Ice to see you

[Illidan Stormrage]

Days went by. The snowfall continued, tiny ice patterns crowding the earth. Link kept himself alive by building food out of omnilium since hunting was out of the question; not only did he know if anything worth eating was around them, but he couldn't know how far he would have to venture to find it. The Hero's Shade often left the cave, scouting the area in his golden wolf form, sometimes absent for the entire day. Whenever the fire dimmed, Link summoned more wood and threw it on the hungry flames. Every few hours Link checked on the dwarf, and every time it was the same. He was still breathing, his skin pallid and icy, but a degree warmer than the last day. The Hylian soldier ensured a pitcher of water awaited the dwarf should he awaken.

The biggest enemy was boredom. Link took the Master Sword and Phantom Sword outside with him just outside the mouth of the cave and withdrew them from their sheaths. Both blades failed to hold their full power; the Master Sword requiring its charge and the Phantom Sword's time altering power somehow locked away from him. In any case, Link practiced dual wielding, recalling forms he had seen his enemies use. He weaved between drifting snowflakes, slashing at the air, blocking envisioned attacks. Brandishing a sword and shield was second nature to him, but two blades required a completely different mindset. Sword and shield meant blocking and attacking when the situation called for it, but dual wielding concentrated almost solely on offense. While two swords could stop another swinging weapon, it was not designed to, nor could it provide a bulwark against stabbing weapons like spears.

The cold finally settled in Link's muscles and he decided to stop practice for the day. He headed back into the cave where the golden wolf with one eye sat, watching him attentively, and threw the swords to the ground.

<No progress?> the Hero's Shade asked.

"Warmer again, but still unconscious. I don't know how much longer he can live without drinking or eating something." Link slumped against the uneven cave wall, slipping off his boots and roasting his frost bitten toes by the fire. The heat and cold battled, almost hurting his feet, but soon the warmth of the flames won out and they thawed. "How did the scouting go?"

<I couldn't locate a source of food or water,> the spirit wolf answered. <I do not know how long you can rely on your omnilium sustenance.>

"Why not?" Link said, putting his hands out to summon a juicy steak.

<You are gaining strength from your own power. I wonder if it is a closed circuit of energy that is slowly leaking away.>

"What does that mean?"

<You use your power to summon food. That takes energy. You then consume the food, which contains the same energy, in some way or form, that you used to call the food. I do not believe this is a long term solution.>

The outline of a cooked steak drew itself before Link. "It's not supposed to be. It's only until we can help this dwarf."

<Link,> his ghost said, <you may need to consider leaving the cave. We came here for the Triforce of Courage, and yet we have done nothing but bide our time.>

"No," Link said.

<Your stubbornness may lead to your death.>

Link sighed. "OK. Let's give it one more day. If the dwarf doesn't wake up, we'll move on. At least he'll be in a cave if he comes to after we've gone rather than the snow."

<Good.>

The steak materialised, steamy vapour rising from it. The savoury scent sent Link's stomach to grumbling.

"Hey, mind if I have a bite of that?"

Link shot a look at the dwarf, who had risen to a sitting position. He propped himself up with his hands, and his movements were rigid. He grimaced each time a joint cracked.

Link overcame his surprise and smiled. "You're alive!"

"Sure am," the dwarf said. "A touch cold though. Care to feed a hungry old man?"

Link passed the steak to the dwarf and he buried his beard into it. In mere moments all that remained was its lingering meaty smell. The dwarf gave no mind to the pitcher of water beside him.

The dwarf burped, the sound echoing down the cave. "So, who do I have to thank for my miraculous survival?"

"Link," he replied. "I fought off the trolls that almost killed you as well." Well, sort of.

"Ah, many thanks," the dwarf said. "I'm Grimbold. I got separated from my hunting party during a freak blizzard. They've been happening more and more lately. When the snow finally calmed down, I came face to face with them stringy buggers. Killed a couple or three before they took me down. I thought that was the end of me."

Link nodded. "I'm glad you made it, Grimbold. We've been waiting for almost a week, hoping you'd recover."

"We?" Grimbold asked, looking about the cave. "Who's 'we?'"

Link looked to the Hero's Shade. He shook his head. "Oh, uh ... my ... swords?"

Grimbold chuckled, though strangled by a hoarse throat. "Aye, I'm quite taken to naming my weapons too. I don't suppose you found Clarise outside, did you?"

"No, but it could still be out there," Link surmised. "We're only a few hundred metres from where we found you. Although there's been a lot of snow. It might be buried deep."

Grimbold sighed. "Or the damn trolls could've snatched it and thrown it anywhere. Ah well, probably better to get a new one forged. Feeling the blood actually chill in your veins doesn't put you in the mood for shoveling snow, you know?" He coughed, a thick rattling sound. "I'm so fed up with the cold I think I'm going to drink straight for a week and collapse in some bear furs for another!"

"If you don't mind me asking, why do dwarves and trolls have it out for each other?" Link asked.

Grimbold waved his hand dismissively, his face scrunching up. "Oh, the trolls! Don't get me started on the blighted monsters! They're constantly ransacking any settlement brave enough to leave Dwarfholm, killing any travelers that come through ... I tell you, it's bad for business. Dwarves like to drink, but how can I promote my mead if no one from outside our city comes there any more?"

Link rubbed his chin. "Now that you mention it, the trolls were itching to fight me. I thought maybe they were mercenaries, or just plain jerks."

"Pah! All trolls are mercenaries and jerks. Don't trust them as far as you can throw them." Grimbold looked about the cave. "Say, got any mead?"

"I'll get some for you," Link said, holding out his hands. A simple steel stein began building itself of white light.

"Sapphiron's balls! You're a Prime!" Grimbold said. "What's a Prime doing out here in this hellhole of a Verse?"

The Hero's Shade made no gesture. Link took that as permission. "Looking for a temple, actually. High up on one of the mountains around here."

"Hah!" Grimbold clucked. "No shortage of those bloody things, I tell you!"

"I don't suppose you could help me out?" Link asked.

"Help you? Hell, I'd put on a dress do a little dance for you after what you did for me!" Grimbold said. "Do you need a guide? Do you know where you're going?"

"Approximately," Link said. "I don't think it's the tallest mountain but it's not inconsequential either. Although I'd not want to endanger anyone."

"Well truth be told, dwarves aren't much a fan of climbing mountains," Grimbold said, eyeing the almost summoned mead. "That's why we dig holes. Plus no dragons underground to eat us."

"Dragons?" Link asked.

"Oh aye, a whole family of the damn things are up in the peaks. Led by some monstrous dragon called Sapphiron. I hear stories that some are intelligent and even talk to people, but the vast majority see you as little more than a meatball with legs."

Link pursed his lips. "That's comforting."

The stein of mead completed, and Grimbold swiped it and chugged. "Not the good dwarf stuff, but it'll do." He gulped again and let out a satisfied sigh. "While most dwarves would be rather skittish about climbing a big rock where flying lizards'll swallow you whole, we can still help. Tell you what. Come back with me to Dwarfholm. You can rest, get supplies, and our hunters and trackers will tell you the fastest and safest path to where you're going. Sound good?"

The Hero's Shade nodded, but Link didn't need his opinion to know what to do. "That is a fantastic idea. Thank you." He looked outside. "Most of the day is gone, so we'll set out tomorrow."

"Ho ho! Wait till you get to Dwarfholm!" Grimbold said. "Since you saved the chief brewmaker, you'll be welcomed like a damn giant slayer!"