The Zora carriage rattled into the village ready to pick the three up. Mido would be going to Zora's domain with Ruto while Link and Saria were off to the castle since Zelda had offered and they didn't have anywhere else right now. Link stood in the centre of his house taking one last look around, so many memories came rushing back, so many things had happened between those walls, it was odd to be leaving but also good to get a new start. He took one more glance then exited and slid down the ladder landing on the grass beneath. He walked up the small slope heading to Saria's house. Saria sat on her bed in silence, Link quietly entered the house and sat down beside her.
"You ready?" He asked taking her hand and squeezing it lightly. She looked over to him and nodded standing up and making to leave. Just before she stepped out Saria turned back, taking out a deku nut she moved to the table and placed it in the middle.
"I'll return to you one day, if just for a visit, I'll return." She said softly then left the house. Link had been watching what she had been doing but didn't question it, he put an arm around her as they walked over to the carriage.
All of the Kokiri children had gathered near the carriage to wish them good luck. Saria knelt down and hugged each one of them while Link and Mido shook hands with them all. Just as they were about to board the carriage Saria realised she had forgotten one place. She ran up to the vine wall and into the Lost Woods. A few sprites and fairies hovered about the area but not many, Saria noticed this as she reached the Forest Meadow. She took out her ocarina and sat on the old tree stump for one last song. The notes glided along the breeze giving new life to the woods, many sprites began to reappear from their hiding places and danced along in the air. Saria opened her eyes for a second to see all of the spirits move around her, this was one of the things she would miss the most, the feelings of being one with the forest, but she had chosen her own path and nothing could compare to the feelings she got when she was with Link. But she was still a little scared of going into the big world, she had been a few times over the last few years, to the Temple of Time, the castle and had a few days travelling with Link but apart from that she had never really needed to go there. She sighed and stood up ready to go, just as she did she heard some grass crunching meaning that someone was headed her way. Link appeared at the front of the meadow with a worried expression on his face.
"Are you ok?" Saria asked walking up to him slipping her arms around his waist. Link shook himself out of his worried state and smiled down at her.
"Yeah, I was just worried that you were upset over leaving." Saria looked down at the floor thinking for a moment then back at Link.
"Well I am a little but if leaving means I get to be with you then it's not so bad." Link was happy enough with that answer as he leant down and gently kissed her.
Ruto and Mido were now waiting by the carriage all ready to get going.
"Hmm where are they?" Ruto mumbled sitting on the edge of the seat in the carriage looking out in the direction of the Lost Woods. As she asked that Link and Saria came out of the woods and down to the carriage. The four clambered into it and pulled the door closed.
"First stop, Hyrule castle!" Ruto told the driver who nodded at his orders. The carriage rolled over the Lost Woods bridge and out to the field. Saria leaned by one of the windows staring for one last time into the woods. Link looked at her hoping she would be alright, sensing he was watching her Saria turned around and cuddled into him smiling. Mido felt a pang of jealousy overtake him when he saw this but it soon faded as Ruto began a conversation with him.
They had been travelling for about ten minutes when they neared Lon Lon Ranch, usually it was a peaceful area but that day was very different. Hooves clattered along the field kicking up clouds of dust on the way. It was only a few days until the big horse race events and many riders from all over were coming to take part. Link looked out at them examining the different types of horses bolting past, they were pretty good but nothing compared to Epona he thought.
"You should enter that Link." Saria said seeing him looking at all of the horses.
"Maybe." He replied still looking out over the grassy field.
Soon they reached the drawbridge that led into the market, this was where Link and Saria would be getting off. Link slid out of the carriage then reached up a hand to help Saria out.
"We'll see you soon!" Ruto yelled as the carriage began to move again and then disappeared into the distance on its way to Zora's domain leaving Link and Saria to enter the market. The market itself was busier than usual with all the tourists that had come to see the horse races. The crowds overwhelmed Saria who grabbed onto Link's arm as they weaved through all the people. After a few minutes of finding their way through the crowd they reached the white dusty lane that led up to the castle. The guard on lookout recognised the pair and let them pass without any trouble. Zelda ran out along the now opened drawbridge ready to meet her guests. Within minutes they were standing in the hall where many passages and stairways led off into different areas of the castle, there was also the big oak door that led into the grand dining room where the meals were served and important meetings took place. The rest of the day flew by as Zelda showed them all of the different places and things to do in her home. The Princess was so glad to have some company of her own age since the castle could get very lonely sometimes but it was time for her to go and attend to her royal duties with the King and the other two were shown to their rooms.
