Author's note: okay, I FINALLY updated this story for a change. To be honest with you, folks, I'm getting tired of this, and I want to finish it as quickly as possible. This part of my life is definitely over, so it's time to bring it to a close.
BUT: I've been working very hard to familiarize myself with both the rawest and subtlest ways of 'horror' (reading lots of horror stories, sifting through Wikipedia, watching The Grudge 1, 2, 3, Slender playthroughs etc etc...), since this is the direction in which I want this story to go. I wrote this chapter only as transition for the 'real thing' that will come at the next upload. Watch out for it, and brace yourself *hehehe*. Things might get a little … exorcising from now on.
Chapter 51 – The Silver Glint of Fear
There was a little cracking sound, somewhere. It was not loud, but loud enough for Link to hear it. Frowning, he turned his head towards the window where it had come from, but nothing was there. Night had settled outside with its twinkling stars and pale moon. The soft chirping of a nightingale was carried to his ears by a low spring breeze. Dust swirled up in the street and coated the window panes with a layer of rust red. The candle next to him was the only source of light he had to decipher the written hieroglyphs in the little leather-bound book, and upon shining through the soiled glass it let the ochre gleam up like wet mud.
The ground floor where the Resistance Group, the children, Renado and Midna were having supper had turned quiet with the passing of time, all of them settled down in front of a mug of ale to let the pleasant evening decline peacefully. Link did not understand how they could possibly drink such bitter stuff, and even enjoy it.
They were not supposed to leave him alone like this. Why did they nonetheless? Even Midna had left the shadows of the sick room unoccupied to join the gathering downstairs. He felt more alone than ever, with only an old quire as company. It wasn't a pleasant one either, with grotesque ink drawings of suffering people, strange illnesses and possessing curses. His own was on page fifty-seven, and by now he knew every single word of the short description by heart. Quite ironic, he thought, to be so fascinated by the only known record of his ailment that he just had to read it, again and again, and again, and again …
There was but one, devastating aftermath which the Goddesses' tear rain could not heal.
Thoughtfully, he eyed that particular passage on the stained, yellowed page. Why? Why did it not heal him? That stupid book didn't tell him anything about the reasons. Light was there to destroy Darkness. His Curse was Darkness, born by the very power that Midna and him had sought from the Light Spirits. Zant had used the Fused Shadows to re-create this curse in order to dispatch of the Hero without even staining his hands. It would kill Link for him, at least that was what he hoped. The Light Spirits managed to break that ancient relic of the Dark Interlopers, but why couldn't they destroy this Curse?
It is said that the Dolor Mortis Curse always left a deep scar on those who got cured from it, as if it wanted to scold their freedom and absence of pain.
Absence of pain? Freedom? He scoffed slightly. He was anything but free. True, the unbearable pain in his abdomen had died down to a mere stinging from the last of his cuts, but he was still suffering. Dim images flashed up in his mind whenever he closed his eyes for a few seconds. Dark images, full to the brim with suffering and death. Knives, ropes, murky water, a tall mountain flanked by a deep abyss. He saw himself cutting his veins, hanging himself up by the neck, throwing himself into the water, never to surface again, plunging into the never-ending abyss straight to the underworld of no return. The slice, the choke, the drown, the crash, he felt it all as a soft sample of each in his head. Every time it made him tear his eyes open only to find nothing had happened.
The victims had deep emotional wounds, suffered from depressions and were even possessed by demonic seizures that let them vomit blood and fall senseless to the ground.
He had made a big mistake that day. Even if the occasion was truly nice and without any ill thought whatsoever. But he had been weak. His entire body screamed at him. WHY HAVE YOU DONE IT?!, but he had no answer. He had done it because the Curse had asked him to. And he didn't want to know what would have happened had he not done it:
0
Link's arm was throbbing all the more now that the wounds were starting to heal. He was tossing and turning underneath his sheets to find a more comfortable position, but every time his bandaged limb found a way to hurt him anew. Soon he was just lying on his back staring at the ceiling while rubbing his arm gently, asking himself how he had possibly been convinced to do that, to inflict those cuts to – himself!
Renado was sleeping on the rocking chair, curled up in his woollen blanket, but Link made no attempt to wake him. He himself was drifting in and out of sleep every couple of minutes, but for him it seemed as if this torture went on for hours. At least the dreadful voices in his head had ceased, for now. Additionally to that, he noticed just how tired he was even after a night's rest. Could it be the minor loss of blood he had caused last night? Or was it something else?
