"I presume you two are messengers from the royal family?"
Link and Saria exchanged nervous glances. Whatever they said next was crucial, it could bring them right to the harp, or it could have both their heads removed. Taking a gulp, Saria spoke with a nervous voice.
"Yes, oh wise baron. We hail from the kingdom of Hyrule."
"Very well then. What is the king's message?"
"Message?"
"Do not make me repeat myself, messenger. You already tread thin ground sneaking in like this."
What should she say? Saria opened her mouth, but she could get nothing to leave it. She couldn't think of anything. With a gaze back at Link, she silently communicated she had nothing to say. Sweat poured down the boy's forehead. He had no words either. He never did, of course. Quite a fine predicament they had gotten themselves into.
"Forgive them, most noble one. They are merely my escort. I have the message you wish to hear."
"Oh! Dearest me! I haven't seen a fairy in these parts for well over two months!"
Both Saria and Link turned their heads upward to find the voice. It was Mari, just in the nick time.
"That is why we are here, mighty one. The king of Hyrule wishes to alleviate the curse on this land."
"So, it is a curse? Then the disappearance of the fairies must be related to these strange fish."
"Strange fish, you say?"
"Why yes, these very peculiar creatures reside in the very bottom of the spring. They keep attacking us, and eating all the other fish. We've been in a shortage of food because of it."
"Well, luckly for you, that is exactly the reason his majesty sent these two."
Saria tried her best not to stare up at her fairy companion. For someone who highly discouraged lying, she excelled at it.
"Oh really? The king sent a pair of children to dispatch with those infernal monsters?"
"They're more than they look, they're well trained warriors."
Attempting to sell Mari's story as best he could, Link brandished his sword and flipped it in the air, catching it with only one hand. For fear of hurting herself, Saria chose a much simpler trick, spinning her large knife like a baton. Impressed by the showmanship of the children, the Zora Baron clapped his hands together once.
"Well, if the king trusts them, then so do I. You have my permission to go down into the springs and dispose of the fish."
"Brilliant! Thank you, your excellency."
"Might I ask one last thing before you leave my presence?"
"Of course, great one."
"I don't suppose your champions can breathe underwater, can they?"
"Er, I'm afraid not. They do not possess such lungs as a Zora."
"Well then, I simply must see to it that both of them receive one of our Zora tunics. One of our most prided inventions, it allows the wearer, Zora or not, to breath underwater! Quite a marvel, is it not?"
"Yes. Nothing like the vacuous technology of our Hyrule."
"Hoho! Right you are. That is all I require of you. You three are dismissed from my presence."
With a Zora escorting them, the trio left the baron's throne room. Still stunned by Mari's remarkable ability to spin a web of deception, Saria whispered to her companion.
"When did you learn how to lie?"
"Saria, I've existed for many years before even you, do you not think I've picked up a few tricks along the way?"
"I just thought it ironic, the Great Deku Tree always had a very strict policy on truth, and you upheld it better than even Mido."
"It's because I know what can happen when the truth is not upheld. Believe me, we're skirting disaster as it is."
"Still, you could've fooled me back there!"
"The moment any of these Zora smell something fishy, it's bye bye for all three of us! So no matter what, you must act as a warrior of Hyrule. You are well versed in the arts of the sword, you are disciplined not to waver in any of your actions."
Once they arrived at the entrance to the mountain springs, the group's previously silent Zora escort spoke in a tone that would make one feel as though he had delivered the same message countless times before.
"By order of the Zora Baron of the mount, it is my honor to bestow upon thee two Zora tunics. May the goddesses bless your journey."
The servant passed two neatly folded tunics to the children, and walked off.
"Gee, I hardly feel blessed after that."
"Quiet Saria! Put the thing on then shut your mouth! You're a warrior, remember?"
"Okay, sheesh."
Hushed by Mari's harsh tone, Saria threw the blue shirt over her head and pulled it on. Blue was a nicer color than red, but it still clashed in comparison to the rest of her green garb. She looked herself over with slight distaste, while Link got his tunic on and situated.
"Alright, let's get down there and see what trouble is brewing."
Link was the first to dive in, while Saria was a bit more hesitant. She could swim, but she had never swam in such a deep body of water before. She had to go all the way to the bottom? With a hand on her nose, she jumped in after Link. After she swam down and leveled up with him, the boy realized she was still holding her breath. It was a difficult reflex to overcome, but with a Zora tunic on, they could breathe water like air. Gently, he removed Saria's hand from her nose. She looked at Link as though he were crazy, but when she took in water through her nostrils, rather than feeling a burning sensation in the back of her nasal cavity, it felt like a warm breeze was passing into her nose. She breathed in and out a few times to try and get used to the unfamiliar cozy feeling in her chest. Once Saria got her lungs settled with the sensation, Link swam deeper, and she followed along.
