Chapter 11 - Value
It was long past midnight when Isha finally pulled herself from the ground.
Link and the children had taken Colin inside to a room on the second floor, where Luda and Renado watched over his healing. After making sure Colin was comfortable, Link had returned to Isha's side and tried to convince her to join them inside, but she'd been adamant in her refusal to come inside.
"I'm not ready," she'd said, her voice hoarse from crying. "I… I should go make sure that pig doesn't die on me…" Yet she made no effort to move.
The hero made no effort to leave her side, either. Isha wasn't sure if she wanted Link to leave her to process everything on her own or stay with her, stay and be that silent rock of strength and calm once more while she wrestled with emotions greater than she felt she could face.
But she did not need him, not more than Colin needed his childhood hero by his side while he recovered from a severe head injury and trauma. She did not need Link more than the children who put their complete faith in his abilities, who saw him as their brightest light in such dark times.
"Please, just give me some space."
Link was hesitant to leave her side. He remained, standing silently with her for a while longer. When she did not acknowledge him further, he knelt down next to her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't let those monsters take away your love for your home," the hero whispered before standing and disappearing into the inn once more.
Love. Not a word she would have usually used to describe the way she felt about her home, but the longer she sat there and mulled over his words, the more she realized that he was right. She loved her village. Loved the kids who looked up to her. Loved the villagers who saw her violate their peaceful ideals every single day, and yet still accepted her in their community. Loved the arid atmosphere, the dusty wind, the quiet air that seemed so still at night, like the whole world went to sleep along with them.
Hours passed before Isha's tears dried. The moon watched from high above as she finally pulled herself together enough to look once more at the Elde Inn. It stood tall, defiant in the shadowy ruins. Just as she should.
Isha stood and wiped her face, glancing up at the night sky before making her way towards the spring. She walked in silence, scanning the cleanup efforts that had taken place in the days - weeks? - since her departure. Buildings dotted the town that looked almost liveable - as long as the weather wasn't too extreme. They would make suitable shelters for the survivors.
Ten survivors. A handful of hopeful kids and some scarred buildings. It wasn't much, but Kakariko was not dead yet.
Isha found her new boar waiting for her just outside the Spirit's Forest, where she had left it many hours before. She smiled at the beast, which ran to greet her as she approached. She scratched his wide forehead.
"There's really only one name that would suit a persistent, brainless, death-defying animal like you," she whispered, resting her head against the boar's. "A stupid name for a stupid brute. I'll call you… Kariko. In honor of the village which will not die."
Kariko the Boar pushed his massive head against her, nuzzling her so hard she fell back into the dirt. "Alright, alright, enough," she pushed the beast away. "Let's go see if Eldin will deem you worthy of healing."
Colin did not wake again that night. Renado had assured Link and the children that the young boy would be fine after a long sleep. Still, Luda and Beth doted on the sleeping boy, the young Ordanian girl absolutely enthralled with Luda's explanations of the different medicines she might use for such an injury. Link decided to wait to tell them of Ilia's whereabouts. They'd had enough excitement to last most children a month. He remained silent in the room for a long while after failing to bring Isha in. He wondered if the two of them would ever get any rest of their own.
After a few hours, Renado finally convinced the children to head to bed, and inquired if Link had any injuries he'd like to be attended to.
"Just a few scrapes and bruises, I'm fine," he yawned, shrugging the older man off.
"At least allow us to give you a proper bed to lay your head tonight," replied Renado, gesturing for Link to follow him down the hall.
Though it would certainly not be passing any inspections any time soon, the Elde Inn had been fixed up in quick order, preparing for the arrival of more volunteers and soldiers as the monarchy dispatched relief to the broken town. It would also serve as Link and Isha's temporary lodgings, Renado explained, any time they were in need of a rest.
They stopped outside of a room just down the hall from Colin's. "Shall I wake you for breakfast?" the shaman asked, turning to take his leave.
"Earlier, if possible," Link replied with a tired grin. "I'll be happy to talk more in the morning, but for now, I think today has been long enough."
Renado nodded, smiling in agreement. "Thank you, once more."
The hero closed the door behind him and looked around the small room. It was simple and unassuming, though it lacked windows. He very quickly found this to be a problem - the air in the room was stifling. It was as if the room had absorbed the heat of the day and held it here, despite the chill of the night.
Even stripped down to his underclothes, bed covers tossed onto the floor, Link found himself sweating after only a few moments of lying down. He tried to distract himself from his discomfort by thinking over the whirlwind of a day they'd had.
Upon their arrival, Renado had told him the amazing news, offering an explanation for why Isha was a crying mess outside of the inn. A little over a day after they'd departed for Ordon, the first few members of the crisis response team had arrived, bringing a fresh helping of medical supplies, food, blankets, and clothes on three separate wagons. Only four people and four guards - the two who guarded the gates, and the two who he met at the Inn - had arrived with this group, as it was all they could spare with the drought at Lake Hylia. Now that the issue had been fixed, another, larger group with proper carpenters and plumbers and all the supplies necessary to make the village liveable again would be arriving in the next few weeks.
