Chapter Fifteen
Void dressed without think, his fingers fumbling as he rushed. He hauled Link to his feet and threw him his clothes. Link, hastily dressed, shoved Void towards the door. Void stumbled, coughing and gagging on the smoke filling the air. The lantern oil abandoned where they'd been sleeping only moments before spilled across the floor, igniting and turning the torched house into a raging inferno. Void grabbed Link haphazardly and leaped through the door of Link's house and launched himself to the ground below. The two of them toppled, rolling across the ground.
Epona reared, neighing in terror. She pawed the air with her hooves and kicked out behind her. The mare had been tethered to the towering tree beside Link's house that evening for whatever reason and she strained against the rope, whinnying, her eyes bulging in terror. Link ran towards her and grabbed the rope trying to untie it. Void rushed to Link's side, pushing him out of the way. Aghast, Link stumbled back, way from Epona.
"Go to the village! Make sure everyone's alright!" Void yelled over the pounding rain and the roar of the fire. "I'll get Epona!"
The fire was spreading fast towards the village and licked hungrily at the tree Epona was tethered. Link tried protesting, but Void shouted, "I'll be fine, just go!"
The anger and fire burning in Void's eyes was enough to make Link go. He nodded sharply and ran for the village. Fire licked at the rope holding Epona and burning branches crackled, threatening to rain down on them. Void turned sharply from where Link had been and drew his hunting knife. Slashing at the rope, he cut through it and grasped Epona's reigns.
"Go girl!' He cried, striking her haunch and sending the terrified creature into the darkness. Void knew she'd survive; she'd been through much worse and come out almost unscathed. He spun from the direction she'd run—towards the spring—and ran for the village. The great tree beside Link's home groaned, and creaking loudly, crashed to the ground, sending sparks flying for the deep grass. Void leaped clear just in time, crashing to the ground. She scrambled to his feet and made for the village.
The high cliff walls had protected the village for centuries, but now they caged the villagers, trapping them downwind of the flames. Void tore down the narrow pass between Link's house and the village. The sight before him froze him in his tracks. His eyes stretched wide as the flames burned rapidly across the crass consuming all matter of plant life. The shop near the lake had already ablaze. The shop owner, her husband, and their daughter Beth ran from the burning interior. Beth spun, crying out and running back towards the house.
"Beth!" Her parents screamed her name after her and tried to follow, but Void lunged forwards, cutting them off.
"Go for the lake!" He ordered, blocking their path. "I'll get her!"
He spun on his heel to face the shop. The heat from the blaze burned his face and he had to shield his eyes as he ran forwards without giving himself time to think. He threw the door open, following Beth into the inferno.
"Beth! Beth!" He yelled her name, smoke choking his throat and stinging his eyes. Then he spied the girl, she had grabbed the cat and clutched it to her body. She cowered the corner where a beam from the ceiling had fallen, blocking her path.
Void ran to Beth's side. He crouched beside her; the flames ate away at the wall beside her. A scream escaped her as part of the roof collapsed. She looked up, fear filling her blue eyes. Void plunged forwards, the flames burning at his clothes and hair. The flames scorched his skin, pain shot through his muscles, but he ignored it, forcing his way over to her. Without saying anything, he grabbed her and held her against his body. Leaping over the fallen beam, he crashed down on his side and rolled to his feet.
Pushing Beth ahead of himself, Void ran for the door. The dizziness from the smoke clogged his mind, slowed his reflexes, and blinded his eyes, but he still pushed her out the open door in front of him.
"To the lake!" He yelled, giving Beth a shove in the right direction. She scrambled to her parents where they stood panicked at the edge of the lake. Void didn't wait to see what they did next; instead, he rushed across the wooden bridge to the nearest house.
He pounded on the closed door. The fire had consumed the shop and moved on to devouring Fado's house—where Void had seen him fleeing—and was making a move for the bridge Void had just crossed. It would be upon this house in moments. Void pounded on the door until Talo and Malo's father pulled it open. Void stood, scorched and desperate in the doorway, his eyes wild.
"Get to the lake!" He yelled, the storm crashed overhead, its rain doing nothing to quench the flames. When Talo and Malo's father shook his head in confusion and skepticism, Void snarled, "The fire's spreading!"
It took one look from the man to yell to his family in the house and heard his wife and children out. It was taking too long! The fire leaped from the bridge and raced across the grace to greedily bite into the wood of the house, roaring to life, spreading the fire across half the village now.
Talo stood frozen in terror at the sight as his mother, father, and brother made a brake for the lake. Shaking his head in desperation, Void shoved Talo away from the house, yelling, "Get moving!"
Void turned away from the lake and ran back towards the bridge. He stream was shallow here and he easily crossed. He saw the flames had already eaten away at the other bridge and was making a move for the mayor's house, but he caught a glimpse of Link pulling Ilia and the mayor from their home and pushing them towards the lake. Link saw him and gestured for him to go to the lake. Void shook his head violently and ran for Rusl and Uli's house.
Rusl had already pulled his family from their burning house. He held Uli close to his side, the baby clutched in her arms. Colin stumbled after them, coughing from the smoke filling the air. Flames barred their path. In desperation, Void ran across the burning grass, the flames licking at and trying to eat away at his feet and ankles. Banishing the flames from his flesh and clothes with the deep shadows, Void plunged through the flames. His clothes caught fire immediately, burning his flesh and causing him to cry out in pain. Rapping himself in shadows to stamp out the flames, Void broke through to Rusl and his family.
"Come on!" He yelled. Rusl spun to see him. The flames had burned across his skin, blistering his flesh, but in the inferno Void felt no pain. He grasped Rusl by the arm and pulled them towards the wall of flames.
