1Ocarina Mystery
Chapter Three
"Well, anyway." Link gave himself a shake. "We need to get out of here if our enemies are looking for us."
"What about all this!" Ron made a sweeping gesture towards the corpses and their unconscious attackers.
"Leave them." Sheik said as she walked toward her horse. "The two that remain won't be in any shape to pursue us."
"Wait." Link went over to Epona and rummaged in his saddlebags. " I'll tie up the one that Hermione took care of. I don't want to leave him like that."
"Are you not afraid he'll get loose and come after us?" Harry asked with a worried expression.
"Not really." Link pulled out some coiled rope. "Would you come after someone who just killed five of your companions?"
"You're asking the wrong person that." Hermione said under her breath.
"I might." Harry said as he crossed his arms.
"Well, we'll take that chance." Link walked over to the stiff looking man and knelt beside him. "I can handle the two of them if need be."
While he was occupied with tying up the man, Sheik mounted her horse and the other three their brooms. Link looked over at Hedwig, who had flown back up into the tree. A slight smile crossed his face as he thought about the other owl he knew.
"Hedwig." He called to her. "Would you come here a moment?"
"She only comes when I . . . " Harry began.
He then stared with wide eyes as Hedwig flew over to Link and perched on his shoulder.
"How did you do that!" He demanded.
"I can speak with owls." Link gave him a boyish grin. "So far it's the only animal that I can do that with that I know of."
Link then looked up at Hedwig.
"How do you feel about doing a bit of scouting for us, Hedwig?" He asked her.
"It will be no problem at all." She hooted. "Should I begin now?"
"If you wish." Link nodded. "Will you be able to find us all right?"
"I am a wizard's owl!" She looked indignant. " Of course I can find you with no great difficulty!"
She took off and disappeared into the forest.
"What did you say to her?" Harry asked with wide eyes.
"Couldn't you understand me?" Link had never had someone watch him while he spoke with owls before.
"No!" Then Harry grimaced. "I guess your ability is like mine with snakes. Only someone else with the same ability can understand you."
"I suppose so." Link finished tying the man up. "I just asked her to do a bit of scouting for us. Nobody will notice an owl, so she will see more than one of us."
"She'll also be almost silent as well." Harry grinned.
"That too." Link stood up and dusted his hands off. "Now let's get out of here."
After Hermione removed her spell from the man, they mounted their various steeds and left the clearing in the direction that Hedwig had taken. Link noticed that Hermione had chosen to fly as close to Sheik as possible. He wondered what was going through Zelda's mind just then. Then he saw Zelda's expressions and knew what was. She glanced over at him and gave him a pleading look. He just grinned and allowed himself to bring up th rear. She gave him a glare that was meant to kill, but he just shrugged it off.
Ron seemed to be glad to take the lead, while Harry seemed content to fly next to Epona with Link. During the first hour, Harry seemed content to remain silent. This was fine by Link. He needed to get his thoughts in order.
From what that man had said when they question him, Link guessed that this Lord Dilwyn was the shadow master. It made him wonder if there were a counterpart who was the master of light. If so, then who was it and could they have been the ones to bring all of them there. Link frowned. If that person had brought them there, then how did Gannon, Dilwyn and Voldemort know they were here? Link sighed and shook his head. He needed more information, which he did not have at the present.
He looked at Zelda and Hermione. Malon's face appeared in his mind and he swallowed hard. He looked down at Epona's mane as his thought went back to LonLon Ranch where his wife was. Link saw her standing in the field where they let the horses roam. She was looking toward the gate with great longing in eyes. He thought he could smell her distinct smell of Hay and summer flowers. His face grew sad that would be what she would do every day till he returned. She would stand and watch for him, as she prayed he would return alive.
He always told Zelda that Malon would be mad at him, but in truth, he was angry with himself. He should not be away from her. He should be there with her, by her side. He hit his fist on the saddle horn. Why did Zelda always insist on him going with her? Why not someone else? She always said it was because she could trust him, but he felt it was because he was expendable.
"Malon," He whispered. "I miss you so much."
"What is wrong Link?" Link looked down at Harry to see a worried expression on his face.
"Nothing you can help me with, I'm afraid." Link gave him a sad smile. "I'm just missing my wife is all."
"You love her very much, don't you?" Harry asked.
"Yes, I do." Link gazed off into the distance. "I believe I have loved her since the day we met."
"When was that?"
"Would you believe when I was ten years old?" Link looked down at Harry.
"Yes, I would." Harry's gaze wandered over to Hermione. "You were just smart enough to recognize it."
"I suppose so." Link nodded. "Do you miss your loved ones as well?"
"I have them here with me." Harry said with a smile. " In that I am fortunate."
"What about your parents?" Link gave him a puzzled look. "Don't you miss them?"
"Yes, but that is an old feeling. " Harry looked sad. "They died before I was born."
Link felt ashamed that he had brought the subject up.
