"S-sorry!" Paya squeaked, dropping her fighting stance to reach for Farrow.
Farrow coughed, splayed out in the grass and trying to figure out when Paya had flipped her. "No you're good," she managed. She pushed herself up carefully with both arms. She'd taken the sling off two days ago and found her arm mostly functional. She had to be careful lifting heavy things, or moving too fast, but otherwise it was functional. Farrow took Paya's hand and the girl carefully pulled her to her feet.
Farrow's various bumps and bruises ached from the past few days of combat training, but her confidence had only grown. Instead of staring up at the sky wonder what the hell just happened, she'd known Paya had flipped her, so she must be improving.
Paya shuffled her feet. "You're foot work has improved." She reddened. "N-not to say it was bad, just that w-well—"
Farrow waved a hand, cutting off the girl's apologies. "I know I wasn't great. I'm just grateful for the help. You're a good teacher."
Paya's blush darkened. "T-thank you," she squeaked.
Farrow smiled, and caught sight of someone approaching through the grass. Link waved to them as he walked up.
Link signed, 'Do you have,' and finished with a sign Farrow didn't understand. He watched her with a strange focus.
"What was that last sign?" Farrow asked.
"Honey," Paya said. "He asked if you have honey."
Farrow's eyebrows rose. "I think I have some. What do you need honey for?"
'Follow me,' Link signed and stared back toward Kakariko village. Farrow and Paya shared a confused look, but followed.
Link led them to a small deck near one of the village entrances. It seemed like a common area. A few tables and chairs set up with a fire and pot nearby. Standing in front of the fire, a thoughtful look wrinkling her face, was a young girl. Link pointed to her.
Farrow squinted at him before looking to the girl. "Hey kid," the girl startled and to turn to Farrow. "Why does Link think you need honey?"
The girl blinked. "Um. I told him I needed some for a recipe I want to make."
Farrow turned her gaze back on Link.
'Food!' he signed. His expression conveyed he couldn't understand how she didn't see the seriousness of the situation.
Farrow rolled her eyes. "What's your name?" she asked the girl.
"Koko," the girl chirped. "So, can I have some honey please?"
Wow this kid had a one track mind. Farrow caught sight of Link doing his best to put on puppy eyes. Koko caught on and turned the same gaze on Farrow. Farrow threw up her hands. "Fine! Wait here." She turned away from the two moochers and went to raid her bags at the inn. She heard Koko hiss a "yes," as she left.
|||((0))|||
A new man had showed up in town. Farrow was pretty sure he was Sheikah, with his white hair and clothes, but he was certainly a strange one. His hair was done up in a tuft-like pony tail, and his scrawny frame was decorated in tattoos. Usually, he was stationed somewhere around the village, squinting at his easel and every so often slapping more paint onto the canvas in a fury of inspiration. Today, he stood on the hill above the village, hand on his chin and squinting at the forest.
Farrow and Link were halfway up the path, on their way to collect mushrooms, when they saw him. They paused.
'What is he doing?' Link signed.
Farrow shrugged. "Looking for something to paint maybe?"
They resumed their pace and when they neared the entrance to the forest Link walked right up to the man and signed; 'what are you doing?'
Farrow smirked and rolled her eyes before following. Upon seeing the man's puzzled look, she translated. "Sorry he's a very to-the-point kind of guy. I'm Farrow, he's Link. He's asking what you're doing."
He blinked. "Ah. I'm Pikango." The man returned his gaze to the forest. "I'm trying to decide how to find a fairy."
Link tilted his head. Farrow blinked. "Sorry?" Fairies were myths as far as Farrow knew. She was a bit more open to legends and myths after meeting Link, but she still didn't think an elusive fairy would be hanging out in the forest right outside a village, even Kakariko village.
Pikango huffed a laugh. "I know it sounds strange. But I've heard there's one in this forest and I'd love the chance to meet and paint one." The man crossed his arms and sighed. "It's just a matter of finding her without getting lost."
