It has been quite a while since I've updated, hasn't it? As a special treat for your patience, I have posted not one, but two chapters. I hope you enjoy them! Until next time, Vopi!
Link sat perfectly still as he watched the waves slush up and down the white, sandy shore. With each pass, the water nearly missed his bare feet, leaving a trail of dark, wet sand in its wake until the next wave charged towards him. The sun beat down on his shoulders, warming his tunic and the dry sand around him. He lifted his feet and wiggled his toes; there was still quite a bit caught between them and it was causing his skin to itch. When he could find no relief, he set them back in the sand and sighed.
A pleasant breeze caressed his cheek, carrying the cries of gulls along the shore. The weather was perfect; a warm, balmy day with a slight breeze and nigh a cloud to be seen for miles. Link adjusted his position on the log that belonged to him and Marin alone. He looked out to the ocean beyond and marveled at how far it stretched. Was it really possible that Hyrule lay somewhere on the other side?
In spite of the beautiful weather surrounding him, that thought brewed like a thunderstorm in Link's head and heart. A few days had passed since his encounter with the golden wolf, yet its words still festered in his mind like weeds in a garden.
Was the Ancient Spirit really right about him? Had he become a coward?
The more time that passed since that encounter, the more uncomfortable Link felt about staying on this island. He wasn't sure if the Ancient Spirit was causing this, if it was just because of his personality, or if it was something else entirely. Even as he tried to enjoy his carefree days with the islanders, a restless itch constantly plagued his thoughts. Picking mushrooms in the woods, walking along the beach, and wandering about Mabe Village didn't have the same sense of excitement they once had.
Even so, he still wasn't ready to leave. Link grabbed a rock off the shore and threw it into the ocean. He watched it splash in the water, forever lost among the crashing waves. His thoughts turned again to what awaited him beyond those waves.
Zant and Mudora would be waiting for him. Although he knew defeating them would be no small feat, that was the least of his concerns. The fears that haunted him were more personal. He dreaded having to face his friends again, the very same ones he had lied to and betrayed. What would he say to them? Would they ever forgive him? What would his friendships be like now that they knew his secrets? Even the thought of facing those difficult questions sent shivers through him.
Yet, there was something he dreaded even more than that: facing his inner beast once again.
His hair bristled with tension as he thought about letting it run free once again. This island seemed to soothe it like a lullaby; it was almost as if it had been asleep his entire time here. Even when he gallivanted at night as a wolf, his mind was free from the bloodlust and savage thoughts that normally consumed him. It was a strange thought, to have the wolf separate from the beast, but it was something he enjoyed. However, he knew that once he left, his paradise would have to end. Having it free had already put him here in the first place. He feared what damage it could cause in the future.
"Link? Are you okay? What are you doing out here all alone?" Marin's voice called out to him.
The hero looked in the direction of her voice and smiled. She walked along the beach towards him, the edge of her blue summer dress flickering in the wind as she came closer. He had to marvel at how beautiful she was, even with her mouth curled into a worried frown.
She was the other reason Link didn't want to leave. There was something about Marin's presence that calmed him and put him at ease. Whenever he was around her, he suddenly felt like living on Koholiant Island forever. The sight of her smile and the sound of her laughter were enough to hypnotize him. If he left, he would never experience these again.
His fake smile gradually melted into a real one. "Hey Marin." She sat down beside him and gave him a gentle hug. Her head came to rest on his shoulder. "I was just out here enjoying the view."
"What were you thinking about?" she asked.
Link looked into her bright blue eyes and reached desperately for words. How could he articulate the messy tangle of thoughts darting through his mind?
"I was just thinking about what it would be like to leave this place again. About what awaits me out there."
Marin leaned off his shoulder momentarily while she scrutinized his face. She couldn't decide whether he was being truthful or not. To Link's surprise, Marin beamed.
"Really? That's all? I think about that all the time!" She gently took his hand in hers. The warmth of her skin and the soft touch of her fingers made Link eagerly accept the gesture. "I often wonder what it'd be like to sing for people in faraway lands," she continued, looking at him wistfully. "Could you tell me more stories about the outside world?"
The hero smiled. "I'm not sure what else there is to tell. I've already told you most of my adventures."
She began to draw circles in the palm of his hand with her finger. "There's gotta be something. Pretty please." She thought for a moment. "What about your friends? You haven't told me much about them."
A lump formed in Link's throat. Yet, as he looked into her pleading eyes, he couldn't deny her request.
"Fine…" he sighed. "I can never say no to you for some reason."
She smiled bashfully. "I could say the same for you."
The tips of Link's ears turned red. He looked away and cleared his throat. "Well…yeah…I suppose so. Anyways, which friends do you want to hear about?"
She tilted her head to the side. "All of them, of course."
