Chapter 44: A Long Journey To Walk Alone
It took Link a few steps before he realized that his path was on level ground. The road before him still passed through jagged rocks and ravines, but it no longer descended at a sharp angle. At least no more than one would find passing through the green fields to the south. He turned around and looked back up the mountain.
A smile tugged at his lips, and he raised his arms high above his head. "I beat Death Mountain!" He shouted as loud as he could, his voice echoing far and wide. He'd reached the summit, and fought a battle, faced a monster, and survived the path down alone. How many could say they did the first much less all that came after? His friends back home may never even see a mountain.
Not that he would ever be able to share his adventures with any of them.
He found a decent sized rock, covered in soft green moss and sat, placing his bag softly to the ground. It was already getting late, and he should be finding a nook to nestle in for the night. But for now, he just wished to rest his legs and aching feet and stare at the mountain he conquered.
The lowering sun cast much of the summit in shadow, with only the layer of snow to brighten it. Link took off his boots and stretched and rubbed at his feet, as he watched that shadow grow. Until it reached most the way down the mountain. But not all of it went dark together. Link squinted as he looked near the top, something was burning. Or at least, he thought it was fire. Perhaps the last of the Goron's bombs had been ignited? But no smoke rose from this flame, or maybe it did? The fire, if it was fire, started in a burst of purples, blues, and reds that made the snow shimmer around it. But fast the color died and fell into a darkness deeper than the shadow of the mountain. Was that the smoke? Shouldn't it rise through the air? This darkness stayed put.
Whatever it was, it made Link disquieted. Flame should not grow black, and the pit of darkness appeared as some ugly beast had latched onto the mountain to steal away its splendor. Yet he could not look away. At least the flames grew no larger, they seemed stuck to that one spot. Link hoped, whatever it was, it was far away from the Gorons... and the Gerudo too.
A wheel creaked up from behind him.
Link spun around, his hand to his sword. But it was not a lizard or enemy. A wagon made its way along the road. Still a ways off, but Link could make out the red hair of the driver.
Another Gerudo. It had to be.
Link slid from his rock, took Darunia's bag, and scrambled off the path of the main road. Stupid of him. He found the path as he descended, still marked from the horses, wheels, and boots of the Gerudo army. It made travel faster and easier to follow it, rather than trodding over the uneven and muddy ground. But of course, it also meant any passing Gerudo would see him. Why hadn't he thought of that?
He found a pile of rocks that would cover him well enough and lay behind them. A small crease between the stones let him peer out and watch for the wagon to pass. Sharp pebbles jutted into his stomach and side, but he dared not wiggle around to find a more comfortable position.
The horses came into view first. Two majestic looking animals, though their coats looked scruffy from travel. Malon would have given them both a good brushing were they still at Lon Lon Ranch. One of them had a limp, but the other walked with a steady gait. Ignoring the limp they didn't look abused, or at least, they looked well fed. But that would fast change if the driver forced the lame horse to keep carrying the wagon for much longer.
Then came the wagon and driver. Most certainly a Gerudo, with bright red hair, though not as tan as most of the warriors he fought beside.
"Hold there, boys," the woman said as she pulled back on the reins. The horses ambled into a stop. The woman stood up from her seat and looked up the mountain, her hand shadowing her eyes. "That's as far as I want to get today. We'll start the trek up the mountain proper, tomorrow, how does that sound?"
The horses did not respond, though one of their ears did flick about while the woman talked.
The Gerudo's eyes turned from the mountain and landed straight to Link. "And what do you say, thief? Stopping here for the night. That sound good?"
Link gasped, and ducked down behind the rocks.
"There's no point in hiding now," the woman continued.
"I'm not a thief," Link shouted without peaking out from his spot.
"Fine, fine. What are you? A little girl?"
"I'm not a girl either!"
"Ahh, little boy then. Why are you hiding little not-a-thief?"
Link swallowed. He couldn't tell her it was because she was a Gerudo, that would only bring more questions he'd rather not answer. "Roads are dangerous."
