A/N Wow, …I hate school…Here's Chap. 11 Though.
Remedy In The Shadows- Chapter 11-
By the time they had returned to Kakariko Village it was nearing dinnertime. All of the children had been pulled inside for food, only a few villagers remained outside to finish last minute chores. Thea has also saw that the Hylian guards had continued to guard the gate to Death Mountain. The return to the village had been hard for her. The Gorons had hit arm pretty hard, so she spent the whole rough hike cradling her soar, limp limb. Luckily she didn't think it was broken.
She and Link hadn't exchanged many words during that time. She was interested in what had happened in the Throne Room, it was obvious he hadn't just had a little meeting with a Goron. She had seen the large group of Gorons run into the room, and she wondered why she saw only Link come out. He said nothing of what had happened, he only asked if she was in good enough condition to travel and when she said yes he stayed silent. When she had asked him about what had happened behind the sealed off room, he simply quickened his pace down the mountain, allowing no possibility for discussions. However she did see that he spoke to his fairy more than a few times.
Now, the pain in her arm had dulled down a bit, but she could feel a bump where a bruise would likely form by morning. She still had the bitter taste of blood in her mouth from when a Goron had stuck her face. She spat on the ground as she passed the gates into Kakariko Village ignoring the glare from one of the guards. Link had stopped near the bazaar ahead. He leaned back against the stone wall, his arms were crossed and his eyes were glued to the ground. Navi was close to him, Thea thought that the fairy was speaking to the boy, it was impossible to tell from since Link showed no response. The wind came and blew his golden hair across his face, hiding his expression. The wind only caused her to shiver to the bone.
'I really should have brought a cloak.'
As she walked up to Link she rubbed her hands together, hoping to create heat from the friction. He didn't look at her when she approached, even after a few moments he still didn't acknowledge her presence. She crossed her arms as another gust of wind blew through the air, night air was approaching, and so was her impatience. If he wasn't going to tell her anything, than why should she even try?
"It's quite cold boy!" She shouted over the roaring wind that began to really pick up. She took a step closer and with a hint of annoyance said, "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"
To her surprise he lifted his head to face her. His hair prevented him from seeing her. He lifted his cap from atop of his head, and ran a hand through his golden locks. In Thea's opinion he really needed to get a brush through his hair.
He placed the cap back on his head, "We still have our rooms at the Inn. I'm going to head back there soon." With a finale nod he pushed away from the wall and walked off. Thea stood in silence as she watched him disappear down the steps, Navi's light gave him a bright aura. But the light soon disappeared, and she was alone, standing in the cold.
Thea made an opened-arm gesture and raised an eyebrow, as if there was still someone in front of her.
'Yeah, go ahead. Run away to your room, I'm sure then you'll be alright!'
After a few moments of standing in the cold, she wondered WHY she was standing in the cold! Frustrated, she stomped her foot and trotted to the steps as Link had just done. The wind was increasing, causing her hair to be sent into her face. Since her vision was blocked, when she expected to feel the first step on the staircase, she felt nothing. Her weight fell forward, causing her to trip halfway down the stairs, she was relieved when she finally reclaimed her balance, if she hadn't she would have surely injured herself. And after what she had already been through in one day, all she wanted to do was sleep in a nice warm bed.
'Go to room, sleep. Go to room, sleep. Go to room, sleep.'
Thea massaged her arm again, at the slightest touch the stinging pain returned. She wondered what would've happened if the Goron had used all of his strength. She was about to take another step towards the Inn door when she heard a voice from behind her.
"Pst! Thea!" The familiar voice caused Thea to instantly spin on her heels to face its owner. Standing next to the set of stairs was a petite, blond-haired girl wrapped in a dark blue cloak over pale blue Gerudo clothes. Thea instantly recognized her friend Chloe.
"What? What are you doing here?" Thea began to move closer, but was taken by surprise when Chloe reached out and grabbed Thea's arm. Chloe had just happened to grab her injured arm, causing Thea to cringe and take in a hiss of pain.
