Chapter 45 – The Anaesthetic

The ground floor was strangely cold. The morning light was already shining through the windows, but it was not like the sun that usually shone in spring. It was as if winter had taken a sudden hold of the land once more and was dipping Hyrule into a prolonged, depressed state of apathy. At least that was what Renado felt.

''I would lit a fire, if I had my magic device.'' Midna said from her place on the counter where she sat between two bottles of ale. A third had been kidnapped by Rusl, who was sitting at the table and drinking away at it with shaking hands. Already his eyes had turned glassy from the light alcohol, but it could also have been traces of fresh tears shining in them. Whatever it was, Renado let him drink; sometimes it was better to drown their sorrows before stepping into action once more than try to cope with them too soon for one's standing and getting nowhere. Besides, there was not much to be done anyway, except keeping keen ears locked on the first upper door and hope beyond hope to see a healed, blue-eyed young man step out of it.

Renado nodded, playing with the knife he had used to cut herbs on the round table. Neither of the three had been able to sleep, so he had thought to better make use of the time and do something useful. ''If you like I can lit it.''

''No, I'll do it. I saw Link do it enough times.'' Midna interjected, hopping down and landing painfully on her small feet with a grunt. She was still not very accustomed to walk on her own. The shaman noticed that, and stepped over to her to retrieve the flint and tinder from the hearth that were too high for the imp to reach. ''You'll hurt yourself, let me do it.''

''No! I can do it!'' she yelled, snapping the pouch away from his hands. She fumbled with the lace all while cursing under her breath, soon throwing the sack to the ground with a frustrated huff. ''Cursed, it's no use anyway!'' she hissed, lowering her head downheartedly and plopping onto the rug that laid in front of the fireplace.

Renado picked the leather pouch up again and knelt down next to the upset Twili. With a calm eye, he glanced at her while retrieving the fire-making utensils with slow motions, fire-stone and iron in both hands and a little fluff of white wool-tinder which he placed on a small wood piece from the fire. With a skilful move he thrust the ferric on the stone, sending a small rain of sparks on the wool and setting it immediately aglow. Midna watched him silently as he pushed the glimmering tinder into the scorched wood pile in the fireplace, blowing on it carefully but powerfully to produce thick smoke. She sighed when the flame grabbed the coal, a nice crackling warmth engulfing her cold body pleasantly.

''Thanks.'' she mumbled, moving closer.

''I do not doubt that you could have done it too. But the pouch was too high up for you.'' Renado answered, now sitting down cross-legged next to her with a knowing smile. He just cast a quick look at the slumping blacksmith at the table, making sure he'd be all right, then turned to the imp next to him once more. ''You'll do it next time.''

Midna's head shot to him, and a frustrated huff escaped her. ''Renado, what happened there? What's wrong with Link?''

A sigh from the man let her look down once more, interweaving her fingers nervously.

''I told you already, I cannot say for sure until I see him fully and in daylight. The sun is yet not up completely, so you'll just have to wait a little longer.'' In truth, he was nearly sure of what had happened but preferred to see for himself if he was right at first.

''But why didn't the Light Water heal him?'' Midna looked at him desperately, her hands balling into tight fists. ''I don't understand! Zel – I mean the deity in my vision told me that to vanquish Darkness, there was only Light …''

Renado nodded. ''That is true. It is also most certain that this curse of Link's is as dark as can be.'' He frowned, turning the flint in his fingers while staring at it. ''We will just have to try again.''

Behind them, Rusl suddenly jerked up with a loud moan. ''I hear horses!'' Midna and the healer turned around. ''What?''

The smith banged the bottle on the table and stood up, somewhat unsteady with his body long gone from being sober. Renado quickly hurried to him and caught him as his friend was slowly leaning too much on one side, instead pushing him back on the chair. ''Stay there, Rusl, I'll have a look.''

''Horses!'' came an excited yell from the closed door to the children's room, and quickly after Colin, Beth and Talo were storming out onto the ground floor. ''Mr. Renado! There're horses coming!''

''I know, children. Stay here until I see who it is. We cannot trust any one in these times.''

He drew the key to the double doors from his pocket and turned it in the lock, letting the chilly air of a gloomy morn creep into the hall. As he stepped out onto the porch, wrapping his arms around himself, he could hear Epona whinny from her stable, and instantly felt unsure as he saw the first of the foreign beasts enter the wrecked village at a steady march.

His heart instantly beat quicker the moment he made out the rider astride the chestnut, slender but old-looking animal. He waved in welcome and hurried down the porch to greet the visitor, who sent its mount into a quick trot towards the Kakarikan and lifted his own, wrinkled hand.

''My dear Auru! How long has it been?'' Renado said, taking his old friend into a cherishing embrace, which the white-haired man returned with a hearty, but short chuckle. ''Dear me! You're not that old to talk like this, my friend.''

The shaman sent him a sad smile, nodding truthfully. ''I'm afraid times like these seem to age people beyond their respective time. I know many who already succumbed to that fate.''

Auru looked troubled as he watched him, but Renado had already turned towards the other members of the Resistance Group, who came trotting down the road with a third horse in tow. Ashei was riding a black horse which was quite fidgety, for it pestered Shad's chestnut mare with angry bites and snorts while they approached. The third person, however, was hidden underneath a brown cloak, with blue-grey fur at the hood and on the wrists.

''Shad, welcome back. And you must be Ashei, the brave warrior from Snow Peak.'' Renado greeted them, earning a strong tap on his shoulder from the black-haired woman. ''So pleased to meet you at last, Renado. Auru indeed told us a lot about you.'' she said.

