The Legend of Zelda

Darkness & Light

Chapter I: The Village of Larano

The sun was just beginning to rise and light was peaking over the trees, into the village of Larano. The red and green moon had set and the blue was nearly obscured from sight by the mountains behind the village. The men in the village were already up, working hard to bring in enough money to support their families. The farmers were in the fields, watering their crops and using a common herbal spray to kill off any insects. The village's only metal smith was already in his shop, the flames in his forge blazing. The baker was busy in her kitchen, bread already in the oven and the next batch waiting to go in. The small ranch that was run by an older man and his young daughter was already bursting with the sounds of all the animals.

This was a common morning in the village. Few changes ever occurred. If a man spent the night in the village he would swear that he had already lived this day before. After spending a week in the village, that man would know that the mail man would arrive in the village at precisely 3:47 p.m., if he read the son accurately. Children would be awake and running around the village at 9:00 a.m. All shops opened at 8:00 a.m. and closed at 8:00 p.m., with a one hour lunch break when the sun reached its zenith. Women would be down at the river at 7:00 a.m. to do laundry.

Yes, whenever there was a break in the daily chain it caused ripples. Everyone in the village would be deeply interested by it and talk and gossip would go on for days. "Master Liam didn't open his forge today!" They would say. "Whatever could be the matter?"

Today was one of those days. You see, Lanaro was a very small village to the far south-west of Hyrule. The nearest town to it was Hylia City, almost thirty miles away. It was not often that anyone truly took note of the activities in or around the village, much less a royal ambassador. A messenger of the royal family was to be passing through the village and spending the night in the house of Mayor Tawn. It was also rumored that he would be escorting the Revered Daughter of Nayru and Princess of Hyrule; Zelda. Everybody was anxious about this news. Young children said that she was an angel! Young boys were anxious to try to impress her, while young girls were awed at the mere thought of her.

"You must be edgy yourself, eh?" The sheriff of Larano jeered to his assistant. The sheriff smiled as the young man he had trained and now worked for him remained silent. The sheriff was a middle-aged man, maybe in his early fifties. Despite that fact, he was in top physical condition. His short brown hair had only the faintest traces of gray, while his thick mustaches were still mud brown. His face was carefree and had few wrinkles. He wore pair of black trousers and a white silk shirt. A plain, unadorned sword was strapped to his hip.

He leaned back in his chair, stretching out his legs and proceeding to cross them. "She is about your age, isn't she?"

The sheriff's assistant smiled weakly at his boss's words and nodded in response. The sheriff's assistant was known well throughout the town. He was a good man with a stout heart. He was known for his willingness to assist anyone in the town with any problem, large or small. His dark blond hair was cut in uneven and untamed locks. His sapphire blues eyes shone with a cheery glow that almost nothing could dim. His muscles were not as distinguished as his mentor's, but it was no secret that many of the girls in the village would lose their train of thought when they saw him, despite the fact that his white shirt was now a dreary gray color and his brown trousers were faded. The fact that he was not well off didn't seem to bother them.

"Well, why are you so quiet today?" The sheriff asked as his apprentice shifted uncomfortably.

"It's nothing, Sir," the young boy replied.

The sheriff chuckled. "I've known you for too long," he stated. "I can tell when you've got your mind on something."

"It's as you said, Sir. I'm edgy. That's all."

"Why are you nervous?" The sheriff inquired with a laugh.

"Most of the people in this village will chase after her carriage and pray to the goddesses that they even see her," he replied. "You and I will actually be there when she arrives."

The sheriff's eye sparkled as his smile widened. "You don't have to meet her, you know. I could give you the day off. When was your last free day? Not since I gave you that, I reckon," he said as he gestured to the wooden sword on the boy's belt.

The boy blushed slightly, knowing that the sheriff was right. He had become very serious about his job when he had received the wooden sword that hung at his hip. He rarely went anywhere without it anymore. It made him feel impressive, for he was the only young man in town who had one. All of the other boys were expected to follow in the footsteps of their fathers. He on the other hand was expected to become a sheriff.

"Thank you for the offer, Sir, but I think I'd rather not miss any work."

"That's what I thought," the sheriff chuckled. "Now get going. I've got nothing for you to do today, so enjoy yourself for once."

The young man smiled. "Are you sure?" He asked. "I could always double check-,"

"Link, go! Why stick around here when you've got a pretty girl waiting for you?" The sheriff asked. The young man, Link, smiled even wider. "Be here bright and early tomorrow morning! The royal ambassador is expected at noon!"

"Yes sir!" Link replied as he practically bolted out the door. The sheriff shook his head and sighed.

