Chapter Six
Link speaks
When the Great Deku Tree told me I needed to speak with the princess, I thought that I would have a problem. Like the King and my uncle, she had been involved in dealing with the earthquake results. I was wrong. We were to go to court that night. Since I had to report to the healer, my aunt, and my uncle, I had to scramble to get washed and dressed in time, even though I had come back earlier that I normally did. The Princess beckoned me to her as soon as she could. I told her about seeing the Great Deku Tree and the Great Fairy, and their concerns. I told her mine. "Think about it, Link," she advised. "These are grown men who had to watch a boy they see as their charge get beaten to a bloody pulp. Your uncle said you would have died without that healing potion, and I was worried about your sanity for a time. You healed after you rescued me."
"That's different," I said. "Whenever I defeat the major monster in a temple, the cleansing itself heals me."
"And they don't like to deal with fairies and such. They don't want to believe in witches unless it is undeniable. They want to believe that everything can be explained. They don't want to believe that what you can do can't be done by an adult. "
"Well, someone has to look into this business with the earthquakes, and somehow I doubt that your father will want to deal with the fairies even if he could find someone who could deal with them. "
"What we have to do is get you the authority, but how? Wait a moment." She thought. "Father still wants to find a way to honor you. He owes you again because you and your uncle uncovered the problem before it got big, and did it quietly. You still have lessons, right? Ask Sir Wills about the Hylian Knights. I'll do some research in the archives. Maybe we can use it." I agreed. We did research, and she made a suggestion to her father, and I agreed when my uncle spoke to me about it. I tried to get out of it being public, but got nowhere, and the Princess assured me that it was essential to the plan working. My aunts were delighted and both of them made me go to a tailor. My uncle went over the ceremony with me, so I would know what to do. Anna, who discovered that there would be a ball, took me to the garden and drilled me in how to dance. She had been teaching me for weeks, since I had met her, but now she was determined that I would know how to do it right. For the first time I had a reason to pay attention. My Aunt Elaine found us practicing and helped.
On a golden autumn day, at the Harvest Festival, my uncle sponsored me and the Princess knighted me. The King declared that I was now a Hylian Knight. I made vows to protect the Princess and serve Hyrule in times of great and special need. She was supposed to give me a ritual tap, but she delivered a stinging blow to my ear instead, and I felt blood trickle down my neck. Then she laid the sword in my hands, and my ear healed, and I felt a great thrumming go through me. Both of my aunts bawled, my uncle's and Sir Wills' eyes got moist, and the king beamed. There was a huge crowd there who decided it was great entertainment and cheered their brains out. I saw all kinds of people there, Gorons, Zoras, Garudos, some delegations from Termina, Holodrum and Labrynna and of course the usual harvest festival crowd. I got a lot of complements on my outfit. It was white, with a lot of gold decoration, but I had to admit it was very comfortable. I was a model of good behavior afterward, too. I led the ball with the Princess, and let my aunts pick the girls I could dance with, and I did not step on anyone's toes.
We went over those vows very carefully, as I am willing to bet my ears my uncle and the King did too. They bound me to the Princess in times of need, such times being at the judgment of the Princess and the knight. I had no specific duties to the king. I was to all legal intents an adult. However, my uncle and the king saw it as a way to give me an honor with a lot of show and no meaning. That meant that for a day, anyway, everybody was happy. Even better, I was to go to my Aunt Elaine's for a real visit, without my uncle, aunt or cousins. She wanted me to get to know the people and lands I was going to inherit. This would give me a chance to get out and find out what else was going on. Aunt Elaine was a lot easier to distract than my uncle.
So we started to pack. My aunt came in to see me packing, and sent me out of the suite with instructions to come back by sunset. I asked where I was supposed to go, and she said to go anywhere, just get out! I bolted for the Lost Woods. I had my new sword with me, and that was a good thing, because they were under attack. I had to fight Wolfos, Deku scrubs, Keese, and finally a Forest Scourge. It had tentacles that looked like bark and which was tearing up the Great Deku Tree. I discovered that my new sword was longer, did more damage, and made me stronger. Even with that, I had to use Naryu's Love twice to keep the thing from peeling my skin off, and when I finally killed it, the sword healed me, but I was tired. The Great Deku Tree awarded me with a seed, which it called a token, and told me I would have to reenter the cavern where I had fought my double. From there I would be told how to proceed. I got back to the Castle and hid in the garden to rest. The Princess found me there, and I told her what happened. We agreed that I would stay with my aunt as long as I could, and then I would proceed as needed and she would do her best to explain to her father and my uncle. We did not like it, but by now we both knew that their response to a report of what happened today would be to lock me in a room and hide the key. While I had a plan to deal with that, it would only work once.
