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Chapter 8 – The True Disguise
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—Sheik's POV—
It was well towards the early afternoon before I stirred awake. As I slowly became conscious of my surroundings, my instincts kicked in and I rolled backwards from where I was laying and settled into a low stance. The sound of grunts, heavy breathing, and cries of pain were close. As my eyes adjusted to the brightness that was stunning my eyes, I realized it was just Link and Gwyn; the two had poles and were dueling, and very intensely at that. Gwyn had a light layer of sweat coating her body and a small smile on her face though ever so often as she blocked a few blows a strange look would cross her face.
Link had a few bruises covering his arms and a couple on his neck and head. There were a few that had apparently been hard enough to draw blood, but he too had a smile on his face, maybe a bit larger even than Gwyn's. They still had not noticed that I was awake, so I settled back on my bedding and watched as they continued.
After half an hour of watching, I moved over to my bag and pulled out some fruit to eat as breakfast, or lunch, whichever you would like to call it. Link had certainly improved since our duel, and though I couldn't base what I was seeing on what he had looked like when they started, I would have to say that he was slowly getting better even as they dueled.
Ultimately, the two sticks were not up to the challenge of the duel and splintered in their hands. I couldn't contain the laughter that wracked my body as I took in their facial expressions, both jumped at the noise and their startled expressions made me laugh even harder. Oh Goddesses, I haven't laughed like this in a while.
The both made their way back over to where I was and sat down. I looked between the two of them, both of their faces flushed from the exercise. Link was slowly beginning to get a faint layer of sweat on his face, but he still was not short of breath or showing signs of fatigue.
"So, Hero, did you sleep any? Or did you walk through fighting stances and such all night?" I ask after my laughter had subsided.
He coughs uncomfortably and begins to rub the back of his neck as Gwyn's head swivels around to lock onto his face. "What is this now? You told me Sheik took first watch and woke you up just before I woke up!"
"Yeah, I wasn't sure how –" He cut off as Gwyns hand connected with the back of his head. Rubbing it softly he looked between us before letting out a sigh, "No, I didn't sleep, I was too refreshed after everything, the sunrise was amazing, and it was just too nice to go to sleep by that time. You both were sleeping so soundly also that I didn't have the heart to try and wake either of you."
"I…but… You still haven't slept yet?" Gwyn sputtered out after a couple seconds. He shook his head with a small smile still on his face. Gwyn looked off away from us, muttering something like "…embarrassing that I can't flat out beat someone who hasn't slept for…" before she got so low I couldn't hear.
Link ducked his head whether because of shyness of in expectancy of another hit and then looked between us again with a small smile on his face. "You two should try it sometime, it is really refreshing and relaxing." He said trying to change the subject.
I decided to take pity on him and went with it, "What exactly are you doing, Hero?"
He stood up, and I followed suit as he motioned for me to stand. Gwyn just sat on the ground watching, a small smile playing at the edge of her mouth. He handed me a pole and then explained what he was doing before telling me to close my eyes and then he slowly walked me through it again. As I worked to remember the duel between Gwyn and I, I slowly started moving. As my blood started flowing, I felt my muscles tighten and loosen as my arms moved in the motion of attacks and blocks. It was soothing, and it surprised me.
The slowness of the motion was slightly taxing, but it also helped release tension. As I focused deeper on the duel from a couple days ago and walked through everything, I slowly began to lose track of time and the sense of everything around me. After what seemed like a few minutes, I was roughly pulled from my reflections by a loud yell, "Guard yourself, Sheik!"
My eyes flicked open to see Link standing a few paces from me with a pole in his hand. He started moving towards me and my limbs began to react. The movement was effortless, secondary, in all my years of fighting; I had never felt quite like this as I fought. The feeling lasted for a few minutes before I began to have to focus more on my blows and blocks. It was amazing the difference between the two, during those few minutes, I was not exerting myself; it was as easy as breathing. I looked closely at Link as we continued to duel and saw the same calmness there that I had felt.
I locked eyes with him and found that I could not read him as easily as I could Gwyn when I had dueled her. I still had enough warning to block and react, but I couldn't plan ahead on how to move from mostly defensive to mostly offensive. The easiness with which he moved, I saw the fluidity and felt the power behind the attacks.
