Chapter 4: Epiphanies and a Sword in Stone
Link was starting to get a bit stir-crazy by the time he had reached his 7th day staying at the old man's cabin. He had been put under strict orders of bed rest until his calf wound healed substantially. Naturally, Link protested upon hearing this and insisted he would be fine, and wouldn't get any better if he layed in bed all day. So, as a compromise, Link agreed to spend a whole 48 hours unmoving. After that, he could move about the cabin and the area surrounding it, but he couldn't do anything strenuous, or as the old man put it, "No gallivanting off to the nearby shrines or monster encampments".
So once his 48 hours of supervised (against his will) bedrest was up, he and the old man started to fall into a little routine. The old man would get up at dawn to hunt the Forest of Time for their daily meals, while Link would forage the surrounding area for mushrooms or pick apples from the variety of apple trees. The old man would cook for him and Link, and made sure to teach Link the different recipes he'd developed over the years of being out in the wild. Every now and then while they prepared a meal, the old man would chime in with little anecdotes about each ingredient and their importance in certain dishes.
"This Stamella shroom here, when cooked, can help with exhaustion, and make you feel more energized to a certain extent", The old man claimed. "And this one here, Rushroom, can improve your agility slightly".
"Makes sense, hence their names", Link commented. "Is this something you discovered during your time on the plateau?"
The old man laughed. "Oho! I'm flattered, Link, but I think you're giving this old man a bit too much credit than he is due" he jested.
Link gave him a small smile. "Right, sorry" he chuckled.
The old man gave a sigh. "Yes, it was actually my daughter who taught me this, long ago. Though back then, I didn't believe it was of much importance. She was always going on about little things like that. Always had her nose in a book, studying when she could, constantly learning something new", he remarked with a bittersweet smile.
Link looked up from the mushrooms he had been chopping. "Your daughter, sir? I didn't know you had a family".
"Oho, well you never asked my boy! I do recall saying I would spare you my life's story when we first met. I figured a curious one like yourself wouldn't be very interested in a man's memoir when you could instead be off exploring ruins and, if I may be so bold, getting yourself into trouble" the old man quipped.
He scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "Fair enough" he muttered, before pausing for a moment. "Could you maybe tell me, about them? About yourself, I mean. I hardly know anything about you" Link stuttered. "I don't even know your na-"
"Rhoam. You can call me Rhoam" the old man interrupted. "I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, though I guess it never really came up, with how quickly you've sought danger and excitement" he jeered. "Haven't had much time to chat, now have we?"
He gave him a bit of a side eye for that one, but all in good fun. "Yeah yeah, okay, I get it. I haven't exactly been the most cautious. Can you blame me? I'm an amnesiac, every day I feel like I'm discovering something new. It's almost like I've been reset back to square one, you know? I don't mean to get into trouble, it just finds its way to me, I guess" he acquiesced.
And so the two of them went on as such during the remainder of Link's recovery. They would do different chores and tasks throughout the day, and he would listen to the various tales of Rhoams life. Whenever he did tell Link something, it was always a bit vague, or something nonspecific. At first, Rhoam told him about different skirmishes he had with various beasts he encountered, what weapons he used or the scars he gained, etc. Then he relayed to Link more about his family as the days went on. He told him how he had known his wife from a very young age, and didn't always get along, which Link was unsurprised by, given the old man's demeanor. Rhoam also told him about his thoughts and feelings during his younger years, like how when his daughter was born; He was so scared to hold her for the first time, believing that she was so innocent and fragile that he would break her if he touched her. Link thought his stories were endearing, but he could sense there was a bit of hurt lying behind Rhoam's stories, so he never pried for more details. His love for his family is evident, but where are they now?.
On the 9th day of his recovery, he got an answer to his question, though it's not how he would've initially wanted to come about it. He and Rhoam were sitting around the cooking pot, waiting for the stew to finish boiling, the night air cool around them.
"The stew looks like it's coming along nicely" he stated, breaking the silence.
"Oho! That it is, my boy, thanks to that lovely herring you shot down today" Rhoam praised.
"It was nothing, I think my calf is nearly healed, I've been able to maintain a crouching position while putting weight on it for longer now".
"Yes, it shouldn't be too long now for it to be fully recovered. Don't push yourself too hard though, remember you can always lean up behind a tree to take the weight off your injured spot as I taught you to do while you're hunting" Rhoam replied.
