Chapter Three: The Journey Begins
They had been trudging through the forest now for several hours, with no sign of it ending. The patches of sunlight that filtered through the canopy high above gradually grew larger and larger as they neared the edge of the woods. More sounds came wafting from deep into the forest, on all sides. Link's ears perked with apprehension, but Navi led him onward at a merciless pace.
"So you're the hero that's going to save the forest?" Navi paused and studied Link with a doubtful look. She shimmered and tinkled, then flipped around to resume her airy flight. Link did not speak. He was still confused about his destiny. Phairyn had told him nothing of his past...except that he was the son of Lynaris—whoever that was. Link clutched at the heavy sword. The light cushion of the forest grass fell away and was replaced by sharp rocks and dead tree limbs. Blisters began to form on Link's scratched feet. Still he ploughed forward.
Finally the afternoon sun broke through the trees as the two travelers emerged from the forest wall and looked down at the vast valley stretched out below them. The first thing Link noticed was the dazzling intensity of the bright blue sky. Its great immensity overwhelmed him with awe: he had never seen something so infinitely huge.
Tiny hills rolled off into the horizon. Strands of trees snaked along a river far to the west. More trees spread out: some dotted the valley at a breezy distance, others huddled together in thick clusters. Squinting, Link noticed a tiny irregular dot off to the west, along the path of the river. There seemed to be movement.
"That's where we should go," Navi said in a resolute chirp. "Let's get started. On our way I'll tell you what Phairyn has in store for us." She blinked red for a moment, then floated down and alighted on Link's shoulder, getting herself comfortable. Link nodded and set off toward the river. The grass was not as soft as the forest grass, but it helped cushion his blisters.
"Our mission is to get to Hyrule Castle to warn the King about the evil man from the desert. We have to travel as swiftly as possible. There have been rumors of strange creatures appearing at night here in this valley and other places." They were now descending into the valley. Every so often they passed a few solitary trees that shifted their light branches uncomfortably, sending up soft susurrations to the empty sky. Somehow it appeared that even the trees could detect a change in the atmosphere.
"Well, then what are we going to do after we warn the King? Are we coming back? What about this green diamond here?" Link tucked at the emerald stuffed inside the folds of his clothing. "What does it do? What is it for?"
Navi shifted slightly to look up in Link's face: "Phairyn intends much more for you. That sword is only the beginning. And the gift of the forest has many secrets unknown even to me. We will learn more." Link walked on in silence. His feet hurt and his eyes were sore from the blinding light of the sun. It was apparent that Kokiri forest was protected from outside dangers as well as from this oppressive light.
They reached the river and started up beside it towards their destination, still a distant speck. The water tinkled happily as it slowly glided forward, whispering softly. Link strained to hear words, but the river only lulled merrily and moved onward.
At last, the large red sun slowly sank behind the hills, and the travelers stopped to pass the night in the calm shelter of a grove of trees. Navi flew up and found a comfortable niche in a tree to climb into. For a long time she shimmered dimly, then her red light faded completely.
Link set the sword down against him next to the green emerald. Then he took off his cap and rolled it up into a pillow. The night was cool, but a warm wind gently blew past, covering him like a soft blanket. The stars sparkled in their deep abode. Above, the Luminore blazed as noble as ever. Phairyn had often told him and Milon about the Luminore. That it was the point in which the three goddesses first entered the universe. Together, the two friends would talk far into the night, gazing at the Luminore, wondering at how life outside the forest would be like.
Slowly, Link gave way to exhaustion. His eyelids drooped. Once. Twice.
Then suddenly they flew open, wide with terror. Link scrambled to sit up, his heart beating like mad. There had just been something there, up in the trees. Link could see something...orange, like gold fire. Two orbs of deep amber. Eyes...but where did it go. Blinking furiously, Link peered up into the shadows. He could see nothing now. It was gone.
He lay down again, clutching the sword's hilt with one hand. His breathing came in calmer spurts. The only sound was the gentle murmur of the water.
The yellow moon had traveled far into its nightly journey before Link finally fell asleep.
