Chapter 26
"This is simply…astounding."
Lorfor gaped, a little ashamed of himself, but in all his many summers he had seen nothing like it. He stood on a grassy plain, underneath a jagged, rocky sky. He could see a cascade of waterfalls in the distance, although they were like no other he had ever seen before. They entwined with one another, like a ribbon or the braids of a little girl's hair, and the water shimmered as if pure, liquid crystals were floating down the cliff face. They pooled at the bottom in a frothy foam that sparkled so intensely that he had to look away many times.
Ancient, curving trees grew up and around each other, though he did not know how since the sun did not reach into this underground cavern. Perched atop the branches, flattening the leaves, were crudely made wooden houses, cooking smoke drifting from tiny holes in the roof. Some children danced and played around him. Others sat; solemn expressions on their faces as they spoke in hushed, measured tones. These latter ones unsettled Lorfor somewhat, so unused he was to seeing the light of wisdom in childlike eyes.
Tiny diamonds of light zipped through the air, glittering snowflakes of radiance trailing them. Faeries. Some of the trails fell on him and he found them to be soft, like dew. The serene beauty of it all left him dazed.
He looked towards his guide, the only adult he had met here bar the monks. She was a young woman, dressed in white, though she kept her head hooded which prevented him from seeing her face clearly.
"I thought the Kokiri could never leave their domain," he asked, his voice still not recovering from the awe.
"It wasn't safe for them anymore," she said. There was something familiar about her voice, but Lorfor could not quite place it. "We took them below, the Lost Woods is directly above us. In reality, they haven't really gone anywhere except down."
"We?" he asked.
She did not reply. She started walking and Lorfor was compelled to follow.
"The entrance to this place is secret. My…Helpers…took the long way around to get here. They said you were following them...?"
Lorfor swallowed, feeling embarrassed. "I was curious."
"You're from Lon Lon, right?" she asked, though the old man thought he could detect a heaviness in her voice.
"Yes," he said simply.
"How are things there?"
He watched her walk through the meadow, her hand trailing over golden flowers that seemed to respond to her touch as he pondered on his reply. Once or twice one of the Kokiri would run up to her, giving him a wary glance before they tugged on her dress. She would bend down, letting them whisper in her ear before replying quietly, the smile evident in her voice if not her face.
"The people are…distressed. Hyrule has suffered a defeat at the hands of a foreign power. The Hero of Time and the Queen are being blamed."
She stopped short at the mention of the names. There was a pause, and Lorfor waited, feeling even more uncomfortable.
"Lon Lon…" she said, her voice thoughtful. "That was not always a town, was it?"
Lorfor blinked, not expecting the question.
"Erm…no," he answered, feeling a bit frustrated with himself. Why should he feel so cowed in front of this woman? She was nothing but a slip of a girl to him. "It was built around Lon Lon Ranch, where old Talon used to keep fine horses."
There was another pause as she turned her face away. The sound of running water was lulling him, making his heavy eyelids relax.
"What became of him?"
"Him?" he said sleepily.
"Talon," she said, no hint of impatience in her voice.
"Oh. Well, the expansion made him quite rich. He's living well nowadays, though he keeps himself to himself. Still hurting from the daughter he lost summers ago."
"I see," she said, keeping her tone neutral. Lorfor did not think she was very interested in what he had to say. "Are there any other notables in your town?"
"Notables. I don't mix with them," he said. Thinking of his home made his heart ache. He sighed inwardly. "Just had a few friends. Maken and Fran."
"Ah," she said, a sparkle in her voice. "Fran Marcaster."
Lorfor froze in shock. Hope bubbled within him. "You know him? Is he well?" He had to keep himself from grabbing her and shaking the information out.
"He's fine," she said. There was that smile in her voice again. "Don't worry."
"How do you know this? Where is he?"
Before she could reply, a bauble of light darted in front of her face, making her jerk her head back.
"Hey!" it said with a childlike squeak. "Listen!"
"What is it, Navi?" she asked patiently.
