The Seventh Sage
By Ariana Aislinn

Here's chapter five. It's a long one, sorry...I couldn't find a place to cut it off! As with the previous and the next chapter, this is a bit rough. I did a little editing but it's been sitting on my hard drive for a couple years and I finally decided it wasn't going to improve much and I should just post it. I'm thinking of dragging this out and writing some new chapters soon. We'll see if I can remember where I was going with it.

Disclaimer:
The Legend of Zelda and its characters are the property of Nintendo. This is a work of fanfiction, for fun only and not for profit.

Chapter 5:
The Sage of Light

After supper the next evening, Sheik found himself in the main tent with Impa and the council, seated in a semi-circle. Trienn held in her hands a round, unadorned mirror. Whispering a few words of a Sheikah spell over it, she passed a hand over its reflective surface, then propped it up against a chair so all could see.

"What is she doing?" Sheik whispered to Impa. The Sheikah woman shook her head. "Patience; she will explain."

Trienn drew herself up straight, hands placed on her knees, and met Sheik's eyes. "It is time you were told of some of the events of the outside world. You surely have guessed some of what must have happened, and some things you were told before."

Sheik lowered his head and nodded. Three years ago, news had arrived that the king, who had gone into hiding while attempting to lead opposing forces against Ganondorf, had finally been caught and killed by the Gerudo king. It was not unexpected, but somehow Sheik had always held out hope that his father would survive. He'd cried for days, then somehow forced back his grief. He had not shed a tear since.

"After the king was killed and his forces captured, Ganondorf tore down the royal castle. Using the magic of the Triforce of Power and the labor of the enslaved people of the capital, he built a new castle. Decay and death spread outward from this stronghold; Hyrule's capital is now nothing more than a ruin filled with restless spirits and evil. That evil spreads outward, casting fear into the hearts of the people as Ganondorf's power spreads."

Sheik was silent. This was worse than he'd been told. He'd known they were keeping things from him. It had been for the best, really, because regardless of what was happening in Hyrule, he could do nothing yet. Right now his job was to continue his training, and more information would only have distracted him. Still, it came as a shock, now that he was finally hearing the full and horrible truth.

"Your task is to find the sages so they can help you seal Ganondorf's power back in the Sacred Realm. This will not be easy; you will need help. The sages, if they are there to be found, will be in the temples, but their power cannot awaken until it is freed. The temples have been overrun by Ganondorf's evil, and they must be freed from it before the sages can awaken."

"So…the sages sleep in the temples?" Sheik frowned.

"No, only their power does. We do not yet know who the sages will be. They will enter the temples first, and only then will we know."

Sheik nodded slowly. "I…suppose I understand. There are six sages, and I must use my power to find them?"

Trienn looked at Impa, who sighed. "Not exactly, Sheik. Your power, great though it may be, is not enough. The temples have unusual seals on them, and the danger is great. We cannot risk you. Not that you can do nothing, but you cannot do it all. You will need help."

"And there, we can help," said Trienn. "Firstly, you must only find five sages; the sixth is already proclaimed. Long ago, six magic-users gathered and directed their power toward protecting the Sacred Realm and the Triforce from evil. They became the sages, sealing their magic into the six temples they built. Once the Sacred Realm was closed, the Spiritual Stones and the Ocarina of Time became the key to the lock, and the sages departed, leaving their power behind. If it were ever needed again, new sages would awaken. Yet one stayed in his temple, as caretaker and guardian of the seal. That one is the Sage of Light. He resides in the Temple of Light, within the Sacred Realm."

"But I thought that the Sacred Realm was overrun with Ganondorf's evil by now." "So it is. Yet the Sage of Light has been able to protect the Temple of Light and the Chamber of Sages. It is a small haven within the darkness, but it is still there. It is there that the quest must begin, when all is ready, and it is the Sage of Light we must first contact." Trienn gestured to the mirror, whose surface now rippled with light and shadow.

"A speaking spell?" Sheik whispered to Impa, who nodded.

"We may have to wait some minutes for a reply," said Trienn. "There are layers of spells and barriers in the way, and Ganondorf's power will not give way easily."

They were silent for some time, until finally the mirror flashed faintly, then a little brighter, and then a third time, brighter still. A figure slowly appeared in the mirror – an old man with a balding head, a white beard, and harsh, bloodshot eyes. Either he was rather heavyset, or his red robes were so thick as to make him appear so. He looked around the group gathered before the mirror, then smiled briefly. "Ah! The time has come, then, as I had foreseen."

