he froze. By Naryu! Why re they attacking here! Suddenly the dragon locked eyes with him and shortly after that a fireball was thrown at the window. Link ran from the window but the impact of the fire ball hitting the side of the house knocked him off is feet and onto the floor. He slid across the floor until his back hit the door. The fall had jerked his back and caused whatever was causing the initial pain to grow worse. He hissed but got up. His instincts overriding his logic.
He had to help. He couldn't just lie there.
Damn! There are so many of them! Hack! Slash! Grind! Twist! Hack! Slash! Damn it! They just keep coming! Orin continued fighting, killing wave after wave of the creatures. They kept coming. NO matter how many he cut down it seemed two took their place. Where in all the dragon's were they coming from?
Thunk. Ugh! A sharp pain in Orin's right shoulder alerted him to an injury. He looked down to see an arrow embedded in his shoulder. But as he stared at it he felt his mind go into a daze and his strength fade. The white shaft and black feathers of the arrow suddenly became familiar. When he pulled it out the red arrow head marked it as a draconic arrow. The only element in Hyrule or anywhere that could weaken one of his kind. Oh crud….
Orin's vision began to blur as the venom the stone produced while in their system kicked in. He fell to his knee's his mind slowly turning to mush as it seeped into his veins. Soon he would be paralyzed and shortly after that he would pass out. The stuff wouldn't kill him so that meant they wanted him alive. For what he didn't know.
The last thing Orin remembered before all went black was seeing link run out of the house in only his breeches, just before he was hit in the back of the head by one of the goblins. Orin reached out to him as his vision turned black. He knew this scene had played before but he just couldn't remember where.