That night a violent storm took over the land. Many black clouds consumed the sky sending rain shooting down onto the ground, thunder roared and lightning crashed creating a frightening scene. Saria lay huddled under her blankets trying not to look around the large room that made her feel so unsettled, shadows danced along the walls as lightning lit up the room now and again, she felt so small, so alone. Slipping out of bed she decided to go to Link's room which was down the corridor from hers. She slowly opened the door without a sound and stepped into the giant corridor. The walls towered all around her making her feel quite dizzy looking up at them. Carefully she made her way along the corridor trailing one hand along the tall white wall. Suddenly there was an ear piercing scream not far from where Saria was, she froze at the sound pressing her back up against the wall looking both ways for any signs of danger. Link had also heard the scream and came running out of his room carrying his sword and shield. He spotted Saria shivering near the wall and rushed over to her putting his arms around her.
"What in the world was that?" Link asked looking in one direction then the next.
"I think it came from down there." Saria managed to say as she pointed down the corridor.
"Right, let's go take a look." He replied taking her hand and leading her along the corridor into the next. A group of guards had now appeared on the scene and were surrounding one of the maids who was laying on the floor from shock.
"It was horrible!" She yelled being helped up by two of the guards. "It had blood red eyes and made an awful groaning noise but the funny thing was it had no body, just the outline of one." She stopped there quivering as she remembered the image of the thing moving towards her.
"Where did it go?" Link interrupted when he and Saria rounded the corner and arrived near the group.
"It disappeared into thin air." The maid finished before she was taken off to inform the King of her sighting. Link looked absolutely stumped, he had never heard of or seen a monster that looked like that in all of his travels. He then turned to Saria.
"What were you doing wandering around this time of night Sar?" She looked a bit embarrassed at that question but knew she couldn't hide anything from him.
"I was scared of my room so I was coming to yours." Link grinned at that answer and pulled her close.
"Hmm and with an unidentified monster roaming the castle it would be safer to be with me, another good excuse don't you think?" Saria smiled and leaned against him half asleep. The guards began to leave the corridor heading back to their positions for the night. They walked back to Link's room in silence. The storm was still going strong outside creating an eerie atmosphere throughout the castle. Saria lay on Link's bed and sighed.
"First day out of the forest and look what already happens." She said pulling the covers over herself and laying against Link's chest as he wrapped his arms around her.
"I know but what exactly was it doing here?" Link replied hoping that it wasn't here to hurt anyone which was a pretty high hope since the thing was probably looking to harm someone but there was no point worrying about it until something else happened.
The next morning was a bright one, the sun peered in through the windows lighting up all of the rooms with a golden glow. Yells could be heard echoing around the castle as Link woke up. Saria was still curled into his arms sound asleep, he slowly moved from underneath her being careful not to wake her then went to take a peek out of the door. Guards were rushing about everywhere carrying long spears, they seemed to be searching for something. Link rubbed his eyes then ran down the corridor, on the way he bumped into a flustered Impa.
"Impa what's going on?" Link asked the Shadow Sage.
"The King received a death threat saying that if the locket was not handed over he and the rest of the castle would be in grave danger." Impa took out a battered piece of paper and gave it to Link, it was the message to King had been given and it was written in blood. "The King and Zelda have evacuated the castle for the time being, we have guards searching the castle for any signs of danger." Impa added taking the paper back from Link and hurrying off to another area. Link had a million questions buzzing around his head but no one to ask them to.
"Handed over to who? And we don't even have the locket!" Were his initial thoughts, as if two new enemies weren't bad enough fate had decided to throw in a third on top of them.
Saffron stood outside the entrance to the cave enjoying the morning sun, Ebony who had been flying around Hyrule landed at her sister's side.
"You'll never guess what!" She exclaimed tapping Saffron's arm. Her elder sister turned and looked at her.
"There's something searching the castle for the locket, the King and the Princess have already fled from it." Saffron looked surprised at that news but soon calmed herself.
"Forget about that, we still have to lure Link here and I have the perfect plan to do it." She began to laugh to herself and re-entered the cave followed by a puzzled Ebony.
A/N: Now go and review, you know you want to!