Thanks to: MageWriter14 (Hiya! I'm excited that my suspense is killing my readers!Wait...), Lord Chaos Wolf (O.O Ooh! Chocolate! You're my hero!), Sphinx Jinx (Guess Legolas has one fan after all. D), Moonmage (Welcome aboard, and glad you like it!)
Caranril: Drumroll please.
Legolas: Hmph.
Caranril: A-HEM! Drumroll.
Legolas: Fine. (whips out sticks and a snare drum)
Caranril: Only...two more chappies! Um, including this one.It's kinda sad, but I'm gonna celebrate a good, strong run with noneother than my special fireworks. Ready? Yay! (launches fireworks)
Legolas: Aiiiiii!
Caranril:O...Oops...I set him on fire...(slinks away, hoping not to lose muse before end)
The Dark Before The Dawn - Chapter 20: The Guardians of Time
By playing the Song of Time, Link and Zelda found themselves in Hyrule Field. Instead of wide-open air, however, the area felt like a tight space with the illusion of fields. Link stared the leaves spinning through the air, only they weren't spinning. They were frozen in mid-air. He reached out and plucked one from its position.
"Heh, would you look at that," Link said to Zelda, showing her the leaf. His voice echoed in the stillness.
"How do we return Time to normal?"
Link shrugged. "Try playing the Song of Time again." Zelda complied and plucked the tune on her harp. As the last not died, the wind picked up, and the air no longer felt enclosed.
"How long do you suppose has passed since we were actually here?" Zelda wondered.
"Honestly, I have no idea," Link admitted. "I'm sure we could find out, just because we govern Time now. But how, I don't know."
"I know how." Zelda played the Melody of Memories. The circle of light appeared, and Sheik materialized.
"What can I do for you two?" he smiled.
"How long has it been Meltose was freed?" Zelda asked bluntly.
"Nearly a year," Sheik answered. Link and Zelda both looked shocked. "You see, it has been awhile, and because none of the goddesses govern Time, none of them understand it either, so I'm afraid I cannot explain. But because you keep it now, perhaps you may decipher its many mysteries. That reminds me..." Sheik held out a golden band. "Wear this on your wrist. It will tell you your reckoning in Time to your last position. Should you ever need to go back, it will also add on the time spent in the new Time. Confused? You'll get the hang of it."
He handed the band to Link, who handed it to Zelda.
"You want me to wear it?" she asked in surprise. "Why?"
"Because I'm the warrior and the Hero and I just think you'd figure it out better than I would. You're the brains, after all."
"Thanks," she smiled and slipped it on. The band formed to her wrist and didn't slip around. A film of gray about as big as her pinky was in the centre.
"Now, if you'll excuse me...farewell." And Sheik was gone.
"What does it say?" Link asked curiously.
"Just a second," Zelda muttered. "There are numbers here on the film. 0:8:17:2. That's what it says."
"Not quite a year...maybe the zero is years?" Link mused.
"So that would mean eight months, seventeen days, two minutes?"
"Probably two hours," Link corrected.
"Right, but at any rate, it's been a long time. What could have happened here?"
"Certainly not as much as happened in seven years," Link muttered, pinpointing northwest from the sun. "Let's go."
No sooner had he said those words when six figures popped up from the grass with arrows aimed at them. Link didn't have any time to think, so he slowly raised his hands. Zelda followed suit. He eyed them with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion. They were garbed in green and golden yellow clothing and wore black capes. Their faces and hands were wrapped with yellow fabric, their fierce eyes staring back. One figure stepped forward and circled Link and Zelda. He looked them up and down, then as if in satisfaction, he nodded. The other five lowered their bows, but they kept ready.
"You...are quite worn," the leader said with a thick accent. "That ken be fix-ed. Follow me." With that he waved his hand, and Link caught a glimpse of the red eye tattooed on his hand. He glanced at Zelda, who had seen the same thing. She gave him a look that told him to be cautious. They followed him for a while, the other five surrounding them, before he stopped them.
