Arranged Love

A Malon and Link Story

Chapter eleven: And In The End

Link was falling down, fast. He closed his eyes for what he thought would be the last time. 'I'm sorry, Malon, I didn't want things to end this way. . .' he thought, solemnly.

As his limp body was about to plunge into the hungry waters, the three holy goddesses took pity on him. It was time for them to act. They stopped time itself.

Link opened his eyes and blinked a few times. To his surprise, he wasn't falling! Instead he was . . . nowhere? Everywhere he looked, he saw only a blank abyss.

"Link . . . Hero of Time." spoke three melodious voices.

Link said nothing. He figured out to who the voices belonged too. The goddesses Din, Nayru, and Farore.

"You have done much for this land. As a sign of our gratitude, we shall let you live."

He smiled weakly. "Thank you, Go-"

"However," The goddesses interrupted. "You must save yourself."

"But, I-" once again he started, but was cut off.

"Your energy shall be replenished, but you must use your smarts to get back to the surface."

Link felt his lost energy return to him. As of that moment he knew exactly how to get back up the wooden bridge. He searched his back pocket and fingered what he was looking for. 'I'm coming back, Malon.'

"Thank you." he whispered to the holy figures, as the blank space slowly faded and time resumed.

XxXxX

Malon slowly got up and wiped away her tears. She heard a soft murmur behind her. It was Princess Zelda, rubbing her head.

"Ugh . . . what happened?"

"He's . . . he's gone." She whispered, fresh tears forming in her eyes.

"Oh, Malon, I'm terribly sorry . . . it's all my fault! Why must others suffer because of my mistakes!" Zelda said, shaking her head, tears also burning her eyes.

Suddenly, they heard a shout, that of a man's and saw a flash of green.

"What the Din!" Zelda cried.

A loud thud was heard behind Malon. She quickly spun around and her eyes widened. It was Link!

"Link!" the two girls cried in unision, running to his aid. His breathing was shallow and hoarse.

"Link?" Malon said, but got no response. After trying to wake him up for several moments, she gave up and started to weeping softly, with her head on his chest. "Why do you keep leaving me?" Malon whispered through tears.

Zelda stood inches behind Malon. She bowed her head with a solemn look on her face. 'I wonder . . . how did he get here anyway?' She looked over at Malon, who had her head rested on Link. 'Hey,' Zelda thought, 'Perhaps I can help him? I do have magical abilities . . . I'll do it!'She grinned. She kneeled down beside him and put her hand on his forehead. Slowly, his breathing went back to normal and he began to regain consciousness. She slipped a small object into his tunic. Satisfied, the princess got up and put her cloak back on and mounted her horse. She looked back at the two and smiled to herself. 'You've got another surprise coming, Link.' and with that, she rode off into the night.

XxXxX

Link slightly shifted from his position. He groaned as he did so. 'What happened?' then he recalled his meeting with the goddesses. 'Oh, right . . .' he rubbed his head, which was throbbing a bit. 'I suppose using the hookshot probably wasn't the best idea.' He attempted to get up, but abruptly stopped when he felt pressure around his chest. He heard something too. A mixture of sobbing and muffled words, which he was able to make out.

"Please . . . please . . . d-don't die, p-please . . ." was said.

Link looked to see that the figure was Malon! "Malon," he whispered, but she didn't hear.

"I'm s-sorry . . . I shouldn't have let go! I'm such an idiot!" she mumbled.

Link put an arm around Malon and whispered, "It's okay."

Malon, shocked by the sudden touch, jumped up. She gasped when she saw Link awake. "Link!" she choked out. "You're alright!" She dropped down and tightly embraced him.

He chuckled and returned the hug. "Great to see you too, Malon, though I might not see you much longer if you don't loosen your grip."

Malon stood up and folded her arms. "Hey," she said, seriously. "Don't joke! I really thought I'd lost you!" she turned away.

Link quickly got up and joined her. He turned her to face him. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-" he never got to finish the sentence, as Malon swept him into a kiss. When she broke off, he was speechless. 'Did she really do that?!'

