Four days went by agonizingly for Link and Malon. The news of their upcoming journey to Hyrule City made both of them restless, and it showed in their work. They went out of their way to do more on the ranch than ever before. Besides taking care of the animals, as was their typical task, they washed windows, cleaned gutters, swept and mopped floors, washed dishes, washed laundry, dusted, scrubbed and scoured everything in sight. When everything that could be cleaned or polished was made spotless, they moved onto home repairs and fixed everything with so much as a splinter of damage. On the morning of the fourth day, Talon and Ingo found them on top of the barn, retiling the roof.
"Good God!" Talon exclaimed. "You two are workin' harder than any workers I ever hired in ma life!"
"They probably want more pocket money," guessed Ingo. "For when you head out for the city."
Malon dropped the hammer in her hand and leaned over the side of the roof.
"You'd pay us to do all this stuff?" She called down at them.
"Sure, why not?" said Talon. "It's a mighty big help havin' all this work done bafore we leave."
"But if you didn't know that," said Ingo. "Why the heck are you working so hard?"
"We're so excited to go to Hyrule City, we're trying to distract ourselves," she explained. "If we don't do something to keep busy, we'll go insane. I don't wanna wait to go to Hyrule! I wanna go now!"
"Well in that case," Talon chuckled. "Maybe I won' bother payin' ya."
"NO!" she cried out. "I'm not working for free! I want my money!"
In those four days, despite his excitement, Link slept like a rock and woke up every morning in his rightful bed, instead of finding himself in the nearby woods. He slept so well, in fact, that Malon had to push and shove him out of bed in the morning, but it still pleased her to know he was finally making good use of his room. It seemed to make Epona happy as well, now that she was not required to fetch him every other morning. He hadn't dreamt a single dream since Rusl visited the ranch, and had seen no trace of the three golden triangles on the back of his hand. In time, he forgot all about the triangles.
The rest of the morning continued uneventfully. Now with the promise of extra earnings at the end of the week, Link and Malon worked even harder. That afternoon, as they finished up with the roof, they heard the sounds of clomping hooves approaching the ranch. An armor-clad boy the same age as Link, with brown hair and sharp, pierced ears, rode a pure-white horse through the main gate and halted at the barn. Link found himself noticing the crest of the Royal Family on the rider's armor.
"That's the armor of the Royal Knights!"
"Who's the owner of this ranch?" The boy knight demanded awkwardly.
"That's my dad," Malon answered. "He just went into the house. I'll go get him."
Link and Malon made their way to the edge of the roof and carefully dropped down, Link holding Malon's hand to keep her from falling. While she fetched Talon, Link stood by and waited with the knight, and couldn't help but stare at his armor, admiring the intricate details of the steel plates and chain mail.
"Quit staring," the rider blurted suddenly. "What's wrong with you?"
Link jumped at the rider's outburst.
"You're not a queer, are you?"
Link raised an eyebrow before shaking his head.
"Can't you talk at all?"
He put his hand indicatively to his throat.
"I guess not."
The rider stared off into the distant and waited impatiently, tapping his fingers on the horn of the saddle. When he turned back to Link, he saw him admiring the armor even more.
"You like the suit?"
Link smiled and nodded.
"It looks better than it feels. It gets really sweaty, it chafes, and it takes forever to get in and out of. Honestly, its more for show than anything else. You're not thinking of joining the army, are you?"
Link shrugged.
"I wouldn't if I were you. I only joined because my old man made me. It seemed like fun and games, but they have so many regulations about everything that it pisses me off; when to wake up, when to go to sleep, when to eat, when to crap. It's stupid."
The knight leaned down toward Link and lowered his voice.
"Plus, the only real entry requirement they have that's worth noting is how much money your family has. The less you have, the more you have to pay to get in."
Link's brow furrowed.
"My name's Rio, by the way. I'd ask for yours, but I guess that wouldn't work too well, would it?"
Talon came out of the house, followed by Ingo and Malon.
"Wha's all this 'bout, sir?" Talon addressed the boy, who was at least two decades his junior.
"A message from the King of Hyrule himself," Rio reported. "I'm a crier for the army. I'm traveling to the neighboring regions within the area and giving the message to as many citizens as I can reach, and I've got a long way to go, so if you wouldn't mind."
"Go ahead."
Rio reached into his satchel and pulled out an official-looking parchment. He cleared his throat and began.
"Honourable citizens of Hyrule:
As of recent times, it has become clear to the members of the Royal Family that betrayal exists within the Kingdom.
The Grand Duke of Eldin and King of the Gerudo, Ganondorf Dragmire, has consorted with enemies and committed high treason against his Royal Majesty, High King Daphnes Nohansen Harkinian of Hyrule. Upon further revelation, the Gerudo King Ganondorf has openly announced emancipation of his tribe from the Kingdom of Hyrule, and therefore it is with the greatest of sorrows that we, the Seventy Parliamentary Burgesses of Hyrule, declare Civil War with the Gerudo Nation."
Rio stopped reading to let the news sink in. He'd mildly expected shock and fear, but was disappointed.
"Again?!" Ingo complained, disgusted. "It hasn't been that long."
"The last one ended right 'bout when Link came to the ranch, so it's been almost sixteen years."
"Shh!" Malon interrupted. "I want to hear the rest."
"Me too."
Rio continued.
"In addition to this devastating news, reports of severe ecological and environmental damage have been made directly to the High King, and are as follows:
High and numerous volcanic activities have been reported within the mountain ranges of both Labrynna and Holodrom. Death Mountain and Mount Lynna are both expected to erupt within a year of one another, and the glaciers of Mount Horon and Snowpeak are rapidly melting. Venom of an unknown nature is slowly seeping into and poisoning the vast woodlands of Faron, leaving the citizens no choice but to evacuate their homes. Unnatural hurricanes are plaguing the Ocean Kingdom, and the rivers and lakes of Lanayru are mysteriously freezing over. Great flash floods and violent thunderstorms are becoming more and more constant throughout Eldin.
In response to these calamities, with the permission of the High King, the General of the Army has ordered thousands of troops into the neighboring provinces to maintain a peaceful uphold of the law and to gain a full perspective on the ongoing situation of the Kingdom.
The citizens of Hyrule are advised to act in a diplomatic manner with regards to this news. Be wary of any suspicious activity, do not panic, and notify the appropriate authorities of any unlawful conduct.
Signed, Kaepora Gaebora, Representative Speaker of The Seventy Parliamentary Burgesses, and His Royal Majesty, High King Daphnes Nohansen Harkinian of Hyrule."
With the message brought forth and completed, Rio returned the parchment to his satchel and picked up his reins.
"I bid you all good day," he replied, saluted, then cast a smile Malon's way.
"My lady."
"Wait, what?"
Rio winked at her, and departed the ranch on his steed. Link watched him leave, aghast.
"Did he just…?!"
"Wow," Malon breathed. "I knew things were bad, but I didn't think they were that bad."
"Hey, wait a minute!"
"Although, didn't it seem weird?"
"What do you mean, Malon?" asked Ingo.
"I get the war announcement and all, but did they really have to put in that stuff about all the ecological damage? Of course people have a right to know if a volcano is going to explode, especially if they live right next to it, but was it really appropriate? The whole passage after the war announcement seemed really weird to me."
She noticed the intense looks that both her father and uncle were giving her.
"Sorry, I guess I'm just thinking out loud."
Talon gave a great sigh.
"Kids, let's get the carriage ready."
"Why, Dad?"
"We're leavin' for Hyrule City."
"What? Right now?"
"Right now."
"Huh?!"
Malon and Link did double takes.
"Don' stand there gawkin' at me! Go get the cart!"
Link and Malon stood staring silently at Talon, before running toward the stable.
"Talon?" asked Ingo.
"I don' wanna talk 'bout it."
"Malon's getting too smart for her own good."
