Chapter Fourteen

Link arrived at the Bridge of Eldin on Epona. King Bulblin was already there, on Lord Bullbo, as were several other Bulblins on Bullbos. Link felt very nervous about seeing King Bulblin on the Bridge of Eldin – last time they were here, Link had caused him to plummet over to what Link thought would be his doom – but the orcish being seemed to have cast that from memory.

"King Bulblin, I've found a Mirror Shard," he told him in a low voice. "But I don't get it, because it was being held by a 'red-haired woman', but it wasn't in 'the sand'."

King Bulblin looked at him with a shockingly wise expression. "Maybe 'red-haired woman' doesn't go with 'the sand'. Maybe it go with 'the hidden'?"

Link stared at the green being. "I…I never thought of that. Wow."

King Bulblin shrugged. "Never take anything for fact, and you will find world much easier to understand." He smiled. "Now, shall we go?"

OoO

They stood, once again, in the Mirror Chamber. There was an awkward silence for a few moments; they had successfully gotten through Arbiter's Grounds, and there had been no sign of any more Senvivanes. While this was a cause of great concern for Link, there was nothing he could do about it.

Link approached the empty, wrought-iron frame, drawing the Mirror Shard from his equipment bag. He slid it in and – to both his delight and dread – it fit perfectly. This was indeed a Mirror Shard; there was indeed a way into the Twilight Realm. But what could this possibly mean? His mind was racing. Was Midna not the real Twilight Princess? She had only broken it, like Zant…and Zant was certainly a false king. Midna had said so herself…

"It fit?" asked King Bulblin, pulling Link from his confused thoughts. Link turned around, nodding slowly.

"It fits perfectly," he muttered, looking at his scuffed toes. "So, this means her royal status is false…"

"What?"

Link looked up. King Bulblin's face was blankly confused. "Oh. Nothing. I'm just muttering to myself."

King Bulblin nodded, and shot out a hand to point at the Mirror Shard. "We keep that there? What if Senvivane come and take?"

Link turned back to the Mirror Shard, strangely feeling shock. "Oh. I didn't even think of that." He lifted it out of the frame and stowed it back into his equipment bag. He had been running off adrenaline for the past few hours, but now it had left him and exhaustion was casually setting in. "Right. Well, now we've just got to find the other piece." He squinted into the sun – a bit past noon. He turned back to King Bulblin, blinking away the spots before his eyes, and called, "I guess I'll search the desert. I mean, there's nowhere else it could be."

"What about us?" asked King Bulblin, leaning heavily on his axe and eyeing Link coolly.

"What d'you mean?"

"While you search desert, what we do?" he repeated, spreading wide an arm to indicate the other Bulblins, who were giving him blank looks.

"Do whatever you want," replied Link gruffly, stepping down from the frame. "I just want to work alone for now." He began to walk briskly from the Mirror Chamber, but King Bulblin threw out a fat hand, hitting Link in the chest and causing him to halt, taking a step backwards.

"Don't talk like that," he told him coldly, running a finger along his axe-blade. "I have trouble with temper."

Link stood his ground this time. "You said it before: I'm the strongest side. Now, let me do what I want, and don't question me!"

A tense silence followed; Link actually believed that King Bulblin would attack, but he did not. He merely relaxed and looked away. "You strongest side. I agree. But there more to why I help you…" He did not continue. Link was going to urge him to continue talking, but thought it would be better not to push him. Link nodded slowly.

"Right. Now that we've got that settled – " he began walking away – "I'm going to explore the desert. See you later."

As he left the group of Bulblins standing there, he reflected. Those three words were so small; Midna had said them so often, so casually, but they had been what had caused Link to never give up hope, and to pursue seeing her ever again.

OoO

Link decided not to explore the desert. Exhaustion was now severely taking over him, and he decided to visit Telma and Eir, and then it would be best to return to Ordon Village. He had no real reason to; however, something continuously pulled him back to there, to the place of his home. He chuckled quietly to himself; maybe he was getting emotional. It was, after all, only a little village.

He only stopped by Telma's Bar briefly. Impaz, Telma told Link happily, would indeed recover. "All thanks to you, honey. He may be a complete jerk, but the doc does know a few things. He says she'll recover in no time."

Link then headed home.

OoO

When he reached the Ordona Province, it was nighttime. He rode Epona to his house, dismounted her, and tied her to the post next to his tree-house. He was tired, but could not go to bed just yet; he had to think.

Link went to the Ordon Spring, watching the water sparkle with the magical glow of the stars. So much had happened, and in such a small amount of time, too…'Aye, but that's how it always is,' he thought wearily. He would rush around, pushing all thoughts of himself out of his mind and trying to help others, and then when it was all over, the rewards he reaped were very small. He did not expect an award or anything – he was merely glad that the world wasn't overtaken by Ganondorf – but sometimes he wondered if he should try to talk to someone.

A soft noise behind him perked his ears. He stood, rigid to the ground, careful not to make any sudden movements or indications that he had heard. If it was someone passing through, he would let them go; if the noises sounded inhospitable – and they were unfortunately beginning to – he would whip around and take out his weapons.

There was a small, almost threatening growl, but it was enough. Link turned around, his blade bared, and found a golden-colored wolf soaring towards him…


Okay okay okay. I know. It took me 5 days to get this out, and it's so short. Mea culpa. But, most unfortunately, I've been dragged into some silly high school drama -- which totally makes me gag -- and I need to sort it out. I hate it when my personal life gets in the way of my writing, because that generally means that both of them are not good (sadsad). Plus, I've been lagging on my original novels, and I have a deadline (finish the rough drafts of all the books (8 book series) before August 11th, 2007 -- exactly a year after I started it). I will continue to write this, but the updates will be much slower.