Another chapter is ready so enjoy.

"You did not tell me she was a beauty."

Malon smiled at Lulu, their housekeeper and cook. "She is pretty, isn't she?"
Lulu put a hand over her heart. "Ralis will faint."

Malon laughed. Lulu always so dramatic, and her son, Ralis had an eye for a pretty face. Lulu thought Ralph was the salt for the earth and had begged to work for him even when he could barely afford her. Ralph's bank had given Lulu's husband, Evan, a lone, and as far as she was concerned, Ralph could do no wrong. His taking in of his blind sister-in-law only added to this adoration.

"I must take her food now."

"No, Lulu," Malon spoke, eyeing her sternly. "You will not wait on her or feel sorry for her. I was just up there. She had a grate night's sleep, and she's coming down as soon as she brushes her hair."

"But she may have forgotten from yesterday. She may not know the way. This house is so big."

Malon shook her head, and Lulu relented. Ralph had already left for the bank, and Malon wanted to report to him at the end of the day of everything had gone well. If she started by babying Zelda, the day was going to be a disaster.

"Malon?"
The young wife heard her name from the other room, and her heart leapt with joy. She moved to the bottom of the stairs and found Zelda standing uncertainly.

"Hi, you made it."

"Yes," she agreed, but she looked sad. "I can't remember how many steps it is to the dining room table."

"Nineteen," Malon told her immediately.

Malon slipped her arm in Zelda's, not a comfortable position for the blind girl since she felt like she was the in the lead. Malon had done some reading and knew that the most comfortable position would be to have Zelda's arm in hers, with her walking half a step ahead of Zelda. But right now her mind wasn't on that.

"We did a lot of planning before you arrived," Malon told her easily as they moved.

"Oh." Zelda's voice was still flat, she had no other questions.

They walked in silence until Zelda was at her chair.

"Have a seat, Zelda," Malon began. "To your right is Lulu. She works for Ralph and me."

"Oh!" Zelda was startled. She'd heard movement but assumed it was her sister.
"Hello, Miss Zelda."

"Hello," Zelda answered, but her mind was moving. She had heard rustling upstairs after Malon had left her and now knew that must have been Lulu as well.

"Can you find everything there?" Malon wished to know after Lulu had put a plate before her. Zelda nodded. In truth, she wasn't too certain, but she was going to try.

"Where is my fork?" she finally had to ask.

"I think-" Malon stayed in her place, but was helping her look. "Oh, yes. You pushed it under the plate."

"Oh, okay. I've got it now."

Malon looked up to see Lulu watching from the doorway, tears in the older woman's eyes. She swiftly averted her won so as not to join her.

"What's this?"

"Scrambled eggs, and to the other side are potatoes. Sausages are on the small plate to the left, and a cup of coffee is on your right."

Zelda started to eat, and for a time they were quiet. The new Hyrule resident was the one to break the silence with a question that Malon would have said was the furthest thing from her mind.

"Are you still as pretty as you were, Malon?"
"Oh, my." Malon's voice was exaggerated. "Much more so," she told her sister was rewarded by the first small smile since they had arrived in Kakariko Village.

It's going to be all right, Zelda. You'll see.

After Malon had silently said these words, she asked God to enable her to do all she cold with this sister of hers, and to have a heart that was glad for the privilege.

(&)

"Church?" Zelda's voice was horrified. "I can't go to church."

"I don't know why not," Malon replied reasonably. "Lulu has pressed your best dress, and I'll get you up in plenty of time. I'll even help with your hair."

"I couldn't stand it, Malon. I know people will stare. I just couldn't stand it." Her voice was going higher and higher.

"Is there a problem?" Ralph's voice came from the other side of the door.

Malon made sure that Zelda's nightgown was in place and went to open it.

"She's panicked about going to church."

"I can't, Ralph," she spoke as she heard his steps entering the room. "And our not going to make me!" Her hands were clenched so tightly at her side that her nails were biting into her skin.

Ralph came forward and without warning caught Zelda's jaw in his hand. It was not harsh, nor was his voice cruel, but he was master over her and she knew it.

"In this house we attend church on Sundays. What you get out of it is up to you, but we will be going and you with us."

"Oh, Ralph," she whispered fearfully, her hands now flapping in panic. "Please don't make me."

Ralph moved his hand to her shoulder in a tender gesture. "Zelda, we're not here to humiliate you. Malon will help you with you clothing and hair, and you'll look lovely. If people stare it will be because we have such an attractive sister who's come to live with us. Our church family will be delighted to meet you."

Zelda's breathing was still coming hard and fast.

