Chapter 6
Nothing could describe the look on Marin's face. Not shocked, not even upset...but so amort, so despairing and abject. She didn't even have to see his body to know her father's fate. The shreds of fabric, the hot, sticky blood on the ground, a wooden bucket, all its contents scattered about aimlessly...
"I don't believe it," she whispered, absolutely calm, as a port before a storm. "What do you think got him, Link?"
"I'm not sure," Link muttered in response, he knew she'd soon break down.
"What ever happened?" her voice wavered as she choked back tears.
"I'm so sorry." It was all that he could think of to say. Her father was everything she'd ever had.
"It's just not fair. He never did anything to anyone." Her breathing became uneven, trembling and rapid.
"I..." Nothing would console her, she was beyond the point where soothing words would help in the least.
"What the hell is this?" Her voice was soft, but filled with regret and hatred. "I thought everything that happened had a purpose. There is no reason behind this."
"Ganondorf doesn't need a reason to hurt...to kill..."
"Bastard," Marin glared at the devastation about her. "When you kill him Link, be sure it's slow. Be sure it's painful. And be sure he knows what it feels like to battle for your life."
Link stared at her. He didn't think Marin was capable of such hate.
She gathered up the tattered garments, the spilled mushrooms and plants, placing them in the bucket with utmost care. Her voice cracked with concern, her eyes clouded, but she did not cry. Not a single tear.
"For me to cry, to grieve would be like giving in to that tyrant," she muttered, trying to convince herself of that, so that she wouldn't break down. "I won't do that. I can't do that...it would be so..." she pressed her lips together, turned around and walked out of the forest. She would never return there. No matter what happened, she'd never go there again.
"Come on. We have to find Ganondorf," Link led her down the rolling paths, back to the shores, which were quickly disappearing.
"Where do you think he'll be?" Marin asked, her voice still shaking.
"Hiding. He's a coward deep down, but my guess would be the cliffs. Difficult to reach, and easy to fall from in case of battle."
They climbed up the jagged rocks, until they reached the dark caverns of the mountain.
"Marin, duck!" Link yelled, shoving her to the ground just an arrow whizzed by her head.
"What was that?" she panted, still kneeling on the rocks beneath her.
"We must be near. Prepare to fight," Link drew his sword. Marin's eyes widened as she clumsily took out the crossbow, fitting an arrow into the thick string.
Lizalfos.
Maybe ten...Maybe 20...Maybe 100...
It was impossible to tell.
Link felt his heart beating rapidly in his chest. He spun on his heels just in time to knock a Lizalfo to the ground with a quick swipe of his sword. His head pounded as about ten of them clustered about him, swords drawn. His concentration was broken by Marin's constant screaming, and the entire situation was looking dire. He was outnumbered by...a lot. Link wiped his forehead, slashing at a Lizalfo and stabbing through its armor. He sliced another's hand, causing its weapon to clatter to the ground. Another down, and another. But it just wasn't enough!
"Marin! Are you alright?" Link gasped as he sliced another monster.
"I can't get the arrows to work!" she shrieked, "I've been hitting them on the head with this bow. It works well!"
Link rolled his eyes, almost laughing despite their current situation. He felt a sharp pain as a sword struck his face, slicing his skin cleanly, right down to his chin. He clenched his teeth, stumbling backwards.
Heroes don't cry.
They don't shriek in pain.
They fight.
And they win.
He swung at the nearby pack madly, letting the anger and pain take over his body. He felt sick and dizzy, drenched with his own sweat, and covered in blood, some his own, some of his enemies whom he was slaying.
"We can't keep this up much longer," he heard Marin's voice trilling across the battle.
"I know that, but we have to. It's not like his guards are just going to disappear! If we want to kill Ganondorf, we have to defeat these first!" Link grunted as he slaughtered another Lizalfo.
"Link, we have to get away from here! Lure them towards the cliffs, where we can escape," Marin gasped.
"Alright," Link muttered, relenting. He slowly backed up, luring the fiendish pack towards the edge, where him and Marin might have a chance of surviving. He felt the cold blade of a knife slicing across his back. Marin didn't seem to be having much trouble. The Lizalfos knew their true enemy, and it was him; the Hero of Time.
He edged towards Marin, his sword swiping vigorously all the while, till they were back to back, both surrounded.
"There's only one way to go from here," Link gulped.
"We're trapped."
Link flashed her a grin. "Not exactly..."
"But the only way to go is..." her voice trailed off, "down..."
"When I say go, Jump."
"It's suicide!" Marin whispered feverishly.
"So is staying here."
"Link...we can't...."
"Trust me." He held out his hand, as she grasped it tightly in hers. "One...Two...Three!"
