oh brother, where art thou? // zenethil

[Evelynn]

Din, give me strength, Evelynn prayed, her eyes closing as she bowed her head.

Of course, even ducking her head didn't make her ridiculous height less ostentatious.

It was quite silly, honestly. She lifted her head and gazed at the people in the crowds of Castle Town once again, trying her best not to judge them too much. Why were they all so short? She towered over most of them, and even the odd few whom she didn't have to hurt her neck to look at were shorter than her. She had a good two or three inches even on the tallest of the men, which was quite confusing. Everyone from the manor was of an average height. Why not these people?

Eve's father told her that Zen was much like them. She only hoped this meant that he was of a normal height as well.

She took a deep breath and smiled, eager and nervous all at once as her long-legged strides carried her to the gate of Hyrule Castle. This was it. She was finally going to meet her brother-- oh. She couldn't just walk in? How disappointing.

Evelynn looked down at the man wielding the spear blocking her path, and she smiled. "Hi there!" she chirped, leaning on her staff as she adjusted her boot. "Could you do me a huge favor and go get the Captain for me, please? Tell him his sister's here, he'll definitely come."

She waved as the man nodded, rather dumbstruck, and walked off towards the castle. He was a cute one. She'd have to look him up, later.

[Zenethil]

None had dared go anywhere near Zenethil today. He had walked into the war room of the castle, closed the door, and had not been seen since. Not once. None could explain what he was doing. In truth, he was there for three reasons. The first, he could be alone, where he couldn't release his fury at an innocent bystander. The second, where people would not see his sorrow, his rage, and most of all, the occasional tear he had shed at the memory of his sweet daughter, and of the corruption that had been wrought within her. The third, most crucially of all, was it gave him opportunity to plan a major offensive against the Gerudo. He would not stand by and watch them wreak havoc any longer. The line between personal reasons and the interests of the nation had been crossed. He fully intended the next time he went into Gerudo territory, he would do more than simply stop a few raiders. He intended to stamp Hylian dominance across their still bleeding bodies, and to return with the head of Merik Dragmire upon a pike.

His features were set in a grim expression of determination, occasionally wracked by a sorrowful frown, or punctuated by a fierce slam of his fist upon the table. His planning and researching was interrupted by a knocking. He ignored it, returning to mapping the strengths and locations of his Knights, the regular army, and points where he intended to make his strongholds in the desert. Another knock stirred him enough to walk over to the door, open it, and with his stormy faced expression, address a man, who now told him that his sister was in the main doorway. A confused and irritated loom crossed his eyes.

I will deal with this. Thank you for alerting me. Go about your duties. Now.

The guard had stopped for a moment, rocked by the intensity of Zenethil's expressions, before Zenethil's impatient command caused him to snap to, salute and hurry off to find something to do as far away from his captain as possible. With great expedience, Zenethil made his way to main entrance, boots thumping lightly against the cold stone floor. He looked on, seeing a slender, and by the looks of things quite tall woman in the middle of the room. Upon nearing, he revised his statement of 'quite tall' to 'extremely tall', crossing over next to her, his face like thunder, but caught off guard by her height, and how tiny she truly was. Like him really...

I take it, that you are the woman who claims to be my sister. Regardless of what delusions you have worked into your head, I have no sister. Or true family of any kind any more.

The last thought stung him deeply, making him think of Nairore, grief flashing over his face for the slightest of moments.

[Evelynn]

She jumped as the Captain approached, caught rather off guard. She had been daydreaming once again, her thoughts hopelessly tangled up in her intricate plan to get the cute guard's name. When her attention was drawn from her master plot to Zenethil, though, it occurred to her that she could just ask him. It was way boring, but a lot more convenient.

Oh, the wonders of having a high-ranking sibling.

Eve's face fell for just a moment, but her smile was back up in no time. "I guess Father didn't send you a letter or anything, then? That's sad. I really am your sister, though~! Father said he gave you to a monastery when you were a baby, as an offering of piety. He and Mother got to keep me, though. I'm not entirely sure why."

