The room that Link entered next was pitch black after the door behind
him slammed shut. He waited for his eyes to adjust, but it never happened.
He groped around for his sword and shield, and then checked under his hood
for Navi. She didn't fly forward, but she whispered in his ear, "I'm here,
Link." Her tiny bell-like voice gave him comfort as he settled into his
fighting stance. He was ready for battle.
He was not ready, however, for twenty giant torches to illuminate themselves all at once, engulfing the room in a blinding light. His arm flew up to shield his eyes until they adjusted to the now well-lit room. Like the room he had just left, it had a gilded ceiling, but in this room, the gold didn't end above. Gold covered every square inch of the space, reflecting the light in such a way that Link's eyes could not stop squinting.
Ahead of him, there was a throne. On that throne sat a hooded figure with three tiny figures at its feet. Link heard a tiny gasp somewhere near his ear and then Navi saying, "Link, that's her! That's Irnan!"
As if on Navi's cue, Irnan rose from her throne slowly and majestically. Link tried hard not to be impressed, but Irnan's mere presence seemed to throb with power. A cold shiver ran down his spine, but he ignored it, focusing on evaluating the situation and not thinking about the death that this creature could bring him.
"We finally meet, Hero of Time," said the Irnan. Her voice was surprisingly light and airy, not at all as he had imagined. "I have been waiting eagerly for this moment."
"So have I," replied Link.
"I know. I have been watching you very closely. I see that the obstacles I put in place were no match for your superior powers. All have failed me. I must now rely solely on myself. I hope that you don't think that this final battle will be as easy as the previous. I intend to make you pay," she said. She clapped her hands loudly, and the sound echoed all around Link. The three figures that had been standing at her feet now scattered to assist their master as she took of the dark, heavy robe she had been wearing.
Link gasped. She was beautiful. He had never expected an evil creature to be so lovely. Her hair was a curly dark brown that fell neatly down her back. Even from the great distance that separated them, Link could see that Irnan's eyes were a beautiful honey color. Her skin was pale, but her cheeks were flushed. She was wearing a long, shimmering black gown that fell to the floor. She looked like some sort of dark angel. An angel of death.
Irnan began to walk closer to him, her movements languid and graceful. Her tiny minions followed closely behind her until she turned quickly to face them. "You are dismissed!" she shouted at them, sending them running out of the room. She turned back to face Link. "Do you see the control that I have over them? They cater to my every whim. They are prepared to give their lives so that my plans might be put into action. Do you see what could be yours?" she asked him.
Link nearly dropped his sword. "What?" he asked, not sure he had heard her correctly.
Irnan laughed before saying, "I told you, Hero, I have been watching you closely. I have seen the power that you exercise. Together, we could achieve a greatness the likes of which Hyrule has never seen. Think of all that we could accomplish. With our strengths combined, and with the help of my thousands of loyal followers, we could rule the world!" she said, coming closer and closer to Link with every word until her face was inches from his own.
Link knew that he should loathe the creature that was staring into his eyes right now. He knew that he should take his sword and thrust it into the black, malevolent heart in front of him and rejoice in his victory. But her offer had its appeal, he had to admit. He loved Hyrule, and maybe with Irnan's help, they could help it reach its full potential. Navi shifted herself behind Link's head and the movement broke the spell. Link drew his sword and plunged it into Irnan's stomach.
Irnan laughed and said, "I see you refuse my offer. Very well. I suppose I have no choice but to defeat you." She grabbed Link's sword by the handle and threw it back to him. "Here," she said, "you'll want that, I'm sure. You're nothing without your weapons, are you?" She laughed again and turned her back on the hero, giving him the perfect opportunity.
He knew it wasn't fair, but it wasn't fair that she had enchanted him earlier. He notched an arrow and let it fly into Irnan's back. She screamed in pain and fell. But just like Retta, she gathered herself together quickly. He didn't have Saria now and he wondered how he would be able to defeat Irnan on his own. "Will I be all right if I get closer to her?" he asked Navi.