"Zelda," Ralph said his voice still gentle. "The first time will be the hardest. When the road dries a little more, you'll be going shopping with Malon and doing everything she does. I believe with all my heart that you can enjoy a wonderful life." Zelda did not look convinced, but he finished with, "Get dome sleep now; tomorrow will be a big day."
She never did agree, but Ralph meant to have his way on this. He left Malon to settle her in for the night-not something she usually did, but tonight Zelda needed it. They said nothing more on the subject, but when Malon joined Ralph in their bedroom, she shook her head.

"I'm not certain this is going to work."

Ralph didn't' comment but reached to unbutton the back of the dress Malon was presenting to him, both knew they would just have to wait and see.

(&)

Zelda could see the church but not touch it or be heard. Link was walking down the aisle. There was a beautiful blonde woman on his arm, and as Zelda stared, the woman and Link went to stand before the preacher. He said some words that Zelda couldn't make out and touch their heads, and then Zelda watched as they kissed. A bunch of little children ran out of nowhere, and Link gathered them all into his arms. His bride too. He looked so happy. Just as he left the church, he caught Zelda's eye and winked...

Zelda came awake in a rush, senses returning with a jolt. She sat up and was still painting when the clock bean chiming downstairs. She counted. Only 4:00. Her chest was still heaving when she lay back down. It was a dream. Nothing but a dream.

"Oh, Link," she said in the dark. "How will I go on? How will I live like this? If I thought you wouldn't stay out of pity, I might have written and explained, but I couldn't take that chance. If you pitied me, I would die, and I can't see your eyes o know the truth."

Her chest rose on a huge sight as the pain of it all gripped her again. She put a hand to her ribs and could feel each one. She knew her breasts were smaller too, shrunken. She could circle on wrist with the fingers form the other hand and overlap them by what felt link inches. She knew she looked like a skeleton. It was surprising too, as she had always had a good figure as appetite. She might have run to fat if she hadn't been so busy all the time. But now, even though she spent most of her day sitting, she couldn't seem o gain any weight.

Well, not must of her day anymore. Malon had her so busy in the last few days that she didn't know which end was up. And her mother. She missed her mother so badly that she ached inside. She wanted to hear her voice and feel her hands. A sob broke the stillness of the room.

How could you do this to me, God? What did I do to deserve this? Link always of serving You, of us serving You together, but I don't think he really know who You are. He doesn't know what You're capable of doing. I was happy. I was good. Why, God? Why me?

Zelda's tears were drying up instead of growing stronger, but her soul was drying up too. The only time she'd had a thought that wasn't for herself was when she'd asked Malon how she looked. Her world and shrunken to the size of a robin's egg, and all thoughts were for Zelda, poor Zelda.

It took some time, but she did fall back to sleep. She woke with a feeling of dread, and for a time she attributed it to the dream in the wee hours. Then she remembered that day and Ralph hand on her jaw. They were going to force her to go to church.

(&)

"Oh, Zelda," Malon's voice came to her ear. "Richard is here."

"Hello, Zelda." His voice, deep and kind, came from somewhere above her. She remembered him, of course, but she had forgotten how tall he was- even taller than Ralph.

"Hello." Zelda greeted him quietly and continued to grip Malon's arm the older girl was certain to have a bruise.

She heard the two of them talk a moment but didn't really attend. Then Malon was moving them forward.

"Here's our seat," Malon was saying. Zelda put a hand out to guide herself along the pew. The wood was smooth, like the banister at Ralph and Malon's, and Zelda liked the feel of it. Someone moved beside her, a moment later Ralph spoke in a hushed tone.

"Well, people are staring, just like you thought." He watched her stiffen. "I think Ralis, that's Lulu's son, is never going to blink again."

Zelda moved her head as though she hadn't heard him right.

"AndAnkle Walcott. He's only 16, but he looks like he won't hear a word of the sermon."

"Don't tease me, Ralph," she finally managed her voice just as low.

"Zelda." His voice was very serious. "The younger men in this church are falling out of their seats looking at you."
"Then they don't know yet. They don't know I'm blind."

"On the contrary, they all know and have been praying for you for months."
"Good morning, everyone," a cheerful voice sounded form the front, and the conversation was cut off. Zelda, who was beginning to remember voices, tried to place this one and failed. Not that it would have mattered. Even after the singing was over and the sermon began, she heard very little. She was still trying to sort out Ralph's words. It was inconceivable that anyone would find her even remotely attractive.

Could the dream be of the things that will happen and just who is the bride? Ha like I'm going to tell you and ruin the ending. Please R&R