Totally exhausted and bathed in sweat they laid next to each other and stared at the stone ceiling. Everything around them seemed to spin, though nothing moved except what was pulled along by their heavy breathing.
“Tomorrow I’m sore all over. That’s for sure.”, aspirated Link.
“I asked you whether you wanted to go into a bed.”
“I know. I should have said yes. But that was just simply – ”
“Not expressible in words.”
“Yes. Let’s say it that way.”, they looked at each other and giggled as good as they could.
“We’ve been heard even down in the Field.”, meant Kafei.
“Now don’t exaggerate. I wasn’t that loud.”
“Who’s talking about you?”
“Nor you.”
“Ask those who heard us. You recognise them by their smirk when you go past them.”
“Hunger.”
“W-?”, Kafei only stared at him. “Hey! Most people are thirsty after that! What are you?”
“Hungry.”
“Ha, ha, ha.”, grumbled Kafei monotonously bored and they cuddled together.
“I am. I don’t know why either. Maybe one plate of soup wasn’t enough. I didn’t have breakfast.”
“Now that’s your fault.”
“No. Yours.”
“Why mine?”
“Because I couldn’t wait seeing you again.”
“Oh. Then I apologise thoroughly for this.”
“Apology accepted.”
“Thanks. Now that I think about it, I’m hungry too.”
“There you go.”
For the first time Link took a closer look at Kafei’s wedding ring. He hadn’t even paid much attention to it during the wedding. It was golden and quite edged. The simple orthogonal pattern was slanted at the insides of the angular elements. Somehow the pattern reminded Link of embrasures. The matte bevels and sides as well as the polished surface of the main pattern made it interesting though. It sorted well with Ikana.
It was the only ring Kafei wore and as Link remembered the moment they exchanged the rings a bit, he understood that Anidja’s expression hadn’t been only due to the fact that her daughter had married a Sheikah. That she had decided to wear not only clothes but also a ring that represented this in her opinion murderous tribe, must had downright eaten her up.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes.”
“We two as well. I honestly don’t know why Anidja minded fault with it.”, smirked Kafei.
“I wonder how she bore the fact that Anju always ran around in Ikana’n clothing.”
“Oh it took her a long time to dig it.”
“What?”, Link chuckled.
“Yes. She just didn’t grapple with our culture enough actually. And as some of my friends; of whom she didn’t know that they’re halfbloods; wore clothes with such patterns, she must have thought that’s the height of fashion among the young generation. She was very naive.”
“Oh yes.”, Link laughed and his stomach grumbled.
“We also have something else than soup.”
“And what?”
“A really delicious roast with mushroom sauce and rujenva. You probably know them as botheitous, or so.”
“You mean potatoes? That stuff grows here too? They are cultivated in Ordon.”
“Not only. What do you think about it?”, he placed himself lying more on Link, kissed him and the latter put his hands on Kafei’s bottom again. “We eat the roast and then there’s dessert?”
“Which would be?”
“I don’t know,”, Kafei smiled seductive. “You,”
“Understand. You want the dessert and I’m supposed to give it to you, huh?”
“Maybe, yes.
“Just if you put on this utterly delicate two-piece for lunch again.”
“Just if you put on your mail shirt again.”
“What?”, chuckled Link. “Only the mail shirt?”, Kafei sat himself next to Link and took the negligée in his hands.
“Yes, only the mail shirt. You’re allowed to pull it up when sitting, so it won’t harm your sweet butt too much. I still need it.”
“I don’t know – ”
“Mail shirt or I’ll dress completely and you can put the child in the oven yourself.”
“Er – ”, Kafei rolled his eyes when seeing Link’s expression.
“That one over there, idiot.”, he pointed on the terrines.
“Yes – totally clear – but – you can do this to yourself?”
“If the circumstances ask for it, I can abstain. Well?”
“Alright.”, sighed Link and Kafei dressed smiling, while Link stood up slipping on his tight, golden mail shirt.
“Shall I help you?”, though of the filigree ribbons, Kafei had been faster.
“Thanks. I’m fine.”
Kafei adjusted the panty, went off and tilted the oven door open. Then he went for the terrines one after another, pushed them in, closed the door again and lighted the fire, taking care of bending forward very feminine. This did catch Link’s attention though. He went to him and placed himself behind him. Kafei kneeled down on the floor and eyed him with interest.
“Do you know why exactly I’m not interested in womenkind?”
“No. Tell me.”, he brushed softly through Kafei’s magnificent hair.
“Because they lack one thing you do have.”
“One thing?”, giggled Kafei.
“Alright. Three.”, Link giggled back. “You’re the proof that miracles of creation exist.”, now Kafei blushed enormously and his eyes turned glassy.
“Don’t say something like this.”
