I'm getting up to speed again...THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REVIEWING! YOU
GUYS ARE THE ONES WHO KEEP ME IN THE WRITING BIZ (without proper funding of
course)...YOU ALL ARE AWESOME PEOPLE! ^^ I don't own Zelda! Yaaaaay...
**
Ch. 19: An Unexpected Tremble
A cooling breezing blew in through the open window as golden sunshine crawled onto the bed. Birds, chirping happily as they went about their lives, flew past the window, darting around in the sky. Squinting as the sunshine played across her face, Airaen awoke with a slight groan as she sat up, massaging her stiff muscles, feeling as sore as ever. She stretched, yawned, then looked out the open window, watching the birds in their endless game. As she stared out the window, she thought, What a weird dream...why was Roh...we were...
She shook her head, thought, Why am I feeling so...odd...? I don't know what...this feeling is...
It was then that the door opened silently, and a voice said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss...I thought you were still sleeping. Please forgive my intrusion." Airaen detected a sense of fearfulness in the voice, a quavering. She sighed, shrugging the memory of the dream off. Let the rumors begin, she thought glumly, a little surprised that it bothered her a little, chided herself for it.
She turned, giving the owner of the voice, a young-looking maid, a warm smile. "It's quite alright. No harm done," she said cheerfully.
The maid, ever keeping one foot out the door, asked, "Is there anything you would like, Miss?"
"Well, I was going to go down to the kitchen for some breakfast," Airaen replied.
The maid turned slightly pale. "Well, I'm very sorry, Miss," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "but my Lady Zelda ordered that you...not get out of bed at all today...I'm dreadfully sorry!" The maid took another step back until she was standing in the hallway.
"Huh...a damnable shame," Airaen said with a wily smile. "And where is Zelda?"
"My Lady and Sir Link woke up this morning at nine and have since been tending to our visitors. And it is nearing noon, I suppose, Miss, so I guess you'll be wanting some lunch, then, perhaps?" the maid said tentatively. Airaen nodded. Relieved, the maid turned, shutting the door behind her.
Airaen waited a moment before getting up, wincing slightly; seeing a soft, sky blue dress with matching sandals laid carefully on the chair across the room, she took off her nightgown, then slowly put it on, biting her lip from the sharp pains she felt. Rubbing at the bandage around her side, she slowly made her way out the door and into the hallway, turning left and going down the stairs just as she had done the previous night. The long corridor, now drenched in bright sunlight, was unnaturally deserted, each door closed. Frowning slightly, she limped towards the kitchen, using the wall on the right for support. Her fingers traced along the wall, reminding her suddenly of a spider; they traced over stone, then the sudden sensation of a wood door...stone...wood...stone...wood. The pattern beat into her mind like a drum. Stone...wood...stone...
Suddenly, something seemed to snap in her mind and her vision blurred. Lost in the sudden darkness, she stumbled, falling to her knees. There was a ringing of steel, the fluttering of fabric caught in the wind...the cry of gulls...and the smell of the sea. The sea! she thought, her eyes widening. Bright light flared in front of her, breaking into day. Blinded by it, she closed her eyes and sat back, feeling the warm sunshine on her back. She opened her eyes...
The vision faded.
A sharp pain in her bandaged hand brought her back to her senses. Her hand was still pressed against the wall; she was on her knees, her back now arched forward, her breathing short and labored as sweat trickled down her face. A vision? she thought. "Where am I supposed to go?" she asked in a hushed whisper.
Sighing, she pushed herself up, shaking a little from the strain, then stumbled on again. Reaching the door to the kitchen, she leaned against it for a brief rest, trying to steady her breathing. There's some place I need to go to...I know it, but I just don't know where! Damn, I need to eat first, to clear my mind a bit, she thought earnestly. She was about to open the door when she heard voices from within. "Careful you don't drop that, Tiya!"
Another voice, this one closer to the door, replied, "You must be crazy to think I want to deliver food to that...girl! What if she gets insane and the like and attacks me?! I want someone to come with me!" Airaen put a hand to her mouth to quell her giggles. Idiots, she thought.
The previous voice answered, "Oh, stop it! The Lady ordered you to take good care of that girl up there, so you should do as she says, Tiya!"
Tiya answered with a whine, "I distinctly remember Lady Zelda saying that you had to take care of her, Yanna!"
