New chapter! Just back a few days ago from a spontaneous beach vacation to Galveston Island, TX. We had such an awesome time! Traveling gives you a bit of fearlessness, perhaps that's why Link is so brave in all the games haha.

Thanks to RandomButLoved, Nintendoborn, and hongyi7350 for your reviews!

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The Third Ritual

Chapter VIII

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Link could see a great deal of Hyrule from the crest of the hill they were camping on. Hyrule Field rolled out like a great green carpet, dotted with trees and rivers. Mountains created a jagged horizon line in the distance. The castle was far away now, merely a shimmering gray form without detail. A few miles away there was a small town visible. Zelda hadn't wanted to spend the night there, though. It would have been a big production to have the royal couple come looking for an inn with their huge Gerudo companion. Link was glad they were camping in the wild. He much preferred it.

The three of them were on their way to find the meeting place between Lilith and Jasper. They had been on the road for a day now, traveling on three horses. They were dressed for hard travel and were armed heavily, ready for anything that might come their way. Acroff was supposed to have accompanied them, but that plan ended within a minute of leaving the inner castle gate. While riding his horse his Demon Staff had shot off a burst of magic. It had been strapped to his back at the time, and the recoil threw him from the horse and sent the animal running off in a panic. The magic had spiraled upwards and smashed a castle window, raining glass down upon their heads. Given that this was a stealth mission, all it took was a heated stare from Ganondorf for Acroff to sulk back inside the castle.

The sun was starting to set now, filling the sky with the fiery, dark colors of an ending autumn. Making their camp amongst a circle of boulders, Zelda quickly got a fire going so they could cook a couple of rabbits they'd hunted.

"I can't believe I didn't notice before," the Queen huffed, leaning back against a rock with her bow in her hands. "It's cracked! Cracked! I've had this since the middle of the Rebellion. And for it to crack while hunting a rabbit, of all things. It could have at least gone out in a blaze of glory during battle."

Link gave her a sympathetic smile. It was easy to get emotionally attached to weapons, particularly ones that had saved their lives many times. He wouldn't know what to do if he ever lost the Master Sword. "I'm sorry, love. We'll build you a new one once we get back to the castle."

"What's the plan tomorrow?" Ganon asked, laying his huge broadsword on the grass beside him. "Do we have a good sense of where we're going? It may take us weeks to get back to the castle if we get lost in the mountains."

Zelda held up the map that had been in Lilith's possessions. "Well there's no location names on here, but there are two rivers and a specific pattern of mountain peaks. I know where the rivers are in the mountains, if we're able to find one that will be a good lead to follow." She sighed heavily. "We have no way of knowing when exactly Lilith and Jasper were supposed to meet. He may be long gone by the time we arrive."

Ganon grunted. "He can't be too far if the next line of the Ritual talks about killing one of us."

"Does it, though?" Link questioned. "It just says Goddesses' Fool. Are we so sure that means us? Just because Lilith tried to kill us doesn't mean it was directly connected. This Ritual is written purposefully vague so others can't interpret it."

"Definitely vague," the Gerudo agreed, turning the meat over the fire. "I'm not sure I understand the initial part of it, either. 'Six must be done to open the Gate.' Six what?"

Zelda sat up on her knees, unrolling the parchment. "I'm so glad you asked, I've been meaning to talk to you two about this. I've been studying that part of the Ritual trying to determine what the numbers mean. It talks about seven things being destroyed and eight things being killed. And then I realized it ties directly in with the lines below it! Look, the six that must be done to open some gate is referring to the six original lines of the Ritual. It's saying all six must be accomplished to get the end result! And I believe it's referring to the same six lines when it says 'Six must be done to break the seal."

"That makes sense," Link agreed.

The young woman continued, "Now it says 'Eight to kill. The original part of the Ritual mentions eight deaths. Six children, one Goddesses' Fool, and then killing whatever was 'once dead', whatever that means. The 'Seven to destroy' throws me off. I've tried to count up seven things that are mentioned. There are, indeed, six amulets and one staff included. Perhaps those seven things get destroyed as part of the final Ritual?"

Link nodded. "The writing you translated in the desert hideout did mention requiring the staff to complete everything. Maybe the completion specifically means destroying it."

