Well, I didn't get as many reviews as I thought I would. *Wags finger and
clucks* You readers have been naughty. Please review this time!! Those who
did review receive a cheese and cracker platter via air mail.
Chapter Two Summary: It's now been five years since the twins were born. Gem recently had their third child, a girl they named Lianell. Today is the twin's birthday.
"Gifts and New Friends"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*
"Mommy! I'm five!" Naturo shouted as he ran downstairs for breakfast. His bright blue eyes sparkled happily under his shock of bright red hair. Gem grinned and shifted one-month-old Lianell to her other shoulder. "Yes, you are," she said, kissing the top of his head. Linessa came flying out of the big room upstairs, ran down the steps and promptly tripped on the last step. She yelled as she toppled to the floor. Gem gasped.
"Nessa! Are you alright?" She hurried over to her oldest daughter. Linessa grinned up at Gem, not a scratch on her. Gem sighed in relief. "You have to be more careful, sweetie," she said softly. Linessa stood up.
"Am I five yet?" she chirped. Gem laughed. This became the little girl's sole concern once a year.
"Not yet. You have about two hours to go, it's only eight." Linessa huffed poutily.
"When will I be older than Nat?" she asked sadly. Naturo ran over to them.
"Never! I was born before you!" he exclaimed. He started dancing around them in circles. Linessa's bright green eyes flashed under her blonde bangs, which Gem brushed out of her face. "Nessa, Daddy has a surprise for you and Naturo out in the stables. Hurry up and eat!" The twins quickly sat down and gulped their food down eagerly. Linessa was the first one done and she ran towards the door.
"Wait for Nat!" Gem called. Linessa sighed exasperatedly and tapped her foot. "Naturo takes too long!" she whined.
"And you better stop eating so fast, or you'll get a belly ache," Gem replied, sticking the nipple of a bottle into Lianell's tiny mouth. The baby gazed up at her mother with green and blue flecked eyes as she drank happily.
"Nat, hurry!" Linessa pleaded. Nat pushed his chair back and hurried over. "I'm done, thanks Mommy!"
"Thank you," Linessa said politely as she opened the door. Both children dashed out into the sunshine. Gem smiled as Arinell came out of her room.
"Linessa is so much like her father," Arinell said, stroking Lianell's cheek. Gem watched the twins through the window. "And Nat's like both of us," Gem said quietly. She looked at her mother. "Nessa seems like she can already take care of herself. She doesn't like me to help dress her. She likes to do things alone."
"Well, maybe not entirely like Link," Arinell said, smiling. "You're lucky to have such great children." Gem nodded.
"So, what is Link giving them?" Arinell asked, pouring a cup of hot coffee. Gem grinned.
~*~*~*~
"Daddy!" Linessa shrieked, hurtling into his legs. Naturo stared in awe at what was tied to the ropes Link held in his hand. Their father grinned. "Do you like them?" he asked, rubbing his chin, which now sported a goatee. Linessa gazed up at him, Gem's eyes sparkling and grinning happily. That was all Link needed. Naturo broke into a grin.
"This one's yours," Link said, handing Linessa the rope attached to a small dapple gray filly.
"And here's yours." He handed his son a rope tied to a black foal. The twins looked at each other and burst into giggles. Link smiled. "Courtesy of Lightning and Duchess," he said. As if on cue, Lighting whinnied and Duchess snorted, gazing at her young.
"Twins?" Naturo asked. Link nodded. "They were born the other day. I just had to keep them hidden." Link watched his children's ecstatic faces. "Just like us!" Linessa squealed, wrapping her arms around her horse's neck. The filly nuzzled the girl's neck. Naturo stroked his horse's snout.
"Speedo," he whispered. "I'm naming him Speedo." Link looked down at his oldest daughter, who was still hugging the horse, and smiled. "Well, Nessa, what will you name yours?" he asked.
"Diamond," she answered automatically. The filly perked up her ears at this. Link laughed.
"Well, she likes it! Diamond, then." Link led them over to Duchess's stall. "Put them in here," he said, opening the stall door to the large space that the majestic mare inhabited. "They need their mother's milk for a while yet," he explained to the twins.
Once the young horses were back with their mother, Link scooped Linessa up and spun her around. She threw her head back and laughed. A grin split Link's face as he set her down and did the same to Naturo. The little boy shrieked with laughter.
