Riordan
Chapter two
As Ruto neared the shore line, She raised her head above the water and was surprised to hear strains of music. She frowned. One did not usually hear music in this area.
The music was a lilting tune that made her think of rolling waves and dancing schools of fish. As she swam nearer to the shore, she soon spotted a man who leaned against the wall of the old man's house. He seemed to be totally absorbed in the song he was playing upon his lyre. Ruto studied him for a moment.
His brown hair was cut short and seemed to curl just at his shoulders. His face looked more like it should belong to a hawk than a hylian. His beard grew just on jaw line and did not grow above his lip into a mustache like most did. His clothes were worn and travel stained. An old rusack lay on the ground next to him that had seen better days. His lyre was the only thing about him that looked as if it were kept in good repair.
Ruto shrugged and wondered who he was as she emerged from the waters of Lake Hyrule. Not that she really cared. She had better things to do than to listen to some poor bard. He glanced up as he heard her walk out of the water. Strangely enough, he did not stare as others had been known to do at the sight of her.
"Hello, My lady." He said a fluid baritone voice. "It is a fine day we are having."
"If you believe so." She sniffed and walked past him toward the house of the old man "I could care less about the weather."
Ruto walked around to the front door of the old man's house and knocked on the door. She heard a noise behind her and turned to find the bard coming around the corner. His lyre was slung over his shoulder and held in place by a leather strap. He carried his rusack in one hand. An easy grin was spread across his face. Maybe if she ignored him, he would go away.
"Who is it?" A voice called from within the house.
"It is I, Princess Ruto of the Zoras" She said in an impatient voice. "Now open this door, old man"
"It is unlocked, Ruto." The old man growled. "If you are too lazy to open it yourself. Then you can leave. I have very important matters to attend to."
Ruto thought she heard the bard stifle a laugh behind her and whirled around to glare at him. He seemed to be having a coughing fit. Her eyes narrowed at him and she turned back to the door. Why did everyone seem to be making life so difficult today?
She grabbed the door handle and threw the door open. She marched inside with an imperial air. The bard, much to her dismay, followed her. After she spoke with the old man, She would get rid of him later. He could not follow her back to the city of the Zoras.
The old man stood with his back to her at one of his work tables. The water of the pool inside the building sent reflections up to dance upon the ceiling. The various chemicals that he used filled the air with a myriad of smells that made her stomach queasy. She walked past a table filled with various vials and stood right behind the old man.
"I see you still know how to use a door, Ruto." The old man's voice was thin and reedy.
"I need some of your knowledge, Old man. " She crossed her arms and looked at his back.
"You have not introduced me to your friend yet." He turned around and looked up at her with rheumy eyes.
"He is not my friend." She said in a flat voice. "He followed me in here."
The old man brushed past her and walked over to the bard. Ruto felt herself grow warm as her temper began to rise. The old man was looking the bard over with great interest. The bard still wore that cheery expression that was beginning to annoy her.
"And who are you, my boy?" The old man asked him.
"My name is Riordan, sir." The bard bowed slightly to the old man.
"And why are you here?"
"I brought a letter for you from someone who helped me out." Riordan opened up his rusack and brought out a crumple letter. "Sorry about how it looks. I figured out after the first night I shouldn't have carried it in here."
"That is quite all right, my boy." The man took the letter and slipped it into one of his sleeves. "I just appreciate being able to receive letters. No one seems to come out this way much, except the Zoras."
"I did come here for your help." She growled. "If you have not forgotten."
The old man gave her a disgusted look.
"Princess, it would do wonders for your personality, " The old man came up to her and shook a finger at her. "If you learned a little humility and common courtesy."
Ruto's eyes narrowed to slits as she looked down at him.
"What is wrong with my personality?" Her voice filled with menace.
The old man sighed and shook his head.
"It is hopeless, then." He looked back up at her. "What is it you need, Princess?"
