Link finished chopping the rest of the firewood he and Gerik would be needing for the night and walked over to the small campfire the two of them had made in the middle of the Kokiri Forest. Gerik was just sitting by the fire with his back up against a large rock. He was cleaning and sharpening his two blades. Link meanwhile was continuing the satchels he was making for Epona to carry all his weapons in. He needed Epona to be able to go as fast as possible, and that was impossible if she had to lug the wagon along. She would still be slowed a little by the weight of Link's weapons, but it was better.
The night sky above them was clear and the nearly full moon and stars shown brightly. All was quiet except for the occasional crackle from the fire. The bloody, severed head of the Dinolfos was still sitting in the wagon, but Gerik had made himself a bag to carry it in when they left for the castle in the morning. There had been little spoken between the two since the battle, but both of them had gained a certain respect for the other that hadn't been there before. They were like two long lost brothers.
"So," Gerik said breaking the silence, "do you still believe that it was necessary to save the Kokiri?"
"We've been over this." replied Link. "Of course I still believe what we did was necessary."
"Just making sure man. I mean, I don't want us to have wasted all this time doing this and later on you regret it."
"Well that's not going to happen. I would defend the Kokiri with my dying breath if it would save them. Wouldn't you do the same thing for your family?"
"I. . .I don't have a family."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"
"No, it's all right; how could you have known? I was abandoned as a baby on Impa's doorstep. I have no clue who either of my parents were or even any memories of them. My earliest memory is of Impa playing with me in the small garden behind her house."
"Wow, Impa playing. Now that is something that I cannot imagine."
"Yeah well, they say that everybody has two sides to themselves. Somehow Impa knew that I was Sheikah, and more importantly a full-blooded Sheikah. When I was of age she began teaching me in the Sheikah ways. When she became Zelda's nanny I guess you could say, I went along with her. Impa's the closest thing I have to a mother."
"Well have you ever talked to her about it? Maybe she knows who your parents were. I mean, you said it yourself that somehow she knew you were Sheikah."
"We've only talked about it once, and that was when I was little. She told me that my parents had left me on her doorstep and it was left at that. We never talked about it again after that."
"Well maybe you should talk to her. You can do it when we get to the castle. What's the worst that can happen?"
"I don't know, but that's what I'm afraid of. Besides, some things are just better left forgotten."
"You and I are more alike than I thought. I'm an orphan as well. I have absolutely no idea who my dad is, or if I even had a dad, but I know that my mom died to save my life. I was a baby also when this happened. I don't know all the details, but this is what the Deku Tree told me. He said that my mom had entered the forest carrying me in her arms. There were fatal wounds all over her body. With her dying breath she asked the Great Deku Tree to take me in and raise me as one of his children, as a Kokiri."
"So that's why you wanted to protect them. Well at least you know that your mother loved you."
"You never know; maybe your parents left you on Impa's doorstep for the same reason my mother did so."
"Somehow I don't think so. I'd rather not talk about this anymore."
Once again only the crackle of the fire broke through the silence of the night as their discussion died down. The hooting of owls scouring the woods for their evening dinner could now be heard as well. To Link the hooting brought back memories of Kaepora Gaebora, the owl that had helped Link with his adventure seven years ago. Link hadn't seen him since returning from the future victorious over Ganon. Link wasn't even sure if he was still alive or not.
Link finished the satchels he was making and put them aside for later. He then lay back carefully, because his back still hurt from the cut he received, against a nearby wall and closed his eyes. The days events had exhausted him. He hadn't had to do so much since the days of Ganon. As he lay there he could hear the metallic scraping of Gerik continuing to sharpen his two blades.
"Hey Link," he said suddenly, "there's been something I've been meaning to ask you ever since we met."
"So go ahead and ask it." he replied as he opened his eyes and looked at Gerik.
"Are you and Zelda an item?"
"What?" Link exclaimed blushingly. "No, of course not! We're just friends; nothing more. Whatever gave you that idea anyway?"
"Well, it's just that Zelda always spoke so highly of you, and you could've already had any woman in this kingdom if you really wanted to. I just put two and two together. It's not like Zelda is going out and finding any suitors herself."
"Well you're wrong; we are just very good friends. Why are you asking anyway? Do you like her?"
