Disclaimer: I do not own Legend of Zelda.
Oh how you all adore me!
Here's chap two!
THANKS EVERYONE!
The morning sun glowed over her face. She whimpered and shifted a little. The light was getter warmer and she opened an eye. She immediately closed it and rolled on her side.
"Uhhhh." She moaned.
Curling up into a ball, she brought her blankets over her head. She sniffed her blanket and smothered her face in the warmth. It smelled just like her darling father. That rough man smell that she has yet to smell it on any other man. They say the first man a woman will ever truly love is her father and this was nothing short of true for her. It was a little over four years since he had passed on. She wasn't even there when he passed. He was found in a town gutter. It was a guard who discovered the rotting body. He had been missing for a week. It was the anniversary of her mother's death that brought the events. She knew her father always drank more during that week, for it took her mother a week to die. She was sick and had been for many years. Even as a child her fondest memories of her mother, were created in her marital bed. The night she died was the first time she had seen her father drunk.
"Papa," She whimpered. "Papa…"
She was only eighteen when he had passed. All she had was this ranch, and with Ingo gone with his own life, she had to make it right. Make it home. It was the only place she had ever known.
"Malon!"
Malon moaned.
"COME ON GET UP MALON!"
Her head jerked up and squinted looking at the window.
A young woman the age of twenty, two years younger then she, was walking slowly to her house.
Malon parted her lips. "Come up Summer!"
Summer nodded and ran toward her door. Malon jumped out of bed and shrugged her nightgown off. Grabbing the leggings and old tattered but clean shirt, she threw it on.
She was washing her face in the basin when her door opened abruptly. Malon dried her face off with a towel near by.
"Your going to wear that?" Summer's nose wrinkled.
"It's ranch work, nothing to be prancing about in." Malon answered back.
"True, no men to impress." Summer smiled.
She was average height, petite, with a slender waist. Her full bust was concealed behind a fashionable yellow dress with a soft peach bow and ruffles. Her eyes were bright green tinted with flecks of blue. Her high cheekbones framed her soft face and was a pale rose color. Her teeth were straight and white and perfect. Just like her perfectly arched eyebrows. And the long, curly blonde hair that flowed down by her waist. She was perfect, beautiful, and every man's dream.
And she was Queen Zelda's royal cousin, and Malon's only female friend.
"Nope, just me and the horses. Unless…" Malon smiled wickedly.
Summer's face turned into mock horror. "Disgusting. You have such a foul mouth."
"I didn't actually say you would fuck the horse did I?" Malon pushed past her.
"Oh! You should be paddled!"
"Whatever, you coming or what. I need some breakfast."
Down in the kitchen, Malon got set to baking biscuits and frying thick slices of bacon. She laid five slices in the hot pan and cracked three eggs to go with it. Summer looked in the cooking pans and sniffed.
"Oh no, I had some oatmeal before I got here." Summer said.
"Oh…that's nice." Malon flipped the sizzling bacon.
"So, I don't want anything to eat."
"I didn't add any for you." Malon checked her biscuits cooking in the oven. Summer grimaced and sat at the table.
"You shouldn't eat all of that." She said then.
"Why not?" Malon poked a flaky biscuit, seeing it clean she took the tray out and set it on the window sill.
"Malon, I don't know how to say this but, a man wants a wife who can eat like a lady." Malon placed her bacon and eggs on a plate and set it on the table. "And keep her figure."
Malon raised a brow. "Figure? Me?"
"Yes you. All that grease and fat. Think about it, you have gained some weight." Summer tossed her silky locks.
Malon sucked her teeth and went to retrieve her cooling biscuits. She grabbed the gravy bowl and set it on the table.
"So? I eat what I want, when I want." Malon sat down and poured fresh milk in a cup in front of her.
"And it's showing."
Malon shrugged and she picked up the gravy bowl. She poured gravy all over her food and watched as Summer's eyes open.
"I would use honey too, but I haven't bought any." Malon stabbed a piece of bacon and stuffed the full strip in her mouth. The bacon greased splattered. Malon suckled and chewed. She swallowed loudly and washed it down with milk. She let out a loud belch. She grabbed a hot biscuit and smothered it with gravy. The biscuit melted in her mouth and she hummed.
"Shit, this is good."
"Malon! Stop swearing!" Summer again tossed her yellow mane. "Goddesses you try so hard to act vulgar."
Malon smirked and went on with her meal, listening to Summer's stories about all the suitors coming to court her, and what should she do with them all.
