Chapter Two:
Zelda never thought of the idea of someday dying in the hands of a cloaked killer. She thought of dying of old age in her sleep. Not in some alley near the town square, being followed because she witnessed a murder of the one that was supposed to protect her. She was a young age of nineteen and a princess of Hyrule. In the eyes of the killer, she was just a woman that had been unfortunately dragged into this.
She took in a sharp inhale when she was grabbed from behind that forced her to stop. The entrance of the alley was so close. People looked in her direction and their faces showed their sudden confusion at her terrified expression. Her begging eyes stared at them.
Please help me! Zelda begged in her mind, wishing that her mouth could work, so she could scream it out loud.
No one came to her rescue.
They walked away.
She was pulled back to face the cloaked person in a rough manner. This made her react by pressing her free hand to his chest. For space, to push away from him, and not to fall into him at the same time. She braced herself for the killing blow unwillingly. To face her death with shut eyes. It never came. Taking a shaky breath she opened her eyes when she felt him pushing her chin upwards.
This twisted her stomach at the thought she might be kissed. She suck in some air, feeling a bit lightheaded. She briefly thought of taking advantage of it. She'll kick him in the knee and flee if he did kiss her. He stared hard at her face, taking in her details before his eyes turned softer. Did he recognize her as the princess or suddenly felt pity for her?
He pushed back his hood, leaving her to see how he looked. Then he started to finger around her shawl. Pushing it back to reveal most of her blonde hair.
He must be a Sheikah, Zelda thought at seeing his red eyes up-close.
She studied his face to know about him. His tan skin carried few scars on his cheeks that had faded in time and his black hair ran messy. He looked to be around her age, yet he appeared more mature in the knowledge of fighting than her. Staring at him Zelda gained a feeling that she should know about him. That and the fact she didn't feel threatened anymore the longer she stared at him.
"I'm not going to kill you."
She rose her eyebrows at this. She sensed rather than felt her shawl coming off completely.
He tilted his head in thought as he spoke again, "Your features changed, but I still—
"You there, unhand that woman at once!" A voice shouted at them that made her flinch.
She had been getting too adsorbed in this man to take notice of her surroundings anymore.
His hold lessened, she took few steps back for space. She didn't need to turn around to know who her rescuer was since she recognized that voice. It belonged to the captain of the guards from earlier. The people must have gotten him for her; helping her out after all.
She didn't know whether to be glad or disappointed about being rescued by the one that seemed to join in on Lord Ganondorf's side. She glowered at the street. She was alive, but that didn't mean she could forget about the incident in the town's square.
The cloaked person put his hood back up while walking backwards in small steps. His position screamed out that he was deciding between the choices of attacking or escaping from here. She studied how his left foot was tilted if needed to run away. His hands twitching every few seconds close to the opening of his cloak.
The captain of the guards step forward in her vision as he tried peering closely at the hooded person. "Wait a minute…. You are the wanted assassin! Men, seize him," the captain ordered to the men behind him.
He is an assassin, Zelda astonishingly took in that knowledge. He was an assassin that spared her life.
She was lead away, but she was focused on seeing the escaping assassin scaling the wall with ease to reach the rooftops for his escape route. The guards and the captain being so desperate to follow that a few of them tried climbing up. The others chased him on foot. Her vision started to blur, the lightheadedness striking so hard, she fainted. Her mind welcomed the soothing darkness.
~1~1~1~1~1~
The corner of his lips lifted on hearing the faint curses from the guards. They were giving up. He laughed at this. They couldn't keep up with his speed nor handle the distance. He had been followed by the guards from the town square alley to the southeast edge side. Where few houses down a wall stood tall around both the Castle and the town for protection.
They couldn't match his years of climbing the walls, running long distances, or studying possible escape routes.
He walked toward the edge from the roof he was standing on to glance down. There were people down there, but none that would be in his way of landing. Knowing that he won't need to use dark magic he jumped down the one story house. Bystanders flinched in surprise at his sudden appearance. Some of them asked between them where did he come from. Or if he was a lunatic.
