Chapter 4

The awning held under Link's weight, but it felt like it would tear any second. His mind racing, he climbed onto the reddish ceramic roof tiles a foot above the awning. His boots clacked against the shingles as he ran along the top of the roof. He didn't know where he was going, but for now, the plan was simple: run. A two-story building rose from the rooftop ahead, blocking his escape.

Leaping to the top of an archway going over the street to his right, Link teetered on the edge for a few seconds and then continued across to the next rooftop, a flat open patio with plants scattered throughout. He paused for a few seconds and looked back toward the inn. A dark shape stood in the window. Suddenly it disappeared.

"Hurry, Tael," Link whispered, and started running again. The outer wall of the market was just ahead; a small gap separated it from the roof. There were no guards up there, but a narrow walkway stretched along the length of the wall. With one more jump, Link was across. He lost his balance and tripped over the other side, splashing into the moat below.

"Link, what is wrong with you?" Tael gasped for breath, flying down next to him. "You're going to freeze to death!"

"The drawbridge is closed at night! And we had to get out somehow or Dark Link would-" Suddenly there was a noise. A sort of clicking, squeaking, and groaning. "Tael! The drawbridge is going down! Hurry, under my hat!"

Link grabbed the reluctant fairy and shoved him under the hat, then quickly swam underneath the lowering drawbridge. The thick planks of wood hit the ground, and it was quiet for a few seconds. There were footsteps above, and Link held his breath. His bones absorbed the icy cold temperature of the water, and he struggled not to shiver violently. The current threatened to pull him out into the open, so he dug his heels into the muddy bottom.

The footsteps had changed from the hollow wooden sound to a quiet slapping against the stone path. Waiting for a few seconds, Link cautiously swam out from under the drawbridge and pulled his head up to ground level by grasping a dirt-covered root sticking out of the bank. He could barely make out the dark shape heading southwest, using the dirt path around the lake.

"Who is it?" Came a whisper from under his hat.

"I think it might be Dark Link," Link replied, "heading around the lake." He lifted his hat to release Tael.

"How'd he lower the drawbridge? The guards should have been watching it...and he made it there so fast," the fairy said, flying around in a circle.

"It doesn't matter. I think he's going to Hayen, figuring I must have gone back...come on. We need to follow him...I don't want him to do anything."

Link climbed out of the water into the chilly night air. A soft breeze blew past him, and he shivered, his teeth chattering. His hair and tunic were soaked. Taking a look at Tael, who then flew behind his back to block the light, he set off to follow Dark Link, his Kokiri boots squishing and squeaking across the dark, dusty path. Aside from that, it was quiet for a few minutes.

"I'm hungry, Link...did you get the food?" Tael groaned.

Link reached into his sling and pulled out the stew. "Must be a pretty tough bottle. Looks like it's all there, and I don't think any water got in. Might be useful later."

"Is that Octorok Stew? That stuff is disgusting! Don't you have any taste?"

"Shush," Link whispered, holding the bottle in his right hand and untwisting the glass lid with his left, "it happens to be my favorite. And it's this or lake water." He lifted the rim to his lips and let the boiled, gravy-smothered chunks of meat slide down his throat. "And next time, tell me what kind of food you like, if you're going to be so picky," he finished, wiping his mouth on his sleeve.

"I don't remember this," Tael said, referring to the field of corn ahead. Link looked around and noticed he couldn't see the lake any more.

"Must have gone off the path. It's probably over those dunes...do you see Dark?"

"I think we lost him. Come on, let's get back on - " Rustle. Crack.

"What was that...?" Suddenly Link saw the dark shadowy clone standing on the edge of the woods. "Tael, under the hat!"

But Dark Link had already seen him. The shadow started to walk towards the two, becoming faster with each step. Shoving the fairy under his hat, Link dove into the corn stalks. Wet, dew covered leaves slapped his face, and he ran through several spider webs.

There was a flash of black to his left. Link swerved to the right, through a couple of rows, and then turned left again, trying to brush the web off. He skidded to a halt and squatted on the ground, looking around through the corn stalks. All he could hear was the chirping of crickets. Suddenly, there was a rustle coming from somewhere in front of him.

He started running in the opposite direction, trying to weave his way through the field randomly. After turning countless times, he suddenly broke out of the crops. Looking around, Dark Link was nowhere in sight. After climbing over a dune nearby, he found the lake and started running along the path away from the castle, nearly tripping on the rough ground.

"Link, let me out!"

"Quiet," Link whispered, "not yet." He wiped his forehead. His head was starting to ache. The thud of his feet against the ground throbbed through his ears, and he winced in pain with every step.

Managing to open the bottle as he ran, he took another sip, hoping it would help. Suddenly he tripped in a hole in the path, sending the bottle flying onto the ground. It spilled onto the grass, but luckily the bottle hadn't broken. He got to his feet, picked up the bottle, and kept running, trying to bear the piping hot stew that was dripping onto his hand.

The path went into the woods just ahead. He was almost there. His eyes started to close, and he let out a deep breath, trying to stay awake. A sharp pain shot through his gut, and he bent over, still running, pressing his left arm across his stomach.

He felt his hat fly off, but his legs wouldn't stop moving. It was if they were machines, programmed to dash down the almost invisible trail through the trees, stopping for nothing. Just as he burst into the clearing of Hayen Village, his left leg cramped up, and he winced, trying to keep from fainting. What in the world was going on?

Stumbling blindly past the houses, he looked for Garod's. It was too dark, and he didn't remember which one was which. His vision blurred, and the houses began to split into two images. He couldn't take it any more. His legs gave way and he thumped to the ground, gasping for breath, before everything went black.

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