The healer smiled, nodding to Ashei before advancing on the third person, who was dismounting with a strained, strikingly feminine grunt. Whoever that might be? It could not be Telma since the plump barmaid would immediately have been recognized by her bulky figure. This woman was quite thin and frail-looking, especially when one of her tender hands made an appearance from the sleeve of her travelling cloak and revealed long, elegant fingers, but quite tanned skin.

''Wait, let me help you with the horse, my Lady. I do not think we know each other.'' Renado said, helping her down from her mount.

The woman dusted herself off before chuckling, lifting the hood of her cloak and letting Renado gasp in surprise. ''I do think we already met, if you still recall who I am.'' Her voice was unforgettably soft and gentle, her sad, blue eyes warming the very core of his heart.

''Gracious Nayru! Could it really be Uli?'' Renado exclaimed, taking the fair-haired woman into his arms. ''But what are you doing here in those dangerous times? And so shortly after birth?''

The Ordonian cast him a smile tainted by worry and sadness. ''I could not bear to maybe never see my son again. The Group protected me well on the road, I have not a single scratch on me.''

''Uli?'' Rusl's quivering voice swept over to them from the porch where he stood completely stiff, before his second word was being drowned out by the shrieks of the children running towards the now crouching woman. ''Mum!'' Colin screamed and wrapped his arms around his mother's neck, laughing in pure happiness. ''Mum! You're here!''

Renado saw how the smith approached them hesitatingly, blinking as if he could only see a fading outline of his wife's form. Uli stood up once more, taking her husband into a tight hug. ''Oh darling! It's so good to see you!''

The reality seemed to catch up with Rusl, for he wrenched himself out of his wife's embrace and held her at a little distance from him, staring at her disbelievingly. ''Uli! What in Farore's name are you doing here? What about the baby … the village … why did you come?!''

Uli carefully took his hands from her shoulders, instead stemming on of her fists into her side. ''Aryll is safely at home with Jaggle and Pergie, even if she seems to not like goat milk very much. I've come to see Link, and I won't return to Ordon before I know he's safe. Where is he? I want to go to him immediately.''

Quickly, the shaman stepped in. ''That is a little difficult at the moment, so why don't we all get inside and have a cup of tea? Children, why don't you go and help Gor Liggs at the shop, I don't want you to disturb us.''

Colin and the others shouted out in protest, but the healer's words allowed no contradiction. The blonde boy hugged his mother one last time before running off after his friends, and the Resistance Group headed into the inn behind Renado.

Inside, a sudden shout from Uli let them jerk, and Ashei drew her sabre with a challenging grunt. ''No! Don't, she won't hurt you. Midna's a friend of Link, she brought him here.'' Renado tried to explain, letting the fighters stand easy immediately. Midna stood in front the fire and had at first tried to hide behind the counter, but Uli had seen her before she could move. ''So that is Midna? I thought she'd be … more human.'' Ashei said incredulously, and the Twili looked up at her darkly.

They stared at her for a brief moment, wherein Midna stood as still as a rock. Renado could see that she didn't like the fact of being so exposed to everyone, that she probably felt very vulnerable and uneasy. Before he could say something to ease both parties, though, Auru approached her and knelt down on the rug, stretching out his hand. ''A pleasure to meet you, Midna, you may call me Auru. You are a Twili, I presume?''

She nodded with a frown, allowing her hand to be engulfed by his own only with visible apprehension. ''I am. Does that make me an enemy to you?''

The old man looked surprised. ''I don't think someone who saved the Hero's life would ever be called an enemy. Hyrule owes you more than you can think of, young Twili.''

She broke a weak smile at his reply and immediately looked at ease as Auru stood up once more, allowing the other members to introduce themselves. Meanwhile, Renado quickly went into the kitchen to put the kettle on, and soon heard more greetings and welcomes when Luda and Ilia came down the stairs. As he cast a glance at the young Ordonian woman, he saw her still wearing a slight shade of white, with eyes hollow and tired. He thought best to not let her hear what he was about to tell the Resistance Group and Uli, and soon sent her out with Luda to go into the woods to fetch berries, accompanied of course by a Goron for protection.

Soon, all the adults and Midna sat at the circular table, holding each a cup of tea in their hands. ''So what is wrong with Link?'' Uli asked with a frown. ''Why can't I see him?''

The healer sighed. ''I do not wish to dwell in details, so I'll not tell you what happened since Link's arrival. That is mostly resting.'' he said, letting his look wander down to his cup. He momentarily paused, passing a hand over his face and hair, thinking feverishly about a way to best clear them up. ''The reason why we cannot see Link is because … something happened yesterday evening, something very disturbing and frightening. I do not know how to explain what we saw, or if what I say is truly right … but I believe that Link is not himself any more.''

Uli looked like petrified. For a brief moment there was no sound among them, until Ashei carefully stepped in. ''What do you mean, he's not himself?''

Renado sighed before quickly explaining what they lived the evening prior. ''We found a way to heal him from this strange curse, or magic, or whatever it is, when suddenly something shone brighter than anything I've ever seen. When we looked again he was … he was completely changed. He just cowered in a corner, didn't let us come nearer, didn't even seem to recognize us …''

The Ordonian woman blinked several times, staring at him disbelievingly. ''That's not Link, he would never be like that!''

''Believe me, I know by now what he's like, and I definitely agree with you.'' the shaman answered.

