I'm sorry about the delay in parts, but I'm taking a beating from my classes. Now that I'm not longer behind several hundred pages of reading, I'll probably have more time to worry about my stories. I'm having fun writing this story, even I'm going to enjoy the next one even more. In case you're wondering, yes, I have started it; but I will not post any part of it until this one is finished. "My Dear Fairy Boy" was spoiler enough for the next one, more than I'm used to giving. Malon and Link still have a lot to get through in this story until they're anywhere near ready to handle more. Heheheh, I love throwing people into dangerous situations. Oh, I doubt anyone will figure out what is causing the problem (who stole Navi), but if you can, I'll reward you with a side story of your choice, as long as it relates to my timeline. Here's a hint: It's the hardest thing Link has had to bring himself to fight for personal reasons.

Knight of Shadow

Part 2

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The two made their way out of the unpleasant weather to a foyer of sorts. Malon was confused by the many torches surrounding a small platform, but Link seemed unaffected, so she kept quiet.

"I'm glad they've stayed lit," he commented absently.

They wove around the fire and entered through a dark door. The noises of the outer world were silenced. It was dark in the hall they stood in, the only light coming from what seemed to be the walls themselves. Link paused for Malon's sake, knowing she had never been into a temple before.

"This is the shadow temple," he whispered. "I was here two days ago." They stood in silence for a moment before Link asked quietly, "Do you hear it?"

Malon looked up at him, confused by the question. "Do I hear what?"

"I'm glad you don't," Link replied. "They aren't pleasant sounds." Her confusion confirmed what he had always wondered about. The strange melodies that seemed to follow him in different places were likely made by the magic that flowed through them. In the shadow temple it was better if she not hear the song.

Malon didn't ask again, trying to be as cooperative as possible. She wondered why they still hadn't moved from the entrance but trusted Link to know best. She especially wanted to know what he seemed to be hearing.

Link was ready to tackle the temple for the second time. He glanced back at Malon to see if she fared well before starting. In a moment of insight that Link discovered he had more often as an adult, he pulled out his Kokiri sword and handed it to her.

"You shouldn't need to use it, but if something happens I want you to have protection." He didn't think any of his other kid weapons would be all that helpful, but giving Malon that sharp little sword made him feel marginally better about dragging her into the temple.

Malon examined the small blade with a bit of excitement. Part of her was very eager to see what Link did all the time, to experience an adventure of the hero of time. However, the ranch girl was starting to feel nervous at being in an underground structure. She had never really been closed in a space that she couldn't see the sky from if she wanted. Also, she had certainly never gone on a dangerous journey before, unless one counted the trip from the ranch to the castle. Somehow Malon did not think that something as simple as a wagon ride would bring Link back each week looking like a ReDead.

Malon watched as Link changed out of his boots and put on a pair with wings. He straightened and looked into her eyes. "Please stay close and don't get lost in here," Link asked. Malon nodded and followed as they started walking. She noticed that his feet didn't make as much sound as usual and seemed to slide a bit. Her curious nature wanted to know why he had put on the new boots. Malon kept quiet.

Link's eyes scanned the walls carefully as they moved down the first corridor. Without Navi, he had to rely on his own senses to alert him to danger. He was doubly concerned about enemies because of Malon's presence. He knew that he had killed all of the evil creatures the first time he had come through, but experience had taught him that a new problem meant new creatures. Despite his awareness, Link was caught completely by surprise when a skulltula dropped on him at the first corner.

His body responded reflexively, pulling him back out of the way. Unfortunately, Malon had no idea what was happening and was caught by the blow of his retreat. Link turned in time to keep from falling on her and pulled her shocked body out of the way of the skulltula. He rose and swiftly dispatched of the creature.

