Chapter 13: Snows of Despair
The sun shone brightly down on the large populace of Clock Town and still fiercely battled with the malevolent moon to give hope to the people below. Thanks to Link playing the Song of Time it now had three more days to try but it was still doomed to fail.
Link stood below this in the same spot he stood in before when he first entered the bustling town, and also when he first travelled back through time. Instead of ask demanding questions or complain at the unfortunate situation he was stuck in, Link instead just looked up at the sky and at the moon, thinking.
"Sinister-looking, isn't it?"
Link jumped to see the happy mask man standing next to him and also looking up into the sky, or more specifically the moon.
"But hopefully there should be nothing to worry about. I still believe in your skills and I know you can stop this." He added.
Link stood and stared silently at the mask man as there was nothing he felt necessary to respond to. Tatl was floating around the place to soak in that they had gone back and to happily understand that her brother must still be alive in this time and not mercilessly killed. She breathed a sigh of relief but didn't let herself get too distracted by drawing herself back to the mask man who started this whole adventure.
"I see you have been to the swamp-like kingdom of the Dekus. Ah, and I also see you have released one of the giants necessary to stop this calamity." The mask man noticed, somehow looking into Link's pack to see the remains of Odolwa.
"How is it you know of these events?" Link asked.
The mask man chuckled lightly, "I have my ways, but know that, besides yourself, only I and the guardians of the land, when free, are able to bypass the flow of time and see alternative times that have already occurred. Like the ones you have been in, for example. I saw you meet the Gerudo witches. I saw Majora kill the witches a short time after you left them. I even saw you fight with yourself, but when you went to speak with the giant, that I did not see."
"Why not?" Tatl asked.
"It is a realm that I cannot see from afar with my limited powers. It may have been possible once upon a time, but that time is long gone.
"So where should we go now? We have no more leads!" Tatl exclaimed.
"Do you not remember your brother's words when you met him up there?" the mask man pointed to the top of the clock tower, "I believe he spoke of the four provinces in each corner of the land. You have been to the swamp, that which remains is the mountain, the ocean and the canyon. Of the three, I would recommend going to the mountain first. If you wish to know why, the boy here will find out once you have done what is necessary up there."
There was a pause with all being confused at the encrypted words of the mask man. "We shall go to the mountain then." Link said.
"Hm, I see the time you have had to think has made you willing to the task set before you. Let us hope this change continues to be a good one." The mask man said, smiling.
Link abruptly left with Tatl following next to him. They walked peacefully through the streets saying nothing to each other until they had left through the northern wall, being the closest exit to the mountain they needed to climb. The northern exit happened to be close to the park the two had first come to when Link arrived, but both silently agreed to not bring up anything relating to it. Once they passed through the large guarded archway, they saw just what kind of a mountain it was they needed to climb and just stared at the feat ahead of them.
There was a small gorge between them and the mountain that was their goal but that itself was not the problem. The entire mountain was covered in snow and only stopped close to the bottom. Leading up and around to the back was a clearly visible pass which would take them to the temple, they guessed, but even then the pass was still covered in snow and looked gruellingly hard to cross.
Looking at each other with the same expression of reluctance, both Link and Tatl followed a path down into the gorge that would later take them back up and on to the mountain pass. Tatl felt like trying to talk to this new, or changed, Link but wasn't entirely sure where to start. She still hadn't finished hearing the end of his story as the Hero of Time, but it still sounded like a touchy subject so she left it alone. While thinking of a topic starter, Link found it for her by looking up at the snowy mountain in curiosity.
"Tatl, what is this mountain we are heading towards?" Link asked.
"It's called Snowhead. On the other side, hidden from view, is a community of Gorons who are known for making and trading weapons. It's also where an ancient temple is said to be, but few are sure as the path up is not commonly walked by other peoples. Only Gorons have the strength and speed to make it through the pass in a single day." Tatl explained.
"And we only have three. I'm beginning to think this task is not possible to complete." Link said, doubtful.
"I think we should trust the mask man. He sounds like he knows what we should be doing." Tatl said. Link visibly slowed down while his face showed mixed emotions of sorrow, agitation and solemnity.
