Sorceress: (In white lab coat) Bakin' cookies…
Link: In a lab coat? And besides, it was my turn this week.
Sorceress: Oh no, you're not touching this, you infected forest stump.
Link: FOREST STUMP? What the Goddesses?
Sorceress: You started a pandemic!
Dark Link: That was you Sorceress…you poured the Termina Fever samples into the cookie dough…but I think we managed to keep it in control… (Points to room marked "Biohazards;" acid appears to be seeping out from under the door)
Link: If this is any indication, we're lucky Sorceress doesn't own Zelda.
Dark Link: Agreed…
o~o0o~o
Termina Fever
Ch 9: Leaving to Return
"C'mon Dark Link…" Saria cajoled. "You won't get well just looking at it."
Dark Link sighed. "Fine," he muttered, picking up his spoon and starting in on the food unenthusiastically; after a few bites he set it down looking queasy.
Saria peered at him for a moment with mixed emotions, before taking away the bowl and replacing it with a small bottle of blue potion. "Keep it down," she told him.
Dark Link groaned; the stuff worked wonders but it was incredibly foul-tasting. "I can always hope." Uncorking the bottle and holding it to his lips, he wrinkled his nose as the fizz hit the back of his nose. "My Goddesses, I hate this."
"I'll bet you do," Saria replied, looking around for Ruto, who had gone on an expedition for more cure ingredients with Koume. "But it really helps, doesn't it?"
"I guess so." Dark Link curled up under the blankets and propped up his head with his hand, sipping the blue potion slowly. "How soon do you think we can leave this place?"
"I don't know," Saria said evasively. "Whenever you fell well enough, maybe." She stared at him, unconsciously stroking his ebony-colored bangs; he still felt feverish, though not as much. "Here." She changed the subject, feeling awkward. "Water will wash out the taste a little." Pressing the water into Dark Link's hand, she watched for his reaction.
Dark Link gave her a what's-with-you glance before cautiously tasting the drink, crimson eyes on Saria all the time. "So…" He tried to make conversation. "Where'd Ruto go?"
"You don't-" Saria started before remembering that Dark Link had been asleep when Ruto had left. "Oh yeah, she went with Koume and Navi to get more cure ingredients. I got left here, with you."
"Oh." Dark Link scooted forward. "So we're all alone."
Saria shrugged. "Yeah, you could say so. Why do you ask?"
"I don't know. Curious, I think." Dark Link stared at Saria, then, unexpectedly, threw his arms around her. "Thank you."
Saria flushed, pink coloring her cheeks. "For what?"
Dark Link didn't retract, if anything, he held her tighter. "For everything. For taking care of me." He tilted his head upward so that Saria could stare into his big crimson pools. "Are we in love?" He whispered.
Saria flushed still harder. "I…I really don't know, but…" Oh, forget it. You know you are. "Yeah, I think so," she concluded, returning the hug.
"Good." Dark Link closed his eyes and smiled, head on Saria's lap. "Because I really wanted to know." He drifted off then, leaving Saria to continue stroking his bangs.
This was an odd predicament; what had she done? And was this a real problem? She doubted it, but she was a Kokiri, of all things, and she wasn't going to grow up, was she? She had no idea, but at the moment she really didn't care.
o~o0o~o
"Okay…this is a bit awkward," Ruto stated warily. "What's Dark Link's head doing on your lap?"
Saria shrugged. "He fell asleep like this." Gently, she took Dark Link off of her lap and set him down underneath the covers before returning her attention to Ruto.
"Yes, and why was his head on your lap in the first place?" Ruto asked, obviously frustrated that Saria wasn't getting the terrible, terrible danger she was in. "C'mon, Saria. Face reality. He's a shadow."
Saria fingered a lock of her hair. "Dark Link and I are in love," she chirped. "We agreed on it."
Ruto stared at Saria incredulously. "Y-you…and…Dark Link? Really, Saria? And just how do you intend to proceed with this?"
"I haven't thought about it," Saria replied. "I thought that it would…you know…all sort of just fall into place. Like how little kids learn that true love's undying."
"But is it true love? This is Dark Link we're talking about. The shadow of the Hero of Time. The wielder of the Dark Master Sword, and all that stuff." Ruto shook her fist at Dark Link's sleeping form. "And he has an uncanny gift for sarcasm and verbal abuse."
"You think that because you've never been alone with him. He's actually anxious and unsure." Saria crossed her arms, glaring at Ruto. "Maybe if you we're a little bit nicer to him you'd see."
"He imprisoned me in the Water Temple, Saria! How can you be expected to appreciate someone like that, much less love the person?" Ruto flared.
"Do you appreciate Link, Ruto? Because he left us to die for seven years." Saria smirked an almost Dark Link-like smirk, knowing that she had Ruto in a corner.
"That was not his choice." Ruto frowned.
