The Legend Of Zelda Fan Fiction ❯ Gerudo Forest ❯ Chapter 51 ( Chapter 51 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

“Impa!” Nabooro cried running to her fellow sage. The woman had went from dark skinned to very pale and her bright red hair had changed to an almost silvery blond. Her now deep red eyes opened to the sound of her name only to close again from exhaustion. Her ears returned to a point and tattoos reappeared upon her skin. The only one Melissa truly recognized was the traditional tear drop below her eye making it look like the sheikah tribe's symbol. “This Agahnim is truly a powerful man to be able to brainwash an awakened sage.” Melissa heard Koume whisper to her sister. The fact that the wizard had the power to brainwash at all made Melissa fearful. If he could do it to a sage he could do it to anyone. To her friends and possibly even Ganon. She remembered the travelers had mentioned Impa was missing but when Nabooro had said she was searching for Link and Heather naturally Melissa had thought that was the reason. Had Agahnim caught her on that search and sent her to kill Ganon for him? Who better than a sheikah? Melissa didn't know much about the Sheikah other than they protected the royal family. So they had to be very skilled warriors. When Zelda had posed as a Sheika boy she acted very ninja like as well. So maybe assassination was something a sheika would be good at. “Please release her!” Nabooro said turning to Melissa with tears in her eyes. “She has suffered enough.” “Oh! Of course! Sorry...” Melissa said snapping from her thoughts. She loosened the roots and let them slowly lay Impa on the floor before letting them retracting back into her little tree. She was going to have to get a new pot for it because it's sudden growth had caused it to crack and split a little but she would worry about that later. Nabooro cradled her fellow sages head in her lap. “So if the wizard got to her does that mean she never found the fairy boy?” Ganon asked. “We won't know till she wakes.” Nabooro responded. “I would like to take her to my room to rest if that is alright with you.” She said finally looking up. Ganon nodded to a few guards and they helped Nabooro lift the woman and left. Ganon then dismissed those who remained including Koume and Kotake. Melissa felt exhausted and wondered if he felt the same. She let herself fall down on the bed and stretched out. She never wanted to witness something like that ever again if she could help it. With everyone's departure the room went quiet. She guessed he knew as much to say as she. She needed to break the silence that hung heavy in the air. “Is that what you went through?”Melissa asked looking at Ganon who had sat himself at the table. “I guess so. More or less.” he responded coolly. Melissa didn't think she would have been able to see him like that. She felt angry at the wizard for causing so much pain to the one she loved. It was just another reason the wizard needed to be stopped. “Do you think she's going to be okay?” she asked rolling on her back to stare up at the ceiling. “Do not worry. She will be fine. I am more worried about you.” He said standing coming to sit beside her on the bed. “Did she hurt you?” “No. She just pushed me down on the chair to wait for you.” Melissa responded. ”You were her official target. Wonder what that stupid wizard is up to. Surely he didn't think Impa would be a match for you.” She pondered. “Do not underestimate a Sheikah. They are a dangerous lot but your right. Alone the sage would not have been able to get the best of me.” He said flashing her a cocky grin. It was nice to see at least one of them could smile after those events. Melissa on the other hand was drained emotionally. She felt for Impa even though she didn't know the woman well. “ Don't you think it's about time we started out again?” she asked. “I know I am still a long ways from being the best with the bow but I can keep practicing on the way.” She worried that if they stayed much longer, with the wizard knowing their location again, more innocent people would get harmed. If they continued their journey maybe it would draw Agahnim's attention from this place. Melissa loved seeing the gerudo and hylian villagers working together everyday. It proved there could be peace and coexistence between the two peoples. If anything the experience the villagers were receiving here now would build a better understanding of their neighbors. She didn't want that to be destroyed. Ganon looked at her deep in thought. “How is your shoulder?” he asked not really answering her question. She hadn't really thought about her injury in a while. She actually had stopped going to see the doctor after his questions had started to get more personal. The question that had broke the camel's back though was when he asked what mating rituals with a Gerudo man were like. She hadn't blushed so much in her life. Nor had she been angrier at someone. She had said nothing to him and left before he had even re-bandaged her. From then on she changed her own bandages the best she could. It never looked as good as the doctor's wrapping but it always served it's purpose. In addition she had been doing without the salve the doctor put on it because she couldn't reach the wound herself. It didn't hurt, itch, or smell which was the usual sign of an infection. So she hoped it was okay. She had decided not to tell Ganon about what had happened because the doctor did do a valuable service here but what should she tell Ganon now? “I can't see it so I have no clue.” She finally decided to say giving him a shrug. “Well what has the doctor been saying?” he asked making her cringe. He just wasn't going to drop this was he? “Well um... truthfully I haven't been to see him in a few days.” she responded turning on her side so not to see the disapproval now spreading across his face. “What do you mean you haven't been to see him?” He asked sounding upset. Do