Chapter 8 Fallen Gatekeeper
The hammer falls again. The Great Hammermaster has returned, after taking a break to try my hand at a bit of Poetry. Read and enjoy, and review.
Silence covered Kakariko village as the misty morning does. Not a sound was heard, for all the people were in their homes, barely awake. But other creatures were awake at this moment, preparing for their work. The Ghostly figure, Nargasa, walked on into the Kakariko graveyard, and watched as all the spirits that resided there came out from hiding. The Poes eyed him curiously. They did not know who he was.
'Poes, our time has come.'
The Poes stared back curiously.
'Not one of us can fight the Gatekeeper and win, but he is still susceptible to the powers of his own race. Any man can kill him.'
The Poes began chirping and shrieking amongst themselves, trying to understand what the evil spirit before them was saying.
'Turn the people against him, and he will fall. We are strong, we are mighty. We do not have to remain pent up in the Graveyard forever. We will take the town itself!'
The eyes of all the Poes before Nargasa flashed with excitement and anger. They understood what he was saying. They cackled their support.
'Take the people one by one,' Nargasa shouted. 'Turn them into your prey!'
The Poes shrieked in anticipation. Nargasa turned, and ran towards the exit to the Graveyard.
'Follow me!'
The demonic creatures followed their new master, legions upon legions of the merciless spirits followed behind the dark ghost who had never lived. They had found their master, and they would follow him. As the Poes shot out from the graveyard, they began to change form. Their decayed, evil faces disappeared, and in place appeared soft, pleasant faces of children, mothers, lovers, etc. They then descended upon the people of the town, their minds teeming with new lies to spread among them. As they came to each child, man, or women, not once were they shouted at, and rebuked. No. They were greeted warmly, and welcomed into the homes of the people.
"Hello," a young girl said as she looked up at one of the Poes who had taken the form of a comical fatherly man. "What's your name."
"I am Theodore," the Poe said in a friendly, lighthearted voice. "And I am your Spiritual Guide."
"Spiritual Guide?" the little girl asked. "What is that?"
"I am a man who has achieved a higher state of being. I come now to love you and care for you, and give you advice."
"Darling," said the girl's mother, coming out from her home. "Who are you talking to-"
When she saw the Poe, her eyes widened, and she gasped.
"Theodore!" she said.
"Yes it is me my dear," the Poe said, smiling happily up at the lady. "I have returned."
The mother shouted out in happiness, and flung her arms around the spirit. The Poe hugged her tightly, as a husband would hug his wife.
"But you died," the lady said, as tears of joy began to fall from her eyes. "How did you come back here?"
"I was reborn," her "husband" said with a warm smile. "I have been reincarnated to a higher state of being. Now I can protect you forever and ever. And soon, when you die, you will be reincarnated to my state as well. Then we can live together forever in immortality."
"Who is that mother?" the little girl asked, her puppy dog eyes opened wide in wonder.
"Annie," the lady said. "This is your father. He has returned to us."
The little girl's eyes glazed over in happiness, and she leapt into her "father's" open arms. Theodore laughed, and held her tightly to him, letting a few lone tears fall from his eyes. But in truth the little girl was now clutched in the tallons of a mighty and dark being. The Poe cursed the girl and her mother in its mind as it hugged her, wishing them to fall to hell.
All over the town, thousands rejoiced as their long dead relatives appeared to them again, and some received new spiritual guides who promised to look after them for ever.
"We must tell you about the truth. Too long has your town been blinded to it. Too long have false lies, like those of the Lord of Light, covered your town, and pushed it into darkness."
And the town's people were all too happy to agree with them. But some were not. All felt that something was wrong, but few payed any attention to this feeling.
"Let us come together, and become Gods. Let us be reincarnated as the divine. For we hold the potential within ourselves."
Soon the town, which had once been the home of the saved, became the home of the deceived. A spirit even visited the Gatekeeper.
"Hello," it said, a young man of about twenty five. "Do you remember me? I was your best friend. I have been reborn again as an immortal spirit."
"Tod?" the Gatekeeper said in surprise and amazement.
