Disclaimer:  Zelda = not mine!  

Dragonclaw

Chapter Eleven

Big Brother

            Sheik guided them through the arched, bare halls to the lower level of the layered, catacomb-like city.  Torches lined their path in every direction, the flickering light illuminating the carved figures of strong-faced statues.  Their wide, set faces were fixed in a determined stare, their broad arms falling around the large, round bodies.  They lacked hair and had black, shining eyes that seemed to be made from some smooth volcanic rock.  Link found himself staring intently at each one they passed, until he came to one that actually seemed to have a smile.  The thick, rocky lips were quirked upwards and Link paused, leaning it to get a better look.  He was amazed at the detail the locals put into their works, every grain in the rock seemed like it was supposed to be there. 

            The eyes blinked.

            He fell backwards, shocked, as the legs shifted beneath the curved belly of the statue.

            "Ah!"  He cried, his eyes wide.  Sheik stopped and turned to see Link on the ground, starring up at the stone features of the moving rock.  Malon seemed confused for a moment before realization dawned over her and she covered her mouth, holding back a smirk.

            "You. . .!"  Link attempted to speak, looking back and forth between the hard-faced statue a few yards back and the moving figure that stood before him.  "Oh."  He rose to his feet and dusted himself off, his cheeks burning in embarrassment.

            "I forgot.  I'm sorry."  He said to the Goron, who smiled in reply.

            "Outlanders can't smell the difference between rock and Gorons.  I'm sorry if I frightened you."  His eyes widened and he turned towards Sheik, his motions slow.  "Big Brother awaits you in his chambers."

            He lowered his round head, and Sheik nodded in response.  He gestured for Link and Malon to follow and they hurried to stay close, Link turning and waving quickly to the Goron as they left.  They continued into a wide, open space, a court opening up on to the rest of the city above it, covered by a massive dome.  Sparkling rocks were splattered across the dome like stars; their sides capturing the torchlight and reflecting the flames back to help illuminate the area.  Along the walls, ornate carvings acted as torchbearers and a huge, multi-faced Goron statue sat in the middle, its girth a sight to behold.  Link drew in a sharp breath, taking it in.  The entire city lay above him, each floor opening up to the sparkling ceiling.  He could see the large-bodied Gorons going about their business and heard their low, grinding voices rumbling around him.  He allowed himself a small smile. 

There wasn't a tree to be seen and no shrubberies sprouted from the rocky ground.  The Gorons were anything but childlike, and their voices contrasted sharply with the high-pitched laughter of the Kokiri, but still Link found he was deeply attuned to the Goron city, reminded of his home.  Like the Kokiri forest, this place was still unaffected by the corruption that spread from Hyrule's core, an intense plague consuming everything it touched.  He noticed Malon studying him, and when he met her gaze she smiled softly.  He shrugged in response, scratching his neck, and stopped behind Sheik as their approached a wide, towering door.  Fiery red markings cut across the stone door's surface like scars that refused to heal.

The trio stood silently for a moment as Link and Malon began to shift uncomfortably, their feet growing restless on the plush carpet that covered the ground before the marked door.  Link's tapped his toe irritably against the ground, the noise a soft scratch, and was surprised to see even Sheik showing signs of impatience.

"Big Brother. . ." He started, loudly shouting in the direction of the door.  Right on cue, the soft rumble of stone against stone filled the room and the door began to move, the heavy rock shaking as it was sucked into the wall above it, giving way to the dark room beyond.  Sheik stepped forward, his feet making no sound as he moved beneath the stone archway.  Link followed slowly, his neck craned upwards to stare in awe at the ceiling.  Thin lines in the rock indicated the place where the door had been drawn, the bottom fitting smoothly to match the curve of the ceiling above him.

He came back to reality when he felt an impact from behind, and upon turning his head, saw Malon. She blushed, mumbling an apology, and he guessed that she'd been fascinated by the door, as well.  Continuing on, the hallway gave way to another large room, this one obviously a personal residence.  Other rooms connected through the wide holes in the rock, flickering lights bouncing through into the adjoining room.  More of the crudely made, dyed carpet lined the ground and dark mosaics covered the walls.  The tiles were deep with colour, the images they made depicting Gorons dancing around fire, heavenly specters watching from above.  He squinted, realizing that the figures weren't just Gorons.  Blue-skinned beings (Zoras, he guessed) and Hylians also joined them, and even dark-skinned Gerudo women.  Link's eyes widened, surprised.  He'd dismissed them as Hylian children at first, but the small, laughing figures sitting by the fire wore green, and the presence of all the other Hyrulian species brought him to a realization.  Even Kokiri and Sheikah were present.  Link smiled appreciatively, allowing his eyes to continue moving around the room.  A small Goron stood by the entrance and Link hastily greeted him, embarrassed that he'd come in, slack-jawed, without addressing his host.  The Goron bowed low, his head nearly touching the ground.

