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themostcleverandwittyname · 5 years

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There’s Power in Pain

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Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

(LinkxOC)

Summary:

A farmer with a troubled past had found a fallen hero on a riverside and makes the decision to take him in. With Ganondorf gathering power by the minute, there is no time to delay in his defeat however there is a time and place for everything as well as a lesson to learn. Link will have to do the hardest thing he has ever done and that is wait until he is ready to defeat Ganondorf.

But will Link ever truly be ready to rely on help to do the impossible? To accept that even heroes need support even from the most unlikely of people?

Meanwhile, a group of thieves organize to steal the sacred sword of the Hero of Destiny for themselves.

Chapter 6: The sounds of Splashing

Chapter 6 on AO3

“You had unsheathed the sword before that?”

The summer breeze ruffled the grass and the trees, the sound of the flutter of leaves was among the babbling of the stream. Hooves gave a melodic and soft thud as they went about their way. The sun had reached its full peak and Annette was very grateful for shady hat and the gentle breeze. The smell of the river and of honeysuckles in the brush swept around them, making the midday ride even more enjoyable. For the most part, the ride had been silent and had only lasted half an hour. The trail, if they followed it further on, would lead to Lake Hylia and the Lanayru Spring, which was just west of Hyrule Castle. Annette was more close to Termina, which was farthest to the West and past Lake Hylia by about two hours by horse. Being somewhat in the middle of the two big towns was beneficial to her, yet also a fair ride in either direction.

Link’s question, though not out of nowhere and a product of Annette admitting that she hadn’t pulled the sword out the first time in front of him, was a rupture of the quiet sounds of nature.

“Well, yeah. How did you think the honey got off the blade? Do you usually shove your sword back into its scabbard covered in blood, honey, or whatever you slice up?” She gave her rhetorical question, her sarcasm tinged her words. Link looked puzzled for a moment, as if he hadn’t realized that his sword had been cleaned.

“Oh… Blood usually doesn’t stay on the sword for long. I thought that because the sword is, well, magic that the scabbard would just… clean the honey? Usually that’s what it does with blood and dirt that collects on the blade.” He admitted, his naivety in his words. What?

“Wait, the scabbard cleans the blood off?” She asked, making sure she understood him right. He nodded, tangling the reigns around his fingers absently. He had frowned at the state of his green tunic and still decided to wear the chainmail beneath the button up she had fished from her brother’s drawer, the white fabric wasn’t quite long enough to cover the slightly tarnished mail that glinted in the sunlight. She had promised to help him patch up the tunic later, but it didn’t stop him from pulling that green hat over his hair. In other news, with inspection of his tunic, some things were found in his pockets that had not been lost, however not impressive enough to cheer over. Just a mere slingshot and a horse whistle, nothing too important yet Link still was pleased to have them back in his possession.

“Yes, surprisingly it’s very handy. With my other sword, I have to clean it a lot and it’s not easy to do when you’re in a cave with little lantern oil left.” He mused, memories of previous times flashed in his cool, blue eyes.

“Seems like you have a lot of stories to tell.” Annette prompted, leaning forward on her horse hoping to hear something interesting from the hero of legend. He gave a short-lived laugh under his breath and said nothing more before looking down at the mane of his horse, a bittersweet look in his eyes. Perhaps he didn’t want to talk about it.

Yet again, as they continued along the river and the way it curved, the farmer decided that something other than the sound of birds chirping was in order. Opening her saddlebag, she reached in and pulled out her source of entertainment on long rides, a simple violin. She had left the bow at her home and on rides like this preferred plucking the strings. She wasn’t a musical talent but there were a few melodies she had picked up from street musicians and locals. She ran her finger over the strings and recalled how one song went.

Plucking the strings, the melody, though at first was pitchy and unpracticed, began to flow nicely once she got used to her instrument again. She had not played in a long time. The song was fast paced and happy, one that was played at most festivals. Cordial, Annette’s horse, was fond of this particular tune and her pace quickened and she gave a whinney, as if attempting to sing along.

This made Link perk up and take his eyes away from staring away absently. The blonde watched her finish the song. She had not realized that she was finished until her playing had come to and end and she hadn’t given any forethought on what to play next.

“That was very pretty. I’ve never heard that song before.” Link gave, curiosity gleamed in his eyes. “ I didn’t know violins could be played that way.”

“It’s hard to carry a bow around on rides without breaking it. Playing violins like this isn’t uncommon, but playing with a bow is much more elegant. The song is a festival song that everyone in Termina knows. I just play it on long rides to entertain myself.” She explained, resting her hand on the polished wood. She cherished this violin a lot, as it had been a gift from her brother years ago.

