Chapter 9

The next morning, Link and Din wandered through the shops and stalls of the marketplace. Shelves stocked to the brim with clothes, weapons, food and anything else the consumer could desire were for sale. All around them, merchants and customers haggled over prices, each side trying to get the better part of the deal.

As they turned a corner, Link recognized the stall of a shopkeeper from Koradai, whom he had met on an adventure there. But before the hero could move Din away from the stall, the portly Koridian merchant had already begun his sales pitch.

"Ah! Welcome worthy customers!" The Shopkeep greeted them. "Lamp oil… rope… bombs… you want it? It's yours, my friends!" The merchant exclaimed, greedily rubbing his hands together. "So long as you have enough rupees."

Before Din could even reply, Link raised his hand. "I'm sad to say we're broke, Morshu." Link replied, lying through his teeth. "I just spent my last red Rupee on buying the lovely lady here a new hair clip."

"No money?" Morshu shook his head. "Sorry Link, but I can't give credit." He gestured for them to move along. "Come back when you're a little… mmmm… richer!"

As they kept walking, Din Giggled. "Merchants… just as greedy as they are in the desert… and just as gullible!"

"So very true." Link replied with a laugh. "But if you do actually want me to get you something from their Stalls, it's yours."

"Awww that's sweet, Link!" The Oracle replied with a smile. "But you really don't have to…" Suddenly, her eyes lit up. "EEEEE! Over there!"

Grabbing Link's arm, she dragged him over towards a large, gaudy jewelry booth. By the time they walked away from the stall, Din's neck was decorated with a beautiful pearl necklace, and the Hero's wallet truly was empty of all rupees.

"Thank you, Link!" Din squealed with delight, hugging him. "This is absolutely beautiful!"

"Yeah? Well, you should thank my poor wallet!" Link replied with a chuckle. "But it does look good on you. Makes you look more… girly."

"What?" Din pulled away, and gave the hero an annoyed look. "Well thanks… glad you think so highly of me." She replied coldly.

"What? Now, wait a minute!" Link replied angrily. "There's nothing wrong with being girly, even if you are a tomboy!"

"It means you think I'm weak!" Din replied. "That I'm a helpless and emotional!"

"No it doesn't!" Link pointed a finger at her. "I don't think you're weak, I think you're a very brave woman. But I think you're a very beautiful woman, too." Softening his voice, Link looked her straight in the eyes. "Din, you can be strong… and be a girl, too. Don't cut out part of who you are, just because of what other people think!"

Din only looked at him, a hurt and confused look on her face. Dear Goddesses, he thought to himself, what who had hurt her so badly, while he was away at Kolnohoit? Her heart was so broken and tormented, that the smiling, flirtatious girl he remembered from Holodrum seemed only a memory. Why wouldn't she let him in? Why wouldn't she even give him a chance?

Couldn't she see her pain was hurting him too?

Before this line of thought could carry any further, the Hero heard a familiar voice call out. "Link! Link, is that you?"

Spinning around, the hero was suprised to see an old friend running up to him. "Bipin! What in Hylia are you doing here?" He greeted the older man with an embrace."It's been ages, old friend!"

Din looked the rustic-looking farmer over. "Bipin, the Gasha seed expert from Holodrum?" She smiled. "I remember you! How is Blossom, your wife?"

"Blossom is fine." Bipin replied. "She and I live in Labyrina now, and I've come here to Hyrule to try and sell some of our own home-grown Gasha seeds!"

"Sounds like a tough sell." The hero shook his head. "Hyrule's soil is far too poor to grow Gasha trees."

"I've come to realise that." The Farmer frowned. "I may have to go home empty handed." He then smiled again. "But enough about me! How are the two of you doing?"

"It's a long story...." Link Replied.

"Well... come on!" Bipin exclaimed. "Let's go to the local tavern, I'm sure you can tell me after you've had something to eat!"

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As they all ate, Link and Din explained everything that had happened to them, and how they had to get north. Bipin pondered for a moment. "That's going to be rather difficult to get across the river, Link. The gatekeeper at the river won't lower the bridge for outsiders, unless they are willing to pay a large bribe."

"There's got to be something we can do!" Link exclaimed in frustration. "Damn it, we should have gotten a letter of passage from the king when we were there!"

As they were talking, Din looked up at the stage in the Tavern. The owner of the tavern would pay a great deal of money to have a gerudo dancer perform up there... money enough to both bribe the gatekeeper... and to make sure Bipin didn't go back to his wife with empty pockets.

"Link, you go and Bipin go back to the inn and gets some rest." Din told the hero. "I'll be along later."

"You sure you want to be here alone?" Link replied, uncertain. "This place can be rather rough."

"Just go!" She replied, practically pushing them out the door. "Besides, I'm the Oracle of Seasons, what kind of trouble could I possibly get myself into?"

"All right, Din... see you later." As he they left, Link turned to Bipin. "Boy, she can sure be stubborn."

The farmer simply laughed. "Reminds me of my son."

"Speaking of your son, how's he doing these days?" Link asked. "Were you ever able to get that curse off of him that made him age rapidly?"

"Yep, the witch Syrup was able to brew a potion that slowed his aging to normal, though she wasn't able to give him his childhood back." The old farmer shook his head. "I really wish he would make up his mind what career he's like to pursue, Link. A farmer like me, an adventurer like you, he just can't seem to make up his mind what he wants to do with his life."

"Well, I certainly hope things work out for him, my friend." Link replied, putting his hand on Bipin's shoulder. "And for you and blossom as well."

"Thank you, Hero." The old farmer replied, as they both walked into the inn.

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Before long, night crept over the town of Saria. Back in the Tavern, the crowd was starting to get restless, demanding entertainment. The various cutthroats and scoundrels that frequented this seedy Tavern at night wanted more than just their beer. It wouldn't be long before some of them started to get rowdy.

But all of their voices fell silent when a beautiful, red-haired Gerudo woman stepped out onto the stage. She wore a pair of red, high healed boots, and a glittering thong bikini. As the small band in the corner began to play, she began to dance. Slowly at first, then faster and faster as the pace of the music increased. Kicking her heels high, twisting and turning and spinning to the pounding beat.

Every eye in the place was her, but Din didn't care. She was lost in the music, kicking and spinning beneath the hot light of the lanterns. She was dancing for herself... and for Link, who in her mind she pictured out amongst the crowd, watching her. She closed her eyes, and the song, the dance, and herself all became one. As the music reached it's climax, Din did a final long spin, and dropped to the floor. Her smooth skin was dripping in sweat, and her fiery eyes blazed as the dance ended.

The room was silent for a moment, then erupted into an explosion of applause, whistles, and catcalls. The crowd threw rupees and several room keys from the inn onto the stage. Smiling, Din collected up the money, and with a bow, left the stage. The Oracle then went over to the bar, and ordered a drink. She knew link would be mad at her for doing this, but the money she was getting would not only get them across the bridge, but also get them supplies, and give Bipin some money to take home with him to his family.

Besides, she was a half-Gerudo, this was her life... who she was. After downing a few more shots of ale, Din stood back up, and headed back to the stage for her next performance.