Repaying a Debt
Disclaimer: My name isn't Miyamoto - you figure it out.
Now, in the last chapter, I just totally went off the rails. All that forced civility just reminded me of the way I am to a particular guy at school. If he touches me again, I'll...! [Calms down] Enough of the annoyances of hormonally driven teenage boys. Lets get back to the annoyances of hormonally driven full grown men!
Ganondorf: -_- It's evil that drives me, not hormones damn you!
Soda: [Pats his knee] of course dear, of course.
Ganondorf: It is! [Breaks down into floods of tears] It's just so hard being evil all the time. [Collapses and sobs on Soda's shoulders]
Soda: O.o [Pats his shoulder sympathetically] Uh - someone. Anyone? Hello? Does anyone know how to deal with a crying evil guy?
[Silence]
Soda: Damn
Well, anyway, we saw Ganondorf carry off Alexis in a kind of sack of potatoes style. And, she even tried to stab him, but it didn't work!
Ganondorf: ^_^ I'm so devious! [Wipes tears away]
Soda: ..Yes... well, let's just see what the muses say will happen today when I start to type. Oh boy, this is going to be interesting...
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
[Damn it, why does he have to wear all this armour?] I thought as the metal of his shoulder plate dug into my stomach. "This isn't very comfortable you know!" I yelled into the middle of his back. I could hear a small derisive laugh over the din of hoof beats as his men rode off, and then he shrugged, making the metal plate dig in some more. "Ow! Dammit!" He laughed again, and cut a clean swathe through the crowd as he made for a huge midnight black horse. [Not good].
There was a sudden shocking silence in the commotion, and Ganondorf stopped abruptly. I twisted my head to try to see why. But, the skirt of the infernal dress I was wearing was in the way. "Ah - good evening," he said suavely, and his grip on me loosened so much that I came crashing down to the floor, headfirst behind him. I managed to turn the fall into a semi- graceful tumble, and got as far away from him as I could.
Looking around his legs, I saw a sight which both gladdened and sickened me. Link, Sheik and Navi stood there, defiant against this great dark man. But Sheik's chest was bleeding from multiple cuts, and Link's left arm was more than obviously broken. Navi's light was all but gone, and she hovered uncertainly, what little light left in her flashing on and off intermittently. {Blaise} her voice was cracked and weary, but she still sounded happy enough to see me.
[Navi, what happened?]
{The guardian - a lot stronger than we anticipated.} Was her simple answer, before she floated gently to the ground, and lay there completely still.
"Ge-get out of here," Link stuttered, coughing tiredly, and steadying the even paler than usual Sheik with his good arm. "You're not wanted." Ganondorf was silent and still as Navi who lay on the floor. All that moved were the fingers on his left hand, which scrabbled at the air, as though trying to gain purchase on nothing.
"What are you waiting for?" Sheik asked, voice rough as sandpaper. "It's obvious that these people don't wish you here. So - so - just le-leave!" Sheik's chest rose and fell with the strain of getting these words out.
"What if I don't wish to leave?" Ganondorf finally said, his tone level and giving away nothing.
"It's not your choice to make," Link answered forcefully. His right arm muscles were flexing, and I noticed that he had the Master Sword held there. Sword. That's it, the Master Sword, that's what I needed! It took all my resolve to stand up again from the floor, and confront the man again. Both men really - Sheik and Ganondorf.
It felt as though I were moving in a dream - I didn't even once stumble on my dress as I wheeled around the tall Gerudo, and went to take my place next to the Hero of Time, Sheik of the Sheikah, and Navi the fairy.
I scooped her up off the ground, and whispered to her, "We'll get you to a fountain soon - hang on." A little sound of acknowledgment, and then I took the Master Sword from an unresisting Link, and put Navi in the open palm instead. All this had been backed by complete silence from the crowd, from Ganondorf, and from my fellow travellers. I gripped the hilt of the Master Sword, and turned to look up at the Gerudo man with contempt.
"Leave. Now." I said simply. The blade's magic was obvious as it ran over my old scars, and tingled across my skin. It was the most beautiful feeling I'd felt for years. Ganondorf looked down at me with those dark, knowledgeable eyes. I stared back angrily - the rage I'd been bottling up for so long was begging to be let out. He blinked, and the moment was broken, though the silence remained there, tangibly thick in the air.
A few more seconds, and he bowed his head stiffly, before turning, and raising a hand high above his head. The men of his that remained dropped whatever they'd been planning to take, and climbed upon their horses. He signalled with two fingers that they ride off, and hoof beats rang in the garden. The Master Sword was heavy in my hands, and I was willing to bet that everyone standing around could see my arms shaking from the effort to hold it up.
He reached out, and I swung it upwards, muscles screaming in protest, to ward him off. A scowl crossed his face, and he looked as though he was contemplating reaching for a weapon. Then, he looked into my eyes, and must have seen the absolute hate I felt then for him. I detested him - if he gave me an excuse I would have killed him straight away. He dropped his hands, and backed away.
With a thud, he dropped into the saddle of his horse. He took up the reins, and wheeled the creature about. Without a glance back, he galloped off. I dropped the sword to the ground, muscles at last giving way, and turned to the other three. Link smiled weakly, and Navi glowed a little from where she sat in his palm. Sheik however, was so pale now. Pale as the moon above - and his lips were beginning to turn a worrying blue.
"Xenia?" I called hopefully into the crowd, and there she was, bruised across the cheek, but other than that perfectly fine. I gestured to Sheik, and she understood. With a nod, a few people came out of the crowd to help the Hero, the Sheikah, and the fairy inside. I backed away from the iridescent firelight, to the stretch of trees that Quentin and his friend has fled into earlier. Lifting the skirt of my dress up, I began to walk in no particular path, just ever forwards, always away from the light.
A few yards into the eerie dappled darkness of the trees, I caught a glimpse of movement. A second later, Quentin stumbled out of the greenery, a huge grin on his face. "Thank Goddesses you're alright! They gone yet?" his eyes flickered to the garden, which was a mere patch of light in the distance.
"How dare you even ask that?" I said, my voice shaking in anger. He tilted his head to one side in confusement.
"I only asked you a question - sheesh, chill!"
" 'Chill'? I'll give you chill you bloody coward - there are at least a dozen girls who may not live to see the next full moon thanks to you." I slapped him cleanly across the cheek, snapping his head to the side. "If I see you again, it'll be too soon," I said, striding past him.
"Hey, you can't go in there, it's dangerous!" he said catching my arm. I shrugged his hand off viciously.
"I'll take my chances thanks."
*
Tears streaked down my face, blurring my vision, and I tripped over many times. The dress was probably ruined beyond repair now, but I wasn't really worried about that. I wanted to find a place where no one would find me, and sit there and hopefully I'd die somehow. I was so useless. "I couldn't even help them in that damned Temple, and all because of some stupid memories!" I exclaimed to the night, and an owl rose from a near branch, hooting in annoyance at being disturbed in the hunt.
I tripped over for the umpteenth time, and didn't bother to get up. I wasn't any good to anybody. [Please, someone just come and kill me now.] I beat my fists against the leaf-strewn ground, wanting to make the ground open and swallow me up. No such luck.
"Little one! Stop it this instant!" came a fervent voice, and a pair of gentle hands grabbed me by the wrists. They set me on my feet again, and I found myself looking up at Loki.
[I can't take much more of this!] I thought desperately as I looked at him. Hell, I knew he hated me already, so why was I checking? Rational thought had run away from me long ago, and I just stood there, looking at the bare skin at his neck, tears running their course, and sniffing every once in a while.
"Oh Demons little one," Loki sat down on the floor, and pulled me onto his lap, hugging me warmly. "It's been a rough few weeks for us all," he whispered, rocking me like a small child. Just how he used to. "I'm so sorry. So sorry. For it all..." he trailed off.
"I know," I hiccupped, and managed to stem the flow of tears a little.
"The council, they-"
"Are going to overview the case against me again," I guessed, and his arms tensed.
"How did you-?"
