If you grew up in the late nineties, you probably have a specific melody burned into your brain. It’s upbeat, catchy, and a little bit haunting. You know the one. You’re standing in a sun-dappled clearing in the Lost Woods, and there she is—perched on a stump with an ocarina. Saria in The Legend of Zelda is more than just a tutorial character or a childhood friend; she represents the emotional heart of Ocarina of Time, a game that defined a generation.
She's the first person Link sees. She’s the one who gives him his first instrument. Honestly, without her, the Hero of Time would probably still be wandering around the Kokiri Forest wondering why everyone else has a fairy except him. But Saria’s story is actually kind of tragic when you really dig into the lore. She’s stuck in a perpetual state of childhood while her best friend grows up, leaves her behind, and eventually becomes a legendary warrior.
Who Exactly is Saria?
Saria is a Kokiri. For the uninitiated, the Kokiri are the "children of the forest" who never age, protected by the Great Deku Tree. Saria is their leader, or at least the person they all look up to because she’s the most mature. It’s a bit of a paradox, right? She’s a child who never grows up, yet she possesses a wisdom that far outstrips the other forest dwellers like Mido.
Most players remember her for Saria’s Song. In terms of gameplay, this tune is basically your spiritual walkie-talkie. You play it, and you can talk to her from anywhere in Hyrule. It’s a mechanic that keeps her present in your mind even when you’re trekking through the scorching heat of Death Mountain or the chilling depths of the Shadow Temple. She’s your moral compass.
The Sage of Forest
When Link pulls the Master Sword and skips seven years into the future, everything changes. The Kokiri Forest is infested with monsters. The Great Deku Tree is dead. And Saria? She’s gone. She went to the Forest Temple to try and fix things, and she never came back. At least, not in the way we expected.
When you finally beat Phantom Ganon, you meet her in the Chamber of Sages. This is the moment that usually hits players the hardest. Saria is the Sage of Forest. It’s a high honor, sure, but it means she can no longer exist in the physical world with Link. She’s essentially a spirit now, guarding the realm from the Sacred Realm.
The look on Link’s face in that cutscene says it all. Total heartbreak.
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Why Saria Matters More Than You Think
There’s a lot of debate in the Zelda community about the relationship between Link and Saria. Some see it as a simple childhood friendship. Others see it as a lost romance. Shigeru Miyamoto and the original development team at Nintendo EAD designed Saria to be a "soulmate" figure who stays behind.
She represents the innocence Link has to sacrifice to save the world. Every time you play that song, you’re reaching back for a home that doesn't really exist for you anymore. It’s heavy stuff for a game that many people still categorize as "just for kids."
- The Fairy Connection: Saria is the only one who doesn't treat Link like an outsider for not having a fairy at the start.
- The Ocarina: She gives you the Fairy Ocarina. It’s your first real tool. While the Ocarina of Time gets all the glory later, the wooden one from Saria is the one that starts the journey.
- The Lost Woods Lore: There’s a persistent fan theory, backed by some in-game dialogue, that those who get lost in the woods without a fairy become Stalfos or Skull Kids. Saria is the only thing keeping that forest from being a total death trap for the Kokiri.
The Music: Saria’s Song and Its Legacy
Koji Kondo, the legendary composer, hit gold with this track. It’s a C-major masterpiece. It’s fast. It’s rhythmic. It’s also used to bribe Darunia, the Goron King, into helping you. Seeing a massive rock-man dance to Saria’s folk tune is easily one of the top five funniest moments in the franchise.
But let’s talk about the deeper musical theory. The song is built on a Lydian scale (or at least hints at it), which gives it that "magical but slightly off" feeling. It perfectly captures the vibe of the Lost Woods—a place where geometry doesn't make sense and time feels weird.
Saria in Later Games
Does Saria show up again? Well, yes and no. She doesn't physically appear in most sequels, but her presence is everywhere.
In The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, you see her depicted in a stained-glass window in the basement of Hyrule Castle. It’s a tribute to the Sages who sealed Ganon. Also, the Sage of Forest in that game, a Korok named Makar, plays a violin, which is a clear evolution of Saria’s musical role.
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In Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom, there’s a location called Lake Saria. Nintendo loves these little geographical nods. It confirms that thousands of years later, the people of Hyrule still remember the girl who sat on the stump in the woods.
What Most People Get Wrong About Saria
People often think Saria is "just another Kokiri." That’s wrong. She is the only Kokiri who seems to understand that Link is Hylian. She knows he’s destined for things beyond the forest canopy. While Mido is busy being a bully, Saria is preparing Link for his departure. She knew he was leaving before he did.
There’s also a common misconception that she dies. In Zelda lore, becoming a Sage is a bit more complicated than dying. It’s a "transcendence." She exists in a different plane of reality to maintain the seal on Ganon. Is she dead? In a biological sense, probably. But she’s still "there."
How to Experience Saria’s Story Today
If you want to revisit Saria's arc, you have a few options.
- Nintendo Switch Online: You can play the original N64 version. It’s crunchy, the framerate is 20fps, but the atmosphere is unbeatable.
- Ocarina of Time 3D: The 3DS remake is arguably the best way to see Saria. The character models are way more expressive. You can actually see the sadness in her eyes when she says goodbye on the bridge.
- Hyrule Warriors: Saria isn't a playable character in the base game, but the forest themes and the general aesthetic of the woodsy stages are a direct shout-out to her.
Deep Lore: Is She the Skull Kid’s Friend?
In Majora’s Mask, the Skull Kid mentions a "friend in the forest" who taught him a song. While the game focuses on the Four Giants, many fans believe that Saria was the one who befriended the Skull Kid long before Link showed up. It makes sense. Saria is the only one kind enough to hang out with the outcasts of the woods.
This adds a layer of connectivity between the two games. If Saria is the bridge between the Kokiri, the Hylians, and the Skull Kids, she becomes the most important diplomat in the history of the Lost Woods.
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What Saria Teaches Us About Growing Up
The reason Saria sticks with us is that she represents the "before." Before the responsibilities. Before the bills. Before the world ends. She’s the person you knew in third grade that you promised to stay friends with forever, but then life happened.
When Link leaves the forest and Saria watches him go from the bridge, she says: "I knew that you would leave the forest someday, because you are different from me and my friends."
That’s a heavy line for a 64-bit character. It’s about the inevitability of change.
Next Steps for Zelda Fans:
To truly appreciate Saria’s impact on the series, head back into Ocarina of Time and pay attention to the dialogue in the Sacred Forest Meadow. Notice how the music gets louder as you get closer to her. If you’re playing Tears of the Kingdom, track down Lake Saria in the Great Hyrule Forest (coordinates -1589, 2429, 0215) and take a moment to look at the scenery. It’s a quiet, beautiful spot that captures her essence perfectly. Finally, check out the Hyrule Historia art book; it contains original sketches of Saria that show how her design evolved from a simple forest girl to a mystical Sage.