Ascension
Chapter X: Plans of the Fae
"Close your eyes, gentlemen," Aenai instructed in an almost hypnotic voice. The noise of the crowded pub seemed to fade away, leaving only the sound of her voice. "And I will tell you why your world is about to end. You may think you know how this world came to be, the creation myth of the Three Goddesses. But it was not a barren world that those witches found, but three realms ruled by three beings. One after the other, the three witches conquered the realms, until only one remained, the Realm of the Warrior God, the kingdom now known as Termina."
X
X
Everything was in place now… well, almost everything. Saria looked over the magical circle and the four torches that surrounded it. Their light gave off a ghostly blue glow that bathed the central room of the forest temple in ethereal warmth. Now the only thing she needed was the one Kokiri, who was not a Kokiri. A fact that she was planning to change.
She had kept her word to the Great Deku Tree. She had not changed him when he had come of "age". She had let him face and meet his destiny no matter how much watching him leave for a world she could not enter had pained her. She had watched him risk his life and return again after saving two worlds. Enough was enough. He had earned the right to be selfish now. She had earned the right. A hand on her shoulder broke her from her introspection. She looked up into the loving eyes of Sira.
"I am going to talk to my sister before they get too far," Sira explained as her arms circled around the much smaller girl's shoulders. "I'm positive together we can get Link to see things our way." She didn't verbalize her doubts on how Faylinn would take it, but hopefully she hadn't made her move yet.
Saria's expression became melancholy as her gaze turned to the floor. "Do you really think so? Do you really think Link will not mind becoming one of the Cursed Children in body and not just in name?"
Sira tightened the hug; nothing caused the usually jaunty fairy to lose her vivaciousness like seeing her mistress depressed. "I promise to do all in my power to make your dreams come true. Leave it to your Sira." Saria turned in the embrace and kissed her fairy partner on the cheek causing them to bloom.
"Thank you, Sira. I'll go with you to the forest's edge."
X
X
While she could avoid the gruesome sight of their mangled bodies by closing her eyes, there was no way for Jylene to avoid the smell of burning flesh. Attempting to hold her breath only exacerbated her predicament. She turned her gaze to the only spot not softly glowing with the dying embers of charred bodies. There he stood, the child warrior, Link. After his display of poise, skill and power in the face of the band of highway men, Jylene found his claims of being a simple tracker, laughable to say the least. Appraising him for what had to be the tenth time this night, she took note of how his muscles relaxed and his eyes though still alert, lost their hard edge that had brought fear into the hearts of grown men, twice even three times his size.
He must have felt her scrutiny, as he turned to face her, his expression one of innocence and curiosity. It was a strange sight indeed, when you considered the corpses around them. Link saw the Termina Princess about to say something and decided to head off any questions she might have had. Odds were good the questions would be about him, not one of his preferred subjects. "We should get going. If we follow the river, we should eventually…"
"Whatever you think is best," Jylene interrupted. The boy had long since won her trust in such matters. She took two hesitant steps toward him, wanting to know more about the young man, not only for the sake of Termina, but her own growing curiosity and need. "Link," she started to say and reach out a timid hand to him, but that was as far as that conversation was allowed to proceed.
"Link!" For such tiny beings, fairies could project when they wanted to. Both Jylene and Link turned in the direction of the excited voice to see two glowing balls of light head in their direction. Link had recognized the voice and knew the green glow to be his friend and companion, Navi. He couldn't recall ever seeing a fairy with a golden glow.
Jylene could not prevent a pout from darkening her face as she watched the boyish smile blossom on Link's face as he quickly left her side to join the two fairies. They could hardly be considered a rescue party. They were just fairies after all. More to the point, they had interrupted her conversation.
Jylene was not the only one angered by the display in front of them as Faylinn begrudgingly held her own emotions in check. After all, she and Link had yet to be properly introduced, at least in her true form. Link continued to smile as Navi quickly circled around his head down to his feet, giving him a quick inspection. Jylene took note that neither of the two fairies seemed disturbed by the carnage of the scene. While the majority of the brigands had survived the encounter, many still lay unmoving with third degree burns. Perhaps fairies were used to the smell of cooked flesh.
"Heard you got eaten by a Wolfos," Navi began teasingly. From her inspection he didn't appear to have any lasting injuries, not that she expected to find any.
Link smirked but didn't take the bait. "You know the way back? We should get the princess back before more of Hyrule's finer citizens show up."
"I see," Navi commented examining the corpse of one of the robbers. Jylene was beginning to feel like an intruder or an unwanted guest, which to at least two of those present was not far from the truth. As a princess, she could not recall a time when she had been ignored like this. It was not a feeling she approved of. She was thinking of ways to reinsert herself into the conversation without being rude, when Link's fairy Navi worked a piece of magic that left Jylene stunned.
She hadn't quite heard the incantation or even understood the language she did hear, but the body of a robber and would be rapist that Navi had been floating over suddenly burst in a display of energy that then flew into Link. The only thing that remained was dust. "What? What was that? What did you do?" Jylene asked with both wonder and dread.