At first, his face was covered with happiness and joy. But when he took a step towards his old friend, he felt that something was not right. Then he remembered what "Tod's" final sentence had been.
"You're not Tod," the Gatekeeper said. "You are a Poe!"
A look of alarm flashed across the Poe's face. How had he recognized it?
"I am not a..."
"Back spirit," the Gatekeeper said. "I command you to stand back in the name of the Lord of Light."
"I am not a..."
"Dark creature," the Gatekeeper said, taking a step towards the Poe. "Cease your lying! I command you to leave this house in the name of the Lord of Light!"
The Poe took a step towards the Gatekeeper.
"But I am not a Poe. I am your old friend Tod, come to see you again."
"Stand back!" the Gatekeeper shouted, before drawing his sword.
The steel blade was once again surrounded by bright white energy of light. The Poe stopped. The Poe then continued walking forward, while slowly reaching down into its sheath for its Hergon blade.
"I am your old friend."
The Gatekeeper then swung his sword, and a bolt of white energy shot out from the blade, colliding with the evil spirit. The bright energy burned at its flesh, and the Poe screamed. It then turned, and ran through the wall.
A scream rocked through the village, causing the town's people to turn to see where it came from. A screaming spirit came dashing up the hill towards them. Its face was badly burned, and tears poured out of its eyes as if it were dying.
"What happened?" one of the new spiritual guides asked.
"The... the guardian!" the spirit said through its sobs. "I was a friend of his, and I went to see him again. And he sent my skin on fire!"
The other spiritual guide grasped the Poe disguised as Tod in a large hug, and held him as he wept.
"I'm sorry that your friend betrayed you," he said. "But before we can deal with him, we must heal you."
Everywhere, suddenly all of the newly arrived spirits began floating up into the air. Their new "families" watched in awe as they rose high above their heads, ascending into the heavens. The spirits were encircled in a bright, yellowish light. The townspeople watched in amazement as all the spirits pointed towards the wounded one, and he was healed. The yellow light then left them, and the spirits began sinking down from the sky. The wounded spirit's flesh had now been healed, and he was restored.
"Now," a spirit said as they landed. "Are you all with us?"
The town's people nodded.
"Then come with us," a second spirit said. "We must stop the Gatekeeper once and for all."
Link lead Epona through Hyrule Field to the gates of Kakariko village. Both the horse and the Rider were sad. Both heads drooped, and every once and a while an occasional tear fell from Link's eyes. Over Malon's back the dead body of Malon lay, tied to the leather saddle with soft ropes. Link pushed the gates open quite easily, and was amazed to see that the guard was not their. Link shrugged this off, and walked on into the village.
"Father no!" the Gatekeeper shouted as he watched the mob of villagers carry the dead body of his father out from his home.
His body was covered in wounds, and his clothes were soaked in blood. The Gatekeeper fell to the floor of his small home, and began to cry. His shoulders shook as he silently wept out his sorrows upon the cold wood floor.
"How could they do that to him?" he moaned as he wept. "He has done nothing wrong. Now I don't have a father."
The Gatekeeper suddenly stopped crying.
But I still have a father, he thought. The Lord of Light is now my only father.
"Father," the Lord of Light whispered through his tears. "Father. Give me strength please. Lord of Light, give me strength. I surrender to your will father. I surrender to your will!"
The Gatekeeper bowed his head to the ground, and a deep sleep overcame him. In his dreams, he found himself standing before a brilliant altar which shone with bright white light. In his dream, he saw a throne descending from the heavens, which was surrounded by bright white light as well. Winged beings, which the Gatekeeper identified to be Great Fairies, flew in circles around the mighty throne. They sang: "Powerful and mighty is He, who sits upon this throne. Blessed are those who bless him, and cursed are those who curse him. Powerful and mighty, loving and caring. He is the divine!"
The Gatekeeper could not make out the figure which sat upon the throne, for the bright light blinded him.
"WELCOME, MY CHILD!" a mighty voice issuing from the figure which sat upon the throne.
The Gatekeeper fell to his knees as the voice of his creator entered his ears.
