Chapter 19
Awakening
"The time of your awakening is at hand, Link."
The voice was unfamiliar. It was several long moments before Link even registered the words. Slowly, they penetrated the thick fog that lay over his mind.
Consciousness came slowly, groggily. His eyes flickered open and he stared upwards in consternation. All he saw was a blue expanse, punctuated with strange stars. The floor beneath him was hard and felt strange, smooth. It seemed to hold a warmth beyond the ordinary touch, and Link felt something like a pulse beneath the surface.
"You must be confused."
The unknown voice again. It held a deep gravitas and sobriety, but also concern.
Struggling with his leaden limbs, Link tried to sit up. The mysterious speaker stood over him, a tall man with a large stomach, bald above a thick beard and dressed in simple, yellow-gold robes.
Groaning, Link made to stand. The movement brought the whole platform into perspective and as he saw it, realisation and remembrance slammed into him like a thunderbolt. He lost his balance and sprawled on the floor.
"Ganondorf," he croaked, uselessly. His voice sounded strange. Rolling onto his back, he looked up at the strange man. "Where am I?" he tried to ask, but his mouth did not seem to form the words properly. His throat was dry.
The man seemed to understand anyway. "You are in the Chamber of Sages, in the heart of the Sacred Realm. I am Rauru, last of the Ancient Sages."
"Ganondorf," Link tried again. This time he clearly saw the grimace this evoked from Rauru.
"Yes. Ganondorf came here. You were brave, but unable to oppose him. When you arrived in this place, it was already beyond you. I tried to stop him, but I long ago exhausted my own theurgy. Ganondorf took the Triforce."
"I have to stop him." Link tried again to stand. His body felt strange, out of proportion, not his own. He swayed on his feet but remained upright.
"Wait, Link," said Rauru. "There is still much that I must tell you. First, look at yourself. Do not be dismayed. You are not what once you were."
Still swaying, Link looked down at himself, confused. He did not recognise what he saw.
"What's happened to me?" he gasped.
"Please understand, this was not done to you out of malice, but a sense of necessity." Link fell to his hands and knees, unable to comprehend what was happening. Rauru continued, "The Master Sword, the evil-destroying blade, it is a judge, left by we Ancient Sages. It alone is able to deem who is worthy to enter the Sacred Realm, and only one worthy of the title Hero of Time may remove it from its resting place. When you drew it from its long slumber, it saw in you the potential to take up that mantle, but the potential only. You were too young, too small to bear that responsibility.
"When you entered the Sacred Realm, the Master Sword cast you into slumber until such a time as you would be able to wield it. Seven years have passed since you first entered this chamber."
"So seven years have passed and you've grown up," said another voice. Relief flooded Link at the recognition of something familiar. Navi's familiar blue white glow hovered before him. "You're an adult now," she finished.
Link stared uncomprehendingly at his adult, fully formed body. "But I'm a kokiri!"
"A kokiri who left the forest." Rauru bowed his head. "I am afraid I cannot answer all your questions, but I can give you counsel. To learn the truth, return to your home."
"You mean the forest?" said Navi.
"Indeed. But understand that once you leave this place, you will not return to the land you knew. Though you drew the Master Sword in the name of good, in order to protect Hyrule, Ganondorf took the Triforce for his own purposes. With its power, he was able to quickly conquer the land you sought to save, and he has now ruled there for seven years."
"I will go. I will stop him." Standing again, fierce determination flared in Link. For the first time, Link's eyes met those of the sage as they stood at the same height. His eyes were golden, and their stare was sharp. Rauru looked like a wizened old man, bent by many years, but his eyes belied that impression.
"Understand that when he rose to power, many felt as you do. Ganondorf was heavily opposed, but his power was beyond that of any in Hyrule. He could not be stopped.
"Now, you have awoken, christened Hero of Time and with the Master Sword in hand. Now, Hyrule has a champion worthy of that name, able to cast down this thief king. But you have not yet the strength. As one who has watched many ages pass in Hyrule, I beseech you to hear my words. Do not throw away your life when you cannot win. Gather strength so that you may achieve your goal and redeem this land."
