Despite what either of them thought, the Gerudo didn't seem to want Link out of their little group. In fact they were throwing a feast in celebration of his safe return. Even though Knil saw this as nothing more than a ploy to get him to help them again, (and that he didn't want to be around any of them) his hunger out weighed all logic and he joined in the feast.
Course it didn't help all that much that every one of those scary women glared daggers at him the entire time. He ate quickly and nearly ran from the table. He hadn't even really done anything to them, why was their hatred for him so strong? Stupid evil sexist bi-
xXx
Link left the feast much later on. He yawned, scratching the back of his head, as he headed down the corridor to his designated room. A short cluster of notes caught Link's attention as he rounded the corner. They grew louder when he approached his room. Link glanced in to see Knil holding Saria's ocarina to his lips. He was adjusting his fingers over the holes, trying to work out the different notes. Link smirked when he hit a flat note, trying not to laugh. "You want some help with that?" He asked, sliding in the room.
Knil looked sharply up at him, his face flushing slightly. "I can get it."
Link couldn't help but smile. "Are you sure?" He moved around to sit on his own bed.
"I've figured out everything else on my own, I think I can handle this."
"Ok. Whatever you say." Link held up his hands in defeat, falling back on the bed. "So, have you given any more thought into joining me tomorrow?"
Knil's eyes narrowed on him. "I don't have to, because I'm not going.
"You won't even reconsider?"
"Nope." More to avoid any further inquiry, Knil stood, moving to leave.
Link settled further into the bed. "Good night, Knil."
Knil stopped in the door-frame, glancing back at him. He watched Link roll over and start to doze off, then headed on out.
Link glanced back at him and sighed. Navi sat down on the pillow. "Did you really expect him to say 'good night?'"
Link shrugged, rolling back over.
xXx
Knil resumed his perch atop the fortress. He rolled the ocarina over in his hands, eyes fixed on the Gerudo guards patrolling the area. Mind drifting off in thought, he failed to notice Ivan sliding from his hat to stand on his shoulder. "Why don't you want to go with him?"
"Don't ask stupid questions. You know why."
"But you have that blue tunic thing now. You don't have to be afraid of the water anymore."
"Shut up. I told you, I'm not afraid of the water. I just don't like it."
Ivan fluttered off into the air, startled by his annoyed snap. "B-but you could always just-"
"Look, if you want to go with him so bad, then go. But I'm not."
Ivan wrung her fingers, staring down at her hands. "So… so what are you going to do?
Knil sighed, rising to his feet. "There's not much I can do. I can't stay here anymore." He turned, heading back inside. Ivan drifted for a while, an uneasy feeling hitting her as she watched him.
xXx
Knil entered the dark room, fishing around for his sword, and slid it over his shoulder. He picked up the Zora's Tunic from his bed, debating over whether or not to take it with him. Link moaned softly in his sleep, diverting his attention. Knil watched the sleeping shadow, a strange ping hitting his chest.
"He said he needed your help." Ivan fluttered up around his head. "I thought you two were starting to get along. Why don't you want to help him?"
Knil clutched the blue tunic in his fist. "Because I'm no good for him." He looked up at Ivan. "Link has enough stress on him. He doesn't need me adding to his problems." His gaze fell back down to Link, eyes falling.
"Don't you at least want to wake him up and tell him you're leaving?"
"There's no point." Knil stuffed the blue tunic in his bag, and turned to head out the door.
Ivan stared down at the sleeping Hylian. She couldn't quite explain it, but something didn't feel right. She didn't think it was a good idea for them to just leave like this.
"Come on."
Ivan caught another glimpse back to Link before drifting off to follow her partner.
Link stared at the opposite wall, listening to Knil's footsteps fade away. He sniffed, turning his face into the pillow.
xXx
Knil slipped through the Gerudo encampment, sneaking around the patrolling guards. Ivan poked her head out from where she was hiding in his hat. "So, where are you ging to go?"
