AN: I'll keep it short due to lack of posting. I'm finally getting back into the groove of this story and remembered the plot that I had saved on that poor, unfortunate, corrupt flash drive. Now that I have a new one, I can continue on!
A thousand apologies for the delay in posting. I hate cliffhangers as much as the next person. They're just so
[LINK]
Emerging from my deep sleep and sucking in a large breath, I roll over to the source of what is shaking my shoulder. I open one eye reluctantly to see Zelda chuckle a bit.
"As much as I love seeing how entertained you are by my exhaustion, I would appreciate being woken up in a more pleasing manner—" She presses her lips against mine. I bring my hand up to run through her silky hair. I break the kiss reluctantly.
"Now that's better," I joke, sitting up. "Now, why did you wake me in the middle of the night? You of all people know how much I love my sleep." She trails a hand up my back to squeeze my neck gently. Feeling the tense knots there, she grimaces, and then begins massaging my shoulders. I close my eyes, moaning in relief. She continues for a bit before she calls my attention back.
"Believe it or not, this isn't the reason I did. As to the real reason why I woke you up," she trails off, pointing toward the door. I feel Zelda press against my back, her breath cascading down my ear onto my neck.
"I'm hungry and don't know my way to the kitchen, so you're the lucky winner." Kissing my neck before sliding off the bed, she then grabs a thick robe to don over her nightgown. Nights in Kakariko are brisk, regardless of the season. She turns back to the bed, arms folded, and hip jutting to the side. I sigh and run my hands through my hair.
"I never signed up for this," I say mockingly, falling back onto the bed and closing my eyes. A moment later, I feel her sit on the bed next to me, placing a hand on my chest and splaying her fingers. Goddesses, why does she have such control over me?
"Of course you did," she whispers as she skirts her hands up my torso to rest against my cheek. "The moment you told me you loved me for the first time is when you handed your surrender over to me." I playfully glare at her. She smirks back. "Now," she stands, holding out her hand to me. "Are you coming? Or are you going to let me starve?"
I puff a sigh, knowing full well that I am going with her, and move to sit up when Zelda suddenly clutches her head and leans heavily against the wall.
I whip up to stand immediately and grab her arm to support her. She forcefully blinks a few times, shaking her head, as her hand presses below the bone under her brow.
"Zelda?" I ask uncertainly, placing my hand against the wall underneath her arm to give her falling body some support. As she leans farther sideways, I pick her up to lay her on the bed.
"I'll go get you food, you're staying here," I say as I tuck her back underneath the blankets. As I bring the blankets up to her chin, I feel something aggressively grasp the front of my tunic. I look down to see Zelda's hand in a death grip around my shirt collar. I bring my gaze back to Zelda and immediately regret doing so.
Her eyes are glossed over and severely dilated—almost fully encompassing the steady blue in a jet black. Beads of sweat begin trailing down her forehead and into her hair below her. I move my hand to hers and feel her icy fingers against mine. When she speaks, my stomach drops.
"Hello again."
Her voice is dual-toned, but I know the second voice immediately.
"Ghirahim," I breathe, unsure of what to do.
"Well spotted," he comments loftily. "I have taken over Zelda's body to ensure that my precious cargo will not be lost again in transportation. Poor Ilia has paid some severe consequences over the last mishap."
I didn't feel my hands clenching until I felt my nails digging deep into my skin. My left hand starts to feel numb.
I say nothing, but as I continue to glare there is a gold flash in my peripheral vision. Zelda—Ghirahim—begins to jerk violently against the bed as the gold light works to cast him out. I turn over my shoulder to see where the light is coming from and see Impa standing in the doorway, arms outstretched and completely focused. Renado stands behind her.
I turn back to Zelda, placing my hand on her cheek and feeling her body temperature slowly rise. Her eyes gradually return to normal. I slowly run my thumb against her cheek, telling her wordlessly that I am here.
