First off I would like to thank Elisa for the comment, indeed I probably deserve that remark, but I am also glad that such a connection with the characters of the story has formed. I could suggest to you that the love between Link and Zelda is doomed and there will not be a happy ending, but why should I have to do that you probably already think that.
Ralph and Malon received Blossom's letter on February 17. Malon was inconsolable for long minutes to follow. Indeed, Ralph had been forced to read it to her, and he cried as well. They had certainly know about Zelda's blindness and been in touch often, but never had Blossom unburdened as she'd down this time.
Ralph waited until Malon had calmed a little and then told her what was on his heart concerning Zelda's spiritual status. When he was finished she cried yet again, but Ralph was patient, his own throat feeling rather tight.
"I have to do something, Ralph," Malon sobbed, her face still streaked with tears. "I can't play God, Ralph, but there must be something. Please tell me what to do."
Ralph smoothed her hair and used his won handkerchief on her face. "I have an idea, Malon, but I don't know what you'll say. As with your mother, the burden would fall mainly on you."
Malon looked at him. "Tell me, Ralph," she whispered. "Whatever it is, tell me."
Ralph's voice was even and well modulated as he told Malon what was in his heart, but it was not easy. Malon cried some more, but in the end she put her arms around him and held him tight. A plan- they had a plan- and that was better than aimlessly waiting. With that in mind she could wait for the spring.
(&)
"Write it, Sari," Zelda order her miserable sister. "Write now."
"Why,
Zelda, why me?"
"Because your handwriting is the most
like mine. Now, write what I tell you."
"But what about all of his letters? Don't you at least want to hear what he has to say?"
"Tell me, Sari," Zelda said her voice biting, low and furious. "Will you marry a blind man someday? Wouldn't it be exciting to marry a man who could never see you? You could guide him around like a stumbling child for the rest of your life. Now wouldn't that be fun?"
Sari was openly sobbing now, but Zelda's heart hardened to the sound.
"Write, Sari."
Still sniffing, Sari adjusted the paper. Zelda heard the rustle and began.
"Link."
"Just 'Link,' not 'Dear Link'?"
"Link!" Zelda spoke firmly. The younger girl tried to keep her hand from shaking. Why, she begged silently, is this my Sunday to sit with Zelda?
"Okay, what now?" she managed.
"I have met someone else," Zelda recited in a cold voice, "and fallen in love." She waited a moment, listening to the pen. "I never wish to see or hear from you again. Zelda."
"Oh, Zelda," Sari began.
"Write it!"
Sari was dying inside. She didn't know when she had been so upset. The whole house had been turned upside down last yare, and they'd all walked around in a stupor until just a few weeks ago when their father got them all involved in Zelda's care. It wasn't that they hadn't tried before, but Zelda never wanted it. Now, in order to ease Blossom's load, Father had them all on a schedule that included himself.
At first Zelda fought it, but the first time he'd stayed with Zelda himself and went so far as to take Blossom from the house was a breakthrough. Zelda was out of control at the beginning, but now they'd developed a pit of a pattern. Today was Sunday. The rest of the family was at church, and Sari had been put in charge. Not only was she to keep on eye on Zelda, she was to start lunch. Until this new schedule had begun, none of them had realized the stress their mother had been under.
"Don't forget to date it," Zelda added, breaking Sari from her thoughts.
"I won't." Sari was still so shaken she could hardly think.
"What is the date today?" Zelda demanded.
"March 12."
Zelda didn't speak, but bitterness coiled like a snake inside of her. Not even six months since her fall, but it felt like years. It felt like forever and always would. Blackness surrounded her, and that would never change. Link would go on. He would read the letter and hurt for a time, but then he'd find someone new, marry her, and live forever in happiness. He'd probably become a father. The thought so pained Zelda that she gasped.
"What is it?" Sari asked.
"Nothing.
Have you got it ready?"
"Yes."
"Dated?"
"Yes."
"Good.
Now tomorrow, right after school, you take it and post it. No one is
to know, do you hear me, Sari? No one! And don't get any ideas in
your head about writing to Link."
"Don't you think he already know, Zelda? Malon or someone must have told him."
"No,"
Zelda said with confidence. "He doesn't know. I'm sure of
it."
"How can you be?"
"Because he's still
writing to me. If he knew I was blind, I'd never hear from him again.
This way is best. He'll hate me, and that'll be the end of it."
