Author's comments: Thank you to everyone who has left a review so far. This next chapter is short, but I promise there will be longer chapters to come. Enjoy.

Darragh

"Link stay close to Dagon and do as Dagon does," his voice was barely above a whisper as he spoke.

Link reluctantly broke his attention away from the final Patriarch, "What?" It was amazing how well preserved all the statues and paintings were. Even the final one didn't appear to be more than a day old.

"Come here," the Goron impatiently motioned for Link to stand at his side, "and do as Dagon does."

Link quickly joined Dagon. Two thunderous booms echoed through the air when Dagon pounded his fist twice on the large circular door in front of them. Though the door was bigger than any Link had ever seen it made only the slightest grinding sound as it rolled to one side revealing a large dome shaped room.

Gordon stood in the center of the chamber facing a figure Link couldn't see, but along the walls to the left and right of the figure sat five withered Gorons.

"Counsel of Elders," Dagon whispered to Link, "this big honor for little Hylian."

"Welcome," the hidden figure said, his deep voice bouncing off the barren rock.

Dagon entered the chamber with Link staying at his side. As they entered Gordon moved aside revealing the largest Goron Link had seen so far sitting in an ornately carved stone chair. When they reached the place Gordon had been standing Dagon stopped and beat a single fist against his chest. Link quickly mimicked the action.

The Goron rose from his chair a large smile spread across his face, "It been too long brother Dagon. You been well?"

"Yes Patriarch."

"Good," the large Goron replied. Then he turned to Link, "This must be Link. Strange so much come from one so small."

A low chuckle escaped from a few of the Gorons. The large Goron held up his hand to silence them, "I Patriarch Darragh and on behalf of Goron thank you for rescuing Gordon son and returning crystals to us."

"You're welcome Patriarch," Link replied.

Darragh turned to the Gorons around him, "So much bad happen in recent time. Tonight all Goron celebrate the good," Darragh turned to Link, "and Link guest of honor."

The room erupted with cheering. Link was speechless.

Darragh moved closer to Link and amidst the noise said, "If there anything Goron can do to help Link, let Darragh know."

"Ok," was all Link managed to say.

The Patriarch stepped back and raised his voice above the celebrating Gorons, "Go spread good news to all Gorons. Celebration begins when first mountain pierces yellow sun."

All the Gorons began making their way towards the door. Link followed, but as he reached the door a thought crossed his mind.

"Actually. . ." Link turned to Darragh.

"Yes," Darragh seemed a bit surprised at Link's boldness.

All eyes focused on Link as the shaman's warning suddenly flooded his mind, but he pushed it aside, "Actually, there is something you could do for me. The reason I traveled from Faron Woods was because my friend has been cursed and a traveling shaman told me with the power of four ancient runes he could heal her," Link paused and scanned the faces around him. They stared back their expressions unreadable, "According to the shaman one of those runes is hidden in the abandon mines of your mountain. Can I borrow that rune to heal my friend?"

The chamber became unnervingly quiet as Link's question hung in the air. He quickly glanced at the faces around him but their stony faces were unreadable.

A deep roaring laugh suddenly filled the room. The sound was so sudden it made Link jump. The laughter came from Darragh. Not wanting to be left out on the joke the other Gorons gradually joined in on their Patriarch's laughter until everyone in the chamber was laughing except Link and Gordon.

"You tell good stories Hylian," Darragh said as the laughter began to fade, "Even if such rune existed, those mines abandoned long ago because they not safe for even Goron to enter. No one hide anything valuable there."

"Oh," Link felt his heart sink.

The Goron's tone became serious, "Friend must be very special for Link to travel so far. Darragh sorry could not help."

Link acknowledged Darragh with a nod, then turned and left. He hadn't even considered the possibility of the shaman being wrong. What would he do if he couldn't save Aria?