After the Battles are Done

Ch. 21

Cithe stared at Elsia. "What?" he exclaimed at her answer.

Startled, Elisa looked over at Cithe. "I said that I would carry the power," she repeated slowly for him.

"But, but it could be dangerous! Gaelit is already after you and if he gets you now and knows you have the power, then he might torture you to get it!" Cithe argued. He turned to Nagiva. "You should give the power to me. Gaelit thinks I'm just a harmless boy. Then he'd have no reason to torture Elsia,"

Elsia gaped at him. "I can't let you do that," she said, trying not to yell. "I've already brought danger to you by having you help me get into the temple. If you took the power and Gaelit found out, I'd never be able to live with the consequences!"

Nagiva cut in before Cithe had a chance to respond. "I'm sorry young Cithe. I can understand your concern for the one you hold so close to your heart, but only on with Hyrulian blood can take the power,"

Elsia could see the wheels turning in Cithe's brain as he tried to find a loop hole but finally he just gave in. "Fine," he murmured. "I guess I'll just have to keep a closer eye on you from now on," he smiled at him but it was stressed.

Elsia put her hand to his face and he leaned into it. "I hope you can understand why I'm doing this," she whispered to him, looking deep into his golden eyes. Behind them she could see all the love he had for her. That no matter what, he would always be hers. She stared right back at him, hoping that he could see those same feelings in her blue eyes.

He leaned closer to her. "Of course I do. That doesn't mean I like it though," he whispered back before giving her a small, sweet kiss. It was short but had just as much passion behind it as any other.

When they broke apart, Cithe was still holding her close to him and looked over at the gaurdian. "If you are serious about giving Elsia this power, then you must be going to give her a lot of protection for it as well right?"

Nagiva nodded. "Of course young Cithe, depending on what kind of protection she requires," she looked over at Elsia. "How is it that the one after you most commonly plagues you?"

"Through my dreams," was Elsia's answer without a moment's hesitation. Nagiva nodded.

"A common approach for one who runs with demons. And he has complete power in these dreams? He can make you feel anything?"

Elsia thought back to how Gaelit had kissed her in one of her previous nightmares. Of how real it felt, that contact. "Yes,"

Nagiva nodded again, obviously lost in thought. After a moment she snapped back and smiled. "Very well," she said. "It is time to begin the process," She stood up and came over to Elsia, holding out her hand to her. "Come with me," Elsia took her hand and got up and Cithe began to follow when Nagiva held up her free hand. "I apologize, but you may not come. I promise you though, this will be quick. If you could just wait here," Cithe looked like he wanted to protest but stopped. Dejected, he looked over at Elsia with obvious worry.

Smiling at him reassuringly, Elsia grabbed his hand and squeezed. "It'll be all right. I'll be back before you know it," He gave her a little smile and went back to sitting on the floor. As Nagiva led her away, she looked over her shoulder one last time before she was taken through a veil to another room, completely dark except for one lone candle in the middle of the room.

Nagiva led her to the candle and sat her on one side of it, placing herself on the other. Then she grabbed her hands, linking the two of them. She stared straight into Elsia's eyes and spoke slowly, softly "Elsia of Hyrule, do you promise that you take this power, not to gain from, but to protect the world and those who live in it?"

"Yes," Elsia breathed out.

"That no matter what, you will not let into the powers of darkness, no matter the cost?"

"Yes,"

"That you will bear responsibility for this power until you are no longer able?"

"Yes,"

Nagiva began to chant quickly in a language that Elsia couldn't recognize. Her grip on her hands tightened and as the chanting became louder the candle's flame burned brighter, larger, until it was all that Elsia could focus on. Nothing else was there, just the flame. The chanting was still happening, but it sounded farther away, distant and Elsia began to see images flashing past her eyes in the light. It filled her sight and Elsia watched, hypnotized, at the images. They were of the past, as far back as the gods creation, and Elsia learned the history of everything. Then it switched to her life. Everything important to her came crystal clear. She saw everything in a new way, filling her heart and soul with a thousand new feelings. Then the future was shown to her, people gathering, a battle waiting to happen, a tall figure on hors back leading the way to a giant castle. She watched them charge and the scenes changed again. Children running through fields, laughing and chasing each other. A time of complete peace, similar to the images dancing on the walls in the first room. Finally, she was shown the land of dreams. Shown it's secrets and how to use it to defend herself. The flame grew larger with the last of the images, and after the last one, it burst, throwing her into darkness. She was disconnected, floating, through the darkness. In front of her a small ball of light bobbed up and down, waiting. Elsia knew what to do.

