The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Novelization

The convoy met Bulblin and Bokoblin patrols several times along the western road to Lake Hylia. None of the skirmishes slowed them for long, but Link grew increasingly nervous with every encounter. Each clash revealed their location to the enemy. The farther they rode, the heavier the resistance became. After an hour of careful travel, the convoy arrived at the Great Bridge of Hylia. At its threshold, Link drew Epona to a halt. The weathered stone bricks were no longer coated in thick oil, but something far more troubling now waited there. A figure loomed on the far side of the bridge, stirring a nightmare from Link’s past. Then he recognized it. The leader of the Bulblin hordes, the same monster he had slain on the Eldin Bridge. No. I killed you… The Bulblin shifted in the saddle of its blue boar, its eyes fixed upon Link without a trace of mercy. The beast had come seeking vengeance. The thought of the Bulblin leader laying a hand on Ilia made Link’s blood boil. Torgaz noticed Link’s anger. “You’ve seen that thing before?” “Yes,” he growled. The Bulblin leader pulled a war horn from its belt and sounded it. Harsh barks answered from the squat stone tower as sentries nocked flaming arrows. With a taunting sneer, the leader spurred its boar and thundered southwest. “Stay close to the wagon until I clear a path,” he said, drawing his bow. Torgaz frowned. “Clear a path? How?” “I’ll figure something out.” “Okay. Just don’t get yourself killed, kid.” Link guided Epona onto the bridge, and arrows immediately flew from the tower. Epona bucked with a frightened whinny as the soldiers returned fire. Their volley clattered against the tower, but the walls shielded the Bulblins from the worst of it. This won’t work. How do I–?  Link froze as realization hit. His bombs. He drew a small black bomb from the pouch at his belt and fastened it to the head of an arrow before lighting the fuse with a match. Drawing his bow, he fired, and the explosion shattered the tower’s defences. Two Bulblins were engulfed in the blast as smoke and broken stone surged into the air, shrouding Link’s advance. “Who is this guy?” Naroh asked. Torgaz snorted. “Doesn’t matter. Forward!” The convoy surged onto the bridge. The soldiers fired at will, cutting down the dazed sentries in the towers. From horseback, Link covered their advance, picking off any Bulblin who dared raise a bow toward Telma’s wagon. “Nice work, kid!” Torgaz shouted to Link. “We’re clear!” Jock called from the rear. After regrouping, the convoy pressed on beyond the Great Bridge of Hylia. The road soon tightened between cliffs and thick groves. Dense overgrowth forced them to remain on the path, exactly where the enemy wanted them. Bulblin archers held the cliffs above, fire arrows nocked and waiting. Yet the Bulblin leader was nowhere to be seen. As expected, the Bulblins targeted Telma’s carriage. Flaming arrows rained down on the wagon, yet Telma steered it through the chaos with practiced skill. “Draw their fire away from the civilians!” Torgaz barked, deflecting an arrow with his shield. Naroh and Belliard loosed arrows at the Bulblin positions. Two ogres fell, tumbling from the cliff. Link rode straight through the flames and dropped the pack leader. The Bulblins scattered in confusion, their attention split between the soldiers and the carriage. This is going too well, Link thought. The Bulblin presence felt strangely thin, as though they had already withdrawn. What was their leader planning? One of the Bulblins dodged an errant arrow and fired toward the wagon. Jock tried to warn Telma, but it was too late. The shot struck the carriage, and flames burst across the wood. Ilia’s terrified scream cut through the chaos. Link twisted in the saddle to look back, his stomach knotting. Oh no… Belliard spun toward Torgaz. “What do we do? We have to help!” “We can’t stop here!” Jock yelled. Link grabbed his magic boomerang and turned Epona around. “I’ll handle it!” As Link pulled up beside the burning wagon, Ilia looked to him in despair. He raised his boomerang, and powerful gales spiraled from its enchanted blades. “Hang on!” He tossed the weapon over the wagon. Its cyclone swept across the fire, snuffing the flames before they reached Ilia and Ralis. Telma winked gratefully. “Much appreciated, honey! Now, go and help those soldiers!” Link peeled away from the wagon. Rushing ahead, he joined Jock and Belliard in cutting down the last Bulblin holdouts. With their numbers dwindling, it was finally safe to press on. “Nice work back there,” Jock said. Link shrugged off the praise. “What’s the situation up here?” “Sergeant Torgaz and Naroh moved up to scout ahead. We can’t risk another