Chapter 4
Link rode out over Hyrule's open fields, on his trusted horse Epona. He needed to get away. The scent of death still mingled with evil around the castle. He couldn't take it much longer. He thought that if he had to stay in the castle any longer, he himself would die. He looked back at the guards stumbling around the drawbridge. The men had forbidden Link to leave, for the danger that lay about. They all shouted curses out at him, but he couldn't hear. One of the guards, so angry with himself, stumbled into the crystal clear water, of the river that surrounded Hyrule Castle. Link could have laughed aloud, at his own cleverness of avoiding them, and that's what he did. He let himself laugh, something he hadn't done in a long time, and it made him feel good inside. Epona's massive backside muscles tensed, as she galloped over the grassy, rolling plains.
''Ya!'' Link urged Epona to go faster. He turned his upper body around, and slapped the horse's backside. Epona whinnied, reared up, and galloped faster as Link leaned forward, gripping the reins tightly. The wind blew into his face, and roughly ruffled his blonde hair. The sun shone high in the sky, and beat down on his shoulders and back. The grass rippled, like a green ocean as they galloped past, stirring up dirt and pebbles, under Epona's hooves. For the first time in weeks, Link was truly happy. He thought of somewhere that might keep his mind from the thoughts that disturbed him, steered Epona slightly west, and headed for Lon Lon Ranch.
Link dismounted Epona at the Ranch's gates. He patted her soft muzzle, and she nuzzled his hand in a gesture of affection. He looked over the pasture. Horses grazed the field, or nuzzled one another. He spotted Malon, her bright red-orange hair glinting in the afternoon sunlight. She brushed a handsome black horse, in the sheltered area of the horse's pasture. He walked cautiously to were she stood, careful not to frighten the other horses in the beautiful field. She hummed a sweet tune while she stroked the horse's mane. It was the tune her mother had composed, to sooth the horses, and gain their trust.
''Hey.'' Link smiled widely, lifting his arm and waving to her. She looked up from the horse she was grooming. She saw Link; his cheeks pink, from riding toward the way wind blew. ''Oh.'' She set the brush, tangled with horsehair, down on a low wooden shelf, and quickly walked over to him. Her layered skirts fluttered behind her, and her hair was twisted into two thick braids, which hung down by her ears. Her white apron was covered in horsehair, and stained with the daily chores. She smiled up at him, a dark smudge of dirt on her right cheek.
''Hello Link. What brings you here?'' She tilted her head to one side, the question clouding her bright blue eyes. Link shrugged casually. ''I had to get out of the castle; I thought I might stop by. No where else to go, really.'' He knew there was many other places he could have gone instead, but he couldn't think of any other excuse. She nodded, and grabbed one of his hands. Her hands seemed quite small compared to his. ''Well, why don't you come inside? I made some tea this morning.'' She pulled on his hand, leading the way, and urging him into the house.
''So, how has your father been?'' Link asked. They both sat at a round wooden table, which was wobbly and uneven. Malon sighed deeply, a sad look overcoming her cheery face. ''He's not doing so well. I fear he might die soon.'' She sighed again, her eyes shining at the verge of tears. ''I...I'm sorry to hear it.'' Link said. He couldn't think of anything else to say to comfort her sadness. He wouldn't have known anyway. No one he was really close to had ever died.
She nodded, and managed a weak smile. ''As long as the ranch stays in business, I think we'll do just fine.'' Link rested his elbows on the table, and set his chin in his right hand, obviously forgetting his manners. ''Wouldn't it be very hard to run the ranch alone?'' Malon's eyes lightened up at the question. ''I've hired a young man. He's a hard worker, and knows plenty about livestock. He's a wonderful horse breeder, and tends to them daily.'' At that moment, a boy about Malon's age, give or take a year, trudged into the stuffy house. His silvery white hair was matted to his forehead with sweat. His face looked very tired, and his dull gray eyes looked rather sad, or just very weary. He leaned against the wooden wall of the farmhouse, to let himself cool off before he went back to his chores.
He looked over at Link, sweat running down the side of his pale face. Even though his face was pale, his cheeks were beat red, showing he had been working in the sun for quite some time. The boy had faded, childish freckles on his nose, and under his gray eyes. ''I don't think you two have met.'' Malon stood up, gesturing to them both. ''Link, this is Tad. Tad, this is Link.'' Link nodded to Tad. ''Nice to meet you.'' He smiled slightly. Tad said nothing, but nodded, a hint of jealousy in his dull eyes. Malon offered him a seat, and he hesitantly sat down next to Link. Malon poured him a cup of cold tea, and sat back down, after pouring herself, and Link a cup too. Link and Malon spoke frequently to one another, but Tad said nothing.