"I mean Malon, I cannot marry into a lower class. It's my job to marry a prince or something, I mean my cousin IS-"
"Queen Zelda of Hyrule, the most prominent and fearful kingdom. Right?" Malon heard it all before.
Summer laughed. "Yes! So you understand my dilemma."
She rolled her eyes.
"I gotta start my day's work." Malon clattered her dishes and burped loudly again. Summer fanned her nose and frowned. "Let's head out to the barn."
"Oh wait. I don't want to do anything like that, I came by to invite you to a grand ball!" Summer squealed. "We can dress you up, have you dance with men, find you a hus-"
"A ball?" Malon raised a brow. "I don't go to that kinda thing."
"Why not? It will so much fun! All the men dressed in their finest, all the women with latest fashions, Queen Zelda using her magic for magnificent fireworks! It would be so awful if you didn't go." Summer smiled excitedly. "We can take you shopping for a dress!"
Malon winded her eyes. "A dress?"
"Yes silly, what else would you wear? That?" She pointed to her work clothes. "You'll look beautiful. I know a seamstress who can hide your gained weight. So, what do you say? After we can stay at the palace with Zelda."
Malon frowned at the idea of being with Zelda for a sleepover. The last time the girls had tried, Zelda ordered a guard to "pillow fight". And she wasn't exactly on friendly terms with Zelda. The Queen was kind enough, but honestly always sounded as if she didn't know how to speak to Malon. The little conversations they had revolved on how well the weather was.
"Uh, I'll have to see." Malon squeaked out. She headed to the door.
"What! It's not like you have anything to do! C'mon please Malon, you're my best friend and all of Hyrule is going! It's the end of the war! Gorons, Zoras, and even Kokiris will be there!"
Malon stopped in her tracks.
The war…over? She thought.
"This ball is to welcome the soldiers home?" Malon blinked and swallowed hard. "Everyone comes home?"
"Yes! That's why it is important not to miss it! It's going to be the talk of the town!" Summer squealed. "It's going to be reeking of available rich bachelors with noble and royal blood!"
Malon could hardly believe her ears. Her mind was rattling. It was clear to her that it was coming true, her answers were here now. He's coming back.
"Link." She whispered to herself.
"Oh the time! I should be going! Anyway the ball is this coming evening on Saturday! Tomorrow, a carriage will come to pick you up for shopping!" Summer rushed to Malon and gave her a dramatic kiss. "We'll be the prettiest ones!"
Malon hushed her goodbye and watched as Summer happily got into her carriage. From her window, Malon could see the sun just barely gazing over her ranch. The day was just really beginning she noticed.
Indeed. She thought.
It was sunset when she stopped shoveling the barrels of hay. She paused and wiped the sweat from her damp brow. Her clothes were sticking to her, and the work was yet to be finished. She still had horses to feed and cows to milk. Her mind was there the entire day, slowing her work. Her thoughts closed in on blonde tresses and silky blue eyes.
It had been too long. So long since she had walked, talked and played with him. He taught her swordplay. She taught him how to sing properly. He had a rich baritone voice, surprisingly coming from such a tender looking boy. The days were filled with laughter and soon enough tears, of when he had to go and risk his life. The last time they had been apart like that, had been for seven years. And poof, time given back and yet again time wasted. He came back so different. Her memories were blurry of the Ganon years, as to Hylians weren't supposed to remember such depraved times, but enough to know who he was, and now what he had become. The difference was boggling to her.
She sighed.
She dropped the huge pitchfork, walked to the barn entrance and opened it.
The fire sky blazed it's ending in a serious of crimson and orange. The clouds parted in respect to the ending day and a sweet breeze blew over the ranch. The trees and grass danced to the beat of the ending day. Malon closed her eyes and smiled. It was soothing, the sunset. It was always magical to her, she never eve took it for granted. She was always there, stopping and reveling in its end.
Malon sighed once again and closed the barn. She finished the rest of her work without pause.
Link rode hard in the front of his men. He rode past the beautiful desert in silence, just the horses were heard. The men were all bent on getting home that night. They had been on their horses all the night before and today, resting only for the horses. They all were dirty, smelly, and tired, but refusing fatigue to slow them down.
Link too was tired and wanting a hot bath. He wanted a hot meal instead of the usual dried meat and hard oatmeal they carry. He wanted to sleep in a big bed with a good mattress, soft pillows, and warm, comfortable blankets. He was still covered in the bloody tunic and ragged leggings. His boots were still wet from the rain. The sucking sound was beginning to drive him mad.
