Chapter 7
Link was happy in the company of Saria. And for the first time since Saria had came, he was the one that was being comforted. They didn't speak, but held each other close, and that was all the comfort that Link needed. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't cry anymore. He was actually happy. Happier than he had been in a long time. He set his chin on top of her head, and coiled her long, loosely flowing, green hair, around in his fingers. He could never be with her like this before. The fact that she was a child, and he was a maturing adult, had kept them apart, since he had grown, and she hadn't. But now...And the fact suddenly came to him. He could love Saria more than a friend.
Saria clutched the back of Link's leather vest, with her arms around him. Her head was leaned against his chest, as Link's arms were loosely around her neck, gently stroking her hair. She thought of all of the happier times they had spent together, when they were younger. He had grown the way any normal Hylian would mature, but she had grown in the short time of only a heart beat, in the hands of evil. She burried her face in his chest, and let him hold her. She promised herself before, she remembered now. She promised herself she would not fall in love Link. She didn't want to hurt Zelda, especially Link, for that her home was Kokiri Forest, and his home was always destined to be the castle. But her childish heart was weak, but it held a strong bond with Link. She held him tighter, happy to have him for herself. She didn't care if Zelda loved him, but she felt guilty at the thought. She didn't care if she was a Kokiri. She didn't care if Link was a Hylian. She did exactly the opposite of what she swore, secretly to herself. She had fallen in love. Fallen in love with the Hero of Time.
Link broke their embrace, and pushed her away a bit, so he may look at her. Saria looked down at the floor, unable to look him straight in the eye, for she thought she might burst into tears, on the spot. Link set his pointer finger under her chin, and lifted her head to face him. He looked longingly into her deep blue eyes. He looked as if he was trying to see within her heart, to see if she actually loved him, as he did her. Saria felt hot tears well up in her eyes, and roll off of her pale cheeks. Link wiped a few tears away from her face with his thumb. He slowly leaned foreward, so that his face was only a few inches from hers. He set his naturally colored lips gently onto her own, soft pink lips. Saria was surprised, just a little bit, at first, but she let herself relax, and returned the passionate kiss. Link loved Saria, and Saria loved Link. Nothing could stand between their love anymore. A faint creaking sound, interrupted both of their thoughts. Saria broke their kiss, and they both looked to the door of the room they were in. Standing in the doorway, shocked with disbeliefe, was none other than Princess Zelda.
Zelda looked at them both, a faint gasp escaping her throte. She had a look of jelousy, a look of hurt, and a look of longing, in her bright blue eyes, all at the same time. Link took his hands from Saria, as tears fell down Zelda's face. Link walked a few steps toward the woman who had caught them. ''Zelda, I...'' She shook her head and backed up a few paces, fleeing the room, her dark blue dress waving behind her, like the pure water of Lake Hylia. Link looked back at Saria, and Saria nodded. Link ran out the door after Zelda, slamming it shut behind him. Saria could hear the sound of Link's voice, growing fainter, and fainter, yelling after Zelda to wait. Saria stared at the door, that Zelda and Link had just left through. Zelda had been in love with Link, since the first day he had come to the castle. Saria knew that. She was a fool to fall in love with Link. She was a fool to break the promise she had made to herself. It was real. Link had kissed her, with such passion, no words were needed to announce their love to one another. She was afraid of what Zelda could do, in a rage of jelousy. She thought, that if she left, everything would go back to the way it was. Zelda would wed Link, and Saria would, yet again, be alone. The lone Sage of the Forest. The only Kokiri still alive. The only one of her kind, left in Hyrule.
