Alaia Skyhawk: Chapter 10... what else can I say?

I don't own the Zelda series or anything associated with it. I do however own this story and any OCs, so please don't steal them.

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Ri2:

Yeah they're still in business, the fact Link cleared most of the big treasures is why they've gone out into the Outer Islands, the region around the great sea where no one lives and there's only a few islands.

Yes they're the Salvage Corp guys from the game. I just gave them names and such. I also made their ship a bit bigger since with their old one all I could think of it in the game was, 'Where the heck would they fit any treasure on board?'

Yep, his name's Eidan and yes he's Link's dad.

Yeah the Forest Haven is doing well... but I sneakily hinted at something with something and it's not the bit about Makar not telling Link about the 'tension'. Heh heh, I like being cryptic. (Evil Grin)

Chapter 10: Reunion.

The Red Lion moved through the waves at a brisk pace much to Link's relief. It had taken a week of tacking back and forth across the wind in order to head north against it to Bomb Island. Luckily heading north-west to Windfall with a south blowing wind wasn't so bad... and seeing Mila again had cheered Link up no end. Now heading for Outset after stopping at Eyestone, the wind was now helping him rather than hindering him. The trip to Windfall from Bomb Island, via Saiweve, had taken eight days. Eyestone was a similar distance away from the town and with the wind now behind him it had taken only four.

Link felt the wind shift, it was now pointing directly along his heading. A smile came to Link's face.

Finally, a wind perfect to try out my new sail design.

Link took down the jib and detached the lanteen sail from the boom before hoisting it up against the spars strapped to the mast, where a second boom was tied. He then climbed the rigging and linked the boom to the right-hand set of spars. Link dropped back to the deck and lifted a panel out of it just behind the mast. In the revealed compartment was a bundle with a large number of carefully set metal loops sticking up from it. Link took the clips at the ends of the ropes among the spars and attached them carefully to specific loops, one by one. He ran to the tiller and sat down before reaching for the first of three release ropes next to him. He pulled on the rope.

The two booms swung down to the left and right with a whine of ropes and pulleys. The first set of spars opened up like a fan and the movement pulled on some of the ropes attached to the bundle. The first section of sail was pulled out and the ship lurched forward as the wind took hold. Link checked the support lines between the tips of the spars and the anchor points on the deck behind him. Seeing they had spaced out without tangling, he pulled the second release rope. While the first set only reached halfway along the booms, the second, inside the first, reached three quarters of the way. A second sail was pulled out and once again the ship lurched forward, the second sail forming an arch that overlapped the outer edge of the first. Once again Link checked the lines and then reached for the last release rope. The final set of spars, that reached the ends of the booms, opened and the last sail was pulled out.

Link whooped as the Red Lion raced across the water. He looked up at the three over lapping arches of sail, the middle the farthest away, the outermost the closest. Each sail funnelled the wind into the next until it reached the bottom and whipped under the booms and out over the bow. Link took his chip log and threw it over the side. He had been going at twenty sea leagues a day with the lanteen sail and jib, now he was going to see how fast the arch sail made the ship. He pulled the chip log back in and counted the knots. He laughed in elation.

"Forty Sea leagues with a twenty-five mark wind!! That's got to be a record. At this pace I'll be home by tomorrow afternoon."

Link leaned back on the bench as he held the tiller, and the sea rushed past beneath him.

..--.-,-.-.--,-,--.-.-.-,--.-,-,-.-,--.

Eidan leaned on the rail and looked at the shore of Outset ahead of the ship. As he took in the view he just couldn't seem to get enough. For twelve years he had had only his memories of the island and now he could see just how much those memories had faded, become dimmed by time. He looked at the watch tower as they passed it, heading for the dock and sighed as a great sense of happiness washed over him. As the ship stopped at the end of the pier, Eidan could see some of the villagers coming down to see who it was. He turned to Krio and his crew.

"I don't know how I can ever repay you for this."

They put their arms over each others' shoulders. Alan smiled.

"I think I speak for all of us when I say that seeing the look on your face at being home is payment enough."

They all nodded. Krio slapped Eidan on the shoulder.

"Go on then. Get on that pier and find your family."

Eidan didn't need to be told twice. He leapt onto the pier and walked down it towards the approaching villagers as Krio, Thom, Alan and Jason followed behind him. When he reached the rock that marked the end of the pier he stopped and looked around. After twelve years he was once again standing on Outset. He looked up as the first of the villagers reached him. After a moment Eidan recognised him. It was Abe who when Eidan had last seen him, was trying to woo Rose and get her to marry him. Abe stepped forward.

"Hello there and welcome to Outs..." He stopped dead. "Eidan? Is that you?"

Eidan smiled.

"Yes it's me, Abe. I know I look a mess, but in my defence I've been stranded in the Outer Islands east of the Forest Haven for these last twelve years."

Abe broke out into a wide smile and envelope him in a hug as the rest of those present cheered and welcomed Eidan home. He looked around.

"Where's Ahria? She always comes down from the house to greet visitors." The crowd fell silent. Eidan frowned. "What's wrong?"

Abe put a hand on his shoulder.

"I hate to have to tell you this... but Ahria's dead. She died six months after you were confirmed missing."

Eidan stared at him, his face a mask of shocked denial.

"How..."

Abe lowered his eyes.

"She died giving birth to your daughter."

Eidan looked surprised.

"I have a daughter?"

"Yes, Valandra gave her the name Aryll. They should both be at your house." Abe looked around at everyone. "I think we should all go to our homes and let Eidan have some privacy with his family."

