When next he wakes, it is to the sound of the River drifting past, and the quiet, terrible sound of someone sobbing.
He opens his eyes to a veil of white-golden hair, and bright tear-bright eyes.
Oh my love, Hylia says, I failed you again.
"Most Holy," Link says, and his heart is singing upon hearing Her call him love, "It is I who failed you. I could not slay the Demon King or his puppet."
No, most beloved, Hylia says, embracing him, pressing a kiss to his hair, You did all that you could and more. The Sword of the Four gods was woven into being by your hand and deeds. Would that I could have prevented your death yet again but I was weakened, and all I could do was watch as you were cut down.
"What about Zelda?" Link asks, remembering that magnificent Holy fire and his best friend with the Goddess's sword in her hands, driving it down into Ghirahim's form.
The Spirit Maiden took up the Sword and with it sealed the Demon King for all eternity, though his curse will still remain upon the land, Hylia says, Her fingers carding gently through Link's hair.
"Curse?" Link asks.
Hylia nods. A spirit of darkness shall ever roam the land to harry the descendants who shall carry my Will within them. But, guided by a hero sent by the Three, the darkness will be defeated time and again until the world is remade anew.
"There will be other heroes after me, then?" Link asks. And then, as if in a vision, Link can see them, a lineage of Heroes and Champions alike, some arrayed in Light, wearing it as a mantle, one wears a wolf-pelt cloak, and shadows follow at his heels, another wears a tunic of blue that reminds Link of Hylia's eyes, deep and bright as a summer sky.
But none will be as bright and as dear to me as thou art, Hylia says, and Her smile is soft and sad. Even I, who see past Time and for all Time, could not see how I would come to love one such as you.
"Love? Truly?" Link asks, the words barely a whisper. It's not everyday that a God professes love to him.
Yes, Hyruen, Hylia says, love.
And Link's heart, Hyruen's heart, has ever been Hylia's, from the moment he saw Her, radiant in Her Glory, Brilliant in Her power.
"Most Holy..." Link says, trying to find the words. "My heart...has always been yours."
Hylia smiles, and it is as lovely a sight as anything Link has ever seen.
My Hyruen, She says, and the sound of his name, is warm and sweet to his ears, the syllables ringing with emotion as his Goddess speaks them.
But...he pauses. She is a Divine being, and he a mortal, life now ended. What would become of him?
My love, Hylia says, and Her forehead touches his, so close that he can feel the warmth of Her. What thoughts keep you from me?
"I'm...dead, Most Holy," Link says. "What will happen to me now? Will I not pass beyond this shore to the Golden lands?"
Hylia seems pensive, frowning faintly. It is true, that My Realm is that of passing, souls are not meant to linger here. However, your soul, my love, has been marked by Fate. Twice born to life, you were reborn to counter Demise's rising threat but your time in life has ended once more.
She turns to look at something nearby, and Link follows Her gaze, finding Hylia's sword beside them, gleaming against the grass.
The Master Sword, Hylia says, touching the steel gently, the barest press of Her hand to its blade as She ignores the sheen of red that still drips from its edge, mixing with golden ichor, is a blade unlike any other, forged with the Sacred Powers of both Old Gods and New, sanctified in the heart of a Chosen Champion. It has slain that which I love, and yet it saves you still, She says, and Her eyes are dark as they look at Link.
"What do you mean?" Link asks.
The Power that rests within her, the Master Sword, is one that is Sacred and will ever seek to pierce that darkness that Demise sets upon the world even in death. It is a blade that will be shattered and reforged across the ages, growing alongside each Champion that will arise. When it pierced your heart, my love, Hylia says, It left a shard of that Power within you. It anchors you here, when your time has passed. But even I lack the Power alone to return you and heal your mortal wounds.
But, Hylia continues, The Three have come to an agreement, which among Us is rare enough, She looks past him, and tilts Her head gravely.
Link turns to find three figures, each resplendent with Their Power.
Farore is the closest to Link, and the grass about Her is growing, flowers springing to life. Nayru stands amidst the stream, the River glowing blue around Her feet. On Nayru's opposite side, stands Din, proud and haughty, the earth set aflame under Her, smoke trailing upwards.
Link bows his head.
Champion of Hylia, Three voices speak as One, We hath seen thy Valor, thy Wisdom and thy Ambition. Thou hath slain many a dark foe in thy Queste, and thou hath given all of thyself to this duty. Thou hath faced thy fears and proven thyself worthy of this Goddess to whom thou hast devoted thyself to.