Malon sat on the ground in pain, more than a little scared by the giant spider that had attacked them. She was marginally relieved that Link killed it easily, but she was beginning to realize that she was in far over her head. She saw Link's concerned gaze falling on her and scrambled to get up, ignoring the very sharp pain in her ankle and wrist. In his haste to jump away from danger, Link had stepped on her foot when he knocked her back. She hoped it wasn't broken, and it was going to take quite a bit of effort to hide it from Link. The last thing she needed to do was have him worrying about her for a stupid injury. She should have been paying more attention and gotten out of the way. Her right wrist gave a twinge in pain at the memory of falling on it. She would definitely pay more attention.

Link felt his heart calm down from its rushed beating at the surprise attack. He watched Malon rise quickly from the ground, noting that she seemed fine. How he had missed the shadow on the floor would remain a testimony to his incredible distraction. He needed to find his fairy before it was too late.

The first potential problem rose when they approached the chasm just around the corner. His hookshot was strong and could hold the weight easily, but Link wasn't entirely sure how one transported two people that way. Not seeing an easy way around the obstacle, he turned to Malon.

"I'm going to go across then throw my hookshot back to you."

He turned back and pulled it out before aiming. Malon watched with more than a little trepidation as the hook grabbed the opposite wall and dragged Link over to it. He pulled himself up easily before he turned to toss the tool back over. She caught it, surprised at how heavy it really was.

"Just aim it at the target and pull the lever," Link coached.

Malon tried to return his grin, but the thought of flying across the pit in the way she'd seen Link made her stomach turn. She was tempted to ask him what was down that hole, but her common sense told her she probably didn't want to know. Telling her fear to shut up, she aimed the hookshot with both hands and let it fly.

Malon's arms were strung taut as her body was dragged from the edge of the drop-off to fly at the opposite wall. Her heart froze in its beating in fear, her wide eyes fixed on the wall rapidly approaching her. The handle reached the hook, and before she could realize it the contraption released its hold on the wall. There was a moment that everything seemed perfectly still when she realized she was going to fall, and her instincts reacted to the pause, trying to throw her arms up to catch the edge. Grubby hands flailed in the air but never reached the grasp they sought, her arms being too short to reach from the target point. Malon briefly wished that she could assure Link that it wasn't his fault and apologize for begging to come with him. She started to fall and closed her eyes, deciding she really didn't want to see the darkness closing around her or Link's distressed face over the edge.

Her eyes shot open when a firm grip closed around her sore wrist. She immediately looked up to see a very scared Link lying at least halfway over the edge of the wall to grab her. Her wrist hurt quite a lot, but Malon turned her hand to grab his arm and solidify his hold on her.

"Don't let go," Link grunted out as he started to pull her up.

Malon watched him, in awe as he managed to bring her high enough to reach with his other hand. "I won't," she whispered, softer than Link could hear over his exertions.

Link could feel his heart finally begin to stabilize, if still beating quickly. His muscles burned, not used to lifting another person with one arm, but he wouldn't let go for all of Hyrule. He dragged her up, fighting gravity and weariness until he could reach under her other arm with his right hand. Carefully he scooted away from the edge, bringing Malon with him. Once she had cleared the ledge and was mostly on the ground he grabbed her, pulling her far from where she had fallen, hugging her tightly.

There were aches all over her body and several scratches; Malon didn't care. Link's hug was tight, but she needed the reminder that she was still alive, not falling down an eternal pit. He only held on for a moment before releasing her.

Link's body finally started to calm down once the crisis was averted. The thought that he had almost lost one of his best friends was a bit much to handle. Part of him didn't want to let Malon go; the boy in his head blushed furiously and reminded him that hugging girls was gross. He felt a bit of heat cover his cheeks and turned away from Malon's sight. He grasped the handle of his sword and pulled it out from between the stones he had driven it into. Now that his mind was clear Link thought it probably hadn't been the wisest thing to use as an anchor, but he had reacted on instinct and would have fallen otherwise. Or Malon would have fallen, which was worse.

