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Chapter Four - - As the Dawn Breaks Free

The end was coming. At least, the first ending. Nayru wasn't particularly concerned with any of that, as Din might be, but it did prove to be an interesting thing to watch. Life was gaining power, throwing back the sickness of death that so totally surrounded everything in the northern reaches of this nation.

Nayru wished idly that her princess had found somewhere else to hide. There was no life at all in the burned out ruins of the castle village, and this run down temple was definitely no exception. Nayru felt stretched, unable to situate herself within the boundaries of any of the life that she could normally find in abundance, so she contented herself by shrouding the girl before her in her power and laying up against her like a cloak against all such lifelessness.

Her princess was swathed in cloth, disguising her identity to those who might do her harm, but it was astonishing to the goddess of wisdom and a little sad that others could not feel the kindness and warmth that could never be wholly contained by any sort of clothing.No one could say that the choice to go into hiding was not a very brilliant one. This girl had eluded capture for far longer than any of the other chosen sages, which was something even Farore found interest in.

The powers of the black king felt very strong here, for the time being. Nayru was not worried for her girl, however furious the storms of his strength might become. The third one was nearly here, and when he came, the earth would be shaken down to its foundations. A new order would come at last, wiping away the remnants of the king and unloosing the next reality that would be. These were indeed exciting times. It was always endearing to Nayru to be able to watch what these precious mortals decided to make of themselves, as well as what they strove to make the world into.

On a whim, she allowed herself a small glance into the mind of her charge. What would she make of this world, if the entirety of the golden power came to her and not to the hero? She held much wisdom, naturally, but that could oft-times lead to arrogance. Thus far, the girl had watched the world she knew and loved crumble for seven years. As Nayru moved deeper, she experienced the agony that she had known was there, laced with the first traces of something else.

A solitary image ran through the girl's mind - it was of a young man in a green tunic with a fairy at his side, accompanied by a soft melody played on a harp. Nayru recognized this exchange well, as it was the very first time the girl had come in contact with Farore's champion. In her disguise, the girl had given him as much of her wisdom as she could, hoping against hope that he would be the one to end the horrors that played out all around her. The black king had taken so much away from her, and yet she had remarkably persevered. It was understandable, then, that Farore enjoyed looking in on the girl as much as Nayru appreciated watching moments of the life of the young hero.

The fates of these three were indelibly bound into a triangle. Love begetting fear, begetting loss begetting love, a never-ending cycle that would continue to embrace them all until the end of things. It was very understandably fitting that these three should so share their reality as did the goddesses who looked down upon them.

The princess stood motionless in her guise amidst the chill of the temple, waiting. Nayru, invisible to her, embraced her and took comfort in the feeling of her life in the surrounding of the bleak apse. Even the white and black tiles on the floor were forbidding in their coldness, but Nayru could appreciate that all things must begin and end in the cold. Nayru, who built the life in the world out of eternity's ice, could equally accept that the next morning might take from her the company of the princess. It was very possible that she would find herself tied to another, and it was equally likely that in the end Din and Farore would find themselves bonded to the girl. Of course, all of this was pointless speculation. If she wished to know for sure, she could always consult Din or look into the future herself, but to her it felt more honest to let the world turn in its own time.

From the windows in the upper reaches of the temple, just below the first of the deep vaults in the ceiling, came the filtering rays of a forgotten sun. Dawn, whether anyone had remembered or waited for it, was coming. Whatever happened after that, would be.

Ollen70: Aah! Another very uncooperative chapter. I'm sorry that it's so short, but at least I kind of have a direction now, so these next few parts should be posted relatively quickly. Thanks again to my reviewers, and I really appreciate any comments or suggestions you might have for future chapters.