Inspiration: Lambda waves, oscillation, and EEG monitoring at work lol
Shout OUT: Tazzy my awesome sister! Who despite my flaws always forgives me unconditionally. She has a heart bigger than the giving tree, thanks for reading Taz! SuperSaiyanParadox: Thanks for reading and check out his story "The Legend of Zelda Reborn."
Author Note: There is one change in viewpoint in this chapter. It was like that in the original edit, and it remains the same in this one. I have no idea why I did it that way lol, but I see no reason to change it now. ~ZR~
Specialty Rating: This chapter is T-16 for sensuality and adult situations. I'm not going to beat around the bush here, there is a point where the two main characters get a little rowdy. However, it can be skipped as I will put a 'SKIP' and 'DONE' demarcation. ~ZR~.
Reedited: 4/22/2012 I added a little here and there; ADDENDUM Reedited 3/11/2013 I got this one done quick due to several requests lol.
Chapter 18
Saria sighed and looked down at her now transparent hands.
"I'm disappearing Link," she repeated.
I felt my breath accelerate from the sudden onset of panic.
"How?" I demanded. "Why? I thought it was only if I helped you that you would disappear!"
Saria shook her head.
"It was stated in my contract that if the Hero of Time uttered the words 'I love you' to me I would automatically start disappearing," she divulged quietly. "At the time I didn't understand why, but now I understand all too well. Love is the greatest kind of help you can give a person Link."
I was dumbfounded.
I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe.
How could Daphnes be so damn cruel? I demanded of myself.
"Saria…" I trailed, shaking my head, not knowing what to say and feeling an overwhelming sense of guilt take over me.
I did this to her, I thought in mild disbelief, she begged me not to say it, but I did it anyway like a presumptuous fool.
Saria's body was slowly fading, but she tried to smile.
"You know what," she said to me gently, "I'm not mad about it. I at least got to be Hylian for a little while, and even though it was hard, I still wouldn't trade any of it for anything in the world."
I felt my throat tighten and my eyes sting after hearing that. I blinked several times to get my emotions in check. The last thing in the world I wanted was this.
I'm not going to lose her like this, I thought upset, I won't let it be like this.
"Don't talk like that," I replied, "I'll figure something out, I'll-"
Saria put her fading finger to my lips and silenced me, she then wiped her tears from her face.
"It's okay," she said quietly.
I shook my head, refusing to accept this outcome.
I won't be okay with this, I thought, I won't have my life dictated to like this, and then lose her too! I won't!
"It's not okay," I said in a slightly broken undertone, "it's not ever going to be okay."
"Link-" she tried.
I looked at her just then.
"No!" I interrupted with more resolve. "I'm not accepting this Saria!"
She stared into my eyes and sighed at me sadly.
"I don't think you have a choice Link," she replied.
I looked at her hard for a moment.
Yes, I do, I thought.
"Come with me," I said, taking her hand in mine, I didn't care if I couldn't feel it.
I hurried up the porch to the laboratory and went inside. I left Saria in the living room and went down the hall to the old man's bedroom and pounded forcefully on his door.
Saria looked at me surprised.
"What are you doing?" she demanded. "He's trying to sleep."
I looked over at her incredulously.
She must be joking, I thought in disbelief, she's about to die, and she's concerned with the doctor's sleep?
"Do you honestly think I care about that right now?" I demanded of her. "Look what's happening to you!"
Abruptly, the old man opened the door and looked at me slightly shocked considering my manner and my appearance.
"Sir Link?" he asked confused.
I pulled him from his room without giving him an explanation or asking any questions. I dragged him by the arm to the living room, and when he saw Saria's transfigured state he woke up immediately.
"My goddess!" he mumbled in panic.
Saria had gone from near translucent to transparent. The old man quickly turned to me and grabbed my shoulder.
"Go get my briefcase in my bedroom!" he ordered. "Go quickly, now!"
I hurried down the hall and did as he instructed. I went into his room and grabbed a large black laboratory briefcase sitting on the floor next to his bed. I immediately grabbed it and left the room with the bag in tow.
"Is this it?" I asked the old man when I returned.
He nodded and then turned to Saria.
"Sit down my dear," the old man told Saria, "we have to do this quickly before the magnetic resonance completely dissipates."
Saria instantly obeyed and sat down. The old man opened his case and pulled out a circular shaped lambda oscillator. An oscillator was an electromagnetic wave detector. It detected waves at different frequencies. This particular one the doctor was using was a lambda, or brain wave detector. He put the device around Saria's head, then cranked the amplitude to max pulsation. Before utilizing the crystal, the old man quickly tossed me some volcanic rock infused dark rimmed eye protectors to cover my eyes.
"Put those on!" he directed and covered his eyes with a pair of his own.
I hurried and did as I was told. Suddenly, a harsh white light erupted from the oscillator as it reverberated through Saria's skull.
"Ah!" Saria cried out in pain wanting to grab her forehead, but the old man kept her from doing so.
"I'm sorry child, but you can't!" the scientist called out, and held onto her hands.
Just hang in there, I thought, standing in the background and feeling useless.
