Dragmire's War – Part 6

-Zora Cavern, Link-

The following day Link rose from the water early. The light was low in the caverns and guards stood at the far end of the tunnel. Len was nowhere to be seen, so Link did some exercises while he waited. He kept it light.

Len arrived and checked on his bandages. She continued to show amazement at his progress. "Do all huma heal like this?" She asked.

"Nah, I have always been special. Needed it too. Otherwise I would be long dead." Link commented. He raised his arms as she changed the skins. "I can't begin to tell ya how many times I've been kicked by a horse, hit on the head with a beam, swarmed by demon chickens…"

"I don't know what this 'chicken' is, but it sounds dangerous. May I advise avoiding them in the future? I would say you are well enough to leave my care and meet with Siren Prise. Just come in every morning for a bandage change for the next week."

"You got it." Link agreed.

She escorted him out to the waiting guards and the warrior Zora took him further. Link's head spun constantly, looking at every little thing. He nearly stepped on a Lesser Zora, one that looked remarkably like a spider and accidentally kicked one of the hunch-back turtle ones. Zora were in such variety! Some slithered, some walked on legs like man, some had really tiny legs like a spider. One albino looking Zora stood ten feet tall and was as thin and gangly as a young tree!

The outer wall of the massive cave had a spiralling ledge that reached ever higher up to the ceiling, as well as down into the water so far the light could not reach. It was from this ledge in which all other tunnels started. A few rope bridges extended across to give a shortcut. Water flowed down the spiral in a gentle manner due to the waterfall at the top that flowed off the edge into the pool below.

Nearer the top of the spiral, where the great waterfall entered, was another tunnel with guards. A set of red curtains with a three-pronged spear symbol on it covered the entrance. Link was escorted within.

Within the small tunnel, Link realized this was their form of a home. Down a step, Link stepped into still-water ankle deep. Around the room were an assortment of furniture that was the weirdest looking he had ever seen. Several were a kind of giant mushroom with hundreds of wavy arms reaching for the ceiling. Giant shells glowed dimly on the walls. A long yellow-squishy sponge sat by the wall, on which a Zora relaxed. He saw a Zora sitting on one amidst the wavy arms leaning against them as if it were a chair. From the bone and scale armour he looked like he was from the warrior caste of a higher grade than the others.

Two more Zora entered in. They both looked reminiscent of the Siren caste. The first was average height and build in comparison to a man, and had a distinct feature of having fins on his legs and arms, although not looking near as sharp as the warrior Zora. From his build he was masculine and older. He had some wrinkles, but the biggest clue was the almost sickly shade of his scales and the sleight difficulty he had in walking. He took his time and sat at what looked like a polished rock in front of the mushroom with wavy arms. He leaned against the wavy arms.

The second Zora to enter was the same Siren Link had seen before. Princess Ruto. She was just taller than Link. She was also flat-chested, which by Link's first impression, meant she wasn't yet physically developing as a woman. Though one can easily argue he is just putting human standards of woman onto her.

Despite these things, the thing about her to draw his attention most was a metal clamp around her lower jaw up to her nose-gills, and the defeated look in her eyes. She walked two paces behind the older one, like any obedient slave would, and kept her head bowed only looking at the floor at her feet. She kept her hands clasped before her.

And this was a princess.

What. The. Realms.

The impression he had been given by Len was that these Siren were the rulers, the slave masters, and were utterly terrifying, yet one Siren was sickly and old while the other, the one supposed to be princess, was the most whipped slave he had seen. She could very well be whipped and beaten for all he knew.

There was something going on here. Link felt he was in the midst of a storm of problems and cultural differences and political intrigue, and none of it was making any sense. What were these Zora doing here? How did Ouki come to know of them? Why did Ouki kick him off the cliff? Why were the Zora people seemingly hiding a fear for a girl who was even more terrified and submissive than them? Was this Siren a slave master to other Siren?

And just where the Realms was his sword, Midna?

