Seeing Truth
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Chapter 23
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I don't think I could ever describe Termina when I saw it. For one, it looked completely enormous, and two, everywhere you looked there was a different landscape. It was something geographers and scientists could never comprehend; one moment you would see mountains in front of you, and then the next you would see the swamp and the ocean nearby. It was every landscape packed into one tiny country that was probably not even half the size of the state of Texas. I was a bit disappointed, though, when we had to head straight to town; I was hoping to sight-see the views a little longer. I mean, it's not like I can get a view like this every day back home. Ah, well...
It was around late-afternoon when we arrived to town, so everyone was pretty busy running their hectic lives that I hoped to not be apart of unlike someone else who just couldn't stand not helping people. Ugh... heroes... We entered the Stock-Pot Inn after leaving our horses out to roam in the fields. The inn was unexpectedly crowded, and not even Link understood why it was so. I mean, it's not like it was the New Year's Carnival... was it? Someone jabbed me hard with their elbow, but before I could retort a rude comment I realized that the person who just injured my rib was a soldier. I sidled against the wall towards the chairs that were unoccupied while Link made his way through the crowd of...soldiers. What the hell was this? Army buddies home for the holidays? I watched Link's hat disappear as I finally realized sitting in a chair full of standing people with metal for protection wasn't the best idea. I heard a few words being said by the innkeeper that I assumed was the red-head, Anju, some shuffling, a little laughter, and now movement. The door opened, allowing some fresh air to enter as the soldiers filed out. Yes! I plopped down on one of the chairs and rested my head over the palms of my hands. I seriously thought I could fall to the floor and fall asleep, but the goddesses, apparently, had something different planned for me.
I heard Link's voice calling my name, but instead of looking up and answering like a respectful young lady... I just voiced, "Hmm?"
"You're not going to believe this..." I could hear the smirk in his voice as he spoke.
"They're giving you a discount to stay in one of the storage rooms downstairs, and the free breakfast includes fried cockroaches." I heard someone snort in the silence before Link continued.
"No..." he replied warily.
"Then what is it?" I whined.
"Well, you're going to have to look up if you want to find out." I sighed in annoyance and did as he said, and damn it- I couldn't believe it! I didn't want to believe it... Why the hell was Kado here? My eyes opened wide as he watched me with his familiar hazel green eyes. It didn't help at all when I felt heat rise to my cheeks as I stared at him. I just wanted to end the misery! Why was he here? Oh no! So, what do I say? "Hi" is too lame... what's up? Nooooo...
"Jade?" his voice brought me back to the horrible reality I had to face.
"Hey." I said sheepishly... not the embarrassment...!
"Hey? Don't you have anything better to say? We are getting married soon, aren't we?" he replied as he folded his arms over his chest.
"You still believe that we're getting married?" I laughed and stood up, "Because you can't possibly believe that I want to marry you."
"Of course I still believe that. I love you, Jade. How many times do I have to say it to convince you?"
"As long as you want, but I'll never get convinced, and we're never getting married. Understood?" I took one final glance around before I walked out and slammed the door behind me.
XxxxXxxxX
I had wandered the entire town the rest of the day, trying to ignore the people who gave me curious glances, and the Meyenn soldiers stationed around the gates and the inn. I was surprised that Kado's parents hadn't come along, and why he had only come to Termina. What did it matter, anyway? Why should I care? I rolled my eyes and continued walking around. There was nothing new in Clock Town; it was exactly the same so why should I explain it? I tried leaving town to maybe go to the beach, but the soldiers wouldn't let me. I showed them my sword unless they were too stupid to notice before, but they denied me passage, again; I guessed it had something to do with the Kado. I growled, muttered some curse words, and walked away.
It was midnight before I decided returning to the inn. Anju gave me the key to my room and a note as I passed by the reception's desk. I thanked her and climbed the stairs to my room that I hoped would have a soft enough bed; I had been avoiding sleep since I stormed out of the inn that afternoon, and I couldn't stand up any longer. My room was at the very end, you know, the one that was always locked? The room was fair with its white lace curtains, hardwood floors, striped bed sheets, and stone fireplace. A dresser decorated a corner, which was next to a wooden door while a wooden table with four chairs decorated the bare middle of the room. I tossed the key on the table then plopped onto the bed after checking for roaches. I opened the note slowly, and was surprised, again that it was written in English. It read:
Jade,
I am going out for a while, and may not be back by the time you arrive. My room is next door just to let you know. If something's goes wrong, please go to Kado who is in room 105. I'll try and be back soon.
Link
I crumbled the note with one hand and through it directly into the lit fireplace. I watched as the edges slowly changed colors from light beige to a dark brown then to smoke. I tried sleeping, but it just wouldn't come; I had been tossing and turning for more than two hours before I decided to get up. I freshened up, grabbed a few things, and walked out. My footsteps made small thumping sounds as I walked on the wooden floors of the hallway. I wasn't sure where I was going to go, but once I found the door to the balcony that was next to the stairs I finally knew where I was going.
