That morning had been the same as any other morning. The cuccos had begun crowing as the sun slowly rose from the east horizon. She had gotten up at dawn did her morning chores before she had begun preparing a simple and small breakfast for her and Link. Link had been her best friend since he was a small child. When the Deku tree entrusted her with the small child she never thought that she would see the small bundle in her arms grow up into such a handsome and desirable man. Although she was way older than him, she had physically remained ten years old. She saw him slowly grow from a mere baby into a smart and talented ten year old. He had been a bit too childish and lazy but his kindness, his bravery, his humbleness and his charm had made up for his flaws. Slowly but surely he conquered her heart.

The first time he left the forest she had stood on the bridge, clutching her chest in pain. She knew sooner or later he had to leave; after all he did not belong there. He was not a real Kokiri child. She had been ten years old when she had been lost in that forest. She had selfishly run away from her parents and entered the forest with the wish of never growing old. That caused her not only her mortality but her freedom. Although her knowledge and wisdom grew through the years her body and her child-like personality remained the same. She was cursed for eternity until she left the forest, but like all Kokiri children, she didn’t want to leave. She had nothing in the real world anymore. Her parents and her siblings were gone. She didn’t even remember them clearly anymore. All she knew was this forest. She looked outside her window and sighed. It was time to wake Link up. Although he was well pass his 19th birthday he was still a heavy sleeper. She knew if she left him alone, he would sleep all through the day. She smiled at the thought of Link sleeping. Ever since he came back from locking Ganon away and saving Hyrule, her feelings and attraction towards him began to grow. She had been delighted when he had return to his previous life making up for those 10 years he spent locked away in that temple. She watched him train from noon to dusk, building up his now amazing physique. Throughout those ten years she had been his friend and his support. She took the role of a housekeeper for him and she made sure he was well feed and taken care off. It was a pleasure that she looked forward to. She felt that she was married to him in a way.

She was so lost in thought she had not been aware that she was now standing in front of Link’s tree house. He had modified it over the years to accommodate his adult body. She made her way up the ladder and looked through his door. She gasped in surprised when she was his bed empty. It was unmade, meaning he had spent the night in his bed but he was nowhere to be found.

“Link are you in here?” She whispered as she walked even further inside his home. She looked around taking note of all the mess he had managed to make the night before. There were papers, books and equipment scattered around the room. When there was no respond she went back outside and looked around. No sign of him. She went back to her house and to her delight she found him sitting in her small table.

“Sorry to intrude Sai, woke up extremely early today and well after three hours of training I kind of built an appetite!”

He grinned after he finished his sentence and continued on with his meal. Sarai only smiled and sat down across from him. She watched him as he finished his breakfast. Something in his expression caught her attention. He seemed slightly distracted and serious. Normally he would just blabber on about training and what had transpired the previous day in the market. He had joined as a knight when he turned seventeen and since then he had climbed up the ranks and within the year he was a trusted knight under direct command of the King. He was the captain of the royal guard and of course his majesty’s most trusted war counselor and advisor. He was quite known through the land not to mention he was also known as the “Hero of Time” through the kingdom.

“You seem distracted what’s wrong Link?”

She could tell her question caught him off guard. Even after all they been through he was still shocked that she could read him like an open book. He only grinned and tried to dismiss her concern with “You must be imagining things”. Saria glared. He hated that because he once he met her gaze he had a hard time maintaining his lies. He looked down at the floor right after he caught her eyes for the first time, they came back to her for a spit second before he stared outside.

“I’m waiting” She replied to his silence.

He finally sighed and pushed forward a small box across the table. Saria only stared at it. That box was troubling him? What contents could it possibly hold that it could make a strong warrior over think this early in the morning?

“What is that?”

He laughed as he heard her question and he merely took the box and flipped it open. The box contained a small ring with a large diamond in the middle. It was made out of gold. She could tell it was extremely expensive. Saria looked up at Link with a questioning look. He blushed as he tried to avoid eye contact with her. His lip twitched in an attempt to smile. He could tell he was extremely nervous. Saria was no idiot to Hyrulian customs. She knew the ring was to propose marriage. Her heart began to beat quickly. Was he going to propose to her? It came to a surprising shock to her due to the fact that he never even stated his feeling towards her. She saw him pull out the ring from the box.

“Well it’s been almost an eternity since … well you know … know each other … and well I think it’s time I made my feelings and my intentions clear …” He nervously began.

Saria held the end in the table with anticipation. She could feel herself drift into this abyss of joy. She was speechless, her heart pounding against her chest. She only smiled. He began to fidget with the small ring and he cleared his throat.

“I decided … it is time that I settle in and well … get married”

She couldn’t believe this was happening. He was actually going to propose to her!! She was going to become his official wife. She didn’t know what to do. Should she be shocked, happy, or indifferent? She was about to jump from her seat, screaming YES when he began again.

“I want to marry Zelda Sai”

This time, when he finished talking, her heart had suddenly stopped moving. Everything around her stopped moving. To say she was shocked was an understatement. She was glad she was still seated down because not only had her hopes and her dreams had just came crushing down, but so had reality. How could she ever hope to be HIS wife? Saria could hardly compete with the gorgeous princess. Unlike Saria’s undeveloped child-like body, Zelda was slim with a tiny waist, fair skin, beautiful golden hair, and extremely gracious curves. She was everything Saria was not.

“I … I don’t know what to tell you … “She answered honestly. She hid her pain from him, she got up and began to pick up the table attempting to keep herself from bursting into tears.

“Good Luck?” He suggested.

Saria faked a laugh and nodded her head as she dumped the plates into a wooden bucket full of water.

