The last weeks of hard work getting Lon Lon Ranch back in order had Link and I wanting to take a day to relax. After caring for the animals first thing in the morning, we each bathed and picked out some clean clothes to wear on a trip to the market place.
I wore a simple white dress with Blue and tan embroidery along the edges, and a brown leather belt to hold the waist in. I braided my long red hair and pulled on my boots. When I stood, Link was ready to go as well, wearing a pair of green pants tucked loosely into his boots and a plain white linen shirt.
"Are you ready?" I smiled at him brightly, and my heart thumped loudly when he returned the smile and nodded.
"When you are." He added playfully, hooking his arm out for me to grab onto. I giggled and together we walked outside. Link left me by the door to go retrieve Epona.
When she galloped toward me with Link bouncing on her back, I reached my hand out for her to bury her nuzzle into my palm before mounting behind Link and wrapping my arms around his waist. Even though I could ride alone, Link liked for us to ride together. I thought it was a paranoia thing, and that maybe it was easier to keep an eye on me that way. But he hadn't explained his thoughts to me to know for sure.
It was a beautiful day. The cool breeze carried the smell of wild flowers across Hyrule Field, and the sun warmed me through my lightweight clothing.
We made it to Castle Town quickly, thanks to Epona's reliable gait. After we dismounted, Link and I both showed Epona some affection, and Link told her that we would be back shortly. He knew that she would roam around the fields if she wanted to, but he could always call her back.
I walked slightly behind Link into town, humming softly to myself.
"What song is that?" He asked suddenly, slowing his pace to match my own.
"Oh." I was a little embarrassed that he had asked. Normally he didn't seem to pay my little tunes any attention. "It's a song my mother used to hum to me." The moat made a babbling sound below the drawbridge.
"I like it." He responded plainly, giving me a soft smile and holding his hand out, waiting for mine. I smiled and placed my hand into his as we walked into the bustling marketplace.
We walked around without speaking for a short time, the noise of the people who lived there floating through the air. The sounds of laughter, haggling and comfortable conversation reached us in a steady stream. I caught myself staring at Link as he was looking through a table of various woven and beaded bracelets. I was so happy in that moment with him. Having Link around had made me feel so light. I hadn't felt so joyful in a long time, probably before Ganondorf was in power. I was convinced that life should be this way.
While I was daydreaming about my new happy life with Link, I didn't realize that he had made a purchase.
"Malon, do you like this one?" He held one of the bracelets out to me. It had a white leather strap, and colorful glass beads were sewn into it in the pattern of a burning sun.
I gasped slightly before responding. "It's beautiful!" His face lit up at my answer, his bright blue eyes shining with glee. Without speaking, he tied it in a secure knot around my wrist. "Oh Link! Thank you!" I threw my arms around him and he held me tightly.
Before I had time to respond, standing in front of the merchants stand, Link lowered his face to mine and placed a soft kiss on my lips. Immediately, I felt my face get hot. No, my whole body. The noise that was flooding the air before was silent to me now. I had never been kissed before. As quick as it started, my first kiss ended. Link?! I knew that I had feelings for him, but I didn't think that they were reciprocated. I always believed that Link loved the Queen. It just seemed so natural. But this felt much more natural.
He stepped back from me and stared at my face, and I quickly turned my eyes down to the cobblestones, trying my best to stop my face from becoming as red as my hair. I felt Links hand rest on my head and risked a glance up at him. He was smiling, and his cheeks were slightly pink as well.
"I've been happy at the Ranch.." He said softly, before adding, "with you." I felt my heart grow warm at his words. I smiled and nodded in agreement. So very happy.
We walked around for a while longer before leaving the marketplace back into the fields. The sun was turning orange as it prepared to set on the horizon. Epona must have wandered off, because she was no longer waiting for us by the drawbridge.
"Where do you think Epona went?" I asked Link, standing with my hand in his, in the spot where we left her.
Link shrugged, raising and dropping my hand with his movement. He reached for his ocarina, but before he placed it to his lips, he stopped. "Do you want to walk back?"
I could see the ranch from where we stood, and the warm light that was quickly leaving the fields was very inviting when I looked at how it made his hair sparkle and dance. I smiled and nodded to answer his question. "That sounds nice."
With my answer, we started to walk back toward the ranch. Link played Epona's song while we were on our way, and she joined us for the walk, whinnying beside us.
"Next time, let's go to the Gerudo training ground." Link suggested. I had never been to the Gerudo Desert, and honestly, it kind of made me nervous. That was where Ganondorf was from, and from what I'd heard, the women who lived there were not very friendly to outsiders.
"Do you think that's a good idea?" I asked him, slight fear creeping into my tone.
"It will be fine, I'm an honorary member of their tribe." He smiled at me proudly, puffing his chest out slightly. I couldn't help but laugh at his small display of pride. His jaw fell open. "What? Not many people can say that, you know." His face bore the trace of a pout, exaggerated by the low light. He was talking more than usual. It was nice to hear so much of his voice. "Besides, they're friendly toward women."
"You're right, Link, I'm sorry. Let's do that the next time we take a day away from the ranch." I reached up and patted him on the shoulder, mocking a comforting gesture. We both laughed and closed in on Lon Lon Ranch.
Now that we were home, there were a few stars beginning to twinkle in the darkening sky. Epona ran off to join the other horses in the corral, trotting playfully with them.
Link watched the horses play, and I watched him. I couldn't help but smile, it felt like the only expression I knew anymore. When Link caught me staring, I blushed bright red, and he smiled, reaching out to place a hand on my shoulder. He sighed.
"Is something wrong?" I asked, resting my hand on top of his. He shook his head in response.
"No, nothing is wrong." My heart pounded as his eyes pierced through me, rattling my core. "Doesn't it feel like… Everything is right?" I took a moment to consider his question, gazing up at the sky.
"Yes. It does, Link." In the back of my mind, I knew that things were not perfect. But I also knew that I couldn't ask for better. Link moved toward the house, to go inside.
"I'll be in in a minute, Link." He nodded and we parted ways. I walked toward my father's gravesite. I missed him a lot. If it wasn't for Link, everything in my life would have fallen apart. I could never hope to find a way to express my gratitude.
Sitting in the grass near him, I spoke to my dad. "Dad, I miss you… " I started out whispering. "I can't believe that I'm here without you…" I thought of what he would like to hear. What would he care about? "Link is staying here now. I think it's permanent. He's been a great help with the Ranch. " I began to tell him all about my time since he passed. "I was so heartbroken when I heard what happened to you, I could barely get out of bed. I was letting the ranch go…" I felt ashamed. He would never have permitted me to behave that way. I was his backbone before. "When Link came, he really pulled me out of that. The ranch is great now." I sighed and sat in silence for a few moments. "What else… You remember when I was a girl and you told Link he could marry me?" I chuckled softly. " I know that that was a joke, dad. But I might be in love with him anyway…" Thinking of Link, my heart beat got faster. "Would you have approved of it?" I knew that he couldn't answer me, but this was the first time I had spoken to him since he died. I thought he'd like to know that I was happy. "Well… Who knows what the future holds… I just wish you were still here…" A tear fell from my eye. I hadn't even noticed them welling up, but soon more hot tears dripped down my face. I laid in the grass and talked to him until I fell asleep.
I don't know how long I slept in the grass before Link came outside to check on me. "Malon?" He called into the dark night. I didn't wake at the sound of his voice. In my dreams, I felt like I was floating away, his voice a distant lullaby, keeping me calm.