Disclaimer: "The Legend Of Zelda" names, characters, places, etc. (C) by Nintendo.
Chapter 2: Problems and Departures
The day dawned bright and the sun shone warmly upon Link's face as he lay in bed beside the woman he loved. Malon was still fast asleep and Link did his best not to wake her as he tried to get out of bed, albeit without much success.
"What time is it?" Malon mumbled.
"Dawn," Link said. "You can go back to sleep."
Malon shook her head and stretched out her arms towards the Hero of Time. He looked upon her unclothed body, her immaculate curves glistening with the sweat of the night before. She is the most beautiful creature in all of Hyrule and beyond, Link thought. A smile escaped his lips which the farmer's daughter fondly returned.
"Give me a kiss," she said. Link obeyed and lingered, savoring every moment of this infinite joy of togetherness.
"So tell me," Malon said in a somewhat seductive tone. "What exactly were you doing at the palace last night? You weren't fooling around with Princess Zelda, were you?"
"Since I know you'd tear off my head if I said yes, I better tell you the truth." Link teased her. He told her how the King had come to the Forest and hired him as an escort for Princess Zelda on her diplomatic journey to the lands to the west of the Gerudo Desert, a country known as Rhunia.
"I see," Malon said. She turned away from Link to stare at the ceiling, her bare breasts rising and falling as she breathed.
"But for this job alone I get payed one hundred thousand rupees, Malon. It'll be enough to afford us anything we want. Our own house by the lake, perhaps."
"What have you got against the ranch?" Malon asked indignatly.
"Nothing," Link replied defensively. Then he shot her a sly grin. "I'm worried about the horses, that's all."
"What about them?" Malon asked.
"Well, after they've heard you sing for so long, it's only a matter of time until they go stark raving mad."
He quickly ducked the pillow she threw at him, but was too slow for her second "attack", with which she flung herself at him. The two of them toppled out of bed and Malon landed on top of Link.
"What was that about my singing?" she asked in a playfully threatening tone.
"You sing wonderfully, my love." Link kissed her before gently pushing her off him in an attempt to get dressed.
"Not so fast, my hero," she laughed and lunged at him yet again. Link began laughing as well and he was just about to repeat his adventure from last night, when a muffled voice interrupted him.
"For the Love of the Deku Tree! Some fairies are trying to sleep here!"
Link and Malon looked at each other and suddenly burst out laughing yet again. Link slid over to his heap of clothes and pulled out the leather pouch which still held Navi prisoner.
"I'm sorry, my little Sugarplum," Link said as he undid the knot. He turned the pouch upside down and the little blue sprite fell with a soft thud onto his palm.
"Do that again and I'll sugarplum your sorry ass." grumbled Navi.
"Aww, he didn't mean to upset you, Navi," Malon said.
"'Upset' isn't quite the word I'd choose in a situation like this... You know, you should try to be a lot quieter when you're having fun like that in a public inn."
Link coughed uncomfortably and Malon blushed furiously.
Sure enough, when they both had gotten dressed and went down into the tavern, the patrons that had spent the night at the inn and the barmaid serving them breakfast were grinning broadly when they saw the soon-to-be-married couple.
"I gotta go," Link whispered. "I have to spend the day at the palace. The Princess and I will leave tomorrow morning."
"promise me you'll come by the ranch before you leave?" Malon asked.
"I promise," he said earnestly and kissed her goodbye.
Borgor was already hammering away in his smithy when Link stepped into his workshop. The big Goron grinned an grabbed a long item wrapped in cloth from a stand in the corner. Borgor immediately began to explain the exact process of how he forged the blade, trailing off from the topic every now and then, so that Link had to force him back on track.
