Chapter 2
The next morning, I finally realized Link wasn't there.
"Link?" I called.
"Saira!" Someone called outside. But it wasn't Link because the voice was too high-pitched. I walked outside and my friend Saria was standing the bottom of the tree house. She looked about 10 but even though she was much older, but as I said, Kokiri children never grow up, like Peter Pan. She had short, bright green hair with blue eyes.
"Hi, Saria. What brings thee here? And have you seen Link?" I called down to her.
"That is why I'm here. Take a walk with me"
I climbed down and walked up to her. We began venturing around Kokiri not really going to any particular destination.
"Do you know thyself?" She asked as we walked.
"What do you mean?" I asked in response
"Dost thou know who you are?" She asked
"I am Sairalinde Trinity. I am almost 6. I was born in Kokiri Forest where I live with my only brother." I wasn't sure what she wanted me to say
"Saira, there is much you don't know. Sit down" We were by the fountain in the middle of the forest. We sat at the water's edge and she looked seriously at me.
"I'm confused"
"You are very young and probably wont understand what I must tell you, but you have to know. Saira, you are not a Kokiri." She said flatly
"Huh? Are you and the skull kids trying to mess with my head?" I said feeling a little angry that one of my good friends was telling me this.
"Saira, your mother left you here when you were just a newborn"
"No, I'm a Kokiri and they don't have mothers" I protested even though deep down I knew it was true, and wanted it to be true.
"If you don't believe me; why don't you have a faery? All Kokiri's have one. You. Link and Dmitri do not."
"That's because Dmitri is Hylian" I then realized "Oh."
"Now I must also tell you that your brother will be leaving soon."
"What? Why?"
"I know not. When you see him, remind him of your friendship and love for you may not see him for a long time"
Saria got up and left. I sat there but I knew Link couldn't leave until he was 10. There were magic barriers ser by the Deku Tree preventing the small Kokiri from leaving or any child living there that was under 10 years of age. If you tried to get out, the wall would shock you. Dmitri and I had tried on several occasions.
A few days went by and I saw nothing of my brother. Dmitri did all he could to keep my mind off Link but I still worried. The day before my birthday, I went to the ship to buy more supplies when I heard someone yelling.
"You killed him! This is entirely your fault! You're not even a Kokiri! Argh!!"
I saw Mido storm off angrily from his usual post by the path that led to the Deku Tree where he often sat to prevent 'unworthy' people from seeing him. As he moved I saw Link emerge covered in dirt.
I dropped everything I was carrying and ran to him. I know he wanted to look heroic but I hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek anyway. Then I pulled away and hit him as hard as I could.
"Ow, Saira, what was that for?" he yelled rubbing his arm where I hit him
"How utterly mean and inconsiderate of you to leave me like that! Didn't say 'bye.' Didn't leave a note or tell me that you were leaving!" I yelled at him
"Sorry. I should have said something" he said calmly
"All right, now c'mere. I'll take care of your scratches."
I healed him up and we walked home together. However when we got home he didn't have good news for me.
"Saira. I want to say 'happy birthday' now because tomorrow I'm leaving" he said that night when we were eating dinner
"But you just got back and speaking of which, where were you?"
"I was helping the Deku Tree." He said sadly
"So that's who Mido was yelling about?" I asked
"Yes. The black rider that came through here had cursed him. But I wasn't quick enough to save him."
"What did he want?"
"This" Link pulled something out of his pocket. It was a green emerald with a gold rim and a beautiful design.
"What is it?" I asked curiously
"The Kokiri Emerald, one of the Spiritual Stones that will open the Temple of Time. There are 3."
"Oh, I read about those. There the Kokiri Emerald, the Goron's Ruby, and the Zora's Sapphire. The book I read said they were tokens from the goddesses given to the three races they trusted. For centuries they were hidden. It also spoke of a boy-"
I looked at him and then finished what I was going to say "A boy from the forest who was destined to collect all 3 and open the Temple in order to save Hyrule. Please tell me its not you"
Link avoided my gaze and I felt tears beginning to sting my eyes. I regained myself and asked.
"When do you leave?"
"In the morning"
"How long?"
"I don't know. Days, weeks, months. Who knows?" he said "Here. Its for your birthday."
He handed me a leather bag
"I got something for you too"
"Wait. Look inside" he said to me
I did but it looked like a simple bag
"It's a bag"
"It's a magic bag. You can put 100 times more than a normal bag and it makes it light as a feather."
I tested this by running around and putting things inside. It was amazing. I bet I could have put our house itself inside if I wanted.
"Geez, I wish my gift was as cool as this" I said
"Give it to me anyway" he said
I went to my bed and pulled a hat out from under the mattress. It was long for his hair, which was good because he had long hair. It was green to match his tunic.