Link gave her a reluctant smile. "You're never content with just one story, are you?" He looked up to the sky as he tried to recall memories of the people he had once been close with. Now, they seemed so distant to him, as if a haze blocked his memories of them. Even the image of their faces seemed fuzzy. Had he forgotten them already?
"Well, because I traveled so much," he began, "I made all sorts of friends. Some of them are musicians, some of them are adventurers, some of them are warriors, and some of them are simple folk. A few of them are even royalty. And yet, not one of them is alike..."
He started by telling her about his childhood friends: Colin and Ilia. He talked about how he and Colin had grown up like brothers, how they often went fishing together in the creek that ran through their village, and how proud he was of him. He brought up fond memories of how he and Ilia used to go exploring the woods together, how she used to yell at him for not taking care of Epona, and how he used to do it on purpose just to annoy her. He even confessed to having a crush on her years ago before he first left for his journey.
As Link began telling memory after memory, he realized the stories just came to his tongue. His memories sharpened and his recollections of the people he had grown close to increased.
From there, he talked about some of the friends he had met on his journeys. He talked about how he had become friends with Zelda, about how she had two completely different sides of her: the serious, courageous monarch everyone saw, and the funny, mischievous young woman that only her closest friends got a glimpse of. He spoke about his playful relationship with Tifa and how she felt like the little sister he never had. He shared stories of how he taught her ocarina songs and wrestled with her when no one else would.
Just when he thought Marin would be content, she pressed him to continue, so he shared about his friendship with Kari. He brought up their continuous rivalry, how they used to train together, and how close their competitions were. He laughed about the Sheikah's inability to understand humor or sarcasm, and the disastrous results when he did attempt it. Finally, he also talked about Midna and about the time they had spent together on their journey. He shared some of their close calls and inside jokes, including the time she had tried wielding a sword as an imp. He purposely skipped over some of the more personal details of their relationship.
By the end of it, the sun's heat and the salty air had made Link's mouth as dry as sand. He desperately craved a glass of water. Talking about his friends had drained him more than expected. But even so, he found the reminiscing had sparked in him something else quite unexpected: he missed them all. His entire time on the island, they always seemed a distant memory, like the whisper of a dream that one only vaguely remembers after waking. But now, each memory was clear as the water in front of him. He genuinely missed them.
Unfortunately, that didn't mean they felt the same. But he knew that. And that's why, although his desire to return was strengthened, he still wasn't quite ready to leave Koholiant. There were too many uncertainties. Besides, he thoroughly enjoyed his time with Marin.
Surprisingly, she had stayed attentive and awake through all his stories. Even now, she looked at him intently with her bright blue eyes.
"Link, if you ever do leave this place, you have to promise me something."
Link was afraid to meet her gaze. "And what's that?"
She waited until he finally gained the courage to look her in the eye. When he wouldn't do it voluntarily, she offered some guidance with her finger. When their eyes finally met, her smile gradually relaxed him. "If you find a way to leave this island, you have to take me with you. I want to see all these places and meet all these people you've told me about for myself."
Link nodded. "If there's a way, then I'll do it." He wasn't sure if he could actually keep that promise. He looked down the shoreline. The waves had washed away Marin's footprints from the sand.
Link eagerly changed the subject. "So why did you come find me anyways?"
Marin stood up and gave a gentle tug on his hand. He stood up and let her lead him back towards the village. "The Crane Game has this cute little green dinosaur doll. It's brand new," she began, her face souring playfully. "I would try to win it myself, but you know I'm no good at that game. So I was hoping you could win it for me."
Link sighed and smiled. "Is that all?" His hand reached into his pocket. "Well, let me find a few rupees and I'll see what I can do."
The entirety of Kakariko buzzed with excitement and confusion as the great sky spirit Valoo descended onto the village. The crowds parted for him like a river, more out of fear than reverence, giving just enough room for him to land near the ice-covered Eldin spring. The masses shielded their faces as his mighty wings kicked snow up into the air and his large body landed with a thud, shattering the ice beneath him. As he settled down and lowered his wings enough for Colin and the others to climb down, people whispered among themselves, unsure of what to make of these strangers and the dragon they rode on. Were these friend or foe? Those with more sense thought to relay a message to the Queen.
Word of the event traveled like lightning and reached the monarch's ears before any of the travelers' feet even touched the ground. Zelda was in a war council with the other heads of estate. Various members pointed to maps and figures spread out over a central table as they discussed simulations and scenarios. Nonetheless, the meeting ground to a halt when a soldier came in and delivered the news to everyone. A grim expression came across Zelda's face. Her first reaction was that they were under attack, but reason quickly ruled out that fear. It had to be something important though.
She glanced at Ilia and received a knowing nod. Both got up simultaneously and excused themselves, rushing out of the tent and into the cold winter air. Surprised and slightly curious at this sudden interruption, the other leaders soon followed.
