A/N: Okay, I got no reviews, but thatÕs understandable because it was so short. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!

-----------------------------

A Mourning Willow

Chapter Two: A Homecoming

Link spent that entire day preparing himself for what he was going to do: get a job at Lon Lon Ranch. That's right, he was going to work as a stable boy to see just how bad things were at the farm. He didn't want Ingo or Malon to know who he was yet.

Link spent the last amount of his small stash of Rupees on clothes, normal Hylian clothes. It felt strange to him, to actually be out of his green Kokiri Tunic. Finally, he took his cap off and ran his hands through his hair several times to make it look different... although those golden locks could never be mistaken for.

"How do I look?" he asked Navi.

"Hmph," she replied. "You look like a normal Hylian."

"That's my goal," Link muttered.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

I'll never forget how badly my hands were blistered that one day, it was probably the worst that they had ever been. They were cracked and bleeding, and I remember suspecting that some of the wounds were becoming infected.

I couldn't remember the last time that I'd eaten anything decent, besides what was left over from Ingo's meals. I felt like a worthless animal, I was a worthless animal. When I was young, I remember only having few people that truly mattered to me. One was my mother, who died when I was six. My father was banished from the ranch by Ganon.

And there was this Kokiri boy who sometimes came around the farm. I remember, he didn't like talking much, but I remember forcing him out of his shy exterior, and soon we were the best of friends. And then one day his visits grew less and less frequent, until one day he just stopped. That was seven years ago.

Anyway, back to that day. I had been repairing the cuccos pen all day, and had driven nails into my hands on numerous occasions; hence all of the wounds on my hands. My mind had wandered, when it happened again. I cried out, and examining the deep wound I could tell I would have to get more bandages.

I headed out to the front of the ranch, when I saw someone coming through the entrance. It was a man. For a minute, I wondered if it was a customer, after all, our Lon Lon Milk was famous throughout all of Hyrule.

"Sir...?" I questioned, walking to him. "I'm sorry, but we won't have any more milk for at least a month."

He smiled lightly. "That's alright, I didn't come for milk," he told me.

His voice was smooth like velvet, but calm and deep. It almost sounded.. familiar.

I knew he could tell that I was confused.

"Is the master of this ranch here?" he asked politely. That was what I remember most about him, how well he treated me after speaking with me all of ten seconds. Believe it or not, that question, that very tone of voice, was the nicest thing I'd heard in the longest time. I wasn't sure why, but it hit me like a ton of bricks.

"I.. um.. let me-"

"MALON!" I heard a man scream. Ingo.

"What are you doing? Who are you talking to?" he yelled as he stormed up to be and snatched me by my arm.

"Th-this man.. wanted to talk to you.." I tried to keep my composure, but he was gripping my arm so hard I thought it would break.

Ingo's attention turned towards the young man, and I couldn't believe what happened next. He loosened my arm and eventually let it go. "Ahh.. Malon, thank you. Get back to the stables... now." It was so strange, but I just figured that Ingo didn't want to seem ruthless to a potential customer.

I started walking back to the stables, but ducked behind some crates and listened, peeking over the top to watch them.

"Sir, yes, I am the master of this ranch. And how might I be of service to you today?"

"I have heard rumor that you are looking for work, a stable boy."

The stranger was right; Ingo had been looking for a new stable boy. In fact there was so much work around the ranch to do, that we were in threat of loosing everything.

Ingo snorted when he heard this. "Stable boy, eh? Five rupees a day. Tell me your name, stranger."

"Link," I heard him say, and he glanced to where I was hiding. Luckily, Ingo didn't notice.

Link, I thought. Where in Din's name have I heard that before..?

"Where do you come from?" Ingo demanded, becoming less and less formal knowing that this young man was going to have a job working under him.

"I.. wha.. where I come from? Why.. from a land.. far from this place."

"The name of this place?" Ingo inquired.

"It's an island.. with a mountain. Simply called, Rock Island. Far, FAR from here.."

Psh, even I could have told that was so fake. Ingo seemed to buy it though.

"Fine, whatever, you can work here. You sleep in the stables. My niece works here as well, Malon. She'll show you what you need." Ingo trudged off inside, letting the door slam behind him.

Again, Link looked over in my direction and held his gaze for a moment before heading off to the stables.

I looked up to the sky, it was nearly dusk, almost time to prepare Ingo's supper. But I had to meet this new stable boy first. I stood, but as I did so, I saw a broken piece of glass. I picked it up and looked into it. I had a fresh bruise on my face, thanks to Ingo. I sighed and threw it back on the ground, then headed for the stables.

I saw him, brushing one of my beloved horses, Epona. How he was able to brush her without her going wild was completely beyond me. I watched him for a moment from behind before I cleared my throat. He abruptly turned around.

"Hi," he said. "You must be Malon."

"Yeah," I replied, letting my hair hang in front of the left side of my face so that the bruise wouldn't be so obvious. "What's your name?" I asked.

"Link, I-" he opened his mouth to say something else, but he was cut off by Ingo's yelling from the house.

"MALON! MY DINNER - NOW!"

Emberassed, I turned away, expecting Link to be somewhat disgusted. But when I looked up at him, he wasn't. He just looked... well, kind.

"I... umm.. better go," I said before turning around and quickly heading off to the house.

"Hey, Malon!" I stopped in my tracks and turned back to face him.

"Yeah?" I asked, almost afraid of what he was going to say.

"Later.. after dinner.. maybe you can.. show me stuff around here."

"Yeah.. sure." I left in a hurry to cook Ingo's dinner.

----------------------

A/N: Agh, is ANYONE enjoying this?