Chapter Twenty-Eight
Link suspected he knew where she had gone away to, and he was right. If he had been in her shoes, he would have gone to the exact same place; the castle gardens.
War is never pretty, he speculated as he followed the path along the hedges and flowers, and even the best of men will find themselves weeping afterwards. To take the life of someone you've never known... it was a harsh deciding factor. If circumstances had been different, the Tophetian soldiers could have been acquaintances or friends of his. But the gods and goddesses only looked down upon mortals with somber understanding, and let them carry out their barbaric wars.
Link found Miyako sitting by the pond, as he had done when he first came to Castle Dythia. If she heard him, she gave no indication that she did. He sat down beside her and did not speak.
"Lance asked you to come and apologize for him, didn't he?" She asked softly, not facing him but gazing out at the pond.
"Partly, but also I came for myself."
"...I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I should have, it was wrong of me," the red-haired girl blurted unexpectedly.
"Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but you can't help your nature," he replied quietly, looking up at the night sky. "You were right, in a way; I can't protect those who don't want my protection."
"For all my proud speech, I've never killed a person before this day," she admitted mournfully, looking down at the soft grass. "Injured, yes, but never killed. I thought I could handle it, but... I was wrong. Even those Tophetians I burned... I couldn't kill them; I didn't let them burn long enough... Earlier you said that was why I was so angry with you, because I could handle a battle and not need of anyone's help. But that's wrong. I was so afraid after my teacher died... I told you about Esteani, didn't I?" Link nodded wordlessly. "He had heart failure; he clutched at his chest and died. I... it scared me so badly, I didn't know what to do. I buried him and moved on with the world, as they say, but I didn't want to have to depend on anyone after that. It seems arrogant to say I felt I didn't need anyone else, but I didn't want them to leave me. I've lost so many people. It wasn't war, it wasn't blasphemy, neither was it the will of the gods and goddesses! It was just heart failure or disease! Do you see how unfair that is?" He nodded again.
"Maybe I was wrong in saying that you felt you had no need of other people, but it partly is true. You don't want my protection because you think I'll die suddenly, like your teacher did."
"When my father finally passed away, Esteani died during a mock battle, I wanted to blame the gods and goddesses and I did, but finally I blamed myself. I know that sounds overdone but that's our nature, isn't it?" Hesitatingly, Link reached out and took her hand in his.
"It's very much our nature. I blamed myself when I saw your fire rise into the sky when I took the archers to the Tophetian encampment. I felt I had failed in not being able to perceive every possible scenario there was. When we were under attack at the Massharte Ruins, I wanted to kick myself for not agreeing to let you come along with us to Tyulia. Now, Selinta may lose the war, and that is a great loss that I'll blame myself with. But I have to let you know, no matter how awkwardly this is going to come out, that I admire you for everything you've done."
"It's nothing compared to what you did, back at the monastery," Miyako replied gently, looking at him. Link shook his head, trying to find words for everything he had to say.
"No, don't compare us. What you did is nothing short of daring; you stepped into your first real battle, unarmed, barely trained, and with a sword too big for you, and relied on no one to warn you against an attack. For the longest time, I wasn't certain why I felt attracted to you. Sure, the reason came to me that night, but I didn't know it until I saw it in action. I'll never have to worry about protecting you, because you're capable enough to take care of yourself. I've wanted that so much in a girl, I didn't even know it." Miyako shook her head, but didn't say anything. "It's too early to say that I might be in love with you, but give me a few more hours." That made her smile.
"You're incorrigible, Link, and don't you dare say 'indubitably.' " He grinned, tightening his hold on her hand slightly. "After the war, will you come with me?"
"To where?"
"The Temple of Life."
"If we're still around to see the end of the war... indubitably." She pulled a face at him, and Link laughed good-naturedly, then stopped after a moment. "But the war could go on for years."
"Not unless you kill King Viru, and soon," she declared fiercely, gripping his hand with both of hers and turning her whole body to face him. "You have to kill him, I don't care what it takes. If he comes here to attack the castle, shoot him with an arrow or something."
