Erin finally stopped and put Link down. She had put a good distance between
them and the pyramid after crossing a large expanse of barren, rocky
tundra. She knew that the would have to go back there, but if she had
stayed any closer, Ganondorf might have sensed them and sent someone or
something out to go after them. She had not detected anyone following them,
but that didn't mean that it couldn't have happened. This was the Dark
World, Ganondorf's home turf now, and nothing could be ruled out.
Link was still unconscious, so Erin propped him up against a rock. She reached for water canteen at her hip and tried to make him drink some of it. When she was satisfied that he had had enough she sat back down opposite him, exhausted. That trek had really taken it out of her, she needed to rest too. After quenching her own thirst, and checking all their equipment was in order, she sat down opposite him.
She looked up at Link. He had done it again. Saved her life, heedless of his own. What was it that drove him to do such things? He was the only one who could save Hyrule, if he died all hope was lost but here he was, sticking his neck out time and again to save her. He was incredible, the way he had fought two opponents with an injury to his shoulder and come out on top back at the Gerudo fortress, then how he had bested her again at the spirit temple without weapons even after she had stabbed him, and even more astoundingly how he had gone on to spare her life, and take her back across the wasteland. She could see now that was his true strength, not his skill with the sword but his inner light, his amazing heart. She remembered the look in his eyes, back on the bridge in Ganondorf's pyramid, just after he had saved her and just before Dark Link had run him though. She could see into the depths of his soul and all that existed there was love and kindness and courage, the courage to go the distance, to triumph in the face of insurmountable odds, to achieve what ordinary people would not dare to dream of. Truly, he was the Hero of Time, the Hero of Heroes.
She remembered that look now, the compassion and strength as he held her, how he looked as if he had been about to say something…
I love you…
No, it couldn't be. It just could not be that he could hold those feelings for her, a tainted soul with no hope of salvation, no chance of redemption for her sins. But as she looked at him she knew the feeling in her heart was love.
She was torn from her epiphany by a low rumbling sound, and the ground around her began to shake. Ganondorf must have found them. She pulled her sword from its sheath. Link still showed no sign of waking, so it was up to her to defend him until he did. As the rumbling reached its climax the ground began to break up, and one by one, stalfos began to claw their way out.
She spoke to the shambling skeletons.
"You shall not have him. He is mine!"
The stalfos charged.
Link felt himself beginning to wake. Was he really awake this time or still locked in his mindscape? As he opened one eye for a cursory examination of his surroundings, he was greeted by a stalfos with its sword raised high, about to strike him. But before it could, a second sword neatly removed its head. The rest of its skeleton fell to pieces as Link clambered to his feet. Almost as surprisingly, Erin ran and wrapped her arms around him.
"You're awake! Link, you're back, are you alright?"
"What? Yeah, I guess I'm fine, what happened?" Link replied
"After… whatever trick you pulled back in the pyramid, I carried you out here, and then…"
Erin was cut off as Link shoved her to one side and landed a kick to the chest of a stalfos that had been about to strike. It flew backward through the air and slammed into a rock pillar and shattered into its component bones. The rock then cracked and fell to pieces too, much to Link's and Erin's amazement.
"Well, looks like it worked then."
"What did?"
"That trick I pulled. I combined mine and Dark Link's bodies and powers. There was of course a bit of a dispute over ownership, but let's just say I evicted him" Link finished with a wink.
"Will it be enough to beat Ganondorf?"
"I don't know. If he hasn't extracted the Force of Wisdom from Zelda, I can probably beat him. If he has, this could get real unpleasant." Link picked up his equipment.
"How far are we from the pyramid?"
"Not too far, you can see it from over here."
As they walked on, Link did a double take on Erin. This girl was really something else. She had carried him all the way out here, then proceeded to protect him from a large amount of attacking stalfos, judging by the number of piles of bones scattered around the area. But why? They hadn't exactly got off on the right foot, her trying to kill him and him knocking her out and tying her up, and he assumed she was only with him now because she wanted a shot at Ganondorf. Well, he had shown her the truth about her past, and she had healed him with a fairy back at the Gerudo fortress, and he had saved her life back on the bridge…
Whoa, slow down Link, he thought, are you falling for Erin? That was crazy, that couldn't… but he had been about to say it, hadn't he? Back on the bridge, just after he pulled her up, he had been about to say it…
I love you…
But that little moment of intimacy had been cut short by several feet of black sword, so who knows what would have happened. But as he followed her up the ridge his eyes were fixed on her, on her attractive profile, on her hair around her shoulders…
Ah, snap out of it, he told himself, this ain't the time or the place. Besides, there was no way she could feel that way about him. So he was the Hero of Time, big deal, that just made him more dangerous to be around. Just look what had happened to Malon. Regardless, he had other matters to take care of now, for example the showdown with the King of Evil that was looming on the horizon.
