See earlier chapter for disclaimer.
Of Wind and Forest
Talim left her tent to return the bowls to the rest of the food ware, bringing back with her a basin filled with water. She hoped that this Link was a fast healer, as she wanted to take off after the Evil Seed as soon as possible. Yet she wondered, what if the elders still didn't allow her. She could leave at any time, but without the elders permission she could never return. Surely there were other people that felt the call of the Evil Seed, but she couldn't trust the motives of these unknowns.
Something occurred to her then, could she trust this Link's motives? After he told her his name he had not said another word, just ate in silence. His quiet was unnerving, his eyes piercing. It was plain to see that he was not of her world, but looking into his eyes Talim saw a determination, a sadness.
Walking back to her tent, Talim made sure she would find out this strangers true intentions. When she entered her tent she saw something she didn't expect, Link was trying to put his undershirt back on. He wasn't faring too well. Somehow the simple, unsuccessful action had caused his body to breakout in a sweat. His breathing grew heavy and his face contorted in pain.
"Stop please!" she called out as she eased off the shirt. "You- you need time to heal," Talim tried to ease him back to lying down, but he refused, smiling.
"Sorry," he said somewhat out of breath.
"Why were you doing that?" She said, wetting cloth from the basin she had just brought in, Talim unwrapped his bandages, much to his shock. She placed the cloth on his head and got as far as the base of his neck before, a hand stopped her.
He didn't speak like she was expecting, instead he looked at her his features contorting with more surprise than she thought possible.
"I just thought you might want to get cleaned up." Smiling unaffected by Link's apparent embarrassment, moving to continue. "Is there something wrong?"
Surprise seemed to be this Link's mantra. With a speed that belayed his injuries, the boy grabbed the cloth from her hands, then used his free hand to point to the exit, a look of horror on his face. Talim seemed to understand only as much as the leaving motion, something she did not agree with.
"You're soaked with sweat," she countered his silence, "you need to be cleaned and I don't want you catching a chill." Saying that she snatched the cloth back from his hands.
"I'll take care of that," he said out of breath, taking the cloth again, "please leave."
"But," the look he gave Talim then left no room for debate. His eyes did not plead for her compliance, they asked for it. Talim understood the unspoken statement in those eyes, they said, 'I am not an invalid.' At a lose for any real words Talim simply informed him of where he could get a drying cloth, then left.
After the girl left, Link took to the task of cleaning himself off. The going wasn't easy though, his ribs throbbed and the rest of his body was sore. He wasn't aware how far he had fell before, but he knew that he could undertake the simple task of a bath by himself.
That was what he told himself as he found it hard to even move his hand to his head. 'This is pitiful,' he thought, 'I've defeated dragons, witches, dondopos and even the Triforce of Power. I should be able to-' His thoughts ended there along with his consciousness.
_____________________________
Talim eventually found herself laying down back at that same hill where she first sensed the strange foreign boy. His attitude confused her, why was he so against her cleaning him? Did he find her repulsive or something like that? It was very common amongst her people after all that people bathed together.
"Talim," hearing the old familiar voice Talim raised herself, "what's wrong dear?"
"Grandmother Kalana," she greeted her with a pleasant smile, "why are you here?"
"The wind," she stated as she walked over to Talim, "it told me that something is troubling you."
"I'm fine Grandmother, really."
"Young people," she smiled ruefully as she shook her head, "Talim, where's your pendant?"
"It's," as she moved to touch it Talim realized it wasn't there around her neck, "oh no, I must have left it in my tent." Talim panicked as she looked from the camps to her Grandmother and back, "I'm sorry grandmother, I'll see you later." Then she ran off.
"Take your time dear," Kalana smiled to the vanishing presence, "he's not going anywhere."
As Talim swung open the entrance to her tent, her urgency to find her pendant was replaced by different kind of urgency. "Link!" she called out to the mass that lay on the floor. "Wake up please."
"I'm not," she could hear him whispering. "I'm not," his voice grew louder. "I'm not weak." He spoke the last through clenched teeth, tears streaming from his clenched eyes.
"Link please," somewhere in her heart fear grasped at Talim, "your okay. So stop crying."
Link's eyes sprung open as Talim spoke. He was the Hero of Time, he had save his homeland countless times from countless perils, he couldn't be crying now. Yet as he curled his body as tight as his injuries would let him, he felt them. He, Link, the Hero of Time, the wielder of the Master Sword, the once keeper of the Triforce of Courage was crying.
