Chapter Fifteen

Link immediately sheathed his sword when he saw himself in the ethereal plane. His eyes fell upon the White Wolf, who let out a low, mournful howl and, in a flash, became the Hero's Shade.

"This time, I have sought you," he said simply. "I have been seeking you ever since my death – not you, specifically, but one like you, the one who carried the blood of the hero."

Link did not say anything; he wanted to allow the skeletal warrior to explain before butting in. "I knew, really, that it would be you, because I knew that you had hero's blood in you. I did not know that you would have to use it, though. I myself have hero's blood, but I have never had to put it to use."

"What do you mean?" blurted out Link, unable to contain himself. "What do you mean by that?"

The Hero's Shade sighed heavily. "Do you remember the last thing I said to you?"

"About the Senvivanes?" Link felt both eagerness and hesitation at the same time. The warrior waved an armored hand, as though dismissing his guess.

"No, no. Before then. After I taught you the seventh Hidden Skill."

Link nodded, his breath bated. "Yes. Yes, I do!"

The Hero's Shade looked away. "You know what I…called you?" Link nodded; the suspense was crushing him. "I said that…because it is true. You are my child."

Link felt as if his throat was closing over; he did not know what to say. It was now his turn to direct his gaze elsewhere, anywhere but at the man who claimed to be his father.

"Haven't you ever wondered?" pressed on the Hero's Shade. "Did your mother's brother tell you nothing the whole time he raised you?"

Link shrugged slowly, not really sure why, but he could talk properly. "I…well, Rusl did tell me…he said my mother was killed in a terrible accident, and my father – you – one day just—just wandered off, and never came back."

The Hero's Shade winced. "After your mother died, I was heartbroken. I could not eat, could not sleep. I once went for a walk to clear my head, and I collapse, right in Faron Woods. In the exact same spot where you found me."

Link could not help the shudder that rent his spine; he had many times treaded across that place, not knowing that it was where his father had drawn his last breath…

The Hero's Shade was not finished, though. "As I told you before, my fate had been twisted. That wasn't how I supposed to die. I had bigger things in store for me." He paused, as though collecting his thoughts, and then plowed on. "I was supposed to pass on the Hidden Skills to my children, because our lineage has always gone to terrific lengths to save the kingdom. My great-grandfather – your great-great-grandfather – was the Hero of Time. Ever since he helped save Hyrule, the Hidden Skills have been passed down, from father to son. You were very young when I died, and I had not the chance to teach you the Hidden Skills. So, the Goddesses kept me alive, in this odd plane of existence, until I could teach you."

"What about now?" demanded Link. "Why are you still alive?"

"Because of Donelronla," he replied plainly.

"Who?" Link quickly searched his memory banks, but he was positive he had never heard that name before.

"Donelronla," repeated his father. "She is the one responsible for so many things."

"What did she do?" he asked eagerly. His father hesitated.

"I…cannot say," he told him shortly. "She holds power as great as the Three Goddesses who shaped our world and gave me life again. I…I only wish that your mother could see you now," he lamented.

"What happened to her?" asked Link quickly, deciding to figure out who and what Donelronla was later. "I know she died in an accident, but – "

The Hero's Shade nodded. "Is that was Rusl and Uli told you? An 'accident'?" His laugh was devoid of mirth. "Well, I suppose he didn't want to upset you – and I must say, you will be upset. She was killed before Rusl even married Uli. But it wasn't an accident, Link. It was murder."

He stared at his father, feeling hot blood boiling. "My mother was…murdered?" he growled, feeling disgust and despair. "How did this happen?"

"Your mother had a very sharp tongue," he told Link, "and was unafraid of speaking her mind. One day, while we were taking a cart on our way to visit Castle Town – Rusl was living there at that time –, a strange creature told us we were in his territory, and told us to get out. I was more than happy to take another way, but your mother had to tell him to get out of our way and to – well, it's best if you don't know her exact words. I thought – as did she – that the creature would get huffy and walk away, but he didn't. He became terrifying.

"He took out a big axe, and immediately slew our horses. Your mother and I had a particular fondness for the horses, so I took my sword and leapt at the creature. He hit me with the flat of his axe and I fell unconscious. When I woke up, it was night; I was bleeding from a huge wound in the head; you were bawling beside me, less than a year old; and your mother was lying next to me, dead."

Link felt his whole body go searing numb. His blood was thumping irregularly loud in his ears, and a stifling feeling was creeping up his throat. "A…a creature, you say? With a—a big axe?" He blinked and cleared his throat, trying to control his breathing. "Was it green and riding a blue boar-like thing?"

The Hero's Shade nodded. Link felt horror and abhorrence rise in his body, and he willed it not to take physical form. After slowly calming his body, he talked, more to himself than to his father. "King Bulblin. It—it was him. That's what he meant, wasn't it?" He wheeled around, dashing a hand across his eyes. "That's what he meant by there was more to why he was helping me…because he killed my mother!" He turned back to the Hero's Shade, his vision blurred and his mind whirling. A maelstrom of torturous thoughts towards King Bulblin whipped his head. "Let me out!" he demanded angrily. "Let me out of here! I know who killed her. I can find him. I can kill him!"

"Link – " began the Hero's Shade, reaching out a hand, but Link would not be calmed down, he would not be consoled. He had endured so much grief this past year…his father would not understand, would not see it from his side. He couldn't even begin to comprehend what he had faced.

"No!" he shouted, letting his usually easy temper get the better of him. "Let me out! I'm going to find him! I'm going to—to get him!"

The hand faltered, and finally dropped. Link's father lowered his head and whispered, "As you wish", and Link found himself in the night-rimmed Ordon Spring. He ran to his tree-house, fumbled with the rope that tied Epona to her stake, and leapt over her back. He kicked his heels into her side with unnecessary force, and they were off, dashing into the moonlit world.


The urge to write "Link, I am your father" was almost overwhelming. I was somehow able to fight it, and got out with a decent chapter (I wrote this in less than an hour...today XD).