Good, good reviews, people. Kudos to you. But some of you are getting too smart! Haha, just kidding. It's great that you're paying attention to what's going on. I applaud you. But I guess I'll just have to surprise you at least somewhat...
-O- Three months later
Jennan awoke on a cold winter morning in a bundle of thick quilts. She unburied her face and took a deep breath of the cold air. It was early, but Memnet was no longer in the room, and she was alone. She glanced up at the window and could see the snow outside, and she thought of Link. She felt sorry for him, having to sleep out in the loft of the stable in this cold weather, and though she knew he was fine, it still somewhat worried her.
She threw her covers off and got up, quickly pulling on her layers of clothes. The wooden floor was cold on her bare feet, and the very air itself was hard to breathe it was so cold. Ima more than likely had a fire going downstairs, and one fire was not enough for the whole house, but they only had one chimney.
Jennan pulled on her shoes and shawl and quickly put her hair up. She did not spend as much time on it as she usually did, for she just wanted to get downstairs where it was warm. She was still overly tired as she made her way down the steps, but did not know why. She yanwed and was glad to feel the heat from the kitchen getting stronger with each step she descended.
"Hello, Jennan," Ima said from over by the fire. Jennan could smell of breakfast cooking, and she was very suddenly nauseous. Ima noticed the unusual change in expression and said, "Are you all right?"
"Yes," Jennan replied. "I just feel strange today. I think I'm getting a cold."
"Oh, dear," Ima sighed.
"I'm going to skip breakfast today," Jennan said, eyeing the food on the table as if it were a deadly disease. She walked against the wall to avoid the table where the bread sat and got a glass from the cabinet. She reached for the pitcher of water on the baker's rack and accidentally hit the glass with her hand, sending it whirling to the floor and smashing into a score of pieces. "Oh no," she exclaimed sorrowfully, "it broke!" She bent down in the floor and began to pick up the pieces, but Ima bent down too and stopped her.
"It's all right Jennan, it's just a glass," Ima said, her hands, stiff with age, reaching and taking the tiny pieces from the floor. Jennan's eyes were almost watery, and she dabbed them with the back of her wrist. Ima glanced up at her and paused from her worked. "I say, Jennan, it doesn't matter. Your father can get a new one. Besides, there are others."
Jennan shook her head and pulled herself up, using the table as leverage. "But it broke..."
"I know, and it's okay. Like I said, it does not matter."
Jennan sniffed and after a few moments of silence changed the subject with, "Did Father leave yet?"
"Yes, a few hours ago," Ima said, her back to Jennan. "He will be gone for a few days."
Jennan's sorrow over the glass was gone, and she silently rejoiced- that meant she could spend more time with Link. Luckily, her father still did not know of their relationship. "All right, then. I'm going outside for awhile."
"You needn't go outside if you're getting sick," Ima warned sternly, but Jennan went anyway. She did not want a mere cold to stop her from living life when her father was not around.
A few months ago when Link had returned from Barrack, he had told her the details of what had happened, and he had emphasized on Dorobis' sister and how strange the woman had acted. Still no one knew what was said in the letter Dorobis had sent her, though they were curious to find out. Link had also told Jennan nearly everything that had happened on the trip, and she had been enraged at the boys who had fought with him, but she was secretly very proud that Link could hold his own- and that he did. He was quite a catch, she knew, and she loved to show him off, though there was no one really to show him off to. Everyone on the plantation already knew that he was her man, and she wondered how she could have been so lucky as to find him. Destiny, if that was even what it was, was so strange sometimes.
Jennan loved Link more than anything else she had every known, and probably would know. She knew he loved her too, for they had told each other a couple of months ago, and the strange thing was that they had worked up enough nerve and told one another at the exact same time, literally. It had happened out by the creek, their favorite spot to meet and be alone, and Jennan could still feel the surprise and elation she had felt when it had been said. And she had seemingly walked on air after that.
Luckily for Jennan, Beth had not returned to the plantation yet, though the rich girl had said that she would sometime in the winter. Jennan dreaded that day, but at least she would not have to fight her cousin again, more than likely, though she would if she had to. The last time Beth had caused trouble, Link was not Jennan's man- but now he was and Jennan found it easier to get jealous. But if Beth had any brains at all, there would be no feud this time.
Jennan grabbed her overcoat from a nail beside the door, lined up beside Memnet's and Matayo's, and quickly pulled it on as she went out the door and onto the porch. Memnet was sitting in her chair making wax for the lanterns as usual, with a blanket over her knees, and Rhashidi sat on the porch with his back against the wall. It was not unusual to see Mement and Rhashidi together, for some reason the wolf-boy thought it important to stick close to Memnet. Whether he had a crush on her or was just being protective, no one knew, not even Link.
