Fan Fiction Friday: The Silence Within The Stone – Chapter 22

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Chapter Twenty-Two

It was difficult to discern the passage of time within Zora’s Domain. The absence of the sun within the cavern worked against their senses, but one by one Link, Rukio, and Jenoa left their respective rooms and assembled in the antechamber that led to the main hall within the castle. Jenoa, now fully recovered and acclimating from the stark contrast in climate addressed them.

“How did you both sleep?” she began, eyeing Link up and down in particular. She had spent the better part of the previous evening analyzing the new Zora plating that he had affixed to his tunic, but still found his appearance quite alien. Link took notice of this and blushed reflexively. She had taken notice as well and looked away quickly after feeling blood rushing to her own cheeks. Rukio looked back and forth between the two slowly, doing his best to look inconspicuous by rocking back and forth on his feet.

“We should go,” Link said after clearing his throat.

“Indeed! Yes, of course!” Jenoa said in more enthusiastic means than she anticipated.

“Okay then…” Rukio muttered under his breath as he followed behind, not quite sure what had just transpired before him.

The three entered the main hall, greeted by neatly assembled rows of Zora soliders standing before the King, fully armed and motionless. Link had always found such things very inspiring and tried to fathom the amount of discipline that it must take to stand at attention and perform one’s duty as a knight day after day. Although, while he admired them for their tenacity, he couldn’t also help but think that it would be a very dull occupation indeed, and one he wouldn’t be terribly good at. Link tended to fidget if he was left alone and would begin daydreaming about grand adventures, riding Epona across Hyrule Field, or slicing through the wind with a new sword he had forged. He certainly wasn’t cut out for knighthood.

King Rautu stood as the three approached, exerting a fair amount of effort given his girth, and clapped his membraned hands in front of him. Ulrira stood by his side, smiling as they took a knee before the King.

“That is quite unnecessary I assure you,” Rautu began. “I do not stand on such ceremonies as my ancestors had in times past. No doubt this is your doing Ulrira?” He glanced down at the Vizier who gave a slight chuckle. Ulrira had indeed told the group the previous night that it was customary to take a knee before royalty in the halls of the Zora, but now they all realized it was meant in jest–a simple prank played by a clearly bored old man.

“I cannot help it if I’m a slave to the old ways, Your Majesty. I was simply trying to educate our new friends in Zora customs.” He gave them an unassuming smile and straightened back into a more earnest stance.

“Indeed,” Rautu began, dismissing the joke that had played out before him. “Today is the day my friends. You are to journey forth with my son Tauru to slay the beast that has brought our domain to ruin. I do not envy you, and while I may pledge to you my full support, I realize that such words hold little sway when the time to draw steel comes. Were it that I could send every last man to battle I would, but I fear such an attempt would end in vain. As I have explained, we believe that a smaller force will have a significant advantage against Silindrath, and are less likely to draw his attention as they approach the summit of the mountain where the Great Fairy dwells.” Soft footsteps began to grow louder behind them, and they turned to face Tauru, his spear affixed to his back and carrying several packs in his arms. He approached the three and began handing them out between them.

“The climb will be quite hard,” he said plainly. “These packs contain provisions, rope, pitons, and other tools that you will need to ascend the mountain.” He looked at Rukio. “Are you quite certain that you’ll not slow us down? You don’t appear to be much of a climber based on your…generousness.”

Link stepped forward instinctually, but Rukio put a large hand out to stop his friend. “We Gorons are one with mountains buddy. You don’t have to worry about me at all. If anything, I’m actually more worried about you. I bet one good, strong wind will sweep you away with that scrawny body of yours.” He said with an overbearing air of confidence. Tauru could not hide his speechless reaction. Link guessed that he had never met someone willing to question him so, or rise to his ire so defiantly.

“We shall see,” Tauru finally replied. “I will await you all at the entrance. Your steeds–” he began before looking at Jenoa, “we have a replacement for the one you have lost.”

“I thank you,” she said giving a slight bow. Link looked at her and recognized a distrust of Tauru in her body language. He turned away quickly, looking to avoid another awkward exchange between the two of them.

