Kafei watched the movement of the small leaves above them, which barely noticeable swayed in the gentle breeze. Link followed his viewing direction. A yellow-golden butterfly found its way into their idyll in paradise and settled down on Link’s knee.
“Stay still.”, whispered Kafei and raised.
Very careful he moved his hand towards the butterfly and actually managed to take it onto his fingers. Even more careful he laid down again and they studied every scale of the sensitive being with fascination.
“Na ishrinoij.”, whispered Kafei to the butterfly which took off again and left the bushes through a hole.
“What did you tell him?”
“That he shall not give us away.”
“What?”, giggled Link.
“You never know, do you? Up for water?”
“Thirsty most of all.”
Link stored the oil and crawled after Kafei. He couldn’t totally behave and gave him a kiss on his right buttock, whereupon Kafei had a little fit of laughter and let himself fall down on the path looking back. Link just crawled on until he was directly above him, enjoying the carefreeness more and more. Yes, if a hiker would have come by now and had seen them lying here like this, especially when they wouldn’t let themselves be stopped from bringing their lips together once again. But how many hikers would come by here anyway? They just nuzzled for a while, until Kafei rolled Link off himself, stood up and offered his hand.
Running he pulled him further along the lake. The roaring of the waterfalls became louder and their way soon more a climbing tour over roots and rocks. Nevertheless climbing here was easier than on the Clock Tower. Link only hoped that he wouldn’t slide off anywhere. The bruises which could happen by doing so, he didn’t even want to imagine. Kafei knew the way inside out. Without problems he climbed the easiest track ahead, always taking care that Link could follow him effortlessly. Somewhen it got wetter, but not much later they just climbed up in a broad crack between the rocks. They left the crack and stepped onto a big rock slab. In front of them the water rushed by and plunged into the deep. Link walked to the edge looked down.
It was about the same height as his highest jump he had made during his first longtime-try to safe Hyrule, in the not existing in this way anymore Gerudo Valley – so, not all too bad. The water here was for sure deeper than it had been there. Then though, Kafei did something that was simply insane. The black shining rocks which separated the water were of same height and evenly flat on top. Kafei took a run-up and just jumped across the first fork. Easily he landed on the other side and grinned back. Even mader, he very obviously meant Link to follow. It was certainly far, slippery and without boots or at least shoes he had as good as no feeling for halt, as he had never done such things with bare feet. Though he could train when ascending but he wasn’t prepared for something like this.
Secretly he knew that Kafei would have never asked him to do this when the lake would have been deep enough below the first platform. He summoned all courage and took a run-up as well. Exactly at the edge he jumped off. Just well enough his feet touched the hard rock. Kafei reached for his arm and safely pulled Link to him before he could fall backwards. Kafei went even further. At least there were additional stones between the next two platforms so they could step over relatively safe. There Kafei sat down and pulled Link to him for giving him a little breather during which they could enjoy the wonderful view.
Behind the lake they could see the Stone Towers in far distance reaching over the hills. Upriver the wild water did a right-hand bend into the ravine. Link watched their horses sleeping for a while. Despite the treetops he could see just enough of them lying on the shore path, the heads lowered to the ground. Kafei moved closer and took him tenderly in his arms. Cuddling, they just sat there for a while until the stone did become a bit too cold. They stood up together and went to the edge, their looks following the water.
“Your brain told me that you jumped off from so such heights several times already?”
“Yes. I actually like doing this. As long as I jump towards deeper water. The Clock Tower did give me creeps, I must say.”
“I know. The adrenalin rush is something to get used to at first, but somehow it makes addicted.”
“I’m familiar with this.”
“Actually?”
They shortly looked each other dreamingly in the eyes, for then falling into a passionate embrace and exchanging some saliva once more. Kafei let out a short, quiet groan when Link licked him in one go over tonsils and palate to the upper front teeth and further up to the tip of his nose, whereupon both couldn’t resist having a giggle.
“Can it be that your tongue becomes longer with each time?”
