Chapter 2

Link laid Malon down in the hay. He notice that her lip was bleeding, and her legs badly bruised. He rubbed his head and patted her face.

"Malon? Malon, wake up." He said quietly.

"Huh? Wh-where am I? Link, is Inigo here?!" She whimpered. He shook his head, and she sighed.

"Why don't you leave? Does Inigo do this to you all of the time?" He whispered.

"Well, I can't run away, He's a tracker. He can track anything, plus he works for Ganondorf." Link sat down, sweat was dripping from his hair into his lap.

"I want to get you out of here. You must come with me!!" Link grabbed an old cloak, and draped it over her. He then gently picked her up, and walked out. "Now don't make a noise or movement at all." He whispered. Malon nodded, and Link lead her out of the ranch.

"What are you doing? Why are you carrying Malon out. Link gulped, and squinted out some tears.

"She died, you gave her a freakish heart attack. You kicked a certain part of her body. It's like she just collapsed." He said whimpering. Inigo tapped her foot. He sighed and nodded.

"You! Don't tell a soul. If you do, and I hear about it you're dead! Hear?! DEAD!" Inigo yelled after Link. Link gav a small smirk, and turned around.

"Yeah, sir." He said frowning. He then walked off. When he got her to the Lost Forest, he put her down. She gave a wide smile.

"Thank you so much!" She jumped up, and hung herself around his neck. He hugged back.

"Now, we need to get you some more clothes." He said. They walked into Kokiri Village, and bought her a green silk dress. She twirled around in it, and smiled at Link. He smiled back. She had never worn silk before.

"Oh no, my father! What will happen if he hears that I'm dead?!" She said a little teary eyed.

"Remember, Inigo will just say that you ran away, but I...." Link stopped and looked out of the Horizon from his porch.

"But what?" Malon asked looking at him.

"No, I shouldn't say this.. It would make you so angry." He said looking down at his dangling feet.

"Just tell me Link!" She said more sternly.

*By the way, they brought Epona with them. Link couldn't handle her and the heat at the same time could he? So he rode out with the horse. Inigo hated the horse anyway, so he let him have it for 1000 rupees.*

"Fine, your father might be dead." Link said.

"How could you say that?!" Malon yelled angrily.

"You were the one who wanted to know! Don't get mad at me!" He yelled back facing her. Malon was stunned and stood back. She didn't know why, but when Link yelled it sent out a thrust of energy.

Malon looked down at her new boots. They were buckled, and brown leather like Link's.

"You know, you're probably right. I should have known, I mean Inigo beats me, and my father asked too many questions one day. When I was riding out to that spot, where I met you, I heard the biggest scream I could ever handle. It pierced through my heart. It hurt, I mean it really hurt. It was like that scream was part of me. I thought of going back, but I was afraid that Inigo might see me snooping around, and... and hurt me too." She kneeled down and started to cry. Link walked over to her, and kneeled down. He had tears forming, but he tried his best not to. He held the tears of sympathy back.

"I'm so sorry Malon. I'm so sorry." He grabbed her and hugged her. The held each other until the sun set. Malon wanted to kiss him, but was afraid of him in a way. She thought that his rage was part of his energy, well most of it anyway. Link felt the same way, but when he made up his mind to do so he heard a little voice. He moved out of her grasp, and went to the balcony. Little Saria was teetering back and forth. He green hair sway in the wind.

"Hallo Link!" She said happily. She felt kind of jealous that Link had brought a girl to Kokiri. "I heard that you have a friend up theres. Can I say hallo?" She said still teetering. Link shrugged and gestured her to come up. Malon wiped the tears away and smiled as best she could at the little Saria.

"Hallo, I've heard much about you." Malon smiled. Saria nodded, and evilly looked at Link, then politely back at Malon.

"Well, I haven't heard abou' you? Link don' like Ranch folk much." Saia smiled. Malon looked confused, and a little hurt.

"Saria? What did you say?" Link asked angrily.

"Nothin', you just told me once that you didn' like country folk. Ok, ok! I just kiddin' Malon. I'm a kidder sometimes ya know?!" She said grinning. Malon nodded, and looked around, trying to think of a conversation subject.

"So, Saria, how long have you known Link?" Malon asked happily.

"Since forever. Me an' him were very close. Then he left to save the world, an' so we haven't really talked much." She said sadly. Link put a hand on Saria's head.

"Hey Saria, I will never forget you. Best friends aren't easy to forget. Now, me an' Malon are gonna sleep. Go along. I'll see you tomorrow." Saria bit her lip and sighed. She slowly stepped down the ladder.

Link had made a bed out of goose feathers, Bear skin, and deer skin for her. She laid in it with great pleasure. Usually Inigo made her sleep outside in the stables. Malon fell in a deep sleep. She dreamed about the future that she had planned. In two years when she's 19, she wanted to marry a charming 20 year old, own her own ranch, go to a small college, and live happily ever after. It would seem that this would be very unlikely. She had never found her Mr. Charming, and she would never have the money to start her own ranch. She also could not find a school that would accept her. She had only been in school until 11th grade, and she was a wonderful student. She really wanted to be an apprentice for her father. She had always wanted a ranch, and be famous for it. So she dreamed on, and forgot about her troubles.

Link was different, he always had dreams of saving Princess Zelda. He thought that she was so enchanting, but knew that if he married her, he'd have to be royal. He didn't care for the idea much. So he put his mind to a girl who was more like him, tough, tomboyish, but he could never find her. He could only dream of a girl by his side fighting Ganondorf. He usually talked in his sleep too about fighting, and slaughter. One time he woke up the whole village by screaming the loudest he had ever screamed.

The next morning Malon was cooking some eggs. Link was awakened by the smell.

"Oh Malon, those smell delicious."He said sniffing the air. He hugged her, and kissed her cheek. Malon blushed a little, but knew that he was trying to help cheer her up some more. She emptied the pan into a small wooden plate. She handed it to him, and thought of what to talk about.

"Link? What happened to your arm? I mean, it's kinda late to ask, but I'm curious." She asked looking at his scabbed arm.

"Oh this? I was fighting a creature in the Forest Temple while my power was low, and I ran off after it hit me. I believe that it was a skeleton." He said taking a mouthful. "Aren't you gonna eat?" He asked.

"I already ate." She said looking out the window. " You are lucky, I've always wanted to go on a quest. Adventures are always stirring about, but people are already adventuring them." She sighed.

Link seemed interested." Do you know how to fight?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm not too good at it though, my father taught me the basics." She said looking at Links sword. He looked down at it too.

"Do you wanna learn more?" He said grinning. Malon grinned back.

"Sure."