"It changes colors to match your clothes. I found the spell in a book"
Link took it and looked inside, "To Link. Love, Saira" he read. He walked over to me and hugged me.
"Thank you" he said
That night we went to Dmitri's house because Vienne was throwing us a little party. Dmitri gave Link a seed bag for his slingshot and gave me a new book. (More healing spells)
When Link and I went home after the party neither of us could sleep. I laid down in the hammock on our balcony that Link and I had made together. Link was inside packing for his journey.
"Saira, you better come inside. The Deku Babas like the night" Link called
"They cant reach me up here" I answered
" I wasn't asking" He was serious now
I tore my eyes away from the stars and looked inside at him. I flipped out of the hammock and went inside.
"You're mad" he said when I sat on my bed and refused to look at him
"Am I that transparent?"
"Yeah, I'm looking straight at the wall" he joked
I forced back a smile but he had caught me.
"I know you're mad but I have to go" he said
"Says who?" I asked
"A book according to you. Everything else according to me"
"Just because a big tree tells you to go save Hyrule doesn't mean you have to," I yelled angrily before running out and climbing down. Link didn't follow because he knew I would keep going until I knew he wasn't there. The village was dark and I could barely see in front of me but I knew the forest very well and exactly where I was going.
I went down the path to the Deku Tree where Mido was sleeping at his post. For fun, I gave him a swift kick then ran to the Deku Tree. It saddened me to see the Deku Tree. The moonlight shone brightly and I could see him clearly. His leaves were no longer green and his trunk was the color of a tombstone. Many times I had come to speak with the Deku Tree. I learned many things from him. I noticed his mouth was open. Looking around for anyone, I slowly walked in. It was pitch black so I summoned a light bead just like the Deku Tree had taught me, and it gave me enough light to see.
The tree reeked of death. I saw the remains of Deku Babas, which were plants with tendrils instead of petals. They would remain dormant until someone got too close, then it would lash out at its prey.
I walked in ever deeper until my foot slipped and I began to fall down a pit. I screamed loudly as I fell faster. I finally landed with a loud splash in a pool of water. Above me I heard someone else scream and a few seconds later something else landed next to me. I swam over to it and pulled it up.
"Dmitri!?" I yelled. He couldn't swim that well so I dragged him on shore before confronting him.
"What are you doing?" I scolded
"I followed you" he said
"I can see that. Why?"
"I heard you and Link fighting. I figured you'd go do something stupid" he said
I started laughing, "Well, now thanks to your stupidity we're stuck down inside a giant tree with only a bead of light"
"Wait, look. There's a torch. Think you can light it?" he asked
"Maybe" I guided the light over the torch and forced it to spark. Immediately it lit but it also lit every torch in the entire tree.
"It's kind of dumb if you think about it" Dmitri said
"What is?"
"That a tree is full of torches. Ah, look. There are vines going all the way up."
"With wet clothes it will be twice as difficult." I said
"Well there is one other thing we could do" he looked up
"What?"
"HELP!!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. I joined
After about 5 minutes of screaming we saw the last person we wanted to see.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't 2 trapped Hylians. What a tragedy?" Mido said
"Cut it out Mido and help us!" I yelled
But he didn't look twice before he walked out of sight. There were arguing voices then the sound of someone getting punched. Then Link's face appeared.
"Need a hand?"
Link threw a rope down and pulled us up. But then he got a very 'parenty' mood.
"What were you doing?" It's dark, late and who knows what could be out here. Now both of you go home and to your room. Go!"
As we walked out, Mido was sitting on the ground clutching his eyes. I almost said something but Dmitri hit me and shook his head knowing we were in enough trouble.
When Link and I were back in the safety of our home, it was awhile before he said anything.
"Saira, I know you don't want me to go, but its like I'm walking out forever." He finally said.
"I know but I just don't like the idea of being by myself"
"I know but you've still got Dmitri and Vienne"
"Dmitri isn't my brother and Vienne isn't my mother. You're all I've got." I said
Link was at a loss for words.
"Just promise me you'll come back. And don't get killed"
"I will.. and I wont"
"Well if you're going to be leaving early you better get some sleep."
I blew out the lamp but I didn't realize I still had the light bead with me until Link said something.
The next morning I woke up just as Link was leaving. I got up and followed him. He stopped at the exit out of Kokiri and stared at it.
"Weren't you going to say goodbye?" I asked
"I didn't want to have to bear it." He turned to face me "Just incase it was a long goodbye"
"Link!" I ran up to him and hugged him one last time "Now go before I make you stay"
I pushed him past the barrier so I couldn't touch him but I tried anyway. It was like a shock up my arm and little lines of light spanned outward where I hit.
Link smiled weakly then walked out. If only I had known what I do now, I wouldn't have let him go.
