Perfect
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Chapter 2
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The crickets were chirping loudly that night, as if daring Saria to go out there and blow them to smithereens. She didn't, however. She wouldn't destroy the forest dwellers. It was against the rules, and the Deku Tree would punish her if she did. Besides, it wasn't the crickets' fault that she was still up.
She groaned, tired of being awake, but not exhausted enough to lose consciousness. With another angry groan, she rolled over onto her side. A lock of her loose hair fell in front of her face. She flinched, trying to keep the stray strands from poking her eye.
"This is hopeless," she whined, rubbing her sore eyes. She had been staring at the candle's flame for too long from where it flickered above the table, as if hovering in midair like a weak fairy.
"What's hopeless?" Toal asked from his perch on top of the headboard.
"Nothin', Toal." Saria replied, readjusting another time so she was lying on her stomach with her right leg and arm dangling from the side.
"Don't lie," he said before flying down to glow his bright blue light in her face.
"Argh," she tried swatting him away, "Get outta my face."
"Hmph…fine…" and he let her be for the rest of the night, all the while glaring at her restless form.
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"Link's here, Saria!" Fado screamed as she ran past the girl's house, "He's here, he's here!"
"I'm coming!" Saria called from inside, knowing Fado would probably drag her out if she didn't comply.
"Hurry!" the voice faded just as Saria finished the washing the last dish. She placed it on the rack before drying her hands with a dishtowel.
From outside, she could hear the Kokiri laughing in excitement. The Hero had returned, but to them, a Hylian was visiting.
"All right, all right, I brought gifts!" Link's voice rang in her ears just before the children erupted in another bid of anticipation.
That was all Saria could take. It was bad enough that she knew of almost every wonderful aspect of being human, other than experience, but then he barges in with gifts and trinkets and toys to remind her of that guilty pleasure. What happened to keeping all that boastfulness inside, anyway?
But then the girl shook her head. Stupid me, she thought. How could she think that way? It was the Hero! Link, the Hero of Time, was actually paying a visit to old friends that could possibly have nothing in return for him. That is, if he wasn't feeling the need to repay them over and over for their help in his retrieval of the spiritual stone.
"Saria?" Link's voice sent a chill up her spine, startling her by his sudden appearance.
She hid her shock, feigning a smile, and turned around to face him. Her angry suddenly melted away, her dark blue eyes widened to large orbs as she stared at him. How could she be angry with him? It didn't matter if he would soon be too old for her; she was still fawning like every other Kokiri girl.
"Link!" she laughed, "It's so good to see you!"
He grinned, "Same here, Sar'."
She glanced out the door behind him, "Guess you brought gifts, huh?"
"Yep," he replied before digging into his knapsack. Saria watched curiously, her eyebrows lifting in anticipation. She hadn't exactly prepared for a gift, especially from Link. After so many months of his absence, she'd grown accustomed without much company, let alone a gift from a friend- an old friend. "Here you go!" he handed her the small, velvet pouch.
She took it carefully, as if some Deku Babba would pop out and bite her. "But, Link, you didn't have to get me anything."
His lips broadened into a larger smile, "Of course I do! Anyway, it's just a little something I thought you would like. I got it at the market in town."
As he said this, she had unwrapped the ribbon and pulled out the item from inside. At first, she had no clue what it could be. But then she saw the gleaming pendant dangling from the thin, golden chain. For an instant she believed he had shrunken the forest's spiritual stone, but it wasn't so. Sure, it had the same golden spiral and the beautiful emerald pendant, yet it was nothing close to the real thing. Too small, anyway…
"Wow, Link." She focused on him, still holding the chain in her one hand, "Thank you so much."
He looked away, a blush creeping up to his cheeks, "It was on sale." Saria had the urge to hug him, but she resisted, knowing it wouldn't be a point on her side.
"Hey, Link!" Fado poked her head inside the small house, saving the green-haired girl from further embarrassment, "Who are the friends you brought with you? They're standing so lonely! Introduce us!"
"Oh, yeah!" his cheeks reddened and he made his way out the door. Before leaving completely, he turned around to face Saria, "Hope you like it, Sar'. Happy Birthday."
To think Link had actually remembered her supposed birthday made her legs turn to mush. And that feeling wasn't at all supposed to be present. What was she thinking, anyway?
Saria mentally kicked herself, realizing her sudden mistake.
"Looks like you've taken a fancy, huh, Saria?" Fado's voice made her cringe.
Saria had completely forgotten the blonde Kokiri. "I-I don't know what you're talkin' about."
Fado giggled, "Don't hide it, Saria. You like him, and there's nothing you can do about it."
The girl's eyes widened in fear more than realization. Fado was right. She did like him. But that didn't mean she couldn't do anything about it.
"Mind your own business, Fado," Saria scowled, folding her arms across her chest as she tried to hide her fear.
"Whatever," she teased with a wave of her hand. "Anyway, come with me. Link brought some friends over. They brought awesome stuff, too!"
She dashed out and Saria slumped against the small, kitchen counter with a huff. Whatever that bothered her, could wait. She slowly clasped the necklace on, and then tucked it under her tunic collar. The pendant was cold against her skin, but she ignored it otherwise. It wasn't cold enough to bite. Like wire jaws snapping around her wrists, she remembered the binding feeling back in the meadow. The way the Deku Witch had entered the place, as if she owned it, as if her own daughter wasn't the protector of the deep, dark woods. And she had even offered a life outside the forest. No doubt the legends of the crazed witch were true. No logical Kokiri would take that offer, and Saria was anything but irrational.
But for once, she would dare to step on the other side.
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Thanks to your guys' awesome reviews. Hope you liked this chapter so stick around for the next, all right:-)