He still left himself open for many attacks, which is, as I guessed, the way Gwyn landed so many hits and caused so many bruises on his body but it was still very impressive. As I thought of Gwyn, my mind registered where I had seen some of the movements that I hadn't recognized the night before; they were more along the lines of the Gerudo fighting style. I was confused at this because I didn't think he had ever seen a Gerudo fight before this morning.
My mind drifted for a bit before returning to focus on the fight once again. As we continued back and forth and I let loose a laugh. He may not have the experience that Gwyn or I do, or the training we had, but I dare say he is doing quite well. I jump back and disengage from him, laughter almost bringing me to the ground. Where in the world is all this laughing coming from? I must be losing my mind.
Gwyn is watching me with a full smile spreading across her face. She chuckles, "It's a rush, is it not? Don't worry though; you're not going crazy, I had the exact same reaction this morning the first time he and I dueled. Took me a full ten minutes to finally calm down."
"So wait you've already been through this?" I asked as my laughing finally died.
"Yeah, thought I had a longer time of meditation." She turned her head towards Link, "You left her alone for an hour or so, but you let me meditate for what, two hours?"
Link nodded before turning to me with a smile, "Glad you enjoyed my form of practice and preparation. Now, let's take a quick side trip over to the river and get washed up before we continue on our way, we should only have an hour of walking to the river and then another hour on up to Kakariko."
He turned to start getting ready to leave before turning back, "Actually, Sheik, can you teleport with people?" I nod, "Excellent, how about you and Gwyn teleport ahead, I'll ride Epona so she can stretch her legs for a bit and give you both time to clean up. Sheik, I bet you can teleport into Kakariko, clean up at Impa's home and give Gwyn privacy before going back to walk her in to Kakariko so she wont get harassed by any townsfolk. I'll get into town as soon as I can."
Gwyn and I glance at each other and nod with a shrug of our shoulders. With that settled, we pack our things and then I teleport Gwyn and I off while Link climbs onto Epona.
Link met up with us shortly after we finished washing up, I ended up just going to the river with Gwyn rather than leaving her alone, since we were both women, though that fact is unknown to Link, it wasn't a big deal for us to have privacy.
He took only a couple minutes at the riverside with his shirt off and pants rolled up to his knees before he dried off and returned to where we were sitting. He smiled as he pulled a new green shirt over his head as he walked up. Gwyn glanced over at me and gave me a smirk while bouncing her eyebrows. I give a light laugh in return and shake my head, focusing in the direction of Kakariko.
Now that we are all feeling refreshed, we start walking once again towards Kakariko. We talk and joke as lightheartedly as we can with the new look Death Mountain was giving off over out heads until we finally reach the gates that lead into Kakariko. I glance up and see a shadowed figure standing in the opening and, after getting closer, recognize that it is Impa waiting for us.
"The Gorons are in danger," She stated softly, focusing on Link, once we got close enough to hear her. T he smirk that was playing across his mouth falls off instantly, "Many have been captured and taken into the Fire Temple, Darunia has decided to follow to try to release any he can. It is most likely that he will enter the Temple before the morning sun tomorrow." She says as she turns her head to look at Link.
He nods, "Well, sounds like I need to get the things I am out of and head that way. Sheik, Gwyn, why don't you two stick around and work on figuring out what we will need to do next. I will restock on what I need and then head up the mountain to speak with Darunia; it will be nice to see him again…I wonder if he will recognize me…." He muttered the last part mostly to himself.
I pat his shoulder encouragingly and then move off towards Impa, Gwyn looks at me with an infuriated, questioning glance but follows my lead. Link bows to Impa and then moves off quickly towards the shops near the center of town. After he has gotten a ways away, Gwyn puts a hand on my shoulder and turns me to face her with a fierce look on her face,
"You are just going to let him walk into the temple alone, with no help, no back up or anything? How do you know there wont be things in the temple that he cannot handle?" She asked, "I know he is the Hero of Time, but surely he still needs some help. Even as Gerudo, we do not let a sister go into a battle by herself even if the odds are in our favor."
