Green Conclave
Disclaimer: I don't own any Zelda characters, they are property of Nintendo. Please do not sue.
Link. He was a mighty warrior known by all. He fought and won many battles, but there's one he never did win. A battle of his own conscience...
His voyages took him far and wide, but there's one place he always found himself retuning to, the Lost Woods. From the ambling musical Skullkids to the dense shrubbery, he loved it, but there's one thing he loved even more.
Silver wisps of elegant melody floated on the eternal wings of youth. Suspended in time was a child of the forest, her emerald hair gleaming in the sun. The song grew from her fingertips like a magic plant of legend. He stood behind her, still as young as he ever was.
"Link.."
She had caught him off guard as she stopped her sounds and stood to face him. She gazed into his piercing eyes and found herself lost. He came to say goodbye, that he was leaving for greater horizons, but his resolve weakened and he faultered.
"Saria... I..."
"I know Link, you must go, leave these woods."
Saria, the eternal essence of joy then became solemn and just for a flickering moment, Link thought he saw a single tear slide down her pristine cheeks. He placed his hand on her gentle face and brushed her hair away.
"It can never be, you are destined for someone else as that is the way... Damn this curse... DAMN IT!
As quickly as it had came, the sadness subsided, replaced by fiery anger. She looked away quickly before it could consume her. Yet the sadness and pain rolled in her heart like giant waves. She looked at Link and then proceeded to hug him. He was caught breathless, but he reciprocated and looked in her deep eyes.
"All that we've been through, Link... Good times and bad, you were always there. You mean more to me than you'll ever know..."
She pulled him in for a tender, passionate kiss. She loved him more than the forest itself. She couldn't hold it in, and as they broke apart, she wept uncontrolably. Link was a bit in shock at this display of affection, but he proceeded to hold her close. He then took a small knife and carved a small inscription in Saria's favorite tree stump.
Link and Saria
Forever
He encircled it in a big heart and drew a tiny caricature. He left the knife on the stump and made his way to the bridge, where he would leave the forest world. She ran to him and took his hand in hers.
"Take this, and always think of me..."
She gave him a clay ocarina she crafted from her own hands and placed it in his palm
"Thank you, Link, for teaching me to love..."
"Goodbye Saria... I always will"
Link turned and ran, not forgeting the woods, or her face.
When he was gone, Saria took his small knife and plunged it deep, deeper... until it hurt no more.
"In all of my life in the forest, I have never felt a sadness such as this... Why now? Because he was always there, but he will always be gone"
"Link..."
She whispered his name with her final breath...
He never knew until it was too late...