Link couldn't sleep, he was too restless. Instead, he turns on his lamp. Since he can't sleep, he may as well read the diary.
Darwyn stayed and ate dinner with the friendly ranch owner and his daughters. What no one knew is how that family was getting betrayed. Thomas was arrested for tax evasion by the King's Men that night. At the time no one knew who was doing it. They came while Mirabel and Darwyn were out training the wild horse. Remy tried to help her father, but her father begged her not to interfere. They didn't find out till Maribel returned with the horse a few weeks later.
Once the dishes were done, Darwyn thanks Thomas and Remy for cooking. Mirabel lived in the ranch, but was a horrible cook. Instead she cleaned or worked outside instead. Darwyn insisted on doing the dishes, it was his way to repay the farmer for his kindness and generosity.
Once the dishes were done, Maribel takes Darwyn to the horses stable.
"Why did you bring me here? Your father says no horses were available at the moment." Sure enough this place remained empty.
"Just because our stalls are empty, doesn't mean our equipment isn't. Come. Grab a saddle, plus a bridle and a canteen. Trust me, you'll need it."
That evening, is when they met the most magnificent, majestic horses they ever saw.
"Wow." Darwyn was speechless. There were wild horses everywhere. They were running through the fields, truly free, running like it was no one's business.
"Yep. The wild horses of Hyrule. This is where the King hires us to get his animals. My grandmama, rest her soul, she came here as a young woman and captured many horses for the ranch. She not only trained them, she disciplined them to be obedient animals. You need a horse? Go and point one out. I will capture it for you." Maribel tells him.
Darwyn looks at every animal. Most looked strong and robust, but there was one horse that caught his eye. It was smaller, and a lot skinnier, but had this look of defiance and determination. Darwyn knew immediately that was a special horse.
"That one." He didn't care about the others. He saw Mirabel's face. She looked incredulous.
"You're sure? I don't know. That black horse over there, he looks strong and fast. That red horse, she looks pretty small. No way she can make it to the lake without proper training. Which would take months." She warned.
Darwyn shook his head. His grandfather, he always said wild animals were special. That you should never judge by appearances. He knew without a doubt that horse will be special.
"Trust me." He smiled at Mirabel's sigh.
"Fine. But she may not be able to carry two passengers."
It took Mirabel a long time to capture the horse. She was a well trained horsewoman, but she had a lot of trouble capturing that horse. Knowing that the window of escape was getting smaller, Darwyn hums a old nursery rhyme his mother used to sing to him. To Mirabel's surprise, when he opened his mouth and starts singing, every horse stopped to watch. Especially that red horse.
Maribel was in awe of the Sheikah's voice. She heard singers before, but his voice was like an angel. She stopped to watch as well, and was embarrassed to admit, she developed a crush. Seeing his expression, she blushed in embarrassment. She was hired to do a job. A few minutes later was leading the horse to him.
Darwyn never stopped singing till that horse was secure. Once he stopped, he introduced himself.
"Hello. My apologies. I needed a horse. May I ask for your help?" He asked the wild horse.
Mirabel giggles as the horse neighs. That sound, it meant the horse completely trusted the rider. She looked around and saw all the other horses standing around. Since they were running out of time, she takes that black horse she was admiring and leads it away with him leading the red horse back to the ranch.
"That song. Where did you learn it from?" Mirabel asked. "It is so beautiful. So calming." The horses, they looked so calm like they were never wild.
"My mother's lullaby. She sang it to all of her children. It was in my family for years." He sang it while working the fields, it made the work less tiring.
Link smiled. So that's how Malon's song came to be. Mirabel and her family must have passed it down to their children.
Since their time was short, Mirabel insisted on coming along. Her reason being, she needed to be there to train the horses. Her father needed transportation for supplies from Hyrule Castle in the next few days. That black horse, she named Midnight, was perfect for him.
"So what do you want to call her?" He was riding that red horse he was admiring earlier.
