Part Eleven
Zelda and Tellikah crept along the roof of the Temple, careful not to disturb the guards below. br
"Princess." Tellikah hissed to the other girl. "Look down there, an empty courtyard. Do you think we can get in from there?" br
The Princess Sage peered down below. Her golden hair dipped down in long hanging strands, brushing against the rotten walls of the Temple. "Yes." She said finally. "We can use those vines to climb down." She pointed a slender finger in the direction; surprised when she saw the blisters that covered her usually soft hands. She allowed herself a moment to marvel at the small bubbles that pulsed on her palm. Then, with a new wave of determination, she grabbed hold to the ivy and started down. br
She hadn't gotten more than half way down when she heard Tellikah's voice frantically calling to her. "Princess! Skullatas!" With a gulp, Zelda twisted to look downwards. Sure enough, the red glow of the spider's eyes eerily glowed up at her. "Tellikah!" She cried quietly. "Do something!" br
"What am I supposed to do?" Tellikah said out loud to herself. This was not something she had ever been taught about. Thinking about doing great deeds and actually doing them was two different things. For a brief minute Tellikah sat in a dazed dream, flashing back to being in her village, boasting about one day saving Hyrule all by herself. Suddenly Zelda's terrified clamoring snapped her back to reality. "What can I do?" br
"Anything!" Zelda pleaded, watching the scratching creature come nearer to her body. "Do you have arrows?" br
"No!" br
"No?" Zelda echoed with a moan. "What kind of rescue is this? What weapons do you have?" br
"A sword." br
"And?" br
"Rope." br
"What?!" If Zelda could have strangled Tellikah, she would have. Unfathomable! br
"You're the sage!" Tellikah cried in desperation. "You do something! Use your powers of magic bestowed upon from the goddesses or whatever!" br
Grinding her teeth together, Zelda forced calmness into her mind. A simple spell. That was all she needed. "Not enough time!" She choked as the Skullata twitched closer. br
Tellikah's sword swooped over the Princess' head, shaving a few stray hairs as the blade twisted to slash the spider. The silver blade shimmered in the Temple's light, splaying rays onto Zelda's surprised face. br
The spider sliced in half, the body writhing in agony for a brief moment before crumbling into a black dust. br
Zelda and Tellikah hung on the ivy, both gasping for breath. Zelda turned to glance up at her friend and grinned when she saw Tellikah's pale visage. "Not too bad, especially for someone who claims she doesn't know what she's doing." br
Tellikah stared unblinking for an almost a full minute before a slow smile spread across her face. "I did what I had to in order to save my Princess. And," she added as an after thought, "More good news. The guards are gone." br
Sure enough, the Moblins that had stood watch over the courtyard had fled. The two girls, pleased at their good fortune, grinned foolishly at each other then, satisfied at their actions and there abilities, such as they were, to accomplish even the most difficult of tasks. br
The two girls were still congratulating themselves when the ghostly smell of smoke engulfed the courtyard. br
PP
"Come on Saria, wake up. Wake up. Please Saria, please! Wake up!" Link shook his sage gently. "I know you can do it, just open your eyes." His voice changed, he was pleading now, begging the elf to show a sign -any sign- of life. br
Saria's hand dropped limply, her head rolling from side to side from the movement that Link created. br
Link choked a sob, his blue eyes filling with water. Angered, he stood up, crushing Saria's body to his chest. In his rage, his tightened his grip, pulling Saria hard against him. br
"Link...?" A muffled gasp, mumbled from the material from Link's tunic, escaped from the tight embrace. "Link...?" br
"Saria!" Link exclaimed, turning her to stare at her frightened face. "Stay still Saria, I'll keep you safe." br
"No Link, you have to let me go... My Temple, must save it." She wiggled weakly, giving up her futile attempt when Link refused to loosen his grip. br
"No Saria, you used all your energy before, you can't do anything now."