Then, after about thirty minutes of his silence, he finally spoke up. ''Do you come from the castle? Malon talks nonstop about a fairy boy, who lives with Princess Zelda.'' He had a heavy accent, and said it more rudely then he intended to. Malon's pale cheeks turned a dark shade of pink. He laughed teasingly, his dull eyes lighting up with laughter, and Link guessed, Tad was flirting to get her attention. Malon nudged him sharply in his arm, with one of her elbows to get him to stop. He nudged her back, just not as roughly. She looked at him from out of the corner of her eye and giggled, letting Tad know she noticed him.
''I'll see you tomorrow, Link. I'll be delivering the weekly supply of milk to the castle.'' Malon said, as Link mounted Epona. He nodded, gripping the reins. ''I'll look for you.'' He replied, digging his heels into Epona's sides. Epona reared back, whinnied, and took off, galloping through the iron gates of Lon Lon Ranch.
* * * *
Link stepped through the castle gates, his happiness leaving him as he did so. The castle was not safe anymore, and everyone knew it. Panic was sweeping through Hyrule, everyone fearful of being the next one to die, or the ones who believed the rumors anyway. These thoughts all came back to Link, as he walked through the quiet castle, past whispering people who gave him funny looks. ''Link!'' A woman's voice called. Link spun around. Saria ran toward him, her long hair hanging loose down her back, and she was clumsily tripping over her elegant green dress. She stopped in front of Link, a look of frustration on her flawless face. ''I was informed by the guards that you left. You might have died. It's not safe out of the castle anymore.'' Link looked away from her worried expression, feeling guilty for worrying her. ''It's not safe anywhere, anymore. Especially in the castle, besides who believes those stupid rumors?'' Saria looked as if she were struck in the face. "But Link.I-I was just worried about you." Feeling even more guilty than he already did, he walked past her without saying another word to her.
Link sat alone in his own quarters, deep in thought. Saria had informed Zelda that he was back, safe, and that he wished to be left alone. He thought about Saria, and about Zelda. He thought about himself, and how none of them were safe. He thought of Malon, and Tad. He knew from the first that Tad was in love with Malon. So many thoughts flew through his mind, he gave himself a headache. He stood up, suddenly dizzy, and walked out into the quiet hallway. He looked around to see if anyone was there, and when he saw no one, he headed outside.
Moonlight flooded the ground in the darkness of the night. The cold night air bit at his face, and seeped through his clothes. An owl hooted, breaking the still, eerie silence. Fireflies danced around the meadow, each one lightened up in the dark. Link inhaled deeply, and kneeled by an old, slightly rusted, water pump. He wrapped his fingers around the handle, and pushed down on it. Clear water ran through the faucet. Link cupped his hands under the ice-cold water, and splashed it onto his face. The shock of coldness, shot through his body, numbing his face, as well as his mind. He kneeled there, letting the freezing water drip from his chin, and his nose. He pulled his hat off and, pushed down on the pump's handle again, and again cupped his hands under the running water. He ran his wet hands through his hair, soaking it, letting the cold of the water gradually numb his thoughts away. He stood up; shaking the droplets of water from his now wet hair.
He was starting to feel a lot better, when a sharp pain, shot up through his chest. He clutched his chest, but as fast as the pain came, it went. He shook his head. He didn't know what that was, but it didn't really matter at that moment. He walked back toward the castle, but as he did his vision started to blur, as his headache returned. He grabbed his head, stumbling. The headache was much worse this time. He felt as if his head was going to split in two. He cried out in pain, falling to his knees. He didn't know what was going on, as his head pounded painfully. The world was spinning beneath him, and he fell onto his side, consciousness slipping from him, still gripping his hat in his hand.
