Chapter 50: Isolation and Friendship
Link wiped the juice that dribbled down his chin and tossed away the apple's core. It was well past time he got moving. One of the problems with traveling alone is that one had to time everything themselves. No one told him to get up, when he had to keep moving. No one kept him on a steady pace so he wouldn't wear out.
It was all just on him.
He still made good time. But traveling alone let him walk well into the night, and often woke late in the morning.
Now that he thought of it, he had not risen to see the sunrise in some time. Who would he share the experience with if he had?
"Still, no point delaying," he said to no one. He rolled onto his feet and opened his bag. The ruby gleamed red as a ray of light struck it. Still there, sitting beside his ocarina. Reaching up into the tree he plucked several more apples and dropped them in his bag. They were good, a bit late in the season for them, but mostly still ripe.
It would be nice to have a bit of something sweet to eat further down the road. He tied up his bag and slung it over his shoulder, feeling its reassuring weight as it smacked lightly against his back. He had his duty. Everyone else could abandon him, so long as he focused on fulfilling his tasks.
"Well past time we got moving."
And still no one answered. Just as she hadn't the last weeks of travel.
Link let out a sigh, and started down the path.
When was the last time he actually did have a conversation with people? He tried to avoid those travelers he happened across on the road. Occasionally he went well away from the stones to avoid particularly large or rowdy looking groups completely.
That weird Gerudo merchant. That must have been it. The last person he said more than a grunting hello to. "She better have seen to her horse's hoof. The poor thing would hurt itself for certain if she didn't."
And so he walked for hours. He walked until the boredom consumed him. Until he had mostly stopped thinking about anything in particular, and let his mind drift off to nothing. So long as his feet kept moving in the right direction what did it matter?
That was the trick with it. If he actually tried to think about things the entire trip it would feel like the journey would take forever. He'd feel every excruciating minute. Much better to just think about nothing but breathing for as long as he could get away with.
He did not truly know how long he walked, how many of the endless rolling hills he passed until he stopped.
It took a moment for his mind to wake up and truly notice what he was seeing.
There were trees in front of him.
Not cultivated trees planted in rows on someone's farm. Nor the small clumps of them he occasionally passed beneath for shade.
These trees were dense, and large, and dark. And so deeply familiar.
Home.
He had made it home.
For the first time in weeks a smile spread across his lips. Somewhere in that tangle of roots and branches was Mido bossing his friends around, Fido caring for her mushrooms, Junmi and Yulyu trying to teach them hundreds of lessons.
And Saria.
Saria would be there, too. Dancing, and playing, and making plants grow with her magic. His legs moved without thinking, and before he realized what he was doing he ran over the last of the hills, laughing as he went. Until he reached the first of the trees. He pressed his hand to the trunk, and still giggled as he felt the rough bark press into his palm. It felt like life and joy and comfort. The air smelled like the dust of a fairy's wings and sweet morning dew on moss.
And beside that tree another, even bigger, with a bird chirping away somewhere in its branches. There was a rustling of feet, perhaps a squirrel? Maybe something else. There were wolves and skulltulas in the woods, he knew. But he felt too happy to worry about them now.
He was home.
And yet I'm still so far. Only a few feet behind the first few trees and the gray fog began. Consuming all light, leaving no clear path through the Lost Woods.
Even if he wished to return home, how could he without Navi? How many times had he listened to the fairies lecturing the children to avoid the fog? He could recite them from memory. Only those who knew the path and followed it perfectly could get through.
He'd never be able to go back and see them again.
"That's not fair."
His hand dropped from the tree, and clenched into a fist. How could he get back home without Navi to guide him? He couldn't. It was impossible.
So he was forever going to be alone?
"No, that's not fair!" His fist swung out and struck the tree. "Gahh!" he reeled back and clutched his hand tight as pain bloomed from his knuckled and up his wrist.
With a shout his sword came to his hand. And he struck, again and again, until splinters flew through the air. But swords were not made for chopping down trees. When he lowered his blade, Link's hand still stung, and the tree still stood.