For thy part in protecting the world that We, the Three, created, We grant thee a mighty boon. Long has this Plane been without a God of warriors, Fierce and Magnificent. If thou choose to take up such a mantle, it shalt be thine.
Link looks up, startled, casting a glance to Hylia. "I would become a God?"
You will become as I am, a God in between the spaces of the worlds. One of warriors and heroes, She says, You would be a constant, unable to be consumed by power or by darkness, remaining at the edge of both Light and Dark. In understanding both, you could give guidance to those who would follow in the path of Champion.
A heavy burden, Nayru cautions, Not a choice to be taken lightly.
But not one to linger along, Din rumbles, Her voice the echo of a volcanic eruption.
Two paths lie afore thee, Farore says, One of peace and rest in the Golden Lands, a reunion with thy fellow soldiers and loved ones, the other the path of the wandering God of warriors, fraught with death and sorrow, though joy thou may come to thee, as thy Goddess of Light is ever aside thee in this.
"Such a decision I cannot make so suddenly, O Bright Three," Link says, bowing his head. "May I have time to consider this proposal?"
Thou hath all the time that thou need, Champion, The Three say and vanish.
"Well," Link says, "This…is not what I expected."
Hylia watches him with unreadable eyes, and Link wonders what She is thinking.
I would not begrudge you peace, my love, Hylia says gently, You have fought for so long. You deserve rest, to sit in honor among your companions of old. To take up this heavy burden…
Hylia sighs, Her gaze sorrowful, It is a choice you must make for yourself.
Link nods, sitting up to stare into the River, watching the current swirl past, foaming white at the bank's edge.
"The only way I can go back is if I ascend, right?" Link asks after a few minutes, "You said before that I was anchored..."
I did, Hylia says. It is true that if you wish to see Zelda and your friends again, you must take up the mantle of a Fierce Deity, Hylia looks down, Her expression suddenly uncertain. I...am sorry, my love, that it has come to this.
"Hylia," Link says, twisting around to face Her. "I do not regret the path my lives have taken, however tragic they may have been."
Hylia is quiet, Her gaze still fixed downwards to where Her hands are twisting together, a kind of nervousness that makes Her seem far more mortal than divine.
"Most Holy," Link says, reaching for Her Hands, "Please do not worry for my sake. I will make this choice as I have all the others in my life."
She looks up at the Ancient words, tears in Her eyes again.
You do not know if you will regret it, She cautions.
"I would like to walk the worlds with You, Hylia," Link says simply, "That I cannot do if I am to leave for the Golden Lands. I wish to walk beside You in all things, if You would let me."
Hylia smiles, watery and still, there is a joy in Her eyes that is unlike anything Link has ever seen.
She leans forwards and bowing Her head, kisses him softly.
Oh Hyruen, She says softly. My brave, kind Champion.
"Always," Link replies.
Hylia smiles and stands, pulling him with Her. Let us walk, Hyruen.
How long they wander along the River, speaking quietly of their hearts, Link cannot tell, but he thinks it is much later, when they return to the spot where Hylia's sword still lies, blood dripping from its edge, pooling beneath it to stain the grass.
You have made your decision, Farore says, and Link startles, finding the Three standing once more where They had been when They had offered Their boon.
"Yes," Link says, "I have."
Din says nothing, but nods Her approval.
Nayru watches, Her eyes fathomless and old, There may come a day when you might regret it.
"Perhaps," Link counters, "But I will stand by this choice."
Very well, Farore says, Kneel, Champion of Hylia, and We shall Ascend thee.
Link kneels, taking Hylia's hands and bows his head, eyes closed.
Now do We, the Three, in accordance with the Ancient Rites, bestow the mantle of the Fiercest Deity upon Our Chosen, this Hero of Hylia, Goddess of the Dawn, Watcher at the edge of Time.
A God of Warriors, a guide to those yet untrained, Death to His Opponents, and a Shield to His followers.
Link feels it, the Power of these Four, Gods all, Great and Mighty, welling up around him, a column of fire, water, earth, and light.
Magnificent and Holy.
It hurts, burning and freezing all at once. He is consumed, reborn, forged as a new blade upon an anvil and there is vicious, poignant clarity.
What is now lost to him, what is gained. The worlds stretching out before him, a map unlike anything he's ever seen burned into his memory.
