Chapter 5: Farore Temple
Deep in the forest, Ashwin stood before the entrance to a large stone structure. It was made from huge stone slabs, stacked on top of each other like a pyramid, except the base was rectangular so that the top was a line instead of a point. There were openings in both of the short ends providing a way in. The stone was overgrown with vines giving it the impression that it was a shadow of its former greatness and long since abandoned.
The entrance was a gaping, pitch black hole. Once again, that familiar feeling of fear froze Ashwin's feet to the spot. "The bravest warriors feel the same fear." Ashwin recalled the words of the Great Deku Tree. He looked at the triangle on his hand. Was this really his destiny to become some kind of hero? The encounter with the Great Deku Tree did not give him the result he hoped for. He would have preferred to be simply sent home, not on some kind of scavenger hunt in this frightening place.
After meeting with the Great Deku Tree, Ashwin had gone back to the village. He had gained much esteem in the eyes of the Kokiri when he showed them the slab of bark that he had received. They helped him treat the wood, affix a handle and a leather shoulder strap to it, and carve out and paint the Kokiri symbol on the front in orange. Most of the shields made in this manner were made from wood from any of the multitude of deku trees that grew in Kokiri forest. To have one as a gift from the Great Deku Tree was a tremendous honour. He felt like a real Kokiri now with his sword and shield strapped to his back.
Ashwin had spent some time searching the village for people with a similar mark on their hand to no avail. Evie had quite a laugh when he asked her if she knew anyone named "Farore". She explained that Kokiri forest was a part of their world called "Hyrule". In Hylian mythology, Farore was the goddess of wind and forest. She was associated with the virtue of courage. Evie speculated that the "House of Farore", in the Great Deku Tree's cryptic prophecy, was a temple, built in honour of the goddess, deep in the forest, many years ago.
This is where Ashwin now found himself.
"I am my own greatest enemy." Ashwin strengthened his resolve with the words of the Great Deku Tree. He decided that he must not let the fear inside him get in his way. He marched through the entrance to the temple. He shuddered as the darkness enveloped him, but continued on.
The vast open space inside was awe inspiring. The ceiling had two openings that allowed two thin bands of light inside. The light closest to Ashwin focused near the bottom of a large triangular based pyramid on his side of the chamber. Ashwin began to pace around and noticed a second triangular pyramid on the other side. These were the two focal points of the temple.
Some of the floor tiles cracked as Ashwin stepped on them. Most were already cracked and some were missing. An intricate web of vines also spread along the stonework on the walls. Ashwin imagined this to be a beautiful space in some forgotten time.
As he approached the pyramid, he saw two stone statues at its base. Each was shaped like a wide vase with a creepy face carved into it. Two little stone arms stuck out holding a rusted metal sword and circular shield. Two horns protruded from the top. The monuments were identical to each other and about twice the height of Ashwin.
Ashwin began to climb up the pyramid when the whole place began to shake. He struggled to stay on his feet. The statue closest to him began to crack. The stone facade crumbled to reveal a Stalfos, a skeleton warrior. It was holding the rusted sword and shield. The Stalfos turned to look at Ashwin.
Filled with terror, Ashwin ran to the edge of the pyramid and jumped off, heading for the exit. However, the stone slab above it had cracked in half and now blocked the exit. He turned to see the Stalfos, twice his size, with its sword raised, bearing down on him. Ashwin leapt to the side to avoid the attack. He slid the deku shield from his back and drew his sword. Walking backwards, he raised the shield as he saw his enemy prepare for another swing. The force of the blow on the shield knocked him backwards off his feet.
Ashwin was terrified. He continued to scramble backwards, trying desperately to get away. What had he gotten himself into? He was just a child! How could battling such a monster be expected of him?
Ashwin continued to evade the attacks, jumping out of the way of some, catching others with his shield. Despair continued to consume him. He tried to think of a way out of this deadly predicament. "The bravest warriors feel the same fear I do." Ashwin thought to himself again. He must act despite the debilitating fear inside of him.
The Stalfos was large and powerful. However, its movements were somewhat slow and clumsy. Ashwin recalled the training he had received from the Kokiri. As the skeleton came in for another overhead swing of its sword, Ashwin guided the blow with his shield to the side as he sidestepped the attack. Before his opponent regained its balance, he lunged at it. He screamed as he thrust his sword into its rib cage, cracking one of its ribs. The Stalfos elbowed Ashwin roughly causing the two to separate.
Ashwin's fear was now mixed with anger. He was not only angry at this monster, but angry at the terror itself that it instilled in him.
Now it came at him with a side swiping motion of the sword. However, it was too slow and Ashwin ducked under it easily, keeping his shield just over his head, in case he miss-timed the move. Ashwin shouted out as he brought his sword down on the femur of the big skeleton, breaking clean through it. The Stalfos came crashing down. Standing over his weakened enemy, Ashwin hacked away at this monster until, at last, it remained motionless, in pieces.
Ashwin breathed a sigh of relief. He felt physically and emotionally drained. He dropped to his knees and took a moment to catch his breath. His ears rang in the silent chamber. He realized that he still had a death grip on his sword and shield and loosened his grasp. He admired the deku shield and Kokiri sword that had served him so well. The shield now had several gouges in the dark wood, but the intricate orange Kokiri carving remained intact.
He decided to go to the other side of the chamber to see if the other entrance was still clear.
Ashwin looked up to see that the sun had shifted and the streak of light entering through the ceiling now rested on the very tip of the pyramid. Something glistened in the light. As he once again stepped onto the pyramid, Ashwin held his breath as he glanced at the other warrior monument. As he watched it remain still, Ashwin exhaled. He slid his sword and shield onto his back and continued to climb up.
He could see it now; a golden triangle; a perfect equilateral, about the size of his head, as thick as his wrist, with a flawless solid gold texture, dazzling in the sunlight. He stopped right before it. It was suspended in mid air, just above the tip of the pyramid. Ashwin looked at the triangular mark on his left hand. According to the Great Deku Tree, this "mark of the hero" will guide him to his destiny in the House of Farore. This golden triangle was his destiny. Slowly, he brought his hands closer to the triangle, until he held it. In that instant, everything changed.
The ancient relic that he had attained was the Triforce of Courage. Ashwin would never again be ruled by fear. At that moment, he knew this to be true. It was an epiphany, as if the Triforce had somehow pulled the veil of fear to reveal the emptiness behind it. He felt that he could fight any foe without terror clouding his judgement.
From the height of the pyramid, he had a clear view of the second pyramid at the other end of the chamber. Just like the first one, a band of light from the ceiling, shone down on its tip. From a distance, Ashwin could make out another boy standing there facing away from him. He also appeared to be dressed in Kokiri clothes, holding a golden triangle. The boy disappeared as he descended the opposite side of the pyramid.
Ashwin prepared to chase the Kokiri boy, but he was interrupted by a rumbling behind him. A Stalfos climbed the pyramid after him, leaving the fragments of the second stone monument behind. The second figure was equally terrifying as the first, but this time Ashwin felt a sense of adventure, and cheerfully descended the pyramid after it. With skilled swordsmanship, he dispatched it easily. He now felt that he had become the hero he was destined to be.