"With a war on, that's true enough," she sat back down on her wagon. "Come out now, I don't feel like shouting."
"How do I know you're not a thief?"
"In a rickety wagon you can hear coming a quarter mile away? I must not be a good one."
"That's true," Link said. She'd already discovered him, no more harm to be had. "I'm coming out," he said, but before he did he tucked his bag deep into the rocks. She may not be a thief, but it'd be best for everyone if no one else knew about the Ruby. Then he put his hand on the hilt of his sword, and returned to the road.
"There, that's better. Well, little boy, you come from up the mountain?"
Link held his tongue. Why does she want to know? He looked the woman up and down. Not a warrior, at least not like Bethmasse and Nabooru, no armor, no weapons on her and a round friendly face. Her wagon was packed with boxes and barrels, some covered with a tarp. Other items hung on display around her. Definitely a merchant, but there was something off about her eyes. Every Gerudo he met had yellow eyes, hers seemed a shade darker, almost orange.
"Look boy, I was going to share my dinner with you if you talk. But if you're going to be a bore all night, you can go back to hiding on your rocks."
"I don't need your food," Link said, but that was a lie. He had only grabbed a few morsels when he left the Gerudo camp and that was all gone. For the last few days he had survived off using his sling on small rabbits and birds. But trying to hunt, clean, and cook had slowed him down more than he liked.
"If you say so," the woman went into her pack and pulled out a thick chunk of dried pork. She took a deep bite and pulled it away with her teeth. Making a big show of smacking her lips as she chewed.
Link's stomach growled loud enough for the woman to hear. She gave a wide smile as she took another bite.
"I have so much food," she said as she chewed. "If only I had someone to share it with."
Link stepped toward her, holding out his hand. "Please, if you have anything to spare, I-"
She pulled the pork away from him. "Talk first. You came from up the mountain, yes?"
Link sighed. "Yes."
"How far up?"
"What?"
"Are you thick, boy? It's a simple question. Did you reach the Goron tunnels? The cliffs of Varongo? The Crown?"
"Most of the way," Link said. It seemed the easiest answer. It wasn't a lie, but it wouldn't give any information he did not want to give. Or at least, he hoped it didn't. He was sweating. Even after his time with the army, he never liked this whole sneaking about and lying about things.
The woman sighed. "You'll have to do better if you want any of my food. I need some information, boy. Look at you, bruised and scabbed over. Were you at the Battle for the Crown?"
His stomach growled again. "Yes," he whispered.
"There we go. Easy as breathing, yes?" She ripped a piece of the dried pork and tossed it to him.
He plucked it out of the air and shoved the food into his mouth. It was salty and so tough it was near painful to chew. But when you're hungry, anything offered tasted like sharing one of the cakes of the Sky Festival.
All too quick the little piece of pork was gone. He looked back to the woman, she nodded and gave a wide wicked smile Link did not trust.
"Good, yes? I'm willing to feed you, but I'll need more from you in return."
"What else is there?"
"What happened in the battle? Things have been silent coming up to the mountain. A woman can't rightly trade her wares to a dead army can she?"
"Your people and the Gorons won. But… it was messy. People died. A lot of people."
"That does tend to happen in battles, I'm told." She tore off another piece of pork and held it up in the air. "Anyone important? The Gerudo King? The Goron Chief?"
"No, Ganon- your king is still alive. And Darunia, he's-" he stopped. He couldn't tell her what transpired within the Crown. That would reveal that he'd been in there with Darunia and the monster. This was so confusing, he hated it. He just wanted to speak plain and honest and go on with his life. Why was that so difficult? "Darunia and King Dodongo fought each other, and they're stuck in the Crown. At least- that's what I heard."
"Darunia, aye?" The woman laughed and tossed the other piece to him. "On first name basis with the Goron chief are you?"
"No! That's not- I mean- Chief Darunia, that's what I meant."
"Worry not, boy. I won't go tattling on you to the chief, letting him know how over familiar you are." She laughed. "I doubt he'd know who I was talking about if I did."
