Dark by S. Park

Part nineteen Happily Ever After

"Where to now?" I asked Link.

He looked around, a thoughtful expression on his face. "I'm not sure." His gaze wandered to the mountains, where there would no doubt be more monsters, further adventures. Then he turned his eyes back to the town. He chuckled. "Actually yes I am. I am sure I want to sleep for about a week. In a warm bed, preferably. How about you?"

"Yeah. That sounds great."

"Well, we should have enough rupees, between what Sage Bertram gave us and what we got in the cave, to stay a few nights at least, and buy some supplies before we set out again too."

"Good." I smiled at him. He smiled back.

It didn't take very long to find an inn and secure a room. There were still several hours left until sunset, but neither of us minded retiring early. It had been a long day. And more than just one. I hadn't slept in a bed since leaving Lon Lon well over a month ago. It seemed Link felt the same way, for when we reached the room he went straight to the bed and flopped down on it, still clothed.

He closed his eyes and sighed deeply.

"Tired?" I sat down on the edge of the bed next to him and kicked my boots off.

"Yes." He opened his eyes and looked up at me, smiling a small, wry smile. "A great deal has happened since I last slept in a bed."

"Yeah."

"More good than bad though," he said, and reached up to stroke my cheek.

I smiled down at him, and for a long time we just looked at each other.

"You know, it's strange," said Link, still smiling up at me. "One might think that red eyes would be frightening, but yours have never been. They're beautiful."

I felt my cheeks heating. I didn't know what to say in response to that. Link provided the answer by reaching up again, working his fingers through my hair, and pulling me down for a kiss. I closed my eyes and kissed him back. It was gentle, sweetly passionate, an expression of the love we had both admitted earlier. It was completely wonderful.

When we at last broke apart Link scooted over on the bed, and I took his invitation and laid down next to him. He put one arm over me, pulled me close. I slid my arm over his waist and pressed against him. It was good to be close to him. He kissed me again and I kissed back. This kiss had more heat in it, and we were both panting a bit when we pulled back. Link's cheeks were flushed, and I was was sure mine were as well. I wanted more, but I didn't know what to do. But Link stroked my hair again, running his fingers gently through it, pulling my head to rest against his shoulder. I relaxed, enjoying the caress. After a moment, however, Link softly said, "Dark?"

"Hmm?"

"I... uhm... the thing you did before, the biting... I really liked that. Could you...?"

"Yes..." I nuzzled into the side of his neck, and started to nibble there, being careful to be gentle. I didn't want to hurt him. He gasped at the touch of my fangs, but it was a sound of pleasure, not pain. Link's hand twisted in my hair, holding my head against him, encouraging me to continue. I nipped and kissed his soft, warm skin everywhere I could reach, but his high-collared undershirt was in the way. After a moment I pulled back and set about removing it and his tunic with it. Link cooperated willingly, but before I could return to what I'd been doing he started to pull my shirt off as well.

Then it was my turn to feel his teeth against my skin. He had no fangs, but he was rougher than I'd been with him, and I cried out as he bit down hard. But the pain was somehow good, an exciting rush of sensation that made my heart beat faster. After a moment Link stopped suddenly, and pushed me onto my back. I blinked up at him, surprised. He straddled me and smiled down at me.

"What are you doing?"

He chuckled softly. "I have no idea. Just... trying whatever comes to mind. You seem to be enjoying it so far."

I smiled. "Yes."

"That's good. Especially since I have quite a few more things to try."

"And here I thought you wanted to rest."

Link laughed. "There will be plenty of time for rest later. Much later." And his grin when he looked down at me was almost predatory.

It was indeed much, much later when we finally slept, happily exhausted in each other's arms. I thought, as I drifted off, that it was a miracle that someone like me, a shadow brought to life as a weapon, should be able to have such happiness.

Dark magic blazed from my hands. The hero swung his sword, and sent it back in my face. I howled my rage at him and blasted more power at him. More and more, cascading bolts of evil blasting the hated face until he fell. And fall he did, his body sprawling limply on the ground, his blue eyes staring up, wide and unseeing forever more.