"My God, What happened to you!" Chloe grabbed the other arm and pulled Thea near to where she had been hiding. As Thea rubbed her arm again Chloe "searched" her. Even when Thea tried to push her away, Chloe continued to look at her body for any signs of injuries, "Where have you been! Are you insane? What have you been doing! We've been looking for you! Wha"
"Wait, wait, wait! Who's looking for me?" Thea grabbed her friend by the shoulders to stop her from saying anymore, "What's going on?"
Chloe freed herself form Thea's grasps and pulled her hood over her head, "We…" She paused, hesitating. She looked at their surroundings to see if anyone were to be listening. When it was clear that they were alone she continued whispering, "Anita grouped a bunch of us went out to find you!" You won't believe how angry she is! After you left we traveled down to Lake Hylia, hoping that we'd find you there…." She trailed off.
Thea looked down at her friend. She had never seen her so worried, and she was worried for her. And that made Thea worry, "…I left Lake Hylia"
"So Anita had us come here, hoping that we would find you!" She spoke so quickly Thea almost didn't even register what she had said, "Thea! They're up at the bazaar!"
Thea's mind went numb. Visions of her being pulled back to Gerudo Valley by her peers flashed through her mind, being thrown into a cell with little food, being whipped until she screamed an apology for all of Hyrule to hear. She blinked herself back into reality and looked at their surroundings. The Inn was the most obvious choice to head, but there was another building that caught her attention. It was next to the Inn, a little smaller; it only had one floor. Hanging above the wooden door was a wooden sign with the word "Tavern". It would swing back and forth with each gust of wind.
"Come on!" Thea grabbed Chloe by the arm and pulled her towards the Tavern. More gusts of wind blasted through the air, blowing the sounds of screeching and howling into the girl's ears. For a moment, Thea glanced around, looking for a creature that was producing the noise. Then she just reminded herself, that it was just the wind.
After drinking water from the well, Link cupped the water in his hands and threw it on his face. He wished that the cool liquid could wash away the day that he'd just been through. He watched as the droplets of water fell back into the well. The wind caused small ripples in the circular pool Link gazed down at the watery patterns, trying to find anyway to escape the past events
'Goron City should be peaceful, it should be in order. The violence there was unnecessary…and I couldn't stop it.
…Would you like it better with Ganondorf as a threat?
…
What happens, happens. Let it go…'
"Link?" Navi fluttered down to the water. When her glowing figure touched the surface the ripples went into an even more dissimilar pattern. Her light lit up the water's depths, showing the plant life that had grown along the stone walls of the well. The once gray stones were now covered with slimy green plants. And then, she fluttered upward, and the dark shadows returned.
"Oh, sorry Navi…I was just….thinking." He brushed his hair away from his face. It had irritating his face with each gust of wind, he was tempted more than once to just take out his sword and chop off his locks.
"I can see that." She laughed and fluttered in front of his face, "Are you sure you're alright?"
"Yeah…Yeah I'm fine…" He slid off of the well so that he was standing. Another gust of wind came, Link looked up at the Windmill above them, the arms were shaking slightly as they spun, "It's just…"
"Just what?"
Link turned his head at the sound of the voice. The wind carried it, making it sound like the person was right next to him. But he saw that the voice's owner was far from his side. Standing next against a corner of a house was a figure wearing a light, sliver cloak. The material shimmered in the evening light. The figure's identity was hidden underneath the hood that had been pulled over their head. They detached themselves from the house and walked toward Link, their movement was like one of a cat; sleek and smooth. As if on cue a gust of wind came and blew the cloak away from the body, exposing her slim form. Link recognized her clothing of the Gerudo. She wore dark green garments and multiple pieces of jewelry on her wrists and neck. Link watched her take each step, he blinked when Navi entered his vision. He didn't even know she had been next to him.
When she neared him, she lifted a slender hand and removed the hood from her head; exposing her face. She shook her head to clear the long, fiery red hair from her face. Her large, green eyes matched her clothes, and they were centered on Link like how a predator would gaze at its prey. After taking all of her in Link realized that he had seen her before. Her remembered seeing her on that night when he had been robbed. She had told him where Thea had been hiding.
