Thank-you so much for all who reviewed! I've really appreciated the support, as this has been a fairly difficult year for me. Sou-chan guessed the identity of the enemy! Her story's being worked on and will hopefully be out soon.

I discovered an error in the second chapter, but I'm not going to fix it on the posted version. I forgot that at this point in the game Link is using the Longshot, not the Hookshot. It's not a major problem, but being a Zelda freak, it bothers me that I messed that up. So wherever you saw Hookshot in the last chapter, imagine it said Longshot. Also, since I don't own a Gamecube yet, my timeline is based entirely off of the N64 games until I can play the new ones.

Please read the note at the end of the story!

Knight of Shadow

Part 3

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As soon as their paralysis wore off, Link pulled out his ocarina and played the Sun Song. Immediately the ReDeads were frozen, bathed in the light of the sun temporarily. Under different circumstances he would have taken the time to finish the creatures off, but he couldn't risk one getting past him with Malon there, and it was too dangerous to use an offensive spell that could catch her too. Link grabbed his stunned friend's arm and dragged her toward the gap. Without pausing he slung her body over his shoulder, hoping that his boots weren't affected greatly by extra weight. He heard a shriek muffled in his tunic as he walked right off the edge and onto air. They almost made it across the chasm when the boots started to lose their power. With one last push, Link used his back leg to jump as far as he could. There was a moment when he didn't think he'd clear the edge, then he was stumbling down onto stone, landing at his knees.

Malon remained a dead weight on his back for a moment while Link crouched, waiting for his legs to stop quivering from the impact. As he started to lift her away from her uncomfortable perch Malon scrambled backwards, away from the edge and up against the wall of the corridor. She sat there for several moments, panting and staring at where the stone ledge dropped into nothing. Link called her name softly twice with no response.

"Malon," he tried again. "Look at me."

Clear blue eyes pulled again from their gaze and locked onto his. Malon took a deep breath and let it out shakily. "I'm fine."

Though he didn't know how true it was, Link let her reassurance guide him. He rose and entered the hall that led away toward the presence.

She knew Link was going on and she needed to catch up. Malon knew she was going to slow him down if she didn't start moving. However, every fiber of her being screamed in terror of the situation, having come so close to death several times in just a few moments. It took her a few more deep breaths and a moment of gathering her courage to rise and follow after the hero of time. She had to keep going; she was responsible for her presence in the temple. Malon refused to let Link feel guilty about bringing her along.

"Are you coming?" he voice drifted softly over to her.

Malon turned from the chasm, refusing to look at it and remain scared. "Of course," she answered nonchalantly, despite the ball of tension in the pit of her stomach. She was reminded harshly of her injured ankle with the first few steps before she was able to cover her grimace and catch up with Link.

They walked down another hallway, similar to the first. Link seemed to be staring at the floor, not ahead as Malon would have expected. Suddenly he was tensing, as if preparing to fight, and drawing his sword.

"Stay back."

Malon couldn't see any sort of enemy but obeyed. Her eyes strayed to where Link's were focused, and she was shocked to see a shadow on the floor, growing rapidly. An eerie tingle raced up her spine, leaving a feeling of panic similar to walking into a spider's web. In front of Link a giant hand fell from above and started shifting on the ground. The hero did not hesitate for an instant and dove at the hand, sharp sword leading the way. It took several swipes, but the attacker finally disintegrated under Link's assault. He stepped away from the pile of dust, panting slightly from his exertions.

He turned to Malon and said calmly, "That didn't use to be there. Watch out for them."

She could only nod and follow as Link continued. They came out to a small room that had doors on three other sides. Malon swallowed a breath at the sight of a beamus, not sure if making noise would alert it to their presence. She stayed behind Link while he drew out a bomb and tossed it at the tall creature. The explosion rocked the stones under her feet and demolished the enemy, leaving it safe for them to walk through. The farm girl was beginning to see how many creatures existed that she knew very little about. She knew that getting separated from Link in the temple would probably be a deadly experience for her.

They walked down passageways, Malon not really watching their path, just Link's back. Several more of those nasty spiders attacked them from above, but Link made short work of them again. A strange sound, like a rushing wind followed by a metallic clang, came from ahead. Malon peered around Link's shoulder and gasped. Two huge blades were suspended from above and dropping at regular intervals. She bit back any words of fear and waited for Link's guidance.

Link had a problem. The blades were one part of the temple that he particularly disliked, especially after having almost lost his behind on several occasions. As far as he knew, there was still a skulltula positioned between the two blades. His mind made up, Link turned and picked Malon up in his arms before stepping out over the drop.

Malon had just enough time to realize she was being held by her friend before he stepped out onto the air again. They were suspended for a moment before the magic gave out and they dropped the distance from the ledge they were on. Malon gulped as her stomach rose to her throat, then they landed. She was placed back onto her feet again, several paces away from the first deadly obstacle. Without warning, Link dashed under the falling edge and drew his sword on a skulltula that descended rapidly onto him. Malon couldn't help her cry at how close he came to being caught by the quick death and had to keep herself calm while the giant spider was severed. He returned under the blade again and took a hold of her arm.

"Are you ready? We have to run quickly when it rises," he said, glancing back briefly before facing their path.

"Link, I don't think I-" Malon was cut off when Link shouted "GO!" and started to run. Her stomach clenched with her fear, and she closed her eyes, unable to watch. The hand pulling her along jerked to a stop, but Malon kept her eyes tightly shut. Then they were running again and leaning to rest on the far wall.