"There is nothing I could have said or done to convince him to let us come with him. He understands that this is his task and that he must prove himself to be worthy of the title Hero of Time. We will help as we can, but he must defeat the Temple alone. Besides, we do need to figure out what to do next." I answer and turn to Impa, I still hadn't forgotten our last conversation, but I had forgiven her the second I rushed out the door. I knew her reasons, but it doesn't change the fact that I needed to make my own choices now.
"Impa," I begin, "This is Gwyn, she is a Gerudo and my Sister of the Blade, I met her the night I left Kakariko. Gwyn, this is Impa, my aunt." I say with a small smile, I knew it wouldn't take any more than that for Gwyn to connect the dots.
I was right and understanding dawned on her face almost instantly, "It is a pleasure and honor to make your acquaintance Impa, I am proud to call Sheik my Sister of the Blade, in part because of your training. She is highly skilled, the best challenge I have ever had, and we are very well matched." She finished with a soft smile and Impa returned a quick smile and nodded.
"Why don't you two return with me to my house, we can get settled in to wait for the Hero's return, speak some and then get a plan for you all to start with for the near future." Impa said before turning in the direction of her house and motioning for us to follow her as she set off walking.
The three of us got settled in quickly enough and sat talking about nothing of great importance for the first hour or so. Impa finally turned to me and said, "So, tell me of how things have gone since you left." There was a touch of pain to her voice and I knew I was partly to blame for it being there but I pushed it aside and began my retelling of the events. Gwyn helped me every once in a while on things I forgot or didn't feel were important.
Impa's eyes grew wide when she heard that Link still had not slept since he had awakened, but grew even wider when we explained what he did for rest. She was not quite expecting our laughter as we recounted the feeling of fighting after that. We spoke for a while on where Link was still weak, the things he could still improve on and the like with Impa giving suggestions here and there. Once most of that had been talked over, we moved on to planning.
I knew the next Temple Link would have to go to was the Water Temple; which offered two very large problems: how will Link hold his breath as long as he needed to, and how will he keep from just floating the whole time? At this point, Gwyn mostly just sat and listened while Impa and I related rumors we had heard and Impa related some of the myths and legends passed down through the generations of the Zoras. Ultimately, there seemed to be enough truth behind the Iron Boots that are said to be hidden in the cavern to the side of Zora Fountain where Lord Jabu-Jabu swims, and the Zoran Armor, which the King is supposed to have, that would allow Link to breath underwater.
As we finish discussing, I feel a pull to go to the mountain, it is very strong, almost to the point I have to grip the table to keep myself from teleporting straight up there. Gwyn notices my reaction and grabs onto my wrist.
"Sheik! Are you okay? What's going on?"
I turn to look at Gwyn, but instead of being able to reply, I teleport us both to a place near the entrance to the Fire Temple. Gwyn looks over at me with a startled look.
"What the hell is going on Sheik? Why did you just teleport us to the middle of a volcano?" She asks, her voice is a little shaky from being startled.
I look at her, "I don't have any idea, I just suddenly got a very strong pull to come here for some reason. I didn't even mean to teleport here, it just kind of happened." I look down towards the platform with the fire symbol on it and see Link walking near it. Once again, without thinking, I grab Gwyn and jump down near where Link is standing and we land silently.
As Link and I look at each other, I feel the ebb and flow of the lava around us, the heat, and the strength and passion that is contained within the movement of the semi-fluid rock surrounding the ground we are standing on. Words are called to my lips and they begin to move freely and I speak them without truly knowing what I am saying.
"It is something that grows over time… a true friendship. A feeling in the heart that becomes even stronger over time… The passion of a friendship will soon blossom into a righteous power and through it, you will know which way to go…" As I finish, I pull out my harp. "This song is dedicated to the power of the heart… Listen to the Bolero of Fire…"
My fingers dance across the strings, the melody is one that has a feeling of building to it, like it is rising slowly and it feels as though my heart is singing the harmony line. Link has pulled out his Ocarina and plays it, the harp and Ocarina sounds melding wonderfully, the lava around us almost seems to respond by flowing a little higher on some notes and then falling once more on others, I allow my fingers to follow the music my heart is playing. I notice that Gwyn is standing still and silently, watching us.