"No, no, it was Tiya, she said!" Yanna replied. There was a stamp of a foot and a curse, then the door opened; quickly, Airaen hid behind the door as Tiya, whom she recognized as the frightened maid from before, ran out and down the hall, leaving the door open. "Come on, girls," Yanna said from within the kitchen, "let's go serve lunch." There was a clamor of agreement from other servants and a clatter of plates; then, some six or so maids filed out of the kitchen, turning right and down the hall. Airaen waited until the last of them rounded the corner, then sneaked into the kitchen.
After a quick search, she found an entire loaf of bread, an apple, and a bottle of Lon Lon Milk. Grinning mischievously, she maneuvered out of the kitchen, leaving the door open so as not to look suspicious, then stole down the hallway to the right, still using the wall for support as she cradled her meal under her arm expertly. As she neared the end of the hallway, she saw a wooden doorway to the left. After peering around the corner to look for anyone coming her way, she moved over to the door and opened it. A wash of bright, golden sunlight poured in, slightly blinding her for a second as she stepped outside. It was warm. After her eyes adjusted to the light, she found she was near the garden she had walked in with Zelda and Gate. It seems like it was years and years ago, she thought glumly. Turning right along the cobbled path, she limped down, trying not to show any pain, but utterly failing in the attempt. As she rounded another corner, she saw two guards making their way around a hedge that lay in the middle of the path, talking aimlessly.
"I wonder who that girl is?" one of them was saying.
"Dunno," the other guard said with a shrug. "The whole Market's been talking about that girl, though! They're saying she isn't a girl at all!" Airaen was shaking with silent laughter. "Those men from Sidar saw the whole thing! They say it was terrifying!" Airaen stopped. Did...did Roh say that? she thought, her heart skipping a fearful beat. "Those guys said she was like...like...oh, I don't know."
"A demon, perhaps?" the other replied, nodding for emphasis. "That's what all those men from Sidar said, you know."
"And what about that young boy? That Roh guy...what did he say?" the guard asked. They were beginning to round the corner of the hedge, coming ever closer to where Airaen hid by the wall.
"Well, Roh said-"
He was cut off by a loud whistle, and then a gruff voice saying, "Aye, you two! Captain says you gotta go see him right now! Go on!" The two guards, ending their conversation, took off at a run down the path, then turned to the right.
Airaen held onto the wall corner for support, her heart beating in her chest rapidly. What they all said...is that what Roh thinks of me now? That I'm a...a demon? She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, thought: Why does this bother me so much? What's wrong with me?
She pressed her hand against the wall and moved on, banking right and down the path, passing the hedge. Walking in a half-daze, she thought, I don't even know where I'm going. The garden, she saw, was deserted. This must be where my father dodged all those guards to get to Zelda, she thought as she walked on, passing hedge after hedge.
The path then split off; to her left, Airaen saw a wide, high arch that led to a secluded garden. Wanting solitude, she half-limped down the corridor until she reached the garden.
The castle walls circled the tiny garden as a mini moat surrounded the circular patch of grass. Directly in front of her, stone steps greeted a small, porch-like platform that joined with the wall. Where this lay was a window, which, on closer inspection, looked into the deserted throne room.
Grateful for the solitude, she sat down on the stone platform, leaning her back against the wall with the window, and ate her meal slowly, deep in thought. I'll have to make sure Mother and Father don't lose their composure over these rumors and expose me...that would be disastrous. I've also...got to tell Roh not to expose me, either...assuming he still wants to talk to me. Frowning, she took her final sip of milk, then placed the bottle on the ground. Exasperated, she suddenly yelled out, "Oh, I'm alone in this!"
"Oh? Are you?" a voice said, startling her. As she looked up at the figure standing in the archway, she gasped.
"Roh? What are you doing here?" she asked, getting shakily to her feet, then leaned against the wall. Her heart began to beat at a rapid pace.
"I've been looking for you ever since I heard you got up, silly," he said, walking across the grass until he stood at the bottom of the stone steps; then, after a pause, he said quietly, "I...was worried about you." Airaen involuntarily blushed, thought, Why is my heart beating so fast? Roh took a step forward, asked, "Feeling better, I hope?" She nodded. He shifted uncomfortably and looked away.
