I hope you are ready for the new chapter because here it is.

Link found Malon in the living room. He couldn't tell if she was still crying, but she stood at the huge north window, her back very straight and still.

"Are you all right?"

She didn't answer.

"Maybe I should go and get Ralph. May I do that for you?"

"No," she said, shaking her head. "I have to handle my response. Zelda has to answer for her own. She knows the truth and rejects it, but that's not my fault. It's between her and God."

Malon turned from the window. "I'm going to lie down for a while now, Link. Please tell Zelda and Lulu that I don not wish to be disturbed."

Link didn't speak as she left the room. There wasn't anything to say. He'd known. He'd been suspicious for weeks now but did not want to face Zelda's true spiritual state.

You're a fool, Link. You wanted it so badly that you refused to see the truth.

Link sat down in a chair. At the moment he had no desire to seek out Zelda and continued their lesson. Link opened his heart to God. He prayed and tried to commit the future to Him. Worry was a strong temptation until Link remembered verses from Matthew 11-verses that reminded him that the Lord's yoke, the Lord's burden, was light.

This heave burden I feel is my own doing. If I'll just leave this with You, Lord, You'll be my strength. And strength was just what Link needed as Zelda came to the door.

"Malon?"

"No." Link replied quietly. "She's gone upstairs to lie down. Please come in. I'd like to speak to you."

"Is it lecture time, Link?" The voice that was hesitant a moment earlier now turned hard.

"Yes. Get comfortable."

Zelda did as she was told.

"I've been hiding from the facts before me, Zelda," Link began quietly. "Even when I saw the truth, I didn't want to believe it."

This was nothing like what Zelda expected. For a moment she was confused. It showed on her face.

"It's been bothering me for weeks now as to why you're so angry and hateful to everyone and everything. I know the truth, deep down, but I didn't want to face it. I shudder just a little at the thought that we were almost married."

"What do you mean?" She was angry now.

"I mean, the Bible is very clear. As a believer in Christ, my wife must be a believer too."

"What are you talking about?" She half rose from her seat on the sofa.

"I'm talking about my strong doubt concerning your salvation. If the fall had taken your life and not just your eyesight, I find it hard to believe that you would rally be standing in the presence of God, Zelda. I'm sorry to be the one to tell you this, but you haven't the foggiest idea what true salvation means."

Zelda sat back now, her face a mask of shock.

"It bothered me so much when you said you'd just always been a Christian. I had never heard anyone say that before, and it concerned me. You've gone to church all your life and told yourself you're a good person, just like your father has, but you haven't a clue."

All the color had drained from Zelda's face and her chest rose and fell with her quickened breaths. Thoughts raced through her mind. How can he say this to me? I am a good person. No one is perfect, but surely God wouldn't-

For the first time Zelda couldn't' finish the sentence. She'd certainly known, but fort eh first time she accepted the truth that God would deny her a heavenly home if she continued on as she'd been. Not because He wanted to, but because His holiness was so grate, and as her mother always said, it's God's way or no way. So far she'd lived all her way, and had nothing but misery to show for it.

"I'll go now," Link was saying, but Zelda barely heard him. "Maybe you'd better have Ralph get in touch if you want me to come back and teach."

Zelda couldn't say a word. She turned her head away from his footsteps on the floor and flinched as the huge front door shut. It sounded like a death kneel in her ears.

The blackness that surrounded her-not the one that so terrified her when she first woke up and learned the truth about her eyesight, but the one that had been there all along-now crowded in again. She was going to hell, and somehow she knew that the day-to-day blackness she experienced would be nothing compared to the eternal darkness awaiting her.

Her mind raced as a new kind of terror embraced her. Her heart begged God not to let it be to late, but ever verse she'd ever heard concerning eternity and salvation had slipped from her mind. John 3:16, 17. What were they? And Ephesians 2:8. She was certain that there was another one, but how did they begin? She couldn't find a word.

