Chapter 4

Playmate

Some time had passed and Adah grew another year. The four year old began to become board most of the time. She spent most of her days slumping around which made Zelda want another child even more so she would be so lonely.

The problem was that Adah needed someone her age. Someone she could relate to and play with. The only people she had were her parents and Impa. Zelda knew from experience that was not what she needed.

"Link, do you see it?", asked Zelda one day while they were sitting in the library.

"See what?", he asked, looking up from his book.

"See how unhappy Adah is.", blurted Zelda. She looked out of the window. Down below, Adah was by herself drawing in the soil with a stick. Her expression showed anything but fun.

Link looked down at the girl. "Maybe she's just having an off day.", suggested Link.

"Link, you saw her at her birthday party. She didn't even want to have it because only nobles and other adults came. They didn't bother to bring any of their children.", complained Zelda.

"Then what do you suppose we do?", asked Link, open to any suggestions. Zelda smiled of an idea she had.

"How bout we have Malon and her family visit?", suggested Zelda. "They have a child Adah's age."

Link raised an eyebrow. "You want her to have a friend? Isn't she a little young to care?", asked Link. Zelda came closer to him and sat on his lap.

"You were surrounded by children when you were little. Look how great you turned out.", said Zelda. Link sighed.

"I suppose that would be a good idea anyway. We haven't seen Malon in the longest time.", said Link.

Zelda squeaked. "Thank you!", she said, kissing him on the cheek, then running out of the room to notify the messengers.

Link laughed lightly, seeing how excited Zelda was about this. He returned to his book after watching Adah for a few minutes.

Two days after the messenger had left, was time for Malon and her family to visit. They were going to stay for a whole week in one of the family rooms in the castle.

Link, Zelda, Adah, and Impa waited at the gate for their arrival. Zelda had arranged a carriage to pick them up and take them, first class, to the castle. They would be arriving any minute now.

Adah heard horses and wheels coming closer. Getting nervous, she hit behind Link's leg, not wanting to know what was coming.

A carriage came up to them and stopped. Adah peeked from behind Link to see what happened. A tall woman stepped out of the carriage, followed by a little girl and a man dressed in knights clothing.

Adah looked up to observe the family. The woman was not wearing what Adah considered 'normal clothing'. She had brilliant, bright, red hair that came down to her waist. Blue eyes went well with her dress, which didn't fully reach the ground, and had two booted feet sticking out from it.

The child was Adah's height. She, unlike her mother, had green eyes, but the same red hair. Her hair was short, though, only reaching to her shoulders. Her outfit was much like her mothers, with the same kind of boots.

As for the father of the family. He looked normal. She had seen many men dressed this way. He was a knight with dark brown hair and the little girls green eyes.

Not sensing any threatening qualities from the family, Adah crept from behind her hiding spot, still showing signs of shyness.

The little girl came up to Adah and held out a hand. "Hello, my name is Ruby. What's yours?", asked the child.

The good intentions of Ruby made Adah smile, and overcome her shy self. "Adah." , she answered, taking her hand and shaking it.

"Mommy says I'm going to be your new playmate.", said Ruby. The two were unaware of the adults watching their conversation. Zelda smiled as Adah took her hand.

"Come on, I'll show you my room.", said Adah, taking Ruby towards the castle.

Link and Zelda smiled at the two. "That went well.", said Zelda. "Shall we have lunch?" The five headed up to the castle for a meal.

Adah stepped inside her room, motioning Ruby to follow. Her bright green eyes grew wide when she noticed the size of the room. "Wow!", she exclaimed in almost a whisper.

Already getting board with it, Adah once again grabbed her hand. "I have to show you everything.", she said, taking her down the hall.

For Ruby, it was an extraordinary thing to see. For Adah, it was everyday life. Adah raced to her special places before Ruby could take any of it in. It was so overwhelming for the little ranch girl.

After about a half hour of running around, Adah came to a stop in front of a large door. She looked at Ruby. "This is the entrance to the gardens.", she said. "It's only for extra important people to see. And guess what."

Ruby's excitement grew with anticipation. "What?!", she said, wanting to know.

"Your important now!", squealed Adah. Pushing the door open with all her strength, she managed to squeeze them through the crack.

"….it's….It's beautiful.", exclaimed Ruby, looking over the vast fields cover with flowers, and surrounded by trees. The two walked down the steps that lead to a large pool. The pool was not for swimming, but it looked as if it needed to be there. Walking passed the pool, they ventured deeper into the sunny gardens.