“I stretch it consistently when nobody watches.”, joked Link and pulled on it ostentatiously, slid off of course and went into Kafei’s laughter, who shook his head and fondled Link’s face with special fixation on Link’s chin. “I know. I need a shave.”
“No. I like these nondescript stubbles.”
“But I don’t.”, sulked Link. “Say – you didn’t even ask me what it was like.”
“I heard it. No questions needed.”
“I think, I owe your father something.”
“Me too. Do we jump together or separated?”
“Separated and you first.”, said Link and quite irresponsibly pushed him off into the depth.
Kafei took it easy. The way down was long enough that he could even bring in some somersaults and twists before he dived in absolutely straight with arms ahead. Link waited until he returned to the surface and jumped after like an eagle. Doing without stunts as he wasn’t good enough in any of these, he enjoyed the cool headwind and broke through the surface in the same way Kafei did. When he dived up, there was no sight of the other though.
Suddenly he was pulled underwater. Very blurred he saw a snap-shot of Kafei’s face coming closer and was forced into a deep, wild kiss to which he gave in with full trust. Gradually they ran out of air and had to dive up eventually. The splashing water of the waterfalls beat down on their heads though of the distance and they were lightly carried away arm in arm.
Paddling gently with their feet, they held themselves on the surface, slowly swept in a circle by the current and Link laid his right hand against Kafei’s chest, where he carefully took the blue, pointed stone, which he had given back to him on the morning, between his fingers. Kafei lowered his head to the hand of his boyfriend but looked into his face right after, without raising his head. Not changing his expression, he leant his forehead onto Link’s who stared him in the eyes, slightly startled.
“What’s the matter?”, aspirated Link.
“Nothing.”, meant Kafei trivially. “Do you like it?”
“I do – somehow.”
“I too.”, said Kafei monotonous.
“Wha- ”, Link began to laugh and Kafei went in.
“It is tradition that each Sheikah will get an in any kind of way octagonally cut stone as a pendant for their birth, in the colour of their hair. The reason why it’s the hair colour of all colours, I don’t know. I guess, no one knows anymore. Did you never notice the ring with the flat, umbrella-like, sand coloured stone on Zelda’s hand? She let it be given a new setting so she can carry it hidden under her gloves. Strangely enough she did do without them here.”
“I never really cared about her hands.”, meant Link, turning his head away from Kafei, thinking. “Also one would never automatically think that a girl’s jewellery could be a sign of her origin. With exception of tiaras and obvious symbols.”
“At least you know now. No other folk wears octagonal cut stones.”
“Don’t they?”, Link’s head rushed back.
“No.”
“Wait – the Kokiri-Emerald is octagonal.”
“I know.”, smiled Kafei mischievous.
“They were made by the Sheikah?”
“Atta boy.”
“That – whow.”
“Now don’t act so surprised. You should know already that our fingers are involved everywhere.“, he shortly tipped his indexfinger on the tip of Link’s nose.
“Yes. Yours most of all.”
“Mind?”, he now softly laid his fingertip on Link’s lips. “Obviously not.”, chuckled Kafei as Link took the finger in his mouth, eyes closed and licked it with relish. “May I give you a present?”, Link stopped and, the finger still in the mouth, gave him big eyes.
“Hm?”
“Don’t look at me like this.”, laughed Kafei and pulled his finger back.
“I don’t look at you like this.“, moaned Link. “Whatever `this´ is.”
“Well?”
“What is it?”
“Close your eyes, take a deep breath and just let me do, alright?”
Link nodded and did as told. Kafei pulled him under the surface. He felt Kafei putting him a hand on the eyelids. A slight pull in his eyes and Kafei wiped down with his hand. Link kept on closing his eyes tight until he heard Kafei’s voice echoing in his head, that told him he could open them. He got a fright and swallowed air. Kafei’s face was clear as if no water was there. He twinched his eyes one more time and opened them again, not believing what he saw. He ran out of air. Kafei noticed it and gave him some of his. When Kafei grinned, little bubbles came from the corners of his mouth. Shimmering they floated upwards and burst at the surface. Now also Kafei ran out of breath and he pulled Link with him.
