Chapter 21: Transcendence
"I'm just so glad so many people like my song." Saria delighted.
Rhaine found herself in a very large room with jars, tapestry showing the Triforce, and chilling statues. Many of the monster things stood around her, Link, and Saria asking thousands of questions a minute and offering a million gifts. She was unsure what to think of these beings. They both frightened and amazed her.
The worst part of it all was she knew she was standing in the volcano. A quacking, magma-filled, real-life volcano.
She shivered.
"Master Link, what is your quest this time around?" The largest of the beasts asked. Rhaine had figured out he was the leader of the smaller things. Rhaine had heard Link refer to all of them as Gorons, but she didn't take to the name.
"The Triforce. We must destroy it."
Rhaine felt warmth in her hand. She realized it was Link's pulling her forward.
"This time around, however, I have help." He nodded toward her.
"Welcome sister. Any friend of Link's is a friend of ours." After the larger Goron spoke the smaller ones hollered.
"Do you feel it?" Rhaine whispered in Link's ear. He shook his head yes, but did not stop smiling.
Rhaine pulled her hand from Link's grip and stepped behind him.
"You must tell me of any recent goings-on." Link stated distracting those around him. Rhaine slipped into the shadows until she found herself out of the room.
She was surprised she hadn't noticed how loud the main hall was when she first entered it. Then again, being surrounded by happy, yippy Gorons does make hearing anything outside of their voices seem quiet.
A beat pulsed around her driven by what seemed like a hundred drums. She looked around the area, but it was empty. Every creature in the volcano was questioning Link.
"Where could it be? It feels like it's right under my nose." Rhaine ran across the room and up the stairs to the next floor feeling slightly dizzy when looking down. "No Railing…"
She continued running to the top of the room as she followed the draw of power. She felt a rush of heat when she reached the upper-most level.
She knew where the piece was. She followed the trail of reaching ropes to a small pedestal in the center of the spiraling mess. She was surprised at how the rock seemed to float above the canyon only suspended by the braided support. She took a breath before walking to the front of the shortest rope. She stood in front of it for a moment willing herself not to look down.
"There is no way." She said quietly taking a step back. She surveyed the room once more. The only way on the podium was the tight-rope.
She groaned while she dropped to her hands and knees. "Maybe I could crawl across it…" She placed her right hand on the rope and pulled herself forward. "Yes, well this is stupid."
She retreated from the rope groaning in frustration once more as she turned completely around. "I'm so useless." Casually, Rhaine glanced over her shoulder longing for the suspended land.
The thought of using her power to fly over to piece did cross Rhaine's mind; however, she wasn't sure how her power would be perceived…if at all. She wasn't going to chance it and blow the only chance they had at this piece.
She closed her eyes imagining just gliding in the air without the use of magic to propel her. What a wonder it would be to fly as a feather with the spring breeze. She became equanimous rather quickly as she flew through her mind. She could feel the air tingling around her like hands holding up. She relished the illusory state before falling back into reality.
She opened her eyes throwing her hands to her mouth. She was floating, hovering, suspended in midair inches from the ground. She was weightless.
As if her life depended on it, she moved one foot ahead of her, over the ledge. She didn't fall forward as she was expecting to, but her whole body swam through the air by the force. She moved her arms like a mermaid which made her go even farther. Within seconds she hung above the Triforce piece.
She watched it glitter, transfixed by how much power such a little piece exerted. Gradually, her feet hit the ground on the platform. The piece was placed in the center of the patch of earth free for grabs. Swiftly she plucked the gold speck from any root's clutches.
Am I going to be able to get back? She walked to the edge of the tiny space and looked down. Only one way to find out. She closed her eyes again imaging the sensation of a thousand bubbles suspending her in the air. Then, fluidly, she drifted to the lowest floor.
Her vision found the island again. She didn't understand any of it. Any of the power… She wasn't about to question it.
