A/N: Happy new year everyone! Let's start the year off right with a new chapter :)
Chapter 19 - To Be Heard
Body exhausted, mind abuzz with excitement, and stomach full of Goron City delicacies, Link trudged back to his room at the same inn he'd occupied on his arrival. The party celebrating Darbus' safe return to his people had reminded the hero of his own village, and had left him with a bittersweet longing throughout the night. Drumbeats and joyful chants still echoed in his ears. The tribe had celebrated as though their leader had not mentioned war upon the horizon.
Well, if it wasn't going to bother them, he was going to try not to let it bother him. Link did his best to swallow any negative emotions, which had been easier to do when he was still stuffing his face full of spiced meats and strange, earthy vegetables that were entirely new to him. The various new dishes in every region were quickly becoming the hero's favorite thing about his travels.
Normally he would have preferred to dull his mind with spirits, and the mead they'd served had been divine. It was served warm and had a bite to it that gave him chills. But, recalling how poorly his last indulgences had gone, Link had elected to only take one cup.
When all this is over, this is where I'll come to drown the nightmares. Link looked around at the towering mountains that surrounded Goron City, their spires black against an indigo sky. The peaks cradled the village, shielding it from the outside as though the rugged terrain wasn't enough defense. It was cloudy and breezy, which worried him a bit. This time of year, clouds could mean rain or snow, at least in Ordon. If Hyrule was anything like his home village, traveling would soon become difficult for him and Isha. The possibility that the weather could hinder their reunion also made him anxious.
Link finally reached his rooms and immediately began tossing his gear onto the floor in a pile. His travel bag, sword, shield-
"Eep!" A shrill sound startled the hero, and from out of the shaking bag emerged a forgotten passenger looking quite bothered.
"Gods, I'm sorry," Link dropped to one knee in front of the avian. "I have to admit, you're a bit too good at staying out of the way."
Ooccoo spread her wings and shook, her ruffled feathers slowly settling back. "It quite a rude awakening, but at least we aren't at that noisy feast anymore. My goodness! You grounded folk are quite lively."
"From what I understand, it's kind of their thing," the hero chuckled. "I don't see why you're complaining, I saw you sneaking away with a few of those root-things while everyone was dancing."
Despite her alien features, Ooccoo's expression shifted to one of unmistakable shame. Her feathers fluffed again, and she turned to the window at the far end of the room. "Well, I didn't see you tucking away any leftovers for me. I do need to eat too, you know!"
Link rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "It's…been a long day."
Ooccoo turned her head - only her head - back to the hero. He tried not to recoil at the sight. She smiled, making that a difficult feat. "Oh, I know! You should rest, Hylian. I'd like to take a look around now that all the noise has died down. This is such a strange place! We're so close to the sky!" She regarded the wary look he gave her and waved a wing in the air. "Oh, don't you worry. I promise to avoid any tight spaces, and will return when the sun rises!"
Feeling it wouldn't be his place to force her to stay inside even if he wanted that creature in his room while he slept, Link nodded. "I will see you in the morning, then."
As he watched her flit out the window, Link wished further that he'd indulged in those mountain spirits that Darbus had spent half the night praising. The few interactions he'd had with Ooccoo were beginning to feel like fever dreams.
I imagine even Isha would want to drink that memory away, he thought with a chuckle to himself.
Link continued to shred his clothes and lay bare-chested upon the bed, which was firmer than he would have liked, if he was in the business of complaining about free lodging. He'd been told his room had running water, and knew he needed to bathe, but despite his discomfort the swordsman found himself drifting off.
"It's unexpected that the Goron patriarch survived the Fused Shadow's corruption," Midna's voice cut through his foggy mind like a knife. The hero opened his eyes to see her lounging in the air just inches above his head, her chin supported by one hand while she feigned interest in her claws on the other. "I suppose you're feeling quite proud of yourself, mister 'hero'."
Link squinted and shoved the imp away. She drifted into a sitting position and gave him a pointed grin. "I knew it. I've gotten quite good at reading your mind, Wolfy! Does this mean you've figured out how you managed to save that big Goron from the shadow's corruption? Don't try to hide it, I can tell you've got a plan."
"What exactly do you think that plan is?"
"I can only assume that your lollygagging here means that you've figured out how to save someone from the Fused Shadows, so you've decided to leave Isha to her own devices! Let her have the adventure she wants so desperately, learn her lesson the hard way, and then you get to come swooping in to save the day, as the hero everyone thinks you are!" Midna giggled, a sound that grated on the stunned man's nerves. "I didn't think you had it in you to be so underhanded!"
