Veil of Twilight

Chapter X
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They reached Kakariko by dawn, riding hard to avoid another attack. They knew full well that the giant was only temporarily subdued. Epona grazed complacently outside of Renado’s house as the sun began to rise, her rider and the others having retreated inside.

The fireplace was alight, illuminating the still dark inside of the house. The children were asleep, leaving the adults to their business. Renado was at the head of the table, standing over the unconscious Zora prince, examining his wound. He put a hand over it, and the three of them watched in awe as a faint glow emanated from the his fingertips. The other three stood around him, waiting anxiously for the shaman’s verdict.

“He’ll live,” he said finally, causing the rest of the company to sigh in relief. “But only just. This boy is lucky. It will take him a while to recover. We should take him upstairs, where he can rest in a proper bed. Would one of you care to help?”

Ilia pushed Link aside before he or Telma could take so much as a step forward.

“I’ll take care of it,” she said, even nudging Renado aside, taking Ralis in her arms, tenderly, as if he were her own child. She followed Renado upstairs, disappearing from sight. Link heard a small laugh from Telma, catching his attention.

“So tell me, young one, do you truly know her?”

“I do,” Link nodded. “We were very close.”

“I thought so,” the barmaid said. “I can tell, the way you look at her. I’ve come to know her since we met. Don’t be discouraged. She’s strong. Her memory is bound to return.”

“I suppose…” he thought. “How did you meet Ilia, Telma?” He saw the woman’s face fall as he asked, reluctant to start.

“It wasn’t pretty…” she finally began. “I found her by the river, unconscious. I helped her get back on her feet, and she’s been helping me as a barmaid ever since she’s recovered. She hasn’t been able to recall any events of her life since I found her there.

“She was… she was terribly beaten when I found her. It was horrible. She was clinging to life, not unlike that Zora boy is now. I think that’s why she’s so protective over him. Ilia found him by the riverside, just as I had her. She feels that he’s her responsibility, I suppose.”

Link took it all in, his blood boiling. That monster had nearly killed her. He wished now that he’d taken better aim with that arrow and put it right between the ogre’s eyes. No doubt her memory loss had something to with the suffering she had endured.

“But it’s alright, now,” Telma said. “You’ve found her, and memories shall return. I can’t thank you enough for all your help. You’re quite the hero. In fact…” She leaned in close, hushing her tone, as if somebody was in the room to hear them.

“My bar isn’t just for drinking. It’s dark times lately, and I’ve assembled a few likeminded individuals to do something about it. Vigilantes are always arrested, so it’s top, top secret. But you’re more than welcome to join.”

She took a step back, giving him a friendly wink. “Stop by the bar sometime soon,” she said. “You won’t be disappointed.” She finished and turned towards the stairs, ascending to join the others. Link was alone. For a moment, at least.

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think she was making a pass at you,” Link’s shadow said to him playfully. The thought caused him to smile.

“You just never let up, do you?” he asked her, watching his shadow jump up off the ground, taking Midna’s shape and solidifying, her features taking their color and texture. She smirked devilishly.

“Nope,” she said. “Glad to see you’re getting used to it, though.”

And he was. Despite their quarrels, Midna was becoming a valuable friend. More and more he felt confident that the two of them would be able to stop Zant. Although he knew she would never say it, he felt he could see her feeling similarly, as he looked into her vivid eyes.

“How touching,” a voice said. The two of them bolted around towards the table. Sitting atop was an elegant Zora woman, her translucent body haloed in gold. Rutela. As they noticed her, she took on a faux innocent demeanor.

“Oh, don’t mind me,” she said. “I didn’t mean to spoil your moment of romance. Feel free to continue.”

“Romance!?” Midna cried indignantly. She huffed and crossed her arms, reacting sourly to ridicule as she always did. Link always found that aspect of her amusing. Rutela slipped gracefully off of the table and approached them, slipping her insubstantial arms around Link.

“You saved my son,” she said, her voice quivering with ghostly tears of relief and joy. “I am forever indebted to you, Hero.” She pulled away from him. “You will need a special something to gain access to our temple. It’s here, in Kakariko. I can take you- who’s that?”

Link and Midna exchanged puzzled glances, turning around to follow the Zora’s gaze. Ilia stood at the top of the stairs, her hazel eyes wide, mouth agape. Link wondered for a split second whether her reaction was more due to the ghost or the imp on either side of him, the three of them awaiting the young girl‘s reaction, be it a scream or a full on faint. Finally she spoke.

“So…” she stuttered. “Y-you’re not crazy, after all…”

…

“So that’s-?”

