This chapter contains some sexual content. To Wyrvvn: no worries. I have a plan for dear sweet Link's eyes.

------------------------------------------

When Malon opened her eyes again, she found herself back home.

In the blazing inferno that had become of her home. This wasn't right. She hadn't had this dream in days. What happened?

She moved forward, barely looking at anything around her. Calloused as the horses charred around her, she simply strode forward, deedle dee to the rest of the world around her.

She had already known why she was brought back here. It was now about time to end it here and now.

She reached out and opened the door to the burning home and went up the stairs. No knives, no rope, no weapon and no waiting,

There he stood. Malon glanced at the obscene corpses of her father and Ingo. Her heart was steady and her expression true.

He turned at the sound of her entering with that fiendish grin on his face.

Malon felt no inclination to drop to her knees. It was a sure sign she was doing something right.

The Torch returned in his hands. "Your turn Sweetness."

He raised the torch.

"I forgive you."

And that stayed his hand.

Malon only stared back at him. Her eyes were calm and her smile serene.

"What?"

"It's over Link," she told him. "I can let you go now."

Link dropped the torch and all of sudden let out a very uncharacteristic cry of frustration. "No you can't! I'll always be around to haunt you! There's no getting rid of me."

Malon bowed her head. "I know," she admitted. "But if I can just embrace you rather than drive you away, you can't hurt me anymore."

And she did. She threw her arms around him and held on tight.

He squirmed to fight her off but soon his arms slid around her back. And then he disappeared in a brilliance of light.

-------------------------------------

She stirred and finally her eyes opened.

She actually felt a smile cross her face. The dream was finally over. It had been time to let go and she let him go.

Her head lolled sideways and spotted him.

He was sitting at the writer's desk across from the bed she slept. His back was presented to her but by the way his hand moved she could tell he was drawing. She made no sound as she eased her way out of bed and towards the desk.

She poked her head over his shoulder. "What are you working on?"

His eyes ghosted over her before he gave her a lazy smile. Then he gently pushed the paper up so she could have a better look.

The drawing was of a girl. She had a gentle face and was clouded by pillows. The image and likeness was lazy and yet peaceful.

"Is that me?"

He went back to his drawing. "I must say you are a bit more interesting to draw than a bowl of bread."

Malon shrugged. "Well if you're going to put it that way…"

He gave a small chuckle and tugged a few strands of her hair. She pulled back. "Now come on. Get out so I can change."

"You're blushing again," he noted.

Malon looked up for help."I won't be long I promise."

He rose up, ready to take the drawing but Malon put her hand over his. "No. Leave it here."

He looked at her with such intensity that Malon felt a tremble ripple through her skin. He put a hand to her cheek.

Before anything could happen next, the appearance of Jonalir froze them in their tracks.

"Oh I'm terribly sorry!" Jonalir exclaimed. "I'll come back."

Malon tried to hide her smile behind her hand. "That's all right Jonalir." She removed her hand. "What is going on?"

"I just wanted to say that tonight Meira and I are preparing a last special meal for Malon before she has to go back…"

Daring a look over at Dark Link, Malon couldsence the tension in his form.

She jumped in. "That sounds wonderful."

Jonalir clapped his hands. "Excellent. I'll just go get started on it and everything. Go on with whatever you were doing. I'll just be going now. See you later on."

And then he zipped through the wall.

Dark Link's head lifted. Malon went to speak but he cut her off. "All right...I'll just be on my way." He tugged on his ear and he smiled at her but this time it didn't quite reach his eyes.

He turned to the door but Malon grabbed his arm. "Wait. I have an idea."

She breathed out. "Why don't you just come with me? Come back with me to Hyrule."

He sighed. "You know I can't do that Malon. I can't live among you without causing a stir. There are many reasons why I would not be welcomed there."

Malon's head bowed. "No. I understand that but what kind of life can you have here? You'll never be able to leave the temple. You can't keep disguising yourself without having to worry about getting caught."

He turned toward the desk top and ran his fingers over it. "They'll eventually forget me. So will you."

Malon snorted quietly. "That's not possible."

He reached for her. His arm wrapped around her shoulders and he pressed his lips to her forehead. Malon closed her eyes and gave a small laugh. She liked this new affection. Who would have thought him capable of it?

"I have told you before," he said. "It's my concern Malon not yours anymore,"

He let go of her. "I'll leave you to get yourself ready."

Before she could say another word, he had gone through the door.

------------------------------------------

The night seemed to drag. Malon pulled on her dress. The best she had, made of a white bedsheet and a brown belt fashioned from an overcover. There wasn't much she could do with her hair. She let it alone. She made one last critical look in the looking glass.

All right it wasn't the glamour of the masquerade gown. It just hung simply from her frame like a housedress. The bodice was white and the sleeves were unfashionably short but the heat made any thinglonger unbearable.

The desert heat was usually stagnant, though tonight when she gave a look out the window, the winds were coming in from the east. The sand stirred gently. Hopefully there wasn't a storm on the rise.