He ignored them as he stood up from his bent position. Striding away, he had a single destination in mind: Telma's Bar that was straight ahead. He needed to lay low for a while. That and to report his small mission to his leader. He resumed playing around with the shawl that he had accidentally taken between his fingers. Feeling the soft material of sheep's wool.
After so many years he finally faced the princess. He didn't like the fact that he had frightened her or that she had to see someone get murdered in front of her eyes. He wanted to see her when he brought down Ganondorf, so she could know that the kingdom was safe again. To see her genuine and gentle eyes shine with gratitude for him.
The memory of seeing her with Ganondorf earlier soured his mood. He hoped that the princess haden't allied herself with that man. She wasn't the type to side with that foul monster. He did know that she was to be wedded to him, but he knew it was just to further Ganondorf's conquest—
"You're distracted today," a voice said before Dark Link crashed into a door.
He made a startled noise mixed with pain in his throat. He had been so deep in thought that he lost focus on where he was walking. He rubbed his forehead as he looked at the speaker.
A young man three years older than him bore his red eyes at him, uninterested. Dirty blonde hair peeked out of his bandages around the crown of his head. His tan cheekbones and around his eyes were the only thing that make out from all the bandages he wore. He wore lavender clothing that had the Sheikah symbol of a teardrop eye on his chest. The young man was leaning back on the wall with his arms crossed in front of him. "What's on your mind, Dark?" The Sheikah asked him, going straight to the point.
The assassin scoffed, "Hi to you too, Sheik. Haven't seen you in the past four months, but it's good to see you."
Sheik shrugged as he pretended to check his nails—where they were bandaged also. "The bounty took longer than expected. Whose shawl is that…the one in your mind?"
Dark grunted, opening the door to the bar. Hot air greeted his face with the sounds of cheering men clicking drinks together. His eyes adjusted to the dim light of the atmosphere. The bar wasn't busy at this hour, but that didn't stop the men from drinking and enjoying their time together. Dancers playfully flirted with their clients. Few of them seeing the assassin waved to him behind their fans. Their giggles were blocked out by the other noises.
He ignored them, looking behind his shoulder to finally acknowledged Sheik's question, "It belongs to someone I know."
"Oh?"
Dark Link said nothing, to which his friend did not press him. A trait that Dark Link liked from Sheik—knowing when he needed space. If he wanted to talk to the Sheikah about his problems, he would in his own time and in privacy. Though he never told him much about the princess and probably never will. Unless Sheik could figure it out later and have it confirmed by him.
Instead Sheik stated to him, "Auru is waiting for you in the meeting room."
The hot air was shut off after his friend closed the door. Dark Link quickly gave his thanks when Sheik walked past him. He smiled at the sight of him making a small farewell wave over his shoulder.
Deciding that Auru could wait a bit longer for him, the assassin went to sit on the bar stand to order a drink. The owner of the bar, Telma came to serve him. She gave him her best warm smile and a warm welcome greeting.
Around thirty-five years old, Telma had took over her parent's business at the age of eighteen. She was a warm person that had open arms to anyone that needed help. She also loved to flirt at times, but liked to tease him. She smiled at him and welcomed him back.
He shared at room upstairs with few other people as long as he helped her out in the bar. By doing heavy lifting work or making sure there was no bar fights. He liked it at times when there was no other work to do. At those times he will grow impatient and wander around. Unless Lon Lon Ranch needed his help; that happened rarely.
Telma leaned against the counter and handed him his cider, her cleavage showing even more so, forcing his focus on something else. A pin of the Resistance's symbol was clipped to her jacket.
~1~1~1~1~1~
The meeting room was a simple room of a round table in the middle, lit candles, and decorated maps hanging on each wall. One map showed both Uniti and Midora next to each other. Bold markings showed their castles in their own land, the rest showed the names of lakes, rivers, plains, forests, and mountain ranges. Second one was only the land of Uniti. The last one of details and the names.
Behind the table a man around his sixties studied a map of the Castle town on the table with keen eyes. He wore a leather robe that came with a hood.
Dark Link took a step forward from the curtain entrance yet Auru didn't glance up.
Dark Link spoke up, "The man—an ugly one at that—said that Ganondorf went to a meeting with the rest of his followers."
