Chapter 6- Not just a pretty face


They walked along countless corridors, up almost endless stairs, only seeing about 10 moblins and a few knights. They thought they would get out without being caught, when a wizrobe came up behind them. It fired a few spells along the corridor to alert the guards and a few at them.

“Come on!” he yelled as he grabbed Raven’s hand, “Follow me!”

Sheik had never run so blindly in his life. He didn’t know where he was taking them. They ran up a few staircases, until about 10 Darknuts stood in front of them. Link turned to look behind them, and sure enough, they were surrounded.

“Duck!” shouted Link

They did. And just as they fell to the floor, a spell whizzed over them. It had been fired by a wizrobe and had hit most of the darknuts in front of them. Sheik took this as a distraction and rushed through a massive pair of doors, Link and Nabooru following him and Raven. Sheik and Link put their weight on the door, while Nabooru shifted a long plank along catches, locking the door.

“That won’t hold for long.” Said Link.

“It won’t have to.” Said Raven. They all look at her in surprise. Just then she glowed bright white. The others had to shield their eyes against the light. When they looked back, in the exact place Raven was once standing, a huge, black, three-headed dog was standing.

“What the-?” cried Link

“Stand back!” barked one of the dog heads. They did as they were told and stared in amazement. The huge dog inhaled and spat at the door.

“Ewwwww!” Nabooru cried

The spit hit the door in three places- the hinges and the middle. It turned opaque and hardened. Then the dog disappeared and Raven was standing there. They were all standing in disbelief.

“How’d you-?!” Link began, but Sheik cut him off.

“We need to get out of here.” He walked to the massive windows, opened one and walked out. The others followed, Link helping Raven out. They were only a few floors from the ground and wasn’t a great distance.

“I would offer to fly us down there, but I don’t have enough energy to transform.” Raven said. She lowered her head as if she had let them down. Nabooru put her hand on her shoulder and smiled at her.

“Don’t worry.” Said Sheik. “We could probably jump, and not injure ourselves.”

“I’ll go first.” Link offered. “I’ll check there’s no one’s there.”

“Ok, but keep out of sight though.” Sheik said

With that Link jumped off the small balcony, and they looked over. He got down fine and put his thumbs up to show it was safe. Nabooru was next. Then Raven turned to Sheik.

“Um Sheik?”

“Yes?”

“Ummmm… I can’t really jump that well. There’s no way I’ll survive the drop.”

Sheik smiled. “Don’t worry. Just hold on to me.” After he said those words, he’s realised what he’s actually said. She put her arms round his neck and held on tightly. He jumped and heard a small shriek. He felt Raven’s body hug closer, but soon they hit the ground.

“See. That wasn’t so bad was it?” Sheik said to her after she had released him. She laughed.

“Yeah I suppose.”

They ran towards their horses and reached them in no time. Sheik helped Raven on to his horse and sat behind her. He put an arm round her small waist, and they rode home.

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They stopped to rest at the same rock formation. Link got a fire going and they sat around it, silent. Until-

“May I ask, how did you turn into that huge dog?” Sheik asked

Raven turned to look at him. She sighed. “I guess I owe an explanation, don’t I? Well, I was born with it really. My mother sensed it when I was born. She knew I had great power in me. I only figured out my powers when I was about 8. I still don’t know the full extent of my powers. All I know is that I can transform into any animal, any monster and any race. When I am in these forms, they are individual.” She paused and smiled. “I’m not just a pretty face, you know. Does that answer your question?”

Sheik nodded. Raven then yawned.

“I think it’s time we got some shut eye.” Yawned Nabooru

“I’ll stay up.” Sheik said. “we need a look-out and I am not particularly tired.”

They all nodded and went to separate, but near, spaces and lay down. Sheik sat by the fire and pulled out his harp. He played a sweet, quiet lullaby to keep him occupied and help them sleep…

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Raven was the first to wake up. She opened her eyes. She saw it was still early morning and was surprised to Sheik still awake. He was staring at the fire, as if mesmerised by it. He looked at her as she got up a walked over to the fire.

“You still up? Have you even had a wink of sleep?” she asked him

Sheik shook his head and went back to staring at the fire.

“Well, I’m awake now, so you go sleep.” Raven said looking at him, smiling. He smiled at her and lay down, closing his eyes. Staying awake wasn’t really her plan, though she would still keep guard. She transformed into a wolf, and closed her eyes. If someone entered the cave, her hearing would alert her. Also, she would get even more sleep.