"And how are you doing? Are you going to stay a while?" she asked, not knowing if she meant the here with her, or if he would stay at the Castle. Why do I falter? What am I afraid of?
He shrugged.
"Listen, Roh," she said slowly, fearfully. "I'm...I'm sorry..."
Puzzled, he turned to her, said, "Sorry? About what?"
She placed her hands behind her back. "I just...well...I know I'm different...and all, and I just..."
Angered, he cried, "If you're talking about all those rumors my men have been spreading about you, don't you dare apologize! They're stupid, superstitious idiots, the whole lot of them! You have no idea how long Icarn and I screamed at them, those bastards! I'm just sorry I didn't realize it at first!"
Airaen could feel her blush deepening, thought, And I mocked Zelda...I'm such a fool. "It's...it's ok, Roh...I guess...I guess they have good reason for it..." she said quietly.
Frowning at her, he marched up the steps and stared her down, daring her to say it again. "I can't believe you," he said, crossing his arms as he stood in front of her. "What makes you think that horrible thing? Everyone should all be on their knees worshipping you for saving them right now, but they're all too damn busy spreading false rumors about you, Airaen! I've heard them all, and they're horrible! And now Zelda tells me I can't tell anyone about who you are or where you came from or anything, that I can't even speak out against them! What the hell is going on?" Airaen, shocked, thought, Zelda's more perceptive than I first thought. Conscious of Roh staring at her, she stared down at her feet, finding herself unable to look him in the eye. "Airaen?" he asked softly, lifting her face up with his finger. "What's this all about?"
She closed her eyes and sighed, thought, I would've had to tell him, anyway. Motioning for him to sit down with her, she pressed her head against the wall. "Well...alright, I'll tell you everything. But, Roh, you have to promise me you won't breathe a word of this to anyone, understand? It's important." Roh nodded. Sighing, she continued, "Well, it all started with Ganon's defeat at the hands of the seven sages and my father..."
**
"Zelda! Hey, stop a minute, please!"
Brought back from her thoughts, she turned to see Link running towards her. "What is it?" she asked as he stopped in front of her, panting slightly.
"Ah, she's gone again. She probably didn't like the fact that she would have to stay in bed all day, I'm sure. I told you she wouldn't stay in bed," he said, crossing his arms.
Zelda smiled. "I guess you're right. Shall we go looking for her?"
Link shook his head. "Roh went to look for her," he said. Zelda raised an eyebrow. Stretching, Link said, "Well, we might as well have lunch now, yeah?" Zelda laughed, then took his arm and continued down the hallway.
**
"And then you know the rest," Airaen said, a little tired from talking for so long. Roh had his chin in his hands, frowning slightly at the ground.
After a long pause, he looked up and said, "I don't...understand. You know...this whole 'Bearer' stuff. Why you? I mean, you didn't even get to decide at all." He leaned back, closing his eyes. "Besides, I know what it's like not to have a mother...my mother died when I was eight trying to give birth to my baby sister...they both died." Startled, Airaen looked at him, at the way the sunlight shone down into his hair and played off his face. His tunic ruffled a little in the tiny breeze. "So," he said, turning back to her again, "how long do you have to bear it?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
"Can't you just get rid of it?"
"I don't know how," she said quietly.
"Well, it isn't fair!" Roh cried out, standing up. "You didn't have a damn choice in the matter, and now you're the one who's got to suffer! It's just not fair!"
Startled, Airaen looked up at him, slightly puzzled, thought, After all that...after all he's seen me do, he thinks it's unfair? He's...he's taking my side...he's not...afraid of me...why? "Roh..." she began, but words failed her completely.
Roh slammed his fist into his open palm in anger. "Damn it all," he said, "And then these idiots say you're...as if they know you and what you're going through! You're not some...some...demon, or a possessed freak! You're something way more than anything! You're...you're...beautiful, both inside and out!" He faltered, his eyes widening, blushing slightly. Why did I say that...? I shouldn't have said that...too late now, he thought. Airaen made to say something, but held back, twisting a little of her dress in her hands uncomfortably, then stared down at her lap as unwanted tears came streaming down her face and onto her lap.
Laughing quietly, she brushed them away and said apologetically, "I'm such a fool...to start crying like this...I don't...even know why..."
