I'm really on a Zelda kick now, anticipating the new game and all. The pictures from it are so pretty! - I'm only very sorry that Malon isn't in it as far as I can tell. But I will have a solution in my story! (much further down the road)
I hate my roommate. Just thought I'd share that with the world. If she touches my N64 again, I will break her arm in three places… just kidding, heheheh… sorta… cough
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Knight of Shadow
part 5
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Link looked around the small room he was in, annoyed that it was unfamiliar. It was no real matter though, and he simply headed for the only door out of it. He stepped out and barely had a chance to realize that there was no ground under his feet. The grip his hand maintained on the door handle was the only thing that kept him from dropping off quite a narrow ledge, magic boots or not, very high from the gaping hole below. He wondered briefly if the spell had been meant to send them over the edge without noticing in time. His eyes scanned below and around, spotting a ladder tightly bound to the wall several arms' length away. It was a simple matter to jump and grab the rungs, and Link quickly started to descend.
It was tedious climbing down so far, but Link did it efficiently. The small landing he reached was barely enough to stand on, making it necessary to slide across the wall to the doorway at the end of it. He gazed about one last time to be sure he had missed nothing, trying to figure out where in the temple he could be. The stones he was pressed against continued on until his vision reached its limit in all directions. There were no other breaks in the wall other than the two doors he had discovered. Link decided that it mattered very little. Malon was still missing.
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Having discovered that she was seeing things through Link's eyes, Malon struggled to stop looking, feeling as if it was an intrusion. There was little she could do, however, and she strode into the castle without pause, straight through the entryway and into the throne room. Malon had never seen inside of the castle even before it was destroyed, and she was in awe at what greeted her eyes. She had never seen such elegant decorating elsewhere, lavish purple and blue cloths draped across light gray rock. Gold candleholders and vases shined from every fine wood surface. She decided that if there was an afterlife of paradise, it must look like Hyrule Castle. Several court musicians sat to one side of the room, playing stringed instruments peacefully.
Malon looked straight ahead as she approached the dais. She had only seen glimpses of the Princess as a child, and no one had known where their royal leader had been for the past seven years. Despite the incredible differences, Malon knew that the beautiful woman rising to meet her was Zelda herself, Queen of Hyrule. The farm girl was in awe, never having seen such a stunning person in all her life. Zelda smiled brightly at her and quickly began informing her of how much she had missed her. Malon had to remind herself that Zelda was speaking to Link. The warm glow in the royal blue eyes was fixed on the hero, and Malon could see love and adoration there of an intensity that she believed could not possibly be matched. She was happy for Link, knowing he'd be able to live as king if he married Zelda, the finest life a man could wish for. For some reason that she didn't understand, Malon's chest ached at visions such a thought inspired.
Zelda was leading them out into the palace gardens, a lush and tranquil place filled with flowers that tried to mimic the Queen's eyes but fell short of the pure blue color. Malon could not hear the conversation clearly, everything being filtered before she could perceive it, but she caught ideas and phrases, quickly realizing that she could never hope to understand such topics. The rumors of Zelda's wisdom were real, and it shamed Malon slightly that she could not even grasp such idle talk between Link and his queen. He did not add much to her words, but the bits he gave made Zelda look intrigued and delighted, so they must have been quite intelligent. Malon felt pride for him.
The walk in the gardens had led into another part of the building, and Zelda sat down on a soft bench and motioned for Link to join her. The Queen took one of his calloused hands in her own and began to speak earnestly. Malon fought again to close off her senses, feeling like a horrible invader in such a private and intimate moment. She struggled fiercely and was reward with the vision fading away, blackness rising to meet her again.
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Link finally felt as if he had made progress. The rooms had been shifted, and he had found himself exiting another pathway to find the spirit boat waiting for him. Knowing where he was gave him the confidence and energy to jump onto the wooden deck that could take him to the afterlife if he lingered.
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Though the darkness surrounded her, faint voices started to make Malon feel uncomfortable. She worried briefly about Link and hoped he wasn't concerned for her sake. Guilt nibbled at her for getting separated from him, but it wasn't strong enough to upset her. The whispers grew discernable, and this time they were actually meant for her to hear. The guilt tore a bit off at the eavesdropping she had done earlier on Link and Zelda, however unwilling it might have been. With nothing better to focus on, the words drifting past her ears started to assemble and make sense, although she wasn't sure she was exactly hearing them from sound, so much as in her head.
Why did you follow him?
Malon was slightly startled at the question but quickly feigned an indignant retort. "I don't see how that's anyone else's business."
Is it his business?
There was no need to ask who was she was being asked about. "Yes, I suppose."
Then it is also mine.
"Who are you?" she dared.
The darkness became stifling again when she got no response.
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Link stepped forward to open the last door. The waves of power he felt were coming from the next room, of that he had no doubt. He felt better about facing an unknown enemy having found fairies in pots earlier. Expecting to find a small room that would lead to a larger one, Link opened the door.
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Malon had lost track of time from the moment she had entered the temple and therefore had no idea how long she had been missing. Her mysterious companion returned several times, at one point humming a song and simply sighing at others. He hadn't actually spoken to her though, and she had only tried to call out to him once. It was strange, she thought, but for some reason he felt familiar. And in some way she had decided that he was in fact a "he" with no real evidence other than a faint voice in her head.
She had been alone for a good while, so suddenly appearing in front of a mirror was a bit disconcerting. She was suspended in a way that resembled standing, so her reflection on the other side was also on her feet. However, the image was not actually of herself. It was a featureless shadow.
The problem with ones who possess no magic is that someone else must waken their inner form. I took the liberty of doing that while you were resting earlier
"I don't understand," Malon murmured in shock.
The one who had been talking to her finally separated from the darkness and stepped through the mirror. Looking in at her were a form of Link and one of herself, identical in shape alone. A chill ran up her spine, the twisted scene they created unnerving her.
Everyone has a shadow. Your Link is quite strong, so it is only natural that his separate. Ganondorf made sure that I too could be strong.
Malon was never given the chance to say anything; the two shadows fled out of her sight.
tbc
I didn't really want to stop here, but I had to do it somewhere. The next chapter will be much longer, and the climax of the story. After that there will be a brief epilogue, and I can start the new series! I'm excited.