* * * *
Malon set the cartons of the weekly Lon Lon Milk by one of the castle's many doors, as the sun peeked over the eastern hills staining the sky pink and purple, with streaks of gold, fading into bright blue. A few stars were still left in the brightening sky, and a pale fading moon. Clouds of silver mist swirled above the dewy grass, and a few birdcalls could be heard off in the distance. The sight was beautiful as Malon hummed her mother's song to herself. She wore her fiery red hair down, and it loosely flowed down her back, and over her shoulders. She wore a yellow kerchief tied around her head. She hauled the cartons of milk, from a wooden wagon that was tied to the backside of a horse's saddle. The horse occasionally snorted, and impatiently stomped it's hooves.
Malon was arranging the cartons by the door, which was elegantly carved with the Triforce, and the three goddesses surrounding it, when the horse whinnied, frightened, and she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around quickly, thinking it might be Link. A figure, cloaked in black like a shadow, stood over the horse's now dead body. The figure in black, stretched out a bare left arm, and pushed its hand through the horse's chest. It ripped its hand back out, now holding the horse's massive heart, blood dripping from its hand. It squeezed the heart, crushing it, in it's bloody palm. Blood poured thickly from the horse's wound, and flowed around the dark shadow's feet. The shadow turned its head toward Malon. Shadows from the hooded cloak, concealed its face. Malon backed up into the milk cartons, knocking them over, and opened her mouth, letting out a terrified scream.
Link opened his eyes slowly, and blinked the daze away from them. It was daylight now, and he was obviously fine. He sat against one of the many doors of the castle. He tilted his head up slightly, and what he saw before him, made him gasp in disbelief. Malon's mangled body lay covered in blood in front of him. Her throat had a large gash across it, and a hole the size of a fist through her chest, and out her back. Her heart had been ripped out. Even though her hair was red, he could see the dark flecks of blood in it. He backed up, as far as he could, for he couldn't go very far. He saw a bloody trail, as if something very large had been dragged away, from a pool of blood. There had obviously been a struggle. Milk was spilt all over the ground, and it mixed with the bright red blood, turning it a pinkish color. Links stomach turned, the sight was sickening.
He looked down at his hands, away from the dead body, forcing the image from his mind. He saw then, that his hands were covered in blood. His green tunic was stained with it, and the bottom of his boots was covered in it, as if he had walked through it to get to where he sat now. A thought suddenly came to his mind. It couldn't be possible. But he let the question haunt him as he stared down at his bloody hands. Could he possibly be the one killing all of these innocent people of Hyrule?
Link rode out over Hyrule's open fields, on his trusted horse Epona. He needed to get away. The scent of death still mingled with evil around the castle. He couldn't take it much longer. He thought that if he had to stay in the castle any longer, he himself would die. He looked back at the guards stumbling around the drawbridge. The men had forbidden Link to leave, for the danger that lay about. They all shouted curses out at him, but he couldn't hear. One of the guards, so angry with himself, stumbled into the crystal clear water, of the river that surrounded Hyrule Castle. Link could have laughed aloud, at his own cleverness of avoiding them, and that's what he did. He let himself laugh, something he hadn't done in a long time, and it made him feel good inside. Epona's massive backside muscles tensed, as she galloped over the grassy, rolling plains.
''Ya!'' Link urged Epona to go faster. He turned his upper body around, and slapped the horse's backside. Epona whinnied, reared up, and galloped faster as Link leaned forward, gripping the reins tightly. The wind blew into his face, and roughly ruffled his blonde hair. The sun shone high in the sky, and beat down on his shoulders and back. The grass rippled, like a green ocean as they galloped past, stirring up dirt and pebbles, under Epona's hooves. For the first time in weeks, Link was truly happy. He thought of somewhere that might keep his mind from the thoughts that disturbed him, steered Epona slightly west, and headed for Lon Lon Ranch.
Link dismounted Epona at the Ranch's gates. He patted her soft muzzle, and she nuzzled his hand in a gesture of affection. He looked over the pasture. Horses grazed the field, or nuzzled one another. He spotted Malon, her bright red-orange hair glinting in the afternoon sunlight. She brushed a handsome black horse, in the sheltered area of the horse's pasture. He walked cautiously to were she stood, careful not to frighten the other horses in the beautiful field. She hummed a sweet tune while she stroked the horse's mane. It was the tune her mother had composed, to sooth the horses, and gain their trust.
''Hey.'' Link smiled widely, lifting his arm and waving to her. She looked up from the horse she was grooming. She saw Link; his cheeks pink, from riding toward the way wind blew. ''Oh.'' She set the brush, tangled with horsehair, down on a low wooden shelf, and quickly walked over to him. Her layered skirts fluttered behind her, and her hair was twisted into two thick braids, which hung down by her ears. Her white apron was covered in horsehair, and stained with the daily chores. She smiled up at him, a dark smudge of dirt on her right cheek.
