Chapter 12

Warm sunlight prodded at Link's face, pulling him back to wakefulness. He was grateful for that. The image of Jonah's shocked face faded away from his mind, the last vestiges of a disturbing dream that he knew would be returning to him time after time. He rolled over on the ground, his body stiff and sore from being in one position for far too long. He felt the twigs from his makeshift bedding snap and crackle as he moved; smelt the tangy scent of the earth float up towards him. Slowly he opened his eyes and was greeted by the sight of a morning sky washed freshly blue and populated by sluggish clouds dyed scarlet from the rising sun.

He blinked, stretched, then blinked again, trying to keep the heaviness from his eyes. Turning, he sought out his friend. What he saw jolted him fully awake.

Sheik sat against a tree, hugging her legs. Her eyes, cloaked with a dull sheen, were bloodshot and her skin pale. Head slumped to one side, she stared out into the distance, seemingly lost to the outside world.

His heart hammering painfully in his chest, Link leapt to his feet, ignoring the sudden chill that struck his skin. He ran over to her, dread rising in his chest, and jumped over the jagged edges of rock that peeked out from the wan mist. Skidding to a halt in front of her, Link crouched. Gently, he reached out with his hand, his throat tight with tension. Remembering what happened the last time he tried to touch her, he drew back, swallowing, rubbed his chin in thought, then reached out again. Sheik showed no reaction, betrayed no indication that she even noticed he was there, and his fingers curled into a fist just under her chin. Tears pricked his eyes, and the sensation surprised him.

Link cleared his throat. "Sheik?" he asked softly. "What's the matter? What's wrong?"

He almost jumped when she blinked. "I…" she said, finally fixing her gaze upon him. "I couldn't sleep." A smile touched her lips, but it didn't linger. "Nightmares."

Relief made Link's shoulders sag. The hollow tone to Sheik's voice, though, touched his heart with a disquieting twinge. Drawing himself upright, he scanned the branches above him, seeing only the frost-coated stems sparkling in the sunlight. He made his way back to his bedding, then picked up his crossbow that was resting on a nearby outcropping.

Sheik watched him impassively. "What are you doing?" she asked, her voice still thick.

Link flicked a concerned glance towards her. "I'm going to go hunting," he said, checking his weapon. The metal was deathly cold and his fingers stuck briefly to its surface. "You need some proper food." He smiled. "I can live fine on berries."

The corner of Sheik's mouth tugged gently. "You're going to go hunting?" she said. "For me?"

He heard the trace of amusement in her voice, and almost wanted to spit out a vehement denial. He held himself back, though, relieved that a semblance of normality was returning to her actions. "Yes," he said simply, smiling.

Sheik stood, returning the gesture in kind. "My," she said, the lightness in her tone clear now. "You're full of surprises for a young boy." Obviously noticing that he was about to make a heated retort, she raised her hands. "Ah," she said. "Young man, I mean." She laughed, and Link felt his heart flood with warmth in response.

Taking in a deep breath, Sheik continued. "I'm not hungry, Link," she said. "But thank you for your concern."

The young assassin strode towards her, puffy clouds of powdered snow spraying up from under his boots. He fixed his gaze upon her face. "You have to eat," he said, trying to keep his voice in check so that he wouldn't sound too insistent. "You need your strength. Look at you." His eyes studied her from tip to toe. "You look drained, tired. I don't want you making yourself sick." Deep inside, he realised how much he sounded like his sister with those words.

Sheik's cheek twitched. "I can take care of myself," she said softly. "And, again, thank you." She sniffed. "You don't have to worry about me."

The churning tumult in Link's soul forged itself into something solid. Clarity came to his mind, and steel to his voice. "I lost my sister," he said, a yawning hollowness opening up in his heart as he spoke. He saw Sheik move to say something, but he cut her off with an intense look. "I don't want to lose my friend as well."

