"..Nahla.."
...Who's voice was that?...
I opened my eyes, only to see a few Zoras conversing in their native dialect.. The girl was the first to noticed I had awakened. Although it didn't make me feel any better, she was overwhelmed with joy. I tried to sit up, propping my elbows up against the ground and lifting my torso.. But an excruciating pain caused me to lie back down on the grass.. They had taken me back to shore.. And for that, I was grateful.
"We must thank you!" One exclaimed, the youngest I presumed, due to his height.. The others agreed in their own ways, voices mingled in unison as they spoke. I couldn't focus on all they were saying, except for the girl.. Although many Zora look alike, I could tell she was the fear stricken one above the monster, who I rescued. I felt that careful grip about me again, as she helped to lift me up into a seated position.
"I'm forever grateful." She smiled politely, drooping those cyan hued eyes in a gentle manner. She had the grace of a princess.. Not a Zoran princess like Ruto.. She wasn't the rough around the edges type like that fish with additude.. Like.. Zelda.. She spoke on, but I didn't get the gist of what she said.. I was thinking about Zelda, though my thoughts were clouded by pain, and that vacuous ache in my soul.. I only heard her last words. "Tell me tonight.. That you love me.. And I can forever make it up to you."
"...What..? I'm.. I'm sorry.." I shook my head, trying to not give her the wrong impression with my surprised reaction. "What do you mean..? We just met.. Anyways.."
"That's ok. Our vows will be forever!"
"..That's pretty optimistic for just meeting me." I was slightly uncomfortable. Children these days.. Well.. She wasn't a child, but she wasn't grown up either.
"Haven't you heard about the temple?"
..It was then that I knew she didn't mean we were completely meant for each other.. Another force was at work.. "..Tell me." I coughed lightly, one hand encasing my stomach. I had probably fractured a few things.. Hopefully no internal bleeding, though my tunic was soaked by water and blood.. My own, and the dragon's. I paid no mind to my pain, as she explained to me my inquiry.
"Once every hundred years..Tonight.. Our moon, and the moon of the next world rise.. When they meet at the same height a light is cast into the Temple of Time.. Before the altar to the spiritual stones. It is said on that night that when two people express their love through words, they'll have a bond unbroken, though even death.."
...I only listened...
...Intruigued...
"...When this happens, couples come together to take their vows in the light. Royalty who get this chance must marry on this day if they remain unwed.. They are allowed to do so firsts. Commoners go last.. When the two moons begin to rise, all worlds are linked.." She continued.. But at that point, I no longer heard her.
...Was that why..Malon, Saria..Zelda..?...
...That means...
...Wait.. Royalty who get this chance must marry..?...
...That's why she told me.. She has to get married...
...If not to me.. If not to me..?! Not to me!...
I couldn't seem to grasp onto the fact that Zelda would be forced to marry anybody but me.. It just seemed to make my heart twist in an undefineable agony. I grasped my chest through my tunic, and grunted in pain. It wasn't from my bruises, scrapes, and possible fractures.. It was inside of me.. I forced myself, despite my physical pain, to slip my boots and such back on.. And to slip my weaponry back into place. My hookshot? Lost in the depths, and frozen into the painful last stance of that invisible water dragon.
"..I..Gotta go. You paid me back in full already."
Not entirely true, but a life was a life.. And for saving hers, she saved mine.. And the information she had given me made up for any injuries I had sustained. Epona knelt down just a bit to allow me to more easily slip upon her back. I glanced up at the sky, the sun was quarter past it's peak. I had a while before sunset. That was barely enough time to race on Epona back to the kingdom, let alone stay at this steady trot we were heading at.
If I were to go faster, I could possibly loose my grip.. Fall.. That wouldn't do me any good at all. How could I possibly make it in time? That's when it struck me.. Lake Hylia lead to the domain of the Zoras.. That to the waterfall.. The waterfall to the frogs by the river.. And the river up towards Kakariko, right by the moat protecting the market place's walls..!
"..Wait!"
I shouted, before the Zoras would dive into the water. My voice was hoarse, but they still caught it. I slipped off of Epona again.. The Zoras only watched as I slipped quickly from my Kokiri tunic, to the Zora tunic I had packed upon Epona instead of a real saddle.. I couldn't be shy right now. "Please. Take me through the water up to Kakariko!" I was wounded, so they would have to take me along, like a weight. So to lighten the load, I packed all my stuff onto Epona. Weaponry and all. "Epona, meet me at the kingdom.."
I whispered softly, to which was ensued by her whinny and gallops as she fled the area.. I knew I could count on that great equine. It was then I moved over besides the Zora, who were on the edge of the water. Two of them locked their arms with mine, one on either side of myself; and then we entered the water. I shut my eyes, and let them guide me along.. This would lead us much faster towards the kingdom.. And was much more soothing for the fatigue which was knawing at me, mind, body, and soul.
