"You, my Little Link, have proven that you are a capable warrior. I leave the Kokiri in your hands until Jason and I return. We will be back in two days time." Raven leaned down and cupped his child's face with a sad smile. "Two days, Son."
"Until then... Father." Lincoln watched his father and brother disappear behind the vibrant green curtain of the Kokiri Forest with a heavy heart. He could still feel the hot tracks his tears had made across his cheeks one too many times for his liking and he wiped at his face, fiercely, though all this did was make his face more raw.
Navi glanced up at her friend and found she did not have any words of comfort to offer him. The loss of the Great Deku Tree had affected everyone and in their joined grief they consoled one another, silently. "Saria... said that your old treehouse is fine for you to sleep in." Said the Fae after a long, pregnant silence.
The ten year old nodded but said nothing. He turned, eyes vacant, and walked with a steady stride to the home the Kokiri had made him when he was younger. A home Lincoln had spent time in during his random stays with the Eternal Children. The youngest Hudson had reveled in the days spent with Kokiri for they were the closest thing he had to kids his age. However, the lad never spent more than a two nights in the wood for it was feared he may turn into a skullkid though the Great Deku Tree swore such a thing would never happen.
Link frowned at that thought but does not have the energy to allow paranoia to settle in his bones. He would worry about turning into a monster later... The visage of his vine covered honorary Kokiri Tree House rose above the rest of the decorative, carved stumps and, as he got closer, Lincoln could feel the grieving eyes of the Eternal Children on him. The weight felt almost unbearable.
How was he supposed to take care of them if he was just a boy himself... and had he strayed into the Lost Woods as Raven ordered... would the Great Deku Tree still be alive?
Navi had told him that she sensed something was wrong with the Great Deku Tree. He had waved it off due to her recent case of total paranoia and, now, he regretted it. Link swallowed a hard lump of guilt and shivered beneath the cold claws of dread. The Great Deku Tree was gone and he would never be able to speak with him about his dreams... and about those odd moments when Death was so close.
And the Kokiri...
The Kokiri were now defenseless against the perils of the surrounding woods and Lincoln would have to be the one to prepare them in case of an attack. Saria, tears streaming down her bright girlish face, vowed that nothing would dare touch her friends if she had anything to do with it and, unsurprisingly, took charge in the painfully, dark shadow of the Deku Tree's death. The Kokiri had been commanded to stay in their homes until the first rays of morning... which seemed to be coming to soon for Lincoln liking.
The short climb up the ladder was cumbersome to the child for his sadness made everything more tiring and every limb heavier. Link sat on the mossy balcony carved from the trunk of long dead tree and let his fingers trace the swirling paths the wood made. He was exhausted but the day, the battle with Gohma, had made his body restless.
Navi curled herself in the crook of Link's neck and pressed her body against him in an effort to comfort them both. She sensed his need to talk but she was too weary... too hopeless. Ever since his nightmare Lincoln was on edge and it made Navi miss the carefree days of playing with the other Fae in the Woods.
"He said..." Link cleared his throat and distracted his friend from her dark thoughts. She scowled as he clenched and unclenched his jaw but he continued trying to speak through the lump in his throat. "The...uh, Great Deku Tree... he-he said something about a man..."
No response from his partner for she simply wished he would not speak.
Link squirmed in place and his fingers picked at the moss beneath his hand. He needed to talk to someone about what was gnawing at him. It was like some starved animal chewing on a meatless bone but when the young Lord opened his mouth to speak he found himself cut off.
"Please," Navi looked up at him with a face full of sorrow and anguish and she let her words flow. "Please, don't talk about your crazy dream anymore, I have just lost someone who has been more of a father to me than anyone I have ever known... You still have a father to tell you everything is going to-" She swallowed a sob and wrapped her arms about her tiny, blue frame. "I just don't want to hear anymore about this man, your dreams... or any of it." Her white eyes almost glared at him. "I am tired and I am in... pain."
