The Dragon's Breath Inn was not a pleasant place. It could be argued that it was most likely the most disreputable business in the entire city. Yet Hylian laws of freedoms and independence allowed it to continue to operate, so long as it adhered to these laws. And it did, for the most part.
On the surface at least.
The owner, one Venoth Opistan, was a rough-looking brute of a man, with a personality to match. He insisted on catering to anything that walked through his door, so long as their money was good, and he got a finger into whatever pie they brought with them. Lately, following the end of the Sacred War between Hyrule and Ganon's dark army, he had found a new calling in providing a safe haven for all the mercenaries who had escaped capture, as well as the new ones that continued to pop up. He allowed them free reign to plot all kinds of foul deeds, so long as they remembered him once their schemes came through. He was currently housing the Twisted Stalfos gang, a particularly powerful and evil group of thugs, comprised of ten Hylians, three Lizaflos, and their leader Proog, a Moblin. They had been plundering settlements and farmlands stretching all the way from Kakariko to the Gerudo Valley for nearly the entire two years since the end of the war, and had eluded the palace forces at every turn.
All these thoughts, as well as the reputation they Twisted Stalfos had racked up, were what was running through Captain Blockin's mind as he stood across the street from the bar, a regiment of men surrounding him. Having fought in and survived the war, he had thought that he would never be afraid of anything again, but clearly that wasn't the case. Already things were deviating from the plan General Gustan had laid out for the capture of the Twisted Stalfos, and Blockin wasn't entirely sure he liked it.
Apparently, neither were his men. "Sir?" one of them asked. "I know it's not my place, and I know this isn't your fault, but why are we waiting out here? What if they see us from inside? And what if he can't get the job done?"
Blockin cleared his throat and did his best to sound confident. "We are out here because we were commanded to do so by our superior officer. That should be good enough for you. If they should happen to see us from inside, then we will defend both ourselves and most of all the people of Hyrule as any Hylian soldier should." He rubbed at the sweat beginning to form on his brow, struggling to believe in what he was saying. If they were discovered, he knew that the odds of them surviving weren't as good as he would have liked. But for better or worse, the decision had been taken out of his hands.
Besides, if the man inside couldn't take care of the gang, who could?
* * *
The interior of the Dragon's Breath was dimly lit and covered in a haze of pipe smoke. The common room was relatively large, with a lit fireplace against the left wall and six tables on either side of the central bar. On the right was the door leading back into the kitchens, as well as stairs leading up to the second level, a roughly made balcony that encircled the main level with rooms running at intervals along it. Opistan himself was working the bar, and there were two cooks in the kitchens. One lone, miserable looking barmaid catered to the common room's current occupants. Ten Hylians and one Lizaflos sat at the tables to the left, all armed, and talking loudly of various debaucheries they had committed. At the far right end of the bar sat one lone man, huddled in a traveling cloak, the hood pulled up to hide his features, his sword sitting beside him against the bar.
"So I says to him," one of the Hylians was bragging, "I says to him, 'do you bloody well know who I am? I'm a Twisted Stalfos, mate, so you'd better give me that chicken or else I'll taking a breast off of your daughter instead'! I took off with not just that one chicken, but the whole bloody coop!"
"You're a liar, Liff," the Lizaflos hissed, slapping his friend on the back. "I was there. The old man could barely walk, and all you did was take his walking stick from him so he couldn't move while Hamm there took the chickens."
Looking slightly embarrassed, the man called Liff replied, "Well, yeah, but I really did say we was with the Twisted Stalfos. That's all we even needed! With our rep, we can do anything we want. Have you heard the things these local boobs say about us?"
"I have."
All eyes turned to the man sitting at the bar, as he slowly sipped at his drink. Opistan cast him a dark look, and edged his way to the opposite side of the bar, closer to his 'friends'. The Lizaflos' eyes narrowed, and he placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. "Really? And what is it that you've heard?"
