Only one ball of light was still glowing in the Inn’s kitchen. Link had decided to clean up all by himself. After the shock in the school he just wanted to be alone. Kafei’s reproachful silence at the tailors’ had been bad enough. He would only go up to the Town Hall when everyone was asleep already. The thought about the imminent reactions of the populace; which the Goddesses would be just as able to prevent as they prevented Dotour’s uncontrollable frenzy; turned his stomach anyway. Perhaps Kafei was right, but how would he have known that – it didn’t matter. Link took a deep breath along his sigh, put the last pots into their allocated cupboards and went for the broom. Completely lost in thoughts he didn’t even notice that he was being watched. When a fist lightly knocked onto the frame of the open kitchen door, he dropped the broom with a fright.
“Sorry – I – I didn’t mean to – ”
“Shad – ”, aspirated Link with a confused look on him and blindly tried to pick up the broom, which he didn’t exactly do with much grace. “What – what do you want here?”
“I was bored – and – so I thought, why don’t you do what you’re here for?”
“And that would be?”, Shad briefly shrugged his shoulders.
“Spending time with you?”
“Why.”, it was a cold, almost sad, dunning assessment.
“I – well – we haven’t seen each other for so long – ”
“What’s the matter.”, urged Link.
“You know what the matter is.”, moaned Shad, even in the drab light visibly blushed.
“I thought we had that.”, Link swept on.
“Please – I – I don’t know where else I can go. I’ve lost my apartment in town.”
“Then go to Kakariko. Or Ordon.”
“Well – I – uhm – ”
“You have friends there. Why do you come to me? I can’t help you. Except if you need money. I can give you money. But that’s that.”
“I don’t need money.”
“You don’t work.”
“I don’t need to – uh – how do you know – ”
“Why then have you been kicked out of the apartment? Because I hardly believe you dismantled it on whatever search for lost Sheikah technology said to be buried below the building.”
“No – I – what?”
“Listen – there is no apartment for you here. Go back to Hyrule. For all I care, to Ordon. Rusl wrote that my house is still empty. They’d given it to me for free although I was a stranger. They know you.”
“Link – I – ”, he had taken a few steps towards him, which again kept Link from his activity.
“What, do, you, want?”, the latter hissed shaking his head. “I have told you – ”
“Link?”, it was Dotour, if though he wasn’t sure whether that one could be the right saviour. “C-can I have a word with you?”, he asked barely hearable when Link dumped the waste in the bin.
“The Inn is closed. Here.”, he leaned the broom and the shovel back against the wall, pulled his wallet from the locket and gave Shad some Rupees as well as a copy of the key to one of the rooms. “You may stay one night. Second floor, not hard to find. The rest is for a carriage back to Hyrule. Latest after breakfast tomorrow you’re gone.”
“Link – ”
“Breakfast is from seven to nine. Good night.”
Without deigning him another look he walked past him, laid his left hand on Dotour’s back and lead him to Triri’s old room that was currently not occupied by a guest and locked the door behind while Dotour pointed a slightly shaking hand at the fireplace. Instantly flames burnt in the chimney and flooded the cold room with bright bickering, spitting warmth. The light from below however accentuated every howsoever small one of his few wrinkles and vaguely showed his age. Yet maybe it was his bleak expression.
“Link – I – ”
“Sh. Don’t say a thing.”, he approached the old man and laid his arms around him. “It was my fault. I shouldn’t have provoked you.”
“You – didn’t – ”, breathed Dotour.
“I did. And deserved what you did to me. I have never witnessed myself so openly spiteful. And that to you, while you mean so much to me. I am sorry.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
Fascinated he stared at the small flame that was dancing on his palm. He clapped the hand shut, turned it towards the ground and spread the fingers again. A scarce flow of water, not more than a glass full, left a small puddle in the little snow. He kept the hand the way it was and the wet stain became snow as well. With a flick he billowed the white powder and shaped it to a kind of crumbly pellet that he let burst. Sirileij nodded pleased.
“You have understood. Now you only need to practise it again and again and improve it.”
In the beginning he had thought that it was difficult to climb the steep rock faces of Ikana. Now he could already do without any technical devices if the target laid directly before him. He had to admit it was a strange but good feeling. Every time he looked into the mirror he was astonished that his eyes were blue and not red. It would have appeared more logical to him. But with that Sirileij had proven she was right. He didn’t want Kafei to know yet that he had secretly received fundamental training from a Suro. That, he should find out by himself – or see when Link’s newly obtained abilities would be called into action.
Sirileij said goodbye and left him alone by Sakon’s former hideout. That was one of their training places. Kafei had chased the thief away personally shortly after he had become Mayor. Now the rooms were used as storage. How often had he waited on him there with Kafei? Eight and a half years had passed. Terrifying how time could fly. He had almost forgotten Vaati’s letter about the Dominion Rod, so many times had Sirileij challenged him per week now.
One thing he had kept to himself though. He opened the hand like before, but instead of a flame, a ball of light grew on it. He could even control its size already, send it where he wanted. Would it be enough? Not that light, he knew. But Kafei’s light was stronger. If it was stronger than that of the Light Spirits in Termina – and if not, both knew how to get to Hyrule. He got out the Shadow Crystal and looked at it ponderingly. There was nothing he’d lose, was there?