Her eyes widened slightly as she kept her gaze level. Link saw her cheek tremble, and noticed the muscles in her neck tense as she struggled for something to say. A crimson flush blossomed over her face. Clearing her throat noisily, she turned away, deciding instead to look at the statue that still stood in silence. "What do we do about him?" she asked.

Link sighed. "I say we've kept his 'master' waiting long enough," he said. "Let's see what it wants."

"Do you think it's safe?"

"I don't know," Link replied. He chewed on the inside of his cheek as they walked over to the creature. "It seems to know who I am, though."

Sheik looked down at the statue. "It appears to be asleep."

Link kicked it, and it's ruby eyes flickered open.

Arching an eyebrow, Sheik smiled, muttering, "Remind me never to sleep longer than you."

The young Hylian ignored her, focusing his attention on the statue. "Let us in."

"As you wish," the creature replied. "The Master awaits."

With a low rumble, the statue shifted aside, shuddering as it moved. The mist parted, and a dusty path appeared, twisting its way through the trees and fading into the distance.

Sheik stepped forward, but Link held out an arm. "Wait," he said. After a heartbeat, he continued, "Are you sure you won't eat anything?"

His friend kept her gaze firmly on the path ahead, as though not wanting to acknowledge his presence. "I'm sure," she said testily. "Let's go?"

She trotted ahead quickly, not waiting for him to reply. After a moment's pause, Link followed her in.

A blanket of near silence fell upon them, relegating distant sounds to a muffled echo that sounded eerie and dreamlike. Something cawed somewhere, though no creature appeared to claim it. Leaves, wrinkled and stained chestnut brown, rustled out of their way. And yet, they could feel no breeze, no familiar tug of the wind at their clothes. A light dew prickled their skin, and the scent of rose and freshly cut grass made for a heady mixture in the air, despite that fact that they could see no evidence of either.

"Tell me," Sheik said as they traversed the path. Her voice came across as muted, as though stifled by a damp cloth. "You think you can hit…oh… that branch over there," she said, pointing, "with your fancy crossbow?"

Link grinned in response, remembered the game they had played back on the rooftops of the city. "You want me to beat you again?"

Her eyes arched. "I don't recall you winning," she said, a smile in her voice. "Confident as always." Her mask creased, and Link guessed that she was smirking. "And misguided."

"I let you win," the young man replied. "Next time, I won't."

Sheik snorted. "Next time."

"Not now," he said. "Let's see where this leads us."

"Excuses," Sheik said, barely hidden glee glinting in her eyes. She hesitated, as though steeling herself for something distasteful. "What happened," she said, "to your sister?" She turned to him, and added quickly: "If I can ask, that is."

"You can," Link said. A whirl of emotion bubbled in his heart, at the centre of which was a pool of despair waiting to suck him in. "They tried to make me kill her." He sensed Sheik's shocked silence and chewed on his lip. "You have to understand," he said, stopping short and clenching his fists. "I would never hurt her, never." His eyes bore into hers, his hands shaking. Voice dropping to a whisper, he continued, "I would rather die first."

There was an awkward silence for a moment. Sheik gazed at him, her thoughts unreadable. "I believe you, Link," she said softly. There was still an uncertain undercurrent to her voice. "I don't know why, though." She laughed, probably more at herself than at him. "You sound very sincere." Gazing at the ground for a moment, she added, "So. She's alive?"

"Yes," he replied, not able to keep his voice cracking from the twin pulls of hope and despair. "I have to find her. But don't know how."

"I see." Sheik continued to study the ground. "She's very lucky to have a brother like you."

Finally Link realised what she was hinting at. "My sister. My friends," he said. "They'll all receive the same loyalty from me."

"And your friend Fran?" she asked.

Link opened his mouth to speak, then frowned. Too many demands were being placed on him. Too many responsibilities. And for a silly, childish moment, he had thought that he'd become free from all of that. He sighed inwardly. He would never truly be free. "I'll go where life takes me," he said simply.

Sheik nodded, lapsing into silence and her own thoughts.

