Seven Years part 17

Here is part 17... sorry it end abruptly, but I wanted to get something down... 17.5 will be out soon

Impa nodded and disappeared in her usual flash. As Shiek found herself suddenly alone with Toran, she felt slightly awkward. She knew full well it was because of Link, but was unsure of what to say to break the hanging silence.

“Well, um, we need to get on to Lon Lon if we plan on making it there before morning,” she finally offered. Toran nodded in agreement, but Shiek noticed the absence of verbal more then anything else. Not talking wasn’t like Toran at all.

Let’s just get back to Lon Lon and rest up, that’ll help a lot.

Shiek only allowed herself a few hours of sleep. Link would be arriving at the Forest Temple shortly after dawn, and she needed to be there before he arrived. She and Toran had reached the ranch a few hours before sunup, and had burrowed down into the hay in the far barn Malon had hid them in before. Shiek had waited for Toran to fall asleep, which he did almost before he lay down, and then sat down to catch a little sleep.

Toran was still out like a stone when Shiek roused herself two hours later. Brushing away hay and straightening her clothes, she walked over to her bag of supplies and drew out her harp. Checking once more to make sure her disguise was in place, Shiek strummed a few notes and sent herself to the Forest Temple. The sounds of a Moblin hammer crashing down and Link’s war cry greeted her arrival into the temple courtyard. There had never been Moblins patrolling the labyrinth in front of the temple before, but from the sound of it a virtual army of them must have moved in. Shiek ran to the stairs leading down to the narrow path that led to the maze of hedges, but stopped when she observed the biggest Moblin she had ever seen blocking the path. Its back was to her, but she could tell it was wielding a war club the size of a small tree. And then on the other side of the Moblin she saw Link advance into the path. There was a deadly gleam in his eye as he rushed forward, Master Sword gleaming brightly. Bellowing, the Moblin brought his club down, the shockwave rippling the ground like water. Shiek felt her heart freeze, but her hero apparently was able to think quicker then she had given him credit for. Link did an amazing back flip, jumping over the shockwave and coming to land back on his feet. He somehow had pulled out his hookshot while in the air, and fired it at the Moblin almost before his feet hit the ground. The grapple shot out and connected with the big brute’s forehead. The Moblin shook its head, dazed and confused, and also giving Link the opportunity he needed. Quickly jumping forward, Link lashed out with the legendary Master Sword. Four beautifully smooth strokes delivered with seemingly minimal effort quickly put an end to the Moblin’s Gannondorf-Serving days. It crumpled without even time for a moan.

Shiek was sufficiently impressed.

Thinking quickly, Shiek ducked back into the courtyard and shimmied up one of the trees. Link might be the Hero of Time, but she enjoyed playing with his mind. She watched as he entered the courtyard, sheathing his sword and looking around with a faraway look in his eye. He walked over to a stump that was virtually below her spot on the branch, and looked at down at it, something close to sorrow in his eyes. His hand reached down to trace little patterns on it, before he started whistling a strange quick tune. Deciding it was time, Shiek dropped down behind him.

“GAH! Damn, Shiek, I swear, one of these days I’m just gonn’a take your head clean off if you keep that up!”

Grinning wryly, she shrugged, gesturing at the stump.

“Something go down here? You looked kind of introspective…”

“Yeah, this is where Saria and I would come when we were kids and…” stopping, he shook his head, “that’s not important right now… I need to get into this temple.”

Nodding, Shiek proceeded with the lesson she had prepared on the Forest Temple and Link’s introduction to warp songs.

“The flow of time is always cruel, it seems different for each person… one thing that never changes is the memory of friends the times they shared. Listen to the Minuet of the Forest, a song dedicated to childhood memories…”

Cheesy yes, but she was hoping it would let him know that Zelda might have been waiting longer but she still recalled seeing him so many years ago. Shiek pulled out her harp and strummed the first few notes of the Forest Minuet. Link pulled out his flute and followed along for a verse. Raising an eyebrow, Link gave a slightly skeptical look.

“You can use this song to return to this courtyard at anytime,” Shiek explained, “now, go kill some minions for me, ok?”

“You’re not coming with me?” Link asked, obviously slightly miffed.

“Can’t,” she replied, “I have other jobs that can’t wait.”

“Maybe you could have done that last night instead of visiting your girlfriend,” Link said, a bit of a sneer tugging at his mouth.