The warriors that escorted Link put their hands up before their eyes and lowered a knee. Link glanced at them curiously. Not wanting to make a bad impression, Link bowed in the way of Qin. This was, after all, the first time he had met a new people since the Majora who had not sacked him.

"Rise," Siren Prise said.

The moment the first sound left his lips, Link felt something come over him. The voice was beautiful, eloquent, clear. A small part of himself was compelled to obey. Link wasn't just compelled, he wanted to obey that voice. His limbs yearned to listen and obey the sweet voice, so alluring and divine.

A small part of himself at least. It was enough to shock Link. Sweat appeared on his brow as he realized the Gift of Voice was a real thing. These Siren truly had a power of sorts to compel obedience. Link grit his teeth and growled inside himself. He had been a slave all of his life. He would be damned if he allowed himself to take a step backwards.

The warriors around him immediately raised themselves to their normal position, but Link kept himself bowed for a long moment longer. It was as much so Link could compose himself from his shock as well as to test his own ability to resist. After a moment, Link raised himself. It was only polite, after all.

Prise tilted his head to the side slightly. Looking long at Link. "Tell me: What is your name, huma?"

"… Link." Once again, only polite. Link felt his lips open of their own, but forced himself to hesitate. "I am a soldier of Qin in the service of High Princess Zelda."

"I… did not ask you that." Prise hesitated ever so slightly, seemingly caught off guard by the additional information.

"I know," Link replied simply. The warriors glanced to each other.

"Link, tell me: Do you know who I am?"

"I'm told by the doctor to call you Siren Prise. I imagine that is not your name in your… language." Link wasn't sure what their language was called unless he wanted to say 'tongue of Zora'.

"You are right to say Prise is not my name, but it is as close as your huma tongue can pronounce it." He commented. He ran his hands across the polished stone resembling a table. He motioned to the two Zora escorting Link. "Leave us."

The two departed.

Prise returned his attention to Link. He motioned to another mushroom chair with the wavy arms. "Sit. I have some questions for you and I am sure you have no few for me."

Link chose to stand. "I do. First one being, 'where is Midna?'"

"Midna?"

"My sword. It was around my back when I fell."

"Ah, I see. Well, your weapon has been confiscated for now. If you turn out to not be a danger, you may have it back at the centurion's discretion."

"The who's what?"

"Basically if I let you have it back." The warrior caste Zora said from besides Link. So this guy was a centurion. Sounded like a rank or position or job.

"Tell me, Link: why are you here?" Prise asked.

"Because Ouki kicked me."

"He..." Prise shared a confused look with the centurion. "He kicked you? He didn't give you a message or instruction? Nothing for us? Tell me."

Link frowned. The directness of the Siren's words were going to quickly wane on his patience. "Not that I know of. You see, I was sent from the High Princess to him with a letter to be given training by him. The next morning he took me out and kic-" Link stopped. Remembering something. "Actually, he did give me a message just before he kicked me."

"And what would that be, pray tell?"

Link did his best to remember. It was a foggy memory overshadowed by the kick to his gut. He could still feel Ouki's metal boot on his stomach. "He said… when I reach the other side, to tell 'them' he sent me. And he is sorry for the… err- something." Link remembered Ouki had said some words that he didn't know.

"Are you suggesting he sent you here for training?" Prise asked. "Surely not! He would not risk us like that!"

"Siren, if I may." The centurion spoke.

"Speak."

"Ouki Mitagi is a brilliant and wise huma, and we are here because of him. Do you think Ouki, in full knowledge of us, would send him to our very doorstep, without a purpose?"

"But what purpose would that be? The boy doesn't seem to know." The Siren argued.

Link spoke up, "Why don't you try asking him? Send him a message… or something. I'm sure you have someone who can sneak past the bandit camp."

The centurion said, "It does not work like that."

"What?"

The warrior turned his attention to the Siren. "Siren, the boy already knows of us. And despite your reluctance, surely you cannot deny the boy was sent by Ouki. In addition there is one further proof: his sword. That sword is no commoner's blade. Nor is it the blade of a regular soldier or lowly officer. The workmanship, the attention to detail, the materials, the finery in the grip, it is a sword given to warriors of high rank or service in the Royal Family. I do not know how the boy obtained it, but it leads credence to his statement that he is from the Royal Family of Qin. With Ouki as proof, and the engraving of the Qin royal family as proof, surely you can see there is purpose in his presence. So it is only right he… understand our presence in turn."

