This is a little short story while I get my new story plot going.

I don't support this pairing, but I felt sorta almost bad for Ilia since she got hit with the arrow and lost her memory blah blah blah. I think that she really liked Link, even though she was a jerk to him. But might I remind you that this is ONE-SIDED. This is in Ilia's point of view.

The boredom was over-whelming.

I was sitting alone in my wooden-walled room, watching the lazy, white clouds slowly roll by my window.

I looked down into the backyard to see Malo and Talo fighting over a stick that they were pretending to be a sword. Beth was in the middle trying to break it up and Colin was off to the side in his usual shy manner.

I laughed lightly at their childish behavior.

I felt lonely, really, because there were no other kids my age, or even remotely close to it.

Beth (the closest to my age) and I hung out a little, but she wasn't very good company. She talked about herself constantly, and never let me get a word in edge wise.

Colin was so shy, he wouldn't even talk to me. When I would try to speak to him, he would simply mumble something inaudible and continue walking with his head hung over in attempt to avoid talking.

Talo was the most annoying of them all, and was also the most childish. He would pick up sticks along whatever trail we were walking on and thrash about, beckoning for me to join him in whatever silly game he thought up.

Malo… he was just creepy.

Sighing, I continued to watch Malo and Talo fight over the sword-stick. Getting bored quickly, I sighed and plopped down on my bed.

After a few moments of silence, I heard talking downstairs. I tried to make out what they were saying, but it wasn't audible from where I was, so I snuck around the stairwell to see if I could hear better. I must have caught the middle of their conversation.

"-Yeah, that postman is a disgrace to humanity. Hey, did anyone tell you about the boy that just moved in that tree house by the forest? I hear that he's pretty good with horses. Maybe I could use him at my ranch..?" one person said, hinting at the last sentence.

I figured that must be Fado considering he was the only one who owned a ranch within 100 miles.

The second voice was my father.

"Yes, Fado, and I would thank you not to bother the boy on his first day here. Let him rest and settle in, then we'll see about puttin' him to work," my father said.

"…Fine," Fado pouted.

Over-come with curiosity, I figured that now was a good time to cut in to try and get a little more information on their topic.

"A new boy?" I asked, acting as if I had just caught the end of their conversation.

Fado and my father turned and looked up at me as I came the rest of the way down the staircase.

"Yes M'am. A young lad just moved in near the forest," Fado said to me.

I perked up a little. A new boy might be a good thing to have around here. Since Colin, Talo, Malo, and Beth were hopeless companions, things were quiet and boring 24/7. I hoped that this new kid might be just what I needed to add a little fun to my life.

Seeing the excitement plastered like thick cement across my face, my father smiled.

"Why don't you go say hello? I'm sure he would appreciate a warm welcome," my father said smirking.

"That sounds like a great idea!" I said happily.

"He's down at my ranch," Fado called as I walked out the doorway.

"What might he be doing there?" my father asked, looking accusingly at his friend.

"I might have… well… already asked him to herd a few innocent goats into the stable… maybe," Fado said meekly.

"Now, Fado I told you-!" I ran out of the house before my dad could scold Fado too much.

I walked along the path to the ranch – which was just a few yards from my house – and thought about what I was getting myself into.

Was this kid going to be nice? Did he want to even meet some girl that he didn't know? I didn't even know how old he was!

Stopping in my tracks, I thought about whether I should just turn around and go back home, or continue with my plan to go and see this new boy. Finally deciding that I would meet him eventually anyway, I continued down the path to the ranch.

I walked up to the ranch's beautifully carved gate and skillfully hopped over it as I had been doing my entire child-hood. I landed with a 'thud' on the other side of the fence, planting my bare feet against the cool grass that covered the ranch's pasture like carpet

Glancing around, I expected goats to be covering the field as usual, baaing and eating their weight in grass, but there was not one in sight.

I scanned the area to see if I could spot anyone.

Grass. How exciting.

Suddenly, I saw a figure lying on the hillside. It just seemed like a speck from where I was standing, but regardless, I continued toward it with a smile on my face.

From my first glance, he seemed to be a little small-built and skinny.

I cocked my head slightly to one side in thought. I couldn't believe that he had herded all those goats in the one morning he had been here.

I moved forward a little, and was surprised that the boy didn't move.

Maybe he was asleep..?

I got a few feet from him and confirmed that he was, indeed, asleep.

The closer I got, the more I blushed.

His hair looked so beautiful as it flowed softly in the evening breeze, I could just lie in it and take a nap. His whole face wasn't too bad to look at, either.

He looked so peaceful and content, I just wanted to lie down beside him and go to sleep myself.

I was so lost in my thoughts, I jumped when he suddenly shifted on the ground.

My face turned blood red when I realized that I had just watched him sleep.

He cracked open his eyes and I was immediately lost in them. They were so… blue. Two clear, deep, calm, blue pools of sparkles. I blushed deeper (if possible) when he shifted them to me.

"Hello," he greeted calmly. His voice was perfect; just like the rest of him.

