I posted Chapter 19 twice (Whoops) but it's fixed now so go back to 20 and read the real thing

"I overheard the Deku Tree speak to Link before he died. He told him about the three goddesses and the divine relic: the Triforce. He said that a wicked man of the desert with sorcerous powers was trying to get the Triforce and the Deku Tree's dying wish was for Link to go to the castle and help the princess stop the desert man. He said that the desert man in black armor placed the death curse on him, and he was doomed before Link even went inside him. The Deku Tree entrusted the Kokiri Emerald to Link, and told Navi to watch over him. That's how I know it is because of Ganondorf that our Great Deku Tree is no more."

Link? Navi? What do these people have to do with Ganondorf, and are they still alive? Could they help me defeat him? Question after question raced through Sheik's mind but before he addressed them, a small alarm was going off. Something about Saria's story was off. His Sheikah mind knew she wasn't telling him something.

"How'd you know this 'desert man with black armor' is Ganondorf?"

Saria blushed a bit. "Well...um...from you, actually. You and Impa."

Training kicking in, Sheik's face remained impassive. He waited, sensing Saria would explain on her own.

"I've been watching you for a while."

The green figure he saw below the bridge!

"How long?"

Saria shrugged, "A while. The first time I saw you, you were watching the white haired woman-Impa I found out later-when she stood on a cliff. You both looked so sad and I don't usually find people in the woods so I was curious."

That was nearly four months ago. It's amazing neither Impa or I spotted her. Though I suppose she is one of the fairy folk, Sheik thought nervously, his confidence in his Sheikah abilities shaken by this small girl. After all, he reasoned,nothing in this forest is seen when it doesn't want to be.

"You seemed really nice and you reminded me of Link,so I found myself coming back to watch. I'm sorry for not introducing myself sooner." Saria looked sheepish but also nonchalant about it all and so Sheik decided to move on.

"Who is this Link you two keep going on about?"

Those green eyes grew sad again but Mido, after Saria's revelation, stared into his cup instead of bristling at the name.

"Link is my best friend. He left, like I told you, and hasn't come back yet. He hasn't even contacted me."

"How would he do that?" This was Mido. The question was cautious but honest.

"I gave him my ocarina when he left and taught him my song. If he played it, I would have been able to speak to him."

Another magical song! Sheik decided right then and there that he needed to meet this Link fellow.

"But he hasn't played it and it's been so long..."

"How long has it been exactly?" Sheik asked although he suspected he knew the answer.

"I don't know. A long time though."

As he suspected, it seemed that the Kokiri had no sense of time; unsurprising considering how unchanging their woods were. However it meant Sheik had no idea how long ago Link left. It could have been a week. Or even years? He thought hard; there had to be a way he could gauge the time.

"Wait, you said the Deku Tree sent Link to the Hyrulean Princess right?"

Saria nodded. "Yes at Hyrule Castle."

"Your tree friend would only send Link if the Princess would be there right? There's no way he oculd have wrong information?"

"The Great Deku Tree is never wrong!" Mido interjected, his normal superior tone returned.

"In that case..." Sheik ran his fingers through his hair, "Link has been gone for at least four years. The Princess is dead."