A week later…
"Now you are both going to learn when you cross my path, you will pay dearly…"
Cassandra whimpered when she woke up. Hiding her face in her covers, she began to cry, tears dripping down her face and onto her sheets. The extreme pain in her heart, the missing chunk of her soul began to rise up in her stomach, making her feel sick.
Biting her bottom lip, her hands groped for a comfort, something that would make the pain go away. Talim wasn't here, Yunsung probably couldn't hear her, and her father was sleeping…
Plus, Sophitia was buried six feet underneath the ground, alone…alone in the cold hard ground…
'I couldn't save you…why couldn't I? Why did you have to die? Why did you have to leave me alone! Why couldn't I have come with you, why wouldn't he kill me instead of leaving me with this pain, this loss..!' She moaned, clutching onto the sheets as if she was hanging for dear life.
"I HATE YOU!" Cassandra screamed out, throwing her fists against the bed, sobbing loudly.
XXX
"Oh boy…" Yunsung muttered, "What have we here?"
XXX
Greece WoodsUnclenching his left hand, green sparks appeared revealing a beautiful green dove.
"Ain't that a pretty sight?" Li Long said as he scratched his head in wonder, "How do you do that, Overachiever?"
Link gently held the dove in his hand, stroking its head with the tip of his finger, making it coo. "I learned it in my homeland. It's not hard really…just a little focus and determination…" He explained, "I better change the color or it might go blind seeing itself."
He placed his hand over the top of the dove, moving slowly over the dove's back. The instant his fingers left a spot, it changed to a pure, gorgeous white, unmatched by any. Li Long stared in awe, as the green dove became a beautiful white dove, almost like a childlike wonder.
"There you go, little one. Fly away." The satisfied elf bid his new friend goodbye, watching it leave his hand and fly away.
After a moment, Li Long shook his head wildly. "You know, you could be burned at the stake for that." He told him, grinning.
Link sighed. "You say that every time I do a magic trick. I know. But I can get away. Anyway," he got up, brushing himself off, "They'll burn me for my ears."
"If you don't want anyone noticing, you should take that earring out…" the peon reasoned, making the elf agitated.
"My earring! Are you crazy! It's a mark of the warrior, not some decorative thing!" Link defended, his hand instinctively going up to it. Li Long nearly busted a gut laughing.
"Whatever you say, Overachiever…"
Rolling his eyes, Link stamped the ground, extremely annoyed. He mumbled something incoherent underneath his breath in his native language, mostly directing the words at Li Long.
Bonk
"OW! Hey, what was that for..!" Link snapped, rubbing his tender head. Li Long recovering his fist and smirked. "I knew you were insulting me, friend. So I thought I should teach you a lesson…" He told the angry elf.
"Could you have taught me without using a form of violence!" Link mumbled under his breath, directing his eyes towards the ground.
"Hey, you two! Stop right there!" a loud voice broke their conversation, stepping forward. It was a soldier…
Which soon became lots of soldiers that completely encircled the two.
XXX
Link's eyes widened and whispered, "Did we do something wrong?"
Li Long violently shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of…unless they're here for you, mate." He said thoughtfully, making Link slightly frightened.
"Ever been to prison?" The elf asked hopefully, praying that it wasn't too bad.
"Um, yeah. Once, it was a year. They torture you if they convict you of witchcraft…that's the word on the streets and publicly hang you." Li Long said in a low voice, sending Link over the edge.
"You two! You are trespassing on Noble property! How do you plead?" The soldier demanded, thrusting a sword in their face.
"Uh…" the two looked at each other and back again, "Guilty?"
"You are trespassing on the noble Alexandra property of these woods. You hereby must stand trial…" The soldier looked up at them, finally getting a glance at them before noticing Link's ears.
"Witch! You're a witch!" He accused, jabbing a finger at him, "You must plead before the Inquisition at once!"
"Hey, hey!" Link finally interrupted, "You caught me on trespassing! Not a witch hunt…!"