“Does this remain?”, panted Link.
“Yes, this remains.”, giggled Kafei because of his expression and the question.
“You’re a god.”
“No. These are just, as Nérimlath calls them, busker-tricks. I do know that you Hylians are blind underwater like a Goron that’s been crashing into a wall too many times in a row.”
“Oh yes. I can even confirm this by experience.”
“Actually? Are you a clumsy Goron?”
“Hey. The hardest part’s always the beginning, isn’t it?”
“Alright. I actually wanted to show you something. If you’re here already, you simply have to have seen this.”
“Do I have to hold my breath for long again?”
“You can hold your breath for quite long as far as I know. Unfortunately you never had the opportunity in my presence.”
“That’s another way to express it.”, smirked Link.
“Ready?”
They both breathed deeply and afterwards took a breath as big as possible. Kafei pulled Link down again. That one took a look around. The by the already low standing sun lit sky let the crystal clear water shimmer pale golden. The lake was indeed deep and its bottom barely visible. The steep slopes of the ground were covered with plants. These were little algaes but also small grasses. Some grew in bunches. Shimmering fish swam around the couple. Link remembered that he didn’t even thank Kafei for this present no money could buy. Now he was the one to pull him upwards and did this with the tenderest kiss he managed to come up with right then.
“You’re welcome.”, Kafei giggled quietly in a short pause. “May I go on showing? This time you need a little more air.”
“I had enough air.”
“Fine.”, grinned Kafei.
At about six cubits depth he dived towards the waterfalls. Link saw a dark hole. Kafei could see in the dark though, but as he knew that Link couldn’t, he created a small ball of light which he let float next to them. The tunnel was quite long and winding. Slowly Link’s air was running short. Kafei stopped, tucked up his legs, turned around and once again gave Link bits of his air. How big were the lungs of this man? They dove around two more corners and found themselves in a big basin. Kafei dived up and Link followed as fast as he could, as he ran out of air again. Just in time they reached the surface.
They now were in a pitch black grotto. The light between them shone mystically and lightened them eerily. Kafei sent it up and enlarged it a little. Link caught his breath even more than just moments ago. The grotto was far bigger than he had assumed. Not far away from them the rocks near the water were even. Like terraces they went higher. Several passages got lost in the darkness. The terraces were definitely hewn and the passages hammered in shape. Everywhere through the rock ran shimmering blue and green veins of metal, like a dome of systemless spider’s webs. Link knew which metal it was.
“The mine was closed long ago already as they found bigger veins of higher quality somewhere else. They were closed too, as the Saszir veins were exhausted. The entrances to this one here were being blocked. So the only way out is through the tunnel we entered. It was made for bringing in fresh air. These metals have the advantage that they’re neither sensitive to air nor water. So they’re more or less for all eternity. I wish too, I knew where else to get Saszir Dust from.”
“I love you more than anything else existing.”, breathed Link. “And I’m not even able to properly show my appreciation for all you’ve given to me.”
“You don’t need to. Never. I do this because I want to let you share in my life. But I know something you could do to keep the beauty of my life going on.”
“Be careful or you’ll become addicted.”
“I’m addicted already.”
He let the light float in the mittle of the grotto, swam to the shore and climbed onto the first terrace, where he waited on Link, sitting. The ground was strangely even and neither particularly rough nor slippery. Kafei granted Link a few moments for being amazed, before he pulled him down gently. For the next minutes they downright drowned in their kiss and fondling, filled with endless love.
“Fancy a little experiment?”, whispered Kafei, when Link got out the notorious bottle after these minutes.
“In the water or what?”
“No. I don’t really want to drown us. Can you get the sheets out?”, Link opened the locket again and spread the flying sheets one onto the other on the cold stone.
“Wait.”, Kafei folded them two times. “That’s enough space. So they will protect your soft bottom a bit more.”
“What now.”
“Sit down normal.”
“Normal?”
“You know – er – bad comparison, yes. Like the Postman when he’s training.”
