The Fairy Boy

"I was once, perhaps, the Hero of Time. But that was so long ago, now... I wonder if I was ever a hero at all." The interdimensional travels of a wayward adventurer and his fairy companion/translator, Ceri. [This is a RP blog for LoZRP and Telma's Interdimensional Tavern.]

[gotcourage]

Better Days

The evening sky was ablaze with vermillion as the sun began to slip beneath the horizon.  His shirt long since discarded, Link’s back dripped with sweat as he leaned against the stable wall, thoroughly exhausted from the day’s work.  He’d risen that morning to see the sun rise from the eastern forests, and now that it had begun to set he felt the last of his strength leave him.  It was strange, looking back, to think he had done so much more in a day’s time when he was merely a boy.  Perhaps his years spent adventuring were beginning to catch up to him.

After the horses and the cattle had been recalled to the safety of the stable for the evening, Link bolted the door behind him.  Ceri was likely inside with Talon, someone he was admittedly surprised enjoyed her company.  He had never put much weight into the phrase “opposites attract”, but that had made him ponder it more seriously.

Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck as he retrieved his shirt from where he’d haphazardly thrown it over the nearby washing line.  It was dry now, but the thought of adding a layer of clothing when it already felt like he was melting made Link want to claw at his face in disdain.  He hoped the night would bring cooler temperatures, or at the very least unconsciousness to distract him from how horrid his body felt at the moment.

As he turned to make his way back towards the ranch interior to collect his belongings, Malon surprised him.  She exited the very building he’d hoped to enter, shutting the door behind her.  She seemed as surprised to see him as he was to see her.  Had Talon not said she was out on a delivery?  Link could have slapped himself -- she had been out on a delivery.  The day was already over.

“Hiya, Link,” she called, her expression unreadable.  He waved at her, attempting a smile, and she casually made her way over with her hands shoved into the pockets of her dress.  Had he been a stranger to her, he would have thought nothing of the gesture, but he knew Malon was as anxious as he was.

He could not fault her for the aversion she exhibited towards any sort of lengthy conversation with him.  Their relationship had been strained for many years.  Link could still recall the day he had explained to her his plans to join the royal army.  She had pleaded with him, begged him not to.  “Haven’t you done enough for your kingdom already?”  He hadn’t been so sure.

Never once had she uttered the words, “I told you so”, not even the day Impa had guided him, practically dragged him, barely alive and still bleeding despite his stitches to recuperate at the ranch in privacy.  She had never berated him, not while she washed his bandages by hand, nor while she dressed his wounds daily.  And to this day, Malon had never discussed the splinter that had been driven between them by his decision to leave.

She withdrew her hands from her pockets to nervously pick at her nails.  “Are you leaving already?” Malon asked.  He nodded slowly, and she sighed.  “I thought you might say that.  I... I don’t suppose I could convince you to stay?  Just for dinner, at the very least.  You know we don’t mind, and I know you used to love the stew that Dad and I make.”

Frowning, he pondered for a moment.  Was there any real barrier that made him so inclined to refuse, other than the nervous knot of anxieties in the pit of his stomach?  He took a deep breath, eyeing her face before signing slowly in response, Okay.

It was as if he’d told her the drought would end tomorrow, that the rains would come again with the rising sun.  Her solemn expression broke into a smile, and she beamed up at him.  “Come on, Dad’s just setting the table now,” said Malon, gesturing for him to follow her back inside.  Though he had been singularly averse to it not moments before, Link found himself shrugging back into his discarded shirt.  Something about attending dinner with Malon and her father still made him nervous.

She knew him so well.  There weren’t many foods that Link truly loved, but the stew was one of them.  Talon had learned a long time ago what vegetables Link couldn’t stomach, and somehow had discovered a way to prepare them differently, so the texture did not aggravate him quite so much.  The kitchen smelled so wonderfully Link found his stomach growling the moment he entered the room, his previously forgotten hunger demanding to be satiated.

“Link, you’re joining us for dinner, I hear,” Talon exclaimed, glancing up from where he stood over the stove with a ladle.  He nodded eagerly in response, following Malon’s lead as she began gathering the dishes and cutlery from the nearby cabinets.  Ceri was sitting on the dining table already, and she seemed the most surprised by Link’s lingering presence at the ranch.

There was a familiarity that he shared with Malon and Talon that made the ranch feel almost as much like home as his old lodgings in the Kokiri Forest.  They had never asked why he did not speak, and though they were not as well-versed in sign language as he was, they knew enough for him to speak comfortably with them.  Their kindness towards him always felt genuine, and as he ate supper with them that evening, Link thoroughly appreciated it.

Talon retired early for the evening, insisting he was “shattered”, which prompted Malon to insist it was no trouble at all.  “Link and I can tidy up in here,” she assured him, gently pushing him towards his bedroom.  “Go rest, I love you -- I’ll see you tomorrow, bright and early!”

With a deep chortle, Talon conceded to his daughter’s encouragement, and as the resulting silence fell Link felt the tips of his ears grow quite hot in embarrassment.  Malon was clearly nervous herself, as she hurried to gather the empty plates and bowls.  Distracted, she lost her balance over a loose cobblestone, and Link was nearly half a second too late to catch her and the dishes in time before she fell.

“Blasted floors, I keep telling Dad we’ve got to fix it,” she muttered under her breath as Link helped her to her feet.  He was acutely aware that she was avoiding looking at his face as she stood up, bringing the dishes to the counter.  “It would be the day you stay over that I trip over it, I’m always saying I will and of course today is the day...”

She trailed off, taking a deep breath.  She had paused in front of the wash basin, balancing herself on her hands where she gripped the counter top, as if she were afraid she might lose her balance once more.