Abe looked at Eidan one more time and nodded before walking away with the other villagers. Eidan turned and looked at Krio and his friends, tears of grief threatening to fall.

"I guess this is goodbye for now. I hope we cross paths again."

Krio smiled.

"So do I... Farewell, Eidan."

"Goodbye, Eidan."

"See ya around, Eidan."

"Take care of yourself, Eidan."

He watched as they boarded their ship and set sail, before finally turning and heading for the house where his love once lived. He walked along the path until he reached the porch and climbed the steps, but instead of opening the door and going in, he knocked.

He heard the familiar voice of Vallandra through the door.

"Aryll dear, will you go see who that is?"

A young voice that sounded heartbreakingly similar to Ahria's answered.

"Yes, Grandma." He heard the sound of sandals scuffing on wood come up to the door. It opened and he found himself looking at the daughter he'd never known he had. She looked up at him, her face hauntingly like her mother's. "Hello, can I help you?"

He hesitated before he could bring himself to speak.

"I'd like to speak to Vallandra."

He watched as she dashed up to the corner and looked round.

"Grandma, there's someone here who wants to speak to you."

He heard the sound of the old woman getting up followed by the steady tap of a cane on the wooden floor. She came round the corner and saw him, dropping her cane in surprise.

"Eidan! Eidan, you're alive! Oh, come in here this instant, don't make me walk over to you."

He came in a shut the door behind him before hurrying over to her. Aryll looked at him confused.

"Who is he, Grandma?"

She looked at Aryll.

"Aryll, this is your father." She looked him over. "And by the looks of him he's been stranded all these years."

He nodded.

"Yes, the Time's Gale got hit by a storm near Saiweve. I grabbed a piece of the wreckage and was carried off by the storm. Nearly a month ago now I made a raft and just headed in what I hoped was the right direction. I was lucky that Krio and his fellow treasure hunting friends found me and brought me back here."

Vallandra smiled.

"I've heard of them and I'm guessing they've already left."

"Yes they have. They left just after Abe told me that..."

He closed his eyes trying to hold back the tears. The old woman patted his hand.

"So you know... We were all devastated when she died, so soon after we believed we'd lost you. Ever since then the people of Outset helped us keep going since I couldn't work and had two young children to look after. It's only recently that our family has become fully independent again."

He looked at her questioningly.

"Link?"

Aryll piped up.

"Link has his own ship, he built it himself and he's just started delivering parcels for the Rito postal service. He's friends with the tribe and..."

Aryll dear, why don't you go heat up some of that soup by the stove for your father.

"Ok." She launched herself at Eidan and gave him a fierce hug. "Welcome home, Dad."

She let go of him and ran across to the stove. As Eidan allowed Vallandra to lead him to one of the benches, he sighed.

I may have lost my wife... but I still have family... and I'll do all I can to make sure I never lose them again.

..--.-,-.-.--,-,--.-.-.-,--.-,-,-.-,--.

The three sisters gathered together for the first time in many years. Long had they stayed apart, but now they were once again united. One of them stepped forward and in a voice that held great strength, the first sister spoke.

"Greetings my sisters. It is good that you have come."

As the second sister answered, her voice echoed with a sense of patience and knowledge.

"Yes, we have a great dilemma before us."

Her voice resounding with daring and determination, the third sister stood by her siblings.

"Indeed... There is much we must discuss..."

..--.-,-.-.--,-,--.-.-.-,--.-,-,-.-,--.

As Outset loomed ahead of him, Link put away the arched sail and reset the boom to take the lanteen sail. All morning he had felt like something was calling him, pulling at him. It was like that moment at the Forest Haven when he felt the urge to wait. He didn't know what it was, but he was determined to find out. As soon as he had moored the ship he ran for the house as fast as his legs would take him as his heart told him to go even faster. The moment he reached the door he went through it as though his life depended on it... to find himself looking at the face of someone he could only vaguely remember. After a moment his eyes widened in recognition, as he whispered.

"Dad..."

He watched as his father stood up. That morning Vallandra had made Eidan clean himself up and shave and had also trimmed his hair. As father and son looked at each other they could almost have been looking in a mirror, so much was the resemblance between them. Seeing her brother, Aryll got up as well.

"Big Brother, Dad got stranded in the Outer Islands and tried to get home, but nearly died, but those Salvage Corp guys found him and brought him home."

Link looked surprised and a little bemused at his sisters long statement.

"They did? Well then I'll have to thank them the next time I see them." He smirked. "I'm guessing they went out there because I cleared out all the treasure closer to home."

Eidan blinked.

"You're the one they talked about? The guy who's 'a genius at spotting treasure'?"

Link grinned.

"They mentioned me? Well I do have a reputation."

"Reputation?"

Vallandra looked over from her chair by the fire.

"For a couple of years now, Link has been acknowledged as the best sailor on the Great Sea. Sailing is in his blood and his wind sense really helps him as well."

Eidan looked confused.

"Wind sense?"

Link scratched the back of his head.

"I can tell which way the wind is blowing and exactly how fast, even if I'm indoors... I can also sense when the wind is about to shift."

"Why do I get the feeling I still have a lot to learn about you?" He looked at his son and his daughter. "While I know this is a little abrupt and we haven't had time to catch up with each other, I have to show you something very important. It's part of the reason I took such a risk trying to get home." Link and Aryll looked at him confused. "It's time you learned of the duty placed upon our family... and of our family legacy..."

..--.-,-.-.--,-,--.-.-.-,--.-,-,-.-,--.

Alaia Skyhawk: And there you have it. Well 3 chapters in one day... lol. Free time well spent I'd say, better than being bored out of my mind. See ya, I'll update soon.