"King Edward may want the pleasure of that," Link pointed out cautiously, "and the opportunity might not arise soon enough." Miyako sighed, shrugging.
"I guess we'll just have to seen, then." The Hero of Time frowned in thought. "What are you thinking about? You always get that 'brooding hero' look when you think."
"What will you do after you go to the Temple of Life, and do whatever you need to do?" She appeared to think this over, and Link noted that her hair was soft in the moonlight.
"I don't know, but Lance always said Shenalah was a beautiful place. I might go there, or I might go back to Kreya to see my aunt for a bit, but I won't stay long. Why do you ask?" Then, with uncertainty, "Are you going back to Hyrule?"
"...I don't know if I want to go back to Hyrule. At least, not right afterwards," he added quickly. "I might, after a while. There's just too much see outside of my homeland. If Hyrule needs me, then I'll go back, but if not... I'll see if I can't change my luck in sailing with Lance and his father, and their crew." Link locked his eyes with her. "Would you come with me, if I did?"
"If you wanted me to," she answered, gazing right back at him.
"And if I wanted you to?"
"Indubitably," she laughed. "But I thought you said it was much too soon to tell, or did you forget?"
"Even a hero can be wrong, you know," he returned in a low voice.
"Really? I thought I'd never see the day," she gasped, feigning amazement.
"It's nighttime, actually," Link corrected, winking at her. He leaned in to kiss her, but before their mouths could touch he heard a frantic voice call out,
"Matey?! Link?!" He pulled back in surprise, and the moment shattered like fine crystal.
"Lance, you have /horrible/ timing," he growled when the sailor stumbled into the clearing.
"Be that as it may, ger fada," he grunted dryly, his arms folded across his chest, "I thought ye'd might like to know that King Viru has a whole mess of Tophetians gathered at Ontharn. The city's burning as we speak."
"What?!" The other two leapt to their feet at once.
"Aye, they came up suddenly, attackin' and yellin' like there was no tomorrow." Link swore loudly then ran back to the castle. Lance stopped Miyako, a grin on his face.
"So, what happened, pray tell? And do ye forgive me?"
"Lance, you're my friend, but you're still a bastard."
"Good enough, aye, and what did Our Hero say to you?" Miyako swatted at him and he danced away. " 'Tis an honest question what deserves an honest answer!"
"That's none of your business, for all your meddling, Lance, now get a move on it!"
"How long has this been going on?" Link asked the queen, the two of them watching the city burn to ashes from the castle top. Queen Eloisa sighed tearfully, dabbing at her face with a lace kerchief.
"For about thirty minutes now. I sent Lanceton after you as quickly as I could, but apparently 'twas not quick enough. There are not enough soldiers here to keep the Tophetians at bay. Surely, this is a lost battle."
"Have the guards bar all the gates tightly, and have many buckets of water ready, in case they set fire to the wood," Link ordered, his eyes still locked on the burning city. "If any city dwellers come here, bring them in at once. When the Tophetians attack, have the archers at the ready on top of the fortifications, firing in ranks. We've not lost yet, Your Highness."
King Viru studied the castle with streaming eyes; the smoke from the fires burned them, and they watered copiously. In his own twisted way, he had adored Cheyanna for her cunning and loyalty to him, and had been most upset when Miyako had killed her.
"Sire, the army is ready to march to the castle," Intol announced uneasily. Whenever the King of Tophet had that look on his face, it was almost impossible to tell what he might do.
"Good, we'll begin the march in the morning. Have our archers ready as well, at the front, with lit arrows. We shall burn their gates and storm the castle."
"Is it terribly bad, then?" Miyako asked when she and Lance met up with Link inside the Great Hall. The Hero of Time nodded his head.
"They're burning the city as we speak, but there's nothing we can do. We can't afford to have the queen send out the remaining soldiers, otherwise we'd have no guards. If any of the city dwellers come here, I told her to let them in, but... other than that..." He ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply. "We can only hope that King Edward, General Aston, and the Royal Hylian Army returns soon. If not... we're in for a long siege."
