Hello! This is will be my first fanfic. I did not really plan on making this very long nor will it have a story changing plot. English isn't my first language also,so I'm using this fanfiction to help me with my english and english writing skills.

I hope you will like it

New Beginnings

The evening's sun was shining against their backs, as the Princess of Hyrule and the Hero of Twilight left the Gerudo Desert.
Luckily for the two of them, the princess had enough magic to get them both out of the big, sandy wasteland, just enough for both to get to the cliff of the desert, near Lake Hylia.

They had to walk from now on.
As displeased and exhausted as they were, they still made that sacrifice, if it meant to get back home.

Midna's last goodbye left them downhearted and depressed, the Twilight Princess became a part of them both, a good friend, a friend they weren't much fond of, but grew closer with by the time.
Her departure was like a big loss to the two of them, letting them feel alone.

Neither of them spoke much to each other, besides Link asking the princess if she is alright, too hot or too tired to walk, as they were making their way down to Lake Hylia, to which she assured him that she's fine, but she thanked him anyway for looking out for her.

It was her turn to ask him, but all he told her was not to worry about him.
Of course this made her worry about him even more, but she let him be for now. She thought he knew what was the best for himself.

It took them about half an hour until they completely got out of the sandy area and to notice the green, soft grass around their boots.
They both let out a sigh of relief when they saw the shining surface of the lake's water.

The air by the lake was something else. It was clearer and fresher to breathe in. It felt good in their lungs, it really was an uplifting feeling.

So the Princess and the Hero made their way over to the water to take a short break, with the brunette monarch sitting down on a nearby rock.

Zelda had taken off her gloves a while back, so now she was able to feel the texture of the rock.
It was hard, cold and rough...just like the castle's walls and floors. She didn't really miss it, she had been stuck in there for the past long months, yet it was her home, a home which didn't feel like home.

After taking sips of the cool water and a refill of his waterskins, Link dunked his whole head into the water briefly, pulled his head back out, to wash the sweat, sand dust and dried blood out of his face and hair. The water made his dirty blond hair seem darker and longer as they clinged to his neck.

Zelda didn't even noticed she was staring at him while she kept petting the rock she was sitting on, like it were a pet.

The blond walked a bit off into a more open area, rolled his tongue in his mouth and let out a loud, sharp whistle.

The princess slightly got startled by this and noticed she was staring at the spot by the water he had been kneeling previously then faced his direction just right before he let out another, but longer, loud whistles.

He turned his head to her and explained before she could even ask, "This was for Epona. She will hear it n' come lookin' for us. It's better we keep movin', so it's easier for her to find us."

She remembered his horse from the chase on horseback, where she helped him with her bow of light. She was a brave and smart horse and did not hesitate to follow her master's orders during that pursue, between all the mess and threats.

Zelda also just noticed this was the longest sentences he had spoken to her since they've met.
Yes, he was a wolf the first two times and couldn't say anything to her, but the last times he spoke to her were mostly sentences containing three words, like "Are you okay?", or "Need a break?".

But this time she heard more of his voice. It was strangely soft and rough at the same time, as if he wasn't using it very often.

But mostly she noticed his dialect.

She could hear he was trying not to fall back into this dialect, though she still could hear it hidden within his tongue.

She liked it.

And she hoped to hear more from it.

She had gotten up from her precious rock and walked up to his side and nodded, "Let us go then."

Their walk up to the bridge of Hylia was, again, very quiet, with only Link asking the princess for her wellbeing.

Arriving at the top, the blond whistled one last time as they made their way towards the open plains of Hyrule's fields.

As they were walking he heard the familiar stomping of hooves he was waiting for.

Epona slowed down into a trot as she came near both and stopped abruptly, almost bumping into Link and pushed her face into his chest.

He immediately threw his arms around her, hugging her big head, "Hey gurl! Ye did great!".

He kept on cooing her and completely forgot the princess behind him.
She watched them, fascinated by their close bond. It just was so adorable to her.

He turned back to her and apologized for getting carried away like this, while Epona carefully nibbled on his hair and ear.

The monarch just shook her head and smiled at him, showing him that it's alright.

Zelda went over and petted Epona's nose.
The mare stopped cleaning Link's head and leaned more into Zelda's hand, feeling very happy at the moment, first seeing her owner again and now getting a lot of affection.

The princess giggled softly at the horse's closeness, "She is so endearing and smart."

"She is.", Link walked up to Epona's side, held his hand out to Zelda to help her onto the horse.

Zelda declined the offer but thanked him regardless, swiftly got into the saddle and made herself comfortable.

He watched her get onto his horse. It surprised him how she managed to get on there so quickly with that dress she's wearing.

Zelda was happily petting the mare's neck, until she felt something pressed against her back- mostly her lower back. She straightened her back and turned her head to look. It was the hero, who placed himself onto the flat saddle right behind her.

"I'm sorry, didn't mean to startle you."

"It's fine.", she assured him.

He cautiously wrapped his arms around her to grab the reins, to lead Epona back towards Castle Town.

By the gates at Castle Town, Link hopped off his horse and took her reins to lead her better through the streets, which should be easier since it had become nighttime by the time they arrived.

It felt like a weirdly, cold loss for Zelda as he got off, she felt kind of comfortable and safe when he was sitting that close to her.
He also had this calm and pleasant presence.
And his smell was something unique...a soft natural smell, yet intense at the same time.
Or maybe it just was the sweat.

It...definitely was the sweat.

She couldn't blame him though. His fights, not only against the dark Lord Ganondorf but their journey home did not really left him the time for a luxurious bath, he still did his duty and led the horse by the reins on foot.

The streets were empty except for a few stray cats and dogs, which she noticed were following them, mostly Link. He even gave them a gentle pat.
It has been very quiet anyway apart of the clatting of Epona's hooves on the city's stone.

