Ah, being grounded is soooo much fun (especially when you simply wake up, get yelled at and then have the overlords say "you're grounded!" for no apparent reason). Well, I get to write, so that's really all that matters, am I right, people? THIS IS A SHOUT-OUT TO EVERYONE BEING OPPRESSED! And now for the legal rights! I don't own Zelda! Woohoo!

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Ch. 27: A Brief Moment to Relax

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"Are you finally going to get those pathetic excuses for soldiers actually into the swing of things?"

Zelda nearly jumped out of her seat. "Will you stop doing that?" she asked as she turned to see Airaen, the ghost of a grin on her face, leaning against the doorway.

"You've been up in your room for most of the morning, you know," Airaen replied, ignoring her mother's previous statement with a shrug. "Besides, Roh and his little companions almost died the other day. He wouldn't have lost two men if your idiotic soldiers had half the wit and courage to go to arms and help them." Her voice was calm, but Zelda saw the gleam of subtle hatred in her eyes. She ignored an inward tremble.

"You helped them," she replied quietly.

"That's not the point and you know it. I can't baby-sit this entire place, let alone be the one to prepare everyone. What will happen once Ganon comes, eh? I can't go off saving everybody and you know it."

"Your father would've found a way," Zelda replied.

"In case you haven't noticed, mother, I am not my father."

Her tone was venomous, and her eyes flashed dangerously.

"I'll try to get them to understand," Zelda said after a long pause.

"Try? You will make them if you're the Queen," Airaen replied as she turned, closing the door behind her.

##

Why is everyone so dense, lately?

 The bright sunshine over the Market Place did not help with Airaen's mood as she walked briskly around, kicking absentmindedly at a lone pebble.

It's almost as if they're all moving in slow motion. If Master were here, I bet he would just turn around and go home at the sight of them all!

 "Hey! Give that back! It's mine! Come on, give me my doll back!"

She looked up to see a group of children teasing a little girl in a deserted alleyway; one boy held a tiny doll in his grubby hand, dangling it in front of the child. Little brat, she thought angrily. Walking quickly, she moved towards the boy and stood with her arms crossed, glaring at the now-frightened boy.

"You want to give that back, or do I have to take it from you?"

The boy stepped back into the crowd of young children, making sure the others surrounded him. Being the tallest, he looked like a small island in the midst of a tiny sea.

"You're not the boss of me! Lay off, you old hag," he said triumphantly.

Before he could say another word, Airaen snatched the doll from his hand and handed it back to the girl. "Run along now, boy, or you'll wish you never had a backside to be hit with," she hissed, narrowing her eyes. Eyes wide, the boy ran off, his cronies following close behind.

"Thank you," the little girl whispered, staring down at the floor. "They're always bugging me and they always take Navi from me like that."

"Navi?"

"My doll," the girl said with a smile as she showed her the blue doll. "See? She's got wings at her back, too, just like a fairy!"

"Exactly like a fairy," Airaen nodded. "Do you know where the name originates from?"

"Probably a fairy. Dunno, my Dad made it for me. Did you know fairies are magic? Real magic! I wish I could see that," the girl replied wistfully.

"Magic, huh?"

"Yeah, lots of magic. Too bad people can't do any magic. I wish I could see magic. Hey, you...you can't do magic...can you?"

"Well..." Airaen began, at a loss for words. Magic?

"You can, can't you! Oh, can I see? Please, please, please? I won't tell anyone, honest!" the girl cried happily as she began to circle Airaen, who ran her hands agitatedly through her hair.

Now I'm an entertainer for the little children. How wonderful.

 "Wow! You're a fighter, too!" the girl cried as she saw the hilt of Airaen's sword. "Wow, a magician and a fighter! Wow! Can I see some magic, huh, huh? Please, oh, please?"

"Alright! Alright! Will you stop circling me?" Airaen cried.

The girl stopped immediately, her eyes sparkling like a puppy.

"Magic, huh?"

The girl clapped her hands together as she did a tiny dance. Airaen sighed, thinking, Since when is it magic? Kneeling down to face the child she held out her hands palm upwards. Curious, the child leaned forward, eyes eager and ready. "Watch closely," Airaen whispered. She clapped her hands together, and as they separated, a small, golden ball of light formed, splashing color on their faces. The girl giggled. Slowly, the ball of magic lifted up out of Airaen's hands to hover gently in front of the girl's face.

As the young child reached out to touch it, it burst into a million sparks and went fluttering away like butterflies caught on the wind. Laughing, the girl jumped up to catch one in vain. It fluttered just above her finger, then, as if picked up by an invisible hand, fluttered away into the sky to disappear among the blue. Clapping her hands, she cried, "Again! Again!"

"That's enough for today, I think," Airaen said, standing and stretching. "What's your name, anyway, kid?"

"Taila," the girl replied, looking at Airaen with an awed expression. "Who're you, and where do you come from?"

"Airaen, but it's best we don't tell anyone about this, okay? As for where I come from...I'm a wandering traveler. I come and go when I please."

"And you're a fighter and you can do magic!" Taila cried happily.

"Sh! Not so loud," Airaen hissed.

"Can you teach me to do magic, or to fight? They say that some evil man is coming, and I wanna help my Dad...he's a soldier," Taila replied.

"You don't need to learn how to fight. As for magic, I can teach you a way to get those children to leave you alone," Airaen replied.

"How?"

"Just tell them you're a friend of mine, and if they bother you again I'll come after them when they least expect it and give them a lesson they won't soon forget."

"Why can't I learn how to fight?" Taila asked.

"It's not that you can't, it's just you don't need to. Everyone can fight, but what makes a really great warrior is someone who knows they can fight but refuse to do so," Airaen replied, crossing her arms. "They're called pacifists, and they're the ones responsible for peace, not fighters."

"But, you can fight," Taila said.

"I fight because I don't have a choice. You, little Taila, do."

##

"There is an inn down in the green that sells the greatest ale, and if y'look righteously, you'll see it standin' there," Airaen sang with a grin on her face, enjoying the bright sunshine as she kicked at the grass. "And if y'see it standin' there, then go right in an' ask for some of that pipin' elder ale, that tastes as sweet as berries in Spring as it sits upon your tongue! Oh, there is an inn down in the green that sells the greatest ale, but don't you worry 'bout payin' a lot, cause there's not much else to sell!"

"Since when do you drink?"

"Um...oh, hi, there, Dad! Been having a nice day?"

Airaen laughed uncomfortably, placing her hand behind her head. Uh, oh.

"Well?" Link asked, anger plain in his voice.

"Oh, goddess, would you look at the time? It's almost dinner! Got to go!" she cried, waving goodbye to him as she sped off inside.

"Get back here! Hey, I'm talking to you!" Link cried helplessly. I'll get you one day...

##

She was getting impatient and she knew it. As she stared up at the night sky from atop the Castle, Airaen tossed a piece of bread in the air, watching the gentle breeze catch it and carry it gently away. I'm bored out of my mind just sitting here.

 She sighed. I bet Roh's having a fit trying to find me, the poor guy, but I don't want to make an entrance to all those idiot subjects just yet, especially at dinner.

She glanced at the loaf of bread she held in her hand. "I hope the maids don't miss you," she said to it.

I don't know how many fighters Ganon has. Well, I'll just have to wait and see...now there's something fun to think about!

 She laughed aloud as she tossed another piece of bread in the air, this time catching it expertly in her hand. "Hurry up, you old fart, and get here already!"

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I'm baaaack! Please Review!