"Aye, we'll be penned in here like rats in cages, so we will," Lance remarked, studying a great tapestry of the Golden Goddesses ascending into the heavens. "Hyrule is the only land forged directly by those goddesses, ye know..."
"We were just lucky, I guess," Link replied, smiling in spite of himself.
"The blessed land," the sailor continued, as though he did not hear Link. "It would be fine if all the countries could have their own heroes, as Hyrule does. It was unbearable land afore the goddesses descended upon it. The ancient Kreyans referred to is as 'the Desolation.' " Lance shook himself out of his spoken reverie. "Aye, but I was just thinkin', how nice 'twould be if the goddesses could help us now, eh?"
"If wishes were fishes there'd be no room left in the river for water," Miyako recited carefully, nodding her head. Link looked at her in surprise; he had always thought that had been a Hylian proverb. "What can we do, then, to help the guards?"
"Fletch arrows, but I've not much skill in that area," Link admitted. "It's easier to buy them than to make them, but with the city as it is... hopefully there is a good store in the armory. Have either of you skill with bows?"
"I can shoot 'em, aye, but if you're meaning for me to hit someone, it might take a few tries," Lance replied, smiling sheepishly.
"I've got a little skill with the bow," Miyako added, shrugging, "but I wouldn't win any contests."
"Well, when the Tophetians attack, we'll join the guards on the wall and fire arrows with the rest of them. That's all we can do, unless we can get a message to Ashara to send a ship to Hyrule for reinforcements, but by then, I think, we'll either be dead or triumphant."
"How optimistic," noted the red-haired girl grimly. The Hero of Time shrugged helplessly.
"To be honest, there's no difference between pessimism and realism. You both should try and get some sleep; I've got a feeling they'll be attacking in the morning. Call it a hunch, but I bet King Viru's troops need a little rest, too."
"And what will you be doin, ger fada?" Lance inquired.
"I'm going to try and think of a plan to hold them off as long as possible, and hopefully not get too many Selintan soldiers killed," responded Link. "Arrows won't do the trick forever, and even with water the gates won't stand against fire for long."
"Then we'll help you; surely three minds are better than one," Miyako offered. Link shook his head.
"No, I need a little time to think by myself." Lance nodded sagely.
"Aye, he'll not be distracted by you, Miyako." Link smothered a laugh and cocked an eyebrow at the sailor.
"That goes for you too, Lance."
"What? But... but yer me matey! I'll not leave ye alone to sit and take all the responsibility 'pon yourself!"
"Lance, it's my duty to Hyrule, as Selinta's ally, to aid them in any way possible during the war. Neither of you have that sort of tie to this war; in fact, if you wanted to, you could both leave right now and be done with it."
"Why would we abandon you, our First, in your time of need?" Miyako uttered fiercely, planting her hands on her hips. "For all your pretty talk in the garden, Link, you can be quite a stubborn mule. If you're going to fight this war, then it's our duty as your Second and Third to fight with you." Before Link could reply, Lance added,
"Aye, and you're not goin' to take all the action for yourself, now are you, matey? No, I don't think so. Sworn to your side by amicitia fatalis, that's where we'll stay 'til this war's over or we've no strength to pull breath into our lungs!" The nineteen-year-old looked back and forth between the two set faces, and closed his eyes.
"It's no wonder you treat each other like brother and sister; it certainly seems that way. If you're going to come with me to the conference room, then let's go."
Lance admired the little toy soldiers and figures of castles and guard towers as Link unrolled the map. He picked up one of the small wooden ships carefully
"We've got to assume that the Hylian troops and King Edward arrived successfully at Oun Tar," he stated, nudging it towards said city on the scroll chart. "It would be naïve to think that they might return in time to help us in any way. However," he added, plucking a soldier from Lance's fingers, "if we can get word to General Torris at Tyulia, they /might/ be able to get here before we're too battle weary."
"All well and said, matey, but let's pretend we can't get out of the castle." Lance's accent disappeared as he settled down and became serious. "We'll have to rely solely on the skills of those who're here. Namely the Selintan soldiers."
"I've already told Queen Eloisa to keep the guards alert with buckets of water and arrows, but I don't know if that'll be enough to keep them at bay for long. No doubt they'll have archers of their own, firing right back."