"I had a dream vision of it," I said simply, and he nodded his understanding.
"I won't let anything happen to you. I promise!" He hugged me closer, but I knew his promise was an empty one. Nobody won against Lucifer - not even Loki, though I had no doubt he'd do anything in his power to try. The tears came and swept me away again. A drop of water landed on my shoulder, and I knew that Loki was crying as well. "Oh, if David could see me now," he stammered.
"He'd tell you to stop blubbering and give him a hug I'd bet," I said. I was treading dangerous ground, but I just wasn't thinking straight as it was. Instead of exploding, Loki just agreed,
"Aye - what a pair of fools we are." I choked out a laugh, and caught the sight of a smile on his face. We hugged even more fiercely, but the tears were kept at bay for now. "You should probably go back to your fellow travellers," Loki finally said, loosening his grip.
"Oh Goddesses! I almost forgot - I hope Sheik's all right," I said, springing up.
"He's fine," Loki assured me. "And we will be too - you'll see." One last hug was shared, and then he disappeared from sight.
"I hope you're right," I said to the spot where he had been standing, and then turned towards the general direction of Kakariko. No doubt Eloise would be fretting over where I was - though as for the others - I wasn't sure if they'd care so much.
*
I walked through the now empty garden. The moon was getting low, and the sky was turning a pre-dawn grey. I'd been away for a lot longer than I'd thought it seemed. The bonfire was burning low, only a few embers flaring up every now and again. I walked carefully around it, and to the back door of the house. It was still open, the panes of glass in it having been smashed in earlier. I walked through and into the kitchen.
Voice drifted from along the hall, one of which I recognised to be Quentin's. "She just slapped me like, and then wandered off! I'm not a bloody child minder!"
"So, you let an unarmed girl go out into the forest alone at night?" asked a low voice, which I could now tell was Xenia's.
"She's got two bloody arms - that's enough!" Quentin replied, using a slight wit which you wouldn't tell he had from looking at him.
"Yes, hilarious Quentin," Xenia retorted sarcastically. "You're going back out there to find her. I thought all you Hylian men were meant to be brave, but you've proved the principle wrong indeed!" I pushed open the door into the hall, and both of them stared at me in surprise. Then Xenia rushed over, and put a hand on my forehead. Then, she turned, and said to Quentin, "You're just bloody lucky her fever hasn't come back. I'd have killed you, you silly little boy!"
Quentin just spat on the thickly carpeted floor, and stormed up the sweeping staircase. "How are they?" I asked, and she knew immediately whom I meant.
"Sleeping at the moment. It's just lucky I've been making so many red potions recently. The man in green - Link is it?" I nodded. "Yes - well, Link's arm will need to be kept in a sling for a few days, and I'd advise that Sheik didn't move around for a while. The fairy however - I'm not sure. She's asleep. I've never treated one before."
"That's all right - I think I know how to help her," I said, a vague plan forming in my head. Xenia nodded, and then led me to where the three were sleeping. She opened the door to let me in, and then closed it again behind me with a soft click.
I looked first to Link, who was sleeping peacefully, his bandaged arm being held up by a piece of bandage strung from a winch. Sheik was in the bed by the window, new, clean bandages covering his mutilated torso. He turned over and winced, but didn't wake up. I couldn't see Navi anywhere; everywhere I looked was as dark as the next place. I was beginning to fear that her light had gone out for good, when I saw the dimmest of glows from Link's hat.
"Navi?" I called softly, bending down to look into the hat's interior.
"Mmm?" a small voice answered, and I saw a ruffled looking head move to look up at me. "Blaise - earlier. You were - amazing."
"Thank you," I smiled, then reached out to pick her up. I held her in my cupped palms, and looked down. Her skin was almost dull now, and I wondered how much longer she would last. "Do you know where Link keeps the Ocarina?" I asked. She looked up at me confused.
"In his belt - why?" I was already searching through the clothing that was on the floor next to his bed for the belt. I found it, and consequently, found the Ocarina.
"I'm taking you to the fountain like I promised," I told her, opening Link's pack, and withdrawing the long shot, a bomb and fuse paper, and his Goron Tunic. Navi just nodded, and didn't have any more strength left for questions. I put her down on the seat next to Link's bed, and then, not having time to worry about what would happen if the boys woke up, wriggled free of the dress I was wearing. Then, I slipped Link's Goron Tunic over my head, and tugged it into place. It reached to a couple of inches below my knees, and I had to tie a knot in the front to get rid of the excess material.
Then, I scooped up Navi, and put the long shot, bomb and fuse paper into the pockets of the tunic. I bought the Ocarina of Time to my lips, and then thought better of it. I walked over to the window, and around Sheik's bed to the sill. Looking over the edge, I saw that it was only one floor down. I turned around and clung to the sill, before letting go and dropping to the ground below. There, I took the ocarina, and swiftly blew the tune I remembered Sheik teaching Link through it.
A portal appeared around me, and I was whisked away. Almost immediately, I was put back down on the Tri-Force symbol in the crater of Mount Doom. A wave of heat came over me, only to be counter-acted by the tunic I wore. Swiftly, and always aware of Navi's waning energy, I made my way to the exit from the crater.
The hook of the long shot thudded dully into a wooden beam at the other side of the broken bridge, and I clicked the trigger so that it pulled me over. Navi was tucked safely in the empty pocket of the tunic, and as soon as I reached the exit, I took her back out again to check on her. She was still conscious, but barely. I trudged up the steps and through the door to the cool night air of outside. There was a swathe of purple arcing across the sky in the east; dawn came soon.
The entrance to the fountain had been blocked by an eruption, just as I had suspected, and I set the bomb down next to the pile of boulders there. Lighting the fuse paper, I ran back to take cover behind the very same stone I'd sat on when we'd conquered the Temple here. The stones fell away with a deep rumble, and the tunnel to the fountain was exposed.
I didn't notice the beauty of the place anymore. I was desperate to ensure that the only other telepath I'd ever known was going to be all right. I stood on the Tri-Force symbol in front of the great pool of water and faltered. How had Link made the great fairy appear? I remembered him playing a song, but I couldn't remember what the song had been.
"Navi? Navi, I hate to do this, but how do I summon the great fairy?" Navi blinked lethargically.
"You have to play the lullaby..." she said, but that was far too vague.
"What lullaby? Could you hum it?" She nodded, and I held her close to my ear so I could hear. Then, I recited what she had sung on the Ocarina. A girlish giggle resounded around the room, accompanied by a bright flash of light. When it faded, the great fairy could be seen there, fluttering her wings and pouting in what I suppose she must have thought an appealing manner. When she saw that there were no men present however, she stopped, and asked,
"Can I help you?"
I held out my hand, on which Navi lay, and she looked taken aback. "Oh Goddesses Navi! I know you told me this hero work was difficult, but this is getting ridiculous!" She swept a strand of pink hair back from her face, and reached out a hand for Navi to fly to. Navi did so, faltering a little but managing to breach the gap without trouble. The great fairy touched a single finger to Navi's forehead, and I could see the magic flowing into her, restoring her.
When this was done, the great fairy disappeared, giggling once more, and Navi buzzed over, now a vibrant swirl of light. "Thank you so much!" she squeaked, pirouetting through the air in jubilation. "I never thought I'd get back to my old self!"
"Don't mention it," I said, shaking my head. I couldn't help but to smile. "I just couldn't let a fellow telepathist go down. And anyway, who would I talk to if you weren't around?"
"Good question." Navi settled on my shoulder. "Oh, you should have seen us in that Temple. We were a shambles without you. Link was worrying about you all the time, and so was Sheik, though he'd never admit it."
"Sheik?" I repeated. "You have to be kidding - I think he hates me."
"No - he doesn't. His senses do. We all sense something different about you Blaise," she said, and I was shocked at how much like Loki she had sounded. Not in voice obviously; but in words. {You awake in there?} she asked cheerily, and I smiled absently.
"Yeah. C'mon - we'd best get back to Kakariko before they all wake up."
