Link's Story
Chapter 3
I stepped out of the temple for the first time in seven years. A horrendous sight met my eyes. The world was gloomy, dead looking. The front of the temple was no longer adorned with green bushes and flowers. The grass was brown, the reflective pools, murky. Cracks ran through the cobblestone paths, and stone blocks were heaped upon each other. It looked as though an earthquake had hit. The skies were gloomy, and off in the distance, I could see an ominous glowing cloud over the far off peak of death mountain. It was a sight indeed.
I stood, breathless for a moment. I had been warned that the world had changed. I just hadn't expected it to change so much. It would take a while for the shock to settle in. If I thought the temple courtyard was a mess, there was no way I could imagine what I would find in what used to be the town. Feeling the depressing air of the place, I headed toward the market. As I stepped through the entrance, a cold wind blew, and I could hear crows cackling in the rafters of the empty buildings. Everything was in disrepair. It was even worse than the temple grounds. Where are the people? I wondered.
I saw what I thought was a person squatting by the entrance. In alarm, I ran up to them. They looked like they needed help. When I got over to the spot, I noticed they had brown skin, and I wasn't sure what to think. Not a stitch of clothing was on their scrawny back. I tapped them on the shoulder. Rather than looking up and saying anything, the being turned about and stared at me. It's eyes were gone, and it glared up with hollow sockets. I would have screamed if I could, and I jumped back in fright. I still had the mind of a boy. The creature stood, teetering on emaciated legs, and it lurched at me, latching onto me before I had a chance to flee. I clamped its mouth over my face, and began sucking like a black hole. I felt as if my very eyes would pop out of their orbits, like my brain would be sucked out through my nose! I yanked and struggled with the thing and finally succeeded in releasing myself from its death grip. I threw it to the ground and ran for all I was worth.
I did not stop until I had left the dilapidated city and run half the way to Lon Lon Ranch. Out of breath (due to seven years of hanging in suspended animation) I stopped and collapsed onto the grass. My face was covered in a sort of gooey slime. It was spit from that awful creature's mouth. I wanted to cry. Though I was in the body of a man, I was just as much of a child as I had been seven years before. I wanted my bed, and a bath, and Saria. It was nearing nightfall, and the forest was too far away. I remembered the Stalchildren that hd plagued the field before. I shuddered. The forest was too far away. I needed to stay somewhere for the night. I turned and looked at the large ranch. Surely Talon ir his daughter would recognize me. Perhaps they would allow me to stay for the night. They were nice people...
I stood and brushed the grass off of my clothes. Navi hovered by my face. "Where are we going?" she asked. I pointed to the ranch. "But we have to go to the forest!" I shook my head in disagreement. I made a motion that I needed sleep. "Sleep!? But you've been sleeping for seven years! How much more can you possibly need?!" I shrugged, then pointed at the sun. It was getting late. "Oh, fine, have it your way. But we're leaving early tomorrow morning!" I nodded. She grumbled something or another about how I was still the laziest child she'd ever set eyes on. I started toward the ranch entrance.
I noticed a strange sort of fog had settled over the place as I entered. Oh well, that could have meant anything. I walked through the entryway. The ranch looked the same. But no one was in sight. I headed to the main house and knocked on the door. Nobody answered. The lights were on though. The sound of a wolf cut through the air as night fell. The moon hung above, like a large eye, watching me. I sighed. Perhaps I would have to find a different place to lay my head for the night. Then, I heard a slight noise. It sounded like... singing? I turned. It was coming from the corral.
Curiously, I strolled toward the beautiful and eerie sound. It was a song that was strangely familiar. I tried to remember what it was... something from my very recent childhood. I rounded the corner to the corral. Bathed in the moonlight, with long, fiery red hair, was the most radiant girl I had ever seen. She held her hands clasped to her chest, emitting the single most dulcet tones my ears had ever beheld. She was absolutely lovely.
I was awestruck, to say the least. I stood there stupidly. Never before in my short life had I ever felt in such a way. I gasped at the feeling that raced through my heart. She heard me and turned suddenly in surprise. A hand flew to her mouth.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you there." she said. I was quiet. "Who are you?" she asked. Once again I said nothing. She looked up at the faerie hovering above my head. Her eyes widened. "Oh my... is that you, Faerie Boy?" I was taken aback. Faerie Boy? The only person who had ever called me that in the past was the little girl by the castle. I squinted hard at her. It was, it was, Malon!
I opened my mouth to say something, but all that came out was a pathetic rush of silent air. She came over to me, and looked into my eyes. "I know you have no words. It's OK." I looked away. A feeling of horrible shame was tearing through my heart. I was a mute. What did a mute ever have to offer?
"Faerie Boy, it's been so long since I last saw you. What was it, seven years? Where in the world have you been? I thought we were friends." I shrugged. It was something I could never explain, even if I could speak. She turned. "Well, I guess I can't force it out of you, now can I?" I shrugged again. It was becoming a familiar stance lately. I wanted to ask where her father was, and how he was doing. It was as if she read my mind.
