New chapter enjoy.

Zelda knew better than to knock at the front door and disturb the goings-on within, but neither was she comfortable just walking inside Link's house. It was for this reason that she stood outside for quiet some time and prayed.

"Please, God," she said softly. "Show me how I can help here. Show me what to do or say."

Doubts began to assail her. Reaching out to others was so new to Zelda that she didn't know where to start. Malon and her mother always knew what to do, as did Ruto, but Zelda was a complete novice. Zelda didn't know if she'd have made it inside at all, but Kafei's father chose that moment to come out.

"No need to knock, Zelda," he said kindly to her in his thick beard. "Just go on in."

"Thank you, Mr. O'Brien." Zelda smiled with genuine relief and slipped inside.

The living room was empty, and surprisingly, so was eh kitchen. Zelda could hear voices in the rooms upstairs, but she couldn't make herself go up those steps. She was casting her eyes around the room, still praying for help, when she spied the coffeepot. It was cold to the touch and not very full.

Zelda fought back tears of relief. This she could do. This she could handle. With simple movements and an efficiency born of years of practice, she made the coffee. From there she searched for food and began to cut vegetable for a soup. She had just started it in a big pot on the stove when she heard someone on the stairs. Aryll came partway into the room and stopped in surprise when she saw her.

"Hello, Aryll."

"Hi, Zelda." Her voice told of her wonder.

"I...um...just came to see if I could help. I took it upon myself to make coffee and start some dinner. It's just soup, vegetable soup."

"Thank you."

"Would you like some coffee?"

Aryll could only nod before she sank into a kitchen chair. Zelda poured her some coffee and sat across from her.

"Is your father going to be all right, Aryll?"

"They don't know," she whispered. "His horse stumbled and rolled. It rolled right on top of him." Tears filled her eyes. "He can't feel his legs."

"Oh, Aryll."

"He says he wishes he were in pain. He said it wouldn't be so scary that way." With that, Aryll buried her face in her hands and sobbed. Zelda fought her own tears and puller a handkerchief from the pocket of her skirt. She pressed it into Aryll's hands. Aryll worked at controlling herself, but it took a moment. After that they sat in silence with their coffee, a bit uncomfortable, but not as strained as usual.

Blossom and Uli came down the stars a little later. The girls heard them talking as they came.

"He hasn't eaten four tow days, but the doctor says to take it easy. No meat, and maybe a little bit of soup."

"I'll start that for you, Uli," Blossom offered.

"Zelda put soup on," Aryll said, breaking into their conversation. Both women stopped and looked at Aryll first and then Zelda. Zelda felt herself go red.

"It's not very fancy." Her hands moved nervously.

"Thank you, Zelda," Uli told her sincerely.

Zelda looked over to see her mother smiling. It was around smile, and once again Zelda fought her tears. She hadn't felt this emotional since Malon and Ralph's departure or Uncle Error's death.

As soon as the Fontaine women were certain that everything was under control, they left. Blossom explained to Zelda on the walk home that all they could do was wait. It was everyone's prayer that Rusl would regain some sensation in his legs, but right now, they waited.

Zelda fretted about how she could help, but almost of its own course, a pattern had been stated. Zelda could be found at the Taggart house morning, noon, and evening. If she found dishes, she washed them. If coffee was needed, she made it, along with breakfast, lunch, or dinner. And when she wasn't in the Taggart kitchen baking or cleaning, she was home in her own kitchen baking cookies or bread to take to them. If she arrived and there was nothing to be down, she left as quietly as she had came. The Taggart family rarely saw her, only evidence that she'd been there.

One evening, about ten days into this schedule, Zelda was still finishing up in the kitchen when Uli and Link arrived on the scene. They'd both been upstairs, and Zelda was a bit flustered in Link's presence. She was glad to be able to say she was on her way out the door.

"Please walk Zelda home, Link," Uli said after she'd thanked the young woman.

"Oh, no," Zelda protested softly. "I'll be fine."

But link was already reaching for his hat, and Zelda did not want to make a scene. They walked silently out the front door. Zelda felt a little silly. It wasn't even dark yet.

"There really isn't a need, Link. I know you want to be close to your family, and I can get home alone."

Link suddenly stopped on the road, and Zelda stopped beside him. He looked down at her. Zelda wished she could read his thoughts.

"I haven't thanked you," he said with surprise.

"For what?"

"For all your help at the house."

Embarrassed, Zelda shrugged and started to turn away. Link caught her arm. He held it for just a moment, and then let his hand drop. He eyes now lifted to the craggy, snow-topped moutons.

"I never dreamed of how it might feel to see my father laid up. I mean, he's always been the strong one." He looked back at Zelda. "My would has become that bedroom, Zelda. I sit in there most of the day, and when I go downstairs to my bedroom I think about being in there most of the night."
Zelda saw for the first time how tired he looked.

"He teaches me so much. He may never walk again, but he still has a smile on his face and praise for God when he speaks. Do you know what he said to me last night?"

Zelda was forced to shake her head, but her eyes encouraged him.

"He said, 'I may have lost the use of my legs, Link, but my soul still has wings.' "Tears filled Link's eyes."Why didn't we take the time before to really study God's Work, Zelda? I mean, we've always had Bible time before breakfast, but not like this, not with such depth and meaning." A tear spilled over. "Why did it take his getting hurt for me to see how important it is?"

