Link arrived at the Kakariko steps just after dark. He dismounted and said, "I'll be leaving you here for a while, Epona. Take care of yourself, and listen for my call." The horse snorted, and nuzzled Link affectionately.
Warrior and Fairy ascended the Kakariko steps and ran into Kakariko village. They ran to the door of Jardain's counting house. Link knocked on the door.
Susannah opened the door immediately and said, "We saw Navi's light as you approached, my lord! Please come in.
As Link entered, he heard a young boy shout, "Uncle Link come see me! Uncle Link come see me!" The source of the voice came up and in to view in the body of a young boy, not quite four years old, looking mostly like Susannah, with just a touch of Arthur. The boy shouted, "Uncle Link! Hammie miss you!" as he grabbed Link's legs in a bear hug. The child sobbed, "Hammie miss you, Uncle Link! Hammie miss you real bad!"
Link picked up the boy and looked in his face. He answered, "I missed you too."
As Link embraced the boy, Arthur stage-whispered, "Arthur Hamutoro, after me and her father. We call him 'Hammie.'"
Link set the boy down on the floor. He got down on his haunches and said, "I missed you too, young Hamutoro. How have you been?"
Link guessed perfectly how he had addressed the child in the past. The child answered, "Great, Uncle Link! Grampa Big-Hammie and Mama have been teaching me how to write my name in rune-word and picture-word! Wanna see?"
Link answered, "Sure" before he realized that there was nothing for the child to write on, or with! As a young boy, Link had written in the dust when he practiced writing, but on the immaculate stone and wood floor of the counting house, there was no dust! Once again Hammie came to the rescue, saying, "Me get little blackboard and chalk from my room!" With a flash, the child ran back downstairs.
Susannah said quietly, "He loves you almost as much as he does us! I'd have had him at my parent's place if I'd have known…
"Nonsense, Susannah" Link gently chided the woman. He's a bit energetic, but what four-year old isn't?"
True to the vigour of his age, Hammie returned with his slate and chalk, and for the next half-hour entertained Link with writing his own name, and Link's, too. Finally, Susannah interrupted the both of them saying, "Supper is ready! Wash up, Hammie." The child protested, but not much, and washed his hands, followed by Link himself. The non-spiders ate quietly, and Susannah started clearing the plates. Arthur stood up and said, "Bed-time, Hammie."
The child protested, saying, "Why me no stay up late tonight? I big boy now! Uncle Link never visit always! Me wanna visit Uncle Link!"
The child's heart was in it for the long fight! Fortunately, his body wasn't, and he not only acquiesced, but when he put his head down to build up a head of steam for a big fit fell asleep instead. Arthur picked up his son and carried the boy off to his room.
Susannah walked back in to the great room and said, "I'm surprised Hammie was that wilful! Normally, when you're around, he's on his best behaviour! But it has been a while since you visited us last, especially for such a young child."
Link replied, "Not a problem." Arthur and Edgar walked back into the room. Jonathan, Richard, and Jardain himself lowered themselves out of their lairs in the rafters. Louis, who had been strangely silent that evening, finally spoke.
"So, my lord, have you straightened the false mortgage deed with Talon?" he asked.
Link answered, "Yes. I also had to straighten out some attitudes, but nothing life-threatening. I understand you had a bank run because of this?"
Jardain himself answered. "Actually, Link, we've had two. But fortunately, your fortune helped out both times.
"If I've told you this already in your memory, please ignore it. But with the way you live time…"
"Think not of it, Jardain."
"Yes. As you may or may not know, a counting house ideally loans out eight times the money it has on hand. If you deposit one rupee, I then loan out eight. With just one rupee, it makes no sense. But when you have thousands of rupees, and remember that the money is almost never loaned to just one person, it actually works quite well. That is, unless you have a bank run.
"But your fortune helped us out immeasurably. Between the value of the curse-tokens, and the rupees you deposited with us, we had no way in this economy to responsibly loan all the money out! So, we had a lot of 'idle money' on our hands, at least until Ganondorf struck.
