Repaying a debt
Disclaimer: Well, at the moment, I am sitting here shivering in a crappy little flat roofed room, where the radiator is broken. Now, if I worked for Nintendo, I'd be able to afford a better place, wouldn't I? So, obviously, none of the pertained characters from Zelda are mine.
Well, in the last chapter, all our lovely hero people went through the forest temple, where they fought the phantom of Ganondorf, and Alexis detected a warmness within his soul that she had not expected...
Sheik still seems to have a grudge against our dear old heroine, and it may just well stay that way. Alexis is also still under the alias of Blaise, so when the others talk to her, that's what they'll call her, OK? You can handle it, I know you can!
And lastly:-
[] = Alexis' thoughts
{} = Navi's thoughts
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
I was surprised to find that I woke first. Dawn had just graced the sky with a splash of colour, and I was rolling onto my back, blinking dew out of my eyes. My glasses had slid off during the night, and I put them back on hurriedly. The young sprout stood before its ancestor, looking fresh and alive. I thought for a moment, then walked over to it apprehensively, whether it would stoop so low to speak to me.
The cute eyes within the smooth bark seemed to smile out at me, and as I came closer, I could see a vine of ivy, which seemed to act as a mouth, and was turned upwards. "Uh - hello, child of the Ancient Great Deku Tree," I said, dipping in a quick bow. Looking up, I could tell that the tree was indeed smiling, and smiling at me.
"Hello lady - since your comrades are asleep, may I be so bold as to talk to you of a bewildering thing that perhaps you may help me to understand?" It took me a few seconds to figure out the speech of the young sapling, and then I nodded.
"Of course, what is it you wish to know?"
"I was merely wondering why one such as you has descended upon our world," the young tree said sincerely, it's eyes sharp.
"What do you mean?" I asked, a little too quickly.
"Well, I have memories from my predecessor, and the last time your kind were seen was in the few years after the Goddesses left. You do well to hide your wings in such an illusionist trick, but I know of you and your kind. And I merely wonder why you dally in such a small world." I looked around in panic, and then turned back to the young plant,
"Please, you would not give me away?"
"Lest you tell me why you are here, I fear I shall have to," it answered, but I could hear a slight merriment in its voice.
"All right. I am one of the ones you speak of," I paused, "an - angel. But, I am one of the fallen, I am here as a warrior, and I can tell you little more."
It chuckled. "Ah, I already knew child - I wished to see whether I could trust you to tell the truth." I blinked in shock at this one, and the tree let out another laugh. "Do not worry, there will be few others who shall know - it is only I and Rauru. Others may perceive something strange about you, but they shall never have surety."
"Oh...well, I thank you, even though you did trick me!" I leant a laugh to my own voice, which sounded strange to my own ears. The tree however seemed pleased, and joined in. "So, you shall not tell anyone else? For, I fear that if you did, they would - well, disregard me for what I did."
"No lady, of course I won't! All I know is that you must be wary - that Sheikah boy is very suspicious of you - but if you build up a trust between you travellers, they shall see that no matter what you may have been, all you are now is valiant." It looked at me with all sincerity from the big, deep eyes. "Now, you'd best go - they shall awaken soon." The eyes closed, and the tree looked for all the world like any other within the forest.
"Thank you, Deku-Sprout," I whispered, bending down on one knee to pay a final farewell to the wise deity. "Shouldst we meet again, though I doubt it, I hope it be under better circumstance." I was really beginning to get the hang of all this confusing lingo now, and I felt pretty pleased with myself.
I hopped up from the dew-laden ground after a few more seconds of homage, and went over to the other side of the clearing, where Sheik, Link and Navi were indeed waking up. Navi was already buzzing around in the air, a soft glow within the light of dawn. I had just drawn level with them, when my stomach let out a growl of protest at being empty for so long. {Hungry, I take it?} Navi's voice said lightly.
[Just a bit.] I noticed that Sheik was looking disdainful again, and Link was stifling a fit of laughter. [Do you think Sheik practices that look for me?] I thought to Navi, as I walked past them all to pick up my sword.
{Perhaps - I don't know why he doesn't like you. I guess he's just a stuck up bast-} She was cut off as Link reached out and grabbed her from the air. Her real voice came out with a stream of swearwords, and Link let go in shock. She flew directly at him, dive bombing him, and yelling, "How many times do I have to tell you? DON'T DO THAT YOU HYLIAN MORON!" 'Bam', 'whack', 'crash' were the total sounds of the next few seconds.
When I looked at the scene before me, I couldn't help but to laugh. Probably unkind, seeing as the Great Hero of Time had just been beaten up by his fairy - but it sure was funny. Link had fallen not so gracefully into a puddle of scummy water, soaking his tunic and tights, and his hat had fallen off into the disgusting water as well. Underneath it, his hair was a total mess of blonde strands, sticking straight upwards from where the hat had been.
[So that's why he wears that hat!] I thought with relish, and Navi just flew with the speed of an arrow at the unfortunate hero's nose again. [Navi! Leave him alone; he's been humiliated enough!] She stopped an inch from his nose, and he opened first one eye, then the other, to see Navi glaring at him from her hover.
"ARGH!" he tried to scramble backwards, and only managed to get more of the mud all over himself. He fell backwards, and with a satisfying 'gloop' it covered his hair with green and brown flecks. Navi followed him, never going farther than an inch from his face, and he blinked up in surprise and fear. "I give up! All right, I give up! I won't do it again!" Navi gave him one last punch on the nose, before laughing and flying over to land on my shoulder.
{Now, he's been humiliated enough,} she said in a satisfied tone, and looking at him, I had to agree. He was almost completely covered in mud, and it dripped from his hair, clothes, and the hat, which he scooped out of the puddle, and put back on his filthy hair. Only his eyes could be seen, bright chips of blue in a sea of brown.
"OK," he began in a dignified way, and both Sheik and I turned to look at the wall behind him - the sight would cause us to burst into laughter. "Where do we go next Sheik?" Sheik had to turn and look at him,
"We have to," he paused and let out a bark of laughter, "go to the, ha ha, fire, Oh Goddesses you look like an idiot!" He put his hands on his knees and started laughing hysterically. I quirked an eyebrow - the stony faced Sheik was actually laughing? That was something I didn't suspect.
Something Sheik didn't suspect was to have the mud covered Link charge at him in anger, and knock him flying - into the very same puddle Navi had forced Link into only moments before. 'Squelch' was the noise Sheik made as he landed, and there was a groan as he too fell backwards.
[I'm going to explode with laughing if this goes on much longer!] I exclaimed to Navi, holding hands over my mouth and trying to keep the laughter in. [Oh Goddesses - it's good to see him humiliated once in a while!]
Navi just laughed silently.
Sheik managed to sit back up, a little more intact than Link had been - he pulled off his facemask. It had protected most of his face, apart from a few flecks of mud on his cheeks. I noticed that he must have been older than me by far - perhaps three years, maybe even four. No wonder he didn't like me - I was probably too immature to be worth bothering about or some such.
This belief was shattered when a lump of mud caught Link in the side of the head, and splattered a little over me. I forgot about food, and turned to glare at Sheik, who was trying to smile innocently, and pointing at Link. "Oh no you don't Sheikah boy!" Link growled, launching another of those flying tackles. Sheik squeaked, and rolled out of the way - Link landed facedown in the puddle.
Navi got into the fray, and started beating up Sheik this time round. "Leave him alone, only I'm allowed to beat him up!" Sheik swatted her away, and she got even angrier - I just stood looking on, laughing my head off. I had to sink to the floor, as my knees were too weak to hold me any longer.
After a few more minutes of mad fighting, I began to get bored. I put two fingers to my mouth, and gave a loud, piercing whistle. "Play-time's over kids. World to save and all that, remember. Come on already!" All three looked up from the mud, looking for all the world like guilty children caught stealing food from the pantry or some such. Another snort escaped my mouth, and all three of the mud drenched people looked at one another, then back at me.
I began to back away, and they sprang up after me. "NO! I didn't do anything!" I was grabbed by the leg, and then one of them took my arms. Navi flew around my head, dripping mud on various parts of my face. [Guess I shouldn't have laughed?]
{It would have been a good idea not to...}
I dropped into the mud with a 'thud, squish' and "OW!" Quickly, I ducked as clods of mud were thrown at me - they covered my glasses so that the world turned suddenly a green/brown. Still laughing, I managed to haul myself out of the puddle, drenched and stinking of stale water. I scraped the mud from my glasses with my fingers, and gained a streaky view of the world.
"Well, that was odd," I said musingly, before walking to the entrance to the Kokiri village. At each step, I heard a 'squelch, glomp, thud', and grinned as I made my slow progress. Link and Sheik caught up behind me, the effect of 'squelch, glomp, thud' not sounding half as good as in slow motion. Sheik had returned his facemask to his face, and was glaring seriously once again - which must be quite hard when you've been turned into a mud...thing.
"Umm - won't we scare the Kokiri like this?" I asked Link, who looked down at himself, then Sheik, then me.
"Uh - good point - we should find somewhere to get this stuff off. Come on, I know of a place in the Lost Woods."