"And it was not Dark Link's choice to imprison you." Saria stood up; victory was hers. "Come on. Let's get the cure back to Hyrule."
o~o0o~o
"So what can I get you, hon?" The innkeeper asked upon receiving the blue potion. "Some Chateau Romani, or some ale, perhaps? You look like you could use a drink." She winked at Dark Link.
Dark Link looked away. "No-but I'll take red potion if you've got it."
The innkeeper blinked at him. "Really? It's not exactly something you take with your morning coffee." But, dismissing herself with a wave, she procured a flask of red potion, which she handed to Dark Link. "What about you two?" She gestured towards Ruto and Saria.
"No thanks, we're fine." Saria shook her head.
"Oh, I guess so." The innkeeper put her elbows on the counter and sat down. "So, you got the cure?" She lowered her voice. "How many people have you given it to?"
"Just you and him so far." Ruto pointed to Dark Link, who was leaning forward tiredly; he hadn't even touched his drink.
The innkeeper eyed him wisely. "I thought he was a little too pale." She winked at him. "Drink up, hon. This one's on the house."
"Thanks," Dark Link muttered, drawing the red potion towards him. "How much is a room here?"
"Twenty rupees…but I'll give you a discount," The innkeeper smiled. "Fifteen rupees."
Saria jumped up, tossing a few rupees on the counter. "C'mon, Dark Link. Let's go then." Taking Dark Link by the hand she ran upstairs, Ruto in tow.
o~o0o~o
Dark Link leaned over the garbage can, shaking uncontrollably. Nobody knew-he'd managed to run fast enough to avoid being sick in the room that fifteen rupees had bought, but still…
With an almighty gasp, he grabbed the sides of the basin, choking up the red potion he'd drank mere hours before. After that had come up, he spent around a minute dry heaving painfully, his throat making spasms long after the actual mess had appeared.
"S...Saria…" He whispered hoarsely, sitting down, exhausted. "Where are you…?" He grabbed his knees, putting his head in between them. His breath came out in ragged pants, and the room felt like it was spinning. "Saria…I need you…"
Then, all at once, a pair of strong arms was lifting him up, cradling him like a baby.
"You'll be okay," Saria soothed. "Just relax."
Dark Link wrapped his arms around Saria's neck, burying his head in her chest, breath steadying out. He mumbled something incoherently as she trekked up the stairs, opened the bedroom door, and set him gently down on the bed; he felt eternally grateful to her.
Saria clambered into her own bed before Dark Link raised his head and called out softly "Wait! Stay with me!"
Saria shrugged and slipped across the room. "Okay then." She grabbed a fold of the blanket and lifted it so that she could crawl under the covers. Dark Link gave a small smile and curled up against the crook of Saria's arm.
"Thank you…" Dark Link closed his eyes, falling into a deep, reposeful sleep.
o~o0o~o
"So we're finally going?" Ruto asked eagerly.
"Yeah," Dark Link replied, shouldering a pack. "I guess we kind of waited too long."
Saria nodded, staring at Dark Link who seemed to be feeling better after the three days they'd spent at the Stockpot Inn. His appetite had returned as well, and that, as much as anything, assured her that all was well.
Dark Link, having finished his portion of the work, gestured towards the Clock Tower and started walking. "Let's go."
Saria and Ruto followed him closely as he opened the door to the inside of the Clock Tower. We're going home.
o~o0o~o
"We're here!" Ruto cried, falling to the ground as they entered Hyrule Field.
Dark Link nodded happily, staring up at the moon that didn't look evil, breathing in the sweet, sweet air that smelled like home, wherever that was. "C'mon!" He yelled, breaking into a run as he headed towards Hyrule Castle.
"Wait!" Saria called after him. "Listen!"
Dark Link turned back, straining his ears to hear what Saria was hearing.
"Hold on, Malon!" Someone shouted. "Hold out! Goddesses, she's burning up!"
Dark Link walked in the direction of the sound, which happened to be the entrance to the Lon Lon Ranch. Kneeling down, he withdrew a bottle of blue potion, a quill, and a piece of parchment, onto which he scribbled a note. Setting the blue potion and note down, he turned around and headed for the castle. Saria got a glimpse of the note before she followed after him.
One last hope.
o~o0o~o
Sorceress: This is an upbeat chapter…it won't be next time…
Dark Link: She's going to dedicate at least part of a chapter to Link and Zelda.
Link: Why do I get the feeling that I'll hate the next chapter?
Sorceress: Because you're paranoid! Read the reviewers, slave!
Link: LinkLuver3, cookie (squee is good…) msfcatlover, (we like happiness and lovey-doveyness too) cookie… ShadowLordl (yes, Veran…go away,) cookie…TRANSIENTFREEDOM (go ahead…kiss the shadow,) and…deadaleta.
Sorceress: THE MOON IS FALLING! (Runs in circles) OH MY GODDESSES!
Link: Oh geez.
Dark Link: Here, deadaleta. Take a cookie and be at peace. I'm not dead and I'm not sick.
Link: Please review. If you do, we can give Sorceress a tranquilizer.
Sorceress: Hey!