Author's Notes: Thank you so much to my faithful readers and reviewers! Your reviews mean the world to me! As promised, here's the next chapter to Cross My Heart, and it's one of my personal favourites thus far so I hope you enjoy. As always, please review!
EDIT: I editted the ending of the chapter a bit so make sure you read the new ending. Sorry about that.
Chapter IV
"Don't give up. It's just the hurt that you hide when you're lost inside. I...I will be there to find you."
--"You Are Loved (Don't Give Up)" by Josh Groban
Thunder and lightning crackled overhead while a determined horse bearing a single rider made its way as quickly as it was able to across the immense Hyrule Fields. The ground was damp and had become like treacherous sinking sand, loose in some places and sturdy in others, causing the horse to stumble through its challenging journey. The rain beat down upon the weary creature and wounded rider relentlessly, as if daring them to continue, to take another step towards their fate.
A flash of lightning streaked across the darkened sky, silhouetting the rider upon the horse and illuminating the moist grasslands around them. They looked as if they had come out of a foreboding legend: a soulless rider upon an undead steed, headed towards Hell itself.
Epona trudged on despite the aches and pains that shot like arrows throughout her beaten and exhausted body. The horse was bent on seeing her rider to a safe haven where he could receive treatment for his wounds. The rider groaned as Epona's hoof got caught in the sticky mud and she nearly toppled over. However, she managed to remain steady, and continued onwards. The animal had no choice for, in its mind, it had to protect the rider that it loved...and Epona was nothing if not stubborn. She would die trying to get her rider to help if need be.
With every jolt and bump, Link's pain seemed to intensify tenfold. He thought it almost ironic that the one time he was without a red potion or any other means to rejuvenate himself...would be the one time that he needed it desperately. The rainwater that beat down upon himself and Epona only helped to cause a stinging sensation in his open cuts and scrapes. While Link was often fond of rain, after this experience--if he even lived through it--he knew that if he never saw another rain drop as long as he lived, it would be too soon.
He knew Epona was trying to be careful and keep steady through the uneven ground, but she continued to jostle him regardless, causing him more pain. The agony that his body was being subject to was a combination of open wounds and an infection that had been, no doubt, festering in aforementioned wounds for the past few days. However, being trapped in the Fire Temple, there was little he could do but press on. And he had. But the moment he had finished restoring order to Death Mountain, the fever that had been threatening to explode finally did just that, and crippled him severely. Unfortunately, this occurred just after he'd been headed towards Zora's Domain, leaving him too far away from Kakariko. It was safe to say that if it weren't for Epona's timely arrival, Link would have been a goner.
Stumbling once more, Link grew even more skeptical that he would survive this. With one arm covering his raw abdomen, he could feel the blood seeping through his fingertips. The sticky liquid made him feel ill, almost dizzy...or was that simply the blood loss? His brain was too muddled to formulate a logical thought, let alone provide him with an answer. On his forehead, there was a small gash that matched the rest of the nicks on his face, but those were all superficial wounds that would heal with time. The most prominent wound was where the most blood was coming from: his abdomen.
Thinking back momentarily, he reflected that it was not smart to fight a dragon without the proper equipment. That was Link's first mistake. And it was even more ridiculous to stare over a pit of lava to await said dragon. That was his second, and practically fatal mistake. Volvagia, the vicious dragon that Link had been forced to fight and kill, had taken advantage of Link's ill preparation and bad strategy, and had aimed directly at him. While the Hero of Time was agile, he was not quick enough to dodge the deadly attack, and Volvagia's teeth had raked across his stomach.
He shook his head. He did not want to remember that battle, nor that temple either. Dwelling on the Fire Temple only made his thoughts return to the voracious fever that seemed to be cooking him from the inside out. This was not how he wanted to die: from a fever. It was painful but above all else, embarrassing. He could see Ganondorf bragging to his minions about how the great Hero of Time had been killed by a simple fever. If it came to that, at least he could be thankful that he was dead...so he didn't have to endure the humiliation.
Suddenly, much to Link's relief, a structure seemed to loom up in the near distance. He recognized the familiar wooden fence that encircled the small house and stable, protecting its inhabitants, and he knew where Epona was taking him.
"Good horse," he murmured, his voice dry and cracking despite how cold and wet it was outside.
