Chapter 6: I Am Weary Of This Frail World's Decay
Link found himself walking toward the pile of set stones, all of them stuck together in a grand design. A wall with great stone trees bursting from it. A castle. It had to be a castle. The fairies spoke of them sometimes, the great houses of stone that the warlike people of Hyrule built to keep everyone out. It was larger than he ever imagined. Bigger even than the Great Deku Tree. Maybe bigger than the entire forest.
"Hello?" He called to the castle, "Is there anyone there?"
The door of the stone building opened. Wider than the thickest tree trunk, it must be the door for giants. And it didn't swing side to side like all the doors Link had ever seen, it descended. With a cranking ratchet noise as two chains lowered the door to the ground.
As soon as the noise stopped a shadow swept past Link and entered the castle, and wherever it went the cries of sorrow and pain followed.
"What's happening?"
From within the castle a voice cried. At first he though it was Saria, but it was slightly lower and filled with a sorrow that he had never heard from his best friend. "No. Don't be ridiculous, there's still time. Father, come on."
"What's wrong with father?"
"Let me go. I order you to let me go! Let me go! I hate you!"
"Who has you?" Link ran after the shadow into the castle. "I can help!"
The shadow chased a white light, and both swirled around Link. Where the light went, Link saw people, scared people, happy people, all of them made better by the light. But soon after came the dark, and the people were blotted out forever. And the darkness spread, becoming more, until it blotted out the moon and stars, leaving nothing but its own malice.
Link couldn't see the white light anymore, it was just him alone with the shadow. "I'm not afraid of you!" Link shouted, though his heart pounded in his chest and his legs felt as though they had turned to soup.
A black hand formed in the cloud, raising high into the air, grasping for something. But as all turned to dark, something bright glowed in the sky. At first Link thought it was the moon, but it was bright and gold.
Was it some kind of triangle?
"Wake up! I need your help!"
The cloud reached down for Link and the golden light was gone.
A weight pressed on Link's chest.
"I am not afraid of you!" Link screamed as the darkness enveloped him.
"Link! Wake up!"
Link's eyes opened. He was back on his bed. Above him a glowing blue light buzzed around his head. "Navi?" He stretched and yawned. "What's going on?"
"Good! Get up, there's no time to explain."
"What?"
"Hurry! The Great Deku Tree needs you! Hurry!"
"Why would he need me?"
"Move!"
Link sprang from his bed. He'd never heard Navi sound truly worried before. She always had an air of unshakeable authority. As he scrambled to his clothes, he wondered what was going on. What could frighten Navi? Why would the Great Deku Tree need me?
As he pulled his tunic over his head, he felt the small pouch he'd sown to store his slingshot press against his side. He hadn't removed it when he went to sleep the night before. He couldn't take it out now, not without Navi noticing. She'd take this weapon away as well.
"What are you waiting for? We need to hurry."
Link mumbled an apology and fidgeted with his tunic, hoping it would make the slingshot difficult to notice. She didn't say anything as he pulled on his shoes and hat. Perhaps she was too worried to pay attention to such things? That thought just made him rush all the faster. He fled from his home and scrambled down the tree, Navi flying over his shoulder.
Around the village the other Kokiri children were just starting to get up. Still too early for Mido to divvy up their daily chores. But he was already awake and sitting on his rock. Why did he always wake up before everyone?
"Morning Link!" Saria called from her own tree. "Is that Navi with you?"
"Yes, um, morning Saria. Morning Junmi." He waved at them not breaking from his run.
"Wait up. You're not late today." Saria waved her hand and the vines around her home carried her to the ground.
"Can't wait, sorry," Link called.
"Please, stay there," Navi ordered. "The Great Deku Tree needs Link. Everyone else, just go about their morning as normal."
"What?" Mido stood up on his rock. "Why would the Great Deku Tree need him? He's useless."
"Not now, Mido," Link muttered. But the short boy jumped off his rock to stand in Link's way.
"Out of my way."
"I'm supposed to be the Great Deku Tree's helper," Mido said. "What can Link do that I can't? He doesn't even have magic!"
