Chapter Ten:
"What did you say Link?" Loraefin asked, eyebrow raised and head to the side. Link blinked in disbelief and looked at her again. Could it be Loraefin? She was the one his dream spoke about? He didn't believe it at first, but sure enough he recognized that silhouette. It was her…
"Uh, nothing, I didn't say anything," Link said as he hopped off the rock and over to where she was standing by the fence. Her hair was still a little wet, but she allowed it to fall about her shoulders, forming damp spots on her unbleached cotton-like nightgown. Acantha and Styx walked out from behind her skirt and greeted Link with tails wagging.
"Can you hold on a few more moments? I have to put out the torches before we go," Loraefin walked back inside and one by one the lights went out, leaving the area dark except for the shining moon. When she is done, her figure appears out of the darkness and shuts the gate behind her. She looks over to him. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She accused.
"Oh…um…It's just I'm sorry for almost barging in like that. If I knew you were taking a bath," Link smiles sheepishly. Loraefin starts to head back to the village and she turns around.
"You coming?" Link runs after her, and the conversation continues. "Don't worry about it, that's exactly the reason I take Acantha and Styx with me. They are my protectors."
"Why are you out here this early taking a bath?" Link questioned trying to keep up the image that nothing had just occurred even though his mind was still spinning with thoughts.
"I like to get it done early when people aren't around. I'm just kind of uncomfortable taking baths with the whole community of Murieope. So I take them nice and early before anyone else is here; it works quite well."
"Oh."
Loraefin looks at him from the corner of her eye. "So…How did things go with Grandmother Pamiea?" She asked curiously. Link peered down at her, the chosen one from his dream, how was he going to tell her? Surely she wouldn't believe him…
Link gulped a few times and cleared his throat in preparation of what he was about to say. "She said something about another way out of the valley…"
Loraefin stopped and stared Link down. Her cheeks were still flushed from the hot bath and the tip of her nose glimmered pink. "Another way out? How can there be another way out that no one knows about?"
"You're grandparents do," Link replied simply. Loraefin's mouth twitched but she nodded absently into agreement as though his explanation had given her total clarity like a detective whose suspicions had just been confirmed.
"I knew it, I just knew it! It figures that they'd keep something like that to themselves!" She turned on heel with arms thrown up into the air in frustration and as quickly as she had so she turned back. "So I guess you'll be leaving soon…"
"Yes."
She looked to the ground and watched her footsteps while she walked, out of frustration or out of habit Link could not tell. "Another way out," Loraefin mumbled, "unbelievable."
Link struggled in his mind for a moment. Should I tell her now? How the hell am I going to put it? Fin, you are the chosen one from my dream and you need to leave everything you know to come fight evil with me. Yeah, that's going to work…
"Link," Loraefin said. Link snapped back into attention. "Link, you OK? You seemed kind of distant for a minute. I'm the one whose supposed to be confused right now. Another way out! Bre'kenaar!" With that she gave the dirt a good swift kick.
"Tell her…" Navi whispered into his ear. "Tell her now."
At this point the two (three including Navi) had reached the bridge crossing the river just beyond the village. The dogs ran ahead and into the long grass to play. It was now or never…Link stopped, Loraefin walked a few paces ahead and then paused to.
"What?" She inquired, but then saw the look on Link's face and added in a low tone, "What's wrong? Something else?"
He took a deep breath and sat on the railing of the bridge, causing it to creak a little. "Fin…" He began.
"Yes?" She coaxed, anxiety building in her voice.
"Fin, I…I mean you…We…"
"What is it Link?" She was getting apprehensive. "Come on, spit it out already." Being left in the dark was not one of her favorite things. Link looked at his boots to avoid her eyes and crossed his arms.
"Loraefin…" He continued, "I am not who you probably think I am." She gave him an odd look because she had no clue what he was talking about.
"Ok…Who are you then?" Loraefin figured it would be best to humor him.
He now looked at her with a most serious face. "I am the Hero of Time." She promptly almost burst out laughing, but held it in.
