Chapter 25 - The Dream and the Defenders
To the Five he must give aid
Lest time itself become unmade
The Ruler, The Stone, The Thief, The Forest Guide, The One From Deep
With each assisted, with him they shall keep
The One of Many shall hide his face
When the Five doth stand in place
Behind the shadow doth he stand
The power of the Dark God in his hand
"What are you doing here?" Zelda asked in a shocked tone.
"I was just about to ask you the same question," Impa said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well…uh," Zelda stuttered, looking for some sort of explanation.
"I've been looking for you by request of your father, he was very worried when it was discovered that you were no longer in the castle," Impa said disapprovingly.
"But I had to go! We're doing something very important!" Zelda protested.
"Ah yes, I've heard about some of your exploits, especially yours," Impa said, turning to face Link.
"Oh, um," Link started.
"From what I've heard you protected Zelda very well, good job," Impa said before turning back to Zelda. Link let out an explosive breath as Saria continued to do his hair.
"So have you come to take me home?" Zelda said bitterly. Impa gave a small smile.
"Normally, yes, but the situation has changed somewhat, and I now offer my assistance, I followed your trail to Windhill where Morgan and Isabella explained to me what you are doing."
"So you're going to help us?" Zelda asked.
"I'd be going against my duties if I didn't, if you don't go then you'll be doomed no matter what," Impa said. Zelda rushed over and hugged her nursemaid.
"I missed you Impa!" Zelda cried as she hugged her around the waist. Impa smiled and ran her fingers through Zelda's hair. Impa looked up at everyone in the room and then looked back at Zelda.
"It looks like you've made some new friends, why don't you introduce me?"
Impa was introduced to each of Zelda's companions and vice versa. She was shocked to be in the presence of a Great Fairy, but Florella's temperament soon put her at ease. She was also surprised to see a Kokiri so far from the forest.
"Well it's an honour to meet all of you, you are truly courageous to undertake such a perilous task," Impa said respectfully. There was a loud sniff from Link and he instantly groaned and hung his head.
"Thanks for reminding me Link," Saria said with a smile. She turned to Talen, "Talen, would you go find the physician and ask them to boil up a mustard plaster?"
"All right," he said. He turned to Link as he left and gave him an apologetic look.
"Don't worry about it they'd be on your case if you didn't," Link said with a wave of his hand.
"You've changed since the last time we met, you seem to have grown an extra body part," Impa said curiously.
"Oh," he said, picking up his tail in one hand, "Someone couldn't control their temper and did this to me."
"Well you're a very infuriating young man," Florella said loftily. Link rolled his eyes.
"But he is very brave, Isabella told me about Kaden and what he did to Zelda and how Link saved her, and then the remarkable story of how he came back from the dead after defeating Oltran," Impa said with admiration. Link blushed and looked at the floor.
"Well, technically it was Fura who killed him in the end," he said awkwardly.
"Oh stop that, we both got him," Fura said.
"I guess," Link said a little unenthusiastically.
"You are such a lump!" Zelda said in a frustrated tone, "Why can't you be proud of your victories? Shout it from the rooftops or something!"
"Isn't it past your bedtime?" Link asked.
"As a matter of fact, it is," Impa said.
"What! No Impa, I've got to stay and make sure Link has the plaster put on!" Zelda protested.
"I can do that, now why don't all of you go to bed? You must all be tired after what just happened," Impa said. There were murmurs of agreement from around the room and everyone got up to leave.
"You stay here," Saria said, pushing Link back down as he tried to rise.
"It was worth a try," he sighed.
Link had undergone the unpleasant experience of having a hot-fumed paste rubbed all over his chest by Saria. He found the fumes to be very unpleasant as they made his eyes water and almost seemed to burn his sinuses. His chest was then swathed in a large bandage so that it wouldn't all rub off while he slept. After it was over with, he was packed off to bed. Link fell asleep quickly, even though the plaster superheated his body and made breathing uncomfortable. He dozed fitfully until he was awakened by something tugging at his ear.
"Go away," he mumbled, swatting at the annoyance with one hand.
"Link! Get up now!" he heard Navi order him. Grumbling something unintelligible, Link rolled over and opened his eyes. He was greeted with the sight of tree limbs interlocked above him, forming a kind of shelter.
"Where the heck am I?" Link exclaimed as he sat up. He was sitting in a clump of colourful flowers in the middle of a small grove of trees situated in a vast field.