"Silence, accused! You will go to our courts to plead your case, witch. In that time, we will acquire all of your assets…" The soldier drawled on, making Link ponder for a moment. He did not want them to take any of his things because 1. It wouldn't help his witch position very much. 2. They were his and his alone. 3. They were items and gifts given to him by close friends that he dearly loved. 4. They would pawn off his holy sword in a matter of minutes.
"Wait." The elf cut in again, more calmly and thoughtfully. "I have something."
"What is it?" The soldier coldly asked, fed up with the interruptions.
"I am on Alexandra property, right? So that means that I would have to stand trial against him, right? That means only he can send me off on a witch trial since I was first on his property, right?" Link explained, taking a deep breath, "So really, it's up to him whether or not I'm charged."
Everyone sat in stunned silence. Even Li Long.
"Um…er, yes…I guess so…" The soldier stuttered, rubbing his head. "Well, it doesn't matter. You'll be found guilty by him anyway."
They both (especially Link) took a sigh of relief. "Follow us. Any funny business and we'll kill you." The soldier ordered, turning around. Two more soldiers grabbed them by the arm, dragging them.
"You learned law here too, Overachiever?" Li Long whispered, making Link shrug.
"Not really. I know a thing or two. Common sense, actually." He whispered back, "We got to make our case sensible to Alexandra right?"
"Not right. I could get off easy but the witch scare is big." The other stated, "You're dead either way."
"Damn."
XXX
After about 30 minutes of walking, the two prisoners were approached by a huge, dreary manor.
"This does not look good." Link mumbled, being dragged onto the front steps. "Did you just notice that, Link?" Li Long snapped.
"Hey, you didn't say Overachiever this time." The elf pointed out to him and Li Long made a face. "Be quiet. We got to find a way out of this place." He scolded and Link smiled.
"I'm a magician, remember? I can get us out if it gets too bad." He reminded him, "Plus, I'm sure that no one would convict me…"
"You do remember that you're in Europe, right?" Li Long inquired.
"Silence, accused! You too." The soldier commanded in a tone of superiority. Link frowned.
"Hey, how come I'm called the accused while…OW!" He groaned, getting kicked by a soldier. "Nice people…"
A young girl answered the door. "Who is it?"
"Captain Greed. I'm here to speak with Archelous about some trespassers." Greed explained, making the girl sigh.
"Alright, Captain. I'll fetch him at once."
"Well, the name gives it away…" Link murmured before getting kicked again. "OW! Son of a…"
"Ah yes. The trespassers. Thank you, Talim." An elderly man appeared, looking weary with dark circles underneath his eyes. The girl went away, making the man clasp his hands.
"Not just trespassers. This one is a witch." Greed pointed to Link, making Link feel very small. Archelous, the elderly man, squinted. "A witch, Captain…?"
"His ears are a definite giveaway. I suggest you bring proper justice and send this one to jail to be tried." Greed stated, making the old man very uncomfortable.
"Well, yes…I suppose but…couldn't this wait? I'm expecting a visitor who should be arriving in less than a week…I have no time to go appear in court." Archelous said, flustered. "Surely, you can wait a week?"
Captain Greed seemed agitated while Link was silently cheering for his small victory. Now he didn't have to go jail…yet.
"Fine." The captain finally spoke. "But he has to stay here in…in a cellar, perhaps. Both of them."
The two shrugged. Better than staying outside.
"Alright. I have a cellar in the kitchen. I'll keep it under a lock…if you'll excuse me, I have important business to do…" Archelous left, "Just ask the servants where it is and where the lock is…"
Greed glared at him when he left. "You got lucky, accused. I'll come back in a week. Then you'll be tried properly." He vowed to him, making Link shiver. "Throw them in the cellar, boys."
Dragged and thrown, the two were now inside the kitchen cellar with the chortling laughter of the soldiers.
Link looked at Li Long. "Mighty fine people, don't you agree?"
