Title: What If I Never Knew You?
Rating: G
Pairing: Link/Malon
Summary: A fall leaves Malon with amnesia and forces Link to reevaluate what their friendship means to him.

Chapter 2

Link's pace had become fevered and hasted, his boots creating a rhythm that echoed against the empty walls. Talon thought the young man would wear holes into the wooden floor. The doctor had been summoned over an hour ago and Link was beginning to wonder what was taking him so long with Malon's prognosis. Talon put his hand up to stop Link's movements. “Calm down. I'm sure she's fine.” His words were more for his own comfort than Link's. Talon had no clear idea what would he do if something happened to his only child.

Link stopped momentarily, his hands still clasped eagerly behind his back as he matched stares with Talon. The older man looked to be on the verge of tears and Link couldn't recall a time when he had ever seen Talon cry. This had to be just as difficult for him, Link reasoned. “What...what if she isn't?”

“Don't speak like that, Link. She is. She will be.”

The door creaked and Link looked up, his eyes expecting. He was visibly disappointed when the doctor's wiry frame slipped through the door and stopped in front of the two men. Talon straightened but was cut off by Link. “How is she?” He asked. He clutched his hands together anxiously as he waited for the doctor to answer.

The older man pushed his glasses up on his nose and unhooked the shiny, silvery clasp on his medical bag. “The blue potions are for pain. And the red are for swelling. Please make sure she drinks the red potions everyday until they're gone.” He directed these instructions to Talon and carefully laid out each of the clearly labeled bottles. Link grew impatient and strained his neck to see inside Malon's bedroom.

“Thank you.” Talon juggled his daughter's medication in one hand and offered the other for the doctor to shake.

“Can we see her?” Link turned to them, his hand reaching for the doorknob before the doctor even had a chance to answer.

“Yes. But there's something...”

Link wasted no time in listening to the rest of the doctor's explanation. He slipped into Malon's room and bit his lip as he caught sight of the white gauzed strip bandaging the wound on the back of her head. She seemed to be gazing around her surroundings, completely oblivious to his presence.

The doctor sighed when Link disappeared behind the door. He looked back at Talon, securing his bag and pushing his glasses up once more. “She has lost her memory. She doesn't remember who or where she is.”

Talon's face paled as the severity of the doctor's words began to slowly sink in. “L-lost her memory-y?” He raked his hand through his thinning hair and looked back at the other man, trying desperately to keep up his calm demeanor. “How long is this going to last?”

“Varies. It can last anywhere from a few days to a few years.”

“Years?”

“Or she may never recover.”

Talon's face fell, the color draining completely as the doctor began making his way toward the front door. “Are you telling me she may never get her memories back?”

“It's slim, but it's a possibility. Just introduce her to her regular routine. Do it gradually and don't overwhelm her.” He stopped just shy of the door, resting his hand on the wooden knob and looked back at the ranch's owner. “I'm sure she'll be fine, Talon. She's strong.” Without another word, the doctor left.

Malon's gaze had finally landed on Link and the hero felt his heart break into a thousand pieces as a puzzled expression crossed her features. “How do you feel?” he asked.

“F-fine. T-thank you f-f-for a-asking...” she diverted her gaze and blushed as she pulled the blankets up around her. Her modesty puzzled the hero. What was...why was she acting like this? Link took a step closer to the bed and Malon tightened her grip on the blankets. He felt the weight of the roof settle onto his shoulders and Link thought he would topple over from the weight. Malon refused to look at him. Was she really that angry about earlier? “Malon...I...”

He stopped abruptly when her eyes became firmly fixed on him. She seemed puzzled again and her grip on the blanket loosened, her modesty all but forgotten.

“Who?”

“Are you guilting me? I'm sorry Malon. I would never do anything to hurt you.”

She shook her head and gripped the blankets again. “I don't know who that is,” said she softly. Link's breath hitched, catching in his throat and he thought the ceiling would come crashing down on top of him.

“You're...Malon. You're my best friend...”

Malon trailed her eyes up Link's torso and bit her lip when she noticed how desperate his gaze was. “I'm sorry. But I don't know who you are either.”

And it was as if his words fled him. He had no words left. Malon cast her gaze to the designs in the bed spread. She felt an overwhelming sense of guilt in this moment. It felt as though she should know this person. He was so adamant about knowing her. But what could she do? It was as though the jumbled bits in her mind were trying so hard to put a name, any name, with his unfamiliar face. “...I'm sorry,” she said quietly.

Link shook his head, shoving his hands deep into his pockets. “No. It's all right,” he replied.

“C-Could you tell me y-your name?”

Link toed the floor and kept his gaze downcast. “I'm Link.”

She smiled softly and gently fingered one of the patterns she had been so intently studying. The silence had turned from painfully deafening to frightfully awkward and the very moment Link decided to excuse himself, Talon entered the room, juggling Malon's medicine and a tea cup. Malon blinked at her father momentarily before lowering her gaze. He too was unfamiliar to her and she felt guilt ridden.

“You prolly don't remember me,” Talon started. He stood where Link once was and Malon found she missed Link's presence. “My name's Talon. I...I...you're my daughter. I'm your father, you see?”

Malon smiled lightly and studied him for a moment. “I brought you some tea. Lemon honey. Your favorite.” He set the items on the nightstand, by her side and took a step back to study her. His eyes were wet with tears and he had to excuse himself before he broke down completely. There was no need for her to see him cry. Malon slid down beneath the quilt and curled her legs up against her chest. This place was so...unfamiliar to her and she couldn't help but feel guilty. She wanted to remember who this Talon is. And this Link. She felt butterflies whenever he was near. She wanted to understand why.

Ack, cliffhanger! What happens next? You can really see the tension between Malon, Link and her dad. It's so sad too. Please post more!

I really want to read more of this. In fact, it's been killing me all day. I may be a ZeLinker, but I adore MaLink as well, and this is already grabbing my attention.