Disclaimer: I do not own The Legend of Zelda. I would like to apologies for taking so long to post this chapter, but I had typed it up on my IPad and deleted it by mistake. So I had to retype it. Also I tried hard to make it a lengthy post for you all. I hope you all enjoy it. Thank you so much for your patience.
Link awoke hard the next morning with thoughts of worldly temptations. Thoughts of the morning before with Ariana danced around his dreams and Link found it difficult to sleep. Finally, with the rising of the sun, he sat up and rolled from his bed. Link was dressed and out of the door within minutes of waking. He could not stand to be another minuet away from her. Last morning felt so good! Despite what he heard from his master Sanjuro, Link planned to meet up with the girl, never the less. How could he not? She wanted him there and he wanted to be there. The thought left a boyish grin on his lips.
Link glanced around but could not find the brown haired girl anywhere. Making his way to the pier he discovered that the canoe was not there. A quick glance up to the small island proved that Ariana had gone ahead without him. The thought sent a shiver down his spine and a grin grew on his lips. She was teasing him. Link moved towards the board walk and looked around the other boats tied to the walkway.
Sanjuro's long boat floated silently by the rest and Link swiftly untied it, and climbed on. He was sure his master wouldn't mind too much if took the boat. Link pushed the lengthy boat away from the shore and stepped into it. Taking up the ore, Link made his way to the small island. With every push, the vessel moved closer to the island and he shifted slightly where he sat. Even if the distance between island to island was only ten minutes, the time was agonizingly slow, but within moments he was off the boat and it was tied against a palm tree.
Link took a glance around him and saw no sign of Ariana. Without a second thought he made his way towards the ruins. Link walked through the overgrown path, taking care not to lose his way. This time around took longer than the first time, without having his guide with him to lead the way. Link found that getting though the thicket alone was overwhelming and had to back track a few times before he finally found his way. Finally the ruins came into view and Link sighed at the sight. With a quick glance, the boy looked around, expecting to find who he was seeking, but disappointment filled him when he did not see her right away. "Ariana!" Link called out to her looking around. Link stepped closer to the forgotten buildings looking around.
Link...
Link shuddered at the sound of the bodiless voice. It did not belong to Ariana; it sounded as if it was the same voice that called out for him from the night before. Link slowly looked up; the old building looked more foreboding than ever. Link inhaled slowly and cautiously moved closer towards the ruined structure. Maybe Ariana had found a way in. Link moved to the place where Ariana had said was the door. Link's blue eyes scanned the wall before him. "This is not the entrance…" He said to no one. Link reached up and placed his left hand on the wall and glanced away, oblivious to the strange glowing triangle that appeared on his hand. He began to walk along the side of the ruins walking the parameter of the building. Link moved around the side, and turned past a corner, walking towards the side of the structure. He tried hard not to trip over overgrown roots and misplaced bricks. Finally, the blonde haired boy stopped and looked up at the surface of the wall. The wall in front of him was plane and appeared to be just another wall. Link stepped to it and placed his hand on the wall.
There was a shuddering around him as the wall shook and began to crumble. Link pulled away from the wall, shielding his eyes from the rocks as they trembled before him. Yet, despite little pebbles falling, the rocks did not collapse around him. There was a burst of light before him revealing an opening into the Ruins. Link lowered his arm and looked at the hole before him. Without much thought, he slowly walked in to the darkness.
Hero's Temple. The thought appeared to Link before he took another step farther. He thought it strange, how that came to mind when he had never once stepped foot inside of the place. Link looked around and lit candles, hanging from the walls, brought strange warmth to the hallway before him. He looked around the hallway around him. The floors were carpeted with once cleaned rugs of various now dull colors. The walls had dust covered portraits as tables and shelves lined the hallway with vases and other trinkets. Link passed by, trying to take everything in. How odd. The building outside hinted to a cave interior, but here it was, as if he had stepped foot into a castle. Link ran a finger decently over one of the aged vase. His finger left a line as the dust was forced off. Link looked up towards one of the canvases and he stretched up his hand and touched the dirt and cobwebbed covered painting. Deep blue eyes stared down at him.
Link looked back into the profound eyes before moving his hand though the dust and filth, wanting to see who those eyes belonged to. As he uncovered the girl who stared back at him, Link took a step back, his eyes locked to the solemn faced women. Her hair was darkened by the dust, but appeared to have once been golden, her thin eyebrows furrowed with worry; her lips formed a serious line, as if she did not have time to sit before a painter, and her mind was off elsewhere. Her fair creamy skin appeared perfect next to her white and gold gown.
