-X-

Warning!

This Chapter contains violence, blood and, I might get sued by PETA if I don't write this extra, a loftwing will be seriously mistreated! You have been warned! The rating for this chapter is T!

You have been warned!

-X-

My head was spinning and I couldn't hear anything over the pounding of my heart. I was in no shape for flying, with my shaky hands, so I headed toward the grave yard in long, rapid steps. My breath was shaky and I think there must have been tears flowing down my cheeks. Stupid, stupid, stupid Groose. Stupid, stupid, super stupid me! Why!

I couldn't think anything else. Anger, shame, burning shame, and ice cold fear of being rejected where torturing me, wiping out any thoughts and hopes and mostly, the tantalizing maybe's.

By the time I reached the graveyard I was gasping for air. If anybody had seen me storm through Skyloft, they had kindly ignored me or not seen my tears.

Slowly realization was sinking in: I knew that Link didn't care for me. Up till now, everything had been fine and I could watch him silently as the sister of his rival. Now I was a girl with a love interest in him. An unrequited love. The thought brought new tears to my eyes. My heart felt like it was bleeding. I could remember well, when the last time had been, that I'd broken down crying: It had been when that weird demon had shown up.

Now I crashed next to the tree and cried. Hard.

I recall that as one of the most stupid things I've done in my whole life. Crying over something so stupid as a crush... But as I sat there, not hearing anything over my pounding heartbeat, sobbing my heart out, I noticed the comforting silence around me. I leaned my head back and just listened. I was surrounded by a cloud of soundlessness, there was only me with my thoughts (which kinda sucked) my heartbeat and breath, the indicators, that I was alive.

Detached from the world I rested until my heartbeat had died down. But I still couldn't hear anything. It was like I'd gone deaf.

Lost in thought I didn't notice Link, until he touched my shoulder. I was so startled, I think I must have fallen on my back. At least the next thing I remember, was looking up at Link with very wide eyes. The sounds crashed down on my ears like thunder, making me groan.

I think Link misunderstood my groan. At least he did look rather hurt. Cursing internally I watched his expression very closely: "What?"

He frowned: "Are you alright?"

"Well, actually no!" it had slipped before I could help it and once I'd said it, I was on a roll, "I did NOT want you to know that, this is super embarrassing, I'm gonna kill Groose, my ears hurt and you didn't wait for me to come to Skyloft before you left the last time! So no, I'm NOT alright!"

He sighed, looking a bit guilty: "If it's any good, you shouldn't be so upset that I heard your words."

So he was not gonna pretend he hadn't heard a thing.

"Well, obviously I am." I rumbled, looking away into the sky. I'd never wanted to talk about my interests or my ideas on love.

"You shouldn't. Although I have to admit, I am a bit surprised." he smiled, "I'll be honest, I would've never guessed, that you might have a crush on... well, anybody for that matter."

I looked up surprised at his words: "Why? 'cause you always just saw me as Groose' little sister?"

He sighed, his expression as though he was looking for words: "Yes, in a way. It's really hard to watch someone grow up from being a child to being a young adult. I still see you as the small girl who sits up at the feet of the statue, waiting for her bird. It's just my mental image. I KNOW you're not that child anymore."

I could understand what he was saying, but I was too pissed and upset to calm down. If I wanted to say anything, I had to speak with my heart on my tongue: "I'm sorry to ruin your idea, but I already liked you way back then."

He laughed helplessly: "Why didn't you ever say a thing?"

"Why have you and Zelda been tip toeing around each other for the past, like sixteen years!?"

That made him grin, blushed: "You're not changing the subject."

"It's the same reason!" I retorted, feeling a pang of pain at his blushed expression.

"You're shy?"

"Well in the name of Hylia, looks like the great hero has gotten it right!"

His smile fell at that: "Fi would correct that to "the chosen", with Impa's addendum to "the wrong one"."

"Huh?" I looked puzzled. He sighed, but didn't answer.

He would tell me later, that the old lady had scolded him in the Temple of earth, where he had failed to rescue Zelda, that he was a failure. But for the moment he was not willing to admit that to me.

"Medowlaria, I really have to go." he looked around in an almost haunted matter, "I have an important question to ask someone on the surface."

"Why did you come up here if you have to leave right away?" I asked him carefully.

He frowned a bit again: "I... I wanted to show you something."

"Huh?"

He pulled it out.

It was a golden Lyre, a traditional instrument that I know well. A chill ran down my spine. That was Zelda's instrument.

"Medowlaria, you have an exceptional hearing." he started to explain, and I was already guessing, where this was going, "I don't have much time. But I need you to listen to this music for a moment and tell me, if there is a magic in it."

"Link, that's Zelda's lyre." I stuttered, but he cut me short: "Medowlaria, please."

After a moment of staring, I reached out to it and touched a chord. But then I retracted my hand: "You play it. I can't make music worth a rupee."

He grinned and put it in position. I watched his long, calloused fingers beginning to play and had to pull myself together. I closed my eyes and listened into the music. It seemed normal. Was there really magic in it? And if yes, how was I supposed to-

Wait a moment.

I opened my eyes and looked at the lyre. I was hearing something weird under the chords. No, it wasn't coming from the instrument. It was coming from...

"Levias!"

He stopped playing: "What?"

I looked to the west: "I-I have to go. Something's wrong."

"Medowlaria?" he extended his hand and held my wrist. Every single hair on my entire body stood straight in his gentle, but firm hold on my skin.