Link ran down the twisting hallways, after Zelda. ''Zelda! Stop!'' He grabbed her arm, and haulted her. She tried to pull away, but Link held firm. Link breathed heavily, as did Zelda. Zelda finally stopped struggling, and Link let her arm go. She looked into his eyes, just the way Saria had looked at him. She stood right by him, close enough for her to touch him. ''Answer me truthfully, Link. Do you love Saria?'' Link saw the hurt in her eyes, but nodded anyway, in response. He thought she should know the truth. No use lying about it to her. Zelda remained calm, nodded, and turned away. ''Tell me. Did you ever have the slightest affection...for me?'' Link's heart was torn two seperate ways. One way for the woman he loved, and another way for the woman he could only care deeply for. Link sighed deeply. ''I care for you, with all of my heart, Princess, but...'' He sighed again, and ran his right hand through his blonde hair. ''My heart is for Saria. Now that she is no longer a child, I can love her more than just a childhood friend.''
Zelda understood, that the man she loved at first site, was in love with someone else. But none the less, her heart was ripped to shreds. A strong hand, was gently placed on her shoulder. ''Zelda, you know that I will always care for you, and I always have.'' Zelda knew that. All she could do was nod again. ''Please, don't be angry with me. I don't want this to ruin our friendship.'' Zelda spun around to face him again. ''Oh, Link. If i can't have you as my own, I would rather have you as a friend, than not have you at all!'' She gently set her soft lips on his cheek, and turned away, to return to her rooms.
On the way back to his room, Link was so caught up with his love for Saria, and the fact that he had hurt Zelda so deeply, he bumped into a several different people. One person he bumped into, looked oddly like the young priest, Nikol. No. He looked again at the boy he had bumped into. Not Nikol. Nikol was dead. The boy looked up at Link, with sad ,violet eyes. ''Very sorry.'' The boy said quickly, and walked hurridly away, down the hall. The smell of death hung dense in the air. But then again, it always smelled like that to Link. Maybe Nikol had a brother. He didn't pay it another thought after that. Link turned a corner, and opened the door to his room. ''Saria?'' He said softly. No reply. ''Saria?'' He said again, a little louder this time. He looked around the room. It was empty. Saria was gone.
Link ran, in a frantic hurry, out of the castle. If he was right, he knew where Saria had gone. He ran across the large, wooden draw bridge, so wet with water, he almost slipped into the river that surrounded Hyrule Castle. He caught his balance, and put his fingers to his lips, in a high pitched whistle. A horse whinnied, somewhere in the distance, and Epona came gallopping through the field, toward him. He ran, also towards her, grabbed the reins, set his bare foot into one of the stirrups, and swung himself onto the sattle. ''Ya!'' He slapped her backside, and she reared up, whinnying irritatedly at him. And she took off at full speed, toward Kokiri forest.
Link dismounted Epona at the limits of Kokiri Forest. He patted her muzzle, and she nuzzled the open palm of his hand. ''I'll be back.'' He wispered softly to her. She lightly hit his shoulder with her head, as if urging him to go. He gave her a final pat on the head, turned, and ran into the forest.
Everything was dark in the forest. No light, no signs of life, no Kokiris. The scent of blood, and death hung so heavily in the air, Link had to lift his shirt over his mouth and nose, to keep himself from passing out cold. Something stirred behind him. He turned his head around, his shirt falling from his face, again revealing his nose and lips. A cold wind swept through the air, sending a sudden shiver down Link's spine. A bush rustled, causing a few small leaves to fall from it's thin branches. Link then realized, in his sudden panic that Saria had left, he had left his sword back at the castle. He had no way to defend himself, except for the use of his hands and feet. He clenched his fists, and planted his feet, shoulder's width apart, to be ready if something was to attack him. Another cold gust of wind, ruffled Link's hair, as a young boy, probably Link's age, stumbled out of the bush. His pale blonde hair hung over his eyes. His face was mostly hidden in shadows. He wore the Kokiri clothing, but Link wasn't sure what he was. The Kokiri's were young children, not adults. But Link then remembered Saria had said the Kokiris were now different. They were as she and himself were. The boy lay on his side, moving only slightly. Link kneeled down by the boy, and reached his hand out to touch him. He barely had his fingertips on the boy's shoulder, when the Kokiri quickly turned his head around, and before Link could react, the Kokiri pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. Link couldn't fight back, the boy had the upper hand