“That’s a bad comparison indeed!”, laughed Link but did as told though.
“Got an idea?”
“Vaguely.”, grinned Link and Kafei prepared them both with the miracle cure.
“Normally one shouldn’t say something like this but in our situation I’m allowed to, am I?”
“And what?”, Kafei sat himself with the legs around Link’s waist on the latter’s lap and leant against that one’s limbs. “With Anju on me, it always worked. Let’s hope that this position is variable.”
“Some kind, you are!”
“Or do you want to try something crazier?”
“No, no.”, Link waved off with big eyes. “Let’s go for it a bit slowlier. Slowly for our standards.”, he giggled and helped Kafei a bit until they found their rhythm.
This time they both were glad that they were in a cut off grotto. Otherwise they would have been heard down at the Stone Towers for sure. Nevertheless everything echoed around so loud between the rocks that it almost ached in their ears. Though they didn’t actually bother. Not even Link cared when Kafei clung so hard into his limbs that he already bleed. They didn’t really care about anything.
Every now and then they tried to cushion their moans with kisses – it didn’t help. Both came so heavily that they almost fainted. A real electric shock rushed through Kafei’s legs. Link didn’t feel different. Completely exhausted he fell backwards on the cold stone, panting and pulling Kafei with him, who was just able to curl up so their heads wouldn’t crash together. Knackered, his head landed on Link’s right collarbone. Shaggily he let his arms fall to the sides and a scream escaped Link when he became aware of the pain. Shaking, Kafei pulled his arms in position and heaved himself up as good as he could.
“Ouch.”, sighed Link with half closed eyes but laughed flatly.
“Shit – ”, Kafei got a fright as he saw his blood stained fingers. “What? That – no – “, he turned back his had as far as possible and saw the partly smudged, still slowly trickling blood on Link’s standing limbs. “No!”, murmured Kafei. “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!”
“No problem.”, laughed Link. “The sacrifice was worth it.”
“No. Don’t just put up with this, hear me?”
A bit clumsy he crawled off his lover, turned around sitting uncomfortable and laid the hands on Link’s wounds. This one felt a slight pull and the pain was gone. He tried to raise his head a bit but didn’t really manage to. Kafei turned to him again and stared at him, pity in his red eyes. Link only laughed and shook his head. The other eyed his bloodstained palms dumbfounded. For a short moment his eyes rushed on Link and back. Then he licked over his hands with interest.
“Kafei!”, giggled Link. “Tastes any good?”
“Slightly metallic.”, considered Kafei but couldn’t hold back a laugh either.
“Don’t be so childish and come here to me.”, smiled Link and pulled Kafei on him without much resistance.
“I am sorry.”, Kafei repeated.
“Shut up. I love you. No matter if you massacre me or not.”
“Shall I tell you something?”
“What is it?”
“And please believe me. It is nothing but the truth.”
“Tell me.”
“This was the best sex of my life.”, breathed Kafei.
“I can just agree.”, sighed Link.
“That was your third time.”, murmured Kafei. “Honestly, boy. You need to draw a clear line between just orgasm and actual sex. You’d better start right now.”
“Still.”
“You were right. We should really slow down a bit.”
“Means?”
“Otherwise we’ll get withdrawal symptoms somewhen, if we stop for a half day.”
~o~0~O~0~o~
Still a bit relieved about the end of the ride, they dismounted outside the town. Already from further away music had reached their ears. They stepped through the Eastgate and found the square bustling. Though there was not as much going on as on the day before but the buskers entertained the crowd at their best. However, someone spotted the two. A way too familiar voice in a way too familiar tone echoed towards them and the music died down.
“You! How dare you! Anju loves you! Where have you been? She’s almost dying of sorrow and you come in here strolling leisurely as if nothing happened!”, yelled Anidja across the Eastsquare and stomped into Kafei’s direction, attracting all eyes. “And I even give you another chance, you useless blighter! I don’t give a damn to what you are! This dosen’t justify that you break Anju’s heart – ”, she slid to halt shortly in front of Link who placed himself between them protecting, with an expressions as solid as a rock.
