The heart of things

Zelda told me the pilgrimage changes people. You don't have to believe in specific gods, you might not even believe in anything at all, but she told me that whatever you do, you are not the same when you return from the Spring of Wisdom. The journey changes you.

In which way? She couldn't tell me. Only when she returned from there at the age of seventeen, she wanted to continue to travel and understand more. She didn't see herself forever tied to the crown and rules. I can imagine King Rhoam hearing something like that and I don't really know what he would say to her, but she began to make plans and projects with the idea of continuing to travel and to scrutinise every secret hidden under the stones of the mountains, the sands of the desert, she even thought of making a journey across the great Sea of Dawn. "Pilgrimage is about understanding the heart of things, Link, that's why we become wiser. That's why the spring has that name."

I didn't know what we were going to find there, but the climb became hard as we moved further and further into the mountain. Somehow it was a familiar atmosphere, we were barbarians of mountain and bare rock, but at the same time there was something different. What was at the heart of things? What had dragged us there?

We were the only ones on the road, we didn't see a living soul around. We did see clues that the path had been trodden by other travellers in the past: the remains of shelters, charcoal from campfires that was glowing black under the melting snow... but nothing else.

Around midday, a white mist began to cover everything and it got very cold. With the poor visibility our steps became slower and more uncertain, and Impa took the lead of the expedition.

"When you ascended, was it as cold as it is now?" I asked Zelda, who had little snowflakes caught in her eyelashes.

"I think it's colder now," she growled, under her thick layers of clothes. I missed mine, but I didn't want her to say "I told you" or something, so I pretended not to be cold. No. We barbarians were tough, we lived with a volcano inside us. Mine was an ice volcano, but she didn't have to know that.

"Stop," Impa raised her hand, "there's someone there."

We saw a light swinging from side to side. A man with white hair and a white beard appeared, as white as the mist around us.

"You can't continue, the road it's not safe," he said. At first I had thought he was young, but when I saw him up close I noticed he was quite old.

"I am Impa of the sheikah, we travel with a special mission."

The man examined us one by one. He twisted the gesture when he saw our furs and clothes.

"Much less am I going to make way for some foreigners. The mountain is dangerous. I'm here to avoid more accidents."

"What accidents?" Zelda asked, unable to hold her curiosity.

"You'd better go back home," the man growled, turning his back on us, "I have orders not to let anyone in."

"Whose orders?" Impa started to look inpatient.

"From the governor of Hateno Village. Look, Impa of the sheikah, I know your people are important, but Mount Lanayru is under Hateno's government, along with the Sharp River and the Duelling Peaks."

"Our orders come from above yours," Impa raised her chin and showed a thin roll of paper.

The man took out small, round glasses which he used as a spyglass to read Impa's safe conduct.

"Alright. I cannot oppose the king's commands," the old man said, twisting the gesture, "but I cannot allow you to continue the pilgrimage until the mist rises. It's reckless, you could miss one foot and fall into the void."

Impa nodded in accepting the conditions and we all followed the man.

"Since when is there a shelter here?" Impa asked.

"Since the troubles started. The Bolson builders raised it so we could control the accesses. The pilgrimage is no longer safe. Please, shake off the snow before you enter the cabin. I'm trying to keep it as warm as I can."

We obeyed and I also asked Fridd and Ardren to put their weapons to one side and out of sight.

"There are people in the East as grumpy as Fridd," Ardren whispered, with a half-smile.

The old man started cooking without asking questions. Through the window you could only see an increasingly thick layer of mist, it wasn't possible to see anything a few meters away. It really was dangerous to go out.

"You won't be able to climb today. Fortunately, the shelter is designed to accommodate unwary people like you."