"You, of course, weren't our only depositor. As people realized they wouldn't be cursed or eaten by doing business with us, people brought their money back. But, we're talking peasants and burghers, a few dozen rupees here, a few dozen there. Important accounts, all, but compared to yours, small potatoes.
"Ganondorf recently decided he wanted to mess with Talon. How recently, you've forbidden me to say. I don't know why for sure, but I'm sure you have plenty of guesses, and as evil as Ganondorf is, any or all could be true. He knew somehow, that Talon had fallen on hard times. With Hyrule Castle Town levelled, and with two bad corn harvests, he was having trouble making his payments. I was stern with him, as you might imagine. But since I also knew that he was related to you, foreclosing on him was out of the question. And, so was selling his note."
Link asked, "What do you mean by 'selling a note?' I didn't know this was done."
"Actually, Link, it's done quite routinely, in nations and realms with many counting houses, for many reasons. When a counting house takes money on deposit, they usually agree to pay the depositor, who owns the money, usury in exchange for borrowing the money, just like someone would rent a house, a horse, or a cow. Normal deposits specify that the usury is paid at a rate for the time the money is held.
"When someone borrows money from a counting house, they agree in advance how quickly the money will be returned, whether it will be in instalment payments or in a lump sum, and how much usury is paid to the counting house, who in this case 'owns' the money, or actually is 'renting' the money from the depositors, and re-renting it at a higher rate to the borrower.
"A counting house can also 'sell' the contract to whoever will buy it, at whatever price they can get. The borrower still owes what he owes, but just owes it to someone other than who he borrowed it from. A debt is a thing, like any other, and can be sold or traded.
"But anyway, Ganondorf tried several times to 'buy' Talon's mortgage through other people. But I would never sell it to anyone, and especially not to someone I suspected was connected with the Gerudo, who are notorious for not paying what they owe!
"So, Ganondorf came up with some kind of forgeries of the contract I made with Talon, and the land grant itself. And, to keep me from pointing it out for the fraud it was, he had a bank run made on me!
"But, as I said, I couldn't possibly loan out all of your money; there was just too much of it! So, when every idiot Ganondorf could have frightened into drawing their money came, I paid out every dime they could legitimately claim.
"Ganondorf then sent out descendants of people who had been paid off when your father cursed me." Link squirmed nervously.
Jardain said, "No matter Link, all is forgiven by all, but what's done is done. Like I was saying, all those people, who had been paid in full by King Harkinian, suddenly show up at my door claiming that no, they hadn't been paid at all. So, I paid them."
Link exclaimed, "What? That's stealing of some kind or another!"
"Of course it is, Link. But, to keep people from thinking I had run off with their money, I paid every rupee, including usury, from the day I was cursed and had to take my eleven year 'vacation.'
"And, it's paid off! Some of the depositors have actually brought their money back."
"I hope you told them where to put it!" Link exclaimed angrily.
"I did, actually, Link" Edgar interjected. "I told them to put it on the counter, recorded it, and gave them the receipts for it."
"But after…" Link sputtered.
"We won that battle, Link!" exclaimed Jardain. "Ganondorf tried to break my counting house, and failed! He tried several foreclosures, Talon's being only the most dishonest! But none of my borrowers were hurt, since I wouldn't sell my notes to anyone else, and none of my depositors lost any money!
"Now if you tried drawing out all your money, I'd be in real trouble. I've only got gold on hand to pay two thirds of what you have on account with me."
Link almost shouted angrily at Jardain for losing a third of his money. Then, he realized, that the money was indeed loaned out. But another thought occurred to him.
His deposits, alone, covered what could be called two bank runs! Jardain said nothing about trying to get back money early from those who had borrowed it.
Link asked, "Did you try to collect any money owed to you before it was actually due?"
