Zelda kept staring at the girl in front of her, mouth wide open and unable to form coherent sentences to answer the greeting. She was barely able to stretch her hand for the requested hand shake. Saria smiled sweetly and pulled the Princess in for a quick hug.
ZELDA POV
She doesn't look like a Kokiri, I mean… she kind of does but, she is my height or an inch lower, that is TOO TALL FOR A KOKIRI.
Blinking Zelda finally spoke "I am sorry if I was rude… you left me speech less, I was told you were a Kokiri, but you don't look the part"
Saria puts her hands behind her back and wiggles a little "Oh, that… is because I am not a Kokiri anymore… or that is what I think, I have been growing during my stay here in Kakariko Village" Saria goes red remembering something important just happened to her, then looks at Zelda and decides to share the event since the Princess is also a girl "I even got my period recently, I had NO IDEA females bleed monthly, Anju helped me with that… she is the lady that tends to the chickens"
Zelda stare at her in shock, and then with a little of envy "Congratulations, you are a normal lady now. That means you will no longer be an immortal child... doesn't that scare you?"
Rolling her now hazel eyes "It actually doesn't. Yes, I will die of age. When? Who knows. Do I care? Not really, I don't even remember how old I am, I lost count after 300 years, but I have lived more in the last 2 years than in my previous 300+ years. And when I am done, I will be smiling"
This girl... She is aware her life will eventually end, but she does not mind that at all, she actually welcomes it. Why is she so brave?
The Princess starts shaking her head "Wait… you already had your period?" Zelda asks.
Saria squints at the Princess "You… haven't?" looks at Zelda up and down "But, your breast… and your hips… you are starting to look like a woman. You will get your period soon I bet." Saria looks from side to side and leans closer to Zelda "Maybe we should continue our talk inside"
Zelda starts looking around and notices they had caught the attention of some villagers, so she nods at Saria and lets the Kokiri girl guide her inside.
Once inside, Zelda takes note on the structure of the house, then smiles a little.
It's clear that Raziel got a hand on the construction of this house. It reassembles the distribution of the houses in the quantum world. A separate room for the kitchen, for the toilet, a bed chamber… He put a lot of care and attention to detail in the making of this house… AND ALL OF THIS FOR HER. WHO IS SHE TO HIM?
"As I was saying, Anju helped me A LOT when I had my period, which was great because the pains can be a hassle. If you ever need recommendations on what to take to alleviate them, just visit me" Saria smiles with glee.
Link finishes storing the food and frowns at them.
"What are you talking about?"
"Woman stuff of course, go hide in your cave, would you?" Saria orders Link, but she kept staring right at Zelda with mischief.
Link growls loudly at them, he then takes the stairs to the second floor, where the bedroom is obviously located. Saria giggles.
"What is there not to love about him right?" Saria says chocking in laughter.
A lot of things.
"I think he got angry"
"Yeah… he does that a lot, it's like his second nature, or is he different at the castle?" Saria asks.
Zelda opens her eyes wide and chuckles "NO, HE IS VOLATILE AT BEST" the Princess laughs a little and changes the topic "If you don't mind me asking… how long have you known each other?"
"All his life. His mother entrusted him to me… Who would trust a girl with a baby right? but, she was on her death bed, she had no better option." She exhales at the memory "I pretty much raised him, made sure that he ate, that he bathed, taught him how to walk and talk… I even played with him because he refused to play with the other Kokiri, he never told me why"
Saria is his mother. Not biological of course but… I understand now. He never told her he was being tortured by the other Kokiri
---------remembrance-------------
"Why do you still care about them?" Zelda genuinely asks after watching him kick one of them hard.
Link bluntly answers "I don't, that would be a little twisted… but Saria does."
-------------------------------------
I guess he is shielding her from a truth that could break her.
Zelda starts grinning, thinking how easily she could hurt the green head, and why wouldn't she? Then starts shaking her head to rid of those thoughts.
"Well…" Saria rolls her eyes "he never told me anything, and never complained, but I knew they were mistreating him… not sure who or if all of them, but he always returned with bruises and scars." She heads to the kitchen to fix herself a tea, offer the Princess some and comes back with the 2 glasses. "Link never allows me to visit them at the forest, do you know why?"
My previous thoughts of harming her were so miss guided. Saria has been a sweet and good host. Its not her fault that Ziel adores her. And since honesty is the best policy, I will tell her.