Roh knelt before her and lifted her chin softly up with his hands, holding her gaze with his. His heart hammered in his chest even as hers did. He swallowed, trying to find the right words; gathering enough courage, he said, "I don't care...what you are...or what people say about you at all. You're Airaen...that's really...all that matters. I mean, you're the one...who really helped my people...helped me...and you saved Zelda and Link...and fought Ganondorf single-handedly. I don't...I don't care about this 'Bearer' crap at all! I...I..." He faltered as his blush deepened, thought, I've got to do this...I've got to say this...
Airaen felt as if her heart would explode in her chest; she trembled as she gazed into his eyes, fresh tears falling down her face. She thought, I didn't want...to be...different. "Roh..." she whispered, then placed her hand in his, grasped it.
Then Roh drew her into an embrace, holding her against his chest while his other hand reached into her hair. "I...I love you! More than anything else! I haven't stopped loving you since that day you came to me after my father died! I'll...I'll never stop loving you!" he cried, holding her close as his own tears fell into her hair.
Airaen's heart skipped an entire beat as her eyes widened. She was at a loss for words and found she only wanted to stay there in his arms. Love, she thought as she returned his embrace, I feel...I feel love! She drew herself back and stared into his eyes, her entire body shaking. Placing her hand behind his head, she kissed him, feeling herself melting away, pouring her soul, her love for him, all of it into that one kiss. He drew her closer, running his hands through her hair.
She trembled as she finally pulled away from him, then smiled a true smile. "So...so this is what I've been feeling...since I first...thought about you," she stammered as she gazed at him. He cocked his head to one side. "I didn't...I didn't understand it at all; I've never really felt...like this before, Roh. I don't...I don't know what...what to say...I just...I've never known love," she said, laughing a little, "and here I am feeling it towards you..."
His face was serious as he placed her hands in his, drawing close to her, then whispered in her ear, "Then...then let's protect this love."
She nodded, sighing happily as they kissed passionately.
*%*%
Woo! Bet you didn't see THAT coming did you now?! Hahahahaaa! Wow...tough to write...*sigh* now I want a boyfriend again...ok! See you in the next chapter! "Porinky, porinky, not gonna tell!" hahahaha! I'm crazy! *runs away, then slams into wall* This...is...gonna take...a while...
**
Ch. 19: An Unexpected Tremble
A cooling breezing blew in through the open window as golden sunshine crawled onto the bed. Birds, chirping happily as they went about their lives, flew past the window, darting around in the sky. Squinting as the sunshine played across her face, Airaen awoke with a slight groan as she sat up, massaging her stiff muscles, feeling as sore as ever. She stretched, yawned, then looked out the open window, watching the birds in their endless game. As she stared out the window, she thought, What a weird dream...why was Roh...we were...
She shook her head, thought, Why am I feeling so...odd...? I don't know what...this feeling is...
It was then that the door opened silently, and a voice said, "Oh, I'm so sorry, Miss...I thought you were still sleeping. Please forgive my intrusion." Airaen detected a sense of fearfulness in the voice, a quavering. She sighed, shrugging the memory of the dream off. Let the rumors begin, she thought glumly, a little surprised that it bothered her a little, chided herself for it.
She turned, giving the owner of the voice, a young-looking maid, a warm smile. "It's quite alright. No harm done," she said cheerfully.
The maid, ever keeping one foot out the door, asked, "Is there anything you would like, Miss?"
"Well, I was going to go down to the kitchen for some breakfast," Airaen replied.
The maid turned slightly pale. "Well, I'm very sorry, Miss," she said, her voice trembling slightly, "but my Lady Zelda ordered that you...not get out of bed at all today...I'm dreadfully sorry!" The maid took another step back until she was standing in the hallway.
"Huh...a damnable shame," Airaen said with a wily smile. "And where is Zelda?"
"My Lady and Sir Link woke up this morning at nine and have since been tending to our visitors. And it is nearing noon, I suppose, Miss, so I guess you'll be wanting some lunch, then, perhaps?" the maid said tentatively. Airaen nodded. Relieved, the maid turned, shutting the door behind her.
