Link awoke the next day with a warm, damp cloth on his forehead. His
head felt as if it was about to fall of his neck, and he moaned slightly.
He didn't remember doing anything that would have made his head hurt so
much. He touched the sore spot lightly and cringed as pain shot through
his head. There was definitely a bump there. He knew that if he looked in
a mirror at himself that there would be a large bruise.
"Ah, Link, you're awake! How are you feeling?" asked Saria as she came closer to his bedside. "That's quite a bump on your head there. You're lucky that I got here when I did. I doubt that you could have held them off any longer. They must have hit you first in your sleep. You must have been really exhausted not to have heard them when they snuck into your house."
"Saria, I have no idea what you're talking about," said Link as he tried to sit up. Pain shot through his body and he moaned again.
"Don't move! You don't remember what happened?" she asked as she took the cloth off of his head and dipped in the steaming pot of water she had sitting next to his bed.
"No," Link said, trying to move himself into a more comfortable position without hurting himself too much. "And do you happen to have any healing potion on you? I'm really hurting right now." Saria laughed. "I'm glad that my pain brings you so much pleasure," Link replied, although he smiled slightly.
"I sent Mido off to find some. That was a while ago, he should be back any minute. You took quite a beating," said Saria. She laid the cloth on his head again and smoothed his blonde hair away from his face. She was smiling, but Link saw concern in her blue eyes and a wrinkle of worry etched on her forehead. "Now answer my first question; how are you feeling?"
"I'm not that bad, if I don't move. My head is pounding, and there are a couple of spots on my body that ache, but other than that, I'm all right. So what happened?" Saria sat back and picked something up from behind her. It was a rather large staff with a knife on the end. There were specks of red on it. Link guessed that these specks were blood, but whose, he didn't know.
"This is what happened," she replied. "Early this morning a group of Gerudo warriors broke into your house and tried to kill you. I'm guessing that they attacked you in your sleep, but you weren't knocked out like they expected, and tried to fight back. The blow to your head must have really messed you up though, because you normally would be able to take on a group like that without much trouble. They definitely had the upper hand when I showed up. You were ready to collapse. I used some magic and got them to leave and then you just passed out. You've been out of it for a while. I sent Mido to get some healing potion right away, and then tried to treat some of your wounds as best I could. You had me worried there for a little while. It wasn't until you woke up that I figured you'd be all right until Mido could get here."
"Well, thank you. I suppose you saved my life. I owe you one," said Link, trying to lighten the mood. The room filled with the sound of Saria's laugh, making Link smile. That was one sound that he missed around here lately.
"Oh, please. It was the least I could do, considering all that you're doing for me." Saria took the cloth off of his head and dipped it back into the water. "Besides, I'm sure you would have prevailed. You're just like that, Link."
"Thanks, but I don't think so. This is isn't the first time you've some between me and disaster, Saria," said Link as he shifted slightly so that he could have a better view of her face. He winced as pain shot up his back.
"I told you not to move, Link!" said Saria as she placed the cloth back on his forehead.
"Sorry. Where is Mido?" As if on cue, the sound of feet ascending the ladder of Link's house could be heard. A breathless Mido walked in a moment later holding a potion in his hand.
"I'm sorry that it took so long," said Mido, breathing hard, "but I went as fast as I could."
"That's all right, Mido. Don't worry about it. Thank you for doing this for me," said Saria as she took the healing potion from him.
"Anytime, Saria. I hope you feel better, Link," said Mido as he left. Saria smiled as she uncorked the bottle.
"This should make you feel one hundred percent better," Saria said as she held the bottle up to Link's lips. The liquid slid down his throat, and he felt warmth stretch from his head down to his toes. He immediately felt refreshed. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"One hundred percent better!" said Link as he stood up and went over to the table. "Thank you again, Saria." Their eyes met and Link felt the strangest sensation come over him. Saria was a dear friend, but there were times when he wished that they could somehow get to know each other on a deeper level. She had so much to offer, so much that he could never hope to have, and he wanted to show her the world the way he saw it. He missed the days when Saria lived in Kokiri Forest and the two of them could hang around the Lost Woods or just sit up late into the night and talk. He wanted that and so much more. He searched her eyes, hoping to see his thoughts reflected in those twin pools of sapphire blue.
"Link," Saria said, her voice barely audible. How many times had she said his name? How many different ways had she formed the word to make it into a scolding, teasing, or caring sound? And yet, this was the first time that he had ever heard her, or anyone for that matter, say his name, and have it evoke so much emotion inside of him. Before this moment, his name had held no meaning, but now it seemed as if Saria put everything into it, and it suddenly had a definition.