"We'll need something great, then," Miyako sighed, shaking her head. "If only you still had that black ball of Shadeius..." To Link's amusement, Lance touched his forehead in fear.
"You'll be referring to the Night Orb, then?"
"Aye, that same one," Miyako nodded. "He threw it at Cheyanna. Perhaps..." A gleam appeared in her eye. "Perhaps it's still in the East Tower?"
"What good would it do for us broken?" Link asked, sitting back in his chair. Lance made a disparaging noise in the back of his throat.
"Matey, nothing the Seven Dragons made is truly breakable; 'tis the legend of the Master Sword itself, so 'tis, forged by Volcanis the Fire Dragon. I'm sure, given the right circumstances, that it'd put itself back together."
"King Edward didn't want us to use the monsters to fight the Tophetians, though," the Hero of Time reminded him.
"Aye, and they say fight fire with fire," the sailor argued, "so we'll fight monsters with monsters." The half-Kreyan half-Aquarian rose to his feet. "In the East Tower, ye said?"
"At the very top cell," Miyako confirmed. "Are you going, then?"
"Aye, and I'll leave you two alone to... discuss plans," winked the sailor, whistling as he strode out of the conference room. Link shook his head, as though in disapproval.
"Honestly..."
"I'm sure he means well," Miyako shrugged, blushing a little. "Lance was always an altruistic fellow." Link appeared to think this over, then smiled charmingly at her.
"Shenalah will be a fine place to go to after the Temple of Life," he told her. She blinked innocence at him. "If you'd have me with you, that is."
"I won't say indubitably, but Link, I would be more than happy to have your company." He reached over and touched her hand, searching her green eyes as he repositioned his chair closer to her.
"I think I was wrong again, it's not taken a few hours," he said seriously. A slow smile spread on her face, and she raised her other hand to cover it, her eyes shining. "I hope this war ends soon, though it's not likely. It would be wonderful to spend more time with you. Still, even if I think I'm beginning to fall in love with you, I can't help but think about the people of Ontharn..."
"Link, you'd make a fine general, but I don't think you'd take such a weighty position." The young blonde man shook his head.
"I'll never be a general. Strategy, I may have, but being a general means staying in one place, even if there is some action in it. After this war I am going to see more of the world. I've stayed in a forest for ten years of my life and in Hyrule for all of it, and it's time to get moving. Hyrule is not the only country in need of heroes. I may not like being depended on so frequently, but I'd not change it if I could."
"Neither would I," Miyako murmured as he leaned forward to kiss her. And this time, there was no interruption.
Link could have sworn that he had not been kissing Miyako for more than a minute, but Lance seemed to return mere seconds after they had begun.
"I'd hate to interrupt such profound discussion," chuckled the sailor happily, "but I'll gotten the Night Orb, and 'tis whole, it is." The Hero of Time pulled back reluctantly.
"Oh... that's great, but you didn't have to hurry," he responded. Lance laughed heartily.
"What's so funny?" demanded the nineteen-year-old.
"Link, I been gone for the better half of an hour!" The sailor carefully bowled the ball across the table towards him, still laughing fit to bust. Miyako put a hand to her face and flushed beneath it, shaking her head, and Link scowled at his friend. "Oh, to be young and in love, such sweethearts as—"
"Hush, Lance," the Hero of Time chided, coloring in spite of himself. "We'll have to ask Queen Eloisa for permission, though; with King Edward gone, she's the one with the highest authority here."
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[groans] Can you say "Shiniki suxx0rs at writing romance?" Great, I knew you could! Anyway, this is a longish chapter (seven pages, about), and hopefully it has enough action and not a lot of romance so that I don't have to change the genre. Although I might have to consider adding "Romance" as the secondary genre in Part Two, even though I am trying to stay away from it. Because if I get all red in the face just writing them /kissing/, how is it going to be if people request for flat-out sex? -_-;; No, Shiniki don't play that. All right, I'll be quiet, but only if you promise to review. Good review, bad review, it's all good in the end. (And what a lame chapter title, I know!)
