Chapter 5: Ingietum and Dröttingu

The following day, Link followed Nasuada to a courtyard in the castle, where his dragon was. It was a large courtyard with only one access point, and it could only be reached if you knew where the secret passageway was. There were no windows looking into the courtyard, and the walls around it were too high to see it from any position. It was the perfect place to hide his dragon, at least while he was small enough to be hidden.

Link had been asked to bring his sword and shield. He had yet to know why, but it felt good to have his holy weapons strapped to his back.

Link followed Nasuada to a small, vacant library. Nasuada approached a bookcase and searched the books. Link's first thought was, Typical. The secret book that doubles as a doorknob. Anyone can figure that out.

But he was deceived. Nasuada approached the bookcase sure enough, but there was a knot in the wood. Nasuada pressed hard and the bookcase swung open, revealing a passageway to a courtyard. Link instantly saw his dragon prancing around, chasing a butterfly. He had already grown a slight bit since yesterday.

Also in the courtyard were two other people. One was an extremely short, stocky man with a long beard and a battle-ax. The other was one of the most beautiful creatures he had ever seen; she had long black hair, green eyes, and pointed ears very similar to Link's. Was she Hylian as well?

"Link, I'd like you to meet Orik Ingietum and Arya Dröttingu, the same Arya Svit-kona I have spoken to you about," said Nasuada. Link stepped into the courtyard and faced the two of them. Orik, who Link assumed was the dwarf, was smiling heartily, while Arya had a stone-cold look on her face. Arya was the first to speak.

"Atra esterní ono thelduin," she said. No one spoke. Link didn't understand a word she had said. Arya looked hurt until Nasuada saved the day.

"Arya, he is not an elf," she said quickly. "He is not familiar with the ancient language."

Arya looked mildly surprised.

"But his ears are pointed, and his features match that of an elf. How can he not be an elf?" said Arya quizzically.

"I hail from the land of Hyrule," said Link. "I am Hylian, not an elf. We speak what you call the common tongue."

Arya studied him.

"Are Hylians capable of learning magic quicker than humans?" Arya asked.

"I wouldn't know, I don't know many who can perform magic. I myself can do a couple of spells, and the princess—"

"Show me," Arya interrupted. Link was caught off guard. "Show me," she repeated. Link nodded and walked off to the far corner of the courtyard. Making sure Arya was watching, Link put both hands behind his back. He first let the spell charge, and then he unleashed it with a loud cry as he slammed his fist on the ground. A large ball of flame encircled him and enlarged until it dissipated before it hit Orik and Arya.

There was a moment's silence before anyone spoke.

"That is impressive," said Arya. "How were you able to perform that without speaking the ancient language?"

"I've never known the ancient language," Link replied.

"What do you call that spell?" Arya asked.

"Din's Fire," said Link. "I learned it when I was young."

Arya seemed troubled. When nobody spoke for a while, Nasuada broke the silence.

"Well, Link, you may come back over here. There is a reason I've brought Arya and Orik here today," she said. Link nodded and went back to stand with Nasuada. "Arya is going to teach you how to perform magic more proficiently, and Orik is going to help perfect your weapons training."

Link laughed. "Don't worry about that; I've had plenty of weapons training," he said.

"I don't think you've had enough for what you're in for," said Nasuada. Link scoffed.

"You have no idea what I've been through," Link replied.

"Well, I assure you," said Arya. "You haven't been through enough to defeat the Ra'zac." Link whirled on her. He was already beginning to dislike her.

"Excuse me?" Link cried. "I don't think you know who you're talking to. I have saved the lives of millions countless times. I defeated a Queen Gohma, a King Dodongo, saved the life of a Zora princess, and traveled through time within my tenth year. I defeated Ganondorf, King of Evil and saved Hyrule from certain destruction. I am the chosen wielder of the Master Sword, the Blade of Evil's Bane. I collected six sacred medallions by defeating creatures you've never seen in your worst nightmares. I've accomplished feats that not even the most gifted humans could even attempt. I am the Hero of Time!"

Link left everyone in a shocked silence. His sudden outburst of anger had been rather surprising. He didn't apologize. They deserved it for their prejudice and arrogance.

It was a long time before anyone spoke. Nobody knew exactly what to say. It was Nasuada, once again, who spoke first.

"Very well, Link, we won't train you as heavily in weapons. We will do an assessment, just to see what you know, but I imagine you need more help in the magic area," she said. Link was still angry, but agreed that he did not know a lot of magic.

"We will begin with Orik's assessment," said Nasuada. Orik caught her eye and nodded. He motioned for Link to come with him to the center of the courtyard. Link followed. He had yet to hear Orik speak.

"I'm going to come at you with my ax, and you'll have to do your best to defeat me," he said. Before they began, Arya took Orik's ax and placed a finger on the blade.

"Gëuloth du knífr!" she said. Link instantly saw some kind of barrier appear around the blade of Orik's ax. Arya took Link's sword and attempted to do the same, but to her surprise, the sword shocked her and sent her flying back.

"What is wrong with your sword?" Arya asked.

"It is the Master Sword," said Link. "It only works for me."

"Well, we have a problem then. Unless there's some way allow me to cast a spell on your sword, you'll have to use a different one," Arya explained.

"Don't worry about that," said Link. He then closed his eyes and conveyed the message that Arya was friendly. "Alright, try again."

Arya got up and placed her finger on the Master Sword's blade, this time apprehensively. When nothing happened, she relaxed. "Gëuloth du knífr!"

Link saw the same barrier that appeared around Orik's ax shimmer around Link's sword, but it had more of a glow to it. Link assumed it was a side effect of the holy sword.

"Alright, begin," said Orik. Instantly, Orik charged forward toward Link. Link dodged his swing with ease and whacked him on the back with a move that would have cut him deep, but instead bruised him. Orik charged again, this time more carefully with a vertical swing toward Link's head. Link parried overhead and spun into a horizontal slash that smacked into Orik's right hip. He then made to stab toward his chest, but Orik slapped the blade away with the flat of his ax, and then butted Link in the chest with the top of his ax. Link fell to the floor, the wind knocked out of him. Orik hacked downward, but Link rolled away and cut Orik's leg, and then his arm. If this had been a real fight, Orik would have been long dead. "We are finished, Rider," said Orik, panting. "Your skill greatly surpasses mine."

"Thank you, Orik," said Link. He turned to Nasuada and Arya, who both seemed impressed.

"I want to test him," said Arya. Link was surprised. He didn't know how well elves fought, but he imagined Arya would be more of a challenge than Orik.

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A/N: How's that for a cliffhanger? Please R&R, I really liked writing this chapter. The next will be even better, and Link will learn about tuatha du orothrim. He will not actually start, but he will learn the concept of it.