Guys! Guys! I'm doing some serious work on this story! And am only a little bit excited... SO EXCITED! Ha.
Okay, here's chapter seven for all you lovely folk who have stuck with me.
Thank you for your forgiveness because life can sometimes just be downright, and unnaturally, busy.
Cheers.
I slowly return to consciousness. Everything is swirling, nothing is solidified. I hear muffled sounds. I see so many colors, and none of them stay in the same place. My hearing is becoming a bit better and I hear voices in the background.
It sounded like the physician and the headmaster. I noticed someone was holding my hand. It wasn't Link's, though. It felt smaller. If I had to make a guess, I'd say Karane decided to pay me a visit. But that is the least of my concerns right now.
I remember how I became unconscious.
Ghirahim.
I try to focus on the discussion that was being held between the physician and the headmaster. They were talking in hushed tones, though. It was difficult to make out. I did hear occasional words, though. Like "strong", "magic", "dangerous," and "Link" repeatedly. I open my eyes to see an extraordinarily dull ceiling, lights trailing the sides of the room and a curtain surrounding my bed. I look to my side and Karane is there, looking over at the headmaster and the physician behind the curtain. I squeeze her hand and she jumps, startled.
"Hey," I croak. My throat was dry. She helps me to sit up and hands me a glass of water.
"Hey, yourself. How are you doing?" She sits back down in her chair and folds her hands in her lap.
"Surprisingly, not dead, so I can't really complain." I shrug. She laughs. The headmaster and physician stop their conversation.
"What?" I look at her expectantly.
"Aren't you being a little cavalier about this? You were attacked! By a crazy guy who wants to kill you, none the less."
"I've had worse," I mumble.
"Oh, really? When have you had worse than this?"
"When he actually succeeded in manipulating me in the past." Wow. I must be really fun at parties. She drops off, her face suddenly full of shock and concern. I simply shrug again. Nothing doing for moping about the past. I need to focus on how to defeat Ghirahim.
The curtain pulls back to reveal the headmaster and physician. Along with Fledge, Pipit, and Link right behind them.
I need to get more girlfriends I thought.
"Zelda," the headmaster begins. I raise my hand, to say that I'm fine. He smiles. "You are a tough young woman. Ghirahim somehow made it past the enchantments we had placed around the school intentionally to protect you. We have placed the wards back up, but can do no more. That being said, we—being Mr. Greene here and myself—believe that Ghirahim has a spy who is able to watch our every move. Someone on the inside. We don't know who this person is yet, and we won't come out with the news publically until we have physical proof of the matter."
I nod. That makes sense. And it won't scare the rest of the student body.
"Furthermore," he continues, "I will give you special permission to spend your evenings in Miss Karane's room until further notice. I have come to a conclusion that he only attacks when you are alone and out of earshot of another person. So, hypothetically, if this works, then my theory is correct. To further be sure you are never left alone, I have asked Mr. Link to accompany you to all your classes and clubs since he doesn't really have a set schedule. He has agreed, and has asked me if he could train you in combat. I commended him for his insight of the enemy and agreed to let him teach you with private lessons in the evenings. You are to use the sparring hall for these lessons. He is the best pupil here when it comes to combat—learn well.
"Also, you are to still attend all the other physical courses you are originally scheduled for. You may have a reprieve on Friday mornings, though. You will need your rest to regain your energy and strength. Are we clear on the plan?"
"Yes, sir," I say.
"Very good. Now, rest well, and when you are released from this hospital wing, you are to report straight back to duty."
He turns on his heel and walks out of the room. I sigh and lean back into the pillows of my bed. I notice an IV in my hand and my stomach churns. I put the back of my other hand to my forehead. I have a fever. I can tell because I'm freezing where the blanket doesn't cover me up, and sweating where it does. I am also shaking a bit making it difficult to move my aching joints to a more comfortable position.
Everyone grabs chairs and sits around my bed. I know they are waiting for me to start explaining, but I don't know if I want to.
I keep my hand over my eyes and start to speak.
I tell them everything. From everything about Ghirahim, to my mother, to my father remarrying, my step sister, the expulsion from my old school, the magic I used to fight Ghirahim, and the situation in the woods. I practically completely detached myself emotionally just to be able to get it out on the table. They were silent even after I finished. Tears start to fall from my face, and I let them fall, onto the sheets crumpled in my hand. I remove my other hand from my face and open my eyes to look at my friends. They all have the same expression on—apologetic.
Great. They pity me.