Memnet glanced up from her wick-making and looked Jennan over. "Link's in the stable."
Jennan blushed. Even after a few months of being Link's girl, it was still somehow embarrassing for it to be talked about this way. Though Memnet had said it with seriousness, Jennan knew that a jest was somehow being made. "I thought so," she said, casting her eyes away, wanting to look anywhere but her sister, and somehow found her gaze on Rhashidi. He was sitting with his knees up and his arms lazily across them, and he stared up at her through the only eye he had vision in with no expression. When the weather had gotten cold, Memnet had miraculously convinced the boy to wear at least a shirt against the cold; one of Matayo's that he no longer wore, a crisp, white long-sleeved that buttoned up and then opened down the chest. It was only a tad too small for Rhashidi, for it hugged the muscles on his broad shoulders and arms, but he wore it anyway.
Rhashidi was still looking at her strangely, as if he knew something she did not, and she finally got uncomfortable and headed off towards the stable. She held her skirts up and stepped high to avoid as much of the snow as she could, but she felt some in her shoe and found herself unreasonably annoyed. She ranted silently to herself until she came upon the front of the stable. Gladly out of sight of Memnet and Rhashidi, she forced herself to relax and calm down. She did not want to seem irritated in front of Link; they had never even argued at all, for they got along so well that there was nothing to argue about.
The thick double-doors were closed but not latched, and Jennan slowly opened them and came inside, smelling the thick scent of hay. Link was putting down fresh straw with a pitchfork in Epona's empty stall, and he looked back over his shoulder when he heard the door open, and smiled slightly when he saw that it was her.
"Hi Jen," he said, tossing the pitchfork to the side and coming over to meet her. She loved that he had a nickname for her, especially because he was the only one who used it. He leaned over and kissed her tenderly on the side of her head, his hand giving her shoulder a quick and gentle squeeze. He pulled back and shut the door for her, and now the only light was shining through the glass window.
Jennan could not see how Link was not cold. He wore no extra protection against the elements; just the same thing he always wore. She knew his tunic was thick, but it was freezing outside. There could not even be a fire made in the stable, for there was nowhere for the smoke to exit the structure. But at least there was the body-heat from the horses.
"Father left early," Jennan said, grasping her shawl tight around her shoulders. Her blurry gaze was on the arrow that remained in the far wall- it would more than likely be there forever.
"Good." Link patted a horse's neck and then brushed off his hands. "Do you want to take a walk?"
Jennan grinned as her eyes met his. "In this cold? We're like to freeze."
"No we won't," he replied light-heartedly. He reached out his hand to her and looked expectant. "Come on."
Jennan could not resist him, and she took his hand. She had never really realized how small her hands were until looking at Link's, especially when hers were englufed by his. "Where do you plan on going?" she asked, smiling.
"I don't know," he said, and there was a flirtatious note in his deep voice. Jennan also liked how it sounded when his voice got higher when he was upset- which rarely happened, and she was glad for that part. She hated to see that.
They made sure to close the door behind them when they left the stable, and then they slowly walked hand-in-hand up their path in the woods. It might as well have been their path, for they were the only ones who walked it and it led to their favorite spot by the creek, the place where they had had their first kiss. They liked to sit there and listen to and watch the waterfall. It was very relaxing.
Link let go of Jennan's hand and put his arm around her shoulder as they walked, pulling her close. She breathed in the smell of him and sighed. He was warm, despite the cold all around them. And she looked up just in time to be hit on the top of the top of the head by a pile of powdery ice crystals that had fallen from one of the tree branches above them. It had somehow missed Link completely, but it was all in her hair and on her forehead.
Link only laughed when she did, as if he was making sure she was okay- as if the powder could hurt her. He pushed her back gently and began brushing the snow from her hair, which melted at the touch of her fingers and mainly just wet Jennan's hair, but she did not mind. He suddenly took her face in his hands, and she was still laughing slightly. "What?" She held onto his wrist, just for the sake of doing it, and his expression remained serious, as it usually was.
"Nothing," he said softly. He gently laid his forehead on hers and his fingers ran through her hair. She was not uncomfortable in the least but was wondering why he was so suddenly looking at her this way. She trusted him, and her arms slipped around his waist. She kissed him firmly on the mouth, and his hands ran down her arms and back up again. His fingers were cold, but she hardly noticed.
He pulled back and grinned, then held her hand again and took a quick dash up the trail. She followed hurriedly, but he did knot keep up the fast pace for long. They came to the creek, and Jennan stood strangely fascinated at the lethargic fish in the icy water. "Those make me hungry."
