Marin


"How's he doing?"

I simply ignored my daddy and continued to nurse an unconscious Link.

It had been a few hours since what I now like to call the "frying pan of doom" incident, which had taken Link out. I know, the "Frying Pan of Doom" sounded stupid, but it was a good name, considering what had happened.

My daddy had been coming home from the forest when he had noticed Bow Wow at the house. So he decided to investigate. When he walked in and saw me with Link, he had believed that Link was attacking me. So, in a frantic rage, he took his nearest weapon, a frying pan he carried with him to fry his toadstools, and smashed it over the back of Link's head.

"That'll show im'!"

See what I mean? The Frying Pan of Doom...

Link hadn't been hurt too badly, but he was bleeding, and was now planted on my bed, with his head wrapped up in bandages, and his blonde hair jutting out the top. I had removed his shirt, which had a few spots of spilled blood on it, and pulled the sheets up to his shoulders to keep him comfortable.

"You never answered me..."

I snapped my head up and looked over at my daddy, who was rocking in his chair in front of the fire, causing the floorboards to creak quietly. I shrugged and solemnly stared at the floor under my feet.

"He's alright," I replied worriedly. "But come look at this."

Daddy slowly got up and waked over to the other side of the bed. He leaned over against the bed stand and examined Link's body curiously.

"Look..."

I pulled down the sheets and pointed to the marks on Link's exposed chest.

"Burns..."

Link lay in the dim light, with the sheets drawn down to his waist, and, against the light complexion of his skin, was a large patches of light brown. It was situated on slightly under his shoulder, as if he had been hit by a fireball or hot liquid.

Daddy looked down in disgust at what he saw.

"W-where did those come from?" he asked horrifically.

I sighed and shook me head.

"Who knows..." I replied angrily. "He always runs of to who knows where in the daytime..."

"Ulrira should know..."

"Grandma Ulrira claims to have seen him near Tail Cave! Why would he be near Tail Cave?"

Daddy stood up straight and walked back over to his seat by the fire. He gave a chuckle and looked up at the roof in a dreamy state, as the orange glow of the fire danced across his face.

"Don't fret on it, girl," he said somewhat dazed. "Link is just an outsider trying to adjust to life here. And that apparently means running off into dangerous caves and being set on fire to him."

I raised an eyebrow and gave my dad a mock look.

"Please tell me that was sarcasm..."

"It wasn't."

I sighed and looked down at Link.

"I hope your right..."

He shifted his attention over to me and smiled.

"You're just worried about him, that's all."

I cracked a little bit of a smile as I played with the idea in my head.

The idea of me being so upset over a boy.

"You've figured me out," I said with a soft giggle.

"I've figured you out, indeed. I've seen how you look at him."

"Stop it," I laughed, looking back up at him with red cheeks.

"See, I figured you out!" He chuckled and closed his eyes. "Let it be known that you have my approval."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

He opened his eyes and leaned forward in his chair.

"You have my approval, that's what it means."

"You mean, like, romantically?"

"Yeah."

I raised an eyebrow.

"I have no intentions of... that..."

"Really?"

"It's not like I love him or anything!"

"Oh, you don't?"

"No!"

"Oh, ok then."

He let out a dissapointed sigh and got up out of his chair. He walked over to his own bed, taking of his shirt and climbing under the sheets.

"Goodnight, Little Marin."

I sighed and reached towards the lamp on the table, blowing out the light of the house so that only the glow of the flames remained.

"Goodnight, Daddy."

I walked over to my own bed and pulled back the sheets, shoving Link out of my way.

"What is the deal with you?" I asked frankly, while I climed into bed. I shut my eyes and sighed.

"I was never in such a bad mood before you came along."

And then, partly out of dreariness, I sighed again and wrapped my arms around his lifeless body.