'I'm going to find the elder this morning.'
'I have a map for you with his house marked'
'Alright thanks'
They said little both were suddenly hungry. 'Do you think the wizard knows about me?'
'Almost certainly.'
'Than will he know where Zelda is?'
'Possibly it is hard to say. She maybe able to block his powers so I will hide her here for Agahnim cannot enter into this Holy place. Hopefully after you defete him, the soldiers will regain their sanity.'
After his repast, he collected his sword and shield. Tellah gave him a leather knapsack with a few rupees and a few supplies, water, bread, fruit. Just as he was about to exit Zelda came to him.
'Did you sleep well?' asked Link. She let free a long streched out yawn. 'Yes I did.' The two of them simply stood still staying nothing. 'Thank you Link. You saved my life.'
Perhaps she was correct, but he thought nothing of it. 'You're welcome.'
His eyes were brown like fine leather. She looked into his them and saw fear. Fear of what lay ahead. Fear that his burden would overwhelm him. He was unsure of being a lone beacon. How could he, a single young man, liberate an entire kingdom from an arcane evil? And she also noticed a certain very evident fear. It was a fear for, She couldn't quite tell for what it was. She dwealt on it a little longer. When it dawned on her it became very clear. It was a fear for her. She also saw hope. The Heroes of the ages past had their blood in his veins. Somehow through him, the work would be done.
'Be careful out there Link. I know you can save Hyrule.'
He swallowed. They shared a smile. 'I will'
She gave him a sweet little 'Good luck kiss' He loved the way her soft lips felt upon his cheek. It was ethreal and gave him a warmth that filled him from head to toe, Like a bowl of mother's soup on a cold winter's day. She watched him as he exited the holy area
'More than anything.' she looked at the old loyal sage. 'I should be the one out there fighting to save Hyrule. I had no right to drag Link into this. I should be fighting my own battles.'
'I see what you are saying Princess.'
'If anything happens to him, his blood will be upon my hands, and I'll never forgive myself. It should be me out there, not him!'
'What good would it be if Agahnim were to slay you as he did your father? How would Hyrule be rescued then? But I believe that the Potentate has chosen Link to do His work. It is not your own will that Link should save Hyrule, but the will of The Potentate. Not even him who holds the Triforce, can oppose.'
'I hope so'
'Have faith dear Princess. I have no doubt He will see us through'
Link was greeted by a fine morning. The sky was blue as cobalt and was streaked by bands of silver and white, like brushstrokes sacross the blue canvas. The sun shone gloriously sending down shafts of gold upon the wet ground. The knolls glistened with fresh dew, like opals scattered in a field of elmeralds. The leaves were begining their twilight. The branches were clothed in shades of deep green, copper red, firey orange, and brazen yellow. A mockingbird gave his song up as an offering, seemingly aware of the appraoching danger.
The road to Kakariko was wet and raw. His boots made a squishing sound in the muddy road, Still saturated from the prior night's torrent, as he walked. It was surprisingly empty. He saw not a person or carriage or even squirrel or rabbit. It took him a good half an hour if not moore to get to the village. His eyes roved across the path keeping vigiliant, should the wizard have left a snare for him. Luckily none had been laid.
He entered into the village gates. The streets were empty as the road was. He found that very eerie. Evertime he had been to the village, Link was bombarded with activity Something didn't seem right. Streets usually filled with life were as empty as a ghostown and silent as a tomb. It sent a chill across his back. He checked the map, and went to the house that Tellah had marked. Taking a deep breath, He knocked.
'WHo is it'; asked an elderly lady.
'It's Link.' he answered.
'Oh come on in Link.'
'Well I am looking for Sahasrahla. Sage Tellah told me to come here'
'Well Shasrahla has not been here in several weeks. After the wizard began collecting his victims he simply said, So. I see that it has begun. The shadow's fist is closing about us and just left. You know how those old wose men are always going off into seclusion looking for enlightenment and knowledge.'