The horse trotted up to the gate that led into Lon Lon Ranch, and found it to be wide open, much to Link's surprise and relief. Now on more stable ground, Epona used her last vestiges of strength to bring Link up to the doorway of the small house. Due to the warm light coming from the cracks around the windows and door, Link knew that its occupants were still awake. Having lost track of time, Link didn't know whether it was the afternoon or early in the morning...and the sky was too overcast with rain clouds to provide a solid guess.
Practically falling off Epona, Link slid his feet to the ground, feeling just how weak he was for the first time. His legs barely held him up, forcing him to clutch at the side of the house just to keep upright. With what little energy he had left, he knocked on the door. At first, there was no response and Link thought that he might just die on Malon's front step. Now, that would be embarrassing.
But soon, he heard muffled voices and then footsteps approach the door. A clear voice called, "who's there?"
Link recognized the voice and immediately felt a little better. "Link."
The door swung open rapidly, and if Malon hadn't caught him, Link would have fallen to the ground, his last reserves of strength finally giving out. "Link!" she cried out, helping support him. "What happened? You look awful!"
He gave her a crooked grin. "Nice to see you, too, Malon."
His head drooped, unable to keep it steady and Malon helped him inside. "Dad! Ingo!" she called, her voice echoing through the confines of the well-lit house. "Hold on, Link," she told him.
Malon helped Link over to the nearest couch, laying him gently down on it. Link could tell when she noticed how serious his wounds were for her eyes widened a little and she elicited a small gasp despite herself. It was not a surprise to have to patch up the Hero of Time, for Link found himself frequently returning to Lon Lon Ranch with a few extra bruises and cuts...nothing serious. The red-haired woman always seemed eager to help bandage any wounds, too, but the concern he saw in her face was unlike any he'd seen before making him wonder just how severe his wounds were...and if he'd live through them.
"Goddesses, Link," she whispered more to herself than to him as she rushed to the kitchen to retrieve a glass of water and medicine.
Just as she returned, Talon clomped down the stairs from his room, Ingo in tow. They both did double takes when they saw the battered hero lying on the couch, practically writhing in pain now. Both the rancher and the farm hand then looked to Malon who returned quickly to Link's side.
"Drink this," she ordered, helping tilt his head back so he could swallow the liquid.
It tasted awful and he nearly spat it out, but even his gag reflex wasn't functioning well. When the body was in serious trouble, it prioritized...focusing on the gaping scratches on Link's stomach rather than how nasty the liquid tasted. As soon as it slid down his throat, he began to feel a little better.
Malon brushed some wet strands of blonde hair out of Link's flushed face, and then her gaze immediately shot to the two men on the stairway. "Well? Don't just stand there! Come, help!"
Her sharp voice seemed to break them out of their temporary trance, and they both rushed to gather things that they'd need: mainly towels, bandages, and some medicinal herbs. Malon remained by Link's side while she ordered her father and Ingo about, making sure that they got what they would need. She may have been the youngest on the ranch, but she was a take-charge sort of person, and when she was focused on a task, it got done to the best of her abilities...and Link was immensely thankful for that.
The Hero of Time noticed how Malon was looking at him, with worry and confusion. He hadn't seen her for more than a week, being trapped inside that Goddess-forsaken temple, and then he suddenly shows up on her doorstep a bleeding mess? He couldn't blame her for her uncertainty and concern.
"Hey, Malon, I learned something," he began.
Her hazy blue eyes watched him, and Link could see the anguish in them. "What, Link?"
He forced a smile and chuckle, though it pained him to do so. "Dragons are not nice."
"You fought a dragon?!"
He recognized the reprimanding tone in her voice. He should tell her the truth. "Uhm...no?" He decided lying was better in this case.
"Link!" She frowned. "You could have gotten killed!"
"If it helps, I almost did."
Malon bit her lip to keep from saying more, but Link knew that she was angry with him for her cheeks were heating up. She placed the wet towel that Talon had retrieved on Link's forehead, allowing the cold water in it to soak into Link's skin and help ease the heat of his fever. She then forced him to swallow more of the noxious liquid from before. If Link wasn't close to dying, he knew he'd refuse the stuff...because he practically was refusing it now.
