Chapter 7 - Mend
Link's stomach knotted intensely. He had suspected Ghirahim of having something to do with Ilia going missing. He had been praying he was wrong ever since he heard the news.
"Ah, my dear Link. Such a pleasure to see you again," Ghirahim said, his tone the same as when they had first met. His confidence was not even slightly diminished.
Link stared straight into Ghirahim's eyes. His body, coiled and tense, wanted to lash out with the fury of the desert sun. His mind, however, restrained him. The tip of Ghirahim's blade was but a few inches away from Ilia's heart. He couldn't afford to be foolish here, but for a brief instant, anger got the better of him.
"How's the arm?" he asked, venting every bit of hatred he could into the sentence.
Ghirahim's composure didn't change. Instead, he lashed out with his sword at a blinding speed. As Link's heart skipped a beat, he waved the sword precisely around her head. Ilia let out a muffled scream.
Once he returned the sword to her chest, portions of her hair fell from her shoulders. Her hair now looked the same as Ghirahim's. Link would never admit it to his foe, but she suited the style far more than he wanted to admit.
"Rather better than the one you destroyed," he replied casually, examining a glowing enchanted arm in place of the old one. Then, he moved behind Ilia, crouched behind her shoulder, and spoke to her, loud enough for Link to hear clearly.
"Did you know that, my dear? Your lover there utterly destroyed my arm! I had to have it removed and replaced with this marvellous enchantment," he said as he extended the enchanted arm over her other shoulder and showed it off.
Link had no idea how much more powerful the arm would make Ghirahim. When they had fought, it had amounted to a draw and equally dangerous wounds for each of them. There was no telling how much of an edge the enchanted arm would give him.
"Rather barbaric for someone labelled a 'hero,' no? How could such a brute ever be a good father?" Ghirahim said coolly. He extended his tongue to a rather alarming length, licking her cheek. Ilia's bound hands and ankles turned white as she tried to desperately pull away from the fiend.
"Barbaric? For someone so well-composed, you resort to kidnapping innocent women and children pretty easily. Never mind causing a forest fire and incinerating a village, also of innocents. I was expecting something better from you," Link spat back, finding it harder to contain his rage. How dare he lick her?
Ilia stilled herself on hearing this. She turned her wide-eyed gaze to Ghirahim, now in front of her. She couldn't speak clearly, but she didn't need to. Link heard the incredulous "Why?" through the gag.
Ghirahim chuckled. "Fret not, I shall explain some other time, my dear."
His confidence was as infuriatingly high as ever. Facing Link, he continued.
"Allow me to make a distinction, it would seem your simple brain is incapable of understanding simple motivations after all..." He cleared his throat mockingly, twisting Link's rage further.
"I serve Ganondorf. Master of the Triforce of power. By his decree, his agents use any means necessary to achieve their goals. My point is that I have no problem with what I am or what I do, for it serves the glory of my master."
He held his head high with pride for a moment, then turned to face Link.
"You, however, are the 'hero.' The one who so foolishly stands against my master. You are supposed to champion the impeccable standards of your fool goddesses. Resorting to such barbarism as mutilating your superior? In both beauty and talent? So unlike the standard of a hero."
Link was amazed that Ghirahim truly believed in what he said. He would debate the finer points of altruism whilst keeping a young mother and her child hostage?
"You could just lay down, you know. I'd happily give you a quick death instead of causing you suffering, but no, you just had to fight me," Link replied, rolling his eyes at the end.
It was true after all. He had never liked causing suffering during his travels. He aimed for instant kills. The few times when he hadn't been able to do that plagued his mind fairly often. Pained moans or sickening gurgles were horrible ways to spend one's last moments.
"Yes, because I will never allow my master to be slandered."
Link took a small amount of satisfaction that Ghirahim had openly proclaimed his weakness for him.
"Now, to the business at hand. You will serve me." Ghirahim said calmly.
"I know from the blood I drew from you during our... little spat, that this sweet girl is the mother of your child." He casually waved his enhanced arm behind him.
