Simple Dreams

Chapter 11

The Sick

firefox369

The wind howled, seeping through the cracks of his makeshift home and squirming through the thick blankets atop him. He was cold. Very cold. Though the wood could not keep wind out, it was able to block all the rain. For that, he was thankful. While the wind simply howled, the rain pounded against the hard wood and made the hut tremble with its feral strength. But the rain did not scare him, even while it threatened to knock down his home. What scared him was the wind and its soft hiss. It spoke to him, told him things since before he could remember. Sometimes the wind was nice, like when he played in the forest and springs and gentle breeze carressed his skin. Other times the wind was harsh and cruel, like now when it knocked against the wood and rattled the windows.

He sat up and hugged his knees, shutting his eyes and covering his ears against the wind's angry roar, it's taunting words.

You hopeless child. You poor, poor, lost child. Come with me and learn to find what is yours.

It repeated the words over and over until they became a mantra in his head that he could not escape. He was trapped in the confines of his little hut, and he was trapped within the confines of his tortured mind.

Silly child. Find the part of you that's missing.

He knew he was missing something, it ached his very soul, but the boy did not want to find it through the wind. Still, the wind cried out to him. He wanted to scream "No!" over and over and over, but he could not wake his family. No. He could not wake the only family he had left. He would endure and fight his fear, if only to make the missing portion of his soul proud.

Light cerulean eyes stared blankly out the window. They flickered to the feverish body and the bed before shutting and returning to their place gazing at the blue sky. Link hated looking at Kagome in her current state. She was too pitiful and weak, and knowing that he was the cause of it hurt him. For the past week, she had been in this coma-like state, and for the past week he stayed by her side, yet there was still no sign of recovery. Midna was right. She had no immunity to the sicknesses of this world.

"Link."

The teen looked up at the Renado with hope in his expression, but the shaman's regretful gaze made him avert his eyes. His fears were coming true. The medicine wasn't working. Kagome might die.

Unconsciously, he squeezed the catatonic girl's hand with his own.

"Perhaps you should bring her to see the Princess Zelda. My medicinal knowledge is vast, but I've done all that I can for her. The Princess may know some other remedies for Kagome's illness." The shaman's voice was low and rumbly, but soft and soothing at the same time. Until Link remembered the letter.

"Renado," Link started, "the Princess isn't in Hyrule right now."

"No, she is in a neighboring country negotiating a treaty. However, she is due back early tomorrow morning. If you leave tonight, you can go to Hyrule Castle Town under the cover of darkness. Hopefully that will keep you safe from the eyes of the returning monsters."

The green-clad male sighed and a ran a hand through his blonde bangs. He didn't really want to go visit the Princess at the moment, but she was expecting him to meet her after her return anyway. Maybe this way he could kill two birds with one stone. Link mentally rolled his eyes. Yeah right. With his luck, something really bad was bound to happen.

Oh, come on. I've saved the world once. Rescuing a damsel in distress shouldn't be too difficult compared to that... should it?

"Link?"

The blonde blinked, cleared his head with a small smack of his palm, and looked at the dark haired shaman.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?" he commented.

Renado grinned. "No. No, you don't."

Link glanced at the comatose girl again and the old shaman took pity on him.

"I will prepare for your departure tonight" he stated, placing a hand on the young hero's shoulder. "You stay here and watch over the girl. I'm sure she would prefer your presence beside her bed more than she would mine."

A head of blonde hair bobbed up and down in a small nod and with that the healer made his way out of the room, gingerly shutting the door behind him. Alone with Kagome once again, Link sighed and rubbed his face with his gloved hands. What was he to do? Though Renado was modest, even Princess Zelda knew that his medicinal knowledge was unparalleled. If he couldn't help Kagome, then who could?

The image of a dark clad male with white hair and glowing yellow eyes entered his mind.

No. He couldn't. Link couldn't rely on the very man both Kagome and he hated. He couldn't ask that monster for help. Though Midna was from the same realm, Link really doubted she knew much about medicine. Besides, as Kagome's future husband (Link blanched at the thought), the evil man was practically obligated to save her. So he would help. Right?