Link did not respond out of shock, guilt, or some other emotion that he could not decipher. Instead, he simply nodded and listened to the sound of her four, tiny wings fly away. The ten year old sat on the small balcony for a very long time after that and just watched the forest grow darker.
None of the stray Faeries came out and that worried him but he did not vocalize it, instead, he continued to make observations of little meaning until some energy came to him.
Standing with a groan, Lincoln dusted his borrowed Kokiri green tunic off and ignored the pain from the injuries he had suffered during his battle with the Parasitic Queen. Link climbed from his house with the intent to go see Saria but it was several minutes later before he recognized the familiar trail that led toward the Deku Tree's Grove.
He had not intended to go there at all and the thought was expressed on his face. "What am I doing?" He whispered and cursed himself under his breath but something in him told him to go forward... to continue on the path he was on.
So he did.
It, the feeling, reminded him of the voice he had heard whilst dying next to the Wolfos' body. He did not know whether to be comforted or frightened although none of that mattered for his feet kept moving.
Link stopped at the entrance and looked for the moon... but his gaze fell upon the large lifeless Tree that had been just been alive only that morning.
All of the Hudsons had grown up with the Kokiri and, if not physically with them, then on the tales Raven would bring home about the Eternal Children and their Father. The Lord of White Tower had entrusted Lincoln to the wizened Tree's care and never had Link felt safer than in the Kokiri's Village.
Nothing could harm him here... nothing but a Wolfos and his own stupidity.
But the grand old Tree was dead... and Link no longer felt safe... and, looking into the dead, hollow eyes of that Tree, Lincoln realized how very much he was afraid of what was about to happen.
The Hyrule, his home, that he had known since birth was changing swifter than he was prepared for...
And Link was afraid of it.
Shaking; tears spilled, hot, out of almost incandescent coblat blue eyes and Lincoln Amadeus Hudson wept.
His knees gave out from under him and he felt sobs wreak havoc all over his body... his fingers dug into the grass and Link whispered to himself. "I don't know what I am supposed to do." The ten year old child looked up into those hollow eyes and felt fear, sorrow, grief, remorse, and guilt. "You said you knew it would be me... but why? I have brothers and nephews... and sisters who are better... who could have done better." His throat hurt but Link forced his words out. "Why... Why was it me?"
Silence answered his question and for a moment that was all that lingered. Silence.
"I never got to ask you... about the voice I heard... when I was dying." Link sat cross legged in the cool grass just on the slope heading down toward the Tree and allowed no barrier between his mind and mouth "And now all I want to know is... if you heard it too... and- and maybe that I'm not going crazy... that this dream that I have been having every night is just because..." The words choked him and Lincoln wiped, angrily, at the crystalline tracks running down his face... but after a moment they came as a soft, hoarse whipser. "I am afraid." His voice cracked, painfully. "That my family is going to be safe from that man... that man who had fire in his eyes." Lincoln groaned and took a deep breath. "That man who killed you."
A breeze blew, softly, across the grove and wrapped the boy in its embrace and in it a soft humming noise was heard.
Pointed ears picked up the noise and left the boy speechless for a moment. His tears and woes were forgotton like he was spell bound in the calm ringing. Link stood, shakily, and took a small step forward when a hand took his own.
"Link." It was Saria. Her eyes found his in the darkness and the two children regarded one another's state. She had been crying as well. "Navi couldn't find you. She was worried."
"Was she?" He asked, absently, and searched the area for the mysterious noise's source and when none was found he stopped. "Do... you hear that?"
Saria smiled a small sad smile and squeezed his hand. "That is our Emerald. It is calling to you because the Great Deku Tree named you its new master." She tugged at his hand and pulled him away from the grove turned graveyard. "You can claim it tomorrow... we all need to sleep."
"If we can."
They passed the shop and saw no one outside... neither could look at the odd shape burnt into the grass where Gohma fell. Link hugged his dearest friend, tightly, and let all his words pour into the embrace.
"Good night, Link." She whispered, allowing the contact to linger because she felt that if she let go both would tumble into the darkness around them.