Meanwhile, Colin didn't know what to make of the rather large crowd staring suspiciously at him and the others. He understood he and his companions were quite the sight to look at; their clothes were covered with crusted blood and dirt. Their faces were cut and bruised. They hadn't bathed in days. Atrayu couldn't stand without aid and the rest were standing on their last legs. Still, he was hoping for something a bit more welcoming for their homecoming than the uncomfortable glances they were all receiving.
Slowly, they walked off the frozen spring and further into the village. Several soldiers step forward from the crowd, their eyes warily looking over the newcomers and the large dragon that brought them.
"Who...who are you? And are you a friend…or…foe?" one of the trembling guards said. The spear in his hand quivered like a tree in an earthquake. His eyes darted between Valoo and his passengers.
"If we were foes, would we be standing around like this?" Atrayu asked with rolled eyes. She winced as she talked. "Honestly? Is this our world's hope?"
With a loud roar, Valoo flapped his wings and took to the skies once again. The startled guards backed away, foolishly raising their spears as if they could defend themselves. The point came dangerously close to Tifa's face, causing her to duck behind Colin. Meanwhile, the deity paid the entire crowd no mind as he slowly gained altitude and flew away.
"Where's he going?" Midna asked, watching as the dragon disappeared in the distance.
Atrayu tried to follow the Twili's gaze with her own. She winced from the pain and decided it wasn't worth the effort. "Who knows? He's a deity. He comes and goes as he pleases."
Seeing the dragon gone, the soldier rested his spear by his side once again and worked up his courage. "Ahem…I'll ask again…who are you and what are you here for?"
Atrayu sighed as she looked over the nuisance in front of her. Rishu readjusted her arm around his shoulder. "This is pathetic. If we were your enemies, you both would be dead by now."
Her words seemed to upset both men. They tensed and pointed their spears at her aggressively.
"Look at how brave you both are," the shifter taunted, "taking on a cripple and a handful of weaklings. Is that how you prove your worth as soldiers?"
Her words seemed to catalyze a chain reaction. Soon, the entire crowd began to holler and murmur in restless excitement as the soldiers called for reinforcements. Their comrades pushed through the flock of people to join them. Atrayu and the others were soon surrounded.
Tifa clutched Colin's leg viciously as she looked at all the weapons pointing towards them. "I'm scared. I thought you said they weren't going to hurt us."
"Don't worry, Tifa, I'll take care of this," Tatl reassured. She flew right in front of the shifter. "Would you shut-up, already? You're making things worse."
Atrayu was not impressed by the fairy's threats. "So I suppose you intend to fight these soldiers then?"
Tatl looked away. "Well…no…but…"
Rishu cautioned them both. "You both may want to chill it with the words. These men look angrier than the time I stole Lola's money and bought a spoon for three-hundred rupees."
The others tensed and looked to one another in concern. They had expected a warm welcome but were now faced with the prospect of a massacre. They were in no condition to fight this many soldiers at once. Nonetheless, they had no choice. Colin's hand reached for the hilt of his blade. Midna's fingers sizzled with magic. Atrayu burned with the passion for the fight; if she were attacked, she would retaliate with whatever her body would allow.
"Stand down this instant! All of you! Lower your weapons!" Zelda's words shot through the air like a jolt of electricity as she emerged from the crowd. The guards looked from her to the strange newcomers, hesitating at first.
Zelda scowled at them. "That's an order! They are our allies!"
Finally receiving the affirmation they were looking for, they immediately complied. They bowed their head. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Colin had traveled with Zelda for so long, he had taken her friendship for granted. But now, as she stood in full regal attire with an entire entourage of her advisors and other members of the war council, he was speechless. He recognized a few of them, including Darbus, Ralis, Queen Ambi, and the Mayor of Holodrum. Only Midna, used to the presence of royalty, and Atrayu, who cared little for such things, seemed to remain calm.
Colin's apprehension quickly melted when he saw Ilia emerge from the crowd next to Zelda. His heart skipped a beat. Their eyes met. Slowly, their mouths curled into subtle smiles that conveyed thoughts only the two of them understood. He wanted to run over and envelop her in a hug, but he feared the prying eyes of the crowd.
Zelda, too, felt the pressure of the crowd's heavy gaze. She was overwhelmed with joy to finally see Colin and the others return. She wanted to laugh and joke with them just as they had when she was a part of their journey. Yet, there were expectations she had to fulfill now, expectations that forbade her from displaying too much emotion in public.
As she looked over the group of her companions, Zelda's heart sunk. Where was Link? Why wasn't he with them? As she continued to scan meticulously, she noticed Kari was missing as well. Slowly, joy gave way to confusion. This wasn't the fellowship she had left behind in Labrynna. The Zora was easily explained, perhaps one of the other sages. But why was Atrayu here?
Zelda's gaze settled on the shifter. A shiver ran down her spine as she recalled her brush with death at Atrayu's hands. Link had explained she was no longer a threat, but that still didn't' justify her presence here. She looked terrible, as if she had just escaped a battlefield. In fact, they all did. It seemed a miracle for them to even be here.