Link who'd been staring at the edge of the forest for a minute turned to look at Farrow. 'Do fairies look like rabbits?'
Farrow had to guess the sign he was using for fairies, but got the meaning. "Um. I don't think so. Why do you ask?"
'Can you see it?' he signed and pointed to the tree line.
Farrow leaned over Link's shoulder and narrowed her eyes. Pikango did the same on Link's other side.
"What are we looking at?" he asked.
"A rabbit?" Farrow said, scanning the area. For a several seconds she saw nothing. "I don't—" a small blur appeared, like a piece of dust had floated in front of her vision, and she had to change her focus to see it. It was a glowing blue creature. The size and shape of a rabbit, but with ears like fern leaves and a face similar to an owl, but it was hard to see at this distance.
"Ohh," she said, "that is weird."
Pikango frowned and glanced at her. "What are you talking about?"
Farrow guessed this was a situation similar to seeing Hestu. She wasn't sure if Pikango would be able to see the thing, but she described it as best she could. As she did, Pikango's eye lit up.
"I see it!" he cried.
At his voice the creature sat up. It's eye were lantern-yellow as it blinked at them. Then it bolted into the brush.
Link was after it in a flash, with Pikango moving faster than Farrow thought a man his age could, right on his heels.
Farrow took a step to follow them, swore, checked the position of the sun to orient herself, and dashed after them.
She caught up with them soon, and following the glowing blue creature as it dashed through the dark forest was easy enough, but the impact of her footfalls began to rattle her shoulder. The discomfort was quickly becoming a radiating ache.
The rabbit darted left and across a creek. It ran across the water like a pond scatter, its steps causing only ripples. Link crashed through a moment later, followed by Pikango, and Farrow leapt over the water.
Farrow noticed distantly that the foliage was growing thinker, the trees taller, and less sunlight filtered through the canopy.
A moment later Link's boot skidded to a stop. Farrow and Pikango came to a stop behind him.
They had reached a clearing, full of shallow puddles, reeds, and a giant closed bud in the center. It was three times Farrow's size and clusters of strange mushrooms grew around it. One patch looked like a ramp up to the side of the bud.
Lights dancing on the edge of Farrows vision drew her gaze. They floated like insect, and she thought she could see the blur of wings in the light, but she knew they weren't bugs.
"This is amazing," Pikango whispered.
"I guess you were right about the fairies." Farrow said.
Farrow looked to Link to find his gaze locked on one of the floating lights. His expression was puzzled as he watched it drift past, it's light reflecting off his eyes.
Pikango walked passed them and toward the bud. When he reached the foot of the mushroom stairs he paused. "I thought there was supposed to be a fountain." He glanced at the puddles around them. "But maybe that was a rumor."
Link joined him and narrowed his eyes on the enormous plant. Then he walked up the mushrooms, raised a hand, and knocked on the plant like it was a door.
Farrow raised an eyebrow. "I don't think—" A yawn cut her off. It came from the bud, deep and echoing. Farrow crept up behind Link, her eyes locked on the plant and her hand drifting to her knife.
"Oh, sweet boy," a deep voice crooned, "it's been so long since I've seen a traveler like yourself. Travelers used to give me offerings for protection. But, alas, it has been decades and my power has withered."
The voice wasn't overly loud, but Farrow felt it in her lungs anyway. It made her skin crawl. Link, his hands on his hip and expression open didn't seem to feel her worry, but she rested a hand on his shoulder, ready to pull him back. She hadn't met a monster beside the Yiga and the average murder that spoke with a human voice, but she wouldn't be surprised by it. She'd heard stories of creatures that lured people off the road with the voices of friends and family.
"But," the voice continued, "if you would give an offering, sweet boy, I would return to power, and I could bestow my protection upon travelers once again. It would only be 100 rupees."
