*Captain America pulls out a chair and sits on it, staring at me*
"So," Captain began, "The chapter didn't go the way you planned."
No, Mr. America. It certainly didn't. Lots of personal and medical things happened that turned this even more lackluster than previously expected, and for that - I am sorry.
The grass was a brilliant shade of green as the sunlight cascaded down into the fields like a vibrant glow. High noon had not been too long ago - but the skies were clear enough that the heat from the sun made her feel like she was bathed in calidity from the desert. Off in the distance, she could hardly even see the castle. but there was a dark barrier of Twilight that covered the city. There was no way in, and no way out.
Niah turned herself to the side - she didn't fear sliding off as they were hardly even at a trot but the soft clanking of chain mail and the jutter of the shield made her frightened of other things. She brushed her hair back with her fingers as the light from the sun made her sweat, her thin shirt doing little to protect her from the rays. Niah's tights fared no better though, and as they pushed along the route she hoped that when they arrived in Ordon, she would be able to change into something that fit more.
"Tell me about yourself." A voice perked from in front of her, Niah barely processed it at first.
She shrugged, "That's a pretty vast question, maybe something more specific could help?"
"Okay, fine-" Link thought for a moment, "How old are you?"
"I am nineteen."
Link stumbled for a moment through his words, "Wait you're how old?!"
A smile graced Niah's lips and she stifled a laugh. "How old did you think I was?"
He slouched against Epona's neck with his hands cradling his head, "I don't know, fifteen or sixteen seemed pretty plausible."
Niah gave a laugh, "I'm flattered."
The conversation weaned into silence as the sun drifted lower and lower, closer to the horizon. If her internal clock was right - she'd say it was half-past one in the afternoon. They should probably head into a gallop if they were going to make it before sundown. She peered over his shoulders to get a good view of the road ahead of them. There were no bokoblins' in sight. Nor was there any kargaroks' to be seen for miles. There was nothing but hills in the distance and grassy plains in front of her.
Niah still sat on Epona sideways, it felt uncomfortable - but that was because it had been a few years since she had taken a leisure ride on a horse. But Niah felt a breeze brush over her skin, it felt like bliss that tingled down her spine even if it was only for a moment of relief. But her thoughts carried on, the more bored she grew, the more she had felt inclined to fiddle with the broach pinned to her jacket. Niah almost didn't realize she was messing with it in the first place until it came undone under her forced tinkering.
When it had fallen into her hand, she was almost glad for a moment there that she caught it. Absentmindedly she cowered from it, like she knew what it was. It felt familiar to her in so many ways - but the more she tried to dig down into her pitiful memory, no recollection of it would resurface. The broach sparkled though, it shined in the light almost like diamonds, but alas it was ruby. A dragon coiled around the triangular piece in what seemed to be protection made her shutter. It was familiar though, in an odd way. But again, her memories stumbled as she shoved it into her pocket instead of pinning back to her jacket.
"How much further is it?" Niah was patient, but the last conversation had died off, so she believed it was time for a new one, maybe get her bearings on the land if anything happened.
"We're reaching the edge of Eldin Field in about twenty-minutes, and then after that we'll be going through the narrow, after that, we enter Faron Fields, and it'll be another two hours before we reach the entrance to the woods."
"Thats," Niah began, "...a lot."
And it was too, a nearly four hour horse ride was sure to throw her back out, the saddle they had to share held little room for the both of them, but if this journey was going to be longer than a few days - there needed to be better riding equipment and other accommodations.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
Niah shook her head and replied, "No, I mean. I know-" She hesitated for a moment, "-Of it, but I don't know it. I didn't think it would take but a couple of minutes."
"It's only taking so long because Epona needs a break. She was stolen from me a few weeks ago. I've been worried sick, but on the day we took you into the inn, she came running right back. Poor girl."
"Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to seem impatient."
Link waved the comment off with a laugh, "Don't worry about it, I'm also saving her energy just in case we meet a gang of outlaws."
Niah raised an eyebrow, "Outlaws? What happens if we run into them?"
Link didn't respond for a long moment. Eventually gyrated in her direction before taking a deep breath in. "I haven't seen too many yet, but if we ever come across them, I'll have you Epona's reigns so you can gallop off if things get testy." His voice stuttered for a moment. But when he turned back to face the path, they both became enthralled when the entrance of the narrow came into view.
"So, you'd stay behind? What if they catch me?"
"It's still… a work in progress."
