Chapter 14 Changed Lives
"They cannot see it in your eyes boy. It comes out in the ferocity of your attack," the grandma said as Link looked over at her.
"They won't see that," Link said as she smiled.
"Of course not," she said as Link sighed.
"What she say's is true. Sometimes I can hear his voice. But I haven't put it on in a long time. Not since the accident," Link said as their eyes widened.
"Casualties of war," Grandma said as Link angrily stood.
"Never say that! No one should've had to die that way!" Link yelled as everyone in the room looked up at Link. This was a very different Link than the one they had known. The room was silent for a long time as the grandma smiled.
"And yet you still carry HIM with you. What do you expect?" she asked as he looked down.
"The mask can't be destroyed and I can't risk anyone finding it and putting it on. It's the only way," Link said as she sighed.
"I suppose you're right boy. But be careful, we all know what the Fierce Deity has done before. Even in legends. He was the one that sealed Majora into his Mask. He is far stronger than that demon. And he is a demon of his own," Grandma said as they all looked at Link.
"So what happened after you fought the Moblins?" Kafei asked as Link sighed and sat down.
"Zelda asked me one more time if I would train her soldiers. I still disagreed so she had me banished. Keeping me in the dungeon would've been too dangerous. So I came here. I'm sending a letter to Malon and she's going to come here too," Link said as they smiled.
"Well at least you'll get to be with the girl you love," Anju said as she stood up.
"We're not in love," Link quietly said as a blush formed on his cheeks.
"Yeah ok, I'm going to finish making the stew and then we can all have some," Anju said as she left the room. Link pulled out a piece of paper and started writing down what he would say to Malon.
"Hey Link what'cha doin?" Skull kid asked as Kafei stood up and followed Anju.
"I'm just writing a letter. I'm going to give it to the post man. It really needs to get to Malon," Link said as Skull kid smiled.
"You really do like this girl," Tatl said as Link smiled.
"Yeah I do," Link said as he stood and left the room. Skull kid and the two fairies followed close behind him.
"So Link are you two going to stay here?" Skull kid asked as Link looked down at him. He smiled down at Skull kid and peeked around the corner into the kitchen. Kafei and Anju were kissing in the middle of the room. "Ew!" Skull kid yelled and covered his eyes as the fairies flew away. Link grinned like a monkey as Anju glared at him.
"You spying on people now Link?" she asked as Link walked into the room.
"No I just was wondering if dinner was ready," Link said as she rolled her eyes.
"Yeah right, you always look for trouble," Anju said as Kafei looked over at Link. He smiled as he walked further into the kitchen.
"So how's the food coming along?" Link asked with a laugh as Anju blushed.
"It's almost done Link. Why don't you go into grandma's room and set up the table?" Kafei said as Link nodded. He walked back into Grandma's room and moved the table into the center of the room. Next he went over to the wall and grabbed the stacked wooden chairs and put them around the table. Skull kid plopped down into his chairs as the fairies flew down onto his shoulders. Link wheeled Grandma over in front of the table and then took a seat next to her.
"Oh you're so sweet son," Grandma said as Link smiled. Anju came in the room with a tray full of soup.
"Ok it's really hot so Skull kid don't down it in two seconds like last time. You remember what happened right?" Anju asked as he nodded.
"I burned my throat," Skull kid said as Link smiled. Anju put the rest of the bowls down and sat down on the other side of her grandma next to Kafei. Link took a spoonful of the soup and took a sip. It was kind of hot but he liked it.
I wish I was with Malon. She makes the best soup. Wow I already miss her and it's only been a day Link thought as he looked around the table. "Well how have you all been?" Link asked as he took a spoonful of soup.
"Well Kafei and I have been running the inn. We still have the carnival every year. You actually came pretty close to the date. It's next month," Anju said Link smiled.
"Oh and we've been helping around the inn. We used to play with the bomber gang. But then they grew up. Granted there are always new kids running around. But we've missed you more than anything. You're family," skull kid said as the fairies nodded.
"Yeah we've missed you. Even though you can be such an airhead sometimes," Tatl said as Link smirked.
"Yes, yes we've all missed you. Now the good thing is that you'll be staying for a while," Grandma said as Link laughed.
"I can tell you missed me Grandma. No one else can stay up long enough to hear your whole stories right?" Link asked as she frowned. Everyone else laughed as she glared at Link. "I'm sorry grandma. It was just a joke," Link said as he took another spoonful of soup. He sat quietly the rest of the meal eating his soup as Anju and Kafei talked about what they would have to do to get ready for tomorrow.
They always had to get things ready for if anyone came to stay. "Oh Link, where are you staying?" Anju asked as Link smiled nervously. "I knew it! You can stay in the same room as last time. Just make the bed," she said as Link smiled.
"Thanks Anju but I'll pay you back," Link said as Anju rolled her eyes.
"No you won't, Link you're family. You think we charge skull kid for living here?" she asked as he smiled.
"Thanks," Link said as she smiled.
"Here's your key," she said as Link excused himself.
