Chapter Two:
The Beginning
Link and Mido set out early the next morning, before the creatures of the night could lay a bony hand on them. Slumber had been restless the previous evening; nightmares had plagued the Hero of Time as he enveloped himself within the blankets of sleep. He did not, however, tell Mido about these dreams: it was not a responsible thing to do, and, after all, they involved the fate of the Sacred Realm of the Goddesses as the free peoples of Hyrule knew it. Link kept his tongue and trekked the path a while ahead of Mido as they neared Lon-Lon Ranch.
'We have arrived,' said Link, gazing up at the huge ranch for the nth time. His eyes were alit with wonder and amazement. The ranch was even more grand than he remembered it; a great, looming structure with flags and signs, horses grazing hither and thither in its vast fields. 'How grand a place this is,' the lad muttered beneath his breath.
'Astounding,' said Mido. 'Shall we enter?'
'Yes,' Link said. 'I am sure Malon will give us a noble welcome from her father Talon. They are the owners of Lon-Lon Ranch, of course, and great companions they have been to me over the years of my old adventures in Hyrule.' He let out a sigh. Malon had been his friend, and he hadn't spoken to her in many months. He wondered if she even remembered the great task he had done for the ranch those times ago.Needless to say, he entered the ranch with a proud heart.
'Link! Link! Is that you? Oh, Link, I'm so glad to see you!'
And indeed, Malon came running through the fields to her companion and gave him a grand embrace. She was wearing a bright helm in the light of the sun, made of hay, and the usual farm dress that she had kept since she was a very small girl. Link's face split into a smile as he held close his friend to his chest. For a while they simply stood there, and then Link turned to Mido and said, 'Mido, this is Malon daughter of Talon, keeper of the ranch. She will give us sanctuary for the night.'
'Tell me of your journeys, and what troubles you.' Malon spoke hurriedly but gracefully at the same time as she looked into Link's eyes. 'I have warm ale in the tavern my father has just set up. We can discuss it then.'
'Ale!' shrieked Mido. 'That is forbidden to elves of our sort!'
'But not to ranch folk,' said Malon, and she winked at Link as she turned on her heel and led them into the new tavern that Talon had begun.
Link and Mido set out early the next morning, before the creatures of the night could lay a bony hand on them. Slumber had been restless the previous evening; nightmares had plagued the Hero of Time as he enveloped himself within the blankets of sleep. He did not, however, tell Mido about these dreams: it was not a responsible thing to do, and, after all, they involved the fate of the Sacred Realm of the Goddesses as the free peoples of Hyrule knew it. Link kept his tongue and trekked the path a while ahead of Mido as they neared Lon-Lon Ranch.
'We have arrived,' said Link, gazing up at the huge ranch for the nth time. His eyes were alit with wonder and amazement. The ranch was even more grand than he remembered it; a great, looming structure with flags and signs, horses grazing hither and thither in its vast fields. 'How grand a place this is,' the lad muttered beneath his breath.
'Astounding,' said Mido. 'Shall we enter?'
'Yes,' Link said. 'I am sure Malon will give us a noble welcome from her father Talon. They are the owners of Lon-Lon Ranch, of course, and great companions they have been to me over the years of my old adventures in Hyrule.' He let out a sigh. Malon had been his friend, and he hadn't spoken to her in many months. He wondered if she even remembered the great task he had done for the ranch those times ago.Needless to say, he entered the ranch with a proud heart.
'Link! Link! Is that you? Oh, Link, I'm so glad to see you!'
And indeed, Malon came running through the fields to her companion and gave him a grand embrace. She was wearing a bright helm in the light of the sun, made of hay, and the usual farm dress that she had kept since she was a very small girl. Link's face split into a smile as he held close his friend to his chest. For a while they simply stood there, and then Link turned to Mido and said, 'Mido, this is Malon daughter of Talon, keeper of the ranch. She will give us sanctuary for the night.'
'Tell me of your journeys, and what troubles you.' Malon spoke hurriedly but gracefully at the same time as she looked into Link's eyes. 'I have warm ale in the tavern my father has just set up. We can discuss it then.'
'Ale!' shrieked Mido. 'That is forbidden to elves of our sort!'
'But not to ranch folk,' said Malon, and she winked at Link as she turned on her heel and led them into the new tavern that Talon had begun.