The air stayed in Link's lungs. A single poor step here, and both Ilia and his child could easily be killed before Link could close the gap.
"Though I would rather rend you apart myself, you caused the Triforce of power to shatter and scatter to the winds. This is not acceptable."
Link remained silent, hating being unable to take action. But if it meant Ilia and his child could live, he would at least listen. He quickly tried to think through what he could do. Attacking was out of the question. He would have to tread carefully.
"Out with it then. What am I to do?" he asked, with great discomfort.
Ghirahim's face broke into an infuriating smug grin.
"Good boy! You have learned to listen to your glorious superior."
"Fools are supposed to be funny," Link retorted.
Ignoring Link's verbal jab, Ghirahim continued.
"I will make this simple. You will find the three pieces of the shattered Triforce of power, then return them to me. Simple!"
Of course he would demand that, Link thought.
"So, where are they?" Link asked with anger still swelling in him, but restrained.
"If I knew that, I wouldn't have taken your lovely woman and child to bait you out here. Go ask that damned Princess of yours. Who better to ask than the owner of the Triforce of Wisdom? Come now, Link, this is elementary problem solving." Again, Ghirahim sneered.
"Fine. Let me make something very clear though. If she or the child end up harmed, even slightly, then I will ensure you beg for a quick death."
"Oh relax, would you, dear boy? I had no intention of harming her or your child. She will be fed and watered whilst you fix this mess of yours."
Link was backed into a corner with no easy way out. At least if he managed to find the Triforce pieces, he could possibly find a way to subvert Ghirahim and his scheme along the way. He could not allow Ganondorf to be brought back to life.
"One more thing, hero. Your smart tongue will not be the end of you. It will be the end of one of your friends outside."
Link's heart sank again. Worry crept over him but he hid it well.
As Ghirahim finished, he raised his free hand and gestured up the stairs behind Link.
Turning around, he was shocked to see a tall and muscular woman with dark skin. She had equally dark, exotic clothing and brandished a curved blade. Her mouth was covered behind a black and gold veil. Standing with her arms folded, she looked straight ahead. She seemed to be awaiting instruction as she stood rigid.
"Say hello to Sabbah, Link. Leader of the Red Vipers, a band of assassins for hire. The Gerudo have never had easy lives in the desert mountains, but they earn a living by being incredibly skilled at their line of work."
She remained perfectly still.
"Seeing as your Princess Zelda offered them little support in the past, they were quick to ally themselves with my glorious master who immediately recognised their talents. I suggest you keep the heroics to yourself whilst they serve me," Ghirahim explained.
"Sabbah, show Link the price of a sharp tongue and then escort him out of the village. He has work to do."
Quickly, Sabbah marched to Link and looked at him. Her eyes were intense, as if they could peer into Link's very thoughts. Her defined muscles were taut, ready to strike at a moment's notice. She would carry out her orders to the letter, Link realised. The curved blade gleamed in the dimly lit cellar. It was shorter than Link's Master Sword, but that meant it could be swung more quickly. If he had to fight her, he was unsure of who the victor would be.
Staring right back at her, unflinching and undaunted anyway, Link spoke. "At least let me speak to Ilia before I go."
"No. You have work to do. Return with at least one piece of the Triforce of power and I shall release your friends outside. You may also speak to her then, for I am a generous being... but only then."
Defeated, Link looked to Ilia. He didn't want to leave her like this. The look of hopeless desperation in her eyes stung him deeply.
"I will be back as soon as I can, Ilia," he said.
Ghirahim stepped between them, his brow furrowed.
"Did I not just say that you could only speak to her once you returned with at least one piece of the Triforce of power?"
Ghirahim sighed, rubbing his temple with a free hand.
"You now have ten days to retrieve the first piece. If you are late, I will retract my promise of not harming her," he said coldly as he pointed his sword straight at Ilia's neck.