She had to be careful saying that kind of thing in front of Link, for if she sounded needy or if she wanted something, he would get it, even if she had not been completely serious. It was sweet, really, and she was sure if she expressed that she wanted something impossible, he would at least try to get it for her.
"I'd get one if I had a pole and bait," he said. He laughed. "I can't get them like Rhashidi does. He'll just jump right in the water and catch them with his hands.'
"He's must be fast."
Link smirked. "Like lightning."
Jennan's eyes remained on the fish. They all seemed to be swarming together in one silver streak, and she had to blink a few times to clear her gaze. "Do you think Rhashidi likes Memnet? He's always with her."
Link thought for a moment, then said, "Well, he doesn't take well to people so easily, but I guess it's different with her. I don't know, maybe he does."
"They would look strange together," Jennan laughed.
"Rhashidi looks strange by himself... but I guess I'm not one to talk."
"Rhashidi's cute."
Link's mouth fell open in a fake gape. "Watch it, now. Don't turn me against my own friend."
Jennan looked at him and giggled. "I was just seeing if that would get a rise out of you. Rhashidi's cute, but not for me. For Memnet, maybe." She leaned up and kissed him again. "You're for me, though."
Link sighed, deep and content. "Good, because I was afraid I might have to get rid of Rhashidi."
Jennan rolled her eyes, smiling. "Don't get too jealous, now. I'm the one that has to worry. All the girls are always after you!"
He looked embarrassed and sheepish. "Not always."
Jennan's brown eyes suddenly went aflame. "And if my aunt is even after you, I'm going to have to hurt her."
Link cocked and eyebrow. "You weren't completely joking, Jen. What do you mean?"
She shook her head and hugged herself. "I don't know. My aunt is a very strange woman. And you know, I heard my father say something the other day about you and Artos going back to Barrack, for some reason. I wonder why."
"Again?"
"I'm starting to have strong suspicions. I want to find that letter that she sent Father back. It might help us figure out something." Jennan paused and felt an oncoming wave of fatigue, and she put a hand to her forehead.
Link looked concerned. "Are you all right?"
"Yes, I'm just... so tired all of the sudden." She had never felt so light-headed in her life, and she wanted to just lay down and sleep. She felt a strange weakness in her entire body.
"Jennan?" Link reached to steady her, for she suddenly did not look well at all. "Jennan!"
She moaned, and then her knees slowly buckled. Link shot forward and grabbed her shoulders, pulling her upright, and she slumped over onto his chest. His heart skipped a beat with worry and he leaned over and easily gathered her up into his arms, one under her knees and the other around her shoulders. Her head fell back and she moaned again, only semi-conscious. Her breathing was shallow, and Link knew that he had to get her to Ima quickly. He went as fast as he could manage while holding her, taking long strides and sinking down into the snow. Her skirts and shawl blew tight against him in the wind, and they dragged against the snow in some of the deepest parts. Link lifted her higher and picked up his pace, sweating in anxiety over the situation. Jennan was no longer awake at all and she was now dead weight in his arms. Though she was very light, it wearied him to carry her over long distances, but he could and would do it.
He finally reached the porch, and Memnet and Rhashidi jumped to their feet when they saw them. Memnet gasped, "Jennan! What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know," Link said shortly. "Open the door."
Memnet threw down the things she had been working with and flung the door open. Link twisted to the side and carried Jennan in. Artos was serving breakfast at the table, with Ima and Matayo seated before him, and the three of them froze in mid-motion. Ima finally moved and pushed herself up from her chair, her silver hair swaying with her movements, and she hastily walked over and put her hand on Jennan's face, which was red from the cold.
"What happened?" Ima asked as Memnet and Rhashidi came inside and closed the door behind them.
"She just fainted," Link said, shifting Jennan's weight.
"Bring her to her room," Ima said, and they headed up the steps. Ima seemed to be the only one that was fully keeping her head; even Link was a little shaken. Memnet's forehead was etched into a worry frown, Artos had pulled back and stood against the wall to stay out of the way, and Matayo stood from his chair and gripped the table.
Ima would usually let Link come in the house when Dorobis was away, but he had never been up here before. At the top of the stairs was a space of floor, then a single wooden door that was not quite straight on its hinges. Inside was a fairly large room with a bed against the left wall and another against the right, a desk and mirror inbetween beside a window on the far wall. Ima pointed to the bed on the left, and Link lay Jennan down gently. She looked peaceful there, but there was obviously something going on that was completely wrong.
Her eyes suddenly opened a little, and she groaned again, twisting a little at the waist, and her hands went up to her face to push the loose strands of her hair back. Link leaned over to touch her, but Ima held up a hand and stopped him.
"Link, I need you to go back downstairs," she said, not rudely but matter-of-fact.