He looked down on the blade. "Ughhh, no!" The edge of the blade had turned, rippled where it must have struck a particularly thick knot of the wood. Thankfully on only one side of the blade, but it would take hours of sharpening and reshaping to fix it. "Stupid! Why am I always so stupid!" How was he going to do that while he marched all day? He fumbled his blade back into its sheath, before he turned back to the tree. "I'm sorry, that wasn't your fault."
The tree didn't respond, of course, only his father had ever done that. But, it still felt wrong to just hurt them for nothing. And yet even as he apologized he could not help himself but look at the cuts he had made. He was getting better. Were he facing a warrior he would have taken their arm, their neck, and torn their chest to shreds. His bladework was strong, and the cuts were clean.
At least they were until he damaged his sword. He could even make out exactly which blow it had happened, by the way the cut suddenly grew wide and uneven midway through. And all the strikes he made after, which left great divots in the bark rather than clean cuts as the blade failed to align properly.
"It won't happen again," his face was hot with embarrassment. Even if no one saw, father would have been so disappointed. He needed to do better. Setting his jaw, he kept moving around the treeline. Never wandering deep inside, staying vigilant not to enter the mists.
"I don't need her," he muttered. "I could go back, if I had to. No, if I want to."
The trees were familiar. He had seen them when he had traveled on the road to Castle Town with Malon. He remembered them.
He had traveled through the fog once. Sure, Navi had led him. But, he had still done it. The path through the forest started to spin through his mind. It hadn't been simple, there had been no clear signs of the way to go. Only some trees that Navi pointed out, some specks of light fainter than a fairy's glow between huge swaths of darkness that pressed in on you.
Could he make it? He would need to go back to where he first left the forest. If he did that, maybe he had a chance. He could see his friends again. He could go back to the tree with his bed, he could enjoy the food and music of his family. Saria would be there, and even if he grew old and big wouldn't it be better to at least be with his family when that happened?
I've already done everything I could. The Emerald is safe with Navi. She found a new home. And Zelda got what she wanted as well, didn't she? I might not have brought the stones back to her, but Ganondorf won't be able to find them.
That would have to be enough. Who could ask more from him?
For the first time in weeks he actually planned and dreamed as he traveled. Instead of making the journey stretch out endlessly, it made the time move fast. Visions of singing and dancing filled his mind. Fairies and friends he had thought he'd never get to see again. All he had to do, was reach them.
Father had been right, it was best to leave these people and their problems alone.
But there was one last thing he needed to do. If he was going to leave this place for good, then there was one final person he needed to see. Thankfully it wasn't too far out of his way.
The smell of animals and the sound of hooves clacking against the ground, came to him first. It was another quarter mile before he came to the wooden fence that held the cows and horses. The fantastic beasts that first held his attention months ago, and just like before he climbed over the fence to walk among them.
Several of the horses recognized him, their heads and ears perked up as he landed. Malon told him that meant they recognized him, they weren't running away which meant they trusted him. Some even trotted over. But one horse ran out from among the others, neighing and shaking her mane as she came.
"Epona!" Link held his arms open as the horse rushed to him. It stopped a few feet away and pawed at the ground. She had gotten noticeably larger. "How have you been, girl! I missed you!"
He combed her fur with his fingers, rubbing along her side and the top of her shoulders. "I have something for you." He stopped petting her, and the horse gave an indignant snort. But once he pulled the apple from his bag she became cheerful again. Crunching down on the apple and chewing with contentment.
That got the other horses attention as well. Many had already swarmed him, but when they saw the treats he held they came even closer. Some nipping at the bag, others bumping him with their noses and head to get his attention. "I don't have enough for all of you." He said as he fed as many as he could. "I'm sorry. None left. I'm sorry."
"Link?"
His heart sunk down into his stomach. This was it. He swallowed hard. Why he came here again.
Once the horses realized he was out of the apples most of them dispersed, with only Epona staying at his side, occasionally circling around him.
Leaving a clear view to the little red haired girl he had abandoned.
"Hello, Malon," Link whispered. He found he couldn't look at her. "I came- I came to say, that I am sorry, and-"
Arms encircled him and pulled him into a hug. Something sharp pressed into his chest, but he didn't care. He didn't know what to do but hold her as tight as she was holding him.
