Chapter 2

Link entered the royal stables unmolested, which surprised him, but he could not see his own face which radiated a sense of terrible purpose. He saddled Epona, who, sensing her masters anxiety, whinnied to go. Vaulting onto her back, Link jumped the gates of the stable and was away over Hyrule field.

Link felt free. This was the only place he truly belonged. He might lead a life of luxury at the Castle but it was a life of tedium and routine. In his free time (which was seldom enough) he had begun to teach swordplay to the children of the market until the guards of the city joined in. Link taught them also but realised he knew relatively little about wars and unarmed combat. He would then join the recruits in their training in these areas, however the others were in awe of the legendary Hero of Time, and with a sword in his hand, no-one could come even close to beating him. Link had an uncanny instinct about when to use which attack and besides, he was the only human to have ever mastered the Great fairies unstoppable spinning attack.

Epona reared, snapping Link out of his reverie. His thoughts elsewhere, Link and Epona had come to the river separating the road to Kakariko village and the rest of Hyrule. Kakariko… and Death Mountain.

Link closed his eyes for a moment and they snapped open, the call from his dream still resounding through his head.

"Master"….

A shadow flicked over Link's face and he looked up into the sky, shielding his eyes from the late evening glare with his left hand. Link could just make out a serpentile form twisting its way toward the volcanic crater where it had made its home. Volvagia.

A lifetime ago Link had fought his way through the temple at the centre of the crater, to rescue his sworn brothers, the Gorons, from the evil Ganondorf had let loose on their peaceful civilisation. He stood now before the chamber where that evil was living, where Darunia had entered before him…and not returned! Opening the door with his key, Link entered a chamber with a small platform before him, and a larger one beyond, with what looked like pools of lava. Link jumped to the central platform and, as the platform behind slid into the lava below, a fiery head emerged from the central lava pool, with a mane of flame and crystal eyes devoid of all emotion. Volvagia.

Link's sapphire eyes traced Volvagia's path into the crater, hardening at the memory that had resurfaced. He ached to go to find Zelda but his mind replayed the horror that the Gorons had had to live through and anyway, he had no idea how he would get to the sacred realm. Toughening his resolve, Link dismounted Epona, thanked her, and ran up the steps to Kakariko Village.

Within the village he saw groups of people huddling inside their houses. When they saw Link they entreated him to take care of the demon-dragon that had appeared again over Death Mountain. Calming the villagers down he continued past the gate and followed the boulder strewn path leading up. Tektites jumped at him from all angles but Link just dodged them. Running into the Goron village, Link held his breath, fearing the worst…

Not a single Goron was in sight, save that small childlike form rolling round the cavern in an endless cycle. There was no-one else. The once bustling centre full of my sworn brothers was now an empty shell. Link looked at the rolling child and wondered if there was a way to stop him, as he needed information…

The cavern was full of Gorons! Relief hit him like a wave until he saw the numerous weapons each person carried. Sword, axe, hammer, spear, all were here, even a rusty farmers pitchfork! At the head of this mindless mob was his old friend, and Sage of Fire, Darunia. Darunia was speaking to the crowd.

"Let no brother leave the safety of their friends, and none leave this place with no good reason. All must…" The list drifted off as he saw Link.

Link jumped down the cavern, landing in a spectacular roll next to Darunia, who gave him the dreaded Goron hug which knocked the breath out of him.

Darunia laughed. "Sorry brother but it is so good to see you again, at our time of direst need."

"Volvagia?"

Darunia looked uncomfortable, and gazed with great fear in the direction of Death Mountain. This was all Link needed to see.

"I shall go."

All the Gorons looked at Link with such confidence at his quiet words that Link felt trapped by this blind faith, trapped from continuing his quest to save Zelda from Ganondorf. However the words were out of his mouth and he would not take them back, even where he able to.

Unable to stand a moment longer of this atmosphere Link headed towards the Death Mountain Temple through the secret entrance in Darunia's chamber. Towards Volvagia.