Link glanced at Jennan, hesitant, but Ima gave him a stern look, and he slowly turned and left the room. Ima closed the door once he was gone, and he slowly made his way down the stairs. Immediately when he reached the kitchen Memnet started asking questions.
"Is she okay?" she asked, twisting her hands. "What happened to her?"
"I don't know," Link said, and repeated more tightly, "I don't know."
"Well what-"
"Hush, Memnet," Matayo spoke up. "He doesn't know anything more than you do."
Link pulled a chair out from the table and sat sideways in it, his knees wide apart with elbows on them, face in his hands. Memnet was biting her lip. Matayo could see how tense with worry Link was, and he touched his sister's arm and gave her a look that said to stop talking. She jerked her arm away, independent as always, and hugged herself. Rhashidi sat in the floor by the table with his legs crossed, and Artos stood in the corner by the window with wide eyes.
They all had the same worry, though it was not the same for Link. He loved Jennan in a different way than they did, and he knew that if he did not get a hold of himself, both he and Jennan would soon be down and out. Link jabbed his knuckles in his temples and tried not to think.
-O-
Nothing changed over the three months for Marth; he remained the same in his depression, if not worse. The conflict with Hyrule raged all around, though it had not broken out in war yet. It was more like a thing as if someone from Altea and someone from Hyrule met up somewhere, like in the town, hot words or even fists would fly. The rival subjects of the two kingdoms would also do things to one another such as setting huts and houses on fire, or kill each other's livestock. They were small personal battles, but those battles being everywhere took their toll.
Marth did not see much that he could do about it, save for to wage war on Hyrule, which was out of the question for now unless things got worse. He did not even feel like thinking on it and left most of that to his father.
To Anya's dismay, Marth was refusing food frequently. She told him he would lose weight and become too skinny for his own good, but he brushed her off, as he usually did everyone. But Anya was lucky to get as close to him as she did, for he had turned like an empty shell over the past four months since the war. She had overheard the king saying that it had been a mistake to let Marth fight in the war, but Anya silently disagreed. She knew her brother's (he was not technically her brother, but she considered him so anyway) depression was not only from the war, yes, mostly, but not entirely. There had always been this side of him somewhat, but it had been much less noticeable. She had never been able to put her finger on it, and since he was not talking much, there was no way to figure it out.
She took a tray of hot tea to his dwelling, feeling her way along down the hall with her fingers against the wall. She knew the castle well enough, but it was still possible to get lost. She counted doors until she found his, and she balanced the gold-plated tray in one hand and opened one of the doors with the other. She was the only one who could just walk into his dwelling without being yelled at or having something thrown at them.
Anya took a step into the room. "Marth?"
She heard him move at his desk, and he said, "Anya."
She closed the heavy door and felt her way in that direction. Her hand descended to the desk and she felt the fine hairs on his arm, just above his glove. She had never even seen Marth; she knew the basics of what he looked like, for Gathan had told her, but she could not place the exact details of his face in her mind. The only thing she knew for sure was his voice, strong, deep, commanding.
She gripped his arm for a moment, then took the tray in both hands again and sat it on the free space on the desk. He grunted to show that he acknowledged her, and she heard him pick up the steaming cup of tea. She was surprised that he even took it, for usually he refused everything brought by everything- save for her.
She heard him swallow, and then he said, "You came early tonight."
It was not unusual for her to come to his dwelling, for she thought that he needed to be around someone, or he would go out of his mind. Everyone else had seemingly given up on him, leaving him to his lonely dwelling, but she would not give up so easily. Marth needed something to bring him out of this state of mind, and though she tried hard, she knew she was not enough.
"I don't know what time it is," Anya laughed.
"Neither do I," he replied flatly. He tossed his bangs out of his eyes and set the golden cup on the desk.
Anya picked up the tray and held it flat against her thighs. "Do you need anything?"
Marth laughed. It sounded a little scary. "Yes, something to knock me out would work."
Anya swallowed hard. "Marth, you're not thinking... you're not thinking of hurting yourself, are you?"
He scoffed. "Anya, I'm not that foolish. I just need sleep."
Anya was not so sure that that was the truth, but she knew that his words were her cue to go, even though he probably would not sleep at all after she left. She turned towards the door, confused. Oh, Marth, she thought, you need something. You need something to bring you out of this terrible state of mind that you're in. If only I could help you, my brother, I would. But if I can't, there has to be something out there that can. If only I could find out what it was...
-O-
After what seemed like an eternity, Ima came slowly into the kitchen. Link rose from his chair and looked at her with a worried expectantcy, his fists clenched and tight, his mouth a concerned frown. He heard the others stir and come to attention behind him, and Matayo said quietly, "Is she okay?"