Jardain replied, "Of course not, Link! That's the other thing Ganondorf was trying for. He wanted people to default on their loans, and he wanted me to try collecting early to cover withdrawals by depositors. But, I never had to try collecting money before it was owed. In fact, with the realm in the shambles its in, I've had several otherwise responsible borrowers get into trouble besides Talon! But, in every case, I've been able to reduce usury rates and extend payments, so they could weather through these times."
Link thought again. Jardain was able to cover two bank runs, and extend numerous loans that would have otherwise gone into default, and let others pay no more quickly then they had agreed to in the first place! And Jardain said that he had done so from Link's accounts! How much money did he have with them?
Link asked, "Can you tell me how much money I have here?"
Jardain answered, "Not to the last rupee, but I see your concern.
"There were other depositors who didn't draw out their money unless needed. That was a big help. But you have in excess of 1.2 million rupees in total here. Some of that is from the curse tokens, some from usury, and some of that is what you've deposited in cash. You've forbid me from giving details, and I hope I'm not disobeying your word in saying this, but you've been one busy and prosperous young man."
Link was utterly stunned. Jardain asked, "Are you all right, Link?"
Link answered, "I guess so. But that's so much money it isn't real anymore! As I live time, I'm not even twelve years old. In my tenth year, I made less than five hundred rupees, and wasn't that bad off! I had food when I needed it, a place to sleep, and clothes on my back. Then, I only wanted a few dozen rupees more, that I could make some jewellery for Saria. I've got more money now than I can even imagine! Yet, I'm not the least bit happy about it. If I could go back to my tenth year, and be free of what I know now, I'd give it all, and if someone were fool-hardy enough to loan it, I'd give it all again."
Jardain answered, "Money can not buy happiness, Link. It is no more and no less than a tool; it's a way of measuring work, skill, and ingenuity, that they may be traded for food, shelter, and clothing. Happiness is where you find it. At best, it provides some of the things to preserve what makes us happy, but the rest is always up to us."
Link said, "I want to go to sleep, now. I have to climb up Death Mountain tomorrow to finish reclaiming my father's sword. Biggoron the Smith is re-forging it, and it should be ready the day after tomorrow. As soon as I have it, I shall start clearing the temples of Ganondorf's evil. If the goddesses still love this land, or even care that it still exists, I hope to defeat Ganondorf for all time.
"But before I forget, Jardain, Talon's mortgage is paid in full. Take it from my accounts, whatever, but Talon owes your counting house no money at all."
Jardain answered, "As you wish, my lord. Do you wish to sleep in the great room tonight?"
"No, Jardain. I will want to sleep in tomorrow, and though you would make whatever accommodations I need, you still have a business to run. With what has passed recently, I insist you maintain your normal hours without having customers disturb my sleep."
"It's as you wish, Link" the giant arachnid answered. Edgar showed Link to his own room in the basement, decorated generously with bags of Link's gold and rupees as there was so much of Link's money that they had to keep it where it would fit. Link removed his boots and tunic, and climbed into the bed. He slept a fitful but dreamless sleep until the following noon.
Link and Navi returned to the summit of Death Mountain late in the evening of the second day. Biggoron was still re-forging the sword. Link sat down to wait. He took out his ocarina and tried to call Saria again. This time, he could sense her presence! There's hope! He continued to play.
He relived memories of his live, their life together. Though they were only married a few short weeks, they had grown up together, and the last few years were almost as if married. They walked together. They imagined for each other what their parents would have been like. They shared their dreams. They were always close friends, and were usually closer than that. He relived small quarrels they'd had. He almost regretted those. But they always reconciled quickly. And the making up was so fun that they almost wanted to quarrel more so they could make-up more. They made up more anyway, without quarrelling.