"I woke up and we were here," the fairy said, "I don't know what's going on." Link looked around muttered something in annoyance.
"None of my stuff's here either," he said, "Well we're not accomplishing much by sitting here, let's try to find out where we are." The two of them left the grove and stood looking around for a direction to head in. The sky was a brilliant blue that radiated peace, calm and love down on the sun kissed earth. Link shook his head. Did he really just think of those descriptions? He was suddenly aware of a presence behind him and he whirled around and coiled his tail in readiness.
"Please follow me, brave hero," said a fairy similar to Navi. It was slightly larger and its glow wasn't as bright, making it easier to see.
"Who are you?" Link asked suspiciously.
"We must hasten to the island that doth await us on yon strand where wavelets play in wanton abandon in the light of our enchanted sky," she said in a very formal tone.
"Your mistress? Hey, how did I get here?" he exclaimed.
"Calm thyself and follow me," the fairy said, flying past him. Link looked at Navi and shrugged. Link followed the fairy across the field until he came to a large river with a small island in the middle. On the island was a temple bathed in the light of a radiant sun that…Link shook his head again. What was wrong with him? Why was he thinking of everything with such flowery speech? He noticed the fairy smile to herself.
"What now?" Link asked.
"You must fly across to meet with thy companions and mine mistress," the fairy said. Link shrugged and nodded at Navi. She flew down his tunic and quickly formed his wings. Link fanned them a couple of times before lifting himself into the air. He flew slowly over the water until he was able to land on the island. The fairy led him down a neat stone path towards the temple and he noticed his friends all sitting on the grass outside the entrance. There was Zelda, kind and caring, Saria, protective and true, Fura, brave and loyal, Talen, practical and…he was doing it again. Link half-woke trying to shake the cloying image and extravagant expression from his mind. There was the sound of an angry foot stamping somewhere.
"That really makes me cross Link, now get back to sleep!" he heard Florella snap. Link went over to his companions and sat down. Everyone was there, including Impa.
"Now, if we can stop trying to fight the influence of my home," she said, looking meaningfully at Link, "I can continue."
"Can you be quick about it? I want to go back to sleep," Link said with a yawn. Florella glared at him for what seemed like an eternity.
"Forgive mine error, wise one, I merely wished to covey my concerns that this night shall not last forever and sufficient rest is needed before the dawn comes," Link said with an absolutely straight face. Florella's eyes narrowed.
"Are you making fun of me?"
"Perish the thought," Link said.
"Hush Link, let her speak," Saria told him.
"Ye have gathered at my request so that I may impart unto thee certain truths. I must tell thee, not unkindly, that even as I have appeared as a child to ye, so ye do appear to me now, and I doth melt with love to be in thine presence since the day that we did meet," she looked at Talen, Saria and Fura's uncomprehending faces. "What is the matter with you?" she asked in exasperation. Link stood and crooked his finger, leading the Great Fairy aside.
"What?" she demanded crossly.
"Are you in the mood for some advice?"
"I'll listen." Her tone held no promises.
"You're stupefying them with eloquence, Florella. Talen looks like a pole-axed ox at the moment. The three of them, and myself, are just plain people, little fairy. You'll have to speak to us normally for us to understand."
"But I worked on that speech for ages!" she pouted.
"It's a lovely speech, Florella. When you tell the other Great Fairies about this – and I'm sure you will – recite it to them as if you had delivered it to us with verbatim. They'll swoon with delight, I'm sure. For the sake of brevity – this night won't last forever, you know – and for the sake of clarity, give us the abbreviated version. You might consider suspending the thee's and thou's as well. They make it seem like you're preaching a sermon, and sermons tend to put people to sleep." She pouted again.
"Oh, very well, Link," she said, "But you're taking all the fun out of this for me."
"That's the idea."
"Meanie," she stuck her tongue out at him and led him back to join the others.
"This lump here suggests I get straight to the point," Florella said, giving Link a sly sidelong glance. "He's nice enough as a hero, I suppose, but he's a bit lacking in poetry…actually that's an understatement. Very well then, I've asked you all here to relay the next part of the riddle that our shadowy friend gave me when I was in the guardhouse."
"Why didn't you tell us earlier instead of bringing us here?" Ruto asked.
"Well, I…that's not important," Florella said, a slight flush creeping into her cheeks.