"I HAVE COME TO WARN YOU OF WHAT IS TO COME!"
"Tell me what your will is Lord of Light," the Gatekeeper said.
"KAKARIKO VILLAGE HAS BEEN TAKEN BY THE POWERS OF DARKNESS!" the Lord of Light continued. "THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN DECEIVED BY THE FALLEN FAIRIES. NOW THEY WILL COME MARCHING AGAINST YOU, AND ALL WHO ARE WITH YOU. THE TOWN IS LOST. IT SEEMS THAT ALL THAT IS LEFT FOR IT IS ETERNITY IN THE ABYSS."
"No," the Gatekeeper said. "Please, not that. Surely their must be a way to save them."
"DO NOT MOURN YET," the Lord of Light continued. "HOPE IS STILL IN THE AIR. JUST AS I CREATED A WAY FOR GOOD TO RETURN TO THE WORLD AFTER IT WAS TAKEN BY GANON, I AM ALSO AWARE OF A WAY TO SAVE THE VILLAGE FROM THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN INTO DARKNESS!"
"But how Lord?" the Gatekeeper said. "How?"
"THERE IS BUT ONE WAY. AND YOU WILL NOT LIKE WHAT IT IS. I WILL NOW SHOW YOU A MESSAGE THAT I RECEIVED FROM THE LEADER OF THESE EVIL SPIRITS! I WILL ALSO SHOW YOU THE FUTURE!"
The mist which flowed in the air of the dream world flowed together to form some sort of moving picture. The Gatekeeper stood up, and looked intently into the cloudy image. He heard men shouting in anger and hate, and a person screaming. He heard a horse neigh, and heard the sound of mourning. But what he saw shocked him more than anything else.
"No!" the Gatekeeper fell down to the ground before the Lord of Light, and bowed his head. "It can't be that way!"
"THERE IS NO OTHER WAY," the Gatekeeper said. "THAT IS THE FUTURE, OR AT LEAST WHAT THE FUTURE MAY BE. YOU WILL BE GIVEN A CHOICE. YOUR DECISION WILL DECIDE WHETHER THE TOWNS PEOPLE WHO REMAIN LOYAL WILL BE SPARED, OR DESTROYED. I WISH THAT THERE WAS AN ALTERNATIVE, BUT THERE IS NOT. I DO NOT WISH THIS UPON YOU MY CHILD, FOR YOU KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE YOU."
"Yes," the Gatekeeper said. "You love me more than any creature ever has. You love me more than anyone ever could."
"THIS IS YOUR CHOICE MY SON. PLEASE MAKE IT A GOOD ONE! BUT I MUST KNOW NOW! WHAT IS YOUR DECISION?"
"I will..." the Gatekeeper hesitated. "I will do it."
He then covered his eyes with his hands, and let the tears fall. As he sobbed, he became aware of two strong arms which enveloped him in a large embrace.
"YOU HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A GOOD MAN MY SON. AND IF ONLY THIS WERE NOT TRUE, THEN PERHAPS YOU WOULD LIVE IN COMPLETE HAPPINESS. BUT THOSE WHO SUPPORT WHAT IS GOOD DON'T ALWAYS LEAD HAPPY LIVES. FOR THOSE WHO FOLLOW EVIL ALWAYS PERSECUTE THEM. BLESS YOU MY SON, FOR YOU ARE GOOD. RETURN TO THE WORLD NOW. THERE IS A MAN WHO NEEDS YOU. THERE IS A CHILD OF MINE WHO LIES DEAD. YOUR TIME HAS COME!"
The Gatekeeper awoke in tears. He slowly lifted his head up from the ground, and immediately heard the sound of someone knocking on his door. He stood up, and walked over to the door. When he opened it, he saw Link standing there, with tears in his eyes.
"Hero of Time?" the Gatekeeper exclaimed. "I didn't expect you to return."
Link immediately broke down, and began to cry right before him. It was then that the Gatekeeper noticed the beautiful girl who Link was carrying. She was dead. On her gentle cheeks the soft silence of death rested, and her eyes were peacefully closed, as if the world were too dark to look upon.