He can hear it, the voices of many souls, crying out for aid, and he can answer them…
He opens his eyes again, the heavy weight of Power roiling within him, fire and ice clashing together.
Hylia is Bright, and oh how he can see Her, the true Majesty of Her form. The Three behind Her are even more Radiant, nearly too much even for his newfound understanding.
Welcome, Hyruen, Hylia says with a brilliant smile, to the Pantheon.
"Thank you," he says quietly, and casts his gaze to the Three, who bow in unison.
Welcome, Fierce Deity, They say, The Paths of the Worlds are thine to walk where Thou may. Even the Golden Lands art open to Thee, if Thou wish to speak with those who hath gone afore.
"Thank you," Link says, the knowledge still settling in.
The Three smile and in a gentle rustling of wind, They are gone.
"So," Link says, "How does this work, exactly?"
Hylia smiles again, Bright and pleased, Let me show you, She says, pulling him to his feet. We have time enough for you to learn the basics.
Time passes strangely in this Realm beside the River, where the currents ebb and flow against green banks. Even so, it is more than enough for Link to learn how to filter through the voices of petitioners, how to aid them if he so chose, how to step from world to world when needed.
The first to receive the aid of this new God, is a young general in a far, distant world, struggling to rally his men to the battle. Link gives him strength, and the determination he needs, the right push at just the right time.
The army rallies and the battle shifts dramatically in their favor.
The second is a farmgirl, wielding a sword in training. He can see a spark of Heroism in her and kindles it with knowledge. She will defend her village well, and teach others to carry on in her stead, a line of warriors against the darkness.
He is a soldier's second wind, a spark of tactical inspiration in a royal advisor's mind, just a few more seconds for a spearman to bring her shield up to block a deathblow.
From one world to the next, he strides through, learning how to manipulate the world about him, to aid or to deny petitions as they come to him.
Many he answers, seeing in them what he himself once was, others he denies, seeing darkness within their hearts and a will to do ill by others.
"How do you keep everything separate?" Link asks when they stand at the River again. He can taste the smoke of the last battlefield on his tongue still, the coppery tang of blood heavy in his mouth.
It takes time, love, Hylia says gently. You are young, newly come to Your Power. We have not had a Deity of War before, or at least not one so intrinsically tied to the concept of War as you now are. Many pray for strength in battle, and in this you and Din are alike.
You may both grant petitions in this sphere, but your duties are tied to the realm of battle and warriors, whereas Hers are farther reaching.
"At least I have time to figure it out," Link says with a sigh. He looks to the River. "How long has it been since I…died?"
Only moments, Hylia says. You may return now, you have that Power. You will not age, as you stand apart from mortalkind now. You have no need of your mortal form, but you may be joined with it again, though there will be changes.
"Such as?" Link asks, curious.
Come, Hylia says, leading him to the edge of the River, Look into the waters, and tell Me what you see.
Link finds a stranger staring back at him. Where once his hair was as golden as ripe wheat, it is now pale silver, the color of moonlight, his eyes are the sharp grey of a newly honed blade, and beneath his eyes are two curving lines of crimson red.
Two curved lines of darkest blue run from his hairline down to meet between his eyes.
"That's something," he murmurs. "Would it be possible for me to hide that?"
The tattoos are a symbol of what you are, my Hyruen, Hylia says, Her arms around his waist, chin resting on his shoulder. They declare you to be a God of War, sharp as any sword and just as deadly. But, if you wish to go unnoticed, yes, they may be hidden.
"Like yours are?" he asks. He hadn't seen them as a mortal, hidden as they were, but now looking upon Her with the eyes of a God, he sees only the faintest of images, as though the tattoos were hazed by mist.
Yes, Hylia says, and the white markings that delineate Her position as Goddess of the Dawn reappear to line Her elegant face, a delicate pale flower glowing above Her eyes, with vines trailing down to Her throat.
Link doesn't think he's seen anything more beautiful than Hylia as She was meant to be seen.
"I don't suppose I can hide anything else?" he asks.
No, Hylia says, Though you may say that you were given a chance at life again, and let others fill in the gaps with what they will.
Link nods, thinking. "Fair enough."
Shall we depart then? Hylia asks.
"Yes," Link says. "We shall."
A/N: One more chapter to go and an epilogue. Thank you all so much for coming with me on this journey. I couldn't have gotten this far without you. Thank you.