A/N: Thank you guys reading and adding the story to your favorites and following and sending in reviews ;w; Although I only have a little it means a lot to me! I hope you'll like this chapter! It's been hard for me to do writing because I started school, so I'm doing the best I can with my time, so, enjoy~! Keep sending in your reviews!
Zelda slammed open the doors of the inn. "Link! I'm here!" All she got in return were blank stares from the plump barkeeper from castle town, the young girl who may or may not be Link's girlfriend, and the town shaman, Renado. Zelda's cheeks flushed crimson when she realized that Link was nowhere to be found. She took a deep breath and exhaled. "So, where is Link?" She shrugged her shoulders, entering the inn and closing the door behind her.
The barkeeper turned to Zelda, and gestured to the young girl. "Ilia came on Epona. She says Link hasn't been out of his house since he got back. Well, she said Fado had talked with him the morning after he returned, but he hasn't been out since. She's just worried for him, y'know? He might be sick or something, who knows." She woman smirked and returned to drying a few shot glasses; Zelda watched the glass carefully.
Renado nodded in reply to the barkeeper's explanation. "Telma's correct. We are going to visit him tomorrow, to make sure he's fine. You never know what state he is in; despite that he is the hero of twilight, he is still susceptible to illness and mental fatigue, just like every one of us."
Zelda nodded. She glanced over at Ilia, who was reading, and sighed. She pulled out a barstool and placed herself on it. Her hands held up her head; her elbows resting on the countertop. Zelda looked up at Telma. "Give me your strongest."
Telma's expression widened. "Oh, you drink scotch?" She giggled, reaching for a bottle and empty glass.
Zelda shrugged her shoulders; she lowered her gaze back to the countertop. "Not usually," she sighed. "I don't normally drink. Now's an exception, though." She smirked and laughed in a rhetoric way. She just wanted a drink to fog up her mind – she didn't want to think of what could be happening with Link right now. Another migraine would be the worst of things to pop up. A glass with an amber colored liquid was placed on the counter in front of Zelda. Telma smirked and placed her hips. Zelda stared at the glass for a second, then brought the alcoholic liquid to her lips and downed it. She cringed at the strong taste of the drink. "Thanks."
Telma winked at the fair skinned girl. "Not a problem, honey." She gestured over toward Ilia. "I feel I must tell you a few of my suspicions about her, though." The plump woman poured her own glass of whiskey and sipped on it, leaning over on the counter to speak to Zelda.
Zelda grew curious; she cocked her neck, raised a brow, and gawked slightly at Telma. She closed her parted mouth and bit her lip. "What do you mean?" Ilia seemed like a sweet girl, she was the daughter of Ordon's mayor, and she appeared the enthrall Link enough to push him to go after her and into the twilight. What could be so bad about the young girl?
Telma rolled her eyes and sighed, placing a hand on her hip. "She seemed like she would have been one of those sweet, innocent girls, y'know?" She glanced at Zelda for confirmation, and she just nodded. "At least that's how I remembered her to be, when I was taking care of her. Maybe she changed after getting her memory back. She just seems more bratty and self centered. Until you arrived, it was all about her and Link – how they were before he left, and how he has lost interest in her since he returned." Telma shrugged and arched her back. "Honestly, I think Link is probably fine. Just a bit sad and maybe a cold; nothing too serious, but there's nothing wrong with checking up on him."
Zelda had a vague and blank expression on her face. She nodded and sighed, placing a hand on her forehead to hold it up. "That's true. That's what I was coming to do, and I was going to stay here the night – but I saw Epona and came to false conclusions." She flickered her eyes over at the entrance of the inn. "I wonder if Ilia's jealous."
Telma giggled. "Over Midna? I presume so. Link told me all about her. He said the sweetest things about her – how she was sympathetic and caring and brave and pretty. It was adorable!" The plump woman blushed and grinned slightly. "It was obvious he loved her, without a doubt. Thus, explaining why he lost interest in Ilia. Midna just made Link seem so happy in Hyrule's time of despair." She exhaled a warm breath of air. "Don't you agree?"
Zelda nodded. "They couldn't stand each other at first though; they were like two pieces of a puzzle that had one matching side, but they kept trying all their clashing sides. Then they found their match." She then frowned. "It's a shame that she had to leave so abruptly. It broke Link's heart." She sighed and so did Telma. "It was painful that night, watching him. First, she died for him. She died to allow him the time to escape to be able to prepare to fight Ganondorf. And when the spirits of light resurrected her, she had to leave. Link seemed overjoyed to finally see her in her true form. He was speechless at her beauty and his face was all red. It was cute." Zelda smiled a bit, remembering the scene. But then the next events struck her face with horror. "And then she left for the twilight, breaking the mirror, too. She didn't tell Link that. Now he can't see her. I can assume he's depressed as hell because of all this mess."