‘I’m too clever for my own head.’ She joked

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They arrived at the Gerudo fortress a few hours after dawn. Again, they were been silent most of the way. Raven was still riding with Sheik, Nabooru still leading the way and Link riding next to Sheik.

“Hey Raven?” Link asked

“Yeah?”

“If you can transform, how come you couldn’t get out on your own?”

“There must have been a magical field around my cell. I tried to, but couldn’t. Also I was afraid that if I escaped, they would go back after my brother.”

“Your brother?” Asked Sheik

“Yes. Those Moblins came to my home, the Forest Haven, on the sole purpose of kidnapping me. They found my younger brother, Fado, instead. They told me it was either him, or me. I couldn’t let them take him.” A tear came to her eye. She wiped it away. “I hope he’s alright.”

“I’m sure he is.” Sheik said. He squeezed her tightly and Link smiled. She smiled back and laid her hand on Sheik’s. The fortress loomed ahead. They sped through the gate and right to the other end. They stopped at the other side, bid Nabooru goodbye and were off again.

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Hyrule castle looked magnificent in the midday sun. It’s many stain-glass windows shone, almost glowed, in it’s rays. They dismounted and lead the horses to the stables but just as they came out, someone yelled Raven’s name.

“RAVEN!”

Raven looked up to see a small boy in blue clothing running towards them.

“Fado!” she called. She fell to her knees, and hugged the small boy. He started crying and she pulled him off her.

“Hey! Why’re you crying? I’m here now!” She asked him

“I…I…I th…thought…you were…d..d..dead!” He managed to say through his sobs. She hugged him again.

“Well I’m here now!” she soothed. He brightened up instantly.

“Well I guess.” She wiped his eyes and stood. She turned to Link and Sheik.

“This is my brother, Fado. The one I told you about.” Fado was a small boy of 11 with brown hair. He wore a simple, blue tunic and hat, just like Link’s, with brown boots. In fact he looked just like Link did at his age, except for the colour and hair.

“Hey lil’ guy!” Link said smiling at him. Sheik simply nodded at Fado and his fiery, red eyes twinkled. Raven saw this and guessed he was smiling under his mask.

“Come on. I bet Zelda’s worrying about you, Link.” Sheik joked, and they walked through the huge doorway, into the foyer.

“I see you’ve succeeded, Young One.” Said a voice. They turned to see Impa walking towards them. She looked at Raven. “And I suppose you are the girl Sheik dreamt about.” Raven nodded. “Zelda’s out in the courtyard. She told me to send you to her when you got back.”

They turned towards the courtyard, Link leading the way. Raven was staring around her in amazement. Fado had obviously been given a tour, because he plainly wasn’t. A small breeze blew over Raven’s face as they stepped over the threshold to the Courtyard. The courtyard was beautiful. With so many different flowers and plants, it looked like The Forest Haven.

‘Only the Forest Haven’s much more beautiful.’ Raven thought. A girl was sitting in the center of the courtyard with a small, brown thing she swore was…

“Makar?” She asked

The brown thing turned round. It was very small and chubby. It had a leaf on it’s face with two eye holes.

“Miss Raven!” It cried and pulled a two leafed branch out and flew over to her using it. She grabbed it and hugged it tightly.

“OK. Can someone explain what you guys are doing here?”

“I can.” Said the girl. Link walked up to her as she stood and they hugged. Raven realised that this must be Princess Zelda. Zelda beckoned the others to come over and they sat on the grass. Link sat next to Zelda, putting an arm around her shoulders and she leant against him. Raven and Sheik sat opposite. Fado sat on Raven’s lap, while Makar stood, looking at Sheik with interest. Zelda cleared her throat and made Makar jump. He sat in between Sheik and Raven.

“After you set off, I had a dream telling me to visit the great fairy. I went and she told me that your brother and friends would want to know where you were. Also they would need to be protected. She told me the location of your home, The Forest Haven, and I sent a messenger over there, telling them to come to Hyrule Castle. They turned up yesterday.” She smiled and looked at Raven. “Is your brother always so quiet?”

“I can’t really tell.” Raven said. She looked at Fado, who was blushing. “When he’s around me, he’s not. But according to others he doesn’t say much when I’m not there.”

Just then a shape on the back of her hand glowed white. She covered it up quickly, but not quick enough.

“What’s that?” Zelda asked looking at her hand.

“Nothing.” Raven said, taking a peek at her hand. It had stopped glowing. She looked away, but could feel everyone’s eyes on her. She sighed and slowly took of her glove. She stretched out her hand to let everyone see. Zelda gasped.

“Goddesses above! That’s… that’s…”

“The mark of Nayru.” Raven finished.