Seeing Truth
Chapter 14: Nothing At All
Eric! Why would Eric be speaking up? If at the most I would think he would be laughing. Hard. Yes, I was confused, but what could I say? Everyone looked confused except for Kado who had a stern expression on his face.
"What do you mean, Eric?" I heard King Oren ask, completely confused.
"I-" before Eric could finish, Kado jumped down from the throne and faced him with his back to his father.
"Not here, Eric, at least not in front of everyone." He said, eyeing his surroundings.
"We have to set this straight or you're stuck with…her." The soldier turned to me while I just looked at him shocked and confused and not to mention angry.
Kado only sighed as his mother cut in, "Tell us, Kado. What is going on?"
He turned to his parents, "I can't marry Jade…"
"Why not?" his mother asked.
He was quiet for a few minutes until Eric cut in, "If I may, Your Majesty?"
"Go ahead."
"When I first met Jade in Kakariko Village, I realized how suspicious and doubtful she was of everyone…" I had a right to be… "I didn't know what to make of it, but I had an idea. So, after running into you on your way to the castle, I decided to talk to Prince Kado before I left. I told him of Jade, and everything about her… at least what I thought of her…"
I was right there; in the room with them, and they sounded like I wasn't even there. How was that?
"What does this have to do with anything?" King Oren asked after Eric had paused.
"As you know, Your Highness, your son has been sought after many girls, and with Jade's thickheaded pride-"
I gasped, "Hey!"
Eric only ignored me, "I thought it would be quite interesting if we had a little fun."
"What are you getting at?" I asked, just above a whisper. I didn't like where this was going at all.
"We made a bet." Those four simple words felt like someone just hit me in the face. I turned to look at Kado while he just sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"What?"
"We made a bet that if Prince Kado could make you fall for him, in which he actually succeeded, but no one really knew about this, and no one was meant to."
By this time, tears were threatening to fall free from my eyes as I stared at my feet to hide my hurt expression. I clenched my fists together until my knuckles were white. The disturbing silence only hurt me more until I just couldn't take it anymore. I turned around and ran towards the exit of the throne room. None of the soldiers stopped me; no one called after me. They let me go without another word and I was glad for it. I couldn't face anyone as I ran down the dark corridors, wiping away the tears. I was only a few turns away when I ran into someone. Before they could ask what was wrong, I resumed running to my room. With a slam of my door, I slid down to the floor and hid my face in my arms that rested on my knees.
Only minutes later, I heard a knock on the door. I sniffled a few times, but stayed quiet.
"Jade?" it was Link, "Are you alright? I know you're in there, so just please tell me everything is okay. If I did anything to hurt you…"
"It's not you, Link." I said through sniffles as I wiped away the tears, "Just please go. I don't want to talk, right now."
I heard him sigh, "If you need anything, just come to me."
I didn't want to talk to him because I was just as angry with him, but I had to know, "I don't know where you're staying…"
I hinted a sympathetic smile as he spoke, "Down the corridor to the left, second door until the corner."
"Thanks…" I whispered sadly as I heard him leave.
XxxxXxxxX
After minutes of crying, I was dry, but I just couldn't seem to get Eric's words out of my head. All of this had been a bet; none of it had been real. He had known who I was all along; he had played me, and I had no clue of it. Everything was a fake, he had never liked me; he only did it for a bet. He was exactly like I thought of him when I first met him; an arrogant jerk, and I can't believe I actually fell for him. I can't believe how stupid I was to actually…like him…
I had just barely woken up after a small nap on my couch. It was dark in the room, and I hated the dark, but I didn't care anymore. I didn't need to see anyway, my eyes were blurry from crying. Just as I was about to get up, I felt a hand clamp over my mouth, hands grab my arms and my legs. I tried to struggle but it was no use. Whoever these people were, they were too strong for me, and it was impossible to get away. They quickly lifted me up as the hand over my mouth disappeared. I heard the door open as I was carried outside. The candlelit corridors were enough of a problem to adjust as I squinted my eyes. I couldn't see the people who were taking me in the room, and I couldn't see them, now, in the light. All I saw were figures as they led me to wherever.
Soon enough, we reached double doors. By that time, I had given up squirming; as long as it was in the castle, I didn't care. I was too tired, too angry, and too hurt to care. The doors opened with a creak as they carried me in. The room was dimly lit, but enough to see the living room we went through. I noticed the large four-poster bed in the room, the lit fireplace, and a figure leaning against one of the posters of the bed. I was dropped carelessly onto the bed with a thump. I quickly sat up when I realized the four soldiers leaving the room. My gaze turned to the figure that was now staring at me with an unreadable expression.
"What do you want?" I sneered angrily.