“Of course! G-Good Luck Link!”

With that he grinned got up from the table and took off without another word to her. Her knees buckled and she collapsed into the floor, her tears finally overwhelming her.

She knew she should have locked the door every night that she went to bed. She had known and yet the first night he came she had forgotten to do so. Malon from Lon Lon Ranch, the beautiful farm girl with hair as wild and orange as fire and bright blue eyes that could outshine the bright Lake of Hylia, was a nothing but a used good. People always commented on how she must be an angel with a voice like her, but she saw herself even more disgusting than a demon. She should have noticed the way he looked at her every time she went outside to tend to the horses. Her father was always away from the ranch. He always questioned why she was always pushing him to return to the ranch as fast as he could. She could never reveal her secret, at least not to her father and not to Link. Link was another reason on why she felt so unworthy. She loved him so much. Ever since she was a child she always dreamt of a knight in shiny armor to come sweep her off her feet. She never dreamt that the fairy boy she met at the Market would turn out to be just him, a knight in shiny armor, handsome and brave. He was the only good thing in her life ever since he first walked into her room. She had been taking a shower that night and she had accidently left the door unlocked. She never imagined he was standing outside her door watching every inch of her body as she scrubbed. He turned the door knob only to discover it was open. She never saw him coming. One moment she was getting pulled out of the tub and the next she was kicking and screaming on the floor as he licked her breasts.

“My oh my Malon! … What a beautiful woman you turned out to be!”

He had whispered in her ear as he completely possessed of her entire body with his pruned hands. She could never forget his berserk, lust-filled eyes as her raped her that night. She screamed for her father than entire night even though she knew he had yet from returned from his trip to the castle. That had happened almost a year ago, now, Ingo would come into her room and stand there while she volunteering took off her clothes. She hated his touch but she felt that she needed him. He was her unwanted lover, her rapist, and yet there she was night after night pleasing the old disgusting man. If it had not been for the fact that he was sterile she would have been carrying his demon child. Her life was consumed by a never ending nightmare and only when Link came to hang out with her and Epona did she forget her misery and she could smile at the world again. Considering Link was a strong and amazing fighter she would never have to worry about Ingo ever again. Link could always protect her and he would be far more pleasing and appetizing than Ingo was in bed. Her father knew how she felt about Link. It was Talon who had brought to her attention about her change around the boy.

Talon had only laughed and smiled, “You know one time I offered the boy to marry you and he said yes! Can you believe it? Funny little fellow who would have known you would have fallen in love with him!”

Talon was attached to Link just as she was. When Link was not on duty and had some time to spare he would come and help Talon around the farm, delivering Milk to the castle and helping him with the cuccos. Link was the perfect farm husband she needed.

Today was Link’s day off. She had been anticipating his arrival ever since she had awoken in the morning. She had rushed through her chores as fast she could to make sure she was free by the time he came around. At the age of nineteen her father was a bit more lenient on her chores and allowed her some free time that he knew she needed. She rushed into her room to change from her dirty clothes into a clean dress. She had just removed everything except her chemise when Ingo went into her room. Malon meet his eyes with a glare.

“What are you doing in here?”

He didn’t answer her question. He just stared at her. He smiled wickedly as he got near her. He cupped her breast and roughly pushed her into her bed. She was so used to his touch she just laid there as he had his fill. In the mean time she thought of only Link. This was her burden and her secret to carry, that and her love for Link. She did not know how long she lied there in her bed or when Ingo left. She just laid there tears filling in her eyes.

“MALON!” She heard her father scream her name. She stood up and dressed up as quick as she could managed. She ran downstairs to meet Talon at the front door of the main house. He looked a bit troubled.

“Yes father?”

He smiled at her lightly as he motioned her to take a sit. She did so. He walked towards his special cuccos and picked one up.

“The first time I met the lad was around 9 years ago. He had woken me up at the castle courtyard where I had fallen asleep. I didn’t think too highly of him that time, since well, he did disturbed my nap, but the second time, well he sure received my respect.”

“Are you talking about Link father?”

He nodded as he took a seat across her. He stared down at the cucco and smiled.

“He casually walked into this very room and approached me. I thanked him for the wakeup call since I realized I had left you at the Market by yourself. Then I challenged him to find my three special cuccos mixed in with the regular ones and well what do you know! He actually found them and brought them to me. I was amazed! Not even Ingo can tell the difference!”

Malon flinched at the mention of the farmhand. Her father didn’t notice her reaction as he was so lost in thought. He went on, on how much she cherishes Link as his son. Malon couldn’t help but to sit there and reminiscence with her father. She was lost in thought herself that she was surprised when her father stood up and cleared his throat.

“There is a point to this my dear. I know how much you cherish him as well. I was hoping that one day he would become your husband and my heir to this ranch but fate always tend to choose a different path on what we desire” That caught her attention. Something had gotten her father so down that he had lost faith in the future they had both dreamt for years. She looked up at her father as she took into her hand a glass of milk. Talon took her glance as a sign to continue speaking and he did son.

“I’m afraid Link had decided to settle down and get married. He decided he is going to propose to the princess tonight”

Malon dropped the glass from her grasp and just the glass shattered through the kitchen so did her heart.

“How did you find out father?” She croaked.

“He told me himself a few moments ago when I met him in the castle. I was surprised to see him so up early and in the castle none the less! Today was his day off if I’m correct. I inquired on what I owed the pleasure. Never in my remaining years would I have guessed his answer. He said he would come by later with the princess to pick up another mare.”

“Oh father! Why did this just happen! I had finally decided to tell him the truth!” She burst into tears in her father’s arms.