There and Back Again

Chapter: 7

Live and let Live

Link and Zelda were sleeping peacefully on their mat. A very big improvement from the stone floor they slept on the previous night. Link slowly stirs and Zelda remains asleep. Slowly, he gets up and dresses silently. He walks outside to talk to martin and Steffan

"Hey guys."

"Hey Link."

"Hey Steffan? Do you know where I can get Zelda a nice chain mail cuirass and greave set?"

"Aww… he's making amends!"

"Steffan, he's only looking out for her."

"Just trying to have some fun… geeze."

"Anyways… do you know?"

"Yeah… hammer and axe down in Bruma… he sells really good equipment down that way and I'm sure he could hook you up."

"Good… thanks… martin, want to come with?"

"Sure, a walk would do us some good."

"Alright… let's go."

Link and martin walked out of cloud ruler temple down to Bruma. When they entered through the north gate, Link asked for directions. The guard told him and Link thanked the guard and walked to the smithy with martin.

"Welcome to Hammer and Axe!"

"Thank you… do you have any chain mail cuirass and greave sets for a slim and slender female?"

"Yes I do… I have one set left, weighs about 35 pounds when both put on… excluding any form of gauntlet, boot, or weapon and shield. It'll run you about 200 septims if you're interested."

"Wow… nothing compared to where I'm from… I also want to give her a nice set of hard leather boots…"

"Have a nice pair right here… 5 septims for those."

"How about weapons?"

"Have this little beauty right here…"

He pulls out a fine steel short sword that has a faint blue glow to it.

"Wow… what is it?"

"It's a blade called Ice Shard… along with any form of slicing she may do with it… it will also freeze the very blood and bone of her enemy…"

"How much?"

"Hmm… lemme think on it…"

"Well, I need some armor too…"

"Chain, iron, or steel?"

"Chain and steel please."

"Well, I have a nice set of steel greaves and boots… and I have chain mail cuirasses and some light steel gauntlets… the kind with metal fingers… and I have a light iron shield here for ya too…"

"How much will everything be?"

"Big spender isn't we? I tell ya what, 'because I like you, you pay for Ice Shard and the steel boots and greaves… I'll give you everything else for free."

"Se-seriously!?"

"Yup… you seem cool enough."

"How much?"

"760 septims."

"Ok… 700… 715… 735… 745... That's all I have…"

"Here."

Martin tosses the last 15 septims onto the table on the large pile of coins.

"Martin… thanks."

"It's the least I owe you friend."

"Well, here you go friend, all your armor and Ice Shard."

"Thank you…"

"The name's Fjotried… look me up if you need anything else!"

"Thanks again."

"Repairs are free of charge for 2 years."

"Alright. And my name is Link."

"Great Link! Looking forward to seeing you again soon!"

"Thank you again Fjotried."

"Goodbye"

Link and martin make their way back up to cloud ruler temple. Carrying all of about 165 pounds worth of equipment and food back up there. They arrived and Link took Zelda's new armor and weapon and set it at the foot of the mat. Zelda still sleeping peacefully, Link grabbed a nearby quill and parchment and wrote Zelda a note.

I love you Zelda

-Link

Short sweet and to the point… just like he liked things. He placed the note on top of the armor and walked to the west wing for some dinner.

… 1 hour later …

Zelda stirred and slowly opened her eyes… she glanced around for a second and called Link's name… getting no response, she rolled onto her back and nudged the armor.

"What's this?"

She reads the note

"Aww… Link."

She grabs the sword and stares at it for a moment.

"Hmm… defiantly enchanted… by ice…"

She picked up the cuirass and held it up to her body…

"He even bought me armor… he shouldn't have."

"But I did."

"Link!"

"You like?"

"I love… thank you."

"Try it on."

"Ok."

She strips down to her undergarments and slides on a pair of wool socks… the then slips into the greaves and pulls on the cuirass… she then pulls on her boots and straps on her sword.

"It all fits perfectly!"

"As I knew it would."

"I love you Link."

"I love you too Zelda."

He leans down and kisses her lightly but passionately. They stay like that for a minuet or so and then he pulls away…

"Put yours on."

