Chapter Thirty-Two - What's Wrong With Saria
"You can't keep us in here forever, you know," an icy voice commented.
"Oh yeah? Just watch me," a second voice replied.
"We are even stronger now that the curse has lifted. You would do well not to underestimate us."
"You pose no threat to me."
"We will when we take your head as a trophy."
"Neither of you couldn't lay a finger on me even if you tried."
"But you see, we don't have to lay a finger on you, old man. It's the magic that is the danger."
"And it is the magic that is useless that's unimportant."
"These bars won't hold us forever!" a third voice shouted angrily.
"They don't need to hold forever, just long enough for Link to defeat Ganon."
"You're despicable," the first voice said.
"No, I'm cautious. I know that if you broke free before the Evil King fell, Hyrule would fall apart. I don't like that possibility, so you're not going free until Ganon loses."
"Listen to me. If we two get loose at any time, you'll not only feel our wrath but those four as well." There was a slight shaking that echoed around the area.
"And you can get them on your side?"
"We did once."
"No, Ganon did once. He did the same to you."
"Why you insolent-" the third voice exploded.
"Shush. Link is waking and the Great Fairy at Death Mountain is stirring."
"And how are those related?"
There was a small light emanating from a pool of water. Inside was reflected thousands of trees. Barely visible in the mass of trees was a small child on a tree stump.
"She links them."
Link woke up. For a split second, his entire body writhed in a sudden spasm of pain, and then it vanished in mere seconds. "I'll never get used to that," he complained, standing up and walking to the large mirror that hung above the dresser.
Link ran his fingers back through his messy blonde hair. He groaned as he watched the fairy magic finish its job, making the would-be scar fade from existence. He sighed, looking at the remaining long scar that ran diagonally across his chest, proof of Dark Link's malice.
"Does it still hurt?"
Link shook his head. "No, not physically, at least. A mental burden if there ever was one."
Zelda placed her hand on his right arm. "You know if there was anything I could do, I'd do it in a heartbeat, right?"
He nodded, turning around to face her. "I know. However, this is a burden I have to carry alone."
She took his hands in hers. "Link, there's something I want to tell you."
"Yeah?"
"I, well, I-" she started, but was interrupted by a knock at the door. It slowly opened to reveal a guard.
"Ser Link, there's a problem at the stables that requires your immediate attention."
Link sighed. "Will you excuse me?"
Zelda nodded. "Go ahead. I'll talk to you later."
"Okay." He followed the guard out the door.
"Epona, calm down!" Link shouted at the horse. Epona whinnied fearfully and once again reared up on her hind legs, kicking at the door. It splintered and then shattered. Epona started to gallop off, but Link pulled out his Ocarina and played a few notes.
The horse froze. After a second, she turned back to Link, calm. He smiled and swung up on top of her. "Good girl. Now, what say we ride a bit?"
>>
Link rode out of Hyrule Castle Town and onto the expanse of rolling hills that was Hyrule Field. He felt the wind stream across him as Epona sped up. Link felt her muscles tighten and loosen as she vaulted over one of the fences. He belted out a whoop as Epona dashed forward. Neither of them knew where they were going; all that mattered was that they were riding, free from any momentary cares. Sure, Link would return to the castle and resume his vigilant watch against Dark Link after awhile, but until then...
He urged Epona onward, the adrenaline rushing through his body. She replied in turn, pushing her own limits as they shot over another fence. Link shouted again as they left the ground, holding his sword in the air. Epona landed, still rushing forward. At the edge of his view, he saw one of the many Poes that haunted these fields. Epona, too, saw it, and started to slow. Link laughed and urged her toward it. She complied, and the duo raced toward the enemy.
As they passed it, Link brought his sword around, cutting the Poe in two. He watched as it made a strange noise and faded from existence. Link laughed, looking around for more, the exhilaration of the ride mingling with the adrenaline rush that always came when his sword was drawn.
Soon enough, he found them. As Link and Epona darted across the Field, the wind at their backs, pushing them forward, Link sliced through several more Poes. After the last one, Link felt Epona slow, barely. He directed her mad charge toward the grove of trees near the Kokiri Forest.