"Trust? I'm sorry, Tatl, but trust is something that I can't easily give. My trust has been broken too many times before."
"Oh, because of your past. Well, maybe now is a good time to try again. After all, whether you trust him or not you're still going to be doing what he says in order to go home. Just try, even if it is for the last time."
"Tatl, I just can't take that risk. I know you mean well, but just let me do this without having to lose anything." Link finished.
Knowing when to stop, Tatl didn't raise the trust issue anymore and silently flew next to the boy as they reached the base of the mountain. The start of the trek would be the easiest part as, although it was the steepest part, it was also free from snow so there would be nothing to slow them down. Placing his first footprint into the snow once the path levelled out a bit, Link also noticed a few shallow, clean-cut troughs that he identified as a Goron trail.
Gorons themselves were a very strong and proud race by nature. Mountainous places such as this would be a common home for Gorons due to the fact that a common food source for them is rocks. Their physical features reflect this as it is their incredibly tough hide which gives them an incredible defence as well as a strong offence. Another feature that comes as a result of this is their weight, which is big. This normally makes them slow but because of the way in which their backs curve over, a handy ability is to be able to curl up into a ball and roll at high speeds through nearly any terrain. The tracks that Link was looking at were of a rolling Goron and also the reason why only a Goron could move through the pass in a single day.
This was not going to deter Link from his task, though. He set out with some sort of a determination to be the first person to walk the pass in a day, but only because he had to.
The first thing, besides the tracks, that was noticeable was how cold it was slowly becoming. When Ganondorf had frozen over Zora's Domain Link understood how cold it had to be for snow to fall and ice to form, but he had been older then and there had been little to no snow at all. Now he was climbing up a mountain covered in snow as it grew colder with every step. He immediately regretted not getting some warmer clothing when in town, but knew it was too late to turn back now.
Prints of his brown boots were left behind in the Goron's trail where he stepped while it also picked up snow and stuck to the soles. The extra, foot-numbing weight was not something he needed but this quickly became irrelevant as more snow gently fell down and stuck to the rest of his clothes and skin in an equally numbing way. In just a few minutes and a few hundred metres, Link was mostly covered in soft snow and only just able to feel the tips of his fingers. Every now and again, Link would wiggle his fingers about just to get the ice off that had formed from the melted snow.
Hours passed and their progress was consistent as they neared the point where the pass curved round to the back of the mountain. They stopped for a moment to look behind them and see the distance they had covered. Far below them was the foot of the mountain and a little further from that was the now tiny Clock Town. Looking up the moon looked a lot bigger but whether this was because they were higher or because it had come lower, it was hard to tell.
Doing her best to cover herself from the snow and the wind, Tatl admired Link and herself for managing to come this far up in such a short amount of time. They had rarely stopped as they had now on their ascent and they moved at a good, constant pace. By now, though, it had long passed midday and she was strongly reminded of the fact that she hadn't had anything to eat in a long time.
"Link, I'm hungry. Do we have anything to eat?" She pleadingly asked. Link cursed himself for yet another thing he should have gotten when in the town.
"Sorry Tatl. We don't. Here, sit on my shoulder, or under my hat if you wish.HHHH It will shelter you from the cold and gives you a chance to rest."
Tatl happily complied and opted to go under his hat and rest. Link was also getting hungry himself, but he had gone without food for a few days before so this was something he could ignore. It was the snow and wind that made walking the pass the most difficult thing. Yes, they had gotten this far before the day's end, but only because Link had been pushing himself as much as he could and it was possible for him to give at any moment now. This still did nothing to stop him or slow him down as the path became more level when walking around the side of Snowhead.
Another hour later and Clock Town had now hidden itself from view as the tips of a secluded village peeked over the top of a small crevice. They were rounded and tipped at the top so Link wasn't sure if they belonged to the Gorons or not, seeing as they naturally preferred large caves, but it was definitely a village and that meant both food and shelter.
