A/N. Holy $#+&! I updated? Really? Yes, yes I did. This will be completed…EVENTUALLY…but it SHALL! Muahahahahahaha…there really is no point for me to be laughing so here's chapter…uh…uhm…what chapter am I up to now?

Disclaimer- Oh didn't you hear? I bought Zelda over the weekend! -Gets shot- OK! I don't own it!

Remedy In The Shadows- Chapter 12

Knock, knock.

Link turned his waist in his seat so that he could see who came through the room's door as he said, "The doors open."

Very slowly the door opened with a loud creeeaaak. Thea appeared in the dimly lit doorframe, in her right hand was damp cloth. What it was wrapped around Link did not know. Something told him to not even bother to ask. She closed the door behind her and slowly made into the room.

He heard her take a long sigh and watched her silhouette pace around the dark room, "Wanna put some light in here, boy?" The only light in the room was from Navi, and her glow only killed some of the room's darkness.

Without answering Link leaned over to the bed stand that had a matchbook and small candles. He struck a match while watching Thea, "Where were you?"

"What?"

After lighting two white candles he carried both of them over to the Gerudo and offered her one, "I said 'Where were you?' I'm just wondering."

"I just looked around. Nothin' much." When she took the offered candle Link was able to see her in the dark. He didn't notice before, but now saw that she was soaked to the bone. Small droplets of water rolled down her tanned face, over her small scars. "It's raining now."

A grim laugh escaped Link's throat, "I can see that." Link had closed the room's window minutes before, but he could still hear the howling of the wind and the pounding of falling rain.

"Yeah well…" She shrugged roughly and began to walked around the room again.

'What's up with her?'

He eyed her, watched her move slowly from one side of the room to the other. He tried to find her eyes, but they were hidden behind her dark, ruffled hair. Her head was hung low and she was watching each of her steps. When she made her way back over to Link, she lifted her head, she must have been shocked that he had been staring at her.

"What is it?" She switched her gaze from Link to the flame of her candle.

Navi, who had fluttered over to her partner's side, moved to his ear and whispered, "Maybe you should just let her go, she seems to want to be alone."

Without saying anything Link moved toward Thea and looked her in the face, his eyes looked into her own as if searching for the answer to his question that he didn't even ask yet. As the stench of alcohol filled his nose he grabbed her shoulder, "Are you drunk?"

"Wha-? No!" She shook her head causing the wet hair to sway wildly.

He gripped her shoulder harder, "Well you're acting drunk!"

"Well…" The now angry Gerudo made an open-arm gesture, one hand holding the candle while the other hand dropped the wrapped object to the floor, "…I'm not drunk!"

"Really?" The unconvinced Kokiri folded his arms across his chest.

"Yes!"

"Why do you smell like rum?"

"Because I- Damnit!" Hot melted wax from the candle had dripped and slid to her skin. Frustrated, she blew out the candle and let it drop to the floor, "I went to the Tavern! But that doesn't mean that I drank!"

'Right.'

Link reached down and picked up her dropped bag, "What's this?"

If she had answered his question Link didn't hear it. Thea grabbed back her belonging and turned away. He watched as she dropped the bag on top of the bed stand and dropped herself down into the chair that he had occupied moments ago. She had moved back into the darkness so he could only just make out her silhouette. He saw her lean back in the seat and sling an arm over the chair's back. She was staring at the package.

'…What is it? Where'd she get it? …It's as if she's afraid of it? Does she know what's in it?'

As if reading his mind Navi chirped up, "Where'd you get that!" She fluttered over to the young girl to illuminate her form. Link noticed the small smile that curved up her face.

"A friend…" Those two words left the in silence. The weather outside had intensified, Link could hear each gust of wind blast against the shut window. The shutters strained to keep Mother Nature outside. Thea reached forward to grab the bag and placed it in her lap. It took awhile, but she untied the knot and let the fabric unfold to reveal the contents.

As the soft fabric broke away another piece came into view. In the weak light Link could just make out the deep violet of the material. Thea lifted the item; unfolded it and inspecting it.

She smiled, it was a cloak, "Gods bless you." Link heard her mutter, he didn't bother to question her meaning.