"Saria wants to see our guest," the faerie said, pulling on the woman's sleeve insistently. "Like now!"
The woman gave a light laugh, brushing the little creature off gently. "Tell her we'll be there soon."
A sudden thought occurred to Lorfor. "Why weren't the Kokiri safe in their homes anymore?"
She turned to him. "They…we are preparing for something. There are those who would use brutal means to stop us." She paused and gazed into the distance. "The endgame is about to begin."
Not making any sense of her words, Lorfor rested his hand on a nearby tree, feeling the wrinkled, thin bark under his fingers.
There was a deep chuckle.
Lorfor looked left and right, but no one else seemed to have noticed. The woman was still staring away, while the Kokiri bounced around him happily, not paying attention to him at all.
There was a cough.
Lorfor looked at the tree.
The woman turned her attention back to him.
"Erm," he said, feeling awkward. "The tree seems to be ticklish."
She gave another light laugh. "You're leaning on the Great Deku Sapling."
Lorfor's eyes widened. "You mean…it's alive?"
She nodded. He thought he could see an amused twinkle under her hood.
The old hunter snapped his hand back as if he had been burnt and the woman threw back her head and laughed. He thought he caught sight of a lock of silver hair.
"I greet you, Lorfor the Old," the tree rumbled.
"I…ah…am pleased to meet you too." He had not had practice in conversing with trees before.
"Later," the woman said, with a nod to the tree. "Saria awaits."
There was a creaking noise, like a branch bent to breaking point. A rustle of leaves followed, and Lorfor realised that the tree was giving a short bow.
They walked on, Lorfor feeling lost and stunned. He had had far too much to take in ever since the monks had blindfolded him and brought him here. He had been paralysed with fear, wondering if they meant him harm. They had not answered any of his questions; indeed they had not spoken to him at all. Or even to each other. When they finally arrived at the cavern, Lorfor had been trembling, fearing the worst. His mind had drifted back to his family and to his friend, Fran, certain that he would never see him again. Instead, he had been greeted by this strange woman, who had taken him in, speaking kind and soothing words.
One of the Kokiri males glared at him from a vantage point, perched high in a tree.
"I don't think that one likes me," Lorfor said, pointing.
She looked up. "Oh, that's just Mido. He doesn't like anyone. Don't worry about it." She had the kind of voice that he wanted to believe. It alleviated his doubts and soothed his heart.
He paused as she stopped to scoop some water from the river. Lorfor noticed that its texture glowed and shimmered. She swallowed, her neck muscles contracting and expanding fluidly. A baby cucco scampered past and she giggled, clucking at it and stroking its head. With a sigh of satisfaction, she rose and led him into a cave near the waterfalls. It was damp in there, with water dropping from the ceiling creating small pools in the grooves in the ground.
It was dark, save for a pale light shining at the centre. Lorfor caught sight of a long, oblong container, about the size of a man and plated with gold.
"Is this what your Helpers were carrying?"
"It is," she said, walking around it. She stroked it slowly, the action probably heavy with meaning, though Lorfor could not decipher it.
"What is it?"
She hesitated before answering. "It is a coffin."
Lorfor waited for her to continue, but she did not elaborate. Not sure if he was treading on ground that might offend her, he paused, but curiosity won out.
"Who lay within?"
She did not answer. Slowly, with two sharp snaps, she unlatched the lid.
Lorfor peered forward as she opened the coffin.
*
Zelda's throat tightened as she led her horse into the village courtyard. She felt no comfort from the presence of her companions; instead a frost had grown over her heart. The Freelanders were waiting, silent and staring. How they had known she and her friends were coming she could not tell. Perhaps they had been waiting for the trio that had attacked them. The Freelanders gave Chizan a respectful distance, but they still fixed the group with stony gazes. Zelda could not tell what emotions were raging behind those looks; so impassive were their features. She was glad that Chitz was hiding within Tessa's travel pack or else the atmosphere may have been even tenser.