"Join with me, I'll keep you safe," she whispered softly, opening her arms as if to embrace it. The little light flew towards her, and seemed to slip into her chest, warming her entire being as she closed her eyes in acceptance. She took in a deep breath and felt herself falling. Faster and faster until at last she opened her eyes, gasping and sitting up suddenly, making the room spin. She felt a hand steady her as she began to sag to the side.

"Easy there," soothed Cithe staring into her eyes. "You had me worried there," He brought her into his arms and rested his head on top of hers. "Are you all right?".

Elsia felt exhausted and everything that had just happened was still rushing through her head. "I'm really tired," she murmured. She looked over to her right and saw Nagiva sitting back in her usual spot. They were back in the first room and the guardian's eyes were closed tight.

"She's been that way since you were brought in here, "Cithe whispered. "She came back in here with you in her arms. Lied you down next to me and went over there. Hasn't said anything since then,"

"I wonder if she's okay," Elsia asked Cithe. No sooner had she asked then Nagiva's eyes snapped open. She blinked a few times and focused on Elsia.

"It's time for you to go," she said in a quiet voice. "My time here is fading,". Even as she spoke she was fading. She took in a deep breath. "Thank you," she said smiling at Elsia.

"You're welcome," Elsia smiled back. With that the winds picked up again and they were flying again. This time, Elsia didn't close her eyes. She was strangely calm. The wind was strong around them and soon they were sailing down across the sky and landed in front of the old temple. Elsia watched as the old temple sunk into the ground, it's purpose fulfilled. Cithe looked at Elsia, still in his arms.

"Now what? Did you get magical powers?" he asked, looking at her quizzically. She laughed.

"It's not like that," she said. "I'm not any different, I'm just carrying the power,"

"What are you going to do now?"

Elsia took in a deep breath. "Now I prepare for the worst nightmare of my life,"

Cithe got a worried look on his face. "Do you have a plan?"

"Yes and if it goes right, then we won't have to worry about Gaelit or his master,"

Cithe smiled sadly. "I wish I could help," He hugged her closer.

"Actually, I would feel better if you stayed near me while I was sleeping," Elsia said realizing something. "Gaelit can't get past you to me. When he tries your love for me blocks him out," she said.

Cithe smiled. "Of course I will. Can you walk?"

Elsia blinked a few times. "What?" she asked. She had been thinking about what she had saw, there was something there… in the future she had seen.

"Can you walk?"

"Oh yeah," she said, as he set her on her feet. He took her hand and they started back to the city. As they went she looked back at where the temple had been. "Good bye Nagiva," she whispered.

As she turned away, she instinctively put her hand on top of her stomach, thinking about what she had seen in the future. It was not going to be an easy one.

-xXx-

We could not get to the prisoners hold fast enough. When we finally got there, my nerves had just about reached their breaking point. I was ready to kick Nael into that cell and keep him there. I probably would have to if we hadn't needed his help. Luckily, Nael instantly started talking to the other soldiers in the prison, telling them the situation. After a few minutes most of them stood up and walked over to the door to be let out, agreeing to help us. Of course, there was still one or two who refused to go.

Nael came over to me, followed by seven other men. "These ones are willingly to help, but on the same conditions as me. That the princess can't be hurt or we switch sides. Instantly," The men behind him were all older men, most of them sporting a few battle scars. They all shared a similar look in their eyes. A look of tiredness, that they had seen too much in this life. Nael was the only one that seemed untouched by this look, this feeling. I couldn't help but tell the difference between him and them.

Once they had removed all their armor and weapons. We went back to the council, just in time for Togi's presentation on the special weapons he had been working on. He was just starting to talk about the cloaks we had made when Link noticed we were back. " Wait," he said to Togi, holding up his hand.

"We're back," I greeted, walking over to Link. "There are still a few who refuse to help," I whispered in his ear. "They don't believe that you're going to leave the princess untouched." His face grew grim. "What do you want us to do with the remaining prisoners?" I asked nervously. It's not like we had prisoners every day. I wasn't sure what the protocol was here.

Link was silent for a moment before turning to me. "I'll deal with them later, for now just give them some bread and water and make sure they're under constant watch," he finally said.

I nodded and went to relay the information to one of the men who went with me. He left without a word and the council resumed its planning. Togi finished with his section and then Leonel gave inventory on how many of each kind of weapon we had. After that Hyra talked about which people needed more training and which were good with what. Finally, it was time to plan the actual attack again. Nael came forward then and he was given a seat at the middle of the table.