He lifted an eyebrow than scoffed, "I can't believe I have to marry you."
I stood up from the bed, "It's your fault we're in this mess. Did you even think once what this would lead to? You're exactly what I thought you were in the beginning; an arrogant jerk."
"…" Nothing?
"Stupid, too…" I mumbled. Before I could move out of the way, Kado grabbed my collar and pushed me down onto the bed.
"Now I see why Eric despises you so much." He leered at me, looking down at me with anger.
I crawled away, still on my back while Kado stood at the side of the bed.
"You should have known."
"Known what?" I asked as he walked slowly around the bed to reach where I was sitting.
"I thought you would find out sooner or later, but I guess you are like every other girl out there." I tried backing away from him, but only ended up having my back hit the headboard.
For once I felt like I had nothing to say.
"This is the first." He said with a smirk I seemed to loathe so much at the moment.
"What are you talking about?" I asked.
"You have nothing to say." He answered.
I mumbled something incoherent.
"What?"
"None of your business."
"I am going to be your husband soon. I think it is my business." He leered, resting his hands on the bed to look at me at eye level.
"You wish." I sneered as I got off the bed from the other side.
I made my way to the door but Kado swiftly blocked the way.
"Get out of my way, Kado." I said, letting my bangs cover my eyes.
"If I don't want to, I don't have to."
"You know, you're really getting on my nerves."
"You said that the first time you met me…"
"And I still mean it."
"But I thought you liked me. Seemed like it last night."
"That was all you, and I hate you for it. I thought I could trust you."
He only leaned against the door and folded his arms across his chest.
"Now, get out of my way."
"No."
I clenched my fists to my side, trying to keep the anger in, "What do you want from me?"
"I wanted to talk to you."
"Alright, you talked to me, now. Away. From. The. Door." He looked up and tried to lock my gaze with his, but I only looked away.
I quickly remembered the ring on my finger. I glanced at it quickly before taking it off. I grabbed Kado's hand and placed the ring in the middle of his palm. He stared at the ring confused, absentmindedly moving away from the door. I pushed past him and walked out without looking back.
XxxxXxxxX
I stared out of the window idly as sleep slowly overcame me. I was in the castle's library, sitting on a window bench somewhere around. After leaving Kado's room, I couldn't remember the way back to my room, and instead ended up getting lost. After finding the large library, I decided to stay there until I had the strength to go look for my room. I wanted to completely forget the talk I had with Kado, but it continued to overplay in my mind. I didn't have any idea what time it was, but obviously very late…
I leaned my head against the cold glass of the window and closed my eyes. I tried to sleep but too many thoughts were running through my head. I decided on reading one of the many books in the library, but sadly, they were all written in Hylian. So, now, I was settled on the window seat with my legs stretched as far as they could go. It was a quiet night, and slow, which I despised. Yeah, I didn't want to face anyone, but I was bored to death and I just couldn't sleep, and when that happened, well…
I sighed hopelessly, trying to curl up in a ball. Just as I was finally drifting off, I heard the sound of creaking. The door. Someone was coming, but what were the chances that they would find me? I was in the farthest side of the library, hidden by the many isles of bookshelves. When I heard, slow dragging footsteps, I perked up. I looked around, but it was too dark to see, so if someone came they would see me near the window. Great… I turned back to the window, who cares anymore? The footsteps grew closer, than a sigh…
"Jade?" the voice was low and in a whisper, as if the person was trying not to wake anyone up.
I slowly turned my head to see a familiar someone resting against one of the bookshelves with his shoulder. He was in a black t-shirt and plaid pants; his pajamas. His blonde hair stuck out in every direction, and I couldn't help but blush. I gave a small smile as he gazed at me tiredly.
"What are you doing out here so late?" he asked sleepily.
"I-uh," I couldn't tell him Kado had four of his 'cronies' kidnap me to his room just to talk, could I? "I couldn't sleep so I took a walk around, but got lost, so I-uh, just stayed here."
He blinked sleepily and grinned. I brought my knees to my chest to give him room to sit down. I patted the seat so he could sit, "What are you doing up?"
"I couldn't sleep."
"Do you come here often?"
"Sometimes. Not too many people visit this part of the library anymore. How did you find it?" he asked after plopping down on the seat.
"I don't know. I was just finding a place to sit farther away from the main area."
"Wanted to be alone?"
"Yeah…" I breathed sadly.
After a few minutes, he spoke, "Jade… I heard what happened…"
"You mean?"
He nodded, "I'm sorry it turned out that way."
"It's okay. I'm sure I can get out of it, but I just want to know why they didn't call it off after they realized it was all a prank."
"Maybe they are thinking about it."
"I hope so; I just can't stand this anymore."