"Hmm."
"Well, thank you, boy. Now get you gone. That's all I have need for you."
"Oh," Link looked to her cart and then to the night sky. "It's about to get dark."
"So it is. Which means I best be getting a night fire going and caring for my horses. And you better go off to wherever it is you're going."
"Couldn't I stay? There's not much firewood out here. I could tend to your horses. I know how to-"
"I said 'get you gone' where I'm from if an elder tells you something, you do it without these ridiculous questions. Go."
Link's shoulders slumped. It was getting too dark find a bird or beast to catch. Those two bites of pork would have to do for the night. At least his jaw felt as if he had chewed a full meal. Perhaps that would trick his stomach, though he doubted it.
"Wait," the merchant said as he headed back toward the rocks. "How good are you with horses? Be honest now, if you lie, I'll know it."
"I lived on a ranch for a time. I learned a lot. Most horses seem to like me."
"Buck's been limping. You fix him, and I'll let you have a meal and maybe, if you do a good job, I'll let you sleep under the wagon for the night."
Link nodded, and headed toward the horse that was obviously uncomfortable walking.
"It's... you have it, that's the one," the woman said. "Don't spook Buck."
Link went up to the animal and started to pet him. Even for a small horse, it was quite a bit bigger than Link. "You don't leave them attached to the wagon all night, do you?"
"I'm getting to them."
Together Link and the merchant unhooked the horses from the wagon. Though with nowhere else to secure them, they maneuvered the horses to the side and tied their reins back to the wheels. At least they had enough room to meander around without a yoke over their shoulders. Link paid attention to the one called Buck. The problem seemed to be with one of his back legs.
"Do you have anything for him to eat? Horses tend to be calmer when they're distracted with food."
The merchant took feeding bags of grain, and draped them over the horses muzzles. Link went to Buck's side. Even when calm, best not to stand directly behind a horse, and that was doubly true with one in pain. Ingo showed him how to shoe a horse, though he'd never done it himself while he stayed at the ranch.
"I checked the shoes, yesterday," the woman said. "I didn't see anything wrong."
"You forced it to walk on a hurt leg all day?" Link glared back at the woman.
She shrugged. "I've walked all day with a limp before."
"You're not a horse!" Link scratched the horse's side, letting the animal know where he was. "Did you tough out an entire day with a bad foot? I'm here to help, you trust me, don't you?"
The horse swayed a bit. A good sign, hopefully, at least he didn't seem likely to kick. Link kept petting the animal as he moved to the back leg. This was the dangerous bit. Link made certain his head was well away if Buck reacted, then he grabbed and lifted the leg.
But Buck was a good horse, and didn't budge.
"That's a good boy," Link said. Once certain the horse wouldn't kick, Link straddled the leg so his weight would keep it straight. The shoe was still there, but it wobbled at Link's touch.
And Buck did not like that at all. He sputtered and shook, though not too hard. The horse was smart enough to know that Link had his leg pinned in and any move too wild might hurt it more than Link. But with his snorts and stomping of his front hoof he let Link know to get his work done quick.
Thankfully, the problem proved simple to see. The hoof had split, cracked right at the nail that fastened the shoe.
"See?" the merchant said. "Shoe's still there."
Link grunted as he looked all about the hoof, rubbing at it as gentle as he could. But no matter where he touched Buck's reaction was the same: an angry quiver of pain. He walked all day like this? And likely most of yesterday as well. Link thought back to when he once got a splinter that jammed under his fingernail and how much that hurt. Buck must have felt that with every step.
But what could he do about it? Buck needed to be reshoed, and he did not have any of Ingo's tools. What would Malon do?
"Do you have another bag? Something tough and thick. And twine? Or anything else to use as a cushion?"
"Perhaps?" The woman went into her wagon and moved some things around.
