This is a romance set just as Link returns to Hyrule after adventuring in Termina, and what he does (or more importantly who with) after that.
Email: (charleshillsw@hotmail.com) This is my first proper fanfic I reckon, I mean I have written stories before but never uploaded them or made anything big out of them. Anyway, if you read this, please review. I won't beg but it's nice to know that work doesn't go un-noticed.
Disclaimer (what's the point): I don't own Zelda. I only own this story. You can be sure that if the Legend of Zelda were mine then not only would I be rich but also romance would feature much more heavily. I looove Zelda.
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Malon loved having the entire ranch to herself. It meant that she could run the place however she wanted to, and it gave her a lot of freedom to go as fast or slow as she needed. She was also glad because she knew she did a better job tending to the animals than Ingo or her lazy father, Talon. She was happier; the animals were happier. It all worked out well.
She had finished all her work for this morning and went out into the fields of the ranch and found her favourite spot, where she lay down and basked in the sun's warm glow. Long, flame red locks blew softly in the wind, framing her beautiful face perfectly. Before she knew it she had dozed off in amongst the grassy plains, butterflies flitting gently against her face.
Link wandered up the pathway into Lon Lon Ranch, mulling over that morning and his argument with Zelda. "I'm such a fool. How can I have not realised she wanted to make something more out of this? Now I have broken her heart, and I doubt she'll ever want to see me again." He shook his head to dispel those negative thoughts. "Hey, lighten up. You still have Saria as a friend," his brain told him, "and you could make something more with Malon or Nabooru. What about Princess Ruto? She is beautiful and elegant, too, if a little bossy." He chuckled as he remembered their meeting in the Water Temple before he had defeated Ganondorf. "I was so stunned at the sight of her that I couldn't even talk!" This thought brought Link's spirits right up again, and he brought himself back to the real world where he was now wandering around the ranch looking for Malon. He quickly found her, asleep, in the grasses near the granary at the far side of the ranch. He walked up and crouched next to her, letting his hands play with her long red hair. She really was incredibly pretty. He could have stared at her face for hours.
Malon awoke, sitting up and rubbing her eyes sleepily. "I had the funniest dream," she said to no-one in particular, "that Link was here and he was fondling my hair". Link tried not to laugh as he looked at her back, knowing she was unaware of his presence. "Ah well, if only it were true," she sadly spoke.
She soon became aware of a pair of hands resting on her shoulders. She tipped her head back to find herself looking deep into the eyes of Link. She screamed and fell back, landing softly on his lap. Link couldn't stop himself giggling as she searched for words, all the while her soft cheeks turning a dark red. "Uh… hi Malon," he said, his hands lightly tickling at her stomach. She was too overwhelmed to even speak so instead she just chose to lay there in his strong grip, staring at his handsome face. "I have something to ask of you." He said, injecting a more serious tone into his voice. Malon sat up, picking up on his tone. "Zelda has thrown me out, so I need somewhere to live. Do you mind if… if I stay here?" Malon didn't reply and simply flopped back into the grass.
"Malon?" Link said, leaning over. He laughed as he realised that she had fainted. He gently picked her up and carried her to the house and set her down on the large double bed, waiting for her to come round. When she did she was still in shock and couldn't speak, but managed to nod her head when he asked her again if he could stay. She just couldn't believe it. Link… staying with her? Every single time she saw him she became mush and now he would be living with her? It made her weak at the knees to think about it. And his touch! So soft, yet strong… she felt like she had died and was in heaven.
"There's only this one bed, though, which means you'll have to sleep with me," she said, hopefully.
Link, not picking up on that offer, replied, "Oh… I'll make a bed downstairs, then, if that's okay with you."
"No no no! Of course it's okay for you to sleep up here!" She said quickly, hoping she hadn't sounded too desperate.
Link ginned; he had been hoping she'd say that. He looked up to stare at her, not able to take his eyes off of her beautiful face, her long eyelashes shadowing wide, pretty eyes and that lovely complexion…
Malon couldn't help but beam with sheer joy, for she felt high as a kite. She also couldn't draw her eyes from that miraculous face in front of her… She felt like she could spring out and eat the gorgeous man alive. She wanted to nibble at his ear tips and kiss him and hold him all at once… He was simply perfect, and she knew that she loved him more than anything. He was her knight in shining armour.
