Re: (Fan/Act/Rom) The Legend of Zelda: Empire of Darkness [T]
Chapter Fourteen:
Secrets Not Spoken
Malon set a slow and exhausted pace back to the lounge room. The sun was beginning its departure into the desert sand. The others had already gone but Malon had stayed behind to practice just a bit more. She had just been allowed to wield a sword and she wanted a little more time to get used to the way it felt in her hand. What would her father have thought? Her? Holding a sword? Her heart throbbed for a moment. Don’t think about that…. Though it hurt she thought of it again. It was hard to think of herself as the daughter of the ranch owner. She was no longer a ranch girl, that girl had died when her father had been killed….
“Hey Malon!”
Malon about jumped out of her skin. She looked over to her right where she had heard the voice. Khaz came into view and her heart quivered. He was smiling as willingly as always. How can he smile like that? No, how can he kill like he had….
“Hello,” said Malon, a little delayed in her response. Khaz frowned. No, he noticed.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, tipping his head curiously.
“Nothing.” Said that too quickly….
“I don’t believe you,” he scoffed, smiling sympathetically. Malon just wished she could go up to the lounge room and sleep. Even his smile gave her the chills … Malon shivered. Khaz frowned again but this one was hardened. Had I shown my disgust without realizing?
“Malon … what’s wrong?” he questioned again but this tone was filled with worry and concern. “You’ve been acting weird ever since Lon Lon Ranch.”
“N-nothing—really—I’m fine,” said Malon, putting on her best smile. Gods … I’m terrible at lying.
“…” Khaz’s eyes studied Malon’s face, his eyes changed again. His eyebrows tensed with distress as he finished his search.
“Is it me?”
Malon stared at him, but then broke eye-contact. Yes … it is you.
“Why? What have I done?” asked Khaz, pain tainted his voice. Malon shuffled her feet and her hands twisted behind her back. How can you not know …?
“The guards … at the slave station?” said Khaz, his face twisted with the thoughts turning in his head, not understanding her discomfort. Malon brought her eyes up from the sandy ground to his gaze but back down again to her boots.
“But … I saved you. Why would that trouble you?” asked Khaz. Malon felt her insides turn; she didn’t want to talk about this. She just wanted to go to her bed and sleep….
“Forget it,” said Malon as she turned away to retreat to the lounge room. A strong hand shot out and grabbed her arm. Malon gasped and the image of the Dark Elf crying on the floor flashed through her mind. Khaz’s cold midnight eyes, sneering at him….
“G-get away!” cried Malon, her hand smacked Khaz’s cheek. Khaz stumbled more out of surprise than pain. He looked at Malon, his eyes filled with distress and hurt. Malon was still trembling with trepidation from his touch.
“Malon …Wh—”
“Just don’t, Khaz!” gasped Malon. “D-don’t ask.”
“Why can’t I ask!” exclaimed Khaz. “I think I have the right to know.”
Malon turned her eyes away from his, knowing what he said was true. Why did he have to come? Why did he have to talk to me? Why couldn’t he have just left me alone? Why do I have to face this …? “Malon!” cried Khaz, snapping her out of her silence. “Why did you hit me?”
“Because … because, I was—I was scared,” she whimpered. Khaz stared, his eyes were screaming.
“Scared, of what; of me?”
“Y-yes,” murmured Malon. He turned his blue eyes down in—was it shame? Silence hung in the empty air, needing to be filled with the sound of their voices. Khaz was frozen with affliction that crept up from his chest and chilled his throat, rendering him unable to speak. He gulped down the hurt that ached there.
“…Why?” he breathed, just as inaudibly as she had. Malon wasn’t so much afraid anymore but just didn’t want to speak of the subject. Why spoil the peace they had attained since their argument the morning after the party? But the peace had already decayed away through the stillness of the air.
“Khaz, don’t you even remember their faces?” said Malon. Khaz paused; he didn’t know what she meant. “Don’t you—don’t you even care? Do you even remember their screams, their cries? Don’t you care that you killed them!”
“…” Khaz didn’t know why he hadn’t thought of it. He just never thought about the Dark Elves he killed. Even when he thought about it now…. They deserved it …no one … no one does that to Malon and gets away with it, right? … That’s right.
“Heh,” chuckled Khaz. “Heh … heh, heh….”
“Khaz?” said Malon, her voice held a tremor of fear.
“Yes?” said Khaz, he didn’t seem to realize he had laughed. She had had enough of this. They had talked and now she wanted to go back to the lounge room.
