Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Legend of Zelda/Nintendo (Except for Mallor, Torian, and Zylanos, of course)
Shadowed Waters
21
Allies of Sorts
"Hi Colin," said Agitha, smiling and turning to greet the soldier as he came out from behind a rock a safe ways away from the explosion. However, one look at his expression caused her own to fall as well. His eyes were darting back and forth between her and Ralis, utter disgust plain on his face. Agitha recalled the conversation she had with Colin on the boat here all those weeks ago, and immediately understood what he was thinking.
And immediately knew this was going to be a very uncomfortable situation.
"Colin, it's ok - " Agitha started to say, raising her good hand as a warning, but Colin cut her off.
"You sure keep strange company," said the soldier, unsheathing a sword that hung at his waist. He examined the blade, clearly avoiding making eye contact with either. "When Hena gave word that you were taken to their Domain, I assumed it was against your will."
"Colin," began Agitha again, "I can explain - "
"What is there to explain?" This time it was Ralis that interrupted.
Agitha turned quickly back to him with the intention of casting him a you're not helping glance, but didn't get around to it. The sudden jerk caused her arm to move and her mouth to elicit a yelp of pain.
Agitha winced as she met Ralis's gaze. His expression softened immediately as he reached out to her. In one swift, gentle motion she was safely tucked within Ralis's arm. His lips pressed lightly against her own and Agitha felt herself melt into the embrace, eyes closing…
Now is not the time! yelled a voice in the back of her head. Her eyes flew open and she saw that Ralis's eyes were open as well, eyeing something behind her… no, someone…
Agitha pulled away from the embrace, taking a step back away from both. Ralis's face looked coolly smug, especially compared to the reddening pallor of Colin's own embarrassed expression.
"I'm sorry," said Colin icily, "I assumed you wanted to be rescued. I didn't know you were so fond of the taste of fish."
"Fish?" shot back Ralis, "Original. I'm glad the Castle sent their brightest to come examine the Twilight."
"Enough!" shouted Agitha. What was wrong with those two? "You're not enemies so stop acting like you are. Weapons away!" she added as Colin's sword glinted as it moved through the sunlight and Ralis's fins stiffened.
"Agitha," said Ralis in his calm tone, his anger easily reigned in, "Who is this man?"
"I was wondering the same thing," said Colin, his voice still a little husky, "Although I'm not sure if the term man can be applied in its case." If Ralis took offense to this he didn't show it.
Agitha let the comment slide as she said, "This is Ralis…" she paused for a moment and glanced at the Zora. She knew he would understand the question in her eyes and as an answer, he merely shrugged. Agitha decided to take that as tell him whatever you want and so she decided on the truth. "He is Prince of the Zoras."
Colin raised his eyebrows at this new development, as if trying to decide what level of respect, if any, this title warranted the Zora. But he said nothing; Agitha took that as her cue to continue, "And this is Colin, a Hyrulean soldier to the Castle. And now," continued Agitha quickly to stem any unnecessary comments from the either of the two parties, "I would like to know what exactly you're doing here Colin? Not that we aren't grateful as you saved us both from the Twilight. But how did you know?"
"Yes, I am curious as to that too," said Ralis, "You of all people should know that relations between our races are basically nonexistent at the moment. How did you become aware of our predicament?" Agitha glanced at Ralis. He had transformed into a diplomat before her very eyes, and he was a natural at it. How was it she had not realized what he was? He so easily assumed the role of a Prince that it probably should have been obvious. Although to Agitha's credit she was often distracted when around him… his innocent humor, his soft blush, his cool lips, his toned body… Agitha stopped her train of thought there, knowing that if it continued she would probably miss every word that Colin was about to say.
"I didn't come for you, Zora," said Colin to Ralis, before turning towards Agitha and continuing, "I came because Hena said you had been taken by them, to the Domain. I – she was afraid that you would be the next victim. The next to disappear. She sent a message with Purdy and I came as soon as I got it. Although, apparently my presence is not necessary."
"Don't say that Colin," said Agitha frowning at his own self-deprecation, "If it weren't for you we'd be trapped in the Twilight like the rest of the Domain and… Hena!" Agitha felt as if a chunk of ice had dropped into her stomach. Hena was trapped in there.