It was this first party that discovered the few survivors of Kakariko while surveying the damage. It was found that three families had ridden out the entire disaster deep underground in small shelters. Six individuals were healthy and fit enough for travel, and were transported to Castle Town to rebuild their lives, opting to leave Kakariko behind entirely.
The remaining four - an elderly couple and their two young grandchildren - were severely injured and needed immediate treatment. They still resided within the inn, mourning the loss of the children's mother and father, as well as the family dog. Link had not seen them at all this evening, but Talo had informed him that he'd spoken with the older boy a few times. He seemed optimistic that they would all recover in time, but the survivors appeared to keep to themselves.
As exciting as the news was, though, it wasn't the main reason for sleep escaping him.
Every time Link closed his eyes, he saw Isha crouched in the saddle of a rampaging boar, surrounded by monsters with bloodlust shining in their eyes. Arrows and clubs were flying through the air straight for her, predicting her movements with worrying intelligence, yet she remained unphased and held her silver spear steady. He saw that unhinged look on her gaunt face that said I don't care, as long as I take someone down with me.
Praying to the Fairy of Winds had been a desperate gamble, especially after it had failed him against the Kargarok. Link had earned the weapon and the promise of assistance from a faceless fairy while exploring the Forest Temple in Faron. The expedition had felt like a lifetime ago and had sidetracked him from his mission in tracking down the village kids, possibly leading to the destruction of the village he now occupied. It had hardly been a worthy reward for his efforts thus far.
Despite his doubts about the power of the boomerang, the Fairy of Winds had responded to his call, and carried Isha far out of reach of the writing mass of monsters. Though the young woman was pissed beyond belief at him, he could not shake the image of what would have happened if he'd not acted. Even as he reminded himself again and again that she – they – were safe, he would close his eyes and see it all over again.
It did not help that it had been hours since he left her outside, and nobody had heard from her since.
She told me to leave her alone, he reminded himself. She's not some helpless kid.
Isha hadn't been spotted for dinner, either. All meals were had by Kakariko residents in the lobby of the inn. Renado had informed Link it was the only place with food in the village, currently.
She hasn't eaten all day.
He sat on the edge of the bed, but did not rise to his feet. She would be livid if I followed her.
Link sighed and rested his head in his hands. When he closed his eyes, a wave of dizziness washed over the hero. Splashes of crimson still danced in his peripherals, and he couldn't shake the horrifying image of Colin strapped to the Bulblin leader's pennant, either.
Sweat dripped from the hero's brow, and he supposed the oppressive temperatures and his extreme exhaustion weren't helping his post-battle fears.
The spring would certainly feel better than this miserable room.
Deciding he'd had enough of the stagnant heat and his pessimistic thoughts, Link stood and threw on the soft light pants he'd been given to serve as pajamas. He grabbed his boots from their spot by the door on his way out.
The inn was quiet, all the lanterns dimmed for the night and all the residents gone to rest. Link cautiously felt his way down the curving stairs, navigating only by what little moonlight snuck in through the boarded-up windows. The wooden railing was split and shattered in places, and he had to move slowly just to avoid injuring himself.
He finally found his way to the ground floor. Link pushed past the iron double-doors, relishing in the cool night breeze that slipped across his bare skin. The drastic shift in temperature irritated him, and he briefly wondered what idiot thought a room on the second floor would not need ventilation.
Seeing that Isha was no longer outside the inn, the hero second-guessed his decision to go to the spring. Perhaps he should just remain out here, keep watch for anyone who might pass through. It was still better than staying in his room.
He glanced to the south of town, where a strange glow shimmered above the top of the forest like a beacon slicing through the darkness. He felt compelled to approach it, and could almost hear the tinkling bells that signaled Eldin's presence.
Link sighed. Immortal spirits have such strange agendas.
The swordsman began his long walk to Eldin's Spring. As he walked, he again thought about Isha's earlier actions in battle. Her quick thinking and movements had surprised him. He knew that Isha was self-taught and had claimed to train every day, but he had not expected her movements to be so calculated and confident. How did she train for proper battle in a place like this?
Link couldn't get that desperate look on her face out of his mind, either. A twisted look had clouded her features when she'd jumped straight into the wall of mounted monsters, something that seemed to abandon hope in the face of danger.
Despite the desperation, all her movements had seemed perfectly calculated. Isha's lack of caution for her own life disturbed him greatly. He was just beginning to grow fond of having a companion who didn't treat him like some sort of means to an end. Isha was someone he carried a common goal with and who, occasionally, made a decent joke.