"I… Midna, absolutely none of that crossed my mind," Link growled, rising to his feet. His face felt hot. "I haven't figured anything out, I haven't been thinking about Isha, and I would never play with anyone's life like that. Gods above and below, why can't you and I have a normal conversation for once?"
She looked genuinely surprised at his reaction, and she rose to be eye-level with Link. "Oh, so you are just slacking off again? Taking time to smell the roses before you run off to your next distraction? I wonder how many have suffered at the hands of these relics all these years-"
"Why are you so bitter?" Link spat, reaching for the silhouette before him and grasping her shoulders. "Midna, I need rest. I need food. I need to buy new supplies before I hit the road again. I need a bath. I don't have time to sit around and think so deeply into these things like you do. You don't give me time to think through any of the weird shit that's going on around me. No, I have no clue why Darbus is still alive despite what you said. I don't have time to think about it, so I won't. You were wrong, I don't know or care why he lived. It's enough for me that he is alive. And stop being so weird about Isha. I feel like you're making fun of me, and I hate it! I'm putting my life on the line for you every time I set foot in a new province, and you treat me worse than a dog!"
Midna pulled away from his grip but held his gaze. She regarded the light-dweller before her, young in the face yet bearing the scars of many battles already. She recalled how he'd appeared when they'd first crossed paths - lean and unmarred, beyond the callouses of a simple working man from a small settlement. He'd likely never known strife in his life.
This further confirms my theory that light-dwellers are inherently more fragile than us… Even when blessed by their gods. Midna sighed. They had quite the uphill battle ahead, and this simpleton was bound and determined to drag that poor girl with him. How was she supposed to keep two of these creatures alive?
But you have been cruel to him, her conscious spoke, annoying thing that it was. Perhaps she'd come a little too close to crossing a line.
"Your argument has been noted," Midna finally conceded, lowering to perch on top of the pile of Link's discarded gear. "I admit I have a lot of time to think while you enjoy the presence and praise of others. While in your shadow, I don't have to lift a finger, you know. It's just like riding a horse. Or perhaps a carriage. I have plenty of time to watch the world go by and observe things you miss while basking in the brief gratitude of those who have survived long enough for you to get around to saving them."
Link chose to ignore her jab. "You know, you don't have to hide. There's far stranger things in the world and-"
"No," Midna cut him off sharply. "Idiot. The less who know about me, the better. Have you forgotten what Zelda said? Those Twilight beasts were looking for me. Haven't you realized that my hiding is just as much for the sake of others as it is for my own preference? Any who see me are at risk as long as Zant still clings to the throne. You should be grateful for my sacrifice."
"Sacrifice, huh?" The hero settled back onto the bed and crossed his leg over his knee. "But I thought you said it was your preference?"
"Of course it is! The light of day is oppressive, I don't know how you people survive this. The night is painfully short and you're always complaining about the temperature. People mob you everywhere you go, and you're always far too eager to get involved in their business and talk about your lives. And this world is positively asinine in its structure! Everywhere you look, there's something blocking your view. Untamed fields, overgrown forests, and unlit caves provide breeding grounds for all sort of evil. Always something to distract and hide what might lie beyond, and cause you to lose sight of your goals. I much prefer staying in the shadows!" She snapped a bit too harshly.
"Of course. That's why you pop out the second we're alone, and why you wander off when I sleep, right?" Midna's scowl could have curdled goat milk, but Link continued. "I can feel every time you wander off from my shadow, you know that? I know every time you've stepped back to admire the scenery or the sky. When we were in the forest temple, I watched you pick flowers while you thought I slept. You talk like you hate this world, but when you think I'm not paying attention, you're always taking a closer look. It's not a crime to find beauty in new things, you know."
She didn't answer immediately, and turned away from Link. I thought I had been quite covert in my inspections of this world. "As I said, this world is quite distracting," she finally said with a huff. "I have lived my whole life in a completely different realm. Perhaps if you could see it for yourself, you would understand."
"Is it at all like the Twilight that covers Hyrule?"
Midna sighed. She hated the repulsive light world and its incompetent inhabitants. Her people were struggling under oppression unlike any they'd known before, and this Hylian wanted to take this time to be friends? To what end? Once her people were free from Zant, Midna would return home and forget about the world of light entirely. It had been nothing but a source of pain for her and her people, and the idea of bonding in any form with a resident of that world made her feel ill.
