Chapter forty-five! HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY! It's time to continue this story in the new year :) I hope you guys enjoy it! Oh, and I need to make a shout-out to Omega Warrior! Thanks, because you really helped me out :D
Chapter Forty-Five: Carlotta's Shop
The first thing Link saw when he opened his heavy eyes was the bright glimmer of the Master Sword, still embedded in the pedestal. Then his gaze began shifting throughout the room as his mind struggled to piece together the fragments of memories it held. Finally, his eyes fell onto Zelda, who was lying on the ground a few yards away. At first, Link felt worry and concern pulsate through his body, because there were silent tears rushing down her pale cheeks. But he calmed down when he noticed her delighted smile and the bright twinkle in her eyes, and he realized that they were tears of pure joy.
As he watched her, staring at her hand in bewilderment, the image of the event that had just occurred flashed behind his eyelids. He remembered the array of bright colors, and the chaos of jumbled memories. He remembered feeling amazed, sick, happy, sad, and angry all at once; they had been a strange few moments for the pot of emotions boiling inside of him. With a sudden jolt of realization, Link's eyes widened. Imitating Zelda's actions, he looked down at the back of his hand.
The Triforce, his Triforce, glowed green on the bottom. But straying from normality, the top triangle gave off a slight red shimmer, just barely visible to the human eye. For a few seconds, Link was frozen in complete and utter shock. As if on cue, he felt a burning sensation rush through his veins. It wasn't only the sensation of courage anymore; there was a strange mixture of courage and power. Sheer, raw, infinite power.
Link gasped quietly, finding himself barely able to breathe. Had they really succeeded in their journey to the Sacred Realm? Was the Triforce of Power, completing the picture, finally theirs?
"Link," Zelda broke the silence, uttering his name with an indubitably shaky voice. He looked up at her, finding his own eyes rapidly filling with glimmering tears. "Show me your hand."
Obeying without a single word, Link revealed to her the back of his left hand. She laughed in amazement, sitting up. Her elbows trembled, and Link managed to notice that her hand glowed a mixture of blue and red; wisdom and power as opposed to his courage and power. Then he followed suit and sat up as well.
"We got it," he whispered, more to himself than to his princess.
"We now have the power to defeat whatever is out there," Zelda continued. "With the Orb, and the Master Sword, and the power of the complete Triforce, not even an entire army of Guardians will be able to stop us."
"What happened, exactly?" Link asked, still observing his hand.
"Well, it seems as though we both have a part of the Triforce of Power inside of us," she began explaining knowledgeably. Link could see the gears in her head beginning to turn. "Perhaps...perhaps it's possible that the Triforce itself was divided."
Link stood shakily, though his knees wobbled clumsily from the sudden rush of power to which he wasn't accustomed. Reaching his shimmering hand out, he helped Zelda to her feet. Yet as her right hand clasped his left, they felt a shock run through their fingertips. Swaying dangerously, Zelda let herself lean against Link's toned chest.
"I...I think I know what happened," she stuttered, closing her eyes for a moment. He simply held her patiently, basking in the warmth that her quivering body emitted.
When she opened her eyes, he saw knowledge glimmering inside of them.
"The Triforce of Power was split between the both of us because we touched it at the same time, and we both have good hearts. So now, the split Triforce has created a bond between us," she smiled beautifully, making his heart swell. "Our connection is unbreakable now." She weaved her slim fingers between his thicker ones, causing another momentary shock.
"I can't believe it actually worked," Link shook his head, still in wonder at the results of their journey.
"Honestly, Zelda sighed, taking on an almost guilty expression. "Me neither."
He chuckled, tucking a strand of glossy hair behind her ear
"Now let's hurry," she suddenly licked her lips and swallowed anxiously. "We need to get back to Castle Town to buy the herb. Then we can give it to Renado and let him work his magic."
Link nodded silently yet obediently. With a grunt of slight effort, he pulled the Master Sword from the pedestal and sheathed it, though his body felt heavier with it slung against his back. Then, he began to lead Zelda out of the temple. As he did, however, he remembered the injury that the Deku Baba had inflicted upon him. He paused for a moment, and lifted his tunic to check on his bloody wound. To his surprise, there was no more pain. Removing the makeshift bandage, he saw that wound had completely disappeared.