"...This is my finest work yet, Brother Link," he said. "Made from Death Mountain Mithril of the best quality. We found a gigantic vein of silver in Dodongo's Cavern. And all thanks to you. If you hadn't taken care of the dodongos back then, we would have starved to death. Speaking of starving, I could use a bite to eat about now... "
"I'm sure you do," Link said quickly, holding out his hands in anticipation of the elongated bundle the Goron was holding. He had endured the mountain-dweller's inane chatter for the last fifteen minutes, and frankly, was getting tired of it.
"So, if you don't mind," he continued. "I'll just take my sword, give you your money and you can go have your breakfast.
"What? Oh, yeah! Here," Borgor handed over the parcel, which Link carefully unwrapped to reveal a weapon so magnificently crafted that it could not have been done by the rough hands of a Goron. The hilt was simple enough and when put in a scabbard, wouldn't look much different from the swords the royal guards carried, but it was noticeably longer. The blade was also a wholly different matter. Running along from the cross-guard to the point, were imprints that uncannily resembled the leaves of the Deku Tree.
"What did you do with the blade?" Link asked.
"Nothing," Borgor answered in all earnest. "After I had cooled it I spent about two hours checking to see if there was any fault in the blade, but I found nothing. But the hilt was my idea. You see, I made it a bit longer so you could use it with either one or both hands, depending on how you like it better."
"I see," Link said dubiously, but quickly changed the subject. "How much do you want for it?"
"I couldn't accept any money from you, Brother Link. Just tell everyone who asks, assuming you haven't run them through, where you got it from, okay?"
"But I have to give you something," Link protested. "Even Medigoron charged me for that hunk of junk he called a knife." He pulled out his wallet, but the Goron pushed it back.
"Aye, and that's why you won't have to pay anything here. Just tell anyone who asks where you got it. Then every swordsman will be coming here to buy a work of art such as yours. And soon I'll be swimming in Rupees!"
"All right then, Borgor. You have my word."
In the Castle, Link was trying to convince the King that it would be best if he and the Princess traveled alone. He was sitting in Daphnes' private study on a very comfortable ebony chair with red velvet cushioning. Across from him, behind a large ivory desk sat the Hyrulian ruler with his fingertips held against each other, listening intently to the green youngsters words.
"An entire company of soldiers is sure to draw much more attention than two simple travellers, your Majesty. As far as I know, Rhunia and Hyrule have practically ignored each other for several hundred years and sending along so many armed men may be interpreted in the wrong way."
The King scratched his chin, which was completely hidden by his regal beard.
"I understand your concerns, Sir Link," the King finally said. "It shall be as you wish."
"One more thing," Link amended. "In the unlikely event that something should befall me, I want the remaining payment to be handed over to my betrothed, Malon Lonlon."
He looked resolutely at the King who gave him an icy stare.
After about a minute of silence, the king agreed.
"If that is all, Your Majesty, I would ask permission to use the facilities of the palace."
"Yes, of course. You will be staying in the same quarters as usual. Good day, Sir Link."
"As to you, Your Majesty."
Link stepped outside and walked through the marble halls on a marine-blue carpet towards the place he sought. It was not really because he wanted to be there, but it was the place he would most likely not come into close contact with the princess.
He opened a door, stepped out onto a balcony overlooking the training grounds. This part of the palace was more utilitarian than for show and thus was not as splendid as the rest of the palace. The walls were plain rock and the ground, which was separated by poles and rope to form individual areas for the soldiers to spar, was dirt strewn with sawdust. Link looked around at the various occupants, each training with a wooden replica of their weapon of choice. One fighter at the far end of the field, with long blond hair tied in a ponytail and wearing a white riding hose, knee high black leather boots and a forest green tunic much like Link's own, particularly caught his eye and he squinted slightly to better recognize the person in question. When he saw her face, he groaned in exasperation.
In the center of one of the sparing rings stood Zelda, brandishing an elegant looking rapier against a man who looked like the arms master, an old and vicious looking brute with scars all over his face wearing a soldiers uniform and wielding a broadsword. In Link's opinion, he was the only real soldier in the entire country, except for the Gerudos.
