Ch. 4

Haeda stumbled through a smoking, torched field. He couldn't see farther away than twenty feet. He was dimly aware that he was looking for something or someone. He looked around, completely lost. Mangled weaponry of battle was strewn about the field. "Where am I?" He thought.

He whipped around as he heard a shrill cry. Someone was calling for help! Her voice was desperate and full of anguish. Haeda gritted his teeth and ran in her direction. He could make out a shape through the smoke. He rushed toward her, but just as he reached the silhouette, she vanished. He staggered to a stop, confused, and heard her cry again. He turned and saw her shape once again, over to his right. He ran to her, but she disappeared as before. Her cries were more desperate than ever, but Haeda could never reach her.

His eyes flew wide open. He quickly shut them as light stabbed them suddenly. The boy realized that it was crisp sunlight. His head was cloudy, and the back of his head was sore. The next thing Haeda became aware of was that he was lying in the dirt. He slowly lifted his head and rubbed the cheek that had been resting on the ground. Just at that moment, memories of that night flew into his brain. He sat bolt upright, but then recoiled and let loose a sharp cry as his head burst in pain. He held his head in his hands, letting the pain pass, and then gingerly touched the bump that was left by the stalfos's club.

The screams, the terror, the fire all came back to him. Tears of frustration and loss started to roll down his cheeks. The dream was completely forgotten as the lonely boy cried, hunched over in the middle of the ruined village. When the surge of emotion ebbed away, Haeda took his hands away from his eyes and caught sight of his sword. It was glaring in the morning light, sitting nearby. He stood up stiffly and picked it up. There was a soft scraping sound as the blade brushed against a beam of burned wood. It was one of the few pieces of the shop that was left. The boy stared at the pile of ashes that still gave off a wisp of smoke.

He looked up, startled, as he heard a sound behind him. He turned to see Etota and Pellopa trotting toward him briskly. Etota nuzzled Haeda's face, sadness but comfort shining in her beautiful brown eyes. Haeda stroked her neck. She pawed the ground eagerly. Haeda smiled and whispered, "You want to go too, don't you?"

Pellopa brayed defiantly, stamping a hoof down with a dull thud. Haeda's smile became less cheery and more of a sad smile. "I am sorry, but I am not the one to ride a horse such as you. The one who deserves to…isn't here." A stubborn whinny was what followed. "No, Pellopa." At her name, she settled down, but still looked at him with square in the eye.

Haeda walked Etota down the narrow forest path, which was really only used by deer and some other creatures. A rope had been loosely but securely tied around Pellopa's neck. The other end was firmly held in Haeda's hand. A scowl had crept over his face as they had traveled farther away from Kokiri. A voice floated through his mind. A voice he had known all too well. Ganon has returned!... He shuddered as a breeze brushed his arm. Go, my boy!... The horses whinnied softly, tossing there mains nervously. Haeda patted them both comfortingly. "It's okay." He cooed, but there was a coldness that had seeped into his bones.

As the afternoon sun flung shafts of golden light onto the leaf-scattered ground, the boy and his horses approached the edge of the forest. Haeda stepped out onto the field beyond. The openness made him feel vulnerable and small. He took a step back, unsure of himself. But a flame had lit inside him. It burned with an intense heat as he remembered what had happened the night before. He angrily sifted through his hastily packed saddlebags, chewing half a loaf of bread when he found it. He carefully picked apples for the horses from the nearby trees and fed them.

The sky was a beautiful blue, with delightful puffy clouds racing across from horizon to horizon. It was a heavenly day, but Haeda did not enjoy it.

When he finished his quick meal, he walked over to Pellopa, who was happily grazing. He touched her neck, and she looked up. Her eyes were shining. She knew what the boy was going to do. He patted her, and slowly slipped the rope off of her neck. She willingly but regretfully lowered her head so he could take it off. When her head rose, she nosed him with her muzzle. Haeda wrapped his arms around her neck, burying his head into her mane. "Good by, Pellopa." He whispered.

He rapidly trudged over to Etota, mounted her, and hastily spurred her to go. She only trotted slowly away, head turned all the while with a gaze fixed on Pellopa. Pellopa whinnied and started to follow. Haeda turned, tears in his eyes, and shouted, "No! You are free; there is no master to hold you by the reign! Go!" He spurred Etota once again, who regretfully went a little faster. Pellopa once again started to follow. Haeda yelled at her again, angrily wiping a tear away. "Go now, Pellopa! Be free! BE FREE!" He made Etota charge away, up and over a gentle sloping hill. Ruto's beloved horse disappeared from sight, still crying out to her friends, who were leaving her behind.