The first thing I saw when I opened the door was a dark figure sitting next to the large and useless bell. I was about to go back inside when he turned around and looked straight at me, and he was exactly who I thought he would be; Kado smiled at me sympathetically as he patted the space next to him. I wasn't sure what to do; go sit next to him or do the exact opposite? Option one won this time. I closed the door behind me and slowly walked towards him. I guess he knew I was a little uneasy and turned away as I sat next him.
It seemed for about ten minutes that we just sat there staring out into the darkness when Kado finally decided to say something; he was staring at me from the corner of his eye when he spoke.
"Jade," he shuffled when he said my name, "I… um… what I wanted to say was…" he looked at me for a few seconds before shaking his head and turning away.
"Listen, Kado. If you're going to tell me that you love me or something…well, it's just not going to work…" I said.
"Why won't it…" he asked with a raised eyebrow, "When you know it's true."
"Ugh…please…" I stood up with my anger boiling, "We're only teenagers. What the hell do you know about love?"
He followed me as I walked to the door with clenched fists, "I may only be sixteen, but I do know enough when I want to be with someone."
"You don't know anything, Kado… If you knew what went on in my world you'd want to kill yourself." I quickly grabbed my key and fumbled to get the door open.
"Why? Do you think that living here is easy? Didn't you tell me that marrying at our age was insane?"
"I don't know! Okay?" I turned around to face him after giving up on the door, "I don't care anymore! I don't know why I'm here. I don't know why this all is happening, and all I want is for everything to go back to the way it used to be."
"But you know that a chance of that happening isn't possible." He was right, wasn't he?
"Oh, God…" I leaned against the wall with my face in my hands as I growled from anger and confusion. "I have no idea what I'm doing anymore… I never have…"
"Jade…" I glanced up at him through the space between my fingers, "I think that if you stop being so damn confusing we could help you." He waited for a reply that never came then continued, "You always hide what you are thinking or feeling, and we just never know what to do with you. I probably would kill myself if your world was filled with people that hid their emotions like that."
"Do you want to make me cry?" I replied after lowering my hands. He laughed and slowly drew closer.
"I would never want to do that." He said with a small smile as he rested his hands on each side of me.
"Really? So that night when you left wasn't supposed to make me cry?"
His face contorted into a worried expression; just seeing him like that made me want to take those words back. "Did I make you cry? I'm so sorry…"
I chuckled nervously, hoping that he wouldn't get angry, "Well, I didn't really cry."
"What?" he creased his forehead in what looked like irritation.
"Well, it still hurt my feelings when you left like that."
"I'm sorry…" he muttered as he drew even closer to me; his face only inches from mine.
"Well…you should be." I whispered nervously as I pressed my body harder against the door.
"What's the matter?" he replied as he kissed the side of my neck.
"Um…Kado…?" I stuttered as he wrapped his arms around my waists. Ugh, damn it…why me? I thought to myself as I tried to push him away.
"Yes?" he backed away a little, enough to gaze into my eyes as I spoke.
"I really don't think we should be doing this."
"Why not? This is what people do when they-…"
"You know what? I don't think this is what I want to do…I'm sorry, but I just can't…" I pushed him away and finally opened the door with the key that had been clenched in my hand the entire time.
"So, you're changing your mind, again." He said as he followed me through the corridor to my room.
"No." I retorted as I reached my door, and began unlocking it. I entered without realizing he was right on my heels.
"Then what is it?" I practically jumped when he said that after I had thought I had slammed the door in his face.
"I don't know and I don't care. Just get out."
"No."
"What do you mean 'no'?" I mimicked as I moved to open the door. He sat down on one of the chairs and pulled me with him; he had a grip on my wrist and wouldn't let go. I tried to get free, but he just pulled me closer. No way was I going to stoop to that level.
"Kado, let go of my wrist."
"Oh? Do you want me to hold on to your waist?" he raised his eyebrows, and I quickly backed away.
"Ugh, just tell me what you want." I replied angrily.
"I want you to listen to me." Was that all?
"Fine, but let go of my wrist."
"Oh, right." He let go and I sat on a chair next to him.
"What did you want to say?" I placed my elbows on the table and rested my head on my hands.
"I wanted to say that- well, before you snapped at me that I did try to talk to my parents about the whole marriage ordeal…" he began.
"And?" I questioned after he was silent for a moment.
"They wouldn't listen." My eyes traveled to the patterns of the plain wooden table as he continued, "I really did try, but it was no use."
"What the hell is the matter with them?" I asked as if he would really know, "It's obvious they are doing this for something other than the 'love'."