''There's more, Renado, isn't there?'' Auru asked, his worried frown still ever present on his old features. The Kakarikan nodded. ''After thinking about it, and recalling how he acted over the previous days, I think that I know the reason of his sudden change of heart. It is pain.''

The all looked at him with utter confusion. ''Pain?'' Shad asked, adjusting his glasses absent-mindedly.

''Yes, pain. He has been tortured for eight days now by agony we cannot imagine the severity, and after he believed that the Light would heal him, which proved to be an incredibly tormenting process … he just couldn't bear it any longer. Torture is a something that no one can hold out for eternity, eventually it overpowers the one enduring it. In Link's case he entered a state of shock and fear, in which he cannot think normally and reacts to outside stimuli with his instinct rather than his mind. His only wish is to protect himself from more pain, but he does not know what he is doing in order to achieve it. I have no other explanation for what we saw yesterday.''

Everyone was silent, digesting just what the healer had said. Renado looked between them, reading their faces like open books and seeing the utter bewilderment in their eyes. They all could not believe what he had just revealed. Maybe, he thought, he should really have kept it to himself, and see if his reasoning was actually true before instilling such horror within the new arrivals and the old ones.

''Is there a way for him to get out of this state?'' Rusl soon asked voicelessly. He had turned very white over time, holding on to his wife's hand for dear life. Uli looked, as the only one in the gathering, more calm than frightened, her blue eyes being the only part of her soft face letting her worry escape into the world.

''We have to stop his pain, and for that we have to drive away the Darkness plaguing him.'' Renado answered plainly.

''And how do we do that?'' Ashei asked while folding her arms in front of her chest. ''If I understood right, he doesn't let anyone near himself. We could overpower him all together, but that would still leave the torture of the healing process.''

The healer nodded. ''That is why we have to somehow get near him and give him morphine. It is the only drug I have that is strong enough to ease the pain he feels.''

Auru shook his head despondently. ''Do you really think he'll drink it voluntarily? I mean if we really overpowered him and forced him to drink it, we could harm him even more.''

Renado looked at him, nodding while lowering his head. ''You're right. He is still quite injured, and I don't want to cause him more pain than he already lives.''

''Don't give him morphine.'' Midna's quiet voice suddenly drew their attention, making them gaze at her in question. ''But Midna, that's the only drug that can –'' Renado tried, however she cut him off.

''Don't you recall what happened last time we gave him morphine?! The Curse made him suffer so much he passed out from it! Don't you have something else to ease pain?''

Renado was quite taken aback by her loud reply, looking at her as if hurt. ''If I had something else, I'd already have given –'' he said before suddenly relapsing to silence, frozen stiff, looking as if he had just seen a monster. The others around him leaned in confusedly as he frowned, his eyes darting around the table while he thought hard.

''Renado?'' Uli asked cautiously. ''What is it?''

To their surprise, the Kakarikan stood up and quickly hurried towards the inn doors, turning just once to call back. ''Stay here, I'll be right back.''

Oh please, be there! Please be still on your shelf! he thought while he entered his sanctuary cellar where his hundreds of bottles and boxes with experiments, medicines, essences, oils, tinctures, countless books and utensils were tidily stored and dusting over. He searched for a specific shelf, huffed when he found it, and rummaged through it with prying fingers and craving eyes. Please, don't be gone, be there right where I –

He sighed in relief, slowly reaching into a group of small bottles and pulling out a brown flask, all grey from dust. – put you so long ago.

His thumb grazed the faded ink lines and dots he had written there on a scrap of paper glued with resin to the glass, his other fingers carefully pulling the old cork from its resting place on the mouth of the vial. Please, be still good …

He sniffed at the stuff inside, and instantly retched while holding the bottle away from himself. ''Yes, you are definitely still good.''

As he re-entered the inn with his precious bottle held closely, Rusl ran towards him. ''What is it?''

Renado ushered him back to his seat and sat down on his own chair, placing the flask on the table. ''Maybe I know how to make Link pass the process without suffering. And we don't have to give him this by mouth.''

''What is that?'' Ashei asked, trying to decipher the writing on the paper.

''That is a quite rare and powerful anaesthetic called chloroform, which I made years ago at the sea in the north. It is an extract of seaweeds, but very difficult to make, therefore I quickly gave up producing it and set my attention on opium instead. Chloroform has the ability to induce quick and deep sleep simply by inhalation.''

Surprised gasps greeted his ears while they all stared at him incredulously. ''Then all we have to do is make him breathe in that stuff, and he will pass out?'' Ashei said, eyeing the bottle with a totally renewed respect. Renado affirmed her statement, spinning the bottle in his fingers absent-mindedly. ''It won't hurt him, it acts rather quick, and he will totally be knocked out. I think the most difficult thing will be to make him inhale it, but once we manage that, all should be fine.''

Ashei stood up from her seat, banging her fist on the table. ''So what are we waiting for?'' she asked enthusiastically.

They all agreed that Renado would be the one to make Link inhale the chloroform. Rusl instantly tried to offer his help, of course, wanting to convince him that he was sure Link would recognize him as his surrogate father once he properly saw him. Uli was also on his side, and they both could only be persuaded to a wait with great difficulty by Renado, who preferred to enter the room on his own so as not to scare Link too much. Any threatening appearance could have a traumatic effect on the Hero in his current condition, and the less people there were in his room, the better he thought they could help him. Midna tried to offer assistance by hiding in the shadows of the sick room, since her weak Twili powers still remained and enabled her to perform that feat. The healer also declined, staying with his previous argument. The less people there were around Link, the lesser would the chance be that he hurt himself. Plus, no one even knew if he still was in that shocked state, if it had worsened or not. At the very first, Renado wanted to have a good look at him and make an accurate diagnosis.