Link froze. A sleek, black blur scuttled into their path, flashed a pair of pale azure eyes, then disappeared, swallowed by the thick undergrowth. Exchanging a puzzled glance with Sheik, he walked on, confused. The trail narrowed, winding this way and that, before finally coming to a stop at the mouth of cavern. Something chirped nearby, a rhythmic clicking that came in short bursts. Once again, they saw nothing.

All of a sudden, Link felt a change in the air around him. He heard a low whistle, as though something was dropping out of the sky. Glancing up, he caught a glimpse of a thick vine, appearing seemingly from nowhere and covered in thick prickles, swing down towards him. His mouth opened in shock, and his hand jerked up uselessly. Time and space seemed to contract and everything moved far too slowly.

A flash of polished metal flew past his eye, and Link saw Sheik's dagger split the vine neatly in two. Breathing heavily, his head still spinning, Link watched as the severed stem swung harmlessly past him. He glanced up at the girl. "Thank you," he gasped.

A smile danced in her eyes as she looked at him. "You're welcome." This time she didn't look away.

She gestured at the cavern. "Shall we?"

Link nodded, smiling, and stepped inside. Darkness smothered them for a heartbeat, before the tunnel widened out into a large cavern. Warm, musty air enveloped them, bringing heat back to their chilled skin. Leaves carpeted the ground, crunching under their boots. More fell from the ceiling, twirling slowly in a mass of deep greens and pale yellows before coming to rest on the ground. A pool lay at the centre, shimmering in the light, waves lapping softly at the edge.

The two friends looked around in awe. The entire cave – from the ground, to the walls, and the ceiling, too – seemed to have been constructed entirely from wood bark. Auburn walls, lined and cracked with age, stared back at them silently. The clicking that they had heard from the outside was amplified here, a low buzzing that would flash with activity one moment, then stay still the next. Link felt something flicker in his heart, and he raised his eyes to the ceiling. There was something…odd…about the pattern that was etched up there. It was all bulges and crevices, as opposed to the relatively even nature of the rest of the cavern.

A shimmer of movement caught his eyes. Eyes narrowed, Link strained his neck as he peered upward.

With a laboured creak, two small sections of the ceiling split open, revealing a pair of yellow orbs. Link heard Sheik gasp beside him as a sudden thought came to him. His heart caught in his chest. Those weren't orbs. They were eyes.

"Welcome," a voice rumbled from above. "I…am the Great Deku Tree."

...

Montero rested his head against one dirt-encrusted wall of the cell, watching the torchlight hiss from the passageway outside. Imprisoned with him were his father and the Hylian traitor. Ganondorf slept softly, his chest rising and falling rhythmically. Kafei stood at the cell door, clutching the rust stained bars. He peered out at the other cubicle where the women were being held.

Anju, Impa and the other Hylian, Mystral – her name flashed in his mind – were huddled in the centre trying to sooth the baby's wailing. The little one was coughing violently, his wheezing breath constant. It annoyed Montero immensely.

"Can you not shut the infernal thing up?" he spat.

Angry eyes glared back at him. "He's sick," the traitor's wife said. "We need to get out of here."

Montero glanced around, his chains clinking. "Slightly difficult, I'm sure you'll agree," he said, waving his hand. "It might be more merciful for him if you finished him now." He grinned. "Permanently."

Kafei whirled around. "Do not speak of my son in that fashion."

Before the King could reply, Mystral's soft voice cut in. "Do you have no ounce of kindness in your heart?" Montero grit his teeth. The woman's preaching was as irritating as the baby's crying. He watched as she turned to Impa. "How can you serve a soulless creature like that?"

Impa froze, her mouth gaping. Her lips flapped as she worked to find a retort, but nothing came.

"Sssh," Anju said. "Bickering amongst ourselves will achieve nothing."

"Indeed." They all turned to the sound of Ganondorf's voice as he pulled himself upright. "We must work together." He glanced at his son and Montero felt a sudden coldness in the pit of his stomach. He knew where this was going. "I'm sure the King will apologise for his words."

Montero felt his face flush with anger. All eyes were upon him now; Kafei's in particular cradling a knowing smirk.