...Who's voice was that?...
I opened my eyes, only to see a few Zoras conversing in their native dialect.. The girl was the first to noticed I had awakened. Although it didn't make me feel any better, she was overwhelmed with joy. I tried to sit up, propping my elbows up against the ground and lifting my torso.. But an excruciating pain caused me to lie back down on the grass.. They had taken me back to shore.. And for that, I was grateful.
"We must thank you!" One exclaimed, the youngest I presumed, due to his height.. The others agreed in their own ways, voices mingled in unison as they spoke. I couldn't focus on all they were saying, except for the girl.. Although many Zora look alike, I could tell she was the fear stricken one above the monster, who I rescued. I felt that careful grip about me again, as she helped to lift me up into a seated position.
"I'm forever grateful." She smiled politely, drooping those cyan hued eyes in a gentle manner. She had the grace of a princess.. Not a Zoran princess like Ruto.. She wasn't the rough around the edges type like that fish with additude.. Like.. Zelda.. She spoke on, but I didn't get the gist of what she said.. I was thinking about Zelda, though my thoughts were clouded by pain, and that vacuous ache in my soul.. I only heard her last words. "Tell me tonight.. That you love me.. And I can forever make it up to you."
"...What..? I'm.. I'm sorry.." I shook my head, trying to not give her the wrong impression with my surprised reaction. "What do you mean..? We just met.. Anyways.."
"That's ok. Our vows will be forever!"
"..That's pretty optimistic for just meeting me." I was slightly uncomfortable. Children these days.. Well.. She wasn't a child, but she wasn't grown up either.
"Haven't you heard about the temple?"
..It was then that I knew she didn't mean we were completely meant for each other.. Another force was at work.. "..Tell me." I coughed lightly, one hand encasing my stomach. I had probably fractured a few things.. Hopefully no internal bleeding, though my tunic was soaked by water and blood.. My own, and the dragon's. I paid no mind to my pain, as she explained to me my inquiry.
"Once every hundred years..Tonight.. Our moon, and the moon of the next world rise.. When they meet at the same height a light is cast into the Temple of Time.. Before the altar to the spiritual stones. It is said on that night that when two people express their love through words, they'll have a bond unbroken, though even death.."
...I only listened...
...Intruigued...
"...When this happens, couples come together to take their vows in the light. Royalty who get this chance must marry on this day if they remain unwed.. They are allowed to do so firsts. Commoners go last.. When the two moons begin to rise, all worlds are linked.." She continued.. But at that point, I no longer heard her.
...Was that why..Malon, Saria..Zelda..?...
...That means...
...Wait.. Royalty who get this chance must marry..?...
...That's why she told me.. She has to get married...
...If not to me.. If not to me..?! Not to me!...
I couldn't seem to grasp onto the fact that Zelda would be forced to marry anybody but me.. It just seemed to make my heart twist in an undefineable agony. I grasped my chest through my tunic, and grunted in pain. It wasn't from my bruises, scrapes, and possible fractures.. It was inside of me.. I forced myself, despite my physical pain, to slip my boots and such back on.. And to slip my weaponry back into place. My hookshot? Lost in the depths, and frozen into the painful last stance of that invisible water dragon.
"..I..Gotta go. You paid me back in full already."
Not entirely true, but a life was a life.. And for saving hers, she saved mine.. And the information she had given me made up for any injuries I had sustained. Epona knelt down just a bit to allow me to more easily slip upon her back. I glanced up at the sky, the sun was quarter past it's peak. I had a while before sunset. That was barely enough time to race on Epona back to the kingdom, let alone stay at this steady trot we were heading at.
If I were to go faster, I could possibly loose my grip.. Fall.. That wouldn't do me any good at all. How could I possibly make it in time? That's when it struck me.. Lake Hylia lead to the domain of the Zoras.. That to the waterfall.. The waterfall to the frogs by the river.. And the river up towards Kakariko, right by the moat protecting the market place's walls..!
"..Wait!"
I shouted, before the Zoras would dive into the water. My voice was hoarse, but they still caught it. I slipped off of Epona again.. The Zoras only watched as I slipped quickly from my Kokiri tunic, to the Zora tunic I had packed upon Epona instead of a real saddle.. I couldn't be shy right now. "Please. Take me through the water up to Kakariko!" I was wounded, so they would have to take me along, like a weight. So to lighten the load, I packed all my stuff onto Epona. Weaponry and all. "Epona, meet me at the kingdom.."
I whispered softly, to which was ensued by her whinny and gallops as she fled the area.. I knew I could count on that great equine. It was then I moved over besides the Zora, who were on the edge of the water. Two of them locked their arms with mine, one on either side of myself; and then we entered the water. I shut my eyes, and let them guide me along.. This would lead us much faster towards the kingdom.. And was much more soothing for the fatigue which was knawing at me, mind, body, and soul.