~ Disclaimer ~ I don't own Zelda at all but I know Nintendo wouldn't be
happy with how long I'm borrowing it!
Link: If I behave, can I have my sword back?
Only If you promise not to come at me like that again.
Link: Only if you promise not to humiliate me like that again!
Okay. *Shakes hands* Now if only Merrick would chill.
Geez, he tore my Author's shirt! And I just painted that wall. .
Anyway, the people whom this chapter is dedicated to are Shadow Knight, CrysSton16 (doesn't that go without saying?), GSfreak, and yet another new person, Laura.
Link: Hi, Laura!!
-_-;; He's a sucker for all girls except me.
~~~~~~~~~~
~ Festivities at the Festival 2 ~
Crystal followed behind Link, staring at the back of his hat as he and Lance bought three sweet rolls. Lance had to pay with a few coppers only because Link's rupees meant nothing there. Link turned around to hand Crystal her sweet roll but met her piercing gaze. He blinked in confusion and finally said, "What is it? Did I offend you or something?" Crystal shook her head, "Exactly how did you learn to shoot like that?! I've practiced all my life and haven't gotten any better than my shot back there."
Link couldn't tell her the truth. There was no way Crystal could understand that he was twelve with three more years of experience after the seven-year sleep. He would have had to bring up old, painful memories of Ganondorf's reign, how his Kokiri family was left nearly defenseless, how his best friend, Malon, was turned into basically a slave. He shrugged it off, "Call it luck."
Crystal nearly grabbed for him to demand answers but Lance cut in-between them, "Hey, now. I thought festivals were for fun and friendly fighting, not tearing each other's head and limbs off for nothing. If you have to vent some frustrations, wait for the sword combat. Now, calm down Crystal. I know a way Link can prove if he is good or not." Link didn't like the sound of that either.
Lance led them to the another section of the field where seven huge targets were posted up and a well-ridden path in the grass was worn. A fence was beside the path, in front of the targets. He made his intention clear. Horseback archery. Supposedly, only adults were allowed to compete weather they were royalties or not. Lance went to the judge, a large man with a not at all friendly face.
"Get out of 'ere, young whelps. This be a manly event, not for some young stable boys." Link stood nonchalantly behind Lance, doubting this could ever work, and took a large bite of the sweet roll. He decided to enjoy that while Lance made an idiot of himself. Lance grinned widely up at the man and shifted his weight confidently.
"Well, now, big guy. I was thinking now how it would be a great entertainment for a youth like this guy to compete. Haven't ye seen the bloody good shot in the ground archery division? No? Aww, that's a stroke of misfortune. How 'bout, I pay you double the price to compete just for my good buddy here can give it a go? Nothing to lose and no harm in it, all fun and games is what it is. People go one at a time so there is no way anyone's precious pony's going to get pierced. Now, that's a good man!" Lance slid a few extra gold pieces into the inconspicuously open hand.
Link stood in disbelief, half the sweet roll still in one hand. Exactly how much wealth does Lance carry on him? Lance hurried Link to Epona as Link popped the last of the sweet roll into his mouth and hurriedly licked his fingers, not wanting to miss out on the sugar. Lance hoisted him up onto her back. "Now, then. I trust you've done this before? Ah, good. Now it may be just a wee bit different than what you're used to. See those seven targets? Good. The center is the center of the circle obviously but it's much wider than the ground archery targets."
He pulled Link a bit closer by the shoulder, a slightly darker leer in his green eyes, "You won't be needin' to make such sharp shots and getting Crystal to fret again. We all came to enjoy ourselves and this particular game also bears no profitable reward for the best. Well, the way I see it, no pat on the back is worth ruining dear Crystal's good humor and my own good time, see?" Link nodded in agreement, still struggling to swallow the roll as Lance set him upright on Epona once again, the friendly smile back on his face. "Good then, get out there and show them what you got.just not all of it."
Link beat on his own chest, coaxing the sticky dough down and finally nodded and took a few deep breaths. Lance patted Epona's neck and led her to the starting position where several other men, some decorated, others plain, waited their turns to ride. Link licked the last sugar from his lips and wished he had some milk to calm both his stomach and his nerves.
The next man went up to the starting line just before the fence. Link watched wearily as the man dug his heels into the horse's flanks, sending it scrambling in the dirt and running full out ahead. The man held the reigns in his bow hand and an arrow in his free hand, the quiver of arrows bounced on the pommel of his saddle.