The next morning, I finally realized Link wasn't there.
"Link?" I called.
"Saira!" Someone called outside. But it wasn't Link because the voice was too high-pitched. I walked outside and my friend Saria was standing the bottom of the tree house. She looked about 10 but even though she was much older, but as I said, Kokiri children never grow up, like Peter Pan. She had short, bright green hair with blue eyes.
"Hi, Saria. What brings thee here? And have you seen Link?" I called down to her.
"That is why I'm here. Take a walk with me"
I climbed down and walked up to her. We began venturing around Kokiri not really going to any particular destination.
"Do you know thyself?" She asked as we walked.
"What do you mean?" I asked in response
"Dost thou know who you are?" She asked
"I am Sairalinde Trinity. I am almost 6. I was born in Kokiri Forest where I live with my only brother." I wasn't sure what she wanted me to say
"Saira, there is much you don't know. Sit down" We were by the fountain in the middle of the forest. We sat at the water's edge and she looked seriously at me.
"I'm confused"
"You are very young and probably wont understand what I must tell you, but you have to know. Saira, you are not a Kokiri." She said flatly
"Huh? Are you and the skull kids trying to mess with my head?" I said feeling a little angry that one of my good friends was telling me this.
"Saira, your mother left you here when you were just a newborn"
"No, I'm a Kokiri and they don't have mothers" I protested even though deep down I knew it was true, and wanted it to be true.
"If you don't believe me; why don't you have a faery? All Kokiri's have one. You. Link and Dmitri do not."
"That's because Dmitri is Hylian" I then realized "Oh."
"Now I must also tell you that your brother will be leaving soon."
"What? Why?"
"I know not. When you see him, remind him of your friendship and love for you may not see him for a long time"
Saria got up and left. I sat there but I knew Link couldn't leave until he was 10. There were magic barriers ser by the Deku Tree preventing the small Kokiri from leaving or any child living there that was under 10 years of age. If you tried to get out, the wall would shock you. Dmitri and I had tried on several occasions.
A few days went by and I saw nothing of my brother. Dmitri did all he could to keep my mind off Link but I still worried. The day before my birthday, I went to the ship to buy more supplies when I heard someone yelling.
"You killed him! This is entirely your fault! You're not even a Kokiri! Argh!!"
I saw Mido storm off angrily from his usual post by the path that led to the Deku Tree where he often sat to prevent 'unworthy' people from seeing him. As he moved I saw Link emerge covered in dirt.
I dropped everything I was carrying and ran to him. I know he wanted to look heroic but I hugged him and gave him a kiss on the cheek anyway. Then I pulled away and hit him as hard as I could.
"Ow, Saira, what was that for?" he yelled rubbing his arm where I hit him
"How utterly mean and inconsiderate of you to leave me like that! Didn't say 'bye.' Didn't leave a note or tell me that you were leaving!" I yelled at him
"Sorry. I should have said something" he said calmly
"All right, now c'mere. I'll take care of your scratches."
I healed him up and we walked home together. However when we got home he didn't have good news for me.
"Saira. I want to say 'happy birthday' now because tomorrow I'm leaving" he said that night when we were eating dinner
"But you just got back and speaking of which, where were you?"
"I was helping the Deku Tree." He said sadly
"So that's who Mido was yelling about?" I asked
"Yes. The black rider that came through here had cursed him. But I wasn't quick enough to save him."
"What did he want?"
"This" Link pulled something out of his pocket. It was a green emerald with a gold rim and a beautiful design.
"What is it?" I asked curiously
"The Kokiri Emerald, one of the Spiritual Stones that will open the Temple of Time. There are 3."
"Oh, I read about those. There the Kokiri Emerald, the Goron's Ruby, and the Zora's Sapphire. The book I read said they were tokens from the goddesses given to the three races they trusted. For centuries they were hidden. It also spoke of a boy-"
I looked at him and then finished what I was going to say "A boy from the forest who was destined to collect all 3 and open the Temple in order to save Hyrule. Please tell me its not you"
Link avoided my gaze and I felt tears beginning to sting my eyes. I regained myself and asked.
"When do you leave?"
"In the morning"
"How long?"
"I don't know. Days, weeks, months. Who knows?" he said "Here. Its for your birthday."
He handed me a leather bag
"I got something for you too"
"Wait. Look inside" he said to me
I did but it looked like a simple bag
"It's a bag"
"It's a magic bag. You can put 100 times more than a normal bag and it makes it light as a feather."
I tested this by running around and putting things inside. It was amazing. I bet I could have put our house itself inside if I wanted.
"Geez, I wish my gift was as cool as this" I said
"Give it to me anyway" he said
I went to my bed and pulled a hat out from under the mattress. It was long for his hair, which was good because he had long hair. It was green to match his tunic.
