A note from the Hime no Argh herself–
You liked it! You really liked it! (The last chapter, that is.) ^^ Phew, what a load off my back. I hate big, pivotal chapters like 19. They are simply merciless to my poor nerves. ::dramatic pose:: But I'm so glad you all seemed to like it, thank you!
I got a question from a reader asking me if this chapter is the last one. (3 Rai.) Gosh no! :D Plenty more to muddle through before this story is finished. I'm estimated thirty-something chapters. It'll probably be the longest story I've written to date.
This chapter will be the last one for a while. I'm going home on Friday for Thanksgiving break and will be home until the Sunday after Thanksgiving. My computer access during that time will likely be limited and I won't be able to update. Expect the next chapter sometime during the week after Thanksgiving. Anyway, thanks as always for reading, and enjoy!
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Chapter 20
Return to Hyrule
Zelda wasn't sure why she woke suddenly, but was only aware of the irrepressible feeling that something was waiting for her. A pile of clothes conveniently waited beside her on the floor. She pulled them on, securing her hair away from her face with a leather thong. Even then she hesitated, looking at Link, sleeping peacefully beside her.
Ganondorf was but a dim dream to her now. The terror and pain of a few short hours ago was forgotten. All she could think of was Link, and being in his arms.
Impulsively she leaned down and kissed his forehead, then got to her feet and left the circular hall in the middle of the cathedral. Outside was a main hall, the walls and floor marble, empty but for a single altar–and Impa.
Zelda halted and stared at the Sheikah. Impa gazed levelly back.
"Where are we?" Zelda asked, speaking the first thought that came to mind.
"The Temple of Time. This place exists now only in the Sacred Realm, but it was one a great temple in Hyrule."
"How...are you?" Zelda asked uncertainly, approaching her slowly.
"I'm fine," Impa said quietly, her eyes locked with Zelda's. "How are you?"
Zelda couldn't help herself; she went to the Sheikah like a child into her mother's arms. Impa wrapped her in a bone-crushing embrace.
"I want to apologize," Impa murmured. "For all that I've done, for–"
"No," Zelda said fiercely. "Don't apologize. There's no need. I understand, and I–I'm grateful to you. For everything."
Impa kissed her forehead gently. "It's been an honor and a joy to raise you." She held her hand against Zelda's cheek briefly, then went on, in her usual brisk tone, "You'd better wake Link and come with me. We've a great deal to discuss."
"Where are we going?"
"Back to Hyrule. We must speak with Saria and decide our next course of action."
Zelda began, "The thieves–"
"Fine," Impa said quietly. "The Gerudo kept their word. They're waiting for you in the Lost Woods."
Zelda sighed in relief. "Thank the goddesses. And...Ronin?"
Impa shook her head. "Not a sign."
"All right." Zelda hesitated briefly. "Impa...what happens now?"
"Whatever you choose," Impa told her firmly, holding her gaze. "The world is yours, Zelda. Your fate is yours. The path may be shown to you, but only you can choose to walk it."
* * *
Link woke alone in the cathedral, unperturbed. For once he wasn't apprehensive about Zelda's whereabouts, sensing that she was near. He glanced to his right and saw his clothes folded in a neat pile, his boots resting beside them. Someone had been by.
He pulled his clothes on and was just strapping his leather gauntlets around his hands when the object of his thoughts appeared. "Good, you're awake already," Zelda said, smiling. Link watched her carefully, attempting to gauge her feelings. She looked pleased to see him, if anything, and he decided this was a good thing.
"Have you found out where we are?" he inquired delicately, finishing the lacings on his gauntlets.
"The Temple of Time," Zelda said thoughtfully. "Impa told me it was once a great temple in Hyrule, but now only its mirror image exists in the Sacred Realm."
"Impa?"
Zelda smiled slowly at the question in his voice. "Yes, she's here. As nonchalant as ever."
Link took her hand, kissing the goddess mark on the back. "Last night..." He hesitated, unsure of what to say. "It wasn't just an impulse, you know that, don't you?"
"Of course I do."
"I meant it when I said I love you," he persisted.
Zelda smiled. "So did I. C'mon," she added apologetically. "Everyone's waiting for us."
Link allowed her to lead him into the main hall of the temple, where Impa awaited them.
"All set?" the sage asked, beckoning to them. Link noticed that she didn't look at him once. "Come. I will take you back to Hyrule. I doubt you would have energy left to do so," she added to Zelda, with a hint of reproach in her voice.
Zelda protested, "It was you who told me to awaken the Triforce–"
"I didn't mean for you to nearly kill yourself in the process." Impa sighed. "Only the goddesses themselves were able to sustain life in you and Link long enough for your injuries to heal and your life-energy replenished."
Something about that statement nagged at Link. "What do you mean, 'long enough'?" he demanded, frowning.
Impa gazed neutrally at a point somewhere behind him. "You've been sleeping for nearly a month."
"A month?!" Zelda exclaimed loudly. "Impossible!"
