Sorry for the delay! This chapter has been a nightmare to get right.

SmokeyMirrors, note for you at the end.

Red Sky at Night - Chapter 5

Xxxx

"Link, slow down!" Medilia called out as her son darted by in hot pursuit of two Zora children, all of them laughing. She smiled. Despite her worry, it was so good to see him playing with others, something she had often dreamed of. The Zora children didn't seem at all bothered by his lack of language, certainly not once they realised he could still understand them. They had no trouble working with his head shakes, nods and pointing.

"He looks happy." Mipha came to stand next to where Medilia was watching the children darting around. They were slightly above the children on the upper level, where they were afforded a clear view of the game going on below.

Medilia nodded, resting her arms on the railings. "It's the first time he's been able to play with other children. Back home we were... isolated." She wanted to say more, to explain, but she had no idea how Zora viewed these things and was terrified of a change in their attitude. Even though she couldn't see Mipha acting so cruelly, she had not believed it of some of the villagers either and it had come as a shock when they turned their backs on her.

"I see." The princess wondered why, but was too polite to ask. "Well, you are welcome to stay here as long as you wish... we don't have many Hylians in the Domain, but we certainly do not mind."

"Oh... you are so kind. But I fear we are already taking advantage of your hospitality. We offer nothing in return." That bothered her more than she cared to admit.

"I disagree," Mipha smiled again. "It's valuable for the Zora children to meet others outside their race. Already they are learning that for all the differences, much is the same."

"Yes, I suppose so..." Medilia nodded, but she was unconvinced. Their presence alone wasn't enough for all they got in return. She felt that all she did was ask for more, and it tugged at her conscience.

With that in mind, she hesitated before asking the question that had been on her mind for days. "I was wondering...The healers... they examined him several times, but I've yet to hear if there is anything that can be done." They'd spent a long time with Link, looking down his throat with rods made of luminous rock, scribbling notes on pads of paper and muttering to each other.

"Actually... I came from there just now." Mipha's voice was gentle as she placed her hand on Medilia's and sighed softly. "I'm so sorry. They say there is nothing they can do, the damage is too old. Perhaps if we'd seen him when he was younger... but even then it may not have been possible. My magic will not work either, as it is so long healed. I wish I had better news." She looked sympathetically at the Hylian woman whose hopes she'd just crushed.

Medilia leaned more heavily on the railing. "I'd feared as much," she admitted. "But I'd hoped..." she closed her eyes, forcing the tears back. "I feel so bad for him. I'm sure there's so much he wants to say, so much he wants to tell me. I suppose I should... work on his writing..." It was hardly a substitute though and she knew it.

Mipha looked back down to where the children's game seemed to be ending and made a decision. "Come, there's something I'd like to show the both of you." She headed towards the stairs, looking back to see if Medilia was following.

Confused at the sudden shift and still absorbing the news, Medilia hesitated. She felt the need to be alone, to take it all in and work out what it meant for them.

Seeing her reaction, Mipha came back over. "Trust me... please. It's worth it."

"Of course, my apologies," Medilia smiled weakly. The princess was not unsympathetic, she must have a good reason for asking now.

Assured that Medilia was now with her, Mipha headed down the stairs. "Link," She called out. "Would you come here?"

Link looked up, smiling when he saw Mipha and his mother. He had quickly grown to like Mipha, the princess's warm and approachable nature making her one of his favourite people. He waved goodbye to his new friends and raced over.

Offering the boy her hand, Mipha spoke to him. "The warriors are practicing on the lower grounds, would you like to watch? I've heard you want to be a Knight when you are grown."

He nodded eagerly, taking the princess's hand as she led the way, down two long spiral staircases and across a bridge to where the army trained.

They heard them before they saw them, the clang of swords and spears ringing in the air. "This is a combat exercise," Mipha explained, "where all the warriors must work carefully and quietly to defeat their enemy. Shall we watch?"