" I'm... not a child Link..."br
"You're my responsibility Saria." Link snapped back, his patience shortening from worry. "It's my turn to care for you." br
Saria's mouth opened, but she couldn't respond. Her eyelids fluttered closed from exhaustion. The Forest Temple was hers, Link had to understand that. She had to save it. Link couldn't do it, not by himself anyway. If only she wasn't so tired...br
Her eyes fly open and she struggled with all her might to break away from Link. That smell. Smoke. They were burning her Temple. Didn't Link warn her of that? Or had it all been a dream? "Let me go Link!" She cried, waving her arms about and tossing wildly. "My temple! My temple!" br
"We're in this together Saria." Link held her even more tightly, grimacing when she fell silent again. Walking along the empty hallways of the Temple, he followed the smell of smoke until he reached the courtyard. br
P
"In all my years of life," Tellikah climbed down the vines with a grin, "I don't think I ever expected to do that." br
"You should always expect the unexpected." Zelda replied coolly. "Besides, that was only the beginning. That was nothing. Your life was sheltered in the Sheikah village. You haven't experienced anything." br
"Thanks for stating the obvious." The other girl frowned, jumping to land on the ground with a dull thump. "But don't underestimate me Zelda." br
"I won't." Zelda slid off the ivy to step gently on the grass. "And don't underestimate me either." br
The Sheikah flushed, but snapped her jaw shut. A pride of her people was their ability to remain calm under all circumstances. Tossing her black hair back, she frowned deeply, but remained silent. br
Zelda sighed, knowing she had offended the girl. Now was not the time to allow petty arguments to break their bond. "Come," she said, her tone light with kindness. "We have to find Link." br
Tellikah pursed her lips, her eyes focussing on something in the distance. "I found him." br
p
p
Smoke was now billowing into the courtyard in monstrous clouds of gray. It rolled over the ground, spilling from the doorway to cover the Temple's floor. It pushed against the ancient walls, climbing upwards to escape from the building. br
The figure in the doorway stood still for a moment, undoubtedly confused by the smoke and the sudden bright light of the courtyard. But the need for air came quickly, and Link, still clutching the sage Saria, barreled out into the open. br
He coughed hard, choking on each breath until he doubled over, falling to his knees as the fire's smoke overcame him. Saria coughed too, but it was far weaker than the Hero's was and with a shaking sob, she fell silent. br
"Link!" Zelda ran to his side, rubbing her hand on his back to encourage his breathing. "Inhale Link, inhale slowly. You must have taken in too much smoke." br
Link narrowed his eyes in anger, but his coughing kept him from retorting to her comment. Twisting from her touch, he tried to rise to his feet, but to his dismay, his legs refused to move. "Saria!" He managed to croak out, fearing the worst for his friend. She was breathing, wasn't she? She had to be breathing! br
Tellikah was there in an instance. "Link, give me Saria. You're not helping her." When Link's hold on the Sage did not loosen, Tellikah clenched her teeth together and whispering a prayer of forgiveness to the Goddesses, wenched the small girl from Link's grasp. br
Link stumbled forward to get his Sage back, but again his legs froze in place. Zelda pulled on his shoulders, forcing him to a kneeling position. "Tellikah will help her. You just have to concentrate on breathing." br
Eyeing the Sheikah warily, the Princess and the Hero stayed where they were, Link gasping for air quietly and Zelda murmuring soothing words helplessly. br
"Come on Saria, don't let me down." Tellikah knew that the Forest Sage's life rested in her own hands now and if the elf died, her blood would be on Tellikah's soul. Link would never, ever forgive her if she failed to keep Saria alive. br
Laying the small Sage gently on the grass, Tellikah began the process. She tipped the girl's head back to encourage the flow of air, then bent down to listen for the sound of heartbeats. br
A weak pulse thumped through Saria's body, and Tellikah allowed herself to grin at that; a heartbeat meant that life was still flowing in Saria's veins. br
Tellikah ran her hand over Saria's still body, trying to concentrate on the healing spells she had learned years ago. Summoning up her energy, she murmured a blessing of health, and forced magic to help where she could not. br
The magic jumped into Saria's body, swimming through her blood to clear out the smoke that choked her into unconsciousness. br
Suddenly, Saria flew to her feet, her mouth open and wheezing for breath. Tellikah rose too, placing her hands on the Sage's quaking shoulders and pushing her down onto the grass. br
