Chapter 9: Betrayal at the Lakebed Temple
We left Kakariko Village the next morning. We headed north to the West Hyrule Field and we saw the horrid state Hyrule Castle lay in. Flames were everywhere; cries of the townspeople could be heard as if we were in Castle Town too. Dad jumped down from Rain and pulled out his charm; he blew into it and just waited.
Out of the thick smoke, Epona charged into the field. Dad stepped in front of her path and halted her. "Whoa whoa Epona. Easy baby girl, easy." He spoke to her in a soft, soothing tone. She huffed and puffed a little but she remained still for Dad to mount her. "That's my girl." He looked up at me. "Okay Landon, follow me. The Water Temple is in the lake bed of Lake Hylia. We're going to take the long way around but we'll get there." He reared Epona up onto her hind legs and galloped off to the West Bridge. Relena and Autumn followed behind me and Rain and the six of us rode through Hyrule to the East Field through the mountains of the West and the North Field. Dad stopped us at a colored door just over the lake and dismounted Epona.
He tied her to the post and Relena and I copied. "Where are we Dad?" I asked.
"This is Falbi's Flight by Fowl. It'll cost twenty rupees each but just follow me and I'll take you down to where you need to be." We finished tying the horses to the fence and Relena and I followed Dad into Falbi's Flight by Fowl. A strange man, whose body was smaller than his enormously stretched head stood in front of a doorway overlooking Lake Hylia.
"Well well well, if it isn't his Majesty himself. Would you like to fly down to the lake?" He asked.
"Yes Falbi, all three of us as a matter of fact." Dad said to him.
"Could this be young Prince Landon you are escorting Your Majesty? My my how he's grown. Pick your fowl Your Majesty and be on your way." Dad handed him a purple and yellow rupee and picked up the closest chicken. It squawked and protested, flailing around helplessly as Dad held it above his head. I had the most trouble picking one up; one waddled right by Relena and she was able to pick it up with the greatest of ease. She lined up behind Dad while I chased around three of them. Each time I got close to one, it picked up the pace and ran away from me. I finally caught one and the three of us floated down to the lake. We landed on the steps to a giant shrine.
"What is this place? Is this the entrance to the temple?"
"No Landon, this is the shrine for Lanayru. The temple is that way." He pointed to the middle of the lake ahead of us. "I'll need my Zora armor to get down there." Suddenly, Dad grabbed his waist and fell to his knees.
"Father!" I screamed. I rushed to his side and put a hand on his back; Relena did the same. "There's no way you'll make it down there Father. Let me go instead."
"Landon, you've never faced anything like those creatures lurking down there. I should be the one to go." He tried to stand but couldn't bring himself off of his knees.
"Father, you can barely stand let alone fight off anything that comes near you. I have to go."
Relena chimed in. "But you can't just go down there alone."
I smiled. "I'll be fine Relena. Besides, I am the son of the Chosen Hero; fighting is in my blood."
Dad smiled too. "Very well Landon, you will be the one to go." He handed me the Zora armor and I put it on as quickly as possible. "Be warned Son, there are many unusual creatures down there, don't hesitate. This won't be like our fights; they won't take it easy on you and they will kill you." He put a hand on my shoulder. "You can do this Landon. I believe in you."
"Thanks Dad." I stood by the water's edge and I felt a tap on my shoulder. It was Relena, she pulled me in for a hug. She hugged me tightly and then held onto my shoulders.
"Be careful." She simply said. I cupped her cheek.
"Take care of Dad, and I'll be back." I dove into the water and swam down the crevice, housing the entrance to the temple.
Relena
Link was getting really weak, he kept grasping his waist as if he was going to crack in half. I helped him lay on his back and then I went to the lake to fill my canteen. I offered him a quick drink and he appeared to be able to hold it down.
"Thank you Relena." Link thanked me.
"You're welcome Your Majesty."
He laughed. "I thought about you and Landon the whole time I was captured. I missed you both so terribly, so you think the least you could do is call me Link? Like I told you a million and one times before?" He asked.
I smiled and chuckled myself. "Sorry. I guess taking care of you brought out my formal side. I used to take care of my granddad until he died."
"When did he pass on?"
"Five years before my parents died." I said, erasing my smile.
"I'm very sorry Relena." He whispered.
"It's alright. Things got much better after you and Landon took me in." I smiled as warmly as I could manage in this moment.
"I'm very sleepy Relena. I'm going to rest my eyes for just a moment." He whispered, his eyelids drooped further and further until he finally closed them and fell asleep. I couldn't help but to sit there, making sure Link slept peacefully. I couldn't help but peak at his waist, where he'd been clutching the entire time. I could see some rope burns stretching from hip to hip; whoever tied him to that pillar in Death Mountain definitely did not want him to go anywhere. I could only imagine the agony he was feeling.
