Chapter 7
He busied himself as best he could. All his dedication was toward his hands, as he swept the room spotless.
--This is completely useless. I'm never going to get this thing clean. It's sitting on dirt for God's sake!-- He thought, sweeping harder the more he reflected.
On the whole, his cottage was pristine, aside for the rug of course. The shingled wooden roof was covered in leaves giving his home a crown of green and the polished wooden sides mirrored smoke lightly ascending from the chimney. It was beautiful. Although it's shape differed only slightly from the many shacks surrounding it, it glowed with originality.
There was something special about this place.
He fumbled with the broom.
"DAMMIT, THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! BASTARD RUG, WHY WON'T YOU CLEAN?!!!" he cursed.
His friends watched from a distance, laughing at his erratic behavior.
"Oh no, not this again."
"Second time this week."
"Dear God, he's getting worse. Wait a second, I thought he bought a new rug. What's he doing with that one?"
"What the hell's it look like? He's killing it!" he said with a smirk.
"No need to be a smart ass, you know what I mean. Why is wasting so much time cleaning it up if he's only going to throw it away?"
"You honestly think he's going to throw something away?"
"Honestly, this is completely idiotic. The roof is going to blow right off the top of his house. He can't keep putting that worthless junk up there, he needs to throw some of that shit away!"
"Un uh, no, not this one." he said, shaking his head, "You should be impressed, he's not throwing this one away."
"Then where the hell is it going?!"
"Oh, he's going to sell it." he replied taking a bite of his apple.
"Well, that's a step forward." He said, slightly relieved.
He began to approach Tarin who was still furiously attacking the rug.
"Listen here you stupid little bastard, this is what's going to happen: I'm gonna sweep you, and you, you're gonna get swept. And you're gonna like it. You're gonna get nice and clean, and you're not gonna give me any trouble, ya hear me. Cause if you do, I'm gonna take this broom and beat the living fu......"
"Tarin! You need a little help?" He said, interrupting him and his work.
"No, I'm fine. Just giving a little.....um.....pep talk." He said looking a little embarrassed.
He knew he being obsessive. He knew everyone else saw it, too. But he didn't care. It wasn't about being clean, it was about keeping busy. He didn't want any more to sit and think then he had to. Instead, he would rather leave troublesome memories be. Besides, it had been years since anyone had mentioned her name. She was but a memory to everyone else. In time, he prayed, hopefully she could be a memory to him, too.
"Well, you take it easy, okay? The last thing I need is to wake up in the middle of the night and find you dead of an embolism. Speaking of which, you really need to get to bed, it's almost midnight." He tried to be as comforting as possible. He knew how difficult it was to be alone.
"Yeah....I'll stop." He began to turn away.
"Hey Mido...." He paused.
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
He grabbed the troublesome rug in one hand and the broom in the other and began to shuffle toward his door.
"What a night." He muttered underneath his breath.
He ritualistically went from room to room, going through the motions of his nightly routine: 1) Check all the rooms. 2) Lock the door. 3) Brush teeth. 4) Pee. 5) Check the rooms again. 6) Ensure the lock is working. 7) Scan the town via the window. 8) Check all rooms a final time. 9) Go pee again. 10) Grab a glass of water. 11) Shut off all the lights and head to bed.
He crawled underneath his covers and began to drift to sleep.
BAM!!!!!
Shock flew through his body and it jumped above the bed. His eyes shot open and he raised himself half out of his cot, at the same time panting for air.
BAM!!!!!!
He shook his head and cleared his eyes as quickly as he could. His hand gripped his deku stick and he sneaked to the left hand side of his door.
BAM!!!!! It pounded again.
"ssomeebbodyy...." The voice was weak and lacking air.
Terror filled his eyes.
POW!! The beatings were losing strength.
"hhelp." It faded away.
--What the fuck is going on?-- he thought.
--I can't open to door, who knows what's behind it. But, it needs my help! What do I do, What do I do?!-- raced through his mind.
He took a deep breath and counted to three.
