Author Note: Reedited 5/22/2012

Chapter 3

As promised I helped with the jugs of milk, and was then escorted to the finest room in the modest inn.

I paid the ten thousand rupees in full, and then decided I needed to work out my plans.

I'm not here to break up his marriage. I tell myself. I'm here to tell the man I love that I love him. So how do I do that without hurting Malon and Sar? It's simple, I can't.

I lay awake half the night trying to figure out how to resolve my moral dilemma.

So how would I do it?

That I still didn't know, and with these troubling thoughts I went to sleep.

A little before dawn I awaken and get ready for the day.

I light the oil lantern next to the bed and quietly take it downstairs.

I go into the kitchen and pocket two apples, and then head for the front door.

I hold my cloak close to me when I see the sun beginning to bleed over the horizon; as magnificent as the sun is, it still doesn't dispel the chill in the air.

It looks like the autumn bite is setting in early this year. I think pulling the hood of my cloak further over my head.

I head towards the barn and am surprised to see lantern light already illuminating off the walls.

I open the door expecting to see my ruby haired companion, but am surprised to find his father instead. Link is watering Maxere and brushing her mane.

"Good morning," I say carefully, and unhood myself, "I was expecting to find Sar here."

"Don't worry he'll be here," Link replies, "he's moving some blocks in the windmill near the back of the barn. What exactly has him so eager to meet you this morning?"

"Ah," I reply thoughtfully, "he wants to feed Maxere some sugar."

"Sugar huh?" he replies.

"Yes," I say with a smile.

"You'll have to forgive that son of mine," Link says continuing to brush Maxere's coat, "he tends to jump into things like his father."

I know. I think, but unbeknownst say it out loud.

Link pauses for a moment.

"Excuse me?" he turns and looks at me inquiringly.

I had to think quickly for a reply.

"You're the hero of time are you not?" I ask.

Link looks at me with an inherent suspicion, but then casts it away for a moment.

"Yes," he replies.

"Tales of your journey are recorded and talked about even in my country," I say. "You're terribly ignorant of your impact on the world."

It seems that Link takes my reply with a grain of salt.

"Not ignorant," he says turning back around, "just cautious."

As his back faces me, I sigh a little in relief.

A brief silence fell upon us.

"Where did you say you were from again?" he asks breaking the monotony.

"Here and there," I reply cryptically.

"Where's here and where's there?" Link asks obviously not happy with my reply.

I have to think quickly.

"Dragon Roost Island," I say, hating the fact I have to lie. "I own a goddess plume mine there."

Link begins brushing Maxere's coat again. He is silent for a few moments; I think he was deciding whether he should trust me or not. All the while Maxere neighed at Link's strokes.

"Easy, girl," I say to Maxere, "easy."

She apparently doesn't want to listen to me, because Link has to reach up and stroke Maxere behind her ear to calm her down. Maxere breathes gently through her robust snout.

He made that look simple. I think surprised at the subtly of his touch. He's so wonderful.

"She likes you," I say breaking the monotony, watching the interaction with a hidden fondness.

I then go over to the stable and stroke my horse's nose affectionately. Link is only a few feet from me. I allow Maxere to lick my cheek, showing her love for me, and then I chuckle. I look up into Link's eyes and smile. Link inadvertently grins, but edges back.

"How do you know that?" he asks of my synopsis.

"Know what?" I ask.

"That instinct about your horse," Link states, "how are you so in tune with her?"

"It's simple," I reply, "she's like my daughter."

Link smirks at my explanation. "Your daughter?"

I caress my fingers under Maxere's chin. "Yes."

Link looks at me and then away for a moment. "Do you have any children of your own?"

It is such a loaded question. In some ways I consider the other Kokiri my children.

"No," I answer the complex question with antiquated simplicity. "I never had the opportunity."

Link's face crumples into a thoughtful confused gesture. "A beautiful woman like you has no opportunity?"

I am surprised by the compliment, I merely smile. "The man I loved married someone else."

Link inadvertently raises his eyebrows and then looks away from me again and continues to brush my horse.

"Oh," he says, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

There is another brief silence between us.

This is going to be much harder than I thought. I think. I better change the subject.

"Maxere can tell a person's nature," I say breaking the silence again, "she knows you're gentle."

I stare deeply into his blue eyes, unable to help myself.

You have no idea how much I missed you Link. I think. No idea.

Link stops brushing Maxere's mane for a moment and looks at me guardedly.

"I see," he says carefully.

Easy there Saria. I tell myself. Don't scare him off.