“It’s funny,” said Malon, seemingly to no one in particular.  “For so many years, it was just Dad and I.  And then you came along, and suddenly the ranch felt so much quieter without you.  We’ve missed you, you know.  I’ve missed you.”

She turned to face him, still leaning against the surface behind her now.  “Is it... is it because of me?” Malon asked quietly, her voice barely above a whisper.  “Link, if I... if there was anything I said, any lingering reason why you’ve never stayed more than a day, I--”

Link interrupted her with a quick, urgently signed gesture. No.  She looked at him, frowning, and he repeated himself.  No.  But in responding, Link realized -- too late -- he had incited a lull in the conversation that warranted an explanation.  It was his turn to sigh, rubbing his face.

“Why, then?” came her inevitable response.  He hated to see her so emotional, and watching Malon’s eyes well up with tears caused his own throat to constrict.  “You used to spend entire months here.  We used to fall asleep reading together, telling stories.  Now I have to beg for you to stay for dinner.  When did our friendship become so unbearable for you?”

Those last few words had hurt, almost physically.  He hesitated, and in that one pause Malon found reason enough for the conversation to end, turning away in frustration.  Sensing her distress, Link stepped forward, reaching to gently touch her hand, signalling to her that he did wish to speak to her.  If only he could figure out how.

Sniffling, she turned to face him once more.  He had her full attention now; best not to squander it.  Taking a deep breath, Link began to move his hands -- slowly, deliberately, careful not to allow any misinterpretation to occur between the shortcomings of his words.  Our friendship has never been unbearable.  I was hiding from a past that was not your fault.  It was rude of me to shut you out.  I am sorry.

Malon stared at him for a long time, searching his face as if hoping for a change in expression, some confirmation that his words were merely in jest, as if it could alleviate the pain they both felt.  When no such reaction came, she bit down on her lip, leaning her head against his chest.  He felt the first tears fall against his shirt, and instinctively Link wrapped his arms around her, pulling her tightly against him as she unravelled.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered once more, clinging to Link’s shirt.  “You don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”

The tightness in his throat persisted as he held her, and had Link’s hands been free he might have attempted to explain himself further, to elaborate on all the many reasons he had felt he could not stay in comfort as he once had.  As Malon continued to hold him, he could only wonder at the many things he might have said to her, the condolences he might have offered... but even Link wasn’t quite sure whom he was hiding from, not anymore.

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

Link’s demeanor now caused the Salesman to eye him with muted concern, and he glanced at Ceri, wondering if she had noticed the change as well. Haeyin recognized the fog that hung around the young man, the anxiety that shook his hands as he struggled to sign his reply. His brow creased; perhaps he had said too much.

Haeyin cast a final withering glance as his drink before nodding and easing out of his chair to stand.

“Truthfully, I hope that I am too,” he replied softly, digging into his pocket. He fished out a few rupees and set them on the counter next to his cup before turning to pat Link on the shoulder. He stopped short of touching him, however, apparently thinking against the action as he let his hand fall back to his side.

“You truly are a remarkable person, Link.” He smile was warm, reassuring, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Haeyin was quiet for a moment, as if carefully choosing his next words before speaking them. “I know I have done little to earn your trust but… should you ever require my assistance in the future, for anything, you need only ask.”

He was more surprised than anything when Haeyin approached him, though he did not flinch away from the hand that moved to touch his shoulder.  Though he retracted the gesture, the salesman was ... different, somehow.  Link no longer felt the instinctive urge to tense at his presence.

Haeyin’s words caused his cheeks to flush darkly, and Link cleared his throat awkwardly as his ears started to burn.  He nodded slowly, unable to meet the other man’s eyes at that moment.  He wasn’t sure he’d ever need help from a man like Haeyin... but it couldn’t hurt to keep that option available.  It was nice at the very least that he was offering.  It served to prove to Link that the man’s words were sincere, something that comforted him greatly.

Sighing, he reached for his drink once more, pondering the conversation he had had with the mysterious merchant from his past.

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

Haeyin sat back in his chair, silently deciphering Link’s hand-spoken words, and found himself mustering a small grin. I suppose I should count my lucky stars for that. Were you the grudge-holding sort, I wonder if you would have indulged me with this conversation at all.

As Link continued, the Salesman saw him through a lens colored by memories long since passed. He recalled the first time he’d met him, just a boy with dirty knees and muddy boots, eyes wide with curiosity and awe as he entered his shop in Castle Town. Haeyin didn’t know the role he would play in the events that were beginning to unfold in the world around them then, for who would have suspected a little boy from the forest would be the one to face the King of Evil himself?

His chest suddenly felt tighter as Link spoke about fate. Haeyin had already fled Hyrule when he had heard about the return of a mighty Hero, someone who would vanquish the darkness and return the land to its former glory. It wasn’t long after that he had heard that this Hero, the wielder of the fabled Master Sword - a young man clad in green with a fairy companion - had fallen to the evil king.

It was only in this fractured iteration of time that Link had been victorious. Only here had Link been lead to Termina, to Haeyin and his foolish misadventures. Was it fate then, that determined Haeyin’s actions, and placed the world in such peril? Had it been his destiny to cause such a terrible and horrific event, only for it to be Link’s to come along and right his wrongs? The very notion of it caused his stomach to clench uncomfortably.

After a moment, Haeyin sighed and shook his head. No. Fate may have lead Link to him that day, but it was still Haeyin’s decisions that brought about the events that followed, and his alone.

Fate plays but a small part in our world, he eventually signed, a weary smile on his face. It guides us, lays out various paths for us to take, but ultimately it is our choices, our actions, that shape the world around us. I believe I can say with the utmost confidence that you have helped shape it to be a better one.

