See chapter one for disclaimer
Of Wind and Forest
That night Talim dreamt of endless plains, warm rains and a certain boy playing on his ocarina. She was concerned though, what did this mean between them? Certainly she had feelings for him, but she wondered how deep they ran. Right now Link was the only person in the world who she could turn to. She could not go home, not ever. She worried that maybe her feelings weren't real, that maybe they shouldn't have kissed. Yet it felt so right.
When Talim awoke it was just before sunrise. Link still slept and would likely sleep a while longer, Talim's mind however was a flurry of activity. She could not concentrate, could not think. Reluctantly she removed herself from the bedroll and his arms. Even as she left his arms she could feel herself longing to return to them, she felt comforted in them, yet she knew as well as he the loneliness that they felt at losing their homes.
Looking over to the pond Talim thought, maybe the cold waters would be enough to clear her head a little. She had admired it in the late sun yesterday and now in the early morning light it looked even more inviting. She recalled that it had been a very long time since she had been able to take a decent bath, even longer since she had the chance to immerse herself completely.
Then she thought of Link, he had been very adamant about keeping what he considered personal, well personal. Sometimes though it was funny to watch his face turn red, she also recalled how sometimes he would turn his head to look only to stop himself before actually seeing anything. His notions of modesty seem strange to her, she had been more intimate with him than anybody else. She could tell that he obviously wanted to look, so why didn't he?
Brushing aside her thoughts on that matter, Talim removed her clothes and immersed herself in the surprisingly clean waters of that pond. That boy, no matter how she felt about him, could be very frustrating.
_____________________________
Link himself awoke some time after Talim, in truth it was the sounds of water splashing that roused him from his dreamless sleep. He realized that it was probably Talim bathing in the water. Link knew that she would not mind if he saw her, but he did. Though they were intimate last night they were not that intimate. Only involved people do that sort of thing, but weren't they involved now.
The whole matter made Link's head hurt, he had not intended on anything like last night. Originally Link's plan had been to find the Soul Edge destroy it and then decide what he would do afterwards. He had not intended on meeting someone or having his first kiss.
It struck him as odd that Talim had been his first. It was something he had never given any thought to. His life, as strange as it seemed, was too enveloped in protecting his people for him to give any thought to something as small as that. He had lived his whole life for others, to the point that he did not know what he would do after he embarked on this last quest to save them. Could he be with Talim in a world that so obviously didn't accept him?
He realized something then, Talim had never once told him that she could swim. Her splashing did not seem very panicked when she woke him, but how long had she been in the water? Link could not see her from his vantage point under the blanket. All he knew now was that there was no sound coming from the small lake.
With a speed born of fear Link jumped from the bedroll to see if she was safe. The sight that he beheld then took his breath away. Talim had just risen from the water, the drops that flew with her sparkled like small rainbows in the early morning sun. He could see a smile that glowed brighter than any light, Talim's closed eyes showed more delight than any time he had seen before. Her entire body shimmered with reflected light. Link could do nothing but stand there and admire the angel that had risen before him only to dive back down.
When Talim rose again she stayed above the water, in his fear Link had forgotten that the pond was no more than a few feet deep. However when she stood Link was able to see everything, but even as he looked he could do nothing. This priestess, this woman had ensnared him. He could not move, did not want to move. Talim was all that he saw.
"Oh you're awake?" Talim said when she finally noticed Link. "What's wrong?" She said when she noticed him staring. Shaking his head as if to remove a thought from his mind Link picked up the blanket, then using it to shield his eyes he walked over to Talim.
"We need to leave soon," Link said from behind the blanket, a bit strained, "I'll scout ahead while you get dressed." When he sensed Talim's body near his, Link wrapped the blanket around her, seeing only her face then. He laughed nervously then and turned a slight shade of red.
"What's wrong?" Talim asked as she tilted her head slightly to the right. For some reason she had a hard time concentrating with Link so close and she noticed still not wearing his shirt.
"Nothing," Link spoke a little too quickly, "I just don't want to waste any daylight."
"I see," Talim said, taking the blanket with her own hands, "we'd better hurry then. Hey Link," she said as he turned his back to her, "what do we do now?"
