Chapter 8

They walked on the stone floor, as a feeling of uneasiness swept over them. The temple was in ruins, pillars were knocked over, the walls no longer stood, and the only place that was left intact was a small room at the end of what could have been a hallway. Link and Zelda walked across the gloomy ruins of the hero's temple. Suddenly half way there Link froze, there was something that didn't seem right. Then something very large hit the ground. Apparently it was living because it quickly sat up. Link looked up at it; its face was that of a woman's but the rest of its body was that of a lion's. Both Link and Zelda knew this creature as a Sphinx. Link readied his sword, but Zelda made him lower it and then the Sphinx began to speak.

"Dear boy," She said looking at Link "I have come here to test your wits. If you answer my riddle correctly, I will let you pass. But, if you answer incorrectly I will have no choice but to attack. Do you under stand?" Link nodded.

"A man has to get a keaton, a cucco, and a sack of corn across a river. He has a rowboat, and it can only carry him and one other thing. If the keaton and the cucco are left together, the keaton will eat the cucco. If the cucco and the corn are left together, the cucco will eat the corn. How does the man do it?" She asked. Link bit his lip, this was rather confusing.

"Okay…the keaton and cucco can not be left alone together, and the cucco can not be left alone with the corn, so…Unn…Mabie he could take the cucco over too the other side, leave it… then get the keaton and take it over…" Link suddenly understood "and quickly grab the cucco and take it back to the other side, and he takes the corn over to the other side with the keaton, who will not eat it. Then go back to get the cucco!" He said proudly.

For a moment the sphinx squatted down, making Link worry, had he answered wrong? But then the sphinx moved out of the way allowing Link and Zelda to pass.

There were three stands for each of the necklaces Zelda placed each of them in the right stands and the door opened. Link stepped inside followed by Zelda. They stared in amazement as they found a familiar sword. The sword had a blue handle with wing shaped sides. It was stuck in a pedestal with the symbol of the triforce on it. Link remembered it from the portrait in the castle. Link walked up to the sword Zelda on his heals. He grasped the handle of the sword tightly and pulled at it. At first it would not budge, and then suddenly link realized the courage triforce on his hand was glowing. Confidence overwhelmed him as he took one last hard tug and the sword came out.

Link soon realized that they weren't in the same place as before now they were in a different room. There was, what appeared to be, a man made river of water surrounding them. It wasn't very deep, you could see the floor underneath it, and it seemed almost as though they didn't expect the water. Link then noticed that this was not normal water, there appeared to be some ancient smoky Hylian letters floating around. Zelda was already wading through the water, "Come on, Link!" She said signaling him over. Link walked through the water and reached the other side, he stopped suddenly and Zelda did the same. They were standing in front of a radiant woman, glowing like a fairy, her golden gown touching the ground. She was floating on thin air, but staying still, facing the opposite direction, with her long gold hair swinging. She quickly turned to look at them, her golden eyes met theirs, she smiled with her rose colored lips.

"Well, The hero has finally arrived." She said giggling, Link just gawked, "Well, you sure are quiet. Oh, of course, I haven't introduced my self yet, how silly of me. I am Jeitya, the little known fourth goddess."

Zelda's jaw dropped, "What? You…"

"Yes, I really am." She said already knowing the question; "Along with Din, Faore, and Nayru, I helped to create the world. Din, with her power, made the foundation; Nayru, with her wisdom made law; Faore, with her courage, made life; and I, Jeitya, with my love, created hearts to love. Also, just as the others, I left something too. A crystal, for the center of the triforce." She looked at the princess and then at the hero, and she continued, "But, also I mistakenly made evil. For safety I put it in a box, but made another mistake by trusting a human to guard it. He opened it and released it."

"That isn't what you're here to tell us though, is it?" Zelda said eruptly. Jeitya smiled.

"You are smart. But first I must explain; there is some one who bears the crystal just like it is the way it is with the triforce. But it is not on their hand it is placed; it is located in the heart. But," She looked down, "The evil man you are after, he is Ganondorf, and Ganondorf got a hold of the bearer of the crystal nine years ago." Link and Zelda gasped, "Link," she said as she came closer to him, "I am afraid to say, that woman who was bearer of the crystal was…your mother."

Link gasped, his thoughts racing, "But, my father said she died in the hospital!" he shouted, "There is no way…"

"Your father lied." Jeitya interrupted.

"But,"

"You always remember what happened on that Winters Eve. Your mother took you from the forest; she bought you back to your father and told him to take care of you. She knew she could not run away from Ganondorf, but she could protect you." She came closer to Zelda, "And Zelda, I am sorry to say, Ganondorf also… caused your sister's death." Zelda looked down at the ground.