We remained silent. I don't know why, it was as if we felt like naughty children who had misbehaved and deserved to be punished. Zelda dipped her nose into her diary and then into the map. She marked a secret path, hidden behind the Spring of Wisdom, and made a point of going over it again and again in case there were any errors in her calculations. Impa, standing with a cup of tea in her hands and her shoulder to the window, scrutinised the weather and the possible changes. The boys were playing dice in silence by the fire.

"May I help?" I asked the old man.

"I didn't know the barbarians cooked."

"We do. We also know how to warm our bones in our mountain shelters."

"I don't need help."

Despite the refusal, I stayed close, watching him peel and chop the vegetables for the soup. How old would he be? It was hard to tell, he had the constitution of any strong and robust man, but the wrinkles on his hands and face were deep.

"Have there been many problems on the mountain?" I asked shyly. He would still send me to hell. Instead, he gave me a sidelong glance and continued cooking.

"Nun's granddaughter was the first. Since she went on the pilgrimage two months ago, on her seventeenth birthday. She wasn't the same after her return. Night terrors plagued her. She stopped sleeping, saying that dark shadows kept haunting her. She fell ill and is still in bed today."

"From where I am there are also dark shadows, but these are real ones."

"I know. Our governor travelled to the castle on the king's call to learn about those rumours from the West. Our group came back recently, without too much help, really. Rhoam is a listening king, but his assemblies are useless."

"On that I agree," I grinned.

"Then it was Sonnar's son, the cowboy. He often climbs the mountain to get water from the same sacred spring, he says that if spring-born calves drink from it, they will give the best meat and milk. He came back with a huge gash on his chest."

"What happened?"

"I've never seen anything like it. His face was broken. He said there was an army, a lot of men inside the spring. And that something attacked him, something lightning fast. He couldn't see much, he ran out to save his life."

"Damn it..."

"Still, more stupid young men like you set out to make the pilgrimage. No one from the village, of course, but some Southern travellers do. Those ignorant idiots. We never heard from them again, so the governor decided to build this shelter. At least we can control if anyone else disappears in that cursed mountain."

"And he sought a good guardian," I smiled. The man may have softened a little.

"I don't like foreigners," he said, waving the tip of the knife near my nose, "let alone the barbarians."

"We just want to help, but I understand mistrust, protecting the family is important."

He growled and ignored me to continue with his business. He started peeling potatoes and diced them. Everything was added to a cauldron that had warmed up in the fire.

"What's your name?" He asked, as he removed the broth.

"Link."

"It's a ridiculous name," he grumbled, "Link, what a name. Grab this and be careful not to burn yourself. I need to rekindle the fire."

I helped him to move the heavy cauldron and then I went to sit next to Zelda, who was still immersed in her notes.

The old man was right, the mist was still dense and thick and only came down at nightfall. I didn't care, it was too cold outside and we all seemed almost grateful to be able to rest in the cabin. Besides, the meal turned out to be like a miracle, I felt my muscles loosen with every gulp of broth, and with the delicious meat we roasted on the coals.

When it was completely dark, the old man went out for a round, with his lantern.

"I can join you," I volunteered, "it's dangerous."

"I know every stone, road and tree in this mountain. If you accompany me you will be a hindrance, you could fall, stumble. I'll have to watch out for you and your clumsiness."

Again I felt a little beaten, but I walked him to the door, I needed a breath of fresh air, though that night's air was freezing. Luckily, the old man also had thick layers of fur and wool, which he offered us when he saw our scanty barbarian clothing.

"If you want to be useful stay here and watch the door," he said, turning his back on me, as he approached the road and trees, "make sure that no one goes near the shelter, is that clear?"

"Yes, sir."

He left creaking his footsteps in the snow, and I stared until I lost sight of him. What new danger was hiding in this mountain?

"Link, get inside, you're going to catch cold," Zelda said, poking her nose through the door.

"What about the others?"

"Fridd and Ardren sleep. Impa is not yet but will be soon."

Seeing that I wasn't moving from the spot, she went in to get one of the layers of wool and came out to stay with me.