Saria was still sitting on the stool next to his bed. The pot of water was still sitting next to her stool. Link was still standing and his eyes were still locked onto Saria's. Nothing in the room had changed, and yet he felt as if everything had changed in that moment. The realization hit him that Saria was his world. He wanted to express this to her in some way, but words would not come. He walked towards her, his gaze never leaving hers.
One million thoughts ran through Link's head, and none of them made any sense. He saw Saria in a completely new light, and he wanted to share it with her, but didn't know how. One word came to his lips, and he allowed it to pass them, somehow knowing that nothing else needed to be said. "Saria." His voice held the same quality that hers had held, and she saw her eyes change, a whirlpool of thoughts invading her mind, just as they had done to him.
Saria stood, slowly, and walked towards Link. But her eyes had changed yet again, and there was a clear emotion displayed there. Sadness clouded her gaze as she walked nearer to him. "Link, this can never be. It just can't."
"Then you do feel the same," said Link, letting out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.
"Of course. I have for a while. But Link, we're so very different. Our lives are so very different. We could only ever be friends."
"Why?" asked Link, not understanding. He took a step towards Saria, and she looked as if she wanted to move away, but she didn't. She looked up into his eyes, and he saw the tears form and fall onto her cheeks.
"Oh, Link! Think about it! I'm a sage, and you are the Hero-of-Time. We both have our calling, and we have a duty to fulfill. Our paths may cross, like they are now, but they won't always, and neither one of us can give up the incredible gift that's been given to us. You may look at your title as the Hero-of-Time as an awful burden at times, but think of all that you can do. Think of all the lives you can save, and already have saved! I admit that being the Forest Sage can be trying, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. Just as I know you wouldn't give up what you have." Her voice shook as she spoke and she leaned in for hug. Link obliged, holding her close, hugging her in a way he never had before.
"We could make it work, Saria. I know we could," said Link, pleading with her.
"I don't think so, Link. We both have our separate ways to go. So much stands in the way!"
"Are you not willing to at least try?" asked Link, holding Saria away from him and looking at her intently. "Are you going to give up that easily?"
"I'm not giving up, Link, I'm just trying to be practical. Now let's not discuss it any further. Tell me about all that you've done since I saw you last." A different kind of pain than the kind he'd been experiencing earlier hit Link in the chest. He sat down and put his head in his hands, and told his story half-heartedly to Saria. When he was finished, she congratulated him on his victories and left, saying that she had stayed much longer than she had originally intended. She left a confused and upset Link behind.
"Ah, Link, you're awake! How are you feeling?" asked Saria as she came closer to his bedside. "That's quite a bump on your head there. You're lucky that I got here when I did. I doubt that you could have held them off any longer. They must have hit you first in your sleep. You must have been really exhausted not to have heard them when they snuck into your house."
"Saria, I have no idea what you're talking about," said Link as he tried to sit up. Pain shot through his body and he moaned again.
"Don't move! You don't remember what happened?" she asked as she took the cloth off of his head and dipped in the steaming pot of water she had sitting next to his bed.
"No," Link said, trying to move himself into a more comfortable position without hurting himself too much. "And do you happen to have any healing potion on you? I'm really hurting right now." Saria laughed. "I'm glad that my pain brings you so much pleasure," Link replied, although he smiled slightly.
"I sent Mido off to find some. That was a while ago, he should be back any minute. You took quite a beating," said Saria. She laid the cloth on his head again and smoothed his blonde hair away from his face. She was smiling, but Link saw concern in her blue eyes and a wrinkle of worry etched on her forehead. "Now answer my first question; how are you feeling?"
"I'm not that bad, if I don't move. My head is pounding, and there are a couple of spots on my body that ache, but other than that, I'm all right. So what happened?" Saria sat back and picked something up from behind her. It was a rather large staff with a knife on the end. There were specks of red on it. Link guessed that these specks were blood, but whose, he didn't know.
"This is what happened," she replied. "Early this morning a group of Gerudo warriors broke into your house and tried to kill you. I'm guessing that they attacked you in your sleep, but you weren't knocked out like they expected, and tried to fight back. The blow to your head must have really messed you up though, because you normally would be able to take on a group like that without much trouble. They definitely had the upper hand when I showed up. You were ready to collapse. I used some magic and got them to leave and then you just passed out. You've been out of it for a while. I sent Mido to get some healing potion right away, and then tried to treat some of your wounds as best I could. You had me worried there for a little while. It wasn't until you woke up that I figured you'd be all right until Mido could get here."
"Well, thank you. I suppose you saved my life. I owe you one," said Link, trying to lighten the mood. The room filled with the sound of Saria's laugh, making Link smile. That was one sound that he missed around here lately.
