Chapter Six:
"I never promised to take you out to pancakes," Link laughed and put a brotherly arm around Loraefin's shoulder. "You are such a little cheat." Loraefin grinned and poked him in the stomach.
"Well serves you right for making me look all over the castle for you. You're lucky Rook found me or else I really would have been angry," she replied as a small beguiling smile spread across her face. "Mmm, though I have to say I could get used to him easily enough." Link rolled his eyes and led her through the market and into a quiet little shop down a back alley. It was well lit with the bright winter sun streaming in through the big, open windows. A fire was burning in the hearth and it warmed the room comfortably, its soft crackle adding to the already calm air inside. There were perhaps a dozen people or so already there and Loraefin's stomach growled when she smelt the delicious food they had. Link led her to an open table by the window and sat down across from her. A large woman with bright red hair and rosy cheeks came out behind the counter and greeted them warmly, asking them if they were to have anything to drink. Link, knowing what both of them already wanted ordered for them and the woman smiled and walked away with their order. Link turned back to see Loraefin staring out the window at the shops outside and watching the people walk past.
"The food won't take long, they have one of the best cooks in all of Hyrule here," he grinned as she took her attention away from the outside.
"That's good, I'm starved," she replied and placed her napkin on her lap. She straitened her dress and curled the loose bits of hair over her ears and folded her hands quietly on the table. "So, what do you want to talk about?"
"I don't know, I was hoping that you had an idea oh councilor of Inis Morgen," Link crossed his arms and leaned back against the high backboard of the bench with a good-humored laugh. "That was quite a show you put on, you almost had me fooled back there."
"What can I say? I'm good," Loraefin smirked and sipped at the hot tea that had just been brought. Link poured himself a cup also and leaned back again with it to watch Loraefin. She really did look pretty today he thought. Loraefin noticed his staring at her and she stuck out her tongue playfully. Link laughed at the face she made. "It's not polite to stare you know," she smiled.
"Who ever said I needed to be polite to you?" He grinned back.
"Excuse me Hero of Time, I think you forget that you are talking to a councilor of Inis Morgen, if I were you I'd watch what you said or else King Harkinian would be displeased that Hyrule's own hero was so disrespectful." She laughed out loud for a moment before realizing that a few people were looking at her and added more quietly, "and if you don't, I'll make you take me out to lunch too."
"Oh, I'm sure you'd much rather have Rook take you out," Link grinned again.
The food arrived shortly after and Loraefin could just smell the sweetness of the Deeta berries steaming up from her pancakes. She watched as Link took the entire jug of syrup and poured almost half of it over his own plate before relinquishing it. He cut a ridiculously large piece and shoved the entire think into his mouth in a very manly fashion. Loraefin just watched him for a few moments as he proceeded to shovel his food. And she thought that she ate fast. They sat idly for a bit just talking until Link decided that it was time to leave for the Temple of Time and paid the women at the counter for their meal. The temple was not far from the shop but Loraefin could feel her steps get heavier with each one she took. In the midst of their wonderful breakfast she had almost forgotten that horrible nauseous feeling growing in her stomach.
The Temple of Time stood where it had for generations, its great stone walls intimidating and comforting at the same time. By this time, the news of the Sages' return had spread about Hyrule like a wild fire and people stood at the Temple's steps, overjoyed that their sages were coming home. Link and Loraefin made their way through the crowd of people, some Hylian, others Goron or Zora. Link even noticed a few Gerudo in the crowd and subconsciously made the decision to block Loraefin from their view by standing in between them. Link could sense her uneasiness, and indeed he felt it too while they were walking up the steps to the old temple. They stopped at the great doors and paused for a moment. Instinctively Link reached for Loraefin's hand and gave it a friendly, reassuring squeeze before he opened the doors and stepped inside.
The inside of the temple was lit only by the sunlight that streamed in through the high windows. It was a bit drafty within the stone walls, but the air seemed to stand perfectly still. King Harkinian was standing; his arms crossed behind him, in front of the Alter of Time and around him were his council. Standing a bit away from them was Darunia's son, Link, whom was named after the hero and two Zoras to meet Princess Ruto. King Harkinian turned around when he heard the door close and his face seemed to light up briefly when he saw that it was Link.
"My boy," Harkinian smiled, "what a day this will be!"
"Yes," Link smiled back and nudged Loraefin forward. "Your Majesty, this is Loraefin." Loraefin's apprehensiveness was as plain as day on her face as she gave an awkward curtsy, thinking that the best thing to do at the moment.
"A pleasure to meet you child," Harkinian beamed. "Now Link, we are waiting on one more person then we can begin---"
The great oak doors creaked open and the cloaked figure slipped in almost without a sound. The delicate, but strong hands went up to the hood and gracefully pulled it back, revealing the short red Gerudo hair. She turned and shut the door, glancing around the airy temple with a bit of a satisfied smirk. Loraefin watched her ever move captivated by the prowess in which she held herself. Loraefin lowered her head as she neared, uneasy to make aye contact with her, but dying to study her face.
"Tiamra, good. Now that you are hear, we may begin," King Harkinian said joyously. The thought of seeing his Zelda again had put him in the highest of spirits.
"I am sorry I am late King Harkinian," Tiamra spoke steadily and gave Link a smile in greeting while still looking straight ahead. Link stood very close to Loraefin, sensing how tense she was in Tiamra's presence. She was the first Gerudo that Loraefin had ever seen outside of her valley. Link felt a slight sensation of dizziness and then could hear Rauru's familiar voice inside of his head.
"Link? Are you ready?" Rauru spoke.
"Yes, just tell me what to do Rauru."
From the Sacred Realm, Rauru opened the Door of Time for Link, revealing the Pedestal of Time, and in the center, the legendary Master Sword. Since Zelda had sent him back to his past all those years ago to live out the years he lost, it had been eight years since he had set eyes on that sword. Rauru told him that he needed to pull out the Master Sword in order to open up the door that would allow the Sages to return to the earthbound plane. Link did what he was told and grabbed the hilt of his old friend. Link could not deny that he felt his heart rushing a hundred times a minute until Rauru gave him the signal to pull the blade out of the pedestal. Loraefin watched all this with amazement, admiring Link's bravery, as her own heart seemed to beat a hundred times a minute along with his and everyone standing there.
Link heard the scrape of the metal against the stone as the sword slipped out of its resting-place, but that was all he could hear. Everything blacked out and the last things he could remember were the sound of the sword and the cold rush of air that seemed to come out of nowhere. He immediately felt heavy, so heavy that he couldn't move or even lift his head to look around him. Everything was dark. Then as soon as it all happened, it all vanished and Link found himself once again standing in the Chamber of Sages with not Rauru this time but Nabooru placed in front of him, though when he looked at her, he saw that it was not the Nabooru he knew…