(Chapter 6)
(Well I was going to put something witty here but I couldn't think of anything. Sorry,)
Link and Midna both arrived at the pathway that led down to the lake. Link slowly made his way down the perilous winding path that led to the lake.
"Man, thank the Goddesses they built this path; the only other safe way down to the lake was by cucco." Midna could see Link shiver a little at the thought. They continued down the path until they arrived at the lake shore.
"Alright Link so now all we have to do is head up river right?" She asked him. It had been so long since she was here.
"Yeah pretty much a straight shot from here." He pointed to the large waterfall. "All we got to do is head up that, you still have the shadow crystal right?" Link asked her. She pointed to her necklace and nodded. "Good, so let's get a move on." Link left Epona at the shore and reached into one of the saddlebags. He withdrew a blue outfit, and looked at it longingly.
"Link is that the Zora armor?" She could vaguely remember Link traversing the depths of the Lakebed Temple while wearing the blue outfit.
"Yeah it is, I haven't worn this thing in years wonder if it still fits." Midna quickly looked away as Link pulled off his green tunic and quickly pulled on the blue suit of armor. Midna hesitantly looked over towards Link. Link was rotating his shoulders to see if it still fit.
"Wow Link, it looks like it still fits after all this time." She was looking at the small patches of ornately carved metal plates that populated the armor.
"Speaking of outfits, you haven't changed out of your Goron dress yet." Midna blushed a little when she realized that she indeed hadn't changed.
"What can I say Link I really like how it fits, plus I really like how it looks." She told him.
"Alright if you like it I don't have a problem with you wearing it." He responded back to her. Link approached the edge of the lake and leapt headfirst in. He surfaced a brief second later.
"Link is the water cold?" She could him slightly shaking.
"Yeah, just a little." He answered her. "But it's not that bad, I've had worse." He said and he started to swim in circles.
"You're pretty agile in the water aren't you?" She told him as she watched him swim around.
"Yeah I got to be, that's what the armor was made for." He explained to her. He continued to swim around for a bit before stopping.
"Is something the matter Link?" She asked him.
"Nah, I was just thinking that we should get a move on," he told her. "The sun is starting to sink and I want to reach Zora's Domain before nightfall." He told as he started swimming away from her. Midna followed his shadow across the lakebed. Link climbed out of the lake and shook off. He looked at the weathered old stone. Wind howled as it passed through the hole in the stone.
"Link are you ready?" She asked him as she came up beside him.
"Ready as I'll ever be." He told her. She pulled the necklace off and put it around Link's neck. A dark aura surrounded Link as he fell to the ground. Link felt his body changing but all he felt was an animalistic feeling fill his mind. He came to his senses and looked around. He could Midna was looking at him.
"Well I see that it worked." She spoke to him. He barked in response. He walked up to the stone and listened carefully to the whistling wind. He pointed his head to the sky and let out a melodious howl. The Kargarock that carried Link up the waterfall appeared. It grasped Link in its talons and flew into the air towards the waterfall. They entered the waterfall cavern and flew up to the upper entrance of the waterfall cavern. Thankfully there were no enemies to impede their travels. The Kargarock set them down on a ledge before flying off again. Midna took the necklace of Link's neck. The dark aura returned to the crystal. Link was soon standing upright and speaking.
"Wow, I can't believe that the Kargarock came when I called." He shook a bit to regain his composure.
"Yeah, I thought for sure it would have left." She also was slightly amazed.
"Man, it's going to take forever for me to get used to transforming again." He said scratching the back of his head.
"Alright Link, so it's just upriver a little ways right?" She asked the young Hero as he looked towards the tunnel that led to Zora's Domain. The memory of him and Midna unthawing Zora's Domain came flooding back to him. He remembered how much enjoyment Link got out of her company. Sure he had almost been killed at times, but it was always an adventure.
"Yeah," Link quietly answered her, he was deep in thought.
"Earth to Link, are you in there." Midna was waving her hand in front of his face. Link blinked as he came back to reality. He quickly glanced around and sighed.
"Sorry Midna, I was just thinking." He told her.
"About what if you don't mind my asking?" She questioned him again.
"Just think about the past, not much else to think about." He said as he gazed at the water surrounding him. He took a moment to stare into his reflection in the water's surface. He saw that the clouds were starting to turn grey.
"Link I think it's going to start to rain soon, we should find someplace to take shelter." She told him.
"Don't worry Midna I know a friend nearby, she will offer us shelter." He explained as he pointed to a small wooden door sunk into the rock face. They both walked over, Link grabbed the handle and opened the door. They both passed through the doorway.
"Link, I think I remember this place." She commented as she looked around the small lake.
