AN: Sorry for the delay, this took longer to write than I thought. Almost done, hope you've enjoyed it so far!
'Ugh.'
Link blinked furiously, the white spots in his vision twisted and changed from green to purple. He rubbed a knuckle into his eyes and the marks burned into his eyes faded.
'I wish it wasn't so bright.' He shot a look over his shoulder at the now empty pedestal. The afterimage of the glow that had returned him to the future was still overlaid slightly on his vision, and it wavered oddly over the reality. Navi, who had lived her long life from the heart of an intense glow, said nothing. Link staggered down the steps, feeling yet again the strange disorientation of being thrust into a new body. Every time he had to travel through the years he ended up confused and dizzy for a while, and his hand groped for the wall of the passage into the temple hall, his body fighting against the fresh memories of being ten again.
'I don't think I'll ever get used to this.' He slid down the wall to sit for a while, his back against the cool stone, letting his brain settle. As he spent more time as an adult his mind adapted to the change fairly quickly, but the time immediately after was always thoroughly unpleasant. He lay his head back against the wall and collected his thoughts, trying to ignore the twitches as his muscles remembered what it felt like to be developed. Navi buzzed around his head for a minute, then his eyes snapped open.
'What do you think happened to her?'
'You mean Nabooru?'
'Yeah... it seems just an hour ago but it was seven years... I wonder what those witches did. Or even if they're still around.'
Navi said nothing. They were both remembering watching in hopeless despair as the Gerudo was sucked down into the sand, shouting impotently as the witches vanished with a cackle.
'Maybe she was sealed like you were? I mean, she seemed to know the secret of getting further into the temple.'
'Could be she just meant these.' Link dug into his pack and pulled out an intricate assembly of silver plates and chains. He held it up, considering the shape, then waved it next to his arm. 'I think they're meant t-'
As the dangling chains waved near his gauntlets, they whiplashed out like snakes, and he yelled in alarm as the whole device jumped from his hand and wrapped itself tightly round his heavy glove. He watched apprehensively as the intricate chains slithered over each other and fastened themselves to the leather. With a barely audible clink, they fell still, and he flexed his hand experimentally. The plates lay on the back of his forearm and hand, but apart from the gleam of silver he felt no different. He shrugged and pulled the second piece out.
'Maybe it's a key of some sort.'
Navi shrugged and he felt a stab of irritation that she was being unhelpful. He was about to snap at her, then checked. He was the one being unreasonable. He was tired, dispirited and disoriented. He had spent the last few days sneaking around a desert fortress, heart in his mouth, freeing the carpenters from their cages. Talon had been wrong about where they had gone, he realised with a smile. The stealthy advance had been punctuated by sudden, terrifying swordfights with thieves whose blades curved like the moon and were wider across than the women who wielded them. Eventually an uneasy truce had been called, the thieves had allowed him the run of the fortress in recognition of his skill. He couldn't remember showing any, but since the only sleep he had had in two days was unconciousness brought on by being captured, he had warily snatched a few hours asleep, his weapons close. The Gerudo who had struck the fragile peace had confirmed his suspicion that something strange had been happening in the statue of the desert goddess, and he had set off into the shifting sands.
The journey had been hellish. He had been admonishing himself for never preparing adequately for anything, muttering and grumbling at his stupidity to distract himself from the merciless glare of the sun. Walking on sand was an unfamiliar experience, his feet had shifted and twisted in the loose dunes, for every step he scrambled up he seemed to slide down two. Just as he had been adapting to the strange surface, a sandstorm had howled in as if from nowhere, all visibility had been lost and he had stumbled on, the ground and air had seemed so inextricably tangled with the pressing heat he had felt as though he were buried alive. The journey had taken forever, a vague blur of memories of grit, dry roasting sun and twisting ankles, and even now in the temple he made a face as though he still had sand in his mouth. He spat out of habit and Navi looked at him questioningly.
'I'm just remembering that sandstorm. I think if I'd held my sword up it would have sharpened itself.' His thoughts were back in the present, glossing over Shiek's customary strange words, the silence of the temple, and the chilling memory that he had not mentioned to Navi in case he had imagined it, a hulking figure stalking him silently through the storm, lurking in shadows in the temple, moving noiselessly despite its size, and he shivered. Now he had to go back, with a treasure won from seven years in the past, using a method he didn't understand, to free the final sage. He remembered the optimism he had faced this last temple with a few days before and smiled. His thoughts drifted, as they always did when he relaxed, to the girl at the farm. He could go and see her now, he thought, and it was tempting, so tempting to put off the rest of the gloomy temple for a few days, but the thought of shirking his duty so close to the end was equally disturbing.
Was it duty? He had never asked for this, never actually volunteered, he had been asked to deliver a stone by the Great Deku Tree and had been swept up helplessly in the swirl of events. He put his head in his hands as he reached the part of this train of thought he always hated. He had been dragged along on a quest he didn't understand, and as a result had allowed Ganondorf to steal the artifact of the gods and rule the country. He thought of all the ruined lives, the corpses wandering the streets of the market, the buildings burning or gone, the survivors living in fear and cramped conditions, and most selfishly he thought of Malon, remembering the tears on her face the first time he had seen her, her defeated attitude and lost hope, the years of suffering, and he knew everyone in Hyrule had endured the same. The worst part, the treacherous thought that had niggled the edges of his mind these last weeks, that he had constantly tried to ignore or drown out; it was all his fault. Even if he did defeat the tyrant and restore peace, could the kingdom heal itself after all those years of evil? How would they rebuild, where was Zelda, would he be seen as a hero or reviled as the architect? He felt his thoughts begin their profitless slide into despair and jerked his head up.