"I said I ain't talkin' about it!"
The dismantled carriage laid against the back of the stable in assorted pieces. Link and Malon set to work reassembling them.
"Is it just me, or did today get really weird?"
Link's mind itched about crazily as he shoved the spokes into the wheels and aligned them onto the cart, nearly breaking them in the process.
"Link, are you okay? You're putting those in kind of hard."
When he jammed the last spoke into the wheel, it shattered.
"Link! Would you pay attention?! What's your problem?!"
Malon ripped the wheel and broken spoke away from him.
"Now I have to go get a replacement! Is this about that crier for the army, and how he winked at me?"
"Dang it, she can read me like a book."
Caught red-handed, Link looked away and rubbed the back of his neck in shame.
"Don't be such a baby! I can't believe you're worried about something like that, when we've just been informed that we're at war! He didn't mean anything by it, Link. He was just being polite. He kind of reminded me of you, actually."
"Eh?"
Link's confused countenance was response enough for Malon.
"Yeah. His hair was brown, but other than that he looked almost exactly like you. He even had the same blue eyes."
"I guess I didn't notice."
"Even if he was flirting with me, there's no way I'd date him. It would be way too close to dating you. It'd be too weird. I'll be right back."
Malon took the broken spoke and walked around toward the other side of the stable, leaving Link to gather his thoughts. She did have a point. Rio had taken time to see them out on their dinky little ranch to give them vital information regarding the country, but all he'd concerned himself with was what had more than likely been an innocent gesture. People winked at him all the time, including Talon, Ingo and Rusl. It certainly didn't mean they were hitting on him. How could he have interpreted something so simple as something completely different? The fact that the gesture worried him more than the war was bad enough. Was he so comfortable with his life here on the ranch that impending battle with one of their own provinces meant so little to him? Was he that selfish?
Malon was right, he was being a baby. That wink from Rio had ruffled his feathers way more than it should have. Even if he had flirted with Malon, did it really matter that much? He didn't care if other men liked her. Not one bit… Okay, that was a lie. He did care, and quite a bit, actually. She was his sister, after all. He'd known her his whole life. He couldn't help feeling protective of her, especially when it came to strange men. But at least he didn't have to worry about Rio anymore, since Malon just finished saying he resembled him too much to be comfortable dating him.
Come to think of it, he did look an awful lot like Link. He hadn't thought much of it or even noticed because he was too busy admiring Rio's armor, but now that Malon mentioned it, the physical resemblance was uncanny. He was in nearly every way Link's double, save for his chocolate hair and paler skin.
"I bet if he had gotten off that horse, he would've been just as tall as me, too."
"Link, you better not have stopped working!"
Malon came back with a new spoke for the wheel.
"Come on! The sooner we finish making the cart, the sooner we get to go to Hyrule! Let's hurry!"
Link snapped to attention and went back to assembling the carriage. At Malon's mention of Hyrule City, he couldn't help feeling giddy. He had no idea why Talon had changed his mind about when to leave, but it didn't matter. They were going, and they'd be there tonight! Rio left Link's thoughts entirely as he and Malon quickly finished assembling the cart. When it was finished, Malon retrieved two horses from the stable, drew them to the carriage, and then drove it toward the main gate.
"Let's go tell Dad so we can get ready! I can't believe we're finally going to Hyrule!"
With the carriage ready for loading, Talon, Malon, and Link hurried to gather their luggage and necessities, along with as many crates of milk as they could fit in the back. They were just about to leave when Link came out of the house one more time, carrying the Ordon Sword.
"Son, you can't take that with us."
"Why not?"
"They won't let us past the guard tower if you bring that," Malon pointed out. "And with the war just announced, security's gonna be even tighter than normal, as if it wasn't bad enough."
"Besides, you wouldn't want it ta get stolen, would ya?"
"Definitely don't want that to happen."
Link took the sword back inside and left it on his bed. He saw his ocarina sitting on the desk, and the urge to take it with him was worth the risk of theft. He stuffed it into his pocket and turned to leave when he saw something that saddened him every time he looked upon it. Sitting on his desk, underneath where the ocarina had been, was a strip of cloth with his name written in blood. The cloth had faded, turned a dirty brown, and pieces of thread were starting to fall off. The blood was rusted and barely legible, and was now chipping away. It was in very poor condition.
"Link?"
"He's not waking up anytime soon. Don't bother."
Hearing Talon call his name in his sleep, Link opened his groggy eyes and peered out at the two shadows lingering over him.
"Well I'll be. He's awake."
"Link! Thank goodness your all right!"
His body was so numb and stiff all over that when his brain sent out signals to move, the rest of him didn't respond. His fingers twitched.
"Don't try to move, son. You've been hurt."
One of the shadows was obviously Talon, but he couldn't recognize this voice speaking to him, though it sounded familiar. He shifted his eyes to the unknown shadow and squinted at it.
"I'm the doctor. Do you remember me? We met in Ordon Village."
Oh, so that's who it was. Link slowly opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.
"Don't try to talk either. I've got some bad news for you, son. You won't be using your voice again. Not for the rest of your life."
"…What?"
"Link?"
A voice he recognized instantly, though it was only a whisper, filled the room so sweetly that it brought tears to his eyes. A third shadow hovered over him.
"What did you say to him?!" Malon's voice hissed. "He's crying!"
"I told him the truth he deserves to hear, and I don't think it has anything to do with his crying."
It was true. Hearing Malon's voice, a smile lit up Link's face.
"I thought I'd never see you again…"
For the first time since he woke up, Link's body responded to what he wanted it to do. He barely managed to lift his hand, and Malon took it.
"Link! I'm so sorry! It's all my fault! If I hadn't made us go to the spring… then, you'd- I'm sorry, Link! I'm sorry!"
She sobbed uncontrollably as she grasped his hand in both of hers.
"Sweety, I need a minute ta talk to Link. Can you wait outside, just for a moment? You can come back in right after."
Malon wiped her arm across her eyes.
"…Okay."
"Wait! Please don't go…"
Malon released Link's hand and walked shakily out of the room. The shadows were now forming discernible shapes, and he could see the details of the room. He realized it was the same one he'd woken up in after the thieves had beaten him.
"…We never left Ordon Village."
He was lying in bed, with more bandages around his body than he thought possible. His right arm was bound in a cast, and although he couldn't see it, he could feel a brace around his neck.
"What happened…?"
He looked up hopelessly at the doctor.
"An old tree that was bound to fall any day, ended up falling on you. Did some mighty bad damage, too. Broke your arm, and nearly shattered your spine. You're lucky to be alive, son."
"But why…?"
His eyes stared up pleadingly.
"When the tree fell, one of the branches pierced into your throat, your larynx to be more exact. It's the part of your body that makes it so you can talk. You were bleeding into your lungs, and we couldn't let that happen, so in order to save you, I had to remove your larynx. I'm sorry, son, but you'll never be able to speak again."
"Link," Talon interrupted the doctor's lengthy explanation. "Malon told me 'bout how you were feelin'."
"How I was…feeling?"
He looked confusedly up at Talon.
"About how you were wonderin' who yer parents are?"
"Oh…yeah…"
His confusion cleared. He wished Malon hadn't told Talon about that, since his worry about his parents hardly seemed important now. He cast his eyes away from Talon.
"You're not in trouble for wonderin' about them. I expected it for a while, son, and frankly I don' blame ya. I've been holdin' onto this ever since you came to the ranch, and I was waitin' for the right time ta give it to ya. If now ain't tha right time, I don' know when is."
Talon reached into his front pocket and very carefully removed a strip of cloth. He unfolded it and gently placed it in Link's hand.
"…That's-!"