Telma bit her lip. "That's probably why he's cooped himself up in his house." Her and Zelda kept blank gazes for a minute before Telma returned to cleaning dishes.
Zelda sighed, tapping her fingers on the countertop. "I'm going to bed." She stood from the barstool. "Wake me up before we head out." She twisted on the balls of her feet, and began a swift walk towards the staircase. She glanced back at Telma, who grinned. Her bright smile enlightened Zelda's mood a bit.
Link groaned. He was stiff and his whole leg throbbed. He rolled his head in circles, attempting to alleviate the pressure he was feeling from the wound on his back. He was hungry, thirsty, sore, lonely, and feeling nauseated. How long had it been since he had feel? How long had he actually been stuck down here? It seemed like a week had gone by, but he wasn't sure – nor did he really care. His mind was too foggy to process anything that was going on; he just wanted to get out.
Link gently and slowly lowered himself from his sitting position up against the wall to lying on the floor, gritting his teething and balling his hands up into fists. Due to the injury on his back, his sprained or broken ankle, any movement he made caused him to have pain like he was burning alive. Link never realized how much he subliminally used for everyday actions. He just sighed and let out a few small pants until the pain subsided. Over time, Link noticed his skin was growing hot to the touch, and was growing warmer with every passing minute; and at times, he would have small outbursts of shivering.
"I hate life," Link moaned hoarsely. He stared up at the ceiling, his eyes unfocused and glassy, with his mouth slightly parted. In the little light that shone from the main floor, Link's face was visibly pale and getting thin; compared to his old self, he already looked gaunt. He coughed, reaching one of his hands to his forehead, which was beading up with sweat. Link scowled when his fingertips came in contact with the burning and sweaty skin.
"Damn it," he muttered, chuckling, and then frowning. "That wound… it got infected. This is just great. Midna would've made me wash it as soon as I got it. If she…" Link paused and laid there wide eyed. He grunted and rolled over on his side, trying to forget his thoughts about her. He frowned and stared at the floor. "If only she was still here…" Link's fingers toyed with the loose strands of fabric from the carpet he laid on. His body began to fade by the minute, it was becoming too ill to hold consciousness any longer – Link began to drift off into a light slumber as the illness took over.
Link fluttered back into a faint, foggy, consciousness when he heard familiar voices. A hoarse cough emptied his throat when he heard several pairs of footsteps enter the floor above him. He weakly scrunched his brows and frowned. He heard vague words of a frantic conversations echo down to him.
"Link!" Hearing his name being called startled him. "Link!" The high pitched voice registered in his head – Ilia. Link smirked, he knew she would get worried and come looking for him. He still pondered as to who else was with her. Her dad? Maybe, he could get help. Rusl? He was all Link wanted right now. Fado? He hoped not. Knowing him, he would crush the living daylights from him with a hug.
Then he heard an unexpected voice; a voice Link knew off the tip of his tongue – Zelda's. "Dear goddesses…" she groaned. Link just imagined her with her hands around her head, massaging her temples. "Where did he go Ilia?" Her voice began to intensify with every work she spoke. Link just raised a brow. Why was Zelda yelling at Ilia? Why did Zelda even care about him? She had better things to do, like ruling Hyrule, than to worry about him.
"We'll find him," an older woman replied. The way she spoke with confidence could only lead him to one person, Telma. "How about Zelda and I go down and search the basement, while you and Renado continue to search this floor and the balcony." Telma would be standing there, with a hand on her hip and a firm, but warm grin on her face; that's how she reassured people.
Link released a dry gasp. Was he finally going to get out? His already racing heart sped up; blood rushed to his head and added to the pressure, causing his fuzzy vision to blur even more. He felt like his head was going to explode. He shut his eyes tightly, trying to lift some of the pressure. Then he heard two pairs of footsteps coming to him; one pair heavy, the other lighter. Link cracked open an eye to make out the figures of Telma and Zelda making their way down the ladder. They were going to find him, and he was overjoyed at the idea – he could finally get out. Link's excitement made his heart beat even faster, adding more pressure.
"Watch your step, Zelda," the plumper mumbled. She was slowly making her way down the ladder, skipping the broken steps that caused Link's fall. She helped Zelda hop over them, and on to the floor. Link felt the vibrations of her footsteps inch across the groups he laid on. Link wanted to call Zelda's name right then and there, but no matter how hard he tried, not a peep came from his throat. All his words were trapped inside.