"And I mean, I don't have a weapon." Niah quirked an eyebrow, and somehow in a weird way - she knew Link had rolled his eyes as he sighed heavily into the air, he didn't respond to it for a few moments as he guided Epona into a small gallop this made Niah lurch forward with a heave and furrowed eyebrows. The path began to close in as the granite walls did in fact form a narrow path - above it seemed to be the best hiding place among the trees at the top. They greenery stared down towards their form as they trekked on. The breeze from before had not followed them onto their cramped path, and the grass looked to be more dead as the sunlight never could make it's way to creep over the unbarred cavern.
"Sometimes outlaws lurk at the top to try and steal caravans. Soldiers used to escort them, but since the invasion, it's become more prevalent. The land is lawless right now, so we have to be more vigilant."
Niah didn't respond as their ride towards the exit neared closer to them with every step. Every breath was short as she hoped that with the words Link had given her she would be instilled with some form of wisdom. Not that she was naive when it came to danger that lurked, she was used to those types of people. Those that wandered in the dark looking for trouble. If you were to consider the recent death of her father - it was no accident, and no matter who told her otherwise, Niah had taken it at face value.
_/\_
It was another hour and a half as she twiddled her fingers in the pleasant silence. The fields grew lively as the hour crept on - and in the corner of her eye, Niah swore she saw a deer as it pranced through the fields to hide in the woods. Niah paid no attention to the shield battering her front - it was a mere annoyance at that point, she didn't even try to hold on as they galloped, but shortly Link slowed Epona into a trot.
Niah sighed through her nose, Link had tried for no conversation even as they had navigated through the narrow path to the neighboring field. If he had tried to stir conversation, she wouldn't have paid any mind to it anyways; as his voice was nothing but a calm whisper in the back of her mind. To her, it was unnatural, she hardly recognized it even when she could see his lips moving, going with the motion of dialogue. And she might never get used to it. Never get used to the feeling of metal between her fingers, the cloth of his tunic as she might rub it against her skin. Hell, she would never get used to the sound of his footsteps as they walked on the dirt.
"Your thoughts are too loud." Link said as he tilted his head towards her. Eyes glazed over and blase.
Niah shrugged her shoulders. She moved herself slightly on the saddle hoping to get comfortable elsewhere, but it dug painfully against her spine and tailbone. It was luck that her body from the hips down weren't numb to any sort of feeling. But the ache of pain remained, and alas, she tried to ignore it. "Sorry." Was the only thing she could reply with.
She also knew the sound of him laughing would remain exotic. "No, It's just when you're alone for a couple weeks, you start to hear everything. My Hylian ears are rumored to be able to hear the sound of the Gods or something like that." Link chuckled.
"That doesn't sound fun."
Link pulled Epona's reins, she halted as cloven hooves stamped into the ground. Niah shifted her gaze towards the entrance of the woods, eyes fixated on the trees and the life that brimmed directly inside.
"It isn't." He ushered the mare through the entrance.
_/\_
It wasn't until around half past four did they make it to the edge of the Ordona Province. Here, everything was more boisterous and lifted with life. Leaves were green in good health as if they were never to fall from their branches. It was the visual definition of spring. There were small hills as they walked through the forest, but a small breeze lifted through the terrain.
Niah had slouched against the shield. It wasn't comfortable - but it was there to rest her head on - there was no conversation to fill the silent void except the relaxed atmosphere of nature. They had passed the Faron Springs a little while ago, and even then, there was no reprieve to get down and stretch her legs. Niah ached all over - and it was no pleasant pain either. It shot right through her tailbone, and when Link finally picked up the pace, she winced as she clung to the shield; even that cut into her fingers quite a bit.
After a multitude of ideas to cure her aliment on how to deal with the saddle situation - her thoughts strayed further from the present to things that were to happen in the future. Something she had to constantly dare herself at home to think about. Her future, their future, and the more the idea of being in Hyrule set in her gut, the more she worried about Link and his future. This couldn't be a coincidence. She could feel the air, the heat. She could hear the birds and the other creatures of the wild. The sound was distant - hidden in the deep trails of the forest, but they were real - they were in front of her face, she could smell just how real this actually was.
"We're passing the Ordon Spring," Link's voice perked in front of her. But there was no time to let her eyes wander, but from what she could see - it was beautiful. Just like everything else in the forest that led to the village. The sound of water pouring from the waterfall to the small pool was a soft serenade that added to the effect of the peaceful solitude. Unlike Hyrule field where the vast lands made her skin crawl with uncertainty and paranoia - Niah felt as though the forest was there to protect her from any outlaws orother people with less than good intentions.
"Is it always this quiet?" Niah asked as she sat up in the saddle and winced at the pain that shot through her spine.