"What strength?" Link sneered, suddenly angry. He did not understand anything that was happening, and this counsel of patience was too much to be borne. "I didn't hold the strength to stop him taking over, so where will I find the strength now?"
"I am sorry for your anger, yet it is justified. But there is still hope. The power of the Sages remains. That power may cast down the Evil King and contain him within the void of the Sacred Realm. I will return you to Hyrule. Know that you are its greatest hope. Seek answers to your questions, and find your path."
A high pitched humming began to fill Link's ears. He glanced around and something strange seemed to be happening, as if the world was beginning to fade. The hum grew.
"I do not want to hear riddles!" he shouted at Rauru, trying to focus, but he could not see properly. The Sage smiled sadly.
The blue light illuminating the empty expanse grew. Link closed his eyes against the glare, and felt the strange floor beneath him disappear. The blue light grew brighter, visible through his eyelids. Finally, the world burned to white.
For a long time, Link seemed to be flying through nothingness. Opening his eyes, he saw a great emptiness spreading in all directions. The horizons suddenly blurred though, and then began to gain distinction. Now Link felt as if he was falling. He could see something below him. Steadily it took form and turned into a pedestal, a plinth on a raised dais. He landed gently and felt firm stone beneath his boots.
"We're back in the Temple of Time," said Navi.
Looking around, Link immediately saw that she was right. The same bright light shone down through the high windows from an unseen sky. It was the chamber behind the Door of Time.
The chamber appeared exactly as Link remembered it. It seemed nothing had changed at all. He looked down, though, and seeing his strange body he knew that was not true. He was dressed in a green tunic that fit him snugly, far larger than he had had as a child. A green hood sat atop his head. The Master Sword hung in a scabbard of black leather from his belt, next to the pouch that contained his two ocarinas. He noticed that the kokiri sword also hung from his belt, little more than a knife compared with the blade he carried now.
The loss and pain that overwhelmed him in that moment were unbearable, the confusion at what had happened. He felt bereaved, as if he had been lost and all the world he knew had passed away. He wanted to mourn his old life, but had no idea how to possibly articulate that grief.
"I'm sorry, Link." Navi, aware of his pain through their bond, hovered in front of him. "I don't understand what's happened, either." Sensing her feelings, Link realised that more than anything else she was feeling sympathy for him in that dark moment.
Something was strange, though. In all their time together, he had known what she was feeling with absolute clarity, as if he was feeling it himself. Now, instead, it was simply a hazy awareness, like trying to look through a misted window.
There were too many thoughts in Link's head for him to deal with. He could not take in what had happened, did not know who he was and was afraid of the world that waited for him beyond the walls of the temple. Nothing made sense, it should not have been possible, everyone knew that the kokiri did not age.
Worst of all, though, the thing he could not bring himself to acknowledge, was the guilt that he had allowed this to happen, had opened the door and led Ganondorf directly to the Triforce.
Unable to cope with the constant whirl of his thoughts and emotions, Link began to walk away from the pedestal. He had no idea where he could go, but he could not remain alone with his angry mind.
He left the chamber where he had drawn the Master Sword, but stopped short before the altar.
The three Spiritual Stones still sat where he had placed them seven years earlier. Otherwise, this part of the temple was also entirely unaltered. That was not what caused Link to halt.
A figure stood between the altar and the doors of the temple. He was not tall, a slim, lithe man. His hands were bandaged and he was dressed in blue and grey clothes that looked as if they had once been good quality but were now ragged. They were heavily frayed and tattered. A high collar obscured part of his face, below red eyes and a ragged blonde fringe.
On his chest was a large symbol in red; the Eye and the Single Teardrop, the symbol of the Sheikah; Link had seen it as he travelled Hyrule.
"I have been waiting for you, Hero of Time." The man said. His voice was soft and seemed almost sad.
"Who are you?" asked Link, angrily.
"My name is Sheik."
"That doesn't answer my question," Link replied.
"I know you must have many questions that need answering."
This evasion was too much for Link. "I do not wish to hear riddles!" he roared, as he had done at Rauru. He ripped the Master Sword from its sheath and for the first time held it in his hand, felt the weight of the blade. He rounded the altar in a moment and lunged at the stranger.