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Link walked out of the sheriff's office and looked around the village. The clouds in the sky suggested that they may have a light rain later on, but for now, it was sunny, which meant that the animals were still outside at the ranch. He loved the ranch. He loved the horses and goats. He loved the pigs and chickens. He enjoyed working with them and keeping them in the ranch. Above all that, there was a certain ranch girl who caught his eye.

The ranch was at the northern end of the village, only a block or so away from the sheriff's office. Link would usually walk over there on his lunch break and be scolded for being late upon returning. It never failed to amuse him how the sheriff could scold him and make merry sport with him at the same time. He kept these thoughts in his mind as he walked across the short bridge that had been built over the stream. Several women, young and older were already doing their laundry. Most of the teenaged girl looked up and watched him as he passed by. Some called out to him. He waved back in response. He could see the jealous looks that some of them had when they same him going towards the ranch.

He ignored those looks and went right through the iron gates that served as the boundary for Lanaro Ranch. The ranch consisted of a barn, a house, and an open grassy area for the goats, cows, and horses to graze. Link assumed that nobody would be in the house at this time of day. As he walked passed the house he saw exactly who he wanted. There she was, standing alone in the fields with cows as her only company. Despite the cool weather, she still wore a short sleeved button up blouse and a dark blue skirt. Her fiery red hair cascaded down behind her, like a waterfall of bright red silk. He smiled just looking at her. She still hadn't noticed him. She had her back to him as she milked a cow in the center of the grassy field.

He walked up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder. Her head jerked up in shock as she felt someone behind her. She sighed with relief upon seeing it was him. "What are you doing here?" She asked as she embraced him closely.

"The sheriff gave me the day off. He said he wanted me to get ready for Princess Zelda's arrival," he replied. She puffed up her cheeks and glared at him in mock jealousy. Her emerald colored eyes twinkled with good humor. "Worried?" He asked as he pushed a lock of hair out of her face.

"Should I be?" She asked.

Link bent down and kissed her playfully on the nose. "Nope," he replied cheerfully. She grinned mischievously and wrapped her arms around him. Her slender hand ran through his untamed locks and pulled his head down towards her. She kissed him deeply on the lips. She moaned as the passion overtook her and she became light headed. Slowly, unwillingly, she broke the kiss. They held each other at arm's length.

"You can tell her that if she goes near you, I will personally hunt her pampered royal ass down and stab her in her sleep," she said innocently.

Link feigned shock at her fierce words. "Wow, you must be really worried," he teased her.

"Girl has to secure what's hers," she replied.

"You know," he said seductively. "There are simpler ways of securing things," he whispered into her ear as his hand found her bottom and patted it. She smacked it away playfully and looked up at him in mock annoyance.

"She'll toss you that bone before I do," the ranch girl said in exasperated tones.

"Really?"

"Really!" She assured him.

"You know how persuasive I can be," he told her.

"Do your worst," she urged him.

Link lowered his head so that his lips were right beside her ear. "You know you want to," he whispered.

"That the best you've got?" She whispered back. "My father went to visit Mayor Tawn. We're the only ones here. This could be your shot."

"You'd be the envy of every girl in Lanaro," he whispered.

"Hmm…" she mused. "Maybe I should reconsider."

"I think you should," he told her.

"Malon!" Link's eyes widened and she giggled as he jumped away from her.

"I thought you said your father-,"

"I lied!" She interrupted. She turned around before he could respond. "Yes, Daddy?" She called. Her father, Talon, was standing at the door to the barn, waiting.

"I appreciate that you have a boyfriend, but you still have chores to do!"

"Yes, Daddy," she replied.

"Link, care to help?" Talon inquired.

"What can I do, Sir?" He asked.

"Get on that wild horse o' yours and deliver some milk to the mayor!" Talon called.

"Sure thing!" Link responded. Talon turned away and walked back into the barn. Link turned to face Malon, who was giggling furiously. "That wasn't funny!" He snapped. Her only response was another fit of giggling. Link shook his head as he walked passed her. He couldn't keep himself from smacking her behind as he walked by. Malon smiled sheepishly as he walked away.

"I love you," she told him.

"I love you too," he replied.

Link started for the horse stalls in the barn. Inside he saw his horse in the closest stall. As Talon had said, his horse was a wild beast, yielding only to Link and Malon's command. She was a dark brown colored mare with a white mane. Link patted her softly on the neck for a moment before he opened the door to her stall. The horse neighed softly as he saddled her and climbed up onto her back. With a soft kick, Link urged the horse forward and out of the barn. He directed her to the front of the house, where Malon was standing beside a small box.

"There are three milk bottles in here," she told him as she handed him the parcel. "Be careful with them."

"I will. I only ever dropped one bottle," he retorted.