As the song finishes, I nod, the urge to come here has been satisfied and I now feel like I can leave once more. I say farewell to Link, grab ahold of Gwyn once more and then use a Deku nut to blind Link for a second and teleport back to where we had been when we first arrived. We watch as Link squares his shoulders and walks towards the entrance to the Temple. As he enters, Gwyn turns to me, "Okay, Sheik, explain."
I look at her for a second and as an idea hits me I answer, "Alright, but not here, its too hot to stay exposed out here much longer."
I grab her wrist again and then teleport us a ways inside the Temple, it is still hot, but not too unbearable since the surrounding rock is a little cooler. On top of that, my clothing is not only light, but it also somehow keeps me cool, and Gwyn, I know, is used to heat around this temperature. We teleport a couple times around the inside of the Temple so I can get a feel for the place and then sit down facing Gwyn.
"Zelda is the bearer of the Triforce piece Wisdom, Link bears the piece of Courage, and Ganondorf bears that of Power. By divine appointment, literally, my job is to help guide Link as he works to oppose Ganondorf. I'm guessing that part of the guidance is whatever I told him back in front of the entrance to the Temple, I say I guess, because I really don't have any idea what I just told him. I don't even know what the song was that I just taught him, but I know it was for a reason and that I was supposed to.
"The reason we are in here is because I am once again going to help give guidance, and you are going to help also. As I have been teleporting, I have noticed there are many switches and blocks scattered throughout this Temple with Gerudo symbols on it. I want you to look at these things and tell me if you know how they work, if so, we can go to each of the captured Gorons and give them information to pass on to Link as he saves them. I have no doubt Darunia will go to the main enemy to try to stop that problem and send Link to save his people from being eaten if he fails. Make sense?"
She nods her head and then lets a smile creep across her face. "Helping from the shadows then, ehh? I like it."
With that, we set off; for the most part we didn't run into any problems aside from a nasty yet humorous experience with a fake door. Gwyn was working to get away from a boulder rolling her way that I had already jumped out of the way from, went to open a door and got flattened beneath it as she turned the handle.
I figured she would be hurt but I couldn't keep myself from laughing because of the surprise, the look on her face, and the look I imagined I had on my own face. I rushed over and pulled the door off of her and checked to be sure she was okay, my shoulders still shaking lightly from the silent laughter I was trying so hard to contain. She didn't think it was very funny though for some reason…
After a couple hours, we had talked to all of the captured Gorons, explained what we were doing and promised that Link would be by to release them and to tell him what we had found but for them to not tell him we told them.
Shortly after we finished, I teleported Gwyn and I back to Impa's house. She was pacing franticly pack and forth muttering to herself. She made a few more passes before she realized we were standing there watching. Relief flooded across her face for a couple short moments before it set once again to an emotionless mask, her eyes still warring between relief, worry, and frustration.
"Where have you two been? And why did you just decide to disappear on me with no warning or goodbye or anything like that?" She asked, more emotion coming through her voice than she would usually allow. Her eyes were beginning to calm as she spoke though so I knew she would be fine once I just explained what happened.
I decided to mess with her a little bit first though, "Aww, that's so cute, you were worried about me?" I asked raising my eyebrows playfully, "And here I thought you Sheikahs were supposed to be so well controlled on your emotions." Laughing softly as I finished.
Her frown was twitching as she fought to keep it in place. Before the smile broke through however, I decided to give in, "Alright, alright, sit down and I'll explain." The three of us once again converged on the table and returned to our former seats before Gwyn and I had teleported.
"I explained this to Gwyn earlier, which by the way, I am sorry that I didn't give you any heads up that we were going to be leaving, I would have if I had known myself." I smirked lightly as Impa's eyebrows furrowed slightly, "Yeah, that's what I thought, you see here, we were, sitting, talking normally when a very strong urge came over me and it was practically pulling me to the Fire Temple. I gripped the table; Gwyn grabbed on to me and then we teleported.
"I think it was because I had a duty to fulfill as the guide for Link. I told him something, played a song and then the urge just went away. Gwyn and me are about as confused as you are, I can promise you, but that's what happened. Speaking of which, Gwyn, what did I say to Link? I meant to ask you that sooner…"
She repeated it back as well as she could remember. Hopefully she was slightly off because the way she made it sound made me blush. I need to be more mindful of the things that come out of my mouth from now on… and what was the deal with that song and my feelings… I push the thoughts aside and work to refocus on the conversation between Impa and Gwyn as she tells more of the story from her view.
