Work Text:
Malon woke with a distinct sense of dread.
A rogue beam of sunlight peaked through her drawn curtains, its placement almost cruel in how it shined directly into her eyes. Usually, she welcomed such a bright start to her day – if she was going to leave her warm nest of blankets so early every day, she would prefer the weather to be nice, after all – but on certain days, she wanted nothing more than to replace those ratty white curtains with something more full-proof. Malon turned her back to the window, squirming as the movement triggered something within her to protest. She buried her face in her pillow and for a single moment denied what she knew to be true. She was not in the mood to be dealing with that today. A stab of pain shattered any denial. She knew that sensation by heart after having felt it on and off for twenty years now.
By the Goddesses, sometimes Malon hated being a woman.
She lay there for a moment, breathing through the spike of pain and lamenting how horrible the day was going to be. Ever since she had accepted Link’s proposal and the two had begun sharing a bed, the two had fallen into a routine on days like this. Despite being a man and never having to deal with a cycle himself, Link hadn’t been the least bit disgusted the first time he had woken up next to his lover lying in a pool of her own blood. She supposed it was a little silly to think he would be; he must have dealt with much worse situations during his adventures. He had only asked if it was that time of the month, to make sure she hadn’t been hiding an injury or been attacked during the night, and upon her confirmation, he had gotten to work.
He was a goddess-send on days like today. Extra blankets and pillows, breakfast, her favourite tea spiked with the herbs that dulled the pain, and permission to take it easy while he got a head start on their daily chores. Even on days where the pain was bearable and she stubbornly insisted that she wasn’t going to leave him to take care of the ranch on his own, he would gently insist, citing it as repaying her for all the times she’d had to deal with his stubborn ass when he came home beaten and bleeding. The comparison always made her giggle. The fact he viewed his battles against the evils of Hyrule and menstruation on the same level always seemed absurd, until her guts were twisting themselves in knots and just staying on her feet was a challenge.
But she wasn’t going to get that luxury today. Or any time soon for that matter. Malon reached under her pillow and blearily drew out a number of unsealed envelopes. She slid the latest letter out of its packaging and scanned the adorably messy handwriting. No mention of where her husband currently was… She loved that man with all her heart, but on days like today she hated that he was a hero. On days she just wanted to be held tight and told everything would be okay, she hated that he was fighting evil somewhere far away. And how far away he was! This journey with eight other members of the hero’s spirit was taking him all throughout Hyrule’s timeline. They were at the mercy of the portals, meaning that the few times her Link and the boys had made it to her era, their visits to the ranch were wonderful, but brief. While each of the Links were certainly their own persons, they all shared a need to help and a heart that could not ignore the suffering of others.
She was equally proud of those brave young men and boys and eternally exasperated by them, doubly so when it came to her husband. His sappy heart of gold was one of the reasons she loved him so much, but when it took him far away from the ranch, she selfishly wished she had thought a little bit more about what a future married to The Hero of Time would look like before accepting his proposal. Still, the moment they were back in each other’s arms, all of her bitter thoughts would melt away. And on days like today, all those thoughts were magnified.
Well… without Link around, and with her father out on a delivery, it was time to suck it up and do this the old-fashioned way.
Slowly, Malon eased herself up until she was sitting. She groaned as her stomach protested again. She was not liking how frequently the pain was hitting her today. It didn’t bode well. With great reluctance, she folded back the duvet and freed her legs as slowly as possible, desperate to prevent another spike of agony. She managed to sit on the edge of her bed without triggering anything, but she wasn’t optimistic it was going to stay that way. Gingerly, she stood up, clinging to one of her bedposts like a lifeline as pain ripped through her middle. She took a moment to breathe and calculate her next move. Protection, then pain management. She was not doing any laundry today if she could help it. She couldn’t feel the tell-tale wetness yet, but knowing her luck, she didn’t have long before she would. With only one glance at her sheets, thankfully seeing no red spots on either the mattress or the duvet, she made her way to the bathroom, to her supplies and to safety.