She quickly shook her questions and doubts. They could be addressed later. She couldn't afford to reveal her thoughts now, not with everyone watching. So she wore the iron mask of the monarch and greeted them dutifully.
"My friends, it is good to see you," Zelda said politely, momentarily gesturing towards the crowd with a brief flicker of her eyes. Midna caught the subtle signal and nodded her understanding. The Twili understood the rules Zelda was supposed to play by. The monarch needed them to play along as well, for now, until they were out of the public eye.
"May the Goddesses grant you victory, Your Majesty," Midna replied, bowing slightly to show her respect. "We bring you our aid and support during these dark times as well as news from distant lands."
Colin was about to speak, but Midna jabbed him in the ribs. He quickly got the message.
Zelda nodded her affirmation. "And I am eager to hear it. But first, you must've had a long journey. You all look exhausted. Let us get out of this cold and retire to my private quarters until we can find you appropriate accommodations. I am sure we have much to share with one another."
"But Your Majesty…?" one of the dignitaries protested.
Zelda turned to the man that had spoken. Her gaze was icy and pierced right through him. "Do you question my decision, Dotour?" He shook his head quickly. "Please speak up, Dotour. If you feel you could run this army better than me, than by all means voice your opinion."
Dotour bowed. "I meant no disrespect, Your Majesty. Please do as you please."
She smirked triumphantly. "I'm glad we have come to an understanding." She turned to the nearest guard. "I will be meeting with our new guests in my quarters for the rest of the evening. I do not wish to be disturbed. Have I made that clear?"
"Yes, my Queen," came the reply.
Zelda nodded her approval. "Good. Then we will postpone the war meeting until tomorrow. Please inform the rest of the war council appropriately."
The soldier saluted his obedience and quickly shuffled back into the crowd.
While Zelda drew the crowd's attention to her as she attempted to calm them and send them on their way, Colin wasted no time catching up to Ilia. He made a beeline through the crowd towards her. He smiled a toothy grin when he finally reached her and the two shared a tight embrace.
"It's so good to see you again, Ilia," Colin said, his arms easily reaching around Ilia's back. "I've missed you."
"I've missed you too, Colin," she replied, not wanting to end the embrace.
At last, they broke from the hug and looked sheepishly at one another.
Colin rocked back and forth on his toes. "Sorry it took me so long to come back."
Ilia twirled a lock of her hair with her free hand. "I'm just glad you're safe." She suddenly noticed how his eyes and chin were above hers. "Golly! Have you gotten taller since you left? You look bigger than the last time I saw you!"
Colin chuckled as he patted his stomach. "Never thought I'd say this but maybe I had too much of Rishu's stew."
"Who's Rishu?" she asked, her eyes now beginning to spot the injuries all over his body. In all her excitement to see him, she didn't notice them right away.
"Rishu is the Zora with the guitar. You can't miss him." He looked around. "He should be around here somewhere."
"Ah, I see," she said absentmindedly. She began to examine his arm in detail. "What happened to your wrist? It looks like somethin' tried to have it for dinner." She looked up at his face, a small amount of red painting her cheeks. "And your face too! You get run over by Epona a few times?" she joked nervously.
Colin didn't want to make her worry. He shrugged his shoulders casually. "I'll tell you about it later." He smiled crookedly. "Think you can fix me up?"
Ilia smiled. "I guess I don't have a choice. At this rate, I'll never have to worry about job security again."
Rishu's voice brought them out of their own world. "Hey Deku Baba! Are you and female Deku Baba coming?" He motioned for him to follow and then began walking away.
Colin's cheeks turned three shades of red deeper. They hadn't noticed Zelda and the others walking away. "Woops! We should probably get going. They're waiting for us."
The color of Ilia's cheeks matched his as she looked away. "I'll catch up with ya'll in a bit. I've got a quick errand to run first."
Colin absentmindedly watched her disappear into the crowd before realizing he should catch up with the others. He pushed his way through the crowd until he finally pulled up beside Midna.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," he said while breathing heavily.
Midna gave him a gentle nudge. "If you keep looking at her with those puppy eyes, I might just puke."
Colin's ears turned red so he said nothing more. Up ahead, he could see a large tent that he assumed belonged to Zelda.
Contrary to their expectations, despite the size of the tent, Zelda's quarters contained only simple items when they entered it. A quilt sat atop a bed made of straw and a pillow stuffed with cuckoo feathers. A wooden chest stood in the corner, the lid only partially closed with dresses and coats draped over the edge. A few lanterns hung off the posts of the tent, revealing a chair and desk covered by large stacks of books. A sheathed sword leaned against the chair.