XXX
Sorel Manor"Amelia, I'm leaving again. This time, I'll be gone for two weeks." Raphael told his niece, making her upset.
"But you just came back, Uncle!" Amy protested, embracing her Uncle tightly and defiantly, "You have to stay longer."
He stroked her hair. "I'm sorry, Amy." Raphael said calmly, "But business is business. Archelous needs me."
Amy buried her head deeper within his chest. "Bu-but…but…"
Raphael took her chin. "I'll be back soon." He promised her. 'I have got to get the separation anxiety fixed…'
It was nice, though, to be the center of someone's world.
XXX
About a week later, Link was finally at the end of his nerve point.
It was a cramped cellar with nothing but walls and rats. He could barely stand up without his head hitting the ceiling or his hat getting caught on the loose ends of wood.
Li Long was doing a little better, trying to pass the time by singing songs. Unfortunately, that annoyed the sheer hell out of Link.
"Shut up, Li Long…" The elf asked again for the thousandth time.
"Oh, I saw a man with…"
"Please be quiet, Li Long…" Link said again.
"Who a black dog…"
"FOR THE LOVE OF TRIFORCE, SHUT UP!" Link shouted, slamming his shield into his companion's head. Li Long finally did shut up but only due to severe injuries to his skull.
"Thank you…" He breathed a sigh of relief. "Sweet silence…"
XXX
"Ah, there you are, Raphael. Please do come in." Archelous greeted him and Raphael set his cape and cane to a servant who then walked away to put them up.
"Pleasure is always mine. What seems to be the problem?" Raphael asked rather smoothly, smiling. Archelous took a deep breath. "There wasn't a problem a week before but now there is. Two trespassers came onto my property and now one is accused of a witch. I have to go testify against the boy." He explained, "I have to journey to…"
"Nonsense. Let me handle the court cases. This is a rather stressful event and the courts are ready to persecute anyone. Where are they?" Raphael asked before loud thumping on the door interrupted him.
"The soldiers. They must be here for them…"
XXX
Cassandra stared emptily out the window. Covers were wrapped around her shoulders like a shawl, giving her warmth from the chill of the day.
Weakly grasping out to the window, her fingers touched the windowsill that was locked in place. Running them over it, Cassandra saw that it was intricately locked so she didn't know how to undo it.
"Alright men! The witch is inside. By order, we are entitled to one-third of his possessions since we made the arresting." A old man said out loud, making his men smile with greed.
"…Witch?" She murmured softly, taking her hand off the windowsill. "A witch is inside?"
She didn't remember any witch. But Cassandra did remember that one time, Sophitia once mentioned that Rothion had a talent for pulling coins from her ears.
Getting up, Cassandra wanted to see pretty coins pulled from her ear. Maybe it was truly amazing as her sister described it to be…
XXX
Talim made a face as she walked down from the stairway into the grand hall where all the men were currently standing in.
"More of you to deal with." She muttered to herself, walking in the middle of it.
Archelous motioned to Greed. "The two are in the cellar. Talim, please lead the way to for these gentlemen." He told her and she rolled her eyes.
"Okay. Follow me." She said listlessly.
XXX
Link's ears perked. A group of people was coming to their cellar!
"Hey! Hey, Li Long!" He hissed, shoving him. Li Long promptly woke up from his quick nap.
"What? I was trying to get some sleep, Overachiever…"
"Yeah but a large group of people is about to arrive at our cellar." Link retorted, "Wanna stay awake for that?"
"Okay, okay. Fine. What do we do?" Li Long asked, rubbing his eyes. "After all, you're pretty much dead."
"We're just going to have to escape…I got some magic tricks up my sleeve that will fool any guard…"
The door was heard unlocking. Slowly, a young girl appeared wearing pigtails in the light, opening the door.
"In here." She told them and two guards rushed down there to get them, grabbing them roughly by the arms.