"I don't know," Link whispered, "the only thing we can do is keep going forward." It was the way he lived his life, no matter what keep moving forward. This had kept him going throughout his life, no matter the hardship or the threat if you kept moving forward you would eventually come upon something worthwhile.
Link soon put his shirt and sword back on. When he had reached the outskirts of the camp he felt something strange yet familiar, a piece of the Soul Edge. It was more than the fragment that he felt then, he could feel the eyes of something watching him. Link had thought that he and Talim had been followed by something, but he could not figure out what. This close to the entity though he could feel nothing but malice, it knew what he had and wanted it for itself.
His mind wandered to Talim who was for the moment unprotected, would this creature attack her if it felt she was an easier prey? Drawing his bow Link knocked an arrow and aimed it at the area that he thought was where the creature hid. Then he fired. Link knew from the change in the air that he got the creatures attention, then without making a sound he ran as fast as he could away from Talim. The creature soon followed.
When Link had made it far enough away he confronted the creature with his sword and shield at the ready. The creature seemed like a normal enough person from the waist down, it was the waist up that caught his attention. It wore a strange jewel strapped to it's center that seemed to shift colors, spikes protruded from it's green body, from it's spiked head it's red, pupil less eyes showed nothing but hate. It's left arm bulged with veins and ended in a three pronged claw that gripped what looked like a sphere of pure energy. Horns seemed to actually grow from it's wrist.
"What are you?" Link asked the creature, astounded by it. In all his travels, in all his time, in all his world there was nothing like this.
The creature rambled angrily speaking in a tongue that Link could not begin to understand, the only words that made any sense to him were "Necrid," and "Soul Edge." Not wanting to waist anymore words on the young boy in green Necrid attacked, the sphere in it's hand turning into a long spike that it swung at him.
Link parried the blow with his sword only to find another spike in Necrid's other hand swing again. Blocking the blow with his shield Link then took a step back. As he did so the two spikes turned into on giant axe like weapon. It was all Link could do to dive away as the axe swung down, hitting the ground hard. As he spun around to get up Link raised his sword just in time to block an energy spike that swung down after him.
Using his Master Sword Link was then somehow able to block the two energy spikes as they came down, crossed, onto him. As the two stared each other down Necrid again spoke something unintelligible before it brought it's head crashing into Link's.
Link stumbled back and cursed himself for leaving himself open for the creature's next attack. That attack came as Necrid's malformed shoulder came crashing into Link's still healing ribcage. With an anguished cry Link flew back a good distance and landed on his back. Struggling to get up Link discovered that he could not breath.
The energy weapon that Necrid used turned into a whip that it used to strangle Link. The creature relished the anguished cries of the young Hylian, each one sounded like a beautiful song, tasted like a delicious meal. Just a little more and the boy would die of suffocation, then Necrid would claim his fragment.
Link's vision became spotty, he could no longer struggle. Inwardly he cursed his luck, he had come so far to this world only to be defeated by a monster that would not have stood a chance against him had he been a full strength. He didn't want to die, didn't want to leave Talim without saying good bye. With his last breath he would entreat the Goddesses of his world to protect her and keep her alive. A single tear escaped his strained eyes as he wished that he did not have to leave his Wind Shaman like this.
Just when Link thought he was finished something happened, he wasn't entirely sure what though. All he knew was that he was able to breath. His hazy vision made out the silhouette of young girl, Talim he realized. In her hands were the two arm blades that she called Syi Sarika and Loka Luha. These were the weapons that she used in her wind dance. Somehow she used them to break Necrid's hold over him.
"Link," Talim whispered, caressing his fallen form. Then rising to face Necrid she raised her weapons. The creature stared her down as it rubbed it's swollen jaw. "What are you?" She asked. Necrid responded in a language that Talim could not understand. "Human," she gasped, "your human aren't you?"
Using the twin spikes the creature bared down on Talim. From each side it swung at her. Using her own twin blades Talim blocked each attack, then using Necrid's own knees as spring board she flipped back kicking Necrid in the process. Then as she landed Talim sprung forward her fist connecting to it's face causing the creature to fall on it's back.
As Necrid rose to it's knees Talim leaped over it using the flat of her elbow blades she smashed her weapons into Necrid's face as she did. It roared then as it rapidly got to it's feet, Talim knew that whatever this creature was saying it did so with a great amount of anger. Now it's red eyes seethed with even greater hatred.
