"Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to."

~John Ed Pearce~

Ancient Roots

Chapter 7: Home

The Goddess must be smiling down on us because beyond the golden door is the same spring that the priestess told Link about. Compared to the overgrown ruins of Skyview Temple, the spring is bright and oddly serene, a true reflection of how beautiful the Surface can really be as it stands strong and pristine despite being open to the elements. And after everything that's happened today, it's a welcome sight.

"This is Skyview Spring," Fi tells us from within the Goddess Sword. "It is a special place protected by the power of the Goddess; therefore, few monsters can gain access to it. They say the water here can purify the body of whoever comes into contact with it."

"This is it," Link murmurs at my side. "This is where I'm meant to be." He walks down the stone path—which is lined on both sides by water and pillars with lit torches attached to them—before we can stop him; I quickly follow after him.

"What else did the priestess tell you?" I ask as we climb up the steps into the main part of the spring. Hemmed in by craggy walls covered in moss and flowers, most of the area is partially submerged with a few stepping stones leading to a larger platform where a miniature version of the Statue of the Goddess stands, watching over the spring with a benevolent smile. Beneath her is a dormant crest like the one in the Chamber of the Sword.

"Not much," he replies. "I think she purposely kept me in the dark so I could learn the truth for myself… she told me that the monsters want my spirit and that I couldn't fall into their hands, but she wouldn't tell me why."

"S-Spirit?" I parrot, though it's so quiet that he doesn't hear it and I don't have the heart to ask him again.

I frown as we hop between the stepping stones, disturbing the few fish that swim in the water below. The priestess was kind to Karane and I, but I sensed that she wasn't telling us the full story either. I understand that we have to learn about our destiny as we travel across the Surface, but surely she could have told us more about the dangers here. Surely she knew about Ghirahim and the entity he serves, so why didn't she tell us?

I suppose it doesn't matter, I think to myself as we reach the last platform before the Statue of the Goddess. We know better now, and that's all that matters. For a few moments, I stand there and listen to the waterfalls. After all that I've seen down here, simply standing and listening to the world around me creates its own sense of vulnerability, but I know that I need a few seconds to breathe.

"Did the priestess tell you what to do next?" Karane wonders from behind me.

Before Link can reply, however, Fi appears in a burst of light. He jumps back in alarm and I quickly reassure him that she's not an enemy before gesturing for the spirit to speak. She nods to the crest beneath the Statue of the Goddess, "Before you complete your business here at the spring, I advise that you strike the crest with a Skyward Strike."

She waits patiently as I step forward and do as she instructed, raising the Goddess Sword skyward and releasing its energy on the crest before us. Just like in the Chamber of the Sword, the crest bursts into life and spins around in place and Fi glides over the water's edge to stand in front of it.

"Fi?"

"Dominae, I have a message written in the language of the gods of old," she tells me. "Allow me to translate for you." Before I can say anything, she twirls and begins to dance around the spring elegantly. I watch on with parted lips. "From the edge of time I guide you, the ones chosen to carry out the Goddess's Mission. The Spirited One who descended from the clouds must travel to two sacred places in order to truly understand his importance."

Spinning on one foot, she continues, "You stand in one of those places: Skyview Spring. The other is known as the Earth Spring." Fi returns to the front of the statue and pirouettes with her arms raised to the sky. "This second spring is hidden away deep within the scorched earth of Eldin. The Spirited One, ever mindful of the heavy task entrusted to him, must set out for this second sacred place."

The statue glows softly and a tablet appears, much like the one Fi gave to me when we first met, only there's a red gemstone in this one rather than a green one. It drifts down and hovers in front of me until I sheathe the Goddess Sword and take the tablet into both hands. Looking up at the spirit, I ask her, "Do I need to return this to Skyloft?"

She nods, "Yes, Dominae; my analysis concurs. Doing so will likely open a new Column of Light on the Surface, allowing you to descend to another area and begin your search for the Earth Spring. Should I hold onto the tablet for safe keeping until then?"

I hum and let her take the tablet. The spirit dismisses herself once the tablet disappears in a flash of light and I turn to the others with a smile, only for it to disappear when I realise that Link hasn't stopped looking at the statue. "What's wrong?"

"I need to pray," he says simply, sounding like he's worlds away from here. I exchange a look with Karane, who looks just as confused as I feel, jumping when he turns to me and silently gestures for me to join him. Although his behaviour worries me, I nod and we kneel before the statue together, clasping our hands and closing our eyes.

Great Goddess, guiding light and protector of our people, grant us your blessing and mercy as we act in your name, I pray. Help us to understand our role in the world you've brought us to…

My vision goes white.