"Your eyes must be cover-ed," he said, pulling two strips of cloth from his tunic. Link and Zelda allowed their eyes to be bound, but Link was getting a sneaking suspicion about the whole affair. He didn't know whether or not these were friendly Sheikah or not. The safest bet was to follow along with their game. They stumbled along for several more minutes, beads of sweat from the hot sun soaking into the blindfolds. Then there was sudden shade and the sound of a bubbling brook, accompanied by a grinding sound, a kind of creaking like wood rubbing against wood. There were a few words spoken in the Sheikah tongue, then they were led from grass beneath their feet to a wooden floor. A door shut behind them. The sound of a lock sliding into place. More Sheikah words. And the blindfolds were removed.
Link's eyes saw spots, the sun affecting his vision even with the blindfold on. It was dark in the cabin. He blinked hurriedly, hoping he could see before he missed anything crucial. Several other figures were in the shadows of the room; Zelda was beside him; and one lone figure stood before them. She stepped closer, and her purple head came into view. Her purple eyes were hardened, the fierce look on her porcelain face making her nearly unrecognizable.
"Genicca?" Link prodded.
Genicca nodded. "I already know your questions, and most are irrelevant, since we don't have much time, but I will answer what I can quickly. First of all, why are there Sheikah hiding in a cabin in Hyrule Field? To tell you that reason, I must travel back to when you and your friends died at the hands of my father. There was a brilliant blue light, and then all of you were gone. Including Jeric. We were confused and disorderly for a while, but I was given leadership as a right since my father had apparently died. And then he came back."
Link's eyes widened and met Zelda's.
"He forced me to control every mind of every Sheikah; I took away their free will, Link. He had me brainwash them to fulfill his commands without question. I managed to sneak messages within the minds of several, those who you see about you. We were able to escape, though not without casualties. Wherever Jeric had disappeared to, he brought back magical knowledge that he uses on his guards. They run very swiftly and are much stronger than any mortal. Fortunately for us, they're also stupid."
"How could Jeric be alive? We saw him die!" Zelda protested.
"He's back just the same...but he's not my father." Genicca looked away. "As much as I dislike the man, I know him better than anyone else. This new Jeric is not my father. He is crueler, if that's possible, but also powerful. We are being hunted because we escaped. This is why we do not have much time. I fear they've discovered our whereabouts and will be here soon."
"Sheik told me I must talk to you about someone who wishes to speak to me. He said you'd be able to reach them...since they're dead," Link said.
"Yes, I can hear her." Genicca smiled sadly. "I've heard her since she died, and she told me you would come. She warned me of our father's plans."
"'Our father'?" Link repeated incredulously.
"Illia was my older sister. We shared Jeric as a father. Unfortunately."
"So that makes you Link's aunt," Zelda said in surprise.
Genicca stiffened, then drew Link into another room. "We must be swift. And alone," she added in emphasis towards Zelda.
"She is my fellow Guardian of Time," Link stopped. "She can hear it too."
"Fine. Quick now."
Once they were seated, Genicca closed her eyes and focused. Beads of sweat formed on her forehead, and uneasy voices sounded outside the room. There was a sense of urgency, like they were running out of time. Genicca made small noise, and her purple eyes opened in a blank stare.
"Genicca?" Link tried.
"Link?" a strange voice answered from Genicca's lips.
"M-mother?"
"My name is Illia. Oh, how I've watched you and wanted to help when you needed it most! I've been a terrible mother, but I'm afraid I couldn't help it. At least I kept you from my father."
"Mother, what happened? Why did he kill you?"
Illia/Genicca sighed. "Sheikah have unnaturally long lives compared to Hylians, which of course I didn't know back then, and our ability to heal is much more efficient. A young man, who by chance had been caught by one of the few dragons that remained from the poaching, was dropped from dangerous heights into the middle of the temple. The Letting had only been annual at that time, and he happened to fall shortly after the ceremony, so many witnessed his descent, which may have very well saved his life.