Navi ignored the question and repeated the procedure with another body. Finally, Jylene noticed that some of the cuts and abrasions Link had on his face had disappeared. For reasons she did not understand, her dread continued to build. There was just something wrong with what she was seeing… something dark.
Faylinn nodded her head in approval, both at Link's absorbing of the remaining life force in his defeated enemies and at Princess Jylene's confusion and slight revulsion of the display. It was a very old magic, older than some of the rocks that strewn the ground. She could count the people who knew it on one hand. "The defeated deserved their fate," she intoned.
"What?" Jylene asked, watching as Link with Navi next to him, produced an ocarina from his pocket.
Faylinn flew next to the Termina Princess. "I said they deserved it for challenging him. Sometimes, to lose is to lose… everything."
Jylene looked at the blonde fairy. "Why did those bandits burst into nothing? What did Link's fairy do to them?" She asked listening to the tunes Link was playing on his ocarina.
"She took what remained of their life and gave it to someone more worthy."
At Jylene's widening eyes Faylinn grinned and continued. "It was not like they had any further need of it. The two you saw…" the fairy floated over to where one of the bodies once lay. "…Their spirits had already departed, but their bodies still had the warmth of life. It would have faded quickly which is why the magic need be done immediately." Faylinn floated over to a badly burned, but still living bandit. "Now this one, his spirit remains, though without treatment from a skilled healer he will likely die a long and painful death." Faylinn returned to sit on Jylene's shoulder. "So, what do you think?"
"Eh?"
"Though his spirit remains, I am fairly certain that I can rip his life energy from his weakened grasp."
Jylene's expression grew alarmed. "That…" Did all fairies have such power?
"He attacked you didn't he? Tried to kill you?"
Jylene could only nod, not wanting to verbalize what other horrors the brigands had planned to commit.
"What is the punishment for such crimes in Termina?" Faylinn asked, though she knew the answer.
"Death," she admitted in a quiet voice.
Faylinn nodded but did not complete the spell. "Still, this one is not worth the effort." She left the Princess's side and flew toward Link and Navi. Jylene watched the trio in silence as they prepared to return to the camp.
Link paused in what he was doing as a ball of golden light drew closer. Navi swallowed the apprehension she was feeling and prepared to conduct this fated introduction. "Link," she began as Faylinn paused in front of the pair, her frame literally shaking with excitement. "It is my honor to introduce you to, Faylinn, Mo…" seeing Faylinn begin to glare, Navi was going to correct herself, but Faylinn interrupted.
"You do not know how long I have waited for this moment," Faylinn said, her voice filled with emotion. "There is much I would like to tell you, to show you," she paused and looked over her small shoulder. Link followed her gaze to where the Termina Princess was watching them closely. "But before that I think it best we return the young Princess to the safety of her people."
Link nodded, not sure what to make of the situation. "We should use this opportunity to see how well Tingle's compass works," Link explained aloud. He sat cross legged down on the ground and unfastened a small pouch from his hip. Navi was about to take a spot on Link's left knee, when she saw Faylinn sit on his thigh. Masking a frown, she sat on his opposite thigh. Link reached into the pouch, his arm disappearing into its depth.
Jylene was not unaccustomed to displays of magic, so Link's magical pouch did not seem strange in and of itself, but she was beginning to wonder how a simple guide as Link claimed to be, came to know such a powerful spell as the one he had used against the bandits. What other magic was he in possession of? What else lurked in that nondescript pouch? Taking a position across from him, she sat down as well. "Did you purchase that pouch from Mr. Inglez? I understand that he is the source of the compass." Three sets of eyes turned to her, and Jylene again got the impression that she was an unwanted guest.
Link looked thoughtful, trying to place where it was he acquired his magic pouch. "No, I found this some time ago." His expression grew perplexed. "Now that I really think about it, I am not sure where I got it. I don't remember ever being without it."
"Strange," Jylene added. Link just shrugged his shoulders. It was not worth dwelling on as far as he was concerned. Jylene was of a different opinion. "Perhaps you should raise the matter with your parents?"
Link spared a glance at the Princess, why was everyone bringing up his lineage lately? "I never knew my parents."
Jylene looked contrite, not noticing the dirty looks she was receiving from Faylinn and Navi. "I am sorry. I did not mean to raise a sensitive subject." Not wanting the conversation to end, she continued. "So, your guardian…"
Link cut her off. "I don't have a guardian either." Faylinn had heard enough of the Princess's curiosity.
"Do you mind? Link is in the middle of something and you are bothering him."
"Glad someone said something," Navi agreed, knowing Link was too polite to. "Some people are just rude."
Link chuckled as he opened the compass. Jylene frowned, no one had ever dared to speak to her in such a manner and she was unsure how to react as a result. She decided not to push the issue, at least not here.
X
X
The posse watched impatiently as a tracker examined the large animal tracks that crisscrossed the path they were on. Despite having found the carcasses of the two wolfos, there was no evidence of the Princess. Half the group had taken the bodies of the dead wolfos back to camp while the rest continued the search.
