Chapter Seven: River Battle
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Disclaimer: Nothing to be said here. You know I own nothing.
Why are there no boats in OoT? There are plenty in MM, for all the people over there and all… Do they really expect Link to swim everywhere? That takes forever, even with the gold/silver scale!!
Also, in the previous chapter, the three dot, dot, dot things that I use to make characters drift off in their sentence were unexpectedly turned to one period. So, it wasn't that I put single periods in incorrect places; it's just that two were loped off. I don't know why. *Mutter* Stupid ff.net. I apologise for this, and I hope it doesn't happen again.
***SPECIAL TREAT!!*** Today is Saturday, and I'm stuck bbsitting yet again. Gackt and Dir en Grey is playing in the background, and I'm typing up a storm. Now, instead of one chapter for this story, I am giving you four, that's right, four. The funny thing about it is that I wrote them backwards, meaning I started with the tenth and then the ninth, and then the eighth. Well, actually, I had most of the eighth done when I started this fic, but that's beside the point. My point is that you're getting a lot from me today (I updated When You Need Me and started a HP RemusxSirius fic, Drops of Scarlet as well) so don't complain about what happens at the end of the ninth chapter, because it will all be explained in time.
Cheers, all!
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Link smiled lazily, trailing his fingers through the water as the small boat sailed down the river. In a strange switch of situations, the harsh terrain of the mountain was switched for the pleasant scenery of the Zora's Domain River. The sun was bright and warm on Link's skin, and the lapping of the paddle cutting into the water was almost soothing. Sheik sat in the stern of the boat, steering with a paddle as the current carried them along. Shaya and Navi were in the other boat, a couple feet ahead of them; Shaya was steering for them. Navi and Link had no experience in a boat; they both came from the forest, where there were ponds and pools at the most.
Link glanced back at the young Sheikah man, taking in the way he moved, the way he smoothly steered the boat. Link caught his eye and quickly turned around, his heart pounding at that moment of connection. Lately he had been definitely looking at Sheik differently. With what happened at the top of Death Mountain, and the way he made his pulse race… Link shivered, and not in an unpleasant way.
"Rapids!" Shaya called back to them, and they dipped over the edge of a small drop. Sheik and Link immediately followed, the small boat being tossed around carelessly in the river.
"Hold on, Link!" Sheik said, leaning hard on the rudder. The craft dipped sharply to the right. Link nearly tipped into the water, and panicked by throwing himself in the opposite direction. The boat shifted with the churning water and Link was pitched off the other side. "Link!" Sheik cried, horrified as the Hylian disappeared under the water. The blonde head of hair bobbed up once, but it was several meters away. It vanished again, and Sheik couldn't see where it went.
Link flailed about wildly, the undertow tugging him to the bottom of the river. A sharp stone cut into his back and tore as he was pulled away. He opened his mouth to cry out, and soon realized the stupidity of it. He now had no air in his lungs, and he was unable to pull himself to the surface. This is it. This is how I'm going to die… A shape in the water moved towards him, and Link dimly wondered if it was a friend or foe. His vision was blurring and he was still being pulled along in the current. Hands grabbed onto his tunic, and amazingly he was pulled to the surface. His head broke the water and someone pulled him up the riverbank. The world was going dim. No…this is how I'm going to die… Hands pushed on his chest, pushed hard, and water spurted from his mouth. Link promised himself that he would never swim again. The hands pushed again and again, and Link tried to gasp for air, but none would come.
"Damn it…" A distant voice swore. A mouth covered his, fingers holding his nose closed. Air was forced into his lungs. Link sucked it in, sputtering as he realized that there was more water in his chest. Finding the energy to turn over, Link threw up into the grass. Head spinning, he coughed hoarsely, looking up at his rescuers. One was Sheik; he was the one who breathed life into him again, the other was a blue fish-like girl. Behind them were Navi and Shaya, but all looked worried for him.