He leaned on his elbows against the bar counter, balancing his chin on his hands as Haeyin signed to him.  It was becoming difficult for him to focus... had he had too much to drink?  No, that was unlikely; as Link glanced over his stein it was still half-full.  The cloudiness in his head persisted, a tightness in his chest and a heat spreading through his face that he could not explain.

Closing his eyes, he could see it now - the ghastly impressions of the moon’s surface so frighteningly close, the ominous moans of the giants, the shrieking laughter of the possessed Skull Kid.  That damned laughter, that shrill and hated sound that still managed to shake him to his core even now --

His ears were ringing when he opened his eyes again.  Taking a deep breath, Link reached for his stein once more, though what he hoped to find within it he was not sure.  Solace?  Absolution?  Perhaps a moment of amnesia.  He took another swig, struggling to focus on the sensation of it burning down his throat.

As he began to sign, his hands faltered before he could complete a sentence.  I hope that you are right, Link managed finally.

[gotcourage]

(( Bio things under a cut for length! ))

Basic Information

FULL NAME: Unknown, dubbed “Sir Lincoln Ó Dúbhshláine”

NICKNAME(S): Link, Fairy Boy

AGE: Unknown, between 19 and 25

DATE OF BIRTH: Unknown (April 16th)

HOMETOWN: Kokiri Forest

CURRENT LOCATION: Various

ETHNICITY: Hylian

NATIONALITY: Hylian

GENDER: Male

PRONOUNS: He/him

ORIENTATION: Asexual

RELIGION: Golden Goddesses

POLITICAL AFFILIATION: None

OCCUPATION: Various

LIVING ARRANGEMENTS: Telma’s

LANGUAGE(S) SPOKEN:  ASL

ACCENT: N/A

Physical Appearance

FACE CLAIM: N/A

HAIR COLOUR: Blonde

EYE COLOUR: Blue-green

HEIGHT: 6′

WEIGHT: 178

BUILD: Muscular

TATTOOS: None

PIERCINGS: Ears, 1 on the right, 2 on the left

CLOTHING STYLE: Covers up as much as possible, usually in plain, muted colours.

USUAL EXPRESSION: Tired, needs a nap, maybe a vacation.

DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS: Scars, iconic visage.

Health

PHYSICAL AILMENTS: Monocular vision

PSYCHOLOGICAL CONDITIONS: Depression, PTSD, ASD

ALLERGIES: None

SLEEPING HABITS: Sleeps too much or too little, frequent recurring nightmares.

EATING HABITS: Voracious.

EXERCISE HABITS: Has enough of a workout with his regular work schedule.

EMOTIONAL STABILITY: He avoids his issues like the plague. Works well enough, most of the time.

SOCIABILITY: His friends haven’t seen him in a long time. Socializing tires him out a lot.

BODY TEMPERATURE: Oddly warm.

ADDICTIONS: None

DRUG USE: None

ALCOHOL USE: Irregularly, avoids it knowing his tolerance is terrible.

Personality

LABEL: The Hero of Time

POSITIVE TRAITS: Courageous, resourceful, determined, resilient, responsible

NEGATIVE TRAITS: Avoidant, impulsive, stubborn, self-sacrificing, easily overwhelmed

GOALS/DESIRES: Wants to find out who orchestrated the mission that nearly resulted in his death.

FEARS: His own inability to save his friends, to save the world. He is afraid his own shortcomings will be the reason he cannot prevent doomsday.

HOBBIES: Horseback riding, sparring, climbing things he shouldn’t be climbing.

HABITS: Sleeping too much, avoiding his friends, drinking/eating as a distraction.

Favourites

WEATHER: Sun and clear skies

COLOUR: Green, red, blue... there aren’t many colours he doesn’t like.

MUSIC: Light, jovial tunes.

SPORT: Horseback riding.

BEVERAGE: Milk.

FOOD: Magic beans.

ANIMAL: Horses.

Family

FATHER: Unknown (deceased)

MOTHER: Unknown (deceased)

SIBLING(S): Unknown

CHILDREN: N/A

PET(S): N/A

FAMILY’S FINANCIAL STATUS: Unknown

Extra

ZODIAC SIGN: Unknown (Aries)

TEMPERAMENT: Melancholic

MORAL ALIGNMENT: Lawful Good

PRIMARY VICE: Pride

PRIMARY VIRTUE: Courage

ELEMENT: N/A

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

Haeyin nodded solemnly, leaning forward on his elbows and resting his chin atop his folded hands. Link may not blame him for being unable to face those memories, but Haeyin could certainly blame himself. Had it not been for him, the young hero would not have been subjected to such horrors in the first place, free to continue on with his own adventures as he saw fit without the looming threat of impending doom.

As Link continued, it was Haeyin now who found himself lost for words as he stared at him. His expression froze in one of genuine surprise before he shook his head, a soft chuckle accompanying the thin smile that formed on his lips.

“Your reasoning is far kinder than I deserve, Link,” he mused, his gaze settling on the bottles that lined the wall behind the bar. “In some ways, I suppose you are right; at the end of the day, a cataclysm was prevented, and for that I can only be grateful.”

His eyes flickered to Link’s face once more, recounting all the times he had seen him during the span of those endlessly looping three days. Only a boy then, dutifully facing down monsters and assisting those in need across a foreign land, doomed by the Salesman’s own hand. How many times did he come back to that clock tower, eyes clouded with the weight of his experiences as his hands shook? How much anguish and heartache had he endured? How many times had he brushed with death?

Termina was saved, yes… but it was at a price that should not have been your’s to pay, Haeyin signed slowly. His hands fell to his lap then, continuing with spoken words. “There has not been a day that has passed that I haven’t thought about what happened, the what ifs and the should haves, the repercussions of my actions. Of all the experiences I have acquired over the course of my life, I hold it in my heart as one of the choices that I regret the most. I do not expect your forgiveness - in fact, I would rather you did not give it - but I must tell you that I am eternally sorry, Link. For everything.”