Link wanted to scream at him. He did not lack any motivation to save Ilia, nor did he want to be responsible for bringing back Ganondorf.
Before he could say or do anything, he felt a strong hand grip him by the shoulder and steer him out of the building.
Sabbah's grip was like iron. She pushed him along effortlessly. They stopped a little further in to the village, where Hol and the other soldiers were restrained and gagged. Several other Gerudo women had them surrounded and pointed spears at their necks.
"Wait!" Link said urgently.
Sabbah said something he didn't understand, but the effect was immediate.
The women all pressed their spears deep in to the necks of all of them men. An instant later, they crumpled to the floor.
"This is price of your tongue, boy. Same happen to your woman in there, if you not come back in time"
Sabbah betrayed no emotion as Link gazed on in impotent horror at what the women had done.
"Why... they were no threat to you!" he said, anger flaring in him again.
He felt the iron grip on his shoulder start to crush him.
"Because long ago, we beg Hyrule for help. Drought and famine in our lands caused death! We pleaded for help a lot!" came the angry reply.
Sabbah dragged him to their bodies, holding him right in front of their lifeless forms.
"You think this amount of dead is bad? There were hundreds of our dead for every one of them. And yet, Hyrule no help!"
The wind was nearly driven from him as he was thrown forward, crashing over the bodies and falling to the floor. Getting to his feet quickly, he turned to see all of the women had their spears pointed at him now.
"Now, you go. Get thing for our boss. Or your woman join this pile"
The women then walked to different places in the village, feeling no threat from him.
"I will get answers for what happened" he said flatly.
Then, he turned and ran across the bridge out of the village. He ran straight back to Epona as fast as he could. If there was any truth to what they said, then he would need to get answers as soon as possible. Though if Ilia or the baby were harmed, then he knew they would all have to die.
Putting the thoughts of the dead soldiers out of his mind, he came back to Epona. The other horses, apart from Karlsmans, were all still here. Had he made it away in time?
He ignored the thought as he almost jumped straight in to the saddle.
He spurred Epona into a gallop and soon enough, was riding across the open moonlit fields.
Night riding was normally dangerous as it was too difficult to see the details of the terrain. But Epona was smart enough to avoid little ditches or sudden rises on her own. Link's trust in her was absolute too.
They rode through the cold night air for a few hours. Link's eyes stung and his nose was running in the cold breeze. He didn't mind though.
Hyrule looked utterly beautiful under the moonlight and they had it all to themselves.
As he steered Epona in the general direction of Castle Town, he took the time to see the fields of tall grass and moonlit trees as he rushed past them. It soothed him considerably.
By the time Castle Town came into sight, it was still dark.
Link wondered what time it was, but pressed on. He really wanted to be able to sleep for a bit. Ten days to find a shard of the Triforce was a short time, but he would make more mistakes when he was exhausted.
That, he could not afford. He hoped he might be able to get a room at Telma's bar despite how he had acted. He was ready to apologise with all of his heart. However, explaining what had happened to Ilia? He certainly wasn't up for making the villagers feel worse. He felt bad enough.
As they arrived at the edge of town, he dismounted. Feeding Epona and letting her drink, he could see she was feeling better after the long ride.
"Thank you once again. Hope you have a good evening. I'll be back as soon as I've gotten some answers. Then, we're probably going to ride again." he said as he patted her neck.
Nuzzling him once more, Epona then walked over to a patch of grass under the open sky and relaxed. She wanted to rest too.
Link walked up to the guards at the gate. They challenged him at first, but as soon as they recognised who he was, they apologised profusely. Link was quick to assure them that they didn't need to worry, but to let him pass as he was very cold and needed to sleep. They quickly stepped aside.
Thanking them, he started to make his way to the bar as he tried to calm his nerves.
Moments later, he stood before the door. He knew it would be difficult to face the villagers as well as his friends after how he had acted earlier in the day. With the door right before him, his stomach knotted horribly. Trying to inch his hand closer to the door made the sensation worse.