Sari couldn't find anything to say to say to this. She wanted nothing to do with this horrid scheme, but she felt trapped. For just an instant she wanted to strike her sister. She wanted to lash out, call her names, and rail at her for climbing that ladder, but when she looked up, Zelda wore such a look of utter hopelessness and despair that Sari was crushed. She prayed as she'd been doing for the past five months. What are we going to do, Lord? What are we going to do?
(&)
Labrynna
Link's hands shook as he opened the letter. Even without seeing the contents, he knew Zelda's hand. She hadn't written in six months, and he'd about given up hope. He laughed at his own reaction to a simple letter, but still his hand shook.
"Link," it began, and ended with "Zelda." Link read it over twice and then one more time. He stared at the words but couldn't take them in. he sat slowly on his chair. On his desk lay her last letter, dated in September. He'd read it so many times that it was torn and smudged. How could this happen? The letter from the fall was filled with happiness and love- love for him.
Oh, Zelda, his heart cried. How could you do this to us? We loved each other. The flow of Link's heart stopped. We did love each other. Now it's just me. Link realized how true it was. Zelda might have fallen for someone else, but Link would never. The pain squeezed his heart was like a steel band he looked down in front of him and spotted the letter he'd been writing. He was applying to three different position he'd read about in the Labrynna newspaper. The one on top was addressed to the school board in Kakariko Village.
Link laid his hand on it and crumpled it into a ball. He might not hate Zelda or believe he could ever love again, but neither could he move there, teach school, and live near her and her new love. Again pain tore through him, and a sob broke from this throat. His mother, who came to tell him dinner was ready, found him crying at his desk. He told her the whole story but felt no relief. She cried with him but urged him to eat. He wasn't hungry. Right now he didn't think he'd ever be hungry again.
(&)
Ralph and Malon had prayed for an opening in the weather, and God gave them a time. They arrived in Kakariko Village on April 27. It was a surprise to all, but mostly to Blossom. She never dreamed they'd come when there was still such a strong chance of snow, but she was trilled to have them. As she stood in the kitchen with them, however, a strained look crossed her face.
"Father told us how bad she is," Malon said quietly and before her mother could speak. "He's in the stable now, putting the horses in for the night."
"Your father's here?" Blossom was amazed. "It's only 2:00, and no one else is with him today. The girls aren't even home from school yet."
"He closed the store for the day and brought us in the wagon," Ralph put in. "We told him we can't stay long, and he said he didn't want to miss any time with us."
"Why are you here?" Blossom was completely confused.
"To take Zelda back to Hyrule with us," Ralph stated.
Blossom began to shake her head, but Malon spoke up, "No, Mother. Don't try to get used to the idea right now. Just let it sink in."
"Malon, you don't know what you're saying. You've never seen her like-" Ralph stopped her with a hand to her arm.
"It's going to be all right," he said gently.
"What if she says no?" Blossom asked just as Bipin was coming in the back door. "What if Zelda refused to go?"
"She's not going to be given a choice," Bipin said kindly, but with a note of steel. "And neither are you, Blossom. It doesn't have to be forever, but Ralph and Malon are right. It's time for this."
Blossom nodded but had one more comment. "I won't tell you no, but I will say this- you haven't seen her or talked to her. It may not be me who changes your mind."
Ralph and Malon both looked at her. A moment later, the air was split by Zelda's piercing voice. The adults all exchanged looks, and then Malon's chin went into the air. She was thinking, Your big sister has come to town. She sailed from the kitchen, a determined glint in her eye
(&)
Zelda trembled from head to foot as she clung to Ralph's arm, and her shakes were from far more than the cold. The journey to Hyrule was ending, and she was so frightened that she could hardly breathe or move. How could they have done this? How could they have sent her away? She knows her home. She know ever inch of it. She had said this to her father, but he'd shocked her with his reply.
"You may know this house, Zelda, but what's the point? You won't move an inch for fear of falling or bumping into something, and so you expect everyone to wait on you. Your mother shouldn't have to take it anymore, and I refuse to. You're going to go with Malon and Ralph, and you're going to do as you're told. We'll come to see how you're doing- maybe this summer or fall. But you are going."