'What are the Gerudo doing here?'
"Yes, how's a traveling boy like you doing nowadays?" She stopped about a foot away from him.
Link raised an eyebrow, "Why are you so interested?"
"Well…" She passed by him and in one swift motion sat down on the edge of the well. She crossed her left leg over her right and clasped her hands together on her left knee, "You know…I've seen you with Thea. I've just wondered why you've found an interest in her?"
"Interest?" Link laughed slightly at the girl's words.
"Yeah, I mean she's been with you hasn't she?"
Link had an idea of what she was implying, "Yea, but it's only because…" He trailed off, searching the area as if he would find his words around him. When he looked back to the girl she was smiling sweetly at him, "I've been having some hard times recently, and I allowed her to say her opinions."
Only for a second did her smile disappear, but her face formed a grin and the sound of sweet laughter spilled from her lips. The soft sound flowed through Link's ears, causing him to slightly shudder, and he knew the shaking wasn't from the cold wind.
"You take her advice? Oh dear boy you should think about what you just said!" She laughed again, a gust of wind allowed the sound to be carried throughout the air.
"What do you mean?" Link asked, suddenly pulled into a conversation.
The redhead looked away from Link and gazed at their surroundings. She sighed and shook her head, "Nothing. That's what she can do, absolutely nothing helpful. I don't know how she got you to trust her." She turned back to him, her smile had faded, "Her absence has caused a bit of chaos. Tell her to get ass back to Gerudo Fortress. Would you do that for me?"
Another smile played across her face, forcing Link to nod. She continued to look at him, as if she was waiting for him to say more. After a few seconds she placed her cloak's hood back over her head, and stood up to leave.
"Wait!" Link called out to her after she had taken a few steps away, "I…I didn't get your name!" He hollered over the loud winds.
She turned her head and raised an eyebrow, smiling of course, "Isabel." And with that the walked off, leaving the word to linger in the air and in the boy's mind.
'Isabel…'
"Link."
'…Isabel…'
"LINK!"
Link finally shot out of his thoughts, but it took a good hit in the head to get his attention to Navi who had been impatiently waiting for him to talk to her.
The stench of alcohol filled the air of Kakariko's Tavern. It was in evening hours, the time for Kakariko's men to raid the bar for drinks and for any women who entered the bar for entertainment. Their voices filled Thea's ears, each conversation molded together to form the loud chatter of the room.
It was a large room lined with wooden floorboards that were scratched where people had walked. Lanterns hung from the ceiling; the orange fire danced upon the white brick walls. The room was full of round tables with sets of chairs. Every table was full, and there were some people standing, making it hard for Thea and Chloe to maneuver over to the bar that was on the left wall. The bar consisted of a long wooden counter with stools, behind the counter were shelves with dozens of glasses, the glasses were separated into categories. Beside the shelves was simple sink full of dishes, near that were more than a few open barrels full of rum.
"What are we doing?" Thea heard Chloe call out. The girls were right beside each other, but speaking loudly was required if they wanted to be heard. Chloe gestured to the bar. Every wooden barstool was already occupied; men were enjoying their drinks and talking amongst themselves.
"Thea?"
"What?" Thea turned to Chloe, thinking it was her that called out, however her friend was busy trying to avoid being trampled by several men. Thea grabbed her arm and pulled her closer to the bar. In doing so she bumped into a young man who had been sitting at the counter. The movement caused his drink to spill, and him to stand to face Thea
"Thea!" She spun around and for the first time noticed a slightly open wooden door behind the bar. As she ignored the man at the bar who was beginning to yell at her she, saw one of the largest men she had ever seen come out of the door. The candle light danced upon his wide frame. He stood way over six-foot with long raven hair draped over his broad shoulders. He wore a wrinkled, baggy shirt; its color matched his tan skin. He also had on a dark pair of trousers that were also wrinkled.