So I went to my Aunt Elaine's and she took me over the countryside meeting her tenants and learning the area for about three days. Then she had estate business to deal with, and left me to move around on my own for a while. I headed for the cavern. The Dinofoes and Bubbles were gone until I got to the large cavern, but there was a great deal more to that cave. I penetrated further to fight Iron Knuckles, bats, Stalfoes, Skullwalltula, and a Floormaster. At the end, I fought a Earth Scourge, which was built like a rock. Thank the Goddesses I had a good supply of Deku Nuts. I used them and the hookshot to dislodge rocks from the ceiling to pin it down so I could slam at its neck, its only weak spot. I got the Crystal of Healing when I released the Earth Elemental . I found myself transported to the center of a room with seven columns. The columns were cracked. Below me I heard a woman's voice, deep and sweet and strong.
I am the Earth Mother. This is my temple. Until recently, I was content to leave the world governance to my daughters and their daughters. However, I am under attack by their father, the dark lord, who is goaded by his mad high priest. I must be healed, or the land my daughters created will fall. You must seek the six tokens of healing, Hero. You have two. Place the Seed of Healing from the Great Deku Tree on one of the columns and the Crystal of Healing in another.
I did. The seek sprouted and twined vines around the column. I took the crystal to another, and it shone, healing the column so that it was solid and straight.
Very good. You hold another, the Sword of Strength. For now you need it. It will be the last you will provide. In order to defeat my dark lord and his mad priest, you must heal all of the columns in my temple. Then you will heal me. I will seek help for you. Otherwise, I will fall and Hyrule will split asunder, and the rest of the earth will be imperiled as well.. You will help my daughters' daughters and their children as well, in your quest.
Then I was back in front of the cavern, worn out but at least in one piece. I went back and got a bath before my aunt saw me covered with dirt and with torn and bloody clothes. At dinner she asked how my day had been and I told her I had gotten to a place I didn't know my way and got tired coming back. She nodded, and that night she tried to tell me about the business. I couldn't stay awake.
Accompanying her to the market the next day, after sending the Princess a letter, I heard that there had been a earthquake in Lake Hyrule. I got as much information as I could, and that afternoon I left for the land of the Zoras. I just told her I would be in later, all right? She was distracted and murmured yes, and I left. I found some Ice Arrows on the way, which was a good thing as I had to first rescue Princess Ruto (for the third time, not that she remembered the second) from a lake of poison frogs and snapping turtles the size of my uncle. She gave me the Iron Boots and Water Tunic in gratitude, in addition to a metal fan to remember her by. I got to the Great Fairy, who needed rescuing, then healed me and gave me more magic. I was then able to get past the electric fish, the mini-sharks, and Baby Morphas, and to confront the Water Scourge. It took almost every single one of my arrows to do that, too. I released the Water Elemental, got the Water of Living, got it to the Temple of Earth, and saw the column become a fountain. I iscovered I could ask to be transported to any cavern I wanted, and got back to my aunt's house. I undressed and fell into bed, leaving my clothes on the floor.
I've heard time passes when you're having fun. I didn't realize it could pass that fast when you're beating the daylights out of monsters too, because I misjudged how long I had been gone. I was gone not one evening, but a solid day. My aunt was massively upset. I set up my escape route with Farore's Wind just in time, because she kept me right by her that day and that night she locked me in my room. It's a good thing she didn't lock her storage rooms. I did leave a note on my bed. The next morning I sent the second letter to the Princess. I included the fan, asking her to give it to Lady Spoilt.