Thea tossed aside the cloak while looking at the other items. A small sheath wrapped in leather was the next thing she picked up. Sure enough it was a dagger, instead of placing it aside, she used the black leather straps to wrap the sheath around her left forearm. There the weapon was in perfect position to be drawn for battle.

"Are you an over-kill kind of girl?" Link couldn't help smile and was happy to see it returned.

The final item was a small, rectangular object also wrapped in leather. A piece of rope was tied to keep the item wrapped. Thea must have recognized it because she immediately smiled. She began to untie the knot, "This should be fun." The leather loosely gave away to reveal what Link thought was a small rectangular box. Thea used two hands to lift the object, and with little effort it was split into multiple items. It was a deck of cards.

Thea immediately began to shuffle the chards, tossing the pile from hand to hand as if it was nothing. Not once did she drop a single card.

"Pull up a seat boy" The Gerudo said, referring to the bed.

Without questioning Link sat down so that he was facing Thea. He blew out his candle while watching her shuffle out the cards than fan them out in his direction.

She smiled, if the lighting had been different her face would look normal, but with the fairy light her face seemed to be glowing, faint shadows curved up her cheeks and circled around her dark eyes, it all gave her a ghostly look. She shook her wet hair away from her face, giving more of her skin to the light, "Do you Tarot?"

Tarot? Sure Link had heard of the silly card game. Supposedly they're said to predict the outcome of a situation or a person's life. Why Thea had them he did not know, but why not go along with her game?

"No, what do you mean?" He reached for a random card.

Before his fingers got close she recoiled her arms back and out of his reach, "Uh, uh, uh dear boy. You can't just take a card!" Slightly offended she began to re-shuffle the deck, making sure Link saw no card's face.

"What do you mean?"

When the cards had been shuffled thoroughly for the second time she presented them to him again, "Concentrate! Pick the card that calls to you!"

The Kokiri laughed, "You're really serious about this aren't you?" Link was never one to believe anything like the Tarot. How could a simple deck of cards tell him what was going to happen to him when he didn't even know what was going to happen to him?

"You should be grateful!" She said playfully! "I usually charge people for a session!"

"Great." He muttered. Even though he thought it was ridiculous he closed his eyes, trying to clear his mind. Was that how you get a card to "call" to you? He didn't know, but he thought she would buy his act. He blindly allowed his left hand to trail across the cards. Each fingertip caressed each card, he trailed across the deck several times until he stopped at one card beneath others. While allowing his eyes to open he drew the card that had "called" to him away from the deck and flipped it over so it faced him.

"Well?" He heard Thea mutter.

Link beckoned Navi to move closer so that he could see his card. It was a sketch of a pair of pillars that stood alone in a field. Between the pillars was a lonely path that lead to mountains. A pair of hounds were also in the sketch, they gazed upward at the sky that held a weeping moon. In the moon was a woman's face, she too gazed upward, but what she looked at Link did not know. He thought it over and decided that she might not be looking at anything. Perhaps she is just thinking.

"Hello in there! What do you have?" Thea interrupted him and snatched the card from his fingers, "Ah, that's interesting!"

Link smirked, "What is it? How am I going to die? What will I do tomorrow? What type of person am I-"

"You my boy!" She cut him she leaned forward and lowered her voice to a near whisper, "Have some problems."

'…What?'

"…Wait…That's it-"

"You!" She pointed at him. A smile was still carved into her face, "There's deception in your life Link, someone might not be telling the truth. You're oblivious to something!" Thea shifted her weight back in the chair with a satisfied smile, "Well? Anything like that sound right?"

'"Nothing. That's what she can do, absolutely nothing helpful. I don't know how she got you to trust her"

…That's what that girl said…what was her name?

…Isabel…'

Trying to push his thoughts of the redhead aside he stood up and looked at the girl in front of him, "Now how could it be familiar to me?" He slowly began to pace around that chair she occupied, "If I'm oblivious to something chances are I don't know what it is! Therefore I couldn't possibly know if I'm oblivious to something or not because I'm oblivious to it!"

She turned around to face him while wrapping one arm around the back of the chair. With her body turned away from the light her face was darker, no longer ghostlike, just dark and empty, "I don't even know if what you said even made any sense, and all I'm saying is that someone might be lying to you."

He locked his eyes with her and let his lips curve into a smile, "Oh, and I wonder who it could be." He said with an added hint.

"Hey guys?"