"How about a lot of guards, Link?" Li Long inquired, hitting his head against the ceiling.
"I have a plan for that too."
XXX
Raphael and Archelous awaited the soldiers' return.
"So, you wrote that Cassandra was having nightmares…" Raphael asked, folding his arms across his chest. Archelous nodded, frowning.
"Yes. The night before they arrived. She was in hysterics…we had to spend all night trying to get her to calm down. Finally, Talim gave her a sedative from herbs she brought along from her home country…then we were able to get peace and quiet." The father explained, shifting his weight. "We haven't had another incident since."
"Once more, Archelous, I could easily take her for about two weeks…" Raphael brought up again before Talim appeared.
"The soldiers have brought him back." She told him and stepped out of the way. "However, I do believe they want to you to testify…"
"Quite so." Raphael interjected, irking Talim. "Gentlemen, what do we have here?"
Greed was quick to answer: "Trespassers and a witch."
Raphael inspected closer at the two who were being arrested, taking note of the green clothed man. "I see. Well, no doubt that justice must be called for. However, I do see that Archelous has no reason to appear in court for the two. Therefore, I ask that Captain Greed go on the behalf of Archelous Alexandra…"
"Well, we're good as dead." Link mumbled. "Wait for my cue, Li Long."
"And whatever profits you earn will be spilt evenly. Take his things if you so desire…" Raphael listed on with superiority.
"And…" Link whispered, getting ready to summon up enough magic to create a flash that would give the two a small amount of time to escape.
"Please take them out. I do not wish to prolong this any further…" The Frenchman finally concluded, turning away from them.
"Wait." A soft, tired female voice interrupted them. Link, confused, unclenched his hand.
Everyone turned to the stairway where a beautiful, young blonde haired woman stood, her eyes setting on them. A red haired man carrying a large saber stood behind her, looking nervous.
"Cassandra? What are you doing out here?" Archelous asked her gently, "Shouldn't you be in your room?"
Raphael bowed. "Miss Cassandra, I do believe your father is right. You should go back up to your room now." He said, smiling devilishly at the young girl but hiding it from her father.
"Yunsung! Why did you let her out!" Talim demanded the bodyguard who gave her a confused look. "Well, what was I supposed to do? Drag her back in? This is still her house, you know." Yunsung anxiously reminded her.
Link stared up at the girl. She seemed very young and very tired, didn't look like she was getting any time outside. Her blonde hair was a limp dead thing that lost it's energy long ago, her eyes seemed so sad and distant. The dress was simple, even for a peasant girl, which Link assumed that she was indeed the daughter of the master of the house.
However, whatever anyone else said, Cassandra didn't seem to listen to very well. Her eyes locked onto Link with wonder and pleading.
"I heard there was a witch here." She said without hesitation. Archelous nodded and smiled lightly, starting to go up to her. "Yes, there is and he's going away this instant…" He told her soothingly, making Cassandra step forward, her eyes innocently keeping on Link, clasping her hands in anticipation.
"Then that means you can do magic, right?" She stated hopefully and Raphael motioned to the soldiers. "Captain, I think now is the time to take the two away. Cassandra, if you please listen to your father and go back up to your room…" He said to her and Cassandra completely ignored him, going down the stairs.
"Can you?" She pressed on like a little child wanting a gift.
Link swallowed hard. All she wanted to see was a magic trick while he was trying to escape.
"Um, yes…but I'm no witch…" He finally answered, making Greed point a finger. "Ha! You admit it!" He gloated with a smirk, making Link glare at him.
"I didn't say I was a witch. I can do magic, I'm a magician." He corrected him coldly. Raphael snorted.
"It's the same thing, boy." Raphael sneered. Cassandra however, had her eyes lit up.
"Please? Can you do magic for me?" She implored Link, stepping right in front of his face. Everyone became rather uncomfortable especially Link.
"Well…" Archelous paused for a moment, "I guess one little magic trick would suffice." Raphael looked appalled at the idea of that.
