Nightmares. (Finished)

[kaythenia]

'Traitor to the Goddesses!'

'Filthy Sorcercess!'

'Murderer!'

It was one of those nights where the seasons had not yet truly shifted from Summer to Fall, the chill creeping into the once warm nights which raised the fine hairs upon her skin. But the hooded figure sprinting through the Faron Woods paid no heed to this, her heavy breaths visible in the air. What had happened was not her doing, she was no traitor to Hyrule! The screaming accusations still rang inside her head and forced her on, navigating the forest paths as if a map had been built inside her mind. The way to go primed inside her muscles, her body singing with adrenaline. Despite all her power, despite everything. There was blood on her hands. No power in Hyrule could change this now, all she knew that the Temple of Time was her last hope. She had to reach it before they caught up to her. Her lungs burning from the strain and her mind in disarray...

The young woman staggered into the entrance of the Sacred Grove during her flight her hair had come free and its long strands hung loose. Her hand was pressed to deep slash across her waist, blood seeping through her fingers despite her efforts to keep pressure. But it didn't matter she had to keep moving. She had to make it further into the Forest to the Temple beyond. She left a trail of scarlet drips wherever she staggered, her head felt light and waves of dizziness and nausea passed through her. But it didn't matter, she had to keep moving. Every step was getting harder; her pace was gradually slowing down, beads of sweat were appearing on her forehead and her breath was ragged and uneven.

The first light of Dawn touched Kaythenia's face and she sat up abruptly from her position on the ground, panting heavily as if she had been running a great distance. Then the pain splintered behind her eyes and the Bard pinched the bridge of her nose between her forefinger and thumb, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. She remained this way until the sharp pangs subsided into a dull thud behind her eyes, Kaythenia felt as if she should have drunk her weight in ale even though such a thing was nonsense, she never touched a drop, preferring to keep her wits about her at all times. Experimentally she opened her eyes, shielding them from the early light with one hand as she glanced around her makeshift camp. Last night's fire was nothing but smouldering embers in a shallow pit, other than the sounds of the creatures of Faron Woods there was nothing to be heard. Everything was apparently at peace and as it should be. Why was it that briefly there had been a sick pang of terror in the pit of her stomach? Although it had now subsided...Kaythenia put it down to a simple nightmare, everyone had them after all. The Bard got to her feet and began covering the fire with earth and hiding any signs that someone had spent the night here.

Kaythenia couldn't explain why she felt drawn to study the ruins that were the Temple, it seemed like a sudden impulse. She had reasoned that it would throw Davik off her trail if she were out of sight of the towns and villages. It might be harder for him to track her without extra pairs of eyes to look out for her precense.

[titania]

Dawn broke, which meant Titania was off once again, towards adventure, towards urban Hyrule, towards a few cuties she'd meet in town. Her new outfit, wonderful though it was, didn't seem to attract the men quite like the old one did. She'd have to get revenge for that later. But for now, she was just going to castle town, like she often did. However, a faint hint of the smell of smoke caught her on the way through Faron Woods. Didn't seem like much, maybe a campfire from the night before. But campfires meant people, and people were fun.

Making her way through the woods, she retracted her wings to hide her race as a fairy before reaching the campsite. There was a hylian hiding evidence of a campfire. Normal travelers didn't usually hide their camps. Although given this traveler's wonderful physique, that wasn't the first thing Titania noticed about this woman.

"Good morning traveler. You ok, you seem a bit tired." Titania wasn't shy about revealing her presence, the leaves on the ground crunching usually indicated a presence in the area. Plus, Titania wasn't one to try and sneak up on someone she didn't know. That would be mean.

[kaythenia]

"Good morning traveler. You ok, you seem a bit tired."

Kaythenia looked up at the sound of a female voice, getting up from her knees as she finished covering the traces of last nights camp fire. Calmly she glanced back in the direction of the voice. The Bard hadn't expected to see another soul out this far into the Faron Woods, the villagers from Ordon didn't tend to stray this far out and they were the closest to the area. What in the Goddesses name was another young woman doing out here? Unless she was also here to study the Ruined Temple, such coincidences did happen. Kaythenia pushed a rogue lock of red hair out of her eyes and looked the stranger carefully over. Her clothing did not seem to be the type of garment typically worn by travellers but each to their own, the young woman brushed off a small amount of dust from the long crimson shirt she wore, drawing back her shoulders before speaking to the stranger.

