3
Sendrh Uchia
Link kept receiving the reports from the lords and the generals from that secret meeting where he decided he would attack by himself that place he called Sendrh Uchia which interpreted is: hidden darkness.
As he read on, Link looked at the maps and remembered the places where he had been and places that master Mirodu suggested as possible entrances. Altogether they just seemed paper; he could not feel that they were leads unto the dreadful dominion. As he studied them inside the room, Zelda went in. Link quickly folded them and hid them inside his blue tunic.
"Oh, you are here" Zelda seemed surprised.
"Yes, were you not looking for me?"
"Truth is that I am here to sign a treaty with prince Rundrack around noon."
Link blinked and held his breath for one moment.
He was about to leave the room but Zelda stopped him.
"You cannot hide it" she smiled.
"I do not like him. 'Tis enough said" Link looked at her in the eye.
"That is called jealousy, master Link" Zelda made him sit at the table.
"Then I feel jealous."
"I do not mind it. Actually, I am flattered when you feel this way. I recommend one thing, though; do not threaten him with a weapon. It is not polite and I want him to sign this."
"If you ask me this, then I shall obey"
He left quickly for the training grounds. So many things he had to plan and so little time. There were no confirmations about what he was searching.
"I don't like it whenever time is uncertain" he thought. It is obvious that for someone that worships time, not being aware of it is a torture. And yet Link did not feel pressure.
It is not a small task to describe the feelings of an insensitive person. Link could feel, but not quite as regular people. Jealousy, he could feel but for the same reasons as the rest of the world. Anger, always pure and often restrained.
Incomplete he is, and lacking for he is not able to do the things as regular people do. But these regular people can only dream what he accomplishes.
Without pressure, decisions are not easy to make, though. He reserved that task to the princess who seemed to have just about enough wisdom for the both of them and the rest of the kingdom. His father would always call him a loyal bloodhound.
It was a terrible thing when he met his father. As he often wondered about his parents, he also had a dream, shall we say? A dream where his parents were noble people who loathed any kind of evil. He knew that his mother was able to bring him to the kokiri forest and for being able to do that, it outlined the kind of spirit she possessed.
The kokiri people are born from trees, deep inside its roots, the child is formed, he or she hears others speak and sometimes the tree can whisper back. They speak both the man-kind language and the kokiri. Other similar forests are found in the world however are not called kokiri. Kokiri itself is translated to forest-kind.
The inhabitants may never leave the forest, if they ever do this, they would die in matter of days. Only Sariah, one of the sages is able to go outside. Living like that, it is no surprise that they reject anything that is strange to them, for that reason any outsider who dares to step inside slowly will forget the reason they entered, and the deeper they go the more they forget until one day they know not who they are, cannot speak and have no face. They shrink and only know how to carve a flute from wood and play it for the rest of their lives.
Amazement filled Link when he set foot, when he learned what had happened, to know why he never had a fairy, why he was different from the rest of the children.
After seeing the world, after his many adventures and his final return to Hyrule, Link learned that a kingdom he visited when a lad was in trouble. Termina is the name, a land rich in different soils and famous for their fish. Link was informed that a barbarian horde ad arrived to the gates of the city and demanded the relinquishing of the kingdom's command. They offered a challenge which no one had taken. To defeat their leader in a battle.
Princess and warrior went to the aid of Termina. Upon their arrival, Link was taken to their camp. What he found was no ordinary horde. He saw a campsite with enormous tents, thousands of set lines with guards and watchtowers; they had the discipline and the training of a professional army.
"I demand to see you leader" he shouted at the thousands of people that were in that camp.
Silence prevailed as a set of solitary footsteps opened its way through the tents and soldiers, and after doing so, all the soldiers came out to witness the bold challenger.
Link beheld the leader simple known as General Black Mask. He dressed with a red coat with neither medals nor ornaments, loose britches that seemed a gown, a black cape with a hood he did not wear and a mask similar to the ones used in theatre. He had a very thick and big moustache and the dark black hair, short to the shape of the head.