"Renado, there isn't much time," I hear Impa grunt behind me. I turn my attention to her again and see Renado walking around Impa to me, grabbing my arm to forcefully lift me up. He surprises me with his strength. Maybe I'm weak from the shock. I don't know. Renado leads me to the cabinet to start opening drawers.
"Do you have a bag, Link?" Before he finishes his sentence I make it across the room to grab the item in question, but not without catching a glance of a weak Zelda. I grimace.
"Link! Hurry!"
I run to the other side of the room as I hear the door open behind Impa.
"What's going o—?" Tetra gasps in surprise, Gonzo behind her.
"Keep packing, Link—survival necessities. I'll take care of them." I continue to scramble, shoving everything I can in the bag, just as Impa finishes the spell and the room goes dark. Not even the light of the moon makes its way through the blinds. The sudden darkness sends shivers down my spine.
"Link, take Zelda and run," Impa says, supporting Zelda to help her sit up. "Go to Laky Hylia. You know the location of where I speak."
I nod. It's something we discussed over the time that Zelda was gone. A safe house of sorts.
"And your connection with Kai has been improving Link. Call him," I do it as she says it, feeling Kai's response as he makes his way to us.
Zelda gasps a quick breath of air and I am immediately by her side, stroking my thumb against her cheek.
"She'll be fine, Link. Just fatigued."
"More than she already was from captivity?" I turn to Impa.
"Yes, but she'll definitely make a full recovery by the time we need her to. I ensured that every bit of Ghirahim's spell left her body before I cut the spell." I nod.
"Impa, will this happen again?" I sound defeated. She hesitates, then smiles sadly.
"There is a chance it could," she admits, placing a hand on my shoulder. "However, that spell I used on her will keep her protected so long as she stays out of Ghirahim's sight. The safe house at Lake Hylia will do the trick for that. The entrance is sealed with layers of magic."
Suddenly, there is a flapping sound of something large outside. I smile softly, recognizing the flap of Kai's wings.
"That's your ride," Impa smiles. This is one of the rare occasions that this actually happens. I pick Zelda up off the bed and carry her downstairs. Fledge meets us halfway down the steps.
"Link, I'm coming with you," he says defiantly.
"I'm sorry, you can't," walking around him. He follows closely. "Triforce wielders and Sages only. Impa can explain. Believe me, I wish I could bring you with. We could definitely use you." I walk over the threshold and out into the now cleared streets of Kakariko. Not even a breeze stirs the still night. I thank the goddesses for no sandstorm as I command Kai down a bit so I can safely place Zelda atop his harness. I sit right behind her, arm wrapping around her waist, and look back to fledge.
"They need you here, Fledge," I start. "They'll need your help taking down Ghirahim from the outside. Zelda and I will break through from the inside." He nods in agreement, albeit unwillingly.
"See you in two weeks, buddy." I snap Kai's reigns and we lift off from the ground heading to Lake Hylia—to safety.
The air is cold as we fly at top speed towards Lake Hylia. I made sure to fly as high as we could to get maximum cloud coverage. The sun just barely peaks out from the horizon of clouds as Zelda shivers against me. I turn my attention to her as she opens her eyes slowly.
"Link," she starts, I wrap my arms around her tightly.
"How are you feeling?" I wrap my spare cloak around her tighter as she coughs into her arm.
"I've been better," she mumbles. I shake my head.
"You were just put under a spell and you say something as simple as that." I pull Kai's reigns to fly directly into a cloud. Zelda shivers again.
"Must we fly through the clouds? It's cold," she wraps the cloak tighter around her and I look at her in sympathy.
"Just a little farther and we'll be sitting by a nice, warm fire," I look down to see the sun just barely rising above the cloud cover below—and over the horizon of Lake Hylia.
"See? Right over there," I point. Zelda's eyes follow my finger to the area below. A glistening deep blue spreads over the ground below us reflecting the deep and light gold from the sunrise. A waterfall at the base of large rocks churns the water into a bright white mist, with a rainbow now prominent at the base and growing stronger as the sun rises. I see the Great Bridge of Hylia stretching in arches over the vast width of the lake and into the opposing cliff face. My eyes trail down the cliff to seek out the opening in the rock that Impa told me about. Not a minute later I have found our destination.