~O~

She stood tall before a behemoth, the likes of which had never been seen before. The two figures stood amongst a storm of their own creation, both heavily weakened but fuelled with their own resolves—one born out of a love for her people, one born out of a fierce determination to destroy the land he had plagued with his followers. Dust and debris swirled around them wildly, and it was nothing short of a miracle that neither of them were hit.

But the storm was the least of their concerns. The woman stood tall, golden hair and white dress whipping around her small form as she stared down the monstrous demon before her, breathing hard as she cast a seal around him. The demon roared and roared at her, but it was clear that he could not overcome her magic.

"What have you done with the golden triangles?!" His voice shook the earth and the world trembled under his wrath. She did not falter. The woman raised her hand to the beast.

"They have gone to a place that you will never achieve! A sacred place that will never be violated by demons," she called to him, pausing as she mustered all of her dwindling strength. "Protected by my beloved people!"

His laughter boomed within the din of the storm, "They rest in the hands of humans?! Curse you, Goddess… do not think that this ends here. That absolute power will be mine, and you will live to see that power fall into our hands! And when that day comes, we demons will become the rulers of this world…!"

But he could speak no more, for her seal was complete. As the demon was consumed by the world beneath him, he howled a string of curses for the woman who had sealed him away until his voice could no longer be heard. The storm suddenly and violently ground to a halt, and all that remained of their battle was a stone pillar with runes engraved on it.

It was over, for now at least.

Soon the skies above would clear, the darkness plaguing the clouds and earth beneath her feet washed away by the sunlight. Her people would find their wounded and heal from the great battle, and they would endure; she was certain of that. As her eyes scanned the ruins on the horizon and found her temple, she came upon an unmoving figure amongst the rubble—a figure wearing green and red.

There was blood.

Her heart leapt to her throat.

"Link…!"

~O~

I tear free from the moment in time with a gasp, catching myself with my hands before I fall forward. I sit there on all fours for a while and desperately catch my breath, reeling from everything I saw. It was that woman I saw before—the Goddess—and a beast beyond description. I'm certain that it was the leader of the darkness that she sealed away, but that alone makes my mind spiral with a thousand thoughts, but one prominent one.

Will I have to fight that creature myself?

But then everything catches up to me and I remember the last thing I saw.

It was him again; the man I saw before. Even though I only caught a glimpse of him for a second, I knew in my heart what had happened. The image stains my mind's eye and I know I'll be thinking about it for a long time to come. "You never had the chance to say goodbye to him last time before my Master slaughtered him," that's what Ghirahim had said to me. "And when you finally remember, I'll make sure that you're there to watch every moment of his death."

I swallow thickly and pull some hair away from my face to see the person in question, though he doesn't seem to be faring any better than I am. Link stares down at his wrists with a mix of horror and what I can only describe as awe. The sight of him brings back the memories of the other man and I reach out to him with a shaky hand. He jumps when I touch his arm, and I jump too.

"W-What happened?" Karane murmurs, keeping her voice low so she doesn't startle us.

"I saw…" I trail off. "I prayed to the Goddess and asked her to help us understand… and I saw…" I rub my face when my voice fades out again, taking a deep breath before shifting my weight and sitting down on the platform.

Link nods slowly, but he still sounds far away when he speaks, "Four years… four years in chains…" He finds my eyes, still absently rubbing his wrists as he breathes, "There's so much we don't understand, Zelda…"

I can't help but agree with him. Just what have we gotten ourselves into?

It's all unsettling—the not knowing, these strange glimpses into the past, the fear of being completely in under our heads, everything—but what's worse is that there's nothing we can do but move forward. Squeezing his shoulder, I force myself onto my feet and offer some semblance of a reassuring smile to Karane, though she still frowns at us.

As I go to ask Fi for advice on how we should return to the sky (since Loftwings can't fly through the gap in the clouds), my eyes widen at the figure standing nearby. Karane spins around and moves in front of us instantly, drawing her sword as she does so. Link and I follow suit only seconds later as we stare down the woman standing at the top of the steps.

Even from this short distance, she towers over us with piercing red eyes like the priestess at the Sealed Temple, an orange eye painted on her forehead and blonde hair scraped back, apart from one lock which is left hanging. Her attire is unlike anything I've seen: deep blue robes adorned with golden triangles and orange feathers.

"Who are you?" I demand, on edge even though she seemingly carries no weapons.

She bows deeply, "I am Impa of the Sheikah tribe. Although I wish you were all here under better circumstances, I bid you a walm welcome to this land."