“Ralis’ mother.”

“And she’s-?”

“Yep. As a doornail.”

Rutela shot a look back at Midna as the Twili referred to her in such a callous manor. Midna simply poked her tongue out, causing both the Zora and Link to shake their heads.

Rutela led them through the mostly abandoned town, taking a trail away from the main road, where the houses were becoming more and more sparse. Link followed closely behind her, straining his pointed ears to listen. Midna and Ilia hung back away from him and Rutela, talking in hushed tones amongst themselves. He hoped that Midna wouldn’t say anything embarrassing to Ilia about him. He couldn’t imagine what such a thing might be, but that only made his nervousness worse.

“So what are… what are you?” Ilia’s voice.

“I am a Twili,” came Midna’s reply. “I’m helping Link save Hyrule. It’s obvious he can’t do it himself.”

Giggles from Ilia. Link ignored them, turning his attention back to wherever Rutela was taking them. He felt a stirring of unease when he saw the tombstones all around him. Likewise, he heard Ilia and Midna quickly silence. They were in a graveyard. Grave markers stood crookedly out of the ground like jagged teeth, adding to the eerie appearance. A way down the rows on one side was an old, gnarled tree, the base of which looked to be growing out of the remains of a house. He couldn’t imagine who would ever want to live in a graveyard.

Rutela led the three of them down the rows of graves, eventually stopping at a seemingly unspectacular one. Upon closer inspection, though, Link noticed a small symbol engraved into the stone: the crest of the Zora tribe. The mound of dry, dusty dirt at the foot of the grave was thin, and he could see a handle protruding from the soil. It was a trap door.

“You’ll need what’s in there to travel beneath the lake,” Rutela said, facing Link. “They served the legendary Hero well, and so shall they to you. This is where I leave you. I can rest peacefully now.” She planted a small kiss on his forehead. “On the behalf of the Zora people, I thank you for saving my son.” She turned, eyeing Midna and Ilia. “All of you. My son is alive because of your kindness. I will never forget what you’ve done. Thank you, and good luck on your quest. Bring light back to Hyrule.”

A small breeze blew, and Rutela’s ghost vanished like golden dust. They all watched it twirl on the wind, until it vanished from sight. With Rutela gone, the feeling of dread emerged once more. Link bent low to open the trap door, eager to be out of the graveyard. He chuckled under his breath at his own cowardice. Triforce of Courage… he thought to himself. I wouldn’t know any better if I hadn’t been told.

“So, you two are going to Lake Hylia?” Ilia asked as Link heaved the door open. The grave was shallow, and all that rested within was a burlap sack. He reached down and pulled it out of the hole.

“That’s right,” Link finally replied to her. “We still have to banish Zant’s curse from the temple.”

“It’s a shame I can’t come with…” Ilia said in an obviously hinting manner. Link undid the tie on the bag and pulled out the contents. It was a wadded up ball of fabric, blue and strangely textured. There was a matching hat, as well, similar to the silly green one he presently wore. Link grimaced as he examined them, putting two and two together. There texture was closely akin to Zora scales.

“Yeah, it‘s too bad…” Link said untruthfully, not sorry at all that Ilia couldn’t come. If the last two temples were any indication, it was bound to be dangerous. “But it looks like this tunic is made for breathing underwater, so there’s not really any way you could come.”

Link shook out the tunic, wanting to get a full look at it. As it came unwrinkled, another wad of cloth tumbled out and landed at his feet. Midna picked it up and unfolded it. It was more of the same material, only woven into a smaller, obviously feminine tunic. Accompanying it were a pair of tight blue swim shorts and a weird, semi-transparent veil.

Midna locked eyes with Link for a split second. For a moment he was sure that Midna would flash him a devious grin and show them to Ilia. Much to his surprise, though, look in her eyes suggested that she want them hidden as much as he. Either way, it was too late.

“Hey, what are those?” Ilia reached quickly and snatched the garbs from Midna as she asked, before the Twili could stop her. They two adventurers watched helplessly as Ilia examined the clothes for a moment. She met Link’s eyes with a mischievous grin of her own, one that was eerily akin to Midna’s.

“Better saddle up Epona for three, Link.”

…

He hated swimming. Loathed it. He remembered when he was younger, when he and Ilia would swim in the pond just outside the village. She would always tease him, giggling as she watched him flounder around just to stay above the water’s surface.

