Author's Note:Hey, look at that, I'm not dead!
Apologies for the late, late chapter, friends. Inspiration has been rather hard to find of late. I'll try my best to get the next chapter up soon.
As always, please leave a review, and thanks for reading!
It takes Link the rest of the day before sunset to reach the temple, navigating through ravines and Bokoblins, coming at last to rest before the entrance to the Forest Temple.
The sun is slipping beneath the horizon, dyeing the sky an eerie red-violet as Link makes camp off to the edge of the temple, under a large oak tree.
"When was the temple built?" he asks Fidelis, standing watch beside the fire.
Normally Link would have camped without the fire, this deep in unfamiliar territory rather than risk an enemy seeing the smoke, but he knows the nights in Faron are cold and he's unwilling to risk freezing to death. And Fidelis has assured him that there are no enemies camped near enough to bother him.
"The temple was raised two years after the Ascension," Fidelis says, blank eyes reflecting the flickering flames. "Hylia built it around the sacred springs. It was a place of contemplation and worship for many years."
"But is no longer," Link notes.
"That is correct."
"Why is that?" Link asks, taking a long drink from his canteen. The water is slightly warm from its proximity to the fire, but Link doesn't mind. He's had far worse.
"The rising number of enemies forced worshipers out of the area," Fidelis says, "If the enemies were destroyed, the temple may revive once more."
"We'd have to find a way to keep them out for good," Link says. "Ending the Demon King for eternity might do it."
"It is a possibility," Fidelis agrees. "It would be wise to rest, Hyruen, if we are to enter the temple in the morning."
Link nods. "Wake me if anything suspicious happens."
"Of course."
He dreams not of green, of flowers and trees alight with life in the midst of spring and rebirth and new growth, of birds chattering in boughs laden with blue and white flowers.
He dreams instead of red, dripping down blades of silver-white and splashed across a battered shield that weighs heavily on his arm.
Red that darkens into black, flaking from his hands, clinging to his armor with terrible tenacity.
It fills his mouth with the taste of copper, sharp and bitter. The cloying scent clogs his nose-
"My master will rise again, but you won't!"
-he gasps awake, drawing a quiet chirp from Fidelis who floats just beside him, still on watch.
It takes a few moments, to re-center himself and quiet the pounding in his heart.
O Hylia, Lady of Light, Guardian of Worlds. I ask for your protection and blessing, Most Holy, in my hour of need. I ask that my aim be true and my sword strong. Blessed is thy name, Most Holy, Lady of Mercy and Wisdom.
"Do you sense any darkness in the area?" Link asks, reaching for his canteen to rinse the taste of blood from his mouth.
"There is a bokoblin scout two miles south of our current position, but I sense no others nearby. The darkness of the Demon King remains near the Temple of the Goddess," Fidelis reports.
Link glances up at the sky. It's nearing dawn.
It's a good a time as any to head into the Forest Temple proper.
He rises, swiftly packing camp. The doors swing open silently as he approaches, and he tenses.
"The temple recognizes the power of the Goddess, and it yields to such," Fidelis says. "However, it does appear that these doors have been forced open within the last day and then resealed from the inside."
"By Zelda or something else?"
"Something other than Zelda," Fidelis says after a pause. "The presence is the same as the one identified earlier."
Link does not like the sound of that, drawing his sword as they enter the Forest temple.
The inside of the temple is warm and silent. The halls are overgrown with vines and Link must slash a few to pass.
Fidelis is a quiet presence at his back. He feels better if the spirit remains out in the open, rather than in the pommel of the Goddess's sword.
The spirit also can continuously scan for enemies in the vicinity.
"There are three Keese on the ceiling ahead, Hyruen," Fidelis reports and Link nods, sword in hand and shield on his arm, ready for combat.
Always have your weapon out when exploring enemy territory. It's a lesson that has been burned into his brain. This is, for all intents and purposes, enemy lands. It has not been sanctified ground for nearly two centuries.
Even so, the Keese here are only just beginning to show signs of being tainted. Their blood hisses against the metal of the Goddess's sword, boiling away at the touch of the holy blade.
"One would think they'd be more corrupted," Link says, nudging one corpse carefully away with his boot.
"The corruption is recent," Fidelis notes. "Within the last few days."
"Whatever forced open the temple doors, most likely," Link says.
"The presence is deeper within the temple," Fidelis says, "It is not moving from its position."
"It's waiting," Link says. "Or trapped."
"A possibility," Fidelis says serenely.
"How much further to that aura?" Link asks, peering around a corner, spying a large Skulltula lurking in a web at the end of the corridor.
"Four hundred feet," Fidelis reports. "Zelda's aura is somewhere beyond that. The dark aura has not touched her."
