Fan Fiction ❯ Professional Hero ❯ The wedding ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter 14 - The wedding

Many people were gathered on Tempora Field, just outside of Clocktown, under the warm rays of the sun. Everyone agreed it was a beautiful day for the wedding. Marayilken, the new mayor of Clocktown waited patiently until the milkcart would come from Romani Ranch, carrying the two people to be wedded. The crowd opened up and let the cart pass. Right before the mayor it stopped and Link and Romani both stepped out. Link wore his green tunic with one red and one blue shoulderpiece, symbolising his connection to both the Zora as the Goron, (but no one could say why he had such a large black belt). He wore an owl mask, representing both Kaepora, the old sage of Hyrule who had incarnated as an owl, as well as the owl that had helped him in his adventure here in Tempora, not to mention a small reference to the owl statues in Holodrum and Labrynna (amazing what you can say with just one mask). Romani wore a purple dress with also a blue and red shoulderpiece, and surprisingly also a large black belt. Her mask looked like the ghosts she and Link had hunted just two nights ago, symbolizing the first time they met. At her left wrist she had the powerbracelet Link had found in Holodrum. During the ceremony the two lovers only had eyes for each other.

"That was a lovely service." Nabooru smiled.

Link couldn't think of an other way to react but grin.

"Well, you really have to give that compliment to the mayor, he arranged it practically all by himself. And the catering of course is by courtesy of the Stockpot Inn."

"Of course." Nabooru let out a reluctant grin as she picked up a small sandwich and examined it a bit closer.

When she seemed to reach a conclusion she sighed.

"Do we really have to eat it?"

"It's good." Link nodded.

"I've stayed at the Inn the last few days, I know Anju can't cook."

"It's not Anju who made the food, Kafei made it, he's a great cook! Really!"

Nabooru gave Link a look that advised him not to tell any lies and then took a small bite from the sandwich.

"Mmm, this IS good."

"What did I tell you!" Link laughed and patted her on her arm, "I've you'll excuse me, I have to mingle some more."

Link looked around and saw Romani talk to Zelda somewhere at the other side of the table. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. Before he left Hyrule, Zelda didn't seem to be too fond of Romani, now they were chatting as if they were best friends. It kinda reminded him on the strange friendliness of Alexis. He shook his head, maybe he sought too much behind this. There were other things to think about, like… uhm, he was sure he could think of some when he had more time. Anyway, there was Malon and Makei, seemingly more interested in each other than the festivities. Link quickly maneuvered through the crowd and stopped next to Malon.

"Oh Link congratulations!" she flung herself around his neck.

"Thanks, so, tell me," Link let out a wicked smile, "when will I be invited to your wedding?"

Malon suddenly looked down and glanced to Makei. He suddenly felt very uncomfortable standing there.

"Uhm, there aren't any concrete plans yet…" Malon started.

Fuck, Link thought, they hadn't discussed anything like this before, and now he forced the big issue on them.

"But maybe in a year or two, or maybe even next year." Makei splatted out.

Malon's eyes brightened.

"Really? I'm mean, really, uhm, yes, somewhere around then." She corrected herself.

Link quickly turned around and disappeared through the crowd while Malon gave Makei a big hug. Trying to see through all the people Link looked for Romani. Just as he saw her someone pulled his arm and Link was dragged in a conversation with Mirel, the postman, and Yuri, the banker.

"I'm telling you, he knew when exactly ten seconds were passed. Show him Link."

"Uhm." Link had no idea what to do. The ten second test from Mirel wasn't to hard when you had a big clock hanging in front of you (would you believe he never noticed Link focused on the clock during that test?) and also, when he wore the bunny mask, he could use natures clock, or something like that, he then always knew what time it was, so ten seconds were easy. But now he had to do that without clock, mask or preparation.

"Well…"

"Voila, ten seconds." Mirel said.

"Oh, please, we don't have a watch, how can we know that was ten seconds." Yuri objected.

"I know, and Link knows. Amazing, after almost ten years you still nail those ten seconds perfectly. I honestly thought you would be of by a second, but no, right on the dot."

"Yeah well," Link tried to take a pose that said 'you know, either you have it or you don't'.

"I'm telling you, this guy is amazing. I even made him mailman."

"What? Solemnly based on that ten seconds test?"

