Wow! I'm up to chapter twenty, guys! This is so much fun! Oh, and on a
side note...I don't own The Legend of Zelda...sucks, doesn't it?
**
Ch. 20: A Vision of Fear
"So, you're sure you can walk?" Roh asked again. He let go of Airaen's hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder protectively.
"For the last time, Roh," she said with a giggle, "I'm fine." She kissed him on the cheek. They had departed from the little secluded garden and had turned left down the path; slowly, they had made their way into the Castle courtyard. Sunlight glistened off the flowing fountain that stood in the middle of the courtyard.
Frowning slightly, he said, "Well, just to make sure, let's sit down by the fountain so you won't have to walk anymore." He sat her down carefully, then sat next to her, staring forward, holding onto her hand.
"It's odd," Airaen said after a pause. "This is the place that my mother and I walked through. Ha, we sat at this very fountain...it...it seems so long ago...It's a good thing no one's here right now, so no one...can see us."
Roh looked at her, said, "What do you mean?"
Airaen narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the ground. "It's just...it wouldn't look very good if anyone...saw you with me. You might get drawn into those rumors, too."
Roh threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Let them!" he yelled. "Let them see us together! Let them all know I love you! I don't care what they think!" As if for emphasis, he drew her into an embrace and kissed her soundly on the lips. She giggled involuntarily, thought, I had no idea this could feel so...wonderful! Now I understand why my parents sacrificed everything for love!
She surrendered herself to the kiss.
**
"This garden has gotten so beautiful, Zelda, since I last came here," Link said. They had decided to take a stroll in the garden for some peace and quiet.
Zelda smiled. "Thank you. I've always loved this garden, ever since I was a child," she said, taking his hand. "Let me show you the fountain, Link! It's especially pretty this time of year, with all the flowers around it!" Feeling like a child, she giggled as she ran with him, turning right. As they rounded the corner, she stopped; Link, caught by surprise, nearly collided with her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, recovering.
"Sh!" she hissed, staring ahead with a slight, knowing smile on her face. Narrowing his eyes, Link followed her gaze to the fountain. As he found what Zelda was looking at, he nearly cried out, but bit his tongue instead.
Airaen was locked in an embrace with Roh as they kissed passionately. Roh's hand began to snake down her back as Airaen clutched at his tunic.
Paternal instincts kicking in, Link balled his fist and began to walk towards them; he was about to yell out something when Zelda placed her hand over his mouth. His voice now muffled, Zelda managed to discern Link saying, "Get your hand away from there and step away from my daughter, boy!"
Zelda, trying hard to hold back laughter towards Link's antics, pushed him back around the corner. Once they were safely out of sight, she whispered, "Leave them alone, Link..."
Link, still enraged and trying to keep his voice level, hissed, "There is no way I'm leaving her alone with that boy when they're kissing like that! He might want to do something with her, and she'll probably be an idiot and agree to it! So, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rescue my daughter, thank you very much!"
He struggled to get away, but Zelda, giggling softly, held him back and pushed him against the wall. "Uh-uh...don't you dare! I won't let you!" Link crossed his arms childishly, but surrendered.
"Fine...fine! Have it your way, then, dammit," he said angrily and with a sigh. "Just for the record, I am NOT okay with this at all...goddess, she's fifteen years old! Way too young for this!"
Zelda kissed him in thanks, then whispered, "She's been through enough already...give her this one chance, Link...please?" Link sighed, but nodded. Smiling, she kissed him again. "Let's go back inside, then."
He peered around the corner before Zelda pulled him back again. As he followed her down the path, he grumbled, "She doesn't have to kiss him that long, you know!" Zelda laughed.
**
"Did you hear something?" Roh asked as he placed his chin on Airaen's head, drawing her close to his chest.
"Hm? I don't know...maybe just a bird or something," she replied as she closed her eyes, smiling in pure bliss.
"Damn, it's getting late...and I'm supposed to go talk to Icarn," Roh said as he stared at the sky. He sighed. "I have my damnable promises to keep, Airaen..." She nodded and pulled away, her heart crying out in protest. Roh stood, then extended his hand towards her. Grasping her hand, tightly, he lifted her up. As he gripped her hand even tighter, she cried out as pain seared the hand. Startled, he looked down at her hand, then cried, "Ah! I'm sorry! That's your bandaged hand!" He let go of it immediately, then stood there in an embarrassed silence, feeling like a complete idiot.
