Chapter 25- The Earth Sage Awakens

It was not a long journey from the Earth Temple to Dragon Roost Island. In just a few short hours, Link and the King pulled up to the familiar dock, and Link disembarked.

The island was already in much better shape than it had been when Link had last seen it. The smoke had gone from the air, leaving behind nothing more than a faint burning smell. The sky was so clear that Link could even see the small red shape of Valoo, perched in his nest high above the beach.

"Link?" the King said. "What are you waiting for?"

The boy, who had been looking blankly up at the island's highest spire, turned back to the boat.

"I'm not sure I can go through with this," Link said. "It just doesn't seem right."

The King sighed.

"I understand your feelings," the boat said. "But if you do not bring Medli to the Earth Temple, how will you restore the Master Sword's power and defeat Ganon? We have no other alternative."

"I know," Link said. "I know. But I still don't like it."

"Have courage, Link," the boat said. "Take heart in the fact that you bestow upon Medli a great honor."

Link bit his lip and made no response to the King's statement. If the boat thought that Medli should thank him for taking her away from her home forever, then clearly he understood nothing. But Link also knew that the boat was right: he had no other choice.

"Just speak to Medli as you would normally, and all will be well," the King said. "Now, off you go, my boy."

Link left the King of Red Lions behind at the dock. He did not mention that he had no idea how he was going to speak to Medli normally under these circumstances.

Link headed further inland and started to make his way up the windowed path that led to the Rito Aerie. Even though he had left Dragon Roost only a few days before, the path had clearly been restored in his absence: all of the rubble and fallen rocks had been cleared away, and breaks in the path were repaired. Link was impressed by the Rito's quick work almost as much as he was impressed, for a second time, by the vistas framed in the tunnel. As Link passed by the rock windows, he couldn't help but look through them, past the shore and toward the horizon. Hundreds of years ago, he realized, he would have been looking out on the kingdom of Hyrule. The thought filled him with a sort of awe, but it did not comfort him. When he thought of Hyrule, he couldn't help but think of drowning.

When Link finally reached the entrance to the Aerie, he hesitated, and wondered whether he should enter or not. In spite of the King's words, he still felt guilty. He didn't want to run into the Chieftain, Quill, or Prince Komali. What, he wondered, would he say to them if they asked him why he was there?

Link was saved from this dilemma by the faint sound of a harp, coming from somewhere further along the path, past the Aerie door. Link listened for a moment, before he turned from the entrance and followed the sound.

Link walked several feet before he found Medli playing on a broad ledge higher up the mountain. She seemed fully absorbed in her song, her back turned to him. Link felt a strange ache in his chest when he saw her. He wasn't sure if it was because he was glad to see her, or because of what he had to do.

He took a deep breath, and approached his friend.

"Hoy," he said.

Medli started in surprise, and her fingers scraped across the harp ungracefully as she did so. She fumbled with the instrument, and almost dropped it as she turned around.

"Link!" she cried.

He felt awful, seeing her whole face brighten at the sight of him. At the same moment, his eyes darted to the harp she carried in her arms, to confirm that it really was the same as Laruto's. There was no mistaking it. He turned his gaze back to Medli's face, and gave her a weak smile.

"Medli," he said. "I'm glad to see you."

"I'm glad to see you too, Link," she said breathlessly. "I heard from Quill that your sister is safe at last."

"That's true. And I'm safe too, thanks to him and Prince Komali."

Medli beamed.

"I know," she said. "The prince talks of nothing else. He's so proud to have helped you."

Link smiled, but his expression faltered as the harp caught his eye once more.

"Where is Prince Komali, by the way?" Link said.

"He's out on patrol," said Medli. "He's become quite the responsible adult since he got his wings, and he's shot up like a weed. He may even be taller than you, by now."

Her smile faded. She folded her hands and looked at the ground.

"And, what about you?" Link said. "How have you been?"

Medli smiled, but Link could tell that it was a forced smile.

"Oh, the same as always," she said. "Well, almost the same, that is. I have a bit less to do these days. Lord Valoo is better and Komali… he doesn't really need me anymore, does he?"

She chuckled and adjusted her hands.

"I've been focusing on my music," she said. "Performing is an important duty of an attendant."

"Is that why you're up here by yourself?" Link said.

"Actually, I'm awaiting Komali's return. I promised I would be here to greet him." She smiled. "I thought it might be nice to welcome him with a song."

Before Link could respond, Medli quickly changed the topic.

"But, what are your plans, Link?" she said. "Will you be returning to your island soon?"