Saria's body flickered back and forth between opaque and translucent. It was as if the quanta in her body were turning at a fixed interval. The treatment went on for another ten minutes. I had to admit it wasn't easy to watch, but I knew it was necessary. Once Saria's body was completely opaque, the old man dialed down the amplitude and removed the oscillator. Saria's eyes were closed, but she was breathing.
Thank goodness, I thought in relief.
"Is she okay?" I asked him.
The old man merely nodded, and took in a deep breath..
"She will be," he uttered softly scratching his head in worry,"we got to her just in time."
The old man sighed, then turned to look at me. He narrowed his eyes at me as though he were upset. I looked at him confused, but then looked away because I knew what was coming.
Me and my big mouth, I thought.
"What did you say to her?" he asked me carefully.
I swallowed hard, already knowing what triggered the reaction.
"I told her I loved-" I tried.
The scientist's eyes widened.
"Don't say it again!" he snapped at me.
I sighed in guilt.
"Why are you so damn impulsive?" he demanded of me. "I told you, you had to be careful with her!"
I got a little indignant at the old man's tone.
"I didn't know loving a woman was a crime," I muttered upset.
The old man got up at my insolent attitude.
"It is when you don't know what the hell the repercussions are!" he snapped at me.
I looked away from him, knowing he was right. I didn't have an argument for that.
"Why did saying what I said have that kind of reaction on her?" I asked, wanting to change the subject.
The man continued to glare at me for a moment, but softened his features when he saw I had settled down.
"The depolarization device inside of Saria's body is embedded with voice recognition sensors," he explained to me. "Your voice, encoded with the phrase 'I love you', is the encrypted self-destruction mechanism."
I looked at the old man astonished.
"Why the hell would…?" I began angrily, and had to cut myself short.
Daphnes you bastard! I thought angrily.
The old man merely looked at me, but then shook his head.
"I told you I didn't understand matters of the heart son," the old man said absently, "but it was a direct order to have that fixated impulse embedded."
This is all about control, I thought, feeling my anger swell, this was all done to keep me under the king's thumb.
"I can't believe this!" I said upset.
The old man raised his eyebrows, understanding my dismay.
"It is pretty extraordinary," he reasoned, "I still to this day don't understand that mandate."
I looked past him when I saw Saria stir. A moment later, Saria opened her eyes. She blinked several times and sat up. She raised her hands and stared at them like she had never seen them before, she then looked over at me surprised.
"What happened?" she asked softly.
I quickly hurried over to her and pulled her up from the chair into my arms in a tight secure hug without answering her questions.
And this time I could feel her.
Thank the goddess, I thought relieved.
Saria hugged me back, but when she pulled away she looked at me confused, then turned to the old man.
"Why am I still here?" she asked him puzzled. "I thought that would kill me."
The old man took in a deep breath.
"I gave you one last treatment," he divulged.
Saria appeared flummoxed.
"I thought you said I received the last one years ago," she stated perplexed.
The old man took in a deep breath.
"You did," he said, "but considering the utter contempt I felt following the circumstances of your Hylian existence, I took it upon myself to have an emergency treatment set up for you when the self-destruct mechanism was activated."
Saria looked at the man stunned, but then a hopeful glint came into her eyes.
"Could it… could it be used more than once?" she asked eagerly.
The old man frowned at her.
"Unfortunately, no my dear," he said, "I only had enough composited energy for one last treatment. I didn't tell you about it sooner because I knew you would have wanted it then. I chose to wait for when this would happen."
Saria blushed when she heard him say the last part.
"You knew this would happen?" she asked surprised.
The old man looked at her knowingly.
"I figured with the amount of planning and the detail instigated by the royal family to hide you, and use you in the means in which they did, that you Saria must have had some serious meaning to our resident Hero of Time," he said to Saria honestly. "Cruelty of that measure still baffles me."
I listened to the old man and shook my head.
I couldn't agree with you more, I thought.
"Is there any way to completely cure her?" I asked, changing the subject. "There has to be a way to completely set her new body."
The old man was silent for a moment, but then swallowed hard and looked away. He didn't answer. I raised my eyebrow at him with a curious disposition.
What is this all about? I wondered.
"Is there any way?" I demanded again.
The old man took in a deep troubled breath.
"There is a way," he said suddenly, but then stopped himself.
I looked at him expectantly, wanting for him to continue.
"What is it?" I asked, starting to lose my patience.
Saria looked down, as if already knowing.
I glanced at her.
What's going on here? I thought.
"There... there must be a fusion of courage and wisdom from the Triforce," the old man said finally.
I edged back slightly when he said that.
Wait a minute... I thought, shaking my head.
I felt my heart accelerate.
"A what?" I demanded, already knowing what he meant.
The old man paused.
"You have to marry the princess..." he divulged finally, but then added, "and the consummation of your marriage is the only way you can completely heal Saria."
I felt my eyes grow wide, and my heart stop momentarily.
"What?" I demanded.
The old man shrugged.
"That's the only way to permanently set the lambda oscillation in Saria's new body," he divulged. "There must be a fusion of energy from the Triforce of Courage and the Triforce of Wisdom. The consummation of your marriage will create that energy. That fused energy will fixate the reconfigured quanta in her body."
I took a step back.
"I can't believe this," I heard myself say.
That's why Saria wanted me to marry the princess, I thought, she already knew I could never be with her.
I swallowed hard, angry that this whole situation was accelerating out my control.