Airaen waited a moment before getting up, wincing slightly; seeing a soft, sky blue dress with matching sandals laid carefully on the chair across the room, she took off her nightgown, then slowly put it on, biting her lip from the sharp pains she felt. Rubbing at the bandage around her side, she slowly made her way out the door and into the hallway, turning left and going down the stairs just as she had done the previous night. The long corridor, now drenched in bright sunlight, was unnaturally deserted, each door closed. Frowning slightly, she limped towards the kitchen, using the wall on the right for support. Her fingers traced along the wall, reminding her suddenly of a spider; they traced over stone, then the sudden sensation of a wood door...stone...wood...stone...wood. The pattern beat into her mind like a drum. Stone...wood...stone...
Suddenly, something seemed to snap in her mind and her vision blurred. Lost in the sudden darkness, she stumbled, falling to her knees. There was a ringing of steel, the fluttering of fabric caught in the wind...the cry of gulls...and the smell of the sea. The sea! she thought, her eyes widening. Bright light flared in front of her, breaking into day. Blinded by it, she closed her eyes and sat back, feeling the warm sunshine on her back. She opened her eyes...
The vision faded.
A sharp pain in her bandaged hand brought her back to her senses. Her hand was still pressed against the wall; she was on her knees, her back now arched forward, her breathing short and labored as sweat trickled down her face. A vision? she thought. "Where am I supposed to go?" she asked in a hushed whisper.
Sighing, she pushed herself up, shaking a little from the strain, then stumbled on again. Reaching the door to the kitchen, she leaned against it for a brief rest, trying to steady her breathing. There's some place I need to go to...I know it, but I just don't know where! Damn, I need to eat first, to clear my mind a bit, she thought earnestly. She was about to open the door when she heard voices from within. "Careful you don't drop that, Tiya!"
Another voice, this one closer to the door, replied, "You must be crazy to think I want to deliver food to that...girl! What if she gets insane and the like and attacks me?! I want someone to come with me!" Airaen put a hand to her mouth to quell her giggles. Idiots, she thought.
The previous voice answered, "Oh, stop it! The Lady ordered you to take good care of that girl up there, so you should do as she says, Tiya!"
Tiya answered with a whine, "I distinctly remember Lady Zelda saying that you had to take care of her, Yanna!"
"No, no, it was Tiya, she said!" Yanna replied. There was a stamp of a foot and a curse, then the door opened; quickly, Airaen hid behind the door as Tiya, whom she recognized as the frightened maid from before, ran out and down the hall, leaving the door open. "Come on, girls," Yanna said from within the kitchen, "let's go serve lunch." There was a clamor of agreement from other servants and a clatter of plates; then, some six or so maids filed out of the kitchen, turning right and down the hall. Airaen waited until the last of them rounded the corner, then sneaked into the kitchen.
After a quick search, she found an entire loaf of bread, an apple, and a bottle of Lon Lon Milk. Grinning mischievously, she maneuvered out of the kitchen, leaving the door open so as not to look suspicious, then stole down the hallway to the right, still using the wall for support as she cradled her meal under her arm expertly. As she neared the end of the hallway, she saw a wooden doorway to the left. After peering around the corner to look for anyone coming her way, she moved over to the door and opened it. A wash of bright, golden sunlight poured in, slightly blinding her for a second as she stepped outside. It was warm. After her eyes adjusted to the light, she found she was near the garden she had walked in with Zelda and Gate. It seems like it was years and years ago, she thought glumly. Turning right along the cobbled path, she limped down, trying not to show any pain, but utterly failing in the attempt. As she rounded another corner, she saw two guards making their way around a hedge that lay in the middle of the path, talking aimlessly.
"I wonder who that girl is?" one of them was saying.
"Dunno," the other guard said with a shrug. "The whole Market's been talking about that girl, though! They're saying she isn't a girl at all!" Airaen was shaking with silent laughter. "Those men from Sidar saw the whole thing! They say it was terrifying!" Airaen stopped. Did...did Roh say that? she thought, her heart skipping a fearful beat. "Those guys said she was like...like...oh, I don't know."
"A demon, perhaps?" the other replied, nodding for emphasis. "That's what all those men from Sidar said, you know."
"And what about that young boy? That Roh guy...what did he say?" the guard asked. They were beginning to round the corner of the hedge, coming ever closer to where Airaen hid by the wall.
"Well, Roh said-"
He was cut off by a loud whistle, and then a gruff voice saying, "Aye, you two! Captain says you gotta go see him right now! Go on!" The two guards, ending their conversation, took off at a run down the path, then turned to the right.
