Chapter 5:
Problematic People
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She can feel his hand through her white and pink, buttoned and proper gown, his fingers digging into her waist, his other hand on the back of her head, and his lips against hers.
Her hands, spasming from the sudden shock...slowly move onto his bare shoulders, her nails digging into his skin.
Zelda's often wondered what this would be like. Wondered it only on odd moments, when she had nothing else to think about, when she didn't have anything else she wanted to think about...
All of a sudden, what's probably his greatest fantasy...and one of her minor ones...is being enacted right here...in his living room...with her daughter outside.
He pulls her back, releasing from the kiss, his eyes still wild, unfocused, his mouth a wild grin, his hand going from her head and reaching for the collar of her blouse.
Her hand grabs his, her other hand slapping him, hard, across the face.
His eyes blink, rapidly, focusing, his face composing itself...before he collapses onto the couch, holding his head.
"Don't you EVER," she growls, "EVER do that again!!"
He groans, rubbing his eyes, coughing and shuddering, slightly.
"Yeah...yeah....thanks."
Her cheeks are bright red, her body shaking with rage...and something else...
"The...the potion.", he says, "The green potion. Cures poisons, heals wounds.... and kind makes you loopy."
"How...so?", she demands, through gritted teeth.
"Powerful pain killer. Shuts down your sense of pain...and your inhibitions."
She takes a deep breath, clenching her delicate hands into fists, smoothing out her hair.
"Then this won't happen again?", she asks.
"Yeah...won't happen again.", he mutters, "Not if you have your way..."
He runs his hands through his hair, groaning out a breath.
"So...what did you want to talk about?", he asks.
She turns, folding her hands in front of her, standing stock still.
"Nina wants to see you."
He turns, screwing his face in a reasonable facsimile of confusion.
"Nina...your daughter?"
"Yes. You can say no and we can leave."
"Say...no? Let me get dressed, first."
She sighs, walking over to the thrown aside tunic behind the couch.
She reaches for it...only for her hand to be gripped by his, Link pulling her from it.
"Don't," he says, his face uncharacteristically stern, "Touch that."
"Why?"
"The...things...I fought...they have poisoned claws. I'll have to burn those."
He lets go of her hand, grabbing a poker by the door, lifting up the two pieces of clothing and tossing them into the fireplace.
"I'll burn them tonight.", he says, "So...Nina wants to see me?"
"She wants to meet Momma's friend.", she responds, shaking her head, "Link...please, don't see her."
He turns to her as he walks to his bed, reaching under it and pulling out a small chest.
"Why?", he asks, undoing the lock and pulling out a grey tunic and black slacks, "She seems eager enough."
"Link, you hate her father. You hate me."
He bolts up, kicking the chest back under the bed as he crosses the distance, grabbing her arms and sitting her down on the couch.
"Never say that!", he snaps.
He releases her arms as he walks back to the bed, pulling on the slacks and throwing on the tunic, buckling his belt as he sits down and pulls over his boots.
"I don't hate you, Princess.", he says, breaking the awkward silence, "I resent you, yeah. But I don't hate you."
She stands up, slowly, walking over to the bed, a neutral look on her face.
"Link, we haven't talked for years."
"Because we were both busy.", he responds, "And because you never told anyone about our little adventure."
He laces and ties the boots, standing up, his face completely neutral.
"Well," he says, "Where is she?"
"Outside, placing in the garden.", she responds, "I should head over to the Lon Lon Ranch. There was an attack."
"I know. That's where I got my new scars.", he says, walking to the door, "I'll go with you. I still need to get my shield back."
The green eyes flash with a tinge of anger, the scene fading out in the sphere before him.
"So...the fallen Hero this one be.", the being mutters, "And slain the lowborn, this we see. Up the ante to succeed, we must. For I fear this one has the Triad's trust."
The skittering beings cackle in agreement, as another number of them disappear...
"She took it well."
Zelda turns to him as they walk across the field seperating his house and the Lon Lon ranch, her fingers intertwining.