Massaging her hand, she smiled apologetically, said, "No, no, it's alright, Roh. I'm fine, really." Inwardly, she thought, It reminded me of...what I'm supposed to do.
He blushed a little, then motioned for her to follow him. "Come on, I'll take you back to bed. Oh, don't protest; you ought to at least spend a little bit in bed, anyway. It's late afternoon," he said as he led her by her unhurt hand. Frowning, she surrendered as he led her around the fountain and back to the Castle, just as Link and Zelda had done.
**
"And where have you two been?" Link asked, crossing his arms and glaring at Roh as both he and Airaen came down the hall towards Zelda's room.
"I went...looking for Airaen, and I found her...and I was just going to return her to bed," he said slowly, conscious that he was still holding her hand, then let go of it quickly.
"Uh huh...well, Roh, I'm sure you've done enough, so if you don't mind, I would like to put my daughter, hint hint, to bed right now, so move," he said, moving to push him aside. Zelda, appearing from inside the room, grabbed Link's hand, pulling him back.
"Link, I think we left something downstairs. Why don't we got get it, hm?" she said as she gripped his hand tightly. As she half-dragged him past Roh and Airaen, she winked at her daughter then moved on down the stairs.
"Wait! Zelda, let me go! Hey!" Link cried, his voice fading as he got further and further away from them.
Airaen stared after them, thought, They're acting strange...
"Well, come on. Let's get you in bed," Roh said, motioning her to follow him. As they stepped inside, Airaen shut the door behind her. Startled, Roh turned.
Reading his face, she shrugged, replied, "Just in case my father comes back...he's a little...protective." She rolled her eyes for emphasis. "Besides...I don't really...want to go to bed right now, anyway." She smiled.
Raising an eyebrow, Roh said, "Nonsense. For some reason, your father's mad at me, so I might as well please him and put you to bed, at least until dinner."
"In my clothes?" she asked. Roh blushed.
"Um...uh, no, you...you don't have to, but....well, it would probably be more comfortable. It being a nice bed and all, and you do have your health to think about, hehheh!" he stuttered. Laughing, she sat down on the bed and took off her shoes, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm actually tired," she said, looking up at him. He sat down next to her, then caressed her cheek. Closing her eyes, she snuggled close to him, smiling. "I love you, you know that?" she whispered, placing her head against his shoulder. Startled slightly, he smiled and ran his hand through her hair, then kissed her on her cheek.
"I know," he said as he placed his hand around her back.
"Stay with me?" she asked, her voice hushed.
"Always," he whispered with a smile.
**
"Well, I'm glad we got some dinner together," Zelda was saying. She had decided to have a small get-together dinner in the dining hall. Link, who sat at her right, was constantly giving Roh a glare from across the table. Embarrassed, Airaen, glancing at her father on her left, stared down at her hands.
A few of Roh's men, including Icarn, sat at one end of the table along with a few of Zelda's subjects, while Zelda, Airaen, and Link sat at the other; Roh took his own place across from Airaen. Link had wanted to protest, but Zelda had expertly silenced him by stepping on his foot.
"It's truly delicious, this dish, my Lady," Icarn said as he took another bite. Some of the subjects were talking to some of Roh's men in hushed whispers; every now and then they glanced down at Airaen. Others were conversing about trivial matters. All in all, twenty people sat at the table, causing quite a buzz of noise. Frivolous, Airaen thought, it's all so frivolous and stupid. She looked over at Zelda, who was conversing with one of her subjects.
"Oh, yes, Kakariko is just marvelous this time of year..."
"Have you ever tasted the fish from Zora's Domain? Exquisite!"
"I heard the doctor from Lake Hylia wants to study that weird island in Hylia again..."
It's all so...stupid...all of it...they're so ignorant, yet so observant and critical, too, Airaen thought. The endless conversations were beginning to annoy her, but her awareness dissected each conversation, pinpointing it as something interesting. Damn them, she thought. Light from the torches danced along the walls; the sun had long since gone down.
Goddess, when will it all end?
**
"That actually went better than I expected," Zelda said as she made her way down the hallway, supporting Airaen. It was nearly eleven; the hallway, dark now, seemed eerie again.
"I guess so," Airaen said. "But Father kept glaring at Roh the whole time...it was embarrassing. Why is he so upset?" Link had retreated to the secluded room by the kitchen to wait for Zelda.