Ruby's eyes shot around, trying to get a glimpse of everything. "So magical.", she breathed. Ruby didn't know the half of it.

They came to a hole in the ground. Adah peered down it, then looked back up at Ruby with a grin. "You want to see real magic?", asked Adah, pointing to the hole.

"What's down there?", curiosity taking over Ruby.

"Daddy says it's a fairy fountain. Come on.", she said, tugging on Ruby's arm.

Ruby stayed still. "Are you sure we can go down there?", she asked, not wanting to get into trouble.

"Course we can.", reassured Adah. With a quick pull, both children fell into the hole, screaming all the way down. With a thud, the two hit the ground.

"ouch!", exclaimed Adah, rubbing her bottom. "That hurt." She soon forgot her pain when she looked forward. Her eyes bulged.

"Look!", said Ruby, pointing to what she saw. The two got up and hurried over to the fountain.

Pink orbs flew in circles. Some slow, others a bit faster. Adah walked into the fountain in awe. It was the most magical thing she ever saw.

Reaching out to touch one of the fairies, she stopped just before her hands made contact with it. Turning to Ruby, who was cautiously stepping down, she asked a question.

"Do you think they're hot?", asked Adah.

Ruby had a confused expression. "Why would they be hot?"

Adah jerked her eyes to the glow they held. "Because it glows. Stars glow, and they're hot."

"How would you know? You never touched a star.", argued Ruby.

"Because my daddy said so.", explained Adah in a matter of fact way. Looking back toward Ruby, she gasped. "Ruby, no!"

Ruby put her finger on a fairy in front of her. With that, the fairy circled her, making pink sparkles fall all around. Adah watched as the fairy disappeared into nothing.

"You killed it!", cried Adah. She ran up to Ruby, taking her hand, and running towards the warp hole. "Let's go or the great fairy might punish us!"

Horror was plastered on Ruby's face. What had she done? After flying up to the ground, both the girls ran inside the castle as fast as they could.

Out of breath, Adah let herself fall against the door, coming to a sitting position. All was quiet for a few moments.

Ruby got up the nerve to speak. "Did I really kill it?", her voice filled with nervousness. The great fairy sounded like a very powerful creature.

Adah nodded, still breathing heavily. The girls ears began to burn red, due to the fear that spread through her. "What do I do?" A tear crept from her eye.

"We can't tell anyone.", said Adah. "They might go tell the great fairy." Adah regained her strength to sit up.

Liking that idea, Ruby nodded. "Come on, let's go.", said Adah.

The two walked back to the dinning room, where the adults were still having dessert. Adah gave her one last nervous glance, and walked into the room.

Malon turned to them. "Well, hello. Did you guys have fun?", she asked. The whole table peered down at the two little girls.

"Yes.", said Adah weakly.

Zelda looked over at the two. "What's wrong, looks like you two saw a ghost or something.", she laughed. "Would you two like some lunch?"

Later that day, Adah sat down on Link and Zelda's bed. She faced them, eyes welling up. Zelda looked at her with a concerned expression.

"What's wrong, Adah baby?", she asked.

Adah shook her head, not wanting to say. Link raised an eyebrow.

"Really, what's wrong Adah?", asked Link.

She gave up reluctantly. "I…can you kill a fairy?", her voice almost inaudible.

Link and Zelda looked at each other, confused by the question.

"Why do you ask that?", asked Zelda.

Small tears ran down Adah's cheeks. "I….I think we killed one."

This conversation was getting more and more interesting. "How did you kill one.", asked Link, playing along.

"We…we went to a fairy fountain.", cried Adah. Her voice cracked with every word.

Link furrowed his eyebrows. "What have we told you about them?"

"To…not go in them?", she said, trying to sound innocent. "Ruby touched one….and then…it…it disappeared!" Fresh tears came down the young child's face.

Zelda softened her expression, and took Adah into her arms. "Oh, Adah. You didn't kill it." Adah looked up, confused. Zelda wiped away her tears.

"Really?", she asked.

"No. You didn't.", laughed Zelda. "You just used it. It will come back."

"So…the great fairy won't come and punish me?", she asked.

Both parents laughed. "Where did you get an idea like that?", asked Link.

Adah shrugged, not knowing that answer.

Link patted her head. "Nothing to worry about. Now go to bed. You have to be a good host to Ruby tomorrow."

Adah smiled and jumped out of the bed, heading out of the room.

"Oh, and Adah.", Link said. She turned back. "No more fairy fountains."

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