One of the buds petals shifted aside and Farrow jerked Link back down the steps. He fumbled, flashing Farrow a surprised look. Farrow didn't see it. Her eyes were locked on the hand extending from the bud. It lay palm up, with long sharpened nails painted a glossy red. That alone would have made it strange, but the worst was it was nearly the size of Farrow's torso.
"Your companion is warry," the voice said. "Wise. But do not fear. I want nothing but an offering and give protection."
Farrow didn't know what to say to that. She didn't trust the giant, but she didn't want to anger it in case it wasn't truly confined to the bud. Before Farrow could work out if they should silently leave or she should say something, a flash of color flew toward the hand.
Link had tossed a rupee across the distance to the palm of the hand. It closed so quickly Farrow thought she should have heard a snap, and it was gone.
The bud shivered. "The power! It returns!" Purple steam billowed from the cracks in the bud's petals, and Farrow pulled Link back a few more steps, with Pikango close behind.
With a joyful cry the bud pealed apart and bloomed. The steam cleared to reveal a glittering pool at the center of the flower surrounded by sparkling jems, with deep red petals radiating from the center.
Farrow blinked, and the pool exploded. A giant woman sprang from the water, her arms raised and her body adorned in glittering jewelry. Only her upper body say above the water, and she leaned forward to rest her elbows on the rim of her pool. She smiled with red lips and the paint around her eye wrinkled with the motion.
"Thank you, sweet traveler. I am Cotera, the great fairy. Please step forward so I may grant my protection."
Link met Farrow's eyes. She shook her head. Link raised his hands and slowly signed. 'It's safe. I have a feeling. A strong one.'
Farrow looked back to the fairy's glittering nails and smile. "I don't like this," she whispered.
'I'll be careful,' he signed, stepping away and toward the fairy. Fairy watched him go with a furrowed brow.
Pikango moved to stand by her. "I've heard the fairies are kind to those who help them," he said.
Farrow nodded but kept her gaze on the fairy.
Link climbed the steps and came to a stop feet from the pool. Well within the fairy's reach. Farrow shuffled her feet and wished for her bow.
The fairy sat back, brought her hands to her lips, and to Farrow's surprise, blew Link a kiss. Her breath glittered in the fragments of sun that made it through the canopy and swept over Link. It settled on him like dust and he watched with fascination as the dust faded from sight.
"I've given you a small protection. Enough to protect from scrapes and small injuries, but not enough to stop a blade, understand? Now, you dear." The fairy pointed to Farrow. Farrow stiffened. "Oh don't be shy. Come on now, I don't bite." The fairy smiled with pointed teeth.
Link gave the fairy an exasperated look and gestured for Farrow to come over. Farrow grimaced and approached. When she reached the top of the steps, Link shifted to stand a bit closer to her.
Farrow kept her eyes locked on the fairy's hands as she repeated the same kiss she'd given Link. When the glittering dust settled on Farrow's tunic and hands she felt a sensation like a breath of fresh air after a long swim. The pain in her shoulder dulled, and she knew that if she ran all the way back to Kakariko she wouldn't feel a thing.
Her gaze darted up to the fairy. "Thank you," she said in a quiet voice.
The fairy raised a hand to her mouth and laughed. "A pleasure, sweet girl. Now, would the painter like some protection?"
Pikango cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Actually, my lady, may I request to paint your image? I am no great painter, but I would be honored to be allowed the attempt."
The fairy leaned forward with a sly smile. "Interesting. I'll allow it, artist."
"Thank you," Pikango said, a grin on his face and he drew his easel from his pack and began to set it up. "And thank you to you two," he said. "This is likely to take a while, if you want to head back, I'll follow your footprints."
Farrow felt a little odd leaving the man alone, but she supposed if the fairy was up to no good she would have done something by now, and if the man wanted space to paint that was his choice.
She and Link made their way out of the clearing and walked back the way they'd come.
They walked in silence for several minutes before Farrow spoke. "That was weirder than meeting you."
