And I would dare to be valiant

[cyan_princess]

[It's gone. The Zora's Sapphire was gone. Princess Ruto had trekked all the way back to the Zora's Domain, to check in on where she'd placed it...and it was gone. How? How could anyone have done this? Why would anyone be cruel enough to...]

...It's not fair! Who did this?! W-why...

[Then, sound of clanking metal reaches her ears.]

Comments

[theeyeoftruth]

[Chance and coincidence aren't things Sheik held too much faith in, after all he's seen, but it was that which had him walking the path alongside the river that flowed from the Zora's Fountain. The last time he'd been here, it had been to teach Link the Serenade of Water, and before that, saving the Zora Princess from the ice his 'king' was using to... Teach a lesson? Either way, it had been madness, but he couldn't question his lord so freely

[cyan_princess]

[She looks up weakly, vision blurred. Who was there? The voice sounded ao familiar, but... Sheik? Was it really him? She didn't know, bur near-delirious that she was, she was willing to believe it might just be him--or at least a duplicate of him. Whichever, it didn't matter. Under normal circumstances, she would have tried to dismiss him, declaring that she was alright, she knows what she is was doing, there isn't anything to worry about...]

[But these weren't normal circumstances, and she decides that she would rather sacrifice her pride than die.]

W-what are you doing...? Help me.

[theeyeoftruth]

I am going to try, your Highness. Try to stay with me.

[He rises a little, pulling off the thick, fur trimmed cloak and spreading it down, guiding her to sit, made simple enough by her weakness. Already he is unwinding a layer of those bandages, eyeing the wound. A blade, short sword or something like it, and not a straight one, it seemed

[cyan_princess]

[Yes, there's no mistaking the voice now. Sheik...it has to be him, there's no other possible person! She feels a sudden swell of hope--and such hope is immediately forgotten when the pain hits again, harder than before. She feels the water and bandages, and wonders vaguely what he's doing. It felt like it was helping, a little...

The question only registers a little while after its asked. When she speaks, her voice is weak; breathless.]

Skeleton...thing. I think it stole the...the Sapphire. Wasn't gonna...let it.

[She pauses momentarily, gulping in air. Colors are swarming across her faded vision, making her dizzier and sicker than before.]

It got me.

Ruto! ;_____;

[son_of_rutela]

[Untroubled by the snow and ice, Prince Ralis is returning to Zora's Domain after a brief stay in Kakariko. While the little village was always hospitable to him, extended stays upon dry land were uncomfortable.

The path alongside the river feeding into Hyrule is long and icy, but there are a few birds singing and the prince is in good humor. That is, until he notices the crumpled body collapsed upon a nearby snowbank.

To his shock, it's someone that he remembers from quite some time past.]

Princess Ruto! [There's red blotting the snow and a trail of red behind her that he knows is...]

[The prince hurries over and drops quickly to his knees at Ruto's side.] Princess Ruto! [His eyes are wide and filled with concern. He doesn't touch her, for fear of either making her wound worse, or hurting her.] Please...say something...

><;;;

[cyan_princess]

[Someone is there...someone that knows her name? A memory is slowly coming to her, but she can't quite recall who this is, if only due to the blood loss muddling her thinking.

...Say something? Like...like what? That she was bleeding? Hurt?]

Who...who are you?

[There's a soft hiss as more pain jets through her side, but she holds back a grimace.]

Navi+Sheik Double Post?

[silent_sheikah]

There is.. yanno, a REASON you keep doing this, right? Some secret Sheikah-y reason that's real important and we'll find out about later?

[Sheik hauls himself out of the pool surrounding the portal to the Lost Woods and shakes off most of the water before finally looking to the fairy floating to his left. When she puts her hands on her hips and glares he sighs and nods, but can't help a small smile at her 'intimidating' posture.]

[Consoled, Navi goes back to her normal bobbing as she follows him out.] Well good, 'cause I'd hate for you to get sick if you just really like warping or something or is it called something else when you don't use a song-wha?! [She has to skid and pull a loop in the air to avoid ramming into Sheik's head when he stops, floating higher to see what he's staring at.]

[There is a trail of blood leading through the snow ahead. Dirks out, Sheik motions to Navi to dim and stay low before following quickly along the path. It doesn't take long to find the end.]

P-princess Ruto? Princess! Sheik, help!

[Darting

Sorry this was late! DX

[cyan_princess]

[The fairy's high, speedy voice was one she knew... One she knew, but was unable to exactly place. Link's fairy, right? Oh, Navi, yes. She remembers the small, bobbing blue light-bulb of a creature that had accompanied the child hero on his quest. What was the fairy doing here?

...Was Link here, too? But...no. She'd heard the fairy say the name Sheik. Sheik? Sheik was here? It didn't matter at this point who found her, really. She was just glad someone had, even though she had hoped it would be Link to find her. And...help...? But what kind of help could they provide?]

D-do something...! [she rasps.] I'm bleeding.

Bah, not late at all! <3

[silent_sheikah]

Right, right, don't worry we're on it you'll be okay just sit tight! [She's rambling, looking frantically around to find something she can help with.]

[Sheik has already unwound the bandages from his chest, once again thankful for the unusual practicality of his attire. He reaches beneath one wrist guard and pulls out a small vial of green potion. Mentally he swears at himself, then reaches over to carefully shift Ruto without jarring her.]

[The potion is poured directly in the wound - not nearly enough, but it should ease the pain and fight impurities. He tosses the vial aside and begins wrapping. It would hold the wound closed and slow the bleeding, but if she punctured an organ or already lost too much...]

[He pulls down his mask with one hand while he works, mouth set in a grim line. ] 'Talk to her Navi, be calm for her.'

[Navi stares for a moment, eyes flicking to the wound, then shakily complies. She floats to sit by Ruto's head and forces her voice to go slower.]

W-we've got you all wrapped up now Ruto, so you won't be

<3!

[cyan_princess]

[She can feel the potion on the wound, and she flinches; she hadn't expected that. The wound is bandaged, and she feels a bit better, but... Her breath still comes short, if not weaker than before. She tries to move, but she can't get her body to go any farther. As the light-headedness sets in, all she can do is listen to Navi, and try to respond.]

'Course I...was brave.

Wasn't...I wasn't scared... [And is that ever a lie.]

Just...maybe a-a little...

[cyan_princess]

[When she hears footsteps coming up beside her, she worries for a moment that the Stalfos has returned, and so she stiffens. But...the gait is different, that is something she can tell even in her injured, lightheaded state. And then she hears the familiar voice, and knows for a fact that this isn't a Stalfos. No, it belongs to something...someone, much more fearsome, and yet there is no need for her to fear him. Speak? What is she supposed to say, she wonders?]

You're here...?

[Her voice is faded; weak. It's only then that it dawns on her slowly that she doesn't exactly know how to address him right now. She's never asked him his name, after all.]

[cyan_princess]

[At least she's not alone, she thinks. The presence of another was comforting, despite the terrible pain.]

[She takes a moment to try and get some air for her stressed lungs, and she'll try to explain the earlier events in as few words as possible.]

Skeleton...monster. [It's taking her longer than it ought to in order to recall.]

Fought it...it hit me. Then...I made it here... [She stiffens, and her breathing seems to quicken momentarily, as the pain attacks her harder, weakens her further.]