Navi was floating silently, lost in her own thoughts, but she looked down as he moved and smiled.
'Ready to keep going?'
Link nodded and rubbed his jaw.
'I swear it's the teeth that I can't get used to. They feel all wrong from in here.'
Navi laughed at him and he went to push himself up. To his slight consternation he shot upright with such force that his feet temporarily left the ground. He staggered, Navi laughed again, and he looked bemusedly at his arms.
'I think I lost weight. That, or... these make me stronger somehow.' He frowned at the plates on his gauntlets.
'Magic gloves, Link!' Navi laughed again, flying eagerly towards the seal on the floor. He walked stiffly after her, his muscles still twitching and protesting slightly, and took out his Ocarina.
'At least I don't have to walk all the way through that desert again.'
He closed his eyes, put the instrument to his lips, and with the dexterity he had learned years ago, played a tune. A simple tune, only a few notes, but notes that refused to fade after he stopped breathing, echoing back from the walls of the temple, notes that grew in strength to a desert wind, carrying the smell of spices, the heat of the sun, and the tune wrapped itself around him in what felt like a storm of sand. He opened his eyes and the wind was real, he was back at the oasis, staring at the looming statue. He sighed and put the Ocarina away.
'As long as I live, i will never understand how that can possibly work.'
'Mag-' He shot out a finger to the fairy's lips and she stopped, surprised, then laughed.
'Come on.' He stepped off the stone and already his foot sank in the soft sand. He flexed his shoulders. Just one more effort, and it would be over.
Malon hummed to herself as she swept round the stables. Her back ached, and she was exhausted, but she was proud of herself, and she took a quick break to lean on the large post where the wall had swung back to open the building onto the field. She wiped her hands absent mindedly and looked out on the evening. The air was still and clear, crickets chirped at each other in the warm grass, and the few horses that hadn't returned yet were trotting sedately around on their own business. It was that strange period before sunset happens properly, the sky was tinged with orange and pink, the air thick and deep blue. Almost unconciously, she was singing the notes of her mother's song under her breath. She walked onto the field, ignoring the fat flies that buzzed lazily through the evening, swaying slightly to the rythymn of the song. She was content, her work done for the day, and she was at peace with the world. Everything was so calm-
'Hey!'
Her eyes snapped open and she tensed as though she had dropped into icy water. That voice was unmistakeable, and her eyes raced round to find the glow-
'Malon!'
There, the fairy was poking her head over the top of the wall to the west. She clung to the stone and grinned from ear to ear. Seeing Malon had spotted her, she waved and shouted again.
'We got it! We did it!'
Malon gaped at her for a second, then her face spread in a wide smile. They had done it already? Much faster than she had expected, Navi was happy so he must be undamaged, and returning now, today? She almost jumped at that stroke of luck, and ran back through the field, between the buildings, until she grabbed the gatepost and swung round onto the path.
'Link!'
She stared into the setting sun, dazzled by the rays, then she saw him, running towards her out of the light.
'You did it!' He grinned at her and kept running, his boots parting the long grass and sending small insects scurrying across the hard soil. He looked to see her hair flare gold for a second as it caught the sun behind him, and he laughed at a memory that seemed so long ago. She felt the same, a half forgotten moment from years before come to life again, except this time she ran to meet him and flung herself on him, burying her face in his shoulder, and he lifted her up to spin her around as if she weighed nothing. He dropped her lightly to her feet and she grinned at him, her face alive with pleasure and glowing from the sunset.
'We did it. The sages are awake, it's nearly over.' The relief was clear in him, his shoulders slumped and there were bags under his eyes, but he was smiling. She noticed that his tunic was burnt slightly and he had a new shield that blazed gold where it reflected the sun.
'So all you've got to do now...'
He followed her gaze to the tower in the distance, and finished her sentence for her.
'Is win. Then we'll all be free.'
They gazed at the spire in silence for a minute, minds tangled with thoughts of the future, what had to happen, what might happen, and what could never happen. Link suddenly drew himself up as if to set off. Malon frowned at him.
'Where do you think you're going?'
'I have to go to the tower. The sooner I defeat the Evil King, the sooner Hyrule is free.'
'I know you want to get it over with, but...' She looked critically at him, and brushed some sand from a fold of his tunic, 'You look absolutely exhausted. You need to rest before you go up there.'
He hesitated. The offer of rest and food was tempting enough to sway him from charging straight off down the path to the castle. Now that he was standing still he realised how tired he actually was, but he felt compelled to end his quest as soon as possible. Malon saw his indecision and knew she had to persuade him to stay. It was pure luck that had brought him back today, and she wasn't going to let that escape...
'Come on. A meal, a bed, just for one night, and you can end it tomorrow. No one will think any less of you.'
He was still unsure, though base feelings were shouting in his head for him to accept.
'I think I would be able to do it, i mean-'
'You wouldn't even get there Link. There have been patrols of horsemen around the castle recently. You'll have to slip past them to even get close, and you need to be razor sharp for that. Come and rest, just for one night.'
She was looking at him almost pleadingly, and though he needed little persuasion, her wide eyes were more than enough.
'Just one night?'
'Just one night. Recover and end it when you're alert.'
He nodded. 'I'll go tomorrow then.' He smiled at her, loving the way the corners of her eyes lifted as she smiled in response.
'Good.' Without warning, she pulled herself closer to him and kissed him gently. All the aches and pains of the last few days vanished in a moment, it was as though he had crawled out of his body to wrap up in a blanket, and he held her tight.
'I missed you.'
