((How's everyone liking it so far? The review I got really made my day, I've never posted things on here before so this is all new to me. Thanks for reading!))
As they came closer, Tya realized that it was a person.
One that seemed to have aged with the temple sat beneath the red covering with her hands clasped and rested in her lap. A long white braid wrapped itself around her forehead and then much of it hung down. The braid had been rolled up into a circle as if it was some coiled up rope... Quite an odd look, Tya thought. But who was she to judge?
The woman watched them both as they neared her, and Tya slowed to allow Link in front of her. She doubted this woman meant the two of them any harm- she seemed much too old and feeble to attack. So she assumed that, if anything, there would be some conversation there. And though neither of them seemed to be big talkers, she decided Link could be the one to carry it through.
Not like there was any harm in that, this was apparently his mission. Besides, that stutter of his was cute.
"Ah... The traveler descended from the clouds above. I welcome you, child of fate." She spoke to Link, and bowed her head softly after the words escaped her. She then looked to Tya, but said nothing. She seemed a bit displeased with the presence of another, but her attention soon returned to Link.
"Tell me, what is your name?"
"L-Link." He replied simply and softly, giving a gentle bow of his own to the woman.
"...Link." She repeated, nodding gently then looking to Tya. "And you? You are not supposed to be here."
"People keep saying that, but it seems it hasn't quite sunk in, as I'm still here... I am Tya." She was beginning to get it though. Beginning to see she had no place here, and that she could easily return home and wait for Link to do whatever it was he was ' destined ' to do.
But she owed it to Zelda.
Zelda made sure she was safe and now it was her turn to make sure Zelda was safe. It was only fair...
The elder dismissed Tya's response. It wasn't meant to seem rude, but Tya's mind had to continue to convince her just how out of place she was... The woman's attention returned to Link, and she said "I sense you have already gained control over the sacred power that fills your sword when pointed skyward. The skyward strike is yours to command. It is proof that you are fit to bear the blade you carry, the Goddess Sword. I have sat here for many years waiting for you to arrive. All so that I could fulfill my purpose as your guide."
Link paused for a second before a sheepish smile shown on his lips. "Uh.. S-Sorry to k-keep you waitin' so long."
At first the only thing given in return was a quiet chuckle, and she shook her head. But after a moment she began again... "You stand under the roof of the Sealed Temple, a place built by the goddess an eternity ago. Your arrival here was predestined many, many years ago. The spirit maiden you seek arrived here shortly before you, descending to this land in a shower of light. There is no doubting it. The gears of fate have begun to turn... Yet all is not as it should be... The spirit maiden was not meant to reach this land in the manner she did. I feel an evil power working in the shadows.. It moves to warp the destiny of which you two are a part. Link... You are concerned for the spirit maiden and seek her whereabouts, yes? That is understandable, but for now you must focus on moving forward. That girl has her own purpose she must pursue, as do you."
"Alright, well I have no purpose in this, so you could tell me where she is and I could assist her in fulfilling what she needs to fulfill." The words practically fell out of Tya's mouth. She hadn't truly intended to intervene, but it seemed her mind had other plans.
The woman shook her head at first then sighed. "She set out for Faron Woods to discover that destiny for herself, and you, Link, must follow. As for you, I recommend you return to the sky and await their return... The path before this young man is a dangerous one, as is the one before the spirit maiden. Whatever lurks in the shadows will only be furthering that danger... This is not your destiny."
"If that's so, then I'll be led in the direction of my own fate, will I not? Life has a strange way of putting you on the path you are meant to be on, and should I stray from that path it will redirect me. Until then, I am going to search for Zelda and I will bring her home..." She tried her best to seem stubborn. To sound as if she was confident in doing this, but the way her voice cracked shown her true feelings...
The silence that sat over the three of them made her all the more anxious. She was unwanted there by Link and this stranger. She was in the way, a burden to them both. She should return home. She should go home and lock herself away until the only person she trusted returned.
But how selfish was that? Zelda spent her precious time easing Tya's fears and anxieties. Spent her precious time walking on eggshells to try and pull Tya from the depths she'd pushed herself into. Watched every step she made and every word she spoke to metaphorically bring Tya back where she belonged...
And now she couldn't even literally do the same for her? Zelda didn't have to help Tya, but she did.
And Tya didn't have to help Zelda, but she will.
"Very well..." Was all the woman finally said. After a second she nodded and shifted a bit only to pull a piece of paper from beneath the red covering. She held it out to Link and the male hesitantly took it from her hands. He unfolded it to see what seemed to be a map, and as he looked it over the woman began again. "The land you are traveling is an unfamiliar one... Many monsters have settled outside these walls, and just this map may not prove guidance enough for your journey. And so I will show you how to create beacons." She waved for him to lower the map down to her, and he complied by kneeling in front of her and holding it. She placed a slim finger against the paper, and a bit of blue light radiated from it then sunk in. "I have placed a beacon... Where there is a mark on your map, a column off light will stand. It will act as your waypoint from afar. Though you cannot see if from where we are, the beacon stands outside to guide you. Leave the temple through the front doors and see for yourself." As Link stood and looked at the map where a small blue dot now sat, Tya moved to his side and looked at it as well. She didn't study the place of the dot, however, she studied the dot itself. The magic the woman used in order to place the beacon.
"There is a chest within this room, the contents of which should prove useful on your journey. I wish the two of you safe travels... And know that all of the questions you have for now will be answered in time." And with that, she seemingly dismissed them. Link held the map out to Tya so she could have a better look at it, and when she nodded he refolded it and slipped it into the same satchel he'd set the sailcloth in.
The gesture was small and really insignificant, but not to Tya. Link probably thought nothing of it, but him showing her the map instead of just putting it away meant to her that she wasn't as unwanted as she felt. He was showing her where they were going, not where he was going and she would just happen to be following despite being told not to. It was nothing, but it was enough to ease her anxiety...
Link took a step back, looking around for the chest the woman spoke of, and when he noticed it at the bottom of the stairs, they began down and he nudged the small thing open. A bottle sat within it, filled with a purple liquid. With it, was a piece of paper that read 'revitalizing potion'.
"Oh, s-some lady in the b-bazaar sells this stuff. I-It'll heal you up some and I h-heard it'll also fix up s-some items you carry, i-if they break." Link told Tya absently as he looked over the bottle. The cork in the top was pushed in just a bit more to be sure it was secured, then Link forced it into the satchel as well.
"Well hopefully neither of us will end up hurt to the point we need some healing..." She knew that wouldn't be the case, but she could hope, right?
The two of them began toward the door, and Link opened it and held it for Tya to go through. When she did, he went out behind her and closed the door.