Her grip tightened on the satchel hanging by her shoulder. She had been designated to carry their food for a while, and the bag was full of dried bread and cold meat, wrapped in leaves. She heard the slow sloshing of the water pouches within.
The Queen's gaze fell on the people and she saw that their captives had not been exaggerating. There were far too many people here. Men, women, children; they lined the dusty pathways, spilling into the weather beaten road. Yet, no misery showed on their faces. She saw bedrolls, tattered and dirty, bundled away on doorsteps and knew that many of them had found no refuge in this little town.
And it was all because of Cyle.
Not for the first time, she wondered exactly what he wanted out of the Joining. Having Hyrule in his grip should have satiated him. What scheme was lurking behind that double-edged smile of his that required him to have the power to warp reality?
They stopped in the centre of the courtyard as silence swallowed them. All eyes were upon them and she had to clench down on her desire to flee. Her feet hurt, having decided to walk the final stretch to the village. She saw little Freelander children standing straight and proud, while their tear streaked faces betrayed the hunger they felt within. Zelda closed her eyes, trying to push her grief down. She did not know what to say and it was clear from Chizan's face that he was at a loss for words too.
She flinched, her mouth curling into an instinctive snarl as she saw Link stride towards her. What was he thinking? Now was no time to have a confrontation. She felt the sting of tears and the choke of sorrow as he neared. Confusion dizzied her, no longer knowing what to think about the Hero. Disbelief fought with fear. How well had she really known him? How could she have known what he was like? She tasted the bitter ash of betrayal in her soul. First Cyle, and now Link. Was there no one with a genuine heart? No one she could truly trust with her life?
And yet…and yet…it just did not seem possible. Had she dreamt it? She knew it been haunting her for the past few nights. She no longer knew what to say to him, though she knew she could not put it off for long. But did he really want to clear the air now?
He was beside her and she shrank back. His hand came up and she jerked, feeling fearful. He paused in mid-air, giving her a puzzled, but meaningful look, before he plucked one of the sticks of bread out from her satchel.
She watched, confused, as he walked up to the Freelanders, tearing off a handful of bread. He stopped, looking around at the people. They did not respond.
Kneeling down, he pushed the bread into a small child's hands. The child looked up at her parent and, when she saw that her father had no expression of disapproval, took the bread gratefully and wolfed it down.
Other children started moving towards the Hero now, their steps tentative, but soon gaining confidence. Link started tearing off more strips of bread and soon he was engulfed by a sea of little children, their hands reaching up to him expectantly, their squeals full of joy. They were pushing him playfully now and he was grinning as he handed out more food. The adults looked on, still showing no emotion.
Zelda was stunned. It was as if she had seen him do something noble for the very first time. Memories flooded back to her of all the times he had rescued her or Hyrule or had helped out a complete stranger out of the mercy that personified his heart. Her own heart melted. She wanted to cry, but blinked back the tears.
And then it came to her again. The image of Link, grinning with glee as his sword went up and down, the moon looking down on the blood. She closed her eyes again, and once more confusion rocked her until she felt slightly sick. Nothing made sense. Was he like Cyle, all show with no inner core? Or was there something else happening – something she was not aware of?
A stray memory floated into her mind. Shortly after he had left for the castle to seek out Zayna, she had had a dream about him where she had felt him split in two. She frowned at it now, but she knew better than to ignore the messages her visions told her. But what was the meaning?
She looked up as Link approached her again. She stood her ground, no longer feeling scared, as she tried to search his face for some clue. His mind was elsewhere though, obviously happy at the enthusiasm shown by the little ones. He walked past her and stopped by her horse. The Hero threw a glance to her saddlebag of rupees, before giving her a questioning look. Understanding, she gave a small nod in response.
He untied the bag and scooped out a handful of currency. Walking back to the Freelanders her spilled the green and red jewels onto the ground, a waterfall of colour.
No one stepped forward to claim them.
"We do not need your charity," one of the women said, though there was no hostility in her voice. Pride radiated from her eyes, but her voice had been matter-of-fact.
Link opened his mouth to speak, but the Prince laid a hand on his arm, stilling him.
