WHAT LIES BENEATH

They spent the night in the Forest Haven surrounded by the sounds of merrymaking as the Koroks celebrated Link's return.

"I don't understand!" Link told Kin as two of the young Korok girls threw dandelion necklaces around his head. "I've never been here before!"

Kin laughed. "Well they think you have!" Several dandelion necklaces were already around her neck. "I think they might be remembering one of your predecessors."

"The last Hero of Time died over a hundred years ago!" Link yelled back over the noise. "These kids can't be more than ten or eleven years old!"

Kin shook her head. "They aren't human! Haven't you noticed? They disappear if you step more than a few lengths away! Who knows how old they really are?"

Link laughed at the idea. "There's no way!" To prove it, he waved down Makar from the small stump he was playing his violin from. "Makar! Come here a sec!"

The Korok happily obliged. Dancing over to them, he dropped into a cross-legged sit across from Link. "What do you need?"

"How old are you Makar?" Link asked, ready to tease Kin with his answer.

"Ummm..." the little boy thought for a while. Counting on his fingers, he nodded decisively. "Nine hundred and eighty-two years old!" he said with a grin.

Link nearly choked on his tongue. "What?!" he exclaimed, coughing violently. Seated next to him, Kin's eyes lit up with wonder.

Makar laughed. "We're Koroks! At long as we stay close to the Deku Tree, we don't ever get bigger! Some of the others are even older than me. See Hollo over there? She's been around since before the Great Flood! Sometimes she even pretends that she met the first Hero of Time who fought Ganon!"

Link's mouth hung open. Beside him, he could see Kin trying to count up years in her head. She must have come up with something outrageous, because her eyes nearly popped out of her skull.

Still laughing, Makar leapt to his feet. Dancing back to his miniature stage, he waved at Kin. "Play a duet with me!" he called out to her.

She nodded numbly, her mind still reeling. "Go on!" Link urged her, dragging the bard out of her stupor.

With a shake, she came back to her senses. Grinning, she retrieved her harp from within her Zora Cloak and quickly tuned it. Within moments, all the Koroks seemed to realize what was going on and crowded around to watch, each with the bated breath of happy anticipation. Link leaned forward, feeling the excitement build.

The first note was Makar's. He strummed slowly on his violin, laying a long procession of notes into the air. It was almost a lullaby – slow, melodic, peaceful.

The sound of Kin's harp seemed to rise from nowhere. It seemed to echo Makar's movements one moment, then twirl around them the next. Hop forward, dance back.

Makar's laughter rang out like a bell. His bow leapt to the strings with a new vigor. The song shifted – deepened. Kin matched the change with ease. Her eyes twinkled joyfully. Link could hardly follow the movements of the melody any longer. Makar pushed the song further, laughing all the while. Energy poured into his violin. Link's heart began to rush.

This time, it was Kin's turn to laugh; the chiming sound seemed like part of the music. Her fingers leapt around with more speed than Link had ever seen. Suddenly, a new sound emerged. Percussion. As he watched, Kin somehow managed to rake and tap her fingers against the soundboard of her harp between each note without losing speed. Link was lost for words. It was like listening to an entire orchestra.

In response, Makar began to hum – a low, thrumming sound that harmonized with each note perfectly. Link's face flushed as the music took him. His heart raced. It was like he was hurling toward a cliff. He held his breath, waiting for the fall.

As Kin's voice joined with Makar's, the music seemed to explode. Shivers ran down Link's back, and his hair stood on end. His chest was filled with fire, and for a time, he forgot where he was; he forgot where he was going; he slipped into the music and lost himself within the melody.

The next morning Link awoke to sound of a flock of Chirris perched upon a nearby Korok stump. Rolling over, he yawned. The night before was such a blur he almost thought someone had replaced his water with brandy.

A few feet away, Kin slumbered away with her back against a stump, her harp still tightly clasped in her hands.

He wished he hadn't lost his flute in the Great Octo attack. It had been a sad realization as they sailed toward the Lost Forest – before the storm – but Kin had promised to make him another one. Link looked forward to it; the desire to keep practicing wore doubly upon him after last night.

Kin stirred beneath his gaze. Stretching, she yawned, and her eyes fluttered open. She smiled at the sound of the Chirris as they sang into the morning air.

"Good morning!" she said to Link once she realized he was there. "Where is everyone?"

"Sleeping?" Link shrugged. The Koroks had disappeared back inside their large stump houses. He and Kin must have seemed too big and been left outside.

Almost as if waiting for their call, Makar appeared out of thin air. "Hey!" he said brightly. "Ready to go?" Navi floated out of Link's hat and perched upon the Korok's shoulder.

Link stifled another yawn. Nodding, he hoisted his Zora Cloak and the mask it held his over his shoulder.