“Hey! For one I don’t have a girlfriend-”

“Oh yeah, I forgot, you’re gay…”

“I AM NOT GAY!”

“Then what’s with all the ‘this gay pansy song is dedicated to friendship, kids, and love’ stuff?”

“Look, whatever, I have to go.”

With that, Shiek threw down a Daku nut to release a blinding flash and crack to hide her exit and quickly rolled to cover. She watched as Link used his hookshot to reach the temple door. As he entered the temple, Shiek couldn’t help feeling aggravation at Link’s antics. He seemed like a nice enough person, but he obviously was obsessing over the whole quest.

I’m sure he’ll snap out of it after everything is done.

It was about midday when Shiek reentered Lon Lon Ranch. Neither Malon nor Indigo was in immediate view, so the young leader hurried to the back of the ranch, looking for her last remaining soldier. Rounding the barn, she noticed him, about twenty yards away.

Toran was in a far corner of the corral yard, running through a katana routine. He had obviously found the afternoon sun to be very hot, because he had shed his shirt and boots, revealing his muscled arms and glistening torso as he whirled through complicated array of slashes, defensives maneuvers, even kicks and hand jabs. His brownish blond hair whipped around dramatically, hazel eyes flashing, and watching him now, Shiek realized two things. First, Impa had been right; Toran really was a master swordsman, unequaled by anyone else she had ever seen in action. The second thing was less of a rational thought, and more of a feeling, and it was most certainly not something Impa had told her. Toran might not be as tall as Link, or have the deep blue eyes and bright yellow hair, but in his own way, Toran was extremely good looking. As his athletic body whipped effortlessly through another part of the routine, a feeling she couldn’t name began to run through her. It came to settle deep in her stomach, a burning feeling of desire that actually shocked and confused her.

“Pssst… Shiek over here!” came an urgent whisper. Shiek nearly jumped out of her skin, and looked around wildly for the source of the sound.

“Over here you idiot cross-dresser, behind the crates… hurry before Toran sees you.”

This time she recognized the voice as Malon’s. Ducking behind several large crates near the back of the barn, Shiek found herself next to the ranch girl, who was watching Toran’s practice intently from her hiding spot.

“Malon? What in Din’s name are you doing?”

“What do you think Shiek; I’m enjoying the view, now shut up and watch…”

“How long have you been here?” Shiek asked, a hint of incredulity sneaking into her voice.

“Two totally glorious hours…” she breathed in response, “goddess Shiek, I have no idea how you can say no to him…”

“I just, uh, uh,” Shiek was finding it a hard conversation to focus on; distractions seemed to be plethora.

“And he is so sweet too… just think every ounce of that sleek, toned, mussel would be there solely to protect and save you. He’s considerate, kind, damn good looking-”

“Look, Malon, please just shut up, ok?” Shiek breathed, feeling another wave of heat break over her.

“Sorry, I’ll let you get back the show…”

“Din, this is ridiculous!” Shiek muttered, pushing Malon out of the way and walking towards Toran. Toran spied her before she got too close, and paused from his routine, letting his katana tip rest on the ground. Still breathing heavily, a half smile crossed his face.

“Hey Shiek… what’s up?”

“Not much,” she sank down to sit cross-legged in front of him, “Link is in the Forest Temple now, so we should just wait until I feel the Forest Sage awaken.”

“Feel it?” Toran inquired, sinking down into the same cross leg position across from her.

“Well, I’m actually a sage myself, and all the sages are connected telepathically. So far only two sages are awake and aware of each other, Rauru and myself, and we can talk to each other at any time.”

“Oh, so when the Forest Sage awakens you’ll know who it is?”

“Yup, though I must admit that I’m still hoping that Draq’s voice will be running in my head in a day or two…”

Toran winced slightly, looked like he was trying think up something to say, then finally swallowed.

“Um, yeah, well, I must admit I think the idea of Draq in anyone’s head is kind of scary…”

Shiek laughed, and nodded.

“Yeah, I guess it is…” smiling, Shiek found she was having a hard time concentrating on anything. She then caught herself tracing totally random patterns in the dirt.

What is my problem? She looked back up to Toran who was smiling back with that boyish grin. The smile actually caused a giddy, dizzying, happy sensation to flood her senses.

By Narue, what is wrong with me? We’re just talking, and he’s just a friend… he is he is he is he is… yeah Shiek, keep telling yourself that. You are with LINK not TORAN, so stop acting like Malon for Din’s sake.