“Tell me, why would that make you afraid of me?” he said, his midnight eyes no longer belonging to him. They were deep and cold as they once had been when he attacked the Dark Elves. “Heh, I thought you would adore your hero; funny how just few Dark Elves can change things…. Why do you care? He was trying to rape you, do think I would let him get away with that?”
Malon shuddered as she took a step back from him. She had the compulsion to run. To get away from this person she could no longer recognize. Those eyes …please no, not those eyes….
He smirked, she was afraid. Well, it wasn’t like it was the first. They all feared him after he had killed Khaz’s uncle. The friends he had once had ran from him whenever he approached. It would be the same with her, but why care? He hadn’t cared before and he wouldn’t now….
“What? Are you going to run?” he sneered. “Go ahead; I won’t kill you or anything.”
Even though Malon was fearful she wouldn’t let him deride at her like that; as if she was but a child. No, she a ranch girl no longer. She wouldn’t let herself run. Malon glared at him, his sneer faded and an impassive face took its place.
“No,” said Malon, her face set in stone with grit. “I’m not running.”
“…” Not running, but why? She was frightened by him, wasn’t she? Why wasn’t she running like all the others had? Well … let’s change that. He reached out and grabbed her arms, pulling her close to him. She gasped, her blue eyes wide with alarm and apprehension. His movements had been so swift and impulsive. His midnight eyes penetrated right into hers; making her shake frenziedly with the panic she could not hide. She turned her head to the side to look away from those dark eyes.
“Will you run now?” whispered his voice, right next to her long ears. Malon twisted in his hands that were tightly gripping her arms, but surprisingly his grip was not as agonizing as she thought it might be. This thought somehow relaxed her. Her tense body began to loosen up and she turned her head back to face his. Her blood-red hair fell in her face as she stared back at his icy complexity.
“No … I will not,” she said, making his eyes widen with incredulity and almost soften them too.
“What?” said the man. Why wasn’t she trying to get away? Away from his cold eyes that never failed to terrify anyone. Yet she stared right into them, the fear was still there but there was also something tranquil about her.
“Why would I run from you?” said Malon, his mouth was now open in astonishment. Ha! See! You can’t scare me. I’m a warrior now.
The Hylian closed his mouth and glared at her. How dare she mock me! That’s exactly what she was doing. She was staying just in spite of him and she was enjoying his stunned expression just as much as he took pleasure in the way she trembled with fear. But isn’t that impressive? No matter how much you scared her, she didn’t run …. Yes, you are right about that …I understand what you see in her now. He didn’t stop to think as he leaned forward to catch her lips with his own.
Malon would have gasped if his mouth had not been in the way. He had just been glaring at her and now his lips were firmly on her own. His lips … they’re so warm. Malon closed her eyes as his lips embraced hers. When he pulled away she opened her eyes to see his face hardening with perplexity. His eyes were no doubt, still profound and shadowy but filled with ambiguity in the stead of cold. He let go of her arms and backed away.
“Khaz …?” said Malon, not knowing why he was suddenly receding. It was as if he was disturbed by her now. He took a few more steps, turned his back to her, and ran. He paid no heed to where he was running; he just had to get away from her. So now I’m the one running …. That’s right, and why? Maybe—maybe I was scared? What? Scared? It didn’t make sense and yet was true. He had been that frightened since—Stop! Don’t think about that! …You’re right I shouldn’t think about that …the screams will come back …. Didn’t I tell you not to think about that? So why had he been afraid? He was not supposed to kissing women, that was not what he was there for. Then …what are you here for?…I don’t know.
Khaz sighed deeply as he grasped his settings to recognize where he was. He set his path for the lounge room. I hope Malon will have gone to bed before I get there, he thought as he walked up some steps to enter the Fortress.
Malon walked into the lounge room to find the others relaxing on some sofas and arm chairs. They looked up when she entered and somehow as she stared at them she was not truly seeing them. What had just happened? Khaz, he—why was he behaving so oddly?
“Hey Malon, what’s the matter?”
Malon looked up slowly as if she just comprehended where she was. It had been Kira who spoke to her and she was still waiting for her reply. Kai sat next to her, Ren and Trisa were talking on the other sofa, Blaze was talking with Link about their next battle in some arm chairs, Tila and Leita were giggling together but stopped when Malon had entered, Zelda and Impa were engrossed in what Blaze was saying, and Rontu was on the balcony. Khaz wasn’t there yet.
“Malon?” said Kira, starting to look uneasy now. Malon looked at her but didn’t say anything. Somehow speech seemed unattainable. She was so bewildered that she hadn’t even noticed Tila’s and Leita’s accountable faces. She walked over to her bed room door, went inside and shut the door. Kira stared at her door.
