Chapter 7: Old Friends in New Times
Link's POV:
There were so many sights, smells and sounds roaming the air that I couldn't quite take it all in at once. People were rushing to and fro from street to street, opening and closing doors in their wake, some with pots balanced cleverly on their heads and others with wide wicker baskets tucked securely under their arm so it wouldn't be pulled from them in the onslaught of busy people. Shouts could be heard as well from all directions, piercing the already crowded atmosphere while selling all sorts of foreign foods and goods from overseas.
My journey had led me south to the town of Rauru, something that seemed odd to myself, as there were no such towns of this sort back in central Hyrule. Each race had their own dwelling usually undisturbed by outsiders, but here there were all the races mingling in one community body, living peacefully and working alongside each other. There were even a few Deku Scrubs fumbling their way through the hoards of people. It was sad to think that back home there would be nothing of the sort. The Zoras secluded themselves off from the rest of the world, as did the Gerudos. Some brave soul might venture into Goron City and the Lost Woods but the native races wouldn't dare leave their home.
Sighing, I pushed my way through the market area, apologising perpetually to unknown bodies I stumbled past. It wasn't until I was well out of the throng of voices that I heard the disturbing rumbling coming from my stomach. I suddenly realised that I hadn't had anything to eat since…technically this morning in the castle…for I assumed that all this had happened within the course of one day. But the more I thought about how long it had been since I had last eaten something, the more my stomach cried for it to be fed.
The late afternoon sun shone down as I searched for somewhere to eat, and it didn't take long until I saw a sign hanging over a door indicating the food and drink were on sale. Starving, I hurried inside before the waves of people swept me away. It was a fairly dim lit place, with only the sunlight streaming in from the windows with a few candles flickering on the walls. Old, circle tables were arranged on the wooden floor and as I walked into the restaurant, my boots sunk heavily onto the wood. Crowds of women, dressed in all different colours, were sat around one table talking in hushed voices. They eyed me suspiciously, lifting their gazes for mere seconds before looking back down again.
Before I could wonder why, a young woman came up to me and welcomed me to their café. She showed me to a table and I sat down, still uncomfortable as I felt patterns of stares follow my every move. I looked over to the women but they quickly turned away, pretending they weren't looking.
"What would you like sir?" the girl asked. I brought my head back to face her suddenly and it was the first time I had actually looked directly at her face. Her smile quickly disappeared from her face as she too stared at me in shock.
"M-Malon?" I stammered; unsure of whom I was really looking at.
"Link?" she said, barely a whisper. Malon dropped her notebook, forgetting that it had once been in her hand and peered at me as her long red hair fell in front of her brilliant blue eyes. "I-It really is you!" she said, just as shocked as I was.
A roar of quiet murmurs erupted from the opposite side of the room. Malon glanced sideways momentarily and I saw her eyes freeze. "Link," she said unsteadily while turning back to me. "I-I'm so glad to see you, father will be so happy you've returned!" she said louder, grabbing my hand firmly. She dragged me behind her, leaving me utterly confused. "Y-You've been gone for so long overseas we thought you'd never come back! Father's been wanting to see you so much since you left." Malon reached a door and pushed me through it with a gentle shove and I shuffled into the small back room while she shut it with a jolt of locks behind her.
"What in the goddesses name are you doing here?" she said angrily while taking my hand again and led me up the stairs. When I didn't answer she spoke again. "Don't you know you're meant to be dead? You left all those years ago and you choose now to come back?" she said in a harsh tone I'd never heard in her before. "Well a great deal that's going to do us now isn't it?"
"I-I'm sorry?" I said confused, overcome by the sheer rush of her actions. But then I suddenly remembered everything that had happened, and I apologised again, wondering how in the world I was going to try and explain what had happened…
"Sorry? Sorry isn't going to cut it Link!" Her hands were clenched in tight fists by her side and her thin eyebrows were furrowed in deep lines across her face. "You have no idea do you, how much we've suffered because of you? We lost the ranch and most of our horses because of you! We had to move here, cut off all our trade and live in fear, all because of you!" she cried pointing at me. She ran at me, slapped me hard and flung her fists against my chest, cursing me for ever leaving Hyrule. Tears of hate and betrayal flew from her eyes in air-born rivers and eventually her punches ceased and her eyes stained my tunic a dark green.
"What in the blazes are you shrieking about Malon?" a gruff voice came from an adjoining room. The door clicked and opened to reveal an old, hunched over man who white brown hair still clung defiantly to his head. Malon jumped away from me and I felt like I was back on Dodongo's Cavern, watching the King Dodongo rise from its slumber in front of me.
"Father!" she exclaimed. Talon's mouth dropped open as his narrow eyes set themselves on me.
"Y-Your majesty!" he choked out as he crumbled to his knees and pressed his wrinkled forehead to the floor. "Please forgive my daughter, she meant you no harm. I beg you forgiveness." He mumbled quickly.