Link suspected he knew where she had gone away to, and he was right. If he had been in her shoes, he would have gone to the exact same place; the castle gardens.
War is never pretty, he speculated as he followed the path along the hedges and flowers, and even the best of men will find themselves weeping afterwards. To take the life of someone you've never known... it was a harsh deciding factor. If circumstances had been different, the Tophetian soldiers could have been acquaintances or friends of his. But the gods and goddesses only looked down upon mortals with somber understanding, and let them carry out their barbaric wars.
Link found Miyako sitting by the pond, as he had done when he first came to Castle Dythia. If she heard him, she gave no indication that she did. He sat down beside her and did not speak.
"Lance asked you to come and apologize for him, didn't he?" She asked softly, not facing him but gazing out at the pond.
"Partly, but also I came for myself."
"...I'm sorry I didn't listen to you. I should have, it was wrong of me," the red-haired girl blurted unexpectedly.
"Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't, but you can't help your nature," he replied quietly, looking up at the night sky. "You were right, in a way; I can't protect those who don't want my protection."
"For all my proud speech, I've never killed a person before this day," she admitted mournfully, looking down at the soft grass. "Injured, yes, but never killed. I thought I could handle it, but... I was wrong. Even those Tophetians I burned... I couldn't kill them; I didn't let them burn long enough... Earlier you said that was why I was so angry with you, because I could handle a battle and not need of anyone's help. But that's wrong. I was so afraid after my teacher died... I told you about Esteani, didn't I?" Link nodded wordlessly. "He had heart failure; he clutched at his chest and died. I... it scared me so badly, I didn't know what to do. I buried him and moved on with the world, as they say, but I didn't want to have to depend on anyone after that. It seems arrogant to say I felt I didn't need anyone else, but I didn't want them to leave me. I've lost so many people. It wasn't war, it wasn't blasphemy, neither was it the will of the gods and goddesses! It was just heart failure or disease! Do you see how unfair that is?" He nodded again.
"Maybe I was wrong in saying that you felt you had no need of other people, but it partly is true. You don't want my protection because you think I'll die suddenly, like your teacher did."
"When my father finally passed away, Esteani died during a mock battle, I wanted to blame the gods and goddesses and I did, but finally I blamed myself. I know that sounds overdone but that's our nature, isn't it?" Hesitatingly, Link reached out and took her hand in his.
"It's very much our nature. I blamed myself when I saw your fire rise into the sky when I took the archers to the Tophetian encampment. I felt I had failed in not being able to perceive every possible scenario there was. When we were under attack at the Massharte Ruins, I wanted to kick myself for not agreeing to let you come along with us to Tyulia. Now, Selinta may lose the war, and that is a great loss that I'll blame myself with. But I have to let you know, no matter how awkwardly this is going to come out, that I admire you for everything you've done."
"It's nothing compared to what you did, back at the monastery," Miyako replied gently, looking at him. Link shook his head, trying to find words for everything he had to say.
"No, don't compare us. What you did is nothing short of daring; you stepped into your first real battle, unarmed, barely trained, and with a sword too big for you, and relied on no one to warn you against an attack. For the longest time, I wasn't certain why I felt attracted to you. Sure, the reason came to me that night, but I didn't know it until I saw it in action. I'll never have to worry about protecting you, because you're capable enough to take care of yourself. I've wanted that so much in a girl, I didn't even know it." Miyako shook her head, but didn't say anything. "It's too early to say that I might be in love with you, but give me a few more hours." That made her smile.
"You're incorrigible, Link, and don't you dare say 'indubitably.' " He grinned, tightening his hold on her hand slightly. "After the war, will you come with me?"
"To where?"
"The Temple of Life."
"If we're still around to see the end of the war... indubitably." She pulled a face at him, and Link laughed good-naturedly, then stopped after a moment. "But the war could go on for years."
"Not unless you kill King Viru, and soon," she declared fiercely, gripping his hand with both of hers and turning her whole body to face him. "You have to kill him, I don't care what it takes. If he comes here to attack the castle, shoot him with an arrow or something."
