Top of Form 1Disclaimer: Don't own Zelda.

A/N: Thanks for the suggestion Wolfyu! I'll...think about it. I just might use it though, I have no other ideas.

Chapter 5

They had a quiet dinner of meat and rice before a cheery fire. Link never thought about it before, but he wondered suddenly why these dragons ate human food. He took a mouthful of rice and meat together and while he chewed he glanced over at Epona in the corner, munching on some straw.

It seemed odd to Link for his horse to be indoors, especially in such a small house. The hut was only half the size of Mido's house, the leader of the Kokiri back in Hyrule. Thinking about Mido made him think of Saria, his old best friend and Sage of the Forest. Thinking of her made him think of the other sages and his friends back in his homeland. He was knocked out of his daydream by Sharanan clearing his throat.

Link turned to look at him. "I hear that you wish to know more about the wyverns, Link," he said. Link nodded. "Well, thousands of years ago, wyverns and dragons lived in harmony. Back during this time, there was no distinction between the two races. The ancestors of the wyverns trained in the arts of breath attacks. They separated from the rest and trained in seclusion. While the remaining, the ancestors of the dragons, trained in the arts of magic. Over time, because of this separation and the pursuit of different attributes, the wyverns and dragons began to evolve and change into what you see today.

"We dragons enhanced our knowledge of the world and other creatures and were renown for our scholarly ways. But there was a great wyvern warlock who summoned a great demon from the bowels of hell. This warlock loss control of the demon and it ravaged the lands the wyvern ancestors had claimed for their personal studies.

"The wyvern ancestors begged the dragon ancestors for assistance in detaining the hellish beast and together they managed to seal the demon away in a void. They cast a spell, sealing the only keys to the void within the blood of a dragon maiden and a wyvern maiden. The way the spell worked was, the blood of the Chosen Ones had to be spilled upon the altar that is before the void in order to destroy it. Both maidens' blood, wyvern and dragon, must be used or it will not work. She and her female descendants would be the only ones who could break down the barrier and free the demon once more.

"Although, the dragon and wyvern ancestors had separated, they were still within easy communicating distance. But then, after this spell was cast, it was decided that they should destroy all contact with each other, to ensure the seal is never broken. So they parted, the wyverns headed east and the dragons headed west. In the north was the original living grounds and where the demon was sealed and still is sealed today, and in the south is where the rest of the world, including your land of Hyrule, is now."

Sharanan stopped to sip some tea which had a strong smell. He must've put the snagweed into some water and boiled it. It wasn't a pleasant smell or a pleasant taste, from what Link could tell, as he watched Sharanan scrunch his face up in disgust. He waited expectantly for the old sage dragon to finish drinking and continue. Sharanan grunted and set down his cup. "Ah, Lira. Could you finish for me? I am feeling a bit weary."

Lira nodded. "My grandfather gave you the history, but I am sure all of your questions have not been answered," Lira began. "Well, over time, the wyverns became corrupted by the dark arts they practiced and a large group of them formed a dark alliance. Their main objective was to free the demon and allow it to destroy all other life on the planet so they could rule it themselves. They called themselves the Dark Sect and they claimed to have obtained the power to control the demon if it was released. As my grandfather said, the Chosen Ones must shed their blood on the altar to release it, so the Dark Sect
attempted to find and kill the Chosen Ones' descendants and spill their blood to open the seal. They started with their own kind, wyverns. They went on a killing spree, slaying all the wyvern maidens they could find, but the real Chosen One was hidden away.

"The non-sect members cried out to the dragons for help, but they refused because they didn't want to get involved. Because of this neutrality, the wyvern race went through a period of time that consisted of anarchy and bloodshed. In time, the Dark Sect was defeated by a group of wyvern vigilantes and they returned to hiding.

"Peace was brief though, because the wyverns blamed the dragons for their near extinction and declared war upon them. The war, in a sense, is still going on even today, although, it isn't in the same sense that there are dying soldiers everyday. On occasion, a wyvern or two will challenge someone to a battle, but most of them have gotten over it, but there is still great hostility between us."