The word Sheikah rings a bell. I vaguely remember reading about them in the ancient texts, though it's been so long that I curse my faulty recollection. I think they were servants of the Goddess and were of great use in the war, but my knowledge doesn't go far beyond that. Though if they were servants of the Goddess, then surely that means she's a friend?

My eyes find her eyes again and their colour prompts me to ask, "Do you know the priestess at the Sealed Temple?" She nods.

"The priestess and I are from the same tribe," Impa explains. "The Sheikah are the Goddess's chosen guardians, and so our duty is to ensure your safety."

But Karane doesn't relax her stance, "How did you find us? There's only a few other people who know of us, and one of them doesn't exactly play fairly."

"I spoke with the priestess at the Sealed Temple not long after your departure," she explains, speaking specifically to Karane and I. "She told me where you were travelling to and advised me to follow."

I sigh, "I understand, and we're grateful for your presence here. But…" I trail off. "We just want to go home, regroup and rest before—"

"You cannot return there," Impa interjects, though I quickly realise that she isn't talking to me anymore; her attention is focused solely on Link. "These dark forces are determined to find you and by returning to the sky, you would draw them there and assure very dire consequences. No, you cannot return there."

But her words and the stinging bite of her tone angers me. How dare she force such pressure on to Link after all he's been through today, and after only moments of greeting us! A tiny voice at the back of my mind begs me not to say anything, that she must know the stakes better than we do and that's what made her words cut so deep, but another voice asks what sort of friend would I be to let Link listen to such horrible things. And, as usual, the latter voice wins.

"You can't just—!"

"You're right," Link says before I can finish. I choke on my words and snap my gaze over to him. My heart sinks at the glint of resignation in his eyes. "I don't fully understand the risks yet, but I know them enough to recognise that I can't go home." He pauses, then, "But I also know that I'm not going with you purely because you're a Sheikah."

"Then join me because I'm an old friend," she says simply. I want to interject and make all kinds of accusations, but I'm too stunned by this turn of events to say anything. Impa nods to the statue behind us before returning her attention to Link, "You saw the life of a man burdened by his destiny, did you not?"

He shifts his weight uncomfortably, "I'm still trying to figure out what I saw." I swallow thickly, You and me both…

"You have much in common with him, and there is a reason why you are seeing his life," she explains. "The priestess explained that the monsters need your spirit, however she didn't explain the details in depth because the spirit your bear is a complex one. The man you saw was the Goddess's chosen Hero, a man who fought alongside the Goddess during this land's darkest hour. He was the first Bearer of that heroic spirit and, after his death, the Goddess vowed that his spirit would live on in another…" She purposely trails off and nods to him, and for a moment I can't breathe.

Link's spirit—which, according to Impa, is a physical thing rather than a just metaphorical sum of someone's personality—is inextricably bound to someone who lived when the Goddess graced these lands? It doesn't explain why the monsters want his spirit or even how they'll manage to take it from him, but the thought of him being the reincarnation of someone else is a lot to take in.

Then I remember something Ghirahim had said before and what I saw when I prayed. I take a hesitant step forward and ask, "He was called Link too… wasn't he?" Impa nods.

"He was, and I was his mentor." I tilt my head, confused, but the Sheikah's already looking at Link again. "Do you remember me, newest Bearer?"

I look back at Link and wait for his answer. I'm still reeling from Impa's words and questioning where I fit into all this. When Ghirahim demanded to know whether or not I "remembered" who Link was, I merely assumed that he was mixing us up with other people or something like that. But after hearing what Impa's said, I'm starting to understand his words despite the fact that one major question remains: why should I be able to remember who this man used to be? Is my spirit like Link's, or was the Demon Lord merely confusing me with someone else like I'd originally thought?

"I… I think so," Link says finally, and my heart skips a beat. He closes his eyes as he desperately tries to remember. "He was… he was imprisoned, and… you were there the day he was set free."

"I was. Much happened that day, and I stand here now at the will of the Goddess," she says. "Because of her power, I'm here now to protect you as I did he. I can already sense his strength slumbering within you."

But her words don't have the desired effect because Link opens his eyes with clenched fists and demands, "So that's all I am to you? Do you want me to be the replica of the man you once knew and forget about all the things that made me different to him?" The bite in his tone doesn't go unnoticed by the Sheikah, although she remains calm when she responds.

"You misunderstand," she says. "What I mean to say is that you are your own person who bears a strong spirit. I don't wish for you to lose yourself to your destiny, and I can help you through it." Without warning, a blue light shines up from the ground behind her, glowing wisps dancing around the spot. "Come, Bearer. You must make your way to the Earth Spring and it is my sworn duty to protect you on the way."

