Chapter Thirteen
A Voice of Dreams
Edura's hooves splashed through the brook, stepping around the low rocks and climbing up the shallow slope into the opposite wood. The thick dark trees of the eastern forest surrounded Link, pressing in close against him. His eyes were keen, searching the area around him as he and his mount travelled through the dim dusk. He had to be on his constant guard in this place, ready for danger at any moment.
He had been searching the Lost Woods for over a week now and had still been unable to find the entrance to Jasinin. In truth, his quest was hindered by his decision to only cross the woods by daylight. Stalfos, skull kids and every manner of evil spirit and ghost lurked in this place, the souls of mortal men who had strayed too far into the sacred woodland ground. The night was their dominion; the time when they would be most likely to assault him. Link was sure of his ability with a blade, and had dealt with worse creatures before, but he had learned long ago that it was better to avoid trouble where possible. He had no interest in joining them in their near-everlasting torment.
Every night as dusk fell he returned to his place of sanctuary, the Kokiri village, a haven for him in the gloom of the forest night. The Young Deku Tree allowed him to rest within the protected boundaries of the village as a token of appreciation for the works of peace he had done in Hyrule in his lifetime. Link had revisited the Kokiri children decades ago to thank them for their kindness to him in his youth, and ever since they had welcomed him back into their woodland home warmly. They spoke with him as though hardly a day had passed since he left them so many years ago.
Link gave Edura's reins a gentle pull, and his trusted horse slowed down until he stopped. Link glanced around himself and up into the sky. It was too dark to be sure of his safety now. He needed to get out of these woods before he became utterly lost in the arboreal labyrinth. "Let's head home," he said quietly. With another flick of the ruins Edura turned and circled around until they were moving back in the direction he had come.
How would he ever find Jasinin in this place? The instructions Zelda had given him were vague. He regretted not asking her to be more specific. His pride had held him from going to her for more help, and now his arrogance was proving to be his undoing. He reached into his robes and pulled out her letter, reading it over for surely the hundredth time.
Link
The ancient entrance to Jasinin lies in the Lost Woods, hidden from mortal eyes.It is a door of stone, wholly unremarkable and bare, with nosignpost to direct men to it. It can only be found by chance, by those who have heard a certain verse – I have written it out for you.
Come back to me,
Zelda
It was very possible in Link's mind that Zelda did not actually have any more information herself. If that was so then his quest was surely an effort in vain. He could search these woods for a decade and never find the city he sought.
He hung his head, staring down at the neck of his mount. He was wasting his time chasing a hopeless idea. Everyone but he was risking their life in battle, fighting with their hands and hearts and minds to save the land that he had sworn to protect. The armies of Hyrule needed his leadership. Rael was becoming a great soldier and leader of men, but he was reckless and temperamental. Without someone to help focus him he would become distracted by his personal feelings and forget the greater conflict. He had sent Destan as an under experienced general into one of the greatest military campaigns in living memory. Link knew that he was acting completely irrationally, but still...
A flash of white to the right. Link turned his head sharply. "Stop boy!" he whispered, pulling on Edura's reins tightly to slow him once again. His gaze had been drawn through the trees to a sight he had not expected to see. There was a tall spike of rock, jutting up out of the ground like a white fang. "Surely not..." He muttered.
He dismounted from Edura's back and, leading him by the reigns, walked through the trees towards the rock. He batted aside branches and clambered over the hawthorn and heather, wading through the dead bracken. This rock was surely not naturally occurring. There was something remarkably unusual about it, like a pale spearhead of stone in a small clearing. It was ten feet tall, and five feet wide at the base, curved into a point at its top. As he drew nearer he saw that it was entirely smooth, with barely a scratch or a sign of weathering upon its surface.
The darkness of dusk was falling fast in the forest. He could not see far now through the gloom of the woods. Link's fear of what may be lurking just beyond his sight was beginning to take hold of him. He looked down at Zelda's note again, reading the third line of verse. It said that the way to Jasinin would reveal itself in the twilight hour.
"What do you think, Duds?" he said, turning to his horse. The animal snorted at him, then lowered his head to chomp at the grass, quite content with himself. "I think we've found it," said Link, turning back to the stone.
With a rising sensation of fear and excitement he reached into the folds of his cloak and retrieved a small instrument. The thrill of discovery was coursing through his veins, his heart beating quickly, his stomach quietly sick with fright. He remembered the tune he needed to play as though he had last played it only yesterday. He put the small brown ocarina to his lips and began to play. This ancient song, once secretly taught to him by an ancient sage, should only have be known to the Royal Family. Its notes fell and rose in a beautiful melody, a stirring sound in the close forest air.