Elaine Link was more than upset; she was worried over Link's behavior. At first he was obedient. Then he was gone all day, and tired out when he returned. The next day he left in the afternoon, saying only that he would be back later. She had been too busy to firm up a time, and he was gone for an entire day! When she found him in his room, sleeping solidly, she found his clothes on the floor. The first set of clothes had been filthy and bloody. The second set was just as bad, and were damp as well. The blue tunic was odd. She decided that she needed some answers, and kept Link with her all day, trying to prod for answers, and got nowhere. She locked him into his room that night. The next day she unlocked the room, feeling guilty, and he was gone, and most of his gear was gone except his fancier clothes. There was a note. She picked it up and read,
"I'm sorry, aunt, but the earthquakes are getting worse, and I have to stop them. My grandmother was involved with them and I have to correct what she started. Don't let anyone go into the cavern , it is like the Lost Woods now. I took some supplies, I hope you don't mind. I will be in touch when I can. I didn't want to leave, but I have to. Link. "
The messenger went out that day with her bewildered, tearful note, and reached the Duke in record time. He swore long and hard when he got it, and showed it to his wife, who wavered between cursing and weeping. "Who does he think he is?" the Duke fumed. The Duchess agreed at first, then paused.
"Stefan, those vows he made. To serve Hyrule in times of great and special need. Remember?"
"What? But those were just formalities."
"To Link? Didn't he say once that he was following a family tradition without knowing it as the Hero of Time? And didn't he and the Princess research those vows? Why else would Link go through that ceremony, when he hates being noticed as much as he does? " Just then the earth shook. It was a slight tremor, but they had been coming with some frequency. The Duchess looked at the note again, and bit her lip, remembering how Link would sometimes gaze into space and then shake himself. Remembering the stories Anna repeated, when Link told her of the Hero of Time, not telling her that he was the Hero in the stories. She remembered that he had defended the children from the attacking creature without a second thought. "Stefan, Link took those vows at face value, and in his eyes, he is doing what he must, what he swore to do." She blinked tears back.
"I'll go to Hyrule Castle and see if the King is aware of what he's doing. Or the Princess. If he has no official sanction, I'm going to send men out to find him and bring him home. If he can convince me, I'll decide from there. Before he gets himself killed!"
He sent a message that night to the King, and left himself the next morning. When he arrived, the King saw him immediately, with Princess Zelda. He had a letter, and the Duke recognized Link's penmanship. It was clear from the letter that Link had acted as soon as he had been knighted, using the sword he had been given to protect the Kokeri. His eyes widened as he read what the sword could do, and Link's brief account of what he had done and what he had been shown. He felt sick. Link knew his uncle and the King well enough to include his regards through the Princess, and his apologies to his aunt and uncle. Matilda was right, he thought. Link and Zelda planned this as soon as they knew what was going on. "I'm going to skin that boy if he survives this," he muttered.
"And it did not occur to either of you to confide in the older and wiser members of your families that this was happening?" the King snapped at his daughter. "No, of course not. You know better than we do. Never considering that perhaps at least some assistance could be offered. Or some kind of guidance."
She bowed her head, then looked up. "And have you any word on the causes of the problem, Father?" He said nothing, frowning in serious disapproval at her.
"I want him found," the Duke said. "I want him found, and this situation put under control. There has to be more we can do than to leave him on his own. Winter's coming." The King agreed. He sent Zelda to her room, with instructions to Impa that any letters were to be brought to his attention immediately. He and the Duke decided on the parties to be sent out. They sent one that day to speak to the owners of the Lon Lon ranch. They found that Link's horse had jumped the fence some time ago and not come back. The folk there had not seen him. One went to Woldshold, only to find that Link was right about the cavern; the men that tried to go into it came out with no memory and refused to go back in. One went to the Zoras, who could not praise Link enough and were grateful to the Hylians for their hero. They also passed on information, on Link's absentminded request, about the pirates in Lake Hyrule. The King acted on that information immediately. The Duke went back home, with the agreement that any information regarding Link would be shared. The Duke took the trouble of giving Lady Spoilt the fan. She was startled into asking how the Duke got it. The Duke told her it was a gift from Link.
