Chapter 5: Faron Woods: The Forest Temple
I ripped the note and threw it across the room. Whoever this Demetrius was, he was going to regret the day he decided to threaten my parents' kingdom. I took one last good look in the mirror; Dad's green Hero's tunic fit me rather well. I couldn't help but glance at the picture of my parents. I wondered to myself if I'd ever be able to see them again. I would if I could just be brave enough to take my weapons and go after them. A knock on the door made me jump. It also broke me out of my self-doubt and uncertainty. "Relena?" I asked.
"Hey. Are you okay Landon?" Relena asked. She looked really worried; she stood there awkwardly twiddling her fingers and looking at me as if I may combust. "New outfit?"
I looked down at the tunic. "It's….it's my dad's. I thought I would need the inspiration. Dad isn't here but…this is a part of him. If I carry him with me, maybe he'll help me through this."
Relena smiled warmly. "You're a good person Landon. You'll find them, I know you will."
I sighed. "Thanks Relena."
She crossed the floor, closer to me. "What is it? You're sighing."
"So what?" I asked. I folded my arms and glared at the floor.
"When you sigh like that, it means that something is wrong. So, just tell me what it is." She insisted.
"You know me too well Relena. I'm just…worried. I don't think I can do this. What if I mess this up? What if I get my parents killed?" My worries spilled out of me in a rush, each emotion getting tangled together in an unrecognizable mess. I just about finished my rant and then Relena suddenly wrapped her arms around my waist, rested her head on my chest, and squeezed me gently. In return, I wrapped my arms around her, accepting her comfort and friendship.
"Landon, take a deep breath. Just remember to breathe." She pulled away from me, in all seriousness, she said, "Landon, if anyone can do this you can. You have been working so hard and training every day. Your dad has taught you so much and you honestly improved."
"Thanks Relena."
"I don't say this often enough I guess but I believe in you Landon."
I was shocked. "You…you do?"
She smiled and chuckled at my surprise. "I always have. I believe in you and I believe that you can do anything that you set your mind to." She had never before said anything so nice to me. It was complete news to me that she felt that way about me; sure we were best friends but up until now we have always teased each other and taunted one another. My ears couldn't believe that these words came from her mouth.
Instead of being an idiot and saying something to ruin the moment, I pulled her in for another tight hug. "Thank you Relena." I whispered. "It means so much to me that you are my best friend." I couldn't come up with a reason but…I liked the way she felt in my arms. We never really hugged before either so I didn't know how good it felt to hold her close to me. She was so warm and she smelled so sweet. I didn't want to break the hug but my brain told me that if I didn't, it might make the moment awkward or even worse.
I cleared my throat, along with the awkward silence that settled between us after our hug. "Well, I guess we should get started." I headed for the door.
"Landon, where are you going?" Relena asked.
I stopped in the threshold. My brain finally caught up with me; I had no idea where the "Forest Temple" was. But fortunately for me, my dad was not the only person who knew where it was. But I had no idea where to even start. I didn't even turn around; no point in backtracking. "Do you know where the Forest Temple is?" I asked her.
"No."
"Neither do I."
"Well that's a problem now don't you think?" She asked. "You can't just act blindly in a situation like this."
"And just how would you know about a situation like this? Have your parents gone missing? I don't think so." I snapped, finally breaking from the threshold and facing my best friend. She looked at me like she didn't know me anymore, I became a total stranger to her.
"No Landon. But my parents were killed in front of me."
I blinked. She told me that she had no parents but never before had she revealed that horrible news. "Relena…I'm sorry. You never told me that."
"Well Landon you should learn to ask before you snap at me."
She was right, again. "You're right. I'm sorry Relena. I'm just…"
"I know." She interrupted. "This is a lot to deal with. So what do we do?"
I thought long and hard. Suddenly, Garrett came into the bedroom, carrying something wrapped in my mother's cloak. "Your Highness, I have come to deliver this to you."
"Garrett, is there any news about Cyrus?" I asked.
"Not yet Your Highness. But I was instructed to give this to you in the event that something were to happen to your parents. Your father entrusted this to you along with these words, "You will know what to do with this" and now it is time for you take it." Garrett kneeled before, holding up to me the wrapped weapon. Whatever it was, it felt hollow and narrow. I removed my mother's cloak and found inside, my father's Hero's Bow. With it were a few of my mother's Light Arrows. The cloak fell to the floor and Garrett handed me a quiver filled with arrows before exiting.
"That's an impressive bow." Relena complimented.
"Dad found it in Death Mountain. It was gifted to him by the Gorons."
"I heard they were awful creatures." Relena said, wrinkling her nose.
"Oh no. Father said they were very noble and kind mountain dwellers. The Gorons helped Dad out very much, despite their pride. He was very fond of them." I explained. I slung the quiver on my shoulder as well as the bow. I stuck Mother's Light Arrows in the quiver as well; I hoped with all my heart that when the time came to use them that I would not waste them for my mother's sake. There was one more thing that I needed before going out into the courtyard in search of our horses. "Come this way Relena."
"Where are we going? Do you even know?"
"I'm going to get my shield and sword from my room. While I am gathering my things, you should find something to protect yourself with as well. Perhaps my mother will have something for you to borrow."
"Like what?"
"My mother kept her sword hidden in her bedroom. You could use that."
"But how do I know she'd want me to have it?"
"You're only borrowing it and she'll have no problem with it so long as we help her. If you're worried, I believe in you too." I smiled.
That took her by surprise; just like she took me by surprise when she said it. I usually used her words against her to torment her, but now was not the time for childish games. "You do?"
"Father taught you too, if I can do it so can you." I turned back to head to my room.
"Wow." That stopped me dead in my tracks and I turned around again.
"What?"