After his accident in Ordon Village, Talon had revealed and given him a cloth strip, with Link's name written in blood. It had worn away with age even when Talon had presented it, so Link did everything he could to preserve the precious slip over the years. It was the only clue to his parents, and it was proof that they hadn't simply dumped him off on someone else to raise; the blood convinced him of that, since bleeding people don't stop for just any reason to give their children up. Link had been more grateful to Talon than ever for giving it to him.
A thought occurred to Link, and he took the slip from his desk, folded it, and carefully stowed it into his pocket. Maybe he could find his parents in Hyrule City. It wouldn't be much of a lead, and since the note was written in blood it was likely they weren't even alive, but it was something, and it was good enough for him. He remembered himself thinking that if anything existed, any kind of trinket or treasure, then it was for sale in Hyrule City. Couldn't the same be true of finding people? If they were out there somewhere, maybe they were living in the city, or at least had been there before. And if not, maybe there was someone who knew them, or had seen them before. It was possible, wasn't it? Why not?
With the slip of cloth tucked away, Link went back outside to meet the others.
"Here ya go, kids."
Talon pulled out four red Rupees and divided them evenly between the two teenagers.
"Aww, only forty? Come on, Dad."
"Sorry darlin', but I can't afford ta give you more than that. Things are tough on the ranch, nowadays. Get in the cart so's we can leave. Not you, Link."
Malon stepped up into the passenger's seat while Link waited.
"Go an' get Epona. Ridin' alongside us will be lot more comfortable than bein' stuck in the back of the carriage."
Link left to retrieve his mare.
"We should see if we can be business partners with Cremia," Malon suggested. "I bet she'd be willing to split profits with us, since she's doing so well, right?"
"It ain't right fer a grown man ta ask a lady like her fer help like that."
"It's not asking for help, Dad. It's doing business. After everything Link did to save her ranch when we were kids, I'm sure she'd be more than happy to sign on with us."
"That's enough for now, Malon," Talon sighed as he climbed into the driver's seat.
"Fine, but when you and Uncle Ingo are crusty old men who can't work anymore, I get to do whatever I want with the ranch."
Link came back, leading Epona and carrying a saddle, blanket, and halter under his arm. He led Epona to the carriage, saddled up, and mounted.
"I know it's a last minute change a plans," said Talon. "So I hope you can manage the ranch while we're gone."
"Of course I can," Ingo snapped. "I hope you can manage two unruly teenagers in the big city."
Malon stuck her tongue out at her uncle. Talon chuckled.
"We'll be back in a few days."
"Bye, Uncle Ingo!"
Link waved.
"See you guys later."
Talon set the drawn horses at a quick, steady trot, and Link followed pace with Epona. Ingo watched them leave before going back to work. He closed the gates to the ranch and headed toward the barn.
"Might as well keep this place up while they're gone. Those kids worked so hard fixin' and cleanin', there's not much to do except manage the animals."
He opened the barn's giant doors and stopped.
"What the- what're you doing in here?!"
He was grabbed by the straps of his overalls and yanked into the barn, and the sounds of a struggle began.
"Let go of me! What're you- Ack! Oof!… Unh…"
The others continued southward toward the Hyrule Province, far out of earshot.
"Link, how much money do you have saved up?"
Link had kept careful track of his money over the months. Counting the forty rupees given to him today, he raised four fingers.
"Just the 40? Link, I thought you were bet-"
Link shook his head.
"Not 40? Then…is it 400?"
He nodded.
"That sounds more like you. How do you manage to save up so well? With this 40, all I've got is 170. A girl can't go shopping with 170 Rupees!"
Link shrugged sheepishly. Malon leaned over the carriage toward him.
"Oh, Link," she said, laying on the sugar. "Couldn't you find it in your heart to share some of your wealth with me?"
Link grinned while raising an eyebrow.
"Oh come on! Pretty please?"
"Why don' cha let him decide after we get to the city?"
"What're you gonna spend your money on, Link?"
His thoughts went immediately to the bloody name on the cloth, but he did his best not to show it, so he shrugged. It seemed a reasonable response, since there would be so much in the markets to choose from that deciding beforehand seemed unbelievable.
"Well I know exactly what I'm doing. I'm gonna buy as many souvenirs as I can, and then give them to the kids in Ordon Village!"
"Huh? Really?"
"You didn't think I'd do something so nice, did you?"
Malon smiled sneakily at him. Once again, she'd read him like a book.
"Oh come on! Not even my thoughts are private here."
Malon had Link figured out ever since he lost his voice. She knew him best, even before the accident, so it hadn't taken her long to learn his silent mannerisms. It was perhaps for the best, since she was the only one who could tell what he was thinking and could translate for others. It saved him the trouble of having to carry a slate and stylus everywhere he went just so he could convey his thoughts, but it still proved annoying. He hoped she hadn't read his mind and figured out that he would try and find his parents with his money.
Link lied forward and rested on Epona's long neck and soft mane, staring out at the field they were now traversing, Hyrule Field.
"We'll be crossin' the border into Hyrule Province soon enough."
Malon leaned over the cart and tapped Link's shoulder.
"I know you brought your ocarina, Link," she said, smiling. "Can't you play us some songs while we travel?"
Link pulled the tiny ocarina out of his pocket, gave Epona free rein to follow the cart, and played the first song that came to his mind. It was a soft, placid song, one he'd never played, or even heard before, but he played it and was happy with the result nonetheless. It had a sad and lonely feel to it, but somehow, it almost felt nostalgic.
"Wow," Malon replied breathlessly. "That one ran chills up my spine. You have such a way with that ocarina, Link. Where did you learn that song?"
"Beats me."
He figured he'd made it up on the fly, but at the same time, it couldn't have been random. It must've come from somewhere, but he just didn't know where.
"Don't stop!" Malon pleaded. "Play some more!"
Link rolled his eyes and continued on, playing as many songs as he could, making up a few as he went. Malon sang along with the ones she knew, and sat in silence listening to the ones she didn't. Link's music kept them company for their journey. As they traveled, the sky above turned from viridian to sharp pink and tangerine. The afternoon breezes began to die down as the air grew cooler. The fields around them changed from golden amber to fresh green as they made their way southwest, and shrank further down until the flowing grass was stout and cut abruptly short. Night began to fall.
After playing for so many hours straight, Link collapsed forward onto Epona's neck, gasping for breath.
"One more, Link! One more!"
"I can't! My lips are killing me!"
"Give the boy a break, girl," Talon laughed. "It probably gets tiring blowin' air through that tiny thing all the time. We're almost there, anyhow, so he might as well stop."
"Look!" Malon cried, leaning forward and pointing. "You can see the city from here!"
Link shielded his eyes from the setting sun and squinted. From a distance, Hyrule City's skyline was dimly visible. The buildings were black against the backdrop of the sunset, and looked smoggy against the far-off settling clouds.
"I can't see them very well."
"We'll get a better view ah the city once we get closer."
"We made such good time, too! We're almost there! We've nearly reached Hyrule City!"
Malon danced in her seat.
"Calm down, girl! Just chill a minute, an' we'll be there 'fore you know it."
"I can't help it! I'm so excited, I can't hold it in!"
Malon trembled eagerly for the rest of the journey, and Link couldn't help but share her excitement. The thousand-year old city that withstood centuries of war and devastation was majestic and powerful in every conceivable way. Watching the skyline grow taller, and the details of the city buildings and curtain walls flesh out as they drew closer and closer, made Link and Malon grow anxious by the minute.
The royally grandiose castle rose up and pierced the sky out of the comparably tiny row of surrounding buildings. Made purely of marble and granite, with lofty battlements and guard towers on all sides, it loomed over the city in ominous marvel, hinting not so subtly at the history and pain that had built it up over the ages. The castle demanded undivided attention from its spectators with its strict geometric design, declaring to all who gazed up at it, 'I am the Castle of Hyrule City, and you will give me the respect I merit.'