"Listen, Harry." Link began. "I'm sorry. I didn't . . . "
"It's all right, Link." Harry gave him a sad grin. " I'm used to it, sort of. People who do have parents ask me that all the time. So it is only natural for you to ask that question. I'm sure your parents were great parents to you."
"Well, I wouldn't know really." Link sighed. "My mother died when I was very little and I don't remember her. I have no idea who my father was and I don't think a Deku tree counts."
"What?" Harry gave him a startled look.
"The Deku tree is one of the guardian spirits of Hyrule." Link explained. "He resides in the lost woods and he has children who are known as the Kokiri. For a long time I thought I was one of them."
"How did you find out otherwise?" Harry asked.
"I grew up, Harry." Link grinned.
"What do you mean you grew up?" Harry looked confused.
"The Kokiri are children forever." Link said. " They always remain children, while I was born a Hylian. I grew up and became an adult and left the forest. I have a friend among the Kokiri, Saria, who is still the same age as when I was a child."
"That must have been a shock!"
"Oh, it was." Link nodded. "But I didn't really think about it till my quest was over. Then I had years to think about it."
Link saw that more of an explanation was in order by the look on Harry's face. He was about to explain, when Hedwig appeared and landed on his shoulder. He glanced up at her.
"There is a suitable clearing up ahead if you are inclined to stop and rest." She said.
"Let me check with Sheik." He said with a nod.
Then to Harry.
"I'll explain later." He said to him and then turned to look in Sheik's direction. "Sheik!"
"Thank the Goddesses." He heard Sheik mutter, then she shouted "What is it, Link!"
"Hedwig, says there is a good place to take a break at up ahead!"
"Fine. I am more than ready for a break!" She turned to Ron. "Follow the owl, Ron."
"Right!" Ron nodded.
"Lead the way, Hedwig." Link told her.
Hedwig soon led them to a grassy clearing that had a pleasant look about it. Link grinned. It seemed that Hedwig knew what she was talking about. Link and Sheik dismounted, while the others landed their brooms. Link and sheik pulled out some of their journey bread to share with them. Soon they all were seated in a rough circle and facing each other.
"I can't believe it is midday here." Link said as he leaned back against a tree. "You would think I would be used to time changes."
"It wasn't day time where you came from?" Harry asked in a startled voice.
"No, It was the dead of the night there." Sheik said. "We were on a secret journey."
"Oh . . . " Hermione grinned and fluttered her eyes at Sheik. "So you are like a secret agent?"
Sheik's eyes widened.
"A what!" She asked.
"A spy." Hermione said. "That would be so interesting to be a spy. Could you tell me about some of your adventures?"
"Um . . . I'm not really a spy." Sheik seemed to choke out and then turned to look at Link. "Link, How about you play us some music? You still have Saria's ocarina, don't you?"
Link almost smiled at the note of panic in her voice.
"Sure, It's in my saddlebags." He climbed to his feet. "Just hold on a moment while I get it."
"Hurry." He heard her whisper.
He chuckled as he walked over to Epona and began to rummage in his saddlebags.
"What's an ocarina?" He heard Ron ask.
"It's a type of musical instrument." Sheik replied.
Link felt his hand close over the Ocarina that Saria had given him. He pulled it out and then froze. It wasn't the ocarina Saria had given him at all. He swallowed hard.
"Sheik . . . " He heard the quiver in his voice as he turned and looked at her. "I think you should come look at this."
"What is it?" She asked as she got to her feet.
"This." He held out the blue colored ocarina.
Sheik hurried over to him and took it from his hand. She turned it over and looked at it. Sheik raised her head and looked at him with wide eyes.
"How?" She whispered. "This is impossible! You gave the Ocarina of Time back to me."
"I know." He said as he took it from her. "I also know that before we left I put Saria's ocarina in my saddlebags."
"Is something wrong?" Harry asked them.
Sheik and Link looked at each other.
"Not really." Link gave them a care free smile. "Just a little mystery is all. So what song should I play for them, Sheik?"
Sheik just shrugged, so Link guessed that the choice was up to him. As he raised the ocarina to his lips, the song of time flashed through his head. He figured it would be a safe one to play. The only thing it ever did was to make backs appeared and move. He began to play it and as always once he started he could not stop. Then he felt the magic begin and his eyes widened. Sheik must have felt it as well.
"Link!" She said in a panicky voice. "Stop playing right now!"
He could not though. Soon a bright light began to fill the clearing as he ended the song. The light flashed and Link had to shield his eyes. He gasped as the magic filled the clearing. Soon it was over though and Link blinked his eyes to get rid of the spots.
"Blimey." He heard Ron say in amazement.
"This all your fault, Link!" Sheik said.
Soon Link's vision returned and he could see what she meant. Instead of three teenage wizards, there now stood three adult wizards. Link felt weak in his knees and leaned on Epona for support. This was not supposed to happen.
"Now what have I done." He whispered.