Trienn and Impa exchanged a glance. The other members of the council whispered among themselves, then waited to see what would happen. Trienn inclined her head toward the mirror. "Sage Rauru. We seek advice on the events in Hyrule today and the events to come. Was this what you had foreseen?"

Rauru drew himself up importantly, his face solemn. "Indeed, this and other things, as well. But ask your questions."

"You know what happened five years ago, certainly. We believe that the Temple of Light is the last stronghold against the evil that pervades the Sacred Realm – is this true?" Rauru nodded, and Impa continued to speak. "How long can we expect the Temple of Light to stand?"

"Long enough. It will be a close thing, but the Chamber of Sages will remain safe until it is time to fill it once more."

Trienn raised an eyebrow. "Then you also believe that the legend of the sages may be our only hope?"

"Ah, the very question I had expected. You wish to seek the sages and have them seal Ganondorf's power. It may be that this is our only chance, but you must know it is impossible."

Sheik leaned forward. "It's not impossible! There must be a way," he said sharply, then, remembering himself, snapped his mouth shut.

"And you are…?" Rauru's eyes turned to examine the young Sheikah, their gaze disconcerting. Sheik looked at the floor. Rauru chuckled suddenly. "You are not who you seem, that much I can tell. What are you truly, that you would seek such an elaborate disguise? I sense great power from you."

"This youth, now known as Sheik, is truly the Princess Zelda, heir to the throne of Hyrule and the magic of the royal family, as well as bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom. I brought her here to keep her safe from Ganondorf and his minions, and to prepare to resist him when the time was right."

Rauru blinked in surprise at Impa, then recovered himself. Was Sheik imagining it, or was the sage trying to look as if he had known that all along? The old man certainly knew a great deal, perhaps even of the future, but he clearly did not know everything. Sheik tried to hide a smile.

Rohen spoke up from where he lounged against a pile of cushions, arms crossed over his chest. "Sage Rauru, please explain what you said. Why is it impossible to seek the sages?" Rauru cleared his throat and gave Rohen a slightly perturbed look. "The six sages alone are not enough. You surely know that a seventh sage is required, one with great power of his or her own, enough to guide the other six. One who has enough magic and a strong will must be found, and must agree to aid you in your quest, before you can even think of undertaking it."

"This we know." Impa smiled wryly. "Though she is young, the princess has great power. She was always strong in the royal magic of her family, she has great musical talent and potential for learning the song magic that may aid her in her quest, and she possesses the Triforce of Wisdom. If she can be taught to control this power, she may succeed. The discipline necessary to train as a Sheikah has already given her a strong beginning, and she can adequately protect herself if necessary."

Rauru looked disgruntled. "A fair and delicate princess, the seventh sage?" he muttered, but as he eyed Sheik, it was obvious he could not deny how he had been fooled. This was no damsel in distress, wailing for help. This was a strong mind and will with great determination.

Trienn nodded. "Yes, as Sheik, Zelda has done well – well enough to make any Sheikah family proud. She is dedicated, courageous, and has a great deal of common sense, as well as a strong sense of responsibility."

"Very well," the sage grumbled. "But though she has trained as a Sheikah and, if your words are true, can fight well enough to protect herself, she is no warrior. A warrior is required to enter the temples and fight Ganondorf's minions, then break the spells he has placed there. A warrior must be the one to break the seals on the sages' power and awaken them. Perhaps this princess might aid, but she cannot do it alone. Surely you must know that."

Trienn held up her hands and shook her head. "That is one of the reasons we contacted you, Sage Rauru – to ask your advice on this matter."

Rauru chuckled again, looking slightly mollified. "There I can help you. The hero you need is already waiting for the time to come when he will set forth."

Rohen looked skeptical. "You're not serious?"

"Indeed I am. He is currently safe from Ganondorf, and he has proven his worth in the past. Destiny marks him as her own, and destiny brought him here. I speak of the young man called Link."

Sheik blinked. "Link? But…he is sealed in the Sacred Realm, yes? But he was just a child!"

"A child, yes, but one who has aged during the time that he has been sealed away. Destiny knows what she is doing. She sealed him here for a reason."

"He…isn't a Kokiri, is he?" Sheik asked slowly.

