The Downfall Timeline
Book 1
Chapter 13: Waking Dreams
Link urgently plead with his master to form a rescue party and make for the ranch. His arm still ached, but now he was able to walk about the Water Temple - resting it in a sling. Alfon listened to Talon's story - recounted by his squire - and seemed very downcast about the news that the ranch had been lost.
"When we saw the horses the beasts were using, we suspected that they had raided the ranch at least once, but the treachery of the ranch-hand... We had no idea." he said.
The boy urged him, that with only a few good men on horseback, they could easily rescue Malon.
"I've been to the ranch! I know where the barn is! We can ride in, rescue her, and get out before they know what has happened!" he insisted.
In fact, he had only visited the ranch once, just before he set out for Death Mountain and the Goron City, but he remembered how kind Malon had been to him. She kept calling him "Fairy boy" with a shy giggle. Now she was a prisoner of Ingo and his monsters.
The marshal however, was cautious and not prepared to promise Link any action. The front had become unstable and the Hylians had not yet been able to retake the ranch. Any rescue mission would have to be made behind enemy lines and cutoff from support.
Eventually the squire's badgering forced him to promise that he would propose the rescue to the Princess' council and seek their permission. Every moment after that, the boy followed Alfon like a shadow; prodding him on when he would meet with the Princess.
"When she gives me leave!" shouted Alfon, but he was not deterred.
After only a few days, Link's arm was strong enough to remove the sling and he was able to lift his shield again - Though it hurt to do so, he did not tell his master.
January 24, 610 GK, The War of Imprisonment, Day 192
The Princess' Provincial Throne room, Lake Hylia
The following day, when Alfon attended the morning briefing in the throne-room, Link stood outside the door - straining his ears to hear anything inside. At near-regular intervals, soldiers and counselors would pass in and out of the chamber, forcing him to jump back against the wall and pretend to be standing guard. No one regarded him for long as they all knew he was the marshal's squire.
During the brief moments when the door was open, the boy was able to see that the council was gathered around a large table at one side of the room - studying a map of Hyrule. The Master Sword was hung on the wall behind the Princess' throne; now bearing a handsome deep blue and gold scabbard.
"When did she have that made?" wondered Link.
Inside the ministers argued with each other in hushed voices. Many believed the idea of a rescue mission to be foolhardy.
"At best, you will bring us a few horses" argued some, "At worst, you'll get yourselves killed!" argued others.
But Alfon was adamant. "We cannot allow Ganon's forces to keep the ranch! Certainly not take our horses! If they are removed to Gerudo territory and bred with Gerudo mounts, we will have no source of fresh horses for the war!" he argued.
"There are other ranches." Pointed out one counselor, "In Faron, or Necluda for instance."
Many of the others nodded their heads in agreement.
"Farm horses," began Alfon, "Excellent for pulling wagons, or plowing fields, but terrible as war-mounts! And no horses in the known world can match a Hylian steed's speed or hardiness in battle!"
He now turned directly to Zelda.
"Your Highness, this is not only a part of our territory, it is a strategic necessity! If Ganon claims these horses for his army, their strength will grow and ours will wane! We must take a team to Lon Lon Ranch and rescue the horses and the rancher's daughter!"
The council too, turned to the princess, eager for her response. She was staring at the small circle on the map marked "Lon Lon Ranch" before her.
"I remember Malon." she said softly after a moment, "She came to the castle once, I think she was with her father. She was very bright and very sweet."
When she did not continue, the councilors simply returned to their bickering.
"The girl is likely dead already, there is nothing to be gained from this folly!"
"How do we know the horses have not been removed from the ranch already? It's likely too late!"
"If you keep to this timid path we are going to lose this war in no time!" bellowed the marshal, who was growing cross with their lack of action.
"Let's keep all of this in perspective," started one, raising his hands, "We're arguing over one little girl and one small ranch, when we should be thinking of Greater Hyrule! The other houses have grown fearful at the kingdom's weakness. We should be planning how we are going to inspire them... how we will restore their confidence in the greater good!"
The great knight slammed his armored fist down upon the table.
"You sniveling politicians! All you can think about is your relationships, your scheming, and your money! There is a war to be won here! Lives are being lost!" He shouted as he drew his sword, "If the outer kingdoms have lost faith," he hissed, as he pointed his sword at each of them in turn, "I will restore it with this!"
Impa, also staring down at the map and stroking her chin thoughtfully, muttered, "Put that away Alfon."
