Chapter 7:

The night was dark and foggy as Zelda, Hectur, the Royal Guard, and a select few of Zelda's trusted advisers made their way through the burned and broken streets of Hyrule Castle Market. The fog mingled with the smoke from the charred buildings and obscured their vision, but Hectur and the Guard were fearless with torches in hand as they maintained a protective circle around the princess, with Hectur at the lead. They picked their way through corpses and debris on their way to the underground lair which Geras had described to them. Ser Hectur angrily kicked the skull of a defeated stalfos out of his path.

"I mislike exposing Her Grace in the dead of night like this, my lord," said Stanton, one of the advisers.

"Her Grace is safer with me than with anyone else," Hectur replied heatedly. He was in no mood to be questioned, and his patience was thin. "This shall not wait for the morning. By Her Grace's own order, we go to this lair and discover what we will, while we can. Lord Link is gone, and with him will go much of the hope of the Hylian Guard and the common folk. If we have any chance to end this tonight, we must take it." Stanton did not bother with a reply.

Before long, the party found themselves before the merchant shop they sought. Geras' directions had been true. Hectur halted them a few yards before the door.

"Your Grace, you must remain close to me at all times," he said to Zelda. "We know not what we will find awaiting us in this foul place. Your life is still at stake."

"I understand, Ser," she replied. She leaned in close to speak softly to him so the others could not hear. "But allow me to ease at least some of your fears. Much and more has become clear to me since the attack in the throne room. The wounds we inflicted on our enemies and the knowledge we gained have unsettled them. Whatever dark magic was keeping the powers of Nayru from me, it has lifted. My abilities are restored… for now, at least."

Hectur looked incredulous. "You mean to say that this creature from the Twili is so powerful, he was robbing you of the powers of the Goddesses?"

"I suspect it was not as simple to do as it is to say, but yes, I believe it was his doing. He must have spent months maintaining a very complex spell to strip them of me. However, with our victory tonight, they know that we know of their location, and it's likely they are on the move. As a result, he could not maintain the spell any longer. This also means that we are like to find nothing here."

Hectur nodded. "That may be so, but we will search regardless. It soothes my heart to know that your powers are restored, but you are still a target. Remain close."

As they finished their conversation, Stanton and Kurtz, the royal advisers, inspected the building. The windows were draped with dark curtains and shrouded in darkness. There was a small singe mark on the upper level where a fire arrow had struck during the battle, but it appeared to have been quickly snuffed. The building was largely unscathed by the battle. Hectur approached the door to the shop and knocked loudly. He waited a few moments and knocked again. Still, he received no response. Finally, he stepped back and handed his torch to Kurtz. He motioned the others back and hefted his great axe from his shoulder. In one mighty blow, he clove the wooden door in half from top to bottom and kicked it down. He immediately stepped through, followed closely by Zelda and some select members of the Royal Guard.

Inside, they found a normal if morbid looking shop. Countless items, trinkets and devices littered the shelves and counters, but the drapes and carpets were dark and dusty. Hectur quickly scanned the lobby of the store, but saw no one. He raised a hand to signal the others for silence and listened intently. The light from the torches revealed an oaken door behind the counter. He motioned for the soldiers to follow him as quietly as they could. They tiptoed to the door and gently swung it open. Behind it, they found a storage area lined with shelving, but no people. Hectur sighed and turned back.

"The shopkeeper must have fled," he explained to Zelda. "We should be able to find the entrance to the lair with Geras' instructions, however." Suddenly, a thought occurred to him. "One moment, Your Grace." He grabbed his torch back from Kurtz and held it high, near the ceiling. He circled the room and stared intently at each section of the wooden ceiling.

"What is it, Captain?" asked one of the Guard.

"There's a second level to this building, yet there are no stairs," Hectur said. "Does that not strike any of you as odd? Ah, here it is." He stopped at one section near the corner. Handing the torch once more to Kurtz for safekeeping, he readied his axe and leapt into the air. He swung upward with all his force and lodged the blade of the axe into the ceiling. As he fell back down, he yanked downwards and pulled a hidden trapdoor with him. He quickly dislodged his axe and rolled out of the way as a stairwell fell down and unfurled itself to the floor. As the structure landed with a thud, he heard a yelp and a scurry on the second floor.

"You and you," he pointed to two soldiers. "Bring him down here." They rushed to obey.

A moment later, the two guards presented Ser Hectur with the ugly, old and twisted shopkeeper. They each held an arm as Hectur sized him up. His stringy hair and three remaining teeth gave him the appearance of a beggar, but Hectur knew there was more to him than met the eye. He was, after all, an agent of the Hyrulian Brethren.

"Listen well, you worthless fool," Hectur began. "We know what you've done, and we know what you hide here. Cooperate, and you'll occupy a comfy cell for the rest of your days. Give me trouble, and I'll strike your head from your shoulders now and be done with it."

"Hehe," said the decrepit man. "I don't know what yehz mean. Is that the princess? Whuz she doin' in mah shop at this time a night? Can't yehz see what happened here tonight? Ain't yehz got more 'portant things to do?"