The sheikah ducked backwards to avoid Link's attack. Link swung the long blade again. It was entirely different to the little sword that still hung from his belt; that had been okay for a quick stab or a short slash. This was a real sword, well crafted and perfectly balanced. It was a deliberate weapon of death and as Link held it he could not deny the sensation that it did belong to him.
His opponent drew a short blade, only half the length of the Master Sword but enough to enable him to block Link's attack. Link advanced again and Sheik parried several more blows. It was evident that he was trained in fighting while Link was not; as Link hacked at the stranger's head, he ducked backwards. Link's momentum caused him to overbalance and Sheik stepped forward neatly, slamming a foot into Link's midriff.
Winded from the kick, Link staggered, and Sheik landed a blow with his sword hilt on the back of his head. Falling to the floor, Link rolled, keeping an easy grip on his sword. Sheik backed away.
"I have no wish to fight you," he said.
They had moved around and now Link was closer to the door than the altar. Wordlessly he returned the sword to its sheath and turned to leave.
"'When evil rules all, an awakening voice from the Sacred Realm will call those touched by destiny to unite, and the union of Hyrule will be its salvation.'"
Link stopped and turned back. "I do not wish to hear riddles," he repeated.
"This is not a riddle. It is a legend passed down by the shadow folk, my people, the Sheikah. We have waited seven years, ever since the Evil King first seized power, for that awakening voice, and now here you stand. I do not mean to give you riddles. I seek the restoration of Hyrule. You are our greatest hope."
"How can I be?" roared Link. "It was me that led Ganondorf to the Triforce. I damned this land!"
Sheik flinched. "It was not your fault. You were found worthy to be the Hero of Time, none in Hyrule have the wisdom to dispute the judgement of the Master Sword. No one could have predicted you would be sealed in the Sacred Realm, though. Now that you have awoken, you must fulfil the role given to you. Surely you see that?"
"And what exactly is that role?" Link sneered.
"Long ago, representatives of each of the Hyrulian races came together, those with the greatest courage and wisdom amongst their peoples, and able to wield power. They became sages, and built this temple to protect the Sacred Realm. They also built similar places amongst their ancestral homes. They left behind great power. If such representatives, sages for a new age, could be found, they would have the strength to overcome the darkness that has engulfed this land. These are the people touched by destiny whom the sheikah have long expected."
"Then why haven't you found them? Why do you need me?"
"Because you are the awakening voice. You have emerged from the Sacred Realm, you are the one who may call them. Your ability to use the Master Sword and fight alongside the sages means you are the one who can wield their strength, their power. That is what makes you the Hero of Time."
Link shook his head. "No. I tried to save Hyrule and I failed. If these sages are out there, you can call them yourself."
"If you refuse to do this, you doom Hyrule." It was not said in exasperation, but sounded as if it was a simply stated fact.
"I cannot do this. It is beyond me."
"You are the only who can try. It is up to you to choose, either to try and redeem this land or to damn it, and allow the Evil King's reign to continue."
"That's not a choice I wish to make."
"Sometimes all our choices are bad, and yet still we must choose."
With an effort, Link met Sheik's red eyes. "I cannot do this."
He turned again to leave. As he pulled the door open, Sheik spoke again.
"Princess Zelda is alive. She, too, has waited for your return. She has escaped the Evil King's clutches for seven years, and wishes for the restoration of Hyrule as ardently as any who live in this land. She begs you to fulfil your role."
Turning back again, Link looked at the impassioned sheikah. "Tell Zelda, I am sorry."
Opening the door, he left the Temple of Time.
His mind full of his confrontation with Sheik, he was not prepared for what he found beyond the doors. He stood in the courtyard of the temple, but it had clearly been left untended for years. Weeds ran rampant in the flowerbeds and the stone walls were in a state of disrepair.
Beyond the courtyard, there was no sign of life. The houses and buildings that were still standing were all burnt and charred, everything in sight dilapidated and falling apart. There were none of the normal sounds of the city, no bustle or rush of the multitudinous crowds Link remembered. The only sound was a bitter wind blowing through the empty buildings under an iron grey sky.