''Hello Link. What brings you here?'' She tilted her head to one side, the question clouding her bright blue eyes. Link shrugged casually. ''I had to get out of the castle; I thought I might stop by. No where else to go, really.'' He knew there was many other places he could have gone instead, but he couldn't think of any other excuse. She nodded, and grabbed one of his hands. Her hands seemed quite small compared to his. ''Well, why don't you come inside? I made some tea this morning.'' She pulled on his hand, leading the way, and urging him into the house.
''So, how has your father been?'' Link asked. They both sat at a round wooden table, which was wobbly and uneven. Malon sighed deeply, a sad look overcoming her cheery face. ''He's not doing so well. I fear he might die soon.'' She sighed again, her eyes shining at the verge of tears. ''I...I'm sorry to hear it.'' Link said. He couldn't think of anything else to say to comfort her sadness. He wouldn't have known anyway. No one he was really close to had ever died.
She nodded, and managed a weak smile. ''As long as the ranch stays in business, I think we'll do just fine.'' Link rested his elbows on the table, and set his chin in his right hand, obviously forgetting his manners. ''Wouldn't it be very hard to run the ranch alone?'' Malon's eyes lightened up at the question. ''I've hired a young man. He's a hard worker, and knows plenty about livestock. He's a wonderful horse breeder, and tends to them daily.'' At that moment, a boy about Malon's age, give or take a year, trudged into the stuffy house. His silvery white hair was matted to his forehead with sweat. His face looked very tired, and his dull gray eyes looked rather sad, or just very weary. He leaned against the wooden wall of the farmhouse, to let himself cool off before he went back to his chores.
He looked over at Link, sweat running down the side of his pale face. Even though his face was pale, his cheeks were beat red, showing he had been working in the sun for quite some time. The boy had faded, childish freckles on his nose, and under his gray eyes. ''I don't think you two have met.'' Malon stood up, gesturing to them both. ''Link, this is Tad. Tad, this is Link.'' Link nodded to Tad. ''Nice to meet you.'' He smiled slightly. Tad said nothing, but nodded, a hint of jealousy in his dull eyes. Malon offered him a seat, and he hesitantly sat down next to Link. Malon poured him a cup of cold tea, and sat back down, after pouring herself, and Link a cup too. Link and Malon spoke frequently to one another, but Tad said nothing.
Then, after about thirty minutes of his silence, he finally spoke up. ''Do you come from the castle? Malon talks nonstop about a fairy boy, who lives with Princess Zelda.'' He had a heavy accent, and said it more rudely then he intended to. Malon's pale cheeks turned a dark shade of pink. He laughed teasingly, his dull eyes lighting up with laughter, and Link guessed, Tad was flirting to get her attention. Malon nudged him sharply in his arm, with one of her elbows to get him to stop. He nudged her back, just not as roughly. She looked at him from out of the corner of her eye and giggled, letting Tad know she noticed him.
''I'll see you tomorrow, Link. I'll be delivering the weekly supply of milk to the castle.'' Malon said, as Link mounted Epona. He nodded, gripping the reins. ''I'll look for you.'' He replied, digging his heels into Epona's sides. Epona reared back, whinnied, and took off, galloping through the iron gates of Lon Lon Ranch.
* * * *
Link stepped through the castle gates, his happiness leaving him as he did so. The castle was not safe anymore, and everyone knew it. Panic was sweeping through Hyrule, everyone fearful of being the next one to die, or the ones who believed the rumors anyway. These thoughts all came back to Link, as he walked through the quiet castle, past whispering people who gave him funny looks. ''Link!'' A woman's voice called. Link spun around. Saria ran toward him, her long hair hanging loose down her back, and she was clumsily tripping over her elegant green dress. She stopped in front of Link, a look of frustration on her flawless face. ''I was informed by the guards that you left. You might have died. It's not safe out of the castle anymore.'' Link looked away from her worried expression, feeling guilty for worrying her. ''It's not safe anywhere, anymore. Especially in the castle, besides who believes those stupid rumors?'' Saria looked as if she were struck in the face. "But Link.I-I was just worried about you." Feeling even more guilty than he already did, he walked past her without saying another word to her.
