Chapter 15- The Sword
Yiga swarmed around them and Bryne and Link gripped their blades with both hands.
"Stay focused Link," Bryne said through his gritted teeth. "We're going to make it out of this."
Alfonzo shook his head down at them. "No…no you won't." He turned to the two blade masters either side. "Kill the old man but take the boy, we need him alive."
The Knight turned away as more Yiga flowed into the courtyard.
Link flexed his grip as he felt his father's back tense behind him, just like all those times on the road when they were surrounded by enemies. Just now the prospect of death was far more likely.
"Now!"
Link jumped forward swirling his blade into the five Yiga in front of him. It sliced through them sending them back in a shockwave, hitting their other brothers.
Two came charging towards him, swirling their sickles overhead. Link met the first one slamming his boot into the assassin's chest. Withdrawing a knife from his belt, he sent it flying with a sickening thump into the other's face.
He looked over to his father who was desperately defending against five attackers surrounding him. His sword blurred as he brought it round with deadly elegance. Every blow that came at him glanced off the whirlwind. Body after body flew back.
A massive Blademaster crashed into Link sending him sprawling across the ground. The taste of dirt filled Link's mouth as he spat out the earth. The Blademaster advanced laughing beneath the mask. Link grabbed a handful of the dirt and threw it up into the Yiga's face and he turned away spluttering desperately.
He sliced through the man with ease.
Two Yiga jumped off the roof and fired a volley of arrows towards him. Link stumbled back trying his best to deflect each missile but as he felt the wall against his back pain shot through his left shin.
As Link let out a howl Bryne turned towards him, losing focus and quickly got shoved to the ground.
Link ignored the pain of the arrow that was now protruding from his leg and pried a bow from the dead hand of a Yiga. He quickly loose the two arrows he had and they struck the Yiga in quick succession.
His father was on the ground back to the wall as six Yiga surrounded him and tried to find a way past his failing defence.
As Link made his way towards his father two more Blademasters materialised before him holding their longswords high. He hesitated slightly as he looked past and saw his father struggling to keep off his attackers.
Suddenly a Yiga slammed to the floor next to him, a spear piercing through his chest and on top of his body was Boudi. She turned to Link. "I'll help you father, handle those two bastards."
Link nodded. She'd arrived just in time.
The two men in front of him were far larger than Link and moved with measured skill. Blademasters were easily the most ferocious of the Yiga. Link held his sword towards them and focused his breath.
"Who's first," he asked calmly.
One growled and came forward like hurtling rock. The blade came at him with brutal speed but it was too wild, too unrefined. His blade met with the Yiga and Link allowed it to move with the force of the attack, redirecting it to the ground where it rooted into the grass.
As the Yiga struggled to bring his blade up Link moved for the killer blow but his blade met the sword of the other Blademaster.
"Ha!" the Blademaster shoved into Link sending him into a stone pillar. The two advanced once again, this time in unison and Link readied his stance.
The Yiga on the left slashed in an upwards arch and Link danced to the side, feeling the rush of air as he sidestepped. He quickly ducked under the incoming slash of the other attacker and brought his sword around in a quick circular motion.
From the howl of the Yiga behind him, Link knew his blade had struck true. The other man before him was visibly enraged and no longer cared for Alfonzo's order. He thrust his blade at Link's throat and was pushed aside by the Link's sword making the blow barely scratch his cheek.
With another blow aimed at the throat Link was prepared for a counter attack. He stabbed downwards into the assailants leg and then as he clutched his leg defenceless, with all his strength Link pulled his sword out and around with a long stroke.
The Yiga fell silent and fell to the ground before him.
"Enough!" Alfonzo bellowed. "Is there nothing you fools can do?"
Link felt his face slam into the dirt as two firm hands grabbed his arms and pushed him down to the floor. No matter how much he struggled there was no getting free.
Bryne also had been slammed to the wall by two tall Yiga and squirmed beneath their firm grips.
Alfonzo brought his claymore down in an arch as Boudi brandished her spear.