"I'm fine thank you...what brings you out this far into the woods if I may?"

The Bard was more than eager to bring the subject away from herself, the dull throb was still persisting behind her eyes as if someone had dealt her a heavy blow whilst she slept. She massaged her right temple with two fingers, trying to alleviate the headache but with little success despite her efforts. Hopefully it would go away on it's own and not cling like an unwelcome lodger to her head for the remainder of the day. To distract herself she studied the young woman before her, there was something about her that struck Kaythenia as different...although Kaythenia couldn't quite place her finger on what such a thing might be. Her head was still pounding and placing excessive pondering strain upon it might further aggrevate her existing headache. It was strange, waking up with something like this...

[titania]

Titania looked at the girl, fairly convinced she was lying about being fine. Rubbing the temple was usually indicative of some head pain. Although it was odd that she would try and hide something like that. Titania knew there was something she wasn't being told to shed light on this little conundrum. But as for the matter at hand.

"I'm not that far out. I just recently left the sacred grove to begin my errands for the day. Although I would ask the same question for you. What is a Hylian traveler doing this far into Faron Woods? You're far from Ordon Village, few visit the sacred grove, and most importantly, you're covering your tracks." As she spoke, Titania's hand began to glow as she charged white magic.

"Hold still, please." With Kaythenia's permission, she touched her head with the glowing hand, a basic heal spell moving from her hand to Kaythenia's head, hopefully alleviating some of the symptoms of her headache.

[kaythenia]

"I'm not that far out. I just recently left the sacred grove to begin my errands for the day. Although I would ask the same question for you. What is a Hylian traveler doing this far into Faron Woods? You're far from Ordon Village, few visit the sacred grove, and most importantly, you're covering your tracks."

It was at that statement Kaythenia realised that the other woman must have been watching for some time before making her approach. A nervous squeeze began in the pit of her stomach but she pushed it aside, she wasn't doing anything too out of the ordinary. Hylian travellers may not come out this far for no reason but the Bard did have her reasons, not that they were easy to explain. There was the instinctive pull that was dragging her towards this place, as if an unknown force was pulling her here by an unseen rope. Then there was the reason the Bard used to block out this pull, Kaythenia may have been an artist but she disliked being involved in things she could not explain. She was no chess piece on any higher power's board. The young woman squared herself before Titania although kept her voice clear and even, trying not to appear defensive.

"I am simply on my way to study the ruins of the Temple beyond the Sacred Grove. Hyrule's history has always fascinated me. I am not covering my tracks as you seem to think, I prefer to pay respect to the forest and leave things as I left them."

"Hold still, please."

It was then that Kaythenia noticed the white light on Titania's hand and went to take a reflexive step back just as it touched her head. A warm feeling spread across her skin as if she had been submerged in warm water, it was a strange sensation but oddly comforting. Some of the throbbing pain behind her eyes had calmed, the Bard let out an open sigh of relief but was soon distracted. That had been white magic, something not often seen around Hyrule. Kaythenia stayed where she was but gave Titania a brisk once over with her dark blue gaze.

"How did you...?"

[titania]

Kaythenia's statement about studying the old ruins made sense to Titania. Some people did like to study Hyrule's past, and the old ruins of the temple were the best place for that. Titania had been there before, but never for research. She usually just went there for alone time. She was mostly left alone there, as it wasn't exactly a popular hangout. In fact, the fairies would keep it under lock and key if they could. Sure, people could get in, but it wasn't exactly an easy task.

"Ah yes, the old ruins. You may not exactly fit the appearance of a researcher, but few really do. However, while I'm sure you wouldn't do any damage, access to the old ruins is restricted to keep away looters and their ilk."