"There's no way we'll get back in time for that," Navi scoffed, and then yelled so loud that I jumped out of my skin. "GREAT FAIRY!" The large pink haired fairy appeared in a flash of light, looking not quite so cheery this time.
"Yes, what is it now?"
"Could you transport us to Kakariko please?"
"Can't you just walk?"
"If I told you the whole of Hyrule depended on it, would you hurry up and transport us?" Navi asked craftily, and the great fairy sighed.
"All right - just hold still." She lifted her great arms up, and a spiral of blue and white light entwined into a gossamer fine web around us. "Next time, make sure you bring that pretty young Hero with you!" she scolded Navi, just before we were pulled away, and landed outside Xenia's house.
~*~*~*~
I slept for a few hours after Navi and I got back, though most of it I spent tossing and turning through nightmares. My sleep wasn't heavy, and the sound of voices a couple of rooms down woke me up. That was the room that Link, Sheik and Navi shared. Rolling out of the bed, I decided I couldn't be bothered to get dressed, and walked along the hall in the long nightshirt that Xenia had given me.
I lingered outside the door for a couple of seconds; unsure of whether I would be welcomed. {Oh for Goddesses sake, come in!} Navi hissed to me, and I saw her light twinkling near the slightly open door.
[All right.] I thought back, and pushed the door open slowly. Link and Sheik looked up from their conversation, and I smiled weakly. [By demons, Sheik is so pale still] I looked at him in abject worry.
{He'll be fine} Navi assured me, but I was not so sure. I wasn't sure of much anymore.
"Blaise!" Link greeted me enthusiastically. "Pull up a chair and join the party!"
"I wouldn't exactly call it a party," Sheik laughed sardonically, and heaved himself into a sitting position, the coverlet sliding smoothly across his bandaged chest. "How fare you?" he asked, and maybe I imagined it, maybe I didn't, but I thought I heard some warmth there. Some worry too.
"I've been all right - my fever went down two days ago," I answered quickly. It was obvious we were all itching to talk about Ganondorf's little visit, but didn't have the courage to breach the subject. It was Navi who broke into our stream of banter.
"Look, will someone just talk some sense. Ganondorf was here, in the village last night! Maybe we should talk about that, huh?" All three of us looked at her, and burst out laughing simultaneously. We all soon sobered up though, and all eyes fell upon me. "So, what happened?" Navi prompted.
"Well, it all started off with Eloise deciding to get me into a dress," I said, pulling a face. "But, we won't go into that," Link smiled indulgently. "And this party - thing. Everyone was just sitting down to eat when his men must have snuffed all the lights. Then, they set the bonfire alight, and that's when things really started to get interesting...
...
...And then you guys came along, and we managed to get him to bugger off." All three of them had watched me intently through the whole tale. Then Sheik clambered off of his bed, and came to sit on the edge of Link's bed, next to me on my chair.
"You handled things well," he observed, and I shook my head.
"If I'd handled things well, those girls would be at home right now." I twisted my fingers in the material of the nightshirt, and glared unseeing at the floor.
"It's not your fault Blaise, there was nothing you could have-" Link began, but I cut across him harshly.
"It was my fault! If I'd just done something - anything. Co operated with him more maybe - or killed him when he suspected nothing - I just-"
"You just need to stop taking the weight of the whole world upon your shoulders," Sheik said compellingly, pulling my hands from where they had been twisting on my lap, to hold them on his. "You are but one person - you can do a lot, as Link, Navi and I have seen. But, you cannot do it all." He stared me in the eye sternly, and I nodded. Link seemed to have fallen asleep in those few short seconds, and Sheik shook his head in amusement.
"You should come down to breakfast," I told him as his stomach growled softly. He nodded, and got up to retrieve his shirt. "Don't bother - I'm just gonna walk around like this today. Xenia's got all of us on house lock- down," I said, and he smiled.
"Right then - so, where do they serve breakfast in this place?"
"Follow me - it's pretty easy to get lost in here." We walked out of the room, shutting the door after Navi had flown out, to allow Link to sleep some more. Then, I turned and wandered down the hallway, Sheik walking to my side, and slightly behind me. "How are your wounds?" I asked as I stopped to wait for Navi, who had been distracted by the household cat, and was teasing it mercilessly.
"Better than they were - but they still hurt quite a bit," he admitted, leaning on the wall and watching with dancing eyes as Navi held a flower over the cat's head. "Link's pissed off that he broke his arm though."
"Wouldn't you be?" He just shrugged, and then winced. "Your shoulder? Or is it just the rest of you that hurts?" I asked, grinning and worried all at once.
"Oh, just all of me really," he replied, grinning back. "I suppose I'll live." He feigned a state of woe, and I laughed, nudging him slightly. He seemed to have been prepared for it however, and grabbed me by my upper arms. He looked at me - I mean *really* looked at me. Looked through me. And he smiled a real smile - a big, happy, joy-filled smile. Which I returned gladly.
Navi was coming back, and he let go of my arms. "Breakfast!" Navi demanded simply, and I carried on leading them to the dining room. There, Eloise was standing, looking worriedly between an annoyed looking Xenia, and the surly, scowling Quentin. As soon as he saw me enter, he stood up and slinked out. I was tempted to slap him again, but decided against it when the aroma of freshly cooked bacon reached my nose.
Sheik's stomach let out the second growl that day, and Eloise smiled, dishing out some breakfast for us. "Thanks!" Sheik beamed up at her. He was looking less pale than before, and his eyes were back to their usual vibrant vermilion. I tucked into my own plate of bacon and bread, swallowing quickly, and then asking for another helping. Sheik ate at a more sedate pace, but still managed to get down three more plate loads before he was done.
"Whoo," he leant back in his chair, and patted his stomach. "I don't think I'll need to eat for a month after that," he said, sticking his legs out in front of him, and breathing deeply.
"Want anymore?" Eloise offered us both more bacon from a large platter. We both groaned at the same time, waving our hands, then caught one another's eye, and grinned.
*
Link made his way down the stairs around lunchtime, and Navi rushed over to fuss over him. It was quite sweet really, as she hugged him on the nose, and then scolded him for getting himself hurt in the first place. Link looked down at his bare feet like a guilty child as he chided him, but then smiled when she hugged him again. "Don't you ever worry me like that again, y'hear?" She yelled in his ear, making him cringe.
"Yes Navi," he answered dutifully, before sitting down on the sofa with Sheik and I. "How're you feeling?" he asked as a general question.
"Better than yesterday, that's for sure," Sheik said, leaning forward to look past me and talk to him. "I didn't think the guardian would be quite so difficult. You would have been useful there," his gazed shifted to me. "We missed your help, and no mistake!" It wasn't bitterness at me not being there - just a simple statement.
"Aye - I'm just sorry I couldn't be there. It looks like I missed one hell of a fight," they both grinned a little at this.
"No mistake there - the damn creature was huge - at least twice as big as this house!" Link said earnestly.
"Don't be stupid Link," Sheik scolded, and then added, "It must have been at least three times the size!" Navi, still sitting on Link's shoulder, just shook her head in disbelief, and we all four of us laughed. It looked like things were going right again - at least on this world. I didn't have any idea what has happening back at home.
Quickly, I brushed the thought away, and leant in to listen to the other three discussing the Shadow temple, and explain to me what happened at the same time. At the mention of all the invisible enemies, I shuddered in horror. Enemies that could only be seen through a tiny eyeglass terrified me. I liked to be able to see what was trying to kill me. All the same, I moved closer, literally on the edge of my seat as Sheik and Link worked together to embroider a picture of the battle with the guardian.
Even through all the embellishments they made, I could tell that it had been a spectacular fight. I didn't expect any less from them. They were both magnificent fighters, and Navi was a force to be reckoned with, make no mistake!
"And then he swept out his giant hand, and pushed Sheik clean off the drum surface. I thought he was done for, but when I ran over, I saw he'd caught hold of the edge," Link's eyes were wide with a fierce excitement.