Link speaks
I went to see the Bard in Aunt Matilda's lands, hoping for information. I was wearing my new Kokeri outfit, and looked different enough that I could get into the town and find out that my uncle was looking for me. I had to leave Epona outside the town, in a field I knew belonged to Aunt Matilda. Basically, everyone was being asked to give assistance to the Hero of Time should he appear, and report his appearance at once. I was at something of a loss on how to reach Wren until I heard harp music from the woods near Sir Grumbley 's house. As a precaution, I set Farore's Wind, thanking the Goddesses that I could use it outside a temple now and carefully approached.
"It's all right, boy," I heard him say. "Come closer." I stepped up beside him. "Sit. In that outfit you're hard to see unless you're up close, here in the trees." I sat, grateful to be able to, and he said softly, "Tell me what happened." I told him everything. "You've done well. I've encountered the one you're fighting. He and your grandmother, it seemed, were working together, but he is devoted to his dark god, and she was devoted to her own greed. I did not know what the witch was to you, Link. Please believe that. " I nodded. "They knew that the witch's grandson had power. They intended to use it to strengthen their power and release the god. They did not know that the grandson was the Hero of Time. If they had, they would have overwhelmed you. As it is, the mad priest is very dangerous, but he has lost power rather than gained it. You must heal the Goddess before he regains what he has lost. To do this, you must find and release the Elementals. The closest one is the Elemental of Air, high in the mountains, in the place where all is mist. First you must find have assistance. This is the Song of the Wind. Learn it. "He played a soaring song. I played with him, softly. "You must come at the Wind Scourge from above and destroy that which gives him strength. The Song of Earth will help you find the Cavern of Air. You will find other grandchildren of the goddesses on your way. They will help you. Use these as well." He gave me a set of arrows. "Now use your spell. And be careful."
I did as he said, warping back, and went to find Epona. As soon as I felt we were outside my Aunt's lands, I stopped and played the Song of Earth. Another fairy appeared, and led me towards the mountains, where winter was setting in. There were folk living on the mountain, who told me of earthshakes there and found me a flimsy cloak and leggings for the cold. I found the Great Fairy's grotto by finding a Freezard who had put it to ice. The arrows the Bard gave me were Fire Arrows, and they took care of the cranky beast. The Great Fairy thanked me by telling me the cloak I had been given would allow me to float but not fly, and increasing my magic. The fairy led me further up the mountain, and I was forced to let Epona go. I found the Cavern of Air was in the clouds. Fortunately, I also found a set of hover boots after fighting off a bunch of Wolfos and Ice Bats. When I came across a eagle in a cage, I set it free and played the Song of Wind. He spoke to me, agreeing to come if I called him again, and flew. I fought more Freezards and found a silvery powder in a small chest. Then I discovered the Wind Scourge- a raging vortex. There was no way to fight him. I was thrown off the edge of the Cavern when I tried, and barely managed to play for the eagle's assistance. He snatched me and took me above the vortex. I fumbled and dropped the chest of powder , spilling its contents into the clouds and to my shock and that of the eagle, the raging tunnel of wind died. He released me to find the Air Elemental, who gave me a bottle containing the Winds of Soothing. I was sent to the Earth temple and placed the bottle by one of the columns, which became a vortex over the column, supporting it. I asked the Earth Goddess how I would heal her, and she said she could not tell me now; she would tell me when the time came, and sent me to the Goron Kingdom, which had just been struck by a bad earthquake, upsetting the volcano. I stopped on the way to get a letter to the Princess, telling her what had happened so far.
The Goron King, who remembered me, was evacuating the village and was leaving a huge stack of bombs. He gave me the Goron Tunic, and I found a place to blow the bombs so that the lava was diverted away from the village. I freed the Great Fairy's cave as I did so. She gave me Ice Arrows and healed me. She also sent a fairy to guide me to the Cavern of Fire. That one was the worst yet, with Fire Slugs, two Flare Dancers, and Like Likes before I got to the Fire Scourge. Goddess, he was tough. The Goron Tunic protected me but by the time I was finished I was covered in soot and I felt baked. I delivered the Fires of Cleansing to the Column, and forgot to reset the warp. It set me right outside the Fire Cavern, with half the mountain to climb down. It was terribly hot even with the Goron Tunic, and I drank all my water before I got halfway down. I felt dirty, thirsty, roasted and was barely managing to put one foot in front of another when I got to the bottom of Death Mountain and into the Goron Village. I stopped to rest against a big rock, wondering how much I had in the way of supplies. I knew I could get water from them, but Gorons eat rocks.