"But we'll have to go through the town to get there!" Sheik pointed out, and I nodded. Link however, shook his head.
"There is more than one entrance to a forest - come on, follow me." He turned around, and with a 'squelch, glomp, thud', all three of us set of to look for somewhere to rid ourselves of mud. Every so often, there was a little 'splat' as drops of mud fell off Navi. All in all, we made an interesting procession - I began to wonder what tricks the powers were playing on me.
Fun, laughter - fellow travellers even, on a mission? None of these were normal factors in the places to which I was usually sent. I would ask Loki when I next conversed with him - which, if my calculations were correct, would be within the next two days...
*
Again, Link knew exactly where he was going, and within about twenty minutes, we had reached the clear pool and small stream he had talked about. The mud was beginning to dry in my hair, and I ran a hand through it, raking clods of earth out, and wincing as I tugged at the hair. Looking around, I could see a conveniently placed boulder a few yards away, which obscured the stream as it rounded the bend.
In an unspoken decision, the other three stayed in the main stream, whilst I walked to the part within the shadow of the boulder. There, I got rid of my stained tunic and trousers, but left the shorts and small top I was wearing underneath on. I unclipped my sword, and put it on top of the boulder along with my pack. Then, I ran and canon-balled into the water.
It - was - freezing. I came back up with a gasp, and floated for a few instants. It wasn't likely to get warmer, so I ducked under again, and quickly rubbed the dirt from my hair and face. Then, I reached out and got my mud-stained clothes, and dunked them into the water as well, to wash away all of the brown stains.
When I had eventually removed the mud from both my clothes, and myself, I climbed back out of the stream, and stood behind the boulder to get dressed. I suddenly remembered the clothes Eloise had given me, and looking around, I saw that I had put the pack with them in on top of the boulder. I reached up and got it, and pulled out the red tunic - Sheik had said something about fire after all.
I pulled the tunic-trouser set on, wrung out my hair as best I could, then put the wet clothes in the pack. I picked up my sword and placed it once more on my back. "Is it safe for me to come out?" I called out to the other two, who called back the affirmative. I walked out, to see both of them, soaking wet, but mostly mud less.
"Hey, where'd you get that from?" Link asked, looking jealously at my dry clothes.
"I've been carrying around spares in my pack," I answered simply. "So, Sheik, you said something about fire earlier - the Fire Temple you mean?" He nodded, and then shook his head from side to side, letting out a spray of water from his hair. Link wiped a few drops of water from his face, but didn't dare start up another fight after I glared at him warningly.
"Well, I guess we'd better make our way to Death Mountain then, right Sheik?" Link asked, and Sheik nodded, unwinding the dripping facemask from around his head and stuffing it into his pocket. They both picked up their weapons and packs of provisions, and Link led us out of the forest into the village.
All around, Kokiri were laughing happily, and I saw Link close his eyes and smile, listening to the laughs. [He missed this place a lot, didn't he?] I asked Navi softly.
{Yes - and now he knows he can't live here anymore.}
[Poor Link...]
He opened his over-bright eyes, and looked around at us both. "Do you think we could stop here, just for a while?"
"No, we have to-" Sheik began, and I clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Of course you can," I said, and then took my hand off Sheik's mouth, which was set in a scowl. Link had already run happily down the hill, and had been surrounded by the cheerful Kokiri, and I was able to hiss angrily at Sheik. "Look, you stuck up, insensitive idiot, he hasn't been here in seven years, and for all he knows, he may never be able to set foot here again! So, for Goddesses' sakes, let him have a few hours!"
His eyes widened at my sudden outburst, and I coughed slightly, looking down at the floor and feeling embarrassed. "Ok," I looked up, hardly able to believe it. I thought a saw a small smile, but it was replaced with a scowl quickly enough. "But no more than a few hours, understand?" I nodded, and he whirled away to go and sit moodily in some shadowy place. "We have got evil to fight, you know!"
Navi flew up at that point, just as I mimicked quietly, "We have got evil to fight, you know! Eurgh, stupid git!" I heard Navi titter, and turned around.
"I take it you just had another fight with him, huh?"
"Yeah. Oh, I didn't think anyone could ever annoy me this much - but - that - thing that dares to call himself a 'noble Sheikah warrior' - Eurgh! He wasn't even going to let Link stay here for a few hours before leaving," I spat angrily, and Navi backed up. "Oh, sorry - I suppose I'm just getting too worked up over this...but still." I glanced over my shoulder to where Sheik sat, meditating once more, and glowered at him.
When I turned back, Navi had been joined by Link and a whole tide of small, smiling Kokiri faces. "I thought you might like to meet everyone," he whispered, and looked a little apologetic. "They sure are keen to meet you anyway!" I just smiled, and sat down on the grass, signalling the young people to do so as well.
"What's her name, Mr. Link?" a young boy with a shock of silver-blond hair asked, tugging on Link's tunic.
"Blaise."
"How come you don't have a fairy?" another asked me directly.
"Because I'm not a Kokiri," I answered, but wasn't able to explain as a tide of questions washed over me.
"Where'd you get those funny clothes, huh?"
"I was given them."
Another question. "Why are you wearing glasses, can't you see good?"
"They stop too much light getting to my eyes."
And another one, "Why do you have a sword?"
"So I can fight when I need to."
"Do you like bunny rabbits?"
"Uhhh..."
And so it went on, me answering the questions as rapidly as they came. Finally, they seemed to grow bored of pestering both Link and I, and went to throng around Sheik - who looked none too happy with the situation. Desperately, he mouthed over to us 'Help me!'
But, considering earlier events, I just turned away and went to sit alone by the small shop, dangling my feet from one of the platforms into the warm water of the pool. Link stayed behind, and I could hear his laughter wafting over as he watched Sheik with the Kokiri.
I stared down at the water in the pool, thinking how small my feet looked underwater. I pulled them out and curled them up under me, still gazing into the water. A small breeze made ripples on the surface, and I watched, fascinated, as they crept out in ever largening circles. They were strangely beautiful in the morning light, a few sparkles from the sun across them. I watched - and waited for the other two to decide it was time to leave.
It was so peaceful - so quiet. I was not used to so much quiet for so long. Even the laughter seemed to be dying away from my hearing. I realised, all too late, that I had drawn myself into a trance. I was so hungry, that my brain was struggling to try and pull me out. I saw the tide of blood - the scarlet, the flashes of silver - his eyes, dead, lifeless. I saw the vermilion pool spreading around his white clothed figure, and I felt the realisation that I had been tricked.
Then, with a gasp, I wrenched myself out of the memory. "No," I mumbled, shaking. I wrapped my arms around myself, around my depleted stomach, and my weary body, and put my head in my arms. Glad of the glasses I wore, I wept for a little. When I heard the heavy footsteps of Link, and the soft footsteps of Sheik approaching, I quickly lifted up my glasses, wiped the tears from my face, and put them back.
"Have fun with the twenty questions?" I asked brightly.
"More like two hundred - Eurgh, I hate kids!" Link laughed, and I managed a watery smile. Looking at Sheik - the eyes - they reminded me so much. My stomach piped up again, and this time, I really did manage to smile. Of all the times it could have chosen to make a sound, this was probably the best.
"I see you're hungry!" Link observed. He took out his wallet, and looked inside. "Well, I think I've got more than enough to buy us all something from the shop." He pulled out a purple rupee - that was fifty rupees! He sure did have more than enough. He walked off into the small shop, and came back out a few moments later with a couple of loaves of bread and three apples to share between us.
I ate quickly, but had to give up after a few mouthfuls. My stomach had shrunk significantly, and I knew from experience that I'd have to readjust to the amount of food I was used to slowly. Time before, I had not had a pleasant few days after no food...I picked up the apple, and tucked into it after a few minutes. Then, Sheik stood up, and dusted himself off of imaginary crumbs.
"Come on, we really have to get going now," he urged, and Link swallowed his last mouthful of bread.
"All right, I'm coming!" he grumbled, picking up all his equipment which he had strewn all over the ground. Sheik made for the exit into the field; I waited by Link for him to start moving, and then fell into my place at the rear of the group.
{We're off to kill some bad guys, some very bad guys indeed!} Navi sang, to a tune I had heard on some film or other. 'The Wizard of Zo' or something like that... I laughed weakly.
[Navi, do you think you can keep your channel closed for a bit? I'm feeling a bit weird.] She took the hint, and I heard a faint sound of slamming as she shut her internal door. I did the same, and then walked along behind the three of them, my mind and thoughts filled with the past. The trance had pulled up so much - damn ripples...
~ I saw David's laughing face as he swung me around in the dappled light of the hallway. I laughed merrily with him, knowing that he was unaware of the deceit I played. I felt guilty of course - but what I would get in return would be so much to me. And Diabola only wanted to talk to him after all! So, when he put me down, I took him by his long sleeve, and led him out into the courtyard.
We passed Loki, and I waved, grinning, warm inside and out from the sunlit day. David's white robes reflected the light, and he looked every inch how a master angel should. Even his wings were pristine white, whereas mine were a mottled grey, coming from a mixture of my mother's black and father's white. Mother - father.
How I missed them; but not for long. They, and my older brother, Tarin, would be returned to me soon. And all for helping the Diabola lady to meet David.