"Yeah, and then my buddy Link pulled me up - the only problem was, whilst he did that, he wasn't watching his back, and as soon as I had got up, he was swept off the edge."
"Yeah, that was when your arm broke, wasn't it?" Navi asked, and Link nodded.
"Well, even with my arm broken, I managed to get back up and help Sheik with the thing. Remember Navi, you just got really mad and grew to human size to help us out?" She nodded, and smiled. "I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life as when I heard you screaming swear words at the thing."
"Aye - it was terrifying. Forget all the monsters in the whole world - just put Navi in a room with them, and they'll be reduced to a heap of quivering lunatics by the end!" Sheik said merrily, ducking a playful punch from Navi.
"Hey, I'm not *that* bad, am I?" Total silence followed this statement, and she broke it by laughing. We always seemed to be able to laugh so easily together.
[I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my life, as I have since meeting you guys.]
{I know - it's great when it's like this!} Navi exclaimed, and I could see tiny tears of mirth rolling down her face. When we'd finally calmed from this, Sheik, Link and Navi got back to their joint retelling of their battle with the guardian.
~*~*~*~
It was after lunch, and Xenia had advised Link, Sheik and Navi to go and have a rest. They'd done so with little rebuke, and since Xenia had no patients that afternoon, I was sitting with her in the lounge, playing cards. "Go fish," I said absently, and she made a sound of annoyance.
"We're playing poker," she said stiffly, and I blinked.
"What? We are? Oh, in that case, Royal flush," I said, laying my cards down on the table. She gaped, and then threw her cards onto the table as well.
"Right, that's it, tell me what's wrong," she demanded.
"Wrong? Why would anything be wrong?"
"Because you're been staring out of that window like a love-sick Zora for the past half an hour. Something important must be on your mind. Is it," she hesitated on the forming of the name, "Lucifer?"
I shrugged. "Perhaps to do with him a little. But mostly to do with how we're gonna get past the Gerudoes to reach the Spirit temple. This one we can't just use the song to get to - I asked Sheik, and there's some kind of test we all have to pass first." Xenia nodded.
"Well, getting past won't be easy. I remember back to my training - if you tried to sneak past, they'd spot you a mile away. However, if you were to use a disguise of some kind, you might stand a chance."
"Disguise?" I was intrigued.
"Aye. Now, let me see - you can play the guitar can you not?" I nodded. "And, you can sing well enough I suppose?"
"Well, I can sing in tune."
"That's perfect. And, from seeing your companions, I know that they both can play musical instruments. Perhaps you could be travelling bards."
"But, won't Link and Sheik get thrown into cells straight away?"
"Not necessarily," she leaned closer, and lowered her voice. "All you need to do is disguise them as young women - the Gerudoes will accept women of any race, as long as they are not royalty nor high up."
"And we all know bards aren't exactly the highest," I nodded, understanding her idea.
"Yes. Well, if you just make sure that the young men don't sing, and only speak very quietly, you should be all right."
"I don't know - it'd be tricky. And I know they'd hate it."
"I'm afraid it's either that, or you have them roped up in a cart, pretending they're your slaves."
"We'll take the first option, albeit it'll be the most embarrassing and strange thing we ever do," came Sheik's voice from the doorway, and snapping my head up, I saw him and Link standing there, grinning sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"No, don't worry. It's probably best this way - I wasn't looking forward to breaking this news to you," I answered, gesturing for the two to come and sit down. "Now, Xenia, one last thing - what about Navi?"
"Ah - now that I hadn't thought of." She thought for a few seconds, and then looked at Navi. "Would you be able to cope with staying out of sight for a little while?"
"Of course. And that way, I won't need a disguise. Just so long as the bag I'm in doesn't get jostled too much, I'll be fine," Navi said stoutly.
"Then, I think we have our little problem solved, do we not?" There were determined nods from all around the table. "In that case, I need to do some shopping for all of you - and Eloise is going to have to hop to it and get sewing quickly. In fact, I'll go and get her right now!" Xenia hopped up, and skipped out of the room, her long red hair bouncing as she walked.
"Oh Goddesses," Link sighed. "The things we heroes have to do to protect our lands. It's ridiculous!"
"We should be paid," Sheik mused.
"Oh, come on, it won't be that bad," Navi chipped in.
"That's all right for you to say! You're not the one that has to wear a dress!" Link interjected. I doubled up with laughter at the image that statement had given me, and Link smiled sheepishly as well.
"Oh," I stopped laughing suddenly. "Damn, I have to wear one too - how will I walk?" My face must have been the picture of comedic horror, because the others just started laughing again.
*
"Stand up straight young man!" Eloise snapped, holding the tape measure up to measure Link's height.
"I am standing up straight," he said through gritted teeth. Navi just sighed and yanked his hair again, making his back as straight as an ironing board.
"Better," Eloise said approvingly through a mouthful of pins. "I've never had to make dresses like this before," she mumbled, shaking her head. "And I have to take into account certain appendages that will need to be added." Her eyes twinkled, and I stifled a giggle as Link's eyes widened in amazement. "Hold still!" she scolded, and Link became a living statue.
Sheik wasn't having much better luck, as Xenia and I were trying to measure him, but every so often, his face would just set us laughing so hard that we couldn't even hold up the tape measure. "Oh, for Goddesses sake!" Eloise finally said. "Just go, I'll do the rest by myself." Then to Link, "you're done dear."
"At last!" he jumped off the stool gleefully, and stretched his aching muscles. "I don't know how anyone can stand doing that every time they get clothes made."
"Me neither," I agreed, eyeing the straight-backed Sheik, who looked terrified as Eloise measured his waist.
"Hey! Don't leave me by myself!" he called desperately. Navi flew up in front of his face,
"Don't worry, you've got me."
"NOOOOOO!" he yelled, and Navi backed away. She flitted over and landed on Link's shoulder looking huffy.
"Fine, I'll stay," I offered, and went to sit on the stool so recently vacated by Link. Sheik let out a gasp of relieved air, and Eloise cried exasperatedly, having to re-measure his waist when he breathed in again.
"By the Goddesses, you look like a fool," I commented when Sheik had to lift his arms up so that Eloise could measure round his chest.
"I feel like one too," he said, dropping his arms to his sides again. "After this, I am never going to complain if something doesn't fit me again. I couldn't do this again - ever!" Eloise snorted, and I just smiled.
"Oh," Eloise looked around from where she was taking the measurement of his arm from elbow to wrist, to talk to me. "I've got some Gerudo clothes, and I thought that perhaps you'd like something more of that style."
"They have trousers, don't they?"
"Yes - and skirts as well."
"If you'd do the trouser variety, I'd be grateful," she nodded. "I'm not the most graceful person in a dress, as I proved at that party..."
"Aye, that you did," Eloise agreed, putting down the tape measure to write down the length of a leg in her notebook. "Sure, I'll make something Gerudo style for you. Such a shame that these two young men can't wear it - they just don't seem to have the physique..."
"What are you implying?" Sheik demanded outraged, jumping off the stool as Eloise had finished taking measurements.
I caught Eloise' eye, and then said innocently, "Oh...nothing..."
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
Whooey! I'm getting them in drag, and they even agreed to it!
Link: [muffles voice] No we didn't!
Sheik: Please don't let her do this to us!
Soda: Ehehehehe - excuse me
[Thud] OW!
Soda: [Comes back, dusting her hands off] Just had to put away some of the toys I'd left out.
Ganondorf: [Creeps up behind her and taps her on the shoulder] That mean you still want to play with this toy?
Soda: Huh...? OH O.O
Alexis: [Slaps Soda, and drags Ganondorf away] He's mine bitch!
Sheik: [Struggles out from trapdoor] I thought I was yours!
Lucifer: I believe you'll find that she is in fact *mine*
Soda: [Faints through utter confusion]
Please remind me to never, ever, let them out of their cupboard again. I need a new lock on it. I'll get one tomorrow, and make no mistake.
I'll go now - I'm thoroughly psyched out.
Soda XXX
Disclaimer: My name isn't Miyamoto - you figure it out.