Link yawned as the man scored one hundred, fifty points out of a possible three hundred. The next came up to the starting point, his own bow and quiver rested on his saddle. Link checked his quiver, making sure it was easy to reach over his shoulder. It was.
Archer after archer went up for their turn. Link, Crystal, and Lance waited the full twenty minutes before it was finally Link's turn. He woke himself up as best he could and looked at the targets. Again, he could see the very center of the center circle in the nearest two targets. He shook his head. Crystal was angry enough though she didn't show it at the moment. Link knew he had to do fair but not excellent as he almost always did.
The white flag went up, signaling him to get ready. Link held onto Epona's mane, knowing she would want to spring forward. The flag went down and Epona indeed did spring forward. Link quickly brought himself to Epona's speed and rhythm before taking up his bow and drawing an arrow from over his shoulder. Fitting it into the bow, he drew it back and fired at the target before he had time to see the center of it. It hit the second ring a little low.
The second target came up and Link performed the same shot, this time inching closer to the center. He at least wanted to best the last guy to prove he, a boy, could beat the adults. Perhaps Crystal would be proud?
In the end of the run, Epona snorted, knowing Link didn't try his hardest. Link patted her shoulder comfortingly and dismounted to join the others. Crystal beamed happily at him, "Nice job but I can do better than that on the field. Why were you firing so quickly?" Link shrugged once again, "Epona was running fast and I had to keep up. I didn't exactly have a saddle to hold me in place, after all." Crystal didn't quite believe his excuse but let it go. There were always more things to do at the festival so they went off to find something else.
As they passed by the booths from which they came, Link's eyes wandered to the stage where the harpist had performed. This time there was a singer and a guitar player singing their own song as a crowd watched and listened. Link sighed but Lance came up and threw an arm over his shoulders, his other arm going around Crystal, "Cheer up, Link, you'll probably get another chance to see any specific performance. Tonight at the dinner banquet everyone, performers, royalty, rich and poor will all gather to welcome the springtime together! Ah, I remember last year's festival. Wonderful thing it was. Hey, I told you to cheer up!" Link slightly hung his head, his thoughts back on Navi and how he seemed unable to find her no matter where he went! The words of the song floated back to him in his mind.
Friend in need, friend indeed, wherever he may see dawn
Friend in need, friend indeed, sometime soon she will come
He looked up at Lance and tried to smile. Lance, though confused at the boy, grinned nonetheless, "Now that's a fair attempt. Let's see if we can make that genuine. Come, Crystal. We have some shops to visit before noontime! Ah, I have just the place. It's called Seveth's Shop, I think you will enjoy it very much, the both of you. These people are old friends of mine so I do smell a discount in the air. Perhaps the money in my pocket won't burn after all!"
It was a few rows over to which they passed between carts and filed through crowds until they came upon a huge tented shop, the poles had been visible from the field but seeing the place up close, Link wanted to turn tail and run. The walls, top, and flaps were striped dark purple and black. Link came to a quick stop as Lance and Crystal started along inside. "Wait, guys. Are you sure this place is exactly safe? It looks like it may deal in dark magic to me." Lance grabbed his wrist and began pulling him forward almost effortlessly saying, "Sure, I'm sure. This place looks so gloomy only cause one of the brothers working the place doesn't like sunlight even though the other loves it. He even tried a few methods of bottling it and all he manages to bottle so far is fire, which is hard to carry cause the heat goes through the glass, see? Also he managed to make a certain type of bottle that actually holds those little fire fly creatures that are actually fairies in disguise. Odd thing is there are rumored to be people who can see which are fireflies and which are true fairies. This fellow in here can see the difference or see the truth some may say." Link perked up a bit more at this last comment. Lance laughed and led him the rest of the way inside, talking the whole way, "Now when I said 'see the truth' that don't mean he's a Sheikah, per say. He simply has a sharp eye, a fast mind and a pure heart."
A hearty laugh welcomed them into the spacious, candle lit tent. A rather small man was at the front desk while more flaps leading to a back room were on either side of the desk. His brother, or anyone else for that matter, was no where to be found. Link blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the dim light as the clerk said, "Are you spreading rumors about me again, Lance Montego? I swear that someday you are going to get us to run out of stock. Then what are we to do?"