"Excuse me?"
"I am the Hero of Time, and I didn't come here on accident, I was sent here to look for someone...to continue on my quest," he examined her face. "I didn't think you would believe me, but it's the truth…"
Loraefin saw how serious he was, maybe he was telling the truth…but this story was just to weird for her to believe. Little did she know it was only the beginning… "Link, maybe that hypothermia did do something to you…" She said trying to figure out an explanation for this strange tale. "Maybe we should hurry back and let you lie down or something…"
"There isn't anything wrong with me! Loraefin I speak the truth!"
"Link, I would like to believe you, you know I would, because we're friends and friends trust each other…but this?"
She was right Link thought. If he was in her place and someone she had only known for a few days started telling her he was 'The Hero of Time', he would think he was nuts too. But it really was the truth, only how to make her see? If she didn't believe him on this, how was he going to explain that she has to go with this boy, whom she must think is a lunatic by now, and leave her home to do Goddesses know what?
"I know this sounds crazy but---," He stammered.
"Yes this does sound crazy Link!" She sounded frustrated. She wanted to believe him, give him the benefit of the doubt, but this story… The Hero of Time? The boy that washed up on the shores of the river half dead? How can this be true?
"Loraefin…I understand your frustration, but you must believe me…I wound never lie about anything like this." He took one of her small hands into his larger one and looked right into her eyes. She looked back at him, wanting to find answers, but what she found was answer enough for her.
"Who were you looking for?"
***
Link told her all about his dream, the Gerudo, and the silhouette that his vision had shown him. Loraefin didn't know what to make of that part, for she knew no such girl.
"That is quite a story," she said, "but I'm sorry to say I can't help you, I don't know of the girl you are looking for," She said with true sympathy. "Maybe you'll find her later on in your journey, maybe your visit to Murieope was just a step in finding her."
Link looked at her through his hair that was falling against his face. He took in mind what Loraefin had just said. "Well your half right." He began. "My coming to Murieope was a step I needed to take in finding her, but you were wrong when you said you didn't know her."
Loraefin didn't understand and Link could tell. His eyes hinted who it was, but unfortunately for him, Loraefin wasn't the greatest at reading eyes yet.
"Megeara!?" She exclaimed. "She is the one you're looking for!?"
Link smiled and nudged his facial expression at which Loraefin's face dropped. "Oh goodness…" She finally managed to blurt out. Damn his eyes she thought. She had sat down on the rail next to him to steady herself, she still couldn't believe…She asked him if he was sure and he said he was, which made her more confused. This couldn't happen to her she thought; this happens to other people. I can't be a 'chosen' one! I am just a regular person!
Link tried to explain it to her the best he could, but his lack of information made her still more uncomfortable. "I don't know why I would be the one you are looking for!" She exclaimed. "Perhaps you are mistaken."
"You have said that several times now Fin, I am telling you you're the one."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh," Loraefin was pacing up and down the bridge, one hand on her head and another on her stomach. Why was she freaking out? She had always wanted an adventure, to get out of this valley, and here this 'Hero' was offering it to her and she was panicking. "I'm really confused." Link walked over to where she was pacing and put a firm hand on each shoulder.
"Loraefin, I know this is all sudden, and I know how weird it sounds to you, believe me I know, but you must trust me."
She took a deep breath and looked to where the sun had started to rise. "I do believe you, I don't know why, but I do. It's just…just…It doesn't make sense! I can't think of any aid I have to offer you on a quest, I have never even been out of this valley! What good am I to you? To Hyrule?"
"I don't know," Link said calm and coolly, "but you are the one from my dream whether you believe it or not, and I am going to need you."
Loraefin was silent for a moment as she leaned over the wooden rail of the bridge, deep in thought. The sun was peaking out from behind the hills, sending the pink and orange rays across the sky, dispelling the gray shades of first light. A fair wind picked up, blowing her almost dry hair into little streams behind her. She took a last deep breath and turned to face Link who was standing behind her.
"Where do we begin?"
