Chapter 4

A deep rumbling resounded through the ground, echoing off the walls, building up into a shuddering, growling roar. Link turned to look at Volvagia but stopped.

It was not the crystal eye of Volvagia that looked back at Link, but a great golden eye, regarding him in a curiosity which belied the ages of wisdom that resided in the mind of the dragon.

And what a dragon it was! No longer the half-bred, serpent form of Volvagia wiry and snakelike, but a muscular, well-formed, fully fledged dragon. As its pearly hide shifted, colours danced and chased each other round, and wings of silvery-blue stretched out filling the room with splendour.

Link realised that the rumbling sound he had heard earlier, but a heartbeat ago, was not the sound of imminent collapse, but was filled with mirth.

"That? That was the power of healing." The dragon tilted his head to one side. "Unusual in one so young but not so surprising, given your past. And surely you have used it before?"

Mutely, Link could only shake his head. The dragon snorted in surprise.

"Well…that was an impressive show. Such power, so young…"

The Dragon drifted off into a reverie for such a long time Link was sure he was asleep.

"…Volvagia…"

Jolted out of his train of thought, the dragon looked sharply at Link. "Never call me by that name. It is the name of a slave, tied to his master by form and evil sorcery. My name is Shanu."

"…Shanu." Link whispered the name and thinking how the simple name could belong to such a majestic creature.

"But…"

Shanu's face stretched into a long grin. "Speak, for you have freed me and I owe you an enormous debt of gratitude, and am bound to you. Speak."

"Who freed you from the sacred realm?"

Link nervously watched Shanu for an adverse reaction but the dragon just looked at Link, his golden eyes glowing in the firelight. Shanu was silent for a moment and then said "…You did."

Link froze.

"Me? …But how?"

"You mean you did not intend to awaken me?"

Link answered honestly. "I have barely thought of you since I defeated Ganondorf."

Shanu looked fearfully towards the sky which opened up to them from the caverns roof. After a few minutes he looked back and Link found himself under fierce scrutiny. Shanu's expression turned Link to ice and he felt like a butterfly pierced to a board with a needle.

"You mean that the power is uncontrolled in you? That you have had no training?"

" No, but who could?"

Shanu regarded Link thoughtfully. "I see your point. However this may be catastrophic to us. Your power is the only thing that could…"

"Bring Ganondorf back." Link said dully.

Shanu's head whipped round to stare incriminatingly into Link's eyes. In the first show of emotion that Links had seen Shanu whispered dryly "…ho...how did you know?"

Link bowed his head.

"Zelda."

Shanu regarded him in sympathy, yet felt he needed more information. Cautiously he probed further. "Then?"

"He has taken her to the sacred realm in order to lure me there."

The tears that Link had held in for so long started to overflow and he knelt as if in prayer and let his heart sob.