Hymn of the Forgotten

A/N: I was going to write this chapter sooner, but then I remembered that I had summer reading to do for school. So this past week I've been reading like crazy, but somehow managed to finish Chapter Four.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time or any of its characters.

Please review!

Chapter Four: Reflection

Malon tried to breath normally.

I was Yehvah, she realized. For those couple of seconds I was becoming her. Zelda knows... Malon's memory flashed to when she saw the warrior woman with the fiery red hair and piercing eyes. The Master Sword was in her hand like she had every reason to be wielding it.

I must never let that blade near me again, she thought.

Link was staring at her now as they sat in the grass. Navi circled around them idly before disappearing into his hood. His arms were wrapped around his sword possessively. It was as though he was waiting for her to say something, but she had no idea where to start.

"Link..." Malon began.

"Who is she?" He interrupted. "Do you know her? Why does she look so much like...like..."

"Zelda?" Malon finished. Link nodded and she continued. "It's because that is her...at least the shell of her." Her voice began to shake. "I...I saw Ganon's spirit pass into her when we were at his castle. I didn't know it'd be like this..."

"No...no," Link was saying clutching his head.

"Link, I know I should've done something but I was too weak afterwards."

"No!" Link shouted and sprung to his feet. Malon was taken aback by the look of frustration and anger on his face. "This has nothing to do with you. Don't you see? I can't fight someone who is also the person I'm trying to save!" He sank back down on the grass and let his sword slip from his fingers and fall beside him.

Malon moved closer to him and tentatively brushed his long blonde bangs away from his face. She smiled as he looked down at her. "I know," she said. "But we'll find a way to protect her."

"We?" Link asked, giving her a small smile in return.

"Well, it's not fair for you to fight alone." Malon replied. "That's what you've been doing throughout your whole journey. Let me help you this time."

Link was silent for a few seconds before he spoke. "Okay, we'll do this together," he said, and gave her a real smile that made Malon's heart feel light. "Thanks Malon."

Malon sighed and leaned back into the long grass. She stared at the bleak sky briefly before rolling over on her side. Link had the Master Sword in his hands once again, and he was fingering the hilt.

"What was Zelda telling you, when you were crouching in front of her?" He suddenly asked.

Malon propped her head on her hands. "You couldn't hear her?"

Link shook his head. "I saw her mouth moving and you responding to her, but I couldn't hear her voice."

Malon suddenly felt cold. "But... I don't remember speaking to her. In fact... I'm sure I didn't."

"You spoke to her," he simply said.

"Then what did I say?" Malon sat up and looked at the young man closely. He was facing her, but his eyes looked beyond where she was sitting, at something unseen behind her.

He shifted uncomfortably. "It doesn't matter."

"Yes it does!" Malon said desperately. "Link, I need to know!"

His eyes finally met hers. "You said that you'd obey her, and when she said something else you began singing to her."

It did sound familiar, but the memory seemed so distant that she couldn't quite grasp it. The aspect of her speaking to the woman like that was disturbing, but she didn't want Link to know she was affected by it.

"Mind games," Malon said. "Nothing more. She was trying to frighten both of us, but I seem to snap out of it when you pushed me away from her." Did I? She thought, but didn't let her uncertainty show in her voice.

Link shrugged, as though saving her from a possessed woman was no big deal. Malon laughed in her light, melodious way, causing the afternoon to seem brighter even though the sun had yet to be seen though the dark clouds.

"Nothing can seem to possibly go wrong with you around Malon," Link said.

But they're starting to, Malon thought. She smiled at him. No, I must be a source of comfort to him if he's going to make it through all of this. He needed support right from the start.

The girl stood up and brushed herself off. "I should be getting back," she said. "Father wanted me to deliver some milk in Kakariko Village. You're welcome to stay at the ranch for a bit and rest."

"No," Link said as he stood up. "I'm through with everyone's hospitality. I need to do something more productive than sit around while people care for me. I can't be that way."

Malon looked down at her feet. "You have to rely on people sometime," she whispered, almost to herself.

"I know," he said, and continued a little more quietly, "I just don't want to be totally dependent on others."

Totally dependent on me, Malon corrected in her mind. Why is he so scared that he's going to be that way?

It was a while later when Malon and Link were walking back to Lon Lon Ranch to pick up the rest of his belongings that Malon remembered the song.

Link had taken out his ocarina. "I learned something new while I was over there," he said to her, and began to play that same tune. He stopped in the middle and looked at her. "It sounds a lot like what you sang to Zelda." Malon tried to nod calmly before he continued, for as he was playing this the song's lyrics came quickly to her mind. She whispered them to herself, and realized it was more like a chant.

With this sword I pledge to you

Loyalty and honor for eternity

I will follow you into battle

I will follow you into death

Until the world's end

When we are blessed

With the open doors of the Sacred Realm

Where evil can not be reached

Our souls are eternal

Our souls will never rest

Link did not hear her.

"I left everything where you put it, except for your sword."

"Thanks," Link replied as he strapped his sheath on his back and the rest of his possession wherever they could be tucked into.

He was about to sheath his sword when he noticed the yellow bandana still tied around the hilt. Malon held out her hand for it as he took it off. Instead of handing it to her he walked past her with it unraveled in both hands. "I'll be gone for a while," he said. Malon blushed as he lifted her red hair and draped the bandana around her neck. His arms came over her shoulders from behind and tied the cloth into a knot. She could only hear the pounding of her heart when she felt Link lean closer and whisper in her ear. "Thanks for everything."

When Malon turned around he had left the room.

The walk to Kakariko Village was a quiet one. Malon's stride was a little longer than usual, since she didn't want to linger in Hyrule Field any more than she had to.

She didn't bother using the horses to help her with the delivery, for she was ordered to bring over only two bottles of milk. Malon came to the stairs leading to the village and readied herself for the climb.

"Are you the girl from the ranch?" Said a soft voice. Malon glanced to her right and noticed a boy no older than seven staring at her with bright red eyes. His hair was a peculiar white color that came down to his tan shoulders. He was dressed in a blue tunic with an almost familiar symbol on the front.

"You are a peculiar boy," Malon found herself saying. "Where are you from?"

The boy held out both is hands. "The milk, please," he said. Malon handed the bottles to him without saying anything. He turned to leave, but stopped to look back at her with those strange eyes. "My mama is sick," he said, and continued up the stairs, leaving Malon to follow after him.

:::And to the reviewers:::

The Arc: I'm getting out of the writer's block. I have some ideas brewing in my mind. Just wait and see. ::shifts eyes suspiciously::

chel bel: Aww, thanks again.

Anathe: Glad you're still liking it. Heh heh

Linker27: You should definitely write a Malon/Link poem. I bet it'd turn out great!

TwilightAmathyst: Well, here's the update! Thanks for reviewing!

JairukazeShirokaze: Heh, thanks for the review!

Selaph Ex Animo: Your welcome, and thank you! I end up doing one liners a lot when I write, but I never know if they're any good. I'm glad you're liking the story!

Son of Lancelot: Yay, a review for each chapter! Thanks! I'll be sure to read your new Zelda story.

Yay for reviews!