A Link to the Heart Chapter 31

There were horses outside the Lost Wood. They had been left unguarded and were wandering aimlessly, grazing on the grass with idle indifference. Beyond the dark wall of trees swayed slightly in the breeze, their branches creaking and snapping as if talking to one another. The scene was quiet and untroubled yet it filled Link with dread. The Gerudo has got here before him and he may already be too late.

Between his knees Epona's flanks were caked with sweat and her breathing was laboured. Link had pushed her hard to get back, taxing his steed's endurance to the limit. His own thighs were burning with exertion but he hardly felt them, for his mind was fixed on the battle to come. His heart aching with the need to get to the village and intervene. The idea that he may already be too late was a shard of ice in his soul. Malon could already be dead. No: he refused to accept that, it couldn't be true, he wouldn't allow it.

Epona pulled to a halt among the invader's horses, who lazily lifted their heads to investigate the newcomer. Behind two more steeds raced into view, Tarren and Jortan, racing as fast as they could. Link had outpaced them in his desperate flight and he didn't wait for them to catch up as he jumped to the ground and ran into the Lost Woods.

"Hey, wait for us!" Jortan shouted but Link was already running flat out. He dove between the trees and raced up the path, arms and legs pumping frantically. Link ran like a sprinter, his heart thundering in his chest and his breathing laboured. His endurance was waning fast but he would not relent, he would keep fighting for every morsel of speed until he dropped dead. Unfortunately the path before him was as winding as ever, twisting and turning back on itself repeatedly. Small brambles lashed his legs and insects scattered from his tread, fleeing from this noisy intruder. Sadly Link knew how long the path was and it was too far by half, the fight must surely be over before he got there. There was no other option save to risk a more perilous route.

Link turned and ran off the path, seeking a direct route to the village. By all rights it should be mere minutes away and yet the Lost Woods were treacherous and hostile, unkind to those who showed it disrespect. Link's boots stumbled over hidden roots and his face was lashed by hanging brambles as he faltered in his tread. The path behind him had vanished, as if it had never been, there was no way back. Before him lay a winding maze of routes and dead-ends, a thousand ways to be lost for all eternity. The shadows were not still either, they closed in as he fought to break through, obscuring his sight and hiding the way. Sounds became muffled and strange pipe music rang in his ears, signs the forest was seeking to ensnare him.

Link scrambled to breakthrough, looking for any sign of the village and in desperation he pleaded, "Sage of the Forest, help me." There was no response, the Lost Woods growing more tangled and confusing with every step. The pipe music was growing louder and louder and in the corner of his eye he saw dark shapes stalking nearer, orange eyes glinting in the gloom. Link knew he was about to become lost forever and the thought that he would never see Malon again made him beg, "Saria… Please!"

Suddenly the briars gave way and light blazed into his eyes as he stumbled onto the rope bridge. He stumbled from the brambles and they closed up behind him, sealing the path off from the things that haunted the gloomy twilight. Yet the way to the village was open before him and Link gasped, "Thank you," as he ran over the gorge and dashed into the tunnel beyond. He sprinted through the fallen bough and as he did so he heard screams and shouting, the sound of metal carving flesh and the wild shrieking of Gerudo at war. He spied a fallen sentry, the very lad who the day before had brought down a deer, an undeserving fate for a brave boy. His heart seized as he knew the fight was already begun and he leapt towards the light as his mind screamed a denial that Malon might be dead.

Link emerged into the light and blinked as he beheld calamity unleashed. Destruction and mayhem had struck the village, fires burning liberally as tents collapsed and bodies lay cooling upon the ground. Everywhere screaming people were running, desperately fleeing for their lives. Mothers carried wailing babies in their arms as they fled and elderly folk staggered as best they could on frail legs. The few hearty men had been cut down, actively sought out as the greatest threat and swiftly eliminated. The source of this destruction was plain, a party of Gerudo raiders rampaging through the village, relentless destroying all they found. It was Lon Lon ranch all over again but worse, for Link had told these people they would be safe here.

Link instantly saw there were too many Gerudo to take on with his sword, so instead drew his bow and quiver. With smooth skill he drew an arrow and nocked it, then pulled his bow to his eye. He spied a Gerudo chasing a fleeing mother and child, laughing evilly as she swung a curved sword over her head. Raw anger surged through Link as he swung to target the Gerudo, a torrent of outrage and hate for those who had unleashed this wanton slaughter. Teeth gritted he lined up his shot in an instant and then let fly. The arrow shot through the air, hurtling across the distance in a heartbeat and as it did so it trailed red sparks behind it. The shaft struck the Gerudo in the back and as it did it exploded into red flames, spilling magical fires over the invader's form. The Gerudo went up like a hay bale, turned into a blazing column of flame as she shrieked in woe. Then the fires consumed her and she collapsed into an ashen corpse.

Link blinked in shock at his own attack. He hadn't meant to unleash his magic, but it had flowed anyway. His passion was running too hot, his anger was too fierce and his soul aflame with outrage. He couldn't hold his magic back, it was coming regardless of his intent, fired by the desperate need of his soul. Link had no time to calm his humours, for the battle was raging and he had to act. He spied another Gerudo atop a tree stump house, firing arrows into the fleeing Hylians with a short bow. Link pulled again and let fly and a heartbeat later she became a flaming pillar that cast light across the clearing. Another Gerudo spied him and yelled fiercely as she ran at him with a glaive. An arrow to the knee took her down and engulfed her in flames, leaving her to die flailing on the wet grass.