I narrow my eyes at her, "And what about us?"

"Having a larger party will only draw attention to us, and the Goddess has bestowed upon you the means to reach the next part of the Surface, has she not?" Remembering the tablet Fi's holding onto, I nod slowly. She addresses me now, her expression softening as she adds, "I can only apologise for taking him from you so shortly after your reunion, but you must focus on the task at hand." I inhale deeply and bite my tongue, holding back a retort before I regret it and think on what I should say instead.

"I understand that a larger party will draw attention, but we're all travelling to the same area. Wouldn't it be wiser to have more people protecting Link?" The person in question doesn't seem overly happy by the remark, probably because he's sure he can take care of himself—something I don't doubt—but I have to ask the question; I can't just let Link go off with anyone without fighting for him.

"In a normal situation, then yes, but this is no normal situation," she replies. "While the newest Bearer's safety is of the utmost importance, we must also protect you. Reaching the Earth Spring in two separate parties will reduce the chance of you both falling into the hands of darkness."

I sigh, unable to think of a better alternative. She's right, after all, but it's hard to accept it when it means Link going off on his own. My gut instinct has gotten me through enough scraps for me to trust it; I trust this Sheikah like I trusted the priestess. I wish it didn't have to be this way, but so much has come to light in the past few days that I need to do as Impa instructed and focus on the task at hand: Link's safety.

I find Link's gaze and our decision is made without us having to utter a word. Karane seems to feel the same way because she doesn't object when I sheathe the Goddess Sword and Link follows suit. My heart aches as I cross the gap between us, hugging him so hard that I never want to let go. He hugs me back just as fiercely, and in that moment everything about our destiny and the high stakes at play disappear.

For that moment, everything feels like how it used to.

But then my heart aches again and reality settles back in.

It takes every part of my being to let him go, standing at Karane's side as Link makes his way towards Impa. I meet the Sheikah's gaze as he does so, doing my best to muster to pass her a look that says: 'if anything happens to him, then I'll never forgive you.' She seems to understand because she nods firmly and gently presses a hand against Link's back as she guides him towards the blue light.

He glances back just before he steps into it, his eyes betraying the internal battle he's having with himself despite his outward strength and determination. I offer him a small smile and nod in understanding, feeling the same internal struggle too but knowing that this is for the best—or at least I hope it is.

Then he turns away and steps into the light. The blue glow intensifies and he's gone seconds later. The Sheikah watches us for a moment before stepping into the light as well, her form engulfed by light before she and it disappear too.

And just like that, they're both gone. After how hard we fought to find him, he's gone again.

Karane and I stand there for a moment in silence. It feels like years ago that she was waking me up this morning and we set out for Faron Woods, and here we are at sunset with the knowledge that Link's alive but without his presence to back it up to everyone back at home. What I thought would be a joyous reunion back in Skyloft will now be a quiet affair and people offering me condolences as they mourn for someone who's still alive. As much as I want to tell them the truth, it's not like they'd believe me.

Still, it doesn't change the fact that I almost brought Link home, if only for a little while. Now I can't do that only makes my heart sink further.

"Dominae," Fi says after appearing in a burst of light. "I can utilise the power of the Goddess statue in this spring to transport you both back to the Sky Realm with a gust of wind. If you are ready to return to Skyloft, then please take our your Sailcloths."

There's nothing left for us here, I think to myself bitterly as we silently take out our Sailcloths. I just hope that tomorrow will be better.

Fi gives us a warning before light erupts at our feet and we're violently plucked from the ground and thrown into the air by a sudden gust of wind beneath us. I cry out as the wind current pulls us higher and higher into the air, high above Faron Woods and up towards the gap in the cloud barrier. I hold the Sailcloth in a white knuckled grip and hold on for dear life as the clouds thicken around us, praying for it to be over soon.

And the Goddess seems to hear my prayers because the wind suddenly dies out and our vision is filled with the orange glow of the sky rather than the verdant Surface. Steeling myself, I lower my Sailcloth and whistle for my Loftwing, glad when Destiny appears in moments and catches me. Emotion wells up in me at her familiar presence and smell, smiling when I notice Karane reacting similarly atop her Loftwing.

Home…

After the day we've had, the thought of home makes my heart soar. As the silhouette of Skyloft grows closer and closer, I suddenly feel exhausted. From a day of travelling, the anxiety of wandering through unknown lands, countless battles, knowing that Link really is alive and now us finally returning home is enough to sap the last bit of energy I was unknowingly clinging to and all I want to do is go home and sleep.

But that's not what happens.