Her temper is a force to be reckoned with, though. Link thought as he passed through the sparse forest. As he continued following Eldin's ethereal glow, the hero wondered just how much of a tongue lashing he was about to receive for following Isha, if she was even still at the spring. If she had truly not eaten all day, her mood was certain to be poor…
The deeper into the forest he went, the quicker his steps became. Link's own temper began to flare as he mulled over her foolish choices in the heat of emotion We have to make it to Castle Town tomorrow, he thought, recalling the Zora Queen's final request to save her dying son. We should be getting some rest, not wandering around in the middle of the night and skipping meals!
Finally he could see Eldin's Spring through the tree trunks, first spotting the hulking shape of the boar that Isha had insisted on keeping. The beast was hardly more than a shadowy mass in the unnatural light. It lay on its belly with its snout beneath the waves, blowing bubbles. It was a strange sight to behold, especially with the sinister shape of the sharp, curved tusks that protruded from the beast's mouth.
Further out into the spring, Isha was just coming back up from dunking herself under the waves, scrubbing her scalp of dirt and grime and dried blood. She rubbed the water from her eyes and noticed Link standing at the shore, looking uncharacteristically pissed off.
"Holy Hylia, what are you doing here?" she hissed, ducking lower into the water and crossing her arms over her bare shoulders.
It was only then that Link noticed her clothes were thrown over a nearby branch, left to dry in the night air. His eyes quickly darted away from her, focusing intently on one of the trees off to his left. "I– um– I wasn't sure if— I just wanted to— shit," he cursed under his breath and ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm sorry, I'll leave you be, I wasn't sure if you were okay. I see you're…fine."
"Forget your clothes in your rush to find me?" she replied, her tone softening as she recovered from her initial shock. "What a coincidence. I'd almost suspect you planned it. Do you run about in the nude often?"
However hot he thought his room had been earlier, it was nothing compared to the heat of embarrassment he felt now. "You know that's not– I'm wearing–"
"Calm down, hero, I'm kidding," she laughed despite herself. "My undergarments are no less decent. I'm sure we will both survive." Isha had learned long ago not to be so foolish as to bathe naked in a public area, and she'd also long abandoned notions of embarrassment at her more than modest undergarments. After all, the pictures in popular gossip scrolls revealed that nothing she owned could possibly be indecent compared to popular fashion models and performers.
A tense silence fell between them, and Isha's crossed arms dropped to her side. Her fingers brushed along the ridges of a terrible scar, hidden beneath glimmering waves. "I… actually, if you think you can contain yourself, I have… something I need to show you."
Link dared to look back at her. Isha was twirling a lock of wet hair around her finger nervously. "Is it inappropriate?"
She gave him a sharp, disapproving look. "No, I need you to understand, this is… whatever, just look." she spat, swimming closer to shore. Once she'd gotten closer, she straightened up in the waist-deep water and pointed to the wreck of skin on her side.
Her right side, where kargarok talons had dug in just a few days ago and left a trail of her blood falling from the sky as it carried her off. A side that should have been covered in stitches, still swollen, possibly even still leaking blood. A wound that should have killed her.
"You see it, right?" she whispered nervously. "Please tell me… I'm not imagining things. We haven't been gone that long, have we?"
Her side, mangled as it was, held no such stitches. The skin looked raw, new, as if it had been healing for months. A jagged red-and-white scar was left behind, one that stretched from somewhere under her black chest bindings down over her stomach, ending on her hips just beneath the waves. There was no bruising, no blood, no scabs.
"That's not healing from the spring, is it?"
She shook her head, pursing her lips. "It hasn't changed at all since I stepped in. It would take spring water this diluted weeks to heal something like this, with full-time exposure…"
"Gods above," Link replied. He kicked his shoes off and splashed through the water to her, not able to believe his own eyes. No, it had not been that long since they'd entered the Twilight, he was certain. A week, maybe.
He recalled her rapid movements earlier, the way she ran and twisted herself around despite still clearly favoring that side, how she'd winced in pain when he'd clung to her as they fell from the sky. Even now she stood bent slightly, though in battle her back had been straight as a board. Her earlier actions should have been impossible with a freshly-stitched wound.
Absently he put his hand on her side, tracing the scar with his thumb. No, there was no separation, no stitches, no trick of the light, nothing except this likely permanent disfigurement to indicate she'd been on death's door only days ago.
This certainly explained how she was able to carry on how she did, but…
"How?" he whispered.
"W-what?" Isha looked at him with confusion, as though her thoughts had been elsewhere. She looked down at his hand. "Oh. Um.. I–I think one of the Zora… I think he had healing magic," she said. "I'm almost certain, I can't think of any other explanation…"
"Why would that be strange?"
"I could only piece together bits and pieces from overheard conversations, but he supposedly abandoned healing over ten years ago. I'm almost certain it's tied to his refusal to speak… Of course, it's not like he bothered to tell me," she added with a scoff. "That damn male let me suffer for hours - maybe days, I really don't know - before he decided to heal me."
