Chapter 5

Malon didn't feel well the next day, as expected. But what was unusual was that her sickness returned one morning about three months later, in the morning. As she lay in bed, a thought occured to her. The pieces fit. But who was the man?
"Don't tell me... I can't be!" She sat up in bed instantly, disturbing Darvin.
"Go back to sleep, Malon."
She looked at him and thought carefully, "We never did. Not even once. I'd never do that to Link." Reaization hit her again. Link! Three months ago... before the wedding... it had to be him.
"Darvin," she woke him up, "Darvin, come here."
Just in case she was right, she needed to have Darvin believe that nothing had happened between her and Link. She needed to make Darvin believe he could be the one.

Sure enough, it became apparent in the next three months, as Malon's belly swelled, that there was a baby on the way. Darvin was thrilled, but Link was furious. He couldn't believe Malon had given in to Darvin. Malon hadn't told him what she suspected, because she didn't know if it were true. But it sure looked that way. If the baby was born in three months, she would know it had been Link. If the baby was born in six months (which she really doubted), she would know it had been Darvin. Somehow she knew it was the former. She'd find out soon enough, and she could only hope the baby took after her.

"LINK, WAKE UP!"
Densetsu, Rabay and Zelda stood over him when he blearily opened his eyes. It was Zelda that had shouted at him.
"What? Castle came back? Ganon's on fire? Wait... no... " He lay in confusion trying to figure out what it was he'd meant to say.
"No, silly! Malon's having her baby! Come on, come on, come on!"
Link sat bolt upright. "In the middle of the night?"
"Sure, why not? Rabay, Densetsu, lay out our clothes."
It occured to Link that they weren't supposed to know about this chamber, and he asked Zelda, "What are Rabay and Densetsu doing here? They aren't supposed to know about this place!" He was already grabbing his clothes to get dressed.
"I know... but I accidentally mentioned it to Rabay, and figured Densetsu should know, too. Dress as fast as you can, we've gotta hurry!"
Link couldn't help thinking that this kid was gonna be around longer than ten minutes, so there was no rush, but he didn't argue, he just dressed.

Meanwhile, at the ranch, Malon was exausted from having her baby. In her arms rested a little girl, whimpering gently as she fed. Despite the pain this child had already caused her, the new mother was happy.
"How about Mara? Your mother's name was Mara, wasn't it?"
"My mother's name was Telise, Darvin."
"Darinna? After me?"
Malon couldn't believe he'd suggest that, but knowing Darvin, she shouldn't have been surprised. She only shook her head and made her own suggestion, "Saria."
"Saria? The Sage of Forest? You want to name our daughter after her?"
Malon smiled. "Why not? It's a pretty name, besides, and I like it. What do you think?"
He shrugged and said, "I like Darinna, but okay. Can her middle name be Darinna? Or Mara?"
"Saria Mara? Saria Darinna? No way!"
"Telise, then."
Saria Telise. It was a nice name, it flowed well, and it wouldn't constantly remind her of Darvin. "That's nice." Malon said, "Saria Telise. Her name is Saria Telise."
A trio of people entered the room: Zelda, Talon and Link. All of them looked rather worried, and their eyes immediatly went to Malon, then the baby. Seeing that mother and child were both fine, they relaxed.
"A girl?" asked Zelda. When Malon nodded, she said, "She's beautiful. What's her name?"
Looking at Link, who had approached the bedside, Malon said, "Saria. Telise." Link smiled and said, "That's a nice name."
"Can I hold her?" Zelda asked. Malon handed the baby to the queen, who stood (she had been kneeling next to the bed) and showed her to Link. "Isn't she so cute?"
Link smiled, then noticed something. The little girl was blonde. He tried not to look worried, and answered Zelda, "She's perfect." But he was beginning to wonder something. Malon was a redhead and Darvin had midnight black hair. How could they have a blonde child...? He looked at Malon for the answer, and saw it in her face. He thought he would pass out, both with joy that Malon hadn't betrayed him and with shock.
Could this baby really be his? He would do the math later, at the castle.