"I told her to stay in the garden while you and I went to the ranch.", she responds, "She'll be there when we get back."
"Tell her anything else?"
"No."
He nods, his hands in his pockets, watching her out of the corner of his eye. He knows her well enough to know that she's not lying. That and his hearing good enough to pick up a tell-tale shaking in her voice if she was.
Which he has picked up, every now and again...
"So...who decided?", he asks, breaking the silence.
"Decided what?"
"To have the kid later than normal.", he responds.
She turns to him, her face neutral, but with the slightest hints of annoyance.
"Link, this isn't something I want to talk about.", she says, lowly.
"Princess, it's common for couples in Hyrule to have children early on.", he says, folding his arms, "You were twenty eight before you had Nina. Was it a conscious decision, or..."
"Link, that is none of your business!", she snaps, stopping.
He stops, as well, scratching the side of his head as the anger drains from her cheeks.
He shrugs, sighing.
"Fine.", he responds, "Guess it isn't."
He turns back in the direction of the ranch, continuing his walking.
She clenches her fists, walking with swift strides and catching up with him.
"It wasn't my choice.", she says, "It was Jacob's."
"Jacob?", he asks, and then nods, "Your husband, right. And your decision?"
"Is none of your business.", she responds, "He didn't want to have children until later. He didn't think he'd have the time to spare."
He nods, smiling slightly.
"Yeah....yeah, I guess."
"Guess what?", she asks.
"Same decision I'd make."
"So now you're comparing yourself with my husband?"
He shrugs, smiling slightly.
"Automatic response.", he responds, "You get to hate a person less when you know more about him."
She says nothing, continuing to walk beside him...and smiles, slightly.
"Thank you.", she says.
"For what?"
"For actually putting forth an effort.", she responds, smiling, "I know I wouldn't have. I would have just kept hating you."
He shakes his head, sighing.
"Zelda...I know you'd be there if my wife just died.", he says, "I'll be there, to."
She closes her eyes, shaking her head slightly, moving slightly closer to him.
Her hands seperate, one hand straying towards his, as she smiles, turning to face him...
And he hears a sharp whirring.
"Zelda, down!"
He dives, taking her down with him, when a wooden, large disc flies past where his head was, slamming into a nearby tree and bouncing, falling to the ground.
"How'd you like it, you bastard?!", a painfully familiar female voice demands.
He looks up...and sees Malon standing there, a bandage wrapped around her head...and looking rather angry.
He looks down, seeing Zelda, beat red, her hair completely loose, lying under him.
Nice one, Link. You want to give them a really good reason to kill you?
He quickly rolls off, climbing to his feet and dusting off his slacks as he takes Zelda's hand, helping her up.
"Nice to see you to, Malon."
Malon squints, stepping forward...and freezes, mouth agape.
"...Link?", she asks, smiling slightly, "Is that you?"
"In the flesh and with less of a headache than you were planning.", he responds, and smiles, sheepishly, "Um...sorry."
"You brained me with your shield, you insensitive jerk!", she growls, striding over to him.
"It was that or watch you get gutted! I think I made the better choice!"
"Well, maybe you should make it a point to hit what you aim for!", she yells, jabbing him in the shoulder with her finger.
"This from the person who's combat response is to freeze in terror?!"
Their bickering is interrupted by the sound of Zelda sharply clearing her throat, clenching her hands together, both of them turning to her as she gets their attention...and Malon quickly stepping back, bowing slightly.
"Y-your Highness!", she says, swallowing her dry throat, "I'm...I-I'm sorry..."
Zelda blows a loose tuft of hair from her eyes, pulling back her hair and refixing in her pin.
"Ms. Lon, I'm here about the attack on your ranch.", she says, "Shall we go?"
Malon nods, turning to Link.
He raises both hands, shaking his head.
"I'm just getting my shield.", he says, "I'll be at my house. See you later, Your Worship."
