She Bears A Triforce

First and Foremost: Thanks to all who've actually read this, and thanks a bundle to the one person who had the guts to review. I appreciate the input *HUGS* So here's the next chapter, you've been warned, let me know what you think.


Chapter 2: Morning After

The sky grew gray at first, then paler, turning up its blue edges. Slowly the warm flush of red and pink brushed their way across the sky and gentle orange and gold linked and melding together. The sun peaked just barely over the borders of the eastern world. Birds twittered ad twinkled their music reminding all that it was daylight and to rise from the warm cocoon of their beds soon. The whole early morning was absolutely picturesque and peaceful.
But it was ended all too succinctly with a shriek that could have woken the dead for about a mile around, and the accompanying SMACK-THUD! And Link found himself practically kissing the hardwood floor in Room 3 of the Inn. It was one thing to wake up curled up in a warm bed with a warm feminine body next to you; it was another to wake up in the same setting only to have your ear nearly taken off about 0.2153 seconds later.
For this was what happened: Link had gained consciousness and was just remembering why he was in bed in the first place, especially after the events of the previous night. Just as his eyes tried to shift open and accustom themselves to the early light, that warm gentle body beside him shifted. Sazonia had reacted quicker than one would’ve thought anyone capable at such an hour. She let out a scream that nearly made his ears bleed just before smacking him upside the head. And this, of course, caused him to lose his balance as he sat up and fall face-first out of the narrow bed. The young woman was still sitting straight up on the aforementioned furniture, her hand stinging from the impact but still poised ready to strike a second time.
“What the hell was THAT for?” Link said loudly, pushing himself into a sitting position and nursing the wounded side of his face.
“Do I wanna KNOW why I woke up next to you?” she shouted, about ready to knock him senseless again.
“Because you were asleep next to me.” He said snidely.
“Quit trying to be a smart-ass! Why the hell were you sleeping next to me?” She bellowed, earning a reproving thump on the adjacent wall.
“I was cold and sore.” He stated coolly.
“Well dammit man, would it have killed you to get a blanket and pillow and sleep on the floor just this once?”
“It might have.”
She shook her head and rolled her eyes. “You are so full of shit.” She muttered irritably. She then flopped back down and put one hand to her head, rubbing her temples. And she was clearly heard to say, “What a way to wake up.”
“Try having your face smacked off first thing in the morning.” Link grumbled as he got to his feet and tried to stretch. There were a few cricks in his neck and back, most likely the result of first falling asleep sitting up. He’d fallen over sideways, he now remembered, and the combined pain from the stiffness and the cold air brought him back from his otherwise coma-like state. So naturally, his sleep-fogged brain told him to climb into bed, and to hell with the consequences.
“I swear you’re determined to give me an aneurysm before I hit 21.” She remarked as she got out of bed and righted her clothes.
“A what?” he said as he rolled his head from side to side, working out the kinks.
“An aneurysm is when a blood vessel in the brain pops.” She explained calmly while making the bed. “Nobody’s really sure what causes it, but all signs point to constantly high levels of stress. Like waking up next to a guy I only just met.” She added pointedly, giving him another sharp look.
Link blinked at her, his arms still reaching above his head; then heaved a sigh. “It’s not like I DID anything to you.” He pointed out
“Make sure you don’t.” She said, and it was almost a threat, but at the same time it sounded like a mere statement; or was it a warning. He relaxed and watched her for a minute as she pulled back that exceptionally long mane and fitted the bandana back in place. It was actually pretty clever the way she tucked it, because it hid the upper portion of her ears. It would be difficult to tell that she was anything other than hylian; most would still assume she was just that, based on what they could see.
And now that he thought of it, Link had to wonder. If she’s not Gerudo, and not Hylian, what else could she be? It simply defied logic that she was not one or the other, because even the children that were of mixed blood among the Gerudo still looked like they had always been solely of that race; none of them looked hylian in the least. He relaxed and, keeping his eyes on her, picked up his sword and shield from their place against the wall.
“Can I ask you something?” he began, trying to be as polite as possible so as not to provoke her.
“Obviously you just have.” She smiled a bit heading for the door, but he stopped her. Already he could see her posture tightening, ready to try flattening him again. “What?” It was sort of creepy the way her tone could change so fast; then again, maybe it hadn’t changed all that much in the first place.