"Link please," Talim said again, falling to her knees, as she draped her arms over his back, her own head mere inches from his. She didn't know why, she didn't know how, she didn't know when, all Talim knew was at some point in time, she herself began crying.
When Talim's tears started to fall on him, Link was struck by everything at once. Visions of Saria and the Kokiri flashed in his memory, they had not understood what he was doing and all asked that he bring some trinket or souvenir back with him from his journey. Visions of Malon, his best friend, crying in his arms and wishing him well beckoned forth. His sister, not crying in front of him as he set out on his last quest to save Hyrule.
As his own tears stopped, Link gently moved to sit back up. Feeling his motions Talim moved out of his way. As Link realized all that lay at stake he resolved to push past his injuries, feeling a new vitality with his determination. He would heal, both his body and mind. That was all there was to it.
"Talim," Link said with more strength than he had since they had met, "please give me my sword."
"Why?" She had been given requests like this before. When someone of her tribe felt that they were no longer able to travel, or if they were too injured to survive the harsh nomadic life of her people, they would offer their bodies to the wind. They would kill themselves. Would he do the same? Would he end his life like so many of the elders or injured?
"Don't worry," his smile comforted her, more than she was willing to admit, "I'm okay now." Trusting those eyes Talim did as she was told, giving him the sheathed blade. As Link took the sword he removed it from it's scabbard, then with both of his hands he thrusted the blade into the ground beneath them. Then willing strength from deep within, he stood.
Talim moved to help, but then decided against it realizing that he needed to do this by his own strength. When Link was finally on his feet he felt a sense of pride. This was his first step to achieving his goal, even if it was a shaky step. Realizing that he could not stay up for long Talim herself rose, offering her support she eased the young boy back down to the bedroll. She was rewarded with what she felt was the first real smile that he gave her since they met.
"Talim," Link said, as if the name was like a spell incantation, "thank you." Looking into her eyes he felt like he would lose himself. He owed much to this stranger, more than she knew.
After that Talim redressed Link's wounds, then set him back down to the bedroll. It was still fairly early in the day and she still had her daily training to perform. She had informed him not to leave the tent under any circumstances, stating that he needed his rest. The truth was she didn't want the others to see him, although he was not bothered in the least by her appearance and she his, she was afraid that some of the others would be. Link had done what he was told though and remained quiet. Talim had come back about four times that day, twice to bring him food and twice to check on his condition.
Not really having much else to do, Link finally took in his surroundings. The tent was rather small, it appeared to be a rectangle made of an earth tone colored cloth, there were no personal items hanging on the walls. Furniture it seemed was also of unimportance to these people as the only thing that Talim had was a foreign looking trunk. Link thought about it's contents, but thought better of looking inside. On the roof he could see some straps, realizing that it could probably open and let in daylight or keep out rain. The ground was that of the grass of these plains.
Rising on his elbows Link realized something, there was only one bedroll. Had Talim slept with him the last night? She didn't seem to mind taking his shirt off, would she have the same thinking about sleeping with him? Link also remembered one of the techniques of 'warming' an injured person, remove all clothing and wrap the injured and uninjured bodies together. Had she done that? With her own body heat? The blood rushing heated throughout his body had made him dizzy, resolving to lie back down he calmed it some. What if she had?
"Hey Link," hearing his name, the boy jumped as much as his injuries would let him. "Are you okay?" She asked seeing him grab his ribs. "You really shouldn't try to move as much," she said easing him back down.
"Talim," he wasn't sure as to how he should word what he was about to say, "did we sleep together?" Link cringed realizing all to late what he said, he never was very good with words. "I mean," he spoke quickly in hopes of diminishing the furious blush that appeared on her cheeks, "I mean what happened after you brought me here?"
"Well," spinning around on her heels, Talim's body seemed to close in on itself as her finger tips decided to poke at each other, "I undressed you so that I could bandage your ribs, then I slept next to the entrance."
"I see," Link said as relief flooded throughout him, "I see." This time more somberly. Fighting back the pain Link moved off from the bedroll, then getting comfortable on the grass he tried to go back to sleep. Talim had tried to stop him, but Link just rolled over and managed to return to sleep. Leaving Talim speechless.
-To Be Continued
That draws number two to a close.
What do you think, is it any good. Or should I just stop now and leave it at that?
Input is always welcome you know.
