See Chapter one for disclaimer.
Of Wind and Forest
Somewhere else in the world two souls met. At different times both had wielded the sword know as the Soul Edge. One was a ghostly apparition of a man, one who had died seven years ago but still fought to reclaim his lost power. In his hands he wielded a sword made of the scattered fractions of the Soul Edge, his power however was no where near what it had once been. He needed more power and for that he had to battle the sword's current wielder. Such was the resolve of Cervantes De Leon.
The other was once a proud man, but the power of the Soul Edge had taken his body and enslaved his soul. This man, under the swords guidance had sought out the pieces of the blade in order to gain even greater power. Once a warrior, once a knight, this man's soul sought redemption even as his body committed sin after sin. In the body of the knight Siegfried Schtauffen was the Azure Nightmare.
The two would battle for the right to wield the blade. Both knew that when all was said and done only one of them would walk away from this battle. Victorious or otherwise.
_____________________________
The golem had heard about his opponent. This creature that had seemed to be made of shards of the blade. He knew that each one of them would add to his power immensely. This creature would be an easy enough opponent, nothing like the damn pirate that nearly destroyed him. Where as this creature depended solely on the shards, Astaroth had a power all his own.
Astaroth's opponent was nothing more than a collection of shards, all it knew was that it wanted more shards. Anything that had one was treated as a threat and possible boon to it's power, anything that didn't was considered food for it's hunger. The creature Charade had no will of it's own, only the desire for more.
_____________________________
It had been tracking them for about a day, both seemed to have that which he desired. The creature was once a person, but it had long ago rid itself of it's humanity. Now like so many others all that remained was the desire for more of the shards.
It had resolved to take things slowly, attack it's opponents when they were at their weakest then take their shards. It was patient unlike so many of the others, it would chose it's moment. At some point they would let their guard down, then the green warrior and the girl would fall to it, the being that now called itself Necrid.
_____________________________
It had been about three days since Link and Talim left the tribe. By some strange power that Talim had attributed to the winds she was able to sense the location of the Soul Edge. The direction was very vague though, at that point all that Talim knew was that the Soul Edge was somewhere west of them. Heading in that direction the two had entered a forest. Link was glad to see that the forests here were somewhat the same as the forests in Hyrule.
They walked on what Link called a game trail, something that predators used to hunt prey. Talim was at first worried at this but Link dispelled her fears saying that they were too big a prey for what animals used this trail during the day. However night was fast approaching them and Link thought that it would be better to make camp and get a fire going.
"So what are we going to do?" Talim asked, she had changed her clothes back to the ones that she wore when they first met, insisting that they looked better on her. Somehow through one of his Goddesses Link had been able to avoid another confrontation with the 'cultural barrier' as he called it. Talim had been quieter than he had expected when they started the journey, she would go hours without saying a word. Link thought that it had to do with the conditions in which she left her people.
"We should try to get upwind of the game trail," Link said as he used his sword to cut a path through some growth, "that way if some predator happens to use this one it won't get our scent."
He cut through the brush for a good few minutes before they reached a clearing. This clearing seemed to be a camp ground, a place where travelers would rest. The area was somewhat large, about twenty yards around, there was a pit lined with rocks at the northern edge that seemed to be a fire pit. The most noticeable feature however was the pond that resided in the eastern edge of the camp. It wasn't a very large pond but at the same time it was enough for them to refill their water supply.
"This should do fine," Link said with a hint of satisfaction, "we can rest here for the night."
"Beautiful," Talim whispered looking at the pond. Indeed it was beautiful, in the light of the late sun the waters appeared to be almost as golden as Link's hair. Talim had seen many forests and many ponds, but she had never had the opportunity to explore either of them. She wanted to feel the waters of that pond, but knew that Link would be uncomfortable if she did.
"I need you to set up camp Talim," Link asked her, "I'll get some wood for the fire."
Talim was starting to hate the nights, they seemed so cold and lonely ever since they had left her people. She missed her people terribly and wanted nothing more than to go home, but she knew she couldn't. Whatever evil the winds of the west had brought needed to be stopped, this more than anything drove her onward. Besides she knew that no matter what, just like Link she could never go home.
Link had done what he could, but she didn't want to burden him with the knowledge that she could never return. Daily she could see the regret in his eyes, the fear and she knew that if he found out what she had done, despite it being her choice, there would only be more. She knew that in some way Link cared for her, that he would do all that he could and more for her. So far in the past three days that they traveled he had not complained once about his injuries, but she could see that he was still very much hurt. Talim decided that she would check his wraps, if only to feel his warmth again.