"You're doing well, this won't take much longer." Link hoped the horse understood that he was not trying to hurt him. In response Buck stomped at the ground with one of its front hooves. Link did not know what it meant by that, exactly. Perhaps it was nothing, just one animal stretching and moving as it could. But it made him uneasy. Ingo or Talon may have been heavy enough to keep a horse from bucking. But even if Link pressed all his weight against the leg he straddled, if Buck wished to throw him, Link would go flying.
"Here's what I have." The woman jumped down from the wagon holding a bag that smelled of turnips, some Gerudo style clothes, and a bit of rough twine.
"That will do, hand them here." Link first pressed the clothes to the horse's hoof.
"I wear those!"
"What did you think I was going to use them for?" Link took the bag and wrapped the whole hoof up, bringing it about a quarter of the way up its leg. He tightened and smoothed the sack as best he could, so the shirts wouldn't move about as the horse walked. Once satisfied that everything was in the best position he could get it, Link wrapped the hoof with the twine. Spinning it around the leg, under the hoof, keeping the proper shape as best as he could make it.
He tightened it into a knot and finally let the horse's leg go.
He did not know what he hoped for. Some whinny of approval, or the horse to look to him and nod in satisfaction. But Buck did not do any of that. The horse simply placed his hoof down and continued munching on his feed.
But he looked to be putting some weight on the leg now. That was something.
"And that's it?" the merchant said. "That will hold him up the mountain?"
"What?" Link said. "No. That might last a few hours of carrying the wagon. You need to bring him to a farrier, or a farm, or if you have no one else a blacksmith or something."
"So you didn't fix him. And I'm down a few shirts."
"If I remember right there's a village not far from here. I think I saw smoke that way," he pointed in the direction of the closest village he passed when he traveled with the army. "Take Buck there in the morning and get him fixed up proper. If you don't he could get hurt."
The merchant frowned. "I'm late already and the best you can do is going to make me even later."
"Late for what? The army is going to be coming down this way anyhow. What does it matter if you sell them things a day later?"
"Don't pretend you know a thing about business," she said. But she didn't run him away from her wagon, instead she set up a fire and prepared a meal for them both.
She wasn't much of a companion, if Link was being honest. The food tasted little better than what the army served every day. And while Link had been happy for the company, all she did was pester him with questions. She didn't ask them like most people, who tried to be friendly and hold a conversation over supper. Enjoying a chance to get to know each other. Not the merchant, she pried at him as though he was little more than a vessel to squeeze information out of.
And her questions were odd, and they didn't seem to have much to do with selling things. Instead, she asked about important people and events in the battle. Some of them he didn't know. Dembugi, Kigolak, Noedboga all sounded like Gorons, and one even sounded familiar but he could offer nothing about them.
"I know Brodni," Link said when his name came up. "He's the Goron chief's guard, isn't he?"
"Yes, and where was he in the battle?"
"In the front with Beth- with Commander Bethmasse."
"Did he survive?"
"I think so."
"And what of the Dread Spear? Did Commander Bethmasse survive?"
"Yes! Your king placed her in charge of the entire infantry line. She fought really well. And she jumped on a Dodongo- I mean, that's what some of the soldiers said she did."
"Did she take a wound?"
"Nothing serious."
"And what of the rest of King Dragmire's favored? Commander Nabooru? Desquesza? Or the rest of his guard?"
"I don't know. No, wait, I saw him standing over someone among the wounded."
"Was it Nabooru?"
"No, she led an assault underground afterwards."
"Underground? What was she doing underground?"
And so it went through the entire meal, and well past the time their little cooking fire dwindled to cinders. Only when she yawned through half of Link's answers did she call her interrogation ended. True to her word, she let Link sleep under the wagon. Not as comfortable as she seemed to be, wrapped in blankets, and snoring amongst her cargo. But at least it blocked some of the wind.
He thought of fetching his bag, he could use it as a pillow and it held his blanket. But he'd hidden it from the merchant so far, best not draw attention to it now. Though he did crawl out from under the wagon, for only a moment, to look back up the mountain. If the black flame remained, he could no longer see it against the night sky.