It was cooler as the day ended. Link anticipated riding in the frozen air then the warm winds. Twilight was poking through, Link gazing up at the heavens. He breathed in deep and blinked hard. If he had any happiness it would have been in this. The stars beginning to poke through was fascinating to him, he liked to most then the velvet sky and blinking lights. He slowed his horse a bit and took in more of the scenery. He had heard the deserts of Utica were simply amazing but now it was much more apparent. Hyrule never had a glance like this one, never such a frozen twilight.
"What ya starin' at boy!" Redford shouted behind him. "We got a home to get back to!"
"Leave me be old man." Link was in no mood for his play.
Redford and his gigantic stallion Ito, was soon there. The horse and it's name was just as opposite as it looked. The mane was braided and dyed a funny fuchsia color. The reason being, his young daughter. Who thought her Papa should have the "prettiest" horse in the world. When they all slept, the tiny child got out of bed and worked into dawn to give her father just that. She wailed when Redford shouted at her not to "fuck around with Papa's things". But she had already won with her big brown eyes and curling red hair. Redford rode to camp proud and said any man to laugh would learn to laugh without a head. The threat still stood.
"Oh, don't be so sour. Tis' a pretty night." Redford followed Link's gaze.
"Indeed."
The night was old to him. He had seen so many, when he thought how sooner wouldn't. That days always so young. He slept through them. But nights. Nights were reserved for battle. Nights held the secrets of the days and had special meaning. His nights were filled with the same dead feelings and thoughts. Nothingness. Silent and oh so still, nothingness. But deep inside him, without the slightest realization, he wished something would disturb this.
Link noticed that everyone slowed their horses.
"Beyond look! The peak of Her Majesty's castle!"
Link looked up with the rest of the men. They all began to cheer and give praise to the Goddesses.
"Home at last." Redford nodded. "Such a pity, we had to bring back our dead."
Link swallowed hard thinking of Duane dying in his arms. Typical hero stuff. Wanted to make an impression , show himself worthy. It had ended all badly.
"Shit." He muttered. He galloped to the top of the men.
"We ride hard into Hyrule! Light the torches and send a signal flare to know it is us. They will lower the gates an welcome us home!"
The men cheered and torches were all light. The first flare set up the light sky and burst into tiny flames. The light was powerful and formidable, everyone stood and stared. Link closed his eyes and let the light wash over.
Redford was shouting.
"RIDE MEN, THEY LOWER THE GATES!"
Malon jumped at the piercing noise.
She dropped her firewood and ran into the field of her ranch. Se waited quietly confused at what she had heard.
A light brightened the sky, and burst into flames.
She smiled. Only a flare.
Then, the hard pounding of horses.
"Oh no." She said.
And just then her fears were confirmed.
The horses were whining and screeching, wanting to join those horses in the run as well. Being confined to this bit of land was too much for them and they too, longed for a free run.
Malon broke into a sprint, the pounding was harder and more and more horses were fighting out of the stables.
Pity, she didn't make it in time.
The barn doors burst open and all of her beloved horses were out and running towards the exit. Malon seeing her charging friends, ran with great speed toward the house, moving out of the stampede. She jumped and rolled, hoping she wouldn't be trampled.
Malon was huffing and puffing, thanks to the Goddesses above, and quickly got back on her feet. She ran towards to entrance, after he most beloved horses.
"WAIT STOP!" She screamed.
She knew it was rather stupid to chases them, they ALWAYS come back. Her horses have done this plenty a time. It could be a lone stallion and they would be running out to run with him. She believed because she had mostly had mares.
The hard pounding was ringing in her ears and she went, gasping from running to the entrance.
It was the soldiers returning home. They were all charging like it was war, heading toward the main gates of Hyrule. Huge like giants, their steeds were even bigger, leaving large hoof prints in the dirt. Her horses had fallen in with them and was running up to full speed. Malon was impressed. She had been younger when she saw them run like that.
Green.
The flicker of green came into Malon's view.
She blinked hard and watched as a man with a green, blood soaked tunic galloped along with his men, He stopped and shouted directions but Malon couldn't even hear. She was just staring at his dirt streaked face, and those big blue eyes. Tears formed and she blinked hard.
"Link." She whispered. "LINK!"
Of course, he didn't hear her.
But he did stop yelling orders and glance her way. He did a double take, looking away and then back at her. He stared at the ranch doors in back of her. A smooth, hard look of clarity seemed to take over his face and then, it settled into an emotionless stare. He simply looked over her and began riding hard like the rest of his soldiers.
