Sacrifice
Chapter One: Last Words and Beginning Rites
4. July. 2005
l2set


I have tried prayer, but nothing seems to work. There is no answer being sent to me. Instead, I continue to do my work, for my master. I search through graves and gather Poes; admittedly, I even steal from the dead. I cannot believe in the sanctity of death, not when so much of it all ready surrounds me. While I search the fields and tombstones, I also search the skies , the heavens, for my destiny; I could not have been made to destroy evil, only to be cast aside like a wandering soul so easily.

My prayers may not be heard, simply because I refuse to seek out a Temple. My body dares not enter such a place of innocents, not with its very pores riddled with filth from the men and women I have lain with for a fifty rupee piece. I am not pure enough to go into the Temple of Time or even fathom finding others to call upon the Goddess Din, Farore or Naryu. I doubt they would listen anyway.

"Link, my child," Achachak, my master, calls. I enter into the home silently and go to my knees at his feet. I drop my eyes and face from his gaze. I know my place and I know even better than to dispute what I am told to do. "There is someone here, seeking you."

"Master?"

"He waits at the Temple. Go now. The dead wait for the night." I nod and leave Achachak behind me. Who would meet me at the Temple? Even as obedient as I am, I refuse to pleasure someone inside a sacred place. I do not want my Goddesses to spite me; I have caused them enough damage.

I wonder through the ReDead in the town. They creep me out with those stares and movements. I do, though, move time to be on my side, calling the sun with Ocarina. It is one of the few things that I have kept with me through my life; it has saved me more than once with these zombies.

"So, it is you. The Hero of Time. Link, the Hylian, of the Kokiri Forest. We meet at last." I climb the stairs towards the Temple slowly. I do not look up as the customer calls out to me. He does say curious things though, speaking of me in such language at the Gate of the Goddesses; I wonder if he works for the Evil King.

"I am Link. While most of what you said is true, I do hardly believe that I can be anyone's hero. I have failed too many," I reply, reaching the next flight of stairs near the door; the customer laughs, but I still dare not lift my head.

"Of course you have failed many. You have cast out Navi, refused to enter the Temple and live in utter filth. But you do so out of innocence, kindness and total stupidity. Has no one called to you? Has no one taught you a damn thing?" I shake my head, a smile forming on my face. He calls me the naive one.

"Has no one taught you nothing? Gannondorf has killed the Royal Family; he has taken the throne and has infiltrated the Sacred Realm. Even if I was the Hero, there is nothing for me to do. I cannot stop his power."

"Are you out of your mind? He is missing a key piece here. The King of Evil cannot take the Master Sword. That is reserved for you and only you. Trust me, others have tried and failed," He spits out and I risk a glance at him; the customer gives me a strange glance, half-angry and half-soft.

"How do you know that I can take the sword? I am nothing."

"By the names of Din, Farore and Naryu - it was you and you alone who defeated Gohma, King Dodongo and Barinade! It was you who accomplished what we all deemed impossible. You gathered the stones and lived. Gannondorf attacked you with black magic and you lived. All he took were the stones and your dignity. Redeem it!" He shouts and I shake my head.

"I hope that I am getting a good cut from all of this. He sets me up with a crazy," I say, mostly to myself. I glance back up to him. "I am not meant for that life. It is over now. Leave me be." I begin to walk away when the fool speaks again.

"Tell me that you did not enjoy it." I turn around at his comment. "Tell me that you do not wish that you kept going. Tell me that you are not curious."

"I . . . " I put my head down and let my sentence drift away. I cannot lie, especially not on the steps of the Temple. I find, despite my displeasure, the customer has found something I cannot refuse loving. "I do miss it."

"Would you like to try again?" He asks and I so want to say yes. But that would be too good to be true. I can never redeem myself. Not in my eyes, never in my eyes. "She awaits you."

"Zelda?"

"No. Someone that you know better." He winks at me and tugs on his blonde hair.

"Saria . . . " I whisper, her name slipping between my lips into the air. I have not said her name out loud in years. I have not allowed myself that pleasure.

"Mm. And this girl, Navi. C'mon, Link. It is your time to fulfill your duty as - "

"The Sacrifice," I finish and follow the man into the Temple of Time.


end chapter one.