I got ahead of my self. I got the chapters done but I just didn't have time to upload them so enjoy this special 2 chapter issue. For disclaimers look at chapter one.

"Now, who is this?" Link asked, pointing to the daguerreotype in the album. He turned his head to study Romany's adorable profile as she answered.

"That's Mother's sister, Cremia. She lives in Holodrum." Romani turned to him and added, "It was at Aunt Cremia's house that Malon met Ralph."

Link's smiling eyes went to the glowing bride-to-be. "I haven't heard this story," Link told her. "I assumed you'd met Ralph after you moved."

"No," Malon said softly and would have elaborated, but Romani jumped back in.

"Oh, no. She went to Aunt Cremia's before we went to Holodrum, and while they wee having tea, a man knocked on the door; it was Ralph. He had the wrong house, but when he saw Malon, he stayed for three hours!"

"Well, now." Link's expression was warm and teasing as he roes form the kitchen table and ported himself more coffee. "I had no idea."

"Oh, stop it, Tag. And don't tell him any more, Romani. He'll only tease me."

Link laughed and Zelda chose that moment to come moodily into the kitchen. Christmas dinner had been over for an hour, and Sari had gone off with Russ and Aryll to one of the rooms upstairs. All the adults were in the living room. Since Malon, Romani, and Link had taken the kitchen, she felt she had no place to go.

"We were just going to play a game," Romani told the sulking teen. "Want to join us, Zelda?"

"What are you going to play?" Her voice told her disinterest.

"The Four swords."

Zelda studied the toe of her shoe and then glanced at Link. His expression toward her was as it had been all day, completely noncommittal, and as much as she hated to be in the same room with him, she hated her boredom more.

"All right," she said after a moment. "I'll play."

Romani had wanted to show there rest of the family photos to Link, but she thought Zelda would leave if she took the time. The Four swords game was always more fun with four players, and even better with six or eight. She quickly put the photo album aside and waited while Malon took the game from the cupboard.

"I've never played this before," Link admitted as they all took seats.

"I'll help you," Romani offered, but Malon did the honors.

"Your main objective is to travel across the continent and save the princess. You see," Malon spoke as the board was displayed, "It's like a map of the United Countries showing the large cities and the railway lines. You have a horse and health points and if a monster attacks you have to fight to the death or runaway."

Always good with numbers, Zelda had taken over as point manager and was now giving everyone there allotted finances, equipment, and other standard starting items. Lining up his items as he'd watched the girls do, Link waited for someone to explain the first move. Rummaging in the box, Zelda muttered something about the game pieces being done, and Sammy jumped up.

"Ho! I think they're in my room. I'll run up and get them."

Zelda thought nothing of this until her father called to Malon from the living room and a moment later she found herself alone with Link. Her eyes darted to him, but he was studying the board. Zelda relaxed until Link said out of the blue, "Does your hand hurt, Zelda?"

Zelda's eyes flew to his, but he was looking at the faint bruises on the back of her hand. Zelda swiftly buried her hand in her lap, and then Link sought out her eyes. She looked defiant as usual.

"I'm not going to ease you, Zelda," he said quietly. "You don't need to worry about that. "Silence hung between them for just an instant.

"Why did you stop teasing me, Link?" The question was out before she could stop it.

"It had gone too far."
"What do you mean?" Zelda's brow was furrowed; she honestly didn't understand.
"I mean, if someone actually thinks that I want to see them hurt, then my teasing had gone too far."

Zelda suddenly remembered the scene with the pitchfork in the Taggarts' barn. She felt the first inkling of softening toward Lin Taggart; he really had been concerned about her. Unfortunately, he was about to unwittingly destroy this tiny seed before it could grow even a millimeter.

"I realized," Link continued, "that either I was being too harsh, or you just couldn't handle that type of jesting."

Link watched Zelda's eyes flash with dark-blue fire and knew he'd stepped on her pride.

"I can take anything you dish out, Link Taggart!" she hissed. "Just don't forget that."

Romani came back into the room just then and Malon as close behind her, so Link was not able to reply to Zelda's venomous outburst. The game was played, and Zelda won hands sown, but Link gave it little thought. However, he nearly mourned at how close he'd come to seeing her softened, only to have her turn on him again.

(&)

January 2, 1874, was Zelda's sixteenth birthday. It was Friday, and she went to school wearing new ribbons in her hair and new mittens, but she wasn't feeling as ecstatic as she normally would have. The United Countries were experiencing a depression that had hit the East in September '76 had how spread toward the West. Her mother had managed to make Christmas feel normal, but just days after December 25; her parents had warned everyone that things would be different. Since Zelda's birthday was the first of the year, she was the first to feel the changes.

