Chapter Twelve:
It had been a day and a half since Loraefin had last seen Link. She wondered if maybe he had left the valley already, without her. But deep down she knew he would never do that so she put that idea out of her mind. But where was he? Her father and mother spoke nothing about the subject and acted as if nothing happened, except Loraefin noticed that she was never alone anymore, her parents made sure of that. Then of course, she couldn't blame them. And Loraefin didn't talk about the subject either, not even to her friends. It was hard for her to keep secrets from them, they were, well, family. As far as she knew they never kept secrets from each other, until now...
Afternoon became evening and evening became night in the valley of Murieope. And with each passing day Loraefin became more and more anxious. _Where is Link? She thought to herself. Why hasn't he come yet? What's taking him?_ The young girl of eighteen lay down impatiently in her bed by the window where she could see the early summer stars above her. Her brother, Joshuan, lay in the bed on the opposite wall. He had secretly watched his sister stay up night after night waiting for Link to return, but with no luck. He had been there that evening when she and Link had tried to explain their story to his parents, Loraefin had tried so hard, but he, like his sister, knew it was a lost cause. But deep down, maybe because he was her brother, or maybe something else, but he believed in what she said. Loraefin was his older sister and he looked up to her, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
"I wish I could tell you when he was coming," Joshuan said to comfort her. Loraefin looked over to his bed.
"He'll be back, I know it."
"How can you be so sure? Think Loraefin, could he have been lying to you?" He hated to be harsh like this, but nor did he like to see his sister hurt anymore, that was his job.
"I know Joshuan. He wasn't lying to me, he is my friend and he wouldn't do that."
"How long have you known him Fin? How long? Not very!"
"Joshuan, go back to sleep," his sister ordered quietly and returned her attention to the window. Joshuan rolled over and turned his back to her. Why is she so stubborn?
***
"Hey Fin," Megeara said, "I'm going to go get some more water for the trough OK?" Loraefin acknowledged and Megeara left. Loraefin was so tired she couldn't sleep last night no matter how hard she tried. She started to believe Link wasn't coming back. Three days? Surely she would have heard something from him by now! With these thoughts in her head Loraefin continued brushing her black steed, Balius, not paying the rest of the world any attention. After several minutes a zing through the air startled her into alertness, she jumped back and frightened Balius.
"What the heck?" She stammered as she stood up to calm her horse. "What was that?" Loraefin looked around the stable trying to determine what had just occurred. On one of the rafters, just within her reach perched an arrow with a note attached to it. She reached up and pried it loose from its wooden resting-place and removed the paper from its tip. It read:
Loraefin,
I'm coming for you tonight.
---Link
Loraefin reread the note several times just to make sure. It was him! Megeara came in with the bucket of water.
"Little help?" She said. Loraefin put the note into her pocket and went to help her friend carry in the heavy load. Megeara noticed the paper. "What have you got there?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Aw, come on, tell me."
"Um… It was just a list of chores my mother wants me to get to today."
"Oh, well that's boring."
"Tell me about it."
***
Well there's no need to say that Loraefin was as excited as she could be and as nervous as she could be at the same time. Secretly she packed some food, water and an extra pair of clothes for emergencies into a sac that she could carry easily and hid it under her bed. But then she suddenly realized what was really going to happen, with all of her excitement, she hadn't thought of it. She was leaving the valley…Leaving her family, her friends, her home…everything she knew and loved…and suddenly the feelings cam back and she didn't want to go so much anymore. One of the greatest things she ever wanted to happen to her was happening, an adventure, but now that she was faced with it she didn't know if she could handle it. But there was no turning back…Link was coming tonight for her…And then she also thought who is Link anyway? Her brother was right, how long had she known him? And now she was leaving her home with him? This young man, no, boy she doesn't know? What was she thinking! She had been swept up in her own heroic fantasy to see what was really going to happen.