After far too short a time, Malon broke from the embrace. "Where'd you go!" She shouted in his face, less a question and more a demand for answers.. "You have any idea how worried we all were? Pa and I went looking for you, for days! Ingo was saying that you were dead."
"I'm sorry, it was all-"
"You got lots of explaining to do Fairy-Boy!" she took a step back, hands on her hips. She was wearing the necklace he had given her. Even with her face scrunched up in anger, he couldn't help but feel happy about it. "Well? Come on, out with it. I got lots of work left to do, and I can't- wait." Her eyes wandered around him. "Where's Navi?"
"Gone," was all he could manage to say.
"Oh," she reached out and hugged him again. This time adjusting the necklace so it wouldn't press into either of them. "I'm still mad at you," she whispered. "What happened?"
For the second time that day, Link finished explaining where he had been for the last few months. Malon was at his side, holding his hand. Talon and Ingo stood above him, the small table where they had eaten their meals between them. The place looked almost as he remembered it, though Talon had lost a little of his weight, and both the men gained a scraggly look about them.
Link swallowed and looked to Malon. Should he talk more? Was there anything else that needed explaining? But all she did was nod at him. Which was nice, but didn't really help him any.
"That's quite the story, my boy," Talon broke the silence, scratching at the stubble on his chin.
"Unbelievable, I'd say," Ingo muttered. "Stealing a book and a jewel right out from under the nose of the Gerudo? Climbing the towers of Hyrule Castle? It's pure fantasy, sounds like a story you tell children.."
"He came here with a fairy!" Malon said.
Ingo simply shrugged.
"It's true," Link said. "I can prove it." He went to his bag and pulled out the Heart of the Mountain.
"By the Goddesses," Ingo muttered. "It's huge."
Both men stared at the stone, almost mesmerized by it. After a long moment, Talon held out his hand. "May I?" Link handed him the ruby. The big rancher rubbed at it with his thumbs, and tested its weight. "Amazing."
He held it for some time, mouth open, but saying nothing.
"Pa," Malon said. "Pa. Father!"
"Hmm?" Talon looked up, blinking a few times. "Oh, yes. Sorry, my boy. You were carrying that all the way from Death Mountain?"
"Yes."
"You're lucky you weren't robbed! The roads aren't safe at times of war. And -this thing- you have to understand people would kill for something like this."
"I know, I've been making certain to stay away from people."
Talon stared at the stone for a moment longer, than gave a sigh and handed it back to Link. "Put it away, my boy. You've proven yourself. So now, what is your next move?"
"I'm going back home. I don't think I can stay out here any longer."
"What?" Malon said. "No. You should stay with us."
"I can't. People might still come looking for that. Or for me. I don't know what Ganondorf knows, if Chief Darunia was able to trick him. I can't leave it here with you."
"We could sell it," Ingo said. "Think of it. We sell that, and we're set for life. Let it become someone else's problem."
"Ingo!" Talon snapped. "This is a gift of the Goddesses. It is not something you just sell."
"It's just a jewel, and we need the money."
"No, we aren't using this poor boy for profit. That's my final word on this." Talon looked back to Link. "Are you sure you can get back through the Woods? When people go in there, well, if they come out at all they're not the same. They're just wrong. Many say it's better if they die in there."
"I know the way," Link said. I think.
"Look me in the eyes, boy. Do you know, for certain, you can make it through the Woods."
Link met his gaze, big eyes half hidden under bushy eyebrows. Kind eyes, that in all the time he'd know him had never had any sign of malice. But now they were full of worry.
"No," Link whispered, his head sunk down. In a single word, his dream of home was gone. It had been a stupid dream, like most things he tried to do. But, it was something he wanted, perhaps more than anything. Just to return home. To give up on all this and go back where the world made sense.
But he wasn't going to do that. It really was impossible without Navi.
"Well then, there's only one thing I can think to do," Talon said. "Malon, tomorrow I want you to get up early and start preparing a wagon with food for a long trip."
"Where are we going?"
"The three of us are going to the Zoras. I don't know much about them fish people, but I've heard of that Lord Jabu-Jabu. They say he's wiser and older than any man. If anyone can find a place to hide this ruby of yours it's him. And if anyone knows of a way to take you back home, I can't think of anyone else who could know the way."