He played some more. This time, she was able to talk to him! Just a couple of words, but words from her! She said "Link! I can't talk, you're too far away! I'm too far away! I don't know where I am! But I know I'm safe for now! I'm somewhere in the Forest Temple. I feel you are getting something you must have to free me. Treasure our memory while you wait! But please hurry! It's been so long…"
With that, she faded out. But he felt her! He heard her! He remembered the only other time he was scared that he'd lose her. It was the morning that they proposed to each other instead. Mido had her so convinced that he would run off with Zelda, after saving the whole world, that she had already closed her thoughts to him. She had decided to get his leaving her over with. She was already grievously hurt, and might have died. He didn't know at the time. But he did know that he could never turn her away. He also knew that he could never hold her if it was not right. He couldn't trust his own judgement then, and there was no one else to turn to.
He opened his heart completely to her that morning! He was surprised how much he still had not shown her, for she had seen so much. He spoke from the heart, and might even have spoke well. He didn't remember. But she saw everything in his heart, for good and bad. She saw all his failings. The times he forgot her birthday until she reminded him. The times where he was tempted by the attentions of April, one of the twin sisters who were just older than Saria. The times he thought crossly about her.
But she also saw the times where he thought of her without thinking of himself. The times when she was sick, and his clothes never seemed to need mending, because she was too tired to do it. The times when he was so tired from the nightmares, yet snuck her breakfast in to her before she woke. How he never envied her the time she spent with others, being glad for the time she spent with him. How he was always there when she needed him. Then, she did something even more surprising, yet less so. She opened her heart to him!
He was surprised by how much she had held back. How sometimes, she was almost tempted by Mido. How her accidentally sewing the buttons to his shorts on the wrong side was not accidental inattention, but deliberate, because she thought he was paying too much attention to April. How she had not been nearly as frightened as he thought when she had her first period, but felt he needed to comfort her more than she needed comforting. Neither of them was perfect, but they were perfect for each other! Then, they knew. It wasn't a matter of when, but a matter of now.
As sure as they were, it should have been easy. And their acceptance of each other's pledges was. But giving the pledges?
They were both nervous. He didn't even realize at first that she had started proposing. She was so nervous that she just gave him the ocarina! She got so flustered that she almost took it back out of his hand! But once she started, she remembered the words. The nervous tremor in her voice made the traditional invitation that much more real, more endearing. And whatever Kokiri of old invented their way of pledging marriage had never done it in battle gear on a dew covered bridge. As he did the traditional dance, he almost fell on his ass, twice! That bridge was slick! And who knows where he would have pulled that ocarina from, instead of from over his heart, if he had not been wearing his sword, shield, spare clothes, and bedroll on his back!
But they both made it, each accepted the other, and were truly happy. Had fate pushed them any further, they would have played their marriage vows, forgot the week, and had their first coupling right there! But, they did manage to wait.
He remembered their wedding, how innocent it had been. Since they had dressed each other so many times, and since they had each made all the other's clothes for years, they skipped that part of the ceremony. They exchanged songs, embraced each other, and started playing.
They played all night, and on into the sunrise. Though neither had told the other of a date, they both knew that it was time. The bonding of their hearts was strengthened that night, and each grew even closer to the other. They were able to speak to each other now through their ocarinas. This had helped Link greatly to now. It was their song that had broken King Darunia's fugue, allowing Link to get the Fire Ruby. It was Saria who knew the legend of the Magic Beans, and where to plant them. He would not be waiting for the Sword of Ages now, had he not planted three of those beans, on her advice. It was Saria again who remembered the legend of the third Great Fairy, whose gift would be needed all too soon. And Link just realized one other thing Saria had done for him. Their first coupling had saved Link's life, and provided hope that the Triforce could be recovered.
If he had not stopped at the Kokiri Forest, he would have arrived earlier at the Palace. But he would have had to have seen Princess Zelda to get the Ocarina of Time, for he had not yet held the Master Sword, making the Ocarina unnecessary. Ganondorf already had his agents in the castle. He would have surely captured both him and the Princess had they been there. With the Ocarina of Time, his own knowledge of the Legends, and with Link's severed hand, Ganondorf would have breached the Temple of Time for sure. And, with no Hero of Time to stop him, the world's enslavement to Ganondorf would have been a surety. But he had been delayed. And what a delay it was.