Little was different now. With the blue tunic, he could breath in the depths as though he had gills. Much to his dismay, however, it didn’t make him a better swimmer. Ilia was a good ten feet ahead of him as they pushed crossed yet another cavernous submarine tunnel. She kicked her legs methodically, her hands arcing in wide, powerful breast strokes, making marine travel look as though it were second nature to her. It was frustrating to watch her. She wasn’t even supposed to have come with. Why had there been two outfits anyway? Nothing he had heard suggested that the legendary Hero had his girlfriend help him save Hyrule.

Midna, for her part, found the whole situation hilarious, and had laughed riotously at his clumsy underwater maneuvering for what had seemed like forever. Presently, however, she was quiet. Link hoped maliciously that she had laughed herself hoarse, and could no longer talk.

They reached the end of the tunnel and swam upwards, Ilia pulling herself out gracefully, watching amusedly as Link struggled to the surface and rolled onto ground from the pool.

“You aren’t a very good swimmer,” Ilia laughed at him. It was hard for Link to wrap his head around the fact that, in her mind, she had just met him. She had no idea that she had been saying that to him all his life.

“Nope,” he agreed hopelessly. “I never really was.” He stood up and pulled his sopping hat off of his head, ringing it out as he examined their surroundings. They were in another cavernous room, stalactites hanging threateningly from the ceiling. At the far end of the room, atop an enormous, ruined set of steps, was a large door, marked with the Zora crest.

He started for them, walking by Ilia as he did. He felt her hand clasp his wrist, and turned to face her. She looked stunning in that mysterious aquatic outfit, and her pretty hazel eyes were fixed on his, belying the slight nervousness he saw in them.

“I…” she started. “I wanted to give you something. To thank you, for helping me with Ralis, even though I was so cruel to you…” Ilia pulled the blue veil down to let hang around her neck, revealing her face, her lips parted coquettishly, expectantly.

To his own surprise, Link found himself hesitant. He had kissed Ilia before, had wanted to. But it wasn’t the same now. She didn’t know him, and he knew her, and she didn‘t know that she really knew him. It seemed like it would be taking advantage of her, in some weird way.

“Y-you don’t have to thank me,” Link stuttered. Backing up away from her. He felt the ground give under his heels, and he almost tumbled backwards into the pool of water they had come though. Ilia closed the distance between them, trapping him there, smiling at what she perceived to be him being shy.

“I want to,” she said softly, placing her hands on his chest, her mouth inches from his own. She closed her eyes and leaned in. That’s when Midna spoke up.

“Wow, you certainly move quickly, don’t you?” Ilia paused, opening her eyes. She looked down at Link’s shadow, which had taken Midna’s silhouette. She was grinning deviously, and Link suddenly felt cause for alarm.

“What do you mean?” Ilia asked her. Midna’s took on a mocking, innocent demeanor.

“I meant Link,” she said. “After all, it wasn’t too long ago when he was smooching with that Zora. He must be collecting kisses from damsels in distress, or something. But hey, he is the hero. I’m sure he has a lot to live up to.”

Ilia whipped her head back to Link, who was still gazing horrified at his own shadow.

“You kissed that Zora? Isn’t she a ghost? Didn’t you just meet her? What‘s your problem?!”

Link floundered for an answer, her questions overwhelming him. He cursed Midna silently, knowing she had done this on purpose.

“Well, that happened, but I -” Ilia heard no more. With one hard shove she pushed him back into the pool, watching him struggle for a moment before turning and ascending the stairs.

“Creep!” she called back towards him.

…

Behind the door was a tiny room, the ceiling barely high enough for Link to stand up straight. In the center of the room was a tiny hole, water shimmering within. The door behind them sealed shut, locking them within. Link was becoming used to such things.

“I’ll go in first,” Link said to Ilia. She shrugged coldly in response. She hadn’t said a word to him since their near kiss. Link sighed and jumped into the water.

It was dark within, only the beam of light from the entrance penetrating the darkness of the fathoms like a blade. He heard a garbled splash as Ilia jumped in after him. With much effort, Link began to swim downward, into the vast abyss, his vision becoming more and more hindered by the darkness. Once, he looked over his shoulder and saw the single dot of light at the surface, watching him like an eye from afar.

As the two dove deeper and deeper, something happened. The water swayed, force of motion catching them as something passed them in the water. As they tumbled for those few seconds, a titanic sound invaded Link’s ears, an alien, whale like groan. He looked around frantically, trying to see whatever it was. But it was too dark. All he was able to see was Ilia, who was close enough for him to see her frightened expression. She jabbed her pointer finger in an upward fashion. Link concurred.