Now, in the last chapter, I just totally went off the rails. All that forced civility just reminded me of the way I am to a particular guy at school. If he touches me again, I'll...! [Calms down] Enough of the annoyances of hormonally driven teenage boys. Lets get back to the annoyances of hormonally driven full grown men!
Ganondorf: -_- It's evil that drives me, not hormones damn you!
Soda: [Pats his knee] of course dear, of course.
Ganondorf: It is! [Breaks down into floods of tears] It's just so hard being evil all the time. [Collapses and sobs on Soda's shoulders]
Soda: O.o [Pats his shoulder sympathetically] Uh - someone. Anyone? Hello? Does anyone know how to deal with a crying evil guy?
[Silence]
Soda: Damn
Well, anyway, we saw Ganondorf carry off Alexis in a kind of sack of potatoes style. And, she even tried to stab him, but it didn't work!
Ganondorf: ^_^ I'm so devious! [Wipes tears away]
Soda: ..Yes... well, let's just see what the muses say will happen today when I start to type. Oh boy, this is going to be interesting...
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
[Damn it, why does he have to wear all this armour?] I thought as the metal of his shoulder plate dug into my stomach. "This isn't very comfortable you know!" I yelled into the middle of his back. I could hear a small derisive laugh over the din of hoof beats as his men rode off, and then he shrugged, making the metal plate dig in some more. "Ow! Dammit!" He laughed again, and cut a clean swathe through the crowd as he made for a huge midnight black horse. [Not good].
There was a sudden shocking silence in the commotion, and Ganondorf stopped abruptly. I twisted my head to try to see why. But, the skirt of the infernal dress I was wearing was in the way. "Ah - good evening," he said suavely, and his grip on me loosened so much that I came crashing down to the floor, headfirst behind him. I managed to turn the fall into a semi- graceful tumble, and got as far away from him as I could.
Looking around his legs, I saw a sight which both gladdened and sickened me. Link, Sheik and Navi stood there, defiant against this great dark man. But Sheik's chest was bleeding from multiple cuts, and Link's left arm was more than obviously broken. Navi's light was all but gone, and she hovered uncertainly, what little light left in her flashing on and off intermittently. {Blaise} her voice was cracked and weary, but she still sounded happy enough to see me.
[Navi, what happened?]
{The guardian - a lot stronger than we anticipated.} Was her simple answer, before she floated gently to the ground, and lay there completely still.
"Ge-get out of here," Link stuttered, coughing tiredly, and steadying the even paler than usual Sheik with his good arm. "You're not wanted." Ganondorf was silent and still as Navi who lay on the floor. All that moved were the fingers on his left hand, which scrabbled at the air, as though trying to gain purchase on nothing.
"What are you waiting for?" Sheik asked, voice rough as sandpaper. "It's obvious that these people don't wish you here. So - so - just le-leave!" Sheik's chest rose and fell with the strain of getting these words out.
"What if I don't wish to leave?" Ganondorf finally said, his tone level and giving away nothing.
"It's not your choice to make," Link answered forcefully. His right arm muscles were flexing, and I noticed that he had the Master Sword held there. Sword. That's it, the Master Sword, that's what I needed! It took all my resolve to stand up again from the floor, and confront the man again. Both men really - Sheik and Ganondorf.
It felt as though I were moving in a dream - I didn't even once stumble on my dress as I wheeled around the tall Gerudo, and went to take my place next to the Hero of Time, Sheik of the Sheikah, and Navi the fairy.
I scooped her up off the ground, and whispered to her, "We'll get you to a fountain soon - hang on." A little sound of acknowledgment, and then I took the Master Sword from an unresisting Link, and put Navi in the open palm instead. All this had been backed by complete silence from the crowd, from Ganondorf, and from my fellow travellers. I gripped the hilt of the Master Sword, and turned to look up at the Gerudo man with contempt.
"Leave. Now." I said simply. The blade's magic was obvious as it ran over my old scars, and tingled across my skin. It was the most beautiful feeling I'd felt for years. Ganondorf looked down at me with those dark, knowledgeable eyes. I stared back angrily - the rage I'd been bottling up for so long was begging to be let out. He blinked, and the moment was broken, though the silence remained there, tangibly thick in the air.
A few more seconds, and he bowed his head stiffly, before turning, and raising a hand high above his head. The men of his that remained dropped whatever they'd been planning to take, and climbed upon their horses. He signalled with two fingers that they ride off, and hoof beats rang in the garden. The Master Sword was heavy in my hands, and I was willing to bet that everyone standing around could see my arms shaking from the effort to hold it up.
He reached out, and I swung it upwards, muscles screaming in protest, to ward him off. A scowl crossed his face, and he looked as though he was contemplating reaching for a weapon. Then, he looked into my eyes, and must have seen the absolute hate I felt then for him. I detested him - if he gave me an excuse I would have killed him straight away. He dropped his hands, and backed away.
With a thud, he dropped into the saddle of his horse. He took up the reins, and wheeled the creature about. Without a glance back, he galloped off. I dropped the sword to the ground, muscles at last giving way, and turned to the other three. Link smiled weakly, and Navi glowed a little from where she sat in his palm. Sheik however, was so pale now. Pale as the moon above - and his lips were beginning to turn a worrying blue.
"Xenia?" I called hopefully into the crowd, and there she was, bruised across the cheek, but other than that perfectly fine. I gestured to Sheik, and she understood. With a nod, a few people came out of the crowd to help the Hero, the Sheikah, and the fairy inside. I backed away from the iridescent firelight, to the stretch of trees that Quentin and his friend has fled into earlier. Lifting the skirt of my dress up, I began to walk in no particular path, just ever forwards, always away from the light.
A few yards into the eerie dappled darkness of the trees, I caught a glimpse of movement. A second later, Quentin stumbled out of the greenery, a huge grin on his face. "Thank Goddesses you're alright! They gone yet?" his eyes flickered to the garden, which was a mere patch of light in the distance.
"How dare you even ask that?" I said, my voice shaking in anger. He tilted his head to one side in confusement.
"I only asked you a question - sheesh, chill!"
" 'Chill'? I'll give you chill you bloody coward - there are at least a dozen girls who may not live to see the next full moon thanks to you." I slapped him cleanly across the cheek, snapping his head to the side. "If I see you again, it'll be too soon," I said, striding past him.
"Hey, you can't go in there, it's dangerous!" he said catching my arm. I shrugged his hand off viciously.
"I'll take my chances thanks."
*
Tears streaked down my face, blurring my vision, and I tripped over many times. The dress was probably ruined beyond repair now, but I wasn't really worried about that. I wanted to find a place where no one would find me, and sit there and hopefully I'd die somehow. I was so useless. "I couldn't even help them in that damned Temple, and all because of some stupid memories!" I exclaimed to the night, and an owl rose from a near branch, hooting in annoyance at being disturbed in the hunt.
I tripped over for the umpteenth time, and didn't bother to get up. I wasn't any good to anybody. [Please, someone just come and kill me now.] I beat my fists against the leaf-strewn ground, wanting to make the ground open and swallow me up. No such luck.
"Little one! Stop it this instant!" came a fervent voice, and a pair of gentle hands grabbed me by the wrists. They set me on my feet again, and I found myself looking up at Loki.
[I can't take much more of this!] I thought desperately as I looked at him. Hell, I knew he hated me already, so why was I checking? Rational thought had run away from me long ago, and I just stood there, looking at the bare skin at his neck, tears running their course, and sniffing every once in a while.
"Oh Demons little one," Loki sat down on the floor, and pulled me onto his lap, hugging me warmly. "It's been a rough few weeks for us all," he whispered, rocking me like a small child. Just how he used to. "I'm so sorry. So sorry. For it all..." he trailed off.
"I know," I hiccupped, and managed to stem the flow of tears a little.
"The council, they-"
"Are going to overview the case against me again," I guessed, and his arms tensed.
"How did you-?"
"I had a dream vision of it," I said simply, and he nodded his understanding.