"How about we head this way?" Zelda suggested, gesturing over to the corner where Link laid. Telma nodded but Link frowned. Although he did want to get out, he didn't want them to see him in such a disheveled and sickly state. Zelda and Telma's footsteps grew closer and Link began to panic. How were they going to react? Then the light from their lantern made contact with his fingertips. He heard a gasp from Telma, Zelda's footsteps scurried to his side. Now, the light from the lantern illuminated his ill figure. The lantern fell from Zelda's fingertips and onto the floor by Link's face. He was startled and flinched at the loud crash. Telma immediately reached down and grabbed the lantern as Zelda fell to her knees by the boy's side.
Small whimpers exited Zelda as she trembled. "L-L-Link…" The woman clenched her teeth and balled her fists. Tears began to bubble up around the corners of her eyes. Zelda reached down and grasped Link's face in her hands, and she gasped by how thin he got over the past few days. Telma only raised her eyebrows as she examined Link's crooked and swollen ankle. Zelda began to rub her thumbs against his cheekbones and tried to hold back her tears; she hated seeing Link this way. Link just tried to focus on Zelda's face, but it was all a blur, although she was only inches away from him.
Link wanted to speak, but a weight held his voice in his chest. He blinked his eyelids a few times, to show Zelda he was responsive. She only smiled slightly to his actions, though. Link weakly lifted his hand and placed it on Zelda's. Her eyes shot open and her gaze moved to where their skins touched. Zelda immediately placed her head on Link's chest, above where his heart laid. She heard a faint and irregular, tha-thump, tha-thump, tha-thump. He was alive, but just barely.
"Goddesses," Zelda murmured. A small grin filled her face as tears streamed down her cheeks. "I'm so glad you're okay." She buried her face in her hands are she cried for a minute. When she revealed her face again, she gave Link a vague smile, to reassure him he was going to be alright. But she had felt his skin burning from the inside; she had heard his irregular and faint heartbeat. Zelda knew he wasn't well, he just wasn't dead. She noticed Link's pained faced and cocked her head. She smiled and reached her hands around to his back to help sit him up. "Here, let me help you." Unfortunately, her hands were placed on the gash on Link's back when she gave a tug.
Link shrieked and shot his head up. His eyes were wide, his voice dry and hoarse, his breathing was growing labored and shallow; tiny beads of sweat formed around his hairline. He was in significant pain. Zelda pulled her hands away from that spot on his back and gently returned him to the ground. "I-I'm sorry Link." Zelda didn't look him in the eyes – she couldn't look him in the eyes. She didn't want to see the pain surging in them. "Telma can help you." Zelda just turned her head to the plump woman, looking for reassurance.
Telma just nodded firmly. "I'll grab Renado. He should know what to do." She turned around to begin making her way up the ladder.
Link coughed and placed his hand on Zelda's arm. He needed her attention. When Zelda shot her face back to his, he tried once more. "I-I-Ilia…" The words left his throat in an almost inaudible manner, but Zelda was close enough to understand. She widened her eyes and turned to the plump woman halfway up the ladder.
"Telma!" She called after her. Telma turned her face to Zelda. "Don't let Ilia come down. I don't want her to see him like this, and I don't think he wants her to see him either." Telma nodded and continued up the ladder. Zelda just smiled warmly at Link, placing her hand on his cheek and rubbing it with her thumb.
When Zelda heard Renado and Telma begin to talk, she rummaged around Link's basement looking for something – she wanted to make Link as comfortable as possible for the time-being. Link watched her make her way through his messy home until Zelda wandered out of his vision. Zelda turned her head back a few times to look at Link, helplessly lying there on the floor. She was so thankful they found him when they did; she wouldn't have been able to handle it if he had died.
Zelda found what she was looking for, grabbed them, and rushed back to Link's side. She held the dusty blankets up for him to see. "Look what I have!" She grinned. "It's time to make you comfortable." She bent down and lifted Link by his shoulders, shoving the blankets under his back to hold him up. When she lowered him onto the makeshift pillow, he winced on impact, but it felt much better to his back than the floor. Zelda looked at him and smiled – she was trying really hard to lighten the mood.