Airaen held onto the wall corner for support, her heart beating in her chest rapidly. What they all said...is that what Roh thinks of me now? That I'm a...a demon? She wanted to scream at the top of her lungs, thought: Why does this bother me so much? What's wrong with me?
She pressed her hand against the wall and moved on, banking right and down the path, passing the hedge. Walking in a half-daze, she thought, I don't even know where I'm going. The garden, she saw, was deserted. This must be where my father dodged all those guards to get to Zelda, she thought as she walked on, passing hedge after hedge.
The path then split off; to her left, Airaen saw a wide, high arch that led to a secluded garden. Wanting solitude, she half-limped down the corridor until she reached the garden.
The castle walls circled the tiny garden as a mini moat surrounded the circular patch of grass. Directly in front of her, stone steps greeted a small, porch-like platform that joined with the wall. Where this lay was a window, which, on closer inspection, looked into the deserted throne room.
Grateful for the solitude, she sat down on the stone platform, leaning her back against the wall with the window, and ate her meal slowly, deep in thought. I'll have to make sure Mother and Father don't lose their composure over these rumors and expose me...that would be disastrous. I've also...got to tell Roh not to expose me, either...assuming he still wants to talk to me. Frowning, she took her final sip of milk, then placed the bottle on the ground. Exasperated, she suddenly yelled out, "Oh, I'm alone in this!"
"Oh? Are you?" a voice said, startling her. As she looked up at the figure standing in the archway, she gasped.
"Roh? What are you doing here?" she asked, getting shakily to her feet, then leaned against the wall. Her heart began to beat at a rapid pace.
"I've been looking for you ever since I heard you got up, silly," he said, walking across the grass until he stood at the bottom of the stone steps; then, after a pause, he said quietly, "I...was worried about you." Airaen involuntarily blushed, thought, Why is my heart beating so fast? Roh took a step forward, asked, "Feeling better, I hope?" She nodded. He shifted uncomfortably and looked away.
"And how are you doing? Are you going to stay a while?" she asked, not knowing if she meant the here with her, or if he would stay at the Castle. Why do I falter? What am I afraid of?
He shrugged.
"Listen, Roh," she said slowly, fearfully. "I'm...I'm sorry..."
Puzzled, he turned to her, said, "Sorry? About what?"
She placed her hands behind her back. "I just...well...I know I'm different...and all, and I just..."
Angered, he cried, "If you're talking about all those rumors my men have been spreading about you, don't you dare apologize! They're stupid, superstitious idiots, the whole lot of them! You have no idea how long Icarn and I screamed at them, those bastards! I'm just sorry I didn't realize it at first!"
Airaen could feel her blush deepening, thought, And I mocked Zelda...I'm such a fool. "It's...it's ok, Roh...I guess...I guess they have good reason for it..." she said quietly.
Frowning at her, he marched up the steps and stared her down, daring her to say it again. "I can't believe you," he said, crossing his arms as he stood in front of her. "What makes you think that horrible thing? Everyone should all be on their knees worshipping you for saving them right now, but they're all too damn busy spreading false rumors about you, Airaen! I've heard them all, and they're horrible! And now Zelda tells me I can't tell anyone about who you are or where you came from or anything, that I can't even speak out against them! What the hell is going on?" Airaen, shocked, thought, Zelda's more perceptive than I first thought. Conscious of Roh staring at her, she stared down at her feet, finding herself unable to look him in the eye. "Airaen?" he asked softly, lifting her face up with his finger. "What's this all about?"
She closed her eyes and sighed, thought, I would've had to tell him, anyway. Motioning for him to sit down with her, she pressed her head against the wall. "Well...alright, I'll tell you everything. But, Roh, you have to promise me you won't breathe a word of this to anyone, understand? It's important." Roh nodded. Sighing, she continued, "Well, it all started with Ganon's defeat at the hands of the seven sages and my father..."
**
"Zelda! Hey, stop a minute, please!"
Brought back from her thoughts, she turned to see Link running towards her. "What is it?" she asked as he stopped in front of her, panting slightly.
"Ah, she's gone again. She probably didn't like the fact that she would have to stay in bed all day, I'm sure. I told you she wouldn't stay in bed," he said, crossing his arms.