Rising beside the castle on the west was another equally striking, though not as demanding structure. The Temple of Time, also built of solid white marble, did not insist on respect, unlike its sister building, because it didn't have to. Instead, its architecture projected an overwhelming sense of spirituality. Its stained-glass windows and prominent clock tower, with its incisive steeple, bestowed piety upon the city. While the Castle of Hyrule ordered the citizens into lawful and orderly submission, the Temple of Time, without speaking a word, looked peacefully upon the townspeople, inviting them into its protective, sheltered walls where anyone could pray, meditate upon themselves, or simply rest from worldly concerns.
The two buildings complemented one another flawlessly. With the two historic structures looming over the city, Hyrule Castle the strong, independent husband, and the Temple of Time the loving, motherly wife, hand in hand in perfect unity, all the other buildings of Hyrule City were in familial balance with one another, and the citizens lived in virtue and peace.
Even from miles away, Link felt goosebumps form on his arms and the back of his neck. Having never seen the city before, much less its two most historically important buildings, going shopping now seemed like the most impractical idea in the world. His intentions shifted immediately as soon as the two imposing structures came into view.
"As soon as we get in those gates, that's where I'm going."
It took half an hour since they'd first seen the skyline for them to travel close enough to clearly see Hyrule Castle and the Temple of Time. It took another half hour before they reached the outskirts and protective moat. Night was falling, but instead of the world fading into dark, the sky was lit up by the brilliant city lights. Even from far away, and especially at this time in the evening, the sounds of the city goers could be heard through the city walls. When the family arrived at the gatehouse entrance of the city, they were not alone. To their dismay, hundreds of others like them, tourists and travelers, merchants and musicians, bards and scholars, all of them varying of every race, and most of them with carts and carriages of their own, were in an inconceivably long line that stretched from the gatehouse and out for hundreds of feet.
"Oh man!" whined Malon. "It's going to take forever to get into the city!"
"Not that it matters," Talon yawned. "Even if there weren't a line, I planned on goin' straight to the inn where we'll be stayin' anyways. We got nothin' better to do, so we might as well wait our turn like ever'one else here."
Talon slowed the drawn horses to a steady trot while Link dismounted Epona, leading her by the reins.
"Why is everyone staring at me?"
They made their way into line, along with even more people approaching the city. Timid yet enchanted glances looked his way. Everyone whispered excitedly back and forth to one another, pointing and looking his direction. A Zora who watched Link approach the city turned and indicated him to his brethren, and when they saw him, they smiled diplomatically and approvingly. Nearly everyone who saw Link smiled at him that same way, but when he moved to meet their gaze, they quickly turned away.
Children holding their parents' hands were suddenly compelled to rip away from their guardians and invade Link's personal space, oohing and ahhing at him. He backed away, trying to keep the children from hounding him. Epona began to stamp her hooves and snort nervously.
"What in the world?!"
"Look, Daddy!" A tiny Goron boy pointed up at Link with his chubby rock finger. "It's a hero!"
"Ehh?! Hero?"
Link looked around hastily and realized that Talon and Malon were nowhere to be found.
"Where'd they go? I only turned around for a second!"
"It's not nice to point at others, son," the Goron father chastised his son and went to pull him away from Link, but not before Epona reared onto her hind legs and brayed loudly.
The children surrounding Link began crying out and running away from him, desperate to get out of the mare's way. A tiny Hylian girl tripped clumsily on her own two feet and fell right in front of Epona's path. She screamed as the heavy horse loomed over her and came crashing down. Link plucked the girl from the ground just as Epona landed heavily. With the child in one arm, he reached toward Epona and set to work soothing her, smoothing his hand across her face and nose. When Epona finally steadied, Link turned to the young girl in his arm with an imploring look. She looked back at him in wide-eyed astonishment, her cheeks burning bright crimson.
The whispering around them quieted, and by now everyone in the enormously long line was staring at Link. The girl's mother streaked through the crowd, calling out her daughter's name, but when she saw her in Link's arms, she stopped short and cautiously approached.
"Please s-sir, may I have my daughter?"
"He's really nice, Mommy!" the girl suddenly blurted, laughing. "He saved me from getting squished!"
Her exclamation brought about a whole new set of chattering among the people, and this time, they all hounded him. Most of their chattering was garbled and confused, but key phrases could be heard that almost everyone agreed with.
"Just look at that kid!"
"That's a hero, all right!"
"He looks just like him!"
"What the heck is going on?!"
"Link!"
Malon's indistinguishable voice called out from the crowd. She shoved her way past the spectators, much to their annoyance, and made her way to Link.
"Link?" asked someone in the crowd.
"His name is Link!"
"Just like him!"
"He must be a hero!"
Despite the growing crowd, Malon finally pushed her way to where Link was standing.
"What are you doing?! Dad and I are already at the gates, and you go and get yourself lost and… what's with her?"
She pointed at the Hylian girl in Link's arms. He handed the girl back to her mother.
"What's with them?" Malon looked to the crowd.
"Let's get out of here!"
Link grasped Malon by her shoulders and prepared to push through the thick bushel of onlookers, but instead of forming a formidable wall against them like he'd expected, they dispersed, opening a path for him.
"Okay, this is just weird."
"Link, let go of me!"
He released her, and with the way now open, Link, Malon, and Epona made their way to the gatehouse, crossing the wide drawbridge and moat, and finally approaching the entrance.
Several guards, all Knights of the Royal Army, patrolled the gates. Many of them paced back and forth on the turrets above, keeping watch over the entering denizens, some with bows in hand, others with rifles. They eyed Link suspiciously as he approached the gates. The rest were stationed at the gate, checking the travel documents of everyone who approached, conducting bag checks and body searches when necessary. None of these guards looked up toward him except the one who standing beside their cart. Talon had climbed down from the driver's seat and was standing next to the guard.
"There ya are, boy. Where in blazes did you go?"
"Sorry."
Link looked at Talon apologetically.
"Is this your son, sir?" The guard asked.
"Yes sir," Talon replied.
"Very well. Let me see his passport."
"Hey!"
A guard up in the turret climbed down from the ladder and came to the knight they were conversing with. He whispered hurriedly to him, then scrambled back up to the turret.
"I'm sorry, sir," their knight finally answered. "But your son will not be allowed admittance into the city."
"What?! In the name of Din, why not?!"
"Because," he raised his voice and looked at Link sternly, "I've just been informed that your 'son' is responsible for starting a riot."
"What?!"
"That's bull!" Malon screamed angrily. "Link would never do such a thing!"
"Then what do you call the activity that flared up just a few minutes ago, young lady?" the guard sarcastically bit back.
"That's- well, I," Malon froze. "What was that, Link?"
"Don't look at me! I don't know what it was!"
Link shook his head at Malon and the guard. For all he knew, everyone in the line had suddenly decided he was more entertaining than whatever else they were doing and decided to harass him. He had no idea that the unwanted attention could be viewed as a riot, and certainly had no intention of starting one in the first place.
"Well according to my comrade, you purposefully agitated the other visitors, and then released your horse into the line and sent a panic through the crowd."
Rio's words suddenly echoed through Link's head.
"They only care about how much money your family has."
"Speak up, boy!" the guard barked angrily. "Don't you say anything?"
"Quit yelling at him!" Malon defended him. "Link lost his voice when we were just kids, so he can't talk! Leave him alone!"
"Can't talk?"
The guard's tone shifted to mild surprise, and he took one long look at Link.
"How does a boy who can't even speak go about starting riots?"
"He doesn't, that's how!" Malon exclaimed. The guard sighed.
"Even so," he continued. "There's still something funny going on here. Are you sure he is who you say he is?"
"Of course I am!" Talon barked. "Why would I lie?"
"Well for starters…"
The guard suddenly grabbed Link's ear before anyone could stop him. Link writhed under the painful pinch.
"Let go of me!"
"He's clearly a Hylian, and you sir, are clearly not. How can he possibly be your son, unless you've had a love affair of some sorts?"