~*~
Even though Malon always doubled up on protection, she was still paranoid about working during her period. It was never a good day to wear white on a ranch, but usually she couldn’t care less about the mud stains and how impractical a dress could be when doing manual labour. She liked her dresses, sue her! She may not be a delicate Castle Town flower, but she could still indulge in her flowing skirts and cute patterns. She’d worn dresses around the ranch ever since she was a child, and when she could hop fences and handle cattle even in floor length garments, she didn’t see the need to forgo them as she grew older. But on days like today, she could put aside her need to be comfortable for the sake of practicality. She dug out a sturdy set of brown trousers from the depths of her drawers and, because she was feeling particularly sullen this morning, one of Link’s simple work shirts. She could already picture the little smile on his face when he’d next try and put on the shirt, only realising that she had tightened the laces around the collar when he couldn’t get his head through. He’d then tease her about stealing his clothes and she would giggle like a madwoman while trying to deny his baseless accusation and…
She needed to pull herself together. She was not going to get through the day if she kept lamenting her husband’s absence like this. She was a grown woman! Hormones or not, she could survive a few bad days without the love of her life, all while not having a breakdown!
By the time she had slipped into her clothes, she had mostly shaken off the early-morning stiffness, but the lack of it made the pain in her core all the more pronounced. She needed her tea. Now.
Malon plodded down the stairs, gripping the railing until the grooves in the wood were imprinted into her fingers whenever a stab of pain assaulted her insides. She debated the pros and cons of spontaneous surgery three separate times on her way to the ground floor of the ranch house. On one hand, she could be rid of this pain forever and never have to go through the awfulness of her cycle ever again. On the other hand, she and Link wanted children some day and while they were both open to the idea of adoption, knowing that Twilight was their blood descendant meant they’d at least have one biological child. She didn’t want to erase the wolf hero from existence because of something as petty as despising a perfectly normal bodily function. So, she trudged on until she finally reached the bottom of the stairs and stumbled into the kitchen.
She quickly located the kettle, filled it from the spigot, eternally grateful that she no longer had to trudge outside every day to fetch water from the barrels of rainwater they collected, like she had to for most of her childhood, and left the kettle hanging above the hastily started fire. They kept all of their beverages in the same cupboard as their medicinal herbs, since most of them needed to be washed down anyway, so Malon quickly plucked a wicker basket of different teas and a small, sealed box from the shelves. She liked to cover up the taste of the bitter herbs with a lovely floral blend, with a dash of milk and honey. After scooping a generous number of leaves into her tea strainer, she twisted open the wooden box of prepared mandragora and henbane, only to stare, horrified, at the empty box.
Shit!
She must have used the last of it during her last cycle and forgotten to buy more. This was bad… There was no way she’d be able to run the ranch without at least some pain relief, not on one of her bad days. Malon briefly glanced up at the shelf of potions, their jewel-like contents shimmering enticingly in the early morning sunshine. Then she tore her eyes away and scolded herself. Potions didn’t even work on period pain; their magic only worked on physical injuries, and the natural process of menstruation didn’t count as a wound to the healing magic, no matter how much she was bleeding. The same rules applied for fairy magic. The potion shop in Kakariko made a selection of elixirs that helped woman suffering during their time of the month, but Malon herself was allergic to one of the ingredients, thus why they didn’t stock such things. The only thing that worked for her was the herbal remedies discovered and distributed by the temple, and the occasional wandering merchant. Mandragora and henbane, while extremely useful for pain relief, were also partially poisonous plants, so she preferred buying the treated leaves and extracts from the experts, but Malon dreaded the idea of tacking up their fastest horse and making the trip to Castle Town without the pain relief she so desperately needed.
She stared out the window, only able to see the smallest glimpse of one of Hyrule Castle’s towers when she squinted, far off in the distance. Even if the ride was smooth, it would take her hours to ride to the capital of the kingdom. Malon was about to resign herself to her fate, when she glanced down at the lush garden just outside the window.