"Don't play the fool!" Hectur bellowed. "We'll find the lair with or without your help. All we need from you is everything you can tell us about the Brethren. Confess, now!"

Princess Zelda stepped forward and knelt before the man. Hectur objected, but she waved him off. "I'm going to give you one opportunity to make things right. Tell me everything you can, right now. My life is in danger, as is the wellbeing of all Hyrule. You can help save us. As your princess, I ask not for your love, nor can I command your allegiance. But do you not love your kingdom? Would you allow her to be devastated and spoiled by an evil people? Will you allow her one true ruler to be killed?"

The shopkeeper laughed and looked her in the eyes. "Guess the jig's up. We're doin' this cause of you. Cause yer too weak to lead Hyrule. The Brethren can make things right. What's the life of one worthless whore of a princess to save the whole kingdom?" He smiled wickedly through his three yellowed teeth and spat on Zelda's face.

She stood still and silent for a moment, and then pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her face. "I'm sorry you feel that way," she said as she wiped. "There are things at play bigger than you know. I am the rightful ruler of Hyrule, chosen by the Goddesses and heir to the Hylian Royal Family. I wield the power of Nayru, and I helped the Chosen Hero defeat the Twili and destroy a powerful demon thief older than anyone knows. If you think there is one out there who can protect and lead Hyrule better than I, I should like to meet them. Here," she said as she tossed him the handkerchief. "Your nose is bleeding."

He looked at her stupidly for a moment, and then Hectur grabbed the man's head and rammed his kneecap into his face, shattering his nose.

* * *

As dawn crept over the horizon in the Gerudo Desert, a hero in green kept a steady pace towards the Arbiter's Grounds. Link had decided his best course of action was to seek the wisdom of the sages in the Mirror Chamber. His foe, after all, had revealed himself to be a Twili, and Link knew that the only chance he had to learn any answers and to find a way home rested with the powers and knowledge of the ancient sages. So on and on he ran, stopping for nothing, until he was ragged and exhausted, and then he ran some more.

I do miss my wolf form sometimes, he though wryly. I should ask the princess if there's a way to transfigure myself. The thought of that conversation with the princess would have made him chuckle if he had the energy.

The sun rose swiftly and baked the land. The air grew even warmer and Link grew even more dehydrated. He tried desperately to recall if there was any water source in the temple, but he couldn't remember. Regardless, his only choice was to keep moving. Eventually, he could spy the giant structure far off in the distance, and he doubled his efforts. By mid day, he reached the remains of the bulblin camp only a few leagues from the entrance. He had fond memories of destroying the camp back during the days of the Twili invasion. He found the dirty tents and splintered fragments of the watchtowers just the same as he had last left them. I suppose our current enemies are not hiding here, he thought.

Making his way through the camp, he happened upon the remains of a bullbo tied to a spit over a long extinguished fire. The animal was over a year dead, and the smell almost choked him. He hurried past, wondering if any bullbos still remained alive in this region. A fresh kill would fill his stomach quickly, but he feared that any remaining bullbos had left with the rest of the bulblins.

Finally, as evening began to settle in, he reached the entrance to the Arbiter's Grounds. He allowed himself a few minutes of rest on the steps in the courtyard. When the ache in his calves softened, he stood and withdrew his Double Clawshot. He searched for grapple points and found a good path. He wasted no time in launching the chains and scaling the massive structure. In a few moments, he shot one final claw at the edge of the roof and yanked himself up to the iron gate. He scaled the gate and dropped to the other side.

Link found the Mirror Chamber much as he remembered it. The circular chamber was enclosed like a coliseum with windows and granite seatings. On a small dais near the entrance sat the sloped pedestal which once housed the great Mirror of Twilight, now shattered and scattered to the wind. On the far side of the sandy clearing rested a giant stone, engraved with markings of the ancient Hylian language. It was once an amazing spectacle to behold when the portal was activated, but now it was ordinary rock. Upon the walls sat six grand pillars, each topped with the insignia of the Goddesses.

Link climbed the steps on the dais and stood near the pedestal. He examined the structure carefully. It was empty, with only a few tiny, jagged shards of glass remaining on the seal. The mirror was just as he and Zelda had left it; destroyed. It was impossible for anybody to use what was left to pass between worlds.

Seeing the chamber again evoked memories and feelings he thought he had buried, but images of his friend flashed through his mind. He remembered her final words.

Light and shadow can't mix, as we all know…

He ran his hand over the curved slope of the pedestal.

As long as that mirror's around, we could meet again…

He turned his eyes towards the heavens.

Link…

I…

See you later…

"Sages!" He shouted at the top of his voice. "Come! Grant me audience!"

He stood in wait. He glanced about, but nothing and no one appeared.

"Ancient sages! Hyrule is in danger, and I have need of your guidance!"

Again, he checked his surroundings, but the sages would not come. Perhaps he needed the Master Sword? But the Master Sword rests in the Sacred Grove, where I left it, he thought angrily. If they won't grant me audience without it, then I'm right back where I started… nowhere.