'I miss you every time, Link. But that's nearly behind us.' She didn't betray her thoughts, the knowledge that the dark tower would be his greatest challenge yet, and she hid her fears for his safety by kissing him again.
She led him by the hand into the ranch, swinging the gate shut behind him. They walked in silence between the buildings, and Link stood patiently while Malon led the last few horses into the stables, then he swung the big door shut for her. She was finishing off another little job when he realised.
'Malon, where is everyone?' He was frowning about the ranch, listening for Talon's shout, or the sound of animals as other work went on, but there was only the drone of insects. She blushed slightly, hoping that the fading light would hide it.
'Oh, um, they went to the village. They heard the carpenters were back and went to talk to them about the wall, and dad had some milk to deliver... they only left a few hours ago, you just missed them, really.'
'They left you here by yourself?' He was astonished, and she smiled at him.
'Link, I can run this place on my own. It's all I did for years, really...' her voice trailed off rather than speak of the recent years. 'Well, anyway. It's not for long, they said they'd be back tomorrow sometime, maybe later if business is good or, as I think is more likely, if they meet some friends and have a drink.'
Link said nothing. He had heard what she was saying, but for some reason the words sounded as if they came from far away. Alone here, with Malon? He tensed his stomach to try and calm the writhing of the all too familiar snakes inside, and suddenly he felt afraid. Monsters, skeletons and dragons were easy to deal with, but now the thought of being alone with this girl was the most terrifying thing he had ever considered. His mind flashed through memories, they had always been hiding from the others before, but now there were no others... and accompanying that thought were all the memories of her body against his, the sight of her nightdress and his speculation as to its absence, and everything crashed together to root him to the spot.
'Speaking of drink-' She finished what she was doing and pulled the stable door shut, 'you must be hungry. I put some food on earlier, you're more than welcome to share it.' She dazzled him with her smile and he followed her, terrified and tensed as if for battle, into the house.
'I was only making this for myself, but I'm sure there'll be enough to share.'
Navi darted around the roof, smirking.
'He'll be fine, Link only eats a crust a day as it is.'
Link shot her a glare but said nothing, mutely attempting to lend a hand but only getting in the way. He had shed his weapons and equipment in the spare room when he had entered, preferring the bed to the pile of straw he usually slept on. He had come out to find Malon bustling about with food, chatting at him slightly breathlessly, and he saw no reason to interrupt her. Again, for a reason he couldn't quite pin down, he suddenly found talking to her difficult. It was easy with other people around to interrupt, to join in with, but when there was only her he felt inexplicably tongue tied.
She set a small meal on the table and he had an idea.
'Do you think Talon would mind if we had some of that wine from the other day? I'm pretty bashed up, I could do with something strong.'
She looked at him for a second, then smiled and he went to get one of the bottles they had opened days ago. He needed the confidence, he thought as he stared morosely into the dark liquid. Why was talking so hard? Though he knew her well, this felt like completely unfamiliar territory. He could easily recall the thoughts he had struggled with when she had come to sleep in his arms, but before they had been just thoughts, possibilities for a vauge future that seemed to be unfolding in the present. What if she expected something to happen? Yet another terrifying thought to add to the pile.
The wine gave him a small measure of courage back, and over the food he told her haltingly of the temple in the sand. She listened with an expression of rapt attention, and whenever he forgot a detail or omitted something he didn't think worth mentioning, Navi would interject loudly from the ceiling to make her eyes sparkle with admiration. He conveniently left out the part where he returned to the past.
The tale made the time pass quickly, the light withdrew from the sky to leave the fires in charge of the house, and it was warm and comfortable. As they ate and talked they had unconciously shifted closer to each other so that their shoulders were touching and their faces were close. Talking freely had negated some of his earlier fears, and he was beginning to relax. It was nice to have her so close, and his eyes never left her face, only a few inches away. He was telling her about the ancient witches who gaurded the temple, the hulking suit of armour that had sealed the sage, when suddenly he realised he wasn't talking anymore, and her face was inching closer, her lips shining in the firelight, and again that uncertain future exploded in his head, the snakes thrashed in his stomach, and her breath was on his cheek.
His mind churned at quicksilver speeds as he rested his forehead on hers. He had kissed her enough times before, but this was somehow different, more intimate, no need for secrecy, and his nerves were stretched tight. He felt a need to preserve this moment in his mind, her skin pale and smooth, her thick hair hanging free and piling on her shoulders, and he raised a hand to her neck. She took a deep breath as he touched her, and he felt a massive surge of affection and longing that made his heart ache, and he pulled her closer to kiss her gently. Her fingers dug into his tunic, the only sound the crackling of logs on the fire as they collapsed into piles of ash. Eventually she broke away.
'I don't want you to go.'
Her voice was quiet and soft, this newfound intimacy had made her more fearful than ever for his chances in the tower, and she tried not to think that this could be his last day alive. She wanted to cling to him and keep him here so he would never be in danger again, and she felt tears start in her eyes. She didn't want him to see her cry, so pulled his head down onto her shoulder and buried her face in his hair.
Link was melancholy. She was sad suddenly, he knew why, and it rubbed off on him. He stayed still, the smell of her hair filling his nostrils, and felt an immense sadness that he would leave again in the morning. Every moment with her was now precious, and he held her tight. He had to leave for them to be able to be together, and they both knew it.
After a while Malon sniffed and raised her head. She sat back and tried a smile.
'Sorry. Look at me, making a big fuss over everything. I don't mean to be a downer.'
Link was thinking how the faint teartracks on her skin shone so beautifully, despite the sadness, and he stumbled for a reply.
'Don't worry about it. I don't want to go either.'