As he was lying silent, counting the knotholes in the wooden ceiling with his bandaged arm resting on his chest, Renado began to stir. ''Mumble … uh my back … I'm getting old …''
Link turned his head and watched the Kakarikan wriggle out of his sheets clumsily while complaining about his ageing bones. It looked almost cute how he scrambled down the rocking chair like a child climbing down a huge horse, but Link did not smile. He was too downhearted for that. At least the voices were keeping quiet. It was almost eerie not to hear them all the time. Had his self-harm caused them to vanish? Or was the Curse just taking a break?
''Good morning, Link.'' Renado said with a smile, approaching the youth and sitting down on the chair next to the bed. With a hand-move he indicated the bandaged arm. ''How is it? Is it hurting a lot?''
Link shook his head and set his eyes on the window in the back. ''No. It's bearable.''
As he said nothing more, the shaman cleared his throat. ''I don't think it is a good idea to talk about it now. Are you hungry? I can ask Luda to make breakfast …''
But Link cut him off. ''No, I'm not hungry. Besides, I couldn't eat anything even if I wanted to …'' He pressed his injured arm tightly against his bandaged stomach and gave a short tremble of his torso, his good arm greeted by a sea of goose bumps.
''Are you cold?'' Renado asked sympathetically, already standing up to wrap the woollen blanket further around Link's shoulders. The youth sighed while accepting the overcoming warmth, but soon grabbing the healer's arm carefully.
''Renado, do the others know of … well … this?'' he asked, indicating his bandaged arm.
The shaman shook his head quietly. ''I told only Auru after he woke up by the commotion last night. I don't think he told anyone else.''
Link evaded eye-contact. ''Maybe they should know, I just want them to know that I never wanted to – that it was not my intention …''
''Don't worry.'' Renado said while placing a delicate hand on the youth's shoulder. ''They would never think you did this willingly.''
Link was quiet, a disturbed look on his face as he gazed down at the floor.
''What is it, Link?'' Renado asked.
The Hero sighed deeply before answering. ''Can you fetch the others? There's something I want to tell them.''
The healer hesitated briefly with uncertainty on his face, frowning while thinking hard. But as Link looked at him with a pleading look, he nodded reluctantly. ''Yes of course. Wait here.''
The door fell into its lock. One second ticked by. Then another. Then another.
Where … is … one?
Link jerked in fright. He knew that hissed voice.
Hmmm, let's see … that shaman has one. It's a beautiful one … where is it?
Trembling, Link asked quietly. ''Where's … what?''
You know what, it answered in a mocking tone. And you're going to get it for me. Just you wait and see …
The door creaked again and Renado came in, followed by Rusl who immediately knelt down in front of his adoptive son. ''Link! Are you all right?'' Behind him, Auru, Shad and Ashei stepped into the room, but before the door could close again, a soft pit-pat of minuscule bare feet echoed through the doorframe, and Link gazed into Midna's worry-filled, sunset-coloured eyes as she stopped next to Auru. Immediately, he felt a longing sensation creep into his belly, his hands twitching as they longed to caress her cheeks, fondle her breasts, press her entire body as tightly against him as he could.
''We heard what happened from Renado.'' Ashei said in a troubled voice. Link looked at her with ears drawn back in guilt, almost hearing the dressing-down she surely wanted to give him. He had made her a promise to call for help if the Curse took control of his mind, and he had broken it.
''I'm … really sorry.'' was all he could say. It was his own fault that he had an injured arm, and the cuts only throbbed more as if to rub it in even further. He gritted his teeth and looked down, pressing the bandaged limb tightly against his body.
''You don't have to be.'' Auru answered in his calm, silken voice. ''You had no control over what happened.''
''Which is why I wanted to see you.'' Link said, clearing his throat, going over the prepared sentences in his mind one last time. He had made his decision.
''I wanted to tell you that … I'm leaving.''
Sudden gasps from the others resounded in his ears. He had expected such a reaction. However, he had not expected a reaction from inside him.
Now that is against the rules …
''What do you mean you're leaving?'' Rusl asked incredulously. His look swept over to where Renado stood in the background, but the shaman seemed as surprised as the rest of the gathering.
