The Legend of Zelda- Ocarina of Time

Bolero of Fire

Chapter 29

Bolero of Fire

The world exploded in a paroxysm of fire, consuming everything as pain became Link's only reality. One moment, there was an explosion like the mightiest of all thunderclaps, and in the next instant, it was replaced by unbearable pain and a ringing silence. Link crashed into solid earth, debris raining down around him. He managed to roll, though he couldn't say how, protecting his face from the debris that rained down around him.

There was a moment of utter darkness as consciousness failed him.

It would have been kinder if fate had left him there, but it was not content to let him be. Instead, Link opened his eyes, rolling onto his right side and then his back, to behold a world choked by ash and dust. It covered him, but he barely noticed this, unable to process anything beyond the pain that now screamed through his entire body. Rolling onto his back was almost enough to send him back into oblivion.

Fainting would have been a welcome kindness.

Each breath was like inhaling thousands of tiny blades. His head throbbed, and his entire body was ablaze with pain. Attempting to move his left arm sent a spike of white-hot pain down his limb. But more than that, his head was spinning.

What happened? Navi...?

Trying to push himself up and failing miserably, Link lay on his back, vaguely aware of Navi as she darted above his head, the ash so thick he could barely see her. She was unharmed, but his relief was short-lived as he realised she was talking to him, her face panic-stricken.

Trying to raise his head enough to check his injuries, he realised he was bleeding from dozens of cuts.

Elisia... he thought, but he was in no condition to move. They had to find her.

Navi was still bobbing up and down frantically in front of him. She could have screamed, "Hey, listen!" and Link still would have been none the wiser.

Link mouthed the Great Fairy's name, and Navi understood, for she stopped her frantic buzzing, paused for an instant, expression pained, and then darted off, disappearing into the cloud of dust.

Hopefully, the Great Fairy was home.

Link tried to sit up again, but another spasm of pain in his left arm stalled his efforts. He looked down to see blood running thick along its length. Sucking in a breath and dreading what he'd see, Link rolled up the sleeve of his tunic to inspect the injury. There was something white protruding from the wound. Upon closer examination, Link realised what it was. Bone.

His recent proclamation to Malon that he could handle a few broken bones could not have been more wrong.

This time, fate offered him a moment's reprieve, and darkness claimed him.

~ 0 ~

A low hum vibrated through his mind, drawing him back from the depths of sleep. It faded, then returned, as Link noticed a faint crackling, the air dry and warm. The surface beneath his body was rough and uncomfortable, while his body felt stiffer than a rag left to dry in the sun. Even the thought of opening his eyes seemed too much, his body drained of energy and moisture. Forcing his eyes open, Link beheld a smooth stone ceiling lit by the flickering glow of firelight. He could only stare in confusion, his head protesting with a dull throb as he tried to think.

Where am I?

Link turned his head to observe a wall with a tapestry draped across it featuring Gorons standing in a warrior's pose. His muscles groaned in protest, refusing to let him do more than tilt his head slightly to one side, but the tapestry and the rough stone beneath him told him what he needed to know.

I'm in Goron City.

Link's confusion grew as he tried to piece together the last thing that had happened. He'd been climbing the trail on Death Mountain, but then...

Fire. An explosion louder than the mightiest thunderclap. Pain.

Then nothing.

"Ah, at long last..." a man's smooth and unruffled voice drew Link's attention to the fireplace on the other side of the room, where he beheld the crimson-haired speaker dressed in a flowing blue robe. "We meet again, Hero of Time, though I must say, you look a sight better than you did when last we met."

Link sat bolt upright, or at least he attempted to, his body protesting with all the frailty of an old man. He groaned, but despite his weariness, he focused on the man standing beside the fire.

"Fear not," the man said with an unnerving chuckle. "I mean you no harm."

"Who-" His voice cut off as Navi flew from her perch by the fire to buzz around his head.

"Thank Farore," she exclaimed, relief plain on her features.

"Navi, what..." Link's voice was a dry rasp.

"It's alright," she said, sounding oddly hollow despite her reassurance. "We're in Goron City. This is Halvard..." She introduced the man beside the fireplace. "He was the mask merchant in Castletown, remember?"

"Goron..." Link barely took in a word of Navi's introduction, his stomach lurching as he recalled what happened. "How?"

An image flashed through his mind.

Darunia charging Volvagia. Thunder.

Or had that been the explosion? His mind still refused to piece together everything that had happened.

Halvard stepped over to a stone bench, grabbed a goblet of water, and offered it to Link.

"It's water. I added a small amount of healing potion, but you need to eat before I offer you anything stronger," the man said, noticing Link's brief hesitation before he accepted the cup.

"Darunia? What happened?" Link asked after taking a mouthful of water, grimacing and suppressing a shudder as he tasted the bitter potion within. Giving Halvard back the cup, Link was about to repeat the question when a noise announced ‌two Gorons who entered the room, their expressions grim, their footsteps sending small tremors through the earth.

"Brother," Jemite rumbled, his voice sounding sombre. "It is good you are awake." Jemite introduced the Goron next to him, Boran, and then, noticing the solemn look the youth gave him, he guessed Link's question. He did not meet Link's eyes as he answered, "There's been no word since Darunia collapsed the entrance. We hoped to find him, but the dragon..." Jemite trailed off, his sentence unfinished.

Link's stomach plummeted into an icy void. "Tell me there's a chance he is still alive."

"We cannot know for sure," the second Goron, Boran, answered. "I am sorry, brother."

Link nearly sagged back into the stone, feeling a cold numbness creeping into his gut. It didn't seem possible. Darunia had defied Ganondorf for seven years and kept his people alive, only to fall now? He closed his eyes, felt Navi hovering close, and then breathed.

Would Darunia become another name engraved upon his soul? Someone else he'd failed, unable to reach them in time.

"I'm sorry," Navi said, sounding pained. "Link, you know-"

"It's not my fault," Link said, his voice hard. It was plain to all that he didn't believe this, and he didn't want to hear their attempts to console him.

Another name, he thought again.

"Has..." he choked on the words and then cleared his throat, trying again. "Has anyone looked for him?"

Jemite shook his head. "It is too dangerous. If Volvagia somehow lives, and we must assume he does, it would be impossible to find Darunia."

Link sighed, returning his attention to the Mask Salesman, who had been busily watching this exchange. His ever-present grin appeared to have slackened, but not by much.

"What exactly are you doing here?" Link asked.

"Helping," Halvard answered, placing the fire poker back on the rack. "And I see you have recovered splendidly, thanks to my efforts."

"Recovered?" Link asked. "What exactly happened?"

"Darunia tricked Volvagia into setting off a chest full of Goron bombs," Navi explained. "I was knocked clear of the blast, but you weren't so lucky. I was going to head to Elisia's spring, but then he showed up..." she gestured to the Mask Salesman.

"Showed up?" Link asked, frowning, his head feeling clearer now the healing potion was working. "You were following us?"

"Indeed," the mask merchant answered, and seeing the suspicion growing on Link's face, he added. "Yes, a remarkable coincidence, but I can explain in good time... but first, I must see to your meal." Seeing Link's suspicion, the man shook his head, chuckling. "In good time, you have my word. If you will excuse me, the Gorons are Hyrule's finest craftsmen, but dear me, they are terrible cooks... no offence, no offence," he waved a hand at the two Gorons, but neither seemed annoyed.