Ima stood at the base of the steps and faced them, but her eyes were on Link alone. "She will be," she said slowly, "in a few months."
Artos said, "Why a few months?"
Ima tilted up her chin stiffly, her expression hard and unidentifiable. Her gaze still pierced Link's. "Because. She is with child."
Silence followed, and all eyes turned to Link. He stared ahead at Ima and swallowed hard, struggling to keep his expression the same. He did not know what to say, but he heard Matayo mumble something inaudible. Link took a step towards the stairs, but Ima stepped in front of him and he had stop quickly to avoid running into her and knocking her clear to the floor. Her eyes were piercing, but she said nothing nasty, only, "Leave her alone for now, she needs to rest for awhile."
Memnet spoke up, her voice tight. "Link, don't you have some sort of work to do?" In other words, she was telling him to get out. He knew he deserved more harshness than he was getting, but he felt a twinge of anger and spite.
"Memnet-" he began harshly, but Ima interrupted the oncoming arguement quickly.
"Stop it," she demanded. "This is not helping anything at all."
Link had not really noticed Matayo in the corner until the young man suddenly sprang to his feet and slapped both palms on the table. "Link, get out!" he barked. None of them had ever seen Matayo this worked up before, and Memnet looked at him as if he were crazy. Link did not know what to do, for he was not sure if Matayo would back up his command or not.
Ima scolded, "Matayo." But Matayo suddenly shot forward and snatched Link by the tunic, and the latter was forced to step back hard against the wall. Rhashidi jumped up from the floor with a growl in his throat, and then Link and Matayo were in a short wrestling match. Link did not want to fight his friend; he just wanted to protect himself. Matayo had Link's shoulders and was proceeding to give him a hard shake, and Link's hands were gripped hard around Matayo's wrists to hold him back. And just as Rhashidi was about to spring into it, Ima stepped forward and grabbed Matayo by the arms. She did not have to use much strength, for when Matayo felt her touch, he let go of Link and stepped back angrily.
"Stop this, right now," Ima said harshly. "Link, Rhashidi- both of you go out of here." She glared at Matayo for the violence he had just played out, and then she looked back at the ones she addressed. Link knew why he and Rhashidi were being ushered out; they were the two strangers here. He grabbed Rhashidi by the back of the shirt and reluctantly led him out the front door.
Awhile later, Memnet went upstairs to the room she shared with her sister and opened the door slowly. It was mostly dark inside, and Jennan was obviously sleeping. Memnet pulled the chair from the dresser to over beside the bed and sat down. She was confused and disappointed in her sister, and she did not know what she was going to say. What could she say? There was nothing to be done now.
To Memnet, the situation was surprising, though not fully unexpected. There had been a few times when Jennan had not been in the house when she should have been, and Mement had had suspicions. She had tried to tell herself that it was none of her business, but in a way it was. Jennan was her sister. A sister who had made a few very stupid decisions, but nevertheless.
Memnet was unsure at what Jennan's opinion on all of this was. Of course it should have been a possibility, but was it a curse or a blessing to Jennan now? Did she want to be pregnant, not want to be, or did she not care either way? Memnet was dying to find out, but there was no way to ask how she wanted to.
Jennan moved slightly, then stretched and sighed a wakeful sigh. "Memnet," she said with the heaviness of sleep in her voice, seeing her sister in the light from the window. She sat up and yawned again, a hand to her mouth. Well, she did not seem upset.
"Are you all right now?" Memnet asked. "You fainted earlier."
"I remember," Jennan said.
"No wonder you fainted." Memnet bit her lip. "Did Ima tell you?"
"She told me." Jennan traced a stitching in her quilt with her fingernail. "I kind of suspected it anyway."
Memnet swallowed. "Link?"
Jennan looked away. "Who else?"
"Jennan, I hope you know that I can't believe this, and everyone's very disappointed," Mement said. "Jennan- why?"
"I love him, Memnet."
"I know you do, but that's not an excuse." Memnet sighed. "Anyway, I'm sure you already know all of this. There's not much sense in telling you, it's too late now." She blinked hard. Someone's going to die when Father finds this out, she thought, and she knew that, quite frighteningly, it may be true.
-O-
Late that night a calm and silent snow began to fall to the already white, glistening earth. Dorobis had returned from trading early and was off in the lantern-lit stables with Henry. Link stood by the outside of wall beside the porch, quiet and alone in the cold. Earlier, he had had no other choice but to get to work, but now it was all done with and he wanted to know how Jennan was; he had heard nothing from no one the entire day, save for what he had been told that morning.