She strolled into the cave almost touching worship. She placed her hand back in Link's to alert him of her victory by placing the shard against his palm. He smiled broadly as he recounted a tale of exploring desert wastelands. His grip tightened on Rhiane's hand.
An hour or so later Link managed to break free from the chains the Goron's held him with. After asking permission to use the hot-springs the group left the beasts to head further up the mountain for a night's rest. Rhaine whined when more climbing was mentioned, but quickly retracted when a bath was pointed out.
Within the hour they had made it to the best place the mountain had to offer. Link explained that his 'brother' made sure that the springs would be completely empty for the evening offering the group privacy.
"I'm so sorry, but Mirra is ready to come out." Saria explained as they approached an encampment of sorts. There were small wooden houses everywhere; some were actually in the springs while larger houses sat at the edge of the water. Rhaine assumed they were for changing and privacy. The royal family would want such. She also noticed many towel racks lining the fifty foot circle from edge to edge. This place was fit for a dream.
Rhaine rolled her eyes. "Of course she would want to come out now, when the easy stuff is happening."
"When will you return?" Link seemed upset.
"As soon as I am needed." And with that Saria closed her eyes. When they opened back up, Mirra was on the other side.
"So, hot-springs?" Mirra said cheerily jumping up and down.
"After you." Link said bowing out. Mirra goggled Link for a moment before rushing off to one of the small cabins. Rhaine was about to follow her when Link caught her arm. "A moment?"
She nodded causing Link to take her hand in his. They walked a few feet from the springs in the cover of some larger rocks so Mirra wouldn't see them.
"Was it difficult to obtain?" Link asked as he leaned against the boulder.
Rhaine moved next to him, but sat down instead. She thought a second about how to answer his question. "It was an adventure." She smiled.
He slid down next to her while laughing. "I hope you didn't get me into any trouble."
"No worries." She leaned her head on his shoulder closing her eyes. There was silence between them.
"Do you feel it?" Link finally spoke.
"Mmm?" Rhaine mumbled.
"The connection."
Rhaine lifted her head up looking Link in the eyes. "Between us?"
"Well," Link paused as if unsure, but threw caution to the wind. "Yes. The electric between you and I. This tie."
"Maybe it's just because of your old memories. To be honest with you though, we didn't really know much of each other when you lost me." Rhaine closed her eyes again.
"We didn't?" Link laughed. "That's so strange because I feel like I've known you all my life."
"That is ridiculously cheesy." Rhaine murmured.
"I tried truly to find you within my mind, but I can't separate Saria and Mirra in my mind so it's hard enough to place you." He felt a slap on his face.
"Stop it!" Rhaine took a breath to calm her temper. "Do not search for me." She whispered. "We can't have you breaking the spell."
"Oh, that." Link chuckled. "I thought you were upset with me over something completely different."
"I know." Rhaine smiled she pushed herself away from the stone into a standing position. "We should get back before Mirra latches on and doesn't let go."
"Of course." Link sighed as he followed her back to the springs.
"So where do you think the next piece will be?" Mirra solicited the next day.
"I'm not sure." Link admitted. "I've an idea, but I'm just not sure." He shook his head.
"Care to elaborate?" Rhaine rang in.
"The thing is," Link began, "It could either be at Zora's Fountain or at Lake Hyla." He took a breath. "It's difficult to say where."
"We'll just try both." Mirra stated as if the decision rested solely with her.
The group had successfully made their way back into Kakariko Village without the notice of new guards. Rhaine had asked Link to show her the windmill and currently they were outside the front door taking a breather.
Rhaine looked down the path noticing a break in the brick wall that seemed like a sort of tunnel. "Where does that go?" She asked absentmindedly.
"A graveyard with terrifying ghosts." Link joked.
"Know anybody there?" Mirra wondered as her head followed the windmill's arm.
"Only one person. A kind of old friend." He looked over to his favorite old potions shop. It had been turned into bar though leaving him disappointed and yearning for the witch that provided him with great products.
