Chapter: XX
"The Temple of the Forest"
Link stood with his sword ready inside Mido's ruined home. Epona stamped her hooves and whinnied loudly, but the strange creature did not move. It just stood there, slightly hunched forward, with one hand resting on the frame of the doorway. Link slowly crouched, still keeping his eyes locked on the intruder, and pushed what remained of his firewood onto the coals of his campfire. Gradually, the crackling of new flames filled the room as the fire's light steadily increased. The creature's gaze shifted from Link to the fire; its raspy breathing intensifying. In the brighter light, Link could see that it was much closer to a man than an animal. It was only a little smaller than he was, with two thin arms and legs, and a small nose just below those luminous, yellow eyes. Its body was covered in a deep black, ash-like substance, that cracked and flaked as it moved. Link began to wonder if he was looking at some poor creature that had survived the fire; when it drew a deep, rattling breath.
"I... remember... good... fires." it croaked, still gazing at Link's campfire, "Before... bad... fire." Link still held his sword tightly, but relaxed his stance. "Who are you?" he asked, surprised that the creature could speak. Epona stopped whinnying, but kept a nervous eye on the creature. "The... stream... poison... after-" the intruder began again, but its voice grew even raspier and it began to cough after the first few words. The longer Link studied the creature, the more pity he felt for it. It had a frightening appearance, but it had not attacked him and it seemed to be a victim of the Moblins' fire. Very slowly, Link un-slung his waterskin and looped its strap over the end of an un-lit torch. The creature's eyes drifted back to Link's as he slowly held his last drinking water out to this creature. "Here, there is enough left for one good drink. Go ahead, take it." he said, as the creature reached out with shaking hands and took the skin.
It was very careful to move slowly as it took the water from Link, but after stepping back away from him, it quickly removed the stopper and poured the water into its mouth. Gasping and gulping, the wretched thing was desperate for every drop, and twisted the skin for every possible ounce. When the skin was empty, the creature dropped the it onto the floor and sank to its knees, giving out a great sigh of relief. Its breathing seemed to clear and the menacing glow of its eyes seemed to dim. "I... remember... you... Link." It began with a familiar voice. "The Great Deku Tree... wanted us to watch over you... but you left us." The stranger tilted his head, and looked longingly at the sword in Link's hand. "You took our only weapon... and left us." Link's mouth dropped open in shock, "...Mido?" he muttered.
The ruined Kokiri remained still, resting on both of his knees in front of Link's campfire. "They killed so many before we knew what was happening..." he began again, " We could not fight them, so we ran. Some into the houses, some into the forest. I... I... tried to hide but... the fire caught up to me." Mido began to shudder with the flood of memories. Link sheathed his sword, and knelt beside him. Gently, he tried to rest his hand on Mido's shoulder, but his flesh seemed to be made of ashes, which crumbled and flaked at his touch. Link quickly pulled his hand back, but a small crater had already formed and bits of ash fell onto the floor. Mido didn't seem to notice as he continued, "They... burned everything... everything we had... but they were late. They had to leave before the Hylians came. That was when she found us." Link's ears twitched, "Who? Who found you?" he asked. "The lady of the forest..." Mido murmured, "She lives in the old temple in the Lost Woods. She took us there... kept us alive... told me to bring the others..." Link's heart beat faster with the thrill that others had survived. "Who escaped?" he asked urgently, but Mido didn't seem to hear him.
Several minutes passed. Mido continued to stare into the campfire while Link desperately tried to think of what he could say that would bring him out of his miserable stupor. "Mido..." Link began again, speaking softly, "It's ok... I've come back to help you." Mido grimaced, "Help... you can't help us." he grumbled. "Yes, Yes I can!" insisted Link, "We have a new town by Lake Hylia, there's plenty of good water there, we can all-" but Link was cut off. "The children of the forest... can never leave the forest!" growled Mido, the glare in his eyes intensifying. "But Mido, I've left the forest and see... I'm ok!" Link tried optimistically. "You?" answered Mido, "What do you have to do with anything?"
~At Lake Hylia~
Alfon ground his teeth, but remained silent. He could not let the women know that his arm was still in great pain. He had to prove that he was fit to leave the care of the nurses. He stood at the Lake's side with Captain Corin a few paces away, and Princess Zelda, Impa, Telma, and the Matron of the Infirmary watching. Alfon and Corin were both armed with wooden swords and shields. Alfon's task, was to disarm the Captain and prove that he was capable of combat after his treatments. A few months before, this would have been an easy battle, but Corin had trained hard with his soldiers and shed his undisciplined body. Now he was a skilled swordsman,
The two men tensed, weapons ready as Impa stepped forward. "Soldiers ready?" she asked. Both men nodded. "Soldiers... begin!" she cried as she stepped back. The two clashed fiercely, striking, blocking, and turning about the ring. With each contact, Alfon's arm throbbed harder, but he pushed his way through it and kept fighting. After a few minutes, several other spectators had gathered and began cheering to each of the men. Zelda's heart was pounding at the spectacle. She desperately wanted Alfon to win, but she was very concerned that he might not be fit for the mission to save Link.