Talon's face turned red, and a nerve in his temple popped out.
"How dare ya?! The very notion of such a thing!"
The guard released Link's ear.
"Struck a nerve, did I? This of course can all be cleared up if you happen to have a copy of his birth certificate."
Link's eyes popped as the hammer of an idea struck him on the head. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his bloody strip, and shoved it into the knight's hand. The knight looked at it grotesquely.
"What is this?" He asked, staring at it in disgust.
"There's your birth certificate, sir!" Malon exclaimed angrily, understanding Link's intentions the moment he revealed the cloth. "We found Link outside the ranch when he was just a baby, and that strip in your hand is the only proof of his name that he has! If you wanna challenge it, go ahead, but don't you dare accuse my father of a love affair because of Link's circumstances!"
"All right all right," the guard groaned. "We'll let you into the city. Just take it back. Geez."
Squeezing it between his thumb and forefinger, the knight handed the bloody strip back to Link.
"You just watch your step, boy, and see if you don't get into anymore trouble. Give me his passport, please."
"Whew! That was close."
As Talon presented the travel documents to the guard, Link was reminded of a comment Cremia made at one time in his life.
"Man, was she right. I really am a magnet for trouble."
Link stood by impatiently while his adoptive father and the guard discussed boring topics. He watched as people approached the gatehouse and were let into the city by the guards. He grew irritated when he saw several of them slip rupees into the guards' hands.
"You ain't gettin' in this city if it's the last thing I do, ya filthy Gerudo!"
This livid yell caught Link's attention. A nearby guard who appeared to be in his 50s, heavy in weight with a bushy mustache, threw some travel documents into the face of young, tan-faced woman, no older than Malon. She did her best to plead with him in broken Hylian.
"Please! I need get into city! My daughter me need place rest! We leave morning!"
"Didn't ya hear me?! I said get lost!"
A tiny girl, who looked as though she'd barely learned to walk, stood feebly behind her mother, clinging to her, and holding a stuffed animal in her arm that looked gigantic compared to her.
"Hey! What's that in your hand?" The guard suddenly demanded of the toddler. He tore the stuffed animal away, causing her to cry and reach out helplessly for the animal. The guard inspected the toy thoroughly, turning it over in his hands, and then pulled a short knife from his belt.
"If you're trying to smuggle drugs into the city, you're in big trouble!"
The knife went straight into the stuffed toy's belly and slashed it in half. Watching her object of comfort be destroyed, the girl could do nothing but cry out in horror and despair. At the sight, Link felt his heart go out to the toddler. His anger rose like the magma of a firey volcano.
The toddler took a step toward the guard, her tiny hands extended. The mother moved forward and stooped down to pull her child away.
"Get away from me, slut!"
The guard's gauntlet-ed hand came up and smashed against the Gerudo woman's face, making a sickening cracking noise. She was sent sprawling on the ground, rubbing the wallop on her cheek, trying to stop her bleeding nose while her child held the remains of her imaginary friend in her hands.
"All right, Link. Step over here so we can…Link? Talon, where's your son?"
Link felt his body tremble in rage as he moved hurriedly toward the abusive guard. He was still screaming at the young woman on the ground when Link grabbed his shoulder and whirled him around.
"What the- what d'you wa-" The guard was cut short when Link threw a tightly clenched fist into his face. It didn't work. The guard saw the fist coming and caught it in his gauntlet before it made contact.
"You tryin' to start a fight, son?"
"Oh…Crap…"
Link's rage and hopes to beat up the guard shattered into horror at the terrible choice he'd just made. It was only a second before the other guards saw their chance and were upon him. They yanked Link away from the line and grabbed both of his arms so tightly that he couldn't move, struggle as he might.
"Well then, let's fight! Come on!"
Link squeezed his eyes shut, tightened his muscles, and braced himself as the knight's blows landed. The first kick hit Link in his loins, sending a white hot flash of pain through his body. He collapsed as the guards released his arms and joined in, belittling him the whole way.
"Fight like a man!"
"Get up, why don't cha?"
"Come on, little boy!"
Panicked cries rang out from the people in line as he lied on the ground and endured his beating. The pummeling was all the more painful, since the guards were wearing metal gloves and heavy boots. He curled into fetal position, attempting to guard the weak spots on his body.
"LINK!"
Malon and Talon jumped toward him, but they both were held back by two other guards.
"Let him go!" She screamed. "He didn't do anything! Link!"
Despite her cries, Malon could only watch helplessly as the Royal Knights beat Link to a pulp. As Link laid protectively on the ground, trying to avoid hits to any major parts, he peered up cautiously to see where the Gerudo woman and her daughter had gone, but did not see them.
"Good. They must've snuck through in the confusion."
One of the knight's kicks landed on Link's cheek just below his eye, so he ducked down again. It felt like an eternity went by before the fight was finally intervened upon.
"That's enough, gentlemen," a strong, deadpan voice ordered gently yet firmly.
The blows abruptly stopped, with one last kick aimed at Link's stomach before the knights cleared the way. When it was safe, Link shakily got to his feet, casually spitting blood, staring as hard as he could at the ground. Malon broke free of Talon's grasp and rushed to his side.
"Link! Are you okay? You're bleeding!"
She lightly touched his face, but he pushed her hand away.
"Quit being sore, and let me see! Please."
He cast a sour glare her way, saw her sincerity, and reluctantly yielded. He stood still while Malon briefly looked him over.
"What happened here?" The same voice that stopped the fight directed the knights.
"Sir Raven, sir!" One of the knights exclaimed. "This kid started a riot and assaulted one of our officers!"
"It's true, sir," said another one. "I saw the whole thing!"
"Is that so?"
Link looked to his supposed savior, and frowned. Standing before him was a man with blond hair, Hylian ears, and broad shoulders. He was obviously a Royal Knight, but he wasn't wearing the indicative armor. Instead, he was garbed in a dark olive tunic, black leggings, and black leather boots and gloves. He had only a few inches on Link, but his stature was all the larger for it. Sir Raven looked coldly down on Link.
"Care to explain yourself, son?"
"Why does everyone have to keep calling me that?"
"L-Link can't talk, sir," Malon explained, her voice quivering. "H-he lost his voice when we were kids."
Sir Raven looked at Malon without saying a word, so she continued.
"We already cleared up the riot with one of the other guards. Link w-wouldn't do such a thing. And he wouldn't try to hurt any of your guards ei–"
Malon was stopped when Link grasped her shoulder and met her gaze. They looked into each others' eyes before she understood.
"Link?!" She gasped. "You mean you really…"
"Aha!" One of the knights shouted. "He admits it!"
"Take him to the dungeon!"
The knights clamored in agreement when Raven whipped his head around and glared furiously at them. They were silenced instantly.
"I saw more than enough of the incident to know what fully happened," Sir Raven said prudently. "I don't know why this young man felt compelled to go after one of my men, but I hardly comprehend the reasoning of my fellow soldiers as to why you felt the need to overwhelm and pummel him."
Aware of the changing tides, the soldiers cast their eyes down in shame.
"Explain something to me," Raven continued, and began pacing in front of them. "You've all been trained to defend yourselves in situations such as these, have you not?"
By now, the lines entering into the city had all stopped and were watching the spectacle with great interest. None of the soldiers said a word, and though they wore helmets to cover their faces, their cheeks burned red through.
"Have you?!" he asked again, this time his voice livid.
"Yes, Sir Raven, Sir!" The knights stood at attention and answered in unison.
"Then should I be correct when I say that you, Officer Wallace, are more than capable of handling one mere boy by yourself?"
The one who had abused the Gerudo woman, the one Link had confronted, finally spoke.
"Yes, Sir Raven."
"And yet," Raven stopped pacing and stood within inches of the man's face. "When your subordinates saw fit to intervene on the situation, what did you do?"