"You forgot, didn't you," Talen said.
"It wasn't my fault! I was busy and I got sidetracked!" she said defensively.
"Busy telling me off, you mean," Link said.
"It's a full-time job," Florella said with a grin. Link rolled his eyes and sat on the ground.
"Excuse me, Florella, but where exactly is this place?" Saria asked politely.
"This is my home," Florella said proudly.
"What! We're all inside that flower?" Fura asked.
"Well technically you aren't, the flower is merely a doorway to my home. I can pass into this place whenever and wherever I want, but that's not the case with all of you, but what I can do it bring your spirits here when you sleep, if I wanted you to really be here I'd have to get you to go through the flower," Florella explained.
"So that's why you got all snippy with me before…and are you the one making me think all strange?" Link asked.
"What? Don't you like it?" Florella asked, raising an eyebrow.
"It's annoying, I keep having to remind myself not to do it all the time."
"I think you could do with some manners, and besides, if you actually started talking like that, the ladies would all swoon!" Florella said, winking encouragingly at him. Link gave her a flat, unfriendly stare.
"Don't worry Link, I like the way you talk just fine," Fura said, grabbing Link from behind and pulling him over backwards. What followed was a brief scuffle in which Link scrabbled around on his back while Fura pinned him to the ground and tried to kiss him repeatedly. Link managed to prevent her from succeeding by tucking his legs up and pushing her away with his feet and tail. Ruto's temper was verging on livid and so Link thought it best to sit between Saria and Talen.
"If Link would care to stop making trouble," Florella said, casting a level gaze at Link.
"Me!? She started it!" he protested.
"You didn't have to fight back," Florella said with a hint of a smile.
"Well enough chit-chat, here's the riddle:
The Five are together and the end seems in sight,
But soon Gedinia you shall not fight.
Five sacred seals must each be found,
To fight the apocalypse on even ground.
The first of these seals is across the seas,
To a city built high in the tops of the trees."
"You mean we're not going to be able to end this soon?" Ruto asked. Florella shook her head.
"It sounds like this battle is just beginning, but we can do it, we've got this far," Florella said encouragingly.
"Bacon belly is right, we can beat Gedinia," Link agreed. There were murmurs of agreement from everyone present.
"But let's not worry ourselves with it now, we still have time left here, so why don't we make the most of it…my home is your home," Florella said invitingly.
Florella's home was, to put it bluntly, paradise. The weather was permanently perfect and there seemed to be an air of peace and calm that inhabited the realm. There was an abundance of vast trees growing on the island, and Link found them to be a safe haven from the likes of Ruto and Fura, they were also full of strange fruits that Link found delicious, and he ate far more than was probably good for him. Talen was busy examining the exterior of Florella's temple, noting rather critically that most of the angles and structural support for the building were physically impossible. Florella told him that almost anything she wanted was possible in her home, but he still persisted with his criticism and was eventually chased off by the fairy girl. Saria and Zelda sat with Impa and talked about various topics ranging from what it was like living in the forest, to what it was like living in Hyrule Castle. Fura and Ruto looked for Link and argued amongst themselves.
Link came out of hiding when Fura and Ruto went to the opposite side of the island to look for him. He climbed slowly down the trunk of the tree, pausing occasionally to pick more fruit and eat it, discarding the remains by throwing them as far as he could. He dropped onto the soft grass and kicked off his boots before lazily wandering over to the river. He dipped his toe in to check the temperature and, finding that it was to his liking, dove in. Link's tail provided him with an extra means of propulsion and he found that by undulating it while mermaid kicking at the same time, it was much easier to swim. Link paddled back and forth across the river, diving under the surface or just floating on his back. He kicked his feet slowly and drifted aimlessly in the river while Saria and Zelda occasionally glanced over to watch.
"You really shouldn't be swimming straight after eating," Saria said critically.
"But-" Link started.
"No buts, you can either come out, or you can put your Zora mask on, at least with that on you can breathe underwater," Saria said, waving her finger at him. Link sighed and swam to shore. He walked up the riverbank towards the three of them, dripping water all the way. He pulled off his soaked cap as he walked past Saria and flapped it across her head.
"Oh! Link!" she spluttered as the cold cloth dampened her hair and face. Link laughed to himself and sat in a patch of sunlight next to Zelda as Saria grumbled to herself and straightened her hair band.
