The Legend of Zelda: Zelda's Honor

Chapter 10 - Close Encounters

Link awoke with the sun shining in his eyes from the window just above his resting form. Turning his head to avoid the glare he noticed Malon next to him, her head cradled between his arm and chest. It took him a few moments to realize they had fallen asleep together. They were more exhausted than they thought. He looked further past Malon to see Epona resting peacefully beside them both. The fresh smell of hay, horse and Malon's floral scent was intoxicating. He laid his head back down onto the hay bale they had lain up against and closed his eyes once more.

Link turned his head to gaze upon Malon as she moaned slightly. She had just started to stir. After a long stretch confined in his arms she clutched a piece of his tunic and murmured dreamily, "Mmm...good morning daddy."

Link's body went stiff at this comment. Was she still asleep? Or was she joking with him? Malon had noticed the change in his physique and started to fully wake up to her situation. She glanced up into Link's blue eyes and flushed a furious shade of red after realizing what she just called him. She buried her face into his armpit wanted to die from embarrassment.

"I'm sorry Link." She muffled into his clothes.

Link chuckled as he enfolded her into his arms and hugged her, she did not resist but let his embracing warmth radiate around her body. Now fully awake, both of them simply laid next to each other, each soaking in this quiet moment that they shared. The events of the previous day weighed heavily upon the two of them.

Absently rubbing her hand across Link's chest she intoned, "So Saria is safe. That is good. Were you able to save any others?"

A gentle squeeze on her shoulder indicated otherwise, "No." It was all he could say.

"What was it like facing that army?" Malon questioned, not fully realizing the effect they had on Link.

"Terrible." His mind started relapsing into the horrors of the day prior. He did not want Malon to experience any of what he went through.

"Can we honestly beat th-"

Link quickly cut her off, "I'd rather not talk about it please."

Ashamed, she just buried her face into his arm again, taking in his delectable scent of forest, dirt and everything natural. Malon wondered what it was like to live in the forest and play all day with the other Kokiri. To live beside the forest animals and ride her horses through the trees, it must have been so magical.

A thought suddenly crossed her mind, "Hey Link." She looked back up into his face, "We also brought the new foal here with us. Did you want to see it?"

Link got excited at this, he remembered washing it down and cleaning off the birthing fluids from that young horse back at Lon Lon Ranch. It was an anchor of normalcy in a world gone mad. He wanted to see it for no other reason than to see something good still left in the world. Each of them helped the other up off the floor as Epona gave a snort at being awoken. Link gently petted her neck until she settled back down into restful sleep.

She eagerly took Link by the hand and guided him down the stalls until they reached the first one just left of the entrance to the stable. He must have completely passed the young foal on his way in earlier that morning. They entered its enclosure and gently woke up the little horse. Its mother was adjacently resting behind it watching the two of them intently, after seeing no threat she resumed her inhaling of the nearby hay.

"I have to admit," Malon jabbed, "you did a decent job fixing him up."

"Oh," Link stammered, he actually hadn't noticed it was a male colt at the time of birth.

"You still need some more practice," she continued as if he had said nothing, "before you can be as good as me delivering babies!"

"Maybe you'll show me your expert technique then!" Link rebutted with a grin.