Chapter 21:

It's a long way up, and we've got a short time to get there!

"Well..." Link said, breaking the ice between him and Tatl after a few minutes of waiting in silence.

"Um... Lets go?" she suggested.

"I can melt the ice with my arrows now." Link said, clearing his voice, walking towards the huge mound of ice he had confronted earlier.

"Alright. Get your bow ready," she ordered, somewhat nicer, reaching into his quiver for another fire arrow. Link held his bow up.

Tatl inserted the arrow and pulled back, using her wings to do so. Link pointed the bow at the mound of rock-hard ice and let go. This was a loud and steaming HISS! as the arrow shot out and disappeared in a ball of fire. The ice melted with a more soothing hiss... as steam rose up from it's melting figure. Then, all that was left was a door, surrounded by cold water. Link took a step towards it and opened it. It was freezing!

He closed the door behind himself.

The two found themselves in a large, cave-like room, with solid, stone pillars rising into the air. A door was at the end, but it looked locked. Massive shards of ice hung from the ceiling, razor-sharp. Link approached the smallest pillar and climbed on. It was coated thinly by clear ice. The surface was slick and wet. He struggled for balance while Tatl floated nonchalantly above his head.

"Don't slip." she told him, looking down with a small, amused smile.

Link snarled and looked up," Trying, here!"

"Okay." she replied, rubbing her fingers together for warmth.

Link looked to the next pillar. It rose up somewhat higher than the one he was already on. If he jumped he could probably make it. He nodded to himself and took a deep breath. Tensing his muscles, he took a moment. Then he jumped. He cried out as he did, realeasing his energy. He latched on to the slippery surface and held for dear life. He gradually started to pull himself up until he was standing. He wiped his damp arms off.

Tatl started to clap," Keep going!"

"I can't tell if you're serious, or sarcastic." Link grumbled, tensing himself for the next pillar, which was even higher.

As he did so, something started to shake above his head. Suddenly, a heavy, sharp, blade of ice fell on the pillar he was on, knocking him off. Link cried out as he fell onto the cold, hard ground. He moaned as he looked up. It had missed him by less than an inch.

"You okay?!" Tatl cried, flying right in front of his face.

"Uh, yeah, I think so." Link replied, forcing himself back onto his feet.

"Alright, maybe you should move faster. Wouldn't want more ice... things, falling on your head." Tatl warned.

"Yeah."

Link scratched his head and climbed back onto the first pillar. He made his way back to the pillar he had fallen from. He tensed up and jumped to the next. He pulled himself up and looked around. All the rest of the pillars were the same height. A few pillars down, he saw a snow-coated platform, with a large mound of snow on it.

Hearing the shaking noise again, Link dove into the next pillar, right as a large shard of ice fell where he had been.

"Close one." he heard Tatl say, before she cried," Hurry! Before the next one falls!"

Link nodded," Alright!" He jumped onto the next one, then the next, and jumped one last time to land on the platform.

"Good job!" Tatl congratulated, flying down by his side.

Link gave her a weak smile and looked down at his broken arm. It was starting to sting. Link groaned and looked at the mound of snow. Without waiting to think, he approached it and started to pull snow off of it with his good arm. The process was slow and grueling. He was pulling off a little more than a handful each time. His hand burned from the imense cold.

"Try the Goron mask." Tatl said, becoming annoyed with his slow work.

"Alright." Link replied quietly, taking out the mask.

After a few painful seconds as the mask transformed him, he was a Goron again.

Using his large, powerful arms, he had the mound cleared in less than a minute, revealing an old chest. Link popped it open in one swift move. The lock was so old it snapped right off. Link pulled out a small, silver key that was inside.

"Great, now you can unlock the door!" Tatl stated.

Link turned and jumped off of the ledge. He landed on the ground, his body was so solid it made the fall completely harmless. He tramped over to the door and placed the key it and unlocked it. Forcing the door open, he came out into another cave-like room, this one being large and less crowded. It seemed somewhat brighter, too.

A path, snaking up the side of the cavern, led to a door. A huge, boulder-sized mountain of ice took up half the trail.

"You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?" Tatl asked with a mischievous smile.

"Nope." Link responded.

"Dear gods, it seems your Goron brain has forgotten what you can do. Fire arrow...?"

Link nodded quickly and took off the mask. Becoming human again, he tucked it in the carpenter's bag and grabbed his bow. Tatl grabbed an arrow from the quiver and inserted it for him. With Tatl pulling back on the string, Link took aim.

As soon as Tatl let go, the arrow was landing on the ice mound. The tremendous fire from the arrow melted the great, boulder-of-ice in a few short seconds. Link grinned and hurried up the path to the door. He took a moment to catch his breath.

"Hurry kid, it's got a long way up to the top, and we've got a short time to get there!" Tatl ushered.

"I think we have some time. The only way we've gone is up." Link replied," Besides, I think it's still morning."

"I think you'll find time passes quickly when you're busy." Tatl mumbled.

Link shrugged and opened the door and came out into a box-shaped room. It was large, and the ceiling, walls, and floor were made up of some strange tile. There were five tiles on the floor, spread out, glowing magically.

"You'll pay for what you have done to my brother." Link heard a booming voice say from nowhere.

Link drew his sword in response, memories of the Wizrobe flooding back.

In a burst of magical light on the center tile, a large cloaked figure appeared. It's pointed, wizards' cap shrouded it's face.

"Not you..." Link said aloud.

"Hi."

Before Link's brain could register what was happening, he felt himself pushed hard by a strong force. He was bashed up against the wall, left with a pain like fire. His vision blurred and faded. Everything went black.