Chapter 5

Link blinked his eyes rapidly. Nothing was there.

"I saw...someone...something..."he stammered.

"You're imagining things. In times like this your mind can play tricks on you," Marin whispered soothingly.

"No...It was real. I know it was."

"Link..."

"I can't do it again! I have to get off this island...Marin...I'm scared! I fear for our lives."

"Who did you see?"

"I saw pure evil. The one responsible for the downfall of Hyrule. The one to whom I lost seven years of my life. The one who ravaged the entire kingdom," he felt his eyes tearing with hatred, "Ganondorf."

"That name sounds...familiar," Marin murmured.

"How did he get here? He's trapped...exiled from the land forever!" Link bit his lip, his face tight, "Marin, he's in the sacred realm. No one can escape from there."

"It isn't a matter of escape. Anyone can reach Koholint if they try to...if they know the path. It's reached through your dreams Link..."

"Ganondorf doesn't have dreams, he has nightmares," Link spat furiously.

"No matter. He can still reach Koholint, because it...it isn't....an actual place," Marin finished, her words heavy with sadness.

"Koholint's real. You can reach it from your dreams, Marin. And dreams are always there even when nothing else is. Therefore it's real. More real then me, more real then you."

Marin shivered, a cooling relief coursing through her body. "Why is he here?"

"Because I am here. He wants me dead. And the only way he can reach me is from my sleep. Though I'm here, my body still lies at rest in my bed! But my soul, and my heart are here," he paused, shifting his weight nervously, "with you, Marin."

Marin felt her body go stiff, and then relax under Links warming embrace. She felt a rush of confusion, then of satisfaction, then of pure fulfilment, as Link pressed his lips against hers. She found herself melting, though she so wanted to be alert and in control. And then she shocked herself, pushing against his chest and breaking free of him.

"Marin..." Link whispered, taking her hand, trying once more to draw her close.

"No, Link."

"What do you mean no? What's wrong?" His face was tender, filled with compassion, with worry, and with a deep hurt.

"Years ago, when I first met you, I would have given my very soul to be with you, to experience what just happened. But not now, Link. Because we are not destined to be together, our lives follow a path, and our are headed in opposite directions."

"How can you say that Marin?" Link gasped.

"Our love is forbidden. I live in a world of dreams, while you live in reality. And never shall the two meet."

"Soon you'll be safe. I'll be safe. And Marin, we can be together."

"I sense it. Something will happen and I will not be with you. I cannot just leave Koholint, try as I might..."Marin whispered fighting back tears.

"Damn it Marin! That's ridiculous!"

"No, it's fate."

"Then fate's ridiculous. Marin...I love you okay?"

No words could fit what she felt. Tears rolled down her cheeks, cool and comforting. Relieving. "Why? Don't. You shouldn't..."

"But I do. And you can't tell me how to feel."

Link sighed heavily, feeling a sort of desperation, and definitely pain.

"We don't need to build this anymore at least," he muttered, vaguely waving at the materials for the boat.

"What?" Marin whispered.

"We can save the island, Marin. We can save the people. And you'll be saved as well."

"How?" she breathed.

"Defeat Ganondorf. If he's gone, the island will rise once more."

"I think I'd rather take my chances with the boat..." she muttered.

"Well, we don't have much of a choice. But keep on your guard, there are creatures out there beyond your wildest dreams."

"Don't say that Link. My whole life's a dream. And it's only in my sleep that I can find reality."

* * * *

Marin leaned back, her shoulders sticky with sweat, her face streaked with dirt. Nothing was as it should be. Link was hurt, and she'd caused it. She didn't know how she'd save her own life, let alone the lives of everyone else. Her world was collapsing before her very eyes. And yet she was thriving on her own self pity. She felt wretched.

Why did she do it? He confessed that he loved her...and she'd shattered him! It was ironic that she always felt like he'd never want her. And now, he finally did, and she'd pushed him away.

"So you don't have to leave. Why can't we be together?"

Her stomach leapt into her throat and she whirled about.

Link.

"Because...."

"Can you leave Koholint?" Link asked.

"Yes. But I don't know if I can enter reality."

"Well, we won't know unless we try, right?"

"Uh huh," Marin muttered, her head throbbing with the heat, and with confusion.

"Listen Marin. I almost lost you once, and I don't want that to happen again," he knelt beside her.

"And I lost you as well. Link, you mean more then anything to me...but...I don't want to hurt you. We are just not destined to be together."

Some would call it a prophecy, Link knew it was just the way things went.

"Yeah, so I hear. I could stay here with you forever Marin...I don't need to leave anymore. Neither do you..."

"No Link. You can't stay in your dreams forever. Think of Hyrule...your princess....your life...." Marin whispered, her eyes not meeting his. "And I don't want you to fight that man. He sounds impossible to defeat!"

"It's the only way to save Koholint. And Marin, I'll do anything to save Koholint...I'll do anything to save you."

She felt her body drawing involuntarily closer to his. "I know you'll save us."

Link grinned, "I'll try Marin, I swear I'll try."

"So what's next?" Marin asked demurely.

"Next...I guess we find Ganondorf," Link grumbled.

"The water's rising quickly. Why doesn't anyone notice?" Marin shook her head, clearly exasperated at the ignorance of the people about her.

"They're oblivious to it. They don't the meaning of disaster. And they never will," Link paused, "Is something wrong?"

"Obviously," Marin replied hotly.

"Clever. Besides this entire situation, I mean."

"I don't know where my father is. I'm worried about him," Marin sighed.

"I'm sure he's alright. He's been gone before."

"Yes, but never for five days on end. He always returns home after three. I don't understand it...Link...you don't think anything happened to him do you?" her eyes shimmered with the movements of the waves, the clouds, everything at once. She felt a building dread in the pit of her stomach.

"No, of course not," Link replied in an unsure tone.

"Something's happened," Marin gasped, standing up swiftly. She breathed apace, running her hands repeatedly through her hair.

"I'm sure he's alright..." Link started.

"What's happened? If anything happened to my father I'll be the one to kill that monster, not you..." her voice was strong, unwavering.

"Marin, nothing's wrong."

"He may be hurt, ill...dead," she let the word slide from her tongue, coldly.

"Stop it! You're making assumptions!"

"Maybe I am and maybe I'm not. But something's dreadfully wrong, and we're going to search for my father."

"Okay, Marin. If it will calm you down," Link muttered agreeably, "We'll look first thing tomorrow." He yawned, peering up at the darkening sky, with it's ripples of stars.

"We're starting now. And no one rests until he's found," Marin folded her arms, daring Link to defy her. He rolled his eyes, giving in, and they headed towards the dark silhouettes of the far off hills.



Please review! I want feedback!