**Oh my goodness! I can't believe I let myself spell minions, "mignons".
So sorry about that. I did fix it and uploaded it again so now it should
be right. Not that it helps anyone who already read it but, hey, I tried.
And for anyone confused about Irnan's secret, don't be. I haven't revealed
it yet. ; ) Sorry if I made it sound like you should have known. You
weren't supposed to know.**
Link spent the next week searching all over for some sort of clue as to where Retta could be. He even made a few trips back to Gerudo Valley. They didn't try to throw him out, but most of them did their best to avoid him. That was fine with him. Navi tried to convince him to give it a rest. Nothing had happened in a while, and he deserved a break. Maybe after a day or two of just relaxing, he'd feel refreshed and be able to focus better. After another day of searching to no avail, Link decided to give Navi's suggestion a try.
The next day, Link took Epona on a leisurely ride through Hyrule Field. The sun was shining and a light breeze was in the air. It was prefect weather, and he was glad that he had nothing to do. Lon Lon Ranch came into view and on a whim, Link decided to visit his old friend.
When he got there, Talon informed him that Malon was already with a visitor, but if Link wanted, he would see if they would mind one more. Link hadn't seen Malon in a while, and he said, "Would you mind?"
"Absolutely not. I'm sure she won't mind. We've missed you around these parts lately, Link. You've become too much of a stranger. I'll go see if she'll mind having you come in for a bit." Talon came back a moment later and lead Link inside. Malon was sitting at the wooden table in their little house, with a young man. Even seated, Link could tell that the man was tall. He had light brown hair that was cut short and laughing brown eyes.
"Link!" cried Malon when he walked into the room. She got up and threw her arms around him in a friendly hug. "Oh, Link! It's so good to see you again! Thank you again for help with those poes. A few more came after the first night, but I was able to fight them off, and after a while they stopped showing up. Come, sit down. I want you to meet someone," she said as she lead Link to a chair. "Link, this is Teague." Malon turned to face Teague. "Teague, this is Link, the Hero of Time."
"Malon, stop it!" said Link, coloring slightly. "It's nice to meet you, Teague. I heard a lot about you on my last visit."
"It's nice to meet you too, Link. Malon's certainly told me a lot about you," said Teague as he held out a hand for Link to shake.
"Link, I have wonderful news! Teague and I are to be married! You just have to come to the wedding. It's going to be in the summer, and I would love it if you could be there."
"I would love to be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world," said Link.
The trip talked for a long time. Malon and Link remembered their past, and Teague told them humorous tales of his time spent as a Hylian Guard. Link told them all about the battles he had had since he last saw Malon. Malon and Teague told Link of their wedding plans and of the time they had spent together, and how much in love they were. Link even let slip about him and Saria. Malon smiled widely and said, "I always knew that there was something between the two of you!" It was a wonderful time, and Link hated to leave, but it was almost time for dinner, and Link knew that Teague and Malon were hoping for a private one. They offered to have him stay, but he politely declined and stepped outside.
Talon was waiting for him. "What do you think of him?" he asked.
"Who, Teague?" asked Link, slightly amused. Talon could be aloof at times, but he loved his daughter deeply, and it showed.
"Yes. Do you think he'll treat Malon all right? Do you think he's really in love with her?" asked Talon, eyeing the door of his house with suspicion.
"Do you have any reason to doubt his sincerity?" asked Link.
"No, I don't. He seems like I very nice young man, and he is a Hylian Guard. It's just that you are so much more observant than I am, Link. You know how I am. I'm not exactly on top of things all the time. Malon deserves the best. I just want to make sure that she's getting it. I don't want her just to marry the first man that comes along, but if he's the right one, I don't want her to pass him up either. So what do you think?" asked Talon.
"Talon, from what I saw, Teague was a wonderful man. He seems to make Malon very happy, and the two of them seem to be very much in love. I don't think that Malon would say yes to just anyone. I think you underestimate your daughter in that respect. But I don't think you have any reason to be afraid for Malon's future. I think you'll be giving her away to good hands," said Link.
Talon smiled widely and shook Link's hand vigorously. "Your opinion carries a lot of weight with me, Link. Thank you." With that, Talon walked inside and left Link out in the dark trying hard to stifle a laugh.
He rode Epona home and was surprised to see a light flickering inside his house. He climbed up the stairs cautiously and put a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready in case danger waited inside. When he climbed up the last rung of the ladder, he let out a sigh of relief. Saria stood in the middle of the room.
"You startled me," Link said as he climbed all the way into his house.
Saria giggled and said, "Did I? I'm sorry. I was hoping to surprise you."
"Well, you succeeded. What smells so good?" he asked looking around the room. His eyes landed on his table, which was set for two, and a beautiful dinner ready to be eaten. His jaw dropped open. "Did you make this?" he asked Saria.
"Sure did! I decided that it was time you had some real food. I've seen some of the things you've left behind on the table when you're finished eating and I have to wonder how you can stand it. I decided that you needed some real food. So, I came to surprise you. You got back just in time. I was afraid you might get home early or late, but your timing was perfect. Hungry?" she asked him.