He finished the song and stood waiting, expecting some wondrous sign to happen, for some secret entranceway to reveal itself. Perhaps the stone would part to reveal a hidden stair, or... anything out of the ordinary at all. Nothing happened. "Son of death," he muttered angrily. His frustration took the better of him, and he slammed his fist into the stone.
At least, he had intended to slam his fist into the stone. Yet his fist did not come into contact with the rock. His arm fell through it as though it were not even there. Such was the force he had exerted, and such was his surprise, that he fell forwards into the rock with his full body, passing through it entirely and into utter darkness.
He stumbled forwards, and then succeeded in catching his balance. He blinked, and looked around for a source of light. There were some twinkling white lights far in the distance that looked like stars, but they were not bright enough to light his path. The ground below and the sky above were equally dark. He spun around hoping to see the stone behind him, but he could see nothing in this inky blackness. Carefully he stepped towards where he had come from, expecting to emerge again through the rock. To his worriment, he did not return into the slightly lighter wood. "Is this it?" he whispered into the shadows. "Edura, come!"
He waited for a few moments, but evidently his faithful steed could not hear his voice. Feeling deserted Link walked out into the dark, feeling forwards with his hands, treading carefully so as not to trip and fall. "Hello!" he called. "What is this place?"
Hundreds of bright lights suddenly flared into being all around him. Where there had been utter night, there was intense shining light. The light was like the sun that should have being shining above. He threw up his hands to shield his eyes. Even with his eyes closed, the image of light still burned brightly in his retina. A wailing voice surrounded him. "Who dares to tread our hallowed domain!?" The words seemed to be made of hundreds of voices, all screaming in union at him.
"I am Link al'Shael!" he said, as strongly as he could, "I seek an audience with the Elders!" He tried peering through his fingers, but the light around him was blinding.
"Only royal blood may come this way!" the shrieking voices cried.
The lights rushed towards him, howling as they flew. They stuck his body, and like a thousand flaming whips they seared his flesh. Link screamed from his stomach, falling to the floor in dire agony. The pain was beyond anything he had ever known. In an instant, his clothes were shredded into pieces and his skin was sliced in hundreds of thin lines from head to toe. "Die!!" screamed the light.
Link curled himself up as his shredded clothes fell away from him. Naked, bleeding from every limb, he cried out in desperation. "I am Link al'Shael! The Marshal of Hyrule! The Hero of Time!" The burning pain magnified as the furious attack continuing relentlessly. "Have mercy!" he wept hopelessly. "I seek your great wisdom! My people are dying! Please!" A furious bolt of agony surged along his spine, and he screamed breathlessly. "Help us!" he pleaded.
The attack continued, stronger and stronger as he writhed helplessly on the floor. How utterly pitiful he was. How devastatingly quickly his quest had turned so deathly sour against him. He was going to die here, mutilated and alone. How could he have ever been so foolish? Zelda was right... he was a fool to come here...
"Stop!!" cried another voice, piercing the screaming curse. "Leave him alone! Away with you!"
The darting lights slowed, ceasing their assault and moving away from him. There they stayed hovering several yards away, and now that they were still he could see them for what they were. As he lifted his eyes from the floor, he saw the multitude of fairies surrounding, shining in hues of blue and pink and yellow. Their tiny eyes were watching him with fierce intent, warning him he was surely not safe.
The beautiful voice spoke again. A voice with female quality, though it was not that of a mortal woman. It was pure and clear like the chiming of silver bells, and flowed like a babbling brook. A voice of dreams. "Link," said the voice, "take my hand."
Cautiously he looked up. In that moment his pains melted away, as he stared into the heart of beauty on earth. A magnificent woman stood before him, resplendent in a dazzling pink-white dress, sparkling with the light of stars. She was at least seven feet tall, blessed with a body elegant beyond compare, and a face gloriously beautiful and bright. "Take my hand, Link," she said, kneeling to offer him a hand. "You are safe with me."
Hey guys and girls!
I would just like to say a big thank you to those who have been reading my story, and especially to those who have marked favourite author or story. It is great to know that people are enjoying this story. I know it is rather epic for a fanfic, but the end is in sight : )
I woud love it if you could leave me some feedback. Criticisms are welcome - I need to get better! (And good comments are very welcome too!)
Thank you for reading, and look forward to the next few chapters. Things are about to be happening in Hyrule.
Shadow of Link