"Phew! You two are getting heavy!" he exclaimed as he set Nat down. "Now let's go in. I need to discuss something with your mother." The children each grabbed a hand and the trio started out of the stable.
"Thank you, Daddy," Linessa chirped softly as they reached the door of the house. Nat nodded. "Thanks." Link knelt down and gave each of them a hug and a kiss. "You're welcome," he replied. He stood up and opened the door. The twins ran inside and Link followed, grinning.
"Mommy! We have horses!!" Linessa said excitedly. Arinell picked her up. "That's great, honey!" Linessa hugged her grandma. "Mine's named Diamond," she told them.
"Mine is Speedo," Naturo added. "He's black." Link smiled and ruffled his son's red hair.
"Gem, since Nat went with me on an errand last time, I'm going to take Nessa," he told his wife. Linessa looked at him from Arinell's arms.
"Where are you going?" Gem asked as she finished changing Lianell's diaper. Link tickled the baby's nose. "Out west," he replied nonchalantly.
"Where out west?" Gem inquired, eyebrows raised. Link sighed and whispered in her ear. Gem looked at him doubtfully. "Are you sure? Is it safe?" Linessa was staring at her parents. Link nodded confidently.
"They trust me, and she's my daughter," he answered. Gem frowned. "Alright," she agreed. Link took Linessa from Arinell. "Want to come with me?" he asked her. Linessa frowned, trying to act like Gem. "Alright!" she said, grinning. Link laughed.
"Just have her back by ten!" Gem called as they walked out the door.
"Bye!" Linessa shouted as the door closed. Gem watched Link out her on Epona, then get on himself. A minute later, they were gone.
"Where did he have to go?" Arinell asked, walking over with a cooing Lianell. Gem took her baby in her arms and gazed at the tiny figure.
"Gerudo's Fortress," she answered quietly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Linessa gripped Epona's mane tightly, even though her father's strong arms were holding her protectively. The trees and flowers flew by, and she couldn't help but grin.
Soon a rocky wall came into view. A trail went around it. It was this path Link took, up a slope and across packed dirt into a canyon. Linessa watched a fish swim away as they crossed a pool of water on a board.
"Hang on," her father whispered in her ear. She gripped the horse's mane until her little knuckles turned white. Epona ran down a ramp, across a wooden bridge and up another ramp. LinessThe first thing La saw was a f a long river and huge waterfalls. They passed a tent full of workers and between two steep cliffs. Suddenly, they stopped moving.
"We're here," Link said happily. He dismounted carefully and put Linessa on his shoulders. He carried her up a flight of nearby stairs. The first thing Linessa saw was a purple clad woman. She was holding a long stick with a large knife at the end. Linessa stared in awe as she came towards them.
"Link! How are you?" she asked as he set Linessa down. They shook hands.
"I'm good, Alia. This is my daughter, Linessa. She turns five today, along with her twin brother, Naturo." The woman knelt down and looked at Linessa. Linessa stared back at her. Alia's eyes were orange, and she had short spiky black hair. The bottom half of her face was covered by a purple veil, but Linessa saw her pink lips curl into a warm smile.
"Hello, Linessa," she said. "She has your hair, Link." Alia brushed a stray lock out of the little girl's eyes. Linessa smiled at her.
"Hello, Alia," she answered, holding out a small hand. Alia laughed and shook it. "Not afraid, either!" she added. Then she stood up. "Do you know what I am?" she asked Linessa. The latter shook her blonde head.
"I am a Gerudo. I'm not full blood, though. She is." Alia pointed to a woman dressed in white. Her hair and eyes were red, and her skin was a lovely tan color. Linessa smiled. "I think you're pretty," she said. Alia laughed.
"Thanks, hon! Anyways, Link, you're here for the money for the horse, aren't you?" she asked. Link nodded.
"The queen's got it. She's in her quarters if you want to get it. I'll watch Linessa."
Link smiled down at his daughter. "Is that okay?" he asked her. She nodded.
"Alright. I'll be back in a little bit." Link walked through a nearby door. Alia smiled at Linessa.
"Do you want to see something really neat?" she asked. Linessa nodded. Alia took her small hand in hers and led her towards a different door.
