Don't own Legend of Zelda, ONTO THE STORY!

Chapter 2: The Gift

"Ok, grandma wanted to see you as soon as you woke up. when you're done, I want you to meet me up at the watch tower ok?" She gave Lif a sweet and inocent smile then ran off the way they had come.

Lief entered his home, the smell of Grandma's special soup filled the air, he let the aroma fill his nose for a few moments then walked into the kitchen, he was confused when his grandmother wasn't in her normal spot at the table, or in her chair. "grandma?"

"Up here, child." Her soft voice came from the loft, he should have thought of that, that was the third place she normally wandered off to when she got uncomfortable elsewhere. Lief ran out of the kitchen and to the ladder leading up to their hero shrine. When he reached the top his grandma was knitting in a rocking chair.

"Aryll said you wanted to see me." He crawled onto the landing and stood up walking over to her, he sat beside her putting his hands on her knee while watching her nimble fingers at work. "The storm last night was crazy wasn't it?"

Her hands stopped and she looked down at her grandson, "your mother told me what happened last night, that storm was unordinary and I never want you children out in that kind of weather again." She gave him a worried look then put a hand on his golden hair and smiled. "I have a gift for you."

Lief perked up and a big grin reached from ear to ear, he watched as his grandma laughed then picked up a set of green cloth on the other side of her chair. He looked at them strange and realized they were an old type of their island's clothes.

"These are traditional clothes for boys who turn the age of 12. These were worn by the ancient hero who saved the world from the darkness that once took over our homes." She laid them in his hands and smiled expectantly, he gave a forced smile, he turned around his expression now an irritated frown as he climbed down the ladder to change.

Several moments later he climbs back up to present himself to his grandma, she gasps with joy as she admires his new attire. He pulls the shirt down a little feeling rather uncomfortable. "Um...it's kind of weird..." He says awkwardly, she smiles at him still admiring his new clothes.

"You only have to wear them for a day, ok?" She lightens his spirit alittle then hugs him tightly. "I love you my little hero." Lief blushes at the comment looking away, but accepting her hug. He kisses her cheek then jumps down running out the door, he quickly makes his way to the watch tower being careful to keep his mind from the thought of jumping in the water, he runs down the wooden walkway to the extremely long ladder. When he reaches the top Aryll is feeding the seagulls with a special baked bread she created especially for them.

"I'm here," He smiles, the birds fly away quickly never actually enjoying his company as much as his sister's. She giggles her face brimming with happiness. "Ok you ready?" Something is behind her back that Lief cannot see, he closes his eyes when she orders him to after several moments of refusal.

"Ok, open your eyes!" She squeals as Lief obeys, he opens his eyes to see the wonderfully crafted telescope that she treasures with her life, near the large eye glass delicately painted seagulls are in flight on the amber colored metal. He takes it from her hands, he was so surprised he had no words to say; How could she give him her telescope?

"Thank you Aryll" He smiles finally finding the words.

"You are absolutely welcome!" She hugs him, her arms wrapping around his waist. "Now lets go tell everyone about it!" She darts down the ladder, he rolls his eyes and laughs crawling down after her, after alot of standing there taking compliments and hearing old stories about the hero. As you would probably understand Lief got annoyed from hearing about him over and over again. Today was his 12th birthday, one of the most important birthday's someone had on the island and he didn't want to spend it hearing about the hero everywhere he went.

Lief and Aryll finally came to the oldest person on the island, he was the sword master who lived under their grandpa's apartment and spent alot of his time knocking down the precious pots on the shelves in the upper room, making the old man furious. Occasionally he did find it funny. The two brothers have always kept the quarrel going, one has always been rather civilized as he would put it while his brother was a wild savage who didn't know how to do proper yoga. Lief on the other hand took whatever chance he could get to come watch the amazing art of swordsmanship. However his grandpa wouldn't teach him, he always told lief that his mother was totally against it and he didn't want to break her wishes.

"Good afternoon birthday boy, what can i do for you today?" The old man had a smile on his face which made lief rather uneasy. Aryll on the other hand took it as an invitation to start showing her pride in the present she gave her Big Brother.

"Ah yes, your telescope, mighty fine gift that is for an adventurer. I too have a present for this young 'man'." He put an accent in the word man, the first person to even call him that title today. Lief smiled at the honorable compliment. The master went to his bed and bent down slowly taking out a box that was wrapped in shiny silver paper, he handed it to Lief and watched excitedly, Aryll peeked at the box and looked up at Lief.

"Open it," Her voice was only a whisper which gave the moment a dramatic feeling. Lief gave one look to his grandpa then back to the box and sat it on a nearby table, he slowly opened the silver giftwrap and ran his fingers along the wooden lid well carved and perfectly sanded. He opened the lid and to his utter surprise a shining broadsword with a wonderful blue hilt as beautiful as the sea lay in the box, beside it lay a sheath that fit it perfectly. Lief's lips went dry as he stared at it. "This...this is mine?" His eyes don't leave the mirror of the blade, his fingers wrap around the cold hilt and lifts it up in front of him.

"Yes young man, that blade is yours and yours alone. I will teach you the art of swordsmanship lad, and it is your responsibility to use it wisely."

Hope you like please R&R