Zelda laughed quietly. Airaen cocked her head at her. "Well," Zelda said with a smile, "he's a little upset at Roh for...escorting you back to your room from the garden in such an...interesting way."
Airaen stopped, her eyes widening. "No...you two didn't...you didn't see...anything, did you?"
Zelda laughed. "Oh, don't worry...I made sure your father didn't do anything embarrassing when we saw you and Roh...well..."
Airaen blushed. "Aha!" Zelda cried. "Now who's blushing?"
Airaen sighed. "I was hoping to keep this a secret," she said glumly. "But, I guess it's a good thing that at least you know...I...have a lot of questions, I guess."
Zelda raised an eyebrow, then motioned for her to move on, helping her daughter up the stairs and to her room. As she moved to sit on the bed, Airaen said, "I'm being constantly escorted to bed, as if I were a little girl."
Shutting the door behind her, Zelda sat down next to Airaen, then narrowed her eyes. "You and Roh were in here for a while...and the door was closed...you two didn't...did you?" she asked tentatively.
Blushing madly, Airaen cried, "What?! Of course we didn't!"
Zelda put her hands up in defense, said, "Okay, okay! I was just making sure, that's all."
Airaen sighed, then stared at her hands in her lap, frowning slightly. "I didn't know..." she began, slowly at first, then gaining courage, "a person could...feel this way...about anyone." She giggled. "I'm being stupid and girlish again...how very becoming."
Zelda saw in her daughter's eyes a flash of some unknown emotion that lingered for a moment, then was gone again. She wondered at it, but decided to let the matter drop. If she's feeling anything, she thought, she'll tell me on her own.
Stretching, Airaen yawned, said, "Oh, it's all so trivial anyway." She made to lean back to bed when Zelda grasped her arm.
"What did Roh tell you, Airaen?" she asked earnestly. "What did you tell him?"
Airaen, sitting up again, laced her fingers uncomfortably. She glanced at Zelda's eager face, thought, I shouldn't...feel this emotion...it's...dangerous. She sighed, said, "He...he told me that...he," her voice lowered to a whisper, "loves me."
"What did you tell him?"
Airaen narrowed her eyes, then said slowly, "I told him everything...Ganon's first defeat...my birth...this journey...everything." As she said this, she thought, Was that wise? Almost as if in answer, she whispered, "I trust him." She could feel herself trembling slightly. "He doesn't care about any of it, you know? He...doesn't care about...what I am..." her voice trailed off. After a long silence she said with a laugh, "Goddess, why am I telling you all this anyway? I'm such an idiot sometimes that my mouth just talks and talks and talks! Funny, huh?"
"Do you love him, Airaen?"
The question seemed so trivial. Of course she did! Something held her back from saying it, as if hands were clasped firmly around her mouth. She trembled in the effort, thought, This isn't natural...why can't I say it?
After a moment, she whispered, her voice hoarse and labored, "Yes...more...more than...anything..."
Zelda, giggling a little, grasped her arm again, said, "Now you understand." Then, bidding her a goodnight, she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Slightly puzzled, Airaen shrugged and, with a painful effort, got into her nightgown. As she sat in the darkness, she drew her knees to her chest and hugged them.
There, in the darkness, alone, she whispered, "Yes! I love him!"
**
Darkness enshrouded everything as he hit the floor, blood pouring onto the ground. He made to stand, then cried out in agony as a wound ripped open a little wider in his flesh. "Damn her!" he cried as he crawled along the stone floor. Sand from the Desert scraped at his flesh, burying deep into the gashes all over his body, causing more pain. As he struggled to his feet, he yelled out, "How...how could I have been so stupid? How could I have underestimated that...that...child! Where did all that power come from?"
He leaned heavily against the wall, wiping blood from his eyes and mouth. Shakily, he felt the soggy hole in his cheek that continued on near his ear. Lacerations were strewn all over his body. "Damn her!" he cried again.
"M'Lord? Lord, is that you?" a small voice whispered in the darkness.
"Of course it is, you idiot! Who else could it be?" he cried.
A figure came bearing a torch. He winced from the sharp light as the figure gasped at the sight of his master. "Lord!" he cried, running to him and supporting him. As he escorted him down the hall to the giant statue, he said, "M'Lord, the rest of us fled here hoping to find you. You know, Lord, our old hideout..."
