AN: YEAH!!!! A Rook and Malon chapter!!! As some may have noticed, I enjoy skipping around in my chapters a bit. I like to be able to switch to different events occurring at the same time. I also personally needed something of a lighter mood after the last chapter :) I really like this chapter…but that's probably because I just have fun writing conversations between these two…Anyway, did anyone notice what the fire that happened to Fin resembled? *hint hint* Subtle foreshadowing!!!! *evil laugh* If you didn't get it, go back and see if you can! It has something to do with Fin's later purpose in the story about all of that 'the One' stuff. Or maybe I'm too subtle…Oh, yeah, I should let you get on with it, no?

Disclaimer: If I owned Link, trust me, I wouldn't be here writing *wink*. I do own…well a lot of these characters, to many to name, but you all know the ones that belong to Nintendo on your own so…Rook, Fin, Joshuan, Meg….etc….all mine with pride.

Chapter Eight: Knight in Shining Armor

            "You make my life a living hell do you know that?!" Malon shouted and puffed out an infuriated growl with her temper flared. "Why am I still talking to you even?!" Rook, the point of focus of this flame haired banshee's ire, just grinned foolishly at her. By the Gods he loved it when she was angry.

"Bhy gharra lass, 'tis only a little scrape. I'll be patched up in no time, the boys didna' mean to cosh me in the haid like they did." That may have been the truth, his friend had been to drunk to stumble out into the alley to piss let alone know what he was doing, but Rook was not about to let Malon know that, he himself was not completely sober at the time either. Luckily he had walked away with only a few scratches in his hand and an outstanding bruise on his noggin from the ale mug. It wasn't a big deal to him; just another night out with the boys, but Malon saw it a different way.

            "Oh what does it matter, you're head is to hard to hurt anyway!" She couldn't stand him grinning at her anymore, made it harder for her to yell at him so she just groaned and threw up her hands with impatience. "When you really get hurt in that filthy bar of yours don't expect me to cry over you!"

            "It's na' filthe' Malon," Rook's tone dropped a few octaves. Beautiful woman or not, he was not about to let his pub be insulted. "Maybe if ye'd come in with me---"

            "I will not set foot in that place! And it's 'if you'd come', not 'if ye'd come'!" Now she knew she was just nitpicking but she was angry with him for making her worry.

            "Yer pushin' it Firefly, don't cross me," Rook found his own temper raising as he pointed a finger accusingly at her. "Yer takin' this scuffle a bit to far, now I told ye it was nuthin' and I want ye te' drop it!" The wooden walls of the Lon Lon Ranch stable absorbed his shout and the air immediately stilled after. Malon's eyes narrowed and she gawked for words.

            "Stop it, you'll scare the horses you oaf! Now get out, I don't want to talk to you anymore right now!" She returned her attention to brushing Eady's coat, only she was much more focused now and Eady stomped uncomfortably as the brush dug against the grain of the hair. Rook, red faced and tempered took a defying few steps toward her and ripped the brush out of her hand.

            "Why does it bother ye so much Malon?" His voice was still hampered with anger, but he was trying considerably to keep it under control. Malon spun around and tried to regain her brush, but Rook caught her by the wrist and enveloped it with his large hand. Malon's eyes sparked flames but Rook's were already a roaring blaze.

            "Because it scares me, that's why!" She yelled and began to shake from the emotional energy that flooded through the now open gate. "Because I'm afraid you'll do something stupid and hurt yourself. Because I'm afraid you'll, you'll!" Tears had begun to flow down her cheeks without her consent or her notice. She sank to the floor and sobbed, the first time she had ever allowed herself to cry since Ganondorf's reign. Rook sunk to his knees too and cradled her in his arms.

            "Malon," he soothed, his anger completely dissolved and replaced with a deep sense of compassion. "Malon, my sweet Malon I---"

            "And," she sobbed, "and I'm afraid you'll become like my Uncle Ingo!" Her body quaked and all Rook could do was hold her closer.

                        "What's this 'bout Ingo now?" He asked, stroking her hair, "how would I be like him? What he do love?" He lifted her eyes to meet his and had never wanted her more than when he stared into the blue, vibrant against the tears.

            "He, he would beat me," she whispered, afraid to say out loud what she had always kept inside. "When he would get drunk, after Ganondorf had given him the Ranch. He would never remember the next day he was so drunk…I," her voice cracked and she wiped one cheek with the back of her hand. She remembered all of those fearful nights when he would stumble out into the stable where she stayed to protect the horses, piss ass drunk and shouting slanderous names at her, calling her slut and whore and if every other man got it why couldn't he? She would shout back at him and made sure to stay well out of his reach, keeping the pitchfork within grasping range should she need it. But she never did, he would pass out or saunter off before then, leaving Malon shaken and alone. Always alone accept for the company of the horses. She knew if she didn't have them she surely would have harmed herself, but they gave her a reason to carry on. Malon sniffled and relaxed and closed her eyes, "I've never mentioned it because I know it wasn't him, not really, it was Ganondorf, he poisoned his mind, blackmailed him, but…but Rook I don't want you to become like that! I'm, I'm afraid when you get drunk." She sat back on the floor and let the shudders run out of her until she was calm again. Rook moved closer and twined his fingers in her soft hair.

            "Naver, naver would I hurt ye Malon, I'd be struck dead before I let harm come to ye," he leaned in and brushed her lips who were salty with tears with his. "I love ye Malon, always have. I want to marry ye, if ya'd have me." She blinked and stared at him with his heart set clean in front of her and felt her own heart beating wildly in her chest. For Rook the moment lasted for an eternity. He had never given his heart to anyone before but he would give it to none other than Malon. If she did not take it he would not know what to do. But she did.

            "Is that a proposal then?" She sat frozen with her heart bared before him. He leaned in again and kissed her passionately, something his lips had been aching to do since the first moment he saw her.

            "Marry me Malon," he grinned against her mouth, kissing her lightly again.

            "That's not a proposal, that's an order," she smiled and kissed him back, lifting a hand to cup his face.

            "I told ye I'd have ye when it suited me, and it suites me now," he pulled her to her knees so they were both kneeling on the stable floor. His face had lost all humor and color now and was very grave. "I, I have nothing to give ye Malon but myself, I'm not a rich man, nor a particularly bright one…no knight in shining armor, but I'll use everything to make ye happy, I swear by it, only say yes." He dug into his pocket and brought out the smooth hair clasp he had bought for her at the Bazaar. Malon's heart lurched at the site of it and swelled with an overpowering emotion that she only had enough sense left to utter one thing: yes.