sniff I have such awesome reviewers/readers! So, ha! Even though I don't own The Legend of Zelda, I do have super cool people who read my story! Yay! And...woah! Chapter 30?!?!?! Already? Wow...it's been counts on fingers eight months since I posted this story! EIGHT MONTHS! I should have a party. Party on the Internet! Woo-oo! Partay! Part-ay! On ! Woohoo! Now, to serious business...I'M CHANGING THE RATING...SORRY GUYS, BUT THIS CHAPTER GETS A LITTLE...ER...YOU'LL UNDERSTAND. SERIOUSLY, BE WARNED! THIS HAS BEEN CHANGED TO R FOR OBVIOUS REASONS!
##
Ch. 30: Dancing in the Dark
##
"Master! Master!" Airaen cried, laughing as she hugged the old man. Ahrima awkwardly returned the hug with a quick pat on the girl's back, his eyebrows raised as he drew back. "What're you doing here?" she asked breathlessly, a huge smile on her lips.
The old man gazed at the Gate with interest, his head cocked to one side. "Boredom is a nasty thing to have, Fidaya," he replied with a shrug. "Not too bad of a repair." He nodded to the repaired part of the Gate solemnly.
"But...but...why did you come?" she asked earnestly. A bubble of questions soared to her mind; she tapped her foot in anxiety.
"Ha, 'boredom' he says," came a deep voice from behind her. A strong, callused hand was placed on Airaen's shoulder, and, when she turned round, she laughed.
"Fash, you idiot!" she cried. "Gash better not be here, or it'll be his hide!"
"Naw, he's not a fighter but a tavern keeper," Fash replied with a shrug. "But Ith's here, somewhere, I think."
"What the hell is everyone doing here?!" Airaen yelled, waving her arms.
"You not be happy to be seein' us, little one, eh?"
"Of course I am, Ith!" she giggled, and, turning, she wrapped her arms around the blacksmith with a laugh. Fash, deciding to join in, grabbed both of them and lifted them up into a large hug, sending the lot of them laughing.
Ahrima, conscious of the stares around them, sighed heavily. "You're acting like a bunch of rotten kids."
"Ah, you just bein' a stiff-necked old man, ya?" Ith said with a sigh. "'Sides, t'was your idea to be comin' here, to be sure. You were very much concerned with th'little one here, ya?"
"I was not concerned, I just didn't have anything better to do," Ahrima replied, crossing his arms and trying to look stern. "And she hasn't finished it at all, but, no. She insisted she had to go back home, didn't you, Fidaya? Couldn't even finish training, could you?"
Airaen bit her lip.
"Um...Airaen?" Roh asked from a distance. "Who are these people?"
##
"You did it again!" Zelda was yelling. Link, trying hard not to laugh, was holding onto her wrist in a last effort to keep the woman from tearing Airaen to pieces. He was grateful they had gone back to Zelda's room once they had heard of the victory out on the field. Waiting had been the best thing for Zelda at the moment.
"You're starting to get embarrassing," Airaen replied calmly.
Slap!
"And a bit vulgar," Airaen muttered as she rubbed her cheek. "That hurt!"
"Damn well it should!" Zelda replied, wringing her hand. "I told you, you're going to get killed with all these stupid stunts you keep pulling! You're so...arrogant!"
"Stunts? Stunts that seem to be working!" Airaen yelled suddenly, glaring at her mother. "You have barely done anything since this whole fucking thing started, thank you!"
There was a bittersweet silence.
"I'm gonna get something to eat," Airaen replied quietly, then stole out of the room.
##
"Ha, there you are!" Airaen said with a laugh. "I didn't expect you to be here."
She sat down, placing the bread and water next to her as she leaned her back against the wall.
Roh sighed as he stared ahead, then took another drink of wine. "I've been in this garden since sunset," he replied quietly.
"You're drunk," she said softly, looking at him with her eyes narrowed.
"Am I?" he mumbled, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Sighing, he leaned back and closed his eyes. "I'm tired."
She leaned against his shoulder and sighed. "I'm sorry. You probably want to go home, huh? I didn't mean to drag you into this whole thing."
