Chapter Fourteen:
"Here, let me see your form," Link told his new companion Loraefin. She swung her sword and lunged as if she would be attacking an enemy. "Good, now I'm coming at you, swing!" He yelled. They repeated the drills several times over. Link was not satisfied. "Here, lets see what your reaction time is," Link picked up his sword, a replica of the Master Sword he had crafted just for him, and the two started to circle one another. They had been training since early this morning, preparing for what might lay ahead of them.
Loraefin was tired, she wanted to put her sword down and sit for a moment. Even though Link had asked the shopkeeper in Hyrule Market for a lightweight sword for her, holding it in battle position for so long was having affect on her arm. She eyes Link's blade wearily for it was double in size and looked three times as heavy. It wasn't until now that she thought of how strong he must be. Link lunged at her and she leaped out of the way, like he had showed her. She charged and he dodged. Link spun around and caught the off-guard Loraefin with her back exposed to his blade. He knocked her over forcefully, but not roughly.
"You would be dead," he said flatly. She stared at him angrily.
"You could have just told me, you didn't need to knock me on my face," she replied.
"Would it have been the same?" Link answered as she got off the ground. "This is serious Fin, I need to know you can protect yourself if the time arises." He reaches and picks up an awry strand of grass off her shirt while she picked one out of her hair.
"I can take care of myself thank you!" Loraefin snapped. "Let's get on with it." She stood up and sighed angrily. Link assumed his fighting position again and they continued. This time he could tell she was getting a little more serious. Good, she needed to be. Before, her attitude about the practicing was more like a game than as a way of defending herself, but now she was more aggressive and focused in her attack. Link was surprised. I guess she's tired of losing he thought.
Link decided to throw something elaborate at her, he back- flipped and she did something unexpected.
"Hepsar'n," she said triumphantly, "got you." Her sword blade gently jammed into his back with a sharp pinch. He was shocked.
"When did you learn to do that?" Link was quite impressed indeed.
Loraefin brushed the loose bits of her braided hair back off her forehead. She smiled slyly, "you don't have a Gerudo grandmother for nothing…" He stared at her.
"Wha? You mean to tell me that your grandmother taught you Gerudo fencing, and it didn't even cross your mind to tell me?! Then what have we been doing all morning!"
Loraefin gave him an innocent look as she rested her hands on the hilt of the sword.
"I don't know how to work these swords," she said. "I learned on a Gerudo blade, we all did," Loraefin returned his blank gaze. " I didn't see a point mentioning it, it sure isn't doing me much good now. Besides, I never said I was any good at it, I just learned."
They started at each other a few moments without speaking before Loraefin picked up her sword and Link followed her lead.
"Do you know the Gerudo Spin attack?" Link asked her while they faced opposite each other.
"What? The Stove'fel? No, not yet at least, my grandmother was going to teach me-" They clash swords. "But she became sick one winter and…Never fully recovered."
"I'm…sorry…to…hear…that," he says as the two of them advance on each other. He dodges her high swing, leaving her middle unprotected. Link wraps his arms around her waist and sends her crashing to the ground. He quickly gets up and puts his sword to her throat, impairing her from sitting up.
"You have to be careful to guard your middle," Link said helping her up. "It's a very vulnerable spot."
Loraefin's chest heaved under Link's sword from her panting. It took her a few moments before she found enough breath to speak.
"Can we…stop for a minute?" She gasped.
Link placed his sword back in its sheath. "Sure," he agreed, and flopped down beside her. Loraefin lied back and closed her eyes to hide them from the sun, she gulps for air and breathes deeply.
"When do you think Navi will be back?" She asks to make conversation. Link takes his time to respond.
"Whenever she's let someone know that were back I guess," he says, "the castle is not that far, she should be back any minute."
Loraefin simply replies with a sigh and rolls back over. They lay a few moments in silence until the drumming of hooves can be heard in the distance. Link sits up to see what's going on. A lone rider can be seen cantering from the front gates of the market entrance toward them with Navi close behind.