They remained there, staring into each other's eyes for the next few minutes, before Link spoke up. "I can help you around the ranch, if you like."
"That'd be wonderful! I've always wanted an extra pair of helping hands," she smiled. This was far, far too good to be true. She spent the rest of the day with him, showing him what she'd done to the ranch and how he could help. Link enjoyed looking after the horses and seeing how his beloved Epona interacted with them all. He finished grooming them, admiring their shiny coats, and went to answer Malon's call for him to come eat dinner.
He quickly discovered that she could cook as well as all her other abilities: singing, horse riding, farming, ranching, looking beautiful… "Looking beautiful?" Link thought. "I wonder where that came from… even though it's true," he said, admiring her cute little face as she ate another mouthful of her supper. Link finished up and sat there, looking nervous. "That was really great, Malon. Thankyou so much for letting me stay here."
"Oh, think nothing of it! I could do with the company." Malon said, thinking that it was she who should be thanking him for gracing her with his very presence. "Well… I guess it's time for bed…" she said, butterflies in her stomach at the thought of sleeping next to Link. He helped her put the dishes away and walked with her up the stairs, shutting the door behind him. Taking off his hat and belt, he turned round to find Malon staring at him, a look of… fear, almost, in her eyes.
"Malon? What's wrong?"
"Nothing… I just… love you so much! I really do. You are the most perfect person ever! And it scares me… how strong these feelings are…" And with that, she threw herself in his arms.
"She loves me? Didn't see that one coming. I knew she was attracted to me but not that much… I'm not sure if I love her or not, but I may as well comfort her…" Link thought, holding Malon close to his chest. He released her, brushing a stray lock of hair out of her eye, and continued to undress down to his white trousers. He climbed into one side of the large bed and pulled the sheets up, watching Malon take off her clothes.
"He's watching me…" she trembled, "I hope he likes what he sees…" She pulled her dress over her head, leaving her in just a bra and panties. Link was getting quite nervous as she climbed into bed next to him, and turned over to look at him. She simply smiled and let her arm pull him closer, where she tipped her head up to kiss him lightly on the cheek. She pulled away, and looked into his eyes. "Goodnight, Link," she said.
"Goodnight." He said softly, kissing the top of her head again. They fell asleep in each other's arms.
Malon awoke to find Link standing at the end of the bed, putting his Kokiri tunic back over his head, and tying his sword, quiver, bow and shield to his back. She watched him through sleepy eyes, and asked him where he was going.
"I'm going on a small trip, to visit an old friend of the desert," he said. Malon knew whom he was talking of and tried to hide her jealousy.
"Won't you stay for breakfast? I'm sure you're hungry," she asked.
Link chewed the thought over in his mind until his stomach muscled in with the answer. "Yes, thanks, that would be great."
She quickly jumped out of bed, pulling her dress back on, and ran downstairs to fix them both up some breakfast. She looked up as she was adding the finishing touches to the food and watched him come down the stairs. He hungrily eyed the table and licked his lips, then nodded his appreciation at Malon. She sat down, opposite him, and ate little, instead thinking about Link and his trip. She hoped he would be back soon.
"How long do you think you'll be?" she asked, concern evident in her voice.
"A few days? Maybe a week?" he said, his mouth full of food. Malon put a brave smile on her face, but inside she felt like crying.
"You'll need something to eat from here to the desert," she said, "so I could prepare you something, if you like?"
Link pondered that; mid-bite, and eventually decided it would be a good idea. Malon quickly had some sandwiches ready for him and a bottle of Lon Lon milk. Link hugged her, thanking her for hospitality she had showed him, and promised he'd be back soon. She sadly watched him mount Epona and ride out at a gentle trot from the ranch, turning round to give her a final wave.
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Hmm… I liked that one. As before, you will not know whom he will choose until the extra big bumper final chapter, which will probably be around 6000 words. I'm sorry for not updating sooner, I really am, but I had a lot of work to sort out. Anyway, hope you liked it as much as I love Card Captor Sakura.