He walks over, grabbing his shield and continuing to walk back the way he came.
Zelda sighs, folding her arms and turning to Malon.
Malon nods, gesturing forward, and leads her down the path...
"Hn...women. Probably talking about me right now."
Link chuckles as he walks down the path, his house coming into view over the horizon.
"Yeah, this was a greaaaat day.", he continues, "Great work, Link. You completely humiliated yourself in front of two of the four women you'd ever have a chance with. Now I just need to accidentally set fire to the Great Deku Tree and piss in the Zora lake and I'll be completely fated to die a virgin."
He groans, loudly, walking through his gate and tossing his shield onto the porch. He turns as the tomato plants ruffle...and he sees Nina peeking out, staring at him.
"Hi.", he says, smiling slightly.
"Hi.", she responds, neutrally.
They stand there, silently, for a few moments, he at the edge of the garden, she standing in the middle of his plants, parts of her dress smudged in tomato seeds.
"I'm Mom's friend.", he says.
"I know."
"I was also the guy in the library a couple nights ago."
"I know that, to."
He raises an eyebrow, burying his hands in his pockets.
"Smart.", he says, "Don't worry, I don't bite. I was just...borrowing a book."
"And then Momma beat you silly."
He raises a finger to give out a retort...and stops, his mouth hanging open.
"Yeah...", he says, "Yeah, she did."
He folds his arms, chewing the inside of his cheek.
"By the by," he says, "My name's Link."
"Same one in Momma's stories?"
He smiles, squatting down to look her in the eye.
"Well, that depends on who you ask.", he says, "I'm not exactly a well-known legend."
"Really?"
"Yep. Your Mom and I are the only ones who know, and it's our secret."
"Really?"
"Yep, and your secret to.", he responds, smiling, returning her wide smile, "So...she ever tell you about me and the big, bad wizard?"
"So...", Malon says, folding her hands together, exiting the clearing as she and Zelda come in view of the ranch, "So...are you and Link..."
"No!", Zelda quickly snaps, a slight flush of red coming to her cheeks.
Malon silently looks her over, pursing her lips.
"Of course.", she says, "Well, the attack was less severe than it would have been if Link didn't come to our rescue...again...and we only lost three horses. Still, it wasn't pleasant and it'll hurt the ranch."
"I see. What have you done with the monster remains?"
"We'll burn them.", Malon responds, leading Zelda to and through the front gate of the ranch, "The exoskeleton doesn't lend itself to food."
"We'll need one of the corpses.", Zelda says, "From what I've been told, these monsters have never been seen before. The castle seers will need to study one."
Malon nods, as Epona trots over, nodding in Zelda's direction.
"Well, that should be everything.", Malon says, stroking the horse's nose, "Do you need anything else, Your Highness?"
"No, Ms. Lon. Good day.", Zelda says, walking back through the gate, and begins walking back the way she came...
The exoskeleton-covered head of one of the demons collapses upon itself as the booted foot steps upon it.
A black cloak falls to just above his heel, jagged, taloned grey hands shimmering with power.
The corpses of the monsters lie around his feet, the landscape a barren field, the sky grey and gold above them.
The final living monster skitters from side to side, baring its impressive teeth, its claws extending and retracting.
"Begone.", the man's voice hisses, "You have no place in my land."
"...power...master....demands...."
"Then your master is a fool.", he growls, "I am the only allowed the Golden Power. You are nothing in this realm."
He slowly removes the hood, revealing the dark red hair, sharply pointed ears, and distinct, aristocratic nose.
And burning black eyes.
"...master...demands..."
The man slowly raises his hand. The monster gurgles, gripping its throat as it's lifted off the ground, off its feet.
"I am Gannon. Weilder of the Triforce and King of Evil.", he states, "If your master desires my power...he can come and try to take it himself."
He closes his hand. The demon screams as its exoskeleton collapses, green and yellow pouring from the body before it falls to the ground.
Gannon snorts, the monsters melting with a wave of his hand, and turns to walk away...