"You could have just put on the mask and stayed in the water instead of getting me wet," Saria told him. Link grinned at her.
"I would have done but I don't have any of my equipment with me do I? Even if I did they probably would have heard me shout as I changed anyway." He said
"This place is wonderful, isn't it?" Zelda said to Link. Link looked around.
"It's very nice, though it would get boring after a while if it never changes…and I wouldn't like to live here, something here makes me think like an idiot, and it just reeks of Florella," Link said.
"Be nice," Impa murmured. The tall Sheikah woman was seated behind Zelda and she was currently brushing and arranging her hair. Link noticed Saria looking at the two of them with a thoughtful look as her hands twitched almost involuntarily towards her pocket where she kept her comb. He groaned inwardly as she turned to him with a hopeful smile on her face.
"It'll just be all messy when we leave here, I'm still in my bed and my hair will be just as bad," he warned her.
"But I like doing it, and it doesn't put you out that much, does it," Saria told him. Link sighed as Saria got into position behind him and began combing his damp hair.
"You've got very nice hair," Saria said absently.
"You've said that before," Link mumbled. He gave a small yelp as Saria ploughed her comb through a stubborn tangle but she shushed him and he sat in a sullen silence.
"Hang on a second," Link said suddenly "How come you have your comb with you but all of my stuff was left back in the real world?" Saria looked at her to comb to Impa who was looking at the brush she was using before looking at Link.
"I have no idea." She stated, Link looked thoughtful before shrugging and deciding he didn't really care.
"I told you I don't care!" Came Florella's voice from inside the temple. Talen came running out of the entrance seconds later with Florella hot on his heels.
"What's going on?" Link asked.
"He keeps making remarks about my temple!" Florella said. Link rolled his eyes.
"Please Talen, don't get her complaining, you have no idea how irritating and whiny her voice gets," Link said in a pained voice. Florella shot him a look of sheer venom.
"How would you like me to wake you up?" she said.
"It'd be a favour with Fura and Ruto looking for me," Link laughed. Florella looked from Link to Talen.
"Men!" she said in a tone that said everything.
A downhearted Ruto and Fura returned after a fruitless Link-hunt, but immediately perked up after finding him with the others.
"Where have you been?" Ruto asked, sitting down on the grass.
"Up a tree, if the two of you had bothered to look properly, you probably would have found me," Link said with a grin.
"Hiding from us again? Are we really that hideous?" Fura said in a slightly bitter tone. Link looked thoughtful for a moment.
"No," he said finally, "The two of you aren't hideous at all, I'd sooner die again than say anything like that to you. You're two of the most…colourful people I've met, and I can't even begin to imagine life without you, any of you for that matter, even Florella – she's the best verbal punching bag there is, she even hits back." Everyone was quiet for a while. Link looked at all of them with a puzzled look.
"What?" he said.
"He's such a nice boy!" Florella squealed, swarming up into his arms and smothering his face with kisses from her bow-like mouth.
"Dawn is only moments away, and I'm afraid we must part," Florella said, just a little too dramatically.
"What are you talking about? We're going to see each other when we wake up," Link snorted.
"Stop trying to ruin all of my fun, young man," Florella said sternly.
"Sorry."
"No you're not."
"I know." Florella sighed and shook her head. She gave an apologetic look to everyone.
"Sorry dear ones, but lump has robbed me of my dramatic goodbye…so there isn't really anything to do but wake up," she sighed. Florella held both her hands out and a soft light that gradually got brighter emanated from her palms, enveloping everyone present and sending them back to the waking world.
Link woke with a shuddering intake of breath. He lay still for a few moments, letting his mind reorient itself. He rubbed his eyes and, sitting up, looked out his window at the lanterns that signified the time of day as well as provided light for the city.
"Did that really happen?" he asked himself out loud. Link yawned loudly and rolled out of bed, waking Navi in the process.
"You know, even after we spent the whole night in Florella's realm, I feel strangely refreshed," Navi said.
"You're right, I feel like I've just had the best night's sleep I've ever had," Link mused. The two of them left Link's room and went to the dining room for breakfast. As he went along the corridor, Zelda literally came singing out of her room. She swept Link up and danced along the corridor with him.
"Wow, you're in a good mood today," Link said as Zelda let him go. He straightened his tunic and looked at her with a cocked eyebrow.