Link walked along the balcony to a flight of stairs and down onto the field itself. Zelda now stood between him, her back towards him, and a wooden gate: The gate to the royal stables. A mischievous grin spread across his face. He put two fingers to his lips and whistled a loud and carrying tune. The melody was one his future wife had taught him nearly seven years ago.
As he played, Zelda turned to face him, a puzzled look on her face. Then, her confusion changed into shocked disbelief as she slowly turned to look at the stable doors. In precisely that moment, the door burst open and in stormed a lightning bolt of maroon color. It leaped over the princess, who let out a shriek of fright and dropped to cower from the charging mare. Link's longtime companion, Epona, came to a dead stop right in front of her friend.
"Easy, girl," he crooned in her ear, patting her neck and giving her a carrot stick he had in his pocket.
"What in the name of the Mighty Three was that all about," shouted a more than irritated Zelda.
Link looked at her innocently and bowed with mock respect.
"I apologize on Epona's behalf, Your Highness. It has been some time since I have had the chance to ride her out."
"Whatever. Just keep that hack away from me."
Epona's nostrils flared. She positively hated being called things like 'hack' or 'mule'.
"Easy, girl," Link repeated. "she's just grumpy, that's all."
he saddled up and rode to where the range for horseback archery was located, ignoring Zelda's protests for calling her grumpy. On the way he grabbed a bow and a quiver full of arrows from next to a guard who was taking a midday nap.
"I'm sure you don't mind," Link said. The snoozing soldier snored loudly and continued his beauty sleep.
"I didn't think you would."
"Link," Navi said reproachfully.
"What? He can get another one at the armory."
"Whatever. But you know how I feel about your style of riding. It makes me sick."
"Well, go sit on a fence post somewhere."
"I think I will."
Navi fluttered off.
At the range, Link could feel Epona's muscles tense, eager to run again for the first time in an entire week. He felt his own heart pound, blood rushing into every last tip of his body, carrying anticipation upon it's crimson current. He bent down and whispered in Epona's ear: "Are you ready?"
His mare snorted and dug at the earth with her front hooves.
"All right then,"
Link straightened up and took in a deep breath. With a loud resounding yell he thrust his heels into Epona's sides and the graceful mare charged forward with an ear splitting whinny.
It was an exhilarating feeling. The wind rushing through his hair and the thunder of the hooves upon the earthen ground. Link drew arrow upon arrow and shot at the targets with much speed and accuracy. Hours passed unnoticed and when Link was able to perceive his surroundings after the hypnotic daze of his workout he found it was almost sundown.
All the while Navi had been watching him, a bored expression on her face. When she heard steps behind her, she hurried to hide, fearful that it would be a soldier. The last time she had a close encounter with one of them it took her two days to straighten out her wings completely. But when she peeked out form her hiding spot she saw Zelda smiling at her.
"Hi," the princess of Hyrule said brightly.
"Hi," Navi replied and fluttered back onto the post.
Zelda looked it out at Link who had just dismounted and was talking softly to Epona.
"You miss him, don't you?" Navi asked bluntly.
"What?" Zelda asked, looking down at the little fairy. Navi just gazed at her pointedly.
"No, not in the slightest," Zelda answered to the question.
Navi gave her an 'oh really?' sort of look.
"Don't give me that. I have nothing more to say to that brute."
"Nothing more to say to what brute?" Link asked as he approached the other two. He examined her closely, taking in every detail and resting his eyes finally upon her blade.
"Can you handle that thing?" he asked, pointing at the rapier. Of course she could. He had seen her.
"Why? Are you challenging me?" Zelda asked.
"I wouldn't dream of challenging you, Your Highness. I might hurt you."
At that Zelda drew her sword which made a steely and angry hiss. Link also drew the blade he had received from Borgor earlier that day. Zelda eyed Link's new weapon with contempt.
"your sword-smith must either be a sham or a beginner. The hilt is too long and the blade looks wrinkly."
Link grinned.