His fingers touched the abrasive object. Suddenly the lines lit up orange – a familiar pull in his entire body. Before he knew it, he looked down onto the Shadow Crystal that laid between his paws. He did a full turn – indeed. It had worked. And now?
There was not much time for thinking. A sharp scream of terror echoed through the Canyon. Link grabbed the crystal along with its cloth and shoved the things under hackles that bore the same enchantment as his cap or the locket and hustled in direction of the village. Why was it that something happened any time he was very busy with himself?
Someone had already created a path upwards. Before it could vanish, he rushed after the man who had created it. On the square a number of people had gathered. They stood individually in some distance around the tree. Kafei, his sword in hand, desperately tried to get his daughter away from the tree, which however was impossible due to his opponents.
The lanterns windmilled after him and multiple times he managed to dodge only just. In this moment Link may have lost all his remaining belief in coincidences. Unerring he sped towards the Poes and tore their cursed souls out, one after another, which he masticated to cause the shells of dark magic to burst and their golden glistening content to vanish into a better world. After a while he was almost blind. The flashing of the freed souls – the lanterns’ tails of fire – everything burnt itself into his in that shape sensitive eyes.
Eventually he had solid ground beneath his cushioning paws and with a checking glance he made sure he had gotten them all. Still a little puffing from exhaustion as they had been so many, he looked over to Kafei, who was torn between relief, confusion and despair.
“Link?”, Tatl aspirated with a shaken voice and sunk to the ground, slackly against the tree. “Is that you?”
“Yes.”, he said, but only a bark left his mouth, which he however understood as what he had meant.
“Thanks.”, she said a little sturdier.
“Yes. Thanks.”, Kafei repeated. “You old fool.”, he though sighed. “Fair enough – that may have been the only way – but what now?”
Yes, what now? There he had reached the point again. He sat down panting and let his tongue hang out a bit, completely automatic. Kafei started to giggle.
“And I used to think you were sweet.”, he smirked. “That is about the sweetest thing I have ever seen from you.”
“What is going on here?”, Anju had finally arrived at the central square. “Kafei? Tatl? What are you doing here? And all these people?”, the mass that still stood in a fairly distant circle, peculiarly dissolved right then. “And – the dog?”, Link couldn’t help briefly gnarling at her. “Oops! Did I say something wrong?”
“Yes, Mummy. That is a wolf.”, Tatl said shortly. “And he just saved Daddy’s life and mine.”
“There was this horde of Poes all of a sudden. No idea where they had come from.”, explained Kafei.
“My goodness!”, Anju clapped her hands on her mouth with shock, like she did so many times.
“But now we’re facing the real problem.”
“Why?”, she asked, letting her hands sink again.
“Because we somehow need to transform Link back.”, that one barked once to get his attention. “Yes?”
“Link?”, faltered Anju. “No.”
“Yes.”, Kafei confirmed while Link pawed a sign into the snow. “Yes – but I told you that the Light Spirits have just enough strength to keep up the light here. If one of them concentrates their energy on something else for only a moment – what?”, he had gnarled at him and pointed his paw on his own forehead. “What do you want?”, he repeated the gesture. “No idea what you mean by that.”, now Link was actually a little hacked off, picked a small cracked twig and turned into his viewing direction. “You – shall – ”, Kafei started reading the signs Link wrote into the snow for him. “Read – my – mind – idiot. Oh.”, Kafei grinned abashed. “I am stupid, indeed. What? You mean that I could transform you back with light?”
Link only nodded. Kafei looked at him slightly askant, took a deep breath and lastly concentrated onto the power of the light inside himself as good as he could. He closed his eyes and directed the right hand onto Link. A gleaming beam of light shot from it. Link downright had to fight against it so he wasn’t thrown over by its force. Something alike had happened before, namely when he had approached the Master Sword as a wolf. A well familiar feeling in his body. Kafei slumped to his knees. Link too crouched a little slack.
“Sosh.”, gasped Kafei and opened his eyes, which revealed his red irides to be glowing. “Either – you come up – with something better – or – we need – Great Fairies. But where do you – get Great Fairies?”
“No idea.”, Link puffed. “But thanks. Sirileij was right. You’re more powerful than you admit.”
“Probably.”, nodded Kafei and looked to his flummoxed daughter who still crouched against the tree.
“But we do have a Great Fairy.”, she said.
“What?”, the heads of the other two rushed in her direction as well.
“She’s not exactly great, but we have a fairy.”
“Where?”, came it from all three.
“Well – in her fountain! The grotto behind Toru’s home!”
After a few exchanged looks Link and Kafei raised, Anju lifted her daughter on her arms and ran with them to the Fairy Fountain. When they slid to halt inside the grotto, it took a moment for them to see that Tatl hadn’t lied: a yellow, swirling shimmer of light floated above the water. It became brighter and from it stepped – a little girl, looking not much younger than Tatl herself. She wore a simple sleeveless dress. Her yellow hair fell to her hips and faded faintly to a light green from the middle down. In all possible colours, her fragile, transparent wings shimmered.
“Nice to see you again, Tatl.”, she smiled. “And this time you have brought your family. What brings you to me? It seems, you have survived your little meeting of worlds unscathed. So what is it?”
“You know we’ve been attacked by Poes?”, murmured Link.
“I have heard him curse. You have destroyed his newest attraction, Green Wolf.”
“Oh! Well, at least we know now, where they came from.”, chuckled Kafei.
