AN: Hey guys! Here's a semi-long chapter for you all. Give yourselves a pat on the back for being patient with me as my busy schedule just gets busier. Also, if you are wondering if Vertigo is a real thing. It is. I had it for a solid week in High School. It's basically the worst.
Anyway, here is chapter 3 for you all. Enjoy!
And please feel free to review. I like those. They motivate me to write as best as I can. And they help me to know what you guys like. :)
When I come to, I feel light headed and can't seem to shake the after effects of my Vertigo attack. My head pounds as I slowly open my eyes to check my surroundings. I lay in my bed, covered up to my neck in warm blankets and a glass of water sits on my end table. I look over to my window and see that it is still night time, but the full moon's light shines brightly into my dark room. There are still spots in my vision as I sit up and swing my legs over the side of my bed. Clutching my mattress, I try to regain my bearings, but the room starts to spin regardless. I swear I can hear voices in the hallway just outside my door, but refrain from leaving the safety of my bed. I lean back and fall onto my mattress, bringing my hands up to massage behind my head.
I can't tell what time it actually is, but if I had to make a guess I would say it is the middle of the night. But right now, I wouldn't even trust my own judgment. I can't even sit up for more than five minutes. I prop my pillows up and elevate my head slightly, since that helps with getting out of bed the morning after an attack.
I place a hand on my forehead once I lean into my pillow pile. This isn't good. The last time I had an attack this severe I was out of commission for a fortnight. The constant spinning almost drove me mad; and ever since then I've only been having attacks when I'm overtired or overworked. I guess, one could say that Military School does tend to overwork people. Maybe that's what caused it. And I thought I was finally over it.
With my new realization, I close my eyes to fall into the deep spinning darkness when I hear my door creak open. I couldn't hold on to reality for much longer, but had to know who entered my room. They walk very quietly, whoever they were. I turn my head to face them and open my eyes. I see before me the school physician, holding a pill and small glass of water for me to take.
"Zelda," he says kindly, "you need to take this pill. This will break up the crystals in your inner ears and make you feel better. You could still be ill for a week, though. So I recommend as your doctor to take it easy and not attend your classes. I have already sent messages to your professors and they will receive them in the morning." He hands me the water and the pill. "I will come in and give you your medicine every day for a week. You are on bed rest until further notice. If you need anything, just let me know. I will send someone to check up on you each hour during the daytime. Is there anything else you need right now, Miss Harkinian?"
"I think that sleep is at the top of that list right now, sir. I'll let you know if that changes. Thank you." I lean back into my mountain of pillows. He pulls the blankets up over me and smiles.
"Very well, then. Sleep well. I'll send someone in the morning to check on you."
He turns to leave and pauses. Turning back to me, he looks at me with a pondering expression.
"You wouldn't happen to be related to Helena, would you?"
That made me freeze. I haven't heard the name of my mother in years. My real mother. I nod, wide eyed.
"Yes," I respond slowly. "She was my mother."
"Was?" He sounded crestfallen.
"Yes, she died eight years ago from an illness. No doctors could heal it. They said it was an enchanted illness. Why do you ask?"
The doctor let the news sink in. Did my mother know this man? He seems to have a history with her, hearing the tone of voice he used when he asked. With many emotions swimming behind his eyes, he smiles softly.
"She was one of my greatest friends growing up here. Did you know she attended school here in Skyloft?"
No I didn't. I didn't know much about my mom's history. Just that she was from out of town and married my dad to get away from a haunting past—her abusive alcoholic father. I shake my head and instantly regret it. The room spins more violently than it had before.
"She was on most of the sports teams and did many after school academic programs, including the magic group you're a part of. She actually instructed that one, and that was where we met. She was a wonderful woman, standing up for what she believed in. Strong, confident, independent, beautiful." He sighs, then looks at me. "You remind me of her. You have bits of your mother in you. I have a feeling that you will go far with the training you will receive from this school. I will help in any way I can. If you're anything like your mother, you probably have just as many health issues as she did. Any migraines? Long lasting injuries that I should know of?"
"None that I can think of right now, sir." Flabbergasted that he knew so much about my mother, and me so little, I want to continue the conversation, but am forced to hold onto my questions due to my slipping consciousness. I stifle a yawn and he takes that as his cue to leave.