Steps sounded in the hallway.

"Malon?" she cried. "Link? Malon? Is that you?"

"No, Miss Zelda, its Lulu." She came into the room and saw Zelda's tear-streaked face. "What did you need, dear?"

"Oh, Lulu," she cried, on the verge of hysteria. "What is John 3:16? I can't remember. Please help me."

"'For God so loved the world,'" she began calmly, and took Zelda's hand as she joined her on the settee.

"'That whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life.'"

"That's it, love."

"But Lulu." Zelda's voice was still desperate. "What do I do? How can I believe?"

"Ti is not hard, Miss Zelda. Belief is to humble your heart and tell god what a lost sinner you are. Then you tell Him that you accept the salvation offered to you because of the cross. Some say to invite Jesus into your heart, but the words are not so important as the belief.

"Evan and I believed at the same time, Miss Zelda, and all Evan said was 'I have come to You, Lord Jesus, and lay my sin at Your feet. Please make me Yours forever.' And that was it."

"Oh, Lulu," Zelda sobbed. "What if it doesn't work? I've been fighting for so long."

"No, no," her voice was tender and sure. "Nothing touches God's heart like true repentance, Miss Zelda. Confess and believe."

Zelda was trembling all over, but with excitement rather than fear.

"Would you like to do this now, Miss Zelda?" Lulu asked with bold compassion. "Would you like me to help you pray?"

"Yes, Lulu, please. I have so much to say to God. Do you think He'll really listen?"

"Oh yes, my dear. Just open your heart."

Zelda's breath came a little hard, but she began to pray.

"Lord God in heaven, I've always let my pride rule me. I didn't ever want to disagree with my father, and I was so certain he was good enough. Me too." She had to pause to catch her breath. "I've sinned against You, God. I've been headstrong and hated You for my blindness."

Zelda was overcome then, but Lulu sat silently nearby Realizing joy how blind she had been was an earth-shattering experience for her. She had walked with perfect vision and a black heart.

"I can't go on alone anymore," she now whispered to the Lord. "Please take me as you did Evan and Lulu. Take all of me and let me into Your sight."

Arms came around her a moment before she smelled Malon's perfume. The three women clung to each other and cried.

"He told me, Malon. I could tell he was sad and upset, but Link told me he thought I was going to hell. It hurt so much, Malon, but I had to know."

"I know, Zelda; I know. You've taken care of it now."

"You heard?"

"Yes. I didn't want to interrupt, but I was near the door."

"I tried to do it on my own, Malon." Zelda grew very serious. "Just like Father, and for a while I thought I was succeeding. Link was so serious about it in his letters, and I wanted to be like him. I was kind and did things for others, but I was still empty inside. Most of the time I wouldn't allow myself to think about it."

Malon smoothed the hair from her face and laughed softly.

"You have grass all over your hair and dress."

"Oh. I fell outside before my lesson. Lulu?" Zelda asked suddenly.

"Yes, dear?"

"Thank you," Zelda said simply.

Lulu hugged her close and blubbered all over the both of them. A few moments passed before Lulu grew flustered by her own show of emotions. She jumped up and declared that the two sisters must be starving. She hurried off to fix lunch.

"Link left," Zelda said softly.

"He must have wanted to give you some time."

"And take some for himself," Zelda added.

Malon suddenly kissed Zelda's cheek. The younger girl put a hand on that spot.

"What was that for?"

"For thinking of Link's feelings."

Zelda smiled just a little. "So much, Malon. There's so much that's clear to me now. Can it really happen so swiftly?"

"Yes. It may not be like that all the time, but when it is, it's a lot of work."

"You knew, didn't you?"

"That you thought you were saved but weren't? Yes. I had a hard time facing the facts, but Ralph was very firm with me, and I saw the truth. Don't forget that we shared a room, Zelda. We were about as close at two sisters could be. I was a fool not to see it long ago.