Reeling off his prepared arguments, Link burst out. ''I'm leaving for the Twilight Realm. This curse is too powerful, I just can't control it much longer. What happened to me yesterday was my own fault, but I'll make sure that doesn't happen again before … before I finish my task.''
''What are you talking about?'' Ashei asked crossly, her strong voice rattling Link's brain painfully. ''What task?''
''The task given to me by the three Goddesses. I will travel to the Twilight and fight Zant and Ganondorf, before this curse manages to kill me.''
''This is insane!'' Ashei shouted out, throwing her fists down angrily. ''You can't just give up now!''
''Link, you're not fit enough to travel, let alone to fight.'' Renado said calmly, stretching out his hands in an attempt to reason with him. ''Barely a few days ago you laid in bed half conscious from severe wounds.''
''If I don't go now, this curse will kill me!'' Link tried to argue, but Auru stepped in.
''Link, we know how much you want to finish your task as the Hero, but this is not the right way. This curse will keep you from reaching the Mirror in time, and then all is lost. You can't fight it alone.''
''I'm not alone. Midna will come with me.'' Link said, looking at his companion hopefully. ''She'll stop me if anything goes wrong.''
The little Twili's eyes widened while she stared at him, but the moment she wanted to answer, Renado intervened. ''You can't expect from her to protect you, Link. If something goes wrong, do you really think she'll have the strength to stop you?''
''Hey! I'm stronger than you think!'' Midna countered and folded her arms, but the shaman paid her no mind. His look was solely fixed on Link.
''Think about her. I know she'd do anything to help you, but do you seriously want to burden her with such a heavy responsibility?''
The room was quiet after the shaman's last words, and all eyes were set on Link. The youth swallowed hard and looked away, instant guilt washing over him. How could he even think of asking such a selfish thing of her, the one person in the world that really knew what he had gone through, and who he loved with all his heart?
''You're right, I can't burden her with this. In fact, I don't want to burden any of you any longer. I'm going alone.''
''No you're not!'' Ashei burst out while leaning down on him, pointing a finger into his face. ''You stop that brainless rubbish right now and let us take care of you. You stay right here where we can all protect you, and don't you dare make a run for it!''
''But –''
''No buts, okay? We're so close to cracking this, and you won't go away from here until you are fully healed.''
Link's eyes turned immobile as he stared at the warrior girl in disbelief. ''You … you mean you're close finding a counter-curse?''
Ashei only gave a brief twitch with one eyelid before she answered. ''Yes, for Din's sake, we're almost done! And you want to leave us already? Give us two more days, and you can say bye-bye to that wretched curse!''
Oh, how interesting …
The Hero's eyes widened even more at that. He gave a soft gasp of hope before looking down, his irises darting around while he tried to believe the wonderful truth. Only two more days to suffer, and the release would come.
His thoughts were cut off by Ashei laying a hand on his shoulder. ''But you have to promise us not to leave, all right?''
He looked at her apple-green eyes briefly before nodding weakly. ''All right. I'll stay then.''
How interesting indeed …
The warrior stepped back again with a big smile and arms folded in satisfaction, looking at the incredulous men standing around her. She caught Auru's furious eye glare at her crossly, but she ignored it.
''That settled, why don't we all have breakfast?'' Renado said while clapping his hands.
0
Outside, Auru caught Ashei's arm and pulled hard at it. With a quick glance he made sure they were at safe distance from Link's room before he turned to the protesting woman.
''What were you thinking by that, Ashei?! TWO days? We don't even have an idea about how to continue!''
''Easy, Auru, don't worry.'' she said in annoyance, tearing her arm out of the old Hylian's grip. ''You should be grateful for what I did, I bought us some time. Link believes it and promised to stay here, isn't that positive?''
''What if we don't find anything by the time those two days run out?'' Auru snapped furiously. ''What will Link do then? You have no idea what you put us all in! Link will put all his faith in those two days, and only Nayru knows what he'll do when we can't heal him by that time.''
''Well then we'll just raise the bar to four days. As long as we keep telling him that we're on our best way to find a cure, he'll stay here and wait patiently.''
Auru shook his head with a snort. ''And while we do that, the Curse will torture him only more. Don't you realize what that means? By saying this, you put Link into more danger than he was before!''
Now the warrior girl looked confused. ''What do you mean?''
