Chapter 13: An Old Friend

Link grabbed the sword from the dead Stalfos and swung it around. It was strange, but manageable. The small sword from his childhood just wouldn't do anymore. He turned the corner outside of the one room he'd known and found a dining hall, completely empty but for a single circular shield lying on the table, one that must have belonged to the Stalfos. He grabbed it and secured it on his arm. Tucking the ocarina he carried with him into a small pouch, he made for the door.

He ran from the room, rushing quickly to try to find the armory. He'd quickly realized that he was no longer appropriately dressed, since his childhood clothing barely fit him anymore.

Link was pleasantly surprised to find that he wasn't far. Most of the armor had already been taken, but he scrounged together a pair of pants, a belt, chainmail, and a pair of boots. The chainmail was cold against his skin, which he'd never worn before, and the pants were too big. The belt was all that kept them up.

Though Link had gained a great deal of muscle over the years, he'd been underfed and lost weight as well. He struggled to keep the armor from flapping around and hindering him more than helping. As he adjusted his pants again, he noticed that the Triforce symbol was still visable on his hand. He searched the backs of the closet for something to cover it up. He found one glove and shook his head in disgust as he pulled it on. He looked like a mess, and he felt like it too.

He tried to make it out of the maze of hallways as quickly as he could, but Link realized that he was in a sort of circular pattern, rounding back to the same center room again and again. Fed up, he found the nearest window. Opening it, he looked down to see that he was only about three stories above a moat that surrounded a tall tower.

The entire area was covered in fog and a thick blanket of darkness. Link looked behind him and back down to the still water below. Closing his eyes, he jumped.

The water was hard as he hit it with a loud splash. Swimming ashore would have been the smartest option, he figured, but as he looked around, the entire dark tower was surrounded by a massive forest. The moat, on the other hand, led to a fast-moving river. If he'd learned anything more than seven years ago, it was that most water flowed to Lake Hylia. Keeping himself buoyant on his back, he let himself float with the current, falling down several waterfalls, across rapid currents, and past jagged rocks along the way.

When the water finally calmed, he opened his eyes. He was on the edge of the lake. Dragging himself to shore, he laid there, coughing. Desperate to catch his breath, he rolled on to his back and stared up at the sky.

He hadn't seen the real sunlight in seven years. Not the real moonlight, or stars. He hadn't felt grass, or water, or fresh air. Each of the sensations passed over them, and he could help but revel in the moment, enjoying the wet chill, the cool breeze, and the soft grass. The bright sun, the blue sky, the fluffy clouds. The sound of swaying trees, lapping water, birds.

Running a hand through his hair, he couldn't believe how much he took it all for granted. Laying there, he breathed it in.

Unfortunately, he knew he needed to get up and get moving. The chainmail was heavy, his clothes hung loose and soaked, but he made his way to the closed gate that separated Hyrule Field from Lake Hylia. He climbed it with ease, and the one after it, before looking out over the grassy field. It was beautiful; a wide expanse of greens.

His mind told him that he needed to head directly for the Temple of Time, but his heart urged him to find Gaebora, Fado, and Saria. With Sages dying, he knew that his old friends would have to wait.

The walk to the Temple was long and tedious. He only stopped when he needed to, and he fought off a hunger that threatened to stop him in his tracks. His body was used to falling asleep when things became more difficult, but he knew Rauru wouldn't be able to speak with him. He fought off sleep as if it would be the death of him.

But when night fell, Link couldn't help but stop and stare up at the wide expanse of stars that littered the sky. He laid down on a raised wall and watched the stars, the moon, and the small night clouds that felt so close, he believed he could touch them.

Allowing himself to doze off for a few hours, he woke up with the moon still in the sky. He'd been dreamless for the first time in years and shook off the strange feeling that came with it. There was no way he could make it the rest of the way to Market Town. Even if he did, the way he was dressed would arouse suspicions of the guards and he still wouldn't make it to the Temple of Time. Instead, he turned toward the ranch in the center of Hyrule: Lon Lon Ranch.

He sat by the gate that remained closed all night until dawn broke.

A young woman, about Link's own age, came to open the gate for the day when she saw him on the ground.

"Are you alright?"

Link's eyes shot up and he saw someone who seemed so familiar to him. "Cremia?" he asked.

The young woman laughed and pushed the gate the rest of the way open. "No, Cremia is my older sister. My name is Malon. You look terrible! I mean… really terrible. Are you wearing the clothes those monsters wear?"

Link shrugged. "Needed something. It was all they had at the store."

Malon sniggered and offered him her hand. "You smell like them, too; did you know that?"

Link couldn't smell the stench on the clothes, but he didn't doubt her. "Yeah, I've had a bit of a… rough time. I really need food and something to wear. Is there anything you can do? I'll pay you back, I swear."

Malon regarded him for a moment before leading him inside. "If Cremia remembers you, then I have no problems with it."

Link made a face, doubting the milk delivery girl would remember him. Malon led him inside and motioned to a table with several chairs around it. "Wait here. If she's not up already, she should be, so I'll get her."

Link took a seat as Malon disappeared. With her long red hair and deep blue eyes, Malon was the spitting image of her older sister. He just hoped he looked like his younger self still. The corner of the room had a small pen with several clucking Cuccos pecking at blades of hay. Empty, open milk containers waited to be filled along the wall, just underneath several paintings of the ranch and the family who owned it.