I had won at last! My revenge was complete, and now there was no one to stop me. I laughed and laughed and laughed...

I woke with a scream. "No! No, no, no, no, no, please goddesses no!"

Link beside me reached for me, his voice drowsy. "Dark? What is it?"

"No! Don't touch me!" I scrambled away from him, off the edge of the bed, to crouch panting on the floor.

"Have another nightmare?"

"Yes! The one where I kill you!"

"Dark, it's okay."

"No it isn't. I still can't be trusted! I need to leave you." I need to just die, so you'll be safe...

Link climbed out of the bed and knelt next to me. "It was just a dream, Dark."

"Not just a dream. You know the dreams come from Ganondorf. If I'm still dreaming his dreams..."

"Then that just means that the hatred he cursed you with and the dreams aren't directly tied together," interrupted Link firmly.

"But..."

"Dark, you won't hurt me just because of a dream."

"I might. I've almost killed you."

"And you were completely lost in anger when you did. Anger that I can sense, Dark. I'd know, and so would you, if you started hating me again. This is just a dream, that's all. It's not the same thing."

"But doesn't it have to be the same, if the ocarina song keeps me from dreaming, and that's what made me stop hating? If the dreams are still here, the curse isn't broken."

"Magic isn't necessarily that simple. And neither of us knows enough to know why you might still be dreaming. But I do know one thing." He put his arms around me, and held me even though I tried to pull away. "I know I love you, Dark. And you love me. Nothing, not dreams, not Ganondorf, not the Goddesses themselves, can change that."

"Link... please..." I felt tears gathering in my eyes. "I couldn't bear it if I hurt you again. I don't want to risk it."

Link held me tighter, and kissed the top of my head. "Pain is a part of living. A part of loving too, I think."

"But I nearly killed you!" I was crying now, filled with fear and loss.

"Dark... Look at me, Dark." I looked up, meeting those calm blue eyes. "I've risked my life since I was a little boy. I don't fear death. I've risked my life for people I hardly know. I will happily risk it for the one I love. But that won't happen. I know what I felt yesterday, and what you felt too. Trust in that. Trust in us. I'm sure we'll both go through a lot of pain in the years to come. Life is like that, you don't just reach a point where you've gotten your heart's desire and then everything is easy. But life is worth living anyway." He smiled gently, and wiped the tears from my cheek. "I used to wish with all my heart that I could have a fairy, like the other Kokiri. When that wish was granted, I didn't suddenly get a perfect life. Our love is a wish come true, but I'm sure we'll have a lot to struggle with all the same. This is the first of I'm sure many difficulties. But that's all it is, Dark. Just a rocky spot on a road that we're traveling together. Ahead there are many wonderful things along that road. Believe me."

I looked up at him. I wanted to believe him, but I was so afraid. What if he was wrong? What if I tried to kill him again? He trusted me now, that just made him more vulnerable.

"Do you love me, Dark?"

"Yes..."

"Do you want to be alone, without me?"

"I... no..."

"I love you too, Dark. I don't want to be alone. I don't want to be without you. I would rather die at your hand tomorrow than have you leave me tonight. So stay. Stay and be with me. I'll play away your nightmares every night for the next hundred years, if that's what I need to do. Stay. Please." Tears gathered in Link's eyes, and I realized that I could sense fear radiating from him. He was terrified that I might leave.

I hesitated. My own fear was strong. But I knew he was telling the truth when he said he'd rather die tomorrow than lose me. So even if I left, I would hurt him. And I didn't want to leave. I wanted to stay with him, to be held by his strong arms forever. To hear him play away my dreams for a hundred years, as he had promised to. To be by his side as he adventured, to see the world together. I wanted all that, and whatever else might come with it.

Thinking of that future stirred the love in me, that warmth at my center that was so much stronger than the fire of hate had been. It had banished hate, and now it banished fear as well.

And so I could do nothing else but reach out, and brush a tear from his cheek, and say, "I'll stay. Always. You're mad, and I'm mad too, but I'll stay. I promise."