"Easy now, don't get all worked up. Just relax and let your body recover." br
Saria nodded, too busy attempting to catch her breath to respond properly. After a few seconds of repose, she stood again and blinked her eyes. br
The smoke was moving in more quickly now. And the gray it had been before had changed into a darker, more sinister black. Two forms in the blurred shadows caught Saria's eyes and in a rush of memories, Saria recalled all that had happened. br
She ran towards Link and Zelda, the Sheikah on her heels. Flailing her arms in hysterics, she began to scream. "We have to put it out! Where's it coming from? I need to find it! You must help me!" br
Link's head pounded. Ignoring the drumming noise in his ears, he nodded quickly and tried to think of a plan. br
"If we climb back up to the roof of the Temple," Zelda's voice was harsh, the smoke poisoning her lungs, "We can get out of danger and see the fires origin." br
"The Temple could collapse," Tellikah said weakly, just for the sake of argument. "But it's probably our best bet." br
Saria was already at the vines. Twisting the plants around her fingers, she began to climb. Every inch of her body cried out in pain and tears sprang into her eyes, but with amazing speed, she nimbly scrambled to the top where she impatiently waited for her friends to join her. br
Huffing and puffing from the effort, the group took a moment to make sure they all could continue before they hurried along the Temple's stone roof. Smoke blackened their view, and Zelda and Tellikah stopped to devise a plan to see clearer. br
"If we... No that wouldn't work..." Zelda's usually clear mind was hazy and scrambled, and instead of neatly aligned thoughts, wild notions of red fear sped inside her brain. br
Link trailed after Saria, watching her instead of the fire. She should be with the other Kokiri, not here. She was too small, too fragile. This was his job. His responsibility. How could he have let her come? What if something horrible happened? br
Walking on the tips of her toes, Saria crept along the roof of her Temple. Openings in the stone ceiling allowed her to see below, to see what damaged had been done and where the smoke was coming from. br
The fire probably would have been started in the center, she reasoned as she sprinted deeper to the heart of the building. In the center room. br
Sweating dipping off her brow from the heat and her worry, Saria paused to catch her breath and wipe ash from her eyes. The smoke had reached the roof now, and the wind blew it in chaotic circles, and the sage feared she'd topple over the edge of the ancient ruin if she failed to pay attention. br
Gritting her teeth and swallowing her pain, the young Sage flew on, her feet barely touching the stones as she hurried to save her forest. br
There. She had been right. Blood red flames were shooting from the core of the Forest Temple, their yellow light snapping and crackling against the gray rock walls. The hissing and popping grew louder as the fire grew stronger, a feverish song of destruction. It was an inferno, a cursed inferno of seemingly living flames which slithered about the walls, laughing as it shoved down the stones and burnt away the wood. br
Water. She'd need water. If only Ruto was here! Saria felt her veins boil in anger and she had to fight the urge of dropping down into the fire and fighting them herself. br
Where was Link? And Zelda and Tellikah? "What can I do? What can I do?" Wringing her fingers, she fought back tears and prayed to the Goddesses. If she didn't stop the devastation, her Temple would fall and she with it. Her power as a Sage relied on the sacred Temple, and without it...br
She couldn't finish that thought. br
How did one stop a fire? Drowning it in water was out of the question. If she could remove the air, then perhaps she could suffocate it... But how could she accomplish that? br
A fleeting memory placed a smile on the Sage's face. Their had once been a fire in the Kokiri Village. Mido had brought the red flower, as he had called it, to show off his power and status. But the fire had accidentally had spilled onto the rugged floor and had quickly burned a hole on his floor. In his panic, he had begged Saria for help. But it had been Link who had saved the day. With one fluid movement, he stamped the small flames out. br
If she could smashed it, crush the fire, then maybe she'd be able to conquer the diaster. It was worth a try. br
Saria glanced around. Her friends... what if they got injured? Narrowing her eyes, she called her fading strength. The cool green of her spell momentarily healed her mind, spirit and body, and she knew that she was doing the right thing. Weaving the magic carefully, she formed a barrier around the fire. If they came close to this area, they'd find themselves against a wall. Hopefully she had made it big enough... she needed as much space as possible to do what she was going to do.