"Apparently, the minute you got out, a curse befell on the Kokiri. They no longer have human bodies… they all still live, but they now have small wood bodies and use a leaf to mask their faces"
Saria's face went bonkers for a few seconds, but then she started roaring in laughter. Once she calms down, her eyes start reflecting malice as she whispers "Good, they deserve it"
This girl… she is sweet and polite, but she is got a mean side to her that is kind of scary. That in itself is amazing. I mean, how can you be afraid of a fluffy little rabbit?… I like her.
Zelda smiles at Saria "I know right? I am glad you got out before you became LIKE THEM"
"I guess… but we should be thanking Link for that. He wanted us to leave but I wanted to stay. That forest was all I knew, and we were told that leaving the forest meant death. Yet somehow, Link was sure we would be fine, he convinced me… and for that I am grateful."
They both hear a door open upstairs and out comes Link staring at his cellphone, he jumps down next to them instead of using the stairs.
"What did I say about the stairs?" Saria starts scolding the Hero.
"That you sweep them from top to bottom?" He answers sarcastically.
Saria yells "THAT YOU HAVE TO USE THEM, this is not a training camp" sighs "I am going to kill you one of these days"
Zelda stares in shock at Saria, then slowly turns to look at Link when she hears him chuckling.
"Come at me girl, I am right here" he taunts.
Saria stand from the table the girls were using, then start to run at him, her intention was to tackle him, but Link was waiting for her. He quickly gives a small side step, enough to avoid upfront coalition, but manages to use his arms to grab her and flip her over his shoulder. Saria screams in a mix of exhilaration and distress as she ends up standing right next to him.
OMG, that was… cool. He respects her like he would a mother… but treats her like he would a friend, or a little sister. I want to be flipped too! it looked awesome.
"NO FAIR, I am an old lady, you should not be treating me like that" Saria says after regaining her composure.
Link rolls his eyes "Well decrepit lady, I am a young man, you should not be trying to tackle me… it's a fight you can't win"
I am so jealous of how they interact with each other… Saria is angry but can't contain her happiness, and Link enjoys pissing her off. I want that too.
"Weren't you coming to tell us something?" Saria says faking anger.
Link raises his eye brows "Right" turns to Zelda "SWORD left the antennas they used to communicate through Hyrule. That means you now have connection through all of Hyrule"
Zelda smiles and claps a little "That is great…. Wait. What if Hylians find the antennas and break them?"
"According to William, they won't even dare to touch them. The antennas have the Nohansen family emblem"
Zelda start jumping a little celebrating, Saria looks at the Princess like she has gone crazy. She slowly stops her celebration when she notices Link, his face stoic as ever.
"This is good… right?" Zelda asks.
LINK POV
For you my Princess, it is. But not necessarily for me. When I had no access to internet, I was bound to check on sword's quarters once a week, to see if they needed me for something. Now THEY have access to me ALL THE TIME. It's not that is bad, far from it… it just makes it hard to balance my time. I HAVE to give myself time for my family, and also for my friends… that means I won't have time for myself anymore.
Link rolls his eyes "Means I will be on call more often" Zelda begins to smile at that but Link continues "Just to clarify. This doesn't mean I will take you with me all the time, we clear on that?" Zelda's happiness slowly morphs into sorrow.
"By the way, you will be getting a message later today from each of your brothers"
Zelda's face glimmers again at that, she takes a deep breath and approaches Saria.
"Saria… would you mind being my friend?"
The Green head takes a step back in shock, looks at Link, he just smiles and does a quick lift of his shoulders, obviously stating that this is her call.
"No… I mean, I think I kind of like you, but you are a Princess. I am a nobody, what will the nobles say if they see you hanging with me? besides, I don't have the means to accompany you during important events, give you expensive gifts or-" The Princess interrupts her by grabbing a hold on her hands. Zelda's eyes had started to water.
"I don't want a convenience companion; I want a friend. Someone I can visit to a chat about whatever, someone that can visit me too at the castle, where we could spend some time figuring out how to make Link pay"
Wait, what? Why? Whatever…
"I don't need you to buy fancy clothes or win me over with expensive gifts, just be there for m-" Saria suddenly hugs the Princess, cutting off what was being said.
"If you still want me to, of course I will be your friend" Saria says hugging her hard.
"Great, CALAMITY" the Hero says pointing at Saria "meet CATASTROPHIE" he says pointing at Zelda now. "We are leaving" Link informs them with finality.
Zelda huffs rolling her eyes, then separates from the green head a little. "Do you know how to write and read?" Saria nods.
"Good, I will be writing you from time to time, good bye for now"
"See you later Princess, and Link… you should visit the ranch, I think today is the day"
"I know, that is why we have to leave now, by the way, EAT THE MEAT" Link grabs the back of Saria's head and draws her in to kiss her forehead. "Good bye"
Saria grins and waves them off.