But… Link was damn persistent, and she was getting sick of these circular arguments. They were stuck with one another for a while yet, whether she liked it or not. Perhaps she could… pretend. For his sake.
Midna turned her eyes to the ceiling. "It's beautiful, in the way that I perceive beauty. Having seen so much of Hyrule, I do not assume you would agree, but that's part of what I love about it."
She began to drift upwards, her eyes lighting up as she talked. "My world is one of an all-encompassing sky. We don't have these vast, unbroken swaths of terrain with mountains and valleys. We can't build sprawling cities, so we build upward upon what lands we do have. Our metal-makers create large structures with ease thanks to our people's magic. Our buildings are towering monuments to our resolve to thrive in a dark, beautiful environment that was never meant to be conquered. With five experienced metal-makers, we can construct these towers in minutes."
Link frowned. "Are you saying you just… don't have land at all? It's just sky and buildings? I have a hard time imagining that."
"I think the best word would be 'islands,' but we have no large bodies of water. Floating islands in a sea of dusk, wrapped in a sky that never changes. Islands that are held together with magic that's said to be older than the realm itself, all connected together to form our settlements. Our magic sustains us entirely. It's what builds our structures and pulls water from the air.
"We suffer no harsh light of day nor dark of night, and we don't have weather patterns like this world does. It's all just… different. Every bit of the realm is steeped in magic beyond your understanding, even if we had years for me to teach you. We are connected to this magic, and it sustains us. It is as strange a world to you as this one is to me."
"The way you describe it makes it sound beautiful," Link said, pulling Midna from her memories of home.
She cleared her throat and inspected the wall to her left. "It can be. It will be again, once you finish your job."
The hero winced. "Midna, I swear I'm-"
"I know," she cut him off with a wave of her hand. "I'll try to reign in my more speculative thoughts, for your sake. I was getting a bit carried away with things that don't matter…"
They sat in silence, though Link's mind was no longer on sleep. Unfortunately, it appeared it was his time for… 'speculative' thoughts. Whatever that meant.
"It all matters," he sighed and laid back on the bed, arms crossed behind his head. "But I wish you'd help me understand. So you miss your home, and want to return things back to normal as soon as possible. I get that - relate to it, even! I can even understand why you don't want the wider world to even see you. Fine, I'll respect your reasoning. There's still something I don't understand, though. Why do you have such an issue with Isha?"
Midna considered the exhausted hero and considered returning to his shadow. She'd shared plenty as it was, and he'd likely welcome the chance to sleep. But… "She reminds me of someone I once trusted. I sought companionship from them, and they sought power from me. I am slow to trust anyone who shows up at an all-too-convenient time who is all-too-eager to assist with things that should be beyond their abilities. Just as she is still dealing with her loss, I am dealing with mine."
"That sounds really painful. I'm sorry that happened to you, but I'm glad you're finally telling me something about yourself." Link had rolled to his side on the mattress, facing Midna. His eyes were irritatingly sympathetic, and Midna cursed herself internally for the moment of vulnerability.
"Pah. Stuff it, Wolfy," She spat, crossing her arms. Despite her attitude, she drifted to sit on the edge of the bed next to Link. "You're blinded by your need to play hero to even the smallest of lives. I fear you'll suffer the same betrayal as I did. I don't think the two of us will survive coping with the same trauma."
"I don't know, I hear misery loves company."
"You really know how to make a woman want to strangle you."
Link huffed. "Maybe it's better that you're afraid of making friends. If you and Isha teamed up against me, I'd never know peace again."
A lumpy, stiff pillow slammed down upon his face. "I am afraid of nothing. If you truly care about that girl, after I recover the last of the Fused Shadows, you should take her far away from here. Even after I deal with Zant, Hyrule still rumbles with discontent at the absence of their monarchy. That weak princess won't be able to do a single thing to ease her people's concerns, and civil war will be inevitable."
Link sat up, the weaponized pillow tucked against his chest. "Do you like anyone you meet?"
"Hm," she tapped her chin. "Your horse seems agreeable enough."
Midna's hair caught the pillow aimed for her turned back. "You should rest." She melted into the shadows, bringing an end to their conversation.
Link stared after her, unbothered despite her sudden exit. A little progress was better than nothing. After taking a long soak in the bath, sleep came to the hero a bit easier that night.