Link took a step back, feeling only the air beneath his feet.
* * * *
Link groaned. His head was throbbing, his entire body was sliced, probably scarred permanently in places. But he was alive.
Marin, however, was unconscious. A large lump was on her forehead, black, blue and a thin trickle of blood leaked from the center.
"Marin, wake up," Link whispered gently.
She moaned softly, cringing, and then rolling over.
"It's alright. We're both alive," he examined himself, noting his current state, "At least mostly."
Marin fluttered her eyes, opening them cautiously. "Where are we?"
"You passed out from the fall. So did I, but I woke up first I guess. It's already getting dark again," he rubbed his head, trying to knock some sense into himself.
"Link I..."she broke off, gasping, "You're so...hurt..." she whispered, caressing the side of his face.
"I've been hurt worse then this. I'm fine. But are you?" He rose to his feet, and helped Marin up. She clenched her fists in anguish.
"I'm sore all over," she groaned.
"At least we're not dead. Those Lizalfos would have killed us," Link paused, "We'll rest up and try it again tomorrow."
"What?" Marin yelped, eyeing him to see if he'd been jesting.
"If we go during the day there will be far less guards. Any minions of Ganondorf don't do as well in sunlight as in darkness."
"We were almost killed!" Marin exclaimed.
"Listen, the water's rising more quickly every hour. If we aren't killed by those creatures, we'll be drowned. So are you with me or not?"
"I..." Marin glared at him, faltering, "Yes, I'm with you."
"Great. Let's get to sleep. And we rise first thing tomorrow, if you want to stand any chance with those Lizalfos you'd better learn how to handle a bow and arrow. Clobbering them on the head isn't to effective," he grinned at her.
"Would you care to test that?" she giggled, raising the bow above her head and advancing towards Link.
"Ahh...I'll take your word for it..."he smiled apologetically.
"Come, we must tend to your wounds," she looked down at her dress, her legs, her hands, all covered in grime, streaked with dirt, splotched with blood. "And mine."
Link nodded, breathing in the sharp, morning air. He felt like the entire island was alive, not troubled, just as it had always been. Yet he had an unsettling feeling that he himself was, and that soon enough this would all be over. And whether that was good or bad, Link hadn't a clue.
Chapter 7
Link woke up covered in a cold sweat. Something was dreadfully wrong, he felt the impending doom in his gut. No matter how many times he rolled over, changed his position, or rearranged the covers something would not let him rest. Fear, most likely.
He heard the low rumble of thunder in the distance. It matched his mood, and the situation at hand. Pushing off the thick coverings, he stood up and walked to the door. He slowly turned the knob, cautiously listening to the creaking of its hinges, the patter of the rain, even the subtle rolling of the morning mists. Why did he feel so ill-omened?
The sight that met his eyes shocked him to the core.
He knew he would confront Ganondorf that day, because whenever the evil man was near all the elements seemed to go into a rage, tossing, binding together, and becoming wicked.
All he could see was darkness.
Brewing clouds, pitch black, and even darker waters.
Midnight black.
Everywhere.
The salty ocean swirled about his feet, just dampening the soles of his boots. The island was sinking. It was dropping into the churning waters so quickly that he could feel the movement. Even the oblivious people of Koholint could not ignore it. He could hear shouts and cries in every direction. Cries of distress, cries for help...
And he was the only one who could silence them.
He slammed the door.
"Marin! Get up now!" he muttered, shaking her desperately.
"Link? It's the middle of the night, go back to sleep," she murmured drowsily, rubbing her eyes and rolling over.
Link breathed, trying urgently to stay composed. "We're sinking. Fast. We have to go find Ganondorf or we're all going to drown."
"That's nice but..."she broke off. "What did you say?"
"You heard me Marin, and I don't have time to sit here explaining it to you. We have to go now," Link gasped.
Marin choked back any words, flinging the blanket off of her and practically falling from her bed in her haste. She stumbled outside, practically dragging Link out with her, but released him at once upon seeing the island...upon seeing her island.
She swallowed hard. Swallowing her fears, her emotions, her feelings, and only allowing her hatred for Ganondorf to rise to the surface.
The rocks were slippery with the freshly falling rain, making it difficult to clamber up them, and grip the surfaces. But they managed to make it to the cliffs atop, soaked to their very skin. Link's bangs matted to his forehead, obstructing his view. Marin's dress clung to her skin, outlining her slender form. By the time they reached the caverns they were both breathless and panting heavily.
"Stay alert. You never know when he'll appear," Link warned her grimly, wrapping his hands around the sword forcefully.
"What do we do if we see him?" Marin whimpered.
"We fight to the death."