Lance answered easily and shortly, "Retire two happy brothers." Link was amazed at the shortness of the answer but then Lance continued, "After all, you have more wares here than I could shake a long knife at if I had a mean to. If you were to sell all this stuff AND what's in the back room, you could afford a mansion in the hills with three dozen waiters to make you comfy. Hey, that does sound like a nice idea. Matter of fact, it reminds me of a dream."
Link came up beside Crystal as she knelt down and spied a large, dark bottle sitting among other bottles in a lower shelf nearly against the tent wall. "What's so special about this one?" He asked. Crystal shook her head and gently tapped the side of it with a fingernail, "All the others I can see into but this one is different. I can't see the contents at all. It's a bit unnerving." She stood up again with a bit of a sigh and turned to him, "Link, Lance didn't want to answer your statement about dark magic because that is what the desk clerks brother deals in. It is his specialty but this guy," She jerked her thumb at the man Lance talked to, "Deals in good magic, healing things and protection spells. I guess there is nothing to be nervous about unless he brings us into the back room. I just wanted to warn you of that."
Link nodded solemnly as the good brother came around the desk to see the bottles nearly on the top self among several books. "See anything you take interest in, friend?" Link smiled a bit quickly, "I'm just browsing. Do you happen to have certain types of milk handy anywhere?" The desk clerk was thoughtful for a moment but shook his head, "Afraid not. But I do have a recipe book for all sorts of stuff you can use milk in. Both plain and fancy foods, care to take a look?" Link waved a hand in denial, "No, thank you. What about fairies? You have many books but do you have a book as of where they live or how to find them?" This time the desk clerk did not hesitate. He left that shelf and went to the opposite side of the store where an identical shelf was set. He reached to the very top row and pulled out a thick, heavy, and obviously old book. "Ah, yes. I was wondering when I could pull out this book for a customer to see. This, friend, is an ancient book over ancient knowledge of the fairy folk.
"It's been taken into many a shop but nobody bought it for as long as to when fairies went out of interest. Many today do not believe even in their existence. This book will tell you of grounds special to them, that kinds of fountains they call home and what power and magic their life-force truly posses." Link took the hardback book respectfully and opened the cover. A beautiful sketch of a fairy accompanied the title "Words Fade in Time, Wisdom Passed Never Dies" He thought it was a long title but a very true statement as well. He turned to the shopkeeper, closing the book carefully, "How much is it?"
"Ten gold pieces." Link turned to Lance but the boy shook his head. Link stroked the cover slightly. This book must hold a clue as to Navi's disappearance so long ago. He became persistent, "Tell me, can I pay in my own currency? It is a type of jewel we call a rupee. Would you accept it?" The shopkeeper turned all his attention on the boy, "Let me see the jewels. I don't know about a land that uses 'rupees' but jewels are valuable nonetheless." Link dug his hand into his wallet and pulled out two purple rupees. The man took up one and drew an eyepiece from his vest pocket to examine the jewel. "Interesting. Perhaps I will find this place someday and this could be handy. Boy, I want you to be perfectly honest. How much is this worth?" Link said with a straight face, "Fifty green rupees. Green have a value of one."
"Fifty rupees." The man translated to himself. "Kid, I think you have a passion for fairies and you'll treat this book right. Very well then, I'll give it to you for one-hundred rupees." Link smiled in relief and bowed respectfully. "Thank you sir. I will take care of it."
With that single purchase, the group left the large tent and Link began looking through pictures in it. Each picture seemed to be drawn by a master and held a description of the fairy or scene beside it. He stopped on one picture. It depicted several fairies accompanying several children. Each child was playing music or playing with their fairy partner. The description beside the picture read "Kokiri Children at Play." Link had to smile as he looked at the picture from one face to the next and over each fairy. Crystal quietly came up behind him and looked at the picture over his shoulder. "How cute!" She said and Link whirled on her, slapping the book shut. Crystal smiled knowingly and kept on walking with Lance. Link followed behind them to a booth selling trinkets and necklaces, where he opened the book again.
~~~~~~~
He only put the book down when the sound of angry yells and steel hitting steel came to his pointed ears. A sword fight! He set the book safely against his side, held secure by his forearm and ran to where the fight was. Well, he ran as best he could through the still thick crowd.
Two knights wearing a full suit of armor fought blade-to-blade in a small, penned in area. He watched as one man slightly lost his balance, just enough for the opponent to spin about behind him and land the blade against the armor on the other knight's back. What sounded like a roll of thunder accompanied the blow and the man staggered down a bit more.