So, skipping ahead of David, still clutching the sleeve of his robe, I smiled. The sunlight bathed me, warmed me through and through. David's friendly, guiding hand reached out, and was warm against my shoulder. So much life, so much love conveyed in one simple wink as he turned around to blow a farewell kiss to Loki. He seemed happy to stand there with me, humour me in my wishes.
So, I called out the words I had rehearsed over and over, and Diabola appeared. When she would not show me my family first, I stood in the way of David. The patter of Loki's feet was clear behind me, and I turned around to peer towards him. There came the fatal red flash - the backwash knocked me flying backwards; backwards into David.
He screamed.
He wasn't warm anymore - his eye didn't drop in that friendly wink. They were like glass that had not been cleaned for years - dull - lifeless.
And that red pool that stained his robes, that stained him. The red pool, which was reflected ten fold times in the tear filled eyes of Loki. The red pool, which was added to when he turned upon me in his rage.
The scream, which mingled with the dying echoes of David's own. And then, pain, burning, unimaginable pain.
And then - blackness.
Why didn't he kill me. I wish to all the powers that he had. Why didn't he just let me die, let me suffer the same pain, the same horror which I inflicted on David.
Warm, kind David, who was so cold now - who couldn't laugh anymore. Loki shut his eyes, and picked me up from the floor.
I left my wings behind that day - my left palm bled with the brand of David. My body wept blood, sold itself through feathers and tears, in a bid to bring him back.
It did not work.
Why did he not kill me? ~
The trance left me as we were walking up the steps of Kakariko. I felt my cheeks with fingers that had become numb from being clenched at my sides. Dry - I had lost all the tears so long ago - I was glad I had not shed any. It would not do to crumble now; this world needed me to be strong.
~*~*~*~
Eloise was happy enough to see us again. She took in the bedraggled appearance of the other two, and tutted disapprovingly. "You'll catch your deaths like that - here, I'll take these and wash them for you. There should be some clothes in the front room - I've been making them for the shop, but it seems you two need them more urgently." She ushered them through, leaving me standing alone in the hallway. She was back soon enough however, and walked around me, scrutinizing the tunic and trousers I wore.
"Hmm - they're a bit big for you, aren't they?" She said, pulling at the excess material at the bottom of the trousers, and around my midriff. I shrugged; I was used to it. I had accepted long ago that I would probably never get clothes that fitted me right. "Well, I could take those trousers up for you - and the tunic could do with a little taking in." I shook my head at this.
"No, the tunic's fine!" She looked at me in surprise, and I wrapped my arms around me self-consciously. She seemed to understand, and nodded.
"Ah, I see - well, the least I can do is see to those trousers, yes? And those other ones I gave you - they're all the same size." I handed her my pack, out of which tumbled the sodden clothes from before. "Oh dear - well, at least you had the sense to take extras I suppose. I'll just go put these to soak." She hurried away, and I sighed in a semi-contented way. Back to this little haven for a while, surrounded by the bustling way of this woman, there was no way I could go into another trance.
Soon enough, she came back, and with a quick smile, which she flashed my way, she knocked on the door to the front room. "Can I have those filthy garments please?" One of them stuck their hand out the door, holding a fistful of green and blue material, and she took it. "Thank you," she was about to close the door, when a speeding ball of light flew through it.
"ARGH! Unclean, unclean! I never want to see that again!" Navi shrieked, buzzing around and looking flustered. I tittered, and she slowly calmed down. Eloise put our clothes in to soak, and the came back once again, holding a tape measure. I climbed up onto the stool she motioned to, and she held the tape measure up to the trousers I was wearing.
"Ah - three inches to come off I should think," she muttered, and I climbed back down. "No, dear - just stay there - I need to have your measurements in case you need any more clothes."
"No, I'll be fine with what I have," I protested, but she would have none of that. So, I stood resignedly on the stool, whilst she wrapped the tape measure around my waist, hips, measured my legs and so on, writing down each measurement in a small notebook.
About quarter of an hour later, I was ready to drop off the stool. Finally, she let me down, and went to hammer on the door to the front room. "Are you boys done yet?" They answered the affirmative, and both of them came out, looking a lot better than they had earlier. For one thing, they were both clean and dry, and another, they were wearing clean clothes. "Ah, good - now, I'll find you something to eat shall I?"
She didn't wait for an answer, and went off to the kitchen, leaving Navi, Sheik, Link and I, standing (and hovering) awkwardly in the hallway between the front room and the lounge. "Uh...shall we sit or something?" I suggested, and we all sat down in the, what seemed to us, luxuriantly soft seats. It was so warm in the house - I felt calm again, and even the trance was beginning to fade away from my memory.
Eloise at last came back in with some food, and we all dug into it gratefully. She, however, rushed around all over the place, cleaning this, dusting that, sewing this, cutting that. I felt tired just watching the kind woman doing all that work and with so much energy! The food made me drowsy, and it did the same to the boys. My head kept dropping, and I had to keep snapping up to sit straight again, so that my glasses wouldn't fall off.
Eloise, passing the door as she hurried through the hallway, looked in and saw us in our weary stupors. She came in, and scolded us for staying up so late, before leading us up the stairs to the very same rooms we had stayed in the last time. Sheik peeled off at the first door, Link at the second, and then I entered the room at the end. It looked pretty much the same, and I placed my sword within the wardrobe where it had been put the last time.
Then, not bothering to get undressed, I fell onto the bed, and was out like a light.
~*~*~*~
Someone shaking my shoulder awoke me. I squinted through my eyelashes, and saw that it was nighttime, so I opened them fully, knowing my eyes wouldn't be seen. "What in all demons is it?" I grumbled, shrugging the hand off my shoulders. Link's voice drifted to me in a panicked whisper, over the sudden sounds of screaming which filtered in through the closed shutters,
"He is here - Ganondorf. Come, Sheik is already gone to help make a stand against him. He has no others with him, but he could still do a lot of damage alone." I heaved myself off the bed, glad now that I had not bothered to undress, and wrenched open the wardrobe.
"My sword!" I gasped, as I found it missing. Then, I felt the cool hilt that I knew so well shoved into my hand. "Thanks," I breathed, and then dived back to the table beside the bed to collect my glasses. I jammed them on, telling by the light through the slats of the shutters that the moon was bright. Then, Link and I quickly exited the house, to see that the outside, which even so late at night would still have a bustle of folk, completely empty apart from a small few.
I saw shadows running in a panic from a line of people holding weapons, and hide within their houses. One man pulled at me, calling, "Get in your house, hide lady, hide!" I pushed him away, and marched forward purposefully. The line of defenders stood in the main field of the town, before the gate.
Some held long staffs of wood, some rusty old swords, and seeing a glitter of silver, I was able to pick out Sheik. He seemed to have the only respectable weapon within the whole group - which I noticed was comprised of all men. Caring not, I lumbered over; to see that great dark shadow I had met the first day. Again, a shiver as I felt his presence wash over me, and I raised my weapon also.
"I see you need women to help you fight now," he said disdainfully, and I scowled up at the shadow stained face. "Ah, you again lady?" he asked, a tinge of surprise in his voice.
"Me, 'Sire'," I said mockingly, and Sheik looked at me as though I were crazy. Some of the defenders were backing away, hissing about the 'crazy girl'. I stood my ground, and a low chuckle came through the chill air. "Yes, laugh - you may as well - you'll be quite dead soon enough." I wished I did not sound so unsure about that - I wished I could get rid of the waver that made me sound as if I cared.
"How is that gentle lady?" he was climbing down from his horse, and the defenders, including Sheik and Link let out a gasp, and backed up even more. I stood my ground, the weapon seeming heavy in my hand. For some unexplainable reason, I did not wish to spill blood now - not his. I did not want to see those dark eyes loose that glitter of mischief. [Damn him - this must be some spell.] I gave myself the same mental slap I had given the first time.
He stopped five paces before me, and I had to tilt my head to look up at his tall frame. Again he asked, "How is it that I shall be dead, lady?" I blinked, then smirked,
"Now, that would spoil the surprise, wouldn't it?" I said in a strained voice. His chuckle came again, like steel through the air, striking me down as easily as a weapon would have. I felt paralysed by the sound, and my eyes opened wide in terror as he began to advance.
I was able to un stick my feet from the ground when he reached two paces, and took a large one back, raising my sword again. He reached out a great arm, and swept it aside. A few drops of blood spattered the floor, and he cursed loudly. Then, he backed away. "Well, lady, it looks as though we shall all have to wait for my surprise killing, shan't we?" he said, his low voice mocking.
He bowed his farewell, and the defenders were in stunned silence. "Coward," I muttered, and he looked up, his hood falling down. He quirked an eyebrow, and smirked,
"No - I just call it a calculated withdrawal. Oh, and your sword is kept well to cut through gauntlets, I praise you for that, lady." With that, he took his horse by the reins and strode off - no one dared to speak, for fear he would unleash his anger upon the village after all. When his shadowy figure had disappeared around the turn in the steps, Sheik walked up to me, looking livid.