“The Sheikah and the Dead. Bound together eternally. In Ikana, stronger than in other places. And even for sadistic sport. In the time they had taken over the reign, it was unavoidable. But now you are King. Forbid him this jape. It does not do your country well to defile the Ghosts. The Dead shall rest. And if cursed, they need to be released. Everything else brings chaos and devastation. Death belongs to Life, as it is its succeeding stage. But none should mix the things. Just as Light and Darkness complement each other. If mixed, chaos comes forth. Do not allow that he makes himself dependent on this ancient Magic. He does not need it. It is three lines that are kept up. They are always preserved, Red Cat. Make this clear to your Wolf as well. If you excuse me now, one of my sisters requires my help. Oh and – outside a courier is waiting with a message from the Blue Owl.”
“What by all cursed ghosts of the world did she mean, Daddy? Daddy?”
“It’s not important, Tatl.”, sighed Kafei who stared at where the fairy had dissolved. “We await a letter.”
Puzzling they followed him outside to the square where indeed a rider waited for them. Silently he handed over the two letters and rode off again. Kafei opened them one after the other and tried to read. Though he was very distracted. Nevertheless he understood the key message of both letters and announced it with a smile.
“Prepare yourselves! We’re invited!”
“To what?”, asked Anju.
“To a wedding.”
“What?”, asked Link confused.
“Both practically wrote the same. They are going to marry.”
“What?”, Link asked again, just more dragging. “You don’t mean – Vaati? And Zelda? They are going to – ?”
“Looks like it.”, grinned Kafei.
“Now that went fast!”, meant Anju. “After half a year already!”
“But they still want to wait til spring.”
“Well, let’s hope she doesn’t change her mind until then.”, groaned Link. “Why did the fairy call you like that?”
“Sorry?”, Kafei startled quite surprisingly
“Why did the fairy call you `Red Cat´?”
“Oh. That.”, he aspirated and let the letters vanish. “That – I’m sorry. I should have told you. Maybe you don’t really need that Shadow Crystal to transform.”
“What?”
Suddenly Kafei shrunk. A moment later a red and white patterned cat stared up at them. His eyes were still red. He lowered his head and was himself again. Anju had nearly let go of her anyway already too heavy daughter. Also Link’s jaw dropped.
“Legend sometimes calls Hethriol the `Red Cat´. Until that day you worried so much because I didn’t turn up, I thought it to be a metaphor. I did tell you a shadow had kept me up.”, Anju nodded assertive. “But I withheld something. It was a strangely dressed woman. She attacked me with a shadow. I transformed. She was quite surprised and disappeared. And I must say, I too was more than surprised when I noticed why I was so small all of a sudden. But I could transform back. By my own. It was distressing, but I could.”
“So that means, I don’t need any Light Magic? Or the help of someone from the Shadow Realm?”
“Assumingly not. It seems to be in our blood.”
“Can I do something like that too?”, gasped Tatl.
“I don’t think so.”, considered Kafei and her excitement was gone as fast as it had come. “It’s more likely got something to do with the Goddesses. Ilchanji is said to have been a chosen one too.”
“And Zelda can turn into an owl or what? Or why did the fairy – ”
“Blow me!”, moaned Link.
“What?”
“That beast! And I always thought it was just an omniscient, talking owl! Kaepora Gaebora!”
“Uh – no. That wasn’t Zelda.”, noticed Kafei.
“Oh.”
“Zelda should have white and blue plumage. And I know who your owl was.”
“Who?”
“It only makes me ponder that the lines have to be kept up. That means as much as that you will be a father one day, which means just as much as that you will have something going on with a woman once. I know – it sounds ridiculous – but if I were you, I’d watch out.”
“You think Zelda could actually compel me to it?”
“I don’t know. Not Zelda. That way two lines would become one. So hope that the Goddesses stick to their principles at least in this one matter and prevent it. But on second thoughts – if you believe the legends – it would be – the return to the – origin – and the – ”, Kafei’s eyes widened downright scared. “The Wise King – lost all Wisdom – had only faith – in his Power – and opposed the – ”
“We’re at a critical point, aren’t we?”, Link interrupted Kafei’s strange considerations, not exactly in the mood for more of what madness ever.
“You say it. We’re up shi-”
“I didn’t mean it that extreme, but – ”
“Much more extreme than you might be able to imagine.”, Kafei aspirated on. “Even his own folk – lhasziareh – ”
“What ever,”, now Anju threw in demanding, “They didn’t mention whether they marry hylian? Or in the manner of the Minish?”
“It’s quite likely going to be a hylian wedding.”, puffed Kafei. “After all it means that Zelda will become the Queen. Hyrule luckily is still dominated by Hylians.”
“Luckily? What do you have against the others?”
“Oh no, nothing.”, Kafei meant shrugging. “It just appears peculiar to me where all these Humans suddenly come from. Because believe it or not, I know our world quite well. They’re not from here. Never mind. I need to go back to town. Duty calls.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
“Whatever drove you away from your former life, now I know that it was more than exciting.”, he laid a hand on Link’s cheek. “But only one thing – that stays between us, okay?”
“I don’t mind.”, meant Link and laid his hand on Rusl’s, pressing it closer by it.
“So you are.”
“So I am, what?”
“You are different.”
“How?”
“Different from all others.”
“Oh that. I’ve heard it too many times already.”