"Who is in charge here?" Chizan called, his voice once again its usual calm and serene self.
An elderly man stepped forward, silvery-grey hair hanging down to his neck. "I am," he said in a gruff voice.
"We would speak with you, if you would honour us with your time," the Prince said.
He regarded them for a moment, then nodded, motioning with a wave. "Come."
The elder turned and Zelda's group gathered themselves, eager to be away from accusing eyes. Those behind the Freelander did not budge. A tense moment passed and the Queen's grip on her satchel tightened once more until she could feel it cut into her fingers. For an instant, she thought she would witness a mutiny.
"They are my guests," the elder said. He locked gazes with the others and something unspoken passed between them. After another moment, Zelda saw the lines around the other men's eyes relax and they broke rank, giving them a free passage.
They walked to the elder's hut, heads hung low, not wanting to meet anyone else's gaze. Their feet dragged, churning up dust. The elder unbolted the door with two sharp tugs. Afternoon light went in ahead of them, warm and fiery orange. Zelda noticed that their two captives had joined them too.
The elder's wife watched them, typically serene. She motioned them towards a plain, wooden table and they sat, their shifting weights making the chairs creak. The Queen was struck at how…ordinary everything looked. She had gotten so used to the fine arts and crafts in the palace at Narik's Rock that she assumed that all Freelanders lived the same way. She looked around the house, deciding that 'modest' was too much of an exaggeration to describe it. It was plain, everything built out of wood and having a specific function, the table, the chairs, and the clock with its rhythmic swinging pendulum. Yet, everything was organised and in its proper place and Zelda sensed the love that hung in the air here. She saw it too, in the unspoken looks and gestures between husband and wife. With an ache, she wondered if she would ever feel so connected to another person like that.
The elder cleared his throat. "I, Syler of Three Heroic Deeds, greet you, Prince Chizan."
The Prince nodded in response.
"And," the man continued. "I greet you Zelda, Queen of Hyrule and Link, Hero of Time. And your companions as well."
"I am grateful," she answered, while the others murmured their replies.
Syler's expression hardened. "Your presence here, Your Highness," he said, nodding to the Prince. "Is both welcome and unwelcome."
The wife pottered around the table, dropping bowls of something hot and steaming in front of them. Zelda saw something floating in the liquid within and decided that it was better she did not think about it. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Link lean slowly forward, a panicked expression on his face and she had to bite down to stop from laughing.
"Understood," Chizan answered, taking a spoonful without flinching. Zelda's heart reflected the sadness she heard in the Prince's voice. "I wish the war had never come to you."
"There is no wisdom on worrying on what might have been," Syler said. "Only what is."
"Is there anything we can do help?" Zelda asked, daring to take a sip of her soup. It was spicy and meaty. Not as bad as she had first feared.
The elder's eyes flicked to the window and Zelda turned to follow his gaze. The Freelander children were outside, running around with grins she knew were long overdue on their faces.
"I think the Hero has done enough to help," Syler answered. "Hope is a precious gift."
Zelda sighed, feeling the pride surge within. She looked over at Link wondering at his reaction. The Hero's eyes were flicking back and forth; looking at his soup with disdain and then glancing over at the bread he had given away longingly. Finally, he shook his head and rested it in one hand. He flinched as Fran kicked him under the table. The Queen had to put her hand to her mouth to hide her giggle.
But then her mirth froze as the image returned. The blood soaked sword; up and down, up and down.
"Where are you heading?" Syler asked, his wife coming to stand behind him, her hands resting on his shoulders.
The Prince glanced over at Zelda and she nodded, giving him the permission he sought.
Chizan stirred the soup slowly with his wooden spoon. "We seek the Temple of the Dead in the Morose Mountains. We are still many leagues away."
Syler frowned. Zelda saw something light up in his eyes.
"You have a suggestion?" she said.
He shifted in his chair, looking uncomfortable. "There is an easier way…"
"Oh?" the Prince queried, glancing at Zelda. She tried to stop the hope rising, sick of feeling disappointed all the time.