He raised his hand and shouted once more. "Hear me, ancient sages! It is I, the one who possesses the crest of the Goddesses! In the name of Farore, I command thee, guardians of the Mirror Chamber and the Twili, to appear before me!"

A moment passed, and suddenly, a Triforce mark began to glow on the back of his hand. He looked back to the heavens, and found the ghostly sages perched atop the pillars at the peak of the temple. Five slowly descended and formed a circle around Link.

"Bearer of the mark, we know of your plight," said one.

"A new shadow lurks in the darkness of Hyrule, waiting to devour all," said another.

"Lost are you, and powerful is he," said another.

"I need answers," Link replied. "I know he is a Twili. How did he escape the Twilight Realm? Has the mirror been reassembled?"

"Impossible," said a sage.

"The mirror was destroyed for good by the true ruler of the Twili," added another.

"Never shall it be made whole again," finished another.

"Then how is it possible one of them escaped? Is there some other method he could have used to reach the Light Realm? Could someone have built a new mirror?"

"The Mirror of Twilight was a gift from the Goddesses," said a sage.

"It was of a divine property," said another.

"Only the Goddesses – or one who wields their power - could create another portal to the Twilight Realm," added another.

"And the Goddesses have not graced this land of Hyrule for many millennia," said another.

"But that only leaves… but that's impossible!" Link insisted. "Neither I nor Princess Zelda have the power to breach the void between worlds. Ganondorf is dead. And yet this enemy is without a doubt from the Twilight Realm. There must be another way."

"Perhaps so, perhaps not," said one sage mysteriously.

"If so, it is unknown to us," said another.

"Seek the wisdom of one who has dedicated his life to the service of the Goddesses," said another.

"Who? Who do you mean?" Link asked anxiously.

"One like us," replied one sage.

"But not like us," added another.

"I don't know who you mean!" Link said, growing annoyed.

"Return to whence you came," advised one sage.

"Seek him deep in the crust of the world," said another.

"In the center of the desert, in the deep fissure which splits the land," said another.

"He may have the answers you seek," finished another.

"You mean I must go back across the desert I just crossed?" Link said ruefully.

"You must seek the man in the fissure," said one sage.

"He shall guide you in the next stage of your quest," said another.

"Go now, chosen one," they all said in unison. "Go, and fulfill your destiny. You are favored by the Goddesses. Deliver Hyrule from evil once more." With that, a white light emerged from their chests and expanded until Link was blinded by the brightness. When it disappeared, they went with it.

Link sat down on the dais and glumly rested his head in his hands. "I can't believe I have to run across that desert again," he said sullenly. His stomach growled.

* * *

Back in the underground lair beneath the merchant's shop, Zelda , Hectur, Stanton, and Kurtz watched the Royal Guard search the remains of the hideout. All they had managed to find so far were some deserted campfires, some food scraps, and some spent candles. After their conversation with the revolting shopkeeper, Hectur had ordered two guards to escort him to the castle's dungeons. They had found the hidden entrance to the lair rather easily, but then their luck had run out.

"Psh. Nothing but dust and cobwebs," Hectur said testily. "They sure cleared out in a hurry."

"They used magic to transport themselves and everything else away almost instantaneously," Zelda replied. "We won't find anything of use here. We should go back."

"An excellent idea, Your Grace," said Stanton. He fidgeted with his robes in nervousness.

Ser Hectur sighed. "This… Darkhava. Where does he get all these powers and abilities? He seems too strong by half. Stronger than Zant, that's for sure."

"He is old," Zelda answered. "He has had much time to practice and hone his techniques, and I believe he draws power from many different sources. I shouldn't be surprised if he was one of the original interlopers," she said wistfully.

"An interloper? How could any of them still remain? That was thousands of years ago," Hectur said, astonished.

"Dark magics are powerful and terrible things. They can give long life, at the expense of a warped and twisted mind. Darkhava is powerful and insane, but he is also intelligent and resourceful. He will not stop this game." Zelda turned to Hectur and looked him in the eye. "Listen to me. Listen… closely." Stanton and Kurtz turned to hear her. Hectur devoted his full attention. "I must go into hiding. I do not believe I will be safe in the castle walls anymore. Our secrets are exposed, and with Link gone, the people are sure to be unruly." As she spoke, Hectur raised his eyebrows. He glanced towards the advisers, but said nothing. "I shall ask Renado to grant me sanctuary in Kakariko. Link once told me he has a secret dwelling in his basement, difficult to access. It is a remote region, and has already been attacked. They are not like to strike there again, especially after the thrashing that Link and the Gorons gave them." Hectur slowly nodded. Again, he glanced towards the advisers.

"So… Kakariko, then. I shall make the arrangements," Hectur said. He turned to Stanton and Kurtz. "No one else may know about this. It is a secret to everybody." They both nodded vigorously. Soon after, the Royal Guard finished their search and began to group up with their princess and captain. Ser Hectur hefted his great axe over his shoulder. "Come, Your Grace. Let us leave this haven of filth. There is much to be done."