"What's the matter, Link? Where are your jokes now?" she smirked, turning around.

Link broke from his trance and half smiled. He pulled her back towards him and was about to plant a kiss on her until she pulled away and looked around the area.

"Hey where's Zelda?"

Link frowned. "Why was she here?" He seemed a bit agitated.

"Oh, come on, Link. You can't be angry at her forever! She helped me find you! She also explained everything to me."

"Malon, you just don't understand. I gave her all my trust, and she broke it as if it meant nothing! She took so much away from me!"

"You've got me back." She smiled.

"Yes, and I'm very thankful that you are with me, but . . ." his face fell. "You're not the only one taken away from me." he said in a whisper.

Malon was confused, but she decided it would be best for her not to press the matter further. "Well, we should get going now, it's getting late." with that she walked toward Epona.

Link sighed and jogged to catch up with her. As she was about to mount the horse, Link called out, "Wait!"

Malon turned around, puzzled.

"What do you think you're doing?" A playful smile spread across his face.

"Um, mounting Epona?''

"But she's my horse."

Malon cocked an eyebrow. "You're horse? How exactly?"

"Because I'm the one always with her!"

"Sure, but I'm the one that takes care of her!"

They both argued of Epona and failed to hear a light laugh behind them.

"Are you two going to argue all night long! Goodness, I don't have any idea how I'll cope with these two living in the same house!" said the mysterious voice.

Link heard the voice and recognized immediately who it was. 'It couldn't be . . . she's back?!'

Link whipped around, face to face with his old companion. "Navi!" he cried, joyously.

"I'm back." said the fairy, softly.

Malon, confused like heck, just stared at the two.

Navi cleared her throat. "Um, Link, I believe you have some explaining to do to your friend over there."

"Navi, Why don't yo-" he couldn't finish because Navi had dived into his hat, not intent on coming out.

Link looked over at Malon, who was tapping her foot, waiting for an explanation.

"Ah, Malon, that fairy was my uh, partner from when I was a child. Her name's Navi." he said, not wanting to recall the events that took place a while ago.

"Okay, but I thought only Kokiris had fairy partners." Malon said, still quite confused.

Link sighed, then explained to Malon of his childhood right too when Zelda put the spell on his fairy.

"The poor fairy! She must have been under a lot of pressure then." said Malon after Link finished his story.

They chatted a bit about everything until they realized how dark it had gotten. "Oh, my! We should leave before Papa worries his sleepy head off!" Malon exclaimed.

So they both mounted Epona, with Link in the front, and set off to Lon Lon Ranch.

"Hey," Malon said, remembering something. "You never did say how you managed to get back up that bridge."

"Oh, I just used the Hookshot. Not the best idea, but it worked." Link said, quite casually.

"The Hook what?"

"Ah, nevermind."

Suddenly, a ball of light exited Link's hat. "Link, what're you talking about?"

"Oh, You're awake?" Link asked.

"I've been awake the whole time!" Navi giggled.

"Um, hello," Malon said. "Navi." she added hastily.

"Hey there, Malon!" Navi said cheerily. She flew over to Malon and landed on her shoulder.

Malon smiled at her cheeriness.

"So what's he talking about?" the fairy asked, curiously.

Her smile faded, but before she could say anything, Link cut in.

"I fell off the bridge in Gerudo Valley."

Navi's mouth fell open. "You idiot! You could've gotten hurt!"

"I know." he said, flatly.

"What do you mean you know?"

"I don't want to discuss it right now!" he said, harsher than he should have.

"Okay, okay!" she flew behind Malon.

"Link," Malon said, softly. "You should apologise to her, she was only curious."

Link sighed. "I know. I'm sorry for yelling you, Nav."

"It's alright." Navi said, smiling.

"But anyway, how did you get back after . . . you know?" Link asked, curious.

"It was Zelda . . . she some how brought me back to life." she said, cunfused.

Link was shocked. "She, Zelda, did?"