She turned and caught his gaze just as they reached the top of the hill that led down into the expanse she had crossed. They held it for a few seconds before both turning away, embarrassed. But then they looked down and saw that the once barren plain between them and the pyramid was now filled with an army of stalfos, zombies, lizalfos and a whole host of other dark creatures not doubt under Ganondorf's command.
"He's planning a second invasion of Hyrule." Link turned to Erin. "If he has the other two forces…"
"He can activate the main portal from his side and attack en masse instead of piecemeal through the smaller gates. He'll be unstoppable!" Erin finished.
"And I can't even get to him to try and stop him; we can't defeat that army all alone!"
Erin looked over to the right where something had caught her eye. To one side of the expanse was a ridge, and she could've sworn she saw movement…
"We may not have to face them alone, look!"
Link looked over to where she was pointing, to see a second army reach the top of the ridge. But as Link looked among them, he didn't see any creatures of darkness. It was a combined force of Hylian, Goron and Gerudo warriors under the banner of the Triforce!
"Quick, we have to get to them and tell them what is happening!" Link broke into a run, with Erin close behind. The army's scouts had seen them, and set out on horseback to pick them up. In a few minutes they re-joined with the main force, and were greeted by Riana.
"Link, Erin, it is good to see you are well"
"Riana! But how did you get here, how did you raise this army?" Link questioned
"When Dark Link broke out of the wasteland, I sent several Gerudo to track his movements. We found out that he has been using a portal in Kakariko graveyard to move in and out of the Dark World. After you disappeared I went to Hyrule Castle to speak with your Chief advisor Leoniro. I found out from him that you had retrieved the Master Sword and been transported to the Dark World. Leoniro knew the locations of all the portals, and we sent message to the Gorons asking for help. Also, I rode back to Gerudo fortress to muster our best fighters and Leoniro did the same with the Hylian Guard. Once our joint force came together at Hyrule Castle, we used a portal Leoniro unsealed in the castle grounds to begin moving our troops through. We have been slowly massing our forces for the past few hours and now we are almost ready."
"What about the Zora and the Kolkiri?"
"They are organising a defence force back in Hyrule should we fail."
"Good. Ganondorf is almost ready to launch his invasion, but he needs to extract the Force of Wisdom from Zelda before he can break the Sages Barrier on the main portal. If your army fights its way to the Pyramid entrance and holds it, the creatures will not be able to get to the main portal inside, even if Ganondorf does open it. I will be able to get inside and try to take out Ganondorf. Hopefully we can finish him and his army before they can attack."
"Agreed. Good luck Link, and be careful. He will be stronger this time, and if he gets both the Forces of Wisdom and Power…"
"Yeah, I know, even I won't be able to stop him. Looks like the fate of the world is on my shoulders. Again." Link sighed
"There is no-one else Link. You are the Hero of Time. Have faith in who you are and you will triumph."
"Yeah, I know. How long until we can make our move?"
"We will be ready in about half an hour. Is there anything you need?"
"No, I'll be fine."
Link turned and walked though the fighters. They were going to be outnumbered, but not outfought. He reached the ridge and looked down. A slope lead down into the plain. This is where the final battle against Ganondorf would be fought. He had made a mistake last time, he had the beast Ganon on its knees, but instead of finishing it once and for all, he had trapped it in the Sacred Realm. And now it was the corrupted Dark World, and Link was going to pay for his mistake tenfold. This time there was no where to trap him, no where to lock him up and conveniently forget. This time, Ganondorf had to die. But it was going to be twice the battle it had been before, and Link was unsure. No. He shook all doubt from his mind. He would kill the King of Evil with his legendary blade, even if the price was his own life. Such was the way of the Hero.
His train of thought was interrupted by Erin at his shoulder. They stood there together for a moment, neither sure how to approach the conversation. Eventually Erin broke the silence.
"I don't suppose you can be talked put of this?"
"No. This is my destiny. And anyway, why would you want to talk me out of it?"
Erin blushed, quite uncharacteristically
"I, I…" she faltered as her words failed her. She couldn't bring herself to confess her feelings. She stared at the ground, angry at embarrassing herself this way. Link turned his head towards her slightly. What was she getting at? He'd never seen her like this, did that mean…
Erin found her voice again.