“My dear Tauru,” they heard from behind them. Rautu sat back in his throne shaking his head. “My apologies for his behavior. He hasn’t quite been the same since his mother died a season ago. It was as though that day all the good my son had within him died as well. But, I digress. It is now time, and I must ask that you venture forth while the day is young. Follow Tauru’s lead and you will find your quarry, of that I have little doubt.” The three bowed before him and were approached by Ulrira who wished them well and recited several prayers before them, begging the goddess Nayru to protect them and help them purge the evil that had invaded their land. They thanked him and proceeded to join Tauru who was already atop his horse, clearly aggravated that they had taken longer than anticipated to join him.

“Quickly,” he said, his tone terse and biting. “We have lost enough time already. If we are swift we can arrive at the base of the mountain within a short time.” He looked down at Rukio from atop his saddle. “Do try to keep up Goron. I would hate to wait for you to thaw out long after I’ve slain the beast.”

Rukio smiled up at him. “Must be hard carryin’ that chip on your shoulder around. Pro’lly on accounta’ you bein’ so small and everything.”

“Enough!” Jenoa barked at the both of them. “Are we leaving or not?”

Tauru looked at her, his face contorted like that of a scolded child. He kicked his horse gently to prod it onward and pushed immediately into a gallop. Link and Jenoa followed, with Rukio rolling quickly beside Tauru, matching his pace exactly. A short while later, the party arrived at the mountain and gazed upward, taking in its majesty in full.

“Now,” Tauru began while removing climbing tools from his pack, “the ice has made this far more perilous than it once was when I would climb it as a boy.”

“You climbed this as a kid?” Link asked, still not taking his eyes from the summit.

“Indeed,” Tauru replied with a boastful undertone. “If you follow my lead though, I’d wager your chances of survival will be much higher and–” He had been stopped mid-sentence by the sound of rock grinding together. He looked over to see Rukio, in ball form already rolling against the mountainside, his spherical form climbing higher and higher along footholds and jutting rock. Tauru immediately set about climbing, determined to not be outdone by the brash Goron. Link looked at Jenoa.

“So…this is going to be a thing apparently,” he said with a shrug. She sighed.

“It’s…whatever I suppose. Come. We need to follow closely in case one of these idiots takes a fall.”

The four climbed for what felt like an eternity, the stinging cold winds assaulted them relentlessly as they ascended. Link and Jenoa were at the mercy of Tauru’s relentless pace as he had taken responsibility for anchoring them with ropes and pitons, his personal contest with Rukio driving his speed. Jenoa had clearly had enough as she reached a handhold that crumbled as she grasped it and began to yell upward at Tauru to slow down as she had little time to find a suitable replacement to grab hold of. Her words were drowned out, however, as an ear-piercing scream blared around them, causing all four to nearly topple from the mountainside from reflexively bringing their hands to their ears. Silindrath had found them, and was now flying around the mountain, preparing to bring an end to their endeavors with one spray of its icy breath.

The four companions climbed faster than they thought possible, ignoring the safety of the ropes and pitons. Link and Jenoa helped each other as they scrambled upward, keeping a watchful eye for Silindrath’s approach. As though on cue, the great wyrm rose to their level and let loose a beam of freezing cold aimed directly at them. Link and Jenoa jumped away from each other, taking leaps of faith and managing to grab on to anything they could dig their fingers into before climbing upward again. Rukio and Tauru seemed to still be inadvertently ad odds with each other, having maintained a cognizance of each other’s positioning.

Silindrath swooped in once more and aimed straight for Rukio. The young Goron leapt, but found nothing he was able to roll against and began to slide downward. Tauru jutted an arm out quickly and grabbed Rukio’s hand. The Goron dangled for a moment, surprised by the strength that Tauru had within him. He found new footing and began to climb upward once more, doing what he could to stabilize both his body and pride. The four dodged around the vicious dragon’s attacks until finally, they had reached a sizable plateau near the summit. They climbed to their feet and noticed a large cave before them. This had to be the Great Fairy’s dwelling, now laid claim to by Silindrath. They turned as the great dragon flapped its wings slowly, bringing itself to bear before the party. Each drew their weapons and steeled themselves for the battle that was moments away from ensuing.

Bryan King is an editor for Zelda Dungeon. He loves writing about everyone’s favorite green-clad elfin boy, and thinks Zelda II doesn’t get the love it so rightly deserves.