"It's alright, really, you can…come up from the floor ok?" I said scratching the back of my neck. Talon lifted his head but still knelt on the floor, a woven rug beneath his knees.
"I knew you weren't dead, see, I told you Malon!" he said gesturing toward his daughter who merely stood with her eyes gazing at the floor. "How did you ever get back here your grace? Have you heard about the Princess?" Questions tumbled from his mouth at an extraordinary rate, but I only wanted to ask him one thing.
"You don't need to use such formalities Talon, call me Link," I said. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Malon raise an eyebrow and lift her eyes from the ground to look at me.
"But your - Prince Link, I am but a humble peasant. I couldn't call you by your first name only."
It had happened again; I'd been called a 'Prince'. I remembered reading it on my 'grave' and then I hadn't thought anything of it, but now I wondered how I had come to earn such a title. Before while I stayed at the castle I certainly hadn't been a prince, for I would have to have…married Zelda…
Talon cleared his throat, coughing hoarsely as he did so. "Bad times ail this world your grace. I don't know if you've heard, but Ganonndorf has risen again. This seems to be the only part of Hyrule he hasn't yet overthrown," he said solemnly. "Please, you must save us from him once again, I beg of you."
I knew that if I answered him I would never fulfil his request, but then again I couldn't refuse to help him. I looked around the room, trying to avoid Talon's old, pleading eyes.
"Will you, Link?" Malon asked as my eyes grazed over her. Reluctantly I nodded and assured them with a lying heart that I'd save them.
"Thank you your lordship, we are forever in your debt," Talon said while rising to his feet once more. He turned back into the room he had entered room, and disappeared.
"Link, I - "Malon began, but as soon as the words had left her lips, Talon came back in with something in his hands.
"Here, take this with you. Let it aid you in a time of struggle," he said smiling as he held out a very familiar bottle, filled to the brim with the creamy milk of Lon Lon Ranch. The ever-faithful cow still adorned the label that was bound around the circular tube, and I smiled in thanks, receiving the present gratefully.
A small pad of footsteps suddenly clogged up the stairway and there was a soft knock on the door. "Excuse me sir, but it's getting very crowded down here, and we need your help." A timid male voice called from behind the wooden frame.
"I'll be right down!" Talon said. The footsteps began their descent and soon disappeared again. "Come Malon, we've customers to serve. Please excuse us you grace. Good day to you and may your travels bring peace to us all." He said, gesturing for me to leave first. I thanked him again and led the way downstairs. It was indeed very busy and as we entered back into the main room of the house, the noise level increased tenfold as chattering voices rang through the air.
"Link, this way," Malon said quietly and I followed her silently out of the café and back out into almost what looked like a different street. The crowds had all disappeared and the road was barren except for a few people strolling down the dusty path, enjoying the crimson sunset blazing in the sky.
But as I looked back to Malon, her eyes were downcast again. "What's wrong?" I asked.
"Come with me," she said and walked briskly past me. She led the way to this unknown destination, and I followed right behind her, wondering where she was taking me. Not once did she look back at me to see I was keeping up; she just kept on walking, her head high on her shoulders. The sunset made her hair glow a fiery red and orange, and as the wind blew gently through the empty streets, the light flickered and shone brightly in the flaming strands. She'd grown like Zelda had, and was probably much older than me in my current state as well…
We turned a corner into an alleyway from the main row of stone houses and Malon finally turned round to look at me. "You don't know how much trouble it's been keeping her for you, but I knew you'd return someday Link." She unlocked a door at the end of the alleyway and led me inside. We crossed through a living room of a very similar style to the café, and on through into a kitchen area. Malon unlocked another door and we were back outside again but this time bordering on a wide, open field close to the city walls. In the distance I could see the stone horizon bend round the edge of the grass, enclosing everything in a secure and tight circle.
At once I heard a whinny come from the fields, and a smile from the woman beside me told me to go to it. I ran toward the cantering mare coming toward me, and I threw my arms around Epona's neck when she slowed to a halt. She too nuzzled my shoulder and back with her muzzle, stamping her hoofs, impatient for me to ride her once more.
"We lost a few horses trying to save her," Malon said coming up behind me. "When she came back, I thought that you'd be there with her, but she came alone all the way back to the ranch. Everyone thought you had died," she said, her voice shattering with every word. "Y-You don't know how hard it's been, seeing her everyday without you…" Tears fell from her eyes and she turned around away from me.
I touched her quivering shoulder softly. "I'm sorry…for making you worry," I said. Malon looked at me from out of the corner of her glazed eye, parting the fingers covering her face so she could see me. She then slowly turned round to face me, withdrawing her hands from her face. Shining, silver lines trailed down her cheeks and the setting sun made them gleam like liquid fire.
"Take good care of her," she sniffed, smiling sadly.
"I will," I said.
"And…the princess. Look after her too."
"Yes," I said quietly after a while.