They had both planned to wait until after he had obtained the Triforce and stopped Ganondorf. He had just stopped her from going through the shortcut to Zora's domain to attack Princess Ruto for throwing herself upon him. They were both soaking wet, and went to the Sacred Forest Meadow to dry their clothing. They were not tempted while their clothes were drying because they were quarrelling over Princess Ruto's unwelcome attentions. It was also Kokiri custom that for the first coupling the couple undress each other, and they had undressed themselves.
It was hot that day, and their clothes dried quickly. They had both gotten dressed, and had just finished making up from their quarrel. They had thought about coupling then, lest he not return. They had decided not to, and were hugging each other, when the wind blew off his cap. He thought she had removed it, and removed her headband…
They were together the rest of that day, and late into the night. After they had finished, how many times? They slept in each other's arms. They awoke late in the morning. They cleaned themselves, got dressed, and went back to the Kokiri Forest. He then left for the castle, taking the shortcut through the Lost Woods and Goron City.
Or did they? Though he travelled alone, Saria followed somewhere behind him. He noticed that her presence seemed closer, not just stronger, but thought that was just the strengthening of their bonds to each other. And, in that last terrifying instant, before he lost all consciousness, they fought Ganondorf together, at each other's sides, each trying to protect the other from harm! He had raised the Sword of Time in two hands, striking a foe that couldn't be struck, to defend a life-mate who was trying to defend him, knowing all had been lost! He was then in the Chamber of the Sages, grown to Hylean adulthood, facing Rauru. How much time had passed… How much time had passed?
Link awoke with a start. He was wrapped in his blanket, his spare clothing a pillow. Navi hovered over him, as she was want to do when he had first awakened. Arliss' ghost stood at his feet. "Son, you needed to rest, and commune with your thoughts. There was nothing else to be done, so I laid you out comfortably. It is just short of dawn on the third day" the spirit told him. "I can read your thoughts at times, as you are Kokiri, and I am a friend to their ways, and loved by you. As I am but a ghost, you cannot read mine. But fear not, for only those of a righteous heart who are loved by you can read your mind, and only if you let them. The poes of the field, and the monsters whom you fight can see nothing save the reflection of their own evil.
"I must tell you of your coming battles with Ganondorf. There are places where you will need to proclaim who you are. For you are the Duke of Hyrule, second only to the Kings among the nobility. I passed this title to you when I died. All those who swore fealty and allegiance to me also swore it to all who would follow. But Ganondorf must not learn of this until the time appointed by fate.
"He has been blinded to who you are. Even knowing that you carry the Master Sword, and will carry the Sword of Ages, he does not see this. If he did, he would surely kill you while he still could. For even he knows that only the Duke of Hyrule can truly end his evil reign. But, blinded as he is, he will only see you as a Kokiri child, barely a man, and not take you seriously. This will give you an advantage, and you will need every one you can get.
"You will fight him on four occasions in these times. The first, you will fight his shadow. The second, he will not know who you are. The third, he will not care who you are, and the last time, he will attack through who you are.
"I can also tell you how you can win. The first time, you will win with the fury of the Sword of Ages. The second, you will win with Arrows of Truth, balls of evil fire, and will split left from right. The third time you will win with unexpected fire from a friend, the help of a guardian you would not have, three blades, and the power of seven. The fourth time, you will be felled by the love of two in conflict, borne by the love of two reunited, raised by the love of two in sacred bond, win by the love of two as siblings, and change the love of one for another against your will.
"I can also solve the first riddle of defeating Ganondorf. You will fight the ghosts of the last four keepers of the Forest Temple to gain access to Ganondorf's keep. Once there, his shadow and its shadow will ride out of paintings to attack you. Ignore the shadow's shadow. Shoot Ganondorf's shadow with the bow you find in the Temple. After shooting Ganondorf's shadow three times, it will come out to fight where you can kill it. It will throw balls of magic lightning at you with its staff. It is protected by a magic spell. The only thing that will interrupt the spell is a ball of its own lightning. The lightning will not hurt it; only stun it. But it will kill you if you are hit often enough. My shield will stop a lightning ball, but if you use the Sword of Ages, you will not be able to raise your shield without sheathing your sword.
