Chapter XIII: Fleeting Respite

Chapter XIII: A Fleeting Repsite

Link exited the palace grounds, and walked south, as he was told to do. It was well into the middle of the afternoon and still no sun shone upon him. The wind continued to assault him, even seemed to increase it's force upon his skin. Link realized, if he were headed into the icy lake, he'd require more sufficent apparrel. His jesrkins possesed the wretched habit of shredding. Link wished for a shirt of mail. As he did, the wind socked him in the chest.
How long had he been walking? He crossed over seemingly measurless spans of parched meadows and barren forests. He forded stagnant streams, and tread upon rocky, ragged trails. The humid air nearly made his choke, taking in breath was as difficult as swallowing stone.
He walked well into the middle of the night. He was weary to cease, due to his encounter the other day. Link was able to find a tree in which he could sleep. This one said nothing to him.

Link found himself on the threshold of a grand, ornate palace. It was the size of a mountain with towers that rose high into the stars, that concealed their pinnacles. The ramparts were as massive as areans, as far as he could see, LInk could not find where the palace ended. The gate, which he stood before was as broad as a river, above the which three sentinels kept vigil. One was a hippogriff, wings as vast as the sky. Another was a wyvern, it was about the same size as the hippogrif with teeth were as long as trees. The third was a gryphon, its mane was as thick as the woods he trekked through. The sight of them made the Link's brow and palms leak beads of sweat. They glared at Link cautiously, as any gaurdian would. LInk had faced the other beasts, but these somehow seemed differnt, still he drew his sword.
'Where am I?'
'You are in the Dreaming lad.' answered the hippogriff.
'What am I doing here? I am seeking the Dark King Mandrag. Is this his citadel?'
'You will not find him here, for that is in the waking world.' stated the gryphon
'Do you know where I can?'
'No. But our master has summoned you. That is why you are here. Please enter.' revealed the wyvern.
The stately stone gates swung open. Link sheathed his sword and entered in where a raven greeted him.
'This way please' something about the entire place seemed familiar, like it was a dream that he could recall retreating echoes of the morning.
As Link followed, he gazed about at the grand halls. The section was as vast as a valley. HE saw treasures that he had only about in bedtime tales. He passed through shelves of books that went to the lofty celing. LInk saw creatures that he had never heard of, all shapes and sizes. He was led into the main hall. The raven departed, and the host made himself seen.
'Who are you?'
The host was tall and lean. His skin was as pale as the moon, and his hair was untamed as the night and was as black to match. He was clothed in an obsidian robe. His face was stoic and regal, His eyes were featureless to speak of, but through the blackness of them, Link could see entire worlds.
'Welcome Link. This is my realm. I have shaped it' His voice was deep as the ocean, but as smooth as oil. 'I know you fighting to deliver your realm. I have seen it fit to aid you Link.'
'How did you know my name?'
'I know all names.'
Upon Hearing this, Link's ears began to perk. 'Are you Him? Are you the Voice that's been in my dreams recently?'
'No Link. I am not. I have taken an interest in your story, so I have seen it fit to grant you a boon. Please, come with me.'
'I feel as though I've been here before'
'You have been here often.'
The pale king led Link through a door. Beyond which, Link found a room that uncannily resembled his. He looked around, unsure of what to make of his settings.
'What is the meaning of this?'
'You shall see. Farewell Link.'