"You bring dishonour to Hyrule with these actions," Boudi growled. She lunged forwards plunging her spear towards the man's heart. Alfonzo clutched his chest looking down at the shaft of the spear. It looked as though the spear had struck him.
But then Alfonzo looked up with a grin as he brought the point of the spear to one side. Boudi struggled for control over the weapon and as Alfonzo pulled the Knight towards himself her look turned from anger to horror.
"Dishonour? Do you know how many times Ganon has returned, in one form or another," he brought the full weight of his blade down on the shaft of the spear shattering it and then with a vicious speed he pushed forwards and grabbed the knight by the neck.
"We've actually lost count of how many times, how many manifestations that have plagued this land. My whole life I've been trying to find a way to end it all, end the cycle."
"Alfonzo don't, if there is any humanity left in you don't do it," Bryne called out before being hit in the gut.
"But I've found a way, a way to stop that ever turning wheel, there's just one problem," Boudi squirmed under the Knights tight grip as he lifted her in the air and he turned to Link with a grin.
"Most of us have to die."
With a single hand he cracked the woman's neck like a nut and threw her lifeless body to the side.
Bryne screamed out only to be completely silenced as one on the Yiga bashed him unconscious.
"You're the key Link, the princess, the goddess herself, it was all a lie told by the gods," Alfonzo had approached Link now, his face was unflinchingly serious.
"All you have to do is sacrifice yourself and Hyrule so that the world may begin a new age," he knelt down and looked up into Link's panting face. "I've always been there to help you with your power, to encourage you along in ways you cannot understand."
Link's panting ceased as the words slipped out of his mouth: "My mother."
"Nyssa was an unfortunate sacrifice, but she was holding back your development and we only have limited time. Now it is your father's turn, in time you will understand."
"You made them kill her…" Link breathed as he stared up into the unmoving eyes of the Knight. "She was innocent and you killed her."
"Sometimes there's no other way."
Link shook as rage exploded from within and he began to scream as he looked down. Energy began to course through him as the visions came flooding into his head, thrashing about wildly.
The sword lay before him as he climbed the steps. It hummed, calling to him, drawing to him. Link looked around at the lifeless dead faces littered around the forest.
With two hands he gripped the pummel of the sword and pulled upwards. Blinding blue light erupted from the pedestal as he forced it upwards until finally his vision was completely clouded by light.
When the light finally cleared all that was before him several dead bodies littering the grass of the courtyard, his father gripping him tightly.
"I did that?" Link murmured looking at the relative mountain of bodies.
"Yes…"
"Alfonzo?"
"He's gone Link."
A subdued energy surrounded the meeting room. The sun was beginning to rise and helped show the tired faces of all those surrounding the desk. At the window stood Rhoam, looking out over the forest in the far distance. The nasty shred of a shadow which was the Chancellor stood beside him.
Zelda leaned by the doorway just watching the back of Link's head. It crooked down in a hunch as he slumped in the chair beneath him. His clothes were torn and bloody it looked like he had rolled down a hill of thistles. All those bodies…he was like a powder keg ready to blow up. She had a feeling that no one knew that better than Link.
Something inside her screamed out to go and touch his deflated shoulders but she pushed that to the back of her mind. It was only by some miracle she was allowed in the room in the first place, she didn't want to get kicked out.
"I don't bloody believe it. Curse that man to the divine prison where he belongs." Bryne entered being followed closely by Impa.
It was clear the senior Knight was directing his rant at the King and he leant heavily on the desk trying to gain some sense of calm.
"We trusted him, we trusted him with everything and all this time, all our pain, it was because of him." His last words barely rasped out as he pushed further into the desk his hand rested on. "He was my friend…"
The King remained stood straight continuing to look out into the forest. "Impa is the Castle secure?"
"Yes your highness."
He nodded resolutely. "Good, I trust you to make the proper preparations. We have lost a good Knight today."
"Bryne I trust you to find a proper replacement as head of the academy, we must not allow the training of the new blood to cease."
Bryne bowed his head.
Link ears seemed to prick up as he heard the commotion around him, but he remained still and silent.
"Cole you must get the word out immediately, to all the villages all our allies. We must find that man as soon as we can. I trust you to put up the appropriate reward."