"The Sacred Realm can do wondrous things," Zelda interjected. Beaming hopefully, he reached into his knapsack, praying that his Iron Boots and Zora tunic had been returned.
"It can't do everything," she comforted when he came up empty-handed. She squeezed his shoulder reassuringly, though Link kept a blank expression to hide his utter disappointment. Those had been two of his most useful weapons, and it hurt him to see them gone.
"At least it was for a good cause," Zelda was yet again able to read his mind. He nodded in agreement, still quite upset about his unexpected loss. "Let's hurry, before anybody else has to die because of this plague."
Hand in hand, they made their way out of the Sacred Grove-with some difficulty-and found the Golden Cucco awaiting them at the entrance. Once again, Zelda clung to Link as tightly as she could and closed her twinkling eyes. He took a few moments to get things straight in his head as they floated serenely through the crisp air. He guessed that it was in the afternoon, because the sun was still shining high in the big, brightly lit, blue sky.
As his princess clung onto him, the hero felt complete. He loved her...and she loved him back. Together, they held the power of the complete Triforce, and were unstoppable. There was nothing that could stand in their way, or in between their love. As Link thought about the strength of their relationship, Ilia's tear-stained face flashed through his mind, and he couldn't help but cringe.
He stumbled forward when they landed, and he found himself wishing for her to get out of his head. Suddenly, every time he closed his eyes, he was looking into Ilia's deep green ones. It made his heart pound heavily, and his stomach flip. He hadn't thought about Ilia ever since their fight, and now that he was, he was experiencing the strangest feeling...
Link didn't think he ever would, but he missed her. And he missed her passionately, with no end. She had been his friend for so long, ever since their childhood, and having her disappear in such a short period of time was more devastating than he ever expected. The first memory he had of her was meeting her, and her smiling face quickly brightening up his day. His last memory, however, was of her screaming at him and her arguments against the course of his future. He could only recall wanting to get away and never see her face again...and now he regretted those thoughts.
When we stop at Kakariko Village to give Renado the cure, he thought hopefully, mounting Epona. I'll apologize. It was wrong of me to get so angry... and I miss her too much. I have to swallow my pride.
He prayed that Zelda would never find out about these feelings that he was experiencing. It was one part of his mind that he didn't want her reading.
"Follow me," Zelda pulled her hood up and began walking across the bridge into Castle Town. Link followed behind helplessly, carrying no idea of where they were going. As they entered the Western Road of Castle Town, Zelda halted abruptly in the middle. For a few minutes, they simply stood there, and Link shuffled his feet on the cobblestone. The princess stood, back erect and head held high, and didn't move an inch. People passed by them, not paying any notice; though a few times, Link did get some provocative stares from the female passersby, both old and young.
"Is everything clear?" Zelda asked, looking around once the road seemed to be empty of all people but them. Link nodded, and his mind fluttered hastily in curiosity. Even through the shadows of her hood, he could see the mischievous smirk on her face. Once he had confirmed that they were alone, she grabbed the sleeve of his tunic and pulled him to the entrance of a dark, narrow, gated alley. Link had passed it an innumerable amount of times, yet he'd never paid it much heed.
As Link narrowed his eyes, struggling to see through the darkness beyond the iron bars, Zelda reached into the small, hidden pocket of her hood. When she pulled out a key, Link was even more perplexed, and he chuckled in shocked amusement when she used the strangely-shaped key to easily open up the gate. Putting the key back into its hiding place, she silently slipped into the ominous darkness while he hesitantly crept forward. The gate slammed shut behind them, but the princess didn't even flinch.
Link watched the light of Castle Town dim as they descended into the blackness, finally reaching a small wooden door. Zelda pulled her hood down and winked at him sneakily before pushing open the door. He got butterflies and a smile on his face as he followed her through the entrance. He was blinded by the sudden flash of colors that attacked his unaccustomed eyes. All around him, he saw shelves piled high with gadgets and knick-knacks Link had never seen before. There were small, colorful figurines, shining, elaborate dishes, pieces of apparel decorated with intricate designs. There were dirty jars that held eyeballs and unknown organs from unknown creatures, along with pink perfume bottles and various stationary sets. Link struggled to keep his disgust hidden.