"I'll admit that she's one of the most beautiful woman in the kingdom, but I won't go so far as to say that I like her. She's nice and all, but I just don't see the two of us together. Actually, I have yet to find a woman who I can see myself with for the rest of my life. This may be hard to believe since I'm so blindingly handsome, but I've never had a girlfriend."
"Oh yeah, you're so blindingly handsome, and I'm the King of Hyrule."
"Hey! Don't mock me. If I wanted to I could take you down right here right now."
"If I remember correctly, you said that only the Hero of Time could defeat you. That means you have no hope of beating me in a fight. Besides, I'm not the one sitting here with a hole in my shoulder."
"Well I was going easy on you. I didn't want to accidently kill you if you weren't the Hero of Time."
"Say what you will, but you have no chance against me. Besides, even if we do fight, what happens if one of us slips and kills the other. That isn't exactly going to help our cause."
Gerik nodded in approval with a smirk on his face as he got up off the ground and walked over to one of the houses. He went into the house and came out with two deku sticks, one in each hand. Link just looked on in anticipation of his next move. Gerik saw Link watching and tossed him one of the sticks.
"Let's go fairy boy." Gerik taunted. "Let's see what you're really capable of."
"Alright," said Link with a grin, "you asked for it."
The sun rose bright and sunny the following morning. The red orange hue it gave off radiated across the ocean and through the Lost Woods like a wild fire. The hundred or so black ships that were anchored off shore only grew more menacing as the light from the sun hit them. On the shore itself were over a hundred rowboats. A camp had been built just outside the range of the Lost Woods and only now were the warriors within beginning to stir and wake.
Out on the water was a lone rowboat rowing back to the flagship of the fleet of ships. The flagship was the biggest vessel of them all. Though it truly wasn't, the ship seemed blacker than all the rest. Weapons of war lined it's hull and deck. Carved underneath the ram that extended from the bow of the ship was a smiling skeleton that was holding two crooked swords across his chest. This was easily the most menacing ship of the entire fleet.
When the rowboat reached the ship, a rope ladder was thrown down and the warrior inside the rowboat climbed up. The warrior himself was dressed all in black. He had on no armor, but a mail shirt could be seen underneath his regular black shirt. There was a black turban wrapped around his head and there was a large saber hanging from his belt.
The warrior headed to a rather large cabin. The entrance was guarded by two heavily armed and armored knights. They were dressed head to toe in brilliantly shining blue armor. Kite shields made of the same metal were lying next to them and hanging from their belts were very sharp long swords. The long swords were made even deadlier by the fact that there were teeth in several places of the blades.
The knights opened the door to the cabin and the warrior walked inside. The room within was dark. There were no windows in the room, so the only light came from candles that were hanging from the walls. Toward the back of the room sat a rather large throne. There was someone sitting in it, a rather large someone, but his face was veiled in darkness. The warrior walked over to the throne and bowed.
"My lord," began the warrior, "one of the patrols we sent out yesterday has yet to return. We have yet to find their bodies."
"So then our presence has not gone unnoticed." replied the man in a deep and sinister voice.
"That may not be true sire. It may be the woods themselves. The trees. . .they're magical or something. All the Stalfos that enter the woods are immediately purified and destroyed. Also, no matter what we do we cannot burn the trees."
"You fool! These woods are enchanted. Can't you sense the spirits of the forest all over the place? Mere axes and torches will not be enough to take down these trees. There is a higher power at work here."
"So what is our next course of action?"
"Send in the Wizzrobes. I'm sure they can find a way to burn these trees down within those magic books of theirs. Now if there is nothing else, leave me."
"At once my liege."
Link and Gerik zoomed by Lon Lon Ranch and raced onward toward Hyrule Castle. The two of them were covered in bruises and several small cuts. Their Deku Stick battle the following night had lasted well into the night with no clear winner. Finally, the two of them were forced to declare a tie just so they could get some sleep. The two of them were sore and tired, but they raced onward to Hyrule Castle because they knew what they had to do.
They crossed the drawbridge and entered Hyrule Market. Without stopping they raced through the city and to Hyrule Castle. The guards stopped them at the gate, but upon seeing that it was Link they allowed passage. Link hopped off of Epona and while she was led off to the stables, he and Gerik walked past the now open gate and to the castle.