That smug look Zelda hated spread across the Chancellor's lips. "Of course your excellence."
Ass kisser
The Chancellor practically danced out of the room, giving Zelda one of those truly irritating sideways triumphant glares.
Her father's eyes met hers. Every so often she would meet his gaze and see the eyes of a man she knew long ago, the one who taught her how to ride a horse, the one who would throw her up in the air so she could soar like a loft wing. That rare look was like a window into the past. But, as always his gaze hardened and he returned to his normal stern self. All Zelda could do was sigh.
"The boy…" Impa hissed between clenched teeth.
Rhoam looked down at the torn figure beneath him and scratched his beard. He would only do that when he was truly at a loss for words. Zelda knew he had trained his whole life to give nothing away in his body language but he could not hide it from her.
"The boy…" Rhoam murmured repeating the thought over.
Links ears twitched again though he remained still under the gazes of the room. They were talking about him as if he wasn't even there, like he was just some tool for them to use. Zelda knew all too well that feeling.
Impa turned to the senior Knight. "Bryne see reason, this has gone on for too long and there is no one else to take this burden. There is only one who is given the soul of the hero."
"He's…not…ready," Bryne said aggressively.
Rhoam turned back to the window, this time placing a hand on the windowsill. Looking out as though he wanted to spread wings and fly from the room, escape from it all.
The argument exploded between the Shieka and the Knight. "Not ready? Goddess, you're a brilliant knight but you're about as short-sighted as they come. Do I need to remind you what's at stake here? Protecting him now will do nothing for the boy."
They were in each other's faces now.
"You've never been in that position ever monk. Do you know what misery that life can bring a person? How it can change them? Only this time it's not like before, there's even more to lose," Bryne said, face but an inch away from Impa's.
Impa scowled at him. "You know nothing of my sacrifices so don't pretend to understand. You're not worried about the boy not really…you're scared about yourself about what will happen if you lose him."
"Shut up!" Link yelled.
Everyone, even the relaxed King turned to Link in shock at the sudden outburst. Link sat in the chair looking around him, panting desperately. That look on his face, he wasn't angry, or confused…he was scared.
"What's wrong with me?" Link whispered.
"It's time Bryne…I'm sorry," Rhoam said in a monotone voice.
Bryne looked around at all the faces staring at him expectantly and he twisted around in a defeated anger. "Do whatever you bloody want, but it's about time you actually tell him what he'll lose."
The Knight stormed out the room and slammed the door at the other end. Impa checked her stance uncomfortably, studying her shoes with great consideration.
"What does he mean?" Link asked looking rapidly between the King and Impa.
Impa exhaled a long breath. "You are bound with the soul of the hero. It passes down thousands of generations before it manifests itself. Part of this soul, it resides in the sword that seals the darkness, that is why you feel it calling out to you, it wants to be complete."
Link clenched his jaw at the words.
"The soul it gives you great power as we have already found out. But there is also another burden the soul pushes on its barer…"
"It kills the bearer's innocence…" Rhoam cut through as he placed his hands behind his back. "You will not be the same when you have achieved your true potential. All attachment to your past, it will be washed away and you will look at those you knew with no feeling at all."
Link looked directly up into the Kings eyes. "I don't care I'm ready."
A smile spread across the Kings face and his shoulders sagged slightly like a great weight had once sat there. He grabbed the bell on his desk and rang it. Immediately a servant rushed in bowing his head before rocking up like a board of wood.
"Tell Bryne to get his and Link's horse ready and get the Kitchen to prepare them enough provisions for a week's ride."
The Servants face scrunched in confusion. "I beg your pardon my liege but I thought you had already sent Master Bryne on a mission. He just left with his horse out of the East gate."
The Kings eyes widened and he slammed the desk in rage.
"That damned fool!
Impa looked to Link in horror. "Bryne has gone to retrieve the sword himself. If he tries he will with almost all certainty die."
Link immediately got up and headed towards the door leaving the room. Zelda rushed out after him.
As she left the door she noticed the grass on the courtyard had immediately brightened and the bodies had been cleared. Zelda couldn't believe the sheer amount of them. According to Impa most were because of Link.