“Why should I deny the truth? Though of all the misery and all the violence in my life, I’ve seen so many wonderful things. None of them could top you yet.”, without removing the hand from Kafei’s head, Link kneeled down in front of him and took him tenderly into his arms.
“You didn’t return for saving Termina.”
“No. I’ve said it already. I returned because of you. I see saving Termina as side effect. This country means a lot to me, but even more do you. I’d go to death for you and even further.”
“I’d do the same for you. But please try to stay alive long, yes?”
“Zelda took care of it. We’ve looked around everywhere and begged. I have twentyfive bottles with me. In each sits a pink fairy. I’ve never had so many before at any rate. If it had been on her, I’d have had to fill the bottles with fairies up to the stopper. But as it first of all would only be a torture for the fairies and senseless in addition, as they would swarm out all at once, I could get that off her mind. Nevertheless I think we’re geared up.”
“That’s good.”, Kafei sighed. “There are no fairies left in Termina.”
“So that’s all Romani needs?”
“Probably. That would be her rescue. Nothing else helped. You know, the Great Fairies in each country are connected closely. If one dies, all die. The smaller fairies in this country perish with them. You’re really our saviour. Not even Koume and Kotake could brew a potion that helped Romani. Her essence of life has almost faded and doesn’t regenerate. We can’t heal her cursed wounds.”
“Then she needs more than a fairy.”, they let go of each other. “She needs rain. Has there been rain since she’d been injured?”
“No.”
“Then let’s hope that these horrible clouds bring rain today. And if this doesn’t help – the Ocarina is still –?”
“No. Not that I know. And I emptied it completely.”
“Oh.”, Link sighed disappointed. “Really not? Damn. Why of all things do they take away my Ocarina when they know exactly that I’m stranded without it?”
“Maybe that you evolve more creativity and don’t get stunted by laziness?”
“Ha, ha.”, Link grumbled. “That’s got nothing to do with laziness. Alright. I do admit that it’s handy. But this is about saving lives now!”
“And about laziness.”, Kafei countered smirking. “You don’t want to be reduced on an Ocarina, do you?”
“No. Actually not. But rather than being reduced on my clothing. And that I am already.”
“You don’t want that?”
“No.”
“I thought you want to be treated like everybody else?”
“I do.”
“There you go. Then let yourself be reduced on your clothing like everybody else.”, Kafei giggled.
“Stop making fun of me!”
“I’m not. And you survived more than one year without the Ocarina. Oh – wait – ”, Kafei turned around, took a big spoon from a drawer next to the oven, opened this one and stirred up the mushroom sauce. “Pfew. Lunch saved. Something scorching – that would’ve been all we needed.”
“What kind of roast is this?”
“Stained brute.”
“Er – ”
“Milk cannons.”
“Oh. Beef.”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’m not so fond of pork. But lamb and beef are fine.”
“Chicken?”
“That too. If the meat is tender and the skin fried crispy. Salty most of all. That – or – erm – ”
“I don’t believe it.”, Kafei had a laughed. “We even have the same taste. How much do you like?”
“Well – not so much. I can get myself more later.”
“No, no. Today I’m the one to serve.”
“However.”
“Fine. If you may sit down – ”, Link raised sighing and went back to his seat, but picked up Kafei’s chair first. “Thanks. What would you like to drink?”
“I don’t know. What have you got?”
“A lot!”, laughed Kafei. “We’re in a national crisis though, but nobody here needs to die of starvation or thirst. Nor those who are looking after themselves. Drank wine before?”
“No. I’m not so much for alcohol actually.”
“Good attitude. I’m more in for pure, still warm blood too. You want to try though?”, Kafei put cutlery and now also napkins on the table and carried the soup plates to the basin. “Only a bit?”
“If you insist that much.”
“I have a quite good ten year old red wine.”
“How old? That must be tasting horrible already!”
“You’re really not into alcohol at all. Everything except beer and liqueurs follows the rule, the older the better.”
“Oh.”
“Yes.”, he put out the fire beneath the oven, got a bottle from the cooling chamber and a precious glass from a hanging cupboard, in which he filled just the amount of one gulp and gave it to Link, who carefully nipped on it, but frowned. “Takes a little getting used to?”, Kafei grinned.
“Oh yes. But thank you for the effort.”
“Then wait until you tried beer.”
“Is it even worse?”
“Matter of favour. You want?”
“No idea.”
“I take this as a yes.”, he carried the glass away, took the bottle and another glass to the cooling chamber and came back with the glass filled. “If you don’t drink it up, I’ll have it.”
“Don’t hesitate.”, Link sang and tried a little of it too. “Hm.”, he examined the glass slightly sceptical.
“Yes? Do we need another glass?”, Link took a second sip.
“Indeed, yes.”
“Ha. He’s growing up.”, Kafei joked, got another glass on tap for himself, put it down on his side of the table and began to serve. “Enjoy your meal.”, he grinned when he was done.