They swam as quickly as they could, heading for the dot of light, which grew larger as they approached it. Ilia quickly outstripped Link, leaving him behind as he struggled to ascend.

The sound came again, loud and all around him. Link felt something rush past him once more, upwards this time, the force of it’s passing carrying him up as well. He finally came to a stop, now close enough to the surface to see the beam of light yards before him, making the rest of the water look jet black. He spun around, looking everywhere for Ilia. He couldn’t find her.

As he turned back towards the beam of light, he froze. He saw what was swimming in the water with them. It was like a giant eel, it’s barbed body wiggling eerily through the water as it passed directly through the beam of light. It’s mouth was perfectly circular, lined all around with teeth, and atop it’s tube like head was a single bulbous eye.

As he watched it swim, it turned, making it’s deceptively fast way toward him. He stared directly into it’s gaping mouth, frozen in horror for a moment. But self preservation initiated, and Link paddled frantically to move out of the way.

The eel passed directly under him, so close that he could feel it’s barbs brushing against him. As he tumbled in the wake of it‘s passing, his tunic caught one of the spines, and he suddenly felt himself being dragged along through the water. He freed his shirt and held onto the barb, feeling at an advantage clinging to the beast. He looked down at it from the barb and cringed. At the end of the stalk, swiveling around in it’s socket was the monster’s eye.

The eel turned again in the water, swimming upwards towards the beam of light. As they rose from the depths, Link spotted Ilia. She was swimming for the entrance, kicking in panic. The eel was rapidly closing the distance between them, it’s open jaws devouring her path. It was going to catch her, if he didn’t do something.

Struggling against the force of the water, Link grasped his way down the eel’s barb, pulling himself closer to the eyeball. It locked in on him, it’s obsidian pupil quivering as it watched him approach. But there was nothing it could do. He reached it, curling his hand around the lip of the socket, ignoring the fact that his hand was touching the disgusting eye. Ilia was close, less than thirty feet away, and growing closer.

With his free hand, Link drew his sword, gripping it with all the strength he could muster, not wanting it to be ripped from his hand. With one powerful blow, he drove it into the creature’s eye, his vision clouding as blood fogged the water around him. He held on blindly, grating his teeth as the eel produced that terrible sound again.

The blood dissipated, and Link saw that the eel had changed direction, and was swimming away from the beam of light. He looked over his shoulder and saw Ilia, her death having barely been averted. Knowing she was safe, he let go of the creature, tumbling through the water as the remainder of it’s body passed him.

He felt an immense shock rumble through the water, and then there was a loud, monotonous sound. Above them, he saw ceiling giving way, letting more bright light into the pool, illuminating the entire room. The water was draining. His eyes found the eel, slowly tumbling towards the lakebed. It had crashed into the wall, springing a leak. He swam to the surface, bobbing his head into the air, keeping himself above the surface as the pool slowly drained. He heard another splash as Ilia appeared above the surface not far from him.

The water drained, and their feet touched the ground. Link swayed a bit as he caught his balance, going from water to land that fast. As soon as he did, he felt another body slam into his as Ilia tackled him to the ground.

“That was amazing!” she cried, her arms wrapped around him in a fierce hug. Finally she let him go, getting to her feet. “You saved me!”

“No problem,” Link replied, getting to his feet and brushing himself off. From the corner of his eye, he could see Midna materializing from his shadow. He watched her as she closed her eyes, waving her arms. The eel lie crumpled at the far end of the empty pool, dead without the water. From it’s corpse came the last of the strange stones, zipping through the air to Midna. With a snap of her fingers, it was gone.

“Well,” she said happily, turning to Link. “That’s the last of them.”

Link smiled back at her. He felt Ilia come up beside him and hug him once more. He might’ve imagined it, but he thought he saw a flicker in Midna’s smile, although due to what, he couldn’t be sure. She spoke before he could ask.

“Well, we’re done here,” the Twili said. “Let’s get out of here.”

Link felt that strange feeling of dematerialization, and suddenly the room was disappearing from sight.

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Here, finally, is the end of the three beginning temples. I was able to skip them in my last Zelda story, but they were a bit more neccesary in this one. Now that they're out of the way, I hope the story can really take off. On the bright side, though, I suppose it left a lot of room for character interaction.

On another note, I've come to realize, throughout these ten chapters, there has been one lemon scene. They're not really the main focus of this story, but there will be more than just the one, now that I'm past those beginning phases.

Anton, dave, and Max, thank you all for the reviews. Glad you're enjoying the story.

Next chapter should be up before too long. Read, Rate, Review, and Enjoy!