Asuriel returned to her room, quiet disheartened after speaking with Impa. She had not verbally expressed her anxiety about the girl's predicament, but Asuriel could sense that she felt it nonetheless. She had done her best to explain everything to her guardian, the reason she guided Link, why she stayed with him, and her ultimate decision to save his life. The young Impa seemed rather displeased, it was clear that she did not take to Link in a good manner. Now, they were discussing what they would do with her to keep her safe.

She could hear them from where she lay on her bed. Besides some talk about Hylia, the conversation was always about her. Her safety, her training, her happiness. Asuriel appreciated their concern, but this was no longer about her; she was to be part of something bigger. It was not about her safety, but Hylia's. She sprang from her bed and rushed out to speak her mind.

"Impa!"

Both turned to look at her.

"I want to go to the Eldin Province. I don't want to stay here and hide away when Her Grace is fulfilling her duties. My place is by her side, and it is where I want to be. She comes before me, so you cannot make me stay, you cannot refuse to let me go. Please Impa."

They were silent and in deep contemplation. A tear slipped down the elderly Impa's cheek and Asuriel knew she was going to the province.

"I wanted to protect you Asuriel, but I see now that you must go."

...

The temperature near the volcano was blistering. Asuriel had been used to the cool, shaded Faron woods, so she was quite hot in this new climat. Beside her, Impa gazed at the doors leading to the Earth Temple.

"Asuriel, as much as I do not want to leave you, I must find the Hero and tell him to make haste to this temple. Go on ahead to the spring and help Her Grace, I will be there shortly."

The girl nodded and pushed through the massive doors, which clanged shut behind her. The temple was infested with monsters just as the Skyview had been. Not just forest dwelling creatures, but ones that belched fire. Large dragon heads adorned the walls and spewed liquid flames that burned in rivers, slowly flowing to the heart of the Temple. Asuriel had never seen such a substance before, yet she was wary enough to not touch it.

Dodging the many creatures in the temple was tricky, but Impa had worked with her on her stealth. She passed through a final set of double doors. After ascending a flight of stairs, she found Hylia, guarded by bokoblins and chained to the ground. A plan developed in her mind. From the mogmas, she had learned that monsters like bokoblins had a weakness from treasure, especially shiny things. Taking a deep breath and focusing, Asuriel created fairy lights and blew them towards to guards. As she suspected, they were enthralled with them and followed them a little ways away from Hylia.

"Your Grace!"

The girl was careful to speak quietly, but she was overjoyed to see Hylia.

"Give me a moment to free you."

Asuriel summoned another light, guiding it inside the lock and then making grow, effectively undoing the lock. Now freed, Zelda rose and thanked Asuriel, but they did not have time to celebrate. Even behind the heavy doors, Asuriel heard the sound of a bokoblin screeching excitedly. Along with that, she heard a voice that chilled her bones.

"Stop that infernal noise and just show me where the spirit maiden is."

There was no doubt. Ghirahim was moments from bursting through the door. Now heedless of the distracted bokoblins, the girls ran past them and dropped down onto the long, sloped walkway before the golden door at the other side of the room. The doors swung open and the girls huddled against the wall of the drop off in order to less easily be seen.

Asuriel could feel the demon lord's mood turn sour as he found that Hylia was gone.

"You!"

He shouted at the bokoblins, who had returned to their posts.

"Where is she? Weren't you guarding her?!"

The monsters screeched in an apology and held out the fairy light that they had caught. Ghirahim stared at it and took it in his hand.

"I wonder..."

It was at that moment that Asuriel sneezed. All heads snapped in that direction and the demon's smirk returned to him.

"Perhaps," he smiled, "they have not left yet."

In a second, Zelda had reacted and ran up the slope, soon followed by Asuriel. They were immediately spotted by Ghirahim, who ran forward, but was stopped by someone. Impa had come! She held him back while the two girls reached the door and passed through to the spring.

"Your Grace, I'm so sorry that I was late. If I had come earlier, you would not have been in such danger."

Hylia smiled kindly as she replied, "I should be the one apologizing to you."

"What?"

"If I hadn't gotten caught, you would not have had to risk yourself to save me."

"Thank you, Your Grace."

