"Malon?" I heard him calling from outside. I would recognize his voice anywhere. Link!

Oh no, not now... I thought. I was not fit to speak to him, not after... I wiped my face dry and hoped I wasn't too blotchy. "Link?" I called out, far too quiet to expect him to hear me.

"Oh there you are." He was at the doorway of my house. I heard the dry straw crunch underneath his boots with each step as he got nearer to the stairs that would bring him up to me, and my mess of a room.

"Wait!" I threw my hands up and he stopped in his tracks, staring up at me with an odd expression in his blue eyes. He wasn't wearing his hat, and his blonde hair fell softly around his face, and flipped up at the neckline of his undershirt. Over his normal white underclothes, he wore his forest-green tunic. "Um, I'll be right down." He nodded and stepped back to wait for me.

I turned my back to him and swallowed hard. I couldn't cry in front of him! I was determined not to cry. I straightened my bright red hair and simple dress before turning to face him once more and proceeding down the stairs. "Wh... What are you doing here, Link?" I prompted. I could feel that my face wore a defensive expression, but I couldn't make it stop.

"Malon, I heard what happened to your-"

"Don't! Don't talk about it right now!" I scowled and shook my head at him, halting the conversation.

He did not press, just watched me from a couple of steps down. I avoided making eye contact with him for a few moments of silence. That was one thing I knew Link to be good at. Silence. He understood the importance of the space between our words.

"Um... " my voice cracked slightly. I swallowed again before continuing. "Thanks for coming." I managed to say before stepping around him and heading out toward the field.

The fresh air filled my lungs, and the sunlight warmed my skin. But my eyes were drawn to the new grave against the western fence. Links eyes followed mine, and I felt his arm rest across my shoulders, then a gentle push, guiding my turn to face him. He wrapped his arms around me and hugged me tight. I hooked my arms under his until my hands rested on his shoulders and we held this embrace for a long time. My eyes began to sting with tears, so I blinked before burying my face into the sturdy fabric on his shoulder. I held my breath and listened to Link breathing, the horses whinnying, and the chickens clucking.

After some time passed, Link broke our precious silence. "Do you want me to stay?" He separated his torso from mine, looking into my teary face. Even though I was trying not to cry, I knew it was obvious. "I can help withthe ranch." He added after I didn't answer.

The truth was, I hadn't found my voice yet. I was still concentrating on my inability to keep an even tone. I failed, letting out a quiet sob before whispering "Thank you so much..." He wrapped me tightly in his arms once more, and I cried into his shoulder for a little while.

I didn't know what to do. I didn't feel prepared to run the ranch, all by myself, now that my dad was gone. Obviously I knew everything that needed to be done but... It seemed like an impossible task without the reliable guidance I'd always had. I needed help to hold the ranch together, and also to keep myself from falling apart.

Link, patient as ever, held me tight until I broke the hug. The ranch was a mess. I hadn't really kept up with it too much in the days since my dad was attacked on his delivery. I didn't have the energy. Link noticed too.

"I'll clean up, you go rest." He offered up to me, nudging me back toward the house.

"No, I'll help." I smiled up at him, blinking the remainders of my tears away. I couldn't just go cry alone while Link took care of my fathers ranch. If he was extending a hand to help me, I had to take it.

Link went into the house to take off his undershirt while I got to work sweeping up the stables. After a while, I finished cleaning and organizing the stables, and walked back outside. Link was trying to get all of the cuccos out of the fenced off area that was designated for the horses. I couldn't help but laugh at the sight. He was doubled over, running after the chickens with his arms stretched out ahead of him, feathers in his hair, and sticking out of his tunic. At the sound of my laughter, he straightened and turned to face me.

"Stupid chickens.." I saw his lips form the words and laughed once more. Oh Link! He smiled at me as I turned to go tend to the cows.

The cows mooed loudly when I approached them. They were agitated from not being milked, and I felt terrible. After milking them, I swept the dirty straw away, and replaced it with fresh straw for them to rest on. They seemed much more cheerful after that, and it made me feel surprisingly better.

I had felt a little like I was drowning before Link showed up to help me. It actually felt great to be busy, and maintain Lon Lon Ranch.

Much of the afternoon passed with Link and I working hard on the ranch, and by the time the sun behind the western wall, it was in better shape than it had been in a long time. I approached Link, and he held his hand up for me to clap mine against it, a gesture of success.

"Wow Link! You did so great today!" I praised him excitedly. It was easy to feel happy when I wasn't alone.

"No, you did." He smiled and rested his arm across my shoulders, looking out at the ranch as it glowed in the orange light of the sinking sun. There were horses trotting happily around the track, and a few others grazing. I looked up at him as he smiled softly, and wondered what he could be thinking.

After nightfall, we put the horses in their stables and made a small bonfire in the middle of the ranch. Link suggested that we say a few words for my dad.

I couldn't, but Link could. "I promise, Talon. I'll protect your ranch… And Malon, too." I stared at him, slightly awed by how strikingly beautiful he was in the firelight. We sat next to each other in silence, staring into the mesmerizing flames. After some time, I rested my head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around me in response, and I drifted to sleep.