Link listened and didn’t have any further comment, but he didn’t look as if he wanted to drop conversation.

“How about you? Do you like to do anything in your spare time?” She inquired, placing the violin loosely back into the saddle bag. Link thought for a moment about his answer and his extended silence was relatable. She always forgot everything she had ever done in her life when someone would ask what she likes to do.

“I like to help people. I like making people feel happy and safe.” His answer threw her off guard. It was warming, yet so unbelievably kind that it felt like something a governor or monarch would say to gain trust. However, the brunette knew this was not the case somehow and that the man riding with her was being genuine. She wasn’t sure exactly what to say to that and watched as he smiled fondly as he thought over his words.

“That’s… that’s very nice but I meant more of what you do for yourself. When you’re alone and bored what makes you happy? Do you paint or hunt or read? Maybe even play an instrument?” she pushed, adjusting her sunhat. Link smiled to himself as he recalled something.

“Well, I don’t know if this counts as an instrument or not but I pick reeds and use them as a whistle. Epona here loves it and runs right over to me.” he revealed, gesturing at the chestnut mare. Once again, she didn’t know how to respond. He what? She must have made a face because his smile fell and was replaced by confusion.

“Wow I’ve never heard that before. Maybe you can show me sometime.” was all she could manage. He looked down at his saddle and exhaled, not enthused by her lack of a proper response.

“There is another thing I like.” he began and opened his mouth, as if deciding whether or not to say it or not. “One of the best things is when I’m alone and find things that no one else has found. I like to discover hidden places because I know that there I can enjoy the moment, even if it’s short. A lot of people like looking at the night sky, but I feel the same way when I uncover something like that.” he spoke, voice soft along with his expression. His words were raw, untouched by formula or conditioning from others. It was genuine.

“I feel the same way with waterfalls and ponds. It’s comforting, right?” Annette related, smiling to herself. Link nodded and yet he had more to say.

“Yes, that’s a place that is normally comforting but the strange part is that I feel this way sometimes in places there would be danger. In dark caves, for example. I never know what’s around the corner, what’s in the shadows. Is it something I need to be careful of or something that I was lucky to find? It’s weird, but it’s exciting to feel unsure and fully engaged in what’s happening around me.” he continued his explanation, adding so much more. She knew what he was talking about. He looked at her, his eyes hopeful and yet confused.

“I know what you’re talking about.” Annette admitted and Link perked up.

“You do?” he responded, his curiosity beaming.

“Yeah, I mean it’s kinda like that.” she gave and his obvious interest prodded her into more. If he had shared that with her, then she could share something too. “I feel excited when I fight someone. There’s something about it that makes me feel alive. That may be everyone, but I’ve always felt guilty about it. It’s exhilarating and freeing. It’s the same when I’m out alone, walking in the dark along a street or somewhere else. Someone could break my neck, coming up behind me. I’d never have a clue but somehow it makes me feel free. It may be the possibilities that arise when I’m alone like that.” she ended her spill and wondered if she should have kept that to herself.

Link looked at her with thought.

“Fighting is freeing for me only after I win. When I fight, it’s never for me so it can quickly feel overbearing. Defeat is painful, not because of being hurt but because there’s so much more at stake than me.” His words came out pained. She knew that he wasn’t just speaking of past experiences, but perhaps also of his current wounds that he had.

The Triforce on his hand was condemning, she realized. Not just a right and a gift, but a sentence. She shuddered at the thought of having to bear something like that herself. Before she could come up with any pathetic or weakly constructed response to his pained words, something glinted in the water. Something had snagged itself on a branch that scraped the water’s surface.

“Link! Is that your bow?” She exclaimed her question and Link startled at the sudden volume increase. Annette pointed past the blonde at the item in the river and he followed her the direction of her finger to spot the bow. He snapped his head back at her, his eyes wide and excited. She didn’t need more of an answer.

She tugged the reigns and halted her mare before swinging down to the peaty soil at the river’s edge.

_______________

Link watched as the woman made her way around Epona and paused by the bank. She looked up at him, her eyes nested under the shadow of her hat’s brim. Her freckles dusted between her hazel eyes. Her wild, curly hair twirled against her cheeks. Her skin was considerably darker than his, even in the sunlight, almost making him wonder is she had Gerudo relatives.

“You, stay on your horse. I’ll get it! Look and see if you can find the quiver. If not, it’s okay because we can just buy another one later.” Her words came out in a demand and she hurriedly pulled her cargo pants up past her knees, using the drawstring to tie them in place. He took her words and looked around, hoping to spot the quiver too.