"Malon," he could hear as pairs of feet came down the steps. "You can't just let a strange man in the house if he says he knows us! I have Romani here, and I won't take any chances. Truly, Malon, are you not eighteen? You don't always act like it."

Cremia and Malon reached the bottom step and Cremia never stopped moving, making her way straight to the door. "Sorry, I don't know who you are. Please, kindly visit us during our business hours."

"Cremia?" Link asked again. She looked almost the same as well, though she showed tired bags under her eyes, stress lines across her forehead, and a wedding ring on her finger.

Link stood up and pushed the hair from his face. "My name is Link. We officially met seven years ago."

"Link?" Cremia said slowly, the name sparking a shred of recognition in her eyes. "Link… I remember that name."

"You brought me to the Lost Woods. When you picked me up, I was almost dead."

Her eyes widened. "And you killed a Lizalfos all by yourself? You and a girl!" She closed the door and looked closely into Link's eyes. "Yes! I do remember you!"

She pulled Link into a tight hug, but regretted it. Her nose crinkled. "Where did you disappear off to? I don't think I ever saw you again."

"No, you didn't," he said with a wry smile. "It's an incredibly long story."

Malon stepped beside her sister and stared at the stranger. "He wanted food, a change of clothes, and, even though he didn't ask for it, a bath. Sorry, but you do."

"I know I do. Thank you both for tolerating me. I'm not sure how you are."

"Me either," Malon jested, earning her a soft swat from her sister.

"Stop it," Cremia warned. "Of course. My husband should have something that will fit you. I'll go get that and a bath ready while Malon gets you food."

Malon raced into the kitchen, and Cremia went back up the stairs.

"So," Malon called, "What's your story? I have to know some of it."

Link followed her into the kitchen so she didn't have to keep screaming. "It's long."

"I'm a slow cook."

Link grinned. "I was taken prisoner seven years ago and I just escaped. That's the short version. I'm trying to stay under the radar though. The man who held me would kill to find me."

Malon handed Link a glass filled with milk. "So, not the king? He wasn't the one who held you?"

"No, no, not the king."

As the eggs began to sizzle, Link and Malon drifted into silence. Cremia returned to the kitchen with a young girl in her arms and a tall man behind her. The girl was the spitting image of Cremia and even Malon, though much younger. "This is Romani," Cremia said as she bounced the girl on her hip. "And my husband, Grog."

Link stood up and offered Grog his hand. He was a bit pale, but otherwise seemed like an ordinary guy. His smile was contagious. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise."

Cremia handed Romani off to him and he left to head outside. Link sat back down and Malon handed Link fried eggs.

They watched in fascinated horror as Link practically swallowed the eggs whole.

Link thanked Malon and sat for a moment before turning to Cremia. "What happened to my friends? Gaebora? Do you know?"

Cremia shook her head. "I'm sorry, no. I gave my father control of the deliveries shortly after you left, and then Malon took it over. She wouldn't know them by name."

Link nodded, hoping for a better answer. Cremia sadly looked away. "Well, your bath is drawn upstairs, and Grog laid out something that you can have. It's a little old, but it should be good enough."

"Thank you, Cermia. And thank Grog."

He headed up the stairs and a small tub was set out in the middle of the floor for him. The water was pretty cold, heated up only by its closeness to the fire. He didn't care. The feeling of the water against his skin was like magic. If he'd ever thought that the Sacred Realm was an incredibly magical place, it was only because he had never gone years without a proper bath.

Every now and again, the Stalfos would toss a bucket of freezing water on him, or leave it in a bucket with a sponge, but he hadn't had a proper bath in seven years.

As much as he was enjoying the water, he knew that the was still a guest at the ranch and hurried to clean himself off. He could feel the grime wash away, especially in his hair, and when he got out, he looked at the clothes that were laid out: a pair of pants that were torn at the knee, and a long, white shirt that tied together towards the neck. He left that untied. The boots that were left had been stitched together with a long piece of thread, crisscrossing to keep the sole and the fabric together. He couldn't complain. Taking the belt, and his pouch from his own pile of clothes, he tied it all onto his waist.

He opened the door a crack and peered down the stairs. "Do you mind if I burn my old clothes in your fire?"

Cremia was the one who called back. "Go right ahead. Leave the water. Malon will take care of it."

Link tossed the stolen clothes into the fire and shook his hair out one more time before heading down the stairs.

"Are you sure you don't want me to take care of the water?"

Malon shook her head and grinned. "I work with cow maneuver on a daily basis. Your bath water should be nothing."

Link laughed. "That bad, huh? I hope it's better now."

Malon laughed. "Oh, much. You don't smell like a ReDead anymore."

"That's encouraging."

Cremia watched the two with the intensity of sisterly interest. "So, Link, where are you headed? Back home?"

He shook his head. "Not just yet. I have to head into town first."

"Market Town?"

"Yes."

Cremia smiled. "Well, Malon has a delivery there today. Like old times, she can give you a ride."

"I'd appreciate that."

Malon turned away and grabbed something from her sister, heading into the kitchen.

She returned holding two large containers of milk. Link hastily helped her and she returned again to the kitchen with two more. "I've got to get him to Market Town. You can take care of the bath water. Bye Cremia!"

Malon walked out the door and Link put down one of the milk's, holding his hand out to Cremia. "Thank you. Truly. I'll return as soon as I can to repay you."

Cremia took his hand and pulled him into a hug. "Come visit for fun, too, like you promised when you were young."

He picked up the milk and nodded to her. "I will; I promise."