In that bright red tunic against the gray rock, I must have stood like the lava river going down the mountain. There were five of them. One came from the front, and when I pushed myself straight, two came from around the rock, close enough to stop me if I moved. I recognized all of them as my uncle's men, who were on the trip to Woldshold, and all convinced I was the bravest idiotic boy in Hyrule, getting myself beaten to a pulp trying to rescue my uncle instead of being sensible and getting some grown, experienced men to do the job. That I had succeeded in rescuing my uncle before he was killed was pure luck. I know they thought that way because one, Michael, had given me a lecture about it when we returned to Hyrule and I was recovered enough to start back to sword practice, and from the looks on their faces they thought the same thing now. Michael took out his canteen and handed it to me. They waited patiently while I got the water in me, not hurrying, knowing if I drank too fast I would be sick. Then they got me to the place the Gorons gave them to wait for me. Despite my assurance, by this time irritated, that I was tired, nothing more, and could take care of myself, they insisted on checking me for injuries, bathing me, and otherwise treating me much as the nursemaid treated Ian. This treatment included making sure they took everything away from me and put it out of reach. As this included both the Goron tunic and the Sword of Strength, I started feeling sick and ached, and I was slightly red all over. They gave me a tunic they brought with them, fed me some kind of tepid soup, and put me to bed. As I fell asleep, I reflected that at least I would have one night where I could sleep without worry. I remember waking twice. The first time I was sweating slightly all over, and no longer feeling sick. The man on watch brought me a drink and a wet cloth to wipe my face. "Fever broke," he said. "You'll feel better now, young sir."
The second time I woke, the watch didn't see me. I stayed still. I was surrounded by sleeping men, and I took the time to think. My thoughts were not good company. I had one more Great Fairy to release, and I felt the need to speak to the Bard again. Then I would have to defeat the mad priest of the dark god, put the Sword of Strength against the last column, and somehow heal the Earth Goddess. I still did not know how I would heal her, and if I did not--the river of melted rock would become a raging torrent, the waters of Lake Hyrule would become a whirlpool, the vortex of the Wind Scourge would engulf the mountains, the forest would darken and reach out to smother everything in reach, and Hyrule Castle would collapse under a wrenched, broken land. I remembered, suddenly, my grandmother. I remembered she said I held power locked within me, that she would use to call a dark lord who would reward her. She had said I had her strength just before I threw the spell at the copy and at her. I thought she meant Ganon and the Triforce, but the Bard said that she was the partner to the mad priest. Now that I knew that the powers we were dealing with were older, I understood that she meant the dark god.
In the near future, I had to get out of the clutches of my well-meaning, infuriating uncle's men and get to that last Great Fairy and to the Bard. While one night spent in the safety of their care had done me good, I had no doubt that they fully intended to get me to my uncle by whatever means was needed. They made that clear as soon as I got up. They provided food, clothes, and made certain I could not get near any of my gear. The clothes were the useless material I hated, and they were a ice blue bright enough to be seen from a mile away. They made me feel, and look, younger than I am. Michael informed me my aunt had sent them, and turned his head to hide his grin at the look on my face. But that part of the problem was dealt with for me. King Darunia sent for me. I told Michael that the red tunic was a gift from the King, and that I needed it to get close enough to the mountain show him what I had done. With a Goron looking on, nodding and agreeing, he had to concede. The Goron told me that the King would want a song as well, and I took my pouch. Michael looked sour. He tried to follow and was forced to give up long before we got to the lava flow. I showed the King how I had used the Bombs, and he was delighted, saying that this was the best kind of rock for eating when it cooled. His son, who was Ian's age and had Ian's restless energy, wanted to see my sword and shield and hear about my defeating King Dodongo. I will long treasure the look on those soldier's faces when they found out that the rock-child, as Michael put it, was named after me. I played for the King, who loved to dance, and then told him I had to go on. Having gotten to the end of his patience, Michael told the King that I was a child and too young to be on my own and getting in dangerous situations like this, and that my uncle, the Duke of Lawrence, wanted me to come home, that I was needed there.