She crossed into the hall that connected the boarding quarters to a main dining room. The doors were closed.

Malon knocked twice on the doors.

Jonalir's head popped through the solid wood. "Ahoy wanderer. State your purpose and we might let you in if you prove honorable."

Malon grinned. "To stuff my belly like a holiday hog. Now let me in."

Jonalir ducked back inside. The latch lifted and the door opened.

Immediately, Malon breathed in the warm fragrant scent of the main course meat. She recognized it as lamb.

"Make yourself comfortable," Meira told her. "We aren't serving until our other guest has arrived."

"Then there's no need to wait."

All but Jonalir looked up in surprise. "Oh good," he said with glee. "Now it won't get cold."

Malon couldn't really think of anything to say. She turned her head around to follow Jonalir as he passed through the wall but once he was gone she had no choice but to look back at Dark Link.

All things considered she had to find something else to call him.

He looked very well. He wore black hose that were moderately straight legged and a grey shirt. His hair was a sable tousle; some strands strayed across his forehead.

He had his arms wrapped around himself as though there was a chill only he could feel.

Meira took the opportunity to back away. "Please have a seat," she said though she was being inviting, it sounded more like she was expecting him to be difficult.

He didn't say anything. Instead his eyes went to Malon. She gave him such a big grin that her entire face hurt. Then she pulled out a chair and settled herself down.

There was all of a sudden a loud banging sound. To which Meira's response was to automatically reach over and open the door at Dark Link's back.

"I keep forgetting!" Jonalir apologized as he sped towards the table.

He set the trey onto the table and dashed back through the door. The meat was in fact mawneye. Malon helped herself to a share.

Then she reached out for her companion's dish even though he hadn't moved toward the table yet.

Malon sighed and drew her hand back after he didn't react. "Suit yourself. Though I can't promise you'll enjoy it after it gets cold."

He turned his face away not letting her see his eyes before he lowered his arms and settled himself into a chair.

All right. She had suspected that things would get awkward again. She'd have to have been an idiot if she thought that everything between them would now right themselves out after a kiss. Or two. And then him admitting that he didn't want her to leave…

Malon jumped up as if she had sat on a pin. "Here give me your plate. I just spotted many good pieces for you."

He didn't even bother to try and act unscathed as she hustled over and snatched the dish from under his hand.

Meira was about to interject when Jonalir made his return with a trey of carp and a bowl of herbed bread.

Malon quickly finished filling his plate and held it out to him. When he took it, his fingers brushed hers. She lingered a moment. Just to see if he would react oddly.

He pulled the plate back but she could feel his eyes on her the whole time.

Jonalir had begun to speak. "I do hope the wine is to your liking. It's a golden currant."

Malon moved toward her seat and proceeded to heap the potatoes. Truthfully the only wine she'd ever had was nettle. "I'll have some if you please."

Jonalir filled her cup. She drank.

It was sweet with no harsh bite to follow after. She would drink it again.

He had started eating. The look of him was amusing. She found herself thinking about him when she first showed him how to eat. A pang of longing slapped against her heart.

Not a word was said by either Hylian or specter as they ate. Malon finished her first plate and began picking at her second.

Suddenly, Dark Link ducked under the table.

"I had hoped that I could give you this after we ate," he began. He rose out of his chair, holding a book. "But I didn't feel like waiting." He stepped toward Malon's end of the table and set the book down in front of her.

She peered at the title of the tome. 'Chemen.' The book was bound in leather and scripted in black.

"You had said you were going to school for studying foreign places and languages," he said as she turned the pages. "I figured that you would like this."

The gesture was far more thoughtful than Malon gave him credit of possessing. The thought of that just made her chest tighten. She didn't want to look at him in fear of showing him too much in her eyes. However if she didn't, she'd be a coward. Slowly she raised her head.

"It's wonderful," Malon said at last. "I don't know how to thank you. I didn't even get you anything."

"You didn't have to," he said to her. "You've given me much."

Damn these tears! Was it necessary to get this emotional? Then Malon smiled to herself. Yes. Yes it was.

There was silence. Nobody dared to speak until Jonalir ever the one for hating awkward silences, leapt from his place at the table.

"Who's ready for dessert?"

-----------------------------------

It was the night before Solissay. Talon sat in the chair by the window. Next to him on the table was a large chunk of holiday cake untouched.

He stared at the field where many had gone to celebrate. He could hear their music.

The winds were cold. One seemed colder than the last one. Dang fools out there'll catch their death. He wrapped the blanket tighter around him but instead it felt like it was squeezing the life from him. Unable to take this anymore, he got up to warm by the fire.

There was a knock on the door but Talon didn't bother to answer. The person, who happened to be Ingo, let himself in. He held a piece of pumpkin pasty on a dish.

"I brought cha somethin' else," Ingo said. "It's yer favorite."

Talon made no answer and Ingo sighed. He walked over to the table where he saw the cake hadn't been touched as well. He could do nothing except set the dish down.

"You have to eat at some time Talon."