"You'd better get going," Malon said quietly. I nodded and we both led Epona back to the field entrance. "You can get back into the main street through there," she said pointing up a dirt track. "I think you want to go to Ruto town next. It's Northwest of the palace. Keep following the road toward the mountains, and you'll get there," she said, a rueful smile still gracing her lips.
"Thank you for everything Malon," I said. I took a hold of her hand and held it dearly in my two. "You will get your ranch back someday, I promise you." Her eyes began watering again and I encircled the crying woman in a friendly embrace.
"Thank you…for coming back," she whispered as I drew away. "Will you come and visit us again?"
"I'll remember," I said, cringing inwardly at the lies I had to tell her. She smiled again, this time a happy smile as I mounted Epona. I waved goodbye and once gripping the reins of my mare, we set off toward the town gates, never to see Malon or Talon ever again.
Zelda's POV:
The days were growing longer; the nights shorter and the waves never seemed to cease rolling loudly against the side of the mountain. Everyday I lay there, no longer able to do anything of use to anyone, for frail bones and weak health had left me bedridden. But that in a way was hell itself, as I now had nothing to occupy my mind, or to drive away thoughts of the one person I'd thought about nearly every minute of my pathetic life. My daughter would come to visit me though, each day at the same time, never late or complaining. She had certainly kept her promise that she'd made all those many years ago, that she would indeed never leave me alone again.
And I thank her so much for it.
The drapery that sectioned off my quarters was drawn back and in she came, her long blonde curls falling gracefully in light ripples down her back. She really was beautiful and had been married herself for about ten years now. I've never resented the fact that she was happy. I wished her well in her life, hoping that she'd have a better chance than I did. Her husband was a wonderful person too and sometimes the two reminded me of how Link and I were once.
Behind her charged in a small girl who was soon scooped up in my daughter's arms. It had to be said I never did quite expect myself to become a grandmother. "How are you feeling today mother?"
"Not particularly great. Blame the sea, it's too loud," I said smiling. She laughed, as did my granddaughter. The young girl must have been playing outside on the rocks again for her short blonde hair was swept all to one side in a blond torrent. She always liked to roam and had caused her parents many worries in the past. It must have been a trait that Link had left in the bloodline.
"Dear, there's something I need you to do," I said.
"What?" my daughter asked.
"I want you to take my necklace when I'm gone, the one with the golden triangle." She looked shocked but didn't say anything. "It is very important that you too give it to your daughter when you die."
"I don't understand," she said. "That's your most treasured possession. I can't take it."
"But what use will it be once I'm gone?" I asked her. "Please," I said leaning over to the chest beside my bedside. Opening it with unsteady hands, I took out my Triforce of Wisdom, chained securely to a strong, tied loop of string. Placing it in her hands I continued. "Please, you must take it. I want you to have it, and for her to wear it too," I said looking toward my granddaughter who was currently watching a butterfly hover around the room. "There will soon come a time when that will be very important, so you mustn't lose it." I breathed deeply. "I saw last night, that soon it will join with it's other triangle, and she'll be the one to bring them together." I said very serious. My daughter had known of my prophetic dreams ever since she was a child. Sometimes when I had told her another story about Hyrule of old, she'd call me a Great Faerie, and I smiled as I thought back to when she was younger.
"The Triforce?" she said in a quiet voice. I nodded slowly, feeling a wave of drowsiness sweep through my body.
"A new age will come soon, I assure you. Too bad I won't be around to see it," I said sadly. Silence overcame us for a moment. "I love you, you know that. You've been everything a mother could want," I said taking her hand and squeezing it gently in mine. "I'm sorry your father hasn't been around to see how beautiful you've become. Maybe you'll have better luck in finding him than I have."
"Mother, don't speak like that, please," she said as I closed my eyes and smiled toward the ceiling.
"You'd better take good care of her, and that husband of yours. Don't let him go. I'll be watching you." I was so tired and I could hear the cries of my daughter become fainter and fainter. Behind my closed eyes a blue light called me forward, and in it I could see Impa, and all the other sages. I took a final breath and I was no longer a part of the mortal world as I took my place among the immortal sages of the heavens.
'I'll see you again Link. I know I will…'
AN: Hehe, I thought I'd bring you another chapter, as I'm relaxing from having done my semi-evil English Literature GCSE today. Just a quick note here: Get well soon to Berlin'sBrownEyes, and also, don't worry, Malon will be of no further threat to the story. Just thought I'd let you know that ; And thirdly, after re-reading some sections of this story, I realised I may have contradicted myself sometimes, so I apologise for that. I'll make sure by at least the end of this saga that everyone knows everything they should. I promise :D Thank you again to all my reviewers! You're the drive that keeps this thing going! Hopefully when I've done a bunch more of exams, I'll update again, maybe around the 10th/11th June. Even after that I've got more exams XD, but I assure you come the 22nd June I'll have all the time in the world to spend bringing you more chapters!