Link's Curse 9

   chapter 9

      "Aren't you going to share some of yer food with me, child?" said the raspy voice. Link froze in place. Someone was definitely inside the prison with him. Link
   didn't know what he should do. The person, or creature, could be friendly, or could be fierce. Link finally felt brave enough to respond, so he took a deep breath
   and said, in a wavering tone, "h-hello??" For a moment there was only silence. Then, he heard the voice again. "Yes, child," it said evenly. "Bring me the cheese,
   and the apple too. I can smell them and they smell delicious." A cold chill ran up and down Link's back. Link dropped to his knees and reached for the apple and
   searched for the cheese. When he found it, he snatched it up and stood to his feet. He held the food out but didn't move any further. "Can you come here?" asked
   the small elf, trying to hide the fear in his voice. "Awww..."said the raspy voice, "Is the child afraid?"
  
      "No!" Link stated suddenly, and probably too quickly. "Then what's the matter, my child? I'm so hungry? Haven't eaten in days. That horrible King Icabod is the
   harshest of task masters, and when he's not beating me, he's ignoring my plea's for food and water. Won't you help a poor old soul out. All I ask is that you
   bring me the food." Link was suspicious. "Why can't you come here?" he asked, sounding a bit braver. The old sap sighed finally and said, "Okay. I'll explain. You
   see, I am feeble and unable to walk. I can barely crawl. I am bruised from the beatings I have received, and my body is twisted from the abuse. I didn't want to
   scare you, child. I hunger so. Have mercy, please..." The raspy voice trailed off, and for the first time, Link felt compassion for the old soul. "Yes," said the
   elf, "Here, take this apple and cheese. Where are you, sir? Lead me on."

      "This way..." said the voice, gently. "Link followed the voice until his hands touched the out stretched hands of the beggar. Link placed the food into his hands
   and closed the fingers firmly around. Link noticed that the beggar had a couple missing digits, but said nothing. "Thank you, my child," said the beggar, "May the
   spirits bestow upon you great blessings." Then Link listened as the beggar began to eat. He ate as if he hadn't in a month. When he had finished, he took Link by
   the arm and thanked him again. Then Link offered the beggar the extra set of clothing he had with him. The beggar took them great fully. "Where do you come from,
   child?" asked the beggar when he had changed into the extra set of clothing. "Kakariko village," said Link, proudly. "Hmmm, yes," said the beggar, "and do you have
   a name?"

      "Yes, I'm Link," said the small elf. "Nice to meet you, Link," said the beggar, "I am Max. I used to live to the south of Kakariko village, before I was captured
   by King Icabod and his minion of Moblins."
      "How long have you been locked up?" asked Link. "It's been nearly five years, said Max, sounding very sad, "but I'm wondering, what is a young elf doing locked
   up in a place like this. What crime did you do to deserve this terrible fate?" Link was silent for a moment. He thought of home. He thought of his care taker, Rob.
   He really missed being home in Kakariko village, before his journey had begun. "Yes," said Link, "How did I end up here, indeed? It's a long story, really."
      "Oh, I love stories," said Max, "the longer, the better." So Link told Max everything, from the moment he had gotten the fever and the healer had been called
   to Rob's house to the start of the journey and all the unusual weather changes. When he got to the part in his story when he had killed the giant spider monster,
   Max was in awe. "You killed that double headed she beast?!" he exclaimed, excitedly. Then he started to cough. "You okay, sir?" Link asked, sounding concerned.
  
      "Yes, yes," said Max, "just got a bit too excited is all. Link dropped to a knee to see to Max. "Will you be okay?" he asked, worried. "Yes, I'll be fine," said
   the old man. "Just help me lay back. I need rest. Yes." So Link helped Max lay back onto the earthen floor of the prison. The old man's breathing had become shall-
   ow. "I...have something for you now...my friend, Link," said Max, sounding suddenly weak. "Around my neck hangs a small chain. On that chain is a key. If you enter-
   ed the way I did, you should know of the wooden chest in the clearing next to the tree stump. I want you to have this key. Take it. I am too weak to reach it for
   you. Go on, child..." Link felt the emotion in Max's voice. "Yes," he said, reaching for his neck. Link felt Max's twisted hands guiding his towards the place where
   the chain and key hung loosely around his neck. "There," said Max, in an unsteady voice. "Take it. It's yours."

      So Link removed the chain with the key from the old man's neck. "Hide it somewhere safe on you. Don't allow king Icabod to get it. If he does, all hope may be
   lost." Link tucked the key and chain into an inside pocket in his tunic and stood up.

      "Well isn't this just precious!" came a stern voice from outside the the prison door. Link spun around and saw that it was the bearded stranger glaring in at
   him from the other side of the bars. It was king Icabod himself, holding Link's sword and shield and surrounded by at least ten armed Moblins. "I knew it was a mistake
    lock you up with gnarly here. I see you've become quite good friends. But I'm going to separate you two love birds now." Link felt the rage welling up within
   him. Before the king had opened the barred entrance, Link grabbed the small metal wire and tucked it into another inside pocket. He had a feeling he would need it.
   The king slid open the bars and entered the prison, grabbing Link in a rough manner. "What is all this...?! he snapped angrily, pointing the sword at the pack and
   bag of rupees on the ground. The king kicked the bag of rupees, sending rupees of all colors flying in all directions. "Well, well," said the king, "I see you've
   been hiding your stolen stash of rupees. But now they're mine! Take him to the next prison over! I'll deal with him later."

      So two of the strongest looking moblins grabbed Link and pulled him out of the prison cell and let him two an adjacent cell and threw him in with a snort. Link
   landed on hard earth and got the wind knocked out of him. He lay there for several moments trying to get his breath back. He didn't even notice the bars slide
   closed, locking him in. When he had finally caught his breath, he sat up and heard the voice of the king shouting angrily and cursing. Then he heard another sound.
   It sounded like someone was beating a thick rod against the rock wall. Moments later, Link heard the familiar voice of Max, wailing in pain, "Oooh, stop that," he
   cried," ooooh, the pain. Ooooh that hurt...ooooooooooh!!!!!" When Link realized what was going on, he jumped to his feet and ran to the barred door way. "Max!" he
   shouted, "Stop hurting him, king! I demand it! Stop it, NOW!!!" Link heard the king laugh. "You are a terrible king and should be hung!" shouted Link, the anger
   once more welling up inside him. "Spare poor Max. Take me instead! Just don't hurt him anymore..." Tears filled Link's eyes, and he began to cry uncontrollably.
   The tears flowed down his cheeks.

      "Too late, boy!" snarled king Icabod. "Your friend is dead..." He chuckled hideously. "he's out of his misery, thanks to me. Thanks to merciful king Icabod.."
   When Link heard the news, he dropped to his knees with an exasperated gasp. "No..." he whispered. "It can't be...It's not true...You are lying to me..." Then he
   sobbed as he had never in his life. The king snorted in derision. "Quit yer sniveling boy," said the king in an even meaner tone. "I'll be back tomorrow with
   breakfast and fer yer first beating. Night, now." And with that, king Icabod exited the throne room with his horde of moblins right behind him.
   
  

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