Suddenly, a blue light flashed from above the lake. A fairy floated down to kneel beside Link. "Who are you?" I asked.
"I am the Great Fairy. I've come to heal King Link's ailment." She pulled out a bag of something and handed it to me. "Apply this to his wounds, and they will heal." She disappeared as quickly as she came, and she flew over the waterfall. I poured the medicine over Link's waist and brought him out of his sleep.
"What is that?!" He asked, fanning his waist with his hand.
"It's a medicine given to me by the Great Fairy. She told me to do this." He stopped fanning his waist and sighed in relief as we watched those red and nasty scars fade away into his skin once more. "How do you feel now?"
"Surprisingly, I feel good. But I need that nap though. So don't put any more of that medicine on me so I can sleep."
I giggled and watched Link lay back and go right to sleep. I brought my knees up to my chest and sighed, gazing out to the lake where Landon disappeared awhile ago. I couldn't shake this feeling that something was going to go wrong; that he was going to get hurt or that he might not come back. I rested my head on my arms and tried to shove my imagination into normal, good thoughts when a figure appeared in a cloud of black smoke suddenly appeared before me. He waved his hand over Link, and he didn't move, nor would he for the remainder of this conversation.
"What do you want?" I immediately rose to my feet.
"Is that what you have to say after all that I've done for you?" He asked, finally showing his face.
"I told you, I'm through. I want nothing more to do with you."
He laughed. "You think it's that easy don't you? Need I remind you, what happened when you tried to defy me?" He lifted his hand and wrapped an invisible force around my neck, hoisting me into the air. My hands scrambled trying to free myself from his grip but it was no use. He had me. "Now, my dear Relena, you will go through with it, and you will help me destroy Landon." He let go of me and I took a deep breath as I hit the ground.
"No, I won't."
He looked disgusted with me. "Don't tell me you've gone soft. I've taught you better than that." He looked at me again and that familiar look came over his face; the look he got when he an evil thought came to him. "No, I've got something better for you to do." He pulled me to him and wrapped his arm around me. "If you "fancy" this boy so much, you're going to help me."
"What? No!" I screamed. But it was too late, we disappeared through the smoke and the next thing I knew, we were inside the temple waiting for Landon to come through.
Landon
I swam through the long, cold cave with all haste. There were jellyfish and clams all over and I wasted no time crawling out of the water when I finally broke the surface. I found a door above me and I saw no other alternative. The door led me to a room dripping with water; it smelled like mold and moss and the air was very bitter. I noticed giant…creatures with metal shells; Dad would've known what they were having been here before. I raced passed them, without even giving them a glance.
One tried to charge at me but I made it up the ledge and he collided with the rock under my feet. I kept climbing to another door, all the while thinking I was glad I didn't bring Relena down here. She might have drowned, or that could've been her instead of the rock. There were a million and one ways she could get hurt down here and I wasn't going to find out. I shook my head as I went through the door; I had to keep a clear head. Relena was fine; she was on the surface with my dad, she would be safe up there. Water rushed all around me as I ran through the halls.
I grew more confused when I pushed the double doors aside; the room was circular in shape but there were doors everywhere. Four alone on the top floor and down the stairs, I could see a door. Water poured through from the two doors on my left and right and the stairs hid a door that I could easily get to with help from the water level. I saved that door for last. I went through each door on the top floor, and when I found nothing but water, I went downstairs. Each door on the bottom floor was filled treacherous areas that I couldn't even get to so dead end after dead end led me to the main room once more. I dove off the edge and swam to the ledge before the door.
When I opened it, a horrible surprise was waiting behind it. The room was very small but a hole was in the center, leading further into the temple. The horrible surprise was a cloaked figure holding Relena captive before me.
"Let her go!" I demanded.
"Not even a "who are you" first? You just jump immediately to what you want, I thought your Daddy taught you better?" He said. Relena struggled in his arms but said nothing.
"How do you know my father? Are you the one who captured him and my mother?" I asked, reaching for the hilt of my sword.
"Don't even think about it boy. You're a pathetic excuse for a hero and you could never take me. And yes, my name is Demetrius."
"What do you want?"
"I want to ruin everything your father has built. Kidnapping him and his wench just wasn't enough; I want to make him suffer and what better way to do that then to send his son to the afterlife." I scowled at him. "Which reminds me, there's something you need to know Landon, before you venture further."
"Demetrius don't." Relena pleaded.
"I'm sorry my dear but what was that?" I let go of her but kept a tight hold on her arm. "Trying to escape my dear? But you're the one who deserves the most credit, you are quite the little actress."
"What are you talking about?" I demanded, hand still itching towards my sword.
