Chapter Two:
Link checked in with King Harkinian briefly to discuss the return of the Sages with him. The King was in high spirits indeed with the promise of seeing his daughter again. Plans were to be made as soon as they got word about their arrival time, and both agreed that it would be best if their arrival would be kept quiet until later notice. Malon waited patiently outside for Link, and afterward they spent the day together. Navi, who was not particularly fond of the cold, decided that she should head back to Kokiri and said her good-byes. They dropped the cart back off at the ranch and took Epona to Kakariko where Malon wanted to pick up her new winter coat from the tailor there. It was big and think and warm, just what Malon needed for those early mornings at the ranch. Her old coat had gotten terribly thin over the years as she had neglected to get a new one each winter, convinced her old one could hold out one more season. She laughed excitedly and put the new one on, happy and warm.
They spent the whole day together, going up Death Mountain trail and having a snowball fight with some of the Goron children playing there. Malon pelted Link in the back of the head during the fight, in which he retaliated with a snowball in the back as she was running away laughing. It was a good day Link thought. He went back to Kokiri tired and happy and after a quick dinner (which he didn't burn his tongue this time) went to sleep. He had gotten down his winter blankets for his bed and piled them on top of him. He said good night to Navi and started to drift to sleep.
"Link," a voice startled him awake again. He slowly opened his eyes, not sure if he was just dreaming it. "Link, I'm glad I caught you awake."
"Not really," he said out loud, rubbing his eyes so that he could look around the room to see who was there. His eyes focused, but he could see no one. "What is this?" he mumbled, talking to himself, "I think you're sleep deprived Link; hearing voices now."
"Link, it is Rauru, can you hear me?" The voice came again, but this time Link noticed it was only in his head.
"Rauru?" Link said out loud before he realized that he couldn't hear him that way. "Rauru?" He again repeated using the little bit of telepathy that Saria taught him.
"Ah, Link, there you are," Rauru's voice was tired sounding, but cheery.
"More or less," Link yawned.
"Very good. I do not doubt that Saria has already spoken to you about returning for a week or so?"
"Yep, she and I talked yesterday. Do you guys know when yet?"
"In three days, that is what I wish to talk about Link," Rauru replied. Link sat up in bed and put his elbows on his knees to listen. "There are some things that will need to be done in order for this to work, as the Hero of Time, we will need your assistance."
"What needs to be done?" Link inquired curiously.
"It is easy enough for them to leave one at a time, but in order for all of the Sages to leave at once, they will need you to pull out the Master Sword temporarily in order for the transition to be complete."
"What do you mean 'them'? Aren't you coming Rauru?"
"No, no. I have no need to return, my place is here. I will stay while the others see their families, I know these new responsibilities have been hard on all of them. Anyway Link, when the time comes I will contact you again and talk you through it. I just want you to know what to expect."
"Okay," Link said sleepily.
"Oh and Link?" Rauru continued. "About the girl you met, Loraefin. Before the Sages return back to the Sacred Realm, I would wish she had an audience with them. If she is what your dream foretold, it would be wise." Link stared blankly for a moment.
"Oh yes, sure Rauru, I agree," Link had almost forgotten about Loraefin's connection with his dream. She seemed ordinary enough to him in that sense. "I'll be sure to try and get her to come. There is that problem that she's not supposed to leave the valley though."
"Try Link, it's important. Now I must go. I will contact you when the time comes." And he was gone. Link flopped back down on his pillow and tried to get some sleep.
***
Link trotted Epona over Hyrule Field. The sun was warm on his back but the air was still chilly. He was on his way to Murieope, hoping that he could pursue the elders to allow Loraefin to leave the valley so that she might have an audience with the Sages. They had to he thought, she was important to the future of Hyrule…or what was to be thought anyway. They needed to meet her; it was as simple as that. Link left Epona at the foot of the cliff that led to the valley. You could not see the entrance from anywhere on the field, but he knew it was there, hidden within the rock face. Link wished that he got to come see everyone in Murieope more often. His visits were always short and far apart, surely not fitting if one of the people there was foretold to save Hyrule. That was something else Link couldn't make out, why her? It was so remotely random and vague that it seemed pointless to try and think of an explanation. The Sages didn't know, she obviously didn't know…Link thought once or twice that someone was playing him out in an elaborate plot.