The knight, Wallace as he had been called, gave no answer."
"What did you do?!"
"I allowed them to go out of control, Sir Raven."
"You allowed them to go out of control!" Raven repeated angrily. "They took the boy by his arms and proceeded to beat him! Instead of ordering them to stand down, you allowed the situation to get out of hand!"
Sir Raven moved closely to the knight and whispered something in his ear that made Wallace's face turn white in fear. Then, he spoke aloud once more, and resumed his pacing.
"This isn't the first incident where your behavior has been more than reprehensible. Need I remind you that you're on thin ice, Officer Wallace?"
"No sir," he growled.
"By this time tomorrow, I expect a full report of this incident on my desk tomorrow. Are we clear, Wallace?"
"Yes, sir."
"Now get back to work. As for the rest of you," he turned to the other knights who had beaten Link. "Some of you are fresh out of the academy, or are not far from it. You are supposed to be examples of the chivalry and bravery that the Royal family and this city have to offer! What kind of glory did you expect to gain from this?!"
"Sorry, Sir Raven," they mumbled weakly.
"You will all spend the next two weeks cleaning the mess hall, and the restrooms of the academy! Is that clear?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. You can start right now. Dismissed."
The knights, in their humiliation, did their best to march away with pride. Just then, an ache went through Link's shoulder and it slumped. He looked down at his arm and tried to move it, but all he managed was a twitch from his fingers.
"Great, now my arm is broken."
He moved his other hand to push his shoulder back into its socket, but only succeeded in sending a horrible jolt through his shoulder. He gasped in pain, and Malon noticed immediately.
"Link! Let me do it!"
"And you!" Raven turned suddenly on Link. "Your intentions may have been well-placed, but we don't take kindly to vigilante justice in these parts. When you saw my fellow knight abusing the Gerudo, you should've brought it to someone's attention. Instead, you put yourself in an extremely dangerous situation where things quickly got out of control! We as the Knights of Hyrule are charged with protecting this nation and its inhabitants, but we can't do that when uncontrollable teenagers go around playing the hero!"
"Hey, lay off him!" Malon fought back angrily. "Hasn't he been through enough?!"
Link grabbed Malon's shoulder with his good arm and glared at her.
"Well what am I supposed to do, stand here and let him bite your head off?!"
His glare continued.
"I swear," she mumbled. "You're such a boy."
"Your actions were irresponsible and idiotic!" Raven continued. "You charged in without thinking in the slightest, intending to assault one of my officers, and paid dearly for that notion! If I were in a different state of mind I'd see fit to throw you into prison!"
Malon grumbled and gritted her teeth as she set to work resetting Link's arm, but he stood humbly with his head held low as Raven scolded him.
"Stupid…"
Raven thrust a finger under Link's chin and forced his head up.
"You're not stupid. I can tell just from looking, so if that's the thought in your head, then I'd stop it right now."
"Huh? How did he…"
"None of this is your fault," Sir Raven said quietly, his tone shifting from justified anger to paternal guidance. "You will be allowed into the city, you and your family, but the next time a situation such as this occurs, you'd be wise to take a more appropriate action."
Link stared confusedly at Raven, who released his chin and turned to the remaining knights at the gates.
"I will escort this young man and his family into the city personally. Remain here and continue security."
"But sir!"
"That's an order!"
"Yes sir!"
Raven strode to where Talon stood.
"Did you have anywhere to stay for the night?"
"Ah... I always stay at Telma's place, every time I come here."
"Very well. Finish setting his arm, then gather your belongings and come with me."
In one swift, gentle movement, Malon jerked Link's limp arm outward, pulled it up, and pushed it into his socket, all without causing the slightest discomfort. Link tested his arm, swinging it up and over.
"You did that quite well," Raven complimented her.
"When you live on a ranch with a bunch of reckless idiots, resetting arms is second nature."
Link mounted Epona once more, Malon and Talon boarded the cart, and they prepared to follow Sir Raven when a new guard warily approached him.
"Sir Raven," he began nervously, and Raven nodded, acknowledging him.
"If you don't mind me asking, how is your search going?"
Raven looked thoughtfully at Malon and Talon, then toward Link, then smiled as he turned back to the conversing guard.
"As a matter of fact, it's going quite well."
Before the guard could say anything else, Raven strode onward into the city, walking side by side with Talon's cart. As they moved away from the gates, Link could hear Officer Wallace's grumbling voice.
"That guy…I outta be his superior, not the other way around. Raven's only got the position he's got cause he hung onto his brother's coattails…"
If the situation had gone better and Link weren't in an understandably rotten mood, he would have been amazed at the number and vivacity of the people thriving around him. The nightlife of Hyrule City hustled and bustled around them everywhere they went. Colorful figures of every shape, size, stature and race filled the streets, talking loudly and cheerfully in every language of the land. Their chatter mixed harmoniously with the musicians that played and sang while public performers joined in and danced the night away. The streets were so filled with people that it made the trip to Telma's Inn excruciatingly slow.
Many of the city's shops and stores were closed for the night, but street vendors had set up their stands and were now in the process of selling their own wares. Most of what they had to offer consisted of hot festival food ready to be devoured, as well as carnival games that were sure to be rigged, but a great deal of the stands also presented strange oddities, most of them unavailable from the typical stores; voodoo heads, supposed spell books, misshapen mirrors, distorted dolls, lucky charms, unlucky charms, even animals of the most obscure species were presented on display for all the people of Hyrule to gaze eerily upon and buy.
Lining the streets were slim, multiple-storied villas, with shuttered windows that held boxed flowers, and colorful roofs that overlooked the wide stone-paved roads. Rows of lamps bordering the streets brightly lit up the city, and though the sky above was pitch black, the people of Hyrule living together underneath that sky glowed beautifully in the light of the lamps.
"Link!" Malon gasped, taking it all in. "Look at all this! I've never seen so many people in one place before!"
She, along with all the sites, sounds, and smells of the urban jungle, were ignored. Mounted on Epona and keeping her steady to prevent anymore accidents, Link rode alongside the cart while deep in thought, oblivious to the life surrounding him and too full of his own thoughts.
"What is wrong with me? I thought I could do something to help, but I just get beaten up for it, like I always do. It's not fair! Why am I so weak?"
Talon stopped the cart in front of a tall building, where an elderly man with male pattern baldness wrung his hands. Talon climbed down from the cart and addressed the man.
"We'll be stayin' a few days. We got our cart and three horses."
In a raspy voice, the old man replied, "Come through the back door."
They drove around to the opposite side of the building where the cart could be safely parked. The man explained his lack of stalls for the horses, and that two of them would have to share, so it was quickly and automatically decided that Epona would be given a stall of her own while the other two horses would be put together. Link removed Epona's saddle and led her into the dusty stall, where she sneezed bruskly.
"I know, girl. it's not the best, but it certainly isn't the worst, either."
As Link gently closed the stall, Epona turned around and hung her head out the gate, snorting at him.
"See you tomorrow, Epona."
He stroked her nose, but nearly stumbled when she shoved her heavy head onto his good shoulder, so instead he wrapped his arms around her neck.
"I think she's trying to tell you something."
Link saw Malon standing next to him. She was gently petting Epona's cheek.
"And I bet it's the same thing I'm going to tell you. Don't feel so bad, Link. We're in Hyrule City, the place we've dreamed about since we were kids! Getting into the city ended up being a drag, but I know tomorrow will be way better. I promise!"
Malon patted Link's shoulder and smiled sweetly. Although he attempted to return the smile, he had to force it.
"Come on. Dad's leaving, so we better hurry."
Link pet Epona one last time before following Malon out of the stable to join Talon, Sir Raven, and their luggage.
"Let's get the bags, kids. The inn ain't too far from here."
Malon reached down to grab the heavier of the two suitcases, but before she could, Link lifted it up with the hand of his previously dislocated shoulder.
