Chapter Four: Mysterious is the path one takes

"Link…"

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Pretty please?"

"For the last time, we're not stopping at the inn!"

"But how are we going to spend the night?"

"We'll camp out."

"In winter!"

"………………"

"Come on Link, can we please stay at the inn?"

"Oh alright! But," He said, in the middle of Sheik's cheer, "No touching the alcohol."

Sheik pouted, "Geez, you're worst than a Sheikan chaperone."

"Thanks, I try," Link said, dropping his backpacks onto the ground and stretching his legs. His legs buckled and he promptly hit the ground. He grimaced and moved his legs. Apparently he was more out of shape than he thought.

Oh, how he wished Epona was here. That horse could get him through anything. But he knew that he could not possibly drag Epona all the way into the Dark World. No, this was his last quest.

His last quest…

"What are you thinking about?" Sheik said as he plopped next to Link, his red eyes glazing. Not the same harsh ruby that Ganondorf possessed, but not too different either. His eyes were warmer. The same kind of warmth that Ganondorf showed him before he died.

Abruptly he cut off his train of thought. Stop thinking about him Link! He berated himself. Sheik was looking at him, his eyes worried.

"Link?" Sheik asked tentatively, "What's wrong?"

Link turned to face Sheik, his blue eyes whirling, "Tell me Sheik. What was Ganondorf like when he ruled you for seven years?"

Sheik didn't flinch nor give him any odd looks. In fact, Sheik started talking immediately, "Well for one thing he outlawed the Zoras and the Gorons to coming to Hyrule. Other than the total destruction of the Marketplace, he really didn't do much. In fact, he left most of us Sheikah alone. The only people he really bothered were the Sages. Other than that, everything was the same. Sure, some people's lives were disrupted and everything they knew changed…but…some things never did."

Link looked at Sheik and saw the peaceful look in his eyes, "You never hated him, did you?"

"No," Sheik stopped and then plunged in, "And neither do you."

Link blinked, "What makes you think that?"

"There's no hate in your eyes," Sheik said, "Us Sheikah can read people like a book. It's odd though. Why don't you hate him?"

Link opened and closed his mouth, "I don't know…..."

"That's funny," Sheik said scratching his head (he did this with a turban on. Sheikah are such extraordinary people), "Because I would have thought that you hated him so that's why you killed him."

Link winced, "I never…hated him. In fact, I never even knew him. It was the Sages and Zelda who told me that I needed to kill him. I never questioned them because I thought I was doing the right thing." His voice was flat, testing, "What a fool I was."

Sheik blinked, but said nothing.

"So," Link said, getting up and shouldering his backpack, "Where's that inn of yours?"

The Inn (it was called Dancing Dragon) was a lively place. Though Link knew not many people lived near these parts, the Inn was bustling. Apparently, many people come to this Inn just for the barley beer which it is famous for. Sheik had begged and pleaded until Link finally gave up and let him have some. Not too much, mind you. He knew what hangovers are like in the morning and he intended to have an early start tomorrow.

He and Sheik were in the common room. Mainly because Link wanted to know more about Sasarala and Sheik was generally asking people random questions that struck his fancy.

"Sasarala? Why, you mean that weirdo who lives up near those here mountains?" The bartender said, as he washed his mugs, "What's there to know?"

"Is he still there?" Link asked, sipping his juice (no alcohol for him, thank you)

The bartender rubbed his chin, "The last time I checked, yeah. Why?"

"What's he doing there?" Link asked.

"Not a clue," The bartender said shrugging, "That guy has always does weird things for as long as I can remember."

"What kind of weird things?"

"What is this, an interrogation?" The bartender snapped, "Ask anyone you want, but their answers are the same; Sasarala is weird and you don't want to be near him."

Link blinked and headed back to his table where Sheik was waiting.

"Anything?" Link asked. Sheik shook his head despondently, "No. People generally don't trust Sheikah so they're not talking to me at all."

Link sighed and put his elbows on the table so that he may put his head on his hands, "Maybe we should move on. I dunno. Nobody here is a fan of Sasarala, that's for sure."

Sheik nodded, "Should we head up to our rooms?"

"Yeah, maybe—,"

"Hero of Time!"

Link jerked at the new voice. It was clear and it resonated in the room, silencing everyone else's conversations. Sheik's chair screeched on the floor as he got up, his face apprehensive. Link's hand went to his Master Sword hung now by his waist.

It was a man with a beard white as the snow-capped mountains they were approaching. He had glazed amber eyes, a shade of amber that looked familiar. His hands were wrinkled and gripped a gnarled walking stick. He was dressed in a simple brown robe and he has several pouches hanging by his waist.

"Yes?" Link got up. Several people's eyes grew wide and the bartender choked involuntarily. Link grinned. Even after seven years, he could never get over the reaction he had on people. It always made things more interesting.

"I have a message from Sasarala," The old man continued, "He wishes to meet you."

Link blinked. How had Sasarala found out he was coming? He had to hand it to the old coot; he was certainly more intelligent than people make him out to be.

Unless…Link narrowed his eyes at the old man and smirked. Of course, he should have realized it before.

"Certainly Sasarala," Link said politely, "Do you want to go up to my room? Privacy here is hard to find." He found the white blanched look very entertaining.

"How did you—," Sasarala then stopped and shook his head, "It doesn't matter. We'll go to your room."

Link nodded to Sheik and they left the common room. As they closed the door, a burst of conversation occurred. Link shook his head. How Hyrulians can gossip so much is beyond him.

Looking back at the turn of events that led to this, I couldn't help but wonder at the subtle signs I missed. I am Time's master and it knows me well enough. When I asked to be refreshed of my past experiences, it obeys. Time is like a river and I can dip into it and not worry about getting washed away with the flow. It was a lovely feeling. Sometimes in my dreams, as I slept my seven years of life, Time came and comforted me in songs and it rocked me to sleep. I had been grateful for that. If I was awake, I would have surely lost my sanity in the bleakness of the Sacred Realm, the Dark World. Just like Ganondorf.

So when I remembered, I remembered things I wouldn't ordinarily have. There was the fact that despite there being Seven Sages, they would not interfere in the battle until I had Ganondorf at sword point. In fact, where was their help? All Rauru did was give me a medallion. How would that help? It didn't save me before. They said it added their power to mine, but I saw no signs of this power.

Is this the betrayal Ganondorf was talking about? How did a Gerudo know the existence of the Sacred Realm if it is a guarded Royal Family secret? Interesting, isn't it?

The Sages overlooked me and Ganondorf. We could look beyond and we did. Once I get all the answers, you can be certain the Sages are going to get hell from me. I am not their hero anymore so my orders are my own.

Once I get the answers….from Ganondorf.

A/N: Kudos for anyone who can guess where I got the Inn's name from. Sorry, no clues!