Auru gave a short hum in reply, "Then the followers are finally shaken up, losing the trust in Ganondorf's strength." He looked up and took in the sight of the shawl wrapped around Dark Link's arm. "You saw her?"
Out of instinct, he rubbed the shawl before he answered, "I did and she is well, but she had the misfortune of seeing me murder that man. I just hope that she hasn't allied herself with that foul lord."
The Resistance Leader sighed and straightened his pose. His arms crossed around his chest.
"She is smarter than that. All the past Princesses and Queens were smart, in fact—
The assassin stopped him before he could further his talking—once the leader went into the talk of history he took off for a long time, "What other mission do you have for me?"
Auru blinked and cleared his throat, "Right, the next mission is that Ashei heard a rumor that Lord Vaati has papers that have a few of Lord Ganondorf's plans. Including his past plan of putting Lady Aveil in line for Lorule's seat. Rusl and I guessed that Lord Ganondorf thought we wouldn't target the obscure Minish Lord."
He nodded in understanding. The Minish Lord always keep to himself. Never going out to parties, not spending money carelessly, or hardly visit the Castle much. Instead he watched from the distance. He did come over despite the rumors that he loved to flirt with women. If Dark Link recalled he never seen much of that man. He glanced at the map of Hyrule. The Lord lived close to the borders to Lorule in his own land.
"When do you want me to leave?"
The leader tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling in thought. "Perhaps tonight. The sooner we finish this and end Lord Ganondorf's life the sooner we can save Hyrule."
I can also finally avenge my village.
~1~1~1~1~1~
When Zelda came to, she found herself in her room and the curtains drawn closed to block the sunlight. She herself was underneath her covers on her bed. She stood up to see that she was still wearing the same peasant clothing. She had not been dreaming.
A knock alerted her of a presence behind her door. The person entered without waiting for her answer. It was a maid who carried a tray of supper. A young servant in her sixteenth year glanced up from the platter to notice her.
"Oh, you are awake, princess!"
Zelda smiled at her. "Yes, but how did I get here?"
She remembered fainting in the alley. The guards focus on catching the assassin on a losing chase. Perhaps few had stayed behind to check up on her, but they couldn't have notice her as the princess.
"I don't know all the details, but a guard had saw you fainting and took you to a nearby inn—
The princess gave out a short gasp at that to which the maid, in a hurry, calmed down her worries.
"Oh, no don't think that, your highness! He never took advantage of you in your state—your father and fiancé would deeply punish him if he did. He just took you to a room until you could wake up. But Lord Ganondorf came to the town's square to look for you. He had every guard searching for you; isn't that romantic?" She sighed in a dreamy way.
Zelda could only offer her a half smile at that. He left me with a slave pig to wander on my own when he didn't want me to in the first place. He took all the guards and the carriage with him. I had a fright of my life when I thought I was going to die. That is not romantic!
The maid entered the room, her foot kicking the door closed behind her. Soft clattering sounded from the tray. A whiff made her mouth water and her stomach growl for food. The tray was placed on her bed. It was supper. A bowl of vegetables sprinkled with salt, manchet, and a small goblet of red wine.
"The King wanted you to have a light meal once you woke up," the maid told her. Her amber eyes lowered to where they widened an inch. "Your highness, you're injured!"
"Beg your pardon?" she asked in confusion.
She looked down at her right arm to find a smear of dried blood. She felt no pain where her fingers pressed gently next to the blood. The dried blood cracked under the pressure. There were no wounds either on her flesh to prove that it was not her blood. Instead it belonged to the servant who died in the alley. The assassin had put away his blade, but the blood must had slipped down to her arm where he had grab her.
"It is not mine," Zelda said to her in a dismissing tone.
She shivered at how lucky she was to be alive. She could have been lying there as another dead body in the alley. She shut her eyes tight to get rid of the frightening images in her mind. Her hunger was forgotten in her mind.
Time passed quickly afterwards for her. The servant rushed to have the bath ready, a nightgown placed on the bed as the water rose in the tub. She was also reminded how her elbow was strained, making it hard to bend to get out of her clothes. Then Zelda was lead to the bathroom where she was scrubbed clean to the point that her skin was raw red. The scent of lavender and vanilla eased her mind. So relaxed she was that she stepped out of the tub feeling anew. The strained elbow was not bothering her anymore.