A little way up the river, he had spotted the quiver wrapped over a pointy rock that rose up above the water. It was lucky that it was so close and not lost, despite the fact that it wasn’t particularly essential to him. Like Annette had said, he could just buy another quiver.

“It’s upstream! On that rock!” he called out as the brunette began to wade into the water, the surface resting well below her knees. The current swept around her, the dangling drawstrings grazed the water. She looked over towards the rock and gave him a nod over her shoulder before turning her back to him to trek through the water. In no time, she had reached the bow and quiver, muttering things to herself that Link couldn’t make out from his distance. She turned back, with both the bow and quiver in her arms, holding them high above the water.

“You are so lucky I might have to use you to gamble! There’s still one arrow in here!” she called out, her amusement clear in her voice.

She waded through the water but froze in place and her face went stark with shock. Something coiled and twisted over the edge of the quiver and onto the farmer's arm. She gave choked, inhuman groan of a shriek and slammed the quiver into the water, her whole body surging into action to sling the trespasser from her wrist. The snake was flung from her arm and Annette, still in a state of panic, stomped away in a frenzied march and fell back into the river. She disappeared from view for a moment under the surface and lurched back to her feet in the calf-deep flow, drenched completely and blinded by her own hair.

Link stared, stunned as only seconds passed and didn’t allow for much of a reaction, as the now soaked brunette pulled the wet mangle of hair from her eyes to look around for the snake, who had long fled in fear. Her tawny face almost seemed pallid as she looked up, her likeness like a wet sheepdog. Link wasn’t sure if it was relief, the sudden absurdity of the scene, or the dumbfounded look that Annette was giving him as she realized he had been watching, but he burst into laughter.

Her eyebrows pinched together and her eyes narrowed as she nodded her head in spite of herself. She sucked in her cheeks and turned her eyes towards the quiver in the water, the bow still in her grasp.

“Yeah, ha-ha, laugh it up. As if you wouldn’t do the same thing.” she huffed, pulling the soaked quiver from the water, tilting it to pour out. The single arrow still remained there, not lost to the current when it had been thrown into the water. He was indeed lucky. His laughter diminished to be just a smile and through his grin he tried to make some sort of apology, though he couldn’t be totally sincere.

“I’m sorry, you just looked so… funny when you were scared like that. I’ve never seen that from you.” he began, his laugh returning to peek through his words. Annette gave a stern look and she straightened up.

“I am a coward, sure, but I am not scared of a little snake. It just caught me off guard, that’s all.” she claimed, matter of factly, her nose turned up. He didn’t believe it and just to see what defence she had, he chose his next words with mischief in mind.

“Good, then getting it off your leg shouldn’t be a problem.” He jested and Annette barely had time to register his words before she again squealed and leapt from the water, this time holding firm the quiver and bow in her hands. The commotion set the water around her flying in droplets through the air as she scrambled away. However, this time she didn’t fall and her frenzy was cut short when she realized that there was no snake.

Coming to a stop, she took a deep breath and looked up to glare at him, his giggles were unaffected by her look.

“Oh fuck you!” she exclaimed but with a few seconds to whoosh away her short-lived anger, she exhaled and humor spread across her features. “Oh okay, you got me! You got me… Come on, piss yourself! Soooo funny.” her sarcasm came but her own half-hidden smirk betrayed her and Link could laugh knowing that she wasn’t angry anymore. He was taken away from the moment when she held the bow out to inspect it, her face lighting up.

“Since I’m already soaking wet, I might as well make use of it and see if I’m any good at archery.” Her words caught him off guard as he didn’t know what she meant by that. She wasn’t planning on shooting him, was she? The answer to his question came when after the brunette notched the arrow clumsily, she turned the sharp tip towards the water, just downstream from her. After a few seconds of concentrated focus, she let the arrow fly to hit its mark in the water, apparently a total miss at her groan. No wonder, her form was completely wrong.

“Are you trying to catch a fish that way? When you’ve never shot a bow?” Link asked in curiosity, leaning forward in his saddle.

“Um, yeah. It’s a dumb idea but I want to see if I can do it… if you don’t mind. If I bend your arrow, I’ll buy you more.” she offered as she crept through the water, careful not to cause any more stir in the water so that the fish will return.

“I don’t mind. Go for it.” he spoke and Annette nodded. Notching the arrow again, she stood back into the more shallow water and kept a close eye out. She looked over her shoulder at him and at the horses.