"You can defeat it then one of two ways. You can hit the ball of lightning back at it with a sword to stun it, then charge it and strike it with your sword. Or, you can charge it and swing your sword as quickly and forcefully as you can, scraping its staff as you go. I recommend the second way. Even with your reflexes and Navi's help, you will not hit the lightning often. When you do return it, Ganondorf's shadow will hit it back at you with its staff. But if you charge it, it won't get a shot off right away. You will be forced to scrape its staff as you swing your sword because it will try to parry your swings with it. But as your blade scrapes the staff, it will throw balls of lightning into the shadow's face. This will stun it, allowing you to strike and hurt it. You can do this with either sword, but the Sword of Ages will do at least twice the damage of the Master Sword with each good strike. The Sword of Ages will also reach farther, being a two-handed blade. This is important because Ganondorf's shadow will not tire, but you will! Ganondorf's shadow will also retreat high out of the reach of either sword. When it does this, get back! You will not be able to return a shot from straight above you! Sheath the Sword of Ages and use your shield, or return the lightning balls with your sword. Run quickly, so you may duck the lightning balls where possible. The shadow will soon return to where you can charge it. When it does, attack again.
"In the Meadow Maze, you will find there are no more mad scrubs. The maze is now guarded by magic moblins. The maze itself is guarded with lesser moblins, armed with long spears. They are almost invincible from the front, and their long spears prevent you from getting within sword's reach. Hit one from behind, beneath, or above with anything, even the hookshot, and you will kill it easily. Do not attack one from the front. It will impale you on its spear repeatedly until you are dead or it thinks you are! After you negotiate the maze, make sure you are fully healed, and all of your magic bottles are filled with fairies. If you use the fairy fountain in the Meadow Maze, you will find the moblins have returned to life. While on top of the maze, they can't touch you, and you can easily leave the meadow maze or jump to the stairs to the meadow itself and the Temple. The last pathway atop the stairs is guarded by a greater magic moblin. It is armed with a large war club. The club sends shock waves along the ground that will hurt you almost as bad as being hit by the club itself. This monster will repeatedly strike the ground at you so long as it can see you. You can try to evade its club blows and attack with your sword, or attack from a distance with arrows or bombchus. You must hit it three times to kill it, whatever you hit it with!
Both monsters are part of Ganondorf's curse on the Temple. Lift the curse, kill the monsters one last time, and they will be gone for good.
Just then, Biggoron announced, "It is time. The sword is ready except for the final quenching promised by the Great Fairy." Arliss' ghost told Link "You must call the Great Fairy again. She will only answer you." Link entered the Great Fairy's Cave, followed by Arliss and the arm of Biggoron, bearing a large two-handed sword. Biggoron said, "I noticed you looking at the sword before you entered. I assure you that even if we didn't call the Great Fairy, this sword would be perfect. It is large, but should have perfect balance for you. I changed the balance slightly from when your father carried it, for you are a foot and a half shorter than your father, and do not look like you will grow more than four inches if you grow more at all."
Link played Zelda's Lullaby to call the Great Fairy. She appeared with what must have been the customary joyful shriek. She said "Are the three of you sure you want this sword?" All answered yes. "For the two of you living, do you realize you could die making this sword?" Biggoron answered yes.
Link answered, "I did not know that. I do know that I will die for the lack of possessing this sword. I choose to take my chance here."