"Yes. Not far from here are the old gold mines. They're not in use anymore, our supply of gold being exhausted. There's a tunnel there that leads straight to the Morose Mountains."
"Are you certain of this?" Zelda asked. Excitement stirred her heart.
"Well, it's an old wives' tale," he said, before flashing a sly look to his wife. "Depends how much you trust old wives."
She gave him a playful scowl in return and Zelda smiled at the exchange.
"It's worth a try," Chizan said, his tone thoughtful.
"Agreed," Zelda answered, looking around at her friends who all nodded in response.
"Forgive my impertinence," Syle asked with a little cough. "But why do you wish to visit the Temple of the Dead?"
"We're going dragon slaying." It was Zayna who had answered.
The elder raised an eyebrow in Chizan's direction, but he only responded with a sheepish shrug.
They left after a little while. Zelda tightened her saddlebags as Fran fed the horses. The Freelanders no longer stared at them, walking around concerned with their own business. Cooking fires were lighted and she breathed in the warm aroma, letting it tickle her imagination. She looked up, and saw the faint glimmer of stars start to appear. Cool air pinched her cheeks. They would have to leave soon. There was certainly not enough space for them to stay in the village. Still. She felt happy, glad that they had a direction, a short cut to their goal.
A hand gripped her arm and she whirled around to look into Link's face. His eyes were wide and the fading light made his earnest expression look even softer. She wanted to cry.
"Something's wrong," he said. His voice was a conflict, confused one moment, pleading the next. "And I want you to tell me what it is."
She blinked, not sure what she should say.
Over his shoulder, she saw one of their former captives approach. She motioned to Link with her eyes and he turned, looking puzzled.
"Hero of Time," the Freelander said, his voice grim. "Someone wishes to see you."
*
Link stood in the small hut, torchlights only throwing a little illumination. Chizan and Zelda stood either side of him as he faced the Freelander family. There was an elderly man and two young women. One of the women cradled a baby in her arms, cooing at her child in-between glaring at Link. The other two remained expressionless. He was tense, not wanting to be here at all.
"Explain it to us again, Hero," the elderly one said. His voice was thick with emotion. "My daughter and my daughter-in-law trust your word."
The daughter-in-law – the one holding the baby – let her burning gaze linger on Link's face. "Yes, we hear your word is as sharp as your sword."
Link took the hint.
The Hero sighed inwardly. He was here now and had to try his best. He tried to soften his features, hoping that his eyes reflected gentleness. He directed his words to the daughter-in-law, knowing that she would require the most convincing.
"Your husband," he said, keeping his voice level. "Attacked our camp. I chased him down and I found him armed. I could not take that sort of a risk with my friends and so we fought." He paused, trying not to flinch from her stare. "I won."
And we loved every single moment of it.
"Is it a capital offence, then oh 'Hero' of Time, to wish to feed your family by any means necessary?" she spat. "Look at us! I am busy with my child, my sister-in-law is too young and my father-in-law too old. Only my husband could provide for us and he was desperate."
Link looked around. Zelda was wearing an uncomfortable expression, while the Prince stood with his usual aloofness, though the muscles in his neck were tensing. A torch hung on the left hand wall, warming that side of Link's face, while his right side was cool, almost icy. And yet he felt uncomfortably hot.
"I can only apologise for you loss," the Hero said, though the words sounded hollow even to him.
The elderly one opened his mouth to speak, but his daughter-in-law cut him off.
"You did not slay either of his companions," she said, the accusation hanging in the air.
"My friends dealt with them easily. Your husband was a little…trickier."
"Oh?" she said, stroking the baby's hair. The elderly one frowned at her, a warning in his eyes. She ignored him. "How is it that the high and mighty Hero could not do what his friends were able to do so easily?"
Link swallowed, though her words were starting to grate, like little hooks under his skin. No, not her words, her tone.
Well, what right does she have to question the Hero of Time?
He felt the anger simmer within, threatening to boil over.