Satisfied that there was no danger, he crawled back below the wagon and shut his eyes. A dream came to him. He stood in the lines, struggling to keep up with Commander Bethmasse as she fought. Squeezing between and under the other soldiers. His sword thrust into Lizalfos and Dodongo alike.
Screams and blood and death surrounded him. Terrifying and horrible, and yet he did not wish to leave. Others could flee, others may surrender. But not him, he rushed ever forward, with bloodstained blade and scarred shield.
Behind him, somewhere safe from the destruction stood Malon and Saria. Both urged him to be careful or to stay back. But he couldn't stop. And the more he fought the larger the crowd behind him grew. The princess was there, and her guardian, the other children of the forests all with worried looks. Merry Talon and the black-humored Ingo, Yadunby with fear in his eyes and brave Rosa. Even Chief Darunia stood beside him, and he could fight well on his own.
Then came those he did not know as well, the man who tried to cheat him at the slingshot game, several of the camp followers who prepared the meals, a couple he passed on the streets of Castle Town, knights and squires, soldiers and farmers, Gorons and Zora. A thousand faces and shadows of people he never met.
They all stood behind him, and they couldn't fight. And as he looked ahead, Bethe was gone and the line fast diminished. His fellow warriors fell, wounded or dying from a thousand blades and an endless stream of enemies. Until only he remained, standing alone between the monsters and all those people. When he looked back, he saw them. Commander Bethmasse and Commander Nabooru stood beside everyone else. Along with the one called Desquesza, and even friendly Mulli, though she did not smile as she used to, and her face turned red and black, then she was gone.
He could not defend them all alone. But still he fought, until blood splashed over his hands and down his chest. Until he did not know if the ache in his arm came from wounds received or dealt. He hacked at the enemy until the blood grew so high it filled his mouth and nose and covered his eyes. He killed and killed and killed, until all was darkness. And he could no longer see if those he slaughtered were monsters, or those he vowed to protect. He did not know if Ganondorf the murderer stood before his blade, or behind him.
The creaking of the wagon woke him. The wheels rolled, right past his head.
Link screamed. The wagon passed by, and the morning light struck his eyes. He scrambled to his feet. "I was still sleeping! You could have run me over!"
"But I didn't," the merchant shouted from the front of the wagon.
"Wait! Hold on." Link ran to her side. Thankfully the horses had not yet picked up speed. "I need to ask you something."
"If you wanted more food, you should have fixed my horse."
"Not that. I'm trying to get to Lanayru, and the Crystal City. Can you tell me how to get to the land of the Zora?"
"Isn't that where the army is heading next?" The merchant pursed her lips. "If that's where you need to go, why not stay with them?"
"Please, I've told you so much already. Can you at least point me in the right direction?"
"East of here," her eyes flickered over him, and for the first time since he met her she seemed interested. "Follow the Royal Road back as if you're heading toward Castle Town. In a few days you'll find a bridge that crosses River Zora. Don't cross it, take the road the follows the bank East. You'll pass the woods and the-"
"The Kokiri Forest?"
She pulled her horses into a stop and put the reins down. "Tell me, boy. I thought you were a bumpkin from the fields. Someone who stole something from the army and decided, rightly, to get you gone."
"I told you, I'm no thief," Link said. He wanted to refute being a bumpkin as well, but he did not entirely know what it meant. It didn't sound good though.
"What Hylian rancher, especially around these parts, doesn't know the River Zora, but calls the Lost Woods by a name a century forgotten?"
"I- I don't know. It just-" Link felt his face turn red. "Oh, I'm sorry now. I, uhm, I remember the river. I just forgot, for a moment."
"Of course," her eyes bore into his own and her jaw set. Her red gaze studied him like he was prey. She must know. He looked away in discomfort and shame. Would she tell Ganondorf? What if he sent someone after him? What if the next morning he woke up to find a sword at his throat? Could he fight his way out? His hand reached for the pommel of his sword.
"Well," she picked up the reins. "Safe travels, then. Let's get a move on, boys!" The horses stepped forward and the wagon lurched after them.