At first, he did not seem intimidating, just mysterious, and very disconcerning.
His loose clothes could conceal any weapons for none was visible. His stare though was intimidating to the seasoned warrior. Yes, his stare was of a man of fight, the one that battles constantly and outlives his adversary for he can see the strength, measure it, match it and finally overcome it.
"I heard someone screaming, was it you?"
"You are the leader?"
"Is it not obvious? Am I to suppose that your fencing is better than your logic?" Link had nothing to say to that. He could not see the connection between fencing and logic. "is this what you send?" he asked to the far away king Kafei and princess Zelda that were watching everything close away from the horde and close to the city gates. "An ignorant? Can you even hold a sword properly?" Link did not understand sarcasm but he understood threats in any of its forms, and his reply was to draw his sword.
"Unbelievable, he really doesn't" He said this because Link uses his left hand. The general's guard was not up for he enjoyed mocking his rival. Now this he seldom did but he enjoyed so much seeing Link's guard and clothes.
"Where are you from, lad?" the general inquired with a disturbing grin on his face.
"Hyrule" Link answered with his guard still up.
"Nonsense, Hylians do not talk the way you do"
"I am from the forest"
"You must think I am a fool. Yet I have taken you for a fool first if you expect me to believe that. I know the kokiri may never leave the forest. Even if they could, they never grow."
Out of patience Link answered his question with a replant tone.
"I am a Hylian who grew up in the forest and hold the grace of the Deku tree moreover the power of the triforce and the sages."
A gasp of wonder was heard from Black Mask. He felt as though he stumbled with a diamond. He was before a legend, and he could not wait to defeat him. A love for satisfaction, not vanity.
"You are Link? I have heard so much about you. I did not know you were an ignorant but I am pleased to meet you. Now let us get to business."
Without saying anymore, with a movement of his arm, the side of his cape took off apart to the side and he reached from his waist a weapon which had the shape of a short rod and held it with both hands it would seem that it was heavy.
Ready for the attack, Link awaited black Mask's first move, suddenly the general stumbled with a thought and his eyes started to shake with amazement. While Zelda and the king watched them from their safe spot, they wondered why the two adversaries looked at each other without making a move; and why did Black Mask drop his guard.
"It can't be" he said.
"He is coming closer to Link" king Kafei held a telescopic glass. Zelda took it and whispered really low. "Please be careful"
As black mask approached Link, he held his weapon with the left hand and with the right one he pointed at Link, still approaching.
"Who are your parents?" he demanded.
"I am an orphan"
What were these questions? One moment he's mocking and the other he is interested in genealogy?
"I know you" Black Mask said with his eyes wide open. "I have seen you every day of my life and never thought you existed. I hoped you would come to me, I mourned you. I do not wish to fight you.
They were really close now, Link had his guard up and his foe was within the range of his sword, however he waited for the explanation.
Then Black Mask took off his name and revealed the meaning of his words. Link was filled with awe, shocked at the glance of his opponent's identity. It was a mirror with dark hair a moustache and a scar. The same reaction was shared between him, princess Zelda and King Kafei. The message was clear and true. That was Link's father. "Son…" whatever the general was about to say he could not finish, he met Link's sword aiming at his throat. He quickly dodged it and pulled out his weapon to block the blows directed to his person.
They had about the same speed and the same skills with the weapon, one attack was followed by another and the blocking was just as accurate.
However as Zelda gazed at them with the glass, she noticed something wrong. "What are you doing?" she thought. Link was not attacking properly. One attack could go lower, one jump could enhance the stab, or he could ram him with his shield. Zelda thought of so many things he could do, however Link did them not. Never had she seen him fight in such a stupid way. His attacks were full of anger but repetitive. At first, Black Mask only repelled the attack and yelled at Link to stop attacking. Seeing that his son would not desist, black mask took his rod and drew a flexible thin and short sword. The other part, he started spinning it and yellow balls of light started to shoot out of the rod. These balls fell to the ground and disappeared. Suddenly Black Mask jumped away from Link and as he tried to follow, an explosion busted from the ground. The explosion threw Link against a stoned wall. With his sight blurred, could not see his opponent take him by the arm and throwing him to the ground twisting it hard.