"I know, I just felt better today, and wanted to get the perfect shot,"
"Oho, well, you did accomplish that much," Rhoam admitted. "The stew looks done, let me grab the bowls".
Rhoam retrieved the bowls from inside the cabin and ladled a large serving of stew into each, and proceeded to hand Link his.
"Thank you," he said, taking the first few bites of the stew. "These hearty stews we've been making have definitely helped with my recovery".
"Good, I'm glad my recipes are meeting their expectations," Rhoam answered, taking a few sips from his stew bowl.
"Yeah, tomorrow I'm going to try to scale the cliffs to reach the shrine".
Rhoam gave a cough and choked down the stew he had just begun to eat. "I beg your pardon?" Rhoam sputtered.
Link raised his eyebrows at this. "Was I not clear? I'm going to the shrine tomorrow. I figure that I've recovered enough to be able to make the climb, is that a problem? he said sharply.
"Link, we had an agreement" Rhoam started. "No running off in seek of-"
"I know what we agreed to, but I'm fine, really," he assured. "I mean, it has been over a week since I first got injured. Once I take care of the Bokoblin encampment-"
"Oh no, you are definitely not doing that either, young one." Rhoam retorted. "Honestly, I thought you were better than this. Why risk injuring yourself further? Patience is a virtue, one you should learn to adhere to" he scolded.
Link's eyes narrowed. "Right. I understand the concern, but honestly, my calf feels much better. I know myself and my limits, can't you just trust that I-
Rhoam scoffed. "Like you've given me a reason to put my absolute and utter faith in your ability to be mindful of yourself".
Link gave a bitter laugh. If he hadn't been cooped up for the better part of a week, he might've had more restraint when it came to the old man's comment. But as a result of his forced supervision, Link's temperament was akin to one of a caged animal. So unfortunately, his hot-headed nature got the best of him.
"I see, so I'm just a danger to myself then, right? I can't be unsupervised, and I shouldn't be in charge of my own decision-making, is that it? Link spat.
"You know that isn't what I meant by-"
"I should just let you make all my choices for me, hm? I don't need to be my own person now that I have you, Right? You think that because you "saved" me, you get to be responsible for my actions?." he said, raising his voice.
"Is that What it is, huh? Would that make you feel better? Goddesses, what is your problem? Have you always been such a control freak?"
"Enough of this, you know damn well my supervision has been for your own good" Rhoam countered. "If you would just listen to me instead of-"
"Listen? LISTEN! I've done EVERYTHING you've expected of me for the past week and yet you still can't trust me? I thought we had reached a mutual understanding of one another, but apparently not!" Link shouted. "I'm going to get rid of those bokoblins, and I'm GOING to reach that shrine tomorrow, whether you like it or not".
Rhoam stood up from across the cooking pot. "STOP IT! You are not READY, alright? You need to be focused on a gradual recovery! If you push yourself too hard too early you could be bedridden for longer! Goddesses Link, when will you stop treating this as some sort of childish game!" Rhoam yelled.
At this point, Link had had enough, and regardless of whether it was the right or wrong thing to do in his situation, he was going to give Rhoam a piece of his mind.
He spoke in a low and cruel voice, maintaining eye contact with Rhoam. "I am NOT a child, do not treat me as such. As far as I'm aware, I don't have a father. I don't need one, and I sure as hell didn't ASK for a FATHER, RHOAM!". His voice was at a roar at this point, his fists clenched in anger. "Do NOT scold me like I'm your good for nothing son".
Rhoam opened his mouth to respond, but nothing came out, a look of realization present on his face.
Link immediately regretted what he had shouted in poor Rhoams face, but it was too late for him to take it back now.
Rhoam sat down, evidently appalled at his actions. He gave a loud sigh and looked off into the distance. "You're right, I am not your father, Link. I'm afraid I have fallen back into my old ways, being around you," he uttered softly. "I guess in a way you remind me so much of her. I've shouted those same words before, at my daughter. I swore to myself long ago I wouldn't let myself repeat past mistakes, and yet here I am, falling short on my promises.." he said, crestfallen.
Link set down his stew bowl and rubbed his temple. He was finding it hard to believe that he resembled Rhoam's daughter in any shape or form, given the little information he knew about her from Rhoam's vague stories, but he decided to give Rhoam the benefit of the doubt.
"Look, I get it. Everyone has demons, and mistakes they need to learn from. Of all people, I know that the best" he admitted, but only truly meaning the latter part of his confession, due to his past being an enigma.