As they neared the castle's gates Link noticed most of the guards were inspecting the castle grounds. It probably had to do something with Midna breaking the shield that surrounded the castle or even the explosion in the throne room after the twilight princess sent them out to the fields.

Two guards, one older and mature one and a much younger one heard the horse's hooves and began looking for the intruders and saw them. They ran over to stop them from going any nearer to the castle.

The younger guard raised his lance immediately to keep them on distance, "Halt! Stop right there! You've got no rights to enter this area-"

The hero interrupted him, grabbing the guard's weapon tightly, angry and worried about the princess's safety, "Oi! Cannae ye recognize yer ain princess, ye fuckin' table-".

"Enough!"

It was now the princess's turn to stop the hero. She didn't want him to hurt one of her guards, even when she found his protective behavior very appealing. And the guards were just doing their job.

And there was this dialect again, even stronger. He didn't even notice it at first, how he was speaking in the company of the princess...he really need to watch his tongue.
But the princess didn't seem upset or angry, she was smiling and standing between the guards and him. Wait, when did she get off the horse?

After noticing she was the princess, they immediately fell to their knees, apologizing for their behavior.

The rest of the guards and soldiers, that wandered and inspected the Castle grounds, noticed the ruckus and came rushing to where the others were standing- or kneeling for that matter. But they just saw both guards on in front of a man, dressed in green and a woman. They were confused at first but then realized the woman was indeed their princess!

Now they all followed suit and dropped to their knees like the first two, feeling embarrassed but relieved at the same time to see their princess again, telling her how glad they were, but the monarch made them raise again. They still made a quick bow and apologized again.

"Thank you all for your concern but I am fine. Yet before we continue with this matter, I have someone important to introduce,", she told them, then gestured towards the mysterious man, "This is Link from the Ordona province. He's the one, who, not only fought against the Twilight War with all his powers, but also ended it and he shall be treated with the same respect you all do with me and has earned himself the title of a hero. The hero of Twilight. You also shall adress him with such, unless he states otherwise himself."

They all bowed briefly again and replied with "As you wish, majesty."

Then she added while petting Epona's side, "And someone please bring his horse to the stable master and let him take care of her."

Then they all watched their princess walk off into the castle, with the hero by her side. Some returned to their posts, some followed them, wanting answers of what happened and very few stayed at the spot, three to be exact, but one grabbed the mare's reins and brought her to he stables, so now there are only the first two guards left.

"You think he actually did it?", asked the younger one and the older one just laughed and gave him a clap on his shoulder, "I've seen the fiery look in his eyes, he had seen and done some things and I'm sure the princess wouldn't lie to us like this.
Also I saw how scared you were as he threatened you!"

"Why are you like this?"

Inside the castle, Zelda felt heartbroken as she saw the portraits and armors scattered around broken, but not only the decorations but the old banners too. All burned and teared up, the walls and some parts of the floor needed repairing, almost everything did. But mostly did the throne room, but this was the least of her worries. She may have been inside the castle the whole time but most of it she had been locked up in her own bedroom, rarely got out of it. Her own home got demolished right under her nose and she couldn't do anything.

Link sensed how she was feeling at the moment and didn't want her to fall back into the sadness, "I'm sorry for everythin', but we can fix it. I will help gather people for the repair. I know some gorons who would gladly help."

She looked up at him and smiled, a bit too melancholic to him, "Thank you, but as much as I appreciate it, it feels like I would be asking too much of you. You should rest and return home. You've done too much, Hero."

He just shook his head and said, looking back into her eyes, "I will go back and check if everyone's alright, but I thought about stayin' here for a longer while and help with stuff...like your soldiers and guards. I've seen what they're capable of...or rather what they're not of."

"They're a bunch of wee cry babies and need proper trainin'.
And I'll gladly help you to get back to feet.", he finished and smiled at her.

She looked back at him wordlessly, pretty surprised by his offer. He seemed serious about it, he always seemed so serious, but his smile, his goddess damned smile was contagious, she couldn't do anything else but smile back at him.

"You're doing way too much and I can never thank you enough for it."

"You don't need to-"

He automatically stopped speaking as she placed her hand gently on his arm. She continued, "Actually I may have something to give you, if you accept that is. Making you my Champion,Knight and General of my soldiers.

If I could I would give you more. Much more. But right now it's still very hard but I'll try my best to give you anything you need."

Link didn't know what to say, being a Knight or General was just so much, but this? He could have never thought about it before. Him being a rancher, a nobody, becoming the princess's personal Champion, the title of a Knight and the rank of a General?

Zelda looked at him, waiting for for any kind of reaction, but he seemed overwhelmed.
"Of course you don't have to accept it now, or at all. As I mentioned, I would give you anything you need, Link."

That's the first time she adressed him by his name. It...sounded good coming from her mouth, but anything from her did sound amazing. If it meant hearing her say it more often, he'd gladly stayed by her side, helping her with whatever she needed help with.

"Yes, I accept. I accept and become your Champion, Knight and General, fuck- even your lapdog if needed. I will support you through everything, Princess."

She giggled at his enthusiasm and the fact that he actually sweared while talking to her directly. He easily did let the swears slip out of him when being carried away. It did fit more to him, in a natural way.
"You can call me Zelda, no need for the formalities. In fact you're one of the very few, who are allowed to, if I may add."

This is getting better with every second.

He had this smile on his face again and laughed softly. Which she thought even topped his smile, "I actually do have a request, Zelda."

There she was smiling again at him, not only because of his own smile and laugh but the way he said her name. Pronounced by him, it sounded adorable yet fierce. Not sure if it was just her swooning at his voice or his rough country dialect.

But now she was indeed curious what kind of request he had, "What is it?"

"A bath"