"Can you... save her?" Link said through his tears.
"She is dead," the Gatekeeper replied, looking down at the limp figure.
"But she didn't deserve to die!" Link shouted at the man, surprised at his own show of anger. "She did nothing! And she died because of it!"
"She did indeed do something that brought her death upon her," the Gatekeeper said, gently touching the young woman's forehead with his hand.
"What did she do!" Link snapped.
"She chose to follow light instead of darkness," the Gatekeeper said. "And evil has a way of persecuting and killing those who oppose it.
"This is all my fault," Link said. "I opened the crypt, and released the ghost!"
The Gatekeeper suddenly reached out, and took the young woman out of Link's arms, and carried her into his home. Link followed.
"What was her name?" the Gatekeeper asked, as he layed her down on the couch.
"Malon," Link said.
"It is a shame that people die so young," the Gatekeeper said, looking down into the dead girl's face. "Especially those who have committed no evil. But evil seeks out both those who embrace it, and those who don't."
"Can you..." Link said, almost afraid to ask the Gatekeeper. "Can you bring her back?"
The Gatekeeper touched Malon's face gently, and looked down into her eyes. He then grasped her hand in his, and began to speak.
"Malon," he said. "Come forth. Wake up now."
Then slowly, ever so slowly, the color began to return to the pale face of the corpse. And Malon's hands, which had been stone cold, began to warm up again. Then she moaned, and opened her eyes.
"Malon!" Link said, rushing to her side.
"Link?" Malon said softly, savoring the sound of his name. "Link, is that you?"
The Gatekeeper stepped back, and Link immediately embraced the farm girl.
"I thought you were gone for good," Link said as tears resurfaced on his eyes.
"So did I," Malon said as she hugged her hero tightly to her.
"Malon," Link said, pulling away from the embrace.
"Yes Link?" Malon said, smiling sweetly up at him as he looked down at her.
"I'm sorry," Link said. "I'm sorry for the way I treated you back at the ranch. It was wrong, and I'm sorry. Will you ever forgive me?"
"Of course I forgive you," Malon said with a smile. "But Link, do you love me?"
"What kind of question is that?" Link said with a smile. "Of course I love you. I've always loved you."
Malon giggled, and gently touched Link's cheek with her hand. She then grasped the back of his neck, and pulled him into a kiss. But this time, the kiss did not end abruptly, or become erotic. It was the kiss of a man and a woman who truly cared for each other, and did not use each other as sources of pleasure. The Gatekeeper just smiled at the two lovers, and turned away to let them have their moment.
"How was I brought back?" Malon asked, when they ended the kiss.
Link just pointed at the Gatekeeper. Malon smiled at the Gatekeeper, who lowered his eyes modestly.
"Thank you, Mr..." Malon said.
"Just call me the Gatekeeper," the Gatekeeper replied. "For that is what I am."
The Gatekeeper then turned, and looked across the room at a young brown haired girl who had just entered the room.
"Hailey," he said, "I didn't expect you to be up yet. Shouldn't you be in bed resting?"
"I felt something inside me tell me to come see you," Hailey said with a smile.
Hailey took a step forward, into the room, and then staggered backwards. The Gatekeeper immediately walked to her side, and caught her in his strong arm. He then lead her over to a chair, and sat her down in it.
"Best be careful," he said. "You aren't in any condition to go walking around. Not yet at least."
He then realized that he had forgotten that Link and Malon were still in the room with him.
"Oh," he said, embarrassed. "Link, Malon, meet Hailey. Hailey, this is Link and Malon."
All three said hi, and Link leaned over to shake Hailey's hand. The two girl's did not shake hands, for both of them were currently immobile.
"Are you okay Gatekeeper?" Link said, noticing the Gatekeeper's saddened eyes.
"Don't worry about me," the Gatekeeper said, whipping his eyes with his sleeve. "But all of us must leave this town immediately. We must go to the graveyard."
"What are you talking about?" Hailey asked.
"The town has fallen into darkness," the Gatekeeper said. "It is no longer safe for you here. I will lead you to the end of the Graveyard. From there, you can escape into the far east of Hyrule."