Chapter 6:
Reintroductions
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She and Link are not involved. They are not involved. They kissed, yes, but that was solely due to his dementia after drinking the green potion to heal his wounds and tend to the poison...
And for some reason, Zelda found her chest clenching when she saw those horrible scars on him...from saving the lives of the people on the ranch, and saving them from those horrible beasts...
She shakes her head, clenching her fists. She and Link are not involved. She doesn't love him. She never did. She saw him as a friend, she was grateful to him for saving her life, and everyone else's...
And for some reason, she felt some sort of...relief...when she found out he never married. Never even courted, or dated anyone else...
She found herself calmed at even the most outrageous of his acts whenever he flashed that slight, sheepish smile...
And most importantly...she felt good when he showed sympathy towards her, because of her status as a widow...
She grits her teeth, shaking her head firmly as she walks the path between the ranch and Link's house.
He believes they're meant to be together. That they were destined to fall in love. She, of course, knows that that's ridiculous. Jacob was her true love. She loved him completely, selflessly, unconditionally. She loves Nina with all her heart and soul...
And yet, she smiles at the thought of Link carrying around the little girl on his shoulder, playing with her and comforting her, scolding her and praising her...raising her like a father.
"Like a godfather.", she reminds herself, out loud.
She and Link are not involved. She and Link are not involved. She and Link are not involved...which is when she hears Nina's shriek.
Her face goes ashen in stark terror, Zelda breaking into a sprint at the sound...
Nina shrieks in laughter as Link leaps off the porch, a large stick in one hand, his shield in the other, gracefully landing on the wooden railing on the steps.
"And we made it just in time!", he says, "Me and Zelda, with the Sages behind us, watching as the castle came tumbling down. Of course, mainly thanks to my help. The big, bad wizard may have been beaten, but he sure didn't want us to leave any time soon."
"And what happened to the wizard?", Nina asks, propping herself up onto one of the porch chairs.
"Well," Link says, hopping off the rail, "Seems the wizard wasn't done just yet. Just when we thought we were done, and could go home..."
He jumps back, looking up theatrically.
"When a great dragon rose up from the rubble!", he declares, "Gannondorf used a portion of his power to change himself into a massive beast, and he was going to try to get us back for his defeat!"
He throws away the stick, stepping back.
"Gannondorf threw away my sword, and trapped me in a dome with him," he says, "And he was rampaging all over the place. Things looked grim..."
"So how'd you win?"
"Well," he says, and picks up a larger stick, "Always go into a fight prepared, I always say. I had ol'Biggeron's sword on me. So I started hitting him with the sword, again and again, buying me the time I needed."
He swings the stick at nothing, but high up, to show just how much taller his opponent was.
"And we went at it for what seemed like hours, but was only minutes," he says, "Until Zelda broke the barrier with her powers, and the sages pinned Gannon with their powers."
He grabs the smaller stick, backing away.
"I got back my trusty Master Sword," he says, "And I stood over Gannon."
He leaps back, onto one of the pikes at the corner of his garden, Nina watching him, jumping up and down with anticipation.
"And," Link continues, "With Gannon pinned, and the Master Sword in my hand, I raised it, and-"
"And what?"
He turns at the sound of the familiar voice, quickly balancing himself on a single foot.
Zelda is standing there, arms folded, a look of neutral disapproval on her face.
"And...scolded him severely to let him learn his lesson with no violence whatsoever.", he sheepishly responds, before losing his footing, yelling as he falls to the ground.
He looks up, lying on the soil, part of his boot still stuck on the fencepole, seeing Zelda looking down at him.
"This is how you entertain my daughter?", she asks.
He smiles, sheepishly, sitting up as Nina walks down the path to the gate.
"No fair, Momma!", she says, "He was about to tell me how he slayed the dragon!"
Zelda looks down at him, then back to her daughter, completely expressionless.
"I'll tell you some other time.", Link responds, "Maybe when your Mom takes her time getting back."
