Rocks the size of cities tumbled in the void, scraping and crashing off each other in an endless, silent ballet. The groan of tortured stone would have been deafening if there had been any sound, or indeed anyone to hear it. But, somewhere in the boundless field of debris, something approaching consciousness stirred fitfully.

Somewhere deep within the massive, crumbling rock, floated a gigantic tree that had flashed into ice as it had been flung into the void. Amber light flickered across frozen blades of grass as they spun endlessly in what had once been an awe inspiring cavern, as an increasingly desperate collection of thoughts and impulses tumbled among them, barely contained in a small, cracked wooden object.

The thing had been brightly coloured once, microscopic flecks of paint drifted around it as it tumbled gently, helplessly. Sparks crackled in what was left of the lurid coating.

Whatever was inside, almost conscious, buzzed and shook as the remnants of a great power soared through the debris, probing the space around and between worlds for some kind of leverage, something, anything that would help it to break free…

Months passed. Then years.

The thing had searched worlds beyond measure, pouring itself into space and time to no avail, when a fading tendril suddenly rippled with some kind of response. The thing was not excited, it had never been capable of it. But there was something out there that had felt it, and had replied, something of great, possibly equal power had sensed it through the void and responded with ferocious and burning attention.

The search halted, everything was focused on this other entity. It was hard to determine across distances between worlds, but the thing could feel a space between dimensions serving as a cell, a brilliant golden prison that had nonetheless cracked under the immense power of what it held, a crack so small it could not be discerned by any normal senses, but through it a power surged with such blazing ferocity it was like a dimensional signal flare.

There wasn't a conversation, between the unknown prisoner and the barely conscious object, just an exchange of emotion and feeling, a sense of shared purpose, a delight in anger and power and fury, and somewhere in there a bargain of sorts was struck. Each power was trapped, but each could use the other, and the golden crack began to widen as both minds bent upon it, and a deep laughter merged with an ancient giggle as the prison started to crumble, flames of power rushing wildly through dimensions…

Rushing wind, horrible laughter, a feeling of falling endlessly in every direction as his stomach lurched with fear, and then a pair of bright glowing eyes snapped open-

'-!'

Link jerked in bed as if he had fallen a great distance, suddenly wide awake. Panting gently, his eyes darted around the quiet room. The soft moonlight leaked through the shutters to show the simple, familiar wooden furniture and plain plaster walls, the deep darkness huddling in the corners about as innocent as could be. Still, he shook his head, chest still heaving. He hadn't even thought about those… eyes… for years. Not outside of the usual nightmares, at least. Rubbing his forehead with his free hand, he glanced around again, expecting to see them glaring out at him from the shadows, and the hollow pit in his stomach still churned…

'Mmm… Link…?'

The bedclothes rustled gently and he glanced down at the mess of thick red hair that ensnared his other hand. He must have jumped hard enough to wake Malon from where she liked to sleep draped over his chest, and he felt her run a delicate hand through the cold sweat that pricked his skin. He took a moment to forcibly calm his breathing, and she looked up at him with sleepy eyes full of concern.

'Another nightmare?'

He let his head flop back. No secrets from her.

'Yeah. Sorry I woke you.'

'Don't apologise, dummy.'

She placed her hand on his chest, fingers spread and pressing gently the way she usually did, and his breathing slowed the way it usually did. Her hand felt searing hot on his skin.

'Was it a bad one?'

Glowing white eyes coming out of the past, from a dying world he still wasn't sure had existed at all, if not for the one thing he had been unable to be rid of…

'Mmm. Worse than usual.'

She hummed a simple tune, the melody lilting and calming even in her sleepy voice. The pit in his stomach diminished slowly, his chest stopped shivering. He took her hot little hand in his and squeezed.

'Thank you.'

'You're very welcome. Here.'

She shifted and wriggled over on top of him, warm skin pressing down on him as she took his head in her hands.

'All better, all safe.'

She kissed him gently, the way she usually did. He smiled at her in the private cave formed by her hair falling all around them.

'Just another nightmare.'

He held her tight, tighter than usual. The gnawing in his stomach had not gone away, the blood rushing through his head was deafening. Why that, and why now? After all these years lying inert, he felt as though he could feel its gaze on him, and every hair on his body stood straight up.

Maybe one secret from her, after all.

In the morning, he pretended like he had got some more sleep, like everything was fine. They dressed, and ate with Talon and Ingo, and started their day as usual, until Link quietly stepped into the background. Slipping into the room he and Malon shared, he eased the shutters closed again, peering through the shutters until he saw the others disperse among various ranch buildings. Waited a hundred heartbeats, to be sure.

