Dramatis Lyricae
Part Three: Lullaby
By Indigo Lafayette
(*)
Suddenly
Things become unsound
Stumbling
On the shaky ground
Given arrows to shoot tornadoes down
Shoot them down
To the ground
~Barenaked Ladies, 'Hidden Sun'
(*)
The Temple of Time is eerily silent as I stand waiting for Link. He has finally awakened the Six Sages, and the time has come for him to learn who Sheik really is. I have spent seven long years waiting for this moment….I can finally begin my quest to take Hyrule back from Gannondorf's malicious hands. Once shut away in the Sacred Realm, Gannondorf will never be able to threaten my people's safety ever again….and life can finally return to normal.
At least….life on this path can return to normal.
I know that, should Link, the Sages, and I succeed at banishing the Evil King, Link must be sent back to his original time. He has missed seven years of his life, years that would have been better had they been spent growing up. Though he is nearly eighteen to the world, inside he is a scared eleven-year-old boy who has been forced to accept responsibilities that an adult would have been terrified to accept. He is infinitely worthy to bear the mark of the Triforce of Courage; He is, indeed, Farore's Child.
I also understand, now that all this has come to pass, that I have tampered with power I barely understood as a child. I was naïve to think that I could prevent Gannondorf from obtaining the Triforce by myself. Using Link was, at the time, a good idea, but I had no idea that he would be locked away from the world for seven years. I feel responsible for robbing him of those years. I have made many mistakes, and in making those mistakes, I know I must see them through to fruition. I have no choice but to send Link home.
Another fear I cannot help but feeling is that Gannondorf may know what is going on. He may be waiting to strike, like a snake coiled to attack an unsuspecting mouse. I pray that we have the slightest advantage over him…but I know I must keep a clear mind. Wishful thinking, as Impa told me, can get someone killed. If only this were simple enough to achieve without threatening anymore lives. I would gladly stand in the position Link will have to be in soon, if I were the one chosen to be there. Alas, I have my part to play in destiny's play….and Link has his.
With this running through my mind, I hear the massive door to the Temple open. Link has come….and the moment of truth draws nigh. Taking cover in the shadows of this remaining bastion against the Evil King, I wait for Link to enter. He does, out of breath from his run. I take a few moments to study the man-child who is to save us all…I may not see the end of this travail. With a last, silent deep breath, I step out into the meager light of the Temple of Time. Here goes nothing, I think.
"I have been waiting for you, Hero of Time."
My voice echoes off the walls of the cathedral, and Link turns. He faces me as Sheik for the last time in this adventure. The time has come….and I will not look back.
(*)