Author's notes: This story will probably finish up with a little more than 10 chapters, so we are almost there.
Disclaimer: I'm getting tired of saying I don't own this stuff. 'Cause I don't.
Chapter 9: Magics
At the speed they were going, it didn't take long for Zelda and the rest to arrive at Link's door. Impa recalled the incident with the king, and had locked it. She wasn't sure if it was to keep others out or to keep the occupant in. As it turned out, it was the latter. When Impa turned the key in the lock, they all heard a startled gasp. The door swung outwards to reveal Link, holding a set of lock picks from who knows where.
There was a tense moment of silence as the six people each tried to take in the scene. Impa could only think that it had been a good thing she had locked the door, or he would have been long gone. Darunia was stumbling over his own thoughts, being the first to notice Link's hair. Zelda seemed more worried than ever, and Nabooru thought, with a hint of pride, that Link still remembered what she had taught him about picking locks. Link's only coherent thought at the moment was; (This is not good.)
Knowing that he had to get out of the castle, and that the others would never let him leave if they thought something was wrong, Link decided that running, as per his first plan, was not going to work. So, plan B stepped in. With a bit of a sheepish grin, Link tried to explain himself.
"The door was locked, so I had to try to pick it." (Oh, wonderful use of brainpower, Link,) he thought. Nabooru seemed to have forgotten the true purpose of their visit. "You were doin' a good job, too, but you forgot to keep holdin' down on yer picks." Link looked at the lock, several picks still snugly tucked inside, and blinked. She was right. He didn't often make mistakes like this.
Darunia brought the subject back to point. "Little Brother, are you all right?" Link looked back at the group, seeing five pairs of eyes meeting his with expressions of worry…and compassion. They cared for him, and were worried about him. Dropping his gaze, Link felt his resolve start to crumble. "No, Darunia, I don't think I am all right at all."
Nabooru knelt down near the small boy. "Kid, if there's something wrong with ya, you can tell us. We're your friends." Link felt his resolve crumble even further. He had just made up his mind to tell them, when he heard the whisper of an echo inside his mind. He suddenly remembered what the Fierce Deity had said to him, what he had seen in his dreams. "No. I'm sorry, but I can't."
"Kid-"
"Brother-"
"Link-"
"Child-"
"Fairy Boy-"
Link shook his head vemenhently at the protests. "No, I can't stay here. I have to leave." Link started to edge out the door. Malon continued her protests, saying, "But where will you go?" Link had made it outside the door. "I don't know. Anywhere." Just as Link turned to run, Zelda cried out "Link, you can't leave!" But Link had already made up his mind to get as far away as possible in the shortest amount of time. He would have made it, too, had not Darunia acted so quickly.
Just as Link started to flee, Darunia reached out a massive hand. He caught the back of Link's tunic and picked him up. When Darunia wrapped his large arms around him, Link began to struggle. That in itself was unheard of. In previous times, when Darunia had picked up Link (which was not uncommon, but not an everyday thing) the boy would go as limp as a kitten in its mother's jaws. Not today.
Everyone tried to help get Link under control as he shouted out, "You don't understand! I have to leave!" Everyone tried to help, but only got in the way. Except Zelda. She did not hear Link's cries. She was listening to something else. She heard the voice inside her mind, and it sounded like Link's voice.
You must use a certain spell, the voice said. Which one? Zelda knew some magic, but none that would help Link. This one, the voice replied, and suddenly Zelda knew how to form the magic. Zelda raised her hand.
With a strength that belied the child's small stature, Link forced his way free of Darunia's encompassing arms. He was about to make a mad dash for the exit, but his eyes became locked on Zelda. She had raised her hand, and Link saw a small orb of white energy forming in her palm. The others had stopped as well, frozen. As Link watched, the small bolt of magic was released from Zelda's hand and hurtled towards him.
The bolt of magic struck Link in the chest, pushing him back against the wall. He felt like the magic had burned him without searing his flesh, chilled him without making him cold. There was a muffled gasp from Malon. The spell, whatever it was, had done something. Link's hair was now almost completely white. Zelda's hand remained upraised, but she hesitated, uncertain.
Do it! The voice fairly screamed. The whole spell, you must hurry! Now! Resolute, Zelda charged the energy for the spell, an orb of white once again in her hand. This time, it was larger, much larger. All at once Link understood. Recognition flashed in his eyes, along with something that would haunt the others for quite some time: terror.
Link held his hands outward in a futile gesture of warding off a blow. "Zelda, no, please don't. Please, Zelda, no." Zelda released the spell, and all the world was enveloped in white.
"Please, don't. Please, Zelda, no…"