Having noticed that Tatl had dozed off a short while ago, Link decided to let her snooze a while longer and tell her of the village when she woke up or when they arrived. Instead he quickened his pace slightly to get there faster and immediately felt the foolish effects of his actions. Pushing himself that little bit more was enough to tip it over the limit and release all the strain on his muscles. His legs wobbled, his head bobbed around in dizziness and now his strength had failed him the cold was able to attack him full blast and blow him back. Feebly shielding his eyes with his frozen arm, Link trudged onward with a much slower pace than before as his vision slowly faded in and out. Attempting to take one more step, Link fell forward and managed to land partly on his side so he wouldn't suffocate on the snow, then blanked out.
--
The smell and warmth of the fire slowly stirred Link awake from his undisturbed slumber as he tried to move. Despite the new heat, his body still felt mostly frozen which greatly limited his immediate movement but things cracked in to place once he had stretched out a little.
He pushed himself off his uncomfortably stiff bed to get a better look of his surroundings. It was a small, circular room made of stone that curved in at the top to create a dome shape. To his right there was an old, worm-ridden door while to his left there was some sort of a make-shift fireplace that was lit and giving off the heat Link could feel. Besides these two simplistic features there wasn't anything else in the room. Just an old bed with an old fire sealed shut by an old door. It then surprised Link to see a large Goron open the door and enter.
"Ah, good. You're awake." He said.
For a Goron, this one would be what you generally expected of one having only heard but never seen. His height matched that of a full-grown man while his girth was also shown with the large, curved back that had a very rough look to it. It was hard to tell, but he looked to be around his late twenties or so.
"Where am I?" Link asked, keeping his priorities straight.
"Our village, Little Snowhead. We imagine you saw it before you collapsed where we found you." The Goron explained.
"We?"
"My friends and I. We were coming back from the city when we found you on the trail. You were unconscious so we brought you back and laid you down here until you awoke, which leads us to now. Oh, my name is Bramne." The Goron, Bramne, said.
"Well, thanks. Wait, where are my belongings?" Link quickly asked, having just remembered them.
"Oh, you're weapons. Well, one of my friends insisted in taking your short sword and working on it before returning it. He's a blacksmith and quite a legend on these mountains so you should have it back sometime tomorrow or the following morning in a much stronger form. Everything else was left in another room in here as your fairy friend felt it was for the best."
Link let his gaze wonder as his mind was more on his missing sword being upgraded, until a moment later when the words 'fairy friend' sunk in.
"Tatl? Where is she?" Link asked, a little louder than before.
"She is fine. She's waiting in the next room over with your belongings waiting for you to wake up. She's probably still waiting now. Would you like to go see her?" Bramne asked.
Link nodded, pushing himself out of the bed more until he was standing up beside it. He quietly followed the Goron out into a room much larger than he expected. It was another large, circular domed room that was several stories high and had a large walkway twisting up the side to the top. There were a number of other doors which seemed to insinuate that this was an Inn, but the ground floor showed no reception desk or anything of the sort. Instead it was just a large space with a few torches and a stairwell leading to one last room below. Link didn't have much time to look at much else as they had already arrived at the room where Tatl was said to be. After opening the equally old wooden door, this was proven to be true.
"Link! Thank goodness you're alright." Tatl exclaimed happily, darting towards him.
The room itself was almost the same as the one Link had been sleeping in except there was no bed and a few racks placed around the side in its place. On these racks were a few weapons and other things, which Link recognised as his own, and a few other little pieces but otherwise they were bare. Tatl had flown off one of the racks and was now fluttering about in front of Link's face.
"You were out for ages. I wasn't sure if you were still alive or not. You were just lying there and-"
"Tatl." Link said, stopping her.
"Oh, sorry. I was going on for a bit, huh." Tatl shyly responded.
There was a somewhat awkward silence that followed with nobody saying anything. Bramne broke it by bringing up the topic of food and how they must both be hungry. Tatl had already been offered something while Link was out but felt she could have something else seeing as Link was going to eat as well. After being led down to the bottom floor below the main circular room, there were a number of tables and chairs with a few Gorons already eating through a pile of rocks in front of them. Fortunately, there was also some meat and other edible foods so they both politely and hungrily ate what they had.