Link vaguely smiled with the energy he had left. He gestured with his fingers for her to lean in closer to him. Confused, Zelda did as he requested. Link stretched his neck up to Zelda's ear and whispered, "T-thank you." He winced afterwards – it had hurt his throat just to talk. Zelda still smiled, despite Link's pained expression, and placed her hand on his forehead. She jumped a slight bit at how much warmer he felt. She was growing worried about him; she didn't want anything to happen to him. Zelda then felt on her stress migraines begin, but she didn't have time for it now and ignored it. Zelda grumbled something under her breath. Just then, two pairs of footsteps began to come back down the ladder. Zelda felt a wave of relief crash over her.
Telma led the way to Link; Renado kneeled by the young boy. He placed a hand on the swollen ankle. Link let out a small whimper to his touch – obviously, it hurt. Link his lip from screaming in pain as Renado rolled his leg around, trying to get a better view of the injury. Renado mumbled words, mental notes, which were only audible to Telma. She only frowned and shook her head to the news. That just provoked Link's curiosity.
Zelda popped her voice into the discussion. "You should check his back, too." She looked at Link, who stared at her blankly. He grumbled under his breath, it was inaudible to everybody but him. Renado then made his rounds to Link's back. Zelda lifted the boy by his shoulders and whispered in his ear, "I'm sorry, Link. It's for the best." Link just glared at her and frowned with a parted mouth. Renado pulled up the shirt to see a swollen, red, and warm cut across Link's back. He placed his hand on the injury and felt around. Link dryly screamed in pain, not holding anything back. Renado made a few more mental notes before Zelda placed him back on the makeshift pillow.
"Foolish boy," Renado mumbled. "You need to wash all your wounds or they could get infected like this one. You're lucky we came when we did. If we hadn't, it probably would've spread even more than it already has, and you wouldn't have made it." The old man closed his eyes and shook his head. "We're going to have to take you back to my home in Kakariko. I need to use some of my strongest medicines on that raging infection."
Telma sighed, placing her hands on her hips; raising a brow and creating and inquisitive look on her face. "And how are we supposed to get him out of here?" She glanced up at the ladder.
Renado sighed and motioned his hand. "I'll carry him on my shoulder. Lift him and place him on me, face down." Telma and Zelda exchanged a glance, shrugged, and did as ordered. Zelda grabbed him from under the bend in his knees, and Telma grabbed from under his arms. Together, they gently laid him over the older man's shoulder. Renado held a firm grip on the boy with one hand, and grabbed the ladder with the other. "Zelda, go first. Telma, follow behind me. I need to make sure I keep balance with him."
Zelda began to climb up the ladder; Renado was quickly on her tail. Telma followed both of them. At one point, she reached up and grabbed Link's hanging left hand. She saw the faint glow of the triforce on back of his hand. She gasped and immediately released it. Telma shook her head, and continued to follow Renado.
As soon as they all reached the main floor, Telma and Renado began to head out to put Link in the carriage. Zelda stayed inside and grabbed a few of Link's things. She grabbed a few outfits of his, his boots and his earrings. If he wasn't going to be at home, she at least wanted him to have a few of his things with him. After gathering the items, she rushed out to the carriage. The two had already created a bed made of the extra blankets, and Link was placed in it. Renado sat in the back with the boy, while Telma sad in the driver's seat. Zelda climbed in the back with Renado and Link.
As soon as Telma saw that Zelda was securely in, she whipped Epona and Zelda's horse into action. The carriage then took off through the Faron woods. Renado began to wrap Link's ankle. Link's eyes fluttered open as they passed by the light spring of Ordon, and when he saw a glimpse of the peaceful spring, tears began to form in his eyelids. He clenched his jaw shut and tried not to whimper, but Zelda heard his faint noises and placed her hand on his cheek and dried his eyes. She smiled at him, trying to reassure him.
"I-I-I'm sorry M-Midna…" Link looked up at Zelda, confused and obviously seeing things. "I-I'm sorry I feel this way, I-I know y-you wouldn't want m-me to…" The boy choked up another sob. "B-b-but I already do." Link clenched his jaw even harder as the tears began to stream down his face. Zelda frowned; it was heartbreaking to watch him. Sick or not, any memory of Midna haunted him.
Zelda placed her hands on Link's face and held him in them. She rubbed her thumbs across his eyelids, drying his tears. His eyes opened and tried to focus on her, but Zelda could tell that was impossible for him right now. She knew he was seeing Midna, not her. She bent down to his forehead and gave him a small kiss. "Link, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry." She wrapped her hands around his head and pulled it to her shoulder; her chin rested on the top of his head. His memories of Midna were haunting him because he could never see her again, and it hurt to watch a friend go through so much pain. She clenched her jaw and tugged at the boy's hair. What was she going to do?