And the next chapter. Just a little warning, nothing great is happening! Really, like really, really. It's more a filler to push the plot. Sorry D: but if I want them to interact more I have to establish their relationship more and more and stuff. Cookies. You know what I mean xD
To the reviews!
ShadowNinja1011 - Aaaw :D and sorry bUT NOTHING GREAT HAPPENS! Next chapter will be better! Promise!
TheSoundofMusic - Thanks and I'm glad you liked the chapter xD! I hope everything will be explained in the coming chapters, piece by piece. If not you can always message me and ask :D
kac2872 - These two are just poor and adorable, right? Haha, and how everything unfolds...you will see~
Olive Master - Thank you! And I know the feeling, I actually wanted to write something light and funny but...then The Last Song happened...and yeah xD I hope I won't disappoint you with the coming chapters!
Sorceress of Shadows - I'm evil, mahahaha. And thank you! I'm always so unsecure and wonder if it's good or not but I guess every writer is that with their work, right xD? And you're sick? I hope you get better soon. And aargh, always these words which look alike! Thanks for pointing it out, I'll try to keep that in mind xD and no, no you aren't harsh. It's good to know where my mistakes are so that I can improve...although I'm pretty slow xD
shsoregonian - Oh my, thank you! An anime based on my stories would be awesome, haha. But I'm already happy that you read them and like them :DD
leafsdownfall - Thank you very much and yeah, I already use an English online dictionary to check words but the google translator could actually be pretty useful concerning whole sentences which are hard to put together. The conjugation in Germany is slightly different, that's true xD and I'd love to keep you in mind if I need help! Especially some sentences to describe stuff are very hard for me so stay prepared. I'll probably message you soon :DDD! Thank you very, very much!
Perdu - I'm feeling better, don't worry. As good as new, haha. And yes our Dark acts like a spoiled brat but he pulls it off just right, doesn't he xD? I hope I won't disappoint because nothing happens in this chapter! The next one will be better for sure.
tg backslash - Thank you, I'm glad you liked it :D I hope you will continue to enjoy my story!
HazukoInuzuka14 - Oh my, I'm glad to see you again! Hahaha, I hope you will enjoy TLS just as much and yes Dark Link finally gets shit done xDD it was time for him to finally take Saria and ride into the sunset, right? Hope you like the coming chapters!
10 reviews!? For one chapter? I am speechless and sooo happy that you like this story! Don't forget I'm always open ears and I love to read your opinions! And I want to thank you guys for all the support you're offering :D!
Onwards to the story!
"Runaway"
His leather boots hit the stone floor eagerly as he raced down the corridor they had come from. The girl weighed nothing in his opinion as he adjusted his grip slightly on her form. But the soldiers behind him were stubborn and chased him with determination which could be called honorable. He took a sharp turn around a corner, the Kokiri gasped as she nearly lost her hold on him before he started to run again.
He had to get out of here.
It wouldn't take long until the whole brigade was searching for him and if they started to realize that he got their little precious girl, he was sure that hell would break loose. The former shadow needed to put more distance between them before that happened because even though he didn't mind to make a fool out of those famous knights, he couldn't forget that he had a burden to deal with as well.
As if his quiet thoughts were the signal the very young girl finally dragged the cloak over her head, peeking at his pale face with wide eyes. Her lively green hair stuck out, reaching for every direction as if they tried to reach for the sky. "Where are we going?"
The young man couldn't help but grin, he twisted suddenly around to push a door open with his back. His gaze wandered over Saria's head to see if the soldiers already caught up with them, to their luck however they hadn't and he slipped into the other room which led out of inner castle towards the stables.
So much for challenges, how disappointing.
"Care for a change of scenery?"
His question caused her to frown and his own amusement rose. The sage was about to argue and tell him 'no' but her voice got stuck in her throat as they finally reached the outside and the noise of the horses resting in their stables filled the air. The sky was bruised and purple, a bizarre mix of twilight as the night came to swallow the day. And in between the sounds the panicked calls of the guards echoed through the entrance.
His crimson colored orbs searched for a way out, on his own two feet it would take too long he mused which was why one of horses caught his sudden interest. The proud animal was tied to a fence not far away, obviously by someone who had only left a few minutes ago and intended to come back. It would be his bad luck that it wasn't there anymore when he returned.
With little difficulty and unimaginable grace he climbed onto the horse, heaving the young girl in his arms with him who gasped and stared speechless at what he was doing. He was stealing it, her mind screamed, that was not alright! But the black haired man could care less as he tugged at the reigns to free them from the knot and forced the snow white animal to move.
Saria who was now forced to sit in front of him tried to look past his shoulder to see the guards who stumbled out of the castle, throwing curses at him only because they hadn't even seen her yet. The neighing of the animal invaded her hearing sense, just like the clicking of the hooves. The torso of the young man loomed over her as he urged the horse to hurry, letting it jump over the short border which led towards the yard in front of the great castle. The Kokiri was speechless and felt guilty for the rush of excitement which flew through her veins.
