Meanwhile, Beau and Damia were not enjoying their night together too terribly much.
"Uck, I'm hungry," Damia complained, her magic having healed her injuries and Beau's. Despite her tough exterior, it was obvious she wasn't used to missing meals or rough treatment. She was passing in the cage they were locked in. It was a simple wooden one that raised and lowered using a rope and pulley, but they couldn't escape due to the sheer number of monsters around and Damia using up her energy for summoning portals. Damia was also getting more nervous as the monsters kept sniffing around her. Beau pulled her close each time and did his just to give an intimidating glare.
"I'm sorry Damia, Mom usually gives me jerky to snack on after breakfast, but...I-I didn't have enough time to get it today."
"It's fine, I'm sure you're hungry too," She held close to him. "I just wish I could get us out of here safely. You might be able to make it, but the monsters will certainly go after me."
"I'm not leaving you, not after all the effort you put into healing us and trying to teleport out," he was firm on the matter as he tucked her head under his.
"I...thank you," She clung close, feeling a bit like a damsel in distress. She went and gave him a kiss, happy that at least he was around. He met her halfway and held her in a comforting manner when their lips touched. They kept kissing for a while, but Damia stopped as she noticed the monsters becoming more interested in her again. Beau's grip became more protective as he tried to shield her from their view with his body. Damia just clung close, deciding to give in to letting a guy protect her.
Needless to say it was a long night. Linkette awoke to hearing Dale's yells, though tried to ignore them as she snuggled back into her pillow. Her firm, muscular pillow. At some point Dale just opened the door after getting a room key from his aunt and now let out a blood curdling cry on seeing his best friend in bed with a complete stranger.
"Keep it down!" Sheik snapped, having not slept too well due to his nervousness. That's when he remembered where he was and connected the dots on why Dale would react in such a manner. I'm in trouble. He didn't have time to counteract as Dale grabbed him by the ankles and pulled him out. "Ahh!"
Linkette woke up with that excitement and was in a panic trying to get Dale to leave Sheik alone. She didn't know how to stress that they didn't do anything. She tackled Dale in an effort to get him to let go of Sheik.
"Linkette, what's gotten int' ya!?" Dale tried his best to get her off without hurting her, "Ya just met th' guy and yer sharin' a bed with'im? What gives!?"
'We didn't do anything. He was guarding me,' She tried to mouth, hoping he'd understand.
"...Wait, run that by me again?" Dale didn't catch all of it.
She mouthed it again, going slower.
Dale took a moment to process this, "Guardin' ya? But why?"
'I'm the Prince's Fiance, he was worried the monsters would attack again. He was ordered by the prince to guard me.' Linkette was glad she'd found paper.
"Right…" Dale seemed to buy it but did the 'I'm watching you' hand motion at the magic ninja.
Sheik just glared in seething silence in response. Linkette sighed and motioned for them both to get out so that she could get dressed. They did but just kept glaring at each other until Dale broke off to take a bath. Soon Linkette was dressed and went to go get breakfast, feeling beyond embarrassed, especially when she saw Celia give her a questioning look, having heard the argument.
"Is everything alright, dear?" Celia offered some apple juice.
Linkette just sighed, not sure how to respond as she accepted the juice. It was obvious she was embarrassed.
"Dale didn't hurt you at least, right?" She also heard some thumps and assumed there was a tussle.
She shook her head no, slowly drinking the juice before writing, 'You heard him, right?' She meant about Sheik and her being in the same bed and Dale's assumptions.
"A little bit...that's also why I asked if everything's alright. I don't want to doubt the prince's connection to you, but...i-it's hard not to due to what happened."
'We were engaged when I was born, what more is there to say?' She didn't want everyone finding out about their friendship and her growing feelings, thinking it would look bad, especially with her being caught in bed with another man basically, even though they were the same person.
"Just don't get too attached…" Celia warned gently, "it may not end well for him."
Linkette nodded, wishing she could just correct things. She reached for some food, though wasn't overly hungry. She ate a bit and wrote down that she was going to get the horses ready.
"Come find me when you're done, I want to make sure you have all the snacks you need for the ride," Celia requested after giving her a small hug.