"There," I point to the base of the bridge, "where that rock face is open. That's where we are going."
"Isn't that a little obvious?" Zelda's eyebrow quirks upward in suspicion; I laugh.
"That's what I said, too. Apparently it's guarded by magic, so only the wielders of the Triforce, descendants and servants of the goddesses, or the ancient Sages can see the opening. As of now, it is an advantageous hideout for us since we're the only ones who can see it."
I hear Zelda breathe a 'huh' as I steer Kai downward toward the opening.
"Can Kai see the opening, too, then?"
"No," Link admits, "but he is connected to me. He trusts me to not lead him directly into a cliff face. Give me at least a little credit here." She punches my shoulder—rather nudges it, due to a lack of strength.
"That was pathetic," I laugh. "We need to get you better, and soon," I add seriously. She simply looks at me, nodding.
The bright sun is cast into shadows as we close the distance between us and the entrance of the little cave opening. I give Kai a reassuring rub on his head as he glides smoothly into the opening. The cave is relatively dark considering the light outside, but Kai manages to find a flat patch of ground to land on. I lift Zelda into my arms and slide off Kai, setting her down to stand. She wraps an arm around Kai for support as I walk a few steps away, holding out my hand. I concentrate, imagining warmth pooling into it as I suddenly generate a spark, then a ball of fire in my hand.
"You've been practicing your magic, haven't you?" Zelda says weakly.
"A bit," I scratch behind my head with my free hand, turning around to see her still mostly limp body leaning against Kai. I find a stick and light it, extinguishing Din's Fire in my hand.
"Are you okay?" I place my hand on her cheek. She lifts hers to press gingerly against mine.
"Not really," she admits, "I still need to eat. Plus," she whispers "I feel like slime. Ghirahim's spell really took it out of me," she presses her hand to her forehead and takes a deep breath. I nod, placing the torch in a crack in the ground and begin searching for the bag Renado packed. I release it from Kai's harness and begin digging for food. I find a loaf of bread and break a bit off for her.
"Here," I say as I place it in her hands. "That takes care of one problem for now." She smiles softly before sinking her teeth into the bread.
"It's good," she says quietly, taking another large bite.
"Impa made it," I say, moving to take off the other bags and equipment from Kai's harness. Zelda doesn't speak any more as she eats her bread and watches me unpack our gear in the dim light of the torch. I don't know when I realize it, but I have this feeling that something powerful rests here. It gives me the energy to continue my task of unpacking. I look over my shoulder to check on Zelda and see her leaning heavily against Kai, eyes shut, and bread three-quarters eaten in her hand. She's exhausted.
I quickly make a bed out of a stack of hay I found in a corner and place a couple blankets over it. Clapping my hands to clear them of hay, I turn to Zelda only to be crushed by her arms wrapping around me tightly.
"I thought you were sleeping?" I ask breathlessly, wrapping my arms around her. She simply holds me tighter, if possible, shaking her head.
"I can't sleep without you," she breathes. "Rather, I can't relax without you," she brings her head up to look me in the eye. Hers, in turn, are desperate. My heart breaks a little more each second that passes. Knowing just what she needs, I press my forehead to hers reassuringly.
"I'm right here," I lightly trail my hands down to her lower back, pulling her flush against me. "I always will be."
"Promise?" The desperation in her voice makes my breath hitch. I kiss her lightly.
"Promise," I barely manage to say before her lips find mine again.
I wake to the crackle of a new log being placed on top of a fire, smelling the smoke. I sit up, stretching my shoulders as I do, and find Zelda tending to the fire with a long stick. I make my way over to sit next to her.
"Why are you up, Zelda?" I ask, placing my arms on my knees and giving her a sidelong glance. She sighs.