Rusl’s thumb wandered to his lips and he drew closer. When he was close enough, he exchanged the thumb with his own lips. More and more passionate he began to kiss Link. Not even a minute later he pressed him to the floor with the other hand and moved along. Rusl’s touches were so identical to those he knew from Kafei, that Link just didn’t want to struggle. He felt his pants being removed and something of what he knew what it was, rubbing against him for a while. Even if he had wanted, he had reached the point where he was incapable of fending him off. With relish he gave in to Rusl’s moves, in more than one way. When he could barely hold himself, he tore his eyes open and –
“Good morning.”, a softly smiling face occupied his visual field and Link needed to look twice in order to grasp what was going on.
“You – you – ”
“Yes?”
“You swine!”
“It’s not my fault that you dream stuff like that.”, Kafei grinned giggling.
“Dream? Hello?”
“Sure. Don’t you dare to blame me now. You started stroking my hand. I just carried on. First I thought you were awake. But then – well – it was just too tempting. You didn’t actually cheat on me, did you? Not that it bothers me. After all you had to bear a year without me.”
“No. He took his hand off. We’re just good friends. Actually he’s become almost like an uncle for me. There was nothing. And besides, that was on my first day there. But – ”, Link sighed. “I need to confess something. I tried to repress it. Shad – he – well – he kissed me. I didn’t want it – but then I did somehow – and joined in – but then I ran away. Well – actually only after – ”
“After what?”
“He – ”, Link closed his eyes, ashamed. “He – sucked me off.”
“What?”, chuckled Kafei.
“Please – ”
“Please what?”
“Forgive me.”
“What? Didn’t you listen? I wouldn’t even bother if you’d snogged the Priest of Kakariko. Goodness, somebody gave you a blowjob and you act as though you’ve been threatened?”
“I beg your pardon!”, snarled Link. “Renado? How sick do you think I am?”
“Calm down. It was just an example. Shall I get off?”
“No.”
“Ah? Suddenly?”
“I never said you shall get off.”
“Come. We need to buy something for the wedding.”
“Wedding? What wedding?”
“Did I really turn your head that much?”
“Sorry? I was asleep and you fuc- ”
“Says who?”
“I can feel very precisely how you sit on me. I’m not dumb. Besides – ”
“Apparently you are. Otherwise you’d know which wedding. Zelda, you Deku Nut.”
“Damn.”, groaned Link, rolling his eyes. “That wedding. Why do we need to buy something for it?”
“We can have Ydin give it to us for free, though.”
“Oh. But I already have something – ”
“That armour?”
“Yes.”
“Hm. Yes. It suits you. Except for that thing on the head. And the fins. But in need, you can hope for that face mask to grant you anonymity.”
“Thanks. Yes. But I wouldn’t mind doing without that.”
“With that armour you will do without anonymity, yes. What about the other armour?”, at least Kafei’s tone told him that he kept teasing him.
“If I’m broke I’m as heavy as a Moblin carrying three fully grown Gorons.”, huffed Link. “If it really comes down to that, I think I might be off best with my usual greens. Also useful if there’s an attack, and I came to acknowledge there’s usually an attack when I attend some ceremony at that castle. But what in the world do you need? Your closets are filled with beautiful things. You’re Mayor and King.”
“Precisely. That’s all well-worn, and the positions just mentioned by you refuse to tolerate appearance in outmoded clothes at a royal wedding.”
“Then why don’t you go in your pomp dress?”
“Which?”
“Tz. Yes. Which. That from the Carnival, you Deku Nut. You can always go without the mask and the veil.”
“I did take it into consideration. Vaati doesn’t know it yet.”
“And with the tiara – ”
“Of course. But don’t you think it’s a little too bold? After all I represent one of the biggest Kingdoms on our continent.”
“The dress is representative. In addition, the colours are very hylian. It would be a concess–”
“Massive and representative for my craziness. Not for Ikana, as you were so kind to notice.”
“That’s what the tiara is for. But Ikana is crazy, after all. I didn’t get to know a single one of you who isn’t nuts in some way. Positive and negative. I mean, the genes your father passed on are partly very questionable – don’t get me wrong. But you bequeathed that to your children as well. Rim was mania in person, Toru constantly and inconveniently pops out of nowhere, Sirileij has a collection of stones that she regularly cleans and also polishes and assembles anew every week, Zelda kept blinding me with Deku Nuts for no reason – which she had obviously learnt from Impa, Chaliém had been grinning almost all the time and Igos liked throwing his head after me – ”
“Good point. He liked throwing heads during his lifetime as well. That was his only flaw. Also I can nothing but agree with you on the other matters. But you do though know that we may indeed be taken seriously, do you?”
“I do take you seriously.”
“I know. And sometimes a little too much, unfortunately.”
“By that you’ve just contradicted yourself.”
“True.”, considered Kafei. “But – ”
“But me no buts.”
“But we will drop by at Ydin’s, won’t we?”
“For all I care.”, sighed Link.
“But could you first help me out a bit? You were a little too fast.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
As soon as they had left the Town Hall, Kafei threw Link grin and ran to the lower entrance to the Southtown. Link only shook his head, thought nothing of it and ran after him. But instead of running west, he turned right before the Clock Tower and disappeared back into Easttown. He was so fast Link could just spot him on the staircase. As soon as he had reached it, Kafei had vanished in the Northquarter. There Link could catch up, if though the snow and cold air made it hard for him to do so.