“Same to you, thanks.”
“And – ”, he raised his glass, “To the rescue of Termina.”
“My words. And to Ydin.”, Link added with a glance on Kafei’s light clothes and they clinked their glasses.
“Yes. To her as well.”, both indulged in a sip and started eating.
“Mmh!”, Link’s eyes widened. “Damn, that’s good. Who’s cooking here? Not Tatl, does she?”
“No.”, Kafei blushed lightly. “I do.”
“Oh!”, laughed Link. “Now it’s settled. You’re really the most perfect woman.”
“You’re making fun of me.”
“No.”, Link startled. “Really not. I’m serious.”
“How was Ordon, by the way?”
“Fine.”
“Yes?”
“Yes. If you were with me, I’d have stayed there.”
“You’d even live in a swamp if I was there.”, Kafei smirked.
“Probably.”, considered Link. “But it was nice. All in all.”
“Means?”
“I had to lie a lot. Sometimes I almost gave myself away.”
“For example?”
“Rusl is a blacksmith. He’d almost gotten me on the first day already. I could just talk myself out in the end. For the first couple of weeks I’ve had meals with his family. It was very close, sometimes. Am I conceited?”
“Not that I know. Why?”
“They find that I have exceedingly highbred table manners.”
“Well. In some way you do.”, Kafei considered. “And I have told you that before. But I too. What do they understand by normal table manners?”
“That’s arrant. Yes – they are farmers. People of the countryside. But the way they hold the cutlery is a bit coarse.”, Link grumbled.
“Coarse?”, laughed Kafei. “And what do you understand by this?”
“Well – they hold the cutlery as if every piece was a sword! And mostly they do even without forks!”
“That’s not too bad in my eyes.”
“I’m not only talking about food that’s still attached to the bones.”, accentuated Link.
“But I don’t find you’re eating quite exceedingly highbred.”
“But they do! And then Rusl said that there was no need for acting like a prince. And whether I’ve grown up in a castle. I’ve said yes without thinking.”
“Oh.“, Kafei giggled.
“I was lucky to be able to talk myself out with Ikana. That way they understood my positive attitude towards the Sheikah then. Or – at least tried.”
“What else?”
“How.”
“Well – are they nice?”
“Yes.”
“Suitable?”, Kafei urged smirking.
“Whad tho you mean wif `shiutabl´?”, muttered Link with his mouth full.
“Ah there we’ve got your manners.”, Kafei giggled subdued. “Well, any beauty among them?”
“Oh. No. Not really. Except Fado. He’s got something innocent. But he’s not my type on the other hand. Way too shy. And the others are around the age of your father.”, Kafei choked a bit.
“Er – what now – oh! Sure. Yes. I – think I know what you mean.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I’m fine again.”
“Sure?”
“Yes. But they didn’t grant you much privacy, did they?”
“They did. I had a house for myself. It was huge.”
“But?”
“But what?”
“You obviously didn’t have much time for yourself.”
“No. Not really. How do you know? Oh of course. You can rea– ”
“No. That’s not it. It’s only that you were very tight.”
“Oh!”, Link laughed. “What did you expect? That I cheat on you?”
“No. I’d never have thought you’d do this. But that you had so little time for yourself, considering how lecherous you are in my presence – ”
“Le- lecherous?”, Link swallowed. “What’s that supposed to mean now?”, Kafei just giggled and continued eating with delight. “So I’m lecherous in your opinion, yes? What are you then?”
“Obsessed.”, Kafei mumbled quietly but audible for Link.
“Oh yes. But you’re right. I didn’t have much time for myself. How was I supposed to with Navi buzzing around me all the time?”
“Navi? How did she find you?”, chuckled Kafei.
“Zelda’s put her onto me.”
“Zelda? You’re kidding.”
“No. She’s damn jealous.”
“No.”
“And how. Her whole acceptance was feigned. Apparently she thought that if Anidja made it this way, she can as well.”
“Tz.”
“Yes. This topic again.”
“No, no. Shout out your frustration. I should do more often.”
“How did she get along with Anju taking on your name anyway?”
“She backed in relatively fine. That topic only came up when they quarrelled already. Especially when it came to baptise Tatl. Anidja had insisted on a double name, as Tatl was half Hylian at least. But as Anju herself had refused a double name, she couldn’t get through with this. I mean, then she would have been called Tatl Lanichjia Maranóshu-Eglanideni.”
“Kafei Onrido Elej Umathra Maranóshu isn’t short either, is it?”, Link smiled.
“Oh? You remember this?”
“I found it interesting enough. What’s – Juro’s – full name?”
“Link Talithéru.”
“And your father? Does he have more than one given name too?”
“Dotour Seshjiai.”
“How did you get four then?”
“I just say Ajrini Malané Nimratha Chalshjitéth du Ikana.”, Link choked heavily. “You’re fine?”
