Hi everyone. Hope your all enjoying the story. Keep reviewing please. By the way, I apologize to those that waited so long for me to update my story. I had exams to prepare for and didn't have the time to use the computer for the past couple of months. Now that summer is here I should be able to update much faster. Expect my next chapter sooner than the last ones. Oh yeah; I don't own Zelda and never will. I own the characters I make up, so if you wish to use them you must ask first and tell me what kind of story they will be used in. Thank you for understanding. Enjoy.
Book One, Chapter Five: The Curse of the Kokiri
An open land that held few trees to the eye of a Kokiri and a bright sun was shining from behind the two adventurers. Bright green grass covered the healthy soil underneath it, which had become a favorite housing to the worms and beetles that lived off the nutrients they could gather from it. A bed of many different flowers laid to the left of the two kids in green attire, a bed which was a place of much activity and business to the yellow jackets that had the ever constant job of supplying their queen with as much pollen as they could gather. About a mile to the right of Link and Saria was a small pond that had become a gathering spot for fish, frogs, birds and small fairies that felt either hunger or thirst during their long stay in the land of Hyrule.
Saria gazed at this land with a feeling of uncertainty and excitement. Never in her life could she have possibly pictured such a barren and lively land such as the one that was before her eyes during that very moment. Before her was a land that seemed to be nearly extinct of any trees save the ones that only seemed to grow to the height of a young sapling. The sun, which had only seemed to show a little of itself to the ground of Kokiri Forest due to the many leaves and branches that blocked off the sun's rays, hit the land with such ferocious intent that it had taken Saria a little time to adjust to the brightness which surrounded her with heat which seemed to leave her skin with a burning annoyance that seemed to beg for cool and comfortable shade. Her elfin ears picked up the sounds of many insects and birds which inhabited the air and blue sky. Smells that had never come upon her engulfed her nostrils and pricked her senses to the location of their source. Although Link had spoken to her of the land of Hyrule, during many different occasions, his descriptions, nor anyone else's, would never have told of the real beauty which stood before her.
Link, now behind Saria, looked upon her with a bit of amusement. She had fled from his side and just seemed to be in a world of excitement and joy. Seeing she like this had brought back to him memories of when he had first seen the land of Hyrule and he now wondered whether he had been as excited as Saria was now. He now felt that Saria would no longer be afraid of the land of Hyrule and that their quest would be much easier because of that fact, for to journey outside one's kingdom would require a much greater amount of courage. He believed that she now had the courage to do just that.
"Saria," Link said loudly to her, making sure he got her attention. "Has my own descriptions of this land been accurate in your eyes, or have you seen something that I have failed to tell you of?"
"This land is the opposite of that which I have seen in my minds eye before your telling of it," Saria said. "Your descriptions had given me a much clearer sense of what was to be expected of this land, but even if you had spent a year and a day's time telling me all that I see now I doubt that you would have told me of everything that I can now see clearly before myself. This land is a valley of emptiness and life, calling all those that live on its lively earth to the places that it has seemed to keep hidden from most so that only those that truly seek its true beauty could ever find it. Never could I have envisioned such a frail and beautiful land such as this, for I can only recall the color of green and umber that has reached unto the heavens of my once native forest. Had I not seen this land before my own eyes I would surely have doubted its existence for all times."
"Indeed such is my feeling for this land that is my home for now," Link said. "This plain is only a connection to other, more live places that would be unheard of in the forest. I would have you seek that which I have seen and journey where my feet have once touched. I would want you to climb to the peak of Death Mountain and visit its inner hell for as long as one could. I would have you see the never-ending expansion of blue which is Lake Hylia and feast upon one of the freshly caught fish from its deep aquatic world. I would have you risk all that we have done now just so that you may get a glance at the barren, almost lifeless, land of sand and heat, which can almost be called an agony to live in; so that you may see for yourself the monument of a time long past which has been hidden on the very edge of Hyrule's border. Alas, however, as we must continue that which we have decided upon. Once we have learned all that can be learned from Zelda, I shall let all that you wish to see in this land cascade before your eyes and be forever reminded in your mind and heart."