Kafei rushed towards the Fairy Spring, yet not inside, but let Link gain on him, jumped off the ascent, ran south again and around the Clock Tower back east. Panting, Link crashed against the supporting pillar of the inn, when a blue flush of hair disappeared behind the Treasure Chest. The stairs down he stumbled and slid already. Topping his frustration, Kafei ran to the Laundry Pool, where he again waited on Link, went for a spin; partly over the wall; around the frozen basin, in which Link almost fell, downstairs and finally to West Clock Town, where Link managed to overtake on the inside, but thanks to his speed, dashed into the wall next to the door of the training centre.
Kafei didn’t even grant him to breathe for a second but pressed against him and sucked the remaining waft of stamina out of him with a kiss. At that moment two women with backpacks entered the town. They apparently had come from afar and appeared tired from their long journey. From the other side, the Postman pattered into the Westtown.
“Now that was worth wile.”, said one of the two Hylians, her long dark blonde hair bound to a low ponytail beneath her woollen cap. “Such a sweet couple! And look at her beautiful hair!”
“So early in the day and running again.”, Kafei had separated from Link and addressed the faintly panting Postman. “At such temperatures even.”
“That’s rich, coming from you.”, aspirated Link and tried to breathe.
“Ya. I’m sorry, but I got to. My schedule – ”
“Nothing you got to. You keep forgetting that you haven’t been working for my mother in years. Grant yourself a break. You know that that is? Break?”, the Postman hesitated briefly and pulled a face.
“Ya. Have a nice day, Mr Mayor.”
“That was an order!”, whoosh, and the door was shut.
“I bet – you can – sue him? He ignores – a direct – order from you.”
“Oh what do I care. Shall Anju spank him – as long as he doesn’t run himself to death. Come on. We need to get in there.”
“Why? I already told you which dress you’ll wear.”, nevertheless he opened the door and Kafei followed him.
The women were shocked. Completely aghast they stared at the door the two men had vanished through.
“Your oh so lovely couple is gay!”, said the second woman and briefly scratched her neck beneath her dark brown heavy locks. “And that beautiful hair belongs to the mayor. The mayor! Do you even listen to me?”
“That was him – ”
“Who?”
“That was him, no doubt – ”
“Who do you mean?”
“Link – ”, now her friend was even more flabbergasted.
“You’re imagining.”
“No – that was him!”
“You were two years old.”
“But that was him!”
“Even if. Don’t you come up with the idea of following him.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
“Oh come on. How many more times do I have to tell you? That thing is representative enough.”
“Let him. He wants to enter like a Queen, not like a Princess.”
“Still. He’ll ruin you.”
“I think I should know that for myself, shouldn’t I?”, smiled Ydin.
“Whatever.”
“Oh confess. That dress turns you on.”, mumbled Kafei, amused.
“W- wha- no! It’s just – nice – and – suits you – and – ”
“Confess.”
“What shall I confess?”
“Don’t take me for an idiot. I’d watched you closely back then. You could barely wait undressing me, but also wanted me to keep it on. It wasn’t even necessary for me to get into your head for seeing that. You have a thing for that dress.”
“Fine, you got me. But I haven’t got a thing for the dress, I have a thing for you in that dress.”
“Good. Then that’s settled. Would be too bad if you’d have an orgasm in the middle of the ceremony. Because we both know you can do that as good as soundless by now, but not inconspicuously. Hence, I need a new dress. It shall represent Ikana. Not my female side.”
“What a dress of course doesn’t.”
“What now! First you want me in that tinkle-pomp and then in pants? That’s out of question!”
“I never said a thing about pants,”
“Now.”
“Well, children. Are you done? I want to show you the draft.”
“Draft? Draft? W- ”, Link couldn’t get any further, as the door was opened – in came the Postman.
“I told you to take a break.”
“Ya. But a courier came to me with two express letters. They are for Link.”
“For me?”
“Ya.”
“And from whom?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh well, I think I do. Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.”, panting, he scurried out again.
“Let’s see!”, Kafei urged when the door was shut.
“Yes, yes.”, he tore the first letter open. “That one’s from Zelda.”
“What’s she writing?”, he skimmed the letter.
“She – I don’t believe it. That was so predictable.”
“What, what, what?”
“She wants me to be her witness.”
“No. Give that to me.”, he snatched the letter from his hand and hectically read it.
“Certainly not.”
“What?”
“She’s still jealous of you.”
“Oh stop it already.”
“No. Look. You made me your witness. When we met the next time, we fell in love. She’s got a massive crush on me and hopes I’ll return those feelings one day, if she does what you did.”
“Now come on.”
“No. Once again. She couldn’t have me, so she does a runner and leaves you with the humiliation of having to send me away.”
“Once again, you would have had to leave anyway.”
“Yes. Because Midna had said it too. But that only proves how women are. And as I said, she’s already revealed quite a lot of her personality to me. Second, Zelda had put Navi onto me again. You have no idea how much that firefly annoyed me throughout that one year. I can understand that she worries about me, but she’s a nerve-racking control freak! And then she even butts into my emotional life without wanting to understand a thing about it! Ilia here, Ilia there! `If you don’t want her, why don’t you go visit Zelda? She’d be delighted.´ That’s a well-wrought plan to lure me into her arms. Damn it, she wants to marry Vaati. Vaati! And along that, she’s still got a crush on me! That being needs professional help!”
“Calm down, darling. You are my cucumber and Zelda loves meat. So?”, Link huffed.