"Yeah, this is Hena's Fishing Hole." He told her as he motioned around. She could vaguely remember this place. She remembered sitting on the shore, watching Link sit in his boat and cast the line. She remembered that she always felt peaceful in this place. Just then a crack of thunder filled the air, raindrops began to fall.
"We should probably get inside." He said while holding his hand up. They both walked over and Link knocked on the door. A voice called from inside the shack.
"Coming," The voice said. Footsteps were heard before the door opened. Hena was standing in the doorway. She was wearing a set of baggy pajamas. She yawned and spoke. "Sorry the Fishing Hole is closed for today, come back tomorrow." Link could tell she was half asleep.
"Hena we could use some help here." Link spoke. Hena seemed a little taken back, she reached up and rubbed her eyes. She blinked the sleep from her eyes and looked at Link.
"Link what are you doing here at this hour?" She asked him while looking at him.
"Well it started to storm and my companion and I were looking for some shelter." He explained to her.
"Wait, who's your companion?" She had a puzzled look on her face.
"Midna, show yourself to Hena." He said out loud over the driving rain. Midna rose from Link's shadow and nodded to Hena. Hena had a shocked look.
"Link who is that!" She exclaimed taken back by Midna's sudden appearance.
"Hena relax this is Midna!" He shouted back over the rain. Hena calmed down after Link explained what had happened.
"So you're saying this is the women you were traveling all over Hyrule to save." She rattled back off to him.
"Yes, you are correct and I'm doing it again." He explained to her. Midna leaned over and whispered into Link's ear.
"So what brings you two up here then?" Hena asked the two of them.
"I'd love to explain, but can you let us in so we can get out of the rain." Hena gasped and stepped back, she must not have known it was raining. They both stepped inside and Link looked around. She had renovated the shack recently, she had added on another wing to the shack. There was a curtain blocking off the new wing. Hena parted the curtain and motioned for Midna and Link to follow her. They both followed her into the backroom. Link saw a small fireplace and a bed and some chairs.
"Midna come with me so we can get you out of those wet clothes." Hena pulled up Link a chair. "You can take a seat and wait." Link sat down and handed Midna her other dress.
"Bring me the Goron dress and I'll set it up to dry." Link told her. Midna nodded in response to him. Hena guided her into a small bathroom.
"You can change in here and don't worry I won't look, unless you want me to." Hena let out a quiet giggle. Hena turned her back, and Midna quickly slipped off her dress and put her original one on. Midna folded up the Goron dress and made her way around Hena.
"Hey Midna, tell Link I'm going to go make us something to eat." She said to Midna as she left for the kitchen. She nodded in response to Hena. Midna tried to wring her dress out. She headed back to the small room that Link was sitting in. Link was holding his tunic in front of the fire, trying to help it dry. Midna called to Link as she walked in. She looked around and Link called back. She looked over at Link sitting in front of the fire with his tunic. She blushed and quickly glanced away.
"Midna you can bring me your dress, I'll set it up to dry." Link said while reaching out his hand. "Midna something the matter?" he asked her when she didn't give him the dress.
"No nothing is the matter, but could you put something on please?" She asked him.
"Midna you can't be serious, are you really that embarrassed about that.' Link let out a sigh. He grabbed a near-by blanket and wrapped it around him. Midna turned and faced Link. She nodded her head in thanks and handed him her dress. Link took the dress and spread it out in front of the fire.
"Link I'm going to go talk to Hena in the kitchen." Midna told him.
"Alright I'll see you in a bit." Midna parted the curtain and walked into the kitchen. Hena was chopping up some fish. Midna slowly walked up.
"Midna common courtesy would be you don't sneak up on the chef." Hena said with a quiet chuckle
"Sorry Hena, I didn't think you would still be in here." Midna explained.
"Of course I'm still here; someone needs to make something to eat." Hena said. She held up the cutting board, she slid the diced fish into a pot of boiling water. She picked up a spoon and stirred the pot. Hena stepped back and admired her handiwork.
"So Hena what are you making?" Midna asked the young women.
"All I had on hand was some fish, so I'm making some fish stew." Hena explained to Midna.
"Oh that's alright; we just wanted to get out of the rain." She explained to Hena. "You really didn't need to make us dinner."
"Oh it's alright Midna, not many people come around these parts." She told Midna. "I don't get much company, so I appreciate you two showing up."
"Well I thank you anyway." Midna said while bowing.
"Midna it's not a big deal to me." Hena insisted. She and Midna both walked back out to the den.
"Oh hey girls," Link looked over his shoulder at them. He still had the blanket wrapped around him. He was folding up his tunic. Midna walked over and sat down next to him.
"You look a little cold Hero." She said to him with a smile.