"Eshina." It suited her. It was his grandmother's name.
"Beautiful name." Mirabel looked at Eshina. When they got back to the ranch, Mirabel and Remy tried to tame the horse. Midnight didn't take very long, he was bribed with oats. But Eshina, she ran all over the ranch panicking.
"That horse. She is special." Thomas was admiring the wild horse. He knew it immediately. He laughed when Remy was thrown off.
"Dad! That's not funny!" Remy was annoyed by her father's roaring laughter. She glared at her sister who was laughing.
"Told you." She knew her sister would have trouble.
"I never broke my streak of taming horses. Watch."
An hour later, Remy throws in the towel.
"That's it. How did you get her?" She was dirty and covered in mud and dirt. That horse kept throwing her off and biting her. She glared at the horse who was strutting around like no ones business. She saw their ranch hand watching.
"Darwyn. Will you do the honors?" Mirabel couldn't wait to see her sister's face.
Sure enough, Eshina comes running over and neighs. But not before rubbing her head on Darwyn's chest.
Darwyn blushes at their applause.
"Thank you."
Thomas saw his daughter's expressions. Look like they are enamoured. Especially Mirabel.
"Your voice. It is incredible." Not since his late wife that he heard a voice so beautiful. "So you're that singer I heard so much about."
"Thank you. I hate to leave, but Mirabel, I must be going. Roana, she must be waiting." He was worried about his fiancée.
"Oh course." Damn. She forgot about that Zora. She mentally slapped herself. She had a boyfriend. A Sheikah no less. But Darwyn. He was special.
Once they wave goodbye, they set off.
"So you and your fiancée, how long?"
"Awhile." Being with Roana was timeless. He couldn't wait to say his vows.
"She must be special."
"Yes, she is. Now and forever."
It took only two hours to get to Zora's entrance, both horses were quick. While coming close to Kakariko, they saw Hyrule's men riding out. Both didn't think much of it, but if they have known, Mirabel would have ridden hard to warn her father. She knew every shortcut to the ranch.
Twenty minutes later they see Roana with Elric.
"Is that her?'' She was breathtaking. She never saw a Zora so close before. The closest she got was when they were picnicking at Hyrule Lake when she was a young child. They were swimming and performing tricks to the audience.
"Yep. My love. Plus my best friend. That is Elric. Amis must be keeping an eye out. My other best friend."
Roana waves seeing her boyfriend. But when she sees the pretty ranch hand, she scowled in jealousy.
"Darwyn? Who is this." She immediately goes to hold his hand as soon as he jumped off his horse.
"A friend. This is Mirabel. Mirabel, this is Roana."
"His fiancée." Roana emphasized in a stern voice.
"Don't you worry, I have a boyfriend." Mirabel immediately found herself getting checked out, to see if she was a threat. Mirabel could I help but to feel flattered. She was a twin, but Remy always was the popular one. That is why she worked on the ranch most of the time. Her 'boyfriend' wasn't even serious. It was more like a hookup thing. Still, she couldn't help but get jealous. She wanted what Remy and Roana had.
"Ahem. You guys. It will be sunrise soon. You better get going." Elric warned.
"Right. Roana. Climb on."
"Can your horse handle two riders? Maybe we can switch." Mirabel suggested.
"I'm not fat. Us Zoras, we are lighter than we look." Otherwise, they couldn't swim so gracefully.
"I think Eshina could handle herself. Come on, it will be a hot day. If we go now, we can make it before noon." They had a long ride. Even with horses, it will take them hours to get there.
Elric watches as they ride off. He knew Roana's father will be furious. But it will take him awhile to find Roana. The Temple, it was a few miles away from Hyrule Lake. Elric knew he had to get back, if Gavin knew he was helping Roana escape, he'll make sure Elric is locked away, along with Amis.
Link yawned. Sounded exciting. But he needed sleep. Especially with Navi snoring her tiny snores on his pillow. Tomorrow was another day.