The corner of Link's mouth twitched and he tried to hide his amusement as Isha worked herself up. He pulled his hand away from her side. "I won't pretend to understand people I haven't met," he replied. "But I'm grateful he finally did something before it was too late."
Isha finally looked up at Link , tears welling up in her jade eyes. "I nearly died," she whispered. "I lost too much blood, I heard them talking about it. When… when Zora river started flowing again, I made them leave me behind. My life wasn't worth theirs, you know? They listened to me. At least, at first they did, but that stupid Mikas turned back and saved me…"
She dropped back into the water, lifting her feet from the sandy bottom and drifting away from him. "I just don't understand any of it. Why did he change his mind? It's not like I could possibly reward him for his actions, I have nothing to offer anyone, and I had barely done much to deserve such kindness." She turned her sad eyes to his. "I was kind of an asshole to him, to be honest. I didn't deserve–"
Isha was interrupted by Link suddenly pushing himself through the water towards her, pulling her into a tight hug. Her ears grew hot and she started to protest, but he held tight to her. "Why do you feel you have to earn the right to live?"
She had no appropriate answer, no smart remark or insult to push him away. The tips of her ears grew hot. She mentally blamed it on her sunburn after a full day of riding across Hyrule.
"I hope that someday you'll value your life as much as the people around you value it," Link continued when she did not respond. "Talo, Malo, Beth, and Colin all think the world of you. Do you think your life means little to them?"
"..."
"And what about the people you grew up with? All your fellow townspeople you've told me so much about? Your help, your guidance to their kids and willingness to take on responsibilities that weren't always pleasant, do you think that meant little to them? From what you've told me, your life has always mattered to someone."
"Link…" Isha pushed her palm weakly against his chest. When he released her, she did not step away, and instead laid her head on his shoulder.
"And all my friends back home? I think they'd save you over me, at this point," he chuckled, running his hand over her peach-colored hair. "I'm willing to bet your parents think your life is valuable, too."
"Have I not cried enough today?" she finally said, punching him weakly. "Just stop, I–"
"And me," he cut her off, putting his hands on her thin shoulders and pushing her back, trying to get her to look him in the eyes. "I'll never be able to thank you enough for putting your life on the line for the kids. You are the reason my village still has a bright future."
Finally, Isha raised her head and looked at him through her dripping bangs. "You would have reached them without me," she tried to argue.
"Tch, you're so damn stubborn," Link clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Then at least accept my thanks for saving me the effort of tracking them across the kingdom."
She forced a smile. "My father would have done the same. I just… I've always wanted to be like him. And so I do what I think he would do."
"Everything you tell me about your dad, I find it more and more disappointing that I didn't have a chance to meet him. He sounds like a good person."
Isha's smile finally reached her eyes. "He was," she said. "And an amazing fighter. He knew so much about weapons and battle strategy and so much more. He would have beaten some sense into you about your choice in weaponry."
Link dropped his hands from her shoulders and gave her a smirk. "Well, guess I'll have to settle for his loud-mouth daughter to nag me about it for the rest of this journey, instead."
"Aren't you a lucky man?"
"With you as a friend? I'd say so. Terrible personality, and all."
Isha wiped her eyes and leaned towards him, resting her chin on his shoulder and finally returning the embrace. "Look at you, being so nice after seeing me half-naked," she purred in his ear.
"Yes, because skin-and-bones is just my type." Link shoved her back into the water and backed away. By the time Isha righted herself, laughing and clutching her scarred side, she found the hero facing away from her.
"Your ears and neck are bright red. Tell me, hero, how warm is your face?"
"Great Hylia, you are insufferable sometimes."
"You make it too easy."
"I'm going back. You should consider getting some damn sleep before we leave tomorrow."
Though Link did not turn back as he walked away, Isha crossed her arms and stuck her tongue out at the hero. Once she was certain she was alone again, she stood and waded back to the shore, the smile hard to wipe from her lips.
She whistled for her mount, who immediately hopped to his feet and ran towards her, nearly knocking her over. "Settle down, Kariko, you idiot," she giggled, scratching his head.
"I suppose you're another crazy creature who sees value in my life," she mumbled, staring into his deep brown eyes. With a sigh, she leaned forward and laid her head on the beast's neck.
"Maybe someday, I'll see what you all see."
Isha and Link both had made plans to depart Kakariko Village early in the morning, but neither legendary hero nor tenacious adventurer were any match for their own exhaustion.
Renado traveled to each of their rooms at dawn, as requested, spending a good ten minutes trying to stir either one. Link had been entirely unresponsive, while Isha had mumbled something about snakes. He knew from the stories her mother, Eva, had shared that awakening her before she was ready was a pointless endeavor. And that was when she wasn't so battle-worn and sleep-deprived.
Once breakfast had been prepared for the village, the Ordon kids tried their luck at waking the pair. This time, Link did manage to find the energy just to pat one of the kids' heads before rolling back over. Discouraged by this failure, they did not attempt to wake Isha.