"No, well, partly because of that, but also he gave me the opportunity to run to safety when the moon was falling."

"But the moon didn't fall, so you had no business running away."

"I know, that's why I had a severe sanction when I returned the next day. But…"

Neither of them paid any attention to him anymore, so Link quietly left the two friends arguing. He really wanted to see Romani but once again he was dragged into a conversation again.

"Really, this guy brought all my workers back from the Gerudo."

And then people claim their wedding is the happiest day of their life.

The cart stopped in front of the large house in Hyrule field. Malon had said she came every week to clean it and indeed it looked amazing. Link helped his wife out the cart while her hand rested on her now large belly. They had both agreed they had spent too long in Tempora and they really needed to get back to Hyrule for the birth of the baby. Romani thought it would be born in about one more month and Link really wanted to have the house in order for the birth. Everyone was of course ecstatic when they learned Romani was pregnant (and of course Saria was curious, she really wanted to see the new baby the moment it was born). Nabooru and Darunia had no distressing news so Link thought it was safe to return home. There had been no news of the missing Zora and Goron but also no news of the Gerudo followers of Ganon or the stalker. Maybe it was all over. Or at least over enough for Link and Romani to get settled again. Everyone who had heard that Link would return paid a visit to congratulate Romani with her happiness so the first day back was really busy for the couple. Romani finally got everyone out with the message that all this commotion might not be good for the baby. But by then it was already late and they went to bed the way they went to bed the several past months, with Link resting his hand on Romani's belly to protect his unborn child.

The next morning Link woke up early and went outside to refresh himself in the pond. He wondered if anyone would disturb him now and there he heard the sound of a horse.

"Hello, Link."

Link looked up and saw one of the guards of Zelda.

"I'm sorry I couldn't come yesterday, but I was guarding the Temple of Light as you might have seen."

"No, I haven't, I can't imagine how I could have seen that."

"Well, weren't you there last night? Looking for the Master sword?"

"What? No, I spend the night here with my wife."

"I thought I saw you there with some woman, I suspected it was Romani, but I wasn't sure. When I came closer, you were gone."

Link frowned.

"I stayed here all night. Are you sure it wasn't someone else?"

The guard frowned as well.

"I was pretty sure it was you, but it was dark, maybe you're right and it was someone else."

"Is the Master sword alright?"

"Of course, only the Hero of Time can remove it from it's pedestal, and it's still there, I checked after you… I mean, that guy left."

Link glanced down to his left hand where the Tri-force of Courage glowed. There was something not right, but the sword was still there, and only he could remove it, so no one could enter the Sacred Realm.

"Are you sure there was somebody there?" Link asked.

"You know, I'm not sure anymore. It seemed like you, but maybe it was just the shadows, or maybe some remnants of the past or something. Nights can get spooky in the Temple of Time, I've heard of ghosts visions there before, shards of things that happened there or even things to come. You were there once with queen Zelda right? Maybe it was a fragment of that time."

"Maybe." Link still wasn't assured. His gut told him something wasn't right.

Somewhere in the desert the sun casted his rays on the skeleton of a Zora. In a nearby cave several figures were gathered.

"Have you acquired it?"

The hooded figure pulled back the cape and showed the brightly glowing Tri-force of Power.

"Dark Link opened the passage way to the Sacred Realm by removing the Master sword and just as I predicted, the Tri-force of Power returned there when Ganondorf died. And now it is in my possession."

"Why didn't you keep the sword?"

"We can't let anyone know what we have done, and besides, I don't need the sword to destroy Link."

"You may not be able to destroy him."

"What? What do you mean?"

The witch touched a pool of sparkling water and the surface rippled.

"He has his mind set on destroying Link and he spotted you when you broke into the Temple of Time. He will strike tonight."

"Can't we use him?"

"No, not him. Hatred fuels his heart, but it's not the kind we can use, not yet anyway."

"Then we will mould him until we can use his hatred. You must capture him tonight and I will take care of him. I'm sure he'll like it." The hooded figure let out a small smile.

"How is the rest of the plan going?" the witch asked.

"Perfect. Ralph is gathering troops in Labrynna, I found a pack of Moblins in Holodrum that also hate Link and we can use the Gorons and Gerudo in Tempora. We just have to be careful here in Hyrule and nothing will be able to stop us, not even the Hero of Time."