P
He had lost her. Fanning smoke from his face, Link marched forward, cursing himself for being so stupid. How could he have lost her? She needed him, and he had let her down again. br
"Umph!" Link fell backwards, hitting the stone ground with a painful thump. He had walked into something... but what? Climbing back to his tired feet, Link carefully lifted his hands to find whatever had stopped him. br
It was some sort of wall. Only invisible. With his hands running over the sleek obstacle, Link followed it around, puzzling over what it could be. br
Suddenly, the smoke parted and from behind the restraint and Link caught a fleeting glimpse of a small figure standing amidst the cloudy smoke. br
"Saria!" Link pounded against the wall, yelling desperately. 'Saria!' it all made sense. But she couldn't do it. She'd die doing it! He could let her. He'd have to break it. He reached for his sword and then yowled in distress. He had forgotten that he had left the Master sword with the Sheikah for protection. At the time it had made sense. If it was hidden within the Sheikah Village, it couldn't be used to open the gates and let Ganondorf out. But without it, Link was helpless against magic. br
"link?" what's going on? Where's Saria?" Zelda appeared at the Hero's side. Why wasn't Link doing anything? A step forward told her why. "An invisible wall? Who put this here?" br
"Saria." Link spat out the word. She's going to kill herself." A tone of desperation cracked his voice. "Zelda, use your magic, break this down. She'll die in there, I can't let that happen to her." br
"What?" Zelda retreated a step. "What do you mean? I don't understand, what is she doing?" br
"She's going to try to put out the fire." Tellikah's voice was flat and devoid of any emotion. "She put up this wall to keep us from stopping her, and to protect us. Zelda, let her do it." br
"No!" Link spun around, his hand at the guild of his sword. "We have to break it! I have to get her out of here!" br
"Link, listen to me!" Tellikah drew herself up to stand straight, her hair whipping about her shoulders and her eyes sparking as bright as the fire. "This is her Temple! If it burns down, she'll die along with it! But if she puts on the flames, she'll be able to save it!" br
"She's going to collapse the roof." At the realization of the Forest Sage's plan, Zelda felt herself go weak and she leaned against the invisible wall for support. "We'll be able to rebuild if she does, and she knows that it's worth the risk. And if she dies, a new Forest Sage will be able to be chosen. But if the entire Temple is destroyed, there will never be another. The Circle will be forever incomplete." She closed her eyes and fought back the urge to vomit. "Link, we have to let her do it." br
"Why don't you understand me? She is going to fall along with the roof! She won't be able to survive that!" He twisted between the two girls "You aren't serious, you can't be serious!" br
"Link..." Zelda reached out to touch Link's arm, but he pulled away with a snarl. "Link, listen to me. She has to do it close to the center or else she could knock the whole building down. She knows what she's doing Link, this is her Temple. If you're her friend, you must trust her." br
Link fell into silence. They were right of course. A dull throbbing of calmness settled in his stomach and erased his thoughts. If he loved her, he'd have to trust her. He pulled his blue eyes to search the smoke for his friend and placed his hands against the invisible surface "Saria..." He whispered as he stared into the blackness. "Come back to me."
P
Saria closed her eyes, tearing running down her face as she gathered power for her final spell. "Good bye, Link", she whispered in return, picturing his handsome face, "Remember me for always." br
The roof rumbled, growling and howling as it disintegrated. Stones shoved against one another before tumbling into the fire below. First pebbles, then small rocks, and then chunks of heavy boulders were sent screaming into the red burning. The Temple trembled as its core was blanketed in the gravel, as its frame was ripped. br
The fire was trapped. It tried to flee from the barrage, but it was trapped, injured, helpless, as more and more rock fell to cover it. br
Down the ceiling crumbled. The walls caved in around the inferno, blocking all exits, sealing it into its doom. br
Saria smiled as she too descended into darkness.
