In His Shadow II - The Ancient Forest

The Great Deku tree stood at the place where the deity Farore had first touched the world. All life in Hyrule had grown from and been sustained by his roots, buried deep in the rich earth. As the guardian of the ancient world, every forest-dweller was under his protection and care. The many beasts and creatures, the fairies and the lost ones were all his children.

Their peaceful and solitary way of life had been undisturbed for some time. But the old spirit within the great tree had sensed the seeds of evil leeching their poison into the earth long before anyone else. It was only a matter of time before its first shoot sprung free and flourished in the world.

But tonight another seed had drawn his attention. From deep in the forest, the wails of an infant reached him, afraid and alone. The Deku tree reached out its roots, searching for the lost baby. There was blood around him; the baby’s mother, unconscious at his side, was wounded. Gently, the Deku tree cocooned mother and child in its sturdy roots, bringing them from the edges of his domain to the heart.

The mother was very weak; the child continued to cry.

“Saria,” the tree called, studying the infant. His eyes were wide and fearful, their irises striking blue.

A young girl came into the grove, walking slowly to the great tree’s wide base. She knelt next to the mother, carefully examining the puncture left by the arrow. “There is nothing I can do,” she said softly, grief lacing her tone.

The Great Deku tree looked down at the baby. “This is no ordinary child, Saria.”

Curious, the girl switched her focus to the bundle next to the unconscious Hylian woman. “He will make it,” she announced, leaning over to sweep the infant into her arms. His cries quieted as she rocked him, and she smiled down at the fair face.

The mother stirred, reaching instinctively for her son. “Link,” she murmured.

Her eyes opened wide when her hands found nothing, and she sat up abruptly. The movement caused her considerable pain, and she would have collapsed had not the tree caught her with its roots, cradling her. Shaiya’s eyes fell on Saria, and her son, safe in her arms.

“Link,” she said again.

Saria handed the baby to her, letting the mother hold her son. She brought the bundle against her chest, whispering endearments in Hylian and pressing a kiss to his fuzzy head.
Strength was abandoning her, and she allowed the forest girl to take the baby.

“Please,” Shaiya said to Saria, “Keep him safe.”

The girl nodded, placing her small, child’s hand on the mother’s. “He is safe here.”

She smiled lightly, satisfied that her last act had been successful. Her son would be safe. Saria looked down at the boy, giggling as he swiped a hand towards her, distracted by a lock of her long emerald hair. “Aren’t you cute?” she said, tickling his cheek.

He giggled, squirming in her arms. She laughed, looking up to say something more to the Hylian mother. She lay limp in the twisted, gnarled roots cradling her body. Her left hand lay across her belly, her other hanging loosely. The blue eyes had closed, the fair hair fallen loose and free.

She resembled a sleeping fairy, her pale face still flushed with the life that would soon leave her body. Her shoulder no longer bled, the stain covered by her hair. The roots curved upward, closing over her. Through the cracks, Saria saw white light surround her; the girl held the baby close, whispering a soft prayer in an ancient language.

After a moment, the beautiful white light vanished, leaving behind a small glowing orb. From the newborn fairy, tiny, translucent wings unfolded, tinged with gold. It floated inside the tree root cocoon, pulsing with new life. Receding, the roots returned to their place, letting the small fairy free. She flew towards the sky, the Great Deku tree and Saria looking on, and disappeared in the light of the coming dawn.