Dark Magic

With a final lunge, Link drove his sword into the crystal eye of the Twilit Igniter, Fyrus. He stumbled backwards and glanced upwards. Fyrus roared, thrashed once, and fell to the floor. It vanished in a puff of black smoke, leaving a dazed Goron in it's place. A fused shadow and a heart container fell from the smoke and dropped to the floor.

“That one was tough, wasn't it?” remarked Midna, appearing from Link's shadow. Link nodded in agreement. “Well, it's gone now, so grab the fused shadow and let's get out of here!” she added. Link picked up the fused shadow and the heart container, took one last glance around, and nodded. Midna hovered over and created a portal to exit.

“These Twilit monsters just keep getting tougher,” she said. “But you are too, so we're alright,”

“Where'd we leave Epona?” asked Link. He glanced around, and spotted a patch of horse grass. Picking up a leaf, he blew Epona's song, and surely enough, Epona appeared a minute later. Saddling up, Link picked up the reins and Epona galloped off toward Hyrule field.

“Mr Link! Wait!” came a voice. The short figure of the Postman appeared behind him. “I have a letter for you, it is from Princess Zelda herself!” he exclaimed. Handing over the letter, the Postman straightened up. “My business is concluded, onwards to mail!” said the Postman in his trademark style, and ran off.

“Open it and you'll find out!” shouted Midna. Link smiled and opened the envelope. He took a sheet of Triforce paper out and read the curly handwriting.

I hope you are doing well in your quest. I have been discreetly practising new magic, so I might be able to aid you in your journey. Yesterday, I succeeded in performing a new healing spell. I hid the evidence so the guards wouldn't notice. At midnight tonight, come to my tower. I will be waiting.

“Wow...” sighed Link. “She's practically imprisoned by the guards, she's checked upon every half hour and she can still come up with new spells!”

“Alright loverboy, let's get going!” said Midna. Link picked up the reins and Epona started into a brisk trot towards Hyrule Castle.

After a while, Link came to the entrance to the Twilight Realm, which covered Hyrule Castle and the surrounding area. After entering the Twilight and transforming into a wolf, Link padded off to Hyrule Town to wait for midnight. Eventually he curled up and fell asleep.

“Hey! Wake up!” came Midna's voice. Link jumped with alarm and growled. “Yeah yeah, it's time to go meet Zelda!” she said dismissively. Link got up and climbed onto the rooftops. Seeing Hyrule castle, he jumped into the town's waterways and snuck into the castle.

On the roof, Link climbed over to the tallest tower and padded at the window. Zelda appeared and opened the latch.

“Link! Thank the goddesses you arrived! The guards just gone, so we have thirty minutes,” she exclaimed. Link jumped down and sat on the floor. Midna jumped off Link's back and hovered in the air.

“It's a healing spell that should cure you of your wolf transformations. Also, you should be able to change whenever you want!” Zelda replied. “Hold out your paw, Link. The one with the Triforce on it,” she instucted. Link obeyed and held his paw over Zelda's hand. Both Triforces started glowing. Zelda closed her eyes and hummed. Midna watched them both, when she felt something was wrong. The Fused Shadows! Midna yanked open Link's pack and stared inside. The Fused Shadows were glowing and vibrating. “Zelda!” shouted Midna. “Stop!” Zelda couldn't hear Midna, she was concentrating on the spell. With a flash, Fused Shadows exploded outwards and threw Link, Midna and Zelda into the wall. Midna vanished into the wall, but Zelda and Link were knocked unconscious.

Link woke slowly. He rubbed his head and groaned. He opened his eyes and looked at his hand. He was human! He looked at his body. All human. His sighed with relief. The spell had worked.

“Zelda?” he called. The other half of the tower was rubble. Zelda and Midna were gone. He cursed and stood up. Grabbing his backpack, he opened the door and heard footsteps fast approaching. He cursed again and dropped out the hole in the wall on the roof. He got up too fast and lost his footing. Slipping, his feet came out from underneath him and he slid down the roof tiles onto the lower floor. He jumped down onto the balcony on the next floor and peered inside. It was clear. He opened the door and ran down the stairs at the other end of the room. When he got to the ground floor, he glanced around and headed for the main gate. He turned a corner and knocked into something. Falling backwards, he grabbed his sword in case of a fight.