Link motioned towards him. "Can you draw at all?" he asked as Riki brought out a giant piece of paper, thick and a small writing quill.

Nael nodded. "My mother was an artist and taught me how to draw and paint," he said, picking up the quill. His hand began to slowly draw the shape of the castle if you looked at it from the sky. "Now the castle is made of five levels above ground and two below. There is a small tunnel here," he circled part the map outside the castle's outline. "Below a great oak that leads directly into the castle. It lets out in the wine cellar. From there, there is a set of stairs that lead to the first floor in the back of the castle. The stairs let out near the kitchen and it will be bustling most of the time, with people constantly going in and out. If you can get past the servants then the second stair case is at the end of the hall in a small alcove," His hand was flying over the page now. The castle was huge, an impossible feat. As he went on about how to get to the princess, a thought occurred to me.

"Wait," I said suddenly, making Nael pause. "How are we going to get into the town in the first place? It's surrounded by a giant wall and we can't sneak everyone in with weapons, the guards will notice. Someone tells the princess and she goes and locks herself in the temple. Game over," Nael paused, his brow furrowing.

"Damn it, if what you guys are telling me is true, then Malon's right. The princess would just lock herself inside until the day the timelines merge," He bit his lip, deep in thought. "The guards would definitely notice that many people going in through the gate,".

Link sighed, putting his face in his hands and I instinctively put a hand on his shoulder in comfort. "Now what then?" he asked. "I can see what you two are getting at and from my time at Hyrule I have to agree. Getting in will be next to impossible without alerting the princess,"

Everyone was quiet for a long time, thinking. Every now and then someone would start to say something until someone else saw the flaw in the plan. Eventually though, Marai hit the right one.

"Hold on," she started, a gleam of excitement in her eyes. " If the castle goes under attack the princess goes to the temple right? Especially if it's Link coming right?"

"Yes," Nael answered, frowning. "So?"

Marai was really getting excited now. "What if we use it to our advantage? If we somehow get to the temple before her? Then we could catch her and not even have to deal with the castle!"

Link was already shaking his head. "No way it would work, how would we get everyone in the city in the first place?"

But the idea was already catching and everyone was beginning to think about it, whispereing excitedly. The twins and Hyra were the next to contribute and they really got the wheels moving in our heads.

Sirah went first. "We don't have to have everyone if it's just the princess," she said excitedly.

"Yea!" piped up Kirah. " We just need, like ten people," she said.

"The rest can attack the outside after those ten are in, then the princess will go to the temple, not even expecting you guys," added Hyra coolly.

"Ten people going into the city is still a lot if it's for no apparent reason," countered Nael.

Inspiration struck me. "But if they were, say, a circus, then it wouldn't be, would it?" I said thinking it through.

Link and Nael both looked at me in wonder. "A circus," said Link incredulously. "Like the traveling kind?"

Hyra snapped her fingers, her eyes lighting up. "Yes! That would totally work. Small performing bands aren't at all uncommon nowadays, with so little war," she said. The twins nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Nael was even smiling now, thinking it over, already beginning to sketch some of it out. "It could work," he began, then his face clouded. "Wait, no what about when the guards come to inspect the wagon? I assume you're going to use more than just knives on this operation,"

But Link and I already had the same idea. "I have a key," he said excitedly. "To a secret room in the Happy Mask Shop. We can hide the other weapons there until it's time to get to work,"

Soon we were all in agreement. We went over details. What to bring, what kind of acts to do, who would do what. There were still obstacles that needed seeing to, but Link and Nael were certain that they could figure it out. Finally, as the sun was setting, Link closed the meeting, telling some people to meet him back here early tomorrow, that they first had some business to take care of.

"Well, that was tiring," I complained after the meeting. "At least we have a somewhat solid plan though," Nodding next to me, Link grabbed my hand. I leaned closer to him and we walked on home.

"So what are we doing tomorrow?" I asked, looking up at the full moon above.

Link sighed. "I'm going to go visit some people who owe me. I'd hope to never have to use those favors but this is for the world," he looked away.

"So we're going to go to other countries?" I asked, confused. There was no way he could do that in a day.

"Oh no. I've already got everyone from everywhere else. No, I only have one country left,"

A feeling of fear suddenly formed in the pit of my stomach. "You don't mean…"

Link nodded grimly. "Yes, we're going to Hyrule tomorrow," he said.

I sighed. Just when I thought things were getting easier. Now we had to go sneak into Hyrule. Great.

I just never get a break do I?"