"I just feel really refreshed after last night, speaking of which, what you said there was really sweet."
"Yeah, well don't go making a big issue of it, Fura and Ruto looked down and they needed cheering up," Link said a little sternly.
"You're such a teddy bear," Zelda said, hugging him. Link sighed.
"What is it with all of you? Whenever I say something remotely nice about any of you, you go all clingy," Link said
"We have very good reason to do that," Zelda said mysteriously. Link gave her a sidelong glance.
"Oh? Please tell me, I'm dying to know," Link said with feigned enthusiasm.
"You're terrible!" Zelda exclaimed, shoving him off to one side.
"Can you ever forgive me?" Link asked with wide eyes.
"Besides, it's women's business…you wouldn't understand," she said loftily, waving her hand dismissively. Link rolled his eyes and suddenly veered off towards the dining room. Zelda, who wasn't really paying attention, had to quickly change direction to keep up.
"Link," she said after a short time.
"Yes?" he asked.
"Can you say things like that more often?" she asked with a slight blush and a bright smile.
"Arbouren," Impa said suddenly while they were eating breakfast.
"Pardon?" Zelda asked.
"Arbouren, it's the next place we have to go," Impa told her, "The riddle Florella told us talked about a city built in the trees. Arbouren is a settlement hanging in the trees of the Great Forest; we'll have to go by boat in order to get there, as it is located on another continent."
"Ship," Talen said absently.
"Hmm?"
"What? Oh, sorry, I was just being finicky; they're called ships, not boats," Talen said a little sheepishly. Impa gave him a flat, unfriendly stare. It was a known fact among his friends that the fierce looking Sheikah woman scared Talen, and the look she gave him almost sent him under the table. She suddenly grinned and winked at him.
"Breathe, Talen, breathe," Saria murmured as Talen let out an explosive breath.
"Impa, how do you know about Arbouren?" Zelda asked.
"I've been all over the world, Zelda, before I took the position of being your nursemaid I explored as much as I could," Impa told her.
"You never told me about that," Zelda said, in a slightly sulky tone.
"Think yourself lucky, all of you keep secrets from me, then spring them on me at the last minute and delight in my suffering," Link said, folding his arms across his chest.
"You really do like it though, remember when I said that we'd be getting married? You were practically screaming with excitement!" Ruto smiled, patting him affectionately on the cheek.
"I think I was screaming for another reason," he said. Impa hid a smile with her hand.
"Don't," Link said, pointing a finger at her.
"I wasn't going to say anything, young lad," Impa said with a straight face. Fura was grinning openly to herself and Link frowned at her.
"We all know about your surprises, Fura," Link said tartly. Fura fluttered her eyelashes at him and smiled impishly.
"No need to worry, there'll be plenty more where they came from," she said, blowing him a kiss. Link blinked and blushed furiously.
"Now, now Fura, you're scaring him off," Impa told her, "You're supposed to get them unawares."
"Whoops! Forget I said that then," she said to Link.
"I wish I could," he groaned, burying his face in his hands.
"A what!" Link exclaimed.
"A celebratory function, to honour your triumph over Glaciana," Gargun told him. Link and Talen had been called to meet with the king.
"But…it was Talen! He did it!" Link said, pointing to his friend.
"Such a modest young man," Gargun said, "It was the two of you together."
"But me and dances, parties, whatever, don't mix! Especially the o-"
"What's wrong?" Talen asked Link, who had just gone white.
"Oh no! If the others hear about this, there won't be anything we can do!" Link cried in anguish.
"It's a bit late for that, I've already told them," Gargun said.
"Ugh, who's going to be there?" Link asked, rubbing his temples.
"Many of the noble families of Rockvale, the royal family, and of course, your companions," Gargun told him.
"All those people?" Talen asked nervously.
"Yes! And it's going to be tonight, so get ready!" Gargun boomed enthusiastically, showing them out of his study. Link and Talen stood in the hall and sighed simultaneously.
"Maybe it won't be so bad?" Talen said hopefully.
"I was like you once, optimistic about terrible things…but then I came to know the others, and they go out of their way to make sure you're as uncomfortable as possible, they deny it of course and say things like, "You'll enjoy it" and "You'll like dancing"."
"Is it that bad?" Talen asked, slightly distressed.
"You'd better fake an ailment, like a twisted ankle…or death," Link told him.