"Greetings, your Highness."  He said, humbly.  Link withheld a sneer and allowed the Goron to continue. "Big Brother awaits you in his sitting room."  His grinding voice finished.  Link blinked, realizing that the Goron was a servant, and not actually the 'Big Brother' at all.  He held in this hand a thick, winding rope that was attached to a pulley along the wall and led upwards to the ceiling.  He noticed Link's wandering eyes.

            "To open the door, sir."  The Goron explained.  Link nodded, understanding dawning across his face, before it was suddenly replaced by a bright red hue.   For a moment, he'd believed that magic had been to blame, rather than common physics.  Upon inspection, he noticed the Goron's small eyes were wrinkled around the edges, his breath shaking in deep huffs, and Link frowned.  The Goron was noticeably smaller than any he'd seen before, so it seemed odd to charge him with the duty of raising the mammoth door.  He decided it was best not to ask and quickly followed when Sheik beckoned them into a room beside the mosaic.  Malon waved to the Goron and came up next to Link, going through the door.

            The next room was smaller than the first, simpler mosaics on each side of the room depicting what appeared to be jewels.  Green and blue graced either side, torches lighting the fiery stones, and upon entering Link faced a crimson wall, a massive Goron standing before it.  Link tried his best not to stare but failed miserably, his eyes wide.  The rock dweller's girth was awe-inspiring, his arms strong and muscular, his shoulders unbelievably broad.  Although many Gorons had been stout and short, this one towered a good foot over Sheik, his face set in a hard grimace.  On his trunk-like arms he wore thick gold bands, and deep red stones were wrapped around his wide fingers.  He was a sight to behold, an awesome beast that could inflict fear in the bravest of men, if they ignorance kept them from understanding the pacifistic ways of the mountain people.  The Goron's eyes fell on Link's face when he came into the room and Link bowed, his gaze never breaking contact while he buckled at the waist.

            The Goron's massive arms folded across his chest and a low rumbling echoed through the room.  Link started, reaching for Malon's arm to steady her from what he thought to be an earthquake.  Death Mountain was known to be an active volcano, so seismic events were probably very common.  It took him a moment before he realized that no movement accompanied the noise – the ground remained steady – and Link rolled his eyes at his own misunderstanding.  The rumblings had been the sound of the Goron clearing his throat.  Link's hands dropped to his side and he stood at attention, readying himself for the speech.           

            He was not disappointed.  The Goron's voice boomed throughout the room, the grinding noise intensified by the volume of his words.  Link winced, feeling like his head was going to explode from the pounding voice, and he struggled to push aside the overwhelming feeling and attend to what his host was saying.

            "Brother Sheik, I don't understand what I'm seeing.  Where's my blood sister, Impa?"  He asked, his voice concerned.  Sheik bowed his head.

            "Our village was attacked by villains searching for the heir.  Impa stayed behind to help and will be joining us as soon as she can."  Sheik stepped aside, waving a hand in Link's direction. 

            "The heir is safe."  He stated.  Link shifted uncomfortably; frustrated by the title he'd been given.           

            "We request sanctuary until Impa arrives."

            The Goron nodded, the low grumbling continuing pensively.  He lifted a curved, trunk-like leg and took a thundering step in Link's direction.  Link felt his heart stop but he held his ground.

            "Your Highness."  The Goron said, bowing his head slightly.  His eyes pierced Link's hide in a scrutinizing manner, judging Link and assessing his power.            "Are you afraid?"  He asked.  Link bit his lip.

            "Yes." He whispered in response.  His host nodded, his eyes narrowing.  He stepped back, a heaving sigh rattling in his chest.

            "Torino will guide to your chambers.  You may stay with us until our sister arrives.  Our walls are strong."  He said.  Sheik nodded, allowing an appreciative smile to answer.

            "Wait, excuse me."  Malon spoke, suddenly.  Her presence had so for gone unnoted and the Goron blinked in surprise.

            "Darunia, sir. . ."  She started, and Link realized she was addressing the Goron.  He frowned, wondering how she knew his name before he'd provided it.  He studied Darunia's expression, and noticed wide eyes and an arched brow.  Malon went on.

            "Aren't you concerned?  Hylia attacked Kakariko village without batting an eye, they'll come for Link here, as well."

            Darunia studied her, her face set in stone as much as his was. 

            "Our walls are strong."  He repeated, his voice thick.  Malon opened her mouth to reply but Sheik shot her a glare, and she caught it, muffling her words.  She nodded, clearly unsatisfied, but kept her silence.  Sheik bowed his head, thanking Darunia, and turned to leave with Link and Malon trailing behind.    The tiny Goron who'd spoken with Link before greeted them, and he nodded, smiling.

            "Well, that's that!  I'm Torino.  I will lead you to your chambers."  He chattered happily.  "Come, Brother!  Come, Friend!  Come, Heir!"  He said, addressing Sheik, Malon, and Link respectively.  Link frowned.

            "Torino?"  He asked. T he Goron blinked.

            "Yes?"

            "Call me Link."