They had been trudging through the forest now for several hours, with no sign of it ending. The patches of sunlight that filtered through the canopy high above gradually grew larger and larger as they neared the edge of the woods. More sounds came wafting from deep into the forest, on all sides. Link's ears perked with apprehension, but Navi led him onward at a merciless pace.
"So you're the hero that's going to save the forest?" Navi paused and studied Link with a doubtful look. She shimmered and tinkled, then flipped around to resume her airy flight. Link did not speak. He was still confused about his destiny. Phairyn had told him nothing of his past...except that he was the son of Lynaris—whoever that was. Link clutched at the heavy sword. The light cushion of the forest grass fell away and was replaced by sharp rocks and dead tree limbs. Blisters began to form on Link's scratched feet. Still he ploughed forward.
Finally the afternoon sun broke through the trees as the two travelers emerged from the forest wall and looked down at the vast valley stretched out below them. The first thing Link noticed was the dazzling intensity of the bright blue sky. Its great immensity overwhelmed him with awe: he had never seen something so infinitely huge.
Tiny hills rolled off into the horizon. Strands of trees snaked along a river far to the west. More trees spread out: some dotted the valley at a breezy distance, others huddled together in thick clusters. Squinting, Link noticed a tiny irregular dot off to the west, along the path of the river. There seemed to be movement.
"That's where we should go," Navi said in a resolute chirp. "Let's get started. On our way I'll tell you what Phairyn has in store for us." She blinked red for a moment, then floated down and alighted on Link's shoulder, getting herself comfortable. Link nodded and set off toward the river. The grass was not as soft as the forest grass, but it helped cushion his blisters.
"Our mission is to get to Hyrule Castle to warn the King about the evil man from the desert. We have to travel as swiftly as possible. There have been rumors of strange creatures appearing at night here in this valley and other places." They were now descending into the valley. Every so often they passed a few solitary trees that shifted their light branches uncomfortably, sending up soft susurrations to the empty sky. Somehow it appeared that even the trees could detect a change in the atmosphere.
"Well, then what are we going to do after we warn the King? Are we coming back? What about this green diamond here?" Link tucked at the emerald stuffed inside the folds of his clothing. "What does it do? What is it for?"
Navi shifted slightly to look up in Link's face: "Phairyn intends much more for you. That sword is only the beginning. And the gift of the forest has many secrets unknown even to me. We will learn more." Link walked on in silence. His feet hurt and his eyes were sore from the blinding light of the sun. It was apparent that Kokiri forest was protected from outside dangers as well as from this oppressive light.
They reached the river and started up beside it towards their destination, still a distant speck. The water tinkled happily as it slowly glided forward, whispering softly. Link strained to hear words, but the river only lulled merrily and moved onward.
At last, the large red sun slowly sank behind the hills, and the travelers stopped to pass the night in the calm shelter of a grove of trees. Navi flew up and found a comfortable niche in a tree to climb into. For a long time she shimmered dimly, then her red light faded completely.
Link set the sword down against him next to the green emerald. Then he took off his cap and rolled it up into a pillow. The night was cool, but a warm wind gently blew past, covering him like a soft blanket. The stars sparkled in their deep abode. Above, the Luminore blazed as noble as ever. Phairyn had often told him and Milon about the Luminore. That it was the point in which the three goddesses first entered the universe. Together, the two friends would talk far into the night, gazing at the Luminore, wondering at how life outside the forest would be like.
Slowly, Link gave way to exhaustion. His eyelids drooped. Once. Twice.
Then suddenly they flew open, wide with terror. Link scrambled to sit up, his heart beating like mad. There had just been something there, up in the trees. Link could see something...orange, like gold fire. Two orbs of deep amber. Eyes...but where did it go. Blinking furiously, Link peered up into the shadows. He could see nothing now. It was gone.
He lay down again, clutching the sword's hilt with one hand. His breathing came in calmer spurts. The only sound was the gentle murmur of the water.
The yellow moon had traveled far into its nightly journey before Link finally fell asleep.
