Chapter Seven: The Journey to the Lost Temple
By the time Link and Astralose had descended from the tower the men below had already readied Epona and a horse for Astralose also. Once outside Link felt free for the first time since he had been attacked in the forest the night before. He rushed up to Epona and began to gently caress her ghostly mane with affection. "It's good to see you again Epona. Now we can ride together once more."
"Here is your sword," interrupted one of the men. He stepped up to Link with Link's gilded sword held before him. Link took it with a smile and gave his thanks. Now that his hand was healing and his most prized possessions were returned to him Link had already forgiven the men for what they had put him through. Link was not the type to bear long-lasting grudges.
"Are you ready to leave Link?" asked Astralose. Link nodded. Astralose mounted his jet black charger and Link followed suit by climbing onto Epona. With a sharp "ha!" and a couple kicks to the horse's side Astralose spurred his horse away from the fortress.
Link patted Epona gently on the head and then drove her forward. Seconds later they had covered the distance of the weed-choked clearing that surrounded Astralose's fortress and had entered the forest beyond. Once they passed into the intricate web of trees that filled the forest they were forced to slow down so that they would not become separated. Five minutes later a raging river crossed in front of them and then curved south. "This is the river that feeds the waterfall behind the temple."
"So we can follow it there?"
"Yes," replied Astralose.
"Then I shouldn't need you to guide me any longer."
"Well, not necessarily. It is not wise to travel through these woods alone. I will accompany you to the temple still, for both ours safety."
Link nodded and then goaded Epona onward. A couple of hours of following the winding watercourse elapsed and nightfall was imminent. "We must find shelter for the night," said Link.
"Yes. We must. I know of a secluded hollow near here. Follow me." The old man led Link into a compact band of trees that ran parallel to the river. Fifteen feet into this intertwined mass of roots, trunks, and branches the sky was no longer visible. The leaves and branches above formed as solid a ceiling as any building could have managed. Astralose dismounted his horse and bid Link to do the same. As the horses gnawed on the wiry grass that cloaked the ground Link and Astralose ate from the supply of berries and nuts that Astralose had packed onto his steed. This brief meal was followed by a night of uneasy sleep as the frequent noises of twigs being trampled and animal calls entered their temporary shelter.
They awoke early the next morning, but because of the thickness of the forest it was impossible to tell what time it was; the sun's rays could hardly pierce the impenetrable wall of trees that surrounded the small meadow. Link and Astralose guided their horses back to the river and allowed them to drink their fill. "It seems to be only moments after dawn," said Link when he saw the sun barely poking its head above the horizon behind them.
"Good. Then we should be able to make it to the temple by this afternoon. But we must leave immediately."
"All right then. I think the horses are ready now." They mounted their steeds and prepared for an extensive journey. The hours ticked by without the slightest change in the scenery. The river still held its course southward and was still hemmed in on all sides by impassable vegetation. Gradually though, Link began to realize that the trees and undergrowth were thinning. It was now possible to see many hundreds of feet into the woods in either direction.
Two more hours of this steady reduction in plant life followed. Then, as suddenly as a switch turning from off to on, Link could hear the roar of a waterfall. "We're almost there," proclaimed Astralose. "Look." He pointed about a mile downstream. On both sides of the river where two collapsing stone structures. In between them a bridge crossed the waterway, serving as a connection between the two halves of the building. "That is the Lost Temple. Long ago, when the peoples of the Forest of Gormoth were still plentiful, the inhabitants of these woods would gather at this temple to worship the gods. It has long since been abandoned though. The waterfall lies on its far side."
"I hope that Navi is in there."
"I think that she will be. The temple has long been known as a gathering place for those without a home. That is one of the reasons why it is your destiny to go there."
Link looked at the man curiously, but he did not ask what Astralose was talking about. He was too excited with the anticipation of seeing Navi again. "I cannot wait any longer. Let's hurry." Astralose nodded in agreement and nudged his horse forward after Link. They approached the decrepit temple from its northern side. Though there was no entrance on this side of the temple the gradual weathering of its walls had produced many holes large enough to use to enter the chambers within. Unfortunately, none of them were large enough for the horses to enter. Therefore, Link and Astralose descended from their mounts and entered the largest one of the holes, hoping to find Navi and only Navi.
