Link and Ruto stood on the edge of Hyrule field. "We haven't been to a meeting of the sages in a long time," said Ruto as Link pulled out his Ocarina. Ruto patted her softly swelling stomach as Link played the little tune that called his beautiful red horse to his side; she galloped up a moment later. "Hey Epona," said Link, stroking her pure white mane and hopping on. He bent over and helped Ruto up onto the saddle behind him. "Hold on," Link said, as Ruto wrapped her arms around him, and they sped off across Hyrule field. They reached the drawbridge and Link dismounted, and helped his wife off. They walked in to town hand-in-hand. As they walked toward the temple and more than one person whispered and stared, and they walked up the stairs to the Temple of Time.
They entered the room where all the other sages were gathered. Darunia bounded up to them and smiled, booming "Hello! Hello! Glad to see you, and congratulations on the baby on the way!" Darunia's voice echoed across the entire hall. All of the other side conversations stopped for a moment, and several resentful glares went from Ruto's swollen belly to Link and then back. Slowly the chitter-chatter began again, but fainter now, as Darunia, Link, and Ruto took their seats. A discussion began about the last few years, what had been discovered, etc. Nothing was too terribly significant until it was Saria, the Kokiri girl's turn to speak. "Well, I was walking through the temple yesterday, simply giving it a routine check-up, killing skulltulas, and things, you all know the drill. When suddenly, while I was watering the vines in one of the courtyards, and I heard something. It sounded like screaming so I climbed the vines following the sound. I heard it coming from behind a wall, and I realized that it was a sealed entrance to some kind of room, the screaming was getting louder, so I summoned my power and opened the portal. When I opened it there was this huge chamber, and it was stiflingly hot and a red light filled the entire room, I went forward to see who was screaming and I saw a figure silhouetted against fire. And then the screaming turned into this hideous laughter, and then there was a flash of red light and the next thing I knew I woke up flat on my back on the ground in the courtyard. I went back to investigate the door, but I couldn't find a thing…..The scariest thing was that the figure—the laughter…. And--- for a minute it thought it was….." Saria's voice trailed off uneasily as her eyes shifted nervously. "Who?" Said Link firmly. "Ganondorf," replied Saria, meekly, and fear filled her eyes. The sages were silent as the magnitude of this name reflected on the group. "But, I thought, I thought he was sealed away…In the sacred realm forever…." said Ruto fearfully, "Are you sure that you weren't dreaming Saria?" asked Zelda "No!" said Saria, "It was so real…" she added in a whisper. Link, who was sitting next to Saria, patted her hand reassuringly, "It's ok Saria, I'll go check it with you, as soon as the meeting is adjourned. "Thanks, Link," she said, sounding relieved.
The meeting ended without much further ado and the sages left. "Ruto?" said Link, once everyone but Saria had gone, "Would you just teleport back to the Zora Hall until I come back? I'll only be a little while." "Alright," Said Ruto warily, "But be careful," "I promise," said Link kissing her sweetly. Then in a flash of blue light, she had gone. "I'll use the minuet of the forest to transport," Said Link to Saria, after Ruto had gone. You can go using your sage powers, and we'll meet. "Okay," said Saria, as Link withdrew his ocarina from his tunic, and Saria vanished in a flash of green. Link played a pretty little tune and then was engulfed in green light, and disappeared. Link reappeared in a deep dark forest, standing on a slab of grey stone with an intricate carving of a triforce on it. Saria sat on her usual stump, waiting. Link walked over to Saria and asked her, "Do you need a lift?" "Alright," She said, and held onto his arm. He pulled out his hookshot, and a second later they were entering the forest temple. They walked through one of the doors, and into the courtyard. Saria led Link over to a wall covered in vines, "Up here," she said softly. They climbed up the vines and were on a small open upper walkway. "This way," said Saria, turning right. They walked into a largish room with a single window, letting in the evening sun. "I'd always thought this room was sort of strange and bare," whispered Saria, as she walked into the center of the room. She moved toward the back wall, and Link followed her cautiously. "Here," she said stopping at the midsection of the back wall, "This is where the door was," "Try to open it," urged Link. "Alright here goes nothing," she squeezed her eyes shut and clenched her fists, a vein in her temple began to throb, and her face was flushed with effort, beads of sweat glistened on her forehead. There was a slight crunching of rocks and then a small opening appeared in the back wall, as if the whole middle of it had begun to slide upwards. "Keep trying," said Link. "I can't," she groaned, "I need help!" Link came up behind her and placed his hands on her outstretched ones and forced some of his magic energy through. He squeezed his eyes shut, and groaned from exertion, when the grinding sound of rock sliding came again, and the door slid open even more. Link opened his eyes and pulled his hand back and an open portal stood before him. He heard a soft thump, and saw that Saria had fallen onto the ground beside him in a dead faint. Link approached the opening cautiously. He walked in and looked around. It was rather mammoth room, but it was completely bare and empty. There was an eerie silence, but at least no maniacal laughter this time. He searched every nook and cranny, but found nothing, not a single stain or scorch mark. He came back out and after bringing Saria around, explained that there was nothing in there. She went in and investigated for herself, but she too came back empty handed. Link said his farewells and made his way back to the Zora's domain. There he told Ruto what had happened, and then they went to sleep soon afterward, because it was getting quite late.