ambush.” “The bastards never quit,” Belliard muttered. “Neither do we,” Link said. “Let’s move.” Minutes later, the convoy emerged from the narrow canyons south of Lake Hylia and rode out into South Hyrule Field. Torgaz and Naroh rejoined them at the canyon’s mouth. “The road ahead is crawling with monsters,” Naroh reported. Why aren’t they attacking? Link studied the open field before them. He knew the southern country well, and that knowledge might keep them alive. Still, he could not shake the feeling that they were riding straight into a trap. Link turned to the soldiers. “Follow my lead.” Leaving the road behind, Link guided the convoy through hedgerows and rolling hills. The Bokoblin patrols lacked the discipline of their Bulblin allies, and slipping past them proved far easier. The real danger lay ahead. The rugged pass leading into the plains near Kakariko Village formed a natural bottleneck – the perfect place to spring a trap. When they reached the pass, no ambush came. Link glanced up and caught sight of a Bulblin scout along the cliffs, mounted on its boar. It disappeared a moment later. They’re shadowing us. Link tightened his grip on Epona’s reins, his jaw set as they reached the plains split by the gorge. Without warning, an explosion tore him from the saddle. He hit the ground hard, the wind ripped from his lungs. “Man down!” Jock cried. Another bomb exploded, sending Telma’s horse into a panicked veer. Bokoblin sentries burst from the shrubbery, wooden crossbows raised. Arrows rattled against the wagon, and Ilia screamed. “Protect the wagon! Push them back!” Torgaz bellowed. The soldiers charged the Bokoblin squad, buying Link precious seconds to regain his bearings. He knocked a stray arrow aside and ran a Bokoblin through as it lunged at him. Link swapped his sword for his bow and pulled an arrow from his dwindling supply. Gotta make this count. He steadied his breath and drew the string tight. A Bokoblin rushed Jock from behind. He fired. The arrow punched through the creature’s skull, dropping it where it stood. As Link vaulted onto Epona, a war horn echoed across the field. His blood ran cold. No… He scanned the plains and saw the Bulblin leader waiting on the opposite side of the gorge, flanked by over a dozen boar riders. The ogres snarled and barked, eager to be unleashed upon the outnumbered Hylians. Link locked eyes with the Bulblin leader. The beast snickered in amusement before ordering its riders forward. They stormed across the wooden bridge. Cursing silently, Link flicked Epona’s reins and rejoined the soldiers. “Form up around the carriage!” Torgaz ordered. “Don’t let the bastards close!” “Stay off the road!” Link called to Telma. Sensing the urgency in his voice, Ilia leaned out of the wagon, her eyes wide with fear. Link offered her a small reassuring smile before turning away. He swallowed the anguish in his chest and fixed his gaze on the approaching monsters. Jock’s brow furrowed. “Link?” “Don’t worry about me!” he snapped. “Protect them!” Jock gave a sharp nod and rode toward the wagon. Link wheeled Epona around to face the advancing monsters. “I hope you know what you’re doing,” Midna murmured from the shadows. So do I. Epona bucked and whinnied as Link charged into the monstrous horde. He slashed a rider across the chest, sending the ogre flying from its saddle. It hit the ground with a sickening crack before Epona’s hooves crushed it underfoot. Another Bulblin rider thrust its lance at him, and Link wrenched Epona out of its path. His blade flashed in a swift counterstrike. The Bulblin riders tightened their ring around the wagon, leaving the soldiers with little room to maneuver. Every exchange drove them closer to exhaustion. A Bulblin’s club slammed into Belliard’s breastplate, the steel absorbing the worst of the impact. He retaliated with a single, decisive stroke, sending the rider tumbling from its boar. Torgaz and Jock desperately held the line, their blades turning aside one assault after another. Link wheeled around to aid the soldiers, but one of the riders cut him off. Its boar crashed into Epona, and the mare snorted angrily. Link grabbed the Bulblin by the arm and dragged it close, driving his blade through its gut. He flung the corpse aside and pulled Epona away from the riderless boar. Readying another explosive arrow, Link aimed into the cluster of Bulblins. It was his final arrow. He fired, and the blast tore through them. Bodies scattered in every direction. From afar, the Bulblin leader watched the battle unfold, its eyes fixed on Link. With a sharp command, it sent another wave of riders charging forward. Link turned to face the monster. He glanced back at the wagon. Torgaz met his eyes and gave him a firm