Everything had fallen into place for the shadow, almost too easily. It appeared his creator was no longer looking for him, he had almost forgotten the masked man who would expose him, he was surrounded by people who cared about him, and Malon had believed wholeheartedly the lie he was living. He was troubled when he pondered these things, especially the last detail. He wanted to think back to Candle Night and be happy with the outcome but he wasn't okay with lying to everyone. It had been several weeks since Candle Night and he hadn't initiated anything again. Living with Anju and Otto and having Talon as a regular visitor made privacy a good excuse but Malon had kept trying to find secret places or quiet times for them to spend together. He felt guilty to see her disappointment but he would have felt guiltier to do anything. He had to tell her, and hope she could forgive him.
She slipped quietly upstairs and found him sitting on the edge of their bed. She sat next to him and he reflexively put an arm around her. "I have something to tell you." She started quietly. He stiffened, she sounded nervous and he was anticipating the worst. "I needed you to know first, and I don't know how to tell dad at all." She paused and wrung her hands in her lap, trying to get the words out. "I think... I mean, I'm pretty sure, but not completely and all..." She was stalling. "I think I'm pregnant." The shadow stood up to face her.
He might as well have been struck over the head with a heavy object. How could this happen? They had only been together once and he was barely more than a ghost. He hadn't thought this outcome would be possible because he barely thought himself human. what would happen to Malon? Would this thing inside Malon hurt her? Would it be some kind of monster? She was waiting for a response. "Link..." She said and for the first time, he'd truly hated her calling him that name. "I said-"
"I heard." He answered. "Aren't you afraid?" He asked. She shook her head. She needed his support right now so he took her hands. "Then this is wonderful news." He couldn't let her be scared with him.
Anju had suggested they go to a potions witch across town. When she opened the door on them she barely glanced at them both before inviting them into her house. "Sit," She ordered and Malon sat on the overstuffed couch. Link leaned against the corner and the woman went behind the counter, digging through her supplies. The shop was hot, dimly lit, cluttered with old furniture and smelled like boiled cabbage and an underlying hint of mildew. "You are with child, yes, girl?"
"How did you-" Malon was interrupted.
"I know many things." She answered.
"Then what can you tell us about this child?" Link asked.
The witch looked him up and down. "You're the father I presume?" She asked turning away. She pressed her hand against Malon's flat belly. her fingers were cold and dry but her touch was soft. She closed her eyes and hummed something. "A girl," She said.
"But what will it look like, will it be healthy? Will it be human? I mean, look at me." Link said.
"I did." said the witch scurrying back behind her counter. She seemed very disinterested in his self-pity. "I know not what she will look like but there doesn't appear to be any danger to mother or baby. Things are still early, perhaps two and a half months?" Candle Night fell almost exactly into that time frame, Malon wondered how she could know that. "I know many things." She answered as if she read Malon's mind.
She handed Link a jar of black potion. "One spoonful at night, one in the morning, keep mother away from stress as much as possible and see me once you run out." She ordered. Malon reached for her purse but the woman held out her wrinkled hand to stop her. "You'll pay on delivery." She told them, "I only accept payment for successful deliveries," she eyed Link while she said it, "And I always get paid." She abruptly excused them from her home and they both stood outside for a moment, dazed by the quick encounter.
The potion they were given was a thick, black, oily substance that tasted strongly of fish and cloves. Link had her spoonful ready at every morning and evening meal where she would have skipped the awful stuff entirely. Link had taken up working with Anju and the cuckoos. He had to take care to keep himself covered from the sun but he was convinced the air in the coop would be bad for her. "I'm not taking any chances." He told her.
She appreciated how seriously he was taking things but it left her with very little to do and she was bored.
She was starting to show about three weeks later. When she touched the slight bump, she felt a little bit of apprehension. It scared her to think there was a tiny person growing inside her. When they laid down together at night, Link couldn't seem to help but touch it. She could tell he was nervous by the way he insisted on taking care of her, but she could also see his excitement in little moments like these.
"I never thought this could happen for me." He said one night while he held her. "I never imagined that I would have a family."