Disclaimers, if anybody's looking for them, are in Ch.1! The next in the Zelda series will be coming out soon, anyone see the commercial for it? I must say, I have mixed feelings. I was hoping that there would be a continuation of Ocarina of Time, or at least the same style would be used, but hey, its not my place to make the calls (maybe someday!)
Author's Notes: To wayofwater: Well, young feller-me-lad, I should thrash you for your insolence!- Just kidding. Incidently, this is the kind of thing I've been asking all of you for: questions, comments, ideas, blah blah. (wayofwater gets a cookie for the excellent point about the location of the forest, I hope the rest of you are paying attention!) Indeed, as anyone who plays the game like a junkie should know, the forest is to the east. I may have said thus before, but I did give them a route to the southwest. So you got me, fair and square. Just don't think you'll find the next foul up so easily!
All right, on with the story...



Ch. 18

O world invisible, we view thee,

O world intangible, we touch thee,

O world unknowable, we know thee,

Inapprehensible, we clutch thee!

-Francis Thompson

They made camp that night among the sandy dunes, and used dried seaweed to make fires. The strong smell of the ocean was overpowering, and none of them had much of an appetite for anything. Several times, Link found himself struggling up one of the sandy hills to stop and stare at the endless sea before him. It was an awesome sight that would stay with him always. By midnight, they were miserable, though, for the crashing of the waves never eased, and it was hard to sleep with the noise. Link was exhausted from lack of sleep however, and he made his bed early, making sure no sand got into the blankets before he laid down. He was already sick of the gritty stuff.

Before his eyes drifted shut, though, he heard the sound of someone struggling through the sand towards him, and sat up. It was Saria, wearing an unreadable expression on her face. She took a seat on the sand beside him, and wrapped her arms around her knees.

"Link, we have to talk," She started. "We've already seen what happens when you hold something against another for too long. Just look at Ichiro and Tappor."

Link rested his arms on his knees. "I didn't know we weren't talking to each other," He said neutrally. Saria tipped her head to the side in that thoughtful way he was now familiar with, and he felt the slightly growing anger at her dissipate. "I'm sorry, I think we were both avoiding each other... It's just that," He sighed angrily. "Its seems that all this time one thing or another was leading me on, and I didn't have any control of what I was doing anymore."

Saria nodded. "I understand. Maybe you don't think I do, but I really do, Link. Its the same for a Sage. You lose control because of destiny, and you have to give up all of your physical ties... Link, remember what you said under that tree that one day, after you'd left the castle? You said that all the Sages had ever done was control our lives, and you told me it was time to take control... Do you remember that?"

Link smiled slightly. "That was one of my more passionate speeches. Yeah, I remember."

"Well," She said. "It is time we took control! Maybe we could shape our lives how we wanted to, maybe we do shape our lives when we want to. I remember... when you left, the first time. I was waiting on the bridge for you. Do you... remember?"

Link thought hard, letting his eyes fix on a point beyond her, but it wouldn't come to him, and he shook his head in frustration. She sighed deeply, but continued.

"How could either of us have known what the future held? Maybe we relied too much on what others wanted us to be, maybe we lost ourselves in all of it..."

"Are you saying you think we weren't meant to be who we became?" Link asked in confusion. Saria rested her chin on her knee thoughtfully, and he felt the strange feeling again.

"Maybe the Sages knew that at one time, Link. Maybe that's why they did all of the things they did... I've only begun to think of it now... What if it wasn't? We were both forced into situations that may have not been what we wanted." Link was suddenly startled to hear the careful tone in her voice.

"What do you mean?" He asked suspiciously. Saria shook her head.

"You always wanted to save the day, Link, I think that was apparent from the beginning, and I always had a deep bond with the forest... But did that mean you had to go out and become a messiah to Hyrule, or that I had to give up my life to become a Sage?"

Link leaned forward in surprise. "So you're saying that if I, or you, had chosen not to be such important people in Hyrule, we could have been different?"

"We could have been who we are now." Saria said thoughtfully.

"Except that Ganandorf would have conquered Hyrule and enslaved or killed everyone." Link added. Saria nodded grudgingly.

"That would have complicated things."

*************

Although Link had even more questions now than he had ever had before, sleep came easier now that the distance between Saria and he had been closed. Already he felt slightly better just from the talk, and surprisingly, the sea lulled him into a peaceful sleep.

