DISCLAIMER: I OWN NOTHING…
AN: How sad… I reckon this is the second last chapter… but not really, cause of the sequel.
Review Responses:
Anime Wildfire: Yeah, sorry it took so long… I'm glad you liked it, thanks for the review!
ZombieDragon: Wow, I didn't think it was THAT good… Thanks a lot! Oh, and long reviews are good, no worries.
LinkIsaacANDLloyd: Never played Rome: Total War (well, I at least knew what it was), I just sort of threw in the scene for the hell of it… And I REALLY like the idea with the assassins, arcani. Never heard of them, but it seems good. I'll use it next chapter. And throw it on the list I have of ideas you've given me, for the end of the story.
Link had barely been one hour into the desert when Elisa went into convulsions. Link stopped quickly, and she flopped off the camel. He hopped down, with no idea what to do. He didn't know much about blood poisoning. He waited until the convulsions stopped. She was still alive. He gave her some more red potion, and got her back on the camel. He hopped on too and continued, a little faster.
Would Zelda come? He was sure he had really sent the message, but it seemed less likely now. If she got it, she could track him over that link between the Triforce pieces. He knew that she knew how. How long would it take? She would be here tonight, if she'd gotten the message. How long? Hard to say. She should be in view in three or four hours, near sunrise. It would be cutting it close.
Link passed several groups of Gerudos, and some Hylians. Going to aid in the battle for Blood Fields, no doubt. Jarmania would have an army out there by now, things would be heating up. He hoped Nabooru would come out OK. The loss of a sage wouldn't be good for Hyrule. The desert especially would be thrown out of balance. That would probably be the worst of all; the desert was the first and foremost defense against the Jarmanians.
He rode for another two hours without a problem. At night, the desert was very cold. Elisa had a high fever anyways. Link was beginning to wonder if there was some sort of venom on the anukal's claws. He gave her a bit more red potion and continued. About an hour later he heard the noise. A shrieking cry, from far away. Link squinted through the darkness. This area of the desert was very flat for a while, and he thought he saw a shape coming down a hill in the distance. No, several shapes, people on camels. Above them were several vultures, creatures common to the desert. Normally they scavenged, but these ones were attacking. Link had never seen so many in one place, nor had he ever seen them so vicious. Vultures out at night was pretty odd too, although it was almost day. There were seven people, all on camels, being pestered by the large vultures. Link sped up, and drew his bow. He aimed carefully, and shot into the night. It pierced the neck of one vulture, which let out a cry and fell to the ground.
He rode forward, killing another with an arrow. He killed a third, and the people came into view. There was several Gerudos, and a person in a white dress. Looks like Zelda had heard him after all. Link smiled. He shot another, riding past the group, and turning around for another pass. The vultures were confused, several were fleeing. Link shot another, and another. A Gerudo threw her spear to kill another, and the rest fled. Link rode up to Zelda, and waved. She smiled.
"It is good to see you safe, Link." She said.
"So you heard me." Link said.
"Yes. I was surprised at how you managed to figure that out. No offence, of course. I should teach you more; you are clearly ready to learn about the Triforce. Anyway, you said someone was injured?"
Link stopped and dismounted. He was about to lay his Goron tunic out on the sand, but Zelda had come prepared. She lay out a full sized, clean blanket on the sand. Link put Elisa on it. Zelda looked at the wound. Her whole back was red, and a tinge of grayish green had appeared immediately around the wound. Zelda winced.
"Just in time… blood poisoning, it has spread quite far. I need a knife." Zelda said.
A Gerudo came over with a small knife, sort of an ancient scalpel. Zelda first gave her some red potion, then cut the wound open, unflinching. She raised her hands over the newly made wound. Golden sparks danced down her arms and into the wound. It drew out the bacteria, vaporizing it. She bandaged the open wound, and gave her the rest of the red potion. The skin began to heal quickly.
"Now we wait. I don't know how far the infection went; it may have been too late. We shall see." Zelda said gravely.
So they waited. The Gerudo guards set up a makeshift camp, and Link and Zelda talked. Link told her everything that happened, including who Elisa was.
Talk about a mission gone wrong, Link thought, as he explained it all to Zelda, I go to gather information, I get caught, fight gladiators, escape, rescue a princess, lead an army into war, then race against time to save someone from a blood infection. Can't I just do one thing that goes the way it's supposed to?
He finished up by telling Zelda the two important things he had learned. The Jarmanians had no understanding of magic, many didn't believe in it. Also, they had huge armies, but were slow and disorganized when it came to defending.