“What-?” Link had known what he wanted to ask her, but his eyes, which had focused on her right hand where his fingers gripped her wrist, widened at what he saw. On the ring-finger, right were said jewelry could be placed, was a mark that stood out starkly against her otherwise fair skin. It was an odd reddish-purple and as if it weren’t odd enough, it was the perfect shame f a triangle. “What happened to your hand?” Was what he ended up asking before he could correct himself. He too her hand in both of his, staring closely at the odd skin pigmentation, rubbing his finger over, feeling how it was slightly raised, but the surface was very smooth.
“Nothing happened.” She replied with practiced ease, as if she’d gone through this explanation about 2,647 times before. “That’s just a birthmark, it’s always been there.” To his immense relief, she didn’t sound angry at all. But the look he gave her was nothing short of disbelieving.
No way! He refused to believe it. There was just no way that this foreign-born creature of a woman could possibly be the keeper of the Triforce of Power. It simply wasn’t possible! Link’s expression grew hard, his eyes nearly chips of blue ice as he looked down at her. “Who are you really?” He asked, and it was so low and quiet that he could practically see the female before him tremble. However, she was stubborn and refused to let herself be intimidated so easily.
“I told you guys, my name’s Sazonia.”
“You’re lying.” He stated shortly. She was staring at the door, a look of horror on her face. She didn’t even bother trying to cover it up; it was obvious that she knew she was caught.
She let out a little sigh, and let her head droop from the weight of what she now had to deal with. “What do you want Putzo?” she asked dejectedly.
“Who are you for real?” Link asked, keeping one hand on her wrist, the other on the doorknob.
“Do you want a name or a personal history?” she inquired through gritted teeth.
“Let’s start with a name.” He answered.
“Aurea.” She bit out. “And if you must pry, then you’ll have to wait.” He arched one blond eyebrow at this, a challenge. “I have to go make breakfast you dummy.” She said, about ready to let loose the nearest container of whoop-ass on HIS ass.
Link followed her down to the kitchen and would not leave her be while she worked, continually annoying the hell out of her with his unending questions.
“Where do you come from?”
“Nowhere near here.” She replied, mixing something in a huge bowl.
“Could you be a little more vague?” He asked sarcastically, his expression irate.
Aurea turned to him with a devious smirk. “Maybe.” She replied, only earning a snort of further irritation. But she didn’t really care if he was mad at her; he deserved what he gave out. Ah the balances of the universe. She though as she turned back to the stove with the massive spanse heating up. But the little victory thought was short-lived.
“Where PRECISELY do you come from?” Link could tell this time he’d asked the right question, because she paused in her actions.
“Nowhere in Hyrule.” She said placidly, and then turned back to him, her expression almost hurt. “That’s what you want to hear right?” Link was silent as he looked at a crack in the old stone-laid floor.
“So, what are you anyway?” he asked quietly; then looked up to see her perplexed face staring at him.
“Now who’s being vague?” she remarked, and spooned some of the batter she’d been working on onto the flat surface of the stove where it sizzled and sent of a wonderful smell. Link was having a hard time ignoring the scent of some new food, but even so, he managed it.
“If you’re not Hylian and not Gerudo, then…” he left the sentence unfinished and just held his hands up as if to say ‘What?’
“Ah I get it: What RACE am I.” Now it mad sense. Aurea looked around for a spatula and started to flip the odd circular things over, so that they now showed the golden brown side. “I’m human, not that it’s anything to brag about.” The way she said the last part made Link look more straightly at her.
“Meaning?”
“Okay, speaking in a very general way, the human race is about as smart as a box of rocks all put together.”
Link arched one eyebrow again. “But you’re human?”
“There are exceptions to nearly every rule out there, you should know that.” She replied, smiling a bit, while collecting the food from the stove. “Sooner or later someone is going to be smart enough to survive where someone else has not. It all kinda balances out.”
“If you’re not maimed by an idiot.” He remarked, not smirking a bit too.
She turned to him with a wide grin on her face, holding the plate of food in her hands. “Welcome to my world.” Link snorted and shook his head at this.
“What makes it YOUR world?” he asked, suspecting a joke.
And sure enough… “The fact that I survive it and pay rent.” He let out the first real laugh he’d had in a long time, and it almost hurt his ribs to do so. He nearly doubled over, holding his side, when he felt a hand on his shoulder. “I’m guessing you needed that.” Aurea said, not unkindly. Link stood straight again, smiling and gave a nod with as much dignity as he could after having nearly passed out from laughter. “C’mon, breakfast, better than talking.” And she led him into the bar and set the plate down in front of him. Needless to say, Link wasn’t sure what the stuff was. Aurea simply handed him a knife and fork and said, “There’s butter and syrup if you want it. If you need anything else I’ll be in there.” She gestured towards the kitchen. She was gone before Link could ask what exactly she had given him, but it was probably for the best.
