Chapter Five

"Just leave it to Mr. Ritmon to totally destroy my vacation," Link yelled when he got home from the last day of school before the Christmas break. "I'll never get this project done between practice and the games!"

Zelda entered the home slowly, not wanting to be hit from oncoming objects that Link happened to be throwing. She just hoped he did not put one through a window with winter in full swing. It was true that Mr. Ritmon had assigned all his classes to work on a project over vacation, but he did not seem to disagree with partners when Ruto had asked.

"Link, don't fret, I'll do it," she said, "I've nothing better to do."

"Will he allow partners?"

"You were in the bathroom when Ruto asked," she replied, getting on the home computer.

"Leave some time for a little fun..." Link said softly as he plopped himself on the couch, "... Like a walk in nature or hanging out with Zant and Midna."

Zelda did not reply as she looked around the Internet. The project had to be packed full with information about the subject, and it had to be sourced as well. Soon she stopped upon a picture of an Eagle, and looked over at Link. He nodded in agreement before walking off to take a shower. Looking around the net for more information, by the time supper was ready she had placed a folder in front of Link.

"There's the information, you figure out the poster, this will be done in three days," she simply stated. Link did not reply right away, instead thumbed through the information about Eagles, their habits, how their body worked, how they hunted, how they cared for their young, the difference between Golden and Bald, and much more. He could not help but feel slightly amazed at her work ethic.

"It took you, what, four hours to find this information?" Link finally asked, he looked up but found he was only talking to empty air. He could not help but be amazed at the silence she managed when she moved about. Looking back over the information handed to him, he began to visualize what the poster would look like.

...Painting Scars...

In her hands was a diary that she had kept to record her struggles living with the curse. Right now she was writing in her recent struggle of keeping calm and emotionless, and a growing feeling. She could not help but notice that the darkness within her had been growing with each event that caused her to lose control of herself, if only slightly. She feared that at this rate, the man who had caused her this struggle would find her. After she closed the book, she exited her room and silently stepped outside into the cold air. She needed this fresh air in an attempt to clear her mind, only to think back on the kindness that Link has offered her.

No matter how hard she tried, she would smile the faintest of smiles when she thought of him. It was almost like he had given her a new drive to live, to fight the darkness within her. Most people who tried to befriend her often left when they saw her without the hood of her cloak on, yet Link protected her when Malon knocked her out. To have a friend for the first time in several years made her feel safer, but she also would fear to their safety if the man were to find her.

Clearing off a spot on a snow covered picnic table, she sits down and looked out upon the field. A deer made its approach from the woods, looking around in case a hunter was nearby. It was the calmness of nature not noticing her struggle that seem to bring a peace of mind to her.

The soft crunch of snow caused her to turn, only to find Midna approaching slowly. The young artist did not even notice her, only the deer as it slowly nudged the snow in search of vegetation. In her hands was the latest high tech camera, and very slowly she knelt down to snap a picture. She managed a few more before the deer ran off.

"Oh shoot, I can never get it to look at me long enough," Midna muttered.

"Shouldn't try so hard, perhaps try and blend in a little more," Zelda said offhanded, closing her eyes. The artist turned to see the dark shadow on the picnic table, and walked over.

"Perhaps your right," she said softly, wiping some snow off and sitting down. "What brings you out here?" Zelda remains silent for a moment. Midna was a nice person, her mind reasoned weakly as she watched another puff of air lift upwards.

"Fresh air," was the response, looking back at the woods. The same deer was looking back at them, and when it noticed her stare, took off.

"It's always good to have some," Midna agreed. The two sat in silence for a while longer before Zelda got up.

"It's getting late, best head home before it gets too cold out."

"Yeah, see you around then," Midna said before standing up and heading off. Left alone, Zelda looked around her surroundings again before walking slowly back to Link's place.

...Painting Scars...

Amber eyes open to the cold winter. Although still far from his slave, he knew he was closing in. Every now and then, he could feel the surge of the darkness, only to frown with it was purged. His cape, darker then anything known, fluttered against the wind, blocking all light. Slowly, he walked back to the inn he was in. His slave was still several towns away, he would not be able to approach safely for another two months, the next vacation of school. He did not mind, he preferred it, as it would give the dark spirit more time to eat her light.

"Ich werde Sie hat du, Sklave," he muttered in his native tongue so no one around him understood, but several of them did stare at him in fear because of the dark tone he spoke with. "Ihre Freiheit genieβen, während es dauert."