His wide eyes glanced down, and he found that they were walking on a carpet embroidered with traditional symbols similar to those on Zelda's dress. On the ceiling, orbs and shimmering ornaments hung, clanking against each other lightly. There was even a mobile that held spinning Triforces and the same symbols they'd seen in the blue room of the Sacred Realm, where the Triforce had been.
"Wh-who goes there?" an old, gruff voice called out from the depths of the colorful chaos. "How did you get in here?"
"Carlotta," the princess replied gently. "Carlotta, it's me."
"I-is that really you?" As Link and Zelda moved forward, they saw the dark shape of an old woman behind a counter. "Princess Zelda?"
"Yes, it's me," the princess seemed to be having trouble containing her joy. Finally, Link saw her. The stout woman sat behind a dirty glass counter, and inside it were gorgeous gold and silver jewelry of ever kind; necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and even rings.
The woman had long, snow-white tresses running down from her wrinkled scalp in thin curls. Her eyes were a solemn brown color, and they held a sad twinkle. Link could see sad memories held in them. Yet he could also see an overwhelming amount of love, kindness, and a life of fulfillment. On her pointed ears were large hoop earrings, and she wore an orange shawl over a dark brown dress.
"Zelda," she sighed, a toothless grin spreading across her wrinkled face. "Oh, my little princess, it's been too long since I've seen your beautiful, bright smile." She reached her arms out over the counter, gently placing her palms on Zelda's flustered cheeks. The old woman's gentle eyes became filled with sweet tears.
"I've missed you so much, Carlotta," the princess replied. Carlotta kissed her forehead and stroked her hair, as if she were her own daughter.
"I've been sitting here, waiting for you to visit me," she sniffled, sitting back down behind the counter. Zelda swallowed, nodding guiltily.
"I know, I know," she sighed. "I've just had so much work to do, but I've thought about you every single day."
"As I, you, my dear," Carlotta wiped her eyes with a meaty finger. Finally, she noticed Link standing awkwardly beside the princess, and her expression softened. "Who might this handsome young man be?"
"His name is Link," Zelda answered for him. The princess had seemed to catch on to the fact that Link wasn't one to talk much to the people with which he wasn't close. "He's the swordsman who saved Hyrule."
Link shook Carlotta's hand, blushing modestly as Zelda explained. The old shopkeeper held onto his gloved hand, looking him over with a glint in her somber eyes.
"You have beautiful eyes, my boy," she observed. "They're the brightest blue..."
He smiled appreciatively, expecting himself to start feeling uncomfortable. Yet that awkward feeling never came. When he looked into Carlotta's eyes, he felt right at home, as if he'd known this woman for his entire life. And if Zelda trusted her...Link did, too.
"You're the one everybody has been talking about, no?" she continued, letting go of his hand. "The one who nobly defended Hyrule and defeated the evil Gerudo King."
"That's him," the princess confirmed.
"Hmm," Carlotta narrowed her eyes pensively. "I can see the courage and strength in his heart reflected in his feral eyes."
Link bowed his head, feeling his heart swell proudly at these compliments. He also noticed a red complexion rise to Zelda's cheeks as she tucked her hair behind her ear. The old woman looked from Link to Zelda, back to Link, and then back to Zelda. A gentle smile came to her thin lips when she noticed the look that Link was giving his princess, and the flustered expression on her face.
"What can I do for you, my dear? Just let me know, and I'll do anything I can," she interrupted the silence.
"Well..." Zelda snapped back into reality, breaking eye contact with Link. He scratched the back of his neck, clearing his throat. "There is one thing we need desperately."
"Anything my love, anything."
"Do you still have that bottle of Din's Spice Herb? The one that you used to tell me stories about when I was a little girl?" As Zelda explained the object that they needed, her eyes took on a nostalgic glint, and a lovely smile crossed her lips. Carlotta closed her soft eyes for a few moments.
"The stories I used to tell you..." she murmured, more to herself than to Link or Zelda. "I don't even think your father realized how much I enjoyed your visits. They made my days."
"Mm," Zelda nodded, and Link took joy in seeing her so happy and nostalgic. He could see her basking in the good memories of her childhood, and they lit up her face entrancingly. "I miss the stories you used to tell me."
