(Edit: 04/02/18: Fixed grammar and plot holes)

(Updated 30/03/17)

Chapter 6

Faale led Link through yet another door into a big room. As soon as Link stepped in, he realized that the endless tunnels and rooms were actually underground. The big room they had just stepped into was actually a huge cave, with a high ceiling. Stalactites hung on to the top, and some of the bigger ones looked like they could be at least a meter long, if not more. It seemed that this was one of the original caves, and the rooms and corridors were added on later. There were rows upon rows of long tables, with countless chairs. Right at the far end was a platform, with another, smaller long table on. This table, as well as being smaller, had an elaborate table cloth on it, red velvet with intricate golden embroidery. It was clear this was for the Elders. And just as Link suspected, sat at the table were five old, wrinkled Hylians. They were draped in cloaks of rich sapphire velvet, with hoods that covered their eyes.

Hylians. That was what these people called themselves. Link thought this was slightly strange, considering these people were supposedly left down here on the surface when the Skyloftians were taken to the sky. Why would they want to be associated with Hylia, as they had apparently been scorned by her, and left on the surface to their fate? But he did not say anything about it.

Faale led Link up to the Elders. She didn't say a word, and simply bowed to them. The Elder in the middle of the table held up his hand dismissively, and Faale retreated. The last few moments were the first Link had seen her without little Abrel. Faale had made Link wait outside a room before they had come in to see the Elders, and when she came back she was alone. Even though it was none of his business, he wondered what the relationship was between the girls. Faale, if his assumptions about her age were correct, was still quite young to be her mother, but then again who was he to talk? It would make sense for them to be sisters, but then again if they were sisters then where was their mother? Why was Faale the one taking care of her?

He remembered what Faale said, and looked to the Elders.

"Link of the Skyloftians. I am the High Elder. Welcome." The Elder that had dismissed Faale spoke. It took a second, but then Link realized that the Elder wasn't speaking in the weird language all the girls had spoken. Then, with a start, he realized that the Elder's lips hadn't moved either.

"Yes, Link. I am speaking directly into your mind," the High Elder continued "We are powerful enough to possess the mental power to do so. We will tell you now: We are a lot more powerful than you."

"I won't try anything," Link quickly assured them. He knew a threat when he heard one. Faale, before they had entered, had told him that he needed to cooperate with everything that the Elders said. If he showed any sign of rebellion, the Elders could and would cause him great pain mentally. The most important, and the most difficult thing he needed to do was keep his mind clear.

"We believe you won't try to disobey us." This time, it was a female voice in Link's head. He searched the Elders, looking between them, but he couldn't place which one of the Elders were female. Their cloaks made them quite androgynous.

Link nodded. He wanted to ask why he was being held here, but he knew he mustn't ask questions. He was below these people, and must not speak out of turn.

"Good decision," another Elder said, and Link realized that he had allowed those thoughts to slip through, and of course the Elders had heard them. That would be why Faale warned him to keep his mind clear. "We will tell you why you're being held here. Your people are destroying our lands, and we are not happy."

The female Elder spoke again. "When the Goddess Hylia took your people to the sky, you were treated like Gods compared to our people, left to rebuild what we had," she paused. "Yes, Hylia restored the nature to the land, but she did not restore our lost ones, our homes, and our lives. We were forced to rebuild what we could underground."

"And then, you come down to our land, claim your people discovered it, and destroy our lands." Another spoke.

"I'm sorry for that," Link said, "We didn't know there were others here."

The High Elder spoke again, changing the subject suddenly. "This is not, however, the only reason we have brought you here."

"Oh?" Link offered in reply.

"We need your help."

"Help?" Link echoed, slightly taken aback. That was not the answer he was expecting. "What could you possibly need the Skyloftian's help with?"

"Not your people's help. Just yours. As you can see, our people reside underground. Before, we lived up on the surface, in the sun, and lived good lives. Down here, we live in the dark. We are nowhere near as happy as we used to be," the Elder paused, seeming to be reminiscing. "We need your help to take us up to the surface."

"Why do you need my help for this?" Link asked, "I am willing to offer my assistance as much as I can, but doesn't it seem like a problem with a rather easy fix?"

"It is not as you think, sky child," the female Elder spoke, her voice tainted with warning. "We cannot just move up to the surface. We need some items, to take what we have here and put us on the surface. A bit like the magic Hylia used to take your land from the surface to the sky."

"And these items? What are they?"

"There are three we require," the middle Elder paused, "The first item is a necklace, with a Ruby pendant. The second, a golden box with an Emerald decoration on the lid. And finally, a grand sword, forged in fire and set with a Sapphire in the hilt."

"How am I to find these items?" Link asked. They sounded rather vague, and it was uncertain how vast the surface actually was.