Prise looked between them hard. He said nothing for a long moment. Link gulped, uncertain what was passing in his blue head.

"As much as I disagree, you are right," Prise said. "It may be that Ouki sent him here for training. And despite his looks, he could be hired by the Qin royal family. I will trust in your judgement. But do you see what risks you are taking in us… allowing him to understand?"

"I do. I trust Ouki. I will trust in Ouki's judgement."

"Very well." The Siren looked to Link, "Then listen boy, and know-"

"Hold it."

The Siren stopped mid-sentence. The younger Siren stumbled over herself. The centurion drew in his breath through his gills. All of them stared at Link with wide-eyes.

"I never said that I wanted to know why you are here." Link said. "Sorry if I come across as rude, but all I want is my sword. Show me to the nearest exit and I will no longer be your problem."

"How dare you!" The centurion barked. The Zora stood to his feet. "You do not talk to the Siren like that! When he says to listen, you will listen!"

"Why?" Link asked. He was momentarily startled by how suddenly the Zora snapped to anger. "He is not my Siren. I hold no allegiance to him. Last I checked my allegiance is to Qin." Link sighed, and looked to the Siren and bowed. "I am thankful to you for saving me. I am in your debt. Would it be fair to pay the debt with my silence?"

"It is." Prise said. He did not seem bothered by the situation, only surprised and uncertain.

"Then I swear upon my honor that I will not reveal your presence to anyone."

"I accept, huma." Prise said. He looked down his gills at him. "Where will you go?"

"Don't know." Link replied honestly. "Ouki Mitagi would not be expecting me soon. Probably would not want me back anyway… not like he sent me here for any purpose he told me of. I can fend for myself…" Link considered his options. "But I will probably look for an army to join and work my way up."

"Then if there is nothing else, if you will?" The Siren looked to his warrior.

The centurion glared down at Link, and Link returned it coolly. "If you order me to, Siren, then I will obey. But so long as there is breath in my gills, I will not accept this insult to our pride!"

"What insult?" Link wondered. Are you really so full of yourself that you are insulted by me wanting to stretch my legs or not wanting to get involved in politics of nations that I have nothing to do with? Because if there is one thing I've learned, knowing about it, the people tend to expect you to get involved." Link scoffed. "You can kiss my 'huma' butt for all I care."

"You will respect us or I will teach you respect! We healed you when you were injured and you reply with interruption, disobedience, and dishonor. As our guest, you will treat us with respect!"

"Siren, do you feel slighted?" Link asked. The Siren shook his head. "There you go." Link raised his hand in a rude gesture to the centurion. "I ain't taking no shit from you. Don't give a Din how big you are."

The warrior seethed. The Siren looked on worriedly, even scared. Link narrowed his eyes at the warrior centurion. The centurion looked to the Siren dangerously, and the Siren replied by putting his hands up and stepping back. Link raised his brow at this exchange. Was the warrior superior to the Siren? This place was complicated.

The centurion said, "You want your sword back, brat? I challenge you to a duel. If you win, I will give it to you and will apologize."

"And If I lose?" Link asked.

"Then you are mine to do with as I see fit until such time as you learn respect."

Link smirked. He clenched his fists. It was a foolish game of pride. Link paid his respects as best he could, but his mouth got him in trouble as usual. He couldn't grasp this whole 'pride' thing the Zora spoke of, and that was probably why he tripped over it so easily. Now a tall warrior of Zora, and most likely an officer, was challenging a boy soldier of Qin to a duel? This was as one-sided as it got.

Link felt his muscles shake. The Zora noticed and said, "If you beg for forgiveness, I might change my mind. This is your chance to run."

"Who said anything about running." Link smiled widely. "I look forward to shoving your pride where it belongs."

