CHAPTER 2

For the first time in years, he felt truly-happy. He felt whole, he experienced warmth like never before, and his heart had never felt closer to overflowing. Because she was back in his arms again. They had been reunited by what could only be described as "an act of the gods".

He did not need his eyes. He could feel the warmth of her touch, the softness of her skin, and the tresses of her long, beautiful hair. He breathed in her familiar scent and drew ease from her breath in his ear.

When he heard her melodic voice gently say his name, he lazily opened his eyes to gaze up at her angelic face-

-

Both of his eyes sprang open. The very instant they did, the world became cold and unforgiving once more, just as it had been to him for the last decade-and-a-half.

For a time, all he could do was just lie still and stare into the dark of the night, trying to accept that the dream he had was not real. Once he had fully returned to reality, he sat up and draped his legs over the bed, combing his fingers through his dirty-blonde hair as he fought to control himself. His breath was shaky and choked, and tears stung at his eyes, yearning for release. He bit both back, forcing himself to calm his pulsing emotions.

It was an uphill battle that even he struggled to overcome.

Even after fifteen years, her memory continued to haunt his subconscious.

Looking up, he saw his daughter on the opposite bed, seemingly fast asleep if the steady rise and fall of her midsection was any indication. He envied Aria at this point. After all he had been through, peaceful sleep was a rare commodity for him.

His heart still heavy and his mind weighed by heartbreaking images, he pulled on a plain shirt and made his way towards the door. Daylight was still hours away, the night illuminated by a pearlescent full moon. Once past the threshold, he stood just outside the door, letting the cool night air steadily anchor him back to reality and brace his focus, enabling him to regain full control over his emotions.

"Father?"

He did not turn at his daughter's tired, curious voice. "Shouldn't you be in bed?" he asked her.

"I could ask the same." she retorted.

Knowing she would not leave until she got some kind of answer, he gave her the most honest answer he could. "I just had a nightmare. Needed some air. I'll be back inside in a minute."

His answer seemed good enough to her, but she did not leave him. "What did you dream about?"

He heaved a sigh. "It doesn't matter. It wasn't real. I'll be fine."

"Is there anything I can do?" she asked, audible concern in her tone.

"You can rest up for tomorrow." he said, forcing some strength into his voice, "We'll have a lot of work to do in-town."

He heard his daughter sigh in mild frustration at his vague, broad-stroked answer, but she offered no complaint. Only when her footsteps faded and he heard her settle into bed did he finally move. He reached up with his left hand and dried the faint tear streaks that marred his face.

He did not want to appear weak to his daughter, especially for what was soon to come. He did not know "how" or "when", only that it would.

Whether or not he could convince himself to go through with it, he did not know. He still felt Aria had much to learn and a good bit more to grow, but it was not enough to distract him from the dread in the air that grew heavier and heavier by the day. Both he and his daughter would, inevitably, have to face it one day.

Almost on instinct, he held up his left hand and clenched it hard in his right, as though nursing some old wound. Eyes shut, teeth clenched and brow furrowed, he tried to find the answer within, to drown out the pain within.

He found none.

"Dearest…" he thought to himself, hoping she could hear his thoughts, wherever she may be, "What am I going to do?"

-

Aria woke a few hours later with the rising sun. Once again, her father had risen before her and was making the last few preparations before they went into town that day. After what happened late last night, Aria suspected her father never truly slept. He had been up later than she had, yet still somehow managed to be an earlier riser.

The meat and pelts from yesterday's catch had been butchered and spiced-pumpkins weren't the only thing they grew in their garden. Some meat cuts had been set aside for their own food supply, while others were to be sold in-town.

Aria rounded up the three goats she had chosen from the previous day and selected two pumpkins in fine condition. With all their wares selected, the two set off to the east. Lacking any mount or wagon, they had to go on-foot: a journey that lasted them an hour if weather and circumstance allowed. In the past, Aria had exchanged pleasant banter with her father, talking about whatever subject happened to cross her mind. No matter how nonsensical or childish, he used to delight in such a thing. Now he seldom spoke, only doing so when necessary or giving her basic advice.

They arrived in town without hitch and, finding a small patch of land by the road, Aria's father had set out a plain mat and the wares for passersby to inspect. She took her seat right next to him, calling out to anyone who passed by and offering them healthy goats and quality spoils from their hunt. An hour passed, however, and they only managed to sell one goat for a few red rupees. Aria's father must have sensed the mental toll it was taking on her, for her calls grew less and less enthused with each passerby.

"Aria?" he piped up, catching her attention, "I can handle this for awhile, if you're bored. You can go."

Aria gave him a small smile, welcoming the chance to get on her feet. A thought crossed her mind before she took off, then she turned to her father.

