Chapter Two: Phairyn's Emerald

"Quest? Hero? What was she talking about, Milon? Why didn't you tell me about her?" The two friends retraced the leaf-ridden path that led to Palara's cave and cleared the forest edge. Link heaved at the silver sword with both hands.

"She told me not to tell you, Link," Milon huffed with a hurtful tone. "And besides, I didn't think it was a good idea to make her mad. You should have been there. She nearly scared me right out of my tunic." Link couldn't help but laugh. They kept walking.

"Well, now what are we going to do?" Milon suggested.

"Phairyn. He's the only one who can tell us more about Palara, and what she meant about all that hero busi—"

"Milon! Where have you been!" The voice belonged to a slightly older Kikiri with brown hair and amber eyes. He ambled up to the two friends and stared at the sword resting in Link's hands. "Where did you get that sword, Link?" his voice was cold. "You shouldn't have that. Give it here."

Milon pushed away his brother's outstretched hand, "Shut up, Mido! You don't know anything. Just go away: this is none of your business. Why don't you go sit on a spiked beetle! At least there you'd be more welcome." Mido pulled back, face contorted with anger. But before he could speak, another voice called out:

"Hey Link! There you are!" A girl had just bounced into view. Slender, with emerald eyes and hair that reflected the light green tint of the surrounding trees, she stood even with Link, catching her breath. Mido turned and his expression quickly changed from anger to bliss. He spoke in a nervous jitter:

"Hey Saria, what's going on?" He blushed. Milon sneered at his brother's embarrassment. Saria beamed a radiant smile,

"I was just visiting Phairyn. He wants to speak with Link and Milon. Quickly, don't keep him waiting." Mido frowned, but said nothing. Link and Milon set off towards the ancient tree, leaving Mido and Saria together to blush at each other.

They wound around several Kikiri houses, and passed children playing in the grass. Two girls waved as Link passed. More fairies glided past them, throwing off sparks of shimmering dust. Milon sneezed and swatted at the air, muttering curses at the annoying fairies. Soon they came to the stream of water. It trickled quietly through the village. Its soothing murmur always calmed Link when his nightmares took over—as if the crystal fluids softly whispered words of comfort into his soul.

"You know, Milon," Link jumped onto the first stepping stone, "I don't think your brother is against you. Maybe if you were nicer to him—"

"Nicer!" Milon jumped onto the stone behind Link. "I'd rather play with a bomb beetle. Mido thinks he can control everything." They leapt over onto the next stepping stone; below them water lightly splashed up against the stones as it quietly flowed past. "When is he going to realize that he doesn't control me? I'm the one who controls..." But in his anger, he missed the next stone and landed in the stream with a cold splash.

"Ha ha ha. Yeah, you're in control, Milon." Link reached down and pulled his flailing companion out of the water. "But at least you aren't making fun of Mido about Saria anymore, are you Milon?"

"Never!" Milon croaked, spluttering water from his mouth. Link tuned away a dubious look. They continued their trek through the rolling green hillsides and eventually came to a spot where the ground rose up to form a natural wall spreading out in both directions. The two boys trotted up to a large round opening in the wall, and slouched through it.

After a few moments the mossy tunnel gave way to a vast open glade. There, near the center, rose the towering figure of a tree, its enormous trunk spanning several yards and its great branches spreading out to encompass nearly the entire glade. The immensity of the tree's girth always caused Link to pause and exhale. There was a powerful strange sense of serenity that always came from the tree.

Today as Link neared the swarthy trunk, he could sense a disturbance in the atmosphere—something he'd never felt before. Looking up into the giant grooves that served as Phairyn's eyes, Link detected something odd. But could it be...?

There came from deep within the bowels of Phairyn a series of powerful rumblings. They ricocheted off his inner trunk and tumbled out of the gaping hole of his mouth.

HOOOOMMMMMMM!!! HUUUUUMMMMM!

The ground shook with the mighty force of the tree's voice. Leaves rustled and whispered in hushed tones. A few deku nuts fell to the ground with a gentle plop.

"Ah, you have come, my children" It boomed ominously. The two boys took a step back, silently staring up into the tree. "Little Milon, you have done well to remain silent about the sword. Now take leave of us. I need to speak of many thinks with your friend. Go." Milon didn't wait to ask questions: he turned and left. Link watched until his friend disappeared through the tunnel before turning around.

"You have made a visit to young Palara, I see," Phairyn continued in his powerful thrumming voice. "She has told me that it is time for you to learn of your true destiny" Link's heart froze. Destiny. That was a strange word filled with strange feelings. Destiny. "I am afraid that Palara is right. The time has come all too soon. Yes, all too soon. But even I cannot prevent destiny's grip, though I tried to stall it for a while. Perhaps that was enough. We will see." Here Phairyn gave a tremendous sigh.