"Yet," Link says grimly as he crouches, digging through his pack. He has a flint in here somewhere. A few moments later, he produces the flint rocks and starts a small fire from one of the vines nearby.
"You intend to light the Skulltula on fire?" Fidelis asks.
Link shakes his head, a memory flaring to life as the flames begin to gnaw at the vine. "Lighting the web is a distraction. We used to use their webs for firestarters on campaign when we couldn't find any grass or weeds. They burn pretty well."
He very carefully maneuvers the burning vine into his slingshot and releases. The burning projectile slams into the web just above the Skulltula's bulbous abdomen and the creature shrieks, leaping from the web, scuttling back a pace or two, chittering angrily as its home is devoured by flames.
Link creeps quickly up behind it, and rams the Goddess's sword into the creature's underbelly. The dark purple hide is thin and tears easily, black blood splattering the ground.
The Skulltula shudders, and Link rips the sword free and jumps back to avoid being caught in its death throes. The legs are tipped with a paralyzing venom; something Link would much rather avoid.
He's seen the effects before. Depending on the individual, one sting could paralyze for up to an hour.
Hyruen's cousin, Edris, had been an advance scout for the army and had been caught unaware by a Skulltula. It was only thanks to his partner, Yiem, that he had even made it back to camp alive. Four hours later, he had finally regained full movement. The scouting teams had increased their numbers after that event.
Link cleans the sword of blood and gingerly steps past the still corpse.
The lock on the door opens with a quiet clunk, golden light fading away as the door begins to swing inward.
Link can feel the spark of darkness that lies within now, the creature that has managed to break through even this part of the temple's defenses, lurking somewhere ahead.
It's waiting.
"Be wary, Hyruen," Fidelis cautions and vanishes into the sword.
"You don't need to tell me twice," Link says, tightening his grip on the hilt of the sacred blade.
There is a blast of light as Link enters a circular room, the door thudding shut behind him.
When the light fades, Link can see a figure standing before another door, sealed with what Link can feel is Holy power. The figure raises their sword again, dark energy coalescing around the blade.
They pause, the blade melting away into black diamonds that are drawn back into the figure who turns towards him.
Grey skin and a shock of white hair hides one eye, while the other ink-black iris stares coldly at Link. There are purple markings under the eye that Link can see, identical to some of the markings that he had seen on a few of the demons in the Demon King's army during the Ascension War.
Only high-ranking members dared to decorate themselves so.
He faces a general of the Demon King.
"Look who it is. I thought that tornado I stirred up would have tossed and torn you apart, yet here you are. Not in pieces. Not that your life or death has any consequence," the general says.
Their voice is soft, almost dismissive. But Link can hear the menace just barely hidden beneath.
"It's just the girl that matters now, and I can sense here here...just behind this door," the general says, tapping the door with one long black nailed finger, ignoring the flare of holy energy as the seal reacts to the demonic presence.
Fidelis? Link asks silently. Is Zelda still here within the Temple?
No. There is an artifact of Holy power beyond that is amplifying Zelda's residual aura. It is likely that is what this being is sensing.
Link bites back the sigh of relief that this demon will be unable to touch Zelda. The artifact however…
What kind of artifact? he asks.
An amulet containing a sliver of the Goddess's power.
Well, the demon is not getting its hands on that, Link thinks, keeping an eye on the demon who has begun to pace the edge of the chamber.
"Yes, we plucked Her Majesty from her perch in the clouds, and now she's ours," the demon continues.
Majesty? Link wonders at the title. Zelda is not royalty.
She is a being with sacred power. Fidelis replies. Even enemies use titles.
"Oh," the demon says, smiling coldly, "but listen to me. I'm being positively uncivil. Allow me to introduce myself. I am the Demon Lord who presides over this land you look down upon, this world you call the Surface. You may call me Ghirahim."
He bows slightly.
Link tilts his head, waiting. He's not giving the demon his name.
Names when invoked give power. He doubts that the demon has given his true name here.
"By all rights, the girl should have fallen into our hands already. She was nearly ours when that loathsome servant of the goddess snatched her away!" Ghirahim hisses.
Servant? Link asks Fidelis. Can you sense anyone else having trailed Zelda?
No. Fidelis answers, the spirit's tone grave. There is no trace of any person or being having followed Zelda.
The room grows dim, almost as if the demon lord's anger is sapping the light itself to fuel his rage.
"Do you have any idea how that made me feel inside? Furious! Outraged! Sick with anger!" Ghirahim's arms flail about and he vanishes suddenly, though his voice still echoes about the room.
"This turn of events has left me with a strong appetite for bloodshed."