Link threw back his head and laughed.
|||((0))|||
Farrow inhaled as she woke. She lay in bed for a moment wondering what had disturbed her sleep. Silvers of moonlight lay scattered over the darkened wood of the inn floor. The only people here were Link and herself, the inn keeper having gone home for the night.
There was a rustle of cloth behind her. Farrow rolled over to see Link sitting upright in bed. The room was too dark to see his face, but the set of his shoulders was tense.
Farrow sat up. "Hey, you okay?"
Link shrugged. He wasn't crying, Farrow would have heard it, but he was obviously feeling some kind of anxiety.
She rose and went to sit next to him. "Did you have a nightmare or something?" Now that she was closer she could see the pensive look on his face.
Link raised his hands. The dark made the signs a little hard to follow, but Farrow got the gist. 'I think so. Don't remember it though.'
Farrow nodded. She'd had dreams like that before. Every once in a while she'd wake in the night, left to stare out into the dark of the night with the certainty she'd forgotten something important, the hum of adrenaline in her blood, and an impending sense of danger. Often times she'd dream the same thing if she went back to sleep to soon.
"We could go for a walk," Farrow said. "Might clear your head."
Link nodded and they both fumbled around until they found their boots and slipped out of the inn.
Kakariko village at night was oddly noisy. Crickets chirped, some chickens clucked softly in their sleep, and bullfrogs called to each other over the trickling streams and ponds. They both wandered through the village, drifting towards the path to the shine. Once they were about halfway up, they sat in the grass and gazed down at the village below. Farrow rested her elbows on her knees. They sat there for a while, the cool night air rushing through the grass and their hair, and the moon a silver sliver above.
'I think,' Link signed, then hesitated. His hands hung in the air as he looked down the hill. 'I think I want to tell Impa I'll do it. Tomorrow.'
Farrow drummed her fingers on her boot. "Okay. If that's what you want. But are you sure you don't want to take more time to think?"
Link shook his head. 'I feel like I need to do something.' His jaw tightened. 'I can't stand just waiting around here. And I don't think I could leave it be, knowing what I do. I want to help.'
"Tomorrow then," Farrow said. They would probably leave the same day. Time was running out for Zelda, according to Impa, and they had to get moving. Would they go directly to Hyrule castle? Or would Impa advise them on a different path?
'Are you ready?' Link signed, breaking Farrow from her thoughts.
Farrow sighed. "Yeah. Honestly, I was kinda feeling the same thing as you. I'm used to moving around, to having a goal. This lazing around was starting to get to me." It would be nice to get back on the road again, despite the dangers.
They sat in silence together for a while still, until Link rose and they silently returned to the inn.
|||((0))|||
Impa gave then a small smile, tinged by something like sadness. "I am glad to hear you're ready. But I didn't doubt you would be. You have that same fire in your eyes as you did back then."
Link and Farrow sat before Impa, having just delivered their decision.
"Now," Impa said, "I have thought on this for many years, and I believe there are six things you must do the defeat the calamity."
Farrow stomped down her wince. Six wasn't a big number, but when the context was 'things to do to save the world,' Farrow expected each to-do to be a difficult thing.
"The first four will be waking the divine beasts from the Calamity's control. As they are now, we believe they are under the Calamity's control. With this in mind, I think it would be foolish to confront Ganon with such weapons within his reach. In the best case, freeing them may give us the opportunity to turn the weapons on the Calamity, at worst, they will be removed from the fight entirely."
Farrow nodded along. Four giant weapons built to fight the Calamity were surely very dangerous in it's control. If they were still active it would be best to either take them back, or remove them entirely.
'How will I do that?' Link signed.
Impa nodded to the slate on Link's hip. "The sheikah slate will give you some control over the beasts. I am unsure of the specifics, as you and Princess Zelda handled that aspect of the plan, but that brings me to the next goal; your memories."