No. No. Link had stop thinking about that goddess-forsaken man. He had proclaimed himself Kagome's guardian, and he would make damn well sure that he guarded her well. He would bring her to Hyrule castle that night and Princess Zelda would take a look at her. The Princess would be able to fix the girl, if not with medicine then with the power of her triforce.

oOoOoOo

"You called, milord?"

Golden eyes flickered to the small imp for barely a second before moving back to the rippling water beneath his fingers. The poor girl. The poor, sick girl. At the rate the Hero of Time was going, his fiancee would be dead by the end of the week. He couldn't have that. A weak cough from the corner of the room drew his attention and his golden eyes narrowed at the pale princess. A thin line of blood dripped from the corner of her mouth.

"Watch over Midna. I will be making a short trip to Hyrule."

He made his way to the wall opposite of Midna and grabbed the mask hanging from it as the warden stepped towards the injured princess. He could see the shiver run down her spine when he smirked at her before sliding the mask over his face. The hatred in her eyes made him smile. It was with that smile on his lips that he broke himself into a million black squares.

oOoOoOo

A great sigh escaped Link's lips as he gently patted Epona's large muzzle. She sorted softly and nudged her large nose into his waiting palm in response.

"Think Kagome's going to be alright?" he asked quietly and Epona whinnied as if to say "of course." With another deep breath he grabbed the saddle and hoisted himself onto her back before turning her towards Renaldo's front door. The shaman stood there with the pale Kagome in his arms and looked just as worried over her condition as Link himself. Link reached down from his perch and gently took Kagome from the man's arms, adjusting her so she straddled Epona's back in front of him. Carefully, he leaned her against his chest and reached around her to grasp Epona's reigns.

"You really don't think there's any other way?" Link asked one more time. Renaldo shook his head in the negative.

"If Princess Zelda can't help her, then I'm not sure what else you can do. We've already done everything we can. You're sure there's no one else you can go to for assistance?"

The red-eyed, dark-skinned man flashed through his mind yet again, but Link quickly shoved the idea out replied with a terse "no." He refused to go to that man unless he had no other choice. Renaldo gazed at him knowingly and Link averted his eyes. Renaldo knew that Link could find help in the twilight realm and simply refused to. The elder hummed.

"She's covered in shadow, Link. I don't know what you're trying to hide her from but I suggest you be careful" the shaman warned. In response the young hero smiled bitterly.

"I know, Renaldo. Thanks for the heads up though. Take care of yourself. I'll try to bring her back here when she's actually awake."

Renaldo smiled and nodded sagely as the green-clad hero slowly spurred Epona to a trot. Link was careful to keep the sick girl balanced in his arms and tried to jostle her as little as possible as they traveled. They moved slowly through the village and only increased their pace after exiting the village. Once they'd reached the outskirts of Hyrule field Link tapped Epona's sides and urged her into a frantic gallop. The feeling of her shivering against him made him more impatient, but knowing he couldn't make Epona run any faster he grit his teeth and tightened his grip on the reins instead.

"Hold on, Kagome" he whispered, letting go of the reins with one hand and wrapping his arm around Kagome instead. "Hang on. We'll get you fixed up soon."

Even though he said the words out loud, he wasn't too sure he believed it himself. As the castle town drew closer along the horizon and the castle itself grew clearer, he found himself praying to the goddesses that princess Zelda would have the cure they needed, that her triforce would be the power that would heal Kagome.

The moment he thought about the triforce, his mind wandered back to the mark on Kagome's hip. Between Princess Zelda, Ganondorf, and himself all parts of the triforce were taken, yet Kagome had a piece. Had she received it upon Ganondorf's defeat? Did the triforce of power contribute to the darkness that Renaldo has spoken of?

And then there was his attachment to her. Just why was he so determined to keep her safe? Something about her called out to him and demanded his attention, demanded his affection. She reminded him of someone he knew. In fact, she looked a lot like Souta. Young, tortured Souta. The boy was haunted by dreams of a family he never had, plagued by words that only he could hear. Realization dawned on Link, hitting him so hard it felt like a punch to his gut.

Souta's missing family.

Kagome's knowledge of Hyrule.

Kagome's knowledge of Epona and himself.

The beastly guilt within him grew even larger at the revelation.

Kagome was Souta's sister. They could both communicate with the wind, they looked similar, they...

