-Come Back When You're Older-
-A Slight Confrontation-
Link through on a cold whether cloak and strapped his sword across his back and made his bed, creeping noiselessly past the other rooms, he made his way out of the Stock Pot Inn, nodding politely to the young girl manning the counter. She returned a lazy smile, and rubbed her bleary eyes. It was early, nearly six o'clock, but Link had the day off, and didn't plan to waist it.
Opening the door to the empty market square, Link was met with a burst of cool morning air and sucked it into his waiting lungs. Farmers and merchants were now just setting up their stands, presenting their goods for sale. Link reached deep into his pocket and pulled out several of the glittering rupees he had saved up before he left. A sapphire colored one worth five, and several purple glittering gems worth fifty. Slipping them back in his pocket and pulled out the letter from Kafei the night before.
…Also, I know you were inquiring about your mount, Epona. I spoke with Romani, who said she's been caring for it. I gather you'll want her back, though I can guarantee she's being well cared for. I told Romani a man would be by to return her to her owner. I didn't give her your name, though. I assumed you would want to do the picking up yourself, regardless of who was there to meet you. I hope to return within the next week, then maybe we can meet up at the Late and grab a cold one?
Hope all is well,
Kafei
Link folded the letter and slipped it back into his pocket. He wasn't looking forward to returning to Romani ranch, but he missed Epona with all his heart, and was itching to take her out in the field. He made his way through the maze of merchant stands and towards the cavernous gateway to the outside.
The guard eyed Link's sword and waved his through. The sky outside was dark and gray with the promise of rain, but Link didn't care, he was free. Free to do what he wanted, with a place of his own, and a home of his own. The tall grass swayed in the wind, and the clouds overhead began to grumble their discontent. Link pulled his hood tightly over his head and set off at a furious pace down the well-worn dirt road to Romani Ranch.
X X X
The rain started almost as soon as he hit Milk Road, and Link was thankful he was so close. The clouds opened up and poured their bottled up sorrow across the field, and Link frowned, it looked like there wasn't going to be much joy riding today for him and Epona.
The dirty road had now become caked with mud, and Link had to struggle with each step to pull his boot out of the muck with a sickening pop. As he neared the entrance, though, the road became paved with cobblestone, much similar to the roads in town, and a large sign, much larger than he remembered, adorned with brightly colored letters, was held firmly over the road by two strong pillars.
"Welcome to the Romani Estate." Estate? Link thought to himself. Had all the money gone to their heads? But Link hadn't seen the half of it. As he made his way down the soaked road, he saw what should have been the small cottage in the distance.
Though it wasn't so small anymore.
They must have added onto it, several times at that. They must have actually torn down the old cottage, because none of it remained, now replaced by a three story, stone building. It exemplified the status and wealth the Romani family had achieved, and it sickened Link to his core. The decadence reminded him of the Castle, and how much he had detested going there. But when he didn't look at the he noticed everything else was much the same. The field was still full of the same lazy animals that had made life here seem so peaceful. The buildings towards the back of the field still looked much the same, albeit several years older.
The rain began to let up as he neared the house, or more accurately the mansion. He walked up several steps to the large ornate wooden door and reached out for the knocker, in the shape of a reptilian monster, the same pendant Romani had worn as a child, Link remembered.
But before he could even lift the large metal knocker, the door was swiftly thrown open, and the shirtless figure of Romani's fiancé stood, obviously annoyed by Link's appearance.
"What do you want? We don't give charity." He sneered. Link's face reddened and he pulled the letter out of his pocket.
"You have something of mine." He spoke back with equal distain. The man snatched the letter out of his hand and read it carefully.
"Kafei, bah." He spat, and then he turned towards the inside of the building. "Romani! Get down here! Where's that wrench of an animal you brought back from town the other day?" Link wanted to pull that man out into the mud and give him a taste of his sword, treating a woman that way, not to mention degrading an animal that had more integrity than he.
A dark form descended a staircase and stood near the doorway, not daring to come into the light. Some how this situation felt all too familiar to Link, and his hand strayed ever closer to his weapon.
"Oh… you mean someone's come to claim it?" She said in as servile a tone as she could muster, straining to see the figure over her fiancé's shoulder. But he moved to block her view.
"Yes someone's come to claim it." He mocked her. "No where the hell is it?"
"In the stables around the back, Cremia was…" But he cut her off.
"Cremia is not to touch the horses, she has no idea what's good for them!" He growled, then turned to Link, still not offering him to come inside. "There's stables around the back, she's in there, I'll meet you back there." Link just shrugged and turned, trying to catch a glimpse of Romani out of the corner of his eye.
The door slammed securely shut behind him and Link made his way around the back towards a large stable connected to the house. It looked warm and inviting, so Link didn't hesitate to escape the drizzle. Pushing open a large wooden door, he was immediately met with the smell of hay and the warmth of several dozen animals, all snorting and whinnying. Link walked by a row of the beautiful animals, marveling at their beauty, until he came upon a certain mare.
"Epona!" He cried, and in response the Gerudo mare pulled back on her legs and her head nearly hit the roof of her stable. Her whinnying became uncontrollable as Link opened the small door to her room and met her with a hug. The animal quickly calmed and nuzzled Link, tickling his sensitive pointed ears causing him to giggle. "Ok, ok! I missed you too! But don't worry I'm here to take you back. I've got a place of my own, and I'm sure there's room for you too!" Epona snorted in response.
"That's all very touching, but I think its time you leave, I've got better things to do than watch tearful reunions." The sarcastic voice of Verci came from behind him. Link pulled his hood down and turned to meet the wretch of a man.
"Thank you for tending to her in my absence." He said, with all the strength he could muster.
"Wait… you, you look familiar." Verci said staring at Link unhooded face. Link turned back to Epona and began throwing on her saddle.
"I don't know what you're talking about." He mumbled. But Verci had already jumped the stall door.
"No, I do know you. You're than vagabond from the milk bar!" He grabbed Link's shoulder. "You have no right to this mare! You urchin, you forged those papers from the mayor!" Link spun around and slapped Verci's hand away.
"How dare you…"
"How dare you!" Verci screamed in return. Link reached for his sword, and Verci eyed him threateningly. Link knew he wouldn't be a challenge. A rat in knight's clothing, he surmised, but Link hated the color of blood on his hands.
"Boys!" A female voice called from the stall door. Verci turned, and his taught shoulders relaxed. "I'll not have violence in my stables! Now get out!" Verci grumbled and walked out of the stall, slamming the stable doors behind him.
Link took Epona by the reigns and led her out of the stall.
"Wait." That same female voice commanded. "Link? Link is that you?"
Link tried to hide his face, but gave up, he'd been recognized. "Look, Romani, I only wanted to…" But as he turned, he wasn't met by Romani.
"Oh… Well hello Cremia."