Chapter II
It was near dusk now; the birds were quiet, and the ranch lay in a deep trance of tranquility. The sun had long since exceeded from it's locality overhead, and was now just starting to sink beyond the horizon over Gerudo Valley, the bright golden hue reduced to an ember-like crimson as it hung onto the last threads of daylight. It was the color of fire. The color of Malon's hair.
Link snapped out of the reverie that had overcome him- he promptly realized that he had just been sitting on the fence post for a large portion of the day. Thoughts of the ranch girl had woken him from the spell- he was now tense as ever, as the feelings and emotions slowly inundated his mind. He hissed in aggravation- a yearning had come over him, and such was the magnitude of this nostalgia that it almost drove him mad. He had to talk to her. Malon.
He leapt nimbly from his perch, stretched his aching muscles, and hurried off towards the cattle barn. 'Malon should just be finishing up with the cows,' he mused as sprinted towards the stables.
He ducked inside and peered around in the half-light. Spotting a dim candlelight flickering on the surrounding walls towards the end of the row, he crept closer. Reaching his destination, he cautiously glanced around the corner and into the stall.
There she was- placidly milking what appeared to be the last cow of the day. She sat on a small wooden three-legged stool, intricately carved to honor each of the Goddesses- Din, of power, Nayru, of wisdom, and Farore, of courage. There was a leg for each. She was just finishing up, cooing delicately to the old cow, stoking it's hide now and again in reassurance as she topped off the small wooden pail 'twixt the animal's hind legs.
The cow noticed Link before Malon did- it mooed morosely as if it did not appreciate being disturbed while it was milked. Malon heard the animal and looked up, catching sight of Link. Her azure eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled, at ease.
"Malon. hi." Link said sheepishly.
"Evening, fairy boy," she replied. She caught his eyes, held the gaze for an instant, then blushed a little and studied his boots. "You need anything?"
"Hm? Oh, no, I just. um. I just wanted to drop in. to see you."
"Heehee, that's sweet, Link. You know how much I like to talk to you. Anything in particular on your mind?" She seemed to regain confidence at his sign of fondness, and with a final stroke to the old cow, she rose from the stool, clutching her milk bucket.
"No, nothing much, I just thought we'd. hey, you wanna take a walk around the corral with me until it gets dark? I mean if you're done working and all," he added as he glimpsed the pail.
Malon seemed to be struggling with the bucket of milk as she replied. "Ugh, sure Link, I'd love that. just as soon as I get this to-"
"Here, lemme help you out with that," Link grinned as he gently took the pail from her and hefted it easily onto his shoulder.
"My hero," she laughed. "I need to take it to the storage shed at the end of the ranch, and since that's already halfway around the corral, we can kill two Guays with one stone and continue walking around from there, okay?"
Link only nodded his agreement, preoccupied. Her quip about him being her hero had reminded him of the conversation with her father over two weeks ago. 'Ironic that she should say that,' he thought, as they made their way out the door to the barn and into the twilight that was beginning to blanket the ranch. They walked in silence for a while, each willing the other to say something. They reached the storage shed after a while; Malon took a ring of brass keys from a fold in her work dress, picked one out, and inserted it into the keyhole above the knob of the door. She winked appreciatively to him as they entered.
There was a musty smell that tickled Link's nostrils as they stepped inside and closed the door behind them. Malon took the milk from him, and
carried it to a large vessel labeled:
Lon Lon Ranch Milk
She gripped the lid exceedingly and gave it a twist- it unscrewed without much more effort. She lifted it off, poured her own into the mix, and then discarded the empty pail to an old feeding trough. She replaced the lid, and then took two steps backward. Link happened to be standing just behind her, and before he could hop aside, she tripped over his feet. She gasped and threw her hands up, then fell- straight into Link's arms. He caught her and lifted her off her feet, then laughed as he twirled her around, then set her down in a malleable little pile of hay. She lay still for a second, still recovering from shock, then sat up and laughed. Link joined in, smiling ear to ear. Eventually they quieted down to giggles, and Malon touched his arm, indicating him to sit down with her. He complied, and she hugged her knees and stared around the room.
"It's kinda funny. I walk in and out of this room at least twice a day, and I have been since I was old enough to lift a full milk bucket. But, since you've been gone, I never really stopped to remember all the memories that we have in this place."
Link sighed, then lay back, resting the back of his head in his palms. "You know, you're right. Hah, do you remember that one time, we were running around the ranch with Ingo's pitchfork chasing flocks of cuckoos, screaming out at the top of our lungs? Ingo got so mad. we had to hide in here for the whole day while he ran around trying to recollect all the birds. in fact, that's the time that I discovered. I wonder if it's still here?" Link jumped up and ambled over to a corner of the shed that was occupied by about half a dozen large crates. He scratched his head quizzically for a moment then set to work moving crates around, here and there. He finally moved one away and yelled in delight.
"Oh, Malon, it's still here!"
Malon got up from the hay and joined him behind the boxes. There in the corner of the shed was a small hole. There was a tiny thread of light issuing from it.
