CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Midna and Link walked in silence. The birds were singing over them and the squirrels darted away from their feet. In short, the day would be beautiful.

"I've been thinking," Midna began. "Y'know, since Ganondorf is back, you'll have to fight him again, won't you?"

"Apparently," he replied bluntly.

"But if you barely beat him last time, what if he's stronger than you this time, and what if you don't have a chance of beating him and you d-"

"Midna," Link took her other hand and stepped in front of her. "You told me that you loved me. Will you believe in me as well?"

She swallowed. "I love you, Link. I don't want to lose you like I lost Venivre. I know this sounds weird and awkward, but hey, at least I don't sound as weird or awkward as you."

He grinned faintly. "That's true."

"You never were good with words. Is that why you never talk around some people?" Midna squeezed his hands.

"Yes, pretty much. Most words fail me. But I have some that I know don't. Hey, Midna," He caught her rose-red eyes and continued. "I love you."

She laughed. "You're right! Those words are probably the best ones you've ever said!" She kissed him lightly and let go of his hands. "C'mon, Zelda's waiting. I'll bet she's wondering where we are right now."

Link laughed but fingered his sword. A crashing feeling of doom washed over him, erasing his smile and stealing his breath. He dropped to his knees, breathing heavily, and a voice he was sure was in his head laughed at him, over and over again. It's eerie chuckle filled his ears, and when he looked up at Midna, she was kneeling next to him, her lips were moving but he couldn't hear her. Sharp pain wracked his body, mental images of Midna, her face bloody, lying dead on the ground, flashed through his mind. Cold sweat beaded on his face. His chest felt constricted, his breathing was short and shallow.

His dreams came back in full vividness. Ganondorf's wicked, howling laugh, Link running to get away, and Midna's voice, too faint to hear, calling for him. Hot waves of agony made his throat seize up so he had no air at all. He was suffocating.

Suddenly, it was gone. Link's breath was ragged and heavy, and when he tried to stand back up, he doubled back over and retched.

Instead of recoiling like he had expected her to, Midna stayed by his side until Link had finished.

He stood, wiping his mouth on his gauntlet, but still felt nausea tingling the back of his throat.

Link realized that his dreams had just been warnings. Premonitions of things to come. Ganondorf was at the Spring.

So was Zelda.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

sorry for the cliffhanger, but y'know how us writers are.