Chapter 5

I was shackled in chains like a common criminal. What I didn't understand was why? I decide to keep quiet as I was led down the long marbled hall to the queen's chambers. At the door, the guard unlocked my binds. I rubbed my sore carpals and sigh.

What's in store for me next? I wonder.

The guards on the other side of the door open the grand entrance from the inside, and there sitting on her throne was the queen of Hyrule, the seventh sage herself, Zelda.

Zelda stood when I entered her chamber. Her long strawberry blond hair was wrapped up in a crown of diamonds. The pink gown she wore bore the crest of the royal family; her face was ever so beautiful, but ever so serious.

I bow when I get to the bottom step of her throne. Her face was completely unreadable, she was totally stoic. She then raised her hand signaling for the guards to leave.

When the door locks shut, I stand there unsure of what was going to happen.

What is this all about? I wonder.

Zelda stares at me incandescently. I was nervous because I didn't know what it meant.

"What should I call you?" Zelda asks cryptically; suddenly.

I look up in alarm. "My lady?"

"Are you Aria of Dragon Roost Island?" She asks. "Or are you the forest sage of the Sacred Realm, Saria?"

My eyes grew wide at her inquiry. "I'm sorry?"

Zelda sighs and then looks to the ground and then back to me. "Look Saria I know everything," she says softly, "Impa told me about your disguise and your intentions."

I had no reply.

"What were you expecting from this escapade?" She asks.

I close my eyes and sigh. "Nothing," I say trying to be honest, "I don't think anything is going to come of it."

"Then why do it?" Zelda asks.

I shake my head. "You're going to think I'm silly."

"Try me and see," Zelda replies softly.

I take in a deep breath unsure if I should trust such deep feelings with a person who only knows me judiciously.

"I just wanted to see him once more," I divulge.

"Why?" She asks me simply.

Why? I wondered. Do I really have to answer that?

"He was a dear friend to for so long," I say, "I just hate the thought of going the rest of my life without having one real conversation with him again."

"And how have those conversations been thus far?" Zelda asks me.

I pause for a moment cautiously, and eye the beautiful interrogator.

"Why are you here?" Link's voice echoed through my mind. "Who sent you?" He stares at me with distrust… "My son has changed; he's unsettled; discontent; and it's all because of you." The moment he saw me the only things that conjured up in him were anxiety and fear. Is that what he thinks of me now? Is my legacy with him reduced to a pile of faulty misgivings? Have I hurt him this badly?

"Not…" I trail lost in my recourse, "not the way I had hoped they'd be."

Zelda looks at me for a long moment, almost as if she's looking right through me.

"So why stay this course?" She asks me. "Why do this?"

I love him. I thought weakly, unfortunately I utter the words out loud as well.

Zelda's face changes subtly. "Saria you've already done enough damage by showing up so unexpectedly in Link's life," she divulges. "You have no idea what you've awakened in him."

I look up at her surprised. "What?"

Zelda scoffs at my reply. "You don't realize that?" She demands. "Don't you the see gravity of your actions?"

I wasn't exactly sure, I just knew the heart feels what it feels, and wants what it wants.

"I don't understand," I reply.

"He's in love with you," Zelda says bluntly, "he always has been, why else do you think he's been so snappy and angry with you."

How does she know this? I wonder.

My face must have given away my inquiry.

"You're a sage Saria," Zelda replies, "our energies are connected. Everything you experience is being experienced by the other sages as well. We've been aware of your feelings for a long time."

My breath accelerated. "What?"

"Why is this a surprise to you?" Zelda asks. "You know this."

What is going on? I wonder. How could I forget something so important?

"I can't believe I'd forgotten," I say aloud.

"It's your Hylian form," Zelda divulges, "the longer you stay that way the more permanent it becomes. You're a sage of the forest and a Kokiri by nature, your powers were not to be generated by a Hylian form."

I look at Zelda shocked. "You mean I could stay this way?"

Zelda wasn't sure if she should answer me.

If Saria stays this way it could be disastrous. Zelda thought.

"You're beautiful indeed and I understand your reasons," Zelda says, "but your actions are putting the entire world in danger."

I swallow hard at the revelation. "You can't- you can't mean I'm…"

"You are causing an energy tear in Ganon's seal," Zelda says poignantly, "when you stopped concentrating your energy on protecting Ganon's seal a small crack of his dark quanta bore through."

My worst fears have been realized.

"That fiasco at the ranch," she went on, "that's only the beginning. There have been scant sightings of monsters in the countryside. The influx will be greater as more dark energy pours through."

No! I thought. This can't be happening! I can't be the cause of this!

Zelda could obviously see the conflict within me.