She smiled at him.
'You should get your rest. You have a big day tomorrow.'
'The biggest.' He tried to sound natural, but he was dissapointed that she was leaving, and his body muttered at him. He wanted to snatch as much time with her as possible, but his voice felt frozen when he thought of saying something. He stood awkwardly, and she rose too.
'Will you be warm enough down here?' She looked concerned, and he was bemused. There was a fire, and blankets, why wouldn't he be?
'Of course I will, don't worry.'
Relaxing in the rafters, Navi rolled her eyes so hard it was almost audible.
'Well, um... goodnight.'
'Goodnight Link.' She looked at him with a mixture of amusement and sadness, kissed him quickly and turned to the stairs. He stared unsubtly after her, wishing she would stay longer. He sighed, turning to the spare room. Navi darted down and flitted through the gap before he closed the door.
'You're an idiot.'
'What?'
He looked quizzically at the fairy. He was sitting on the spare bed, not quite wanting to climb under the blankets just yet. He had removed everything but his tunic, as it was a warm night, but he wasn't really thinking about the temperature. His stomach twisted with nerves, split equally between the task he knew he must complete the next day, and the vague hope that Malon might come down to the main room for something and he could have an excuse to talk to her again. He brushed at the bed vaguely as Navi smirked at him.
'You must be the most oblivious person I've ever met.'
'It's really annoying when you stop making sense, you know.'
She huffed and crossed her arms.
'You mean you don't understand what I mean? Oh come on, even for you it must be obvious. You happen to come back on a day when everyone else is away, she persuades you to stay, tells you she misses you, and- are you listening to me?'
Link had found an errant strand of red on one of the sheets, and he was twisting it vaguely between his fingers as his mind filled with memories of the night she had crept down to be in his arms. Maybe she would do it again, he thought hopefully, since there was no one around, but why would she?
'Hmmm?'
'Oh for goddesses sake. Look. You can sit here and mope about for hours, or you can go and say goodnight to her.'
He frowned. 'But I just said goodnight. Why would I call her down to say it again?'
'You don't have to. Just go and say night. Trust me. She won't mind.'
'Well, ok. I'll look pretty strange though.'
He stood and brushed his tunic down absent mindedly. The thought occured that maybe she would want to talk for a bit before going to bed, and that cheered him up a little.
'What are you smiling at?' He asked the fairy irritably, and she put on her most innocent face.
'Nothing. On you go, I'll be right here when you get back.'
He frowned at her and eased the door open.
Malon glared at her reflection as she brushed her hair absent mindedly. Idiot! Why had she left? She told herself she wanted him to be ready for the last trials that lay ahead, but the parts of her mind that were dark and red knew she was a coward, and mocked her for it. She had got upset at the thought of him leaving and pushed him away, not wanting to face it, and she took out her frustration on her hair, brushing with short, savage strokes. Maybe she should go and say goodnight, apologise for being abrupt. She had so wanted to spend time with him and when the chance arrived, she had done everything completely wrong. If he was feeling hurt by her attitude, she should go and apologise. She examined herself critically. Her hair, newly brushed and shining, framed her head, and she glowered at herself. She had always thought she had a strange nose, but there wasn't much she could do about that.
She considered that, if she was going to talk to him, she would have to find an excuse not to leave. Her hint earlier had flown completely over his head, as usual, and she blushed slightly at her own selfishness. It might be silly, but she wanted more time with him, to feel his lips one last time, and she shot another dissatisfied glance at the mirror. She pursed her lips and twitched the neckline of her nightdress slightly further down, exposing the top of her chest slightly, and felt embarassed by her brazeness. The effect was good in the candlelight though, and she had just begun making up an excuse for coming back downstairs when a gentle knock crashed into her mind.
She had left the door slightly open to let the air circulate, and now she was furious with herself for leaving it. A quick, terrified glance in the mirror showed Link standing awkwardly by the door and she spun round, wincing slightly as she knocked her hairbrush to the floor with a clatter. She straightened up, tried to compose her face quickly, and wished furiously that she had left her dress as it had been. Goddesses, he was only wearing his tunic, and she could see his strong limbs, so often armoured, pale in the wan light. Why on earth was he here?
'Um, hi. Sorry about that.' She gestured vaguely at the hairbrush, and he looked as terribly embarassed as she felt.
'Don't worry about it. I um, I came to uh, to say goodnight.' He mumbled as he realised how stupid he sounded. He hadn't quite expected to find her getting ready for bed, even though it was what she had gone to do, and he tried to look at the floor so he wouldn't stare. It didn't work, he couldn't help but look up again. His eyes travelled her body, her legs, long and lithe as he remembered, her hips curving gently under her dress, framed by her hair, her chest heaving slightly from surprise, and that alone made him feel lightheaded and summoned old memories, hopes and dreams. She was looking at him with a strange expression he couldn't place, and he didn't realise that she was looking him over in the exact way he was doing to her. She shook her head slightly and smiled at him, desperately hoping her voice was under control.
'Um, goodnight. Though we've already done that.' She laughed nervously, her voice filled the room and sent a shiver down his spine. He had said goodnight, he had no excuse to stay, but he did, feeling both brave and scared. His stomach was twisting as though caught in a gale, the growling monster in his chest roared at him, and he took an unconcious step forward.
'I just want to say... thanks for looking after me again, and everything, uhm...'
She smiled and straightened up, taking a step herself. Though her heart was hammering and she felt as though she was shaking like a leaf, she made a huge effort to seem calm and under control, as if this was normal.
'Don't worry about it.' Another step.
Link floundered, rubbing his neck awkwardly.
