Chapter 9
Their Blessing: Darunia and Impa
I awoke before Link did the next morning. During the night, I had been driven to pretty much the very border of the bed while Link lay next to me with arms and legs outstretched.
While I was kind of annoyed, I reminded myself that Link had probably never shared a bed with someone before.
I sighed and looked out the window. The sun was just rising; I would normally get up and get to work around this time.
A soft mumble made me turn my attention back to Link, who was just waking up. He looked so cute with his messy hair and his eyes only half open. I leaned over him and gently kissed him on the tip of his nose. „Good morning, Love."
He grinned. „Morning, Rebecca. Did you sleep well?"
„As well as I could considering how little space I had", I quipped, prompting Link to look around.
„Oh no. I'm so sorry."
„It's okay. You'll get used to having someone in your bed." I kissed him again, on his mouth this time, and then sat up. „So, shall we go have some breakfast?"
„Actually, I was planning to stay in bed just a little bit longer and enjoy the first time waking up next to you." Link pulled me down again, looking me in the eyes as my head came to rest on the pillow. „I really like this feeling. It's... peaceful."
„I agree", I whispered and snuggled up to him again.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The sun was already way overhead when we finally got up and dressed. Now that I was well rested, I could finally take a good look at Kakariko, as I had never been there before.
It was a calm, quiet little town. Link had said that many of Hyrule City's residents had fled to Kakariko after Ganondorf took over in that alternate future, and now that I saw the place, I wondered why they did so. There was just something about it that made me feel uneasy, something sinister lurking in the shadows of this seemingly quiet town.. But perhaps I only felt that way because Link had told me of all of the horrible things he had discovered in and around Kakariko during his quest.
So I was quite glad to leave it behind after we had breakfast and started to ascend the stairs leading to the gate of Death Mountain.
Link assured me that the main road up the mountain was, in spite of the mountains intimidating name, generally safe, with only the occasional Red Tektite blocking the path.
The guard at the gate nodded at us as we passed by. And as we hiked up the mountain, I asked:„So... what was Darunia like?"
Link took a moment to answer. „He was... strong. Reliable. But also very friendly. And he loved music and dancing. After I freed Dodongo's Cavern, he declared me a blood brother to the Goron tribe. It's one of the few things that weren't erased."
I took his hand. „So you were very close, then."
„You could say that, yes." Then he stopped, and grabbed me so I wouldn't just walk on. „Wait. Do you hear that? There's a Tektite up ahead. You wait here while I go take care of it."
There was indeed a strange thumping sound, as if something was bouncing up and down. Link grabbed his sword and dashed ahead, around the corner until he was out of view. I just heard him yell and the pitiful final cry of the creature as it died.
Then he returned to me, wiping the slimy transparent blood of the Tektite off of his weapon. „There we go. There don't seem to be any more of them. Uh... try not to look too close as we walk past the Tektite's remains. It's not pretty."
I nodded and held onto him. „Alright."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Link led me past the carcass so quickly that I couldn't even get a chance to look at it. Not that I wanted to. We proceeded up the winding path until we came to the entrance of a cave. Above it, there were a row of small flags, each donning the Triforce. I had thus far only seen this symbol on the uniforms of the royal guards and in the Temple of Time.
Link followed my gaze and explained:„These flags mean that the Gorons are connected to the royal family. The Zora have a Triforce in front of the entrance to their domain as well." Then he led me inside.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
We had barely stepped foot into the cave, when a Goron who had been sitting near the entrance jumped up. „Link! Brother! You're back! Oh it's been so long, everyone is going to be so happy to see you!"
Link smiled at the Goron. „I'm very glad to be back as well. I came to visit Darunia's shrine. I'm planning to get married soon, and I wanted to introduce him to my fiancée."
The Goron nodded. „Oh, that's wonderful news! He would be so happy that you come to visit, and also to meet your intended. You still know where the shrine is, right? It has been almost a decade, after all. Oh, and you should talk to our Link, too! He's our Chief now, you know? He should be at the shrine as well."
„Yes, I remember where the shrine is. And I will be sure to talk to Link."
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
As we walked on, down a staircase leading deeper into the mountain, I turned to Link and raised my eyebrow. „There's a Goron named after you?"
„Yes, he's Darunia's son. He was born a short while after I freed Dodongo's Cavern, right before Darunia disappeared."
We finally arrived at the lowest level, he led me towards the entrance to what seemed to be another cave. We entered it, and found ourselves in a small room, mostly dominated by a massive Goron statue, with a smaller statue and a bowl for offerings in front of that. By the shrine stood another Goron; taller than the other ones I had seen throughout the city and with the beginnings of what would probably become a spiky beard on his face. He gasped when he recognized Link.
„Link! It has been ages! We thought you wouldn't return! And who did you bring with you? A friend?"
Link (the Hylian one) laughed. „Not just a friend, but the one I will spend my life with."
I bowed before the Goron. He was the Chief of the Gorons, after all. „It's a pleasure to meet you."
But Link (the Goron one) just grabbed my hand and patted my shoulder hard enough to later leave a big bruise. „Nice to meet you! So you have stolen our brother's heart, hm? I'm sure my father would be happy for the two of you!"