all along. His knees on Link's chest, the Kokiri reached his hands for Link's throte. Link struggled against the boy's strength, but the Kokiri wrapped his hands around Link's throte. The Kokiri's eyes glowed an evil red, and he bared sharp, white fangs, as he tightened his grip around Link's throte. Link grapped the boy's hands, with his own, in an attempt to pry them off, but the Kokiri's grip held firm. Link couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. The only thing he could wonder, was if he was going to die. He didn't want to give up, but the boy was surprisingly strong, and Link's breath was becoming short. The Kokiri's grip didn't loosen, but his face began to change, slowly. His eyes changed from a menacing red, to a soft blue. His fangs shrunk to a normal size, and his face was twisted in fear, of what he was doing. The boy spoke, but his voice seemed far away, as if it was imprisoned in another place, and it echoed. ''Link, help me. Please, make me stop!'' Link recognized the Kokiri's face, and the voice, even though he was years older than he had remembered him. A stubborn, jelouse boy from his past. ''M-Mido....'' Link choked out, through short, gasping breaths. As suddenly as Mido's face had changed, it changed back, his eyes glowing evily, and his fangs growing back, as he tightened his grip around Link's throte again. Link dug his fingers into Mido's wrists, as the grip tightened painfully. Link, finally, stopped struggling. His hands dropped from Mido's wrists. But just as his short gasping breaths almost ceased, someone tackled Mido off of Link. Mido slunk off into the shadows, and the person he saved Link, now turned to him. ''Your a crazy fool.'' Saria kneeled next to him. Link coughed, and breathed, and Saria knew he was alright. But he was passed out by then, and he breathed steadily, his chest falling, and rising with each breath. Saria smiled at the boy she loved, scooped him up in her arms, and left the forest.
Sorry I had to change the rating. A lot less people have been reading because of it. But please, review!
Link was happy in the company of Saria. And for the first time since Saria had came, he was the one that was being comforted. They didn't speak, but held each other close, and that was all the comfort that Link needed. He wanted to cry, but he couldn't cry anymore. He was actually happy. Happier than he had been in a long time. He set his chin on top of her head, and coiled her long, loosely flowing, green hair, around in his fingers. He could never be with her like this before. The fact that she was a child, and he was a maturing adult, had kept them apart, since he had grown, and she hadn't. But now...And the fact suddenly came to him. He could love Saria more than a friend.
Saria clutched the back of Link's leather vest, with her arms around him. Her head was leaned against his chest, as Link's arms were loosely around her neck, gently stroking her hair. She thought of all of the happier times they had spent together, when they were younger. He had grown the way any normal Hylian would mature, but she had grown in the short time of only a heart beat, in the hands of evil. She burried her face in his chest, and let him hold her. She promised herself before, she remembered now. She promised herself she would not fall in love Link. She didn't want to hurt Zelda, especially Link, for that her home was Kokiri Forest, and his home was always destined to be the castle. But her childish heart was weak, but it held a strong bond with Link. She held him tighter, happy to have him for herself. She didn't care if Zelda loved him, but she felt guilty at the thought. She didn't care if she was a Kokiri. She didn't care if Link was a Hylian. She did exactly the opposite of what she swore, secretly to herself. She had fallen in love. Fallen in love with the Hero of Time.
Link broke their embrace, and pushed her away a bit, so he may look at her. Saria looked down at the floor, unable to look him straight in the eye, for she thought she might burst into tears, on the spot. Link set his pointer finger under her chin, and lifted her head to face him. He looked longingly into her deep blue eyes. He looked as if he was trying to see within her heart, to see if she actually loved him, as he did her. Saria felt hot tears well up in her eyes, and roll off of her pale cheeks. Link wiped a few tears away from her face with his thumb. He slowly leaned foreward, so that his face was only a few inches from hers. He set his naturally colored lips gently onto her own, soft pink lips. Saria was surprised, just a little bit, at first, but she let herself relax, and returned the passionate kiss. Link loved Saria, and Saria loved Link. Nothing could stand between their love anymore. A faint creaking sound, interrupted both of their thoughts. Saria broke their kiss, and they both looked to the door of the room they were in. Standing in the doorway, shocked with disbeliefe, was none other than Princess Zelda.