So with softly pounding heart, and no chloroform at the moment, he carefully knocked on the door, tapping away Rusl's hand which had settled on the doorknob, and hearing no response from inside carefully opened it with the key in his pocket, telling the others behind him to wait without disturbing. No one was to enter only if the shaman said so.

Quietness greeted him as he entered the room. The shutters to the window were still closed, letting only piercing rays of misty light enter the sombre atmosphere and leaving him temporarily blind. As he squinted in the direction of the rocking chair, he saw nothing but darkness enshroud the corner, and couldn't tell immediately if there was someone cowering in it.

He decided to sit down between the bed and the table, staying at enough distance from the corner but still angling himself so that, if ever there was Link huddled up, he would be able to see him without shifting. The cot was empty, as was the recliner, in fact there was no human trace to be perceived at first glance, which worried him deeply at first. Yet if someone had escaped through the window, it would be standing wide open along with the shutters, and the door had been locked all night. So Link must still be there somewhere.

''Link?'' he asked softly, keeping his gaze locked on the corner. Slowly his eyes got accustomed to the dark, and soon he could make out the outlines of a small form behind the big rocking chair, leaned against the back wall, unmoving. Nothing came as answer, but as he strained his ears hard while holding his breath, he heard a quiet wheezing with occasional rasping sounds in it. So worst things aside, Link was still alive.

Careful so as to not make a sound, he slowly crept over the wooden floor, still on his hands and knees, and approached Link's crumpled form while trying to get a closer look at him. One arm wrapped around his legs, the other clutching his chest, Link sat hunched over against the wall, eyes closed, his forehead resting on one knee while his left temple pressed against his wall support. Since he didn't react or moved except for his laboured breathing, the healer deduced that he must be asleep. He caught a quick glimpse of the infested wound covering the lower part of the youth's bare belly, and to his horror saw it bearing grotesque marks as if a monster had clawed at it. Seeing his hands smeared all over with scarlet stains, the dry blood crusting over his colourless skin, Link had apparently caused those scratches himself.

He came to a halt mere feet in front of the sleeping Hylian, now unsure of what to do. Either he could wake him and see how he would react, or he could quickly fetch the chloroform and try to make Link breathe it in while he was still asleep. With a lot of luck, he wouldn't even know what he had inhaled.

As Renado mused over it quickly, he decided that his second plan would be the safest for the injured Hero. All he had to do now was make his way back to the door and fetch the bottle of anaesthetic, and everything would be fine at last. Link would be freed from his curse, his surrogate parents would see him well and back on his feet soon, and his companion would be able to embark with him to free the realm of Twilight with all the Mirror Shards united. Link would have performed the quickest and most incredible healing process the land had ever seen, after bearing more than twenty cuts and nearly drowning both in water and in pain.

There were some times where Renado thought Link was more than just a Hylian lad. He was truly a hero. The Hero, no doubt.

He nodded to himself while starting to turn around on his knees, when he suddenly perceived something, or … more the absence of something. He stopped in his tracks instantly, listening hard to the quiet wheezing from Link which, he noticed immediately, had vanished. There was no breathing, no rasping inhales and rattling exhales, nothing.

Fear grabbed him by the heart, instantly dreading the worst. He turned his head quickly while calling out Link's name softly, and was momentarily startled.

Link was not suffering an inexplicable respiratory arrest, as he had feared, but had opened his dark eyes to glare at the shaman, pressing himself tighter against the wall, apparently holding his breath in an attempt to go unnoticed. Renado was still mere feet away from him, and was immobile just like him.

In the long silence following, Link's body slowly started to tremble. His look became panicked, his breaths instantly retaking and gasping heavily in fright.

''Link, don't worry, it's just me.'' the healer tried as he carefully approached a hand towards the youth. Instantly, Link began to breathe even sharper and tumble backwards in horror, meeting hard with the corner and whining out in fright.

''Okay, Link, I'm not coming nearer.'' Renado assured, moving backwards on his own and sitting down at a greater distance. ''I'll stay right here, and I won't touch you. You needn't fear me.''

So at least that was clear, Link was still in this state of mad fear and shock. Worse was that he had now played away his chance of making Link inhale the chloroform while still asleep, which would now be a little more difficult. He thought it best to just fetch the anaesthetic and give it a try. There had to be some way they could make him inhale it! At least that was easier than making him swallow something.

He tried to move back as slow as possible, never leaving Link's quivering form with his eyes. As he made it to the door, he pulled himself up and crept out into the corridor, closing the door quietly.

''So? Is he still …'' Rusl asked, relapsing to silence when the Kakarikan nodded despondently. ''Overall he seems all right, there's no bleeding or severe inflammation, but he still reacts as if I were an enemy who wanted to hurt him. If we want to give him that chloroform, we will somehow have to gain his trust at first. But how we will manage that …''

Rusl let go of his wife's hand and approached the healer with a resolute expression. ''Let me try. Maybe I can make him recall who I am, and he will not fear me then. ''

Renado looked suspicious. ''Are you sure you want to do that? He could hurt you.''

''Link is my son! He would never hurt me.'' the blacksmith exclaimed crossly. ''And I'm tired of seeing him suffer. Just let me try, please, Renado! I'm sure I can do it.''

