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tamingthemuseTitle: Perfect Kind of Life
Fandom: Legend of Zelda
Prompt: 106 - Ravish
Word Count: 1,182
Warnings: None
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Nintendo. No money is being made and no infringement is intended.
Summary: Years after Majora's Mask, Zelda goes in search of a hermit matching the description of her dead father. Meanwhile, Link runs to ground rumors of a dragon terrorizing south Hyrule.
Chapter One
Link watched from underneath the cowl of his hood as fate twisted, turned, and finally made itself known.
For a long moment there was silence as the crowd of onlookers leaned forward to see the decision. Then a cry of "Seven!" Those that had bets placed on that number threw their hands up in joy, and those that had bet on other numbers threw their tickets down in disgust.
The Hero of Time smiled and glanced at the dirty, scrawny man crouched across from him. "Pay up, Reeg," he said.
Reeg gave a dry smile in return, displaying a mouth that was missing several teeth, and threw a pouch of rupees in front of Link. The bag quickly vanished into the folds of Link's long brown cloak.
The die were gathered and passed back up the spaced cleared for a shooting lane. "Winner throws next," one of the gamblers said, holding the small leather cubes out to Link.
Link shook his head. "No, thanks. I have someone to meet."
"Can’t walk away now!" Reeg said. "How am I supposed to win my rupees back?"
"Sorry, Reeg," Link said standing. "I'm through for the night." He turned and pushed his way through the crowd. The gamblers grumbled at his leaving, but didn't try to stop him.
The common room of the Foamy Top Inn was full of local farmers, shopkeepers, resident vagrants, and several travelers. A hearth in one corner of the common room provided heat and light while oil lamps set in metal brackets on the walls pushed the shadows further away. The air was thick with the smell of burning oil, ale, lamb stew, and the sweat of too many people crammed together.
Link buried his hands in the folds of his cloak as he moved through the throng of people. Jarte was a small town, but close enough to the border dividing Calatia and Hyrule for travelers to not appear uncommon.
Standing meekly by the open tavern door was a small boy about ten-years-old wearing brown trousers and a matching vest. Link muttered an apology to someone he bumped into and headed for the boy. From his bag of winnings, Link withdrew a red rupee.
"I have news for you, sir!" the boy said when he noticed the Hero’s approach.
Link shushed him and dropped to one knee. "Quiet now," he said. "What do you know, Sal?"
"The lady showed up like you said," Sal said lower but no less animatedly. "She had blonde hair, tied back, and was dressed like a traveler—like you!
"She checked a horse in at the stables and rented a room here.”
Link glanced around the tavern, as though expecting to see his quarry waiting for him at the bar.
"I didn't hear what room she rented," Sal continued. "But Banner in the kitchen had to run a bowl of stew up to the third floor not long after she arrived."
"Same woman?" Link asked.
"Yes, sir," Sal said. "The description matched."
"What room is she in?"
"Fourth from the landing," Sal quickly replied. He squared his shoulders proudly.
Link handed the boy the red rupee and then withdrew another red gem. "For Banner," he said. "I always pay for useful information."
Sal pocketed the money. "Yes, sir."
Link held up a finger in warning. "And I'll know if Banner isn't paid for his services," he said.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now go before I get you into trouble."
Still looking quite pleased with himself, the stableboy turned and vanished into the crowd. Link had spent much of his life inside taverns and inns and knew that the best way to find information was to use those that slipped underneath questioning gazes. He had been in Jarte for only three days, but already had the stableboys and young kitchen helpers all over the town watching and asking questions for him. To all the other visitors at the Foamy Top, he was another traveling adventurer—not a man desperately seeking a missing woman. It was frustrating to sit back and let others ask questions, but he knew it was the fastest and least noticeable way to find his quarry.
If she knew he was here, she would vanish and this whole quest would begin again.
Link let Sal have a minute to put some space between them, then pushed to his feet and started for the staircase next to the wide bar. After weeks of searching, he was finally close to finding her. Excitement fluttered his heart. Link had no idea what he was going to say to her. 'Hi, honey. How have you been?' just didn't seem right.
