Link lay in bed, his eyes wide open and staring at the ceiling. It was three in the morning, but he couldn't sleep. He never could. Zelda shifted beside him and let out a little murmur in her sleep. Link turned and looked at the lovely princess. A strand of thick golden hair had fallen over her face as she lay there, her eyelids fluttering and her soft pink mouth pursing and relaxing. There was no sense of serenity that stole over Link at the sight of his beautiful lover.

With a gentle sigh, Link rose from the bed and pulled on his breeches, his bare feet moving silently over the cold marble as he walked out onto the balcony. The cool spring night reached out to caress his cheek as Link gazed out over the now peaceful land of Hyrule. Ten years ago he would never have dared to believe that he would be the hero who would save this land from the reaches of evil. Ten years ago he had been an innocent, carefree Kokiri child. Link felt his heart ache at the thought of his former life in the enchanted Kokiri forest. With a smile, Link acknowledged the real source of the ache in his heart: Saria. He hadn't seen his childhood friend since he left the forest, never realizing that it would be the last time they would meet.

"Link?" a soft, sleepy voice called from behind him.

Link turned around to see Zelda sitting up in bed, the covers held to her chest with one milky, long-fingered hand.

"What are you doing up?" Zelda asked as her lips curved up into a little smile.

"I was just getting some fresh air," Link replied, trying to soften the edge in his voice.

"Well, come back to bed. It's cold here without you beside me." Zelda's amethyst eyes were warm and inviting, but suddenly Link felt a strange repulsion to her.

"I think I'm going to sleep in my room for the rest of the night. Didn't you say that I had to go to that big council meeting tomorrow morning?" Link said, shifting awkwardly.

"Yeah...the meeting...well, if that's what you want, it's fine," Zelda answered hesitantly. "Is anything wrong?"

"No, nothing's wrong. I just need a lot of rest if I have to get up and deal with that bunch of senile old men," Link lied, trying to hide the vague sense of disgust that was suddenly welling up inside him.

"Um...sleep well then, my love," Zelda said with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Link nodded and left the room through the door that joined the two chambers. As he was walking towards his bed, he happened to glance at the doors that led to the balcony, and saw they were open. He wandered slowly over to shut them when the sight of the starlit sky and the moonlight on the land below captured his gaze. He stood out on the balcony and watched the stars twinkle faintly in the velvet sky.

As he stood in the cold night air, Link heard the softest strains of music. The wind carried them gently to his ear, and as he listened, Link heard a certain refrain that sounded familiar. Suddenly he realized what he was hearing. It was Saria's Song! Link was overwhelmed with an aching desire to see his friend once more, and in a moment he was in his room, rummaging through his belongings until he stood up abruptly, triumphantly brandishing his Ocarina. Link ran back out to the balcony and played the song softly, the notes drifting out over the sleeping land and vanishing into the night. As he played, Link felt a warmth spread from his fingers to the rest of his body, and in moments, he felt suffused with a warm glow.

"Link?" the voice was gentle and right in his ear.

"Saria?" Link nearly choked as he spoke the beloved name.

"Why do you seek me, now, after so long?" Saria asked, the pain in her voice barely concealed.

"I miss you, Saria. I need to see you again," Link answered.

"I'm different now, Link. People change. Times change."

"Not you! You can't change! You're Kokiri!"

"But so were you, and look at you now. You've changed more than anyone else."

Link struggled to fight the tears that threatened to stream down his face.

"Will I ever see you again, Saria?" he whispered.

"I don't know, Link. Will you?"

The presence was gone, and with it the warm feeling of love that had filled his body. Link stood for a moment, frozen to the spot, when suddenly he decided what to do. He was going to find Saria. He was going home.

In moments his belongings were packed into his knapsack and he was dressed in his traveling boots and Kokiri green tunic. As he put all his things in order, the sun rose sleepily over the horizon, shedding its warm light over the newly awakened land. Link slung the knapsack over his shoulder, buckled on his sword and shield, and burst into Zelda's room.

"Your Majesty, I have to leave." The words were out of his mouth before he could think.

"Link, where are you going?" Zelda asked, completely bewildered.

"I have to find my past, Zelda. I have to go home."

"But Link...this is your home now..." Tears welled up in Zelda's eyes.

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty. I have to go. Now."

At that, Link was gone out the door and was rushing down the hall. By the time Zelda caught up with him, Link was sitting atop Epona in the stables and was about to ride away. Zelda ran toward him, her hair disheveled and her gown dragging through the dirt and mud.

"Please don't leave me, Link! Please!" Zelda cried, clutching his hand in both of hers.

"I have to go, Zelda. Just let me leave," Link said firmly.

"What did I do to drive you away?" the beautiful young queen wailed in grief.

"Nothing Zelda. You did nothing. I have to leave now." Link showed no emotion, but his heart was tearing to pieces in his chest at the sight of Zelda's desperation.

"Will you ever come back?" Zelda whispered, defeated.

"Yes."

At that, Link was gone, Epona's hooves pounding on the ground as he rode at breakneck pace for his homeland.

"You'll ruin me," Zelda murmured, her face streaked with tears and her gown muddy.

That day, the Queen of Hyrule held court like she did every day. Her face was cold and composed, her hair was like spun gold, and her gown was immaculate. No courtier whispered that their queen's heart was broken. No petitioner looked at her with sympathy in their eyes. Nobody knew.