Link frowned as Impa continued. "You may have seen some images on the sheikah slate. These images were captured by Princess Zelda on your journey together. I believe the images, or the locations these images were taken at, may reawaken some of your memories."
Link stared down at the slate with a blend of surprise, hope, and a little dread in his eyes. Farrow could understand that. Surely he was curious about his past self, but who was he? What sort of terrible things lay in Link's past? What pains had been forgotten? Farrow found she held her own apprehension. She liked Link. But if he regained his memories, would he still be the same person? She thought to, but she knew life was complicated.
Impa sighed. "I see your trepidation and I understand. I think they would help you on your quest, but wouldn't be necessary. I will leave the matter of your memories up to you. The last thing you must do is find the master sword."
Farrow frowned. "What's that?"
"It is the sword of the Hero of Time and has traveled with him through the ages. It is a sacred blade with the power to purge the blight of the Calamity. This matter will be difficult. Zelda hid the sword before she faced the Calamity, and she had no chance to reveal where she concealed it before she left to confront the Calamity. For this task, I would suggest you listen on you travels, to rumors, signs from the goddess, or for messages from the princess."
Link gave a slow thoughtful nod. It was a lot to take in at once. But they could do it same as Farrow did everything: one step at a time.
"Where are the divine beasts?" Farrow asked, taking out her map and rising to show it to Impa. Impa marked four locations with a withered hand and Farrow marked the apots in ink. One in the desert, one in Rito village, one on the volcano of the Gorons, and the last in the lands and waters of the Zora. Farrow grimaced. This would be a long journey, with how far apart the beasts were. Stack the master sword, Link's memories, and the time it would take to actually handle the beasts, and well . . . they would be working together for at least a year, likely more.
Farrow took a deep breath and examined the map. "I recommend we go to Rito village first."
At the sound of her voice, Link shook himself from his thoughts and rose to the look at the map with her.
Impa hummed curiously. "Why so?"
Farrow stared at the map. "The Gerudo and Gorons have some serious environmental hurdles we'll have to get through, which means more prep time. And the Zora's path is over run with monsters. Rito village is the furthest, but also the easiest to access and the one I'm most familiar with. It will make a good trial run." Farrow had visited the Rito on several occasions and new the roads well. She didn't like how far away it was, but they would have to get there at some point anyway.
Impa nodded. "Your assessment is sound. I agree. Link?"
Link shrugged before giving a thumbs up.
Farrow folded her map. "Okay. Let's get packed."
It only took a few minutes to get their things in order. They had made a point not to settle too much.
They stood at the gates of Kakariko with their horses, ready to depart. Paya had joined them, and after a moment of shuffling, wrapped Farrow in a hug. Farrow returned it. When they pulled apart Paya pressed a Sheikah short sword into her hand. "Be safe."
Farrow slipped the sword into her belt. "Thank you. For everything. I will."
Paya hugged Link and stepped back.
Impa regarded the both of them with a solemn gaze. "I wish you both safe and swift travels. We will be praying for you, and should you ever need help, you come here and you will receive it."
"We will," Farrow said. "And we'll be safe."
Link slung an arm around her uninjured shoulder. 'We're a good team.'
Impa smiled. "Good luck. And may the goddess watch over you."
Farrow and Link mounted their horses and with a final wave, exited the gates of Kakariko. The moment they passed through the gate, the village vanished behind them, replaced by innocent trees and rock.
They left the gorge in silence and once they'd left the cliff faces behind them and returned to the road, Farrow felt the weight of it settle on her. They were going to save Hyrule. And every monster, Yiga clan member, and piece of Calamity would eventually know it. Link had his hood back on again. But the anonymity it granted them would last forever.
Farrow looked out over the fields of Hyrule and thought of all its beauty. The glittering snowy mountains of the north, the bronze desert, the blue waters and welcoming villages. She steeled herself. She'd fought monsters before, this was nothing new.
"Hey Link," she said grinning.
He looked to her, eyebrows raised.
"How do you like snow?"