They remained seated on the floor, neither feeling ready to tackle the rest of the temple. Malon thought that she might be able to move without trembling, but she wasn't certain. She was in slight shock, unable to realize that she had come close to dying yet didn't. Link's rescue still amazed her, that someone would risk his own life to save her, even if he did it on a daily basis for other people. In her own mind she certainly wasn't worth the sacrifice he was willing to make.

Link said calmly, still looking away from his friend, "Next time we'll find a better way to do that."

Malon froze, a chill soaking into her spine at the idea that there were other such chasms that they needed to cross. "Link, I'm only being a burden to you. Just leave me here."

His head turned to face her quickly. "No," he stated without hesitation. For some reason, now more than ever, he couldn't bear the thought of letting Malon out of his sight. "We'll just be more careful from now on."

He rose quickly from the ground, brushing the dust and stone particles from his clothing. Malon started to rise as well before faltering. Pain arced up her leg from her ankle and caused her to stumble and catch the wall.

Link jumped, ready to catch until she caught herself. "Are you all right?"

"Yes, of course, just dizzy," Malon partially lied. She was dizzy, but she had fallen because of her ankle. Her wrist also hurt, much worse than it had before Link had used it to lift her whole body.

Link started down the corridor, taking her words for the truth. Malon felt a bit guilty about hiding her injuries before deciding that Link had enough to worry about without her giving him more. It hurt a lot, but she could manage walking as long as Link didn't turn around to watch her grimace. He started a moderate pace away from the dangerous spot. She grew a bit concerned as they started heading toward a dead-end without stopping.

"Link, we can't walk through a wall…" she started, before he did just that.

Malon stopped, staring dumbly at the spot where Link had just vanished. Suddenly he was there again, standing very close and grinning down at her with a child-like glee that he rarely displayed.

"I can't what?" he asked, mildly mocking.

Malon looked up at him, then at the wall, before looking up at him again. "You first."

Link chuckled and turned to disappear again. Malon stared at the place he had just been and took a deep breath. "I may never leave the ranch after this," she muttered before stepping through.

Malon had closed her eyes tightly when she stepped out of the corridor and into Link. He was still laughing quietly and pretended to be wounded when she poked his arm and glared. "You're getting too much fun out of this," she growled at him. Deep inside she was relieved to see him act so lightly, such a rare and precious thing that it was to her. She tried to ignore him out of false spite and stepped past him to look around the room they were in.

Link watched as Malon's face was immediately covered with dread at the sight that met her. He had almost forgotten where they were for a moment, something that did not happen often. He watched her expression and pinpointed the moment she sighted the skulls resting on columns. The whole room was very dark and eerie. A cold tingle always traveled down his spine in this temple.

Malon gazed around, imagining that a person could lose his mind in the shadow temple. A lot of the room was covered in a haze of darkness, masking whatever might be hiding from her vision. Without realizing it, she took a step closer to Link's side.

If at all possible Link wanted to avoid visiting the hall of skulls, as he referred to the section of the temple off to the left. Since all the doors were already unlocked he felt no need to scour every room to find keys as he normally would. He closed his eyes and tried to sense where the presence of evil was the strongest. It took him a moment to weed out all the energy from other creatures, but he finally felt it coming from the direction that Bongo Bongo's aura had filtered from the first time. He wasn't ready to assume anything, but he wasn't ruling out the possible obvious. His enemy was probably using the boss chamber. Link started forward, planning to go immediately to his destination.

They had just stepped into the ring of columns when low groans echoed around the vast room. Link stopped mid-step, his eyes darting around for the source of the familiar sound. He realized just how vulnerable he was without Navi's warnings.

"Link, what's wro-" Malon was cut off when Link's hand firmly covered her mouth. Then she heard it, a sorrowful moan, repeating several times from different locations. She spotted a form moving closer to them slowly and was suddenly frozen in her spot, unable to even draw breath. A chorus of screams rose up, and Malon felt a fear stronger even than falling into an endless pit. ReDeads.

TBC