Auru squeezed his eyes shut while smashing a palm against his face. ''For Din's sake, the Curse heard it too, you fool!''
0
The water was pleasantly hot, so hot that it rose in form of steam from the tub and wafted around Link's head. In deep inhales he breathed in the strangely perfumed vapour drifting from the water in which he leaned with his back against the wooden basin. Its edge was just high enough so that he could rest the back of his head against it. Lavender, sage and all sorts of other scents ensnared in his nostrils, letting him wonder just how many different aromatic oils the shaman had poured into his bathwater to make him feel better. Had he had the heart for it, he would have loved to discern every smell within the white steam around him, but for now he just tried not to fall asleep and ignore the constant stinging in his underbelly.
The only positive thought he could utter in his blurred mind was that Midna had said she wanted to keep him company and take care of him. Glancing over the edge of the basin, he searched in the shadows cast by the light outside for her tell-tale, red orbs. He didn't have to wait long until her silhouette rose from the door.
The moment he straightened in his bath, she peeled herself off the shadows, smiling back at him. He felt his own lips arch into a grin as she approached him. ''It's nice to see you smile for once.'' she said as she hovered in front of him, taking his cheeks into her palms to kiss him passionately.
''I'm glad you came.'' he said, leaning his back once more against the wood. Midna, having rested her arms on the edge of the tub, lowered her chin on her wrist and watched Link for a moment how he laid there, eyes closed, enjoying the blissful heat of the water.
''Renado really had a good idea with the bath.'' she said after a while. ''You'll feel better in no time.''
Link's lids slid open then, but gazed blankly at the ceiling. ''I already do, but …'' he sighed, making the water move as he sat up. ''… these thoughts are still there. I really am afraid, Midna.''
The imp cast him a worried look, but he evaded eye contact. ''Afraid of what?'' she asked, forcing the slightly disturbed tone out of her voice. ''I mean you're the Hero and managed so much until now, so why be afraid?''
Link shook his head. ''That's the point, I'm afraid of myself and of what I could do. It's as if my mind completely takes control of me, and I can do nothing to prevent it.'' He pulled his arms out of the water and stared at his open palms. ''It's as if my very soul turns against me.'' he said in a lower voice.
Midna watched him for a while, pondering over his diction. He surely had chosen his words on purpose to best express his true feelings, but was that really how he felt? ''Why say soul?'' she asked and tried to sound curious rather than concerned.
Link sighed. ''You know … this curse, it shows me images, horrible things. It's as if it's infesting my mind and establishes its own desires on me.''
Midna waited a moment, trying to suppress the fear creeping into her bones. ''And what does it show you?'' she asked cautiously.
Link looked down for a moment as if fearing to put words to it. His voice quivered slightly when he gave his reply. ''Death scenes. More accurately, suicide scenes. My own suicide.''
Midna gasped silently. So it was true, this curse definitely wanted him dead. That was for sure, and apparently it would use every means to gain its ends. The question was: was Link strong enough to withstand?
''And … what do you think about that?'' she asked now very carefully, for she knew that she was on a dangerous path. If Link had endured the Curse's threats and seductions until now it was because he was indeed strong enough, but would he stand it until they found a way to free him completely?
When she looked at him, all she saw was weariness in his eyes. He was so incredibly exhausted.
''I try with all my might to resist, to get those images out of my head.'' he said bluntly. ''It's the only way.''
Midna noticed that the fingers on his two hands which were placed on top of the tub all twitched at the same time, as if wanting to grasp for something but thinking better at the next second. Head cocked, she looked up to his face, seeing how his gaze had turned blank, nearly empty. Next moment his entire body twitched once as if being stung somewhere in the belly, but it was only that. After this he just hung his head and stared at the water around him, ears hanging down sadly. The sight of him looking so beaten hurt her deeply.
''I will help you, Link. You can count on me. I won't let you down!'' she assured with a smile, standing on the edge of the basin and placing her palm on his cheek. Link lifted his eyes and smiled weakly back at her, cupping his hand on top of hers on his face.
''Thank you.'' he whispered.
At that moment, they both heard rustling behind the door, and Midna blinked once at Link before hiding in the shadow of a corner. Next moment, the door swung open, and in stepped Renado with a white towel and a green glass bottle in his arms. ''Feeling better, my boy?'' he asked.