"I won't let anything happen to you. I promise!" He hugged me closer, but I knew his promise was an empty one. Nobody won against Lucifer - not even Loki, though I had no doubt he'd do anything in his power to try. The tears came and swept me away again. A drop of water landed on my shoulder, and I knew that Loki was crying as well. "Oh, if David could see me now," he stammered.
"He'd tell you to stop blubbering and give him a hug I'd bet," I said. I was treading dangerous ground, but I just wasn't thinking straight as it was. Instead of exploding, Loki just agreed,
"Aye - what a pair of fools we are." I choked out a laugh, and caught the sight of a smile on his face. We hugged even more fiercely, but the tears were kept at bay for now. "You should probably go back to your fellow travellers," Loki finally said, loosening his grip.
"Oh Goddesses! I almost forgot - I hope Sheik's all right," I said, springing up.
"He's fine," Loki assured me. "And we will be too - you'll see." One last hug was shared, and then he disappeared from sight.
"I hope you're right," I said to the spot where he had been standing, and then turned towards the general direction of Kakariko. No doubt Eloise would be fretting over where I was - though as for the others - I wasn't sure if they'd care so much.
*
I walked through the now empty garden. The moon was getting low, and the sky was turning a pre-dawn grey. I'd been away for a lot longer than I'd thought it seemed. The bonfire was burning low, only a few embers flaring up every now and again. I walked carefully around it, and to the back door of the house. It was still open, the panes of glass in it having been smashed in earlier. I walked through and into the kitchen.
Voice drifted from along the hall, one of which I recognised to be Quentin's. "She just slapped me like, and then wandered off! I'm not a bloody child minder!"
"So, you let an unarmed girl go out into the forest alone at night?" asked a low voice, which I could now tell was Xenia's.
"She's got two bloody arms - that's enough!" Quentin replied, using a slight wit which you wouldn't tell he had from looking at him.
"Yes, hilarious Quentin," Xenia retorted sarcastically. "You're going back out there to find her. I thought all you Hylian men were meant to be brave, but you've proved the principle wrong indeed!" I pushed open the door into the hall, and both of them stared at me in surprise. Then Xenia rushed over, and put a hand on my forehead. Then, she turned, and said to Quentin, "You're just bloody lucky her fever hasn't come back. I'd have killed you, you silly little boy!"
Quentin just spat on the thickly carpeted floor, and stormed up the sweeping staircase. "How are they?" I asked, and she knew immediately whom I meant.
"Sleeping at the moment. It's just lucky I've been making so many red potions recently. The man in green - Link is it?" I nodded. "Yes - well, Link's arm will need to be kept in a sling for a few days, and I'd advise that Sheik didn't move around for a while. The fairy however - I'm not sure. She's asleep. I've never treated one before."
"That's all right - I think I know how to help her," I said, a vague plan forming in my head. Xenia nodded, and then led me to where the three were sleeping. She opened the door to let me in, and then closed it again behind me with a soft click.
I looked first to Link, who was sleeping peacefully, his bandaged arm being held up by a piece of bandage strung from a winch. Sheik was in the bed by the window, new, clean bandages covering his mutilated torso. He turned over and winced, but didn't wake up. I couldn't see Navi anywhere; everywhere I looked was as dark as the next place. I was beginning to fear that her light had gone out for good, when I saw the dimmest of glows from Link's hat.
"Navi?" I called softly, bending down to look into the hat's interior.
"Mmm?" a small voice answered, and I saw a ruffled looking head move to look up at me. "Blaise - earlier. You were - amazing."
"Thank you," I smiled, then reached out to pick her up. I held her in my cupped palms, and looked down. Her skin was almost dull now, and I wondered how much longer she would last. "Do you know where Link keeps the Ocarina?" I asked. She looked up at me confused.
"In his belt - why?" I was already searching through the clothing that was on the floor next to his bed for the belt. I found it, and consequently, found the Ocarina.
"I'm taking you to the fountain like I promised," I told her, opening Link's pack, and withdrawing the long shot, a bomb and fuse paper, and his Goron Tunic. Navi just nodded, and didn't have any more strength left for questions. I put her down on the seat next to Link's bed, and then, not having time to worry about what would happen if the boys woke up, wriggled free of the dress I was wearing. Then, I slipped Link's Goron Tunic over my head, and tugged it into place. It reached to a couple of inches below my knees, and I had to tie a knot in the front to get rid of the excess material.
Then, I scooped up Navi, and put the long shot, bomb and fuse paper into the pockets of the tunic. I bought the Ocarina of Time to my lips, and then thought better of it. I walked over to the window, and around Sheik's bed to the sill. Looking over the edge, I saw that it was only one floor down. I turned around and clung to the sill, before letting go and dropping to the ground below. There, I took the ocarina, and swiftly blew the tune I remembered Sheik teaching Link through it.
A portal appeared around me, and I was whisked away. Almost immediately, I was put back down on the Tri-Force symbol in the crater of Mount Doom. A wave of heat came over me, only to be counter-acted by the tunic I wore. Swiftly, and always aware of Navi's waning energy, I made my way to the exit from the crater.
The hook of the long shot thudded dully into a wooden beam at the other side of the broken bridge, and I clicked the trigger so that it pulled me over. Navi was tucked safely in the empty pocket of the tunic, and as soon as I reached the exit, I took her back out again to check on her. She was still conscious, but barely. I trudged up the steps and through the door to the cool night air of outside. There was a swathe of purple arcing across the sky in the east; dawn came soon.
The entrance to the fountain had been blocked by an eruption, just as I had suspected, and I set the bomb down next to the pile of boulders there. Lighting the fuse paper, I ran back to take cover behind the very same stone I'd sat on when we'd conquered the Temple here. The stones fell away with a deep rumble, and the tunnel to the fountain was exposed.
I didn't notice the beauty of the place anymore. I was desperate to ensure that the only other telepath I'd ever known was going to be all right. I stood on the Tri-Force symbol in front of the great pool of water and faltered. How had Link made the great fairy appear? I remembered him playing a song, but I couldn't remember what the song had been.
"Navi? Navi, I hate to do this, but how do I summon the great fairy?" Navi blinked lethargically.
"You have to play the lullaby..." she said, but that was far too vague.
"What lullaby? Could you hum it?" She nodded, and I held her close to my ear so I could hear. Then, I recited what she had sung on the Ocarina. A girlish giggle resounded around the room, accompanied by a bright flash of light. When it faded, the great fairy could be seen there, fluttering her wings and pouting in what I suppose she must have thought an appealing manner. When she saw that there were no men present however, she stopped, and asked,
"Can I help you?"
I held out my hand, on which Navi lay, and she looked taken aback. "Oh Goddesses Navi! I know you told me this hero work was difficult, but this is getting ridiculous!" She swept a strand of pink hair back from her face, and reached out a hand for Navi to fly to. Navi did so, faltering a little but managing to breach the gap without trouble. The great fairy touched a single finger to Navi's forehead, and I could see the magic flowing into her, restoring her.
When this was done, the great fairy disappeared, giggling once more, and Navi buzzed over, now a vibrant swirl of light. "Thank you so much!" she squeaked, pirouetting through the air in jubilation. "I never thought I'd get back to my old self!"
"Don't mention it," I said, shaking my head. I couldn't help but to smile. "I just couldn't let a fellow telepathist go down. And anyway, who would I talk to if you weren't around?"
"Good question." Navi settled on my shoulder. "Oh, you should have seen us in that Temple. We were a shambles without you. Link was worrying about you all the time, and so was Sheik, though he'd never admit it."
"Sheik?" I repeated. "You have to be kidding - I think he hates me."
"No - he doesn't. His senses do. We all sense something different about you Blaise," she said, and I was shocked at how much like Loki she had sounded. Not in voice obviously; but in words. {You awake in there?} she asked cheerily, and I smiled absently.
"Yeah. C'mon - we'd best get back to Kakariko before they all wake up."