"I do hope that you allow that to be," Saria said. "Let us begin as soon as we can; I wish to see all expansions of land that you have told of to me before we leave this kingdom. Where must we be going to in our quest?"
"We shall journey to the village of Kakariko and stay there for one day and night," Link said. "But perhaps we may stay for a longer period of time so that we may scale the base of Death Mountain and visit the Goron tribe that lives upon it. I am sure that Big Brother Darunia would be overjoyed with the visit of the one who fills his heart with much excitement and joy through the songs that you play."
"That is but a mere distraction of what we must do," Saria said. "Although I would rather do that, we must see the princess of Hyrule before we may do any such thing as that. Once we have that which the princess may know of, I will travel with you to this tribe you have spoken of and play my song for them for as long as they wish to hear it."
"I see that you now wish this journey started since our departure from that which you have always showed more love for than any other life that wanders on this plain of earth," Link said, now at Saria's side. "Indeed you are correct with that assumption. Let us be off. I only wish that we could have ridden upon that which I have told you of, but I fear that Epona would never ride as fast as she can with another partner upon her back. And that would only have happened if she would ever allow another to come close enough to touch her mane. But it is useless thinking of that which have not the abilities to be changed. Come, let us be off."
Link started with the pace of one that is in a great hurry. Saria, now glistening in a small layer of sweat, followed closely behind him. Her eyes traveled to and fro, seeking more beauty in this land. Yet she was also keeping an eye out for even the slightest bit of movement. If her eyes would see any such thing, she would tell of it to Link and see if it would be necessary to draw her new blade and fight off the enemy. Link had told her of the enemies in this land, yet he had not told her of what weaknesses they had. She only hoped that she would not need to draw her weapon till they at least knew what must be done to continue this quest. Her hand gripped the hilt of her sheathed sword.
xxxx
The sun had reached its peak upon the skies of the kingdom of Hyrule. Wind blew from the direction of the Kokiri Forest. The shadows of the land have vanished under the forms which they had been summoned from, almost as if they had a deep fear of the light which shined forth from the heavens. Those that did not fear the light were out among those that did not fear it either. In Kokiri Forest the tribe of the Kokiri were playing their many games and enjoying the forest as much as they always had, completely oblivious of the departure of Link and Saria; however, the Kokiri known as Mido sat in his room, thinking of all the times he had played with and fought with his two longtime friends, knowing that memories were all he had left of them. In Hyrule Castle's market the streets have become crowded with those hoping to sell some of their many wares and those that wanted to buy some from the sellers; the guards stood ready for any sign of commotion that needed settling. All over the land stood those who rejoiced the light.
Link and Saria had traveled for a great distance in such a period of time. Link believed that the distance between where he now stood and the land of Kokiri Forest was at least three and one-half of a league. He wished to go much further before the day's end, but he felt a hunger come upon him. Not only that, he knew that Saria would probably be tired by now; she had never journeyed such a distance before. No doubt she would be hungry and in a state of exhaustion.
"We shall halt here for a rest," Link said, turning around to see Saria leaning down and taking deep breaths. "I must apologize for making you go at such a great hast over such a short period of time. You must understand that I am not used to going on a quest with another trailing with me."
"It is alright," Saria said between her breaths. "I understand. And I am fine. I am having no trouble keeping up with you, yet a break does sound like heaven to me."
Saria broke into a small fit of coughing. After getting control of herself she almost immediately let her pack drop to the ground and sat on the soft, green grass. She took several more deep breaths and began to search her pack for any food that would be kept down in her stomach.