The woman's hand moved deftly as she began to wrap some of Link's superficial wounds with cloth bandages. Occasionally, she'd accidentally touch a sensitive part on Link's aching body, but he'd keep quiet...after all, she was already upset with him, and his life was in her hands. He thought it best not to bite the hand that feeds him.
While Malon seemed to be focused on her work, he could feel her eyes continually glancing at him, though he averted his own gaze each time to avoid causing his friend any discomfort. He noticed that she became a lot more embarrassed around him a lot easier since they'd become adults. He wasn't entirely sure why, either.
"You should be more careful," Malon cautioned in such a quiet voice that Link almost didn't hear her.
"I know."
She sighed, pausing for a moment. Link thought he saw her hands trembling, but he pawned it off on the fact that he was extremely tired. "That's not good enough, Link."
He frowned, furrowing his golden brows. "Malon--"
"You can't keep doing this, Link." Her voice was escalating in volume now, and Link knew he was in for it now. "You can't keep running into danger with total disregard for yourself."
"It's my job," was his pathetic reply.
"A job?" Malon frowned, shaking her head.
She then grew deathly quiet, and had it not caused him pain to do, he would have shifted where he lie due to the awkwardness of the moment. He didn't understand why it bothered Malon so much that he do what was requested of him. Didn't she understand that this was what he had to do...that he had no choice in the matter? But most importantly...
"Why do you care?" The question tumbled out of Link's mouth before he could stop it.
Malon's stare turned cold and disbelieving as she looked upon him. "What?"
Link swallowed, his throat burning with the aftertaste of the healing potion. "Why do you care if I run into danger or not?"
"How could you even ask me that?" Malon practically growled. "You're my best friend...of course I'd care what happens to you!"
The blonde haired man bowed his head, ashamed for questioning Malon. What had he hoped to find, anyway?
A heavy silence seemed to settle upon them, only interrupted by the sounds of movement in the kitchen where Ingo and Talon were fixing up some sort of concoction to help heal Link's wounds more quickly. Meanwhile, he was still trapped in his own self-made situation. Now, Malon was even more upset with him than before...and he didn't think there was anything he could say to change that. In fact, anything he did say would probably be taken the wrong way, anyway.
Suddenly, Malon spoke again. "Take off your shirt."
Link's eyes widened. Did he just hear her right? "W-what?"
At his astonished look, she placed her hands on her hips. "How am I going to get to that wound if your shirt is in the way? Take it off."
"No." The response came before Link could stop it.
"Don't be such a child, Link."
"I'm not taking my shirt off." He remained adamant.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Link--"
"It's nothing but a scratch, I swear!" he lied. It hurt like Hell, but he wasn't about to own up to that fact. Fortunately, the medicine that had been forced down his throat had triggered some sort of blood clotting which stopped the profuse bleeding...though his shirt was still torn, ragged, and bloody.
"Link, if you don't take that shirt off right now, I'm--" Malon began threateningly.
He looked at her with a challenge in his eyes. "You'll do what?"
She held his gaze for a moment, and prepared to answer his goad but decided against it and looked away. "I'm just trying to help, and you're making it very difficult."
Link closed his eyes and sighed. "I know."
Without another word of protest, Link removed his shirt. He watched Malon's expression with interest, but found that it was inscrutable. More and more frequently, he found that she was almost a wall to him. He didn't understand her, though he supposed that wasn't news. He'd never understood the bold and fiery young woman.
With great delicacy, for which Link was grateful, Malon began to dress his wound. She began with cleaning the deep cuts with some sterile water and then began to wrap the large cloth bandage around his abdomen, making sure to tighten it enough to keep the wound safe, but not so tight to the point where he couldn't move or breathe. Link found it peculiar that she couldn't seem to meet his eyes the entire time, seemingly focused on what she was doing.
"There," she said when she finished. "All done."
"Great." Link smiled, and then started to get up, but found that he still had no strength to do so.
"Not so fast, Link," Malon chided. "You took quite a beating from that...dragon."
"What dragon?" He smirked.
His attempt at humour was poorly met. "You think this is funny, Link?"
"A little." At Malon's annoyed expression, his smile faded. "No, not really, no."
"This isn't some game, Link. You're not immortal."
"I think we've established that."
"Link!"
He looked down. "Sorry."
