Chapter 4 - Suspicion.

  The sun hadn't even risen yet when Link left for the ranch. He left a note for Dorian and Navi, so they would know where he was, as none of the Kokiri were awake yet. Malon would be though. She was always up at the crack of dawn, tending to the ranch. Her father, Talon, liked to sleep till noon.

  Link made his way across the field, his sword on his back, ready for adventure. Well, wishing for adventure, really. He reached the ranch's gates just as the sun began to peek over the horizon.

  Malon was standing in the middle of the field, as usual, tending to a beautiful chestnut mare. Link approached her slowly so he wouldn't scare her. "Malon," he said as he approached her.

 She spun around, clearly frightened. "Oh Link," she said, "you really scared me."

 "Sorry Malon," Link apologized.

  "Oh don't worry about it," Malon reassured him. "It's just that I had this feeling someone was watching me. I felt it yesterday too."

  "Well you are surrounded by animals. Were they looking at you?" Link teased.

  "You know what I mean," Malon said. "Like someone was following me."

  Link smiled. "Malon you worry too much," he said. Malon hit him in the stomach with the brush she had been using on the horse.

 "I do not worry too much!" she whined.

 Link doubled over in fake pain. "Ouch! That hurt!" he teased, falling to the ground.

 Malon ignored him.

 "Oh come on Malon. You know I was just kidding."

 Malon held up her hand to silence Link. "Shhh," she whispered. "Listen."

 Link strained his ears, but he couldn't hear a thing. "What is it?" he asked.

 "Shhh," Malon said again. Link strained his ears harder, and sure enough, he heard something, a sort of pounding noise, no, more like a scratching, scratching on rock.

 Slowly, Link pulled out his sword and turned to look up at the wall. He gasped. On top of the wall stood a figure clad in solid black. Malon saw him too, Link heard her gasp. Malon grabbed Link's hand. She knew it all along.

 The figure laughed sinisterly.

  Dorian sat up, yawned, and stretched his arms. He stood up and walked over to his close to pick out his clothes. Hmmm, he thought. Should I wear green, green, or green? So many choices. He put on a green tunic, pulled on his boots, and slipped his fingerless gloves onto his hands. Why do I have to wear these stupid things anyway? he thought. He sighed and walked down the stairs.

  Navi greeted him as he came downstairs. "Hello Dorian!" she said excitedly. Dorian found her just a little too perky.

 "I'm great Navi. Umm, where is Link? Do you know?" he asked suspiciously. He wasn't sure he could trust Link.

 "He's gone Dorian, but he left you a note," Navi said, picking up a piece of paper and flying over to Dorian.

 Dorian took the note from Navi and read:

 Hey Dorian,

  Gone to Lon Lon Ranch to visit my friend Malon. I should be back by mid-afternoon. Why don't you ask Navi to show you around the forest? I'm sure she'd be happy to introduce you to some of the other Kokiri. See you later.

  - Link

  Dorian looked at Navi. "You really would introduce me to some people? It would be nice to have a friend," he said sheepishly.

 "Sure Dorian," she replied, smiling. "Why don't you eat something first and then we'll go." Dorian nodded and sat down at the table.

  Zelda snapped up to a sitting position in her bed. She looked around and saw Ruto and Nabooru asleep in chairs in the corner.

 "Ruto! Nabooru!" Zelda shouted.

 The two sat up quickly. "Oh Zelda, you're awake!" Nabooru said, getting up. "You must lie down. Impa wants you to get some rest. You took quite a blow to the head yesterday."

 "I don't need rest!" Zelda said sternly, getting out of bed. "Where is Impa? I need to talk to her."

 "She's over in the forest wing with Saria. She was hurt much worse than you were," Ruto said.

 Zelda gasped. "Oh no. So it wasn't a dream," she muttered. Nabooru and Ruto looked at each other quizzically. Zelda quickly threw on her robe and was out the door in a flash, Nabooru and Ruto at her heels.

  Zelda turned the corner to the forest wing and stopped dead in her tracks. It was a wreck! Pictures were strewn about on the floor; wooden tables and chairs had been splintered into a million pieces and the wood was everywhere. Zelda slowly picked her way through the rubble until she reached Saria's bedroom door. She slowly opened it and went inside.

 Impa turned as she saw Zelda enter the room. "Oh Zelda," Impa said. Zelda ran up and hugged the Sheikah. "Saria told me everything."

 "Flarnon?" Zelda asked. Impa nodded. "Is she going to be okay?"

"She got beat up quite a bit, but they are only bruises, they will heal. However something else seems to be wrong," Impa explained.