They had been in the middle of an argument, tense and heavy but now it all seemed to have been thrown out of the window from one moment to another. They were chased, they ran away. And if this would be a game of tag - then they'd be winning for sure.
Her small form was still tangled in the cold black cloth of his cloak but the shadow had other concerns as he rode the horse into the busy town at the feet of the castle which thankfully wasn't as full as it had been this morning. The market started to close, shop owners brought their goods back into their houses and one little girl suddenly gasped and pointed at them as the proud white horse dashed past her.
Heads turned, voices whispered and inwardly Saria wondered how this all must look like from afar.
The young man maneuvered them around the fountain, cursing beneath his breath as a man barely jumped out of their way. Were these people blind or didn't they see him on a damn horse riding across the goddesses forsaken square? At least he had a reason to laugh as the sad fool fell, thanks to his panic, into the fruit stall.
The gate was still open and bridge awaited them in the distance. Once more the black haired man urged the horse on which finally seemed to alert the pair of guards at the exit. They lifted their hands into the air, signaling him to slow down and stop. With loud calls and shouts he was told to 'Stop in the name of Queen' - oh what fools!
He actually stifled a laugh as they rode past the men who barely jumped out of his way. All the perplexed guards could do was stare after them confused as they disappeared out of Castle Town onto the Great Field of Hyrule.
The green, wide open field greeted them like an old friend. It was a sight to behold how the wind brushed the grass lovingly while in the very distance the mountain rose towards the sky. The well-known farm looked so small from where they were, rushing over the bridge away from the white walls Saria had come to known these past years.
She was outside.
The Kokiri couldn't believe it. She had left the castle behind without the guards who had always watched her like her own shadow. She had run away for real even if she didn't really intend to. A rush of euphoria invaded her senses as the wind tugged and pulled at her hair. Her small body was rocked softly back and forth by the horse as they continued to ride away.
The broad chest which was pressed against her side was like a fierce wall keeping her safe. But unlike the fortress they left behind them it didn't close in on her or suffocate her. It was more a rock to cling on in an ocean of mistakes and bad things.
She was free wasn't she?
The open world in front of her had been always a dream. Something she had watched from her window every night. The air tasted fresh, the drumming of the hooves was soothing. Just like the cold breath of the man who had taken her away from everything she was chained to.
She left her duty.
The sudden happiness dulled by that thought. The rush of excitement came to a painful halt as the wise voice in her mind hissed how horrible it was. It was wrong. She was supposed to stay in the castle and wait until her power was needed again. What was happening here was not alright, she was doing something as bad as treachery.
Saria shook her head determined and glared at the black cloak which still clung to her form against all odds. Did she dare to say it? She was done. The young girl wanted nothing more than a break. A break from this town, a break from its people - the sage wanted rest from destiny itself! It didn't matter anymore what was right or wrong, she was forced to watch this tale unfold...knowing...that there would never be a happy ending.
"Ever seen a lake?"
His deep voice awoke her from her inner battle and the greenhead looked up, her short hair brushing his chin and neck as she blinked at his jaw-line.
No, she had never seen anything from this kingdom except her own forest.
"No." She echoed her thoughts quietly and even from her sight, tucked beneath his chin, she witnessed how his lips spread into a familiar grin which showed he was up to no good.
He didn't answer or explain his intention. All the former shadow did was urging the animal on to hurry up as he directed it towards a new location. His mind on the other hand was still gnawing at their argument and exchanged words. The possibilities the insanity of everything and the immature act he was putting on. He had been bored, yes, but this obsession was slowly getting out of hand, he believed.
His skin was burning just like his mind. The close contact was strangely thrilling and the anger was still boiling deep inside of him. That his other half had left his traces everywhere he went was disgusting and annoying at the same time. The former shadow was determined to erase the presence of the coward fully, no matter what he had to do.
After all these years he still felt like his shadow and he would be damned if he wasn't becoming finally his very own person. He could start with this little girl until his rebelling soul finally stops clinging to her every word. It was just another game, he mused. Just another one.
The lake came into sight after a long ride. The sun had set completely and night was now fully established above them. Saria stared curiously at the stars which twinkled and gleamed warmly above them a sight which suddenly was so open instead of narrow. It was definitely a difference between a window and an open field.
The horse came to a halt and neighed thankfully for the little break after the tumult. As the reins were abandoned it was free to shake its head and bent down towards the fresh grass to eat something. Food was always enough to calm an animal's nerves.
The black haired man climbed down from the horse and took a long dreadful look around. The lake was sleeping at night; the old house of the scientist was long abandoned after the keeper died of old age. And the lonely island in the distance which kept a secret he knew too well looked like nothing more but a part of a picture. Smooth and hidden in the background.
In the end he turned towards the young girl who took in their surroundings curiously before she finally realized that his gaze laid on her. He offered silently his hands as help and without hesitation she grabbed his arms and let him pull her off the tall horse. His cloak finally slid away and landed on the ground, freeing her from its grip.