nod. “Go! We’ll be fine!” Link snapped his gaze back to the Bulblin leader, his expression hardening. With a nudge of his heels, Epona surged forward. I’m coming for you. After crossing the gorge, Link halted before the Bulblin leader. The creature now wore heavier armour than before, and an oversized battleaxe hung across its back. It sneered behind its helmet as rain began to fall. With a low growl, it dismounted from its steed. Link dropped from Epona’s back, sword drawn, and advanced to meet it. For a moment, they simply glared at one another. Rain pattered against steel as they circled. Link’s grip tightened around his blade until his knuckles whitened. This monster had brought nothing but suffering. This time, he would make sure it stayed dead. With surprising speed for its size, the Bulblin leader lashed out with its axe. Link sprang back out of range before darting forward again. He rolled under a second slash, but the brute backhanded him as he rose. Link staggered, nearly losing his footing in the mud before catching himself. The Bulblin leader gave him no time to breathe. Its axe crashed down, and Link barely caught the blow on his shield. He shoved the weapon aside and drove his blade into the ogre’s chest. Sparks rang in every direction, lighting the Bulblin leader’s sadistic grin as it leaned close. It was enjoying this. With a guttural scream, Link smashed his shield into the Bulblin leader’s face, stunning it. The beast dropped to one knee, and Link slashed for its exposed neck. It caught the strike on its axe and forced him back. Panting heavily, Link wiped rain from his brow and rose to his feet. He bared his teeth and let out a low, almost feral growl. The Bulblin leader laughed, brandishing its axe. Link steeled himself for another round, but the Bulblin leader suddenly faltered when an arrow ricocheted off its armour. It turned, just as Jock rode past and drove his blade into its armoured chest. With a furious snarl, the monster retreated to its boar. Link tried to give chase, but a Bokoblin loosed a crossbow bolt at him. He threw himself to the ground as Jock cut the creature down. It was all the time the Bulblin leader needed. It blew its war horn and thundered north across the plains. Most of its minions followed, but a small rear guard stayed behind to slow the convoy. “You okay?” Jock asked. Link nodded. “Yeah. Thanks.” Climbing onto Epona, Link watched the enemy retreat with their leader. For the next few minutes, he helped the soldiers finish off the stragglers. The creatures resisted at first but eventually broke and fled into the plains. Cowards. The Bulblin leader had escaped once again. The thought left a bitter taste in Link’s mouth. Their feud would not end until one of them was dead. Until that day came, the monster would continue to endanger everyone Link held dear. Link tilted his head back, letting the warm rain wash over his face and steady his racing heart. Dead monsters littered the plains, and the metallic tang of blood overpowered every other scent. It was a miracle any of them were still alive. “Is everyone alright?” Torgaz asked as he sheathed his sword. “Yes, Sergeant!” Jock called back. Telma pulled the wagon up beside Link and smiled warmly. Link glanced into the back of the wagon where Ilia sat beside Ralis, her knees drawn to her chest. Thank the goddesses they’re safe. “Great work, honey,” Telma said. “You did great.” Link ignored the praise. “We’re close to Kakariko Village.” “After you, kid,” Torgaz said. Link took the reins and urged Epona forward. The convoy followed him toward the mountains, eager to reach the safety of Kakariko Village. * The rain fell harder with each passing minute. Despite the storm, Link found a small measure of peace standing on the porch of the Elde Inn. With trembling hands, he wiped the muck and blood from his cheeks with a soft cloth and rinsed it in a basin of rainwater. If only the day’s pain could be washed away so easily. Since arriving at Kakariko Village, Link had not spoken to anyone. While the others stayed inside, he chose isolation, trying to navigate the storm of emotions raging within him. Every time he thought of Ilia – how blankly she had looked at him when he entered Telma’s bar – the hole in his heart grew wider. There was nothing he could do to help her. “Sulking like this won’t solve anything,” Midna whispered, her eye appearing in his shadow. “I know that!” Link snapped. His anger quickly gave way to despair. She doesn’t understand. She was not responsible for Ilia’s amnesia. If he had kept his promise, she never would have had to suffer through this. Link splashed water on his face and stepped inside. The soldiers gathered at the inn’s bar, celebrating their victory with a round of