*FREE AT BLOODY LAST! Hylia forgive me for such a horrible delay. Dear Gods those Exams were the WORST! But it's over now... And since it's over, it also mean I'm coming back to writing! Really sorry I had to make you all wait so long, but my life got really crammed with other things. BUT, as promised before, not the most often, but the best I can give! I hope you enjoy. Hylias Grace Gide you and Merry Christmas to all! -From Link and Navi!
A Goron's Debt of Honor
Darunia and his people were standing guard on the entrance as Link came out of Dodongo's Cavern, with the head of one of the lizards as a prize.
They watched in silence as the child, clad in green, tossed the head towards them. "There you go." He said, "Should be safe now the lizards are all gone."
The Goron's couldn't believe their ears. A kid? A kid had vanquished the Dodongos!? They didn't think it possible.
One of the Gorons rolled inside the Cavern, unsure whether the Kokiri was telling the truth.
"They're gone!" The Goron shouted, "The monsters are gone!" And one by one the Gorons rolled in after him, their wait finally over, ready to get their hands on the food that had been taken from them.
"Mind the lava!" Link warned, as the last Goron rolled into the cave.
"How did you manage it?" Darunia asked, amazed.
"Well," Link responded, sounding proud and pretending it hadn't been that big of a deal "We just found the biggest, meanest-looking one we could get our hands on and killed it. The rest just ran off after that."
Just like that, their food was back to them, and Darunia still couldn't believe it. "Here you go, Patriarch." Navi told the Goron, as she took a large, heavy rock from out of Link's pocket "Have a bite."
Darunia's joy was immeasurable as he brought the rock to his mouth, bit with all his might, and swallowed hard at the delicious treat. "Well I'll be dammed! You did it! You actually did it!" He said, as he put a strong, log-thick arm on Link's shoulder.
"You needed help and we provided." Said the Kokiri, "But now, Patriarch, I believe we were discussing a certain matter before we went into the cave. Now I don't mean to sound greedy but-"
Link wasn't even allowed to sound greedy as Darunia cut him off. "Greedy?! You saved my people from starving! What you ask is not greed, it's a just reward. Hell, we should have a party back on the City for your efforts today, kid!"
"Hey, it wasn't all me, you know?" Link replied, trying to give Navi the credit she deserved.
"Well, I would assume so." Darunia followed "After all, you would have needed some brain to make it through that mess."
Link would have probably been offended by that had he not realized just how adorable Navi's chuckles were (a notion which made him start laughing as well) and had he not wanted to get his 'reward' quickly.
"You're right, though," Darunia resumed, "we should get back to business. But I think we better do so back in town."
Back in Goron City, the news had spread like wildfire (thanks to a couple of its inhabitants who had delayed their meal to tell their brethren the good news) and the pair of Forest-Dwellers was received with no shortage of cheer and applause.
"You know?" Link told Navi "I could get used to this."
"Well, don't." She replied, though Link could see she was starting to enjoy the idea as well, "Once we're done with this, its straight back to the Forest."
"Why?" Link asked, "I mean, we've got the entire World out before us now. And if we take too long (say, about two or three years?) we can just tell the guys back home our Quest took a little longer than expected."
"I don't think they would mind if you stayed for a while," Darunia interrupted, "but I'd much prefer if we got business out of the way first." They followed the Patriarch to his chambers, and sat with him on his table, as he brought a couple of rocks to their plates.
"Thank you, Patriarch, and not to be rude, but we aren't very keen on rocks." Link replied.
"Suit yourselves," Darunia responded "more for me. Oh, and there's no need to call me that anymore."
After gobbling up a bundle of rocks, Darunia stood and reached inside one of his pots, and took out a small chest.
(This guy had a chest hidden everywhere. Seriously, you wouldn't believe how imaginative the Gorons were when it came to hiding things.).
"I believe you came up the mountain for this." He resumed, "But why would King Nohansen want it now of all times is beyond me."
"Actually, sir, we have something to confess." Navi said, remembering the impression the Patriarch had been under from the moment of their arrival "We weren't actually sent by the King."
"WHAT!?" He was angry now, and the duo had to think of something fast before Darunia got angrier "I've sent letter after letter after message after message, and now you tell me the King never took any notice!?"
Well, this was a spot of bother…
"Yes, we are." Said Link, thinking quickly for once outside of battle, "But if you would let us explain, I think the reason the King hasn't taken actions because Ganondorf has been intercepting your messages."
Darunia seemed to calm down at the news. His anger subsided and his figure turned into one more of a Lord than a Patriarch.
"How do you mean?" He asked, now more serious than they had ever heard him.
"Well," Began Link, praying to Nayru, Farore and Din that his plan worked "when we were in Hyrule Castle-Town, we saw him in the Castle, apparently swearing allegiance to the King. Neither we nor the Princess thought his actions were honest, so she sent us to collect the other Spiritual Stones before Ganondorf got his hands on them. It's just an assumption, but I think his presence is the reason why the King hasn't been responding."
"Sorry we had you under a false impression, sir." Navi concluded, trying desperately to make the revelation less shocking.
Darunia thought for a moment. It was completely probable, sure. And Nohansen was his Sworn Brother. Why would he deliberately turn a blind eye to the dangers of the Gorons?
"Very well." He said at last "It is very possible. But what are we supposed to do if Ganondorf strikes again?"
"Give the Goron's Ruby to us. That way, he won't be able to take it from you." Link responded, thinking his moving around the Country would make Ganondorf's search more challenging.
"Very well. I think it's the safest option right now." Darunia responded, reaching inside the Chest "But be wary, children. When he realizes we no longer have the Ruby, he'll most certainly come after you."
"We know, sir." Responded Navi "But don't worry. We can take care of ourselves."
The Goron's Ruby was as amazing as the Kokiri Emerald, it's shape that of the mark of the Gorons, it's glow of flaming red.
"Take it and fly. If things are as bad as we think they are, then the less you delay, the better." Said Darunia, coming out from his room with the duo.
The Gorons were sad to see the children go, but understood the need for their haste. With little else to say, Darunia led them out of the City. They were almost out when Link remembered the melody he had heard when running towards the boulder with the Bomb Flower in his hands. He knew it from somewhere, but the sound was distant and muffled. They left the City and passed the stone circle at the mouth of the 'cave' before they spoke again.
"I'm glad we could be of help to you, Patriarch." Link said, bidding farewell to the Gorons at the entrance to their home, "Hope we meet again soon."
"I told you, kid, there's no need to call me 'Patriarch' no more. When the King and I swore to care for each other's people, he and I became more than just a pair of old leaders, just like you and me now Link. From now on, you and I are Brothers and I wish you both the best of luck in your travels." Darunia said, putting his long, thick arm on Link's shoulder once again, almost crushing him in the process.
"And we wish prosperity and cheer to you as well." Link responded as he tried to bring his arm to the Goron Leader's shoulder, and taking a final glance at the Mountain Folk. "Until next we meet, Brother."
And with that they bowed to Darunia, and started the climb down Death Mountain Trail…