Despite being the army's acting general, she had no intention of possessing any more than what duty required. Despite the fact that her tent was larger and more elaborate, she spent much of her time outside it with the troops, eating with them, keeping watch with them, enduring the same harsh winter they did, and performing the same type of work. She had lost their trust when she inadvertently left Hyrule to stop Mudora. Now, she had to do whatever she could to regain it. The foundation for that was her soldiers' ability to relate to her as a comrade and as a commanding officer. The strength of those relationships could mean the difference between whether they willingly died for her or fled.
As they each filed into the tent, they were surprised to find the three oracles waiting for them. Din, the Oracle of Seasons, Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, and Farore, the Oracle of Secrets. Each woman sat on the floor with legs crossed in anticipation of their arrival.
"I am surprised to find you already here," Zelda said with a smile. "I was about to send word for you."
"It's the pretty dancing lady!" Tifa screamed with excitement, brushing past Zelda and plowing into Din with a hug.
The Oracle of Seasons laughed and ran her hand through the Kokiri's hair. "Good to see you too, Tifa."
Tatl watched as Din let the Kokiri play with her long, fiery red hair. She let out a sigh of relief. Anything to take the child's mind off their current troubles.
The others soon joined the oracles on the floor. Rishu and Midna gently set Atrayu down before sitting down themselves.
"What are you all doing here?" Colin asked the oracles. "I never expected to see you all again."
Nayru gracefully rose from her spot and grabbed a tea kettle and a handful of mugs from the table. "Destiny has brought us all here. There is an important battle about to be fought. We must all do our part." She smiled. "Hot tea, anyone?"
Rishu, Zelda, and Midna all gratefully accepted. As the hot liquid poured down their throats, they felt the cold grip of winter slowly loosen its hold on them.
Colin looked around anxiously. He was surprised by the sparseness of furniture for a structure of its size. "Hey…does anyone know if Ilia'll be joining us. I know she said she had some things to take care of."
"I'm right here," Ilia said, coming through the tent flap with several jars in her hands.
"Ilia!" Tifa shrieked again. She looked to Tatl, who gave her an affirmative nod. She darted out of Din's lap and rushed towards the ranch girl. Ilia tightened her grip on the glass vials as the forest sage's arms wrapped around her legs.
"Good to see you too, Tifa," Ilia said. She quickly readjusted her footing to prevent falling over. "I'm surprised you didn't say hello earlier. I waved to you."
Tatl squeezed tighter. "Tatl wouldn't let me run to you. She said I had to control myself in front of all the 'praying' eyes."
"How many times do I have to correct you? The word you want is 'prying," Tatl sighed. "And anyways, you can hug her all you want now that we're finally away from everyone."
"Well, before you squeeze any tighter, let me put these down," Ilia said, making her way towards the group. "Then I'll give you a proper hug."
"I'll let go for a little bit," Tifa pouted. "But only until you put everything down."
"What'cha got there?" Colin asked, his eyes never straying from the ranch girl.
"They're red potions," Zelda explained. "I asked Ilia to get some. You all look like you've been through a lot. These'll renew your strength and heal most of your wounds."
As Ilia set them down on the floor, one bottle for each person, they all eagerly consumed them. Atrayu needed a little help from Rishu lifting hers to her mouth. Though the medicine didn't take effect right away, they could all feel some of their strength returning. Meanwhile, Ilia sat down next to Colin, purposely brushing her shoulder against his. Tifa plopped down in her lap.
When she saw that everyone had settled, Zelda sat down as well and looked at all those present. "So…a lot has happened since we parted ways. I am glad to see everyone has returned." She paused briefly while she chose her next words carefully. "Well, mostly everyone's here. Plus I see a few new faces." She looked around. "Will Link and Kari be joining us later on?"
There was an awkward silence as everyone glanced at one another to see who would deliver the news.
"They're not here right now," Midna said with a lump in her throat. They were all glad to finally be somewhere safe again. They didn't want to ruin the mood just yet. "Can we talk about them later?"
Zelda couldn't discern what the Twili's cryptic words meant, so she decided to move on. "Umm…very well. We can talk about them later if you'd like." She put on a plastic smile. "If you're here now, does that mean we've awakened all the sages?"
An uncomfortable silence once again engulfed the room. Zelda noticed the quick glances each person made to the others. A foreboding feeling quickly lodged itself in her chest.
At last, it was Atrayu who broke the silence.
"They didn't find all the sages. Maybe a few more worthless instruments. But no sages."
Ilia and Zelda were struck speechless. That was the last response they expected to hear.
Rishu looked around the room and fidgeted nervously. No one spoke as Atrayu's words hung in the air. A cup clinked against a plate as someone took a sip of their tea. The exterior of the tent flapped from the wind outside. Murmurs of soldiers carried through the material as they and others went about their business.
The silence was making him restless. He had to say something.
"Lay off the guitar, Wolfos!" he said, smoothly stroking the instrument. "This instrument is not worthless! It's a real piece of work."
Atrayu arched a brow. "Wolfos?"
