After narrowly escaping the wrath of a boy carrying a stick, Link found himself back on the path that he had first journeyed down. He was standing beneath the branch where Kaepora Gaebora had once perched, and they both were grateful that he hadn't returned to greet them. Navi seemed especially jittery today, Link noticed. She was also unusually silent. There seemed to be an air of gloom surrounding her ever since they had departed the graveyard, and it unnerved him.
Finally she moved forward, taking the lead as they had both gotten used to. Not many creatures dove at Navi first, and so it was best that she could warn him of any impending danger. She would usually chat with him before they entered anywhere, though, calling him a moron or teasing him about his multiple friends that were girls. Today was different, though. No friendly, witty banter was exchanged, and she didn't even utter a single 'Hey!'.
As they climbed onto the bridge leading into the Kokiri Forest, Navi lingered just a second too long above the small exposed portion of the Lost Woods, and suspicions began to enter Link's mind as he tried to put together hidden clues. She had seemed fine within the tomb and in Kakariko Village, her same impatient self. But when she had suggested they see Saria, her tone of voice had changed. The voice that was usually sharp and chipper had changed to soft and expressionless, making her harder to read than normal. He let out a grunt, trying to get her attention. She only continued to flutter forward, ignoring her charge.
Noka was the first to greet them, surprised at Link's return. "You're not dead? So... we can leave the forest without dying?" Navi hadn't even stopped to answer him, and so Link nodded awkwardly before following. It wasn't until they reached the female Kokiri named Kari that she stopped and spoke.
Her voice oozed of fake cheerfulness, "Have you seen Saria? We're looking for her!" Kari giggled, not knowing that the friendly tone was forced and strained. Then again, neither did her fairy, who only continued to swim in the air around her, only greeting Navi with a slight nod. Kari pondered, tapping her fingers on her chin.
"Well, she said she was going to the Lost Woods, to her special place. I would be careful, though. Only she really knows the way through!" Navi's mood crashed immediately at the mention of the Lost Woods, and she dully thanked Kari before moving along. Again, though, Kari didn't notice, only grinning like an idiot and skipping away. Link grunted a true thanks before chasing after his guardian. She didn't even stop to let him catch up.
As they reached the tunnel into the Woods she turned back towards Link, her voice still dull and soft. "Let's get this over with as fast as we can, okay?" Without waiting for even an agreeing nod or grunt, she flew through the tunnel, forcing Link to speed his jog into a run. They were greeted by a large, familiar owl. Navi sighed, struggling to hold her tongue. Link flashed her a smile. It was a hint of her old self, the one that had hidden behind some sort of veil. Kaepora Gaebora swallowed before starting another one of his famous long-winded speeches.
"You know about these woods, right? They say that it looms eternally, and if you don't know the path you'll find yourself lost until you grow old. Many have died within these very woods, though not always from being lost. A small river that grows with the spring rains has claimed a life, though it was long ago. The poor young girl was swept off, not seen again until she was found at the river bank, long dead and swollen with water. Thankfully it's been a relatively dry season, so the river shouldn't be so much of a threat. Still, you must feel sorry for the poor girl, not even entering her first decade before she died. She has a grave, you know, located within these woods. It would be worth visiting."
"Are you almost done? We're looking for Saria." It wasn't as snippy as Link would have liked, but at least Navi was talking back. She had been fluttering around in a panic while he was discussing the drowned girl, circling Link as if to protect him from a non-existant river. The story had been horrific, true, but it was odd for Navi to show any sort of caring towards her charge, preferring the way of vocal abuse. Kaepora glared at her before twisting his head, leaving his chin in the air and his eyes becoming a new chin.
"You can find Saria by listening to the music. Can you hear it?"
"Not over your insistant talking!" Link kept his smile to himself. That was definitely the Navi he knew and loved. The owl didn't seem to like being interrupted, lashing out at the fairy in anger.
"If you'd stop interrupting me, you might have been on your way already! Anyway, you can follow the music to find Saria if you don't know the way. That particular song is the Song of the Forest, and is quite popular with the Goron kind and-"
"We're going to visit the girl's grave. We don't have much time until nightfall, and I don't think that it would be too respectful to go at night." At last the owl relented, twisting his head back to normal.
"Well why didn't you say so? It's right through that left tunnel. Hoot hoot!" With that he flew off. Navi sighed with relief before heading towards the tunnel he had mentioned, again ignoring Link. He followed her, curious as to why she cared about the flooded river story so much. It seemed to affect her in ways that Link could never understand. Perhaps she had been a friend of the fairy of the girl? Or perhaps the girl herself? Once a fairy failed its charge, it would fall with them, exploding into a sparkling dust cloud and leaving only a small pendant behind for the others to find.
