A Link to the Heart Chapter 35

The crisp autumn wind blew through the village, stirring browning leaves on the trees and causing washing to sway on strings hanging between branches. It was a chill wind, promising winter would soon be upon them. Days were already shortening and food growing scarcer, but it was not here yet. Today there was still warmth and light enough to celebrate, and the joy of uniting two souls as one.

Link stood at one end of the village, in the full sight of the villagers. They had gathered to witness the wedding, all those who had survived the Gerudo. Link had come to know them and they him, stalwart and kind and generous. Adversity had forged them into a people and Link thought himself a fool to have ever considered leaving. They had come together to help make this day special, or as special as they could given their meagre conditions. The huts and rope bridges were strung with garlands of woven leaves and late blooming flowers hung over every doorway. Foods gathered from the forest had been set aside for later and someone had produced a few skins of wine they had found secreted in a hut. A lute played in the back of the crowd, a simple tune but the player didn't know any other melodies, Link could have done better with an Ocarina but he didn't mind, the fact they were trying meant more than anything else.

Link himself had spent the last few days vigorously polishing his armour. It gleamed in the morning sunlight, lending him a proud bearing. His helm he carried under one arm, leaving his scar visible. He still felt embarrassed by his marred visage, but nobody commented on it so he had decided to let it be. One of the elderly grandmothers of the village had scrubbed his face with water and a rag, then yanked his hair through a comb. It had been more vexing than fighting a Like Like, but he had suffered the attentions until he looked presentable.

Link cast his good eye across the village one more time. Ingo was at his side, since there was no priest present Ingo had been elected to officiate. Traditions were all well and good but the villagers hadn't protested. They all knew Link and Malon were in love and wanted to celebrate that union. As far as the people were concerned a wedding was a wedding. They stood in two rows, looking happy and approving. Beyond them Link spied a flash of brown among the trees, the hint of something large and feathery moving among the branches. He smiled and knew others were watching too, old friends gathering even if they chose to remain unseen.

The lute player picked up his tune as the crowd stirred. From the far end of the village Malon emerged from a hut. She looked beautiful. A pale pink dress had been found for her, adjusted by a skilled needlewoman to fit her shapely form and a white shawl hung over her shoulders. It clung to her waist and flared over her hips, giving her a regal manner. Long gloves rose to her biceps and in her hands she clutched a bouquet of wild flowers freshly picked that morning. Her hair had been brushed into long tresses, with a single braid hanging over her long ears, crowned with a wreath of flowers. Simple attire perhaps, but to Link she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Her hair shimmered like fire in the morning light, her smile casting all other things into insignificance. Malon was his world and the thought that she felt the same about him made his heart flutter. Everything he could ever imagine wanting was encapsulated in the way her lips smiled when she saw him, everything he needed in life was found in her embrace. He had been without a home for so many years, but now he knew that wherever Malon was, there was his home.

Malon moved through the crowd as smiles and sighs arose. Old folk reminded of happy times and the young dreaming of their own special days. Malon kept her eyes fixed on Link as she walked to him, not seeing anyone else at all. Link too was enraptured and his eyes followed her every step of the way, till she was standing beside him.

Link smiled warmly as he leaned down and whispered, "You look beautiful my love."

"I love you too and you look so handsome," Malon gushed.

"Will you marry me?"

"I already said yes," Malon giggled.

"Say it again," Link laughed.

"Kiss me first and I'll marry you," Malon replied happily.

Link leaned down as Malon lifted her face to meet his. Their lips met and the crowd cheered, celebrating their day of union. Under the light of the morning, in the sight of their fellows in the land of the living and the Golden Goddesses in the heavens above, they began their wedding ceremony. Led by Ingo they recited the ancient vows of marriage passed down in Hyrule since the beginning and creation paused for a moment to witness Link and Malon become husband and wife.