Link watched them go until they were a good distance away. Once certain they were too far to turn around, he ran to the rocks. His bag remained with the Ruby safe inside it. He gave a sigh of relief as he heaved it over his shoulder. Now ready to continue down the long road, he took one last look at the mountain. Whatever that black flame had been, it was gone for now. He hoped no one got hurt. But he knew he couldn't do anything if someone had, not even in his dreams.
The knoll had not changed since he'd last been there. Still a bright healthy grass, greener and thicker than even a few paces off the mound. That was good. Navi deserved a beautiful place to live.
Link swung his pack to the ground. It bounced against the grass, as he quietly scolded himself. "I need to be more careful with the Ruby." With no one else to perform such duties, he needed to be troublemaker and disciplinarian, both. He sat and rested his hand on the bag, as if comforting it would make the stone feel better about his carelessness.
Days of walking on the rough side paths had taken their toll. His feet ached, and if the merchant spoke the truth, he had far more to go. But for tonight he would stay here. Just until morning, he could spare that long.
"I know you don't want to talk to me," Link said. "But I need to warn you. Ganondorf knows about you. He had a fairy that he captured. I released her, but I don't know if she made it back here or not."
The grass didn't answer. The hill didn't move. Nothing opened up before him and no fairies flew through the air. Not that he thought they would. Navi made it clear she did not want to speak with him ever again. Why would that change now? But some part of him must have hoped she'd appear, else why did the silence hurt?
"There was a battle," he said. "The Great Deku Tree was right. Of course, he was. People I knew died right in front of me. I was terrified. And I thought, for a bit, that there was nothing that I could do. That this whole thing was pointless, just like he said. Those silly dreams of making a difference, that I could somehow fight my way to fixing the problems. But, in the end I did. Does that make sense?"
He shook his head.
"Of course, it doesn't, I'm not explaining it very well at all. But I saved two people's lives. That has to be worth something. I like to think that the Great Deku Tree would like that, even if I had to use my sword to do it." He sighed. Navi wouldn't care, he needed to stop babbling. "Ganondorf survived the battle. The princess was right about him. I don't think anything is going to get in his way. He fights like nothing I've seen before, and he has magic with him. Strong magic. Whatever you're doing down there, you need to prepare for him. If he knows where you are and that you have the Emerald, he'll be coming for it now. I don't know, do you want me to help you fight him off when he gets here?"
The only response was a bird chirping somewhere above him.
"Well, that's all I have to say. I miss you, Navi. I hope… I told the fairy that I want you to be happy. And I meant it. I still mean it. And... and you should know. I'm happy too. You made the right choice, just in case you had second thoughts. Because you shouldn't. We're both happy."
He stayed there, laying atop the hillock, and staring at the dirt and grass. Until night swallowed day and still no fairy came to see him. Well past the time he should have shut his eyes and slept, in preparation for the next day's travels. But every time he tried, no sleep would come to him. His mind still thought on Navi and fairies, and how long it had been since he saw her. How far from home they both were.
After giving up on sleep for the night, he told his message again. Just in case they missed what he said the first time. With nothing else to do, he pulled out his ocarina and played the night away.
First he performed the song Saria gave to him. But after several rounds he changed the tune. What started as disconnected notes, transformed into a song he had not thought of in years. Not since the fairies taught it to the Kokiri to teach them the alphabet. From there he played other songs from his childhood, fast songs, slow songs, songs to teach numbers, or how to handle yourself when you got angry, songs of celebration, and songs to welcome the day. All beautiful, fun, and happy. Each brought memories of his family, singing, dancing, playing, learning. All of them together and enjoying themselves, even Mido, sometimes. While the fairies watched and kept them safe, beneath the branches of their father. Would Navi keep him safe tonight? Could she hear him at all?
Only when the sun peaked through the trees did he put the ocarina down. It was time to continue his journey. Alone. He wiped his eyes and dried his cheeks, picked up his bag and headed toward the Crystal City.