Chapter 4- Soldier's Sleep

"What's the rush, fairy boy?" Malon asked the huffing and puffing Link as he tried to catch his breath enough to thank her.

"Here," he breathed, removing the note from his pocket, "you…read it." He let himself fall to the ground. "Whoo!" he let out loudly as Malon began to ready the wisps of ink. Her eyes traveled over the note quickly before looking back to the almost-passed-out-boy.

"Well, come on then," she grinned, rolling her eyes as his hand shot up for assistance. She gave him a yank that would have threatened to pull anyone else's arm out of place, and the youth came rocketing to his feet. In fact, he nearly fell on his face. "You can sleep in my room," she paused, eyeing him quickly. "Those are clean clothes right?" Link shrugged.

"I think so," he teased, sniffing his underarm to add to the joke. He made a disgusted face and then grinned. "Lemony fresh," he jeered.

"Well then, get your lemony fresh hind-end to the house, fairy boy," she giggled. "You know where my room is without me showing you." She stuffed Link's note in his front tunic pocket and turned to head back to the corral.

"Hey, where're ya going?" Link nearly panicked. The redhead stopped and looked over her shoulder, turning just a little. The sunlight spilled over her image, making her look almost celestial in her dirt smudged dress.

"To finish my chores, of course." Malon sized up the pleading look in her friend's eyes and tilted her head. "Is there something else you need?"

"Yeah, well, the thing is," Link began, scratching the back of his neck, adverting his eyes to the ground. He wanted to tell her that it was his birthday yesterday, but he didn't know if that would make him sound like he was looking for charity or not. His violet eyes found hers for a second, but they shot straight back down to the grass. He felt like she would read into him if he looked at her directly.

"Yes?" she pressed. The look on her face was screaming 'Come on, now. Tell me what's up.' Though, it also seemed amused at his squirming. Not that he saw, because he was counting the blades of grass next to his right boot.

Should he tell her? Would that be rude? She looked so pretty today, standing in the sun… Wait! Where'd that come from!

"I've got work to do, fairy boy," she said with a raised eyebrow. "Say what ya need ta say, already."

"Um," he started. Man, she really is pretty…His eyes bulged in shock at the thought, and he shook his head in response. Snap out of it, Link! She's going to get annoyed with you! He looked back up at her after some measure of time unknown to him and gave her a guilty-looking smile. "You will wake me up, won't you?"

"And risk losing you to the nobles?" Malon exclaimed. Her sudden outburst made Link jump a little. "Of course I will!" She giggled and started walking back to the corral, leaving Link standing near the veranda door.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Link! He snatched off his bunny hood and turned in to the house.

It was almost time to go and wake up the sleeping fairy boy when Malon heard an unsettling squawk. There was no doubt what had made it, one of Talon's Super Cuccos. The only person outside the ranch who could identify them so far was Link, but Malon knew which was which for a long time. She ran toward the noise, knowing that the Super Cuccos were the only ones in the gaggle who didn't fight back. When she reached the scene, however, the poor thing's neck had been snapped and its chest was smashed. She bent over the dead bird, knowing that her father would be heartbroken. She was heartbroken, too. But who had done this?

She lifted the body carefully and walked back to the veranda. When she reached the door, she pulled loose her scarf and turned the knob with it –a precaution to keep from smearing the Cucco blood on her hands all over everything. She left the bird's body on the bench at the bottom floor and headed up the stairs.

She knocked on her own door. Two knocks, and a "Link! It's time to get up!" There was no response, so –using the scarf –she opened the door and went inside. The lazy youth was sprawled over her bed, his bare feet resting over the side. Her comforter lay on the floor with no signs of use, and Link's bunny hood sat carefully on his chest. She bit her bottom lip in wonder. What is it like to use that thing, anyway? She reached for it, but stopped short. Maybe some other time.

Malon rested her hands on either of Link's shoulders.

"Link," she called lowly, "Lin-"

Before she had known what happened, Link had darted up on her, the Kokiri sword at her throat. His eyes were rage filled for a moment –the moment it took for him to realize what had happened. She was waking you up like you asked her to. He pushed her away quickly. He felt like a monster.

"Sorry," he said, picking up the fallen bunny hood from the floor. "I don't mean for it to happen, it's just that I never know what's on the other side. Could have been a monster you know," he laughed weakly, unsuccessfully. "Not that you're a monster or anything," he added quickly. His eyes were so apologetic it was heartbreaking. "Please forgive me, Mal." But Malon was too shocked to say anything. She just left the room.

Stupid, stupid, stupid, Link!