-A little later-

Part of the cavern network was an area where the warriors trained. Most of it was empty, as the Zora did not utilize weapons outside of the natural gifts they were born with. There was scaled or bone armor and use training tools such as weights and targets. Amidst the pile to the side was Midna. Link saw it, and felt assured it was safe.

"Since you, inferior huma, are not born with weapons, you may use your sword on loan to fight as well as any armor of ours." The centurion said. He entered into the ring of shallow water.

Link caught Midna as it was thrown to him. He frowned. He didn't want to bring her into this foolishness, but despite his misgivings and pride he didn't stand much of a chance against the fins on the Zora. Now that Link was looking closely, the front side of the fin was hard bone, like a blunt sword, while it became sharper on the back and towards the pointed end.

Around the room other warriors gathered to watch. Link had become a well-known curiosity in the village as soon as he had shown up. It was hard to keep quiet that a person from another species had fallen into their front door and was receiving medical care, and now had taken up the commander of the village in a duel.

The two Siren's were present. Prise looked curious and unconcerned, while the younger one, Ruto, watched dimly.

"I'll be honest with you." Link hummed. "I don't see what I did wrong."

"Then you are as stupid as you are prideful."

Link laughed mockingly. "You are the one doing this for pride."

The centurion bounced up and down on his feet slightly, with his weight towards his clawed, webbed toes.

"Then why are you here, brat?"

"Because I am too prideful to take your shit without a fight." Link smirked. "Seems we both have a problem."

The arena was a pool of water. It was shallow enough for Link to step into. The water made it up to his lower shins just above the ankle, and instantly Link felt difficulty in walking. It was not to say he was having to fight in mud, but water still slowed him down. The centurion stepped into the water from the other side. His feet were much larger and he was not hindered by the water. If anything, Link noticed his steps were eased… he almost hovered.

Link gulped and gripped Midna tightly. He reached out with his mind to the mark of power on his hand and prayed that Farore was with him. He may have overstepped himself, but Link was too busy mouthing off to care. It was too late to learn

"Fight." Prise declared.

Link stepped forward towards the centurion cautiously with Midna raised. This Zora held himself with pride. Link couldn't tell if it was due to formal training, a bloated ego, or experience.

The Zora bounced on his toes a bit. His fins snapped out straight from his forearm, and in a single movement he was on Link. Link's eyes widened in surprise. The Zora was fast. Far faster than Link expected. In the instant, he had lost track of him.

Instinctively rather than by sight, Link raised his sword to block as the Zora threw a punch at him. The punch missed, for it was not his fist the centurion was using, but his fin. The hardened bone collided with Midna.

Link felt himself being pushed back under the impact. The Zora was strong, and the speed of his blow combined with his speed across the arena was enough to knock Link off his feet. Link stumbled in the water, unable to find proper footing so suddenly.

The Zora, though, did not suffer this problem. The moment he had been blocked, the Zora spun. To Link, it was like a graceful dance, strong and purposeful. Link felt bone collide with the back of his neck. His head snapped backwards as his body was thrown forwards into the water. He landed flat on his face in the water.

Link jumped to his knees, sputtering water. He did not have Midna in his hands. He tried to stand, but a foot planted itself on his back and shoved his face down into the water. Link struggled against the foot. But his resistance did not last, and he knew no more.

Link woke up screaming at Len's cove again. He looked around, but the centurion was lost gone. Link fell into the water and struggled to get out. He climbed out of the water and collapsed.

"I lost?" Link muttered. Somehow he expected this, but the thought only made him grin. The thought of the centurion holding him back made him focused and angry, and the two combined to present to him a short-term objective, one that was more within his reach. Link had dreams for the far future, and now he knew what his next step was.

He would overcome the centurion. Then he would leave this place.

Link was briefly tended to by Len, who chastised him for his stupidity and foolishness. Link could only apologize for worrying her and take it. In a way the chastisement made him happy, he remembered the other boys in his village would be berated by their mothers and it reminded him of that.

"I promise, I will be more careful the next time I fight him." Link said.