well-earned drinks. Offering them only a polite nod, Link crossed the quiet lobby and entered his room in the back. He dried his hair with a towel and set his weapons against the wall. Just as he moved to sit down, a soft knock sounded at the door. “Come in.” Luda poked her head through the door. “Sorry to bother you, Link. My father wishes to see you upstairs.” Link nodded and stood, praying for some good news. Tossing the towel aside, he followed Luda out of the room and up the stairs. When they reached Ralis’s room, Renado and Colin stepped out. Link held his breath. “He seems to have passed through the worst of it. If he rests, he should recover,” the shaman said quietly. Link managed a small smile. “Good.” “Do you know the fate of his mother? Her welfare consumes him. He has been mumbling deliriously about her almost constantly.” Link lowered his gaze as his thoughts drifted to the late Queen Rutela. She had been so desperate. Even in death, she had been there for her child. Prince Ralis would not share her fate. “I can see this knowledge grieves you,” Renado said. “It must be a painful memory.” “I gave her my word that I’d keep Ralis safe,” Link murmured. “And you kept that promise,” Renado assured him. “I’ll stay with him until he’s better! No matter how long it takes!” Colin said eagerly. Renado smiled and knelt beside him. “Is that so? Thank you, Colin.” Link looked past the shaman into the bedroom. Beth tended to Ralis while Ilia sat beside him in a quiet daze. The emptiness in her eyes nearly overwhelmed Link, and he had to look away. “Renado…is Ilia–” Renado raised a hand. “We should discuss this outside.” Link, Colin, and Renado stepped out onto the porch. The downpour had faded into a gentle shower, and the moon shone through a gap in the clouds. Telma leaned against the balcony railing, watching them with a quiet smile. “So,” Colin began nervously, “is it true…?” Renado nodded solemnly. “Yes, Colin. Ilia has lost her memory. Regaining it will be no simple task.” Colin fought back tears, and it only made Link’s sorrow worse. Ilia had always been like an older sister to him. Seeing the boy’s pain drove the bitter truth deeper into Link’s heart. They might never see the old Ilia again. Renado placed a hand on Colin’s shoulder. “It will be okay, child. If we give her time, I’m sure Ilia will find her heart.” “You think so?” the boy whispered hopefully. “I do. Colin, I’d like to ask you to stay in this village until then. It is our turn to show the courage you have already shown.” Colin’s despair seemed to vanish in an instant. He thanked the shaman, then hurried inside to sit beside Ilia and Prince Ralis. Link smiled weakly as the front door closed behind him. “Ilia is one of his closest friends.” “You’re fond of her,” Renado observed. Link sighed. “We grew up together. Seeing her like this…” Renado gave Link a moment to gather himself. His mind was balanced on a knife’s edge. He had already endured so much. The news of Ilia’s amnesia had nearly broken him. “I know this is difficult, but she’ll get through this,” the shaman placed a hand on the railing. “Don’t let concern for her consume you. She will be safe here.” When Link did not reply, Renado decided it was best to leave him be. He bowed his head and walked off toward the sanctuary to pray. Link stared into space for several more minutes before Telma finally pulled him from his thoughts. “It’s good to see there’s still hope…and it’s always nice to see happy results repay our efforts,” she said. Link looked at her, his eyes glazed with unshed tears. Happy results? He felt no joy at all. He turned toward the inn’s front door, but just as his hand reached the doorknob, Telma spoke again. “Those skills of yours… Any chance you’d consider using them for Hyrule?” Link turned. “What do you mean?” “What hope remains in our kingdom is frail and dying, but there’s a group trying to do what it can. I’m a member of that group.” Telma held out her hand. “The name’s Telma, by the way.” Link suddenly realized that while he knew the barkeeper’s name, they had never been properly introduced. He shook her hand. Telma leaned back against the porch railing, her gaze drifting toward Death Mountain. “I may stay here a bit longer. I am still worried about Ilia and…well…never mind the rest.” Telma glanced briefly at Renado. “I want to see you at my bar again, you hear me?” Link nodded. “I’ll stop by the next time I’m in town.” “The bar’s actually a kind of safehouse for my friends,” Telma said. “There’s a passageway that leads to the castle from there.” Good to know… Telma smiled. “I gotta run. See you soon, honey.” She hurried off to join the shaman. Catching up to him, she slipped an arm around his shoulder and spoke quietly at his side. Link