The light at the end of the tunnel turned brighter and brighter as Link neared it. He stepped out onto the cliff ledge and looked down on the valley nestled neatly at the foot of the bluff. How quiet and calm it looked, just like it always did Link mused. The only thing that seemed to change here was the weather. He walked down the trail to the floor, weaving his way through the houses and building. There were not so many people out today Link noticed but just figured that they were all inside keeping warm. The few people who were out greeted him warmly as they always did, and Link greeted them in return.
At the edge of town was the Hake's home, set directly between two large trees in the front. Smoke rose from the chimney and Link could smell something cooking in the oven. Acantha and her father Gabriel came bounding from around the back of the house, their tails wagging when they caught sight of Link. He laughed and gave the dogs a good rub on the head before he knocked on the front door.
"Macu in! It's open!" Link heard Mrs. Hake's voice come through the door. He opened the door slowly and poked his head in. "Link!" She exclaimed and went over to give him a motherly hug. "Where have you been Link? We've missed you. Are you keeping warm this winter?" She smiled brilliantly and offered him a place to sit.
"I've been keeping myself busy with odds and ends. I've missed you all too, and I had to get e new coat this winter," Link laughed. He adored Mrs. Hake, or Lindie as he was supposed to call her, was the epitome of motherhood, and never having one, Link appreciated it greatly. Mrs. Hake smiled at him warmly.
"You're always welcome here," she said and tried to push Acantha off of Link. "Oh! Stupid dog! Let Link be, he's already said hello to you!" She laughed out loud as Acantha skipped away playfully and nipped her father in the ear. "I'm betting you've come to see one of my children rather am I right? Hmm…Joshuan is helping his father and uncle build a new cellar up at the other end of the village, and I think my girl has gone off to the stables. Oh, it was so easy to keep track of them when they were little, now I'm lucky if they come home for dinner!" Mrs. Hake's eyes sparkled when she laughed, another feature Link loved about her. "Why don't you go find Fin, she'll be happy to see you."
"Okay Mrs. Hake, er…Lindie, thank you," Link smiled and went for the door. He still couldn't remember to call her by her first name like she told him to do. 'Nobody in Murieope calls each other Mr. or Mrs.! That's absurd, don't call me that, I feel old!' she had laughed at him.
"Oh Link wait!" She called after him and handed him a cloth bag. "Here, take this out to Loraefin will you? I bet she's forgotten about lunch."
***
"Well what about the time that you fell flat on your face in the mud hmm?!" Lolita's voice came in loud and clear. Link could hear her before he actually got within fifty feet of the stable. Acantha sniffed the air and smelling her mother and Loraefin, bounded ahead of Link and scratched on the stable door to be let in.
"That's because Zannon pushed me!" Megeara laughed. Link heard a dull thud and surmised that something had been thrown.
"Hey! That almost hit me you iriah!" Lolita shouted. "Take that!"
"Bre'kenaar!" A crash. "Kresca su! I just piled all that hay up, stop throwing it! Tuy Acantha! Dus doonas rou ovledu wids?"
"Oops, sorry Fin."
"You're forgiven."
Link peeked in around the doorframe quietly to see what was going on. He came in to find two winded girls, a third laughing at the first two, and a half-torn pile of hay. He grinned and stepped into the stable, still holding the bundle Loraefin's mother had given him.
"What's up girls?" Link smiled, looking absolutely gorgeous with his blonde hair and cheeks with a bit of frostbite. All three of their faces seemed to light up at once.
"Link!" Loraefin laughed; leaning on the pitchfork she was using and trying to wipe some on the dirt off of her face from an afternoon of hard labor. "What a great surprise, how have you been?" Laelaps wagged her tail as she lay on the ground, but didn't bother herself to get up.
"Fine as can be expected," he grinned and handed her the bag. "Here, it's from your mom. It's lunch."
"Aw, he's cute and he brings you lunch!" Lolita teased. "If you don't want him I'll take him!" She shot Link a flirtatious smile.
"Oh, kenata Link," Loraefin opened the bag and visually took tabs. "Do you guys want some? I don't need to eat all of this by myself."
"What's there?" Megeara asked, walking over and taking a look for herself. "I'll have this bread thingie here if you don't want it."
