Languedoc was the province in southern France that bordered the
Mediterranean Sea on the south and the Rhone River in the east. Upon it's
plains were produced some of the finest wines known to France....
Or at least that's what Raphael had told the young elf. From a window the Link looked about it's lush lands painted in pastels of the setting sun. Beyond the lands he could still see the ocean from where they traveled. To the north the mountains that towered high above the small and distant cities seemed to complete the balance, as there was total harmony between the earth, sky and water. In a manner of speaking Link was quite breath taken by the sight. The forests was full in the autumn color spread out far and wide, and seemed to raise a certain nostalgic feeling with in Link...
Before he could allow his mind to delve further into those memories, Link pulled away from the large window gingerly leaving that beautiful memory outside where it probably belonged. He crossed the grand room that was to be his for a time while they searched for the staff. It's deep mahogany walls and rich golden tapestries filled the room with a warm glow. Why this room was not a room at all! It should have been a house! Link thought as he made his way over to the luxurious bed.
"Mister Raphael wasn't kidding when he said he had 'connections'." He mused. It had taken four days of travel and almost half a day to arrive at the sprawling mansion. To say that Link was impressed with the place was an understatement. "I wonder if he knows a king or perhaps a princess?" Even before those memories entered his mind the elf shook his head vehemently.
Goddesses, why did he always have to think about stuff like that..?
Despite how much he wanted to forget for the time being, Link found himself reaching for his satchel that rested upon the bed. Gingerly he pulled it open, setting aside Yun Sung's parting gift; and rummaged around its contents till he found the object of his search.
The Ocarina of Time.
Link stared at it turning it over in his hands, wondering if he should even play it. He was really eager to start their search for the staff, but Raphael had insisted upon having dinner first. Link was to settle into his new room and get cleaned up. But...
The longer the elf stared at the mystical wind instrument the closer he brought it to his face till the mouthpiece rested against his lips. By that time, it was futile to try to resist, for his very soul yearned for its music.
And so Link played a song that appealed to his soul filling the large room with its notes. Naturally the memories came, cascading into his mind and rushing out with the gentle notes of the song.
Perhaps it was the mere size of the room.
Perhaps it was the fact that he was now alone.
It could even be the new and strange surroundings, but what ever it was, it caused something with in the elf to stir and Link felt something tight inside him threatening to let go. The loneliness hit him good and hard, and even though he held the body of a 17-year old, he could not hide the fact that he was only a child, who was miss placed in a world not his own. And despite his current circumstances, he was in a sense very much alone in his endeavors.
His eyes start to sting then, and Link quickly shoved it back down, packed it away, and ties it up tight.
He hadn't cried in a long while and he was certainly NOT going to lose it now.
The song was beginning to falter.
If anything he really wasn't listening anymore for there was too much on his mind. His fingers continued to play from pure muscle memory.
What song was he playing now? There was a brief flash in his mind and he saw Malon, smiling like she always did back at the fields on Lon Lon Ranch where his faithful horse, Epona probably still waited for him. He must have been playing her song. Random thoughts and memories start to come, faster and more erratically and Link couldn't stop them.
All those months of hardships in both his land and this world, of meeting and partings of friends, of yearning to return back home to everything that was familiar to him, of wondering and fearing that he may never see his world again...
This was his destiny he never wanted but no one ever seemed to care to ask his feelings in the matter. But what DID it matter anyway?
He was the Hero of Time and that's all there is to it.
The song became broken, stopping in certain places only to resume again.
Link had always forbid himself to think too deeply because THIS is what resulted. He couldn't allow himself to think like this.
He had a job to do.
By destiny he was obligated to see it through.
He couldn't allow any room for his personal feelings.
He couldn't be that weak child he left behind.
He was to walk this strange journey that spanned two worlds alone.
But he wondered then, would there and could there be anyone waiting for him at the end of this long lonely journey?