“Yes.”, he coughed. “Say that again. And a bit slower please.”
“Ajrini – Malané – Nimratha – Chalshjitéth – du Ikana.”
“Shit.”, Kafei couldn’t avoid laughing about Link’s expression.
“Actually, we would have to give up the name Maranóshu, as we’re officially the Royal Family again.”
“But? Maranóshu du Ikana, or what?”
“No. One time the one name, another time the other. Depending on issue and venue, Radim.”
“Let that. I don’t like this name.”
“Why?”
“It makes me sad.”
“The name of your father?
“Yes. Radim Bakino.”
“There rings a little bell. If I’m not totally wrong, he’d placed and moved soldiers between Hyrule and Ikana.”
“No idea. I was three years old.”
“Of course. But he must have really been a good man.”
“You think that comforts me?”
“No. I just assume. Otherwise it would’ve been Igos who’d killed him.”
“You’re macabre.”
“The whole history of my family is macabre.”
“You at least have a family history worth mentioning. My parents have been killed by some lunatics without reason when I was three, I haven’t seen my sister and grandmother since, nor have I heard from them and I’m said to have an uncle somewhere from whom I don’t know more than he probably exists. Different topic?”
“Alright.”
“Has spring arrived so abruptly here as well?”
“Yes. From one day to another the whole snow was gone. The mud was horrible. But it kept being warm. So the mud dried fast.”
“So fast?”, Kafei nodded with full mouth. “In Ordon it took a week at least. But spring had never arrived so soon. Winter had come quick too.”
“We are in a time of change.”, Kafei said serious, but with a light sadness.
“You’re fascinating me again and again. How can you move on so fast and suddenly sound so wise?”, this cost Kafei a smile.
“It’s probably in my blood.”
“Apparently. Tell me, did you know that human pregnancies last up to ten months?”
“Honestly? Four months more?”
“Yes.”
“And still they can do – nothing?”
“How – nothing?”
“I mean, they’re magically totally disabled, aren’t they?”
“As far as I know, yes. Maybe here and there exist some faith healers or so, but generally they have no magical blood, I think.”
“Fascinating.”, Kafei considered. “Overbred.”, he aspirated, his eyes fixing a point somewhere in the air at Link’s right.
“Overbred?”, chuckled the other.
“Well – they have no pointed ears, aren’t capable of magic, what do you think? Maybe these things form back during the additional months? Gerudo have notably reduced ears and their pregnancies take a bit more than seven months.”
“No idea. Rusl at least told me that children born at the end of the sixth month have relatively low chances of survival. Something about twenty to thirty percent. When reaching the end of the seventh month, it’s about eighty percent.”
“Oh.”
“They’re a completely different race. And they spread so rapidly that even a Hylian might end up being called `Human´ in Hyrule.”
“That’s bad. Well, the Gerudo know why they moved to the oases in the middle of the desert and to Ikríthra.”
“Ikríthra?”
“The northwestern province of the Hinterlands.”
“Oh yes – why is there a collective term? To distinguish everything and the Imperial Village? Or was the Imperial Village never considered `beautiful´?”
“Perhaps, with executions every few days,”, Kafei chuckled. “No. It was the original name before Ikan became King. And in case you forgot, it’s separated from the centre by rocks.”, remembered Kafei.
“Yes. Logical.”, Link squinted his eyes.
“It simply gained currency since Termin’s putsch. You have to consider that Termina of nowadays formerly belonged to Ikana as well.”
“What – down to Woodfall?”
“Yes, and to the Great Bay Temple. Which actually wasn’t anything else than an experimental building of an allied tribe.”
“Experimental building?”
“You were inside, weren’t you? Didn’t you wonder why the Clock Tower mainly has wooden wheels still, when this whole so-called temple is entirely made of metal?”
“Now that you say, I do.”, considered Link. „And did nobody adopt this? It works more than wonderful.”
“Rust.”
“Rust? But – ”
“The metals of Ikana are too rare and therefore too valuable for being used for machines. Iron, which has massive deposits, rusts. And we have no idea of which metals this gigantic, full mechanic fish is made. The builders flew the coop without passing on information. All they left of instructions are about making membranes that can step up sound waves specifically. But of all it were only the Zoras who had interest and developed a mixture of materials that can be scratched by swinging needles in a way the surface irregularities can be rendered as sounds by reversing the process. The first lineup of the Indigo-Go’s had collected enough money through their concerts, that this technique could go into bigger production.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
“What?”, aspirated Anju and held Vaati who gasped.
“I’m fine.”
“What did you just curse?”
“Oh nothing. I am fine again.”
“Sure?”
“Yes.”
“Shouldn’t we really take a break?”
“No. I said I’m fine.”
“Not that you drown in the end.”
“I hope for you that you pull me out before I do.”