Darunia piped in, "I've consulted all the books in the library, and there's nothing like it mentioned anywhere. She has a terrible cough and a very high fever, and she seems to be hallucinating. She fades in and out of consciousness."

Saria turned her head slowly. "Impa," she said very weakly. "I need to talk to Zelda."

"Of course dear," Impa said, getting up. Zelda took her place in the chair next to Saria's bed. All the other Sages left the room, Darunia closing the door very quietly.

Zelda turned to Saria and hugged her. "Oh Saria, what happened?"

Saria sighed. "He put a spell on you. You were unconscious for a long time. They started hitting me when I wouldn't tell them what they wanted to know. Finally it just hurt too much. I had to make them stop, so I told them *cough cough*."

"What did you tell them?" Zelda asked worriedly. "What did they want?"

"Gannondorf has found a possible way out, but he needs more power to do it. They need a Sage's power to help them. Rauru was the easiest target, they figured, but he was too old and weak, and his power was already weakened because of his age. They killed him so they could get at the new, more powerful Sage of Light who will *cough cough* take his place."

Zelda shook her head. "Saria, you are the Sage of Forest. What would they want with you?"

Saria paused for a long time before she began to speak. "I know," she said. "You don't know; Ruto, Darunia, Nabooru, Impa: they don't know. But I do. I have no idea how they knew that I knew, but they did. So I told them. I thought that would make them happy. But apparently even having Rauru gone weakened the seal on Ganondorf's prison, so having two Sages out of the way&ldots;"

"No Saria," Zelda said. "You can't die too."

"Zelda don't worry. They used a spell I am familiar with. The antidote can be made from a plant in the Lost Woods that is fairly easy to find."

"But how will we get it?" Zelda asked.

"I don't think the other Sages should know quite yet. You will have to go."

"Me?" Zelda asked, astonished. "But I don't know anything about-"

"Just ask the Deku Tree," Saria instructed. Zelda looked a little unsure. "Please Zelda," Saria coaxed. "I know he will help you."

Zelda thought for a moment. To get out of the Realm&ldots; that would be great! This would kind of be like the adventures she remembered from her time travel. She would be so glad to help Saria. Anything to stop Gannondof.

"Oh Saria," Zelda said, hugging the Kokiri. "I'll try."

  Link sat up, dizzy. Where am I? He thought to himself. His head hurt very badly and his vision was a little fuzzy. Suddenly, he heard a scream. He jumped to his feet.

"Link! Link!" a familiar voice called. He ran out of the ranch's gates. There in the distance was Malon. She was being carried away by a black-clad figure on a solid black stallion.

  Dorian and Navi left the treehouse after breakfast. Navi decided to take Dorian over to the shop, and then maybe to the know-it-all brothers' house. They could teach him some interesting things.

They were walking in the direction of the shop when a sharp shriek caught Dorian's ear. It seemed to be coming from the shop anyway. Dorian quickened his footsteps, eager to see what was happening.

A small crowd of Kokiri was gathered in front of the shop. Dorian recognized the blond Kokiri to be Mido. Navi had told him to watch out for Mido. He took a wary step closer to the crowd.

Sitting on the ground was a small girl that he felt he should have recognized. Her face was buried in her hands and Dorian could hear her sniffling.

"You don't belong here," Mido was saying. "You are different from us. Right guys?"

Some of the Kokiri started whispering among themselves. "Yeah, he's right." "She does seem different." "She reminds me of someone."

"She's just a normal Kokiri," Dorian whispered to Navi. "Why doesn't anyone say something?"

"They are all scared of Mido," Navi explained.

"Why? He couldn't hurt a fly," Dorian said boldly.

Dorian cleared his throat. All eyes turned to him. "Hey, Mido. Why don't you leave her alone?"

Mido spun around and glared at Dorian. "Well if it isn't the Kokiri-wannabe's roommate," Mido said snidely.

Dorian cringed a little. "I said leave her alone Mido. She didn't do anything to you."

"He's right Mido," a voice chimed in. It was Alan.

"Besides, the Hero of Time could," Tomas started.

"Beat you up any day," Tobias finished.

  Some of the Kokiri were starting to agree. Mido barked, "So, you new Kokiri think you can just come in here and boss me around? Well, this is not the last you will hear from the great Mido!" and he stormed off. The crowd of Kokiri started to dissolve.

Alan approached Dorian. "That was cool Dorian," he said. Dorian smiled.

"Yeah," the twins said together. "We'll back you up," Tomas said. "Any day," Tobias added. The three Kokiri walked off. Dorian was feeling very pleased with himself. He heard a small sniffle and noticed the girl still sitting on the ground.

He sat down next to her. "What's wrong?" he asked.