"I think…" the tracker began before he was quickly interrupted.
"You think?!" A Termina soldier said with exasperation. "This is the Princess. You damn well better know!"
"If you think you know these fields better than I do, then why don't you come over here, down in the dirt and track her yourself." The tracker stood abruptly and glared at the soldier, who had accused him of incompetence. "She may be your princess, but she is just another wench to me."
Those words had a number of the Termina contingent reaching for their arms. "You dare…"
Sir Faron, who had come upon the posse as he was returning to the camp, interposed himself between the two factions. "Enough! Fighting amongst ourselves gains us nothing." With his words, tensions between the two forces began to lessen. Both the Termina soldiers and those of Hyrule held great respect for the Hero of Time.
Watching the scene from the periphery, Gram let out a small sigh of relief. As the Hero of Time, Sir Faron was probably the only person in the combined force that everyone would follow. Taking into account the way he himself had been acting around that boy, Link, even some of his own men had begun to hesitate around him. But as Gram began to follow the rescue party as it resumed moving he couldn't help but feel there was more to Link than some innocent ten year old. It was a view a certain princess held as well.
"I see something!" one of the forward scouts yelled, pointing toward a nearby river where it met the wood.
Jylene briefly covered her eyes as they adjusted from the shaded overhead cover of the woods to the bright plain. She soon spotted a large group of horses in the distance. Sitting atop Epona as the young mare walked beside Link, Jylene pointed in glee at the approaching group.
"We're saved!"
Navi snorted, "Who's saved?" causing Link to chuckle and Faylinn to laugh as well as the two fairies sat on Link's shoulders. Link lightly tapped Epona's side and she quickly trotted toward the approaching soldiers.
The posse quickly surrounded the princess as she dismounted from Epona. As soon as she did so, the young mare slipped off unseen towards her companions.
"Thank the Goddesses, you're safe, Princess. We've searched all night for you."
"Yes," another soldier began. "When we found the beasts that the Hero of Time had killed, but saw no sign of you, we did not know what to think."
With everyone speaking at once, Jylene had momentarily lost track of what was being said, but those last words stood out to her given all she had witnessed last night. "The Hero of Time?" she questioned. She turned to Sir Faron. "Did you claim to kill those monsters?"
Faron could tell by the tone of the question and the look the Princess was giving him, she already knew the answer to the question of who killed those monsters. Before his meeting with the Great Fairy, he might have thought his ruse had become undone, but now he knew for a fact that he was favored by the Goddesses. He had the enchanted sword to prove it. "I have said no such thing. Once I had heard you were taken, I rode out, but could find nothing. I later encountered this group here."
"Ah, we had just assumed that it was the Hero. Who else could have accomplished such a feat?"
"I can answer that," Princess Jylene replied a smile coming to her face. She turned to point out the young warrior that had protected not only her life, but her virtue. But as she looked in the direction from which she had emerged from the woods, she saw no sign of Link or the two fairies. She quickly looked about drawing concerned attention from everyone.
"What is it, Milady?"
"Did anyone see where Link's horse went?"
"Who?"
Not wanting to waste time explaining, she simplified her query. "The horse I was riding, did anyone see where she went?"
Numerous heads turned in various directions and Jylene knew the answer to her question. Just like her master, Epona had quickly retreated from the scene. "I guess it's not important right now. Let us hurry back to camp. We have delayed our departure long enough."
The group quickly agreed, but one figure lingered. Gram Rami wondered how the Princess came to be riding Link's horse.
X
X
After the attack it was necessary for the troop to resupply and replace all their damaged and destroyed equipment. Tier was more than happy to assist… for a reasonable fee. With the brief time the Termina delegation had to gather the extensive list of supplies, they had little choice but to agree. So it was that Malon found herself walking toward the Inglez family estate with the young heir. She had wanted something to do to take her mind off Link still being missing and decided to come along, whether Tier wanted her company or not.
"So," Malon began, not noticing the increasing attention the pair garnered as they came closer and closer to the Inglez Estate. "How long have you known my slave?"
Tier, who had been studiously ignoring the young woman next to him, stumbled none the less when he heard her question. "Would you please stop referring to Young Link as your slave? I am confident that you are lying about this 'business arrangement'." He too failed to notice the stares in their direction, but that was nothing new for Tier. It was quite normal for him to ignore the amorous glances from the hopeful young noblewomen who lived near his home. The only thing new was the hateful glares directed towards Malon walking next to him. "I will be sure to tell Young Link of the aspersions you have casted upon him."
"Believe what you want," Malon said with a grin. "Still want to know how long you've known Fairy Boy." She asked again placing her hands behind her head. Tier just gritted his teeth as they approached the gate.
