Chapter 9: The Winter World

They could see the fortress looming in the distance. Velgoros was now nearing the Forsaken Fortress. Brin looked at the fortress with his telescope. "It definitely looks abandoned" he said. "But I have a feeling that Golargo is still there." He collapsed his telescope and turned to Dmitri. "I think we may as well anchor here, Dmitri. We'll take the lifeboats the rest of the way."

"Right, captain." Dmitri turned the ship away from the wind's direction to slow it down and Brin gave the order to lower the sails and the anchor. After the anchor was lowered and the ship was stopped, they lowered the lifeboats and began rowing inland toward the great fortress.

They reached the island shortly thereafter. Brin led his crew forward into the Forsaken Fortress. They made their way through finding no signs of life. They had made it to the top where the charred remains of the wooden structure stood. Nothing was here. No one was here. The crew was concerned that their captain may have been wrong. Brin had his own fears of that, too. He couldn't understand it.

"Well, I guess we'd better..." Brin suddenly trailed off as he was about to give the order to leave. "What is it, Brin?" asked Milik. Brin just raised his hand up in the air in order to silence him. He continued standing there, his eyes intent and focussed. After a long pause, he suddenly spoke.

"I can hear the sound of rushing air. Follow me." The crew had no idea what he was talking about but followed anyway. He made his way all the way down to the lower level of the fortress. The sound was getting louder. He walked by a part of the wall and felt a sudden rush of cold air. When he looked at the wall he saw a large crack in it. His crew joined him and saw the crack in the wall that he was staring at. "I can feel cold air rushing out of this crack. There's something peculiar here. Link, come here a minute." Link stepped up next to Brin. "What is it?"

"Do you still have some bombs with you?"

"Yes, Brin."

"Good. Blow a hole in this wall here. I need to know what's inside." Link shrugged but he brought out a bomb and lit the fuse. He placed it in front of the wall. "Everyone stand back." They stood far away from the wall and when the bomb detonated, it revealed a large hole in the wall. Brin and Link approached it and saw another world. This was a barren world covered in snow and its winds blew fierce. "Golargo must be in there" said Brin. "Link and I shall pursue him. The rest of you head back to Velgoros."

"No" said a strong voice from behind the crew. She stepped up so she could be seen. "Link isn't going in there without me."

"No, Tetra. I can't risk losing you again" Link felt embarrassed when he said it, but he remembered the time she had been turned to stone and how alone and empty he felt. "You'll risk it whether you like it or not. I'm coming with you."

"As am I" said another voice. It was Brin's turn to worry this time. "Niklas, you must stay here. What about your wife? With Link gone, who will protect her?"

"She'll be safe with this crew. Besides, I can't let you go without me. I have to help in some way."

"Very well. Niklas and Tetra will join us but that's it. No one else." Firinian suddenly stepped forward. "Niklas, if we should run into any trouble, I shall be the one to protect your wife."

"I knew I liked you for a reason, Firinian. Thank you." Firinian smiled and then stepped back again. Brin motioned for his three companions to step forward into the hole in the wall. They all did and entered the strange new world. As the crew turned to leave, Brin stopped Firinian before he left. "Firinian, please give this to my wife if I do not return." He pulled out an envelope from his pocket.

"But Brin, you will return."

"I can't guarantee that. Please give it to her." He accepted the envelope but before he could say any more, Brin stepped into the cold new world. The Winter World.

The four travellers could not even hear themselves think, the howl of the wind was so loud. Brin took the lead and they trekked inward. Brin spotted a strange, snow-covered hill in the distance. He knew no one could hear him so he turned around and stopped the other three with him. He pointed at the hill and the rest of them looked toward it. They all seemed to understand what Brin meant and followed him as he started toward the hill. They could barely see where they were going as the snow whipped into their faces. As they neared the hill they could see and opening in it. This was in fact a small cave. Brin motioned for them to follow as he went inside. The group followed suit and they were relieved to enter the cave. "This should give us a break from that blinding cold" Brin said.

"It's strange how warm it is in here" said Niklas. Link wasn't really paying attention as he saw a patch of ice on the back wall of the cave. It had somehow remained intact in spite of the heat within the cave. It was so smooth that it actually gave off a reflection.

Link stared at his reflection in the ice and saw the reflection start to move. He backed away but continued staring at the ice. The moving shapes stopped and showed him standing there, with his grandfather standing behind him. Not Golargo, but Dorwin. Dorwin stood there with his hand on Link's shoulder, smiling.

Link heard a voice, "I've always been proud of you, Link." He shook his head and the reflection returned to normal. Link realized what this meant. This entire world was created as a reflection of Golargo's heart. This cave was proof that a small part of his old self remained and that there was still a little warmth left in him. Tetra noticed Link staring at the ice. "What's the matter, Link?"

"Nothing. We should get moving. It's time we found Golargo." Link turned and exited the cave, leaving the others behind. They knew they couldn't let him go alone so they followed him and continued on into the winter storm.

Link walked for quite a while before spotting something in the distance. A stone structure had just suddenly become visible on the horizon. Link knew this was where Golargo was. He turned around and saw the rest of the group following him. He pointed in the direction of the structure. They turned their attention toward it and began walking in that direction.

When they reached the structure they were at the base of a tall stone tower. It was a strange structure. There was nothing else around it. It looked similar to the Tower of the Gods, Link thought to himself. They walked all around the base of the tower but found no way to enter the tower.

Link came to a stop just past where they started and noticed a single brick sticking out of the wall. He pulled on it but nothing happened. He then pushed it inward and it moved back into place. This caused a rumbling in the ground and a part of the wall just collapsed, revealing a staircase.

Link went in first followed closely by the others. It was a spiral staircase and went on for quite some time.

They finally reached the top where a large wooden door greeted them. Link and Brin had to push the door open together as it was too heavy for just one person. Brin went through first this time. The top of the tower was open but walled in so no feasible exit was anywhere nearby with the exception of the door. Brin saw a man standing there with his back to them. He knew instantly who he was and drew the sword at his side.

"Golargo, you will face me."

"Good to see you again, Brin" Golargo said, without turning around. "I'm glad you finally found me."

"Golargo, you will be brought to justice" came another voice to his ears. This prompted his turning around. "The cursed child. It is you who will be brought to justice."