She sighed. "I worry about you, Link. If something bad were to happen to you, I--" She bit her lip to keep from saying more, but she'd already piqued Link's curiousity.
"What, Malon?"
The woman folded her hands into her lap, trying to give off the image of serenity...but her torn expression disrupted her facade. "Just please be more careful, Link. If not for yourself than for my peace of mind. I won't be able to get anything done if I keep having to worry about you."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine."
"That's what you say now," she countered. "But what about tomorrow...or the day after that? You can't be fine if you keep throwing caution to the wind, Link." Her blue eyes roamed the room until finally resting on his face. Quietly, she added, "you show up without warning, and often times you're hurt. What am I to think?"
"I can't help it, Mal," Link told her, feeling that wave of guilt crash over him again. "What I do is dangerous."
"I know," was her muted reply. "I just want you to be safe."
His azure eyes met hers. "I will be. I'm too stubborn to die, remember?"
"Obstinacy is no excuse for immortality."
Again, a smirk slid onto his parched lips. "Isn't it?"
"You're terrible, Link," Malon said with a severe expression, though amusement danced in the depths of her mystically blue eyes. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips.
The Hero of Time took the farm girl's hands into his own, forcing her to meet his gaze. "If it makes you feel better, I'll try and be more careful."
"Promise?"
"Cross my heart."
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Link grimaced as his eyelids fluttered open, clenching his sharp canines together. The past month's events seemed to be lost on him for a moment, while he struggled to stand. It was then he noticed the monster he had become. So it wasn't a nightmare, after all, thought Link bitterly. The past month had been fraught with trouble and danger--not that that was something unusual in the Hero of Time's life--and he'd been forced to adjust to his new body, which had not been easy. Add onto that that he'd nearly been killed many times and could no longer communicate with people, and the combination resulted in a very frustrated Link.
As his perceptive eyes took in the surroundings, he realized he didn't know where he was. His increased senses began to adjust to the environment, and he realized that he wasn't alone. Immediately, the once-human wolf leapt to his feet. The reaction caused the only other occupant of the room to move back quickly away from him.
Link narrowed his eyes as he surveyed where he was, but then relaxed when he recognized the woman in the corner. In fact, he was a little more than surprised that she was there. After a month of separation, Link was pleased to see Malon's familiar face. However, she looked somewhat afraid of him...which brought his mind back to reality. He was now a wolf, and Malon probably thought him nothing more than the animal he appeared to be.
He opened his mouth to say something to her, but elicited a bark instead. Malon stood, fumbling for a small dagger in her boot, and Link realized that she was afraid of him. After all, he was nothing but a strange wolf to her. She probably figured he was dangerous. Cursing inwardly, he sank back to the floor so as not to startle her further.
Malon watched him with a suspicious gaze, and Link felt a small pang inside of him. His best friend did not recognize him, nor trust him, and he could not seem to communicate with her in any way. Had he displeased the Goddesses? Was this his punishment for a crime he was not aware of?
He blew a frustrated breath out of his mouth, and it came across almost like a faint growl.
The red-haired woman stopped trying to get at her dagger, believing that the wolf was not too large of a threat. It didn't seem to be trying to attack her, so perhaps she'd earned its loyalty by her previous actions.
Slowly, she pushed a wooden bowl filled to the brim with water over towards the creature. Link's head rose as he looked at her, and then the water. It was humiliating to him to have to drink from a bowl on the ground like some sort of animal...but he had to remind himself that that was what he was now: an animal. Snorting again, Link looked away. He didn't have to act like what he was while Malon was around.
"Come on," Malon said, her voice strangely soft. "You must be thirsty."
Piercing blue eyes settled back on her and Malon shifted uneasily. Link wondered if she felt like prey around him. Goddesses, how he hated this.
Malon pushed the bowl a little closer, but Link nudged it away, trying to give her the message. He might've been thirsty, but he had too much pride to be what he'd become around Malon. Even if she didn't know it was him, he knew who she was, and it would be too degrading.
"Please?" Malon pressed.
