Chapter 8: Death Mountain

I picked up my sword and shield from beside the bed. Relena had not yet awoken from her sleep. I pulled the sword from its sheath. As I held it in my hands, I thought of the last moment I saw my father. I could see his face as if he was in this very room with me and I missed him so much. I still don't understand how my dad ever did the things he did for Hyrule. Where did he draw the courage? I would never be like him. I couldn't sit here anymore, I needed to be up and moving but without waking Relena. I went down the stairs to the bar to find Renado.

"Good morning Young Prince. I trust you slept well."

"Yes sir, I have. There's a favor I must ask of you."

"But first…have some breakfast." Renado placed a plate filled with fruit and bread. In a cup, he poured some fresh goat's milk. "How does it appeal to you?"

I gulped a sip of the milk. "It tastes…like home. Father insisted on keeping Ordon goats for their milk next to the stables for our horses. He loved the taste of goat's milk on a hot day." I smiled for a second. "I miss him and Mother so much."

"Have confidence young one. You will see them again if you believe it." I finished the breakfast Renado had prepared for me. I asked Renado to tell me what he knew about my father. He told me of Dad's bravery, just as everyone else had when I asked about him. They say he was brave enough to storm Death Mountain alone, facing the hellish fires and persevered until he found Darbus, the Goron patriarch.

"Why did he do everything alone?" I asked.

"Your father was a hero. He risked his life for others, not just his friends or family or even just for your mother. He saved everyone in the kingdom by facing what the palace soldiers were too scared to face. Your father never hesitated to do what was right by the kingdom."

"That's what he always taught me. A good leader won't sacrifice his people for his kingdom but sacrifice himself for his people and his kingdom. I've wanted to be a great leader like my father and mother before me."

Renado patted my head. "I'd say you have a great start Young Prince."

"Not yet I haven't."

"How do you mean?"

"I've taken Relena with me into the crossfire. This is my burden to bear but for my own selfish reasons, I have brought her along and endangered her life as well. Renado, there is something I must ask of you. I need you to ensure Relena stays behind."

"Whatever for?"

"I can't risk losing her too. She means too much to me, will you keep her here? Keep her safe for me?"

Renado bowed to me and said, "Yes Your Highness."

"Well I beg to differ." Relena called from the stairs, fully dressed and ready for an adventure.

I stood from my chair. "How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough to overhear that you plan on hiking up Death Mountain alone while I stay here and wait helplessly for you come back? I don't think so." She reached me and continued. "I already told you, it was my choice to help you. I want to do this with you, so stop trying to shove me off, I'm coming with you and that's that."

"It would appear that your lady has made up her mind Young Prince. Whatever will you do?"

I sighed. "I guess I don't have a choice do I?"

"Not at all." She grinned.

"Very well. Are you ready then?"

"Whenever you are." Relena and I wished Renado a good day and he in turn wished us good luck on our journey. We waved to the Gorons standing guard at Barnes' bomb shop and we hiked up to the entrance to Death Mountain. "Landon, why aren't we taking the horses?"

"Renado told me that we would only be able to take them so far up the mountain. We felt it was better to leave them by the spring." I told her. Relena and I made it to the wall that would take us to the trail up to Death Mountain. "You see what I mean?"

"Yes." She looked at me with disbelief. "You really expect us to climb this thing?" She asked.

"Come on, it won't be that bad." I offered for her to begin climbing but she insisted I go first so that I could help her up at the top. It took me a little while to find a foot-hole but once I found it, I slowly climbed up the wall. I reached the top and turned around to help Relena up and over the wall. I brushed off some dirt from her shirt and grabbed her hand to lead her up the mountain and heard a booming voice from the hill.

"Stop! No trespassers allowed! Humans, be gone!" The Goron started rolling himself into a ball and charged to run us over.

"Wait!" I reasoned. "I mean no harm. I'm just looking for my father, he was taken from the castle and I need to find him and my mother." The Goron stopped rolling.

"Tell me boy, who are these parents that you seek?"

"My mother is Queen Zelda and my father is…"

"Wait! Is your father…Link?"

"Yes." The Goron immediately rolled down towards us again. I grabbed Relena and pushed her behind me, bracing for impact. I only hoped that Relena would be spared. The Goron stopped right in front of us and smiled warmly.

"My apologies Prince Landon."

"You…you know me?"

"Yes. I met you when you were just a babe. My how you've grown, you're the spitting image of your father. I apologize for not recognizing you. And who is your young lady?"

I gently pulled Relena from out behind me. "This is my good friend Relena, she is helping me to find my parents." Speaking of which, "Have you seen my mother or father being carried through the mountain by any chance?"

The Goron shook his head. "I am sorry Young Highness. But allow me to escort you up the mountain so you may look for them. I hope fortune favors you in your journey." We thanked him and continued on our way. The mountain might as well be in hell; the fires were as hot as the flames of hell themselves. I could only imagine how much worse the inside of the mountain would be. The dirt beneath our feet felt as hot as desert sand in the summer sun. I peeked over at Relena and I didn't glimpse a drop of sweat or any sign of heat radiating from her body. The three of us finally arrived at the entrance to the mines.

"This is where we part. You must speak to Gor Coron; only he has the ability to allow you access to the mines. Our patriarch Darbus is seeing to the trouble in Castle Town."

"Trouble? What do you mean trouble?" Relena asked.

"When we left, Castle Town was thriving, completely unaware of anything." I explained.

"That is not the story Renado told us."

"Tell me, what is going on in Castle Town?" I demanded.

"I'm sorry Prince Landon, I'm afraid I know nothing other than Darbus is doing his part as we speak. Please accept my condolences for your missing parents."