"There's no way we'll get back in time for that," Navi scoffed, and then yelled so loud that I jumped out of my skin. "GREAT FAIRY!" The large pink haired fairy appeared in a flash of light, looking not quite so cheery this time.
"Yes, what is it now?"
"Could you transport us to Kakariko please?"
"Can't you just walk?"
"If I told you the whole of Hyrule depended on it, would you hurry up and transport us?" Navi asked craftily, and the great fairy sighed.
"All right - just hold still." She lifted her great arms up, and a spiral of blue and white light entwined into a gossamer fine web around us. "Next time, make sure you bring that pretty young Hero with you!" she scolded Navi, just before we were pulled away, and landed outside Xenia's house.
~*~*~*~
I slept for a few hours after Navi and I got back, though most of it I spent tossing and turning through nightmares. My sleep wasn't heavy, and the sound of voices a couple of rooms down woke me up. That was the room that Link, Sheik and Navi shared. Rolling out of the bed, I decided I couldn't be bothered to get dressed, and walked along the hall in the long nightshirt that Xenia had given me.
I lingered outside the door for a couple of seconds; unsure of whether I would be welcomed. {Oh for Goddesses sake, come in!} Navi hissed to me, and I saw her light twinkling near the slightly open door.
[All right.] I thought back, and pushed the door open slowly. Link and Sheik looked up from their conversation, and I smiled weakly. [By demons, Sheik is so pale still] I looked at him in abject worry.
{He'll be fine} Navi assured me, but I was not so sure. I wasn't sure of much anymore.
"Blaise!" Link greeted me enthusiastically. "Pull up a chair and join the party!"
"I wouldn't exactly call it a party," Sheik laughed sardonically, and heaved himself into a sitting position, the coverlet sliding smoothly across his bandaged chest. "How fare you?" he asked, and maybe I imagined it, maybe I didn't, but I thought I heard some warmth there. Some worry too.
"I've been all right - my fever went down two days ago," I answered quickly. It was obvious we were all itching to talk about Ganondorf's little visit, but didn't have the courage to breach the subject. It was Navi who broke into our stream of banter.
"Look, will someone just talk some sense. Ganondorf was here, in the village last night! Maybe we should talk about that, huh?" All three of us looked at her, and burst out laughing simultaneously. We all soon sobered up though, and all eyes fell upon me. "So, what happened?" Navi prompted.
"Well, it all started off with Eloise deciding to get me into a dress," I said, pulling a face. "But, we won't go into that," Link smiled indulgently. "And this party - thing. Everyone was just sitting down to eat when his men must have snuffed all the lights. Then, they set the bonfire alight, and that's when things really started to get interesting...
...
...And then you guys came along, and we managed to get him to bugger off." All three of them had watched me intently through the whole tale. Then Sheik clambered off of his bed, and came to sit on the edge of Link's bed, next to me on my chair.
"You handled things well," he observed, and I shook my head.
"If I'd handled things well, those girls would be at home right now." I twisted my fingers in the material of the nightshirt, and glared unseeing at the floor.
"It's not your fault Blaise, there was nothing you could have-" Link began, but I cut across him harshly.
"It was my fault! If I'd just done something - anything. Co operated with him more maybe - or killed him when he suspected nothing - I just-"
"You just need to stop taking the weight of the whole world upon your shoulders," Sheik said compellingly, pulling my hands from where they had been twisting on my lap, to hold them on his. "You are but one person - you can do a lot, as Link, Navi and I have seen. But, you cannot do it all." He stared me in the eye sternly, and I nodded. Link seemed to have fallen asleep in those few short seconds, and Sheik shook his head in amusement.
"You should come down to breakfast," I told him as his stomach growled softly. He nodded, and got up to retrieve his shirt. "Don't bother - I'm just gonna walk around like this today. Xenia's got all of us on house lock- down," I said, and he smiled.
"Right then - so, where do they serve breakfast in this place?"
"Follow me - it's pretty easy to get lost in here." We walked out of the room, shutting the door after Navi had flown out, to allow Link to sleep some more. Then, I turned and wandered down the hallway, Sheik walking to my side, and slightly behind me. "How are your wounds?" I asked as I stopped to wait for Navi, who had been distracted by the household cat, and was teasing it mercilessly.
"Better than they were - but they still hurt quite a bit," he admitted, leaning on the wall and watching with dancing eyes as Navi held a flower over the cat's head. "Link's pissed off that he broke his arm though."
"Wouldn't you be?" He just shrugged, and then winced. "Your shoulder? Or is it just the rest of you that hurts?" I asked, grinning and worried all at once.
"Oh, just all of me really," he replied, grinning back. "I suppose I'll live." He feigned a state of woe, and I laughed, nudging him slightly. He seemed to have been prepared for it however, and grabbed me by my upper arms. He looked at me - I mean *really* looked at me. Looked through me. And he smiled a real smile - a big, happy, joy-filled smile. Which I returned gladly.
Navi was coming back, and he let go of my arms. "Breakfast!" Navi demanded simply, and I carried on leading them to the dining room. There, Eloise was standing, looking worriedly between an annoyed looking Xenia, and the surly, scowling Quentin. As soon as he saw me enter, he stood up and slinked out. I was tempted to slap him again, but decided against it when the aroma of freshly cooked bacon reached my nose.
Sheik's stomach let out the second growl that day, and Eloise smiled, dishing out some breakfast for us. "Thanks!" Sheik beamed up at her. He was looking less pale than before, and his eyes were back to their usual vibrant vermilion. I tucked into my own plate of bacon and bread, swallowing quickly, and then asking for another helping. Sheik ate at a more sedate pace, but still managed to get down three more plate loads before he was done.
"Whoo," he leant back in his chair, and patted his stomach. "I don't think I'll need to eat for a month after that," he said, sticking his legs out in front of him, and breathing deeply.
"Want anymore?" Eloise offered us both more bacon from a large platter. We both groaned at the same time, waving our hands, then caught one another's eye, and grinned.
*
Link made his way down the stairs around lunchtime, and Navi rushed over to fuss over him. It was quite sweet really, as she hugged him on the nose, and then scolded him for getting himself hurt in the first place. Link looked down at his bare feet like a guilty child as he chided him, but then smiled when she hugged him again. "Don't you ever worry me like that again, y'hear?" She yelled in his ear, making him cringe.
"Yes Navi," he answered dutifully, before sitting down on the sofa with Sheik and I. "How're you feeling?" he asked as a general question.
"Better than yesterday, that's for sure," Sheik said, leaning forward to look past me and talk to him. "I didn't think the guardian would be quite so difficult. You would have been useful there," his gazed shifted to me. "We missed your help, and no mistake!" It wasn't bitterness at me not being there - just a simple statement.
"Aye - I'm just sorry I couldn't be there. It looks like I missed one hell of a fight," they both grinned a little at this.
"No mistake there - the damn creature was huge - at least twice as big as this house!" Link said earnestly.
"Don't be stupid Link," Sheik scolded, and then added, "It must have been at least three times the size!" Navi, still sitting on Link's shoulder, just shook her head in disbelief, and we all four of us laughed. It looked like things were going right again - at least on this world. I didn't have any idea what has happening back at home.
Quickly, I brushed the thought away, and leant in to listen to the other three discussing the Shadow temple, and explain to me what happened at the same time. At the mention of all the invisible enemies, I shuddered in horror. Enemies that could only be seen through a tiny eyeglass terrified me. I liked to be able to see what was trying to kill me. All the same, I moved closer, literally on the edge of my seat as Sheik and Link worked together to embroider a picture of the battle with the guardian.
Even through all the embellishments they made, I could tell that it had been a spectacular fight. I didn't expect any less from them. They were both magnificent fighters, and Navi was a force to be reckoned with, make no mistake!
"And then he swept out his giant hand, and pushed Sheik clean off the drum surface. I thought he was done for, but when I ran over, I saw he'd caught hold of the edge," Link's eyes were wide with a fierce excitement.
"Yeah, and then my buddy Link pulled me up - the only problem was, whilst he did that, he wasn't watching his back, and as soon as I had got up, he was swept off the edge."