He was silent and brooding, wanting to pick his words carefully. "I want to help. Yes, I do want to go home...but I want you to come with me."
He took a final drink from the bottle, then tossed it into the little moat that surrounded them.
"What's wrong, Roh?" she asked, looking up at him.
"I want you, is all," he whispered, placing his face in her hair. "I need you."
She sighed and snuggled closer to him. "You've always had me," she whispered in his ear. "Always..."
Slowly, he drew his face from her hair and stared into her eyes. Shivering, he drew her closer and kissed her again and again and again. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pressed against her. They lay down on the ground. She ran her hands through his hair, willing but gentle.
"Airaen..." he whispered as he slowly began to shift her silky garments off.
She traced her fingers along his cheek, her eyes beckoning him as she reached down to his waist, gripping his clothes, pulling them slowly off...inviting...ready...
He drew himself on top of her, his mouth open slightly as he placed his hands in hers. She bit her lip and moaned softly at the touch, the different touch. An explosion of emotions ran through them both as he moved. She whispered his name over and over and over as she pressed his bare body against her naked body. He moaned and kissed her.
And the night enshrouded them both, whispering and beckoning for the loss of innocence.
##
Morning sunlight was pouring in from above.
Airaen winced as her eyes adjusted, then, groaning, placed her face against Roh's chest again. His mouth was opened slightly, and he was quietly snoring. Giggling, she pushed herself up and whispered, "Wake up, sleepy head."
"Don't...wanna..." he mumbled, reaching for her. "I'm...tired..."
She reached for her clothes, shivering. "I still can't believe we fell down the steps."
Groaning, he pushed himself up and grabbed his pants. "You fell...I was trying to catch you."
As she finished slipping her shirt on, she shook her head, saying, "You were pushing too hard. We shouldn't have been so close to the steps, is all."
She shook dirt from her clothes, then pulled a stray flower petal from her hair. Laughing, he wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her. "My love," he chuckled, "the Queen of the Flowers and Dirt."
"Yes, and my love the Idiot," she replied, pushing him off her. She slipped on her pants. "And I'm no Queen."
He laughed. "You could be."
"I'm starving," she replied with a smile, ignoring the comment. "I didn't get to finish my dinner last night."
"I will make you breakfast if you promise for this again," he grinned. She nodded, smiling as she leaned against him.
##
Link could sense something was entirely different about her, but he couldn't decide what it was. Ahrima, from across the breakfast table, was saying something to a fighter from Sidar, while Ith and Fash were sending those around them into fits of laughter. Fash, raising his mug, yelled, "My compliments to Lady Zelda for excellent morning ale!"
"Ha, you're brother would be killin' you fer that comment, young master!" Ith cried as he roared with laughter.
Zelda, blushing, nodded with a smile.
Link looked at Airaen again and narrowed his eyes. Roh was whispering something in her ear, sending her into a fit of giggles.
There's something different about you, Link thought. I have no idea what it is...but you seem so bright and chipper and...damn well older.
He eyed Roh suspiciously, then caught Zelda's eye. Does she see it, too?
But Zelda was talking animatedly to a subject. "Things are seemingly quiet from Ganondorf's tent, are they not?" the subject asked.
"He's still smarting from yesterday," Airaen replied quietly, then looked quickly at her plate. The subject narrowed his eyes at her as if daring her to speak, but, eyeing Zelda, bit his tongue.
##
"What did you do last night?"
Startled, Airaen turned from the window. "What do you want?" she replied as she turned her back on Zelda.
"This was the first time you actually sat with us for a meal and you've been smiling nonstop. What did you do?" Zelda pressed as she sat on the bed, crossing her arms.
"Nothing," Airaen replied innocently as she gazed out to Hyrule Field. "Ganon's just sitting there, huh? He has too much pride."
"You're changing the subject," Zelda said, trying to suppress a giggle.
"N-no, I'm not!"
Zelda laughed aloud. "My, my, is the great Airaen stuttering and embarrassed? Is she acting childish?"
