The Deku Tree was huge inside. Link stood still for minute just looking around the cavern. Sun shone through holes in the wall caused by a hundred years of rotting, but the tree seemed to be standing because of the vines that coated the walls. Even some of the rotten through patches had a web of vines closing the gap, the faint glow behind it was the only clue that there was no longer actual wood there. Above him a ledge went all the way around the cavern, most of it seemed to rotten to hold any weight though. The floor was made of dirt except for a large circular area that had a floor made of wooden boards and a ladder going down.
Finally deciding to take a step away from the doorway when he was hit in the rib by a small seed. He looked around to see where it had come from but saw nothing but weeds littering the floor. He took another step and then was hit in the side of the head by another deku seed, quickly turning to see the direction it had come from he saw a deku scrub jumping back into the ground. Taking his sword and shield off his back Link cautiously starting walking away from the scrub and listened for it to spit out another one. When he heard it coming he lifted his shield to protect himself and heard the small ding of the seed bouncing off. What he didn't expect was the high pitched cry that came after and the puff of smoke that appeared where the scrub once was.
Link grimaced. This was already the fifth thing he had killed in the past twenty-four hours. He vowed to himself that after he freed the two soldiers he would never kill another thing again. He also promised himself that he would disappear and live out the rest of his life as a hermit, safe and away from anyone who might rely on him. Stepping onto the ladder he climbed down into the darkness.
A single lantern flickered in the center of the room. In only a few minutes Link felt his throat drying out from the dead air around him. He couldn't see anything in the darkness but heard a scurrying noise above him. Trying not to think about what lurked in the darkness he pushed his feet along the ground and to the side of him. It seemed like ages before he found anything useful. He had run into a couple of walls, some bars, and some unit lantern, but finally after searching he found an old, dry stick on the ground. The second it touched it to the fire the stick ignited. Now with the light to guide him Link quickly lit the other lanterns in the room before the flame on his stick hit his hand.
Unfortunately for Link he was not alone in the room, and the keese that were previously sleeping were not as happy about the light. Swooping down from the ceiling they bit and scratched at his face and hands. It was nearly impossible for Link to reach behind him and pull out his sword. He pulled his slingshot out from his waistband and started waving it madly around him. He was only able to strike two of the keese and heard them screech and turn to smoke. Link decided his best bet was to roll around the room and get some distance between them and him. Somehow while he was midroll his left hand seemed to know what to do and seamlessly unsheathed his sword and he turned on the keese, slashing four of them out of the air in a single sweep.
Link was amazed at how quickly he was able to clear the room. He leaned against the base of the center lantern and breathed heavily for a few minutes. His left shoulder was so sore he couldn't imagine how his arm would stay attached once he stood up. Sweat tickled the back of his neck and he felt as though he would pass out, the only thing that kept him from doing so was the tightening of panic in his chest at the thought of being unconscious in this place.
Although, the room didn't seem so scary anymore now that the keese were gone and all the lanterns were going. He was in the lowest part of the room, surrounding him were three ledges at different heights. The bars he had kicked early blocked off a small hole on the same level that he was sitting on. Like in the upper level vines coated the room, but these ones were brown and dry. On the middle level was the only door in the room. It was easy to jump up to each level and LInk headed into the next room.
The room was a circle with five flowers around the edges. Relief washed over Link, a room that was nothing more than a normal room. His arms dropped to his sides but he still held his weapons as he walked forward. All five flowers growls as Deku Babas popped out in their places. The giant, purple, man eating plants snarled at Link who stood frozen in the center of all of them. Slowly he stretched his left and behind him and took a deep breath. His sword was long enough to cut eat of their stems if he spun quickly enough. Putting all of his effort into the swing Link's body whirled around four times before coming to a halt. Five dark clouds surrounded him.
Once the smoke was clear he heard the sound of bars receding, he hadn't noticed before but when the door shut behind him both the door across from him and the one he had just entered became barred off, only being freed after he defeated his enemies. His hand tightened on the hilt of his sword as he prepared to enter the next room, determined not to be surprised again.
"Link, come sit with us," it was about the hundredth time someone had asked Zelda to eat with them and she wasn't even close to getting her stew yet. Although she agreed with her father that sleeping in the camp was inappropriate Zelda's stomach churned at what was going to happen that night when it was noticed that she did not report after the last training session. She supposed her father had tipped off the commanding officers, but if they had been told she doubted they would be pushing her as hard as they have been.
More men walked by and offered her a seat at their table and she just smiled and nodded. Because of his defeat on the training field Calev had been spending extra attention to Link so Zelda was taking extra care not to blow her cover. Calev would know Link's voice so Zelda did not talk, Calev would know his mannerisms so she would avoid him completely. She worried she already shocked him too much by knocking him down earlier. Once her bowl was filled she strolled to the edge of camp where she could eat alone and be more aware of whose eyes were on her.
Zelda's mind wandered to the real Link. He was small, but he had to have some sort of strength to be nominated by his town. Part of her felt guilty, even with his sword he would have a hard time protecting himself if continued to run for much longer, and had she told someone that he was walking off it could have saved his life. She couldn't think of that, the real Link had to be alive, if he wasn't how could she ever forgive herself.
The horn that signaled the end of dinner and the start of the last training session cut her train of thought. Zelda pulled herself to her feet, she could not think of a time she had had so much exercise. She gave one last look at the darkening horizon, hoping to see some sign that he was out there. That's when she saw the silhouette of a soldier's uniform approaching the camp from across the field. Without hesitation she ran towards the figure, attracting the attention of the other recruits and training officers, all of whom followed her once they saw what she was after.
The soldier wore a gray tunic, signifying him as a scout. His clothes were spattered with blood and he limped badly on his right leg. Zelda was the first to reach him and as soon as she was close enough he collapsed in her arms. She pulled him close to her and could smell fire and pine trees on him. The rest of the groups caught up with her just in time for the soldier to look up at her and gasp,
"It's you."