Kay's reaction to her magic was understandable. White magic was rare among the races of Hyrule, it being a skill restricted to fairies, who didn't travel often. In response, Titania flared open her wings, revealing her true nature. "You seemed like you had a headache, so I thought I'd give you a little heal. White magic is easy for fairies, after all. Tell you what? I like you Kay, you've got a good heart. I'll help you get into the ruins. However, you have to do something for me. Agreed?"

[kaythenia]

"Ah yes, the old ruins. You may not exactly fit the appearance of a researcher, but few really do. However, while I'm sure you wouldn't do any damage, access to the old ruins is restricted to keep away looters and their ilk. You seemed like you had a headache, so I thought I'd give you a little heal. White magic is easy for fairies, after all. Tell you what? I like you Kay, you've got a good heart. I'll help you get into the ruins. However, you have to do something for me. Agreed?"

Kaythenia took a step back when the Fairy called her by name when she had not introduced herself. She had never come into contact with fairies before but knew little of the nature of their magics, although she was grateful for thought...The Bard couldn't help but be slightly unnerved by the innate knowledge the Fairy seemed to possess. She locked her gaze on Titania's and squared her shoulders. "How do you know my name? Who are you?" Kaythenia asked carefully, her eyes not leaving Titania's. The young woman didn't like people knowing who she was at the best of times, more often than not she gave a false name or the abbreviated version of her given name. It was a precaution taken for her own safety above all. With Davik always following in her footsteps she had little other options at her disposal.

Although she could not help but be somewhat intrigued by Titania's offer to get her inside the ruins. Kaythenia had not been expecting to be able to get into the depths of the ruins...but the proviso that Titania offered gave her pause. It all depended what Titania had in mind as 'payment' for access to the inner sanctum of the ruins. She raised an eyebrow at the comment and was quiet for a moment as if considering it. The early morning breeze whistled through the trees, lifting her hair and the fabric of her swallow tailed sleeves.

"I don't know what you expect in return from me."

[titania]

Oh damn, Titania exposed her knowledge of Kaythenia. She wanted to keep that one a secret. The truth was that the fairies have incredible eyes and ears in the lower places of the world. The face was a giveaway, as she had been infamous in certain circles.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to reveal that right away. Truth is, I am privy to a series of notable facts about people, yourself included. You caused a great burst of energy right around the crowning of a new fairy queen, which did not go unnoticed by our elder. We never officially met, but a select few fairies know of who you are. My name is Titania, and I'm willing to help you. As for the favor, I have a question that needs answering." She could tell that Kay was cautious. She screwed up in that respect. Information wasn't supposed to be revealed that early, and yet Titania had shown her hand.

She began to walk back in the direction she had come from, back towards the grove and the ruins.

[kaythenia]

"Sorry, I didn't mean to reveal that right away. Truth is, I am privy to a series of notable facts about people, yourself included. You caused a great burst of energy right around the crowning of a new fairy queen, which did not go unnoticed by our elder. We never officially met, but a select few fairies know of who you are. My name is Titania, and I'm willing to help you. As for the favor, I have a question that needs answering."

Great burst of energy...that could only be the Seomar, her mind involuntarily shot back to that moment before her memory failed her. Being bound upon the circle, the runes burning into her skin and making an audible hiss. The feeling of deep seated panic and fear coursing through her like fire. It was then that she had felt the beginning of it, something inside her snapping, as if a block had been cleared and power bled into her. It was then that Kaythenia's vision had gone white and she remembered nothing else. Not until she came around some time later sprawled across the floor, her hands and clothes stained with blood that wasn't hers. And Marcus, lying dead not six feet away. His glassy eyes open and staring- Kaythenia forced herself back to the present although the pounding behind her eyes was back with a vengeance. The fairies knew what had happened, they knew about her? How much did they know?

"How much do you and your people know? Answer my question and I will answer yours."

Kaythenia's response was perhaps somewhat more forceful than was necessary but nerves were bubbling in the pit of her stomach. The knowledge that they knew about her was making her feel physically sick. She held Titania's gaze carefully, searching her face for an answer of any kind. This was no longer about gaining entrance into the Ruins, not anymore.