"Why don't we just assert ourselves? Tell them we don't want to go?" Talen suggested.
"You're welcome to try, I'll be there in case you get crushed too badly by their collective wills," Link offered.
"No," Florella said firmly.
"But-" Talen spluttered.
"No."
"I-"
"No."
"Told you," Link said to his friend. The two of them had found the girls talking excitedly about the event to be held that night.
"Help me out here!" Talen exclaimed, "Don't just stand there, do you want to go?"
"Not in the slightest," Link said.
"Then why aren't you objecting?"
"Because it's pointless, they always win in the end, all you can hope for is a compromise."
"Like what?" Fura asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Well, Talen and I will go with all of you tonight, but neither Talen or myself have to do anything except attend."
"Unacceptable," Florella said flatly.
"Huh?"
"I've got a better idea, the two of you go, you're going to enjoy it, you're going to be perfect gentleman and you're going to do whatever we say," she said firmly.
"Or what?" Link said defiantly. Florella cocked her head and Impa stood up.
"Well, look's like you've got no objections from me," Talen said, fleeing the room.
"Hey!" Link called after his friend.
"Go and get ready, Link," Zelda said.
"What! It's still hours from when we have to go!"
"Just do what she says, Link, it'll be much less painful that way," Saria said.
"You're on my side, aren't you, Ruto?" Link asked.
"Go on, beloved, it won't hurt you," she said with a smile.
"Fine," he huffed, "What do you want me to do, fair maidens?" he asked in a voice dripping with insincerity.
"You need a bath, you need to put your new clothes on, you need your hair brushed, and you need to help us decide what to wear," Zelda said, marking the instructions off on her fingers.
"You're all against me!" Link said accusingly, before storming out of the room.
Link and Talen stood very awkwardly in one corner of the large ballroom. Link and the girls were dressed in what they wore at the ball at Windhill and Talen was wearing a blue doublet and hose. Most of the room was made of glass, with only the back wall being made of rock. The room had split-levels, one was where people grouped together and talked, and the other was where they dined with a shallow flight of stairs joining the two. A fountain with various little aqueducts running off it was situated on the top level and various plants were grown along the edges of them. They had been overjoyed when they were told that there wasn't going to be any dancing, but the brief bit of excitement they felt over that had been quickly replaced by boredom.
"How much longer do we have to stay here?" Talen asked.
"I have no idea, but I wouldn't risk asking the others if I were you, they might take offence," Link warned him. The girls were standing at the other end of the room, talking amongst themselves and another group of young noblewomen. Impa had briefly gone to talk with Gargun. The girls suddenly turned around to face a group of three young men standing behind them. It looked to Link and Talen like they were getting into a heated argument, and Fura seemed to have a slightly shocked look on her face.
"Hey, what's going on over there?" Link asked.
"I don't know…think we should go over?" Talen said.
"I think that's a good idea," Link agreed. He squared his shoulders.
"Well, let's go."
What had in fact happened was that the girls had overheard the young men talking amongst themselves. They were probably around Link's age and height, and it was obvious from their appearance that they had a fairly high opinion of themselves. They had made some various disparaging remarks about the Gerudo, and Fura had heard and immediately confronted them. The brunt of their prejudices were instantly turned on Fura, shocking the young Gerudo girl. Link and Talen arrived soon after.
"What's going on here?" Link demanded.
"Who are you? Are you associated with this cur?" one of the boys asked in a voice riddled with contempt. Link didn't like him already.
"Don't speak about her like that," Link told him.
"I'll speak to anyone anyway I want," he said loftily.
"I don't care for your tone, friend, I suggest you make yourself scarce," Talen said ominously.
"Are you threatening me?" he demanded in a whiny, nasal tone, "Don't you know who I am?"
"I can't say that I do," Link said.
"I am Orsain! Son of Baron Korat!" he declared.
"I don't care who you are, why were you insulting this young lady?" Link demanded.
"I was merely saying that lowly thieves aren't welcome in our city, and certainly not in the presence of nobles," he sneered. Link turned to Fura, who looked injured.
"Did he insult you?" Link asked.
"Yes, but you don't have to-" Fura started, but Link cut her off.
"Yes I do have to, I'm not going to let this little weasel get away with disgracing you."
"Weasel! I am among the most prestigious of noble families!"
"You aren't fit to be called noblemen if you insult the honour of a lady!" Link exclaimed.