"What do you mean?" he said suspiciously.
"I mean that your parents have something else up their sleeves, and it has nothing to do with the real reason of marriage. If you pleaded with them…that is what you did, right?"
"I told them a hundred times that it wasn't the right thing to get married, but they kept telling me everything would change then change the subject."
"See? They are hiding something from you. This is what you learn when you take history class." I stood up and began pacing after I had said that.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Well, you hear all the time of kings and queens marrying off their heirs or heiress' with another country's- you know, to secure an alliance with that country."
"Oh, my god." He mumbled as he ran a hand though his hair.
"They want to secure an alliance with my country, which they have no idea where it is."
"So, you're an heiress to your country."
"Hell, no." I said amusedly, "Your parents have no idea what they're doing."
"I don't understand what they're doing."
I thought for a moment before realizing exactly what they were doing. "Oh, my God…"
"What?" he turned to look at me as I sat down on the bed with my elbows resting on my knees, and my hands lazily hanging in the air.
"Your parents must have known I was with Link. They probably knew that Zelda was off limits, now with her being with Link and everything so they go to the next closest thing: me."
"Wait-what? What do you mean Link and Zelda? And why have you become so special?" he asked confusedly with creased eyebrows.
I laughed nervously, "Um. There's something I didn't tell you…"
"What?"
"Um…well. Do you remember the Moon Festival?"
"Yes; Of course." He smiled wryly.
I gave him a dark look before continuing, "Anyway, I…I saw them…kissing…"
"Ohhhh… so that explains it…" he said.
"And they probably knew of the things going on with the sages, and figured that I was going with Link."
"But how could they manage that?"
"I don't know. They're smart. I guess all royalty have dark secrets and are up to no good."
"Does that include me?"
"Especially you." I retorted as I stood up and walked towards the door. "Well, we solved that case. Now, you leave."
"No." he whined as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back in the chair.
"Come on. I'm tired; I want to sleep, so goodnight, Kado." I swung the door open and gestured for him to leave; he stayed his ground. "Fine." I closed the door and walked back to my bed.
"I think this is the first time you have given up." He said as he stood up.
"No. I haven't given up. You either stay there or leave; you can't come any closer. Got it?" I grabbed a few of my things and went through the door next to the dresser. I took a bath, changed, and walked into a room that, unfortunately still including another soul.
"Damn it, Kado." I mumbled when I saw him sitting on the same chair, "Why do you have to be so stubborn?"
"You are calling me stubborn?" he asked, raising an eyebrow curiously as he folded his arms across his chest comfortably.
"Yes. I am calling you stubborn. Why don't you go to your own room so I can get some rest?"
"Not unless you come with me."
"Why the hell should I?" I retorted as I slipped halfway into the covers.
"I don't know. I need some company…"
"You're going to sleep, Kado. I don't think you need company for that."
"I know, but I'm not tired. I want to do something, go somewhere… you know?"
"Yeah; you're bored. Count sheep and you'll be asleep sooner or later. Either way you'll be away from me."
"Oh, come on. Where would I get sheep?" I rolled my eyes and thought, that is such a dumb blonde joke…
"Go away, Kado." I muttered as I turned over on the bed, "And please blow out the candle on the way." I heard him sigh as something creaked, which signaled his movement off the chair.
"Goodnight, Jade." He whispered.
"G'night…" I mumbled as I heard him blow out the candle then leave with the door closing behind him.
XxxxXxxxX
I was up around six o'clock the next morning with the sun just beginning to peak over the horizon. However, I didn't get up until seven when I heard a knock at my door. I figured if I took my time I would get a headache, so why not answer it, right? I trudged to the door and swung it open to be greeted with a smiling Kado.
"Do you always have to be such a morning person?" I mumbled as I turned away then tumbled back down on the bed.
"Of course not, but why should I be the only one to suffer?" He said as he closed the door behind him.
"Ha-ha…go back from where you came from, will you? And let me sleep."
"Come on. Link is ordering us breakfast. Do you like omelets?"
"Not really."
"Oh, well; you are eating them anyway." He pulled on my arm and I yanked it back. "Well, you've gotten stronger. What did you do when I was gone?"
"I trained specifically so I could beat the crap out of you…now, go away!" I made to turn around on the bed, again to avoid him, but he grabbed my arm and pinned me to the bed.
"Hey!" I whined as he started to tickle me mercilessly.
"What?" he asked as he kissed my lips quickly and backed away.
"Stop tickling me!" I exclaimed, trying to back away from him.
"Fine; I'll kiss you…" he started with butterfly kisses on the neck before giving me short kisses on the lips.
"Okay, okay!" I pushed him away, "I'll get up!"
"Finally!" he said as he got off the bed and sat down on a chair while I grabbed a few things and headed to the washroom.