As he finished, Elisa began to stir. Link and Zelda both ran over. She was opening her eyes. Her breathing sounded normal, and her fever was gone. She looked up blearily. She tried to sit, but Zelda eased her back down.
"You're still weak, and your injury hasn't healed fully yet." Zelda said.
Elisa listened. "I'm thirsty…" She said, coughing. A Gerudo got some water in a canteen for her. She drank deeply, and only coughed a bit of it up.
She went to sleep quickly, but it was sleep, and not unconsciousness. Link slept too, he had only gotten four hours of sleep in the last two days. He awoke late in the afternoon, and Elisa was sitting and talking to Zelda. Zelda waved Link over.
"Hi, Link. I have to thank you for everything… Zelda told me what happened." Elisa said.
Link smiled, and nodded. "Zelda also said you don't talk much… I hadn't really noticed before."
Link shrugged. "We should get going." He said.
Zelda nodded. Link mounted the camel, Elisa got on behind the hump.
One of the Gerudos said, "Do you need us still? Otherwise we will head to the fields, as we are here anyway."
Link shook his head. Zelda was on another camel, and they rode off, leaving the Gerudos behind, at the little camp. The sun, now high in the sky, was scorching. Link felt the back of his neck being sunburned. It didn't matter though, he was free. He was in Hyrule, his homeland. A few leevers popped up, but they didn't attack camels. The journey was going fine.
The reached the Haunted Wastelands as the sun set. They covered their eyes from the perpetual storm, and the camels trudged on, towards Gerudo valley.
"Is Hyrule like this everywhere?" Elisa shouted.
Link shook his head. "Just here."
A couple hours later, the wind died down. A large gate loomed up ahead. They directed the camels through, into Gerudo Valley.
"My father will be glad to see you again Link. I'm sure he'll like you too, Elisa." Zelda said. They left the camels with some Gerudos, and walked to another stable. The Gerudo there brought them to their horses, Link to Epona and Zelda to her white stallion, Angel. Elisa hopped up behind Link. Although Link didn't notice, a strange look crossed Zelda's face here. They all loped off towards Hyrule Castle.
They were all silent for the journey. Zelda stared straight ahead, and Elisa was staring avidly at everything around her. Hyrule had that effect on people; it was truly a land of beauty and diversity. Link was thinking about… everything. Especially being back.
They arrived at Hyrule Town, and rode up to the castle. They tied up their horses, and headed to the main gate. The guards saluted, and let them past, looking distrustfully at Elisa's non-long ears. They walked straight through the entrance hall, and the guard granted them permission to enter the throne room. They stepped inside. Zelda ran up to her father, and they embraced.
"I was worried, I'm glad you made it back! You too, Link! Er… who is this?" The king said.
Zelda cut in. "Former princess of Jarmania, Elisa Gordian. She's here to help us. So much has happened."
The king was looking at Elisa, not very friendly-like. "How do I know we can trust her?" He said.
Link stepped forward. "I'll vouch for her."
"Hmm." The king didn't seem impressed. "Well, Link, what all happened?"
Link explained everything that had happened since he left for the second time, as well as the weaknesses he had discovered about Jarmania. The king listened intently.
"I am sorry to hear all you went through. I suppose you want to rest, Link. Your room in the castle is being prepared." The king said.
Link preferred his house in Kokiri forest, but he was too tired to ride there now. So he nodded.
"As for your friend… I'd really prefer she not be in the castle." He said.
"FATHER!" Zelda shouted.
"We cannot be sure she is trustworthy!" The king said urgently.
"Father, you're being ridiculous. If you don't let her stay, I will leave with her and find somewhere for her. And I won't be back tonight." Zelda said angrily.
Elisa looked embarrassed and hurt. The king sighed. "Very well. A guest room will be prepared."
Link was staring at the king. He had just lost a lot of the respect he'd had for the man. He and Elisa were led out by Zelda, who was avoiding eye contact with her father. They went to Elisa's room first.
"Good night Link. Thanks for everything…" Elisa said. She headed inside. Link thought he saw a scowl on Zelda's face for a second. Then it was gone, and he was led up to the room that king had kept as Link's.
"Sleep well, Link. See you tomorrow." Zelda said. Link nodded, and stepped inside. He took his sword and shield off, placing them down beside his bed. He lied down and fell asleep, armour and all. It had been a busy couple of days.
AN: That chapter was a bit boring, I know… I couldn't squeeze any action scenes in there. Next chapter, which I think will be the last, will be more exciting. And longer, I hope. Please review.