"Sleep well, Zelda. I will do everything I can to make you feel as fit as a fiddle."
"Thank you," is all I say before my world is fully taken over by darkness.
Looking around, I try to figure out where I am. I don't know exactly which cavern, but none the less I stand at the edge of one with a massive dome ceiling. In the center of the ceiling, moonlight shines in casting an ominous glow into the shadows.
"Zelda," I hear someone say. It sounds like my sister, Ilia. I look around to see where the voice is coming from. What I find terrifies me.
Ilia is tied up, shoulder to foot, in ropes and chains, suspended over a chasm of water that looks deeper than even the great Lake Hylia. I internally scream for her. She hates deep waters.
"No!" I yell to whoever is listening. "You can't do this! Show yourself!"
No one responded.
I run toward her and try to figure out a way to get her out of her bonds. She is suspended about ten feet above the water, the pool is about fifteen feet wide In diameter, I won't be able to simply grab her ropes and pull her to safety, and bonus, I have no tools or weapons to use if I am to retrieve her.
Normally, I can tell when I am dreaming. But this, this danger, feels all too real. I try to reach for her, failing, and try to formulate a plan. I try to summon magic, but can't seeing how this is a dream.
No, I thought, this isn't just a dream. It is a premonition.
And I know exactly how to save Ilia.I don't know why, it just feels right.
"No! Stop!" I yell with as much force I can muster. "Use me, instead. Please, let her go—"
I am now strapped in the rope and chains and Ilia is on the ground, knocked unconscious. I struggle against them, trying to find a way to break through, but find what I know to be the truth. It is impossible. The bonds are enchanted.
Suddenly, the bonds start moving, dropping toward the surface of the chasm. I fight with more ferocity to try and escape my bonds, but to no avail. My feet are just dipping into the water when Ilia regains consciousness and looks upon me in fear. She scrambles to her feet, but is caught in a dark male figure's grip, restraining her. One of his hands covers her mouth before she screams and she continues to struggle. I am submerged up to my chest already and have lost cause to hope. But out of the corner of my eye, a blinding gold light shines from seemingly out of nowhere. I turn to gaze at the light but only see the outline of a male figure, holding a sword and shield, and walking toward the dark figure, who was cowering in fear.
I want to continue watching, to see if this man will save my sister, but the bonds have succeeded with pulling me under the surface. I take as big of a breath as I can muster before the water fully surrounds me. I look up and still see the light through the water. The light and dark clash with each other, as if the northern lights were dancing across the sky. Light fighting with dark. As I run out of air, a final burst of light shines through the cavern and remains. I heave an inward sigh of relief, knowing the immediate threat was over. I hear a muffled splashing sound above me as my world slowly succumbs to darkness. The figure swimming toward me is the man who was shrouded in light. And what he does next is physically impossible, but he calls my name.
"Zelda," he says, over and over. He finally makes it to me and wraps his arms around my waist, holding me close. He utters a few words and my bonds break loose, dissolving into the water. He continues to say my name.
"Zelda, Zelda…"
He pulls me from the darkness back into light. The pain in my chest gradually lifts the closer we got to the surface. He turns his face to me and I can't make it out, but I can tell he's handsome. He starts to say something, but I can't hear him. Slowly, light explodes around us, white and blinding, until everything around us is white. Then he slowly disappears and I am left alone in the light. I then feel a lifting sensation as if I am flying.
"Zelda," I hear someone say. I groan and open my eyes. The room still spins, my head still pounds, and my body is now aching all over, but I am no longer in that chasm of water. That's all I care about. I turn my head to see who my visitor is and find Link standing next to my bed with a glass of water and another pill ready for me. I sigh as I place a hand on my forehead. I guess I'll try to figure out the dream later.
"What time is it?" I mumble as I sit up, pushing my hair out of my face. He sets the cup and pill on my end table and helps me sit, his hand on my upper back and arm.
"It's around mid-morning," he says with a soft smile.
He then sits behind me to give me a backrest. I lean into his shoulder, thankfully. He grabs the cup and pill from the table and hands it to me. I take it and gulp the water down.
"Man, Zel, this Vertigo thing really knocks you out, doesn't it?" He takes the cup and sets it back on the table.
