"Ouch!"
"I told you it would sting. Now hold still, you big baby."
Link winced as Malon applied the remedy to the slice in his skin. The cut was not deep, but it was right under a rib, and it hurt when he twisted his body to the right. "You know, no matter how many of these I get, I'll never get used to the sting."
Night had fallen, and the full moon could be seen through the window of their second floor room in the Red Wolf inn, located along the main street of the town of Lupis. Link had insisted that no lamps be lit, so Malon was forced to work by the light of a candle on the bedside table. Link was naked from the waist up, and Malon couldn't help but blush as she started to wrap the gauze around his well-toned waist. "So," she said, trying to cover it up, "How'd you get this room for free?"
"The owner—Mr. Horsenby—feels he owes me for saving his daughter. She was to marry a duke from the northern countries against her will, and I happened to be in the right place at the right time."
"Really?" Malon replied as she taped the bandage in place. "Lucky girl. Sounds like quite an adventure."
"Not really," Link answered as he stretched his right hip. "We spent half the time hiding out in the Death Mountains, in the middle of winter. Not exactly fun."
Malon nodded as she sat beside Link on the bed. "So what happened?"
"I brought her home, safe and sound, and Horsenby granted me free use of the inn whenever I was in town. His daughter was the waitress we met downstairs."
"Oh," was all Malon could say. Link thought he heard something like relief in the reply, but he couldn't be sure. He stared at her, her profile outlined in the glow of the candle. She really was very beautiful, and it was the first time he had thought that. Her red hair flowed down to the small of her back in gentle waves, smooth and clean despite her farm-girl life. She had a small, cute little nose that Link had always found attractive, and her bright blue eyes were clear and innocent. It was a different sort of beauty from, say, Zelda, but it was beauty nonetheless.
She must have felt him staring, because she turned to face him. For a long time they said nothing, and just sat staring at each other. Malon broke the silence first. "So what do those tattoos mean?"
She was referring to the designs he had on each arm and at the nape of his neck. "Well this one," he said, pointing to his left shoulder, "is a Goron Kroga. It shows my rank as a soldier in the Goron army. That symbol in the middle of the fire is the Goron Ruby, symbolizing my brotherhood with Chief Darunia."
Malon looked puzzled. "Brotherhood?"
"Only in ritual. It's a bond of friendship. Most of the time…" he said this last part so quietly that Malon couldn't even hear it.
"Wow," Malon replied, nodding in understanding. "How about the others?"
Link hesitated for a moment, not quite sure how to explain. "These ones are a little more complicated. Take a look at the one on my back." He turned around, and as such he didn't see Malon blush again. She studied the tattoo. Three symbols were surrounded by a web of intricate lines. They were in the shape of a triangle, one on top and two on the bottom.
"You recognize those symbols, don't you?" Link asked.
"Of course. They're the Spiritual Stones. We learned about them in church when I was young. My father even took me to the Temple of Time to see them up close once."
"That's right. The one on top is the Kokiri Emerald, symbolizing how and where I was raised. The bottom two, the Zora Saphire, and again, the Goron Ruby, symbolize my connections to the different races. They're all joined in the design, showing how everything is connected."
"Connected through what?"
"Through me." Link paused, reflecting on those words. "This last one is pretty obvious."
"Yeah, I understand the Triforce; a lot of people I've seen have that one," she looked hard at the tattoo on his right bicep. "But what's with the sword in the middle?"
"That," Link absently touched the sword with his other hand. "That's the Master Sword. I had to use it once, a long time ago."
"How's that possible? The Master Sword has been missing since Necron was banished to the Sacred Realm, or so the legends go."
"That was true. Until I was forced to find it again."
Malon didn't ask any more questions. She had upset Link somehow; she could tell from the look on his face. It was sad, and almost regretful. "I'm sorry if I said something wrong."
Link looked up at her, and for the first time in the entire time he'd known her he thought about telling her everything. About the Master Sword, Ganon, his role as the Hero of Time, everything. "What could it hurt?" he thought. He had never told anyone, though he didn't know why. Actually, that wasn't quite true; he knew why. "She'll pity me if I tell her. She'll feel sorry and sad for me. I can't force that on anyone. Not when I can't even deal with my own feelings on it."
"You didn't say anything. It's a long story. I'll tell you sometime." He glanced at the bedside clock. "You better get some sleep. Early start."
Malon nodded. "So where's do we go from here?"
"We?" Link raised an eyebrow. "You are going home, and then I'm going to Lake Hylia. I'll drop you off on my way."
"No way!" Malon was shocked that he had even said that. "I'm coming with you! Like it or not, I'm stuck with you now. You got me into this mess, mister, and I'm gonna see it through."
"Malon, you don't know what you're saying…"
"Besides," she continued, ignoring his protest. "I couldn't go home even if I wanted to."
"Why not?"
"Because that's the way the rest of those men were heading when they quit the chase, meaning that their camp is most likely in that area. Probably around Barsmill, it's the closest town to the ranch." She got up and started pacing the room, working everything out in her head. She gasped as she realized something. "Meaning they've probably already been to the ranch! My dad and Mr. Ingo and all the hands will be in danger. Meaning that I'm safer with you, away from everything, seeing as how they seem to be looking for you."
Link just sat there, his mouth hanging open a little, completely shocked. "Malon," he said, "How did you come up with all that?"
"I'm right aren't I?"
"Well, yeah, but…how?"
"Mr. Ingo taught me." She sat back down on the bed beside him. "He was a soldier before he became a ranch hand. He taught me everything he knew about tactics and strategies and sword fighting and stuff like that." She looked him straight in the eyes. "Which is why I won't hinder you or slow you down. I can take care of myself."