"I have never been here before really..." Saria said slowly as he placed her down in front of him. "...I've never been anywhere for real."
He knew that feeling too well.
"The guards really are a disappointment." He said, easily changing the topic which made the girl frown.
"We- I should go back...this isn't right...is it?"
His crimson orbs fell on her, the color even more intimidating in the dark cool night. "What is right?"
"I..." Suddenly embarrassed the Kokiri stared at her feet. "I...I don't know...anymore."
"Exactly." The former shadow snorted as he approached the water and stone ornament which stood proudly at the land's feet. "Nothing is right in this goddess forsaken kingdom."
The young girl quickly followed his movement and circled around the horse which now was calm and ignoring them as it had found pleasure in eating the grass. Her gaze followed his form as he stopped in front of the lake staring out into the distance. The tree line on the other side was nearly black and loomed over the water throwing shadows onto its surface.
"That's not true." At her words he glanced at her over his shoulder.
"Really?"
"Well..." Saria bit her bottom lip as the doubt tickled the back of her mind. She had strongly believed that everything was right. Until he showed up and told her otherwise. "...why do you hate the goddesses so much?"
"Obviously those good for nothings up there don't care about anything."
The sage couldn't help but cringe, such harsh words which were meant seriously were rare to hear. Her head swayed from side to side as she once more took in the lake she had heard about before by others. It was as if she was waiting for something to happen. A lightning bolt which descended from the sky and hit the pale man in front of man as punishment for his insult. A monster crawling out of the water to eat him...anything really.
But all there was...was silence.
"They...won't find us?"
To her question, all he did was grin. The gesture was reaching his eyes, something she saw for the first time since she knew him. What she didn't know was it was a satisfying thing for him to hear that. It felt like as if he won a war without trying hard. She was willing to do something she didn't do before.
Shyly she started to smile as well.
"They won't find us..."
The chaos inside of her was hard to describe. It was a swirl of doubt, fear and relief that she was taken away from the golden cage. The responsibility was far away, the expectations, the empty faces. The lying voices were not there anymore, hunting her mercilessly. All there was...was she and the stranger whose past was just as unknown as this place.
A gust of wind pulled at her grey dress and Saria quickly hugged herself to hide from the coldness. The young man didn't flinch in the slightest but he watched her reaction with attentive eyes and felt the cool night crawl up his dark sleeves as well.
Saria smiled slightly at him as she rubbed her arms for warmth, the argument from before was settled temporarily because now other needs were more important.
"How about a fire?" She asked and 'Christo' shrugged with his shoulders, turning away to collect the needed wood.
The excitement rose in her heart as she ventured off herself to search for sticks and small branches. It had been so long since she had made a fire and slept outside. To feel such a comfortable silence after all what happened was amazing and strange. But right now she didn't want to question the peace they had achieved. It was still too fragile.
And she would cherish the freedom as long as it was there.
The fire was warm and comforting. It crackled quietly and spit once in a while a few tiny sparks out, the horse had settled a few feet away. Content that no one minded it after Saria had struggled to get the saddle off it. All that was left was both of them, sitting in front of the made-shift campfire. The young girl hugged her knees which she had pulled against her chest. Her eyes wandered from the scenery to her companion who had stared into the flame wordlessly.
"...where...have you gone to after Ganondorf was sealed away?"
His eyes rolled lazily over the fire to her.
"Away from here."
"Why?"
"I hate this place."
His answer was blunt, although it was something the young Kokiri already expected, she supposed.
"If you hate it...why did you come back in the end?"
"Who knows...why are you still here?"
Saria rested her chin upon her kneecaps and sighed deeply. "I already said that, didn't I? Because I'm needed...and I shouldn't actually be here right now. They are searching for me probably."
"You didn't try to go back."
The sage could feel how the blood rushed into her cheeks and how her face became warm. Of course she didn't want to go back, because he told her to be free and took her away from the soldiers and castle. If she could she'd never go back in this very second. And that thought was shameful and embarrassed her further.
The former shadow chuckled quietly and leaned back onto his hands to support his torso. He had only thought about getting out of the town but now where they were alone in peace without the chance of being caught it felt way too quiet and easy. If he could he would force her to look at him instead of the flame. He wanted her attention but it was amusing to see how she was trying to hide her face with her green locks.
And there was no pressure or time-limit this time. If he dared to say it, he had her all to himself. Now if only he could kill off this damn coward... this hero who still followed him anywhere in one form or another...after all these years it still seemed to be impossible to get rid of him.
All he was doing was running. Hiding and learning. But he never escaped the title 'hero's shadow'.
"Christo?"
His eyelids fluttered a few times as he pushed his train of thought away, the young girl finally found her courage and stared at him, not avoiding his gaze.
"What?"
"...thanks."
He lifted one of his eyebrows silently which was enough for her to see that he wanted an explanation.
"For stealing me."