Zelda looked at them both, a faint gasp escaping her throte. She had a look of jelousy, a look of hurt, and a look of longing, in her bright blue eyes, all at the same time. Link took his hands from Saria, as tears fell down Zelda's face. Link walked a few steps toward the woman who had caught them. ''Zelda, I...'' She shook her head and backed up a few paces, fleeing the room, her dark blue dress waving behind her, like the pure water of Lake Hylia. Link looked back at Saria, and Saria nodded. Link ran out the door after Zelda, slamming it shut behind him. Saria could hear the sound of Link's voice, growing fainter, and fainter, yelling after Zelda to wait. Saria stared at the door, that Zelda and Link had just left through. Zelda had been in love with Link, since the first day he had come to the castle. Saria knew that. She was a fool to fall in love with Link. She was a fool to break the promise she had made to herself. It was real. Link had kissed her, with such passion, no words were needed to announce their love to one another. She was afraid of what Zelda could do, in a rage of jelousy. She thought, that if she left, everything would go back to the way it was. Zelda would wed Link, and Saria would, yet again, be alone. The lone Sage of the Forest. The only Kokiri still alive. The only one of her kind, left in Hyrule.
Link ran down the twisting hallways, after Zelda. ''Zelda! Stop!'' He grabbed her arm, and haulted her. She tried to pull away, but Link held firm. Link breathed heavily, as did Zelda. Zelda finally stopped struggling, and Link let her arm go. She looked into his eyes, just the way Saria had looked at him. She stood right by him, close enough for her to touch him. ''Answer me truthfully, Link. Do you love Saria?'' Link saw the hurt in her eyes, but nodded anyway, in response. He thought she should know the truth. No use lying about it to her. Zelda remained calm, nodded, and turned away. ''Tell me. Did you ever have the slightest affection...for me?'' Link's heart was torn two seperate ways. One way for the woman he loved, and another way for the woman he could only care deeply for. Link sighed deeply. ''I care for you, with all of my heart, Princess, but...'' He sighed again, and ran his right hand through his blonde hair. ''My heart is for Saria. Now that she is no longer a child, I can love her more than just a childhood friend.''
Zelda understood, that the man she loved at first site, was in love with someone else. But none the less, her heart was ripped to shreds. A strong hand, was gently placed on her shoulder. ''Zelda, you know that I will always care for you, and I always have.'' Zelda knew that. All she could do was nod again. ''Please, don't be angry with me. I don't want this to ruin our friendship.'' Zelda spun around to face him again. ''Oh, Link. If i can't have you as my own, I would rather have you as a friend, than not have you at all!'' She gently set her soft lips on his cheek, and turned away, to return to her rooms.
On the way back to his room, Link was so caught up with his love for Saria, and the fact that he had hurt Zelda so deeply, he bumped into a several different people. One person he bumped into, looked oddly like the young priest, Nikol. No. He looked again at the boy he had bumped into. Not Nikol. Nikol was dead. The boy looked up at Link, with sad ,violet eyes. ''Very sorry.'' The boy said quickly, and walked hurridly away, down the hall. The smell of death hung dense in the air. But then again, it always smelled like that to Link. Maybe Nikol had a brother. He didn't pay it another thought after that. Link turned a corner, and opened the door to his room. ''Saria?'' He said softly. No reply. ''Saria?'' He said again, a little louder this time. He looked around the room. It was empty. Saria was gone.