"I won't forgive you," Talim whispered looking at Link's fallen form, "I'll make you pay for hurting him." She charged the creature then, her blades aimed at his midsection to deliver what she was sure would be a fatal blow. The creature tried it's best to evade, but even as Talim's blades did not kill it they did shatter the jewel at it's chest. from it fell a strange metal shard, one that Talim was very familiar with.
As it roared in pain, clutching it's chest Necrid fell to his knees. As it did this a green portal opened behind it and began to suck in all that was around it, Link and Talim included.
"Link!" Talim cried out as she reached him. Securing his body to the ground with her own Talim held him tight. It wasn't long until she understood the reason that the portal opened, the jewel at it's center was what keep Necrid in this world, without it he could not stay. Looking over at it she saw the creature's claws firmly embedded into the ground as it's legs were pulled by the force of the vortex. Apparently the portal was pulling it with the greatest force.
Using all her strength Talim summoned a mighty wind, one that swept Necrid from the ground and pushed it to the vortex. As soon as it entered the portal closed and the winds returned to normal. When things quieted down Talim felt a familiar hand on her head. Link had come too.
"Talim," he whispered, "are you okay."
"Idiot," she cried, tears streaming down her face, "idiot, idiot, idiot. What were you thinking doing that? What would I have done if something happened to you?"
"I'm sorry," Link whispered, Talim continued to cry, "I was trying to protect you, but I guess you wound up protecting me again, sorry."
"I don't want you to protect me," as she spoke Link stopped caressing her hair suddenly, "I just want you with me."
Link considered this, in all his life he had fought alone. Yes he had help, but he was always alone whenever he jumped into the fray. He knew that Talim did not need his protection now, she was strong enough to fend for herself, but she wanted him by her side. He realized then that he wanted the same, not a damsel in distress, but a companion. Someone he could trust his life to.
"Talim," he whispered bringing her into an embrace as they laid there, "I won't leave your side, ever." He understood what she meant to him, everything. He knew that if Talim was fighting at his side then he could accomplish anything. Little did he know that Talim had come to the same conclusion.
-To Be Continued
Writer's block sucks.
Ryuhiko@hotmail.com
Of Wind and Forest
That night Talim dreamt of endless plains, warm rains and a certain boy playing on his ocarina. She was concerned though, what did this mean between them? Certainly she had feelings for him, but she wondered how deep they ran. Right now Link was the only person in the world who she could turn to. She could not go home, not ever. She worried that maybe her feelings weren't real, that maybe they shouldn't have kissed. Yet it felt so right.
When Talim awoke it was just before sunrise. Link still slept and would likely sleep a while longer, Talim's mind however was a flurry of activity. She could not concentrate, could not think. Reluctantly she removed herself from the bedroll and his arms. Even as she left his arms she could feel herself longing to return to them, she felt comforted in them, yet she knew as well as he the loneliness that they felt at losing their homes.
Looking over to the pond Talim thought, maybe the cold waters would be enough to clear her head a little. She had admired it in the late sun yesterday and now in the early morning light it looked even more inviting. She recalled that it had been a very long time since she had been able to take a decent bath, even longer since she had the chance to immerse herself completely.
Then she thought of Link, he had been very adamant about keeping what he considered personal, well personal. Sometimes though it was funny to watch his face turn red, she also recalled how sometimes he would turn his head to look only to stop himself before actually seeing anything. His notions of modesty seem strange to her, she had been more intimate with him than anybody else. She could tell that he obviously wanted to look, so why didn't he?
Brushing aside her thoughts on that matter, Talim removed her clothes and immersed herself in the surprisingly clean waters of that pond. That boy, no matter how she felt about him, could be very frustrating.
_____________________________
Link himself awoke some time after Talim, in truth it was the sounds of water splashing that roused him from his dreamless sleep. He realized that it was probably Talim bathing in the water. Link knew that she would not mind if he saw her, but he did. Though they were intimate last night they were not that intimate. Only involved people do that sort of thing, but weren't they involved now.
The whole matter made Link's head hurt, he had not intended on anything like last night. Originally Link's plan had been to find the Soul Edge destroy it and then decide what he would do afterwards. He had not intended on meeting someone or having his first kiss.