Zelda sat back, rubbing her forehead. "It's a lot to think about. There are so many moving pieces here. I may have the Triforce of Wisdom, but I feel less and less wise the more we deal with this."

Ganon pursed his lips, contemplating a moment before saying, "I'm not very good at comforting distraught individuals. But if it's any help I've found that the people who say with certainty that they are wise are the ones that are not."

Link leaned over to his wife, wrapping his arm around her. She was stressed, he could tell even without their bond. She was having her attention dragged in two different directions. Even though Rosaria was settled and in charge, he knew she worried if she had done the right thing. Trying to put her at ease, he said, "Let's just focus on finding Jasper's location first. We may not need to worry about the rest of the Ritual if we capture him. Then Rosaria can go back home and Hyrule can be fully in your hands again."

This didn't seem to make her feel better. "I doubt Impa would like that. Did you notice the way she looked at my cousin? It was like she was this perfect ruler. I don't understand how Rosaria's people in Solea can feel safe under her watch. She can't even fight! At least I can go out and meet our foe head on in battle."

Ganon nodded approvingly. "The Gerudo value strength in their leaders. Weakness is not respected."

"Impa can't be that upset with you," Link reasoned. "She said she'll help you find the Order of Shadows, after all."

"That does make me happy, but I can't help but feel she was just trying to placate me."

Ganondorf shook his head. "The Gerudo have no respect for placating, either. If we have an issue, we resolve it through battle."

Link couldn't help but smile at that, amused. "Big surprise that diplomacy isn't your strongest quality." He turned to his wife. "Let's not worry anymore. We need to get plenty of sleep tonight so we can travel quickly tomorrow." He pulled the skewer away from the fire, the smell of juicy, roasted meat filling their campsite. Conversation died off as they ate, watching the sun fall below the horizon and darkness creep over Hyrule.

Zelda wondered if Link was right. Perhaps she was worrying too much and stressing too much. This was a situation that definitely needed to be taken seriously, but she needed to think clearly. They had faced seemingly insurmountable challenges while trying to stop Mordecai. And yet they had persevered and been victorious. Why should this time be any different?

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Link got up an hour before dawn. He didn't like to see his wife so upset, and had thought of something that might cheer her up. He was going to travel back to the town they'd passed and buy her a new bow. It would be a pleasant surprise for her in the morning, plus she needed an adequate bow to defend herself with if they got into battle. He opted not to take his horse; that would make too much noise.

He left most of his gear behind and just strapped on the Master Sword. Making his way stealthily down the steep slopes of the hill, his breath came out in a cloud before him. He reached up and laced the collar of his black undershirt further up his neck to ward off the cold.

The night was peaceful. He could just see the beginnings of twilight at the edge of the horizon. There was a slight frost on the grass, but it was sure to melt away when the sun came up. Link broke into a jog as he reached flat land. If he was fast enough, he'd make it back to camp not long after Zelda and Ganondorf would be up. He didn't want them to worry, so he'd left a note behind on his travel pack saying he'd stopped down for supplies at the town and would be back shortly.

It took forty minutes for him to reach the town, and by then the sun was about to rise. Clouds had moved in overhead, and most of the lanterns in the village were still lit. He walked down one of the cobble stone streets, looking for a shop that would carry weapons. The townspeople were just starting to stir. He wondered if maybe he was too early for any stores to be officially open. This wasn't Castle Town, after all. Life moved at a slower pace in the countryside. He had just turned down a narrow street between two buildings when he felt eyes behind him. Link paused in his steps. He didn't want to be overly paranoid but he almost could feel malice in the stare. Turning around slowly, he spotted a shadowed figure leaning against one of the buildings, arms crossed.

Link glared at the figure, trying to give off the hint that he wasn't someone a common thief would want to mess with. But when the person spoke, he realized no amount of glaring was going to stop the fight that was about to happen.

"I've been following you three since you left Hyrule Castle," Lilith said. "How lucky am I that finally one of you wandered away?" She stepped forward, coming out of the shadow and into the twilight.

"So you are alive," Link stated. "I thought I saw you in the desert. To be honest, I'm impressed."

Her red lips pulled into a smile. "That was me, yes. Throwing me off a ship isn't going to stop me from being one step ahead of you."