The world around him was black as pitch, but the snow was pale against the dark background. The half-moon, a soft halo that was just barely visible around it, was mostly hidden behind the spitting grey clouds. He was stiff and cold, but his attention was focused on what was going on inside the house. He could see through the foggy window; Memnet sat at her usual spot at the table, Artos was stoking the fire, Ima was again making wick, and Jennan sat in a wooden chair against the wall to the left of the room, between the front door and the stairs. She wore a crisp white shirt that hugged her small frame and a long, layered skirt, green with plaid squares, that touched the floor. The fire raged inside, and the shadows danced on the walls as the flames moved. Link made sure to stay out of sight of them, for he was not quite sure how the others were going to react to him now.
A noise far off behind him caught his attention, and he finally identified it as quick footsteps in the snow, heading towards the house. He went to the left side of the structure beside Ima's dwelling, in the shadows, and saw the figure of Dorobis approaching, dark against the white snow. The man was taking long, hasty strides, and sinking with each step. Link pressed his back against the outside wall, his palms flat on the wood and his head tilted to keep his eyes on Dorobis. Link leaned to his left slightly to see around the corner of the house, silent as a leopard on the snow, his gaze tight and serious as always, his breathing shallow. He felt a chill, and if it was from the cold or the way Dorobis was walking angrily, he did not know, but he was suddenly and for no seeming reason terribly on edge. He felt his heart pounding in his chest, not from fear, but rather- what was it, exactly? Anticipation, perhaps. Something was not right.
Link kept his feet planted in the snow, his leather boots damp on the outside, but leaned back farther into the shadows as Dorobis stamped up onto the porch. Snow flew everywhere as the man crossed to the door in two long steps, and the door opened and then crashed shut after he went inside. Link, still pressed against the outside wall, stared hard at the snowy ground in front of him, his eyes narrow, listening. The walls of the house were thick, but he had keen hearing and could get an idea of what was going on inside. Level voices suddenly turned shrill and loud, and Link's heart beat faster as he shot off silently around the front of the porch and back to the window. He bent low, his hands gripping the windowsill, and peered in. It was hard to see through the fogged glass, but he could see enough. Everything was happening so quickly, but somehow it seemed as if it were all in slow motion.
Dorobis was furious- that was easy to tell- and he suddenly lurched forward and grabbed Jennan by the shoulders, lifted her clear from the chair, and gave her a hard shake, yelling in her face as he did so. Link tensed and stopped breathing. Jennan tried to free herself from her father's grasp, but the more she protested, the harder he shook her and the louder he yelled. Matayo burst from his room and tried to stop Dorobis, but the man warned his son off with a sharp word, and Matayo stepped back in fear and shock. How could Dorobis have found out that Jennan was with child? Link stood stiffly and slowly, a flame of anger burning in his chest and near ready to consume him completely. Yes, he and Jennan had made mistakes, and yes, there was a consequence, but for Dorobis to turn his anger to violence upon Jennan! Link was not sure what to do for a moment.
He could make out a few words from Jennan as she braced herself against Dorobis' strength. "You are hurting me! Father, stop!"
And Dorobis stopped shaking her and slapped her hard. Her hand shot to her face and her head tilted down, shoulders shaking. For a brief moment Link lost all thoughts of sanity, and it seemed as if someone else was controlling him. He lept up onto the porch with a loud thud, and in the space of time it takes to blink an eye, had braced himself slightly on the doorframe and kicked in the door. The lock had snapped with no hesitation, and the wooden door flew open and slammed against the inside wall, surprisingly still on its hinges, so much was the force he had used. Everyone quickly looked up at him, but he did not stand still long enough for them to get a look. Just as Dorobis dropped Jennan and turned to throw his rage upon Link, the Hylian boy whipped the Master Sword from its sheath with a metallic swish, and then the tip of the blade was only inches from the man's throat. Link stood in front of Jennan, his left arm out at full length and his body turned to the side, the sword straight and steady in his hand.
Everything grew silent, and the air seemed to suck from the room. Jennan sat on the floor just behind Link with her hand still to her face. Memnet was frozen in mid-move, half raised from her chair with both hands on the table to support herself. Artos was frozen as well, with the poker to the fire still in his hand, hanging down hot at his side. Ima's hand was over her mouth and her eyes wide.
Link met Dorobis' hard and angry gaze with one of his own. The two of them stared at each other, the older man unable to move unless he wanted the blade in his throat. Dorobis' dark eyes ran down the length of the sword, all the way to the deadly point below his chin. Then his smoldering eyes flashed back up to Link's with an expression of rage- and frustration for being at his own slave's mercy.
Finally, the immense and terrible silence was broken by Dorobis. "You had better be glad that you have that sword right now, boy," he said slowly, "or otherwise you would be a dead man."
