CHAPTER 9

He waited until we were out of the forest before he began. He stood infront of me to make sure I stopped as well then folded his arms and said. "I know you don't want anyone to help you but that doesn't mean you should push them away."

I snorted and put my hands on my hips. "Who am I pushing away anyway?" I demanded. "You? Who cares if I'm pushing you away. I don't even like you."

Link shook his head. "It's people like you..." he started.

I raised an eyebrow. "People like me what?" I demanded.

He gave me a cold stare. "It's people like you who give other people a reason to hate your race," he burst out. "No wonder those punks at Castle Town gave you a hard time. You act like such a son of a bitch!"

I gave him a bored look. "Like I don't know that!" I snapped. "But I'm no son of a bitch! I'm a d- nevermind." I turned away from him.

Link shook his head again. "Why do you hide yourself anyway?" he asked.

I glanced at him out of the corner of my eye. "What?"

He took a step closer. "You're always hiding," he said. "I haven't seen you without your cloak on since you arrived. On top of that you're always covering your face. Why is that?"

I clenched my fists and shot him a glare. "That's none of your business!" I yelled. "Why can't you leave me alone?"

"Because I'm worried."

I gave him a disgusted look. "Well you shouldn't be," I growled as I walked away. "I'm nothing for you to be concerned about."

Then to make things worse he followed me!

Suddenly I felt a hand slap into my shoulder. I jerked to a stop. What did he want now?

"Why don't you tell me what's wrong?" he asked.

I clenched my fists again. "Because," I said. "It's none of your business. Did I not make myself clear?"

"Why?"

Why? What kind of idiot was he? Why indeed! I turned around, totally inscenced. "Because It's my life!" I shouted in his face. My fist shot up. "Mind your own business, bastard!"

My fist hit him firmly in his face. I heard him grunt and felt his skull crunch slightly on impact. Then he fell to the ground unconcious. I stared down at him. Blood gushed out of his mouth and nose. I gaped at him. I hadn't ment to hit him so hard!

"Oh my goddess!" I exclaimed, knealing down beside him. I started slapping his cheeks. "Wake up! Wake up! I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

The Hylian moaned and opened his eyes. He stared at me a moment then sat up. "Ow!" he moaned, putting a hand over his bleeding nose. "What happened?"

"I hit you," I replied. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean it!"

He looked away from me. "Sure you didn't," he said, closing his eyes.

"I didn't, honest!" I insisted. "You got me mad and I hit ypou! I'm so sorry!"

He stared up at me. Something must have told him I wasn't lying becausze he asked. "You're really sorry aren't you?"

I nodded. I was surprised. Almost everything I do I do on purpose. This time it wasn't true. It had really been an accident. "I'm sorry," I said again.

Link put a hand on my shoilder. "It's okay," he said. "I forgive you."

I was relieved.

He got back up and we started walking again. "So," he said to me. "Is there anything else you're sorry for?"

"What do you mean?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe like your mother-"

"No!" I said harshly. "I am not sorry about how I acted toward Impa."

Link shook his head. "Okay," was all he said.

Silence.

"So," I said breaking the silence a few minutes later. "How did it feel when you defeated Ganondorf?"

He looked at me. "Not like much," he admitted. "After I struck him the last time a part of me was relieved it was over and another part seemed to die."

"Die?"

"Yes. I realized, now since he's defeated, I would have nothing else to do. I was chosen by destiny to save Hyrule. But I wondered; What will I do after that? What other purprose is there for my life?"

I had no answer to give him. I myself had never thought about it. Now I wondered what I'd do after I killed Zelda. My hatred keeps me alice. What would I do after she was gone?

I looked up and suddenly realized we'd walked into the Gerudo Valley. As I looked around I noticed someone or something was coming toward us. It looked all black and purple and dark...

Link noticed it to because the next second he was shouting. "Look out!" and shoving me out of the way.

I fell to the ground. I heard Link grunt in pain behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see what had happened. I saw the male Gerudo I'd met earlier standing there now. He had Link by the throat. He glanced down at me and we locked eyes.

"Well if it isn't my little Sheikah friend," he said smiling at me.

Link's eyes got big. "You..." he chocked.

"I see you were able to get his trust after all," the huge man said. "Now I can get my prize."

Ganaondorf reached over Link's shoulder. I heard the sing of metal as he unsheathed the Master Sword.

"No!" the Hylian gasped in horror. He struggled to free himself from the big gerudo's grasp. "No...!"
Ganondorf laughed in the Hylian's face and rested the sword at his side. "What's wrong, Hero of Time?" he asked, applying more pressure to his choke hold. "Having trouble breathing?"

Link struggled feebly to break the gerudo's grasp. He glared at the man hatefully. "Ga... Ga...," he gulped. His eyes fell on me a moment. "Traitor..!"

"Traitor?" I scoffed, putting my hands on my hips. "I was never your friend to begin with!"

Link didn't answer me. The light suddeny left his eyes and his whole body went limp. His head lolled backwards and his eyes stared blindly at the sun. He looked like he was dead, even though I could tell he wasn't. This movement somehow brought on another flashback for me. I clutched my heart as I was forced to relive my sister's death again.

As I knelt, wimpering on the ground, ther gerudo watched me curiously. "What's wrong?" he asked.

I couldn't answer. "Merlain," I gasped falling forward. "Merlain!" then everything went black.