Had she looked up she would have seen Link looking upon her with worry in his eyes. Never had he seen Saria like this before. He looked at her carefully and a worry began to fill his heart and mind. Saria indeed radiated the signs of one who is weary and tired from a hard strain and is overcome with weakness, but he noticed something that disturbed him. He knew that, when a person is beginning to feel the effects of exhaustion their body, it begins to turn a shade of red or pink; he had seen Saria's fighting spirit at the training grounds everyday after telling her of the journey and she was always glowing red or pink. The Saria that sat before him now had not the color of one who was feeling tired, but the color of one who was becoming ill. The red glow that would have normally spread all over her body by now had been replaced by a faint paleness. That was not the only thing: she was sweating at a much larger rate than normal. Never in all his life had he seen her sweating as much as she was at that moment.
"Saria," Link said. "You seem to be overcome with fatigue. Do you wish to stay in this one spot for a longer period of time?"
"Now that is a rather strange question to ask," Saria said through her breathing. "Why do you ask me such a thing?"
"I am just worried about how tired you look," Link said. "You look not like the living Saria, but more like her phantom. Your skin has lost some color to it and you are sweating more than I would believe you would be for such a distance and time of traveling. Are you perhaps ill and wish to lie here for a bit?"
A look of worry passed through Saria's eyes, as if he had mentioned of something that she had kept hidden for her whole life, but the look passed so fast that, had Link not been as quick as he was at noticing small things such as that, he would have missed it completely.
"Do not worry so much," Saria said. "I feel very much alive at this moment and I feel not ill at the very least. Whatever concerns you have of me right now are nothing but your imagination. And whatever exhaustion I feel right now will be cured upon a short rest and lunch."
Saria pulled out the first piece of food she could. A piece of fruit, somewhat bruised on one side, was in her hand and Link saw the expression of disgust upon Saria's face by the sight of it, as if looking at it was enough to make her sick. Yet the mask of normalcy was placed upon Saria's face so that Link would not have to worry about her.
"Link," Saria said. "Would you like any food? I would hate to think that I would have lunch without someone else eating next to me. Besides, you can tell me much more of this land that I will see within a few cycles of the sun and moon."
Link sat down next to her and let his pack off his shoulders, feeling relief at the sudden lack of weight that was once upon his back. He took from his belt the canteen of water and let a few drops stay in his mouth, returning much needed strength to his muscles and spirit.
"Saria," Link said. "Do you wish for any water? I would think that, after all this traveling, you would feel somewhat thirsty."
"I would like some," Saria said. "I did not realize that a long walk could bring upon a thirst of such greatness. Had I known that, I would have brought more water with us for our long travel."
She took the canteen of water from Link and drank a few drops from it. After obtaining much needed strength from it she handed the canteen back to Link. Link put the top back on the canteen and reattached it to his belt for future use.
Link and Saria began to eat a little bit of lunch. Lunch consisted of nothing more than a few pieces of fruit that was somewhat dry and a few more drops of water. Saria, although hesitantly, ate a few bites of her fruit. Her color had grown even whiter and her sweating had only started to lighten up. Several times she had to stop eating so that she could cough and hold down her food. The coughs were very powerful and faint, as if she had a piece of food stuck in the far back of her throat; yet after she was done with her fit she would go right back to her actions that were occurring before hand, as if nothing had happened.
"Link," Saria said, breaking the silence which came about after her last coughing fit. "How did you feel when you first left the Kokiri tribe?"
"Now you are the one asking the strange questions," Link said. "What brings about a question such as this? Do you feel any different from when you lived in the forest?"
"I do feel somewhat different," Saria said. "The heat of this shade-less world is greater than that of the forest. The air is not nearly as fresh and the wind is great in strength, as if it either wishes us to be delayed or it wishes us to proceed with great haste."
Saria had to stop in order to cough a few more times. Her coughs had become more frequent and longer. This time Link noticed that she had almost given up all that she had eaten. Link knew what was happening, it was obvious, and he could not find the strength to act on her aid. His mind had become paralyzed with fear and worry. All his senses told him 'Help her,' yet his body could not act on it.
"Saria is dying," Link thought. "What am I going to have to do? Can I have her return to the forest without the Kokiri seeing her? If they do see her, and she becomes well, they shall never allow her to set foot out of the forest ever again. The tribe would also banish me and send me away from her side for all my years."