Agitha felt a comforting hand rest upon her shoulder and saw a poorly disguised scandalized look flash across Colin's face. "We will find a way to save her," said Ralis, "And the Domain. The Shaman must be stopped before this plague spreads, infecting all of the light with its darkness. But first you need medical care, and I could use some myself," he lightly touched his fingers to the reopened wound on the back of his arms. They came away reddened with blood, "Castle Town is the closest place I can think of. Can you take us there, Colin, at least for Agitha's sake?"
Colin sighed, "I am here to save Agitha. As a soldier of Hyrule I can't leave her here, especially injured as she is." Colin then turned to Agitha and asked, "And I assume you will only come if he comes too?" Agitha glanced involuntarily at Ralis, imaging facing anything, really, after these events, without him, was nearly unbearable. She nodded. "It's settled then. I can't promise that either of you will like the reactions you will face at the Castle, but I will see to it that you both make it safely there."
"Thank you Colin," said Agitha. She leapt forward and embraced him in a one-armed hug.
"Hena would want me to take care of you," he whispered in her ear. Even in the quiet tone, Agitha could understand the implications. Colin was more than willing to help her, but Ralis was not part of the deal. But injured and homeless as they both were neither was in any position to decline.
They broke apart and Agitha felt Ralis's presence close behind her. Colin turned and whistled, which was immediately answered by a whinny. An ashen gray steed trotted out from behind a distant boulder. "I only have Dusk," the horse snorted, and Colin amended, grinning, "I mean Duskflyer, here with me. He won't be able to carry all three of us."
"So Agitha will take the saddle and we shall walk," recommended Ralis immediately.
"I can walk," said Agitha indignantly, "Colin, you can ride. He's your mount."
"No way," said Colin as he tightened Duskflyer's saddle, "Not with that arm you're not."
Agitha looked up at Ralis hoping to elicit some sort of argument against her taking over the saddle. She was the reason Ralis was injured and the reason that Colin had ridden all the way out here. Surely she could at least make up for some of the inconvenience she had caused them both.
But Ralis merely said, "Exactly what I was thinking. Walking would only make it harder for a doctor to set your arm right."
"You should get that arm in a sling though," added Colin.
"Yes," said Ralis, "We just need some cloth…"
"Right here," said Agitha, pulling at her shortening skirt with her good arm.
"That should work," said Colin, glancing away from his work of packing up his equipment to see her suggestion.
"I can't rip it though with my arm like this…" said Agitha, realizing that her argument was officially defeated. She sighed. At least her injury had given the two quarreling boys something they could agree on.
"Let me," Ralis said turning his back to Colin to hide his blush. Agitha suppressed a giggle.
Ralis expertly tore another strip off of her dress. He reached around her to tie her arm into a sling. Agitha could feel his warm breath on her neck when he whispered, "I'm sorry for how I was acting. I'll try not to let jealousy get the best of me in the future." he lightly placed a kiss on her cheek before pulling away. Agitha just stood there trying not to let her mouth gape in surprise.
Ralis was jealous, her mind tried to comprehend, Because of her? It didn't make sense. Or did it…? Agitha glanced over at Colin to see that he was eyeing her and Ralis, a sour look on his face.
"Are you two ready to go?" asked Colin. It was suddenly very obvious that he was trying very hard to keep his tone light and friendly. Agitha gulped involuntarily. This was going to be a very long ride.
Sometime around midday Agitha fell asleep. Ralis smiled up at her sleeping form gently rocking on Duskflyer's gray body, chin leaning on her chest. She deserved sleep after the ordeal she had been through. After a few moments he noticed Colin watching him.
"Is there a problem?" asked Ralis coolly. It was very obvious that this human disliked him. A lot. Although whether it was due to the rumors of the Zoras hand in the disappearances or if it had something to do with him and Agitha, he was unsure. Ralis guessed, however, that it had a little to do with both.
"Nothing," said the soldier at first, but after a pause he added, "It's just so strange. The thought of you and her." So it was jealousy, at least in part, thought Ralis.
Ralis opened his mouth to respond, but Colin cut him off.
"Don't explain," said the Hyrulean, "I would rather not know. What I would like to know about is the disappearances." Colin had fallen back into step with the Ralis. He glanced up through his blonde tresses at the taller of the two, his blue eyes questioning. So there was the other part.