“If you must, then yell at me. It was my fault.”
“Link? What – ”
“It was my fault that we’re here just now.”, he lied stubborn and convincing into her face. “So stop shouting at him. I’m sure she didn’t worry. I bet it was Sorrei who worried and talked off her sister’s ears long enough to get Anila on her side. Can it simply be that your’re starting to mistake your daughters for each other or that Anila didn’t worry at all? Maybe you’re just imagining that she – ”
“No. She did worry. And you don’t need to protect him.”
“I don’t protect him, I just say it as it is.”, she wanted to contradict. “Shut your mouth. I don’t want to hear it. Do you know how sick you make everyone?”, now it was out. “Not only Kafei, me and both your daughters too. Even Romani and Cremia keep silent on it and do their best to ignore you. They do it so good that it already rubbed off on Rim. We thought you decided to change. But as this doesn’t work, I can just repeat what your daughter said. Either you shut up and back in or you pack your things. Who cares, Kari will stand in for you. Anju will find someone else until the next Carnival for sure. Maybe her sister will stay here after all. It would be good for both of them.”
“Now he poisoned you too.”
The whole square shrieked with fear when Anidja went to the ground. A few feet from the Inn’s door, Anju-Anila clapped her hands on her mouth, the others behind her were not less shocked. Robbing his palm, Link looked down on Anidja scornfully, who held her cheek. Tears went into her eyes when she looked up panting. He hadn’t planned to hit her so hard. He just had lashed out. Maybe it was a lesson to her.
Link felt Kafei’s hand on his shoulder. Instinctively he turned into his direction but not completely. Dotour and Esra came stumbling down the stairs and analysed the scenario dumbfounded. Dotour’s eyes just moved between Anidja and Link and he understood. Anju rushed into the Inn. Nobody spoke a word. No whispering, no murmuring of the crowd.
Anju could be heard rumbling upstairs. Not even two minutes later she came back with a big crammed travelling-sack over her shoulder. Pure rage drawn into her face, she stomped towards her mother and smacked the sack down onto the ground next to her. Anidja eyed the sack for a moment and looked up at her daughter.
“Leave.”, the latter only said.
“What?”, Anidja aspirated.
“Don’t I speak your language? You shall leave.”
“B-but – ”
“No but. Leave. I don’t want to see you ever again.”
“Anju – ”
“As Mayoress of Clock Town I expel you from this area of Termina. You’re no longer welcome here.”
“Anju – I.”
“This is my last word. Get up, take your stuff and leave, before I have to order the guards to throw you out of the town with force.”, she gave a short wink up to the town wall, whereupon one of the guards let down a ladder and climbed onto the square.
“You can’t do this with me!”, moaned Anidja and heaved herself up. “I’m your mother!”
“There you must be wrong. I don’t have a mother anymore. My mother is dead.”
“Anju – ”
“Leave now.”
“Please!”, she begged with tears.
“Guards, get that woman out of my sight and take care that she will never set a foot into this town again.”
The two men leaned their spears against the wall, grabbed the protesting Anidja under the shoulders and pulled her to the gate, one of them dragging her belongings with him. Link and Kafei turned after them and saw how the guards pushed the stout woman onto the sandy ground outside the town with disgust, dropping her luggage at her side. After that they silently went back on their posts. She picked herself up, swung her sack over her shoulder and threw a last look back into town. Then she vanished from sight southwards. Anju took a deep breath and dropped her shoulders and head. Kafei stepped out from behind Link and pulled her into his arms. For a while she just hung slack against him. She looked up and kissed him with a smile.
“It’s over, darling.”, Kafei nodded and she laid her right hand on his cheek. “I hope you know that Link was right. I didn’t worry. Why should I? You can take care of yourself. Besides, he was with you. I love you and know you that. I know that I don’t need to worry about you.”
“I love you too.”
“Link?”, she loosened herself out of her husband’s arms and went to him. “I thank you with my whole heart.”, she took his shoulders softly and gave him a kiss on the cheek, whereupon Link looked to Kafei slightly surprised. “And I thank the Forces of Heaven for giving us you.”