As much as the shaman tried to change Rusl's mind, the Ordonian was relentless. Soon seeing that his arguing was no use, Renado gave in instead and went down to fetch the small bottle and a cloth from the washing room. Upon opening the bottle, a foul, very strong smell escaped into the corridor, letting the adults clap a hand over their nose. After Renado poured some onto the cloth and folded it, he handed it to the smith. ''Do not breathe it in too much, otherwise you'll likely get dizzy yourself. If you make him inhale it, place it on his mouth and nose and be sure to unfold it so that the effect it quick and strong. When he gets limp, don't remove the cloth but keep it in place and wait until he reacts no more. Should you have trouble, then call us, we're right here behind the door.''

Rusl nodded and took the reeking cloth in his hand, holding it at a little distance from himself. He took a single, deep breath, sent a last reassuring glance to Uli, then quietly stepped into the room.

His eyes took a while, just like Renado's, to adjust to the darkness of the corner, but soon he could make out his quaking son staring daggers at him, retreated as far as the wall allowed him. His pale face and red tainted fingers instantly struck Rusl's very heart, and he could not prevent the gasp of fright escaping his throat.

''Link, it's me, Rusl.'' he tried, tapping lightly on his chest. ''Don't you recognize me?''

Link didn't move, the suspicious frown ever present on his sweaty forehead. As the smith approached him slowly, his whole body flinched back against the corner, the tremors intensifying drastically. Rusl noticed he had started the wrong way, and carefully crouched down instead with the chloroform soaked cloth tucked behind his back. ''Don't worry, I won't hurt you. Why don't you see who I am?''

His feet gently took him nearer to his adoptive son, still remaining crouched, while one hand slowly lifted as if trying to embrace him from a distance. ''I raised you, remember?'' he said while taking two steps forward. ''You were like a son to me for seventeen years. We practised swordplay and went into the woods hunting, remember? And my son, Colin, he made you a fishing rod.''

At the word 'Colin', Link eyes suddenly unfocused, his lids separating just a little more. The fear on his face seemed to dim while he seemingly remembered Colin, or was overrun by memories he could not associate with himself and put into order. Rusl noticed this, and took the chance to approach the youth a little quicker while he was temporarily distracted, preparing the cloth behind his back by unfolding it gently, his thumb touching the soak and starting to prickle strangely. ''He was always like a little brother to you, was he not? And Uli, she is here with the others, with old Auru and stormy Ashei, and the bespectacled Shad. Do you recall them? Yes, of course you do.''

His bigger body approached Link steadily, his legs already starting to ache a little from the long crouching and slow motions. He could only now make out the occasional trembling shooting through the Hylian's bloodied frame, letting him make all kinds of speculation about where it came from. True, cold would be the most obvious reason since Link's chest was still uncovered from last night's treatment. If it was from fear and shock, however, he could not really tell. To his eyes Link seemed just very confused, not knowing what was happening to him. Rusl could not really believe Renado's theory about him not being himself any more. He was just completely overworked, nothing more!

He was now about three metres away from the youth. Link's eyes had focused once more, his hands sluggishly unwrapping his knees and touching the ground while he stared at his father figure with an unreadable look. Rusl took it for a questioning, nearly pleading one, and immediately his tight grip on the towel loosened behind his back. ''Link, I've come to help you.'' he said softly, his look boring into his son's clouded eyes. ''Please, you know me. Don't you recognize me?''

He waited a few seconds wherein Link didn't move, only stared at him while continuing to tremble.

''Please, Link, I know you're not the chattering type, but just a little answer would be enough. You're not mad with fear and shock like Renado said, I know it. You're my son, and I sure know you better than he does.''

Link still didn't answer, but upon another hand move from Rusl he flinched back sharply, pressing himself against the wall further. Rusl was now slowly getting frustrated, his reeling mind not wanting to believe that his own son didn't recognize him. His lips twitched uncontrollably, itching their way into a smirk, and before he could catch himself he was chuckling despite himself. Tears welled up in his eyes while he giggled, his hand now completely letting go of the towel behind his back. No, I won't knock my own son out, never!

''Link, please stop this theatre and say you recognize me. Please.'' His voice was quaking while the water was streaming down into his beard. His throat was becoming very dry as his chuckled turned into quiet laughter, his eyes never leaving the terror-struck expression on Link's face.

''Stop this theatre now! Stop it!'' Rusl suddenly blurted out loudly, making a grabbing move in the Hero's direction. Link shrieked out at the top of his voice, his entire body bending back like a spring before propelling itself at the man tumbling towards him. Rusl could not react as his son ploughed into him, knocking him down forcefully. He moaned, finding himself on his back, and tried to pull the chloroform out from under himself where his own weight was holding his arm captive. But to his horror, Link jumped right on top of him with fingernails drawn like claws, spitting like a cat that was hurling itself fearlessly on a much bigger predator.

Rusl roared out in pain and terror as Link's teeth dug into his right shoulder while one of his hands pressed down on his throat. Luckily his left arm was still free and he was able to press hard on Link's upper right arm to make him tumble off of him with a loud groan. As he was about to draw himself up again, however, strong hands grabbed him from behind and dragged him across the room towards the door with shouts and commands. He tried to wriggle himself out of the men's grasp, saw his son sunken down on the floor, still screaming, ridging the wooden planks of the floor with his nails and tainting them red as splinters drew blood. Rusl wanted to say something, anything to comfort him, to apologize for his uncontrolled outburst, but before he could open his mouth, the door was shut before his eyes, his son's shrieks dying down and becoming muffled.