"Link! Be careful, please. I may have set your arm back, but I can't work miracles."
Link just grinned sheepishly and swung the bag easily over his shoulder. But that grin was fake too, for though he hadn't unset his arm, it sure felt like he did.
"This doesn't hurt! This doesn't hurt at a- ow ow ow ow!"
He walked ahead, following Talon as he led the way to the inn, before she could see the pain he wore on his face. In spite of his efforts, he didn't fool Malon for a minute.
"I swear, Link," she mumbled under her breath. "You're such a butthead…"
Going to the inn on foot was even more difficult that it had been on carriage. People typically made way, out of for courtesy and for fear of being trampled, to allow large-wheeled carts to maneuver down the street, but now they pushed against one another from the sheer number of travelers and citizens clogging the roads. Even so, the family and their escort made their way south through the city until they turned down a narrow alley.
There were no lamps down this way, and the tight path was enveloped by tall buildings on either side, so in the darkness, the four walked in a single file line, squeezing through with their suitcases. They only had to walk a short distance before a gap appeared in the alley, revealing several cases of stairs leading down into an open square.
"This way," Talon directed.
They followed him down the stairs and across the square until they were walking through another alley, thankfully not quite as narrow, and instead of the buildings being on either side of them, they were now walking underneath them.
"This is so cool!" Malon whispered.
"Here we are," Talon announced.
In front of them stood a wooden tavern door, and a sign next to it reading, "Telma's Bar and Inn."
"Dad! You better not have brought us here so you can drink again!"
"No I didn't. Telma's a good friend ah mine. She'll give us a good deal on a room fer the night."
"But you're still gonna drink, aren't you?"
Talon pulled the door open without answering Malon. The noise and clatter from inside erupted out the moment the door creaked open.
"Sounds like it's busy tonight," remarked Raven.
"Sure doez," Talon agreed. "I hope she's got a room left for us."
Malon glared angrily at her father as they entered the tavern. Every table and booth was crammed full of grown men chugging alcohol to their heart's content, telling jokes and laughing jovially, some of them even taking up drinking songs. A few of them were knights on break like Raven, but most of them had the same general appearance of Talon.
"Talon!" The bartender called in her husky, yet sweet voice. "I was wonderin' when you'd get here, honey."
Talon approached the bar and sat at the stool closest to the barkeeper, a friendly smile peeking out from his mustache.
"Hey there, Telma. How's my favorite lady?"
Link, Malon, and Raven all took seats at the bar next to Talon. Telma was a big woman, wearing a revealing cardigan, an under-laying blouse and a long skirt, with a busty chest and giant muscular arms. She knew her way around the bar, and could hold her own against any man, drunk or not. Her braided, rusty red hair was pulled back into a tight tail with a bandana. In spite of her rugged appearance, her manner was hearty and happy, and though she was strictly on business, she looked as though she was having just as much fun as her customers.
One of the men sitting at the tables was laughing so hard at a joke his friend told that he fell out of his chair, spilling a mug of beer all over his face and shirt. Everyone in the bar laughed, including Telma. Her laugh instantly brought so much joy into the bar that the collapsed man, in his drunken embarrassment, couldn't help but laugh alongside everyone else.
"Hey, Raven," Telma greeted. "We don't see you in here very much anymore."
"Work has been a pain lately, what with everything going on. A lot of us are being restationed, and I'm pretty sure I'll be next soon enough."
"Well if that happens, then we'll be sure to throw you a goodbye party, right boys?!"
The men in the tavern all raised their mugs and yelled, "Hear hear!" Everyone in the bar laughed, including Talon and Malon.
Link smiled and rested his chin on his hand, leaning on the bar. At that moment his shoulder slumped out and his arm gave way, his face falling and hitting the bar.
"Ow."
"Link! I told you to be careful with that suitcase! Now we'll have to take you to a doctor!" Malon turned toward him and once again went to work resetting his arm.
"Ahh, these must be your wonderful children you're always talking 'bout, eh darlin'?"
"Sure are. This is ma daughter, Malon, and ma son, Link."
"Link, huh? I've always liked that name," Telma smiled warmly at him. "I think I know why your da's always talkin' about you. You are more handsome than any man I've ever met, son, and you've got a good pair of eyes, too."
"Hey, what about me?" whined Malon.
"I know your dad talks about you even more. Says your every bit as firey as I am. And jus' look at you! You're prettier than an apple blossom in full bloom! Why if I was 20 years younger, I bet we'd be twins! Look at us, Talon!"
Telma leaned forward next to Malon, putting her face next to hers.
"Don't we look like twins?"
"Like peas in a pod."
They laughed, and Raven stood up from his seat.
"Well, my job is done for now. I must leave."
"Aw, stay for a while," said Telma, feigning a broken-hearted tone. "You're on break, ain'tcha? Have a drink."
"I wish I could, but I have to get back."
"Are you gonna keep looking?" asked Malon.
"I beg your pardon?" Raven answered, confused.
"That other knight asked how your search was going, so I was just wondering if that's what you were gonna do."
"Oh yes, that."
"If you don't mind me asking, sir, what are you looking for?"
Raven looked at her thoughtfully, then to Link, and finally to Telma.
"Maybe I will stay a while, ma'am," he finally said.
"I told you! Call me Telma."
Raven laughed and answered, "Yes ma'am."
"Let me bring you men a couple of drinks."
Suddenly, the noise of glass breaking clashed through the bar, and the splintering of wood quickly followed.
"Hey!" Telma barked roughly. "You keep your fool hands to yourself!"
She moved from behind the bar to resolve the scuffle on the other side of the tavern, saying to them as she left, "You better not hold your breath on those drinks." A group of men on the other side of the bar called Talon's name, so he moved from his seat to join them.
"There," Malon said as she finished setting Link's arm once again. "Although knowing you, it probably won't last long. I brought a first aid kit with us though, so maybe we can wrap your arm up and keep it together until we get you to a doctor."
"Seriously? I don't get hurt that much, do I?"
"Don't even give me that look. You get hurt so much that sometimes it's a wonder you're still in one piece. Now take off your shirt."
"What?! Why?!"
Malon laid one of the suitcases on the bar and opened it up, digging through until she found the kit.
"Link, take off your shirt so I can bandage your arm."
"Here?! Right now?! No way!"
"I can't do it through your clothes, and we have to do it now so your arm has a chance to recover. It would be easier if we had a sling for you, but we don't. Actually, you better let me do it so you don't throw your arm out in the process."
Link groaned and sat in agony as Malon removed his shirt, his face bright red. A couple of hoots came from the men in the bar.
"A lady's man, eh?!" One of the men shouted, and everyone shrieked with laughter.
"This is humiliating…"
"Hey, you," Malon directed to Raven. "Weren't you gonna tell us what you're looking for?"
"You really are a lot like Telma. Every bit as firey as she is."
"I can't help it if that's the way I am," she pouted as she began wrapping Link's arm with gauze.
"Anyways," Raven began by reaching into his shirt and pulling out a golden chain and locket.
"I'm looking for them."
He opened the locket, revealing a tiny, black and white picture of three people: a tall man with dark hair and eyes and sharp Hylian ears had his arms wrapped happily around a smiling woman. She had sharp ears like her counterpart, but her hair was lightly-colored. Her eyes were closed as she laughed gaily, and in her arms was a giggling infant, wrapped in a blanket and clapping his tiny fingers.
"The man you see in the picture is my brother, and that's his wife and son."
"What happened to them?"
"They disappeared during the last raid on Hyrule City, 16 years ago."
"Wow..."
"You're still looking for them, even after all this time?
"It's a long story. The short version is that I was jealous of my brother for a long time, but when he and his family went missing, it broke my heart, and I realized what a terrible person I'd been, so I've been looking for them eve- well, in all honesty, I'm actually looking more for my nephew than I am my brother or sister-in-law."
