Seven Years part 19

19.5 will be out very soon, so no one complain about the shortness of 19... BTW, a new point of view is introduced, so please have fun

Toran swallowed hard. It was difficult to keep from breaking down right there on Hyrule Plain. He silently trudged across the plain, lips pressed tightly together, eyes staring forward unseeing, arms hanging limply at his sides.

“Hey man, anything wrong?”

The voice jerked Toran out of his thoughts and back to Hyrule Plain. Glancing around, he saw a lanky youth about his own age stand close by. He was slightly taller then Toran, dressed in green and white, blond hair blowing slightly in the morning breeze. His chest, arms, and legs were obviously powerful, and the sword and shield slung over his back completed his warrior image.

“No, just thinking… and you are?” Toran tried to keep suspicion out of his tone, but slightly shifted his weight to enable a quick draw from the katana at his shoulder, should the man turn out to be more inclined to fight then talk.

“Link,” he replied, something between a smile and a smirk, “and don’t think I can’t see you getting ready to strike… I’m a fighter too you know.”

Link? Toran contemplated taking off his head right there, but realized how ridiculous the idea was even as he entertained it. One, it was wrong. Two, Link was the Hero of Time after all, and probably a good enough warrior to avoid a one stroke kill. And of course, knocking off the Hero of Time was probably NOT the best way to win Shiek over to his side.

“So anyway, you sure nothing is wrong? You look like everything you ever cared about just died…”

Toran shrugged. That was sort of the case after all.

“Yeah, well, I just need to find a place to chill and rest… it’s been a kind of crappy day.”

“Already?” Link laughed good-naturedly, “it’s not even eleven o’clock yet…”

Toran felt a smirk tug at his mouth. It was funny yes, but Link wasn’t exactly starting on his good side.

“Well, see ya man, I gott’a keep moving… I have lot’s of things to do.”

“Like?” Toran asked, relaxing his stance slightly.

“Well, I was going to head back into Lon Lon and see if I could permanently borrow a horse. Also I wouldn’t mind talking with Malon, the ranch girl, again. I mean, she was really cute last time I saw her seven years ago, but now, wow. You seen her?”

“Um, yeah…”

“Oh hey!” Link cried, as though he suddenly remembered something, “you’re obviously a warrior of sorts… you know anything about this guy I just recently met. His name’s Shiek. He stands about yeah tall, red eyes, yellow blond hair, wears a high collar to cover his face and really tight blue pants. Ever seen him?”

“One could say that…” Toran mumbled under his breath.

“I mean if you don’t it’s ok, I was just curious because he’s been kind of helping me out recently… I mean if you can call what he does help… mostly he just shows up, acts gay, and then leaves before the real action starts. Got to admit, I like him though, he seems cool enough… and from what I’ve overheard the villagers say, he’s been quite a resistance worker.”

“Actually Link, if you don’t mind I need to get going too,” Toran broke in, gesturing vaguely in the general direction of the village.

“Yeah, like I said, me too,” Link said grinning broadly, “try and cheer up man… if there nothing in this world to love why are we fighting to save it, right?”

Toran watched Link wave and jog off in the direction of the ranch. If it wasn’t for the whole Shiek thing, he might have been able to like the lanky hero. As it was, he would have given anything to lop the blond head clean off those broad shoulders.

*****

It had most definitely been a good morning. She wasn’t totally sure why, but when Impa had woken up that morning it had felt like something good had been accomplished, as though Hyrule were a step closer to overthrowing the hell that had come to reign over it. Stretching expansively, the shiekah elder winced slightly at the loud popping sounds that came from her back. Impa had let Shiek live in the delusion that she was somewhere in the neighborhood of 35, when truth be told she was actually closer to 45. She knew others, particularly the teenagers that looked up to her, saw her as timeless somehow, but in the morning her body reminded her vividly that this notion was far from a realistic view of reality. She repressed the beginning of a wry grin and stepped into the morning sun.

She had been up late at Zora Fountain, and partly to no avail. She had been able to dispose of the few straggling Lizardmen and Moblins that lurked in the large carven, but the ice was entirely beyond her power. She figured the secret to thawing the Zora nation lay in the Water Temple, but the temple was too deep beneath the waters of Lake Hylia for her to reach. It was obviously up to the Hero of Time.

