Saria absentmindedly pats the old mare's silvery mane as she watches the soldiers from Castletown speak with her father. They come every once in a while, usually escorting merchants, and she has always noticed something peculiar.

They are afraid of him.

They always use the most respectful tones and take great care not to anger the affable chief of Ordon Village. She just can't understand what they're so afraid of. Her father isn't easily angered, and they're Hyrulian soldiers – surely they can't be afraid of a farmhand!

She'd asked her mother, Ilia, about it and all she'd gotten was a cryptic smile.

"It's respect too," she'd smiled, continuing to weave the wicker bassinet for her next child.

She watches them bow and leave before she jogs over to where her father sits on the porch. His dark blond hair has a few gray strands – from a life of exertion, Ilia had once said. Saria isn't exactly sure of what she meant by that, but all of the villagers had agreed. She knows that they aren't telling her something, and it infuriates her even as she sits on her steps, waiting to ask him what the soldiers had come for.

"Are you going?" her mother asks, leaning against a wooden pillar, "She has summoned you, after all."

He sighs, "I know."

"She? Who?" Saria questions, glancing rapidly back-and-forth between the two, "Going where?"

He laughs, "I've been summoned to the castle by Queen Zelda," he explains.

"What for?"

"It'll only be for a week or so," Ilia interjects, "I'll be fine, Link," she strokes her distended stomach, "We still have a month. Not only that, but we have my dad, Rusl, and Uli. I can live without you for a week."

He smiles gently, defeated, and stands, "I suppose I'll start packing then."

"Are you taking Epona?" Saria asks with a pout, knowing that they had purposely avoided her question.

"No," he sighs, patting the mare's nose affectionately, "She's tired. No more charging across all of Hyrule for her. She's earned a peaceful life at the ranch. I'll take Ganni," he replied. Ganni was the older of Epona's offspring, a palomino like his mother, and just as big.

"Link, just promise me one thing," Ilia began, but he pressed a finger to her lips with a smirk.

"Careful. Remember what happened the last time you said that?" his hand falls before he pulls her into a tight embrace, "I'll come home safely."

Saria watches as he disappears into the house, "I'll go get Ganni," she mutters, tromping away. The stable is attached to the goat barn, and she has to dodge a goat running hastily away from Fado. She can't help but snort – honestly, that man and his goats! It's a miracle that someone else hasn't been permanently installed up there to keep an eye on things.

"Saria? What are you up to?"

A grin splits her face, "Uncle Colin!"

He stands in the doorway, his blond hair cropped shorter than it had been in his youth, and his blue eyes shining with amusement. A sword is strapped to his back – fitting for the town's best swordsman. Rusl, she's been told, had once held the title, but with his age, he was no match for his son.

"Hey," he grins back, "Why're you getting Ganni? He's a bit big for you, kiddo."

She pouts playfully, "I'm not a little kid; I'm already sixteen."

"Right. Hey, still a few more years until you'd be world-saving age," he teases.

Saria can't help but sigh at that comment. It wasn't an unusual one in town, she had to admit, and it was usually associated with sly glances at her dad, "I'm getting him for Dad; apparently he's been summoned by the queen."

"Again? What is it this time? Gorons and Zoras arguing again?"

She heaves the saddle onto the steed, "They didn't say why. And why would they ask my dad to help with the Gorons and Zoras?"

Colin shifts nervously, "He's…friendly with them, and Renado was on a month-long sabbatical."

She eyes him skeptically, but turns away to tighten the strap, "Well, it must be something along those lines. I mean, if she wanted a swordsman, she would've asked the best one in Ordon!"

He lets out a bark of laughter, "Oh, she did," he stops suddenly, as though he'd said too much.

"My dad isn't better than you," she insists, "I doubt he's really even held a sword."

All laughter falls from Colin's face, frightening her for a second, "Oh, he's done a lot more than that," he steps closer and ruffles her hair, "trust me."

She waits in stunned silence until he grins again.

"Anyway, I guess you should probably get Ganni to him – he's probably packed already. He doesn't waste time. Get going!"