"A couple of my friends should be training. Would you like to see it?" Linessa looked up at Alia. "What are they training for?" she asked. Alia chuckled. "They are fighting each other for practice in case of combat. Come." Alia led her to a chamber filled with sand.
Linessa's ears were suddenly filled with the sound of clanging metal. She covered her ears as two young Gerudos came into sight. As she watched, one flipped backwards and landed on her feet in the sand. Linessa's mouth dropped and the girl lashed out at the other, cutting her arm. The injured girl fell onto her back, muttering. The wound healed and she jumped to her feet.
"How long have you been fighting?" Alia asked. The girl who flipped put her swords back in their sheaths.
"Long enough," she replied wearily. Then she spotted Linessa, who had been watching contentedly.
"Who's this?" the woman asked Alia, coming over. The other girl followed.
"Cayli, Brigit, this is Linessa. She's Link's daughter," Alia said, sounding important. Cayli knelt down.
"Yep, she's Link's alright," she said with a laugh. Brigit smiled. "And Gem's, you can tell." Linessa did a wobbly curtsy and fell over. The women laughed.
"Polite little thing," Brigit commented, helping the little girl up and brushing the sand off of her.
"Thank you," Linessa said happily.
"We should get back. Your daddy might be looking for you," Alia said. The four females went back outside into the sunshine. Link wasn't there.
"Can you learn to become a Grudo?" Linessa asked, staring up at them with large eyes. The women looked at each other.
"Well, I guess," Cayli said slowly. "You'd really have to look and act like them, though."
"How.....?" Linessa started, but at that moment, Link returned from the queen's quarters.
"Well, ready to go?" he asked, picking her up. Linessa nodded sadly.
"Bye, Linessa!" the three women called as they walked away. Linessa waved.
"What did you think of that?" Link asked as he sat Linessa on Epona. She thought for a minute.
"It was nice," she said decisively. As they rose off, however, she couldn't get the Gerudos off her mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Just in time!" Gem exclaimed as they rode up. Link hopped off and kissed his wife.
"Twenty more minutes, Nessa, and you'll be five, too," Naturo announced as he joined them in the yard. Link lifted Linessa off the horse and into Gem's arms.
"So, as the next birthday person, will you please go get two bottles of milk out of that building?" Gem asked, pointing with her free hand. Linessa nodded vigorously. Once Gem set her on the ground, she ran off, proud to be entrusted with such an important mission. The others went back inside, talking.
Linessa slowed down as she neared the door. A Cucco scratched and pecked at the ground. She watched for a second and then opened the door.
A blast of humid air hit Linessa in the face as she entered. She coughed after inhaling a cloud of dust. The two cows that lived in the building looked at her lazily and chewed their hay. She patted them each on the head and headed to the milk crate.
That's when she saw it.
A small hole could be seen in the wall behind another milk crate. Linessa crawled over the boxes to investigate. She knelt down and peered through. A small pile of hay sat in the middle of the tiny room the hole led to. Linessa tried to squeeze through, but the whole was too small. She pushed the crate and fell back with a cry of surprise when it moved.
"I wonder what's in there?" she said to herself. She wriggled through on her belly. It was a little cooler in there than the other room, she discovered. She crawled into the hay and felt something cold press against her palm. Picking it up, she saw it was a small tan and green musical instrument of some sort. She put it to her lips and blew.
A high note emitted from it, startling Linessa. Then she noticed two other items sticking up out of the hay. One was a curved piece of designed wood, and the other was forked with a band. Linessa stared at the three treasures as she remembered her father's stories from when he was a little boy.
"An Ocarina, a boomerang, and a slingshot," she murmured. "These are Daddy's!" With that last bit pf knowledge, she stuck them in the big pocket on her skirt and crawled out.
"Linessa! Where are you?" The little girl could hear Arinell calling for her. She hurried over the crates, grabbed two bottles of milk, and ran towards the door, reaching it just as Arinell opened it. She smiled at her granddaughter. "Couldn't you open the door?" she asked gently. Linessa shook her head, face flushed and straw stuck in her hair and on her dress. Arinell picked them off, just missing Linessa's pocket of items several times.
"Well, you have four minutes left. We best hurry." As the two headed back to the house, Linessa could already feel the guilt welling up inside her.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Happy Birthday, Nat and Nessa!" the adults exclaimed. Lianell gurgled in approval. Nat laughed. Linessa just sat there and grinned.