"Think about Sar," she says quietly, "think about his sweet face and how much you care for him."

I began to feel weak and drop down onto my knees. Zelda quickly came down the stairs and saw if I was alright.

"Are you okay?" She asks me trying to help me to my feet.

No. I thought. No I'm not. I can't believe my selfishness had such devastating effects.

"I'm fine," I manage to say. "How much dark energy has poured through?"

"Not very much," Zelda says honestly, "but the rift is getting bigger everyday."

I close my eyes wanting the nightmare to go away. "What do I have to do?" I ask already knowing the answer.

"Do I really need to tell you?" She asks.

I shake my head no. Zelda helped me to my feet. She saw that I was upset and rested her hand on my shoulder.

"Saria I understand how you feel," she says to me softly.

I turn my face from hers not wanting her to see my tears forming.

"I was in love with him too," Zelda confesses honestly.

I look up not being able to believe she was sharing something so private with me. "My lady…" I trail not knowing what to say.

Zelda sighs and turns her back to me.

"Even as I stand here before you now as a queen, a sage, and a married mother, I still love him," Zelda says down casting her eyes, "but…he didn't choose me."

I stood there not knowing what to say. This was the most honest conversation I had ever had with Zelda, and for the first time I felt a real connection with her.

Zelda's in love with you too Link. I thought not really that surprised when I actually pondered over it. He wasn't just my hero, he was hers too.

"I'll return immediately," I heard myself say, but not really meaning it.

Zelda turns back around and smiles at me sadly. However, there was one thing that was gnawing at me through the course of this conversation.

"Your majesty…" I began.

"Yes?" Zelda answers expectantly.

I took in a deep breath before I spoke. "How do you know Link is in love with me?"

Zelda pauses for a moment and looks away. There was a brief silence between us.

"He told me," she replies quietly.

I felt my heart pound in my chest. "When?"

Zelda could see the yearning in my eyes. "Right before I sent him back in time."

The revelation was impeccable to me. I close my eyes and try to smile, but the reverie was short lived.

I'll never get to hear it from you yourself, will I Link? I thought with some sadness.

"I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you and the kingdom your majesty," I say as judiciously as possible. "I'm going tie up some loose ends and resume my duties."

Zelda looks at me thoughtfully for a moment. "Remember to tie up all your loose ends."

I look at her strangely not understanding at first.

Oh… I thought. My whole reason for doing this in the first place.

"I'll write him a letter," I say swallowing hard.

Zelda could see the pain in my eyes; she merely nodded.

Maybe you could write one to him for me too, my sweet Saria. She thought.

After that I was allowed to go.

I walk through Hyrule field at the beginning of dusk and ponder carefully on everything Zelda and I had discussed. I pause for a moment to look at the horizon.

It's so beautiful. I thought admirably. I would never want anything to happen to this land. It's been decided, I will return tomorrow.

When I arrive back at Lon Lon Ranch everyone was up waiting for me. Sar ran and wrapped his arms around my waist as I entered through the door.

"I'm so glad you're back," he says to me trembling, "I thought they were going to take you away."

I stroke his hair lovingly and smile halfheartedly. "No Sar dear they didn't take me away."

Malon walks up to me slowly, she was smiling but she was guarded. "Are you alright?" She asks me.

I nod but don't reply. Link was standing near the fireplace watching me carefully.

"Why…why did they come after you Aria?" Malon asks. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"

I listen conspicuously and then sigh.

"I'm sorry for causing you all so much trouble," I say ignoring Malon's questions, "unfortunately I'm going to have to cut my business short."

Sar pulls back and looks up at me in disbelief. "You're leaving?"

I stroke his hair tenderly and fight an onset of tears.

"I have too," I whisper to him kneeling down to look into his face, "but I promise I'll never forget you."

Sar shakes his head confused and angry. "No you don't!" He says forcefully. "You-you can't!"

"Sar-" I try, but he interrupts me.

"You can't do this Aria!" Sar says. "You promised me a race! You can't leave until you do that!"

It was hard for me to keep my composure but I managed. I held onto his little shoulders and look into his eyes.

"Sometimes big people's problems are a lot more complicated," I say to him ironically. "I'm so sorry Sar, but I can't stay."

His little face crumpled into confusion, and then he broke into tears. Sar immediately ran from my grasp and up the stairs to his room. I closed my eyes as he slammed his door.

When I open them again I saw Malon covering her mouth, there were tears at the corners of her eyes. I stood up, and Link just stared at me the entire time.

I've come into a happy home and ruined it. I thought guiltily.

"I'm sorry," I manage to whisper, before I hurried up the stairs myself and slammed my room door.