Link looked her over. He was surprised she wasn't limping or hunched. She had suffered a deep stab to the abdomen, after all. She must have had help nearby to be able to recover so quickly. Her brown hair was pulled back into a high ponytail. She still wore the same black and red clothes she'd had on from the ship. Lilith was just as pretty as ever, but something seemed . . . wrong. She was pale and thinner, her bones protruding more under her skin. There were dark circles around her eyes. Perhaps she wasn't limping or hunched, but she definitely was not her normal self. The blood loss had taken a toll on her. As he had suspected, she hadn't given herself enough time to heal. That gave him more confidence. She wouldn't be as much of a challenge this time around.

Link held out his hands. "So, what do you want, then? We're alone now, you can tell me the truth about who you are."

Her grin stretched further. "I will. But first-" Like a strike of lightning the axe head of her weapon came sailing at him, the chain it was attached to stretching far from her hand.

The young man jumped back, allowing the weapon to sail past a few inches from his chest. He reached back and grabbed the Master Sword and then darted forward in one fluid movement. He stabbed at her chest and she swiveled away. Link wasn't going to let up and followed that quickly by a slash at her neck. Lilith grabbed the base of her axe and blocked his attack, using it as both a close-range and long-range weapon.

Vibrations were sent up Link's arms from the strike. He disengaged and then came at her again with multiple attacks. Lilith blocked each one, backing slowly up down the alleyway. There seemed to be something peculiar about the way she was maneuvering her weapon to block. It took the Hero a moment to realize she was slowly looping the chain around in an attempt to catch his ankle. He wasn't going to let that happen. After one more strike he flipped backwards, arms out to keep his balance, and landed a few feet away.

Lilith swung her axe around and sent it sailing at him. He slid back against one wall. As the weapon sailed past she tugged on the chain and it came back towards her, making an arc for him. Link somersaulted underneath as it slammed into the wall, creating a large crack on the surface.

The woman didn't hesitate. Running closer she used the chain to pull the axe free and sent it at her opponent again. Link took a step back, tripping slightly on the uneven stones of the road. Using the momentary hesitation, she rolled behind him and then slashed vertically at his back. He was faster, though, and spun around on the balls of his feet, taking a quick step back to avoid the attack. He then rebounded, flanking her and throwing a fast punch at her face with his free hand. She lifted her forearm, blocking, but the strength in his attack sent her stumbling back.

Not wanting to let up, Link jumped forward to attack again. But Lilith grabbed ahold of the base of her axe and swung it twice, hoping to hit him in his charge. The Hero slid to a stop and brought the Master Sword up, blocking both attacks with loud clangs.

The young woman turned and cast her axe at the roof of a nearby building. It stuck and she used that to vault herself up on top. She smiled wickedly down at Link, the wind blowing her ponytail. They regarded each other for a moment. Link's heart was pounding from the fight. Lilith was much more difficult than he'd anticipated. Her blood loss wasn't slowing her down at all. She began to walk along the roof, her weapon swaying in one hand, smiling. The blonde kept pace with her on the ground, watching for her next move. Her brown eyes glanced further ahead into the village. He frowned, looking in that direction, but couldn't see anything past the alleyways. But as he drew his focus away from the fight he could hear the nervous voices of villagers. He looked back up at Lilith and her smile stretched across her face, the swinging of her weapon picking up pace.

Realizing what she was planning, Link made a sprint for the open streets of the town. He had to take two more turns before he burst into the town square, multiple people staring up in fear at the woman on the roof. Lilith was on his blind side, so he had to turn his head fully to be able to see her axe swing down in a huge arc, aiming for an old man close to the building.

"No!" Link shouted, launching himself forward and shoving the man out of the way. He felt a burning slice across his shoulder blades as he fell, rolled over, and then got back to his feet. The elderly man had toppled over but was not hurt, others rushing over to help him.

Lilith's axe swung around again, this time aiming for a child. The Hero jumped towards the chain and swung the Master Sword down hard. It pulled the chain to the ground and in turn stopped the axe head's momentum. It bounced back towards Link but he pulled his head out of the way, letting it sail past and land in the dirt.

Panic had erupted in the town now, the villagers running. Some armed themselves with swords they didn't even know how to hold properly, staying on the outskirts of the town square.

"Stay back!" Link shouted to them as Lilith snarled and hopped down to the ground, bringing her weapon back to her.