"Well," the hooded figure continued casually, "I've heard that they're the biggest bunch of cowards in the whole of Hyrule. They steal from farms far away from any guard stations, the bully around old folks who can't defend themselves, and generally anyone else who really through no fault of their own can't do anything to stop them." The gang was getting to their feet, but he went on as if he hadn't even noticed. "I've also heard that the were some of the lowest grunts in Ganon's army during the war. None of them merited a ranking, and that Rolondrof himself would have sent them packing, had he and Skorn not needed the manpower. I've also heard that they deserted the final battle the second the Hero of Time arrived, and were long gone by the time the fighting was done. Oh, and I've heard that they smell bad and need help to relieve themselves."
"Why you…" Liff snarled, as he charged. He threw a flurry of punches at the man's head, but the stranger managed to block them all with one hand, even as he continued to drink from his mug. On Liff's final punch, the man grabbed his wrist and forced the fist into the bar, snapping the bone. Liff cried out in pain, but was cut short as the man drove his empty mug into Liff's skull, knocking the merc unconscious.
Liff's fellows stood in shocked stillness, not quite believing what had just happened. The man rose to his feet, pulled back his hood, and removed the cloak. There was a collective gasp of air as everyone in the bar recognized who it was. He was tall and thin, but the lean muscles of his torso were still apparent under his clothes. He was dressed in loose fitting leather breeches, a white tunic covered by a green vest, and well-worn knee boots. On his arms he wore tough leather gauntlets. Shaggy blonde hair poked out from beneath the long green cap on his head, and silver earrings hung from each ear. He had a strikingly handsome face, with sharp features and piercing blue eyes. His expression was one of complete confidence and assuredness.
"My name is Link," he told them. "On behalf of the people of Hyrule, I am placing you all under arrest. Throw down your weapons and I promise that none of you will be harmed."
There was silence in the bar, as Opistan and the Twisted Stalfos stared at the Hero of Time with complete and utter fear. The Lizaflos recovered first, and said, "And what if we don't?"
Link sighed, as if disappointed in their apparent decision. "You'll still be arrested, but instead of walking out of here peacefully, you'll be hauled out unconscious and with large bumps on your heads to match your friend's." He toed Liff's prone form. "Now which will it be? I suggest you choose the former."
For a moment, Link believed that they actually would go peacefully. But then two of the Hylians charged him, swords drawn. He quickly wrapped his foot around one of the bar stools and kicked it towards the nearest attacker, sending him to the floor. He spun out of the way to avoid the next merc's attack, the sword cutting through the air. Using the man's momentum, Link sent him towards the bar, knocking the wind from his lungs as his stomach collided with the banister. Link vaulted over the bar, grabbed a bottle of whiskey from the wall, and shattered it against the man's head before he could regain his balance. He grabbed another bottle in each and hand and hurled them at two more Hylians, also taking them out of the fight.
The Lizaflos roared and swung his sword at Link's head. Link managed to duck out of the way, and managed to leap back over to the other side of the bar. He had barely enough time to avoid a strike from another merc, and drove his knee up into the man's stomach. As the man keeled over, Link rolled over his back and shot a punch at one of the mercs. He followed through with another roundhouse and then a quick uppercut, sending him to the floor. In one smooth motion he turned and kicked the bent over man's behind, driving him head first into the Lizaflos, halting the monster's next charge. By that time, the noise had drawn out the remaining two Lizaflos from their rooms upstairs, and they charged down the stairs towards the fight. They were standing directly between Link and his sword, so he was forced to do his best without it.
He spun and drove his elbow into one merc's stomach, then rotated the joint so his fist hit the merc in the nose. Grabbing him around the neck from behind, he used his other hand to grab at his sword hand. Using the man as a shield, he parried and blocked strikes from another gang member, even as his unwitting partner screamed for his friend to stop. After a moment Link shoved his 'shield' into his opponent, then smashed both men's heads together.