"It was designed that way. You can either use both hands..." he gripped the sword in said manner and took a swipe at the princess, which she dodged with ease. "...or with only one!" he let go with one hand and forced it to quickly change direction, so that Zelda had no choice but to parry. When the steel of the rapier met the modified silver of the long-hilted sword, it did not produce the usual loud clang, but a much softer ringing sound and an echo that reminded of the rustling of leaves. They both slowly exchanged blows which the other dodged or parried, testing out their opponents abilities, as was customary in such duels.
"Quaint," Link said after a while. "Why don't we raise it up a notch?"
With that he lunged at Zelda with full force thrusting and swinging his sword at her. All the bitterness that had welled up inside him over the years were finally boiling over. He fell to one knee and brought the blade of his sword straight upwards in a jumping motion and swung it sideways twice from left to right and back again. All this was in preparation for this deadliest attack: the Magical Kaiten-Giri. It was impossible to block without either losing one's weapon or being split in half and Zelda knew that. When Link unleashed the Dread Whirlwind she jumped backwards in a back flip. Link came out of the attack, ready for another blow, only to find the tip of Zelda's rapier to be barely touching his throat. Zelda glared at him with all the rage in the world for what seemed like an eternity. Then that gaze went from hatred to disbelief to utter horror at what had almost happened. Link realized the same thing. They had been playing with each other's lives as if they were nothing. Link took a step backwards and quickly sheathed his sword. Zelda did the same.
"Zelda, I..." Link began, but she merely put up a hand and looked away.
"It's my fault as well. No need to apologize."
Link quickly grabbed Epona's reins and motioned to Navi to follow, leaving Zelda alone.
In the stables, Link led Epona into a stall and began brushing her down after removing the riding gear from her. Neither spoke for a while until Navi said "That was reckless, Link."
"I know," he replied. "I couldn't help myself. It just happened."
"Why can't you two just..." Navi began, but Link placed a finger on her lips to silence her. Actually his finger covered her whole face and was perhaps a little to forceful, as she fell over backwards from her sitting position on the brown mare's back.
"Sorry," Link muttered and helped her back up. "But, please. I'm not really in the mood to talk about that."
Navi rolled her eyes and sighed, but nodded all the same, mumbling to herself.
After some time, a page approached Link with a frightful expression. Navi quickly fled out of sight.
"Um... Sir Link?" the boy asked apprehensively.
"Yes?" Link replied.
"The King wishes to see you."
The young boy seemed to cringe away from him, as if terrified that the young man would hurt him. Link raised an eyebrow and finally said. "All right. Lead the way."
The boy was clearly relieved.
"We cannot believe that this atrocity has occurred within these very walls!"
King Daphnes said hotly as he paced back and forth behind his desk. Link and Zelda, who were both seated, looked at each other from the corners of their eyes. When the king began using the royal 'we' it was decidedly not a good sign.
"But father," Zelda piped up. "We were only sparring."
"We have more than a dozen eyewitness accounts that it was more than just 'sparring' as you so mildly put it, Zelda Luna Temagi Hyrule!" Zelda swallowed. Him using her full name was also not a good sign.
"And as for you, Sir Link of the Forlorn Forest... Might I remind you that it is your duty to protect my daughter and not kill her?"
"I just..." Link wanted desperately to say something, but the raging ruler of Hyrule cut across him. "We do not care what either of you has to say in this matter! What you have done was irresponsible and childish and will under no circumstances ever again take place! HAVE WE MADE OURSELVES ABUNDENTLY CLEAR?!?"
"Yes, sir." Link and Zelda said in unison, looking at the floor in shame.
The king took a deep breath and finally sat down in his seat.
"Very well then. I will have you both confined to your quarters for the rest of the night. Rest well, for you have an arduous journey before you. Sir Melcom!"