"There won't be a next time! Just leave! Leave this place and return to your home!"

"No," Link replied. "I swore on my honor I would serve him, and I will not go back on my word. However, that doesn't keep me from continuing to challenge him."

Link left after being berated yet again, and made his way to the warrior cave. Immediately what he saw, he did not like. The warriors lazing about were being served by the Lesser Zora.

Another part of the warrior cave was a deeper pool of water. The centurion was idly floating in it chatting with his comrades. Link walked over and said, "I lost the first duel, as promised, I am here to serve." Link once was a slave, and knew how to act as such.

The centurion snarled at the sight of him and jumped out of the water. He grabbed Link by the shirt and shoved him into the wall. "You dare show your face around here, Huma?! I lost face because of you! Why did you accept when you were already nearly broken?!"

"It was you who requested, if you recall, master." Link replied flatly, avoiding eye contact, like a good slave. "And if there is one thing you will come to learn about me… I never back down from a proper challenge."

"Is that so?" The centurion dropped him. He turned around, scanned around briefly before pointing. "Then you can babysit her for me."

Link looked around him to see the Siren Ruto. She was among the Lesser servicing the warriors, only worse. She was pushed around and snapped at and mocked at worst, and was ignored at best. She took it all meekly and silently. Not like she had a choice with the clamp around her jaw.

"Ruto!" The centurion called out. "This boy wants to serve, so he will serve by being the one to put up with you!"

The other warriors laughed and mocked Link in their native language. Link ignored them. The centurion had called it out in the tongue of Qin to mock him with his knowledge. Link whispered, "Just guard her basically? Make sure she stays out of trouble?"

"You got it, huma." The Zora spit as if 'huma' was a curse. "She is more important than you. So her needs are to be met before yours. Now get to it and get out of my sight."

"Until next time, master." Link bowed.

"Next time…" The Zora scoffed. "If you are truly a fool seeking punishment, then I will accept putting you in your place whenever you want. Just ask."

Link ignored him and walked up to Ruto. And… not much else. Ruto stared at him uncertainly, and Link wasn't much better. He had been a slave once, but he could not grasp how one could look so defeated. He had been a strong willed slave. 'Course he wasn't treated badly as a slave. He was treated very well. That was something Link found he had not fully understood nor appreciated till now. Now that he had a reference for comparison.

"So…" Link tried. "Guess I just follow you. Don't mind me."

Not much to do about it, Link followed her as she worked. He wondered if she was a problem maker, as the centurion implied, but he saw no proof of it. She was disgustingly humble and subservient. She brushed the stone floor on her hands and knees, then attended private classes under the other Siren (Link was ordered to stand outside for this part), she cleaned cavernous homes and delivered goods that was twice her weight and nearly crushed her. In all of this she kept her head down and didn't utter a sound.

The empty look in her eyes disturbed him. It made him angry. They were not the eyes of a troublemaker, but the eyes of a defeated slave.

And this was their royalty?!

"I swear." Link hissed to himself. "If you end up being another princess hiding as a slave I'm going to have words with Farore. I don't need this shit."

The people kept their distance and cast them dirty looks. Link had about enough. He was in pain, and putting up with her infuriating defeatism made his blood boil. Link stared directly into the eyes of anyone who looked at him too long. Before long they turned away nervously. If this was his home village he would have beaten the ever living crap out of several of them.

This went on for days. With each day the pain lessened. He was given a spot to lay down in a corner the 'barracks', such as it was. The other warriors drank their version of alcohol, mocked him, laughed at him, tripped him, knocked him down, even beating him once, and he took it in stride, not lashing out but also not bowing his back to them.

And each day he was tasked with attending a slave princess so the warriors could loiter around. Each day watching her only made him more and more angry, as he saw more and more that she had no self-respect.

Bored, and aggravated, he started to help her. Ruto stopped briefly, fearful and surprised, but Link said nothing and the moment passed. When she was tasked with lifting or carrying, he took it. He felt his body had declined with inaction and returned to training and strengthening himself. When she was tasked with cleaning, he raced to do it quicker. When the looks were cast their way Link openly returned them and scowled or glared until the onlooker backed off.