For the first time since he'd seen her during the battle, Link had a good chance to notice all the changes about her. She was thinner and a lot paler, though her hair was still thick and long, albeit a bit tangled. There was not a flaw on her pretty face, but her expression seemed to be chiseled on. She looked sad, fearful...nothing like the serene, yet audacious woman she had been. It almost was as if the very life within her had dwindled and died since Link had seen her last. Her movements were hesitant, unsure, and it was like she didn't know what to do with herself. This woman who knelt before him could not possibly be the brazen redhead that he'd once known.
Oh, Malon, he thought sadly. What has the world done to you?
Realizing that the wolf was not going to drink, Malon took a piece of bread out of the small bag she'd brought with her, and placed it down in front of Link. "Are you hungry, then?"
In all honesty, Link was ravenous. He couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten. But once again, he was filled with doubt. He did not want to be the animal that he looked like, yet if he didn't eat...then he would starve. Starving was not on his priorities, and therefore he--albeit reluctantly--took the food. Once he'd started eating it, he forgot about everything except his hunger and practically swallowed it whole in his rush.
Suddenly, he felt a gentle touch on his head, and stopped eating immediately. When his head rose to get a better look at who was touching him, Malon withdrew her hand, still looking a little uncomfortable in his presence.
"I'm not going to hurt you," she told him.
I know that, Link wanted to reply.
"So don't hurt me," Malon added.
So she was afraid of him! Link almost felt sick and wondered if he'd eaten his food too fast. His eyes moved to the bowl still in front of him. He watched the still liquid that rested inside of it. He was parched. Giving in, Link took a large drink out of the bowl. After all, he had to take care of himself if he was ever going to get through this and return to human form.
I'm not going to hurt you, Link spoke aloud accidentally, more out of habit than anything else. Of course, to Malon--and his own ears--it sounded like nothing more than broken up barks.
Malon reached out her hand to pet the creature again, and relaxed once she realized that Link really was no threat. Link could see the gears in Malon's mind working, and he bet that she was thinking of making him a guard dog or something of the sort. While it would give him something to do, and allow him to be around Malon, Link wasn't going to just wait here and hope his curse wore off. He needed to free the other Light Spirits around Hyrule...or else he'd be trapped in wolf form forever.
He cringed at the thought.
The next few days seemed agonizingly long, as Link continued to try and communicate to Malon and she seemed intent on keeping her distance from him. He knew she wasn't normally frightened of animals, but he had to admit...he was one vicious-looking canine. His fur was black as night with the exception of patches of gray here and there that formed peculiar symbols. Overall, he supposed his physical appearance reflected different attributes of his. Still, it was strange to see himself as an animal rather than a human.
"Epona, calm down!" Malon's voice echoed across the corral until it reached Link's acute hearing.
He quirked his head towards where she was, eyeing the situation warily.
"What's your problem?!" she huffed, placing her hands on her hips as she stood in front of the seemingly irate horse.
Epona whinnied and neighed in an angry response. Much to Link's surprise, he could understand the horse. Perhaps there were perks to being an animal at times. He slowly made his way over to where Epona and Malon were. Malon was still glaring daggers at the disobedient horse, and Epona was rallying other horses to her cause.
"It's just a bath, you silly horse!"
Epona lifted her head up and snorted. "Well, I don't like baths," she said.
While Link found it mildly disconcerting to be able to understand the horse, he could not deny that it would be a useful ability later on. "Epona," he began, finding the sound of his voice--if barking and growling could even be called such--foreign.
Startled, the horse's beady eyes darted to him. "What do you want, Wolf?"
"It's me, Link!"
This statement seemed to anger Epona considerably, and she reared up, causing both Malon and Link to move back. The farm girl's eyes widened, and Link could see hurt in them. Epona was probably Malon's last friend, and now the horse was seemingly turning against her. In her surprise, Malon fell back on her bottom, and then began to scoot away from Epona.
Link jumped in front of her then, prepared to calm the horse down and protect Malon at the same time...though he doubted Epona would ever be a real threat to his friend's safety.
"How dare you make fun of me!" The horse neighed violently at him, stomping and kicking up dust. "I watched my rider fall! You're nothing but a pitiful hunter, you would not know loyalty if it bit you! You cannot understand the guilt I feel...so don't you dare mock me!"
"Really, Epona, it's me!" Link persisted, bravely venturing towards the mare. "Due to the Twilight, I was transformed into this. It was only because I possessed a piece of the Triforce that I did not become a shadow or spirit."
