• Thud. Thudthudthudthud. My father, Mayor Bo, was coming up our stairs. Probably to wake me up. He does this every morning. Comes upstairs, ready to say, "Ilia! Wake up!!" and then finds me working quietly or reading. I don't know when he'll learn. I mean, really. I ought to post a sign or something.
    "Ilia!" My father is in my doorway. "Link wants you!" Link? Why would he be up this early? I know he works with Fado, but it's pretty early, even for ranch work. Still, Link could be doing anything, from getting Epona new shoes to serenading down hawks.
    "Okay father! I am coming!" Dad shuffled his way downstairs, and back to bed. He hates early morning calls.
    I ran down our stairs, opened the door, and came face to face with Link. My emerald green eyes slowly met his ocean blue ones.
    "Hi Link!" I said cheerfully. He smiled. "Hi Ilia. How are you?"
    "Good! I was just working when you came."
    "That's cool." Link backed off a bit. "I came to see you cause, uh, I wanted to go to the spring with you."
    "Oh! Link, I'd love that." Aww. That was so sweet of him. Link's cheeks were red, and his eyes were bright. We have been childhood friends forever. I've always had something more than friend feelings for him, I had just never mentioned it.
    He gently took my hand and we walked together in silence. Sera was poking her head out the window. Her face brightened when she saw our clasped hands.
    "Ooh!" she squealed, "I have got to tell Pergie about this!!" She withdrew her head and I could hear excited talking. Link blushed even more, and he said, "Silly old gossiper. She might have a nice store but she can't not poke around in everyone's business."
    We continued till we reached the small Ordon Woods. The sounds of rustling birds, squirrels, and just the silence of nature was wonderful. The spring water trickled down and I stepped in. The water washed over my feet, cool in the early morning air. Link stepped in too, and he smiled.
    "It's so beautiful in the early morning," he remarked. "Um, Ilia. . ."
    "Yes, Link?"
    "Uhm. . ." His face glowed a soft red again. "I. . .I've always liked you. I mean, more than a friend."
    I smiled softly. "I've always felt that way too, Link." I took his hand this time, and led him over to the sand, and sat down. He sat down next to me, and we looked over the spring in silence.
    Link turned his head and faced me. I did the same. Gently leaning over, our lips met. Then, a loud banging erupted from the Faron Woods bridge! Someone was riding over it!
    The noise startled us both and we jumped to our feet. A man with a hood over his face came riding in, his sword clasped in his left hand firmly. He slashed at Link, making him fall back, and ran off! His evil laugh echoed in my ears as I ran over to Link.
    His shirt was torn open on his stomach, and bloodstained. I tore his shirt open and screamed. There was a long, nearly endless gash on his stomach. Blood poured onto him, and onto the sand and even in the water.
    I opened my purse, the one on my leg, and got out a long string of gauze, and some cloth. Using the water from the spring, I cleared off the dirt and muck. Link's eyes closed and I cried, "Link!"
    I hurriedly wrapped up his stomach with the gauze, and put all the extra stuff back in my purse. Maybe I could carry him?
    Just then, his blue eyes opened. He smiled weakly, and tried to sit up. I grabbed his arm, and helped him up. "Link! We have got to get you back!"
    "Ilia, don't worry about me."
    "How can I not? That man rent you open!"
    We hobbled back to the village, where Sera screamed at the sight of Link and the bloodstained bandages round his middle. I was exhausted, from waking up as early as I did. And helping Link back. He wasn't exactly light.
    I staggered where I stood. We had been taken by Talo to his house. Link was being tended to by Pergie, Ula, and Rusl. Colin was helping too. Father was bent over him, worrying about the trip Link was to take the next day.
    I reeled back and forth. Then I collapsed upon the floor.



    "Ilia!" Link exclaimed. I woke in a flash. I was in bed, at Link's house.
    "Ilia, you're awake. I have kept your father away. He didn't know you fainted. Thought you just fell asleep.
    "As soon as I could get up, I took you to my house. You'll be safe here." Link's eyes were soft, and more hypnotizing than ever. He sat in a chair by the bed, with new bandages wrapped around his middle, and his bloodstained clothes.
    "Link, you need to change." I pointed out. He shrugged.
    "Not really. You're more important than appearance."
    That was the sweetest thing he had ever said to me. I hugged him tight. I would miss him more than ever when he left tomorrow. I guess I could cope though.
    I know that the rest of the time we had today would be wonderful. The day would begin the same way tomorrow. Father. Link. Sera. Talo.
    I knew it would be alright.