"Are we talking about things that don't matter?" She whispered, resting her back against the facade of the house, like me.

"What about your famous Necluda wine? How is it possible that we've been in Necluda for days and haven't tried it yet?"

"Unforgivable, I know," she laughed, "it hasn't turned out the way we thought it'd be."

"No, it's a little different than filling my horn with wine from a barrel," I smiled.

We were silent for a while. There were still clouds in the sky, but there were also black holes into an infinite sky, where some stars were shinning.

"I'm glad you're not mad at me," she said, avoiding my eyes.

"I'm not," I whispered. She was a bit unsettling, but I couldn't get angry with her.

"I've noticed you a little distant, but maybe I've just imagined it, because we are good, right? I overthink everything, you know…"

"I guess I can't hide anything from you," I said, waving my head, then looked her in the eye to force her to do the same, "you have that kind of power over me."

"What power?" She laughed, shyly.

"Well, your power with everything. Even if I try hard I am unable to resist, I cannot hide anything from you. That's your power."

"You exaggerate..."

"I don't," I smiled at her ,"I'd be able to do anything you asked me to do, even if it was the most horrible thing in the world."

I saw her hesitate, even blush, and then frown thoughtfully.

"I would never ask you to do something horrible for me."

"I love you, Zelda."

Her reaction caught me by surprise. Something trembled on her and her eyes suddenly turned to glass to break into tears.

"Hey, I'm sorry, are you okay?" I held her shoulders, "I've long wanted to tell you, but as I'm clumsy maybe I haven't chosen the best moment."

"No, it's not that," she sobbed, striving in vain to stop the tears. I cupped her face and she took a breath, then gently put my hands away, "I've ruined it..."

"You're still in time to fix it," I joked, "besides, you don't have to answer anything if you don't feel it that way."

She took a breath and pulled herself together to look at me, though her eyes were still bright, filled with tears.

"There's something I haven't told you, Link," I looked at her quietly, and I let her take her time to talk, "I'm a worse person than you think. and... that may change your mind about me."

"There's nothing that can change my mind about you."

"I've hidden something very important from you, something I did when I was at Hyrule Castle. Gae insisted that we prowl around Kahen's quarters. I know it's not right, okay? I know what you're going to tell me about it. Believe me when I tell you I feel like a stupid, stupid kid for doing those things behind your back. And behind everyone's back, really, but... well, we took advantage of one of Father's assemblies to sneak into Kahen's quarters. And there I found a pouch of what I thought were Eyes of Death."

She raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at me to observe my reaction.. I just clenched my jaw without articulating a word.

"I told Impa and... she went with Kahen to Faron Woods for this reason, to keep a close eye on him. She hasn't discovered anything yet, if that's what you're wondering," she looked at me again, but I stood silent. "Impa asked me to come here, because she got the rumours about Mount Lanayru and because her sister lives in Kakariko and could help us to analyse what I found in my brother's quarters."

"So… do you know what it is?"

"Yes, they're the same mushrooms somebody used to poison me."

"He tried to kill you," I said.

"No, we don't know that, Link," she denied, frowning, "we don't know the real intent of all this."

"Okay," I sighed and swallowed all the rage again. I thought I'd be less upset to hear it again, but no, it bothered the same way.

"And... now I... ," she hesitated, "I feel like an idiot. I'm an idiot for not telling you but Kahen is my brother and... I know it's not the right thing to do, I haven't been nice to you, Link, I've dragged you along with me like a selfish... I'm an idiot..."

"You've already said that."

Tears escaped her eyes again. I stepped towards her and she buried her face against me. I hugged her and felt relieved, her touch always soothed me.

"I... I didn't act well, but I was afraid. I was just afraid of messing it all up again, Link. B-but… I should have told you…" she sobbed on my tunic.

"Right, I'd really like you to tell me. It hurts me that you didn't."