The three of us talked for a bit longer about what we had done in the Temple, and explained to Impa what we had seen and discovered as far as traps and obstacles that were in there. After a little while though, Impa stood up and said she was going back to the Spirit Temple for a while. I nodded and told Gwyn to follow me up stairs so we could get our things set down.
I had a room in Impa's house that I would stay in while I was in the area and while I had been training with her. Since I had been gone for a while though, Impa had made some changes to allow her to accommodate more people. She had brought in multiple beds that were scattered throughout the room with room in between for walking space, and chests at the foot of each bed to place personal belongings in during the night.
Gwyn and I opted to push the beds aside and just sleep on the ground; while most would find a bed more comfortable, Gwyn and I had slept on the ground of harder surfaces for so long that it was now hard to get comfortable in an actual bed. As we are getting our things paid out, Gwyn starts laughing,
"Oh, what your servants will think when this all gets taken care of and you return to the castle and they come in to find you sleeping on the floor rather than your bed!" her body giving over to shaking from her half-contained giggles. I scowl at her, half jokingly, but half in earnest. I don't enjoy thinking of the time when I have to return to being the Princess of Hyrule, or Quee—no, I'm not think about this now! How I hate this topic…
Her giggles die down after a short period of time. She finishes laying out her things and then situates herself, cross-legged, on her bedding facing me. "So, how long do you think it will take Link to get through this Temple?"
My hands are still moving as I work to finish placing my things as I want them, but my mind is in a hundred different places right now, "Um, I'm not really sure. Maybe a day and a half, no more than two though, especially with the hints we gave the Gorons to tell him, he shouldn't take too long getting through the temple. Then it is on to Volvagia, the dragon the Gorons were telling us about, well, that is the main thing I am worried about, if Darunia hasn't taken care of him already that is, though they say the only way to defeat him is with the legendary hammer.
"If the Hero has to go find it, then that may push him back to the full two days. I doubt it though, even with that. Especially since we went through and gave hints."
"It sounds like you have a lot of faith in him." She half muttered to herself.
I look at her and give a small nod as our eyes meet, "Yeah, I do. He has been running with no sleep for this long and is still able to hold his own pretty well against each of us, I doubt a few monsters will be too much trouble for him. Even with the dragon, he will face much harder enemies before he is done; especially if Bongo Bongo keeps giving Impa the trouble he has been lately."
"Speaking of fighting…" I clear my throat,"Have you showed the Hero any Gerudo fighting techniques?" I asked after a bit longer. Her eyes flashed up to mine before she shook her head.
"No, I haven't shown him any; in fact, I was going to ask you the same thing. When I woke up this morning, he was walking through the steps of one of the harder fighting styles we learn, and he was almost perfect with his posture and execution. I mean; I know some of our masters who struggle with some parts of it still. I just don't know how he learned it or how he picked it up so well…" Her face settled into one of contemplation and confusion.
I just nodded, these was something strange going on with Link at different times and it was extremely confusing, there should be no way for him to know some of the things he does, plain and simple. The only thing that makes sense to me is the Goddesses giving him information while he was sleeping that just randomly can be called to memory or maybe it is something completely different; it's weird whatever the reasoning is…
"What did you think of his meditation and practicing methods?" She asked with a smirk crossing her lips. "Pretty crazy wasn't it."
I shook my head affirmatively a small smile crawling onto my own face, "I have never seen anyone do something like it, I have seen meditation and I have seen people walking through fighting stances, but I have never seen anyone do what he did. Did it feel like you could fight longer after following his advice?"
She nodded her head, eyes slightly glazed over as she thought back to this morning I guessed.
She cocks her head to the side a bit as she looks at me again, "I tried what we did when we dueled, you know, locked eyes with him to try to see his plans for fighting, his attacks and such, and I couldn't read him very well, just barely enough to block the hits before they came. Did you try it?"