"You're going to need to get a lot closer. Just because she let her guard down once doesn't mean that she's going to be a walk in the park, Link. But I think you'll be all right if you try to get her from behind. Remember, she has magic, you don't," replied Navi.
Link nodded and sprang into action. He recalled the last major battle he had fought with Ganon, and wondered how on earth he had managed to survive. But somehow he had, and he knew that he would pull through this as well. He had to for Hyrule. He had to because he had promised Saria that he would come back.
Back and forth Irnan and Link went. Link would get to a point where he was able to shower Irnan with light arrows. But soon he would wear down and Irnan would be able to take her turn. She threw magic bolts of electricity at him. He managed to dodge many of them, but when they hit, they hurt like hell.
Link was to the point of exhaustion and he wondered how on earth he was going to pull through. He hit Irnan with another light arrow and collapsed. Navi flit in front of his face. "Link, you have to get up, you don't have much time," she said to him.
"Navi, I can't. I have no energy," he replied, his voice as weak as his body.
"You have to, Link. Think of Hyrule. Think of all that you have already accomplished. Do you want all of that to be for nothing? Think of Saria, Link. You love her, and she loves you. You have to do this," pleaded Navi.
Saria. Yes, Saria. He pulled out the ocarina and put it to his lips. Irnan began to stir on the floor. "Link! What are you doing?" cried Navi. He ignored her and somehow managed to play Saria's Song. Saria's voice broke through everything, and somehow just hearing it made Link feel better. He was able to sit up.
"What is it Link? Have you defeated her?" asked Saria eagerly.
"Not yet. Saria, I don't know what to do. We've been fighting for hours and neither one of us is going to give up anytime soon," he said.
"Remember what Retta said. Use Irnan's past against her," said Saria.
"But what if it's not true?" asked Link.
"You don't have time to question the honesty of what Retta said. You have nothing to lose by trying it, do you?" asked Saria.
"No. Thank you. I love you, and I'll be done soon. I promise," he told her.
"I love you too," said Saria. "And hurry! I'll be waiting for you." That was the end of their conversation. Barely thirty seconds had passed. But still, Link found that he had more energy. Irnan stood up and came Link's way. It was easy to see that she was nearing exhaustion herself. Link sent another arrow at her and she fell to the ground.
"So," said Link as he stood over Irnan and plunged his sword into her several times, watching her writhe in pain, "I hear that you and I are connected."
Irnan moved suddenly, and managed to stand up. She sent a bolt of energy at Link and he fell to the floor in intense pain. "Where did you hear that?"
"Oh, I know all about how you murdered your sister, Etain. I know all about your guilt. How can you so easily inflict pain on me, when you know I am her descendent?" asked Link through grit teeth.
"Those are all lies!" screamed Irnan. She sent another bolt of energy at Link and he let out a moan. He could barely see now.
"I don't think so," whispered Link. "I know all about how you scattered her remaining parts and how you had Retta fight me so that you wouldn't have to. I know all about how you didn't want to kill me because I was related to her...and related to you."
"I just wanted to help her. I just wanted to show her that I could be in on the creation of the world. I wasn't as dumb as she made me out to be! I never meant to kill her! I didn't! I just wanted Hyrule my way! This was my chance. But you came along and ruined it. And then I found out that you and Etain...of course I found it difficult to want to kill you! How could I not after what I had done to Etain?" asked Irnan.
Link was able to sit up. While Irnan was going through her tirade he notched an arrow and let it fly straight into her heart. She screamed and writhed in pain on the floor. Link crawled over to her.
"I think you and your sister are even now," he said. He plunged his sword down into Irnan's heart and collapsed next to her dead body. The door that he had come through opened again and Saria came running in.
"Link! Are you all right?" asked Saria as she came running in. She fell to her knees at Link's side and cradled his head in her arms.
"I am now," he replied in a whisper.
"Link, you did it! You did it! You saved Hyrule! You defeated Irnan!" cried Saria. Tears began to stream down her face and Link lifted his hand to dry her cheek. She held it there and asked him once more if he was really okay.
"I'm just tired, that's all. I just need some rest," he said.