There was another option. When Malon had first shared with Link what herbs she used, he had gone to the trouble of finding the plants himself and transplanting them into the herb garden around the side of the house. He had even gotten lessons from one of the priestesses in how to harvest and prepare the herbs. If Malon hadn’t already fallen in love with him by that point, she would have fallen for him the moment he shyly offered her his homemade herbs on a day like this one when she had discovered her stores run dry. He had offered to teach her in turn, but something had always gotten in the way, whether it be another assignment from the Queen, or a particularly busy season at the ranch, and Malon’s cycle was so irregular that restocking her remedy was never the first thing on her mind until the pain hit her full-force.
Despair hit her. Malon slumped onto the countertop with a thud, her teaspoon clattering against the stone surface as it was shaken from it’s perch in her teacup. The escape from this insistent pain was so close but without the knowledge or practice, the flowers only a few feet away were useless to her! She banged a fist against the countertop in frustration, uncaring of how her teacup spilt, the strainer rolling across the surface and the tealeaves scattering everywhere. She’s grown so used to Link’s care she’d become complacent, and now she was paying the price!
Who had decided that woman should have to go through this every month for most of their lives? What evolutionary benefit was there in being in agony and bleeding?! Being in pain was usually a warning sign that something was wrong - but no! - let’s make a completely normal bodily function hurt like one of the stallions repeatedly kicking her in the stomach! If Malon ever found out which goddess decided menstruation had to be the most miserable time of most women’s lives, she would fight them to the death, regardless of how much she was actively bleeding.
As if whichever goddess had heard her blasphemous thoughts, a wave of agony crashed through her core, and Malon screamed, uncaring of staying quiet through her pain any longer, she let herself slide off the counter onto her knees, clutching at her midsection as if she could squeeze the biting pain out of herself. Tears started sliding down her cheeks. She didn’t bother to wipe them away. Why should she? As another stab of pain hit her, she hit the drawer with an anguished yell. Why should she care about decorum? Who cared about hiding her pain any longer!? Her only option was riding through Hyrule Field and buying the herbs in Castle Town. She was going to be in agony for hours! Why shouldn’t she yell and scream in the comfort of her own home!? She was about to go through hell, why shouldn’t she-!?
She barely heard the slam of a door over her own sobs and curses. Nor the chatter of nine worried voices and pounding footsteps from her curled up position on the floor. She barely registered that someone else had entered the kitchen until someone had collapsed next to her, gauntleted hands running over her body checking for injuries and a familiar voice tried to get her attention.
“Mal! Mal, are you alright!? Goddesses, we heard you scream and- and some sort of crash and-! Mal, what’s going on, talk to me!”
His voice was music to her ears, all the more healing for its long absence. Malon looked up just enough to see her Link hurriedly unstrapping his golden gauntlets as he rambled in that beautiful gentle voice of his. Completely uncaring of the hard chestplate, Malon launched herself into her husband’s arms, sobbing into his shoulder in relief, even as her body protested the movement. His arms were instantly around her, one around her waist, the other running through her hair, sweet words spilling from his lips. She wanted to stay in that moment forever, never wanting to let go of him, but eventually another wave of pain hit, and she whined and shrunk in his hold as she curled around her stomach again. Gently, his hands cupped her cheeks and raised her face to look at him. His single blue eye flickered from her face to the empty box on the counter, then back to her, scanning her posture and her clothes.
“Is it-?” he started.
Malon cut him off, “I’m out.” Her voice was small, strained, exhausted. She flopped forwards, Link automatically adjusting so that she landed lightly with her face pressed up against his neck. “Please… put me out of my misery…”
It was only through years of living together that Link heard the joke in her tone. He let out an amused breath and replied, “I don’t think you’re that far gone yet.”
“Link… m’dying here!” she whined, pressing even closer, if that was possible.