"Archelous!" He hissed underneath his breath, "The two are convicts! Why must you delay this any longer?"
"Look at her, Raphael. Look at her eyes, all lit up like stars. I haven't seen that in years and I swore to myself that if she did that again, I would keep that look forever." The father whispered back, smiling. "One little trick could not hurt."
Raphael made an annoyed noise in his throat, lifting his head back up. "Fine. One trick for the lady. Then you can take him away." The Frenchman reluctantly said and Link looked at the two soldiers holding him.
He coughed. "Excuse me but I need my arms released for a proper magic trick." Link said to them and the soldiers released him. Then, he bowed.
"What kind of magic would you like to see, milady?"
Cassandra thought about it for a moment. "I don't know. My sister once told me of this coin thing…"
"I know exactly what she is talking about." Link assured her. 'It's the easiest magic trick in the book…well, I think Cassandra wants to see real magic…'
"Oh come on." Raphael muttered. "That is a scam."
Link groaned. He was one of those skeptics…
"Here, as you see there is nothing in my hand." The elf held out both of his hands to Cassandra and she nodded energetically. "But…haha!" Link reached over and pulled a gold coin from her ear. "A gold coin!"
She looked at it, making Raphael roll his eyes. "This is pathetic…" He grumbled but Link looked at him. "I'm not through it, sir. Cassandra wanted magic and I'll give it to her." Link calmly explained, flipping the coin around in his fingers.
He then flipped it up high, catching it with the same hand before revealing a small baby blue jay in the palm of his hand. Cradling it gently, it shut Raphael up.
Cassandra stared in awe as she stroked the baby bird's head, smiling widely. "I think it would look cuter in yellow, don't you?" Link asked and stroked it along it's back, instantly turning a bright yellow, chirping happily.
He placed it in Cassandra's hand, allowing her to tenderly hold it like a baby. "It's so small and fragile…" She said slowly, rubbing it on the head.
After a few minutes, Link took it back. "Ought to send him back home to his mother." He said, folding it back up to reveal another trick: a bright colored blue scarf. "However, I don't think you want to see these mediocre magic tricks…"
He slingshot the scarf above and it burst into blue fireworks, turning into blue flowers that were falling from the ceiling like rain. One fell into the palm of his hand, clenching it.
Cassandra expectedly awaited something else wonderful to come out of his hand but when he undid it, there was nothing.
"Huh?" She said, confused, blinking. However, Link undid the other hand and it showed a pendant with the gold coin in the middle.
"For you, Cassandra." He offered and she took it, "To my best audience."
She giggled and Raphael finally got fed up, intervened. "All right. It's over. Arrest him please." Raphael coldly demanded but Archelous pulled him on the sleeve.
"I don't think they need him arrested. Cassandra is happy! For the first time in years, I made her happy. I think I'll take the boy, as the magician for Cassandra. She really likes those magic tricks…"
"He is a scam artist and a convict! Everything he did could be easily explainable…" Raphael persisted.
"Ah, but Cassandra likes it so it stays." Archelous said with finality, "Captain Greed, there is no need to arrest them."
"What!" Greed demanded, "I've been waiting around a week to get this boy behind bars and you're telling me…"
"Correctly. There is no need. Talim, please go get my purse and I will pay you to stay away from the two." Archelous calmly said before Raphael interjected again.
"Fine. Why the other?"
"I need servants. Always do." The master stated rather quickly and Talim reappeared carrying a large bag. "Ah yes. 20,000 gold should do it, Captain. For both of them."
"60,000 pieces." Greed offered and Archelous gave him a look. "12,000 and I don't mention to your superiors of stealing my things…which by the way, unhand my things please." He bargained and Greed placed back a valuable bottle of wine, grumbling hatefully.
"Fine."
The soldiers released Link and Li Long, thanks to their relief. Rubbing his arms, Li Long looked at his companion.