"Well, you deserve it," replied Saria. "Here, you rest, and I'll hum you a little song." Saria helped Link to sit up slightly, and she cradled him in her arms as she hummed Saria's Song.
He was not ready, however, for twenty giant torches to illuminate themselves all at once, engulfing the room in a blinding light. His arm flew up to shield his eyes until they adjusted to the now well-lit room. Like the room he had just left, it had a gilded ceiling, but in this room, the gold didn't end above. Gold covered every square inch of the space, reflecting the light in such a way that Link's eyes could not stop squinting.
Ahead of him, there was a throne. On that throne sat a hooded figure with three tiny figures at its feet. Link heard a tiny gasp somewhere near his ear and then Navi saying, "Link, that's her! That's Irnan!"
As if on Navi's cue, Irnan rose from her throne slowly and majestically. Link tried hard not to be impressed, but Irnan's mere presence seemed to throb with power. A cold shiver ran down his spine, but he ignored it, focusing on evaluating the situation and not thinking about the death that this creature could bring him.
"We finally meet, Hero of Time," said the Irnan. Her voice was surprisingly light and airy, not at all as he had imagined. "I have been waiting eagerly for this moment."
"So have I," replied Link.
"I know. I have been watching you very closely. I see that the obstacles I put in place were no match for your superior powers. All have failed me. I must now rely solely on myself. I hope that you don't think that this final battle will be as easy as the previous. I intend to make you pay," she said. She clapped her hands loudly, and the sound echoed all around Link. The three figures that had been standing at her feet now scattered to assist their master as she took of the dark, heavy robe she had been wearing.
Link gasped. She was beautiful. He had never expected an evil creature to be so lovely. Her hair was a curly dark brown that fell neatly down her back. Even from the great distance that separated them, Link could see that Irnan's eyes were a beautiful honey color. Her skin was pale, but her cheeks were flushed. She was wearing a long, shimmering black gown that fell to the floor. She looked like some sort of dark angel. An angel of death.
Irnan began to walk closer to him, her movements languid and graceful. Her tiny minions followed closely behind her until she turned quickly to face them. "You are dismissed!" she shouted at them, sending them running out of the room. She turned back to face Link. "Do you see the control that I have over them? They cater to my every whim. They are prepared to give their lives so that my plans might be put into action. Do you see what could be yours?" she asked him.
Link nearly dropped his sword. "What?" he asked, not sure he had heard her correctly.
Irnan laughed before saying, "I told you, Hero, I have been watching you closely. I have seen the power that you exercise. Together, we could achieve a greatness the likes of which Hyrule has never seen. Think of all that we could accomplish. With our strengths combined, and with the help of my thousands of loyal followers, we could rule the world!" she said, coming closer and closer to Link with every word until her face was inches from his own.
Link knew that he should loathe the creature that was staring into his eyes right now. He knew that he should take his sword and thrust it into the black, malevolent heart in front of him and rejoice in his victory. But her offer had its appeal, he had to admit. He loved Hyrule, and maybe with Irnan's help, they could help it reach its full potential. Navi shifted herself behind Link's head and the movement broke the spell. Link drew his sword and plunged it into Irnan's stomach.
Irnan laughed and said, "I see you refuse my offer. Very well. I suppose I have no choice but to defeat you." She grabbed Link's sword by the handle and threw it back to him. "Here," she said, "you'll want that, I'm sure. You're nothing without your weapons, are you?" She laughed again and turned her back on the hero, giving him the perfect opportunity.
He knew it wasn't fair, but it wasn't fair that she had enchanted him earlier. He notched an arrow and let it fly into Irnan's back. She screamed in pain and fell. But just like Retta, she gathered herself together quickly. He didn't have Saria now and he wondered how he would be able to defeat Irnan on his own. "Will I be all right if I get closer to her?" he asked Navi.
"You're going to need to get a lot closer. Just because she let her guard down once doesn't mean that she's going to be a walk in the park, Link. But I think you'll be all right if you try to get her from behind. Remember, she has magic, you don't," replied Navi.