'You, ah... look nice.' She smiled at that, a smile of genuine pleasure, and her cheeks tinged red slightly. Another step. He was close to her now, and his height let him look down to where her nightdress seemed to have slipped. He stole a glance at the deep, dark shadows the candles cast on her skin, shadows that spoke to the raw parts of his mind that he had tried to ignore before, and his eyes flicked back up, almost ashamed of himself. If she had noticed his glance she didn't seem to mind, and that thought gave him a burst of happiness in his chest. She took a step towards him, her hips swayed, her body seemed perfectly under control, and he felt as though blinking would be a waste of this oppurtunity. He took a step himself and he was there, standing right in front of her, gazing into her eyes and trying to control his breathing. His body understood that this was a fine place to be, and he tried to shout it down and stay in control so he wouldn't do anything stupid. She smiled at him and his heart leapt to his mouth.
'Do you remember what I said in the storm, that night?'
The question surprised him, but he knew the answer. It had been circling his mind for weeks, shouting at him to distract him at every possible oppurtunity, and he leaned his head onto hers.
'I love you.'
She smiled up at him.
'That's the one.'
They stood for a moment, both yearning to do something but not quite knowing what. Malon only knew that her nerves were taut enough to tear her apart if she moved. She wondered what to say, what to do, but could only think of pathetic small talk. She opened her mouth.
'It's late, maybe yo-'
What he should do, he would never find out, as he had seen her mouth open, his mind and body had thundered at him in unision to do something, and he had taken her cheek and kissed her hard, cutting her off. She stiffened, surprised, then melted and seized his hair, letting the rest of the sentence into his mouth as she fiercely returned the kiss. As though a bottle had been uncorked, the pent up emotions they had been struggling with found an outlet, and they clawed at each other passionately. Malon went backwards to bump against her dressing table but she didn't care, nothing could make her care about anything right now, her hands dug into his skin, stroking his tense muscles and rubbing almost frantically up and down his back. He returned the attention, they snatched at breaths impatiently, teeth and lips and hands lost in each other, and she pulled him close so he would never leave.
She leaned against the dressing table and threw her head back, he remembered what she had said behind the storage hut so long ago, and kissed at her neck as she gulped for air. He nibbled at her skin and again the strange little noise escaped her mouth, a noise she couldn't have contained and that ran through his body like ice. His lips wandered down to her collarbone, the silky flesh just below, and she gasped again, louder this time, before yanking his head up and pressing her lips on his hard enough to hurt. Her tongue flashed round his, she tasted of honey as he remembered, and she rubbed her face against him. His heart thumped as though trying to escape, his stomach was raging but it felt good this time, welcome, and it awakened some basic instincts at the core of his soul. His hands already stroked her back, and he felt braver than he ever had as they slid lower, to the hem of her dress. She went still at his touch, then gasped and laughed at the same time.
'Link...'
He grinned at her, his hand slid under the cloth to feel warm, yeilding flesh, and he was stroking the curve in her back again, skin on skin, and she laughed again, hit his chest as he kissed her.
'Link!' She could feel the hem of her dress being lifted as his hands raised up, and her nerves snapped at her, she felt almost sick with anticipation and the feel of his hand on her skin. She pretended to be affronted and hit him again, trying to jerk her head away from his kisses as she pursed her lips.
'Link! Good girls don't -mmf- don't do this sort of thing!' He grinned at her, her tone was light and even if her voice said no, her body said yes in every way it could. Her fingernails dug into his tunic, her chest pressed against him, her bare thigh was wrapping itself round his leg and she was gasping shallow breaths onto his face. She grabbed his face and planted another kiss, fiery with passion, and he wrapped his arms around her back and pulled her against him tight enough to feel her breasts through the thin material.
Suddenly she broke the kiss with a gasp and pushed him hard away from her. He went back, stumbling, confused. Had he insulted her? It made no sense! Then he saw she was still smiling at him. She pushed herself off the table, stood upright and put a finger to his lips. He looked at her, wide eyed, unsure of what she was doing, then his eyes widened further as her hand dropped to grasp the hem of her dress. She was lifting it, his heart flew to his mouth again, his breath didn't seem to be reaching his lungs, and he stayed completely still as her hands moved. Her body arced in a sinuous wave as the dress was lifted, her back curved like a bow and then it was gone, her hair falling down again, thick and shining, as she dropped the small pile of material to the floor contemptuously. His eyes swept over her shamelessly, his wondering what she looked like had not prepared him for the real thing.
Her skin was pale as milk, her body slim and firm from hard work, her breasts were small but perfectly shaped, and her hair lay against her like a sheet of silk spun from the purest flames. The candlelight flickered its deep shadows across her legs and stomach as she stepped close to him again, her eyes gleaming at him from beneath long lashes. He was lost for words as she pressed against him, her hands were round his neck and he thought she was going to kiss him, but she had grabbed the neck of his tunic and he offered no resistance as she pulled it over his head. He felt slightly embarassed as the heavy cloth came over his head, but his mind was still lagging slightly behind events. She stepped back with his tunic in her hands, and her eyes ran up and down his body the same way he had just looked at her. She took in his lean frame with a half smile, noting the muscles of a warrior that were defined by the shadows, and she tried to calm herself as she flung his tunic into a forgotten corner.
She pressed herself against him, her arms around his neck, her lips on his, her slight body pulled tight against him, and the feeling of bare skin was exhilarating. She was shaking slightly, not with cold but excitement, and he held her closer to try and calm her. Their minds were racing with their seperate fantasies, their hopes and dreams and shameful thoughts that had all come together now, and their lips were a struggle of emotions. Malon's head came back, her breathing shallow and excited, and she wrapped a leg round his, smiling as she felt his excitement. She ground her hips gently against him and he shuddered slightly.