"I won't do it," I muttered in defiance to the old man.
The scientist just stared at me for a moment.
"Link..." the old man trailed, but didn't continue.
I looked over at Saria, she rubbed her shoulder nervously.
"Link, be reasonable," she said finally, "you have to understand that-"
I got heated at that.
"No Saria!" I interrupted, not wanting to hear her philosophical spiel on righteousness. "There must be another way!"
I turned back to the doctor. He looked at me with pitiable eyes.
"There has to be something you can do," I said to him eagerly, "reconfigure the data, create another waveform, something!"
The old man shook his head.
"I don't have the equipment to reconfigure Saria's data," he said. "The villain Zant destroyed the laboratory Dr. Dirac and I worked in years ago. All I could take was what I could carry with me. I'm sorry, I wish there was another way."
I felt my eyes widen as desperation overcame my reason, I grabbed hold of the collar of the old man's night shirt. Saria looked at me in alarm.
"Link!" she cried out, coming up to me and trying to release the old man from my grip. "Stop it! You're going to hurt him!"
I ignored her.
"Why the hell is Daphnes doing this?" I demanded of him.
The old man merely stared back. He looked away from my eyes for one moment and sighed.
"I'm not supposed to tell you this," he detracted all of a sudden, "but it wasn't Daphnes who mandated the restrictions on your beloved Saria."
I felt my eyes widen again as the shock of the realization entered into my veins. It was a feeling that precluded me like falling into a sea of ice.
Wait a minute... I thought, the princess wouldn't...
"What?" I gasped, loosening my grip.
I couldn't believe it, because now I knew who it was. Saria helped release the old man completely from my grip and sat him down in a nearby chair. She didn't seem at all surprised at the revelation.
"Are you alright?" she asked him.
The old man merely nodded, and glanced at me, understanding my disbelief.
I swallowed hard.
It couldn't be, I thought, she wouldn't do something like this, she wouldn't do something that cruel.
"Who mandated it?" I asked in a whisper, already knowing the answer.
The old man took in another deep sigh.
"It was the princess," he revealed.
I stared at the old man just then, just looking at him without really seeing him.
"The princess," I whispered to myself, still reeling from my shock.
The old man nodded.
"Yes," he replied, "I'm afraid so."
I can't believe Zelda would do this to me, I thought, I can't believe she would deliberately try and keep me away from someone with whom she knew I had a strong kinship with.
"She was hoping you'd never find out," the old man divulged, "I was actually supposed to be sworn to secrecy."
I ran a hand through my damp hair completely awe struck as to what to do. Saria saw that and frowned.
"It's going to be okay Link," she said to me quietly.
I looked at her and narrowed my eyes.
"What?" I replied.
She came and stood in front of me and tried to smile.
"Everything will work out," she said gently, "just give it some time, you'll see."
I scoffed in disbelief.
I've basically lost all control of my life, and everything is supposed to work out? I thought. I don't think so.
"How can you say that?" I demanded of her. "Look what's happened to you because of the royal family's selfishness."
Saria looked at me with understanding and shrugged. She was trying to make light of it for the sake of peace.
"I told you she was head over heels in love with you," she disclosed to me softly.
I couldn't believe my ears. I thought that was a strange thing to say considering the circumstances.
"So, that makes it okay?" I demanded.
Saria shook her head.
"That's not what I'm saying," she replied, "she just wanted to ensure that the time she invested in you wasn't in vain."
I raised my eyebrows at her.
"It's almost as if you're condoning it!" I said upset.
Saria shook her head.
"I would never condone what she's done, but in a way I understand why she was cautious," she divulged, "she saw what we had in our friendship as a threat to her. She didn't want to lose you."
I looked away from Saria just then.
Guess what, she already has, I thought. There's no way in hell I'm marrying a deceitful woman like that! No way!
"She knew that if I knew you were back, I'd go to you in an instant!" I divulged. "That's what this is about! Jealousy! Pure and simple!"
Saria didn't have a reply to that.
I took a step back and ran both my hands over my face.
What the hell am I going to do? I thought.
I heard the old man sigh again.
"I suppose you could try and discuss the problem with the princess," the old man said. "After all she is the Sage of Time, she has the power to alter certain things."
I looked at the old man thoughtfully just then.
He's right, I pondered, I need to speak to Zelda and ask for a reprieve in Saria's behalf.
"That's exactly what I'll do," I said with a nod, and the more I thought about it the better it sounded.
The old man then stood up and stretched.
"Well," he began, "since you have a new resolve, there's no sense worrying about it now. I think the best thing would be for you to sleep on it and figure out what you need to do later."
I looked at the old man surprised.
"How am I supposed to sleep with all of this on my mind?" I demanded.
The old man looked at me sympathetically.
"It was just a suggestion son," he replied, "I didn't say you had to, but standing here worrying all night is not going to do you any good."
Saria reached for my hand and squeezed it gently.
"The doctor has a point Link," she added, "there's nothing you can do right now, and you need a clear mind to think, you need rest for that."
I was hearing them, but I didn't want to listen to them.
This is insane! I thought.
"Zelda has to renegotiate," I said to myself, "she has to."
Both the old man and Saria looked at me with open cynicism, but Saria covered my hand with hers in a hopeful gesture.