The song stopped as Link could no longer continue to play through the tears. Shamelessly the elf allowed the tears to come as he felt it was okay because no one was around to see them, and he could go on being that perfect ideal hero.
.Even if he wasn't.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raphael had spent a good part of the day making certain 'arrangements' and contacting people in concern with these matters. To make sure that Link did not feel that anything was amiss, he had sent the elf to his room to settle in and clean up.
It was a few hours later, and the elf had not made his reappearance. Raphael decided to check up on him for safety reasons. He didn't want the boy to wander about lost or stumble upon things not meant for him to know. He turned down the large wing, passing large stands of armor and past the intricate paintings of important nameless people and beautiful places that did not exists. Finally he stood in front of the beautifully carved door that belonged to the room where Link was to stay.
He was about to raise a fist to knock when he heard a muffled sound from with in. Curiously Raphael lowered his hand and leaned forward to rest an ear against the door.
Was he..Crying?
Curious suspicion was replaced by deep contemplation as the man drew away gazing upon the door not seeing the elf that was within.
"So he really is just a child after all." Raphael said softly. He had suspected as much. The bitter tears and the soft names Link murmured over and over, washed away that battle harden teenager that Raphael had pictured him to be. Normally Raphael would label such youths as weak or cowardly, but he knew for a fact that Link was no such person.
Graciously, Raphael turned away and left the elf to himself. If Raphael was going to follow through with his plans, then he was really no better than the nobles he loathed. From his pocket he with drew a small hand-sized pouch. With in it he kept the deadly Datrua poison he had especially prepared for Link. Its poison was deadlier than Nightshade as it would deaden a person's senses in minuets before death. It was a poison that he had utilized before, but it wasn't right then either.
Eyes of ice blue looked upon the wretched pouch before pocketing it away. He had prepared a poison to kill a child.
"Only a child.." He repeated softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Link awoke with a start some time later realizing that he must have fallen asleep. The elf wondered immediately then how long he had been out. Keen eyes of blue wandered to the window to find golden orange sunlight barely peeking from behind the mountains.
It was dusk.
He really hadn't been asleep that long, but it was still late enough for him to miss dinner with Raphael. Link got up and made his way over the side of the plush bed. While he wasn't that hungry, he had hoped to discuss their plans of how to go about searching for the staff. There were so many things to do, and there didn't seem to be enough time to do it.
Just as Link secured his hood back on, (He didn't want to disturbed the house hold staff more than needed.) His glance flickered over to a small round table a few feet from the door. He hadn't noticed it before because of his rush, but there was something upon it that hadn't been there before.
Curiously Link walked to the table and found it to be a tray with food upon it! It was most obvious that Raphael had left the tray, as Link would have woken up sooner with the usual reaction his ears got.
Dark meat with various sautéed vegetables was placed with care in the white plate and a glass with dark red liquid sat beside it. The meal looked a bit cold; as it was obvious it had been brought a while ago. The drink in the glass had such a sharp smell to it that Link did not doubt it was alcohol. The smell did not appeal to him and even though his body was that of a teenager, he was still a young child and did not take well to the hard drink. Spying a crust of white bread next to the plate, the elf decided to snatch it up and search for his gracious host.
It was rather hard to navigate the long halls of the mansion and the elf had to rely heavily upon the random maid and servant walking about (they were still a bit startled because of the black cape and hood he donned). If anything, he didn't end up hopelessly lost, but he did run into a rather puzzling mystery.
When he mentioned the name of Raphael, he always received a rather baffling look. No one there knew of a Raphael working there or otherwise.