“Thank whoever you want. I agree with you.”, Link just sighed but noticed something. “Where’s Zelda?”
“Oh. Yes.”, she let her arms sink. “Gone.”
“Er – what? Where to?”
“She had to go back to Hyrule. An emergency. But no worries. She said it’s just political. Only some complications with the arrangement of whatever. She wishes you all the best and – ”, she took a short break thinking, “Good luck for your newstart in Ordon.”
Everyone stared at her silent. Only Kafei didn’t. He directed his look to the ground. Link understood as less as the others what this was about. Kafei alone seemed to know something which he had tried to conceal.
“I’m so sorry, Link.”, he aspirated.
“What?”, he got as reaction from that one.
“I’m sorry. I should have told you.”
“How – what does this mean? Why does Zelda want me to go to Ordon?”
“They both know that you haven’t had a life so far. Ordon’s isolated. There you can build yourself a new identity untroubled. Nobody knows you there. It would be just for your best. If you should meet her again, she will tell you herself. You just need to know that she’s warned me. She knew that it was only a matter of time. She wanted to go to you, yes, but she’s noticed our feelings for each other and warned me, that something like this might probably happen. It was just surprising how soon it happened. I’m sorry. She didn’t tell me more. Only that this here is just the beginning. This creature was a forerunner. There’s going to be silence. But then everything will happen very fast. They can’t harm you much. You’re blessed by Farore. But they can harm those that are close to you and thereby make you vulnerable.”
“Who told you this? This woman? Who does she mean? Why?”
“I don’t know. The name `Zant´ was mentioned, though I don’t know who or what that is. And she said things about Ganondorf. I assume we’re right before the final chord. Something big is happening here. A darkness, a slumbering beast in the fog of uncertainty. But for now we have nothing to fear. The calm before the storm has begun. We can breathe but must stay ready.”, Link nodded.
“But I won’t go to Ordon.”
“You will.”, Kafei finally looked him in the face. “I know, it will not be easy. But you have to. That’s your only chance to save us. Forget your life and start a new one.”
“That – do you know what you ask of me there?”, moaned Link.
“I know what I ask of myself. Link. You know that you never could escape your destiny. You are the biggest enemy of the Dark Forces. You know why? I aren’t your abilities. There are uncountable people who are more powerful. But the Darkness fears your will power. They fear your ability of unconditional love and sacrifice. They’re after Hyrule and maybe also Termina. If you stay here, the blow will be more devastating than necessary, just for hunting you down. I beg you. Go underground and ease the suffering by doing so. Father.”, he now addressed Dotour. “You were right. Ikana needs a king. And if the moment for saving Termina from the Forces of Darkness comes, I will lead it as such. Meanwhile – ”, he spoke to the watching crowd, “Go on celebrating. I don’t know for how long we can keep maintain reason for it.”, he turned to Link again, offered him his hand and lead him into the Inn.
“Oh.”, Link looked at the clock by the reception which already showed five minutes past midnight. “That was it. You failed.”
“What?”, faltered Kafei, followed his look and had a short laugh as he understood. “No. Not necessarily, no? The last time easily counted as three. Come. Let’s go packing your things.”
It didn’t take them long. Link decided to rearrange. So he emptied his cap and put everything into the locket. He already wanted to undress and put on his fighting-tunic but Kafei stopped him.
“You let that be, alright?”, Kafei took one of the two sheets Link had given him back and wrapped the clothes as well as his weapons in it.
“What are you up to?”
“I’ll tell you soon enough. Keep that on and follow me to our bathroom. But before that, I need to take care that you don’t starve.”
Link didn’t say anything to it, but the amount of provisions Kafei, packed was easily sufficient for two and their horses.
He lead Link past his discussing family through the again with music filled Easttown and up to the Town Hall. Arrived in the bathroom, Kafei laid down the bundle, grabbed a stool and sat Link onto it. Then he lifted the latter’s hair and laid a towel around his shoulders. Kafei went to a cupboard and Link protested when he saw the scissors in his hand.