"I'm trying to get better about my recklessness, really, I am, but I need you to meet me in the middle, okay? You have to trust me even if it's only slightly. Only I know how I'm feeling and how my wound is faring. I have to be able to make my own choices out here, because someday soon, I'm going to be leaving the plateau."
He paused with a small sigh and looked up to meet Rhoam's gaze. The poor man's eyes conveyed a sincere look of regret and sorrow, and Link couldn't recall a time he looked this defeated. Rhoam was but another enigma Link had come to realize in his time on the Great Plateau. He knew he had an uncomfortable past and promised himself not to pry further than what Rhoam would relay, choosing to remain respectful for the sake of their newfound friendship. But he wondered for a moment if he would ever get to know the true Rhoam, or if he would always just be fed smaller bits of the whole picture. Regardless of this, Link knew he still cared for the secretive man, and he knew that Rhoam cared for him too, in his own way.
"I'm not asking you to not be worried, I'm just asking you to have a little faith in me. I'm also asking for you to just focus on being my friend, and not my caregiver in my current state. I'm very thankful for all of your help, but this isn't going to work if you keep seeing me as your family. As thoughtful as that is, it's going to hurt me in the long run when we eventually part ways. You have to let me be independent" Link said softly.
Rhoam sighed shakily and gave Link a small smile. "I think I can manage that," he said. "I apologize for being so overprotective of you. My wife died when my daughter was very young, and I had to raise her by myself the only way I knew how. I was too hard on her, and was overbearing like I am with you now." he dejected.
Link gave Rhoam a pitiful look, now realizing why he was all alone on the Great Plateau. A large piece of Rhoam's emotional walls had been chiseled away, allowing him to see a glimpse of the bigger picture that was the old man. He has no one, he thought sadly. The old man has been here for who knows how long, alone, until a scrappy young boy named Link awoke from a cavern in the same place Rhoam chose to isolate himself. He was starting to feel more remorse towards his behavior, and couldn't blame Rhoam for becoming a bit attached; Link has been his only company in what has probably been years.
"I- I drove her away with my actions." Rhoam continued, his eyes glistening. "My sweet, darling daughter. Now here I am, after years of being all alone, I find myself in the company of a bright young man, and I choose to let the demons of my past get to me, instead of just treating you as a friend. I am doing the same to you as I did to her, which neither of you deserved. Truly, Link, I am sorry" Rhoam said with immense hurt.
"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it too much, okay?" Link consoled. "I definitely could have been a better friend to you in the beginning as well. How about we put the whole thing behind us? I'll pace myself tomorrow, and only deal with the bokoblins, does that sound alright?" he asked, wanting to appease the poor man.
"No, no," Rhoam started. "You were right before. You shouldn't need my approval to do anything, you will be on your own soon enough. If you are sure your calf can handle it, make the trek to the shrine as well".
Link could tell by the way his voice wavered that Rhoam was appeasing him to save face. Link knew that if it hadn't been for their heated argument, Rhoam would have put his foot down firmly. But taking a look at the broken man before him, Link decided he would give Rhoam no reason to worry tomorrow, instead opting to make peace.
"Thanks for believing in me, but I know now that I better be safe than sorry. Tomorrow I will clear out the bokoblin camp, and the day after I will go to the shrine," he replied.
Link saw a faint glimmer of relief in Rhoam's expression, and knew he had made the right choice to dial back.
"If that's what you think is best, then alright" Rhoam replied while glancing at the stars above. "It's gotten rather late, I think I'm going to turn in for the night," he said, getting up.
Link got up as well, and headed towards the cabin door. He stopped short of it, turning to tell Rhoam something that was on his mind.
"For what it's worth, I bet she misses you, your daughter. Even if you were cold to her before, you're still family, I'm sure she still has love for you."
If Link had any recollection of his family, if they were still alive, that is, he would want to speak to them, no matter what had happened in his past. Although, he suspected his amnesia was a result of these feelings. Link decided that given Rhoam's prolonged stay on the plateau, he needed to hear words of encouragement if he had any chance of reconciling his relationship with his daughter. Even if it was from the boy who seemingly had no family.
"You should apologize and tell her how much you love her, wherever she is," Link suggested.
Rhoam gave him a small smile. "Maybe someday, I'll get the chance to. Goodnight Link" he replied.
Link had hoped he would get more of a reaction out of Rhoam, but given the night's events, he would settle for whatever he could get at the moment. He had already been allowed to see a new side of Rhoam tonight and knew he shouldn't be selfishly hoping for more.