Though he slept longer than intended, Link was able to reach Kakariko by early afternoon the following day in high spirits. He only briefly stopped by the Inn to say hello to the Ordon kids, who were settling in nicely to their temporary home. Luda almost held him up for too long, bragging endlessly about how much of a help Beth and Colin had been in caring for the Zora prince.
The prince was still spending a majority of his time resting, with only brief periods of semi-wakefulness in between. Ilia still did not recognize any of the people she'd grown up with. Link did not linger to talk with his best friend. His heart still ached as though she'd died.
Renado already had a ration bag packed and waiting by the time Link made his way back out of the inn.
"I'm heading to Castle Town, I shouldn't need too much," Link tried to turn down the generously-filled pack.
"You're off to meet Isha, aren't you?" The shaman tilted his head slightly. "Smart as she is, she tends to forgo nutrition when she's focused on other things. We have more than enough preserved foods for everyone in town. These will last you months, so you should be fine to keep anything you do not eat on this leg of your journey. I tried to provide you with a bit of everything, but Isha tends to skimp on her vegetables if she thinks she can get away with it, so I tried to pack extra dried greens. Most can be chopped and served with nearly any meat dish, which is the way her mother usually prepared her dishes…"
Link smiled and accepted the burlap sack. He met the man's eyes as Renado trailed off. "Isha's lucky to have had so many caring people in her life."
"I don't think she'd agree with you," Renado returned the smile and turned towards the door. "I loved her mother, and Eva loved her daughter dearly. Isha was born just before my own daughter, you know, and they were inseparable as children. Luda is all I have left of my late wife. Isha is all I have left of the woman who helped me love again. And the two of them are all I have left of a village I've dedicated my life to leading."
They stepped out onto the porch, overlooking a thoroughfare that Link was beginning to find comfortingly familiar. The sun was weak today, dipping in and out between clouds that rode the cold breeze.
"Do your best to keep her safe, Link. Even if she hates you for it," Renado said in a quiet voice.
The hero snorted at this and stepped out onto the street. He'd be able to make it to the town's walls by nightfall if he hurried. "The day she lets anyone get between her and danger, I'll return and buy you a drink," he called over his shoulder.
Epona had been left in the care of the stable hands, more volunteers from the city. When they brought the mare out to greet him, Link did not miss how the workers' hands trembled slightly when standing close to her. She'd likely been a bit of a handful with so many strangers around. Even in its partially-ruined state, Kakariko was more lively than Ordon ever had been. The horse had likely not been too pleased with all the activity.
He tossed a few extra rupees on the counter, for their troubles. With Midna watching from the shadows and Ooccoo safely tucked away in a tightly-secured saddlebag, the hero led his beloved steed out into the street.
Link kept Epona at a walk while in the village, careful not to get in the way of workers carting debris and new building materials about. He wondered how far along the village would be on his next return, and wondered if Isha would care to know the village's progress.
Once they passed through the gate, he dug his heels into Epona's flank and let her stretch her legs. The cliffs around him zipped by in a blur. Hoofbeats on clay echoed around the canyon, sounding not unlike the drums from the previous nights' feast. Link threw his hands behind him and let out a whoop as the air whirled past, dancing through his outstretched fingers. It felt like an eternity since he'd last been able to enjoy Epona's all-out gallop. Before long, towering cliffs gave way to an open plain, browned from the coming winter.
Echoes faded and were replaced by the rushing wind. Link leaned closer to Epona's neck to shield himself from the worst of it. Castle town was still a distant point on the horizon. A part of the hero wanted it to stay that way, and let him enjoy the freedom of flying across the world for a while longer. He'd be heading back to Lake Hylia, where Epona couldn't follow. And then.. Who knows where? He'd been avoiding the thought, but even at these speeds, his status as a Chosen Hero shadowed him. Link didn't believe for one moment that his battle against Hyrule's greatest threats would be over once Midna had her Fused Shadows, despite what the imp said.
How long would it be before he could enjoy this freedom again?
Sunset had long passed when Epona finally stopped before the bridge into Castle Town. Link dismounted and stretched his legs, making sure to check on Ooccoo, who was sleeping soundly among the supplies on the back of his saddle. The swordsman led Epona into town and checked her in at the stables. She was given plenty of carrots for her cooperation with more strangers.
Since he'd entered the city from the south, Link had a much shorter, direct route to Telma's Bar than his last few visits. He also had far less people to navigate around at this time of day. There were a few stalls set up along the road here, but all had been closed for the night. Though he knew the city was heavily populated, Link found himself feeling quite alone on this return to Castle Town.