"I heard Nina scream.", Zelda says, "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine.", Nina says, smiling widely, "Unca Link was just telling me about the big, bad wizard."
"I...see."
Zelda turns back to link, undecided as to whether she should smile or scold him...
"Well, we should be heading back.", she says, taking Nina's hand, furrowing her brow at the tomato stains, "Good day, Link."
"See you around, Your Highness.", Link says, climbing to his feet, and smiling, widely, at Nina, "And a pleasure making your acquaintance, Princess."
Nina smiles, nodding, Zelda swallowing a retort before walking off, Nina with her.
He watches them disappear into the distance, folding his arms and leaning against the fencepole.
Cute kid.
Maybe he doesn't hate her parents, after all.
He actually got some work done. He's congratulating himself for that one. Still had her on his mind. The Princess...and the kid.
The daughter he should have had.
He fixes the last of his tomato crops, repositioning themselves on their individual poles, reminding himself why he never had kids while surveying what was, hours ago, a tangled mess of plants.
Life at Hyrule Castle must be really boring. He's glad he doesn't raise livestock, or he'd have to count lambs.
He walks back into the house when he's done, washing his hands in a bucket of water in his kitchen. He pulls over a basket of crops he picked earlier that day, pulling off parts of lettuce and chopping tomatoes for tonight's modest fare.
He made himself a simple salad, with some bits left over from last night's roast thrown in for flavor, cleaning his dishes and putting them away, sitting on his couch and reading a book he picked up(legally) the other day...
Which is when someone knocks on his door.
He sighs, closing the book, standing up and walking to the door.
He unlocks it, opens it...and finds Malon standing there, a fresh bandage on her head, a moderate smile on her face.
"If this is about giving me a headwound, I keep a hammer by my bed.", he says.
"Smart, Link.", she says, "Don't worry. I don't want payback. I wanted to thank you for saving the ranch, today."
"I live in the neighborhood. It was nothing."
"Those things downed horses, Link. You saved my life. Twice."
"And brained you."
"And brained me, yes," she says, sighing, "....but it was because my combat response is to 'freeze in terror'....you've got me right on that one."
He folds his arms, smiling slightly.
"Okay...if this isn't about me knocking you unconscious with my shield...why are you here?"
She sighs, closing her eyes, smirking slightly.
"My dad's grateful for what you did.", she says, "So am I. Epona's yours if you want her, just like we promised twenty five years ago."
He shakes his head, leaning against the door.
"I don't need a horse. I'm happy the way things are. I don't need something to take care of, at this point."
"Alright. Then I've got a question.", she says, "I want an honest answer, straight from the horse's mouth...is anything happening between you and the Princess?"
He freezes at that question. It's the last thing he expected her to ask, in all honesty...and something he hasn't been trying to think of, for the night...
"No.", he finally says, "We're friends."
"Could've fooled me."
"She's not my type.", he lies, "We're too different for that sort of thing...besides, she's married."
"Aristocrats are one half of every scandal. It's a peasant that's the other half."
"You have the disposition of a gossip, Malon."
She laughs, unfolding her arms, clenching her hands together at her waist, smiling widely.
"You've changed, Link."
"So have you.", he says, "You've grown up well."
"I've had good people raising me. How about you?"
"I left the Kokiri when I turned twenty two. I grew up. Went into farming. I live off the land, now."
"And I'm still working with my father on the ranch.", Malon says, "Looks like we're stillin pretty similar situations. We're having dinner at the ranch. Would you like to join us?"
He sighs, shaking his head.
"Sorry. I've got an early morning tomorrow and I already ate.", he says, "Good night, Malon."
She sighs, stepping back.
"Fine. See you around, Link.", she says, walking down the steps.
He watches as she walks out the gate before closing the door.
He closes his eyes, leaning against the door, looking up and letting out a relieved breath.
He took care of his normal daily duties at his farm. Watering the garden, fixing the plants, making sure nothing came during the bump of the night.