"I just don't understand, you died, I mean, I thought you died, but you're back, and now you're just going to put your life on the line again? Doesn't your life mean anything to you?"
"It means everything to me, but more important are the lives of others. I can't stand back and stay safe when I'm the only one that can make the difference. When I balance my life against the future of Hyrule, my life doesn't matter, only my actions."
"It may not to you, but what about to your friends! There are people who care about you Link; Malon, Talon, Zelda, the Sages… and…" Erin closed her eyes and dropped her arms to her sides. "…and me, Link."
Link didn't know what to do. She'd said it. She had actually said it. He forced himself to speak.
"I didn't think that you felt the same way…"
Erin opened her eyes, stunned. The same way?! Did he say that he felt the same way?
"…ever since we started out on this journey something seemed different, but I didn't want to say anything, I couldn't…"
They were opposite each other now, and for that moment in time nothing else existed. There was no Dark World, no army, no ridge, no nothing. Just them. They weren't warriors anymore, they were just a pair of teenagers coming to terms with feelings they had never experienced before. Link struggled on.
"But I still have to do this. When it's all over, there won't be any threat from Ganondorf or the Dark World ever again. All his evil will be undone, Malon will get better and the invasion will be stopped and that is worth my life. All I can do now is fight."
"Then try and fight this, Hero." Erin said, then leaned forward and kissed him.
He couldn't. He wrapped his arms around her, their lips locked in passionate embrace that seemed like it would never end. But end it did, and Erin whispered to him;
"I can't and won't try and stop you, because you are right; you have to do this." She looked into his eyes, filled with tears as hers were. "But I can damn well make you promise that you will come back to me alive. Promise me."
Link held her tight and spoke to her softly
"I promise. Because now I have the greatest reason of all to come back."
And with that they embraced again, sweeter that the first in its sincerity and purity. They would look back on this moment in years to come and recall, in their darkest hour, in the heart of the Dark World, they found the light of love. The irony would never be lost.
Again they parted. Again Link spoke.
"It's time. I have to go."
Erin nodded, leaving her pain unvoiced. How she wanted to kiss him again, to share that intimacy one more time, but she knew it would make the parting more painful.
"Then I will fight alongside Riana and the others. I will wait for you, Link."
Link began to speak, then realised that asking her to stay out of harms way would be hypocrisy. She was every bit as skilled a fighter as anyone else present, and they needed everyone they could get to win this fight. He simply hugged her, their eyes meeting one last time and then he turned away, not wanting to prolong the pain. He paused, and spoke over his shoulder;
"I swear to you, I will return."
She watched him walk away, then wiped away the tears. She knew that now was the time to be strong. The time for love would be when this whole ordeal was behind them. She followed him back to the main force, checking her equipment, sliding back into the role of warrior with practiced ease.
Riana walked to meet Link.
"We are ready."
"Right, what's the plan?"
"The first wave will be the Gorons, lead by Rocky, son of Dariuna." A large Goron stepped forward and nodded.
"They will roll down the slope and crash into the enemies flank. The archers of the Hylian Guard will open fire, because their arrows will not harm the Gorons. Then I will lead the Gerudo Cavalry down on either side to secure the entrance to the pyramid, and then the Hylian Guard, under the command of Captain Tanner" The Captain stepped forward to greet him, not much older than Link himself.
"…will cease fire and charge down the middle to back up the Gorons. We will try and force them back, away from the pyramid while you get inside. We brought Epona for you to ride."
"I'll ride down just after the Gorons. If I go alone I will draw less attention and the enemy will have its hands full with the main force." He addressed the warriors
"Anyone who makes it to the entrance, I will need you to come inside to rescue the Princess. I won't be able to get her out when I am fighting Ganondorf, so I need one of you to do it, in case the battle gets out of hand and she gets hurt. Ready?"
Shouts of "Ready!" went up from the fighters. One of the Gerudo brought Epona over to Link, who leapt up into the saddle. He leaned forward and stroked Epona's mane and whispered;
"Once I jump off, head for the portal buddy. This won't be pretty."
Link could never tell if Epona understood him, but it seemed like it sometimes. Smart horse.
The Gorons stepped forwards and curled up ready to roll, and the archers got ready to fire. Link trotted Epona along the front line to the middle, the fighters nodding and saluting as he passed. Link realised that they respected him. He drew the Master Sword from its scabbard and held it high for all to see. Along the line, the fighters held their weapons high and cheered. Link shouted;
"For Hyrule! For Zelda! FOR THE TRIFORCE!!"