So then who was the man he was with?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~
A/N Ah! I know I finally updated and it's rather short. Please forgive the sloppiness of this chapter. Hopefully I'm getting back into the swing of things! Please tell me how I did with this chapter. Oh! And for the last chapter, those of you who said Tir Mcdohl was the mystery boy, you are correct! Now I'm not just throwing in random characters but he will play a part, just wait and see. I know, I know, It's obvious I'm a fan of the Suikoden series, so bite me. ^^;
Or at least that's what Raphael had told the young elf. From a window the Link looked about it's lush lands painted in pastels of the setting sun. Beyond the lands he could still see the ocean from where they traveled. To the north the mountains that towered high above the small and distant cities seemed to complete the balance, as there was total harmony between the earth, sky and water. In a manner of speaking Link was quite breath taken by the sight. The forests was full in the autumn color spread out far and wide, and seemed to raise a certain nostalgic feeling with in Link...
Before he could allow his mind to delve further into those memories, Link pulled away from the large window gingerly leaving that beautiful memory outside where it probably belonged. He crossed the grand room that was to be his for a time while they searched for the staff. It's deep mahogany walls and rich golden tapestries filled the room with a warm glow. Why this room was not a room at all! It should have been a house! Link thought as he made his way over to the luxurious bed.
"Mister Raphael wasn't kidding when he said he had 'connections'." He mused. It had taken four days of travel and almost half a day to arrive at the sprawling mansion. To say that Link was impressed with the place was an understatement. "I wonder if he knows a king or perhaps a princess?" Even before those memories entered his mind the elf shook his head vehemently.
Goddesses, why did he always have to think about stuff like that..?
Despite how much he wanted to forget for the time being, Link found himself reaching for his satchel that rested upon the bed. Gingerly he pulled it open, setting aside Yun Sung's parting gift; and rummaged around its contents till he found the object of his search.
The Ocarina of Time.
Link stared at it turning it over in his hands, wondering if he should even play it. He was really eager to start their search for the staff, but Raphael had insisted upon having dinner first. Link was to settle into his new room and get cleaned up. But...
The longer the elf stared at the mystical wind instrument the closer he brought it to his face till the mouthpiece rested against his lips. By that time, it was futile to try to resist, for his very soul yearned for its music.
And so Link played a song that appealed to his soul filling the large room with its notes. Naturally the memories came, cascading into his mind and rushing out with the gentle notes of the song.
Perhaps it was the mere size of the room.
Perhaps it was the fact that he was now alone.
It could even be the new and strange surroundings, but what ever it was, it caused something with in the elf to stir and Link felt something tight inside him threatening to let go. The loneliness hit him good and hard, and even though he held the body of a 17-year old, he could not hide the fact that he was only a child, who was miss placed in a world not his own. And despite his current circumstances, he was in a sense very much alone in his endeavors.
His eyes start to sting then, and Link quickly shoved it back down, packed it away, and ties it up tight.
He hadn't cried in a long while and he was certainly NOT going to lose it now.
The song was beginning to falter.
If anything he really wasn't listening anymore for there was too much on his mind. His fingers continued to play from pure muscle memory.
What song was he playing now? There was a brief flash in his mind and he saw Malon, smiling like she always did back at the fields on Lon Lon Ranch where his faithful horse, Epona probably still waited for him. He must have been playing her song. Random thoughts and memories start to come, faster and more erratically and Link couldn't stop them.
All those months of hardships in both his land and this world, of meeting and partings of friends, of yearning to return back home to everything that was familiar to him, of wondering and fearing that he may never see his world again...
This was his destiny he never wanted but no one ever seemed to care to ask his feelings in the matter. But what DID it matter anyway?
He was the Hero of Time and that's all there is to it.
The song became broken, stopping in certain places only to resume again.
Link had always forbid himself to think too deeply because THIS is what resulted. He couldn't allow himself to think like this.
He had a job to do.
By destiny he was obligated to see it through.
He couldn't allow any room for his personal feelings.
He couldn't be that weak child he left behind.
He was to walk this strange journey that spanned two worlds alone.
But he wondered then, would there and could there be anyone waiting for him at the end of this long lonely journey?
The song stopped as Link could no longer continue to play through the tears. Shamelessly the elf allowed the tears to come as he felt it was okay because no one was around to see them, and he could go on being that perfect ideal hero.
