Chapter 2

Shadow's blade slashed across Links face at an angle, on the right hand side. Blood spattered on the dark stone floor and ran down his face as he looked up.

Link didn't hesitate, he brought his sword upwards.

Shadow converted to defensive stance immediately; Link's sword was deflected by Shadow's shield. "Child's play," Shadow drawled, bored, and countered.

Their swords clashed, Shadow pressed for more ground as the floor began to crumble. Link sidestepped, attempting to catch Shadow off guard.

Shadow attacked again. Link dodged. Yet not quickly enough. He winced as another searing pain appeared on his forearm; he hadn't even seen Shadow attack to defend himself.

The battle was taken to the positive side of the portal; Link hoped that Shadow would be weaker in an area that wasn't shrouded by a dark aura.

Shadow attempted to behead Link, this time; however, Link was expecting the attack and ducked as he countered. A long gash appeared across Shadow's shoulder as Link gave more ground to lead him outside. Shadow, unfazed by the wound, merely switched his sword-wielding hand before attacking again. "You are far to slow," Shadow said confidently, smirking, as he blocked another of Link's attacks. His gleaming blade narrowly missed Link's throat.

Eventually the spar was taken outdoors; Link had sustained many more small injuries. Shadow was nearly twice as fast as him, to win this duel it seemed nearly impossible ... "You've had better days I am sure," Shadow said with a cruel smirk at Link's pain.

"I can say this is not one of them," Link gasped, exhausted, as he narrowly avoided a swipe that would have flayed his chest open had he not been any quicker.

They advanced, circling. The duo made a perfect circle as they watched each other's movements. Link and Shadow struck in unison.

Shadow swore as Link's sword slashed part of his arm open and brought his blade down. Link misjudged a back-flip and landed hard, knocking the air out of him. Link attempted to push himself up, not ready to give in, but his strength had already been spent.

Shadow placed the tip of his sword on Link's chest and said, "You were no match for me." Link gripped the hilt of his sword, glaring at Shadow. "Do not even try, it shan't work," Shadow said, as if reading Link's mind. Link attempted, despite what he was told. He brought his sword upwards in one sharp movement. Shadow knocked the sword out of Link's hand. "I think I'll let to suffer until you die, simply for being head strong," Shadow said, sheathing his sword before walking away. As Link's other self disappeared he blacked-out, with the curious desire to see the Princess accompanying him.

* * * * *

"Father, I'm going for a walk!" Malon called as she walked out the door. She was circling back through the wooded path in the southern Faron Province, about to finish her walk, when she saw someone, unmoving. She ran to where he lay, her lavender skirt brushing the tall grass as she ran, fervently hoping that he wasn't dead. Malon placed her hand to the base of his neck, his pulse was there, but faint. Why was he injured to this extent? Malon wondered until she saw the sword lying not far from them. She broke into a run.

When she burst into the front door and franticly began preparing wrappings and medicine her father took it with alarm. "Malon, what happened? You've got blood all over your dress!""Father, I need your assistance. Come quickly!" Malon said and dashed out the door, leaving him no choice.

* * * * *

Link painfully pulled himself into a sitting position, and suddenly started coughing up blood. As the coughing receded a redhead about his age walked in, concerned. "Are you alright?" she asked softly, lowering herself onto the beside.

As Link looked up he saw a small pile of blood-soaked wrappings. His blood, Link realized as he nodded mutely. How long had he been unconscious? A day? A week?

"My name's Malon," she introduced herself. "May I know yours?"

"Link," he replied, knowing what her next question would be.

"… Do you remember what happened?" Malon asked softly.

"I lost a duel ... to whom ... If I told you ... you would believe I was insane ..." Link said, letting his voice trail off. Malon shrugged, deciding this was a question that was to wait until later.

"Link, if you would like some dinner I shall retrieve some," Malon offered to change the subject.

"Thank you, but I have trespassed on your hospitality long enough," Link declined, feeling rather embarrassed.

"That is crazy talk!" Malon exclaimed. "Your wounds aren't even half-healed, you haven't eaten; yet you want to go run off. Stay, I'll be right back."

As soon as Malon left the room Link unsteadily got to his feet, and saw his tunic and hat had been washed and neatly folded before being placed over his sword and shield. He only got halfway across the room before he collapsed, suddenly exhausted. "

Men," Malon sighed as she walked back in. "You should be in bed," she said as Link reluctantly allowed her to help him.

It was two days' before Link was at full strength again, although his wounds were far from healed. On the third day of his stay, which Malon insisted that he not leave until his wounds were healed, she finally consented to let him practice his swordsman-ship after many hours of assurance that he would be alright.

As Link practiced he worked on making himself more agile, unaware that, while he trained his wounds were mending themselves through the power of the Triforce. Perhaps two hours later, when Link was finally satisfied for that training session, as he sheathed his sword he noticed that that the gash across his forearm had shrunk to a mere scratch.

Perhaps now he would be strong enough ... But first he would return to Malon's house, for it would not be right to depart without a word. When Link returned Malon was preparing dinner. "That smells good," Link commented and began shedding the bandages around the wound across his chest the Malon insisted he had to keep wearing unless the wound was to be infected.

"Thank you," she said as she turned, glowing from the praise. Malon nearly dropped the pot she was holding. Link was outrageously handsome, now that his wounds had mysteriously healed. She felt herself flush as red as her hair, and turned back to cooking, though her thoughts were not on the food.

* * * * *

"You have failed, Shadow," a cold voice with silky menace said from within the shadows, cloaked by darkness. He was nearly invisible, except for the glow of his icy yellow eyes. "The Hero of Light survived. He is to be dead before the week is out."

Shadow stood from his kneeling position. "Consider it done, Master," Shadow said softly, turning on his heel. He walked through a black void and disappeared ...

End of Chapter 2