Chapter 2
Link awoke to the sun, and stretched. The trees outside were adorned with vibrant oranges and yellows of autumn. It had been many months since he had first come back to his childhood. He got out of bed, stepping gingerly on the cold floor. He reached to slip on his brown boots.
"Huh," he grunted. They did not fit so well; his toes were slightly crunched. Link sighed, aware once again of his destiny; the destiny of ageing.
"The princess is dreaming again."
"Again? Is it bad?" The two castle guards stood in the dark morning of the stone corridors. The castle was quiet and full of silent echoes.
"I heard it she wasn't screaming anymore. But, the little girl is constantly bothering the king with silly prophecies."
"She'll grow out of her childless in a few years."
"That's right. Good day!"
The two armored guards parted to continue their rounds.
The short, green grass flowed over the gently sloping knoll. Reclining peacefully on the grass was a boy. Far above stood a great tree with a wisdom-filled face. They were alone, talking of many things. After many minutes of idle discussion, a long silence passed. Link finally had the courage to bring up what lay heavily on his mind.
"Great Deku Tree, why don't you," he paused. "Why don't you call me 'child'? You call my friends child."
The tree moved his gaze straight into the boy. He could see everything that happened into the forest, and he could see into the heart of Link. He could even see that the blonde haired boy already knew the answer to the matter that had been a constant part of the wise tree's own thoughts.
"Link," he started, forcing himself to bring the whole truth forward. "Thine mind hast always been clouded to me, but thine memories art strong, much stronger than is normal for someone of thine age. I've watched thee since thee first came to the forest, Link." He sighed a plantish sigh. "Thou were not born of the forest. Thou were brought from the outside. Thou art a Hylian!"
Link was listening intently, but his face was not as the tree had thought it would be. [He would be surprised,] the Deku Tree thought, [unless he already knew.]
"And thou knowst that thee willst not stop growing up. Soon, the other children will begin to notice." The Deku Tree wondered at the mystery of this child, whom he had watched for nearly eleven years. It seemed that the boy had changed dramatically and mysteriously about a year ago. He had become quieter, more mature, and more friendly at the same time. The tree knew that something very important had happened to Link, and he had never known about it. Link had an aura of someone who was misplaced in time.
"Link!" the Great Deku Tree spoke in a commanding voice. "Thou might live in the forest for as long as thee pleases, as I've always allowed thee. Thou hast my permission to freely come and go in the forest as much as thee whishes. Thou art free in Kokiri, Link."
"Thank you Deku Tree," Link smiled upward. "But I don't want to leave."
The tree's eyes smiled. "Yes, Link. Go back to the others now. Enjoy thine time!"
Link stood up and brushed off his tunic. He walked out of the clearing.
[Thine childhood will not last forever, and soon thou will look to the outside. 'Tis destiny, my young boy.] The Deku Tree sighed, and continued to think.
Sweet music flowed from the pink ocarina. Saria played for her own enjoyment, but hoped that the other children would hear her too. Her fairy fluttered down to her shoulder.
"Hey, there's Link," she said, "thinking too much, as usual." The blonde haired boy had just walked out from the passage from the Deku Tree's clearing. Saria stopped playing.
"Hey!" Link looked over to see his friends sitting, soaking her feet in the stream. He walked over, smiling. As he approached, he saw an inquisitive look in her eyes.
"What're you playing?" he asked, creating a subject to avoid her obvious question. She noticed the evasion, and smiled.
"Just stuff I make up." She looked down at her instrument, and then held it up to him. "Would you like to try?"
"Sure!" he said, but then a wave of uncertainty crossed his face as he accepted the dainty instrument. The memories of the man songs he had known were gone, erased from their existence in his remembrance. He brought the mouthpiece to his lips and hoped for the best.
A single, pure note blew from the instrument, its perfection making Saria smile broader. Slowly, Link climbed up a scale. He faltered slightly on the highest note, but otherwise his playing was of one who had much practice. Link had his eyes closed in concentration, and began to try to carry a short tune.
The boy felt all his musical experience flooding back to him. His mind was awash with former skill, and Link was lost in playing. His small tune picked up in tempo and complexity. Notes flowed out, and a song formed out of short, random tunes. Link's mind danced around possibility after possibility of songs, all made up instantly in his sharp mind.
Suddenly, Link's tempo slowed, and his song became a slow, almost sad melody. He stopped playing and opened his eyes suddenly. The song reminded him of something he had heard in another time and place.
He found Saria staring at him. Her smile was still there, but much diminished. Her eyes held nothing short of pure amazement. Link hurriedly handed back her ocarina, then turned to walk away.
"Wait," Saria said softly. "Link, where did you learn the ocarina so well?" she asked, still amazed.
He turned around and looked at her. [I can't tell you about my past, or my future,] he thought. [I'm sorry.] His eyes begged her to understand. He quickly turned and ran away from his friend.
Link sat on a tree stump, alone, deep in the forest. He was sobbing. His feet hurt from his too-small boots. He had embarrassed himself in front of his best friend. The trials of growing older were beginning to strike Link. The aging process of the Hylians could not be stopped, even in the magic of Kokiri Forest.