"It's a royal messenger…" Link said to himself and looked up at Navi and then back to the rider who halted in front of them. He dismounted off his horse, walked over to Link and handed him a piece of paper.
"A message from the King," he simply put it. "He requests your presents immediately."
Link looked at the now unfolded piece of paper in his hand. It read:
Link---
I am in need of your assistance once again. We fear that something terribly wrong is happening concerning the Zoras'. Please come quickly.
---King Harkinian
Link blinked once and scanned the paper over again. Then placing it inside his tunic looked to the messenger.
"Take us there," he said. With that the man nodded and mounted his horse, and Link doing the same, mounted Epona and helped Loraefin up. They galloped over the field and through the market, up the dirt trail to Hyrule Castle and under the giant stone archway. The horses halted in front of the castle and the three dismounted.
"This way," the messenger said and led them inside the big wooden doors.
"Link, what was on that paper the King gave you?" Loraefin asked in a whisper, but he didn't answer, he was too preoccupied. Loraefin had been stunned by the size of the castle when she had first seen it, after all she had never seen anything like it before in her life, but the inside was more than she could imagine. She only regretted that they couldn't linger in the halls for just a moment, to let her take in all of these new sights that she had missed out on, how foreign everything was… But no time for that, Loraefin had to practically jog to keep up with the others.
The messenger led them down a particular hall that had giant eleven-foot windows that let in the sun to shine on the ruby red carpets and walls. There was a guard stationed on either side of a massive door at the end of the hall, she guessed that was where the king was waiting. The messenger opened the double doors and walked in with Link following, but when Loraefin tried to enter she was abruptly halted.
"I'm sorry but you can't enter here," the guard told her. "The King has asked only for the Hero of Time." Loraefin didn't say anything but looked to the guard and then to Link and then back to the guard. Link was about to say something but Loraefin stopped him.
"I'll wait out here," she said meekly to Link and backed up a few steps, obviously intimidated by the guard. "Go on, the King is waiting." With one last glance Link walked into the large chamber in front of him where King Harkinian was waiting.
"Your majesty, Link has arrived," the messenger announced and then gracefully bowed and backed out of the room, closing the doors behind him. The King was seated behind his desk, two large windows arched behind him. He looked worried. Papers and maps were strewn all about his escritoire; nothing was in order.
"I'm glad you've come Link, " the King started, "it is good to see you well."
Link walked forward so that he was standing directly in front of the desk. "You too your majesty," he said. "I hope you are fine as well," King Harkinian smiled.
"I am. But that's not the reason I brought you here. Come closer and let me show you," the King motioned Link to his side. He sifted through a mass of papers until he found a handwritten letter from what looked like King Zora himself.
"We received this letter three days ago," Harkinain said. "It was from King Zora," he handed Link the letter to read.
My Dear King Harkinian---
I send you this message in poor health, as all of the Zora have seemed to befall. I fear we may be dying. We need your help.
---King Zora
"As you can see our urgency," the King said, "we called for you. I sent my best scientists and doctors to Zora's River upon receiving this letter and some of them seem to be contracting mild cases of the disease that's infecting the Zora. We fear that it may have something to do with the water supply."
Link looked up, "the water supply? That's not good."
"No it isn't."
"Did your scientists find out anything else?" Link asked.
"Yes. They're starting to notice strange black masses forming on the water. They're testing them but haven't gotten any results yet," Link continued to sift through the loose papers on the desk, scanning one every now and again for information. The King interrupted him, "Link, we need you to go to Zora's River and give our people a hand. Can you do that?"
"Yes your majesty."
"Good," Harkinian walked back around to his chair. "I've arranged for you to leave immediately, they will be expecting you."
"I'll do my best," Link started to walk out of the room but stopped himself halfway. "King Harkinian?" The King looked up from his work.
"Yes? Forget something?" He asked curiously.
"Have you heard anything from Zelda?"
The King's face drops slightly, obviously he missed his daughter very much. "No Link, I haven't."