The girl looked up at him, a tear rolling down her already tear-stained cheek. He recognized her then. It was Kyrin, another of the new Kokiri. Kyrin wiped her eyes. "He made fun of me," she said, "because he said I was different."

"Different?" he asked. "Like how?"

Kyrin tucked her long brown hair behind her ears. Dorian was puzzled.

"Well, don't you see?" she said.

"What?" Dorian asked, very confused.

"My ears! They're pointed!" she said and rested her face back in her hands.

Now Dorian was really confused. Kyrin's ears were just like his own.

  Malon was tied to something, a chair maybe. All she knew was that she couldn't move at all. She saw him over in the corner of the room. What was he doing? Brushing his hair? "For a kidnapper, you sure are very vain," she remarked rudely.

The boy laughed. Malon couldn't tell how old he was, maybe 17? She couldn't believe that he had gotten past Link. Well it was early in the morning, Malon thought.

The kidnapper walked over to where Malon sat and looked at her with his one eye. Well he had two, but one was covered by a black patch. The other was bright green. The boy's hair fell in front of his face a lot. It was cut almost exactly like Link's, but it was reddish-brown with bright red streaks. "What's your name girl?" he asked.

"What's it to ya?" she snapped.

"Ohh, touchy touchy," he said. "I just need to know what to write on the ransom note I'm gonna leave."

"Well you won't get that much from my father. We're not exactly rich you know. You should have kidnapped the princess or something," Malon said.

"Nah, that's too risky," the kidnapper said. "So what's your name?"

Malon didn't say a word.

"Not gonna talk huh?" he asked. "Well how about if I tell you about myself first."

 Malon kept quiet.

 "Okay then. The name's Razi. I live alone. I'm an orphan. I'm 16, too young to get a job, so I decided to be a, well, I guess you could say a bounty hunter. I steal things to sell. This is my first kidnapping though. I'd say it went well. What do you think?"

 Malon glared at him.

 "Well?" Razi said.

 Malon sighed. "My name is Malon. I am 13 years old, but I will be 14 next month. That's all."

 "That's it? Nothing interesting about ya?" Razi asked.

 "No," Malon replied.

 "Well, Malon, here's the deal. I'm gonna ask your daddy over at the ranch for, oh, let's say, 10,000 rupees. If he gives me the rupees, you get to go home. If he doesn't&ldots; well let's just hope he does."

 Malon cringed. "So what's with the eye patch?" she asked, trying to make him forget she was his hostage.

 Razi had gotten up to walk back to the mirror, but now he spun around. "What's it to ya?" he asked, mocking the tone Malon had used earlier.

 "Well I just wanted to know. Thought maybe it was something interesting," she said, just as mockingly of his tone.

 "Just wouldn't want ya to pick me out of a line-up," Razi said. "Aw, what the heck." He pulled of the eye patch. Malon could see why he wore it. He surely stood out without it, as his other eye was purple.

  Link had tried explaining to a worried Talon what had happened, but he found that he didn't remember. He had gotten knocked out somehow. He couldn't believe he had let Malon down like that. And now what would happen to her? This is all my fault. He walked slowly, looking at his feet. He kicked up a cloud of dirt on his path.

 Zelda coughed as a cloud of dirt rose up in the path. "Hey!" she mumbled.

  Link could've sworn he heard a voice, but he couldn't see through the cloud of dirt. The dust finally settled, and he heard a cough. He looked down and saw a girl of about his age sitting on the path, coughing. "Oh I'm very sorry about the dirt," he said. He offered the girl his hand to help her up. She was wearing a plain, light blue dress, with a cloth that covered her whole face and head except for her eyes.

 The girl got up, but did not speak. "Are you lost?" Link asked. The girl nodded. "Where are you trying to go?"

 Zelda cleared her throat. "Kokiri Forest," she barely squeaked out. Was it really him?

 "Hey that's where I'm going too," he said. "Follow me. By the way, my name is Link."

 Zelda nodded and followed the Hero of Time, hoping he didn't recognize her.

  Dorian seemed different to Link. He was definitely over the previous day's incident and was now rattling on about what he had done today. "Alan, Tomas, and Tobias helped me," he was saying. "And then Mido got mad and left!"

 Link couldn't help but smile. He always knew Mido had it coming one day. He had finally met his match.

 "I'm gonna go for a walk," Dorian announced proudly, standing up.

 "Be careful!" Navi called after him as he climbed down the ladder.

 Link sighed. "What's the matter Link?" Navi asked, landing on his shoulder.

 "Malon was kidnapped today," he told her.

 Navi gasped. "Kidnapped?" she asked in disbelief.

 "Yeah. Right under my nose too. I got knocked out somehow and the guy just took off with her and the ranch's prize stallion."