“Of course. But will you translate these words for me now?”
“No.”, moaned Vaati. “I don’t even know words in Hylian for these.”
“Oh. Alright. Hm. I have an idea.”
“Let me hear.”
“Maybe coordination would be easier for you if you tried it under water first.”
“You mean diving?”
“Yes. I noticed you can hold your breath.”
“Fine.”
“We dive together, alright?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I stay with you. Thanks to Kafei I can see clearly under water. Just tell me when you’re ready, then we’ll dive.”
“I am ready.”
“Then on three. One, two, three.”
They took a deep breath and dived down together about four cubits deep. Anju was taken aback when she saw how Vaati brought himself horizontal and made the moves she had tried to teach him an hour long. She followed him several yards until she ran out of air. He saw her shimmer moving up and followed her.
“Well done.”, Anju smiled. “That’s really great. You can do it.”
“Honestly?”
“Yes. One could think you haven’t done anything else in your life. Now you just have to cope with the border between air and water. If you dive up, it can help blowing out the remaining air through your nose consistently. How you ration it, is a matter of training. But you can begin at a guessed cubit beneath the surface. The first few times might be aching, but this goes by. It can also happen that you underrate a distance and that you are too exhausted to reach a shore. I think I know something for this as well.”
“That would be wonderful. I don’t want to choke like this ever again.”
“Oh – you won’t get rid of this so fast. But if you can do what I’ll show you now, you don’t need to be afraid of drowning if you run out of stamina. Watch me closely. You lie down on your back, your ears in the water, spread your arms and try to keep your legs up. The legs are the most difficult part because there’s a certain angle when they sag. If you stay above this, everything is easy.”, while she explained, she demonstrated it. “So. And now you.”, he copied all she had done and didn’t even have bigger troubles. “Wonderful!”
“I don’t like the clouds at all.”, aspirated Vaati. “Nor the wind.”
“What?”, she laid down on the surface again and let herself drift at his side.
“They are really thick and dark. That begs for rain, if not a storm. After all we are in the mountains.”
“You are right.”, considered Anju. “A storm in the mountains can come fast and become heavy.”
“We should take care of getting into the valley.”, the sky was lighted for a short moment and a thunder followed.
“Oh yes, we should!”, moaned Anju, turned around and swam ashore.
“Damn.”, spat Vaati, as a drop had hit him already, dived down and followed Anju beneath the surface.
“I think there’s no need for drying anymore.”, meant Anju and helped Vaati out of the water. “Not that I have towels with me – but we won’t get dry anymore anyway.”, more and more drops fell and they dressed as fast as they could.
“Wait.”, Vaati disentangled her hair from the tiara she had kept on. “Better.”
“Thanks.”
After he had helped onto her horse, he wiped his own hair over his scars and swung himself on Sruna. It already rained cats and dogs and more and more frequent, lightning bolts flashed across the sky. In shortest time the path down became a stream and Vaati begged Anju for joining him on his horse as he knew better how to cope with such a situation. Her stallion was relieved as well as he could search his own, more secure way down into the valley.
Arriving there at the first village, soaking wet, they took shelter in a barn into which several field workers had fled already. It was downright white outside of the masses of water coming down and they just saw blurred shimmers of colour of the next house, where a Goron woman desperately tried to save a number of pot plants with another woman.
Vaati dismounted and ran to them splashing water, for holding his hands beneath a big pot just in time before it fell over. Together they heaved the bush into the house and the women thanked him. With a nod and a smile Vaati ran back across the yard and shook off the water.
“There is no help. We need to move on and these people have to get into their houses. If it rains on like this, everything here will be flooded soon and they will catch a cold.”
Not only Anju nodded when Vaati mounted again. One after another ran out of the barn and tried to reach one of the houses as fast as possible. The queen and the mage however rode on beating water and crossed the Hinterlands possibly faster than anyone before them had done.
~o~0~O~0~o~
“There we stand in front of the door and the guards won’t let us in. I’ve tried everything. Anju was already disappointed. And then there’s this noise from inside. I already knew what was going on. This was one of the few moments where I didn’t give a damn about Anju. I ran through beneath their spears and pushed the door open. I think I never ran so fast ever again.
I only saw Igos standing above someone. He had already raised his sword above his head. I only ran and pushed him over. I still don’t know how I did that. He was so beside himself. Lost himself totally. The next thing I remember is I’m lying on the floor, hearing my mother scream. I haven’t seen anything anymore. Until I realised that he was strangling me, I already had ran out of air. She must have pulled him off me.
In the moment I could see again, my mother laid on the floor unconscious and he lunged out for the man again, who couldn’t move, so shocked was he. I jumped up, pushed him over again, held him to the floor with his hair, wrenched the sword from his hands and held it to his throat. I think, he even bled a bit.”, he sighed. “Then I’ve thrown away the sword and slapped his face. If I remember right, he cried when he got aware of what he had done. Anyway, that’s how Anju got to know him. I guess she told her mother and that one of course pursued everything the way she wanted it.”
