A/N: short chapter ahead, only a filler to lay the ground for the next chapter.

Impa was standing by the shrine of Eldin in Kakariko Village, the once lively town of the Sheikah now a field of death and sorrow. Very few people had survived from the massacres that had raided the village in recent days, and now they were all trying hard to clean up the remains of scorched buildings and businesses.

The Sage was trying hard to communicate with the current priests of Lanayru and Faron, but the absence of the Spirit of Eldin made it too difficult.

"Hurry up, Link," she whispered, her eyes closed in full concentration.

Viacka stood up in a hurry and woke up Princess Zelda and Tara.

"My Lady," she said, "someone's coming."

"You know who it is?" asked Zelda.

"No, I still can't see, but I heard footsteps."

All three of them stood up and stared at the barrier of dark energy that served as a door for their room.

Oreana reached the top of the stairs and was shocked to see a purple glowing barrier of dark energy blocking the entrance to a large room. She came closer and gasped in shock as she saw the three girls inside: a maid, a young pretty girl that seemed to be some kind of farm girl, and Princess Zelda herself.

The three girls recoiled when they saw her and Oreana realized she was still wearing her Gerudo outfit; she hurriedly removed her veil and lowered her hood.

"Your highness," she said, not knowing if they could hear her through the barrier, "don't be afraid; I'm not a Gerudo. My name is Oreana, and I'm a Sheikah."

"A Sheikah!" Princess Zelda gasped and ran forward, approaching the barrier but careful not to touch it. "What are you doing here? How did you get in?"

"I'm here to get you out safe," explained Oreana. "Link sent me to..." she was abruptly interrupted by Tara's screech of relief.

"Link is okay? Where is he? What is he doing?" she blurted out. Oreana gave her a strange look.

"He's okay, he's in the Forsaken Fortress and he's trying to defeat Garoth; you must be Tara, right?" said Oreana; she had a strange uncomfortable feeling growing in her stomach. "We met your family in Faron Village, they're all worried about you, but they're okay."

"Thank you," replied Tara.

"Your highness," said Oreana before Tara could say anything else, "how can I get you out?"

"I..." Zelda let a tear roll down her cheek as she turned away. "I don't think that will be possible."

"Why not?" asked Oreana. "Princess, I promised Link that I was going to take you all to the Forest Temple in the Faron Woods."

"My Lady," said Viacka sheepishly, "if Link manages to kill Garoth, do you think the barrier will vanish?"

"Ma... maybe," replied Zelda, looking at her maid.

"Maybe we should wait then," continued Viacka. "Let's just hope Link manages to defeat him fast."

They all agreed to that, and Oreana sighed while sitting on the floor outside of the room, eyeing Tara occasionally and frowning at the thought of her being with Link.

Taglo and Link climbed up a ladder and found themselves at the top of the tower of the Arbiter's Grounds. There was a low platform in the middle, a round empty frame at the top of it. The roof was surrounded by a tall coliseum-like wall with tall pillars, each one bearing the emblem of one of the Six Sages of old: light, forest, fire, water, shadow and spirit. They could see the rotation axis of the black cloud right on top of them.

"Link, what is that?" asked Taglo, pointing at a shiny orb that floated several feet above the ground; it looked like a small sun.

"We finally meet again, Hero," said an echoing voice from within the shadows. "Are you here to rescue the last Spirit of Light?"

Link and Taglo quickly drew out their swords, a chilling sensation going down their spines. A gust of cold wind and dark clouds started to form slowly in the platform with the empty frame and, when the clouds faded, Garoth, the Emissary of Darkness, was standing there, smirking at them, fire in his eyes, the shiny sword that he had won in the tournament was in his hand.

Oreana stood up and drew out her sword when she heard hurried footsteps climbing up the stairs. Zelda, Viacka and Tara approached the door when they saw her reaction. They all gasped when they saw the three Gerudo standing in front of the Sheikah, scimitars drawn and an evil expression in their eyes.

"You're coming with us," said the one in the middle.

"No," replied Oreana. "You're going to have to make me."

"Fine," replied the Gerudo.

The four of them started to fight, while Zelda, Viacka and Tara watched in fear.

Impa opened her eyes when she finally felt the connection with the other two priests being established:

"Priests of the Spirits of Hyrule," she talked to them mind to mind, "my name is Impa, Sage of the Shadows and ancestor to the late priest of Eldin."

"So it was yours the presence we felt near the shrine of Eldin," replied Zurlo.

"Impa, we've heard your name so many times in the old legends," replied Joy.

"Indeed, I have slumbered for too long, but now it is time for us to add out power to aid Link with his quest," explained Impa. "Priests, we must aid the Spirit of Eldin so that he can grant the power of light to Link; only then will the Hero be able to defeat the Darkness."

In the shrine of Lanayru, Zurlo summoned the Spirit of Light that dwelt there and prayed; in the shrine of Faron, Joy summoned the Spirit of Light from the forest and prayed; in the shrine of Eldin, Impa focused all of her power as a sage to commune with the Spirit of Light that should have been there, but now lay locked in his prison atop the Arbiter's Grounds, and prayed.

A/N: and the confrontation with Garoth is here! The moment that everyone was expecting has finally arrived! Ok, before I continue with the next chapter I'd like to thanks once more all of the people who have been following, both active reviewers and silent followers (to the latter, don't be shy! review! xD).

To those who were wondering about the location where Link and Taglo are facing Garoth, yes, the empty frame in the small plataform once held the Mirror of Twilight.

Oh! And don't forget to read and review my other stories as well! :-D (Joy, stay away from the horror one!)