I drop my head and let it all sink in for them. It was a lot to take in, and I would know. I had to live it out. Karane was the first to speak.
"Why didn't you tell me?" I look at her.
"You know me, Karane," I say with a small smile. "It took me nearly a week to actually say hello back to you. I'm untrusting in the first place, thanks to the circumstances I just explained."
"Yeah, I guess I kind of get you not telling me." She smiles softly back.
"We need to work on your magic for sure, Zel," Link chimes in. "You overdid it. Just look at your arms. We'll work technique first. Then we'll do the actual combative stuff."
I smile. "Thanks, Link."
"I can help with the theoretical aspect, too," Fledge commented. He was such a sweet guy.
"That will help immensely, Fledge, thank you."
We continue talking strategy and simply talking. We are teenagers, after all. We need to grow up, yes, but sometimes we need time to act the age we are. Gradually, one by one, everyone stood to head to bed. The last one to leave was Pipit, to my surprise.
"What's up, Pip?"
"So, you know Karane really well, right?" He began blushing. I smile.
"Well enough. What do you need to know?"
"What does she like to do? I haven't seen her in so long that I want to make up for lost time, but I don't remember or know what she likes."
"You like her, don't you?" I ask.
No response. I smile wider.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," I say softly, "But I know for a fact that she loves her loftwing, a good picnic, and a certain island I can show you on a map if you have one at your disposal."
"I'll be right back," he says a little too quickly, bolting out of the hospital wing. I give a light laugh. Then the curtain around my bed slowly pulls back.
"I really didn't think you'd leave first." I say with a small smile.
"Sometimes," Link responds, pulling the curtain back in place, "I surprise even myself." He walks over to my bed and sits down on the edge, placing his hand on top of my IV-free hand.
"How are you doing? Are you truly okay?" His eyes are filled with concern as he gives me a once over. Checking to make sure no injuries were missed, maybe?
Yeah, probably.
"Yes, Link, I'm fine, really." I was sick of answering that question. "Just need some rest and to let my arms heal a bit more and I'll be right as rain."
"Good," he runs his hand up my arm to rest under my chin. The simple touch gives me goose bumps. He turns my head to face him. "Because we have got a lot of training to do. You were lucky, Zel. Your natural gut-instinct in battle got you out of a pretty serious situation there. That is something you're born with and that I cannot train you in. Lucky for us. Now," he continues, removing his hand from my chin. It feels cold without his hand there anymore. I scold myself.
Dang it, Zelda, you're in the freaking hospital wing thanks to a psycho attacking you, and all you think about is how cold your chin is now that he's not touching it? What happened to you?
Sometimes I really don't like me.
"Do you want me to heal your minor injuries now? I can do your arms no problem." He takes my left arm in his hands and examines the damage. "One minute. Tops," He says, turning back to me. "If you like," he adds. Like it's an option.
I kiss his cheek. He stills. "Please do. That way, I can get to practicing sooner." He stays still, looking at me.
I think I broke him.
I find it funny, since I know that he is two years older than me to be stunned by a sixteen-year-old girl's peck on the cheek.
"Um, Link?" I ask. "You okay?" I give a nervous laugh. He blinks, grabs my shoulder and leans in pressing our foreheads together. Now it is my turn to be frozen.
What is happening?
His hand glides up to the back of my neck, fingers gripping the base of my hairline and gently tugging. My hand rests on his leg, feeling his strength. I smell his sweet, pine scent. He just moves in to close the distance when we hear a slight cough coming from where the curtain breaks and forms an entrance.
We both back away to see Pipit at the entrance with a map in his hands, smiling.
"You two done yet? I was here first," he grins.
Link turns his head to shoot him a playful glare. "We haven't even started yet, fun sucker."
"Oh, well this is awkward, then, isn't it?" He laughs.
"Whatever," Link brushes it off. He leans in and kisses my forehead. Even that little touch melts me. He pulls my arms to my lap and begins healing them with magic. I feel the energy flowing through me and what feels like only a second has passed by, my arms were healed to perfection. He leans in to my ear.
"To be continued," he whispers. I shiver, but not from cold. He backs away to leave and pulls the curtain back, turning back to send me a smile and exiting the room. I blush, smiling. Reassured that it wasn't just me falling into a one sided relationship. Having something to look forward to in the future, I turn to Pipit and show him where the island that Karane always visits is, and other things about her.
This night has quickly become very interesting.
