Darkness Awakening
She had finally gotten through to them. It was all right. She and Dalan could marry! They could finally be together! Zelda almost did a dance before the Sages. Ruto, Saria, Impa and Nabooru were all smiling at her. The only ones who hadn't been happy with the decision were Darunia and Rauru. They were not so sure about the situation. But Zelda didn't care. She was happy.
No, happy wasn't the word. She was ecstatic! She had to tell Dalan the good news and begin the ceremony. It didn't matter whether the Chancellor and her Father agreed or not with the decision. It was hers to make and she and Dalan would finally be together as husband and wife. No more hiding!
She rushed to Dalan and told him the news. She told them they would marry as soon as possible. Her father didn't even have to know until it was too late. Dalan only shook his head and smiled. He let her guide him to the Temple of Time to be introduced to the Sages.
And the Ceremony of their Joining began.
* * *
Link and Rhaea had sneaked into the palace and were searching for this hidden door. Luckily, no one but the guards Link was familiar with had seen them enter. The only problem they truly had was trying to find the door in the midst of this great castle. Link had no idea where to begin looking. It wasn't until they'd already searched most of the castle that he began to get frustrated. The only secret passages he knew were the one Zelda had shown him when they were children.
Link growled in frustration at another dead end when they reached the dungeon. The only passage there was the one that Zelda had used once to free him when the Chancellor had locked him in the dungeon. Link shook his head.
"I have no idea how we're going to find this passageway, Rhaea. There are so many in the castle, but I know them all, but I can't find the hidden one that will lead us to the Prophecy room." Link shook his head in frustration.
Rhaea smiled and placed her palms facing each other. Her mouth moved in silent words as her hands began to glow, a shimmering orb forming between her palms. Link turned and faced the faery woman. A glowing wind emerged from the stone ground and lifted her into the air as her mouth continued to move silently. Tiny orbs of blue light spun gleaming about her until they all merged with the orb between her hands with a bright flash of light. Link blinked as the orb of light shifted forward and began to lead the way down the hall of the dungeon.
Link turned back to Rhaea as she began to follow the orb. Link lifted an eyebrow. "What did you do?"
Rhaea smiled and continued going after the ball of light, Link following her. "I created a light orb that will lead us to where there is powerful magic. That should lead us to the room where the Legend of Zelda is written."
Link shook his head. "If you could do that, why didn't you do that before, so we wouldn't have had to search the entire castle?"
Rhaea smiled as they continued down the hall. "The spell only lasts so long. If I had created the orb when we entered, we would have drawn unnecessary attention and it would have faded by now. Plus, there is powerful magic in the castle. Probably Zelda's magic, but the seeking orb would not have known the difference. That would not have gotten us anywhere."
Link smiled as they turned a corner and faced a barred door. The orb stood before it, almost as if it were upset at the blockage. Link took out his sword in preparation of whatever lay behind the door, as Rhaea whispered a spell that sent the door opening. The orb passed through and when Link had made sure nothing was sure to jump out at them, he motioned for Rhaea to follow.
Behind the door was small room. A dungeon. Yet the orb had flown to a corner and was shimmering insistently. Rhaea and Link rushed to the orb and felt around for any notches that would open it. Link felt something like a carving or indentation in one of the stone. He pressed it forward and the corner of the wall shifted back and toward the side, allowing them passage.
The orb flew down the dark stair in a rush. Link and Rhaea could only follow it, the stench of evil magic growing more and more as they approached the bottom of the stairway. Rhaea created a magical flame that lit their way as they proceeded downward. Link, sword drawn, was prepared for any unexpected attack. The dark scent of evil magic was growing more and Link tensed in preparation of anything. This is what he had felt that day on the beach as the storm blew in. This is the evil stench and presence he knew was coming.
Why was it called the Legend of Zelda?
Link stopped abruptly. Rhaea looked over his shoulder to see what had affected him in such a way. The bottom of the stairs could be seen. The seeking orb Rhaea had created was glowing insistently at a door that seemed to be sealed shut. Beside it, glowing with the light reflected off the orb, was a man. His white beard hung to the top of his chest, the jagged ends of it showing that it had been cut in the darkness by a knife. His long white hair hung down to his knees and was held in a queue at the base of his neck. The black clothes covered with years of filth reeked and the sword at his side seemed as ancient as he appeared. He was staring at the orb in confusion, until he felt the presence of another light. Rhaea stared in fascination as the old man looked up and his eyes widened as he gazed at them. Rhaea stifled a gasp. The stormy blue eyes of the old man bore her.
Link finally regained his composure as he finished going down the steps of the stairs. The radiant orb faded away and the only light left was the glow of Rhaea's magic made fire. The old man drew his sword with a steady hand as he gazed at the two before him. Link gripped his blade as he met the old man's gaze.
When the man spoke his voice was sure and strong, though raspy. It was almost as if he had not used it for years. "Go no further, trespassers. Behind me lies great evil and none is to pass here without asking for a brutal death."
Rhaea saw Link stiffen. She could almost see the thoughts in his mind wondering why the voice of the man before him seemed familiar and awakened old dreams. Link shook his head from the strange thoughts and his eyes narrowed. He took a step toward the man.
"We are not trespassers, guard. I am the Hero of Hyrule and have come to destroy the evil before it can destroy the world. I sensed its presence several days ago and have been seeking it out to destroy it. Let us through. We only seek to eliminate the evil."
The man let out a rusty laugh. Rhaea could see that this man was not as old as he appeared. His aging appearance is only because he has been guarding evil for so long in the depths of darkness. Rhaea stepped forward as the man finished his laughter. But before he could speak, she did.