As he was echoed by every voice present, he issued his last command.
"ATTACK!"
Link was still unconscious, so Erin propped him up against a rock. She reached for water canteen at her hip and tried to make him drink some of it. When she was satisfied that he had had enough she sat back down opposite him, exhausted. That trek had really taken it out of her, she needed to rest too. After quenching her own thirst, and checking all their equipment was in order, she sat down opposite him.
She looked up at Link. He had done it again. Saved her life, heedless of his own. What was it that drove him to do such things? He was the only one who could save Hyrule, if he died all hope was lost but here he was, sticking his neck out time and again to save her. He was incredible, the way he had fought two opponents with an injury to his shoulder and come out on top back at the Gerudo fortress, then how he had bested her again at the spirit temple without weapons even after she had stabbed him, and even more astoundingly how he had gone on to spare her life, and take her back across the wasteland. She could see now that was his true strength, not his skill with the sword but his inner light, his amazing heart. She remembered the look in his eyes, back on the bridge in Ganondorf's pyramid, just after he had saved her and just before Dark Link had run him though. She could see into the depths of his soul and all that existed there was love and kindness and courage, the courage to go the distance, to triumph in the face of insurmountable odds, to achieve what ordinary people would not dare to dream of. Truly, he was the Hero of Time, the Hero of Heroes.
She remembered that look now, the compassion and strength as he held her, how he looked as if he had been about to say something…
I love you…
No, it couldn't be. It just could not be that he could hold those feelings for her, a tainted soul with no hope of salvation, no chance of redemption for her sins. But as she looked at him she knew the feeling in her heart was love.
She was torn from her epiphany by a low rumbling sound, and the ground around her began to shake. Ganondorf must have found them. She pulled her sword from its sheath. Link still showed no sign of waking, so it was up to her to defend him until he did. As the rumbling reached its climax the ground began to break up, and one by one, stalfos began to claw their way out.
She spoke to the shambling skeletons.
"You shall not have him. He is mine!"
The stalfos charged.
Link felt himself beginning to wake. Was he really awake this time or still locked in his mindscape? As he opened one eye for a cursory examination of his surroundings, he was greeted by a stalfos with its sword raised high, about to strike him. But before it could, a second sword neatly removed its head. The rest of its skeleton fell to pieces as Link clambered to his feet. Almost as surprisingly, Erin ran and wrapped her arms around him.
"You're awake! Link, you're back, are you alright?"
"What? Yeah, I guess I'm fine, what happened?" Link replied
"After… whatever trick you pulled back in the pyramid, I carried you out here, and then…"
Erin was cut off as Link shoved her to one side and landed a kick to the chest of a stalfos that had been about to strike. It flew backward through the air and slammed into a rock pillar and shattered into its component bones. The rock then cracked and fell to pieces too, much to Link's and Erin's amazement.
"Well, looks like it worked then."
"What did?"
"That trick I pulled. I combined mine and Dark Link's bodies and powers. There was of course a bit of a dispute over ownership, but let's just say I evicted him" Link finished with a wink.
"Will it be enough to beat Ganondorf?"
"I don't know. If he hasn't extracted the Force of Wisdom from Zelda, I can probably beat him. If he has, this could get real unpleasant." Link picked up his equipment.
"How far are we from the pyramid?"
"Not too far, you can see it from over here."
As they walked on, Link did a double take on Erin. This girl was really something else. She had carried him all the way out here, then proceeded to protect him from a large amount of attacking stalfos, judging by the number of piles of bones scattered around the area. But why? They hadn't exactly got off on the right foot, her trying to kill him and him knocking her out and tying her up, and he assumed she was only with him now because she wanted a shot at Ganondorf. Well, he had shown her the truth about her past, and she had healed him with a fairy back at the Gerudo fortress, and he had saved her life back on the bridge…
Whoa, slow down Link, he thought, are you falling for Erin? That was crazy, that couldn't… but he had been about to say it, hadn't he? Back on the bridge, just after he pulled her up, he had been about to say it…
I love you…
But that little moment of intimacy had been cut short by several feet of black sword, so who knows what would have happened. But as he followed her up the ridge his eyes were fixed on her, on her attractive profile, on her hair around her shoulders…
Ah, snap out of it, he told himself, this ain't the time or the place. Besides, there was no way she could feel that way about him. So he was the Hero of Time, big deal, that just made him more dangerous to be around. Just look what had happened to Malon. Regardless, he had other matters to take care of now, for example the showdown with the King of Evil that was looming on the horizon.