"I'm talking about your little girlfriend here. She's been working for me the whole time, ever since that little insignificant day you two met. She's infiltrated the castle, explored every nook and cranny with you and found a way inside for me."
I couldn't believe it, my heart wouldn't believe it. "You….you're lying. That's impossible. Relena, tell me it isn't true."
"Yes Relena, why don't you tell your precious Landon all about it, I'm sure he'd love to hear the story."
"Demetrius, why are you doing this?" Relena asked.
"I believe Landon is still waiting for his answer."
"Relena, is it true?" I demanded a little louder.
"Landon I…."
"Don't you dare lie to me Relena. You owe me the truth."
She looked like she was about to cry but I was so angry it didn't bother me. "It's true Landon."
"How could you do that?"
"Landon listen to me, it may have started out that way but…things changed. I promise, I would never hurt you now."
"How do you expect me to believe that? You've been working for someone who is trying to destroy my father's kingdom. You've been playing me the whole time."
"Not the whole time Landon. I meant what I said, I swear. Please, you have to believe me." Relena pleaded with me, tears streaming down her face.
I shook my head at her, I couldn't even look at her right now. Demetrius started laughing hysterically. "I'm so glad I thought of this. I love my little bonus. Unfortunately for you boy, this still isn't over. You've got three more temples and I'll save you the trouble, your mother isn't at the bottom of this pit, only a giant sea creature waiting to eat you for lunch. So do me a favor, just jump now and save me the trouble. With your dear father lying wounded in front of the shrine, it'll be so much easier to take over your Hyrule." He smirked and laughed some more.
My fury boiled over; I unsheathed my sword and lunged for him. I heard Relena cry out my name but Demetrius was gone and my sword found the wall. The force of it sent me backward and I fell over the edge.
"Landon!" Relena screamed.
I grabbed the edge just as I was falling and I held on with everything I had. Relena offered me her hand.
"Come on, I'll help you." Relena said. I pushed myself up and twisted my leg up onto the ledge. Relena tried to help me stand up but I shrugged her off and stood up on my own.
"No thanks, I've got it." I simply said as I sheathed my sword again. I didn't even look at her as I went back through the door and dove into the water again. She followed behind me as I climbed the vines to the bottom floor. I didn't stop to help her up either; I located the stairs and headed right for them.
"Landon please. You can't just ignore me and pretend I'm not here." Relena begged.
"Why not? You've been pretending enough for the both of us."
"Landon please, I had no choice. I had to do it, please you have to believe me."
"I don't have to believe anything you say anymore. That's what happens when you betray someone who….cared about you. I can't trust you anymore Relena." I turned my back on her and went up the stairs.
"Landon, you don't know the whole story. Everything changed during all of those years; I got to know you and your parents. I love your parents and I would do anything for them. I would do anything for you too you know that. You know me Landon, I would never hurt you."
"Except you're leaving the part out that you used me."
"Landon I…"
I turned back to her, blocking the door. "No, don't lie. You've lied enough and I won't stand for it anymore. This is over, when Father and I take back our castle and our kingdom and when we get my mother back, I want you gone. I don't want to see you again."
"Landon please," She begged, crying. "Please don't do this. I'm sorry." I turned my back on her once more and headed back to the long tunnel that would take me to the entrance. "Landon wait, you have the Zora armor, how will I get to the surface?"
I sighed. "I'll send a Zora up here to help you to the surface. Wait here." I jumped into the pool and dove down the tunnel. When I reached the entrance, I swam to the first Zora and passed along the message. I didn't stop to wait; I went right to the shrine to find my father lying on the ground, eyes closed and barely moving. I swam over to the shrine, exited the water, and ran right over to Dad.
"Father!" I shook him. "Father, are you okay?"
His eyes fluttered open and he looked at me. "Landon? Oh my boy!" He pulled me in for a hug, not caring that I was still wet. "I knew you'd make it out of there." He looked around. "Where's Relena?" I filled him in on everything that happened in the temple; meeting Demetrius and Relena's betrayal. "I see." Just then, Relena's head broke the surface and she swam over to us.
"Let's go Father." I simply said, walking up to Fyer's canon.
"So you're just going to leave me here, is that it?" Relena asked.
I tossed her a red rupee. "That'll get you out of Lake Hylia but after that, you're on your own."
"Son, shouldn't we think this over" Dad asked me.
"No Father. She can't be trusted anymore. She's working for Demetrius, it would be too dangerous to take her with us." I continued walking up the bridge and Dad followed closely behind me. I stopped for a brief second and turned back. Relena fell to her knees with her head in her hands and she was obviously sobbing. I held back tears of my own and hustled to catch up with my father, leaving Relena on her own.