"Come now," Ganondorf continued. "We have bigger concerns to vent our fury on."

The King sniffed. "I apologise," he mumbled.

Kafei snorted, but Anju kept her eyes averted. Mystral's face remained passive, while Impa had decided to take a sudden interest in the floor.

"What," Mystral said finally, addressing Ganondorf, "do we do?"

The old Gerudo, his copper eyes flashing from within the near darkness, leaned forward. "I need to know how much this… 'Servion' knows." His voice took on a sour coat. "It seems my son has kept many things from me."

Angry again at being humiliated, Montero hissed, shifting on the grimy floor. "He knows what I know," he said quickly. "About the Triforce. About everything."

Ganondorf studied him carefully. "Is there a girl?"

"What?" the King said, confused. "This is no time to pry into my~"

"No, you fool," Ganondorf said, scowling. "Does he know of any girl?" He paused. "A Princess."

Montero blinked. "Yes," he said. "A Harkinian Princess. We have her locked up." He sucked his teeth. "Or, at least, we did."

Ganondorf moaned, and ran a trembling hand through his hair. "She's alive," he whispered. "She's real."

The earlier serenity that he had acquired when confronting Servion now completely vanishing, the King's face creased into a frown. "Who is she?" he barked. "Why is she so important? Even the Hylian Chief considered her important."

His father ignored him, choosing instead to turn to Impa. "You knew?" he asked. "And you didn't tell me?"

Impa shrugged, her eyes wide. "I didn't think anything of it," she said quickly. "I thought she was a myth. I didn't think there was a connection."

"Who is she?" the King said.

"Yes," Kafei added, genuine curiosity lacing his voice. "Why is my Princess important to you?"

Montero laughed, glad to have gained some sort of upper hand. "Oh," he snorted. "So, it's 'my Princess' now, is it?"

The traitor snarled, his mouth curling.

"Calm yourselves," Ganondorf called, easily reverting to the deep tones of his 'royal' voice. He looked at Mystral. "You," he said. "What is it he wants from you?"

"He wants nothing important," the Hylian replied, a bitter edge to her voice. "He took my brother from me."

The old man's copper eyes seemed to turn inwards as he reflected. "I see," he said. "Come. No doubt my son and Impa know this tale already." He looked at all of them. "But it is best that we all know what is happening. And what exactly is at stake here." He glanced at baby Hobert as the little one spluttered again. Licking his lips, Ganondorf continued, "Let me tell you a tale," he said. "The tale of the Great Cycle."

...

"What is it?" Sheik's hushed voice floated over towards him and, in some distant corner of his mind, Link noticed that she had shuffled a little closer to him.

"I believe," Link muttered, his eyes not leaving the wizened face that peered down at him, "that it's a talking tree."

"Link," the gravely voice boomed, reverberating around the cavern. "You have finally come."

The young Hylian stepped forward. He felt a weight lift from his side and, at that instant, he realised that Sheik had been clutching to his arm. For some reason, his heart trembled at the thought. Pushing his confused musings away from his mind, he turned his attention back to the Tree. "I have," he said. "Who are you? How do you know me?"

The Tree stirred from above, stretching its face forward. A wooden groan rumbled, and flecks of wood split off from the ceiling, spinning into the air. Link swallowed, and wondered whether the whole bizarre thing would collapse on top of them. Moving on instinct, he stepped in front of Sheik, only to find, to his mild surprise, that she had already placed herself protectively in front of him. There was no time for him to dwell on that, though, as the creature spoke again.

"Tell me, young Link," the Tree said. "Do you know of the legend of Zelda?"

Link thought he saw Sheik flinch at the mention of that name. He looked her closely, but her posture remained serene. Perhaps he had just imagined it. He realised that his questions had not been answered, and so he said, "I don't. But I don't see what it has to do with me."

"Oh," the Tree rumbled, amusement apparent in its tone. "It has everything to do with you."

Link took in a deep breath. He decided it would be best to humour the creature. "Explain."