“What’s wrong with her?” said Kira, just as Khaz walked through the door. He scanned the room with vexed eyes but smiled when he found there was nothing to threaten him. See, she’s not here…. Good.
“Hello!” said Khaz, his voice full of merriment. Everyone nodded and greeted Khaz back. He then strode across the room and went into his bed room. Kira eyed him suspiciously until he closed his bed room door; interesting, that they had both been late to the lounge room.
“Is something bothering you?” asked Kai, noticing his love’s fretful face. Kira turned to look at him and then looked down attentively at the table.
“I wonder what was bothering her…” said Kira.
“Yeah,” said Tila abruptly. “Don’t you think it interesting how both of them were late?”
Leita let out a giggle, Trisa and Ren looked up, and Blaze stopped in the middle of his sentence; everyone was looking at Tila, waiting for her to say more. Kira had been thinking the same thing but she had feeling it was a more staid affair than Tila was taking it as.
“Yes, but what are you saying?” said Kira
“I’m saying that they are having a secret relationship!” exclaimed Tila, as if it was a grand covert. Kira snorted. Tila narrowed her light green eyes at the critical noise Kira had made.
“Come on! You were there when they had that argument after the party. They obviously have some feelings for each other,” said Tila.
“I don’t know Tila, Malon looked a little too out of place. I’m with Kira, I think something else is happening,” said Link; he was concerned about Malon too. He probably knew her better than anyone else in the room. He knew there was something wrong.
“Yet,” said Zelda. “It may still include Khaz.”
“And maybe,” said Blaze. “It’s none of our business.”
Everyone stared in silence, thinking that maybe Blaze was right. It was none of their interest if they had an affiliation or anything such as that. Soon the chatter started up again. Blaze went back to talking about their next battle in Kakariko, Tila and Leita began to whisper again, Ren and Trisa were cuddling on a sofa, and Rontu was still gazing out into the desert from the balcony.
I wonder if he was listening? thought Leita was she brought her eyes onto him, not really considering what Tila was saying. Then she noticed something else. Slowly he took a bottle from his pocket, drank from it and promptly put it back into his trench coat pocket. Leita gasped.
“What’s up?” said Tila. “Have you even been listening?”
“Um … sorry, I was just thinking about something else,” said Leita. Tila yawned, forgetting easily Leita’s gasp.
“Gods, I’m tired,” said Tila. “I think I’ll turn in for today.”
“Yes, I think that would be a good idea for everyone else too,” said Blaze, standing up. “Our next battle is in just another day. We need our rest.”
Tila stood up to go to her room and so did the others, but before turning to walk away her gaze met Blaze’s fiery-red eyes. He didn’t look away and neither did she. Why was she looking at him like that? Does she—no, that’s me hoping for something I can never have. Blaze tore his eyes away from hers and turned to go to his room. Why was it the only woman he wanted was the one he couldn’t have? Before he could always get any woman he wanted. They all wanted him back but one-night stands are the only thing he has ever had with those women. So ironic that it would be this way ….
Everyone else also decided to turn in for the night. Zelda stretched as she stood up from the sofa. Link’s sapphire eyes wafted over to her. His gaze ran up her slim figure and then to her attractive face, her eyes squeezed tightly shut as she stretched her back. So beautiful …. Zelda opened her eyes to find Link staring pensively at her. Link gasped mutely and turned away as he, too, stood up from his arm chair. Zelda’s face flushed bright pink. He was staring at me. In a way that …. No, he only thought of her as a friend. She shouldn’t compliment herself like that.
Ren yawned and then kissed the top of Trisa’s head. She looked up and smiled as he stood up from the sofa. He winked at her and then walked to his room. Trisa grinned, Life couldn’t be better and yet … I always have a feeling something might happen to steal that happiness away from me …. Trisa shrugged off her perturbed contemplation and went to her room.
When the room was vacant the only ones that lingered was Leita and Rontu. She wasn’t sure if he knew she was still there or if he was just disregarding her. Leita sucked in some air, stood up from her seat, and walked over to the balcony. He didn’t turn around when she approached; he didn’t do anything but stare out into the desert where the tip of the sun was just sinking under the sandy horizon. His glove-covered hands rested on the railing as he sustained to ignore her. Why does he do that …? Stare into the desert as if he is waiting for something ….
“Rontu,” said Leita, her courage finally strengthening her throat. “Why do you stare out there like that?” He said nothing of course; Leita hadn’t been anticipating him to say anything immediately. She waited and a few minutes passed by before he spoke.
“I used to live … in the desert of my home land,” said Rontu. “I stare into it … wondering when death will finally take me.”
