Chapter Five: Small Comforts
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Sheik: OracleVortex owns nothing.
Sorry that I took forever to get this out. I was finishing my other OoT story : ' ( and starting my Majora's Mask fic. {It's called It Froze Again if you wanna check it out.) And I took the time to look as this story and wonder 'where the hell am I going with this?' Besides. I was taking first term finals. Many essays to write. Blah for essays. ___
Hope you enjoy! J
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Death Mountain, though called a mountain, was really a volcano. And closer to the peak that you drew, the hotter it got. Halfway to the Goron City, Link was sweating like mad. He pulled off his hat and stuck it into his pack. His green tunic soon followed it, leaving him only in a light white shirt and loose white pants.
Link absently smiled, eyes never leaving the Sheikah as he boosted himself up a rock ledge. Sheik glanced down at him, offering a hand up. Pale blonde strands of hair drifted across passionate crimson eyes, and a thin, slender hand brushed them away. Link remembered to breathe as the lithe young man helped him up onto the rock edge. Strengthened arms flexed as Sheik supported himself on one hand, letting go of Link and reaching for Navi. Goddess, he's beautiful…
Link blushed, turning away from Sheik and staring out over the large expanse of land below. The village could be seen clearly, a small cluster of houses at the foot of the mountain. In the distance there was the castle, and even further Link could see the dark green tips of trees that indicated the Forest. Unwillingly, a sigh escaped pursed lips.
"You miss the forest."
Link started at Navi's voice, watching as she came to stand beside him. The girl looked out as he did, then turned her gaze to him.
"Perhaps I am more lucky than you, for I carry the forest within me." She gave him a rare half-smile. "You carry it as well, but you fail to remember."
Link looked at her quizzically. "What are you talking about?
Navi sat down on the edge of the cliff. "You were given a gift upon your leaving, and yet you have not used it, Link."
Link stared at the girl. "How did you know about that?"
Navi shrugged. "Saria and I are friends. She wonders how you've been and why you haven't talked to her."
"Talked to her?" Link said. "I'm halfway across the land!"
Navi turned to look up at him. "You need but play her song, and she will speak to you."
"Her song?" Link dug into one pocket to produce the ocarina. "The one she was given by the Elders?" Navi nodded. Link stared at the ocarina thoughtfully, mind recalling all the times that he had seen Saria play the short tune. It was a lively one, upbeat and light, reflecting Saria's very nature and soul. Images of memories came to him. He could see the fingerings in his mind…
Bringing the instrument to his lips, he played the melody, the song echoing out and down the mountainside. The sudden soft breeze carried the notes away from him, casting them to the sky. Sheik and Shaya paused in their conversation, watching as Link and Navi stood still in the sunlight. Navi began to hum, and then spoke, her voice softer and higher, eyes half lidded as she talked.
"Link? Link, is that you?"
Link stared at Navi, mouth falling open. "Saria? Saria, is that you?" Navi's eyes opened, their irises suddenly a bright emerald green. She nodded.
"Link! I was starting to think that you weren't ever going to talk to me! How have you been?" Navi glanced around. "Where are you?"
Link was struck speechless for a moment, staring at Navi. "Saria…but how is this possible? I thought that – that you could only talk through faeries, and…."
Navi laughed, though it was Saria who was doing it. "You mean she hasn't told you yet? Navi is a faerie, Link."
"But…she looks…you…"
"Looks can be deceiving, Link. It is complicated."
Link glanced over his shoulder, seeing that Sheik and Shaya were laying out the things needed for a meal. "We have the time."
Navi nodded, expression unreadable. "Yes. Link, you have never been favoured with the companionship of a faerie, therefore you have been locked out from their circle."
Link frowned, sitting beside Navi. A pang in his chest sang out, now only one among many. "So?"
"Her real form is of a faerie. When Ganon came unto the forest and stole Farore's emerald, he disrupted the completed birth of a Kokiri." She indicated herself. "This is the body of that Kokiri. Navi was forced to enter her and keep her alive. She was born without a soul."