Link's scream hurt Zelda deeply. She put the hand to her bosom and hoped for this moment to end.
" Desist, son" said the general but Link didn't desist, as soon as he heard the last word, he propelled himself back and with a jump got up again, in spite of his sight that could only see spots and glitters. As soon as he did this, black mask got him again and then threw him to the middle of the patch where his bombs had landed. Link hit most of the bombs and finally was thrown unconscious to the ground.
Black mask then put his foot on Link's chest and his thin sword to the throat.
Zelda went running towards him and as soon as she got close, black mask put his sword now to her throat.
"When he wakes up, tell him that my patience ran out and will not tolerate his arm raised against me again. You tell him that he can take my side in my campaign or the end of my sword in this very field"
Zelda did not move, just wept. She was suffering for Link but didn't fear that man threatening her.
"why are you doing this?" she said.
"So that men like him can have freedom too" he said as he pointed Link.
Then he put down his sword and went to the camp, king Kafei joined her and attempted to move Link to which the princess chose to leave him but give him a bit of his potion.
Link always carried a red potion to restore his energy to full capacity, doses as small as a wet finger from that potion could satisfy his hunger.
"Take a step back, your highness, he will be up energetically" said Zelda still sobbing as she wet her finger and gave Link some of the potion. As it were, he got up and with a scream punched a boulder next to him so hard as to crack it.
Angry he went walking to the clock city. He was angry because of his defeat but most of all because he found his father to be an enemy.
Even though the king offered his house, Link chose to stay at this inn that was a property of the now queen of Termina, Anjou. She did not run it anymore still he was taken in without a cost.
Link spent his time that evening not resting but thinking. At a balcony with a huge bell, Link estimated how many men his foe commanded, how well they have been trained and if maybe Termina could confront them.
Zelda had been watching him for quite a long time and still wondered what he was thinking. They were standing side by side and not uttered a word for half an hour, until finally Link broke the silence and said" I remember the first time I was here, not long after my exit from Hyrule. I followed a skull kid who had stolen my ocarina. Was my surprise not great to learn that the skull kid had stolen Majora's mask and that this city was threatened by the moon falling over their heads for three days. Three days was all I had to prevent disaster, then again, with the help of time anything is possible.
"What happened today Link?" she asked because she was tired of Link telling his stories.
"I do not understand"
"Today you fought terribly. Is it because he is your father?
"That man is not my father" this Link said because he wanted to believe that and partly because he once was taught that your parents are the people who raise you, regardless of any kind of blood bond. As complicated as his feelings was how he regarded his own father.
"I do not wish to worry… Even though…."
"Even though, what?"
"Your fighting was the worst I have ever seen." She stood right in front of him and placed her hands on his shoulders. "You cannot tell me that he is not your father when you can clearly see it. I do not know the way you think but the impression he made was not slight."
"Tomorrow I will fight him" he turned his head from the princess.
"I cannot be so sure you will be victorious," she said with a sound of despair.
"Then be sure of this" Link turned around and looked at the princess and as their eyes met, she noticed in them a certain warmth "no one will harm you or your kingdom. No matter how terrible my performance was, whatever happens, when it comes to you, I will defend you with my life even against the giver of such."
It was always a comfort to hear him say that kind of words. His expression was as always, cold. Nevertheless, those words were reassuring; she honestly believed for that small amount of time, she would always be safe. They stayed there until they were tired. Link did not sleep; he planned the tactics to defeat his enemy.
As the two warriors kept watch during the night, they were immersed in memories. The memories of so long time ago, of so many things imagined a cruel separation, a tormented aftermath, and years of suffering from a lack.