[titania]

Titania knew that this part was going to get uncomfortable. Revealing to someone that they were watched through part of their traumatic life events was never comforting. To that effect, Titania put a hand on Kay's shoulder, looked her in the eyes, and smiled.

"We know that you have a great deal of magical energy. We sent someone to investigate the spot of the energy flux. The conclusion was that you were being used for that energy, although we know nothing of the extent. Members of the court wanted you tracked so that we could prevent any further incidents, but I overruled that. At that moment, our connection with you was severed, until now." Titania wanted to see the flux herself all those years ago, but she was forbidden by the courts. It also marked the first time she stood up to the courts as queen.

She checked Kay for any further injuries. Any physical pain seemed to be from nerves and not cuts or scrapes. "Now for my question. Why do you really want to research the old ruins?"

[kaythenia]

"We know that you have a great deal of magical energy. We sent someone to investigate the spot of the energy flux. The conclusion was that you were being used for that energy, although we know nothing of the extent. Members of the court wanted you tracked so that we could prevent any further incidents, but I overruled that. At that moment, our connection with you was severed, until now."

Magical energy was exactly what Marcus wanted her for...more specifically Evalle's power, it was the only reason he had raised her to maturity. As a child her minute powers were useless to him so he had waited until she had enough to finally be of use to him. He had told her so at the Seomar that night because he had believed she wouldn't live to tell the tale to anyone else. Fate had instead smiled upon her, as much as Kaythenia could believe at least. Even though she had no recollection of it she knew that she had chosen her own life over Marcus'. He wouldn't have shown her an ounce of mercy. The Bard felt Titania's hand upon her shoulder and flinched slightly at the contact and didn't return the Fairy Queen's gaze.

"Now for my question. Why do you really want to research the old ruins?"

Now it was time to uphold her end of the deal, Kaythenia swallowed and wracked her mind. Even though she was a Bard, a profession of words and eloquence...she was struggling with both of those things now. She clenched both hands into tight fists at her sides, the worn leather of her gloves creaking at the sudden tension. For a moment or so there was silence, only the sounds of the forest could be heard and the sound of her own heart beating in her ears.

"I don't know, I felt drawn here. Almost like I've been here before."

[titania]

Tiania nodded. "Thank you. Now, I believe I have my bargain to uphold. I shall take you to the ruins. Follow me." She began to head down through the forest until they reached the entrance to the sacred grove.

"Well, here we are. Word of advice, we're not a big fan of outsiders here. Well, most aren't but I don't care. As long as you're with me you'll be fine." She ventured inside, Kaythenia in tow. Hopefully the courts were in deliberation. They didn't need to know the fire mage from 4 years ago had come to the grove. While it wouldn't be a horrible occurrence, there would be some drama. Titania already knew she'd get a reprimand for it, like with almost everything else she does.

[Jin Reno]

While the two began to head toward the direction of the ruins, a third being wondered through the trees themselves, trying to find his way back toward them. Usually, strangely enough, Jin had been unhindered as he wondered in the trees, arriving upon the Sacred Grove twice before, the first time even meeting two of the Minish leaders. However, as he tried to head toward the area by choice, he seemed to only be getting himself lost.

Could the Forest be protecting the area now from him? The concept itself seemed strange to Jin in many ways. For one, the youth never harmed any of the forest when he had traveled before. Another was that he traveled with a young turtle filled with magic and a mini deku baba in a small planter, making him naturally friendly to most wild-life.

He never ate more then he needed, never left any trace of himself, and never needlessly caused damage to anything around him. Hell, he even cleaned up an area over in Ordona after an incident. Was it because he was a Human Gentry that it kept him out, or was someone more important heading there that the forest wanted to keep safe.

"Come on! I just wanna see if my friends are there!" Jin called out, a sad look on his face. After spending most of his life alone, Jin was beginning to cherish what little time he could have with people he had befriended. He did not know that his location was along the same path that the Fairy Queen and Fire Mage were taking.

[kaythenia]

"Thank you. Now, I believe I have my bargain to uphold. I shall take you to the ruins. Follow me."