During their meal Bramne went into a bit more detail on where they were and of their current situation. The large building was actually the Elder's home but also the home to others who were not so fortunate due to current conditions. As Bramne explained, Snowhead was enveloped in an eternal winter with the snows around their home never ending. It was always cold, the winds were harsh and it was all having a drastic effect on everyone who was only just able to get by. That's why the Elder allowed those people to stay in his home until they felt better.
"Unfortunately, we have not seen the elder for nearly two days now." Bramne finished.
"He's not here?" Tatl asked, "Why?"
"At first, he only meant to go out to an underground hot-spring to get hot water for those who needed it, but doing this never takes more than a few hours. We first assumed he was late because the weather got worse but when a day passed with no sign, we know something had happened."
"So why not send a search party?" Link asked.
"We already have, but we still haven't been able to find him." Bramne grew quiet after that, thinking of the elder and if he would ever return. "Still, you have not yet said why you have come here in the first place. If you wish for goods, you should know we are happy to bring them to you."
"We wish to enter the temple on these peaks."
There was a slight clatter of things as every Goron turned to look at Link as if he was crazy. Link gave them a glare to shut them up and see their expression, but they quickly hid their faces once they had been seen.
"The Snowhead Temple? What reason would you have to want to go there?" Bramne asked, saying what the other Gorons would not. Link thought for a short moment on how much he should tell this Goron. He did not need to know everything, but just enough.
"There is something there that I need, and I must get it before the morning of the carnival." Link explained, remembering the carnival by looking at a clock on the wall.
Bramne seemed to understand the request, but started pacing back and forth trying to decide what to do. It had recently been proven that trying to go there could result in death, yet this boy seemed so determined and…different.
"There seems to be more to you than any of us can see, so we will not stop you."
Tatl let out a sigh of relief knowing this temple would be easier to get to than the Deku temple.
"There is, however," Bramne continued, "one thing I would like to show you before you attempt such a task. You are not likely to get anything else accomplished at this late hour of the day so I would say now is a good time."
Link nodded in agreement. "Show me what I must see."
Leaving the remnants of his meal behind, Link and Tatl followed the Goron out of the cellar and went to get some warmer clothing. Still wearing his green tunic, Link now wore a large brown furry coat that covered nearly all of his body. He kept his boots on as they were enough to keep his feet warm and silently followed the Goron out.
From the outside, Link was able to get a better look at the village and the buildings were like nothing he had ever seen. They had the rounded tops he saw when drawing near, but from them they spiralled out to create rounded shapes which curved back in towards the bottom. It was a wonder how Gorons, a race who prefer living underground in a network of caves, could live in these kinds of buildings and conditions, but Link already knew that they weren't doing it well. Bramne had explained that.
Still, it was unnervingly empty. Nobody outside to scout the area, no young children playing in the snow, there was nothing. They were all inside keeping warm and always hoping for spring to come. Hoping that the hero of their people would still come through and save them all. The silence was just too much, and yet, Link followed on without making a sound, feeling pity while also not caring.
He was still confused about what to feel since the battle with Odolwa. It had opened his eyes to how dark he had been acting, but that was all it did. Link was still uncertain of a right way to act or if what he was feeling was good, but he now knew wrong and would try to avoid it when possible. It would be wrong to relish in the misfortune of these Gorons, but what, then, was the right thing to do? Comfort them? Leave them to their hopes or sorrows? He didn't know. He just silently followed one who may be leading him to the answer.
The small group had now just left the village where Link noticed there were a few caves in the wall of a cliff. It seemed some Gorons did still live underground, but they looked so poorly carved that the houses seemed a much better place to be. One cave disproved this theory with a neat look to it and a large sign over the top saying "Big Smithy's workshop". Link guessed this may be where his sword was, but decided to leave it for a later time.
The chain of caves stopped after that as the cliff backed away leaving a pass that lead to a large plain all covered in snow. There was also what might have been a river running through, but the conditions of the mountain were so cold that it had completely frozen over. Bramne ignored this and turned to follow the wall and one last cavern. This one seemed to be held more highly than the others as it was cut cleanly in a square shape and boarded with wood around the edges. It was here that Bramne had led them to.
