Chapter Eleven: A Significant Revelation
When Link first awoke, he saw nothing but blackness. It took him a moment to realize that he had not gone blind; it was merely a blindfold over his eyes. He tried to move his arms from behind his back to undo the blindfold but found that his wrists were bound with rope. With a flick of his ankles, he was able to determine that his feet were also. Apparently, someone had seen his struggling because he felt a pair of hands reach around his head to remove the blindfold. It fell off of his eyes effortlessly and Link was finally able to see his surroundings.
The first thing he saw was a tall, unshaven man standing beside him. He was the one who had removed the blindfold, but it quickly became clear that this was not an act of kindness. The man grinned maliciously and said, "How ya doin' boy? Ya hungry?" The man chuckled spitefully. Link obstinately chose not to respond. "What? Are ya too scared to talk? Don't worry. I ain't gonna hurt ya. No. I got orders from the boss. He wants you alive and able to walk."
Link looked around the room carefully. The room's walls were made of stone-hewn blocks without any adornments. The chamber was entirely empty except for one rickety wooden chair in the corner of the room, where his captor had been sitting patiently only moments before. He heard the man mutter something but was too busy searching for an escape route to take any notice.
"Hey! Did ya hear me? I had an order to take you to the boss when you woke up. So let's go." He grabbed Link roughly by the wrist and jerked him to a standing position. Despite the sudden rush of blood to his head, Link was able to decide that as soon as the man led him out of the room, he would break free. Then he would find Navi and they would hurry to Hyrule. The man turned Link around so that he was facing a large oak door. He opened the door and pushed his captive through. Link was prepared to break free when he saw that he was now in a large mess hall, where at least twenty men were feasting at the nearest table. He knew that his escape would have to wait.
He was led across the mess hall as the diners smirked at him cruelly. "I hope you're ready boy!" shouted one of the men. Link had to force himself not to respond. He would not give these strangers the pleasure. He was led into a door on the far side of the dining hall and was shoved through it forcefully. Inside, Astralose was sitting behind a table with two of his henchmen on each side. One of these men was holding Navi, who was fluttering violently.
"Link!" she shouted. "You're all right! I was worried sick! I tried to tell you they were coming! Why didn't you just listen to me!"
Link chose to ignore her also, but this was for a different reason entirely. "Sit down!" grumbled the man who had led Link into Astralose's chamber. He was forced into a chair as the man turned around and left.
"Link," greeted Astralose with a smile. "How are you feeling?"
Link glared at him angrily.
"Why the fury my fine young lad? I don't wish to hurt you. I just need your help." When Link did not reply, the old man continued. "Come now. Speak. Your silence will not help you." In response, Link closed his mouth as noticeably as he could. "You leave me no choice. Kill the fairy." The man who was holding Navi stood up, pinned her against the wall, and drew his knife. He swung the knife down as hard as he could towards Navi's glowing body.
"No you fool!" shrieked Astralose. He kicked the man in the leg, causing him to lose his balance and barely miss Navi with his attack. "You know the plan! She can't be harmed!"
"But you said…"
"I was trying to scare the boy into speaking! I didn't mean actually kill her you fool!"
"I'm sorry sir."
"Get out! Get out! Get out! And give me that confounded fairy!" The man handed her to Astralose and left the room while Link stared on quizzically.
"What do you want with her?" asked Link.
Astralose turned back towards Link, his face disturbingly calm. "Nothing. I just didn't want her dead because then I feared you might not be as willing to cooperate." Astralose's face appeared sincere, but Link could not be sure if he was telling the truth. Link did not press any further. He knew that if Astralose was lying he was not about to tell the truth any time soon.
"I'll cooperate." Link had forgotten that he had planned not to speak.
"I only need one little favor." Astralose paused and then continued. "I've been following you for quite some time Link. I've witnessed your exceptional bravery first hand."
"How long have you been following me?" asked the hero, suddenly suspicious.
"I first met you in Hyrule Castle Town, many months ago. I knew you were destined for great things. I knew you were looking for Spiritual Stones and I knew you would be the one that opened the gateway to the Sacred Realm. I knew you would be the Hero of Time. After your adventures were complete in Hyrule, I followed you into Termina and we met a second time."
"But I don't recognize you."
"Ah, that is understandable. I rid myself of my most distinguishable feature after you left Termina. I cut off my long gray beard and hair and changed out of that awful blue cloak with stars on it."
"Wait. That was you. You're the one that first told me of the Shiekah, and you were the astronomer in Termina."
"Exactly. So you do remember?"
"Now that I know, I can tell by looking at your face."
Astralose chuckled. "Yes. I knew you would." He sighed and continued. "I was not the actual astronomer in Termina. That was not my observatory. I borrowed it for the time that you were there. I wish I had waited a while to do so though. Only an hour after I first entered it, that foolish Skull Kid came in and started destroying everything in sight. I haven't been too terribly fond of Skull Kids since then."
"So why have you been following me all this time?" questioned Link, changing the subject in the process.
"You are one to get to the point, aren't you? All right, if you must know. I need to enter the Sacred Realm."
"Why?" asked the Hero of Time, instantly suspicious.
"You're such a nosy little boy Link. Isn't it sufficient that I have told you that I have to enter it? Why must you know why?"
"When I was chosen as the Hero of Time, I became the only person who can remove the Master Sword from its pedestal. After what happened the last time I did so, I swore I would never remove it again. I'm sorry, but I can't help you. Regardless what your reasons are."
"Do you really know why you're the only one who can remove the Master Sword? It's not because you're the Hero of Time. " When Link did not reply, Astralose knew that he had no answer to this statement. "I didn't think so. If you knew, then you would realize that it isn't really up to you. I'll remove the Master Sword without you Link. And you will see how soon enough."
"You can't. It's impossible. I would die before I remove it again."
"Didn't you hear me? I don't need you to remove it."
"I don't believe you."
"Believe me or not. You will see for yourself soon enough. We are leaving for Hyrule tomorrow. Our destination: the Temple of Time and the gateway to the Sacred Realm. Take him away now. I'm done with him. And that fairy too. But be careful with her." The men grabbed Link by the arms and dragged him out of the room. He was thrown back into to the room he had awoken in with only Navi for company.