"This should be enough for tonight," when Link returned he carried with him a bundle of wood and dried leaves. Talim had prepared her bedroll and set out some of the travel bread and cheese that they had. Neither the bread or cheese tasted very good, but Link had told her that this was a pretty normal meal for a traveler. When Link got the fire going the two travelers set to warming themselves in the quickly cooling night.
"How are you feeling Talim?" Link asked as he settled in front of a tree, preparing to go to sleep.
"Not bad I guess," she said still warming her self by the fire, "But I think I should have dressed warmer." She shivered a little after saying this. Seeing her shiver, Link got up from his place at the tree and taking the blanket from on top of her bedroll wrapped it around her shoulders.
"That's what it's there for," he smiled looking into her face, "I don't want you to get a chill." Once he finished Link set to making himself comfortable against his tree again.
"What about you?" Talim asked quickly turning to look at Link, this elicited a questioning look from the youth. "I mean," she seemed at a lose for words, "what about your wounds?"
"I'm all right," Link tried to assure her, "it doesn't hurt much anymore."
"But still," Talim pleaded into his eyes, "I just think- I want to-"
"Maybe you should," Link said. Seeing her relieved a little made Link realize something, she had under gone a massive change in the past three days. Talim no longer traveled with her people, she traveled in a direction that was mostly unknown to her. With so much change to deal with she needed something familiar, that something was Link. In the time that he had been here, she had almost daily inspected his injuries and would often change his bandages. This was more for Talim's sake than his, until he took her home he realized that he would have to become her home.
As soon as Link removed his shirt and tunic Talim took to inspecting his ribs. She wondered how many times she had done this? How many times had she wrapped bandages around them? How many times had she felt his injuries? It must have been countless times, but why then did this time feel different?
His body felt firmer than before, but less rigid. He was relaxed, comfortable even around her. When she wrapped newer bandages around his ribs, she felt all his muscles. His body was well toned and strong, Talim wondered why she never noticed it before. She felt the texture of his skin and for some reason she lingered.
If Link didn't know any better he would have sworn that he felt different hands on him, these hands felt warmer than the ones that usually changed his bandages. They were softer too. These hands, Link noticed, were more suited to the embrace of a lover than that of a nurse. They traced lines over his waist and almost made him shiver. He did, however draw in a shaky breath.
"Are you okay?" Talim grew fearful when she heard that breath, "I didn't hurt anything did I?"
"No," Link said swallowing hard, "that- that didn't hurt at all." When she moved to look into his eyes, he felt his confidence falling and memories flooded in. This girl had, Talim had shown him nothing but affection. She had dressed his injuries, fed and sheltered him. Always when she had done so she had smiled. Talim had cried for him even without knowing why.
Talim's own memories of the past few weeks flooded in when she looked in his eyes. He had made the rain fall just for her, had talked to her. The times that he fought to find the right words, only to lose and stumble over his own lip. He had fought her father and somehow won the battle of words. He had made her laugh and made her cry. No one had ever gotten so close to her before, whether they were afraid or just didn't care. Only this boy from a world away had. This pointed eared youth.
"Talim I," to silence him Talim put a finger to his lip, then finishing her wrapping she again looked at him in the eye. Those brown eyes didn't seem so innocent then, they seemed sadder. They seemed to plead for something.
"Link," Talim whispered, "I don't know what to say." She looked away from him, confused. She didn't understand what was so difficult that she was at a lose for words.
Brushing aside an errant strand of hair on Talim's face Link smiled again. When she felt his hands on her face Talim looked back at him to see him smiling. Words seemed to lose all meaning in that instant as they felt themselves drawn to each other, pulled by some unseen force. They stopped then, their breathes warming each other. Looking even deeper in the others eyes they confirmed what both wanted. The expanse between them ended as their lips met.
Their eyes closed as they felt the world around them disappear. For that instant there was nothing else, no battle, no exile, no Soul Edge. All that mattered was the existence of the other.
When it ended both felt something end as another began. They felt a piece of themselves die as another was born. Things had changed between the Wind Shaman Talim and the Hero of Time Link forever.
"Link," Talim said looking into his slanted beautiful eyes, "come to bed." Since they had begun traveling Link had slept as far from Talim as was possible. She wanted tonight of all nights to be different.
"Right." Was all he managed to say. That night under a clear sky the two slept, nothing more than that, but to them it felt right. Neither knew what the morning would bring but both knew that they would face it together.
-To Be Continued
I think that one went over well. I'd like to take a moment here to thank my reviewers, you guys really know how to keep someone's confidence up. I hope that this one lives up to the rest of them, now things are going to start moving alot faster. So I hope you look forward to more from me.