Zelda and Tellikah crept along the roof of the Temple, careful not to disturb the guards below. br
"Princess." Tellikah hissed to the other girl. "Look down there, an empty courtyard. Do you think we can get in from there?" br
The Princess Sage peered down below. Her golden hair dipped down in long hanging strands, brushing against the rotten walls of the Temple. "Yes." She said finally. "We can use those vines to climb down." She pointed a slender finger in the direction; surprised when she saw the blisters that covered her usually soft hands. She allowed herself a moment to marvel at the small bubbles that pulsed on her palm. Then, with a new wave of determination, she grabbed hold to the ivy and started down. br
She hadn't gotten more than half way down when she heard Tellikah's voice frantically calling to her. "Princess! Skullatas!" With a gulp, Zelda twisted to look downwards. Sure enough, the red glow of the spider's eyes eerily glowed up at her. "Tellikah!" She cried quietly. "Do something!" br
"What am I supposed to do?" Tellikah said out loud to herself. This was not something she had ever been taught about. Thinking about doing great deeds and actually doing them was two different things. For a brief minute Tellikah sat in a dazed dream, flashing back to being in her village, boasting about one day saving Hyrule all by herself. Suddenly Zelda's terrified clamoring snapped her back to reality. "What can I do?" br
"Anything!" Zelda pleaded, watching the scratching creature come nearer to her body. "Do you have arrows?" br
"No!" br
"No?" Zelda echoed with a moan. "What kind of rescue is this? What weapons do you have?" br
"A sword." br
"And?" br
"Rope." br
"What?!" If Zelda could have strangled Tellikah, she would have. Unfathomable! br
"You're the sage!" Tellikah cried in desperation. "You do something! Use your powers of magic bestowed upon from the goddesses or whatever!" br
Grinding her teeth together, Zelda forced calmness into her mind. A simple spell. That was all she needed. "Not enough time!" She choked as the Skullata twitched closer. br
Tellikah's sword swooped over the Princess' head, shaving a few stray hairs as the blade twisted to slash the spider. The silver blade shimmered in the Temple's light, splaying rays onto Zelda's surprised face. br
The spider sliced in half, the body writhing in agony for a brief moment before crumbling into a black dust. br
Zelda and Tellikah hung on the ivy, both gasping for breath. Zelda turned to glance up at her friend and grinned when she saw Tellikah's pale visage. "Not too bad, especially for someone who claims she doesn't know what she's doing." br
Tellikah stared unblinking for an almost a full minute before a slow smile spread across her face. "I did what I had to in order to save my Princess. And," she added as an after thought, "More good news. The guards are gone." br
Sure enough, the Moblins that had stood watch over the courtyard had fled. The two girls, pleased at their good fortune, grinned foolishly at each other then, satisfied at their actions and there abilities, such as they were, to accomplish even the most difficult of tasks. br
The two girls were still congratulating themselves when the ghostly smell of smoke engulfed the courtyard. br
PP
"Come on Saria, wake up. Wake up. Please Saria, please! Wake up!" Link shook his sage gently. "I know you can do it, just open your eyes." His voice changed, he was pleading now, begging the elf to show a sign -any sign- of life. br
Saria's hand dropped limply, her head rolling from side to side from the movement that Link created. br
Link choked a sob, his blue eyes filling with water. Angered, he stood up, crushing Saria's body to his chest. In his rage, his tightened his grip, pulling Saria hard against him. br
"Link...?" A muffled gasp, mumbled from the material from Link's tunic, escaped from the tight embrace. "Link...?" br
"Saria!" Link exclaimed, turning her to stare at her frightened face. "Stay still Saria, I'll keep you safe." br
"No Link, you have to let me go... My Temple, must save it." She wiggled weakly, giving up her futile attempt when Link refused to loosen his grip. br
"No Saria, you used all your energy before, you can't do anything now."