Leaving the courtyard brought no solace. Shocked, Link began to make his way towards the Market, unable to think of anything else to do. The road was as dilapidated as everything else, stones cracked and broken, and weeds forcing their way up through the cobbles.
When he came to the Market, Link stopped. He did not know what he had expected to find. His mind was frozen, unable to process the full meaning of anything since his awakening. He simply could not bring himself to understand what had happened in this place.
In the Market, though, he could no longer delay it. It was empty, as broken as the rest of the city. The fountain had been shattered and the remains of the basin were bone dry. Charred beams and timbers were visible in places, the only remains of the once numerous shops and stalls.
That, and the bodies that littered the floor. They were in varying states of decomposition, from moulding corpses to brittle skeletons. The stench of death hung heavy in the dead air.
Now, there could by no question what had happened. In his mind, Link saw again the final moments before the enchantment put him to sleep. He had drawn the Master Sword and entered the Sacred Realm, allowing Ganondorf to immediately follow him. He heard Ganondorf's malicious laughter as he easily cast Rauru aside. He saw the Triforce, then he fell into darkness.
Ganondorf had taken the Triforce. He had returned to Hyrule, unstoppably powerful. With apparent ease, he had conquered Hyrule, including decimating Castle Town. Considering the ruined capital, Link wondered what state the rest of Hyrule was in.
How much time passed while he stood there, Link could not have said. Eventually, a new sound broke through the numbness that had settled on his mind, though. It was the sound of footsteps, someone running.
With no desire to see or speak to anyone, Link moved silently out of sight at the edge of the square.
The sound was deceptive in the eerie ruins of the city. Link quickly realised that the person approaching was not particularly close at all, but that the sound echoed far.
Peering around the edge of a crumbling building, Link looked in the direction of the sound. Soon, a man appeared, running down the Royal Road. Like Link, he stopped in dismay to survey the ruins of the Market. He was a hylian, wearing shabby armour that had quite clearly been made for another man, and held a sword in his right hand.
From his hiding place, Link watched as the man picked his way across the square, trying to give a wide berth to the scattered bodies. As he passed out of the Market, Link quickly slipped across the square and followed him. He made sure to leave a fair distance to ensure he would not be noticed, but it was clear the armoured man was oblivious to him.
Looking up the hill, Link stumbled to a halt again. Ahead, he should have seen the three spires of Hyrule Castle. He had been prepared to see the castle in the same state as the city at its feet, but he had not expected the black tower that rose threateningly into the stormy sky. Moving forwards again, he tailed the stranger into the grounds of the castle.
Some enchantment must have been cast over the open space, for it was obvious that nothing could live there. Dead, withered soil was all that remained, apart from the occasional stumps of charred trees.
Close enough now to see it properly, Link realised the black tower had replaced Hyrule Castle entirely. It had been ripped down, completely removed, and in its place a keep had been built. It did not look like a castle or a palace, as its predecessor had done, but like a fortress, dark and forbidding.
From its centre, the great tower reared up, impossibly tall, a vantage point from which its master could survey his domain. There was still some evidence of the old castle; here and there, Link could see chunks of the white stone it had been built with, all blackened with smoke and soot.
The man Link was following did not stop. He raced up the hill under the shadow of the tower, across the dry moat, and through the open doorway. Unnoticed, Link crossed the threshold behind him.
The outside of the fortress had clearly been constructed to be imposing, to instil fear in those who beheld it. Inside, though, the keep could only be described as ostentatious. Rich purple carpets and fine wall hangings adorned the bare stone of the passage Link passed into. It was deliberately dark, with no windows, reminding Link of underground tunnels. Torches set in wall sconces lit the corridor.
Various doors led off the main passage, but the hylian did not so much as pause to consider them. He moved quickly, but it was easy for Link to keep pace with him while staying at such a distance that he would not be heard.
They soon came to a wide chamber. It was obviously the centre of the keep, and it was instantly recognisable as the base of the tower. It appeared as if the tower had been constructed first and the keep had been built around it. This chamber seemed to ring the base, a wide space between the opening where Link paused and the door into the tower. Before the door, there stood another figure, one Link recognised immediately.