The break of morning found them looking out the window, deciding the next move. For one it was apparent the need for the fight, the other one wished another way to solve things.
Nevertheless, nothing could move the Kokiri; nothing could stop him from doing good deeds. The next day he walked over to the same spot; Kafei and Zelda kept watching over from the safe hill.
Black mask was waiting for him.
"Do you still challenge me?"
"Is it not apparent? Am I to believe that your fencing is better than your logic?" Something told Link that he was able to offend him with that sentence. That something was correct.
They both drew their weapons, and ran in offence. Link used his sword and his shield to hit him, cut him, and ram him. Black mask mostly repelled the attacks and stepped back waiting for an open spot in Link's guard.
Black mask spread his bombs around the field, this time Link paid close attention as to where they fell. While fighting him Link kicked him and with the strong guard was thrown back, in a second fired his hookshot and scratched him on his shoulder.
With a fast spin, black mask threw a bomb Link's way, which Link stepped and exploded.
Quickly, with his very own chain he was wrapped around the lower body and asphyxiated.
Black mask kept pulling the chain harder and harder, it was too tight to be loosened or to try slipping out of it.
"Is this what you wanted?" Zelda was about to run towards him but Link shouted to stay there. Black mask saw with disgusted wonder how he protected the ruler of Hyrule.
"You want to protect your mistress. You fight me because the king asked you. Open your eyes and realize that they do not care about you." Then he pulled harder "Maybe I should do you a favour and kill them first." With those words Link broke the chain and threw his foe away to the bombs, a few exploded but shielded behind his sceptre that radiated a barrier.
Then was rammed, kicked, punched, and slashed by the master sword. It did little harm and left no mark.
Panting, both warriors caught their breath separated by 20 paces. The explosion detached the mask from his face. Sweat covered his face and his black eyes were restless for the fight. Why Link fought so fiercely with the threat of his princess was unknown to the general.
"It is repulsive to see your loyalty towards the princess." He assumed it was his loyalty. "You are a hound in their service. To them you really are a dog."
"Be silent, I will tolerate you no more. Because of you, I have not known friendship or love, but she is teaching me both" he said as he pointed her with the tip of his sword.
That silenced black mask he did not expect it moreover he hoped that Link was not talking about that one thing he feared the most.
"Are you fighting for love?" he asked.
"Aye"
With a sigh, the general dropped his guard, caught his breath, sheathed his sword and returned to his belt. Then with a heavy walk got to a point were he could see his camp this to command them to pick everything because they were leaving.
Both Zelda and king Kafei did not understand the decision taken by the barbarian's commander. Why would he leave when no one won the challenge?
Link did not understand nor did he drop his guard. Nevertheless, his father asked him to come to the stonewall where Link had crashed the day before.
"Oh, put your sword down." Said black mask and surprisingly Link did so. "As you can see, I will retreat to other land, hopefully to one where you have no allies."
"Why" Black Mask sighed and smacked his lips for his reply.
"Because I just learned you fight for love. For that reason I will never fight you directly."
Both of them walked a couple of paces feeling still the hits from the battle. Not able to know why, Link said what seemed more logic.
"Is it because I fight a righteous cause?"
The general exhaled and snickered. "No, do not be so naive." He said while turning his back on Link "I do not care about causes but my own." Then he remembered what had happened 21 years ago. He explained him that he used to be the first general for Gannondorf during the war of kindred. Throughout the war, every king wanted to have more land and there expand. The Gorons wanted some of the Gerudo valley, the Gerudo wanted to keep their full land, the Hylians wanted all of the land, and the Zoras wanted all of the water. "Gannondorf commanded me to drive people out of this harvesting patch in the middle of the field just north of the walled city." The general continued and Link listened closely while he kept a safe distance. "As I was leaving with my share of the army, your mother saw me being followed by vile creatures and monsters, she did not know that I was fighting for Gannondorf, so naturally she demanded an explanation that I should be followed by those creatures." The general paused to take a deep breath. "The look on her eyes still hurt me, yet I did not stop. The Hylians were expecting us. They did not care for the people, they rode full speed towards us, I wanted to detour them away from the huts, away from the people. That moment my army disobeyed my command and attacked frontally. After taken that field, Gannon stripped me from my command and attempted to slay me; I fled to the hut outside of the valley but could not find your mother, she was long gone. Disguised, I wandered through the lands seeking for her. Several people told me they had seen her, they told me se had a new born yet I could never find her
"She is buried in the Kokiri forest next to the Deku Tree that is why."