Several hours later, Dawn stretched out her blood-orange fingers and cut through the blue-purple of night. None were ready to commit themselves to the day for it seemed better to pretend the events taken place were a dream rather than reality but when that dream was pierced by the calm rapping on each door... the dream was over.
Mido returned with darker circles about his eyes than when he left but he managed an almost invisible smile toward Link when he arrived at the base of Lincoln's ladder. "Got everyone up like you said."
"Good job." Link ran his fingers through his hair and situated his hat back onto his head with a small nod in greeting to Mido's partner, Vale. "Work will... do all of us good."
It took almost an hour for the Children to wake completely but once they were given tools and directions... they worked until they exhausted every outlet. They put every ounce of grief, heart ache, and energy that they could into tilling the soil, digging holes deep enough for saplings, gathering water for drinking and the plants, and seeding the earth. The sun beat down on their backs but still not one stopped for something about it felt cleansing to them... but then it was time plant The Seed.
The young Lord retrieved it from where his father had placed it in his tree house and gave it to Saria who seemed the best fit to do so.
"No," She smiled, handing it back to him. "You saved us all. We give the honor to you."
Link smiled, bowing low. "Thank you... but," He met every single Fae and Kokiri's gazes. "I will need your help." Together forsaking all tools, everyone dug a hole to place the Deku Tree Seed in and together they tucked it away in the dark confines of the earth where it would grow for seven long years into a knowledgable Deku Tree Sprout. It would take lifetimes for it to reach its predesscors' age.
They moved away from the Grove then and returned to their work. It seemed endless but progress was made.
"Link."
The ten year old turned from where he was crouched with his hands covered in dirt and wiped his brow. A feeling of pride swelled up into his chest as he surveyed the Eternal Children at work around him. They would be fine on their own and this lifted considerable weight from his shoulders. "Yes, Saria?"
"We should retrieve the Emerald now."
He stood and dusted his hands off onto his tunic even if it fared no better than his hands then rose a brow at her. "Now? We are in the middle of..." Lincoln met her eyes and sighed for he knew prolonging it would do little good. "Of course. Led the way." He shifted his belt and took the canteen that Mido offered him, graciously.
"It is inside... him." Mido whispered, taking it back, with an odd tone of disgust as the three snuck away from their fellow workers. "We didn't want them to... have to see it."
The lordling turned, sharply, toward the red head and felt his mouth turn downward."See... What?"
"We must open him. He died befor-" Saria's jaw clenched, tears sparkling in her indigo eyes, but she cleared her throat to finish. "Before you recieved it."
Link's hands balled into fists and his face fell into a Hudson frown. "Ah... but, how will we...?"
No one answered to his dismay.
The trio and their Faeries slipped away, unnoticed, and arrived at the Grove without complications. They all stopped and peered up into the Deku Tree's face with pangs of sorrow stabbing their hearts though guilt was more prevelant in Lincoln's.
"The, uh, sword should..."
"How do you know it is?" The boy asked and he didn't have to look their way to see both were severly uncomfortable. "Are you absolutely sure?"
Indigo eyes pinned Link's gaze and Saria felt anger seep into her soul though she did not dare lash out at the boy many ages younger than her. "Do you think we would let you cut open our father if we weren't sure, Link?" She asked as evenly as she could. Her Fae, Allievander, kept her usual silence and sat, calmly, braiding her long pink hair with a tranquil look upon her face.
"I'm... sorry."
Navi dived from Lincoln's shoulder and raced toward the Great Deku Tree's trunk. "We need to find... someplace that will work."
Vale, Mido's Fae, rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "C'mon, Navi, do you really think there will be any place that's better than the rest? Go on, boy, just cut around the back so the Kokiri won't see." She fixed judging white eyes upon him. "You're brave, aren't you? The Deku Tree said so with his dying breath so, be brave then!"
Mido scowled. "Vale, be nice!"