Reymont Inglez sat behind his desk looking at the business ledgers from the last quarter. Business, in a word, was exceptional. His youngest son was a financial prodigy and in a short two years in helping his father had more than doubled the business. But that was not the only magic Tier had been able to weave. There was not a week that went buy that the senior Inglez did not receive an offer of a noblemen's daughter for Tier's hand in marriage. The proffered dowries were more than generous and more than one would have raised the Inglez family stature among the nobility quite considerably. But Reymont no longer cared about any of that. He closed the ledger with a sigh; the business was not what worried him. He left his study and walked the short distance to the sitting room. Here he found his two elder sons. He frowned, 'the man whore and the gambler,' he thought in derision of the pair. He feared for the family name.
Both sons smirked at their father, secure in the knowledge that he had little choice but to name one of them as his successor. Reymont sat in his favorite chair, near the fireplace. Despite it being summer and quite hot at times, he sometimes had it lit so he could just stare at the flames. He propped his head up on a hand and stared at his eldest, Thorin. Thorin's womanizing could be overlooked if he had been any good at it. But the women he sought company with could be had by anyone with a bit of change in their pocket. His sullen gaze then moved to Tanner. Tanner was just your typical gambling addict. Reymont signaled one of the servants to get him a drink. When the young man returned, Reymont noted a look of wonder and confusion on his face as he took the offered drink. "What is it?" Reymont asked, wondering for the thousandth time why so many of their servants were young men… not that he didn't already know the answer. *Sigh*
"Ah," the servant began haltingly. "The Young Master has returned." The servant glanced in the direction of the foyer.
Reymont's eyes brightened at the mention of his favorite near perfect son, before a worrying thought came to him. "I thought he was traveling to Termina and would be gone for several weeks. Has something happened?"
The servant just stood there with a dazed expression.
Reymont stood and glared at the servant. "Is my son injured?" The two elder brothers also stood with mixed emotions on their face.
Before the elder Inglez could ask his next question a voice boomed into the room. "Wow, so this is how the lazy live."
Reymont's glass fell from his hand.
"Master Tier has brought a young woman home," the servant announced in amazement as Tier finally appeared in the sitting room, an attractive young red head at his side. Tears literally streamed down Reymont's face, while Thorin's and Tanner's jaws dropped at the unprecedented event.
"Father," Tier began, smiling at the man. "I have good news." He knew that his father would be pleased to hear the more than profitable deal he had negotiated with the royal delegations. He thought his premise correct when he saw his father's eyes widen and a smile blossomed on his face.
"I see, Son. I see." Praise the Gods! He eyes had yet to move from Malon, who was looking around the room with a neutral expression. She looked a bit young, okay very young, but that was not an altogether bad thing and she was clearly a beauty. She was dressed rather shabbily, but Reymont was not one to hold one's class against them. Who was he kidding… HIS SON HAD BROUGHT A GIRL HOME!
Malon was not actually all that surprised at the reaction of Tier's family. She had already come to the conclusion that Tier had to come from a family of weirdoes. She glanced at one of the brother's who was staring at her slack jawed. "You'll catch flies like that," she quipped with her hands on her hips. "Got something to say? Then say it."
Thorin seemed to recover some of his bearings as the ramifications of what was happening before him threatened his entire world. "And just who are you to come into the House of Inglez dressed as some peasant."
Malon quirked an eyebrow at Thorin and bent over at the waist her hands still on her hips. "Malon Lon, that's who I think I am and at least I know the value of a day's work." She straightened with a verbal harrumph.
Thorin looked incredulous, Tanner was still too stunned to speak and Tier just placed his face in his hand and shook his head. It was their father's laughter that finally drew everyone's attention away from Malon.
'She's got fire too! Lon…Lon… I know that name,' Reymont realized. "Young Lady, you wouldn't happen to be Talon's, the horse breeder's, daughter?"
"I am," Malon said with a proud smile and a curtsy.
"I hear highly of the horses your father raises. I have had the good fortune of owning several myself. They sell for quite the premium on the market."
Tier hearing his second love, business, being discussed could not help but interject. "True, true, in fact there is an important matter I would like to approach your father about," he directed toward Malon. He had been thinking of becoming a broker for Talon's horses. Tier was sure he could likely triple Talon's profits, with the proper retainer of course.
'He's going to ask for her hand!' the other members of the Inglez family thought. Dread marked the faces of the two elder brothers while, Reymont cried tears of joy. "SON," he rushed forward and hugged his son. Confused, Tier nonetheless accepted his father's gesture. "Let me handle those details. Your old man will not fail you. I am sure you two had other plans sneaking back here in the middle of the day," Reymont replied with an insinuating wink.
The very idea was so foreign to Tier that he missed it completely. Malon's attention could not be moved from her reflection that she could see in the glass doors on the cabinet behind Reymont. It was difficult to see from a distance, but her reflection looked… older. She raised her hand to her face and watched as the reflection did likewise not taking much notice to the ghostly outline of a triangle on her mysterious reflection's hand.
X
X
Impa watched her charge warily, as the young princess made sure her disguise was once again without flaw. Zelda, or Sheik as others called her in this guise, had said little following her bout of fever. The expression on her face was one of tempered resignation, as if she had just lost a battle in a long war. "What?" Impa asked as she realized that her Princess had just spoken to her.