"Not at all," Impa said calmly. "Naturally some interesting events have passed in this time. We'll discuss that in Hyrule." The Sheikah closed her eyes briefly, her brow furrowing in concentration. A ring of light, tinted a pale lavender, appeared on the floor between the three of them.
By now Zelda and Link were quite practiced at the means of traveling between the realms. In unison they stepped into the portal with Impa and were taken from the perfect realm of divinity to the tainted, impure land of mortals.
When Link opened his eyes, he stood in the foyer of the Forest Temple with Zelda and Impa. There was a sudden exclamation, and Zelda was abruptly attacked by all seven of her thief-followers.
"Miss Zelda!"
Zelda held all those she could reach, an expression of pure serenity and contentment on her face. Link watched her with a disconcerting sense of jealousy at the bond she so clearly shared with her thieving troupe. He couldn't remember ever seeing her more at peace.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Impa slip through the door from the foyer into the courtyard. Sensing that Zelda was not going to need him for some time, Link followed.
The Sheikah half-lay in the grass, her long legs stretched out before her, leaning back on her elbows as she gazed at the clear, blue sky. Link shielded his face to fix the position of the sun, at about three hours after noon. The dry warmth in the air suggested that the summer season was well on its course. He realized he was out of touch with time and the seasons, and supposed he and Zelda really must have slept a month, after all.
He hesitated briefly, then sat in the grass beside Impa. She did not speak or even acknowledge his presence.
"I'd like to speak with you," he said firmly, determined not to let her ignore him forever.
Impa sighed as if she'd known this confrontation was coming. "Speak, then."
"First and foremost," Link said quietly, "I owe you my thanks."
Impa abruptly sat up and stared at him. He could tell thanks were not what she'd been expecting. "Why?"
"You protected Zelda," he told her, startled that the reason was not obvious. "You told me how to free myself from Ganondorf's prison so I could save her. You told her to awaken the Triforce and save us both. Do you really hate me that much?" he asked, giving voice to the question that had plagued him for ages.
Impa sighed again. "I don't hate you, boy. I like you quite a bit. Cursed inconvenient to like the man who is taking everything precious from you."
"You mean Zelda."
"Of course. Zelda loves you, damn you both. I knew it would happen. I didn't want it to."
"Because of Zelda's mother?"
Impa gazed bleakly into the distance, watching something he couldn't see. "I raised Zelda's mother from birth. I watched her grow in innocence and happiness. I tried to protect her from everything that might have hurt her. Then she met him..." Impa's lips twisted. "I watched her world fall apart. I watched her rebuild that world from ruins, calling upon strength I never knew she had. I was so proud of her. But she fell in love–fell in love with that same man who had started it all!" Link was startled to see tears in the Sheikah's eyes; furiously she rubbed them away. "I watched them. It was a long, long time before either of them acted on their feelings. But they did, of course, and their love was solidified...I watched her die for that love." Impa's voice was bleak once more. "She gave me her daughter to raise and went willingly to her death. I hated him for it. And when you appeared, as I knew you would, I wanted to hate you too. I just couldn't. I don't."
She rubbed her eyes again, wearily. "But I do hate destiny."
Link thought about his and Zelda's destinies, their duty by the goddesses and Hyrule, the obscure fate that somehow pitted them against the impossible odds of ever defeating Ganondorf. "So do I."
"We are all led to believe that we may somehow choose our own paths, aren't we?" Impa said wryly. "But perhaps in the end it all comes down to fate. Perhaps it is my fate to watch my beloved Zelda die."
"Never," Link said vehemently.
Impa looked at him as if startled by the fierceness of his reaction. "No," she said slowly, "she won't die. Not with you alive. Even if there was but a single breath left in your body, you would use it in her protection, wouldn't you?"
"Yes."
"Which means we must ensure your survival," the Sheikah went on in her usual brisk, business-like tone. "Tell me, boy, have you figured out yet why I insisted on sword combat with you alone all those times?"
Link stared at her, startled. No, he hadn't even thought of it...but now that he did, the reason dawned on him. "You meant me to fight Ganondorf."
"Yes. And you're still meant to fight him. You will fight him." Impa grinned, baring her teeth in a predatory manner. "And by shadows and goddesses I swear it, you will win."
* * *
Once she had caught up on the news the thieves had to impart, listening to their worries and assured them that she was perfectly healthy and well, Zelda thought to inquire as to Saria's whereabouts.
"We last saw her heading outside the temple," Marek informed her. "She said she was going to wait for someone." He shrugged at the cryptic remark.
"Thanks. I'll go see her." Zelda disentangled herself from her thieves, most of whom seemed to think that she would disappear if they let her out of their sight. After promising that she would return momentarily, Zelda made her way out of the temple and into the Lost Woods.
Among the hazy trees steaming in the afternoon sun, she found Saria. The sage was not alone.
"You." Zelda uttered the single word, staring in astonishment at Saria's companion.
Azura turned toward her, emerald eyes locking on hers momentarily–then she dropped to her knees, bowing until her forehead touched the forest floor.
"Please allow me inside the temple," the Gerudo said humbly, "and let me plead my case."
* * *
To be continued.