He went to town a little later...and found, to his surprise something...well, surprising.
Zelda had announced the death of her husband. Announced that he died seven days ago in an accident while saving lives.
Saved the ugly details she told him...
And, naturally, when he visited Alk's bar, he heard the usual undesirables making the usual lewd comments now that she was available, again.
If he wasn't a calm, collected person, he'd be proving another one of his stories to Alk. Especially the one about him and the group of moblins that looked at him wrong.
He decided to walk around the upper-class part of town, hearing the news that there's already suitors after Zelda's hand. It must be the reason she wanted to delay the announcement. Wanted the body to cool before having to fend off the greedy little bastards...
The sun is high in the sky, about early-to-mid afternoon by the time he reaches the castle. Naturally, he knows he doesn't have a chance of getting in. And he has to wait until night to break in...but he doesn't figure any reason that he should.
He simply stands there, hands in his pockets, the tower which he remembers housing the apartments. More importantly, her quarters...and he simply stands there, for a long while.
He wonders if she saw him. If she did, she'd give no sign. He can't imagine she told anyone that she went to see him, yesterday...nah. She was there because she had to go to the Lon Lon Ranch.
Nothing to do with him at all.
He sighs, shrugging, turning about, clicking his shoes on the ground as he begins his long trek back home...
"It's always hard to understand why things turn out the way they do," the tall, golden skinned being says, "Even Gods have little to do with mortal fate and mortal actions. Only God has such control."
Link shakes his head, staring at the magnificent, androgynous being...not being. A god. One of the three gods of the Triad, or something else...
"You doubt yourself," the being continues, its skin turning silver, its voice compassionate, "And in that doubt you may lose your one chance with the one you care for. For despite any indifference, your love is shared. It is only the doubt that you both feel that stands in the way of your lives together. Put aside your doubt. Both of you. Let yourselves know what the other feels. Only then can you know fufillment."
Link shakes his head, seeing the landscape swirling about him, becoming a mixture of all the places he's been, and seen...in both this timeline and the last one...
He turns, his mind wandering with the mention of the other person here...and his hand touches a curl of her golden hair...
"But still," the being says, its skin changing to platinum, "Such concerns must be set aside for continued existence. A great, terrible threat comes, Hero of Time...and chosen of our Power...one that even we doubt you will outlive. That is why we must interfere. And we must forbode that the answer will be found in the most unlikely of places. The most horrid of circumstances. And as these threats will bear down, you must mature. Rise to the challenge. Put aside old hates and fears...for fear leads to doubt. Doubt will lead to failure."
The being leans down, its mere, flowing face taller than Link.
"Failure," it finishes, "Will lead to the death of All Things."
Link jumps, sitting up on his bed, his breathing slow and steady...and he finds that his hair is now matted to his head. He's covered in sweat, shaking slightly.
A dream. Just a bad, and very strange dream...
He falls back onto his bed, resting his head on his pillow, laying there in his slacks, his covers covering barely his legs as he simply watches the ceiling, trying to return to his dreams...and he slowly looks to the window as someone knocks on the door.
He lights a match, igniting the lamp by his bed, climbing off the bed as the remainder of the house is lit by the moonlight filtered through the windows.
He walks to the door, opening it...and sees a shaking, worried Zelda standing there, looking down.
She looks up, matching her eyes with his, clenching her hands in the slight opening in her grey-black cloak.
"Zelda.", he says, "It's late."
She bites her lip, closing her eyes, tears forming at their edges.
"My daughter can't stop thinking about you.", she says, her voice shaking.
He groans, shaking his head, looking down as he backs away, letting her walk through the door...
And she grabs his hand, turning her to him, her face inching towards his.
He looks into her eyes, seeing something he's never hoped he'd see before, her other hand resting on his shoulder.
Their lips are inches from each other, the smell of her own fearful, dream-borne sweat in his nose, when she speaks her next words, barely a choked whisper.
"And I couldn't stop thinking about you, either..."