**Wow, okay, so I feel the need to apologize for this chapter. It's kind
of, oh, I dunno, fluffy? Which is weird because it is so short! I know
exactly where I want this story to go, but I'm having trouble with the in-
between. Am I the only one that ever has that problem? Yeah, so anyway I
need to sit down and think for a minute instead of just getting on the
computer and going to town on the keyboard. But that's just how I am. I
hate planning. *sigh* I am doomed!**
The wind blew Link's hair in his face, and he snorted slightly as he woke up, grumbling something to Epona, who wasn't even there. The air was damp and the sounds of the woods surrounded him. He realized right away that he wasn't at home, or anywhere in Hyrule Field. He was in the Sacred Forest Meadow. He felt a weight on his right arm, and tried to shift, before he looked over to see Saria lying there. His arm was draped around her back, protecting it from the hard tree trunk that they were lying against.
Saria yawned slightly, but didn't wake up, and Link decided that he would leave her that way. He wanted her to sleep. She had had a rough day the day before and he wanted her to get all the rest that she needed. He leaned his head back against the tree and sighed. It was a great way to wake up, having someone that loved you lying next to you. He was content to just sit there and gaze at Saria's sleeping form. But that didn't last long. She began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered open and she gazed up at him with her big blue eyes.
"Good morning," she said sleepily.
"It is indeed," replied Link.
"Isn't it wonderful to wake up in the woods? I used to love staying here all night. I just find it so relaxing and peaceful. Don't you?" asked Saria as she snuggled in closer to Link.
"Yes. It was rather nice. It took me a moment to realize where I was, but it was nice once I got oriented." Saria smiled and yawned before sitting up and stretching.
"We should probably go now. You have a lot to do, and I can't neglect my duties either. I do wish that we could spend some more time here together, though," said Saria turning to face Link. "This place is lovely in the morning."
"You say that about every time of day. To you, the forest is always beautiful."
"True." They sat in silence for a moment, neither one wanting to abandon the lovely time that they'd had. It had been a wonderful evening. They had sat up and talked most of the night, until they had both fallen asleep leaning against each other. Then to wake up to a lovely morning in each other's arms was miraculous. "Well, like I said we should probably go."
"Yeah, I have to go see the Gerudos. I want to see if they have any idea about those members of their tribe who attacked me the other day. Maybe they'll have an idea about the wolfo as well. Hey, uh, speaking of the wolfo, maybe you should stay away from here for awhile," said Link. Once more he had been terrified that she was gone forever. He never wanted to have that kind of scare happen again.
"Link, I'll be fine. That wolfo probably thought that I was dead anyway. I can't stay away from here. Irnan might as well kill me. It's my job to be here. I could never stay away, even if I didn't have this obligation. The woods are a part of me, a big part of me. I can't let Irnan scare me away, because that would be a victory on her part. We can't let her win, Link. Acting as if nothing has happened will be my way of fighting back. Don't worry about me, you've got too much to worry about as it is. I'll be fine," said Saria.
"Saria, you asked me for help. If I didn't worry about you, I wouldn't be doing my job. I could never not worry about you, even if I didn't have this obligation. You're a part of me, a big part of me."
"You took my words!" protested Saria playfully.
Link smiled and said, "They were good words, and they applied in this situation."
"Well, I really am going to go now, and you should go too. Delaying is only aiding Irnan. I'll come back as soon as I can, I promise!" Saria leaned forward and pecked Link on the cheek before disappearing in a beam of light. Link placed a hand softly on the cheek that Saria had kissed and smiled to himself. With a sudden burst of energy he grabbed all of his things and walked whistling out of the woods.
"Maxen!" called Irnan. A small, tan creature, closely resembling a Goron, stepped forward.
"Yes, your majesty," he replied.
"Well, did you succeed?" asked Irnan. She had not had time to be bothered babysitting Maxen in her crystal ball. She had other things to attend to.
"I believe so, your majesty. The Forest Sage is dead. I ran into trouble with the Hero, though." Maxen rubbed a hand on the sore spot on his shoulder. He winced in pain as he hit it the wrong way.
"You'll get over it. So we've seen the end of that pathetic annoyance?" asked Irnan. Maxen nodded slowly, still a little unsure, but not wanting to anger his master.
"Excellent! I understand from what I have seen that the Hero was very attached to the green girl. Perhaps this will dampen his spirits! Maxen, you've done well, and you shall be rewarded." Irnan rubbed her hands together, a look of pure joy on her face. The Forest Sage was out of the way. It was a small victory, but it was a victory all the same, and she had been waiting a long time for victory.