A flare of light erupted from another torch, then another...and another. Eerie light filled the room, casting shadows off the giant statue of a woman with a snake around the head. The face of it, however, had long since melted away by something, revealing a gate behind it; as of yet, no one knew where that gate led.
"Make way, fools! Make way for Ganondorf, King of Gerudo!" came the cry as the horde shifted out of the way. A trail of blood followed behind Ganon as he was led to a giant chair at the foot of the statue. He winced as he sat down.
"Get me a doctor, you bastards! Quickly!" Ganon roared, leaning back against the chair. His command rang through many voices as several men ran off to fetch the doctor. "You there!" Ganon yelled, pointing to a heavily bandaged captain. "Report! Now! Where is that girl-child, that Airaen? Where is she?"
Trembling, the captain kneeled in front of Ganon, stammered, "I...I don't know, Lord Ganondorf. We fled as soon as we saw you were gone."
Enraged, Ganon leaned forward and grabbed the terrified captain by the neck, lifting him upwards. "Idiot! Damnable coward! You should have captured that damnable girl-child! Now we have barely enough men to swarm the Castle! Do you know how long it took me to assemble a horde, man?"
Quivering, the captain, choking slowly, gurgled, "No...no...L-lord...p- please don't..."
"Years and years!" Ganon said as if he didn't notice the captain's struggles. "It'll take me two years now to raise an army! Two! And now we've got this Airaen child out and about, another damnable thorn in my side! And you morons didn't think to capture her!" He grasped the man's shoulders.
Eyes bulging, the captain screamed, "Please don't, Ganon! Let me go! Please let me go!"
"Too late, fool," Ganon sneered. Summoning his strength, Ganon ripped the man apart at the shoulders, then sent him flying into the horde, blood splattering.
**
Airaen screamed in the darkness, sitting up and sobbing. "NO! NO, NO, NO!" she screamed. Hands grasped her shoulders, shaking her. Frightened, she cried, "No! Let me go! Don't touch me! Let go! LET GO OF ME!" She pushed the hands away, shivering and crying.
"Airaen! Airaen, look at me!" Link cried, grasping her shoulders again and shaking her. When she tried to push him away, he cried out, "Airaen! It's Link! C'mon, kid, wake up!"
Airaen started, then focused on his face. As she saw him, she pressed against his chest, sobbing. "What's wrong with her?" Zelda said, sitting forward on the bed, a fearful look on her face.
"I saw him!" Airaen sobbed, her face hidden in her father's tunic. "He was right there! I saw him! I saw Ganon alive!" She shook uncontrollably.
Link, hushing her, held her close, rocking her back and forth. "It was just a nightmare, Airaen; whatever it was, it was just a nightmare."
Angered, Airaen pulled away from him, crying, "No, it wasn't! You don't understand!" She shivered as she looked at their faces, disbelief plastered on them. "I see things, dad! Things that happen now, or are going to happen!"
Laughing, Link leaned forward. "Go back to bed, child. It was just a bad dream. Go on."
"NO!" Airaen yelled, startling both of them. "Listen! Remember that dream I told you about, dad? The one where I dreamt about Epona giving birth to a male horse, and how Malon would name him? That happened nine months later, dad! And Malon named him Perigan! And then the one where I dreamt about that guard from the Castle coming for you with a message from Zelda? Then, it happened the next day? Don't you get it? I see things and they happen, or they happen now! Don't you understand?"
Link, shrugging her off, pushed her back in bed, whispered, "You're talking nonsense, Airaen. Now, go back to sleep and you'll feel better in the morning, okay?"
Truly angry now, she pushed him away, then got out of bed. "You don't get it! I'm not like other people, dad! All those times where I would pass out and then wake up on the roof, or all those dreams? I don't think I'm even human! Don't you get it? I'm prescient!"
There was a dull silence; Airaen sniffled, then wiped her tears away. Balling a fist, she took off her bandages around her hand and showed the scar to them. Link, his eyes wide, sat back as he stared at the scarred Triforce mark on her hand. "You think this is normal, dad? Or you, mom?" she whispered. Zelda stared down at her feet. "I'm not human! I have...powers that no one else has! Not even you two could do the things I can! Don't you get it? That wasn't a dream! Ganon's alive! I know he is, and he's going to attack us again in two years!"