"Maybe she will," she said to me, trying to be optimistic.
I stared into Saria's beautiful eyes, and stroked my hand over her cheek.
This isn't fair, I thought, this whole situation is a nightmare.
"Come on," she said softly, taking my other hand, "you'll sleep upstairs with me."
The old man looked at her surprised, but didn't object it.
Might as well, the old man thought, hell... they're young, and given the circumstances this may be the only chance for them.
"I'm going to go back to bed," he said with a yawn and headed down the hall, then added, "don't say anything silly to each other."
The old man paused for a moment and turned to give me a look of warning.
Like 'I love you' Saria? I thought upset. Yeah, that's silly indeed.
Saria smiled at him.
"Okay," she said, then giggled softly. "I promise we won't."
I looked at her surprised.
How can she giggle after going through what she just went through? I wondered. But considering she almost just died how could she not giggle? Her mortality really is fickle.
Saria had to take advantage of everyday given to her, because it could very well be her last. I squeezed her hand affectionately, and she turned her attention back to me.
"What?" she asked me expectantly.
"Nothing," I replied, then started for the staircase, "come on let's go, I know you're tired."
Saria paused for a moment and pulled at my hand.
"Our clothes are still outside," she divulged.
I looked out the window to the shoreline where our pajamas were resting.
"We won't need them," I said casually.
Saria looked at me surprised and blushed. I gave her a puzzled expression, but then I realized how that sounded.
I always insert my foot in my mouth, I thought.
"I didn't mean-" I tried.
Saria squeezed my hand tighter.
"I know what you meant," she interrupted with a grin, "you don't have to explain yourself."
I smiled at her, and tried to put on a positive air like her.
She is doing the best she can to stay enthusiastic about everything, I thought, I need to do the same.
We then headed upstairs to her bedroom. When we got there Saria went straight to her closet and looked through her clothes.
"I don't have a pajama shirt for you to wear like you had for me," she joked.
I grinned again.
"That's okay," I said, "I'll manage."
She turned her head and looked at me from her shoulder.
"You can wear one of my gowns," she went on with a grin.
I tried to stay serious, but there was no winning against her personality. I chuckled at the crazy notion.
"I don't think I'll fit," I replied, "my shoulders and pecks are too big."
She bit her lower lip and nodded. She gave me a flirtatious once over.
"Yes, they are," she agreed.
I smirked at her oogling at me and flexed my pectorals several times in a row in a humorous manner. Saria laughed when she saw that, and left her closet to go over to her dresser to get some dry clothes. She then went behind her divider to change. When she reemerged she threw me some dry trunks. I looked at them surprised.
"What's this?" I asked.
Saria shrugged.
"I was going to surprise you with them," she said, "I made them for you when you went to see the Deku Tree."
I grinned and nodded at the kind gesture, but looked at the garment confused.
"Why trunks?" I asked.
Saria grinned.
"I was going to force you to go swimming with me," she replied.
I smirked.
Now it made sense, I thought.
"You mean kind of like the way you did tonight?" I replied.
Saria raised her eyebrows and smiled, but then nodded.
"Yeah," she said casually.
I grinned at her and stared into her eyes for a long moment. There was a brief silence between us. Saria finally looked away from me and sighed.
"Go get changed," she said quietly.
I sighed myself and went and did as I was told. When I came back around from the divider I saw that Saria was still standing in the middle of the room. I looked at her perplexed as to why.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
She nodded over her shoulder.
"Which bed do you want?" she asked abruptly.
I raised my eyebrows and hid my disappointment. I was actually hoping we could share a bed tonight. Even still, I didn't make my concerns known, I just glanced past her and looked at the two beds on the two far walls.
"I want the one next to the window," I stated.
Saria frowned at me.
"I knew you were going to say that," she replied, then put her hands out and made a flat palm with her right hand and a fist with her left, "I'll rock, paper, dagger you for it."
I grinned at her.
"What?" I inquired.
"I'll rock, paper, dagger you for it," she repeated with impatience.
I looked into her eyes and saw that she was dead serious.
She knows she's much better at this than I am, I thought.
"Okay," I replied.
I readied both my hands.
"You know I'm terrible at this, right?" I said.
Saria smirked cleverly.
"I know," she said, "that's why I chose it."
I smiled at her logic and we commenced with rock, paper, dagger. I won the first hand, and Saria won the second hand. It was all down to this last hand.
"Rock, paper, dagger!" we said in unison.
I chose a fist, the way I always did, and Saria chose paper.
I lost.
Damn it, I thought, I really wanted that bed too.
"Alright!" Saria said with a cadence to her beautiful voice. "Success!"
I chuckled at her and did a mock bow.
"You are the rock, paper, dagger queen," I said resolutely.
She put her hands on her hips.
"And don't you forget it!" Saria joked.
I smiled at her and watched as she came up to me and took me in a hug. I hugged her back, and sighed against her hair. Saria pulled back and stared into my for a moment. I stared back, but then was cut short when she turned and headed for her bed.
"Goodnight," she said to me when she got under her covers and faced the window.
I stared at her for a moment before heading to my bed.
This is as good as it gets for right now, I thought with a deep breath.
"Goodnight," I said finally when I got under the covers.