Link's fist clenched. No. Don't. He had tried so hard to make amends, he apologized and everything. Even though Mido apologized back, Link didn't think he meant a word. But they hadn't fought in days and Link wouldn't let himself now. But he still didn't know what to say to get the boy to move. He opened his mouth, but all that came out were mumbles.
"We do not have time for this Mido," Navi came to his rescue. "Dori, can you get him to move out of the way."
"I think this is serious," the green fairy said to her child.
"Then I'm going to help too!"
"Me," Saria panted, having run over to them, "as well."
"No!" Navi flew up above them both. "This is not a task for either of you, now get out of our way."
For a second Mido's eyes watered and his lip trembled. "Why doesn't he-" he started, before his jaw set and looked straight toward Link. "Fine! We can do our work without you, No-Fairy!" And he stomped back to his rock.
Navi flew forward toward the Great Deku Tree, but Link stayed back. I should say something. Sorry? No, I didn't do anything.
"Link," Navi called. "Hurry!"
Link mumbled something at Mido. If the boy heard, he didn't say anything. Instead Mido huffed with his arms folded, hunched over his rock. Once he figured out what was going on, Link promised he would tell the others, but for now he raced after Navi. Out of the village and to the grove of the Great Deku Tree.
At sight of the tree's first branch, Link knew something was wrong. They had spoken only days before, but now those once mighty limbs drooped. His leaves browned and flaked away, leaving patches of open that were once filled with green. When the trunk came into view, the wise face drooped, his bark turned dark and wilted. Even in the harshest autumn and coldest winter the Great Deku Tree never looked so old or barren.
"What's wrong with him?" Link asked.
"Link?" The deep voice sounded weak and distant. "Navi hast thou brought Link? Is this thy plan?"
"Yes!" The blue fairy flew around the tree. "Our magic isn't working on it. Whatever they did to you, we can't stop it alone. We need him."
"If I had known this was thy plan, I would have refused thee."
"What's going on?" Link asked. "Who did this to him?"
"We shalt not use Link. He hath cometh too far."
"Use me for what?"
"Link," Navi flew before his eyes, close enough for her light to sting. "The outsiders that met with him cast some kind of curse on him. We have been trying to contain it all night. But nothing is working. Whatever magic we try the curse corrupts and turns back against us."
"Thou art worrying him." The Great Deku Tree said, but Navi's words could not frighten Link half as much as the weakness in his father's voice. And as he spoke, more leaves fell to the ground. The branches shuddered and his bark groaned from the strain.
"You're in pain."
"It is nothing, my son." One of the branches touched Link's shoulder and tried to move him back toward the village. Last time the Great Deku Tree had moved him this way it had been firm, not hard or painful, but irresistible. Strong enough so Link knew he could not disobey. But now the branch trembled, as if the effort would cause the wood to snap. "Return to thy brothers and sisters. Think not on what thou hast seen."
"You can't push him away," Navi said. "Great Tree, please, you will die."
"If it is my time, then so be it. I shall not see my son descend back to barbarism. Especially not for my sake."
"Think!" Navi shouted. "What will happen when you're gone? Who will protect your children? What will the outsiders do when he gets his hand on the Emerald? We have to use Link."
While Navi spoke, Link ducked beneath the weakened limb and ran to the tree trunk. He placed his hands upon it and felt the bark he touched burst into dust. "Please, father, I have to try. I can help you."
"My child, thou dost not know what thou asketh. A father cannot condemn their son's soul. Thou hast come so far."
"And you'll show me the rest of the way. Please, let me help. Don't you trust me?"
The Great Deku Tree paused, and once more his limbs shuddered as he sighed. "I trust thee more than I trust the Sun to rise. Navi, bring Link the blade."
"Thank the goddesses," the fairy flew off into the woods.
"Link," the tree said once the fairy was gone. "There is much I wish to tell you."
"And you will, as soon as you're healthy."
"Take heed, my son, the warlock's spell hath corrupted that which my magic has touched. It decays me from root to leaf. Cut away what is dead and clear away the rot. But do not seek violence. If there is danger within me, I beg thee to retreat. To stay safe."