"You stupid little girl!" he spat, and I felt a stab of shock at the ferocity in his voice. "You could have got everyone here killed with your little game!" He took me by the shoulders so I could not look away. Link hovered in the background, looking like he wanted to intervene, but didn't dare. Sheik's face was ashen with anger, and his voice was terrible. "If you ever pull something like that, I swear I shall kill you!"
He shoved hard, and I fell backwards onto the ground. "Sheik!" Link exclaimed, looking in shock from where I was on the floor, to the glowering Sheikah. "What by the Goddesses do you think you're doing?" he asked, trying to get Sheik to look at him. Sheik let out an angry growl, and Link backed away.
"You saw what the fool did - she could have had the whole village destroyed!" he shouted. Pushing my hair out of the way, I could see that the majority of the defenders seemed to agree. They were all staring at me, fingering their makeshift weapons lovingly. I shivered, and looked desperately at Link. He looked as afraid as I felt; not even he could take on the angry group alone.
There was a sudden yell of, "Get out of my way, angry fairy coming through!" And, who should appear with the best timing in the world, but Navi? The defender's eyes were wide, and they yelled and ran away, never having seen a fairy before. Sheik still held his scimitars tightly in his hands. "Link, you shut me in the room you idiot! I had to squeeze out of the crack under the door. What if you had been hurt? I wouldn't have been there to heal you, silly!" She landed on his shoulder, oblivious to what had just happened.
[Navi. You do realise that Ganondorf was just here, and I think that Sheik now wants to kill me, right?]
{What? When did that happen?}
[Just now - but I think I'll have to fill you in on it later,] I thought hurriedly.
Sheik was looking down at me with contempt, swinging his weapons almost casually as he came towards me. I scrambled backwards, until I came into contact with the cliff that stood over one side of the field. He crouched down, scimitars pointing at me. Link followed him, and caught him on the arm.
Sheik shook him off, and then glared at me. "I don't know what it is, but there's something about you that's not right - and I will find out what it is. And when I do," he pushed the cold metal of one of his curved swords against my throat, and I closed my eyes.
Then, there was a rustling sound, and he stood up. "I'm going to sleep - what about you hero? She'll be fine - whatever happens to her doesn't matter," he spat on the ground next to me. I blinked in surprise to find myself still alive. Sheik's figure retreated, and Link moved over to me.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
[Dumb question...] I thought sarcastically, but there was only a stunned silence from Navi. Link was staring at me worriedly, so I had to answer. "Yeah - whatever jumped up his ass, I hope I never meet it," I quipped, and he managed a small grin.
"I don't know what's wrong with him - he seemed OK when I met him as a kid."
"I think he just has a grudge against me is all," I said, managing a very convincing offhand tone. He nodded pensively.
"I'll talk to him - maybe beat him up and knock some sense into him," he said, and then stood up. "I'm heading to go back to sleep - you?"
"I'll stay out here for a while," I answered.
"You sure? You want me to stay for a while?"
"No, go sleep, you need it." He walked off with Navi, and I dropped my eyes to stare at the floor. So much for a rest...
"I'll stay with you," I looked up to see Navi fluttering in front of me. I smiled weakly, and held out my right hand, palm upwards so she could land on it. "Sheik is such a jerk - ppht, I think he needs to be taken down a peg or two."
"He scared me," I admitted, and felt a great tide of delayed fright run through me. I shuddered - how was it I felt so little fear for whom I was supposed to fear, but for one of my allies, I could hardly bear to walk near him? I shuddered, and it was not just from cold. "Hmm - I'm not used to being scared," I laughed softly. "I was always taught to use my fear to an advantage in battle. But I'm not planning to fight with an ally."
"Couldn't you make an exception?" Navi asked, a little mischief in her voice. "I bet you could beat him into the ground!" I grinned and shook my head at the fairy's craziness. "No, really; he's just a coward pretending to be brave. At least you can admit when you're scared."
"Wise words Navi," I nodded. A yawn washed over me. "Maybe I'll just sleep in that tree," I said, gesturing to the tree that stood in the middle of the main town field. Navi's small face looked up at me with worry, and I plastered a painful smile on my face. She looked so much like mother; it was uncanny. No, the trance wasn't going to hit now! I shook my head slightly. "Go on Navi, you're meant to be looking after Link, remember?" I rose my palm, and she lifted off.
"All right. But, if you need me-"
"I know where you are," I finished for her. "Go!" She did, flying off, and through the open window of Eloise's house on the first floor. I let the last defence down, and let the shaking take over my whole body, shivering desperately as the full impact of what had just happened in the last few minutes came to me.
I went to the tree as I had said I would, but there was no way I was going to sleep now. Sitting high up in the branches, I was able to gaze across a small part of Hyrule field. Far away, I could see the glowing lamps at the gate to the Castle Town. I stared blankly at the flickering lights, letting go of the present.
My mind was floating - I let go, let go of it all.
*
I had my eyes closed, and was listening to the quiet sounds of the town, when there was the sound of wing beats next to me. I opened my eyes to see the wide obsidian ones of Loki. "You're early," I pointed out, wiping my wet face on my sleeve. He just sighed. He sat on the branch next to me, and looked with that piercing gaze at me. His black wings made a dark cut out of starless sky, and I shivered some more. "He suspects."
"Yes; I thought that he might. They have a rudimentary sixth sense, and giving it so much stimuli at once is making him experience mood swings. I'm afraid it can't be remedied until he proves himself right. Which, of course, he won't get the chance to do, will he?" He looked at me sharply.
"Of course not. But; I was afraid. That is not something that happens to me often."
"He has a violent temper - all his kind do. You must do your best not to spark it off."
"I wasn't trying to spark it off in the first place!" I said indignantly, and he let out another of his sighs.
"I never said you were, I'm just warning you child." He reached out and took my left palm, turning it so that the palm faced upwards. He began to trace the mark there - David's mark. "It is the same temper which made me do this," he said ruefully. I could feel his own self-hatred.
"You had every right," I reached up to touch his cheek, but he pulled back, and I dropped my hand. I bit my lip; I had almost been able to comfort him this time. Of course, I had no right to do so; I was the cause of his pain. "You had every right," I repeated. "You should have killed me..."
He looked up. "I do not work like that, you well know!" I nodded submissively, tears brimming over my eyes. I had worked like that one time, and resulted in the death of David...David. They ran rivers down my face. I sniffed loudly, and was surprised when Loki reached out and wiped the tears from my cheeks. I looked up, and thought I detected some quickly masked softness.
"What is it?" I always knew when something bothered him.
"The council - they say they want to oversee your case when you return." This hit me like a sledgehammer.
"No," I whispered, and that hand reached out again, wiping away new tears. I closed my eyes and savoured the touch of old times before it ended abruptly.
"I came to warn you; Lucifer will be standing." That cut me off mid-sob.
"Lucifer? NO!" this time I yelled it out, jumping up and almost falling off the branch altogether.
"Yes," he pulled me back into a sitting position. "And he is one of the ancients - there is no way he can be contended."
"You're a master angel! All it takes is two to overrule him!"
"Yes, well my second isn't around, is he?" he barked, wrapping the hand that had so recently been soft around my arm harshly. "And you know why that is, little traitor," he hissed into my ear, before letting go of my arm. I nodded ashamedly. "Well, I have warned you. Be wary, be careful, and do not give the Sheikah anything more to be suspicious about." He climbed off the branch and hovered so that his dark eyes were level with mine.
"I will do all that I can to keep you from Lucifer; I may not be fond of you, but I would not see you dragged there..." he stared past me.
"The house of courtesans," I hiccupped fearfully.
"As I said, I shall fight the case. You are prepared at least. They are bound to do a series of warrior tests when you return. Make sure you don't get rusty." And with that, he was gone.
[Powers, how is it that everything bad seems to happen at once?] I though desperately, but there was no answer. I didn't expect one.
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
OOOOOH! Sheik went all mega bitch trip there. A confrontation in which Sheik goes psycho - never thought I'd see the day when I wrote one of those.
Sheik: HEY! I'm not a psycho - I just have a lot of invisible friends is all!
Soda: O.O How'd you get out of the story?
Sheik: You published my book remember? So now I can buzz around and annoy you about something else.
Soda: Oh, OK. Don't worry; this is one of your alternate personalities in another reality. [Nods.]
Sheik: Wha...? [Looks confused.]
Soda: [Pats Sheik on the head.] Don't worry hun. [Bags him, and puts the struggling sack into the cupboard labelled 'muses and other various'.] Now that he's gone, I can get on with the end rant.
The plot is confusing - I know - but I also happen to know where it's going. You'll understand about the council later on - for now, you just need to keep it rattling around in the back of your head. For now, we have four more temples to go through, so you don't need to worry about it for at least four chapters.
Until next time, hope you aren't too confused (I am! I don't understand my plot bunnies, even though I know where they're taking me!)
Thanks for reading, and it's goodbye from me [the cupboard explodes outwards, and about a hundred muses and various other people appear.]
AND GOODBYE FROM US!
~~~Care of-Soda~~~
Review...you know you can't help yourself [swings a pocket watch] You will review...you will review...you will review...you will review...you will review...you will review!
[Wonders if it will work...]