"I…have no explanation to offer," he said. "In the heat of battle, things are not always clear."
The father-in-law stepped forward before the woman could reply.
"We accept your apology, Hero of Time," he said, his voice grave. His eyes were milky, filled with sadness. Reflected torch light flickered within them, giving them a ghostly appearance. "Though it pains us. You're honour and your Heroic Deeds are well known to us."
The woman snarled, startling her child. "Well, I do not," she said as she tried to calm the baby. "You have wronged me, Hero of Time."
Why doesn't the stupid wench just drop it? Who cares about her worthless husband?
Link felt the fury trickle through his veins. His heart trembled as he tried to keep his mouth from scowling.
"We will offer you blood money." Zelda said from beside him, hope catching in her voice.
The woman kept her eyes on Link. "Keep it. It does not replace what he took from me."
Link was grinding his teeth now. His temples throbbed.
Let me have control. If she misses her husband so much, I can send her straight to him.
"I curse you," she hissed. Her father-in-law tried to put a hand on her shoulder, but she shrugged it off.
The Hero's fingers moved to the hilt of his sword. Instinctively, his fingers stroked it as his mind reminded him of the thrill of the kill, the smell of blood, the taste of victory.
Let me have control.Link gripped his sword. The baby started to wail.
Let me have control. I'll shut the child up too.The Hero of Time blinked, a cold sweat coating him. He stepped backwards, his vision spinning. Zelda glanced at him, concern spreading on her face.
He steeled himself. He knew what he had to do. The only thing he could do.
Then drew his sword.
That's my boy!
Chizan stiffened and Zelda's eyes widened. The woman took a step back while her father in law stood, his mouth hanging open. She looked at him, an imploring glint in her eyes.
Link breathed deeply, letting the calmness flow. It was time to for him to take control. It was time to show them who the Hero really was.
He flipped the sword around, so that he was holding it by its point.
What are you doing? Slay her! Slay them all!For a moment, he almost caved in. For a moment, his fingers trembled, the seductive voice sounding so right, so good, and so wholesome. His vision shifted in and out. The voices slowed until he could no longer make them out. The weapon shook in his hand; his confused mind begging him to turn it back around.
But he bit it down. He had been wrong and now it was time to make amends. He had to set things right. Now it was time to be a Hero.
Link gripped the sword harder until he felt it slice into his skin. A drop of blood trickled down the blade.
He walked up to her, not wanting to break his gaze. Her eyes were full of fear now, the earlier anger gone.
He knelt and tipped the hilt of the sword towards her.
"You are right," he said with his head bowed. "I have wronged you. Now take my blade and take your vengeance."
No!
He heard Zelda gasp behind him. He could imagine Chizan holding on to her, preventing her from interfering.
The woman looked around, disbelief written on her face. "Is this some trick?"
"It is no trick, Milady. A life for a life. This is only fair. My actions were wrong and only you can right them. Justice must be served."
Stop, you fool!Slowly, she handed her child over to her sister in law. Her fingers wrapped around the hilt of his sword. She raised it, gazing at the blade.
Link heard someone whimper behind him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the other two Freelanders cling to each other, fear plastering their faces.
She looked down at him, and something imperceptible clicked in her eyes. She swung the sword into position. He heard it cut through the air.
He swallowed, letting his eyes close. He focused on the only thing he could, on the only person he could. The world darkened, but he no longer cared. This way, he would go purified. This way was the only way. He had faced death so many times that he no longer feared it.
He saw Zelda's face before him. Shining, kind, loving. He had failed her, he did not deserve her.
All he heard was the steady thumping of his heart, and it was abnormally loud. The air felt too hot and stuffy, like he was being suffocated. His breathing slowed. Thump, thump, thump. He waited, waited, waited for that to end. He felt a bead of cold sweat roll down his face.
Something chopped the air.
"You are the Hero of Time. You are too important." It was the woman's voice.
Link looked up at her. She had lowered the sword.