"I can honestly say that I did not know the truth behind these disappearances until quite recently," said Ralis diplomatically, "But as Prince I should have been more adamant about finding if there was truth in the rumors. I let myself be cast aside by the Advisor, who, in the end betrayed me."
"How?" asked Colin. He sounded genuinely curious.
Ralis looked at the other boy, wondering how he would take the next part of the explanation. Ralis hoped that his rage would fixate on the singular rather than the entire Zoran race. "He made a deal with a Shaman of dark magic," began Ralis, "He arranged for Agitha to be captured – alive – by Morpheel. He had been watching me and knew that I would go into the Temple to save her. I brought her back to the Domain, unknowing of the plan the Advisor had devised. Once there he had both of us captured and of course played up the rumors of bad blood between us and you, making me out to be a traitor."
"And you just went along with it?" asked Colin, his voice laced with incredulity.
"They threatened Agitha's life," said Ralis, his voice empty, "I had no choice in the matter."
Colin seemed to consider this for a moment. Although whether he saw this as a redeeming quality or not, Ralis could not tell. "That's an interesting story," said Colin, "But it doesn't explain the Twilight." Ralis wasn't sure but he thought he saw the Hyrulean shudder upon mentioning the darkness.
"That's because I hadn't yet reached that part of the story," said Ralis, "I was obviously not present for this part. But apparently the Shaman turned on the Advisor. I guess that was his plan all along… just another thing I missed to add to my list of faults." Ralis gazed out over the vast stretch of Hyrule field before them, not wanting to make eye contact with the other boy. Recounting the tale made him realize how this whole plot could have been easily avoided.
"Don't be too hard on yourself," said Colin in something close to an empathetic tone.
"That seems like an odd thing for a Hyrulean to say," returned Ralis. He would have thought that the other boy would scoff at his shortcomings rather than empathize with them.
"Well," said Colin, "Back when I was young, I was captured by Bulblin riders. The Hero of Hyrule saved me, but I always wondered if maybe he could have saved the land sooner if it hadn't been for me…" He trailed off. Ralis looked down at him in wonder. Maybe they could find a common ground after all. As if Colin were reading his thoughts he added, "Don't think this little heart to heart means were friends," but he was smiling.
"Never," said Ralis, "But if we're to dispel the Twilight and stop the Shaman before his rule spreads, I think Zoras and Hyruleans may have to work together." Ralis slowed upon saying the last line, tentatively testing the water.
"I know," said Colin truthfully, "But things have been pretty messed up at the Castle. The Princess and the Hero have been gone for nearly two years and those left in charge have yet to come to a decision about the Zora problem, as they put it."
Ralis frowned. He had been hoping that he could get an audience with the ruler of Hyrule to explain the Zora's situation. He had heard that she was a gentle ruler and was sure he could convince her to send the Hyrulean army to their aid. But he knew nothing of those left in charge. They could detest Zoras now as much as the rest of the population seemed to.
Colin seemed to sense the Zora's distress. "I can put in a good word for you, or at least not a bad one," said Colin helpfully, "Being friends with the Hero has its perks, you know."
"I thought we weren't friends," said Ralis carefully, "You're being awfully kind to your enemy."
Colin shrugged. "It's like Agitha said, we're not enemies. And looks like at the moment we have the same enemy. So I guess that makes us allies, of sorts, anyway."
"I can live with that," said Ralis.
Just then Agitha awoke with a start. She blinked a few times and yawned before acknowledging either of them. "What did I miss?" She asked sleepily.
Ralis exchanged a glance with Colin before giving an answer, "Not much."
"Oh, good," said Agitha, "Wouldn't want to be left out." She reached down and stroked a few fingers against his cheek, before leaning low and pressing a kiss lightly to his lips – a feat Ralis was surprised she could manage while riding, injured, on a horse. She smiled at him before straightening up in her saddle and looking out in the distance.
The white spires of Hyrule Castle were steadily rising on the horizon, but Ralis wasn't paying attention to that. He looked over to Colin to see that he had fallen a few steps behind. He was looking away, but his hurt and angry expression was still readable on his reddening features. Ralis hoped everything that previous conversation had built between them hadn't been crumbled by a single kiss. This was going to be a lot more work than it needed to be if that was the case.
Poor Colin and his jealous-ness... =/
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