'Do you know where he is?'
'No like I said you know how old wise men are. WHy are you seeking him- wait I bet I know. You want the Power don't you?'
You mean the Triforce? no. Sage Tellah sent me after the Master Sword.'
'Good. I hope that you have a better head on your shoulders than to be involved in such a mad quest.' It then sank in on her of what else Link had said. 'Oh so you are the one who Sahasrahla spoke of.'
Link knitted his brow. 'What do you mean?'
'Well he said, If the Sages' desendents are starting to vanish, than some dark force is approaching. The time of Cataclisym draws near. Soon The Hero will arrive. That's what he said.'
'Oh really.'
'So you seek the Sword?'
Link nodded
'What can you tell me about it?'
'Well' began the lady, 'I hear that that Sword repells evil. Legends say that It is second only to the Triforce in power. It was created by an ancient race 2000 years ago in a time of great turmoil. They say that it is sleeping in the depths of the Lost Woods, waiting for the Hero to claim it.'
'What else can you tell me?'
'That is all. Well Link, I'm sorry I could not be of greater help to you. If ever you need anything, let me know. If you can find our grandson, He'll know where Sahasrahla is.'
Link thanked the kindly old woman and went on his way. He did find it a little bit odd that the elder's grnadson knew and not his wife.
As soon as Link left the house, a he spied a sign that his him like left hook. He ran over and saw a crudely drawn image of himself, beneath which was written:
WANTED:
This rouge has kidnapped the princess.
He is very dangerous, Notify a soldier if he is seen
A Large reward will be given to any citizen who aides in his arrest --
The King'
How could he know? What was worse, Link had very little idea of what he was facing. After seeing this he realized he'd have to make his stop in the village brief. Link went by the town square where by the weathercrock, a young boy sat down, not really concerned with what went on.
'Hey mister I know you.' stated the boy in a matter-of-a-fact tone.
'Do you?' answered Link cautiously as he stopped and turned.
'Yep. You're the kidnapper.'
Link's heart began to race.
'Yeah so.'
'I here the King's got a pretty good price on your head. Do you know what a boy like me could do with that kind of money?'
'He can do more than what's good for him.'
'You got that right.'
'So you gonna turn me in?'
'Nah. besides, I know you're good guy and all.'
'Thanks kid. Hey I'm wodering if you know where Sahasrala is.' 'You mean Grandpa? He's out over in the Easter Palace.'
'Thanks' 'Are you gonna go meet him?'
'I am'
'Guess that makes you the Hero then huh?'
'Guess so.'
'Wow! He told me that if anyone comes looking for him who wasn't a soldier, would be the hero, so that means you'
'Thanks kid.'
All Link had to do know was leave the village. He ducked along side a fence. He could hear armoured foot falls on the other side. His heard accelerated. He moved along side, keeping his head below the fence. He saw a chciken in standing directly before him. It looked at Link, and started to squawk.
'Stop! Hush!' he tried to keep his voice down. It kept on squabbling, as though it were after the bounty. LInk's anger began to flair up. This sparked an idea.
He ran over to the chicken and took it up into his arms. Confused, it kept squawking. Link cast it out across the length of the street. He then gave chase. When, he came within reach of it, he'd dive, and take a hold if it, only to cast it out again. Link repeted this. When he, was near the boundry of the village, he dove. Instead of grasping the chicken, his hands came upon a set of boots. Link looked up. A soldier stood holding the chicken. Link cursed between breaths. He stood up wearily, his heart going a mile a second.
'This your's son.'
'Y,yes he is, sir.' Link kept his eyes cast towards the ground.
The gaurd threw the bird back to Link. 'Careful now boy.'
'Thank you. Thank you sir.'
'Go on you way now.'
'Yes sir.'
Link expelled a heavy lungfull of air, and wiped the sweat from his brow.
'Thank you,' said Link to the chicken, 'All of Hyrule is in your debt.'
with that Link left the village.