Taking his hand back and getting frustrated with himself, he slapped his cheeks with both hands.
The cold night air made them sting more, but it was enough to loosen the knot of tension a little.
Opening the door, he told himself it was much better to try apologising rather than bottling it up. That would solve nothing.
Gently, he closed the door behind him. As he looked around the bar, he saw that most of the villagers were not there. He imagined they had been given temporary homes in light of what had happened. Silently, he was grateful. He could at least try to get some sleep. Walking to the bar, he saw Telma resting her head on her hands as she slept.
She must have been exhausted from looking after so many people. Never mind offering them food and drinks each like he knew she would.
"Telma?" He whispered, trying to wake her gently.
"Mhmm..." she mumbled as she slowly woke up.
She raised her head and yawned into her hand, but when she opened her eyes and saw Link, she sat back quickly and was no longer tired.
"Link..." she said sharply.
"Telma, before anything else, I really want to apologise to you for how I acted earlier today. I could tell you all the reasons why but what's important is that it was very unlike me. I'll likely feel horrible about it for the rest of my life... If that's the case, then so be it. But I at least want you to know how much I regret acting like that."
Telma looked as if she hadn't been expecting him to say that. She was quiet for a few moments as she processed everything in the haze of waking up so late.
"Well...thank you Link" she said, looking uncertain. "I'll admit, it was the first time I've been scared of you. But that's probably how much Ilia...and your child mean to you, that you would fight the goddesses themselves if they threatened them?"
"Yes" he said, without pause.
Telma softened her posture and exhaled quietly. "I'm grateful you'd apologise to me Link, but you know who you need to speak to next don't you?"
"Yes. Everyone. Right after Colin and Rusl." he said, feeling more determined now that he was facing his shame.
Telma nodded and managed a small smile. It felt like Link hadn't seen her smile in a long time. He had seen her recently of course, but his outburst completely changed his perspective.
"Good answer, honey". This time, she smiled naturally. It warmed Link despite the chill in the air.
"But it's quite late now... Why did you come at such an hour? Did you find Ilia and your child?"
The knot quickly tightened in him again. He was getting tired of his goals being difficult.
"Yes, I found them and they live...for now. Telma, before you ask, yes I will explain it. But I'd rather only have to do so once. Could I please get a room? I really need to rest up for this..."
He wasn't lying. It had been difficult enough to see Ilia and his child before him and be unable to bring them both back. Ghirahims demand hung over him too. He would need Zelda for this. Sleep was the only thing he cared for at that moment.
Telma looked a little impatient but understood. She turned and took a key from a rack behind her, then handed it over.
"First floor, second on the right after you get up the stairs. How about I bring you some breakfast? A full stomach will help you face everyone else."
Link felt like he could eat anything. His nerves from the journey into the forest had stopped him from feeling any kind of hunger. With the passage of time and being able to stand still, he was ravenous. His exhaustion, however, defeated that notion.
"The most unreasonably large breakfast you think I can handle, please. I'd love some of your coffee if that's ok?"
She smiled happily. "My pleasure, Link. Despite this morning, it's nice to have you back here." she said warmly.
Link managed a quick smile too and reached into his wallet. He put down a gold rupee.
"Link...what are you doing?" she asked.
"Paying my dues. You helped me constantly during the Twilight Crisis, looked after Ilia, gave a place for the resistance to organise...the list goes on. I feel this is too little but please, take it."
"Link...I don't charge you for those things because it's more important for me to help you. I earn a good living whether you pay or not."
"So now, you earn a better living. Please take it, Telma. I'd like to be able to spend it here." he pleaded.
Looking him in the eyes, she wondered for a moment. With a sigh, she took the rupee.
"As you wish. But remember what you've done for all of Hyrule... If you were to ask for a single favour, I think the entire town would be rushing to do whatever they could for you. Then they'd ask what else they could do." she replied candidly.
Link smiled and turned towards the stairs. His eyes felt like they would shut at any moment.