"Can I buy a new book?" He raised his brow at the sudden question, prompting her to explain further. "I love the one I have, but I'd like to read a new story. I've even been saving rupees for one." She held up a pouch that she had been storing rupees in for months, to show that she did not lie.

Her father cast her a penetrating stare, but then closed his eyes and nodded in defeat. "Sure. But you know the rule, right?"

"Yes." she said with a nod, "Thank you." With permission granted, she ventured into town at a brisk walk.

"The Rule" he had mentioned was simple-she was not to read or purchase a book on Hyrule's history. She did not know her father's reasoning for this term, but did not question it. She had little interest in it, favoring tales of fantasy and heroes over events that occurred long ago. She yearned to escape her menial life, not learn of events and names from long ago.

Going to a simple cottage, Aria pushed open the door and was met with a candle-lit, homely interior that had walls lined with books. Seated at a desk in the center was an aged, bespectacled man that glanced up at Aria when he heard the door open, his eyes seemingly magnified by his glasses. A smile graced his face, though, when he recognized his newest customer.

"Ah, it's you, Ari!" he said in a soft, mildly-educated voice, using a pet-name that pleasant townsfolk affectionately called her, "Grown tired of your old book yet?"

"Hello, Lucius." she said, sheepishly. She was unaccustomed to such attention from other people. This bookkeeper never made it secret that he had a fondness for her and her love of stories. "And yes, I finally have had enough. I can only read the same story so many times before it gets old."

"Well, you've come at the right time, young lady!" Lucius said, hustling out from behind his desk, "Memory serves, you still have a fascination for the old legends of the Hero of Hyrule?"

"Really?" she said with mildly-feigned interest, "What evil does he conquer this time?"

"Hard to say. It only just came in. I haven't found the time to read it, actually. You beat me to it." he answered, causing Aria to stifle a laugh, then stopped at a shelf and began browsing through the book covers, "Oh! This one!"

Lucius pulled out a leather-bound book and handed it to Aria, who took it and inspected it. In gilded lettering, the title read, "The Hero and The Goddess From On High".

"I might be mistaken, but I do believe this is a rare one-supposedly, it's an account of the first-ever in the line of Heroes." Lucius said with barely-controlled excitement, "If it's true, then I'm sure you are going to love it!"

"Thank you very much, sir." Aria said, then handed him what rupees she owed and departed, already flipping open the book to read it.

She had barely gotten out the door when she almost walked, headlong, into two people. Only the sharpest halt she had done in years stopped her from colliding with their backs. Apparently, it was still enough to warrant a vicious response, as they turned on her the instant she was in arm's reach.

"Watch where you're going, vai!" A sharp, female voice ferociously snapped.

"Sorry!" Aria said, hurriedly.

Only when the adrenaline of embarrassment and rushed apology faded did Aria actually take in what these particular people looked like. They were both women, but were unlike any that Aria had ever seen. They stood almost a full head taller than her, had skin the color of fresh soil and rich, red hair tied back in a ponytail, held up by a gem-encrusted hairpiece.

What stood out to Aria the most about these women were their choice of attire. While most women she met were modestly-dressed in the plainest of garbs, these two women showed much more skin than she'd ever seen or thought passable to commonfolk. From loose-fitting silk pants to a short-cut top that made no effort to hide their defined abdomens, this attire was alien to Aria.

What made Aria the most uncomfortable were their faces-lips painted with bright-pink, eyes of a fierce, hawklike orange, and a long, hook-like nose that made them look even more like predatory birds. Not helping was the fact that both of them had a long, curved sword sheathed on their waists.

"If you're really sorry," one of the women hissed at her, "Then quit gawking and get lost!"

Aria turned quickly to circle around them and ran as fast as she could, her book hugged to her chest. Even at several yards' distance, she felt like their cold gazes were still following her. When she finally felt like she had lost them, she found herself near the center of town.

Aria lifted her bag of rupees. She still had a few left over. Remembering that she was somewhat-short on arrows and not wanting to let an opportunity go to waste, she visited the local huntsman and purchased what arrows she could afford with her remaining rupees. She did not waste time with small talk. Deep down, she wanted to leave without laying eyes on those women again.

When she returned to her father's makeshift stand, she was pleased to see that all three goats, both pelts, and a good portion of the meat had been bartered off. Whatever meat they could not sell, Aria and her father would find good use for.

"Productive day, I take it?" she asked with an optimistic shrug.

"Fairly. I've earned enough to last us a few months." her father replied in his typical blunt fashion, then cast his gaze to the sky. The sun was beginning to lower in the sky. "We've done all we can for now. Let's go home."

Aria tucked her new book into her satchel, then helped her father pack up what they had for the long trek home. As they finished up and headed for the town's exit, Aria's mind strayed back to the strangers. In all her visits here, she had never seen anything like them.

Who were they? Why were they there? What could bring such outlandish-looking people to such a humble village?