I thought I'd tell her I knew everything, but I had promised Impa that I wouldn't do such a thing, and I couldn't miss my word. She broke our hug, a little calmer.

"I'm so sorry," she said, sipping tears through her nose. It got a little swollen and red.

"Well, it's not that bad," I gave her a half-smile, "it hurts, but nothing changes."

"Nothing changes?"

"I still love you."

"Link, I-

"Go inside, quick."

I pushed her to slide into the cabin. I assumed it was the old man, who was back, but that's not what I saw. I put my hand to my belt and drew my hunting dagger. My sword was inside the cabin.

"Who's there?"

I saw two ice-blue eyes gleam. I took a few steps forward and a large wolf appeared out of the shadows, which made my hair stand on end. The animal didn't attack me, but when it saw me it turned and walked away. It stopped to look at me again. Did it want me to follow it?

"Link?" Zelda's voice asked, behind the cabin door.

"Stay there, damn it. It's just a hungry animal. I'm going to figure it out, I won't be long. Close the door and don't open anyone."

I grabbed one of the two lanterns that lit up the cabin, and followed the wolf. He was moving fast, climbing up a hill. When we got far enough away, I wanted to turn around, but the animal came back for me. I was sure he was looking at me "understanding", he didn't look like a wild animal, there was something else, and he didn't move from there until I didn't follow him uphill again.

It was very cold, increasingly as I got lost behind the wolf. I assumed that we were following the road of the pilgrimage, under the snow I noticed cobblestones composing a path, and the wolf knew perfectly where to move to make it safe, even with snow and darkness.

"Where are you taking me?" I asked him. It was so cold that my fingers and toes were freezing.

The wolf barked at me, gave me his answer somehow, and made me go on. Was that what the lost pilgrims had seen? If it was the wolf, I had to follow him to find the source of the mystery.

At last, he stopped at a huge elevation of ice. Was it ice? I had to blink twice to be sure, because it shone so bright that it was hard to understand if it was ice or glass. The wolf barked again, he wanted me to go in there.

In front of me, I found the Spring of Wisdom. It must have been that, although everything was frozen, and it was such a thick layer that you could walk over it without any problems. The stone statue of the Goddess (who looked nothing like the Goddess) was in the centre. I walked with very unsteady steps on the ice, almost slipping several times. And then I saw it. An opening in the icy peak of the mountain, the entrance to that icy crystal peak. I took a breath and stepped inside, as I remembered Zelda's map indicated. The wolf howled at my back and I felt a shiver run through me from head to toe.

I walked through the icy grotto, lantern held high, until I came to another door that led to a circular room. It was there on purpose, an artificial construction inside the mountain, nothing like a natural cave. Had the same people who made the fountain dug it?

"Who's there?" I asked, raising the light. I saw two blue eyes approaching again, but this time they were up to mine, "come on, say something, I see you."

"I see you," he replied.

I advanced towards the guy further and further. He was also carrying a lantern, and he was looking at me suspiciously. I put the lantern down and he did the same, in a gesture so similar to mine that I thought we were doing it in unison."

"This isn't a game, man."

"This isn't a game, man"

He was wearing strange clothes, he looked like some kind of knight because he was wearing chain mail under his green tunic, and a strange hat, I had only seen children wear hats like that.

He drew his sword and I did the same gesture, reflexively, but I remembered that I only had my stupid hunting dagger with me, I cursed myself for it.

"That sword is..."

"That sword is..."

He attacked me. He jumped at me and I had to dodge him. He was agile and fast and after several movements the cold disappeared from all corners of my body. Hell, he was dangerous. His blade whistled near my ear a couple of times, but I managed to feint in time.

"Who are you? Why do you attack me?"

"My name is Link."

Fuck. The mountain was haunted. I rolled on the floor and had to use a dirty trick to get rid of my opponent, slapped on his feet and made him fall on his back. He slid down the icy ground and got lost in the dark. At that point, I had warmed up, huge clouds of steam were coming out of my mouth and nose.