The next day Link woke up very early. The thoughts of the day before were pushed from his mind as he admired the sleeping form of his beautiful wife, he kissed her, and softly ran his hand over the swelling lump that was his unborn child, and then he walked out and into the Zora Hall. He dove into the water and went through the tunnel and emerged on the other side in Lake Hylia. He swam over to the fishing hole and went in the door. "Hello Link!" the man cried "Up for some more early morning fishing?" "No time today," said Link, "What I was wondering was how much you think it would cost to get a nice piece of property, maybe 10 acres, on the other side of the lake, and if you know anyone who you could talk to." said Link. "Well," Said the man, "I got this land from the Zoras. But the land on the other side of the lake is mostly Gerudo territory and I wouldn't want to try to haggle to much with them," "Gerudos eh?" said Link, "Well, I can at least try. Thanks again!" "Don't mention it!" the man said, and Link walked out the door.
Link went out of the Lake Hylia area, and headed toward the Gerudo Valley, he went straight for the Desert Temple and entered. He called Naburoo's name several times with no reply, he walked around and at last found her sitting in a chair in a side chamber, she was at the moment deeply engrossed in a book (Link was amazed) "Naburoo?" Said Link, breaking her concentration, "Oh, Link, good to see you, what is it I can do for you?" She said in her usual fakey, sugar-coated tone. "Well," Said Link, "I'm considering buying some land on Lake Hylia to build a house. And, well a friend of mine told me that Gerudos owned most of the land on the one side of the lake where I'm interested in building, so I thought I'd come find out if anything is for sale." "Well…." Said Naburoo "We aren't usually in the realty business, we Gerudos," her voice was sickening to listen to, as it dripped in absolute sarcasm. "Well, I have plenty of money, I could certainly make it worth your while," Said Link, nonchalantly jangling the bag bulging with rupees at his waist. A light came on in Naburoo's eyes and Link knew he had touched a weak spot. "Well," said Naburoo after a pause and she had regained her composure. "I suppose we could strike up some kind of deal…" "Good," Said Link, and they began to bargain. They haggled for several minutes and then finally Naburoo said "Alright, this is my last offer, 800 rupees for 10 acres, on the shore, and it's final," she crossed her arms defiantly. Link looked at her for a moment and then smiled and held out his hand, "You've got yourself a deal," he said, and they shook. Link left soon after with his rupee pouch considerably lighter, but a land title deed that truly satisfied him filled his pocket.
He came back to Zora Hall, and found Ruto bustling about as usual. "Ruto," Said Link as he came up to her, "I have a surprise for you, here, come in here," He pulled her into their bedroom and he pulled out the deed. "Look!" he said his eyes alight with happiness. "What would you say to some beautiful lakeside territory and a home for our little one," He said, resting his hand on Ruto's stomach. He unrolled the deed and showed it to her. "Oh Link!" she cried happily. "Thank the goddesses, we finally are going to have a home!" tears of joy welled in her eyes, and they hugged. The preparations for the house's building began, and they drew floorplans for a beautiful two floor house with two bedrooms, and bath, kitchen, dining room, and cellar. With all the preparations underway, Saria's fear of Ganondorf were pushed to the back of Link's mind.
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