"Do not worry Saria," Link said. "I felt the same when I first left the
'What am I to do?'
woods on my quest, but these things shall
'Saria is dying.'
become easy to deal with after duration of about one fortnight. I believe you shall not even notice the
'She may be dead before I can get her back to the forest.'
differences between the forest and the open
'Kakariko is too far as well; at least one more day's travel at a horse's pace.'
fields of Hyrule after that period of time. Maybe it would not even take that…"
Link could not finish the sentence. Saria started coughing again, but her coughs were quick and very strong. She got on her hands and knees and started coughing at the ground with her eyes clamped shut, yet still holding enough space open between the lids to let a few reactionary tears leak through and slide down her cheek, eventually letting gravity take a strong enough hold of them to pull the salted water from her chalk-hued skin to the ground under her sickly face. Her body started convulsing and much color was drained from her being; she did look like a ghost at this point. Her hands involuntarily placed themselves over her mouth while she let herself be balanced only on her knees, but had not the strength to hold back what was to come out. She let her hands touch the ground again, returning to her earlier form of balance, while a hot and horrible tasting liquid shot from her mouth to the ground under her, coating her chin and the back of her hands in vomit.
Link watched all of this and finally found the strength to act on his deep fears. He jumped up on his feet and ran to Saria. He kneeled down next to her as she continued to release the sickly bile from her body for another few seconds. Once she was done he took from his belt the canteen of water and pulled the top off it, dropping the top on the puke-covered ground, and immediately put the canteen to Saria's mouth.
"Saria," Link said with no control in his voice. "Do not drink this water. Rinse your mouth out with it and spit the water out."
Saria did just as he said. After spitting out the water, Link took some water from the canteen in his free hand and used it to clean her chin and mouth of any vomit he could see.
He took Saria and made her lay down on her side. He heard her cough a few more times, though not nearly as strong as she was doing earlier, and also heard her groan in protest to what she was feeling at that moment. Her breathing was strong and deep, taking in large amounts of air at a time. Her face lacked any color. The only place, outside of her hair, that had any color left to them was her eyes: blue as the ocean, yet surrounding that ocean was a fire that burned as red as the lava of Death Mountain. In this moment, Link wanted to cry; he wanted to just cry for her and pray for her safety, but to do so would only make Saria worry. He held back his tears and he kept as stern of a face as he could. Saria, his best friend, was on Death's door. If he did nothing, she would be dead.
"Link," Saria all but whispered. "Am I dying?"
"I do not think so," Link said, not sure of how he was supposed to answer that question. "But I know that your body is growing weaker with every passing moment and that you need to seek some aid. I am unsure of how to approach, for I did not think we would need any medicine before our reaching Kakariko. I curse this situation to the lowest levels of Hell and wish that I could help, but I do not think that I have anything to help you with."
An idea suddenly came to his mind. He knew that the distance they had traveled was great indeed, too great for him to risk returning Saria to the Kokiri Forest, but he knew of another place he could have her receive help. It was closer to them than the forest and would most likely have what they would need to help Saria in her condition. The only problem was distance, for he knew that the ranch was still about two more leagues from their location and that he needed to get Saria there as soon as possible. He believed, however, that he knew of a way to get Saria there in a short period of time; perhaps less then one half-hours worth of time if the one he was thinking of at that moment was fast enough. He only prayed that she was.
From his tunic, Link pulled out a blue colored object that resembled a giant's tear. He put it to his lips and from that item a beautiful song came forth. Its notes pierced the sky and traveled on the wind's soft yet strong breath. Saria heard the song and, for just a short moment, forgot all the pains that she felt. She was suddenly in a world filled with wide, open pastures and animals that could not be found in any forest in the world. The song ended quickly, bringing Saria back to the world where her life was in mortal danger.