But then she thought again about Link, and how serious he was when he told her all about his mission, and all of her bad second thoughts seemed to dispel themselves. The only thing left in her mind was how lonely she was going to be without her family…and she hadn't even left yet.
Night could not have come any slower for Loraefin. The house was dark and everyone had fallen asleep, except her. There was no sign of Link yet, but her heart pumped with adrenaline with the thoughts of her upcoming adventure. She barley breathed, for fear she would wake Joshuan whom was sleeping soundly. Loraefin looked over to her brother, how much did she love that fifteen-year-old boy…her brother. Leaving him without a goodbye would just be to hard for her, but she had to do it, even though he would never tell mom and dad anything. He looked so peaceful sleeping there, she knew that someday he would make some girl very happy, she only wondered if she could let him go on that day. Loraefin sat and reminisced about her life in Murieope, and how scared she was; she didn't notice the shadowed figure that had appeared under the tree outside her window.
Link looked up at the empty window, waiting for Loraefin's figure to appear. He hated how they had to leave, without good-byes, to sneak away in the middle of the night…But it was the only way, Hyrule needed them and they had wasted enough time as it was. Finally after several moments she came into view and Link signaled to her. Her heart jumped up into her throat…it was now. She gracefully pulled her sack from under her bed and was almost out the window when…
"You're leaving huh?" It was Joshuan. Loraefin re-climbed into the window and walked to his bed.
"Yes," she whispered solemnly.
"I thought so."
Loraefin was going to miss her brother so much, and she knew it. He still wasn't fully awake yet when she bent down and kissed him on the cheek. "Te sabu rou."
Joshuan breathed deeply, his eyes still closed. " Te sabu rou taa."
And, tears forming in her eyes, Loraefin started to depart out the window again, and slowly fell out of view of her dear brother. Link was waiting for her below, he saw her tears and knew what had happened, but before he could speak--
"I need to go say goodbye to Megeara," Loraefin stated firmly. "If I am to leave in the middle of the night and cannot even say good-bye to my own parents, let me at least have this." She knew it wasn't the way Link wanted to leave either, but right now her emotional state wasn't the best and he was the only one there to take it out on. He understood.
Megeara's house was up the street from the Hake's, and luckily it seemed that Loraefin had practice sneaking over here before. The window to Megeara's room was easily accessible and Loraefin had not problem entering, and why not? She was a pro. Megeara was sleeping soundly and was not wakened by Loraefin's entrance, this of course no surprise to Loraefin. She gently started to stroke the bridge of Megeara's nose until she had awakened.
"Wha--?" Megeara murmured quietly.
"Meg, Meg it's me," Loraefin comforted speaking softly in Gerudo.
"Fin? What are you---Jeez it's not even dawn yet!"
"I've come to say good bye Megeara," Loraefin knew this was going to be hard, but not his hard. She started to choke on her own words. She wanted to say everything she had to before Megeara became full awake to ask questions, questions she didn't have answers to. "I…I'm leaving…with Link. It's a long story Megeara, I can't tell you now…your grandmother knows…I don't know when I'm coming back."
Megeara listened quietly, still half sleeping. "You're leaving…" She repeated the words as if they were in a different language.
"There is a cave Megeara, on one of the cliffs surrounding the village. It leads to the outside…"
"You're leaving…" She again repeated… "Some how…I knew it would come to this."
Loraefin was shocked. "What?"
"I had a feeling...when we picked up Link from the river…that you were going to go with him, don't ask me how, I just did…I…I'm not covering for you this time." Megeara was now awake and sitting up grinning. They stared quietly at one another for a few seconds.
Gently Loraefin leaned forward and met Megeara in an embrace.
"I'm going to miss you to…I love you," Loraefin whispered into Megeara's hair. Megeara lifted her head.
"You come back to me…to us," she said. "No matter what happens, you come back home do you understand? Promise me," Loraefin takes a deep breath and smiles.
"I will. I promise."