"You think that will work?"
"It's better than just having you wander about in that dark. I know it isn't my place, but I can't let you do that."
"How are you gonna pay for that!" Ingo hissed. "Taking food for weeks of travel? Leaving me here to run everything? Talon, you just took a trip to Castle Town and we didn't make near enough money then. You spent half the time drunk and the rest look for that boy!" He gestured toward Link. "You can't afford this."
"We'll make due. This ranch has been in my family for generations. We've weathered worse storms than this."
Ingo's gaze flickered between Talon and Link, no, not Link, his eyes went to the bag that carried the ruby. "Can we talk about this? In private?"
"I don't think you can change my mind. The boy needs our help, it's a miracle that he's made it this far on his own. But if you wish to talk, Malon, go get blankets for our guest and find a spot for him."
"Come on," she said and pulled Link away from the table as the adults filled the room with talk of cost and provisions..
"Wait, Malon," Link stopped her as they got out of the kitchen. "I don't think I ever apologized to you. The right way, I mean. I- I didn't know as much about how this huge place worked. Everything is so much more simple back home. When I saw that your father brought me right to Ganondorf, I thought- I should have trusted you. I don't know, I just, I just panicked I guess. I thought that if-"
"Oh shut up," Malon said. "And stop being silly. You were wrong, now you know better." She smiled at him, before her face went serious. "But if you ever just run away like that again, I'll- I'll- I'll slug you right in the nose. Got it?"
"Got it."
In his dreams, Link was a knight armored and tall as any he saw in Castle Town. In his hand he held a sword, but not the one he currently carried. This was a man's sword, far larger with a thick blue guard. And where he swung the blade light followed.
Monsters and people so vile they may as well have been monsters themselves fled before the blade. Beside him stood everyone he knew. All with him, and protected by him.
He'd had this dream before. A hundred times or more. The dream where he could make the world right. The perfect dream. But somehow, now, he did not believe it really could be true. Not anymore.
Someone was grabbing him. That was new. Someone was pulling him. In the dream, monsters crawled overtop him.
"Where is it?" Came a voice, that filled the mouths of all the creatures of the dark. "Come on, you little brat where is it?"
His body shook.
Link's eyes opened.
A shadow stood over him, clutching at his throat. Its breath smelled foul, like vomit and that disgusting drink that Talon always had.
"Where is it?"
Link couldn't breath. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. His face felt hot and full of pressure. He thrashed and kicked, but he couldn't make a solid connection, and the shadow was much bigger than him.
It wasn't working.
He tried to twist his neck. Find some small space to get air. But there was nothing. His arm fell to his side, clutching about, searching for something. Anything that he could defend himself with. There was pain behind his eyes, and through his face and skull.
"Tell me where it is? You owe me that. I deserve it," the voice was slurred and slow.
Link's hand found the long leather scabbard, his fingers closed on the grip of his sword.
He slashed.
It did not illuminate the darkness. But it hit the arm that held him down.
Ingo screamed, and let go. Clutching at his wounded arm. Link scrambled away, scooping up his scabbard and bag as he bolted fled.
"Come back here!"
Link ran out of the building. Swiping behind him whenever the man drew close. It was dark. So dark, he could barely see where he was going.
"Give me the ruby!" Ingo cursed at him. "Just give it to me!"
Link screamed something back, but he didn't know what. Maybe it was words, maybe it was just mindless screeching. He had hit him with his sword. But the man still chased him. Why? It didn't make sense. What was happening?
He weaved past a tree, then another. Dodging and twisting his path, trying to use the bramble to his advantage. Make it difficult for the man to follow him. Link kept running until he no longer heard the sound of heavy footsteps behind him, and the cursing and screaming had died down to a distant whisper.
Link leaned against the closest tree, and slid to the ground. Breathing heavy and still clutching his sword. "The blunt," he muttered. "I must've -hit him- with the edge I ruined on the tree. Idiot."
He put his bag down and felt inside making certain he still had the ruby and his ocarina. It was all still there.
But it was so dark.
Even for the night sky, certainly he should see the moon and stars.
He looked about him, trying to peer through the thick branches of trees, but he could not see more than a foot in front of him.
Something scuttled through the dark fog around him.