Epona slowed to a trot as they entered the trees. Link dismounted and led the weary Epona to the secret spring that only the Kokiri knew of, save maybe for the Zora. As they walked through the aged trees, Link heard a sound carried on the slight breeze that whistled through the leaves of the tree, wrapping itself in the mystery of the hidden neverland.
Link stopped at the small crystal spring that bubbled from the ground. He refilled his water bottle and let Epona have her fill of the cool, refreshing spring water. Hearing the mysterious sound echo around the silent forest, he looked to find the source. He unhooked his sword sheath from Epona's saddle and strapped it back into its place on his belt. Whispering to Epona to stay here, he crept into the main part of the forest, following the sound.
Link soon was lost in the forest, as was usual. Rarely did he choose to navigate through the area known as the Lost Woods for that very reason. As he followed the sound through twist and turn, he was reminded of a very similar time in which he had done the same.
Link walked into the area known as the Lost Woods. In constant fear of some beast or monster to pop up, he kept his sword drawn. He soon found himself lost, but somehow, he knew it was alright. He heard a strange but familiar tune echo around him. He followed the sound, avoiding the Skull Kids and other inhabitants of the forest. He saw a small spring, but it wasn't like any other spring he had ever seen. The water was crystal clear and very deep, deeper than he could dive. At the very bottom, he thought he saw movement, but he banished the thought before it spooked him. He pressed onward and found himself in front of a large maze. Avoiding the Mad Scrubs, he navigated the maze and found the source of the music: Saria sitting on a tree stump.
Link looked around and recognized the place from the memory. He must've navigated it while he remembered it. However, there was no music, just the almost silent sounds of crying in the middle of the forest. He looked up and once again, saw Saria on the tree stump. Instead of an ocarina, she had her face in her hands. Tears leaked past her fingers, falling onto her skirt.
She looked up and saw Link standing there, sword by his side, a look of confusion on his face. She turned away so he wouldn't see her tears, even if it was too late.
He walked over to her. "Saria? What's wrong?"
"I-I can't tell you..."
"You're my best friend. For a long time, you were my only friend. If there's something wrong, please, tell me."
"You want to know what's wrong? Fine." She turned to look directly at him. Tears still streaked down her face, but instead of sadness in her eyes, it was anger. "You are what's wrong!"
"Huh? Mind running that by me again?"
"You! It's you that's wrong! All our lives it was me and you this, me and you that, it was rarely me this and never you that. For ten years we lived side by side, played side by side, even ate side by side! Then you have to off and go ride into the distance with Navi and Zelda and defeat Ganon! And here I was, back here, longing for you to return, still clinging to those years we had. You leave and grow up, while I'm still here, frozen in time. I... I loved you, Link... And you left, forever leaving me behind..."
The anger that she had scraped together had vanished completely, letting the heartache fill the void. She broke into tears again, unsuccessfully trying to hold them back.
"I-I never knew... If I had known... I-I'm sorry..."
"No, Link, there's no reason for you to be sorry. You didn't know because I never told you, I never hinted at it. We were only ten, after all, not quite old enough to fully understand, to fully word our feelings. I only now know how to word mine. I also know now that it never could have been. You would have grown as you have here, while I continued to be this age forever. You wouldn't have belonged. I wouldn't have fit..."
"Fit? Fit what?"
"It's not a what, Link, it's a where. I wouldn't have fit in your life. You would grow, each year becoming older and older, while each year I'd stay the same. I'd be holding you back. You would always wonder what lies beyond the forest while I wonder if it was right to keep you here. I wouldn't be able to give you a life, Link, at least, not one you deserve."
"And what kind of life is that?"
"One where you can be happy. Truly happy. Link, as much as it pains me to say this, I've been left behind. I still remember the joy of being your age before the curse was broken, but this is my niche now. I am to stay here and watch after the Kokiri. Nothing can change that."
Link sighed as he saw by the look in her face that she was done, out of things to say. He looked down and their eyes met. "Saria, once, before I left, before I knew I was going to grow up, I loved you, too." He turned and walked back into the maze and into the Lost Woods.
Saria nodded, the tears threatening to return. "But it could never be... Not while I'm a Kokiri..."
