Author's Note: Terribly sorry for making you all wait so long for another update! Now, though, I have more time to dedicate to important things (such as writing) so I should be able to update this story fairly frequently.


The Deeper Green

Saria ran. She was moving quickly, her arms and legs pumping, her breath no more than a desperate pant. When her body could take no more, she fell face first on the ground.

Her face was covered in her arms and she was crying. Her shoulders were shaking and what felt like a light rain was splattering all over her back. She paid no attention as it soaked her face and her hair.

"There, there, dear," a kind voice spoke from behind her. "What ails you, my child? For certainly these tears are not shed without due cause."

Startled, Saria sat up abruptly. She was face to face with a small old man; his deep green eyes were warm and kind. Finally looking around her for the first time, she noticed that she was in the middle of a small clearing.

And there wasn't rain falling, but a mill, with water splattering from the rickety old turbine and onto her body. In fact, though her world had seemed to have fallen apart, everything else seemed to be just fine. The sun was warming the peaceful meadow and the breeze was gently waving the grass back and forth.

"Have you lost your way, my dear?" the man questioned, holding out his hand to help her stand up.

She wasn't sure what to say. Was she just far away from home? Or was she really lost? Saria answered him without much thought, "No, I'm fine on my own!"

"There are many dangers for a child, such as yourself, to face, all alone out here," he paused, watching Saria's reaction to his statement.

"I'm not a child!" she screamed. And it seemed as though the whole world came to a sudden halt at her words.

"Of course not," but the tone in his voice led her to believe otherwise. "What troubles you, my dear? Surely something has brought you to this place."

"I left home," she paused. "Looking for something. But I'm afraid that finding it only left me worse off than before."

"Aye, child," he murmured. "Tell me more."

She hesitated for a moment, wondering if this man could be trusted. Finally, she reasoned to herself that it would be nice to have someone to listen to her for once. There certainly was a lot that she wanted to be able to tell somebody; especially when that person was safely removed from the situation. She decided that it might help her better organize her thoughts and plan her next move.

So Saria patiently told the story, in its entirety, to the old man. He listened intently, never interrupting but making all of the right facial expressions at just the right time. He listened as though he had heard it all before; as though he could have told her the story from beginning to end before she had even finished.

When the story was finally over, his eyes gazed into hers, searching her for something. His scrutiny made her feel very uncomfortable. She couldn't help but feel that this stranger was hiding something from her.

"I might be of aid to you, darling," he whispered, smiling at her through a mouth full of perfectly aligned teeth. "If you should come with me."

She was cold and hungry; desperately she needed a place to rest her tired body. And surely this man was just offering his help to a weary traveler. Saria followed the man, despite her initial feelings about him.

She was willing to do anything that might help her get closer to Link once again. Saria wanted nothing more than to catch and hold his attention like the golden haired girl from earlier that afternoon had done.

He explained his plan to her as they walked toward the old mill: his home. She listened carefully, not interrupting or making suggestions. She just thanked him for his kindness over and over again.

"In order to enable you to grab his attention," the man began. "It is necessary for you to gain the features of the woman that you are."

"H-how is that possible?"

"Simple, darling," he breathed. "It's nothing more than a small charm that I've been well acquainted with for many a year."

"Oh," she whispered, studying her reflection in the mirror. It wasn't easy to keep the daydreams of herself, a grown woman, standing arm in arm with the handsome Link.

"After your body has completed its transformation," he continued, ignoring her interruption. "You'll make your way back to Hyrule Castle Town and back into Link's heart forever."

"It sounds too easy."

"It really is quite simple," he explained.

Suddenly, Saria realized that there had to be some kind of a catch to this deal. Why would some stranger be so willing to help her?

"And what shall be my repayment to you?" her voice was stern.

"I ask but one thing, my dear," he paused, looking into her childlike features. "You must remember that, when the time comes, you shall return to me."

"Return here?"

"No, darling," he comforted her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You must return to wherever it is that I might be."

"How will I know when or even where?"

"Trust me, my child," he smiled down at her. "You'll know."

Soon after, it was decided that the man would use a small series of charms and potions to transform Saria's body into that of a beautiful young woman. In return for all of his kindness, Saria would return to the old man; how she would know when to return or even where, was unknown, as well as the purpose she would serve to the man.

The charms, mixed with a special potion to put her to sleep and ease the pain of her rapidly growing limbs, Saria fell into a deep sleep. She dreamed of going back to Hyrule Castle Town; she dreamed of seeing Link again.

In the morning sunlight was pouring through the window, shining down on Saria's face and licking her with its warmth. The cabin was empty; only a plate of fresh fruit and warm bread could be found on the table, the only evidence that someone else had ever been there at all.

Slowly, Saria stood up, noticing an elegant dress slide to the floor at her feet. It must have been meant for her to wear on her way back to Hyrule Castle Town. She slid it on, noticing, for the first time, how the gentle curves and slopes of her body had changed overnight.

Then she noticed the full length mirror on the side of the room. She was slow to move towards it; initial fear of the changes in her body took over her curiosity.

But when Saria finally reached it, what she saw brought tears of joy to her eyes. Her hair, which had once been the fresh green of newly grown leaves in the spring, was now much longer. It was now much darker, like the color of evergreens against pale snow. Her skin was still pale, as it had been before, but it was now much softer and took on a sheen of porcelain.

As Saria stared into her misty green eyes, she smiled. Despite the glistening tears that clung to their corners, her eyes' almond shape matched her facial expression perfectly. They looked like polished jade.

The old man returned to the cabins a few moments later. His eyes lit up at the beautiful young woman in front of him. He smiled as he greeted her, "Is it to your liking, darling?"

"Oh, yes!" Saria exclaimed, holding her hands over her heart. "Thank you so much! How shall I ever repay you?"

"I've already been repaid, lest you forget our deal."

She wouldn't. Nothing could make her forget how grateful she was to this man. Saria had promised over and over again to return as soon as the old man had fulfilled his end of the deal; that end being Link's confession of his undying love for Saria. And she said her goodbyes, taking one last look in the mirror before heading out on her own, once again.

The dress she wore wasn't extremely eye catching, though, the way it fit Saria drew all attention to it. The pale green silk was accented by small sprigs of green leaves, embroidered elegantly all around the dress. There was forest green lace sewn to the neckline and around the bottom of the hem; it matched the occasionally leafy design in the dress. Around her waist, a large bow was tied in the back, further accentuating her elegant curves.

The dress was perfect for the season. The sleeves fell off of her shoulders, exposing her breastbone. Around her neck was a small necklace of jade, a last parting gift from the old man who had helped her so much. On her feet Saria wore small silk slippers that matched the fabric of the dress.

Slowly, so as not to ruin the hem of her long and elegant dress, Saria made her way back to Hyrule Castle Town. She walked along the stream, occasionally looking at her reflection in the crystal blue water.