Silence overcame us for the next forty minutes, but I knew neither one of us was asleep.
Why do we pretend like we're sleeping? I wondered.
"Saria," I said her name softly.
She was quiet, but then finally replied.
"Yes?" she inquired.
I stared at the ceiling and took in a deep breath.
"I'm going to fix this," I stated, "I'm going to fix this and we're going to be okay."
Saria was silent for a moment, then sighed.
"Stop worrying about things that are beyond your control," she said, "it'll make you crazy."
I shook my head.
"This isn't beyond my control," I reassured, "Zelda will renegotiate."
Saria was quiet again.
"Get some sleep," she said finally, not replying to my conjecture.
I looked over at her bed. Saria's back was to me.
"Saria-" I started.
"Go to sleep Mr. Killjoy," she interrupted.
I looked over at her bed.
"What?" I said surprised.
Saria sighed.
"You sound just like you did when you broke Mido's clay pot," she divulged abruptly, "you were so worried about replacing it."
I raised my eyebrows surprised at the sudden memory.
"What?" I asked.
Saria sat up for a moment and turned to look at me.
"You were freaking out," she said, "so we had to go to the Sacred Forest Meadow, pick one up from there, and it turned out that he still hated it."
I looked over at her and then slowly nodded.
"That's true, isn't it?" I replied.
"Yeah," she said, "Mido tried to throw the pot at you when he found out it wasn't the original. He was so angry."
I chuckled at the thought abruptly.
"You remember how I got him back?" I inquired with a smirk.
Saria rolled her eyes and shook her head.
"Yes," she said with a little disgust, "you peed in his pumpkin patch."
I immediately started laughing again. Saria chuckled at my voice.
"Serves that jerk right," I said.
Saria raised her eyebrows at me.
"You know, he wasn't such a bad guy," she said, "he just went about things the wrong way."
I nodded.
"True," I replied, "especially with what he did for you to become Hylian."
Saria turned and looked out the window.
"Yeah," she said absently, "he really stuck his neck out for me so I could be with you."
It was an unguarded comment. I sat up and looked over at her just then. There was another silence that overcame us.
She went through all that just to be with me, I thought, I'm not going to let her down by not coming through on my end. I still love her no matter what anyone tries to do.
Saria quickly caught herself and laid back down, she turned away from me.
"Goodnight," she said again.
I sat there looking at her for a few moments, then made a minute decision. I got up from my bed and went and laid down next to her in hers. Saria turned and looked at me surprised when she felt the covers pull back.
"What are you doing?" she said with a little panic in her voice.
"Relax," I reassured, "I won't say anything to put you in danger."
Saria's expression still didn't change.
"Link-" she started to protest.
I raised my eyebrows and looked at her seriously.
"I'm not leaving," I interrupted in a firm manner.
Saria bit her lower lip and sighed. She looked away from my eyes and took in a nervous breath.
"Okay," she said finally.
Secretly, I think she was glad I was there. I think she wanted to be next to me as much as I wanted to be next to her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and pulled her close to me. We laid there silently for at least twenty minutes, until Saria finally stopped pretending and did something I was expecting ten minutes ago, she turned around in my arms and faced me. She looked into my eyes and reached up to caress my cheek.
"Thank you for saving my life," she whispered to me finally.
I stared into her eyes.
"I didn't, the doctor did," I replied.
Saria ran her finger across my collar bone.
"But if you hadn't been there, I would've given up," she said.
I reached up and stroked my hand through her hair.
If I hadn't been there, I wouldn't had said I loved you and you wouldn't have disappeared, I couldn't help but think.
The thought made me feel guilty.
"I don't see that happening," I replied, "you're a fighter."
She stared into my eyes and didn't reply right away.
"Yeah," she said with a faraway kind of absence.
She sighed and got quiet again. I continued to stroke my fingers through her hair. I wanted to be a comfort to her. I felt that recently I was acting more or less as a catalyst to her troubles than a solace to her pain. She meant everything to me, and I wasn't going to put her in danger any longer.
I'm not going to take you for granted, I thought, I won't be careless with your life anymore.
Saria sighed against my neck and snuggled close to me.
"I really..." she trailed, breaking the silence, "I really like you a lot."
I grinned at her, but felt a small measure of contempt for not being able to say what I wanted to say to her.
"I... like you a lot too," I replied.
This is a damn shame I can't tell this woman I love her, I thought upset.
She smiled at me, then licked her lips. I stared at her mouth while she did that.
Oh boy... don't do that, I thought, trying to keep my thoughts clean, there are a lot of things I want to do with that mouth.
"Can I ask you something?" I asked, needing to lighten the mood.
She smirked.
"You just did," she replied.
She did it again.
I raised my eyebrows feeling a little foolish.
I always do that with her, I thought.
"Can I just say I hate when you do that," I replied.
She laughed lightly when I said that.
"I know," she said, "in the forest you used to tell me that all the time."
I grinned at her recollecting out childhood.
"Can I ask you something else?" I asked, getting the subject back on track.
"Sure," she said, then ran her left hand over my bare chest.
I tilted her chin up so her face would be looking into mine.
"What was up with your assassin's ruse?" I asked suddenly. "At times you were down right scary."
Saria chuckled at me and rested her forehead on my chest for a second.