All three Lizaflos charged him as one, and even he wasn't capable of stopping them all without some sort of weapon, so instead he leapt up onto the bar and then flipped over all three of their heads, landing behind them. He grabbed his sword and pulled it from its sheath. The three beasts hesitated for a moment, even more afraid now that the Hero had a sword in his hands. They quickly steeled themselves, however, and attacked in unison. Link fought off their blows, but was unable to make any attack himself. They pressed him back towards the stairs, and he was forced to mount them while defending. But the narrow stairway limited their attack so that only one could strike at a time, and this was more than Link needed. As he reached the top stair, he swatted aside the first Lizaflos' attack and lashed out with his foot. The monster lost his balance and fell through the banister, landing motionless on the floor below. The next attacker lunged forward, attempting to impale Link on his sword. He stepped to the side and brought the hilt down hard enough on the back of his skull to knock him right out. The last Lizaflos was smarter, however, and he fought with a more balanced style, defending and attacking instead of just the latter. The battled back and forth across the second level, each gaining and losing ground until the Lizaflos finally gave Link an opening. He feinted at Link's head, then reversed his strike in an attempt to take out his legs. Link leapt over the attack, and in one smooth motion gave the Lizalfos a backhanded strike. The beast lost its balance and fell over top of the railing. Link leapt right after him, and as the Lizaflos landed hard on his back Link landed with a foot on either side of his opponent's soldiers and slammed his fist across his jaw.
Link wasn't given any time to rest however, and an ear-splitting roar thundered through the room and he felt one massive arm close around his neck. He had forgotten about the Moblin, Proog; the leader of the Twisted Stalfos must have come in from the back entrance. Link drove his elbow repeatedly into Proog's stomach, but the Moblin's skin was too thick for it to do any damage. However, Link was spared the struggle as Proog hurled him back against the left wall. Momentarily dazed, Link struggled to his feet. He regained his sense just in time to avoid the Moblin's heavy spear. The tip dug into, lodging into place, and Link took the opportunity to smash a chair against the side of his head. The Moblin staggered and accidentally placed his foot in the fire. Bellowing in pain, he grabbed at the injured foot, comically hoping up and down in place. Link used this chance to charge his sword with bright blue magic, and flipping the blade in his grip, he swung the flat of the sword two-handed against the side of Proog's head. The Moblin's eyes rolled back in his head and with a heavy thud he fell to the ground.
Breathing heavily, Link walked back to the bar, and waited. Sure enough, both Opistan and the barmaid rose from where they had been cowering behind the bar. Link lightly tapped the point of his throat against the barkeep's throat. "You sir, are also under arrest, for catering to and abiding known war criminals and prospering from their crimes." He glanced over at the barmaid. "Miss, if you step outside, you should find a group of soldiers across the street. If you would kindly go ask them to bring in the chains, tell them that their catch is waiting for them."
Several minutes later, Link was standing outside the bar, shaking Captain Blockin's hand. "Thank you, Sir Link," the captain was saying. "Without your help I'm not sure this operation could have succeeded."
"You and your men are more than capable of dealing with garbage like this," Link assured him. "But I'm glad I was able to help. Now, I was wondering if you had the time…"
"Yes sir, it's a quarter past noon."
Link's jaw dropped, and his eyes widened in horror. "No…" he gasped, shaking his head. "No, no, no, no, no! She'll kill me! She'll kill me!"
By the time Captain Blockin had the sense to wonder what was wrong, Link was already a block away.
* * *
"I'll kill him. I really will."
Malon stood in front of the Pedestal of Time in the newly reconstructed Temple of Time, dressed in a fantastic white wedding dress. To her left, also dressed in white, were Queen Zelda, Saria, and Numaru, and standing across from them were Shrike, Zakro, and Darunia, also dressed in fine clothing. Presiding over the ceremony was the owl Rauru. The Temple itself was filled with Link and Malon's friends, Hylians, Gorons, and Zoras alike. The Kokiri were there as well, under the protective spell the Deku Tree had cast to allow them to leave the Lost Woods for that single day. Even Mido was there, trying his best not to look happy. After all, it wasn't every day that the Hero of Time and the leader of the Chosen got married.