Boudi's death weighed on here like the whole castle itself. She had been the one to tell her to help Link and Bryne. She couldn't just sit around feeling useless, not anymore. The woman had made a great sacrifice and saved Link from capture and Bryne from death. Still Zelda couldn't get it out of her head that it was her fault.
She had only remembered that face all too late, Alfonzo staring at her from the doorway, grinning hideously. If she had just realised it an hour sooner all of this wouldn't of happened. Once again she had failed everyone.
"Link!"
She ran after him. His tunic was even worse from the back and revealed deep gashes and bruises. Link did not stop for her and man that boy could walk quickly.
Grabbing his arm she finally managed to make him stop. He turned to her with a stoney expression.
"Are you sure about this Link? You heard what the sword will do," she looked up at him and cradled his cheek in her hand.
Link grabbed her hand making adrenalin rush through her. He brought it down but to her surprise did not let go.
"Zelda…" Link said in a quiet voice. "He's the only family I've got left. I can't just let him die. I can't have that feeling weigh on me anymore. I don't care if I lose part of myself I'm going to that forest."
They stood together for a moment just basking in each other's presence before Zelda found herself saying something unexpected.
"I'm going with you…"
"What?" Link's eyebrows rose. "Zelda you can't just-"
"It wasn't a question it's just what's going to happen."
Zelda could swear she could see a slight crinkle in Links eye and a pull upwards on the corner of his lips. "If you can keep up…"
Time was moving quickly and Link sure wasn't waiting up for Zelda. He rushed down the corridors at a ferocious pace. Zelda was glad she hadn't gotten changed back into her "appropriate" royal attire. The thought of trying to keep up with Link in a dress was a ghastly idea.
It didn't take long to reach the stables at by the gatehouse.
"He's taken Epona…" Link's face twisted in pain. "There's little chance we're going to catch up to him."
Link tightened the straps and reigns of Zelda's steed and she leapt up onto its back before he could offer her any help. She was more than desperate to show she wasn't some tourist on this trip.
"Link how about your horse?"
Link looked around. The line holding his steed Ciela was cut and the horse nowhere to be seen. Bryne had taken steps to ensure Link couldn't follow easily.
"There's not enough time," Link said hurriedly and to Zelda's shock he sprinted in front of her horse and with the same grace as a Zora in water grabbed the reigns and flipped himself onto its back, pushing her backwards so that her face hovered above his right shoulders. With the reigns now out of her hands Zelda was unsure what to do with them.
"You better hold on, this isn't going to be a gentle ride," Link called back.
Zelda had little chance to respond before Link cracked the reigns and the horse lurched forwards towards the gate. Her hands moved quickly to Link's hips to steady herself, before the inhibitions and fears could catch up.
The guards at the gate stood up immediately and waved their arms. "Master Link!" one called out. "Your father told us not to let you past the gate."
The guard had little time to even finish his sentence before realising Link was not going to stop. They galloped towards the exit as the guards dived to the side. With another crack of the reigns her horse leapt through the air and slammed onto the decline on the other side of the gate. The impact pushed Zelda a little further into Link but she put it to the back of her mind, there were more important things to think of now.
Link was a born rider that was for sure. She had thought that her bond with the horse had been good. Sure it got in a hissy fit every now and then but the white mare liked her. Link had been on its back for five minutes and already had her outclassed.
It was like he spoke the language of the animal. He whispered as he moved his hands through its mane and made strange soothing noises that seemed to work even on Zelda. The beast seemed to talk back chuffing and whinnying in response but moving faster and faster with each noise and motion Link made.
The horse was now moving at a breaking speed. It took little time for them to reach Hyrule Forest Park and escape from the stirring noise of the waking town behind them. This was the first time Zelda had been out of the Castle for a while. It was a shame that she was incapable of basking in Hyrule's wild beauty once again.
"There's a military training camp along the road to the forest, my father would've put up the barriers there. We'll have to take another route," Link yelled out over the hammering of hooves on the softening ground.