"Not quite yet," Link said. He started fumbling in his pack. His hands closed around the Wind Waker. "Actually, I wanted to ask you—"

"Oh!" Medli said suddenly.

Link realized that he was holding the Wind Waker. He must have worked it out of his bag absentmindedly. Medli clapped her hands in delight.

"That baton looks just like the Wind Waker," she said.

"Y-you know about the Wind Waker?"

"Of course! We Rito worship the gods of wind, remember? We have many stories about the Wind Waker."

"Is that so?"

"Hey, you know what would be fun?" Medli said. "Why don't you try conducting me, Link?"

Link scratched his head.

"Um, okay. Do you want anything in particular?"

"Whatever you feel like," she said.

She adjusted her harp, and held her fingers ready.

"Go right ahead," she said.

Link took a deep breath. The time had come. As he held up the Wind Waker, he tried to put aside any guilty thoughts and simply do what he had to do. The breeze kicked up suddenly, caressing his hair, filling him with a kind of courage. He let the wind and the music fill him, and he began to conduct the melody that had appeared on the stone plaque in the cave.

Though it was unlikely that she had ever heard the Earth God's Lyric before, Medli seemed to understand exactly how to play it, even adding embellishments Link had not known existed. While the music lasted, the two played as if the rest of the world didn't exist. Link was surprised and dazed when he realized the piece had come to an end.

But how Link felt was nothing compared to how Medli looked. Her eyes were wide, and her face seemed even paler than usual. She stared off into the distance, a hand over her mouth.

"That song," she said faintly. "It sounds so familiar. Link, where did you-"

She took a step forward, and stumbled.

"Medli?"

She pressed her hands to her forehead and groaned.

"Medli," Link said. "What's wrong?"

"It's like… something I forgot is trying to be… remembered," Medli said. "Oh… I feel…"

She swayed.

"Medli!"

Link barely managed to catch the girl as she fell to the ground unconscious.

ooo

While Link tried desperately to awaken her on Dragon Roost Island, Medli floated in darkness, clutching her harp, just as she had while she was awake. At first she was completely alone, but after a moment, a figure slowly appeared before her.

Laruto faced Medli across the vast expanse of blackness. She fixed the girl with a calm stare. The girl stared back. The sage held up her harp, identical to Medli's, and strummed the first few bars of a song. She paused, and looked back at the girl expectantly.

Medli picked up her own harp and repeated the same melody. The sage smiled, and nodded. She held up her own harp again, and the two women began to play together in unison—not the Earth God's Lyric, but another tune, slow, but with a sprightly quality to it.

As the song continued, three golden triangles appeared on the stretch of ground between Medli and Laruto and shone brightly. Above the triangles floated a sword with a blue hilt, its blade pointed upward.

The song came to an end. With another nod to the girl, Laruto disappeared. Alone, Medli stared at the sword in silence. She knew what she had to do. Satisfied, she closed her eyes.

ooo

"Medli," Link said, holding the girl in his arms. "Come on, wake up."

She had been out for about five minutes, and Link was sick with worry. What had he done to her?

"Link?" said a faint voice.

Link looked down at the girl, and saw her eyes open slowly. She stared past him, up into the sky, her eyes confused and cloudy.

"Are you okay?" said the boy.

Medli blinked, and her expression seemed to clear, like she was returning from somewhere far away.

"Link," she said softly. "Just now, a sage spoke to me. She spoke so gently."

Medli must have felt Link's arms stiffen, because she looked up at him.

"You knew, didn't you?" she said. "And thanks to you, now I know who I am, and what I must do. I am the sage of the Earth Temple. I must restore the Master Sword's power."

"You know what that means, though, don't you?" Link said. "You'll be stuck in the temple. You won't be able to come back to Dragon Roost Island."

Medli closed her eyes.

"I know," she said. "But… I have to do this. Don't you see, Link? I finally have a purpose. I bet my teacher knew all about this…"

She sat up slightly, so that her body was partially elevated, but her head still rested against Link's arms.

"We must leave soon," she said. "Please, Link. Take me to the Earth Temple."

Before Link could answer, they heard a rustle of wings overhead. Far above them, a young Rito wheeled and glided closer to the island.

"Komali," Medli said quietly. She turned to Link. "We have to leave—quickly, before he returns."

"But this might be your last chance to say goodbye to him," Link said.

"It's better this way," she said. She closed her eyes. "Komali… I just want you to remember me as a simple attendant."

Link helped Medli to her feet, and the two of them headed off down the mountain path. By the time Prince Komali arrived, they were long gone.