Arranged Love

A Malon and Link Story

Chapter Eight: Deceit and a Loss

"Mal! What in tarnation is goin' on? Ya nearly gave me a heart attack!" shrieked Talon as he, Link and Zelda rushed into the barn when they heard her yell.

Link looked around the barn and his eyes stopped on Epona's empty stall. "Malon, where's Epona?"

Malon looked straight at Link with a hard glare. There were tears running down her face. "Why don't you tell me!"

'Oh no! She actually did fall for Zelda's lies! Oh Goddesses what should I do?' Navi thought from inside of Link's hat.

A look of confusion spread across Link's face. "What? How would I know? I returned her to you yesterday!"

"Someone took her." She said, icily.

"And why would you think I would do it?" said Link, slightly frustrated that Malon would accuse him.

"Because of this." she unclasped her hand, revealing an earring, just like Link's and a piece of black fabric, just like his tunic.

It was then Link noticed that part of his tunic was missing and he touched his ears and felt that one of them was gone. Link's eyes widened. "N-no! I didn't do it!"

"Yes you did! I know your true intentions!" Malon shouted.

"My intentions? What?!" Link said, clearly confused.

'Hm. . . she's definitely mad at him, but what if what that stupid fairy said was right? What if he wont love me after this?' Zelda thought uneasily. She shook the thought out of her head. 'He will love me, even if I have to force him. I clearly have a way with words!' she smirked to herself, but then wiped it off quickly because of the tension that was going on right now.

Talon then stepped in. "Now Malon, stop yellin'," he turned to Link. "Tell me the truth, son. Did ya take Epona?"

"No Talon, I swear, I did not take the horse." he firmly answered.

Malon narrowed her eyes at Link. "Maybe you were 'sleeping'. You do a lot of things when you sleep." she joked bitterly, recalling the events of last night.

Link's face flushed in embarrassment and anger. "Okay, that was an accident!"

"So your saying stealing Epona wasn't?!" Malon said, fuming.

"ARGH! If you don't believe me, I'm leaving!" Link shouted.

"Fine by me!" Malon shouted back.

Link was taken aback by this comment. He had expected Malon to believe him and apologise, but she. . . didn't. Link just had a hurt expression on his face and stumbled out of the ranch.

"Link, stop!" Princess Zelda called out after him, but he just kept going.'Mission accomplished? He seems. . .so sad. Maybe I should've let them be?' Zelda frowned. 'No! I've come to far to start feeling guilt! Link will forget all about her when he sees how much better I am for him!' she quickly reassured herself.

"I thought he was the one. . ." Malon said softly. "Oh, where's Epona. . ." she began to cry lightly.

Talon patted Malon's back. "I'm sorry, Mal, I really am. I guess he ain't who I thought he was."

Malon smiled weakly. "It's okay, Papa, you had good intentions. . ."

"I'm really sorry too, everyone." the princess said, sadly.

"It was not your fault, Ms Zelda. If anything, I should thank you about informing me about Link." Malon said.

'Yeah. . .Thank me.' "It was my duty. . . well, if you folks are okay, I should leave now." Zelda said.

Malon nodded. "It's fine. The country needs it's ruler." she attempted to make a joke out of the situation.

Zelda smiled. "If you ever need me, I'll be there for you all." and with that she left to a carriage that was waiting outside the ranch.

"Listen Mally, I know this is a bad time, but I need to make some deliveries to the scientist guy at the lake. . . you gon' be okay by yourself?" Talon asked uncertainly.

"Of course! You make those deliveries, Papa. I'm fine really!" Malon said, putting on a fake cheerful tone.

"Well. . . okay. Take care, sweetie." he said, unconvinced. Then he too, left the ranch, leaving Malon alone.

Malon sighed. She looked at her hand and realized that she was still holding the fabric and earring. She angrily tossed the items aside and broke down sobbing. "Why did you do this to me?" she cried.

"I loved you, Link, I really did, but. . . not anymore" Malon whispered, trying to get on with her chores.

XxXxX

Link sighed. His eyes were brimming with tears. "I don't understand Navi! I didn't do it!"

"I believe you, Link." The fairy said, softly.

"Goddesses Navi! I blew it. I lost her and her trust for something I didn't even do! But the question remains. . . who could have done it?" he said, tears now starting to run freely down his face.

"I-I don't know" said Navi. An enormous guilt was filling up within her. She knew exactly what had happened, yet she didn't tell Link. She couldn't. Navi was afraid of what the spell would do to her.

Link sighed once more."Malon said some odd things. . . my intentions. What does she mean? All my intentions were to love her and for her to love me."

Navi said nothing. Her head hung low. 'It was Zelda's fault! Zelda, Zelda, Zelda!' she screamed in her thoughts, but couldn't bring herself to say it out loud.

Link then noticed Navi's odd behaviour. "Is something wrong, Navi? You're more quiet than usual. . ."

"I'm fine!" she snapped. The decision of whether to tell Link or not, was making her quite frustrated.

He put his hands up for surrender. "Okay,okay. I'm sorry I asked."

"No, I-I'm sorry, Link," she said, nervously. Then, an idea popped into her head. "What if you just called Epona on your ocarina?"

"Navi, I've said it once and I'll say it again, you're a genius." Link said, pulling out his ocarina.

Navi simply shrugged and smiled.