The Tree's withered mouth creaked slowly into a smile, sending more splinters shooting into the air. "Long ago, when the world was still in its infancy, when the trees were cloaked forever with green, when spirits and men spoke freely and when tidings came from above to guide the wise, there lived two races. They were the Nonag and the Kiln. They stained the earth with blood in their constant battles, they frightened off the peace loving spirits of the netherworld and they invited the wrath of the Unseen because of their murderous ways. And they fought only for one thing. They fought out of desire to possess a girl.

" A girl named Zelda to be exact. Devout and kind, she held within her the keys to Courage, Wisdom and Power – a reward for her piety. She tied all these fragments together with the bind of Love; a love that she freely spread to anyone in distress. The Nonag and the Kiln knew that whichever one of them could install her as a sovereign would secure a prosperous future.

"She fled in fear, her heart heavy with the burden thrust upon her. Two followed her, aiding her in her escape. A Thief from the Nonag and a Warrior from the Kiln. Over time, the trio grew very close. Neither of the men desired her because of her inherent qualities, no. Inside both their hearts there burned a flame of love. Both wished intensely to wed her.

"The Thief had once snatched an old woman's necklace under the cover of the night. Stepping out from the shadows, Zelda had confronted him. Realising who she was, and fearful of her power, the Thief was forced to return the ornament. He waited, knowing that she would inflict a grievous punishment upon him. In return, however, Zelda rewarded him with a sum of rupees that was thrice the cost of the item he had stolen. It was then that he was smitten.

"The Warrior was one beset with doubts as to the validity of his calling. Once, on a raid, his commanding officer had demanded him to slaughter a group of children. Seeing their fear paralysed faces, he was unable to complete his task, much to the scorn and belittlement of his fellow fighters. Zelda, however, had been watching from a distance. When he was alone, she spoke to him, saying simply: 'You chose the right path.' The relief this brought to his soul was immense, and he, too, became besotted.

"The war raged on, and many died on both sides. It was then that the Warrior came to a conclusion that shook him to his core. In order for the bloodshed to end, he reasoned, Zelda must die. With a heavy heart, he made his way to her hiding place, carrying nothing but a poison tipped blade. The Thief, however, had not been idle. He had also came to the same conclusion. And he knew that his rival would, too. Hiding himself, he waited for the Warrior to approach.

"Zelda came out that day, dressed in her best. She whistled to herself, completely unaware of the Warrior stealthily sidling up behind her. She started singing, a tune about lost love and broken hopes. The Warrior raised his sword, his heart thundering. At that moment, her beloved's name came to her lips, and the Warrior froze, recognising it as his own.

"His fingers trembling, he could not bring himself to strike. But the Thief, on the other hand, had no such scruples. He burst out from the shadows and brought the Warrior to the ground. Zelda turned and saw only two things. One, the Warrior was going to kill her. And two, the Thief had saved her. The look of disappointment that she gave the Warrior shattered his heart in two, and his grief became a tangible thing, seeping into his sword and turning it black.

"The Thief and Zelda were quickly wed. When news reached the Nonag, they elevated the Thief to the position of King. And thus, they finally gained possession of the treasure that they had so desperately sought. The evil that had lain dormant within the Thief was now set free, and he brought all the other people, the Kiln in particular, under his heel. Racked with horror and grief, Zelda fled again, this time taking her newborn with her.

"The people suffered and the land withered and died. The Warrior, now long dead from a broken heart, was not forgotten, and his tale reached the ears of the oppressed. Once they realised that he had had the power to end their suffering they sought out his grave and spat on the headstone. Some, though, had hearts that were more bitter and brittle. Learning the arts of forbidden magic they placed a curse on the Thief, the Warrior and Zelda herself. They reasoned that if they were to suffer, then all others would suffer with them.