The king was gone, as was the door they went through. Link noticed something about his bed. It was occupied. He went over to it, and when he saw its occupant his eyes widened.
'Zelda' She tossed about like a broken sailed ship caught in Posiedon's fury. Link knelt beside her, and took her into his arms. 'Zelda'
She roused slowly. 'Link, is that really you?'
'Yeah Princess, it's me.'
She turned into his embrace, and sat up, pulling Link into her own arms. 'Link, oh Hero.'
   'I've tried contacting you, just like you said, but I haven't been able to.'
'Ganon...' Her voice began to quiver. 'He, he...' Zelda was unable to complete her sentance, and instead she wept.
Link said nothing, but only held her. He knew he was asleep yet, the way she felt as her frame trembled in his arms, the warm moisture of her tears, the heat of her breath upon his chest, even the aroma, and soft smoothness of her hair, felt as real as she ever had. Link's own tears and gentle kisses anointed the crown of Zelda's head.
Zelda was consumed with pain and shame. Ganon had put her though such a fearsome hell she that wanted to kill herself. She could do nothing more than endure the torment and strife.   Link brushed her hair back from her eyes and after a lifetime of her tears, she spoke again.
'That bastard that sick, twisted bastard! Link, I beg you! You have to kill Ganon! You have to!' Zelda clung to LInk fast as a vise, her knuckles flushing pale for gripping fast upon his clothes.
'We're going to win this Zelda. I sware on my uncle.'
She collected herself as LInk dryed her eyes, and tightened his grasp. 'I'm sorry Link, I'm sorry I can't help you, I'm sorry Agahnim sent me here, LInk, I'm sorry for everything you've endured because of me. I can never repay you.'
'Zelda, we're in this together! You have nothing to be sorry about.'
'I've done nothing whatsoever to help you in your quest, LInk. I'm sorry'
'You've done your part and so much more. I can't do this without you. I need you to stay strong, I'll be there soon.'
'Thank you. So you were able to defeat Agahnim?'
'For all the good it did. I was sent here just after I killed him. Sahasrahla tells me I must now defeat Ganon.'
'You will. I know it. Link, you've given me so much hope. Without you, I, I don't know.'
She looked into his eyes which were a bit wet as well. 'I've rescued the first maiden. Should I rescue you now?'
'No Link. Save the other's first. And then together, You and I will defeat Ganon. We'll make that filthy bastard pay for all he's done to us!'
'So where does Ganon have you?'
'I'm in Turtle Rock.'
'I'll come as soon as I am able.'
'Link, I still wish I could join you. This is my fight. This is my kingdom.'
She began to long for the night they shared in the Sacntuary, when they danced. She wanted again to be lost in his presence. 'Tell me what's happened since you defeated Agahnim'
'Well alright'   Link began with his introduction into the dark realm, and of Sahasrahla's desperate plea. He narrated to her an account of his dreams, the golden voice that met him upon the peak. He told of the faeries, and the aide they gave him. Link told of the despair which nearly devoured him in the dungeon's core. He finished by telling of the maiden he delivered, and the renewal of his spirits that followed.
'I wish I could be there to fight beside you.'
   'It's been difficult with out you around. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do.'
'Link, I,' Zelda could not finish.
'You told me that all I had to do was call your name and you'd answer me. I tried that and it didn't work. Why?'
'Ganon is blocking my powers. But how is it that you are able to break through to me?'
'A pale king led me here to you. I believe we're dreaming'
'I don't know a pale king. So you tell me we're Dreaming?' inquired she
'Your guess is as good as mine'
'LInk have you Ever shared a dream before?'
'Not that I know of. That one that you described, We shared that one didn't we?'
'Yeah, we did. My mother always told me that if two people share a dream they will meet.'
'Zelda, I have to ask you; Why did you ever choose me? There are dozens of people in Hyrule more qualified to deliver you than me. Even after defeating Agahnim, there's no way I could be the only one worthy.'
'I can't tell you Link, but you are worthy. It was almost as though I was guided to you. As though it were all written out.'
They said nothing, only savoured each other's company. Zelda's head lay against his chest. Although they were dreaming, she could hear his heart. She tuned her ear, as it fell into the same pattern as her own. This excited her as it did the first time she noticed. She felt his tears dry upon her hair. Zelda never had seen a man cry before, and it was odd to see her Hero in tears, especially because they were tears for her.
'I miss this.' said Zelda
'So do I'

Link awoke just before what would be the dawn, only instead of the sun he was greeted by a wind that made his spine shiver, and dank clouds that weighed heavy upon him, and abrasive air, that scraped his lungs as he drew in breath. He leapt down, and streched, trying to aleivate some of the pain he felt. There was a very prevelant stiffness in his limbs, but he had grown accustomed to it. It was still a good two days or so untill he'd arrive at his destination. Of course, he had no way of knowing that. He hoped for no ecounters on the way, but as usual his way wouldn't happen.
'You there! Your money or your life!' ordered moblin. It thrust its spear out towards his chest, Link glared at it saying nothing.
It jabbed it's shaft foreward. Link staefed to his left, and kicked it in the side. He drew forth the Master Sword, and lashed a quick jab. The moblin evaded his stroke, and grazed Link's thigh with his spear. It swung again. He juked and swung down, pinning it's spear. Link kicked it in the chest, causing it to drop it's weapon, and Link finished it off.
He saw that his thigh had been opened, so he tore off part of his tunic to bandage it and Link simply continued walking.
The further south he walked, the the colder it became, which he did find odd. His bowels still quaked; he still felt thorns in his shins, the wind continued it's unrelenting assault upon his body.
Two days later, he came up to the water's edge. Link looked across it. As far as he could see, it was a carpet of miry, murky water that no ripples or waves broke the surface and It sat still like a carcass upon the sun scorched plain. The water it self had a definite stench of decay, and death. Link took a stone and cast it out into the lake, after it sank He looked out over it's murky surface again. Before Link could convince himself otherwise, he leapt in.

End Chapter