"We made fried Cucco," Arinell said; "with potatoes and corn."
"We made a cake, too," Gem added. The twin's eyes widened. Their mother hardly ever made cake.
"Here are your other presents," Link said, handing them each a small package. Naturo and Linessa looked at each other. Usually they got just one present. It was a very special occasion for them. The children opened their presents eagerly.
Naturo held up a brand new pocket knife. Linessa smiled at the doll she had received.
"Thank you!" they chirped together. Link grinned.
"We're glad you like them," Gem answered. Link picked Lianell up out of her baby seat. The baby sneezed loudly, causing everyone to laugh.
"Well, we should eat," Arinell said. While the women put the food on the table, Link placed Lianell in her highchair and put on her bib. Linessa kicked Nat under the table and blinked twice when he looked at her. He nodded.
Once the adults sat down, they all said their prayers and started eating. Gem fed Lianell mashed potatoes a little bit at a time. The meal was silent, except for Gem cooing at the baby to eat. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the twins finished eating.
"We're going to go check our horses," Nat explained as they got up from the table. Linessa nodded.
"Alright, but come back for cake!" Gem said, carefully wiping Lianell's chin with her napkin. The two five-year-olds quickly went out to the stables.
"What is it, Nessa?" Naturo asked, softly stroking Speedo's forehead. Linessa fished the three objects out of her pocket and held them out to her brother. He picked up the boomerang and examined it carefully. Without looking up, he asked, "Where did you find these?"
"In the building where the milk is stored. There is a hole in the wall." Linessa paused. "They're Daddy's. Remember? An Ocarina, a slingshot.."
"And a boomerang," Nat finished.
"What should I do with them?" Linessa asked. He gazed at her, then handed the boomerang back.
"I have a box of things under my bed. We'll keep them there," he told her. "We better go back in." Linessa put them back in her pocket, and they held hands as they walked out.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
There, chapter two finished. Even more time will have passed in the next chapter. Please review!!
*Disclaimer:* Alia, Cayli, and Brigit, Gem, Arinell, Nat, Linessa, Lianell, Speedo, Diamond, Duchess, Lightning, and the plot are mine. So there!!
Chapter Two Summary: It's now been five years since the twins were born. Gem recently had their third child, a girl they named Lianell. Today is the twin's birthday.
"Gifts and New Friends"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~*
"Mommy! I'm five!" Naturo shouted as he ran downstairs for breakfast. His bright blue eyes sparkled happily under his shock of bright red hair. Gem grinned and shifted one-month-old Lianell to her other shoulder. "Yes, you are," she said, kissing the top of his head. Linessa came flying out of the big room upstairs, ran down the steps and promptly tripped on the last step. She yelled as she toppled to the floor. Gem gasped.
"Nessa! Are you alright?" She hurried over to her oldest daughter. Linessa grinned up at Gem, not a scratch on her. Gem sighed in relief. "You have to be more careful, sweetie," she said softly. Linessa stood up.
"Am I five yet?" she chirped. Gem laughed. This became the little girl's sole concern once a year.
"Not yet. You have about two hours to go, it's only eight." Linessa huffed poutily.
"When will I be older than Nat?" she asked sadly. Naturo ran over to them.
"Never! I was born before you!" he exclaimed. He started dancing around them in circles. Linessa's bright green eyes flashed under her blonde bangs, which Gem brushed out of her face. "Nessa, Daddy has a surprise for you and Naturo out in the stables. Hurry up and eat!" The twins quickly sat down and gulped their food down eagerly. Linessa was the first one done and she ran towards the door.
"Wait for Nat!" Gem called. Linessa sighed exasperatedly and tapped her foot. "Naturo takes too long!" she whined.
"And you better stop eating so fast, or you'll get a belly ache," Gem replied, sticking the nipple of a bottle into Lianell's tiny mouth. The baby gazed up at her mother with green and blue flecked eyes as she drank happily.
"Nat, hurry!" Linessa pleaded. Nat pushed his chair back and hurried over. "I'm done, thanks Mommy!"
"Thank you," Linessa said politely as she opened the door. Both children dashed out into the sunshine. Gem smiled as Arinell came out of her room.