“Link?” came Zelda's voice. Link looked up. Zelda was standing there. “Need a hand?” she asked. Link took her hand and stood up.

“I don't know” she said. “But I think you should go before you're discovered.” Link looked at her and a look of puzzlement crossed his face.

“Have... have you gotten taller, Zelda?” he asked. Zelda blinked, and then laughed.

“Of course not, silly, I only look taller because you were a wolf before,” she answered. Link paused a moment, then shook his head.

Link left the castle and headed into town to look for Midna. When he found her, she was sat on the east bridge of Hyrule, clutching the Fused Shadows. Link approached her nervously.

“I... don't know” she replied. “Something happened with the Fused Shadows. You were turned back into a human, I was thrown out of the Twilight Realm... but I hid in the shadows until I could get back in,” she said. “I don't know about Zelda...” she continued.

“The magic must have affected her in some way,” she replied. “But...” she started, then her visible eye widened. “We have to go back. Now.” she said firmly.

“Why?” asked Link. Midna pointed over his shoulder. “THAT. Is why,” she said. Link turned around and gasped. Zelda was stood in the middle of Castle Town, but she was huge!

“She's still growing. We have to stop this before she crushes the whole of Hyrule!” she said.

Zelda turned around and blushed. She took a step backwards and nearly kicked over a market stand. “I'm sorry!”she wailed, and backed away from the stand, nearly crushing a crowd of people staring at her in bewilderment. “Oh! I'm sorry!” Tears burst from her eyes, from pity, and sorrow.

“Zelda!” came a tiny voice. Zelda turned round and peered into the crowd. “Zelda! Over here!” came the voice again. She looked around in the crowd and saw a familiar green hat.

“Link!?” she cried. Link pushed his way through the shocked crowd and made his way over to the 50 ft Zelda. “Link! It is you!” she gasped. Link burst through the edge of the crowd, looked up, blushed, and looked down again. Zelda knelt down and flattened her dress. “Link! What happened to me?” she sobbed. Link stood there awkwardly for a moment, then looked at her face.

“Don't cry Zelda, you'll be okay!” reassured Link. Zelda opened her eyes and gazed at her miniscule hero.

“But I'm a freak...” said Zelda quietly. She stood up and brushed down her dress. Then she covered her face with her hands, leaving gaps to see though, and jumped over the city walls. Midna appeared from Link's shadow and grinned at him.

“You're the one who has to sort this mess out!” she giggled. Link started to object, but stopped when he realised that she was right. He sighed and ran off to the eastern gate.

Zelda stopped near the bridge over Lake Hylia. She sat down on the cliff and put her face in her hands.

“What has happened to me...?” she asked herself. “It's all Link's fault!” she shouted suddenly. “His Fused Shadows went wrong! I bet he did this on purpose! He wants to see me humiliated!” she shouted angrily. A tourist walked off the bridge and stared at her in amazement. Zelda noticed this and stood up. “What!? You think I'm a freak too! Let's all stare at the freak, shall we!?”Zelda went on. The tourist's face changed from awe to fear.

“Shut up! I hate you!” Zelda shouted. She took a step towards the tourist and picked him up. “You think I'm funny!?” she yelled at him. The tourist's face lost all colour.

“N-not at all! I think-” he tried to say. Zelda brought him up to face height and flung him as far as she could. He sailed over the lake and hit the water with a large splash. Zelda stared at her hands in amazement.

“I'm... that strong...?”she whispered quietly. Then she smiled. “Excellent.”

Epona slowed to a trot, then stopped near a tree. Link climbed off her back and took out the Hawkeye. Gazing though the Hawkeye, he noticed a blur of movement in the horizon. Focusing on the blur, he gasped. Zelda was running at breakneck speed towards him, a look of anger on her face. Link took off the Hawkeye and ran back to Epona. Midna appeared from his shadow and looked at him quizzically.

“What's wrong?” she asked. Link put the Hawkeye into the saddlebag and pointed to where Zelda was rampaging toward them.

“Look over there and you'll find out!” he said. Midna hovered over and looked.

“Oh my goddess... she must be 80 ft by now!” she gasped. “And she's almost here!” The ground was beginning to shake. Epona reared up and fled. Link shot round and saw her galloping away as fast as possible.

