Chapter 18 The Loss of Link's Humanity
No! Shut up! I will not listen to you! Link thought as the Deity laughed. The blood awakens something in you. You can feel the power coursing through you The Deity laughed as Tatl slowly floated over to him.
"Link are you ok?" she asked as Link's eyes widened. He slowly took a breath and let go of his arm. He stood up straight and stared at the path in front of him. "Link?" she asked with worry as he sighed.
"Let's go we're running late," Link said as he started running. Tatl stared at the back of his head for a few minutes and then followed him.
"I don't know what's going on Link. But I'll stay with you," Tatl said as Link pushed himself farther.
I have to get to Malon faster! If I'm near her I don't hear the Deity anymore! Link thought as he ran through the trees and closer to Hyrule. He arrived at the edge of the forest early in the afternoon. He smiled as he saw the familiar field around him. He breathed in the air and smiled as it felt fresher than the air he had breathed in Termina or Licadonia. He looked on the horizon towards the farm and listened for Malon's carriage.
He smiled as he heard the clop of the horses and the squeaking of the wagon wheels. He quickly fastened his eyes in that direction and waited to see the wagon. When he saw the wagon come over the hill and Malon sitting in the wagon he smiled and ran straight for her. She smiled as she made the horses go a little faster to get to him. When they caught up to each other she jumped down into his waiting arms. "Oh Link I know it hasn't been that long but I missed you so much!" Malon said as she nuzzled her head into his shoulder.
Link smiled as he looked down at her. He squeezed her in his arms as much as he could as Tatl floated around them. "Ok the mushy stuff is over. Let's go, I don't like this place," Tatl said as she floated over to the wagon and sat down. Link smiled as he looked at Tatl. She just winked as Malon looked up into Link's eyes and touched the side of his face with her palm.
"Ok let's get going. I'm not supposed to be here," Link said as he let go and jumped into the wagon.
"Right I almost forgot," Malon said as Link helped her up. She plopped down next to him as he mushed the horse on into the woods. She looped her arms around Links as they rode into the shady woodland.
"How have things been on the ranch?" Link asked as Malon looked up at him.
"Well, my daddy is going to hire an extra ranch hand to take care of the ranch. He said he's going to miss me a lot. I'm gonna miss him too," she said as she clung tighter to his arm and her voice grew thick with emotion. They said in silence as they moved slowly through the woods. Tatl sat right behind them on one of Malons chests.
"You brought my chest right?" Link asked as she nodded into his shoulder.
"Yes, it's in the back," she said as she looked down at his hands. They look so different in his heroic garb. In fact he carries himself completely different. Like he's tenser Malon thought as she brought one hand over his right and he looked over at her surprised.
"What's wrong?" Link asked as she smiled.
"Nothing…you just carry yourself so differently in these clothes. It's like you can't stay calm," she said as he gave a small smile.
"It's not the clothes. I just am always cautious in this forest. When I was a kid I used to run around in this forest. I loved it! The sounds of nature and the spirit of the forest you can feel," Link said with a smile. She looked up at him confused as she looked around the forest.
"But I thought you just said you were cautious of this forest. Why would you be when you loved it so much as a kid?" she asked as he smiled down at her. He took her left hand in his right and looked into the trees as she blushed.
"This forest has changed," Link said as Tatl and Malon both looked up at him in surprise.
"It has?" Malon asked as he nodded.
"The forest spirits are almost all gone. There is much more darkness in this forest. Tatl haven't you noticed something yet. Look around, what don't you see?" Link asked as Tatl stood up and looked around the forest. Her eyes widened as she looked back at Link.
"The fairies are gone! This forest used to be flooded with fairies! What does this mean?" Tatl asked as Link looked down at the horse pulling the carriage. He sighed as he looked at the black horse.
If only I hadn't rode Epona into that battle. Then I wouldn't have lost her. She would be pulling the carriage Link thought as Malon tapped him on the shoulder.
"Link…hey Link! Are you ok?" Malon asked as he snapped out of his trance.
"Right sorry, I'm fine. What did you ask me Tatl?" Link asked as Malon looked at him with worry.
"I was asking what it meant that all the fairies were gone," Tatl said as Link sighed.