"The Thief, his soul would not die. The Warrior, though he had passed forever into the afterlife, would find his features and qualities recreated every one hundred summers with a male member of the Kiln. Zelda's descendents would bear the brunt of her curse. Like the Warrior, another 'Zelda' would be born, with the exact same features and qualities as her own, again after the passing of a hundred summers. The Nonag became the Gerudo, the Kiln became the Hylians and the Warrior – his name was Link."

The assassin shuffled his feet, the Tree's vivid words scorching themselves onto his heart. His mouth was dry and he swallowed, struggling to bring some moisture to his tongue. "Assuming what you say is true," he said, his voice awed. "I…am this Warrior?"

"No," the Tree replied. "You are not the same person. Once someone enters the afterlife, they can never return. No, you are but an echo of him. You only share in his name and features. You are your own person."

"And every hundred summers…?"

"The trio would rise again to battle. Every time the evil would be defeated." He paused, a crestfallen expression washing over his face. "But many would suffer and die in the process. The Thief's lust for power did not diminish, though his love for Zelda faded away into a distant memory."

"It's not fair!" Sheik cried, interrupting. Link glanced at her, noticed her trembling jaw. "Why should others have to suffer for the actions of a person long dead?"

The Tree's yellow eyes turned to her. "The people that placed this curse had no such scruples. Their punishment in the afterlife will be severe. Dabbling in forbidden arts always has its consequences."

"And what about the here and now?" Link asked. Some part of him, the part ingrained with his cynical assassin training, mocked him for taking the Tree's words so seriously. Another part of him pulsed with curiosity, eager to burst free. "How is this…curse…broken?"

"For centuries myself and my predecessors lived a lie," the Tree continued. "Every time the Chosen reappeared we told him what he needed to do to halt the evil. We never once told him how to end the Cycle. The knowledge that was passed down to us referred to a specific time when the situation would be ripe for such an undertaking. Hundreds of summers passed. The evil returned, sometimes as himself, sometimes subtly controlling others to do his work, though they realised it not."

Link hissed impatiently. "Get to the point."

"The time would come," the Tree said, not missing a beat. "When the parents of the Chosen would know the time was right. They would then seek out a sage to assist them." A heartbeat passed as his gaze returned to the young Hylian. "Your parents sought me out, Link. They told me of the visions that afflicted them. It was then that I knew it was time." The Tree's face inched forward, and a spray of leaves spilled from the ceiling. "It was I who brought you here. I planted the suggestion in your Glimmer Bird's mind."

"How do I know you're telling the truth?" Link said, his mind whirling from all this new knowledge. "You said yourself that you lied to the others."

The Tree paid him no heed. "You must break the Cycle once and for all, Link. You must free the world from that which has poisoned it. The Warrior's sword still exists in a hidden City of Gold to the north where Death Mountain once stood. You must retrieve it and put right what went wrong all that time ago, finish what was started at the dawn of time."

"I have to find this 'Zelda's' descendent," Link said, realisation creeping across his heart. "And slay her?"

"That is correct," the Tree said. "Once it is done, the evil will vanish forever."

"One life for many," the Hylian replied. Instantly, his heart grew cold, a web of frost brought on by his assassin training. He knew now why he had been the one chosen to finish the curse. "Makes sense."

"Take Zelda to the City of Gold." The Tree's voice was cracking, as though sagging under a burden of guilt and grief. "And end her life."

"Where is she?" Link asked.

He stumbled as a low rumble echoed through the cavern. The ground shook, disturbing the pool and sending leaves flying. The Tree's face seemed to collapse in on itself for an instant, then billowed out, sending a gust of air into the cave. Link held up an arm as a torrent of leaves engulfed him, scratching at his face and whispering in his ears. He tried to seek out Sheik, but her form was lost in the deluge.

Finally, it ended, the leaves, one or two of them sticking to Link's tunic, coming to rest. He sensed that something was different. Looking around, he couldn't quite see exactly what it was.

Then it hit him.

Sheik stood open-mouthed, the bandages that masked her face peeled away, her long, golden hair flowing behind her and her crystal-blue eyes sparkling. Link's heart lurched.

"Welcome," the Great Deku Tree said. "Princess Zelda."