Ryuhiko@hotmail.com
Of Wind and Forest
Talim left her tent to return the bowls to the rest of the food ware, bringing back with her a basin filled with water. She hoped that this Link was a fast healer, as she wanted to take off after the Evil Seed as soon as possible. Yet she wondered, what if the elders still didn't allow her. She could leave at any time, but without the elders permission she could never return. Surely there were other people that felt the call of the Evil Seed, but she couldn't trust the motives of these unknowns.
Something occurred to her then, could she trust this Link's motives? After he told her his name he had not said another word, just ate in silence. His quiet was unnerving, his eyes piercing. It was plain to see that he was not of her world, but looking into his eyes Talim saw a determination, a sadness.
Walking back to her tent, Talim made sure she would find out this strangers true intentions. When she entered her tent she saw something she didn't expect, Link was trying to put his undershirt back on. He wasn't faring too well. Somehow the simple, unsuccessful action had caused his body to breakout in a sweat. His breathing grew heavy and his face contorted in pain.
"Stop please!" she called out as she eased off the shirt. "You- you need time to heal," Talim tried to ease him back to lying down, but he refused, smiling.
"Sorry," he said somewhat out of breath.
"Why were you doing that?" She said, wetting cloth from the basin she had just brought in, Talim unwrapped his bandages, much to his shock. She placed the cloth on his head and got as far as the base of his neck before, a hand stopped her.
He didn't speak like she was expecting, instead he looked at her his features contorting with more surprise than she thought possible.
"I just thought you might want to get cleaned up." Smiling unaffected by Link's apparent embarrassment, moving to continue. "Is there something wrong?"
Surprise seemed to be this Link's mantra. With a speed that belayed his injuries, the boy grabbed the cloth from her hands, then used his free hand to point to the exit, a look of horror on his face. Talim seemed to understand only as much as the leaving motion, something she did not agree with.
"You're soaked with sweat," she countered his silence, "you need to be cleaned and I don't want you catching a chill." Saying that she snatched the cloth back from his hands.
"I'll take care of that," he said out of breath, taking the cloth again, "please leave."
"But," the look he gave Talim then left no room for debate. His eyes did not plead for her compliance, they asked for it. Talim understood the unspoken statement in those eyes, they said, 'I am not an invalid.' At a lose for any real words Talim simply informed him of where he could get a drying cloth, then left.
After the girl left, Link took to the task of cleaning himself off. The going wasn't easy though, his ribs throbbed and the rest of his body was sore. He wasn't aware how far he had fell before, but he knew that he could undertake the simple task of a bath by himself.
That was what he told himself as he found it hard to even move his hand to his head. 'This is pitiful,' he thought, 'I've defeated dragons, witches, dondopos and even the Triforce of Power. I should be able to-' His thoughts ended there along with his consciousness.
_____________________________
Talim eventually found herself laying down back at that same hill where she first sensed the strange foreign boy. His attitude confused her, why was he so against her cleaning him? Did he find her repulsive or something like that? It was very common amongst her people after all that people bathed together.
"Talim," hearing the old familiar voice Talim raised herself, "what's wrong dear?"
"Grandmother Kalana," she greeted her with a pleasant smile, "why are you here?"
"The wind," she stated as she walked over to Talim, "it told me that something is troubling you."
"I'm fine Grandmother, really."
"Young people," she smiled ruefully as she shook her head, "Talim, where's your pendant?"
"It's," as she moved to touch it Talim realized it wasn't there around her neck, "oh no, I must have left it in my tent." Talim panicked as she looked from the camps to her Grandmother and back, "I'm sorry grandmother, I'll see you later." Then she ran off.
"Take your time dear," Kalana smiled to the vanishing presence, "he's not going anywhere."
As Talim swung open the entrance to her tent, her urgency to find her pendant was replaced by different kind of urgency. "Link!" she called out to the mass that lay on the floor. "Wake up please."
"I'm not," she could hear him whispering. "I'm not," his voice grew louder. "I'm not weak." He spoke the last through clenched teeth, tears streaming from his clenched eyes.
"Link please," somewhere in her heart fear grasped at Talim, "your okay. So stop crying."
Link's eyes sprung open as Talim spoke. He was the Hero of Time, he had save his homeland countless times from countless perils, he couldn't be crying now. Yet as he curled his body as tight as his injuries would let him, he felt them. He, Link, the Hero of Time, the wielder of the Master Sword, the once keeper of the Triforce of Courage was crying.