"It depends," Link began, "The children are in Kakariko, so this part of the province would be a tad more occupied." He laughed at his own words. "I wonder how they're doing without me."
Niah shrugged, "What are they to you? Cousins, nieces, or-?"
"None, we have no blood connection, but we're still family regardless, they look up to me as a mentor and friend I guess." Link shrugged as well, "It's much better than being alone like I was growing up. If I want to make a difference I can give someone something I never had."
Niah nodded her head. She understood his trouble. A need to make things right with themselves, make someone's life better especially if you never had it to begin with. You have to start somewhere. "I was never given the opportunity to be a mentor, and I don't think I would even know where to start."
"Doesn't take anything but brains I suppose."
Their voices dipped as they finally crossed the bridge and eventually came to a small opening. The grass was greener, but there were small patches of rich soil and rocks. The area was hidden among pine trees and the mounts that surrounded it made it look as though it was a mesa in a strange way. In the back of her mind - the suspicion that nagged at her became true. Niah looked to the left and saw dummies made out of wood, hay, and a bucket, beside that though was the house, tall and a tad foreboding.
Niah hummed with a smile that tugged at her lips, "This is-" she hesitated.
"My place? Yep." Link dismounted Epona with no regards to Niah as she dismounted herself, she was a bit sour when Link began to guide Epona to the small right of the home, and she trotted with what appeared to be excitement. She walked beside Epona unsure of whether or not to invite herself into someone's home, but the polite gesture of remaining outside became a distant memory as Link gestured to her to climb the ladder.
Niah wasn't too sure of the foundation, but at least the ladder didn't sway from their movement, instead it was wooden and practically nailed to the tree which had moss and insects prowling on the bark. But as she took her first step up - she realized it wasn't too bad. It didn't prick her fingers from split wood warped by weather, and it held her weight fine that when she reached the top it wasn't a victory, but instead it was relief.
Link jimmied the door before there was a click and it hobbled open.
Niah peered as Link walked in, uneasy - but the more she stepped in, the more she realized just how much was there.
There wasn't only a burning fire, but there was also cupboards that lined the walls like bookshelves filled with books, and to the left of the doorway there was a work table with not just a saddle - but also with brittles and bits, there also appeared to be blueprints nailed in. Pictures were also hung sporadically throughout the home, and the closer she got, Niah realized the amount of people she didn't recognize.
Link had disappeared somewhere, Niah vividly remembered him running off behind one of the entryways. But she stood there near the doorway and leered at the items that were scattered around. Not that the place was disorderly or unkempt - but when you're gone for weeks at a time; you're not too concerned with how good your place is being kept. In the back of her mind though, Niah realized there was a scratch that she couldn't ich. The open space, a loft but there was a bed in the far corner, and it looked comfortable and just standing there made it harder to push through the pain.
It wasn't long before Link appeared again, "I'm going to talk to Bo, so get some rest after we get done here we are headed straight to the mines. There's a bed around that corner you can lay in, and if you need to wash up, down the steps is a washroom. It's the first door to your right." He stepped around her and twirled himself around to walk backwards towards the door. "Make yourself at home and later I can take you to Uli and get you something else to wear."
"Are you implying that my attire is below average? And what if I don't want to go to the mines?"
"Your clothes are too light for travel, and it doesn't matter whether you want to or not, I don't feel like getting beheaded." Link opened the door and slipped out momentarily before Niah spoke up. She raised an eyebrow and crossed her arms.
"Getting beheaded by what? Your own shadow?" She sniggered fiercely.
Link gave her a lopsided grin before he slammed the door.
Niah let out her own breath of relief as she was finally alone. But as she started towards the entrance of the next room, a lone shadow caught her eye as it lingered in a distant corner. But for now, she would play no mind to it for Niah knew who it was. As she walked, her back felt it was on fire - she could go for some pain relievers or the equivalent in this world - red potion perhaps? Niah shook her head and rubbed her eyes with the back of her hand. She felt the rough edges of the jacket against her skin making her cringe.
When she did make it to the bed, she realized this wasn't his bed. It was made, as on the other end of the room, there was one unkempt, messy. Niah sat down regardless as to who it belonged to. It was soft, it reminded her of the bed at home. 'Home.'
The further she looked, the more she realized just how different his place was. In the more common area when you entered - light from the forest streamed like an elegant glow, instead of it being a whisper from the crowded trees, it seemed like the light had reached into every corner, and shadows were just an afterthought. The wood gave a nice natural atmosphere, but the books that laid astrew from the shelves made her think of her father. From the game, it's implied that Link worked hard and offered himself whenever someone needed him, and so did her dad. Just like Link, Andre was there every step of the way. Even through the worst times.