"It means that the magic is being siphoned out of the forest by some dark force. I don't know why or how but I wish I could help," Link said as they continued through the dense grove of trees.
"Link you can help the forest. None of the guards even go into the forest. Actually I don't know a Hylian who could even go into the forest other than you," Malon said as he sighed.
Actually I knew one Link thought as he thought back to Zelda in that other time in front of the forest temple. Sheik could appear and disappear at whatever place she wanted Link thought as Malon looked over at him. "Yeah no other Hylian can come in here," Link said as they continued through the forest.
"So Link why didn't you just train the soldiers, I mean it can't have been that much of a hassle for you?" Tatl asked as Link sighed. He looked along the dirt path infront of them debating if he even wanted to acknowledge the question. "Link?" Tatl asked as he growled.
"Fine, I will not teach the soldiers to fight. Learning swordsmanship is the learning the art to kill, to show no emotion as you slay an enemy. These soldiers sure have seen battles before and have already been trained. But to learn to fight like I do, it's inhuman what I can do. I won't give anyone else my curse," Link said as he clenched his fists tight around the reigns in anger.
Malon slipped her arms through his right arm and layed her head against his shoulder. "Link you don't have to train the soldiers. We're leaving remember? We're going to have a long and happy life away from Hyrule," she said with a smile as she looked up at him.
A small smile crossed his featured as he nodded. "Thanks Malon," Link said as his hands loosened their grip on the reigns. "I don't want us to live in the forest Malon. You deserve a real home. Plus I have no idea how to help. Though it feels like I've felt this darkness before," Link said aloud as they looked at him.
He scrunched his brows in frustration as he recalled the memory. No, it can't be him. He's dead, I know he is Link thought as he clenched his jaw.
"Link how about we think of something else ok? Where are we staying?" Malon asked as he smiled.
"We're going to be staying in the inn till I find a place. I haven't gotten a house yet Malon but don't worry I've got it all under control. Oh by the way do you want to live on a farm or in the town?" Link asked as she smiled.
"I think the town would be nice. I've never lived in the city. I've always wanted to though. Wait how are we going to afford a house?" Malon asked as she looked up at him.
"I have plenty of money Malon. It's fine," Link said as she frowned.
"Link I don't like you spending your money on me like that," Malon said as he sighed.
"Malon it's fine, I'll just buy the house. You can go out and get a job if you want to. You can even go work on the Romani Ranch if you want. They produce milk just like your farm," Link said as she smiled.
"Hey but how am I going to get there?" she asked as Link smiled and looked down at the horse pulling the cart. "Oh right I can use this horse right here," she said with a laugh as Link smiled at her. The sky started to darken as the horse pulled the lone wagon down the dirt path.
"We're going to have to find a place to sleep soon. Its getting late," Link said as he started looking around in the woods for a good place to camp.
"So then we're going to camp?" Malon asked as he nodded.
"It'll be a few days before we get to Termina this way," Link said as he pulled the horse over a few yards off the road. He hopped out of the carriage and held his arms out for Malon. She smiled and hoped down into his arms. He caught her and put her down patting the horse that brought them there.
"Is he always this much of a gentleman?" Tatl asked sarcastically as Link glared at her. She floated off the chest and over their heads.
"I'm gonna go get some fire wood," Link said as he walked away from them. He didn't go very far. He was afraid of leaving Malon alone in the forest.
"Is he always nice around you?" Tatl asked as Malon looked at her strangely.
"Of course he's nice. He's the nicest man I know," Malon said as she looked at him.
"Must not know many nice men," Tatl said as Malon rolled her eyes.
"You obviously haven't known him as long as I have. I can see straight through that steel armor he wears to protect his heart," Malon said as she walked over to him.
"She must be blind," Tatl said as she sat down on the horses head. Malon walked over to Link and smiled down at him as he stacked the fire wood and set it on fire. Link looked up and smiled at her as she sat down next to him. Link sat up against a tree and looked over at Malon. I've never gotten used to the way she acts. She's so kind and caring.
I love that about her. But no one has been that person in my life. The person who takes care of me Link thought as he smiled. Malon smiled back and rested her head on his shoulder. Link took her left hand in both of his and caressed it lovingly. Malon smiled down at his hands as the light from the fire danced in front of their eyes.