[Link]

The green-robed woman watches the warrior slowly, eyeing him seemingly with great interest. Why? A soft whisper inside the warrior's head asks the question, but it remains unanswered. Still, this woman seems familiar, and somehow he can place her.. place her in his past, his history, in a dark moment, when they met in a time, a place when they both knew this meeting was not to be. Not yet.
"I remember you, warrior. Do you remember me?" The woman speeks slowly, her soft, singing voice is almost unhearable in the noisy bar. Tancred, who at first was watching with great interest, has turned his head. For now, they are unwatched.
"I do." Link speaks slowly as well. As he answers his mind drifts away, to their meeting...

***

The marsh is silent, too silent. Link trudges through the sludge, gripping to trees so he doesn't sink away. His mind is elsewhere, trying to recall the meaning to this trip. He was sent here, by someone, but by whom? It was not a quest, but then again.. it was? Then suddenly he remembers. It was Atuan, the wizard inside of him who had sent him to this place.
The stench of death reaches the warrior, and as he takes another step the fog clears, and the rotting corpse of a horse comes to his sight. It's owner, a knight for sure, lies next to it, it's throat sliced. Link sighs. These so-called heroes should know that this place should not be travelled alone. The swamp is dangerous, treacherous and above all filled with all kinds of foul beasts. Gnolls, lizardmen, even some rumours about hydra's have found their way to him.
A soft cough suddenly gets his attention. He had been standing in front of the knight's body for some time, unaware that someone had approached him. A woman, as it seems, wearing green clothes. She looks at him with interest, and suddenly speaks.
"This is not a place for the likes of you, warrior."
"Oh but it is," Link replies,"you underestamate my abilities, young woman. It is I that question your presence here, for this is not a place for ladies like yourself to be wondering around."
She laughs. The sound of her laughing reliefs him from his sadness, for a moment. The pressing silence, and the misty swamp soon give him back the feeling of loneliness.
"Maybe so," the woman says,"but maybe not. Something has driven me here, and I can assure you, warrior, that I can take care of myself perfectly."
"No doubt, fair lady, my mind cannot think otherwise than that you can take care of yourself. But even I remain cautious when I walk this godforsaken land."
"Me too, warrior. Link, isn't it? I have heard a great deal about you."
Astonished as he his, thoughts run through his mind. How does she know his name? Does she have certain psychic gifts?
"My name.. how?" The warrior stumbles.
The woman laughs again. "If you're thinking that I'm gifted, you're wrong, Link. It's very simple that I guessed right. I told you that I have heard a lot about you, your quests, things you've done. I can think of no other man that would enter these swamps and still lives. That knight-" the woman points at the dead figure "- is one of many examples."
"True enough. Don't you think it'se fair then, that you tell me your name?"
"My name is of no importance yet, warrior, just remember who I am. We will meet again, someday, I'm sure of that. I'll tell you all about me when the time is right." With these words the woman walks away, slowly, and then, with a sudden blow of the wind, the fog hides her green robes, making her disappear from his sight.
The silence returns, in the swamp. In Link's head, the words of the woman echo on. "We will meet again, someday, I'm sure of that. I'll tell you all about me when the time is right." He feels empty, unsure what to do next. Somehow he feels that this was why he was sent here, that Atuan knew that he should go here, and meet this mysterious lady. And on the other hand, it seems as if their meeting was not meant to be, as if they were to meet in another time, in another place...

***

Another time, another place. And the woman has appeared again. The thought spook inside his mind, as he stares at her, wondering who she really is.
"Come, Link. I'll tell you all about me," she whispers, and she tells him a tale of times long ago...

[ 09-12-2002, 10:31 AM: Message edited by: Link ]