After she was dried, the nightgown—a lovely shade of red—was put over her head. The female servant helped her with her slightly injured arm. Then she was ushered to sit down on the vanity. She smiled and gave her thanks when the maid praised the beauty of her hair.
"But you have beautiful hair too," Zelda pointed out to the maid.
The maid blushed and stuttered out, "Th-thank you, your highness!"
Zelda took a peek at the mirror to see the young girl touching her messy brown hair absently. It reached down to her shoulders. A chuckle escaped the maid's lips. She touched the golden hair with her other hand reaching for a brush.
"I respectfully love your compliment, but your beauty is far greater than mine. The whole kingdom admires it as they spread the whispers of your looks. With your strong fiancé everyone will tell stories about the future rulers of Hyrule."
Zelda held back her reaction of displeasure at such words. "And what do you think of Lord Ganondorf?" she asked in a quiet voice.
The maid stayed silent, choosing her answers wisely. The brush going straight through her hair.
"He seems…. Like a very fit man that can rule with an iron fist. With your kindness and wisdom it's a perfect match. There was talk among the servants that heard from their masters and mistresses that they didn't accept him. Being that he was Gerudo and all that. As we had learned that Gerudo men are savage beasts and the women cunning enchantresses, right? But over the years he proved them wrong."
Zelda thought back to the market. He may have proven them wrong, but he is up to no good.
The maid continued on, "Lord Ganondorf seems like the person to hold your hand then sweep you off your feet, too." She laughed in an innocent way. "Judging by his heavy build of course."
Her amber eyes blinked, then she said in a serious tone, "It is nice, but not romantic enough. All stories have the princess falling in love with an adventurer at the end of the book. It is the rage at the moment. Every noble women loves that topic. Don't you, your highness?" The maid then asked her, her eyes sparkling with a prying mind inside them.
Zelda tilted her head in thought. Had she ever fascinated herself with an idea of a knight or dashing commoner once before? It seemed like a silly idea. Like a fantasy wish to even think of that; a wishful thought among the women. She was taught not to think of such nonsense or believe in myths by her tutors.
"No," she answered slowly, "I don't fancy myself with those books."
"A shame, you're missing out."
The girl brought her golden hair up into a messy, loose bun. The maid had to be new serving her. She never paid much attention to them, but she knew she never met one that liked to talk to her. Others were silent or knew when not to push the borderers. She didn't mind this girl as she wasn't being annoying or rude to her. She seemed like a likable and inquiring girl. One that she didn't know her name yet.
"What is your name?" Zelda asked her as she stood up from her seat.
The maid took few steps back to allow space. Her hand flying up to brush back a strand of hair behind her ear. "My name? It is Avilina, your highness. I am… I am the daughter of your past caretaker," she answered slowly. She had been glancing away, but realizing that she had spoken, she raised her hands up. She waved them back and forth. Her cheeks flushed in embarrassment. "I understand if you don't recall my mother—"
She was stopped.
"No, I perfectly remember. She was a nice woman who took care of me when I was young. You have a wonderful mother."
When her mother had died in childbirth, Zelda had to look to her caretaker for love and guidance. Her father had stayed in the state of grieving to notice her in the years of childhood. She trusted in the caretaker's words that her father would come back to her. But that puzzled her. How could he come back to her when he never been with her in the first place?
So she watched her father from afar. Watched how he listened to the people complains, fixed their problems, and made sure everything was kept in line. Treaties and the council were never in disagreements at the end of the day. He did it all with a small smile and his broken heart hidden in layers. Bare walls showed where her mother's paintings once rested at during her time alive.
Once she turned eleven, she made herself known to him. Confronted him about her existence. He had been surprised, cleared his throat, and apologized to her. She turned nervous. She had been expecting him to ignore her, send her out the study room, or get mad at her for interrupting him.