Disclaimer: Well, at the moment, I am sitting here shivering in a crappy little flat roofed room, where the radiator is broken. Now, if I worked for Nintendo, I'd be able to afford a better place, wouldn't I? So, obviously, none of the pertained characters from Zelda are mine.
Well, in the last chapter, all our lovely hero people went through the forest temple, where they fought the phantom of Ganondorf, and Alexis detected a warmness within his soul that she had not expected...
Sheik still seems to have a grudge against our dear old heroine, and it may just well stay that way. Alexis is also still under the alias of Blaise, so when the others talk to her, that's what they'll call her, OK? You can handle it, I know you can!
And lastly:-
[] = Alexis' thoughts
{} = Navi's thoughts
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
I was surprised to find that I woke first. Dawn had just graced the sky with a splash of colour, and I was rolling onto my back, blinking dew out of my eyes. My glasses had slid off during the night, and I put them back on hurriedly. The young sprout stood before its ancestor, looking fresh and alive. I thought for a moment, then walked over to it apprehensively, whether it would stoop so low to speak to me.
The cute eyes within the smooth bark seemed to smile out at me, and as I came closer, I could see a vine of ivy, which seemed to act as a mouth, and was turned upwards. "Uh - hello, child of the Ancient Great Deku Tree," I said, dipping in a quick bow. Looking up, I could tell that the tree was indeed smiling, and smiling at me.
"Hello lady - since your comrades are asleep, may I be so bold as to talk to you of a bewildering thing that perhaps you may help me to understand?" It took me a few seconds to figure out the speech of the young sapling, and then I nodded.
"Of course, what is it you wish to know?"
"I was merely wondering why one such as you has descended upon our world," the young tree said sincerely, it's eyes sharp.
"What do you mean?" I asked, a little too quickly.
"Well, I have memories from my predecessor, and the last time your kind were seen was in the few years after the Goddesses left. You do well to hide your wings in such an illusionist trick, but I know of you and your kind. And I merely wonder why you dally in such a small world." I looked around in panic, and then turned back to the young plant,
"Please, you would not give me away?"
"Lest you tell me why you are here, I fear I shall have to," it answered, but I could hear a slight merriment in its voice.
"All right. I am one of the ones you speak of," I paused, "an - angel. But, I am one of the fallen, I am here as a warrior, and I can tell you little more."
It chuckled. "Ah, I already knew child - I wished to see whether I could trust you to tell the truth." I blinked in shock at this one, and the tree let out another laugh. "Do not worry, there will be few others who shall know - it is only I and Rauru. Others may perceive something strange about you, but they shall never have surety."
"Oh...well, I thank you, even though you did trick me!" I leant a laugh to my own voice, which sounded strange to my own ears. The tree however seemed pleased, and joined in. "So, you shall not tell anyone else? For, I fear that if you did, they would - well, disregard me for what I did."
"No lady, of course I won't! All I know is that you must be wary - that Sheikah boy is very suspicious of you - but if you build up a trust between you travellers, they shall see that no matter what you may have been, all you are now is valiant." It looked at me with all sincerity from the big, deep eyes. "Now, you'd best go - they shall awaken soon." The eyes closed, and the tree looked for all the world like any other within the forest.
"Thank you, Deku-Sprout," I whispered, bending down on one knee to pay a final farewell to the wise deity. "Shouldst we meet again, though I doubt it, I hope it be under better circumstance." I was really beginning to get the hang of all this confusing lingo now, and I felt pretty pleased with myself.
I hopped up from the dew-laden ground after a few more seconds of homage, and went over to the other side of the clearing, where Sheik, Link and Navi were indeed waking up. Navi was already buzzing around in the air, a soft glow within the light of dawn. I had just drawn level with them, when my stomach let out a growl of protest at being empty for so long. {Hungry, I take it?} Navi's voice said lightly.
[Just a bit.] I noticed that Sheik was looking disdainful again, and Link was stifling a fit of laughter. [Do you think Sheik practices that look for me?] I thought to Navi, as I walked past them all to pick up my sword.
{Perhaps - I don't know why he doesn't like you. I guess he's just a stuck up bast-} She was cut off as Link reached out and grabbed her from the air. Her real voice came out with a stream of swearwords, and Link let go in shock. She flew directly at him, dive bombing him, and yelling, "How many times do I have to tell you? DON'T DO THAT YOU HYLIAN MORON!" 'Bam', 'whack', 'crash' were the total sounds of the next few seconds.
When I looked at the scene before me, I couldn't help but to laugh. Probably unkind, seeing as the Great Hero of Time had just been beaten up by his fairy - but it sure was funny. Link had fallen not so gracefully into a puddle of scummy water, soaking his tunic and tights, and his hat had fallen off into the disgusting water as well. Underneath it, his hair was a total mess of blonde strands, sticking straight upwards from where the hat had been.
[So that's why he wears that hat!] I thought with relish, and Navi just flew with the speed of an arrow at the unfortunate hero's nose again. [Navi! Leave him alone; he's been humiliated enough!] She stopped an inch from his nose, and he opened first one eye, then the other, to see Navi glaring at him from her hover.
"ARGH!" he tried to scramble backwards, and only managed to get more of the mud all over himself. He fell backwards, and with a satisfying 'gloop' it covered his hair with green and brown flecks. Navi followed him, never going farther than an inch from his face, and he blinked up in surprise and fear. "I give up! All right, I give up! I won't do it again!" Navi gave him one last punch on the nose, before laughing and flying over to land on my shoulder.
{Now, he's been humiliated enough,} she said in a satisfied tone, and looking at him, I had to agree. He was almost completely covered in mud, and it dripped from his hair, clothes, and the hat, which he scooped out of the puddle, and put back on his filthy hair. Only his eyes could be seen, bright chips of blue in a sea of brown.
"OK," he began in a dignified way, and both Sheik and I turned to look at the wall behind him - the sight would cause us to burst into laughter. "Where do we go next Sheik?" Sheik had to turn and look at him,
"We have to," he paused and let out a bark of laughter, "go to the, ha ha, fire, Oh Goddesses you look like an idiot!" He put his hands on his knees and started laughing hysterically. I quirked an eyebrow - the stony faced Sheik was actually laughing? That was something I didn't suspect.
Something Sheik didn't suspect was to have the mud covered Link charge at him in anger, and knock him flying - into the very same puddle Navi had forced Link into only moments before. 'Squelch' was the noise Sheik made as he landed, and there was a groan as he too fell backwards.
[I'm going to explode with laughing if this goes on much longer!] I exclaimed to Navi, holding hands over my mouth and trying to keep the laughter in. [Oh Goddesses - it's good to see him humiliated once in a while!]
Navi just laughed silently.
Sheik managed to sit back up, a little more intact than Link had been - he pulled off his facemask. It had protected most of his face, apart from a few flecks of mud on his cheeks. I noticed that he must have been older than me by far - perhaps three years, maybe even four. No wonder he didn't like me - I was probably too immature to be worth bothering about or some such.
This belief was shattered when a lump of mud caught Link in the side of the head, and splattered a little over me. I forgot about food, and turned to glare at Sheik, who was trying to smile innocently, and pointing at Link. "Oh no you don't Sheikah boy!" Link growled, launching another of those flying tackles. Sheik squeaked, and rolled out of the way - Link landed facedown in the puddle.
Navi got into the fray, and started beating up Sheik this time round. "Leave him alone, only I'm allowed to beat him up!" Sheik swatted her away, and she got even angrier - I just stood looking on, laughing my head off. I had to sink to the floor, as my knees were too weak to hold me any longer.
After a few more minutes of mad fighting, I began to get bored. I put two fingers to my mouth, and gave a loud, piercing whistle. "Play-time's over kids. World to save and all that, remember. Come on already!" All three looked up from the mud, looking for all the world like guilty children caught stealing food from the pantry or some such. Another snort escaped my mouth, and all three of the mud drenched people looked at one another, then back at me.
I began to back away, and they sprang up after me. "NO! I didn't do anything!" I was grabbed by the leg, and then one of them took my arms. Navi flew around my head, dripping mud on various parts of my face. [Guess I shouldn't have laughed?]
{It would have been a good idea not to...}
I dropped into the mud with a 'thud, squish' and "OW!" Quickly, I ducked as clods of mud were thrown at me - they covered my glasses so that the world turned suddenly a green/brown. Still laughing, I managed to haul myself out of the puddle, drenched and stinking of stale water. I scraped the mud from my glasses with my fingers, and gained a streaky view of the world.
"Well, that was odd," I said musingly, before walking to the entrance to the Kokiri village. At each step, I heard a 'squelch, glomp, thud', and grinned as I made my slow progress. Link and Sheik caught up behind me, the effect of 'squelch, glomp, thud' not sounding half as good as in slow motion. Sheik had returned his facemask to his face, and was glaring seriously once again - which must be quite hard when you've been turned into a mud...thing.
"Umm - won't we scare the Kokiri like this?" I asked Link, who looked down at himself, then Sheik, then me.
"Uh - good point - we should find somewhere to get this stuff off. Come on, I know of a place in the Lost Woods."
"But we'll have to go through the town to get there!" Sheik pointed out, and I nodded. Link however, shook his head.