Linkette nodded and was off, soon having all the horses ready to go.
The guys eventually came out and claimed their respective steeds, still glaring at each other even as Sheik took point and started tracking the monsters' trail. Everyone was off after getting the snacks, traveling quickly and reaching the forest a bit after lunch, and after that the Great Deku Tree, who informed them of the prisoners held inside and his dilemma. So the group charged in to fight. Dale was confused as to how and why there were lit torches inside a sentient tree and was stuck on that when not engaged in battle. Soon they found their friends, Damia trying to look stoic and such and not like she was clinging to Beau. Linkette found the lever to release them, which also made the boss room key drop down. Linkette struggled to keep the lever in place, hoping Damia and Beau hurried out. Damia didn't hesitate to drag Beau out from under the cage, the couple barely clearing it before the cage dropped. Beau was still holding onto Damia as if her life depended on him doing such despite the fact it was safe to stand up now.
"Thanks guys. Let's finish this temple," Damia dusted herself off.
Linkette nodded, still a bit out of breath.
"Ya wanna take a break?" Dale noticed that his friend was a bit winded.
Linkette signalled that she just needed a minute.
Dale nodded and was just left to ponder that whole torch thing again.
"Are my folks okay?" Beau inquired as he finally let go of Damia and hugged Linkette in thanks, a little bit of magic being used to revitalize her stamina.
"They're still in one piece, but they miss ya fierce," Dale nodded.
"Please tell me you guys brought another horse…?" Beau asked, "It's gonna be an awkward ride if there isn't enough of 'em to get back home."
Linkette wrote out that Dusk followed them.
Beau sighed in relief at that.
"He's a good horse," Sheik complimented.
"He is," Damia stated. "Now onwards."
The group continued on, reaching the boss door and getting it unlocked. Everyone but Beau rushed in, eager to fight. He just wished them well and prayed for their safe return. They fought a giant spider, minus Damia who fled back to Beau out of fright. Once defeated, an emerald pendant dropped. Linkette went to collect it, passing out as a vision hit her. Sheik managed to catch her but now everyone was fretting over her reaction to picking it up, even when the portal that teleported them safely outside showed up. Linkette awoke about half an hour later, quickly searching for paper and a writing utensil. She wrote down that she saw that they needed to go after the Goron's ruby next, and that Beau was important to their quest.
"How?" the cousins inquired in near sync, also sharing near identical expressions of confusion.
'The Goddesses say so,' Linkette shrugged after she wrote it out.
"That's that. He must come along then," Damia stated, trying not to sound eager. "He can stay in my tent."
Beau turned a bright red at that.
"He can bunk with me though?" Dale was confused as to why Damia wanted this.
"You take up too much space, it's better for him to stay with me."
Sheik let out a slightly annoyed sigh, "Damia you'll be bunking with Linkette, the cousins will share and...I'll just do whatever after taking the first watch."
"...Fine," Damia sighed.
The group started setting up their tents, Linkette and Damia starting on supper as the men apparently had it under control.
"I don't know how to cook, do you?" Damia whispered to Linkette, who also shook her head 'no.' They decided to just try and make stew.
"Need some help?" Beau offered on seeing them look a little worried while throwing things into the traveling cooking pot.
The girls nodded 'yes' both a bit embarrassed.
"Let's see what you got so far," Beau walked over and examined the contents, "Hmm...anyone happen to have milk and rock salt?"
Linkette pulled out the requested items.
Beau quietly thanked her and threw them in, "How's about some fresh meat? It'd be a little awkward with what remains of jerky we have."
Both shrugged, as no one had gone hunting.
"Okay, guess it's just gonna be a slightly awkward meal…" Beau tossed in what everyone else had left over in that regard, then added in some herbs he found on the ride. It took a bit and looked kinda weird with the jerky but they soon had a creamy stew to eat.
Everyone ate the meal before retiring for the night, exhausted from the day. Not even Dale's snoring could keep them up, aside from Sheik as he did indeed take first watch. Next watch was Dale and Beau, due to some sense of chivalry that dictated the girls sleep as long as possible.