"Your husband was a true hero," he said, when he could find his voice. "He had a wife, a family to support and feed with only his two bare hands. That is far more Heroic than anything I have ever done. He was a desperate man, pushed by desperate times. I had no right to take his life."
The woman's face creased in pain. The sword trembled in her hand, before clattering to the floor. She turned her face away.
"I forgive you, Hero of Time," she said as her voice choked. "But I do not forget. Your life is not mine to take. Leave me."
Link let out a breath and collapsed in a heap. His heart trembled with relief and salty tears stung his eyes. He felt Chizan's arms around him, lifting him up. His vision was blurred and everything was too hot and too loud.
He looked into the Prince's eyes; saw the respect reflected in them.
You win this one, Hero boy. But I'll be back.
Link looked around and caught sight of Zelda's face. Her hand was in her mouth and her fingers were bitten raw. His heart sank, still seeing that wary, confused look in her eyes. He did not know what had turned her against him, but he was determined to find out. Yet, he saw something else too. Something that touched him to the core.
Link watched as one solitary tear rolled slowly down her cheek.
*
"There's nothing in there."
Lorfor stepped back from the coffin, confused. His words echoed around the cave.
"You're right."
The voice was from behind him and he turned. A little green-haired Kokiri girl walked towards him, her mature posture making mockery of her short stature and childlike features. He was shocked to see the wisdom swimming in her eyes.
"This is Saria," the white-robed woman said. "The Forest Sage."
His eyes flicked back to the golden case. "I don't understand."
"We all have our part to play, Lorfor," the Sage said. "However small, however large. Everyone has a role to play. We cannot leave our terrestrial lives until we have each fulfilled our purpose."
Lorfor could not quite believe he was listening to this from a child. He had to blink to make sure he was not dreaming
"In ancient scrolls known only to a select few," the other woman said. "It is written that an evil comes to Hyrule every one hundred summers and, in turn, a Hero rises to defeat it. This is the balance set up for our world. How? Why? We don't know."
"The cycle began thirty summers ago." It was the Sage speaking again. Lorfor's head was starting to spin. "Yet the evil that Ganondorf brought was wiped out when the timeline changed, even though we retain our memories of it."
He remembered that time, though he chose not to dwell on it. He was dragged to Ganondorf's castle on his knees, and then beheaded. The silver glint of the guillotine still taunted him at nights.
"So this timeline still requires its evil. And its Hero," said the white robed one. Her voice was tinged with sadness. "Yet, we have a double evil this time. One from outside and one within the very soul of the Hero himself."
The Sage spoke, "The one who lay in this coffin had a role to play. She was the Counter Key, the one who could contain the evil so that the Hero could slay it."
Lorfor did not understand most of what they were saying, but the little girl was speaking with such melancholy that he had to resist the urge to hug her like he did whenever his daughters would be hurt or upset.
"She should have died," the other woman continued. "She plunged into the lava in Death Mountain."
Lorfor raised his eyebrows. "She survived that?"
"She was preserved. Her body only appearing burnt, though in reality she was put into a deep sleep," Saria said. "Whether it was by the Triforce itself or something else, we do not know. There are many things that remain mysteries. All that we know is that she was needed and the Great Deku Sapling charged us Kokiri to await her return." She paused, her voice reverberating off of the rocks. "Now is her time. Now we must begin our final assault against those whose souls are so envious that they would destroy all in their path to achieve their aims."
"Where is she now?" he asked, still trying to digest it all.
The white robed woman turned to him. "The Counter Key has accepted her fate. She has had to sacrifice being with her friends and family one more time to do so."
Lorfor realised that his question had not been answered, but something finally clicked inside his mind. Now he knew why the woman's voice seemed to familiar to him. She had the exact same accent as him.
He fixed her with a look. "Who are you? What is your role in all this?"
With a flick of her wrist, she dropped her hood, revealing Hylian features framed by strands of silver hair. The roots of her hair were dark though, as though there had been a change in colour over time.
"I am Malon, daughter of Talon, the owner of Lon Lon Ranch," she said. "I am the Counter Key."