“Damn!” Link shouted. The world darkened. A shadow passed over the area where Link and Midna were stood. Link looked up, already knowing what he'd see. Zelda was stood in front of them, blocking out the sun. Her hands were on her hips, her face was darker than the rest of her.

“Well...” said Midna. “Good luck, hero!” she said, and disappeared. Link dropped to the ground and grabbed at his shadow.

“Wait! Don't leave me!” he shouted. Zelda leaned over and stared at him in the eyes.

“I hope you're happy, hero!” she shouted. Link took a step back. “Is this what you wanted?” she asked. “To humilate me! Make me a freak!?” she continued. Link stared at her in confusion.

“Well, it's not gonna happen!” she said firmly. She reached down and took hold of Link in one hand, then lifted him off the ground. He struggled, but her grip was like iron.

“Zelda! What's gotten into you!” he gasped, because Zelda's grip was making it hard to breathe. Zelda ignored him and placed him in her pouch that hung from her neck. She tied to end so Link couldn't get out and let it fall against her skin. Ignoring the muffled complaints from her prisoner, she started walking back to Hyrule Castle.

Link struggled and wished he'd kept his gear with him instead of leaving it with Epona, who backed off at first sight of the giantess. There were small holes in the stitching of the pouch, and Link put his eye to one of them. The ground seemed impossibly far away. Link inhaled deeply and pulled his sword out. Placing it near the ring of the pouch, he slid the blade through a gap and twisted it round to make the hole bigger. He put his head next to the hole and tried to cut the string that was holding the neck tight without cutting the string that was keeping him up and without alerting Zelda. He aligned his sword with the right string, thrust forward...

...and was knocked backwards against the back of the pouch. Zelda had jumped over the castle walls and walked through the market, not caring about the people desperately trying to avoid being crushed or having their goods crushed. Zelda walked all the way up to the castle and sat down in the gardens. She opened the pouch, reached in, and pulled out a very confused Hero of Time. Link hastily hid his sword so Zelda wouldn't take it away and his best chance of escape.

“Enjoy the trip?” asked Zelda. Link, who was hanging by his feet, nodded obediently. Zelda smiled. “Good,” she said. “I want you to...”

Midna appeared from Link's shadow and examined his sleeping form. She hovered round to his face and turned her head slightly to listen to his breathing pattern.

“Wow... he's really tired...” whispered Midna. She reached over and ran her hand down Link's hair.

“I am awake, you know...” murmured Link. Midna jumped with surprise and withdrew her hand.

“Geez, don't scare me like that!” she shouted angrily. Link's eyes snapped open and a look of panic crossed his face. His gaze flicked up to somewhere behind Midna and he relaxed.

“Keep your voice down!” whispered Link. Midna looked at him quizzically. “Look...” said Link, and pointed behind Midna. She turned around and stared at the castle wall.

“I don't see... oh.” She said. Zelda's huge form was gently rising and falling beyond the gate. She turned back to Link. “Why don't you try to escape?” she asked him. Link shook his head.

“Don't you think I haven't tried? She's surrounded the castle with an energy field. Nothing can get in, or out...” he whispered. “She's been working me to the bone. I'm exhausted...”

“But now's our chance to fix her!” Midna said excitedly. Link's eyes widened.

“How?” he asked. Midna beckoned, and hovered slowly over to Zelda. Link got up and softly walked over to her. Midna was stood next to Zelda's arm, which currently looked like an uprooted tree.

“I just need to get that crystal in her crown. Then I should be able to undo the spell,” she explained. “Only thing is though... you need to bring it to me,” she said.

“What!?” exclaimed Link, then slapped his hand over his mouth. Zelda snorted softly. “Why me? Can't you just fly over and get it?” he asked quietly.

Midna shook her head. “Nope. I doubt I can touch it,” she said. Link sighed, and climbed onto Zelda's arm, then onto her shoulder. “Plus, it's more fun this way...” giggled Midna quietly. Link put his hand over Zelda's neck and pulled himself up. He slipped and fell sidewards onto Zelda's chest, accidently hitting her collarbone. Zelda twitched, and rolled over, pinning Link underneath her! Link was pushed into the soft mud, unable to move, but he knew he'd eventually suffocate if he couldn't get out. He pushed up, but Zelda was too heavy. He couldn't call for Midna, she wouldn't hear him. A plan suddenly formed in his head. He took a deep breath, and prayed to the goddesses for luck. If this didn't work, it could be the end for him...