As Haeyin spoke, Link drummed his fingers against the bar counter thoughtfully.  The initial panic he had felt, the loss of his ability to form words through his hands, had passed for now.  He still felt conflicted on what to say next, but the conversation felt... smoother, somehow.  Perhaps Link hadn’t realized how much he’d needed to hear what Haeyin had come to say.

I’ve never been one to hold a grudge, he admitted, managing to smile weakly up at the salesman.  It’s not in my nature, I suppose.  Pausing to take a swig of his drink, he sighed.  There was that nagging thought again, that misdirection of blame...

Before I met you, I went on... quite the adventure, one might say, Link explained, his brow furrowing.  I was a child then, too.  Who might we blame for that journey, the quest bestowed upon a boy who’d merely wandered into Hyrule Field with no knowledge of his past, his future?

Shaking his head, Link rubbed his eyes wearily before he continued.  I can blame you no more than I can blame fate, Haeyin, Link admitted, his gaze dropping to the grain of the wooden bar counter once more.  And really, who can blame the twists and turns of fortune?  The ends justify the means, right?  Or so I’ve heard.

[gotcourage]

((repost from my art blog :D ))

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

Link’s initial silence was disheartening, although expected. His comment had taken him by surprise it seemed, and he stared down at his mug, unable - or perhaps unwilling - to look at him then. Haeyin waited patiently, watching as the young man’s expression subtly changed with his thoughts. Part of him wondered if Link would lash out at him. Part of him wanted him to.

When he finally did look at him again, Link’s features were grave as he slowly signed his reply. Haeyin’s shoulders sagged slightly.

Perhaps. He sighed, shaking his head as he spoke with his hands. Still, you were just a child. A child who had seen and done much, certainly, but a child nonetheless.

A shock of bright blue hair caught Haeyin’s attention as the Oracle of Ages skipped up to the bar a few seats down from where he and Link sat. There was a small flutter in his chest when she looked over and smiled at the pair of them, to which Haeyin halfheartedly returned with a nod, his gaze lingering on her face for a moment before continuing in his reply.

And I was a fool, and a coward. Haeyin’s hands lowered briefly as he averted his eyes, recounting the events that had unfolded all those years ago. I should have taken better precautions, but I did not, and for my negligence, you and the citizens of Termina paid the price.

His mouth formed a firm line as he continued, his hands moving in fluid but deliberate gestures, It was a cruel chance of fate that you, of all people, happened to be in the woods the day that mask was stolen from me... I feared my further involvement in trying to retrieve Majora would only prove to make an already dire situation even worse. So I used you, the boy hero who traversed time itself to save the land from ruin, in attempts to right my mistakes.

Taken aback by the salesman’s words, Link swallowed a lump in his throat he hadn’t realized was growing.  This conversation was toeing dangerous territory, he thought; he wasn’t keen on reliving his past, the demons that swarmed his nightmares and tickled the back of his neck whenever Link travelled, fought, so much as breathed in a way that reminded him of his adventures.

Though he had learned to speak with his hands where his tongue found itself incapable of forming words, Link struggled to reply.  Frustrated at his own inability to speak, to sign, to do anything in that moment, he took another swig of the ale before him.  The burn in his throat was comforting now, pushing the rising emotion in his chest back down where he kept it intentionally buried.  Noticing his discomfort, Ceri gently touched his index finger where it gripped the stein tightly.

Sighing, Link leaned back, shaking his head.  I find myself at a loss for words, he admitted finally, unable to meet Haeyin’s gaze as he responded.  These are memories I have avoided for many years.  That is not something I can fault you for; I may have been brave, but I am not strong.  Not in my heart, where I cannot hide.

He paused, scratching at his chin thoughtfully.  The thought that had come to mind, the assurance he might have offered Haeyin for “using” him, seemed too blasphemous to utter.  Downright sacrilege.  He skipped over his thought, continuing on.  You did the best you could do against forces greater than you or I should ever have had to deal with.  What matters now is that we succeeded, and that Termina and its inhabitants are safe a while longer.

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

I see, Haeyin signed, nodding as though Link’s response had confirmed what he had already assumed.

He suppressed a laugh at the young man’s expense as he struggled not to choke on his drink, turning his attention to his own cup. His fingertips idly drummed against the counter top before he settled on finally taking a sip. Haeyin’s nose crinkled as the luke warm liquid passed his lips; while his tea still tasted decently enough, it had become a bit bitter as it cooled.

Catching Link’s shift in posture out of the corner of his eye, Haeyin looked to him again as he asked about his own travels. A wry smile tugged at his mouth, setting his drink back down.

Yes, he replied simply. As it happens, I actually just returned from Termina. I suppose being there again after so long stirred up some old memories.

His head tipped slightly as he regarded the young hero, his expression becoming a touch somber, It wasn’t fair, asking of you what I did…

In the moments following the salesman’s response, Link was unsure of how best to reply.  Finding it difficult to meet the salesman’s eyes just then, he turned his gaze upon his stein before him, thumbing the texture of the handle absentmindedly.

He was at a loss for words.  Part of him wanted to reply aggressively, to remark on the understatement Haeyin had uttered.  Link had still been just a boy when he had ventured to Termina.  But no... he couldn’t blame Haeyin for why he had taken up that mantle in the first place.  Haeyin had only requested that he follow through with a mission Link had already been dragged into.  Who could fault him for that?

Sighing, Link rubbed his eye with his free hand.  He could certainly fault Haeyin for that, he thought grimly.  Or at the very least, he could try.  Meeting the salesman’s gaze once more, he slowly signed his response.  If there was any fairness in this world, I doubt we would need heroes.

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

That it does, Haeyin replied, chuckling softly. I can empathize with that at the very least.