His face was strong, and held a tough expression…she recognized it from somewhere…
"Hey! I'm talking to you wench!" For the first time Thea looked at the young, dark man who was yelling. He brushed a strand of dark hair from his eyes and advanced toward her, grabbing her arm. Another man that was with him moved toward Chloe.
"Is there a problem?" The tall man behind the bar had moved to the group. When he spoke the man who held her sneered, Thea could spell the rum on his breath. "Go home Slaine."
Nothing happened. The grip on Thea's arm tightened, the man's dark eyes looked her up and down in one glance. When the grip began to hurt and Thea tried to pull away he leaned close to her ear, "You got some nice skin there darling, you should come in here more often."
'Disgusting…'
He leaned away from her and smiled. The smile was soon erased after Thea sent her fist into his face. A slight "crack" could be heard on impact, he brought his arms to his face to cover the blood that began to pour from his nose. However he soon regained composure and reached at Thea again, this time his crimson covered hands reached for her neck.
"Bitch! I'll kill you!" He spat. His friend that was with him was now trying to reach for him to prevent the situation from continuing, but the man was easily pushed aside.
Meanwhile, Chloe had backed up the bar where the bartender no longer stood. Out of the corner of Thea's eye she saw him charging towards them while pushing people away in the process.
"Get over here!" His words began to get slightly slurred and had Thea wondering just how much he had drunk.
"Just try to get me!" She spat back as she was inching her way backwards with each passing second.
"Hey!" A large hand suddenly came into her view and grabbed the man in front of her. Both of the bartender's hands grabbed at neckline of the man's shirt and lifted him into the air. Thea could not hear what was being said between the two men, but as soon as the drunk was set back to the ground he bolted for the door. Leaving his friend behind, but not for long because after the single boy looked at both Thea and the bartender he ran in the same direction as his friend.
After a few moments Thea's body finally relaxed from the shock. She walked forward -pass the bartender- and slipped into one of the now empty barstools while resting her head on the counter. She could spell the rum that had been spilled. A light movement caused her to lift her head up, she saw that Chloe had moved into the stool next to her. Her friend was giving her the look she often received from her; a look of worry and disbelief combined. As usual Thea just gave her a tired smile, showing her that things were going to be all right.
Something brushed her arm, the bartender had returned to his place behind the counter. He was using a white dishrag to wipe away the remains of the rum from the counter, "You got a nasty mark there girl." He said indicating the red mark that was forming around Thea's left arm, "How ya doin'?"
She didn't answer. Instead she just looked at his face. A face of both fury and cheerfulness. A face of protection. He turned his back to the girls to put the rag in the sink, and Thea said softly, "…I know you don't I." It wasn't a question, she knew she did know him, but her mind couldn't remember him.
He laughed confirming that she was indeed right, "Well, I was wondering when you'd recognize me!"
The laughter was contagious and Thea chuckled a little. She turned to Chloe who was even smiling lightly. She turned back to the man, "Yeah but…who exactly are you? I…I just can't think of it…"
He rested his arms on the counter and raised an eyebrow, "Well, I guess you were kind of young. But I definitely remember you Thea!" He laughed again, "I'm Sigmund. You were brought in hear quite often as a child. You old leader…oh…what was her name? Oh…."
"Nabooru?" She spoke softly and looked down at the counter for a second
"Yes! Nabooru! She'd take you to come see me when she'd come to Kakariko. She always needed to leave with someone who would make sure you didn't get into trouble. So you and some of your little friends would explore the bar until you got bored and ran outside against my orders." He moved away from the girls to a man who wanted a refill on a drink.
"Thea…" Chloe could be heard whispering to her, "We need to talk now! I'll have to leave soon-"
"Ok girls, what can I get you?" When Sigmund returned Chloe ended what she was going to say, obviously not wanting their conversation to be heard.
'Whatever Chloe, just tell me what's going on.'
"Well Sigmund, we'd like to talk in private…" Thea smiled and added a hint of sarcasm to her voice"…BUT! Could you bring us a pitcher of rum? OH! And by the way…If anyone asks, we were NOT here!"