“What was that?”, Link startled.
Kafei had just closed him the last button. He had decided to put on different clothes from his locket as he was already fed up with his fighting clothes. Now he wore a light red shirt, the brown gilet, tight sea blue trousers and fitting red and black linen shoes with tiny blue embroidery. The rest he had crammed in his locket again. To Link’s amusement, Kafei had been so naughty and put on both parts of the lingerie beneath his pompous clothes, as he would have had to go without underpants otherwise. But he was too cleanly for this. Link had wanted to offer him one of his underpants, but he had kept himself from it as he did indeed have a fancy for Kafei’s underclothes. When he now arrived at Link’s last button, a hollow, demonic grumble had caught their attention.
“I hope that was thunder. Everything else is nothing I’d be needing now.”
They just looked at each other and headed for the door, Kafei unlocked and they hurried upwards. People had gathered under the arcades around the yard. Puddles had formed in the grass already.
“Thank you.”, Kafei took a breath.
“What?”, asked Ydin.
“Oh. Hello. Yes. I hoped the noise was coming from a thunderstorm.”
“Oh that – my goodness! Do I see right?”, she had noticed Link and immediately jumped on him.
“Yes, you see quite well.”, that one smiled and returned the gesture – in this moment he was glad that Kafei had made him try a mint-chocolate last.
“We all hoped that you’d come.”, she let go of him a bit and looked at him worried. „How’s the situation in Hyrule?”
“Everything’s alright again. Hyrule was hit far worse, if I may say so. The Twilight had laid over the land and transformed everyone into ghosts. But with Midna’s and Zelda’s help I could set everything straight again.”
“Then it is fine. Do you think you can help us with these pests?”
“It’s going to be difficult, but I’ll see what I can do. But we shoud figure out a tactic before we attack them. There shouldn’t be too many involved at once, for preventing unnecessary casualties.”
“Fine, fine. You’re speaking from Kafei’s and my heart.”
“Oh yes – erm, we should go to Romani, shouldn’t we?”, he addressed Kafei.
“Yes. It begs for hail. Let’s get her out before she’ll be battered.”
They said goodbye to Ydin and ran outside to one of the stone houses as fast as they could. At the door they were welcomed by Rim, who was watching the progress of the storm. In one of the rooms stood a bed at which Cremia and Franin sat. Second held Romani’s hand. She had moist cloths on her face and her eyes closed. The eyes of the other two followed them in silence.
“Shall I carry her outside?”, asked Kafei
“No. I’ll do it. I owe her this favour.”
“Outside?”, moaned Cremia. “Into this rain?”
“Yes.”, said Link, stepped at her left side and removed the cloths. “My goodness.”, the wounds were black and faded out grey. “Yes. The rain’s probably the only chance to clean the wounds from the curse. A fairy does the rest.”
“Fairy? You have fairies with you?”, Franin pricked up his ears.
“Yes. I think if the rain helps, a fairy is enough to cure her.”, carefully Link removed the blanket and revealed bandages on various parts of her body. “Does she wake up when I take them off?”
“No.”, said Franin. “She rarely wakes up. If she does, she suffers from pain. Wait. I help you.”, together they took off the bandages and covered her in Kafei’s cloak.
“Fine.”
Link took her on his arms and carried her out, followed by the others. He kneeled down in front of the house and bedded her carefully in his lap. Then they silently waited, gathered around her. Slowly the rain seeped through the cloak. The wounds in her face became fleshly red and the black vanished gradually. Suddenly she stopped breathing. Link hastily reached under his shirt, pulled out the locket, opened it briefly and pushed a bottle with a fairy into her hand.
The little being panicked and desperately fought against the stopper. With a plopp it sprang off and Link caught it easily. The little pink fairy buzzed hectically over Romani’s lifeless body, sprinkling glittering dust over her which transformed to light and sunk into her. When the fairy fell to the ground exhausted and her light faded, Romani breathed again and opened her eyes timidly. Meanwhile the little body of the fairy crumbled to dust and mixed with the rest of the wet soil beneath the grass. A lot of weight was taken off everybody’s heart when Romani looked up to Link and smiled dizzily.
“Grasshopper?”, she whispered.
“He’s got a name.”, giggled Kafei.
“It’s alright.”, Link waved off.
“Now?”
“I can’t change it anyway.”, he hissed and looked down to Romani again whose eyes opened more and more.
“I knew it would be you who’ll save me.”
“But it wasn’t me who kept guarding you.”
“I know.”, she moved her head to Franin who held her right hand. “I thank both of you. You all, actually. Without you I wouln’t live anymore. And Vaati. Where is he?”