Acquaintance? His smile faltered only slightly as Link made introductions, finding the term far kinder than he felt he deserved. The young fairy greeted him with a bow, and Haeyin dipped his head in turn.

“The pleasure is mine, Miss Ceri,” he said, casting Link a teasing glance before continuing. “I trust our friend here hasn’t gotten you in too much trouble during your adventures together.”

To the young man’s question, Haeyin nodded, pausing in his reply as he noticed the wariness in his guarded expression. 

I am curious, he signed. Have you.. been back to Termina since we last spoke?

Cordial and polite, as always.  He watched the salesman interact with Ceri, his tone playful but caring.  The fairy, in turn, wiggled her eyebrows at Link, a gesture evidenced only by the simultaneous flutter of her wings.  He cleared his throat as he felt his cheeks colour, knowing she was teasing him for not having mentioned Haeyin sooner.

He continued his response with his hands, and Link felt the muscle in his jaw twitch at the mention of Termina.  Pausing momentarily, he replied earnestly.  Yes, he explained, but not often.  I rarely take jobs there, when I do visit it’s usually to see how Kafei is doing.  And on that note, Link realized it had been a while since he had done even that.

Reaching for his mug, he took a long swig of his drink.  A mistake, he realized quickly -- he hadn’t known what to expect, and whatever he’d just inhaled was strong.  The feeling quickly subsided, however, and Link managed not to choke on his drink.  It left a warm feeling in his throat, for which he was grateful.  Finally, it seemed he had stopped shivering.

Turning to face Haeyin once more, he asked him, Have you been back to Termina, then?  I never see much of you, you travel even more frequently than I do.

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

Noticing the way the young man tensed at the sight of him, Haeyin waited for his approval before taking a seat at the bar next to him. He set his cup on the counter top with a soft clink as Telma returned with a stein of what he could only assume was ale. It was then that he noticed the small fairy seated on the counter in front of Link, though he didn’t recognize her as the cheerful blue light that followed the young hero around Hyrule, nor the mouthy ball of sass who had traveled with him in Termina. This little companion was new.

Telma’s question caused him to glance at his cup, realizing his drink was untouched despite her bringing it to him some time ago.

“Ah, yes,” Haeyin replied quickly, his smile turning a bit sheepish as his red eyes settled on the barkeep. “Though I’m afraid I may have let it grow cold.”

“I could get you another,” she offered, but Haeyin shook his head.

“No, no, that’s quite alright. Thank you, Telma.”

She clicked her tongue, nodding as she pat the counter top. “Well, alright then. If you boys need anything, just give a shout.”

Haeyin waited for her to walk away before turning in his seat to face the young man at his side. Though he had seen him from afar over the years, Link appeared far worse for wear than Haeyin had imagined him to up close. The poor lad looked looked like he’d been to hell and back more than once. All things considered, he probably had, Haeyin thought grimly.

My apologies if I startled you, Haeyin signed to him. It was not my intent.

He spoke with his hands as fluently as Link did, as if he had been using his fingers in place of spoken words for years.  It was rare that he could hold a conversation with someone without Ceri’s assistance, and despite his uneasiness around the salesman, Link found himself comforted by the familiar medium.

A lifetime of adventuring keeps you on your toes, Link explained with a smirk, joking at his own expense.  It’s nothing, an instinctive reaction.  Noticing Haeyin’s gaze turn towards the fairy who joined him, Link figured an introduction was in order.  He turned towards Ceri, gesturing up at Haeyin.  Haeyin, this is my friend Ceri.  I met her sometime after I returned from Termina.  Ceri, this is Haeyin, an old... an old acquaintance of mine.

Ceri took a little bow, eyeing the redheaded salesman curiously.  “A pleasure to meet you, Haeyin,” she said politely, though Link could tell from her tone she was somewhat on edge herself.  Likely because she could tell he was nervous, and was trying to understand why.

You said you wanted to talk? Link signed, searching Haeyin’s face.  He was admittedly curious himself, in a perhaps rather morbid way.  He was genuinely at a loss for what to expect as he waited for the salesman’s response.

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

[gotcourage]

moonfallmerchant:

Haeyin had been sitting alone at a table, cheek propped in his palm as he wearily stirred the contents of his cup with a spoon, when he heard the tavern door open. He glanced across the dim, pausing in his movement to see none other than Link, pale and wet as he trudged towards the bar. It must have started raining again…

He watched with muted interest as Telma came over to greet the young hero, though he couldn’t quite make out what was being discussed between them from where he sat. After a few minutes, the kindly barkeep left Link to his own devices, assumingly to fetch him something to eat or drink. It was then that Haeyin stood from his chair, pushing it under the table before walking towards the bar himself.

Approaching Link from his left side, Haeyin made sure not to move too quickly as to startle him. Given their bleak history, the last thing he wanted was to scare the poor boy right off the bat.

“Link?” he called to him, still a few paces away. His smile was tired, but pleasant as he waited for Link to turn and face him. “Might I have a moment of your time?”

He hadn’t been anticipating company, and as a result Link startled slightly at the sound of his own name.  He caught sight of a red-headed male in the corner of his good eye.  Turning to face the speaker, he felt his jaw clench involuntarily; it was none other than the mask salesman he had met so many years ago.  Speaking of ghosts...

It seemed strange, Link thought, that after what must have been at least a decade, Haeyin was unchanged.  He looked rather the same as he had the day Link had met him that fateful day in Termina.  His red hair remained solidly so, without a streak of grey or silver in sight, and his youthful face bore not a mark or a scratch that might indicate the passage of time.  If only the two of them had fared so well.

A moment of his time?  Hadn’t he said something of that nature the first time they’d met?  Link couldn’t remember.  He smiled politely, nodding his head and gesturing for Haeyin to take a seat beside him -- but still, his jaw would not relax, and that chill remained closely nestled against the hollows of his ribs.

