If I Just Dreamed

Sympathy- (10 of 13)

When dawn broke, the sun peered through the windows like a heavenly light that made Niah squint. The room was cold even as the sun was assigned to one window pane. The curtains were slightly parted, and did little to cover her. It was only a matter of time until she absolutely had to get out of bed, and absolutely had to get dressed and pack up. It was only a matter of time until she had to step outside, and possibly enter the Twilight, she knew this. But her nerves were messing with her, and it made the goosebumps on her arms flare up with anticipation.

But Niah didn't want to kick the blanket off, she wasn't exactly sure when she would be able to sleep in a bed again, and this one was much more comfortable than the one in Kakariko, and the ground. Definitely better than the ground. Everything is better than the ground.

Niah kept her head as empty as she could. She kicked the blankets off, and stepped out of bed. Everyone was gone. Burvis must've left early, and more than likely Link didn't sleep at all. She slipped her boots back on, and put her hair up, she didn't do anything special for it this time.

When she stepped out of the room, the house was barren other than a fire, and a hot cup of what smelled like coffee. She wasn't a coffee girl, but she could definitely use the kick. Niah wiped her eyes and kept herself busy by looking around. The home was tiny and lived in, with a loom that sat in one corner and vines and flowers in the cracks growing in the direction of the sun. Niah turned her eyes towards one of the windows as she heard the sound of wood splitting. It was Link, of course. Niah didn't want to bother him, and he looked tired.

"What was that last night?"

Niah shrugged, "Magic shit. I dunno." She was too tired to care.

"No." Midna spoke soft and quiet for the first time, "From your pillow."

"Oh, music." Niah yawned and continued to stare out the window absentmindedly.

"Is that what that thing is for?"

"It can do a lot more than that."

Niah kept her responses short, she was too tired to engage in small talk, so she drew her jacket closer and opened the door across the room to step outside.

It was as cold as it looked, frost melting from the grass as the dew wet her feet. She had to stand directly in the sunlight to feel warmth. Spring was a good season, but she hated the cold that still came with it.

Niah took a deep breath. She let her lungs fill with the crisp air as the chill swept over her again. She stepped past the threshold and walked towards Link who took notice of her presence with just a glance before he sat the ax down. The exercise kept him warm, she understood. But as she stepped, the moist grass caught her boots, and the cold from it made her toes cold and they felt damp, but they weren't, and she knew it. The almost silent rustle of trees reminded her that there was life outside of them, and it made her feel small, and unfamiliar. There was life outside this world, and probably more to another, and another outside of her own world.

Niah approached with a reluctant sigh and pulled the jacket closer to her chest.

"Hey." Link's voice broke the reverie; the calmness. Logs of firewood laid beside the cut stump, which was ironic for the use it served now. His hair was tousled and dried sweat clung to his forehead and despite his clear fatigue there was a glint of determination in his eye.

"I know you didn't sleep at all." Niah tilted her head, but spoke with conviction.

Link shrugged and picked up the ax again. "I wasn't tired." he admitted, but his lips quirked into a grin as he still looked her way. "But, it's early. I was waiting for you to wake up. And it doesn't hurt to help the old woman out with some firewood. It gave me something to do."