"Thanks for the food Anju it was delicious," Link said as he left the room. He walked down the hall and left the inn. It was dark outside and he felt a little chill in the air. He smiled as he turned towards the center of town. He walked past the clock tower and into west clock town. He walked up the street and to the mailman's door.
He knocked and waited for an answer. The mail man opened the door and looked up at Link. "What can I do for you sir?" the man asked as Link gave him the letter.
"Can you get this to Hyrule?" Link asked as the man looked down at the letter.
"Hyrule huh? That's pretty far. I'm gonna need an extra fee," he said as Link took out his wallet.
"How much?" Link asked as the man smiled.
"That'll be two hundred rupees," he said as Link's eyes widened.
"Really that much? Why?" Link asked as he laughed.
"It's a very far run to Hyrule," he said as Link nodded. He fished out the two hundred and dumped it in the man's hands. He smiled as he looked up at Link. "Your letter will get to her in about three days," he said as he went inside his home.
Ok good, then Malon can come here. Granted I need to get things set up for her and her father here Link thought as he walked back through the town. He saw a light swirl over him and saw Tatl rest on his shoulder. "Long time no see," Link said as she smirked.
"Yeah well you were gone for a while. So what are you planning?" Tatl asked as Link laughed.
"Straight to the point as always, I'm planning on bringing Malon and her father here. I want them to be happy and I want them to be here with me. I can't go back to Hyrule," Link said as Tatl laughed.
"You are so weird. Couldn't you just stay with us and be happy? Why do you need them?" Tatl asked as Link smirked.
"Because I…I love Malon and she'll never leave without her father," Link said as Tatl looked at him in shock.
"You love someone? You used to run from all the girls. What happened to that Link?" she asked as Link shrugged.
"I don't know," he said as they walked through the town towards the inn.
"Wow you really aren't the same kid who left from here," she said as Link smirked.
"No I'm definitely not," Link said as he went into the inn.
Malon woke up with a strange loneliness. She wondered what it was but then she remembered that Link had left. She sighed as she slowly got out of bed and walked over to her dresser. She put on brown pants and a white top and then opened the door. She sighed in disappointment as she saw the empty bale of hay. She expected him to be there.
It had been four days since he left but to Malon it felt like a month. She saw her father waiting at the bottom of the stairs. "Anything from Link yet?" Malon asked as Talon frowned and shook his head.
"Sorry honey nothing yet," Talon said as Malon sighed.
"Ok let's just wrangle the horses," she said as they went outside. She walked out the door and the bright sun shone in her eyes. She raised her hand up over her eyes as she went over to the stable with her father.
"I'm sure the letter will come any day now," Talon said as they let the horses out into the corral. They neighed happily as they chewed on some fresh grass.
"Daddy how could the Queen banish Link like that?" Malon asked as Talon sighed.
"She is the queen dear. She has the authority to banish Link if he doesn't listen to her. It's pretty much a guarantee, especially with the way he treated her," Talon said as they walked over to the garden.
"Daddy if we had to leave, well not if we had to. But if I wanted to leave to go be with Link," Malon said as Talon held her shoulders.
"I'd be fine Malon. Trust me I'd be able to afford some ranch hands. I would miss you terribly and I would have to get some help around here. But I could definitely handle the farm," he said as she looked down.
"I just miss him," she said as Talon enveloped her in a hug.
"I know sweet pea. I'm sure that his note will come any minute," Talon said as he let her go. They started pulling weeds out of the garden as the sun rose higher in the sky. They had been working in the yard for about three hours and had pulled up a few melons, carrots, and green beans. They piled them up in the basket and heard someone coming up the road. Malon turned and saw the mail man run up to their front door.
Her eyes widened as she ran to the door. "The mail's here!" she shouted excitedly as Talon looked up with a smile. She ran up to the man at the door and he shifted through his bag.
"Here you go ma'am," he said as he handed her an envelope. She smiled as she ran into the house and up to her room. She quickly shut the door and tore open the letter.
My dearest Malon,
It's only been a day since I left and I miss you terribly. I love the people here I have spent many years with them. But I already miss your cooking. I miss holding you in my arms. I have grown accustomed to the comfort only you can offer to me. I miss seeing your radiant smiling face in the morning.
You are my angel. I need you to be here with me. There are a few places we could live. If you still wanted to live on a farm I'm sure the Romani sisters would love to house us. We would have to build a home there but I'm sure it would be finished in no time. I have many friends here like I said before. We could also live in the town. I know a place in West Clock town that is big enough to fit us all, including your father if he wants to come along.
I'm sorry that I had to leave Malon. I know that asking you to leave your home is a horrible request. But know that I care for you. More than I have ever cared for anyone else in my life. Though it seems my decisions have finally caught up to me. I am not welcome in Hyrule anymore.
The princess has banished me. But know that there are many people here, in Termina that are my friends. I cannot go back. But we can be together here as a family. If your dad will, he can live here with us as well. Send me a letter to let me know you got this one. And tell me your decision. Also tell me when to come and pick you up if that is your wish. I will be picking you up at the edge of the forest near the Kokiri Village. I've told you before where that is. I long to see your smiling face again and to hold you in my arms.
With Love,
Link.