After nearly 20 minutes of combat, Corin charged at Alfon and held their swords locked together. "The knee, my lord." He barely breathed over the shouting crowd. Alfon darted a glance down, and saw that Corin had placed his right leg too far forward. With a great heave, Alfon threw Corin onto his back heel, hooked his right leg with his sword, and flipped the captain onto his back. A mixture of great cheers and groans rolled up and down the training pit as Alfon lowered the point of his sword to Corin's neck. "I yield, my lord... you have me." gasped Corin with a grin. The Marshal's arm was burning with great pain, but he forced a smile as he helped the captain back to his feet. "You fought well Corin! I am proud of you!" Alfon said loudly.
Princess Zelda clapped her hands and smiled broadly with excitement, "His is strong enough!" she thought happily to herself. As the two men approached however, Impa frowned. "That was quite a match Marshal, Captain." she began as both men nodded to her, "A disappointing end though... Any trained soldier knows not to throw his leg so far forward." Corin's smile quickly melted as he darted nervous glances from Impa to Alfon and back. Not wanting to betray his Marshal, he turned his face disappointment and replied, "A lesson I won't soon forget, my lady." Princess Zelda did not know what the three were talking about, but she could sense the tension building between them. "Impa, be kind. The men fought very well I think." she said softly. Alfon and Corin both bowed low to her as Impa inclined her head. "As you wish, your grace." While Telma embraced her knight and whispered loving things into his ear, Zelda turned to the Matron, "I believe Lord Alfon has proven himself, but you are chieftain over these matters. What do you say?"
The old nurse narrowed her eyes and studied Alfon carefully. She doubted that he had fully recovered... but the knight was needed for an urgent mission and he had just completed 20 minutes of combat without faltering. "If the need is great, your highness, I believe his Lordship is strong enough." The Marshal beamed broadly as a sudden look of worry came over Telma. "With Your Highness' leave, I will depart at once!" said Alfon eagerly. "Oh Alfon... must you so soon?" Telma whimpered quietly as Zelda motioned for Alfon to depart. "Go and be well Marshal! Bring Link home swiftly." Zelda answered. Within an hour, Alfon was arrayed in his brilliant plate armor and charged up the Lake road toward Central Hyrule. Corin followed closely behind, offering to escort the Marshal as far as the forest's edge.
~In the Ruined Kokiri Village~
Mido, Link, and Epona sheltered in the ruins of Mido's home until daylight began to glow in the eastern sky. Despite all of Link's efforts, he could not convince Mido to leave the forest. He kept making strange allusions to Link being different... that he was always meant to leave the forest. Soon, Mido began to insist that Link accompany him to the Forest Temple. "The lady has commanded me to bring all the Kokiri to her... she may want to meet you as well." he croaked as his voice began to grow dry again. Link had never met, or even heard of any "lady of the forest" when he lived in the village, but he did know that there was an ancient temple hidden within the Lost Woods. The Great Deku Tree had forbidden the Kokiri from visiting it as it was a 'sacred place.'
"Is... Saria there?" Link asked meekly. He had pressed Mido earlier to tell him if any other Kokiri had escaped, but Mido had not given any names. He stared blankly at Link for a moment, his bright yellow eyes seemed unfocused and lost in thought. "Saria?" he muttered, "Yes... she's there." A great thrill of excitement ripped through Link; She was alive! His best friend, the only Kokiri that ever really accepted him, was alive! "Let's go then!" shouted Link as he began to gather his things. "You won't need that." Mido mumbled as he waved his hand toward Link's sword, "The lady will keep us safe." Link stopped and rested his hand on the sword's grip. He had carried this sword for several months now and had counted on it to save his life on three separate occasions. "It's no trouble, I am used to carrying it now." he replied calmly. Mido responded with a little sneer, but didn't say anything.
They traveled into the forest at a fast pace. Link riding Epona, and Mido sprawled on all fours, skittering across the path like an insect. Link was downcast at how much his old friend had changed. He didn't seem like a Kokiri at all... more like some strange creature. "What happened to you?" he asked during their journey, "I mean... other than getting burned." Mido stopped briefly to give Link a bitter glare, "The spirits of the forest are tied to the forest. Whatever becomes of the forest, becomes the spirits." he answered. Link was puzzled... if the Kokiri were connected to the forest in such an intimate way then... why had he not changed as well? A small twinge of fear bit at his stomach: Had Saria changed too? Somehow that would have made everything much worse for Link, if his failure to stop the moblins from burning the forest had somehow disfigured his friend and left her skittering around the ground like a spider.
After travelling deeper and deeper into the Lost Woods for several hours, the three entered a small glade where the canopy opened above them and the bright sunlight poured in. A great stone structure, like a large mansion, stood in the heart of the Lost Woods before them. Its walls and stone pillars were encased in ivy and large vines, but small designs in the grey stonework still peeked out here and there. A pair of great stone doors on iron hinges stood at the center of the structure, facing the forest path. Mido quickly skittered over to it and began to push one half of the door open. "Leave the horse." he called back to Link as he dismounted. Link gently brushed Epona's muzzle, "It will be ok girl. Just stay here and wait for me." he soothed as he turned to head toward the temple. Epona nickered and bit at the shoulder of his tunic. The filly did not trust this place. While the sun was bright, there was something dark and ominous about this ruined mansion and the ashen creature that led them here. Link patted her head again and brought a dried apple out from his pack. "Here, take this and wait for me." he said, as he turned and climbed the steps to the Temple door. "Come on," hissed Mido from the shadows inside, "The Lady is expecting you."