"I miss seeing your face," Carlotta coughed as she stood up, leaning on her knees to steady herself as she pulled out a walking stick from beneath the counter. Link instinctively reached out to help her, touching her arm to make sure she didn't topple over. Strangely, he already felt close to this motherly figure, and he didn't want to see her injured. She began walking toward one of the shelves, her back hunched as she leaned on her golden walking cane. Link and Zelda gave each other curious glances as she shuffled through the various bottles and ornaments on the shelves.
"Ah, here it is," she said, pulling out a tiny vile. Inside, there was a powder that was a mixture between red and orange, and it was almost glowing. The label on the bottle was written in an ancient Hylian dialect that Link couldn't understand. When he sneaked a peek at Zelda's expression, he could tell that she, however, could read it perfectly.
"Din's Spice Herb," the princess breathed as she grabbed the vile from the elderly woman's hands. "Thank you so much, Carlotta. You have no idea how much this will help."
"Anything for my little princess," she patted Zelda's cheek affectionately, giving them both a sweet smile.
"How much will that be?" Zelda asked as they walked back to the counter.
"No charge," Carlotta waved away the question with her thin hand, as if it were silly just to be asking.
"Carlotta, please," Zelda sighed, rolling her eyes. "I can't take one of the rarest items you have for nothing!"
"Of course you can," Carlotta grumbled as she made herself comfortable in the armchair once again. "Simply seeing your face is payment enough."
"Please, how much?"
"Just use it well, and I will be happy," Carlotta leaned back in the cushioned chair. "Money isn't necessary. Honestly, Zelda, what am I going to use the money for anyway? I barely leave the house anymore."
"Thank you so very much, Carlotta," the princess smiled appreciatively, placing her hand over Carlotta's on the counter. "I really wish we could stay, but-"
"I understand, dearest," the shop-owner looked down at her fidgeting fingers, then looked back up at them. "You have things to do."
"I'm sorry," Zelda frowned, genuinely upset to be leaving this kind old woman.
"Make sure you come visit me more often," Carlotta reprimanded. "And bring this young man with you."
"It was a pleasure meeting you," he offered, bowing his head.
"Oh," Carlotta raised her eyebrows with a grin, impressed at his unusual manners. "You've got quite a catch here, Zelda." The hero looked down at his feet, and Zelda ran a hand through her glossy hair. Carlotta simply let out a burst of hoarse, energetic laughter. "Now go. I know you have things to get done."
"Good-bye, Carlotta," Zelda pulled her hood back up and began making her way toward the door. "It was wonderful seeing you again."
"Don't forget me, my little princess."
"I won't, I promise," Zelda waved, tucking the vile into her cape. "Come on, Link."
"I'll be there in a few minutes," Link gestured hastily, smiling reassuringly. Zelda simply nodded. "You go ahead."
When the door had been securely closed, Link turned back to Carlotta.
"And what would you like me to do for you?" she asked understandingly. The hero smiled, pointing to an object. As he did, Carlotta's face lit up excitedly, and she got it out for him without any hesitation. Link found that his anxiety and glee was almost impossible to contain as she prepared the object for him, silence hanging heavily in the air. It wasn't tense or awkward silence. Simply...silence.
"How much?"
"Five hundred," Carlotta began. Link held in his feelings of surprise. It was more expensive than he'd been expecting...but he was willing to pay anything. He began reaching into his wallet, pulling out purple and yellow rupees.
"Wait," Carlotta held up a hand to stop him. "For you, I'll make it three hundred." For a few moments, Link shook his head to protest, but the woman was stubborn in her decision. "Three hundred, take it or leave it."
With a soft chuckle, he paid the amount of money required and grabbed the object. As he turned to leave, Carlotta touched his arm lightly.
"Take care of my little princess," she said, her playful demeanor dying down a bit. Link nodded solemnly, knowing that he wouldn't have it any other way.
Just before heading out the door, he tucked the small box into his tunic, where Zelda wouldn't be able to see it.
PLEASE READ THIS AUTHOR'S NOTE
For those of you who have already guessed what the reward is, I AM BEGGING YOU not to mention it in any reviews, so that you don't give it away to the readers who haven't figured it out yet ;) You can PM me if you would like, but I don't want any surprises to be given away. And if you have figured it out...GOOOO YOU. HAHA. Don't forget to review and tell me what you thought about this chapter :)