"I..." she trailed and shook her head, "I... had to play a role."
I raised my eyebrows.
"That was one hell of a job," I commented.
She laughed again.
"Yeah," she said absently, "sorry about that."
I stroked her hair out of her eyes and gave her a wayward stare.
Sorry about that? I thought incredulously. Is that all she's going to say?
"You don't want to elaborate?" I asked.
She ran her forefinger over my lips.
"I wish you'd stop talking," she whispered,
Oh no, I thought, you're not off the hook yet.
"That night in my cell I thought you were going to kill me," I said honestly.
Her gaze left my mouth momentarily to look me in the eyes. She just shrugged.
"I knew you would dodge my projectiles," she replied, "you're the Hero of Time, you can do anything. If you defeated Ganon, I knew you could defeat little old me."
My eyes widened.
"That's your rationale?" I said flummoxed.
I felt her right forefinger circle my left nipple. I had to admit she was good. She was not interested in talking about being the assassin right now. She clearly had other things on her mind.
"Yeah," she said simply.
I caressed her chin for a moment.
"You could've killed me," I stated again, as if she didn't hear me the first time.
She breathed against my lips.
"But I didn't," she whispered.
I gave her a slight offhanded stare.
I think she's been around Zant too long, I thought, slightly disturbed.
"Right," I replied sarcastically, and edged back.
She snuggled closer to me and closed her eyes. We were then silent again. She casually wrapped her arms around my neck and anchored me closer to her. It was becoming more and more difficult for me to keep things docile between us. Something was going to happen sooner or later, but then, all of a sudden I started chuckling.
Saria looked at me puzzled.
"What's so funny?" she asked with a smirk.
I don't know if I should really be laughing at this, I thought, but I'll let her in on it anyway.
"What was that crazy reference all about?" I asked her suddenly.
Saria pulled back for a moment to look at me.
"What reference?" she asked.
Should I even say it? I thought, second guessing.
"That whole 'death is the ultimate orgasm' thing," I inquired.
Saria's eyes widened and she raised her eyebrows.
"You liked that, didn't you?" she asked in a mischievous way.
I gave her an oddball stare, however, I couldn't completely think what she said was strange. I did laugh spontaneously just now at the thought of it. So, she must have assumed I found some humor in it.
I don't see how anybody could like that, I thought, but it was an interesting thing to hear.
My hold tightened around her waist.
"I wouldn't say liked," I replied, "it was just... thought provoking at best."
Saria looked into my eyes, before she replied.
"I got that line from Zant," she said finally.
I'm not surprised, I thought, he really is crazy.
"I figured," I replied.
Saria smirked at me again.
We fell silent once more, it lasted for a few moments.
Saria shifted nervously all of a sudden.
"What's the matter?" I asked of her movement.
She shook her head and then buried her face in my shoulder.
"Nothing," she replied.
Her tone said something else. I knew she wasn't being honest with me.
"Yes, there is," I said, "what is it?"
Saria took in a deep breath and sighed.
"You..." she started finally, after a little time went by, "you don't think I'm really like that, do you?"
That wasn't a hard question for me to answer because I knew she wasn't like that. However, when she was in the moment, she was that assassin, and that assassin tried to kill me... twice.
"Of course I don't think you're like that," I said, "however, I do believe you have the capability."
I felt her foot stroke over my ankle.
"I suppose that's the only way to answer that question," she stated softly to herself.
I searched her face for a moment.
"You suppose?" I inquired.
Saria grinned, then shrugged.
"Okay, it is the only way to answer that question," she replied with more finality.
I smiled.
"That's what I thought," I replied.
She chuckled a little bit and we fell silent yet again. Saria snuggled even closer to me, if that was possible, and rested her mouth at the side of my neck. She then reached up abruptly and stroked my hair. When she felt it was damp she looked at me surprised.
"It's still a little wet," she whispered to me and smiled, "are you comfortable like that?"
"Yeah, I know," I muttered, "I thought it would be dry by now. Don't worry, I'm fine."
Saria stared into my eyes, then looked away. Her cheeks were flushed. I looked at her puzzled when I saw the color in her face.
This woman and her blushing, I thought with a grin.
"What?" I asked her. "Why are you blushing?"
She still wouldn't look at me.
"No reason," she said quietly.
I gave her a slight offhanded stare at her sudden shyness, and tilted her chin to look at me.
"Don't give me that," I rebutted, "come on, tell me."
Her cheeks continued to glow when she stared into my eyes. She stroked her fingers over my chest.
"Your... your hair's not the only thing... wet around here," she whispered to me suddenly.
Saria cut her gaze quickly after uttering that. I raised my eyebrows at her bold insinuation. I was surprised she was so direct with the statement.
Is that right? I thought, forgetting a little bit of my chivalry for a moment.
"Oh, really?" I whispered back, stroking my hand over her cheek.
Saria licked her lips again.
She's going to kill me with that, I thought.
"Yes," she said, then stared at my mouth, "really."
She finally looked back into my eyes, and I didn't know what came over me just then.
Maybe it was what she said.
Maybe it was the way she was looking at me.
Maybe it was the closeness. I don't know, but something came over me.
Goddesses, I want this woman, I thought out of nowhere.