Telma returned moments later, sliding a stein across the counter towards Link.  “Here you go, honey.  Hope it hits the spot.”  As if noticing Haeyin’s presence, she offered him a warm smile.  “Still working on yours, dear?”

[gotcourage]

Ghosts & Petrichor

The tavern was warm, as it so often was, and yet Link could not shake the chill in his bones.  He breathed on his gloved hands fruitlessly in an attempt to warm them as he took a seat at the bar, still in his heavy coat and scarf.  Telma raised her eyebrow as he sat down, meeting him across the counter as she surveyed him warily.

“You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she remarked.  He nearly flinched.  “What’s eating you, honey?”

Link looked up slowly, meeting her concerned stare.  Telma was one of the few people who had the courtesy -- or perhaps merely the experience -- to look at the left side of his face when she spoke to him.  Her gaze was unwavering, as if she were unfazed by the bandages covering his face, or the jagged scars that peered out from beneath them.

I suppose you could say I did, he signed.  The mission went well, but... I saw someone I didn’t expect to see.

Telma’s understanding of his sign language was spotty, but Ceri managed to fill in the rest.  As she emerged from his coat pocket, she landed on the counter gracefully.  “We were helping that cucco lady,” Ceri explained.  “We ran into someone we weren’t... well, it’s a long story.  But we weren’t expecting to see them any time soon.  Or at all.  Ever, really.”

The barkeep nodded slowly, pursing her lips.  “You look a bit damp, Link dear,” she noted.  “Can I get you something to warm up?  Tea, maybe?”

He was about to agree, but found himself hesitating.  Something stronger, Link replied.  Telma seemed as if she were about to challenge his request, but after a moment thought better of it.  He wondered how drained he looked if she wasn’t arguing against him drinking.

“Give me a minute, honey -- I’ve got just the thing.”

[exiledoracle]

Chicken!

[gotcourage]

exiledoracle:

thekingoflightandshadow:

Ganondorf regarded the two one last time. The thought that at least two people knew of his whereabouts every day around dusk was vexing. He had no desire to encounter the hero again, and the girl, while curious, was altogether a nuisance. Perhaps it was time to rethink his arrangement with the village…the routine had become a bore anyhow. Something to meditate on later.

Another bolt of lightning lit up the skies ahead, a great clap of thunder following. It was time to move on.

To the tavern, he supposed. It had been a couple of days since the fiasco, and surely it had been forgotten by now. He could certainly use a drink after this encounter.

He raised his fist, a great wave of shadows washing over his body, leaving not a trace of him in its wake.

And blown off completely. Now Din rolled her eyes, turning back to Link. 

She spoke quietly, just in case the disappearing act only put the man out of sight and not far away. “Is he always so dramatic? Like, is everything some sort of mini-production? Is it just a ‘being evil’ thing?” 

“I agree with Ceri though, I love rain but my outfits usually don’t. We…need to find that lady though.” Crossing her arms again, she looked in the direction the coop was…although now that it was dark the woman probably relocated for the night. Where did she even live? Well– Link would know, maybe. She’d leave it to him.

“I kind of understand why the missions are located in the bar….I could definitely use a drink after this.”

He laughed despite the situation he found himself in.  After all this time, the only person Link had been more careful to avoid than the princess herself was Ganondorf -- and yet, for all his efforts, he had found him here of all places.  He had no answer to offer Din’s objections to the king’s demeanour, but Link was hardly one to vet a man’s speech.

I’ll check on Anju, Link offered, gesturing towards the woman’s house by the cucco pen.  They had settled for now, momentarily spooked by the appearance of the stalchildren before.  Get back safely, my friend.

Ceri lingered a moment longer after Link left, as if she were afraid the moment she took flight would be the moment the rain began to fall.  “I’m sure we’ll be heading back shortly ourselves,” she offered, patting Din’s shoulder where she perched upon it.  “Safe travels, Din -- I’m sure we’ll meet again, if you find yourself at Telma’s often.”  Gathering her courage, the fairy gave one last twirl around the red-headed young woman before darting off after Link, disappearing into the darkness.

[exiledoracle]

Chicken!

[gotcourage]

exiledoracle:

thekingoflightandshadow:

Unorthodox, but effective.

He sheathed his sword, confident that the grounds were calm for the time being. A low rumble could be heard in the distance, his ears catching the sound just before bolts of lighting lit up the horizon. The wind picked up hastily, a warning that the storms would be arriving soon.

As effortless as his victory may have seemed, his adrenaline had run its course and he was beginning to feel fatigue.

“Sir!” He heard a faint call from the hills behind him. “Sir Endellion!”

A young man ran down the beaten path to where Ganondorf stood.

“My father–” the boy stammered, trying to catch his breath, “gives this payment in return for your service. Dawn is approaching…and we are safe for another night. Thank you!”

He remained silent, nodding his head in a polite response.

“Well…um, storms are approaching so…stay safe I suppose!” The young man laughed nervously, passing over the rupees before rushing off towards the path he had come from.

“I’m fine, that was nothing.” Din said to both Ceri and Link with a smile. “Just a bit of a work out, right?” 

Maybe a bit too much of a work out, she’d spent way to long secluded in her room avoiding things. She’d have to start training again, and sharpening her spear. And not forgetting the damn thing at home. 

She startled just a little bit at hearing the voice of a young man, watching him give Ganondorf the payment. She wouldn’t have given it a second thought if it wasn’t for the name the man had used for Ganondorf.

Endellion

She felt just a little unsettled by it, but didn’t want to say anything until the man left. 

“Endellion– do you know where that name even comes from?” She said, looking at the approaching storm. She’d like to be safely inside once it hit, not standing in the dark.