I laugh softly, "Yeah, I did," my eyes focus in on my hands as they lay in my lap as I think back on the duel with him, "It was the same thing for me as it was for you. My only guess is he doesn't wear his heart or his pride on his sleeve like you and I do at times. My anger can be laid bare while fighting making me easier to follow and predict; your pride and confidence in your fighting can be seen. With the Hero, he…"
I trail off for a moment as I search for the right words,
"I guess he just keeps himself contained, calm, and almost disconnected as he battles, he is only doing what he must do to survive and complete what he has been chosen for. By him closing off from the fighting, he makes it harder to follow his plans and strategy."
Gwyn nods in response and we fall into some easy silence. My eyes wander around the room for a bit, when my eyes return to her, she has a quizzical look on her face,
"By the way, Sheik, I noticed before that you got a strange look on your face when Link was telling you he had a name. What was the deal there? If you don't mind me asking that is…" She looked down at her lap where she was picking at her fingernails anxiously.
I take in a deep breath and sigh. I was worried about these questions that have been simmering for a while. "I… To be honest, I don't know what to tell you." I scoff inwardly. Yeah I do, it's just whether I want to tell her the truth or the easier explanation… I take a deep breath to calm myself. It will be best if I am honest with her, because that is what you do with friends, tell them the truth…but I've had friends for seven years that I have been lying to…
"You don't have to tell me," Gwyn's voice pulls me from my internal debate, "I know you keep things kind of locked away from people." Her voice is soft, reserved almost.
This is a really strange way for a Gerudo to act, and especially after seeing how strong and fierce she seemed around the other ladies that were in her group…
I tilt my head to the side as I look at her, what reason do I have to not be honest with her? Is there really anything hurtful enough in what I have to say that should stop me? … Well, a few things, but I'll steer clear of them; I will be honest but stay disconnected from it. That is what I have done already anyways; disconnect myself from the person of Zelda, treating her memories as though they are some one else's memories, her personality as someone else's traits.
Gwyn is still looking at me with confusion and gives a light, nervous laugh, "Umm, Sheik, you alright there?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's…that is a bit of a hard question," I'm still mostly stalling and I look away from her face for a moment. How in depth do I go with this? I take a few breaths to clear my head and look at her again,
"There have been many things that have changed since Ganondorf came to Hyrule Castle the first time." Pain tore through my heart as my thoughts went back to those times,
"Disconnect" I tell myself, "You are no longer Zelda, they weren't you're parents, but what happened was wrong and unjust." A flash of hatred and anger flows through me, "Yes, that's better."
My eyes drift to the wall behind Gwyn and I focus in on one of the boards as I work to gather my thoughts once again. Anger, hurt, disgust, loss and hate swirling to the front of my mind as I worked back to where I felt I should start.
"Zelda was a young, naïve princess," Gwyn's head tilts and her eyes cloud over with confusion as I begin but she doesn't stop me. "She thought that, as a nine year old, she could take on the word, change it, make it better; she thought she could take on a fully grown man and keep him from getting what he wanted. She thought that, instead of talking with adults, that she and a ten-year-old boy with a sword, shield and a fairy over his head was all it would take; the most foolish ideology that the bearer of wisdom could have."
My bitterness was slowly seeping into my words, becoming thick with the hatred I held within my mind of those times, her memories. Who was she; the 'Princess of Hyrule', the 'Bearer of Wisdom' to think she could make choices that would ultimately destroyed a nation, kill the two leaders, and send a generation of people into a time of utter darkness and fear. Who did she think she was?
The anger and hatred was building within me, it's power surging through my thoughts and I felt stronger as I spoke Foolish girl, and her foolish thoughts and actions.
"They failed, as you well know, to keep Ganondorf from entering the Sacred Realm, her parents and most of the people within the castle that day were killed, and she was exiled as she fled to hide from the problems she caused."
I laughed scornfully as I tell of how Zelda thought at the time that she could pray that the Goddesses take away the suffering, to keep Link safe and they actually be fulfilled. How after a year, she finally gave up on that, telling the Goddesses to take care of him themselves, because she couldn't bear to worry about it anymore. She then moved on to cursing Link, his foolishness for opening the seal and allowing Ganondorf the one thing he was after. I talked for what seemed like hours, my voice finally starting to become hoarse from the inflection and the mocking, hate filled tone I was constantly using throughout it.