~SKIP~
I didn't say anything else, I just pulled her close to me and kissed her. It was often my practice to start off with subtlety, but subtlety wasn't the mainstay in this moment. This woman didn't want subtlety, and I couldn't lie, neither did I. I wanted to shag the shit out of her.
I stroked my hands through her hair and forced her mouth open in a way that made her eyes widen. She wasn't used to me being so aggressive, but I never let my aggression get out of hand. It never teetered on disrespect. I rotated us so that I was on top because I always liked being in control. It was one of my caveats. However, I wasn't unreasonable. If she wanted to have her way with me, I would gladly let her.
I kissed Saria deeply and hard when her legs wrapped around my waist. There was something about her that was beyond incredible. She was like every dream and fantasy I had about her, only better. I pulled back and stared into her eyes. She stared back, and I wanted to say it, but I couldn't.
Watch your mouth Link, I told myself.
I was going to have to show her instead. I kissed her hungrily and came down on top of her like I never needed another woman before in my entire life. Saria responded immediately. She wasn't just lying idly and letting me have my way with her. She was engaging me with the same level of ardency that I was exhibiting to her, maybe even more so. She was stroking my hair, and rubbing my back, scratching it every now and then. She was whimpering my name and begging me to take her. It was crazy, and wild, and visceral.
I never expected you to be like this Saria, I thought when I stared into her eyes again, I knew you'd be special, but I didn't know you'd be like this.
"Mmm," she moaned softly.
The kiss turned hot, and wet.
I pulled back a moment.
"This is what you wanted, right?" I whispered.
Saria merely nodded, then kissed me again. Unlike me, Saria didn't pull back or hesitate, she wanted what she wanted. That was clearly evident in how she maneuvered me from being on top of her to underneath her in less than ten seconds.
My goddess, I thought impressed, I need more acrobatic training.
I stroked my hands through her hair as she continued to kiss me. She got a little forceful when she kissed back, and dislodged my earring when she nibbled on my earlobe. She was breathing hard, and acting incredibly impulsive. She pulled back and stared down at me as she stroked her fingers over my abdominal muscles. That glow was back in her hair and that look was back in her eyes. She looked incredibly beautiful in the moonlight. She hovered over me and let her hair fall in my face as she teasingly kissed my forehead and made her way down to my mouth. She cupped my face as she kissed me again, but then pulled back to look in my eyes.
"Give me some tongue baby," she whispered to me, then smiled a wicked grin.
I looked at her surprised.
Is that Saria talking, or is the assassin back? I wondered.
I couldn't help but grin back, this woman was sexy as hell. So yes, if she requested me to open my mouth and impart my muscular vestige, I considered it was my civic duty. I was a knight after all. I gave her what she wanted. I gave her my tongue.
Saria leaned over me and wrapped her legs around my waist and I stroked my hands up her nightgown over her bare back. Her skin was so soft, and she was acting so impervious. I just wanted to take that gown off her and punish her for being such a naughty assassin.
It's so hard taking care of business, I thought sarcastically with a grin, as her tongue pressed up against mine.
She pulled back a moment and stared into my eyes again.
"I lo-" she almost slipped, she covered her mouth with her hand and caught herself.
I looked at her surprised, but then grinned and reached up and stroked her cheek.
"It's okay," I said, "it nearly happened to me too."
Saria stared back down at me and smiled, but then it slowly faded.
"That's okay," she whispered, "I'll just show you."
I was actually anticipating this moment more than anything. I couldn't wait to see how beautiful she really was. However, when she tried to lift up her gown over her head, that innate sense of chivalry in me surfaced and I stopped her.
~DONE~
"Wait," I said and grabbed at her hem.
Saria looked at me surprised, and even a little embarrassed.
"What's the matter?" she asked.
I hesitated.
Damn me for respecting women so much, I thought, and sat up with her still sitting on top of me.
"We have to stop," I said and then ran a hand over my face, "not like this. I don't want my first time with you to be like this."
Saria edged back from me like I was crazy.
"What?" she said surprised.
I avoided her eyes and didn't reply right away.
"Why?" she asked clearly confused. "What's wrong?"
I shook my head.
"Nothing's wrong," I groaned and pursed my lips together, feeling guilty for leading her on like that.
Saria looked at me perplexed.
"Then I don't understand," she said frustrated, "why do all this if all you're going to do is stop?"
I took in a deep sigh and looked at her upset pretty face.
"Because... you're not just some cheap thrill for me," I said finally, "I respect you."
She looked a little disappointed after I said that. She groaned in irritation.
"I'm aware of that Link," she said, "but there's nothing wrong with you showing me how you feel."
I understood her frustration, but under these circumstances, there would be.
Things aren't completely crystal clear yet, I thought, I want us to have an honorable courtship.
"I take what I feel for you very seriously," I said, "I can't just take advantage of you in a moment of lust."
Saria huffed upset and pursed her lips together. She shook her head annoyed.
"O...kay," she replied, giving me a strange look, and didn't say anything else.
She looked down and I stared at her pretty face. Her frustrated expression made me grin. I tilted her chin up to look at me.
"Look at me," I whispered.
She was stubborn and didn't.
"Sar..." I trailed, waiting for her eyes to meet mine.
Finally, she stared into my eyes.
"What?" she snapped.