After breakfast was finished and the dishes cleared, Luda decided to try her hand at waking the pair. When she joined her father later at the sanctuary for her daily training, she informed him with an annoyed tone that any more attempts would be wasted effort. The two were as good as dead to the world.
Isha was the first to finally wake around midday, the smell of lunch drifting up into her room and hunger overpowering her need for sleep. Her eyes blinked open, hazy from the long sleep and dehydration.
She stretched as she sat up, embracing the unseasonal warmth that snuck its way in through the small window next to her bed. Her bed. After mostly recovering on a cot or not sleeping at all, the simple refurbished bed felt like a cloud beneath her. The scar at her side pulled and itched, but she noted with glee that most of the pain was gone after her long swim in the spring and a good night's rest.
Isha reached for a glass that had been left on the small nightstand beside her, catching a mirror across the room. She'd missed it the night before, though she certainly would not have cared if she had noticed it.
After finishing off the water, Isha finally swung her legs over the side of the bed, the stone beneath her feet cold despite the warm autumn air, and looked down at her scar again.
I'd rather you not forget about me.
Mikas' note was long gone, thrown into the lake in frustration at her unanswered questions, but she could never forget. The words were burned into her memory, along with everything else involving her time with the Zora. Isha pushed herself from the bed, slowly trodding over to the mirror to look at the hideous scar that marred her. A symbol of what she had survived, a story carved into her skin. She wondered what her father would have thought.
He would have called me a lucky fool. She smiled. His voice was still strong in her mind, even after all these years.
Isha stared at her dusty reflection, her bare body an unfamiliar sight to her. Her thin, long hair was caught in knots and split at the ends, suffering from the lack of maintenance it had once enjoyed. It was dulled and took the texture of straw, which made her skin crawl when she dwelled on the feeling for too long. Her usually bright eyes were sunken in, still puffy and bloodshot from the lack of sleep.
Thin fingers traced over her protruding collarbone, feeling the dips and curves with growing dread. Her chest, flat. Her ribs, evident. Her long legs and arms looked like twigs attached to her wispy body.
Skin and bones, Link had called her. He had been so painfully correct in his observation. The comment had hurt a little more than she'd expected, but then again she could not recall a time she was so casually insulted to her face.
Weeks of little food and more physical activity than she'd ever been subject to had been unkind to her. She wondered how long it would be before she would be able to eat an entire meal without getting too sick. Even now, as tempting as lunch smelled, the thought of eating made her stomach churn. Her hand fell to her side, again tracing that scar.
I should be grateful if I can eat at all…
Deciding she'd had enough of tormenting herself with her own appearance, Isha turned and plucked her clothes off the lone chair in her room. She got dressed slowly, forcing her mind to be calm amidst a sea of skin and bones and scars and absolutely ridiculous men. There were far more important things in this world - such as food.
Stepping out into the hall, Isha was immediately struck by the smell of pumpkin stew and the sound of many voices gathered in the lobby down below. The sickness in her stomach subsided. She rushed to the railing, looking down to the lobby where everyone had gathered for a communal lunch.
Renado and Luda stood behind a long table, serving bowls to the strangers that had come in with the crisis response team. The Ordonian children - Colin included - were gathered at a table near the door, already tearing into their lunches and giggling with one another.
There was no sight of the survivors, but Isha knew she'd overslept quite a bit. Perhaps they were already out and about.
The sight of everyone gathered together made her heart soar. She closed her eyes and leaned forward, relishing in the sound of people in her village once again, happy and living. It wasn't the same - nothing would be the same - but Kakariko would survive. Her feet could barely carry her down the stairs fast enough.
As Isha rounded the final stair landing, the Ordonian kids finally took notice of her and hopped to their feet, excited to finally see Isha after her long slumber. She nearly tripped over them just trying to make her way over to get her own portion of soup.
"You appear to be in better spirits today," Renado greeted her at the serving table. "Did you sleep okay?"
Isha shrugged, giving the shaman a hard look. "I think it will be weeks before I catch up," she admitted over the constant questions of the children around her legs. "Hang on, everyone, I'll come sit with you in a moment, okay?"
Happy with this, Talo and Colin dragged Beth back to the table where they'd left little Malo, the infant seeming to be completely unbothered by being left alone. Isha turned back to Renado.
"I think that…" she gulped. "I think I owe you an…apology. For things I said while we were still hiding in the sanctuary. I was out of line, I was overwhelmed, and I–"
Renado leaned forward and placed a hand on her shoulder as he passed her a steaming bowl of pumpkin soup, the gold bands in his locs shimmering in the bright midday sun streaming through the grand windows along the front wall. "I cannot begin to count the things I owe you an apology for," he replied softly. "Perhaps it is best that we agree to move forward down our own paths. Just know that, should you ever tire, you will always have a place in this town."