"We'll die!" Uli cried in terror, her voice joining the wails of their infant.
"No, you won't!" Void yelled, desperation and determination filling his voice. "Trust me!"
Before they could answer, Void pulled them blindly towards the scorching heat. Void had never tried to use the shadows to heal or protect anyone other than himself, but he summoned the shadows, wrapping them around Uli and the baby.
"Just go! You'll be fine!" Void's voice was raw from the smoke as he pushed Uli and the baby forwards. They plunged through the flames before they could do anything. Sweat ran across Void's skin as he held the shadows tightly around them, pushing them with the shadows to the lake.
Rusl spun to face Void. Rage and grief crossed his face as he looked at Void. "What have you done?" He cried, enraged.
Void felt the blow from Rusl before he could answer. Uli and the baby had made it safely to the lake where the villagers had pulled them into the water and away from the hungry flames. Crashing to the ground, Void felt the fire burn his arms and shoulders, hungrily devouring his shirt and licking at his pale skin. With a cry of pain, he pulled himself to his feet and extinguished the flames with the shadows. They mended the damaged flesh as fast as they could. Rusl froze at the sight, fear in his eyes.
"It's alright!" Void gasped, pain burning across his skin. "They made it safely to the lake. I promise they're okay."
The look of terror and shock was still engraved on Rusl's face as the flames closed in around them. Void looked frantically around them at the wall of flames and at Colin's horrified face. Void closed his eyes and shook his head in desperation before looking up at Rusl. "I can get you to your wife, I promise!"
Rusl hesitated, suddenly aware of the proximity of the fames and looked down at Colin. His voice was strained as he said, "Alright."
Void grabbed Colin to his side held onto Rusl's upper arm as he struggled to wrap the shadows around the three of them. He shook with the effort to keep the three of them protected as he plunged into the flames and forced them to keep moving. The darkness could only shield them so much from the flames. Heat burned at them and the flames licked small burns, but not enough to be serious.
Braking through the wall of flames to the lakeside, Void threw himself forwards, dragging Rusl and Colin down with him. They crashed into the water and the shadows around them dissolved. Void swam to the surface, gasping for precious air. He turned to see Rusl, but not Colin. He'd let go of the boy when they'd stuck the water and expected him to swim to the surface. He twisted around in the black water, searching for the boy while Rusl howled, "Colin!"
Without thinking, Void drew in a lungful of air and dove. The black waters churned and pounded down upon him. He opened his eyes, searching for the boy. And then he saw him. Colin lay at the bottom of the lake, the black waters rolling him over. Void swam against the drag of the water. He grabbed the boy around the waste and pulled him along with him. Breaking the surface, Void coughed and sputtered, holding Colin's head above the water.
"Colin!" Rusl yelled, swimming over to them. Link followed closely, cutting through the water. Link and Rusl crossed the distance to the two of them as Colin began coughing. He drew in precious lungfuls of air and opened his eyes. He looked around suddenly, thrashing.
"Colin," Rusl said, taking his son from Void and holding him close. "It's alright."
Exhaustion washed over Void as he treaded water against the current. Link swam up beside him and wrapped an arm around him, holding him above the water. Void wanted to protest, but instead closed his eyes and pressed his face into the crook of Link's neck.
"It's alright," Link breathed in his ear, only loud enough for him to hear. "I'm here."
The heavy rains fell, stamping out the fire. The village, however, was all but destroyed. When the flames were completely gone and the rains had ceased, dawn was breaking. The exhausted villagers wash and waded to shore. Link held Void close, refusing to let his lover go. Void didn't protest, but he pulled away when the adults gathered in the center of the decimated village to discuss what to do next. Telma, Renado, and Luda had evacuated to the lake with everyone else and looked about the destroyed village with shock and pity. It had happened so suddenly.
Wearily, Void voiced his opinion, "The village can be rebuilt. It'll take time and supplies, but it can be done."
"But everything's gone," Beth's mother cried, glaring at Void.
"It is," Void said evenly. "But it's just material stuff, it can be replaced, at least everyone survived." Void suddenly shut his mouth, realizing how much like Link, or even Zelda, he sounded. Link looked quietly at him, an affectionate look on his face.
"Void's right," Link said quietly, startling everyone. It was the first time anyone had heard him speak and looked at him with shock. "We can rebuild, with help from the other towns, but we're fortunate everyone made it out alright."
Link didn't know what Void had done for Rusl, Uli, and their two children, but he could guess from the looks they were giving him. He felt a stab of anxiety that they'd learned his secret. Rusl looked questioning at Link, wondering if Link knew about Void. Of course Link did, Rusl told himself, considering Link was the first one to reach out to Void. The two of them stood side by side now, looking exhausted.
Rusl cleared his throat and turned to Void, drawing everyone else's attention. He said, with a look of gratitude at Void, "I'd like to thank you for saving my family from the fire, Void."
A murmur passed between the other adults. Link looked at Void with a look of pride and something else Void couldn't immediately place. He, however, looked at Rusl, unsure of what to say. All he managed in the end was, "You're welcome."
Link smiled slightly at Void, his expression soft. He shook his head silently, only Void wouldn't know what to say after rescuing someone. Void had changed since they'd first met. Things were moving fast now, but not too fast to know what was going on.
"I love you," Link said, smiling at Void. His intense blue eyes were soft with affection. Void froze, the words sliced through him like a blade. He stared at Link, the calling from his soul he always felt when he was around Link seemed to sing in his ears at these words.
"What?" Was all Void managed to gasp in his confusion.
"I love you," Link said firmly, repeating himself as he looked at Void and pulled him against his body. He pressed his lips against Void's and held the other against his body. 'I love more than you could ever know,' he thought to himself.