It had been a day and a half since Loraefin had last seen Link. She wondered if maybe he had left the valley already, without her. But deep down she knew he would never do that so she put that idea out of her mind. But where was he? Her father and mother spoke nothing about the subject and acted as if nothing happened, except Loraefin noticed that she was never alone anymore, her parents made sure of that. Then of course, she couldn't blame them. And Loraefin didn't talk about the subject either, not even to her friends. It was hard for her to keep secrets from them, they were, well, family. As far as she knew they never kept secrets from each other, until now...
Afternoon became evening and evening became night in the valley of Murieope. And with each passing day Loraefin became more and more anxious. _Where is Link? She thought to herself. Why hasn't he come yet? What's taking him?_ The young girl of eighteen lay down impatiently in her bed by the window where she could see the early summer stars above her. Her brother, Joshuan, lay in the bed on the opposite wall. He had secretly watched his sister stay up night after night waiting for Link to return, but with no luck. He had been there that evening when she and Link had tried to explain their story to his parents, Loraefin had tried so hard, but he, like his sister, knew it was a lost cause. But deep down, maybe because he was her brother, or maybe something else, but he believed in what she said. Loraefin was his older sister and he looked up to her, whether he wanted to admit it or not.
"I wish I could tell you when he was coming," Joshuan said to comfort her. Loraefin looked over to his bed.
"He'll be back, I know it."
"How can you be so sure? Think Loraefin, could he have been lying to you?" He hated to be harsh like this, but nor did he like to see his sister hurt anymore, that was his job.
"I know Joshuan. He wasn't lying to me, he is my friend and he wouldn't do that."
"How long have you known him Fin? How long? Not very!"
"Joshuan, go back to sleep," his sister ordered quietly and returned her attention to the window. Joshuan rolled over and turned his back to her. Why is she so stubborn?
***
"Hey Fin," Megeara said, "I'm going to go get some more water for the trough OK?" Loraefin acknowledged and Megeara left. Loraefin was so tired she couldn't sleep last night no matter how hard she tried. She started to believe Link wasn't coming back. Three days? Surely she would have heard something from him by now! With these thoughts in her head Loraefin continued brushing her black steed, Balius, not paying the rest of the world any attention. After several minutes a zing through the air startled her into alertness, she jumped back and frightened Balius.
"What the heck?" She stammered as she stood up to calm her horse. "What was that?" Loraefin looked around the stable trying to determine what had just occurred. On one of the rafters, just within her reach perched an arrow with a note attached to it. She reached up and pried it loose from its wooden resting-place and removed the paper from its tip. It read:
Loraefin,
I'm coming for you tonight.
---Link
Loraefin reread the note several times just to make sure. It was him! Megeara came in with the bucket of water.
"Little help?" She said. Loraefin put the note into her pocket and went to help her friend carry in the heavy load. Megeara noticed the paper. "What have you got there?"
"Oh, nothing."
"Aw, come on, tell me."
"Um… It was just a list of chores my mother wants me to get to today."
"Oh, well that's boring."
"Tell me about it."
***
Well there's no need to say that Loraefin was as excited as she could be and as nervous as she could be at the same time. Secretly she packed some food, water and an extra pair of clothes for emergencies into a sac that she could carry easily and hid it under her bed. But then she suddenly realized what was really going to happen, with all of her excitement, she hadn't thought of it. She was leaving the valley…Leaving her family, her friends, her home…everything she knew and loved…and suddenly the feelings cam back and she didn't want to go so much anymore. One of the greatest things she ever wanted to happen to her was happening, an adventure, but now that she was faced with it she didn't know if she could handle it. But there was no turning back…Link was coming tonight for her…And then she also thought who is Link anyway? Her brother was right, how long had she known him? And now she was leaving her home with him? This young man, no, boy she doesn't know? What was she thinking! She had been swept up in her own heroic fantasy to see what was really going to happen.