The Zora smiled. "Yeah, Wolfos. I don't remember your real name, but I know you can transform into a wolf. So that's the name I've given you."
Tifa giggled. "I like that name for the Animal Lady." She waved her hand. "Hi Wolfos!"
"Right…so who else needs a nickname?" Rishu asked. He looked around the room, his gaze settling on Zelda. "You said your name was Zorg…right? I think I have a better name for you."
"That won't be necessary," Midna quickly cut him off. Colin and the oracles chuckled to themselves.
Zelda looked at Rishu. "And your name is…?"
The Zora smiled without shame. "The name is Rishu, master musician, expert chef, and Water Sage all in one handy package."
"The Water Sage?" Zelda looked around at the others. "So how many sages does that leave?"
Again, there was an awkward silence. This time, it was Midna who broke it. "Rishu is the only sage we've found since you've been gone. That gives us a total of four. We've found one more instrument, and we think we know who it'll awaken." Her eyes shifted quickly to Atrayu. "But without Kari, we can't do anything."
"Without Kari?" Zelda's eyes darkened. "Does this have to do with why he and Link aren't here?"
Midna looked to the others. "Well, Zelda, I'm afraid a lot happened after you and Ilia left. Unfortunately, very little of it is worth celebrating."
She began to summarize the events that occurred in Termina and Nevkah after she left, with the others chiming with their own comments as necessary. They told of the Beast of Termina, of Zili's death, of Kari's eventual abandonment and betrayal, and of Link's capture at the hands of Mudora. They told of their struggles against Alpha and of their realization that Mudora now controlled the entire nation of Nevkah. By the end of their story, Zelda's lips were pursed tight. She hid her anxiety well.
Ilia, on the other hand, hadn't yet mastered such control of her emotions.
"What do you mean Link is in Mudora's clutches? And it's all because of Kari?" She was on her feet and her fists were clenched tightly. Her face was red.
"Aren't you the loud one?" Atrayu commented, grabbing a cup of hot tea and trying it for the first time. She quickly spit it out. The red potion hadn't tasted good either, but at least it had done wonders for her body. Although she still wasn't at full strength, she could move on her own once again.
Ilia glared at her. "How can you just sit around here and say sumthin' like that? Link's in trouble!"
Midna rolled her eyes. "That's right, Ilia. We're just sitting around because we can go get him on our magic dragon and fly him back here at any time. We're just too lazy to do it." The two women stared one another down. Ilia refused to budge, so at last Midna backed off. "I'm sorry, Ilia. I'm just as upset as you are. I want to find him right now. But until we know where he is, there's not much we can do."
"We know he's at Mudora's base somewhere," Colin said hopefully.
Zelda shook her head. "But that doesn't help us. We don't know where that is."
"Can't we at least look?" Ilia asked, the hope draining from her voice.
Atrayu scoffed. "In this snow? You'd have better luck finding Colin a brain. Even with all the men of this camp, you'd never even find the entrance."
At last, reality seemed to settle on Ilia's shoulders, and it hurt. She slowly sat back down. "So…does that mean we'll never see him again?"
Zelda closed her eyes and shook her head. "I never said that. I still have hope that we will see him again. However, Mudora will not give him up willingly. It may take some time to find him."
Colin placed a hand on Ilia's shoulder while she looked down at the ground. She let out a heavy sigh.
"Are we sure there's something we haven't thought of?" Midna asked, her own eyes burning with desperation. "This is too important to sit around and wait. Time isn't on our side."
Atrayu smirked. "Well…if you're all determined to die, I could lead you to Zant's base. After all, I used to work for him. If Link is still alive, I have a feeling I know where they're keeping him."
Midna smiled. "You would do that?"
The shifter shrugged her shoulders. "You act as if I'm doing you a favor. The only reason I didn't offer earlier is because I didn't know you were all in such a hurry to die."
Zelda nodded her head. "Whatever your reasons…we appreciate it."
The shifter folded her arms defensively. "Don't think I've gone soft. Link still has a promise to keep. I intend to hold him to it."
Colin stood up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's get going!" He paused as he looked at the shifter. "That is…you know…if you're able to walk, Atrayu."
Ilia looked up at him. "Colin, before you go, you should at least stop and see Zen and Uli. They're here in Kakariko like everyone else from the village. I know they both are worried sick about you. I'm sure they would feel a lot better if they saw you before you left."
The youth's eyes widened. "Both of them here? In Kakariko? Why didn't I see them in the crowd?"
"Most of them are in Renado's house. I guess they didn't see you with the massive crowd around you," Ilia explained.
"Okay, but why are they here in the first place? Shouldn't they be back in Ordon?" the youth asked.
Ilia looked to Zelda and tensed. How should she tell him?
The monarch came to Ilia's rescue. "We are about to go to war. Ordon is no longer safe."