Epona scoffed, but there was doubt in her eyes. "I don't believe you."
"I can prove it," said Link.
"Then do so, Wolf."
Link paused, thinking of a way to prove to his horse that he was who he said he was. Meanwhile, Malon sat behind him, watching both creatures intently. If she didn't know better, it almost seemed as if they were arguing. The wolf's pose seemed strange to her, too...it appeared to be protecting her, but she didn't understand why. Perhaps the creature was a tamed wolf that had belonged to someone and merely gotten loose? That could explain why it was friendly towards her, and had that odd earring on its left ear.
Finally, Link came up with an idea. He sat down, abruptly, and tilted his head towards the sky. He hoped this worked. Opening his mouth, he began to howl a strange, reminiscent song...a song that Malon had taught to only one other person in her lifetime. A melodious song that seemed to raise spirits, and diminish evil's taint. A song that had once touched Link dearly, as it had touched Malon. It was a song that had bonded an outcast child to a hard-working farm girl.
Malon's eyes widened as she listened to the wolf's howling. It sounded so familiar, yet her mind would not allow her to place where she'd heard it before. It sounded so familiar and it brought her back to warm summers in her childhood, relaxing and working on the farm...and playing with the only real friend she'd had. Link. The name came, unbidden, to her mind and she violently pushed it away. Link was dead. Her best and only true friend was dead...there was no use dwelling on the past. The past held too many memories, memories that made her want to weep for what she'd lost.
Link, on the other hand, was all too pleased with his newfound ability. He could speak with animals and howl songs. How cool was that? Well, the latter wasn't extraordinary, but he had to find some silver lining somewhere, didn't he?
Epona had ceased her tirade, staring at Link with wide eyes. "You are Link."
Link smiled a toothy grin, though it looked hungrier than anything else. "Told you."
When Link turned his head back to look at Malon, the woman was staring in awe of both him and Epona. Likewise, the other horses seemed to stare in curiousity and amazement of the dark wolf. Link suddenly felt nervous and uncomfortable beneath the heavy gazes, and pawed at the ground ceaselessly.
"You..." Malon began, but then shook her head. "That howling...it almost sounded like..." She frowned, her eyes darting around in a confused daze, until they returned to Link.
Slowly, she approached him, kneeling beside him to stroke his furry head. "You remind me so much of him..."
Him? Link thought, feeling a disturbing pang of jealousy coil around his heart.
"You need a name," stated the woman suddenly, trying to take her mind off of her departed friend. "How about Drake?"
The wolf gave her a blank stare.
She shook her head. "Okay, not Drake. How about...Fang?"
If Malon didn't know better, it almost seemed as if the wolf raised a nonexistent eyebrow as it stared skeptically at her, quirking its head to the side a little.
A small giggle escaped her mouth, light and happy. It sounded foreign even to her own ears. "You remind me so much of Link," she commented, unable to help herself.
Link, who had been sitting, sprang to his feet. Perhaps this was his chance to communicate who he was to her! He pawed at the hem of her long skirt, but she simply brought it away from his reach and he growled in frustration. This was definitely going to be more difficult than he'd first suspected...and he hadn't expected it to be easy.
She thought for a moment. "How about Midnight? Because of your black fur, and midnight comes after twilight...like this horrible twilight that seemed to disappear right before I found you."
Malon wasn't sure why she needed to explain her naming process to the wolf, nor even need its approval on a name. Fortunately, the wolf seemed appeased by the name. Though she thought it funny how it had been so stubborn and obstinate earlier. It was just a name. However, this creature seemed to possess so much more personality than any of her other animals, except for maybe Epona who'd always been a cult of personality.
Midnight's not a bad name, thought Link. But it's not my name.
"You are a strange creature," said she after a time. "And I don't know why, but you remind me of my best friend so much, it's uncanny." And then to herself, "or maybe I'm just losing it."
Lifting a hand to her forehead, she laughed coldly, and shook her head. "C'mon, Midnight, let's go inside, it's starting to get dark out."
Link watched Malon as he followed her into the house, and thought he saw an inkling of a smile tugging at her tight-lipped expression.
I know you're still there, Malon, Link thought with determination, You're still there, hidden beneath the hurt and the pain. And I will find you...I promise.
A/N: Please review! No flames, though...thanks!