It struck him as odd that Talim had been his first. It was something he had never given any thought to. His life, as strange as it seemed, was too enveloped in protecting his people for him to give any thought to something as small as that. He had lived his whole life for others, to the point that he did not know what he would do after he embarked on this last quest to save them. Could he be with Talim in a world that so obviously didn't accept him?
He realized something then, Talim had never once told him that she could swim. Her splashing did not seem very panicked when she woke him, but how long had she been in the water? Link could not see her from his vantage point under the blanket. All he knew now was that there was no sound coming from the small lake.
With a speed born of fear Link jumped from the bedroll to see if she was safe. The sight that he beheld then took his breath away. Talim had just risen from the water, the drops that flew with her sparkled like small rainbows in the early morning sun. He could see a smile that glowed brighter than any light, Talim's closed eyes showed more delight than any time he had seen before. Her entire body shimmered with reflected light. Link could do nothing but stand there and admire the angel that had risen before him only to dive back down.
When Talim rose again she stayed above the water, in his fear Link had forgotten that the pond was no more than a few feet deep. However when she stood Link was able to see everything, but even as he looked he could do nothing. This priestess, this woman had ensnared him. He could not move, did not want to move. Talim was all that he saw.
"Oh you're awake?" Talim said when she finally noticed Link. "What's wrong?" She said when she noticed him staring. Shaking his head as if to remove a thought from his mind Link picked up the blanket, then using it to shield his eyes he walked over to Talim.
"We need to leave soon," Link said from behind the blanket, a bit strained, "I'll scout ahead while you get dressed." When he sensed Talim's body near his, Link wrapped the blanket around her, seeing only her face then. He laughed nervously then and turned a slight shade of red.
"What's wrong?" Talim asked as she tilted her head slightly to the right. For some reason she had a hard time concentrating with Link so close and she noticed still not wearing his shirt.
"Nothing," Link spoke a little too quickly, "I just don't want to waste any daylight."
"I see," Talim said, taking the blanket with her own hands, "we'd better hurry then. Hey Link," she said as he turned his back to her, "what do we do now?"
"I don't know," Link whispered, "the only thing we can do is keep going forward." It was the way he lived his life, no matter what keep moving forward. This had kept him going throughout his life, no matter the hardship or the threat if you kept moving forward you would eventually come upon something worthwhile.
Link soon put his shirt and sword back on. When he had reached the outskirts of the camp he felt something strange yet familiar, a piece of the Soul Edge. It was more than the fragment that he felt then, he could feel the eyes of something watching him. Link had thought that he and Talim had been followed by something, but he could not figure out what. This close to the entity though he could feel nothing but malice, it knew what he had and wanted it for itself.
His mind wandered to Talim who was for the moment unprotected, would this creature attack her if it felt she was an easier prey? Drawing his bow Link knocked an arrow and aimed it at the area that he thought was where the creature hid. Then he fired. Link knew from the change in the air that he got the creatures attention, then without making a sound he ran as fast as he could away from Talim. The creature soon followed.
When Link had made it far enough away he confronted the creature with his sword and shield at the ready. The creature seemed like a normal enough person from the waist down, it was the waist up that caught his attention. It wore a strange jewel strapped to it's center that seemed to shift colors, spikes protruded from it's green body, from it's spiked head it's red, pupil less eyes showed nothing but hate. It's left arm bulged with veins and ended in a three pronged claw that gripped what looked like a sphere of pure energy. Horns seemed to actually grow from it's wrist.
"What are you?" Link asked the creature, astounded by it. In all his travels, in all his time, in all his world there was nothing like this.
The creature rambled angrily speaking in a tongue that Link could not begin to understand, the only words that made any sense to him were "Necrid," and "Soul Edge." Not wanting to waist anymore words on the young boy in green Necrid attacked, the sphere in it's hand turning into a long spike that it swung at him.
Link parried the blow with his sword only to find another spike in Necrid's other hand swing again. Blocking the blow with his shield Link then took a step back. As he did so the two spikes turned into on giant axe like weapon. It was all Link could do to dive away as the axe swung down, hitting the ground hard. As he spun around to get up Link raised his sword just in time to block an energy spike that swung down after him.
Using his Master Sword Link was then somehow able to block the two energy spikes as they came down, crossed, onto him. As the two stared each other down Necrid again spoke something unintelligible before it brought it's head crashing into Link's.