Before Link could reply Navi returned with five other fairies carrying something between them, long and narrow and sharp.
"Is that a sword?"
"This blade is thy birthright."
The fairies lowered it into his hands and tied a green sheath around his waist. The blade was as long as his arm. As he wrapped his fingers around its grip he felt strong. Whole. As though something stolen from him long ago had finally returned. As if his arm was finally complete. "How?"
"When your work is done, I shall reveal the mysteries of thine history." The face of the Great Deku Tree shook, for a moment Link feared he was too late and death had taken him. The unmoving mouth of the tree fell, lowering like the great door from Link's dream. "I will clear a path for you as best I can." Leaves floated around Link as the mouth finished opening revealing a twisted path of living wood that descended beneath the earth.
"Navi, protect my son. His safety hath become thine highest duty."
"I will," the fairy said.
"Then go," the Great Deku Tree said, his voice trembled. "And may the goddesses guide thee whilst I cannot."
Link ran into the tree, rubbing away at the tears in his eyes. He could do this. The Great Deku Tree needed him. He had a purpose, he wasn't just some mistake that the fairies couldn't abide. Link could save their father. He would save him.
Navi's soft blue glow lit the dark insides of the tree. Unlike the homes shaped from lesser trees by the fairies and the Great Deku, there were no windows or wide spaces to live and play. Here the walls heaved, in time with a slow tired heartbeat, pressing against Link's shoulders. With every step the wood expanded out in front of him, creaking as a path formed. He's changing himself, just to give me a chance.
But not all the wood moved. As the path expanded a chunk of the Deku Tree glistened with purple sap. Instead of shaping to father's will it stayed put. Latching onto what it could and pulling strips of wood with it. The blot slid down between the tree's fibers, snaking about until the strips of wood it touched melted into the lump of dark ichor.
"There, Link," Navi flew around the mess making certain not to touch it. "Cut it free."
Link's hands trembled as he took the blade to the sap. He did not know what he expected from the first cut. But as the sword touched the wood it slid through as easily as cleaning a fish. As his sword worked the sap bubbled up, forming a gasping, biting mouth. It snapped at Link's fingers forcing him to stumble back.
"What is that?" Navi hissed.
The biting blot chomped toward Link. But it didn't move, it couldn't. Link grunted and stood up, pointing his sword at the thing. He stepped closer, making certain that it could not reach him before he started cutting. Just like one of his straw men. He struck hard, but made certain his hands remained well out of its reach. He did not stop carving until the thing was in pieces. As Link severed the last of it from the Great Deku Trees untainted wood, the mouth shriveled into itself leaving only a lifeless greying husk.
"That's it!" Navi sang. "Good job, Link!"
"Is that all of it?" But no sooner had he asked that the cramped walls pull back once more. Navi's blue lit revealed the new vast wooden chasm, so far her light did not reveal all of it. Dripping masses of the purple liquid dotted the walls and floor. More of the blots than Link could count. And how many more had yet to be revealed? "Come on!" he called as he raced to the next room. I'll save you. I can do this.
He did not know how long he worked, without the sun there was no way of knowing. Only the grumbling of his stomach and the ache in his arm told him time moved at all. And he could ignore both of those, so long as the bladework continued. One after another he cut through the dark angry growths. None of the blots came close to biting him. He weaved in and out of their reach, slicing each to pieces. All his practice, all those long nights finally put to the test. Finally he could do something that no one else could.
By the time he had half finished the room, the slime of the growths covered his hands and arms. Twice his grip slipped from the sword, so he wiped the gunk on his tunic. When it grew too damp he started on his cap and shoes. With each new blot the dark sap spread further. Until there was no part of him untouched by it. It clawed into his nose and stung at his eyes. Some spurted into his mouth sending him into a retching fit. But even covered in filth and he never stopped.
And all the while Navi never left his side. Bringing light to see his enemies and words of encouragement. "Almost there, Link." Or giving her warnings. "Don't get too close!"
He tossed away another of the decaying lumps and stood up. Navi flew ahead then stopped. Her glow did not light up the ground beneath her.