"Faerie Boy, will you not breathe a word of any of this?" I nodded. She sighed and clasped her hands to her chest. "Things have been... so... hard. Daddy is gone. Ingo took over the ranch and forced him out. I'm not allowed to see him, and I'm hardly allowed visitors. It's been terribly lonely."
I understood what she meant. Despite Navi's ever presence, I felt like I was the only Hylian in existence sometimes. There was no one to understand, no one who could ever join in on my quest. It was a lonesome thing, saving the world. "I've been so sad. So I come out here at night to sing. If I was ever caught, though..." Her words trailed off. Horrifying thoughts ran through my mind. What if she was caught? What would he do to her? I could feel the rage beginning to build inside of me.
She uncomfortably clasped a hand on her face. In fact, that hand hadn't moved since it had flown there in surprise. As awkward as it looked, she had not moved it an inch. I could tell she was hiding something. I gingerly reached toward her, and put my hand over hers. She recoiled, but I gently persisted. After a slight moment, she gave in. I pulled her hand away from her soft cheek. There, fully visible in the soft light of the moon, was an ugly, purple bruise.
I swallowed. A lump was growing in my throat. Why did she have that bruise? Who would do such a thing to her? I took her chin in my hand, and tilted it up. I looked into her eyes. I didn't need to ask with words, my eyes conveyed enough. It was her turn to say nothing. Malon would not look in my eyes directly. She looked off to the side. She blinked her long lashes, and I saw something that scared me worse than any of the creatures and demons I had ever faced. A tear was making its way down Malon's rosy cheek.
I had no idea what to do. My eyes darted around in panic. What could I do? I didn't know how to deal with this! In my shock and confusion, I did something that I hadn't even considered doing. In fact, I'm not even sure why I did it either, but it felt right when I did. I leaned down and kissed her, while softly stroking her bruised cheek. She did not resist, and kissed me right back. It was languid, soft, comforting, like nothing else. I felt such emotion welling within my being. I no longer felt like a ten year old boy.
I pulled her closer to me, and held her there. I moved my lips, trying to whisper her name. Softly I stroked her hair. "Faerie Boy, how much I've missed you. I wish you could never leave me again." I shushed her, and continued to stroke her smooth locks. She cried on my chest. I would let her cry there for an eternity if I could.
I had hardly seen this girl, yet it was as if I had known her for an eternity. The feeling that I actually mattered to her... it was wonderful. Saria was the only other person in the world who had cared for me in such a way. I wanted to take Malon with me, get her away from such an awful place, but something in me just knew that it was a near impossibility. There was a loud crashing noise.
It had come from the direction of the house. Malon nervously jumped from my embrace. A light turned on, and we heard banging in the cowshed. Then the slamming of a door. A long shadow cast itself across the corral and directly onto us. Around the corner came a very pissed, very drunken Ingo.
"Malon, what the hell are you doin out here?!" he slurred. She cowered behind me. "Damn it! Ya stupid bitch! Get over here now, and I'll go easy on you this time!" he yelled. In one hand he clutched a large shovel, in the other a half empty bottle of wine. I was starting to get angry, very angry. I pulled off my gauntlets and threw them down. Malon grabbed my arm.
"No! Don't do this Faerie Boy, please!" I looked sadly into her eyes and pulled my arm out of her grasp. I had to do this. She started to weep again. "Please!" she cried. I did not listen. That terrible man had had his way with her long enough. It was time someone showed him how to be... courteous. If there was one thing I couldn't stand, it was a man who beat a woman and tried to justify it. Ingo was mine.
I marched forward, rolling up my sleeves as I walked. Ingo saw me and began to toss out foul words, things even I don't have the guts to repeat.
"Who the hell are you?" he yelled. He unsteadily held his shovel up in the defensive position. I held my hands up in hard fists. Ingo started to run at me, brandishing his shovel. He was so drunk he couldn't run in a straight path. I grabbed the shovel and whirled him around. I punched him directly in the nose, and he fell back on the dirt. He spat out more distasteful phrases. I threw the shovel aside and dusted off my hands. Ingo tried to get up, but I merely put my foot on his chest and held him down. He soon passed out from the liquor.
I walked back over to Malon and picked up my discarded gauntlets. I put a hand on her shoulder. She stepped away and wouldn't turn to look at me. "Just go away." she moaned. I couldn't believe my ears. I just did her a favor! "I can't go with you, and I don't wish for you to show yourself here again." My heart sank. Why was she doing this?
If I had been any bolder, I would have picked her up and slung her over my shoulder, no matter how much fuss she made. I was strong enough to do it. I mean, screw the ranch! There are more important things in life than the family business! Why would she allow herself to be beaten on a daily basis, or maybe even worse, for the sake of some stupid ranch?!
And yet, I couldn't bring myself to just drag her off like that. She was an adult. She was old enough to choose for herself. It was not my place to decide for her.
As I left the ranch, both my ego and heart bruised worse than Malon's cheek, I wondered if being polite was worth it. What was worse: Malon respecting me and getting beaten to a pulp every night, or her hating me forever because I wanted to make sure she was safe?
It was all to confusing. My mind was full of troubled thoughts as I headed in the direction of the forest. My mind was so addled, I no longer cared about getting sleep. It just didn't seem important anymore.