Zelda smiled. "I guess you're right. Shall we go looking for her?"
Link shook his head. "Roh went to look for her," he said. Zelda raised an eyebrow. Stretching, Link said, "Well, we might as well have lunch now, yeah?" Zelda laughed, then took his arm and continued down the hallway.
**
"And then you know the rest," Airaen said, a little tired from talking for so long. Roh had his chin in his hands, frowning slightly at the ground.
After a long pause, he looked up and said, "I don't...understand. You know...this whole 'Bearer' stuff. Why you? I mean, you didn't even get to decide at all." He leaned back, closing his eyes. "Besides, I know what it's like not to have a mother...my mother died when I was eight trying to give birth to my baby sister...they both died." Startled, Airaen looked at him, at the way the sunlight shone down into his hair and played off his face. His tunic ruffled a little in the tiny breeze. "So," he said, turning back to her again, "how long do you have to bear it?"
She shrugged. "I don't know."
"Can't you just get rid of it?"
"I don't know how," she said quietly.
"Well, it isn't fair!" Roh cried out, standing up. "You didn't have a damn choice in the matter, and now you're the one who's got to suffer! It's just not fair!"
Startled, Airaen looked up at him, slightly puzzled, thought, After all that...after all he's seen me do, he thinks it's unfair? He's...he's taking my side...he's not...afraid of me...why? "Roh..." she began, but words failed her completely.
Roh slammed his fist into his open palm in anger. "Damn it all," he said, "And then these idiots say you're...as if they know you and what you're going through! You're not some...some...demon, or a possessed freak! You're something way more than anything! You're...you're...beautiful, both inside and out!" He faltered, his eyes widening, blushing slightly. Why did I say that...? I shouldn't have said that...too late now, he thought. Airaen made to say something, but held back, twisting a little of her dress in her hands uncomfortably, then stared down at her lap as unwanted tears came streaming down her face and onto her lap.
Laughing quietly, she brushed them away and said apologetically, "I'm such a fool...to start crying like this...I don't...even know why..."
Roh knelt before her and lifted her chin softly up with his hands, holding her gaze with his. His heart hammered in his chest even as hers did. He swallowed, trying to find the right words; gathering enough courage, he said, "I don't care...what you are...or what people say about you at all. You're Airaen...that's really...all that matters. I mean, you're the one...who really helped my people...helped me...and you saved Zelda and Link...and fought Ganondorf single-handedly. I don't...I don't care about this 'Bearer' crap at all! I...I..." He faltered as his blush deepened, thought, I've got to do this...I've got to say this...
Airaen felt as if her heart would explode in her chest; she trembled as she gazed into his eyes, fresh tears falling down her face. She thought, I didn't want...to be...different. "Roh..." she whispered, then placed her hand in his, grasped it.
Then Roh drew her into an embrace, holding her against his chest while his other hand reached into her hair. "I...I love you! More than anything else! I haven't stopped loving you since that day you came to me after my father died! I'll...I'll never stop loving you!" he cried, holding her close as his own tears fell into her hair.
Airaen's heart skipped an entire beat as her eyes widened. She was at a loss for words and found she only wanted to stay there in his arms. Love, she thought as she returned his embrace, I feel...I feel love! She drew herself back and stared into his eyes, her entire body shaking. Placing her hand behind his head, she kissed him, feeling herself melting away, pouring her soul, her love for him, all of it into that one kiss. He drew her closer, running his hands through her hair.
She trembled as she finally pulled away from him, then smiled a true smile. "So...so this is what I've been feeling...since I first...thought about you," she stammered as she gazed at him. He cocked his head to one side. "I didn't...I didn't understand it at all; I've never really felt...like this before, Roh. I don't...I don't know what...what to say...I just...I've never known love," she said, laughing a little, "and here I am feeling it towards you..."
His face was serious as he placed her hands in his, drawing close to her, then whispered in her ear, "Then...then let's protect this love."
She nodded, sighing happily as they kissed passionately.
*%*%
Woo! Bet you didn't see THAT coming did you now?! Hahahahaaa! Wow...tough to write...*sigh* now I want a boyfriend again...ok! See you in the next chapter! "Porinky, porinky, not gonna tell!" hahahaha! I'm crazy! *runs away, then slams into wall* This...is...gonna take...a while...