“You should probably get down and stretch your legs. We’ll probably be here a while if my goal is to be accurate.” She gave herself a short chuckle, “Just don’t hurt yourself and stay away from the edge of the forest.” her command came out and with no further comment she turned towards the water. He thought it over and clambered down from the saddle, giving Epona a soft pat. His decent pulled at his arm and the ache worsened to remind him it was there.

Looking around, he decided that looking at rocks was better than nothing. He could be quiet that way and not scare the fish. As much as he didn’t want to idle around and wanted to hunt down what he had lost, he knew it was better than nothing.

He was slow to bend down to pluck a marbled grey pebble from the small dunes of others, keeping in mind that he was injured. Although he had healed considerably, he did not want to reopen the small wounds again and reverse progress and he certainly didn’t want to hear Annette scold him again.

Rolling the pebble around in his palm felt so foreign, his nondominant hand had been working overtime and he wondered if he would become ambidextrous after this. That would be useful. Annette cussed, having missed her target again and he looked up to see her march half-hearted towards the arrow. His attention half returned to the pebble and half lingered on her profanity.

In Ordon, there were no girls or women that would cuss aloud and stomp around so rudely when they didn’t get their way. Annette had said that she was from Termina, so perhaps it was a cultural difference but compared to people he had met in Hyrule and his hometown, he figured it may just be unique to her. She was so bossy and often rude, rolling her eyes and snorting at any inconvenience, but she never neglected to take care of whatever problem arose. She called her friend an idiot and acted as if everything Zania did was troublesome, yet she looked forward to seeing her and still enjoyed her company.

Link thought back to her harsh words when he joked about the snake and assumed that perhaps that’s just how she treated her friends? If that were the case, he would welcome a “fuck you” from her, no matter how strange it was to him.

But then again, that just may be how things are with people from Termina and she may just be rude.

With her rudeness aside, Link couldn’t deny that she had helped him a great deal and treated him nicely even if she did scold him as if she were his mom. He knew that without her… he may not be as well as he is now if he was even alive. He would like to think that someone else would come along and help, but in this secluded and uninhabited area full of woods, he knew that was only positive thinking. He wanted to help more, but he had no clue what to do. She was happy with the honey, but he couldn’t help but feel that it was minor in paying her back.

And then there was… the sword incident. He couldn’t wrap his head around it, how she had acted and how she was able to unsheathe it. She had dropped the subject so fast and had tried to ignore it had happened and that baffled him. He knew that anyone who could wield that sword would be thrilled about it, all the children in Ordon dreamed about it and that’s why he returned it to the temple… until now. Annette had completely ignored it and the lack of excitement didn’t make any sense.

“Hey Link, are you feeling okay? You’ve been staring at that rock for a while now. Do we need to go back? I don’t want you passing out on me or anything.” the subject of his thoughts called out, her words were the summation of what she was like. She cared, but always thought something in that made the situation seem like a bother. She was deflecting her own concerns. And this she did very often.

Link stared dumbly back and nodded, letting the pebble slide from his palm. That was answer enough for her and she turned back and shot the bow again, missing and cursing under her breath.

Rude or not, she was helping him and had claimed she was going to help him get back everything he lost and for that, he wasn’t sure he could thank her. Especially if she knew how badly he had failed and how Ganon’s power grew every moment that she handed him a plate or made him go lie down and rest.

“Did I? I DID! Link, look, I got him!” She called excited as she rushed to the arrow and pulled the large carp from the water, which flopped uselessly in her grasp. “Do you like grilled fish?” She questioned, pulling the arrow from the side of the fish. Link stared in surprise. He thought it might take longer to catch a fish. Shooting arrows into water with accuracy was something that beginners would have trouble with. Was it luck or just the fact that she didn’t give up?

Very pleased with her catch, he watched her bring the wriggling fish to the shore, little water droplets made new dark spots on Annette’s half-dried shirt. Holding it above the rocks, she watched it squirm and her excitement faded to confusion.

“I um… I don’t know what to do with it now. My brother usually… finished the job.” She explained, still holding the fish firmly. Oh, she didn’t want to kill it. He stepped forward, willing to do the job. Reaching out for the fish, they both jumped back startled as a crudely made arrow pierced the side of the fish, the impact pushed the fish from the woman’s grip.

Link’s heart sunk in fear and dread as he knew exactly what this meant. Looking in the direction that the arrow came from, he found on the hill across the river what he had fought so hard to keep from Ordon.

A bublin archer perched on a large, painting boar.

And he wasn’t sure he could defend himself this time, let alone the woman in front of him.

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