Link shut his eyes, and concentrated. Searching his memory, he found something that hadn't been before. It felt like a barrier or something, with darkness behind. He dug at the barrier and it shattered, flooding his mind with Twilight. He opened his eyes and held out a hand in front of his eyes. A paw! It worked! Link yelped with surprise and started digging. He dug out from under Zelda and hit the surface, gasping for air. Midna saw him and flew over.

“Link!” said Midna. Link shook the mud off himself and went back to the barrier in his mind. He picked up the shards and they flew back to the correct place, sealing the flow of Twilight. Link opened his eyes and stood up, human again. Midna stared. “How did... you do that...?” she asked.

“Tell you later,” he replied. He turned round. Zelda was still laying on her front, oblivious to all that had just happened. Link walked round to her head and stood in front of her face. The crystal was on the front of the crown, just out of reach. There was a small gap between the crystal and the set, probably made when Zelda had rolled over and the crystal had been knocked slightly. Link pulled out his bow and set an arrow. He aimed for the gap and released. The arrow flew straight and thudded into the gap, slightly turning the crystal out. Link breathed a sigh of relief, Zelda hadn't woken up. But... how could he get the crystal out? He could probably pull it out, but to get up there... Link put his bow away and grabbed a strand of Zelda's golden hair. He pulled it gently, to test its strength and whether it would wake Zelda up. He took off his boots and held the hair with both hands. He put his feet against Zelda's cheek and pulled himself up. He made it up to Zelda's forehead without her waking up. He gently swung round and grabbed Zelda's crown. Reaching up, he touched the crystal. Zelda's eyes snapped open.

Zelda sprang up in an instant, shaking Link loose. She plucked him out of the air and brought him up to her face. “And what are we up to?” shouted Zelda. Link grimaced and braced himself for the worst. “I guess you can't be trusted,” said Zelda with mock sadness. Then she grinned. “Any last words, hero?” she asked, with particular emphasis on the last word.

“Zelda, that line is so cliché!” shouted Link, and swung his Gale Boomerang at Zelda's forehead. The miniature whirlwind made Zelda stumble, and it knocked the crystal out of her crown. “Midna! Now!” Link shouted. Midna nodded from the ground and hovered to where the crystal had landed in the mud. The Fused Shadows appeared and hovered around her. Zelda recovered her stance and stared at Link's smiling face. Her free hand snapped over the empty slot in her crown.

Midna chanted some words and the Fused Shadows flashed. The crystal shone bright for a moment, then she covered it with the Fused Shadows, picked it up, and flung it at Zelda. The Shadow/Crystal combination exploded and bright light filled the sky. Suddenly Link was falling, falling, into an abyss.

Link woke slowly. As his vision cleared, he saw Hyrule Castle and realised he was still in the Garden. As everything came back to him, he spun round. Zelda was lying there on her side, but she was still giant! Link cursed. The spell hadn't worked. The Crystal was half stuck in some mud a few feet away. Midna appeared from Link's shadow, holding the Fused Shadows.

“Feeling better?” she asked. Link nodded. “Good. You've been out for ten minutes. I was starting to get worried,” she said. Link raised an eyebrow.

“Because it wasn't the Fused Shadows which caused her giantism,” she said quietly. Link stared at her.

“I... don't know...” Midna whispered. Zelda stirred behind them. Link spun round and braced himself. Zelda opened her eyes and sat up slowly.

“L-Link...?” she asked. Her eyes filled with tears. “What have I done to you...?” she asked. Link slowly put his arms down and walked over to her cautiously. Zelda kneeled over and buried her face in her hands.

“I'm so sorry Link! I couldn't help it, I-I knew what was happening but I couldn't stop-” she sobbed. Link put a hand on her knee and tried to reassure her.

“It's okay, Zelda!” he said “I'm fine! Really!” he went on. “Please don't cry Zelda. It's not your fault.”

Zelda looked at him. “But I... tried to...” she said. Link gave her a reassuring smile.

“That wasn't you. That wasn't Princess Zelda,” said Link. Zelda wiped her cheeks and nodded.

“Thank you... Link,” she said. With that, she picked him off the ground, lifted him up, and gave him a quick hug. Link was pushed against Zelda's chest once more, except this time it was worse because he couldn't breathe. His face turned pink, and not just from suffocation. Zelda let him go and placed him back on the ground. Link's gaze met Zelda's and they both blushed.