" I'm... not a child Link..."br
"You're my responsibility Saria." Link snapped back, his patience shortening from worry. "It's my turn to care for you." br
Saria's mouth opened, but she couldn't respond. Her eyelids fluttered closed from exhaustion. The Forest Temple was hers, Link had to understand that. She had to save it. Link couldn't do it, not by himself anyway. If only she wasn't so tired...br
Her eyes fly open and she struggled with all her might to break away from Link. That smell. Smoke. They were burning her Temple. Didn't Link warn her of that? Or had it all been a dream? "Let me go Link!" She cried, waving her arms about and tossing wildly. "My temple! My temple!" br
"We're in this together Saria." Link held her even more tightly, grimacing when she fell silent again. Walking along the empty hallways of the Temple, he followed the smell of smoke until he reached the courtyard. br
P
"In all my years of life," Tellikah climbed down the vines with a grin, "I don't think I ever expected to do that." br
"You should always expect the unexpected." Zelda replied coolly. "Besides, that was only the beginning. That was nothing. Your life was sheltered in the Sheikah village. You haven't experienced anything." br
"Thanks for stating the obvious." The other girl frowned, jumping to land on the ground with a dull thump. "But don't underestimate me Zelda." br
"I won't." Zelda slid off the ivy to step gently on the grass. "And don't underestimate me either." br
The Sheikah flushed, but snapped her jaw shut. A pride of her people was their ability to remain calm under all circumstances. Tossing her black hair back, she frowned deeply, but remained silent. br
Zelda sighed, knowing she had offended the girl. Now was not the time to allow petty arguments to break their bond. "Come," she said, her tone light with kindness. "We have to find Link." br
Tellikah pursed her lips, her eyes focussing on something in the distance. "I found him." br
p
p
Smoke was now billowing into the courtyard in monstrous clouds of gray. It rolled over the ground, spilling from the doorway to cover the Temple's floor. It pushed against the ancient walls, climbing upwards to escape from the building. br
The figure in the doorway stood still for a moment, undoubtedly confused by the smoke and the sudden bright light of the courtyard. But the need for air came quickly, and Link, still clutching the sage Saria, barreled out into the open. br
He coughed hard, choking on each breath until he doubled over, falling to his knees as the fire's smoke overcame him. Saria coughed too, but it was far weaker than the Hero's was and with a shaking sob, she fell silent. br
"Link!" Zelda ran to his side, rubbing her hand on his back to encourage his breathing. "Inhale Link, inhale slowly. You must have taken in too much smoke." br
Link narrowed his eyes in anger, but his coughing kept him from retorting to her comment. Twisting from her touch, he tried to rise to his feet, but to his dismay, his legs refused to move. "Saria!" He managed to croak out, fearing the worst for his friend. She was breathing, wasn't she? She had to be breathing! br
Tellikah was there in an instance. "Link, give me Saria. You're not helping her." When Link's hold on the Sage did not loosen, Tellikah clenched her teeth together and whispering a prayer of forgiveness to the Goddesses, wenched the small girl from Link's grasp. br
Link stumbled forward to get his Sage back, but again his legs froze in place. Zelda pulled on his shoulders, forcing him to a kneeling position. "Tellikah will help her. You just have to concentrate on breathing." br
Eyeing the Sheikah warily, the Princess and the Hero stayed where they were, Link gasping for air quietly and Zelda murmuring soothing words helplessly. br
"Come on Saria, don't let me down." Tellikah knew that the Forest Sage's life rested in her own hands now and if the elf died, her blood would be on Tellikah's soul. Link would never, ever forgive her if she failed to keep Saria alive. br
Laying the small Sage gently on the grass, Tellikah began the process. She tipped the girl's head back to encourage the flow of air, then bent down to listen for the sound of heartbeats. br
A weak pulse thumped through Saria's body, and Tellikah allowed herself to grin at that; a heartbeat meant that life was still flowing in Saria's veins. br
Tellikah ran her hand over Saria's still body, trying to concentrate on the healing spells she had learned years ago. Summoning up her energy, she murmured a blessing of health, and forced magic to help where she could not. br
The magic jumped into Saria's body, swimming through her blood to clear out the smoke that choked her into unconsciousness. br
Suddenly, Saria flew to her feet, her mouth open and wheezing for breath. Tellikah rose too, placing her hands on the Sage's quaking shoulders and pushing her down onto the grass. br