This is how a hero's supposed to feel, I guess. He knew very little of old legends, despite Isha's attempts to hammer as much information into him as possible in their short travels together. The heroes of legends never seemed to have anyone at their side when they did their legendary deeds, not even their own countrymen - legendary heroes seemed to show up when all others failed. It sounded like a lonely existence.
The alleyway he was looking for finally came up on his right. Link pushed his concerns from his mind for now - he was about to reunite with a new friend, and couldn't arrive with a sour face. He took the lamp-lit steps down into the alley and stepped into a stony courtyard. Across the way, a familiar figure was tossing trash bags into a pile for cleanup.
The sound of boots scraping on cobble caught Telma's attention, and she turned to face Link. Her face lit up with a smile. She dropped the trash bag and dusted her hands. "Well, if it isn't the swordsman!" She met him halfway and pulled him into a tight hug. "Isha told me you'd be passing through soon. How long are you staying in town? You are staying at my bar, by the way. No arguments, ya hear?
"Those friends I told you about have come around for the weekend," her voice dropped to a low whisper now that they were close. "We've received some interesting news from the castle, and I'd like you to be a part of the discussion."
Isha drummed her fingers upon the hard notebook cover, eyes fixed on the rushing river below her dangling feet. Her backside was beginning to ache from sitting on the rocky ground for so long, but she couldn't bring herself to move. Mikas was still standing off a ways, waiting for her to respond.
But what could she possibly say beyond the usual platitudes? "Sorry that happened"? "You'll feel better with time"? With ten years of mourning already under his belt, she doubted the Zora would find any comfort in shallow consolations.
Isha also now had her own guilt to contend with. I forced this out of him. Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she recalled her many jabs about his silence, both in sincerity and in jest. It was a wonder he could even stomach being around her.
The young woman finally lifted her head and looked over at the Zora. He was still staring off into the distance, mostly turned away from her. She'd previously mistook his posture to be casual and relaxed, but now the angle of his shoulders and the downward tilt of his head took on new meanings.
Something stirred within Isha, giving her the strength to finally stand. No, she couldn't say anything that would right all that had gone wrong with Mikas' life. She did however have the dubious honor of knowing the burden of loss intimately. Saying nothing was the worst thing she could do, so she would find the words. Somehow.
Mikas did not turn to face her when she approached. She climbed the small cliff with ease and stopped beside him. The Zora closed his eyes and seemed to grow tense, as though preparing for her judgement. Isha gripped the notebook tighter and cleared her throat.
"I should have respected your choices regardless of the reasons behind them," she began. Mikas did not react. "I've been quite horrible to you, though I get the notion that you feel you deserve it. You don't. Losing a loved one is punishment enough for any accident."
He shrugged his shoulders, and Isha felt her will falter a bit. "Look, I mean it. And I'm sorry that I was rude about your vow of silence on multiple occasions. I understand your reasons. That being said…" Isha took a deep breath. "At the risk of being rude once more, I'd like to state that I strongly disagree with them."
That finally got him to look at her. Mikas whirled around to meet her with wide eyes. The sudden movement nearly made Isha stumble back, but she willed herself to remain calm and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. "I know what it's like to feel like you've failed because you're not strong enough. It is one of many failures that haunts me every day. But Mikas, you did everything in your power to help her. It is not your failing that whatever infliction she suffered was beyond your abilities. You shouldn't close yourself off from everyone and abandon all that you'd ever worked towards. You're already suffering enough."
She reached out and gently placed a hand upon his back. "A really good friend of mine told me that nobody should have to suffer their tragedies alone. You've done this for ten years without seeing any improvement. You broke your own vow in the heat of the moment, which has clearly made you feel worse about everything. Your method of staying silent doesn't seem to be working. Maybe it's time to try something new?"
Mikas looked at her outstretched arm and tried to force his stunned mind back to work. He hadn't dared to consider the idea that she'd feel anything other than disgust at his actions. Why set himself up to be hurt by expecting anything more? Hell, his own father had taken months to see Mikas as anything more than the reason his mother had died. Yet this small Hylian stood next to him, put her arm around him, without any hint of unease. She apologized to him. Isha extended her other hand, which held his notebook.
He accepted it with some hesitation, then scribbled a response and passed it back.
Even if I wanted to, I cannot return to Priesthood. Intentional or not, I have blood on my hands. My father says it doesn't count because nobody else knows, but I know. I'll always know. It would be wrong for me to return to the life I once trained for.