"Your magic came in handy, Overachiever. Thank God for that, eh?" Li Long laughed, slapping him on the back. Link breathed a sigh and smiled at Cassandra.
"So I'm your magician now, huh? Alright, that's a job I can live for." The Hyrulian stroked his chin thoughtfully, watching Cassandra.
Archelous, after paying the soldiers, turned to Link. "Well then. Talim, go show…." He trailed off.
"Link. My name is Link." Link quickly answered, "And my companion, Li Long."
"Alright. Go show Link his sleeping quarters and Li Long his servant quarters. Yunsung," Archelous turned to the bodyguard, "Please go put Cassandra back in her room. She may keep the pendant if she wishes."
"Alright. Come on, Cassandra." The Asian motioned, leading her back to her room.
Cassandra looked back over her shoulder and said hopefully, "You'll show me more, right?"
Link nodded. "Of course. It's my job now."
She smiled again and Archelous closed his eyes. "Ah. It still makes me happy to see her smile." He merrily said. "Raphael, you may take the room that has been laid out for you…the same one."
"Yes of course." Raphael murmured. "I'll see you later, friend."
Raphael exited swiftly up the stairs, making Talim smirk. "And I must retreat to my study. Any questions, just ask Talim." He said and left too.
Talim pointed to the left. "The rooms on the left are the servant quarters. I imagine you'll have the free one, which is the third on the right. Link, if you'll follow me…" She ordered and Li Long shrugged.
"Hey, beats prison and wandering around." He took it and left towards the halls.
"Yeah because I saved your ass." Link muttered.
XXX
"So you made Cassandra smile. Huh. I tried that for years and it never worked…" Talim shook her head in amazement.
"Why is everyone so shocked? Is she a nut or what?" Link inquired, shifting his sword and shield off.
"No…her sister died a few years back. Traumatized. No one knows what really happened…probably died in front of her. Mutilated and stabbed. It was gruesome from what I heard. Only other sibling." Talim explained, opening a door. "Here. My room is down the hall…don't get yourself comfortable. You'll find that you spend very little time in it."
Link looked around the room. "Is one woman that hard to take care of?"
"You'll see what I mean later. You might want to get enough sleep now…" Talim said quietly. "You know…you're very kind. Cassandra saw that…she's only been around me and Yunsung…her father…Raphael is a bit persistent in seeing her…so whatever you do, don't let him."
"I thought he was a bit kind to her father…" Link mused, setting down his equipment on the bed. Talim scoffed.
"Please. Raphael is playing him like a violin. Archelous is too blind to see that Raphael just wants Cassandra in his bed and doesn't care about helping her. Cassandra is too vulnerable to defend herself against him. I never want to see him with her. So he'll try to make up a lie on how he wants to take Cassandra away to give Archelous a time of peace but I've been resisting that. Lucky, her father sees my way of thinking."
Link sat on the bed, laughing slightly. "Raphael is rather fond of me…" He stated jokingly.
Talim bitterly smiled. "I hate him. He's the only person I detest." She admitted, standing in the doorway. "Any other questions?"
"I guess not. Good night." The elf bid her goodnight, lying down on the bed.
Talim nodded. "Night Link."
She closed the door and Link drifted off into sleep, a good sleep that he did not have for a long time.
XXX
Placing his rapier on a table, Raphael poured himself a drink and lied down on the bed, drinking furiously.
That boy was going to ruin everything for him! Ruin his chances of getting Archelous to give Cassandra to him, ruin his chances of weakening her to the point of complete submission, and ruin everything he worked long and hard for.
Magic…huh. He'll see about that.
Magic was not real. Link wasn't either, just some deformed freak. Cassandra would be submissive to him no matter what…
And he was going to get his bed and her inheritance even if he had to slit a few throats along the way…
XXX
Read and Review!
Thank god! I have another story to keep up with so I'll have to split it.
To everyone who reviewed: Thank you very much! I'm a little tired to reply back…so…I'll do it next time…
Promise.