Malon fought the urge to cry. Instead, she ran into the crowd. Her reasoning, that he just didn't see her.
A huge hand grabbed the back of her shirt and tossed on the seat of a horse. She blinked looking back of her to see a huge, red haired man. He smiled and let out a gruff laugh.
"What ere ya' doin'?" He shouted. "Runnin' out like that could hurt you!"
She didn't answer. Her mind was focused on a honey wheat haired man, and his cold eyes. More like grey then his cerulean orbs.
He didn't even acknowledge me… She thought
"What's wrong, cat got ya' tongue pretty girl?" The man rumbled more laughter.
Malon glared at him. She had not been called "pretty" for quite some time. Not since her father passed. It made her skin crawl. He was covered in blood and dirt, smelling all the way to high heaven. She swore she could see flies buzzing.
"Let me down sir!" She shouted over the trampling. The man's huge grip was making her body feel tight. She squirmed and tried to pry his hands away from her.
"Ha! And let you get killed!" He rode on toward the opened gate. "I'll let you off when we get past the gate."
She huffed and held on as Hyrule town market came more into view. The sleeping town would surely be awakened by angry stomps of the runaway horses. Malon breathed in deep and closed her eyes, gripping the hem of her work shirt. Her face was pale in the moonlight, the troches lit blinded her. She was much uncomfortable in this mans tight grip. Even more, she had her horses to get back to. Her stomach growled. She had only the bread and cheese to eat for lunch last. Her hunger was something not to be tested. She hated being hungry most of all. Have her house on fire and she'll be thinking of how to replace all those goodies in her kitchen.
"Ha we are here!"
The red haired man past through the draw bridge and settled much to the side, letting other soldiers past through.
Malon held on tightly as he came to a halting stop.
The huge man let her go, resting her on top his huge mare, and jumping off. He landed with a hard thud and let out a grunt. She breathed in as deep as she could. The man's smell was over taking her.
"So, what's yer name?" He asked holding his hands out to receive her.
Malon scoffed and jumped down on her on, causing her unbound breasts to bounce. She hoped he hadn't noticed.
"I'm Redford, Link's second in command." He bowed. "I would be most grateful for a name."
Malon looked around.
"Where are my horses?" Malon demanded.
"Eh? Is that Sirian?" He laughed at his own joke.
"Look, I just want what is mine sir." She responded through clenched teeth.
Redford nodded with a cheeky grin and whistled.
Malon's body jumped as the shrill call went over her body. It was frightening and she cursed herself for letting it get to her.
A man galloped to where they stood and jumped off his horse. The handsome young man had beautiful hazel eyes and black curling hair. His jaw line was finely shaped and his full lips the palest of pink. He nodded respectively to Malon and greeted his commander with a deep "sir".
"Jared, bring those horses that ran with us back to the Lon Lon Ranch." Redford said then. He nodded to the horses galloping around with the knight's own steeds.
"Sir." Jared nodded and look at Malon then. "You raise fine horses miss."
"Well, let's round em up-" Malon started to say.
"Oh no, but they have just gotten back from a war gal. You best be lettin' them rest up a few." Redford laughed hearty.
"What? No!" Malon protested. "I can't just wait!"
Jared looked at Malon strangely and looked at Redford.
Redford smiled patiently. "Dear, wouldn't you best let these men rest a night?"
Malon fumed. He was so damn nice about it. He wasn't yelling or making it difficult. He was smiling and trying to reason with her. She didn't want to sound bratty and whine about her ranch and how she needs those horses to plow and eat. She didn't want to go into detail about she felt obligated to uphold her dead father's memory by keeping those horses in shape. No, she didn't want to…
But.
He didn't even see her.
"I WANT MY HORSES!"
Malon's voice echoed in the market place. The quiet night was once again disturbed by her outburst. The soldiers around her stared an chuckled. Even her own horses stopped and slowly made their way to her.
Redford look at her oddly.
"If what you want is to drag a soldier five years in war, five minutes away from seeing their living kin well, then so be it." Redford's tone was drastically stern and flat.
Malon's head hung low. "I can wait as long as a week." Her guilt was apparent in her bright blue eyes.
Redford nodded an whispered his thanks. After saying a polite farewell, he left towards the inn. Malon stood on the street looking at her feet.
"He didn't mean any ill cause to you."
Malon looked up to see Jared smiling at her. His mile framed his face beautifully. She bit her lip and tired to think of something to say.