"That reminds me. Zelda wanted to talk to us in the morning. She says it's important, but she didn't want to talk about it earlier cause…" he trailed off.
I turned to him curiously to realize he had slowly dozed off. I shook my head, my lips forming into a smile. I leaned my head back and closed my eyes, slowly dozing off…
XxxxXxxxX
I squinted my eyes from the strong light. I had no idea where it was coming from, but it was just as irritating as anything. I groaned and tried to change my position… I felt no cover, no huge mattress, only a cold wall against my back and a small padded seat. Before I could completely wake up, I felt something nudge my knee. I had to blink several times to focus my eyes. All the events from last night flooded back to me and I slumped back in the window seat, slightly squinting from the sun's rays. I turned to look over at the person across me. He slouched back than ran a hand through his hair.
"Good morning." He said sleepily.
"'Morning." I replied just the same. The library was just as quiet as it had been last night, and I was grateful.
"Do you know what time it is?"
"No, I was going to ask you."
Link sighed, closing his eyes again, "I'm still tired. I hate that feeling."
"Same here. That's what happens to me when I have to wake up at five-thirty in the morning five times a week."
"What for?"
"School."
"Really? Why so early?"
"It takes me forever to get ready. Nine months of this and still I never get used to it."
He shook his head with a slight smile forming on his lips.
"It's torture. I mean, seriously. It's hard not running into walls at five in the morning."
He looked at me confused and surprised.
"What? I've done it before." I stared at Link confused as he bit his lip, trying to keep in the laughter, but it was too late. He started laughing, and I just sat there with arms crossed, watching with irritation.
Maybe a minute or so later, he wiped away a tear than ran a hand through his hair, finally calming down.
"Sorry, sorry…"
"It wasn't that funny."
He shrugged, "Just thinking about it. You know, you with that messy hair, in your pajamas, ten feet away from a wall, yet you still end up running into it. Then, after you run into the wall, you back away, rub your nose and raise a fist at it. Then, you walk off like nothing happened."
He sighed, looking completely dazed, "Uh, yes. Sure, funny… But it was painful."
He only smiled, and I couldn't help but return it.
"So, what are you planning on doing today?"
"I don't know. What do you want to do?"
"Anything out of the castle is good for me."
"Alright, but first we have to go talk to Zelda."
"Mmhmm…"
XxxxXxxxX
At first I thought it wasn't the most important thing that we needed to talk to Zelda, but when we saw her that afternoon she didn't look the same. She seemed so… serious, and it seemed like no one noticed but me. I quickly shrugged it off as I plopped down on the couch next to Link. We were back in the library, sitting in the main lounge. Sitting across from us was Zelda, her hands placed on her lap, and looking…intent. Was this the Zelda I knew?
"Link, when you told me about the strange things happening to the sages, I began to look it up. Yesterday, Impa found a book about the ancient sages. It said that if the sages began to lose their power, it meant that the goddesses' power was losing its control. The power grows more into those who have the Triforce."
I don't get it…" I thought aloud after Zelda took the time to pause.
"It means that if the sages begin to lose their power so does the seal that is holding Ganon back from escaping. Only one thing can bring back their power, and it is far more than just collecting something…"
"Uh-huh…" Link elbowed me in the ribs and I yelped. I just couldn't help the intensity…
"I found an old scroll that told of Hyrule's history and its legends, and in it, it said that there were four goddesses. Four pieces of the Triforce; four that are supposed to contain the mark of the Triforce…"
"What are you getting at?" I asked…curiously.
"That means we need to find the one that contains the Triforce of Light."
"It doesn't match." Was all I had to say.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that there's Power, Wisdom, and Courage. Where does Light fit into it all?"
"Apparently, the Triforce of Light contained all those powers, but nothing to call its own. This one goddess could have made all of Hyrule by itself, but the other three decided to on their own. They were jealous of her so they decided to ban her out…"
"That's odd."
"They never added her piece into the Triforce, but because of that, the power of the Triforce has become unbalanced."
"So, your saying the fourth piece was never added?" It was Link this time.
"No, and the goddesses thought it was okay at the time because it worked, but now it only backfired." Zelda shifted around in her seat.
"But what about those stones you had to get when you were a kid? There were only three."
"They only made three." She answered back.
"Bunch of bullies…"
"So, what do we have to do?" Link asked.
"When the goddess was banned, she broke her piece of the Triforce and placed the shards in different areas. There are four of them. One is located in Hyrule, but it is hard to say where. The others are all located in different areas, possibly not even in any particular country."
"So, basically. We have to find them." I said, but when I noted Zelda's shifted gaze from me to Link, I turned confused.
"I have to find them." I turned to Link a bit shocked.