"You aren't coming with us?" Hailey said, disbelieving all of it.
"Don't worry about me," the Gatekeeper said. "My fate is not in your hands."
The room was blanketed in silence. The Gatekeeper then put on his cloak, and beckoned to all of them.
"We don't have time to wait around. We must leave now."
He then walked over to the chair, and lifted Hailey up from it. Then, with her in his arms, he started for the door.
"Come on Link," he said. "You must carry Malon, for she will be unable to walk for a while."
Link lifted Malon slowly up from the couch. She smiled at him as he gently picked her up, and held her in his arms. He then turned, and followed the Gatekeeper out the door. The four of them were immediately met by a group of several villagers.
"Gatekeeper," one said. "We are in trouble. The town's people have turned against you. And soon they will come to destroy you!"
"This I know," the Gatekeeper said. "All of you must come with me. We must get as many people out of Kakariko as we can. For all who are with me will be persecuted. I take it all of you have not believed the lies of the new spirits, and are still loyal to the Lord of Light."
All of the heads in the crowd nodded.
"Let's go now," the Gatekeeper said, walking briskly for the graveyard. The other's followed him through the ancient gravestones. But one of them hung back until all were past him. He then turned, and ran back into the village.
The Gatekeeper lead them through the Graveyard towards the only other exit out from the town.
"Unfortunately," as he explained to them. "I was never able to put gates over that entrance which repelled Poes, for people in the town still followed darkness, so the energy of light would not enter these gates. That is why there are so many Poes in the Graveyard."
"Will they attack us?" one of the villagers asked.
"Do not fear," the Gatekeeper replied. "The Lord of Light will keep us safe."
They walked on in silence, for all of them knew that something was wrong. The Gatekeeper walked slowly, with his head drooped towards the ground. His eyes held the look of one who has lost all his friends and family to death. His shoulders sagged as he walked on, trying his best to hold in his tears. When they reached the eastern entrance, the Gatekeeper told them to stop and make camp.
"I must go out by myself for now," he said. "But all of you remain here. Take care of each other while I am gone."
He then turned, and walked back through the Graveyard. When he was a good distance away, the Gatekeeper through himself to the ground, and began praying to the Lord of Light.
"Please father," he said. "If only things were not the way they are, then the future would not be so bleak. But I know that it is the only way, and I trust your will. Please protect all of them from evil."
Suddenly a stream of bright bluish light gently touched the Gatekeeper's face, like a mother's caress. He opened his eyes, and saw a fairy which had come to comfort him. The Gatekeeper held a gentle hand out to the tiny creature, and the small sprite lit upon his hand, and rested.
"Bless you creature of light," the Gatekeeper said. "You have always been good to me."
He remained there for a few hours, before returning to his friends at the eastern exit. His followers watched him as he arrived, all of them wondering where he had been. But the Gatekeeper just sat down among them, and silently brooded.
"How long will we wait here?" one asked.
"Until it is time," the Gatekeeper said. "No matter what happens, I want you guys to stay out here, just beyond this exit. Stay out here. Do not go back into the village unless by some miracle it is saved from the evil that now holds it."
His eyes were sad, and he sounded on the verge of tears. His head hung limply from his neck, and his limbs seemed weak. As Link watched the Gatekeeper, he realized that he had been his friend the whole time. Link had never agreed with the Gatekeeper's beliefs, and had even yelled at him, but the Gatekeeper had always been there to help him in times of trouble. Link suddenly felt guilty for what he had said to him before leaving Kakariko Village.
"I must travel back through the Graveyard," the Gatekeeper said. "You guys must continue on from here without me."
"Oh surely you don't think we will let you go back there by yourself," a man suddenly said.
"No," Link said. "We must go with you."
"All of you must remain outside the village," the Gatekeeper said. "It is not safe for you back there with me. Besides, I would rather do this alone."
"Oh no you don't," another said. "You know that is a lie. Please, accept our assistance. We only wish to help you."
"One of you has betrayed us," the Gatekeeper said. "He now runs to tell the evil spirits of our flight. I must go back. When they have me, they won't hunt the rest of you. If you follow me, I am afraid all of you will abandon me in hopes of saving yourselves."