''Rusl! You're hurt!'' Renado's frantic voice rang out next to him while his shirt was being pulled off his shoulder, revealing a bloodied bite mark and a few scratches.

''I've got to … let me go! Link! I'm sorry! Please let me go to him!'' the smith called, trying to stand up from his seated position but was held down by Auru and Renado. ''No, Rusl! He doesn't recognize you! He saw you as an enemy and attacked you. Now hold still, and let me look at that.''

At the healer's words, the Ordonian's eyes focused on those of his wife, crouching next to him, looking at him reassuringly. He shook his head, evaded her gaze and started to sob uncontrollably, feeling her warm hand on his uninjured shoulder as if it was the golden hand of Farore herself. ''I'm so sorry, Love … I thought I could help him, he's so … so ill …''

''It's all right, darling.'' she answered, shushing him calmly. ''It's not your fault.''

''It is my fault! I shouted at him because he didn't recognize me! Oh Uli, I'm so sorry!''

Renado shook his head as the Ordonian woman cast him a worried look, instead he got to his feet and helped Rusl up as well. ''I'm going to bandage his wound, I'll be right back.''

Shad and Auru followed the two men down the stairs as Uli bent down and picked the stinking cloth up from the ground. She groaned as the stench punched her sensitive nose and held it away from herself while searching on the floor for the chloroform bottle Renado had left there minutes ago.

''Miss Uli? What are you doing?'' Ashei's voice swept over to her as the blonde woman poured some more anaesthetic onto the towel, folding it in half just as the shaman had done. ''Going in there and helping my son.'' she said with a resolution that could only belong to a woman.

''What? You can't go in there! Who knows what he will do to you!'' But Uli cut her off with a quick gesture. ''I've not come all the way up here to give up so quickly. That's my son in there, not some random boy who lost his mind. And I possess something which my husband doesn't.''

The black-haired warrior looked at her confusedly, cocking her head. ''And what would that be?''

Uli planted her feet solidly in front of the door, balling her fists while answering without looking at Ashei. ''I've got the patience and intuition of a loving mother.'' And without further comment, she stepped inside.

The shrieking emanating through the door had stopped long ago, and for good reason. The moment she closed the door once more, she caught sight of her adoptive son rolled up underneath the window, sobbing softly but violently while staring in front of himself fiercely. On his lips were small traces of red that trickled out and ran over his chin, passing his cheekbones and leaving a thin line of vermilion along his white throat. Reflecting on his face was a deadly terror that Uli had never set eyes on before, and seeing him in such a state startled her so much that she gasped in bewilderment. ''Oh, Link...''

Link's head shot around the moment he heard her words, staring at her with nothing but pure fear in his dark eyes. Fear of more pain, of more agony threatening to devastate him. Who was this new stranger that approached him at a slow pace, this person that also seemed so dreadfully familiar to him? Was she here to torture him even more, or would she go away again and let him be in loneliness and peace?

Uli's steps were cautious but sure, and her right hand which held the white cloth soaked in chloroform moved slowly behind her back to hide from his vigilant, horror-filled eyes. Link watched her without blinking, like a wild animal trapped in a corner with a hungry predator approaching it ominously. But she stopped her stride when she was about halfway across the room, halting just next to the bed. She knew in what a state of mind he was, and if she was about to do what Renado had demanded and where her husband had failed, she would have to be very careful and gain his trust at first before moving into action. She felt a painful sting in her heart at the thought, but that was the only way to truly help him, there was no other solution. She would not make the same mistake as Rusl, to believe Link would suddenly know who she was – as much as it hurt her.

Sitting down on the bed and placing the towel behind her, she looked directly into his eyes.

''Link, I can see how you suffer, and I know that you are very scared. But I promise you that I will never, ever hurt you. I just want to help you, that's why I'm here. Please, come to me. Let me embrace you, and you'll feel better, I promise.''

While speaking, she stretched out her arms in his direction, inviting him to come closer. Link didn't move, but she could discern now that he was trembling. The look in his eyes transformed into distrust, staring at her arms without making any attempt to stand up. It didn't seem that he would do what she asked for, so she tried it again.

''Don't be afraid, sweetheart. I won't hurt you, no one will hurt you any more. Come into my arms, Link, I only want to help you.'' She tried to make her voice sound as soothing as possible, her arms stayed outstretched in his direction.

His brows knitted as a little voice in his head pulled him to alertness. No! She will hurt you even more! Don't go to her!

He gritted his teeth, shot a quick glance at the woman on the bed, then back at the far wall he was facing. His body twitched and jolted even more as he was torn between two decisions, not knowing which was the one to follow.

''I promise you that I won't hurt you. Link, I love you, and I will always be there for you. Pain will not haunt you any more if you come into my arms.''

Link gazed downward, his eyes drooping as his mind worked hard. She could see that he was hesitating, not really knowing if he could trust her or not. His look darted from one side to the other while he pursed his brows as he fought against his instincts that screamed danger.

But this blonde, fragile-looking woman seemed so kind, so insightful, understanding as the only one his true pain, his mortal fear of more torment and anguish. She wanted to help him, wanted to show him a way out of his misery, all he had to do was grab her arms she held out towards him. The thought of deliverance was so … alluring, so … irresistible …

Uli smiled as she saw how he struggled to his feet, pressing his left arm around his middle and holding it on the horrible cut which was bleeding again. He moved with shaking body towards her, not looking at her but sending an occasional glance at her as if she was a flickering mirage that threatened to fade into the darkness at any moment. He stopped briefly as the voice inside his head warned him again, but one little sentence of comfort from Uli was enough to send him into motion once more, and she took his hand carefully as he lowered himself beside her.

