The Legend of Zelda: The Return
Chapter 18
"Great," I mutter to myself as we step into the guest rooms at Goron City. "More caves."
"Claustrophobic?" Hunter asks with a wide grin. There's no safe answer to that question so I think I'll let it lie.
"I wonder if the girls' room is as . . . interesting as this," I say, eyeing the stone furniture (including the bed I can't help but notice) that is littered about the room. Hunter gives a wry laugh.
"You forget, Zelda's been here before," he says. "She's got her own room equipped with feather mattress and the whole lot." He sighs and rubs his head. "Tell you what. I'm feeling generous, so you can have the bed. I'll sleep on the floor." He bangs his fist on the bed, which makes a distinctive clunk upon impact. "I think the floor's softer . . ."
"Quit complaining," Navi says, zipping out from under my hat. "You've both been through worse."
"This from the one with a head of hair for a bed whenever she feels like it," Hunter says with a raised eyebrow.
"The man has a point, Navi," I say with a grin. "Maybe you should suffer with us and stay out from under my hat, hmm?"
"Hmph," Navi says. "Figure the odds. You still owe me, Link."
"For what?" I cry, staring at her in surprise.
"For going into that Quisra –"
"Quirol," Hunter and I both correct her at once.
"– Without me."
"Oh like I could help it," I protest.
"You didn't even notice I was gone!" She says grumpily. "And then you ignored me for a whole day afterwards."
"I had a lot on my mind," I say, trying to defend myself. "I wasn't exactly thinking straight. Nor was I in the best mood. We probably just would have fought anyway."
"You don't know that!" She argues.
"Yes I do," I respond, crossing my arms and frowning at her. "Look at us now. We're fighting."
"Yeah well . . . you still owe me," she says, ending the argument by whirling around in mid-air and fluttering over to the stone nighttable.
"Is it just me," Hunter says, grinning crookedly at me, "or do you spend the majority of your time getting yelled at by women?" I punch him in the shoulder.
"Ha. Ha," I say. "That was funny, Hunter. Really. I'm busting a gut here." He hits me back.
"You'll be busting more than that if you don't hurry up and get ready for supper," he replies. "Zelda will rip you to shreds."
"Remind me again why we have to go to a supper served by Gorons?" I ask, pulling my shirt off over my head. "They eat bombs . . . Bombs, for Din's sake!"
"I'm sure they'll have something we can eat," he says, though he doesn't sound like he's very sure of that. "Besides, it's tradition. You are the Gorons' Big Boss' Sworn Brother, and Zelda's the daughter of one of Darunia's Sworn Brothers. You have to go and eat with them whenever you come here."
"No one told me that when I signed on for this whole Sworn Brother deal," I say, struggling to pull my boots off. "And besides, Darunia's not here."
"No, but his son is," Hunter replies, tossing his jumpsuit into the corner. "And that's the next best thing. Hey, where did Zelda say the baths were?"
"Through the door at the back of the room," Navi says brightly, staring at Hunter's unclothed body with an evil little smirk on her face. "There's a hot spring back there." Both of us turn bright red suddenly, appalled at having forgotten about Navi's presence before starting to get undressed. Hunter snatches my hat off the floor as throws it hurriedly over her. The little fairy bursts into a fit of hysterical giggles.
"Someone remind me why I ever wanted a Guardian Fairy," I grumble under my breath as my last boot comes off, immediately followed by my pants. "Come one, let's go get all shiny for supper." We hurry out of the room – our exit accompanied by Navi's muffled laughter – and shut the door behind us.
"Is she gonna be there when you get married too?" Hunter asks, his usual crooked grin returning.
"Ha," I say, taking a flying leap into the hot spring, Hunter right on my heels. We resurface with a gasp and I smirk at him. "I think I'll lock her up in your closet and you can deal with her for a while." He laughs as we swim back over to a more shallow spot where we can sit without having to swim.
"You'd think with a hot spring right in the middle of the city there'd be more Gorons out here," I say, enjoying the soak.
"Yeah right," Hunter says. "They'd sink like a rock. They're probably terrified of water."
"True enough," I agree with a grin. The grin takes on an evil tint suddenly. "Wouldn't it be funny if the girls suddenly ran in her to get in the spring?"