King Darunia studied him a moment. "So I thought when he came here three years ago," he rumbled, " but the child defeated what a Goron could not." Michael cast a startled look at me. "And was he not knighted just these few months ago?"
"Yes, your Majesty, but-" A growl from the Gorons silenced him.
"And was not his uncle the Duke there? Did he not approve?"
"Your Majesty-" This time he stopped. He had no answer.
"And were not the vows he made to serve Hyrule in great and special need? We are in such need."
Michael was silenced for only a moment. "He needs guidance. He is only a child. He could be killed; he was ill last night from the mountain."
"So do we all risk when we take up the fight for our people. He is Goddess-touched. And your Duke and your King have given him the right and the task he carries now. If they did not know what they did, perhaps the Goddess meant for it to be so. I would not want my son so touched." He put a hand on his son's shoulder. "Do as you need, Sir Link." Michael flinched at the title. I went to the building and wrote two messages, one a report to the Princess, and one a letter to my uncle. Then I picked up my gear and supplies.
When I turned to leave, one of the men, the one who tended me when my fever broke, was standing in the door. I gave him the letters. "The Duke worries," he said.
It hit me like a blow, those simple words. I looked at him, and said," I know. If I could go with you, I would." He nodded and stepped aside. Behind me he said quietly, "Michael can be a fool."
"So can we all," I said without turning, and went to the King. "Hold them a day," I requested.
"I can," he said, "but no more." I nodded and left. I knew once I got into the forest or the fields, they would not find me.
The men went straight to the Duke, then at his lands, with the messages and the report of their failure. He dismissed Michael without comment, but one of the other men requested to see him privately, and he told the Duke what Link had said. The duke nodded, then took the letter to his office to read. His wife found him staring at it, read it over his shoulder and fled the room weeping. After a time he found her and told her he was going to Hyrule Castle to deliver the Princess's letter in person. He arrived without warning and sent the letter and a request to see the Princess. She received him that evening, and he gave her the letter without any comment. It read:
"'My dear uncle,
Your searchers found me today but I cannot go with them. I am sending this letter instead.
I know that you look at me and see a wild boy who needs to be brought under control. I know you had to watch while I battled, and had to watch me heal, and that you do not want to see me hurt again. You have offered me a home and a family, and I seem ungrateful.
I am not. I saw what you and His Majesty wanted me to see, that there is an easier life and that I am young to have to carry the weight of following this task. When I look forward to fighting this power-mad, insane priest and his dark god, I wish that I could be normal. I wish that there was someone else who could do this work. There is no one else. I was given this task by the goddesses. To me have they given the magic, the strength, and the courage to face these monsters, and I cannot turn away, no matter the price I pay.
I miss the children. I miss your guidance and being able to ask you questions I could never ask anyone else. I miss aunt Matilda and the ladies fussing at me to eat enough and making sure I'm all right. I almost miss Aunt Elaine chattering me to sleep. But if I do not pick up this test, I condemn all of you and Hyrule as well.
Please understand.
Link'"
"He thinks he's going to die," the Duke said. "He's only a boy.." and choked.
Her voice was distant and iron. "He could have died when he picked up an iron rod against a monster to protect your children. When he did that, he had no magic, no weapons, nothing but his skills and his courage. " The sun shone in the window she was looking out of as she said it. When she turned it framed her.
She paced up to him, looked up, hard as diamond. "He told me once that he understood why I was afraid on the trip home, because he faces a monster with skill and weapons and magic and he is still scared spitless. I took it as a high compliment that he would tell me so. He is telling you so now. "
"When Link is here in this castle, he is a boy," she continued. "When he is giving Ian a sweet and playing the ocarina so that Anna can dance, he is a boy. When he is asking you awkward questions that make him turn red and stammer, he is a boy. When he talks to me whining that he feels restricted, he is a boy. " She paused. "But when this kind of danger threatens Hyrule, he is the Hero of Time and the Hylian knight who was appointed to this task. He is the only one who can do this. There is no one else. If there was, Link would be with you in your home tonight. If another hero were to appear at any time in this race, Link would have given him the Sword of Strength and come back to you gladly. If there was anyone else, I would not have to send one of the few true friends I have to fight this monster. Your grace, whenever a being picks up a sword to fight, he knows he may lose his life. In every confrontation Link has made, he could have lost his life. Yet if Link does not succeed in this last test, Hyrule will fall, and those who survive will face a darker world than Link saw when he fought Ganandorf in the dark times we erased." He turned away. "Can you understand? "
"Yes," he said numbly. "When will this happen?"