"This is what I have brought you to see. Enter, and you shall see the dangers the Snowhead Temple presents." Bramne explained.
Link nodded silently with Tatl resting back on his shoulders to give her frozen wings a break. Upon entering the cave, it became much warmer partly because there was little wind here, but also because there was a wafting heat flowing through to the outside. The passage in didn't last long until it opened out into a large circular room, much like the homes of the Gorons, with a large stone slab in the middle of the room.
Looking around at the number of stalactites, Link slowly made his way to the lone slab in the middle to see what was so special about it that required him to see it. On closer inspection, there were words engraved on it.
"So whatever we need to know about the temple should be written on here." Link said.
"I guess. Let me read it."
Tatl got up and hovered across so she could read the words on the stone. She said them out as she read.
"'Here lies Darmani; a friend, a brother, a hero. Through all his valiant and selfless acts, his body now rests within the Temple of Snowhead where its trials were too much for him. We will miss you always and forever hope you obtain eternal peace.' This is a grave."
"A grave showing even a Goron hero could not overcome the tasks within the temple. This is what Bramne wanted us to see." Link realised.
Link closed his eyes to show peace and respect for the dead while also thinking of a way to next do things. He opened them again and turned where he leaped in surprise to see a pale white figure of a Goron standing right behind him.
"Link? What's- Ah! A ghost!" Tatl screamed.
The ghostly figure seemed confused at the sudden outburst of the two characters, but when it realised they were referring to him, he suddenly smiled.
"You can see me? Oh happy days!" The ghost cried out.
"Are we the first to be able to see you?" Link asked, wondering if this was the thing they needed to see and not the grave.
"You can hear me too! Oh this is a blessing. Yes, you are the first to notice I am here."
Link and Tatl both took a moment to get a good look of this ghost. It was, indeed, a Goron, and one much stronger-looking than any other Link had ever seen. What struck out the most, though, were the large sideburns on either side of his face. Tatl seemed to be able to piece it all together quite quickly.
"Are you…Darmani?" Tatl asked.
"Yes, I am. I suppose you gathered that from my grave."
Darmani's voice became softer as he spoke until it was just a small muttering. The happiness he had when discovering others could sense him had gone, making room for the sadness of re-realising the fact that he was dead. Link looked back at the grave to see the line Tatl had said before asking.
"You braved the trials of the Snowhead Temple?"
"Tried to," Darmani said, sadly, "my people are too modest and assume much. I didn't even manage to enter the temple. I died before I could cross the pass."
Link tried to imagine what the weather must be like, or the pass itself for that matter, but imagining the Goron there put another thought into his mind.
"What were you hoping to do in the temple?" Link asked.
Darmani didn't respond immediately. Instead he floated back towards the mouth of the cave and stopped when the open mountain came into view.
"Look outside. Look around you. What do you see?"
Tatl floated along with Darmani while Link followed slowly behind. The Gorons that had come with him were not in sight as they were either around the corner or had gone home. All that could be seen was the white ground.
"I see snow." Tatl started, "the snow, and the cold coat the entire mountain."
"I see despair, a longing for life that may never come." Link said.
Darmani sighed again, floating back into the warmth he could not feel and rested by the foot of his grave. As the other two followed him back in, he began the tale of the mountain's doom.
"All you see has a single source. Some time ago a strange being with a mask came to our mountain and entered the temple. We don't know what he did or how he did it, but ever since his arrival, snow fell and temperatures dropped. Eventually, the whole mountain was covered in snow and it's been the same since, maybe worse. I tried to enter the temple and undo whatever this being did, but alas, I failed."
Tatl, having heard the skull kid did this, pulled Link over to a side to try and get some things sorted out in her mind.
"Link, he says he saw the skull kid a long time ago. That can't be right because he was with us!"
"Tatl, that mask was doing what it could to control the skull kid. Perhaps it found one moment to do just this." Link suggested.
"But it's still not possible. I made sure I was watching all the time! He wouldn't have time to go and do all this."
"Did you sleep? Surely you did, and so there is the time. If anything, this confirms our location. Majora was attempting to seal the giants so he could make his return. If he ventured to this temple, then there must be a giant there worth sealing. We have to go, despite the dangers."