She gave a kind smile, picking up a second bowl in her free hand. "Perhaps someday I'll return for good. But don't begrudge me if I do not. I'm just happy to see that it's not completely gone." With a final nod, Isha turned and walked away with a bowl in each hand.
"So? How were our parents?" Talo didn't give her a second to sit down before launching into his questions. "I bet they miss us a bunch. We kids definitely did all the hard work around there."
Beth rolled her eyes. "Don't listen to him, they never did anything but bother Link about swords and slingshots."
Isha smiled, lifting her spoon to her lips. "They're so excited to have you all home again. They really missed you all, you know?" She took a sip. "They– oh, gods, this soup is amazing." The young woman tossed her spoon onto the table and lifted her bowl to her lips, taking deep gulps of the fresh, flavorful stew. She drained a good portion of her first bowl before setting it back down, wiping her lips as the children just laughed.
"Hey, I haven't eaten in a few days, cut me some slack," she grinned and ignored the immediate ache in her stomach. "Besides, I wanted to get something in my belly before I tell you all about what happened since we left."
Colin, Beth, and Talo immediately straightened up, shushing each other and giggling. "Did you go somewhere cool?"
"Did you meet the Gorons?"
"Did you find Ilia?"
Isha snapped her fingers twice. "Alright, be quiet, and I'll tell you." With a shining grin, she launched into a very watered-down, child-friendly version of events, from the Kargarok carrying her off to the Lake, to her time with the Zora, to her reuniting with Link at the spring. She was careful to leave out gruesome details and any mention of the strange Twilight realm or its implications for everyone, thinking it wise not to scare the children with things that not even she understood.
"And, I have the best news," she began wrapping up her story. "Once Link and I reunited, he let me know that he found Ilia - in Castle Town! He wasn't able to talk to her, because she was busy taking care of a Zora prince, but today we're going to go get her."
As the children cheered and chattered and asked their billions of questions they'd so politely held on to until the end, Isha took a moment to finish off her first bowl of soup. She tried to pace herself, reminding herself that throwing it all up later would be incredibly counter-productive. Whoever had prepared such a dish, though, had made it incredibly difficult for her to consume slowly.
"I'm very excited to meet Ilia," Isha continued, the childrens' questions too many to answer one-by-one. "After hearing everything from you all, Link, and your parents back home, I've become quite curious about her. From what I understand, she seemed to be just fine. I guess she made her own escape when my efforts failed." Isha smiled and placed her empty bowl on top of the pile they had made at the center of their table. "And no, I'm afraid we don't know exactly when we'll be back, but we'll return as quickly as we can."
Isha reached for her second bowl only to find another hand beat her to it, lifting the bowl over her head. "Hey–"
"For me? Thanks," Link grumbled behind her, his eyes half-open.
"Excuse you," she cried, turning her head back to look up at him. "You couldn't even bother to dress for breakfast?"
Link looked down at his bare chest. His room had not cooled down one bit all night, and he felt they were lucky he had the decency to put on pants. Besides, hadn't she just seen him in the same manner that previous night? "What do you mean? I just woke up."
"Give it back, you heathen," Isha snarled. "Go get your own."
"Terrifying," Link smiled down at her, but obeyed and passed the bowl back. "Do you want another?"
"You know what? Yeah. Bring me another one."
"Wait, I want more!" Talo hopped up.
"Me too!" Beth followed suit. "I'll come with you!"
"Come on, children, let them eat in peace," came a new voice over the shouting. All faces turned to see Luda approaching, removing her apron as she walked through the empty tables. "Why don't you all help me out with cleanup again?" She gave Isha an understanding smile, grabbing the pile of dirty dishes from the center of the table.
Isha returned the look with a grateful smile of her own, lifting her reacquired bowl of soup to her lips and waving a goodbye to the children. She had originally been excited to gather them around, keep them entertained and tell them stories, but in all her reminiscing the former teacher had also forgotten just how many questions children could have, and just how little patience she actually had for them. Their relentless questions had already stressed her out, so early in the morning.
Not to mention they reminded Isha of her late students.
She relished in the few brief moments of peace, pushing aside morose thoughts, before her traveling partner returned. He was carrying an extra serving of pumpkin soup for her, as promised. She gave him a deadly glare as he sat down.
"You look pissed," Link observed with a crooked smile.
"You took my food."
"I gave it back." He took a sip from his bowl. "Wow, this is really good."
"Hmm," Isha tapped the rim of her empty bowl, eyes fixed on the one Link had sat down in front of her. He rolled his shoulders and she tried to find literally anything else to look at other than his bare chest. Show off. She wondered just how pathetically thin and frail she looked next to the toned hero.
Skin-and-bones.
"Is something wrong?"
"No," Isha insisted, reaching for the last bowl and pushing aside her grouchy thoughts. "We should get going soon, we slept in pretty late." Isha stood and turned towards the front door, taking the food with her. "I'm going to… go for a walk first, though. I'll be back before long."