Link knew her name, but he did not voice it; he should not know her name. Link turned away from the girl, refusing to speak her name out loud. Why does he know it? How does he know where he stands? Link took a close look around him. Why did he feel like he knew where to go from here? So many questions appeared in his head and something within, told him he would have those questions answered if he continued down the 'Hero's Temple.'
Link made up his mind. He would not turn back. He would see this though to the end. He would go to the bottom of this place, where ever it might be and he will find out what is going on. His foot steps could be heard echoing around him as he walked deeper and deeper down the narrow corridor. Link turned left, then right walked down a flight of stairs and into a few doors. The whole time he walked, he had no idea where he was heading, only with every step; he knew he was nearing his goal. Down another flight of stairs he went and finally stopped before a pair of large wooden double doors. The blue eyed boy stood in silence as he stared at what was before him. This was it…He reached up and placed his hands on the gate, his eyes at last focused on the glowing Triangles on his left hand.
Link gazed at the golden mark over his skin before he pushed open the door. Just another question that needed answering… The open room revealed an open sided room with columns reaching up to the high ceiling. Open windows with arches allowed in a soft cool breeze of the late afternoon. Link frowned. How long had he been inside the ruined Temple? He wondered to himself. Glancing around the open room, his eyes fell on a strange alter.
In the center of the room, kneeling on top of a raised platform was the statue of a girl draping herself over a sword sheathed into the ground. She rested on her knees, one leg slightly stretched out, her back arched slightly inward as her hands held on, as if her life depended on it, to the hand guard of the sword, her face hidden by her arms and her short wild hair. Large wings sprouted from her back as if she had dived down from the sky. Stone feathers surrounded the granite women as she guarded the sword, clinging lifelessly to it.
Link stared at the women, her face down casted and hidden by her arms. He walked closer, and knelt before the girl wanting to catch a glimpse of her face but had no luck. His eyes moved on the sword and studied it. He felt the sudden urge to reach down and grab it, and his eyes glanced at the women. He suddenly wondered why she was placed her. The statue was so beautifully created. Her body was flawless, the muscle tones and her angling was created by a real artist. The woman was a beautiful thing to behold. Link reached down and his hand encased the hilt of the sword. He hesitated and slowly pulled it from its underground case and out of the girl's hand.
He was surprised how easily the sword came out of the ground. He pulled it away from the altar and lifted it before his face, studying its strange shape. The indigo hand guards seemed to be broken. At its center there was a place for some kind of gem, but it was not there. Link looked around wondering if it could be anywhere around him, when suddenly a strange gust of wind blew past him.
Link took a step back and covered his eyes as the wind blew against him, and out of the wind, Link heard that voice. Free at last…
Link looked up and breathe in sharply watching as the large stone wings before him lower and shook. The gray stone girl brought her hands to her chest and seemed to gasp for air. She slumped over lying on the ground, her wings covering her body. The gray stone started to fade, revealing black wings and creamy skin. The girl slowly rose on her knees, tucking her large wings behind her, her arms over her chest covering her body from Link. She looked up, her red eyes locking with Link's blue. "You released me…" She said, her voice was rough and low, hard from what must have been years of imprisonment, but it was the voice he heard calling out to him all this time. Her eyes lowered and found the sword in his hands. Rage filled her and she was on her feet in an instant. Arms stretched out before her, wanting to grab the sword she took a step forward and collapsed before him.
She fell to the ground and panted tiredly. She looked wearily at her body for not responding as it should have then looked back into Link's eyes, reaching a hand out. "The sword…give it to me…It is mine."
Link placed the sword down on the ground and was at her side in an instant. "You are weak, let me help you up." He said as he knelt beside her, his hand taking hold of her arm
The strange girl banished his help away and struggled to get on her knees. "Do not touch me!" She hissed at him as she rose up and started to crawl to the sword. She moved slowly and Link simply watched her.
Was she protecting the sword? Or was she trying to grab it and take it for herself? Something did not feel right and, without thinking, Link shouted, "Stop!"
Her hand hovered over the blade and she gritted her teeth. She seemed to be struggling with herself, torn between wanting to grab it and obeying to the boy. "Why…can't I move?" She asked herself.
Link stood and walked around her picking up the sword and held it away from her. "I will hold onto it…until you are strong enough to do so." Link looked down at the girl who glared up at him, her red eyes flaring. "You should rest…You look so weak…" Link knelt before her and touched her cheek.
The women stared back at him and looked as if she wanted to fight him for the sword, but a second of hesitate later and her eyes slowly closed and she collapsed before Link, giving in to the demand to sleep.