“No! You’re not going to do this!”
“Be quiet. I know what I’m doing. They might be beautiful but they’re uneven and the ends are totally in the bobo. If you want them to grow really beautifully, they have to be removed and you should cut them more often. The best, you let them be cut by someone who can do it.”
“Like you.”
“Oh I’m sure there’s someone in Ordon too.”
“I won’t go to Ordon.”, repeated Link.
“Yes, you will do so.”
Link understood it as final word and let Kafei do. But what was he supposed to do in Ordon? He had just settled with his decision to start a new life in Termina and suddenly he was told to do so in a village he knew nothing about instead? Where he knew not a single soul? Where he was far away from the one he loved? Far away from what had become his family at last?
“We’d got that now.”, Kafei said when he was done and collected Link’s hair. “Take a look at them.”, Link stood up, went to the mirror and was slightly shocked to see his former hairstyle again, only that he had left the hair around the face almost the same way as it had been and also the other fell a bit better than in his childhood. “If you don’t mind, I’ll keep your hair. Maybe I’ll make a wig of it.”, he wrapped it in the towel but put this one into the bundle with Link’s green fighting-clothes.
“W-?”
He looked at Kafei in the mirror and both started to giggle. Kafei laid his arms around Link and cuddled to him. For several minutes they just stood there like this, thinking back on the previous days. Then Kafei kissed him on the cheek from behind and threw his hair to the left. Link threw it back to the middle and Kafei to the left again, giggling heavily. He gave up, not so unhappy with the parting as he had used to wear his hair like this a couple of times before. And he simply didn’t stand a chance against Kafei. This one pulled him into the marital room in which he got out a bow and a belt from the notorious chest, gave Link these things for storage and went outside with him again, where his family besieged the Eastgate determined. Also Ydin, Frano and Ora had arrived there.
“Oh Giants!”, cried Esra. “Kafei! What did you do to his hair!”
“Isn’t it obvious? It’s gone.”
“And now?”, asked Cremia. “You really bring him to Ordon?”, Kafei only nodded.
What happened then was simply heart-rending. Close to tears, one after another they pulled Link into their arms for saying farewell. When Link arrived at Ydin, he got out his wallet from the locket and pulled three Rupees, two golden ones and a silver one. He pressed them into the elder lady’s hand.
“See it as deposit for Kafei’s next dress.”, he whispered in her ear and both burst into childish giggling.
“Take care of yourself, my boy.”, Dotour hugged him last. “And don’t lose your birthday presents. But even if. The offer remains also without this golden scrap, right?”
“I know.”, now Link fought with tears as well.
Kafei took his hand once more and conducted him out of town where their horses were waiting. The others followed them and lined up outside the gate. Kafei strapped the bed sheets onto Epona, the two men mounted and rode off in direction of Ikana, Link, as often as he could, waving back until they got out of sight. They passed the way up in silence. Instead of tuning left, Kafei dismounted in front of the passage to the Stone Towers. Link did the same and Kafei fiddled about with that one’s locket. Link laughed when Kafei stuck and secured the birthday presents in Epona’s saddlebags – only the locket he left around Link’s neck. Then he loosened the bed sheet with Link’s clothes and bound it around his own belly, making knots behind his back. The other he took in his hands and disappeared in the passageway, Link on his heels.
He stopped and bound the second sheet like a kind of cloak to his shoulders. He pulled Link close, flipped the sheet over their heads and did the same on him. Link understood and laid his arms around the hips of the other man. Kafei himself, held onto Link’s back with his left hand and directed his right palm upwards between them. A pleasant swirl of air streamed from his hand, blew up the sheet and carried them without problems right to the top where Kafei landed them on the opposite to the entrance to the temple. He freed them from the sheet, gave it to Link and asked for his own bow, the belt and two Light Arrows.