"I need to find an artifact to give Link for his wedding day." She said in what she thought was a reasonable tone. "One that will out shine all the other gifts."
"And why do you need a gift such as that?" The old man folded his arms.
"So Link will know he made a mistake in marrying that girl!" She almost shouted.
This time she knew she heard a chuckle from Riordan.
"Do you find something amusing, Bard?" She gave him a cold look.
"You would not understand, my lady." He smiled.
She sniffed and looked back at the old man.
"Well?" She asked.
"I know of such an artifact, Princess." He sighed and walked around her and returned to his work table. "But I doubt you will be able to fetch it."
"Do you think it is beneath my abilities?" Her voice was filled with defiance.
"Yes, I do." He replied. " For it is in the possession of one who resides upon the top of a mountain."
He turned around and looked at her with solemn eyes.
"The last time I checked, " He folded his arms. "Zoras could only leave the water for short periods of time. Where this artifact lies, it would take you far from any river and you would soon die."
"Just tell me where and what it is!" She clenched her hands into fists and stamped her foot. "I will find a way to do it!"
"Very well." He shrugged. "It lies on top of the dragon Roost mountain in the western mountain range."
"And what is it I am looking for?" She snapped. "I cannot just go there without knowing what I am looking for, Old man."
"It is called the wind waker." He turned back to his work table.
"Good, I'll just go get it." She turned and walked toward the door.
"Just a moment, Your highness." Riordan said. "Sir, I believe that, like any artifact, this one may have a protector. Am I right to think this?"
Ruto and the old man turned to stare at the bard.
"Thank the goddess!" The old man looked upward. "Someone who can think!"
The old man looked back at Riordan.
"Yes, it does have a protector, Young Riordan. " The old man nodded. "It is guarded by the great dragon, Valoo. He will only give it to those he finds worthy. So good luck, Princess!"
This last was said with a sneering tone.
"Hmpf!" Ruto turned and left the house.
She slammed the door behind her.
"That brainless old man!" She muttered under her breath as she walked toward the lake. "He thinks he can scare me with tales of dragons. I'll show him! I am not afraid of anything!"
"Your Highness!" She heard Riordan call to her as she neared the shore. "Wait up a moment, please."
She spun around and glared at him.
"Why should I!" She snarled.
" Because the old man asked that I give you this letter to deliver." He caught up to her and held out a neat looking envelope.
"WHAT!" She shouted. "ME! The princess of the Zoras be a mere messenger for some old fool!"
"Well, he did tell you where to find an artifact for that wedding." Riordan said as the cheery expression left his face to be replaced by a stern one. "It is the least you could do for him."
Ruto did not even allow herself to reply to such utter nonsense. She turned around and stormed off to the waters of the lake. She was going home and then follow the river of the Zoras as far as she could.
"Fine if you do not deliver it I will." Riordan said. "But I am coming with you."
Ruto stood almost waist deep now in the waters of the lake. She turned and let her silvery laughter peal out over the water toward him.
"I would like to see you try, Bard." She laughed. "Only one would be able to follow me and he is getting married!"
She turned her back to him and dove beneath the cool waters of the lake. Silly Hylian. He thought he could make her take him with her. She had swum a short distance when a loud splash behind her caused her to turn. Riordan had dived in after her and he had changed his tunic. Her eyes widened in surprise at this. She shot up to the surface and broke through it. He soon followed suit.
"How did you get that blue tunic!" She shouted at him.
"I saved up and bought it." He gave her a lopsided grin. "I thought it might come in useful some day, your highness."
Her eyes narrowed at him.
"Very well . . . " She sighed. "You may come with me, But do not tell me what to do!"
"I would not dream of it, Your Highness." He bowed his head.
As Ruto dove back beneath the waves, she wondered what she had got herself into. She also wondered how she was going to reach a mountain without dying for lack of water. Then she paused as her eyes widened. How was she going to tell her father that this hylian was going to be coming with her? She bit her lip and began to think as fast as she swam.