"Ever since you came here my son's had silly ideas…"

"He's discontent… unsettled…"

"Discontent… unsettled…"

"Unsettled… unsettled… unsettled…"

I open my eyes and see a warm bright light shining in my face. It's sunshine.

I stretch and curl my toes in ferny raptures around me. Grass.

I sit up and see two beautiful blue eyes staring into mine, and then a face, a handsome face. Link.

He pulls me to my feet and points out to the horizon. I squint my eyes to see what has his attention. It's a house. A cottage.

We walk there and open the door. Behind it is a little girl who looks exactly like me as a Kokiri. She smiles at me.

"Who are you?" She asks.

I look at her puzzled. "You are me," I tell her.

"No I'm not,"she replies.

"Yes," I nod, "yes you are."

She shook her head and giggles. "Tell her she's a liar Link."

I turn to look at Link, and he caresses my cheek softly. "You're a liar," he whispers to me softly.

"Tell her she doesn't exist," The Kokiri went on.

"You don't exist," Link says to me sweetly.

"No Link," I say incredulously, "I do exist."

"No you don't," The Kokiri laughs. "I exist."

"No," I argue looking at my hands, "I'm real; I'm tangible."

"Not for long," The Kokiri says with a giggle and then pulls out a long eighteen inch blade.

I gasp at the sight of the weapon.

"What are you doing?" I ask of the Kokiri. "Are you going to kill me?"

"No silly," The Kokiri replies pulling out a black and red ocarina. She began playing Saria's song; my song; our song. "He is."

I turned to look at Link and before I knew what was happening he shoved the blade into my belly. I fell backwards and tried to grab for him and only got air. I fell and fell and his face faded and faded. All the while I hear Saria's song in my ears. My song. Her song. Our song.

"No!" I whisper still falling. "No!"

"No!" I whisper as I wake up.

The room was dark. I ran my hands over my face and sigh.

"A nightmare," I whisper sitting up.

The wind was blowing wildly and heartily outside. I got out of bed and walked over to the pane and opened the seal. The trees were whipping rapidly; swaying side to side in a ferocious dance.

What a scary night. I thought with a sigh.

I reach over the ledge to grab the latch, but pause when I heard a sound I wasn't expecting.

What was that? I wonder.

I strain my ears to listen closely.

Is that… is that an ocarina? I thought perplexed.

Stranger still was that it was my melody being played.

Someone is playing my melody. I thought feeling a sudden sense of alarm. Maybe it's one of the other sages. Maybe something terrible is happening.

With these thoughts racing in my mind I quickly get dressed. Not even realizing it I get into an outfit that looks like one of my old Kokiri uniforms, and wrap myself in a cloak.

I open the door slowly to my room and peer out. The hallway was empty and the house was dark. I slowly crept into the darkness without canvassing a light.

I don't want anyone to see me. I thought.

It was at least three hours before dawn and it was still pitch black outside. I open the front door cautiously and tiptoe to the barn across the way. I went inside and unhitched Maxere. The horse neighed loudly; I caressed her nose to calm her down.

"Easy girl," I whisper, "easy."

I mounted her and trotted slowly out the barn and over the impasse. I look over my shoulder to Sar's room window and sigh out of guilt.

Please forgive me. I thought and then took off.

The music got louder as I neared the entrance to Kokiri Forest.

Of course! I thought, dismounting Maxere and continuing on foot.

I look back at her as she neighs after me worriedly. "I'll be back," I say to her.

I run through the tunnel and see the spot where I said goodbye to Link all those years ago. I become nostalgic but I don't stop. I hurry through the second tunnel to the village. Slumber was upon the Kokiri as everyone dreamt; the music was getting louder.

I'm on the right track. I thought excitedly.

I run to the northeastern wall and climb. I reach the top and hurry to the entrance of the Lost Woods. The melody was getting louder and I followed it. I followed it through the tunnels until I arrived at the Sacred Forest Meadow. I hurried through the maze and up the long staircase past the carcass of a decayed bokomoblin.

I pause to catch my breath and then I look up to see a figure in a green cloak playing the ocarina. They were sitting on the old tree stump where I used to sit; the royal crest was aging but still apparent on the foliage overtaken ground.

Impa? I wonder, as I walk over to the figure slowly.

As I got closer the person stops playing and stands up. I was surprised to see how tall the person was.

No it can't be Impa. I thought stopping in my tracks.

"Who are you?" I call out in a shaky voice. "What are you doing here? How do you know my song?"

The person came closer and stopped a few feet in front of me.

"It's obvious isn't it," the person said un-hooding their self, "you taught it to me."

My eyes grew wide in shock. "Link."

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