The door opened and in stepped a member of the King's Own, an elite troop of fighters assigned to the personal protection of the Ruler of Hyrule. These soldiers were not dressed in the standard bluish uniform, but dressed rather in a red regalia with the Hyrulian royal crest emblazoned in golden thread upon a black tabard they wore over it.
"Yes, Your Majesty?" the guard named Melcom asked.
"Please escort Sir Link and my Daughter to their rooms." the Kin ordered.
"As Your Majesty commands."
He beckoned the two youngsters to follow him.
After they had closed the door to the king's study, Link and Zelda began to argue in hushed voices.
"I could have beat you" Link said.
"Oh, really?" Zelda replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, really. You may have some skill, I'll admit that, but I'm still the better fighter."
"And how did you arrive at that conclusion?"
"More experience with the blade."
"Oh, yeah? Well in the past seven years I have had about fourteen years of training."
"Did you forget about Termina? Not only did I have the same fourteen years you did, I also had to go through the same three days over a hundred times. That gives me about an extra year, doesn't it?"
"That doesn't count!" Zelda said indignantly.
"Yeah, it does," replied Link.
"Does not."
"Does too."
"Well, I've had training in two different types of combat. The Sheikan Hidden Arts and the Hyrulain Dueling Style."
"Your room, Sir Link." Melcom interrupted their bickering, which had steadily increased in volume. Link nodded and stepped inside, but as he moved to close the door, he turned back and saw Zelda sticking her tongue out at him.
Link's rooms were much too fancy for his taste. A carpet of different shades of red covered the floor, except for a small space in front of a large fireplace in which a comfortable fire was crackling away. In front of it stood matching set of furniture, a table and two armchairs covered in red velvet. The bed, which stood opposite to a front of windows that reached all of twenty feet to the ceiling of the room, was a gigantic fourposter with curtains of white silk one could draw back.
Link looked around with distaste and for a while did not notice the faint tapping sound that came from outside.
When he finally did notice, he looked around for it's source and eventually spotted an orb of bluish-white light hovering outside one of the windows.
Link hurried to open it for Navi, who fluttered inside, her nose held high in the air.
"What's with you?" Link asked his longtime companion.
"Did you apologize to Zelda?" she asked haughtily.
Link scratched his cheek and said: "Not as such, no..."
"Then I'm not talking to you."
Link sighed and sat down on the bed. After a moment, he yawned deeply and, after taking off his boots and tunic, slipped under the covers.
**********
Link stood in Zelda's garden, listening to the soft rustle of the wind and Zelda singing her favorite song. She seemed to come out of nowhere and took Link by the hand.
"Come on!" she laughed. And the two of them ran across the fields of Hyrule towards the Lake Hylia. Halfway there, Zelda stopped and looked at the Hero of Time.
"Dance with me," she said in a dreamy voice. Link really wanted to, but remembered that he was a promised man.
"I can't," he said. "I'm getting married to Malon."
"Just one dance," Zelda pleaded, but Link did not heed her call. Instead he desired to pay a visit to his betrothed. To prepare for that he looked at himself in a nearby vanity mirror which leaned against a boulder. But in it he did not see his own reflections, but rather shadows flitting in and out of the frame. His curiosity piqued, he moved closer to investigate. As he drew nearer one of the shadows, mimicking his own movements, came into sharper relief. But when he looked at the face on the other side of the glass, he saw something he had not expected. The fiery red hair and sickly greenish skin were the same, but the once so malevolent eyes were sunken and fearful and the mouth which had always grinned so viciously now trembled as if on the verge of tears.
"Help me" Ganondorf whispered before vanishing in a wisp of darkness, only to be replaced by Link's own image. This image, however, did not copy link's movements, but instead leaned forward out of the looking glass. The mirror Link opened his mouth and whispered: "I have returned, brother..."
**********
Link woke with a start. He had had nightmares before, but never this intense. He shook his head and closed his eyes again, this time falling into a dreamless sleep.
