The Link between a page and a knight - PSL for Link in Tortall

[chicklet]

 Passage into this world would not have been easy, and there would have been an odd sensation like ripping through the remains of a barrier that tried to keep him out, but was too tattered and torn to work properly. Thankfully, the gods were with him in one respect. He could have easily landed in a company of the King's Own, or the Queen's Riders, or the Palace Guard. Instead he dropped down just outside the palace in front of a youngster, all of eleven years old - though topping five feet already at that age, heading to the city proper. 

Kel stopped dead, seeing a boy with pointed ears appear out of nowhere, then drew her small knife, wishing she had her naginata, or even one of the horns the pages used on their field trips. She didn't even have her dog or the birds with her, all of whom had proven themselves this past year. But she was still a page of the kingdom, to the shock of all, and she was not going to let some immortal get past her. Even if this was the first time she'd ever seen an immortal that looked like a kid.

But with those ears, and appearing like that, he had to be an immortal? Right?

All of this was running through her mind, but none of it showed on her face. Her expression was blank, as though she were a carved statue of a person rather than flesh. Her stance was practiced, though she never thought to be fighting off an immortal with just a belt knife, no matter how fine the black handled blade was! Her brown hair was cut short above her ears, her hazal-green eyes watched him with no seeming concern. No seeming emotion at all, really. 

But Mithros' spear! She could at least have a weapon or back up or something!

<i>No, Kel. Stone</i> she reminded herself sharply. <i>No, not stone. A serene lake. </i> she needed to be able to flow into her motions, rather than stiffen up.

"Who are you and what business have you here?" she asked, and her voice - as emotionless as her face - was pretty much the first, last, and only hint that the person menacing him with a short blade was female. 

Comments

[younghero]

"Why the goddesses of Hyrule want me around."

Yeah, he's judging the distance to some trees.

[chicklet]

Oh good luck with running away in THIS forest, kid, even shape changed.

"The gods rarely tell us what they want of us," Daine said dryly. "And half the time they do it's unreasonable."

"Says the maglet who killed Orzone," Numair said dryly.

Kel's eyes widened slightly.

[younghero]

"I'm the Hero of Time. Whenever Hyrule or Princess Zelda need me, I'll be there. That's my soul purpose."

Once a Fairy Boy, always a Fairy Boy. Trees meant he could blend in and vanish long enough to leave.

He held out his left hand, feeling awkward. "This is the marking of the goddesses, the Triforce. My third is Courage."

[chicklet]

"Which Goddesses?" Numair asked, nudging his mount closer so he could get a good look at it.

[younghero]

"Din, Nayru, and Farore. Goddesses of Power, Wisdom, and Courage."

[chicklet]

He stroked his small beard. "Not certain I've heard of those," he admitted. "I would have to look through my books, perhaps the Copper Isles?"

Daine shrugged. "Don't ask me, I barely know the great gods, let alone gods of other realms."

[younghero]

"Well, if that's all, I'll just be going. Nice to meet ya guys and all."

[chicklet]

"It would be utterly irresponsible of me to let you teleport off again untrained," Numair said. "We shall arrange for a proper escort."

[younghero]

Link winced slightly and gave serious consideration to just flat running for it.

"Don't worry about me, I'm pretty tough."

[chicklet]

They both gave him a look. "Where are we escorting you to?" Numair asked, voice set and stubborn.

[younghero]

Link was fairly immune to looks, especially from strangers.

"I'm not sure you guys know where Hyrule is."

Maybe he'd have to fake allowing an escort until he could escape and travel back to Nautilus.

[chicklet]

"We have a fair amount of maps in the royal libraries. I am certain if it is in the mortal realm, we can find it," he said, self assured.

[younghero]

Link shifted uncomfortably. Sure, Hyrule was a mortal realm, and had other worlds and realms that connected to it. Termina and the Sacred Realm he'd experienced first hand, and Shadow was living proof of yet another.

He really should have brought his brother on this little outing, in retrospect. He hoped Nautilus picked him to be an Angelii soon.

"I'm really not worth the bother. I'm great at traveling, mountains, time, fields, lakes, rivers---you really don't gotta worry."

[chicklet]

"Thankfully, so are we," the mage said.

"He gets stubborn," Daine said with a ghost of a smile.

[younghero]

Having failed at trying to talk his way out, Link's body tensed slightly. Then he tried to sprint for it.

[chicklet]

"Seriously?" Daine said, exasperated. Birds overhead would caw out his location, keeping up with him. A ways out, wolves were starting to gather to cut him off, but they were ambling and taking their time. There was a sense that every animal in the wood was aware of him, though only the birds were calling out as he past.

[younghero]

No, no, no---this was no good. If he left like this, in the middle of chaos, he might cause a Flaw. Link froze, fists clenched. Why couldn't other worlds leave forest children alone?

Or kids in general, for that matter.

He wasn't moving from the spot he'd stopped, but, he wasn't happy. Every muscle was tense, a slight tremor going through his frame, as he berated himself internally.

[chicklet]

Daine would make her way over to him with her pony, leaving the others behind. The birds all quieted with her approach. "If it is just me," she said gently, "will you talk to me? We want to help, we really do."

[younghero]

Link took a deep breath. "S'very nice of you. But, I don't need help. Probably should start for home, though, or my brother and adopted dad will worry."

And Zelda too, for that matter.

"I'm tougher than I look."

[chicklet]

"Most of us are," she said with a bit of a smile. "But Numair and I are sworn to help protect the realm. So either we see you as someone who needs our help, and as good people, we help you get home, or we see you as an unknown strong enough to survive here alone which also makes you dangerous, which means it is to our oaths to help you get home. Either way you're going to have company, kiddo," she said, apologetically.

[younghero]

Link's left ear twitched slightly, in sheer frustration.

"I'm not a threat. I can leave and never bother you guys again. I can fake my death if you'd get in trouble or something."

[chicklet]

She rubbed her face. "I'm sorry, but I don't think that would really help anything. What would be so bad about us helping you make your way home, though? I promise, he's not as scary as he looks."

[younghero]

"I don't need help. I can make a fake body, though, you guys could keep it, no problem. Just have to play a song on my Ocarina."

[chicklet]

"Please do not." she rubbed at her face more. "Horse lords but I'm no good at people..." she muttered. Her pony snorted at her. "Fine, two-legger people." The pony managed to look smug. "One of these days I'm going to forget to brush you," she muttered at the pony, irritably.

[younghero]

"Why not? I mean, you guys can say you killed me and I can go home. Everyone wins."