Karane and I land on the highest floor of the Knight Academy so we can get inside and tend to our cuts and scrapes. A group of people emerge in the doorway before we can even dismount our Loftwings, the familiar faces a welcome sight. My father appears first, and I can only assume that he spotted us from his open office windows and rushed to gather the others. Behind him are the Academy's instructors, Owlan and Horwell, and finally Pipit—the winner of last year's Wing Ceremony and a close friend. Their faces light up at the sight of us and break out into broad smiles.

"Father…" I breathe as he rushes towards me, bundling me up into a tight embrace as soon as our Loftwings fly away. My eyes grow warm as his presence overwhelms me, and the fact that I'm finally home lifts my spirits for a delightful moment. I peek around his arm to find Karane and Pipit hugging too as the instructors watch from the doorway with their usual kind smiles.

As we part, Father says, "When the sun began to set, we all started to worry." He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear and glances between us. "I'm glad that you've returned to us safety." I suddenly become acutely aware that Pipit and the instructors don't seem confused by mine and Karane's sudden departure.

"Do they know?" I ask quietly. Father nods.

"The instructors have known about the Chamber of the Sword for some time, and Pipit here managed to eavesdrop on our conversation earlier."

Pipit's eyes widen, "I-I didn't—!"

But my father smiles and I can't help but smile too. Compared to the Surface, there's no tension in the air here, no feeling of eyes on you at all times, and I never realised how strong that feeling was until we came back home. As my father's eyes fall on our torn clothes and my bandaged shoulder, the mirth morphs into concern.

"We're alright," I assure him. "It's just a couple of scrapes and bruises." Then I remember Link saying the same thing and my shoulders slump a little. He isn't entirely convinced but must see that I'm not in the mood for talking because he wraps his arm around my uninjured shoulder and guides us inside so we can be tended to.

Over the next hour, the instructors clean up our wounds and rebandage my shoulder. I can feel their questions on the tips of their tongues, questions about the Surface and its potential wonders (and dangers), though they restrain themselves and only ask what's important like how long ago did we get these wounds and were they properly cleaned at the time.

Once they're done, Father and I are left alone in my room. He sits next to me and holds me close, the two of us simply sitting there for a moment and revelling in being back together again. "I'm sorry for not saying goodbye this morning," I mumble after a while. "It's not that I didn't want to, I just…"

"It's alright, my dear," he says before I can finish. "I was worried at first, but I knew that Karane was with you and you'd want to be off as soon as possible." I nod, feeling a weight lifted from my chest with his kind words. "What was it like… down there?" I smile.

"It's beautiful, Father. There's greenery everywhere, trees taller than I've ever seen and life all over. But…" I hesitate, losing myself in the memories for a moment. "It can be just as dangerous. I know everything will be fine… but I fear for Link; I don't like the thought of leaving him down there."

He raises a brow, "Did you see him?"

"I did," I tell him. Father smiles and visibly relaxes when I add, "He's alive and safe for now."

He lets out a deep sigh of relief, "To know that you're both safe and well eases my weariness. I pray that he will return home soon." I swallow thickly but say nothing; I don't think he'll be coming home for a while, but I won't voice that thought right now. Pushing himself to his feet with a struggle, he looks down at me with a warm smile, "Come, my dear, you need your rest."

"I have some errands to run, then I'll sleep."

He nods, "Do you know where your journey is taking you to next?"

"The scorched earth of Eldin," I say, reciting Fi's translation in Skyview Spring. "We'll set out tomorrow morning."

He hums and sees the fatigue I can no longer hide because he quickly hugs me and takes his leave, allowing me to get on with my errands so I can sleep. Glancing around my quiet room, I can't help but think about how much things have changed in the space of day. Yesterday I was grieving the loss of my best friend and now I sit here with a new outlook and the knowledge that he's alive after all. Excitement and dread bubble in my mind at the thought of what could be different tomorrow.

I start by bathing and changing into a simple white blouse, dark blue skirt and boots, feeling a little more like myself as I finish brushing my hair and start my errand run. I stitch up the tears in my dress and tuck it under my arm as I wander down to the riverside to clean it. I'm a little surprised at how dirty it's gotten in a day, but I guess it was the last thing on my mind with everything that's happened. I can still feel exhaustion gnawing on the edges of my awareness, but I know that I need to do everything before I sit down because I won't want to get back up again until tomorrow morning.

I head into the Bazaar on the way and replace the bottle of potion that I broke in Skyview Temple, accepting whatever well wishes come my way no matter how much I want to tell them the truth. By the time I reach the riverside, the sun has almost set but there's still a small group of familiar faces at the water's edge—Mallara, Pipit's mother, Goselle, and Greba, mothers to two of the stall owners at the Bazaar—chatting with their baskets of drying clothes around them. They smile as I approach, though from the sadness in their eyes, I can already tell that this isn't going to be a comfortable conversation.