He was roused again several hours later by soft incoherent murmuring. He opened his eyes yet again and had to cross them to properly see what, or rather who, had clung herself to the tip of his nose. Navi was snoring slightly and talking in her sleep. Link softly blew air at her and she blinked drowsily at him.
"Rise and shine, my little sugarplum."
"Oh, shut up," she mumbled. Navi was not a morning person and particularly hated cheeriness at that time of day. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stretched with a comparably loud yawn.
"Come on," said Link. "We need to hurry. Her Highness is probably already waiting for us."
Sure enough, the princess was already mounted and ready for departure when Link joined her at the gate to the castle grounds. For the journey, she had donned a simple traveling gown of white and blue wool and wore her hair in a peasant braid. The only thing that gave her away as a member of the Royal family was a small pendant bearing the Hyrulian Royal Family's crest: The Triforce.
"Why are you traveling like that?" Link asked curiously. "What happened to Sheik?"
Zelda straightened in her saddle and put on a haughty expression.
"Shiek was from a different lifetime."
Epona became suddenly uneasy, shying away from Zelda's horse, a tall black stallion who answered to the Name of Rythos. It had an uncanny resemblance to Ganondorf's steed back during the Incident, but it's eyes were a natural brown rather than blood red. Rythos was fully aware of the apprehension he caused in Epona and towered himself up, which made Zelda slip slightly in the saddle. She bent down to speak some sharp commands in her stallion's ear, but whether it was to reprimand him for making her slip or intimidating Epona, Link could not discern.
"Are we ready, Your Highness?" Link asked. He patted his mare on the neck to calm her down and saddled up himself.
"Indeed we are, Sir Link." said Zelda. She nudged Rythos to move forward and Link followed her.
The sun was just rising and the town was just beginning to rise from it's slumber. The few people whom Link and Zelda encountered in the streets stopped to stare at their Princess and National Hero riding side by side in simple traveling clothes. Not that they took much notice of it.
The Guards at the gate hat just completed lowering the gate for the day and gave Zelda a respectful salute as she rode by.
"I have a request to make, Your Highness," Link said after they had gone out of earshot from the guards. He had come to the conclusion that being civil towards Zelda was the easiest way to making the journey as painless as possible.
"Yes?" Zelda asked.
"If Your Highness will permit it, I would like to make a small detour to the Lonlon Ranch. I have made a promise to my betrothed that I would say farewell on the day of our departure from Hyrule."
Zelda gave him a strange sort of look, but eventually nodded and steered Rythos towards Malon's home.
It was almost noon when they reached the edge of the ranch. Already from afar Link could see Malon waiting for him with a bundle in her hands. He nudged Epona to speed up a little and dismounted next to the woman he loved. Zelda watched from a slight distance, not wanting to look Malon in the eye.
The couple exchanged no words only a long sad gaze full of goodbyes. Malon handed Link the bundle she was holding, who placed it gently on the ground and drew her into a loving kiss. Zelda turned her head and closed her eyes and did not look again until she heard hooves pattering towards her.
"Have you concluded your farewells, Sir Link?" Zelda asked.
"Indeed, I have, Your Highness. Let us continue to the Gerudo Fortress." he rode towards the west.
"Navi," he said calmly after a while.
"Yeah?" the little fairy replied, sticking her head out from Link's cap, right where his hair parted.
"I want you to stay with Malon."
"What?!?!" Navi shouted and toppled out of Link's hair and onto the pommel of the saddle.
"This is important to me, Navi," Link said seriously. "Malon is bound to get lonely, so I want you to keep her company."
"But what ybout you and Zelda?"
"I promise you, we won't tear each other's head off. Please, Navi. For me."
"Oh, all right," Navi coincided. "But you better come back to me alive, or I swear by the Deku Tree Sapling that I will personally kill you, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am," Link laughed and Navi flew off without another word.
A/N: Here it is, chapter 2. This is basically where the changes really start to take effect. THose who have read (and remember) my first draft will notice what I have changed. So go ahead and review it, I llok forward to your input.