Link was torn. The last thing he wanted was to put her of all people in any danger whatsoever, but she had made logical arguments. She was right, and he hated it. "All right," he finally said. "I guess we're together in this. But let me make one thing perfectly clear," he said, his tone deadly serious, "if a situation comes up that I feel you can't handle, you will take Epona and get as far away as possible. Clear?"
"But…"
"Clear?"
Malon sighed in defeat. "Yes sir."
"Good." Link straightened, then winced as his wound pained him. "We'll buy some supplies in the morning, then we'll go. You better rest until then."
"Ok," she conceded. "So how are we going to deal with the sleeping arrangements? There's only one bed."
"Well, I'll take the right side, closest to the window, and you can take the…the…" Link suddenly realized what she was referring to, and it was his turn to blush. "Oh! Well, uh, you take the bed, and I'll sleep in the chair by the window. I should keep watch for a while anyway."
"Are you sure? I could keep watch too,"
"I'm sure. Get some sleep."
* * *
Link sat in his chair, searching the streets through the window for any potential danger. He was still stripped to the waist; it was a surprisingly warm night, and as such his cap and shirt rested at the end of Malon's bed. The broadsword was across his lap, loose in its scabbard. As he watched the silent avenues, he couldn't help but think of the past few years and many of his relationships, particularly those with Malon and Zelda.
Link was old enough to know a little on relations between men and women, though he was still fairly innocent in the field. He had met many women on his journeys, of all shapes, sizes, and cultures, and yes, he had been attracted to some in one capacity or another. He and Horsenby's daughter, in fact had become quite friendly during their flight from the north. He was only fifteen at the time, however, and she was two years his senior, so he knew even then that nothing would come of it. But no matter where he roamed or whom he encountered, his thoughts always returned to those to special young women.
Zelda was almost perfect. Wise, beautiful, noble, and always in control, she was the epitomy of the perfect monarch. At least to everyone else. Link could always see through her acts though. There was much more to her than met the eye, and Link had known from the moment he had first dreamed of her eight years ago that she would hold a special place in his life. She was indeed wise, but she was also empathetic to the needs of the people of Hyrule, be they Hylian, Goron, Zora, whatever. She could understand their grievances and pain, and did anything in her power to heal them. They were connected deeply, Zelda and Link, on a physical and spiritual level. The two years he had spent at the castle with her, Shrike, and Impa had helped to strengthen that bond, and their recent discovery of their 'sixth sense' to feel each other's presence had solidified it.
Malon, on the other hand, was a little more difficult for him to decipher. He had known her longer than he had known Zelda. She was the first friend he had ever had outside of the forest, and probably the best next to Saria. She may appear to be the typical farmer's daughter, but as she had proven earlier that night, she knew much more of the outside world than most city dwellers. She had more of a real world understanding than Zelda, much like Link; he had spent much time in royal courts, but he was a forest boy at heart and felt more comfortable in the wild, where real people interacted without the formality of noble life. In that respect they were the same, and she had always been able to empathize with him. She was also a hopeless romantic, waiting to be swept of her feet by a knight in shining armor. Link wondered if that was how she thought of him. He also wondered if that would be such a bad thing.
Zelda and Malon. He loved them both, of that he was sure.
He just didn't know how.
"Have you gotten any sleep yet?" Malon's soft voice woke him from his thoughts. He hadn't even seen her leave the bed. She was standing behind him, wrapped up in the bedsheets.
"No," he admitted, "not yet. I will though."
She nodded, and went back to sit on the foot of the bed. "Link, can I ask you something?" He nodded, and she went on. "Why were you in the city? It's been a couple months since you visited me, so I was wondering what brought you out from wherever it is you're staying now."
"I stopped at the ranch first, but you were already gone." Link explained. She hadn't accused him of anything, but he felt the need to make that clear for some reason. "Anyway," he continued, "I was in the city because I needed information on my father. I was recently told that he was still alive, and I figured the city was a good place to look for any truth to that"
"Your father…" Malon echoed. "You've never spoken of your family before."
"I never even thought to. You know how I was raised, as one of the Kokiri. They were all the family I ever needed. I never even considered the fact that I had a real one."
They stayed silent for a while. Finally, Malon said "Is your mother still alive?"
"No," Link answered. "She died shortly after I was brought into the forest. I have no memory of her. Which I guess is one of the reasons I'm looking for my father, so I can understand why she had to do what she did."
Malon nodded, understanding. "I know how you feel. I can barely remember my mother. I was three when the Sickness affected her. Daddy always says I look like her, but I can never remember," She raised her head thoughtfully. "I think what I remember most is her singing. She would always sing to me to put me to sleep. I still remember every song." The room fell silent again, and Link looked away uncomfortably. He looked back when he heard a gentle sob.
"Malon…?"
"I'm alright," she said, sniffling. Small tears streaked down her cheek. "I just miss her, miss not having her here to watch me grow, watch me learn. It hurts, Link. I guess in that way you're lucky. You never had the chance to learn how important your parents were."
Link rose and went over to her. He crouched in front of her, cupping her face in his hands and raising it to look at him. "You have the memories, Malon," he explained. "I would trade everything for the hurt of that loss, because at least then I would feel something for them. Your pain is your love, Malon, and if I've learned anything at all in all my travels, it's that love is never wrong. Never."
She stared into his eyes, not saying anything. Then she knelt on the floor beside him, wrapping her arms around his neck, burying her face in his strong shoulder. Link returned the embrace, holding her close.
They stayed that way until sunrise.