'Still love me?'
He still felt as if he couldn't speak and laughed helplessly, only making her grin wider. She pulled herself up, her body rubbing against him, until she could whisper huskily into his ear.
'Goodnight, fairy boy.'
And with that, she wrapped her legs around him and fell backwards onto her bed, dragging him down to the cold sheets.
Malon pushed her hair out of her face as she gulped at the thick, hot air. Link, lying beneath her, was utterly exhausted, but his eyes never left her slim figure. He pulled her hips down again and she gasped, her body twitching as she threw her head back to let out a long, heartfelt moan. Her nails clawed at his chest and every muscle in her body tensed, then she collapsed on top of him. She was too tired to move, and her limp body lay on his chest, quivering and sweating as she gasped out a series of small noises that fought their way past her lips. Eventually she got control of her voice, though her body still trembled, and she raised her head to smile sleepily at him from behind a curtain of messy hair.
'Mmm. Yum.' She kissed his chest, his neck, tasting the thin sheen of sweat that covered him, and her hands were restless on his body, though her arms felt as thought they were fighting her. The candle had burnt happily down to a stub over the last hours, and now cast a dim orange light that barely illuminated the corners of the room. The air was heavy with exertion and almost difficult to breathe. Link, his head spinning, guessed it was an hour or so before dawn. They had stayed awake for a long time, and when they were too tired to move they had lain in each others arms and talked of everything that came to mind, the state of the world, friends, family, life, and when the conversation had faltered she had climbed on top of him again. Hours later, they had snatched a moment of sleep, but neither of them could bear to miss this time together and it hadn't lasted long. Despite the promise of a rest, Link felt more tired than he could ever remember feeling before, Malon was insatiable and he had woken to her body slithering on top of him once more.
He let his head fall back onto the pillow now, revelling in her naked skin pressing against him as she gasped for breath. Well that was... one way of saying goodnight. His memories were hazy, an endless reel of pale skin, sweat and excitement, and he tried to make sense of it. This was new, something he had never given any thought to, but as soon as she had dragged him on top of her instinct had taken over. His body had known what to do somehow, and his mind had enjoyed the ride as much as possible. He looked down to bury his face in her hair, soft on his face, and his nostrils were full of her smell. He grinned. She curled up on top of him, cuddling up close against the night, and he rested his hands on her skin. He felt a desperate longing to never leave this life, and he knew that in a day the matter would be decided forever. He didn't contemplate the possibility that he could lose. There was so much to be gained from victory, the thought of the future so bright that he glossed over the coming battle and sketched rough outlines for the aftermath. That helped control his fears, and he pulled the sleeping girl closer and drifted contentedly into a blessedly nightmareless sleep.
He woke to a light room, the noise of cuccos loud outside. He lay for a while, unwilling to acknowledge that the night had passed and would only live on in memory. Looking down at Malon, a smile touched his lips. She was still asleep, a frown creasing her forehead, a strand of hair lying across her face being blown this way and that by her slow breathing. A perfect moment to capture in his mind forever, and he stared for a long time, memorising every inch of her, admiring how the early light reflected from her smooth skin, how the curves of her body flowed flawlessly together, and then her eyes opened. She saw him staring and revelled in the attention before pushing herself up at arms length.
'Morning.'
He returned her grin.
'Morning.' Her voice was playful, and she kissed him on the nose. His eyes swept her body again, and her grin grew wider.
'I fear I'm a bad hostess. You didn't get very much rest.'
He laughed, took her hips and rolled her over so she was on her back and he was above her. Her hair fanned out where she lay, a great splash of red against the white sheets, and her eyes gleamed as if they reflected an unseen torch.
'I got enough.'
Malon fretted over the time after she had reluctantly dragged herself out of bed. She usually got up just after dawn to start her work for the day, and the sun was now high in the sky.
'And I have to do it all by myself! This is your fault, you know.'
Link did his best impression of innocence. It didn't work. Grinning, he rubbed his arm where she had hit him yet again. He sat on the sheets and watched her dress. She was slightly shyer in the wan light of dawn, but his devoted attention pleased her. She chided him as she did up the heavy silver buckle on her belt.
'Don't think you're getting off light. I need some help, and since you delayed me, you can provide that.'
He winked at her as she picked up her boots and left the room. The door clicked shut and she leant suddenly against the wall outside to take a deep breath. Her heart was still fluttering like one of the little birds that darted across the field at the height of summer, and she put a hand on her chest. She had been shocked at her own brazen behaviour the previous night, but that had been lost in a storm of ecstacy quickly enough. Other things too, as her legs still felt too weak to support her. On the other hand, that moment where she had acted on instinct had led to everything both of them had ever hoped for, and she reflected that, overall, there were worse ways they could have passed the night. She grinned and carefully started down the stairs.
Link pulled on his tunic, his head still spinning slightly. He suddenly remembered that all of his clothes and equipment were downstairs, and with that came the realization that he would have to explain his absence to Navi. He grimaced and peeked out of the door to check if Malon had gone. He stole downstairs and into the spare room. Maybe if he was quiet enough-
'Morning.'
He froze for a second, then straightened up and tried to look diffident. He rummaged through the pile of his things, keeping his voice normal.
'Morning.'
