Chapter 12

Zelda

It took a while to reach Faron; they had to pass through the expanse of Hyrule Field, the Lake Hylia region, and part of the Faron Grasslands. She fell asleep at one point, though she knew Link would still be awake, tense and afraid because of what had happened.

Zelda dreamed of the voice she had heard after the attack. She was on the top of a mountain, the weather warm and sunny. A woman was rapidly talking to her, though she could not understand the words. Suddenly, a cold wind blew. She turned away from the woman, hearing another voice, somehow familiar and chilling at once.

"You can't run for long, my Princess..."

She gasped awake. "You 'kay, Zelda?" Mori asked.

"Yeah, just a weird dream," she said. He didn't press her, and they continued to drive in silence.

Who was speaking? The Hunter? It sounded kind of like Link, but that's not possible - he isn't chasing me! But... he definitely had an idea of who could be after us.

The quiet continued until they were nearing the Highland Stable; it was difficult for vehicles or people to get around the Faron region, so they used horses. Then she heard a grunt of pain and almost got whiplash from turning her head so fast.

"Link? What's going on?"

Link looked up at her, curled over, clutching his head. "Uh, nothing. I-I'm okay," he said, straightening.

"Hmm. Alright," she said, looking at him suspiciously. "We're parking the van at the Highland Stable and getting horses; it's not easy to travel on foot or by car out here. But, any ideas as to where the sanctuary might be?"

He winced and covered his ears, whimpering slightly.

"Link! Tell me what's wrong."

He gulped and shook his head and said, "I'm fi-ine. Th-the Spring of Courage, m-maybe?"

Zelda mulled it over. "I suppose it does make sense that Courage would be hiding there. It's easy to get lost so deep in the forest, even with the road and a map - hard to find, like the Deku Tree said. Do you think you could find the way?"

"Definitely," Link said with the ancient underlayer, ears twitching down.

Zelda stared at him hard. He leaned back slightly and looked away. "Link. You're not okay, fine, anything. You're randomly speaking in Ancient Hyrulian, for Light's sake! Please, talk to me." He hesitated, but before she could force an answer out of him, Mori pulled into the parking lot and said rather loudly, "C'mon Zelda, let's get a coupl'a horses."

They walked outside, leaving Link on his own. "Mori, there's something wrong with Link. Do you... know what we can do to help? Or at least get him to talk?"

"Zellie, Link... he's had this probl'm since that day, seven years ago. He'll refuse ta speak, and none of us can get 'im to say an'thing about it, if it's a headache or bad mem'ries or an'thing else. He tries to hide it but..."

"But... how did I never notice? I thought he was just quiet! Or still afraid of, y'know, what happened."

"I dunno, Zelda. But whatever it is... well, if anyone can help 'im, it's prob'ly you."

"Me?" she asked, more than a little confused.

Mori chuckled. "Aw, Zellie, yeh haven't figgered it out either?" He paused. "Goodness," he muttered softly, "I thought y'were a bit more perceptive than that."

Zelda pursed her lips, saying nothing.

_/|||\_

Link stopped, not far from Dracozu Lake; could he feel the atmosphere drastically change from its peaceful nature, like she did? "Monsters," Zelda said. Mori drew his sword and moved his horse closer to her.

Suddenly, a lizard-like creature leapt out of the water, croaking angrily. Link took the lantern from he had hooked on his belt and swung at the monster, but it dodged and gave him a seemingly contemptuous look.

She watched as he grabbed its spear and thrust it into its underbelly with ease, though she was sure he'd never held one before. Mori was battling a - Lizalfos - right next to her, though seemed to be struggling slightly. In an instant, Link was there. He tackled the monster, stabbing his weapon through its skull, into the ground. He then ducked, allowing Mori to execute a spin attack, beheading another Lizalfos.

With a screech of electricity, an arrow whizzed towards Zelda. She kicked her horse's sides, the animal leaping forward with a surprised whinny. Zelda twitched the reigns, now hurtling toward the Lizalfos that had shot at her. The horse trampled it and snorted as she reigned it in. Zelda picked up the monster's bow, and began shooting at the nearby river with the shock arrows, electrocuting the Lizals still there.

Five Lizals surrounded Link and his uncle. As Link attacked one, she aimed carefully before rapidly releasing arrows into a couple of blue ones. A silver and purple colored one hissed and ran away, leaving a wary green one to deal with them. It hopped right, left, then lunged, right onto the point of Mori's sword.