"King Edward may want the pleasure of that," Link pointed out cautiously, "and the opportunity might not arise soon enough." Miyako sighed, shrugging.
"I guess we'll just have to seen, then." The Hero of Time frowned in thought. "What are you thinking about? You always get that 'brooding hero' look when you think."
"What will you do after you go to the Temple of Life, and do whatever you need to do?" She appeared to think this over, and Link noted that her hair was soft in the moonlight.
"I don't know, but Lance always said Shenalah was a beautiful place. I might go there, or I might go back to Kreya to see my aunt for a bit, but I won't stay long. Why do you ask?" Then, with uncertainty, "Are you going back to Hyrule?"
"...I don't know if I want to go back to Hyrule. At least, not right afterwards," he added quickly. "I might, after a while. There's just too much see outside of my homeland. If Hyrule needs me, then I'll go back, but if not... I'll see if I can't change my luck in sailing with Lance and his father, and their crew." Link locked his eyes with her. "Would you come with me, if I did?"
"If you wanted me to," she answered, gazing right back at him.
"And if I wanted you to?"
"Indubitably," she laughed. "But I thought you said it was much too soon to tell, or did you forget?"
"Even a hero can be wrong, you know," he returned in a low voice.
"Really? I thought I'd never see the day," she gasped, feigning amazement.
"It's nighttime, actually," Link corrected, winking at her. He leaned in to kiss her, but before their mouths could touch he heard a frantic voice call out,
"Matey?! Link?!" He pulled back in surprise, and the moment shattered like fine crystal.
"Lance, you have /horrible/ timing," he growled when the sailor stumbled into the clearing.
"Be that as it may, ger fada," he grunted dryly, his arms folded across his chest, "I thought ye'd might like to know that King Viru has a whole mess of Tophetians gathered at Ontharn. The city's burning as we speak."
"What?!" The other two leapt to their feet at once.
"Aye, they came up suddenly, attackin' and yellin' like there was no tomorrow." Link swore loudly then ran back to the castle. Lance stopped Miyako, a grin on his face.
"So, what happened, pray tell? And do ye forgive me?"
"Lance, you're my friend, but you're still a bastard."
"Good enough, aye, and what did Our Hero say to you?" Miyako swatted at him and he danced away. " 'Tis an honest question what deserves an honest answer!"
"That's none of your business, for all your meddling, Lance, now get a move on it!"
"How long has this been going on?" Link asked the queen, the two of them watching the city burn to ashes from the castle top. Queen Eloisa sighed tearfully, dabbing at her face with a lace kerchief.
"For about thirty minutes now. I sent Lanceton after you as quickly as I could, but apparently 'twas not quick enough. There are not enough soldiers here to keep the Tophetians at bay. Surely, this is a lost battle."
"Have the guards bar all the gates tightly, and have many buckets of water ready, in case they set fire to the wood," Link ordered, his eyes still locked on the burning city. "If any city dwellers come here, bring them in at once. When the Tophetians attack, have the archers at the ready on top of the fortifications, firing in ranks. We've not lost yet, Your Highness."
King Viru studied the castle with streaming eyes; the smoke from the fires burned them, and they watered copiously. In his own twisted way, he had adored Cheyanna for her cunning and loyalty to him, and had been most upset when Miyako had killed her.
"Sire, the army is ready to march to the castle," Intol announced uneasily. Whenever the King of Tophet had that look on his face, it was almost impossible to tell what he might do.
"Good, we'll begin the march in the morning. Have our archers ready as well, at the front, with lit arrows. We shall burn their gates and storm the castle."
"Is it terribly bad, then?" Miyako asked when she and Lance met up with Link inside the Great Hall. The Hero of Time nodded his head.
"They're burning the city as we speak, but there's nothing we can do. We can't afford to have the queen send out the remaining soldiers, otherwise we'd have no guards. If any of the city dwellers come here, I told her to let them in, but... other than that..." He ran a hand through his hair and sighed deeply. "We can only hope that King Edward, General Aston, and the Royal Hylian Army returns soon. If not... we're in for a long siege."