For the first time Ruto had nothing more to do early and the centurion waved them off to "do whatever." Link sent him a rude gesture.

Unsure what to do, Link followed Ruto out. He decided to check with Len and see if he could push his body again to train himself. A drunk warrior tripped him as they passed. Ruto stopped to help him up automatically, but the drunkward slapped her across the face, telling her not to interfere.

Link felt his blood boil in his veins. He half heard what the warrior was saying in a mixture of languages, all he registered was that it was more mockery. He stood to his feet and the warrior kicked him down before turning on the other one and kicking her.

And she just curled in a ball and took it.

Link saw red.

He tackled the drunk warrior off the ledge into the deep lake below. Zora scattered as they splashed in. Link held on and punched him anywhere he could reach, aiming for the face. The warrior was drunk and slow to react, but inevitably he did.

The warrior kicked Link off and swam a short distance away. Link floundered around, still unable to swim. He grabbed hold of the stone side and started to climb. The warrior proved to be much faster under water than above, as he slammed into Link against the wall. Link gasped out air and warm water rushed into his lungs. The warrior pinned him to the wall with his chest. Link reacted instinctively and bit down directly on the gills in the warriors neck.

The warrior lurched painfully and could no longer breath under water. He swam for the surface. Link held on with his teeth and bit down hard as he could still flesh tore off and blood contaminated the water.

They broke surface. The warrior collapsed unconcious, having passed out from the pain, while Link used what little strength he had left to climb onto the shallows, spit out the clump of flesh in his blood filled mouth, and throw up water that had entered his lungs.

Hands grabbed him and pulled at him. Not hard enough to be an adult. He saw Ruto over him and seeing her only made him angry. He threw her off.

"Get off! I don't want your help. What is wrong with you?! How can you just take it? Huh!?"

Link huffed angrily, half expecting an answer, hoping for one, but also knowing he would never get one. The clamp around her jaw was as infuriating as she was. Link was angry. Angry with the people here, angry with her, and now angry with himself for he knew he was being a jerk.

Yells drew his attention and Link looked down to see the centurion and a number of warriors coming. They were not yet seen, but it wouldn't be long.

"Look just go." Link said. "I screwed up. No point in you getting pulled into my foolishness." He spit out blood. "Dindamn even taste like raw fish-ack!" Ruto grabbed his sleeve and pulled hard enough to pull him off his feet.

Ruto pulled him up the long ramp spiralling the cave. Hearing the centurion yell for him, Link decided he had nothing to lose and followed her. At the top of the spiral, at the top of the cavern, was an alcove that was very thin and small where the spiral did not quite match up with the natural cavern wall. Ruto climbed in. Briefly turning around to look if the coast was clear, Link followed in.

The hiding place went on for a distance in wavering directions, no longer fashioned but natural. Link bumped his head but pressed on until it opened enough to breath and stretch. The place went on further, but it became too dark to see with the little light that could penetrate.

Ruto sat in a corner away from him and watched the hole as if wary they were being followed. Link could hear voices, but it was very distant and before long it was gone. All he could hear was a faint trickle of water at their feet and his own breathing.

Link walked up to her. "Hey th-" she flinched away from him. Guilt coiled in his stomach and he stepped back. Link sat down and sighed, feeling like a real piece of work. "Sorry, I snapped at ya. That was wrong. You're just... I used to be a slave myself."

Ruto's eyes widened. Link chuckled. "No joke. War orphan. I was taken in by a plantation owner, owned the whole village. He treated me real good. I had stuff to do and when I was done, my time was my own, he paid me, and I didn't get to share in his name like his kid did or live in the main house, but he made sure I was warm, cozy, fed, and happy..." Link looked down shamefully. "And I gave him all kinds o' shit. He didn't have none of it coming. But this place... what you get... all I know is that if I was in your spot I woulda fled or killed someone by now. The way these people treat you is just wrong. And to make it all the worse you just take it. You let them do it. Not a word. Nothing. You just take it 'n' I cannot fathom it! And that made me angry... makes me angry." Link corrected.