"Thank you, your majesty. You are too kind," said Maxen, his face beaming, knowing his reward would be great.
The wind blew Link's hair in his face, and he snorted slightly as he woke up, grumbling something to Epona, who wasn't even there. The air was damp and the sounds of the woods surrounded him. He realized right away that he wasn't at home, or anywhere in Hyrule Field. He was in the Sacred Forest Meadow. He felt a weight on his right arm, and tried to shift, before he looked over to see Saria lying there. His arm was draped around her back, protecting it from the hard tree trunk that they were lying against.
Saria yawned slightly, but didn't wake up, and Link decided that he would leave her that way. He wanted her to sleep. She had had a rough day the day before and he wanted her to get all the rest that she needed. He leaned his head back against the tree and sighed. It was a great way to wake up, having someone that loved you lying next to you. He was content to just sit there and gaze at Saria's sleeping form. But that didn't last long. She began to stir. Her eyelids fluttered open and she gazed up at him with her big blue eyes.
"Good morning," she said sleepily.
"It is indeed," replied Link.
"Isn't it wonderful to wake up in the woods? I used to love staying here all night. I just find it so relaxing and peaceful. Don't you?" asked Saria as she snuggled in closer to Link.
"Yes. It was rather nice. It took me a moment to realize where I was, but it was nice once I got oriented." Saria smiled and yawned before sitting up and stretching.
"We should probably go now. You have a lot to do, and I can't neglect my duties either. I do wish that we could spend some more time here together, though," said Saria turning to face Link. "This place is lovely in the morning."
"You say that about every time of day. To you, the forest is always beautiful."
"True." They sat in silence for a moment, neither one wanting to abandon the lovely time that they'd had. It had been a wonderful evening. They had sat up and talked most of the night, until they had both fallen asleep leaning against each other. Then to wake up to a lovely morning in each other's arms was miraculous. "Well, like I said we should probably go."
"Yeah, I have to go see the Gerudos. I want to see if they have any idea about those members of their tribe who attacked me the other day. Maybe they'll have an idea about the wolfo as well. Hey, uh, speaking of the wolfo, maybe you should stay away from here for awhile," said Link. Once more he had been terrified that she was gone forever. He never wanted to have that kind of scare happen again.
"Link, I'll be fine. That wolfo probably thought that I was dead anyway. I can't stay away from here. Irnan might as well kill me. It's my job to be here. I could never stay away, even if I didn't have this obligation. The woods are a part of me, a big part of me. I can't let Irnan scare me away, because that would be a victory on her part. We can't let her win, Link. Acting as if nothing has happened will be my way of fighting back. Don't worry about me, you've got too much to worry about as it is. I'll be fine," said Saria.
"Saria, you asked me for help. If I didn't worry about you, I wouldn't be doing my job. I could never not worry about you, even if I didn't have this obligation. You're a part of me, a big part of me."
"You took my words!" protested Saria playfully.
Link smiled and said, "They were good words, and they applied in this situation."
"Well, I really am going to go now, and you should go too. Delaying is only aiding Irnan. I'll come back as soon as I can, I promise!" Saria leaned forward and pecked Link on the cheek before disappearing in a beam of light. Link placed a hand softly on the cheek that Saria had kissed and smiled to himself. With a sudden burst of energy he grabbed all of his things and walked whistling out of the woods.
"Maxen!" called Irnan. A small, tan creature, closely resembling a Goron, stepped forward.
"Yes, your majesty," he replied.
"Well, did you succeed?" asked Irnan. She had not had time to be bothered babysitting Maxen in her crystal ball. She had other things to attend to.
"I believe so, your majesty. The Forest Sage is dead. I ran into trouble with the Hero, though." Maxen rubbed a hand on the sore spot on his shoulder. He winced in pain as he hit it the wrong way.
"You'll get over it. So we've seen the end of that pathetic annoyance?" asked Irnan. Maxen nodded slowly, still a little unsure, but not wanting to anger his master.
"Excellent! I understand from what I have seen that the Hero was very attached to the green girl. Perhaps this will dampen his spirits! Maxen, you've done well, and you shall be rewarded." Irnan rubbed her hands together, a look of pure joy on her face. The Forest Sage was out of the way. It was a small victory, but it was a victory all the same, and she had been waiting a long time for victory.
"Thank you, your majesty. You are too kind," said Maxen, his face beaming, knowing his reward would be great.