briefly wondered what history the two of them shared. Exhaling deeply, he turned and stepped back inside. The soldiers had all retired to their rooms for the night, save for Jock. He sat alone at the bar, nursing a cup of ale while wrapping a bandage around his forearm. “I can’t say I’ve ever seen anyone dress like you. If tonight was any indication, you deserve to wear that tunic,” he remarked, his eyes never leaving his arm. Link sat down beside him at the bar. “I’m just trying to help.” “Most people in Hyrule are ready to give up. Maybe tonight proves the night is darkest before dawn.” Jock grunted as he pressed the bandage against his wound. “If it weren’t for people like Telma, the kingdom would’ve collapsed long ago.” Link cocked his head to the side. “You know about that?” Jock nodded. “I’m part of her Resistance.” “How does a soldier end up working with a group of freedom fighters?” Link asked. “I got fed up with the military sitting on its hands after Hyrule Castle fell.” Jock shook his head angrily. “We do nothing while innocent people suffer. You saw it for yourself. Hyrule is overrun.” It was good to know that some Hyruleans still dared to defy Zant’s rule, but Link doubted it would be enough. He had witnessed the enemy’s cruelty too many times to believe otherwise. They spared no one and left only ruin in their wake. “You know, when you first offered to help, I thought you were crazy. But after seeing you in action…” Jock finished wrapping his shoulder and rose to his feet. “The world needs you.” “Thanks,” Link said through a forced smile. Jock started up the stairs toward his room. “If you’re ever back in the city, stop by the bar. Telma will want to introduce you to our group.” His door closed softly behind him, leaving the inn in silence. Link sighed and turned toward his room, ready for sleep at last. That was when Midna emerged from his shadow. Frustration took hold. It seemed he would never be granted a moment of privacy. “We need to go now,” Midna said quietly. Link glowered at her. “I’m staying here for the night.” He thought he had begun to understand Midna during their journey. Now he doubted it. She pushed him forward relentlessly, never sparing a thought for his wellbeing. Compassion flickered in her at times, but it was always overshadowed by the selfish drive that guided her. “I know why you want to stay. Renado said she will be fine,” Midna whispered. Link looked away from her, scowling. She had felt his distress from within his shadow. The intrusion was violating. No matter how hard he tried, he could not hide his strongest emotions from her. “Leave me alone,” Link muttered. Midna drifted in a slow circle around him. “Hey, this isn’t my fault. Don’t blame me.” Link wanted to blame Midna for his troubles, but he knew that was the easy way out. The truth lay with him. He had failed everyone he cared about – his village, Colin, Ilia. They all suffered because he had been too weak to protect them. He sighed and stared at the back of his left hand. Would his destiny bring ruin to everyone he loved? Was that why his parents abandoned him? Link pushed himself away from the bar and climbed the stairs almost unconsciously. Midna, who had been trying to read his thoughts, was forced to retreat back into his shadow. Peering into the room where Ralis slept, Link saw Ilia sitting beside the bed, staring blankly at the wall. He stepped inside slowly, careful not to make a sound. “Ilia…?” She turned toward him, her gaze empty. “Is that my name?” “Yes.” Ilia looked at the wall, straining to recall even a fragment of the past, but the wall sealing away her memories would not yield. Each time she tried to break through it, a dull pounding filled her head. “I…” Ilia paused. “Did you know me?” Link lowered his gaze and nodded, his eyes fixed on the floor. No matter how hard he tried, he could not hide his pain. Ilia bit her lower lip, struggling to hold back tears. Her eyes were filled with desperation and quiet hopelessness. “I’m so sorry, Link. I wish I could remember. Will my memory ever come back?” she whimpered. Link gave a small nod. “It will. I know you’ll find your way back, Ilia.” His reassurance felt hollow, more an attempt to comfort himself than her. His uncertainty must have been obvious, because Ilia did not seem convinced. Her gaze returned to Prince Ralis as she struggled to remember something – anything at all. Too many emotions collided within Link. He forced himself to leave, convinced that his presence would only cause Ilia more pain. Outside on the porch, he found some comfort. His composure slowly returned as he looked out over the desolate village. Midna slipped from Link’s shadow again, looking for some clue to his thoughts. Though her face