"What did you say Link?" Loraefin asked, eyebrow raised and head to the side. Link blinked in disbelief and looked at her again. Could it be Loraefin? She was the one his dream spoke about? He didn't believe it at first, but sure enough he recognized that silhouette. It was her…
"Uh, nothing, I didn't say anything," Link said as he hopped off the rock and over to where she was standing by the fence. Her hair was still a little wet, but she allowed it to fall about her shoulders, forming damp spots on her unbleached cotton-like nightgown. Acantha and Styx walked out from behind her skirt and greeted Link with tails wagging.
"Can you hold on a few more moments? I have to put out the torches before we go," Loraefin walked back inside and one by one the lights went out, leaving the area dark except for the shining moon. When she is done, her figure appears out of the darkness and shuts the gate behind her. She looks over to him. "Why are you looking at me like that?" She accused.
"Oh…um…It's just I'm sorry for almost barging in like that. If I knew you were taking a bath," Link smiles sheepishly. Loraefin starts to head back to the village and she turns around.
"You coming?" Link runs after her, and the conversation continues. "Don't worry about it, that's exactly the reason I take Acantha and Styx with me. They are my protectors."
"Why are you out here this early taking a bath?" Link questioned trying to keep up the image that nothing had just occurred even though his mind was still spinning with thoughts.
"I like to get it done early when people aren't around. I'm just kind of uncomfortable taking baths with the whole community of Murieope. So I take them nice and early before anyone else is here; it works quite well."
"Oh."
Loraefin looks at him from the corner of her eye. "So…How did things go with Grandmother Pamiea?" She asked curiously. Link peered down at her, the chosen one from his dream, how was he going to tell her? Surely she wouldn't believe him…
Link gulped a few times and cleared his throat in preparation of what he was about to say. "She said something about another way out of the valley…"
Loraefin stopped and stared Link down. Her cheeks were still flushed from the hot bath and the tip of her nose glimmered pink. "Another way out? How can there be another way out that no one knows about?"
"You're grandparents do," Link replied simply. Loraefin's mouth twitched but she nodded absently into agreement as though his explanation had given her total clarity like a detective whose suspicions had just been confirmed.
"I knew it, I just knew it! It figures that they'd keep something like that to themselves!" She turned on heel with arms thrown up into the air in frustration and as quickly as she had so she turned back. "So I guess you'll be leaving soon…"
"Yes."
She looked to the ground and watched her footsteps while she walked, out of frustration or out of habit Link could not tell. "Another way out," Loraefin mumbled, "unbelievable."
Link struggled in his mind for a moment. Should I tell her now? How the hell am I going to put it? Fin, you are the chosen one from my dream and you need to leave everything you know to come fight evil with me. Yeah, that's going to work…
"Link," Loraefin said. Link snapped back into attention. "Link, you OK? You seemed kind of distant for a minute. I'm the one whose supposed to be confused right now. Another way out! Bre'kenaar!" With that she gave the dirt a good swift kick.
"Tell her…" Navi whispered into his ear. "Tell her now."
At this point the two (three including Navi) had reached the bridge crossing the river just beyond the village. The dogs ran ahead and into the long grass to play. It was now or never…Link stopped, Loraefin walked a few paces ahead and then paused to.
"What?" She inquired, but then saw the look on Link's face and added in a low tone, "What's wrong? Something else?"
He took a deep breath and sat on the railing of the bridge, causing it to creak a little. "Fin…" He began.
"Yes?" She coaxed, anxiety building in her voice.
"Fin, I…I mean you…We…"
"What is it Link?" She was getting apprehensive. "Come on, spit it out already." Being left in the dark was not one of her favorite things. Link looked at his boots to avoid her eyes and crossed his arms.
"Loraefin…" He continued, "I am not who you probably think I am." She gave him an odd look because she had no clue what he was talking about.
"Ok…Who are you then?" Loraefin figured it would be best to humor him.
He now looked at her with a most serious face. "I am the Hero of Time." She promptly almost burst out laughing, but held it in.