He played Epona's Song on the ocarina and waited. No response. "Why isn't it work-" Link started, but cut himself short when he heard a faint whinny in the distance. He looked all around him, but didn't see Epona rushing towards him, just faint whinnies.

"What's going on?" Link asked.

"Maybe she's hurt, Link!" said Navi, worriedly.

"Come on!" he called out and rushed off to find the horse.

To their horror, they found Epona stumbling near the drawbridge to Castletown, with a deep gash in one of her legs, which was probably made by a trap.

"Oh Goddesses!" Link gasped.

"Her leg!" exclaimed Navi.

"Hurry! Let's take her to the castle! Princess Zelda will help deal with this!" he said, gently leading Epona toward Castletown.

"Princess Zelda is probably the cause for this, why would she help?" Navi muttered.

"Huh? Did you say something?"

"Um, no!" she said quickly. Then the both of them headed to Hyrule Castle, where they met up with Princess Zelda, who was outside.

"Oh! The horse!" Zelda said, with actual surprise. She didn't expect to see the horse anytime soon.

"Zelda! You've got to help heal her quickly!" Link said frantically.

"I'll do the best I can with my magic." Zelda said. She put her hand near Epona's wound and closed her eyes. It started to glow a light blue.

Epona started to whinny nervously, but Link patted her back to reassure her.

When Zelda opened her eyes, she sighed with relief. "Epona should be better in a few days."

"Thank Goddesses." Link said, smiling and sat down on a nearby bench.

Zelda joined him and smiled, but it soon faded. ". . . About this morning."

Link frowned. "I didn't take the horse."

"But, you have her right now." Zelda raised her eyebrows.

"Look, I just found her all like this."

"But-"

"Don't you believe me either?" Link said, brokenly.

Zelda placed her hand atop his and smiled warmly."Yes, I believe you. I know you'd never lie to me."

"Thanks, Zel. I know that you wouldn't either." said Link, feeling slightly uncomfortable yet reassured with Zelda's hand on his.

She smiled a little and looked away. 'Will I always feel this guilty? Well, it's not like I have to lie anymore, but still. . .'

"Zelda?" said Link, breaking into her thoughts.

"Yes?"

"Do you mind. . . if I stay here tonight? I don't feel like going all the way to Kakariko." he asked, uncertainly.

"Of course you can stay! Let me show you to a room." Zelda said.

Together, they walked into the castle and stopped in front of a door, in which Link would be spending the night.

"Listen, Link. I know that this is tough and you're feeling pretty down, but. . . just take care of yourself." said the princess.

Link smiled. "I'm glad that you really care for me, but don't worry, I'll be fine."

"Okay. If you need me, don't hesitate to come see me." said Zelda.

Then, before leaving, she tightly embraced him. "Goodnight, Link."

"Goodnight, Zel."

When Link got to the bedroom, he closed the door and flopped down on the bed. He sighed for the umpteenth time that day. "I wonder if Malon will ever forgive me."

"Hey, Navi."

"Yeah, Link?" said Navi.

"I still wonder who took Epona. . . do you think Zelda could've done it?" Link thoughtfully said.

". . ." 'YES! YES! It was her!'Navi once again spoke nothing.

"No, she's a great person and an even better friend. She couldn't have done it."

'And yet she did.'Navi thought to herself.

"Well, goodnight, Nav." said Link, warily.

"Goodnight."

XxXxX

Over the next few days, Link stayed at the castle, mostly just moping around, checking on Epona and thinking about what really happened the night Epona was taken.

Soon, Link thought it was time for him to return the horse. Malon must be miserable without her! So, He and Navi set out to Lon Lon Ranch. Most of the way, they were quiet.

When they were almost there, Navi finally spoke. "Wait, Link. I have something. . ." she took a deep breath and continued. ''. . . that I really need to tell you."

Link frowned. His fairy was acting quite odd. . . "Sure, shoot."

"I-I know who took Epona."

"Really? and- wait! What?!" Link's mouth hung open.

"It was. . . Princess. . .Zelda." Navi said. Then she started to feel an odd, twisting pain inside of her. The spell! But since she'd already said it, she had no choice, she had to tell him the truth.

"How- Why. . . I," he was unable to form a sentence.

Navi explained everything that she knew to him. About the things Zelda said, how she got Malon to believe her, how she threatened Navi, everything.

By the time she was finished, Navi was in so much physical pain, that her wings failed her. She came falling down and Link caught her just in time. Navi began to writhe in pain.

"Navi!" Link shouted, alarmed. "What's wrong?!"

"The. . . spell." she said weakly. "Link. . .I know I don't have much time left now. . . just forget about me and get Malon back on your good side. . ."

"No, Navi! Don't say that!" Link cried out.

"I'm. . . sorry, Link. . ." she smiled faintly then closed her eyes. She began to shimmer and soon, she faded away.

"Navi. . ." Link said, tears stinging his eyes.

"I hate you Zelda," Link whispered, hoarsely. "I hate you!" he shouted, angry tears running down his face.

He fell to his knees and broke down. "I'll never forgive you. . . never. . ."

XxXxX

--

Oh no! Navi's dead! As weird as it is, I actually kind of liked her in OoT. She was kind of annoying and all, but she served her purpose. Well at least Link knows the truth about Zelda now.