Not missing a beat, the knight pushed his attack still further, bringing the blade back up and then down to the other shoulder. The fallen knight slumped a bit further down and finally dropped his broadsword. The audience around went up in a roar of applause for the victor as he lifted his sword and shook it, enjoying his victory.
Link lifted a free fist in appreciation of a well-fought match. He mused, if only he were seventeen again! Then laughed at the odd thought since he was twelve.
Lance cheered alongside him as Crystal happily nibbled on her sugar roll, savoring it in a way that made Link regret his choking it down. Lance laughed slightly, "Make's ye wish ye were old enough, neh? I do. Alas, here even my weaslin' ways won't get us far. What? Ah, yes. I am rather saddened that I have to swindle but seeing the faces of those astounded grown men while you did not half bad was worth every copper! Well, how about you and I have a bit of fun one-on -one? We could start when this little match coming up next is over. If I read the scores right, it will be the final one for about ten minutes. More than enough time for you and I to keep the crown warmed up, neh? What do you say?" Link answered by drawing his sword and giving his book to Crystal telling her to take care. She nodded and watched as both boys jumped into the cleared out pen.
Lance quickly unsheathed both his long knives and matched against Link's gilded sword. Link was grateful for his practice with Crystal as both she and Lance used the same technique. He locked the knives with the blade and gave it a spin out of the way. However, Lance let himself spin with the two blades in front of him and came back, both blades at a cross set against Link's throat as Link had set his blade preparing to meet him around. They both stopped as Link's sword was erected toward Lance's throat and Lance's knives were ready to slit Link's throat. Lance smiled first, "Very nice. Guess I can't under-estimate you."
With no more words, Lance quickly pulled away from Link's sword and brought the knives down to get Link near the throat, putting him into a stale-mate however, Link pulled his sword up and blocked both knives with a sharp ringing of steel. Lance pulled one blade back, letting only a little pressure off the pushing blade and set the free knife to the tip of the blade twisting it away from him. Link brought his blade back to a defensive stance, as did Lance with his knives. The audience decided to stay and another familiar face made himself known in one the crowd.
Link did not care about the audience, however. For that moment all he could see was the fighter before him. Again the long knives flashed and again Link kept track of them and countered with his sword, testing a thrust to drive the boy back. It worked and in surprise, Lance jumped back. Link followed through with a couple steps forward, bringing himself beside the blade and spun into a horizontal attack catching Lance's daggers and throwing them both out of his hands. They both stuck into the dirt near a corner of the pen. Link smiled for a moment and brought the blade to Lance's throat before he could move toward them. Lance slowly stood, guided by Link's sword but in Lance's left hand was yet another blade once hidden in his boot. Link saw this but only for a second as the blade flashed upward to Link's ribs but stopped before touching the cloth. The two boys smiled at each other, knowing they both had skill.
A trumpet could be heard from a fair distance away. Lunch was being served. Lance laughed loudly, "Well, now. We shall call the score even for only until he have more energy, neh? Let us be merry as brothers and join each other to lunch." Link looked about a moment, his face warmer with a blush for Lance's announcing them as friends before the crowd. Lance swatted him on the back in a friendly manner before setting his hidden blade away before reclaiming his two long knives and cleaning them to re-sheathing them as well. Crystal laughed slightly as she handed Link back his boot and all three plus half the crowd wandered off. Andrake followed from the crowd, wondering why Link was still hanging around. He knew the new guy was going to be trouble if something wasn't done soon. He decided to have a little talk with the swordsman if he could grab him away from Lance and Crystal.
~~~~~~~
CrysSton16: *grabs a heavy wooden mallet before Merrick can say anything* Try it, buddy. If Shadow Knight can't take care of you, I will! We're writing this chapter together so to get to Shadow Girl, you have to come through me!
^_^; Umm, guys?
Link: That goes double for me. She and I have our differences but still she is a great creator. Great creations like this take time. You can't just push her.
Hey, guys.
CrysSton16: If she needs a break, she darn well deserves one for how far she has brought this story!
HEY, GUYS!!
CrysSton16: @_@
Link: @_@
Sorry, Merrick, but you get the picture. Coming up is a vacation but only for a couple of days. More than likely, the story will be done by then ^_^
.on to the sequel. But not yet!
Ah, more festivities coming soon and hopefully a big surprise for the gang and for everybody there. No, the Sheikah is not involved.