As Asuriel helped Hylia prepare to bathe in the spring, she felt happy knowing that she could be of use.

"Asuriel, I know you want to serve me, but I would really like Link to know that I am safe. Can you find him and tell him that?"

"Of course, are you sure that I can leave you here?"

"Don't worry about me, just help Link get to this place."

Asuriel nodded and exited the spring. Outside it, she found Impa. Her arms were crossed and she was glaring across the room at nothing in particular.

"Her Grace wants me to help Link."

Impa frowned. "Watch out for that demon, he's in a bad temper after you rescued Her Grace."

Asuriel nodded and departed to find the Hero. It was not long until she spotted him.

"Link."

"Asuriel! Where did you go, I thought we were going to meet at the entrance to the temple."

"I'm sorry, Impa had to take me back to the Sealed Temple."

"Impa?"

"A friend of mine."

"Anyways," the boy ran up to Asuriel and gave her a hug," I missed you."

"I missed you too, Link. Come on, I know the way to the spring, and Her Grace-, I mean, Zelda is waiting there."

The two continued to make their way through the temple. As before, Asuriel led the way and Link fought against the many monsters.

"This is the last door. Do have have that strange looking key?"

"Yeah," replied Link. Taking it in her hands, Asuriel rotated it until it fit in the lock that had appeared since she was last there. It clicked and the doors swung open with an ominous creak. They passed by the place Hylia was held and dropped down onto the same path that led to the spring. About halfway up, they heard laughter sound from somewhere in the room. Ghirahim was standing on top of a giant dragon head.

"Oh, it's you. Let me see... no that's not it. This is so very embarrassing, but I seem to be at a loss for your name. Not that it matters, really. To tell you the truth, I'm feeling a bit frustrated, and right now I just need someone to vent to. I heard my underlings had finally captured the Spirit Maiden, so of course I rushed over here. What can I say? I was excited, flustered even...

But what did I find when I arrived? That agent of the goddess...

She had once again...

You see, what I'm trying to say is ...

THAT GODDESS SERVING DOG ESCAPED WITH THE GIRL!

I MUST have the spirit maiden in order to resurrect my master, I MUST HAVE HER!

... I got a little carried away there, didn't I? I don't deal well with... complications to plans I've laid out so carefully. It's a character flaw of mine. Ah, but something good can still come out of this day! I've had all this bottled-up anger smoldering inside me, and now I can release it. There's someone special I'd like you to meet. Oh, don't be shy. I need to vent all this unhealthy anger, and your agony is the perfect stress reliever. It won't take more than a few moments with my friend before you are charred to a satisfying crisp. And let me tell you, that will put a spring in my step!"

With that, the demon snapped his fingers and disappeared in an array of diamonds. Asuriel only had time to glance worriedly at Link before she felt her wrists being seized and pulled behind her back. Link yelled in surprise to see the demon holding on to his friend.

"I forgot to mention," Ghirahim smirked, "last time, Skychild, your little friend here caused a few issues for me by interfering with our sport. I hope you don't mind if I take her with me for a while. But don't worry, I'll return her later." With a cruel laugh, the Demon Lord teleported with Asuriel in his grasp, taking her with him to the top of the dragon head. Meanwhile, she continued to struggle and attempt to pull away.

"Let go of me!"

"No, you have caused enough trouble for me. Oh look, there's my friend."

Asuriel watched in horror as a rock transformed into a blazing monster. Behind her, she could hear Ghirahim chuckle as Link ran away from it, trying to discover its weakness before he was burned alive. She felt the hands that restrained her wrists let go, only to feel a pair of arms come around her like immovable iron bars. She was quite literally trapped in the demon's embrace.

Watching intently, Asuriel discovered the creature's weakness. "Link! When it opens its mouth, use the-" she was abruptly silenced by a gloved hand covering her mouth.

"Now, now, no helping." Came the playful chiding. Still, the Hero was able to discover the girl's meaning and he threw a bomb into the monster's open mouth. Ghirahim growled in frustration, not noticing his increasing grip on his captive until she let out a cry resulting from being crushed. This caught both Link's and Ghirahim's attention, which the demon decided to use to his advantage. He could use the girl to distract Skychild.