It didn't take long for Niah to realize just how tired she was. How she had forgotten about her fever that only barely broke when she woke up in Kakariko. Niah was also appalled at how expansive the village was compared to what she knew. Before they hasted away, it looked like a small beat up down instead of a dreary little village plagued by sand and magical water. The insanity of everything bewildered her to such an extent; it was like she was living a fantasy in her head like some kind of coma, if she weren't so tired - she would treat the situation with much more derision if she had the energy.
And like a silent gleam, fading into the summer evening, Niah's eyes drifted shut.
_/\_
The laughter was murk.
She heard it in the distance. There was laughing, or maybe it was a chortle with impure motive, but she didn't move. Niah didn't even open her eyes. It was like she was put into the same situation as last time, a defenseless one. Unsure if whether or not to peek, Niah could see a shadow move across her vision, it wasn't much of an inconsistent movement, it was more even, leered with purpose, inwardly, Niah grimace. But then she finally realized who she had yet to meet. The shadow loomed around her like a dark embrace and she was none the wiser when she slept, it was almost like a spell had been casted on her, and it made her breath rasped.
Midna.
That is why the laugh felt so familiar. It was etched into her memory, even here it sounded the same as before, it echoed as if the sound was distant; longing. In another world almost. She took a deep breath, the air tainted her lungs with the bitter oxygen of some sort of bitter core.
She hovered there. Midna, a faint shadow in the light, a princess or queen destined to return to her Twili form and prance back to her kingdom, shatter the mirror and only take a soft look back. if Niah hadn't had the intention of seeing her - she would have never noticed her. Midna wasn't looking at her face though, instead she was observing everything else around her. Like she tried to tell if Niah It was weird and uncomfortable and finally her consciousness had awoken enough to say something.
"... it's rude to stare." Niah knew that any moment Midna had the opportunity to make her head explode, but from what she remembered - in her Twili shadow form her powers were deemed utterly useless. She was practically defenseless.
All Midna had done was hum as a response. She twiddled her eyes to glare at Niah with a sulked, reeked gaze that made her shiver.
"Hey," Started Niah, "W-what are you doing?" She winced as she sat herself up.
Midna laughed again before finally she turned her head directly to meet Niah's "Oh,so you are awake!"
Her impish form stumbled in a fit of glee and laughter that it made Niah stagger as she sat up more from the bed. Even as a shadow, her eyes still glimmered with a small hint of twilight that the lump in the back of her throat felt like it was going to choke her to death from uncertainty and disdain.
"Who are you?" Niah asked. She stretched her arm to reach for the imp - only for it to pass through. It was like a mist that followed as she pulled her hand out. She stared at it and expected some dark ink to have stained her hand, but instead it was nothing. Like her existence was a breath blown on a mirror; hidden perfectly in plain sight.
Midna crossed her legs midair, "-And touching someone is rude. Besides, I should be asking you that, with your pretty pin, and your magic."
Niah clutched her jacket pocket and furrowed her brows. "I'll tell you the exact thing I told him. I don't know how I got here. So before you make any assumptions..."
"-I don't care about how you got here, and I haven't made that many assumptions yet, but I suspect it was from that thing. Be warned though, that isn't just any pin, it's a very powerful one that is gonna help me get home." Her smile stretched.
"...what about me?" Niah raised an eyebrow. "I've got my own life too." Midna shifted her form to look around.
"You?" Midna waved her off, "You'll find a way back one of these days."
Niah had forgotten how cruel Midna could be, her cocky and sporadic attitude was only a cover up for her depressed and solem features.
"And with that-" Midna jumped behind her, small almost toddler fingers tried to weasel their way through the cloth, Midna suspected that it wouldn't work and shifted her form downward "I'm using your shadow if you don't mind."
"Woah, no. No, no, no, no. My shadow has room for only one person,and that person is me! And I don't even uh-" Niah thought for a second, she knew Midna, she knew what she was, but this was something that had to be done. "I don't even know you."
She laughed as she lowered herself down without invitation. The sudden weight jarred Niah for a moment but she recovered quickly. It was like a heavy weight pressing ever so lightly against your chest. The feeling didn't hurt, and it wasn't uncomfortable either. It was just… there holding you back. Like her fingers were gripping your shoulders and dragging you deeper and deeper into water, but it wasn't a strong enough force.
Niah took a breath in, "You can't just use someone like this! Go to Link, you seemed fine before!"
"He's a man, their structure is different compared to a female, and it's more uncomfortable."
She scoffed, Niah folded her arms as she sat on the bed and scowled. "I hate you."
"As according to plan."