There would still be a cake a special meal, but the dew dress she usually received, the book or game, and the special box of candy were going to have to wait for another time. Added to this was the upcoming wedding. One day while Malon had been out of the house, Blossom had sat down with the girls and told them her desire to make Malon and Ralph's wedding everything it could be. It meant cutting back in many areas, sand although Zelda was the first to agree wholeheartedly to help in this, she had not anticipated the way she would feel when she had so few gifts to open on the morning of her birthday.

Though she was careful not to let on to anyone, it did not put her in the fines of moods, her father's attitude was no help. He enjoyed birthdays but saw no reason to let them interrupt the workday. Friday the second was Zelda's day to work in the store, and Bipin expected her to be on time. After school she came through the doors in a towering rage but was careful not to let her father suspect.

"Seep out the back room, Zel," were his firs words, and when Zelda was finished, the room had never looked so good. She took out every ounce of resentment on that floor and had the dust flying so high she had to open a window.

Uncle Error came by at one pint and gave her a birthday hug, but she was still out of sorts. The mood only worsened when her father told her she'd have to mind the front. Bipin had business at the bank, and Error planned to work in the office. Hoping with all her heart that no one would come in, Zelda obeyed and slowly walked toward the front. The bell rang just moments after she arrived behind the counter, and her heart sank when she saw it was Link.

He walked easily until he spotted the girl behind the counter whose eyes were hostile enough to make his step falter. Link had not had time to give the girls a ride home today, so he hadn't seen that Zelda would have walked downtown and not accepted his offer anyway. Knowing that nothing he could say or do was going to help the relationship, Link almost turned and went back out. However, he was out of time. His mother's birthday was in two days, and he had to leave the following morning.

"May I help you?" The question was asked with complete indifference. Link shook his head.

"I'll just look around."

"Suit yourself."

Link turned away with a mall shake of his head. Maybe it was time for a confrontation. They both shared the same faith in Christ, but Zelda was nothing short of hateful when it comes to him. He knew that all believers struggled with certain sins, but this seemed out of control.

Link pulled the watch from his pocket. He really didn't have the time this afternoon, but when he returned to town, he would things out in the open. Right now however, he had to think of this mother and what would please her. He didn't have a lot to spend, but Aryll had mentioned his mother's interest in a collar pin to go at her neckline of her lace blouse.

Link didn't move directly to the jewelry counter as he longed to do, but wandered around a bit, hoping that Bipin or Error would appear. He stepped to the large doorway that led to hardware, but that side of the sore was empty. He knew he was going to have to get down to business.

With a soft sigh he turned back and stepped to the jewelry counter, with was separate form the others and sat in the middle of the store, he looked down though the glass and began to peruse the goods. He spotted the pin Aryll had described almost immediacy, but Zelda showed no signs of coming to help him. He considered going home, giving Aryll the money, and asking her to return the next day, but the snow was very deep these days and he didn't want her struggling with the sleigh. At least he heard Zelda's footsteps and steeled himself for the worst. She did not disappoint him.

"Did you want to see something? Because if you don't, I have things to do."

In that instant, Link had had enough. Anger leapt onto his back so swiftly that it nearly took his breath away. What had he done to deserve this? How could she hate him this much? These were just tow of the questions that exploded in this brain, and his feeling must have shown on his face because Zelda looked rather startled.

"I am a paying customer in hard times, Zelda," Link bit out, doing nothing to disguise his outrage. "Now are you in the business of selling goods or not?"

Zelda blinked several times before saying in a much subdued tone, "I'd be glad to sell you something. Was there something special you wanted to see?"

"That pin, please." His voice had calmed, but he was still tense.

Zelda unlocked the cabinet and brought out a black velvet square covered with pins. She placed it gently on the counter and watched as Link picked up a gold pin. Both ends were rounded wand there were roses etched in the center. It was lovely. There was another one, nearly identical to the first except that it had a tine diamond set in the center.

Link would have dearly loved to buy the one with the diamond but it was 250 rupees. The one without the stone was only 78 rupees. Link lifted both in his hands and studied them, unaware of the fact that while he concentrated, Zelda was moving into a fine fury over the way he'd just put her in her place. Indeed, it was Zelda's impatient sigh that brought Link's head up and reminded him of the time.

"I'll take this one." He gestured toward the pin in his right hand, trying hard to ignore her returned ire.

"Fine," Zelda said shortly and reached to nearly tear the other pin from his left hand. Even in her anger, she noticed the way Link jumped slightly.

Both sets of eyes, one huge and the other intense, dropped to his hand and watched as a drop of blood welled to the surface. Link calmly placed the pin he had chosen on the counter and reached for this handkerchief. He wrapped his finger and then looked at Zelda. He blinked with surprise to see tears standing in her wide eyes.

"I'm sorry, Link," she whispered.

"It's all right, Zelda," he told her, the sight of her tears touching his heart. "I'll take this one."

For a moment Zelda looked at him as though completely unaware of what he might be talking about, but then she looked down and saw the pin before him. With trembling hands she replaced the other pins, locked the cabinet, picked up Link's choice, and moved to the cash register. Her hands were still shaking when she took his money and make change from the drawer.