He leaned up against the counter and looked down at the Thea, he studied her, "I'll bring you some water." With that and a laugh he walked off to serve some of the other costumers.
There was silence between the girls for awhile. Thea had taken the opportunity to observe the surroundings, to re-take in everything around them, and to make sure that the young man who was called "Slaine" did indeed leave the Tavern. When she looked back to her left, Chloe was staring at her.
"Let's get to the point Thea, why are you here?"
'"Why are you here?" Those words just seem to repeat…'
"I…" Something happened. Maybe it was because she was looking into her friend's sad eyes, maybe it was because Chloe was truly worried about her, friendship did things like that. She feared what would happen if she spoke the truth, "I..I have to get away Chloe. It's as simple as that!"
Before Chloe could speak Sigmund had returned to their general area carrying a pitcher of water and two empty glasses. He laid the glasses in front of each girl and placed the pitcher down as well. He opened his mouth to say something, but closed it and walked off, obviously seeing that privacy was wanted.
Before he got too far away Thea called out "Thanks Sigmund." She returned her gaze to Chloe, "I'm sorry…I just…" Sighing she poured herself a glass of water and took a sip, "The Gerudo…are my life, you know that and I know that. But…I feel like that's not my place right now. I feel like I can be better in life if I get out and see Hyrule!"
"Thea!" Chloe slammed her palm upon the counter, the action startled Thea, causing her to choke slightly on her drink, "You will see Hyrule, but Anita finds that your recklessness can endanger you and others! Therefore she wants you and the rest of us to be in the Valley and learn about ourselves!"
"Humph." Thea took another sip, "With the way things are going I'll never get outta that place. And besides! Exploring new places will help me explore myself!"
Chloe sighed, "Thea!" Now Thea sighed.
CRASH!
Bother girls heard the noise, and they both heard the female shouting that soon followed. Thea whipped her head around to where the noise had come from. The Tavern door was wide open, walking through it was Anita with some fellow Gerudos.
'Shit!'
Not wanting to be spotted, Thea gripped the counter's edge and leaped over the surface so that she was on the other side. Luckily the counter had hollow areas underneath. She bunched herself into a ball to hide from the Gerudo who would most likely approach where she had been.
She closed her eyes, she couldn't see anything important anyways. She could only slightly hear what went on above her. Soon she noticed that the Tavern noise had calmed down, and she could hear several footsteps approaching.
"Chloe? What are doing here?" Anita. Thea was positive it was Anita. But she didn't hear Chloe respond, "Chloe?"
'Please Chloe! Please, please, please!'
There was nothing at first, than Thea's ears picked up her friend's soft voice, "I…I'm sorry Anita. I wanted to leave the weather outside, and…we hadn't looked in here for her yet."
"Chloe…" A sigh could be heard, and that was it. The noise had returned to the Tavern, covering the conversation. However, she did hear the thumping of footsteps nearing her. She opened her eyes and saw the feet of Sigmund approaching.
"Can I help you ladies?" He knew she was there, he lightly kicked her to let her know that.
'Oh Gods…please, please, please!'
Thea opened her eyes and tried to hear what was being said. All she heard were mumbles, it was impossible to hear exactly what was being said. The only reason she had been able to hear Chloe's next words was because her friend purposely spoke louder.
"Sigmund…the person who was sitting here. They left behind this package. Now… we're leaving, but if you happen to see them…" She paused, Thea could hear an item being placed on the countertop above her, "Give it back to them."
If anything more had been said Thea didn't hear it. The chattering of the bar filled her ears. It took awhile for her to move from underneath the bar, even though she knew that her fellow Gerudos had left she still couldn't bring herself to move. Sigmund must had known this, he showed no signs that he was uncomfortable with where she was. He continued with his work as if she was not even there. She didn't know when, but at one point he placed a bulky item wrapped in cloth by her feet.
A/N I still have a lot of work to do. I'm not sure when the next update will be, but I have the chapters planned.