**Sorry that it has been so long since the first chapter of this story was published. Life has been very demanding since I am working on an original novel at the moment. Anyhow, thanks for the feedback so far. I will put it to good use to develop (and hopefully improve) the plot as I go along. I will make more of an effort to publish regularly.**

CHAPTER 2: Kindling Flames

The festivities were already under way when Saria finally climbed down from her tree house. Her shoes were slipping on the wooden ladder as she tried not to tread on the seam of the patterned tunic she wore.

The glow of uncounted fairies and lampions was covering the Kokiri village. Soon, silvery moonshine would be added to the mix. Saria walked carefully. She felt as though somebody was watching her.

She looked around but saw nothing other than happy Kokiri men and women. Leyana fell in step with Saria.

'Hey Saria. Good to see you. Doesn't it all look wonderful?'

'Beautiful.', Saria nodded.

'I am so excited! everyone is going to be out and happy and I heard Berta and Bertie have prepared the most wonderful feast! They have been allowed to harvest some deku sap. I wonder how many different pastries they have baked. I hope there are going to be some crumpets...hm...crumpets with deku sap. My mouth is watering just at the thought of it.'

Saria smiled. For a moment her heavy thoughts and her longing for Link's return were forgotten. 'It wouldn't be a Kokiri feast without Bertie and Berta's sap crumpets.'

Leyana nodded. Her eyes were radiant. Emerald, her fairy, hummed a low tune. Saria recognized it as one of the ancient Kokiri lullabies that Delia taught to young mothers in the forest.

'But you are also excited to see Victor tonight.' Saria observed sagely.

Lyana blushed. 'How did you guess? Am I that obvious?'

Saria let out a light chuckle. 'It's written all over your face. He makes you happy. Everyone can see it. What you two have is beautiful. The world would be a much happier place if everyone could have what you two have in each other. You are truly blessed.'

'You mean like you and Mido?' Lyana asked. Saria paused.

'Mido?!' she exclaimed, visibly shocked.

Lyana's eyes widened in terror at her faux-pas. 'Saria, I didn't mean to suggest that...but...well, with Mido being around you so often in recent months, I thought...we thought...'

Saria closed her eyes. 'It's ok.' she sighed. 'I know what people must be thinking. Mido and I are friends. We grew up together and we trust each other. Our lives run along similar paths. It would not be surprising if we held deeper affections for each other.'

Weary of making another mistake, Lyana weighed her response carefully before opening her mouth once more.

'So you don't love each other?'

Saria smiled a knowing smile. Wise beyond her years, a beacon of Delia's holy knowledge shone through Saria's eyes as she spoke.

'Mido and I have deep feelings for each other but we both know that they must never go beyond friendship. We are both meant to serve you, our people. That is - and will always be - our primary concern.'

Lyana listened in awe as Saria explained her situation. She marvelled at Saria's calm manner in the face of such a dear sacrifice. Lyana was sure that she herself could never have given an answer so eloquent if asked to give up the sweetest pleasure she had ever known - love.

'I am sorry Saria. I didn't think about that. I won't say anymore about it.'

'It is quite alright, Lyana. There is Victor. Go to him. Feast and celebrate the happy tidings from Hyrule. I hope you find your crumpets.'

Saria watched Victor embrace Lyana with a heavy heart. Whilst everything she had told Lyana was true, she had omitted her feelings for Link, and her insecurity about how to bear these feelings upon his long-awaited return.

Gracefully, she walked towards the long table that had been set up to seat every inhabitant of the Kokiri village and was welcomed amongst her own.

A warm hand landed softly on her left shoulder before she could take a seat.

'Saria, I reserved you a seat at the head of the table. There, next to Delia.' Mido 's voice said close to her ear. Their eyes met.

'Thank you Mido.' she said. Together, they made the walk to the graciously decorated table end. Delia's furrowed brow reflected the light of the glow worms that floated around her. The remaining daylight was fleeting.

'Bless you, child.' Delia greeted Saria as she slid onto the seat Mido had thoughtfully picked out for her.

'Bless you Priestess.' Saria and Mido replied simultaneously.

'I will see you later. Enjoy the feast.' Mido mumbled on the way to his own seat at the head table's centre.

'What an attentive young man.' the Priestess observed. Saria didn't take the bait.

'The word is you are announcing the victory after the feast.' Saria said cooly. Delia smirked. her knowing eyes twinkled mischievously.

