"Happy" version including a short story http://lilleahwest.deviantart.com/a.....tory-193361654
____________

Short story (I do not like writing fanfics but I do love making short stories to go with my artwork)
____________

It was the middle of the night at Lon Lon Ranch. Malon sat in the house, her arms folded across the table her face smothered between them, sobbing gently, shaken by what she had just witnessed, the sound of his agony still in her ears, her hands still red with the blood of the hero, stained while tending his wounds. Her father sat next her, his hand on her shoulder as he rubbed it gently, his brows were furrowed and worried, his eyes not on her but rather looking off towards the barn.
They knew that Link lead a life full of risks as Link seemed to both seek out danger and danger sought out him, Talon could sense there was something about Link, something beyond Link's control, that drove him into danger on a regular bases, though Link never seemed to want to talk about or expose exactly why.
Talon had made it clear to Link that he was welcome at the ranch and could spend the night whenever he liked, he offered Link a place to sleep in the house though Link always ended up sleeping in the barn. And despite the offer of a safe place to sleep Link seldom came by and often only did when he was utterly worn out and in need of a real nights sleep to recuperate, for sleeping out in the world was incredibly risky and left him half awake each night sleeping fully dressed and geared up ready to flee or fight.

Link had shown up hurt before but never like this, he always seemed to have a new cut, bruise or scar, but never asked for and often refused their help to heal him and his confident smile always made them drop the subject entirely... but this time Link was barely conscious when he came in slung over Epona's back...he was in need of dire help weather he wanted to accept their help or not... Talon had assisted his daughter in the task after tending to Link's horse and the scene was still fresh in his mind, Link's face twisted in pain, eyes clasped shut biting back the urge to sound out his agony and sometimes failing to as Malon stitched his wound closed, she was no doctor but there had not been a proper doctor in Hyrule since the fall of the castle so it was the best they could do for him...

Out in the barn Link was finally asleep, his long hair draped around him unbraided and free of the confines of his hat. Link's gear was hung up and scattered around the stall, despite being torn and bloody Malon still hung his tunic with care in the same place Link always left it. Malon left two oil lanterns lit and had hung them low so one could reach them with little effort, the warm glow was comforting compared to the darkness he faced alone each night on his own. The ranch horse in the neighboring stall carefully put its head through the slot in the boards to get a better look at the scene next door, watching quietly with its dark eyes. Even the cows and cuccos were quiet this nignt.

Malon had insisted he come in the house but Link always felt more comfortable in the barn, he did after all grow up in a rustic home made of a large hallow tree and had spent his adult life sleeping in the rough out in the open, so sleeping in a building always felt alien to him.
After resting sleeplessly for quite some time Link had mustered up the strength to move from the pile of straw Malon arranged for him, dragged himself along with two burlap pillows and his blanket, he dragged himself over the short distance under the plank of wood that separated him from where his horse laid with her bandaged legs. The blond hero propped himself up against Epona, he felt the need to be close to her for he was used to sleeping near or right alongside her in the field at night, but further more he needed to be close to her right now for he was sorry that she had gotten hurt this time too.

Despite his exhaustion it took Link forever to fall asleep due to the pain, his body was riddled with bruises and cuts, the large flesh wound around his middle was not only deeply cut but also deeply bruised and this made it hard to breath.
Epona held very still for him, watching him, letting the man she follows so loyally rest as peacefully as possible for she could feel his gentle soul was as weary as his body. Epona has a special connection to link, ever since she heard him play that ocarina she has felt bound to this pure hearted being, this connection drives her to stay with him, to heed his every call and to tolerate things no other horse would ever put up with. Talon had tended to Epona's wounds though a bath would have to wait and so her mane and coat were still red with both her own and her masters blood. Epona knew that Link blamed himself for her wounds, but she in return felt no spite, in fact she only felt as if she were responsible for his, that she was not brave enough or fast enough to keep him out of harms way.

The lanterns were not the only thing that lit the dark stall, Navi slept perched upon the wrist of Link's limp outstretched hand, his pulse her lullaby. The poor fairy had silently cried herself to sleep, she felt a crippling sorrow for the kind hero, she deeply wishes she could do more to protect him in his daunting task to free the sages in his search for a way to fight the holder of the Triforce of power... but her small size limits her ability to mere warnings and advice alongside her job of look-out duty when Link sleeps out in the open...and this time...This time was a very close call, she nearly watched Link die this time, she trembled to think what she would do, what would happen to the world...if the Hero of Time was lost...

_________

the composure was based on an old drawing I did, http://lilleahwest.deviantart.com/a.....awing-68245947
done in corel painter X with smear, chalk, flame tool and the eraser.

PS I love long hair on guys, I like to imagine that link has long hair braided and tucked into that long hat of his, especially since I have long hair which I braid and put in the Link hat I have when I cosplay as him.