"Nothing, it's just that…I never thought you believed in me. You were always teasing me and giving me a hard time. It never occurred to me that you actually believed that I could do anything other than watch you." She smiled genuinely.
"I tease you because you are my best friend. I've always believed in you, just like you have always believed in me." I smiled warmly in return. We stood there for a brief moment, just staring into each other's eyes, conveying thoughts that our hearts dare not speak. I shook my head and concentrated once again on the task at hand. "Come on, we're wasting time." I dashed to my room to fetch my shield and sword. I slammed my door back and there sat my weapons, resting against my bed. Father asked one of the guards or servants to place them in my bedroom after our training session. I was relieved that I was able to find them so quickly. I also put them on my back and went back to my parent's room to find Relena.
However, she was not there. "Relena? Where are you?"
"I'm right behind you Landon." Her voice came from over my right shoulder. She had gone back to her bedroom as well. "I needed to grab something from my bedroom too."
"Did you find Mother's sword?"
"Yes." She pointed to the hilt that stuck out from her left shoulder. I resolved to purchase a shield for Relena from the shop in the square before we left. I grabbed her hand and lead her out of the castle. The blue intermingling with grey in the sky made me uneasy. Relena's hand in mine, kept those uneasy feelings deep down inside me; for which I was eternally grateful to have found a friend like Relena. Castle Town was as busy as I have always remembered; as if their side were oblivious to the affairs of the palace. The people bowed as I walked by, just like always.
Relena and I followed the path around the great fountain to Malo Mart. The catchy music blasted through one ear and out the other, probably creating a crater of destruction through my ears. An uncanny fellow danced behind the counter. He recognized me and I could swear to the goddesses that he switched his odd behavior into overdrive. "Oh! It's not every day that royalty comes to my shop. What can I do for you Your Highness?"
"I would like to purchase a sturdy shield for my friend." I informed him.
"Would you like a wooden shield or perhaps a sturdier metal shield?" He asked, bringing out one of each. The wooden shield cost 50 rupees and the metal shield cost 100 rupees. I pulled out 100 rupees from my wallet and took the metal shield off of the counter and handed it to Relena. She placed hers on her back in the same manner as mine. After we thanked the clerk, we left Malo Mart and headed for the South Gate. Along the road, we passed several soldiers and behind them, I noticed Dad's old friend Telma.
"Telma," I called, "Greetings Telma."
"Oh hello to you Your Highness. May I give you my condolences for the kidnapping of your parents. How tragic it is to have such fine rulers and wonderful people taken from the kingdom."
"I accept your condolences. But now Telma, I need your help."
"Your wish is my command young prince."
"Do you know where the Forest Temple is located?" Relena asked.
"As a matter of fact, I have something that could help you out. Please follow me into my bar." We did as she instructed. A white cat darted from the bar, meowing. "Don't mind him, that's just Louise. He's gotten a little grumpy with his old age." Louise stretched and laid right on the stones, grumbling a bit as he did. The bar reeked of alcohol but it was warm and oddly inviting. Telma brought us to the back table and on the surface of that table was a giant map of Hyrule. "Now, here is the castle and Castle Town." Telma said, pointing to the castle inside a square. "To the south, is Ordon."
"Yes, I remember. Father and I have taken plenty of trips to Ordon." I said.
"You see this area here?" She pointed to Faron Woods.
"We were there before." Relena chimed in.
"Yes. But when you go there now, you'll want to take a path going this way." She traced the path with her finger. After we memorized our path, Telma insisted that we take the map with us, in case we would need it later. We thanked her for her kindness and her help and finally fetched the horses. Rain and Autumn were saddled and ready for a long journey. Relena and Autumn kept up with Rain and me with every step. We reached the arch in front of the lantern clerk's home whose name has slipped my mind.
"Weren't you two just by here?" The lantern clerk asked us, rather rudely.
"As a matter of fact we were," Relena said, undisturbed by the man's rash question. "but now good sir, we are on our way to the Forest Temple."
"That way is closed off." He reported.
"What?" I asked.
"I was ordered to lock the gates and give no one the key by these really scary guys that came through here not too long ago."
"What did they look like?" Relena asked.
"They were too scary to remember. I just did what they asked so they wouldn't harm me." Relena muttered "coward" under her breath before the lantern clerk continued. "But you say you want to go through?"
"Yes, it is a very urgent matter." I said.
He thought about it. "Well, I suppose you can have the key. However, I don't recommend going through unless you have a lantern. It's awfully dark in there and crawling with creepy crawlers and critters. I happen to have some lanterns and oil here. The lantern is free and the first bottle of oil will only be 20 rupees. Do we have an accord?"
I shook the clerk's hand and took the key, lantern, and oil from him. We wished him a good day and found the gate to the Forest Temple. We let the horses by the clerk's home for safekeeping. Relena held the lantern and filled it with oil we had purchased. I put the key in the lock and it clattered to the ground as it let go of its hold on the gate. Relena and I pushed the gates back and headed up the path side by side. Relena held the lantern up high enough that we could see ahead of us. The path wound to and fro, neither one of us knowing how long the path really was. We passed a torch and then we found ourselves surrounded by bats. I unsheathed my sword and cut down each one that dared to try to attack Relena and I.
The last one fell at my feet and I asked Relena, "Are you alright?"
"Yes." She responded, breathing deeply and rapidly. I comfortingly patted her back before pressing on. Daylight finally broke through the cave after we rounded a final turn. We reached the dock and I pulled out the map. It told us the best way to go was to the right. To the right, was another gate, this one was unlocked fortunately. At last, the entrance to the Forest Temple was close at hand. I blew out the lantern and put it away. Relena and I exchanged a quick glance and then together we braced ourselves for what was in store. Or so we thought.