Link nodded as he drew himself up to a seated position, looking wearily at the bottle that the healer put down on a little table. More perfumed stuff, great! ''What's that?'' he asked softly, indicating the flask.
Renado knelt down before the tub and took the flagon in his hands. ''Liquid soap.'' he answered. ''Now hold still and close your eyes, it stings quite a bit.''
Link frowned and stared at him as the older man poured some of the liquid onto his hands, and flinched back terrified as he grabbed for his head and began rubbing it into his hair. ''What are you doing?'' he protested feebly. On instinct he pressed his eyes shut as the smelly stuff ran down his face and left a repulsive taste on his tongue.
''Washing your hair, that's all. You always feel good with freshly washed hair. Don't you have something like soap back in Ordon?'' the Kakarikan asked in an amused tone.
Link spat out some of the soap before replying. ''We do, but only in dry form, and we never use it to wash hair. For that we have a mixture of vine ashes, licorice wood, sowbread and so forth …''
Renado chuckled. ''Well, it's getting time then. Now just wait and don't move.'' Link felt Renado's big hands leave his head and stayed there for a moment with eyes still closed, expecting a new form of strange Kakarikan usage. Instead, he was greeted by a wave of hot water splashing right on top of him, making him jerk in fright. Sputtering, he let out a quiet whimper before shaking his head violently to get the water out of his hair and ears. When he rubbed his eyes open, he saw Renado kneeling beside him with a bucket, looking at him. ''You okay?'' he asked, grinning.
Link forced up a little smile and nodded, noticing in dismay that the bucket he was holding was full to the brim too. ''Great.'' Renado answered, standing up and pouring the second mass of water over him.
After his hair had been rinsed out and he had striped it out of his face, Renado handed him a dry, cubic soap and let him wash his body. Upon his request, Link let Renado wash his back with a scrubber and noticed how pleasant it was to let someone brush it like that. He closed his eyes in delight and let himself do, glad that only for a moment, his thoughts vanished from his agitated mind. Of course, it lasted only a minute, and much too quickly Renado put the brush aside and held the huge towel spread open for him to step out of the tub and wrap himself in it.
That was when all his weariness crashed down on him again as he stood, and he would nearly have toppled to the floor had Renado not caught him. ''Careful.'' he said as he let Link lower himself on his knees, wrapping the towel around him completely. ''Are you all right?''
''Yeah, just tired.'' Link answered. Instantly, his body started to shiver as his still wet skin reacted to the air around him. Renado started to rub him dry vigorously, letting only the more intimate parts up to Link. While the youth tried not to focus on his aching head and belly, he started to feel like a little child who could not even dry himself alone. Instantly, he felt ill at ease and gently pushed Renado's hand from his upper arm. ''It's okay, I can manage.'' he mumbled.
The shaman looked non-compliant at first, but when Link told him of his shame and feeling of incapacity, he immediately understood. ''Forgive me, I did not think about that, but you're right. In that case I'll let you get dressed, but if there is anything wrong, I'll be just outside.''
Link was glad that he was on his own. First he thought that Midna would come out of the shadows and keep him company, but when he called for her softly, there was no answer. Apparently she had left the room too to give him some privacy, and to be fair to himself, he appreciated it. The hissing voice inside his head had not said a single thing since he had talked to Midna, perhaps it was his current, relaxed state of body and mind that gave him this peace. Whatever was the case, he really enjoyed it.
He had some difficulties in standing up, but with the aid of the bath brink he could support his numb body and was soon standing with only the big towel covering him. Leaning slightly forward, he rubbed through his hair to dry it a bit and noticed its softness instantly. Liquid soap, he thought, never heard of that before, but it's not that bad. As soon as he would get used to it, he decided to use it at every bath he took.
When the water didn't dribble down his hair any more, he took the towel in one hand and held it around his body as he carefully paced along the edge of the basin to get to his little pile of clothes. He noticed that only his leggings were present, neatly folded and seemingly clean. The long undershirt had probably been taken by Renado to wash it, and recalling the red stains of blood that had clung to the cream coloured fabric, it was really necessary.
He let his grip on the towel go, and it fell in a heap around him. Wrapping his arms around his now completely naked body, he carefully inched to his leggings and managed to sit down in order to pass his legs through. His still sore body gave quite a few painful protests at some of his movements, but he tried as best as he could to ignore them. Having done that quite a few times before, and as sad as that might sound, he was getting used to it.