Link looked over to his partner, "Not now Navi."

"What's that supposed to mean kid?" When Link looked back the chair was now empty and Thea was moving towards him.

"What do you think it means?" He too moved forward.

"Guys?" Navi call out again, neither one of the children realized the intensity of the storm outside. The window shutters banged violently and neither cared.

Neither one of them paid any attention to the fairy. The Gerudo folded her arms across her chest defiantly, "Are you saying I've been lying to you?"

'She's testing you, she knows she's frustrating you, and she wants to control you.

…what?

She wants to be in control

…wait…why am I thinking like that? …But…she is a Gerudo.'

As if to imitate her movements Link also crossed his arms, "I'm not saying anything."

"But you're implying that I have not been truthful!"

"We are what we are"

"Link!" Navi shot out in front of him but was gently pushed aside.

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'…What did the little rat just say?'

"What was that!" Thea felt her muscles tighten at the boy's words, she unfolded her arms; her fists clenched tightly. She allowed her nails to dig into her own flesh.

The boy's face softened. His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open slightly. He looked as if he wanted to take back what he had just said, "No…Thea, no I didn't mean to-"

"Oh I know what you meant! You think that just because I'm a Gerudo I'm a liar!"

"I didn't say that-"

"Yes you did!" She continued, "You've been passing aside everything I've been saying just because I'm a Gerudo! Well unlike others I wear that title with pride, and I will not tolerate being around someone who will think me a liar before knowing who I really am!"

That was it. The words left the tip of her tough in a rush and she was left with no breath. Her lungs were empty; craving life. As the air began to fill her lungs she felt her heart speed up faster than before. Anger was something she had dealt with before, the rush of blood, her muscles tensing, the pounding of her pulse, it was nothing new.

Link looked up at her with a blank expression. His blue eyes seemed to sparkle in the fairy light. It was as if they held everything, pain, anger, remorse, they were endless. He spoke quietly, "With all the rumors and the facts about the Gerudo…you can't possibly think that those thoughts wouldn't cross my mind."

'He just insulted me one second ago…why is he trying to act as if he's truly sorry?'

"Do you get all of you information from what is heard around town? My, my, my how reliable your words must be." She sat back in the chair and threw him a smile, "And you say these words to me."

A single finger from the boy's hand was pointed at her. Thea followed the digit until all she saw was the air in front of her. He answered, "Don't be turning this around on me!"

Thea laughed. The Gerudo couldn't help but find his frustration amusing, the look on the boy's face almost caused her to laugh harder. As she began to calm down a slight realization spread over her. If she were to leave, where would he go? Who would he go to?

'…There's no one else, he's being sympathetic because he has no one else he can go to.'

Now fully aware of the situation at hand, Thea leaned forward in the chair and allowed soft whispers to escape her lips, "I'm all you got aren't I?" She let the sentence linger and allow the words to sink in.

Link's eyes widened, he glanced to his partner than back to the smiling Thea, "What do you mean? You- you're not the only person who's capable of helping me."

"No." She shook her head with a satisfied smile while moving to stand back up, "I didn't ask that. I asked if I was all that you had. I am aren't I?"

He didn't speak. He stared back at her with hollow eyes and painted frown. She stared deep into those cobalt orbs, allowing herself to get lost in the shades of blue that ringed around the single black dot. Had she ever seen a pair of eyes so…bright? In the time that she had been with him his eyes would always be shining no matter what the situation. It prevented her from trying to read what he couldn't or wouldn't say.

Link opened his mouth to say something, but closed it after nothing managed to come out. Thea notice the shame that washed over his face.

That was enough for Thea, "I'm gonna get some rest for tomorrow. You might want to do the same." Without another word or even a good-bye she picked up her belongings and strolled to the room's door. It was only then that she heard the boy call out to her.

"You actually think the Zoras will let you into their home?" He questioned.

"We aren't going to see the Zoras." She replied, "We're going to Lake Hylia." And she left.

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That was the last time the two saw each other that evening. Link got himself ready for sleep and assumed Thea was doing the same, her room only a few meters away from his own. He lay in bed for awhile, thinking of the night's events, when his thoughts ran to a dead end he just let his eyes roam over the ceiling, watching as if the wood would collapse and crush his exhausted body in any second.