"I am not," Airaen rebutted as she turned around. She knew her face was crimson, but she stared her mother down. Zelda was giggling. "You're mocking me, then?"
"You've been clearly avoiding your father all morning," Zelda laughed. "And I doubt he hasn't realized it at all."
"Realized what?" Airaen asked, trying to place a tone of innocence in her voice. Damn.
"You and Roh," Zelda replied with a smile.
"Nothing happened!"
The response was automatic. Too automatic, Zelda thought with a smile. "You're as bad at lying as your father."
"I'm...not...oh, forget it," Airaen said with a sigh, placing her chin in her hands. "What, am I to be punished?"
"Where was it?" Zelda asked with a smile.
Airaen put her face in her hands. "Why am I talking about this to you?" she said, her voice muffled.
"Because you're growing up too fast," Zelda replied, sitting back. "And I'm your mother."
Airaen looked up. "I barely know you," she replied. "This is personal stuff."
"You laughed at me when I told you," Zelda pointed out.
"That...that was different! Oh, stop laughing! It's not that funny! Hey, I said stop it!" Airaen hissed. "It's...none of your business, anyway." She stared into Zelda's blue eyes and sighed, staring down at the floor. "Please don't tell my father...he'll kill me."
"Why would I tell him? He's so overly protective, anyway, it would be a stupid decision on my part to tell him," Zelda replied with a shrug. "Besides, I didn't have the luxury of parents when I did it."
"Luxury? Why are we discussing this?!" Airaen cried, blushing madly. "Stop laughing at me! This isn't funny!"
"I think it's hilarious!" Zelda laughed. "Revenge is so sweet."
Airaen sighed. "My entire family is strange," she said with a sigh. "Alright, if you want to know, the garden. And it was cold, and we fell down the steps...stop laughing! It's not funny...it was..."
She blushed and bit her lip, twisting her fingers in her lap. What she wanted to say then she couldn't bring to words.
"You can never bring it into words, no matter how hard you try." Zelda stood up, stretching. "I have another 'urgent meeting' with those damnable subjects of mine," she explained.
"You're incredibly strange, you know that?" Airaen replied, narrowing her eyes. "Why did you want to even know? You were completely mad at me a few hours' time before, and now you're prying secrets from me."
"Because it's nice to remind you that you're human," Zelda replied, then left Airaen in a stunned silence.
%$%$
Well, how was it? I hope no little kids read this and are now scarred for life...um...but, please review?
##
Ch. 30: Dancing in the Dark
##
"Master! Master!" Airaen cried, laughing as she hugged the old man. Ahrima awkwardly returned the hug with a quick pat on the girl's back, his eyebrows raised as he drew back. "What're you doing here?" she asked breathlessly, a huge smile on her lips.
The old man gazed at the Gate with interest, his head cocked to one side. "Boredom is a nasty thing to have, Fidaya," he replied with a shrug. "Not too bad of a repair." He nodded to the repaired part of the Gate solemnly.
"But...but...why did you come?" she asked earnestly. A bubble of questions soared to her mind; she tapped her foot in anxiety.
"Ha, 'boredom' he says," came a deep voice from behind her. A strong, callused hand was placed on Airaen's shoulder, and, when she turned round, she laughed.
"Fash, you idiot!" she cried. "Gash better not be here, or it'll be his hide!"
"Naw, he's not a fighter but a tavern keeper," Fash replied with a shrug. "But Ith's here, somewhere, I think."
"What the hell is everyone doing here?!" Airaen yelled, waving her arms.
"You not be happy to be seein' us, little one, eh?"
"Of course I am, Ith!" she giggled, and, turning, she wrapped her arms around the blacksmith with a laugh. Fash, deciding to join in, grabbed both of them and lifted them up into a large hug, sending the lot of them laughing.
Ahrima, conscious of the stares around them, sighed heavily. "You're acting like a bunch of rotten kids."
"Ah, you just bein' a stiff-necked old man, ya?" Ith said with a sigh. "'Sides, t'was your idea to be comin' here, to be sure. You were very much concerned with th'little one here, ya?"