"Mido, be quiet." The Fae countered, watching Navi search about the Tree's trunk with annoyance. "We all know I'm-"
"Abrasive?" Allievander stood and, gracefully, fluttered from Saria's shoulder like the Princess that she was. She was the eldest Faerie amoungst the Eternal Children and therefore had culminated respect amoung her kind like Saria had her own though that respect also stemmed from the fact she was the Faerie King's granddaughter. Saria and Allievander had been together since their respective births and knew many secrets which they rarely revealed to anyone but each other. "Stop waggling your tongue, child. We are all hurting with this loss but do not be cruel."
Vale bowed her head with shame. "I am sorry, Link."
"Good." Allievander, cutting Link's acceptance off, turned then and called out. "Navi, dear, stop that fluttering about. Our dear Deku Tree is not a natural wood specimen, you know that. The Children make shields from him for the Goddesses' sake!" The three children and two Fae all regarded the pink haired glowing guide. "Saria, my love, please do not think ill of me for this." Her voice was low but it was heard still.
Saria watched with anxiety biting at her heart. "Do what you must, Allie."
A glow pulsated between Allievander's hands and exploded into a variety of color before settling on a vibrant gold. "Forgive me, Great Deku Tree." It danced from her fingertips, high into the air, and rained down upon the ground... "Open... so that we may retrieve the Stone."
Leaves trickled down to the earth and slowly, agonizingly, the Great Deku Tree's trunk cracked with a deafening sound and revealed a fissure just below his mouth.
"The Kokiri Emerald awaits you, Link."
The boy swallowed but found comfort when Navi hovered next to him with a look of pure loyalty. Link took one shaky footstep forward and found more strength in each one that followed. "Farore, give me Courage." Lincoln whispered his prayer, softly, and descended into the dark abyss of the late Great Deku Tree.
The blackness settled like a weight and the air felt moist like someone's breathe against cold glass. The ten year old stumbled over what he hoped was a root and slammed into the wooden substance beneath him. His palm pressed against the floor and he made a grotesque observation... it crumbled and withered like decaying moss. A smell of death overcame the child and he staggered to his feet.
"Link, what is it?"
With wide eyes, Link sought out the glow of his Fae and covered his face with his hands to block the scent and the odd feeling of sickness seeping into his pores. "I don't feel well." Link dragged his feet forward and pressed his nostrils together but he couldn't get the smell out of his head. "Something is not right..." Dizziness overtook him. "I-I need out." Link murmured and clausterphobia set in. The walls constricted tighter, the floor rose up, and pressed him to the ceiling, Link collapsed to the crumbling ground to pull his body into the fetal postition. "I need out. I need out. I need out." He chanted, softly, like a prayer.
Navi landed on the ground in front of his face and jerked at his fingers to get a better look at him. "Link, it's alright. We're almost there! The Stone is testing you!"
Link stared at her with grave intensity. "A t-t-test? This is not real?"
"Yes." The Fae lied with a soft, reassuring smile while her tiny, pointed ears twitched. "You've got to claim it. You must experience what the Great Deku Tree did... that is what it is saying." Navi held out her hands as if she was about to recieve something and ignited a small flame. "Follow this light, Link," Her voice came out calming and serene... which called out to his frantic state. "and be sedated, brave, calm, relaxed, at ease. Listen to my voice, trust me, follow this light, and trust me."
Hypnotized, the magick seeped into his bones and the child did as he was told. Link ignored each stumble and the waves of sickness slamming into his young body until after what felt like an eternity of walking through the darkness... a light shone. It shimmered behind Navi who extinguished her flame and smiled at her friend. Lincoln stared at her with shock. "How did you do that?"
"Calm you?" Navi smirked. "You didn't think advice was all the Fae were good for, did you? We are a-" She stopped and shook her head. "That's not important. Claim the Stone!"
Link nodded with a green shimmering stone glistened inside a pillar of light that had no source. Lincoln swallowed and reached out a quivering hand... his fingers brushed the smooth gold swirled inside... and wrapped themselves around the Kokiri Emerald. It took both hands to relinquish the odd artifact though it was no heavier than a feather. The ten year old gazed into the relic and released a breathe he hadn't known he was holding. "Let's go."