"Linessa is so much like her father," Arinell said, stroking Lianell's cheek. Gem watched the twins through the window. "And Nat's like both of us," Gem said quietly. She looked at her mother. "Nessa seems like she can already take care of herself. She doesn't like me to help dress her. She likes to do things alone."
"Well, maybe not entirely like Link," Arinell said, smiling. "You're lucky to have such great children." Gem nodded.
"So, what is Link giving them?" Arinell asked, pouring a cup of hot coffee. Gem grinned.
~*~*~*~
"Daddy!" Linessa shrieked, hurtling into his legs. Naturo stared in awe at what was tied to the ropes Link held in his hand. Their father grinned. "Do you like them?" he asked, rubbing his chin, which now sported a goatee. Linessa gazed up at him, Gem's eyes sparkling and grinning happily. That was all Link needed. Naturo broke into a grin.
"This one's yours," Link said, handing Linessa the rope attached to a small dapple gray filly.
"And here's yours." He handed his son a rope tied to a black foal. The twins looked at each other and burst into giggles. Link smiled. "Courtesy of Lightning and Duchess," he said. As if on cue, Lighting whinnied and Duchess snorted, gazing at her young.
"Twins?" Naturo asked. Link nodded. "They were born the other day. I just had to keep them hidden." Link watched his children's ecstatic faces. "Just like us!" Linessa squealed, wrapping her arms around her horse's neck. The filly nuzzled the girl's neck. Naturo stroked his horse's snout.
"Speedo," he whispered. "I'm naming him Speedo." Link looked down at his oldest daughter, who was still hugging the horse, and smiled. "Well, Nessa, what will you name yours?" he asked.
"Diamond," she answered automatically. The filly perked up her ears at this. Link laughed.
"Well, she likes it! Diamond, then." Link led them over to Duchess's stall. "Put them in here," he said, opening the stall door to the large space that the majestic mare inhabited. "They need their mother's milk for a while yet," he explained to the twins.
Once the young horses were back with their mother, Link scooped Linessa up and spun her around. She threw her head back and laughed. A grin split Link's face as he set her down and did the same to Naturo. The little boy shrieked with laughter.
"Phew! You two are getting heavy!" he exclaimed as he set Nat down. "Now let's go in. I need to discuss something with your mother." The children each grabbed a hand and the trio started out of the stable.
"Thank you, Daddy," Linessa chirped softly as they reached the door of the house. Nat nodded. "Thanks." Link knelt down and gave each of them a hug and a kiss. "You're welcome," he replied. He stood up and opened the door. The twins ran inside and Link followed, grinning.
"Mommy! We have horses!!" Linessa said excitedly. Arinell picked her up. "That's great, honey!" Linessa hugged her grandma. "Mine's named Diamond," she told them.
"Mine is Speedo," Naturo added. "He's black." Link smiled and ruffled his son's red hair.
"Gem, since Nat went with me on an errand last time, I'm going to take Nessa," he told his wife. Linessa looked at him from Arinell's arms.
"Where are you going?" Gem asked as she finished changing Lianell's diaper. Link tickled the baby's nose. "Out west," he replied nonchalantly.
"Where out west?" Gem inquired, eyebrows raised. Link sighed and whispered in her ear. Gem looked at him doubtfully. "Are you sure? Is it safe?" Linessa was staring at her parents. Link nodded confidently.
"They trust me, and she's my daughter," he answered. Gem frowned. "Alright," she agreed. Link took Linessa from Arinell. "Want to come with me?" he asked her. Linessa frowned, trying to act like Gem. "Alright!" she said, grinning. Link laughed.
"Just have her back by ten!" Gem called as they walked out the door.
"Bye!" Linessa shouted as the door closed. Gem watched Link out her on Epona, then get on himself. A minute later, they were gone.
"Where did he have to go?" Arinell asked, walking over with a cooing Lianell. Gem took her baby in her arms and gazed at the tiny figure.
"Gerudo's Fortress," she answered quietly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Linessa gripped Epona's mane tightly, even though her father's strong arms were holding her protectively. The trees and flowers flew by, and she couldn't help but grin.
Soon a rocky wall came into view. A trail went around it. It was this path Link took, up a slope and across packed dirt into a canyon. Linessa watched a fish swim away as they crossed a pool of water on a board.