Ryuhiko@hotmail.com
Of Wind and Forest
Somewhere else in the world two souls met. At different times both had wielded the sword know as the Soul Edge. One was a ghostly apparition of a man, one who had died seven years ago but still fought to reclaim his lost power. In his hands he wielded a sword made of the scattered fractions of the Soul Edge, his power however was no where near what it had once been. He needed more power and for that he had to battle the sword's current wielder. Such was the resolve of Cervantes De Leon.
The other was once a proud man, but the power of the Soul Edge had taken his body and enslaved his soul. This man, under the swords guidance had sought out the pieces of the blade in order to gain even greater power. Once a warrior, once a knight, this man's soul sought redemption even as his body committed sin after sin. In the body of the knight Siegfried Schtauffen was the Azure Nightmare.
The two would battle for the right to wield the blade. Both knew that when all was said and done only one of them would walk away from this battle. Victorious or otherwise.
_____________________________
The golem had heard about his opponent. This creature that had seemed to be made of shards of the blade. He knew that each one of them would add to his power immensely. This creature would be an easy enough opponent, nothing like the damn pirate that nearly destroyed him. Where as this creature depended solely on the shards, Astaroth had a power all his own.
Astaroth's opponent was nothing more than a collection of shards, all it knew was that it wanted more shards. Anything that had one was treated as a threat and possible boon to it's power, anything that didn't was considered food for it's hunger. The creature Charade had no will of it's own, only the desire for more.
_____________________________
It had been tracking them for about a day, both seemed to have that which he desired. The creature was once a person, but it had long ago rid itself of it's humanity. Now like so many others all that remained was the desire for more of the shards.
It had resolved to take things slowly, attack it's opponents when they were at their weakest then take their shards. It was patient unlike so many of the others, it would chose it's moment. At some point they would let their guard down, then the green warrior and the girl would fall to it, the being that now called itself Necrid.
_____________________________
It had been about three days since Link and Talim left the tribe. By some strange power that Talim had attributed to the winds she was able to sense the location of the Soul Edge. The direction was very vague though, at that point all that Talim knew was that the Soul Edge was somewhere west of them. Heading in that direction the two had entered a forest. Link was glad to see that the forests here were somewhat the same as the forests in Hyrule.
They walked on what Link called a game trail, something that predators used to hunt prey. Talim was at first worried at this but Link dispelled her fears saying that they were too big a prey for what animals used this trail during the day. However night was fast approaching them and Link thought that it would be better to make camp and get a fire going.
"So what are we going to do?" Talim asked, she had changed her clothes back to the ones that she wore when they first met, insisting that they looked better on her. Somehow through one of his Goddesses Link had been able to avoid another confrontation with the 'cultural barrier' as he called it. Talim had been quieter than he had expected when they started the journey, she would go hours without saying a word. Link thought that it had to do with the conditions in which she left her people.
"We should try to get upwind of the game trail," Link said as he used his sword to cut a path through some growth, "that way if some predator happens to use this one it won't get our scent."
He cut through the brush for a good few minutes before they reached a clearing. This clearing seemed to be a camp ground, a place where travelers would rest. The area was somewhat large, about twenty yards around, there was a pit lined with rocks at the northern edge that seemed to be a fire pit. The most noticeable feature however was the pond that resided in the eastern edge of the camp. It wasn't a very large pond but at the same time it was enough for them to refill their water supply.
"This should do fine," Link said with a hint of satisfaction, "we can rest here for the night."
"Beautiful," Talim whispered looking at the pond. Indeed it was beautiful, in the light of the late sun the waters appeared to be almost as golden as Link's hair. Talim had seen many forests and many ponds, but she had never had the opportunity to explore either of them. She wanted to feel the waters of that pond, but knew that Link would be uncomfortable if she did.
"I need you to set up camp Talim," Link asked her, "I'll get some wood for the fire."
Talim was starting to hate the nights, they seemed so cold and lonely ever since they had left her people. She missed her people terribly and wanted nothing more than to go home, but she knew she couldn't. Whatever evil the winds of the west had brought needed to be stopped, this more than anything drove her onward. Besides she knew that no matter what, just like Link she could never go home.
Link had done what he could, but she didn't want to burden him with the knowledge that she could never return. Daily she could see the regret in his eyes, the fear and she knew that if he found out what she had done, despite it being her choice, there would only be more. She knew that in some way Link cared for her, that he would do all that he could and more for her. So far in the past three days that they traveled he had not complained once about his injuries, but she could see that he was still very much hurt. Talim decided that she would check his wraps, if only to feel his warmth again.