Until next time!
Link: If I behave, can I have my sword back?
Only If you promise not to come at me like that again.
Link: Only if you promise not to humiliate me like that again!
Okay. *Shakes hands* Now if only Merrick would chill.
Geez, he tore my Author's shirt! And I just painted that wall. .
Anyway, the people whom this chapter is dedicated to are Shadow Knight, CrysSton16 (doesn't that go without saying?), GSfreak, and yet another new person, Laura.
Link: Hi, Laura!!
-_-;; He's a sucker for all girls except me.
~~~~~~~~~~
~ Festivities at the Festival 2 ~
Crystal followed behind Link, staring at the back of his hat as he and Lance bought three sweet rolls. Lance had to pay with a few coppers only because Link's rupees meant nothing there. Link turned around to hand Crystal her sweet roll but met her piercing gaze. He blinked in confusion and finally said, "What is it? Did I offend you or something?" Crystal shook her head, "Exactly how did you learn to shoot like that?! I've practiced all my life and haven't gotten any better than my shot back there."
Link couldn't tell her the truth. There was no way Crystal could understand that he was twelve with three more years of experience after the seven-year sleep. He would have had to bring up old, painful memories of Ganondorf's reign, how his Kokiri family was left nearly defenseless, how his best friend, Malon, was turned into basically a slave. He shrugged it off, "Call it luck."
Crystal nearly grabbed for him to demand answers but Lance cut in-between them, "Hey, now. I thought festivals were for fun and friendly fighting, not tearing each other's head and limbs off for nothing. If you have to vent some frustrations, wait for the sword combat. Now, calm down Crystal. I know a way Link can prove if he is good or not." Link didn't like the sound of that either.
Lance led them to the another section of the field where seven huge targets were posted up and a well-ridden path in the grass was worn. A fence was beside the path, in front of the targets. He made his intention clear. Horseback archery. Supposedly, only adults were allowed to compete weather they were royalties or not. Lance went to the judge, a large man with a not at all friendly face.
"Get out of 'ere, young whelps. This be a manly event, not for some young stable boys." Link stood nonchalantly behind Lance, doubting this could ever work, and took a large bite of the sweet roll. He decided to enjoy that while Lance made an idiot of himself. Lance grinned widely up at the man and shifted his weight confidently.
"Well, now, big guy. I was thinking now how it would be a great entertainment for a youth like this guy to compete. Haven't ye seen the bloody good shot in the ground archery division? No? Aww, that's a stroke of misfortune. How 'bout, I pay you double the price to compete just for my good buddy here can give it a go? Nothing to lose and no harm in it, all fun and games is what it is. People go one at a time so there is no way anyone's precious pony's going to get pierced. Now, that's a good man!" Lance slid a few extra gold pieces into the inconspicuously open hand.
Link stood in disbelief, half the sweet roll still in one hand. Exactly how much wealth does Lance carry on him? Lance hurried Link to Epona as Link popped the last of the sweet roll into his mouth and hurriedly licked his fingers, not wanting to miss out on the sugar. Lance hoisted him up onto her back. "Now, then. I trust you've done this before? Ah, good. Now it may be just a wee bit different than what you're used to. See those seven targets? Good. The center is the center of the circle obviously but it's much wider than the ground archery targets."
He pulled Link a bit closer by the shoulder, a slightly darker leer in his green eyes, "You won't be needin' to make such sharp shots and getting Crystal to fret again. We all came to enjoy ourselves and this particular game also bears no profitable reward for the best. Well, the way I see it, no pat on the back is worth ruining dear Crystal's good humor and my own good time, see?" Link nodded in agreement, still struggling to swallow the roll as Lance set him upright on Epona once again, the friendly smile back on his face. "Good then, get out there and show them what you got.just not all of it."
Link beat on his own chest, coaxing the sticky dough down and finally nodded and took a few deep breaths. Lance patted Epona's neck and led her to the starting position where several other men, some decorated, others plain, waited their turns to ride. Link licked the last sugar from his lips and wished he had some milk to calm both his stomach and his nerves.
The next man went up to the starting line just before the fence. Link watched wearily as the man dug his heels into the horse's flanks, sending it scrambling in the dirt and running full out ahead. The man held the reigns in his bow hand and an arrow in his free hand, the quiver of arrows bounced on the pommel of his saddle.