“Are you nearly done?”asked Midna, from over near the wall. “We still have another Fused Shadow to get.”

“As long as we can get the Fused Shadow afterwards, I don't care,” Midna replied. Link turned back to Zelda.

“Do you remember anything from before?” he asked. “Anything that might be a clue?”

“It was like... a blanket of darkness covering me. I couldn't think straight. It was like a dream... I couldn't stop myself.”

Link looked at Midna. “Do... you think it was Zant?” Link asked. Midna shrugged.

“Probably,” she said. “But why would he want to make Zelda 100 feet tall?”

“Because I'd be his unstoppable puppet,” she said quietly. “He could use me to destroy everything and then...” she trailed off.

Link cursed. “We have to get Zant,” he said. “And make him turn Zelda back to normal.”

Midna shook her head. “We're no match for Zant right now. We need that other Fused Shadow.”

“If it helps...” she started. “Then I won't stop until we bring him down.” Link looked at her and smiled. Zelda stood up and drew herself up to her impressive height.

Link grabbed the top of the ledge and heaved himself up. He stood up, brushed the dirt off his front and signalled behind him. Zelda lifted herself off the ground behind him and hovered up to the top of the cliff. She delicately landed on the lush grass, since just falling onto the ground would have caused tremors. Link paused to look up at her. She had stopped growing since Link had broken Zant's curse, but she hadn't regained her former size. She was now placed at a breathtaking 120 ft high, and because of this, Zelda had started wearing plain trousers instead of a skirt. Link didn't need to ask why. He thought back and blushed at the memory. Sighing, he broke into a run.

He hadn't meant to see up her skirt. Zelda believed him, as it was largely her fault to begin with. Link had been walking behind her, and her skirt had caught itself on a rock and snagged. Zelda had kept walking and when she tripped over, Link, who'd tried to run up to tell her that her skirt was caught, had turned a vibrant shade of crimson.

Link shook his head. He had to concentrate now. Zant should be somewhere ahead. Link ran through a group of trees and moved forward. Zelda was waiting behind, waiting for Link's signal. Staring ahead, his gaze rested on a grey castle turret.

So that was where Zant is waiting... Link mused. He exhaled, and ran forward toward the castle, keeping toward the shadows. Slipping around the circumference of the castle, he spotted a small drainage hole in the side.

I'm glad Zelda turned me human in the Twilight Realm, or this would be a problem. Or we could just ask Zant if he'd kindly get rid of the Twilight and maybe go away... Link laughed aloud.

If only it were that easy. Link climbed into the hole and started to crawl along.

Zelda picked a tree out of the ground and absent-mindedly picked off branches, as someone would pick a flower and pull out the petals. She sighed and stared towards the castle. Link had been gone a long time. Maybe she should go see if... A loud caw filled the air. From the castle, a solitary hawk flew up from the walls.

That's his signal! Zelda thought. She crawled forwards a bit, trying to hide under cover of the trees, which is pretty difficult when you're 120 ft high. Somehow she managed it and slid up to the castle walls.

I need to extremely delicate here... one false move and the entire castle will know...

Zelda tried to inconspicuously pluck some bricks out of the wall so she could see inside. She sighed and drew one glove off. Exposing her long fingernails, she slid her first fingernail into a crack and pulled outwards. A solitary brick became loose and tumbled out. Zelda frowned. Then she sighed again.

“Screw this,” she said, and punched a hole the size of a set of double doors into the wall. She peered inside and looked around. A very surprised and confused Moblin stood in one corner gaping at the hole. Zelda blinked in shock and pulled him out with one hand. Bringing the Moblin up, she paused. Shaking her head, she threw the Moblin out behind her at ground level, where it came to stop far away, extremely dazed and confused. Zelda had found she couldn't kill it.

Link paused and pulled out his sword. A dull thud had just echoed around the castle, quite close by. And where was Zelda? He gazed up at the sky and waited. After a minute, the sound of shifting brick came to his ears, from the next room. Nervously, he edged over to the door and kicked it open, where he was greeted by Zelda's fist.