"I don't necessarily mean that. You don't have to make any huge changes," Isha looked up from the page. "In my experience, life is quick to sour, and slow to sweeten. Bad things seem to happen within moments, and it takes us a long time to recover from the pain. It's not unlike the season of winter, if you think about it. One day, you're enjoying crisp, windy days harvesting the fields and dreaming about the cider that awaits you back home. The next morning, you wake up and that first frost has hit. The plants are dead. The wind bites at us and smells like snow. It's miserable, but we can't let it stop us from living. Wood has to be chopped, roofs need to be patched, game needs to be hunted. We push through despite the harsh weather, for as long as it persists. You know why we do that, right?"
Mikas moved to take back the book, but Isha held it back. "I'm on a roll here, don't let rhetoricals derail me," she said with a slight smile. "We don't hole up in the ground and hibernate through the cold. We brave it and keep living because we know that the winter won't last forever. The cold will go away, and the fields will need planting come spring. New livestock will be born, new people will travel the roads, and the world will explode with life once more. Sometimes the spring comes earlier, and other years it feels like winter will never end. But for those who power through, relief always comes in the form of spring. No matter how cold it gets, we can always count on the spring to return and warm our faces once more. The springtime never fails to bring me back to life." Now she offered the notebook back. "Don't you want to be warm again?"
Despite all his attempts to keep his emotions in check, Mikas could feel his eyes burning. As her words sunk in, he seized Isha in both of his arms, puling her to his chest in a tight embrace. Isha dropped his notebook in her surprise. Mikas rested his head atop of hers, in part to hide the tears that were always a little too eager to spill.
Isha shook off her surprise and returned his embrace. I guess cliches just work sometimes. She couldn't recall the name of the story that she'd pulled that analogy from, but still said a silent prayer of thanks to its author for giving her the right words to speak at the right time. "And, for what it's worth, you saved my life, Mikas. I don't care what your motives were for it, I'm grateful to be here all the same. Knowing what it took for you to save me just makes me appreciate your magic even more. If you don't like your motivations, the only person who can change that is you."
Mikas took a deep breath and toyed with the ends of her braided hair while he willed his eyes to dry. A part of him screamed that all of this was foolish. Was he so easily swayed by the first person who offered a different perspective? How could he even consider pushing through the pain? Just keep on living like there wasn't a gaping wound in his chest? Like he wasn't a walking mistake?
It's not like that, another part of him whispered. It agreed with Isha, and it was that part Mikas trusted. He knew he was a long ways from healed from the events of that awful day. The soldier was nowhere near ready to make any large changes to the life he'd grown complacent in. But… perhaps Isha was right. If this near-stranger could accept him, then perhaps it was not so far-fetched that Peras and Zepin actually did want to be friends with him.
He reconsidered his earlier refusal to join the others for drinks that night. Zepin hadn't acted like he was under obligation to invite Mikas along. In fact, Mikas was fairly certain the lighter-colored Zora had sought him out specifically to discuss evening plans. They wouldn't do things like that if they weren't sincere, right? Mikas inhaled deeply.
Maybe it's time to try something new.
"You're not mad about the scars?"
"What? No, why would I-" Isha pulled back from Mikas and gripped his arms tightly. "You… you…" Her mouth continued to move, but she struggled to make a sound through her surprise.
Mikas lifted a finned hand to his aching throat and gave a sheepish smile. He cocked his head to the side, gesturing to the notebook that had fallen down to the lower bank. "You dropped my book," he croaked.
"Shit! Sorry," Isha slipped from his arms and leapt down from the ledge. She recovered the book and held it up to him. "You talked."
Mikas crouched and leaned over the ridge, taking in her bright smile. Despite his raspy, slurred tone, she seemed genuinely happy to hear him speak. "Not much," he said, tucking the book away in its pouch at his side. "It hurts."
A chill wind picked up between them, and both visibly shivered. Mikas jumped down to join Isha on the lower riverbank. She looked up at him with shining eyes. "I'm sure your friends will be over the moon to hear you again."
With the dropping temperature becoming too much to ignore, the pair started on their way back to Zora's Domain, walking mostly in silence. Isha stepped closer as they passed through darker parts of the trail, alert to anything that might be lurking out of sight. He knew that the domain was safe - they were already running nearly all regular patrols and monsters seemed to have cleared out of the region - but elected not to say anything. They could be close for a while longer, if she wished.
"Not talking with everyone," Mikas rasped after a time. "Father and Aphura, though. I want to talk to them."