At least it can’t kill me. He hoped to high heaven. Taking her suggestion, he smeared some butter on the odd, warm, round, brown, flat things, and poured a bit of the syrup on top. And now he knew what the knife and fork were for, since trying to eat this with his hands would end up being a lovely mess. He cut the things into smaller, more manageable pieces and took a tentative bite. Astonishment was quickly becoming a companion when it came to her cooking. What he’d been served actually tasted pretty good. It was some kind of sweet, bread-like substance, a little spongy, and fluffy too. But his mouth felt dry after the first six mouthfuls and he needed something to drink, or else die of cottonmouth. He ventured in and tried to keep quiet, while at the same time being lulled by the delicious scent of more of the same food slowly simmering on the stove. And he was nearly floored when something smacked him lightly on the back of the head.
“Need something?” Said Aurea’s voice, deliberately sounding too sweet.
Link smiled, looking a bit like the kid with his hand in the cookie-jar. “Could I have something to drink?”
“Course you can.” She actually laughed. “What would you like?”
“Is there milk?”
“Sure. Now out!” she said shooing him. “Keep eating and I’ll be right back.” Link had an image in his head of her as the stereotypical grandmother, always insisting that kids were too thin unless they weighed 200 pounds or more. The mental image made him chuckle just as she came out again with a tall glass of milk. “Make sure you don’t laugh while drinking this, it’ll come out your nose.” She said jokingly, and Link had to hold his side from laughing too hard again. It was really only funny because the Kokiri children did that to each other on occasion, and in spite of the fact of their age, they were all still kids at heart. When she left again, he found himself looking after her.
“What’s the matter with me?” he wondered in quiet words to himself.
“You woke up to early.” Said a random somebody, taking the stool next to Link’s.
Link could only nod while holding in his laughter. It was odd how they could be so on edge and ready to rip each other’s throats out one minute, then be calm and even friendly the next. Life is full of weirdness. Link mused as he took another long sip of his milk.
Aurea came out from the kitchen again, and spotting the new customer, walked over to him. “Would you like anything for breakfast sir?” she asked politely.
“Yeah, I think so.” Said the man, now eyeing her up and down none too discretely. Link tried not to watch and listen, but being in a quiet room with people talking right next to you makes it very difficult not to accidentally eavesdrop. “I’ll have what he’s having,” He jabbed a thumb in Link’s direction. “And a slice of you on the side.” At that Link couldn’t help but glance up, watching to see what Aurea’s reaction would be.
“Oh you don’t wanna eat me; you don’t know where I’ve been.” She remarked with a smile that suggested she was slightly insane.
Yeesh that was creepy! Link thought while trying his best to hide the chill that went up his spine.
As soon as she had disappeared back into the kitchen, the stranger chuckled. “Spicy little dish isn’t she?” In reply, Link gave him a sideways glare and shrugged.
“She’s catty when she needs to be.” He remarked dryly and finished his meal amid a, ‘hmph’, from the other man. Aurea came back out carrying another plate of food, and as she had with Link, set it down before the stranger.
“If you need anything let me know.” She said simply.
But before she was gone again…”Excuse me Miss.” Link said and she paused and looked back, smiling.
“Yes sir?” He tossed her a bright red rupee, which she caught, looking surprised.
“My complements.” He said grinning for the entire world like a well-fed cat and left the Inn. Aurea didn’t quite know what to make of this and would have liked to think it out. But with more people coming down the stairs for their morning meal, she had little time to think of anything other than pancakes, eggs, bacon, toast …

The first place Link stopped by were the stables were Epona still waited. She nuzzled his face in greeting and teased him by taking his hat and keeping from him for a few minutes. Normally, this was her way of telling him to lighten up, but even she could see that this morning he was different. And it wasn’t just the fact that it was still morning and he was here, his whole demeanor was more light-hearted. He laughed and played for a second to get his hat back, and still chuckled when he finally had it back on his head. Link even patted her and gave her more oats than usual. And while she ate, he picked up a brushed and rubbed her down so thoroughly that even the royal grooms could not do so well. Having a horse as more than a means of transportation consequently meant that he was more apt at taking care of her. And while he brushed then saddled Epona, Link’s mind wandered in a circular pattern around Aurea. There were things about her he did not understand at all. For instance, that birthmark on her hand meant nothing to her, but it would mean a world to anyone who saw it; did she know that, or even care? And what was the human race? Were they the hylians of another world maybe? And why, oh why, did she wear pants? These thoughts and others chased each other around Link’s head for quite some time, even after he’d made his way out of the gates and into Hyrule Field.