"Yeah, that was when your arm broke, wasn't it?" Navi asked, and Link nodded.
"Well, even with my arm broken, I managed to get back up and help Sheik with the thing. Remember Navi, you just got really mad and grew to human size to help us out?" She nodded, and smiled. "I don't think I've ever been so scared in my life as when I heard you screaming swear words at the thing."
"Aye - it was terrifying. Forget all the monsters in the whole world - just put Navi in a room with them, and they'll be reduced to a heap of quivering lunatics by the end!" Sheik said merrily, ducking a playful punch from Navi.
"Hey, I'm not *that* bad, am I?" Total silence followed this statement, and she broke it by laughing. We always seemed to be able to laugh so easily together.
[I don't think I've ever laughed so much in my life, as I have since meeting you guys.]
{I know - it's great when it's like this!} Navi exclaimed, and I could see tiny tears of mirth rolling down her face. When we'd finally calmed from this, Sheik, Link and Navi got back to their joint retelling of their battle with the guardian.
~*~*~*~
It was after lunch, and Xenia had advised Link, Sheik and Navi to go and have a rest. They'd done so with little rebuke, and since Xenia had no patients that afternoon, I was sitting with her in the lounge, playing cards. "Go fish," I said absently, and she made a sound of annoyance.
"We're playing poker," she said stiffly, and I blinked.
"What? We are? Oh, in that case, Royal flush," I said, laying my cards down on the table. She gaped, and then threw her cards onto the table as well.
"Right, that's it, tell me what's wrong," she demanded.
"Wrong? Why would anything be wrong?"
"Because you're been staring out of that window like a love-sick Zora for the past half an hour. Something important must be on your mind. Is it," she hesitated on the forming of the name, "Lucifer?"
I shrugged. "Perhaps to do with him a little. But mostly to do with how we're gonna get past the Gerudoes to reach the Spirit temple. This one we can't just use the song to get to - I asked Sheik, and there's some kind of test we all have to pass first." Xenia nodded.
"Well, getting past won't be easy. I remember back to my training - if you tried to sneak past, they'd spot you a mile away. However, if you were to use a disguise of some kind, you might stand a chance."
"Disguise?" I was intrigued.
"Aye. Now, let me see - you can play the guitar can you not?" I nodded. "And, you can sing well enough I suppose?"
"Well, I can sing in tune."
"That's perfect. And, from seeing your companions, I know that they both can play musical instruments. Perhaps you could be travelling bards."
"But, won't Link and Sheik get thrown into cells straight away?"
"Not necessarily," she leaned closer, and lowered her voice. "All you need to do is disguise them as young women - the Gerudoes will accept women of any race, as long as they are not royalty nor high up."
"And we all know bards aren't exactly the highest," I nodded, understanding her idea.
"Yes. Well, if you just make sure that the young men don't sing, and only speak very quietly, you should be all right."
"I don't know - it'd be tricky. And I know they'd hate it."
"I'm afraid it's either that, or you have them roped up in a cart, pretending they're your slaves."
"We'll take the first option, albeit it'll be the most embarrassing and strange thing we ever do," came Sheik's voice from the doorway, and snapping my head up, I saw him and Link standing there, grinning sheepishly. "Ah, sorry, didn't mean to startle you."
"No, don't worry. It's probably best this way - I wasn't looking forward to breaking this news to you," I answered, gesturing for the two to come and sit down. "Now, Xenia, one last thing - what about Navi?"
"Ah - now that I hadn't thought of." She thought for a few seconds, and then looked at Navi. "Would you be able to cope with staying out of sight for a little while?"
"Of course. And that way, I won't need a disguise. Just so long as the bag I'm in doesn't get jostled too much, I'll be fine," Navi said stoutly.
"Then, I think we have our little problem solved, do we not?" There were determined nods from all around the table. "In that case, I need to do some shopping for all of you - and Eloise is going to have to hop to it and get sewing quickly. In fact, I'll go and get her right now!" Xenia hopped up, and skipped out of the room, her long red hair bouncing as she walked.
"Oh Goddesses," Link sighed. "The things we heroes have to do to protect our lands. It's ridiculous!"
"We should be paid," Sheik mused.
"Oh, come on, it won't be that bad," Navi chipped in.
"That's all right for you to say! You're not the one that has to wear a dress!" Link interjected. I doubled up with laughter at the image that statement had given me, and Link smiled sheepishly as well.
"Oh," I stopped laughing suddenly. "Damn, I have to wear one too - how will I walk?" My face must have been the picture of comedic horror, because the others just started laughing again.
*
"Stand up straight young man!" Eloise snapped, holding the tape measure up to measure Link's height.
"I am standing up straight," he said through gritted teeth. Navi just sighed and yanked his hair again, making his back as straight as an ironing board.
"Better," Eloise said approvingly through a mouthful of pins. "I've never had to make dresses like this before," she mumbled, shaking her head. "And I have to take into account certain appendages that will need to be added." Her eyes twinkled, and I stifled a giggle as Link's eyes widened in amazement. "Hold still!" she scolded, and Link became a living statue.
Sheik wasn't having much better luck, as Xenia and I were trying to measure him, but every so often, his face would just set us laughing so hard that we couldn't even hold up the tape measure. "Oh, for Goddesses sake!" Eloise finally said. "Just go, I'll do the rest by myself." Then to Link, "you're done dear."
"At last!" he jumped off the stool gleefully, and stretched his aching muscles. "I don't know how anyone can stand doing that every time they get clothes made."
"Me neither," I agreed, eyeing the straight-backed Sheik, who looked terrified as Eloise measured his waist.
"Hey! Don't leave me by myself!" he called desperately. Navi flew up in front of his face,
"Don't worry, you've got me."
"NOOOOOO!" he yelled, and Navi backed away. She flitted over and landed on Link's shoulder looking huffy.
"Fine, I'll stay," I offered, and went to sit on the stool so recently vacated by Link. Sheik let out a gasp of relieved air, and Eloise cried exasperatedly, having to re-measure his waist when he breathed in again.
"By the Goddesses, you look like a fool," I commented when Sheik had to lift his arms up so that Eloise could measure round his chest.
"I feel like one too," he said, dropping his arms to his sides again. "After this, I am never going to complain if something doesn't fit me again. I couldn't do this again - ever!" Eloise snorted, and I just smiled.
"Oh," Eloise looked around from where she was taking the measurement of his arm from elbow to wrist, to talk to me. "I've got some Gerudo clothes, and I thought that perhaps you'd like something more of that style."
"They have trousers, don't they?"
"Yes - and skirts as well."
"If you'd do the trouser variety, I'd be grateful," she nodded. "I'm not the most graceful person in a dress, as I proved at that party..."
"Aye, that you did," Eloise agreed, putting down the tape measure to write down the length of a leg in her notebook. "Sure, I'll make something Gerudo style for you. Such a shame that these two young men can't wear it - they just don't seem to have the physique..."
"What are you implying?" Sheik demanded outraged, jumping off the stool as Eloise had finished taking measurements.
I caught Eloise' eye, and then said innocently, "Oh...nothing..."
~/*\~/*\~/*\~
Whooey! I'm getting them in drag, and they even agreed to it!
Link: [muffles voice] No we didn't!
Sheik: Please don't let her do this to us!
Soda: Ehehehehe - excuse me
[Thud] OW!
Soda: [Comes back, dusting her hands off] Just had to put away some of the toys I'd left out.
Ganondorf: [Creeps up behind her and taps her on the shoulder] That mean you still want to play with this toy?
Soda: Huh...? OH O.O
Alexis: [Slaps Soda, and drags Ganondorf away] He's mine bitch!
Sheik: [Struggles out from trapdoor] I thought I was yours!
Lucifer: I believe you'll find that she is in fact *mine*
Soda: [Faints through utter confusion]
Please remind me to never, ever, let them out of their cupboard again. I need a new lock on it. I'll get one tomorrow, and make no mistake.
I'll go now - I'm thoroughly psyched out.
Soda XXX