It was a moment's work to heave the bed to one side, and use his sword, the massive blade now a ceremonial piece, to lever up a specific floorboard carefully enough to leave no marks. The darkness under the house stared back at him, as if accusing him of trapping it down there with that awful thing. He knelt and slowly, gently stretched a hand under the foundations, brushing aside a layer of earth that he had hurriedly scooped into place as an afterthought when he had hidden the sack years before. The earth shifted and his fingers touched material, material that gave slightly to reveal the shape of the thing underneath, and for a second his fingers traced the outline of his own face.

The memory of the burning eyes flashed into his head and he jerked his hand back as if it had been scalded-

Nothing had happened. There was no smoke, no burning, no flash of power, just an old piece of wood and clay wrapped in a sack and buried in the ground. Link bit his lip, staring into the gap. Still there, and hopefully still there long after he had died and been forgotten. One day he might ask Zelda to help hide it somewhere more definite, but that would mean telling her about it, and on balance, as he hammered the floorboard back over the gap, he preferred if this thing passed clean out of memory.

Link adjusted the swordbelt slung over his shoulder as he stepped out into the blinding morning sun. Another laid back day on the ranch, the kind of summer's day a child would remember for ever, fat flies buzzed lazily through the warm, still air hanging heavily between the buildings, the scent of cut grass and hay filling his nostrils with the earthly sensations of home. A deep breath full of flowers and heather and chewed grass, and he smiled. Link wandered into the paddock, looking for Malon, and circled idly toward the distant singing coming from the shed tucked away behind the barn.

So many cuccoos lived here now they had a decent sized building of their own, the walls lined with tiered nests that boasted of warmth and comfort. He had good memories of helping to build this coop that first summer, after his injuries had healed… Malon was inside, humming a tune as she gathered eggs into the oversized basket by her feet. The way she moved around the roaming animals on the floor, sunlight washing through the door to freeze dust and hay in midair and gleam across her flaming hair, she couldn't look more at home, and he couldn't help grinning as she glanced at him.

'Expecting trouble today?' Malon asked, looking him up and down with the half smile he loved so much.

'Not unless you fancy making some.' Which would be something to do at least, he thought. Link leaned on the coops she had already covered as she rustled around in the hay. He was fully kitted out, Master Sword on his back and the ancient mirror shield burning in the sun. These days, the treasured artefact usually hung on the wall so Malon could brush her hair in it. It was more fun, she claimed.

'It's time for official duties, I'm afraid.' He said, stifling a yawn.

'Oh, already? I thought this reception was ages away.'

'So did I. Time flies when you don't want it to, I guess.'

'You're not looking forward to being ogled by important visitors?'

'It's not me anyone cares about, it's this.' He gestured over his shoulder at the sword. 'A whole host of elders and nobles and guests from who knows where are arriving to mill around diplomatically and talk about land and trade, and Zelda has decided I should be there for them to look at on the small chance they get bored.'

'There are worse things to do with a sword, I suppose.' Malon said, distracted by an egg, then she stuck her tongue out teasingly. 'I don't suppose I could tag along?'

Link knew she wasn't serious, and smiled at her. 'You know the Queen would love to see you. But don't be too upset. A whole week of standing around, most exciting thing will be seeing if I can sleep standing up. Can I borrow Epona?'

'Of course. She does belong to you, you know.'

'She only tolerates me. Just like you.'

'Don't make too many assumptions.' She placed what was probably the last egg in a basket. 'You know, if you're there to look impressive, they have an official outfit for the Hero of Time. Zelda made sure to show me it last time I was at the castle.'

Link made a face.

'Of course she did. I'm not wearing that relic.'

'You've got the legs for it.'

'No one can get away with scarlet feathers.'

'The shoes were very shiny.'

'In your dreams.'

Link took the basket of eggs and they wandered back to the house together, enjoying the peaceful morning.

'Speaking of which.' Malon took his hand gently. 'No more nightmares since the other day?'

'All quiet.'

'Good.' She squeezed his hand tight and when he looked over at her, she jumped up on tiptoes to kiss him quickly. 'We'll beat it together. Just take care this week.'

He grinned at her and put his arm around her waist to pull her in for a proper, much longer kiss. She giggled and then looked as if she had remembered something.

'Actually, if you're passing through the town, you can drop some things off for me on the way. None of us are going to the castle for a few days still so you can be the delivery boy.'

'It's what I do best.' He smiled at her until she vanished into the house, and then his shoulders dropped slightly. He glanced around, and then up. Every hair on the back of his neck was raised, and his skin was cold with sweat under his tunic. A completely inexplicable feeling in the most peaceful place in Hyrule, with fat bees bumping into his feet, but as he stared straight up into the afternoon sky, he couldn't shake the feeling he was being watched.