The Eternal Winter

Chapter 2: The Inn

Author's Note: If I do something contradicting the RP here, please do not correct me Imagination's Dream or StickMario645. It was probably intentional. That goes for the rest of the chapters I write.

Also, you will notice that Kakariko Village will be portrayed as much bigger than it was in Ocarina of Time. This was before Hyrule Castle Town flourished and Kakariko was the place to be. Before Impa brought it back up from the ashes of a huge fire. Thank you. On to the story!

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No-one else knew she was a Sheikah. But Engoth was an elf. His senses were much more adept than any Hylians. He walked up to Xila and bowed.

"Honorable Sheikah." He stated. This drew gasps from the crowd. Xila grimaced. "I purpose this Sheikah join the team." This time, he said it to the Village Elder.

"I have no objections." The Elder said. "There are no other Sheikah here. The Sheikah is on the team."

What? Xila thought. What is this team? What's going on here? She couldn't fathom what being on this team meant.

"Who are you?" Xila said again, to Artie. She ignored the Elder.

Artie pondered this. He then thrust the backs of his hands together. He fought off the searing pain there, and when he brought his hands apart, Triforce marks shown brightly on both of his hands.

"I am Artie." He said triumphantly. "And I am a chosen hero."

Gasps arose from the crowd. But Xila didn't know the importance of what he had just said.

"Name's Xila." She said casually. She turned to Engoth. "And what's your name?"

Engoth was very secretive. He didn't let anyone know the truth about his past. "My name is Engoth." He said, his voice held strong. And that's all you need to know about me." Engoth thought... "Are you on the team or not?" Engoth looked impatient.

I have to keep myself shrouded in mist. Engoth thought. Let them tell me about themselves first. Anyone could be working against me.

Xila nodded slowly, and her eyes darkened... Secretive... She thought. Well I can't blame him... I'm quite secretive myself...

"Team?" She asked. "I don't know what's going on. But," She looked over to the body of the dead minion and anger turned her eyes from emotionless silver to a forbidding magma. She felt a dark wave come over her. She looked back to Engoth. "If I get to watch the life leave Tutendorf's eyes, I will join this 'team' you speak of."

She thought of her revenge and how she could avenge her family's death by aiding in this. A whisper ran through the crowd at the change of her eyes color. They definitely had never seen someone with color changing eyes before.

The eyes were a trait for Xila. They had run in the Sheikah family for centuries. Her eyes told exactly what her emotion currently was. Pale Silver was emotionless; red was anger; and a sky-blue was passionate. Right now her eyes flashed with a hint of red, but had mostly gone back to their Silver state.

Xila had flowing hair that passed her shoulders. It alternates purple and pale silver streaks. She is tall for a girl, skinny and fair. She always wears a black cloak that conceals her figure and a hood that covers her head. She very rarely takes off that hood; only in the company of true friends.

Engoth thought. Who the heck was a Tutendorf?

"I don't know who Tutendorf is." Engoth said. "But adding a warm-up to the teams' agenda shouldn't hurt."

Warm-up? Xila thought. What's this team for then? Then the Village Elder began to speak up again.

"Very good." The Elder said. "Do we have a Zora representative?"

Mohkaal was confident. "Yes Elder. I would like to join the team." Mohkaal said, his hand on the hilt of his sword for added emphasis.

"Tutendorf is the guy who sent fatso over there to attack this village." Xila whispered to Engoth. "He and I have some unsolved issues."

Tutendorf had been the murder of her family, of course. She wanted revenge. More than anything, that was her reason or joining the team.

"Representatives?" Xila asked, so only Engoth and Artie could hear. For what? What is this team doing? What has happen to Hyrule?"

She was confused about everything. When she had left things were normal, and now it was like there was a war going on. What has happened to my dear homeland while I was away? She thought.

Engoth knew the team's mission inside out.

"This team is dedicated to entering the castle of Xalon." Engoth said. "Xalon has cast this eternal winter on Hyrule, and used it to create his Ice Tower. But the elder says that first we must gather the orbs of Din, Farore, and Nayru. We will storm Xalon's castle in Hyrule Field and show him whose boss! Who rules Hyrule! But first we need to have a representative from the main 5 races... Kokiri and Gerudo excluded, of course. A Sheikah, an elf, a Hylian, a Goron, and a Zora. This leads us back to accepting the Zora on the team." He now spoke up so all could hear. "I would accept him."

"Then the Zora is on the team. Zora Prince. What is your name?"

"Mohkaal." Mohkaal said. "Honorable Village Elder. I thank you for letting me have this opportunity.