"Link please," Talim said again, falling to her knees, as she draped her arms over his back, her own head mere inches from his. She didn't know why, she didn't know how, she didn't know when, all Talim knew was at some point in time, she herself began crying.
When Talim's tears started to fall on him, Link was struck by everything at once. Visions of Saria and the Kokiri flashed in his memory, they had not understood what he was doing and all asked that he bring some trinket or souvenir back with him from his journey. Visions of Malon, his best friend, crying in his arms and wishing him well beckoned forth. His sister, not crying in front of him as he set out on his last quest to save Hyrule.
As his own tears stopped, Link gently moved to sit back up. Feeling his motions Talim moved out of his way. As Link realized all that lay at stake he resolved to push past his injuries, feeling a new vitality with his determination. He would heal, both his body and mind. That was all there was to it.
"Talim," Link said with more strength than he had since they had met, "please give me my sword."
"Why?" She had been given requests like this before. When someone of her tribe felt that they were no longer able to travel, or if they were too injured to survive the harsh nomadic life of her people, they would offer their bodies to the wind. They would kill themselves. Would he do the same? Would he end his life like so many of the elders or injured?
"Don't worry," his smile comforted her, more than she was willing to admit, "I'm okay now." Trusting those eyes Talim did as she was told, giving him the sheathed blade. As Link took the sword he removed it from it's scabbard, then with both of his hands he thrusted the blade into the ground beneath them. Then willing strength from deep within, he stood.
Talim moved to help, but then decided against it realizing that he needed to do this by his own strength. When Link was finally on his feet he felt a sense of pride. This was his first step to achieving his goal, even if it was a shaky step. Realizing that he could not stay up for long Talim herself rose, offering her support she eased the young boy back down to the bedroll. She was rewarded with what she felt was the first real smile that he gave her since they met.
"Talim," Link said, as if the name was like a spell incantation, "thank you." Looking into her eyes he felt like he would lose himself. He owed much to this stranger, more than she knew.
After that Talim redressed Link's wounds, then set him back down to the bedroll. It was still fairly early in the day and she still had her daily training to perform. She had informed him not to leave the tent under any circumstances, stating that he needed his rest. The truth was she didn't want the others to see him, although he was not bothered in the least by her appearance and she his, she was afraid that some of the others would be. Link had done what he was told though and remained quiet. Talim had come back about four times that day, twice to bring him food and twice to check on his condition.
Not really having much else to do, Link finally took in his surroundings. The tent was rather small, it appeared to be a rectangle made of an earth tone colored cloth, there were no personal items hanging on the walls. Furniture it seemed was also of unimportance to these people as the only thing that Talim had was a foreign looking trunk. Link thought about it's contents, but thought better of looking inside. On the roof he could see some straps, realizing that it could probably open and let in daylight or keep out rain. The ground was that of the grass of these plains.
Rising on his elbows Link realized something, there was only one bedroll. Had Talim slept with him the last night? She didn't seem to mind taking his shirt off, would she have the same thinking about sleeping with him? Link also remembered one of the techniques of 'warming' an injured person, remove all clothing and wrap the injured and uninjured bodies together. Had she done that? With her own body heat? The blood rushing heated throughout his body had made him dizzy, resolving to lie back down he calmed it some. What if she had?
"Hey Link," hearing his name, the boy jumped as much as his injuries would let him. "Are you okay?" She asked seeing him grab his ribs. "You really shouldn't try to move as much," she said easing him back down.
"Talim," he wasn't sure as to how he should word what he was about to say, "did we sleep together?" Link cringed realizing all to late what he said, he never was very good with words. "I mean," he spoke quickly in hopes of diminishing the furious blush that appeared on her cheeks, "I mean what happened after you brought me here?"
"Well," spinning around on her heels, Talim's body seemed to close in on itself as her finger tips decided to poke at each other, "I undressed you so that I could bandage your ribs, then I slept next to the entrance."
"I see," Link said as relief flooded throughout him, "I see." This time more somberly. Fighting back the pain Link moved off from the bedroll, then getting comfortable on the grass he tried to go back to sleep. Talim had tried to stop him, but Link just rolled over and managed to return to sleep. Leaving Talim speechless.
-To Be Continued
That draws number two to a close.
What do you think, is it any good. Or should I just stop now and leave it at that?
Input is always welcome you know.
Ryuhiko@hotmail.com