Legends of Zelda: The Lost Woods

Written By Ryan Cox

I entered the Lost Woods. I had heard of the dangers that might befall me here, but I entered non-the-less. One had heard rumors of the stalfos: giant skeletons with massive swords waiting with expectant glee for an unfortunate soul to cross their path. Or of the strange elves which if you could catch one would grant you a wish. But none is more told than the fear in the story the children sang in the village as they danced about.

If you enter the lost woods

Best be brave where'er you stood

Use your compass, find your way

Exit to the light of day

But if chance you lose your way

Twisting round and round the fey

Change you will at last assume

Bony Bony Skeletun.

The fear of turning into a stalfos was quite a real one told round the fire. Many travelers in the inns on either side of the great wood spoke of such. Many believe it to be true: but not me. They use these tales to control the roads, and keep people off of it at night. But if I press myself and travel through the night, I will make it by morning to the market and get the first picks of the goods!

"Archibald, you are not going now, are you?" the woman who called herself my wife shouted into barn. She may have emerged shortly later, but she seemed hard at it with some task or other: never be my business to understand her business!

"As I said before: I will not be halted, not for your fear nor superstition! If I make it there, you will have the choice of a new cow, and we will be that much better off for it!" a crash sounded from the room, and it seemed my wife did finally appear, oddly enough with a bucket on her head. She was of the plump sort, perfect for a merchant such as myself to expect many children from, and I never had complaint of her efforts.

"Dear pleasant wonderful wife of mine: Why do you have a bucket upon your head?"

Even as I asked she threw it off, and dusted off the hay which clung to her dress. "I will ignore your foolishness but for your insistence that we travel tonight! I had not had time to prepare proper for the trip, dear husband…" she glared out the comment, dripping with sarcastic intent, as she steadied herself against the door. "You know as well as I do this is foolishness to be out so late. Do you not fear the tale?"

"I know of it, and I have heard of it, and I say it is foolshness! But old-wives tales to keep husbands at home late at night."

"I've told ye," she glared at me with her burning eyes I loved so much. After a moment she softened, "but ye do not relent. Very well. Let us be off quickly. I have no desire to loiter in these woods more than is necessary."

"Do not fear:" I consoled her "we will stick to the road and this our handy lantern will steer us brightly through the dark. We will make the market inn before the 3rd hour."

Doubt remained present in the concern upon her brow, but she moved forward. "And don't forget: first choice of the fruits and cattle of the market!" She cheered up at that though and moved forward.

I raised her into the wagon and gave the horse wipe a little nudge and we began our journey into the great woods.

"So...we won't have much time for sleep then eh?" as the wagon entered deeper.

A few hours later.

The majority of our trip had edged along the outskirts of the woods for some time, only atlast bringing us into its midst for the final league. My heart began to doubt the necessity of my genius plan at this moment as the trees, which had been but trees in the daylight, seemed to take on faces of their own in the moonlit canopy. Where thickets had brought openness during the day, the night illuminated them as clouds of uncertainty. Though the lantern was bright, it seemed to be muted by the shadows which seemed to grow as we went deeper into the wood.

Good-ol Mary seemed to take it well, though, and her clip-clop of hooves raised my mind from its dark slumber. "Archibald, this is...well...maybe I should not say…"

"Speak your mind."

"Does it not seem darker than most nights in these woods?"

"We do not know most nights...but pray, let us be silent during this time. No need to disturb the creatures of the woods."

"Creatures?! Surely what do you mean? Monsters perhaps?" she clutched harder upon my arm, squeezing it to uncomfort.

"Nay, I did not mean such. Merely the beasts of the night. Deer and game and such. The animals of the woods will leave us alone as we do them."

She let up a bit, but still seemed nervous. It added again to mine, and though my words may have consoled her, they did little to lighten my fears: for I was sure I saw them...little...somethings in the dark...perhaps skulls? No, it must be my imagination. Nothing was out there but the animals of the woods. Nothing: "They are more afraid of us." I muttered.

"Who is?"

"OH eh,...nothing. You need not fear…" even as I said this, the light in my lantern flickered.

"Oh dear, did you fill up the lantern before we left?"

I scratched my head. "Yes, yes, I made sure of it.

The darkness closing in about us seemed to smother the light slowly beating back its attempts at life. "did you not bring the extra oil?"

"I filled it to the brim!" I stated, shaking as I checked the lid. "There was no need for such preparedness." I quickened the horses pace to a trot. "we best get out of the woods fast then." my wife stated for us both.

"Yes...yes indeed."

And there it was again...along with the white skull-like images glinting in the darkness, another strange occurrence grew: a sound, like that of a dying fire. Crackling. Chippering. Rustling against the wooded turf.

We came to a turn in the road. I raised what little light was left to read the sign, and I was sure that left was the correct route. "but isn't it right, dearest?"

"the road is clearly marked left. Then that must be the way."

She frowned, but kept her peace. As we past left, I looked back in the darkness, and seemed to hear a creaking noise. I shuddered, but kept it out of my mind. No, this must be the right way. Signs do not change. Maybe I always had this wrong during the day? Wasn't it right at the fork?"

The noises increased, and I increased with them, making our speed nearly a gallop. My wife clung to me with desperate measure as the bunps from the path grew more and more violent, bouncing us in the air without thought.

With a sudden cry we both flew from our seats into the air as the cart hit the largest bump ever and we fell to the earth, landing painfully into nearby bushes. The wagon continued on, though the lamp was tossed free to the ground nearby, illuminating the canopy above us. A howl of wind swept across the trees, and then, there was silence.

Next Chapter Intro:

"Are you ok?" I lifted myself to all fours, but dared not move more. The noise had grown silent as the wagon dragged on leaving us well alone. My wife seemed to be silent as well, gruggling in the bush near me.