Link had to shake his head to clear away the shock-induced daze. He'd forgotten her. He'd forgotten everything about Kagome. How could he have forgotten everything about Kagome when Souta was still in his care? He saw Souta every day, but he couldn't remember a single thing about the elder sibling. Every time he looked at her though his heart clenched with both pain and joy. Now he understood why. Somewhere deep within his memories was a young Kagome. There were memories of her before she was kidnapped and beaten and tortured, memories of her before she was broken. Something told him that there were memories of a younger him being infatuated with her.

And yet he still ran past her prison cell.

"I'm sorry Kagome" he whispered, his arm tightening around her. He already promised to protect her, but now he felt a need to do so. To make up for the several years she spent imprisoned in the Twilight Realm, and especially for the two years after he didn't let her free, he would protect her. He would make her happy.

He would bring back the light in her eyes if it was the last thing he did.

oOoOoOo

Princess Zelda looked out from the highest balcony of the castle and at the fields towards Kakariko village. She could see a small figure galloping through the castle- Link atop Epona judging by the slight reddish hue to the smudge. They were in a hurry, too. Though the letter she sent him asked him to be prompt, the request was not so urgent to send Link flying towards the castle at such a speed. Something was wrong.

She rushed off the balcony and to the castle's ground floor. Though she ran down the stairs as fast as she could she felt like she wasn't running fast enough. By the time she reached the bottom floor Link had already dismounted Epona in the castle courtyard and was hurrying towards her with a pale young woman in his arms. The dark black her contrasted against her white skin, making the sickly tint stand out even more. It would seem that her business would have to wait.

"What's wrong with her?" she asked before the hero even opened his mouth to speak.

"She's sick. Renaldo can't help her and-"

"Take her to a guest room. I will look at her," she hesitated for a moment, Link was already on his way to the guest room, before saying "If Renaldo can't help her I'm not sure I can either, Link."

Link paused in his steps and then nodded. "I know."

Zelda stepped in front of him and led him to the closest room. The clop of her shoes and the soft padding of Link's boots against the marble floor echoed in the stone halls as they moved, pounding in time with Link's racing heartbeat. Paintings of previous kings and tapestries embroidered with the triforce hung equidistant from each other along the pristine walls with an occasional suit of armor in between.

"The stablehands will take care of Epona while we tend to the girl." Her voice, though soft, was easily heard in the silence.

"Thank you."

"Tell me what you can about her condition."

"It's a cold."

Zelda almost tripped over the hem of her dress at that. The white fabric of her dress fluttered madly and the stumble broke the rhythm of her steps. Despite his worry a minute smile began to tilt the corner of Link's lips when he saw her reaction.

"She's been held captive in the Twilight for over a decade. Renaldo said that her body doesn't remember how to fight the illnesses of this world."

Zelda stopped in front of a large oaken door and opened it, ushering the hero inside. Link approached the large canopy bed within and slowly lay Kagome across it, then moved the desk chair to the side of the bed. Gracefully, the princess sat in it and took the Kagome's hand while Link stood behind her. She drew out her power and dusted it over the sick girl in order to scan her body. If Renaldo told Link to send the girl to her, then he must have thought that the magic of her triforce would help. After a few minutes of probing, however, Zelda was beginning to think that Renaldo was wrong.

Link noticed the princess worrying her bottom lip and finally asked "Is there anything you can do?"

"There is a small shadow of the Twilight within her, but it's not inhibiting her body in any way. I rid her body of what darkness I could but there is little else I can do for her."

The hopeful expression on Link's face suddenly became pained.

"I will go call for the palace physician" she breathed. She got up and placed a comforting hand on Link's shoulder. "Don't worry about the business talk - it can wait for another day. Stay here and take care of the girl."

He nodded.

The princess removed her gloved hand from him and quietly stepped out of the room to give him his privacy. Almost immediately after she'd left he slumped into the chair beside the bed and buried his face in his gloved hands. Neither the princess nor Renaldo could help him. Did he really have to find that monster of a man? Would that bastard even be able to help her?

The more Link thought about it, the more he realized that the masked man was all they had left. Kagome was his fiancee so Link was positive that the man would help her, but the issue now was what he would ask for in return.

TBC...