"Yeah this blanket really isn't very warm at all." He responded to her. Link held his hands up to the fire. Midna rested her head on Link's shoulder. Link heard her sigh as she stared into the fire. Hena snuck back into the kitchen and poured the stew into three bowls. She placed the bowls on a tray and headed for the den. She looked briefly at Link and Midna sitting together in front of the fire. She couldn't help but sigh at the romantic sight. She placed the tray down next to them.
"Look I'm sorry to interrupt such a touching scene, but I brought us all something to eat." Hena motioned to the tray. Midna lifted her head off of Link's shoulder. Link reached over and grabbed one of the bowls.
"Thanks Hena," was all he said before he started eating. Midna gave a curt nod and started to eat as well. Hena sat and watched the two of them eat before she too joined in. Link finished his meal and sat the bowl on the tray. Midna sat her bowl on the tray as well.
"Wow Hena, that was actually pretty good." Midna spoke breaking the silence. Hena gave a nod to acknowledge the compliment. "What did you think about it Link?" She asked the now quiet Hero.
"Yeah it was pretty good, I could have made us something if you would have just asked." He said after a short pause. Hena stood up and walked over to the door of her shack. She opened the door and poked her head out. The rain had stopped and the sun had come out.
"Hey Link the storm passed, so if you want to make it Zora's Domain before nightfall you better get a move on." She shouted to him from the doorway. The two of them stood up and they both headed for the doorway. They both thanked Hena for the hospitality and left the fishing hole.
"Well Link looks like we are finally on the trail to Zora's Domain." She finally broke the silence again.
"Yeah looks like we will make it before nightfall, that's a good sign." Link said while looking towards the sky. The sun was just starting its journey towards the horizon. Link and Midna traveled through the tunnel that led into Zora's Domain. The passageway was dark and damp, illuminated by only a few torches on the sides of the wall. The black sheet of water rolled past them as they stayed to the sides. They finally emerged from the tunnel. They looked around the massive lake that sprawled in front of them. They both could hear the roar of the waterfall.
"Well I guess we are here." She said over the roar of the waterfall.
"Not quite yet, we still need to get up the waterfall." He told her.
"And do you purpose we do that?" She asked Link.
"Well we can either ask a Zora for a ride, or I can clawshot my way up." He explained to her.
"Well the Zora would be easier." She thought out loud.
"Except that there are no Zora around to ask." Link explained motioning to the still water around them.
"So then it looks like clawshot is the only way." She told him.
"Well then I should get to work then." He said while untying the clawshot from his belt. He slipped it on and took aim at some of the vines. The claw launched and embedded firmly in the ivy. Link was pulled over to the ivy and grabbed on. He started to climb his way up. He finally pulled himself up onto a cliff.
"Rethinking you decision Hero." Midna said to him with a grin.
"Not quite yet, but I'm sure that I will soon enough." Link said while wiping the sweat from his brow. He took aim at another patch of ivy.
"Onwards and upwards Link." He heard Midna say before he launched the claw. He continued climbing the ivy until he finally arrived at the top of the waterfall. He pulled himself up and let out a sigh of relief.
"Okay Midna, I'll give you that one." He told as he sat down to catch his breath.
"I knew you would regret it." She was trying to stop herself from laughing.
"Yeah laugh it up." Link said with a small smile on his face. He always enjoyed seeing Midna laugh. Something about seeing her happy made him feel happy as well. She sat down next to him, still grinning.
"Sorry Hero, I really couldn't help myself." She told him.
"Its fine Midna, I was the one who was so eager to get here." He said with a smile. They both sat together for a while. Link stood up and looked skyward. The sun had almost completely sunk beneath the horizon.
"Let me guess Link, we need to get moving right." She said with a sigh. She stood up and started towards the path that led to Zora's Domain.
"Midna, wait up!" Link said while catching up with her. He placed his hand on her shoulder to stop her.
"You seemed eager to get here so let's go then." She grabbed his arm and started to pull him. Link saw that she was smiling happily as she pulled him. Link smiled and matched pace with her. They both walked through the tunnel that led to the depths of Zora's Domain. They both arrived at the throne room of Zora's Domain. Link made his way around the deep pool. Prince Ralis was sitting in the throne. Link walked up to him and waved.
"Greetings Hero of Hyrule, it is good to see my savior is also well." Ralis spoke to Link.
"Ralis it's good to see you keeping well friend." Link spoke back to the young Zora Prince.
"What brings you to the depths of Zora's Domain my friend?" Ralis asked Link.
"Well… I sort of a bit of a problem that I am dealing with." He explained.
"And what would that problem be?" Ralis asked him.
"Well if you recall when we first met, I was on a journey to save Hyrule." Link explained.
"Yes I remember when we first met fondly; you and your friends safely delivered me to Kakariko Village to be treated." Ralis recalled how they met.