I am cleared for action after two days of lying in the hospital wing bed. Link came to visit me and give me the notes from the classes that I missed. He knew the receptionist who worked the desk each shift of the day. I haven't figured out if that was just from visiting me or if he has a decent track record of injuries himself.
As I walk to my room, I run into Karane in the hallway. She seems to be in a hurry, though.
"Where are you going, Karane?" I called after her.
"Pipit wanted to meet me somewhere," she calls back. "He said he had a surprise for me!"
"Well, have fun!" I respond. I know exactly what is going on. Pipit really doesn't waste any time if he wants something. I shake my head smiling.
"What?" I hear her yell back. I start laughing.
"Never mind!" I yell, but I don't think she hears me. I turn back to walk up the stairs when I see Fledge midway up.
"Um, hi, Zelda," his voice is so high sometimes I forget. I smile.
"Hi Fledge, what's up?" I make it to where he stands on the stairs.
"Remember that the headmaster said to never be alone?" I smile at that.
"Thank you, Fledge. I'm just going to my room, though."
"No! That won't do!" He almost shrieks. "You'll be alone in there. Let me drop you off at Link's room. He just got back from his sword training."
"No, I wouldn't want to impose," I began, but his hand is already grabbing mine and pulling me along.
"Trust me, you won't be," he says flatly. My eyebrows rise in surprise. I've never been to Link's room. And being alone with him, in his room, after what happened in the hospital wing, is making my stomach do flips like I couldn't believe. I didn't have much time to think it through though because Fledge was already signaling our arrival by knocking on his door. I stand there, touching the toes of my black Converse together. A nervous habit I picked up on by hanging out with Fledge. He tends to have a lot of those.
The door opens to reveal Link with a wet head, and sweats on. His eyebrows rise in surprise but opens the door for us anyway. Fledge pushes me past the threshold and backs away.
"I'm just dropping her off according to the headmaster's orders. She was going to her room without anyone noticing." His face flushes pink and he pokes his pointer fingers together, rocking on his feet.
As previously stated, Fledge had many nervous habits.
"Thanks, Fledge, I owe you one."
"No, no," he raises his hands and shakes them in front of himself. "It's fine. I'm just glad to have been where I was to notice it. Zelda," he adds, more serious, "please don't be by yourself." He looks me in the eye. I smile.
"I promise, Fledge. I won't be by myself."
"Good. Now I've got to go. I have class in five minutes. See you guys later!" He turns on his heel and walks to the next door over. Apparently, Fledge lived right next door to Link.
Link closes the door and turns to me, his figure sagging with fatigue.
"You know, Zel, you just made a promise to Fledge. You're going to keep that with you and take it to the grave. You know that, right?"
"Yeah," I sigh, "what can you do, though?"
"You can keep the promise. Now tell me," he adds, more serious, "why were you alone?"
Oh my gosh.
"Link! I had to use the bathroom. Not something I particularly want to do with company around. I just went quick and was on my way back when Fledge the Super Hero came into the picture. It wasn't even five minutes!"
"And it took less than five minutes for Ghirahim to magically unlock your window, break into your top story bedroom, and drain you of your magic powers simply fighting him with all your effort. You are not ever going to be alone again until this gets sorted."
"Fine."
"Fine."
We stood there in silence for a while. After what seemed like forever, Link sighed and opened his arms.
"Come here."
I didn't hesitate.
His arms wrap around me in a tight embrace. I bring my arms to rest behind his neck and shoulders, gripping his shirt. He adjusts his head into the crook of my neck and plants a kiss there.
This was not uncomfortable, oddly enough. I found it endearing. Enticing. Thrilling.
Perfect.
I move my hand to run it through his hair. He brings his head up, trailing kisses along my neck and chin until he reaches my forehead. I couldn't stand it anymore. I pull back to look at him. His handsome face. His stunning green-brown eyes. Seeing his feelings for me plain as day.
I grip the front of his shirt and pull him down to me. He grabs my face and tilts his head slightly to the side and brings our lips together.
Goddesses, he is a fantastic kisser. Not that I have much experience in the area, but I don't care.
His lips move in perfect sync with mine. He pulls me even closer if that was possible. His hands find my hips and lock me into place via the belt loops of my jeans.
Yeah, like I wanted to go anywhere.
We break for a bit and take in each other. We then bust out into laughter, neither of us really believing what was happening. It was Link to break the laughter.
"I'm glad you enrolled here, Zelda," he kisses me lightly on the lips again. I smile.
"Me, too."