The brunette ran up to the Hero and swung her axe around at the same time he went in to hit her with the blunt hilt of his sword. Lilith ducked underneath and Link shifted his momentum but not quite fast enough. The tip of the axe grazed his side, drawing a thin line of blood.

The young woman turned, less than a foot from her opponent. She shoved her knee towards him. But her attack was too quick and unsteady. Link used this against her and pulled himself back just enough that her knee missed, going up too high and throwing her off-balance. The Hero slashed at her with his sword, grazing her middle and cutting through her thick clothes. Link then spun around in a circle, his weapon coming in an arc at her neck. She side-stepped and attempted to run from these close-quarters but he grabbed her arm and gave a round house kick to her stomach.

Stumbling back, Lilith grabbed a small child that was fleeing and threw him at the Hero. Link caught the boy with one arm and twisted, depositing him behind. As he turned back around Lilith already had her axe raised high overhead, coming down for the killing blow. Link only had a split second to make a decision. He could attempt to block or dodge, risking still getting hit. But with her weapon lifted so high, her torso was vulnerable. Only the fastest of strikes could beat her attack. It was an opportunity most warriors wouldn't take. But Link knew he could do it.

As her axe came rushing down towards his head he surged forward in a blur of movement and pierced her through. The Master Sword came all the way out the other side of her body, passing straight through her chest.

There was a pause. Link looked up at her, ready to be certain that he had struck a killing blow this time. But instead of seeing the light fade from her eyes, he saw her smirking down at him, still holding the axe above her. Confused, Link looked to where his blade had come out her back and saw there was no blood on it. His single eye widened in shock as he looked back up at her.

"I'm sorry, Hero," she said, "but you can't kill what is already dead." Then the blunt end of her weapon came down and his world went black.

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The noise of screaming woke Zelda up. It was muffled, as if from a great distance, but as soon as she realized what the sound was she sat upright, alert.

"What the hell?" Ganon asked, waking up as well.

The first thing Zelda noticed was Link was gone, but most of his belongings were still here. A line of gray smoke was curling into the sky. The Queen jumped to her feet, rushing over to the edge of the hill crest they were on. She could see a village burning far below. "Ganon! We have to help them."

"Where is Link?" the Gerudo asked, as he grabbed his weapons and mounted his horse.

"Maybe he's already there?" Zelda wasn't sure what to think about her husband missing. Surely he wouldn't have gone to help without waking her up?

She mounted her horse as well they both sped back the way they had come. As the cold wind hit her face, the sun rising up over the horizon, Zelda realized Link's horse had still been there. If he was going to help, why would he go on foot?

Link? She called out through the bond. But there was no response, and the bond was silent. He was alive, but not responsive. Unconscious, maybe? Panic was staring to set in. They reached solid ground and flew across the plains, aiming for the village. The smell of smoke got stronger, the screams of the villagers louder.

It seemed to take forever to reach the town, although Zelda knew her horse had rarely run faster. She was off before the animal had even fully stopped, Ganondorf following suit. It was chaos in the town. Everyone was running to help wounded or fetch water. The Gerudo stepped immediately in, grabbing two of the largest buckets and carrying a load of water that would have taken four people all by himself.

As Zelda jogged towards the town center, looking for wounded she could help, a man dropped into a bow before her. "My Queen! You are too late! She took him. I am so sorry!"

Zelda stopped, frowning. "What? Who?"

The man looked up and she could see he was openly weeping, his face smeared with ash. "Your husband! Lord Link! He fought with a vicious woman that wielded an axe on a chain. She had brown hair and was young."

Lilith. Emotion overcame Zelda, her eyes burning not only from the smoke. "How?! Which way did she go?"

The man pointed towards the mountains. "She left on a horse a half hour ago. He was protecting us when she knocked him out. We tried to stop her from getting away. In retaliation she did this."

Zelda stared in horror at the town now, realizing the pattern of the damage. Large slices ran across walls. Lanterns had been smashed on the grass to cause the flames. And some of the people she had originally thought were only wounded were dead. Men, women, and children all with deep slices across their torsos and throats. One had even been struck on the head in an image nearly too gruesome to look upon.

Zelda started towards her horse, ready to give chase, but the villager grabbed her arm. "My Lady, you can't kill her!"