*%*%*
Dun dun dun! Well, that's the end of chapter twenty! Please review! I love you guys! *hugs*
**
Ch. 20: A Vision of Fear
"So, you're sure you can walk?" Roh asked again. He let go of Airaen's hand and wrapped his arm around her shoulder protectively.
"For the last time, Roh," she said with a giggle, "I'm fine." She kissed him on the cheek. They had departed from the little secluded garden and had turned left down the path; slowly, they had made their way into the Castle courtyard. Sunlight glistened off the flowing fountain that stood in the middle of the courtyard.
Frowning slightly, he said, "Well, just to make sure, let's sit down by the fountain so you won't have to walk anymore." He sat her down carefully, then sat next to her, staring forward, holding onto her hand.
"It's odd," Airaen said after a pause. "This is the place that my mother and I walked through. Ha, we sat at this very fountain...it...it seems so long ago...It's a good thing no one's here right now, so no one...can see us."
Roh looked at her, said, "What do you mean?"
Airaen narrowed her eyes as she gazed at the ground. "It's just...it wouldn't look very good if anyone...saw you with me. You might get drawn into those rumors, too."
Roh threw his head back and roared with laughter. "Let them!" he yelled. "Let them see us together! Let them all know I love you! I don't care what they think!" As if for emphasis, he drew her into an embrace and kissed her soundly on the lips. She giggled involuntarily, thought, I had no idea this could feel so...wonderful! Now I understand why my parents sacrificed everything for love!
She surrendered herself to the kiss.
**
"This garden has gotten so beautiful, Zelda, since I last came here," Link said. They had decided to take a stroll in the garden for some peace and quiet.
Zelda smiled. "Thank you. I've always loved this garden, ever since I was a child," she said, taking his hand. "Let me show you the fountain, Link! It's especially pretty this time of year, with all the flowers around it!" Feeling like a child, she giggled as she ran with him, turning right. As they rounded the corner, she stopped; Link, caught by surprise, nearly collided with her.
"What's wrong?" he asked, recovering.
"Sh!" she hissed, staring ahead with a slight, knowing smile on her face. Narrowing his eyes, Link followed her gaze to the fountain. As he found what Zelda was looking at, he nearly cried out, but bit his tongue instead.
Airaen was locked in an embrace with Roh as they kissed passionately. Roh's hand began to snake down her back as Airaen clutched at his tunic.
Paternal instincts kicking in, Link balled his fist and began to walk towards them; he was about to yell out something when Zelda placed her hand over his mouth. His voice now muffled, Zelda managed to discern Link saying, "Get your hand away from there and step away from my daughter, boy!"
Zelda, trying hard to hold back laughter towards Link's antics, pushed him back around the corner. Once they were safely out of sight, she whispered, "Leave them alone, Link..."
Link, still enraged and trying to keep his voice level, hissed, "There is no way I'm leaving her alone with that boy when they're kissing like that! He might want to do something with her, and she'll probably be an idiot and agree to it! So, if you'll excuse me, I need to go rescue my daughter, thank you very much!"
He struggled to get away, but Zelda, giggling softly, held him back and pushed him against the wall. "Uh-uh...don't you dare! I won't let you!" Link crossed his arms childishly, but surrendered.
"Fine...fine! Have it your way, then, dammit," he said angrily and with a sigh. "Just for the record, I am NOT okay with this at all...goddess, she's fifteen years old! Way too young for this!"
Zelda kissed him in thanks, then whispered, "She's been through enough already...give her this one chance, Link...please?" Link sighed, but nodded. Smiling, she kissed him again. "Let's go back inside, then."
He peered around the corner before Zelda pulled him back again. As he followed her down the path, he grumbled, "She doesn't have to kiss him that long, you know!" Zelda laughed.
**
"Did you hear something?" Roh asked as he placed his chin on Airaen's head, drawing her close to his chest.
"Hm? I don't know...maybe just a bird or something," she replied as she closed her eyes, smiling in pure bliss.
"Damn, it's getting late...and I'm supposed to go talk to Icarn," Roh said as he stared at the sky. He sighed. "I have my damnable promises to keep, Airaen..." She nodded and pulled away, her heart crying out in protest. Roh stood, then extended his hand towards her. Grasping her hand, tightly, he lifted her up. As he gripped her hand even tighter, she cried out as pain seared the hand. Startled, he looked down at her hand, then cried, "Ah! I'm sorry! That's your bandaged hand!" He let go of it immediately, then stood there in an embarrassed silence, feeling like a complete idiot.