"Do you want to go alone?"
She paused, her eyes towards the front door. Anywhere but Link. "No, but I need to."
The hero's eyes stayed on the front door long after she'd disappeared. He finished his meal quickly, wondering if he'd bothered her too much too early in the morning. She'd seemed truly angered by his jokes. It wasn't like I was actually going to steal her food, he thought, resting his chin in his hand.
Lost in thought, he barely registered Renado approaching. The shaman looked considerably more tired than the last time he was in town. I hope the kids aren't being too much of a handful…
"I heard some interesting news from the children," Renado began, taking a seat at the table with Link. "They said you've located the missing girl."
"Yes!" the hero grinned, snapping out of his funk. "She's in Castle Town. We were heading there when we ran into those monsters with Colin."
"I take it she's safe?"
"As far as I could tell. I didn't get the chance to actually speak with her."
"Just as well," the man replied, smiling. "I imagine Bo will be thrilled to hear of this. Should I send a letter?"
"Could you, please?" Link leaned back in his chair, running his fingers through his messy hair. "And let them know that Isha and I are okay, too. We sorta… left in a rush."
"Of course, I'd be glad to." Renado rose to leave.
"Oh, and I did speak with Bo about the Gorons, when we were in Ordon," Link stopped him. "After we bring Ilia here, I plan to try to speak with the Gorons on his behalf. If you don't mind watching the kids for a few more days."
The older gentleman looked incredibly relieved. "If we could repair relations with the mountain tribes, perhaps more volunteers would be willing to come out here." He looked around, lowering his voice. "It has been hell getting anyone competent out here," he grumbled. "Seems townspeople like to talk about helping, but do very little of it. We're lucky to have received the help we did, though they seem to have little experience."
"I'm sorry to hear that," Link replied sadly. "While I'm in town, I'll keep an eye out for anyone who might be willing and able to help. Never know what kind of people you might meet." His eyes drifted to the front door.
He felt a hand on his shoulder, and looked up to find Renado giving him a knowing look. "I have learned this recently, myself. I'll take that for you," he gestured to the now-empty bowl in Link's hands.
"Thanks," the hero stood. "You wouldn't happen to–"
"Turn left and look for the first side road to your right," Renado said over his shoulder as he walked away. "You'll find the school at the end of that road."
Link frowned. Was he truly so easy to read?
He returned to his room, just as stifling as it had been all night, and worked his way into his clothes. Though he disliked the green tunic, it was lined with chainmail that had saved his life a dozen times over, and he considered it a necessity for the road. He wondered briefly what it would take to find something similar for Isha. She'd need it if she was really going to be a part of the divine mess he'd been dragged into. Not all monsters were as slow and mindless as bublins.
Link was occupied with strapping his sword onto his back when Midna jumped from his shadow, floating over and sitting on the edge of his bed.
"You are quite the heavy sleeper," she commented.
"Do your kind not need sleep?"
Her giggle grated on his nerves. "Not as much as you seem to. Happy to hear you're getting on your way, though. Do you think that prince survived?"
Link looked himself over in the mirror, adjusting his green cap upon his head. "For the sake of Isha's friends, I hope so."
"What will you do if he's gone?"
"Do you know something I don't?"
Midna shrugged, looking away from him. "You sure waste a lot of time. Did you know it's been a few days since you spoke with that spirit? If he was so close to death, it's not likely that–"
"A doctor was on his way to see him," Link argued, pulling on his gloves. "I'm only one person, I can't do everything at once."
"Oh, save your tone. I'm not expecting you to do 'everything.' You need a reality check, Hero," the imp sneered, crossing her arms. "You can't save everyone. You shouldn't set that expectation for yourself or anyone else. Don't forget, you only wander in the light now because I helped you out of those dungeons. You owe me, and yet you've been brushing me off for other people's problems."
"I gave you my word I would help, and I will," Link growled, stomping over to her. "We'll get your damned Fused Shadows when I can. There are lives at stake here, Midna. I can't–"
"Do you think my people are just off enjoying a paradise while their realm is forced over ours?" She slapped him, and Link was stunned to find that, though she appeared to be made in shadow, she still had a physical form. His face stung from the long nails that scratched his skin. When he pulled his hand away, a bit of blood was smeared across his fingers.
"Just because you cannot see the suffering of others doesn't mean it's not happening, you insufferable brat. You cannot save everyone, Hero," she repeated, her voice a low hiss as she got in his face. "And if you don't stop chasing after a woman so emotionally damaged that she's lost most of her good sense, you won't save anyone."
"If you'll recall, Lanayru is sending her to get your stupid rock at the bottom of the lake. She's literally a second lackey running your errands, I'm surprised you aren't thrilled at the idea of a second person to boss around. And I'm not chasing anything, you should watch your mouth."