.Even if he wasn't.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Raphael had spent a good part of the day making certain 'arrangements' and contacting people in concern with these matters. To make sure that Link did not feel that anything was amiss, he had sent the elf to his room to settle in and clean up.
It was a few hours later, and the elf had not made his reappearance. Raphael decided to check up on him for safety reasons. He didn't want the boy to wander about lost or stumble upon things not meant for him to know. He turned down the large wing, passing large stands of armor and past the intricate paintings of important nameless people and beautiful places that did not exists. Finally he stood in front of the beautifully carved door that belonged to the room where Link was to stay.
He was about to raise a fist to knock when he heard a muffled sound from with in. Curiously Raphael lowered his hand and leaned forward to rest an ear against the door.
Was he..Crying?
Curious suspicion was replaced by deep contemplation as the man drew away gazing upon the door not seeing the elf that was within.
"So he really is just a child after all." Raphael said softly. He had suspected as much. The bitter tears and the soft names Link murmured over and over, washed away that battle harden teenager that Raphael had pictured him to be. Normally Raphael would label such youths as weak or cowardly, but he knew for a fact that Link was no such person.
Graciously, Raphael turned away and left the elf to himself. If Raphael was going to follow through with his plans, then he was really no better than the nobles he loathed. From his pocket he with drew a small hand-sized pouch. With in it he kept the deadly Datrua poison he had especially prepared for Link. Its poison was deadlier than Nightshade as it would deaden a person's senses in minuets before death. It was a poison that he had utilized before, but it wasn't right then either.
Eyes of ice blue looked upon the wretched pouch before pocketing it away. He had prepared a poison to kill a child.
"Only a child.." He repeated softly.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Link awoke with a start some time later realizing that he must have fallen asleep. The elf wondered immediately then how long he had been out. Keen eyes of blue wandered to the window to find golden orange sunlight barely peeking from behind the mountains.
It was dusk.
He really hadn't been asleep that long, but it was still late enough for him to miss dinner with Raphael. Link got up and made his way over the side of the plush bed. While he wasn't that hungry, he had hoped to discuss their plans of how to go about searching for the staff. There were so many things to do, and there didn't seem to be enough time to do it.
Just as Link secured his hood back on, (He didn't want to disturbed the house hold staff more than needed.) His glance flickered over to a small round table a few feet from the door. He hadn't noticed it before because of his rush, but there was something upon it that hadn't been there before.
Curiously Link walked to the table and found it to be a tray with food upon it! It was most obvious that Raphael had left the tray, as Link would have woken up sooner with the usual reaction his ears got.
Dark meat with various sautéed vegetables was placed with care in the white plate and a glass with dark red liquid sat beside it. The meal looked a bit cold; as it was obvious it had been brought a while ago. The drink in the glass had such a sharp smell to it that Link did not doubt it was alcohol. The smell did not appeal to him and even though his body was that of a teenager, he was still a young child and did not take well to the hard drink. Spying a crust of white bread next to the plate, the elf decided to snatch it up and search for his gracious host.
It was rather hard to navigate the long halls of the mansion and the elf had to rely heavily upon the random maid and servant walking about (they were still a bit startled because of the black cape and hood he donned). If anything, he didn't end up hopelessly lost, but he did run into a rather puzzling mystery.
When he mentioned the name of Raphael, he always received a rather baffling look. No one there knew of a Raphael working there or otherwise.
So then who was the man he was with?
~*~*~*~*~*~*~**~*~*~*~
A/N Ah! I know I finally updated and it's rather short. Please forgive the sloppiness of this chapter. Hopefully I'm getting back into the swing of things! Please tell me how I did with this chapter. Oh! And for the last chapter, those of you who said Tir Mcdohl was the mystery boy, you are correct! Now I'm not just throwing in random characters but he will play a part, just wait and see. I know, I know, It's obvious I'm a fan of the Suikoden series, so bite me. ^^;