"I couldn't relax," she nearly whispers. "The thought that Ghirahim could get inside of me like that is—"
"Something you shouldn't be concentrating on right now," I cut her off. She turns her attention to the fire. I place my hand on her shoulder. "Zelda, you know that, in order for you to get better, you need to get some rest. You still haven't recovered from your captivity. To add Ghirahim's spell on top of that," I shake my head. "You'll need the energy," I rest my hand atop her free one. "You are stronger than you believe you are. I've seen it."
She snorts. "I don't know where you are looking, then. Mind giving me a hint? Or rather, why are we even here? You haven't told me much about what's going on right now." She removes her hand and stands, placing her stick on the fire and walking toward the now moon-covered entrance. The ethereal glow of the moon over the water sends a pale light over her already paled features. Light reflects off the ripples of the water onto the rock face. I take in her frail form, walking slowly to her and warp my arms around her from behind. She jumps.
I immediately feel sorry for her. The nightmares she endured while in captivity are worlds away from the fear I experienced when I was unconscious. The fear of not knowing what will happen, not knowing what torture is to be done, not knowing if help is coming. Not knowing if your loved ones are alive and healthy. I pull her closer.
"You're right. I'm sorry," I whisper in her ear. "Where would you like me to begin?" She lifts her head from my chest, turning to face me.
"Start with why we are here. That might answer some of my other questions I have as well." I nod, pulling my thoughts together. She shivers and I pull her towards the fire for warmth.
"Impa told me of this place," I begin. "She said that there is something here we will need to defeat Ghirahim. Here being, Lanayru Spring. She said that we would find the power to defeat evil here." I hand her some grapes from the bag. She takes them willingly.
"But doesn't the Master Sword already do that?" She asks, popping a grape in her mouth.
"Well—" Before I could even begin explaining, I hear a crystallized whistle like sound come from the corner of the room. I turn, thankful that I won't have to explain this alone. Fi floats over and sets herself next to Zelda.
"My mistress," Fi says in greeting. Zelda simply nods. "Master, if you don't mind, I will explain the situation."
"By all means," I lean back on my elbows. "I would have screwed it up anyway." Zelda smiles a little at that. Good. That's a small step back toward normal.
"Lady Zelda, as I am indeed created with the intention to defeat evil, there is another force that, when combined with the efforts of my master, is even more divine than the crafting of me. The Light Arrows are created with the purest light, a sacred light that penetrates all evil. These Light Arrows are only given to one who is chosen to wield them by the four light spirits of this realm. One of the four light spirits resides in this very cave. Lanayru currently slumbers at the pit of this pool," she turns to gesture behind her at the pool below. "I recommend waking Lanayru to request further aid on this topic." Zelda turns to me, slight puzzlement etching her features.
"So, we were lead here to obtain the Light Arrows?" She says it matter-of-factly. I nod.
"That's the task Impa has charged us with, Zelda, once your strength is up. She sent us here earlier than planned, but that's thanks to Ghirahim and his little stunt he pulled with you back in Kakariko."
"Lady Zelda," Fi chimes in with her dual-toned voice, "you must get your rest if you are to obtain the light arrows. Once the final battle begins, master Link will need as much backup as he can get. With the light arrows, the probabilities of us winning will rise greatly."
Zelda ponders this, then she turns to me.
"How many days have we got to get the arrows?"
"We actually now have a full two weeks until we will meet up with Impa again. She says that this place is a safe house of sorts for those chosen by the goddesses. I believe that we are safe here from Ghirahim and his tirade of attacks."
"Furthermore," Fi says, "miss Impa has given a piece of parchment to master Link." She then turns to me. "She placed it in your backpack in the corner pocket."
"I'll grab it," I get up to find the backpack that Fi mentioned and bump into Kai. Kai squawks tiredly.
"Sorry, Kai," I whisper, grabbing the bag. I hear Zelda and Fi talking about something in hushed tones as I return.
"Master, please set the parchment down on the ground," Fi gestured to the ground in front of her. I placed it where she indicated as she held her hands above it. Something akin to light blue and purple fireflies started falling from her hands and as they collided with the parchment, images slowly bled onto it.