Mori laughed and slapped Link's back. Zelda smiled as she watched them, their strong bond obvious. Suddenly, she stumbled, a tail whipping around her legs. She crashed to the ground, shouting. A howl sounded, a primal sound of rage and fear. Then the silver Lizalfos struck her head with the hilt of a sword, and all went black.

_/|||\_

"Hello, Zelda," a warm voice said. She shot upright, staring. It was the woman from her earlier dream, with the voice she had heard warning her.

"Who... who are you?" she asked.

The woman tilted her head, hesitating. "Well... I suppose that I am... magic, and wisdom, and light."

"...Uh, nice to meet you? Wait a minute... are you... Wisdom?"

The woman smiled briefly, then became serious. "My child, there are things you must know to defeat the Evil One and his army. For this... you must go to the past."

"Wait, what? 'The Evil One'? Is he the one chasing me? Is he the one who hurt Link in the forest? Why do I, actually, how do I go to past? And-"

"I know you're confused. Please just listen, though." Zelda nodded, a hundred questions wanting to burst from her. "You must know how everything has come to pass. Without the knowledge of the past, Hyrule, even the world, will be doomed. First, come to my domain. You will know how to find me. I shall guide you from there."

"Uh, okay then. Um, before I wake up... Wisdom, something's going on with Link, and I want to help him but..."

Wisdom's expression darkened. "The Hero... he was cursed, Zelda. He..." Wisdom began to cry. "He... my poor Hero..." Zelda stood awkwardly, waiting.

"Oh, dear. I cannot say more," the Spirit sniffed. "It is too terrible."

The world began to brighten, turning a beautiful green. "Wait! Please, tell me about Link! Or can you tell me who's after me?"

Wisdom smiled sadly. "My child, you must hurry. The Hunter is getting close."

"Wait! I-"

"See you soon, Zelda."

She opened her eyes. Link and Mori must have carried her to the Spring; she was resting on warm stone, exotic plants surrounding the area. Zelda looked up and saw Link's back turned to her as he played the flute Impa had given them.

He finished playing a song, and the same green light that had woken her spread from the massive statue of the goddess Hylia. From it, an arch appeared from nothing, vines and flowers growing in an instant. She gasped, and Link turned in a flash. "Zelda?!"

A crunch sounded, and the two stared at the armored figure stepping out from the arch - the Guardian. It was a skeleton with a single, glowing eye, massive sword held in one fist. A soft green glow surrounded him.

"Hero. A sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage. Prove that you are worthy of the Emblem!"

Link's eyes widened. He dodged as the skeletal swordsman swung, and Zelda witnessed time slow again. Link stabbed his spear through the unprotected middle of the skeleton, making it stumble. He then leapt to Mori, who was standing to side with his mouth hanging open, utterly shell-shocked. I get you there.

He took his uncle's sword and pulled Mori down in a duck as a huge bronze blade passed right over them. Link threw the spear, making the Guardian's bones crack. The spirit's sword clashed with the one Link was holding, locking against each other with a screech of metal.

"Give up. I can feel the darkness festering in you, even now."

"What?" Link said, choking on the word slightly.

"You are not worthy of Courage's Emblem."

"I..."

The spirit pushed him back with no effort, and Link landed on his back with an "Oof!" The skeleton's sword pointed down, a stabbing motion began-

"NO!" she shrieked. Zelda dove into the legs of the swordsman, who stumbled backwards. The spirit kicked her aside, then approached as she lay gasping for air, sword ready to kill her instead. The howl she had heard earlier - that of rage, fear, protectiveness - sounded through the glowing forest, and then Link was there. He tackled the spirit then danced around him, thrusting and slicing and dodging with ease.

The swordsman lifted his sword and brought it down with enough force to shake the earth. Link jumped to the side, then spun, sword held outstretched, and cut off the spirit's head. Everything went still.

The skeletal guardian stood and picked up his head, putting it back on his shoulders. "Worry not, Hero, and enter my domain."

Link gave Mori his sword back. "Keep her safe," he said softly.

He turned to Zelda. "I... be careful, Link," she said.

Link swallowed. "Zelda... b-before I go... I..."

"You don't have to tell me anything. I'm sorry I was being pushy before."

"N-no. It's just... well, I-I think..."

She leaned forward and kissed his cheek. He stopped and stared. "Go, Link. We can talk about what you need to say later. Once you have a bit more courage." She winked.

"Be safe, Zelda," Link whispered.

And she watched as he followed the skeletal, armored spirit into the Trial of Courage.