Another nod and Mipha found the three of them a place to sit as the exercise proceeded. The captain acknowledged them, but said nothing.

The warriors were divided into two groups, each pitted against the other. They were equally armed and there was a stretch of water and a number of obstacles between them. As they watched, the warriors on both sides started to move, working their way around the obstacles, or sometimes making use of them to shield themselves from their 'enemy' as the practice battle intensified. Although amongst friends, each warrior took the exercise seriously.

There was noise, the weapons clashing and the occasional battle cry, but largely, not a word was spoken. Rather, the warriors used a multitude of hand gestures to communicate their actions, gestures that remained the same both in and out of the water, sharp and clear.

Mipha turned her gaze from the warriors to Link. The young boy was watching intently, his head tilted like a little bird as he took it all in. His eyes darted from one warrior to another, every movement followed and analysed. It wasn't long before he began to focus on their hands and the ever changing motions of them.

"You see that, don't you?" She said quietly. "Our warriors don't need to speak when they battle. There is a gesture for almost every word... it's quiet and efficient." His eyes went wide and she patted his hand before continuing. "It used to be a very simple thing, just basic words, but we've been using it for so long now that it's grown into a proper language. You can have whole conversations with your hands." She bent down, meeting Link's eyes. "Do you think that's something you'd like to learn?"

Link didn't so much nod his head as his whole body, so great was his excitement. He bounced enthusiastically before throwing himself into her arms with a grin.

Laughing, Mipha hugged him tightly. "Maybe your mother would like to learn too, so you can talk to her." She turned to smile at Medilia. This had been on Mipha's mind ever since she had first heard that the boy could not speak.

"That would be a gift beyond compare," Medilia replied, her voice thick with emotion. To be able to understand him, to know what he was thinking or feeling, was her greatest wish. "I will do whatever it takes."

Mipha smiled, seeing the joy brought by her suggestion. "Of that I have absolutely no doubt."

X

Link learned quickly, his desire to communicate motivating him to learn everything he could as fast as he could. From the moment he'd signed his first 'hello' he'd been absorbing the words like a sponge, dragging Rivan or Mipha around, pointing at everything he didn't yet know the signs for.

At that very moment he was cross legged on the floor, practicing signs under the watchful eye of Rivan. Dunma was there too, eager to understand her new friend.

"Now, bring your hand down like this... then round... good!" Rivan smiled approvingly. "Now put that together with the other words."

Link's face was screwed up in concentration as he slowly raised his hands, focusing on the movements, trying to be as accurate as possible. {What... is... lunch?} he signed carefully, a look of uncertainty on his face.

"Very good!" Rivan's face split into a broad smile. "But I am not the one making lunch." He turned to where Medilia stood watching. "Why don't you ask again?"

Link nodded and turned to his mother, repeating the motions.

Rivan had been working with Medilia most nights after Link was asleep, trying to keep her slightly ahead of her son, so that she would not be confused when he started to sign to her. This was the moment that had led to.

She'd already experienced the rush of emotion from Link's first sign, a simple 'hello' and then 'mother.' Yet this was the first time he'd actually put a sentence together and asked her something.

{What is lunch?} he asked again, his movements a little more confident this time.

She took a long breath, trying to compose herself. The sentence wasn't perfect, but she didn't care. It was to her.

Cold meats and bread," she replied, signing as she spoke, demonstrating her own progress. "And apple juice and berries." She was sure her hands were shaking though she tried to hide it.

There was a pause as Link considered his response. He frowned, trying to remember the sign he wanted before bringing his hands up again. {Cake? Please?}

Medilia didn't know how she was holding herself together. "Of course you can have cake." She could hardly believe that they were finally communicating, something that had seemed impossible just months ago. She'd have given him anything he wanted in that moment, just because he'd asked.

Xxx

SmokeyMirrors, As you can see now I don't intend to fix Link's voice. However his communication issues are all part of the bigger plan! I hope that won't stop you from enjoying the story. :)