"Sans clothes?" Hunter asks, then laughs. "Don't you have a girlfriend?"
"I do," I say, suddenly feeling guilty at the fact that I haven't been thinking a lot about Malon.
"Wow, that killed your mood," Hunter says, raising an eyebrow at me. "What's up?" I sigh and sink under the water for a moment, refusing to resurface until I've run out of air. I sigh again.
"Do you think they're still okay?" I ask. "I mean . . . Moblins are not . . ."
"They're fine," Hunter says shortly, interrupting me. "They're fine." We stare at each other for a moment – he defiant, me uncertain. Suddenly we both sigh. "Sorry," Hunter says. "I didn't mean to snap at you. I just . . . the way I see it, as I long as I don't even acknowledge the possibility that . . . well . . . you know . . . then they'll be fine. I'm helpless to change anything, so all I can do is think positive . . . and keep hoping. Right?" He turns to look at me and our expressions suddenly shift – he's suddenly uncertain, and I'm suddenly defiant.
"Who says your helpless?" I demand. "No one said that!"
"Well . . . no, but what am I gonna do? Storm the Golden Palace and bust 'em all out on my own?"
"You're not on your own," I say, crossing my arms. "I'm here. And Zelda – there's no way she'd let me go without tagging along. And Neesha too. She's not ready to go back to the desert yet. She's going to be in a world of trouble when she does." I crack a grin. "Besides, I think she's got a crush on you." Before I know what's happening, Hunter's jumped on me and shoved my head under water. I twist around and grab his leg, pulling on it as hard as I can. He falls into the water with a cry and I resurface, laughing.
"I thought Sheikah were supposed to be –" I don't get the chance to finish the sentence before Hunter lunges out of the water at me again with a laugh.
xxx
"Admit it! I beat you!" I say with a grin as we hurry down the stairs towards Darunia's room.
"You wish!" Hunter cries, throwing my hat at me, which I hurriedly pull down over my still wet hair.
"Do you guys have any idea how late you are?" Navi demands, fluttering to keep up with us.
"Late enough that Zelda's going to want to skin us alive but will be unable to due to the fact there are witnesses around," Hunter answers easily. Navi rolls her eyes. I think she would have responded except that we've just opened the door and rushed in, flashing identical apologetic grins. The Gorons don't even seem to notice we're late. Zelda and Neesha on the other hand . . . Neesha's frowning disapprovingly at us, and Zelda . . . sweet merciful Din . . . if looks could kill . . .
"Heh," I say as we drop ourselves into the stone chairs across the table from them. "Hey guys! How are you?" Zelda kicks my shin in answer. Judging by the surprised gasp of pain from Hunter a split second later he's receiving the same treatment. Neesha smirks smugly at us. I resist the urge to rub my shin and look around the table at the gathered Gorons, all of whom are talking in what – I'm sure to their ears – are low tones.
"There's Darunia's son," Hunter whispers over the rumble, pointing surreptitiously at a tiny (as in my size) Goron at the head of the table. "His name is Link. Go figure." I blink at the kid for a minute, a sudden thought striking me.
"Hey," I say, "which ones are the girls?" Hunter blinks at me.
"What?" He asks.
"Which ones are the female Gorons? I mean . .. if Darunia had a kid he's gotta have a wife doesn't he? Or a girlfriend? Or some kind of member of the opposite sex? Doesn't he?" We stare at each other for a moment and then cast a glance around at the identical looking Gorons.
"I vote we add that thought to the list of things we don't really want to think about," Hunter says. I nod fervently.
"Right up there with how far Zelda went with her sex change." We both make a face and nod solemnly, deciding that's for the best. Zelda's looking at us with a raise eyebrow, unable to hear our conversation over the Gorons. That's probably for the best. We flash her innocent grins, at which she rolls her eyes and turns back to Neesha. Hunter's attention is distracted by something to his left and I take the opportunity to study Zelda.
I'm still having trouble fitting the image of the silent, shy, secretive Sheik with the bossy, diplomatic, though equally secretive, Zelda, but . .. I can see some of the resemblance now that I'm getting to know Zelda better. Or rather, the side of her that can be described as Zelda as Hunter would say. I get the same kind of impressions from her as I got from her alter ego. Like she's waiting for something. Watching me for something.