"Link there's only one entrance to the forest. There's water all the way around it. You're not suggesting we…"
"I don't know Princess it's just like I know where I need to go. We need to get up Rauru hillside." There was such conviction in Link's voice, a kind of certainty that seemed to surprise them both.
Though, sure enough as they advance up the hill and looked out at the stream below, a series of stepping stones lead to the deep darkness of the forest.
Strange, even stepping stones were recorded on Hyrule's maps. Zelda had studied them all for day and knew each one like the back of her hand. Not a single one showed such an entrance to the forest. There could be no doubt that the placement of the stones was not natural incident. They lead forwards in a perfectly straight line and each stone was perfectly flat and rounded. It had to have been made by one of the sentient races.
"C'mon!"
Link had already leapt off and his call shocked her back away from her busy mind. They rushed down the hill. Link sprinted across the stones, leaping across several at a time, legs no longer obeying the laws of physics.
Zelda tied up her horse and to the far east could see the gleaming white mane of Epona, tied to a tree, next to the walls of the training camp. Bryne had already arrived. They were running out of time.
She followed Link across the stones and the thick leaves of the forest the darkness consumed them whole, like the monster in her nightmares.
The forest was a strange place. Here there was such an abundance of life, the tree's leaves blanketed in a canopy overhead. Yet still the floor of the forest felt so cold and lifeless. Mist penetrated the air either side and Zelda struggled to keep up with Link yet again. If he was to move just another meter in front, she would be unable to see him.
They were called the lost woods for a reason. It had taken several lives to find the sword in the first place. Zelda imagined, with a shudder, wandering around the trees until you starved or, if you were lucky, went mad.
Maybe she was going mad already. The trees seemed to glare at her with hideous faces, the gaping holes of their eyes flowing her every move, gleaming as she went further into the depths of the forest.
"Did you see that?"
Zelda almost ran into Link's back as he stopped dead in his tracks. He was staring at a branch in the distance, hand hovering over the handle of his sword, fingers flexing in agitation.
"See what Link there's nothing there?" Zelda replied, squinting as she followed the path of Link's stare into the mist.
"Just on that branch I could've sworn there was a…" he looked back at her and sighed. "Let's just keep going, I think we're heading in the right direction."
Strange beads of light swam through the mist and seemed to flow one way and another. Link seemed to be in sync with them, only moving when they did and running in the same direction. His face was utterly relaxed in a strange trancelike state.
They arrived at a canyon, large sheets of sheer rock rising either side of them and Link's gaze hardened as he sped down the valley. Zelda began to hear the song of birds and the chirping of insects louder and louder as they descended further into the rocky corridor.
Light began to descend down on them in larger waves as the life began to spring up along the forest floor. Soon the grass began to light up in a brilliant green and the leaves overhead turned from greyish misery to vibrant colours overhead. White and red petals slowly floated down around them landing softly on the forest floor.
It was just how Link had seen in his dream there in the centre of the opening in the forest was a platform of stone. It rose rather gracefully from the green wildlife around it but it didn't totally stand out from its surroundings.
In the centre a pedestal stuck out of the ground and in its centre stood a proud sword gleaming in the beams of light. He could hear that humming now in such intensity it was difficult to notice anything else.
"Link…" Zelda whispered quietly. That was when he noticed him.
"No…" Link gasped
Link walked over to the collapsed body of the Knight and held him up in his arms. It had always been the reverse in the past and it felt strange to hold the once proud knight in such a way.
His eyes were as lifeless as they had been his dreams and he was hideously light and pale. His father's mouth moved but he did not have the strength to call out. All Link could hear were two words that repeated over and over again.
"I…promised."
Soon his mouth stopped moving all together and his body became utterly lifeless in Link's arms.
There had been too much loss recently. It felt like all they were doing was losing and not gaining a thing in the process. He turned to see Zelda looking down at him, unsure of what to do or say.
All of it was gone now, the thought of the emptiness of the house back at Hateno stirred a sickening feeling inside him which threatened to bubble up without hesitation. Link had trained for hours and hours each day and still he felt completely powerless. He had been unable to protect his own mother and unable to save his own father.