She didn't have time to assure anyone of her safety. She pulled her arm free and took a few more steps, saying, "I will be fine."

"No, you don't understand! You can't kill her! Your husband stabbed her through the heart and she didn't even bleed!"

This stopped Zelda in her tracks. She whipped around, staring at him in shock. Then she said, "I only mean to get my husband back, thank you for your warning, sir." She turned and hurried towards Ganondorf. If Lilith could not be killed, the Queen would need extra help to wrestle Link from her. "Ganon! Lilith took Link. She went this way on horseback." She pointed towards the mountains, gray clouds hanging low over them. "I need your help."

The large Gerudo paused, glancing at the fires that had been reduced to smolders now. At his hesitation the villagers encouraged them to go, shouting, "She went that way!" "She took Lord Link!" "He saved my child!"

The two ran over to their horses, mounting them once again. Zelda only had a second to assure the townspeople they would be back to help before they took off across the field. The thunder of hooves was the only sound the Queen could hear as she leaned forward in the saddle, all her attention focused on the mountains. It was further west than the direction she, Link, and Ganon had been heading in. She couldn't see any lone rider up ahead; a half hour could be a significant time frame on a fast horse.

The two didn't speak as they neared the peaks. Their horses didn't stop, panting but driven by the urgency in their owners. Zelda's hair whipped back from her face in the wind, and Ganon's black cloak rippled behind him like a shadow. The ground below them began to rise as they climbed into the mountains. They slowed their pace but not by much, urging their mounts to weave between boulders and scale slopes. Zelda thought she could see where a horse had trodden through earlier in the scuffed up grass and dirt. But she didn't want to rely solely on that. If they didn't find any good leads soon, they would need to reach a higher peak and get a look at the area. As much as panic was making her want to race around the mountains screaming for her husband, she knew a calmer approach would prevail.

Just as Zelda was pushing her horse to gallop around a boulder the ground erupted before them. Her horse reared back with a frightened noise and threw her off. She hit the ground hard, knocking the breath from her lungs, and rolled a few feet before getting stuck in a thorny brush.

She heard Ganondorf swear and looked up, blinking dirt from her eyes. What had burst from the ground was a stalfos, a human skeleton that could move about as if alive. They were not very common in Hyrule, and had only been seen at night. Which was curious why, during early morning, two more suddenly burst from the ground, attacking the large Gerudo and the horses.

Zelda pulled herself from the brush, thorns scratching her skin, and drew her daggers. The stalfos were armed with short, rusted swords. She rushed the one that was attacking her horse, quickly disarming it and then kicking off its head. Ganondorf's broad sword chopped another in two, the bones tumbling down the slopes behind them. The third stalfos rushed at Zelda, swinging wildly. She ducked under its strike and did a sharp kick up, dislodging its skull and sending it flying through the air. Ganondorf caught it and crushed it between his two large hands.

Breathing heavily, the young woman looked around, making sure they were safe. No more enemies appeared, the bones laying motionless now. She looked at the Gerudo, frowning. "Since when do stalfos come out during the day?"

He shook his head. "Never."

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It was pain that first brought Link into consciousness. His chest, his stomach, his arms . . . sharp pain like something was digging into his skin. He couldn't seem to get control over his body. His mind wouldn't focus, noises and smells were difficult to understand, and he couldn't even open his eyes. There was a terrible taste in his mouth. Attempting to move his tongue brought the realization that he was gagged, a cloth wedged deep between his teeth and tied around the back of his head. It was from this that the terrible taste was emanating.

Drugged. I've been drugged, he thought.

He could hear voices, sharper now. A man and a woman.

"I didn't want him, I wanted the Queen," the man said.

"He will be even better, I promise!" Lilith, he realized. "He was the only one that split from the group. Besides, he's considered a hero in Hyrule. His death will bring the people to their knees and break the Queen's heart. You'll be taking out two Triforce holders with one kill."

"What do you know about the third?"

"A big Gerudo. A giant of a man. He's a good fighter but I'm certain I can deal with him if I have to."