The thud that had echoed around the castle was heard pretty much everywhere, and soon Moblins and the other guards were running around in a state of panic. What had attacked them? Frightened and bewildered, they fled toward the throne room, where Zant was. News of the attack had probably already reached him, and they wanted to know what he'd do about the invaders. The first Moblin stumbled into the throne room and leaned over panting. It looked up.

Link thought for a moment. “The throne room should be over there, where that flickering light is,” he said, and pointed to a far window. Zelda nodded in acknowledgement.

“Wait!” shouted Link. “I'll go in first, and you stand outside the window, out of sight. If there's a problem, I'll shout. Okay?”

Zelda nodded again. She had a sudden urge to say something to Link, to reassure him that she was alright and that she was worried about him. But as she opened her mouth to say these words, Link had closed the door behind him at the far side of the room and disappeared. Zelda closed her mouth. Then, a moment later, she set off toward the window.

Link ran through the corridors and stopped outside a door. Unsheathing his sword, he slowly pushed it open and peered inside. The room was empty; the guards were gone. Link pushed the door wide open and ran through. He caught a glimpse of pink through the window and it stopped. Zelda was outside, he was almost at the throne room. A large set of double doors were at the far side of the room. Link exhaled and walked over. He put his eye to the keyhole and moved his head so he could see better. He could see nothing of the thrones, they were in a far corner. There was lots of guards though. Link sighed. Great. Gripping his sword tightly, he turned the handle and kicked the door open.

Zelda then turned her attention to her nails. She picked a bit off one nail and then compared it to the rest. Sighing with boredom, she chipped a slice off the next nail. As she gazed absent-mindedly out across the land, she didn't notice the fighting going on the room behind her. The sounds soon stopped and there was silence. If Zelda had been looking at the window, she would have seen Link being dragged forward toward the throne with his gear stolen.

Link opened his eyes. The memory of the fighting came back in a flash. There were so many more guards than he'd thought.

I'd best think more before I barge into a room in future, he thought. He suddenly became aware that he'd been dragged onto some steps, and his captors had now released their hold and were backing away. Link looked up the steps and saw the throne. Sitting on it was a shadowy figure with black cape and hood.

“Zant!” shouted Link. The shadowy figure chuckled throatily and gestured to the Moblins behind Link, who then left the room, leaving others behind.

“Not quite,” it rasped. “My name is Urshon. I am the keeper of this castle. You really think that Zant would stay here, with minimal security in the middle of nowhere?” it asked.

Link opened his mouth to argue, then closed it when he realised that it was right.

Damn! He thought. Then an idea popped into his head. “Z-Zelda!” he called. A thud came from outside and Link smiled. “Just you wait!” Link shouted at Urshon. Urshon just smiled back.

“For what?” he said calmly. A moment later, Zelda fell though the wall covered in chains, and with a dozen Moblins hanging off, the same ones who had just exited the room a minute earlier. “Oh, you meant her!” laughed Urshon, and stood up. “I don't think so.” He slowly walked over to Link and punched him, hard. Link fell back and gasped.

“Link!” shouted Zelda, and thrashed furiously, but the chains held. The moblins looked at each other nervously. Urshon just laughed, and kicked Link. Link fell to the bottom of the steps and groaned. “No!” shouted Zelda, and rattled the chains again. The moblins started to back away. Urshon glanced up at Zelda thrashing about and smiled. A moment later, the chains snapped into pieces and Zelda sprung up, shaking the entire castles. The moblins turned tail and fled. Link simply reached into his backpack. Zelda brought her fist round and drove it into the floor where Urshon had been standing a second before. Now he was standing a few metres away, grinning widely.

“You can't stop me!” laughed Urshon. Link released the arrow and it flew through the air.

“I can,” said Link. The arrow hit Urshon in the back, and by chance, pierced his black heart. Urshon stopped, and fell to his knees.

“There it is, Princess, Hyrule Castle,” called Link. Zelda stumbled up the slope, normal size, panting.

“I swear it was never that far away...” muttered Zelda. Link smiled and offered her his hand. Zelda took it and pulled herself up. “But then again, I would've said it was Zant controlling that Dark Magic,” she added. Link pointed in the distance to tall spires.

“That's Hyrule,” said Link. “If we hurry, we can be there before sunset.”

Zelda glanced up at the Twilight sky. “Ha ha...” she said. “We could take years and be there before sunset,” she told him. Link nodded.