"That's just it though. I don't want to be treated differently. Good service gets good rupees that I haven't been able to spend. Good night."
"Good night, sweetie." she said warmly as she went to lock the front door and retire to her own room.
Link entered his room and flopped on top of the bed. He was asleep almost instantly.
When he woke up again, the sun was shining through the window. The sky was clear and he felt warm and rested. Taking a moment longer, he yawned deeply and stretched out. Somehow he had gotten himself under the bed covers. As his muscles were stretched, his entire being felt an enormous sense of relief. He stretched daily along with doing several other warm-up exercises, but nothing beat the extended stretch he did first thing every morning.
He washed his face and hands in a basin nearby and felt refreshed. He didn't feel ready to face the entire village, but he felt much better for a good night's sleep. He looked out of the window to try and guess the time. The sun had crested over the horizon so he assumed it to be nearly nine in the morning. He still had no idea what time it was when he got back to the bar. There was a knock at the door.
"Morning honey. Your breakfast will be here in about twenty minutes. There's a hot bath available down the hallway if you want to clean up first."
"Thanks, Telma. See you soon." he replied gratefully.
His mind lit up with wonder. He hadn't had a proper bath in a long time. It took a long time to prepare one and he was usually so busy that he didn't really have the chance. The few that he had taken had always been sublime. He didn't want this opportunity to go to waste.
Almost running down the hallway, he saw the bathroom. It was a fairly plain room with a large wooden basin in the middle. There were several towels folded on a cabinet for him, which he took. Quickly disrobing, he tested the water with his toes. Though it scalded at first, he kept his toes in. He knew he would get used to it within a moment.
As he did, he submerged himself in the clear water and allowed himself to utterly relax.
The hot water soothed every muscle in his body. He felt tension and anxiety melt away with each passing minute as the heat soothed his weary body. He wondered what the limit was before the sensation would be overwhelming. It certainly felt too intense when he dipped his toes in.
Telma had left a bar of soap and a cloth nearby, so he began to clean himself. With each lathered scrub, he felt the resistance of the sweat a dirt coating him get cleaned away. His adventures didn't normally allow for such luxury. He imagined his clothes must reek. He had no idea how long it had been since they were cleaned.
"Oh wait..." he said aloud as he realised that he had been in the care of Renado and Luda just the day before.
They always made sure his garments were fresh before he left their village again. He had smelled worse things during his adventures but he came to the realisation that he must have smelled pretty bad when meeting people in the past. Sometimes, he went for weeks without bathing. Realising how important fresh garments were, he decided he would get a nice gift for both Renado and Luda. Hopefully, he would be able to make it on his own to Kakariko village before he was grievously wounded again.
Link enjoyed the hot water for a moment longer after he had cleaned himself, not wanting to get out. Telma would be back with his food soon though. If he missed that, he would never forgive himself.
Once he dried and dressed himself, he walked out of the room only to see Telma reach the top step with a heavily laden tray.
"Hah! Just in time. Come on, you won't want to miss this!" she said energetically.
He entered his room after Telma, his nose intensely sniffing out everything it could in the air.
"Here we go..." Telma placed the tray on the bed, making it sink slightly. Then she placed a strange-looking metal pot on the dresser in the room, along with a mug. She also left a pot of milk.
Link knew he was drooling slightly, but that didn't matter.
Telma laughed when she saw him and quickly got out of his way. A wise decision, Link thought.
"Come downstairs when you're finished, then you can face the day honey."
She closed the door, allowing Link to indulge himself for once.
Hardly waiting, he placed the heavy tray on his lap and started.
Sausages, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, bread... There were large portions of each. Alone, they all tasted wonderful. Mixing some together, the flavours were enhanced. Sprinkling salt and pepper here and there, every single taste was unbelievable. With each bite, he felt his flagging spirit rush back to him. He almost felt reborn.
He happily continued for a while until his stomach started to protest. The food didn't lose any of its taste as he kept on trying to eat, but he was defeated. Remaining, there was a single sausage and a baby-sized portion of mushrooms.