Link ran, in a frantic hurry, out of the castle. If he was right, he knew where Saria had gone. He ran across the large, wooden draw bridge, so wet with water, he almost slipped into the river that surrounded Hyrule Castle. He caught his balance, and put his fingers to his lips, in a high pitched whistle. A horse whinnied, somewhere in the distance, and Epona came gallopping through the field, toward him. He ran, also towards her, grabbed the reins, set his bare foot into one of the stirrups, and swung himself onto the sattle. ''Ya!'' He slapped her backside, and she reared up, whinnying irritatedly at him. And she took off at full speed, toward Kokiri forest.
Link dismounted Epona at the limits of Kokiri Forest. He patted her muzzle, and she nuzzled the open palm of his hand. ''I'll be back.'' He wispered softly to her. She lightly hit his shoulder with her head, as if urging him to go. He gave her a final pat on the head, turned, and ran into the forest.
Everything was dark in the forest. No light, no signs of life, no Kokiris. The scent of blood, and death hung so heavily in the air, Link had to lift his shirt over his mouth and nose, to keep himself from passing out cold. Something stirred behind him. He turned his head around, his shirt falling from his face, again revealing his nose and lips. A cold wind swept through the air, sending a sudden shiver down Link's spine. A bush rustled, causing a few small leaves to fall from it's thin branches. Link then realized, in his sudden panic that Saria had left, he had left his sword back at the castle. He had no way to defend himself, except for the use of his hands and feet. He clenched his fists, and planted his feet, shoulder's width apart, to be ready if something was to attack him. Another cold gust of wind, ruffled Link's hair, as a young boy, probably Link's age, stumbled out of the bush. His pale blonde hair hung over his eyes. His face was mostly hidden in shadows. He wore the Kokiri clothing, but Link wasn't sure what he was. The Kokiri's were young children, not adults. But Link then remembered Saria had said the Kokiris were now different. They were as she and himself were. The boy lay on his side, moving only slightly. Link kneeled down by the boy, and reached his hand out to touch him. He barely had his fingertips on the boy's shoulder, when the Kokiri quickly turned his head around, and before Link could react, the Kokiri pounced on him, pinning him to the ground. Link couldn't fight back, the boy had the upper hand all along. His knees on Link's chest, the Kokiri reached his hands for Link's throte. Link struggled against the boy's strength, but the Kokiri wrapped his hands around Link's throte. The Kokiri's eyes glowed an evil red, and he bared sharp, white fangs, as he tightened his grip around Link's throte. Link grapped the boy's hands, with his own, in an attempt to pry them off, but the Kokiri's grip held firm. Link couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. The only thing he could wonder, was if he was going to die. He didn't want to give up, but the boy was surprisingly strong, and Link's breath was becoming short. The Kokiri's grip didn't loosen, but his face began to change, slowly. His eyes changed from a menacing red, to a soft blue. His fangs shrunk to a normal size, and his face was twisted in fear, of what he was doing. The boy spoke, but his voice seemed far away, as if it was imprisoned in another place, and it echoed. ''Link, help me. Please, make me stop!'' Link recognized the Kokiri's face, and the voice, even though he was years older than he had remembered him. A stubborn, jelouse boy from his past. ''M-Mido....'' Link choked out, through short, gasping breaths. As suddenly as Mido's face had changed, it changed back, his eyes glowing evily, and his fangs growing back, as he tightened his grip around Link's throte again. Link dug his fingers into Mido's wrists, as the grip tightened painfully. Link, finally, stopped struggling. His hands dropped from Mido's wrists. But just as his short gasping breaths almost ceased, someone tackled Mido off of Link. Mido slunk off into the shadows, and the person he saved Link, now turned to him. ''Your a crazy fool.'' Saria kneeled next to him. Link coughed, and breathed, and Saria knew he was alright. But he was passed out by then, and he breathed steadily, his chest falling, and rising with each breath. Saria smiled at the boy she loved, scooped him up in her arms, and left the forest.
Sorry I had to change the rating. A lot less people have been reading because of it. But please, review!