"Aye, we'll be penned in here like rats in cages, so we will," Lance remarked, studying a great tapestry of the Golden Goddesses ascending into the heavens. "Hyrule is the only land forged directly by those goddesses, ye know..."
"We were just lucky, I guess," Link replied, smiling in spite of himself.
"The blessed land," the sailor continued, as though he did not hear Link. "It would be fine if all the countries could have their own heroes, as Hyrule does. It was unbearable land afore the goddesses descended upon it. The ancient Kreyans referred to is as 'the Desolation.' " Lance shook himself out of his spoken reverie. "Aye, but I was just thinkin', how nice 'twould be if the goddesses could help us now, eh?"
"If wishes were fishes there'd be no room left in the river for water," Miyako recited carefully, nodding her head. Link looked at her in surprise; he had always thought that had been a Hylian proverb. "What can we do, then, to help the guards?"
"Fletch arrows, but I've not much skill in that area," Link admitted. "It's easier to buy them than to make them, but with the city as it is... hopefully there is a good store in the armory. Have either of you skill with bows?"
"I can shoot 'em, aye, but if you're meaning for me to hit someone, it might take a few tries," Lance replied, smiling sheepishly.
"I've got a little skill with the bow," Miyako added, shrugging, "but I wouldn't win any contests."
"Well, when the Tophetians attack, we'll join the guards on the wall and fire arrows with the rest of them. That's all we can do, unless we can get a message to Ashara to send a ship to Hyrule for reinforcements, but by then, I think, we'll either be dead or triumphant."
"How optimistic," noted the red-haired girl grimly. The Hero of Time shrugged helplessly.
"To be honest, there's no difference between pessimism and realism. You both should try and get some sleep; I've got a feeling they'll be attacking in the morning. Call it a hunch, but I bet King Viru's troops need a little rest, too."
"And what will you be doin, ger fada?" Lance inquired.
"I'm going to try and think of a plan to hold them off as long as possible, and hopefully not get too many Selintan soldiers killed," responded Link. "Arrows won't do the trick forever, and even with water the gates won't stand against fire for long."
"Then we'll help you; surely three minds are better than one," Miyako offered. Link shook his head.
"No, I need a little time to think by myself." Lance nodded sagely.
"Aye, he'll not be distracted by you, Miyako." Link smothered a laugh and cocked an eyebrow at the sailor.
"That goes for you too, Lance."
"What? But... but yer me matey! I'll not leave ye alone to sit and take all the responsibility 'pon yourself!"
"Lance, it's my duty to Hyrule, as Selinta's ally, to aid them in any way possible during the war. Neither of you have that sort of tie to this war; in fact, if you wanted to, you could both leave right now and be done with it."
"Why would we abandon you, our First, in your time of need?" Miyako uttered fiercely, planting her hands on her hips. "For all your pretty talk in the garden, Link, you can be quite a stubborn mule. If you're going to fight this war, then it's our duty as your Second and Third to fight with you." Before Link could reply, Lance added,
"Aye, and you're not goin' to take all the action for yourself, now are you, matey? No, I don't think so. Sworn to your side by amicitia fatalis, that's where we'll stay 'til this war's over or we've no strength to pull breath into our lungs!" The nineteen-year-old looked back and forth between the two set faces, and closed his eyes.
"It's no wonder you treat each other like brother and sister; it certainly seems that way. If you're going to come with me to the conference room, then let's go."
Lance admired the little toy soldiers and figures of castles and guard towers as Link unrolled the map. He picked up one of the small wooden ships carefully
"We've got to assume that the Hylian troops and King Edward arrived successfully at Oun Tar," he stated, nudging it towards said city on the scroll chart. "It would be naïve to think that they might return in time to help us in any way. However," he added, plucking a soldier from Lance's fingers, "if we can get word to General Torris at Tyulia, they /might/ be able to get here before we're too battle weary."
"All well and said, matey, but let's pretend we can't get out of the castle." Lance's accent disappeared as he settled down and became serious. "We'll have to rely solely on the skills of those who're here. Namely the Selintan soldiers."
"I've already told Queen Eloisa to keep the guards alert with buckets of water and arrows, but I don't know if that'll be enough to keep them at bay for long. No doubt they'll have archers of their own, firing right back."