remained carefully neutral, the faint twinkle in her eye betrayed the act. She wondered why the goddesses had chosen Link to be their champion. Was it his courage, or some divine lineage he was destined to uphold? Unaware of Midna’s musings, Link walked toward the door, hoping to rest before departing for Lake Hylia in the morning. As his hand reached the doorknob, he paused, sensing a gentle mystical presence behind him. Turning to look over his shoulder, he was greeted by the spirit of Queen Rutela. She shimmered with an unearthly glow as she hovered above the quiet street. Renewed by her son’s salvation, her eyes were filled with quiet gratitude. “This way, young one,” the queen whispered over the wind. She moved toward the sanctuary, and Link followed close behind. Beyond it, a narrow trail wound through the mountains until it reached the cemetery. Rutela led him to the far edge of the clearing and up a set of weathered stairs, where a narrow cave opened into the mountainside. “Through here,” the queen spoke softly. Link ventured into the cave, and the passage soon widened into a dark grotto. A stone bridge stretched across the water toward a tombstone at the far end. The only light came from glowing blue stones beneath the water’s surface. Rutela hovered above the great tombstone, gazing at Link with a grateful smile. “Thank you for saving my son. You were wise to bring him to Kakariko Village. It is a sacred place where we Zora take our eternal rest.” Link gazed beneath the water’s surface and saw the resting places of the Zora. Lined with sapphires, the graves glittered softly in the light of the stones surrounding them. “My husband also rests here. It is no coincidence that my son found his salvation in this place.” Rutela slowly descended to the royal tombstone. With a graceful wave of her hand, the stone shifted and vanished, revealing a small chest concealed within. “What I promised you lies within this grave. I would like you to have it.” Link stepped toward the royal tomb and opened the chest, revealing a suit of armour within. Woven from durable blue fabric and wreathed with golden Zora scales, it was crafted with striking elegance. The flippers would help him glide swiftly through the water, though he could not imagine how he would breathe beneath the surface. “During his lifetime, my husband made garments designed specifically for the chosen hero,” Rutela said. Link accepted the Zoran armour and stood. “I never did this for the reward.” “Your selflessness knows no bounds, but you will need this armour in your quest to liberate Hyrule. Please, take it with you.” “Thank you.” Link lapsed into silence, and sorrow returned to the late queen’s gaze. The sight stirred an ache deep within him, just as it had when she first appeared before him and pleaded for his help in Zora’s Domain. “Now I may finally join my husband in eternal slumber. My son… He knows nothing of my death. If you see him again, please carry my message to him.” Rutela offered a faint, weary smile. “Tell him not to grieve his mother’s passing. Tell him I am immensely proud of him…and that I love him without end.” With that, Queen Rutela faded into the wind, her purpose fulfilled. Her son was safe, and she could finally rest in peace. Watching her disappear, Link wished he could feel that same quiet sense of tranquility. “Well,” Midna said, drifting up behind him, “good thing you picked up that nifty Zora armour. We’ll need it if we want to find the last Fused Shadow.” Link recoiled, reminded of the Interlopers. Every moment the Fused Shadows continued to exist weighed on him like blood on his hands. They had caused untold death and destruction. Yet they still intended to wield them. Did Midna truly understand their dark history? Would their power tempt her? Sighing deeply, Link made his way back toward the inn. He was exhausted. When he reached the door, Midna’s voice stopped him. “Remember what Faron told you? He said you had to defeat Zant to save this world.” She folded her arms. “So even if you go back with all the people you have saved, the whole tragedy will just repeat itself. We need to go to the Lakebed Temple.” Anger rose suddenly within Link. He could not comprehend Midna’s selfishness. Once again, she was using those he loved to bend him to her will. Was it all just a cruel game to her? Did she care about him at all? “Well, I’m sure the world will survive if I get a little rest,” Link snapped, barely restraining his rage. With nothing more to say, he reached for the door. Midna leaned against it, blocking his exit. He paused, then slowly turned to face her. “Move,” he growled. “We need to go…right now.” “I said move!” Link shoved Midna aside, flung the door open, then slammed it hard behind him…