Colin nodded. "Oh, okay. That makes sense. "He paused to think of what he wanted to do. "I want to visit them, but Link needs me more right now. Please tell them I'm safe and that I'll be back soon."
The shifter rose to her feet. She stretched her shoulders and tapped her boots against the ground. She was feeling much better. "Then let's get moving. I'm sick of being idle. If we're lucky, Zant'll have a few monsters I can sharpen my claws on before I pierce his eyes out."
Midna rose to her feet with a smirk. "There's enough eyes for the both of us. I call the right eye."
Rishu grabbed his guitar and stood up as well. "Time for another adventure? Count me in."
Zelda nodded. "Ilia and I will stay behind to continue preparing for the battle ahead." She looked at the Kokiri. "Tifa, will you be joining them?"
The forest sage shook her head. "I like it here. It's safe. I'll wait here for Link so that way we both can return to the forest."
"Return to the forest?" Ilia and Zelda asked together.
Tatl moved from her perch on the desk to Tifa's shoulder. "This is partially my fault. The Great Deku Tree warned us that life would be difficult away from the forest, but I thought she would enjoy the adventure." She hesitated on her next words. "Unfortunately, I was wrong. She's already seen more than any child of the forest should ever see. She's not happy or safe here anymore. As her guardian, it's time I take her home."
"But she's a sage!" Midna exclaimed. She looked at the monarch imploringly. "Zelda, can you talk some sense into this child while we're gone?"
Tifa pouted. "I am NOT a child. I'm probably older than you, strange pale lady."
Zelda nodded. "I understand. I'll see what I can do."
Colin readjusted the scabbard on his back. "Well, are we ready to go?"
Ilia laid a hand on his arm. "Please stay safe, Colin. I just got you back. I don't want to lose you already."
The youth laughed. "We'll be back with Link faster than you can finish off a brick of Ordon goat cheese."
Marin held the Yoshi doll tight to her chest as she and Link made the short walk from the Crane Game back to her house. Her other arm was wrapped around his with her head leaning gently on his shoulder. Link gave her a guilty smile but said nothing. As they reached the house, they found Tarin fast asleep beneath the tree in the front yard.
Marin unlinked her arm from Link's as a mischievous grin spread across her lips. She crouched beside the sleeping man and grabbed a piece of grass. Taking the small, thin straw, she gently rubbed the edge against Tarin's nose. He swatted it away with his hand, grunting and turning in his sleep, but the mischievous young woman persisted.
At last, the tickling in his nose proved too much and he awoke with a loud sneeze. The sleeping man's drowsy eyes weren't quite open all the way when he saw his daughter's smiling face.
"Good afternoon, Tarin! Enjoy your nap?" she asked.
Tarin jerked awake, his legs getting caught with Marin's, causing her to fall on top of him. Link watched contentedly from his spot as the two shared a good laugh before untangling themselves and rising to their feet.
"Watcha' got there, Marin?" the jolly man asked as his attention focused on the small green doll in her hand. He now felt more awake.
Marin looked down. "Oh? This? Link won this for me at the Crane Game!" She proudly displayed it with both hands so Tarin could see it better. "Isn't it cute?"
Tarin smiled. "Is that so? I like it!" He looked over to the hero. "Oy! Link! Why you standing by yourself like you're some sort of stranger? Come on over and join us!"
Lost in his thoughts, Tarin's words caught him by surprise. Not wishing to arouse questions about what was on his mind, he came over and joined them.
The rest of the day passed like any other. As day slowly turned to night, Link's conflicting feelings became even more difficult to deal with. As he sat with them at dinner, he realized how happy he was to have met them. They had taken him in, a stranger, and welcomed him into their home. Through the time he spent with them, he had forged a strong bond with them and come to love them. Especially Marin. But yet, something inside him knew it could not last.
If he had to leave, if he could even bring himself to leave for that matter, he wondered which would he find more difficult: facing the problems that lay ahead or leaving the island behind?
Later that night, they all sat by the fireplace. The warm light filled the small house as Tarin rocked in his favorite chair. Link and Marin sat in another chair together, the young woman leaned up against his side fast asleep. The room was quiet and peaceful, with nothing but the creaking of Tarin's chair and the crackling of the fire filling the void left by their silence.
"You're something special," Tarin broke the void of words at last. His expression was reflective as he gazed off into the fire. "She doesn't just cling to anyone, you know?"
Link knew he was referring to Marin.
"Really? Why's that?" the hero asked.
There was a moment of silence as Link's question hung in the air. Tarin continued to stare into the hearth.
"Marin lost her mother when she was young. She took it pretty hard," Tarin said, his lips curling into a gentle smile. "She's so full of joy, the Wind Fish bless her heart. But even so, I sometimes got the feeling she kept part of herself closed off ever since. Like she didn't want to get close to anyone."
Link looked down at the woman leaning against him, lost in a land of dreams. She looked so peaceful. "How can you tell? She has so many friends. Everyone in Mabe and Animal Village love her."