“Yes. Where the heck is he?”, conciliated Cremia.
Right in this moment the stone gate to the passage opened. They rode to the castle, but Vaati slid to halt as he saw the small group in the distance. Anju heard him and stopped as well, following his viewing direction with interest. For a short moment he looked directly into Kafei’s eyes. In this moment Vaati decided to ride up to the little group, which forced Anju to do the same. Dumbfounded he came to halt when he saw who laid in Link’s arms and most of all, how. Not less stunned, Anju dismounted and kneeled down on the other side of her husband.
“Hello, you two.”, giggled Romani quietly and tried to sit up, whereby Link helped her.
“How?”, aspirated Vaati, slid off Sruna and stepped closer.
“The rain and a fairy.”, said Link shortly.
“So simple?”
“Yes, so simple.”, Link confirmed.
~o~0~O~0~o~
“Damn, I’m all run down. How can you still do that? There were never spontaneous celebrations in Hyrule. Even if there’s surprisingly something to celebrate, preparations will take at least a day.”
When it had stopped raining, they had made a little feast for honouring Link’s return and Romani’s rescue, which had ended up in a multicultural concourse. Everything that could play a musical instrument had sacrificed themselves for entertainment. They had pressed an ocarina into Link’s hands, but somewhen he had ran out of tones and he had passed it on to Rim, who had done way better.
Kafei of course, had proven that he could do too many things. Link had had never seen somebody playing a guitar so fast and his voice was even more gigantic than Lulu’s, who, mostly sitting in a big tub with oversalted water, had taken the female part. She and four of her children were the only survivors of the band and their surroundings. Dotour had accompanied on the lute and every now and then sung other parts. They had had a whole percussion orchestra of Gorons. Link was glad that the masses just joined in at the choruses. So he was able to enjoy Kafei’s voice better. He especially had found the songs of the Sheikah interesting. It was a phenomenon to him, how one could get out such a language so fast and singing in addition. Also Vaati’s perfect Gerudosh had surprised him at first, until he had remembered whom Vaati had used to serve.
Many had danced until they dropped, whereas one could have told clearly who only lacked stamina or who had drunk too much.
“Well, Termina is different.”, Anju just giggled.
“I noticed.”, Link yawned. “And you really don’t mind?”
“No. As long as I don’t have to lie next to you – ”, she stuck out her tongue.
“Don’t worry. I’m also for Kafei lying in the middle. What does he do in there so long actually? Kafei?”
“Yes?”, came it from the bathroom.
“Everything alright?”
“Yes. Why?”
“You don’t need to toff yourself. We just want to sleep. It’s been an exhausting day.”
“I don’t toff. I just buff.”
“You don’t need to shave either.”, meant Anju and crawled into the bed.
“Exactly. Your hair can’t grow that fast.”
“Did he shave his legs again?”, giggled Anju quietly.
“Yes.”, startled Link. “Why do you ask?”
“Because he’s been unusually manly lately.”
“Manly? You call a king who’s wearing lingerie – manly?”, chuckled Link.
“He did?”, Anju carried it off well. “Which?”
“How much has he got?”, Link’s eyes widened. “Kafei! Please. We both know what you look like naked. So unlock at least. I’m in need of a toilet.”, it clicked. “Thanks.”
Kafei stood in front of the mirror with a brush in his hand and freed it from something that was even more shrill and voluminous than the fur of the goats in Ordon. Also he wore his usual pyjamas, no sign of laces or pink.
“What? They were a total mess. You rummaged around in them pretty well.”
“I haven’t said anything.”, meant Link, let down his pyjama pants, sat down and stared at Kafei who eyed him amused.
“What’s the matter? This way I won’t miss without having to aim and it’s more comfortable.”
“I haven’t said anything.”, grinned Kafei. “I just thought Anju explained the rules of the house to you already.”
“Rules of the house?”
“If you don’t want to clean the toilet, use it sitting and don’t soil it.”, sang Anju from the bedroom and Kafei went to her giggling.
“An ancient Ikana’n wisdom and commandment everywhere around here.”, he said a bit louder, placed himself at Anju’s left side in the middle of the bed, laid his arm beneath his wife and started kissing her.
“Why so quiet?”, asked Link when having finished and went back into the bedroom. “Oh. Don’t mind me.”, he climbed under the big blanket and got a little fright when Kafei’s left arm rushed down onto the third pillow. “Er – yes. Thanks for the invitation.”
“You’re welcome.”
Kafei finished the kiss and waited for Link to have comforted himself at his side before he mentally turned off the lights. Then he kissed the other, not less passionate. He pulled them both close and each of them put a hand on his chest, cuddling up to him. With a smile on the lips, the trio drifted off into the world of dreams.