"Goodnight," Link said as he walked into the cabin. He felt something stir within him as he walked towards Rhoam's little cot, stopping a few inches in front of it. He didn't know what compelled him to do this, but he knelt before his bed, and for the first time since Rhoam told him the story of the goddesses, Link decided to send out a silent prayer. He clasped his hands together instinctually, and prayed to the goddess Hylia for the health and safety of Rhoam's daughter, not knowing who exactly he was praying for. Link prayed that the girl would one day know the love her father had for her, if they weren't to ever meet again. He prayed that Hylia would tell her this, so that she won't ever have to question a father's unconditional love.
When Link was finished, he felt a bit lighter, like the weight of the night's events had been lifted off of him. He didn't know why he had felt the sudden urge to commence a prayer, but it felt…personal. Not necessarily the right or wrong thing to do, per se, but just something he felt that he needed to do. Since he's awoken he has only felt this feeling a few times, like when he fought his first bokoblin, or when he heard the woman's voice calling out to him.
With the answer still just beyond his reach, Link tucked himself into bed, eager to get a good night's rest for the next day. As he was drifting off to sleep, he realized the stupidly simple solution to why he was inclined to do certain things over others; they were familiar. That was it. That's the only reason. This realization nearly caused Link to sit up out of bed. Of course that's what the feeling was, it makes perfect sense. He has to have a recollection of his past locked somewhere deep within him. Otherwise, he wouldn't be feeling these weird sparks of familiarity when he did or heard certain things. Instilled with hope, Link smiled softly to himself as he sunk deeper into the covers. Each day I'm getting closer to figuring myself out, even if it's the smallest bit at a time, and tomorrow is another day, after all, he thought reassuringly as he fell into a peaceful sleep.
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When Link had finished clearing out the bokoblin camp, he was a bit relieved that he had promised Rhoam he would continue on to the shrine the following day. His smarting calf was giving him a bit of trouble on his hike back to the cabin, but he was managing it all right. Once he reached the cabin, he made quick work of redressing his wound, checking to see if it had reopened at all while on his excursion. To his surprise, his calf was fairing alright, although it looked rather ugly still. It showed no sign of reopening or infection to his knowledge. Link recalled his battle from earlier, trying to remember if one of the beasts had given him a good wack on his bad leg.
Deciding that he had probably gotten grazed by a bokoblin club during his skirmish, he turned his attention away from his wound. He rose and looked for ingredients laying around the cabin, prepping for tonight's meal. There were various mushrooms, herbs, and a few peppers left from previous dishes he and Rhoam had made the past few days, but they were running low on apples. Link often found himself snacking on them as he did chores around the cabin during his recovery, so he was to blame for their low stock. He still had a few hours before Rhoam would return to the cabin in the evening, so he had time to rest a little bit before going to replenish their apple supply. He removed his boots and gingerly took a seat at the table. He ran his hands over his face and pressed his face against the cool grain of the wooden table, trying to relax. He remained like that for a few moments, before opening his eyes to notice something sitting on the edge of the table that hadn't been there days prior. It was a small leather-bound book, similar to the one Rhoam had given him to write down recipes. Curious, Link reached out to grab the peculiar thing, and read the first passage on the open page.
On this desolate plateau, the only pleasure that brings me comfort is cooking.
Ouch, he thought, hoping this entry was written before he and Rhoam met, continuing.
And today, I outdid myself! Truly, I created the perfect dish. I call it… spicy meat and seafood fry.
Link smiled at Rhoam's inner excitement written on the page before him. It was nice to read about Rhoam finding happiness in the smallest things after being alone for so long.
This recipe not only restores health, but it also keeps me warm, even when traveling in the snowy mountains. With this dish on my side, I no longer have need of that itchy warm doublet.
Link turned the page, even though he knew how much trouble he would be in if Rhoam walked in on him reading his personal diary. If you don't want wandering eyes to read it, don't leave out where wandering eyes can find it, he thought pointedly.
I don't know how I allowed this to happen, but it seems I forgot to write down an important recipe. I know it contained raw meat and spicy pepper. However… I simply cannot remember what else I used! My age is catching up to me. Sadly, on this lonely plateau, I have only my own knowledge and memory to rely on. Still… If I did find someone who knew the missing ingredient, I would happily reward them with my warm doublet. However, it seems unlikely that such a miraculous wish will ever be fulfilled.