She turned and caught his gaze just as they reached the top of the hill that led down into the expanse she had crossed. They held it for a few seconds before both turning away, embarrassed. But then they looked down and saw that the once barren plain between them and the pyramid was now filled with an army of stalfos, zombies, lizalfos and a whole host of other dark creatures not doubt under Ganondorf's command.
"He's planning a second invasion of Hyrule." Link turned to Erin. "If he has the other two forces…"
"He can activate the main portal from his side and attack en masse instead of piecemeal through the smaller gates. He'll be unstoppable!" Erin finished.
"And I can't even get to him to try and stop him; we can't defeat that army all alone!"
Erin looked over to the right where something had caught her eye. To one side of the expanse was a ridge, and she could've sworn she saw movement…
"We may not have to face them alone, look!"
Link looked over to where she was pointing, to see a second army reach the top of the ridge. But as Link looked among them, he didn't see any creatures of darkness. It was a combined force of Hylian, Goron and Gerudo warriors under the banner of the Triforce!
"Quick, we have to get to them and tell them what is happening!" Link broke into a run, with Erin close behind. The army's scouts had seen them, and set out on horseback to pick them up. In a few minutes they re-joined with the main force, and were greeted by Riana.
"Link, Erin, it is good to see you are well"
"Riana! But how did you get here, how did you raise this army?" Link questioned
"When Dark Link broke out of the wasteland, I sent several Gerudo to track his movements. We found out that he has been using a portal in Kakariko graveyard to move in and out of the Dark World. After you disappeared I went to Hyrule Castle to speak with your Chief advisor Leoniro. I found out from him that you had retrieved the Master Sword and been transported to the Dark World. Leoniro knew the locations of all the portals, and we sent message to the Gorons asking for help. Also, I rode back to Gerudo fortress to muster our best fighters and Leoniro did the same with the Hylian Guard. Once our joint force came together at Hyrule Castle, we used a portal Leoniro unsealed in the castle grounds to begin moving our troops through. We have been slowly massing our forces for the past few hours and now we are almost ready."
"What about the Zora and the Kolkiri?"
"They are organising a defence force back in Hyrule should we fail."
"Good. Ganondorf is almost ready to launch his invasion, but he needs to extract the Force of Wisdom from Zelda before he can break the Sages Barrier on the main portal. If your army fights its way to the Pyramid entrance and holds it, the creatures will not be able to get to the main portal inside, even if Ganondorf does open it. I will be able to get inside and try to take out Ganondorf. Hopefully we can finish him and his army before they can attack."
"Agreed. Good luck Link, and be careful. He will be stronger this time, and if he gets both the Forces of Wisdom and Power…"
"Yeah, I know, even I won't be able to stop him. Looks like the fate of the world is on my shoulders. Again." Link sighed
"There is no-one else Link. You are the Hero of Time. Have faith in who you are and you will triumph."
"Yeah, I know. How long until we can make our move?"
"We will be ready in about half an hour. Is there anything you need?"
"No, I'll be fine."
Link turned and walked though the fighters. They were going to be outnumbered, but not outfought. He reached the ridge and looked down. A slope lead down into the plain. This is where the final battle against Ganondorf would be fought. He had made a mistake last time, he had the beast Ganon on its knees, but instead of finishing it once and for all, he had trapped it in the Sacred Realm. And now it was the corrupted Dark World, and Link was going to pay for his mistake tenfold. This time there was no where to trap him, no where to lock him up and conveniently forget. This time, Ganondorf had to die. But it was going to be twice the battle it had been before, and Link was unsure. No. He shook all doubt from his mind. He would kill the King of Evil with his legendary blade, even if the price was his own life. Such was the way of the Hero.
His train of thought was interrupted by Erin at his shoulder. They stood there together for a moment, neither sure how to approach the conversation. Eventually Erin broke the silence.
"I don't suppose you can be talked put of this?"
"No. This is my destiny. And anyway, why would you want to talk me out of it?"
Erin blushed, quite uncharacteristically
"I, I…" she faltered as her words failed her. She couldn't bring herself to confess her feelings. She stared at the ground, angry at embarrassing herself this way. Link turned his head towards her slightly. What was she getting at? He'd never seen her like this, did that mean…
Erin found her voice again.
"I just don't understand, you died, I mean, I thought you died, but you're back, and now you're just going to put your life on the line again? Doesn't your life mean anything to you?"