"We'll need something great, then," Miyako sighed, shaking her head. "If only you still had that black ball of Shadeius..." To Link's amusement, Lance touched his forehead in fear.
"You'll be referring to the Night Orb, then?"
"Aye, that same one," Miyako nodded. "He threw it at Cheyanna. Perhaps..." A gleam appeared in her eye. "Perhaps it's still in the East Tower?"
"What good would it do for us broken?" Link asked, sitting back in his chair. Lance made a disparaging noise in the back of his throat.
"Matey, nothing the Seven Dragons made is truly breakable; 'tis the legend of the Master Sword itself, so 'tis, forged by Volcanis the Fire Dragon. I'm sure, given the right circumstances, that it'd put itself back together."
"King Edward didn't want us to use the monsters to fight the Tophetians, though," the Hero of Time reminded him.
"Aye, and they say fight fire with fire," the sailor argued, "so we'll fight monsters with monsters." The half-Kreyan half-Aquarian rose to his feet. "In the East Tower, ye said?"
"At the very top cell," Miyako confirmed. "Are you going, then?"
"Aye, and I'll leave you two alone to... discuss plans," winked the sailor, whistling as he strode out of the conference room. Link shook his head, as though in disapproval.
"Honestly..."
"I'm sure he means well," Miyako shrugged, blushing a little. "Lance was always an altruistic fellow." Link appeared to think this over, then smiled charmingly at her.
"Shenalah will be a fine place to go to after the Temple of Life," he told her. She blinked innocence at him. "If you'd have me with you, that is."
"I won't say indubitably, but Link, I would be more than happy to have your company." He reached over and touched her hand, searching her green eyes as he repositioned his chair closer to her.
"I think I was wrong again, it's not taken a few hours," he said seriously. A slow smile spread on her face, and she raised her other hand to cover it, her eyes shining. "I hope this war ends soon, though it's not likely. It would be wonderful to spend more time with you. Still, even if I think I'm beginning to fall in love with you, I can't help but think about the people of Ontharn..."
"Link, you'd make a fine general, but I don't think you'd take such a weighty position." The young blonde man shook his head.
"I'll never be a general. Strategy, I may have, but being a general means staying in one place, even if there is some action in it. After this war I am going to see more of the world. I've stayed in a forest for ten years of my life and in Hyrule for all of it, and it's time to get moving. Hyrule is not the only country in need of heroes. I may not like being depended on so frequently, but I'd not change it if I could."
"Neither would I," Miyako murmured as he leaned forward to kiss her. And this time, there was no interruption.
Link could have sworn that he had not been kissing Miyako for more than a minute, but Lance seemed to return mere seconds after they had begun.
"I'd hate to interrupt such profound discussion," chuckled the sailor happily, "but I'll gotten the Night Orb, and 'tis whole, it is." The Hero of Time pulled back reluctantly.
"Oh... that's great, but you didn't have to hurry," he responded. Lance laughed heartily.
"What's so funny?" demanded the nineteen-year-old.
"Link, I been gone for the better half of an hour!" The sailor carefully bowled the ball across the table towards him, still laughing fit to bust. Miyako put a hand to her face and flushed beneath it, shaking her head, and Link scowled at his friend. "Oh, to be young and in love, such sweethearts as—"
"Hush, Lance," the Hero of Time chided, coloring in spite of himself. "We'll have to ask Queen Eloisa for permission, though; with King Edward gone, she's the one with the highest authority here."
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[groans] Can you say "Shiniki suxx0rs at writing romance?" Great, I knew you could! Anyway, this is a longish chapter (seven pages, about), and hopefully it has enough action and not a lot of romance so that I don't have to change the genre. Although I might have to consider adding "Romance" as the secondary genre in Part Two, even though I am trying to stay away from it. Because if I get all red in the face just writing them /kissing/, how is it going to be if people request for flat-out sex? -_-;; No, Shiniki don't play that. All right, I'll be quiet, but only if you promise to review. Good review, bad review, it's all good in the end. (And what a lame chapter title, I know!)