“Well, it’s a good thing I’m your Fairy Boy, then; there are plenty of little sisters around to pull you from the brink.” he chuckled, “Let’s get you off the floor.”
With only a bit of shuffling, Link snuck an arm under her legs and picked her up in a bridal carry, all the while being extra careful not to cause her any undue pain. While it wasn’t as comfortable as usual, due to the fact that Link was still wearing his full suit of armour, Malon sunk into his hold anyway, relishing in his presence and the subtle smell of fairy dust that never left his skin, and everything he owned. “My hero.” she sighed, dreamily.
“Um… is she okay, then?”
It wasn’t until that moment that it occurred to Malon that her husband hadn’t come alone. Standing around the doorway between the kitchen and living room were the rest of the Chain, all looking a combination of awkward or concerned. She hated seeing that look on their faces. “I’ll live… Unfortunately.” She joked, trying to lighten the mood.
“We’re all out of her usual painkillers, once we retrieve those, she’ll be fine.” Link clarified for her.
Between the two of them, that seemed to reassure the boys, many of them sporting tentative smiles or sighing in relief. Warriors pushed past some of the heroes and strolled over to the counter, swiping up the box and inspecting the label on it, “Mandragora and henbane. That makes sense.” he commented before addressing Malon directly, with an empathetic smile, “I am not jealous. We’ll get you some more. Now.”
“Looks like we’re going to Castle Town.” Four commented, already stepping away from the doorway to go and collect the bags and equipment the Chain had thrown down by the front door in their haste to check on the lady of the ranch.
“No we don’t!” Hyrule interrupted, turning to Link, “Don’t you have those plants in your garden? I know how to prepare them; they’re a really common medicine in my time.”
Link shook his head, “I appreciate the offer, Hyrule, and while you can help me make more later, the sooner we get that medicine, the better.” As he spoke, he walked into the living room, the other heroes automatically parting to let him pass, and then carefully lowered Malon onto the sofa. “With a song of mine and someone’s Pegasus Boots, it’ll be much quicker to buy some readymade herbs over doing it ourselves.”
Legend volunteered for the job, being the only one with Pegasus Boots and a wealth of musical knowledge. One lesson on how to play the Prelude of Light later, and the young man had disappeared in a flurry of sparks. Link started handing out orders to the rest of the Chain, correctly assuming that not a single chore had been started thus far, and the heroes quickly moved to remove their armour and heavy layers before getting to work. Malon let most of their words wash over her, just relishing being able to lie down for the first time since she had forced herself out of bed. Before she knew it, her husband was perched on the edge of the sofa, completely armourless, and gently brushing a stray hair out of her face. Malon captured his hand in hers and kissed his knuckles, prompting a quiet laugh from her Link.
“m’glad ya’ll got here when ya did. I dunno how I woulda survived…” she whispered.
“Me too.” he replied simply, the sincerity in his voice conveying far more than words ever could. After a moment, he continued, with a teasing tone, “Is that one of my shirts?”
Malon rolled her eyes, “And if it is?”
“It looks good on you.”
“Oh hush you!” Malon lightly batted his shoulder as the man laughed. Only once the man had grown quiet did she add, “I missed you, Fairy Boy…”
Link’s eye glittered with something Malon came to decipher over the years as love trying to hide a flicker of guilt. Before she could scold him for needlessly blaming himself, once again, he leaned down and kissed her. It was chaste compared to most of their kisses, but his lips lingered a beat too long for it to be an ordinary peck. When he pulled away, he didn’t go far, pressing their foreheads together as he whispered, “I missed you too, mavourneen.”
“Heya, Time? I- Oh! …Am I interrupting some'ing?”
Malon almost laughed at the look on her husband’s face; a flicker of irritation at being interrupted that was quickly consumed by a fond smile once he registered who the voice belonged to. Link leaned back, revealing Twilight standing awkwardly by the door, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck in the way all the Links did when they were embarrassed.
“No, dear, yer not interrupting.” Malon answered, saving the two Links from their charged silence.