"Let's go see them." Rhaine skipped down the trail and through the archway. She ignored Link's lazy protests of: "Let's not," "Come back," and "Please?" Mirra also followed behind seemingly afraid of the 'terrifying ghosts.'
The assembly spoke of different things to pass the time of walking ranging from how Mirra lived her life in Link's home village from the way Link used to live in his home village.
Abruptly, all speaking stopped.
"Here?" Rhaine turned to Link with questions in her eyes.
"Let's check it out." They ran ahead making a few turns until they entered the graveyard.
Rhaine's heart skipped at the sight of the headstones. A small rundown hut stood off to the edge with a few headstones surrounding it. The markers didn't seem well taken care of. Rhaine noticed that the gravestones near the back seemed more elaborate and fancy compared to those close to her.
"This place had definitely expanded." Link muttered trudging onward.
"This place is definitely creepy." Mirra took a few steps back. "I'll stand guard."
Rhaine laughed, but trailed Link without any comments. They both went straight to the larger stones near the back. "If it is in the graveyard it would probably be near one of the royal family's." Link explained as they grew closer.
"And if it's not?"
"Then we have to go to one of the most hazardous places in Hyrule." Link grumbled something to himself about suicidal ships Rhaine couldn't completely make out.
"Why are those two stones bigger than all the rest?" Rhaine asked pointing to two markers that stood tall and next to each other behind all the rest."
Link surveyed them for a moment, but he didn't get closer. "Apparently their owners were quite wealthy, high members of the royal family, or great heroes."
"Who is it? I can't read your silly language." Rhaine urged.
"Sorry, I'm not ruining the future." He continued searching around the Royal tombstones before sighing. The power wasn't as strong there, but it was strong enough to be hidden in the Shadow Temple. A shiver ran through his spine at the thought.
"Reading the names on a headstone ruins the future? What do you call what we're doing now?" Rhaine accused as she moved away from the stones and continued to search with Link.
"I mean for myself. What if those represent someone close to me? I don't want the knowledge those stones have." He caught her gaze for a moment. "Understand?"
"Fully." She smiled because she really did get it. After hearing it the way he put it, she didn't want the knowledge either. As little knowledge about the future as possible seemed quite fine.
Rhaine listened to the tug on her skin tracking the trial of the power. She was led to a subtle grave barely nine inches off the ground.
"Link." She called not looking away from the miserable plot. She could tell it was an old grave, decrepit and ignored.
"No way." Link mouthed as he moved closer. He stood for a moment before falling to his knees at the grave. "Wouldn't have expected anything less from you."
Rhaine was about to respond, but grasped the fact that Link wasn't talking to her. They sat a while as Link reread the words over and over again.
"Here I go again."
"What do you mean?" Rhaine took a step back as Link began pushing the grave away from it's spot. "Link!" Rhaine whisper-spoke so as not to disturb any restless spirits. "You can't just vandalize a grave. The dead will be mad!"
"Not this guy." Link disagreed. "He invites me quite often."
"He's alive?"
"No, just enjoying life as a ghost." He felt the stone click into place. Rhaine came up behind him and they both saw the fleck right away.
Rhaine reached for it letting the power flow through her fingertips. "Who was it?"
"The grave keeper."
"That's sort of creepy." Rhaine commented, but Link shrugged filling nostalgic while putting the grave in its home.
"So?" Mirra asked when the two reached her. "Did you find it?"
"Naturally." Rhaine smiled feeling the two pieces in her tunic.
"Wow. That means only a few more pieces, right?" Mirra danced around them, but Link smiled.
"Yes, only a few more. Luckily, by the looks of things, this won't be such a difficult escapade after all."
Rhaine wanted to smile and enjoy the success they had had the last two days, but she felt a twinge in her stomach. Something bitter was buried there, hiding.
An: The small amount of mushy stuff there in the middle actually does add to the plot. So if you skipped it you should read it. The reason Link doesn't like the shadow temple in my story was because when I went through it, I died a lot. So, in my head, Link fears it. XD
So…what do you think? Review please.