The fairy was silent, and this was odd enough to make him look for her. She was sitting on a bedpost, her arms and legs folded, and her face contorted into the most intense expression of amused smugness he had ever seen. He tried to keep his face neutral, knowing that by making him look, she had won. He sat on the bed to tug his breeches on, carefully ignoring looking at her again. Not that he needed to say anything, the amused twist to her mouth told him that she knew exactly what had happened. She seemed content with an overbearingly smug silence, and he continued preparing himself. He knew that, whatever his own feelings on the matter, he would have to leave today to climb the dark tower, and he took his time getting ready, tightening and redoing knots, adjusting his boots, rearranging various bits of equipment as if to be comfortable was to be safe. He glared at his reflection in his new shield for a while, checking the brilliant surface for any small defect, then picked up his sword.
The blade rasped free of the scabbard, and he tested the edge with his thumb. It was an unusual sword, even for a blade of legend. Most swords were slim and maneuverable, but the Master Sword was a huge length of thick steel, the blade a good five inches wide and another inch thick, and as a result it had a huge weight that had initially made him clumsy. Luckily he had been tall enough to take advantage of the length, and as the time passed he had grown used to the weight that could crush smaller weapons aside with ease. He observed the small red line on his thumb, fresh against the multitude of similar scars, and reflected that he had never had to sharpen or maintain the blade in any way. He had tried, once, but had found nothing to do and had felt a little silly.
He stared vaguely at his reflection in the blade, lost in thought. Several minutes ticked by before he sighed, slid the sword home and slung it on his back. He stood, and went to find breakfast.
Link's arm ached as he swung the sword in a wide arc for the hundredth time. For the hundredth time it connected with nothing, and he shook his head. He had offered to help Malon with her work for a while, but she had sensed his distraction and assured him she could manage by herself. She had teased him earlier, but now his nervousness was clear and she didn't want to make it worse. He had retired to the field to loosen up, as he called it, and he had spent a good hour flinging his sword about, sinking arrows into trees, clattering them off rocks, and to his utter mortification, burying one in the plaster of the house. He had stretched the chain of his hookshot, greased it, and had minutely inspected his ocarina for dust or scratches. Malon had thought this last activity odd, for the instrument was hardly a weapon, but had left him to it. He had spent time making sure everything was absolutely right, as if the little details would add up to a large advantage. She had passed by a few times and he had stopped, as if embarrassed by his actions, but every time she had offered encouraging words and a kiss, and he had begun to act more confidently.
He had pressed her for details of the cavalry screen around the castle over lunch, as he had never actually run into one. She explained that the patrols had been abandoned years before, when it was clear there was no resistance left, but recently, around the time he had been sweating from nightmares, they had seen a revival. Clearly the Evil King felt his power waning, and had thrown a screen of horsemen around the castle to stop anyone coming closer, as well as randomly roving patrols whos purpose, she guessed, was to hunt him down. Link mused on this for a while. The last time he had been to the Temple he had travelled in and out by magic, explaining why he had never been troubled before, and he was tempted to make the same entrance. Shiek nagged at his memory though, the stranger had warned him on their last meeting that to use the same method when the dark power had withdrawn and contracted around the castle would be as good as lighting a signal beacon to announce his presence. The approach would have to be done the old fashioned way, and he shivered slightly at the thought of the market ruins.
He thought it fortuitous that the patrols had never bothered the ranch, and she agreed with a shrug. Maybe they just didn't care about an isolated farm in the middle of the field. The patrols were not monsters, she added, but men, men who believed in the darkness, or at least who had siezed a chance to wield small power over others. She tried to suggest that they had just been misled, like Ingo had, and that he should avoid hurting them if possible. He marvelled inwardly at her compassion for all living things, and felt slightly ashamed that he had no convictions as strong. Maybe that was why she was so good with animals. He sought to change the subject, but couldn't think of anything, and they sat in awkward silence for a moment. It was odd to sit in the sunlight and talk of life while their minds were each filled with the night before, when they had clawed at each other in the darkness, and he stumbled for words slightly. He guessed, from the tinge in her cheeks, that she was thinking along the same lines.
After lunch he returned to his preparations, and she to her work, and their bodies and minds were both busy for a while. Link couldn't help returning to his vaguely outlined plans for the aftermath of the battle, and tried futilely to push them to the back of his mind and concentrate on the task at hand.
'When are you leaving?' She asked the question normally enough, trying to keep her voice calm.
'Mid afternoon. Shiek said to meet him in the Temple at dusk, and if I've got horsemen to avoid...'
She nodded as if this was the most normal thing in the world.
'I would offer to lend you Epona, but I doubt that would be very subtle.'
He smiled.
'Thanks for the thought anyway.'
She grinned at him and kissed him on the cheek, glad that his nervousness seemed to have gone. In truth his nerves were tight and ragged, and they gnawed constantly at his stomach, but he would rather die than show her how little confidence he had in himself. He tried to distract himself, and it occured to him how strangely normal it felt to kiss her lightly in return. A few weeks ago kissing her had seemed some impossible barrier for the future, but now he couldn't help himself every time she was nearby. He tried not to think about the possibility that he wouldn't return.
The sun inched down from its midday perch, and Malon couldn't help but glare irritably at it, as if the force of her frown would pin it to the sky. She too was trying to keep her thoughts from the possibility of continuing evil and loneliness, though when she actually thought about it the possibility that Link could lose seemed unreal somehow. He had been through so much that it seemed impossible that he could be defeated, but the worry still chewed at her mind. She twisted a strand of her hair absent mindedly as she crossed the corrall. She looked round for Link and saw him tugging on something stuck in the wall of the house, before he sensed her gaze and whipped round to look perfectly innocent. She smiled sadly. She would miss having him around if... She shook her head and continued on her work, muttering to herself about having to do it on her own.