She felt her mouth go dry.
And then she felt a cold, sharpness at her throat. She gasped.
Link spun about. "Let her go!" he whispered, his voice full of menace.
Someone had a hold of her waist. And there was a knife only inches away from her throat. Marin saw her entire life flashing before her eyes. And she broke down.
"Let me go! You killed my father! You ravaged an entire land without giving it a thought! You've ruined my beautiful island! Let go of me this instant," she growled, her voice racked with a mixture of fury and tears.
She knew it was Ganondorf. The cold grasp. The twisted feel of him. She didn't have to think twice. She didn't even have to see him.
"I said leave her alone. Your battle's with me, not her," Link snarled, advancing steadily.
"One more move and I'll slit her throat, Hylian," Ganondorf scoffed, speaking for the first time. His voice was piercing, sharp and icy.
Link froze.
"I dare you," Marin murmured, struggling under his grasp. "What will you gain from it? One more death, one more life taken? Link can still defeat you, and you know that. You may take my life, but you'll never take his."
She stifled a scream as he slit her down the side of her face, drawing clean, scarlet blood from her skin.
"Stop it," Link said through clenched teeth, his breathing growing more and more nervous.
He cut the other side of her face, sharper, deeper...Marin bit her lip. She would not cry out.
"One more move..."Ganondorf whispered savagely.
"Don't be a coward! Stop killing the innocent. I'm the one responsible for you're fate. I'm the one who had you banished forever. I stole your power, your dreams, your entire kingdom. I defeated you, Ganondorf."
He let go of Marin, shoving her to the ground with the tip of his sword, slicing across her back, ripping the her dress, tearing her skin. She doubled over in pain.
"Fuck you!" Link lunged forward, swinging his weapon viciously.
"Rather high strung for a hero, aren't you?" Ganondorf pointed his sword at Link.
"How the hell did you get to Koholint?" Link snapped.
"Why, through my dreams of course."
"You don't dream. You're not capable of rest and slumber," Link's eyes became slits in his face.
"You will be put to death tonight," Ganondorf retorted, moving closer to Link, waving his sword in threatening circles.
Link swallowed, not saying a word. Maybe he would, but maybe he wouldn't. He glanced down at his feet to see the icy ocean water splashing over them.
"We'll all be drowned!" he growled, "You will too! Stop it!"
"As long as you die, I don't care about myself," Ganondorf smirked.
"Come over here and fight," Link stood still, his eyes locked with Ganondorf's.
"I'll make you a deal. One that you can't refuse."
"And what's that?" Link asked, not moving an inch.
Ganondorf turned around swiftly, lifting Marin clear off the sodden ground.
"Leave her alone! This is between you and me!" Link yelled over the now roaring waters.
"I'm ready to kill this girl," Ganondorf whispered, pointing the sword straight at her chest, "But I'll tell you what. Your life or hers? The choice is yours."
Link gaped at him. It was impossible...he shuddered. He'd lost Marin once and he wasn't about to let it happen again. "Will it save Koholint?"
"The island will rise again."
"Don't do it Link! I'm not worth it. Kill him and you'll be saved, as will my island," Marin sobbed, her breath coming in uneven gasps. Ganondorf dug the sword into her skin, just deep enough to draw blood.
"Alright!" Link dropped his sword, letting it clatter to the ground.
"A wise choice, hero of time," he kept his hold on Marin, but sheathed his sword. Link walked over, walking to his death He thought of Zelda, of Hyrule, of his entire amazing life, and he realized what a difference he'd made. Though few knew of his sacrifice, his bravery and courage, he'd saved his world, and he was now saving another. The only cost for this heroic act was his existence. It was a small price to pay in reality.
"Any final requests?" Ganondorf asked contemptuously.
"Only that you'll never escape from that hell your trapped in. And that no other world shall ever to have to suffer from your wrath," Link growled. "How do I know you won't hurt Marin after I'm gone?"
"You have my word."
"That means nothing. Let her go and I'll give you my word," Link's voice was low, "And my life."
"You're word means nothing to me."
"I give you my word as the hero of time," Link knelt down, removing his hat.
Ganondorf nodded. "Very well, but if you so much as move, I'll sink this island completely, and you'll all be killed."
"I won't budge," Link whispered.
Ganondorf thrust Marin away, sending her sprawling onto the ground. She didn't even feel her hatred for him...only feeling her longing to take Link into her arms...to tell him...
She knew it would be no use. She felt her mouth opening, to shriek, maybe to whisper, maybe just to cry out, but nothing came out. She recoiled in horror as she watched Ganondorf raise his sword above him, and as she watched Link bowing his head in defeat.
Feedback! Next part will be the end finally...^_^