He was just about to step up to the small table where he remembered having deposed the little leather book from the old library, when suddenly he flinched back, startled by a movement. Upon closer inspection the move slowed down, and he was greeted by himself, half dressed and gazing confusedly back at him. He was standing in front of a big mirror that was about his height. It had been a long time since he had seen a reflection of himself, and it somehow frightened him. He looked so different.
When he looked at the person in the mirror, all he saw was an emaciated, white-skinned, scarred youth with dark, blue eyes and wild hair. He had become even skinnier than before, he noticed, his hair a tad longer, but the biggest change were his eyes. They were clouded, as if a veil was hanging over them and oppressed the once bright, strong reflection they emitted. They reminded him a bit of the eyes Ilia had had when she had no recollection of who she was and who he was. They were empty, mournful and dull, not the same they once were. Not the eyes that once characterised the sacred Beast he was in Twilight.
Another big detail sprang into his view; his big scars scattered all over his upper body. Looking at them from the front, they seemed even scarier than when he gazed down at himself. They looked longer, deeper and wider, and some of them were still not fully healed and a little bloody where the scurf had been loosened by the hot water. With one finger, he traced the once cursed scar down to his waist where the strong bandage was attached. The touch alone sent sparkles of pain up his spine into his head, and he felt himself grip his temples, letting out a quiet moan. ''Why are you in my head?'' he grunted softly. ''Why can't you be there where the pain is real, and not just an illusion with no wound?''
Suddenly, something exploded inside his head, sending stars before his eyes as his scream of agony stuck inside his throat. With a low thud he collapsed to his knees, still clutching his head tightly. The pain was abominable.
Oh, you think I'm just a mere illusion? It chuckled with a hiss, every word pounding against his mind and amplifying the dreadful torment even more. I think you must mistake me with your pathetic Twili friend, for I'm as real as the reflection in front of you.
Link felt the pain lessen, and exhaled in relief as It transformed into a low, humming glow in his mind. However, the ominous voice resounded again after some time. You really think that I'll leave you be like that? Oh no, my little friend, I have a very special task for you, and I think you will do as I say now, won't you?
Link gave an ironic, strained chuckle. ''Friend? I never knew we were friends! And why should I do what you say?'' But his voice soon lost its strength as his fatigue took the better part of him. He crouched on all fours as he tried to get a clear brain again.
For a moment, there was silence in his head, as if It thought about what to answer. Then: I can't believe that you are that foolish. How DARE you contradict me in that insolent manner?!
A moan escaped Link's lips as his body jerked violently in utter agony. He felt as if a devastating fire burst out from inside him and burned every fibre standing in its way. His breath choked, his vision blurred, his ears rang. He felt so much pain, excruciating, cauterizing pain inside him that he didn't even notice the blood shooting out of his mouth. It sprayed outward as if his throat had just been slit and landed in sprinkles all over the mirror in front of him. But through his watering eyes and foggy vision, he could still see his own reflection, cowering on all fours and retching terribly, letting out the one or other cry of torment. On his effigy he could see the blood dripping from his mouth and lips tainted red, however, something was different this time.
''Link!''
There was another wound. Right on his chest.
''What happened?'' ''Link, say something!''
Right over his heart.
''Get a towel!'' ''Hold him still!''
See you later …
A chuckle, and everything was gone.
0
They saw strange things which were unreal or not seen by ordinary people, heard voices only they could perceive and hurt themselves with weapons such as knives or daggers.
Why had he done it? Why had he been so weak as to listen to this wretched malediction? Now he had nothing but his own resolution to keep himself from … from …
0
''I think it's over.'' someone said above him. He recognized that voice. Whence ever. It made him feel at ease. It was a feminine voice. Soft and gentle, like warm water.
''It was more this time.'' another one swept in, a man, apparently with a few more years on his back since he sounded scratchy and hoarse.
Having sweet dreams?
Screaming, Link bolted upright. ''Leave me!''
With eyes open wide, he stared confusedly at the faces above him. Auru, Rusl and Renado were kneeling beside him, Luda, and Ilia stood in front of him. Midna was on his other side and holding his shoulder along with Renado. ''Link? Are you all right?'' she asked worriedly.
Link instantly started shivering as he tried to stand up, earning loud protests from the others. ''No Link, don't move!''