"Oh! I almost forgot!" Makar said suddenly. He ran off, Navi still perched on his shoulder, and seemed to fade into the air after a few feet so that the bright little fairy looked to be flying along on her own. Link shook himself. It was a little eerie. Several minutes later, he reappeared with two packs in tow. "We packed these for you!" he said. "Food, water, and bedrolls. It should be enough to get you to Castle Town."

They took the rucksacks with gratitude. Link fastened his rolled up Zora Cloak to it, then helped Kin to do the same. And just like that, they were ready to depart.

Several of the Koroks waved as they passed through the village, but for the most part they managed to leave without any fuss or big farewell, a mercy for which Link was grateful. Much simpler to just be on their way.

The Lost Forest seemed much less imposing than it had the day before. They talked and laughed as they walked, and sooner than seemed possible, they emerged from the darkness of the wood into the blinding glare of noonday sun.

"I can't leave the forest," Makar explained. He had stopped just beside the last tree. "So you've got to keep going on your own from here, okay?" His gaze fell, and sadness crept into his voice. "You can come back to visit anytime."

Link walked back to him. Kneeling down, he ruffled the boy's hair. "Don't worry Makar," he said with a wide smile. "You'll see me again soon! I have someone I want bring back so that you can meet her."

With a happy laugh, Makar leapt forward and wrapped Link in another hug. "That sounds like fun!" He turned to Kin. "You come back too, okay?"

The bard giggled. "I wouldn't miss it," she said sweetly. Leaning forward, she kissed Makar on his forehead. The Korok blushed fiercely.

"Here," he mumbled, his face red as a Chu Chu. He pushed something into Link and Kin's hands.

"What's this?" Link asked, gazing at what Makar had handed him. It looked like the carving of a wolf. Kin held hers like it was made of gold.

"I carved them from one of the Deku Tree's branches," Makar said, clearly proud of himself. "As long as you have one, you can find your way through the Lost Forest without any trouble!"

Link clenched the figuring in his hand. "Thank you, Makar," he said, his voice ringing with sincerity.

"This is incredible," Kin whispered. Link glanced over and saw that hers was shaped like a bird. "Thank you."

Makar blushed again, then with a final laugh, he disappeared back into the forest. "See you soon!" his voice rang out from the trees, and then he was gone.

Link and Kin walked as far as they could before the sun fell. His memory told him that Castle Town was only two days west from the Lost Forest, so they could expect to reach the city by sundown tomorrow. And then what? Link asked himself knowing that he had no answers, only more questions.

The next morning they woke early and walked in silence, each considering what lay before them. Before long, the tall towers of Castle Town broke the horizon, and by late afternoon they were approaching the city walls.

Link had expected it to look...different, somehow. The city was under Vaati's control, yet at a glance nothing had changed. Guards still patrolled the walls, peddlers still called their wares, travelers still thronged the streets. But as Link and Kin found their way through the cobblestone roads of the city, he began to notice smaller things: too many refugees huddled in back alleyways, too many beggars crowded the town square, too many rats scuttled beneath their feet. Link nearly lost his lunch when he took a closer look at the food being sold from the carts.

"This isn't right," Kin muttered. "It's like the city is sick."

Link could only nod. He was nearly pushed to the ground as a rather brutish looking group of soldiers muscled their way past. They wore the colors of the castle guard, but Link was certain that Zelda would never have stood for such incivility toward her people. For the first time, the reality of their situation crashed down upon him. Zelda was a prisoner. Hyrule was in the hands of a lunatic. People were dying.

Pushing aside his dark thoughts, Link led them to his usual inn: Farore's Blessing. He had first chosen that hostel because he thought the name a cruel joke – a mean bit of irony – but now he supposed it meant something entirely different. Grinning callously, he entered.

The room had changed little. Less patrons enjoyed mugs of brandy, and no performers graced the stage tonight, but still there was something comforting about the familiarity of the place.

"Ah, Master Link!" the balding innkeeper said, plodding out from the kitchen.

"Hogge!" Link exclaimed, happy to see a familiar face. "How are you?"

"As good as any, and better than most, I think," the innkeeper replied. He eyed Link oddly. "Pardon me Master Link, but I dare say I'm glad that you've returned. I don't wish to overstep, but I hope you will help the princess see reason."

Link met the man's gaze evenly. "I think, Master Hogge, that we should take a private room. It seems we have much to talk about." He thought for a moment. "And maybe a nice meal."

Hogge blinked at the request, but made to comply with all haste. "Yes, perhaps that would be best. Let's see." He stuck his head into the kitchen. "Lamb, I'm stepping out for a bit to visit with an old friend. Watch the floor for me?" His request was met with some muffled yelling, and something rather loud crashed as it was thrown against the wall. "Thank you my love," he called out before quickly retreating. Just in time too, as something that sounded mysteriously like a knife thudded into the door behind him. Pulling aside a serving girl, he instructed her to bring two plates of duck and a few mugs of ale to the library when she was able. "Alright," he said calmly, turning back to Link and Kin. "If you would follow me?"