„Thank... thank you", I said between gritted teeth, trying not to let him notice how much that little pat had hurt me.
Now the Goron turned to Link again. „It's good that you came here, either way. Father's shrine has been acting... strange lately. It sometimes starts to glow out of nowhere. We tried to see if there was any particular pattern to it, but if there is, we haven't found out about it yet."
The Hylian Link looked at the statue of Darunia and approached it. Just then, it started to emitt a soft, red light. I wanted to get closer, but Link stopped me. „Stay where you are, Rebecca. We don't know what this means yet."
„Since when have you become so distrustful, Link?", a deep, booming voice asked. And from the shrine emerged the ghostly form of a huge Goron with spiky hair and beard, much like I would imagine Link the Goron would look a few years down the road.
So this was Darunia. He grinned at Link. „I heard what you said. Congratulations on your engagement, brother!" Then he turned to the other Link. „And you, my son, are doing me proud with how you lead our people. I have been watching you through the eyes of this shrine."
Then he turned to the Hylian Link again. „There was a good reason for Princess Zelda to have these shrines built, you know. They serve as a connection through which us sages can watch the world, and briefly manifest in it, if it proves necessary." Darunia's face grew worried. „And I fear it does. There is an unrest going through the Sacred Realm, and I fear that the seal that keeps Ganondorf at bay may be in danger of breaking. You should visit the other sages' shrines. They will tell you more."
Link's face had lost all color, and I stepped forth and took his hand. Then I turned to Darunia.
„How much longer will the seal last?"
He looked at me. „I cannot tell. Days? Weeks? Years?"
„It doesn't matter", Link said resolutely. „I will be ready when it breaks. I beat Ganondorf once, and I can do it again!"
Darunia laughed out loud. „That's the Link I know! But now, you should go and visit Impa's shrine, since it's the closest one to mine. Farewell, brother. And take care." With that, the specter vanished as if it had never been there at all.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
We went down the mountain in silence, too worried to talk much. If Ganondorf were to return, what would that mean? Would that other future become a reality once more? I looked over to Link, taking in how his demeanor had changed after hearing the bad news. There was nothing casual or light about the way he walked anymore.
As we reached Kakariko, we startled the guard at the gate, who had appearantly been dozing off, as we rushed past.
A lot of people gave us odd looks as we walked to the cemetery.
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I had never really been to a cemetery before, and even if I had, I doubt that other cemeterys were quite es threatening as this one. It was as if I could hear the whispering of the dead souls in the wind as it blew inbetween the lonely graves.
Link took my hand. „Don't be afraid. I'm with you."
I looked at him, seeing but a glint of his usual kindness behind his steely gaze. So I followed him, not letting go of his hand, until we reached the headstone marking the grave of the Royal Family. However, we walked past that to the statue of a woman, again with a bowl for offerings in front of it. It began to glow purple as we approached.
„Ah, there you are, Link", a deep, female voice said, and like with Darunia before, the figure of the sage Impa emerged from the shrine. Her smile was gentle, almost maternal, when she looked at Link. „You've grown."
„That tends to happen when time passes", Link replied. Then he sighed. „I'm... sorry. I'm sure you already know that Darunia told me about the seal on Ganondorf beginning to break, so I'm a little on edge."
„Yes. Nobody would have more right to be upset about that then you", the sage said sympathetically. „The only positive thing about this is that this time, we have a headstart on him. We know that he's coming, and we can make preparations to meet him when he does."
Link groaned an rubbed his eyes. „Today was supposed to be a happy day! I just wanted to introduce my fiancée to all of you."
Now Impa seemed to notice me. „Fiancée? Hm... I know several people who will be very disappointed about this. But in the end, it is your choice who you want to spend your life with." Then she sighed. „I can only tell you this: Make sure that you have quick accesss to the Master Sword. And maybe gather some of your old weapons. Especially your old bow should come in handy. Good luck."
With that, she disappeared, leaving Link a little more relaxed. But just a little.
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We decided to spend another night in Kakariko before leaving for Zora's Domain the next morning.
As we got ready for bed, I softly asked:„Do you think we should stop this journey and maybe take it up again once this whole business is finished?"
Link sighed. „Honestly? I don't know. I don't know anything anymore." Then he sat down on the bed, burying his face in his hands.
I sat down behind him and began rubbing his shoulders, taking in all of the scars he had amassed during his travels. Some were cuts, slashes, lacerations, others were obviously from fire. My heart ached at the thought that he might have to go through all of that again „Tell me what I can do."
„Huh?"
„I couldn't possibly know how you feel right now... or how to help you. So please. Tell me what I can do to make all of this easier for you."
He turned around to me and kissed me. „Just be here", he mumbled in a hoarse voice. „And don't worry. I will not let Ganondorf hurt you again. This time, I will protect everyone. I refuse to lose more friends to this man." Then he leaned on me his head coming to rest just below my chin, his hair tickling my sensitive skin.
I hugged him close to me, wanting to somehow let him know that I was there for him. After a while, his breathing became more steady, until he was fast asleep. I placed his head on his pillow and came to rest beside him, slowly drifting into sleep as well.
