Chapter Three: The Gateway to Darkness

Link was forced to walk the twelve miles to the men's fortress, all the while his hand pulsing from the arrow that was still submerged in its flesh. He had contemplated removing the arrow himself but decided that it served as a good stopper to the blood welling up in his hand; the last thing he needed would be to bleed to death. Toward the end of the journey Link found himself losing his footing several times while growing continually weaker from his wound.

Just when he thought that he could not walk another step he was led through a thick wall of trees and bushes. On the other side was a series of huts built around a small hill. Link could not see anything that even closely resembled a fortress. The largest building in the village was no larger than his own home in the Kokiri Forest. However, as his captors led him into the tiny town Link saw where they were directing him. On the near side of the hill was an intimidating gate shrouded in darkness.

As Link was approaching this entry to the unknown, he gazed about the village. He was surprised to see that there was not a single woman, child, or old man. Everyone present was a man in either their twenties or thirties. Link did not have long to ponder this mystery though. In another moment he was deposited before the gateway. The leader of the men snapped his fingers; the wrought iron bars of the gate rattled and began to creak upward from the ground. Ten seconds later the gate disappeared into a slot in the ceiling of the entryway. The foulest stench Link had ever come across rushed out of the passageway when the gateway opened. It smelled like a combination of cow dung, rotting corpses, and the reek of a monstrous beast waiting for an opportune meal.

The men tried to shove Link into the darkness of the tunnel that had been behind the gate, but he protested. "Wait! What is in there?"

"You'll see soon enough," answered the chief man. Link looked at the man for a few seconds; however, his gaze was directed when he heard a deep growl issue from the mouth of the man's pet, the Moligange. He looked down at the creature and saw it staring at him hungrily. When the man spoke again, Link focused his eyes back on him. "There are many challenges that await you in there. If you come out of the other side alive then you are one lucky kid. We will be waiting for you at the exit. If you do survive our test then we might be able to talk a little. So get in there already," he ordered.

"Will you hand me my blade?" asked Link. The men began to guffaw uproariously.

"Hand him his blade, did you hear that?" chuckled one of the men.

"Silence!" interrupted their leader. "The answer is no. You will go in unarmed. Now go!"

"What about my hand? It is still damaged. Will you at least treat it before you send me in?"

"No! You must go in as you are now. We cannot help you. Now go!"

"And what about Epona?"

"Don't worry. We'll take care of her," laughed the man.

Link had to force his fury into the back of his mind. It would not do him or Epona any good if he went and got himself killed by foolishly trying to attack ten armed men at once when he did not even have a blade. So Link decided that he must do as he was told, at least for now.

As he turned to enter the mysterious tunnel the man had one final statement. "And remember, we'll be watching you."

Link hesitated for only a moment, but he soon realized that he had no choice. It was time to rely on his courage and face whatever trials may await him inside this passage. Without another moment's delay Link stepped into the blackness that cloaked the opening only two feet from its beginning. Another step and Link could see nothing, not even his own hand when he held it before his face. When he looked back the entrance only two feet away was not even visible; it was as if he had stepped behind a magical veil that hid this tunnel from the outside world. After establishing that he could not see anything at all Link decided that it was time to get the test over with. So he continued to walk into the darkness before him, blind to the dangers that awaited him.