She had screamed and cried, begged and pleaded, but it was no use. Four days later on May 1, 1876, Zelda was packed up and taken to the stage office. Ralph and Malon were with her, but she was not comforted. She cried and trembled until Ralph told her in no uncertain terms that the tears would stop. His voice was normal, kind even, but he made his feelings quiet clear. Zelda told herself she didn't have to obey. After all, what could he do? But she didn't have the fortitude to cause a scene when the blackness around her seemed darker than ever. It might have helped if she'd realized that Malon had been crying with pain for her, but so caught up was she in her own little world that she was not aware of this.
"Okay,"
Ralph spoke from above her head. "Let's count."
"Count?"
She asked breathlessly.
"That's right. These are the front steps to our home. You'll have to know how many there are, or you'll fall when you do them yourself."
Zelda would have denied him this, but he started forward, counting out loud at the same time. She had no choice but to follow.
"Ten, eleven, and twelve. There! We're at the top. Now five more steps forward and we'll be at the front door. Here we go. Good. Now straight in font of you is the staircase. You're going to go up it. Count six steps and then the landing. I'll be right behind you."
Zelda was in a daze. The cold was receding, and a strange rug was beneath her feet. She grasped the wide banister and felt like she'd come into a huge cavern. She could smell a fire burning and even feel the warmth, but no light reached her eyes.
"Malon!" Zelda cried so piteously that Ralph had to hold his wife by the arm.
"I'm right here, Zelda," she managed through her tears. "You're doing just grate."
"I'll fall," she whispered.
"No, you won't," Ralph had let go of Malon. "I'm right behind you. Are you counting?"
"No."
"Well, get at it. What did I tell you?"
"Six steps and then the landing."
"Excellent." Ralph was very pleased because he wasn't certain she'd been listening. "And once on the landing you'll just circle it, keeping your left hand on the big ball, and then you'll have eight more steps on the top."
"All right. Is it hot in here?"
"Oh, here," Ralph moved forward. "Let me have your coat."
"Will I ever get it back?"
"Of course," he laughed. "It'll be in the closet, which we'll save fro another day."
"Another day?"
"Certainly. Today you're just going to learn your room, the stairs, and the dining room."
"Malon?"
"Yes, Zelda, I'm right here behind Ralph."
"Please don't let me fall in a hole."
"There are no drops at all, Zelda. Upstairs is all one level and so is downstairs. Just keep sliding your foot along."
Zelda had no idea of the planning that had gone on in the last three months which allowed Malon to say this. They had cleared their home of all but the necessities and counted every path and stairway in order to teach Zelda to move around on her own. In Malon's and Ralph's minds she was here to stay, and the sooner she learned her way around, the better.
Malon had even gone so far as o remove all of her kichhacks and store them in boxes in the attic. When Zelda learned where each piece of furniture was, she would put them back. She knew that if Zelda broke something, she wouldn't want to take another step.
"You made it," Ralph cried and Malon followed more slowly.
"I'll fall backward," Zelda said, clutching at the railing. Ralph put a hand on her back.
"I've
got you. Now straight ahead it your room. Put your hand out and start
moving."
"Oh, Ralph, I don't think I can."
He could hear the exhaustion in her voice and knew that this had to be the last trail for the day.
"Just do this, Zelda, and I'll help you with the rest. Hand out, and slide your feet." He watched her carefully. "Now move your hand tow inches to the left. Do you feel that? That's the doorway to your room."
Zelda felt her way all around, her hands smoothing the frame and wall and even the walking a little bit inside. Ralph came behind her and led her to the bed. She sat down hard when he backed her up to it and settled himself beside her. She promptly burst into tears, the first since they'd left Kakariko Village. Malon sat on the other side of her and put her arms around her.
"Oh,
Malon, Malon. How will I ever make it?"
"You did
wonderfully, dear," she consoled her. "I'm so proud of you.
In no time at all you'll be all over the house and yard."
"Why, Malon? Why must I do this?"
"Because
you need to take your life back, Zelda. You've become an invalid, and
Mother is too close to you to change it. Ralph and I are going to
help you, but you're going to have to do the work. You're going to
have to be willing to get bruised and spill things, because I won't
allow you to sit around and nether will Ralph. Trust me, Zelda, you
will thank us someday."
Zelda didn't comment, and husband and
wife exchanged a look over her head. They were both smiling and
believed that it wouldn't be long before Zelda was smiling too. They
would see to that. They would do everything in their power to help
her reclaim some independence, if only she would make the effort. If
they succeeded, they believed she would see far more in her world
than she ever had with perfect vision.
You may think of me as a twisted person, but I will not allow the characters that we love so much go through such pain without something better waiting in the end.