“Hey you two!”

Malon’s words ripped Shiek out of her thoughts and back to the ranch. Toran also seemed to be leaving the world of his mind and crashing back into reality as he looked up and smiled at the red haired beauty.

“Malon! I was wondering where you were at… I haven’t seen you since this morning.”

“Oh, I’ve been around,” she replied, traces of a wicked smile playing at her mouth.

And seen a lot more of you then you have of her, Shiek added mentally, biting back the sarcastic retort. She was surprised at the stab of jealousy that the idea of Malon watching Toran workout for a few hours caused.

“So, you guys going to be around for a bit?” Malon asked, flopping down next to them.

“Well, I guess so…” Shiek replied, glancing at the sky, “Impa knows we are here, and there’s not really any point in leaving.”

“You sure there nothing left for us to do?” Toran inquired, “Gannondorf made some major advances yesterday. Maybe we should be doing something.”

“Like what?” Shiek retorted, slightly harsher then she meant, “go down to Zora Fountain and thaw the ice? Storm the Fire Temple and kill the dragon? Or maybe we should just cut the chase and kill Gannondorf ourselves.” She knew there was no real reason to yell at Toran for the state of things, but she had been hoping to give Link a slightly better account of the time she had spent in his absence. Toran gave her an odd look that was something of a mixture between surprise and offence.

“Uh, Shiek, is something wrong?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No, sorry Toran… just getting a little depressed at how things have moved out of our league,” she sighed, shoulders slumping. Malon was obviously in the dark, her blue eyes betraying a totally lost look.

“So, um, you will you guys be hanging around for dinner then?” she asked, trying to bring the conversation back to something she understood.

“How about it, boss,” said Toran, cocking an eyebrow at Shiek.

“Yeah, if you have some extra food Malon…”

“Of course! You guys are nearly family now, so anything that’s mine is yours…”

As Toran began to chat back, politely engaging Malon in small talk, Shiek found herself staring off at nothing. A thousand thoughts were clambering for prominence in her mind. Link, her mission, the next step, Toran, Impa; everything seemed to demand immediate and full attention. Shiek smiled and nodded at a question from Malon without really hearing it. She seriously needed to write in her journal…

Toran was asleep not far from her in the hayloft. Malon had given quite the knowing smirk when she had left the two for the night, and Shiek was just about ready to follow through on her promise to string the ranch girl up by her hair. Sighing, Shiek dipped her pen into the ink and started writing.

Nevua 22^nd

Lot has happened, mostly bad. Actually, I am hoping things will start turning around, because Link is finally back. He isn’t really like I remember though. He is pretty focused on getting to Gannondorf, but he said he was very worried about me (of course, he didn’t realize he WAS talking to me). I’m worried about Toran though. I get the strangest feelings whenever I’m around him… I mean yeah, I OBVIOUSLY realize he’s good looking, but I get that way around Link too. It’s something more then that; like today when he was washing off his plate I couldn’t help but see him doing that in the little hunting cottage my father used to keep on the edge of the forest, like my home is where he belongs, or vise versa you could say. Honestly, I think I’m in love with Toran. Damn, you sure have a way of making things complicated, don’t you Zelda? Why couldn’t you just fall in love with the guy you’re SUPPOSED to fall for. I mean, Link is the freaking HERO OF TIME, what about that isn’t getting through to me? It’s like-

“Hello, Zelda?”

Shiek nearly screamed as the voice echoed through her head but, after the initial shock, she realized it must just be the newly awakened Forest Sage. It seemed as though Link must have finished with the Forest Temple, and in only one day. It was very impressive.

“Uh, hey…”

“Oh, I remember you, you’re Shiek too aren’t you? Well, I said I’d see you soon…”

“Saria?”

The girl’s giggle answered as well as any words could have. Shiek was more then slightly surprised.

“So I assume Rauru briefed you on everything that’s been going on?”

“Yes, he is such a smart man; I am very pleased to have met him.”

“And Link?”

“Well, he still comes across kind of strong,” there seemed to be an odd, almost defensive, tone to Saria’s thoughts, “but he’s always had a nice heart underneath it all.”

“Ok… well, thanks for checking in with me, Saria.”

“Oh, my pleasure. I will talk to you soon!” She cut off with a girlish giggle.