“Fine. But still I’m fed up with women always telling me what I have to do.”
“Then let them tell you, but don’t do it. Yet royal witness – do you have any idea what a status that is?”
“I’ve got enough status I don’t want to have. The ones see me as a hero so much they would like to have me at their side everywhere – ”
“Now that’s not why I want you by my side, yes?”
“I’m not talking about you. And the others – those other others – do you know how they’re calling me by now?”
“No. How?”
“`The Mayor’s slut´! `The rear entrance to the Town Hall´! `Stick horse´! `The King’s lap dog´! Last with a very precise emphasis!”
“What?”, hissed Kafei disbelievingly.
“Honestly – don’t you ever listen to the people on the street? Don’t you notice how they whisper behind our backs?”
“All right. Relax. That’s nothing we can get rid of overnight. Anyway – how can you sincerely expect everyone to be as tolerant as Anju? She said herself that people throw her pitying stares. She learned to live with ignoring those idiots. But that they’re publicly using such terms, really surprises me. Never mind. What’s in the second letter? I assume it’s from Vaati?”, sighing, Link opened it.
“Yes. Tz. There you go.”
“What?”
“`Don’t do it.´”, Link read aloud. “`I love this woman and she loves me. But she is still attached to you. I don’t care, but I want to marry her. I have no interest in having to explain to my future folk that their Queen raped her lost dreamboat on her wedding night. Because that is what it’s boiling down to. But I love her nevertheless. With all her follies. She simply has a way too kind heart. Please´ – what?”
“What’s it?”
“`Please break it, so she can forget you for everyone’s sake.´”
“Wow!”, chuckled Kafei. “That’s one start!”
“I think, the best is still ahead.”, pondered Link. “`It does not do her well to mourn over a dream that was never supposed to be fulfilled. I hope I have written this for nothing and you were aware of it anyway. If it is any comfort to you, I would feel honoured if you would become my witness instead. But I don’t know whether you can carry this burden for two madmen. I cannot force you to it; listen to your heart and do what you deem right. Should you fully decide against us, it is fine. We would have some people on our list. Yet please let us know in time. In friendship, Vaati.´”
“A few people.”, Kafei huffed. “And who are they?”
“No idea. `P.S.: Please keep Kafei from wearing that dress from the Carnival – if it still exists and he plans to. I haven’t seen it, yet Zelda waxes lyrical about it so much I am scared she might steal it off him.´”
“Fascinating.”, breathed Ydin. “This marriage is atilt before it even exists.”
“Take Anju and me. We fought for being allowed to marry. And now look at us. We’re happy. All of us.”, he gave Link a brief askew smile. “And you see? A pre-royal order to get myself a new dress.”
“Oh shut up. But do you see? I was right.”
“Fine. Touché. Ydin? May I see the draft?”
“I’d wanted that hours ago.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
“Oh! New guests Aana?”, the receptionist nodded. “Then I as well warmly welcome the ladies in the Stock Pot Inn. Allow me, Anju Maranóshu. I am the owner. And Mayoress.”
“Pleasure.”, said the brunette and the women shook hands.
“What brings you to Clock Town?”
“The crafts market.”, answered the blonde. “Although it might become a rather frosty business.”
“Ah yes. Of course.”, smiled Anju. “And please don’t worry. There are plenty enough stands to get warm at and every exhibitor will be provided an oven.”
“Nice pendant, by the way.”
“Oh. Thank you.”, meant Anju and briefly took the Pendant of Memories in her hand. “A gift from my husband. He had gotten it from his grandmother.”
“We are jewellery artists, you know? And so we thought, we could gather some inspiration or exchange goods. Probably sell.”
“I see, your luggage is on your room already. Do you fancy a little tour around the town? We offer that service here.”
“We just wanted to ask for that. We’ve seen parts already.”
“Good. If you don’t mind, I’ll be your guide. I need some fresh air anyway. What did I want – Aana, if a delivery arrives, could you please keep your eyes open for a box with the label `fragile´? That are the new plates.”
“They’re in the kitchen already, as well as washed and stored.”
“Ah, good. Thank you.”, the door opened.
“I knew I’d find you here.”, smiled Kafei. “Did you hear any news regarding the Clock Tower delivery?”
“What? Which Clock Tower delivery?”
“Oh. You’re not even informed? The problem child’s got cracks again and our carpenters are way too busy helping at the harbour. There lies a ship with a huge hole in the hull, in danger of sinking. About the wheel – you know, either the wood is inferior or there’s an incorrect load sharing somewhere.”
“But – the clock works!”
“Still. But the new stainless steel wheel should have arrived the day before yesterday already. I’m really about to go get it myself. If we have any more delays due to the market, the whole clockwork’s going to collapse again.”
“My goodness! What do we do now?”
“I told you, I’ll fetch it. I just meant to ask whether it’s arrived already. That would spare me the trip to Calatia.”
“But that – Calatia? Do you honestly want to ride to Calatia? And how – ”
“Anju.”, he giggled. “Good morning.”
“Oh. Sure.”, she blushed slightly. “But – it sure is heavy.”
“Anju. I did get the ball up as well.”
“Yes. Of course.”, she sighed. “Still be careful. You know how tricky the replacement is. And don’t forget to readjust it properly.”
“Now – stop worrying about me all the time.”
“I know.”
“I asked Link to stand in for me in the meantime.”
“He – what? And he agreed?”
