Chapter 21
Zelda sighed, staring at the empty door Demon had inhabited seconds before. She had tried to reach him, but her attempt had failed. Once again, he had disappeared into the vast unknown where Zelda could not find him. Still centring her gaze on the doorway, she briefly considered following him, chasing the warrior of darkness back into the forest. It was a notion she quickly discarded, knowing full well she was no match for the speed or woodcraft of the Demon. Zelda would just have to wait for destiny to force them back together. Fate was the one obstacle, she mused, that he could not overcome. Surprisingly, the princess found herself truly caring for the black-clad warrior's fate...and not just because he was the Hero of Time.
She collapsed back down onto the blankets she had slept in, suddenly tired from the emotional tension Demon inspired. She felt herself drifting off once more into a world apart from the one in which she lived. But instead of finding repose from her troubles, she dreamed herself into the world into a world of shadow and fire, frantically running from something she could not escape
When Zelda finally awoke much later, the sun had already sunk far below the horizon. Unable to see in the opaque blackness of the chamber, the princess groped her way to the doorway and found herself looking out upon what seemed to be a cloud of fireflies wavering slowly among the trees. Sheathed in the darkness of night, the small glowing figures painted beautiful shadows upon the flowing contours of the trees. Plunging the sombre reality of darkness into a surreal world beyond conflict, beyond pain, beyond…
Standing upright on the ledge which served as a pathway in the elevated village, Zelda flashed back to the peaceful face of Impa, its outline jumping to her mind. Her nurse had entered this forest, seen the glories of its timeless eaves. She had braved the dangers of the unknown and given herself over to forces older than time. Why, Zelda wondered, her eyes misting slightly as she remembered once again the death of her friend, had Impa entered the Great Forest?
Rubbing the beginnings of tears out of her eyes, the princess gaze was attracted once again to the vision in front of her. The peace of the twilight scene appealed to her, beckoning her once again to the place where troubles were forgotten. It was a sight that Zelda would have been content to observe with no need to determine what physical anomaly was creating the myriad of lights, but the sources revealed themselves as a glowing orb drifted slowly toward the princess.
A small glowing fairy appeared, a tiny girl with luminescent wings and a simple white shift. Zelda stared in fascination at the tiny figure before her, hardly believing that such a being could really exist.
The fairy's voice was surprising loud for such a tiny creature, even with the starkly silent to contrast. It was the pure sound of a bell over a clear dawn and the beauty of it made Zelda feel like a small child once more. Nowhere had the princess heard someone with a voice to match the richness of the fairy's.
"I hope you slept well princess?" the fairy asked, hovering slowly in the air a little beyond Zelda's balcony.
Somehow Zelda found her voice and managed to answer. "Yes, I did...thank-you...very much for letting me stay here."
The fairy laughed, a beautiful cascading sound that was strangely incongruous with the tiny body it resounded from. "You are obviously not familiar with fairies. But I cannot fault you for it, not many of your race are."
Zelda nodded, grateful for the tiny figure's understanding. She felt once again like a small child under the supervision of a loving mother or caretaker. Too feel shy toward a tiny fairy barely as tall as her outstretched palm was strangely disconcerting, but the princess could not deny the emotion was present. Fingering a strand of her golden blonde hair she waited for the fairy to begin speaking once more.
"There was a time," the fairy began, her voice pre-occupied "When Hylians knew of our existence. Even came into the forest to seek us. But it is long past, and we… are forgotten."
With a start the fairy shifted her attention back to Zelda and shifted slightly.
"I am sorry princess, I have not properly introduced myself or my race." The tiny creature paused and then began to speak "We are the partner of the Kokihiri, immortal like they, but able to mature past childhood. We are their playmates, guides, councillors, and..." the tiny creature turned and gestured at the gathering of tiny lights behind her, "We also shed light for them in times of darkness."
Zelda leaned forward, only half-hearing the words of the fairy as the picture before her abruptly transformed. Instead of tiny fireflies floating randomly in the darkness the lights became little fairies guiding Kokihiri children around the living city of trees. Hundreds of lamps, illuminating the true path through a sea of shadow. It was a sight whose beauty took the princess's breath away.
The princess's attention snapped back to the fairy in front of her as the creature curtsied low and introduced herself. "My name is Navi and I, as you already know, am a fairy of the Great Forest. I have been sent to be your guide during your sojourn here with the Kokihiri." The small fairy's brow furrowed slightly as she glanced past Zelda into the chamber from which the princes had come. "I am sorry princess, but I was told that there were two visitors. Is the other still in slumber?"