He led them down the hall to a small lounge near the back of the building. One table sat against the wall, and there were several leather chairs arranged in a semicircle around an empty hearth. A half-filled bookcase and a woven brown rug were the only other furnishings. Hogge quickly went to work lighting the lamps that hung from the walls, and soon they were all seated comfortably.

"Tell me what's happened, Hogge," Link directed. "What news from the castle?"

The innkeeper shook his head sadly. "There's very little news, I'm afraid, and that's part of the problem. From what I hear, the princess has locked herself in her chambers and refuses to see any petitioners. Even the nobles, I hear, are being turned away! I've never heard of anything like that before. Two of her advisors have been killed; hung from the ramparts, can you believe it? Like criminals! Just for trying to be heard. Most of the lords have fled, and those who remain are too afraid to do anything. Why, just the other day I had a fellow in here who said he was from Lady Elaine Tristen's retinue, and he said—"

"The princess," Link interrupted, trying to keep the innkeeper on track. "Nobody's seen her?"

Hogge shook his head. "Not in months. Some are even starting to say she might be dead." He jolted up, suddenly realizing me may have over-spoken. "But not me! That is to say, other people have said it, but not me! I'm a loyal supporter of the crown; a good queen's man!"

Link waved him off. "What about the guard?"

"Gone," Hogge explained. "Mostly. What few weren't sent away keep their heads down. It's a nasty business, that. These new men they've enlisted are of a nasty sort. Outlanders. Labrynnans and the like. It aren't right, I say, to keep so many outlanders in the palace!" he exclaimed forcefully. "Ought to be true-blooded Hylians, I say."

"There were a lot of refugees," Kin prompted when Link didn't step in.

Hogge nodded. "They come in from the outlying villages in droves, always with talk of some trouble. Stalfos, I did hear one man swear said overrun his town. Other places it's Bulblins, or just plain famine. Lots of folks say their land did just suddenly go dry. Dark times, I say. Recently, we've been seeing more and more folk from even the closest towns. So many that the guards have been turning the refugees away at the gate. There's a whole refugee district, now, set just outside the walls. I don't go near it myself – don't want to catch ill, you see – but men say it fair reeks of death. Not a lot of food, I suppose, and the princess does nothing."

He cut off as the door to the lounge opened and a serving girl entered carrying a tray of food and drink. Link hungrily set to his meal, but nearly spat the first bite out.

Hogge apologized. "It's hard to find decent meat anymore. We have some of the finest left in the city, I promise you, but it still isn't barely worth giving to a pup." The innkeeper shook his head in disbelief. "I've heard rumors that some inns are starting to eat the pups themselves! It's barbaric, I say. You'll never catch any vileness like that at my inn!"

Link nearly gagged at the image, but forced his food down all the same, mindful that so many were starving. At least the ale was good.

They continued to talk into the late evening, grilling Hogge with question after question about the palace and the princess, but rarely did they manage to shake out any new information. It seemed the princess' closed doors were common knowledge. Doors that, tomorrow, we will have to break through, Link thought to himself.

"Thank you, Hogge, for sitting with us," Link finally said. "I think we'll need our rooms now, if you wouldn't mind."

"Of course, Master Link," the innkeeper replied, jumping to his feet. Shuffling along awkwardly, he led them upstairs; their rooms sat side by side.

"Master Link," Hogge said, stopping them as they turned to go inside. "You'll see that the princess is safe, won't you?" He talked quickly, as if embarrassed. "I know our Princess Zelda, and she would never abandon us like this. There must be something..." he trailed off. With a shake, he turned to go. "My apologies, Master Link. I think I've said too much. A good night to you both." He shuffled down the stairs and disappeared from sight.

"He's interesting," Kin said. "And a little odd."

"And a good man," Link replied. "No matter what he says." Turning to Kin, he sighed. "Tomorrow. Tomorrow I face Vaati. Every day that passes just means more deaths."

Kin nodded sadly. "How though? You still can't use the Oni. Can you defeat him without it?"

He shrugged. "I don't know, but something tells me that I don't really have a choice. In the end, maybe we're all trapped by destiny after all." He put a hand on Kin's shoulder. "You don't have to come," Link said. "You should stay here, where it's safe."

The bard's eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't you think for a second, swordsman, that I'm going to sit around here while you run off and finish this without me!"

Link raised his hands in defeat. Smiling, he said, "I thought you would say that. Truly, I'd rather have you by my side. Thank you."

Kin watched him with an odd expression. She opened her mouth to say something, then clamped her jaw shut. "Goodnight," she mumbled, and just like that, she disappeared into her room.

"She's crazy!" Navi exclaimed, emerging from Link's hat.

Link shook his head. He couldn't imagine what he could have said to upset her. "I think all women are."