 "Oh Link I'm so sorry. Is there anything I can do?" Navi asked, deeply concerned.

 "No, but I think I'm gonna take a walk too," he said, and he left the treehouse.

 "Thank you, Deku Tree," Zelda said.

 "Any time, dear princess. And do send Saria my love," the Tree said.

 "I will Deku Tree."

 "It's getting late. Would you like to stay in the forest tonight?"

 A whole night out of the Realm? "Oh yes, I would like that very much."

 "Saria's old house is currently empty; you may stay there if you like," the Deku Tree said.

 "Oh, thank you," Zelda said. She smiled, and tightly gripping her precious mushrooms, she walked out of the meadow.

  Dorian turned to Kyrin. "Do you think something is wrong with us?" he asked.

 Kyrin shrugged. "I don't know, but it is kind of weird, don't you think? I mean, my ears are pointy, but yours could take someone's eye out."

 Dorian scowled and turned away. He kicked the log he sat on with his foot. He had met Kyrin here in the Lost Woods to talk.

 "Hey, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," Kyrin apologized.

 "Link's ears are pointy," Dorian suddenly said, jumping to his feet. "And he's okay, right? He's not like a psycho or anything."

 "Right," Kyrin said. "But remember what the Deku Tree told us? Link isn't a Kokiri. He's a Hyl- something."

 Dorian sat back down on the log and looked Kyrin straight in the eye. "Do you think we are Hyl- somethings?"

  Zelda was in such a hurry to get to Saria's house that she didn't even see Link on the path ahead before she ran smack into him. She fell down and, realizing who she had run into, resituated the cloth over her face.

 "Oh its you," Link said. "Here, let me help you up."

 "Thank you," she stammered, and quickly began to walk away.

 "Hey," Link called after her. "I never found out your name."

 Zelda stopped in her tracks, turned over her shoulder, and blurted out the first thing that came to her mind. "Ruto," she said and broke into a run.

  Ruto? Link thought. He glanced over his shoulder. I thought only Zoras used names like that. Thinking of Zoras made him think of Ruto, his "fiancée". She was in the Sacred Realm. Curse that Realm, he thought, for probably the millionth time in his life. A visit to the Deku Tree will clear my head, he thought, and headed for the meadow.

 "Ruto?!" Zelda thought out loud. "Zelda you idiot! You waited so long to see him and you blew it! So much for eloquent speaking!" She sat down on Saria's bed. Well you know what you have to do now, a voice in her head told her. You haven't spoken to him since he defeated Ganon. Why don't you go talk to him. "All right, I will," she told herself, and headed back toward the meadow, where she had last seen him.

 "So what are we gonna do?" Kyrin asked.

 "Well, we could ask the Deku Tree I guess. But I don't know Kyrin. Why would they lie to us? I don't think it's very likely that there's anything special about us," Dorian said.

 "Well there's no reason not to ask," Kyrin said, standing up.

 Dorian sighed, "I guess you're right," he said. Together they walked out of the Lost Woods and towards the meadow.

 "So how are things going?" the Deku Tree asked Navi.

 "Better," she replied. "Dorian is not scared of Link anymore. He really is a good kid. He told Mido off earlier, when he was teasing Kyrin."

 "Good for him," the Deku Tree said. "The new Kokiri really are great. I-" He stopped mid-sentence.

 "Someone is coming," the Deku Tree said, as Link entered the meadow.

 "Hi Link!" Navi called.

 "Hi Navi," Link said.

 "Link, I am so sorry about your friend Malon," the Deku Tree said. "Don't worry though. I'm sure she will be okay."

 "I sure hope so, Deku Tree," he said. "In fact I-"

 "Deku Tree, have you seen-" Zelda said, running into the meadow. She hadn't put the cloth over her face. Link was there. Zelda gasped.

 "Princess Zelda? Is that you?" Link asked. Zelda blushed. "I-" Link began, but he was cut off.

 "Deku Tree," a voice called. Link turned and saw Dorian and Kyrin walking hand in hand into the meadow. "We have to ask you something."

 "Oh no," Navi said.

 The Deku Tree was clearly surprised. "Well," he began. "Now that you're all here&ldots;"

  Razi sighed. Malon seemed like a nice girl. He was really beginning to have second thoughts about this kidnapping. He felt- guilty. His mother had been right: he would never fit in anywhere. He was too nice to be mean and ruthless. Should he say something to her? Apologize? He didn't know what to do. She probably didn't even care about his past. He sighed. There's no turning back now, he thought. He aimed the arrow with the ransom note on it and it landed with a twang in the soft wood of the ranch house door.

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