"I'll never eat again..." he said to himself as he let out a burp.
Very slowly, he rose and poured himself a cup of coffee and mixed in the milk. Savouring each drop this time, he cleared the cup and filled it with the last of the coffee from the strange hourglass shaped pot.
This time, he sat in a chair with his bare feet on the bed, letting the moving sun warm them.
Soon after, he drained the last drop out of his second cup and placed it to the side.
A few minutes passed as he let the warmth of the sun send a shiver up his spine, stirring him out of his relaxed daydreams.
Knowing there was work to do, he slowly rose and put his boots back on. Equipping the shield and putting the Master Sword scabbard back on his shoulder, he then put the coffee pot and cup on the tray and took it downstairs with him.
It was late into the morning now but the bar was full of the villagers again. Through his food haze, Link felt his stomach try to knot itself again, but it had no chance to gain purchase on his very full belly. He hadn't felt this relaxed in a long time. He knew he had limited time to complete Ghirahim's instructions. He had nine days left. But arriving at the bar the night before, he knew he needed to rest up. He had been on the move constantly, even after getting stitched up by Renado and Luda.
Several of the villagers looked at him and then took on apprehensive expressions, but they didn't move.
Good, Link thought. He wanted to apologise. Properly. He also had to share the news about Ilia somehow.
He placed the tray on the bar for Telma to take away. He had slipped a purple rupee under his plate, hoping she would accept it when she saw it. He thanked her profusely for the bath and meal, saying he hadn't felt so good in such a long time.
She winked at him and shone her toothy smile as she turned to take the now feather-light tray away.
Then, turned to face the villagers. They were all there. He saw the children sat closely together, pointedly not looking in his direction. Rusl was with them. Colin too. Thankfully, his full stomach was somewhat preventing anxiety from taking hold of him.
Mayor Bo was sat with a few other villagers, but he didn't avoid Link's gaze. He couldn't tell if there was hatred in his eyes. He prayed that he could explain himself properly.
Sighing slightly, he moved to the middle of the open floor. This time, all eyes were on him and everyone was just about in his vision. Silence claimed the room.
"Everyone... Beth, Colin, Fado, Hanch, Jaggle, Malo, Bo, Pergie, Rusl, Sera, Talo and Uli."
His friends in the resistance weren't there. He would speak to them as soon as he got the chance.
He noticed Colin clinging to Rusl, hiding behind him. Link did his best to ignore the shame stabbing at him.
"Yesterday, you all saw a side of me that I have never been more ashamed of in my entire life. I want to apologise for how I acted, though I know a simple apology will never make you forget how I acted. I also know that I hurt you all. Colin and Rusl the most."
He looked at them both. Though Colin still clung to Rusl, he had peeked his head around him more to hear what he was saying.
"I could go on about why I acted like that, but it wouldn't change the fact that it happened. I want all of you to know that I will carry the shame of it with me to my grave. Please believe me when I say that it will never happen again."
Taking a minute to look around, he saw that his words seemed to be helping people to relax a little.
"I am...so damned sorry."
He felt his cheeks heat up as they turned red, but he had done it. The final words hung in the air for a moment.
Several of the villagers looked at each other and mumbled some unintelligible words.
In the same minute that Link finished speaking, Rusl stood up and began to walk over. Standing before him, he looked him straight in the eye, expressionless.
The silence felt like an eternity to Link. He wished he could use his piece of the Triforce to get it over with. In the same instance, he then berated himself for thinking of making this any easier on himself. He had to own up to what he had done.
"Link. I won't lie, you hurt us all. None of us have seen you in a year and seeing you lash out like that when you suddenly arrive?" Rusl said plainly, letting Link mull over his words.
Hearing it from Rusl hurt the worst. Of course he had hurt them. He didn't need to hear it from the one man in his life who had cared for him since his childhood.
"But do you really think that we'd ever hate you? After all that you've done?"