"Do we know who it was that attacked?" Zelda asked, her back to her guardian.
Impa shook her head, despite the fact that Zelda could not see her. "No, it is believed that the enemy from Termina followed the wagon train here to Hyrule." Impa moved to the opening of their shared tent and moved back the flap enough to look outside. "Two wolfos had kidnapped Princess Jylene and the young scout, who would lead us to Termina. But it seems that they have been rescued. They are going to hold a council in about an hour to discuss yesterday's events." Impa closed the flap and turned to face Zelda. "So, what do you think we should do?" After a moment she added. "What does the Triforce think we should do?"
"The Hero of Time must not be allowed to regain what was taken," Zelda said with conviction. "There is still time. We must separate them before he becomes whole once more."
'There is a note of anger in her voice' Impa noted. 'Anger and jealousy?'
"She will not take him directly to his seat in Termina," Zelda continued, while pacing the room. Impa for her part was simply trying to follow what the Princess was saying. Impa was obviously missing some crucial details that only Zelda and the Triforce of Wisdom were privy to. "She will need to release him from our hold before she can do that." Zelda finally stopped pacing and turned to lock gazes with Impa. "We must separate them. We must stop them before all is undone."
Impa shook her head in confusion. "Separate who? I know one must be the Hero, but who must we keep him from? Who is this she?"
"His woman, the Fairy Queen."
"The Fairy Queen?" Impa said in wonder. Her expression was quite the contrast to the practical sneer that was marring Zelda's face. "Well," Impa started. "I guess at least she will be easy to spot. Just keep Sir Faron…"
"They have already met," Zelda interrupted her.
"What? When? Shouldn't we inform everyone?! If the result of their meeting is as dire as you say they could help us separate Sir Faron…"
"Sir Faron?" Zelda questioned in a voice not entirely her own. "He and the rest will merely get in our way. If necessary, I will call upon my sisters." Zelda, guised as Sheik, moved to the mouth of the tent. Opening it, she soon spotted Princess Jylene and the others gathering before the meeting tent. With Zelda's hand raised to the flap, Impa took note of the softly glowing Triforce mark.
'Sisters? What?' Impa moved to stand next to the charmed child. She soon spotted Sir Faron approaching the gathering. "To think that Sir Faron would betray Hyrule with the Queen of the fairies," Impa commented, watching the man.
"He is not the Hero." Sheik stepped out of the tent.
"What?" Impa asked, and without thinking, grabbed Sheik's arm. "But if he is not the Hero of Time, then who is?" But whether it was due to her actions or simply the vagaries of the Triforce, Sheik slipped out of whatever trance had given her insight.
"Huh?" Sheik asked. She noted Impa's grip on her arm. "What is it?"
Impa stared at Sheik for a moment, but quickly understood that the Triforce was no longer speaking through her. "You were saying that Sir Faron was not the Hero of Time. You also said that we should not inform the others of what was going on. And that if we needed help we should call upon your sisters."
Zelda nodded, recalling most of what was just relayed to her. "What we would we tell them? My Father already thinks me mad."
"Surely, the Termina delegation would believe you. They will finally know who it is that attacked them yesterday. It was no doubt the Fairy Queen's magic that spawned those monsters. What more proof would we need?"
Unseen by Impa, Zelda's eyes narrowed. "That may be, but it will also force the Fairy Queen's hand. I am not sure that would be in our best interest at the moment. We should get the Hero of Time on our side first."
This confused Impa. "Is that possible? Why would he side with us against his lover?" she wondered aloud. "And if Sir Faron is not the Hero, who is? And who are these sisters?"
The questions while quite obvious caused Zelda pause, recalling what happened in her visions were sometimes like trying to remember a dream. "Sisters? I have no siblings, you know that. As for the Hero…" Then unbidden, she recalled the time she had given the ocarina to the young boy in green. "I think I know…"
X
X
Malon and Tier arrived back at the camp, both unaware of the misunderstanding that took place at Tier's home. Both had wanted to return as quickly as possible in order to be there when Link returned, so they had paid little attention to Reymont's plans for them. The camp was once again alive with activity as the afternoon sun began to set behind the mountains. People took advantage of the cooling temperatures to put together the final preparations for the march to Termina. The supply trains that had been damaged were replaced thanks to Tier and the horses lost were replaced with help from the Lonlon Ranch. But as the two searched the camp, there was still no sign of Link. Finally, Malon and Tier came to the command tent.
"Excuse me, gentlemen," Tier began, hoping to gain information on the rescue efforts. "Have those taken by the beast returned?" Malon quieted to hear their response.
Both guards outside the tent smiled and Malon and Tier brightened at the sight. Tier nodded knowingly, he knew those overgrown mutts were no match for his Link. There euphoria was short lived though.
The guard on the right reached out and patted Tier on the shoulder reassuringly. Tier looked at the hand and followed it to its owner. "No need to worry. The posse returned with the Princess an hour ago."
"And Link?" Malon asked.