"Then," Xila said. "As the last of my race the Sheikah, I ask to be a part of this team. No one comes to the land in which I was born and does this." She finished. Even though she was only half Sheikah, she was the last one. She felt it was her duty to help. "So when do we leave?"

"Not yet..." Engoth said. "We still need a Goron and a Hylian... Artie. You are on the team then, I assume?"

Link looked down. "But what about me?"

Engoth looked sad. "And you, Link... we only have a spot for one Hylian. I'm sorry."

"I object!" The cry came out from a gruff old Hylian. "We out-number the rest of the races together! One of us is too few... I purpose Link and Artie are allowed to join the team! What say you, elder?" He finished triumphantly. Many Hylians cheered.

"That is up to the team leader now..." The Elder said. "Which still hasn't been decided... does anyone else want to nominate someone to lead the team? Otherwise, the elf leads the team."

Another villager cried out, "This Sheikah should not be on the team! She killed that guy with the shadows! Only dark magic can control the shadows! How do we know we can we trust her?!"

That's completely off the point... Xila thought.

"You don't." She replied simply. "But, those here who know me from long ago do."She turned to the Elder. "Did you not know my family? You spoke out to the village after they-" Xila's voice faded. Her family's death wasn't something she particularly enjoyed talking about. But, he must have remembered. The village elder spoke at all the funerals. "After 'you-know-what'." She finished. Her anger faded to grief, as her eyes once again changed color. She hid her feelings well, but her eyes tell what mood she's in by their color. She knew it was futile.

The Elder felt a sadness and lonesome creep into his soul for the sake of Xila. He did indeed remember...

"She can be trusted." He said quite simply. "Do we have a Goron representative? And does anyone object to the Elf leading the team? Last call?"

Engoth was sure he'd take the position.

Mohkaal was itching to get this over with. He was quite bored. Just let the elf take the spot. He thought. So we can get out of this Din-forsaken meeting.

Link barely contained himself from jumping for joy. I'm going to be on the team!

"Still!" The man shouted. "She can control the shadows! Only those who have been consumed by darkness can control it!"

Chills ran up Xila's spine. He was right. But she wasn't that girl anymore, she wasn't a killer consumed by darkness out for revenge. She never would be that again. She was sure of it. She watched to see how others would react.

If they know my dark past would I still be trusted? Xila thought. I've changed, and the Elder knows that! He helped me change my ways a year ago. But she knew she wouldn't be trusted easily.

"So," Artie started. "If I have a demon inside of me, that automatically makes me consumed by darkness?" Artie asked. He knew the answer of course. It didn't. But he wanted to draw the attention off of Xila.

So what if she can control the shadows? Artie thought. That doesn't make her less of a human being!

"He speaks the truth Artie..." Xila murmured. "My past is not a pretty picture."

"If I have anything to say about it." The Elder said. "Than the girl is on the team. Team Leader? Engoth? What say you?"

Engoth was taken aback. So I am the team's leader...

"I say she's on the team." Engoth stated. He trusted the Elder.

So they were the team. All 5 of them. Engoth, Artie, Xila, Link, and Mohkaal.

"I see no Gorons have shown up." Engoth said. We can't complete this mission without the team of prophecy... He thought. "I propose that our team's first trek will be to Death Mountain. To find out what happened to the Gorons and get one to join our team."

Murmurs of agreement passed through the crowd.

"I'm hungry." Xila said absently. "You guys wanna go get somethin' to eat?"

"Sure." Artie and Engoth said at the same time.

"Where's the best place to eat around here?" Xila asked.

"The Inn!" Artie exclaimed. "Food and lodging of the best!" His mouth broadened into a wide smile.

"Lead the way." Xila said. "I haven't been here in a while." In fact, she didn't even remember there being an Inn in Kakariko Village, but then again, she had been gone for a very long time.

Artie led the way through the twists and turns of the city, and finally came to a large building near the back of town.

"The Inn." Artie read off the sign. "Quite simple to remember the name, won't it be?"

"Must be the only one here..." Xila reasoned. Artie looked at her funny.

"Of course there's only one Inn here... You didn't know? Where have you been?" Artie asked this question sarcastically, not meaning to literally ask where Xila had been. But Xila took it the wrong way.

"None of your business..." She answered. Artie shrugged. The team walked into the Inn.

The Inn was like a restaurant on its ground floor. Well actually, it was a restaurant. People could come and eat without having to get a room. The Inn made a lot of money off of its business. Engoth picked out a round table near the back of the large hall big enough for all 5 of them to fit. He motioned for a waiter to come over.