"We have some leads. Our warriors have been scouting for weeks. This is why we need your help. It is clear you have a skill in clearing a lot of land in a short amount of time."

Link winced at the obvious jab, but did not say anything more on that subject. He smiled at the Elders, doing just as Faale had told him to. Playing the Game.

"I would be happy to help you in any way possible. Will I be free to leave once the three items are found?"

"Of course," The middle Elder nodded. "After they are found you will have redeemed yourself and you may return back to your wife and children."

Link did not ask how they knew about Zelda and the twins. He probably did not want to know.

"One last thing before you go," the middle Elder spoke. He held up his hand, pointing to Link, and a ball of light shot out of his finger. It floated through the air, landing on Link's forehead. The light absorbed though his skin, into his skull and through to his mind.

"This power will allow you to communicate with our people, removing the language barrier. Now, go. The girl will show you the way."

As if called, Faale returned. She bowed again to the Elders, looked at Link, and started to walk. Link got the hint, and went to turn to follow her. As they were walkig back, Link glanced back. He saw one of the Elders look up, and for a short second he was able to see under the hood. To his surprise, the eyes of the Elder were not opalescent like the eyes of the other Hylians, but rather a shining silver. As soon as he saw it, the eyes were gone and she shook his head, wondering if he imagined it. He continued to follow Faale out of the hall, and they started to walk down the endless halls.

"Well, you're still in one piece so it must've gone well," she remarked. Link smirked. He decided he liked this girl.

"It did. They told me they're looking for three magical items."

"And did they tell you it was to bring our home to the surface?"

"Yes," Link looked at Faale. He frowned. "It's not true, is it?"

"I don't know," Faale stopped, and opened the door she had stopped at earlier. This time Link could see inside, and he saw an older woman, with young Hylians at her feet. She smiled at Faale.

"Ah, Faale," she spoke, "You've come back for Abrel?"

Link now knew that the spell given to him worked, and he could understand what was being said.

"I have, Mother," Faale laughed "She is my responsibility, after all."

"Of course," Mother looked down at Abrel, who was looking at Faale with a smile on her face. Faale reached down and picked up the younger girl. She bid Mother goodbye, and she and Link left.

"Your mother seems nice." Link said, curious as to the relationship between the two women and Abrel.

"Oh, she's not my mother," Faale started to explain. "The actual mothers are usually all busy working, making cloth, growing what food we can and rearing livestock, for example. Since there is not much to go around, we're all expected to work to help out. There's no time to look after children, so Mother does it," Faale looked up, thinking for a few moments. "No-one really remembers her real name."

"How come you seem to look after Abrel then?" Link asked. Faale frowned, looking away.

"I'd rather not answer that question," she spoke evenly, shifting the young Hylian further up on her hip. Link respected her wishes and did not press further.

They carried on down, and eventually came to a door which unlike the others was propped open. Link decided if he ever strayed far, he would be lost forever in the endless tunnels.

"We're here, this is the room where the scouts and warriors meet to discuss plans," Faale led him through the door. There was a great table in the middle of the room, with at least thirty Hylians sat round it. A raucous shout went up when Link stepped in, and he was taken aback by the stark contrast between this and the quiet, efficient work of the women.

One of the men, who had been sat in a chair more elaborate than the others, stood up.

"Link of the Skyloftians!" He exclaimed, walking over with his arms outstretched. He grabbed Link, patting him on the back a few times before letting him go. "It is an honour to meet you! The Elders say you shall be the one to complete our quest!"

Slightly taken aback how he had gone from prisoner to honoured guest in a mere afternoon, all Link could seem to do was nod his head politely.

"Now, don't be so modest! My name is Dariil. I am, or was, the leader of these fine men. That title falls to you now, though, Brother from the sky." Dariil led Link over to the table. The man that had been sitting next to Dariil moved, offering his seat to Dariil. Link took the elaborate chair Dariil had been previously sat in. Compared to the basic stools the other men had, it was very grand, with polished wood carved into shapes which seemed to depict three women stood together, like the painting from back in that room.

Dariil placed a map in front of Link. It showed a lot more of the land than he and his men had found. Dariil grinned.

"So, Brother from the sky. Where do we start?"

Hi there, everyone!

I did it again D: I said I'd upload frequently and then didn't! That is going to change for real this time though! I have a schedule now, and I can say for sure that chapters will now be uploaded every TUESDAY. So here is your first of the Tuesday chapters.

We meet the elders at last! And we meet two new characters, Mother and Dariil! What do we think is really going on here? Leave a review if you have an ideas, or even if you think you know what's going to happen! And make sure to Follow this story if you want to find out!

Thank you for reading!

Meiko x