"I lost everything for a fight, for someone else. Now I serve no man. Now I seek a new order without rulers, just stewards with a set law. My army shares my vision. They are with me on their own accord. We shall conquer the world and give it a new order. Hyrule will have to go last, when I have an army strong enough."
"Out of sympathy? Because I love as you once did? Is that why you won't fight me?"
"Because you have love, you have immense power, something I do not." Was his answer "I lost it when your mother stopped loving me. For that reason I will not fight you directly." A moment of silence.
"I do not wish to fight you either," said Link. "That is why I wish you get killed in your campaign. I shall not want to stain my sword with my own blood."
Black Mask did not expect an act of bonding from his son, though that made it clear that it was now impossible. About to leave to his camp Link asked a question "what is your real name?
"Iro Daron Gobi, I am a native from the Southern Dominion, from the Mountains. Now that you mention it" he reached to his side and supposing he was reaching for his sword, Link drew his Kokiri sword and held its tip at his father. "This" he said as he pulled out a piece of very thick paper. It was a painting, it was Link's mother. Her eyes and hair were exactly as her son's. The painting was fading from years and folding. "This is the most precious of my possessions" and he handed it to Link. "You shall have it since you never knew her.
He left and said no more. That way they were parted and seen occasionally under the most awkward circumstances. Link never did forgive his father for having left his own family. Now then again, Link did not think about it much, even as a close relative of anger, resentment is still a feeling, and something that he lacked.
For that, the princess suffered. Oh, and did she suffer! Constantly, but continued loving Link nonetheless. How is it that she could love that man when his eyes are so cold? When he forgets about her and dedicates his life to the service of others? Love is not conditional, is the answer. Other men seemed boring compared to Link, the concern he had for other despite his lack of feelings, his sensitivity towards other people's thinking in spite he did not feel.
How many times he saved her, how many times he put his own life before her life. But loyalty or pride for his country he could not feel. What was it? What bonded him so tightly to the princess? Of this she was convinced: Link could feel, at least to a point. How much he understood, how much of that was true, is unknown. In any case, that was no reason to stop loving him. The heart shelters too many feelings; in there they get mixed up and tend to forget their own reason for being. Not everyone can love for the same reasons or in the same way. It is true that you learn that while you live, but most of the time, it is not a matter of learning, it is a matter of becoming and embracing.
She knew there was something special about Link since the first time they met. What times of youth they lived. So different yet so close, so similar. In remembrance of the many tales and songs, she heard as a child, Zelda wanted to devote herself into the care and watch of Link. She wished to do as the woman in her favourite poem: a woman who gave everything to the man she loved. She was a maiden in a castle who fell in love with a knight. This knight brought himself into the quest of conquering back the land of is forefathers. The maiden on the other hand, loved him secretly, lightened his burdens, and promised him her dedication. In that poem that she so loved, the maiden gives her life in exchange for gold to pay for his soul. That devotion was required to her people, nevertheless she chose, and choosing is what matters, Link was her decision.
So young and so prepared for the future. She was not a common girl, of this, everyone was sure. How could someone so young be so strong, could resist so many a heavy heart. The burdens loaded on her yielded to her remarkable wisdom. She did not hold all the answers or all the truths in the world. Of this she was aware, but her trust in her and the trust in those close to her to the point that it is still true, is actually remarkable.