Massaging her hand, she smiled apologetically, said, "No, no, it's alright, Roh. I'm fine, really." Inwardly, she thought, It reminded me of...what I'm supposed to do.
He blushed a little, then motioned for her to follow him. "Come on, I'll take you back to bed. Oh, don't protest; you ought to at least spend a little bit in bed, anyway. It's late afternoon," he said as he led her by her unhurt hand. Frowning, she surrendered as he led her around the fountain and back to the Castle, just as Link and Zelda had done.
**
"And where have you two been?" Link asked, crossing his arms and glaring at Roh as both he and Airaen came down the hall towards Zelda's room.
"I went...looking for Airaen, and I found her...and I was just going to return her to bed," he said slowly, conscious that he was still holding her hand, then let go of it quickly.
"Uh huh...well, Roh, I'm sure you've done enough, so if you don't mind, I would like to put my daughter, hint hint, to bed right now, so move," he said, moving to push him aside. Zelda, appearing from inside the room, grabbed Link's hand, pulling him back.
"Link, I think we left something downstairs. Why don't we got get it, hm?" she said as she gripped his hand tightly. As she half-dragged him past Roh and Airaen, she winked at her daughter then moved on down the stairs.
"Wait! Zelda, let me go! Hey!" Link cried, his voice fading as he got further and further away from them.
Airaen stared after them, thought, They're acting strange...
"Well, come on. Let's get you in bed," Roh said, motioning her to follow him. As they stepped inside, Airaen shut the door behind her. Startled, Roh turned.
Reading his face, she shrugged, replied, "Just in case my father comes back...he's a little...protective." She rolled her eyes for emphasis. "Besides...I don't really...want to go to bed right now, anyway." She smiled.
Raising an eyebrow, Roh said, "Nonsense. For some reason, your father's mad at me, so I might as well please him and put you to bed, at least until dinner."
"In my clothes?" she asked. Roh blushed.
"Um...uh, no, you...you don't have to, but....well, it would probably be more comfortable. It being a nice bed and all, and you do have your health to think about, hehheh!" he stuttered. Laughing, she sat down on the bed and took off her shoes, rubbing her eyes.
"I'm actually tired," she said, looking up at him. He sat down next to her, then caressed her cheek. Closing her eyes, she snuggled close to him, smiling. "I love you, you know that?" she whispered, placing her head against his shoulder. Startled slightly, he smiled and ran his hand through her hair, then kissed her on her cheek.
"I know," he said as he placed his hand around her back.
"Stay with me?" she asked, her voice hushed.
"Always," he whispered with a smile.
**
"Well, I'm glad we got some dinner together," Zelda was saying. She had decided to have a small get-together dinner in the dining hall. Link, who sat at her right, was constantly giving Roh a glare from across the table. Embarrassed, Airaen, glancing at her father on her left, stared down at her hands.
A few of Roh's men, including Icarn, sat at one end of the table along with a few of Zelda's subjects, while Zelda, Airaen, and Link sat at the other; Roh took his own place across from Airaen. Link had wanted to protest, but Zelda had expertly silenced him by stepping on his foot.
"It's truly delicious, this dish, my Lady," Icarn said as he took another bite. Some of the subjects were talking to some of Roh's men in hushed whispers; every now and then they glanced down at Airaen. Others were conversing about trivial matters. All in all, twenty people sat at the table, causing quite a buzz of noise. Frivolous, Airaen thought, it's all so frivolous and stupid. She looked over at Zelda, who was conversing with one of her subjects.
"Oh, yes, Kakariko is just marvelous this time of year..."
"Have you ever tasted the fish from Zora's Domain? Exquisite!"
"I heard the doctor from Lake Hylia wants to study that weird island in Hylia again..."
It's all so...stupid...all of it...they're so ignorant, yet so observant and critical, too, Airaen thought. The endless conversations were beginning to annoy her, but her awareness dissected each conversation, pinpointing it as something interesting. Damn them, she thought. Light from the torches danced along the walls; the sun had long since gone down.
Goddess, when will it all end?
**
"That actually went better than I expected," Zelda said as she made her way down the hallway, supporting Airaen. It was nearly eleven; the hallway, dark now, seemed eerie again.
"I guess so," Airaen said. "But Father kept glaring at Roh the whole time...it was embarrassing. Why is he so upset?" Link had retreated to the secluded room by the kitchen to wait for Zelda.