It was a strange feeling that he felt. He was oddly empty, like he had been left in the middle of the ocean, with no soul in sight, for several years.
"I tried to tell him…"
Zelda jumped up into the air as the voice boomed throughout the fores and they both looked up into the animated face of the tree in front of them.
"Yeah…I'm definitely going mad," Zelda said in awe.
The tree chuckled as softly as Link though was possible for a giant talking tree. "Sorry young one, I always forget that you Hylians don't know about me anymore. All these years, they seem like the blink of the eye for me, I'm rather good at sleeping."
Link was unfazed by the enormous life-sized tree, the sword had captured his gaze now and was refusing to let go. The humming continued to grow in his head. He could only assume that he was the only one who could hear it, as always.
Zelda rushed forwards a few steps as if it would help her study the enormous face ahead. "Of course you're the Deku tree of Legend. I had no idea you actually existed."
Her face was smiling now. In just a few moments she had found more of the legends to be true than in her whole life.
"It has been a long time since I have been blessed by the smile of a daughter of Hylia. I hope the forest wasn't too much hassle my Koroks can sometimes be…over-imaginative."
Strange creatures flew from the bushes and surrounded Zelda. They were funny things and Zelda watched them with wonder as they flew around her cheering in some strange language.
"I would watch your friend," the Deku tree exclaimed. "Or he will share the same fate as the fellow to your side."
Zelda looked sadly down at the fallen Knight. Link on the other hand was transfixed by the sword. His chest was filling slowly with guilt and he felt like water was rising around him, threatening to swallow him up. His father, his mother, Boudi, they were all because of him, all because he was too weak to save them, too slow. He approached the sword.
"Link wait!"
Links hand slacked on the handle but he did not look back to her.
"Just…just think for a second. Even if you survive you won't be the same."
Link met her eyes with steely conviction. "There's nothing for me anymore, the last thing I cared for just died in my arms."
The sword drew his gaze again. "If I don't accept my fate, people will suffer just like in my dreams. All those lifeless bodies will be the people of Hyrule… It's not a choice. I have to do it Princess."
Zelda looked down to the ground hoping to find some courage there, but the ground would yield her nothing. She could not even find the words to say goodbye to the part of Link that would be killed by the sword.
"I sense no fear or doubt in your words," the Great Deku Tree said as kindly as was possible. "Simply draw the sword from the pedestal with all your might and if it deems you worthy, you will survive."
Link did not hesitate. With a firm hand he gripped the hilt of the sword and began to pull. Just like in his dreams light began to burst from the pedestal. He could feel himself being drawn in, as though it was the sword that was pulling him rather than the reverse. His life was draining away into it as the sword's blinding blue light grew in greater and greater intensity.
The world around him was freezing in place. Energy suddenly erupted from the sword and blew into the sky with ferocious intent. On of Link's hands ripped of the sword and he barely held one with one hand as the air around him pulled him upwards into the air. His legs dangled helplessly above him, feeling the force that rippled around him.
Spirits began to surround him, faces he recognised, others he did not. Their legs faded away as the spirits struggled against the current of energy.
"Link!"
He turned to the side to look at the spirit. "Father…" he whimpered holding back the tears. "I'm sorry I wasn't strong enough again, I failed you."
"No Link," the rippling air battered away at the wispy face to Link's side. "It is I who failed you. I did not have the strength to pull the sword and now you will become exactly what your mother made me swear to prevent."
"Why did you do it?" Link choked. "You were all I had left and now you've gone too."
The spirit was struggling now against the winds and was slowly being drawn away from Link. "Partly I wanted to spare you of that burden but I was selfish. I didn't want you to look at me after you took up the sword and feel nothing. I didn't want our bond to become a memory of the past."
Link's grip was slipping and now he was barely holding onto the pommel. "What do I do now? Just wait for Ganon?"
"I'll make you promise me like she made me promise her. What you will lose find some way to get it back. Please Link try for us."
"I promise." Link yelled but already the familiarity in his father's face was reducing. He felt his heart growing colder along with the world around him, the trees and beauty that he once cherished becoming simple objects. Part of himself was being drawn into the sword."