Zelda's face twisted slightly as the circumstances of Demon's departure crossed her mind. "The other…has already left. I am sorry for the inconvience."
A moment of silence passed between the two, Hylian and fairy both lost in thought. Eventually the fairy responded, smoothing any awkwardness Zelda's statement had caused. "I weep with you princess. For I have been told of the difficulty of your position. He will come back, princess, destiny is too powerful a bond to be denied. "
The princess wished she could believe the fairy, but the look she had seen in Demon's eyes thwarted her. She was not sure even destiny could prevail on the black-clad warrior. "I truly hope so." she finally said, unable to quell the doubt which had awoken in her mind.
The fairy curtseyed slightly, a movement which ended the topic of conversation. "As I have said before I am to be your guide, our village is always somewhat hard for outsiders to navigate."
"Thank you," with a smile that became somewhat less joyous as a thought occurred to her. "But I would not want to deprive your partner of his fairy."
The tiny fairy sighed and a sudden sadness filled her voice. "Think nothing of it for my partner is gone...Follow me please and I will take you to a place where you may refresh yourself." With that, the fairy began to float away, the light she gave off providing Zelda with a means with which to follow.
Sensing that the fairy wanted nothing more said on the topic Zelda remained silent, asked no more questions of Navi for the entire journey. As she was led through the dark, thick canopy of the tree-tops she could see other Kokohiri moving all around. Some were talking, others playing and cavorting, but all lived under the watchful light of their fairy partners. Even the wood under Zelda's feet seemed to cradle the immortal children protectively in a living embrace.
Floating slowly up another staircase much like the one Zelda had traversed earlier, the fairy led the princess to a higher level and what looked like the main hall of the canopy village. Three great trunks, fused together at the level of the hall had abruptly ended, creating a huge flat platform upon which the tiny feet of the Kokihiri danced endlessly. Giant limbs growing out of the side of the natural wonder continued outward and eventually upward, providing both access to it and shelter from the elements. Once again, Zelda was reminded of the ancient relationship between the Kokihiri and the Great Forest.
To her surprise, instead of leading her onto the platform and great hall before her, the fairy led Zelda into a small chamber of two the side. Spiralling slowly toward the entryway of the covered entryway of the chamber Navi slipped slowly between a gap in the curtains, leaving Zelda to push aside the covering herself. It was a task the princess accomplished gingerly, a little fearful of whatever strange wonder would greet her inside.
A cloud of steam greeted Zelda as she pushed aside the curtain and the golden-haired girl found herself in a bathhouse. In the middle a large depression easily half Zelda's height and four times as long as it was high was filled with steaming water. Around it, carpets and towels had been laid on the ground to cushion the hard wood beneath. To the princess, who had not bathed since leaving Malon, it was a heavenly sight.
Navi dropped down from spot near the ceiling to glide smoothly around the rim of the pool. The tiny fairy uttered another of her laughs when she caught the look of pure joy on Zelda's face. Then, when an expression of hesitation entered the princess's gaze the fairy quickly dispelled it. "Yes, princess it is for you."
"It is just..." Zelda began, looking longingly at the steaming bath. "It must be so hard to pump water so high and even more so to heat it. I am...unworthy."
The fairy laughed once again, this time a kind sound that did much to reassure Zelda. "The trees provide it and heat it naturally with the innate magic of the forest. This pool has been steaming hot and crystal clear for as long as I remember. It is another gift of the Great Deku Tree."
The princess needed no more encouragement and without another second's hesitation she undressed and slipped into the pool. The fairy called quietly and a Kokohiri girl came into the chamber and quickly exited, removing Zelda's Shiekah outfit for washing. If she had been aware of it, the princess's modesty may have made her uncomfortable, she was unclothed in the presence of a stranger, but the bliss of the invigorating water had transported her to a place far beyond the village of the trees.
When the princess finally left the bath it was much later, late enough to be called almost the first hours of a new day. Zelda was finally clean, and her hair fell in glistening tresses behind her. Her Sheikan outfit had been laid beside her, scrubbed back to an unblemished white by the Kokihiri girl. A girl who had smiled with the simple pleasure of a child at the princess's heartfelt gratitude. After she had dressed once more, Zelda felt like a new person, refreshed both physically and mentally by the waters of the pool.
The fairy, which had left for almost the entire duration of the bath had finally returned and was hovering along the ceiling of the chamber. "A feast is being held in your honour, princess." Navi began, "If it pleases you, I will lead you to it."