"Haha, I almost forgot about this, Link! I remember when we found this. Ingo was still looking for us, and when you heard him approaching the shed, you looked for somewhere to hide. you pushed aside the crates and found this, and we got in just in time to escape Ingo. Do you. do you think we can still fit?" Malon seemed excited. Childhood memories were always bliss to look back on.
Yeah, it'll be a squeeze, but let's go!" Link cleared aside some cobwebs, got on his knees, and went through. Malon soon joined him. They emerged into a tiny room that seemed to be cut out of the rock surrounding the shed and ranch. The light issued from a tiny crack in the ceiling where the last strands of daylight were quickly fading. The ground was littered with ancient hay- it was practically fossilized (it had already been old the first time the two had discovered the room 8 years ago).
"I remember asking Dad about this place after we found it," Malon recalled. "He said it was the old egg laying room, the cuckoos would come in here to lay their eggs in solitude. Soon the barn was built, and it was abandoned. I bet we were the last people to come in here before now. the place seems primordial." She grinned, then she focused on Link, as if recalling something more. "Remember how we were so scared to go out after Ingo chased us that we. we spent the night in here together. Hah, we were only children of course. My father was so worried about me the next day when I showed up, and he was so relieved to have me back that he wasn't mad, and he told Ingo not to worry, after, we were only children." She laughed again.
Link grinned, but didn't laugh. He had forgotten that the two had spent the night in here, so long ago. It hadn't seemed like anything then of course. They were, like Malon said, only children then. But the fact that they were here again, alone, at night, after all these years.another act of irony, it seemed. And another little scenario that drove the two a little bit closer.
After a while the two clambered out and stepped into the crisp night air. It was fully dark now.
"Link. I'm sorry we couldn't walk around the corral. maybe some other time?" Malon really sounded hopeful, so Link nodded.
"It's okay. it not like we missed out. finding that old room was a joy in itself. And I got to spend time with you, so what more could I ask for?" He winked.
"Oh, Link." Malon blushed again and brushed some loose strands of scarlet hair from her façade. "I guess I've gotta be going. I'll see you during chores tomorrow though, all right?"
"Of course. I'll look forward to it." Link yawned and started to turn off to his cozy little stable, when he felt Malon's petite hand cling to his arm.
"Link." She sounded anxious.
"Yeah?" Link turned back around.
"I. uh. hmm, oh, never mind." She winced and glanced down. "I guess. well, I had a great time tonight. Thanks." She nodded and hurried off to the ranch house before Link could reply.
"I did, too, Malon. I did, too." He muttered to himself before heading to his stall to turn in for the night.
~*~*~*End Of Ch. II*~*~*~
It was near dusk now; the birds were quiet, and the ranch lay in a deep trance of tranquility. The sun had long since exceeded from it's locality overhead, and was now just starting to sink beyond the horizon over Gerudo Valley, the bright golden hue reduced to an ember-like crimson as it hung onto the last threads of daylight. It was the color of fire. The color of Malon's hair.
Link snapped out of the reverie that had overcome him- he promptly realized that he had just been sitting on the fence post for a large portion of the day. Thoughts of the ranch girl had woken him from the spell- he was now tense as ever, as the feelings and emotions slowly inundated his mind. He hissed in aggravation- a yearning had come over him, and such was the magnitude of this nostalgia that it almost drove him mad. He had to talk to her. Malon.
He leapt nimbly from his perch, stretched his aching muscles, and hurried off towards the cattle barn. 'Malon should just be finishing up with the cows,' he mused as sprinted towards the stables.
He ducked inside and peered around in the half-light. Spotting a dim candlelight flickering on the surrounding walls towards the end of the row, he crept closer. Reaching his destination, he cautiously glanced around the corner and into the stall.
There she was- placidly milking what appeared to be the last cow of the day. She sat on a small wooden three-legged stool, intricately carved to honor each of the Goddesses- Din, of power, Nayru, of wisdom, and Farore, of courage. There was a leg for each. She was just finishing up, cooing delicately to the old cow, stoking it's hide now and again in reassurance as she topped off the small wooden pail 'twixt the animal's hind legs.
The cow noticed Link before Malon did- it mooed morosely as if it did not appreciate being disturbed while it was milked. Malon heard the animal and looked up, catching sight of Link. Her azure eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled, at ease.
"Malon. hi." Link said sheepishly.
"Evening, fairy boy," she replied. She caught his eyes, held the gaze for an instant, then blushed a little and studied his boots. "You need anything?"
"Hm? Oh, no, I just. um. I just wanted to drop in. to see you."
"Heehee, that's sweet, Link. You know how much I like to talk to you. Anything in particular on your mind?" She seemed to regain confidence at his sign of fondness, and with a final stroke to the old cow, she rose from the stool, clutching her milk bucket.
"No, nothing much, I just thought we'd. hey, you wanna take a walk around the corral with me until it gets dark? I mean if you're done working and all," he added as he glimpsed the pail.
Malon seemed to be struggling with the bucket of milk as she replied. "Ugh, sure Link, I'd love that. just as soon as I get this to-"
"Here, lemme help you out with that," Link grinned as he gently took the pail from her and hefted it easily onto his shoulder.