Link was starting to get the feeling back in his body. He was tied against a thick pole, wider than him. Ropes were wrapped tightly around his torso, tight enough to keep him upright even when he was unconscious. It was from here all the pain was originating. They were so tight it was hard to breath. His hands were bound behind the pole, his fingers numb from the tightness of the ropes. He slowly got his feet underneath him, alleviating some of the pressure of his bindings.

"He's awake," Lilith said.

"Damn, that didn't last as long as I had hoped," the man replied. "Oh well, we'll make this quick."

Link opened his eyes, blinking to focus them. The first thing he noticed was that his eye binding was gone. He had the feeling it was now serving as his gag. The Master Sword was on the ground several feet away. He was in a small clearing, jagged mountain slopes rising up all around in a circle. It couldn't have been more than twenty feet in diameter. Directly opposite of him there was a break in the cliffs that became a sheer drop to the ocean. He could hear the waves crashing against rock far below, and even could see the gray water out towards the horizon line. Rain clouds hung low overhead, the wind blowing in a storm.

"You woke up faster than we'd planned," Lilith said with a small laugh. "Perhaps you really are as heroic as everyone seems to think."

Link glared at her. She was leaning against a wood table, her ponytail lashing about in the wind. His glare moved to the man beside her. He was older, maybe in his fifties, bald with green eyes. He was wearing black robes. They looked ceremonial, with red symbols sewn into the hems, although the edges were tattered from much use. Upon further examination Link realized the symbols were from the same cult language they had found in the desert. The man's face was plain, and would have been uninteresting if not for the same language tattooed in straight lines that ran from the base of his skull, up over his head, past his eyes, and down his throat.

"Link," the man said, "My name is Jasper. Although I suppose you already know that, Lilith tells me you and your friends were looking for me."

The young man tried to talk, even through the gag, but the drugs made his tongue feel thick and his body heavy.

"I really have nothing against you personally," Jasper continued, "but the Ritual commands I kill you and so, well, that is why you're here. I'm sure you've figured it out." He picked up a dagger from the table, its blade thin and curvy.

The blonde looked over the table now. The staff from the desert was lying across it, as well as black jars filled with different colored powders and vials of what looked a lot like blood. This drew his attention to the red splotches over the ground that also looked like blood. As he examined the area more he saw the source of it all. Skulls sat around the ground, looking freshly cleaned. Many people had been killed here not long ago, perhaps a month or two. There was more evidence of black sorcery. Full skeletons had been nailed to the rocky walls, as if that was how the victims had died. Drawings similar to what had been found in the desert coated the rock, painted with blood as well. It made him feel sick, and he couldn't help but dry heave into his gag.

Jasper looked around as well. "Yes, sorry about the mess. My past experiments. I didn't think I needed to follow the Ritual line by line. But despite my efforts nothing happened. This is deep magic. I am devoted to it now and will not deviate from its path." He grabbed various powders from the table and began to coat the dagger with them.

Link twisted his hands in their bindings, trying to free them. The rope was so tight, and the drugs in his system weren't making things easier.

Lilith snickered, "That's a definitive scar you have there, Link. A 'T'? Who did that to you?"

"Mordecai," Jasper answered, still working on the weapon. At Link's surprised expression the man said, "I knew him, too. I was part of an ancient cult that appreciated a different approach to magic. We weren't afraid to explore things. To try new spells. To get in touch with . . . deeper forces in this world. But because of that we were persecuted and hunted down. I don't think Mordecai hated us so much as he feared our power. I was the last that tried to keep our beliefs alive. Instead of killing me, Mordecai wanted me to bear the punishment of my entire group. So I was sent to the Realm of Eternal Darkness."

Link was shocked at what he was hearing. Even as he struggled with the ropes around his wrists, he couldn't help the expression that crossed his face.

A smile ghosted over Jasper's. "Ah, so you've been there, too? You are an interesting man, Link. I don't remember you there, it must have been brief. Did you get let out like I did? When Mordecai was killed and the Sword of Spirits destroyed, many of us were released."

Lilith shook her head. "From what I've heard, he is the one who killed Mordecai."

Jasper's eyebrows rose, a small smile on his face. "Truly? He's so young. I am impressed. I suppose I have you to thank for my release, then."

Link felt his stomach sink. After the Sword of Spirits had been destroyed, everyone Mordecai had imprisoned in the Realm with its power was freed. The majority had been harmless. A few, however, had been criminals that had stirred up some trouble and were caught and held to trial. Jasper must have gone without notice.

