Chapter 4- Escape (aka- the Ocarina Player)
"I don't care! Leave me be!"
That's what he expected her to say to him. But, Robin stayed quiet, nestled in his arms while he sat there, trying to think of what to do. Night was still upon them, and obiviously the town wasn't safe. What could they do?
"Ludwig..." she croaked. Her voice still wavered from her tears.
"Ja?" he murmured, looking down at her. Her face wasn't red anymore, but still her eyes were watery. She smiled sadly.
"Why didn't you tell me you were a nation? I'm not mad about that...just...that your brother killed my family." she whispered and Ludwig sighed, turning away.
"Look...I'll still be your friend. For now, we must get to the mountains. Across them is Hyrule...my homeland. No evil can cross into it's sacred ground. There we can hide until the war is over." Robin got up and pointed to the north.
"First, there is a place we can camp until we get to the mountains. It's a very long and hard journey from here on out. Will you still travel by my side?" Ludwig blinked and stood up. He nodded and tossed the pistol to the ground. He would rely on Nature with the girl who was like the spring winds. Robin grinned and without a warning, she dashed into the dark forest, her feet barely making a noise as she ran faster than any human he had ever seen. He followed close behind, trying his best not to get out of breath in the first 3 minutes of sprinting. He was a soldier. He could handle this!
Turns out he couldn't really.
The two made it to the opening of a cave by the lake, and Robin sat down on the sand after Ludwig had plopped onto his back, panting heavily.
"You'll get used to it." Robin giggled and drank water from the soft waves, and her teamate followed suit.
After a moment silence, Robin looked up and exclaimed "Get up!"
He did as told, and realized there was no danger. There was something important though. She stood and listened. All around, creatures of all sorts were joining in a harmonious lullaby. He had never heard something so beautiful. He looked at Robin who was clutching a blue sweet potato shaped instrument with holes in it and a mouthpiece. She blowed on it, and a melody that went with the nature all around, the sound like a recorder. When she finished, Ludwig turned and asked
"Vhat is that?"
Robin smiled and held the instrument close. "It's a ocarina. The last thing my brother gave to me was this ocarina. He says it has amazing capabilities and the sound is just like magic. But what is the magic? Why can't I hear it?"
He pondered the answer. What did her brother mean?
His thoughts were broken by the sound of a wolf howl. He looked around, but only saw Robin with her head tilted back, mouth parted and throat vibrating with pure noise. She was howling single notes to the moon, and he couldn't help but notice a warm feeling pushing in his chest upward. A calling.
It wouldn't hurt to try.
He opened his mouth and let the sound come out. It wasn't perfect, but it was there. He joined her melody, forming an almost perfect duet. She looked at him with shock, but joined his voice better. The sound held hands and twisted together as one, harmonizing.
They both stopped and she smiled at him. He took her hands in his and they looked at each other before she broke away and climbed into the cave, gesturing to him.
"Follow me. There's something you must see."
And, taking a gulp of cold night air, Ludwig followed.
They crept into the darkness, but from the roof, moonlight peered out and shone on the walls. Robin stopped and pointed to the images painted on the walls, and Ludwig gaped at the sight. they were paintings of wolves, owls, bears, and caribou. There was the Great Chain of life, and a caribou hunting party. The paintings seemed so real, and it was like the two could hear the hoofbeats of caribou, screeching of owls, the howling of wolves, and even the forest pulsing with them. It was truly amazing.
"These painting have been here since the Great Cold when the Fengo led wolves to this land in order to survive. And not too long ago, I added my own paintings of my life as Robin of Hyrule...and Robin of the wolves. The mountains guard the Ember of Hoole...as well as the path back to Hyrule from Death Mountain. We must get there by tomorrow or the lava rocks will surely crush us to death." Robin spoke gently and fiercely at the same time. She sighed and laid on her back.
"We'll rest here for the night."
Ludwig nodded and sat down, finding it hard to sleep on the cool floor. In a few moments, the girl was asleep, breathing lightly. He sighed and leaned down, kissing her forehead. He understood now why he needed to protect her. Why she wanted to stay by his side. He was her pack now. And he would stay with her until his boss was gone and the war was dead. Without realizing it, she got up and kissed him on the lips, holding him close for that brief wonderful moment. Robin broke the connection and hugged her body.
"I'm sorry...but I think I really care about you." she murmured mournfully, but he just gave a real smile to her and kissed her forehead once more.
"Ich liebe dich, Robin." he whispered and they curled up on the cave floor, staring at the moon as it smiled down on them.
For once, everything was perfect.