Navi had already reached the grave, and she was hovering over it, resting on top of the crude headstone. Link could sense that she was deep in thought, and didn't bother to get any closer, instead electing to take a nap while she paid her respects. She had said that they wouldn't travel through anything by night, and with the sun quickly disappearing behind the trees it was a perfect time to rest. Slowly he closed his eyes, thinking of the poor girl and the river that had taken her.
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He was asleep, Navi knew. He deserved rest, after all that he had been through. She returned her attention to the grave, fingers gently tracing the markings drawn upon the headstone. Tanil's name had been written in small Hylian letters, almost an afterthought with all the decoration placed upon it. She felt tears well up into her eyes, and she dropped again onto the headstone, memories suddenly flooding into her mind.
"Aw, come on, Navi! We always play by the river and no one's ever gotten hurt. We'll be fine today, I promise. Besides, I left my slingshot there, and I can't play with the others without it!" The young blonde Kokiri girl had always been so filled with life. Navi could never say no to any of her requests, earning her the nickname of Pushover by the other fairies. She sighed, bouncing up and down.
"Well, as long as we're careful..." Tanil screeched with glee, bouncing up and down as she clapped her hands. Her blonde curls bounced along with her and she ran into the tunnel leading into the Lost Woods. Navi chuckled at her enthusiasm, following. She never took the lead with Tanil there, always allowing the hyperactive young Kokiri feel like the leader. Besides, she was rather shy and running into others first caused an awkward silence before Tanil appeared.
It had been rather foggy and wet that day, having rained and stormed for the past three. Still Tanil was not deterred, easily finding her way through the various tunnels before reaching the river. She whistled at the sight, and Navi had to agree with her surprise. The usually calm, bubbling creek had turned into a raging river, the water flowing with a speed and ferocity that neither of them had ever seen before. "I've never seen this place so... angry. It feels strange..." Navi was uneasy with the whole situation, and voiced her opinion to her charge.
"Tanil, maybe we should come back tomorrow. The river will have calmed and then you can get your slingshot. Besides, it feels like it's going to rain again, and none of the others like to play in the wet." Tanil laughed, shaking her head. She pointed towards a rock jutting right over the river. From where they were standing Navi could see a golden wood slingshot sitting precariously at the edge of the rock.
"Come on, I'll just be a second. Relax, Navi, I'll be fine." Without waiting for approval from her fairy guardian she bounced forward on to the rock, grabbing her slingshot and waving it in front of Navi. She was still on the center of the rock, the part that was still attached safely to the ground. The fairy sighed in relief.
"Okay, now come on back." Tanil rolled her eyes, wiggling.
"Oh, fine. You're so paranoid, Navi. I'm fine, see?" She began to leave the rock when the ground suddenly groaned. The Kokiri froze, fear building in her eyes. She took another tentative step forward, and the ground collasped without warning. She screamed, trying desperately to grab at the earth that was remaining. Navi sped forward, diving down and hovering over her charge, unsure of what to do. Tanil was slipping, unable to keep a hold of the ground.
"Navi, go get help! Please!" The fairy hesitated.
"I can't leave you! What if I can't find you again? I don't know the way back!" Tanil was slipping again, and she let out a cry.
"Navi, please!" With another scream she slipped, falling into the raging, hungry river. She was crying, arms flailing as she tried to fight the current. Navi could only sit and stare, not thinking to get help.
"NAVI!" She was consumed by the river, and this time she didn't come back up. Her green tunic could still be seen underneath the water, her body flung about like a rag doll. Navi collapsed to the ground, sobbing desperately. She was waiting for the explosion to happen, the one that would reunite her with her charge. It never came.
Returning to the Great Deku Tree, she bowed before it, confusion and sadness flickering in her eyes. "Why was I spared...?" The Tree's voice was filled with cool anger, as if it were controlling a great rage.
"Though hast failed with one charge. Thou shalt have another purpose, and thou shall be redeemed. Thou will soon serve a great purpose, Navi. Do not fail thee again."
The fairy fell asleep on top of the headstone, sobbing with the pain and guilt of her memories.
A/N: Longest chapter so far. Not so much to say about this one, really. I wanted to give Navi a backstory. Why was she the only fairy without a Kokiri when the Great Deku Tree had to assign one to Link? I wanted to explore it a bit more ^_^
Next chapter brings us to Saria and the Skull Kid.
Reviews are very much appreciated!