He turned a new leaf. Made sure she got the best tutors and spent time with her when he could spare. Her caretaker, on the other hand, was let go. Flower crown makings were replaced by studying maps, dress-ups changed to knowing all the hylian noble's names, and learning to be proper and polite. Only in the fond memories can she drown herself in, during the time of resting, eating, or breaks of erudition of future ruling as a queen.
She strived to become the best nonetheless because she wanted her father to be proud of her. To have the people look up to her. That they would know that they were loved and protected by her. Something that she would have to share with her future significant other.
It was true that she never read books of princesses falling in love with knights or commoners. She read about the great past rulers. Historical figures that married fellow high bloods between lands or from their parents' agreement before they were at the marriageable phase. There happened to be few that didn't love their match, that they only had platonic feelings in regards to each other.
If she didn't have a feeling of something being wrong with the Gerudo Lord, then she would have liked to have a platonic feeling with him.
Zelda forced herself back into reality. She had been dragging herself into the past yet again. Recalling that this was the caretaker's daughter, she peered hard at the girl for facial recognition. Indeed they shared the same button nose shape and the shade of brown in their hair. While the girl had hers short, the caretaker had hers long and pulled up into a tight bun.
The girl beamed and whispered out, "Thank you. Ah, I should leave you alone now so you may eat in peace. Shall I tell your father that you are awake, your highness?"
"No, that isn't necessary, as I need to speak to him."
She strolled to her wardrobe, opened it and pulled out a long thin robe that matched her red nightdress. She put it on feeling happy that Avilina let her be. She heard a soft 'if you wish' behind her that sounded a little uneasy. Yes, Avilina was indeed new to serving her.
Walking down the hallway she knew where her destination laid. One of the few places she could find her father at this hour of evening: his study room.
She wanted to talk to her father about her experience that she witnessed at the town's square. But she knew that if she mentioned Lord Ganondorf he would shut her words out. Her father hated when she came to him accusing the man carrying evil deeds in his mind. She would have to take her time and choose her words carefully if she wanted to him to see reason.
Once she had reached the corridor she passed three doors to stand in front of the study room. She took a deep breath and raised her hand to knock. Her hand froze in mid-air. She could hear soft voices behind the door. They belonged to her father and her fiancé. They started to talk in a harsh manner. Something told her that they barely had arrived to exchange some dialogue.
What are they saying? Zelda questioned.
She pressed her right ear against the entry to hear well. Their voices rose in volume, helping her more in hearing.
"Yes, but you left her alone, Ganon. She could have been killed!"
"I am aware of that, my Liege, yet this proves my claims. The people are allying themselves with the Midorians. Half of the people refuse to pay taxes, disrespecting their guards that swear to protect Hyrule and its people, and now they are okay if the princess is killed in their own homeland. The Midorians had always been jealous of this land. Of the riches, plenty of food, and warm weather we have. They had tried having their young prince get married to your daughter, so it was only fit that she get killed in return."
He stopped for a moment.
"If I had stayed with her then maybe this would have been prevented. Your daughter wouldn't have experienced such a near death moment. Or I could have had the assassin captured before he could escape. If only I didn't receive such a terrible message that a close friend of mine had died the previous night. I had went to pay my respects to his wife and children along with saying goodbye to him. We were close since childhood. So you can imagine my fear to learn what had happened to my future wife in the hands of the same killer."
The King sighed, "Forgive me then, I did not know. I just want this assassin to be put down immediately in case he wants to try again."
"I understand. I made this a personal goal—he may have killed my friend, but his hands won't even dare touch our Zelda again."
"Good, now I need to go check up on her."
Zelda pushed herself away then walked down the path she came from.
Her mind was whirling with the information she gathered. That man was a liar. She had thought of him being a cunning one that would twist truth, but never thought of him as a liar. That made her furious inside. Did he want to make a war? Not in her lifetime he won't. She will try her best to stop his plans, get rid of him, and fix the trouble he started.
Turning around the corner her eyes flickered where the Gerudo Lord opened the door. Their eyes bore into each other. Cool blue and calm amber eyes. The next second he smiled at her, which seemed almost forced into his face. The following second she passed the corner, the wall replacing the man. The moment gone she took off in a hurry to reach her room.