Gerik was amazed by the splendor of the castle as they entered. Extravagant curtains and rugs lined the hallways. All the furniture was made of the highest quality and many had designs that Gerik had never seen before in his entire life. Gerik wasn't even paying attention to where they were going. As he and Link were walking toward the throne room, Gerik just continued to look around.
Link had not been in the castle for several months, yet everyone inside still remembered him. All the servants he was always friendly toward and many of the knights he had faced in duels. He always won, but none of the knights could figure out how or why. Link always wanted to tell them after duels not to feel bad since he was the Hero of Time, but he didn't want the attention that would come from it. As they approached the throne room Link saw that the doors were closed and two Royal Guards were standing outside.
"Hello Link." said one of the guards. "I'm sorry, but Zelda's not inside. She's still in her room. I can go send somebody to fetch her if you like."
"Maybe later, but right now I need to speak with the king."
"His majesty is very busy. May I ask what this concerns."
"It concerns the safety of Hyrule. Something bad is about to happen and I need to warn the king."
"This better not be a joke."
"Never! What I say is the truth, and the more time we waste here the worse off Hyrule will be."
"I'll be right back. You two just sit down over there and wait."
The guard ran into the throne room as Link and Gerik went to sit down in two plush armchairs that were sitting outside the throne room. Gerik was still amazed by the splendor of the castle, but all Link was concerned about at the moment was informing the king about the impending doom Hyrule was facing.
"Well, this should be a cinch." said Gerik as he continued to stare in awe at the walls around them. "Once we get an audience with the king, all you have to do is speak and he'll believe you. I mean, who wouldn't believe the Hero of Time?"
"He doesn't know that I'm the Hero of Time." replied Link.
"What?"
"The only two people in the castle who know are Zelda and Impa. Everyone else had their memories wiped when I returned to the past and I never felt the need to tell them. As far as they're concerned, the Hero of Time is a legend and nothing more."
"But why didn't you tell the king at least? I mean, think of all the honors you would've received."
"I'm not in this for the honors. I'm in it because it's my duty. Besides, one of those honors would've included making me a knight of Hyrule. That is something I want no part of. I prefer to be on my own and do what I want."
"The king will see you now." said the Royal Guard as he opened the doors to the throne room for them.
Link and Gerik got up and walked into the throne room. Surprisingly, it wasn't the most extravagant room in the castle. Link knew that was so because the king didn't want himself to feel superior to everyone else. Even though he was king, he treated everyone as equals. At the end of the room were three thrones; one for the king, one for the queen, and one for Zelda. Sitting in the middle throne was King Hyrule.
"So, Link my boy," stated King Hyrule, "my guards tell me that you bring dire news."
"Yes, I do. Hyrule is being invaded by an evil army. They have already landed on Hyrule's shore."
"Shore? Hyrule has no shore."
"I didn't think so at first either, but I've seen it with my own two eyes. It's on the other side of the Lost Woods. I've also seen the enemy army, and it is huge."
"I suppose you have some proof of this."
"Yes, I do." said Gerik stepping forward.
"Gerik, is that you?" asked King Hyrule. "I haven't seen you in what. . .three years. You've grown."
"Thank you, but we can catch up later. Take a look at this." stated Gerik as he tossed the Dinolfos' head on the floor."
"Now there haven't been any monsters in Hyrule for the past seven years." said Link. "He was part of an advance scout that Gerik and I jumped. Believe me when I say that there are thousands more waiting on the other side of the Lost Woods."
"Good God!" exclaimed King Hyrule. "How long before they attack?"
"Four, maybe five days." said Gerik.
"That doesn't give us much time. I'll start raising an army immediately. We will not be caught off guard."
"It won't be enough." said Link. "You need to send out riders. You need to call for aid."
"Of course. I'll send messengers to the Gorons and Zoras immediately."
"Ask the Gerudo for aid as well." stated Gerik.
"Never! They are a bunch of thieves. They care only for themselves. They will not come to our aid. Even if they do, they will expect something in return; something that I probably won't be able to give them."
"Your majesty!" yelled a knight that had just run into the throne room all out of breath. "Black smoke. . .is rising. . .from the East!
"Oh my god." said Link. "The Lost Woods are burning."
"It's begun then." said Gerik. "The war has begun."