Zelda began to tuck her hair into the back of her white costume and then, thinking better of it, let it hang free behind her. "Yes please," Zelda answered "But before I leave, I thank you once more for the bath."
The fairy curtsied, a disconcerting act when performed in mid air and spoke quietly "It is my pleasure, princess. It is nice...to have a partner once more." With that, the fairy turned and flew quickly out of the tent. Zelda followed, wondering again at the mysterious partner Navi had been referring to.
Outside the bath chamber, the Kokihiri fairy's partners had formed a ceiling over the great hall Zelda had seen earlier. Under their watchful gaze the immortal children of the forest played and ate, feasting from huge baskets in the centre of the platform. Awestruck, the princess glided across a limb and onto the great open space of the hall. All around her Kokihiri stopped their activities and bowed low, placing toys and food carefully aside and prostrating themselves on the ground. A bubble of silence expanded around her as Zelda advanced slowly toward the centre of the hall.
Within moments, the all the children were silent and Zelda stared bewilderedly out upon a vastly different scene than she had moments before. Steeling herself she began to speak, the princess who had ruled Hyrule taking over. "My friends," she pleaded, raising her hands in a beseeching gesture, "Bowing is not necessary. You have honoured me already many times tonight."
The Kokihiri levered themselves to their knees, but did not rise. Instead they whispered urgently among themselves until the girl that had led Zelda to the Kokihiri village in the first place was nudged forward. The girl stared earnestly up at Zelda with large brown eyes and explained shyly to Zelda. "You're a princess." she began, clasping her hands self-consciously behind her back, "We've never met a princess before... but we've heard all about you from the fairies."
"And you really are as beautiful as the stories say." the girl added quickly and disappeared back into the crowd of Kokihiri. After she left the children got to their feet and ran forward to surround the princess, staring up at her face and reaching out to tentatively grasp her outstretched fingers.
Questions reigned down from all around onto Zelda. "Do ya really live in a castle?" one blonde-haired boy asked excitedly, his expression changed to one of wonder as Zelda nodded. "You really do."
Another little girl tugged on Zelda's hand with enthusiasm. "Is it true you have a different dress every day?" The princess smiled at the child's shining eyes; the children were immortal, but still as innocent as the day they were born. Compared to the evil-ridden world around them, the Kokihiri were truly a miracle.
After a few moments, the fairies decided enough was enough and swarmed down from above to lead their partners away from the beleaguered princess. Each Kokihiri child looked back longingly at Zelda, but followed their fairy-partners obediently. . Navi joined her from among the throng and landed lightly on the princess's shoulder. Tugging softly, the fairy led Zelda over to a great wooden chair wreathed with laurels in the centre of the ring of baskets. Zelda sat down gratefully on the chair and at Navi's encouragement, pulled a fruit from within one of the baskets.
Zelda stared in joyful bewilderment at the immortal children before her. They laughed and danced, neither tired nor aware of how late the night had become. Swallowing her mouthful of fruit Zelda shared her mind with Navi. "How did they become like this?" the princess asked, "Innocent as a newborn, but living forever."
The fairy sight and drew her knees up beneath the hem of her shift. "You ask at the very heart of the mystery of the Kokihiri, what has been told to very few mortals through-out the ages..."
"I am sorry," Zelda said quickly "I did not mean to…"
Navi cut her off "No, it is alright princess. I would be honoured to tell you of our history." She paused for a moment, before starting the chronicles of her people. "When the world was first created, there were no Kokihiri, just the fairies who lived in the heart of the Great Wood. The first humans were ignorant to our existence and we were content to leave it that way, wandering alone with the spirits of the trees."
A note of pain entered the fairies voice and through it, Zelda could feel the anguish of a thousand years of suffering and bloodshed. It was the mourning of hundreds of beings, rolled into one voice. "When the first Cycle came to pass and evil first touched the earth the bloodshed was terrible. Nations fell, cities were murdered to the last child, and the world was plunged into darkness."
The fairy continued slowly, weaving the ancient stories with the history of the Cycle. "We fairies retreated to the depths of the Great Wood." Navi continued "And hid there from the encroaching evils that surrounded us...But we could not entirely hide. Many of the children who were left orphans by the great wars wandered into the woods or were forced into them to starve. The fairies took pity on them and cast ancient spells to remove them from the Cycle and protect them from evil. These children became the Kokihiri you see around them."