Zelda laughed quietly. Airaen cocked her head at her. "Well," Zelda said with a smile, "he's a little upset at Roh for...escorting you back to your room from the garden in such an...interesting way."
Airaen stopped, her eyes widening. "No...you two didn't...you didn't see...anything, did you?"
Zelda laughed. "Oh, don't worry...I made sure your father didn't do anything embarrassing when we saw you and Roh...well..."
Airaen blushed. "Aha!" Zelda cried. "Now who's blushing?"
Airaen sighed. "I was hoping to keep this a secret," she said glumly. "But, I guess it's a good thing that at least you know...I...have a lot of questions, I guess."
Zelda raised an eyebrow, then motioned for her to move on, helping her daughter up the stairs and to her room. As she moved to sit on the bed, Airaen said, "I'm being constantly escorted to bed, as if I were a little girl."
Shutting the door behind her, Zelda sat down next to Airaen, then narrowed her eyes. "You and Roh were in here for a while...and the door was closed...you two didn't...did you?" she asked tentatively.
Blushing madly, Airaen cried, "What?! Of course we didn't!"
Zelda put her hands up in defense, said, "Okay, okay! I was just making sure, that's all."
Airaen sighed, then stared at her hands in her lap, frowning slightly. "I didn't know..." she began, slowly at first, then gaining courage, "a person could...feel this way...about anyone." She giggled. "I'm being stupid and girlish again...how very becoming."
Zelda saw in her daughter's eyes a flash of some unknown emotion that lingered for a moment, then was gone again. She wondered at it, but decided to let the matter drop. If she's feeling anything, she thought, she'll tell me on her own.
Stretching, Airaen yawned, said, "Oh, it's all so trivial anyway." She made to lean back to bed when Zelda grasped her arm.
"What did Roh tell you, Airaen?" she asked earnestly. "What did you tell him?"
Airaen, sitting up again, laced her fingers uncomfortably. She glanced at Zelda's eager face, thought, I shouldn't...feel this emotion...it's...dangerous. She sighed, said, "He...he told me that...he," her voice lowered to a whisper, "loves me."
"What did you tell him?"
Airaen narrowed her eyes, then said slowly, "I told him everything...Ganon's first defeat...my birth...this journey...everything." As she said this, she thought, Was that wise? Almost as if in answer, she whispered, "I trust him." She could feel herself trembling slightly. "He doesn't care about any of it, you know? He...doesn't care about...what I am..." her voice trailed off. After a long silence she said with a laugh, "Goddess, why am I telling you all this anyway? I'm such an idiot sometimes that my mouth just talks and talks and talks! Funny, huh?"
"Do you love him, Airaen?"
The question seemed so trivial. Of course she did! Something held her back from saying it, as if hands were clasped firmly around her mouth. She trembled in the effort, thought, This isn't natural...why can't I say it?
After a moment, she whispered, her voice hoarse and labored, "Yes...more...more than...anything..."
Zelda, giggling a little, grasped her arm again, said, "Now you understand." Then, bidding her a goodnight, she left the room, shutting the door behind her.
Slightly puzzled, Airaen shrugged and, with a painful effort, got into her nightgown. As she sat in the darkness, she drew her knees to her chest and hugged them.
There, in the darkness, alone, she whispered, "Yes! I love him!"
**
Darkness enshrouded everything as he hit the floor, blood pouring onto the ground. He made to stand, then cried out in agony as a wound ripped open a little wider in his flesh. "Damn her!" he cried as he crawled along the stone floor. Sand from the Desert scraped at his flesh, burying deep into the gashes all over his body, causing more pain. As he struggled to his feet, he yelled out, "How...how could I have been so stupid? How could I have underestimated that...that...child! Where did all that power come from?"
He leaned heavily against the wall, wiping blood from his eyes and mouth. Shakily, he felt the soggy hole in his cheek that continued on near his ear. Lacerations were strewn all over his body. "Damn her!" he cried again.
"M'Lord? Lord, is that you?" a small voice whispered in the darkness.
"Of course it is, you idiot! Who else could it be?" he cried.
A figure came bearing a torch. He winced from the sharp light as the figure gasped at the sight of his master. "Lord!" he cried, running to him and supporting him. As he escorted him down the hall to the giant statue, he said, "M'Lord, the rest of us fled here hoping to find you. You know, Lord, our old hideout..."