Link's reservoir of magic was draining fast and his position was exposed. He hastily ducked behind a house as he fitted another arrow. He knew he was desperately outnumbered and had to move fast, lest he be surrounded and defeated. He had no armour other than his vambraces and shield and in the fray he couldn't beat a dozen foes at once. He was good, but not that good.

Link dashed to the next house, eyes sweeping for threats and then the next. Then he found something that stopped him cold: Malon. The ranch girl was laying prone upon the ground, one arm raised to fend off a deadly blow as she screamed in denial. Standing over her was a Gerudo in black robes, holding a glaive point down as she prepared to stab the helpless girl and cackling with scorn over her prey. Link's heart froze solid, the sight of the woman he loved about to be stabbed to death filling him with utter dread. His soul cried out in denial and a cold rush of terror ran through him. He felt like he could barely breathe, but his arms were not encumbered.

Instinctively he drew back and fired, sending an arrow straight into the Gerudo's heart. The shaft smashed into her and then there was a flare of blue light. Freezing cold rushed out from the impact, encasing the Gerudo in a cocoon of frigidness was as thick ice apparated out of the air. One second there was a Gerudo warrior, the next a solid ice sculpture was in her place, standing rigid in a pose of attack. Her frozen corpse left as a testament to her sudden death.

Link however only had eyes for Malon as he ran over and grabbed her arm shouting, "Malon, tell me you're alive!"

Malon looked up and blinked in surprise as she spluttered, "Link?! You came back!"

Link heaved her to her feet as he gushed, "You're alive, I was afraid I was too late."

Malon looked disbelieving, "But why did you come back?"

Without thought Link exclaimed, "I had to save you: I love you."

"You love me?!"Malon breathed as her eyes went wide, then her right hand thwacked his bicep as she shouted, "Why the hell didn't you say that earlier?!"

"Ow!" Link yelped, "I didn't know then."

Malon's face went red as her hair as her hand flew over and over, slapping his arm repeatedly as she cried, "You didn't know?! You idiot. You made me cry. You left me. You ran off on that ridiculous quest. You made me think you wanted to be with Zelda!"

"Ow. Ow. Ow." Link protested, "You said you understood why I had to go!"

"That was a lie you idiot!" Malon bawled as she slapped him again, "Anyone with half a brain could tell that was a lie!"

Link's arm couldn't take much more and he pleaded, "Would. You. Stop. Hitting. Me. We're in the middle of a battle!"

Malon relented but she hissed, "You are going to make this up to me. So much grovelling. Grovelling till the end of time, you hear me!"

Link turned away as he said, "Stay behind me and keep low, I'll try to pick them off at range."

Malon grabbed a long-handled shovel that was leaning against the back of the house as she growled, "Any Gerudo who comes at me is gonna regret it."

Link led her on a short dash to the next house, desperately hoping not to be seen. Despite her fierce words Malon was no fighter, any experienced swordsman would eviscerate her. Their only hope was to stay out of sight and pick off the Gerudo one by one, until Tarren and Jortan arrived. Then they might just have a shot at evening the odds. It was a good plan but sadly it was too late. As they crossed the distance Link heard a wild shriek, "There he is!"

"Run!" Link bellowed and the pair pushed themselves to the limit. They dove into the shadow of the next house and made for the other side but a flaming fireball cut off their escape, flying past their eyes and leaving burning air in its wake. Link reversed course but before he could retreat another fireball flew across the other side of the house. They were trapped, boxed in and in moments a dozen Gerudo would pour around the sides of the house, catching them in a vice.

Malon gasped, "Link, I changed my mind. I'll forgive you, just save our lives first."

"Only one chance," Link hissed as he nocked an arrow, "I hope I have enough magic left."

Link reached deep within and drew forth the last dregs of his power. Then he stepped out into the open. It was an immense risk but it had to be done, no other course could save them. His eyes scoured the burning village and saw Gerudo racing at him, swords and glaives held ready. Yet one was not charging, a withered crone who was off to the side with her arms held upright. This was the witch who threw the fireballs and Link was shocked to realise he recognised her from Lon Lon Ranch.

In one smooth motion Link drew back his bow and released his wrath. The arrow soared away like a golden comet, trailing brilliant sparks of light. The shaft struck the witch in the chest and then exploded in a flare of incandescent light. Light arrows were charged with sacred energy, utterly inimical to evil magics and the bane of spell-crafters. They had even been able to hurt Ganondorf himself and against a grubbing hedgewitch they were lethal.

The witch disappeared into an aura of holy radiance, the magic in her blood powerful enough to provoke the ire of the divine bolt but not enough to save her. Her body was rent apart by the might granted to the Chosen Heroes by the Goddesses and she was reduced to nothingness in a moment. The rest of the Gerudo fared little better, enveloped in blinding light and searing illumination. They stumbled and faltered in their charge, blinking furiously as they fought to clear their sight.

Link however fared little better. He felt a strange draining sensation in his heart and knew his reservoir of magic was depleted. He had expended all his mystical strength. From this point on he would fight only as a man. Yet he was not daunted, he saw the Gerudo falter and knew he would have no better chance. He dropped his bow and unsheathed his sword and shield as he yelled, "For Hyrule!"

With his battlecry ringing loud among the ruins of his childhood home the Hero of Time charged, throwing himself into the fray to fight for his life and love.