"Tell me, Link, about the dreams that have been plaguing your nights"

How did he know?! Link took a heavy breath and, with a tremble in his voice, began: "My dreams...well I don't really know. There's a horse that screams like a wild stalfos, then there's a man...or I think it's a man. He's enormous with black eyes. He's evil. But there's also a girl. A girl with blue eyes, and she's the evil man's prisoner. And she wants help. There's a castle, and it's always raining....but I don't understand what it all means. What does it mean, Phairyn?"

The ancient tree was silent for a while, as if turning deep and mysterious thoughts through its mind, searching for the right one. Then it spoke:

"There is a song that I want you to hear, Link. It is as old as the world itself, and was sung by the first people that walked this land, long before these trees grew into a vast forest. Listen closely, child. This is how it was sung." There issued from the depths of the tree a deep and mournful tone. It tore through Link's heart, and opened up a terrible emotion inside him.

Deep in the maze of ageless time The endless struggle wages on Order battles his brother Chaos Until one is thrown from eternity So in the distant land of Hyrule There falls a shadow of Evil Consuming the light of the Three And bringing death to all the world But a twin is born to that shadow To lift the darkness from the land And with the power of the Sages Banish the shadow into the void

A dreadful silence ensued. Link shivered as the solemn recital soaked through his memory, as if it were some abominable portent of doom upon the world. But isn't that what it really was, a prophecy of sorts?

Phairyn spoke. "The evil man on the horse is the shadow of Evil that was spoken of ages ago. Already his dark essence has spread too far from its desert cradle. Slowly it moves towards the throne at Hyrule Castle. It must not claim its prize. Otherwise, there will be no earth, no more Kokiri Forest.

"Time is moving quickly against us. The hour has come for you to fulfill your destiny. You, Link, son of Lynaris, are the one who was appointed to fight against the encroaching shadow." Link spluttered in disbelief, completely speechless. What in the name of Dyn was this tree babbling about? Lynaris....it seemed so familiar, yet strange.

"What do you mean? Who is Lynaris? My father?" Link gripped the Kokiri sword tightly in his fist.

"There is not much time to explain it all to you now. Soon enough you will learn, if time is kind. You have the sword of the Kokiri Forest. Now, only one thing remains." There was a low shudder from high up in the tree's branches. A flash of green broke through the leaves and slowly descended toward Link. It was a glimmering sparkle of a round jewel, green and bright as the deep wood. Link reached out and grasped the humming treasure. "This is the gift of the forest. It will guide you. Do not lose it." Link gazed into its glittering depth for a moment before shoving it in the folds of his tunic.

"One last thing" Phairyn opened up a deep note that resonated across the glade and into the trees beyond. Immediately from toward the village the dazzling sparkle of a fairy streaked through the air and slowly come to a halt where it hovered silently before the ancient tree. "Navi will accompany you while away from Kokiri Forest." The small fairy shimmered in response. "Listen to her counsel. She is wiser than what you may believe. She will lead you to where you must now go."

"Now?" Link stuttered. "What? I can't leave now. I need to say goodbye to everyone...Milon. Couldn't he come with me...at least Milon?" The world seemed to suddenly close in on him. It was all happening too fast. He needed time to think, to plan.

"Unfortunately the hero's path is always the solitary path. So is it now, and so it will often be in future perils. I have guarded the children of the forest for many years now. In letting you go I struggle greatly with my heart; do not ask me to give up another of my children.

"But even now a sinister evil has been at work. My roots stretch deep and far through all the dark underways of the world. Someone has found one of my roots and has poisoned me—someone who wields terrible power. I fear that it might be too late. I have remained dormant for too long.

"You must pass through the fallen tree hollow that lies behind me, Link. It is the only way out of these woods. Years ago I closed off this part of Kokiri Forest, and sealed the entrance with an enchantment that prevents unknown dangers to venture into my domain. Once, a long time ago, you passed through that doorway when you first came to live here among the Kokiri. You do not remember that day...for time has drained the memory of your former life. Now the time has come for you to pass through that gate again. I pray that it will not be the last time that you do."

Link stood frozen before the tree. His lip trembled but he stuffed his fears down inside and covered them with more fears. Navi blinked and flashed before him, goading him forward.

The fallen log was thrown haphazardly between several trees. Great strands of moss fell down over it, creating a green curtain at the opening. Phairyn's voice came in a low rumble: "Farewell, young one. This is the last time you will see me in this form. Soon I will succumb to the poison. But be brave and know that there is always hope."

Link took one last look at the place that had been his home since he could remember. Never would he have imagined that today he would be torn from his dear friends, from the life that he had always known.

A single tear welled up in his blue eyes and fell to the ground as he stepped through the portal.