'You heard right, my child. It is my honour. Mido is most gracious to concede.'

'So he is.' Saria agreed. Her sleek hands reached for the generously laid out platters of grilled acorns, deku leave roulades, grass loaves and bark crisps.

She threw a glance at Delia's buttery hands as they carefully pulled apart a pine flour dumpling.

'Good huh?' the Priestess huffed between bites.

Saria nodded. She was chewing on a delicious mouthful of deku nut gratin. It was heavenly. She enjoyed the happy faces that lined the table all the way into the distance. The table was longer than any Kokiri eyes could see.

'Humbleness is a desirable quality in a Kokiri Leader.' Delia continued.

'And of course humbleness is also a quality that becomes a great Kokiri Priestess, such as you have proven in your long life and time of service to the ancient Deku Tree.', Saria countered.

Delia smiled. 'You are a wise one. Ancient in your youthfulness.'

'I heard you have been to speak with the Deku Tree. Were there any news?' Saria asked, trying to sound casual.

'None that you are burning to learn.' Delia said. Saria could feel her blood rising into her cheeks. 'I don't understand, Priestess.'

'No you don't. But I do. I have long been aware of your secret affections toward our hero. Beware child. You are playing with fire and you shall burn yourself. You cannot lay claim to what is not part of your destiny. The powers that rule this world have made it so. Listen to the voices of the forest, to the songs of the wind and the screeching of the birds. They will guide you if you let them.'

Delia's voice was no more than a whisper as she spoke the warning. Her breath smelled like sour milk and Saria had to fight hard against the impulse to recoil from the wise woman.

The sudden clanging of two wooden goblets against each other, prevented any reply on Saria's part. She was unsure whether anything could be said in return. She felt accused and humiliated. Her stomach churned. Cold sweat broke out all over her body.

Mido's voice boomed down the table, towards a far, unseen end. A multitude of fairies emerged out of nowhere and carried Mido's words to the people at the far end of the table.

'My dear fellow Kokiri. Friends. Family. I am honoured to raise my voice to you on this fine day of celebration. As you will have heard by now, we are all witnessing the beginning of a new era. Please join me in welcoming our highly esteemed Kokiri Priestess, Delia, who will tell us of the great victory of which we are privileged to learn. Delia, please enlighten us once and for all.'

With a swift movement, uncharacteristic for a woman of her age, Delia rose from her seat. Wiping her buttery hands on her tunic with no regard for the yellow grease splodges they left on the coarse material. Delia stood tall and spoke with the confidence and grace that befitted a woman of her standing.

'Thank you Mido, Great Leader. Thank you for your kindness on bestowing upon me the honour of announcing to you the good tidings that the hero of legend has been victorious in his quest. Ganondorf and his black magic have left this world. Hyrule is safe. Our lands will never be touched by the rotting hands of the dark one. No Kokiri eye shall ever behold him. Tonight, good has won over evil. Tonight, we are truly free. No harm shall come to us. We no longer need to live under the shadow of dread. Doubt and uncertainty no longer cloud our lives. We are the Kokiri people. We are free to live our lives as our ancestors have done for so many hundreds of generations before our births. Eat, drink and be merry. Mark this night a night of wonder. Let this night be a night to remember; a night we tell our grandchildren about. Let songs be sung about our hero's great victory over Ganondorf!'

The resulting cheer rolled towards Saria and broke like a wave. A million pieces of sound splashed to either side of her and passed her ears in a hurry to subside. It felt surreal.

'Will the hero return to the forest?!' a voice shouted from the left side of the table. Saria couldn't tell who had shouted the question but she was silently grateful that it had been asked.

'The hero's steps are in the hero's hands. He is the master of his own fortune. The prophecy is fulfilled. The debt is paid. Now, the hero is free to choose his own path.'

Delia's eyes wandered to the side as she said this. Saria was painfully aware of the movement and made an effort to stare onto her hands which were folded neatly in her lap. Her lips felt dry.

'But do not be disappointed.' Delia added unexpectedly. 'All that must be will be. And all that will be must.'

Another hearty Kokiri cheer rippled through the village. Its distant echoes filled the surrounding forest.

Saria knew there was a chance that Link would choose to return to the Kokiri. Her heart hoped for it. Yet the words of the Priestess filled her with dread at the prospect of the hero's return. How can I be near you if I cannot love you?, she allowed herself to think briefly before returning to the festivities and a large goblet of deku berry wine.