Later on, after the sun had set and the barkeeper had removed the last few stragglers, Aurea had decided to head and lug some water to her room for a bath. Soaking in the luxury that was a good scrub in the tub, her mind wandered a bit. The thought of Link bobbed to the surface, the way he smiled and laughed, when he really did laugh. The fact that he was one of the only people who treated her like a person more than an object spoke highly of him in her mind. And she was suddenly assaulted by an image of him unlocking the door right now and finding her sitting there bathing. A shameless blush colored her cheeks.
Don’t think about that! She chided herself. You’ve got better things to worry about. And that of course was quite true. It had not escaped her than the few people she had talked to, and the geographical and architectural plain of existence she now found herself in was familiar; at least, in a way it was. But even after two days of staying in Hyrule Market Place, she had a hard time believing it was real. The Legend of Zelda, Link, Hyrule, all of it was real. She’d seen, felt, and experienced enough to know it could not be a dream; unless maybe she was in a coma or she died or something, none of which seemed very likely. Maybe it was just some extreme form of stress showing itself in the form of delusion? Even that idea seemed a little far-fetched. Aurea heaved a deep sigh as she scrubbed her hair and rinsed it again in the water. What she wanted, and she was ashamed to admit it to herself, was something like a friend, a confident whom she could talk to and just get it all off her chest. Again the mental image of Link’s smiling face came unbidden to the surface of her thoughts. And a wry smile crept over her own face. As much as she would have liked him to be that friend she needed, she still doubted that he, or anyone else for that matter, had the sympathy needed for it. Besides, she though ruefully, He’s got his princess to look after. But there, as it happens she was wrong. Aurea had no idea that there was no Princess Zelda anymore, no royal family to speak of who had any right to claim dominion over the Kingdom.

Two weeks went by and Link had slipped right back into his usual funk. All the Kokiri noticed, even though the Sage of Forest was the only one who really seemed to give a damn. Link sat next to his life-long friend on the steps to the Forest Temple.
“You miss her.” Said the little green-haired girl.
“Hunh?” said Link, who had been staring out into space, his mind adrift.
“That woman you met in the Castle Market Place. You miss her don’t you?” She elaborated, and Link then looked profoundly shocked.
“I don’t miss her.” She said not looking at his friend but focusing on his boots instead. “I’m just thinking…” his voice trailed away.
“Link, as long as I’ve known you, you’ve always stunk at lying.” The little girl sighed, shaking her head.
“At least I’m consistent.” Link grumbled, leaning back on his hands and looking up through the trees.
“And I’d bet she reminds you of someone else.” The little girl said smartly. Link threw her a sharp glance, and was a bit annoyed when she still smiled knowingly at him.
“That’s no longer funny.” And now his tone had turned stony and even a bit hurt.
“I wasn’t saying it to be funny Link.” She said gently, and edged closer to him, putting a tiny hand on his much larger shoulder. “Look, moping around the Lost Woods isn’t going to help you at all. And I think it’s already getting to you brain.” That made the corners of his mouth turn up ever so slightly. “Go visit her and see what happens. You kept telling me she was so odd and made you laugh so much.” A fuller grin spread across his face now.
“Alright, I’ve got the point.” He relented, looking like he’d been forced to eat caster oil or something equally sickening and then compliment the cook on a job-well-done.
“Besides you need to go to the market anyway.” She pointed out. “You’re getting low on supplies and,” Her nimble fingers started to tease his middle, “your ribs are starting to stick out.” Link laughed and picked her off himself, holding her off the ground while she pretended to struggle t get down, giggling all the while.
“I’ve got the message Saria I’ll get going.”
“Good because if you don’t, I’ll tickle you ‘til you pass out.” Saria said in a pretend threatening tone of voice. Link chuckled as he picked her up and sat her down on his shoulders, giving her a piggyback ride.
“You know one thing I still find strange?” he said as they strode through the Lost Woods back to Kokiri village like that. “It’s kind of weird that you’re older than me, and I can lift you up like you’re the kid.” She knocked her knuckles against the crown of his head at this, though not very hard since she was not as physically capable as a fully grown hylian.
“Don’t forget I raised you and I could tell you new girlfriend a few stories if I wanted.” Link almost tripped over an exposed tree root at this.