Xila took the chair near the window and looked outside. Soft white flakes of snow fell from the heavens and landed crisply on the ground. Light grey clouds hung in the air keeping the suns warmth away. Xila didn't mind the cold. She knew something had to be done about this, or they'd all freeze, but Xila would be happy until the freezing day. She loved the cold. It numbed her pain, watching the flakes of snow drop outside the window. Her mind began to drift.

A waitress came over to the table, and took everyone's order. Then a bus-boy came by with soup and salad. The team all quietly sipped the warm soup. It warmed them from the inside out and got rid of all of the chill that had frosted them down from inside them outside at the meeting in the Village Square.

A small poem popped into Xila's mind. A poem her mother had sang when she was very young. She started reciting it without thinking about it. It started out as a whisper, but grew louder throughout.

"To the north,

Made of power it comes forth,

An orb of red awaits.

To the west,

Made by peace and love of best,

An orb of blue awaits.

To the east,

Of Courage, not valued least,

An orb of green awaits."

Xila finished, embarrassed because by the end, the entire team was looking at her. Her cheeks flushed.

"That was the poem my mother always used to sing to me..." She trailed off, embarrassed.

"I heard that when I was a kid also..." Artie said. He seemed to be wrapped up in memories... Probably not fond ones, either.

"It must be talking about the three orbs we're setting out to get!" Link exclaimed.

Xila chuckled at the young boy's revelation. The snow and ice was like a dream to her, so she was very interested with it. She stared out the window dreamily. She was quite tried, however, so she closed her eyes for a while. But she wasn't sleeping. Her thoughts shifted from one thing to another so quickly it was hard for her to concentrate on one single thing.

Engoth followed Xila's gaze out of the window. The snow and ice that had encrusted Hyrule was pleasing to the eye, but she seemed entranced.

"It will be gone soon, rest assured." Engoth said to Xila. "Does it bring back bad memories?" The last bit wasn't trying to be insensitive. But that's how it came across to the outside world. Mohkaal shot Engoth a disapproving look.

"Many memories." was all Xila had to say. Engoth could tell that she wasn't thinking about her family. Or any of the bad things in life, for that matter. Her voice made him sure of it. She looked peaceful. But a little too peaceful for the task at hand... Engoth thought.

Dinner finally came. Delicious trays of roast beef, corn, potatoes, and other delicious things. The group started to chow down. But Xila's eyes remained closed.

"Dinner's here Xila." Engoth said. He was trying to sound compassionate, but he lacked a real sincerity in his deep voice.

Mohkaal rolled his eyes, for everyone to see. This brought on an awkward silence. Mohkaal decided he wanted to break that silence.

"Let's eat!" He exclaimed. "This stuff is delicious!"

Xila took a bite or two of the meal, but she wasn't very hungry. Her peaceful state was interrupted when she saw a family walking by. It made her think of her old family, which lead to the thoughts of her life, which was filled with never ending troubles. She blinked back tears of sorrow so my eyes turned a glassy silver. Her mood darkened with the sorrow.

"I'm not hungry." She said, pushing her plate away from her. She was diligent of the fact that she would regret this move later, but for now, she couldn't bring herself to eat.

"The food was good." Mohkaal said, when they had all finished. "My Egg Salad was particularly nice..." His voice trailed off.

He's going to try that conversation starter? Engoth thought. He snickered. He wanted to get down to business.

"Could you repeat the prophecy poem, Xila?" Engoth asked. He wanted to think about where they could go to get the orbs.

Just then the waiter brought out dessert.

"Oh!" Link said. "It looks delicious!" He was right. Pies, and Ice Cream, all the types of frozen treats you could ask for. But the pie looked the best. Pudding pie. With a chocolate pie crust, and whipped cream. The look of it made Xila's mouth water.

"Maybe just one little pie..." She said, reaching for one. Artie took one too. Xila was about to take a bite, but Artie stopped her.

"Wait." Artie said. He sniffed the pie, turned away revolted, and put a finger down in the pie. He pulled it back up, and when the pudding edged away, his finger was a deep purple. "Poison." He said.

Link scoffed. "Poison? Just 'cause your finger came out purple doesn't mean it's poisoned. You're being paranoid.

Xila wanted to find out. She muttered a few words under her breath, and her pie glowed purple.

"It's poisoned all right." She said.

"Told ya." Artie said, smirking at Link. But then he shifted his attention to the task at hand; finding the one who had poisoned their desserts.