Link's grip tightened on the blue handle of the weapon, his eyebrows etched hard. "You will be a dead man if you touch Jennan in that way again."
"Now you threaten me?" The man's eyes flamed. "Over my own daughter? Besides, I should have you killed for the way you touched her; just look at the result of it."
Link's eyes narrowed. "Whip me if you want, but don't hurt her."
A small laugh escaped Dorobis, though he was careful to keep still. "I do not need a slave's permission to do anything. And if you have not noticed, that is all you are- a slave."
Still no one moved an inch. "I know what you consider me as," Link boldly, "but I've never cared what people have thought of me, and I don't now." His eyes shifted in Jennan's direction. "Save for the people I love."
"You do not love her."
"I do," Link stated.
"You are unconvincing."
Link turned the sword only slightly in his hand, the deadly point barely moving closer to the man at the end of it. "As long as she knows it, that's all that matters. I don't have to argue it with you."
Dorobis tilted back his chin, as if daring Link to drive in the blade. "You could not kill me, anyhow."
"And why couldn't I? What's stopping me?"
Dorobis grinned mockingly. "What is it that you are called, back in your land? The Hero of Time, is it? Destined to save Hyrule? Pure of heart, always thinking of others before thinking of himself. 'The left-handed hero'. Or at least that is as they say."
Link remembered telling that once to Jennan, the things the people of Hyrule had said about him. "It is just what they say" he had told her humbly. Now he tightened his expression and tilted his head down with only the slightest of movements, his eyes still on the man before him.
"You see, I know quite a lot about you," Dorobis taunted. "You have told nearly everything about yourself to my daughter... as well as to Henry."
So that was how Dorobis had found out so quickly. "So you have been sending Henry to spy on me... or us, rather."
"I did not send him, he was quite voluntary."
Link gritted his teeth in a closed and tight mouth.
"Would you like to hear some of the things I know about you? Just from what Henry has told me, I know that your parents were killed when you were young, in the heat of the Altean and Hylian war. Your mother hid you among the Great Deku tree to spare your life; you were then raised by your grandmother with your younger sister Aryll. You were badly bullied when you were a child. You bear the mark of the Triforce on your left hand, since you were fifteen, to show that you were destined for the Triforce of Courage of your land."
Jennan suddenly spoke in a harsh whisper from the floor. "Father, you are unbelievable."
Dorobis ignored her completely and continued to stare at Link. "And what of this princess that you nearly killed yourself over her departure a few years ago? If you loved her that much, you would not have any room for Jennan in your heart. As I said, you do not love her."
Link spoke quietly, just above a whisper. "You are a fool, to talk that way to someone who holds a sword to your throat."
"Perhaps I am, but you are a fool to hold a sword to the throat of your master."
"You are not my master."
Artos suddenly stepped forward, though slowly, and cast the hot poker to the floor. "Link, stop," he said carefully.
Link only now noticed how hard his heart was pounding and how shallow his breathing had been. He took a deep breath, then after a moment of hesitation, lowered the sword to his side, the point barely touching the floor. "You're right, Dorobis," he whispered. "I can't kill you."
Dorobis smirked. "That is what I thought." The man crossed his arms.
Link's voice rose to a normal note. "But by the gods, that doesn't mean I won't beat the Hades out of you." He said it as if it were the most normal sentence in the world, and Dorobis' eyebrows raised. The room had gotten freezing cold, for the door had remained open the entire time of the motionless, tense battle. Now that the sword was down, the rest of them seemed more comfortable to move.
Link's and Dorobis' eyes still met angrily, but Link noticed someone in the doorway. He took a split second to look and saw Rhashidi, standing rigid and ready to spring if he had to. The wolf-boy looked as if he did not know who to attack first, but he was looking at Dorobis with a low growl.
"Link," Artos said softly, putting a hand on the Hylian's shoulder, "we have to go. Back to Barrack."
Link shrugged Artos' hand away, but it just came right back firmly. Link shoved it off again with his free hand, then slid his sword back into its sheath. Finally breaking the hard stare with Dorobis, he turned and bent to Jennan. She looked into his eyes with a mix of fear, admiration, and gratitude. She knew that he had acted overly bold, but he had done it for her. She feared his strength and courage, but it thrilled her at the same time. He took her upper-body up in his arms and lifted her to her feet. She clung to the back of his neck, and the room started to breathe again. Dorobis was glaring angrily, but Link ignored him. He pulled back from Jennan and turned to Rhashidi.
"Rhashidi, stay with Jennan," he commanded, and Rhashidi perked up his ears and immediately came inside, standing close beside Jennan. Everyone knew that Link really meant, 'Protect her from her own father while I'm gone'. He gave Dorobis one last glare, and then was out the door with Artos.