1...........2..........3!!!!!! he threw open the door and in collapsed a beautiful young woman covered in blood.
"Oh my God!" he gasped, catching her as she fell.
"hhhh, hhhh, hhhelp me, please." She said faintly.
"I will, I will." he rushed, "Who are you, what happened to you?"
She looked down at the ground, not moving.
"Who did this to you?!"
"He does exist. I...I don't know how." She said almost inaudibly, "hi, hi don't know how but he's back."
"WHO?! WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!!!"
"ganon" she whispered.
"LISTEN, I NEED YOU TO LISTEN TO ME: WHO DID THIS TO YOU?!!"
"they were.....they were monsters......"
Chapter 8
"Sorry I'm late. I just wanted to see if....."
"If he was awake yet. No need to apologize, child, it's a friend's duty to be concerned." he said smiling.
"So Saria, what have you come to tell me?"
"What have I come to tell you?" She said, slightly confused. "I think you know very well it is you that called me here."
"Yes, that is correct, but I want to know what you have to tell me." He said, looking down at her.
"Where do I begin? What can I say that you haven't already seen for yourself?" she said, concern in her eyes.
"My dear sage, there is much to discuss, but what I tell you I am unable to show you, in this world....or rather, this time."
"This time? I, I don't understand."
"Don't you? Tell me Saria, when you saw Link, did anything in particular catch your eye?" He said, ruffling his feathers.
"Yes......it did."
She looked down and gave a brief sigh. She closed her eyes and imagined Link, the way she had seen him......an adult. A superfluous reminder it was impossible they ever be together. She took a deep breath and opened her eyes, nearly composing herself completely.
"Why, why is he an adult? It doesn't make sense. I was under the impression his seven years would be returned to him. Wouldn't that mean......." Kaepora Gaebora interrupted her.
"Yes, yes, a boy. He was to be a boy. But obviously that didn't happen, now did it? But that's not the only thing troubling me at the moment. It would appear as though the entire flow of time has been thrown off kilter."
"And Ganon. What is this of his return?" She stared him directly in the eyes.
"Once again, I'm not certain. But I do have an idea......"
"LINK!" She cried in happiness.
Chapter 9
"Malon." She said opening her eyes.
"What?" He said, slightly startled.
"Ah!" She squeaked.
"What?!"
"My hand, you squeezed it. It still hurts." She said, looking slightly dazed.
"Sorry, you caught me off guard. You've been out for almost 48 hours. I wasn't sure if you were going to wake up or not." He said, looking into her eyes.
"You give up on people too easily. Anyway, Malon." She said serenely.
"Excuse me?" He looked confused.
"You asked me my name, and I told you; Malon."
He didn't say anything.
"I guess I should say 'Thank you' first, though." she paused "THANK YOU!" she giggled.
"Unh, my side still hurts a little, but I think I'll be okay. Thank you for taking care of me!" She smiled at him.
"It was no probl......"
"OH MY GOD! ANJU!!! WHAT HAPPENED TO ANJU?!!!" Her eyes moved wildly, she was very upset.
"HAVE YOU SEEN HER ANYWHERE? OH I HOPE SHE'S SAFE! DO YOU KNOW?! DO YOU KNOW WHERE SHE IS? DID SHE MAKE IT BACK TO MARIN?! DI......"
"MARIN?!"
Just the sound of her name sent chills down his spine. Could it be? Was she alive? All these years he had spent waiting, praying she be alive, and now.....it might just be possible.
It got very quiet. They stood, staring at each other, saying nothing.
"You know Marin?" he asked inquisitively.
"You know Marin?" She asked in disbelief.
"OF COURSE I KNOW MARIN, SHE'S MY SISTER!!!" He said enthusiastically.
It became quiet again. Malon jumped to her feet and began to head toward the door.
"Where are you going?" He said.
"C'mon. Let's go, I have a friend to find, and if you want to see Marin, you'll help me get where I need to go." She said, commandingly.
"Wait! Just, let me get my stuff." He chirped.