“He did mention he’d played with the thought of becoming the Mayor of Ordon and only dismissed that because he wanted to return to me.
“Wait – yes – that rings a bell. A quiet one.”
“Wonderful.”, smiled Kafei and shortly kissed her. “Let’s hope that is the last time for me to do that for the next hundred years. I’m still waiting on a letter from Labrynna. And – no news from Etchji yet, is there?”
“Why do you ask me about your mail? That is Miluna’s concern.”
“She was on the loo and I didn’t want to wait. You know how long that always takes her.”
“Hm. Yes. I honestly wonder what she’s doing in there.”
“Who knows, maybe one day she’ll present us with a box full of toilet paper animals.”
“And what by all means do you expect from the smith?”
“Oh nothing. It would have surprised me if he had already been done.”, he softly brushed her cheek and left the inn.
“Hmm.”
“That Link – does he happen to be blond?”, asked the brunette and tore Anju from her world of thoughts.
“Oh – so you have seen the two together already?”
“Uhm – together indeed. Do you know – how shall I say – it is none of my business, but do you know how close your husband and that Link are?”
“Oh! Therefore the embarrassment. You caught them kissing, haven’t you? Yes. I know it may seem strange, but we’re in quite a leisure triangle relationship. The two really love each other and Kafei and I love each other as well. Kafei is the best man I ever met. He is my best friend, a fantastic lover and a great father. Link and I come first for him. Then our children and his parents, third place goes to his folk and on the fourth are dresses.”
“Dresses?”, moaned the woman. “And I thought I’d misheard that.”, she added whispering.
“Ah – yes. He likes wearing dresses. So don’t be surprised if you happen to see him as a very convincing woman. He is both, proud man and woman.”
“That is why he is wearing a tiara.”
“No, no. The tiara belonged to his mother. Actually he should wear one like – like me! My goodness! I’m still wearing it!”, hastily she ruined her hairdo by taking it off and let the regalia vanish inside the locket. “Only, well – a bit – a bit bigger and with an attachment, but an immobile King is no use for his folk.”
“King? I though you were mayoress?”
“First and foremost we are the Mayor couple. Ikana runs itself very well, so we don’t need to do much. But Kafei is all obsessed about it and does almost everything to help our people. At least we have Link’s support now. In addition, Kafei’s parents can’t keep their hands off ours either. So. I think, we can go, right?”, she brushed her hair in order once more.
“So he is. What have I told you? Link.”, noticed the blonde.
“The name sure isn’t rare.”
“On that I have to agree with you. I once had a Goron who coincidentally had the same name and come to town at the same time as our Link even, who on his part has told us that there are two more Gorons that have been named after him – oh – and our son. But meanwhile we had to rename him at last, because it would have been just too exhausting. Good. Shall we?”
“Yes. Sure.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
When they came from the North-East-Passage two leisure hours later, the two women were even more keen on the town. Anju stopped in front of the Town Hall’s door.
“And before we return to the Inn, I’ll show you the Town Hall, as I have to talk to our secretary anyway.”, she opened the door and lead them to the counter. “The door on the right leads to my office, the one on the left to my husband’s. Miluna? Kafei said something about a letter from Labrynna.”
“There’s nothing here yet, Madame Anju.”
“And from Etchji?”
“No. But Link asked for you.”
“Oh, uhm, you excuse me for a moment?”, the guests dismissed her excuse with limp gestures.
She went to Kafei’s office, knocked, waited for an answer and entered. Books were piled up on the desk. Link’s face was barely visible behind them.
“What’s it?”, he asked.
“What are you doing there?”
“I’m in search for the meaning of life.”
“Uh – ”
“No.”, he giggled. “I’m just raiding the past. Dotour remains silent. And Kafei’s too proud for browsing his brain, or is, I believe, seriously scared of telling me the one or other detail.”
“Oh, I see. Yes, you could be right. I advise you not to probe. He can become very morose if you consult him regarding certain – uhm – shady sides of his folk. Miluna said you asked for me?”
“Yes. But it’s resolved itself.”
“Well, then I don’t want to disturb you at – raiding whatever.”, she smiled.
“Oh no, no. I need a break anyway. Mind if I go down with you already? You are going to the Inn, aren’t you? Time begs for lunch.”, he raised and walked past her.
“Yes. I do go.”, she followed his look to the two women who were chatting about the masks on the walls.
“Who are those two?”, he asked trivially.
“Only guests in the Stock Pot. I showed them the town. They – Link?”
His eyes were on the blonde woman like spellbound. She noticed it and turned her head to him. Could that be? Could that actually be? She looked so much like her. Yes – they both had been very small. But the resemblance was striking, regardless of the age. Also her eyes felt so familiar. Hesitantly and slowly he approached her while she fully turned to him. They only looked each other deeply in the eyes and knew they hadn’t been deceived.
“Aryll?”, he breathed quietly.
A joyous smile appeared on her lips as well as her eyes that glazed over. Then they fell into each other’s arms. The other three women in the room were a little confused. So was Kafei who just came in at the door. Mainly he was confused because Link hugged a woman that wasn’t Anju and that this hug was far from the brief, friendly gestures which he normally showed Anju.
“I thought you were dead – ”, aspirated Aryll. “But then I find you – here – ”
“So thought I, many times. But I kept standing up. How are you? How did you find me?”