To this day, she remained steady in what she believed. Little moment left for pleasure only the assurance from her servants could comfort her into the brightness of tomorrow. Oh yes, sometimes she would dull in her self for the wise know that brighter days are the ones you actually live and the darker are the ones to be expected. She would carry that burden in a most reverent way, putting it to the back of her head, seldom thinking about it.
Link could think about the darkest things and not feeling it. His spirit was not unbreakable though; on the contrary, quite fragile if hit on the exact spot, now that spot was as small as needlepoint wide.
This was his main weapon against evil; it was his greatest stronghold. To wield it however a loss was required hence his long lost feelings. As Link reviewed the maps time and again, a voice behind him called.
"I know what you are doing, lad" Link needed not to look behind and up, for he knew it was Impa. And there she was standing on top of an arch leaning against a wall with her arms crossed and a petulant expression on her face. "I was watching you closely that night you returned, and have every night ever since."
"I would imagine. Always crawling around the rooftops lurking in the night like some strayed cat." Said Link as he folded the maps. In addition, he turned around.
"You might think that way." She jumped off the arch and then approached him with the same expression. "Now, a cat does not have the intelligence to unwrap the secret around your nightly meeting and staying away from the princess."
A fair wind blew and along a howl. They looked at each other knowing what they were thinking. Words were almost useless. The yard was lonely during that time of the day since the soldiers were all about other businesses in the outer castle and the dungeons.
The arcs of the entrances were lonely and held only darkness and damp. A few birds chirped about the trees as the ripe fruit fell from them.
"this is madness, I will tell the princess." As Impa started to walk past Link, he wanted a moment before she would leave so he asked her.
She stopped right at the gate to the northern corridors and without opening it she heard out what Link had to say.
"my only request is that you do not tell the princess."
"that is what makes it mad. You intend to go alone."
"aye"
"I cannot permit this."
"it does not concern you"
"you are wrong about that. It concerns me all right. I am guardian for the princess; I protect her from what ill might come. She loves you for who knows what reason. Very foolish and a waste if you ask me, that is. Nevertheless, you are the protector of this kingdom and together, only together shall we avail." Links pale eyes glowed with a low beam.
"it is her protection that I seek, that and the safety of these people. For who knows what reasons, as you said. About this quest, this I will tell you: it is the only way."
Impa shook her head in disapproval. She stared at Link with her bright eyes once more as she waited for his last words, she could feel these were going to be concluding words.
"I will start this quest and find the lair of the evil king, once I do it, I will produce a massive loss in his army and creatures. Besides doing that, I will kill the evil king. I know I might not be victorious…..In the darkest corner of my mind…… of that I am sure, but I will go forth nonetheless." He pointed at her to gain her full attention and more. "You shall remain here and protect the princes and the forces of the sages and the triforce. If I am lost, you loose one man. If you loose the princess, you loose all hope."
As Link paused to select the adequate words, Impa listened closely. She was not merely indulging and bearing with him but hearing his explanation to yield if any good reason could he expose. the message was clear, it was clear that after all these years, it was the power of the sages and the triforce that conquered evil. Links strength was a key to it but it only required key strategic. Alone, he could not do it, which is why he exposed the rest of the plan she did not and could not unveil: sending Link alone to Sendrh Uchia was actually the key to defeat Gannondorf. While both generals feared the worst going to open war, the truth was that the only way to kill Gannon, since this was now the plan, for that one man, Link would have to be inside and kill him. Now his army was still deadly enough to maim the castle and the inhabitants thereof, so Link also had to kill the generals; on top of that, the danger that he had to risk is that if he did not kill Gannon, then Hyrule would not have her protector anymore.