It was a map of the cave. I suddenly get the feeling that the word labyrinth wouldn't begin to describe its depth.
"Where did all these tunnels come from?" Zelda asks. I, being curious as well, turn to Fi waiting her response.
"Since all those who are blessed by the goddesses can enter here, that includes the wielder of power. Unfortunately, that has been Ganondorf resurrected, or one of his descendants, throughout almost all of the history of Hyrule. The goddesses decided to make the navigation of this labyrinth trickier than most."
"Tricky?" I blanche. "It's almost impossible!"
"Loving the 'almost'," Zelda mumbles as she studies the map. She taps her thumb to her chin as she ponders. Then her eyes widen.
"Link! Do you have a writing utensil?" I nod, pulling one from my backpack and hand it to her. She begins to draw long and short lines. I don't understand until she is nearly done connecting the lines.
The Triforce is completed with one last stroke. She looks up to me.
"There has to be some meaning behind this," she contemplates. "Which sections are the most imperative that we visit, which ones might be a trap, and," she looks at me, her old sparkle almost back in her eyes, "most importantly, where the arrows are."
"Might I make a suggestion, master?" I turned to look at Fi as she spoke again. "Use the dowsing ability that you have learned. That will help increase accuracy by sixty percent. However, I cannot pinpoint their exact location in here."
"That will do just fine, Fi, thank you." I say, waving a hand. "We have an entire labyrinth to search and two weeks to do it in," I turn to Zelda as her eyes meet mine. She smiles. I immediately return it.
"Let's get started." She is already moving as I pull her by the arm close to me.
"Aren't you forgetting to do something?" She looks up at me, puzzled. Then her expression softens.
"You're right," she stands on her toes to plant a kiss to my cheek. "Let's get some rest and start searching in the morning."
"Master," I turn to Fi as Zelda makes her way to the bed. "I am sensing a twenty four percent increase in Zelda's happiness. Giving her a sense of purpose motivates her in ways she doesn't even understand. Remember that she was a captive for a time. She will need comfort more than anything now, and that is something only you can offer her." I smile, taking her warning.
"Thank you, Fi," I say as she disappears into the Master Sword with a two-toned woosh. I crawl into the make-shift bed beside Zelda, wrapping my arm around her waist. She then turns to bury her face into my chest.
"What if I can't find the arrows in time?" I pull her tighter.
"Nonsense, we'll find them together. Two brains are better than one, right?"
"That depends on the topic of discussion or activity of choice."
"Right," I yawn. "Just a reminder that you can wake me if anything is wrong. I'm here for you, Zel." I close my eyes, letting sleep take over.
Just before it does, I feel her lips press lightly against mine.
Thank goodness we're alone; otherwise people would start calling us clingy. This is what she needs right now, and I oblige willingly.
Smiling into her lips, I bring my hand up to rest just under her ear, running my fingertips through her hair. She scoots herself closer, wrapping her leg around my waist. That's new. I trail my hand down the soft skin of her arm, down her leg to the back of her knee, holding her there. She pushes my shoulder gently to push me onto my back, straddling my lap, and lying atop me. I rest my hand on her hip as my other hand becomes free to grip the back of her head. I pull her back for a moment, glancing at her quizzically.
"What happened to resting?" I chuckle. She smiles, blushing.
"I need this, too," she almost whispers. I brush her hair away from her neck.
"Don't you think you're pushing it a bit?" I meet my eyes with hers and know that I'm right. They are glossed over and give away how exhausted she truly is. I pull her head down to rest under my chin and run my hand through my hair.
"As much as I would love to continue," I admit, only half-joking, "I think you need quality sleep first—"
Her arm falls limp as I say it and I feel her breathing even out. Smiling, I bring the blanket up to cover her to her shoulders and rub circles into her back. It helps me relax knowing that we are safe from Ghirahim for a short time.
Another thing is that Zelda is in my arms, not a captive to Ghirahim, and alive.
Sleep gradually comes, but not before I hear her breathe my name in her sleep like a prayer.