He dons a pair of tight leather pants and then straps on the greaves he then pulls over his cuirass and straps on the shoulder plates and pulls on his boots… he finally straps the master sword onto his belt and puts on his gloves… he grabs his shield and walks back over to Zelda.

"Well? What do you think?"

"Well, you look more… heroic."

"Heroic?"

"Heroic."

"I don't know what I think about that…"

"Don't… you look good."

"If you say… princess."

"No… just Zelda… I'm letting my little sister Iliad have the crown… I'm tired of being 'princesses."

"Zelda!? Are you sure?"

"Yes… I'm positive… I sent a courier with a letter to my father when I ran away… I told him what's happening… I received a telepathic message from Impa telling me that if that's what I really wanted… that my father accepted."

"So what now?"

"We're allowed visitation at the castle anytime we want… but I want to stay here in Tamriel… with you."

"Hmm… between 2 years of moping around at the castle and ranch… I vote we stay here too."

"So this is it huh? Our new lives… for better or worse."

"For better or worse… for better or worse…"

Their lips meet one more time as martin walked in after hearing the whole conversation… he smiles and continues on to the great hall.

… The next day …

Link is up making rounds with the guards as Zelda eats breakfast with the rest of the blades. Jauffre walks up to Link as he passes the front door and gives him an assignment.

"Blade, as you know, martin needs the amulet of kings to become emperor… it is time that we get it back. I want you and Zelda to go to the Elven Gardens district of the Imperial City and find Baurus… there, he will tell you all he has found out as an under-cover agent. Do you have any questions?"

"One… when do we leave?"

"As soon as you are fully prepared."

"Alright… I'll go get Zelda."

"Thank you."

Link goes to pack the saddle bags as well as grab his armor… as he walks into the great hall he spots Zelda sparring with Caroline… Caroline barely dodges a swipe to the head with Zelda's wooden sword and quickly retaliates with a swipe at Zelda's neck.

"Halt! Arrgh! Dead again!"

"You have to watch what you do with your power attacks… while if used correctly can be extremely powerful, they also leave you wide open for a counterattack. And you are using a short sword rather than a longer sword… shorter weapons are meant for dealing out damage quickly, rather than doing more damage with fewer swings… short swords for example are meant to be used with lightning fast speed to keep your opponent from retaliating… long swords are meant to keep your opponent from drawing breath."

"Then what's the deal with dual-handed weapons?"

"A dual handed weapon is an extremely long, extremely heavy, and, extremely powerful weapon… take for example the ebony claymore… long… heavy… and powerful. Dual handed weapons are meant for warriors that mean business… they don't bother with dodging and diving… they hardly even block! They tend to be slower swinging because of their weight but beware… if they hit you once… they may not need to hit you again."

"But what about your dai katanas?"

"Ah yes… the only exception to the rule… only about 4 pounds heavier than the standard one handed katana… the Dai katana is meant for hitting with speed rather than weight… while having all the reach of the dual handed weapon."

"So it's like having a two handed long sword?"

"Kind of… its difficult to explain as it takes specific training to use a Dai katana… as hand position is much different than standard dual wield weapons."

"So what do you think I would be best with?"

"Well, it looks like you've had some previous training with the short sword… I say stick to it until you get better… practice makes perfect… and a little tip… when you swing, aim for something either vital or extremely painful… you'd be surprised with who you can take down with one precisely placed swing. Well. My guard shift is about to start… take care Zelda… and I'll see you later ok?"

"Thank you Caroline!"

Caroline gives Zelda a quick hug and marches out to the courtyard.

"Getting weapons training huh?"

"Mhmm. I figured that a magic sword would be useless if I didn't know much about one."

"Hnn… good call. Any way's we're going back to the imperial city."

"Huh? Why?"

"We have to meet up with baurus again… we're gonna get the amulet back."

"When do we start?"

"As soon as you change clothes… I've already packed your armor and things."

Zelda quickly runs off to change into something dry for the trip ahead… leaving Link to his thoughts.

'She's gonna need a lot of work…'

Author's notes: chapter seven… or is it? Just kidding, it's seriously chapter seven. Read and review and live life and happy splatting and all that… just try to have some fun ok?

Disclaimer: I wash dishes at a restaurant that is NOT Bethesda and is NOT Nintendo… so I do NOT own oblivion or legend of Zelda… ok?