Where Heroes Unite (Rewrite)

Chapter 2: In a Silent Way

Malon woke to the innkeeper's daughter shaking her shoulder gently. She seemed uptight and terrified as always but said nothing too worrying.

"Mistress Lon Lon?" she asked softly. "Mr Agricola is waiting outside. May I invite him in?"

Malon squinted against the candle in her hand. "What time is it?"

The woman's bottom lip quivered. "4:30 in the morning, madam. Now, should I let him in?"

"Have him wait at the front; I'll be right there."

She scurried off as Malon struggled to get out of bed. She only wrapped a shawl around her shoulders and tucked her hair in the collar of her gown. Malon didn't want anyone to see the rat's nest of knots.

Even with his coat and hat on the hook at the door, Venat was soaked in rainwater. The man at the front desk looked horrified.

"Mistre- Malon," he started, "I hate to wake you so early, but I have a request, and I humbly ask-"

Malon rubbed her eyes and groaned – a good way to hurry him, she discovered.

"Savis is worried about my journey to Lurelin – no, I'm not about to cancel my order -- and I couldn't bear leaving her here, fearing for me. Our son works so hard in service to the princess, and the hero does, too, but could you please ask him for aid?"

"You want me to ask . . . Link? To escort you?"

Venat nodded. "Please. We need to trade – it's essential. Most take the Bridge of Hylia to get to Lurelin, but Sir Fidelis knows a separate route, correct? We could make it there in less than a day! Please, Malon."

She shook her head. "There's no need to beg. I planned on leaving later today anyway, so I'll stop by the castle on my way back. I haven't a doubt in my mind that he'll accept. In fact, I'll have Link bring the horses with him."

CLUNK!

The innkeeper's daughter stood over a fallen mop, her face bright pink.

"Sor-sorry about the inconvenience!" she squeaked, scrambling to pick it up. "I'll just- uh-"

"It's alright," Malon assured her.

Venat's mustache twitched. "I'll be going now. And, Malon?"

"Yes, sir?"

He threw his coat on, shivering from the wet fabric. "If you see our son in Castle Town, send him our regards."

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Everyone in Hyrule was acting like a shaken bee hive, jumping at anything and everything. Just that morning, a woman had nearly been run over by an unattended cart ("I swear I tied the mules up!"). Two Castle Town children stumbled home with cuts and bruises from a small quarrel turned rock fight. One of the butlers in the castle had a breakdown when he couldn't get a window to close. The weather was taking its toll.

Link stretched out his muscles. The stable boy had insisted on taking care of all the cleaning, but the Hero of Hyrule needed to see Epona. The bad weather kept her cooped up in a stall, her bitterness stewing. Link didn't want to find the little boy with his face kicked in one morning, so he made sure to visit her.

Epona wasn't quite as angry with him. A carrot or two and she seemed to forget about everything.

Link made small popping sounds with his mouth as he sat down on a haybale. Cleaning the stable had taken longer than usual, as horses staying in all day meant more surprises to clear out later.