Link nodded and sprang into action. He recalled the last major battle he had fought with Ganon, and wondered how on earth he had managed to survive. But somehow he had, and he knew that he would pull through this as well. He had to for Hyrule. He had to because he had promised Saria that he would come back.
Back and forth Irnan and Link went. Link would get to a point where he was able to shower Irnan with light arrows. But soon he would wear down and Irnan would be able to take her turn. She threw magic bolts of electricity at him. He managed to dodge many of them, but when they hit, they hurt like hell.
Link was to the point of exhaustion and he wondered how on earth he was going to pull through. He hit Irnan with another light arrow and collapsed. Navi flit in front of his face. "Link, you have to get up, you don't have much time," she said to him.
"Navi, I can't. I have no energy," he replied, his voice as weak as his body.
"You have to, Link. Think of Hyrule. Think of all that you have already accomplished. Do you want all of that to be for nothing? Think of Saria, Link. You love her, and she loves you. You have to do this," pleaded Navi.
Saria. Yes, Saria. He pulled out the ocarina and put it to his lips. Irnan began to stir on the floor. "Link! What are you doing?" cried Navi. He ignored her and somehow managed to play Saria's Song. Saria's voice broke through everything, and somehow just hearing it made Link feel better. He was able to sit up.
"What is it Link? Have you defeated her?" asked Saria eagerly.
"Not yet. Saria, I don't know what to do. We've been fighting for hours and neither one of us is going to give up anytime soon," he said.
"Remember what Retta said. Use Irnan's past against her," said Saria.
"But what if it's not true?" asked Link.
"You don't have time to question the honesty of what Retta said. You have nothing to lose by trying it, do you?" asked Saria.
"No. Thank you. I love you, and I'll be done soon. I promise," he told her.
"I love you too," said Saria. "And hurry! I'll be waiting for you." That was the end of their conversation. Barely thirty seconds had passed. But still, Link found that he had more energy. Irnan stood up and came Link's way. It was easy to see that she was nearing exhaustion herself. Link sent another arrow at her and she fell to the ground.
"So," said Link as he stood over Irnan and plunged his sword into her several times, watching her writhe in pain, "I hear that you and I are connected."
Irnan moved suddenly, and managed to stand up. She sent a bolt of energy at Link and he fell to the floor in intense pain. "Where did you hear that?"
"Oh, I know all about how you murdered your sister, Etain. I know all about your guilt. How can you so easily inflict pain on me, when you know I am her descendent?" asked Link through grit teeth.
"Those are all lies!" screamed Irnan. She sent another bolt of energy at Link and he let out a moan. He could barely see now.
"I don't think so," whispered Link. "I know all about how you scattered her remaining parts and how you had Retta fight me so that you wouldn't have to. I know all about how you didn't want to kill me because I was related to her...and related to you."
"I just wanted to help her. I just wanted to show her that I could be in on the creation of the world. I wasn't as dumb as she made me out to be! I never meant to kill her! I didn't! I just wanted Hyrule my way! This was my chance. But you came along and ruined it. And then I found out that you and Etain...of course I found it difficult to want to kill you! How could I not after what I had done to Etain?" asked Irnan.
Link was able to sit up. While Irnan was going through her tirade he notched an arrow and let it fly straight into her heart. She screamed and writhed in pain on the floor. Link crawled over to her.
"I think you and your sister are even now," he said. He plunged his sword down into Irnan's heart and collapsed next to her dead body. The door that he had come through opened again and Saria came running in.
"Link! Are you all right?" asked Saria as she came running in. She fell to her knees at Link's side and cradled his head in her arms.
"I am now," he replied in a whisper.
"Link, you did it! You did it! You saved Hyrule! You defeated Irnan!" cried Saria. Tears began to stream down her face and Link lifted his hand to dry her cheek. She held it there and asked him once more if he was really okay.
"I'm just tired, that's all. I just need some rest," he said.
"Well, you deserve it," replied Saria. "Here, you rest, and I'll hum you a little song." Saria helped Link to sit up slightly, and she cradled him in her arms as she hummed Saria's Song.