I ripped out of his grip: "Please Link! I'm sorry, we need to talk. We need to talk about a lot of things. But right now, I need to go and so do you! I'm sorry!"

His blue eyes burned into my soul. But then he turned away: "Alright."

I couldn't bear his sad, disappointed look, so I ran toward the ledge and without another word, I jumped and whistled for my bird. He caught me, but for the first time I could remember, flying didn't bring relaxation or joy. I just felt cold, lost and tired.

We hit ground on the rainbow landing. My bird was really nervous, which I felt as a very bad omen. But I swallowed down my fear and stood strong in the storm that was constant here in the thunderhead.

"Levias!" I took a deep breath and yelled out his name again, my voice cracking slightly, "LEVIAS!"

I got no answer.

Medowlaria, we have to get out of here! my bird looked panicked.

I turned to face him: "No! What is going on here!?"

He looked wide: Someone has broken into the skies! Something evil!

A chill crept down my spine and I looked around carefully. If somebody was to sneak up on me, I would be helpless. My ears were useless, filled with a silent roar. Levias was raging!

I turned back around and saw how scared my bird was: We have to lea-

I still can't recall exactly what happened next. In the one moment I was still turning around and my bird was looking scared. In the next I just saw a little, flashing light shoot toward us. And then there was a gruel spaltter of blood and the most unnatural screech on earth tore at my battered ears, making me gasp.

Then I saw the knife, dug deep in my bird's wing, pinning him to the ground.

I felt a scream rippling at my throat but my breathlessness stole it from me. I staggered forward without thinking, reaching out to the dagger. But then there was a flash of gold and a searing burn electrocuted my entire body. A yelp escaped me and I fell backward.

Stunned I stared at the barrier that had appeared before me. I could feel a dark presence streaming off it, making me cringe.

"Well look at that. What a pleasant surprise."

I slowly looked around. Now I was sitting at the edge of the island with my back to a magical, burning barrier and in front of me a certain androgynous man. But when I saw his chocolate colored eyes, my breath hitched.

I was set back to the moment where I had first caught his eye. This malicious gaze framed by a venomous purple... I felt the threat, I knew I had walked straight into a trap.

A death trap.

Even though I couldn't see any weapons, I knew that one dagger he had lunged at my bird wasn't his only dagger. And he was spraying dark magic that prickled on my skin.

In his hand, he held a little ball of concentrated darkness. It felt weirdly... calming.

I could see it in his eyes. He was planning on hurting me.

A lot.

"Are you going to kill me?" I asked calmly looking him straight in his gorgeous eyes.

He smirked at me and his unexpectedly long (OMG what WAS that thing!?) tongue licked across his lips: "You have quite some cheek. You're not related to that annoying skychild, are you!"

I don't know how I could guess, what that meant, but I knew right away: "No, I'm not Link's sister."

He laughed again: "So that is his name? I guess that annoying sword of his has mentioned it, but it keeps escaping my mind..."

"What is your name?" my heart was pounding almost as loudly as before, when Link found me.

His eyes gleamed: "My name? I am the fabulous lord of demons, Ghirahim! And who is this little girl I'm speaking with?"

I swallowed against my fear: "Medowlaria."

"Quite a long name..." he muttered dismissively.

"So is yours."

That made him laugh.

I'd never heard someone laugh like that. It was mesmerizing and different. Usually, people's laughter hurts my ears, because it is loud and always has a sharp edge to it. Ghirahim's laugh however lacked the sting. It felt natural, almost good to the ears. Somehow this strange, dangerous man was slowly starting to fascinate me.

"You're the little girl who saved the Skychild, aren't you." he followed up on his trail of thought, "Have you any idea where the spirit maiden is?"

"Who?" I asked blankly.

He shook his hand dismissively: "The holy, spirit maiden! The incarnate goddess! You must know who she is, you saw me steal her from the sky!"

Again, I just somehow knew. Just knew!

"Zelda." I whispered softly, "You're talking- Wait a moment, what?! She's the incarnate wha-"

The full realization took a moment, but you can't exactly blame me. My brain was processing a lot of information in very little time and this made things a bit harder to grasp than usually. Especially since I was noticing: The only way to stay alive, was to continue talking!

"Y-you mean you lost her?" I stumbled over my own words.

Something changed about his aura which almost made me curse. I'd said something wrong. Desperately wrong!

The only warning I got was the smallest of waves in the atmosphere, washing through my body in a little ripple of pain. Then the next thing I knew, a swarm of daggers had appeared out of thin air and was flying right at me. I couldn't even move. The slashing of my arms and my strangled cry of agony ripped through the thunderstorm.

"Lost her! That dog of the goddess has been helping her!" there was a change in his tongue. I understand now, that he spoke a different language, but in my hassle of adrenalin and pain I didn't even notice it.

"You should know my power, little girl!" he hissed, looking at my wounds while licking his lips in an almost lewd matter. I understood that gesture at the speed of lightning: This was turning him on!

I can't say I was turned on even the littlest bit! My arms had deep slashes in them and one of the blades had dug deep into my left hand. I was doing my best to not look at it and to ignore the pain. But it was not at all easy.

"You think I d-don't feel your power?" I hissed, grabbing the knife and pulling it out in one, sharp motion. I think I howled in pain.

Panting slightly, my sight blurry, I caught his eyes. He was gleaming so much sadistic enjoyment, that it made me shudder. But before I could gather another thought, I saw something, flying behind him in the cloud filled sky, that distracted me successfully from his torture and my plans to talk my way out of this alive to warn Link: "By the Goddess, Levias! What did you DO to him!?"