Chapter 19
"Why did you not bring her to me sooner?" Anju asked as she carefully re-wrapped Saria's wounds with real bandages.
Link was kneeling beside her, helping in any way he could. He had sent Kou with a message minutes earlier and now he was trying to help Saria.
"I thought we could handle it." He said quietly.
Saria groaned in pain as Anju tied the bandages. She was holding onto Mido's hand and squeezed it so hard that it turned red.
"Sorry Mido." She apologized in a pained voice.
"Don't worry about it Saria." Mido smoothed her hair back.
"She needs medicine and a real physician." Anju told Link as she sat back, looking over Saria's body.
"I have no horse, so I'll have to carry her."
Link very carefully lifted Saria into his arms, and followed Anju. Mido ran after them, but Link turned to him.
"You have to watch the camp while I'm gone Mido."
"No way! I'm going with Saria!" He shouted angrily.
"Mido," Saria opened her eyes to see him, "stay here. You can come later."
Mido's face softened, but his eyes stayed hard. He glared at Link, somehow blaming him for Saria being hurt.
"Fine." He grunted.
Link continued to follow Anju as she led them to Clock Town. Anyone who recognized Link smiled, but then when they saw that he was carrying an injured child, they frowned.
"What's wrong with her?" Angela asked when Link carried Saria into the inn.
"Angela honey, can you go get Dr. Lane for me?" Anju asked her daughter.
"Sure mama." Angela skipped off to find the doctor while Anju showed Link an empty room for Saria.
"I'll go and get some things for her."
Link laid Saria out on the bed, fluffing her pillows.
"Link…if I don't make it-"
"Saria don't start saying goodbyes yet. You're going to be fine." He muttered to her, heading for the door.
"Link?"
He turned to see her sitting up slightly.
"Yeah?"
"Will you stay until the doctor gets here?"
Darunia rolled faster than he ever had in his life after Zelda had disappeared. He had to find Nabooru and the Gorons before anything could happen to Zelda.
Link's going to skewer me for sure. He thought as he raced up the mountain.
When Darunia reached his destination, he stared at the sight before him.
Gorons were staggering around, some bleeding, trying to help those who were hurt. A few looked dead to Darunia, lying so still. Blood stained the ground, even a few dead Gerudos were strewn across the battlefield.
"What happened?" He asked a passing Goron.
"Darunia…the Gerudos came looking for the item. We fought them."
"How many are dead?"
"Five are dead. More are injured."
Darunia looked around again in disbelief. This wasn't even the worst of it. Soon, they would be battling Devika head on.
"Where is Nabooru?"
"She's helping over there." The Goron pointed to a section where there were Gorons lying on mats.
Darunia spotted Nabooru, wrapping a Goron's head.
"Nabooru!" He shouted.
Her head shot up, and she stared as Darunia ran to her.
"Darunia? Where is Princess Zelda?"
"She's gone Nabooru. I think she's been kidnapped."
Nabooru's eyes went wide and she got to her feet in a flash.
"The Gerudos." She muttered under her breath, looking around as if they were there.
"We found the scabbard…I sent it back with Kou."
"You found it?" Nabooru asked breathlessly. "Thank the Goddesses."
"We have to find Zelda before they hurt her. They must have taken her to the Great Bay, in search of the next item."
Nabooru nodded.
"Gorons! We must leave soon, so rest as much as you can!" She shouted to the pitiful creatures.
Darunia looked around once more, remembering his son.
I should have been here. He thought solemnly.
Link waited outside of the room with Anju and Angela while the doctor was in with Saria.
He sat in a chair, his face in his hands. Anju was sitting next to him, her hand on his shoulder. Angela was just running around with her wooden sword.
"Angela, hush." Anju hissed.
"She's fine Anju." Link mumbled without taking his face from his hands.
Angela continued to play, unaware of the crisis going on.
Link didn't know if Saria would pull through. Her injuries were horrible, and he hadn't done enough for her. If she died, Link would never forgive himself.
The doctor emerged from the room, and Link shot to his feet.
"How is she?" He asked in a shaky voice.
"I had to perform surgery, and sew the wounds back together. She's in a great deal of pain right now." The doctor looked into Link's eyes. "I don't know if she'll make it or not. We just have to wait and see."
As Link stared at him in disbelief, Anju rose to her feet.
"Thank you Dr. Lane." She bowed her head a little.
"Of course Anju. If anything changes, just come and get me."
With that, he departed.
Link went right inside and took a seat by Saria's side. Her breathing was heavy and labored. Her eyes were shut, and Link assumed she was asleep.
"I'm here." He whispered, putting his hand on hers.
"I know." She whispered back, opening an eye to look at him.
"Saria…do you hate me?" He asked softly, looking down at his lap.
"Why would I hate you?"
Link took a deep breath, and blinked back his tears for his best friend. Besides Zelda, Link loved Saria more than anything.
"It's my fault."
"Link," she smiled, "it is not. I was the idiot who followed you when you told me to stay put."
"But I should have protected you."
"Link, you can't save everyone."
Link was about to argue with Saria more when the door opened.
"Link, there's a boy here. He nearly collapsed he ran here so fast." Anju said in a worried tone.
"I'll be back Saria." Link followed Anju down the stairs and saw Mido sitting there.
"Mido I told you to-"
"Link! Kou came back." Mido said, his chest heaving.
"Couldn't the message wait?" Link asked, annoyed that Mido had disobeyed him.
"No, it's urgent. It's about Princess Zelda."
Link's eyes widened, and he grabbed Mido's arms.
"What is it? Is she alright?"
"She's been kidnapped."
Nabooru was walking alongside Darunia, ahead of the Gorons.
"Do you think it was wise to tell Link about Zelda's kidnapping?" She asked him, fiddling with the hilt of her sword.
"He would be angry if we didn't."
Nabooru nodded her head in agreement.
"How long will it take to reach Great Bay?"
"At least a day, maybe two. I just hope we don't run into the Gerudos." Darunia shuddered, remembering the blood and the injured Gorons.
Nabooru looked up at the sky.
Please look down upon us and bless us Goddesses. She prayed.