Leita gasped, tears filling her green eyes hastily for her delicate soul could not hold in his words.
“And why … do you ask me such questions…? I wonder why I answer them,” he whispered, more to himself than to her. He felt small arms wrap around his torso, making his breath catch in his throat. He could feel the sensation of her body quivering as she wept softly into his back. Cries so easily …. He coveted to turn around and enfold her with his arms has he had done the night the shape-shifter came and in Zora’s Domain. Rontu wrangled with the yearning and put his impulse into a different action. He turned around and grabbed her wrists, holding them so that they could not fix themselves around him again. She gasped, tears still on her face as she gazed up at him.
“Don’t,” he said.
“Why,” she whispered back. Rontu inspected her face as if he could unearth some answer there.
“You say you wait for me…. Don’t,” said Rontu. “What makes you think I am worth waiting for? You are a fool. What makes you think I can love? I have killed many, many that were innocent like you. I am a Dark Elf and can only hurt you. These arms hold no warmth; cold arms are what you wait for! You should listen to your brother…. He speaks the truth.”
“Then … why do your eyes say differently?” said Leita, her hand slithered out of his and went up to stroke his cheek. “Why do you fight against your own race?” Her hand was scarcely an inch away when he seized it, thrusting it away.
“I fight my own race because every time I battle them … I see my father’s face and I enjoy every second of killing him over and over again…. Why must you ask me these questions? Why must you get so close?” said Rontu, still grasping her tiny wrists.
“Why must you push me away?” said Leita. She couldn’t hold back her words, the ones she had concealed deep in her throat.
“Rontu … I am in love with you.”
He gasped and instantly let go of her hands. His golden eyes flashed with some kind of dread as he recoiled away from her, leaning into the railing. Why? Why when he pushed her away? Why when he would say things to make her hate him; things to make her cry? Why when he was so dark and she so light? Why would she ever love me? He tried to make her not love him and yet it had not be successful. What could he do to make her not love him? But … is that what I want? Don’t I …love her back? That—that wasn’t the point! She couldn’t have feelings for him because he was damned to cause her anguish.
“Well …” began Rontu. “Snap out of it!”
Leita gasped again at his curt words, making more tears fall down from her eyes. Gods, why do you make me have to hurt her? It hurts so much … when she cries ….
“Hate me, Leita, because—because I can only cause pain,” he choked. “Nothing more … I cannot love you.”
“No … not when your eyes look at me like that!” said Leita, her face was tarnished with her tears that never seemed to subside. “They tell me to get closer. That’s why I must get closer because I know … you love me back.”
Perhaps it was the whisky that ludicroused him. For, before he could stop himself, he reached out and extracted her closer to him. One arm enveloped around her body and his other hand held her face bringing it closer to his. He brought her face to such proximity that she could smell the tang of liquor on his breath. His hand sponged the tears from her cheek as his golden eyes took in her face, absorbing the way it looked so near to him. She’s almost too light to touch …. He could feel her heart thrashing in her chest. She’s nervous … she wants me to kiss—
He unexpectedly let go of her and took a step back. Leita looked at him, her green eyes pleading him not to stop; not to leave. Rontu walked past her and into the lounge room, denying her. He went to the lounge room door, bracing himself for a night of itinerant when he heard her sobs. His heart whined but he turned to look at her. She was still on the balcony, her arms on the railing as she cried into them. Her shoulders shook like his heart did. He tore open the door and left. He couldn’t stand to hear her cry, knowing that it was he who made her weep so. He withdrew the bottle from his trench coat pocket and took along swallow out of it, allowing the liquid to deaden the soreness in his heart and in his throat as he leaned against the wall of the corridor.
Kira lay on Kai’s bed with the blankets draped over her buttocks, leaving her legs and back naked. Kai leaned against the headboard, white sheets covering his pelvis and exposing his legs and chest. Kira smiled sweetly at her love, her head propped up on the palm of her hand. Kai looked down at her personable attributes; her watery-blue eyes, faultless lips, a gratifying form, and meager thighs. Kai’s torso glistened with sweat and rose up and down rapidly as his body eased itself after a draining affair.
“Had you not been with a woman before?” asked Kira, who had noted his exhilaration during their love making. Kai nodded mutely and Kira giggled jauntily. “Why not, I was sure you would have a fine pick at the camp in Kokiri Forest.”
“It was not the quantity but the quality,” replied Kai, making her chuckles reside.
“Quality?” said Kira solicitously. “Were the women unpleasant?”
“No,” said Kai. “They were all satisfying for the eyes but I was not looking for such leisure.”