Link gulped down the rest of his food after the lengthy story. It wasn't the most fantastical epic in the world but this was all completely new to him. Normally he would be squirming and fidgeting, generally driving the storyteller crazy (while Zelda was telling him a bit of Hyrulean history, she had to bonk him over the head with her shoe a few times to get him to listen), because he couldn't stand to sit and listen to long speeches. But here, as Lira and Sharanan described the history of their people, Link was rooted to the spot, hanging onto their every word.

Sharanan suddenly spouted into a coughing fit and Lira's attention snapped to him. Moments later, he ceased but Lira continued to watch him with a concerned look on her face.

"Lira," he said.

"Yes?"

"Go to the castle and see what that Firagaht is doing with the wyvern, won't you?" Lira nodded, standing. "Alright." She turned to Link. "Would you like to come too, Link?" she asked him. He scratched the back of his head. "I don't think your leader likes me very much," he protested. She smiled. "He is like that with everyone. You would know if he truly did not like you."

Link complied and the two of them bid Sharanan good-bye for now and walked down the streets of the town, heading for the dragon leader's dwelling. Link folded his arms behind his head and glanced at the villagers who were trying to watch him inconspicuously, but they failed miserably. He leaned toward Lira. "Do they always do this when outsiders enter their village?" he whispered to her. Lira smiled. "They haven't seen a Hylian in over a hundred years, you must remember," she replied. "You have been here only two days and you are already popular with the ladies, Link," she added with a giggle,
nudging him and gesturing over to his left.

Link, glancing over at a group of dragon maidens who were giggling and looking his way, while whispering to each other, blushed. He picked up his pace, Lira matching him, beaming the whole way. They reached the castle in no time.

Link never really looked at the castle last time he had stood before it, but he could discern that it was smaller than Hyrule Castle, but not small enough to be insignificant. There was no drawbridge or moat, just steps that led up to the large double door entrance. The two dragon guards in human form nodded to Lira and eyed Link suspiciously. They allowed him to pass only because they knew Lira would not bring someone untrustworthy into the castle.

Within the palace, a woman, who could pass for someone in their twenties, approached them. She had long flaming red hair and purple eyes. Her robes were also a flaming red. She wore a dress that reached down to her ankles and had slits in the sides that came up to her hips. The sleeves width was exceptionally long: it came down to her hips as well. When she lifted her arms, it kind of looked like she had extra flaps of skin that she probably could glide with if the wind was right. Her forehead was adorned with a light blue crescent moon.

Suddenly remembering that the dragons had markings on their faces, Link glanced subtlely beneath Lira's bangs to see hers but saw nothing there. 'Well, that's weird,' Link thought.

"Welcome, Lira-sama," the woman said. She gestured to Link. "And who might this be?"

"This is Link. He is a Hylian from the land of Hyrule and is staying with my grandfather and I for the time being. Link, this is Carmella. She is Firagaht's older sister," Lira introduced.

Carmella raised her eyebrows at the young Hylian. "A Hylian? And what brings you to our midst?" she asked. Link scratched the back of his head. "Well, I actually became lost and ended up here. It wasn't voluntary,' Link replied. "Well, I hope you enjoy your stay here, Link," she said. She said his name kind of funny, as if suggesting more to her statement. It gave him the creeps how she was staring at him, eyes slightly narrowed, but one eyebrow just barely raised, and the corners of her mouth lifted up in a slight smirk.

"Carmella," Lira said, averting her attention from Link, obviously oblivious to the situation. "Do you know what has been done with the wyvern woman who was taken in not too long ago?" Carmella nodded. "Yes. Follow me."

She lead them down a dark and dank hallway, past several worn and rusted doors that looked like they hadn't been used in years, and down a long set of stairs that led to an even darker hall. Carmella stood at the bottom, waiting for them to catch up to her. Link had a feeling he was the only one who couldn't see more that a foot ahead of himself. He had to stand very close to Lira to make sure he didn't get lost and he hoped she didn't notice his proximity. He remembered back from the day before, that Sharanan had told him that dragons had very acute senses, so he assumed it was nearly bright as day in this dark cavern for them.

