A Link to the Heart Chapter 9
The fire crackled warmly in the hearth, casting a heady glow into the room. It was hypnotic to watch the way the logs popped and crackled, falling apart as the fire ate them. The smell was rich and aromatic, filling the room with soft scents of pine and a warmth that crept under the eyelids and made one want to sleep. There was a simple pleasure in watching the fire, a peaceful contentment that made one want to never move again.
Link leaned back in an old leather chair, with his sword and shield propped up against the armrest and stretched out his legs. His feet were warmed by the fire, bare skin throbbing comfortably in the heat. His stomach was heavy with vegetables and roasted Cucco, followed by dripping honey-bread, a better meal than he'd had in years.
He was in the main sitting room of the farmhouse, a place of freshly brushed floorboards and comfortable chairs. The walls were hung with faded portraits, of a young Talon and an even younger woman, and a cow's head had been stuffed and mounted over the fireplace. The two windows were shuttered against the night's chill, keeping the heat of the day inside and it was deliciously hot in the room.
With Link were Tarren and Jortan, along with Mr Ingo, the ranch manager. They all sat back and enjoyed the fire, luxuriating in knowing a day's work had been well done. They had all been working hard for the last few days to fix up the ranch, helping out where they could and putting their strong backs to good use. It irked Link that they had stayed several days longer than intended, yet somehow there had always been a pressing reason to stay one more day, just another day and then another. Tarren and Jortan hadn't complained, so long as they were fed and warm they didn't seem to care where they were.
Tarren supped from a mug of cider and murmured, "I could get used to this."
Jortan grinned teasingly as he mocked, "Careful brother, a few more days of this and you'll turn fat."
Tarren snorted, "I'd be more concerned about yourself little brother, you're piling on pounds."
"Bah, I'm as handsome as ever," Jortan scoffed, "The ladies love me!"
Link couldn't help but add, "Not after your third helping of sweet tatters, you won't fit in your armour soon."
Tarren laughed aloud, "You'll have to rely on your personality to win bed companions, Golden Goddesses have pity!"
Jortan frowned but Ingo spoke up, "How many more feasts will we have to lay on for you?"
Link sighed, for Ingo was a penny-pinching miser, counting every copper they spent. Yet it was hard to deny the man worked hard keeping Talon's largess to a minimum. The ranches' owner was a sleepy but kind-hearted man, ever ready with praise and favour while Ingo kept an eye on the workers. Together they were a potent combination, driving the ranch hands hard but earning their admiration anyway. Together they had made Lon Lon ranch famous and Link didn't doubt that the two had great deal more respect for each other than they let on. Strange since in the other future, the one he had unmade, they had been bitter enemies.
Link drew in a breath and said, "Don't worry, we're setting out in the morning."
"That's what you said yesterday," Ingo muttered, "And the day before that."
"I mean it this time, we're heading to Hyrule castle tomorrow."
Jortan leaned forward and said, "We don't have to go so soon, one more day can't hurt."
Link eyed him with a scowl, "Don't you two have an army to be getting back to?"
Tarren sighed forlornly, "He's right, the muster call is out. The commanders won't think to question a few days delay getting back, but we can't linger any longer."
"But…" Jortan protested.
"That's called desertion brother," Tarren snapped, "We ain't no deserters, we swore oaths and we keep 'em."
Their conversation was interrupted as Malon swept into the room, carrying a platter with a few chunks of bread on it. She had been scrubbing plates in the kitchen and her arms were pink below the elbow. She had sat through dinner with an odd smile and Link had been puzzled to note she'd taken the time beforehand to wash her face, pull all the hay out of her hair and for some reason had fixed a flower over her left ear. He hadn't said anything, not wanting to cause offence but she'd been acting strangely the last couple days. She hadn't even shouted at him, well hardly shouted at him… welllll she had, but in a friendly way.
Malon strode right up to Link and declared, "There's some honey-bread left over, you have it Link."
Link's stomach rumbled in protest of having anything else forced into it and he replied, "Thank you, you're very kind but I've had my fill."
"Nonsense, you worked hard, you deserve it," Malon declared.
Jortan lifted his head and said, "If he doesn't want it I could…"
"You've had more than enough, Mister Knight!" Malon snapped, "Link, go on."
Link was finding her earnest expression quite uncomfortable but he reached out and replied, "Maybe just one."
Malon beamed as he took it and said, "Eat up and get an early night, you have a busy day tomorrow. The stallions need paint bags trying on, so we can track which mares they couple with."
Ingo sat up and argued, "They're leaving tomorrow!"
"Not before Link helps me get the herds straightened out!" Malon snapped as she turned and strode out, not offering the left-overs to anyone else.
Link sighed wearily as he set the bread down uneaten but then he noted the brothers were grinning in his direction. He frowned as he glanced to see what they were smirking at, but there was nothing else and he looked at them in puzzlement. For some reason this made them chuckle under their breaths, then break out into hearty laughter. Link was scowling now and he spat, "What's so funny?"
"You are," Tarren laughed, "You must be blind as a Keese."
"What do you mean?" Link asked in confusion.
Jortan snorted, "Malon, she likes you. Girl's got it bad for you."
That made Link's guts sink and he protested, "It's not like that, we're not… I wouldn't... I mean we're old friends, that's all."
That only made Jortan snigger even louder, "Says the man with new boots and his feet warming before her fireplace!"