"Who? They only brought the Princess back as far as I know." He turned to his companion who shrugged in response.
Malon had had enough of not knowing… had enough of no one but her being concerned with Link. She burst past the unsuspecting guards and into the conference tent. It was Tier's turn to shrug at the looks of the guards.
"Worry not, gentlemen. As your eyes can plainly see, she's a woman. You know how they are."
All three quickly followed after the young firebrand, which was a good thing. As following the attack on the medical tent and the kidnapping of the princess, the interior security guards were not about to let another intruder enter unescorted. Malon's head had just poked through the interior flap when a loud clang rang in her ears. She looked up to see Tier had intercepted a sword with his own weapon.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Gram demanded to know as everyone sitting around the council table stood. Several guards pushed Princess Jylene behind them.
Malon attempted to calm her rapidly beating heart. "I… I just wanted to know if Link was okay."
Jylene pushed her way through her protectors. "He is," she began, as all eyes turned to her. She had been quiet and contemplative during the return journey and everyone else had been so relieved at the Princess's return, they had not given the other victim of the attack a second thought. "He was the one who saved me from the wolf beasts and again from some highway men."
"You're saying that boy killed those two monstrosities?" Gram asked incredulous.
"What highway men?" Saffran asked. "The posse made no mention of…"
Jylene ignored both questions, seeing a source for answers to her own questions in front of her. "Have you known Link long?"
Someone more refined or reserved may have given the question more thought, but Malon had been asked the question enough times that her stock answer flew from her lips automatically. "Well, he is my sla…"
Tier's hands quickly found themselves around the offending orifice before she could let loose the slur. "They are passing acquaintances, nothing more. I, on the other hand, have known young Link for some time. He has been a customer and dare I say it, close personal friend for months. In fact, our… Ow… harlot!"
Malon had bitten his hand and then stomped his foot. "How dare you put hands on me?" She spun to face Jylene. "So, Link is safe? Do you know where he is?"
Jylene shook her head. "He escorted me as far as the plain, but once the posse caught up to me, he vanished without a word."
"Humble, mysterious, valiant… ah, Link. Do your virtues know no boundaries?" Tier mumbled to himself. Malon glared at him while everyone else did not know what to make of the display.
"These matters can be discussed another time. It appears our enemy has followed us and hoped to throw off our mission by absconding with the Princess."
"Yes," Saffran agreed. "As a result, perhaps we should come up with a new plan. We had hoped that we had escaped Termina unnoticed, but that is obviously not the case."
"I think it best we split into two groups. The lead group would blaze the trail and act as…"
"Excuse me," Jylene interrupted. "Before we delve too deep into this discussion, I would like Master Link here, so that he could provide his opinions as well." Jylene took note of the astonished faces around the conference table. Only Tier seemed enthused at the prospect.
"The tracker?"
"What possible input could the boy have?"
"Do we even know if he returned to camp?"
Malon had long since left the tent once she had heard from the princess that Link had survived the Wolfos. Tier had stayed hoping to hear more of Link's valiant exploits and could not help but add his opinion on the young man's worth. "Young Link is not one to abandon an endeavor once he has begun, no matter the danger or the circumstances." He took a seat at the table, despite not being asked. "He is also not one to take credit for his heroics." With that a thought entered Jylene's mind. "I would wager a year's profits that Link is back sitting in that tree, playing his ocarina. And I am no betting man."
Jylene stood, "Tree? Do you have an idea where Link could be?"
Tier looked sidelong at the girl. He knew that look in the princess's eyes as she spoke of young Link, as it had been directed at him enough by his own admirers. Hopefully, this was just the afterglow of her rescue. "With your return, I am sure Link has returned to the area on the outskirts of the camp where I found him earlier. Would you like me to retrieve him for your Highness?" He asked eager at the prospect.
Jylene took only a moment to contemplate her next action. "I would have you escort me there."
X
X
Link sat at the base of the tree he had found before the camp was attacked. With its distance away from the smoke of the fires of the main encampment, he had an unobstructed view of the approaching night's starry sky. He could finally look forward to a moments respite and catch some much needed sleep. Laying against Epona, her rhythmic breathing lulling him further, his eyes' last sight for the evening were that of Navi and Faylinn watching him.
With Link no longer aware of them and with their remote location, both fairies felt secure in revealing their larger forms. That and it was much easier for them to fondle Link in this size. Navi or Ivani as her current form had been named, folded her arms and looked down in disapproval as Faylinn had been first to gently take the sleeping Link's head into her lap. "Are you sure you should keep that form out here?" She asked Faylinn frowning as the older fairy removed Link's cap and began to run her fingers through his long hair.
"Hmm," she asked, not really paying attention to anything anymore, but the feel of the hair between her fingers. She had waited so very long for this moment, to have him in her arms once again… a very long time. Nothing else mattered.
Ivani placed her hands on her hips in aggravation at the sight, though she knew it was one she would have to get used to. 'And if she has her way, scenes much more difficult.' "I was saying that shouldn't you take your Narissica disguise?"