"As soon as I got out," the man continued, putting away the powders. "I returned to my mission. To see the Ritual to completion. The last thing left of my culture. The one end goal we had all strived for. I will not let my brethren's death be in vain. I will avenge them by completing our cause." He reached for one of the vials filled with blood and dribbled it over the dagger. "That is my duty now, as the last necromancer."

It felt like the ground had dropped from beneath Link. A necromancer. A sorcerer of death. It made sense now. The morbid rituals drawn in the desert cave weren't just about worshipping death. They were about a mastery of it. And Lilith . . .

The woman in question smiled widely at his reaction. "That's right. You did kill me on the ship, Link. When I washed ashore my master found me and brought me back. I think I still look pretty good, don't you?" Her grin turned manic. "I was lost in my life, without purpose, when I met Jasper. He's given me a new path."

Jasper nodded. "You have been irreplaceable, Lilith. Now please, get rid of the sword." As she headed towards the Master Sword, Jasper began to chant.

"Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte
Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte
Jiak faeal esto shal ul nomine et ul necromanceruk
Jiak dar esto ukacrifice julavo sayida Deaavh
Tahsul esto sanctus ukoul
íillaa su depavhuk
Nih ma liwo ul deae' dominium uuk
Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte"

Jasper was approaching him, repeating the chant over and over. Something wrong was happening. Link could feel it. Black magic was emanating from the dagger, from the staff, from the necromancer. It was making him feel sick. He started openly struggling now, thrashing against his bindings.

Lilith grabbed the Master Sword, and smoke rose from her hands where the blade was burning her. But she appeared not to feel it and tossed the sword over the cliff and into the ocean. Jasper kept slowly approaching the Hero, the dagger brandished, his eyes focused on Link's throat as he muttered the chant over and over.

"Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte
Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte"

Link recognized that line from the Ritual. Death shall come to the Goddesses' fool. He wrung his hands, his fingers numb but still trying to get the ropes off. The drugs and the black magic were making him feel so sick. His stomach was turning and his head felt dizzy. He couldn't even reach through the bond with Zelda to call for her help. He slowly got one finger wedged under a rope, and he pulled at it to try and loosen the knot.

"Jiak faeal esto shal ul nomine et ul necromanceruk
Jiak dar esto ukacrifice julavo sayida Deaavh"

Lilith blew him a kiss and started laughing, throwing her head back. Her red lips looked more like blood than they ever had before.

"Tahsul esto sanctus ukoul íillaa su depavhuk
Nih ma liwo ul deae' dominium uuk"

Jasper was right before him now, the dagger raised. Link desperately pulled at the ropes, his heart pounding so hard that it rung in his pointed ears. He wasn't even aware that he was biting down on his gag, the muscles in his jaw flexing. His eyes were started to water, the air seemed to chill around the dagger and it felt like a cold burn on his face. Jasper reached up and grabbed ahold of the black collar of his shirt he'd laced up to protect him from the cold that morning. He tore it open, the strings snapping easily to make his throat accessible.

"Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte"

A strangled noise of frustration escaped Link as he yanked at his bindings. He thought he could feel the ropes around his wrists loosening. It was just a matter of getting them loose in time. The dagger was raised even with his throat, and through the panic and the sickness and the haze, Link heard a soft, possibly female, voice say, "It is okay, do not fear."

He looked back and forth between Jasper and Lilith, but neither seemed to have heard it. He pulled at his wrists some more, sure he was scraping the skin raw but unable to feel it. Jasper's eyes were less than a foot away, staring into Link's own.

The voice spoke again, "It is okay, Link. Do not fight it. You are protected. You are our warrior." The young man hesitated, confused. And suddenly he could feel the Triforce piece on his hand burning, power surging in it. He tried to harness it, having no idea how and being too drugged to focus, but he tried anyway. Panic seized him again as he couldn't grasp the power. He wasn't afraid of the pain the dagger would bring. And he wasn't afraid to die. But he couldn't bear the thought of the heartbreak Zelda would endure. His wife needed him. And so did Hyrule. He gave another pull at the ropes when the voice came again, shouting now, "Do not fight! Let him believe he has defeated you. Soon, he will fear you."

