Chapter 4: Eldin Volcano
The old shaman fed me another bowl of soup before sending me on my way. As I went through the door she pointed to, she stopped me. She held in her hands my golden harp. "Where did you find that?" I asked.
"Perhaps this will help you regain your memories."
"But how? It's just…" As she handed it to me, I understood. The songs of the Goddess, they were not just songs. They were ancient prophesies, telling me how to accept the Goddess's memories into my own heart. I nodded and took the harp from her and set out for the Eldin Volcano. To get there, I would have to call down my loftwing and ask her to fly me there. My obedient loftwing plucked me from the ground and lifted me into the sky. The wind whipped through my hair as we soared through the clouds. I went as far as the wise woman told me and I leapt from the back of my loftwing and floated down into Eldin Province.
The whole area was submerged in lava with only narrow pieces of earth winding their ways up to the volcano. My new white gown made it seem as if the heat wasn't as extreme. I clutched my harp to my chest, inhaled deeply, and made my way up to the volcano. I came to a massive cliff and saw no way around it. Until, I looked to my left and noticed a geyser of air blowing up to a platform inside the opening of a cave. I eased myself over the edge of the cliff and lowered myself to the bottom.
I heard some of the familiar shrieks of the creatures whom had been chasing me through the Faron Woods. I pressed my back against the rock wall and held my breath. Tiny dirt clumps fell around me as the earth threatened to crumble underneath their feet. They sniffed the air a little and looked over the edge of the path where I was hiding. They didn't notice me and continued up the path to the mountain. I hurried over to the geyser and floated to the cave. Just as my feet landed there, I heard an explosion from the other side of the cave and lava flowed all around. It concealed the geysers along with the path.
I sighed with relief and looked into the cave; it was an abyss below and there was no way I was going to take the leap. Suddenly, a furry, dirty creature popped up from the rock just below the entrance. He shook some of the dirt from his head and looked up at me.
"You're a strange looking one. What are you doing in this cave?" He asked.
"I'm trying to get to the Earth Temple as a matter of fact. But the path is submerged under lava and I don't know how to go around it." I explained. He smoothed the fur on his chin, deep in thought.
"I've got an idea," He said. "Why don't you jump down and I'll take you to the secret path to the bottom of the mountain. From there, it's a short climb up to the temple. If you were a Mogma like me, you could dig your way there, but since you're not, you'll have to settle for the long way. So, what do you say?"
"That's too high for me to jump down thank you." I said.
"Don't worry, I'll catch you so that you won't hurt yourself. Come on, trust me." I looked back at the river of lava; I didn't have much of a choice. I swallowed really hard and leapt from the platform I perched on; after all, it was no different than jumping off of the ledges on Skyloft. The only difference is that I was relying on a strange "mogma" creature instead of my faithful companion. He kept his promise and caught me before my feet touched the ground. He slowly lowered me to the floor and dug his way over to me. "See? Didn't I tell you I would take care of you?"
"Thank you friend, I shall never forget your kindness. Could you tell me which way I ought to go next?" He pointed to an archway and told me to bear right. I patted his furry head and thanked him once more for his help. I followed the path he told me to follow and found another giant geyser; the force of the wind drew me in close and sucked me right into the hole. I screamed all the way to the top and when I safely landed, I could still feel my heart racing.
I retained some of my dignity and looked around me. The volcano was easily spotted; thick black clouds rose from it like water flowing down the waterfall. I found my way up to the next path to the very bottom of the mountain. The hill was very steep and the more I forced my way up, the harder my muscles screamed for relief. Luckily, there was a platform that allowed for a bit of rest about halfway up. I took only a moment to catch my breath and sprinted the rest of the way up to the ledge.
Before I could slip, I jumped to grab the ledge. I managed to pull myself up and pressed on. I walked up a level path to another steep hill. From the bottom of that hill, I could see the temple; that was the only thing that made me brace that final hill. I was growing more and more wary however; I had not heard or seen another one of those terrifying monsters and surely they had to have known that I was approaching the temple quickly. I got to the top and hid behind the closest rock to catch my breath.
I peeked my head around the rock. There was no sign of those red monsters up here either. So, I pulled my harp out and hugged it close to my body. I ran for the opening only to be completely surrounded. They were secretly waiting to capture me. All of them began screaming in that horrible screech to each other, as if they were communicating. Suddenly, one of them surprised me by speaking.
"Master Ghirahim will be pleased. We caught the girl, bring her inside." Three of them swarmed around me and pinned my arms behind my back. One of them took my harp and walked away with it.
"Please! Give that back to me! It's…" A hard smack came across my face and startled me into silence. I held my cheek and stared in horror as the talking monster slapped the inferior one right back.
"What did I say? No harm comes to the girl, those are Master Ghirahim's direct orders." He looked at me and then said, "Just get her inside." I was then viscously shoved and forced to walk, with red monsters all around me. We all made our way into the temple while my hands were still bound behind me. As soon as we arrived at the first lake of lava, they clasped chains around my wrists and sneered at me. One monster cackled in my face, blowing his rancid breath in my face. I cringed from his rotten mouth and I was pulled across the rock bridge to the other side of the lava.