"What's that?" Link moved beside her and stared into the dark hole.
"I don't know."
Jagged divots lined the edge of the opening, leaving strips of ruined pulp along the sides. Where the Great Deku Tree's walls were smooth and opened with magic, this looked more like someone hacked at him with an axe. Or perhaps a burrowing beast.
"Something did that," Link stuck his finger along the side of the hole.
"I think this is as far as we can go," Navi said.
"What?"
"The Great Deku Tree said not to do anything dangerous."
"What about all those snapping mouth things?"
"I almost stopped you then. But this? This is too much."
"Navi something tore into father. If this is what's causing the problem, we need to stop it."
"Listen to yourself. It tore through the wood of the Great Deku Tree. It's not tethered like the rest of them. It can move. It can attack you."
"The hole is barely big enough for me to squeeze through," Link said. "It can't be that dangerous."
Before Navi could respond, Link stuck his feet into the hole and nudged his way down. At first it was barely big enough for his shoulders to fit, but soon enough it opened a bit wider. Enough for him to swing around and start crawling forward a bit more comfortably. Then it grew large enough for Link to stand up and walk.
"Link?" Navi sounded worried. "This isn't a good idea."
The tunnel opened into a large hollow. The creature must have discovered what it was looking for. The ground no longer slanted downward, and he could see no additional hole. Link put his hand on the wall to steady himself. "Ugh," he pulled his hand away from the dark sludge that dripped from the wall. "There's more?"
Navi flew around his hand and the wall, lighting up all that she could. Every inch of the walls and the ground was covered in a thin coat of dark sap. "Link," she said. "This is too much."
"We almost have it." He pressed forward, his feet slurping through the sap with every step. Just enough to slow him down, but not enough to stop him. He wouldn't stop, not until father was safe.
But there was nothing as far as Navi's light shone, no sign of whatever hurt the tree. Except, a clicking noise came from overhead. "Navi, do you hear that?"
"Unfortunately," the fairy kept by his side. She sighed. "Stay back, near the tunnel, I'm going to see what's up there. If I say run, you run." She bolstered herself with a gust of wind as she flew toward the ceiling.
All the while, the clicking grew louder. A low rumble descended upon them both. Navi stopped, and her light grew brighter, spreading out. At first she only revealed more wood dripping the sludge of corruption. Until something moved above the fairy's light. An undulating shiver went over the ceiling, until one bulbous segment split open. Eyelids, each as big as his arm spread out revealing a gargantuan yellow eye and glared at Navi.
"Link!" Navi screamed. "Run!"
The massive shape dropped to the ground. Taking chunks of the tree with it, revealing something small and bright green where it had been hanging. When it struck the ground slime and splinters flew.
Navi shot passed Link's shoulder. "Come on! Run!"
But Link couldn't move. The various segments of the creature rattled as it righted itself on the ground. Then it raised its bulk and screeched. Spindly legs jutting from its body pushed the creature toward Link as it howled. Each one of those legs ended in spikes that pierced the ground. Its snapping claws reached out. For him. It was coming for him. And it would tear him to pieces.
But he didn't move. He didn't flee as Navi screamed in his ear. He did nothing.
Then his arm slowly raised, and his sword came before him. All the practice he'd done over the years with wooden sticks came back to him.
The claw swung. He jumped back and watched as it went by.
"Hiyaaah!" He screamed and leaped back in stabbing and slashing with the blade as wild as he could. Some even struck true. Cutting into the dark carapace of the creature. Leaving thin slices that dripped with green blood.
It screamed and four of its legs stomped around him. Link dived away as one pressed down where his head would have been a moment before. He scrambled up from the sludge as more legs crashed around him. Not stopping until he was out from under the thing.
No, this is no good. The creature's legs were longer than his sword. Unless he got close and stayed there, those legs would swipe at him, striking until he made a mistake and it hit him. Then there would be nothing he could do. He needed to get close and stay there until the thing was dead.
Brandishing his sword he advanced on the creature.
"Link!" Navi screamed and rushed past his shoulder. One of the creature's legs appeared through the darkness falling toward his head.