“She’s not my girlfriend!” He blurted out, his cheeks going crimson and making Saria giggle again. The truth was, Saria knew Link didn’t want to think of this strange woman as a girlfriend, or really anything more than a friend who happened to be female. She knew he was still grieving over the loss of the Princess and that that wound would probably never fully heal. But if it was to heal at all, he needed this interaction. One who was not of the Kokiri could not spend his entire life stuck in the woods, and Link was just that kind of free spirit. Saria knew and understood this from day one, when his mother had died trying to get him someplace safe. And if Saria had ever been given the choice between caging him and killing him, she’d choose the latter out of kindness. Her small arms hugged him around the forehead as she thought on these sentiments.

Link packed a few things he needed to bring with him and made his way past the massive old hollow log that served as the barrier between the Kokiri and the rest of Hyrule. Standing on the edge of the forest, he pulled something blue out of his leather pouch. The Ocarina of Time still looked as good as new, with its polished candy-shell brilliance and the expertly shaped holes and mouthpiece. Putting it to his lips, he closed his eyes and remembered. Link’s fingers moved with practiced ease as he played Epona’s song. Each note rang as clearly as bells through the open plains of Hyrule Field. And in a moment, there was his faithful mare trotting up to him, panting and nuzzling affectionately.
“Glad to see you too.” He chuckled as he dodged her attempt to snatch his hat. “Not today girl.” He said and tied the few things he’d carried with him into the saddle bags and in their proper place. He mounted patting her neck and directed the mare at a brisk pace towards Hyrule Castle. But even as he watched the structure draw closer, he couldn’t help growing apprehensive. Suppose something had happened to Aurea in his absence? Suppose she had just picked up and left? Or perhaps worst of all, if she had become a whore? What the hell is wrong with me? Link wondered as he and Epona clomped over the bridge and into the market. I’m acting like I’ll never see her again. And this thought in turn left him wondering why he should really care if he never saw her again. After all, he barely knew her right? Guiding the mare to the stables again, Link had just finished brushing and feeding her, when a loud CHOP sounded in his ears. He glanced around, and quickly identified what it was. There, cleaving firewood with an axe was the object of his preoccupation. She was wearing gloves and her long hair was braided very tightly down its entire length. Feeling inclined to do the proper, manly thing, he walked over to her, but still kept at a safe distance before speaking.
“Need any help?” He asked a tad too politely.
“Forty-eight.” She said idly.
“Hunh?”
Aurea actually looked up then and seemed surprised. “Did know it was you.” She said, dark eyebrows arched. At Link’s still confused expression, she smiled. “You’re the forty-eighth guy to ask me if I needed help with this.” She explained, setting another log in place. She raised the axe over her head for proper leverage and brought it down again. With another CHOP, the wood fell in two even pieces.
“He has you doing hard labor?” Link asked, shifting his weight to one foot and crossing his arms.
“Hey it needed to get done. And anyway it’s not like I’m so helpless I can’t handle it.” She replied smiling at him again. “I’ve tackled worse than this before.”
“Like what?” Now he was curious
“Like doing this with a bruised vein.” She said, making a face.
“Doesn’t sound so bad.” He said shrugging.
“Oh really?” Aurea sounded slightly annoyed now. “You try it then tell me it isn’t so bad.”
“What’s so awful about a bruised vein?”
“You’ve never had that happen to you, have you?” she asked, a knowing smile creeping onto her features. In all truth Link had never experienced it while knowing for sure what it was, so he couldn’t give a positive answer.
“I probably have.” He said carefully, shifting his weight.
“Probably?” There was that arched expression again. “You either have or you haven’t and I only know which is which because one of them means you’re barely able to move you arm at all without being in pain.”
“Wimp.” He muttered with a challenging smirk. By way of reply, Aurea put down the axe, set the pieces of wood aside and promptly walked over to Link, socking him in the arm in a none too lady-like fashion. He was surprised to find that it actually hurt, though not terribly, but it was enough.
“That was uncalled for.” He stated, trying not to smile, because she was grinning up at him. For the first time he noticed that she was a few inches shorter than him. Had he so easily forgotten?
‘No, I think you called for it.” She remarked, still grinning like that. “Just remember this is one of my good days.” She said gathering some of the wood and placing it in the box by the back of the Inn.
“Could have fooled me.” Link chuckled a bit dryly.
“Well okay, smacking someone around to prove a point is just me being myself. On my bad days I’m a catty, sarcastic and charmingly cynical bitch.”
“Yeah big difference.” He retorted trying not to laugh…too hard.
“Oh shut up and give me a hand.” She grunted, picking up more wood. Link still smirked and clapped his hands. “Sarcastic bastard.” She grumbled, though unable to hide the humor in it.
“Catty bitch.” Link countered, picking up more wood than her and placing it in the box.