"There is more than one entrance to a forest - come on, follow me." He turned around, and with a 'squelch, glomp, thud', all three of us set of to look for somewhere to rid ourselves of mud. Every so often, there was a little 'splat' as drops of mud fell off Navi. All in all, we made an interesting procession - I began to wonder what tricks the powers were playing on me.
Fun, laughter - fellow travellers even, on a mission? None of these were normal factors in the places to which I was usually sent. I would ask Loki when I next conversed with him - which, if my calculations were correct, would be within the next two days...
*
Again, Link knew exactly where he was going, and within about twenty minutes, we had reached the clear pool and small stream he had talked about. The mud was beginning to dry in my hair, and I ran a hand through it, raking clods of earth out, and wincing as I tugged at the hair. Looking around, I could see a conveniently placed boulder a few yards away, which obscured the stream as it rounded the bend.
In an unspoken decision, the other three stayed in the main stream, whilst I walked to the part within the shadow of the boulder. There, I got rid of my stained tunic and trousers, but left the shorts and small top I was wearing underneath on. I unclipped my sword, and put it on top of the boulder along with my pack. Then, I ran and canon-balled into the water.
It - was - freezing. I came back up with a gasp, and floated for a few instants. It wasn't likely to get warmer, so I ducked under again, and quickly rubbed the dirt from my hair and face. Then, I reached out and got my mud-stained clothes, and dunked them into the water as well, to wash away all of the brown stains.
When I had eventually removed the mud from both my clothes, and myself, I climbed back out of the stream, and stood behind the boulder to get dressed. I suddenly remembered the clothes Eloise had given me, and looking around, I saw that I had put the pack with them in on top of the boulder. I reached up and got it, and pulled out the red tunic - Sheik had said something about fire after all.
I pulled the tunic-trouser set on, wrung out my hair as best I could, then put the wet clothes in the pack. I picked up my sword and placed it once more on my back. "Is it safe for me to come out?" I called out to the other two, who called back the affirmative. I walked out, to see both of them, soaking wet, but mostly mud less.
"Hey, where'd you get that from?" Link asked, looking jealously at my dry clothes.
"I've been carrying around spares in my pack," I answered simply. "So, Sheik, you said something about fire earlier - the Fire Temple you mean?" He nodded, and then shook his head from side to side, letting out a spray of water from his hair. Link wiped a few drops of water from his face, but didn't dare start up another fight after I glared at him warningly.
"Well, I guess we'd better make our way to Death Mountain then, right Sheik?" Link asked, and Sheik nodded, unwinding the dripping facemask from around his head and stuffing it into his pocket. They both picked up their weapons and packs of provisions, and Link led us out of the forest into the village.
All around, Kokiri were laughing happily, and I saw Link close his eyes and smile, listening to the laughs. [He missed this place a lot, didn't he?] I asked Navi softly.
{Yes - and now he knows he can't live here anymore.}
[Poor Link...]
He opened his over-bright eyes, and looked around at us both. "Do you think we could stop here, just for a while?"
"No, we have to-" Sheik began, and I clamped a hand over his mouth.
"Of course you can," I said, and then took my hand off Sheik's mouth, which was set in a scowl. Link had already run happily down the hill, and had been surrounded by the cheerful Kokiri, and I was able to hiss angrily at Sheik. "Look, you stuck up, insensitive idiot, he hasn't been here in seven years, and for all he knows, he may never be able to set foot here again! So, for Goddesses' sakes, let him have a few hours!"
His eyes widened at my sudden outburst, and I coughed slightly, looking down at the floor and feeling embarrassed. "Ok," I looked up, hardly able to believe it. I thought a saw a small smile, but it was replaced with a scowl quickly enough. "But no more than a few hours, understand?" I nodded, and he whirled away to go and sit moodily in some shadowy place. "We have got evil to fight, you know!"
Navi flew up at that point, just as I mimicked quietly, "We have got evil to fight, you know! Eurgh, stupid git!" I heard Navi titter, and turned around.
"I take it you just had another fight with him, huh?"
"Yeah. Oh, I didn't think anyone could ever annoy me this much - but - that - thing that dares to call himself a 'noble Sheikah warrior' - Eurgh! He wasn't even going to let Link stay here for a few hours before leaving," I spat angrily, and Navi backed up. "Oh, sorry - I suppose I'm just getting too worked up over this...but still." I glanced over my shoulder to where Sheik sat, meditating once more, and glowered at him.
When I turned back, Navi had been joined by Link and a whole tide of small, smiling Kokiri faces. "I thought you might like to meet everyone," he whispered, and looked a little apologetic. "They sure are keen to meet you anyway!" I just smiled, and sat down on the grass, signalling the young people to do so as well.
"What's her name, Mr. Link?" a young boy with a shock of silver-blond hair asked, tugging on Link's tunic.
"Blaise."
"How come you don't have a fairy?" another asked me directly.
"Because I'm not a Kokiri," I answered, but wasn't able to explain as a tide of questions washed over me.
"Where'd you get those funny clothes, huh?"
"I was given them."
Another question. "Why are you wearing glasses, can't you see good?"
"They stop too much light getting to my eyes."
And another one, "Why do you have a sword?"
"So I can fight when I need to."
"Do you like bunny rabbits?"
"Uhhh..."
And so it went on, me answering the questions as rapidly as they came. Finally, they seemed to grow bored of pestering both Link and I, and went to throng around Sheik - who looked none too happy with the situation. Desperately, he mouthed over to us 'Help me!'
But, considering earlier events, I just turned away and went to sit alone by the small shop, dangling my feet from one of the platforms into the warm water of the pool. Link stayed behind, and I could hear his laughter wafting over as he watched Sheik with the Kokiri.
I stared down at the water in the pool, thinking how small my feet looked underwater. I pulled them out and curled them up under me, still gazing into the water. A small breeze made ripples on the surface, and I watched, fascinated, as they crept out in ever largening circles. They were strangely beautiful in the morning light, a few sparkles from the sun across them. I watched - and waited for the other two to decide it was time to leave.
It was so peaceful - so quiet. I was not used to so much quiet for so long. Even the laughter seemed to be dying away from my hearing. I realised, all too late, that I had drawn myself into a trance. I was so hungry, that my brain was struggling to try and pull me out. I saw the tide of blood - the scarlet, the flashes of silver - his eyes, dead, lifeless. I saw the vermilion pool spreading around his white clothed figure, and I felt the realisation that I had been tricked.
Then, with a gasp, I wrenched myself out of the memory. "No," I mumbled, shaking. I wrapped my arms around myself, around my depleted stomach, and my weary body, and put my head in my arms. Glad of the glasses I wore, I wept for a little. When I heard the heavy footsteps of Link, and the soft footsteps of Sheik approaching, I quickly lifted up my glasses, wiped the tears from my face, and put them back.
"Have fun with the twenty questions?" I asked brightly.
"More like two hundred - Eurgh, I hate kids!" Link laughed, and I managed a watery smile. Looking at Sheik - the eyes - they reminded me so much. My stomach piped up again, and this time, I really did manage to smile. Of all the times it could have chosen to make a sound, this was probably the best.
"I see you're hungry!" Link observed. He took out his wallet, and looked inside. "Well, I think I've got more than enough to buy us all something from the shop." He pulled out a purple rupee - that was fifty rupees! He sure did have more than enough. He walked off into the small shop, and came back out a few moments later with a couple of loaves of bread and three apples to share between us.
I ate quickly, but had to give up after a few mouthfuls. My stomach had shrunk significantly, and I knew from experience that I'd have to readjust to the amount of food I was used to slowly. Time before, I had not had a pleasant few days after no food...I picked up the apple, and tucked into it after a few minutes. Then, Sheik stood up, and dusted himself off of imaginary crumbs.
"Come on, we really have to get going now," he urged, and Link swallowed his last mouthful of bread.
"All right, I'm coming!" he grumbled, picking up all his equipment which he had strewn all over the ground. Sheik made for the exit into the field; I waited by Link for him to start moving, and then fell into my place at the rear of the group.
{We're off to kill some bad guys, some very bad guys indeed!} Navi sang, to a tune I had heard on some film or other. 'The Wizard of Zo' or something like that... I laughed weakly.
[Navi, do you think you can keep your channel closed for a bit? I'm feeling a bit weird.] She took the hint, and I heard a faint sound of slamming as she shut her internal door. I did the same, and then walked along behind the three of them, my mind and thoughts filled with the past. The trance had pulled up so much - damn ripples...
~ I saw David's laughing face as he swung me around in the dappled light of the hallway. I laughed merrily with him, knowing that he was unaware of the deceit I played. I felt guilty of course - but what I would get in return would be so much to me. And Diabola only wanted to talk to him after all! So, when he put me down, I took him by his long sleeve, and led him out into the courtyard.
We passed Loki, and I waved, grinning, warm inside and out from the sunlit day. David's white robes reflected the light, and he looked every inch how a master angel should. Even his wings were pristine white, whereas mine were a mottled grey, coming from a mixture of my mother's black and father's white. Mother - father.
How I missed them; but not for long. They, and my older brother, Tarin, would be returned to me soon. And all for helping the Diabola lady to meet David.