"I will remain at your side no matter what happens," Link said. "You have always been there to help me when I needed help. You even brought Malon back from the dead."
"I tell you truthfully Link," the Gatekeeper said. "You will deny me to save yourself. Before tomorrow's sun rises, you will betray me."
"That is not true!" Link said. "I will remain at your side no matter what!"
"How do you know all this?" Malon asked.
"I know," the Gatekeeper said in response.
He turned, and looked back towards the town.
"Some of you may come with me, until I tell you to stop. Then, I hope you will return here, and leave the village."
Link immediately stood up to follow the Gatekeeper.
"Do you want to come with us?" Link asked Malon.
"I'll come," Malon said, smiling up at Link.
Link picked Malon back up, and walked over to the Gatekeeper. A couple of other people followed, one of them carrying Hailey. The Gatekeeper turned, and walked on through the graveyard. The others just followed slowly. Those who chose to remain at the eastern exit just watched as the others walked back towards the village.
As the small group of people continued walking, they began to see men with torches walking into the Graveyard towards them. Several of the spirits flew above them, and the men were all armed with swords and other weapons.
"This is where you must stop," the Gatekeeper said.
"He's the one!" one man in the large crowd shouted. "That is the Gatekeeper."
"So he is," said one of the spirits, floating over their heads.
"Am I some kind of criminal that you come here with swords to arrest me?" the Gatekeeper said.
"You hurt one of the great ones!" one of the people in the crowd shouted.
"Really," the Gatekeeper said. "I was not aware that I had hurt the Lord of Light's feelings. Then I'll apologize to him."
"Take him away," one of the spirits said.
Two men stepped forward, and grabbed the Gatekeeper roughly.
"No!" Link shouted, immediately drawing his bow and loosing an arrow into one of the men.
The arrow struck him in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground. The man screamed as blood began to pour from the wound, and stain the grass.
"Put away your weapons Link," the Gatekeeper said. "These men may mean me harm, but there will be no bloodshed here!"
The Gatekeeper reached out to the wounded man, and pulled the arrow out from his shoulder. He then touched the wound gently, and his hand began to glow brightly. The skin began to stitch itself back together, and the arteries sewed themselves shut. Soon the man's shoulder was completely healed.
"What are you waiting for?" another of the spirits asked. "Take him away!"
Some of the Gatekeeper's followers began to edge away.
"You!" one of the spirits suddenly shouted in a commanding voice. "You must come with us as well!"
The crowd of believers broke, and they ran off into the graveyard. The Gatekeeper bowed his head as he watched his friends run off into the darkness. He then looked up, and saw a tall spirit walking through the crowd towards him. He was dressed in light blue silken clothing, his face held a look of maturity, and seriousness. His jet black hair was slicked back, and his mustache was neatly groomed. It appeared to be human, but the Gatekeeper saw through the guise.
"Nargasa," he said.
"We meet again Gatekeeper," Nargasa said, clearly enjoying his new form. "But this time I will not be the one running away."
"You must let my followers leave this town!"
"I know, I know. Or your precious Lord of Light will hurt me, won't he? No. I release them, on the condition that you will do nothing to save yourself."
Nargasa frowned, and glared into the Gatekeeper's eyes.
"You keep your end of the deal," he whispered, "and Ganon and I will keep ours."
"He will meet me when it happens," the Gatekeeper said.
"Yes," Nargasa said impatiently. "He is looking forward to seeing you again."
Nargasa then drew a sword, and plunged it into the Gatekeeper's thigh. The Gatekeeper shouted in pain, but did not make a move to stop the blade from cutting him. Nargasa smirked, and turned to his followers.
"Take him to the town center! Tell all the women and children to remain in their homes. I think there is no man on earth, or in Hell who will suffer as greatly as this man will!"
The crowd cheered, and dragged the Gatekeeper off into the village. But among them were several of the Gatekeeper's followers, mingling with the crowd and pretending not to be friends of his.
The hammer has truly fallen. Now what will happen to the Gatekeeper?