"How dare you!" he shrieked, "This Gerudo hag has no right to be called a lady!"
"Better a hag than a mongrel!" Fura suddenly shouted, recovering slightly. Orsain's eyes bulged and without so much as a brief hesitation, he slapped her. Hard. Fura's hand shot up to her now red cheek and gave a shout of pain. By now, many of the people present were looking in their direction. Link didn't wait. He pulled his arm back and smashed his fist squarely into Orsain's jaw, sending him reeling backwards.
"You hit me!" he shrieked, "You can't hit nobles!"
"We're not nobility, so we don't know the rules," Talen said.
Orsain's friends helped him up and gathered menacingly. Talen stepped up to Link's side and clenched his fists. There was silence.
"Get them!" Orsain ordered. Link and Talen ran head on with fists flying. The two of them charged the three young noblemen and an all-out brawl ensued. Link took on Orsain while Talen fought his two lackeys. They traded blows as shocked spectators watched. Link shoulder barged Orsain and ploughed him into the fountain where the two of them splashed, shouted at, punched and choked each other. Orsain punched Link on the cheek and Link returned the blow to Orsain's stomach, knocking the wind out of him. Talen simply nailed his fist repeatedly into the heads of the other two. He tackled them around the room, breaking tables and chairs in the process. Link and Orsain had each other by the throats and each wore an expression of anger and outrage. Orsain had Link in a headlock, but Link snaked his tail up and began to repeatedly smack Orsain about the face with it until he let go. Link twisted Orsain around with his arm behind his back and held his head under the water.
"Apologise!" Link ordered, drawing his head from the water. Orsain wriggled free and knocked Link over.
"I don't apologise to anyone!" he spluttered. Orsain prepared to bring his foot down on Link, but at the last second, Link kicked his foot up and connected with a very sensitive area of Orsain's body.
"Ow! That has to hurt!" Talen said with a wince after delivering a devastating uppercut to one of his opponents. The male population of the room all seemed to cringe as Orsain opened his mouth in a groan of excruciating pain and dropped to his knees. Link stood up and approached him.
"Now go, go back to your father and tell him what a disappointment you are, and never cross my path again!" Link spat. Orsain and his toadies limped away as Link turned to everyone present.
"If anyone else here has a problem with any of these ladies," he motioned to the girls, "They'll have to take it out with me first."
"Goes double for me," Talen agreed. Zelda, Saria, Ruto, Florella and especially Fura were treated like queens for the rest of the evening.
"Thank you…for before, both of you," Fura said as they all sat around one of the tables that hadn't been destroyed.
"Think nothing of it," Talen said.
"How are you feeling, Link?" Florella asked him.
"I'm okay, he doesn't hit very hard so it probably won't swell too much," he said, gingerly touching his fingers to the spot where Orsain had hit him.
"You'll need something cold for that," Saria told him, pulling his hand away and examining it for herself.
"I must say I'm a little surprised, you're never that quick to leap into a fight," Florella said.
"Well he really got me angry when he slapped Fura, so I couldn't let him get away with it, you don't hit girls," Link said.
"Such chivalrous knights, willing to leap into battle in the name of their fair maidens," Zelda laughed.
"Something like that," Link said, rolling his eyes.
"Look at everyone," Ruto said smugly, "They're so jealous."
"What for?" Talen asked.
"Because we have champions willing to defend our honour, they're practically green with envy!"
"Champions?" Talen and Link asked in unison.
"Your new official titles," Ruto said. Talen and Link looked at each other and couldn't help but laugh. Impa returned a short time later.
"Where have you been, Impa?" Zelda asked.
"Talking with Gargun, we've chartered at ship to take us to Arbouren, we'll be leaving tomorrow," Impa told them.
"How long will it take?" Link asked.
"A few weeks, a month at the most."
"A whole month? Stuck on a ship…with no way off…with all of them?" Link said, indicating to the girls. Saria hit him lightly in the arm.
"Don't be mean!" she said. Link laughed and ruffed her hair affectionately.
"I'm not being serious," he said, though the look he gave Talen indicated that he was somewhat. The night wore on and Link and Talen drifted off to sleep in their chairs. Florella was about to wake them when Fura stopped her.
"Let them rest, they've earned it," she said. Florella smiled and at back.
"Well ladies, who's hungry?" she asked.