Link sat alone in his own quarters, deep in thought. Saria had informed Zelda that he was back, safe, and that he wished to be left alone. He thought about Saria, and about Zelda. He thought about himself, and how none of them were safe. He thought of Malon, and Tad. He knew from the first that Tad was in love with Malon. So many thoughts flew through his mind, he gave himself a headache. He stood up, suddenly dizzy, and walked out into the quiet hallway. He looked around to see if anyone was there, and when he saw no one, he headed outside.
Moonlight flooded the ground in the darkness of the night. The cold night air bit at his face, and seeped through his clothes. An owl hooted, breaking the still, eerie silence. Fireflies danced around the meadow, each one lightened up in the dark. Link inhaled deeply, and kneeled by an old, slightly rusted, water pump. He wrapped his fingers around the handle, and pushed down on it. Clear water ran through the faucet. Link cupped his hands under the ice-cold water, and splashed it onto his face. The shock of coldness, shot through his body, numbing his face, as well as his mind. He kneeled there, letting the freezing water drip from his chin, and his nose. He pulled his hat off and, pushed down on the pump's handle again, and again cupped his hands under the running water. He ran his wet hands through his hair, soaking it, letting the cold of the water gradually numb his thoughts away. He stood up; shaking the droplets of water from his now wet hair.
He was starting to feel a lot better, when a sharp pain, shot up through his chest. He clutched his chest, but as fast as the pain came, it went. He shook his head. He didn't know what that was, but it didn't really matter at that moment. He walked back toward the castle, but as he did his vision started to blur, as his headache returned. He grabbed his head, stumbling. The headache was much worse this time. He felt as if his head was going to split in two. He cried out in pain, falling to his knees. He didn't know what was going on, as his head pounded painfully. The world was spinning beneath him, and he fell onto his side, consciousness slipping from him, still gripping his hat in his hand.
* * * *
Malon set the cartons of the weekly Lon Lon Milk by one of the castle's many doors, as the sun peeked over the eastern hills staining the sky pink and purple, with streaks of gold, fading into bright blue. A few stars were still left in the brightening sky, and a pale fading moon. Clouds of silver mist swirled above the dewy grass, and a few birdcalls could be heard off in the distance. The sight was beautiful as Malon hummed her mother's song to herself. She wore her fiery red hair down, and it loosely flowed down her back, and over her shoulders. She wore a yellow kerchief tied around her head. She hauled the cartons of milk, from a wooden wagon that was tied to the backside of a horse's saddle. The horse occasionally snorted, and impatiently stomped it's hooves.
Malon was arranging the cartons by the door, which was elegantly carved with the Triforce, and the three goddesses surrounding it, when the horse whinnied, frightened, and she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around quickly, thinking it might be Link. A figure, cloaked in black like a shadow, stood over the horse's now dead body. The figure in black, stretched out a bare left arm, and pushed its hand through the horse's chest. It ripped its hand back out, now holding the horse's massive heart, blood dripping from its hand. It squeezed the heart, crushing it, in it's bloody palm. Blood poured thickly from the horse's wound, and flowed around the dark shadow's feet. The shadow turned its head toward Malon. Shadows from the hooded cloak, concealed its face. Malon backed up into the milk cartons, knocking them over, and opened her mouth, letting out a terrified scream.
Link opened his eyes slowly, and blinked the daze away from them. It was daylight now, and he was obviously fine. He sat against one of the many doors of the castle. He tilted his head up slightly, and what he saw before him, made him gasp in disbelief. Malon's mangled body lay covered in blood in front of him. Her throat had a large gash across it, and a hole the size of a fist through her chest, and out her back. Her heart had been ripped out. Even though her hair was red, he could see the dark flecks of blood in it. He backed up, as far as he could, for he couldn't go very far. He saw a bloody trail, as if something very large had been dragged away, from a pool of blood. There had obviously been a struggle. Milk was spilt all over the ground, and it mixed with the bright red blood, turning it a pinkish color. Links stomach turned, the sight was sickening.
He looked down at his hands, away from the dead body, forcing the image from his mind. He saw then, that his hands were covered in blood. His green tunic was stained with it, and the bottom of his boots was covered in it, as if he had walked through it to get to where he sat now. A thought suddenly came to his mind. It couldn't be possible. But he let the question haunt him as he stared down at his bloody hands. Could he possibly be the one killing all of these innocent people of Hyrule?