"I was not concerned, I just didn't have anything better to do," Ahrima replied, crossing his arms and trying to look stern. "And she hasn't finished it at all, but, no. She insisted she had to go back home, didn't you, Fidaya? Couldn't even finish training, could you?"
Airaen bit her lip.
"Um...Airaen?" Roh asked from a distance. "Who are these people?"
##
"You did it again!" Zelda was yelling. Link, trying hard not to laugh, was holding onto her wrist in a last effort to keep the woman from tearing Airaen to pieces. He was grateful they had gone back to Zelda's room once they had heard of the victory out on the field. Waiting had been the best thing for Zelda at the moment.
"You're starting to get embarrassing," Airaen replied calmly.
Slap!
"And a bit vulgar," Airaen muttered as she rubbed her cheek. "That hurt!"
"Damn well it should!" Zelda replied, wringing her hand. "I told you, you're going to get killed with all these stupid stunts you keep pulling! You're so...arrogant!"
"Stunts? Stunts that seem to be working!" Airaen yelled suddenly, glaring at her mother. "You have barely done anything since this whole fucking thing started, thank you!"
There was a bittersweet silence.
"I'm gonna get something to eat," Airaen replied quietly, then stole out of the room.
##
"Ha, there you are!" Airaen said with a laugh. "I didn't expect you to be here."
She sat down, placing the bread and water next to her as she leaned her back against the wall.
Roh sighed as he stared ahead, then took another drink of wine. "I've been in this garden since sunset," he replied quietly.
"You're drunk," she said softly, looking at him with her eyes narrowed.
"Am I?" he mumbled, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. Sighing, he leaned back and closed his eyes. "I'm tired."
She leaned against his shoulder and sighed. "I'm sorry. You probably want to go home, huh? I didn't mean to drag you into this whole thing."
He was silent and brooding, wanting to pick his words carefully. "I want to help. Yes, I do want to go home...but I want you to come with me."
He took a final drink from the bottle, then tossed it into the little moat that surrounded them.
"What's wrong, Roh?" she asked, looking up at him.
"I want you, is all," he whispered, placing his face in her hair. "I need you."
She sighed and snuggled closer to him. "You've always had me," she whispered in his ear. "Always..."
Slowly, he drew his face from her hair and stared into her eyes. Shivering, he drew her closer and kissed her again and again and again. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he pressed against her. They lay down on the ground. She ran her hands through his hair, willing but gentle.
"Airaen..." he whispered as he slowly began to shift her silky garments off.
She traced her fingers along his cheek, her eyes beckoning him as she reached down to his waist, gripping his clothes, pulling them slowly off...inviting...ready...
He drew himself on top of her, his mouth open slightly as he placed his hands in hers. She bit her lip and moaned softly at the touch, the different touch. An explosion of emotions ran through them both as he moved. She whispered his name over and over and over as she pressed his bare body against her naked body. He moaned and kissed her.
And the night enshrouded them both, whispering and beckoning for the loss of innocence.
##
Morning sunlight was pouring in from above.
Airaen winced as her eyes adjusted, then, groaning, placed her face against Roh's chest again. His mouth was opened slightly, and he was quietly snoring. Giggling, she pushed herself up and whispered, "Wake up, sleepy head."
"Don't...wanna..." he mumbled, reaching for her. "I'm...tired..."
She reached for her clothes, shivering. "I still can't believe we fell down the steps."
Groaning, he pushed himself up and grabbed his pants. "You fell...I was trying to catch you."
As she finished slipping her shirt on, she shook her head, saying, "You were pushing too hard. We shouldn't have been so close to the steps, is all."
She shook dirt from her clothes, then pulled a stray flower petal from her hair. Laughing, he wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her. "My love," he chuckled, "the Queen of the Flowers and Dirt."
"Yes, and my love the Idiot," she replied, pushing him off her. She slipped on her pants. "And I'm no Queen."
He laughed. "You could be."
"I'm starving," she replied with a smile, ignoring the comment. "I didn't get to finish my dinner last night."
"I will make you breakfast if you promise for this again," he grinned. She nodded, smiling as she leaned against him.