Malon quickly noticed that she was shaking and made herself stop, not wanting to alarm Link.

He glanced back the way they had come, then watched his friend try to calm herself. "You're doing well. I was terrified of the blades when I first saw them."

Malon blushed slightly and replied indignantly, "Oh, I certainly am frightened too!"

Link grinned lightly at her protest.

They started walking together in silence. At first nothing seemed odd, but Link quickly realized something. The corridor they were in continued as far as he could see. Link frowned to himself and started going over solutions in his head. The temple had changed.

After walking the better part of an hour, Malon quietly asked, "Is this ever going to lead anywhere?"

Link didn't answer her right away, not really sure if it'd be the truth or not. "I believe so, but I think the temple has been altered slightly."

Link also started to realize something else in that moment. His strength was failing. He'd used too much energy, was probably completely out of magic at that point from his last trip to the eerie place. He'd had no chance to stock up on potions and fairies. He felt like his pace was slowing with each step.

Malon noticed first when a bend in the path appeared ahead of them. "Link! Look!"

He blinked tiredly and saw the turn he had been expecting long ago. Whatever spell had been cast on the hallway had been used up, perhaps. He glanced behind them and saw the place they had come from, not a few paces away. It made him wonder what else had been changed.

Malon dared to skip ahead a few paces, anxious to reach the end of the very long walk. She failed to notice the shadow cast upon her or that it was growing rapidly.

Link realized a moment too late that Malon was about to be attacked.

The farm girl cried out and fell when Link's arms thrust her against the hard wall. She looked up, horrified, to see one of the giant hands wrapped around Link. From his gasps it was obvious he was in pain. Malon grew determined and drew the short sword, not really thinking of anything but saving Link, and stabbed it at the creature. The short blade bit deeply, and she pulled down with it, cutting a deep gash into the attacker. It was enough to make it let go of Link and turn towards her.

Malon held the Kokiri sword out with her elbows locked, not really knowing how to wield a sword or defend herself. She braced for the impact when the hand rose from the ground and started to fly at her.

The movement was so fast that Malon almost failed to see Link's sword split the hand into two pieces. It fell to the floor and disintegrated. Malon saw him, kneeling over his sword for support and breathing heavily.

"Link!" Malon ran to him, just as he started to tilt over.

She caught his shoulders before he could hit the stone floor. He looked up at her with an apologetic smile and said hoarsely, "Sorry, I'll be fine in a bit," before his body went limp.

When Malon realized that she was technically alone in the Shadow Temple, she reserved the next few moments to panic. Once that was over, she dried her eyes and nose on her sleeve and decided to do something. First, and with much difficulty, she dragged Link's body over to the corner where the corridor turned, not liking the idea of him lying out in the middle of the floor. She settled down next to him with her little sword out and waited to defend him if necessary.

Malon finally got the opportunity to stare out into the huge chamber beyond their current spot. After she noticed many frightening creatures float around, she wondered if they would be safe where they were, but she observed that the nasty looking things followed certain paths and never entered the tunnel. With Link unconscious, she took the opportunity to examine her swollen ankle. It was red and painful and would probably soon turn purple and black. It was getting harder to walk on it without displaying pain. She slid her boot off and ripped some cloth from the bottom of her tunic to bind her foot. It helped a bit, but Malon wondered if she'd make it through the temple. Her wrist hurt as well, but it was nothing compared to her ankle.

After a good bit, Malon started to wish she had a way to know how much time had passed. She wondered if the horses were doing fine in Mr. Ingo's care and if her father was worried about her. She'd mentioned that she was leaving when she had gone inside to change, but there was no telling if her words had penetrated his deep sleep. She wondered how far along the day had gotten, and if the sun was shining or if it was obscured by clouds. The darkness and strange things all around her were very unpleasant, and she wished desperately for the outdoors or at least for Link to recover so she wouldn't be alone anymore.

She bent her knees up to rest her head on them and try to hold back tears. Malon scolded herself mentally and promptly ignored the fact that anything existed outside of the temple.

Her priorities finally straight, the young woman turned and started checking Link for any injuries she could bind. He had a minor scrape on his upper arm and a cut on the back of his hand. She tore some more fabric from her clothes and bandaged him. Her hand gently brushed the bangs from his face, indulging herself with the opportunity to just look at the man her friend had become. It made her sad, though, that someone so young already looked so weary. She could see the path around his eyes and forehead where creases were forming and the traces of scars in all sorts of shapes scattered on his skin. His forehead was smooth but not soft, hardened from the constant beating that his skin faced from the elements and other things. She lightly touched several burn marks on the back of his hand, next to the bandage, and remembered the story he'd told her about going into the base of the volcano. Knowing he had seen so much made Malon feel very much the child next to him, but he himself had only known a young boy's years.

Malon sighed and resumed her guard next to Link. She didn't notice the shadow descending around her.

to be continued

I really do thank every one who is reading this and ask you to be patient. I've not been updating quickly because of time constraints. I have several very hard classes this semester, and as much as I love these characters and want to help them out, I don't always have time. I'll try not to let it go so long again without posting. Frankly, part of the problem is that I don't enjoy this part of the story. I'd much rather write the next story where they start dancing around a relationship. I'm getting bogged down in technicalities of the temple. It'll get better in the next chapter, I promise.

MTG