*************

The next morning, they started a slow and encumbered journey across The Bloody Sea, the part of the beach where there were several landmarks to attest to the final battle that had taken place there. Ichiro had been the only one this close to the sea before, and most of the others, even the guards, took time to slow or stop to admire the view.

Because of this it was late in the afternoon before they finally dragged their wagons through the shifting sand and into the small established fishing village AbakaRaka, or just Abaka, named for a giant sea monster that had supposedly terrorized the shores many years ago. Here the carpenters and soldiers from Hyrule Castle were staying at the village's only boarding house by the shore. The Royal guards took the wagons and horses to a small stable to hold them, and Ichiro, Link, Saria, and Tappor went on to make their rendezvous. In the small boarding house, Ichiro sat down to speak with the head of the soldiers, a scarred and snuffling Hylian whose eyes were a watery whitish-blue. Link and Saria sat politely to the side, and Tappor had engaged the carpenters in a quiet conversation about ship-building.

Afterwards, two of the lay-soldiers were sent with them to reach the ship.

"The supplies have already been loaded," Ichiro told Link. "We'll press off tonight. The soldier in charge suggested tomorrow morning," Ichiro snorted as if to convey to Link that he thought that a very foolish plan indeed. The walk down the beach took the better part of the day, and they amused themselves by pointing out different landforms and piers.

Towards evening, they halted behind the soldiers who had stopped to point out a large landmark. Ahead of them, a rocky bluff rose up from the hilly sand dunes, and beyond it was a shadow of something large.

"Is that it?" Saria spoke up excitedly. One of the soldiers leading them nodded.

"That's right. She's pretty big, and lovely too."

"She?" Link asked in confusion.

The second soldier nodded. "Thats what people used to call them. Abaka is the last village that has sea-fairing ships to bring in fish and such. I suppose you'll be getting some crew members from the town, though watch out, they're bound to all be old men."

At last they came around the side of the bluff, and halted in wonder. The closest any of them had seen to it at most was a boat or small float made to go over Hylia lake, which was just large enough for a small, one-seating vessel. This ship however, was made to go over a long stretch of sea, and was on sight incredible. Link tipped his head back in awe, and felt the first stirrings of excitement at the voyage they would take on the huge vessel. Saria shaded her eyes against the sun.

"Wow," She stated simply, and it was enough to convey all of their feelings. The ship, rebuilt from the wreck of an older one, was at least four hundred tons- a Galleon vessel. Jutting from the deck were three huge masts, one sporting a crows nest, and a lateen rig. The sails were furled, and the hull seemed to glow in the dying light.

Link spotted all of this, although he wasn't sure what each thing was used for exactly. In the month he'd stayed in the castle, he and Saria had poured over many books and scrolls pertaining to ships and sea-fairing.

"The carpenters named 'er New Dawn, so I guess a lot is riding on 'er maiden voyage." The second soldier said shrewdly. Link turned to him in surprise, but nodded. Ichiro had recovered first, and he was already making his way down to the shore where the ship was in-port. Down the beach, they could see several more ships, though none were as new or grand as the New Dawn.

"You did this in a month?" Saria asked in surprise, as they stepped into the galleon vessel's far-reaching shadow. The first soldier nodded.

"It's perhaps the greatest task ever accomplished in Hyrule, or at least, that's what they say. Those carpenters were at it day and night, hammerin' and sawin' and the like... It's amazin'." He finished. Link stepped into the shallows to splay his hands against the fresh wood of the hull. He rapped it with his knuckles, and peered up at it in pure wonder.

"Careful," Saria joked. "Link's a nut for new toys." Link turned and stuck out his tongue, and she couldn't help but laugh in surprise. There was something very familiar about Link making itself known, she realized. Maybe it's the fresh air of adventure?

"A group from the village should arrive soon," One of the guards told Ichiro. "They'll be here for you to pick your crew and captain."

"Captain?" Ichiro asked. The soldier looked startled.

"Yes sir, I believe there's one or two that've sailed the seas before..." He trailed off in uncertainty, and Ichiro scowled. "Well... I suppose we'll be going." He and his companion saluted, and they trudged back up the beach. Link had already started to wade deeper into the water in enthusiastic curiosity, and Saria chased after him with a laugh. Tappor removed his spectacles and wiped the sea spray from them, turning to the stoic Ichiro.

"Children will be children, I suppose." He said matter-of-factly. "It makes one wish one could go back in time, does it not?"