So, skipping ahead of David, still clutching the sleeve of his robe, I smiled. The sunlight bathed me, warmed me through and through. David's friendly, guiding hand reached out, and was warm against my shoulder. So much life, so much love conveyed in one simple wink as he turned around to blow a farewell kiss to Loki. He seemed happy to stand there with me, humour me in my wishes.
So, I called out the words I had rehearsed over and over, and Diabola appeared. When she would not show me my family first, I stood in the way of David. The patter of Loki's feet was clear behind me, and I turned around to peer towards him. There came the fatal red flash - the backwash knocked me flying backwards; backwards into David.
He screamed.
He wasn't warm anymore - his eye didn't drop in that friendly wink. They were like glass that had not been cleaned for years - dull - lifeless.
And that red pool that stained his robes, that stained him. The red pool, which was reflected ten fold times in the tear filled eyes of Loki. The red pool, which was added to when he turned upon me in his rage.
The scream, which mingled with the dying echoes of David's own. And then, pain, burning, unimaginable pain.
And then - blackness.
Why didn't he kill me. I wish to all the powers that he had. Why didn't he just let me die, let me suffer the same pain, the same horror which I inflicted on David.
Warm, kind David, who was so cold now - who couldn't laugh anymore. Loki shut his eyes, and picked me up from the floor.
I left my wings behind that day - my left palm bled with the brand of David. My body wept blood, sold itself through feathers and tears, in a bid to bring him back.
It did not work.
Why did he not kill me? ~
The trance left me as we were walking up the steps of Kakariko. I felt my cheeks with fingers that had become numb from being clenched at my sides. Dry - I had lost all the tears so long ago - I was glad I had not shed any. It would not do to crumble now; this world needed me to be strong.
~*~*~*~
Eloise was happy enough to see us again. She took in the bedraggled appearance of the other two, and tutted disapprovingly. "You'll catch your deaths like that - here, I'll take these and wash them for you. There should be some clothes in the front room - I've been making them for the shop, but it seems you two need them more urgently." She ushered them through, leaving me standing alone in the hallway. She was back soon enough however, and walked around me, scrutinizing the tunic and trousers I wore.
"Hmm - they're a bit big for you, aren't they?" She said, pulling at the excess material at the bottom of the trousers, and around my midriff. I shrugged; I was used to it. I had accepted long ago that I would probably never get clothes that fitted me right. "Well, I could take those trousers up for you - and the tunic could do with a little taking in." I shook my head at this.
"No, the tunic's fine!" She looked at me in surprise, and I wrapped my arms around me self-consciously. She seemed to understand, and nodded.
"Ah, I see - well, the least I can do is see to those trousers, yes? And those other ones I gave you - they're all the same size." I handed her my pack, out of which tumbled the sodden clothes from before. "Oh dear - well, at least you had the sense to take extras I suppose. I'll just go put these to soak." She hurried away, and I sighed in a semi-contented way. Back to this little haven for a while, surrounded by the bustling way of this woman, there was no way I could go into another trance.
Soon enough, she came back, and with a quick smile, which she flashed my way, she knocked on the door to the front room. "Can I have those filthy garments please?" One of them stuck their hand out the door, holding a fistful of green and blue material, and she took it. "Thank you," she was about to close the door, when a speeding ball of light flew through it.
"ARGH! Unclean, unclean! I never want to see that again!" Navi shrieked, buzzing around and looking flustered. I tittered, and she slowly calmed down. Eloise put our clothes in to soak, and the came back once again, holding a tape measure. I climbed up onto the stool she motioned to, and she held the tape measure up to the trousers I was wearing.
"Ah - three inches to come off I should think," she muttered, and I climbed back down. "No, dear - just stay there - I need to have your measurements in case you need any more clothes."
"No, I'll be fine with what I have," I protested, but she would have none of that. So, I stood resignedly on the stool, whilst she wrapped the tape measure around my waist, hips, measured my legs and so on, writing down each measurement in a small notebook.
About quarter of an hour later, I was ready to drop off the stool. Finally, she let me down, and went to hammer on the door to the front room. "Are you boys done yet?" They answered the affirmative, and both of them came out, looking a lot better than they had earlier. For one thing, they were both clean and dry, and another, they were wearing clean clothes. "Ah, good - now, I'll find you something to eat shall I?"
She didn't wait for an answer, and went off to the kitchen, leaving Navi, Sheik, Link and I, standing (and hovering) awkwardly in the hallway between the front room and the lounge. "Uh...shall we sit or something?" I suggested, and we all sat down in the, what seemed to us, luxuriantly soft seats. It was so warm in the house - I felt calm again, and even the trance was beginning to fade away from my memory.
Eloise at last came back in with some food, and we all dug into it gratefully. She, however, rushed around all over the place, cleaning this, dusting that, sewing this, cutting that. I felt tired just watching the kind woman doing all that work and with so much energy! The food made me drowsy, and it did the same to the boys. My head kept dropping, and I had to keep snapping up to sit straight again, so that my glasses wouldn't fall off.
Eloise, passing the door as she hurried through the hallway, looked in and saw us in our weary stupors. She came in, and scolded us for staying up so late, before leading us up the stairs to the very same rooms we had stayed in the last time. Sheik peeled off at the first door, Link at the second, and then I entered the room at the end. It looked pretty much the same, and I placed my sword within the wardrobe where it had been put the last time.
Then, not bothering to get undressed, I fell onto the bed, and was out like a light.
~*~*~*~
Someone shaking my shoulder awoke me. I squinted through my eyelashes, and saw that it was nighttime, so I opened them fully, knowing my eyes wouldn't be seen. "What in all demons is it?" I grumbled, shrugging the hand off my shoulders. Link's voice drifted to me in a panicked whisper, over the sudden sounds of screaming which filtered in through the closed shutters,
"He is here - Ganondorf. Come, Sheik is already gone to help make a stand against him. He has no others with him, but he could still do a lot of damage alone." I heaved myself off the bed, glad now that I had not bothered to undress, and wrenched open the wardrobe.
"My sword!" I gasped, as I found it missing. Then, I felt the cool hilt that I knew so well shoved into my hand. "Thanks," I breathed, and then dived back to the table beside the bed to collect my glasses. I jammed them on, telling by the light through the slats of the shutters that the moon was bright. Then, Link and I quickly exited the house, to see that the outside, which even so late at night would still have a bustle of folk, completely empty apart from a small few.
I saw shadows running in a panic from a line of people holding weapons, and hide within their houses. One man pulled at me, calling, "Get in your house, hide lady, hide!" I pushed him away, and marched forward purposefully. The line of defenders stood in the main field of the town, before the gate.
Some held long staffs of wood, some rusty old swords, and seeing a glitter of silver, I was able to pick out Sheik. He seemed to have the only respectable weapon within the whole group - which I noticed was comprised of all men. Caring not, I lumbered over; to see that great dark shadow I had met the first day. Again, a shiver as I felt his presence wash over me, and I raised my weapon also.
"I see you need women to help you fight now," he said disdainfully, and I scowled up at the shadow stained face. "Ah, you again lady?" he asked, a tinge of surprise in his voice.
"Me, 'Sire'," I said mockingly, and Sheik looked at me as though I were crazy. Some of the defenders were backing away, hissing about the 'crazy girl'. I stood my ground, and a low chuckle came through the chill air. "Yes, laugh - you may as well - you'll be quite dead soon enough." I wished I did not sound so unsure about that - I wished I could get rid of the waver that made me sound as if I cared.
"How is that gentle lady?" he was climbing down from his horse, and the defenders, including Sheik and Link let out a gasp, and backed up even more. I stood my ground, the weapon seeming heavy in my hand. For some unexplainable reason, I did not wish to spill blood now - not his. I did not want to see those dark eyes loose that glitter of mischief. [Damn him - this must be some spell.] I gave myself the same mental slap I had given the first time.
He stopped five paces before me, and I had to tilt my head to look up at his tall frame. Again he asked, "How is it that I shall be dead, lady?" I blinked, then smirked,
"Now, that would spoil the surprise, wouldn't it?" I said in a strained voice. His chuckle came again, like steel through the air, striking me down as easily as a weapon would have. I felt paralysed by the sound, and my eyes opened wide in terror as he began to advance.
I was able to un stick my feet from the ground when he reached two paces, and took a large one back, raising my sword again. He reached out a great arm, and swept it aside. A few drops of blood spattered the floor, and he cursed loudly. Then, he backed away. "Well, lady, it looks as though we shall all have to wait for my surprise killing, shan't we?" he said, his low voice mocking.
He bowed his farewell, and the defenders were in stunned silence. "Coward," I muttered, and he looked up, his hood falling down. He quirked an eyebrow, and smirked,
"No - I just call it a calculated withdrawal. Oh, and your sword is kept well to cut through gauntlets, I praise you for that, lady." With that, he took his horse by the reins and strode off - no one dared to speak, for fear he would unleash his anger upon the village after all. When his shadowy figure had disappeared around the turn in the steps, Sheik walked up to me, looking livid.