"How come?"
"I can't really explain why. I've kept a careful eye out for all three of them, but for some reason my gut keeps telling me that I outta be looking more for my nephew than I should be my brother or his wife. I can't help but feel as though they're dead, but the boy is out there somewhere."
"But..."
"That must be hard," Malon finished Link's thought. "You've spent so many years looking for your family. Doesn't it hurt to do that?"
"You certainly aren't afraid to ask the more personal questions, are you?"
"I hope you don't mind."
"I don't, at least not so much from you. It is quite a burden as you say, but in all honesty, the idea of giving up hurts more than the constant wondering of where my brother is, or if he's even alive."
"…I see." Malon turned attentively to Link.
Link stared at the bar counter that he leaned on, grimacing at no one. He wished Malon hadn't asked, and had just let Raven leave, instead of dragging out his long unwelcome presence.
"I don't like him. Not one bit."
"You know, Link never knew his parents."
Link whipped toward Malon.
"Don't tell him that!"
"His real ones anyway."
"Is that so?" Raven asked blankly.
"Yeah, when I was just a kid and too young to remember, we found Link, just a ba-"
"No offense," he interrupted. "But I'll have to stop you there. The reason being that it is not your story to tell."
He pointed one finger in Link's direction.
"And it seems the one to whom the story belongs would rather it not be told."
Malon looked up from bandaging Link's arm to notice his irritation, and frowned.
"In any case, I'm sure my story has bored you. It is indeed time for me to take my leave; I've overstayed my welcome."
"Thank you, Sir Raven."
"Give my regards to Telma when she gets back."
Raven stood from his seat and took two steps toward the door before stopping to look at Link.
"I know we did not meet under the most desirable of circumstances, but I hope you will regard me kindly anyways, as I do you."
"Whatever."
"Good night, everyone."
In long strides, Raven marched quietly toward the entrance and opened the tavern door wide, closing it gently behind him.
"Here, I'm finished. You can put your shirt back on now."
Malon gave Link the top half of his tunic, and he reclothed.
"Just be careful with it, please?"
"…Yeah."
Link leaned forward on the bar, cupping his face in both of his fists and frowning. He felt something soft touch his shoulder, and realized it was Malon's hair. She leaned gently on his shoulder.
"Today really sucked, didn't it?"
"You're tellin' me."
"We finally get to Hyrule, and those stupid guards had to be jerks to you."
"Please don't remind me."
"But we're here now, so we should definitely spend time having as much fun as possible! Let's make sure we get all that milk sold so we can explore the city tomorrow!"
Link smiled.
"Sounds good…"
"And if you want, we can stop by the archives in the Temple of Time and search for your parents a little bit too."
"…Wait, what?"
He turned wide-eyed to Malon. She knew him well, but how did she have possibly figure him out this time? And so quickly, too!
"I started wondering why you brought that icky piece of cloth with you when you showed it to the guard at the gatehouse, but I didn't figure it out until Sir Raven told us that story about his brother. You want to find your parents in the city, don't you Link?"
"Well I, uh…that is…yeah…"
He conceded, putting his palm to his face.
"You can't hide nothin' from me," She laughed and gently punched his shoulder. She then thought to herself, "If only that were true." Link laughed voicelessly along with her.
"You don't like Sir Raven very much, do you?"
He shook his head.
"Otherwise you would've let me tell him about your parents, and then we could've asked for help."
Link nodded, and Malon sighed.
"You really are a man, aren't you? You won't ask for help from others when you really need it, you think you can handle it all by yourself, and that's why you didn't even tell me you were bringing your name with you. But there's no way I'm letting my brother go through all the trouble of finding his parents all by himself! I'm gonna help you whether you like it or not, you hear?"
Link merely glanced at Malon with an eyebrow raised, then burst into silent laughter.
"What?! What's so funny?!"
He suddenly rested his head on her shoulder and took her hand in his.
"…You're stupid, you know that?"
"Yeah…I know…"
Malon leaned her head on top of Link's, covered their clasped hands with her other hand, and smiled. Another ring of hoots came from the customers in the bar.
"He's my brother, you idiots!" Malon yelled back angrily at them.
The two sat peacefully that way until Telma returned.
"Hey, where'd Raven go?"
"He left," replied Malon.
"Well, darn. I was hopin' to get him to tell us one of his war stories. Oh well. Where'd your dad go, sweetie?"
"He's over there," she spoke exasperatingly, pointing to Talon's location. He was in the process of chugging down his third pint of beer while the surrounding men egged him on.
"Ahh, jus' look at em," Telma laughed. "It does me good to see my customers have rip-roaring time, especially with the bad times coming."
Malon grumbled under her breath. No one heard what she said, but Telma could guess.
"Of course, it probably ain't easy watching your father behave that way, is it darlin'?"
"Of course not!" snapped Malon. "Just look at him! He's acting like a common drunken idiot! And this isn't the first time either; I caught him binge-drinking three times this week! And I've had to wake him up in the morning four times this week, only to have him yell at me because he has a hangover! He makes me so mad!"
"Now calm down, honey," soothed Telma. "I know exactly how you feel. Men are more trouble than they'll ever be worth."
"You got that right," Malon rolled her eyes.
"Hello? I'm right here."
"Let me tell you something about men, Malon."
Telma picked up the empty mugs from the bar and moved them behind the counter. Taking a dish rag, she began wiping each one down, one by one."
"No matter what we do as women, no matter how much we'll try to keep our men, whether they're our husbands or our fathers, or our brothers for that matter," Telma smiled sneakily at Link and winked. "There's not a whole lot we can do for 'em. They'll pretty much do what they damn well please, and it's the same for good and bad men, mind you. For example…"
Telma moved the wiped down mug in her hand onto the shelf behind her and picked up the next one. Malon leaned forward and listened attentively to her words of feminine wisdom.
"Let's say someday you end up marryin' a knight in the army, and every day as part of his job he has to go out and kill as many moblins as he can find. Moblins of course aren't the nicest creatures, and there's a big chance your husband could die any day while on the job."
"I'd never marry someone like that!" Malon detested. "I'd go nuts with worry."
"Exactly," Telma continued. "As a wife, the fear of your husband dyin' and losin' your means of support would be overwhlemin'. You'd probably beg him not to go do such dangerous things, beg him to get a different job, right?"
"Right?"
"Wrong. No matter how many times you beg him or get mad at him or give him puppy-dog eyes, chances are there's no way in hell your husband will ever quit his job."
"Why are they like that?"
"I'm still right here!"
"They're stubborn mules, girl, and the worst part is that we can't break them, because if we did, then they really wouldn't be worth havin' around. They always think they know what's best, and though they're right some of them time, we as women are usually the ones savin' their butts."
"Oh please."
"As a woman, no matter how you try to keep the men in your life in line, you just gotta learn to let them do what they like, or else they'll drag you by the leash you got 'em on. While we might not understand it, there's almost always a reason behind their actions."
Telma distinctly looked Talon's way, and Malon followed her gaze.
"So…my dad isn't drinking like an idiot just because he feels like it?"
"Every man I've ever met likes a good drink, sweetie, but no man I've ever met downs that much alcohol unless he's having way too good of a time, or something's the matter with them, and from what you told me, I'd say it's the latter."
"So something's bothering him, then…"
Malon sighed, and stared off into the distance before suddenly snapping forward.
"Oh, Telma! I know this is off topic, but my dad will never get around to asking, so I might as well do it. Do you have any rooms left? We'll be in the city for a few days, and we need a place to stay."
"I've got lots of rooms, hun," Telma chuckled. "Everyone comes here to drink, but no one comes here to sleep because the drinkers are so rowdy, and these walls are practically paper-thin."
"Do you have one with three beds by any chance?"
"Sadly, no. All our rooms are singles or doubles. I can show you a room and bring up a cot for you if you like."