Chapter Nine: Escape from the Lost Temple
"So Navi. You never did tell me why you had to leave so soon," said Link as he curled up tiredly on the stone-hewn floor.
"I had done what I set out to do. I promised the Great Deku Tree that I would aid you in your quest. When that was done, there wasn't really any reason to stay. Besides, I had nearly seen enough of Hyrule to last me a lifetime. I was ready to travel elsewhere in the world. Honestly, I had hoped that I could find another young boy to help in his travels. But that hasn't happened. Instead, I've just been sitting in this room for weeks on end. And I don't know why. I really want to leave, but something is holding me back. Oh well," she sighed. "Now that you're here, I finally have a reason to leave. It is good to see you again Link. You seem so much older now, even though it's only been a few months since we last spoke. I think your adventures have allowed you to mature well past your age."
"I don't feel any different. I still love my adventures. To be honest though, it will be nice to finally settle down now that I've found you, at least for a little while."
"Well, I suggest you get some sleep. I want to leave early tomorrow and we can't have you falling asleep and falling off of Epona's back, can we?"
"No, that wouldn't be good," said Link with a grin. "Well then, goodnight."
"Goodnight Link." When he laid down to go to sleep, she drifted over to his side and settled in the nook beneath his arm. Meanwhile, Astralose—who had been standing quietly throughout their conversation—sat down, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes. He mumbled to himself quietly for a half an hour before ending his meditation. He looked at Link—who was now snoring lightly—and Navi—who was still cradled under the hero's arm—and smiled. "How precious," he muttered before leaning back against the wall and falling asleep.
The next morning Link awoke with a jump. He looked around and saw that the room was filled with blinding sunlight. Astralose had left the chamber and Navi was trembling by the exit in midair. He stood up and approached the fairy. "What's wrong?" he asked.
"I- I don't know. I was about to go outside with the old man and I started shaking uncontrollably. And for some reason I can't leave now."
"What do you mean you can't?"
"I don't know. Maybe I don't want to."
"But you just said last night that you wanted to."
"Well, that was last night!" she snapped.
"All right. So what are you saying? You don't want to come to Hyrule anymore?"
"No! Get away from me!" the fairy shrieked as she retreated to the corner of the room.
"But Navi, you have to come with me," pleaded Link, but she ignored him. At that moment Astralose came in, soaking wet from his morning bath in the river.
"Is something the matter?" he asked.
"It's Navi. She says she doesn't want to leave now."
"Oh no. It's the temple. It has happened already."
"What's happened?"
"I warned you of this, remember? The temple serves as a home for those without one, but once someone recognizes this place as their home it becomes more and more impossible for them to leave as time goes on."
"Are you saying that she won't leave?"
"Not willingly. I'm sorry."
"Well, she has to leave! I've traveled all this way to find her, and there is no way that I'm going to let some meaningless temple stop her from leaving."
"Don't call it meaningless! You fool!" cried Navi. "This temple has been everything to me. It has been there for me when no one else has."
"Navi, can you hear what you're saying? This is ridiculous. You have to leave now. I don't think this temple is a safe home."
"It's a safer home than Hyrule ever was!"
"Astralose, you have to help me. Will you help me convince her?"
"There is no way to convince her. Don't you see? This is the temple's doing. Unless you want to pick her up and force her to leave, then she will never leave."
"So be it. Come on Navi. We're getting out of here right now." Link hurried up to the fairy and tried to scoop her glowing body up in his hands. As soon as his hands had surrounded her, he felt something tiny pierce through his skin, drawing blood. "You bit me!"
Navi chuckled. "I'm warning you! I want to stay!"
"Astralose, please give me your cloak." The old man removed the threadbare garment from his back and tossed it to Link. Link shook it roughly and tossed it over his confused friend. She fell to the floor from the weight of the cloak and Link rolled it up in a ball around her. "Come on Astralose. We need to leave, now." Ignoring the audible protests from the imprisoned Navi, Link approached the nearest exit of the temple. When he reached the threshold of the entryway, he found his feet growing mysteriously heavy. Without warning, he came to a standstill. "What's wrong with me? I must leave this place." He tried to lift his feet, but they might as well have been cemented to the ground.
"I'm sorry Link, but it's the only way," said Astralose as he came up behind him.
"What are you sorry for?" Suddenly the old man pushed Link as hard as he could through the exit.
Link fell to the pine-needle covered ground and dropped the rolled up garment that had held Navi. She fluttered out of the confinement and said, "Thank you Link. I don't know what came over me. I feel so much better now though. Now I am ready to go to Hyrule. I'm sorry if I did anything rash."
"Well, you did bite me. Luckily your teeth are small though, so it's barely even bleeding," replied Link as he stood up and dusted himself off.
"I bit you. I'm so sorry. I didn't even realize it. It was like I was in a trance."
"Don't worry. It's fine. I'm just glad you're all right now. Thank you for your help Astralose."
"I'm glad I could help," the old man responded as he walked out of the temple. "It has been an interesting journey Link, but I must return home now. My men must surely be missing my presence by now."
"Are you sure you don't want to come with us to Hyrule?"
"No. I can't. But I'm sure we'll meet again. You are after all a very fine young lad." Link smiled and Astralose continued. "If you continue to follow this river, it will eventually take you to Zora's Fountain. It is a long journey but the river will guide you well."
"How do you know of Zora's Fountain? Have you been to Hyrule before?"
"Oh yes, I traveled far and wide in my younger days, much like you do now."
"Well Astralose. Thank you again for all your help."
"You are indeed welcome. Good day Link. And may we meet again."
Link nodded as Astralose turned and followed the river back upstream toward his village. Link turned to Navi and asked, "Are you ready?"
"Yes. I couldn't be more ready." However, Link noticed that she was still eyeing the Lost Temple hungrily.
"Come on then," he said hurriedly before she could have a chance to change her mind. Link turned eastward and began to follow the river with Navi fluttering alongside of him. They both looked forward to the day when they would finally return home to Hyrule.