"Anyone can be afraid of the dark, but sometimes you would be terrified no matter how I tried to comfort you. When Ralph spoke to me, it suddenly made perfect sense. I see now that the darkness outside was so frightening to you because there was no light inside."

"Oh, Malon," Zelda said as the years came rushing back. "It's so true. I would lie beside you in bed and feel like I was suffocating, even when you would leave the lantern on for me. I was black on the inside, all right." the younger girl sighed. "I have so many things to apologize for. I have been horrid to you at times. Today I was just awful."

"That's behind us, Zelda. You'll be tempted to beat yourself over the head with the past, but id does no good."

Zelda nodded her face filling with peach. "I'm glad of one thing, Malon."

"What is that?"
"That I didn't lose my sight because of some rebellion. Then I would feel that it's all my fault."

"It's wise of you to think that way, Zelda. You have much to be thankful for. If you had kept your vision, you might have wandered blindly for years."

"Yes. I'd already thought of that. Oh, Malon, so much has happened in the last few minutes. I feel overwhelmed."

"Don't try to take it in all at once."

Lulu came back to the room and told the women she had lunch ready. Their conversation never stemmed all the way through the meal and into the middle of the afternoon. They talked like they never had before. Zelda had dozen of questions, and Malon tried to answer them all. Lulu came and went as well, but she was already back in the kitchen working on dinner when Link's name was mentioned again.

"You're quiet all of a sudden," Malon commented.

"I was thinking of Link."
"What about Link?"

"He said he was coming back only if Ralph asked him. I'm sure he thought I would never want to see him again."

"Well, maybe a day or two off would be nice. You do want him to teach you?"
"Yes, but some time off would be welcome. Do you think he'll understand?"

"Certainly. I know Ralph would be happy to talk to him."
"Who would I be happy to talk with?"

Malon jumped up and ran into her husband's arms. He was home an hour early, and she barely accepted his kiss before she was talking 15 to the dozen and pulling him by the hand to Zelda's side. Ralph cried with he heard her news and hugged her close.

"Oh, Zelda," was all he could say. His heart was so full. He asked question of her, and when he learned the story, sought out Lulu to hug her as well.

The three of them had a lovely dinner together before Ralph told them he simply had to get some work done in his office. The women were left on their own, and Malon could tell that Zelda had something on her mind. She waited and wasn't disappointed.

"May I ask you something, Malon?"

"Certainly."

"Why do you suppose God did this?"
"You mean, allowed your blindness to happen?"
"Yes. I was only trying to help Father, and now I'll never see again. Why is it like that sometimes?"

"Can I read something to you, Zelda?"
"Yes." She listened as her sister rose, went across the room, and then reseated herself.

"This is a letter Mother wrote to me long before we brought you to Hyrule. I'd like to share part of it with you."

"All right."

"Mother writes, 'The temptation to question is strong at time like this. Why my daughter? Why my Zelda? But then I also have to ask myself, why not my daughter? I think of the blind man from John 9. The disciples asked Jesus, whose fault is it that's he's blind, his or his parents? Jesus told them it wasn't anyone's fault, but that the works of God would be manifested in this deed. I will do well to remember this. We live in a sinful world and painful, evil tings happen. God allows them to show us our need for Him. I must be thankful for the sovereignty and not fight against it.

"'I have found a verse, Exodus 4:11 that has been a comfort to me."And the Lord said, unto him, Who hath made man's mouth? Or who maketh the dumb, or deaf, or the seeing or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?" This reminds me, Malon, that He never lost control. Even as my precious girl fell and lost her sight forever, He was there. Will she ever again take enough interest in life to ask me about this? I don't know, but I have peace and I pray that someday she will live as she never has before.'"

"Oh, Malon." Zelda had tears in her eyes. "She answered my question, and I'd never even asked it. I might have never known."

Malon hugged her for a long time before they fell quiet. Then, for the first time since Malon could remember, Zelda asked her to read from the Bible.