"Here, let me see your form," Link told his new companion Loraefin. She swung her sword and lunged as if she would be attacking an enemy. "Good, now I'm coming at you, swing!" He yelled. They repeated the drills several times over. Link was not satisfied. "Here, lets see what your reaction time is," Link picked up his sword, a replica of the Master Sword he had crafted just for him, and the two started to circle one another. They had been training since early this morning, preparing for what might lay ahead of them.
Loraefin was tired, she wanted to put her sword down and sit for a moment. Even though Link had asked the shopkeeper in Hyrule Market for a lightweight sword for her, holding it in battle position for so long was having affect on her arm. She eyes Link's blade wearily for it was double in size and looked three times as heavy. It wasn't until now that she thought of how strong he must be. Link lunged at her and she leaped out of the way, like he had showed her. She charged and he dodged. Link spun around and caught the off-guard Loraefin with her back exposed to his blade. He knocked her over forcefully, but not roughly.
"You would be dead," he said flatly. She stared at him angrily.
"You could have just told me, you didn't need to knock me on my face," she replied.
"Would it have been the same?" Link answered as she got off the ground. "This is serious Fin, I need to know you can protect yourself if the time arises." He reaches and picks up an awry strand of grass off her shirt while she picked one out of her hair.
"I can take care of myself thank you!" Loraefin snapped. "Let's get on with it." She stood up and sighed angrily. Link assumed his fighting position again and they continued. This time he could tell she was getting a little more serious. Good, she needed to be. Before, her attitude about the practicing was more like a game than as a way of defending herself, but now she was more aggressive and focused in her attack. Link was surprised. I guess she's tired of losing he thought.
Link decided to throw something elaborate at her, he back- flipped and she did something unexpected.
"Hepsar'n," she said triumphantly, "got you." Her sword blade gently jammed into his back with a sharp pinch. He was shocked.
"When did you learn to do that?" Link was quite impressed indeed.
Loraefin brushed the loose bits of her braided hair back off her forehead. She smiled slyly, "you don't have a Gerudo grandmother for nothing…" He stared at her.
"Wha? You mean to tell me that your grandmother taught you Gerudo fencing, and it didn't even cross your mind to tell me?! Then what have we been doing all morning!"
Loraefin gave him an innocent look as she rested her hands on the hilt of the sword.
"I don't know how to work these swords," she said. "I learned on a Gerudo blade, we all did," Loraefin returned his blank gaze. " I didn't see a point mentioning it, it sure isn't doing me much good now. Besides, I never said I was any good at it, I just learned."
They started at each other a few moments without speaking before Loraefin picked up her sword and Link followed her lead.
"Do you know the Gerudo Spin attack?" Link asked her while they faced opposite each other.
"What? The Stove'fel? No, not yet at least, my grandmother was going to teach me-" They clash swords. "But she became sick one winter and…Never fully recovered."
"I'm…sorry…to…hear…that," he says as the two of them advance on each other. He dodges her high swing, leaving her middle unprotected. Link wraps his arms around her waist and sends her crashing to the ground. He quickly gets up and puts his sword to her throat, impairing her from sitting up.
"You have to be careful to guard your middle," Link said helping her up. "It's a very vulnerable spot."
Loraefin's chest heaved under Link's sword from her panting. It took her a few moments before she found enough breath to speak.
"Can we…stop for a minute?" She gasped.
Link placed his sword back in its sheath. "Sure," he agreed, and flopped down beside her. Loraefin lied back and closed her eyes to hide them from the sun, she gulps for air and breathes deeply.
"When do you think Navi will be back?" She asks to make conversation. Link takes his time to respond.
"Whenever she's let someone know that were back I guess," he says, "the castle is not that far, she should be back any minute."
Loraefin simply replies with a sigh and rolls back over. They lay a few moments in silence until the drumming of hooves can be heard in the distance. Link sits up to see what's going on. A lone rider can be seen cantering from the front gates of the market entrance toward them with Navi close behind.