Faylinn finally dragged her gaze away from the sleeping youth to look at her compatriot. "What about those wings of yours?"
Ivani double blinked as the fore mentioned spans fluttered in the evening breeze. "I was thinking of leaving them out," she began avoiding Faylinn's narrowing eyes. "I've already been seen with them anyway…" Looking back at Faylinn, Ivani had difficulty gauging her reaction.
Faylinn's eyes met Ivani's for a moment before they returned to waves of blond beneath her fingers. "Who was it?" Her voice was light with no trace of anger.
"It was that adviser to the Princess, Saffran," Ivani explained and let out a relieved sigh. She moved to sit down next to the pair and only barely resisted caressing Link's face herself. She rarely had a chance to. "But you… wouldn't someone seeing you now, lead to too many questions?" Getting no response she continued. "No one has seen Narcissca since the attack."
"Lord Saffran, what do you think of him?" Faylinn asked, wanting to stay on the subject of the young noble.
"What?" Ivani asked with a tone of confusion. "…In what respect?"
Faylinn looked at Ivani with bright, but calculating eyes. "He's in love with you." She was surprised that Ivani gave no outward response to that revelation. "You knew?" The older fairy asked with a canted head.
Ivani took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. "Well… I'm not Link," she started with a smile, finally taking the initiative to touch Link's face. "And the man is hardly subtle. When I said that he was not likely to see me again he looked as though I told him he was going to die."
"Love is like that," Faylinn said in response. "So?"
"So?"
"What do you think of him?"
"I don't."
"If you were in a relationship with him, we would have an ally in Termina's court." She placed Ivani's hand in her own and looked at her plaintively. "You could help draw their attention elsewhere until Link is able to regain all that was taken from him and resume his go…" Their conversation was interrupted when a voice called out to Link. Ivani immediately recognized the voice.
"Link?" Malon's voice called out, before the girl herself emerged from a trail hidden by brush to the right of where the trio and Epona sat. Neither fairy had changed to their smaller forms whether that was due to choice or lack of opportunity differed between the two. As for Malon, she could only stare at the ethereal sight before her.
"Can we help you?" Ivani asked, standing up, her gossamer wings glittering in the waning sunlight. Malon did not answer as her eyes moved to Link, whose head still rested in Faylinn's lap. Or did until, Malon grabbed his leg and pulled. 'Here we go,' Ivani thought.
X
X
"Are you saying that we are basically pawns in a battle between gods?" Anon asked with more than a note of incredulity. The bar had long since closed and the group had to flash their royal credentials to avoid getting tossed out with the rest of the drunks. They sat surrounded in darkness, the small oil lamp on their table the only light. The somber, almost macabre atmosphere proved most appropriate to the topic that was now being discussed and proved a striking contrast to Sir Richard as just hours ago the surroundings had seemed so alive.
'I suppose we could hide from reality only so long,' Richard thought with a sigh. He didn't know what to think of the yarn being spun by the devil woman in front of them. He had to admit that despite his complete mistrust of her, her's was the only explanation that made sense of the extraordinary disasters that had recently befell Termina.
Aenai propped her head up with a hand. "I don't know if I would call you pawns," she paused as if searching for the right words. "I think that would be giving you too much credit. I doubt your continued existence matters very much to either side."
"If we are so inconsequential, why are you here?" Anon asked in Richard's place as he knew the man was not likely to phrase the question very tactically.
Aenai double blinked, before smiling brightly at the knight. "I guess that does make you pawns." She waved off the building anger with a wave of her hand. "Look, I am simply trying to avoid any misunderstandings between us." She folded her arms and her eyes darkened considerably. "I don't like you… not you personally, nor you as a species. If your race were to disappear off the face of Termina, I would not shed a tear." Thinking about it further, levity entered her voice again. "I'd probably throw a party! If events had turned out differently I would stand against the three Goddesses alongside my sisters with pride and conviction." Her mood became as depressed as the men who sat next to her. "But that was not to be, though I knew…" Her voice became increasingly quiet. "Why should he have had to die?! Why Majora?!"
From nowhere, wind swirled around the table, increasingly steadily in strength until the surrounding tables and chairs were hurled against the walls and through the windows. Calming herself with a deep breath, she continued. "I should explain, as I said I want there to be no misunderstandings between us. Our task is difficult as it is. Majora was my lover. He believed so much in our cause that he volunteered to be the one to awaken the dormant powers sleeping in our Master. It was a task that cost him his life, as our Lord is not one to take such antagonizing lightly. Afterwards, our Lord returned to his dormant state, which lead to the plan to draw him out again."
"By attacking us."
"Yes, and he is on his way. Nayru, Farore and Din are not likely to stand still. In fact, they have likely already made their move, which is why our haste is necessary. If our Lord reaches Termina, the disasters that you have experienced will be nothing compared to what will happen. So your only real hope is to stop them before they reach here. There are several items our Lord will have to acquire before becoming whole once more. These are the emblems of his power stripped from him by Farore, Nayru and Din before they enslaved him to their will."