"No. You may remember from your history lessons that just before you were born, the Korenja from the north attacked Hyrule. Many northern villages were decimated before your father's forces finally turned them back. There were many refugees in this war, and one, a young mother with a newborn baby, escaped and crossed the plains, seeking safety in the southeast. What little food she found, she saved for the baby, and she walked until she was exhausted. Finally she reached the forests to the east, where the Kokiri children took pity on her and took her to the Great Deku Tree. He agreed to raise her child among his Kokiri children, sensing that the boy had the mark of destiny upon him. The woman died soon after, overcome by the hardships she had endured."

Sheik shook his head, traces of emotion breaking through his Sheikah reserve. The princess beneath the mask was a strong person, but one with a soft heart. "That just isn't fair, though. I felt guilty enough about what I asked him to do. At first, it seemed I was just asking him a favor. I knew it was dangerous, but I never truly believed we could fail. I was young; I was naïve. I'd had a dream in which I saw him coming from the forest to meet me, and when he did – well, I was sure we could succeed against Ganondorf. But in the end, we didn't, and it was my doing! It is my fault that he was sealed away in the Sacred Realm, my fault that years of his life have been stolen from him. Must we ask still more of him? Can he not simply be released from the seal and allowed to live his own life?"

"Princess, you know it is too late for that." Rauru's voice sounded almost mocking to guilt-ridden ears. "It was too late as soon as the Triforce of Courage joined with him. Did you know that it had?"

Impa nodded. "We knew. It was the reason we did not try to release him from the seal before; we knew that he was safest from Ganondorf's searching eyes where he was."

"Then you understand. He is touched by destiny. The Great Deku Tree understood that; the princess's dreams told her so as well. Even the boy himself was susceptible to nightmares as Ganondorf's power grew. He knew something was going to happen. If he had not desired it, he would never have set out on the journey given to him in the first place."

Sheik bit his lip doubtfully, trying to reclaim the Sheikah reserve. It would not do to drop the disguise before this sage. He knew who Sheik was, but Sheik could still show him that he underestimated the princess who had become a warrior.

"Link is destined to become the Hero of Time," Rauru continued. "That is why the Triforce sealed him here – to wait until he was ready to set forth, much as you have been spirited away to hide among the Sheikah, princess. Two pieces of the puzzle, with many parallels – you think it is coincidence? Link is the Hero of Time, and you will aid him in finding and awakening the other five sages. You will then become the seventh sage and lead all of the sages in releasing Ganondorf's power and restoring peace to Hyrule. Is this not what you wanted?" He met the glare of Sheik's red eyes with his own bloodshot gaze, and laughed. "You see, the path is set, the course determined. You asked me for advice, and I have given it. Now the only question that remains is…when?"

"The usual Sheikah training continues for two years after one is accepted into an order. Two more years, and I believe it will be time to seek the sages."

Rauru nodded solemnly to Trienn. "Yes, yes…it is well. When the time comes, there will be more for the princess to do to fulfill her destiny…but all will be revealed in two years' time. For now, I trust you have no further questions?" She shook her head. "Then I bid you farewell. I will send the Hero of Time back to the gateway of the Sacred Realm, the Temple of Time, to begin his journey in two years' time, on the princess's sixteenth birthday. Good luck to you, and train hard, Zelda of the Sheikah. Contact me again when the hero has appeared." The surface of the mirror rippled suddenly, and the Sage of Light's face vanished.

"Two years," Trienn sighed. "That doesn't give us much time…and yet I wonder if it is soon enough. I hope Hyrule can last that long against the destruction Ganondorf wreaks in the name of his supposed rule."

Sheik sighed. "Is he always like that?"

"Who, Rauru?" Trienn chuckled. "Well, I admit I have only spoken to him once or twice before in my lifetime, but yes, he is rather insufferable. It doesn't help that he so often does know as much as he claims to. Living an extended life in the Sacred Realm, continuing to grasp the full power of the Sage of Light, he naturally has a special kind of insight and some knowledge of the future. But don't let him frighten you; he's as human as the rest of us, thank heaven." The white-haired council leader stood, yawned, and stretched. "It must be after midnight. Off to bed, Sheik. We meet again tomorrow night to begin learning some of the songs that will aid you in your journey, so remember to bring the harp Impa gave you. We must also begin trying to help you harness your magical power more fully. You will need your rest."

Sheik nodded and stood, covering a yawn of his own. With a brief farewell and a respectful nod to the council members, he stumbled off to his own tent. It was some time before he drifted off into sleep, however, as thoughts continued to whirl in his head.