~o~0~O~0~o~
Covered tight in a dark blue cloak he stood on the roof of the castle and gazed into the cool night air. Nobody was out of their houses. It was almost silent. Only the water and here and there some nocturnal animals made noises, accompanied by the soft whisper of the wind. The air was still cleared by the afternoon rain. He was slightly shaking. So he got a fright when two arms were laid around him warming and a head came to rest on his left shoulder, snuggling to his cheek.
“W- ”
“Sh. What are you doing here so alone?”, the whisper shot through his entire body.
“Thinking.”
“About what?”
“A lot. What are you doing here?”
“You feel it.”
“I do. But why?”
“I don’t want you to freeze.”, Dotour smiled.
“Don’t worry. I am fine. Today was a wonderful day. An interesting day.”
“Oh yes.”, smirked Dotour. “They rumour.”
“Who rumours? And about what?”
“Almost everyone. And – whether you – actually flirted with me, or if you just joked around while dancing.”, Vaati said nothing on it at first, but Dotour felt the light warmth suddenly getting into his face.
“Is it a crime to be childish?”
“Of course not. So you mind that I – ”
“No. It feels good. You are right. I’m really freezing a bit. Well. Why exactly do you hug me?”
“You’re dear to my heart by now.”
“And you don’t have anyone to cuddle with tonight.”, whispered Vaati and Dotour nodded gloomily. “Though you would need it now more than ever.”
“I hate it when Esra drinks. Yes – she gets skittish in a funny way. But she always drinks beyond her means and on the next day she can hardly remember anything that has happened after her first gulp on the previous evening.”
“This is sad.”
“It is. But I can’t change it. I can’t change her. I don’t want to change her.”
“But it breaks you.”
“Is it obvious?”, a silent tear trickled from his right eye.
“Yes. You can sleep in my room tonight, if you want to.”, he turned around in Dotour’s arms, looked up to him and wiped away the tear.
“Thank you.”, Dotour sighed and pulled Vaati close.
“Not worth mentioning. You’re dear to my heart as well.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
Covered in sweat, shaking and panting, all of a sudden he sat bolt upright in the bed. A soft hand pushed him down calming.
“Sh.”, Kafei hissed softly. “I’m here.”, had he actually screamed his name?
“What’s going on?”, Anju was wide-awake too.
“Sleep on, darling.”, Kafei aspirated to her and held Link close, who started to cry. “Come.”, he whispered to him. “Sit up slowly.”
Link let everything happen to him. Carefully Kafei raised him again and pushed his legs out of the bed. Holding him in his arms, Kafei led Link to the bathroom, closed the door and lit a faint light. Then he ushered his boyfriend to the toilet seat, closed the lid and sat Link down on it slowly. Totally beside himself and his face drowned in tears, Link just sat there and stared into space. Kafei went to the water basin, took a glass from the tray and filled it with clear, cool water which he downright poured down Link’s throat. This one was glad that he hadn’t placed it into his hands as he would have dropped it. When he drank a bit too hasty, he slightly choked and began sobbing again.
“It’s alright.”, Kafei put the glass on the floor, kneeled down beside him and took him comforting in his arms. “I’m here. It was just a bad dream. It’s over already.”, he could barely hold the trembling Link.
“It – was – so – real – ”
“I know. I know that. Do you want to talk about it?”, Link shook his head.
“That – makes – it – definite.”
“No nightmare becomes definite when you talk about it.”, he kissed the tears off his face and looked him straight into the glassy blue eyes which were red from crying. „It just gets worse if you bottle it up forever. Well. What did you dream of? Hey. It’s me. You can tell me.”
“R-really?”
“Yes.”
“T-there was b-blood everywhere. Everywhere.”
“Whose blood?”
“Y-yours.”, sobbed Link. “You d-died.”
“Sh.”, Kafei pulled him close again. “It’s alright. I’m still alive. I’m here. I’m with you. Yes, I’m afraid of losing you too. That’s normal.”
“N-no, it’s not. You were - r-really dead. It felt - l-like it. There were these - shadow beasts everywhere - t-they encircled us. A-and you were l-lying in front of me - on the g-ground.”
“Oh Link. It was just a dream. I promise you, I won’t let you alone, you hear me?”, he looked him deeply in the eyes again. “We’ll get old together and gray and have loads of wrinkles in our faces, yes?”, he managed to conjure a ghastly smile onto Link’s lips which he kissed immediately. “Link. It was just a bad dream, you hear me?”, Link nodded barely visible. “Good. So. Now drink once more and then we’ll go to bed again, alright?”, he lead the glass to Link’s lips another time
“Th-thanks. I love you.”
“And also I will ever love you.”, smiled Kafei. “Come on.”
He helped him up, supported him, also took the glass with him and went back to the bed, where he put the glass on the bedside table first, climbed into the bed and helped Link to him. Carefully he tuck Link in holding him in his arms and gently pushed the latter’s head to his own chest.
“Sleep on. I’m with you.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
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