Sheik pulled him into a hug, though it wasn't light enough to prevent Sheik from making him wince. Sheik pulled Link closer to him, peering at his back. A long gash following parallel to his spine bled evenly. Sheik swore again, running a finger down the slice. Link gasped in pain, feeling the familiar coolness of Sheik's healing power. He leaned into Sheik, burying his face in the hollow of Sheik's neck. He wasn't dead, but he'd been pretty damn close.
"I have to stop doing this." Link rasped.
"Yes, you do." Sheik agreed.
The fishlike girl peered at Link. "You okay, boy?"
Link nodded. "Yes, thank you. You were the one who pulled me out, weren't you?"
She grinned. "My name's Ruto, the princess of the Zoras. I was just going to watch you come to us, but when you fell in…" She blushed. "You're a terrible swimmer."
"Thank you." Sheik said to her. Ruto eyed how he still held Link and made a noice in the back of her throat.
Ruto talked to Link directly. "I want you to meet my father."
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Link, Sheik, Shaya and Navi had been taken through the waterfall of Zora's Domain, up a long path to the King's chamber. When they entered the room, the princess Ruto was already there, standing beside her father. The aquatic girl smiled slyly at Link, waving at him with one hand. Link smiled in returned, and she giggled, ducking behind her father. The King hummed in deep thought, examining the four messengers before him with interest.
"Such young hatchlings…" He mused. "And you expect me to grant you possession of the Zora's Sapphire?"
"Begging your pardon, majesty," Link said, for once trying a hand at diplomacy, "but it is of the utmost importance. "
The king peered at him specifically. "And who might you be, young guppie?"
"Link, sir, of the forest."
"He is the Child of Destiny." Navi said bluntly. "It is his destiny that he should hold the stones of the Goddesses." She stared at the Zora King. "If he does not, the future of the land is at risk."
The King looked at Navi, expression thoughtful. "Such a bold youngling. I can tell you speak the truth…" He hugged his daughter. "Since Ruto speaks so highly of you…" The princess grinned at Link. "…And since I think you have had enough of trouble for one day, I will grant you the Zora's Sapphire. Ruto will take you to its keep."
The princess slid from the dais, splashing into the water. "Come with me!" She waved a fin at them, beckoning them to follow. "Hurry up! You go so slow!"
The four followed the Zora through the winding passages of the Domain, to a room with a large clam for a door. Ruto stopped, winking at Link. "I'll be right back." She disappeared behind it.
Link twiddled his thumbs, nervous and needing something to distract him from the weird look on Sheik's face. The Sheikah has been tense ever since he had fallen in the river. Link blushed when he thought of the moment when he thought he was dying, and Sheik brought him back. Sheik was always there for him when he blundered and messed things up. Somehow he knew Sheik would always be.
"Here it is!" Ruto appeared again. She held out the sapphire for them to see. It was a large as both her hands, and it glimmered in the dim light of the room. Link reached to take it. Ruto pulled it away. "Uh-uh." She said playfully. "You have to promise me something first."
Link blinked. "Okay."
Ruto danced. "Okay! You have to promice me that when we're grown up, you'll bring this back to me, okay?"
"Um, okay."
Ruto squealed and handed the sapphire to Link. "I knew that you would do it, my beloved!"
Sheik's eyes narrowed. "Beloved?"
Ruto ignored him, hugging a startled and confused Link. "I'll wait for you, Link!" She bounded away, and down the corridor."
Shaya looked after her. "What do you suppose that was all about?"
Link pocketed the jewel. "It doesn't matter. We need to go back to the castle." Beloved? Maybe it was a strange Zora custom thing.
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I know that it isn't fair that Link is always the one to get attacked, but… It's supposed to be that way… Besides, Sheik, Shaya and Navi are much more careful than Link. Link…is a klutz. XD
Link: Hmph.
Sheik: Well, you are…
Link: ::trips::
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