Jeitya continued to talk to Link, "Your mother, as soon a Ganondorf took the crystal, used the last bit of her strength to transport the crystal away from him, and locked it in the shadows. Link, she needed you to get it."

Link looked back up, "So what are we to do?" he asked.

Jeitya smiled, "You need to find the three sages, to which the necklaces will be worn. The necklaces have instructions, except Din's necklace, about where to find the sages. After you get them bring them to the temple of the hero."

Link nodded, and all went dark.

Link woke up in a completely different room. Zelda was asleep on the floor, and Link shook her awake. As soon as she was awake they looked around. There was a poorly made wooden door that was rotting and filled with holes. Link pushed it open ignoring the splinters it put in his hands. Light filled the room.

They both realized that they were back in Hyrule village. Link looked around.

"Link? Is that you?" a very feminine voice said, Link and Zelda turned around to find a very pale girl the same age as them, with dark brunet hair all up in a ponytail, her crystal blue eyes shining in the sunlight. She was dressed in very simple clothes.

"Sarah?" Link asked.

"Yep, its me!" She said smiling brightly; "You come back from your quest already?"

"Well…hang on, how did you know I went on a quest?" Link asked. Sarah giggled as though there was a joke Link missed.

"Who doesn't know, hero. You're all the town will talk about," she said brushing dust off her skirt, "Especially since," she suddenly stopped herself and covered her mouth as though she just caught herself saying a horrible swearword.

" 'Especially since' what?" Link asked.

"Nothing, really." She said almost choking on a knot in her throat. Suddenly her eyes widened as she spotted Zelda, she quickly curtsied, "Oh, Princess! I had no idea you were here! I'm sorry." Zelda just stood there looking at the ground, she was not used to this kind of treatment.

"Unn, look…Sarah, I need to see my dad." Link said changing the topic. Sarah's eyes widened.

"Oh, no! That is not a good idea!" She said blocking the path. Link knew something was up, he quickly ran past Sarah, towards his house. Link swung the door open.

It was quiet in side, he didn't hear snoring nor anything.

"Father! Dad! It's me, Link." He shouted in hope of a response, but no such luck. Link walked further in the house, but heard the sound of himself stepping in a liquid. He looked down to find that he was stepping in blood. Link jumped back, and then he realized what had just occurred. He sank to the ground.

"Link!" Sarah shouted as she came to an erupt stop at the doorway. She saw she was too late. Zelda was behind her. Sarah bent down to comfort Link. "Link, you see the king came over to talk to your father, but he…disappeared. We……assume……he's……dead, because of this." Link got up very quickly and exited the house. Sarah followed him, "Link, if you need a place to stay, your welcome to stay at my place." She said. Link smiled at her.

"Your farm? Sure." He said.

"So you say that you're still not finished with you quest yet?" Sarah asked. Link and Zelda just finished a great meal.

"Nope." Link said.

Quiet unexpectedly they all heard a high pitched squeal of delight, and something attacked Link's back. Link looked over to find an eight-year-old girl hugging him tightly, her long brown hair all in a braid, her eyes identical to Sarah's.

"Link!" she squealed.

"Ha ha! Amber!" He responded.

"Amber! Why are you so attached to Link?" Sarah asked, "I thought I was your sister." She said laughing.

"Hey, Amber, go help Sarah wash the dishes." Link suggested.

"Okay." Amber giggled. After a wile Sarah spoke.

"Hey, Link? I've been wondering, where is Tomas?" Sarah asked. Link's joy disappeared suddenly, how was he supposed to tell her the truth. Link had known for a very long time that Sarah was in love with Tomas, but he couldn't just lie to her. There was a very large knot in his throat.

"Sarah, Tomas…is…unn…gone." Link said quietly, but somehow Sarah heard.

"Gone? What do you mean?" she asked.

"He…died." Link said. They all stopped as they heard the sound of a glass shattering on the floor.

"No," Sarah whispered, "That's not funny!" She shouted, though tears were flowing.

"It's not a joke." Link said regretfully. Sarah sank to the ground, tears flowing rapidly.

"But," she said still grieving, "But, but, I loved him!" Zelda and link both sat by her trying to comfort her. They sat there for what seemed like hours, until Sarah's mother told them to go to bed.

"Your rooms are right down there, Zelda and Link." She said, pointing down the hall. After they went to their rooms, Sarah's mother helped her daughter up, and to bed.