The man Link had followed walked boldly into the open space, but Link himself stayed well back out of sight of the man who stood before the door to the tower.
Seven years may have devastated Hyrule, but it seemed to have barely altered Ganondorf. The same golden eyes looked out from beneath neat red hair. Callous mocking laughter rang out, filling the chamber, the same laughter Link remembered hearing in the courtyard of Hyrule Castle.
"What is your name, hylian?" asked Ganondorf as his laughter subsided.
"Talamin," answered the man. His voice did not shake, although it was clear he was petrified.
Ganondorf nodded, mockingly courteous.
"Greetings, Talamin. You must be tired after your journey. Allow me to offer you some refreshments." The gerudo swung a hand towards a table where two goblets stood. The goblets rose into the air, unsupported. One floated to Ganondorf's hand while the other crossed the space to where Talamin stood. Warily the hylian's eyes flicked from the drink to the gerudo. Ganondorf raised an eyebrow. "It is impolite not to take a drink when offered by a gracious host," he said.
Uncertainly, Talamin reached out and took the cup. His eyes never left Ganondorf's as he nervously sipped.
A thin, humourless smile turned Ganondorf's lips under his long, pointed nose. "And what audacity brings you uninvited before your king?" There was a definite threat in his voice now.
"You killed my father," Talamin stated, bluntly.
"Oh? And so you decided to seek revenge. Tell me, who was your father?"
"His name was Artom. He led the village council in Elming."
"I'm afraid the names mean nothing. I can only imagine that he did not behave in a way fitting to his role. You would be amazed at the number of elders I have had to have removed from office for failing to remember their loyalty to their king. Is it of any comfort to you to know that I doubt I killed him myself?"
"How dare you mock his death? I will kill you for what you've done!"
Ganondorf chuckled. "You are a fool, Talamin, and this is a brave but futile gesture. You are already as good as dead."
A few moments passed while Talamin glanced in horror at the goblet he held. He hurled it away, its contents sloshing over the floor as it bounced and rolled.
"Poison?" asked Ganondorf, seeing Talamin's guess. "Oh, how crude you must think me. Entirely unnecessary, I assure you. Had I simply wished you dead you would never have reached this castle. It is a king's responsibility to hear what is on the mind of his people, though, and so I allowed your approach to go unchecked."
Talamin raised his sword and began edging forwards. Reciprocating, Ganondorf began circling the hylian, his goblet still in one hand.
"Do you truly believe you have the strength to fight me?" His voice rose, an arrogant shout. "There are none in this world with power to compare to mine!"
Leaping forward, Talamin charged Ganondorf. The gerudo flicked a wrist, and the sword flew from Talamin's hand, clattering uselessly to the floor some twenty feet away. The hylian stumbled to a halt, gazing in horror after his blade.
Neither realised they were being watched. Out of sight, Link had watched as Ganondorf circled round, until the gerudo stood with his back to him. Link's hand moved to the hilt of the sword at his waist, such hatred rose up in him. If he could just lunge forward now, could just take Ganondorf by surprise.
Sheer terror held him still, though. He had not been noticed, could still escape. He could not see any how an attack would save Talamin, and it would get them both killed.
While these thoughts passed through Link's mind, Ganondorf drained his cup and tossed it almost casually to one side. Seeing him seemingly distracted, Talamin dived for his sword. Before he came near it, Ganondorf raised a hand, and he was lifted off the floor, rising, powerless to escape. The man struggled against the unseen force that held him, but it was hopeless. Ganondorf began to laugh, a low rumble that quickly built into a crescendo as suddenly Talamin was hurled against the wall.
Link could see him pinned there, gasping for breath. Over the sound of Ganondorf's laughter, he began to hear the sound of Talamin's bones cracking and snapping as the Evil King murdered him. Sickened and terrified, Link turned and fled, Ganondorf's laughter echoing in his ears.
Finally, Ganondorf released his spell and the lifeless body slumped to the floor. His eyes flicked away from the corpse to the spilled wine on the floor.
"Such a waste of good wine," he muttered.