"I took him into my care, having extraordinary mental powers that with effort could mend flesh. I must have fallen in love with my patient, for I poured my soul into healing his tattered body. I must have given him a part of myself or something. He healed slowly, but he lived for many, many years after that. Nearly a century and a half, before he had to flee for his life. We aren't allowed to love, being Sheikah, but I feel for sure that I did. We were secretly married, and when Eiric found out I was pregnant, he made plans for us to escape to the surface. Father discovered his plot and tried to kill him. Eiric managed to escape, but I had to hide my figure for nearly nine months. Every night I dreamed that one day Eiric would return and take us away to a happier life where we could love freely.
"Somehow, Father found out about my pregnancy, and he knew the child was Eiric's. He would rather have me killed then allow a half-blood Sheikah even breath. I tried to escape, and did...only to end up in the middle of a battle. I was wounded, managed to crawl into the forest, and I left you in the care of the Great Deku Tree. And that's my story in a nutshell. I wish we had more time."
"So do I, but why can't we...?"
"Not now Link, but we'll be together when your time has come. Your father...he has a few words."
Link waited a few moments, so tense that his fingernailswere digging grooves in the arms of the chair.
"Hello?"
"Hello."
"Ah, so you are Link. I've seen you, not in life, and I must say you're a strapping image of me. A handsome fellow, if I do say so myself."
"Father...what happened? After you left Mother."
"Oh well, lots of things, but I never loved another woman. I enlisted in the king's legions, and I died defending my country against the very people who I was bound to by marriage."
"You...you really loved her?"
"And I would have taken her away from those dank caves if I could have. But I didn't have an army at my command. Let me tell you something, Link. If you love a woman, don't let her go. Keep a hold...even to death. But you don't necessarily have to accept your old man's advice."
"Anything you say, Dad, will be wisdom in my ears."
"Oh, well that's good then. I'll have-"
The voice was cut off by the shrieking of splintering wood and warnings cries. Link and Zelda turned, only to be thrown across the room and through the opposite wall by a shock wave littered with shreds of woodwork. Link sat up half-way, through blurry eyes saw Genicca's terrified expression, and then fell back as he slipped into unconsciousness.
Link sat up, choking from the dust that had collected in his mouth. He gagged once as vertigo took hold, and he held his head until the spinning stopped. He licked his dry lips and focused on his surroundings. It was dark, with the quarter moon high in the sky. There was a gaping hole in front of him, debris strewn everywhere, and no sign of Genicca or the other Sheikah. He swore quietly, intuition telling him that they'd been found by Jeric's goons. Apparently, they didn't notice the two elves lying unconscious in the grass. He grabbed Zelda's shoulder and shook her gently.
"Huh?" she muttered, then sat up with a jolt as she remembered what happened. Her stomach wasn't as strong as Link's in coping with the dizziness, as she turned away and dry-retched into the grass. Link managed to stand, and he helped a shaky-kneed Zelda to her feet.
"They're gone," Zelda observed. "Where did they go?"
"I have a strong idea," Link said in a steeled tone. He was tired of playing Jeric's games. "We have to find them quickly, because I'm afraid of what will happen to them."
Zelda nodded in a agreement. Link focused his fuzzy brain as best as he could to pinpoint the direction of the cliffs according to the stars, then staggered forward with Zelda on his heels.
> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >
Caranril: I'm not dragging this out, am I? I predict one, maybe two more chappies. And a possible epilogue.
Legolas: ...
Caranril: Yeah, Lego-blocks is all wrapped up 'cause he got caught on fire. It was an accident honest! (thoughtfully): Elves burn pretty well.
Legolas: M hmmm mmm.
Caranril: What's that? You want to say something? Too bad! I'm going to enjoy this silence for a while, methinks! ; ) Please review!