Link woke to the sound of his own breathing. Nothing else.
He swung his legs around, realizing abstractly that his boots were still on. He was fully clothed.
He stood, and feeling no pain or unsteadiness, walked to the door. Then back to the bed. A few quick movements told him all he needed to know; his strength had returned.
He set down the bed and opened the door. He stopped suddenly.
The guard's body was lying face up on the ground, eyes and lips closed in a smile. His hands held his spear at his chest. He was in the death pose of a hero.
Link knelt and looked the dead man up and down. I was talking to him just last night... who placed him like this?
The voice in his mind answered.
It's what he wanted. I had to take him, Hero, or I wouldn't be able to help you.
Nayru?
Yes. There's not much time for you if you stay here. Gannon has Zelda in the Spirit Temple. Go to her.
Link stood quickly and walked down the hall, climbing the stairs at the end of it. Nayru instructed him.
Right. The stairs. Left. And his name was Oltin.
Link climbed the final stair, the guards at the front looking at him suspiciously. They opened the gates and he was out.
He felt his pocket. The Ocarina of time was still there. Gannon had overlooked it.
I still need a sword... a shield... my bow...everything's gone.
They will be returned to you.
Link, attracting attention in his ripped, bloody shirt, stepped into a store. The rough shopkeeper grunted but did nothing else.
How will they be returned?
Din hid them. Conveniently, she put them behind the gate to Death Mountain.
Link walked outside and saw the cloth-covered pile immediately. Hidden behind a column, he slowly armed himself. His sword was missing, but he knew Gannon had that. Everything else was there.
The Spirit Temple...
Yes.
Link pulled out his Ocarina and began the Requiem of Spirit.