"Hang on," her father whispered in her ear. She gripped the horse's mane until her little knuckles turned white. Epona ran down a ramp, across a wooden bridge and up another ramp. LinessThe first thing La saw was a f a long river and huge waterfalls. They passed a tent full of workers and between two steep cliffs. Suddenly, they stopped moving.
"We're here," Link said happily. He dismounted carefully and put Linessa on his shoulders. He carried her up a flight of nearby stairs. The first thing Linessa saw was a purple clad woman. She was holding a long stick with a large knife at the end. Linessa stared in awe as she came towards them.
"Link! How are you?" she asked as he set Linessa down. They shook hands.
"I'm good, Alia. This is my daughter, Linessa. She turns five today, along with her twin brother, Naturo." The woman knelt down and looked at Linessa. Linessa stared back at her. Alia's eyes were orange, and she had short spiky black hair. The bottom half of her face was covered by a purple veil, but Linessa saw her pink lips curl into a warm smile.
"Hello, Linessa," she said. "She has your hair, Link." Alia brushed a stray lock out of the little girl's eyes. Linessa smiled at her.
"Hello, Alia," she answered, holding out a small hand. Alia laughed and shook it. "Not afraid, either!" she added. Then she stood up. "Do you know what I am?" she asked Linessa. The latter shook her blonde head.
"I am a Gerudo. I'm not full blood, though. She is." Alia pointed to a woman dressed in white. Her hair and eyes were red, and her skin was a lovely tan color. Linessa smiled. "I think you're pretty," she said. Alia laughed.
"Thanks, hon! Anyways, Link, you're here for the money for the horse, aren't you?" she asked. Link nodded.
"The queen's got it. She's in her quarters if you want to get it. I'll watch Linessa."
Link smiled down at his daughter. "Is that okay?" he asked her. She nodded.
"Alright. I'll be back in a little bit." Link walked through a nearby door. Alia smiled at Linessa.
"Do you want to see something really neat?" she asked. Linessa nodded. Alia took her small hand in hers and led her towards a different door.
"A couple of my friends should be training. Would you like to see it?" Linessa looked up at Alia. "What are they training for?" she asked. Alia chuckled. "They are fighting each other for practice in case of combat. Come." Alia led her to a chamber filled with sand.
Linessa's ears were suddenly filled with the sound of clanging metal. She covered her ears as two young Gerudos came into sight. As she watched, one flipped backwards and landed on her feet in the sand. Linessa's mouth dropped and the girl lashed out at the other, cutting her arm. The injured girl fell onto her back, muttering. The wound healed and she jumped to her feet.
"How long have you been fighting?" Alia asked. The girl who flipped put her swords back in their sheaths.
"Long enough," she replied wearily. Then she spotted Linessa, who had been watching contentedly.
"Who's this?" the woman asked Alia, coming over. The other girl followed.
"Cayli, Brigit, this is Linessa. She's Link's daughter," Alia said, sounding important. Cayli knelt down.
"Yep, she's Link's alright," she said with a laugh. Brigit smiled. "And Gem's, you can tell." Linessa did a wobbly curtsy and fell over. The women laughed.
"Polite little thing," Brigit commented, helping the little girl up and brushing the sand off of her.
"Thank you," Linessa said happily.
"We should get back. Your daddy might be looking for you," Alia said. The four females went back outside into the sunshine. Link wasn't there.
"Can you learn to become a Grudo?" Linessa asked, staring up at them with large eyes. The women looked at each other.
"Well, I guess," Cayli said slowly. "You'd really have to look and act like them, though."
"How.....?" Linessa started, but at that moment, Link returned from the queen's quarters.
"Well, ready to go?" he asked, picking her up. Linessa nodded sadly.
"Bye, Linessa!" the three women called as they walked away. Linessa waved.
"What did you think of that?" Link asked as he sat Linessa on Epona. She thought for a minute.
"It was nice," she said decisively. As they rose off, however, she couldn't get the Gerudos off her mind.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Just in time!" Gem exclaimed as they rode up. Link hopped off and kissed his wife.
"Twenty more minutes, Nessa, and you'll be five, too," Naturo announced as he joined them in the yard. Link lifted Linessa off the horse and into Gem's arms.
"So, as the next birthday person, will you please go get two bottles of milk out of that building?" Gem asked, pointing with her free hand. Linessa nodded vigorously. Once Gem set her on the ground, she ran off, proud to be entrusted with such an important mission. The others went back inside, talking.