"This should be enough for tonight," when Link returned he carried with him a bundle of wood and dried leaves. Talim had prepared her bedroll and set out some of the travel bread and cheese that they had. Neither the bread or cheese tasted very good, but Link had told her that this was a pretty normal meal for a traveler. When Link got the fire going the two travelers set to warming themselves in the quickly cooling night.
"How are you feeling Talim?" Link asked as he settled in front of a tree, preparing to go to sleep.
"Not bad I guess," she said still warming her self by the fire, "But I think I should have dressed warmer." She shivered a little after saying this. Seeing her shiver, Link got up from his place at the tree and taking the blanket from on top of her bedroll wrapped it around her shoulders.
"That's what it's there for," he smiled looking into her face, "I don't want you to get a chill." Once he finished Link set to making himself comfortable against his tree again.
"What about you?" Talim asked quickly turning to look at Link, this elicited a questioning look from the youth. "I mean," she seemed at a lose for words, "what about your wounds?"
"I'm all right," Link tried to assure her, "it doesn't hurt much anymore."
"But still," Talim pleaded into his eyes, "I just think- I want to-"
"Maybe you should," Link said. Seeing her relieved a little made Link realize something, she had under gone a massive change in the past three days. Talim no longer traveled with her people, she traveled in a direction that was mostly unknown to her. With so much change to deal with she needed something familiar, that something was Link. In the time that he had been here, she had almost daily inspected his injuries and would often change his bandages. This was more for Talim's sake than his, until he took her home he realized that he would have to become her home.
As soon as Link removed his shirt and tunic Talim took to inspecting his ribs. She wondered how many times she had done this? How many times had she wrapped bandages around them? How many times had she felt his injuries? It must have been countless times, but why then did this time feel different?
His body felt firmer than before, but less rigid. He was relaxed, comfortable even around her. When she wrapped newer bandages around his ribs, she felt all his muscles. His body was well toned and strong, Talim wondered why she never noticed it before. She felt the texture of his skin and for some reason she lingered.
If Link didn't know any better he would have sworn that he felt different hands on him, these hands felt warmer than the ones that usually changed his bandages. They were softer too. These hands, Link noticed, were more suited to the embrace of a lover than that of a nurse. They traced lines over his waist and almost made him shiver. He did, however draw in a shaky breath.
"Are you okay?" Talim grew fearful when she heard that breath, "I didn't hurt anything did I?"
"No," Link said swallowing hard, "that- that didn't hurt at all." When she moved to look into his eyes, he felt his confidence falling and memories flooded in. This girl had, Talim had shown him nothing but affection. She had dressed his injuries, fed and sheltered him. Always when she had done so she had smiled. Talim had cried for him even without knowing why.
Talim's own memories of the past few weeks flooded in when she looked in his eyes. He had made the rain fall just for her, had talked to her. The times that he fought to find the right words, only to lose and stumble over his own lip. He had fought her father and somehow won the battle of words. He had made her laugh and made her cry. No one had ever gotten so close to her before, whether they were afraid or just didn't care. Only this boy from a world away had. This pointed eared youth.
"Talim I," to silence him Talim put a finger to his lip, then finishing her wrapping she again looked at him in the eye. Those brown eyes didn't seem so innocent then, they seemed sadder. They seemed to plead for something.
"Link," Talim whispered, "I don't know what to say." She looked away from him, confused. She didn't understand what was so difficult that she was at a lose for words.
Brushing aside an errant strand of hair on Talim's face Link smiled again. When she felt his hands on her face Talim looked back at him to see him smiling. Words seemed to lose all meaning in that instant as they felt themselves drawn to each other, pulled by some unseen force. They stopped then, their breathes warming each other. Looking even deeper in the others eyes they confirmed what both wanted. The expanse between them ended as their lips met.
Their eyes closed as they felt the world around them disappear. For that instant there was nothing else, no battle, no exile, no Soul Edge. All that mattered was the existence of the other.
When it ended both felt something end as another began. They felt a piece of themselves die as another was born. Things had changed between the Wind Shaman Talim and the Hero of Time Link forever.
"Link," Talim said looking into his slanted beautiful eyes, "come to bed." Since they had begun traveling Link had slept as far from Talim as was possible. She wanted tonight of all nights to be different.
"Right." Was all he managed to say. That night under a clear sky the two slept, nothing more than that, but to them it felt right. Neither knew what the morning would bring but both knew that they would face it together.
-To Be Continued
I think that one went over well. I'd like to take a moment here to thank my reviewers, you guys really know how to keep someone's confidence up. I hope that this one lives up to the rest of them, now things are going to start moving alot faster. So I hope you look forward to more from me.
Ryuhiko@hotmail.com