Chapter 4

We found Zelda with little difficulty. Her eyes were crazy, and she looked generally frantic. "I've been waiting for you!" she said irritably. She shoved a piece of parchment at Link, which I conveniently read over his shoulder.

Princess -

As I am sure you are well aware, Zora's Domain is unthawing. We are all pleased with this, but there is something that has gone terribly awry. Ganon, perceiving when he originally froze our homeland that it could unthaw eventually, sealed a terrible monster inside the ice. He has now escaped, but we are trying to keep him from leaving the domain. Our efforts may hinder him, but we need aide. Please, send the Hero of Time to help us!

Respectfully,

King Zora

I looked at Link, who stared right back. He mouthed 'you were right,' and then turned to the princess. "Well, there's no plague."

"Obviously," she said through gritted teeth. "I'm going to die at the hands of this beast."

"You don't know that, you were wrong the first time." Wow, I'd never heard Link sound irritable before.

Apparently, neither had Zelda, because she didn't respond. "Malon and I are going to Zora's Domain now."

"Me? Why me?" I asked immediately.

"If anything happens to me someone has to report back to Zelda and tell her so she can supply a new hero." He was so calm about it.

I nodded meekly. "Zelda, keep Epona here in case you need a fast escape," Link said.

She looked scared. "Be careful."

"Only if it doesn't hinder me in killing this beast," he replied, like a true hero. On that note, we walked out past the market and to Hyrule Field once more.

"You must really love her," I said quietly, once out in the open again. "To do all this for her."

"For her?" Link shook his head. "I do it for Hyrule. I know it just sounds like I'm trying to be noble, but it's true." He stopped walking, and looked me in the eye. "Yes, I love her, and respect her as our ruler. But nothing more."

"I - I'm sorry," I stammered. "I just - "

"Yeah. You and everyone else in Hyrule." He started walking again.

Understandably, I was miffed. "Well, what was I supposed to believe? You never led anyone to think otherwise, and you know it."

He sighed and turned back to face me, his eyes unreadable. "You're right Malon. I'm sorry."

We walked on in an uncomfortable silence. I regretted making him angry, but he had no reason to blow up on me like that.

I was so absorbed in that thought that I almost didn't notice the ominous rumbling coming from the entrance to Zora's River. Link must've been even more absorbed in thought, because he too appeared to be completely unaware.

"Link," I whispered, "do you hear that?"

He stopped dead in his tracks, and nodded. Swiftly, he handed me an extra sword. "Should I fail, defend yourself until you can escape."

I took the sword, spun in skillfully my hand and grinned. "Sorry Link, I'm not that kind of woman."

At that precise moment I saw it. And believe me, no other would could be given to it for a name. It was at least twenty feet tall with razor sharp teeth, scaly reptilian skin, and bright golden eyes. The stuff nightmares are made of.

I could see Link assessing the situation, so I did my best to do the same. The creature almost resembled a larger version of a dodongo…Link had told me he'd killed dodogo by throwing bombs in its mouth, in one of his many stories…

However, this creature was much more nimble. It needed to be distracted.

I knew Link would never ask me to distract it, so I took matters into my own hands. It's attention was focused on Link so I, taking advantage of not being noticed, ran around behind the monster and tried to slash its legs.

It must of at least aggravated it, because he howled in protest. Link deftly threw a bomb in his mouth which…

…had absolutely no effect.

To avoid being squished I ran to the side, but was suddenly blinded. Light arrow…please work…

Didn't.

Din's fire, fire arrows, ice arrows, hammer, the longshot…all ineffective.

Link had resorted to slashing it with his Biggoron's sword. It looked tricky - I mean, really tricky. The monster was only missing him narrowly. I ran up to try to help and though we worked great as a team, nothing seemed to be working. That's when the unthinkable happened.

It, lifting a clawed leg in the air, roared and brought it down straight towards Link. He couldn't deflect it, and we both knew it. So I, thinking a life without Link was not worth living, shoved him out of the way and took the blow myself.

Pain…does not begin to describe it.

I almost blacked out then…but I saw an unnatural blue light and somehow it kept my eyes open, It also bound it and kept it from moving. It shrieked in agony. Then I heard a voice

Zelda, you know to bind him, we will need to gain you as a guardian of the portal…we cannot do it alone. We can handle guarding Ganondorf, but our power alone will not hold this beast as well.

Then Zelda's voice came, true and clear.

I know.

Then the light, the monster, and my consciousness were gone.