"My hero," she laughed. "I need to take it to the storage shed at the end of the ranch, and since that's already halfway around the corral, we can kill two Guays with one stone and continue walking around from there, okay?"
Link only nodded his agreement, preoccupied. Her quip about him being her hero had reminded him of the conversation with her father over two weeks ago. 'Ironic that she should say that,' he thought, as they made their way out the door to the barn and into the twilight that was beginning to blanket the ranch. They walked in silence for a while, each willing the other to say something. They reached the storage shed after a while; Malon took a ring of brass keys from a fold in her work dress, picked one out, and inserted it into the keyhole above the knob of the door. She winked appreciatively to him as they entered.
There was a musty smell that tickled Link's nostrils as they stepped inside and closed the door behind them. Malon took the milk from him, and
carried it to a large vessel labeled:
Lon Lon Ranch Milk
She gripped the lid exceedingly and gave it a twist- it unscrewed without much more effort. She lifted it off, poured her own into the mix, and then discarded the empty pail to an old feeding trough. She replaced the lid, and then took two steps backward. Link happened to be standing just behind her, and before he could hop aside, she tripped over his feet. She gasped and threw her hands up, then fell- straight into Link's arms. He caught her and lifted her off her feet, then laughed as he twirled her around, then set her down in a malleable little pile of hay. She lay still for a second, still recovering from shock, then sat up and laughed. Link joined in, smiling ear to ear. Eventually they quieted down to giggles, and Malon touched his arm, indicating him to sit down with her. He complied, and she hugged her knees and stared around the room.
"It's kinda funny. I walk in and out of this room at least twice a day, and I have been since I was old enough to lift a full milk bucket. But, since you've been gone, I never really stopped to remember all the memories that we have in this place."
Link sighed, then lay back, resting the back of his head in his palms. "You know, you're right. Hah, do you remember that one time, we were running around the ranch with Ingo's pitchfork chasing flocks of cuckoos, screaming out at the top of our lungs? Ingo got so mad. we had to hide in here for the whole day while he ran around trying to recollect all the birds. in fact, that's the time that I discovered. I wonder if it's still here?" Link jumped up and ambled over to a corner of the shed that was occupied by about half a dozen large crates. He scratched his head quizzically for a moment then set to work moving crates around, here and there. He finally moved one away and yelled in delight.
"Oh, Malon, it's still here!"
Malon got up from the hay and joined him behind the boxes. There in the corner of the shed was a small hole. There was a tiny thread of light issuing from it.
"Haha, I almost forgot about this, Link! I remember when we found this. Ingo was still looking for us, and when you heard him approaching the shed, you looked for somewhere to hide. you pushed aside the crates and found this, and we got in just in time to escape Ingo. Do you. do you think we can still fit?" Malon seemed excited. Childhood memories were always bliss to look back on.
Yeah, it'll be a squeeze, but let's go!" Link cleared aside some cobwebs, got on his knees, and went through. Malon soon joined him. They emerged into a tiny room that seemed to be cut out of the rock surrounding the shed and ranch. The light issued from a tiny crack in the ceiling where the last strands of daylight were quickly fading. The ground was littered with ancient hay- it was practically fossilized (it had already been old the first time the two had discovered the room 8 years ago).
"I remember asking Dad about this place after we found it," Malon recalled. "He said it was the old egg laying room, the cuckoos would come in here to lay their eggs in solitude. Soon the barn was built, and it was abandoned. I bet we were the last people to come in here before now. the place seems primordial." She grinned, then she focused on Link, as if recalling something more. "Remember how we were so scared to go out after Ingo chased us that we. we spent the night in here together. Hah, we were only children of course. My father was so worried about me the next day when I showed up, and he was so relieved to have me back that he wasn't mad, and he told Ingo not to worry, after, we were only children." She laughed again.
Link grinned, but didn't laugh. He had forgotten that the two had spent the night in here, so long ago. It hadn't seemed like anything then of course. They were, like Malon said, only children then. But the fact that they were here again, alone, at night, after all these years.another act of irony, it seemed. And another little scenario that drove the two a little bit closer.
After a while the two clambered out and stepped into the crisp night air. It was fully dark now.
"Link. I'm sorry we couldn't walk around the corral. maybe some other time?" Malon really sounded hopeful, so Link nodded.
"It's okay. it not like we missed out. finding that old room was a joy in itself. And I got to spend time with you, so what more could I ask for?" He winked.
"Oh, Link." Malon blushed again and brushed some loose strands of scarlet hair from her façade. "I guess I've gotta be going. I'll see you during chores tomorrow though, all right?"
"Of course. I'll look forward to it." Link yawned and started to turn off to his cozy little stable, when he felt Malon's petite hand cling to his arm.
"Link." She sounded anxious.
"Yeah?" Link turned back around.
"I. uh. hmm, oh, never mind." She winced and glanced down. "I guess. well, I had a great time tonight. Thanks." She nodded and hurried off to the ranch house before Link could reply.
"I did, too, Malon. I did, too." He muttered to himself before heading to his stall to turn in for the night.
~*~*~*End Of Ch. II*~*~*~