The Legend of Zelda: The Forsaken Knight

Chapter 9

The illustration is a beautiful piece bookworm6310 did everyone look at it and revel in its awesomeness,,, I'm so very thankful :)

Though Zelda was exhausted, she was not able to stay asleep for a very long time. Dozing off while on horseback wasn't exactly peaceful.

The princess's eyes fluttered open just as the sun was beginning to rise in the early morning sky. She found that the quiet air brought a chill, however she felt herself leaning into a source of warmth.

And then she remembered. Flustered, she abruptly sat upright.

"You're awake." Link remarked, chuckling nervously.

"I am sorry.." She said quietly, "I was so tired." The swordsman shook his head with a grin upon his face.

"No, it's alright..."

They rode in silence for a few moments, Zelda taking deep breaths and hoping the blush on her face would soon subside. Link cleared his throat as the princess in front of him sat rigidly, the silence between them suddenly deafening.

"It looks like we should be climbing Death Mountain shortly." She noted. The large, towering volcano was just ahead, probably about a half hour away. It was certainly the highest point in Hyrule, looming above everything else and visible from almost anywhere in the Kingdom.

Though Zelda had met a few Gorons, she had never been up Death Mountain. It was a rather "treacherous" journey for a princess to make, so she had never been allowed to accompany her father or mother on diplomatic errands.

"Have you ever gone up the mountain?"

"I have," Link replied, "however, never to Goron city itself. There are plenty of abandoned mining spots along the trail that are perfect for laying low for a couple of days."

Zelda scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"So you've only been there when you have needed to hide from the law." She concluded.

He nodded in agreement.

"But I am changing that now."

Within an hour, the two of them had reached a small stable at the base of the mountain. Link boarded his horse, got the two of them something to eat, and purchased a few elixirs for when they went to the temple and the temperature rose drastically. It was getting later in the morning, the sun climbing its way up to the top of the sky.

They looked at the enormous mountain ahead.

"I have heard the journey up is a treacherous one." Zelda remarked. Link nodded.

"It is tough. But, the sooner we get there, the better, right?"

"Yes." She said, and they were off.

The trek up Death Mountain Trail was long, and they did not reach the top until the afternoon. By the time they had arrived, the two of them were extremely exhausted and they knew they could not do much else that day.

The two of them were relieved, to say the least, when they finally caught sight of the entrance to Goron City. The hike up the mountain was steep and dangerous, and the hot sun was beating down on the two of them the entire time. After that climb and the lack of sleep that they were both experiencing, it was a wonder that they had made it to the top.

They walked through the entrance to a lively city, full of Gorons rolling about. They could see many shops open with all sorts of goods being sold. It was earthy, hearty, and made them feel welcomed. Link had met a few Gorons throughout his lifetime, and he had always known them to be warm and inviting, embracing anybody as a brother.