"Well...yes"
Then, Rusl smiled more warmly than Link could ever remember him doing in the past.
He didn't have time to respond as Rusl pulled him into a loving embrace. Link held him too, tightly.
Sweet relief washed through him with each second that passed. As he held on to his father, he heard the other villagers move out of their seats to go and join their hero.
As Rusl let go, Link was immediately hugged from all sides. Mayor Bo gave the strongest hug of them all. Link didn't fight the feeling of being crushed, grateful that his friends and family still loved him.
"We've always got your back boy. We all love you very much. I know Ilia means a lot to you and it must have hurt badly to not know what happened." Bo said. Though he looked like he hadn't slept well since Ilia and his grandchild had gone missing, he was making an effort for Link.
"You've been so good with our children as they've been growing up Link. Nothing could ever make us forget that" Uli said sweetly.
Link was grateful they weren't asking about the details of him having spent a year away from the village.
Then came some of the children. Beth and Talo hugged him tightly, not saying anything. They were just happy to have Link back to his normal self.
Malo didn't hug him. "Can't be helped. Just find Ilia." he said bluntly.
Link appreciated his straightforward approach. Though seemingly callous, he knew Malo cared for Ilia and him in his own way. He nodded firmly to him. Malo nodded back and then returned to his seat.
As the villagers said their pieces and gave their hugs, Colin came up last.
They all parted to give him and Link some room. Colin had been hurt the most. Humiliated too as he had cried in front of everyone. Link knew they wouldn't think less of him for it, but that'd never stopped it from feeling shameful.
Link sat on his knees and looked straight at Colin, ready for whatever he had to say or do.
"Link... you scared me so much..." he said, sounding terrified of speaking the very fact.
An uncomfortable feeling welled inside his stomach. It was preventing him from sitting still from the intensity. So, acting on instinct once again, he hugged Colin. He didn't move for almost a full minute. Colin, after getting over his apprehension hugged him back. When they separated, Link thought he might like to hear more about some of the things he had done.
"Colin. I have shot a metal chain into a massive jellyfish that then electrocuted me, nearly causing me to drown. I knew well before that metal channels electricity, but I still went and did it. I could have easily died doing that. But even that was not as stupid as what I did yesterday."
Colin's mouth hung open and his eyes widened. He had only ever heard about Links adventures from the adults and they always spared him the scant details that they knew. His eyes were burning with curiosity now.
Link withdrew one of the claw shots from his pack.
"It was this. If I pull a trigger on the inside of this, it shoots a long chain out with the claw opening at the end of it. When the claw hits something, it clasps down and then pulls the chain back into the hand. I've used it as a weapon, a means of getting around and also to electrocute myself..."
He turned the device around, being careful not to point it straight at anyone. Colin looked amazed, the other children were gathering around. Even some of the adults. They were all whispering amongst themselves.
Then Link got an idea.
"Hey, Telma? Would you mind if I used this on your chandelier up there? It won't cause any damage and I know it can support me."
He knew from his time as a wolf that it could handle his weight. There was a reasonable amount of distance between the floor and the ceiling too. Telma blinked. She nodded quickly, barely hiding her curiosity.
"Alright, give me a little space please" he asked. Everyone nearby backed away. He had more than enough room to demonstrate safely.
Grabbing the device as he had so many times in the past, he squeezed down as he pointed up.
The claw shot clacked as the claw span on its axis and opened up.
Beth, Colin and Talo jumped from the loud noise.
Then, smiling, Link released the pressure on the trigger.
With a loud and rattling clunk, the long chain fired straight up to the chandelier and the claw grasped onto the centre of the mast supporting the chandelier.
Rapidly, he felt the considerable force pull him up to the ceiling, stopping before he smashed into the iron bars. Maintaining his grip, he looked down to see everyone's mouths agape.
The children in unison said "Whoa!".
Link realised that the claw shot was probably the most exciting thing they had ever seen. They had seen him swing a wooden practice sword and use his slingshot, but this was utterly different.