Link watched with muted curiosity as the young man approached Ganondorf, handing him his payment seemingly without worry or care.  It was jarring, he thought, to see the king interact with people so nonchalantly.  He had to remind himself that to the people of Hyrule now, Ganondorf was not the king of evil.  He had never laid a finger on the Hylian king.  He had never corrupted the land with his magic.  That ill-fated Hyrule was from another time, another life, and this world would never know any better.

Dragged from his thoughts by Din’s voice, he shook his head, turning to face her.  Frowning, Link paused for a moment as he attempted to jog his memory.  There was so much he only faintly remembered, but he was having difficulty even registering having heard the name “Endellion” before.

Should I? he signed, glancing quickly towards Ceri.  She shrugged ineffectually before answering Din herself.  “It’s not familiar to me,” she explained.  “But I’m all too familiar with storms, and the rain... it’s not ideal for a fairy’s wings, you see.  If it’s not too much trouble, could we start heading back soon?”

[exiledoracle]

Chicken!

[gotcourage]

exiledoracle:

thekingoflightandshadow:

At last, a challenge.

The stalfos, brandishing their weapons and shields as they charged at the group, served as a grim reminder of what happened to those who placed mettle over sense. Though they had more tact than the mindless drones of stalchildren, their stance and technique were husks of what he could only imagine they once were. They moved as though they had no knowledge of the ill path their fate had taken. Their methods, maybe once capable as living warriors, were awkward and clumsy with their skeletal limbs.

A pair made to crowd him, thinking to outnumber and overwhelm him most likely. He waited patiently for them to close the gap before striking. A loud screech rang throughout the night air. He glared at the creature’s severed skull, irritated, before definitively crushing it beneath the heel of his boot.

The other stalfos charged, but the clinking of its joints gave its position away. Ganondorf spun around, sword at the ready, to meet the foe with a clash of steel upon steel. He held back for a moment, just to see the strength that the creature could muster. The stalfos, perhaps sensing that something was amiss, faltered in its stance. He grinned darkly before serving it the same fate as its cohort.

He could hear the thrashing of battle from behind him, and he surmised that the other two monsters had rushed to the hero and his comrade. He turned to face them, just in time to see Link destroy the remains of one, while the other ominously approached the young woman.

Interesting. He watched on with vague interest.

She couldn’t help but give a lopsided smile as Link put himself in front of her, fighting a Stalfos. A glance towards Ganondorf was enough to tell her the man had absolutely minced the two that had thought to face him.

The last one, while the two fighters were occupied, had thought to try and attack her– the most vulnerable party.

The magic made her fingers tingle– months of disuse assured she was out of practice, but the simple fireball was easily cast. The stalfos had enough sense to put up it’s shield to avoid having it’s head knocked off, but the force of the fireball sent reeling back several feet. 

Its shield was a little charred, but the stalfos itself wasn’t damaged, just unsteady. 

There had never been a doubt in his mind that Ganondorf could fend for himself, but Link felt the dread creep into his gut once more when he saw the final stalfos lunge for Din.  Before it could strike her, however, she threw a bolt of raging flames from her fingertips, sending the stalfos flying backwards.  It barely regained its stance, and Link couldn’t help but laugh.  This was exciting, albeit nerve-wracking.

Seizing the opportunity granted by Din’s magic, Link clasped his sword in both hands, charging forward to slam the tip of his sword into the stalfos’ eye socket.  As the blade forced its way through the fragile bone, its skull cracked down the middle, its jaw chattering briefly before disintegrating entirely.

Straightening up, Link surveyed the area quickly.  It seemed, for now at least, that the area was clear.  He sheathed his sword slowly, his grip still tight on the hilt of the blade as he eyed the ground warily.  After a moment’s pause he sighed, finally releasing his grasp.  Turning to Din, he signed quickly towards her.  Are you okay?

Ceri flitted over to where Din stood nearby, flying around her as she gave her a quick once-over.  “Are you hurt?” she asked, finally settling on Din’s shoulder.  “That was rather impressive, I must admit.  Though I’m not eager to fight those things again, mind you.  I think that’s quite enough excitement for one evening...”

[exiledoracle]

Chicken!

[gotcourage]

exiledoracle:

thekingoflightandshadow:

“I work alone,” he growled, swiftly eradicating the mass of bones that clattered around him. Their pieces hit the ground with a dull rattle. An easy victory, yet satisfying enough.

“If you do not conspire to steal my payment, then…that is fine. Defend yourselves from these abominations.” He shook his head, reluctantly turning to face the duo. He glowered at them from behind his hood. “But do not mistake our near vicinity for comradery…”

The dark lord peered into the eyes of the hero. The same burning resolve that he remembered from so long ago. Though he remained swathed in shadow, he still felt himself vulnerable in the boy’s presence. Perish the thought. “Fate has thrown us together for far too long for me to willingly remain in your company,”

Ganondorf shrugged dismissively, “You do not wish to take what is owed to me and you have not come for a fight…at least a fight that you would have hope of winning with what you wield now,” he gestured at Link’s blade. “Then I will turn my back on you now. Do as you will but leave me be.”

Once the initial fear and the feeling of danger subsided just a bit, Din couldn’t help but feel that everything the man said seemed just so…dramatic. If he was anyone else in the world, Din might have rolled her eyes, but he was still too intimidating for that level of sass.

His announcement that he’d turn his back on them took her completely by surprise, even moreso when he actually did it. For Din it was a physical de-escalation of the situation between the three of them.

“Alright then.” Din spoke, swiftly dealing with a couple of stalchildren with the sound of thunks and cracks. She certainly wasn’t able to dispatch them as fast as the other two, but she had no intention of standing back and letting them take care of what was the lowest rank of Stal monsters. Even inconvenienced…she didn’t want to appear weak in front of the King of Evil. 