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It wasn't clear why she thought of this. She didn't even want to think of such things, yet they came to her that night in her sleep.

'…The fortress. Her home. She was returning home with Anita and a few other Gerudo children. She remembered this, it was a few years ago. The old leader still ruled at this time.

The fortress corridors were cold, the evening air floated inside and froze the stone walls. It was a hassle but bearable, however the young ones would always complain about it.

"Girls go to your rooms!" Anita shouted over the loud chatter spilling out of the group's mouths. None of their youthful minds considered the fact that others desired peace and quiet, "Girls! Go up now or I'll have you all up at the crack of dawn working outside in the hot sun until the skin is peeled from you backs!"

With the exception of a few muffled protests the girls stopped talking and shuffled off to their sleeping quarters. Just before the first child reached the staircase a voice halted the movement.

"Don't run too fast or you'll surly fall, and what a tragedy that will be."

Each girl turned their nervous eyes to the nearby room. Shivering candlelight beamed from the curtain-covered doorway. Though none of them were told to halt their actions they knew that when he was speaking to them, they were required to give him their full attention. She heard a soft shuffling and saw Anita moving by each of the girls, her hand's brushed each of their shoulders, the action was meant to calm each of them down. She felt the hands rest on her skin and felt her muscles tense up. Anita sensed this and gripped her shoulders tighter, slowly working out the stress within.

…or perhaps it was fear…

She waited for the grip to leave her and for Anita to go to the other girls, but nothing happened. Her hands stayed where they were. Thea could feel the older woman trembling.

The voice spoke again, "My dear Anita, you've arrived late this evening haven't you? What took you so long? I'm sure the girls are tired."

Finally the grip was gone. It was strange…Anita's breathing began to quicken, it could be heard throughout the group of girls. Some began to stare. Anita spoke quickly, "They are, they're going to bed now-"

"You all may go." He came again and instantly movement returned and the girls scattered up the nearby staircase. Thea stood still, she waited for Anita to leave the corridor as well but the woman was still and staring at the ground. By the time Thea realized that she should retreat his voice came again from behind the curtains, "Come now child, I would enjoy having a small talk with you. Anita if you'd be so kind to escort her in here."

In a blur she was placed at the doorway, she remembered what happened next, the dream played perfectly. The room was exactly how it had been. A large circular table was in the center. Its surface was covered with a crimson silk table cloth. Several silver plates and goblets were scattered across table, accompanied by a feast of food. Two roasted birds lay upon gem-coated sliver platters. The cooked meat shined in orange glow of the lit, black, candles placed on the red surface. Every piece was centered around a giant ruby, carved until a sharp point stared at the ceiling. The rock caught the candlelight then shot it out to the walls so no matter where she looked she saw figures of dancing light..

"What could you possibly need with her?" Anita spoke up from behind young Thea. Thea followed her words until she saw the familiar cloaked figure sitting at the table. In front of him was no plate or even a single utensil.

He held one of the silver goblets in his hands and let a sip of wine slide down his throat. Without setting the cup down he said, "Who are you to question me? Leave us. I shall only need a minute with the girl." He gazed at Thea and before she knew it she no longer had Anita at her back. She was alone.

He gazed over her with his red eyes. She remembered back when she was even younger she would think that his eyes were just pools of blood. She had never seen anyone else with eyes so red. Now his eyes held something else. Not desire, no it was something else. Perhaps curiosity, whatever it was she didn't return it.

"Sit down child." He gestured to the only seat available in the room, it was placed at the table so that she would be facing him. She didn't want to sit down, yet she knew trouble would follow if her leader didn't get what he wanted. She obeyed the simple command. "There…" He continued, "Please eat something, you girls have been quite busy today hmm?"

Her hands gripped the plush cushion on the seat, avoiding his eyes, "We always are." She made no move towards the offered food, he must have sensed this for he made no more offers.

"Yes I've seen." She looked up to see him leaning back in the chair. He had set the wine goblet down and lifted his hand to his chin in a thinking posture. There was silence before he spoke again, this time more slowly, "You're different though. You work with the other children, yet you leave them easily without caring about their absence."

It was unbearable, she gazed up into his eyes. That was one of the two mistakes she made that night. The red seemed to consume her vision, as if her own eyes had been coated with blood.