Ichiro grunted a reply, and turned to walk back up the beach to wait for the party from the village to arrive.

Tappor sighed. "Ah well. Someone must represent our elders on the high seas." He then removed his traveling shoes and outer robes, and waded into the water after the two young ones.

*************

Zelda paced the room again impatiently, trying to calm herself. This was much different than any other predicament she had encountered, and she couldn't help but feel the weight of failure on her shoulders.

The young princess sighed, and sat down on the drab bed she was provided in the 'guest' room. It was better looking than most cells, but all the same: a prison of four walls. She tried not to think of her parents, of the blood that splattered across the thrones or sprayed in her face. Instead, she thought aimlessly of what would become of Hyrule now that the Royal family could not longer protect it. Would it fall under the two cruel children's' rule? Ganandorf had failed where they now tried, but now that there wasn't a Hero of Time, she wondered if they could succeed.

*************

They made a fire on the beach beneath the ship, and Ichiro went around to each of the new crew members, speaking to them and assessing their skills. The soldier had only been half right in his estimate, for though the sailors were older, they weren't past their prime. As for the captain, Ichiro had chosen one of the two possibilities: a stout, hearty, no-nonsense Hylian with a grizzled beard and squinty eyes. He was one of the last remaining true sea mariners, and his father's father had been the commander of a fine craft.

"Pirates," He told them all. "Be out n' about on the 'igh seas. Thar be'nt much of the 'ylian brand left ta fill a keel boat, but thar be others, worse. Best ta keep a sharp lookout whilst we're abroad, un'erstand?" They nodded blankly, and satisfied, he took a seat with his crew. Link, Tappor, and Saria had made a fire apart from the rest. They would be setting out in a few hours, before the sun came up, to escape the morning tide, and Link was anxious to begin.

"Relax, Link," Saria chided. "It may be all fun and games right now, but I bet we're going to be miserable until we get our... Um, what did he call them?"

"I believe it was 'sea legs'. He has a very quaint speech, does he not?" Tappor commented. Link nodded and grinned.

"I bet I can handle it better than both of you." He bragged. "I am a hero, after all."

"Oh hush," Saria said, tossing sand at him. "I'll take you up on that bet. Whoever can keep from hanging over the side the longest, wins."

Link took her hand and shook it, and Tappor, on a whim, also did.

"Perhaps it's all of this sea air, getting to me," He defended. "But I am feeling younger than I have in a quite a while!" Saria laughed.

"Hope it's enough to give you a chance against us young'uns!" Link grinned. Tappor smiled, and pretended to buff his fingernails confidently.

"Oh I do not know, I was quite the heckler in my season."

"Oh Tappor," Saria chided. "You aren't that old. But you're right, I think this trip is going to do us all some good." Link nodded, his face serious.

"Either that," He joked somberly, "Or it's going to kill us."

Before the sun was up, the maiden crew of the New Dawn finally gathered the last of their belongings and put out the fires. Link felt a thrill of excitement as he rolled up his sleeping bag and started up the wooden plank leading to the gunwalls, the sides of the ship, where the crew was climbing over onto the top deck. He stepped up onto the deck and walked around, getting a feel for the hollow, wooden floor. Saria was looking around now, and she walked up wooden stairs to the highest deck where the captains quarters and the helm was. Link watched curiously as one of the crew looped ropes around a metal hook.

"Is that the rigging?" He asked, eager to learn more about the ship.

"Aye," The crew member grunted. The rope was thickly braided, and strong for use during rough weather. Link came over to help him, and soon they had the job of rigging the first mast sail done. Further down the deck, towards middeck, the second mast, the mizzenmast, was being rigged, and Link tipped his head back to see the yardarm swaying slightly.

"Who stays up in the crows nest?" He asked.

"Maybe some green, new crewmates," The crewmember joked, moving on to help prepare for setting sail.

"Avast ye!" A voice thundered, and Link turned around in confusion to see their new captain, roaring up and down the deck at anyone unfortunate to be close enough. Saria came to stand by Link.

"He doesn't seem very nice, does he?" She sniffed, having only been yelled at a few moments ago. Link turned to grin at her, and they watched two sailors rolling large barrels of something down to a lower deck. Soon, two of the Royal guards came to fetch them to bring them to their new quarters below deck. The two picked up their belongings and followed behind them, dodging running crewmembers being harassed by the captain. Link looked back once as they took the stairs down, to the sight of the sea they would soon be on, and could not help but wonder what lay before them.