Kira gawked at him for a moment; she had never encountered an elf like Kai before. He was assorted from most men, which Kira conceived was something extraordinary. He had not been in pursuit for a partner. Then why is he with me?
“Why not?” she asked again, Kai closed his exhausted eyes as he spoke.
“I had not known of women until I was of the age sixteen. When I came to be among the camp they informed me of the matters that may occur between man and woman. I had been approached by many young maidens but I held no attraction for any of them. The actions between man and woman were menial to me. When I was to be their leader I had more significant things to keep my mind on,” said Kai, opening his black eyes to gaze down at Kira’s thoughtful complexion. But why is he with me now, if he had not wanted a suitor? She nodded in comprehension and then sat up from her lying position to support herself on her knees, wrapping the blankets around her body as she became level with Kai’s dark eyes.
“Then why are you with me now?” said Kira. “Why am I so different from the women who had approached you?”
Kai smiled that charming half-smile that made Kira almost disregard her question. His hand glided across the blankets to her hand and rested there tenderly. His black eyes were gleaming with the accord his face did not illustrate except for the smile that he had placed there.
“Because you are the only woman I have been attracted to,” he answered; his response caused Kira to blink unknowingly and for her face to flush a light pink. “I remember when I first saw you in the forest. I was up on the cliff when I noticed a new presence and I looked down and found a group. I remember thinking how unusual the group was; a Dark Elf, two Wood Elves, a Gerudo, and some Hylians. When my eyes found you I recognized how different you seemed from most of the women. I have not met many women who keep their hair short.”
“Well, it helps me fight without worrying about my hair getting in my face—” began Kira, pouting faintly.
“Yes, I know,” said Kai, putting her at ease. “I found that about you most charming. You are a woman and yet you are most probably a superior fighter than most of the men in the Rebellion.”
“Heh,” snorted Kira. “Tila is just as good as me. I’m nothing special.” Kai shook his head and embraced Kira’s hand softly with his own.
“But you are wrong,” said Kai. “Tila is much like the female warriors in the Rebellion. Though she may fight she still cares deeply of her appearance. You, on the other hand, had refused to dress up for the party. You have a beauty far different, even without amplifying it. You remember what I said the night we first met.”
Kira stared down at their hands that held each other. Her face had resumed a glowing red as she became utterly silenced. Kai withdrew his hand and reached out with both, casing them around Kira and pulling her onto his chest. She fell willingly to his chest, wanting to veil her blushing face. Kai, when you say such things … it steals my voice. He held her there for a time and she said nothing, only ceasing to hear his heart beat stoutly in his body. Thoughts ran through Kira’s head like water in a stream, until she came upon one she wished to orally think.
“You are silly, Kai,” said Kira, giggling vaguely. “You had no reason to fear telling me of your feelings.”
“Had I not?” said Kai, tipping his head down to look at her. “I was unsure of your feelings.”
She beamed impishly at him and then nuzzled him with her head. Her arms spread down to the bed on each side of Kai’s torso and her blankets fell down to her hips as she propped herself up so that she would be gazing directly into his eyes. He must not remember….
“I had already told that I loved you.”
Kai cocked his head up in surprise, his face remained stoical but his eyes deceived him as always.
“I do not recall,” said Kai. Kira’s grin expanded.
“No, I did not think that you would,” she replied. “You remember Lon Lon Ranch? Do you remember when you held those rocks for me?”
Kai stared at her wordlessly, his eyebrows turned down as he twisted his face in concentration; straining to remember what she had said during that time he had stayed conscious. I remember her voice…. It was such a soothing tone and especially during such a toil.
“I remember,” began Kai. “You were saying something but I could not hear properly.”
Kira nodded, “It was then I told you … Kai … I thought you had died.”
Her eyes glimmered with tears, impending to let down the overwhelming emotion tempted by the memory of Kai’s face enclosed in sweat and agony. A tear slipped out from her distressed blue eyes, conceiving a path down her lustrous cheek as she tilted her head down. Kai inclined forward and placed a finger on her face and traced up, swabbing the tear from her skin.
“But I didn’t,” he said, his hand flatting out to hug the side of her face. Kira turned her gaze upward without moving her head to look at him. His face held the impassive quality as always but his black eyes retained affection and anxiety. I don’t want to lose him … not like I lost Tarrowco.
“Promise me,” said Kira. “That you won’t get yourself killed. Don’t do anything courageous if it means risking your life; don’t get into any sort of trouble.”
Kai skimmed her face, his eyes infinite and attentive, contemplating the response that he should make. His stare came to her blue eyes, his consideration inclusive.
“I promise.”