The King she didn't worship continued, "I've seen all of you, you wake up from a deep slumber…" She only heard his voice. Small fragments of light danced across the red sea. "…you have that horrible food as a meal, than you go out and work on preparing to be a true Gerudo. You're all small mice being lead through the maze of life, praying that at the end of the day you'll get your reward." He paused, "What is the reward that you desire child?"

The question released the grip she had been pulled into. A normal vision returned, but after seeing the man who still sat in front of her she wondered what sight was more pleasant, "What?" She gasped.

He laughed and the sound rolled down her skin like cold water, "You children all wish for something, I know. One wishes that she will have pleasant dreams at night, another wishes that the chores next day will be less strenuous, another hopes that she would be a beautiful maiden when she grows older." He paused to take another sip of wine, "You, are different. You crave to be free, you want to see things that no other has seen, you want to do things that no other has even thought of doing. You don't care for the simple things. You hope to improve yourself!"

The girl who sat in front of Ganondorf had no answer for him. She stared at him, hoping that his eyes would consume her again and be taken away from this place, but nothing happened. Figures. She did the only other thing she could, she hide her eyes from him.

"I can help you." He said, "I can help you become one of the most powerful Gerudo who shall ever live." When he got no response he simply smiled. His long fingers slithered to the nearest carving knife and before she would register anything his arm was outstretched, the hot steel was placed at her neck, "Look at me Thea." He whispered, "I can make it happen, you'll never reach those things if you don't come with me. You'll help me as well, and you know how important it is to have the Gerudo King pleased!"

Time passed, that's all she knew. Whether it was a few minutes or seconds that she didn't know. A flash happened, the light dancers flickered erratically around the walls she was encased within. In a second the steel was removed from her skin and the Dark Lord went back to sipping his wine. Two familiar hands gripped her shoulders and yanked her from the plush seat.

"You're minute is up!" The recognized Anita and instantly went where she was directed. The other mistake was the glance back at the man she shared her time with, he was looking at her, smiling. That smile would haunt her for years to come.

She didn't say anything to Anita and nothing was said to her. She didn't say anything to any of the others girls, not even Chloe. She didn't bring up that topic to anyone, not even Anita after Thea saw the fresh slashes on her back the next morning…'

The current Thea woke up in a cold sweat. She gripped her covers tightly as she recapped the dream, her old leader, the bloody eyes.

"Hell to it!" She cursed out-loud. Her veins fumed with sudden anger with the memories of him. She felt her heart pump out more rage and her hand reached for the nearest object and threw it across the room. It was a childish action, she knew it, but it made her feel a little better. The object had been a water glass she had taken from the Inn's kitchen. It landed against the unused dresser and the once perfect crystal shattered into dozens of glass shards. In unison to the glass her own emotions broke down, her body crumpled back onto the bed; she released tears into her hands. The anger that had built up finally broke and turned into sorrow.

Why was she crying? She hadn't the faintest idea.

'Look at you, what are you doing? All that happened was a small dream and you're babbling like an infant. You really are pathetic.'

"No" She whispered to herself. Without shame she wiped her eyes and grabbed the violet cloak she received the previous night. She threw the garment on like she had many times in the past, then reached for the other items she had. If it was possible she would have to find a bag to place them in, but for now she'd wrap them in cloth.

'Find a bag? I'm a Gerudo! I can get one wherever I want! Find one? Psh, I can snatch one from a local market stand if I wanted to!'

With her confidence level rising she quickly pulled back her hair and bolted out of the room. Without even knocking she burst through the door of Link's room and tossed her armful of stuff on his sleeping form.

"Wuh!-" He writhed around in shock over the sudden disturbance. His legs kicked up, sending the blanket off of himself. His arms knocked away the object dropped on him. Finally his eyes opened. His bright blue eyes that she thought held the world. The redness in them suggested that perhaps he didn't get a good night's sleep.

Well, that didn't matter, "Hey, hurry up boy!" Thea shouted almost too close to the Kokiri's ears, "We're leaving for the lake now! So get your act together and meet me outside in ten minutes!" She spoke as if she had traveled to Lake Hylia several times, when in reality she didn't even know how to get there.

A/N. There! If you're reading this please tell me what YOU think! (Yes you!) Other than that I would like to thank the people who clicked on my story so far to see what it's about!