"You have no idea," I admit, closing my eyes. Even with the darkness my eyelids provide, they do nothing to help with the sense of floating in the middle of the sea with no whisper of land in sight. I sigh. I must have been leaning too far to the side because the next thing I know is I have Link's arms around me as I hang over the edge of my bed. He helps me back up as he laughs.
"Zel, you're lucky I'm not like the other guys who go to school here. I could have my dastardly ways with you and be on my merry way and you wouldn't even be able to do anything about it until you're healthy again."
"Thanks for that lovely image you just planted in my head," I respond as he sits me up on my bed against my wall, not before placing a couple pillows there for comfort. But he does have a point, and all I can picture is a red pompadour swimming in my imagination. I shiver and Link, mistaking it for me being cold, wraps a blanket around me.
Yeah, like he and all of his gentlemanly actions would take advantage of me. Not.
I learned recently that he practically grew up in the academy. So he has had good manners instilled in him since he was young. He is also very well toned thanks to his daily workouts since he was ten. If I had to make a guess, there is probably not a single place on his six foot four body that has even an ounce of body fat. Not that I was paying attention to my extremely good-looking friend. No, not at all.
I blush. Why am I thinking about these things? Maybe the fact that he sits right next to me on my bed taking care of me? Maybe.
"Don't you have classes to go to today?"
"Nah, since I've been here for so long they have decided to give me a little academic break to take care of you."
"And since you're basically a super-senior," I say, resting my head against the wall behind me, "they believe you to be well educated enough for their tastes. You're also kind of amazing at everything you do, so." I drop off. "Link," I change subject, "what are you going to do when you get out of here? You can't stay here forever."
He looks off into the distance. He has one knee propped up and an arm resting on it, a pillow behind him and his blonde shaggy hair poked out from underneath the hood of his sweatshirt. The perfect picture of ease. Apparently he wasn't so easy going before I got here. He claims that he had no friends. That he was too focused on his studies and practicing his skills that he had no time for a social life. He says it was his choice, that he didn't want friends. He was dealing with a pretty big loss at the time.
Officially he had come here when he was eight. Taken in when his parents were involved in a terrible accident.
They were going for a ride on their Loftwings. When they were ready to return, they got on their Loftwings and headed back to the island—that's when the tornado came literally out of nowhere and cut them straight out of the sky. They fell straight from the sky, along with their Loftwings, and plummeted through the cloud barrier. No one knows if they survived or what happened to them, but all Link knew was that his parents weren't coming home and that he was an orphan. At eight years old. I can't even imagine. The most of my worries when I was eight was if my new sister was going to like me or not.
I turn to look at him again and he has a serene smile on his face. With his past, I can't figure out how he ended up being so happy about everything. He is happy about the smallest things; it's inspiring to watch if you know his background.
"I'll probably open a bakery. Or a blacksmith shop. Maybe even write a book."
I shove his shoulder, not without losing balance. I hate how vulnerable Vertigo makes me feel. And I have another week of this. Fantastic.
He laughs and catches my inner elbow to hold me upright and pulls me back.
"You're right, none of those things are 'me'. I honestly have no clue, Zel. This is my last year here and I can't stay—at least not in the student housing." He dropped off, pondering. "Then again, they are a bit short staffed here. Maybe I can become a staff member and be the full time magic professor?"
"That could work. That way you can still teach me everything you know since I'll most likely be here until I graduate, anyways."
"Plus," he added, "you technically could be a year round student, if you want. Like I am. It's not as bad as people think. In the summer, there's hardly any homework and you get to explore Skyloft a lot more. Also," he added, "you'd be able to meet my partner in crime. My Loftwing."
"The crimson one everyone talks about? Really?" I don't hold back my excitement. He laughs.
"Yeah, really, and maybe I'll even take you for a spin," he winks. I roll my eyes. "That's only if he likes you. He's pretty picky with who he lets ride him."
"Well, I guess I'll hope for the best." I rest my head against the wall again and close my eyes. After a while, I hear Link's breathing become heavy and even. I didn't even notice that I was falling asleep until my head hit something hard—his shoulder. Before I could move, he leans to me and rests his head on top of mine. I have too little energy to fight it, so I savor the moment.
I didn't have any bad dreams. Just a sound, deep sleep. Link's calm essence rubbed off of him and on to me.
And I have to admit, I'm not complaining in the least.