Kaythenia followed behind Titania, deeper into the forest and along the path not often taken by the regular inhabitants of the region or indeed all of Hyrule. There was certainly something eerily familiar about this place even though the Bard's sense of reason told her she had never set foot here. She paused next to one of the trees and rested her hand along the knotted bark, there was definetly something otherwordly about this part of the forest. The young woman did not stop for long, keeping Titania within her sights. "What is your name? You know mine but did not offer your own." In Kaythenia's mind it seemed a fair request as she watched Titania carefully from her position a few paces back as they slipped deeper into the heart of the forest.

"Well, here we are. Word of advice, we're not a big fan of outsiders here. Well, most aren't but I don't care. As long as you're with me you'll be fine."

The Bard stopped and glanced around, there was a certain aura surrounding this place that made the fine hairs on Kaythenia's arms stand up and sent a cold chill down her spine. As if someone had trailed a finger across her skin. Although she couldn't quite pinpoint the reason why, her attention was diverted elsewhere by the sound of a voice, a male voice, not too far from here..."Come on! I just wanna see if my friends are there!" She darted around and strained her hearing to try and make out the voice. The words were only just audible but the sound wasn't too far away. The one thing Kaythenia could be sure of, it wasn't Davik's voice. From there she could breathe a sigh of relief. The young woman glanced back to Titania and continued further into the ruins, running her fingers along the raised carvings and runes on the ancient walls. Why was there such a strong sense of Deja vu?

[titania]

As some of the fairies moved out of the way of their queen and her guest, she held up and something came up.

"Titania. That's my name. Wait here, I'll be right back." She didn't have to go far to find the source of the voice. In fact, Kay was still within sight by the time she found Jin. It was a surprise to find Jin out here, a human gentry was an odd sight this far into the forest.

"Hi Jin" she said with a wave. He was welcome, and trustworthy. She remembered his good barbecue, and moved back towards Kay. "It's ok. It's a human. Gentry as well." She moved between the two, acting as a mediator just in case one of them was wary of the other. "Kay, this is Jin. Jin, Kay."

[Jin Reno]

Jin looked over at Titania when she appeared and smiled at her, waving back to the Fairy Queen. "Hiya Titania! Fancy seeing you here!" Jin said happily, walking over toward the woman as she moved away from him. He couldn't figure out where she was going so he stumbled after her a bit faster, Lisa still on his head as he soon moved around.

However, when he made it to the area she was at before, Jin smiled over at the other and waved at her. "Hiya you, I am Jin Reno, just like what Titania said, nice to meet you Kay!" Jin said with a smile, offering his hand to her before he tripped over a root and fell forward, catching Lisa in his hands as he landed on his chest.

Shaking his head, got back to his feet and put Lisa back onto his head. "Ugh... So anyway... where are you two off to so early in the morning?" Jin asked, rubbing his chest and smiling at the two. It was always nice to run into friends.

[kaythenia]

"Titania. That's my name. Wait here, I'll be right back."

Kaythenia took in what Titania said but did not respond, she laid her hand upon the ancient stone and felt a chill pass through her. Making the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and a shiver crawl down her spine. The Bard couldn't place what had brought this on but she was experiencing the oddest feeling of deja vu. As if she had been to this place before even though she was perfectly aware she had not. This deep into the Forest there was no sound of wild creatures and with Titania momentarily gone. Kaythenia was left only with the sound of her own heartbeat and her booted feet cracking the sticks on the forest floor. Although it seemed she would not be alone for long. The Fairy Queen appeared to be strolling back with someone else in her company. Kaythenia glanced back over her shoulder at them both, the Bard couldn't help but quirk an eyebrow. What would another person be doing this far out into the Woods? Nor was she feeling overtly social at the moment, Kaythenia couldn't explain the feeling, it had been hanging over her ever since she woke up.

"It's ok. It's a human. Gentry as well. Kay, this is Jin. Jin, Kay."

"Hiya you, I am Jin Reno, just like what Titania said, nice to meet you Kay!"