you know the risks for a wound like that if not treated properly?” “Well he was asking questions of a personal nature that were none of his business.” she replied trying not to give in and tell him how personal. “His questioning just reached a point that I could no longer handle. I used to have Chara to help keep him in line but since the engagement she has avoided me like the plague.” She finally finished. Surely that would be enough of an answer. She felt him tug at her bandages slowly unwrapping them, so as not to pull at the wound if it was stuck on the wrappings. “What plague?” he asked sounding confused. “Huh? Oh sorry that is just an expression where I come from. In what would be considered medieval times around the 1340's-1350's there was a plague that killed off whole villages. It is usually known as the Black Death. First you would get large tumor looking sores, followed by fever, vomiting blood, and blackening of the skin. It was caused by flea bites. I haven't heard of anyone catching it now a days but that is where the expression originated.” she said responded never thinking she would be giving him a history lesson of earth. Finally the last of the bandage came free and she could feel him touching around what she guessed were the edges of the wound. “That sounds bad.” He replied flatly before immediately going to his next question making her wonder if he had even listened to her explanation. “Does this hurt at all?” he asked pushing lightly. “No I feel fine.” she replied. “Well it looks pretty healed. No infection as far as I see but you really should have told me what had happened.” He sighed. “Well you were busy and I didn't want you to have to worry.” She said as he started to re-wrap her shoulder. “You have been keeping much from me as of late. Do you not think it is time you told me what is going on?” He asked. Melissa knew he had been noticing this for a while. She had to admit he had been a gentleman waiting for her to decide to tell him but it seemed this last confession had made him a little more than curious about her recent behavior. Should she go ahead and tell on herself? She wanted to be truthful with him. “ I have just been trying to be more independent. I over heard you agreeing with Nabooro that I was a handful and I never meant to burden you.” She finally admitted sitting up to see his reaction. There she had finally said it. Would he be mad at her for following him that night? Upset that she had been eavesdropping? “Huh? When did I say that?” he asked trying to think back. Melissa watched as his thoughts slowly clicked into place. “You followed me that night didn't you?” He asked and she couldn't quite tell if it was anger or frustration creeping into his voice. “I only did it because I was worried about what was going on. It was like being at Death Mountain all over again. I don't like being left out of things. It is like I am being treated as a child.” she admitted looking away. “I tell you to do things for your protection. You should trust me more. What if it had been the wizard?” he asked crossing his arms again. “ I get this weird feeling when he's around so knew it wasn't him.” Melissa said trying to defend herself. “So all this keeping to yourself was because of my conversation with Nabooro?” He asked shaking his head. “You do know that I meant your recklessness right? I did not say that because you were bothering me with problems you were having.” He said putting his hand to the side of her face turning it to look at him. “I have never had to put up with such disobedience in my life.” He chuckled. “So you keep saying.” Melissa replied embarrassed she had made a mountain out of a mole hill. “Do you still want to go for that ride?” He finally asked after they sat in silence for a minute. “Yeah I guess but instead of Trinexx I have a better idea.” She said with a mischievous grin leaving him to wonder what she was up to. Grabbing his hand she led him to the roof. He seemed to know what she was up to then and smiled as she changed. “Your getting better at that.” He observed. Melissa had let the change go enough to cover everything before she took off her clothes. “I guess. I still feel weird every time I do this.” she thought to him letting it finish. She stretched out her wings before bending down to let him on. She felt excited to fly again. As much as she enjoyed the feel of wind beneath her she hadn't really flown that much. She didn't know why but she felt like it would be something she might get addicted to if done to much. Once aboard she made sure he was holding on before leaping off the building. People below pointed as she flew above. Some who knew nothing about their being a dragon here ran scared to the buildings. Melissa remembered being hit by the arrow last time she flew and was grateful that this time the guards had been informed not to shoot. She thought of the wound again and was happy it didn't hurt as they went. She circled lazily around their home before heading to their favorite spot. This was very relaxing and helped her forget the whole ordeal with Impa. “You know if we got you a...” hestarted to think to her but she banked making lose his concentration. “If you are about to say saddle I will drop you here and now.” she joked. “I'm not a horse. Besides if it were an emergency we wouldn't have time to put it on.” She could feel him laughing against her. “Then I guess I will have to figure the best way to hang on with out.” he responded and she could feel him moving around trying to find a place to brace his feet. Eventually he found a way to dig his boot under her scales. It wasn't the most comfortable but it didn't hurt. Wrapping her hair in his fist he finally stilled. “Roll.” he commanded. “What? Are you sure?” Melissa asked doubtful this would work. “I said roll.” he repeated. Melissa didn't really know if she could roll. She hadn't really tried before. “Here goes nothing.” she thought taking a deep breath.