"I know I ain't gonna get nothing from ya, but I just can't see it. What kinda princess takes slavery like this? I met a princess and..." Link chuckled. "She is both the coldest and hot-headedest person I have ever met! Anyone who screws with her better fear for their life. She don't put up with nothing!"

As Link talked, he failed to notice Ruto hesitantly reach up and unscrew the clasp. Its binding snapped off, and slowly she pulled it off her lower jaw. She flexed her mouth, as it held her mouth shut. Creases could be seen all around her mouth from where it held firmly to her.

"S-sounds like you had a good huma." She whispered.

Link snapped his neck around in surprise. At first he wondered where the sound had come from, before realizing in disbelief that it was her. He stared at her for a long moment, enough so that she turned away in emberassment. He pointed at her.

"You can talk." He stated in a question.

"Y-y-yes." Was the weak response.

He blinked several times. "Okay… that-that's new. I was half expecting you to be mute."

He had grown accustomed to one-way conversations, at most only having to gouge her facial expressions. For some reason hearing her talk startled him greatly. It left him unsure what to say or do. Her voice was clear; weak from lack of use, but clear. He could see she was terrified, but terrified of what? Of him?

"I'm not going to hit you for talking to me, if that's what you expect." Link said gently. "I would prefer it this way than having to guess."

That seemed to reassure her, but she was still uncertain and terrified. Link didn't get it, but he knew enough of tiny animals to know how to handle something when its skittish. She breathed out and said, "P-put… your hand's ontop your head."

Link blinked. Her voice was clear and mesmerizing. But… that made no sense. "What?"

She stared at him for a moment, gulped, and said more firmly, "Stand and put your left hand over your heart."

"Uh… how about no?" Link said uncertainly. "Why? What's the point of that?"

Ruto's eyes widened before once more being skittish, "I'm sorry! I-I-I wanted to test something."

"My flexibility? I can bend my arms you know."

"No, no." The corner of her lips curled slightly. "When you talked with… Prise. He ordered you to sit… and you stood."

"Yeah, I had been laying down or sitting for days." Link raised an eyebrow.

"But the point is you refused the order."

"I would like to think I wasn't as rude or dishonorable as warrior-jackass made me out to be…"

"But you still! When Prise said to listen, you did not listen, you talked."

"I know, I get told I do that."

"No!" Ruto put a finger to his lips. "Link, you are not affected by my Gift! By our Gift. The Gift of Voice. The ability given to all Siren to command anyone and be obeyed without question." Suddenly realizing she was touching his face, she backpedaled hurriedly. She chastised herself for being drawn into his pace enough to be so bold as to be improper. "S-s-sorry!"

"For what? You have nothing to apologize for."

"Sorry…"

"Now you're apologizing for apologizing?" Link looked at her like she was nuts. "Stop it, that's dumb."

She bowed her head shamefully. Link sighed. She was taxing his patience. He was truly trying not to be angry with her, but her complete lack of any form of spine continued to bug him. One would think she would be better safe away from the abuse… but then again Link rationalized that abuse went far. He had seen it, not necessarily in slaves as he and Midna were the only ones at the plantation, but in some families.

"Why does it matter if I am affected or not?" Link asked. "I know I don't understand you Zora people… and I have heard you Siren are all big bad scary monsters because of this Gift of yours, but frankly I'm not scared. I don't think I would be scared of you even if you could control me if that makes you feel any better." Ruto started to smile a bit. "I mean, you're a wimp. You're the kind of person who just begging to have the shit beaten out of 'em. Which… you are." Ruto lost the smile and bowed her head shamefully. His words pierced her like arrows.

"Sorry…"

Link threw his hands into the air. "Oh my goddesses! Stop apologizing!"

"Well, I'm so-… It's important…" Ruto whispered. "You wouldn't be so brave if you had to live with the fear."