Isha nodded in understanding. "I think that's a really good place to start. It sounds like you'll need to get used to talking again anyways. The day they get to hear you again will probably become a local holiday."
Mikas snorted and rolled his eyes. She was probably right.
They continued walking beside the river in silence, the croaking of frogs filling the air. Isha wasn't the biggest fan of the frogs that inhabited Zora's Domain. They were a lot slimier and a lot noisier than the few she'd seen in Kakariko. It interfered with her ability to listen for danger, which put the young woman further on edge. Unfortunately, the frogs weren't noisy enough to drown out the insensitive plan that had formed in her mind and was begging for consideration.
From what little she'd learned in her travels, it sounded to Isha like the relic from Mikas' story and the relic she was meant to find for Lanayru were one and the same. It was likely this very event that led the Zora to seal the place up and post guard. If she asked for permission to enter and remove that relic to avenge his mother, Mikas would certainly agree. She also would finally get the chance to live up to the Zora's ideals of her heroism, and perhaps she'd feel a bit less out of place every time someone recognized her from the rumors. They were becoming quite wild.
Of course, her intentions were pure! So why did she feel so wrong in the very thought of bringing the subject up?
In the end, they'd be better off without that thing close by, and I'd be one step closer to understanding this "greater destiny" Lanayru mentioned.
Is it worth exploiting the emotions of a friend? Is it exploiting emotions, or is it just offering help where I am able?
Isha lost herself in the looping arguments. When the roar of a mighty waterfall reached her ears, her heartbeat quickened. They'd be back within the village soon, and would likely part ways for the evening. If I keep putting this off, Link may catch up before I leave… and then I'll be sidelined on my own journey. A flash of anger strengthened her resolve.
Isha stopped and took a deep breath… then hesitated again. Is this right? Mikas noticed her halt and turned back with a curious expression.
This is my right.
"Listen, Mikas, there's something I wanted to talk to you about, and I feel now more than ever it's important to tell you why I'm really here. That thing that hurt your mom… I am here to help you all get rid of it. Lanayru came to me after we parted ways and set me on this path. I have a set of Zora armor being made right now at Dento's. With the darkness that's invading Hyrule, that relic needs to be taken somewhere that so that it cannot be used to harm anyone anymore. But Dento told me the Temple was sealed off, and I need permission-"
"No," Mikas hissed. "Absolutely not. Too dangerous."
Isha blinked and something in her snapped. She gritted her teeth. "I have heard 'it's too dangerous' enough to last my lifetime. I don't need it from you, as well! You have no idea what I've faced in the last few weeks alone, and I survived every bit of it - without any armor! I have been given this mission by Lanayru. If you don't believe me, we can march down there right now and ask the snake herself. I have a task set before me by the same light spirit that saved our lives when the river thawed, and I'm not going to be easily turned away from completing that task. You can either help me or point me to someone who will."
The Zora looked as though he were about to argue, but seemed to think better of it. He closed the distance between them and sighed. "Allow me one thing?" he held up a finger.
"What?" She regarded him coldly. "…I guess?"
Mikas tapped her forehead, and a warmth spread about her skull. He began to glow in a familiar light. "Speak truth: was it truly Lanayru? What is your real goal?" The short exchange nearly left him breathless from the effort.
"Yes." Isha's response came without hesitation. Her green eyes were haloed in a blue shine. "It is her, and not any pretender or trickster. She, along with the light spirits of Ordon and Eldin, have promised to help guide me to a greater destiny, if I seek their blessings. Lanayru requires me to retrieve that relic and take it to a goddess-chosen Hero, who is working towards a destiny of his own. That happens to be the friend I told you about, the one I've been traveling with off and on. It's why he's meeting me here in a few days. I'd like to complete my mission before he arrives, so I don't have time for arguments."
Stumbling backwards, Mikas cradled his head. Of all the responses he could have planned for, the soldier wasn't quite ready to hear someone mention a hero from legend so casually. He knew the stories, thanks to his father, and with recent events he felt they were entirely believable.
And she was… friends with this hero. This person of legend. And he's coming here. That thing requires his intervention… "You…keep powerful friends," he coughed.
Isha blinked and the glow faded from her eyes. She shot Mikas an accusatory look, masking her horror at how much of her hand she'd revealed so quickly. "What did you do to me?"
"I have to go to Peras," he continued to mumble under his breath. Should he have Valan speak with Isha? Should he tell his father anything about what she'd just said? Would he even believe Mikas?