The wait was short. Link heard in the distance the sound of Pegasus's foul, running on the breath of the wind and coming at a great haste to Link's side. The sound of the hooves brought Saria to the attention of an animal that she had never viewed with her own eyes. An oddly shaped creature whose feet were as hard as the very rock that it walked on at times. Its coat was a color of red and orange and its mane was as white as the snow that covered Hyrule during the winter spells. Its nose was large and the beast snorted as it breathed through the large nostrils. Its tail swung to and fro, hitting any fly or other insect that felt superior enough to try and land on the beast's backside. The eyes were brown and very gentle, almost friendly. The horse both frightened and eased Saria, for she had never viewed such an animal and did not know whether the creature was passing through or had decided to devour her flesh from her bones.
Link went to Epona and patted her mane, making the horse feel at ease. He then held Epona's head gently in his two hands and put his mouth close to her ear.
"Epona," Link said. "I have a request that you must undertake for me and great haste is necessary. The green-haired maiden that lies before us is upon death's door and will pass away if not treated. Rush her to the place of your birth and deliver her to the one that you trust more than any other."
The horse nodded and snorted, signaling to Link that it had accepted the burden that was to be placed upon it. Link rushed to Saria's side and held her in his arms, making her look up into his face.
"Saria," Link said. "This horse shall bear you to a place where you may receive medicine. You must ride upon her back to the location that she shall race for. Hold tightly to her mane and make sure not to fall off. Do you understand all that?"
"Yes," Saria tried to say, but no words did she hear pass through her lips. She no longer had the ability to speak even a letter. Or maybe she no longer had the ability to hear what she said. These thoughts sent a cold shiver throughout her body, making her mind cloud with thoughts of pure fear and death. No longer did she care about the world's safety. No longer did she care about the quest. No longer did she care for even the one who brought her out to this land of death. The only thing that mattered to Saria at that moment was herself.
Link grabbed her frail and burning body and hoisted it onto Epona's back. Saria rested her head upon the soft mound of hair that went up the middle of the horse's neck. Her hands grabbed and held the mane tightly; making the beast she was resting on grunt in protest.
"Now run Epona," Link said. "Run with speed that would bring envy to Pegasus himself. Deliver Saria to the ranch."
With those words Epona left Link's side and ran towards the East. With such speed that Epona ran that Link held hope that Saria may make it to the ranch alive. He watched as the forms of Epona and Saria began to shrink into the horizon, eventually becoming nothing more than dots in the distance, and did not move till the sprinting figures vanished from his sight.
At that moment Link felt alone. A wind, strong yet silent, blew at his back and ruffled his hair. As that wind passed away from his form he believed that, trailing at the very end of that wind, the sound of laughter and carefree children followed it. The sound was almost nonexistent, or maybe it wasn't there; his mind playing tricks on him because of the hell he just witnessed.
He knew that none were near him. As if waiting for just that moment to come about Link, Hero among all men, let the painful tears stream down his face. Silently they fell from his eyes and gathered at the bottom of his chin. Suddenly he let all the pain he was feeling come out in a scream of such misery and sorrow that it would have made any who would of heard it feel not worry or fear, but pity. At that moment Link had become the child that he used to be before his quest across time.
He knew not how long he cried. Whether it was just a few minutes, or a few hours, Link did not know. He cried till his eyes had become as red as Saria's eyes were when she left his side. Never in his life had he ever cried so hard.
When Link gathered himself, although still worried, he looked at the sky above him. The sun still hung at its peak.
Link looked around. The direction of the ranch lay before him. If all calmly and easily he believed he would make it to the ranch by sunset. He grabbed Saria's pack and held it in his hands. He realized now how heavy the pack must have felt to Saria. Just as he started going at a quick pace, forgetting to take the bits of food that remained on the ground, he made a silent prayer for Saria's safety.
"May I be damned to Hell if death comes for Saria," Link muttered to himself.
xxxx
Sweat fell down her forehead and her arms ached with the pain of work. Since the break of dawn till an hour past the sun's peak did she work and was now taking her first break, but such was the hardship of working on a ranch. Ingo, her teacher, had taught her that from an early age about farm work and how to take care of the animals. The ranch work was hard and always very dirty, yet she would not give it up for anything in the world.