"It's lovely to see you, Zelda," Mallara greets as they make space for me. "Pipit told me you were out for most of the day; we were a little worried." I force a smile as I kneel down and start cleaning my dress, taking care not to break the newly-added stitches in the fabric.

"I just needed some space," I assure her simply, focusing on one particular stubborn stain.

Greba frowns, "Gondo said he saw you buying some heart potions this morning. How are you feeling?"

"It's been a lot to take in," I say, which isn't entirely wrong. "But I'm physically fine."

Mallara takes a seat next to me and wraps her arm around my shoulder, "I know how close the four of you were," she remarks, referring to me, Link, Karane and Pipit. "If you ever need some space, my door is always open for you." I murmur my thanks, wishing that I could tell her the truth—if only it sounded believable.

Goselle, either trying to distract us from such a sombre topic or simply tiring of this conversation, fans herself as she muses, "We were just talking about the green light out in the sky. Everyone has been told not to go near it, but it all looks so mysterious!"

"Some people have already flown by and said they saw a gap in the cloud barrier," Greba says. "But that can't be true. After all, the Goddess put the cloud barrier there to protect us—it can't break or disappear."

Mallara hums, "A lot has happened over the past few days. I think it's best if we just ignore it and focus on other things like…"

I drown them out and focus on my dress, glad that they aren't too curious about the Column of Light and would rather focus on idle gossip instead. I'm sure curiosity on the island will grow the longer the green light remains in the sky, so all I can do is pray that no one tries their luck and explores it too much. Hopefully my father and the instructors can keep people away until it's safe.

If it's ever safe, a dark voice at the back of my mind muses, though I do my best to ignore it.

"Zelda?"

I snap my head up to Mallara, "Sorry, I missed what you said."

"It's alright. I was just saying that we should all head home soon; it's getting dark." I glance around the quickly darkening skies and nod, wringing my dress out and borrowing one of Mallara's spare baskets to carry it home. She catches my arm before I leave, blue eyes shining with unspoken grief for the one who was like a second son to her. "If you need anything, Zelda… I'm always here."

I squeeze her hand, "And I you."

It pains me not to tell her the truth. I wish that I could just tell her that Link's alive and I've seen him, but it's not like I have the proof; Impa took that from us. And besides, telling her that Link's alive will only bring about more sympathy for me rather than relief. They'll think I'm going through the motions of grief (which I was until we delved into the depths of Skyview Temple) and offer more support. I can't do that to them or myself.

So I'll bite my tongue and be on my way. In the meantime, I'll pray that I can bring home proof of Link's welfare soon enough.

I bid farewell to the women and head back to the Academy. I hang my dress up to dry before heading down to the kitchen for some food, finding only Karane and Pipit being in there. They smile as I take a seat and dig into the soup that Henya provides, silently eating my food as Pipit speaks.

"So… a lot's happened from what the Headmaster told me," he begins. I look him with a silent question, to which he reaches over and gives my unwounded shoulder a reassuring squeeze, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

"Thank you," I murmur between bites.

He hesitates before continuing, "Karane told me that… that you saw Link too." Knowing that this isn't going to be a short conversation, I set my spoon aside and give him my full attention. I nod. "I… he's alive but… he isn't safe, is he?"

"No, he's not," I tell him simply. Now that he knows, I won't lie to him or sugar coat the details. "We don't know the full extent of what's going on, but what we do know is that Link is important in someone's plans."

"Whose plans?"

I glance around the room as I search for the right words, "Someone powerful. Like I say, we don't know all the details yet, but that's what we do know. But he's alive and safe at the moment; that's all you need to concern yourself with."

Pipit looks at me for a while, unsure of how much of the truth I'm telling him. But I stare at him back with the more sincere look I can offer and he sighs deeply, "I'd like to come and help."

"No," I say with a shake of my head. "You—"

"Hear me out," he cuts in firmly. I fall silent. "I know it's dangerous down there and having a larger party would draw attention to us, but… Link's my friend—best friend—too, and I can't leave you down there knowing that I could help to protect you all."

I look over at Karane, who looks as torn as I feel. They've clearly been talking about this before I came in, though it doesn't look like they decided anything. Impa was right about larger parties and I remember Fi saying the same just this morning. It's not that Pipit wouldn't be a useful ally—he's a knight like Karane so he can easily take care of himself and the others—but there's just so much we don't know about the Surface or what's involved in the Goddess's plan.