The three of them thinned out the stalchildren until no more sprung up, leaving small piles of quickly crumbling bone in their wake. And then there was a new sound, metal clanking and the sound of swords being drawn. 

“Oh great.” She spat out, retreating back. “I’m afraid there’s little I can do with these four.” She wiggled the dagger a little to explain as the stalfos stalked closer. 

She studied their movements, remembering again what her predecessor wrote about them. Stalfos were formerly people, and at least had the skill level and intelligence of a person. Enough to don armor. There was no way she could knock their heads off with what she had now. 

“Good luck, gentlemen.” She crossed her arms in front of her, still focused on the stalfos. 

The stalfos emerged from the earth as their comrades had, dragging weapons in defiance of their lack of musculature, their dead and drying forms.  Link could feel the familiar presence of fear in his mouth, the dread that filled his gut as they trudged towards him.  He pressed on.

Though it had served her well before, the dagger he had given Din would do little against these creatures.  Stalchildren were grunts, pawns that moved in hiveminded mobs.  Stalfos were warriors, undead knights and champions that still possessed tactical thinking.  Link felt his grip on his sword tighten instinctively.

He moved quickly, placing himself between Din and the advancing stalfos.  Ganondorf could fight alongside him or he could fight solo; either way, Link would not risk his partner’s life.

The stalfos were sluggish in their decrepit forms, weighed down by their weapons.  He moved faster than they could, slashing at the gaps in their joints, the hollows left in their spines where they remained vulnerable despite their makeshift armour.  One fell to the ground in a clatter, and he easily crushed its skull with a swift strike of his blade.

[exiledoracle]

Chicken!

[gotcourage]

exiledoracle:

thekingoflightandshadow:

The searing desert sands. Heat and thirst. Those old familiar sensations briefly overcame him at her touch. There was no doubt that this young woman and the other at the bar were connected. Perhaps kin of some sort, as different as they looked in comparison. But he had no time to ponder such things.

“I trust that now you both know who I am,” he resigned, effortlessly drawing the crooked blade from the scabbard that draped at his side. Though the motion seemed threatening, he made to destroy the stalchildren that clamored towards them. It was almost a pitiful sight, how they lined up for slaughter.

The village fell silent. The people had returned to their homes at dusk, but he could feel prying eyes watching them from the windows.

“You desire to speak to me, but the feeling is not mutual,” he said simply, his back still turned to the two. “I am merely here to perform a service.”

“I am a protector to these people, but that arrangement could quickly change if you continue to draw your sword as you do now,” he smirked, looking over his shoulder. “If you are here to kill me, I cannot promise that our battle would leave them unscathed…and if you are here to steal my job, then I suppose I no longer have any use for this village or these people.”

“Indeed.” She spoke at his statement about knowing who he was. It was still impossible to see what he looked like.

She saw Link move out of the corner of her eye, and turned to see him gesture and then toss a dagger. It wasn’t much, but the weight of it in her hand made her feel a little better about the shambling stalchildren moving toward them. 

She remembered her predecessors’ notes on stal-type monsters. Remove the head and destroy it and the rest of the body would break down. 

Catching Ganondorfs’ comment about speaking, she couldn’t help but let out a dry “Hah!”  She had very suddenly lost her appetite for conversation with the men– well, aside from responses.

She didn’t quite believe the ‘protector of the people’ bit, and found the threats a little blowhard-y. “We’re not here for you, or your job. We were….” Stating that they were catching cuccos seemed considerably less impressive than Ganondorfs ‘I came here to protect the town from the dead.’

“We were here on a mission from Telma’s place. We had no idea you were here.” She couldn’t even make a ‘because if i did, i wouldn’t be here’ statement because she probably would have come if she’d known because she hadn’t known his true identity before. 

“We’re not here to steal your job either, but…since we are here, and arguably on the same side— the side to destroy these stalchildren– I don’t see why we can’t…work together?” She spoke slowly, making sure she sounded diplomatic enough. Frankly, she didn’t want to turn her back on the man, which walking away to go home would require. She also wanted to know what he looked like, because not knowing put her at a disadvantage in the future. If he approached her without that cloak on, she might not even know it was him until it was too late.

“If there’s no serious objections, I mean.” She said, glancing between Ganondorf and Link. A stalchild who had gotten too close to her seemed to rattle it’s own objections, which Din responded too by using the hilt of the dagger to knock its skull to the ground before stomping down on it with a loud crunch. 

Stalchildren were easy.  Link had practically grown up fending off the skeletal denizens of the earth, and after the first surprise attack on his trip to Hyrule Castle, their addled strikes and sluggish movements no longer took him by surprise.  He cut down as many as he could, slamming the edge of his blade against their skulls, hard enough to crack them down the mandible.  Child’s play.

The king’s combat style was almost exactly as he remembered it -- lethal and efficient, and startlingly fast for a man of his size.  His actions conveyed the truth behind his words, but Link remained on his guard.  He hardly wanted to spend more than a few minutes in close proximity to the man, let alone speak with him.  He was grateful then that Din supplied most of the talking, as he found himself at a loss for words.  And then came the suggestion of working together.

For once, Ceri conveyed his thoughts without him needing to sign them out, and without exaggeration.  “If it’ll prevent a fight, perhaps,” she agreed, uncertainty leaking into her tone.  She had not been Link’s companion in the days that he fought Ganondorf, but she had heard enough to be wary of him.  “Technically, the mission we came for has been completed, so... once the village is safe, we’ll only be too happy to take our leave.  All yours.”

A stalchild gnawed on Link’s arm before he batted it aside, downing it with a single well-aimed slash.  Truthfully, he was only too happy to leave the moment the stalchildren legions had been defeated.