If anything, Link would be able to kill Gannon. Link had not however the power to neither fight his magic nor trap him in barriers, but Zelda could; the seven sages could. Link could not guide nor rule the kingdom. He could not counter attack. He could not reconstruct the towns and villages. But Zelda could. The way of the soldier, of the warrior. They are required to kill to destroy. To do so they do not need to be vicious nor do they need creative skills. They have the soul of a leader, but not of a ruler. Kings needed to be warriors too, but that was a second hand requirement. Link could do everything in the way of the soldier with grand skill and beyond all expectations; he however could not learn to do the things his rulers could do.
Some monarchs often undervalue those in their service, Hyrule does not. Everyone seemed to understand their place in life. Sedition is not tolerated. New laws or revolutions come within the inner circle of leadership. Zelda once expressed her appreciation towards Link's work by the manner of a gift.
Zelda had one to the mining regions of the westward kingdoms. A great mining area was shared between three kingdoms: Eban, Lorthel and Urikia. These three kingdoms lived in peace after dividing the parts of the mining regions, which was one however they gained peace with a war.
The visit was short and pleasant yet it had something missing. Link had to go somewhere else to fight Gannon's minions. When they reunited in Hyrule, Zelda had something for him: a necklace. This had a flat diamond at the end of a thin chain. The diamond still uncut resembled a piece of glass, for this she had an explanation
"When I saw this piece, I thought about you immediately."
"What is that?"
"A diamond"
"It does not look like one"
"Yes, 'tis a strange gem. It is flat, yet uncut. Unpolished yet clear as fine glass. This is the strongest mineral, precious everywhere in the world notwithstanding the fact that it is just a clear rock. You are a rock and precious to me. To someone else, you are nothing more than a servant. If that is true then this rock is no more than the ground. May this be a reminder of my affection and the value in which I regard you."
Then she put in on him and stared at the piece that glittered to her face. Then they kissed before parting to their own duties.
Link carried that piece under his garments, not many people knew he had it; he himself did not understand fully what it represented. Many times when no one was looking, he would bring it out and contemplate it. Yes to him it was a mere rock, but then he remembered Zelda and the way she looked at him. There was something about it that made him feel uneasy and almost glad. It is frustrating for the common person to not feel. It is hard to explain not feeling the lack of feelings, the way that Link knew about feelings and not having them at the same time, and yet not feeling that pressure.
Calm around the storm, he had that gift. Zelda was not the only one restless nor was Impa and the other soldiers helping Link infiltrate into Sendrh Uchia. Though so many years had passed since he made a decision for the kingdom, king Hark could sense something different in the castle, almost as though the wind carried the secret words spoken in the night of conspiracy. One could almost hear the walls talking and revealing the intentions of men.
A knock on king Hark's door, it was Lord Radiant. He was wearing his white gown, which was his informal dress. He had been summoned by the king to discuss matters of the kingdom and matters of the heart.
"Thank you for coming" Said king hark.
"You are very welcome your majesty"
"Come closer and close the door, I feel cold," he said as he pulled his blankets tight.
Lord radiant sat on a chair next to the bed and pronounced a brief blessing in the old Hylian tongue, which was the speech in which the writings of endurance were written.
"Tell me again why we have hope"
"Because we never know what time brings, as two choices unfold before us two paths are prepared, with those we decide. Even if there were a thousand paths, there are only two ways. We either take the right or the wrong way."
"Other people seem to think their fate can be changed by the will of greater powers," the king said as he chuckled.
"Fate cannot be changed for our own path we blaze, it is as though as we try to change our own doings."
The two old men remained silent as they pondered about the words they just said. Such dreams they had before, they wanted to change their own destiny however they prepared themselves to embrace it. How can you miss your journey's end? King hark often wished he had never become ill, he longed for brighter days next to his daughter, being able to see her grow and spend more time with her, to have let her be a regular child: free, careless about the future, knowing she can depend upon her father. The question was: would have she becomes a sage without the preparation of ruling? Could have he listened to Link and help him against the evil king? Where would the kingdom be?
"Do you worry still about Zelda?" Lord Radiant asked.