"Please, sir. I am Rhaea and this is Link. We have searched for this evil so it can be destroyed. The Princess Zelda is in danger because of this prophecy and we must find a way to prevent this evil. Please, sir. Let us by. And if you are the one who speaks the Forbidden Language—the man called Korin—then help us decipher the words engraved on those walls. We cannot let the evil escape into Hyrule."
Both Link and the man stiffened.
The man stared at the woman with the shimmering wings in confusion. "How do you know my name, lady? And what did you call this warrior? What is his name?"
Link closed his eyes and trembled. Rhaea put a comforting hand on his shoulder. He held it for a moment and straightened. He met the man's eyes. "I see the Great Tree was telling the truth. The warrior Korin was still guarding this door for he was the last of the lineage of those who understood the Forbidden Language." Link smiled ruefully. "What a place for a reunion." He took a step forward and stared into the old man's eyes, the same shade as Link's, at eye level, for they were the same height. "I am Link, the Hero of Hyrule. Raised by the Great Tree in the Kokiri Village when my mother Leylia died before it. I am the son of Korin and Leylia of the Hylians."
Korin's eyes showed surprise, disbelief and then happiness. Sheer joy. Korin took a step forward staring at the son he had thought he lost so long ago. "The Hero of Hyrule?" he whispered hoarsely as his eyes traveled over Links appearance and the Master Sword in Link's grip. His eyes glistened with unshed tears as he let the memories overwhelm him. "I thought you were dead."
Link smiled at his father, unshed tears in his own eyes. "There were many times when I should have been. But somehow I always manage to succeed." Korin smiled brilliantly and embraced the son he had not seen since he was an infant. Link hugged him in return, remembering only the elusive scent of his father and the kindness in his voice that had always stayed with Link in his dreams.
Rhaea wiped the tears from her eyes at the moment before her. But she suddenly stiffened as a wave of evil passed from beyond the sealed door. Both Link and his father felt it also. Link turned to his father desperately. "Father. Zelda is a childhood friend of mine. When the Great Tree told me about the Legend of Zelda—the prophecy—I knew it was the evil I had felt several days ago. I need to see what the Legend is. I have to find a way to stop the evil. I have to see what this prophecy predicts for Hyrule and Zelda."
Korin nodded. He lifted his gaze toward his son. "But be warned. There is great evil in this place. If you even doubt its power, you will be destroyed."
Link and Rhaea nodded. Korin turned to the door and with several words, spoken in a language that neither Link nor Rhaea could understand, the door creaked open, the evil presence spilling out over them. Rhaea trembled and Link put his arms about her as they followed his father inside. And with several words, spoken in a language that neither Link nor Rhaea could understand, the door creaked open, the evil presence spilling out over them. Rhaea trembled and Link put his arms about her as they followed his father inside.
Rhaea's still gleaming magical flame was the only light in the dark room. Korin led them through a maze of walls to a glistening wall of black shiny basalt. Before it lay the bones of those who dared to doubt the evil. The engravings on it glowed with evil power. Link nodded to his father. They needed to know what the Legend said.
"In a time of magic and power, an imprisoned force of evil will be set free. Zelda, the most powerful of the Sages—the Seventh Sage—will merge her soul with that of the Eighth Sage. This Eighth Sage will not be of Hyrule, but of a land beyond. Their love will make them join their souls, souls that are meant to be together for eternity. The Eighth Sage's powers are hidden and dormant until merged with the Seventh Sage. When the Ceremony of Joining takes place, everything in the universe will be free. For this moment of joining souls in the way of the Sages, time, space…the essence of the universe must be free.
"That is when the Evil will escape.
"From the open doorway that allows spirits to join, it will free itself and possess the body of the Seventh Sage. With this body—the body of Zelda— it will reek havoc upon the universe.
"This is the prophecy of the Legend of Zelda."
Rhaea was in tears. Link in shock. Dalan? Dalan was the Eighth Sage? And even now they were merging their souls in the Joining Ceremony.
The room began to tremble and the evil energy within the room blasted, ricocheting across the room. Link shook his head. NO! It couldn't be happening already! But evil laughter that echoed across the room resounded with doom. It blasted for the from the room, the evil energy whipping across the trio, freezing them with its evil. It was too late. It was free.
* * *
The blasts of light exploded from the two people in the midst of the Six Sages. It was at that moment that the other Sages realized what was wrong with the ceremony. This Dalan that Zelda had fallen in love with was no ordinary man. He was a Sage as well!
But how could this be? There were only Seven Sages…weren't there?
Just then a laughing evil force exploded from the midst of the joining. Their souls had been merged. Dalan and Zelda collapsed in each other's arms as the evil thing that had emerged from the open portal of their joining laughed above them. Dalan and Zelda looked up. But before Dalan could even attempt to protect her, the Evil swooped down and invaded Zelda's body. Dalan writhed in agony as it conquered Zelda's soul.
Dalan looked up, his face contorted with pain as Zelda's blue eyes were now the glowing red of Evil and her skin pulsed with the black magic. Dalan reached for her. "…Zelda…"
The Evil only laughed down at him as it pulsed with power.
"Thank you for freeing me, and giving me this powerful body to possess. The Prophecy is complete; the Legend of Zelda is fulfilled. I am now in control of the Seventh Sage's body! Her power is mine to call upon!"
"NO!" Dalan cried out. But the Evil only laughed and shot into the skylight of the Temple. It was free.