The Hero of Time…

Sighing, Impa turned back to the door of “her” house. It had been the first night she had slept there in nearly fifteen months, but not much had changed. The table she had been sitting at nearly thirty-seven years ago when she had been informed of her newly wedded husband’s death was still there. She had told herself that she was warrior, that she had known Defaid was a warrior, that she had known either of them could die at any time, that she was fine and would move on, but that had been the last night she had consistently slept in the house. Defaid had built it for her with his own hands, and the memory of him was still too strong in the place for her.

Is that the real reason? I think I can protect Zelda from marrying the same type of man I did? Not all warriors die young Impa, and even if they did, that is her choice to take the risk, not yours. You can only protect the princess for so long, sooner or later you are going to have to let someone else take that responsibility.

Grimacing with frustration, Impa glanced at a mirror inside the house. She had been slightly disappointed that her bout with the Shadow Phantom had left yet another scar on her face. Back when she had first met Defaid her face arms and body had been perfect, toned and tanned from countless hours training in the sun and not one single scar. Her hair had been jet black back then too, not the silver it had turned to almost over night.

Sometimes she wondered why things had happened like they had. She and Defaid had been the closest of companions during their teen years, and shared many adventures. Both had lived dangerous and fast-paced lives, but had arranged to slow down for family life. She had cashed in her chips to land a job as the personal bodyguard of Princess Julia, and Defaid was set to become the head of the Hyrule Palace Guard. But, a warrior by nature, he felt obligated to fight in what would be the last battle between the Hylian and Greudo nations. Defaid had saved the battle, won peace and victory for Hyrule, and lost his life to a Temple Guard’s spear. She remembered the night she that she had heard of Defaid’s death. It was the first time she had ever cried. The next morning Impa had gone to the palace and told Julia, who was her closest friend, what had happened, and the two had cried together.

It was the second time she ever cried.

Julia had lived a normal life and, for the first time, so had Impa. She remained close with Julia, and the two shared everything with each other. Then Julia had met Lord Fiate, a hero of the Moblin wars, and it wasn’t long before Impa was getting ready to look after a new princess entirely. Julia had used Impa’s house for the pregnancy, to get away from the bustle of the palace. Impa was thrilled for Julia, but it seemed as though fate was determined tint every joy she had with sorrow. A beautiful new girl entered the world, but Julia died in childbirth.

It was the last time she ever cried.

In a way, the house symbolized everything that had caused her pain over the years, yet at the same time everything that she had loved was connected with it.

Impa busied herself about the house for a while, helping Migrid with breakfast and checking on the general up keep of the house. It was afternoon before she started out to Lon Lon Ranch to check on Toran and Shiek. It was a nice jog, and she felt the need to get some exercise.

As she exited the town, Impa got the eerie feeling of distress that she generally felt when Shiek was in danger. Quickening her pace, Impa continued towards the ranch, figuring it was the best place to locate what was going on. Looking ahead she noticed a figure jogging towards her. She wasn’t overly worried about it, until she recognized the figure as Toran.

What is he doing out here alone? Where is Zelda?

Toran noticed her and called out. Impa was relieved that there was no obvious urgency in his voice, even if there was a strain of stress in his tone.

“Hey Impa, how’s it going?”

“I am fine. Where is Shiek?”

Toran looked a little taken aback by her directness, but gestured over his shoulder.

“Um, she’s back at Lon Lon…”

“Why is she not with you?” Impa asked, fearing the worst from Toran tone.

“Well, we kind of split up…”

“Split up?” Impa was trying hard to hide her frustration and confusion, but was willing to bet at least a little of it was showing through.

“Well, basically it came out that I was in love with her and then she asked me to go away for a long time.”

Impa cursed inwardly; she had been hoping things wouldn’t come to this. She sent a silent prayer to all the goddess that the emotional stress Zelda must have been going through was what had triggered her alert system.

“Toran,” she said, walking past him towards the ranch, “Migrid needs someone to take Keef’s place in the village, why don’t you go report to her? I need to talk with Shiek…”

Toran nodded and the two parted ways; Toran to the village and Impa on to the ranch.