"The end of her naivety and weakness, and the beginning of her hatred is what brought me into fullness." I said as I spread my arms wide to either side of me with a wry smile on my face.
Gwyn's expression had moved into one of total shock, not that I was paying much attention to her as I spoke; too wrapped up in the memories I had tried to cut away from myself.
My mind cleared slowly as I finished and I finally focused once more on Gwyn. She had shifted away from me some, her body tensed slightly and almost defensively. I took slow breaths, my eyes closed as I worked to calm down once more. A few minutes later, I look back towards Gwyn, her face was mostly passive, but there was a look of fear mixed with worry. My mind recounted on what I had just said and how I had said it and almost instantly dropped my head in shame.
"Sorry," my voice practically a whisper, "I got a bit carried away there. Like I said, it's a very tough subject for me to talk about…I'm not crazy though, I promise" As I looked back up, she just nodded in response.
Good enough for me I guess... We sat in silence for a bit, I worked to calm myself more after my long-winded explanation. It was a little uncomfortable, but it worked for the time being. I looked at her once more and thought back over the past couple days. She had a thoughtful expression on her face.
A few more short moments of silence and then I mumble something about going to bed. I twist around and lay down on my side facing away from her. My anger had drained, and apparently, it took my energy with it. I was asleep in hardly any time at all.
Grey mist swirled around me. – – Something about this seems familiar…
My eyes slowly begin to adjust to my surroundings and I once more found myself standing in the Chamber of the Sages. Though it was only a few days ago, there has been a small change, there is not as much darkness here now, a bright beam of light is enveloping one of the pedestals; the sage of the Forest Temple has been awakened.
I see a shape shift within the light; my eyes adjust to looking at the brightness and I see a young girl, this must be Saria…
She has a comforting, kind smile on her face as she looks at me, hands clasped behind her back, her green tunic clinging cutely to her frame. Her eyes though…they are almost like deep pools; there are innocence and naivety, but also wisdom and strength flowing beneath their surfaces.
"Well met, Zelda. Since you have been traveling with Link, I am sure you know already, but I am Saria, the Forest Temple sage. Thank you for your part in helping Link release me, you have a larger role to play in the history being made than you yet realize." She pauses and gives a knowing smile, leaving me with an undercurrent of questions and wonderment at these words that drags my mind away from our conversation. What in the world does she mean by larger role than I realize. My desire to voice my question is overruled, however, by the feeling that now is not the time for questions.
My attention is drawn back to her by a whispered "Listen!" the smile still playing across her face. It is not a taunting smile, but one like a parent would have before they let their kid in on a huge secret.
"You flow with words of Wisdom, because that is your office, your job, and your divine calling; to guide the Hero and speak Wisdom. But you do not live Wisdom as of yet, because you do not know how. Hate clouds wisdom, and anger drives it away. But there can be no Wisdom without knowledge, and no true knowledge without experience.
"Do not think of naivety as a weakness, but an opportunity, do not view innocence as worthless, but perspective. The world is pure, with a few blemishes, not a shattered piece of pottery with only a few pieces still intact. To guide, you must believe, and to believe you must hope.
"Though you will not understand everything now, it will become clear. What you have suffered is great, and it is unfair, but do not see it as hopeless, see it as hope giving. Your true disguise is not the physical transformation you hide inside of, but the emotional and mental transformation you are forcing upon yourself. Until you accept your disguise is just that, a disguise; something to be hidden behind, you will not know your true strength, nor will you be able to know your true heart.
"Today may be dark, but you hold the light to bring a brighter tomorrow." Another knowing smile crosses her face as if she told me a joke that I won't understand yet; it's almost frustrating.
"Remember these words well, Zelda. Though you must still experience things, it will come easier if you remember the words of wisdom you have spoken yourself and have heard from others."
Grey began to swirl around me once more
"Remember well, these words" a voice whispered as my vision faded out.
The final Goron we spoke to, hands Link the key to the room that contains the Volvagia. Link thanks him as he turns and runs back to the main room where he first saw Darunia. He jumps across a pillar and comes to a stop at the door. He unlocks the door and as he swings it open to the side—flames almost instantly engulf him.
My vision goes black.