Or were supposed to.
Link was over twenty minutes late, and though she tried her best not to be, Malon was slowly becoming enraged. "There's a good reason, Malon," Saria comforted. "He wouldn't miss this day for anything. He was raised as a Kokiri, and we don't marry, but he knows how important this is. He'll be here."
"And the wait will be worth it," Zelda assured her with a smile. She glanced over at Shrike, her husband of three months, who returned her smile. "Marriage is one of the greatest gifts the goddesses gave us."
"If a ball and chain is a gift," Zakro muttered. He had meant it as a joke—mostly, anyway—but he was quickly silenced by a scathing look from Ruto. Malon ignored both them, as her anger was quickly replaced by worry. What if something had happened to him? What if he had been hurt?
Suddenly there was a flash of golden light, and all eyes turned towards the small platform near the entrance to the Temple. Link had appeared out of nowhere, jacket half on and frantically tucking his shirt into his pants. Dashing up the aisle, he got his jacket on properly and quickly made it to Malon's side. He did his best to look as if everything was perfectly normal, but his eyes betrayed his embarrassment and shame at the pain he had caused Malon. She thought briefly of berating him, but any anger was washed away by good-natured humor and love for the man standing beside her. Shrike coughed politely and looked to the groom's head, and Link quickly snatched off his hat and tucked it into his pocket, hastily smoothing out his hair. With that, the ceremony began.
"My friends," Rauru started, "We are gathered here on this day to join these two young people in holy matrimony. To love, in sickness and health, in wealth and poverty, for better or for worse, as long as both shall live. Over the years I have come to know both of them, and I cannot think of any two people more deserving of the joy and happiness a marriage it is they. My blessings, and the blessings of the goddesses, are upon them. They have chosen to write their own vows, and we shall hear them now."
Link and Malon turned to face each other. They looked deep into each other's eyes, saying more with that one look more than any words could say. Nevertheless, Malon spoke first. "Link…from the day we met in the city market, the day you agreed to help find my father…I knew you were something special. I could see the goodness and purity in your heart, the love that you were capable of, and already displayed. After that you became my best friend, my knight in a green hat, the one man I trusted above all else." Her eyes began to water as she fought back tears. "And then, two years ago, during the most inappropriate of times, those feelings of friendship blossomed into something more. It became love. I think it may have been love all along, but I just didn't know it. But now I do. I know it with every fiber of my being, down to my very soul. I love you, Link, and I always will, until the very end, no matter what. I love you."
Link stared at her, also fighting back tears. "Malon…I…" Finally composing himself, he began. "Where I come from, the way I was raised…we don't know of marriage, or even of the love between a man and a woman. I had resigned myself to living like this for the rest of my life without giving it a second thought. But then you came along, and opened my eyes to an entire world that I never even knew existed. I've seen and done many things in my life, but nothing will ever compare to the love I see in your eyes, and the love I feel in my heart. You have done more for me than I can possibly explain, that can even be put into words. The stories say I died for you, and I did and I would. But even more than that, I'll live for you. My every second of life, my every hope and dream, is for you. You were the first person I met when I came into the outside world, and you will be the last when I leave it. Malon Lon, who once called me Fairy-Boy, who dreamed of following me on my adventures…life with you is my greatest adventure. I love you more than words can say, Malon. And I always will."
The Temple was silent, everyone in attendance touched by the deeply personal words they had been privileged to hear. Finally, Rauru asked, "Do you have the rings?" Malon accepted hers from Zelda, and slid it onto Link's left ring finger, and Link took his from Shrike and slid it onto Malon's. Rauru smiled and said, "And now, by the power vested in me by the Holy Three, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
They did, and the crowd roared.