Midna huffed, turning her back. "Isha is useless to me. The Twilight will imprison her just like everyone else. Only someone like you can survive it. That Fused Shadow's immense power will corrupt her the moment she touches it. And then you'll have to drag your ass down there after her and kill her to get it back. Her little 'mission' is a punishment for her blasphemy against the Light Spirits."
Link opened his mouth several times to respond, but his words failed him as the realization set in. The shadowy imp in front of him turned her head, her one uncovered eye glowing bright beneath her decorative helm. "You heard me. Why do you think it was so imperative that the spirits seal these things away?"
Those who do not know the danger of wielding this power will, before long, be ruled by it.
Link fell back onto the floor, Lanayru's words returning to him. "Why would a Light Spirit send her to death over words?"
Midna shrugged. "I think Isha has the right idea. You're all just their pawns, just as my people are currently pawns of their false king. Perhaps they find it entertaining. Perhaps she's been this way for years, and they're sick and tired of hearing it. Either way, you are both fools for thinking that some peasant from a backwater town like this would ever be considered for anything special."
The young swordsman rubbed his hands down his face. "I refuse to believe you," he finally said. "If the Zora Prince is dead, then I'll continue forward. If the Fused Shadows are truly so powerful and corrupt, then I will protect Isha and everybody else from them. Even if I have to face her in battle, I won't kill her. I'll find a way. I'll keep fighting for the ones who can't."
"So noble," Midna sang in a mocking tone. "Perhaps you'll do just enough to make up for all the ones who die because of your slacking off." With that, she slipped back into his shadow, leaving the hero alone in his room.
Link took several deep breaths, forcing himself to be calm. I don't even know if Midna is really an ally, he reminded himself. She just… sticks around. We have a while before we have to worry about going to the bottom of a deep lake to look for a temple, and I don't know that she's speaking the truth. We'll just… take it one day at a time.
Repeating these words of comfort, the hero stood and grabbed his things together, departing for the stables to find Epona and prepare her for the long journey ahead.
"I'm sorry if I upset you this morning."
Link's voice startled Isha, who had been standing in the doorway of her old school, staring at the dusty, trashed classroom she had once spent every morning in. She turned and found him approaching with Epona's reins in his hands, and what appeared to be new bags on the back of her saddle.
"Oh, I was just hungry," she pasted on that smile she had practiced for so many years, but it quickly fell when she noticed his face. "What happened there?" she cupped his jaw and tapped the cheek that Midna had scratched.
"Oh, uh… Guess I scratched myself last night in the woods." He pulled away and turned his head.
"I don't remember seeing that at lunch."
Link shrugged her off. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh…" Isha looked back into the building behind her. "Just… was looking around. Look, my wallet survived the destruction." She lifted a leather pouch clutched in one of her hands. "Some of my clothes did, too, but… I don't think any of them would be good for travel. I called for the crisis team to come collect them. Someone else may need them."
He climbed the front steps and looked into the classroom. "Looks cute," he remarked, turning back and scanning her face for any reaction.
Her face remained neutral. "It was nice."
"Where's your pig?"
"Gonna leave him here," she shrugged. "Don't think he'd be well received in Castle Town."
"Are you sure you're okay?"
Isha did not respond, her eyes drifting back into the one-room school. The desks were overturned and broken, but nowhere near destroyed. A good craftsman could restore them. The chalkboard had been torn down, thrown over the podium that lay overturned on the ground at the front of the room. Children's drawings covered the walls, once colorful and bright and the only decoration she ever felt the room needed, now shredded by malicious claws and coated in dust from outside. Windows were broken, shattered glass covering the ground along the walls, but much like the rest of the town, it had not fallen completely.
She sighed deeply, an action that did not go unnoticed by Link. "What's going through your mind right now?"
"I really don't know," Isha replied absently. "I… I can't believe how much survived, when so much was lost. I thought the world ended the day I woke up and saw those monsters. I just…assumed that such destruction could not be overcome." Tears formed at the corners of her eyes, and she turned to face the hero. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "I don't know how to feel. So much survived, but my parents didn't. I want to be happy that some people survived. I want to be happy that the village can be rebuilt. But…"
"It feels wrong to go on without them? Yeah, I get it." Link leaned against the opposite side of the door frame, crossing his arms.
"Does it ever get any easier?"
"No," he replied honestly. "But we get stronger, and we find new people who help us move forward."
The pair looked at each other for a long while. Finally, Link broke their silence. "You know, with the recent news, if you were wanting to stay–"
"No, I don't," she finally replied, pushing herself from the door frame. "I just… have a lot of memories I'm leaving behind here, and so much I'm still not ready to let go of. It's not an easy thing to do."
Isha stepped out from the porch and stopped beside Epona. She looked back over her shoulder at Link, tear-filled eyes sparkling in the midday sun.
"Well, come on, then. Let's move forward."
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