"You stupid little girl!" he spat, and I felt a stab of shock at the ferocity in his voice. "You could have got everyone here killed with your little game!" He took me by the shoulders so I could not look away. Link hovered in the background, looking like he wanted to intervene, but didn't dare. Sheik's face was ashen with anger, and his voice was terrible. "If you ever pull something like that, I swear I shall kill you!"
He shoved hard, and I fell backwards onto the ground. "Sheik!" Link exclaimed, looking in shock from where I was on the floor, to the glowering Sheikah. "What by the Goddesses do you think you're doing?" he asked, trying to get Sheik to look at him. Sheik let out an angry growl, and Link backed away.
"You saw what the fool did - she could have had the whole village destroyed!" he shouted. Pushing my hair out of the way, I could see that the majority of the defenders seemed to agree. They were all staring at me, fingering their makeshift weapons lovingly. I shivered, and looked desperately at Link. He looked as afraid as I felt; not even he could take on the angry group alone.
There was a sudden yell of, "Get out of my way, angry fairy coming through!" And, who should appear with the best timing in the world, but Navi? The defender's eyes were wide, and they yelled and ran away, never having seen a fairy before. Sheik still held his scimitars tightly in his hands. "Link, you shut me in the room you idiot! I had to squeeze out of the crack under the door. What if you had been hurt? I wouldn't have been there to heal you, silly!" She landed on his shoulder, oblivious to what had just happened.
[Navi. You do realise that Ganondorf was just here, and I think that Sheik now wants to kill me, right?]
{What? When did that happen?}
[Just now - but I think I'll have to fill you in on it later,] I thought hurriedly.
Sheik was looking down at me with contempt, swinging his weapons almost casually as he came towards me. I scrambled backwards, until I came into contact with the cliff that stood over one side of the field. He crouched down, scimitars pointing at me. Link followed him, and caught him on the arm.
Sheik shook him off, and then glared at me. "I don't know what it is, but there's something about you that's not right - and I will find out what it is. And when I do," he pushed the cold metal of one of his curved swords against my throat, and I closed my eyes.
Then, there was a rustling sound, and he stood up. "I'm going to sleep - what about you hero? She'll be fine - whatever happens to her doesn't matter," he spat on the ground next to me. I blinked in surprise to find myself still alive. Sheik's figure retreated, and Link moved over to me.
"Are you all right?" he asked.
[Dumb question...] I thought sarcastically, but there was only a stunned silence from Navi. Link was staring at me worriedly, so I had to answer. "Yeah - whatever jumped up his ass, I hope I never meet it," I quipped, and he managed a small grin.
"I don't know what's wrong with him - he seemed OK when I met him as a kid."
"I think he just has a grudge against me is all," I said, managing a very convincing offhand tone. He nodded pensively.
"I'll talk to him - maybe beat him up and knock some sense into him," he said, and then stood up. "I'm heading to go back to sleep - you?"
"I'll stay out here for a while," I answered.
"You sure? You want me to stay for a while?"
"No, go sleep, you need it." He walked off with Navi, and I dropped my eyes to stare at the floor. So much for a rest...
"I'll stay with you," I looked up to see Navi fluttering in front of me. I smiled weakly, and held out my right hand, palm upwards so she could land on it. "Sheik is such a jerk - ppht, I think he needs to be taken down a peg or two."
"He scared me," I admitted, and felt a great tide of delayed fright run through me. I shuddered - how was it I felt so little fear for whom I was supposed to fear, but for one of my allies, I could hardly bear to walk near him? I shuddered, and it was not just from cold. "Hmm - I'm not used to being scared," I laughed softly. "I was always taught to use my fear to an advantage in battle. But I'm not planning to fight with an ally."
"Couldn't you make an exception?" Navi asked, a little mischief in her voice. "I bet you could beat him into the ground!" I grinned and shook my head at the fairy's craziness. "No, really; he's just a coward pretending to be brave. At least you can admit when you're scared."
"Wise words Navi," I nodded. A yawn washed over me. "Maybe I'll just sleep in that tree," I said, gesturing to the tree that stood in the middle of the main town field. Navi's small face looked up at me with worry, and I plastered a painful smile on my face. She looked so much like mother; it was uncanny. No, the trance wasn't going to hit now! I shook my head slightly. "Go on Navi, you're meant to be looking after Link, remember?" I rose my palm, and she lifted off.
"All right. But, if you need me-"
"I know where you are," I finished for her. "Go!" She did, flying off, and through the open window of Eloise's house on the first floor. I let the last defence down, and let the shaking take over my whole body, shivering desperately as the full impact of what had just happened in the last few minutes came to me.
I went to the tree as I had said I would, but there was no way I was going to sleep now. Sitting high up in the branches, I was able to gaze across a small part of Hyrule field. Far away, I could see the glowing lamps at the gate to the Castle Town. I stared blankly at the flickering lights, letting go of the present.
My mind was floating - I let go, let go of it all.
*
I had my eyes closed, and was listening to the quiet sounds of the town, when there was the sound of wing beats next to me. I opened my eyes to see the wide obsidian ones of Loki. "You're early," I pointed out, wiping my wet face on my sleeve. He just sighed. He sat on the branch next to me, and looked with that piercing gaze at me. His black wings made a dark cut out of starless sky, and I shivered some more. "He suspects."
"Yes; I thought that he might. They have a rudimentary sixth sense, and giving it so much stimuli at once is making him experience mood swings. I'm afraid it can't be remedied until he proves himself right. Which, of course, he won't get the chance to do, will he?" He looked at me sharply.
"Of course not. But; I was afraid. That is not something that happens to me often."
"He has a violent temper - all his kind do. You must do your best not to spark it off."
"I wasn't trying to spark it off in the first place!" I said indignantly, and he let out another of his sighs.
"I never said you were, I'm just warning you child." He reached out and took my left palm, turning it so that the palm faced upwards. He began to trace the mark there - David's mark. "It is the same temper which made me do this," he said ruefully. I could feel his own self-hatred.
"You had every right," I reached up to touch his cheek, but he pulled back, and I dropped my hand. I bit my lip; I had almost been able to comfort him this time. Of course, I had no right to do so; I was the cause of his pain. "You had every right," I repeated. "You should have killed me..."
He looked up. "I do not work like that, you well know!" I nodded submissively, tears brimming over my eyes. I had worked like that one time, and resulted in the death of David...David. They ran rivers down my face. I sniffed loudly, and was surprised when Loki reached out and wiped the tears from my cheeks. I looked up, and thought I detected some quickly masked softness.
"What is it?" I always knew when something bothered him.
"The council - they say they want to oversee your case when you return." This hit me like a sledgehammer.
"No," I whispered, and that hand reached out again, wiping away new tears. I closed my eyes and savoured the touch of old times before it ended abruptly.
"I came to warn you; Lucifer will be standing." That cut me off mid-sob.
"Lucifer? NO!" this time I yelled it out, jumping up and almost falling off the branch altogether.
"Yes," he pulled me back into a sitting position. "And he is one of the ancients - there is no way he can be contended."
"You're a master angel! All it takes is two to overrule him!"
"Yes, well my second isn't around, is he?" he barked, wrapping the hand that had so recently been soft around my arm harshly. "And you know why that is, little traitor," he hissed into my ear, before letting go of my arm. I nodded ashamedly. "Well, I have warned you. Be wary, be careful, and do not give the Sheikah anything more to be suspicious about." He climbed off the branch and hovered so that his dark eyes were level with mine.
"I will do all that I can to keep you from Lucifer; I may not be fond of you, but I would not see you dragged there..." he stared past me.
"The house of courtesans," I hiccupped fearfully.
"As I said, I shall fight the case. You are prepared at least. They are bound to do a series of warrior tests when you return. Make sure you don't get rusty." And with that, he was gone.
[Powers, how is it that everything bad seems to happen at once?] I though desperately, but there was no answer. I didn't expect one.
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
OOOOOH! Sheik went all mega bitch trip there. A confrontation in which Sheik goes psycho - never thought I'd see the day when I wrote one of those.
Sheik: HEY! I'm not a psycho - I just have a lot of invisible friends is all!
Soda: O.O How'd you get out of the story?
Sheik: You published my book remember? So now I can buzz around and annoy you about something else.
Soda: Oh, OK. Don't worry; this is one of your alternate personalities in another reality. [Nods.]
Sheik: Wha...? [Looks confused.]
Soda: [Pats Sheik on the head.] Don't worry hun. [Bags him, and puts the struggling sack into the cupboard labelled 'muses and other various'.] Now that he's gone, I can get on with the end rant.
The plot is confusing - I know - but I also happen to know where it's going. You'll understand about the council later on - for now, you just need to keep it rattling around in the back of your head. For now, we have four more temples to go through, so you don't need to worry about it for at least four chapters.
Until next time, hope you aren't too confused (I am! I don't understand my plot bunnies, even though I know where they're taking me!)
Thanks for reading, and it's goodbye from me [the cupboard explodes outwards, and about a hundred muses and various other people appear.]
AND GOODBYE FROM US!
~~~Care of-Soda~~~
Review...you know you can't help yourself [swings a pocket watch] You will review...you will review...you will review...you will review...you will review...you will review!
[Wonders if it will work...]