Link stumbled back and cursed himself for leaving himself open for the creature's next attack. That attack came as Necrid's malformed shoulder came crashing into Link's still healing ribcage. With an anguished cry Link flew back a good distance and landed on his back. Struggling to get up Link discovered that he could not breath.
The energy weapon that Necrid used turned into a whip that it used to strangle Link. The creature relished the anguished cries of the young Hylian, each one sounded like a beautiful song, tasted like a delicious meal. Just a little more and the boy would die of suffocation, then Necrid would claim his fragment.
Link's vision became spotty, he could no longer struggle. Inwardly he cursed his luck, he had come so far to this world only to be defeated by a monster that would not have stood a chance against him had he been a full strength. He didn't want to die, didn't want to leave Talim without saying good bye. With his last breath he would entreat the Goddesses of his world to protect her and keep her alive. A single tear escaped his strained eyes as he wished that he did not have to leave his Wind Shaman like this.
Just when Link thought he was finished something happened, he wasn't entirely sure what though. All he knew was that he was able to breath. His hazy vision made out the silhouette of young girl, Talim he realized. In her hands were the two arm blades that she called Syi Sarika and Loka Luha. These were the weapons that she used in her wind dance. Somehow she used them to break Necrid's hold over him.
"Link," Talim whispered, caressing his fallen form. Then rising to face Necrid she raised her weapons. The creature stared her down as it rubbed it's swollen jaw. "What are you?" She asked. Necrid responded in a language that Talim could not understand. "Human," she gasped, "your human aren't you?"
Using the twin spikes the creature bared down on Talim. From each side it swung at her. Using her own twin blades Talim blocked each attack, then using Necrid's own knees as spring board she flipped back kicking Necrid in the process. Then as she landed Talim sprung forward her fist connecting to it's face causing the creature to fall on it's back.
As Necrid rose to it's knees Talim leaped over it using the flat of her elbow blades she smashed her weapons into Necrid's face as she did. It roared then as it rapidly got to it's feet, Talim knew that whatever this creature was saying it did so with a great amount of anger. Now it's red eyes seethed with even greater hatred.
"I won't forgive you," Talim whispered looking at Link's fallen form, "I'll make you pay for hurting him." She charged the creature then, her blades aimed at his midsection to deliver what she was sure would be a fatal blow. The creature tried it's best to evade, but even as Talim's blades did not kill it they did shatter the jewel at it's chest. from it fell a strange metal shard, one that Talim was very familiar with.
As it roared in pain, clutching it's chest Necrid fell to his knees. As it did this a green portal opened behind it and began to suck in all that was around it, Link and Talim included.
"Link!" Talim cried out as she reached him. Securing his body to the ground with her own Talim held him tight. It wasn't long until she understood the reason that the portal opened, the jewel at it's center was what keep Necrid in this world, without it he could not stay. Looking over at it she saw the creature's claws firmly embedded into the ground as it's legs were pulled by the force of the vortex. Apparently the portal was pulling it with the greatest force.
Using all her strength Talim summoned a mighty wind, one that swept Necrid from the ground and pushed it to the vortex. As soon as it entered the portal closed and the winds returned to normal. When things quieted down Talim felt a familiar hand on her head. Link had come too.
"Talim," he whispered, "are you okay."
"Idiot," she cried, tears streaming down her face, "idiot, idiot, idiot. What were you thinking doing that? What would I have done if something happened to you?"
"I'm sorry," Link whispered, Talim continued to cry, "I was trying to protect you, but I guess you wound up protecting me again, sorry."
"I don't want you to protect me," as she spoke Link stopped caressing her hair suddenly, "I just want you with me."
Link considered this, in all his life he had fought alone. Yes he had help, but he was always alone whenever he jumped into the fray. He knew that Talim did not need his protection now, she was strong enough to fend for herself, but she wanted him by her side. He realized then that he wanted the same, not a damsel in distress, but a companion. Someone he could trust his life to.
"Talim," he whispered bringing her into an embrace as they laid there, "I won't leave your side, ever." He understood what she meant to him, everything. He knew that if Talim was fighting at his side then he could accomplish anything. Little did he know that Talim had come to the same conclusion.
-To Be Continued
Writer's block sucks.
Ryuhiko@hotmail.com