Link yawned as the man scored one hundred, fifty points out of a possible three hundred. The next came up to the starting point, his own bow and quiver rested on his saddle. Link checked his quiver, making sure it was easy to reach over his shoulder. It was.
Archer after archer went up for their turn. Link, Crystal, and Lance waited the full twenty minutes before it was finally Link's turn. He woke himself up as best he could and looked at the targets. Again, he could see the very center of the center circle in the nearest two targets. He shook his head. Crystal was angry enough though she didn't show it at the moment. Link knew he had to do fair but not excellent as he almost always did.
The white flag went up, signaling him to get ready. Link held onto Epona's mane, knowing she would want to spring forward. The flag went down and Epona indeed did spring forward. Link quickly brought himself to Epona's speed and rhythm before taking up his bow and drawing an arrow from over his shoulder. Fitting it into the bow, he drew it back and fired at the target before he had time to see the center of it. It hit the second ring a little low.
The second target came up and Link performed the same shot, this time inching closer to the center. He at least wanted to best the last guy to prove he, a boy, could beat the adults. Perhaps Crystal would be proud?
In the end of the run, Epona snorted, knowing Link didn't try his hardest. Link patted her shoulder comfortingly and dismounted to join the others. Crystal beamed happily at him, "Nice job but I can do better than that on the field. Why were you firing so quickly?" Link shrugged once again, "Epona was running fast and I had to keep up. I didn't exactly have a saddle to hold me in place, after all." Crystal didn't quite believe his excuse but let it go. There were always more things to do at the festival so they went off to find something else.
As they passed by the booths from which they came, Link's eyes wandered to the stage where the harpist had performed. This time there was a singer and a guitar player singing their own song as a crowd watched and listened. Link sighed but Lance came up and threw an arm over his shoulders, his other arm going around Crystal, "Cheer up, Link, you'll probably get another chance to see any specific performance. Tonight at the dinner banquet everyone, performers, royalty, rich and poor will all gather to welcome the springtime together! Ah, I remember last year's festival. Wonderful thing it was. Hey, I told you to cheer up!" Link slightly hung his head, his thoughts back on Navi and how he seemed unable to find her no matter where he went! The words of the song floated back to him in his mind.
Friend in need, friend indeed, wherever he may see dawn
Friend in need, friend indeed, sometime soon she will come
He looked up at Lance and tried to smile. Lance, though confused at the boy, grinned nonetheless, "Now that's a fair attempt. Let's see if we can make that genuine. Come, Crystal. We have some shops to visit before noontime! Ah, I have just the place. It's called Seveth's Shop, I think you will enjoy it very much, the both of you. These people are old friends of mine so I do smell a discount in the air. Perhaps the money in my pocket won't burn after all!"
It was a few rows over to which they passed between carts and filed through crowds until they came upon a huge tented shop, the poles had been visible from the field but seeing the place up close, Link wanted to turn tail and run. The walls, top, and flaps were striped dark purple and black. Link came to a quick stop as Lance and Crystal started along inside. "Wait, guys. Are you sure this place is exactly safe? It looks like it may deal in dark magic to me." Lance grabbed his wrist and began pulling him forward almost effortlessly saying, "Sure, I'm sure. This place looks so gloomy only cause one of the brothers working the place doesn't like sunlight even though the other loves it. He even tried a few methods of bottling it and all he manages to bottle so far is fire, which is hard to carry cause the heat goes through the glass, see? Also he managed to make a certain type of bottle that actually holds those little fire fly creatures that are actually fairies in disguise. Odd thing is there are rumored to be people who can see which are fireflies and which are true fairies. This fellow in here can see the difference or see the truth some may say." Link perked up a bit more at this last comment. Lance laughed and led him the rest of the way inside, talking the whole way, "Now when I said 'see the truth' that don't mean he's a Sheikah, per say. He simply has a sharp eye, a fast mind and a pure heart."
A hearty laugh welcomed them into the spacious, candle lit tent. A rather small man was at the front desk while more flaps leading to a back room were on either side of the desk. His brother, or anyone else for that matter, was no where to be found. Link blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the dim light as the clerk said, "Are you spreading rumors about me again, Lance Montego? I swear that someday you are going to get us to run out of stock. Then what are we to do?"