She glanced around, a frown forming on her lips. "And really," she said, her brow furrowing, "is it really all that unbelievable? Only people of our family seem to have an average height, after all. Seriously, why is everyone so short? I suppose the goddesses had a purpose in making them so, but it seems rather inconvenient. Especially since people make furniture rather large, considering their smaller proportions."

Evelynn couldn't help but note the grief that flashed over his features, and she patted him gently on the head. "Whatever your sorrows are, brother, I am sure they will pass. You need only remember that everything will be okay in the en-- oh, goddesses, you don't know my name. How silly of me!" She laughed, a high, not unpleasant peal. "I'm Evelynn, but you can call me Eve! Oh, I suppose I should also tell you that I wish to join the Knights. I cannot fight with a sword, but I... can sort of use magic. I'm not very good at it, I'm afraid, but I want to help!"

[Zenethil]

Zenethil, as focused as he had been on his execution of vengeance upon Merik, was somewhat taken aback by the startlingly tall woman. Shorter than he, but nevertheless another willowy giant, he could see similarities, at least in appearance. The way she acted, however, was at odds entirely with his own mannerisms. She was energetic, seemed to display her emotions upon her face as easily as the sun heats the good earth. And her story was believable. Some Hylian families still whisked their firstborn off to the monastery, as per tradition, a tribute to the Goddesses. A display of their dedication. That they would give up one of their blood in order to please the Goddesses. His own personal study of the practice was somewhat scathing. It created orphans from good families. A thought he abhorred. And her story sent a sharp pang flickering through his mind, cutting through his focus. The conviction in her voice...

He remained silent as she spoke, his mind fighting against the idea of a sister. Why now? Why after all this time would they strive to regain contact? Why not earlier in his life, when perhaps a family would mean more than an inconvenient meeting during the single most despondent time in his life? And yet, the glaringly obvious point, the similarities in height and build, still reared it's head, her staggeringly slender arms, legs and torso matched his own. Or would, if it were not for the vast suit of armour he was clad in. And the manner in which she spoke seemed to support something. The family she was from was clearly set in very antiquated ways. She clearly had no idea that she was the anomaly. A sheltered life, speaking of parentage that protected their daughters because they perceived them as frail and weak.

They are not short. We are tall.

The words were simple, curt almost, as his mind strained for the second time to wrestle an almost unthinkable idea into something he could comprehend. A sister? Could he really have a sister? It wasn't impossible. He'd never met his parents, but they had to exist. It was certainly plausible they had another child. Her interest in joining the Knights gave him an idea. From his private studies, magical talent would run in the family. And magical aptitude such as his was an heirloom, that would run for eternity. If she were his blood sister, she would have a similarly powerful grasp of magic. He strode swiftly to the side, next to a weapon rack, picking up a simple dagger.

Show me.

He threw the knife gracefully into the air, blade arcing delicately as it rotated with deadly speed. He watched, waiting for Evelynn to do... Something.

[Evelynn]

This was a quiet man, she realized. Stoic. That wasn't good. If he kept his emotions bottled up inside all the time, he'd eventually explode. Explosions were generally not good for one's health -- she'd figured out that much from her magical training. Of course, Eve tended to make explosions whenever she used offensive magic, so she had much experience in the matter.

She blinked at her brother, rather shocked by his statement. "Surely not!" she said, disbelieving. "Truly, everyone in the manor is as tall as you or I, if not taller. Though, admittedly, people of such height seem rather rare in this to-- whoops!"

Evelynn had barely noticed the blade in time to move her hand, not even thinking of using magic to stop it. Automatically -- for counterstrikes were instinct to her, thanks to her training -- she channeled her magic, the jewel in her staff flashing a bright red before a burst of fire exploded at Zenethil's feet, the flames roaring as they flared into existence.

[Zenethil]

So much for not being a very good mage. The moment the dagger left his hands, her exclamation, somewhat innocuous compared to the ravening fury that followed, the jewel on her staff flaring into life, an incandescent red, before a detonation of flame materialised at his feet. Similar reflexes came into play on his part, hands flying up, a single word marking his spell, before channeling its protective energies around her spell. The power in the spell threatened to burst the bubble that protected both him and the marble ground, and for the first time in a very long while, he had to focus, straining to keep the rampant magical energies from shattering the shield like an egg. He held it in place for a few moments, before dissipating it harmlessly, a small bead of sweat upon his brow from the exertion. A few moments later, the blade clattered to the floor, having completed the skyward arc, landing in the middle of the hall.

