Chapter 6: Link and Saria
“You and your weapons!” Saria exclaimed to Link. They were sitting in the Sacred Forest Meadow. Saria was practicing with her ocarina and Link was practicing some combat moves with a Deku stick. He looked over at Saria, grinned and continued practicing.
“You know practicing that sort of stuff is never going to come in very handy Link”, remarked Saria, her eyes following him as he swung the Deku stick around. Link stopped and sat down next to her.
“Well, neither will playing that ocarina, its fun”, he said, Saria smiled. They got up and started walking back to the village.
“You know I always was amazed by this place, somebody lived here before us, you see signs of their existence everywhere but we’ll never know who it was…” Said Saria looking around. Link looked up and gazed into the labyrinth of the forest.
“Would they be any more interesting if we knew?” Pondered Link.
“Maybe”, urged Saria.
“Maybe not”, argued Link.
“I guess you’re right”, said Saria with a smile. They entered the village to see the usual scene. The inhabitants going about their usual business, frolicking with one another while minding whatever important chores they needed to attend to. They walked past the Know-It-All brothers who were in a deep discussion about subjects far to advanced for Link or Saria to make sense of. The twins were as usual playing with their dolls and chasing butterflies. Miso was practicing his back flips and Mido was guarding the entrance to the Great Deku Tree Meadow. Some of the villagers were gathered in a small crowd just gossiping to each other. So for the rest of the day Link and Saria relaxed in the activity of the village, though talking mostly amongst themselves. Later on that evening they made their way back home after the villagers had a bonfire and danced and ate and talked. Link was tired and set down in his bed to sleep. His dreams that night would be very disturbing.



“Wow is that a fairy?!?” Saria asked, her eyes following the small pink orb floating around his head.
“I’ve also been summoned by The Great Deku Tree”, Link responded proudly.
“Wow, what an honor, you’d best get going right now!” said Saria and at that Link ran off towards the Deku Tree meadow. His fairy yelled for him to wait up as it chased after him.
Saria chuckled at this and Link turned around.
“What?” Asked Link.
Saria smiled. “Nothing, nothing! Get going!” She waved him off. And he went off towards the Deku Tree meadow.
Throughout that morning Saria noticed Link scurrying about the woods as if he were searching for something. At one point she saw him rushing back to the Deku Tree Meadow fully armed with sword and shield. Saria stopped him.
“What is the sword for?” She asked nodding towards the weapons sheathed on Link’s back.
“Mido”, he replied back exasperated.
“What a meanie! Don’t let him get you Link”, said Saria frowning. Then Link turned and ran back towards the Deku meadow.
Saria approached Mido.
“Why did you make him get weapons to see the Deku Tree?” Asked Saria irritated.
“Deku Tree’s orders, but that does seem rather suspicious, why would Link need a sword to talk to the Deku Tree?” asked Mido into space.
“Let’s find out”, said Saria, and the two of them snuck through the woods and hid behind a bush at the edge of the meadow.
“There’s the Deku tree… but no Link”, said Mido puzzling over the scene for the Deku Tree’s mouth was wide open, and indeed, Link was no where to be seen.
“Look”, whispered Saria. Link emerged from the Deku Tree. He and the Deku exchanged a few words which neither Saria or Mido could hear. Then, a green and shining came down from the canopy above and Link took into his hand. Then, right before Saria’s eyes the Deku tree began to wither up and die. Link turned and ran out of the meadow. Saria too, got up and left. Mido just sat there in shock, staring at the lifeless tree.

Link stepped out onto the bridge of the Lost Woods, and took a deep breath. ‘I have a bad feeling about this Link’ warned Navi.
“So do I”, said Saria. Link turned, surprised to hear a reply to a spoken into space.
“Somehow, I always knew that you would leave sometime”, she said, her voice shaking slightly.
Link rolled his eyes and turned around: “You just can’t make it easy”, he said trying to smile.
“But what about the Deku Tree?” persisted Saria.
Link shrugged, not sure what to say. “It was plagued”, he said sorrowfully.
Saria approached him. “Take this… so you can remember me when you’re gone”, she said, her eyes stared into his through tears.
Link smiled slightly, and grabbed her shoulder. He gave Saria a hug, then turned and struck out on a great adventure. Link had left the forest.