Lance answered easily and shortly, "Retire two happy brothers." Link was amazed at the shortness of the answer but then Lance continued, "After all, you have more wares here than I could shake a long knife at if I had a mean to. If you were to sell all this stuff AND what's in the back room, you could afford a mansion in the hills with three dozen waiters to make you comfy. Hey, that does sound like a nice idea. Matter of fact, it reminds me of a dream."
Link came up beside Crystal as she knelt down and spied a large, dark bottle sitting among other bottles in a lower shelf nearly against the tent wall. "What's so special about this one?" He asked. Crystal shook her head and gently tapped the side of it with a fingernail, "All the others I can see into but this one is different. I can't see the contents at all. It's a bit unnerving." She stood up again with a bit of a sigh and turned to him, "Link, Lance didn't want to answer your statement about dark magic because that is what the desk clerks brother deals in. It is his specialty but this guy," She jerked her thumb at the man Lance talked to, "Deals in good magic, healing things and protection spells. I guess there is nothing to be nervous about unless he brings us into the back room. I just wanted to warn you of that."
Link nodded solemnly as the good brother came around the desk to see the bottles nearly on the top self among several books. "See anything you take interest in, friend?" Link smiled a bit quickly, "I'm just browsing. Do you happen to have certain types of milk handy anywhere?" The desk clerk was thoughtful for a moment but shook his head, "Afraid not. But I do have a recipe book for all sorts of stuff you can use milk in. Both plain and fancy foods, care to take a look?" Link waved a hand in denial, "No, thank you. What about fairies? You have many books but do you have a book as of where they live or how to find them?" This time the desk clerk did not hesitate. He left that shelf and went to the opposite side of the store where an identical shelf was set. He reached to the very top row and pulled out a thick, heavy, and obviously old book. "Ah, yes. I was wondering when I could pull out this book for a customer to see. This, friend, is an ancient book over ancient knowledge of the fairy folk.
"It's been taken into many a shop but nobody bought it for as long as to when fairies went out of interest. Many today do not believe even in their existence. This book will tell you of grounds special to them, that kinds of fountains they call home and what power and magic their life-force truly posses." Link took the hardback book respectfully and opened the cover. A beautiful sketch of a fairy accompanied the title "Words Fade in Time, Wisdom Passed Never Dies" He thought it was a long title but a very true statement as well. He turned to the shopkeeper, closing the book carefully, "How much is it?"
"Ten gold pieces." Link turned to Lance but the boy shook his head. Link stroked the cover slightly. This book must hold a clue as to Navi's disappearance so long ago. He became persistent, "Tell me, can I pay in my own currency? It is a type of jewel we call a rupee. Would you accept it?" The shopkeeper turned all his attention on the boy, "Let me see the jewels. I don't know about a land that uses 'rupees' but jewels are valuable nonetheless." Link dug his hand into his wallet and pulled out two purple rupees. The man took up one and drew an eyepiece from his vest pocket to examine the jewel. "Interesting. Perhaps I will find this place someday and this could be handy. Boy, I want you to be perfectly honest. How much is this worth?" Link said with a straight face, "Fifty green rupees. Green have a value of one."
"Fifty rupees." The man translated to himself. "Kid, I think you have a passion for fairies and you'll treat this book right. Very well then, I'll give it to you for one-hundred rupees." Link smiled in relief and bowed respectfully. "Thank you sir. I will take care of it."
With that single purchase, the group left the large tent and Link began looking through pictures in it. Each picture seemed to be drawn by a master and held a description of the fairy or scene beside it. He stopped on one picture. It depicted several fairies accompanying several children. Each child was playing music or playing with their fairy partner. The description beside the picture read "Kokiri Children at Play." Link had to smile as he looked at the picture from one face to the next and over each fairy. Crystal quietly came up behind him and looked at the picture over his shoulder. "How cute!" She said and Link whirled on her, slapping the book shut. Crystal smiled knowingly and kept on walking with Lance. Link followed behind them to a booth selling trinkets and necklaces, where he opened the book again.
~~~~~~~
He only put the book down when the sound of angry yells and steel hitting steel came to his pointed ears. A sword fight! He set the book safely against his side, held secure by his forearm and ran to where the fight was. Well, he ran as best he could through the still thick crowd.
Two knights wearing a full suit of armor fought blade-to-blade in a small, penned in area. He watched as one man slightly lost his balance, just enough for the opponent to spin about behind him and land the blade against the armor on the other knight's back. What sounded like a roll of thunder accompanied the blow and the man staggered down a bit more.