* * *
Three months later, Malon and Link sat snuggled together on their porch swing, watching as the sun set over the trees. As a wedding gift, the Kokiri had built them a wonderful two-story home, just on the outskirts of the Kokiri Village in a sacred glade blessed by the Deku Tree. A small stream meandered off two the side, being fed by the quietly roaring waterfall from the cliff next to them. A well-tended vegetable garden and fruit orchard was located behind the house, as well as a spacious stable where Epona was currently sleeping. Autumn had just begun, and the red and gold leaves were only just beginning to fall. It was a beautiful sunset, one Link and Malon enjoyed every night.
They rocked back and forth, Link's arm wrapped around his wife's shoulders, neither of them saying anything. Finally, Malon spoke. "We have a good life, don't we Link?"
"The best," Link agreed. "If anybody has a better one, I'd sure like to meet them."
"So you don't think we're missing anything."
Link cocked his head to the side and thought for a moment. Then, shaking his head, he replied, "Nope, nothing. Actually, I could go for a nice glass of milk. Want one?"
Malon looked as she was about to say something, but all she did was smile and nod. Link kissed her on the forehead and got up to get the drinks. He returned shortly, and they once again sat in silence watching the sunset. Again, it was Malon who broke the silence. "I went to the castle the other day…"
"How'd that go?"
"Fine. I was visiting with Zelda, and a doctor came in and told her she was pregnant."
Link's face brightened. "Really? How far along is she? Wow…pregnant. I'm going to be an uncle!" He shook his head in wonder, a grin on his face. Malon swallowed, realizing that it was now or never.
"She's not the only one."
Link looked at her and his grin widened even more. "Who else? Ruto? Nabooru? Anne?" Shaking his head again, he took a sip of his milk.
Malon sighed in exasperation. "No, Link. I am."
She wasn't sure whether to laugh or be worried as milk shot out of Link's mouth.
* * *
Six months later, Link and Shrike waited outside the rooms were their wives were about to give birth. But whereas Shrike sat calmly on a bench between the rooms, Link paced the hallway like a caged animal. "Calm yourself Link," Shrike instructed him. "Everything will be fine. They've got the best doctors in all of Hyrule with them."
"Sure," Link quickly replied, not really listening. "You know what this all means, don't you? You can see what's happening, right?"
"We're about to become fathers."
"No! Well, yes, but…look at the signs, Shrike: it's the first day of spring. Zelda and my children were conceived at and are about to be born at the same time. Two members of the Chosen are the other parents. This is destiny! Fate!"
"Or coincidence." Seeing that Link was about to protest, Shrike quickly stood up and took him by the shoulders. "Link…I know what you're thinking. You're afraid, that the children will be put through the same trials that you were, that being so closely linked to the Triforce will rob them of a normal life. It's true that destiny may have something in store for them. But that doesn't change our responsibilities as fathers."
Link sighed, and then plopped down onto the bench. "I know," he conceded. "But that's not the only thing I'm worried about. I…I don't know if I'm cut out to be a father. Growing up, I never had any sort of parent-figures to look after me, or teach me anything other than how to fight. The closest thing I had to a father was a tree, and as great a guarding as the Great Deku Tree was, that's not the sort of was a normal child should be raised. I'm not sure I'll be able to do this right."
Shrike nodded and took a seat beside him. "I understand, Link. I'm just as scared as you are. Don't forget that I never knew my parents either. All I remember is Impa taking me in as her apprentice when I was very young. So really, neither of us has any real clue as to what a father is supposed to do. I wonder if any man does." He offered his brother-in-law a small smile. "But both Malon and Zelda were raised by their fathers, so I'm sure they'll be able to help us out along the way."
Link looked at him for a moment, and then let out a long breath, relaxing his tense muscles. But he was back on his feet, along with Shrike, the instant the doors opened. Two doctors looked out at them, each of them grinning from ear to ear. "Congratulations!" the one on the right told Link. "It's a boy!"
"Congratulations!" the one on the left told Shrike. "It's a girl!"
The two men looked at each for an instant in shocked silence. Then, nearly running over the doctors in the process, they charged into their rooms, joining their families for the first time.