I ran my forefinger over her lips.
"I..." I started, "I want you to be my wife first," I divulged with a staid expression.
Saria's eyes widened and she looked at me incredulously, as if not believing those words came out of my mouth.
"What?" she whispered surprised.
The comment was like a bolt out of the blue.
Did I really just say that? I thought. Did I really just ask her to marry me?
Saria's eyes were searching my face for reassurance of what she heard.
"Your-your wife?" she said shocked, she edged back.
I nodded and stroked her cheek softly.
"Yeah," I said, "my wife."
The more I thought about it the better it sounded.
I mean hell... why not? I thought.
Saria's cheeks immediately turned crimson.
"Link..." she trailed, unable to think of anything else to say.
She was clearly upset and puzzled as to what was going on.
"I'll talk to Zelda, get everything squared away, and everything will be okay," I reassured.
Saria looked away from me after I said that, she wasn't so sure.
"You don't know that for a certain," she said quietly.
I understood her concern, and turned her face back to mine.
"No I don't," I said honest, "but I have to try."
Saria maneuvered her chin from my grip and looked away again.
"What if nothing changes Link?" she asked. "This will have been my only opportunity to be with you like this."
I smiled at her.
"But it won't be," I told her.
Saria shook her head and rolled her eyes.
"Whatever," she said, then tried to get up, but I stopped her.
She avoided looking at me.
"Hey, come on Saria," I said, "you got to have more faith in me than that."
She was silent for a moment.
"It's not you I'm worried about," she said finally, "it's the princess."
I grinned.
"Don't worry," I said, "I know how to handle Zelda."
Saria swallowed hard.
"That's what I'm afraid of," she said with a vague encryption.
I didn't understand what she meant.
"What are you talking about?" I asked confused.
Saria shook her head again and still didn't look at me.
"Call me jealous, or just plain stupid," she began abruptly, "but I can't imagine you in her arms making love to her to cure me. I'd rather have you now, you tell me you love, and then I'd die happy."
I looked at her surprised by the confession.
"Saria..." I trailed.
She looked into my eyes just then.
"It's true!" she said.
I wrapped my arms around her waist and held her close.
"I'm not going to the castle to sleep with Zelda, Saria," I said, "I'm going to set you free of this stupid contract you're bound to."
Saria bit her lower lip.
"That's the way you have to do it," she said absently.
I caressed her cheek.
"Look at me," I said.
Saria sighed, but then hesitantly looked into my eyes.
"I'll find a way," I reassured.
Saria looked away from me again.
"Okay?" I reaffirmed.
Saria merely nodded, she didn't reply. I took her in a tight secure hug just then. The tension in the air was palpable.
Let me get her mind on something else, I perceived.
"Where would you like to live?" I asked all of a sudden.
Saria looked at me puzzled.
"What do you mean?" she asked me.
I stroked her cheek.
"I meant what I asked," I said. "Where do you want to live?"
She bit her lower lip again and thought about the question. Saria smirked at me when she thought of a place.
"How about Ordon?" she joked.
I nodded, playing along.
"You know, once that place gets cleaned up, it'll be really nice," I said matter-of-fact.
Saria chuckled in my grip. She hugged me tighter and rested her head on my chest.
"I can see it now," she went on, "they'll be a water irrigation system, and little cottages everywhere, a convenience store, and a barn."
I nodded at the possibilities.
"I was just recently thinking about wrangling some goats," I replied, "I think Ordon also needs some pumpkin patches. What do you think?"
Saria grinned.
"Oh most definitely good sir," she replied with sarcasm, "because we know every village needs pumpkins."
I pretended to be insulted.
"Pumpkins are an important crop," I said, "we could sell them to the citizens in Castle Town."
Saria chuckled again.
"So true," she replied, "so very, very true."
I grinned at her and squeezed her tighter affectionately.
We were silent again for a moment.
"And then... we'll have some kids," I said breaking the silence.
Saria was quiet, thinking about what I just said.
"I always wanted to be a mother," she said in absence, as if talking to herself.
I know you did, I thought.
"We'll have ten," I joked.
She pulled back and looked at me.
"Ten?" she asked incredulously. "Are you crazy?"
I raised my hands in mockery, not understanding her conjecture.
"What's wrong with ten kids?" I asked.
Saria immediately started laughing and shook her head.
"You tell me?" she asked.
"Okay, okay," I said, "five kids."
She laughed even harder.
"I guess that's better," she said.
I loved seeing her smile. I didn't want her throwing in the dagger yet.
"You see," I said caressing her cheek, "it's not so bad."
Her smile regressed back down to a grin and she nodded.
"No," she said, "it's not bad at all."
Zelda will be reasonable, I told myself, she has to be.
I leaned forward and kissed Saria deeply. I stroked her bangs off her forehead and stared into her eyes when I pulled away.
"You feel better?" I asked her.
She grinned.
"Yeah," she replied with a smile.
I nodded.
"Good," I said to her gently, "let's go to sleep."
She merely nodded.
"Okay," she said.
There was only an hour until dawn.
Another sleepless night, I thought, oh well.
It didn't matter, I still had to get up early.
I had an important meeting with the princess.
Zelda and I had a lot to talk about.
Please write a review and tell me what you think. Chapter 19 is coming soon!