She wrapped her arms around his quaking frame, pressing him against her so that he could rest his head on her shoulder. Stroking his hair, she spoke softly to him. ''It's all right, Link, you're not alone, I'm with you. It's all right. You have nothing to fear, sweetheart.''

She could feel that his shivers tranquillized in her embrace, and she tightened her hug around him a bit more to pass him all the affection and sedation she could offer him. In those moments, she didn't care that he was already seventeen and the Hero of Legend, for all this was much less important by now. He was in an extremely bad shape and truly not himself, so he needed someone to hold onto, who understood him, who was there for him. He didn't have parents any more who could have been his rescuers, but even if he wasn't her own son, he had always owned a very special place in her heart. He had saved her younger son from death, as Rusl had told her quietly after arriving, so now, it was her turn to pay back what Link had done for her and her family.

Laying her cheek on the top of his head, she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths to put her mind entirely into his strained figure. She could smell the sweet odour of his hair like a soft breeze in the woods on a sunshiny morning; the minting scent of oak and earth melting together with a light flower perfume immured her in a wave of memories, letting her start to dream about the many wonderful moments she had spent with him. She felt how her closed eyes watered, and before she could stop her tears, they were already running down her face and dripping on Link's hand which she held gently in hers.

His body tensed up anew in her hold, pressing his head firmer on her shoulder to the point of making her almost scream in pain. As she opened her eyes again to see what was the matter, she saw that he was crying, too. He didn't make any sound, but his tears were streaming down his cheeks and landing in form of thick drops on his bloodied arm.

That's my chance, she thought almost against her will. Removing one arm to grope for the cloth behind her back, she straightened herself and looked at him with sympathy in her eyes. ''Wait, let me cleanse your face, shall I?'' She pulled the towel forth, but halted in mid-air instantly. Link was staring at the cloth with widened eyes, his body slowly flinching away from it. What if he could smell the strong scent of the chloroform? She had to persuade him that he had nothing to worry about, or she would have to try it another way.

''It's all right, Link, it's only a towel,'' she said softly, making her voice sound convincing. ''Let me just wipe away your tears, and I'll let you in peace.''

It took a few moments before Link relaxed his body, eventually closing his eyes devotedly. Uli breathed silently in relief and placed her hand clutching the towel on his eyes, being careful to cover his nose at the same time. He gave a soft grunt at the stench the towel held, but she assured him it was just the soap with which the linen had been washed. Pretending to wipe his tears away, she stroked over his face and caressed his head with her other hand to direct his attention on her hand rather than on the white cloth and its smelly peculiarity.

The effect of the anaesthetic was, to her reluctant relief, not slow in arriving. Soon, Link became heavier in her arms as the energy of his body slowly fell asleep. His left arm which rested on his stomach grew limp and dropped into his lap, however, he was still awake enough to notice that something abnormal was happening to him.

Soon, he began to choke, his left hand digging into the mattress to hold himself upright. Uli felt how he wanted to pull his head away from the towel, and she knew at that moment that she had to act quickly if she wanted to be successful in fulfilling Renado's request, even if it pained her to do such a ruthless thing to Link.

A sudden brutality gripped her muscles as she wound her left arm around him and pressed the cloth now forcefully on his mouth. She heard him moan in fright and felt his hands grab her arm firmly as he tugged at it frantically, but his movements were getting slower and weaker with every inhale of chloroform he unwillingly took. However, his remaining vigour was still enough to make her groan in effort, and she had to summon up all her strength to hold him still, to prevent him from removing the soaked cloth. But it was no easy task with Link fighting against her, even if the anaesthetic was sapping him of energy. He squirmed madly in her hold, trying desperately to free himself with his eyes screwed up by the strain, turning his head violently from left to right to get out of Uli's grip.

Just as she managed to paralyse Link's winding frame with the aid of her slender body which she pressed against him, a yellow shining light suddenly radiated from his left hand and illuminated the entire room around them. She shouted out in fright as she remembered that light from Renado's telling, and doubled her struggle to hold Link in place. However, with the new strength the sacred power of the Triforce fed to him, Link let out a shriek as he managed to tear her hand off his face, propelling himself up and away from her. She tried to catch his escaping body, screaming horrified, but wasn't quick enough,. ''Link, no! Come back!''

Link tumbled across the room with his torso bend over, but as he reached the middle of the chamber, he suddenly let out a moan and seized his head with his hands in a vain attempt to stop the dreadful, dizzy feeling overcoming his blurred vision. He vacillated so violently that he lost balance and dropped down to his knees, supporting himself on one hand while the other clutched his forehead.

Breathing hard, his glaring eyes set on her while he croaked painfully. ''What … what did … you do to me …?''

Uli was just quick enough to prevent his toppling body from crashing down to the wooden floor as he collapsed on his side, his hands still gripping his head tightly. Attempting to place the white towel on his nose again, she reached for his mouth, but Link held out a trembling arm in front of his face. ''No … get away … from me …'' he moaned in a scratchy voice.

Uli bend over him and pressed his arm down, approaching her other hand to hold the cloth once more on his mouth and nose. ''I'm sorry, Link, but I have to do this. It's for your own good.'' She knelt beside him and held him still as he tried several times to tear the towel away from his mouth, but after a while, the chloroform at last acted with all its might. She saw how his eyelids became heavier, and slowly his attempts of freeing himself died away to finally cease completely. His fingers twitched a few times as they lay on the ground beside him, before all his movements stopped, his eyes closing as he fell into a dreamless sleep. His breathing became quiet and calm, the soft heaving of his chest being the only move stirring his otherwise motionless body.