I turned around and saw only one blue eye this time. He looked at me from the gloom, just as before. I made sure that my other adversary was still on the ground, but I saw nothing, only darkness. I knew I had to face the one-eyed man too, and I approached, this time more cautiously.

As I moved forward, I saw his image reflected in the ice crystal, and as I took a step, he appeared in front of me. He was blond, like the other one, and dressed very similarly. I could have sworn they were brothers, except that he had a dark patch covering his eye and looked older. I raised my hunting dagger in a defensive stance.

"Is that all? You'll never beat me with that."

"We'll see."

I used the same trick as with the other one, but he managed to guess it. He even laughed at me. The fight was much harder. One of his slashes managed to hit me, just a little, in the left shoulder. It wasn't a shallow wound, but it made my arm hurt like a thousand bolts of lightning. I couldn't move the same way. He kept laughing at me, but I tried my best to feint and dodge again and again. He stopped laughing. After a while of failed slashes from both of us, I felt my back drenched in sweat, my shirt and furs clinging to my body, but he was even more tired than I was. This was my chance. I moved fast and took advantage of his lack of vision to throw a slash that I think hit him. He recoiled in pain and was lost in the darkness, like the other one.

As I tried to compose myself, another pair of blue eyes appeared. My heart was about to burst, I needed to catch my breath, damn Or. But there was no margin, this time he advanced fast towards me. He was also wearing green, the same kind of strange clothes, the same sword, The Sword. He was taller than the others, and also wore a long red cloak that reached almost to his feet.

"I'm the first one," he said.

He attacked me mercilessly. The cut missed, but he threw a punch under my jaw that knocked me to the ground. I scrambled to my feet, trying to guess his weakness. The other two had clear weaknesses: the first his over-naivety, trusting a sword duel as if it were measured by rules. The second was his overconfidence, bordering on arrogance. But this guy was a mixture of the others, fighting with sword and fist with equal dexterity.

I got up and struggled with what strength I had left, but I was tired, I was sweating, my shoulder hurt. I was getting dizzy.

"I was expecting more. You're a disappointment."

"Shut up."

I kept throwing bites with my dagger, which he dodged, though I managed to land a punch that broke his lip. I smiled in triumph, but as I turned I saw that we were not alone, the other two had returned, and a growl at my back let me know that the wolf was no longer friendly.

"It's unfair," I smiled wryly, "all against me?"

"It's always unfair," said the one with the red cloak.

"You're running out of time," said the one-eyed man.

"Look to the past to understand the future, Link," the youngest said.

They hit me hard. They took turns doing it, maybe they wanted to prolong my agony. The wolf had bitten my leg and now I was limping. With no shoulder and no leg I was a dead man. The one-eyed man enjoyed the blows the most. He picked me up again and again, only to kick or shove me to the ground again.

"You're not worthy..." He repeated, laughing at me.

In one of his thrusts, I slammed into one of the ice walls, and his laughter came to a screeching halt. He paled as if I had punched him in the stomach, why? I hit the ice and he bent in half, hurting, but I hadn't even come close. I turned and saw my image in the ice like in a mirror. Like in a mirror...

"Of course!"

Now I was the one laughing. They were all the same, similar images of each other. And they had come out of the ice, out of the mirror. That was the real enemy. I started hitting the ice walls, breaking them, and watched them writhe on the ground, unable to attack me. Even the wolf howled, cried like a wounded puppy. They disappeared when the ice was unable to reflect anything.

"I've beaten you, bastards."

A warm feeling came to me, and I let myself be embraced by it. I closed my eyes.

"I've beaten you…"

Note:

Some of my Spanish-speaking readers told me that this was their favourite chapter. I know some of you are following the story, I'm not sure if you like it or not, but I hope you enjoy this chapter as my readers did.

Stay safe,

-Juliet.