"Yeah well I was helping Midna reclaim her kingdom." He explained to her.
"Who is Midna?" Ralis asked him.
"Well she was my traveling companion." Link told Ralis.
"What happened to her?" he asked her.
"Well she left, but then she kind of showed up again." Link rubbed the back of his head as he explained.
"Well then where is she, I would like to meet her." Ralis questioned.
"Well there is something you should know about Midna, it's probably better that I show you." He said before he called to Midna. She rose from the shadows behind him. She walked out from behind him.
"Your skin…" Ralis seemed to be taken back. Ralis took a deep breath and regained his composure.
"Midna introduce yourself." Link told her.
"Hello… my name is Midna." She spoke to him.
"Midna relax, the Zora are far more refined then the Gorons are, so don't feel so self-conscious." Link told her in an effort to calm her down a bit.
"Link I was unaware your traveling companion was a Twili." Ralis spoke after a short pause.
"Wait Ralis how do you know about the Twili?" Link asked him.
"All information follows the river and eventually ends up here." Ralis said.
"Alright fair enough, but who did you hear it from?" He asked.
"The Goron are not the quietest individuals." Ralis smiled a little. Link smiled as well.
"So Ralis are the Zora people keeping well?" Link asked changing the subject.
"Oh my people are fine and my kingdom is safe, what else can one ask for." Ralis told him.
"Well it's good to hear that you are keeping well." He responded to him.
"But please Link, tell me more about your lovely companion." He told Link.
"Why don't you ask her yourself?" He said while stepping aside. Link saw a flash of panic in her eyes. Ralis approached the women and reached out a welcoming hand.
"Hello Midna I would like to personally welcome you to Zora's Domain." She grasped his hand and shook it. Link smiled as he looked at the two of them.
"I guess that's one less thing I have to worry about." Link thought to himself as he looked on at the two of them. Midna and Ralis were both smiling.
"Well what has brought you two to my humble kingdom?" Ralis asked again.
"Well we are searching for keys." Midna explained.
"There are many types of keys, any particular ones?" He asked.
"Yes, keys that have the same markings as my skin." She told the Zora prince. Midna reached into the shadows and pulled up the key they found. Ralis walked up and studied it for a bit.
"Hmmm… I will consult with my council and see if they have seen anything like this, do you mind if I take it with me?" Ralis asked.
"You shouldn't touch it; I have no idea how volatile the Twilight power held within could be." She explained to him. While they were talking Link was busy drawing a picture of it.
"Uhh, I don't know if you two had forgotten about me but I drew a picture." Link said while handing the picture to Ralis.
"Wow Link, that's a well-drawn picture where did you learn to draw so well?" Midna asked.
"Well I had a lot of time to pursue my hobbies after you left, so I decided to take up drawing to pass the time." He told her. Midna could help but feel the pain in Link's voice as he explained to her.
"Very well Link I thank you for the picture, this will help very much." Ralis nodded in thanks.
"Eh, it's not that big of a deal." Link shrugged his shoulders.
"Link I think the picture is beautiful." Midna told him.
"Yeah I guess." Link mumbled under his breath. Ralis took the picture and left Midna and Link's presence.
"Well what now Link?" She asked him.
"Well I don't really know, I guess we just wait for Ralis to get back with us." Link answered her. Midna heard Link sigh.
"Something bothering you Link?" She asked him.
"Nothing, just knowing that we are going to have to do another temple soon." Link explained to her.
"Well you don't know that, there might not be one here." She tried to reason with him.
"Yeah there might not be, but knowing my luck there is going to be one." Link said as he turned around and left the throne room. Midna stood and watched him go. She took off to follow him. She found him sitting in the edge of the waterfall. Midna walked up and sat next to him.
"Link are you sure you're feeling okay?" she asked him.
"Yeah, this whole quest thing is still sinking in." Link told her.
"Link you don't have to if you don't want to, this is my problem I can deal with it myself." She told him.
"And make me feel awful if you got hurt, you think I would let you risk your life." Midna could tell Link was starting to get aggravated.
"Link I can take care of myself." She told him also starting to get a little hotheaded.
"Midna I just want to keep you safe, I would never let any harm befall you if I can prevent it." She could tell Link was calming down.
"Link…" Was all Midna could say. Link stood up.
"Now Midna there is something I need you to do." He spoke to her.
"And what is that Link?" She asked him.
"Trust me, wait for me." Link said as he stood up and threw himself off the edge. Midna watched in horror as Link vanished within the mist of the waterfall. The only thing going through her minds was his last words, Trust Me.
(Hey guys me again. You probably know my name by now, but I'm going to say it again. For-Shovelry here. Sorry for the delay in this chapter as well. I know I need to pick up the pace and I will try. Again thank you all for reading, I really appreciate it.)