Chapter Nine: A Deep Longing


Horse P.O.V.

"I'm not stopping because you are tired. The child is in danger I refuse to rest until I see to it he is safe." Came a snarky mocking tone from the mare's surprisingly calm breathing mouth. She knew Eros was tired. They had been going nonstop for a couple hours now. If the sweat wasn't evident enough it was the labored breathing of a tired stallion.

Elidora smiled inwardly at the sight she was blessed with. Not that she wasn't used to seeing a stallion in such a predicament before. Quite the opposite. Then again when you spend most of your life out running and fighting stallions you get damn well good at it.

"A short break would be appreciated my lady. Perhaps a snack would do for the both of us?" Eros grumbled. His stomach followed suit.

The mare was about to object when her own growled at her for food. Ears drooping as an annoyed expression showed on her face. The wind blowing her main over her eyes. "Fine…" Was all that was spoken. Not long after she walked in a lazy manner over to a small pond surrounded by a few small trees. Well compared to the ones around them they were small.

Wasting no time she got herself some well deserved water. Head slightly turned to watch Eros chow down on some berries.

They were yellow with orange spots. Honestly she had never seen such a berry before. Eros could eat it all he wanted, she wasn't going to risk it.

Once she had her fill of water she moved about a foot or two away from it deciding she would prefer grass than those odd looking berries. Ripping out bunches of grass with each go. Working fast and efficient as an animal with such a diet could.

The pale stallion didn't mind her choice in food. More for him. Besides he didn't blame her, better to be cautious as a wild animal than to be stupid and gullible. Not that he was. He could afford such issues thanks to his master being able to care for him. Both of their tails would flick around. Scaring any bugs stupid enough to come near.

It seems Eros had caught his breath for the most part. Sauntering over to get himself some much needed water. Meanwhile Elidora kept an eye out for any dangers. Ever alert. Her instincts demanded that she be. Herd animals protected one another. It was only fair.

"We should get going." Eros nickers softly. His head lifting to it's full height. The stallion broke into a canter, heading deeper into the forest. A quiet snort could be heard from the golden mare before she finally followed suit.

Eros was proving trustworthy enough for the mare to canter closer to him than before. Enough for her to relax in his presence. As long as Eros didn't try anything she would put up with him.

"So uh are you seeing anyone?" The question came out of the blue. He who held a smile on his face dare to look back at the mare.

'Or not.' Her mind wandered in thought. An Exasperated sigh left her. Brown eyes rolling nonchalantly.


Dark. It was dark. Just one mere torch lit up the corner of his cell. The coolness of blood soon would fade as it dried. Heavy eyes remained half close half open. Staring at his feet. He was sitting down against the wall.

Arms suspended over his head in diamond shaped chains. Fair. It wasn't fair.

The demon had left him to 'recover' while he set out and searched for any signs of Zelda and the second Gate of Time.

His once blond hair was stained with dried and crusty blood. No doubt dirt had found it's way into each strand of hair.

Link briefly wondered if the mare was okay. Fi. Well… he didn't know where she was. Likely nowhere near here. A sword without a master was useless on it's own. Link couldn't believe that he actually missed Fi's calculations, her useless information. Most of all he missed Zelda.

He missed her smile, her eyes, her voice… just everything about her. And here he was sitting in a cell doing nothing to stop the demon from reviving his 'master'.

Biting his lip he left a brief pained sigh escape his lungs. Everything hurt. The young hero wanted nothing more but for this all to end. To save Zelda and go home. To go home and just be… normal.

Yes. To sleep in like before. Being lazy was something he was good at, but now he just wanted to move. To run, escape. Anything.

The isolation was okay, but being forced to sit in one position, in the same cell it was starting to get to him. "What are you up to friend." He briefly spoke, his mind flashing to the graceful image of that golden horse. She was so pretty… just like Zelda.

Oh how he longed to see her again.

Soon enough heavy eyes gave in and closed. The blueness of his eyes cut off by the wake of tiredness.

Unsure of how long he had slept did not matter right now. It seemed as if the moment his eyes closed he heard the soft yet taunting voice of Ghirahim. "Skychild…" He dared not open his eyes. Scared. He was scared of the demon. Just thinking about his fear left a bitter taste in his mouth.

"Leave me alone." His tired voice could be heard from under his slightly groggy state. "Skychild…" Again he spoke, it sounded exactly the same. No temper in the demon's tone.

Cracking an eye open the boy child noticed no one was there. The torch's light was almost dead at this point. The presence he had gotten so used to wasn't there.

Which meant Ghirahim wasn't there.

"Won't you tell me where the gate is?" It was just his mind imagining things right? Link's eyes shut tight, his body pressed close to the wall, trying to ignore the nagging voice.

"No…" He bit out bitterly. Still he would not open his eyes.

"Please dear skychild." It sounded so real.

"I WON'T!" The child bit out in anger, eyes flying open as he thrashed against the chains that held him so.

None of it was real. No one was there, no one was near here. Alone. So alone.