Linessa slowed down as she neared the door. A Cucco scratched and pecked at the ground. She watched for a second and then opened the door.
A blast of humid air hit Linessa in the face as she entered. She coughed after inhaling a cloud of dust. The two cows that lived in the building looked at her lazily and chewed their hay. She patted them each on the head and headed to the milk crate.
That's when she saw it.
A small hole could be seen in the wall behind another milk crate. Linessa crawled over the boxes to investigate. She knelt down and peered through. A small pile of hay sat in the middle of the tiny room the hole led to. Linessa tried to squeeze through, but the whole was too small. She pushed the crate and fell back with a cry of surprise when it moved.
"I wonder what's in there?" she said to herself. She wriggled through on her belly. It was a little cooler in there than the other room, she discovered. She crawled into the hay and felt something cold press against her palm. Picking it up, she saw it was a small tan and green musical instrument of some sort. She put it to her lips and blew.
A high note emitted from it, startling Linessa. Then she noticed two other items sticking up out of the hay. One was a curved piece of designed wood, and the other was forked with a band. Linessa stared at the three treasures as she remembered her father's stories from when he was a little boy.
"An Ocarina, a boomerang, and a slingshot," she murmured. "These are Daddy's!" With that last bit pf knowledge, she stuck them in the big pocket on her skirt and crawled out.
"Linessa! Where are you?" The little girl could hear Arinell calling for her. She hurried over the crates, grabbed two bottles of milk, and ran towards the door, reaching it just as Arinell opened it. She smiled at her granddaughter. "Couldn't you open the door?" she asked gently. Linessa shook her head, face flushed and straw stuck in her hair and on her dress. Arinell picked them off, just missing Linessa's pocket of items several times.
"Well, you have four minutes left. We best hurry." As the two headed back to the house, Linessa could already feel the guilt welling up inside her.
~*~*~*~*~*~
"Happy Birthday, Nat and Nessa!" the adults exclaimed. Lianell gurgled in approval. Nat laughed. Linessa just sat there and grinned.
"We made fried Cucco," Arinell said; "with potatoes and corn."
"We made a cake, too," Gem added. The twin's eyes widened. Their mother hardly ever made cake.
"Here are your other presents," Link said, handing them each a small package. Naturo and Linessa looked at each other. Usually they got just one present. It was a very special occasion for them. The children opened their presents eagerly.
Naturo held up a brand new pocket knife. Linessa smiled at the doll she had received.
"Thank you!" they chirped together. Link grinned.
"We're glad you like them," Gem answered. Link picked Lianell up out of her baby seat. The baby sneezed loudly, causing everyone to laugh.
"Well, we should eat," Arinell said. While the women put the food on the table, Link placed Lianell in her highchair and put on her bib. Linessa kicked Nat under the table and blinked twice when he looked at her. He nodded.
Once the adults sat down, they all said their prayers and started eating. Gem fed Lianell mashed potatoes a little bit at a time. The meal was silent, except for Gem cooing at the baby to eat. Finally, after what seemed like hours, the twins finished eating.
"We're going to go check our horses," Nat explained as they got up from the table. Linessa nodded.
"Alright, but come back for cake!" Gem said, carefully wiping Lianell's chin with her napkin. The two five-year-olds quickly went out to the stables.
"What is it, Nessa?" Naturo asked, softly stroking Speedo's forehead. Linessa fished the three objects out of her pocket and held them out to her brother. He picked up the boomerang and examined it carefully. Without looking up, he asked, "Where did you find these?"
"In the building where the milk is stored. There is a hole in the wall." Linessa paused. "They're Daddy's. Remember? An Ocarina, a slingshot.."
"And a boomerang," Nat finished.
"What should I do with them?" Linessa asked. He gazed at her, then handed the boomerang back.
"I have a box of things under my bed. We'll keep them there," he told her. "We better go back in." Linessa put them back in her pocket, and they held hands as they walked out.
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There, chapter two finished. Even more time will have passed in the next chapter. Please review!!
*Disclaimer:* Alia, Cayli, and Brigit, Gem, Arinell, Nat, Linessa, Lianell, Speedo, Diamond, Duchess, Lightning, and the plot are mine. So there!!