The fairy seemed reluctant to continue, but finally resumed her story. "You see, it is the fairy who chooses the child. Each of us bonded with one little girl or boy and from then on they were our eternal partners. Kokihiri cannot be killed or destroyed; they are as immortal as the Goddesses themselves. Never again will they suffer the hardships they endured outside the forest."
Still sitting on the princess's shoulder Navi hunched forward and stared vacantly into the crowd of dancing children. "Few before you have been told this story, in fact, only two."
Zelda shifted slightly "Would one of those two happen to be a women named Impa?"
Clearly startled, Navi flew off the princess's shoulder and hovered close in front of her face. "Why do you suspect that princess?" The fairies eyebrows were furrowed in worry.
Zelda sighed, remembering the death of her nurse. It had been only days before, but it seemed so long ago. She felt as if the pain had always been with her, tugging at her heart. "I do not know." the golden-haired princess whispered, turning away from the fairy. "She was a good woman with whom I loved very much...Yet I am beginning to wonder how much of Impa I really knew."
The great feast continued on around them, children dancing and singing joyfully under the watchful gaze of their fairy partner. A few were still watching the princess with awe-filled eyes, but most had moved back to their games. Zelda would have thought their laughter and song would have seemed out of place among the sombre trees of the great forest, but strangely, it became as much a part of the woods as the Great Deku Tree himself.
Navi floated back into Zelda's field of vision. "Do not doubt Impa. She was a great woman in her own way, the last of a long line." Navi floated closer. "Never question her loyalty to you."
The memory of Impa too painful, Zelda changed the topic of conversation quickly. "You have mentioned that it is impossible to harm a Kokihiri, but you talk about your own partner as if long dead..." The princess's realized she had broached a delicate topic, but was eager to turn the conversation away from her former nurse.
The fairy stiffened slightly and for a moment the beat of her wings slowed, but she quickly recovered. "That is something I tell very few, but as I have already mentioned it several times tonight you deserve to know."
Navi sighed and her eyes took on a far-away look, her beautiful voice underlaced with sorrow. "When the fairies first chose their child partners I alone was told by the Great Deku Tree to not bond with any human. He said that my partner would come to the forest far in the future, and he- for he said my Kokihiri would be a boy- would be a champion among the forest children."
The fairy settled once more on Zelda's should and leaned heavily against the princess's neck. "And so I waited and the end of the Cycle came and many more after it. I began to believe that my day would never come and the prophecy had been a lie. Eventually, I even retreated from the other fairies and became lost in the endless melancholy of the woods."
"But one morning long ago," the fairy continued, "I was called by the Great Deku Tree and told my partner had finally arrived. I found him and completed my bond and those years...those years were the happiest of my existence."
Navi gave a soft sight that went straight to Zelda's heart and cupped her face in her hands. "It was over seven years ago he that he left the boundaries of this forest, never to return...For a while I could sense his presence, travelling slowly over the wide world, but even that mild comfort was taken from me two years ago." The fairy bowed her head even further. "My partner was unlike the rest of the Kokihiri, his destiny was too strong to completely surrender to the bond I placed upon it. I fear that despite my bond...he is dead."
The princess did not respond, not really knowing what to say to the grieving fairy. Zelda truly wished there was a way to take away the tiny creatures pain, but it was a problem neither her title nor her destiny could fix. If Navi's partner had truly died, than the fairy would have the rest of time to remember her inconsolable grief."
Navi finally broke the silence, with a melancholy tone that stood in stark contrast to the festival around them. A small tear was sliding gently down her cheek, a tiny jewel faceted by the fairy's glow. "If it pleases you princess, I wish to take a small sojourn into the forest."
Zelda nodded understandingly "Please do as you wish...I am sorry...for asking you such a personal question."
Without another word, the fairy flew off towards the edge of the platform, dodging between celebrators. Watching the tiny creature live, Zelda reprimanded herself once more for causing Navi such pain. Her curiosity was not worth the sorrow she had inflicted on the fairy. The princess let a tear fall herself, for the tragic plight of the little fairy and her immortal partner.
When Zelda, under a different fairy's guiding light, finally returned to her chamber the first streaks of dawn could be seen between the spreading limbs of the trees. She turned abruptly to watch the feeble rays descend into the foliage and caught a flash of something disappearing behind the great girth of a trunk. It was just a glimpse, a fleeting patch of darkness flying from the approach of dawn, but it seemed to Zelda that it should have been important. Time paused as she stood frozen in though and then the moment vanished. Turning Zelda passed over the threshold and entered her chamber.