"Link!" Bryne was fading away now as the wind dissipated his mist-like spirit. "The princess is important. Remember…Zelda is the key."
Link called out: "I don't understand," but his father had already dissipated into nothing along with the other spirits.
It would be so easy now, to just let go and allow himself to fly off into the sky and see what awaited him in that life. Would his parents be there to greet him, would his mother be happy to see him again?
Link looked over to Zelda. Her mouth was slightly agape and eyebrows arched in concern as she stretched a hand out towards where Link had originally stood.
He thought about the fields, the vibrant grass of Hyrule under the gleaming sun. The faces of those in the city, their amazement at seeing a knight walk through the streets. He thought about home in Hateno and all the farmers wandering about their daily business and the children playing happily in the street. All those things would be destroyed unless he took the sword. Losing part of himself was a small enough price when compared to that.
With his last remaining strength Link pulled his other arm up and gripped the sword with two hands. Slowly he felt the force of the wind slow around him as he slowly returned to the ground. He pulled further on the sword until eventually his feet touched the ground.
Finally the light and the energy rippling around him completely disappeared and time resumed around him. He looked down for one last time at the blade with trepidation and then with one final tug pulled the blade free.
Zelda looked in shock at the boy before her. He held the sword that seals the darkness skyward, closing his eyes peacefully in its glow as if he was finally at peace.
"The sword has chosen its new bearer. You and the blade are now one," the Deku tree said, no surprise was present in his voice
Link brought the sword down and held it upwards over his face. The Koroks flew out of the bushes once again, three of them holding an elaborate scabbard between them, which they attached to the Knight's back. He swung the sword several times and it glided through the air with unmeasurable elegance. Finally he drew it into its place on his back and turned towards Zelda.
"Link…?" Zelda breathed. She was unsure how much Link had lost in the battle to pull up the sword. "Are you…"
His eyebrows were arched in a way that made him look permanently angry. When he looked at her there was no warmth behind his stare, it was empty, it was as like he didn't even recognise her. For some reason that seemed to crush her down harder than anything else that had just happened. She felt quite uneasy under his glare.
Link didn't say a word. His face unmoving he turned and began to walk slowly and methodically towards the exit of the clearing, Koroks moving out of his way hurriedly.
"Link!" Zelda called out though Link did not stop or make any acknowledgement of his presence. "Hey wait up!"
Zelda sprinted after him as the Deku tree looked on and chuckled. A larger Korok flew up towards him and hovered beside the tree's right eye. "You're right Hylians are pretty strange…stupid too. I'm basically an animated sapling and I take more out of their social cues."
"Bah…" the Deku tree spat. "Hylian lives are much more complicated than ours. We just spend much of our time sleeping so I guess we can't talk Hestu." He looked a little more carefully at the Korok. "Have you gained weight you're looking a little fat."
Hestu blushed and immediately tried to change the conversation. "The other Koroks have made bets."
The Deku tree's eyebrows creaked as they arched upwards. Already flowers were blossoming from his branches, or had there always been flowers there? It was hard to remember.
"A bet…? What on earth are you betting on?"
"What the Hylians call it, which one is going to make the "first move". It's ten to one in favour of the girl."
The Deku tree let out yet enough laugh, this day was sure turning out to be a lively one. "I will never understand you children, things were a little simpler when you were just forest fairies. So…don't keep me in suspense which did you bet on."
"I'm team Link all the way!"
The Deku tree felt the wind gently blowing though his branches and smiled for the first time in what felt like forever. It had been an age but finally he felt that feeling he hadn't felt for quite some time. It was a truly wonderful feeling, one that filled his bark to the brim: hope.
That's the last part of this section of the story next chapter we'll be back to the future.
Just want to let you all know I'm working on a new story (well several but writing another story). Not sure when I'll be publishing I want to take a less casual approach then I do with this one.
I'll be calling it "A Land of Ice" and its shaping up better than expected. I have enough confidence now to utilize a friend as an editor so you may have to say goodbye to my terrible grammar in the next story.
Anyways I'm excited to get onto the next and maybe final section.
Thankyou for reading.