A bit clumsy and not painless they landed on the platform above them. Silent again, Kafei stepped to the edge and bound off the bundle. They watched Link’s fighting-clothes and weapons fall down into the sky. At last, Kafei nevertheless let the hair fall which he had cut off Link. Epona, what hung on her saddle and what he wore on his body was all Link still possessed. They had even thown away the locket now. Kafei was serious. He wanted to give Link a new chance, though it would ask a lot from both.
“And you really think this was a good idea? What if everything comes back again and knocks somebody down?”
“It won’t. Not here. That was it.”
“You’re right. Epona’s all I have left. And you.”
“I won’t go with you. Don’t say now that you already expected from me to give up everything as well. Link. My place is here. Here at the side of my family. No matter if in Hyrule or Termina, you will never have your peace. Not as long as you don’t cut all connections to these two countries. I beg you. Build yourself a new life. Forget me and everything else. You’ve earned it. You’ll be safe in Ordon. It lies between the borders and belongs just to its inhabitants. They don’t know you. Nobody. Just tell them you’re from Clock Town and you want to flee from the town life once and for all. They’ll take you in, I’m sure.”, begged Kafei with tears. “But don’t wonder if someone finds your ears fascinating. They are Humans and only see Hylians when they go to Hyrule or Clock Town. But most of them haven’t done that yet. In the village they just know me from hearsay. One of them, a certain Rusl, was here once for business. I’ve seen him for a moment and caught a long conversation. He speaks Hylian very well. He will help you learning their language.”
Kafei gave him a loving kiss before he shot off Link’s last Light Arrow with his own bow and they silently bound on the sheets with grief. Before doing so Kafei fastened the bow on his back with the belt diagonally around his upper body. Then they stepped to the edge once more for floating back to the foot of the Stone Towers. As wordless they freed themselves from the bed sheets and mounted. Link threw a last glance back into the valley as they went through the passageway.
As fast as they could push their horses, they rode along the road through the Hinterlands in direction of Ordon. Every few hours they would stop to grant themselves and their horses some rest. Most of the ride they remained in silence. When they spoke, it was not much. Yet there was no need for any words. All throughout the night, the following day and another half of a night, they needed no words to know what the other was thinking, was feeling.
Lastly, at the border; a small ravine; was a wooden palisade door. No watchman guarded it as protection was not necessary. They dismounted and Kafei opened it. Then they fell each other in the arms a last time and cried until they were unable to any more tears.
“Shall I not stay here?”, aspirated Link and looked him deeply into his red eyes which seemed to have lost all their fire.
“You’ll always be here.”, he took Link’s hand and pressed it to his heart. “In here. Forever.”, Link did the same.
“I’ll never forget you either. You’ve made yourself an indestructible place in my heart. I won’t let anyone else get it.”
Their last kiss was no longer filled with grief. It was the gladness of having found each other and having been allowed to walk a part of their paths together. When they separated their lips, a single tear wandered down Kafei’s cheek. Link kissed it away with a light smile. Quietly whispering he gave him the wisdom of the Sheikah.
“It are the small scars, that accompany us forever. But the small signs, make these scars of minor importance, as they manage to ease the greatest pain. They are the Lights in the Darkness. As long as Light exists, there is Hope. Not forgotten, no. Just a well kept secret. Though a few more know about it now. The things that really mean something to us, always return to us. How much time will pass, none of us knows.”
“But they return.”, finished Kafei. “I know. We’ll meet again. When and where and in which life doesn’t matter. Love survives all pain and all darkness. I know this by now.”
Slowly Link stepped back, not separating their fingers until their hands were too short to maintain the touch. It was as if an untearable bond was built between their fingers which should last eternal and was endlessly stretchable. With a heavy heart Link mounted and rode slowly through the door, behind which an old friend was waiting, whom he didn’t notice yet. Nor did Kafei see her. She’d gotten to know from Zelda where she would meet Link again if Kafei kept to what he had been ordered to. She’d been waiting here the whole day long already. With a gentle wave of his hand Kafei closed the door magically. In the last crack their looks met one more time. Not forgotten, no. Just a well kept secret.
~o~0~O~0~o~
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