And so Link stopped fighting. He didn't know what was going to happen to him, but he trusted his Triforce. A part of him wondered if the drugs were making him hear things and if he was slowly going crazy, but there was nothing to do about it now. He had hesitated too long. He glared into Jasper's eyes as the dagger was pressed against the skin of his throat. There was a flash of pain, and then his world went black.

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Ganondorf was standing on a cliff ledge, overlooking the dreary gray-green expanse of the mountains to try and find a lead when Zelda collapsed beside him. Alarmed he turned towards her, asking, "Zelda, are you-"

Her blue eyes rolled back in her head and she started convulsing. Words he didn't understand erupted from her lips in a rush. "Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte. Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte. Jiak faeal esto shal ul nomine et ul necromanceruk. Jiak dar esto ukacrifice julavo sayida Deaavh."

Ganon bent down, wrapping his arm under her back. "Zelda! Zelda, what is wrong?!"

The two horses began to stamp and whinny in fear, shaking their heads and backing away from the Queen. Her Triforce piece flared to life on the back of her hand, lighting up her sweaty and dirty face. "Tahsul esto sanctus ukoul íillaa su depavhuk. Nih ma liwo ul deae' dominium uuk."

The Gerudo shook her, barely aware that is own Triforce piece was flickering to life. He could feel that something was wrong. Something was happening to Link. He'd never experienced this bond Zelda and the Hero said they had, the two somehow connected through their Triforce pieces. But the feeling now was unmistakable. "Zelda, focus! What is happening?"

She convulsed once more, spitting out, "Deaavh liwo avo ul deae' stulte," before both hands reached up to clasp her throat. She screamed in agony, her voice echoing around the mountains.

Ganon grabbed his broadsword. "Sorry, Zelda." He then hit her in the head with the hilt, knocking her unconscious.

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Jasper stood at the edge of the cliff face, staring hard out at the ocean. It was angry and gray, the sky darkening in the distance as a storm moved closer. He was absently wiping the blood off his hand, his mind on the next task. The last month had been productive, but he would need to push forward even faster. He wasn't sure how Hyrule would react to Link's death. He had been in the Realm too long, missed out on too much to really judge the state of the country now. The best thing was to push ahead with the rest of the lines before Hyrule could get organized and retaliate.

Smoke drifted past him from where Lilith was burning Link's body. After that he would have her burn all other traces of magic in this clearing. It was best not to accidentally leave any leads behind. Especially after Lilith's belongings she'd left on the ship had been searched. This spot was no longer safe.

He had killed the six children, which in the Ritual represented the death of innocence. Then Lilith had obtained the staff of the first necromancer. He would need it to complete the final lines. Now he had killed one of the Triforce holders. Next was 'Six charms mark the end of mortal rule.' He already knew from his time in the cult what that line was referring to. He needed six royal amulets from six dead kings. Destroying them would be part of the final process.

Jasper glanced back at Lilith as she now stowed away his powders and vials and other instruments of magic. Her rise from the grave had been one of his better efforts, he had to admit. She was pale and bony, but you couldn't tell her from the living otherwise. An undead creation, the first of this quality. She would be even more useful now that she couldn't be killed. Time would tell how well her body held up.

"Lilith," he said, turning to her.

"Yes, Master?"

"Let's burn the rest of the things here and leave. This is no longer a safe location. We only need to be this far north for one more line of the Ritual, anyway. Then we can move on."

She smiled and nodded, getting to work quickly.

Jasper glanced to where Link had been tied to the pole. All that was left was blackened bones now. He hadn't liked the way Link had looked at him right before death. So much fire in his eyes. No fear at all. He had almost thought the Hero had miraculously escaped his ropes and was going to attack him. But even someone supposedly sent by the goddesses was mortal, in the end. He was glad now that Lilith had brought him Hyrule's Hero. He would have been a nuisance later on. The bones twitched, catching his attention again. Then they dissolved into ash, falling to the ground and leaving no trace of the body that had been there. Jasper frowned. That was . . . unusual. But no one had ever done this Ritual before. Perhaps that was what happened after the goddesses' fool was killed.

After Lilith lit the rest of the clearing on fire the two of them left, heading back into the mountains and preparing for the next line's completion.

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Reviews fill my heart with rainbows! Anyone else here beat Breath of the Wild as well?