After the door closed, there was a thick silence. Nothing was said until Link and Artos were on their way. Dorobis straightened his coat and mumbled, "That boy's lucky to be alive right now."
Matayo bristled. "No, Father, you are lucky to be alive. How dare you do that to Jennan! If I had been the one with a sword to your throat, I believe I would have driven it in. Too bad Link didn't."
"My own son." Dorobis shook his head, though not completely serious. "It's not right, is it?"
"No, it's not! I am not trying to justify the situation that brought this on, but you have done nothing but made it worse. Don't you realize that you were barely hanging onto your life there for awhile? If that would have been anyone else in the world but Link, you would be dead right now."
"Be quiet, Matayo, if you know what's good for you. I won't even have to worry about that Hylian slave for long."
Memnet spoke up. "What exactly are you saying?"
"I am giving him to my sister. Or trying, rather. I still cannot convince her to take him."
Jennan gasped. "No!"
"It's all right, Jennan," Memnet said. "Father, now we see why you made Link go to Barrack the last time; so your sister can examine him. How brilliant you are," she said sarcastically.
"What if he doesn't come back?" Jennan exclaimed.
"He'll come back," Memnet assured. She looked back at Dorobis. "And besides, you cannot just get rid of Link. Jennan's going to have his child."
Dorobis growled, "That's why Jennan is going to get a husband, to take care of the bairn."
"Marry her off to Link."
"No." The faintest trace of a smile appeared on Dorobis' face. "She is already promised to Henry."
Jennan gasped again, louder this time. Both of her hands shot to her face. "Nooo! I won't marry Herny; I won't do it!"
"You will do it," Dorobis barked. "You'll marry him and that's it."
-O-
"Oh Link, what are you going to do?"
Artos and Link were on their first night back from Barrack a few days after the confrontation in the kitchen in Carrickfergus. Link had taken it upon himself to ride Epona this time, and when they had reached Barrack a day ago, they had seen Lae and his friends in the streets. Link had ridden straight and stiff in the saddle, but Lae glanced at him once and then would not look at him again. So, at least that had been settled between them a few months ago. When they had reached Dorobis' sister's house, Link had had to suffer with being stared at again the whole time. The woman had even tried to make conversation with him, but he had only spoken in one-word answers, making it clear that he did not want to talk. She had sent another letter back with them once again.
Link had been mostly silent the whole way, thinking hard. He heard Artos' question and turned to look at him. "About what."
"About... Jennan, and Dorobis."
Link tossed his hair away from his eyes, shifting in the saddle. "I'm going to do the obvious. It's my job to take care of her now, and I will if Dorobis is there or not."
"That's a bold move."
Link's voice rose surprisingly. "I love Jennan! Why can't anybody seem to get that?"
"We do get it," Artos said quickly, as if trying to undo what he had just done. "But Dorobis is..."
"I don't fear him like everyone else does. I've faced worse before."
"You're headstrong, Link. Sometimes too much." Artos shook his head. "What's your plan now?"
Link replied without hesitation. "When we get back, I'm going to try to get Jennan to marry me."
"She'll say yes in a heartbeat- I cannot say the same for Dorobis, though."
"If he doesn't give his permission... then just let him go to the netherworld. If she says yes, I'll marry her anyway."
Artos exclaimed a curse. "Dangerous, you are!"
Link kept his eyes on the lantern-lit town that they were approaching. "I have to do what I have to do. I've thought about asking Jennan to marry me before, but now it's etched in stone. Don't think that I like doing this when her father doesn't wish it; I want him to say yes, but it'll never happen."
"You're right, it won't. But I'll leave this decision to you and Jennan now."
A crowd of young boys suddenly ran by on them on the trail, then followed by another crowd a few minutes later. Link and Artos shared a confused look, for it was strange for boys to be outside on the trail this late at night. Artos had to pull his horse to a stop to avoid colliding with a lone boy that had obviously been to slow to keep up with his friends.
"Sorry," the boy said, then quickly hurried on along the trail. Link kicked Epona into a trot, then pulled her to a stop when he reached the boy.
"Wait," he said, leaning over in the saddle with his arms resting on the back of Epona's neck. "What's the hurry?"
The boy looked up at him like he was crazy. "Don't you know?"
"No," Link said, close to losing his patience. Usually he was very calm in that way, but tonight he was riled.
"You must be travellers, then," the boy said, "because everyone knows."
"Except me," Link said, struggling to keep the harshness out of his voice. "Tell me, what is it?"
"Only the best thing you'll ever see!" The boy gestured wildly. "My friends are leaving me, so I must hurry. Anyway, I heard it through my uncle. They say the princess of Hyrule has come to this town- tonight!"