Chapter 5- Meant to Be

Jayde began the tale of her past with her summoning to the Great Deku Tree, whose essence had been transferred to his seedling when a dark curse destroyed his first husk, and her adventures with the Hero of Time. Link sat in rapt attention throughout the entire ordeal and eventually Jayde came to the point in her tale when she parted ways with the Hero of old.

"We returned from the battle, both of us exhausted. I had done all that I could for the Hero in that battle, confusing Ganondorf with simple tricks and allowing the Hero to strike. I'd like to think that he needed me, that the battle would not have been won if I hadn't done my part, but I can't think that. He was the most pure man I have ever known, Ganondorf's evil would have been crushed regardless.

"But, as I said, we both returned from the battle exhausted. I knew, somehow, that my journeys with him were at an end, so I left. It was hard for me, but I knew that it was meant to be. He had to learn to live without my aid.

"He thought at first that something had happened to me, he couldn't accept that I had left, so he went to find me. I followed him as well as I could until he stepped between worlds to the mirror image of Hyrule: Termina.

"From the Forest Lord, who is connected to all worlds, I learned of the happenings in Termina and his battle to save the land from the spirit of Majora. He came back from that land with four magical masks, which are now in my care.

"After the Hero's return I stopped following. In some legends it is told that his companion returned to him and they were together until the day of his death, but that is not near the truth.

"I had become emissary to the Forest Lord shortly after the Hero's return and was busy with the politics of the kingdom. The queen of that age was the wisest woman I have ever known. She knew of the power of the Forest Lord and that he was a conduit of the Three, so she asked for his wisdom in exchange for protection. The Forest Lord hardly needed protection but I became emissary anyway and remained as such, in human form of course, for many long years.

"I didn't see the Hero again until the day of his death. He was an old man then, nearly seventy, and had grown sick and weak. He lived his last days out in Hyrule castle, a close friend of Queen Zelda and King Relan.

"I went to him that last day as I am now. He had never seen me this way but somehow knew who I was. 'Navi,' he said to me. 'You left me and I was lost. Now I'm found again.' With those words he died, the last Hero of the age. It was then I realized how I had felt. That I had loved him. That my leaving was my own fear he did not feel the same, that he could never love someone who was not the same. I left the castle that same day, taking only the four masks he had saved from his adventures and his shield, and went into seclusion.

"For years I mourned alone. I mourned for the death of the Hero, my Hero. I mourned for the loss of one so pure. But mostly I mourned for what was never meant to be, but what may have been had I taken a different path.

"When I came out of mourning the King and Queen were dead and their son, Prince Harkinian, was on the throne. I returned to the Forest Lord and was told to go to the new King and become his advisor. This I did, and because of that decision the world was drowned to be reborn.

"You see, Ganondorf escaped from the Sacred Realm when Harkinian had become an old man. He attacked the kingdom ruthlessly and, when the Hero the people expected did not come, something had to be done. I told Harkinian to drown the land, and Ganondorf with it so the King prayed. Then, on the day of Ganondorf's bold assault on the castle, the rain fell until all of Hyrule was swallowed.

"I left Hyrule then for the lands beyond, remembering the past, reliving it over and over again. Nothing happened in my life for many long years. I heard tales of a man called the Wind Waker from travelers, mostly sailors, and knew that another Hero had come and Ganondorf was banished once again, but still I did not return.

"In fact, I have only been back for twenty years. I knew the flood waters had receded and that the Hyrule had been reborn into its former glory but I was afraid. I was afraid the Forest Lord would punish me for deserting the land I was born to, and I was mistaken of course, but that did not stop the fear.

"And now, here I am, sitting beside you at a fire with the stars shining bright overhead. Everything feels so, I don't know, right."

Link, having been afraid to interrupt her story, now spoke with a voice that was touched with sadness. "I'm so sorry for you, Jayde. Having to live through so much evil with only yourself. I don't think I can do that."

"Don't worry," she said in her soft voice, setting a hand upon his own which was bare as he had tossed off his armor while they had been working earlier. "You won't be alone." To Jayde, everything felt perfect for the first time in her long life.

Link felt the same sense of rightness and moved out his arm to hold Jayde close to him. In her ear he whispered, "Nor will you."

The two kissed under the star-lit Hylian night then laid upon the earth, falling asleep in each other's arms.

It was meant to be.