Link, having used the device so much, saw it for its utility rather than the adrenaline rush he got the first time he used it. Seeing everyone's reactions made him appreciate the device much more.
Deciding he had shown off enough, he pressed the tip of his thumb into one of the little grooves inside the glove and the claw shot responded by lowering him smoothly from his vantage point. Once his feet touched the floor, he double-tapped the same groove and the chain neatly wound itself back into its coil in the glove.
"You have no idea how useful this has been to me. All apart from the time I shot that claw into a jellyfish..." he explained.
Then, the children all rushed around him and plagued him with questions about the device. Where he found it, who made it, how far it could reach and the like. He answered them all as best as he could.
"Can I try it!?" Talo asked loudly, bouncing on his feet.
"No. I'm sorry Talo, I really am. But just firing that chain would hurt your arm. It takes a lot of force to fire a solid metal chain in a straight line. The kind of force your arm would shatter under if you tried to use it."
"Aww..."
Talo looked dejected, but didn't protest. His trust in Link was absolute. His expression changed as he realised something.
"Maybe...when I'm older then?" he asked earnestly.
"And a lot stronger." Link remarked.
Determination flared up in his eyes as he began planning all of the ways he could build his strength.
Smiling, Link returned to Colin.
"That was amazing! I had no idea you had something like that with you Link!" Colin said excitedly.
"Do you have other stuff like that?"
"Oh yes. Quite a few things actually. Now I know you want to hear all about them, but I'm afraid I have work to do. How about I show you more once you go...".
Link realised he was about to say 'home'. He remembered that the entire village had been burned to ash. He also remembered Ilia's predicament.
Now was the time. He couldn't keep the dire information from everyone. He had considered hiding it, but keeping such devastating news to himself would have made him feel worse.
So, he stood once again.
"Everyone? Please gather round. I have news of Ordon Village, Ilia and my child."
Everyone stopped what they were doing and silenced themselves. Some of the villagers sat down. Bo looked so hopeful that it hurt Link to even look at him. There was no sugarcoating the news. Link summoned what little determination he could.
"Ordon...has been destroyed by the forest fire."
Bo went wide-eyed, Rusl put his head in his hands, Beth started crying, Colin looked at the floor and everyone else reacted as Link had imagined. He felt horrible. There was nothing he could have done but still, he clenched his fist to the point where it started hurting.
He hated having to say it. He felt dirty, as if he were the one that had destroyed it. Somehow, there was worse news.
"That's...not all. Ilia and my child have been captured. They are prisoners of an agent of Ganondorf."
That was the last straw. Bo openly started bawling. Half of the village moved to comfort him as best as they could, but they were all having difficulty containing themselves.
Beth's sobbed into her arms folded on the table she was at. Telma looked utterly miserable. It didn't suit her. She had met Ilia and thought very highly of her.
Link had had enough. He was tired of letting things get so out of control. He would get her back and his child too. He couldn't leave yet though.
"Listen to me. This agent of Ganondorf is arrogant and overconfident. As deadly as he is, he will make a mistake sooner or later. I'm not letting him keep them. I have to go on another journey for a while. Trust me once more. I will do everything I can to bring them both back. Once I've done that? Then we can rebuild Ordon."
Nobody looked optimistic, but Link understood. Losing a home and learning a dear friend was captive to a dangerous being didn't instil confidence after all.
He hated seeing the villagers so upset, right after they had just accepted his apology too.
He knew that standing around feeling upset would achieve nothing. So he turned to the door after swearing to the villagers that he would be as quick as he possibly could. As he left the bar, he began to force his misery to turn to hatred, burning the image of Ghirahim into his mind.
He had casually inflicted so much suffering without a second thought, making it look so easy and practised. Ilia was his prisoner and so was his child, with a flimsy guarantee of their safety.
Now he had Link doing his dirty work.
As the last of the misery became focused hate, Link was beginning to think a slow death wouldn't be such a hard thing to give Ghirahim.