The Legend of Heroes (Series 1, Book 5) Morals

Chapter 81: Arno's True Tale

October 20th, 2962
10:00am

Link and company arrived at Rivendell again, but this time they need to use it for a temporary relaxing place. Alex and Elrond discuss plans on what the nature of the time travel was about.

"So then Alex, you are truly from the future of this world?" Elrond started the conversation, as he was pouring tea into a cup. He walked over to Alex and handed him a cup, then walked over to Trace. "No drink for me, I am good." He said. Elrond then walked over to his chair and sat down, Alex responds to his question. "Yes. (Sips tea, and places it on the table) I must apologize beforehand cause I am unable to talk about the future of this country." He said to him. "I am fine with that, I know the laws quite well thanks to books. Yet could you at least inform me about what it is your looking for if you came to the past?" Elrond then asked his next question. "We are searching for the Heart of the Mountain, I believe you know it as the Arkenstone?" Trace answered. "I find it in coincidental to hear that name twice within the same week." Elrond said as he rubbed his forehead. "You mean that we aren't the first group that came by? (Remembers something) Oh yes, the company of Thorin Oakenshield." Alex mentioned. "You mean the Dwarf prince of Erebor? They already passed by here?" Trace asked Lord Elrond, who replies, "Yes they have. An Orc pack of Gundabad Wargs were hunting them down not to long ago. They went up and left about four days ago, heading to the east of the Misty Mountains." Elrond explained. Then that name came to Alex's mind. "Gundabad. That means Azog the Defiler has already begun his hunt." Alex states. "Yes. I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news to you." Elrond said. Alex places down his tea, "It is alright. If I do recall though, they will be heading into a trap. That trap we can't interfere in, not until they break out of it is when we can meet with them." Alex stated. "It's your call Alex. We could wait or we could stay to prepare ourselves with supplies." Trace told him. Alex then leaned back into the couch to think about it, and Elrond began to speak. "If I were you, I would at least have a days rest then go out to find them." He said. Alex makes up his mind, "We are leaving tomorrow, for we need to reach the Mirkwood Elves soon." Alex stated. "Then I shall let Ryuga and the others know of this." Trace got up from his chair and walks out of the room. "Also, one more thing Elrond. I have a favor to ask of you." Alex asked him. "What be that Alex?" Elrond and Alex then talk in private.

10:26am

Then we pan over to Link and Arno who are in their rented room. Link fixes the bedsheets and plops down onto the comfortable bed. "Ahh, they still have these very nice beds. (Looks at him) Hey, Arno?" Link said to him. "Yes Link?" Arno asked him, waiting for a response. Link situated himself in the bed, "Could I talk to you about something?" He said. "Sure. (Walks over to the bed and sits down next to Link) What's up?" Arno said as he laid down. Link turned over and looked at him, "I have something I need to discuss with someone, and in this case that be you. Well actually two things." He said. Arno puts his hands on Link's legs, "You can tell me anything Link, I am your friend. What's bothering you?" He stated to him as he smiles. Link takes a deep breath and exhales. Then he begins, "When I had returned from Albion, I have been recently hearing these voices in my head. They kept repeating one word over and over again, which was my name." Link began to say. "Why would this voice be saying your name? The actual question is why is there a voice in your head?" Arno asked him. "(Sighs) Both of your questions I don't really have an answer to, but I do think I know the voice. It feels... Familiar." Link explained. "That's a start. (Worried) Are you being possessed like with what happened with Sora? Then again if you were, you would've done something unlike yourself." Arno guessed. "I believe I am not. Cause I have control over my body, so that means nobody is possessing me. But the voice that I heard was possibly the being who had helped me kill the Lords of Darkness back those years ago." Link brought up, making Arno look puzzeled, "You mean that Fierce Deity guy that you transformed to?" He asked him.
"Yes. Darkus lent me the Mask of the Fierce Deity to defeat them. I then gave it back to Darkus afterward. But its been like five years since I last wore it, why it wants to call me back is unknown to me." Link explained.
"In my opinion Link, I believe that you may have some sort of hmm, connection to that mask. It probably thinks that you are its new owner now." Arno hypothesised. "That could be possible. But I really don't want that power again. It felt dark, and yet wanted a sense of justice against those who have done wrong." Link then stated. "Trust me, knowing you that mask will be completely under your control. I don't mean to change subject, but what was the other thing you wanted to talk about?" Arno then asked him. Link looked up at the ceiling and remembered, "Ah yes, as I was still in Albion. I met this man-" Link was cut off by Arno, "(Puts hand over his shoulder) Its okay Link, I understand where you may be going through this. That was like me a couple of years ago. (Laughs)" He laughed. "I did not have an affair with a man if that's what you were thinking." Link corrected himself. "Whale thanks for spoiling the fantasy now. (Laughs) Anyway you can continue." Arno had laughed.
"As I was saying, I had met this man who had helped me along with the journey I was going on. And this guy said that he knew you, very well." Link told him, who had to think about it very hard. "I have met many a man back in my pirating days Link. Many of whom I didn't meet on the right foot, if you know what I mean. (Wink, wink) What was his name?" Arno asked after making a joke of his relationships. "He said his name was Adam, Adam Rouge." Link said. Arno's expression changed from happy to down right saddening. "Wha-What? (A tear forms) Did he have red hair, a mask, a sexy smile and a sword he always kept in his sheath?" Arno began asking Link questions. "Yes, yes, smile was okay and yes. He told me that he had met you back when you were younger, but he only told me bits of the story. (Sees Arno starting to cry) I was wondering, if well. Could you tell me about him?" Link asked Arno with a calm tone, and he placed his hands on Arno's thighs. Arno then looked up at him, with a small tear rolling down his left cheek. "Link, please if I tell you this. Promise me that you will keep this to yourself." He asked him. "I will Arno, and if it gets to emotional you may stop to take a break." Link replied. "(Wipes tears) Thank you. (Gets a pillow, lays flat on the bed and looks up at the ceiling.) Time to get into story mode." Arno then said to Link, as he begins to tell a story about his early life.