A flare of light erupted from another torch, then another...and another. Eerie light filled the room, casting shadows off the giant statue of a woman with a snake around the head. The face of it, however, had long since melted away by something, revealing a gate behind it; as of yet, no one knew where that gate led.
"Make way, fools! Make way for Ganondorf, King of Gerudo!" came the cry as the horde shifted out of the way. A trail of blood followed behind Ganon as he was led to a giant chair at the foot of the statue. He winced as he sat down.
"Get me a doctor, you bastards! Quickly!" Ganon roared, leaning back against the chair. His command rang through many voices as several men ran off to fetch the doctor. "You there!" Ganon yelled, pointing to a heavily bandaged captain. "Report! Now! Where is that girl-child, that Airaen? Where is she?"
Trembling, the captain kneeled in front of Ganon, stammered, "I...I don't know, Lord Ganondorf. We fled as soon as we saw you were gone."
Enraged, Ganon leaned forward and grabbed the terrified captain by the neck, lifting him upwards. "Idiot! Damnable coward! You should have captured that damnable girl-child! Now we have barely enough men to swarm the Castle! Do you know how long it took me to assemble a horde, man?"
Quivering, the captain, choking slowly, gurgled, "No...no...L-lord...p- please don't..."
"Years and years!" Ganon said as if he didn't notice the captain's struggles. "It'll take me two years now to raise an army! Two! And now we've got this Airaen child out and about, another damnable thorn in my side! And you morons didn't think to capture her!" He grasped the man's shoulders.
Eyes bulging, the captain screamed, "Please don't, Ganon! Let me go! Please let me go!"
"Too late, fool," Ganon sneered. Summoning his strength, Ganon ripped the man apart at the shoulders, then sent him flying into the horde, blood splattering.
**
Airaen screamed in the darkness, sitting up and sobbing. "NO! NO, NO, NO!" she screamed. Hands grasped her shoulders, shaking her. Frightened, she cried, "No! Let me go! Don't touch me! Let go! LET GO OF ME!" She pushed the hands away, shivering and crying.
"Airaen! Airaen, look at me!" Link cried, grasping her shoulders again and shaking her. When she tried to push him away, he cried out, "Airaen! It's Link! C'mon, kid, wake up!"
Airaen started, then focused on his face. As she saw him, she pressed against his chest, sobbing. "What's wrong with her?" Zelda said, sitting forward on the bed, a fearful look on her face.
"I saw him!" Airaen sobbed, her face hidden in her father's tunic. "He was right there! I saw him! I saw Ganon alive!" She shook uncontrollably.
Link, hushing her, held her close, rocking her back and forth. "It was just a nightmare, Airaen; whatever it was, it was just a nightmare."
Angered, Airaen pulled away from him, crying, "No, it wasn't! You don't understand!" She shivered as she looked at their faces, disbelief plastered on them. "I see things, dad! Things that happen now, or are going to happen!"
Laughing, Link leaned forward. "Go back to bed, child. It was just a bad dream. Go on."
"NO!" Airaen yelled, startling both of them. "Listen! Remember that dream I told you about, dad? The one where I dreamt about Epona giving birth to a male horse, and how Malon would name him? That happened nine months later, dad! And Malon named him Perigan! And then the one where I dreamt about that guard from the Castle coming for you with a message from Zelda? Then, it happened the next day? Don't you get it? I see things and they happen, or they happen now! Don't you understand?"
Link, shrugging her off, pushed her back in bed, whispered, "You're talking nonsense, Airaen. Now, go back to sleep and you'll feel better in the morning, okay?"
Truly angry now, she pushed him away, then got out of bed. "You don't get it! I'm not like other people, dad! All those times where I would pass out and then wake up on the roof, or all those dreams? I don't think I'm even human! Don't you get it? I'm prescient!"
There was a dull silence; Airaen sniffled, then wiped her tears away. Balling a fist, she took off her bandages around her hand and showed the scar to them. Link, his eyes wide, sat back as he stared at the scarred Triforce mark on her hand. "You think this is normal, dad? Or you, mom?" she whispered. Zelda stared down at her feet. "I'm not human! I have...powers that no one else has! Not even you two could do the things I can! Don't you get it? That wasn't a dream! Ganon's alive! I know he is, and he's going to attack us again in two years!"
*%*%*
Dun dun dun! Well, that's the end of chapter twenty! Please review! I love you guys! *hugs*