Epilogue
It was the birds' singing that finally awoke him. A confused look around him and he finally realised that he was underneath a bush. Confused, he roughly shoved his way out of it and stared around. Beyond him and around a vast landscape spread. Behind was a medium sized stone wall running in front of it a small river. Acting as a bridge was the drawbridge that linked a path and the gap in the rock defence. Away from the path fields stretched, in some directions further then he could see. A small ranch seemed to lie in the middle of it all.
Hyrule, he realised with a start.
Shocked he got to his feet. He felt terrible, and from the way his clothes were torn, probably looked terrible. But somehow he felt like he was finally home again.
"What happened to you?"
Malon was standing there, looking down at him with her hands full of the milk she always took on her regular early round. Maybe technically she was looking up, as she was shorter than he was, but it certainly didn't feel that way. Her face looked like she wasn't sure whether to be amused or shocked.
"I..."
Even his voice didn't feel right, and he really wished the light wasn't so bright.
"I mean when I saw you last night with Saria I thought you were drinking too much..."
The earth seemed to lurch and with a jolt it all came back. He suddenly ran past her, not even stopping to wave back. The pain in his head was gone, but it was already replaced by something much worse. The ground disappeared under his feet like it never had done before without using a horse, but still each step felt too slow.
He took the bridge into the Kokiri woods with two jumps and then almost frantically scrambled through the woods of his old home. One or two Kokiri were up already, and stared curiously at him. He didn't care what they thought.
He flung her door open, and then his eyes finally fell on her bed. Slowly he walked the last few steps up to beside it. Stupidly he smoothed his hair, as if he was being respectful for a funeral.
There she lay, tidily under the covers and her eyes restfully closed. Gradually he pulled back the sheets, but there was no wound there on her body. She could have died restfully in her sleep.
The room seemed massive without the giant statue that had previously dominated it so well.
That was Tai's first thought when she found herself kneeling in the main chamber of the Spirit Temple. The second was full of astonishment, but pleasure, as she saw the people standing where the god's stone form had been. The remains of Nurai's population from the Kalen Fortress stood awkwardly in its place, most of them staring around in wonder or trying to calm the children. Around fifty in all.
Raymus walked slowly forward from them, and she could see that he limped badly. He too must have been too injured to join the last charge. "Is this Hyrule?" he asked carefully.
She nodded wearily. The last charge – Bren.
"He didn't make it," she said. It was almost not a question.
Raymus shook his head sadly. "Nobody but us made it. Where is this?"
"The Spirit Temple," she replied, her breath a slight whisper. "We can rest a while if you want, but then we'll have to cross the desert. Its not far if you know the way."
The name of the Spirit Temple inspired slight recognition in his eyes. He had heard of it before somehow.
In the end it turned out that none of them, not even the children, really wanted to just wait there. As they all decided that it would be better for them to move somewhere more comfortable she led them the easiest way she knew out of the old building. Crossing the desert everyone seemed to find surprisingly easy. She supposed wearily that it was nothing compared to what they had all been through in the last few days. In the end it didn't take long to reach the Gerudo Fortress, and when she did so she quickly got those stationed there to awaken the others. Soon the refugees were bundled into welcoming homes.
Raymus and a few other appointed leaders rode with two of Tai's friends towards the Castle. They needed to meet the ruling body there and to discuss what was to happen. Places would needed to be found for the newly lost people, even if Hyrule was unaware of all that had just happened.
Tai decided not to go with them – she had something else she wanted to do. She found another horse, quickly saddled it, and then made her own way across the central green fields.
You couldn't have done anything for him even if you had gone.
Rein. Rein was in her head. Proof, if any other proof was needed that Bren had died.
"Did he die well?" she asked quietly.
He died saving you and everyone else.
She nodded. That sounded about right. Her horse finally came to the entrance into the woods and she quickly galloped on in. To her surprise she didn't find the usual guard standing watch that she was expecting. In fact the woods as a whole were deserted. Not worried quite yet she followed the path along through the strange wooden homes. She had a feeling that she knew where they would be.
When she came into the clearing where the Deku Tree stood she found out that her suspicions had been right. All of the Kokiri were sitting there, in a solemn semicircle around the old tree. Just in front of it was a patch of recently disturbed grass, and besides that Link sat. Finally free of all responsibilities.
As he saw her, Link nodded, and then looked slowly back to the ground again. Gently he pulled out his ocarina and put it softly his mouth. Then, after a moment of hesitation, he began to play the song that so long ago Saria had taught him.
Tai stayed with him for several minutes as he played, and then respectfully made her way of the forest. Even as she crossed the bridge she could still hear the eerily haunting melody behind her. She shook her head to try and get rid of it, and then rode determinedly on.
But back in the forest Link kept playing, for while he played she didn't seem dead. And at last he stopped, and he had to accept it.
It was over.