Summary: In one month Link is to be wed to Princess Zelda, and while he cares for her, his mind is wrapped up in his old love, Saria, and how his life has just turned out so differently than what he'd hoped. Was he really meant to be royalty? He goes on a walk to clear his mind when, suddenly, a new beginning shows itself in the form of a beautiful ranch maiden... Malon.
Pairings: Link/Malon, Link/Zelda, past Link/Saria, one-sided Link/Ruto, OC/Malon andpossibly some hints ofMido/Saria and possibly, possibly some hints of one-sided Impa/Zelda.
Warnings: Slight AU (Saria and Princess Ruto aren't sages and anything else I feel like changing), post OoT, some OOC. Title subject to change.

So Stupid
Ch. 1

Link sat down at the window in one of the many spacious rooms of the beautiful Hyrule Castle. The room was nice, with expensive oriental rugs, beautiful wall-hanging, plush pillows on a four-poster bed fit -- quite literally -- for a king, a lovely view of the market place and, beyond that, Hyrule field. There was a warm fire burning, and the guard at the door was very pleasant, but this was not the life the Hero of Time had ever wanted. He sighed and stared out into the market place.

It was a lovely moonlit night, and the sillohuet of a young man and a girl could be seen dancing and wispering to eachother. Link thought of the things they'd be saying and thought of Zelda. Zelda, who was so beautiful and kind, but did not ignite the kind of passion Link saw between the two lovers in the street. He'd never felt that kind of passion for anyone... almost anyone. A picture of Saria entered Link's mind -- her soft, green hair and cheerful smile. The way she always cared for him, without being incredibly annoying.

"But that's impossible now," Link whispered to himself. He stood up abruptly, causing Navi to twitter angrily by his ear -- she'd been resting on his shoulder. After saving Hyrule, Link thought Navi'd go back to Kokiri forest, but she'd grown so fond of him, she couldn't bare to part.

Turning, Link briefly told the guard that he was taking a walk and for him to take leave. The guard, obviously quite tired, thanked him and turned to go to the guard's quarters. Link fell into himself once again, thinking of the events of the earlier day as he left the castle and began his stroll along the streets of the market place. The King of Hyrule had cheerfully announced that he wanted Link to accept Zelda's hand in marriage. Zelda had been so happy and she was, after all, the King's daughter. He couldn't find it in himself to refuse.

"Oh Link!" She'd gushed, "We're going to be married! Aren't you excited?" The date was then made for the next full moon a month away.

"Arrgh! Why am I so stupid!" Link turned and punched the air, looking down at his hand... now covered in a black glove with silver pieces of metal on it instead of his brown glove. Navi bounced up and down beside him and he turned to see what she was so excited about. A pretty red-haired girl looked him in the eye. She wasn't dressed in fine clothing, didn't even look rich enough to live in the market place. "Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't see you there."

"It's okay, just don't let it happen again." A smile lit up the girls face and Link knew she was joking. A thought crossed the back of his mind -- did she know who he was? Most people knew him -- after all, he was the Hero of Time. Alot of the girls threw themselves at him, gushed over him. This girl didn't seem to be doing anything of the sort. "You know, it's impolite to stare." Link felt embaressment creep into his cheeks briefly before he regained his composure.

"Hmpf. Nice talk for someone I just caught staring at me." The girl smiled.

"My name's Malon, my father owns the Lon Lon Ranch in Hyrule Field." So she was a ranch girl...

"Link, nice to meet you." He held out his hand and Malon shook it. Navi began whispering incessently at his ear just then.

"Link! This girl could be your chance..." Link knew what she was thinking, she knew that he wasn't too happy about the upcomming marriage. He took the chance.

"So... Lovely night we're having, don't you agree?" He held out his arm and Malon smiled.

"No need to be a gentleman around me, I can walk on my own." He smiled.

"Do you really want to?"

"I wouldn't mind the company." The two turned and walked through the streets of the moonlit market place, unknowing of a pair of violet eyes watching them from the window of an inn.

TBC

So... What did you guys think? Should I bother continuing or just drop it completely? Let me know, 'kay?
AA