"Oh, please. It was the least I could do, considering all that you're doing for me." Saria took the cloth off of his head and dipped it back into the water. "Besides, I'm sure you would have prevailed. You're just like that, Link."
"Thanks, but I don't think so. This is isn't the first time you've some between me and disaster, Saria," said Link as he shifted slightly so that he could have a better view of her face. He winced as pain shot up his back.
"I told you not to move, Link!" said Saria as she placed the cloth back on his forehead.
"Sorry. Where is Mido?" As if on cue, the sound of feet ascending the ladder of Link's house could be heard. A breathless Mido walked in a moment later holding a potion in his hand.
"I'm sorry that it took so long," said Mido, breathing hard, "but I went as fast as I could."
"That's all right, Mido. Don't worry about it. Thank you for doing this for me," said Saria as she took the healing potion from him.
"Anytime, Saria. I hope you feel better, Link," said Mido as he left. Saria smiled as she uncorked the bottle.
"This should make you feel one hundred percent better," Saria said as she held the bottle up to Link's lips. The liquid slid down his throat, and he felt warmth stretch from his head down to his toes. He immediately felt refreshed. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed.
"One hundred percent better!" said Link as he stood up and went over to the table. "Thank you again, Saria." Their eyes met and Link felt the strangest sensation come over him. Saria was a dear friend, but there were times when he wished that they could somehow get to know each other on a deeper level. She had so much to offer, so much that he could never hope to have, and he wanted to show her the world the way he saw it. He missed the days when Saria lived in Kokiri Forest and the two of them could hang around the Lost Woods or just sit up late into the night and talk. He wanted that and so much more. He searched her eyes, hoping to see his thoughts reflected in those twin pools of sapphire blue.
"Link," Saria said, her voice barely audible. How many times had she said his name? How many different ways had she formed the word to make it into a scolding, teasing, or caring sound? And yet, this was the first time that he had ever heard her, or anyone for that matter, say his name, and have it evoke so much emotion inside of him. Before this moment, his name had held no meaning, but now it seemed as if Saria put everything into it, and it suddenly had a definition.
Saria was still sitting on the stool next to his bed. The pot of water was still sitting next to her stool. Link was still standing and his eyes were still locked onto Saria's. Nothing in the room had changed, and yet he felt as if everything had changed in that moment. The realization hit him that Saria was his world. He wanted to express this to her in some way, but words would not come. He walked towards her, his gaze never leaving hers.
One million thoughts ran through Link's head, and none of them made any sense. He saw Saria in a completely new light, and he wanted to share it with her, but didn't know how. One word came to his lips, and he allowed it to pass them, somehow knowing that nothing else needed to be said. "Saria." His voice held the same quality that hers had held, and she saw her eyes change, a whirlpool of thoughts invading her mind, just as they had done to him.
Saria stood, slowly, and walked towards Link. But her eyes had changed yet again, and there was a clear emotion displayed there. Sadness clouded her gaze as she walked nearer to him. "Link, this can never be. It just can't."
"Then you do feel the same," said Link, letting out a breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding.
"Of course. I have for a while. But Link, we're so very different. Our lives are so very different. We could only ever be friends."
"Why?" asked Link, not understanding. He took a step towards Saria, and she looked as if she wanted to move away, but she didn't. She looked up into his eyes, and he saw the tears form and fall onto her cheeks.
"Oh, Link! Think about it! I'm a sage, and you are the Hero-of-Time. We both have our calling, and we have a duty to fulfill. Our paths may cross, like they are now, but they won't always, and neither one of us can give up the incredible gift that's been given to us. You may look at your title as the Hero-of-Time as an awful burden at times, but think of all that you can do. Think of all the lives you can save, and already have saved! I admit that being the Forest Sage can be trying, but I wouldn't give it up for the world. Just as I know you wouldn't give up what you have." Her voice shook as she spoke and she leaned in for hug. Link obliged, holding her close, hugging her in a way he never had before.
"We could make it work, Saria. I know we could," said Link, pleading with her.
"I don't think so, Link. We both have our separate ways to go. So much stands in the way!"
"Are you not willing to at least try?" asked Link, holding Saria away from him and looking at her intently. "Are you going to give up that easily?"
"I'm not giving up, Link, I'm just trying to be practical. Now let's not discuss it any further. Tell me about all that you've done since I saw you last." A different kind of pain than the kind he'd been experiencing earlier hit Link in the chest. He sat down and put his head in his hands, and told his story half-heartedly to Saria. When he was finished, she congratulated him on his victories and left, saying that she had stayed much longer than she had originally intended. She left a confused and upset Link behind.