"Easy now, don't get all worked up. Just relax and let your body recover." br
Saria nodded, too busy attempting to catch her breath to respond properly. After a few seconds of repose, she stood again and blinked her eyes. br
The smoke was moving in more quickly now. And the gray it had been before had changed into a darker, more sinister black. Two forms in the blurred shadows caught Saria's eyes and in a rush of memories, Saria recalled all that had happened. br
She ran towards Link and Zelda, the Sheikah on her heels. Flailing her arms in hysterics, she began to scream. "We have to put it out! Where's it coming from? I need to find it! You must help me!" br
Link's head pounded. Ignoring the drumming noise in his ears, he nodded quickly and tried to think of a plan. br
"If we climb back up to the roof of the Temple," Zelda's voice was harsh, the smoke poisoning her lungs, "We can get out of danger and see the fires origin." br
"The Temple could collapse," Tellikah said weakly, just for the sake of argument. "But it's probably our best bet." br
Saria was already at the vines. Twisting the plants around her fingers, she began to climb. Every inch of her body cried out in pain and tears sprang into her eyes, but with amazing speed, she nimbly scrambled to the top where she impatiently waited for her friends to join her. br
Huffing and puffing from the effort, the group took a moment to make sure they all could continue before they hurried along the Temple's stone roof. Smoke blackened their view, and Zelda and Tellikah stopped to devise a plan to see clearer. br
"If we... No that wouldn't work..." Zelda's usually clear mind was hazy and scrambled, and instead of neatly aligned thoughts, wild notions of red fear sped inside her brain. br
Link trailed after Saria, watching her instead of the fire. She should be with the other Kokiri, not here. She was too small, too fragile. This was his job. His responsibility. How could he have let her come? What if something horrible happened? br
Walking on the tips of her toes, Saria crept along the roof of her Temple. Openings in the stone ceiling allowed her to see below, to see what damaged had been done and where the smoke was coming from. br
The fire probably would have been started in the center, she reasoned as she sprinted deeper to the heart of the building. In the center room. br
Sweating dipping off her brow from the heat and her worry, Saria paused to catch her breath and wipe ash from her eyes. The smoke had reached the roof now, and the wind blew it in chaotic circles, and the sage feared she'd topple over the edge of the ancient ruin if she failed to pay attention. br
Gritting her teeth and swallowing her pain, the young Sage flew on, her feet barely touching the stones as she hurried to save her forest. br
There. She had been right. Blood red flames were shooting from the core of the Forest Temple, their yellow light snapping and crackling against the gray rock walls. The hissing and popping grew louder as the fire grew stronger, a feverish song of destruction. It was an inferno, a cursed inferno of seemingly living flames which slithered about the walls, laughing as it shoved down the stones and burnt away the wood. br
Water. She'd need water. If only Ruto was here! Saria felt her veins boil in anger and she had to fight the urge of dropping down into the fire and fighting them herself. br
Where was Link? And Zelda and Tellikah? "What can I do? What can I do?" Wringing her fingers, she fought back tears and prayed to the Goddesses. If she didn't stop the devastation, her Temple would fall and she with it. Her power as a Sage relied on the sacred Temple, and without it...br
She couldn't finish that thought. br
How did one stop a fire? Drowning it in water was out of the question. If she could remove the air, then perhaps she could suffocate it... But how could she accomplish that? br
A fleeting memory placed a smile on the Sage's face. Their had once been a fire in the Kokiri Village. Mido had brought the red flower, as he had called it, to show off his power and status. But the fire had accidentally had spilled onto the rugged floor and had quickly burned a hole on his floor. In his panic, he had begged Saria for help. But it had been Link who had saved the day. With one fluid movement, he stamped the small flames out. br
If she could smashed it, crush the fire, then maybe she'd be able to conquer the diaster. It was worth a try. br
Saria glanced around. Her friends... what if they got injured? Narrowing her eyes, she called her fading strength. The cool green of her spell momentarily healed her mind, spirit and body, and she knew that she was doing the right thing. Weaving the magic carefully, she formed a barrier around the fire. If they came close to this area, they'd find themselves against a wall. Hopefully she had made it big enough... she needed as much space as possible to do what she was going to do.