“Good! Great even!” the younger hero replied, his relief evident.
There was a moment of quiet where no one said anything, and Malon was about to rescue her socially awkward boys again, when Link spoke up, “You needed something, Pup?”
Twilight jumped at his ancestor’s voice, “Um… Yeah! I finished up ma chores.”
“Already?” Link raised an eyebrow at the other hero. “You completed every chore I assigned you in three minutes?”
“Well… I might’a jus’ pointed the others in the right direction!” Twilight spluttered, “I jus’ wanna ask about-”
“Youse just as hopeless as he is.” Malon sighed, ignoring the offended noise that escaped her husband, “No need ta beat aroun’ the bush, yer worried aintcha?”
“…Maybe.” he admitted reluctantly.
“I should hope so! This is all youse fault anyhow.” At his bewildered expression, she clarified, “I gotta put up wi’ this every month or ya’ll ne’er be born! Ya’ll could show a lil gratitude for my sacrifice y’know?”
“She’s joking.” Link reassured their descendant.
“Oh, who asked you?” Malon retorted lightly.
With a roll of his eye, Link turned back to Twilight, “Trust me, if she’s joking around, she’s mostly fine. You should only get worried when she stops messing around. That said, I’m going to change into something that doesn’t smell like dirt, sweat and death,” he indicated the tunic and gambeson he usually wore under his armour, “and I’m sure Mal would appreciate the company. Until Legend returns, that is.”
Malon giggled as she watched her descendant perk up like an excitable puppy, then try to cover up with reaction with one of the fakest coughs she ever heard. These boys couldn’t lie if their lives depended on it. “Yeah! Jus’ ‘til Ledge gets back, o’ course.”
Link rose from his seat, fondly patted Twilight’s shoulder and made his way to the stairs, the younger man eagerly taking his place. Without any preamble, Twilight launched into a tale about what the boys had been up to recently and Malon listened intently, laughing at their antics and sighing dramatically when even the ‘responsible’ heroes joined in. It was a nice distraction from the churning in her gut and soon, she found herself completely forgetting about why she was confined to her sofa. Halfway through a story about a prank war gone wrong, Wild entered from the kitchen, carrying a tray with a few mugs and teacups perched on top, handing them out with the excuse that just because Legend hadn’t returned yet, that didn’t mean Malon should miss out on her morning cup of tea. When Link returned in a clean set of work clothes, neither of the boys were in a hurry to leave her side, instead dragging her husband into their chaotic stories and offering him another drink from the tray.
In the hour it took for Legend to return with her painkillers, all of the boys visited at least once, to the point Malon had to actively shoo some of them back to their assigned chores with the promise of a lazy lunch if they did. Wind dropped in to ‘casually’ declare that he knew all about periods because his grandma told him for Aryl’s sake and the only reason he ‘acted clueless’ earlier was because they used a different remedy for pain relief on the Great Sea and so he didn’t recognise what was going on like Warriors had. Hyrule came in from the garden with a basket full of healthy herbs, ready to be processed and added to her stores, although that didn’t stop him from pausing in his quest to add a few snarky comments to Twilight’s current story. Sky returned with a basket of eggs from the cuccos and suggested that maybe Wild could make something with them for breakfast, which the younger hero quickly took him up on. Four dropped in with a pack of cards and a game Malon had never heard of, a game that got very competitive when played by a group of stubborn heroes and a woman who refused to lose. Words may have been exchanged. Pillows might have been thrown across the room with pinpoint accuracy. The loser was put on dish duty for the rest of the time the Chain was staying on the ranch.
Being on her period sucked. Being on her period without painkillers sucked. But when surrounded by those she loved, who cared for her in both small and big ways, Malon found herself content. Despite the occasional spark of pain, she knew that she would put up with it if it meant spending time with her boys and being wrapped in their love like a warm blanket. Snuggled up to her husband and lounging around with the young heroes who had snuck their way into her heart, Malon looked upon her family and basked in their little slice of home.