The Marshal frowned, but obediently sheathed his sword.
Zelda was barely listening to any of them. All the council ever did was bicker with each other and she was merely a figurehead for the kingdom. Impa was the real authority at the table.
Softly, a distant voice echoed from behind her, "Please help me your Grace."
She turned to look over her shoulder, but there was nobody there. Passing it off as her imagination, she returned to the table. Slowly, as though guided by another force, her eyes closed and her chin dropped to her chest. The princess was not tired, but she felt herself pulled into an almost dream-like state. The council, distracted by their arguments and the girl's silence, took no notice.
"Please... Please... Your Grace... protect my little Malon..." the voice was sobbing.
She found herself surrounded by darkness, but it did not feel like an evil place. Zelda strained her ears and began to walk toward the voice. After only a few steps, a badly injured man, wrapped in bandages and lying on a bed, came into view.
His eyes were closed, with tears streaming down his cheeks. His left hand grasped a bandaged, bloody stump where his right hand should have been.
"I beg you Your Grace, my goddess, please... save my little Malon! Take my life... just please spare my little girl!"
He was sobbing through his words now and barely able to pray.
"Don't let him hurt her!"
Her own throat began to ache and her heart clenched.
"This poor wretched man... what had happened to him?" She wondered.
She reached out to touch his arm, but the image of Talon suddenly melted away and disappeared from view.
Another voice, much younger and feminine, now echoed from a different direction. It too was sobbing, but sounded much more choked and strained.
"We... we pray for the soul of... Talon" she whimpered, "We pray that he might... find peace in Your Grace's comfort..." the little girl sobbed.
Zelda searched frantically around her in the darkness for the little girl.
"She's hurt... she's in pain!" she thought as she reached her arms out to grope in the dark.
The small girl suddenly cried out in pain behind her and the princess turned to see the poor child. Malon hung chained by her wrists from the ceiling of a dark and filthy barn.
She dangled helplessly, with her toes only a few inches from the floor. Her skin was covered in bruises and lash-marks and her little white dress was dirty and torn. One of her eyes had turned purple and was swollen shut, while her lower lip had been split open.
Zelda covered her mouth in horror as an unseen whip struck the girl's side, causing her to cry out again. Yet another voice, this one cruel and horrible, was saying something to the child, but it was oddly muffled and the princess could not make out what he said.
"We... We... We... beg for your forgiveness..." Malon tried again, but the whip snapped against her ear; forcing out a scream.
Zelda moved her hand up to her own ear. She could feel it: the sharp sting and the wet run of blood down her face.
"Where are you?!" She shouted to the girl, "Where are you? We are coming!"
But she didn't notice her - she could not hear Zelda. Again and again the whip cracked and Malon continued to cry out in agony.
"Daddy! Daddy! HELP ME!" she screamed as her torturer's cruel laughter rose up and echoed through Zelda's mind.
The princess couldn't bear it any longer, she rushed forward and cradled the farmgirl's face with her hands. She winced at her touch, then opened her uninjured eye and looked right into Zelda's face. For an instant, the child looked genuinely surprised. Then she, like her father, vanished into a cloud of mist.
"Your Grace?" came Impa's voice from far away, "Your Grace, are you alright?"
Zelda slowly opened her eyes and glanced around the room. She was still standing at the council table beside her guardian. The gathered advisors were staring, curiously, at her.
"Did she just fall asleep?" Several wondered.
The princess carefully scanned the room for the specters of Talon and Malon as Alfon and Impa traded worried glances.
Despite Ingo's echoing cackle, her composure returned and the young sovereign announced, "You are instructed to rescue the girl and what horses you can, Lord-Marshal."
The other councilors began to babble objections, but Impa studied Zelda's face carefully.
"Are you absolutely certain, Your Grace?" she asked as she rested a hand on the young leader's shoulder.
"Absolutely certain!" She replied confidently, "Don't come back without the girl! I won't let even one more of my children suffer under Ganon's control!"
The room traded confused looks at her words, but the regent gave her a warm smile.
"Her majesty always thought of her subjects as her family too. It kept her heart... open and loving to all." She softly answered.
Zelda smiled in return - she wasn't compared to her mother often in such a positive way. Alfon straitened his back, bowed his head, and rushed out of the throne room.
His squire snapped to attention as the door flew open, "Gather your gear!" Commanded his master, "We're moving out!"