There is the faintest presence of darkness behind him and Link spins on his heel, blade up, ready.
Ghirahim doesn't seem perturbed at being found, even sticking out an abnormally long tongue in mockery and continuing to speak, "Still, it hardly seems fair, being of my position, to take all of my anger out on you. Which is why I promise upfront not to murder you."
"No, I'll just beat you within an inch of your life!"
The first attack, when it comes, pushes Link back and away, towards the door he had entered in.
This clash of holy blade upon demonic shadow is familiar. A half-forgotten memory, hazed by time, coming alive like a spark of flame upon wood. Link doesn't dwell on it, ducking a barrage of daggers and rolls, aiming low. Ghirahim merely backflips and laughs from his spot upside down on the ceiling.
"A bit hard to hit me up here, hero!" he says gleefully, summoning more daggers with a snap of his fingers.
Link brings his shield up in time to block the daggers, the impact making his arm shake.
He steels himself, and holy energy lashes out, sending Ghirahim crashing down. The demon growls, climbing to his feet, sword in hand once more.
Their blades clash again and again, until the chamber rings with the sound of their blows and yells. Link manages to catch the demon's arm with the edge of his sword and Ghirahim screams, smoke rising as he tears away from Link.
Holy light burns demons just as the darkness does Hylians.
Ghirahim howls, lunging forward and sinks a dagger into Link's arm, ignoring the shield that slams into his head as the dagger carves through Link's flesh.
The demon darts back, grinning.
Link's arm is burning, but he swings his sword, ducking the barrage of daggers to land another blow that staggers the demon who flits out the way, and comes to a stop a few feet away, out of reach.
"Well, you put up more fight than I would have thought possible out of such a soft boy. But don't clap for yourself quite yet. That sword of yours is the only reason you still live," Ghirahim says, his one visible eye burning with malice.
"I fear I spent far too long teasing and toying with you. The girl's presence has all but faded from this place, which means there's no reason to linger here. Good-bye, sky child. Run and play this time. Get in my way again, though, and you're dead."
The demon raises his sword, and with a swipe of dark energy, is gone from the temple.
Light returns to the chamber slowly, and the door on the opposite side flares with sacred light and swings quietly open.
Link stumbles into the next room, sinking to his knees as soon as the door clicks shut behind him, the Goddess's sword dropping from his hand to hit the floor with a clang. He is exhausted.
Fidelis is at his side in second, a blue shape at the edge of his vision.
"Hyruen?"
"Fine," he rasps as soon as the feeling comes back into his legs. His hands are trembling, blood oozing down his sword arm, the burning pain of the darkness lingering. The Goddess's sword rests beside him, radiating warmth that eases the pain.
He tilts his head back, finding bright sunlight streaming through the trees. Butterflies and small birds fly about the area.
He's not sure how long he watches them, the fear and adrenaline draining away in the light of the Goddess's spring.
The trees planted so long-ago tower over the spring now, boughs laden with pink and white blossoms. Sun-dew flowers float in the water beneath a statue of the Goddess, the stone pale and seemingly untouched by time.
There is no one else here, save Fidelis who hovers beside him, humming faintly.
Link leans against the door. "Fidelis."
"Yes?" the spirit asks.
"Do you know which way Zelda went?" Link closes his eyes.
"The aura trail of Zelda leads north, Hyruen, towards Eldin province," Fidelis reports. "I sense no person following her, despite Ghirahim's claims of a servant of the Goddess saving Zelda."
"Any idea of how much of a head start she has?" Link asks.
Fidelis considers for a few moments.
"Two days at minimum."
Link opens his eyes and after a moment of looking through his pack with shaking fingers, finds a roll of linen and binds his arm. It's a little difficult using one arm, but he manages.
He stands, "The artifact will be safer with us, yes?"
"The protections here will not hold against a full-scale attack," Fidelis says. "It would be better to take it with us."
"Is there anything I need to do before taking it?" Link asks. Some temples had wards on their artifacts, allowing only the chosen priestesses to take them from their resting places.
"No."
The artifact of the Goddess rests at the statue's feet, a glimmer of blue against pale stone. A necklace, one with a blue scale etched with swirling patterns. It feels warm in his hands.
"It is made of a heart-scale of Faron, protector of these woods in the centuries past," Fidelis says.
"What happened to them?" Link asks.
"Unknown. Faron's presence here is faded, an echo of once was."
Link traces the patterns, and- something white and golden stands just behind him, a glowing shape out the corner of his eye, but he doesn't turn. The presence is Holy and warm, unthreatening.
Well done, my Champion. Be blessed and follow the Spirit Maiden on her journey. The lands of Eldin await.