I cut my gaze short and nod.

"Don't worry Mr. Link," I say to him aware of his concern, "it was only a compliment, nothing more."

Oddly enough he blushes and stares at me preponderantly. It is as if he has a question begging to fall from his lips.

"Is there something wrong?" I ask him adroitly.

Link shakes his blonde locks.

"I'm sorry I was staring again wasn't I?" he asks absently.

"Yes," I say, "you were."

"There's nothing wrong, but I…" he trails staring at my emerald hair.

"But you…?" I continue for him.

He bites his lower lip and suddenly regresses his thought process.

"Never mind… it's impossible," he says lowly as if trying to convince himself.

I am clearly disappointed with the cutting off of the subject, but can't let it show.

"You'd be surprised," I say absently and walk towards the entrance.

Link looks at me thoughtfully.

"At what?" he asks.

I turn to look him straight in his eyes.

"At what's possible," I say to him furtively.

There is another silence between us.

It is an uncomfortable one, but I know he knows I am hiding something; that I know something.

He narrows his eyes slightly, and I notice a shift in his manner, but before he can start an interrogation, Sar bursts through the barn door.

"Good morning Aria," Sar says enthusiastically. "Are you ready for me to feed your horse?"

I smile at Sar, and pat his copper hair. For a moment I had a flash back of his father trying to catch bugs with his bare hands.

They are so similar. I think. So eager. So enthusiastic.

"Of course," I say, "how many would you like to give?"

"Twenty," Sar replies.

Link shakes his head at his son.

"Two seems like a better number," Link interjects. "Twenty would make your poor horse hyper."

Link actually smiles a genuine smile for the first time that morning.

I want more of those. I think. I hope at the end of this I can get more of those. Those smiles are priceless.

"Two is fine," I say in compliance with Sar's father, "but Maxere has a strong stomach, sugar seems to have the opposite effect."

"Oh I see," Link replies looking at me if only briefly.

Sar unhitches his satchel and takes out two sugar cubes. He then goes over to Sar and feeds them to her. Link watches his son proudly, and I watch them with confused feelings of admiration and sadness.

After Maxere finishes her treat, Link fits her with my saddle, and I mount my steed.

Sar looks up at me admiringly.

"You certainly are beautiful Miss Aria," Sar says sweetly.

I blush, not expecting the comment, out of the corner of my eye I see his father blush as well.

"Why thank you," I reply to Sar.

"Will you race me one day Miss Aria?" Sar asks me. "My dad has a beautiful horse named Epona."

The legendary Epona. I think. How many times have I had dreams of riding that beautiful horse with Link?

"I don't think Maxere could win against a horse goddess," I reply detracting the subject.

"Huh?" Sar asks me confused.

"That's what the name Epona means, horse goddess," I repeat. "You see she's a special kind of horse. She helped your father defeat a great evil that threatened this land a long time ago."

"Really?" Sar says excitedly.

Really…? I think perplexingly. You mean he doesn't know?

Link is clearly uncomfortable with the subject of his past.

"I don't think we need to rehash such silly things," Link segues, not wanting to take the discussion further.

Sar looks down disappointed; it seems the two have had this conversation before.

"But daddy every time-" Sar tries.

"I said drop it," Link interrupts, saying it a little more forcefully than he intended to.

There is an uncomfortable tension that resonated between the three of us.

I had no idea. I think. I never would have brought the subject up, but why doesn't he want Sar to know? Any child would want to have the hero of time as their father.

"I'm sorry Mr. Link," I say to him sincerely, "I didn't mean to bring up an unwanted subject."

Link sighs wanting me to just drop it.

"It's nothing," Link replies, "it's just...that was so long ago."

Sar is still looking down, still clearly upset.

"Hey Sar," I say to him wanting his attention, "I'm going to bring you back a gift for being so kind to my Maxere."

Sar looks up at me as I say this.

"Really?" he asks, "What kind of gift?"

"Well that would ruin the surprise now wouldn't it?" I reply.

Sar smiles at me, and a glow returns to his sweet precious face.

"Alright," he says, "when will I get it?"

"When I return this evening," I say.

"Awesome!" Sar exclaims excitedly. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me what it is?"

"I'm sure," I reply with a laugh.

Sar grins perpetually and then says, "When I get old enough I'm going to ask you to marry me."

I smile at Sar's impetuousness.

If only things could have been different. I think. Sar might have been my son.

I swallow hard trying not to think of the 'would be's' the 'maybes' or the 'ifs'. It is too depressing; too unnecessary.