"Goddesses, that was depressing," he said, dejected. He'd assumed that before they'd met, Rhoam was pretty low-spirited of course, but he didn't think he would be downright forlorn. He was going to have to convince Rhoam to get back out into the world of Hyrule and leave the Plateau; go anywhere but here. He is afraid of what will happen if he leaves him all alone again… Surely his daughter has forgiven him by now, and it would be so good for Rhoam to be able to see her again.
"Oh hoh! Glad to see you're taking my advice of taking things easy, young Link" Spoke Rhoam from the doorway.
Link spun around on his log stool as quick as lightning, shoving the little book into his pack, begging to Hylia that Rhoam did not see.
"You-you're back early" he stuttered out, prompting an inquisitive look from Rhoam. "That's great!- he stood up quickly- "What ah, what are you doing back? Everything alright?"
"Oh everything is fine, my bowstring finally snapped today, and I shot a couple of good-sized birds, so I figured I would call it a day and come back to restring it".
"Ah, makes perfect sense," Link breathed out.
Rhoam blinked at him. "Is everything alright, with you my boy? You seem a bit… tense, to put it lightly".
Link laughed nervously. "Me? Oh yeah, I'm great, just great…" he trailed off. He was starting to sweat at the thought of Rhoam seeing through his ruse.
An awkward silence surrounded the two
Not wanting to endure this painful encounter any longer, Link came up with the best excuse he could think of to leave.
He cleared his throat."Well, I was actually about to go pick some more apples when you came in, so I'm going to go do that now".
"Oh? Alright then, I'll be here for a while, if you need me" Rhoam said, moving to the table to work on his bow.
Link gave him a short nod and briskly walked towards the door.
"Link," Rhoam called out, forcing him to stop dead in his tracks. "Have you seen a little leather book? I thought I left it here on the table earlier today".
Link's blood ran cold.
"Oh um, no I don't think so" he replied a bit too quickly, hoping Rhoam didn't notice.
"Hmm, ah well, I'm not too worried about it, it's probably around here somewhere. My mind is getting the best of me these days. Off you go then".
He turned towards the exit once more and breathed out a sigh of relief once he was out of earshot. He was going to have to find a way to slip the little book back into Rhoam's without him noticing.
The sun was still high in the sky when Link arrived at the little grouping of apple trees he frequented. He thought about Rhoam as he was climbing in the tree to reach the highest apples. He really was a sad soul, wasn't he? Link doesn't blame him, he would be miserable too (probably) if he was estranged from his presumably only family left, and was spending his final days in isolation. Now after realizing this, he was starting to feel REALLY guilty, and stupid, for how he treated Rhoam when they first met. He was surprised that Rhoam endured his bull shit up until this point. When he awoke, Link was headstrong, rash, spiteful, unfair, blunt, a smart ass, bitter, selfish, a bit arrogant, disrespectful, and overall just blatantly unkind. Yet despite all this, Rhoam took it all in good stride, and somehow managed to still see some sort of good in him. It really goes to show just how lonely Rhoam really was for him to keep Link around. It would've been too easy for him to just say "fuck you, you are the worst, I'm not helping you anymore". So, why didn't he? Link had been wondering that since their fight last night. Was there anything even remotely good about himself? What was so special about him that Rhoam could see but himself could not? Maybe Rhoam found solace in the fact that in Link's amnesiac state, he had no prior knowledge to be able to judge the old man. Sure, he was a bit of a prick, but the one thing he never did was judge Rhoam, even after hearing about his troubles. That probably isn't it, though. The reality of the situation boils down to the fact that he is the only person around here. That's why Rhoam stuck around; it was the most likely explanation, Rhoam didn't really have a choice if he never planned on leaving. Link pitied the old man, not just for his darkened past and state of well-being, but for having to be stuck befriending an asshole such as himself because there was no one else living on this cursed plateau. Granted he could argue that Rhoam did choose to be alone for so long, but admitting that would just resolidify the fact that he was just plain mean.
Link sighed loudly. "Was I just as much of a complete asshole before?" he scoffed, hopping down from the tree.
It honestly wouldn't surprise him if he was.
