Chapter 3

Malon bit her lip and then shook her head.

"What if they kick me out?"

"They won't."

"But what if they don't let me in at all?"

"They will."

"How do you know they'll like me? How do you know I'll like them?"

"I just do. Now come on and stop whining, we're almost there."

Malon bit her lip again and sighed. "Gerudos. They're just odd."

"What if they think the same of you?" Link asked.

"Oh my God, what if they think the same of me?" Malon said, bringing a hand over her mouth. She started to turn her horse. "No. I can't do this."

"Whoa, whoa! Malon, stop it. Just… calm down and stick with me," Link said reaching out and catching her before she could turn back.

Malon gave another nervous sigh and followed Link across a narrow bridge that spanned over a stream of water. Link led them past a few rocks before starting out on a wider, larger bridge that ran over a roaring river miles below. Malon glanced down.

"Oh good Lord," she murmured and continued without looking down again.

Link gave a laugh from in front of her and she glared at the back of his head. He stopped at a gate with a guard on duty. It was one of the infamous, beautiful thieves standing in white. She smiled as she saw Link approach.

"Link, long time," she said with a grin. "We've been wondering."

"Hello Sheekraie," Link replied with a smile of his own. "It has been sometime."

Sheekraie's gaze slipped past him to land on Malon. "Keeping busy I suppose?" she asked with a leer.

Link rolled his eyes. "This is a good friend of mine, Malon. Malon, this is Sheekraie."

"Hello," Malon said softly with a small wave.

Sheekraie nodded in response and then grinned again. "Don't look so afraid. We're not going to rob you. At least, not while you're with Link." Sheekraie laughed as Malon's eyes widened. "I'm joking. Go on now, get inside. I'm sure the girls will be glad to see you."

Link and Malon clopped past the still laughing guard and made their way into the fortress. Link led them past a set of steep stairs and up a shallow ramp. They emerged on a wide flat land teaming with purple-clad women, their faces half hidden behind sheer cover-ups. The nearest guards looked up as they appeared. The big, captivating eyes focused on Link and smiled enchantingly. Link dismounted, urging Malon to do the same. The guards walked towards them. A few of the others, more distant, waved a hello.

"What a pleasant surprise," one of the guards said, leaning on her scythe with cat-like grace. "What's it been, Dae? Two months?"

The other guard, Dae, nodded her consent. "Just about. You've lost yourself, Link."

"Yes well, I make up for it. I brought someone to meet you," Link said, pushing Malon forward and introducing her to the two guards.

"She's pretty," the first guard, Nata, commented, looking the girl over. "No wonder it's been a while."

"Yes indeed," Dae commented with a leer. "You've been more occupied."

Malon, easing into herself more and more, just barked a laugh. "Good God, spare me please. I think I'd run myself through."

Nata and Dae gave each other looks and smiled back at Malon who gave a teasing grin. Link stared down at her, mouth agape in false offense.

"And why would that be?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"Because, we'd tear each other apart," Malon said. "I'm a farm girl, you're a hero. It would never work. You'd always be called away for some noble task and I'd be stuck in a house cooking, cleaning and slaving. I think not. I mean, look, you neglected your good friends the Gerudos for two months. Two months? No. I am not going to be stuck with you."

"Excuse me, but you don't seem to mind when I come around every dawn to help you clean out the stables," Link retorted. "In fact, just the other day, you told me I come around too often. That I should find something better to do."

"I never said that!"

"Oh yes you did."

Nata and Dae waved as the two started away slowly, still bickering. Nata shook her head.

"That's a pair if I ever saw one," she said with a laugh.

"Yup," Dae agreed.

"They're crazy about each other."

"Yup."

"You think they know?"

"Nope."

"Nope," Nata repeated. "Ah, too be that young again."

Eventually Link and Malon stopped fighting and walked along, saying hello to old friends and new. Link led the way to the shooting range. The guard greeted them warmly and handed Link a bushel of arrows.

"You ready to try?" Link asked with a grin, handing her a bow and some arrows.

"Sure," Malon said, taking the challenge. "You go first."

Link shrugged and called to Epona. He mounted her and took out his own bow, arming it with an arrow.

"Ha!" he spurred and set Epona off. He started down the line, targets on either side in intervals. He ran by, shooting and reloading his bow, aiming at one side first, never missing a bull's eye. At the final target, he rounded the pole and started in on the other side. He finished, stopped before Malon and dismounted. She was staring at him and he grinned.

"Show off," she murmured. "All right, get over here and help me."

Link followed her as she took her stance in front of one of the targets, bow draw and loaded. He laughed and shook his head.

"Come on Malon, work with me," Link said. "Don't open your legs so wide. Less… more… bend your…"

He sighed and fixed her legs, turning them to just the right angle. Malon stood still, trying to breath.

"Good," Link said slowing for some reason. "Pivot your hips."

His hands cam to her hips and he gently twisted until she was just right. His hands slid up to her waist.

"Waist high, chest held up, back straight."

He pulled her shoulders back a bit and ran a hand down her spine, pushing softly to adjust.

"Chin level. Good."

His hand slowly slid down her arm, lowering it a bit. She took in a sharp breath.

"Relax," he murmured.

Malon did as she was told and melted back into him. His hand ended it's slow path to lay above hers, his finger curling around her own on the bow handle. The other came up to rest the same way on the string.

"Now take in a breath," Link instructed in a whisper, looking over her face.

Malon took in a steady, deep breath.

"Pull the string back."

She pulled back until his fingers brushed against the side of her mouth. There was a long pause as they both held their breath.

"Let go."

FLIT!

They tilted their heads to look as the arrow hit the bull's eye next to Link's. Slowly Link's arms dropped from her and they stepped back suddenly, both of them giving breathless little laughs.

"Perfect," Link said at last. "You think you can go one on a horse?"

Malon grinned mischievously. "I think I might be able to handle it."

She whistled for Astrod and mounted him, setting off at the same pace Link did. She shot arrow after arrow in perfect form, hitting all the bull's eyes. She wheeled back around, coming down the second side and halted by a gaping Link. He stared at the bull's eyes for a moment and then shook himself out of his trance. He looked up at her indifferently.

"You missed one," he said, pointing to the ending target at the far back.

"Oh did I?" Malon asked, turning to follow his finger. She loaded her bow again and shot another arrow from where she was. Her arrow split Link's down the center. She grinned down at him. "Where?"

Link stared at her. "Where were you when I needed an ally?"

"Milking cows," Malon retorted, clambering off the horse and handing the bow back to a thoroughly impressed guard with a sweet smile.

"All right, how did you learn to do that?" Link asked, laughing.

"You taught me a while ago," Malon answered, following Link as he started down the slope towards the main gate again. "Remember?"

Link thought a moment. "I did? Oh, yes. I do remember. I can't believe I forgot."

Malon smiled. "I didn't."

"Yes well," Link grunted as he climbed onto Epona's back. "I'd better get you back before your father has my head."

"Will you have dinner with us again tonight?" Malon asked, looking over at him.

He shook his head. "No, not tonight, I'm sorry. I have had an invitation from the castle. I promised I'd go for dinner."

"Oh," Malon said with a nod. "Of course. Maybe tomorrow then?"

Link smiled. He loved the fact that Malon was never jealous, never possessive. She knew he wouldn't abandon her. Her faith in him only strengthened his faith in her, strong as a rock and growing stronger.

"Tomorrow for sure."