Feeling somewhat obliged out of manners to say something, even if she didn't feel like being overtly social...it was only polite. She nodded to Jin and pretended that he didn't have a turtle seated upon his head like some kind of exotic cap. "A pleasure." Kaythenia stated, she didn't really feel like smiling but sufficed with a quirk of the lips. A kind of half smile that would pass for the real thing for now at least. Briefly she held eye contact for a moment, glancing away as if something in her peripheral vision had distracted her. Worrying the fabric of her swallow tailed sleeve between her finger and thumb and looking back to Titania.
"I do not wish to be rude but may we proceed onwards? I feel...odd."

There was nothing else that summed it up.

[titania]

"What do you mean fancy seeing you here? I'm the overseer of these woods Jin." Titania gave him a skeptical look and couldn't help but laugh. Afterwards she shot him a look that told him to be quiet.

"Yes Kay, we shall proceed at once. Onward!" She walked out towards the ruins, cautiously. She knew Kay was feeling something strange. Being here wasn't entirely comfortable for her, but it was something she felt she needed to do, and who was Titania to say no to that?

"If either of you need assistance I am here to help."

[Jin Reno]

Jin stuck his hands into his pockets after the quick look that Titania gave him, and the strange greeting that Kay had given him. In fact, if they were to look back at him at the moment they would of noticed that he was pouting slighty. He wanted to talk to them, to see what adventures that the two could have been on. Hell, Kay must of had some adventures to talk about that he hadn't heard, right? This woman, Kay, even seemed to ignore the fact that he was here it seemed. Her greeting wasn't anything like his own.

Though as they walked, he had to wonder if she was possibly going through something right now. Titania seemed to be acting a little more serious then she normally seemed, and Kay herself seemed a little distant. Even then, it only made him wondering what exactly he had wondered into in the first place. He increased his pace and got closer to the two and walked along side them, his hands swinging at his side now. He offered them each a smile and looked in front of them.

"So, where are we off too? I wanted to head to the ruins to see if I could find some of my friends there." Jin said happily, the silence just a bit annoying. "I might just stick with you two though, something seems up and I swear it smells like a new adventure for me." He said with a happy grin.

[kaythenia]

"Yes Kay, we shall proceed at once. Onward! If either of you need assistance I am here to help."

Kaythenia inclined her head to Titania to communicate that she had heard what the Fairy Queen had said, after all ignoring the monarch of the fey would not bode well and she needed to get into those Ruins. It felt as if a thread had been affixed inside her and someone had the other end inside the ruins and was pulling on it...Although being here and drawing closer to the Ruins within the Sacred Grove was making Kaythenia feel oddly cold, she did her best to ignore it. The one feeling she couldn't shake no matter how hard she tried was that unexplainable sense of Deja vu. As if she had walked these paths before and recognised the pattern the trees grew in, any marks they may have taken from nature or man. Despite the feeling it was utter nonsense, Kaythenia's sense of logic reminded her this was a completely foreign area, despite what her instincts were telling her. The air here was unnaturally still, as if the Forest were holding it's breath, the sounds of animals seemed to have ceased. The only sounds being the footsteps of herself, Titania and Jin. The Bard crossed her arms and locked them across her stomach, fighting back another shiver as if someone had trickled cold water down her spine. Jin's voice soon brought her out of her silent reverie and back to reality.

"So, where are we off too? I wanted to head to the ruins to see if I could find some of my friends there. I might just stick with you two though, something seems up and I swear it smells like a new adventure for me."

The young woman glanced over at Jin, it seemed his reason for being here was somewhat adrenaline fueled. He seemed extremely cheerful as if just the prospect of moving further on excited him, Kaythenia could not claim she felt the same way although she found herself a little envious of his ease with this place. "And you believe something is 'up' because?" The young woman queried, it didn't seem to be an odd question to direct at the Adventurer. Jin and Titania did not seem to be experiencing any kind of physical reaction to the proximity of the Ruins. No, surely it was nothing to do with that. She shivered briefly before turning her gaze back towards the Fairy Queen. "How far until we reach the heart of the Ruins?"