Because of the low ceiling, it was impossible to see past the bottom of the staircase and into the unlighted hallway, but he could see a bit of light lingering on the floor at the bottom of the staircase. When he and Lira reached the last step, Link could see light flooding into the short narrow passage they stood in from the slightly ajar thick metal doors before them.

"There. You will find Firagaht-sama and the wyvern in there. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be going." Link watched Carmella disappear up the stairs and turned back to see Lira already at the doors, waiting for him. He joined her and she pulled the heavy-looking doors open and stepped inside, with Link right beside her.

It was a large room they entered. The walls were made of crude rock that were chipped and worn. The floor was made of the same type of rocks and was uneven, some sections of the ground towered over other parts and showed whoever had constructed the room must not have put much effort into the process. The ceiling was high and cone-shaped.

All the walls came up to meet at a point at the peak of the ceiling. They were standing in what seemed to be a balcony that overlooked another room within this room that was in the center. There was a railing all around the perimeter that separated the two. At the bottom, Link could see that there was at least six feet of water flooding the middle.

Link felt a tug on his arm and realized that Lira was trying to lead him over to where Firagaht stood. He allowed her to steer him and watched the leader, who continued to ignore them, with mild dislike. Firagaht was leaning with his side against the rail and his arms crossed over his chest. He was glaring into a dark cage in a corner of the room, that Link just noticed now, with an annoyed expression on his face.

"Firagaht-sama," Lira spoke up. His gaze shifted to her without moving his head or his position and he pushed off from the rail and turned to face her. "Lira." He placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her to him to kiss her on the lips. Link suddenly felt a pang of jealousy, though he didn't know why. She was engaged to the guy for crying out loud! He broke the kiss and finally briefly noticed Link, although he did not acknowledge him.

"Why are you here?" Firagaht asked, his traditional expression of apathy upon his princely countenance once more. "I wanted to know what you planned on doing with the wyvern woman." Firagaht, his hands still on her shoulders, glanced over at the cage he had been staring into previously. "She will be held in confinement until she is tried for her crime and pays the consequences," he replied simply.

"And what may her consequences be?" Lira pressed. The dragon leader returned his gaze to her and cupped her chin with his hand. "Do not worry yourself over such matters," he answered. "It will be taken care of." He released her and was about to brush by her, when she grabbed his arm.

"Tell me! Will it be death?" she whispered the last word. "For injuring you, there is a strong possibility. Such actions against my future wife will not be dismissable." He attempted to walk away again but she stopped him once more. "Don't let it be death! It wasn't that serious. Killing her won't be necessary!" she pleaded. His expression of boredom did not change but he raised his eyebrow slightly.

"Attempted assassination isn't serious? Then tell me what you think is." Lira shook her head. "No! That isn't what I meant! She didn't kill me, nor did she mortally wound me!" Firagaht narrowed his eyes, changing his expression for the first time since they had begun speaking. He seized her by the shoulders again.

"Her filthy people need an example of what the consequences of attacking our people are. If we do not punish them, they will continue this. Do you wish to be attacked by them everyday?" he demanded. She shook her head, looking on the verge of tears. "Then she will be prosecuted as harshly as possible. To show those wyverns that we will not tolerate such actions against us."

Finally, this time when he attempted to leave, pushing past Link as if there wasn't plenty enough room to simply walk by him, she did not stop him. Her shoulders shook as she stared at the ground, trying to suppress the hot tears from flowing down her cheeks. She felt Link put his arm around her and nearly jumped at his comforting act. She had nearly forgotten he was there, he was so quiet.

"I would've jumped in and defended you, but I figured Firagaht-sama wouldn't listen to anything I say..." Link said softly. Lira smiled lightly up at him, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. She said nothing in return though.

Link glanced once more into the jail cell hanging from the ceiling and steered Lira out of the room, she walking willingly with him.

0000000000000000

Wow. This is the longest one yet. Anywho reviews and comments and what not. I wanna know what you think. Is it boring? Is it interesting? Should I put in a love scene? Hee hee!

Oh, and I'm still asking for suggestions for my modern day Zelda story. I have written barely anything for it but I have a bunch of ideas, all up in my head.

-LunaRyuu