Uli was so affected by this sorrowful scene that a few sobs emanated from her throat, and she ran a quivering hand over her face to wipe her eyes dry. She didn't withdraw the cloth from Link's mouth since Renado had said that the chloroform must not be taken off until the treatment was done, otherwise Link would wake up much too soon and they would have to start all over again.

But … it was such a horrible sight for her.

Link's body and arms were limp and immobile, deprived from all the strength he had so arduously assembled during his long hours of healing. Even if his eyes were closed, there were still a few tears that left his lids and wandered down his face, marking the wood of the floor with small circles of fallen drops. His short breathing which inhaled the heavy scent of the towel rang in Uli's ears, letting her distress become even worse. She looked down at him with affliction in her heart, caressing his inanimate face gently with one finger. He was already fast asleep and didn't notice her any more, neither his surroundings, nor his pain. He was safe now, safe in his unconsciousness which shielded him from all the sufferings he had been forced to endure for so long.

She stayed with him almost five minutes, making sure that he had really gone insensible by calling his name softly. Still holding the towel on his nose for him to breathe in the chloroform, she turned her head in the direction of the door and called. ''Ashei!''

Instantly, the door swung open and the shaman, followed close by Midna, Auru and the warrior girl, stepped into the room. ''Are you all right? Is he …''

''Yes, he's asleep. I managed to make him breathe in the chloroform.''

The healer approached her and Link and knelt down to inspect him closer. Checking his pulse at first, he bend over him and placed a hand on his cheek, being careful not to inhale the perfume wafting about the cloth as well. ''Link? Can you hear me?'' he said softly. The youth didn't react.

''Well done, Uli.'' Standing up again and nodding towards Auru, Renado took Link in his arms and heaved him up while Auru held the cloth placed on his mouth. Together, they moved towards the bed to lie him down gently on the white blanket, and Uli stood up again to stand at Midna's and Ashei's side.

''How is he?'' asked the imp in a low voice. She was eyeing Link with a worried look, staring at the white cloth which Auru was pressing on his mouth and nose. The woman gazed down at her. ''He is captivated in fear and terror, more I cannot say. He fought hard against me before the anaesthetic took action. But don't worry about him, Renado knows what he is doing. He will heal him now, trust me.''

She cast a weary smile at the Twili, still somehow shocked by the dreadful scenes she had just witnessed. She had always known that Link's destiny was to fight against powerful and cruel enemies and that he had to withstand perilous ordeals in order to fulfil his duty as the Hero of Legend. But that he had to suffer so gravely in his young age, she would never have imagined. How long did he have to bear this pain before he could again live his life as he did before? How many more trials must he endure before he could at last rest his exhausted soul in peace?

Midna watched on as they prepared everything for Link's treatment. Renado filled the sacred Light Water into a new bowl and placed it on the small table next to the bed. Auru fetched a chair from on corner of the room and indicated Midna to sit down beside Link. She nodded and seated herself, placing on her turn her hand on the cloth of chloroform to maintain it placed on his mouth in case it should slip. The sensation was very odd, as if the anaesthetic had also an effect on her and let her fingers fall asleep as well. Soon, she couldn't feel them any more, and she had to pull herself together to ignore the urge of shaking her hand awake again.

Renado came to the other side of the bed just opposite her, sitting on another chair. With a second cloth placed in his lap for further use, he leaned over Link lying on his back. The long cut still open on is underbelly was bleeding his skin red, and the black shining pebbles in its middle glistened with a frantic shine.

''It's time to make you pay for all the suffering you caused Link …'' the shaman growled at the Curse, nodding to Midna and telling her mutely to make herself ready for whatever might happen during the treatment. She nodded back, bracing herself while keeping a close eye on Link's inanimate face and the cloth under her hand.

The remaining inmates of the room gathered around the bed the moment Renado dipped a second cloth into the Light, eliciting the three unknowing characters astonished gasps. ''Renado, what is that?'' Auru asked incredulously, watching the liquid Light drape around the linen like melted gold.

''Tears of Light, from the four Light Spirits. I'll explain later.'' was all the Kakarikan said as return, instead taking a deep breath and pressing the tip of his cloth onto the wound.

The sacred substance flowed into the cut like hot lava, mixing with the blood and turning the red life a bright orange. As soon as it made contact with the black pebbles, Renado added a second big drop of Light to make sure the entire injury was covered to the brim. Everyone stared in awe while the two opposite forces met, the black giving a few soft screeches of anger before being clearly overwhelmed by Light and instantly shrinking together. Midna watched with eyes as wide as saucers how the Curse gave a last, desperate pound of black energy that jolted through Link's body, making his fingers twitch, before being completely drowned out. The Light expanded over the deep gash and instantly sat to work mending it, bringing both edges of torn flesh together and welding them to one plane surface once more.

Only a small hole remained on Link's right side, which was wiped clean of blood by Renado's cloth. The Light shrunk together and expired gently, becoming naught but clear water running down Link's skin. As everyone waited for something to happen next, all leaning in closer over the unconscious youth, Midna released the breath she was holding during the entire process.

Nothing happened. The wound remained slightly open, a little blood trickling out sluggishly, but gave no further reaction whatsoever. The Twili's eyes met Renado's with a countenance of pure happiness, which the shaman returned with a disbelieving smile.

''We did it …'' he breathed voicelessly. ''The Curse is broken!''

000