Tatl sighed. "I know. Alright, let's see if Darmani can lead us."
Pulling out of their hushed conversation, Link explained their need to go to the temple to Darmani and asked if he could lead their way.
"You want me to help you?" Link nodded. "I doubt I would be of much use. Look at me now, I have failed my people. I have failed myself, and I would probably fail you too. I just need time to heal."
Link sadly bowed his head, knowing he was not likely to get help from here or directions from any other Goron. They all seemed too scared, and with obvious reason. Expressing his thanks, he turned to leave. Tatl started to follow, when it suddenly hit her.
"…Time to heal. Wait!" Tatl shouted, darting back into the cave as Darmani was about to leave. "Wait, please. What if we could heal you?" Tatl asked.
"Heal me? Are you suggesting you could restore my life?"
Link had turned back and stood by Tatl's side, realising where she was going with this.
"I don't know exactly, but we can help with the pain you're feeling. It's a song with a strange magic that has helped us once before. Please, if you just trust us then I promise you nothing bad will come of it." Tatl explained.
Link winced at the word trust, but was also glad to see that Darmani looked willing to try this out. It seemed obvious, though, as anyone in his position may be willing to try anything out.
"I trust your words, kind fairy."
Gently floating, Darmani closed his eyes to await whatever kind of healing came his way. Link placed the Ocarina of Time to his lips and began playing the long, slow notes associated with the song of healing. Being in the cave seemed to magnify the sounds of the notes and, unbeknownst to Link, carried them outside to the other Gorons who had stayed behind. The melody continued to play as it even put Link at ease, like it had before. Darmani seemed to flicker in and out of focus as the magic of the song and the ocarina took its effect.
The dank surroundings of his grave had left him. All Darmani could now see was a white fog suspended all around him. Fumbling forwards seemed to only find him more fog so he gave up and stood still, not sure what this meant. Had he moved on to whatever there was after death? Another world, perhaps? Whatever it was, it hadn't healed the pain in his heart and began to feel a fool to believe anyone could help him.
Suddenly, a noise.
It was faint at first, but it gradually grew louder as Darmani tried to find the source of it. It sounded like…cheering? That couldn't possibly be. He had failed everyone, why would they cheer him? Still, he pressed onwards trying to find what was making this growing sound. Pulling what he thought might have been the fog away from his side, he saw it. All the Gorons of his people were there together, waiting for Darmani to appear and cheer him on.
He hadn't succeeded in saving them, yet they still cheered regardless. His friends, his neighbours, they were all there giving him their full support. Then he saw another face right at the back. Hauled up on the shoulders of his father sat the small body of Jack that he so dearly loved. Compared to the rest of the Gorons, he was cheering the most and had the biggest smile to let Darmani know he was so proud of all his efforts.
"Your cheers," Darmani managed to say, choked slightly by the tears that now ran down his face, "they all mean so much to me."
The Gorons had slowed their cheers so that they may hear the words of their hero.
"I thought I had failed you, but I have not. I simply have yet to succeed, and succeed I shall!"
The cheers arose again. Right at the back, Jack was smiling broadly again, but behind him now stood another. Darmani could make out the face of Link, the boy who still stood by his grave and playing the song that had brought him here.
"I shall help you."
Nodding in acceptance, Link disappeared as did the rest of the crowd. Raising his arms up high, Darmani let out all his strength to do whatever he could to save his people.
"I shall help you."
The last words of Darmani echoed through the cave, which was followed by a clank when something wooden hit the floor. Moving the ocarina away from his mouth and opening his eyes Link saw that Darmani the ghost was no more. Instead, Darmani now existed as a mask which would be the source of the clank sound. Picking up the mask, Link stared at it for a moment to take in what he had done. The song had healed another troubled soul and turned it into a mask, just as the Mask Man had said the song would do.
The light of Tatl, who now fluttered next to him, broke his gaze and brought him back to the cave. Knowing what he could now do, Link placed the mask in his invisible pack and turned to the snowy path that had brought him here; the snow that covered the entire mountain. The mountain he was now out to save.