Tarin's chair continued to creak rhythmically. "Maybe just call it a fool's intuition, but I think she does that on purpose. After all, when everyone's striving for your time and attention, it becomes awfully hard to become attached to any one person."
Link brushed a hand through Marin's hair. It felt so soft between his fingers. She gently nuzzled her head further into his side. "I think I see your point."
Tarin momentarily stopped rocking and looked at his sleeping daughter. "Link, ever since you came, she's been happier than I've ever seen her. Even that fella' who washed ashore a while back didn't have the kind'o effect that you seem to have."
A knot formed in Link's throat. He shifted uncomfortably in his chair, being careful not to wake Marin.
"Tarin, I want to thank you for everything you two have done for me." There was an uncomfortable silence filled only by the crackling of the fire as Link thought of his next words. "But I'm not sure how much longer I can stay here. As much as I've enjoyed…and well…am grateful for everything…something inside me knows I can't stay on this island forever. A small part of me longs for home."
The jolly man shrugged his shoulders. "And I know that day will come eventually. I'll admit…I'll be sad to see you go. We had some good times picking mushrooms in the forest together." He began rocking in his chair again, letting out a heavy sigh in the process. "But…as long as you take Marin with you, I won't complain. I'll miss her terribly…but at least I'll know she's happy. She's always wanted to leave this island, you know?"
Link sighed. He didn't have the heart to tell Tarin the truth, so he answered the question as simply as he could. "Yes, she talks about it often."
Thankfully, Tarin didn't pursue the subject any further. Perhaps it was as sensitive for him as it was for Link. He was grateful for that. As he looked down at the beautiful young woman resting her head against his side, he struggled with the thought of leaving her behind. And yet, another thought jumped into his mind for the first time: what would Midna think?
The hero felt his competing priorities pull him in two opposite directions. All he wanted to do was curl up and go to sleep and stop thinking. Nonetheless, there was something else he needed to ask.
"Tarin, have you ever heard of something called the Conch Horn?"
Tarin's eyes widened and his voice rose slightly. "Conch Horn? Why in Koholiant would you go searching for that thing?"
Link looked down at Marin. She adjusted her position slightly but was otherwise still fast asleep. He looked back up to Tarin. "Someone told me about it. I was curious what it was and where I could find it."
Tarin slowly began rocking in his chair again. "Oh…just curious then?" His face relaxed. "You had me worried for a moment there, Link." He chuckled nervously. "I've heard rumors that something by that name can be found in the Bottle Grotto. It's a cave just north of here, past the Mysterious Woods and in Goponga Swamp. It's a dreadful place full of monsters and traps. I've even heard that place can bring your worst nightmares to life."
Link didn't even flinch. Compared to what he had endured in the past, this seemed like child's play. Something stirred inside his spirit; he knew that was where he needed to go.
He looked down at Marin sleeping against him. Leaving Tarin behind would be difficult. Leaving her behind would be nearly impossible.
The hero looked to the triangles etched onto his left hand. But hadn't he done the impossible before?
He looked back to Tarin. "Thanks, Tarin." He paused. "Thank you for everything."
They spent the rest of the evening talking about idle topics until Tarin's eyes became heavy. Before long, he rose from his chair, said good-night, and went to sleep. As he heard the rhythmic sound of Tarin's snores, Link slowly lifted Marin's head and snuck off the chair. He had preparations to make.
While Marin continued to sleep on the chair, Link grabbed paper and ink and set to work in front of the fire. With a quill in one hand and a piece of paper in the other, his mind raced furiously to put to paper many of his thoughts and feelings. He thanked her for everything she had taught him and expressed to her how much she meant to him. Yet, he also explained his reasons for leaving and why she could not come with him. The words pained him even as he wrote them; he was grateful he would not have to explain them and see her reaction firsthand. When at last he was satisfied, he folded up the note and hid it in a place where he knew Marin would not find it for a few days. His hope was that if he returned before tomorrow night, there would be no need for it. On the other hand, if he didn't return, these words would be his final goodbye.
He walked back up to the chair she was sleeping in and smiled. She was curled up into a little ball, her arms wrapped tightly around her legs. Taking a deep breath, he hoisted her out of the chair and carried her to her bed. She stirred a little, opening her eyes and mumbling incoherently before falling back asleep. When he reached her bed, he set her gently down and pulled her covers over her.
He kissed her forehead.
"Goodbye, Marin," he whispered in her ear before walking away.
With a deep sigh and a heavy heart, Link slowly opened the door and walked outside. A symphony of crickets greeted him as the door closed behind him with a squeal. Looking to the full moon, the hero paused and reflected on what he was about to do. There was no going back now.
Without another word, Link transformed into a wolf and dashed off into the night. All the while, those that had cared for him since his arrival on the island continued to sleep on, completely oblivious that they might never see the hero again.