"What? Why can't I go with you?"
"Because it's too dangerous."
"Then why did I have to sit here for ten minutes and listen to all this if I'm not even going to be apart of it?"
"Because…" now he was the one who looked confused.
We both turned to Zelda who seemed to have a small smile on her lips, "Because you are going to help me research."
I stared wide-eyed at the large load of books she placed on the coffee table. I was afraid it was going to fall apart after I heard an odd creaking sound, but that left my mind once I began to hear footsteps.
"You've got to be kidding me." I mumbled, still dazed by the load of books.
"There's more where that came from…" I heard Zelda whisper excitedly.
I was about to pick up one of the five-inch thick books when I noticed a figure at the corner of my eye. I heard him whisper something to Link and Zelda as I began flipping through the pages of the big, blue book.
My legs were beginning to hurt, but I continued to ignore his hard gaze on me after Link and Zelda had left the library. How long was he going to keep this up? Five minutes passed yet he was still there…watching me. I knew he was doing it to get on my nerves, but why? What did I ever do to him? Oh, wait… No, that was his fault for doing what he did. I noticed him lean back on the chair he was sitting on and getting comfortable. That was it… I slammed the book, which only made me jump, and Kado slightly, yes, slightly surprised.
I narrowed my eyes at him, "What do you want, now?"
"…" What? Nothing? How long was he going to keep this up?
"…"
"…"
"That's it. I'm not taking this anymore." I tossed the book on the couch and stood up. I found my way to the entrance and tried to open the handle, but it wouldn't budge. I tried again, but to no luck at all. It was no use so I began to pound on the door and yell for Link and Zelda. Footsteps were heard behind me, but I continued to pound. I didn't want to talk to him nor see him for that matter.
"It's locked, Jade. It's no use." I hear him say from behind me.
I turned to him angrily, "You did this, didn't you?"
"No." he said simply.
"Then who did?"
"How should I know?"
"Ugh, fine… There has to be some other way out of here." I thought to myself, walking along the walls of the library.
It was to no avail. Bookshelves and windows hid the walls. The place was clearly sealed; no way out only the way we came in. I continued to search the walls, continuing to ignore the taunting footsteps echoing behind me. Why did it have to be me? What did I do to deserve this? I sighed, brushing my fingers against the old, dusty books, still searching for a door other than the one locked. I guess I was too lost in my mind that I had completely zoned out my surroundings and everything I was hearing.
"You know? You have been around the library twice now." I heard Kado drone behind me.
I ignored him and continued walking. Waiting for him to say something back to my silence, but he said nothing. So…
"It's better than talking to you…"
"Why are you acting so hostile towards me, now?"
"What did you expect?" I asked, still walking, taking a glance at certain books that caught my attention, now and then.
He was silent.
"Did you think I would act just the same after what you did to me? I don't even know you anymore."
Still nothing.
No come back? How so? I stopped and turned around, curious as to why Kado was so quiet… Really now?
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Well? How'd everyone like this chapter? Eleven pages and a bit of twelve. Anyhoo, I hope you guys liked this chapter cause I enjoyed writing most of it. This chapter talks about the beginning of Link and Jade's adventure. Though, I've decided that this is not the main plot anymore. This adventure is just one of the many big things that Jade has to go through when she's in Hyrule. And see how I meant that she feels like she can't trust anyone? Actually, I thought of this whole bet while writing Ch. 12. It wasn't something long planned. Anyway, I guess it's like the theme of the story. Even if it's hard to trust someone you barely know, sometimes you just have to during the hardest situation, and blahblahblah. Heh, okay, well, thank you very much people for the great reviews and here are the replies!
Some reviewers I forgot to thank for Ch.11: Arret, harrypotterfan, and SageOfTheMinish! So, thank you and if I didn't mention anyone! Very sorry! But thank you! All your reviews are appreciated!
Ch.13:
Tai Aurion: Yeah, anyhoo, thank you for reviewing!
Liquid Earth: Thank ya'!
Chips Dip: Yay! Thanks for telling me what a mary-sue is and now that I know... SHE IS SOO NOT A MARY-SUE! How evil for someone to say that! And Thank you for reviewing!
Arret: thank you!
fire god101:Yay! Sugar! Heh, anyways, thanks for reviewing!
magusanabis: Yep, big surprise, but this part of the story I made up along the way. Meh, anyhoo, thanks for reviewing!
harrypotterfan: aww, thanks!
Lizai: Thanks for the support! And for the review!
Yami no Megumi: Thanks, and yay! I updated!
soullesseyes: Yay! Thank ya'! And yep, I'm 14!
Okay, people, thank you so much for reviewing! I appreciate it all and I hope you guys review this and stuff:P
Kitana5055