Link wasn't sure about what to do with his mystery girl. He assumed she washed up from somewhere. The lake was famous for transporting people from different lands across the world.
Nonetheless due to the hostility of the desert women, Link wasn't about to drop the girl off there. Although it was half-a-day's trip, he decided to take her to Lon Lon Ranch.
The girl rode with Link on his horse and it wasn't long before she was asleep. He thought it strange how almost drowning and sinking into the sea didn't wake someone up. He shrugged it off thanking the gods for the pass of awkward conversation.
Soon after making it to the field a white light slipped from Link's clothes and began hovering around him. "Awake so soon, Navi?" Link mumbled to himself.
"Hey!" Navi shouted almost in Link's ear. His eyes closed together in response. "Who is that?"
"Beats me." Link responded as he controlled his flaring agitation.
"Listen! You can't just pick up random people! It could be a trap!" She flew down to investigate the girl. Link sighed as Navi landed on the girl's nose. "She doesn't exactly look terror filled."
On that note Rhaine opened her eyes. Being caught off guard she started swatting the air. While doing so she slipped off the horse and to the ground.
"Ohmygod! Ow!" Rhaine said as she grabbed her arm. "What the hell?" She rocked back and forth clenching her side. She felt more presence near her and looked up to see a massive horse with a boy staring down at her. "Ehg?" Was her attempt at words.
She suddenly knew as much as he thought: his name, the bug's name, the horse's name, and that this was not a dream. Dream people don't have their own thoughts.
Link jumped off the Epona bent down to Rhaine. "Yes, it sure looks like that is going to bruise."
After seeing he wasn't hostel Rhaine pulled herself up. "Rhaine." she said. Link looked to the sky noting how clear it was. Rhaine let out a giggle. "No, no. My name. My name is Rhaine."
"Oh, I was a bit confused." Link returned her mild laughter.
"Who are you?" A high pitched voice bounced in front of Rhaine's face bright and radiant.
"What are you?" Rhaine responded with. All too quickly the answer appeared in Link's mind. A nuisance.
Link pulled himself back on the horse and held his hand out to Rhaine. "We are going to a local ranch for the night then we're headed into town. That's where we will have to part."
"Oh, thanks for taking me anywhere."
They passed the entrance gates of the Ranch in a few hours time. A red haired girl ran up to the pair. "Link you promised me you would bring me some flowers from your adventures the last time you left. She doesn't count." The girl pouted, but Link just smiled.
"I've been gone a day and I only made it to the lake. Were you hoping for seaweed?" Link climbed off the horse and turned to help Rhaine who wasn't sure about leaving the horse the proper way. "I was wondering if we could stay here for a night."
Malon made another face while Link pulled Rhaine down. "I suppose, but you better tell me who she is."
A few minutes later Rhaine found herself being dragged inside a nearby home as Link pulled his horse away. She was tossed on a bed to sit. Malon sat down next to Rhaine and took her arm. "Let's see what's wrong here." She inspected Rhaine's arm observing minor swelling around the elbow and to her wrist. "Probably need a splint" Malon muttered to herself.
"My name's Rhaine." Rhaine spoke with a kind of insecure tone. Malon looked up as if annoyed, but swallowed rude remarks.
"Malon, and I think the best thing for you would be to drink some of our famous milk." Then she handed Rhaine a bottle of milk. "Just half should do. You'll be good as new!"
"How is, umm, milk going to help a bruise?" Rhaine asked as she eyed a blue cow on the front of the bottle.
"Haven't you ever heard of calcium? Just drink and you'll see."
The two went outside after Rhaine finished the recommended amount of milk. Malon showed Rhaine to the open pasture where horses ran free. A circular but open fence held more horses and in the center Link sat on a crate with his horse. As the girls grew closer they could both hear and see Link playing a strange instrument.
Link stopped playing when he noticed them. "How's the arm?"
Rhaine frowned before looking to her arm. She poked the swelling parts, but there was nothing swelling anymore. She removed the splint to find no pain at all. "That's amazing."
"Cal-cee-yum!" Malon nodded in approval. "Anyway I just wanted to let you know that her arm is fine and since I'm so nice I will be giving her some spare clothes."
"Oh, well that's not really necessary. I wouldn't want to impose." Rhaine said feeling a shrinking feeling in her stomach.
"Just take what I offer. It's not like I'm royalty or anything. Link's the only legendary one around here." Malon rubbed her hand on Epona's head after receiving a glance from Link.
"Come on Rhaine." Malon grabbed Rhaine's arm before she had a chance to ask questions.
Later that night after eating dinner Rhaine was preparing herself to lay down when there was a knock on her door. "Come in." She chanted as the door opened.
She turned to Link in her jade nightgown. "Oh, hello." She said as she sat down on the edge of the bed.
Link tarried in the doorway a moment before spotting a chair. He pulled it in front of Rhaine. "So, I was wondering if you could tell me about yourself."
"Why? Don't like a mystery?" Rhaine smiled as she pulled her knees to her chest. Link returned her smile. "Honestly, there's not that much to tell."
"At least tell me where you are from, that way I can help you get back."
"I don't want to go back." Rhaine was serious. "Do I have to?"
"Well I guess you don't have to if you don't want to, but I assumed you would want to go home." Link's face held worry.
"Alright, how would you get me back to the United States of America?" Rhaine quizzed.
Link's grew perplexed. "There is no such place. I've traveled this world a thousand times over."
"Then I suppose you won't be getting me home." Rhaine shrugged. "I'll have to make due."
"Why are you happy to leave your home and your life behind?" Link didn't understand.
"Haven't you ever felt like you didn't belong? Haven't you ever felt as though there was something else you were supposed to do somewhere else?"
Link closed his eyes for a moment recalling his earlier childhood years. He remembered how alienated the other children such as himself ignored him. He remembered leaving. "I see…"
"So you understand that I think it was kind of like destiny or fate. I'm here because I have to be… And I'm not going to leave."
"Well, then what will you do?" Link inquired conversationally. Rhaine arose from the bed and walked to one of the many windows. She looked at the colorful sky and past the high walls of the ranch to Hyrule field. The vast hills and hidden expanse stitched itself into her thoughts.
"I envy you, Link." Rhaine finally spoke. "You get to travel to those places many never see. You get to risk your life a million times, but somehow never die. You have many who would dream of going with you where ever you go…"
"I thought you weren't from around here. How would you know that if you've never been here?" Link eyed Rhaine suspiciously.
"One of my secrets." Rhaine turned around to Link. "Would you like to see another of my secrets?
-End Chapter