The Great Fairy continued "I will heat the sword white hot with Din's Fire while each of you in turn holds it. The fire will not touch you, but the heat of the sword will sear through your body, sapping you of life, except for Arliss, who will only feel pain as he's already dead. After the quenchings with the Goron smith and the Princess's liegeman, I will heal them. I can do nothing for you during the quenching, if you die, you die. And to you, Link. Know that this sword will serve you in full power in the cause of truth and righteousness, but only if you seek it in the cause of truth and righteousness. If you seek it out of vengeance, you will die right here. Even seeking this sword with purity of heart, the quenching may kill you. Do you accept this?"
Link answered, "I seek this sword to help me defeat the monster Ganondorf. I can't claim perfection of heart. All the world, especially I, have suffered at his hands. I am told I have almost no chance in defeating Ganondorf without this sword. Because I am the Hero of Time, I am forced to attack Ganondorf until either he or I am dead. Again, I say I'll take my chance here, with my own heart."
The Great Fairy spoke. "Link, you speak wisely, especially for one so young. Remember that wisdom is a long and continuing road, and this sword will serve you well indeed. We shall begin. The sword must not touch dead stone, or the spell will fail. It may be quenched only when I say, else the spell will fail. It must pass from stone-flesh to spirit, to Hylean flesh and Kokiri spirit. It must touch one of these at all times during the quenching, or the spell will fail. We will start with the Goron. Hold the sword up high above the water, parallel with the surface."
She waived her hand, and the sword instantly became white-hot, hotter than molten rock. But the sword didn't melt. The pain seared up the Goron Giant's arm.
The Great Fairy spoke. "Biggoron the smith, Sworn Brother to the Ghost-Duke of Hyrule and the Duke of Hyrule, do you swear that this sword was re-forged only in the service of truth, justice, and righteousness?"
Biggoron answered, "I do."
The Great Fairy replied "Lower the sword slowly into the water, let it not touch dead stone." The Master Smith did as the Great Fairy told him.
She continued "Arliss, take the sword out of the hand of the smith and raise it out of the water, parallel to its surface." Arliss' ghost did as he was told.
She waived her hand once, healing Biggoron completely. Everyone appreciated this, for the giant had started to howl in the deadly pain, and his cries were heard throughout the realm. She waived her hand again, and the sword was again white-hot.
She continued. "Arliss the Fierce, father of Link, the Hero of Time, in life the Duke of Hyrule, Sworn Brother of the Gorons, and Hylean Deku Tree, do you bequeath this sword to your son in the service of truth, justice, and righteousness?"
The ghost answered, "I do, Great Fairy."
The Great Fairy replied, "Lower the sword into the water, let it not touch dead stone." Arliss did as he was told.
The Great Fairy looked at Link. "Link, remove your gauntlets, and the Goron Bracelet. Take the sword from the hand of your father's spirit. Raise it high above the water, parallel with the surface."
Link did the Great Fairy's bidding. The sword instantly became white-hot again. The Great Fairy spoke. "Link, son of Arliss, Duke of Hyrule, Sworn Brother of the Gorons, Protector of the Zoras, Regent of the Gerudo, Hylean Deku Tree, Hero of Time. Do you claim this sword to serve all this realm, protect her from all who threaten her, and serve her in truth, justice, and righteousness for as long as you shall live?"
Link was near to death. The pain was beyond all description. The heat from the sword was singeing his hair, scorching his clothes. Had he been able to smell at the moment, he would have smelled his own body burning. He was almost unable to speak, but managed to answer, "I do, Great Fairy!" without shrieking from the intense pain.
The Great Fairy answered "Lower the sword slowly into the water, letting it not touch dead stone." Link sank to his knees, almost all the strength having left his body. He lowered the sword into the water, keeping it off the bottom of the pool with the last ounces of his strength. The water boiled, steamed, then was calm. The Great Fairy waved her hand, and Link was healed.
She said "Link, sheath your sword. The spell has worked." He sheathed his sword. The Great Fairy continued. "Link, remove your shield. Goron Smith, Spirit Noble, Hero of Time, each of you hold an edge of the shield. Raise the shield high above the water, facing down." The three did as they were told.
"Biggorn, do you recognize the work of this shield?" asked the Great Fairy.