Talon didn't eat for the first four or five days since Malon's disappearance. Then when he went to the courtyard for some solace, two guards had found him completely unconscious. In fear of a second time around, Ingo had been bringing him whatever food and staying there until he finished eating.

"Have faith Talon," Ingo tried again. "I believe that we'll be seeing Malon tomorrow."

"Are you so sure?" Talon replied. His tone was vacant.

Ingo was silent. Whether dead or alive, Malon would be coming home tomorrow. Though he was sure of that, he didn't want to tell Talon that.

Talon scoffed. "There is nothing you can say to help."

"No sir there isn't," Ingo agreed softly. "I don't mean to sound cold but whatever happened to Malon, she-she wouldn't want you to waste away like this."

For a moment he wasn't sure if he was talking for Malon or rather himself. Ingo wanted Malon back as much as Talon did. However, there was also nothing that could be done. Not now, not yet. And wasting away like this wouldn't bring her back.

"You make it sound like she's already gone," Talon said. "And you might indeed be right. Just now when next Solissay comes around, I'll dread it. And the one after."

Ingo inhaled. He didn't want to make it sound like all was lost but no matter how he presented the case it just sounded bleak.

"Talon-"

"Ingo please," Talon pleaded. He turned from the fire, brushed past Ingo and grabbed the pumpkin pasty dish. Then he settled on the bed and began shoving it down.

"I'm eating now Ingo," Talon snapped around a mouth of crumbs. "You can go."

Ingo bowed his head. Without another word, he went to the table and picked up the cake plate. Once it was snatched out of his hand, Ingo disappeared around the door and never looked back again.

-----------------------------------

There wasn't anything left for her to do.

Malon finished wrapping her belongings and put them away for tomorrow. Against her judgment, Malon was going to leave him something. It wasn't supposed to be something to remind him of her but rather just something she wanted to give him.

It was only simple ring suspended on a chain. It hadn't cost much in the market but it was supposed to symbolize that life constantly goes on around and around in a circle no matter the birth or death.

She walked across towards the Temple, holding a lantern to light her path along the way. The winds were still stirring the sands. Malon took extra care to keep her face away.

She knocked on the door twice.

There were a few beats before the door creaked open. Malon pushed it open.

Nobody was around.

Not that it really mattered. All she wanted to do was leave the chain in Chemen's Rest and then get out.

The rooms were set up in a maze-like architecture which sometimes if you weren't careful you'd end up in the wrong place. Malon found the room quickly enough and eased the door open.

It was empty.

He wasn't there. Not asleep, not in front of the mirror, nowhere.

Good enough. It would be easier just to leave the chain and then go.

Malon moved towards the mirror. Reaching up, she hung the chain around the point at the crown of it.

All right now she'd just be on her way.

She closed the door behind her. A sudden panic rose in her throat. What if he caught her?

Why did it matter?

She couldn't face him. Not one on one.

Cursing her cowardice, she forgot where she was going. She reached for a handle. The wood work on the door was familiar. It went to the courtyard bath.

She opened it a crack and her eyes bugged

As it turned out it she found him.

He was in the bath.

She ducked back into the hall shrouding herself with the door. That was bit embarrassing. He didn't seem like he had seen her.

All right now walk away, she willed at her feet. Just keep moving.

But her traitorous body wouldn't obey her. She leaned her head forward to angle her gaze through the crack.

He was standing in the alcove of the mock mountain. The cascade surrounded him in a molten glass shield. Like it was attempting toprotect him from all the things Malon wished to do to him right now.

Malon clutched at door handle starching the space wider. His naked back was to her, exposed and vulnerable to her amorous scrutiny. His skin was like white marble. The droplets of water caressed parts of him she itched to caress.

Her breathing came in short gasps. The fact that the delicious frame he etched was just so within her reach and yet she was holding herself back was torturous.

His hands drew through his loose dark curls and he arched his neck back letting the water beat down on him. His eyes heavy lidded with the pleasure of it.

Before she could stop herself, she slipped in through the stretch of space. She waited to see if he could hear her. He made no indication of it and therefore she moved closer.

Closer.

Closer still until she dared to step into the pool. The white dress she wore billowed through the water with every step.

Finally he turned around. She froze in fear but his eyes were drawing her in. She urged deeper into the pool.

For a moment they stared at each other through the thin wall of water. The way most animals probably sized each other up before they commenced tomate.

Finally his hand reached out and through that wall.

Out for her.

Once she took it, she knew that there would be no going back.

And she didn't want to turn back.

She took his hand. No regrets.

He drew her to him through the veil that divided them.

Lips on lips, hands through her hair all of it was whipping around them as did the torrents of water.

He moved behind her pressing her back against his front. He slipped one hand up, over her breasts, sliding under the material, untying the meddlesome laces.

The other hand was bolder, going lower into the newly opened laces until…

She let out a strangled yelp. The cloth of her dress fell from her shoulders.

Then slowly he drew her in to the darkness of the cave.

R & R. Much thanks