I just wish I knew what . . .
She glances over and catches me watching her. I wince inwardly. There's no easy way out of this situation, so I just flash her a smile and, after a moment's hesitation, she returns it. Neesha elbows her in the side with a wicked grin – the implications of which I'm going to add to the list of things I don't really want to think about. I turn to Hunter restart our conversation, but am interrupted as the door suddenly bangs open again and a half dozen Gorons stride in, carrying a half dozen plates of steaming food each. Hunter, Neesha, and I gape at the food.
I don't think any of it is explosive!
The Goron-Link stands up and smiles shyly at us.
"I hope this is to your liking," he says. "Big Brother usually sets up the meals for these dinners, but this is the first time I've done it. I'm not sure what you like to eat so . . . I made everything I thought of." Hunter laughs.
"This is great!" He says, staring hungrily at the food as its set in front of him. "Better than great!"
"Oh wow!" I gasp, staring at the food. "I . . . oh wow!"
"You've outdone yourself, Link, son of Darunia," Zelda says with a warm smile at the Goron. "I –"
"Oh!" Neesha gasps, interrupting Zelda. "You have Leevers!"
"Yay," I say with a complete lack of enthusiasm. I shove the Leevers over to Neesha and move on to other things.
"Please, enjoy the meal!" Goron-Link says brightly as the serving Gorons leave and then return again with bomb flowers for everyone who isn't me, Hunter, Zelda or Neesha.
The only sound in the room for a long time is the clatter of forks and plates, and the odd, muffled explosion.
I still can't believe they actually eat those things.
Finally, however, everyone finishes eating, and slowly but surely the conversation dies off as Gorons begin leaving for their respective rooms, until all that's left is Hunter, Zelda, Neesha, me, Goron-Link, and one other, adult Goron.
"Did you enjoy the meal?" Goron-Link asks anxiously. I smile and push my plate away as Navi zips back under my hat to sleep off what she ate.
"I can tell you honestly," I say, feeling like my stomach's on the verge of exploding. I think I over did it, "that that was the single, greatest meal, I've ever had in my entire life. And that's saying something." Hunter, Neesha and Zelda all nod enthusiastically in agreement. Link seems to relax.
"I'm so glad," he says. "Big Brother will be happy I did it right." I exchange a glance with Neesha. Hunter and Zelda seem to know who he's talking about, but Neesha and I . . .
"Um," I say, "at the risk of exposing my ignorance for everyone to see, who, exactly, is Big Brother? OW! ZELDA!" Crazy princess . . . I glare at her and rub my shin. Goron-Link laughs.
"It's all right," he says. "Not many soft-things know. Even if they are his Sworn Brother," he adds with a grin, almost identical to Darunia's.
"Darunia's Big Brother?" I ask, blinking.
"But I thought he was your father," Neesha says.
"He is," Goron-Link says. "But Big Brother is his title. The Gorons don't have a King, like Hylians, or Zoras, or Gerudos do. We're more like . . . one big family. Everyone is everyone else's brother."
"Kind of like the Sheikah?" I ask.
"Similar, yes," says the adult Goron. "But not quite."
"Right," I say. "So that makes you, Link, son of Darunia, who is the Big Brother of the Gorons, which would make you . . ." I raise an eyebrow at the adult Goron and quickly pull my leg back so Zelda can't kick me again. The adult Goron smiles pacifistically at the princess, who's trying to drill holes in my head with her eyes.
"It's quite alright, Princess," he says. "At least he has the courage to admit his lack of knowledge."
"That's me," I mutter under my breath. "Courage boy." This time Zelda's foot connects and I wince again. I frown at her.
"You've been spending too much time with Neesha," I say flatly. I turn back to the Gorons and stare expectantly at the adult.
"My name is Karun," he says. "Darunia left me with instructions to take care of Link during his absence." At the mention of Darunia's absence, the mood in the room instantly darkens. Goron-Link hesitates.
"You . . . said you had news of him? He's been gone much longer than he had planned . . ." A twinge of guilt twists my gut and I sag slightly in my chair.
All because of me . . .
Zelda hesitates for a moment.