Not missing a beat, the knight pushed his attack still further, bringing the blade back up and then down to the other shoulder. The fallen knight slumped a bit further down and finally dropped his broadsword. The audience around went up in a roar of applause for the victor as he lifted his sword and shook it, enjoying his victory.
Link lifted a free fist in appreciation of a well-fought match. He mused, if only he were seventeen again! Then laughed at the odd thought since he was twelve.
Lance cheered alongside him as Crystal happily nibbled on her sugar roll, savoring it in a way that made Link regret his choking it down. Lance laughed slightly, "Make's ye wish ye were old enough, neh? I do. Alas, here even my weaslin' ways won't get us far. What? Ah, yes. I am rather saddened that I have to swindle but seeing the faces of those astounded grown men while you did not half bad was worth every copper! Well, how about you and I have a bit of fun one-on -one? We could start when this little match coming up next is over. If I read the scores right, it will be the final one for about ten minutes. More than enough time for you and I to keep the crown warmed up, neh? What do you say?" Link answered by drawing his sword and giving his book to Crystal telling her to take care. She nodded and watched as both boys jumped into the cleared out pen.
Lance quickly unsheathed both his long knives and matched against Link's gilded sword. Link was grateful for his practice with Crystal as both she and Lance used the same technique. He locked the knives with the blade and gave it a spin out of the way. However, Lance let himself spin with the two blades in front of him and came back, both blades at a cross set against Link's throat as Link had set his blade preparing to meet him around. They both stopped as Link's sword was erected toward Lance's throat and Lance's knives were ready to slit Link's throat. Lance smiled first, "Very nice. Guess I can't under-estimate you."
With no more words, Lance quickly pulled away from Link's sword and brought the knives down to get Link near the throat, putting him into a stale-mate however, Link pulled his sword up and blocked both knives with a sharp ringing of steel. Lance pulled one blade back, letting only a little pressure off the pushing blade and set the free knife to the tip of the blade twisting it away from him. Link brought his blade back to a defensive stance, as did Lance with his knives. The audience decided to stay and another familiar face made himself known in one the crowd.
Link did not care about the audience, however. For that moment all he could see was the fighter before him. Again the long knives flashed and again Link kept track of them and countered with his sword, testing a thrust to drive the boy back. It worked and in surprise, Lance jumped back. Link followed through with a couple steps forward, bringing himself beside the blade and spun into a horizontal attack catching Lance's daggers and throwing them both out of his hands. They both stuck into the dirt near a corner of the pen. Link smiled for a moment and brought the blade to Lance's throat before he could move toward them. Lance slowly stood, guided by Link's sword but in Lance's left hand was yet another blade once hidden in his boot. Link saw this but only for a second as the blade flashed upward to Link's ribs but stopped before touching the cloth. The two boys smiled at each other, knowing they both had skill.
A trumpet could be heard from a fair distance away. Lunch was being served. Lance laughed loudly, "Well, now. We shall call the score even for only until he have more energy, neh? Let us be merry as brothers and join each other to lunch." Link looked about a moment, his face warmer with a blush for Lance's announcing them as friends before the crowd. Lance swatted him on the back in a friendly manner before setting his hidden blade away before reclaiming his two long knives and cleaning them to re-sheathing them as well. Crystal laughed slightly as she handed Link back his boot and all three plus half the crowd wandered off. Andrake followed from the crowd, wondering why Link was still hanging around. He knew the new guy was going to be trouble if something wasn't done soon. He decided to have a little talk with the swordsman if he could grab him away from Lance and Crystal.
~~~~~~~
CrysSton16: *grabs a heavy wooden mallet before Merrick can say anything* Try it, buddy. If Shadow Knight can't take care of you, I will! We're writing this chapter together so to get to Shadow Girl, you have to come through me!
^_^; Umm, guys?
Link: That goes double for me. She and I have our differences but still she is a great creator. Great creations like this take time. You can't just push her.
Hey, guys.
CrysSton16: If she needs a break, she darn well deserves one for how far she has brought this story!
HEY, GUYS!!
CrysSton16: @_@
Link: @_@
Sorry, Merrick, but you get the picture. Coming up is a vacation but only for a couple of days. More than likely, the story will be done by then ^_^
.on to the sequel. But not yet!
Ah, more festivities coming soon and hopefully a big surprise for the gang and for everybody there. No, the Sheikah is not involved.
Until next time!