Between being rude to the only person he has met thus far and running around doing whatever he wanted, things weren't looking too good for his character; both past and present. At least he was acknowledging that he was being kind of a dick. If he has little sense or care for his actions now, it doesn't bode well for how he was when he remembered everything. Truthfully, he doesn't really know why when he first awoke he acted out so much and behaved so recklessly, and why he still, albeit less now after his fight with Rhoam, was acting this way. Maybe it's because of the fact he has no real reason to know or act differently without his memories. He knows that playing the memory loss card was really just a fail-safe and an act of self-preservation, but it (hopefully) held some truth to it. Link needed an out. He needed something of his past to propel him forward, for his temperament's sake. He also decided at that moment that he needed to make it up to Rhoam. The poor old man truly did deserve better than what Link had to offer in terms of friendship, and the only way he knew he could give that to Rhoam would be for him to turn over a new leaf. He just needed to learn how to be kind again, not only for Rhoam's sake but his own. Link felt suddenly uneasy about his epiphany; he essentially had woken up into the world feeling only one thing, and that was anger. Any normal person wouldn't have to relearn something as simple as kindness, right? What had happened in his past that caused him to be this way?
Nothing good, that's for sure. And that scared him a little.
Choosing to ignore his fears and focus on something else, Link gathered up all the apples he had knocked down and put them in his pack. It was then he remembered Rhoam's diary, and realized a great way for him to show his appreciation would be for him to figure out Rhoam's forgotten recipe. He skimmed through the entries once more and quickly realized what Rhoam was missing from his recipe; fish. So he headed towards the only pond he knew that had fish swimming around, and hoped that Rhoam wouldn't catch on to the fact that Link had read his diary after seeing their meal for the night.
- - - - . - . . - - . - - - . . . . . - . . - - . . . . . - .
When Link made his way towards the little pond tucked next to the Temple of Time, he was delighted to see a few fish swimming around in it. He knocked an arrow in his traveler's bow, preparing for the perfect moment to lose it. He managed to shoot two decent-sized basses, which should pair nicely with the spicy pepper and the fowl that was back at Rhoam's cabin. Link tied the two fish together with a bit of twine, and turned to head back. In the corner of his eye, he noticed something gleaming a bit, which caught his attention. He looked to where he thought it was coming from and saw that it came from the rock spire that was in the middle of the pond. From where he stood at the pond, he couldn't see what was up there exactly, as it was a fairly tall rock formation. Curiosity got the best of him, so he removed most of his clothing and splashed into the cool pond water, swimming towards the rock in the middle. It was easy to climb up, and once he reached the top he was surprised at what awaited him. It was a sword encased in a block of stone. It was a bit on the rusty side, but it had a large hilt from what Link could tell.
"How did I not see this before on my way down here?" he muttered out loud.
Despite the obvious wear, Link still wanted to take the sword. Maybe once he got off the plateau he could track down a smith who could bring new life to the weapon, if not he could get a few uses out of it against some monsters anyhow.
He grasped both his hands around the hilt firmly, bending his knees slightly to give him more leverage. He gave a good pull, but the sword didn't budge, seeming to have rusted a bit into the stone. He tried again with more force, and it moved up slightly, causing a small grin to form on his face. He continued adding more force with each pull, and each time it loosened up a little more. Link went to give it one last pull to free it from its place, ready to feel gratified by the whole weight of it in his hand, but was instead greeted with total blackness of his vision, and a loss of all senses.
- . - . - . - - - - - - . - . . - - . - . . . . . - .
…He was running, his breathing labored from exhaustion. He had no clue how far behind the Eastern Abbey guards were, but he knew they were trailing him. He was extremely lucky that he was still small enough to fit through windows, making escaping from the abbey walls all too easy. His father, on the other hand, wasn't as fortunate. Of course, he was only assuming that the man had been caught by now, as Link didn't stick around to find out.
His lungs were screaming at him to stop by the time he reached the Temple of Time. He crouched low behind the backside of the large cathedral, hoping he had managed to lose the guards. He was fast for his age, and definitely faster than the subpar guards posted at Eastern Abbey, so outrunning them wasn't an issue. He just needed to worry about them notifying the rest of the garrison to be on the hunt for his capture.
Of all the places for his father to choose for their next job, he had no clue as to why the abbey on the great plateau was the best option. His father never really gave him the details, only the essential information, like where guards are stationed or where the valuables were. Of course he was thankful it was only intended to be a small job; his role was to sneak in through the window, knock out a few guards, and let his father into the premises. Things would have gone as planned if his father had planned better, as he was foolishly unaware that a member of the royal family arrived earlier that day to stay at Eastern Abbey, doubling the number of guards that usually patrolled the place.