Link allowed himself to be taken to the table. The food was delicious, and he devoured it all. It was like nothing he had ever made himself before. He wondered where Saria had learned to become such a good cook. When dinner was finished, Saria cleared the plates, and wouldn't allow Link to help. Then they sat down to talk.
"Saria, thank you. It was incredible. I've never tasted anything like it," he said.
"Well, I had a little help."
"From who?" asked Link.
"Magic." Saria giggled and Link laughed with her. It was so good to not be talking about Irnan or battles. It was a nice change talking and spending time together like they used to. He missed those days. Saria seemed to feel the same because she didn't bring anything up that he didn't want to talk about.
"Saria?" asked Link.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you ever wonder what our lives would be like if I wasn't the Hero of Time, and if you weren't a sage, and if Ganon had never come?" he asked her.
"Not really," she replied. "But I assume our relationship would be pretty much the same. I don't like to imagine things like that. The past happened, and you have to accept it. You are who you are and there's no changing it. There are days when I wish I wasn't a sage, but those are fleeting. I'm happy with who I am. Aren't you?" she asked him.
"I'm happy with who you are too," he replied.
Saria sat up straight, laughed and said, "That's not what I meant! Link what would I do without you? I'd never laugh!"
"I doubt that. You're always laughing. You're always so happy. It's one of the tings I love about you. I wish I could be as carefree as you are."
Link and Saria walked out onto the balcony of his house and sat down to look at the stars. "I'm not so carefree. I worry all the time. I just try to not let it get to me. If I did, I would be defeated. I'm not as strong as you are," she said, laying her head on his shoulder.
Link found her arm and held it up, bending it to make the muscle, or what was supposed to be muscle, bulge a little. It squeezed it slightly and said, "I don't know about that, Saria. I think you could take me on and win." Saria laughed and shoved Link aside.
"Oh, shut-up! Just sit and look at the stars with me. Aren't they beautiful?" she asked.
"They are," Link said. He turned to watch Saria watch the universe.
"And the moon, isn't it gorgeous?" she asked.
"It's gorgeous," he replied in a whisper, still looking at her face.
Saria turned to face him. "You're not even looking at it!"
"I know," he replied. Link's lips sought Saria's, and a moment later, found them. This time, the kiss lasted longer. Saria's kiss reminded Link of a sweet chocolate he had once tasted, only better. Link started to pull away, but Saria moved her hand up to the back of his head and pushed him back to her, unwilling to let the moment end. When they finally did pull away, Link asked her, "What are you doing tomorrow?"
"It depends. Why?" she asked.
"Spend it with me," he said.
Saria searched his eyes before saying, "All right."
Link spent the next week searching all over for some sort of clue as to where Retta could be. He even made a few trips back to Gerudo Valley. They didn't try to throw him out, but most of them did their best to avoid him. That was fine with him. Navi tried to convince him to give it a rest. Nothing had happened in a while, and he deserved a break. Maybe after a day or two of just relaxing, he'd feel refreshed and be able to focus better. After another day of searching to no avail, Link decided to give Navi's suggestion a try.
The next day, Link took Epona on a leisurely ride through Hyrule Field. The sun was shining and a light breeze was in the air. It was prefect weather, and he was glad that he had nothing to do. Lon Lon Ranch came into view and on a whim, Link decided to visit his old friend.
When he got there, Talon informed him that Malon was already with a visitor, but if Link wanted, he would see if they would mind one more. Link hadn't seen Malon in a while, and he said, "Would you mind?"
"Absolutely not. I'm sure she won't mind. We've missed you around these parts lately, Link. You've become too much of a stranger. I'll go see if she'll mind having you come in for a bit." Talon came back a moment later and lead Link inside. Malon was sitting at the wooden table in their little house, with a young man. Even seated, Link could tell that the man was tall. He had light brown hair that was cut short and laughing brown eyes.
"Link!" cried Malon when he walked into the room. She got up and threw her arms around him in a friendly hug. "Oh, Link! It's so good to see you again! Thank you again for help with those poes. A few more came after the first night, but I was able to fight them off, and after a while they stopped showing up. Come, sit down. I want you to meet someone," she said as she lead Link to a chair. "Link, this is Teague." Malon turned to face Teague. "Teague, this is Link, the Hero of Time."
"Malon, stop it!" said Link, coloring slightly. "It's nice to meet you, Teague. I heard a lot about you on my last visit."
"It's nice to meet you too, Link. Malon's certainly told me a lot about you," said Teague as he held out a hand for Link to shake.
"Link, I have wonderful news! Teague and I are to be married! You just have to come to the wedding. It's going to be in the summer, and I would love it if you could be there."
"I would love to be there. I wouldn't miss it for the world," said Link.
The trip talked for a long time. Malon and Link remembered their past, and Teague told them humorous tales of his time spent as a Hylian Guard. Link told them all about the battles he had had since he last saw Malon. Malon and Teague told Link of their wedding plans and of the time they had spent together, and how much in love they were. Link even let slip about him and Saria. Malon smiled widely and said, "I always knew that there was something between the two of you!" It was a wonderful time, and Link hated to leave, but it was almost time for dinner, and Link knew that Teague and Malon were hoping for a private one. They offered to have him stay, but he politely declined and stepped outside.