"I can't believe it's not even nine a.m. and I have already made a romantic conquest," I say, making light of the proposal.

Link chuckles a little uncomfortably.

"You have to forgive my son," he replies embarrassed, "he gets that boldness from his mother."

And his father. I think. Maybe not in the same way, but he definitely gets some boldness from his father.

I sigh wearily at my thoughts and think it best if I took my leave at the moment.

"I better get going," I say, "business awaits."

I grip Maxere's reigns in my hands and trot her out of the stable.

Sar opens the barn door for me, and as I step outside into the cold autumn morning I realize my resolve is not so solid.

The foundation of why I came here is suddenly now convoluted.

I like these people. I think to myself. I'm in love with Link, but I already like his wife, and adore his son. How am I going to do this?

I head down the Lon Lon impasse and turn to see Sar waving at me, but it's his father's expression that haunts me.

Link's eyes are narrowed at me, but he waves when he sees me looking at him.

Link knows something, he just doesn't know what.

I turn my head away and suddenly hasten Maxere's pace, wanting to get away from there as quickly as possible.

Tears fill my eyes, but I quickly wipe them away.

What am I doing? I wonder. Why am I here? But then…why did you play my song Link if you didn't need me? You played it recently, and I have to know why, I have to! Do you still need me? Is that why you named your son after me? Did you want a reminder of what we had so badly? I have to know these answers, and until then I can't leave. I just can't.

I return at dusk. The dust on my boots blew off faintly in the wind. Sar was eagerly awaiting my arrival.

I return Maxere to her assigned stable and head for the inn. Once inside I remove my cloak and look at the family before me: a father, a mother, and a son; and they all look happy.

I feel an inkling of sadness momentarily, but it soon subsides.

Sar jumps up at the sight of me coming through the door. I smile as I grip my satchel, readying myself to give him his gift.

"I couldn't wait for you to return," Sar says excitedly, "I had to know what I got."

Malon groans at her son lack of manners.

"Sar is that anyway to greet a guest?" Malon asks firmly. "Miss Aria has had a long day. She will give you her gift when she's ready."

I smile down at Sar's face.

"It's alright," I tell Malon, "he's just excited."

I unbuckle the leather belt and rummage in the bag. A moment later I pull out an onyx ocarina.

"Oh wow," Sar whispers taking it in his hand, "an ocarina."

At the sound of Sar's voice Link gets up from his reclining chair and comes to stand next to his son. Sar was fingering the instrument in awe; he blew into it and began covering some of the holes to make music.

"Thank you so much," Sar says sincerely to me.

"You're very welcome," I reply back.

Malon was covering her mouth in surprise.

"I can't believe you got him such an expensive gift," she says in slight shock.

I merely smile at her.

"I didn't buy it," I say shaking my head, "I made it."

Malon looks at me and her eyes widen in gratitude.

"You made it?" she asks unbelievingly.

I nod, and Malon's eyes fill with tears.

"Thank you," she whispers to me.

I got up and gave her a hug; her husband however was looking down at the gift and then to me suspiciously.

"You make ocarinas?" Link asks.

I am still holding onto Malon as I nod.

Link's eyes are concentrated on his son's gift.

"I knew only one person who knew how to make ocarinas," Link says absently, but then cut his eyes to me.

Link gives me a deep penetrating stare, but before the glee of the moment subsides, I let go of Malon and turn my attention back to Sar.

"Make sure you practice," I tell him, "because I'm going to teach you a song."

Link stiffens when he heard me say that.

"A song?" he asks, trying to sound indifferent.

I nod.

"Yes," I say, "a song. I know many of them from my travels."

"I'll make sure to practice," Sar says enthusiastically, already trying to fine tune the instrument.

"I can't thank you enough," Malon says as I stood up. "Sar's always wanted his own ocarina. Link has one, but he won't allow anyone to touch it. He said it was dangerous, but I don't see how a brown little instrument could be dangerous."

Brown little…? I think quickly. He still has my ocarina? I thought he had the ocarina of time...no he had to give that back to the queen.

I inadvertently look over at Link; he's staring at me in a very nondescript way.

I try to smile, but I think the seeds have been sown.

It's all a matter of time now.

"Well I'm tired," I say breaking away from the group, "I better get to bed, I have to arise early tomorrow. Good night."

I turn and head for my room, but as I reach the top stair, I turn to look at Link's family, and then just Link.

He's staring.

He's wondering.

And I think he's hoping.

Please tell me what you think.