A critical error on his part, truly.
When Link picked the window lock to get in, he was greeted by two guards, who according to the original plan weren't supposed to be there, and they weren't too happy to see him. Running was the only option he had, honestly not caring what happened to his father at that point. If he was stupid enough to confirm that everything in the plan would go as intended, he was on his own when it came to evading arrest.
Link's ears picked up on the sound of orders being told from a distance and shuffled from where he was hiding to get a glimpse of where it was coming from. He could see a group of four guards in a heated conversation, hearing bits and pieces of what they were saying
"How could you lose him! He's just a boy, and don't try and tell me again how he outran you".
"But sir, you didn't see him! He was so quick, He would've outrun any of us! He's skilled at running away, I think this isn't his first time breaking and entering…"
"Bahh I don't wanna hear any more excuses, Layne! We have to find him! Look everywhere if you have to, he couldn't have gotten far, the entrance to the Great Plateau has been blocked off, and unless he's a skilled climber, he won't be hiding for very long."
Link had heard enough to know he wasn't in the clear yet. Though they were indeed lousy guards if they couldn't pick up on someone watching them, the two men did have a point.
"I can't stay in this spot forever, they are eventually going to smoke me out" He whispered out loud
Now Link had done his fair share of climbing; When he was a few years younger he could be found climbing high in the trees for fun, but now under the "training" his father put him through, he was able to scale various towers and buildings if need be. Half of his and his father's jobs were only accomplished successfully due to his climbing ability. That being said, he wasn't about to attempt to climb down the 50 ft tall walls of the Great Plateau, that would be suicide.
Does that mean his Plan B was any less foolish? No, no it doesn't. He only knew of one other way he could attempt to get off of the plateau that wasn't through the main gate, and that was the River of the Dead that flows down into Regencia River. The only problem with getting off that way was that he would have to jump from the waterfall flowing into the river below. His options aren't looking too good for him at this point, and he honestly might be better off turning himself in and hoping for a reduced punishment. Which is probably unlikely, as to any outsider it looked like he was trying to sneak into the abbey to do unspeakable things to a member of the royal family. So practically in every possible outcome, he was dead. The only thing he had going for him was the fact that he HAS jumped off a waterfall before, and learned to do so from the very best swimmers in Hyrule. Sure it was still very dangerous for a Hylian, and he has never attempted to jump anything over 20 ft, but at least he knew how to brace for impacting landing in water versus falling off a cliff and hitting rocky ground.
In short: He was screwed
Link crawled further towards the backside of the temple, making sure to move as silently as he could and not draw attention to himself by moving too quickly. Fortunately, most of the back part of the Temple of Time was surrounded by small cliffs. When he reached the back left corner of the temple, he surveyed his surroundings for an easy way up to the provinces by Mount Hylia. He spotted a stone bridge leading to a rock spire in the center of a small spring.
That could work.
From where he could see, it wasn't being guarded, and he could climb up the side of the small bridge and reach the other side of the spring to head up towards the mountain. That way, he wouldn't make any noise wading through the water. He was taking a small risk with the bridge being out in the open, but it was tucked just far enough to the side of the temple where it provided cover from the moonlight. If he didn't act soon, guards would surely be upon him.
He made his move
Link dashed to the bridge as quietly as possible, and made the careful climb up its side. When he was almost over the side, he peeked his head up over the stone railing and looked to see if there was anyone nearby. The coast seemed to be clear, so he hoisted himself up over the edge. The hard part was almost over, well, the semi-hard part. He still could be awaiting a watery death. Link started to crouch low once more and snuck toward the start of the bridge. He was about to break into a sprint around the spring when he heard the sound of a signal horn being blown. His head snapped towards the sound of where it was coming from, and looking way up towards the bell tower of the temple, he could dimly see a Hyrule soldier looking straight at him, blowing into his instrument profusely.
Well, they aren't lousy enough NOT to look from the highest point to see if they could find him, how wonderful.
Suddenly all hell broke loose, as two guards darted around the corner of the temple towards his direction, spears raised. To his left, he could see more guards scrambling out of the Forest of Time, with both groups getting closer with every passing second. Link backed up onto the bridge in fear, knowing he was about to face the worst.
He was cornered. He had nowhere left to run.
"Shit," he cursed under his breath.
"He's on the Hero's Bridge! Layne and I will get him before he jumps! Make a formation around the spring!"
"Yes, Captain!- the soldiers hastened their pace toward the bridge.