Talon was waiting for him. "What do you think of him?" he asked.
"Who, Teague?" asked Link, slightly amused. Talon could be aloof at times, but he loved his daughter deeply, and it showed.
"Yes. Do you think he'll treat Malon all right? Do you think he's really in love with her?" asked Talon, eyeing the door of his house with suspicion.
"Do you have any reason to doubt his sincerity?" asked Link.
"No, I don't. He seems like I very nice young man, and he is a Hylian Guard. It's just that you are so much more observant than I am, Link. You know how I am. I'm not exactly on top of things all the time. Malon deserves the best. I just want to make sure that she's getting it. I don't want her just to marry the first man that comes along, but if he's the right one, I don't want her to pass him up either. So what do you think?" asked Talon.
"Talon, from what I saw, Teague was a wonderful man. He seems to make Malon very happy, and the two of them seem to be very much in love. I don't think that Malon would say yes to just anyone. I think you underestimate your daughter in that respect. But I don't think you have any reason to be afraid for Malon's future. I think you'll be giving her away to good hands," said Link.
Talon smiled widely and shook Link's hand vigorously. "Your opinion carries a lot of weight with me, Link. Thank you." With that, Talon walked inside and left Link out in the dark trying hard to stifle a laugh.
He rode Epona home and was surprised to see a light flickering inside his house. He climbed up the stairs cautiously and put a hand on the hilt of his sword, ready in case danger waited inside. When he climbed up the last rung of the ladder, he let out a sigh of relief. Saria stood in the middle of the room.
"You startled me," Link said as he climbed all the way into his house.
Saria giggled and said, "Did I? I'm sorry. I was hoping to surprise you."
"Well, you succeeded. What smells so good?" he asked looking around the room. His eyes landed on his table, which was set for two, and a beautiful dinner ready to be eaten. His jaw dropped open. "Did you make this?" he asked Saria.
"Sure did! I decided that it was time you had some real food. I've seen some of the things you've left behind on the table when you're finished eating and I have to wonder how you can stand it. I decided that you needed some real food. So, I came to surprise you. You got back just in time. I was afraid you might get home early or late, but your timing was perfect. Hungry?" she asked him.
Link allowed himself to be taken to the table. The food was delicious, and he devoured it all. It was like nothing he had ever made himself before. He wondered where Saria had learned to become such a good cook. When dinner was finished, Saria cleared the plates, and wouldn't allow Link to help. Then they sat down to talk.
"Saria, thank you. It was incredible. I've never tasted anything like it," he said.
"Well, I had a little help."
"From who?" asked Link.
"Magic." Saria giggled and Link laughed with her. It was so good to not be talking about Irnan or battles. It was a nice change talking and spending time together like they used to. He missed those days. Saria seemed to feel the same because she didn't bring anything up that he didn't want to talk about.
"Saria?" asked Link.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you ever wonder what our lives would be like if I wasn't the Hero of Time, and if you weren't a sage, and if Ganon had never come?" he asked her.
"Not really," she replied. "But I assume our relationship would be pretty much the same. I don't like to imagine things like that. The past happened, and you have to accept it. You are who you are and there's no changing it. There are days when I wish I wasn't a sage, but those are fleeting. I'm happy with who I am. Aren't you?" she asked him.
"I'm happy with who you are too," he replied.
Saria sat up straight, laughed and said, "That's not what I meant! Link what would I do without you? I'd never laugh!"
"I doubt that. You're always laughing. You're always so happy. It's one of the tings I love about you. I wish I could be as carefree as you are."
Link and Saria walked out onto the balcony of his house and sat down to look at the stars. "I'm not so carefree. I worry all the time. I just try to not let it get to me. If I did, I would be defeated. I'm not as strong as you are," she said, laying her head on his shoulder.
Link found her arm and held it up, bending it to make the muscle, or what was supposed to be muscle, bulge a little. It squeezed it slightly and said, "I don't know about that, Saria. I think you could take me on and win." Saria laughed and shoved Link aside.
"Oh, shut-up! Just sit and look at the stars with me. Aren't they beautiful?" she asked.
"They are," Link said. He turned to watch Saria watch the universe.
"And the moon, isn't it gorgeous?" she asked.
"It's gorgeous," he replied in a whisper, still looking at her face.
Saria turned to face him. "You're not even looking at it!"
"I know," he replied. Link's lips sought Saria's, and a moment later, found them. This time, the kiss lasted longer. Saria's kiss reminded Link of a sweet chocolate he had once tasted, only better. Link started to pull away, but Saria moved her hand up to the back of his head and pushed him back to her, unwilling to let the moment end. When they finally did pull away, Link asked her, "What are you doing tomorrow?"
"It depends. Why?" she asked.
"Spend it with me," he said.
Saria searched his eyes before saying, "All right."