"I thought you said you were a healer! What does a truth spell have to do with healing?"
"I know many basic spells." He turned and headed for the river. Lanayru is talking to other races. Why? Are we so weak that we cannot be relied on any longer? And why would she send an untrained peasant on such a dangerous mission?
Isha lunged and grabbed on to his arm. "Hey, don't just use magic on me without permission and walk away!"
Mikas stumbled and both nearly fell into the water. He pulled Isha closer while he steadied them both, and found himself staring into eyes brimming with anger. He sighed and tried to ignore the way his heart skipped a beat. They had been quite close far too often this evening, and his mind was swimming enough. He tapped his neck. "Throat hurts. We need to talk to the others. I'll send a note tomorrow." The Zora slipped from her grip and dove into the water, leaving Isha standing by herself on the bank.
She kicked the ground and cursed, scattering pebbles into the river. Should she even bother to stay at this point? Link would arrive soon enough, and surely a "hero of legend" would be able to stand up to whatever lurked at the bottom of the lake. Isha wouldn't be needed. His special birthright would overshadow all those around him.
So why did the light spirits even bother? Was Lanayru setting her up for failure on purpose? If the Zora were so attached to their serpentine spirit, why didn't she tell her people not to interfere? Why did she let them get so close to such a corrupted artifact anyways? Link had been told the spirits were tasked with guarding that power, so why wasn't it somewhere in Lanayru's spring, where she could protect it?
And why is every male I meet so damn infuriating?
Left with little choice, Isha began her slow trek back to her rooms alone.
That night, she dreamed of worlds beyond Hyrule, where heroes were forged by great deeds rather than the flimsy will of distant gods. Her father wore the brightest, shiniest armor and traversed rolling emerald hills atop a dark brown stallion, proudly wielding a massive poleaxe. He cut down great swarms of monsters before him with ease, slicing through decayed and decrepit bodies of undead with fluid motions. From high atop a distant hill, beyond her vision, a small army brough down a rain of arrows to help cover his one-man charge.
The sky above was bathed in the orange glow of twilight by the time the battle ceased. With all enemies fallen, her father guided his steed towards the hill that held his army of archers. The very top of the hill was still basking in the final beams of the sunset, illuminating the single figure that stood atop it.
A woman, hardened by years of battle and worn from a life on the road, rose from her kneeling position at the edge of the plateau. Her hair was aflame in the sunset, looking more like the rust-colored canyons of her homeland than its usual rosy-blonde. Green eyes watched her father as he approached, his enormous stallion easily climbing the steep hillside.
His armor was blinding in this light, and though she wanted to bask in this glorious visage of the man she looked up to, it burned her eyes and she was forced to look away. Isha covered her eyes and blinked at the ground, where she found a strange sight. Sand was seeping up from under the grass, moving so slowly that at first Isha thought she might have imagined it. The sand crept up, eventually swallowing the grass and suffocating it out.
The bright light persisted. Isha tried to take a step back, but her feet were already trapped beneath the sand. Panic began to rise in her throat.
"Come, Isha."
The voice was as quiet as the breeze, but the blinded Isha clung to it as though it were a lifeline. "Help!"
"Come."
The ground beneath her gave way, and Isha dropped. She barely had time to take a breath before the unseen ground came up to meet her.
With a gasp, Isha shot up into a sitting position, throwing back her heavy covers and finding herself in a darkened room. Her face was drenched in sweat, and her chest ached with her heaving breaths.
"…Right. A dream," she breathed aloud, willing her heart to calm. "Another nightmare."
Isha laid back, leaving her sheets at the foot of the bed. The cool air brushed over her skin, carrying away some of the weight of her fear. She wiped her face and inhaled deeply.
It was the third dream that had ended in such a strange way. Each dream had started differently - one had even been a completely different nightmare - but eventually, all three were taken over by a sandy, crumbling earth. Isha couldn't help but wonder if this was some sort of prophetic dream of the future of Hyrule, should she fail.
My worries are driving me crazy, she lamented. I don't know how much longer I can take this.
Perhaps she would leave Hyrule without exacting revenge. The anger still boiled within her, but Isha was beginning to wonder whether or not she'd even have the chance to deal with the person responsible for her mother's death. She could never compete with the abilities of a Hero. She'd spent more of the journey so far injured and useless than not, and she had yet to face anything as strong as those that destroyed all she loved.
Everyone around me has been telling me from day one that I'm not cut out for this. I should have listened.