Link was looking around him for any kind of way out that wouldn't get him immediately caught. He wanted to scream. Cry. He wanted to beg them to stop and tell them they were frightening him. He still is just a boy, after all. But his father had drilled that part out of him long ago, so instead he tried to be the one thing that he shouldn't have to be, but years of harsh treatment had forced him to be anyway; a fighter.
Link took a deep breath in and raised the small short sword his father had entrusted to him in a defensive stance. The blade was not any larger than a dagger, but for a boy his age and size it served him well. Two soldiers had finally made their way onto the bridge, with the other two trailing not too far behind. One of them was tall and lanky, and held the spear loosely like it was unfamiliar. The other was of a decent size and stature, and seemed to be of a higher ranking than the other, as his chest piece was decorated with a different insignia and color scheme.
"So, you're the runt who has been causing trouble on the plateau tonight, huh" the larger one sneered. He had wavy brown hair and harsh brown eyes. Link noticed a few birthmarks and lingering scars across his face. His brows were furrowed in anger, and he had large dark circles under his eyes, as a result of the night's prolonged man-hunt. The soldier raised his spear in front of him, prompting Link to raise his small blade higher, eyes narrowing.
The soldier laughed. "Feisty one aren't we? I don't think you want to go toe to toe with me, boy, after the night you've put me through. Drop your weapon" he ordered.
Link refused to give in, choosing to give the man a colder glare.
The guards closed the gap between Link and themselves, and by this point, the three were nearing the end of the bridge. Link was going to have to act fast.
Without a second thought, he stepped forward and kicked the soldier who hadn't spoken yet in the shin, causing him to yelp in pain. Seizing the opportunity, Link disarmed the guard, smacking the poor man in the side of his head with the butt of his sword, knocking him out cold and causing him to drop his spear. Link was about to turn and face the other guard when he felt a large hand grip his back and throw him to the ground a few feet away.
"Damnit Layne…" the guard muttered in disappointment.
Link felt like he had just been smacked with a bag of rocks, struggling to refill his lungs with air. He wasn't going to go down like this. Link mustered enough strength to stand back up, but noticed his short sword was missing from his hand; it must've gotten knocked out of it when he was thrown.
"Alright boy, you've had your fun messing with my less-than-impressive soldiers, but it's over," started the now presumed captain, taking slow steps toward Link once more.
Link backed up as far as he could until he felt himself collide with something cold. He turned his head slightly to see a beautiful sword laid in an elaborately carved stone structure, with a deep blue pommel and winged crossguard.
"I know you're probably just feeling scared right now, but fighting isn't going to change anything. I don't know how you got roped up in all this, or why you were with that man-"
Link didn't let the man finish, and turned to free the sword from where it stood; his last-ditch effort to save himself.
"Hey, what are you doing-"
Link put all his energy into removing the sword from where it rested, desperate to be armed with any sort of weapon.
It shifted up in a flash of light, and did so three more times before he had it in his grasp.
In an instant Link turned around to face the captain, thrusting the sword out towards his combatant, ready to attack.
Link was surprised to see a look of sheer astonishment on the captain's face; seemingly at a loss for words.
"Ugh, Captain Eghil?" groaned Layne from behind, sitting up to see what had happened.
"Layne, find a messenger and tell them to ride day and night to reach Hyrule Castle. The King needs to hear about what has occurred here tonight," Captain Eghil said in a wavering voice.
"But Sir-"
Captain Eghil whipped around to face Layne, not needing to utter a single word for the poor soldier to pick himself up as fast as he could and sprint towards the Eastern Abbey.
Link was at a loss. Just a few moments ago the Captain had thrown him to the ground and he was sure he was going to be captured. Now that same man was looking at him like he had just unleashed his worst nightmare.
"What did I just do?" he spoke in a small voice, barely above a whisper.
Captain Eghil breathed out a sigh and laughed wryly. He met Link's eyes in an intense gaze, before uttering a sentence Link was sure he would never forget for the rest of his days forward.
"You've sealed all of our fates, and you will soon come to learn this truth; the flow of time is and always will be cruel, Hero…"
Hey It's Iris! Remember when I said that updates were going to become a weekly ordeal? well life kind of got in the way, as well as the wonderful thing called writers block. But roughly 4ish months later, I have an update for you all. I am really sorry it took forever, but it is my longest chapter yet! I hope you enjoyed it, some really pivotal things happened in this one. Until next time, peace out!