Halfway to the stairs, a man dressed in dusty travel clothes stepped in Link's path. He stood just a hair underneath the Hero of Time's height and had a short sword strapped to his waist and a quiver of arrows peeking above the collar of his gray cape. Dark hair hung down his smooth brow and partly masked green eyes bright with intelligence.
"Hello, good sir," the stranger said. His tone was easy but held a slight edge. "I was wondering if you are interested in a business offer?"
Link relaxed his stance and released the breath he didn't know he'd been holding. For a moment he thought she brought protection with her. "No, thank you," he said, moving to step around the stranger.
"Are you sure?" he insisted, not yielding an inch to allow Link to pass. "My name is Roam and I'm seeking an adventurer to accompany me on a journey to slay a dragon that has been ravishing the area. You have heard of the dragon?"
"I'm really not interested," Link said stepping around Roam and continuing to the staircase. He had indeed heard of the dragon, and read the reports filed by patrolling soldiers about the wild creatures seen by local villagefolk. But military accounts and farmer stories were not what brought him to this distant end of Hyrule. He'd look into the attacks if he had the time, but a more important matter had his attention now.
"You're passing up a great chance for rupees!" Roam called behind him, but Link was already climbing the stairs.
He paused at the third floor landing. The same uncertainty that plagued him since leaving Hyrule Castle again pulled at him. What could have made her leave so suddenly? What was he going to say to her?
Drawing himself together with a deep breath, Link walked down the hall to the fourth door. After a moment of hesitation, he knocked on the door.
There was a shuffle of surprised movement from within the room. "Who's there?" a muffled voice called.
At that voice, Link knew the woman he'd been searching for was in that room. "It’s me,” was all he said. It was enough, he knew.
There was a muffled sigh from inside the room and then movement toward the door. The bolt rattled as she threw it aside.
Link met her blue eyed gaze when the door opened. "Hello, Princess Zelda. How have you been?"
Fandom: Legend of Zelda
Prompt: 106 - Ravish
Word Count: 1,182
Warnings: None
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by Nintendo. No money is being made and no infringement is intended.
Summary: Years after Majora's Mask, Zelda goes in search of a hermit matching the description of her dead father. Meanwhile, Link runs to ground rumors of a dragon terrorizing south Hyrule.
Chapter One
Link watched from underneath the cowl of his hood as fate twisted, turned, and finally made itself known.
For a long moment there was silence as the crowd of onlookers leaned forward to see the decision. Then a cry of "Seven!" Those that had bets placed on that number threw their hands up in joy, and those that had bet on other numbers threw their tickets down in disgust.
The Hero of Time smiled and glanced at the dirty, scrawny man crouched across from him. "Pay up, Reeg," he said.
Reeg gave a dry smile in return, displaying a mouth that was missing several teeth, and threw a pouch of rupees in front of Link. The bag quickly vanished into the folds of Link's long brown cloak.
The die were gathered and passed back up the spaced cleared for a shooting lane. "Winner throws next," one of the gamblers said, holding the small leather cubes out to Link.
Link shook his head. "No, thanks. I have someone to meet."
"Can’t walk away now!" Reeg said. "How am I supposed to win my rupees back?"
"Sorry, Reeg," Link said standing. "I'm through for the night." He turned and pushed his way through the crowd. The gamblers grumbled at his leaving, but didn't try to stop him.
The common room of the Foamy Top Inn was full of local farmers, shopkeepers, resident vagrants, and several travelers. A hearth in one corner of the common room provided heat and light while oil lamps set in metal brackets on the walls pushed the shadows further away. The air was thick with the smell of burning oil, ale, lamb stew, and the sweat of too many people crammed together.
Link buried his hands in the folds of his cloak as he moved through the throng of people. Jarte was a small town, but close enough to the border dividing Calatia and Hyrule for travelers to not appear uncommon.
Standing meekly by the open tavern door was a small boy about ten-years-old wearing brown trousers and a matching vest. Link muttered an apology to someone he bumped into and headed for the boy. From his bag of winnings, Link withdrew a red rupee.