He walked through a warm freindly grove. The air was fresh, exilerant and filled with vitality. The wood was eerily silent as niether the songs of birds or stirring of chipmunks came to his ears. HIs eyes roved across the ground, noticing tracks of fauna, that littered the path. He knealt down to examine them, and found the footfalls to be panicked and frightened, as though the creatures were frightened off by some malevolent predator. Perhaps the beasts knew of the meancing shadow that descended upon Hyrule. He followed a meandering brook through the grove into a vast meadow.
The land that he walked across was a steady plain. The grass was parched by the endless summer suns and waited for winter's first frost, as it waved like a rippling lake in the soft northern breeze. A few hills rolled by here and there, which he crested with little difficulty. Still he encountered not a thing as he walked. It took him the rest of the day and well into the night to reach the Eastern Palace Much of which were in ruins.
The Eastern Palace area looked like a child had toppled towers of buildings blocks, as stone blocks, and fallen pillars were strewn about haphazardly. The wind walked hurridly across the grey ground sweeping up spiraling plumes of brown gritty dust. Lofty walls that supported nothing cast tall deep shadows upon the cracked floors. Arches stood vaccant and lead to nothing but more ruins. Statues stood gaurding fleeting phantoms of forgotten ages. LInk gazed at their hollow cold eyes and wondered,
'Why couldn't he have stayed in the village? I'll never understand the
'Who is it?' he asked, before LInk had entered.
'My name is Link. Are you Sahasrahla?'
'Indeed lad I am. What is it that you seek?'
'The Master Sword. I was told to find you.'
'O really. Who told you to seek me?'
'Sage Tellah.'
'Figures he would. So tell me young man, what has happened that brought you to me. No young man would go galavanting off to find an old man just because an older man told him to so. Tell me, why have you come.'
Link told Sahsrahla of all that had transpired the night before. As Link narrated, Sahsrahla, could not make eye contact with him. Sahasrahla knitted his brow grimly and shook his head nearly in tears.
'I see. I see that things have fallen to such a low piont. This is as I have always feared. How terrifying the darkness truly is!' he paused to recollect himself. 'Yes. It is time.'
'So you see Sir, that is why I wish to have the sword.'
'The Sword cannot be all that you seek, why do you wish to wield it?'
'The wizzard killed my uncle.'
'Revenge. Or is it justice, I do confuse the two. The Master Sword cannot be used for revenge. What did you say your name was? you know how us aged folk are we forget easily. Speak up now.'
'Link. My name is Link.' he was sure to emphasize.
'Alright then Link, It's Link right?'
'Yes My name is Link.'
'I once knew a Link, he was about six feet tall and had arms like steel--no wait, that wasn't me.'
Link rolled his eyes.
'The Master sword cannot be wielded by just anyone. obtaining the sword is no easy task. To wield it, One must first pass a test.'
'What test?'
'It has been written:
"The Hero's triumpth on Cataclysm's eve
Wins three symbols of vitrue
The Master Sword then will retrieve
And will keep the knight's line true"
"Three symbols?" Link reiterated with an arched brow.
'Yes'
'If that is what it takes.'
'Spoken like a true hero. If you want the first pendant, It is in the Palace ruins. If you can bring it back here, You may be able to have proven yourself worthy. We shall see. Go now.'
'Alright I'll do it.' Link left the Elder's abode.
'Is he the one that You have elected?' asked the elder shortly after Link's departure. He let out a broad weary, and exaspirated sigh. 'How long must we wait?'
He spent about an hour walking to the Palace ruins. The structure looked like a stack of books that had collapsed down upon itself.
He took in a lungful of fresh air and entered the door His enterance sprung a trap. As soon as he crossed the threshold into the palace, a boulder came rumbling towards him like a freight train.
'Oh--' the words became lodged in his throat. His eyes begame as large as bowls. He darted to one side as the boulder crashed into the enterance way. Looking at it, he realized that escape was now impossible.
'What have I gotten myself into?'