The smith felt the shield quickly, then answered "Yes, Great Fairy! It is mine," answered Biggoron.
"Spirit Warrior, do recognize this shield from when you lived?" the Great Fairy asked.
"Yes," answered the ghost, "it was mine."
The Great Fairy asked Link "Hero of Time, is this your shield?"
Link answered "Yes, Great Fairy. It is my shield."
The Fairy continued. "The shield must be hardened one time, by the three of you, just as the sword was. This is the only time it can be done." With no further warning, the shield became as hot as the sword had been. The Great Fairy spoke. "Do the three of you pledge this shield to serve all this realm, protect her from all who threaten her, and serve the realm in truth, justice, and righteousness for as long as any of you shall exist in this realm in any form?"
They all answered, "We do."
The Great Fairy told them "Lower the shield into the water, forcing it below the surface, letting it not touch dead stone." They did as they were told, Link and Biggoron suffering horribly. After the water stopped steaming, the Great Fairy waved her arms, healing both Link and Biggoron completely.
She continued "Link, look closely at your shield. The Ducal Coronet has been restored, and set with diamonds. This will not be visible in these times to those who must not know you are the Duke. It will be visible to those who must know you are the Duke. After your second battle with Ganondorf, the crest will be visible to all, as a warning to leave the field with their lives. This shield will not protect you against pure magic attacks, attacks made with the type of fire that burns within the Sun, or attacks that pass around the shield. Nothing else will penetrate it, and Nothing can crush you beneath it! Not arrow, nor crossbolt, nor boulders from a siege engine. Not even attacks with explosives, or items propelled by explosives. You will not have the agility yet to block the attack of a moblin or an iron knuckle, but the shield will reduce the injury you receive from a moblin's attack somewhat. Go in peace, brave warrior! Come back when you are feeling weary, and I will heal you." The Great Fairy shrieked her joyful shriek, and disappeared into the water.
Arliss spoke. "Link, I have stayed past my time. We will talk again." He then disappeared. Biggoron withdrew his arm from the cave, and Link walked out.
Biggoron told Link "I know you must free the Forest Temple first. But please hurry and free the Fire Temple. I am afraid for Darunia and most of my brothers. Ganondorf has forgotten me and my brother for now. A few others have escaped. But most of my race are locked up in the Fire Temple, waiting to be sacrificed to Volvagia, the evil dragon of legend. Our Great Chieftain is free in the Temple, searching for the Giant's Hammer, so he can kill Volvagia. But not even the Wild Darunia can stand alone against Ganondorf! You must hurry with the Forest Temple so you can help our Sworn Brother, before it's too late! Let me brush this skulwaltullah out of the way." As he said that, he reached over the side and killed two skullwaltullahs. He continued "I will lower you gently down to the lower ledge. You can jump down from there without injury. Remember to dodge any falling boulders on the bad section of the path. Take the shortcut through our city to your "Lost Woods". That should get you to the temple quicker. Biggoron lowered Link down to the lower ledge. Link jumped from the ledge, and rolled as he hit the path below. As soon as he hit the ground, the boulders started to crash down around him. He got up, and ran at full speed, dodging boulders as he went. He barely slowed down as he turned along the path. He jumped over the hole to the hidden cow hole, landing on the ledge of the path below. He turned right, jumped the gap in the path, and ran down the mountain where the path up to Goron City started. He was forced to duck a large boulder, which rolled down the path toward him as he started up the Goron City path. He continued to run into the mouth of Goron City itself.
He noted, but paid scant attention to the absence of Gorons. He already knew the fate awaiting them, and all he had to do before he could save them. He only hoped he could be in time. He jumped and rolled from the top ledge to the ring ledge. He noticed one small Goron rolling around, as Hot Rod Goron had done when Link was younger. He thought "Navi, that child might be able to help us when we return, if he's still here." As he thought this, he ran to the opening for the short cut to the Lost Woods. He ran down the passageway into the forest clearing.