Link's hand came to his face as he tried to quell the flood, but his tears would not be stopped. Zelda wanted to die with the pain of it. Her friend was hurting, and she couldn't do a thing. She reached for his hand but pulled back, afraid that her gesture would be taken wrong. A moment later, Link's tears subsided, but his breathing was still hoarse and deep.

He hadn't looked at Zelda, but now he did. To his amazement, he felt no shame. She stood looking at him, her expression tender and tears filling her own lovely eyes.

"You're a good friend, Zelda Fontaine."

"You are too, Link. I just wish I could do more."

"You've been a great help."

Zelda nodded. "Please tell your father that I'm praying for him."

"I'll do that."

"Go on home now, Link. I'll get myself home."

"All right."

Zelda turned and started away and didn't look back. However, she knew that Link stood on the road and watched until she reached her own yard.

(&)

Zelda wasn't the least bit hungry when she arrived so she begged off from dinner and went to her room. She took time to pray for Mr. Taggart, but her mid kept going back to what Link had said.

Her family never read the Bible together. In their family spending time with God's Word was up to each person, and the truth was, Zelda had never taken an interest in her Bible. Not like her mother and Malon always did, and certainly not like Link and his father. For the fist time in years she pulled it out and turned to a place in Jeremiah. There was a little maker at the spot, and she tried to remember why it was there. She read it to see if she could find a clue.

Starting in chapter 23, verse 19, she read softly aloud, "Behold, a whirlwind of the Lord is gone forth in fury, even a grievous whirlwind; it shall not return, until he have executed, and till he have preformed the thoughts of his heart; in the latter days ye shall consider it perfectly. I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran; I have not spoken to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my counsel, and had caused my people to hear my words, then they should have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings. Am I a God at hand, saith the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see Him? Saith the Lord. Do not I fill heaven and earth? Saith the Lord."

Zelda did not understand much of what she read, but one thing had jumped out at her. Was God a far-off God, or was He near? Most times she would say He was very far off, but she closed her Bible and went to join her family before she could really gain an answer.

(&)

"I want you to o to school."

"No." for the first time in his life Link out-and-out defied his father.

"I'm not asking you, Link. I'm telling you. Go to school."

"Absolutely not."

"It starts next week, Link. I'm sure I won't be laid up here forever, and you've got to get there."

Link shook his head. His voice was gently, but he held his jaw at a stubborn angle. "I'm going back to work tomorrow, and that's the end of it."

"We don't need the money," Rusl said, but he knew it was a half-truth.

Link looked clearly skeptical.

"We're good for a time, Link. Please do as I ask you."

Link shook his head. "It's foolish to deplete your saving account when I'm capable of supporting this family."

"You're not touching your money for school, Link." Rusl's voice went up a notch. "Do you hear me?"

"I'm not going to, but I am going out on the job with Biggoron tomorrow, and that's final."

Rusl opened his mouth to say more, but Link turned away. He didn't look at his mother or father, but both heard him on the stairs and then closing the front door.

"Uli." Rusl was reaching for her, panic on his face. "Make him go to Labrynna, Uli." she aw the tears in his eyes. "He's waited for so long. Make him see. He's got to go. Please, Uli."

Uli sat down on the bed and leaned over to put her arms around him. She had never seen Rusl like this-so helpless and weak. It had been six weeks since he'd been put in this bed, and he hadn't moved from it. However, this was a blow that was harder to take than the accident itself. It had never occurred to Rusl that Link would change his mind about school. Uli waited until she thought he might be a little calmer, but when she looked into he eyes, he still looked desperate. Tears came to Uli's own eyes as she slowly shook her head.

"I can't tell him to go, Rusl anymore than I could leave you myself."

"Oh, Uli."

This was too much for him. Tears racked the body that was already becoming flaccid wand weak, and Uli held onto him with all her strength.

"He's dreamed for so long," Rusl cried, "and stayed to work long past the time he first knew he wanted to teach. I just can't stand the thought that he's staying for me."

Uli smoothed the hair off his brow. They had washed his hair just that morning, and the effort had exhausted him.

Not many hours later, Link had come to say he was going back to work.

"It's not forever, Rusl," Uli soothed. "If God wants him at school, God will show us the way."

"But he could go-" Rusl began. Uli cut him off. "No, Rusl, you're not thinking clearly. If he goes, then Aryll and I must go to work, or we'll be forced to use up all the money in the savings account. What will we do after it's gone? It would be even harder to call Link home, I think, than for him not to go at all."

Her calm voice got through. She was right, of course, and he had to confess the panic and lack of trust. However, his mind was still praying, and a moment later he asked Uli to write a letter for him.

"To whom?" she asked when she had sat close to Rusl, a paper and ink at hand.

"My mother."

The married couple exchanged a long look.

"You want to know more about the position?"

Rusl nodded. "I would do anything for you and the kids."

"Even this, Rusl?"

"Yes. Even this."

With that, he began to dictate. Uli down every word in her smooth hand. However, her heart was beating fast. The contents of this letter could change their lives forever, but on second thought, Uli realized that had already happened.

Eager to find out what happens next? You'll have to wait until I update... sorry.