"She bears with the troubles of the Kingdom and also of the heart. Whenever my responsibilities were too great, I could always find comfort in Zarahda that is something he cannot do"
"Oh, believe me, Link provides some comfort."
King Hark nodded as a negative. Lord Radiant gave him a look where he wanted to dissuade the king to think otherwise.
While these matters were in Hyrule, Sendrh Uchia awaited for the arrival of the hero of time.
"Have the docks been built?" Gannon asked as he looked outside of the enormous window into the endless red horizon, thinking about the power he would get.
"Yes my lord" Jarlon replied as he knelt behind him.
"The positions I described to you yesterday, have they been manned?"
"Yes they have"
Gannondorf smiled alone and took a deep breath. He was excited for the time of the last battle against his sworn foe. He could almost taste victory, his plan was brilliant and could not fail, every small detail had been covered, and especially for Link, the army would sacrifice itself. It was all worth it, his vengeance had waited eight long years, each breath was an eternity, every failure was another stab; for every accomplishment, Gannon would taste Link's steel again and again, he would feel powerless as day one in the sacred realm.
His minions could not understand the agony, nor his generals or even Jarlon who cared much about him; he admired the evil king for his power and the artist he was. For Jarlon, the killing was and art, blood the perfect painting; the rhythms of fighting was the dance of death; and the manner of killing a man or several men was the ultimate work of art. For that reason he dressed all in white and for that reason he stared at his kills sometimes for hours.
Gannondorf on the other hand shared not the passion for killing, only for power and revenge against the forces that imprisoned him.
"Everything is ready, now we wait until I gather all of my strength"
"My lord if I may ask, how can you be so certain Link will find us?"
Gannon turn his head slightly after taking another deep breath then he walked towards Jarlon smirking then he asked him to stand up and walk with him to the opposite window. The chamber that they were in had two main windows, torches at the four corners and a red carpet that led from the door to the throne. The stone was grey and felt as though they had been burning for a long time. The two windows were very big and would have filled the room with light had that place any light other than the dull red beams reflected from what seemed to be dark orange clouds.
"There, what do you see?" Gannon pointed at a distant storm.
"Lightning" Jarlon replied the simplest thing he saw.
"That is the power that cannot be held back. In the other world, somebody will see it."
Having said that, he went down the tower and walked alone to regain the strength in his legs. Jarlon remained inside the chamber for one minute then he went down to what would be his own chamber filled with all of his trophies. The round quarters were damp and dark, he had oil lamps that he filled also with incense; at the walls next to the door, you could see weapons that he took from the people he killed and were too valuable to him to be sold. He slept sitting in a chair with no cushions and at the feet of the chair a big bottle of the finest wine he could find, almost empty in fact. But he did not stay there very long, he went downstairs to the chamber before his own, to inform the other general about the situation; not that the other general was his superior, but he wanted to let him know about Link's arrival.
The giant steel door sled sideways to let him pass and shut right after he passed. He could see perfectly since the other general liked to have plenty of light so he kept his room filled with crystals that the Evil King presented to him. There he was sitting on the floor caressing a chain attached to other weapons; the room was filled with metals both blunt and sharp.
"He is coming, the lord is sure" Jarlon spoke with his back against the cold, rusted door.
"I hope so" the general coughed and spit blood in secret.
"You want your revenge, I'm sure"
"Yes" then he grabbed the chain and stretched it with is bare hands. "I kill him then he will suffer in the after life, for that I will kill myself"
A maniac laugh exploded suddenly, and then he coughed blood to which he laughed louder and pain seemed to merely provoke his laughter.
Jarlon left and went to the docks to supervise the construction of the ships and the positions in the watchtower. The more he saw the more he realized how his master was correct, how Link would fall into the trap by wanting to do what's wisest. He felt his contracted spear in its holster and craved the blood of Link, he craved battle at once.
"Soon" he said silently as he vanished among the construction, hammered boards, evil creatures, the violent and unclean sea breeze and into the shadows of hatred and foul souls of Sendrh Uchia.