Link barely had time to jump out of the way. The thick leg sent a splash of air and the sludge into Link's face when it hit the ground. The giant spider-beast gave a loud screech, as Link wiped the slime from his eyes and scrambled back to his feet. The creature didn't attack him. He had been open. He should have died. Why wasn't he dead?
As his vision cleared, he had his answer. Navi flew around the monster's eye. Flashing her light as bright as she could.
"Run Link!" she screamed.
One of the creature's legs batted Navi out of the air. She spun about, her wings flapping but unable to stop her as she splattered into the ground.
"Run," she managed to whisper before the beast dived toward her.
It was going to eat her! And they were too far away. If he tried to run toward the creature, it would be over before he could do anything. What was he… Link's eyes went wide, and he reached into his tunic.
"Hey you big ugly monster!" He pulled out his slingshot and one of the small nuts he kept in the pouch. "Get away from Navi!"
The nut whistled through the air and smashed into the creature's eye. The monster reared back and shook its limbs in the air.
"Navi! Now!" From the sludge a tarnished blue light shot out. It zipped over Link's head.
"This way!" she screamed. Behind her the monster slammed down and bounded toward Link.
This time Link didn't freeze, nor did he prepare to fight. He turned and fled after Navi. The creature slammed into the wall behind him. Thrashing limbs and screeching clicks followed them as they raced back into the tunnel. A moment later the great bulk of the creature smashed into the hole. One of its claws waving after them, reaching, snapping, crashing against the sides. But unable to reach them.
Link crawled up, with the angry howls of the monster ringing in his ears. Link pulled himself back out of the tunnel. He rolled over onto his back and closed his eyes, surrounded by the hard wood of the Great Deku Tree, still moving with life. But slow. It moved so much slower than Link's own pounding heart. Navi flew over his eyes, she was struggling. Her gossamer wings flapping harder than Link had ever seen. One of them bent at the tip, a crack running along the side.
Navi fluttered a bit to steady herself then landed on Link's nose. "Are you hurt?" she asked. "Please don't be hurt. I'm supposed to protect you."
"You did," Link said. "You saved me."
"Of course." Navi's voice cracked. "What were you thinking! I told you that was dangerous! I said we needed to leave and you just jump down into a hole?" She tried to flutter angrily over his head as she did when the children disobeyed her. But after a few beats her wing stopped flapping and she landed right back on his nose. "We tried. I guess – I guess that's it. That thing is too dangerous, and we need to leave."
"I'm not going to leave."
"Yes, you are young man. I gave the Great Deku Tree my word."
"But that thing is going to kill him!"
"Link," her voice softened. "You- do you think I don't know that? What leaving would mean? But I can't risk your safety. All we can do now is go and maybe we can think of a different plan, together."
"But there is no other plan. There's just your magic and me, and your magic won't work." Link stood up, nearly knocking Navi from his nose, though he managed to catch her before placing her gently on the ground. He marched around the room. There had to be something. His slingshot worked on the eye, but that wouldn't help once the creature got close to him. And with all those legs, he never found an opening. Not while having to dodge and dive around the entire time.
"Link are you listening to me?" Navi said. "Do you think the Great Deku Tree would want you to do this?"
"He can punish me as much as he likes, so long as he's alive." Link searched the ground until he found a thick chunk of deku wood, torn from his removal of the corruption. It looked about the right size. It had a groove he could make work. He sat down beside Navi and laid the wood over his lap. Taking out his sword he scraped it along the edge of the wood.
"I have to get you out of here," Navi hopped herself into Link's view.
The wood seemed to shape just the way Link wanted. As if it knew what Link was trying to do and helped mold itself to Link's desire. The last time he had tried to make one it had taken hours. But now a few simple cuts, and the handle formed itself.
"Link, please. Whatever you're doing won't work. You must listen to me."
Link looked over his work, it didn't look all that bad. "Thank you, father," he whispered as he stood up. He gripped his new shield in his hand and shook it. Solid, strong, the best work he had ever done.
"I'm going to save the Great Deku Tree," he said as he sheathed the blade. "If you're too wounded to help me, I understand. But I'm not going to let that thing win."