"Is it a gift?" The question was nearly whispered.

"Yes," Link told her simply and ten watched as she placed it in a small box and painstakingly wrapped it in crisp, yellow paper. When it was ready, she held it out to him, her eyes still troubled.

"Thank you, Zelda"

"You're welcome, Link."

Link stood for just a moment. Replacing his hat, he put the small parcel in his coat pocket but didn't walk away. He looked back at Zelda, his eyes serious.

"I'm headed out in the morning, but when I get back I think we should talk. I don't know what's brought on his hatred, but it's not right."
Zelda heart clenched. Treating Link she hated him had become almost a habit. Why had she acted this way?

Now, still speaking very low, she said, "I don't hate you, Link-not really. And I am sorry about your hand."

Link nodded his acceptance. "I'll see you later, Zelda."

"Goodbye, Link. Have a good trip."

"Thank you."

With that he turned away and moved out the door. Zelda stood still long after the sound of the bell faded away. A noise in the back finally made her move. She reached for the feather duster and turned to work on the shelves behind her. Tears slid down her face. This was turning out to be the worst birthday of her life.

(&)

The older woman closed the bedroom door firmly and gestured to the bed. She waited until her daughter took a seat on the edge and then moved to sit beside her.

"You've been quiet for a week now, Zelda. What's going on?" The question came from Blossom, and it wasn't the first. However, this time she was not going to be put off. When Zelda was not in the mood to talk she was like her father. She told people to leave her alone and expected to be obeyed. This time Blossom was not going to go away until she had some answers.

"Was it your birthday? Was it a terrible letdown for you?"
"It was," Zelda admitted her eyes averted, "but not from anything you did. I had a bad day, but it was all my fault."

"Can you tell me abut it?"

"I don't really want to."

"I would accept that, Zelda, but you've not been the same since. What is going on?" Blossom's voice was just firm enough to tell her daughter that she wanted answers. Zelda gave a very light sketch of what had happened in the store.

"I nearly cried when I saw the blood," she said, looking at Blossom. "Oh, Mother, I've treated him so badly, and now I just want to forget it. I don't know what I'll do if he wants to talk."

"So you still hate him?"

Zelda shook her head. "I don't think I ever did, but I don't want to talk it over with him either. I think I'd die of embarrassment if I had to explain. And Mother," Zelda wailed, "I just don't feel that comfortable around him! If we talk he'll think I want to talk and joke with him like Malon."

"Would that be so bad?"

The question totally disarmed Zelda. She stared at her mother in complete bewilderment.

"Zelda," Blossom went on gently, "I can't help but notice hat you don't make friends easily. If Link is offering friendship to you, why can't you accept it?"

"What if he wants more than friendship?" the question came out in a tortured whisper, and Blossom knew they had finally come to the root of the matter.

"Oh, honey, acting like you hate a man is not going to make your feeling for him go away."

"But what if he finds out that I kind of like him, and he's not interested that way? I'd never be able to look at him again."

Blossom reached for Zelda, gently putting her arms around her lovely daughter. She didn't know Zelda had ever faced her feelings as she was now doing. Blossom chose her words carefully.

"You are afraid of being hurt that you never take risks. Love is a risky thing, Zelda, but we can't live without it."

Zelda sniffed, and Blossom just held her. The younger woman's head was against her mother's chest, and she spoke softly from that position.

"Malon is so selfless, Mother. She puts others ahead of herself all the time, just like you do. I feel like I have to take care of myself. So many people have taken an instant dislike to me over the years that I found it was easier not to have anything to do with them. That way they couldn't hurt me."

Blossom hugged her almost fiercely. "You're growing up, honey, and you're finding out that is doesn't work that way. Yes, we might be hurt, but we have to trust God and be willing to love and give of ourselves."

"Do you know how it all started?" Zelda pulled slightly away and looked at her mother. "Link stared at me the first time we met in the store last summer. I pretended that I didn't like it, but I did, and when we walked out with his purchased, I tripped," Tears filled her lovely eyes. "I felt like such a fool, but he laughed and only made it worse. It wasn't a cruel laugh-I think Malon might have laughed too- but I decided then and there to hate him forever. But if I hate him, why do I want to look at him all the time? And why do I really care what he thinks of me?"

Blossom smoother Zelda's hair from her face and tenderly stroked her cheek.

"You still have some thinking to do, honey, but you'll find your answers. God does not want us lost and hurting. Trust Him for this. I'm not trying to push you and Link together. In fact, he doesn't even plan to stay in Kakariko Village that long."

"You mean his schooling?"

"That's right, but I do think he could be a good friend to you whether he lives here or not. I've seen how kind and tender he is with all your sisters, and I guess I trust him to be kind with you as well."

Zelda nodded.

"We'll just keep praying," Blossom said softly, hugging her daughter once again.

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