And then my earlier fatigue returns with full force and I rub my eyes; I'm too tired for this conversation right now. I also want to avoid this conversation until I can come up with a better argument to stop him from coming with us. "We can talk about it in the morning."

Surprisingly, neither of them press me for a proper answer and let me finish my food in peace before heading up to my room. The lamplight in the corridors cast long shadows across the floor as I slip into my room, its familiarity greatly welcomed after a day of delving into the unknown.

I change into my nightdress and settle down for the night, struggling to find sleep despite how exhausted I feel. The not knowing about what's going on ensures that sleep evades me, and I toss and turn for Goddess knows how long until I finally drift off after spending my time praying for our protection and Link's safety whilst we're apart.

Please keep him safe… I don't know what I'll do if I lose him for good…

~Interlude~

For one of the few times in his life, Link couldn't fall asleep.

Maybe it was the fact that he was on the Surface, a land that felt so alien to him because it was. A part of him didn't want to relax in case anything were to happen in the night. And besides, with what he saw at Skyview Spring and the small snippets of knowledge that Impa had given him during their journey, his mind was still racing so fast that he couldn't fall asleep anyway—no matter how exhausted he was.

Impa's magic had transported them a few miles away from the land of Eldin, as Fi had called it. Impa had encouraged them to walk a few extra miles even though the sun was setting, determined to make it to the nadir of the volcano—another sight that completely awed him—by nightfall, hoping that he would build up his stamina and see if he would remember anything else about that other man.

They set up camp hours later, and Impa took to creating a ward around the area whilst he built up the fire. He was still floored by the idea of magic, something that had never existed in the Sky Realm, and was both surprised and excited when Impa promised to teach him some defensive spells.

After eating, the Sheikah had offered to take the first watch, though it seemed like a pointless gesture since he couldn't fall asleep. He simply lay there with his back to the fire, having turned away from the camp a while ago after he felt Impa's eyes on him constantly which had made him feel uneasy.

He was still questioning why he trusted her so much. She was Sheikah, sworn servants to the Goddess that had created the mission he was a part of, so that helped her cause. But he'd also seen some strange and terrible things in that vision at the spring, and she was in there somewhere. It was a blurred mess, like a memory that was on the tip of his tongue but couldn't quite be recalled, but he vividly remembered the Sheikah there.

Although Link wasn't sure what he saw or why he saw it, his heart was telling him to trust her, and so he did.

And then there was what she'd told him at the spring about the man he kept seeing; the life of a man whose soul he now carried. The thought still addled his tired mind, yet he was inclined to believe the Sheikah's words despite how wild they sounded. Something deep inside him—perhaps it was deep inside his soul—knew that what she said felt right. Whether it was right or wrong, however, it didn't help him to understand what the future held.

Still, he tried to focus his mind on anything but the past few days. Just the thought of it drained him more and sleep kept evading him. Staring out into the darkness of the small forest clearing they had set up camp in, Link pondered, and not for the first time, where Zelda and Karane were. They had the same task as him, and they'd somehow managed to reach the Surface without the black tornado—he shuddered at the memory—so he prayed that they were safe and he'd see them again soon.

Or Ghirahim came back after you abandoned them and Goddess knows what happened to them, his disobedient mind offered.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes in a vain attempt to rid his fatigue. He couldn't keep lying here with nothing but his thoughts and anxieties keeping him awake. Impa needed her rest too and it wasn't like he'd be sleeping any time soon. He opened his eyes and found the moon in the sky; it was almost midnight. He sighed again at the sight of it, now certain that he wasn't going to sleep if he'd already been trying for hours.

And yet, just as he was about to sit up and tell Impa to get some rest, he felt something change in the air. It was a fleeting feeling at first, but then he felt it again. He tensed and instinctively closed his eyes, his fingers tightening around the hilt of his sword which lay at his side. Then he heard the crunching of footsteps a few paces away and felt a presence pass right by him only moments later.

Then he heard their voice.

"You did a fine job prying the boy away from Her Grace," Ghirahim mused. "I'm rather surprised."

Link could feel his blood go cold and his mind began to race. Why wasn't Impa doing anything? Better still, why wasn't he doing anything? But no, he couldn't let them know that he was listening; he needed all the information he could, then he could work from there. Despite his pounding heart and rattled mind, Link forced himself to focus on the conversation at hand.

He could hear Impa standing as she retorted, "It was necessary to rebuild trust with the both of them. They need to trust me." But the Demon Lord merely laughed.

"For what purpose? So they'll feel even more betrayed when they learn the truth about you?"