"Be my guest. You want anything Lola?" Loraefin looked over to where her friend stood brushing her horse.
"No thanks, I'm fine," she said and then turned to Link. "So…what's new hot stuff?" Link had gotten used to Lolita's flirting some time ago and finally caught on how to play along.
"Not much beautiful, just thought I'd stop by and see my favorite girl," he flashed a grin and she gave him a joking smile.
"You're such a flirt Lola," Megeara laughed and hoped up onto the rail of an empty stall.
"You know it! Who am I supposed to flirt with? The guys we've got around here?!" Lolita placed her hands on her hips and gave a funny little scoff in Megeara's direction. Loraefin rolled her eyes at them and smiled warmly at Link.
"You want some of this?" She said softly, holding out the bag to him. She looked him in the eye as he did hers' and they had a stare down for a moment, a game they sometime played to see who would blink first. A piece of dust made Loraefin sneeze and she flinched. Link shot her a triumphant glance in which she sneered sarcastically at him. "Oh that one didn't count!"
Link smiled again and then brought his attention to the more important matter.
"Could you two excuse us for a moment? I have something I need to talk to Fin about," he said calm and coolly, leading Loraefin out of the stable with Acantha following her like a shadow. Megeara and Lolita both looked up from their work and then at each other again with curious expressions on their faces. Loraefin shot them an equally curious glance as she shrugged her shoulders and went out the door. It was a lot colder outside than in the stable. Loraefin could see the frost sticking to the ground and grass around them. Link led her a bit away from the building and stopped once they were in the warm sun. Acantha ran ahead to chase some birds out of the long grass and was yipping excitedly.
"Uh oh, I remember this," Loraefin half smiled with a worried look. "You're not about to tell me that I'm really the Queen of Hyrule or something are you?" She laughed a bit nervously and held her arms as she had forgotten to bring her coat with her. Link, being the gentleman he was, immediately offered his.
"No, thanks anyway Link, I don't want you to be cold on my account," she said, pushing the coat gently back.
"It's okay Fin, here take it," Link persisted, pushing the coat back to her.
"Put your jacket back on Link!" Loraefin laughed, "really I'm fine, I'm used to the cold."
"Just take it!" Link laughed in return of her stubbornness. "I'm trying to be a gentleman, just take it will you!" Loraefin gave in and slipped the jacket around her.
"Satisfied?"
"Yes, much."
Loraefin looked him over curiously.
"Well are you going to tell me what you brought me out here for?" She squinted from the sun as she tried to look at his face. It was a handsome face she thought. "Last time we did this I became some 'chosen' person for a land I've never been apart of, what will it be this time?" Loraefin always joked about her being the supposed 'new savior' of Hyrule. Link wondered if she really believed it or not. He gave her his reassuring smile.
"No, it's not like that this time," he laughed softly. "It has something to do with it though, are you up to another trip out of the valley?" Link searched her face as the surprised expression came and went.
"You're serious aren't you?" she said.
"Sure I am. The Sages are returning from the Sacred Realm for a couple of weeks Fin and they want to meet you," he now grabbed and rubbed his arms to warm up a bit. Loraefin's shocked expression came and went again.
"The Sages? The ones you've told me about? They're coming back?" She asked out of surprise.
"Yes."
"And they want to meet me?"
"Yes."
"When are they coming?"
"In three days, today included, or so is the plan at the time being," Link told her. "Loraefin, this is important, we have to convince Pamiea and the others to let you leave. As simple a request as this sounds, it could effect Hyrule's future. It's very possible."
"I see," Loraefin said quietly, to herself almost.
"You have to come Fin," Link said in a matter of fact tone. "You…You just have to."
"That's easy for you to say," Loraefin somewhat snapped back. "I mean by the Goddesses, this isn't easy for me to cope with Link! I'm not you!" She wrapped his jacket around her tighter and exhaled, letting a haze of steam swirl into the air between them. Link stepped closer to her and rubbed her shoulders to relax her.
"I know it's hard to understand, but you'll get used to it," he said softly. "But in the time being, you'll have to deal with it as it's thrown at you. Trust me, I know this very well, you just have to---."
"I trust you Link," she looked up and smiled, "I always have."
"Well good, so you'll go?" He grinned in return. Loraefin sighed.
"Yes, you've won. I'll go."