NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: Just trying my hand at the fanfiction thing, reviews and suggestions are much appreciated (especially when it comes to the title)! I can't promise I'll update frequently after this week, but if people like it I'll make an effort. Thanks dudes :)

It had been a beautiful day, long and bright and full of late summer breezes that whispered of autumn. Across Hyrule, children had played in the shade of trees, young couples had walked through the fields, and even the most solemn of workers had allowed themselves a moment to bask in the natural beauty of their country. Friendships were made that day, laughs were shared and timid whispers had blossomed into hearty truths under the warmth of the sun's kiss, and finally the great star began its never-ending descent into eventide. Its light enveloped the ominous silhouette of Death Mountain, it filled every snow-covered valley of Peak Province, and it traveled far over Hyrule fields, illuminating the behemoth lake with a golden glow that could be seen for miles around. And this light that crossed seas and crested mountains and filled every crevice in the grand kingdom of Hyrule with it's noble warmth fell, at the end of its journey, on two humble figures, sitting atop a humble cliff, in the most humble of villages.

"I think this place is what I've missed most about your days off."

"Oh I see." The boy scoffed humorously as he lay back on the rock face. "You could just come without me."

"I would never dream of such a thing!" Ilia replied in mock horror at such a terrible suggestion. "I need Epona's help to get the picnic basket past the rocky bits."

The boy laughed at the sky, watching a lone hawk fly towards Karakiko. It had taken almost the whole day to reach the cliff top. They had set out before lunchtime, traveling through Faron woods to reach the base of the cliff. Epona had carried their basket most of the way, but the trusty steed had to be left by the forest temple, as the last stretch was too steep for her.

"After all," she grinned, "It's our Castle Ordon, and we have to rule this kingdom together. Think of the subjects, how could they stand the Queen ruling without her King?"

The mention of their childhood games put a smile on Link's face. When they were young, they had spent hours stacking rocks that still stood piled around them, or governing the forest monkeys that wandered up for food. Much of their youth had been spent greeting imaginary stewards or warring with imaginary tribes. Link had once spent two nights out in the forest, trying to find a place to expand their kingdom northwards. He had made it all the way to the Faron Springs before Ilia and his parents had found him, sick off of berries and insisting that the noble King and Queen of Ordona build a castle for the Light Spirit. His mother had cried and wouldn't stop until he promised not to wander off. She said that the Light Spirits must have been watching over him.

"It just…" Ilia looked down at her hands, the humor waning from her voice and jolting the young farmhand back to the present. "It wouldn't be the same."

Link looked at his friend, concerned by the gravity of her voice. Yesterday, he had learned that Rusl wanted him to take a gift to Hyrule. He wouldn't leave for another week, but this was a task that might take more than a month, more time than he had ever spent outside of Ordon Village. He had been ecstatic since he heard the news, but had been waiting to tell Ilia until today, hoping to celebrate with a picnic and a long day off. He had almost told her that morning, but she had stopped him at the mention of Rusl's name, saying that she didn't want to mar his day off with town gossip. Link had suspected that the Mayor had let the news slip, and was slightly hurt that she was so disinterested. She had said nothing more about it, and a heavy silence had settled between them for a few minutes.

Now, as the same long and uncomfortable silence enveloped the pair, he caught a hint of sadness in her features, and realized that maybe she wasn't as indifferent to his journey as he had thought. As she turned her head away from him, he debated how best to comfort his friend.

"Epona can be the King," Link declared as he sat up. He considered putting his arm around her shoulder, but he let the thought pass him by, giving her a playful nudge instead. "And I carried the basket through the hard part."

"Epona's a girl," She said, smiling faintly, not bothering to nudge back, "And a horse, neither of which have historically been desirable traits in a king."

"So picky!" He flicked a pebble at her good-naturedly, trying to coax the life back into his friend. "And you don't even miss me when I'm gone…"

"Hey!" she flicked it back, a familiar impish glitter returning to her eyes. "Great big beast, why would I? Always throwing your goats around and baring your teeth at lesser apes to assert your dominance."

Link smiled and turned towards Ilia. As he'd gotten older and stronger, Fado had been asking for more and more of his time at the ranch. He didn't mind the work, but as a result free days like this had grown very scarce, and the road out of the little farm town had seemed to grow wider and friendlier every day. And yet, as she laughed and shoved him playfully, it struck him how much he would miss these long and sunny days with his friend. Even though it was only for a few weeks, there would be no Ilia in Castle Town. Light glittered off her emerald eyes, making them shimmer like the far-off lake, and he wondered if you could see their Castle Ordon from its shores. He realized then just how incredibly lucky it was that they had both been born in such a small village, that they had ever met at all.

She cast a glance at Link and grinned when she met his stare. She pointed out over the forest below them at a cluster of spires on the far side of the shining lake. "Look, Isn't the castle beautiful at this time of day? I love the way the light catches the windows."

Link looked back out over the land, at all the miles he would cross in a week's time. It really was a spectacular view.

After a long silence, Ilia shot Link a furtive glance and added, "I'd like to go there some day."

"Really? And leave Ordon?"

"I mean, not forever. But don't you ever get the urge to get out of here? Go on an adventure?"

Truthfully, Link had never wanted anything else so badly in his life. To travel distant lands and meet exotic new friends, fighting evil foes and living ruggedly with nothing to comfort him but a sword, a horse, and the courage young boys dream that they might have when they need it. It was why he had accepted Rusl's offer without a second thought. But now, for the first time in his life, sitting next to this fantastically lucky friend on this magnificent day that continued to drift lazily towards night, Link considered the question and found a flicker of doubt.

And so he said nothing, and the pair sat in silence and watched the sun set. Something about the warm glow of twilight made him bold, and he slipped his arm around her shoulder.

"I'll miss you," he said finally.

"Yeah, I'll miss you too."

He smiled in the growing darkness. She smiled back, her eyes still shimmering faintly even though the sun's light no longer reached them.

"Even if you are a great big beast."