But then she thought again about Link, and how serious he was when he told her all about his mission, and all of her bad second thoughts seemed to dispel themselves. The only thing left in her mind was how lonely she was going to be without her family…and she hadn't even left yet.
Night could not have come any slower for Loraefin. The house was dark and everyone had fallen asleep, except her. There was no sign of Link yet, but her heart pumped with adrenaline with the thoughts of her upcoming adventure. She barley breathed, for fear she would wake Joshuan whom was sleeping soundly. Loraefin looked over to her brother, how much did she love that fifteen-year-old boy…her brother. Leaving him without a goodbye would just be to hard for her, but she had to do it, even though he would never tell mom and dad anything. He looked so peaceful sleeping there, she knew that someday he would make some girl very happy, she only wondered if she could let him go on that day. Loraefin sat and reminisced about her life in Murieope, and how scared she was; she didn't notice the shadowed figure that had appeared under the tree outside her window.
Link looked up at the empty window, waiting for Loraefin's figure to appear. He hated how they had to leave, without good-byes, to sneak away in the middle of the night…But it was the only way, Hyrule needed them and they had wasted enough time as it was. Finally after several moments she came into view and Link signaled to her. Her heart jumped up into her throat…it was now. She gracefully pulled her sack from under her bed and was almost out the window when…
"You're leaving huh?" It was Joshuan. Loraefin re-climbed into the window and walked to his bed.
"Yes," she whispered solemnly.
"I thought so."
Loraefin was going to miss her brother so much, and she knew it. He still wasn't fully awake yet when she bent down and kissed him on the cheek. "Te sabu rou."
Joshuan breathed deeply, his eyes still closed. " Te sabu rou taa."
And, tears forming in her eyes, Loraefin started to depart out the window again, and slowly fell out of view of her dear brother. Link was waiting for her below, he saw her tears and knew what had happened, but before he could speak--
"I need to go say goodbye to Megeara," Loraefin stated firmly. "If I am to leave in the middle of the night and cannot even say good-bye to my own parents, let me at least have this." She knew it wasn't the way Link wanted to leave either, but right now her emotional state wasn't the best and he was the only one there to take it out on. He understood.
Megeara's house was up the street from the Hake's, and luckily it seemed that Loraefin had practice sneaking over here before. The window to Megeara's room was easily accessible and Loraefin had not problem entering, and why not? She was a pro. Megeara was sleeping soundly and was not wakened by Loraefin's entrance, this of course no surprise to Loraefin. She gently started to stroke the bridge of Megeara's nose until she had awakened.
"Wha--?" Megeara murmured quietly.
"Meg, Meg it's me," Loraefin comforted speaking softly in Gerudo.
"Fin? What are you---Jeez it's not even dawn yet!"
"I've come to say good bye Megeara," Loraefin knew this was going to be hard, but not his hard. She started to choke on her own words. She wanted to say everything she had to before Megeara became full awake to ask questions, questions she didn't have answers to. "I…I'm leaving…with Link. It's a long story Megeara, I can't tell you now…your grandmother knows…I don't know when I'm coming back."
Megeara listened quietly, still half sleeping. "You're leaving…" She repeated the words as if they were in a different language.
"There is a cave Megeara, on one of the cliffs surrounding the village. It leads to the outside…"
"You're leaving…" She again repeated… "Some how…I knew it would come to this."
Loraefin was shocked. "What?"
"I had a feeling...when we picked up Link from the river…that you were going to go with him, don't ask me how, I just did…I…I'm not covering for you this time." Megeara was now awake and sitting up grinning. They stared quietly at one another for a few seconds.
Gently Loraefin leaned forward and met Megeara in an embrace.
"I'm going to miss you to…I love you," Loraefin whispered into Megeara's hair. Megeara lifted her head.
"You come back to me…to us," she said. "No matter what happens, you come back home do you understand? Promise me," Loraefin takes a deep breath and smiles.
"I will. I promise."