I didn't speak, so he sat up and stretched his arms above his head, closing his eyes and grunting as he strained his perfectly-toned muscles. They were easy to see since one of his sleeves was completely torn off.

He turned back to me a smiled. More blushing.

"Hellooo?" he repeated in a sarcastic tone.

"H-hi!" I faltered, shaking my head out of the trance.

"What's your name?" he asked.

"My name? Oh! My name! It's… uh… I-Ilia! Ilia's my name!" I said stupidly.

"I'm Link and I just moved in the house near the forest. It's a pleasure to meet you!" he said happily, extending a hand my direction and smiling.

Blushing again, I gently took his hand and shook it as if it were a piece of wet paper.

"So what brings you out here?" he asked releasing my hand.

"M-my dad said that there was a new kid and that I should give him a warm welcome to the village. Fado said that I would find you here," I explained, flustered.

"I guess you did!" he said chuckling, "so, what do you do for fun around here? I met the other kids, but they were a little bit too childish for me."

I was surprised when he said that, since I thought the exact same thing. Then I thought about his question. What did I do for fun? I said the first thing that came to mind.

"Well, we have a horse. It's pretty fun to ride. Well… that is, if I could. I don't really know how," I confessed.

"You have a horse? Cool! Can we ride it? I rode one to herd the goats, but it was a little bit too wild for my liking," he said hopping up from the ground. He was only a few inches from me.

"Uh-huh," I said shakily.

"Let's go then! Show me where it is, and I'll show you how to ride it!" he said grabbing my hand.

I blushed fiercely as he dragged me to the stables and looked around at the stalls. The farm house reeked with the smell of wet hay and horses.

"Where do you keep it? I don't see it anywhere in here," he said giving me a saddened look after looking through a few of the stalls at the front that only contained goats.

I was so entranced by his hand in mine that it took me a moment to respond.

"Uh- it-it's in the last stall to the right," I stuttered.

"Okay!" he said happily, dragging me down to the stall that I had directed him to.

He let go of my hand (to my disappointment) and unlocked the door.

The horse inside stared at Link for a moment and then pushed her head against his chest.

"Whoa!" he said grabbing her head and petting it, "you don't pet her much, do you? What's her name, anyway?"

"Epona. She is really gentle, and as you can see, she loves to be petted," I said smiling.

"Cool. Okay, Epona, want to go for a ride?" he asked her, patting her side.

She whinnied happily in response.

"Let's go then!" he said hopping on top of her skillfully. I wasn't surprised that he had herded all of those goats in that short time anymore.

I was too lost in my thoughts to hear him talking to me.

"Ilia?" he repeated. I shook my head and looked up at him. He had held a hand out to me and was gesturing to grab it.

Hesitating for a moment, I shakily took it and he pulled me up behind him.

"Link! I don't know how to ride!" I yelled, feeling off balance.

"Just hold onto me and you'll be fine," he said smiling back at me.

I thought I was about to pass out. Things were going too fast for me to catch up.

I gently pressed the tips of my fingers against his side, fearing if I hung on too tightly he would think I was weird.

"You'll have to hold on tighter than that. You'll fall off in a second, and then it'll be my fault if you get hurt," he said.

I stared at him blankly, not knowing what I should do.

Getting impatient, he suddenly grabbed my hands and tightened them around his waist.

"Now, hold on tight!" he said, kicking Epona's side.

Epona whinnied and galloped out of the stables and onto the field.

I honestly thought that I was going to pass out right there.

Being so close to him, and having my hands around him so tightly; it was just too much! I knew that I was blushing and getting redder by the minute. I couldn't even feel us moving.

"Ilia? Are you okay?" I heard him ask.

I snapped out of my thoughts and noticed that we weren't moving anymore.

…Awkward…

Blushing so hard that I would probably be stained red for life, I removed my hands quickly and looked at his concerned face.

"You're awfully red. Do you have a fever?" he asked, placing a hand on my forehead.

Did I mention that I was blushing?

"I-I'm fine! I-I'm just a little dizzy from the ride," I lied, trying to make up an excuse.

"Well, okay. If you don't feel good, just tell me and I'll bring you home," he said, smiling a beautiful smile.

"I-I will," I agreed.

He swung his leg over the side and hopped off Epona.

I was going to try to look cool and hop off, too, but instead, my foot got caught in the stirrup. I was about to fall to the ground, but was caught before I could.

I looked up to see Link smirking down at me. I was in his arms.

I WAS IN HIS ARMS.

I squeaked and struggled out of his loose grasp.

"You are so clumsy! Are you okay?" he asked, chuckling a little.

"Y-yea! Of course!" I said, nonchalantly dusting off my pants, really just trying to hide my ever-present blush.

"I think you need to go home. You don't seem too well," he said, gesturing to follow him in the direction of my house.

I nodded and walked along beside him.

While we were walking along the trail, I thought about how much better things were going to be now that Link was going to be living here.

I smiled the happiest smile that I had in a long time.

I hope that you liked the first chapter! Thanks for reading =)