She was more than happy to comply, and Zelda listened, her head tilted to hear every word until she realized she was getting a crick in her neck. She told Malon that they could stop when she heard the older girl yawn, but Malon insisted they keep on. However, she suddenly stopped a few verses later.

"Malon?" Zelda called softly, moving her hand along the davenport. She felt her sister's skirt and knew she was there.

"Malon. Are you all right?"

Zelda turned when she heard footsteps.

"She's asleep, Zelda," Ralph told her.

"Oh. Okay."

"Would you like me to read to you?"

"Don't you want to go to bed?"

"Not yet."

Ralph settled in next to his wife and arranged her against him. She woke, but he pushed her head back onto this shoulder. He began to read, and she fell back to sleep almost instantly. Taking up where Malon had left off, he got right into he chapter she was sharing from Genesis. It took several minutes for him to see that he'd lost Zelda as well.

(&)

"No, I don't want you to," Malon told her husband, circling the table in his study, beeping it between them. "I will see the doctor."

"But I know all about these things," he said with a twinkle in his eye.

Malon shook her head and tried not to smile. "I want to hear it from him. I don't think I trust you."

Ralph barely held his laughter.

"All I'm going to do," she said as he came around the table after her again, "is span your waist with my hands. Then I'll know."

Malon laughed but did not let him catch her. She countered, "And the next time I need to see someone about cash investments, I should ask my doctor."

Ralph really laughed at this one, but Malon would not hold till. It was so fun to tease him. So fun to see his eyes light with passion for her. Their play might have gone on indefinitely if Zelda hadn't come to the door.

"Malon? she called innocently.

Malon turned to her and Ralph sprang.

"Gotcha!" he cried triumphantly.

"Oh!" Malon let out a loud squeak and Ralph's arms came around her from the back and pressed her to his chest.

"Ralph Langley," Zelda demanded playfully. "What are you doing to my sister?"

"Well, I'll tell you, Zelda. She comes to me and says she thinks she's pregnant but won't let me near her. Now, isn't that rotten?"

"Oh, Malon." Zelda came forward, ignoring Ralph's question as her outstretched hands searched for her sister. "Where are you?"

"Right here."

Ralph allowed Malon to slip from his grasp so she could hug her sister.

"Come to the sofa," Zelda pulled her. "I want to feel the baby."

"It's too early," Malon said with a laugh but complied because Zelda wasn't listening. She sat still while the younger girl's hand came to rest gently on her stomach.

"You don't feel pregnant." Her brow was drawn in concentration.

"Not from the outside." There was a smile in Malon's voice. "And I may not be, but if I am it's too soon to show."

Ralph now came to his wife's other side. He sat down beside her, slipped an arm around her shoulders, and then pressed his lips to her temple and left them there.

"I want a girl," Zelda announced.

"I'll see what I can do." Malon's voice was dry.

"What id I want a boy?" Ralph teased.

"Well," Zelda cocked her head a little. "I guess you had better do what Ralph tells you to, Malon."

She was so serious that husband and wife shared an amused smile.

"Looking forward to Link returning tomorrow?" Ralph asked. Zelda had made her decision on Tuesday, and this was now Thursday. Both husband and wife watched her blush.

"I think so," she told them, her face serious once again.

"Why do you look so uncertain?"

"Well, I just think he must have better thing to do. School starts a week from Monday."

"But he plans to come even after school begins," Malon said reasonably. "You know, in the evening and such. That doesn't sound like someone who's too busy to come."

Zelda nodded but didn't answer. Her heart had made a complete turnaround in the last two days, but that didn't change the fact that she was in love with a man who would never be hers. In light of that, she'd been asking herself if seeing so much of him was a good idea.

But then she remembered the school year. Surely when classes began he wouldn't be able to come very often. The problem would be taken care of on its own. Zelda didn't want to think about why that made her want to cry.

Only four chapters left till the end. The pressure is on ; )