"I'm not . . . sure . . . how to tell you this," she says quietly. Goron-Link and Karun's faces could be carved of stone for all the emotion they're allowing to show through. "But . . . the Sages have been captured. Darunia among them. They are being held prisoner in Hyrule's Golden Palace by Moblins, who are awaiting the return of Ganondorf."
"Ganondorf . . ." Goron-Link whispers. "Dad . . . told me stories . . ." Karun's looking like he might be sick.
"I had feared it would be so," he says.
"We . . . we have to get him back!" Goron-Link says suddenly, standing up from his chair. "I . . . we can't leave him there! We have to go after him!"
"We can't just –" Karun and Zelda start at the same time, but I interrupt them.
"I was hoping you'd say that," I say, as I stand up. Everyone turns to look at me in surprise. I'm suddenly very aware of the presence of the Master Sword at my back.
"Link," Zelda hisses. "What are you doing?" I meet Goron-Link's eyes and ignore the princess. "It was my fault your father was captured, Link. It was my fault that Hunter's father was captured. And that the rest of the Sages were captures. It's my fault any of this is happening at all."
"Link . . . that's not true . . ." Zelda says, staring at me in surprise.
"It is," I say harshly. "Dark Link's after me. The only reason any of the others got captured was because they were trying to protect me. To hide me. To keep me from him." I turn back to Goron-Link. "But I won't let it happen anymore. I won't hide anymore."
"What are you saying?" Goron-Link asks, looking afraid and excited at the same time.
"I'm saying," I say quietly, "that I'm going after them. Not right now, but soon. After we've warned everyone who needs to be warned." Now everyone's staring at me like I've grown two heads. And maybe I have. I'm definitely of two minds about this situation. But my choice is clear.
And I feel better now that I've made up my mind.
"You can't possibly expect to survive," Karun says disbelievingly. "To go up against all of Ganondorf's forces? You'll be killed for sure!"
"Then I'll die trying," I say flatly. The torchlight glints off the hilt of the Master Sword in its hilt on my back. "I've face Dark Link multiple times since this whole thing started. I've face Moblins, and Stalfos, and more, and I've faced Ganondorf himself before. And so far I'm not doing half bad."
"Link! You're not thinking!" Zelda cries, getting to her feet and glaring at me. "You can't be serious about this! You can't do this!"
"I have to," I say.
"You'll be playing right into their hands! Don't make everything we've done in vain!" She shouts, clenching her fists.
"I have to," I say again.
"You can't."
"I will."
"I won't let you."
"I dare you to stop me."
"You won't!"
"I have no choice," I shout back at her, glaring at her from across the table. "I'm not going to spend the rest of my life running while Dark Link picks the rest of you off one by one. Can't you understand that?" I struggle to get my temper back under control, never breaking the glaring contest between the princess and I. "I have to do this." I say quietly. "With or without you."
"And that," Karun says, a smile suddenly creasing his face. "Is what I was waiting to hear." Zelda blinks and looks at him, the implications of that single phrase sinking in.
"You're all crazy!" She cries, storming out of the room.
"Oh dear," Goron-Link says. "That's . . . that's not good . . ."
"She'll be fine," Hunter says, one eyebrow still raised incredulously at me. "She just doesn't like it when someone besides her is right."
"Sounds like someone else I know," Neesha mutters, shooting me a look.
"Link, Hero of Time," Karun says, drawing our attention back to him, "you are truly Darunia's Sworn Brother, and you have the might of the Goron Race behind you in your quest. Unless, of course, you object?" He asks, looking down at Goron-Link who shakes his head furiously.
"I don't object!" He cries, jumping from his chair. "I'm all for it! Big Brother would do the same if it was any of us in there!" I collapse suddenly back into my chair and everyone stares at me in surprise.
"Sorry," I say. "I just . . . I just . . ."
"Came to your senses?" Hunter supplies.
"Realized what, exactly, I just decided," I reply. Hunter smiles wryly at me.
"I hope you know what you're getting us into, Courage Boy," he says.
xxx
"So, uh . . ." I say, leaning up against the doorframe to Zelda and Neesha's room. "You still mad at me?"
"I think I'll go see if Hunter wants to spar," Neesha says, hurrying out of the room. Zelda frowns at me, then abruptly turns her back on me and stares into the mirror.