"I don't know yet, but I want to get as far away from Hyrule as I can." A short winnie diverted Knil's attention to the pen where they kept the horses. A mischievous smile spread across his face. "But I might need a better way to get around. Making sure no guards were watching, Knil made his way over to the pen, climbing over the gate. His eyes fell on Epona, who eyed him, lowering her head. Knil backed up a step, remembering how that horse had pummeled him to near death. He held up a hand, giving her a wide berth. He made his way over to one of the other horses. A dark brown pinto with a brown mane, and a cluster of white spots on it's hind quarters.
He grabbed the harness, pulling to try and urge the horse to stand. (Let's ignore that the horse wouldn't have it's saddle and bit on in the middle of the night.) The horse was rather stubborn, trying to jerk it's head away. "Come on, ya stupid horse." Knil growled, tugging on the reins again.
The horse finally shifted up to it's feet, but it didn't stop there. It reared up onto it's hind legs and winnied loudly.
Knil tensed, shushing the horse, but it was too late. The patrolling Gerudo guards were all heading towards him.
"What are you doing with my horse?"
"I knew it. I knew we couldn't trust this heathen."
Knil tried to duck out of the way of a barrage of arrows, but one caught him in the back of his left thigh, nearly paralyzing his leg.
Three Gerudo warriors rushed in on him with their spears aimed straight at his throat. Knil forced himself to stand and tried to run, but before he knew it, he was surrounded on the other side, and pinned in. "Shit."
Another loud winnie and Knil looked up in shock to see Epona rearing up to ward off the Gerudo. They backed off a few steps, and Epona settled back down, still shaking her head at them. She turned to look back at the stunned Knil. Apparently he wasn't doing what she wanted him to, because she bit at his sleeves, pulling him closer. Almost understanding the gesture, Knil started to climb onto her back. It seemed to be her intent because she didn't object to him doing so. Course once he was on her back, she almost immediately reared up again, pushing back the rest of the Gerudo. Knil had to throw his arms around her neck to keep from falling off. Epona jumped the fence surrounding the pen and ran from the valley.
Still confused, Knil clung to the retreating horse, hoping he wouldn't fall off the back. She slowed down a bit, allowing his fear to subside some. Knil stared at the back of the horse's head, starting to wonder where she was taking him. If she was actually taking him somewhere. On top of that, he was confused as to why she helped him.
Ivan finally pulled herself from his hat again. "Looks like she doesn't hate you anymore."
"Yea." He watched the bucking head unsure. "Strange." Knil reached a hand slowly to stroke her ear. "Guess I owe ya one, girl."
xXx
They rode for a long time. Knil yawned, rubbing his tired eyes, as the first rays of light started to tint the sky. "So, where are you taking me, anyway?" He waited for a response, then rolled his eyes at himself. "As if you could answer." Ivan rolled over where she was sleeping in his palm. He looked down at her, wondering how she could sleep on this rocking horse.
Soon a circular structure came into view in the middle of the field. And just over the horizon he saw Hyrule Castle. Knil tensed slightly. Was she taking him to the castle? Despite his suspicions she turned into the large circular structure. Knil caught a quick glimpse of the sign as she wandered into the narrow pathway. Lon Lon Ranch? What was Lon Lon Ranch?
A large pen came into view in the center of the ranch, where a young girl was leading a horse into the pen. Three other horses were already in the pen. The girl must have heard Epona's footsteps because she turned towards them and smiled. "Epona." She crooned, closing the gate and made her way over.
She was a pretty girl, with long red hair trailing behind her. Epona must have liked her, because she lowered her head, eyes closing when she rubbed her nose. "It's been a long time since I've seen you here, girl. How have you been?" The rider soon caught her eyes, and she stared straight up at Knil. "Oh. You're not Link."
Knil diverted his gaze. "No, I'm not."
The girl eyed Epona, making her way around to the side. "I never thought you'd let anyone else ride you." She looked back up at Knil. "Epona's rather picky." She gasped. "You're hurt!"
"Huh?" Knil looked down at his bleeding leg. He had nearly forgotten about getting shot. Then again, now that he was reminded, the pain grew more intense. "Oh yea."
"Well, come on down. Let me take a look at it." She offered a hand to him, but he refused, climbing down on the other side. Course, his foot got stuck in the stirrup and he tumbled off the other side, managing to catch himself on the pen.