The minutes crawled by. Malon tried to concentrate on what she was doing, but she was finding more and more excuses to walk by Link in the field, and every time she stayed for slightly longer. Eventually, when she realised he was ready and just putting off the moment of departure, she abandoned all pretense, threw down her bucket with a great splash, and flung her arms around him. She held his lips for a long time, then rested her face on his shoulder so he wouldn't see her tears.
'I don't want you to go.' Her voice was thick in his ear, and he screwed his eyes shut.
'I have to.' He said simply, and she replied the same way.
'I know.'
They held each other for a while. It seemed odd to be feeling sadness under the blazing sun. Eventually Malon took a great, shuddering breath, and pulled herself away to smile at him. He tactfully ignored how red her eyes were as she sought for words.
'Well... be careful, Mr Hero.' He smiled at her.
She hit him lightly as she always did, pretending to be cheerful again.
'What are you waiting for? I'd quite like to live in peace, thank you, and you dawdling around here isn't going to help that.'
He smiled sadly and squeezed her hand as they walked to the gate. She was silent, her head on his shoulder, and he had to tense his stomach to the point of pain in order to appear calm and confident. They stopped at the gate, and spent several minutes staring at the far off tower. The sun was sliding lower in the sky, and Link guessed he would reach the Temple at dusk if he ran, but he didn't want to leave the one place he had ever felt properly at home. Malon steeled herself and pushed him gently onto the path.
'Go on. I'll still be here when you return.' She smiled at him, taking comfort in how confident he was. That compelled her to thoughts she had only half acknowledged before, and she blushed and stumbled over her next words.
'And when you're done, well, there's space here if you want it. We'll find something for you to do.' She felt humbled by how stupid she sounded, but he looked genuinely pleased and took her hands.
'I'll remember that.' He took a step further down the path. Navi, who had been uncharacteristically silent for most of the day, poked her head out from his hat.
'Time for destiny's call, Link.'
He smiled up at her.
'Let's hope destiny likes me.'
He stepped away from the girl, his hands squeezed hers for a second before they dropped. He bowed to her, feeling oddly formal, as though some decorum should be present at the events of the next few hours, and turned away.
'Link...'
She ran to him, spun him round, and kissed him softly, pouring into that contact all the passion of youth, all the hopes and dreams and memories, and her heart ached. She looked him square in the eye and pushed him away.
'I'll be thinking of you.'
He grinned suddenly, his spirits bouyed, and turned to run down the path, his shadow long on the grass.
'I'll be right back!' he shouted as he ran, and she waved until his head turned away.
She watched him as he sprinted away, looking oddly small against the looming shadow of the castle, and she bit her lip. Goddesses protect him, she thought fervently. She needed him back in one piece. Her legs felt suddenly weak and she leant on the gatepost. There was no point moping, she told herself. She still had a few things to do, and staring absently into the field wouldn't help him at all, better to have something to distract her thoughts. The kingdom might be released from the darkness by the dawn, but common sense told her the cuccos would still need feeding.
Link flattened himself against the cool earth, hardly daring to breathe. He had almost reached the castle when he had caught the distant clump of hooves off to his left in the dusk, and had slid into a patch of bushes without even thinking. The failing light had saved him, and he had crawled agonisingly to the castle moat before rolling over the bank and crouching by the side of the running water, unseen. He pressed himself against the earthen bank, giving silent thanks that he had thought to wrap his brilliantly reflective shield in cloth for the journey. Now he would see if he had been fast enough.
The hooves came closer, and he estimated four or five horses. It had to be one of the patrols Malon had mentioned, and though he was tempted to look he knew that would likely spell disaster. He listened to the men conversing in gruff voices, one of them swore blind he had seen something moving in the bushes, and there was an argument before the sound of plants being torn to shreds. The argument intensified and he used the cover of the noise to creep upstream towards the ruined chunks of the drawbridge. The man who had spotted Link dropping to the ground originally had been shouted down, and the jeers of the others followed him as he walked his horse to the moat in a huff. Link fell absolutely still as the man's shadow, distorted by the setting sun, fell across the water.
He guessed the man was directly above him, he could hear the horse's breath and when it stamped its foot a small shower of earth trickled down to fall in his hair, but still he didn't move. He could feel Navi stirring nervously on top of his head, and prayed she would stay still. The man leaned out to see more of the moat, not out of any sense of duty, more to ignore the catcalls of his comrades, and Link's eyes crossed as the point of his weapon, a razor sharp lance, dipped below the bank to hover inches from his face. The metal head of the weapon, nine inches long, was poorly maintained and pitted with rust, but the edge still shone with a wicked sharpness. The man stared for a minute, and just as Link was sure he would have to make a noise, he was called back to his duty by his officer. The lance tip rose and the hooves were loud behind his head as the man wheeled away. Link's shoulders sagged and he realised he had been holding his breath. The sound of hooves faded into the darkening evening as he peered cautiously over the bank. Five horsemen dissapeared in the dircetion of the village, and for a moment he was concerned for the safety of everyone living there. He was tempted to follow them and stop any trouble, but dismissed the impulse. He could do a lot more good where he was meant to be going.
He crept further down the stream bed, and negotiated the chunks of rotten wood that had once barred entry to the market. Idly wondering why it had never been repaired if Ganondorf didn't want anyone wandering in, he heaved himself onto the roadway. He braced himself, shaking off the stiffness of the last few minutes, and, with a last glance to where he knew the ranch huddled on the hill in the dusk, he ran forward under the scorched arch into the market. The last gleam of orange from the sun brushed at his back, then it was gone as he passed into the shadows.