~1~1~1~1~1~
The hours of the sun ready to sleep came soon. After getting his next mission the assassin took to visiting a famous farm called Lon Lon's Ranch. It was north from Hyrule town outside the walls. The owner and his daughter welcomed him with wide arms. They had no work for him so he watched the roaming horses inside the fence. Epona occasionally came to him. Few times he would peek over his shoulder to find the chickens narrowing their light brown eyes at him.
He had to check on their distance or else they'll come and poke at him. And it would be a vicious poke they would give him.
Ever since the first time he visited this ranch for a horse he took out his anger on one of the chickens. That became his mistake. Many slices later the injured and annoyed chicken had called for back-up. Over a dozen came to attack him forcing him to retreat out of the ranch. When he came back he tried to apologize to the animal, but promised never to mess around with a chicken ever again.
He kept his word.
He ran his hands over the soft fresh cut grass, humming a song that Epona and other horses loved to hear. A song named after his favorite horse from the owner's daughter. Malon, a girl a year younger than him, with flowing red hair and cornflower eyes. Light red specks sprinkled her nose and her skin showing evidence of the love of being outside under the sun. A bright girl that loved the horses, singing, and—
"Was the shawl Malon's?" A voice asked him.
Dark Link broke out of his recollections to see his friend lying down beside him. As if he's been there the whole time. His bandaged hands rested underneath his head. His red eyes lazily glanced up at the pinkish-purple skies with a hint of orange.
"No, you know how she likes to wear them around her shoulders, and for them to be the color of the sunflowers."
"Hm, I thought she declared her love to you and gave you one of her shawls to remember her by." Sheik said in turn.
He wanted to chuckle at that. It seemed a silly thing to do; a woman giving her shawl to the one she loves. Though he was the one to talk. He took it from the princess before he escaped. Not because he wanted it, but he wanted to see her golden hair. It has been so long since he last saw her face-to-face. He just didn't plan on taking it once he took it off. What he did to the shawl was lay it inside his small chest in his room before he met with Auru.
"Malon no longer sees me as her shiny knight, Sheikah," the assassin stated in a light mood.
Sheikah faced him with slightly wide eyes. "No way, when did this take place? When I was gone?"
He nodded. He launched into telling the story of what occurred.
She came as an early bird, the grass wet from the fading mist, the sun rising so that its rays started to spread halfway across the atmosphere, and the chickens announcing the dawn of the day. The assassin sat on top of the fence taking in the view. His cloak was left in his room, showing his black tunic decorated with gold lacing to make it less plain. Beige pants and dark brown boots finished the rest of the clothing. It was topped off with a long, pointed cap of the same coloring design as his tunic. A garb that most high class men plus adventurers wore. Something that both Impa and Auru wanted in his clothing so he could blend in with the crowd.
Malon listened to his playing of the delicate ocarina of sorrowful and angry notes. Going from short notes to long notes that lasted up to two measures. Once he finished the song he proceeded to think of what happier music he could play. Something that carried in its notes a promise of hope, happiness, or serenity.
"That was beautiful, Link."
Instead of flinching he glanced behind and corrected her, "It's Dark Link, not just Link, Malon."
She lifted a shoulder a bit in an innocent way. "It's too long," she explained to him again. She placed her arms on the fence, her face showing that the wood was also wet. She kept her arms there and stared at the sunrise. The silence between them peaceful regardless, he felt that Malon had a reason to bug him.
Every day she would rise and feed the chickens, check for eggs, release the horses and the cows out to the field, then wash up before the time to make breakfast. If he felt like it he would be long gone by then. Back to sleep or wander around Hyrule with his trusted steed.
"Say, Link," he didn't bother to correct her at that time, "do you believe in fairytales?"
The answer hung onto the tip of his tongue. No. Fairytales had magic, talking beasts, princesses and kingdoms in danger, dark themes hidden between the promises of happy endings. It taught important lessons and showed that in the end there is love and a contented closure. Unless the finale had an open-ending which was rare to have. Now in this era fairytales meant love and happiness in the end. The villains defeated and the heroes getting the princesses.