The shaman was the one holding him in place as Link looked all around him. He felt icy cold. ''I'm … freezing …'' he stammered, instantly wrapping his arms around himself. From the corner of his eye, he saw something red on the floor.
''Wait, I think there's a blanket in the kitchen. Luda?'' Renado said while giving his daughter a sign. She immediately ran off, past the other persons standing in the doorframe and which Link noticed only now. He met the eyes of a worried looking Shad, Ashei was not so easy to decipher. She wore a mix between sympathy and anxiousness, a countenance which did not really fit her usually fierce expression.
As he noticed his dry, aching throat, he immediately grabbed it painfully. Letting out a groan, he coughed a few times and felt something sticky on his tongue. As he passed one finger inside his mouth and looked at it, he noticed more red. He tried to trigger the answer to all this, but somehow his mind was not working properly. He felt dazed and unable to think, as if someone had
removed the goading cog-wheel.
''Renado, we should take him to his bed, I don't think he really knows what's going on.'' Auru interjected.
It's in the main room, right on top of the table. Get it! You know what will happen if you contradict me again …
''No, I'm all right.'' Link said suddenly, looking at the faces around him. ''I'm just … so thirsty.'' His shivers intensified, moving up to his mouth where his teeth started to clatter too.
Rusl looked confusedly at Renado, who on his turn glanced at the door towards Ashei. The warrior girl nodded and disappeared.
Link felt big, strong hands lift him from the ground, and he found himself standing on his shaky feet. Next to him, Renado's voice rang out softly. ''Can you walk?''
Link knew he could, and nodded. Gradually, the supporting arms left him, but his feet held the ground. Slowly he placed one foot in front of the other, walking steadily towards the exit and into the big ground level that was the main room of the inn. Before him, Auru quickly ran to the big, round table and pulled a chair back for him to sit down.
Ashei came back from the kitchen and offered him a bowl with water, which Link greedily bolted down. Everyone came around him and watched him empty the cup, no one saying a single word.
It was just after the drink that Link really came back to reality. ''Thank you.'' he said, wiping his mouth. ''What happened?''
''You had another seizure.'' Renado answered, concerned. He had crouched down beside him to be at his eye-level and had placed a hand on his forearm. ''But it was worse this time. Midna was there, she saw it.''
Link turned his head towards her. So she had been there after all, keeping a watchful eye on him without his knowing. Somehow he was furious, for perhaps her material presence would have prevented this awful Curse from torturing him like that. He decided to keep it for himself though, not wanting to blame her for what had happened to him. She had no idea what was going on inside his spinning head anyway.
Exhaling, he looked down. His hands were tainted red, and his lips felt sticky. ''I'm tired.'' he mumbled, letting his look wander over the table towards the stairs in the corner.
Ashei came with the water jug in her hands and poured some more into his cup. ''Shall we prepare his bed, Renado?''
The shaman looked up, nodding with a smile. ''Yes, that would be nice. If you three could do that, it should go even quicker.''
Ashei, Shad and Auru withdrew from Link's side as they moved towards the stairs. Link watched in a daze how the black-haired woman opened a large cupboard in the corner and handed each of her helpers a different coloured sheet which they carried to the first floor. When he felt something brush over his lips, he could hear them speak from upstairs. Apparently Shad had forgotten his sheet in the cupboard and was receiving a dressing-down from Ashei. Next to him, Luda reappeared, draping a woollen blanket over his shoulders. His tremors receded a bit.
Soft, young voices then met his pointed ears, and looking across the room he saw Colin and the rest of the Ordonian children approach them, all in their sleepsuits and, judging by their tousled hair, just out of bed. ''Oh, I'll take care of them.'' Rusl said from behind him. The wooden floor creaked as he walked towards the little ones who started to ask questions.
''It's all right, kids. Don't worry, Link is fine.'' Rusl said as he escorted them back to their room. ''Shall I read you one of those adventure stories that you …'' but more Link could not decipher due to the distance separating them. The only thing he did notice was an anxious little back glance from Colin that directly met his eyes, but all he did was quickly look down and stare at a hole in the wooden table rim.
''Link? Can you turn to me, please? I want to wipe the blood away.'' Renado's voice cut through his trance, letting him spin around.
''Oh, yes … sorry.''