##
Link could sense something was entirely different about her, but he couldn't decide what it was. Ahrima, from across the breakfast table, was saying something to a fighter from Sidar, while Ith and Fash were sending those around them into fits of laughter. Fash, raising his mug, yelled, "My compliments to Lady Zelda for excellent morning ale!"
"Ha, you're brother would be killin' you fer that comment, young master!" Ith cried as he roared with laughter.
Zelda, blushing, nodded with a smile.
Link looked at Airaen again and narrowed his eyes. Roh was whispering something in her ear, sending her into a fit of giggles.
There's something different about you, Link thought. I have no idea what it is...but you seem so bright and chipper and...damn well older.
He eyed Roh suspiciously, then caught Zelda's eye. Does she see it, too?
But Zelda was talking animatedly to a subject. "Things are seemingly quiet from Ganondorf's tent, are they not?" the subject asked.
"He's still smarting from yesterday," Airaen replied quietly, then looked quickly at her plate. The subject narrowed his eyes at her as if daring her to speak, but, eyeing Zelda, bit his tongue.
##
"What did you do last night?"
Startled, Airaen turned from the window. "What do you want?" she replied as she turned her back on Zelda.
"This was the first time you actually sat with us for a meal and you've been smiling nonstop. What did you do?" Zelda pressed as she sat on the bed, crossing her arms.
"Nothing," Airaen replied innocently as she gazed out to Hyrule Field. "Ganon's just sitting there, huh? He has too much pride."
"You're changing the subject," Zelda said, trying to suppress a giggle.
"N-no, I'm not!"
Zelda laughed aloud. "My, my, is the great Airaen stuttering and embarrassed? Is she acting childish?"
"I am not," Airaen rebutted as she turned around. She knew her face was crimson, but she stared her mother down. Zelda was giggling. "You're mocking me, then?"
"You've been clearly avoiding your father all morning," Zelda laughed. "And I doubt he hasn't realized it at all."
"Realized what?" Airaen asked, trying to place a tone of innocence in her voice. Damn.
"You and Roh," Zelda replied with a smile.
"Nothing happened!"
The response was automatic. Too automatic, Zelda thought with a smile. "You're as bad at lying as your father."
"I'm...not...oh, forget it," Airaen said with a sigh, placing her chin in her hands. "What, am I to be punished?"
"Where was it?" Zelda asked with a smile.
Airaen put her face in her hands. "Why am I talking about this to you?" she said, her voice muffled.
"Because you're growing up too fast," Zelda replied, sitting back. "And I'm your mother."
Airaen looked up. "I barely know you," she replied. "This is personal stuff."
"You laughed at me when I told you," Zelda pointed out.
"That...that was different! Oh, stop laughing! It's not that funny! Hey, I said stop it!" Airaen hissed. "It's...none of your business, anyway." She stared into Zelda's blue eyes and sighed, staring down at the floor. "Please don't tell my father...he'll kill me."
"Why would I tell him? He's so overly protective, anyway, it would be a stupid decision on my part to tell him," Zelda replied with a shrug. "Besides, I didn't have the luxury of parents when I did it."
"Luxury? Why are we discussing this?!" Airaen cried, blushing madly. "Stop laughing at me! This isn't funny!"
"I think it's hilarious!" Zelda laughed. "Revenge is so sweet."
Airaen sighed. "My entire family is strange," she said with a sigh. "Alright, if you want to know, the garden. And it was cold, and we fell down the steps...stop laughing! It's not funny...it was..."
She blushed and bit her lip, twisting her fingers in her lap. What she wanted to say then she couldn't bring to words.
"You can never bring it into words, no matter how hard you try." Zelda stood up, stretching. "I have another 'urgent meeting' with those damnable subjects of mine," she explained.
"You're incredibly strange, you know that?" Airaen replied, narrowing her eyes. "Why did you want to even know? You were completely mad at me a few hours' time before, and now you're prying secrets from me."
"Because it's nice to remind you that you're human," Zelda replied, then left Airaen in a stunned silence.
%$%$
Well, how was it? I hope no little kids read this and are now scarred for life...um...but, please review?