"We've got all day, so don't rush," she instructed. "There's no need to overdo it with Epona."

"Malon, I'm delivering milk! There's nothing to worry about!" He assured her.

She shook her head with a smile and patted the horse gently. "Go," she said dismissively.

"I'll be back in an hour or so," he told her.

"See you then."

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"Thank ye, m' boy," Mayor Tawn said cheerfully as Link handed him the box that contained the milk bottles. "Talon was a lil short on 'is last delivery."

"I'll let him know," Link assured the mayor.

"Thank ye. M' misses will be happy wif dis," the mayor said as he shook the box.

"Mr. Mayor, I wouldn't-,"

CRASH!!!

Link winced as the bottles of milk shattered as the bottom of the cardboard box fell out. The mayor let out a mourning cry as he saw what he had done. "Noooo!" He cried. He looked at the spilt milk sadly and then looked up at Link. "Don't s'ppose ol' Talon could send s'more?"

Link nodded. "I'll ask him about it," he replied.

"Well, thank ye fer dat," he said dourly. "Now, Link, I take it y'll be dere toomorrow when de princess arrives?"

"Yes sir," he replied.

"Well I teek it dat y'll be wantin ta be wearin a real sword on yer hip?" he asked.

Link looked at him in some hopeful shock. He hadn't really thought about it. Now that he did, he supposed that it would be foolish for an assistant sheriff to address a princess with not but a wooden sword strapped to his hip.

"Heh heh, dat's what I tought!" The mayor said with a toothy grin. "I've alredy talked wit da blacksmit. He's gonna have it ready fer ya by da morning. You's gonna stop at da smitty and pick it on up befor ya come on ovar here."

"Yes sir," Link replied, grinning from ear to ear.

"Now git!"

Link turned and started towards the door. "Bye," Link called back.

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Link looked around mildly as Epona slowly trotted through the village. The wind was blowing lightly through his shaggy hair and across the stream that trickled through from Lake Hylia. He could see a few of the children that he would take care of on occasion, running through the village, playing with toy swords and slingshots. Link watched as they wrestled and attempted to strike each other and chuckled. He could remember the days not so long ago when he had been like that. He remembered the days when he had dreamed of being a brave soldier, riding into battle on the back of a gold dragon, carrying a shimmering blade and a polished shield. He could remember when he had dreamed of striking down great beasts and foes in the name of the king.

Since then his ambition had died down somewhat. He was content with the idea of taking over as the village's sheriff and assisting Malon when she took over the ranch. He was more than satisfied with the idea of being a common country man with who would put in an honest day's work every day. He liked the idea of coming home to his beautiful wife and maybe a couple of children.

"Link!" He turned his head and saw two of the children coming towards him. The first was a young boy who was holding a wooden sword. The second was the boy's younger sister, who held a deku stick that she was using as her own make-shift weapon.

"Hello, Kyle, Reana," Link said pleasantly.

"Hey Link, are you gonna meet the princess?" Kyle asked eagerly.

Link chuckled at the young boy's enthusiasm. "Yeah, I am," he replied.

"Ooooh, Malon must be so jealous!" Reana cued.

Link laughed at the little girl's childish attitude towards the whole thing. "It's not like that, Reana," he told her with a shake of his head.

"Are you gonna leave Malon for Zelda?" Kyle asked enthusiastically.

"No!" Link snapped at him.

"You're gonna leave Malon!" Kyle accused.

"I am not!" The young man snapped.

"Yes you are!" Reana said pointing her finger.

Link shook his head and urged Epona to trot faster with a small kick in the flanks. The horse started to move faster, causing the children to jog to keep up.

"What are you and Zelda going to do tomorrow?" Kyle called after him. At that point it didn't matter, because Epona was going to fast for the children to keep up with. The horse galloped away from the main square of the village and back towards the ranch.

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The loud sound of metal pounding against metal sounded again as the hammer came down against the anvil. The roaring fire of his forge had been blazing for the passed several hours. Sweat trickled down his bare torso like a river, deluging the ashen ground that he stood on. His hammer came down again on the steel that was glowing red hot from the flames that had recently engulfed it. Sparks flew from the blazing metal.

He roughly grabbed the hilt and submerged the blade in a vat of cold water. The blade sizzled as steam rose from the water. He pulled the blade out soon after and gently set the sword down on his workbench and continued his work. Only a few short hours later, the sword was complete. It was not a beautiful weapon, nor was it that of a royal knight. It was not something that a noble lord would carry into battle.

Few would ever realize the true significance of the blade that had just been forged. Few would ever know that the blacksmith in an out of the way village like Larano had just forged the blade that would be carried into battle by a man who would become a great hero…