The torches lit; Gor Coron shuffled out of the entrance to the mines and he looked rather displeased.

"I thought I made it clear Brother; no other humans are allowed in the mines while our patriarch is away. Why have you brought two more humans up here?" He asked our guide.

"Do you not recognize him Brother?" He asked in turn. "He is the spitting image of his father."

Gor Coron gave me a once over; he finally realized it. "Oh my. You there, you are the only son of King Link and Queen Zelda aren't you?"

I nodded. "Yes. I've brought my friend Relena."

"What business do you have in Death Mountain?" I explained everything about training with my father, leading to a picnic with Relena, and returning home to find a note indicating my parents were being held prisoner in one of six temples. "I see." He finally said. "I offer you my condolences." He turned to his brothers guarding the way into the mines. "You two, allow them passage." Then he said to us, "Good luck valiant prince."

Relena and I went down into the mines, clanking metal and boiling lava all around us. I couldn't stop now; Relena and I jumped over lakes of lava, dodged spiked doors, and defeated fire-breathing lizard alligator hybrids, and didn't find my mother or father in any of those rooms. We came to this wide open room, water rushed and sloshed around underneath us. We walked the narrow path up to a magnet. Relena and I held out our swords and the magnet drew them up and carried us across the water to a bridge. The bridge lead us to another door and on the other side was another river of lava and a metal ramp way. We were on the ramp just over the river of lava and an arrow whipped right passed our heads.

Relena was taken aback by the sudden arrow and lost her footing. She fell off the edge of the ramp and clung for dear life on the ramp. I fired an arrow into the horrible creature standing guard on the tower.

"Landon! Help me! I'm slipping." Relena cried.

"It's okay, I'm here." I bent down and grabbed her hands. One of them slipped out of my grip and she nearly went down further into the pit.

"Landon! Please! Help me!"

"I've got you. Hoist yourself up, come on. That a girl, come on." I repeated as I pulled her back up over the edge. Her foot caught the side and we fell to the ground. Relena landed on top of me and she stared into my eyes. "See…"I nervously said, "I told you I got you."

"You saved my life you know." She said, smiling.

I pushed a strand of hair back behind her ear and said, "I couldn't let my best friend go. I told you, I will always protect you." Her smile faded and she put on a look of fear. Fear of what, I couldn't decipher but I didn't think about it too long. That was because Relena licked her lips and leaned her head closer as if…as if…she was going to…

We heard shrieks coming from the other side of the gigantic door. I fired an arrow into the rope and when the bridge was lowered, there were at least fifty horrible creatures waiting to destroy. Relena and I braced ourselves for battle. The two of us were like perfect clockwork, in sync one hundred percent. We slayed monster after monster and one by one they dropped to the ground with one last shriek of pain. We killed the last one together and wiped off our swords.

"Well done Landon." Relena complimented.

"Not too bad yourself Relena." I said. I strode over to her. I stopped just before our bodies touched, hoping she'd accept me and pick up where we left off. Sure enough, she brought herself closer to me. She wrapped her arms around my neck and I wrapped mine around her waist. We closed our eyes and leaned forward and were interrupted yet again.

"Hello? Is someone out there? Help!"

"Oh my Goddess," I said.

"Could that really be…" Relena didn't finish.

"That has to be him." I ran closer to the door. "Father! Are you here?"

"Landon? Is that really you? I'm in here."

"Father!" Relena and I shoved the rock away from the door and ran inside top speed. "Father! Where are you?"

"Landon, look out!" I looked around the room, there was no sign of him. But in the center of the room, a black figure was chained to the pillars on either side of the room. When it heard my voice, its eye flew open and it saw us. Before our very eyes, the creature ignited itself and became completely engulfed in flame. It roared and cried, breaking free from the chains. "Landon, run!"

"No Father." I shouted back. "We came all this way and we're not leaving here without you!" I turned to Relena, "You grab that monster's chains and trip him. That eye looks like his weak spot. I'll hide and when he's fallen, I take his eye out."

"Be careful Landon." We went our separate ways, the monster, confused and enraged, swatted in our directions. We dodged him and Relena picked up the chain to his foot.

"Relena wait!" Dad said.

"For what?" He tossed her some heavy boots.

"Put those on first, the magnet will aid you in bringing him down." Relena did as Dad instructed her and she tripped the monster with the greatest of ease. He shook the whole room as he went down and the fire ceased for the moment. "Now Landon!" Dad called.

I pulled out my sword and hacked away at the monster. It cried out in agony, shrieking and wailing in pain, and when it could take it no longer, it disappeared in a cloud of smoke. The room grew brighter and I could see Relena and then my father, tied to a pillar. "Dad!" I called out.

"Landon!" He called back. Relena came running up behind me as I sliced through Dad's ropes. The moment he was free, he pulled me to him, hugging me so tightly. "Oh Landon. I'm so glad you're safe." He let go of me. "And I see you brought Relena with you." She went to him willingly and hugged him.

"Father, what happened?"

"I can't recall. All I remember is that there was a cloud of smoke and then mass of monsters came running out it and kidnapped me and your mother. Zelda! Your mother, where is she? Have you found her yet?"

"No Dad. But we're going to find her."

"I would rather you children go back to the castle and wait for me to find your mother."

"We're not children Father. We can do this together. And we've been told the castle is in turmoil, it will take a lot more power to restore it to its former glory." Dad shook his head.

"Very well then. Where do we go now my son?" He asked me.

I asked Relena for the map we had and the note that was stabbed into my bedroom door. "It looks like we should try…the Water Temple at Lake Hylia."

"Then let us be off." Dad said. We left the mountain and rested once more at Kakariko Village for the night. Little did we know, that our journey was about to take a very difficult and painful turn.