The assembled men looked at each other as they individually weighed what they just were told. There was no denying the power they had already witnessed. In the end, did they really have a choice to believe her or not? They simply were incapable to stop things as they were. And there was still the Princess and her quest to find the Hero of Time. Perhaps this could be their contingency plan. "What are these items?" one of the ministers asked. "Would it be possible for us to obtain them or even destroy them? You did say he would need these to regain his godhood?"
Aenai spent but a moment considering the idea. "If they could be destroyed, don't you think the Three would have done so? They are scattered through the realm and guarded by the most fearsome creatures the Three could imagine. I really doubt you could do better or even obtain them in the first place. If you did, you would be merely doing my Lord's bidding." She folded her arms and placed them on the table and rested her head upon them. "Though it may be against your knightly virtue, your best bet really is to poison him."
"I for one say she cannot be trusted."
"To further prove myself, I will tell you a little secret." She waited until all eyes turned to her once more. "Odds are that the little expedition you sent your equally insignificant little princess on will end in abject failure, if not the princess's death."
"What!" Everyone stood from their chairs save Aenai, who seemed to enjoy the panicked look on their faces.
"Well, for one, the three sister goddesses will do whatever is necessary to prevent our Lords return to Termina. Even if it means killing him, after all, they've done it before." At their looks of confusion, she elaborated further. "In order to keep our Lord or the other two from remembering what they have lost, the Three from time to time arrange," she paused as if looking for the proper descriptions. "…Proxy wars, pitting them against each other. The outcome of these wars are always the same, as in truth, the other two are not the fighters our Lord is. At the end, with our Lord properly distracted and after some time has passed, they kill him. This has happened over and over again as their spirits and powers are immortal. This time we were able to find him first. As the Three become more desperate to stop him, their attacks will become more extreme. Your princess will just be kindling for his funeral pyre. Of course that is if they succeed. Your other problem is a woman calling herself Narcissca."
Neither Richard nor Anon recognized the name, but the minister of Justice immediately did so as he had helped organize the expedition. "What of her?" he asked.
"Who is she?" Richard asked.
"She is the representative of…"
"…of us," Aenai interrupted. "The warrior tribe you approached to join your merry band of Termina regents is actually a front for our eclectic group."
"That cannot be! I met with her! I've seen her people's encampments."
To this, Aenai nodded. "Of course, the tribe does exist and we usually keep to ourselves, but seeing as we instigated the whole affair. It would have been rude to not participate."
"Is that your little secret that is going to doom the expedition?"
Smiling, she nodded. "Only partly, the real piece of news that will lead to your Princess's downfall is that the Narcissca you met with is not the Narcissca that went on the expedition."
"Now what are you saying?"
"The Narcissca that you met with is the leader of the tribe, in truth, but when my mother heard of the details, she killed her and took her place. Not much we could do about it. She is not a woman to trifle with."
"Are you all a bunch of animals? You kill your allies as easily as you kill your enemies! We would be mad to join with you."
"Your mother?"
Aenai double blinked. "Oh, the Hedron thing. I guess I can see why you would think that… not that you really have a choice in the matter. We fairies take our mates very seriously… When my mother saw her chance to be with our Lord all the quicker, she took it. She has been waiting for this moment for hundreds of years. Apparently, they had been lovers or so she says. Now is her chance to battle the Three, prove her love and avenge her defeat all those years ago. What's killing a few friends in the face of that?"
X
X
Paige Rami once again found herself sitting outside the Lost Woods. She hadn't quite worked up the courage to repeat her foray into them, especially at night, but at the same time she needed to see Sarah. She held the rather large jar tighter against her chest, her only real defense against the Great Fairy Sira. The apothecary told her it was possible to hold Sira in the magical bottle, at least for a while. It had been Keera's hope that Paige would use the opportunity to talk to the Great Fairy. Paige had other ideas, but none of them explained how she was to get the exuberant Sira into the bottle.
Choosing to sit down on a nearby rock, Paige thought it best that she not rush something as important as this. If Sira was as dangerous as Keera alluded, then careful planning was a necessity. She placed the bottle down on the ground next to her and began to chew on her thumbnail. It had been a habit she had long ago banished, but it had returned with the recent stress of learning her sister's fate. Not able to think of anything sitting at the mouth of her fear, Paige made the decision to return home to plan. She had just stood up when a familiar green glow sped off into the plains. Instinctively, she turned to the area of the forest where the glow had come from and her eyes widened in shock and joy.
X
X
Saria stood watching Sira fly off to enlist Navi in their plan to turn Link into one of the eternal children. Navi would have the entire time of this current and final adventure to convince him and then they would be together forever. Saria, Sira, Link and Navi. It brought a smile to her face up until the moment a hand reached around and covered her mouth and a second arm lifted her from the ground.
Not much Link in this one, Sorry (I'm a bit rusty too). Likely to be some grammar and scene holes in places.
Back stateside after a year in Afghanistan, slowly getting back into the writing groove. I appreciate everyone's continued interest despite my long writing absence (been reading though).