"Then the world will be ours."

Link wanted to check out the Temple of Time but he didn't want to leave Romani behind. If something happened to her or his child he would never forgive himself. So he stayed at home, still with the feeling something terrible was already in motion. He left his house to look over Hyrule field. He could just make out Lon Lon Ranch and he knew that somewhere behind that the castle was standing. He had a great view of everyone who came out riding towards him and no one could surprise him. Well, at least not as long as he stayed out here, the other times he was surprised here he was inside but now he was… uh-oh.

Link jumped away just before the dagger drove itself in the ground. He grabbed his sword and shield and looked at the roof. There a black masked figure stood with a drawn sword and a dagger in the other hand. He jumped down and attacked Link. Link shielded off the blow and could barely roll away from the dagger.

"Who are you?" he asked.

"You…"

"I don't think you're me, try again." Again Link stopped the other's attack and he tried to attack himself. His attacker easily caught his blow with his dagger and launched himself towards Link. Link smashed his shield against his face.

"I told you to leave, never to return."

"You're the stalker," Link's eyes narrowed, "you're the one who threatened my friends."

"When you returned I though I was safe since you were married but you still went to see her."

"See who? When?"

"Zelda, yesterday!"

Link suddenly had a flash about the identity of the stalker. His sword slashed right next to the face of his attacker, opening his mask.

"Alexis!"

The young Sheikah growled with anger and lunged towards Link. Link kicked the dagger out of Alexis's hands and smashed his shield against his swordarm.

"I didn't go and see Zelda yesterday, I was here with my wife."

"Lies! I saw you!" he shrieked in a voice close to insanity.

"Why are you doing this?"

"Zelda is mine! You can't have her! I'll kill you for tainting her!"

Alexis's sudden attack startled Link and he managed to knock the Fairy Sword out of Link's hands. Alexis drew another dagger and kicked Link's shield with so much force he fell to the ground. Alexis jumped on top of Link with his dagger raised.

"Now you will die and Zelda will be mine again!"

He let out an agonising scream and looked in disbelief to the arrow that had penetrated his shoulder deeply and then to Romani, standing in the doorway with a loaded bow, pointed at his neck.

"You stay away from him, or you'll die."

Alexis laughed hysterically as tears ran over his face, then turned away and ran towards the castle.

"Do you want me to shoot him?" Romani asked as she helped Link up.

Link shook his head.

"Zelda will deal with him, I'm sure."

"What's the matter?"

"It's strange, he's the second person who claims he saw me yesterday. First the guard said he saw me in the Temple of Time and now he said he saw me with Zelda."

"Don't worry about it, it's clearly he's insane. Maybe he saw someone else with Zelda and thought it was you because you had a sort of history with Zelda."

Link shrugged.

"Maybe, but still. Come on, let's go inside."

Epilogue:

Alexis had pulled out the arrow and tried to stop the bleeding by pushing on the wound. He still laughed as he cursed the pain. Suddenly he heard someone coming closer. Maybe it was Malon or Makei, after all, he was sitting against the outer wall of the ranch. He tried to focus through the tears and saw a figure in black.

"And you're supposed to be Sheikah, the best of the best?" he sighed, "Zelda won't appreciate it if someone snuck up to her bodyguard like that."

Alexis looked harder and the image became clearer.

"Link?"

The figure shook his head and sat on his knees before the fallen Alexis.

"Close, but far off."

It was Link, Alexis saw, but his hair was pitch black instead of blond and his green tunic was as dark as the shadows.

"Who…"

"You can call me Dark." The figure said and put his hand on Alexis's wounded shoulder.

He inserted his thumb in the gaping wound that made Alexis scream. Dark laughed.

"There is someone here to see you."

Alexis looked up and tried to focus again through the tears. A blond woman in a pink dress was standing in front of him.

"Zelda?"

The woman blurred and he was sure it wasn't because of the tears in his eyes, and in Zelda's place a Gerudo woman stood.

"No, I'm afraid she has other things on her mind for the moment. But don't worry, I'm sure you'll see her again… eventually."

The witch laughed as Dark pushed his thumb deeper in the wound causing Alexis to pass out from the pain. That was the last time he would ever remember looking at the blue sky.