Pairing: Zelink

Title: Stupid decisions and heroically handsome cowhands

Requested by: royal crown

"Aw, c'mon now, Princess! Don't run like that!" the leader of the bandits cooed. I continued to run for my life. But these bandits were faster than I had originally anticipated. And running through a forest wasn't helping, either.

"Get away from me!" I cried. The bandits howled in glee as they sped up again. Terror flared in my heart as they slowly, but surely gained on me.

My hopes were dashed as I tripped over a vine that I hadn't spotted in time. I cursed.

"Heh, you're ours now, missie!" The leader cheered as they caught up to my fallen form and slowly surrounded me on all sides. I glared at them with all of the anger that I felt, not only at them, but also at myself. Why had I been so stupid?

"Let me go!" I cried as one of the bandits grabbed me up in his arms. He grinned at my lewdly, brown eyes clouded with lust.

"Oh, no, I ain't lettin' you go." He said seductively. I struggled in his arms all the more fervently, desperate to escape.

What did I do to deserve this? Oh yeah. I forgot.

Flashback

"Princess Zelda, please." Impa begged. "There have been lot's of bandits in that area recently…" I shrugged indifferently.

"And?"

"I think you should skip the walk, or at least take some guards…"

"I'm not two years old anymore, Impa!" I yelled. "I can take care of myself!"

"I never said you couldn't." Impa said gently. "I just want you to be safe. You are the last of the Royal House of Hyrule, after all…"

"I can take care of myself." I said again, although less loudly. She sighed.

"I just wish you would take at least one guard…"

"Don't worry, Impa." I told her, pulling out my thin yet razor-sharp sword. "I can handle a few bandits by myself…" She sighed again, conceding defeat.

"Just…be careful, my lady." I grinned at her

"Aren't I always?"

End Flashback

Why was I so stupid? So much for being the bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom.

"Let me go!" I cried again, struggling furiously against my captor's iron grip, to no avail. The bandits laughed at my distress.

"Let the girl go." An icy voice commanded. An arrow flew from the trees and imbedded itself in the tree behind the leader, mere inches from his head. "Next time, I won't miss." The challenger warned.

"Here, y-you can 'ave her!" I was thrown roughly to the ground as the bandits fled, tails tucked between their legs. I sighed in relief. A soft thud sounded to my right as the boy dropped to the ground from the branches.

"Are you okay?" He asked gently, holding out his hand. I nodded and took the hand he offered, standing up.

"Yeah." I answered. "By the way, who were those guys?"

"Just a troublesome group of bandits…" The boy replied, a faraway look in his cool blue eyes. His dirty blond hair swayed in the wind that had suddenly started, bringing a hint of rain. I shivered as a chill went up and down my spine. The sun, or what was visible of it from behind dark clouds, was already half-way below the horizon, thus making the temperature a few degrees colder.

"I can't make it home in time." I murmured to myself worriedly. The boy overheard and nodded.

"Don't worry." He whispered, wrapping an arm around my waist and causing my face to redden. "I have a place you can stay." Without another word, he dragged me through the forest against my will until we came across a small house perched in a tree. He walked in without another word, leaving me no choice but to follow him inside.

"Where are we?" I asked.

"My place." He said nonchalantly. "You hungry?"

"Yeah." I sank down on the nearby couch, surprised at its softness, and examined the room around me. It was pretty spacious, and there were a few farming tools leaning neatly against the wall in a forgotten corner. A warm fire flickered in the fireplace, giving the place a cozy feeling. Which was good, considering the sky was pouring out buckets of rain at this point.

"Here." The boy brought me a bowl of hot, steaming soup.

"Thanks." I ate it gratefully, allowing the warmth to flow through my cold and shivering body. "What kind of soup is this?"

"Ordonian pumpkin soup." He smiled pridefully as he watched me slurp it down my throat. I handed the empty bowl to him and thanked him again.

"So, what's your name?" I asked as soon as he had returned to sit by my on the couch.

"The name's Link." He answered. "Yours?"

"My name is Zelda." His eyes widened greatly, shock showing in his cool eyes.

"P-Princess Zelda…?" I snorted.

"Don't start with that." I warned. "Just call me Zelda." I smiled encouragingly at him, causing a grin of his own to stretch the corners of his mouth.

"Okay…Zelda."

"Good, you catch on fast." I praised. "And thank you for your kindness." He blushed.

"It's nothing…" Link replied. I leaned over and gently kissed his cheek. His face darkened even more.

"Well, thanks anyway." A silence fell upon the room, the only sounds being the storm and the crackling and hissing of the flames.

"You do realize I'm a cowhand, right?" He asked suddenly, eliciting a sarcastic smirk and a laugh from me.

"No, you just have spare farm tools lying around." I joked. He chuckled.

"You're pretty feisty for a princess, you know." He said.

"I hope I would know." I teased. "After all, it is me you're talking about." We joked and teased each other like we were old friends until Link noticed the growing lateness.

"Well, it's getting late." He said, standing up and stretching. He helped me up off of the couch and led me to a spare bedroom. "Here's a place to sleep. I'll take you home first thing in the morning."

"Okay." I murmured sleepily. "Maybe you should come visit me sometime." He nodded.

"Maybe I should." He murmured. "Goodnight, Zelda."

"Goodnight, Link." I yawned, slipping under the covers and falling quickly asleep.

I guess this wasn't my stupidest choice ever.

Ta-da! Here it is! Requested by royal crown, one of my faithful reviewers. Please R&R, and PM me if you have a special request pairing! Love you all! :)

-HeroofTwilightsgf