We passed through the archway to the next room and I was stopped once again. Three of the creatures were given the order to execute the chosen hero as he climbed the mountain. I was terrified for Link for only a moment; I had the utmost confidence that he could overcome those hideous creatures. The rest with me raised the bridge so Link couldn't follow. We proceeded through the temple destroying the paths along the way. If I knew Link, like I thought I did, he would find a creative way to get to me.
It seemed this temple was larger than I had originally thought. No matter how far we traveled, I couldn't sense that we were getting any closer to the spring. I knew they would take me somewhere other than the spring and the longer I was bound with them, the more I began to fear for my life. I was given one task by that kind shaman in the Sealed Temple and I had come to far already to die now. And not only that, Link was depending on me too.
The monsters stopped at a steep walkway and a few of them huddled together plotting and scheming something most likely. I tried to listen but the leader was not present in their discussion, or if he was, I most certainly couldn't tell the difference. He told the two that held onto my arms something in their monster growls and screeches and three more of them climbed ahead. They climbed up to the ceiling and planted several giant rocks over the top of the ramp. The next thing I knew, one of the rocks slipped and knocked into one of the monsters. Its horrible, panicked cries echoed in my ears as I watched him roll down the ramp and into a crack in the floor.
The creature fried in the lava, screaming until the very last moment the lava claimed its life. The others merely shrugged their shoulders as if his death was of no consequence. I slipped on a pebble on the ramp and nearly fell down the ramp myself. For once, I was grateful for a balancing push and I was back on my feet and walking up the ramp once more. The heat from the lava was the strongest in this final room. An immense dragon head perched over a hidden door. The monsters picked me up and we jumped over the rock bridge to the front of the door. I was shoved into the wall, causing me to scrape my palms on the tough rock.
I watched in horror as they cackled and set a bomb inside the mouth of the dragon. I crouched in fear when the bomb went off. The explosion broke through a block inside the mouth and lava flowed in a great cascade into the lake of lava below. These monsters had to have been very afraid of Link to go to such great lengths to keep him from finding me.
Upstairs, I was pushed to the ground and bound in place upon a stone platform. "We shall await the arrival of Master Ghirahim. He will be most pleased that we captured the girl." The leader spoke. He lead the others away, leaving only two to guard either side of my platform. I shook the chains, they were hooked very tightly to the ring on the ground. I sighed heavily and sank to the floor.
I was beginning to sweat from the heat. I wiped my brow and I heard the most beautiful note come out of nowhere. I looked to my "guardians" and I noticed that one of them possessed my golden harp. They were examining it, blissfully unaware of the woman in black descending upon them. With a mighty crash, she landed on the head of the one holding my harp. The mysterious woman kicked and punched each of them, one after the other, until they both fell to the floor in defeat. This was the second time this woman saved my life.
Without a word, she knelt down to my chains and released me. She tried to march forward but I stopped her. "I believe I owe you my thanks." I told her. She stopped dead in her tracks and turned to me.
"No thanks are needed Your Grace. I am but your loyal servant, bound to protect you on your mission." She bowed for a moment and tried to continue once more.
"Wait! Please, I must know your name. You've rescued me twice now and both times, you have neglected to introduce yourself." I asked her.
"I am Impa, Your Grace, loyal servant to the Goddess Hylia."
"Now it all makes sense. That's why you were following me?"
"Are you not the Goddess's reincarnation?" Impa asked me.
"I believe so. According to the shaman, I am. And I must cleanse myself in the three springs to regain my memories of the Goddess."
"Indeed. And I am here to protect you on that mission. We must press on; the spring is just ahead." I began to follow her and she paused once again. "One more thing, Your Grace, no matter what happens, you must focus on the mission at hand. You cannot allow yourself to be tempted or swayed from fulfilling your destiny. I will do all that is necessary to ensure your success."
"I understand." The two of us went up to the spring at the top of the ramp in the middle of the room. The ramp was difficult at first but I powered through it and Impa and I made to the spring. I finally had some relief from the heat of lava. I walked to the end of the spring and I went to take out my harp but I still didn't have it back.
"Oh no, I've lost my harp. How will I play the song of the Goddess now?"
Impa handed me my harp and backed away from the edge of the spring. I began my song and prayed. As I finished my song, I heard Ghirahim again.
"It won't take more than a few moments with my friend before you're charred to a satisfying crisp. And let me tell you, that will put a spring in my step."
"He cannot find this sacred chamber, so we are safe here, Your Grace. And yet, I suggest that we hurry along to the next spring." Impa began to open a portal that would take us to the next province. I heard a familiar voice call out my name just as I was about to step through.
"Zelda!" Link called out. I turned and found my best friend in the whole world. I was overcome with joy and I tried to run to him. However, Impa held out her arm and stopped me.
"You cannot go to him, Your Grace. Remember what we discussed. Restrain yourself. Focus on the task at hand."
I nodded my head and looked at Link one last time. He looked hurt and confused but Impa was right; I had a job to do and so did Link. I turned to the portal Impa opened.
"Wait! Zelda, where are you going?" Link asked.
I turned back to him. "I have to. I'm sorry, Link." I couldn't bear to look at his sad face again so I swallowed my hesitation and I stepped through the portal to Lanayru Province.