"It changes colors to match your clothes. I found the spell in a book"
Link took it and looked inside, "To Link. Love, Saira" he read. He walked over to me and hugged me.
"Thank you" he said
That night we went to Dmitri's house because Vienne was throwing us a little party. Dmitri gave Link a seed bag for his slingshot and gave me a new book. (More healing spells)
When Link and I went home after the party neither of us could sleep. I laid down in the hammock on our balcony that Link and I had made together. Link was inside packing for his journey.
"Saira, you better come inside. The Deku Babas like the night" Link called
"They cant reach me up here" I answered
" I wasn't asking" He was serious now
I tore my eyes away from the stars and looked inside at him. I flipped out of the hammock and went inside.
"You're mad" he said when I sat on my bed and refused to look at him
"Am I that transparent?"
"Yeah, I'm looking straight at the wall" he joked
I forced back a smile but he had caught me.
"I know you're mad but I have to go" he said
"Says who?" I asked
"A book according to you. Everything else according to me"
"Just because a big tree tells you to go save Hyrule doesn't mean you have to," I yelled angrily before running out and climbing down. Link didn't follow because he knew I would keep going until I knew he wasn't there. The village was dark and I could barely see in front of me but I knew the forest very well and exactly where I was going.
I went down the path to the Deku Tree where Mido was sleeping at his post. For fun, I gave him a swift kick then ran to the Deku Tree. It saddened me to see the Deku Tree. The moonlight shone brightly and I could see him clearly. His leaves were no longer green and his trunk was the color of a tombstone. Many times I had come to speak with the Deku Tree. I learned many things from him. I noticed his mouth was open. Looking around for anyone, I slowly walked in. It was pitch black so I summoned a light bead just like the Deku Tree had taught me, and it gave me enough light to see.
The tree reeked of death. I saw the remains of Deku Babas, which were plants with tendrils instead of petals. They would remain dormant until someone got too close, then it would lash out at its prey.
I walked in ever deeper until my foot slipped and I began to fall down a pit. I screamed loudly as I fell faster. I finally landed with a loud splash in a pool of water. Above me I heard someone else scream and a few seconds later something else landed next to me. I swam over to it and pulled it up.
"Dmitri!?" I yelled. He couldn't swim that well so I dragged him on shore before confronting him.
"What are you doing?" I scolded
"I followed you" he said
"I can see that. Why?"
"I heard you and Link fighting. I figured you'd go do something stupid" he said
I started laughing, "Well, now thanks to your stupidity we're stuck down inside a giant tree with only a bead of light"
"Wait, look. There's a torch. Think you can light it?" he asked
"Maybe" I guided the light over the torch and forced it to spark. Immediately it lit but it also lit every torch in the entire tree.
"It's kind of dumb if you think about it" Dmitri said
"What is?"
"That a tree is full of torches. Ah, look. There are vines going all the way up."
"With wet clothes it will be twice as difficult." I said
"Well there is one other thing we could do" he looked up
"What?"
"HELP!!!" he shouted at the top of his lungs. I joined
After about 5 minutes of screaming we saw the last person we wanted to see.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't 2 trapped Hylians. What a tragedy?" Mido said
"Cut it out Mido and help us!" I yelled
But he didn't look twice before he walked out of sight. There were arguing voices then the sound of someone getting punched. Then Link's face appeared.
"Need a hand?"
Link threw a rope down and pulled us up. But then he got a very 'parenty' mood.
"What were you doing?" It's dark, late and who knows what could be out here. Now both of you go home and to your room. Go!"
As we walked out, Mido was sitting on the ground clutching his eyes. I almost said something but Dmitri hit me and shook his head knowing we were in enough trouble.
When Link and I were back in the safety of our home, it was awhile before he said anything.
"Saira, I know you don't want me to go, but its like I'm walking out forever." He finally said.
"I know but I just don't like the idea of being by myself"
"I know but you've still got Dmitri and Vienne"
"Dmitri isn't my brother and Vienne isn't my mother. You're all I've got." I said
Link was at a loss for words.
"Just promise me you'll come back. And don't get killed"
"I will.. and I wont"
"Well if you're going to be leaving early you better get some sleep."
I blew out the lamp but I didn't realize I still had the light bead with me until Link said something.
The next morning I woke up just as Link was leaving. I got up and followed him. He stopped at the exit out of Kokiri and stared at it.
"Weren't you going to say goodbye?" I asked
"I didn't want to have to bear it." He turned to face me "Just incase it was a long goodbye"
"Link!" I ran up to him and hugged him one last time "Now go before I make you stay"
I pushed him past the barrier so I couldn't touch him but I tried anyway. It was like a shock up my arm and little lines of light spanned outward where I hit.
Link smiled weakly then walked out. If only I had known what I do now, I wouldn't have let him go.