Link was deeply uncomfortable with this idea and retorted, "You'd better not let her hear that, she'd bash your ears for speaking such rubbish."
That made Tarren grin ear to ear as he said, "Think back and try to remember who keeps coming up with all those jobs. Who keeps finding reasons for you to stay another day?"
Link didn't want to think about that and argued, "She needs all hands to help out."
But Tarren countered, "It's not our hands she wants. It's only you she keeps finding reasons to keep around."
Jortan sniggered, "New boots, seconds of dinner…. What more does the man need, a signed invitation from the royal family?"
Link snapped testily, "You two knock it off, it's not like that!"
Jortan frowned mockingly as he teased, "Shy are we... have you not been with a girl before?"
Link growled in vexation, "I have a sword and I know how to use it."
Then Ingo interjected, "Is that why you came back, to seduce the ranch out from under us?!"
"I'm not seducing anyone!" Link squawked in morbid embarrassment.
There was a soft cough from the doorway and all eyes turned to see Talon looming in the frame. For some reason he wasn't smiling, his eyes narrow and his jaw set. The sight made Link extremely uncomfortable and for some reason he felt like he had been caught doing something wrong. Talon looked over the room and growled, "I need a word with Link, alone."
The others got to their feet and shuffled out but Link heard Tarren mutter, "Good luck."
Link felt deeply uncomfortable as Talon settled into a chair and looked him up and down as he said, "Link, I need to know your intentions. If you're thinking…"
Link held up a hand to stop him going any further and said, "Talon, I assure you I have no designs on your ranch, or your daughter."
Talon cocked his head and spat, "What?! Is Malon not good enough for you?!"
"Whaaa…" Link managed to stammer.
Talon cut him off, "I'll have you know after you disappeared she went on and on about you. Barely a day went past she didn't harp on about the Fairy Boy. Put off all the local lads, even after she stopped it. I mean she's nineteen summers old, long past time she was wed. All the other girls her age are married and she's looking to be a spinster if she doesn't get a move on."
Link's guts felt like he had swallowed a stone as he realised he was the only one who hadn't seen her infatuation. It must have been obvious and he'd missed it, or maybe hadn't wanted to admit the fact to himself. He hadn't felt this uncomfortable since his encounter with a certain Ruto of the Zora and he gulped as the understanding dawned that he'd stumbled into a more embarrassing situation than that.
Link swallowed a glut of awkwardness and said, "Talon, I assure you Malon is a dear friend and I care for her wellbeing, but I'm not looking to get married."
Talon growled, "So you want to sow your wild oats and then disappear in the morning?!"
"I don't want to sow anything!" Link squawked in mortified dread, "I came to keep a promise and I intended to leave straight away."
Talon sank back with a sigh and said, "Well that's disappointing. You're a hard-working lad and Malon would have been thrilled. I could use some grandchildren around the ranch; I'm getting old and I want to bounce one on my knee before it's too late."
Link was starting to wish a Like-Like would burrow up under his chair so he didn't have to have this conversation but he murmured, "I'm sure it's not too late."
Talon sighed wearily and looked up at the pictures on the wall, "You never know how much time you have. Look at me. There I was, a young man full of vim and vigour, heading off to join the knights and seek my fortune. My family was angry; they thought I should inherit the ranch. Then I ran into Malon's mother in the market one day and all that other stuff didn't matter. Married my sweet Lyna that summer, inherited the Ranch and all looked rosy… then she passed bringing little Malon into the world."
"She died in childbirth?" Link carefully asked.
Talon's eyes grew moist as he elaborated, "Never blamed the baby for it, never resented her like some fathers I know. Lyna made me swear I wouldn't take it out on the baby before the end came, she refused to let go until she made me swear to do right by my little girl. Kept my word I did, dedicated everything I had to keeping Malon happy. It will make her sad to hear you don't feel the same way about her."
Link was itching to be elsewhere but he said, "I'm sorry to say it can't happen, I have other places to be."
Talon eyed him thoughtfully and said, "Oh… oh I see, there's another girl out there."
Link thought of the Princess waiting for him in Hyrule castle and the thought caused his heart to squirm. How could he explain their complicated relationship: two lives swirling through a knot of tangled space-time, bound by fate and destiny. They had rewritten history together, survived a dark future and averted calamity. He had always known the two bearers of the Triforce were destined to meet again, through all the years of his wandering that knowledge had kept him going. Princess Zelda and the Hero of Time, it was fated that they meet again, she had prophesied this when they last parted ways.
Link couldn't explain any of that so said, "It's true… so maybe it's best I leave sooner rather than later."
"Aye," Talon sighed, "Make a clean break of it. She'll shed a few tears but get over it eventually. Best leave the other girl out of the conversation though."
Link nodded in agreement, "I'll set off at first light. Probably best if I don't come back."
Talon sighed wearily, "Get a good night's sleep. Shame though, I'd have liked to have some grandchildren to spoil rotten."
Talon heaved himself out of his chair and wandered off. Link rubbed his face in embarrassment and cursed himself for not leaving days earlier. This was far worse than his encounter with Princess Ruto and he should have known better. He resolved that he was definitely leaving this time, as soon as he had a good night's sleep. But he really wasn't looking forward to the conversation that awaited him, it would be worse than crawling through a collapsing dungeon. He sank back despondently and asked himself, where was a horrific monster when he actually needed one?