She ignored the comment, and Link wasn't sure if he was frustrated by that or not. "Why did you fight Her Grace? You had everything you needed and could've resurrected your Master by tonight, but you didn't. Why?" Ghirahim scoffed.

"Like I need to explain myself to you. It's time to hand him over."

Hand over? Link's mind echoed. He thought his heart was about to break free from his chest with how hard it was pounding. It was all too much too fast. Link could barely keep up with the conversation, let alone read into their words. The sound of a ritual sent shivers down his spine, but that was clearly the least of his worries. Was Impa really working with the Demon Lord? But the Sheikah were loyal to the Goddess, and she'd vowed to protect him.

Was his trust misplaced?

Was his gut instinct going to come back and haunt him?

Yet neither of them moved towards him, and for a moment, Link wondered if Impa was only pretending to be on the Demon Lord's side. But no, that couldn't be true. Why would she pretend to work with the same people she promised she'd fight against? Even if she were pretending merely to protect Link, why would she bother being a double agent when there were no clear benefits?

He prayed that this was just a nightmare, but he scolded himself for thinking so naïvely. He'd walked right into the hands of the enemy, just like the priestess had begged him not to, and now he was going to pay for it.

The Sheikah paused before changing the subject, "You said you wanted to take him to the other springs so he remembers more, but that isn't necessary for the ritual. Why waste time?"

"So many questions," the Demon Lord sighed, clearly frustrated that she was avoiding the main subject but nonetheless played along. "You must know that the more mature a soul is, the stronger it is. Those memories will bring about the strong soul necessary for the ritual."

"Or you want him to remember how he suffered before you put him through more of it," was Impa's dry reply. She sighed softly. "I'll work with him tomorrow so once we arrive at the Earth Spring, he will remember enough for the ritual. But I need this time with him—just visiting the springs won't be enough. The Goddess wouldn't have made it so simple."

"Of course she wouldn't have; such a complex and fickle woman," Ghirahim growled. Link could imagine him pointing angrily at the Sheikah as he added in a dangerously low tone, "My patience is wearing thin, Sheikah. If he isn't ready and waiting at the spring by the next sundown, there will be hell to pay."

Impa remained silent long after the Demon Lord disappeared from the clearing, but Link didn't have time to relax—there was too much to think about. The first thing he knew was that he couldn't go to the Earth Spring, that and he needed to warn Zelda about Impa. There was no mistaking that the Sheikah had lied to them all, and they'd naïvely played into her hands, but Link still had time to fix this mess.

His time was fleeting, but he would cling to every second he had.

His mind instantly went to the idea of escape. Impa had created a ward around the clearing so nothing could get in (apart from the Demon Lord, ironically), and Link assumed that he wouldn't be able to get out of it either—once a protective measure and now a prison. And besides, Impa was still awake and probably would be for some time.

"Are you alright, Bearer?" Link was startled from his train of thoughts at the sound of Impa's concerned voice and her hand resting gently on his shoulder. His eyes snapped open and he instantly recoiled from her touch; her expression softened at his reaction. "I sensed your unrestful sleep. Are you alright?"

"No," he murmured straight away, and he hated how much it sounded like a whimper. When did he start shaking? "No, I'm not."

She guided him back towards the fire and sat next to him, though it did little to ease the panic gripping his heart, "The first Bearer often had nightmares. Although he didn't speak about them much, I could see it in his eyes." She frowned at the flames dancing in the fire before them. "He suffered much in his short life…"

But after everything he'd heard about Impa's plan, Link refused to indulge her thoughts no matter how much he wanted to ask her about the first Bearer. He couldn't do anything that would risk him remembering anything else. She didn't seem to notice his silence, clearly too lost in her own thoughts to speak further, and the vulnerability that shone in her eyes made Link's heart squeeze.

Was she truly going to betray him?

"I won't be sleeping for a while," he said finally. "I can take watch. You seem exhausted."

She smiled and shook her head, "Thank you, but I am fine. You, however, certainly need your rest. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." She paused, noticing the hesitation in his eyes and excused herself to wander the edges of her ward.

With some distance between them, Link felt his gut twist. He was certain now that he wouldn't be able to escape. It'd be foolish to try and fight Impa, but he knew that he couldn't simply escape without some sort of battle. He sighed and let his head fall into his hands, unable to feel anything other than utterly miserable. The shadowy clearing around him only made him feel more tense.

What in the Goddess's name had he managed to get himself into?

"A nightmare turned reality," he whispered out loud in response, glancing up at the dark skies above him; he definitely wasn't going to get any sleep tonight. "Goddess save me…"