"I'll take that as a yes," I say. Then frown at her. "Good."
"What?" She demands, turning to glare at me.
"I said good," I repeat. "Good. G-O-O-D. Good. I – OW! NAVI!" I rip my hat off, grab the fairy and toss her out the door, slamming it shut before she can get back in. I rub my head. "Stupid fairy . . . she told me she'd stop pulling my hair out."
"Why is that good?" Zelda demands, crossing her arms and frowning at me. "You want me to be mad at you?"
"Yes," I say, walking over and throwing myself down on her bed. "Why do you get a real mattress and Hunter and I get a slab of stone?"
"Don't change the subject, why do you want me to be mad at you?"
"Because," I say, sitting up and looking at her. "Now you can start to understand the way I've felt for the past while."
"Don't do that," Zelda hisses at me. "Don't turn this around on me. I admitted that what I did was wrong, but that doesn't make what you just did right!"
"Nope," I say brightly, "it just diffuses some of your anger into a convenient guilt trip. I don't need to make what I did right, because what I did was right."
"How was it right?" She demands, getting to her feet and stalking over to me. "You just declared war on the Moblins!"
"Well what were you going to do?" I demand, getting to my feet as well and glaring down at her. "Sit here and wait for Ganondorf to take over the rest of the world and come and get us here?" I shake my head. "They're not going to stop, Zelda. They're not. You're the one who told me that. And if they're not going to stop, then there's nowhere for me to run to. Ultimately, they're going to catch up to me, and they're going to take me out. And then when I'm gone, the rest of you will be gone. Do you really want that to happen?"
"I want you to be safe!" She cries.
"I don't want to be safe at the cost of others!" I cry back.
"If you do what you're planning you'll die!" She shouts, shoving me roughly.
"Then so be it!" I say, clenching my fists. "I'll be dying doing the right thing. Doesn't that mean anything to you? I'll be dying for what I believe in. For life!" I glare at her. "Life's the only thing worth dying for, Zelda."
"You . . . you can't just say that," she argues. "Talking about death and dying are two different things! You can't just . . . what? Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Zelda," I say tiredly, "I don't know how to make you understand why I did what I did. But I'm not the only one who made that choice. The Gorons don't want to hide here. They want to fight. The Sheikah don't want to hide here. They want to fight. Zelda . . . I don't want to hide here. I don't want to hide anywhere anymore. I want to fight, Zelda. I want . . . I want to do something about this. I just . . ." I rub my head and turn away from her, starting towards the door. "You can say what you want, but we both know that this has happened because of me. I have to do what I can to fix it. So many people have suffered . . . to protect me, to hide me, to save me . . . and they've all paid dearly. But now it's time for me to pay them back. However I can. And the only way I can think of is by fighting back. I don't want to die, Zelda. And that's why I'm doing this. It's the only way." I move to twist the doorknob, but Zelda's hand is suddenly on mine.
"Link . . ." She whispers. "I . . . I'm just . . . worried . . . about . . . about you. If they get you . . ."
"Then they get me," I finished for her, turning towards her. "But there's a small chance they won't. If I fight them now. If I just sit here and wait . . . then they will catch me."
Her eyes are so blue . . .
"Link . . ." She whispers, leaning closer to me. I lean closer as well, suddenly painfully aware of my heartbeat. I pause and blink at her.
"I . . . I . . . I have to go," I whisper, turning away from her and opening the door hurriedly. I rush out into and down the hallway, leaving Zelda to stare after me in surprise.
"Link!" Navi cries, catching up to me. "What's wrong? Your face is all red! What happened?" I stop once I'm well away from Zelda's room and lean up against the wall.
"Oh my Goddess," I whisper, covering my face. "I almost . . . I mean . . . we were going to . . . at least I though we . . . I . . ."
"Link?" Navi asks. "What is it? Are you all right?"
"I'm . . . I'm fine . . ." I whisper, pushing myself away from the wall and heading back towards Hunter and my bedroom. "I'm just fine."
I picture Malon in my head and focus on her face, refusing to let myself pursue any of the thoughts that were just running through my head.
But no matter how hard I focus on Malon's face . . .
It's Zelda's eyes that stare back . . .