“It was – coincidence – I only came here with Doria to attend the market.”, she gave her friend a nod. “And the first thing I see in this town is you. I thought I was dreaming. Is it really you?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’m splendid.”, she smiled crying and Link wiped off her tears. “I can see, you too? How do you get here anyway? What happened to Mother and Father? Why did you never come back?”
“They – really are dead.”, he sighed sadly. “That’s why we didn’t come back. The rest is just tedious and not possible to be treated while standing.”, he smiled again. “How’s Grandma?”
“Oh – she died three years ago. She had a very peaceful death. We went for a walk and sat down under our favourite tree. Can you still remember?”
“Yes. The one that never had more than a handful of blossoms. Here.”, he took out the locket he had received from Dotour, with the shining green stone that had tiny dot-like yellow inclusions.
“That’s it!”
Aryll gasped excited, just like he remembered her, only that the beach was missing. The beach he remembered so well, in all the years. The beach that was much warmer than in Termina, the air less fresh but stifling with a homely taste of salt and the sweet smell of palm trees, crabs and shells. A surrounding plain distance that yet couldn’t create an unbearable solitude. And he was sure he’d still feel the same about it, should he return to the island one day.
“That’s our tree! That’s exactly how the leaves shine in the midday sun! And the inclusions have exactly the colour of the flowers!”
“Yes.”
“Anyhow, she looked out at the ocean, closed her eyes smiling and fell asleep.”
“That is – nice.”, smiled Link, tears in his eyes as well. “I wish I had seen her again, just once. But it seems it wasn’t meant to be. Also I never thought I’d see you again. Not even now that Termina has a proper harbour. As much as you try, there’s always something cropping up.”
“I know that far too well.”
“And you can’t part with those either, can you?”, he brushed through her thick bangs.
“No I like them. And they remind me of then.”
“And those?”, he let his index fingers wander over the many small silver rings and chains on her ears.
“I like pain.”, she smiled artificially squashed. “No. I’m mad for earrings.”
“And one in the nose as well.”
“Yes. But you like earrings as well, I see?”
“That’s only one per ear. But I think it is my fate to carry earrings.”
“Fate?”
“Long, boring, meaningless story. Just a silly thought of mine. Written down in chapter five of my life.”
“What? Did somebody write a book about your life or what?”
“Not that I know. But some idiot in my head convinced me of splitting my life into numbered chapters so I remember better when what has crashed down onto my head.”
“By the Winds. And – how come you’re together with the King of Ikana?”
“You’d have to ask him personally.”, chuckled Link. “After all he kissed me first. Did you meet already?”
“Not fully.”, that one replied.
“Is the wheel here?”, asked Link.
“Just installed it. Chopped up the old one. Some fresh logs for all.”
“How come you know of the wheel and I don’t?”, Anju asked Link indignantly.
“I’m sorry, yes?”, Kafei smirked. “I thought I had told you. Now, Link. Will you introduce us at last?”
~o~0~O~0~o~
Lunch had lasted longer than expected. When they left the Inn, Kafei and Anju went to the Town Hall. As soon as they were gone, Cremia arrived with the supplies for the bar. Immediately Doria found herself told off to be an involuntary aide. In an unobservant moment Link dragged Aryll through the passage and left the other two women and their work behind. He wanted to be alone with his sister. So he strolled with her to the Laundry Pool, where they sat down in the little snow under the tree, wrapped in their cloaks.
“It’s no sea, but it’s water at least.”, he meant when he saw her look. “Or rather – ice. That’s one of Kafei’s favourite places. And I have to admit, I like it too. It gets visited more seldomly, which is sad on the one hand, but also positive, since you have your peace if you need a place to think.”
“I can’t believe that you are the hero all the world talks about.”, she said monotonously.
“Nor can I.”, he replied just as lifeless.
“So Mother knew why she had given you such a dumb name. She must have felt the connection to the Great Hero.”
They shortly looked at each other and had to laugh. When they calmed down, Link laid his right arm around Aryll and she leaned herself against him.
“That’s strange. Today you hugged me for the first time. But that here also isn’t the Link I remembered. Well – there isn’t much memory, but the things I still knew about you, were different.”
“Well, I’ve grown up, if you can call it that way. And what others might call my childhood, I’ve overslept at least once and overfought the remaining times or spent with working.”
“Tcha, how life goes. You know, I didn’t want to say something before. I don’t know how to explain it to Doria. That irony. She’s married as well, you know? And has two children.”
“Don’t say – ”, he stared down at her with his mouth gaping, understanding very well what she was apparently trying to imply.
“Irony, yes. Only, that she doesn’t have the slightest breeze of – she’s absolutely no Kafei. Very averse towards such things. She sees homosexuality as a disease.”
“Oh. That’s tough. Fascinating, that irony.”
“It is, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Of all days today, since you promised to be on time. And I wondered why you shouldn’t be on time.”, the two startled.
“Damn!”, Link hissed to himself. “I’m so so sorry – I totally forgot about you – ”
“And who’s that?”, Sirileij asked and placed herself before them with her arms crossed.
“That is Aryll. My sister.”
“Oh.”, she dropped her arms an sat down in the snow as well. “Then you don’t need to apologise. I’m Sirileij.”, she offered her hand. “Link’s Master.”
“Master?”
“I hope you’re still perceptive.”, moaned Link and squinted.
“Now – bring forth the details!”, chucked Aryll. “I want to know precisely what you were up to during the last fifteen years.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
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