P
He had lost her. Fanning smoke from his face, Link marched forward, cursing himself for being so stupid. How could he have lost her? She needed him, and he had let her down again. br
"Umph!" Link fell backwards, hitting the stone ground with a painful thump. He had walked into something... but what? Climbing back to his tired feet, Link carefully lifted his hands to find whatever had stopped him. br
It was some sort of wall. Only invisible. With his hands running over the sleek obstacle, Link followed it around, puzzling over what it could be. br
Suddenly, the smoke parted and from behind the restraint and Link caught a fleeting glimpse of a small figure standing amidst the cloudy smoke. br
"Saria!" Link pounded against the wall, yelling desperately. 'Saria!' it all made sense. But she couldn't do it. She'd die doing it! He could let her. He'd have to break it. He reached for his sword and then yowled in distress. He had forgotten that he had left the Master sword with the Sheikah for protection. At the time it had made sense. If it was hidden within the Sheikah Village, it couldn't be used to open the gates and let Ganondorf out. But without it, Link was helpless against magic. br
"link?" what's going on? Where's Saria?" Zelda appeared at the Hero's side. Why wasn't Link doing anything? A step forward told her why. "An invisible wall? Who put this here?" br
"Saria." Link spat out the word. She's going to kill herself." A tone of desperation cracked his voice. "Zelda, use your magic, break this down. She'll die in there, I can't let that happen to her." br
"What?" Zelda retreated a step. "What do you mean? I don't understand, what is she doing?" br
"She's going to try to put out the fire." Tellikah's voice was flat and devoid of any emotion. "She put up this wall to keep us from stopping her, and to protect us. Zelda, let her do it." br
"No!" Link spun around, his hand at the guild of his sword. "We have to break it! I have to get her out of here!" br
"Link, listen to me!" Tellikah drew herself up to stand straight, her hair whipping about her shoulders and her eyes sparking as bright as the fire. "This is her Temple! If it burns down, she'll die along with it! But if she puts on the flames, she'll be able to save it!" br
"She's going to collapse the roof." At the realization of the Forest Sage's plan, Zelda felt herself go weak and she leaned against the invisible wall for support. "We'll be able to rebuild if she does, and she knows that it's worth the risk. And if she dies, a new Forest Sage will be able to be chosen. But if the entire Temple is destroyed, there will never be another. The Circle will be forever incomplete." She closed her eyes and fought back the urge to vomit. "Link, we have to let her do it." br
"Why don't you understand me? She is going to fall along with the roof! She won't be able to survive that!" He twisted between the two girls "You aren't serious, you can't be serious!" br
"Link..." Zelda reached out to touch Link's arm, but he pulled away with a snarl. "Link, listen to me. She has to do it close to the center or else she could knock the whole building down. She knows what she's doing Link, this is her Temple. If you're her friend, you must trust her." br
Link fell into silence. They were right of course. A dull throbbing of calmness settled in his stomach and erased his thoughts. If he loved her, he'd have to trust her. He pulled his blue eyes to search the smoke for his friend and placed his hands against the invisible surface "Saria..." He whispered as he stared into the blackness. "Come back to me."
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Saria closed her eyes, tearing running down her face as she gathered power for her final spell. "Good bye, Link", she whispered in return, picturing his handsome face, "Remember me for always." br
The roof rumbled, growling and howling as it disintegrated. Stones shoved against one another before tumbling into the fire below. First pebbles, then small rocks, and then chunks of heavy boulders were sent screaming into the red burning. The Temple trembled as its core was blanketed in the gravel, as its frame was ripped. br
The fire was trapped. It tried to flee from the barrage, but it was trapped, injured, helpless, as more and more rock fell to cover it. br
Down the ceiling crumbled. The walls caved in around the inferno, blocking all exits, sealing it into its doom. br
Saria smiled as she too descended into darkness.