The girl chuckled warmly, circling around to help him stand. "You don't do this much, do you?"
Knil growled in his throat, glaring daggers at this girl. She wasn't even fazed. Just continued to smile at him. Ivan floated up next to his ear. "She just wants to help. It couldn't hurt to let her."
Knil diverted his eyes then looked back to her, his gaze softer. He allowed her to help him stand and lead him back to her house. "My name's Malon."
Knil sighed softly, glancing to Ivan floating around his head. "Knil."
xXx
Link woke early the next morning. Before the sun was even starting to rise. He could hear a commotion outside, but didn't care too much about that. A weight had settled in his chest as he proceeded to throw his belongings into his rucksack. Why did he have to leave? Sure Knil said he didn't want to add to his problems, but he had kind of been hoping he would help him balance out his problems. It'd be nice not to have to fight alone anymore.
Maybe he shouldn't've pestered him about coming back to the oasis. He wouldn't hold it against him for saying no.
"Link!" Navi flew in the little room. "Knil's gone."
"I know."
"And the Gerudo are saying he stole Epona."
Link glanced up at the stone wall, as if he could see something through it that she couldn't. He highly doubted Knil actually stole her, but was sure there was a reason for it. "She'll be fine."
Navi's shoulders drooped at the tone in his voice. "Link?" She flew over to him, trying to see his face, but Link turned away. "Are you alright?"
"Fine." He stated plainly, tying off the rucksack, and heading for the door. "Are you coming?"
Navi hesitated. Link was starting to change, and she didn't like it.
xXx
With all the commotion from the Gerudo about the departure of his dark-side, none of them seemed to even notice Link making his way through the fortress. He climbed the ladder up the tower next to the desert entrance. He cranked the wheel to open the gate and slid back down the ladder and on out the door before it had time to close back on him.
xXx
Link made his way back through the whipping winds of the desert, following the green flags back towards the Spirit Oasis.
Finally, he broke through the barrier into the air pocket surrounding the oasis. He shifted the rucksack on his shoulder, glancing back at the wall of sand.
Navi pulled out of his hat, and stood on his shoulder, placing a hand on his cheek. "Link. Something's obviously bothering you. What's wrong?"
He shook his head, starting off towards the cliff edge. "Don't worry about it."
Navi floated along behind him. "Does it have something to do with Knil?"
Link stood on the edge of the cliff, staring down at the rushing water. A vague thought crept into his mind. Wondering what Knil must have seen when he looked down this ledge. He didn't know much about phobias, but could imagine the kind of fear that must have gripped his shadow, and the courage it had taken for him to come and help him last time.
"Link?"
Link took a deep breath, then dived over the side into the pool below, and on down the small series of waterfalls, until he reached the end. Link slumped on the shore, catching his breath. His gaze shifted over towards the waterfall. He stood, making his way to the entrance, and went in.
The sound of the falls echoed slightly, in the dark chamber, water dripping from the walls. He didn't get much time to look around last time he was here, but now the surrounding walls caught his eyes. Fingers traced along the drawings. "What's this?" There were pictures of people, even animals, living in small houses. And in the center of them all, what appeared to be a sun shining over them all. Even more interesting was the small suns painted over the heart of everything with a heart.
"So, the hero is alive after all."
Link spun around at hearing the giant's voice, his gaze shooting upward. But there was nothing there. Attention moving closer to the ground, Link spotted a man. A normal sized man who looked horribly familiar. "Luith?"
Luith smiled, eying him. "What brings you back here, young hero?"
Link thought for a moment, then drew his sword, throwing it to the ground. "I swear, I'm not here to fight."
"Oh, you're not, are you?"
"No. I apologize for my part in the last attack, but for now I'm here to talk."
Luith's brow cocked to him uncertain. "What about?"
Link's eyes fell to the ground, then he stepped cautiously forward. "I wanted to ask what you knew about the Gerudo Diamond."
The subtle smile on Luith's face faded. He stared at Link for a long while, then turned back to the entrance to the deeper caverns. "Come with me." He motioned to the Master sword laying on the ground. "And you may want to bring that."
