Arranged Love

A Malon and Link Story

Chapter Ten: The Decision

Malon tried to do her chores, but her mind kept wandering to one person: Link. 'Maybe I should have listened what he had to say. . . he seemed pretty hurt with what I said, and I slapped him!' she thought while feeding the cuccos. 'But I just can't believe that he would blame the princess like that! Ugh! I'm so confused. . .' she continued to work, distractedly.

A while later she heard the sound of hoofbeats trotting near the ranch. 'Who could be here?' Malon thought, heading toward the front gate. When she reached there, she saw a cloaked figure on a white horse. "Who. . .?" as soon as she uttered the word, the cloaked figure removed the cloak, revealing to be none other than Princess Zelda.

"Princess Zelda? What brings you here?" Malon said, confused.

A regretful look was pasted on Zelda's face. She finally sighed and spoke. "Miss Malon, we must talk. I suggest we go inside."

Malon, who was feeling quite in the dark, just shrugged and said, "Um. . . alright, come in."

So they went inside and sat down. "So what is it we must talk about?" Malon said, offering the princess some tea, which she politely declined.

"It's about. . . Link." said Zelda.

"Oh." She said, flatly.

Zelda sighed again. "I just want to say. . . that I'm sorry."

"You're sorry? For what?" Malon said, uncertain to whether she wanted to hear what Zelda had to say.

"For. . . telling you all that nonsense that night, before the events occurred."

"Nonsense?"

"Everything. . . was a lie." Zelda looked ashamed

"Everything. . .?" Malon's eyes widened.

"All of it." She looked down.

"I- But- He-" Malon said, unable to even form a sentence. She took a deep breath and spoke, "Why?"

"Because," Zelda looked up at Malon. "Because I was jealous."

"Jealous. . . because of what?" she was astonished. Zelda, a beautiful princess, was jealous of her, a simple farm girl?

"I was jealous of the love Link had for you." A single tear slid down Zelda's face.

"He. . . loved me?" tears began to well up in Malon's eyes.

"You're his everything. Couldn't you tell?" Zelda smiled very slightly.

"I said so many awful things to him. . . I even hurt him physically!" Malon put her hands on her face and softly began to cry. "He must absolutely hate me now."

"It's all my fault." Zelda said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I hurt so many people and for what? Love that will never be returned? I'm so, so sorry, Malon. I'll understand if you never forgive me. I'm not sure if I'll ever forgive myself. . ."

Zelda expected Malon to act like Link and be very angry with her, but she got something quite different.

Malon wiped away her tears and sighed. "I-It's okay, Princess Zelda. I can understand where you're coming from. You've known Link for so long, It's understandable that you'd fall inlove with him."

"So that's it, you're not mad or anything?" Zelda raised her eyebrows.

Malon shook her head. "No, that's not what I said. I only said I understood why you would do it, not that I wasn't angry that you did do it." she frowned. "I really hope Link is okay. . ." she said, worried.

A distressed look came across Zelda's face. "Perhaps we should look for him?"

"I agree, but where?" asked Malon.

"I don't know. He could be anywhere. . ."

So Malon and Zelda got set for their journey to find Link. Zelda mounted her white horse while Malon got on Epona.

They searched Castletown, but none of the townspeople had seen him. They checked Kakariko, but came with the same results. They checked Zora's Domain, Kokiri Forest and Lake Hylia and still nothing. By the time they had checked all the places, the sun started to set.

Malon frowned. "I'm really worried now."

"We've looked basically everywhere! Where could he be?" Zelda said, exhausted.

Malon's eyes lit up. "We haven't checked Gerudo Valley yet!"

The princess made a face. "Why would he be there?"

she shrugged. "Don't know, but it doesn't hurt to check."

Zelda nodded and they headed toward Gerudo Valley.

XxXxX

Link was quite tired. He'd spent the whole day deciding what to do. Was his life really worth living? Did anyone really care about his feelings? But then again, wasn't killing himself wrong? He sighed and looked out at the setting sun. 'No. I will not kill myself. Even though the ones I held dear to me are gone, I still cannot kill myself. . . it feels too wrong, but what should I do?'

He just continued to stare into space, lost in thought, completely not noticing Malon and Princess Zelda arriving.

When the two girls got there, they noticed a figure standing at the end of the bridge that connected Gerudo Valley to Gerudo Fortress.

Zelda narrowed her eyes at the figure. "Hey, isn't that Li-" before she could finish, Malon had jumped off Epona and was running toward him.

"No! Link! Don't!" she yelled.

The sudden noise surprised Link. He quickly turned around and lost his footing, causing him to trip backwards, into the ravine.

"No!" Malon cried.

Link was about to fall to his inevitable death, when he felt something keeping him up. It was Malon. She tightly held his hands and struggled to pull him up. "Link! I can't do it, I'm not strong enough!" she cried out.

"Zelda!" she called out, but there was no answer. She turned around to find that Zelda had fainted.

"M-Malon. . ." he said in a weak voice

"I'm right here, Link!"

"I'm s-sorry. . ."

"No. . . I'm sorry, Link. I'm sorry I said those things to you, I'm sorry I accused you of a false crime. I'm sorry!"

Link chuckled lightly. "You talk too much. . . I forgive you." Then he continued. "Malon. . . there's something I need to tell you. . ."

"Yes?" she said softly.

"It's just that. . . I love you."

Malon smiled warmly. "I. . . I love you too."

Even though the situation they were in right now was awful, Malon leaned in for a kiss. That is, until Link slipped lower.

"Oh, Goddesses! Link" she said, a look of terror on her face. "Get up!"

"I can't Malon. I'm just too. . ." Link's eyes began to droop ''. . . weak. . ." his eyes closed and his grip on Malon loosened.

She didn't have enough strength either, so her arms eventually gave out. "Link?!" she screamed. It was too late, he was gone. . . "Link. . ." she whispered and started to weep.

XxXxX

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Dun Dun Dunnnn! He wasn't going to jump, and still he falls. What a world. Seriously though, talk about bad timing! Ah, well, until next time.