A few days after that first suit was completed, we all began to notice that enemy patrols were increasing both in frequency and in size. It was getting more and more difficult to wipe them out, to the point where enemies actually managed to escape on a few occasions. The enemy scouting parties began to get more varied as well; I was beginning to learn the various species of monsters we were up against. Aside from the diminutive Bulblins, there were taller, somewhat broader specimens with red or deep purple skin – Zelda had been with me when I'd first seen them, and had called them Bokoblins. Once, when I was leading a patrol, I encountered what was called a Moblin, an even larger creature with a face reminiscent of a pig; the one I saw actually was decently equipped, with light plate armor and a wicked-looking polearm that reminded me of a glaive. These and many others became increasingly easy to find in enemy parties.
Everyone in high command was getting nervous with each passing day. The growing intensity of our skirmishes suggested that Ganon was testing our forces, and that a major attack would come soon. I began to have less and less leisure time – and fewer opportunities to take photos for Kaylee – as I was constantly rushing between patrols, briefings, training sessions, and command meetings. Impa, who was nervous that Ganon might send his forces to the more weakly-garrisoned Hyrule Castle, gave orders for infantrymen to start constructing a low palisade to run between our two strongholds in order to prevent Ganon from splitting our forces. I wasn't sure the construction wouldn't be finished in time.
Things were about to heat up; we could all feel it.
The feel of one particular morning, two weeks after the first Iron Knuckle was unveiled, was tense as I was making a round of the ranch, ensuring that everything needed to function as a military installment was running properly. As I skirted the horse ring to check the watch on the northern and western walls, I was approached by Link and Zelda. Link called out to me, "Brian! Do you have a spare moment?"
I turned to them and called back, "Yeah, but not long! What's up?"
Link answered, "Can I show you something in my barrack?"
I nodded and walked over to him and Zelda. They led me to where Link's barrack was. Link opened the door and ushered us both in. As the three of us gathered around Link's bed, I noticed the bed contained a long bundle, wrapped in a sheet.
Link began to explain, "I've been thinking about this for a while, and talking with Zelda about it – she agrees with me – but we're both worried about your safety in battle. That sword and shield aren't going to protect you from everything. Obviously you're not going to be beating any Darknuts with what you have right now. So, Zelda and I decided that it would be best to give you this."
As he said this, he unwrapped the bundle. Inside was a large, two-handed longsword, with a blue hilt akin to the Master Sword's, and a hefty blade. Such a weapon wasn't built for the fast patterns of swordplay I had been previously learning; this was a weapon for brutal chops, for carving an enemy to pieces. Link went on, "This sword was given to me by the Great Goron at Death Mountain. It is harder than anything we Hylians can produce. It served me well in my first quest to defeat Ganon. You'll be able to fend off anything Ganon throws at us with this. It's so hard and heavy it can stop a Darknut's sword."
It was a gift fit for a hero, to be sure. I did not doubt Link's claims about the lengthy weapon before me. And I was certainly glad Link and Zelda held as deep a concern for my survival as they did. Graciously thanking Link, I took the sword in my hands, holding it almost with reverence. This blade had been wielded by the Hero of Time himself, and now, out of friendship and concern, he was passing it down to me.
Truly, I had never had such friends as these two.
As I held the blade, I began to feel my right hand vibrating intensely, and the Triforce symbol on it was glowing as brightly as it had when Zelda and I had first scouted out Ganon's fortress. Zelda looked at me. "You're making my piece of the Triforce resonate," she said, not scolding, not wondering, simply observing. Her own hand was glowing as well, I could see, and the light from both of our hands was illuminating the entire barrack.
Strangely, I no longer disliked having the Triforce on my hand. In that moment, in the midst of all the anticipation, I felt oddly at peace. Then cautiously, Zelda presented the back of her right hand to me. I reached out and touched it with the back of my own.
And in an instant, everything went white. I expected to feel disoriented, but instead all I felt was a remarkable confidence. Courage, exactly what my piece of the Triforce was supposed to represent. And all of a sudden, I remembered something Kaylee had told me before I'd left my peaceful little world: You'll be fine. You'll kick Ganon's butt. And then you'll get to tell me all about it. I felt in that moment as though her comment was not in vain, that I would survive all of this, and be able to return to the Onyx House in Eugene, Oregon in one piece.
Then I felt a hand close around my right hand, and at once, my surroundings returned. I found myself forehead-to-forehead with Zelda, as if some unknown force had driven our heads together. Our right hands, still glowing, were holding each other. Neither of us was breathing hard or panting; we were both breathing deeply, evenly, silently. How Link must be gawking at us, I thought absently as we finally pulled away.
Sure enough, Link was looking at us, wide-eyed. "I've never seen the Triforce make people do that," he said at length. "For a moment I thought you two were going to start kissing!"
And the funny thing was, my mind didn't have a knee-jerk reaction to that, as it might have a month before. Still, I was somewhat flustered. Hurriedly, I thanked Link for his gift, gave both him and Zelda a quick bear hug, and left the barrack, quite astonished indeed.
And, for the first time, I felt torn about leaving Hyrule.