"Hey, hurry up! I'm starving!" I heard him say after a few minutes.
"Blah, blah, blah… you rush me, and I just go slower!" I answered back as I pulled my dark brown pants on. It only took another minute or so before I was out with my hair loose with curls- surprisingly, and a light moss green shirt with three-quarter sleeves.
"It took you long enough." He mumbled with a smirk as he walked towards the door.
"What the hell is the matter with you?" I inquired as I grabbed a few of my things and walked out with him.
"Nothing; I was just thinking." He said then smiled as he grabbed my hand and walked with me.
"About what?"
"About the whole marriage thing."
"Oh…" I couldn't believe I was saying this; "Don't think about it; we can worry about it later."
"Yes; I guess so…" He said thoughtfully. "And…Linkand Zelda?"
"Yep; it was coming, anyway. I just didn't think it would happen while I was here." I swung my arm a little as we walked down the stairs and into the dining area that looked incredibly new, and smelled like fresh paint. I spotted Link sitting in a booth near a window, and I slid my hand out from Kado's grip. He was shocked of course, but I just couldn't handle everyone knowing things like this just yet. I sat down on the chair closest to the window with Kado sitting next to me.
The omelet looked pretty tasty, and even was pretty tasty when I tried it; it wasn't even spicy! I listened to Link and Kado talk about the Triforce in whispers that I could barely distinguish while I just ate my super delicious food… what? I hadn't had any good food in days since we left Kokiri Forest.
"Jade… Jade?" I heard Link say as I finished drinking down the orange juice.
"Yeah?" I answered back.
"Kado is coming with us to help us find the Triforce pieces." He replied and I snapped.
"What?" I said as I dropped the fork.
"Yes. He wants to help us."
"And what about his friends?" I gestured towards the large group of soldiers that took up about five of the tables.
"They won't come with us." Kado said as he glanced at me then took another bite of his omelet.
"So, automatically your parents aren't going to mind that you're off on your own with no supervision?" I said sarcastically.
"That's very funny, Jade. Why don't you go bake something?" he answered back with the same rhythm.
"Hey, that's discrimination. You're so going to get it; come on!" I got up, my chair squeaking as I pushed it away.
He leaned back in his chair with a smug smile and replied, "I'm not going to fight you, Jade. You're a girl."
"So what?" I retorted angrily.
"You're my girl." He answered back.
I growled and sat back down, heat rising to my cheeks.
"Kado? Jade? Is there something you are not telling me?" Link asked suspiciously with a raised eyebrow.
"Where are my manners?" Kado said smugly, "Jade and I cleared everything up last night." Link's eyes widened.
"Link!" I exclaimed with a shocked look.
"What?" he answered back.
"Calm down. We just talked."
"I know that; I was just surprised." He said.
I raised my eyebrow suspiciously then said, "So, where do we head to find the next Triforce piece?"
"It's supposed to be somewhere in the fields." Fields? What did that remind me of?
"Really? It could be that close?"
"I went around talking to people and I heard there is an old man that lives with his grandchildren that live up on a hill close to Romani Ranch."
"What about them?" Kado asked.
"They think that they might be hiding some sort of treasure. I'm assuming it could possibly be the Triforce piece."
"You can't assume that." I jumped in, "What if we barge into a peaceful family's home, wreck everything, and there's no Triforce piece."
"People around town said that the treasure includes a large gold piece that could be worth billions, and they have never considered selling it; they must know the value."
"Apparently." I mumbled.
"So what are we going to do?" Kado asked as the waiter came and picked up the empty plates, and dropped the check on the table.
"I'm not sure." Link answered as he reached for his wallet.
"Hey, I can pay this time." I said to Link.
"No, it's alright."
"Link, remember when I said I would pay you back for that shooting game?"
"Didn't you pay me already?"
I stopped to think for a moment, "No..." I lied; well, either way I would have lied since I couldn't even remember if I ever paid him back or not, "Anyway, it's not that big of a deal." He resided and put his wallet away while I set the money on the table.
"Alright then..." Kado said, a bit bewildered, "I guess we should get going then?"
XxxxXxxxX
It was only an hour later that we finally began our travel to the house on the hill after Kado finally convinced his guards to go back to Meyenn without him. Though, when he met with us by the South Gate I knew he was hiding something. I tried to ask him what the matter was, but he wouldn't tell me. He was aware of my constant glances as he we headed towards the house, but he would do nothing but stare ahead. Something was terribly wrong, and at that moment I also remembered my year-long debt to Pierre that I had completely run away from. I just seriously hoped that he thought I was still in shock, and wouldn't care, so that I could get away for a while. How wrong I was...
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Hiya! Hope everyone enjoyed this extra long chapter I whipped up, so don't forget to review! And Thank YOU all for reviewing!