"Soon. I received a message from Link today. He is on his way to the final battle now."
"Where?"
"One of the entrances is the cavern where he fought the witch. " They both knew the duke could not go in the cavern now.
"Then I will wait for him there." The Duke turned to go. Outside the clouds began to gather.
Link speaks
I paused outside the cavern, and gathered myself. It was raining, and the earth was trembling. Lightning crackled and the wind was blowing cold through my bones. Just inside, I started to unload myself. The bard had been specific. "I have been to Termina," he said. "Here." He gave me the Fierce Deity mask. I stared at it. "How... Who is this priest?"
"You would not know him, but he has the mask you have fought before. You know the one. He came here because the giants cannot stop him here, but he did not know Hyrule was different. He aroused the dark god, who enslaved him and is maddened by him." He paused and looked old and tired. We were at Sir Grumbley's home. I had followed the harp music to the garden. "Listen well, Link the Hylian knight. You must go to the portal on your aunt's lands. Walk in with only your sword, this mask, and your ocarina. There is one who will help you, who will not be there but will see and speak to you. When you have defeated the mad priest, take off the mask, and put the sword in its place. Then do as you are told. You may not be told in words. I cannot tell you more." He sighed. "I would do this for you, if I could."
So I gathered my sword, my ocarina, my courage, and the mask, and I entered the cavern. There were no other monsters here. When I reached the cavern, I found the Mask in all its fury waiting, and put on mine .It did not take long. I took off the mask. It broke, falling into scraps on the ground.
I was in the Temple of Earth, and I took the sword to its column. There was one column left. Obeying the whisper of thought that came to me, I walked over to it. As I went, the darkness rose on one side, and the Goddess rose on the other. I began to play. As I played, I became the last column. I played the Song of Healing and the darkness could not touch me. Light reached from the columns and wrapped around the Goddess.
But while I played, the darkness reached inside me, searching for pain. It forced up memories of the scrying, when my mother cried, leaving her family; it showed me my mother dying, pleading with the Deku Tree as I wailed, an infant, beside her. It reminded me of the Kokeri who would torment me, the boy without a fairy; it brought out the memories of long nights shivering and alone, on a quest that could easily kill me; it showed me the times I was taunted by Ganandorf, and the Skull Kid, and the witches of Holodrum and Labrynna. It brought up my grandmother, taunting and then showed her dead.
But the help I was promised arrived, as Zelda appeared in the Crystal of Healing and called up other memories: Saria, playing with an infant; Malon, thanking me for helping her; King Darunia speaking for me; Ian and Anna, trying to make me feel better; Zelda, clinging to my hand as I led her into what she saw as safety; my uncle, telling me to go even when it might mean his life, feeding me from a red bottle; my aunt, telling me that her mother was mad and it was not my fault. And the help the Goddess needed arrived in the forms of her daughters, joining and forcing the dark lord back into his own realm again.
I stopped. He was gone. The light faded, and became dim. The goddesses stood around their mother, who reached out and laid her hand on my chest.
"I give you peace," she said. "Link, Hero of Time, Knight of Hyrule, I give you peace in the time you have left to you. I cannot free you from pain, but there is time for you to do what you must, and then you will come to me. Know you will do one last task. Then you will come to me and know you will be welcome. Know peace."
I was at the opening of the cavern. The sun was shining, and the earth was still. My uncle was waiting. He came over to me, as I leaned against the wall, worn with all I had endured. He only held out his arms, and hugged me and my entire body shook with sobs. I do not know what they were from, but for an endless time he held me and let them come. Finally they stopped, and I felt empty and tired and full of the relief of knowing it was over. "Come," he said gently, "Let's go home."