'No, shit. That's exactly what the opposite of brave is!' Link thought sarcastically. He actually said, "What fear? Fear of being controlled? I used to be a slave. I know a thing or two about-"

"About having the Gift!" Ruto snapped. She sniffed. Link stopped. Her tone had changed. She was still wimpy and sad, but now also angry. Not angry with him or anyone, but seemingly angry with herself. "This 'Gift' is no gift, Link. It is a curse. You don't know what it's like… to have to measure every word. To know that one wrong word can kill someone. I'm young… and kids our age are irrational. I know that. You yourself have thrown out statements you probably don't mean to Zora around you. But what if it happened as you said? You know a Siren child ordered her entire school to kill themselves? Didn't really mean it, just was being a normal child by any other standard and was upset and was yelling. But her Gift…"

Link's eyes widened. He felt his face go numb as he paled.

She continued, "… hundreds died. Killed themselves… After that, young Siren are forced to wear the clamp. Only… I want to. I'm afraid to go without it."

"You're not afraid of them… you're afraid of yourself." Link realized. "Afraid you might say something foolish, like me… only you doing it is much worse than me."

Ruto nodded.

"You…" Link hesitated. "You don't talk to anyone but Prise, do you?"

Ruto shook her head.

The two fell into silence. For Ruto it was perhaps comfortable, as she was used to silence. But for Link it was unbearable. He saw things from a new perspective and the implications startled him.

The Zora's fear…

The Siren's fear…

There was more to their problem than just one side. Both sides were scared of the other, and were even scared of themselves. For the first time since he laid eyes on her, he wasn't disgusted or angered. He felt pity. He couldn't grasp the idea of fearing yourself.

"I'm jealous… You huma are nations of the same race. You can relate to each other. We are not… Because of it we split into strict racial castes and have lost touch with each other. The Warrior cannot relate to the Worker. The Lesser cannot relate to the Siren. We think differently."

"Surely it is not that bad." Link questioned hopefully. "What of the half-breeds?"

Ruto chuckled darkly. "Half-breeds? It is illegal to marry out of your caste. The half-breed between two worker races is still a worker. Siren are the only race in our caste… and a dying one at that. I am doomed to marrying a cousin or sibling."

Ruto sighed in defeat. Link felt a disgusted chill go down his spine. He couldn't imagine the thought of marrying Midna. She was a sister to him! Technically, if one truly wished to press the issue, Midna would not have been his sister so if his master pressed the option, Midna and him could have been married as slaves. But the thought still made him squirm.

Link said, "As a slave I was doomed to being given in marriage to another slave, but now that I am free, I can choose as I will. Don't you have any options to free yourself?"

Ruto shook her head. "There is no escape from this. Not unless I cut my tongue off or die."

"What?" Link gasped.

"Father cut off his tongue after the rebels killed my brothers and sisters. Siren are being hunted and killed these days."

"Ruto… I'm sorry I ever was angered by you. You care a lot more about your people than they realize, and the burden you carry… I don't know what I can do, but if talking helps, then I don't mind hearing what you have to say. You look like you could use a friend."

Her eyes lit up brightly in a way that made him smile. It was a massive improvement from before. He put up a finger. "But I have conditions."

"What?"

"Stop apologizing. Do not say sorry unless I ask for it. Its annoying."

"Sorry…"

"Stop it!" He chided her. "Next I want to learn to swim… you can swim, right?"

She nodded.

"Great! Then when we have free time, teach me to swim. I'm a rock out there." He chuckled. He put out his hand. Ruto looked at it then back at him curiously. "Seriously… what is with you princesses… you're supposed to shake hands."

She shook her own hand.

"That's not what I meant!" He exclaimed. Ruto laughed. Something about his aggravation at something so small amused her. Link sighed and smiled despite himself. "Why is it I have to teach you princesses how to be civil and shake hands?"

They continued on talking for a time. Link found she was actually pleasant to talk to when she wasn't down or apologizing every other sentence. She was purely fascinated by his stories of life outside of the caves or ocean. Just describing what a cow was took ages. Birds and the idea of flying animals was beyond her grasp. To her such creatures were just swimmers of a different ocean.