"I have news for you, sir!" the boy said when he noticed the Hero’s approach.
Link shushed him and dropped to one knee. "Quiet now," he said. "What do you know, Sal?"
"The lady showed up like you said," Sal said lower but no less animatedly. "She had blonde hair, tied back, and was dressed like a traveler—like you!
"She checked a horse in at the stables and rented a room here.”
Link glanced around the tavern, as though expecting to see his quarry waiting for him at the bar.
"I didn't hear what room she rented," Sal continued. "But Banner in the kitchen had to run a bowl of stew up to the third floor not long after she arrived."
"Same woman?" Link asked.
"Yes, sir," Sal said. "The description matched."
"What room is she in?"
"Fourth from the landing," Sal quickly replied. He squared his shoulders proudly.
Link handed the boy the red rupee and then withdrew another red gem. "For Banner," he said. "I always pay for useful information."
Sal pocketed the money. "Yes, sir."
Link held up a finger in warning. "And I'll know if Banner isn't paid for his services," he said.
"Yes, sir."
"Good. Now go before I get you into trouble."
Still looking quite pleased with himself, the stableboy turned and vanished into the crowd. Link had spent much of his life inside taverns and inns and knew that the best way to find information was to use those that slipped underneath questioning gazes. He had been in Jarte for only three days, but already had the stableboys and young kitchen helpers all over the town watching and asking questions for him. To all the other visitors at the Foamy Top, he was another traveling adventurer—not a man desperately seeking a missing woman. It was frustrating to sit back and let others ask questions, but he knew it was the fastest and least noticeable way to find his quarry.
If she knew he was here, she would vanish and this whole quest would begin again.
Link let Sal have a minute to put some space between them, then pushed to his feet and started for the staircase next to the wide bar. After weeks of searching, he was finally close to finding her. Excitement fluttered his heart. Link had no idea what he was going to say to her. 'Hi, honey. How have you been?' just didn't seem right.
Halfway to the stairs, a man dressed in dusty travel clothes stepped in Link's path. He stood just a hair underneath the Hero of Time's height and had a short sword strapped to his waist and a quiver of arrows peeking above the collar of his gray cape. Dark hair hung down his smooth brow and partly masked green eyes bright with intelligence.
"Hello, good sir," the stranger said. His tone was easy but held a slight edge. "I was wondering if you are interested in a business offer?"
Link relaxed his stance and released the breath he didn't know he'd been holding. For a moment he thought she brought protection with her. "No, thank you," he said, moving to step around the stranger.
"Are you sure?" he insisted, not yielding an inch to allow Link to pass. "My name is Roam and I'm seeking an adventurer to accompany me on a journey to slay a dragon that has been ravishing the area. You have heard of the dragon?"
"I'm really not interested," Link said stepping around Roam and continuing to the staircase. He had indeed heard of the dragon, and read the reports filed by patrolling soldiers about the wild creatures seen by local villagefolk. But military accounts and farmer stories were not what brought him to this distant end of Hyrule. He'd look into the attacks if he had the time, but a more important matter had his attention now.
"You're passing up a great chance for rupees!" Roam called behind him, but Link was already climbing the stairs.
He paused at the third floor landing. The same uncertainty that plagued him since leaving Hyrule Castle again pulled at him. What could have made her leave so suddenly? What was he going to say to her?
Drawing himself together with a deep breath, Link walked down the hall to the fourth door. After a moment of hesitation, he knocked on the door.
There was a shuffle of surprised movement from within the room. "Who's there?" a muffled voice called.
At that voice, Link knew the woman he'd been searching for was in that room. "It’s me,” was all he said. It was enough, he knew.
There was a muffled sigh from inside the room and then movement toward the door. The bolt rattled as she threw it aside.
Link met her blue eyed gaze when the door opened. "Hello, Princess Zelda. How have you been?"
no subject
Date: 2008-08-03 03:04 pm (UTC)You know I'm kidding :) lookin' forward to more!