Malon looked into the skies and let out a sigh. She could picture what was happening all over the ranch at that exact moment: Her father, Talon, would no doubt be resting in a sack of hay in the house or the horse's stable while Ingo let out a series of inaudible curses while he was cleaning or milking the cows. Life was predictable at the ranch, and yet each day was never the same as the days before. There was always something new to do, be it a new animal to raise or a new crop to plant, harvest or pick. Each plant needed certain care or conditions for it to grow properly. Each cow had to be milked at least once a day and that milk was needed to keep the ranch going, for the King and his daughter would always pay for the milk and they paid well. Without the castle's finances the ranch would no doubt be too expensive to run.
Malon went and sat down in the middle of the horse pasture, her favorite place on the whole ranch. She took an apple and bit down on it, enjoying the taste that it brought to her mouth. Upon finishing her apple, which half she gave to one of the horses, she took a sip of some water that she had brought with her in a wooden cup. She loved the breaks with the horses. It was her favorite part of the day.
"You better get back to work little missy," a voice behind her said. "You know good and well that the ranch needs constant care, or would you rather have it that you would be living in the town of Kakariko where there is not one horse? That will be what happens if you do not take good enough care of that which you care about most, for you will not have enough money to keep the ranch going."
"Yes uncle Ingo," Malon said, now facing the man she looked up to as a second father. "I know good and well that, but I was merely taking a break. I shall get back to work soon and I shall bring a smile to your face as well. What do you wish I do once my strength has returned?"
"I would rather you get back to work now," Ingo said. "And I would rather you go to the horse and cow stable and clean the filth from it. I'll go and awaken your father and have him join you if I can, for I believe if a daughter must do such a filthy thing her father must do such a thing as well. Finish up you water and hurry to the stable. It is already two hours past the sun's peak."
"I will uncle Ingo," Malon said to the figure of her teacher walking back to the house, muttering a few curses while he did so. Malon finished her water and started walking in the direction that Ingo had taken.
She had reached the door to the stable and had heard a sound from behind. She turned to view the form of Epona running to her. Upon Epona's back there laid a figure of that of a girl dressed in green.
Malon quickly ran to the horse to see who she bore to the ranch. Her body chilled when she saw the girl like figure, skin as pale as snow, fall from the horse and land on the ground. Malon, for the briefest moment, believed the girl to be dead. Malon was ready to scream for help when she heard the figure begin to groan in agony and sickness.
Malon ran to the figure. Next to Epona she knelt and picked up Saria's head in her arms. When she saw the girls face she believed the girl was indeed both dead and alive. Her face, as well as the rest of her body, no longer had color of any sort to it. The eyes bore life but no focus on existence. The dark green hair splayed all over her head. Her breathing was slow and not deep. On the edge of her mouth she could tell that the girl had vomited not too long ago; Epona had some of the girl's sickness on the back of her mane.
"Papa," Malon screamed. "Ingo! A girl is here. She looks as if death had taken her soul away and yet she is still alive."
From the house Ingo and Talon run from. Upon reaching the two girls did the men stop running and had knelt down. They both were ready to take the girl indoors when they heard that which brought a weight to their hearts.
"What monsters are ye that have come to take my life away," Saria said in the faintest whisper. "Never had I seen such creatures in my life and I would rather not see them in such an hour that I may be dead. Leave me now monsters that would mimic the Kokiris as the forms of giants and leave me be."
Saria reached up with her right hand, as if to try to hit the strange monsters that loomed over her or to try to pull on something that wasn't there so that she may be able to stand again. Yet her strength gave in at that moment and her mind began to lose consciousness. Even as her arm began to fall from the place that it hung and her eyes began to shut themselves from the world, a bright light shown forth through the back of her hand and did not blind or give out any warmth. This light brought Saria fear and happiness for her at that very moment. She began to feel stronger and happier. For whatever reason, she began to think of Link.
Saria's eyes closed and she knew no more.