"Excuse me?"
"I am the Hero of Time, and I didn't come here on accident, I was sent here to look for someone...to continue on my quest," he examined her face. "I didn't think you would believe me, but it's the truth…"
Loraefin saw how serious he was, maybe he was telling the truth…but this story was just to weird for her to believe. Little did she know it was only the beginning… "Link, maybe that hypothermia did do something to you…" She said trying to figure out an explanation for this strange tale. "Maybe we should hurry back and let you lie down or something…"
"There isn't anything wrong with me! Loraefin I speak the truth!"
"Link, I would like to believe you, you know I would, because we're friends and friends trust each other…but this?"
She was right Link thought. If he was in her place and someone she had only known for a few days started telling her he was 'The Hero of Time', he would think he was nuts too. But it really was the truth, only how to make her see? If she didn't believe him on this, how was he going to explain that she has to go with this boy, whom she must think is a lunatic by now, and leave her home to do Goddesses know what?
"I know this sounds crazy but---," He stammered.
"Yes this does sound crazy Link!" She sounded frustrated. She wanted to believe him, give him the benefit of the doubt, but this story… The Hero of Time? The boy that washed up on the shores of the river half dead? How can this be true?
"Loraefin…I understand your frustration, but you must believe me…I wound never lie about anything like this." He took one of her small hands into his larger one and looked right into her eyes. She looked back at him, wanting to find answers, but what she found was answer enough for her.
"Who were you looking for?"
***
Link told her all about his dream, the Gerudo, and the silhouette that his vision had shown him. Loraefin didn't know what to make of that part, for she knew no such girl.
"That is quite a story," she said, "but I'm sorry to say I can't help you, I don't know of the girl you are looking for," She said with true sympathy. "Maybe you'll find her later on in your journey, maybe your visit to Murieope was just a step in finding her."
Link looked at her through his hair that was falling against his face. He took in mind what Loraefin had just said. "Well your half right." He began. "My coming to Murieope was a step I needed to take in finding her, but you were wrong when you said you didn't know her."
Loraefin didn't understand and Link could tell. His eyes hinted who it was, but unfortunately for him, Loraefin wasn't the greatest at reading eyes yet.
"Megeara!?" She exclaimed. "She is the one you're looking for!?"
Link smiled and nudged his facial expression at which Loraefin's face dropped. "Oh goodness…" She finally managed to blurt out. Damn his eyes she thought. She had sat down on the rail next to him to steady herself, she still couldn't believe…She asked him if he was sure and he said he was, which made her more confused. This couldn't happen to her she thought; this happens to other people. I can't be a 'chosen' one! I am just a regular person!
Link tried to explain it to her the best he could, but his lack of information made her still more uncomfortable. "I don't know why I would be the one you are looking for!" She exclaimed. "Perhaps you are mistaken."
"You have said that several times now Fin, I am telling you you're the one."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"Oh," Loraefin was pacing up and down the bridge, one hand on her head and another on her stomach. Why was she freaking out? She had always wanted an adventure, to get out of this valley, and here this 'Hero' was offering it to her and she was panicking. "I'm really confused." Link walked over to where she was pacing and put a firm hand on each shoulder.
"Loraefin, I know this is all sudden, and I know how weird it sounds to you, believe me I know, but you must trust me."
She took a deep breath and looked to where the sun had started to rise. "I do believe you, I don't know why, but I do. It's just…just…It doesn't make sense! I can't think of any aid I have to offer you on a quest, I have never even been out of this valley! What good am I to you? To Hyrule?"
"I don't know," Link said calm and coolly, "but you are the one from my dream whether you believe it or not, and I am going to need you."
Loraefin was silent for a moment as she leaned over the wooden rail of the bridge, deep in thought. The sun was peaking out from behind the hills, sending the pink and orange rays across the sky, dispelling the gray shades of first light. A fair wind picked up, blowing her almost dry hair into little streams behind her. She took a last deep breath and turned to face Link who was standing behind her.
"Where do we begin?"