Link gasped. "That's terrible, but…how is it possible? I thought that when a faerie heals, they…vanish away…"
"She became her soul for living, Link, not her healer. The reason that a Kokiri cannot live outside of the forest is because they naturally depend on the life and vibrant innocence of the forest's aura. Because they are around and borne of the purity of Farore's gift of life, they keep the state of a child for all of their immortal lives; they stay young because of the forest. Other children, borne much of the same way, but yet not of the Kokiri emerald, can live in the forest, developing and being purified, until their heritage of their race comes in and causes them to change. Kokiri can tolerate complete purity. Other races crave unbalance and disorder…they become Staflos."
"Oh…and faeries?"
"Faeries are the purest form of life in the world. They can heal and revitalize lost life. The Great faeries of the land are the greatest manifestation of this power. They can heal again and again, giving away life without dying. Similarly, the Sheikah can restore life, having learned much of their craft from the Great Faerie of the Goron's mountain."
"I see, but you didn't answer my question."
"How is it that Navi survives? Well, let's see…she resides inside a mortal body; therefore, her mortal self-interests keep her from relieving herself of all her energy. As for the body its self, she keeps it alive, for she is a source, or connection to the forest…the one energy the body needs to live."
"Wow. That was complicated."
"Like I said it was." Navi waved a hand. "But enough of that, Link. What have you been up to?"
Link blinked, telling her of all the events that had happened since their separation. Except for the fact that he wasn't talking to her in person, he felt a bit relaxed, chatting with the one person that had been – and probably will be – his best friend for the rest of his life. Introducing Saria to Sheik and Shaya, Link was sad to see the time when Saria had to go.
"I'm sorry, Link, really I am, but Navi is growing tired and I can see that it is getting dark where you are." Navi glanced up at the sky. "I'll talk to you again, be sure of it. Bye, Link."
"Bye." Link repeated, watching as Navi seemed to fall out of a trance. She blinked, her eyes returning to normal. For a moment she watched Link, impassive. She then stood, getting up and drifting away. For a long while, Link just stared off into nowhere, mind wandering. It wouldn't be so bad, now that he didn't feel completely cut off from the forest. It was reassuring, really.
It took Link a moment before he even noticed that Sheik was sitting down across from him. The Sheikah was casually breaking a long stick, feeding it slowly to the fire. With every snap a piece was sent into the flames, causing it to flicker and rise.
Link's skin tingled as crimson eyes ran over him, searching for something. He held the powerful gaze with equal interest, unable and unwilling to drop it and let it go. The young Sheikah was suddenly at the Hylian's side, peering expressionless into his face.
Link stumbled backwards, heart thudding against his ribs. "W-hat?"
Sheik turned away, staring into the distance. "Are you feeling better?"
"Better?"
Sheik rubbed his neck. "You were out of sorts. You carried a great burden." He looked at him sidelong. "Your friend has lightened your spirit considerably."
Link examined his hands with a fake interest. "You mean Saria. She knew that I was scrambling for holds on reality…that I felt distant. I don't anymore, you're right, but…" Link sighed. "It's all happening so fast."
Sheik didn't speak for a moment. "The flow of time is always cruel, Link. Its speed seems different for each person, but no one can change it." Sheik titled his head to the sky, as if finding his words in the stars above. "When I find that I cannot see through time's blur, I take hold of those near me. Often they are able to slow time's current and turn it to a stream." Standing, he moved past Link, soundless except for his fingers trailing through Link's hair.
Link shivered, watching as Sheik drifted to his sister's side. The two melted into the dark, undistinguishable from the shade. Link heard a low murmuring, but otherwise understood nothing. Navi stirred from where she slept nearby, and turned over. Link smiled, absently running a hand through his hair.
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Oh yes…Sheik is a sexy thang! ::drools::
Sheik: Um…you do remember that I'm a fictional character…right?
Me: Yeah, so?
Sheik: Um…never mind…
Me: Hey! We (Sheik-obsessers all over) don't care that you aren't walking and talking! That way we can each claim you for our own!
Sheik: Eep!
Link: Ha. You should see the Link-fangirls. They try to clone me!
Me/Sheik: o.O Whoa. Weird.
Link: You're telling me…
Clones…hmm…Sheik-clones…hmm…sounds like a fic idea… ::goes and scribbles down ideas::
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