His life endured hard ordeals of losses, pain, and everlasting anger—once he destroyed that man, the rage can rust away from his soul. The princess probably wouldn't fall for him—he won't force her in any case. He knew no happy endings were promised, but the blurred sight of fulfilling oaths can break his chains and ease his troubled mind of the persistent nightmares.
He answered, "My mind is too preoccupied to question the fables. If they are real or not that is."
She shifted in her position and rested her chin on her arms. "Magic was once real, given to the people by the gods and goddesses before they faded with it, or so the legends say," she pointed out. "But anyway, don't you believe in true love? They say it is a magical feeling that brings two people together. That their love conquers everything."
He heard her happily sigh at the end of her words. He had a feeling of where she was going with this, so in hopes he tried to end the subject, "Malon, true love and magic are—"
"I love you, Link," Malon blurted out once she mustered courage.
He wanted to groan, but held it in. He looked down at her when she grabbed the side of his tunic in shaky hands.
"I love you," she repeated to him, "I love you and I really do consider you as a shiny knight. Ever since I first met you covered in bruises and cuts from the fight with the chickens." She smiled at the memory. "To learning Epona's song on your ocarina, being one with the once wild horse, and your kindness to helping out in the ranch. I know you can make a fine husband and me as your loyal wife."
He grabbed her hands to release his garb and jumped down the fence. No doubt Malon would be a loyal wife, however, not for him. He hoarded no romantic feelings for her. He didn't feel like a shiny knight and he had no indication of telling out loud his status as an assassin—a secret that none of the Lon Lon's residents knew about and he kept it like that. It would change her view of him and he had no heart to lose a friend that thought of him normal.
"Malon, I, on the other hand, can't accept your love. It belongs to someone else that is better than me. A man that carries no heavy burden in his heart would love you back more. You don't know me all that well and I don't desire to tell you."
He faced her to find shattered eyes half-filled with wetness threatening to spill. She no longer leaned against the wood barrier.
Her voice shook once, "You don't accept?" She waited for his answer only he gave none save for a shaking of his head as a no. She took a deep breath, "Then I made a foolish declaration out of the blue, and for that I am sorry."
He waved her words away. "No, it is not your fault, but my own. It's just the path I am taking is not for you to follow."
She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. She shut her lips and tried to smile, only to fail. The owner's daughter then spun around to walk away. He left after that to give her a week's time to heal.
Malon, he thought, was a kind hearted girl who had a dreamy imagination. If he had told her about himself she would either hate him or try to change his views plus his goals. Which he couldn't allow.
When he came back he expected her father to hate him. To find her turning her back on him.
Her father greeted him as normal and she smiled at him. She never told her father about her rejected proposal and despite forgiving him she talked to him less for couple of weeks. Both of them never brought it up again.
Sheik blinked, taking the story all in.
"I think I'll start calling you 'the breaker of hearts,'" he finally said with a joking aura.
Dark Link, not finding it funny, frowned at him. "I only broke one heart," he stated to his friend.
"Yes, but who knows you might break future girls' hearts too."
The assassin stood up and stretched his arms. "It will never happen again, Sheik. Anyway I have to go."
The Sheikah sat up, his arms resting on his thighs. He asked him, "Another mission—do you want me to tag along?"
"No, I got this, but we can hang out again tomorrow afternoon if you want."
Dark pushed aside his cloak and pulled out his ocarina from his pouch to sing Epona's song. The three high notes called forth his steed. He climbed on top of the reddish-brown mare. With a quick wave goodbye to the Sheikah, he charged out of the ranch.
~64~64~64~64~64~
Sorry about the wait guys, but I hoped you were looking forward to this chapter. And I changed the cover of this story to young assassin Ezio since I realized the other cover is popular to use. Also I posted a map of Hyrule in my tumblr account in my tag of 'my drawings' if you guys want to see it. Don't expect it to be fancy. : )
My thanks to SweetestChick. : )
Until next time...
~GreenFantasy64
P.S.
I read Game of Thrones last week. It's really good book. : ) I always want to pick it back up when I put it down. It's a shame the book is small paperback... it hurts my hands including the fact I don't want to ruin it either so I hold it a certain way.