If this is your idea of being able to 'sort of' use magic, I shudder to think what mastery is.

His hand went to his brow, before he looked at it, seeing the tiny drip, noting it, and raising an eyebrow, before looking at her. It seemed more than convincing now. She must be related in some way. The odds of her not were astronomical. Tall, slender, phenomenally capable with magic. He contemplated this for a moment. It was an... Unusual realisation. A sister... After so much loss, something gained.

It would appear the same blood runs through our veins Evelynn. As you had said. My apologies for doubting you, but I had never stopped to contemplate the idea. I must commend your magical abilities. That is the first time in several years I have had to exert myself in any sort of training exercise. It's... Refreshing.

He nodded once, both in approval and in recognition. He was, once again, confused, this time, pleasantly so. What did one say when you found that you have a sister? One as talented, and tall, as you were? And one clearly with something of a narrow view of the world. He thought for a moment, temporarily, his fury at Nairore and Merik abated, giving way to this new and joyous discovery.

I believe, Evelynn, that we can certainly accommodate someone of your talents. It would be pleasing to tutor someone who shares much the same gift as I do. Even if yours is a little... Explosive...

A small smile, a rarity, but it was combination of amusement at her proclamation of being a mediocre magician, the discovery that she was as talented as he was, and the very fact that her magic was somewhat... Unstable.

[Evelynn]

Though she didn't realize it, her variety of magic had a serious benefit; she didn't have to focus to keep it active. Eve's spells were those of action and reaction; all it took was a passing though and a moment of concentration, and bam, something usually exploded. It was good for her, really; she had the attention span of a fly with ADHD. Well, maybe not quite that drastic, but it was still pretty bad.

She waved a hand, slightly embarrassed. "Truly, I am not so skilled as all that. It was a fluke, surely. I am glad you believe me, though!" She brightened up considerably, her hands clasping together around her staff. She had a brother! Well, they'd been siblings since Evelynn was born, but now they knew each other and knew that they were brother and sister. It was wonderful, just glorious!

... Oh, right. Explosions. Eve grinned a little sheepishly, twisting her staff in her hands. "You are alright, I hope? When I react like that, sometimes people get hurt, though I don't know how. It's just flashy, no?"

She paused, seeing Zenethil's small smile, and her grin burst into a full-out, sunshine-from-behind-the-clouds smile, and she flung herself forward, her slender arms wrapping around his neck in a tight, clingy hug, despite the immense armor that blocked her way.

[Zenethil]

Either she was modest, or their parents were equally as magically adept. He shook his head in disbelief, having recognised and praised her obvious talent. She did seem more than happy that he had accepted her explanation of her being his sister. He'd seen stranger things over the past couple of days. Treachery turned to reconciliation, Kings brought to heel by those they thought had dominated. A sister from his parents he never knew? Completely reasonable by comparison.

As your brother, and your future Captain at Arms, I can tell you now that magic is never a fluke. The energies that you bring to bear cannot be controlled by random chance. The odds are astronomical.

The phrase 'as your brother' sounded odd, but strangely pleasing. Like something you had lost, forgotten about, and rediscovered, presented to you by a childhood friend you'd not seen for a long time. It made him smile a little wider, before listening to her again. Was he alright? He smirked a little, a very unusual expression upon his face. He was, without boasting, the best defensive caster in the Knights, if not in Hyrule. He waved her off.

I am perfectly well. Better than well in fact. Your arrival has given me cause to smile for the first time in several days.

His smile, however, turned to a somewhat confused, bewildered, and generally perplexed expression, as she first smiled so wide and so radiantly, he thought he might go blind at the sight, before she enveloped him in a hug that was tight enough to be considered an attack, were she larger. He was forced back a few step by her vigourous gesture of affection. He returned the hug, gingerly, not really sure what he was supposed to do.

I think you must have taken after the other parent than I did.