At the word blood he slowly started to remember what had happened apparently just minutes ago. He was so getting used to his fits that he didn't even pass out after one of them any more. How quaint!
''Sorry about your mirror, Renado. I think it caught most of my blood.'' Link said, trying to sound sarcastic. It didn't really come out the way he had wanted to, but at least he could still speak normally and in coherent sentences. He was also quite surprised that so much detail still lingered in his memory; normally he forgot most of it instantly. How quaint indeed!
''Mirror? What mirror?'' Renado asked casually as he dipped the cloth into the cup of water and continued to cleanse Link's forehead. Had his blood really flown on that as well?
''The big one in the washroom. I dread it was just in my line of fire.'' Link tried to chuckle and sound nonchalant, but a few coughs came out instead.
''What are you talking about, Link?'' Renado chuckled as he inspected the youth's hands. ''There is no mirror in the washroom, let alone a big one.''
Suddenly, Link's body tensed up. ''What?'' He stared at the healer, looking scared. From his room upstairs, Ashei's voice echoed down faintly to his ears as she gave her helpers some orders. Renado now lifted his head and met his eyes. ''There is no mirror in the washing room, Link.'' he said again with a frown, now sounding rather suspicious.
Next to him, Ilia and Luda looked at each other worriedly, and Midna glanced up at Link's left side from the floor. The Hero stared blankly at the table again, this time at something silvery, shining near its edge, reflecting his empty socket. ''But I saw it, I saw myself in it. It was right in front of me.'' he stammered. He was not talking about the mirror.
Renado placed one hand on his shoulder. ''Perhaps you saw your own reflection in the water of the bath tub?'' he tried. But Link knew what he had seen.
''No, it was a real mirror, about my size.''
''Renado? It's ready, you can come.'' Ashei's voice rang out from above. The shaman seemed to nod and helped Link on his feet. But Link didn't go towards the stairs, he took a few steps backwards, holding himself with his right hand on the table for support and looking confusedly to his left, through the open door into the washing room. ''But I saw it …'' he mumbled.
However, all he saw now was the tub and the little table, but indeed no mirror stood between them. For him, the world stood upside down now. Had it been just an illusion? Had the Curse played another trick on his mind?
Renado, Midna and the two girls all glanced into the room as well, looking for said mirror. Link's hand on the table briefly felt something cold and smooth before it glided past the string holding the leggings around his haunch and let something slip inside them. A piercing, icy touch shot up from the skin of his right hip, and he quickly withdrew his palm again.
The others turned towards him once more, Renado shaking his head. ''You must have mistaken it with the water of the bath, for there never has been any mirror in this room, ever.'' He picked up the blanket that had fallen from the Hylian's shoulder when he had moved, handing it to Luda as he supported Link by his bare arms. ''Come, Link. You should get some rest after all this.''
As if somnambulating, Link walked up the stairs with the girls and Renado following him. He felt a bit odd that so many people cared about him, but what he felt more was the heavy thing tapping lightly against his right leg, just about the height of his knee. It had apparently stuck its point into the fabric of the leggings where it had come to a halt, and he just hoped, for his own sake, that no one would notice it. However, that was unlikely to happen since Renado had his look fixed on the path before them and the girls were all on his other side.
The thought occurred to him why the Group had headed into his room in the first place, but seeing a nice, with new, fresh sheets covered bed, he understood. During his bath, the Kakarikans had taken the opportunity to clean up a bit in his room. Not that it would have been necessary, but it was always good to have fresh blankets on top of you when you passed most of the day lying underneath them.
Barely noticing it, Renado's big hands pushed him gently towards the cot to make him lie down. He felt more absent than ever after this particular fit, so much that he didn't even look for Midna as his eyelids slowly sealed his pupils from the world. He didn't notice the shaman and Auru talking in hushed, concerned voices, Ashei's and Shad's low arguing, or Midna's tiny finger stroking over his cheek. All he could think of, before sleep took him, was the certain thing that laid under the blanket alongside him, inside the right leg of his trousers. And it scared him.
It scared the daylight out of him.
000
Author's second note: I hope it's not too unclear what happened here, but you know this story by now: it's strange and confusing :D Don't worry, everything will be explained. Thanks for reading, and tell me what you thought of it. As said above, this is only a transition and space-holder before I finish actual the horror chapter. Sorry, couldn't do more with the little time I have ;)
See you soon! DR