"It means everything to me, but more important are the lives of others. I can't stand back and stay safe when I'm the only one that can make the difference. When I balance my life against the future of Hyrule, my life doesn't matter, only my actions."
"It may not to you, but what about to your friends! There are people who care about you Link; Malon, Talon, Zelda, the Sages… and…" Erin closed her eyes and dropped her arms to her sides. "…and me, Link."
Link didn't know what to do. She'd said it. She had actually said it. He forced himself to speak.
"I didn't think that you felt the same way…"
Erin opened her eyes, stunned. The same way?! Did he say that he felt the same way?
"…ever since we started out on this journey something seemed different, but I didn't want to say anything, I couldn't…"
They were opposite each other now, and for that moment in time nothing else existed. There was no Dark World, no army, no ridge, no nothing. Just them. They weren't warriors anymore, they were just a pair of teenagers coming to terms with feelings they had never experienced before. Link struggled on.
"But I still have to do this. When it's all over, there won't be any threat from Ganondorf or the Dark World ever again. All his evil will be undone, Malon will get better and the invasion will be stopped and that is worth my life. All I can do now is fight."
"Then try and fight this, Hero." Erin said, then leaned forward and kissed him.
He couldn't. He wrapped his arms around her, their lips locked in passionate embrace that seemed like it would never end. But end it did, and Erin whispered to him;
"I can't and won't try and stop you, because you are right; you have to do this." She looked into his eyes, filled with tears as hers were. "But I can damn well make you promise that you will come back to me alive. Promise me."
Link held her tight and spoke to her softly
"I promise. Because now I have the greatest reason of all to come back."
And with that they embraced again, sweeter that the first in its sincerity and purity. They would look back on this moment in years to come and recall, in their darkest hour, in the heart of the Dark World, they found the light of love. The irony would never be lost.
Again they parted. Again Link spoke.
"It's time. I have to go."
Erin nodded, leaving her pain unvoiced. How she wanted to kiss him again, to share that intimacy one more time, but she knew it would make the parting more painful.
"Then I will fight alongside Riana and the others. I will wait for you, Link."
Link began to speak, then realised that asking her to stay out of harms way would be hypocrisy. She was every bit as skilled a fighter as anyone else present, and they needed everyone they could get to win this fight. He simply hugged her, their eyes meeting one last time and then he turned away, not wanting to prolong the pain. He paused, and spoke over his shoulder;
"I swear to you, I will return."
She watched him walk away, then wiped away the tears. She knew that now was the time to be strong. The time for love would be when this whole ordeal was behind them. She followed him back to the main force, checking her equipment, sliding back into the role of warrior with practiced ease.
Riana walked to meet Link.
"We are ready."
"Right, what's the plan?"
"The first wave will be the Gorons, lead by Rocky, son of Dariuna." A large Goron stepped forward and nodded.
"They will roll down the slope and crash into the enemies flank. The archers of the Hylian Guard will open fire, because their arrows will not harm the Gorons. Then I will lead the Gerudo Cavalry down on either side to secure the entrance to the pyramid, and then the Hylian Guard, under the command of Captain Tanner" The Captain stepped forward to greet him, not much older than Link himself.
"…will cease fire and charge down the middle to back up the Gorons. We will try and force them back, away from the pyramid while you get inside. We brought Epona for you to ride."
"I'll ride down just after the Gorons. If I go alone I will draw less attention and the enemy will have its hands full with the main force." He addressed the warriors
"Anyone who makes it to the entrance, I will need you to come inside to rescue the Princess. I won't be able to get her out when I am fighting Ganondorf, so I need one of you to do it, in case the battle gets out of hand and she gets hurt. Ready?"
Shouts of "Ready!" went up from the fighters. One of the Gerudo brought Epona over to Link, who leapt up into the saddle. He leaned forward and stroked Epona's mane and whispered;
"Once I jump off, head for the portal buddy. This won't be pretty."
Link could never tell if Epona understood him, but it seemed like it sometimes. Smart horse.
The Gorons stepped forwards and curled up ready to roll, and the archers got ready to fire. Link trotted Epona along the front line to the middle, the fighters nodding and saluting as he passed. Link realised that they respected him. He drew the Master Sword from its scabbard and held it high for all to see. Along the line, the fighters held their weapons high and cheered. Link shouted;
"For Hyrule! For Zelda! FOR THE TRIFORCE!!"
As he was echoed by every voice present, he issued his last command.
"ATTACK!"