"It's a royal messenger…" Link said to himself and looked up at Navi and then back to the rider who halted in front of them. He dismounted off his horse, walked over to Link and handed him a piece of paper.
"A message from the King," he simply put it. "He requests your presents immediately."
Link looked at the now unfolded piece of paper in his hand. It read:
Link---
I am in need of your assistance once again. We fear that something terribly wrong is happening concerning the Zoras'. Please come quickly.
---King Harkinian
Link blinked once and scanned the paper over again. Then placing it inside his tunic looked to the messenger.
"Take us there," he said. With that the man nodded and mounted his horse, and Link doing the same, mounted Epona and helped Loraefin up. They galloped over the field and through the market, up the dirt trail to Hyrule Castle and under the giant stone archway. The horses halted in front of the castle and the three dismounted.
"This way," the messenger said and led them inside the big wooden doors.
"Link, what was on that paper the King gave you?" Loraefin asked in a whisper, but he didn't answer, he was too preoccupied. Loraefin had been stunned by the size of the castle when she had first seen it, after all she had never seen anything like it before in her life, but the inside was more than she could imagine. She only regretted that they couldn't linger in the halls for just a moment, to let her take in all of these new sights that she had missed out on, how foreign everything was… But no time for that, Loraefin had to practically jog to keep up with the others.
The messenger led them down a particular hall that had giant eleven-foot windows that let in the sun to shine on the ruby red carpets and walls. There was a guard stationed on either side of a massive door at the end of the hall, she guessed that was where the king was waiting. The messenger opened the double doors and walked in with Link following, but when Loraefin tried to enter she was abruptly halted.
"I'm sorry but you can't enter here," the guard told her. "The King has asked only for the Hero of Time." Loraefin didn't say anything but looked to the guard and then to Link and then back to the guard. Link was about to say something but Loraefin stopped him.
"I'll wait out here," she said meekly to Link and backed up a few steps, obviously intimidated by the guard. "Go on, the King is waiting." With one last glance Link walked into the large chamber in front of him where King Harkinian was waiting.
"Your majesty, Link has arrived," the messenger announced and then gracefully bowed and backed out of the room, closing the doors behind him. The King was seated behind his desk, two large windows arched behind him. He looked worried. Papers and maps were strewn all about his escritoire; nothing was in order.
"I'm glad you've come Link, " the King started, "it is good to see you well."
Link walked forward so that he was standing directly in front of the desk. "You too your majesty," he said. "I hope you are fine as well," King Harkinian smiled.
"I am. But that's not the reason I brought you here. Come closer and let me show you," the King motioned Link to his side. He sifted through a mass of papers until he found a handwritten letter from what looked like King Zora himself.
"We received this letter three days ago," Harkinain said. "It was from King Zora," he handed Link the letter to read.
My Dear King Harkinian---
I send you this message in poor health, as all of the Zora have seemed to befall. I fear we may be dying. We need your help.
---King Zora
"As you can see our urgency," the King said, "we called for you. I sent my best scientists and doctors to Zora's River upon receiving this letter and some of them seem to be contracting mild cases of the disease that's infecting the Zora. We fear that it may have something to do with the water supply."
Link looked up, "the water supply? That's not good."
"No it isn't."
"Did your scientists find out anything else?" Link asked.
"Yes. They're starting to notice strange black masses forming on the water. They're testing them but haven't gotten any results yet," Link continued to sift through the loose papers on the desk, scanning one every now and again for information. The King interrupted him, "Link, we need you to go to Zora's River and give our people a hand. Can you do that?"
"Yes your majesty."
"Good," Harkinian walked back around to his chair. "I've arranged for you to leave immediately, they will be expecting you."
"I'll do my best," Link started to walk out of the room but stopped himself halfway. "King Harkinian?" The King looked up from his work.
"Yes? Forget something?" He asked curiously.
"Have you heard anything from Zelda?"
The King's face drops slightly, obviously he missed his daughter very much. "No Link, I haven't."