"I didn't mean to act like that." Malon said then. "I'm not like that usually."
Jared nodded understandably. "He's buried a lot of good men. And it won't stop till he dies. That Redford, is a giant with a heart of gold." Jared looked at her then. His hazel eyes swirled with sincerity. "I'll take you home."
Malon nodded and walked with him to the gate.
The moonlight mocked her back as Link watched from castle hilltop.
The bath was hot.
Link sat in the large porcelain tub, watching the vapors twist and dance, loving even second of it. He had washed thoroughly in his first bath and requested for more bath water. His grime and blood were caked on, dirt stuck in places he had never imagined.
After his shave with real shaving cream and a sharp razor, he looked years younger. As soon as Link look in the mirror he scowled. No one could take him seriously with his soft skin. He had to admit, his jaw line was sharp and he was grateful that if he tightened his muscles in that area, he looked as tough and mean as any man. He would soon have to cut his hair. It was much like a woman's, thick and soft. He detested it.
But this bath. He hot water swirling was excellent. He was already anticipating the long sleep he would have. He would fall into that soft mattress with the goose feather pillows and fall into a deep dreamless sleep. No more half sleep in case an enemy attacked. He didn't have to so on his guard in the Queen's castle. He had enough guards around his room.
Even so, he always looked out for himself.
Link pick up the sponge and rubbed it faintly across his belly. He flicked the hair from his face and leaned more into the water. Yes, he liked this. He even wish there was a more efficient way to bathe, like standing and having the water come down on him like hot rain. Falling on his body, unlike the cold slick rain that came from the heavens with would be sweet smelling and hot, and easy to wash and quicker. He smiled at the lost cause and the sight of him asking the Queen Zelda herself to arrange such a request.
He sunk as low as he could, breathed in deeply, and dunked himself under.
The flicker of red hair floated through his mind.
He held his breath as long as he could and sat up, splashing water all over the warm tile floors.
"Malon." He whispered.
It was when Link was lying in his glorious bed, that he really though of it. He was so surprised that it was her standing among his soldiers. Though he saw the oncoming trample of horses, he never suspected it was from the Lon Lon Ranch. It was foolish to think them as wild. Those fine mares had to be raised by her.
She hadn't changed much. It had only been eight years since they had last spoke. Her fiery hair blowing in the wind. She had been sucking on molasses taffy. He had often brought her a piece. She was just seventeen, he had been twenty then. They were sitting on a hill, receiving the twilight and talking. Rather she was talking. About her dreams and wants, Malon had wanted to do something more then the ranch. She wanted to travel and see different lands. She would often get a glint in her eye and sigh when he mentioned who would have the ranch.
"Papa won't have it," She would pout. "He believes Mama's soul still in the ranch."
Link would smile and tuck her red hair behind her ear and tell her, the lands were filled with molasses taffy and sweet cakes. That they grew like wild flowers and one could simply bend down and take as much as one would like.
Malon would laugh and call Link a liar.
"You'll take me won't you?"
It was the last time he could nod. When he told her that day on the hill, that he would have to go away to war, she began to cry.
"Link, don't go."
Link tossed around in his bed. The small voice was in his head. Those little silver tears were fresh in his memory, able to even smell the fresh salt of her sorrow. Her dress bunched around her legs. Her arms raked through his. Her delicious taffy laying on the grass and dirt.
"Link, don't go."
She cried and he held her tenderly. Cooing words of comfort, promising lies, like letters and visits, when he would come for his supplies. He knew letters would only discourage him and seeing her would make it hard to go back. She was a dear friend.
So for five years, no contact, he assumed she would have hated him. Despised him. He often thought for the first year, that he should write and join the barracks in getting the supplies from Hyrule. But he stayed far away from those missions and acted as if paper and quill was poison.
But, when he saw her. And she saw him.
Her face, sweet and older, held nothing but relief.
Link can think how nervous she was when she saw any soldier riding close to her house for fear of bad news. But Link dismissed her.
"Silly girl." He said softly. Link shifted to his side and felt for his dagger under his pillow. He rested his right hand on the dagger and felt more comfortable. He sighed and closed his eyes.
And as he slept, his dreams were filled with flickers of red and hilltop covered molasses taffy.
HEY YALL!
I hope this chapter was alright, 'im trying to learn up on my horse lingo...I didn't wanna say "horse alot"
Thanks for everyone for reveiwing!
I hope u liked it Summer! Adn everyone else!
Next chap should be up SOON!
I WONT HAVE U GUYS WAITING LONG!
Purplelizard