"Yeah, she really did, Link." Navi said. "She's not some evil person, just, like the rest of us, not immune to making mistakes. I think you should forgive her."

He frowned. "I'm not sure if I'm ready to fully forgive her for everything that happened just yet."

"I understand." she said. "Well it's quite late now, so I'm going to head into your hat to sleep." she yawned tiredly and did as she said.

"That Navi," started Malon when the fairy was gone, "is quite a character. I like her."

Link chuckled. "Yeah, but wait until you spend a whole day with her, she can be excruciatingly annoying."

They heard a little mumble from Link's hat.

"I think she heard you." Malon said, laughing. Then she sighed and rested her head on Link's back. "What a day it's been!"

"Yeah."

For the rest of the way back, they rode in silence. Link felt something in his tunic, poking him. He patted himself and found a small, hard object. It was a ring! A ring of emerald and gold. Attached to it, was a note with Princess Zelda's writing.

Dear Link,
I know that you probably wont ever forgive me, but please keep this ring to give to Malon on your wedding. I also shall bring your young fairy friend back to life. I'm sorry and I always will be.
- Zelda

Link was surprised and actually felt a bit guilty for not forgiving her. Sure, she toyed with his life and feelings, but wasn't Navi right? Everyone made mistakes. 'Zelda . . . she's done so much for me . . . perhaps it's time I should just forgive and forget her mistakes?' Link wondered.

Finally, they arrived at the ranch. It was still pitch dark.

Link got off the horse and helped Malon off, too.

"So, I guess I'll set the guest room for you?" Malon questioned.

"Sure, that'd be great." He said, then quickly remembered the ring. "Wait, Malon!"

"Hmm?" she said, turning around.

"I remember, back when I met your father . . . I offered to look after the ranch and you. A marriage was arranged and I know you were upset,"

"Yes, but-" Malon cut herself off when she realized Link wasn't finished.

"but you're father said that only if you could be friends with- or atleast accept me, the marriage would be on."

"Okay, but where is this going?" Malon asked, uncertainly.

"Well, do you?"

"Do I?" she said, confused as ever.

"Like me?" he asked, almost certain he knew the answer. He remember slightly what Malon had said to him at the edge of the bridge, but he could have been imagining it.

"Nope. I do not like you." she stated.

Link was unable to hide the shock on his face.

She giggled. "but, I just might love you."

"Really?" Link smirked. "Then I might just ask you to marry me."

"Yeah? And I could possibly say . . . yes!" she said, unable to keep the excitement out of her voice.

He took the ring out of his tunic. "Good. The I would probably do this." he said, slipping the ring onto Malon's finger.

Malon beamed at Link. She wrapped her arms around him in an embrace.

Link's hand slid up to her cheek, and their lips met in a long, slow kiss.

XxXxX

Within the next week, Link had forgiven the princess and was to wed the woman that had stolen his heart, Malon. When the ceremony was over, the newly wedded couple rode in an elegant carriage, watching the sun set.

"Hey, 'Fairy Boy'?" Malon asked, snuggling closer to him.

"Yeah?" he answered, smiling at his 'new' nickname.

"It's weird, and I don't know why I never told you before, but whenever I see you, I feel like I've met you before . . . in another lifetime, you know?"

Link's eyes widened and his mouth hung open. 'Another lifetime?!'

"Link?" she said when he didn't answer.

He settled back into a smile and said, "Yes, I know exactly what you mean."

From then on, Link and Malon lived a pleasant life and were graced with two children, a girl and a boy.

Although Malon never actually completely remembered the time during Ganon's reign, Link was still surprised and happy that she atleast somewhat remembered him.

The End.

--

Wow, I'm actually finished! This last chapter was a lot of trouble to type since my lovely computer decided to go crazy. But still, I finished! This last chapter is actually the longest one in the story. I'm really quite happy about all the reviews I received for this story. (I honestly didn't think many people would like it, but I was proved wrong.) So0o0o I hope you all enjoyed my story!!