Oh great.

I'm lost.

Well that's just wonderful.

I slumped against the cold, stone floors. Cold…. Just like the princess' tone when she kicked me to the cobblestone-curb.

I know she wouldn't just do that….

…. Would she?

I sighed heavily. Not even a day of being blind, and I'm already helpless. Come on, Link, get up! Heroes don't just give up like this!

…But I'm not a hero.

I glance down with my blank, unseeing eyes, closing them lightly. Heroes don't cry, Link! Compose yourself!

I clutched my shoulders and bit back a crackling sob.

Suddenly, two strong arms had their grip around me. I thrashed wildly, trying to escape their clutch, when I heard a familiar voice ring out.

"Link, calm down! It's just me, Dark!"

I paused briefly before struggling even more. I didn't have a clue in the slightest in why I trusted him previously, but although my life's been pretty well stolen, I still have my rationality.

I could almost hear the frown in his voice as he spoke in a mildly hurt tone. "Link, what's wrong?"

I pulled and yanked at his arms, trying desperately to make the other man release me, but he had a hold on me that was stronger than a Goron. I sighed quietly and gave up on my protesting kicks and flails, knowing that he wasn't gonna let go any time soon.

"There." His smooth-as-velvet voice brought slight relief to the scorching emotions that burned a hole through my heart.

And then he did something I wouldn't expect him to at such a moment.

"YAH! DA-ARK! PUT ME DOWN THIS INSTANT!" I shouted at him, furiously. I could feel my cheeks growing redder by the second. He, in response, chuckled quietly.

"Oh come on, Link. You and I both know that you're never gonna get out of this labyrinth of a castle unless I escort you."

I huffed quietly, knowing that in the back of my mind, he was right. Although I wasn't willing to accept it as so.

But then again, I wasn't very good with maps, let alone finding myself out of this castle even with my sight. So how in Farore's name was I supposed to escape this place if I was blind?

Ugh, that word makes me feel so weak. To know that you're missing something that even the smallest child has…

"…It's like you're just another damsel in distress." I uttered, not aware that I had spoken.

Dark's steady breathing had altered slightly, I could tell he was suddenly deep in thought to what I had said.

"….I know." He responded quietly. I furrowed my brow. "How would YOU know?" I asked, clearly annoyed that he was just trying to find a way to make me feel better…. Or was he?

"…I just do, alright?" He muttered in an almost angry tone.

And so I let the subject drop as he walked outside, a frigid blast of wind assaulting my already unstable self. I shivered.

"Cold?" He asked blankly. I nodded, now realizing that my hat was left behind somewhere. He laughed quietly as I covered my head, small drops of water soaking into my hair. How I detested that feeling, little drops of water slowly seeping through my strands of hair. Made my head itchy, you see.

He set me down on the ground, and I wanted so desperately to run from him, but something told me that I should advise against such option. I felt his hand brush against mine, and I instinctively grabbed it as he pulled me onto his horse.

And with a small jolt, he set off, pausing briefly every so often. I couldn't help but wonder where we were going, but I'd feel like such an idiot to ask, I—

"We're going to Lake Hylia, if that's what that little brain of yours is trying to figure out.' He responded, his obvious amusement eating at my eardrums. I glared at the direction of the voice.

"Are you calling me stupid?"

"Why yes, how long did it take you to figure THAT out?" He asked. Oooh, I could almost see his smirk as he spoke, he makes me so…MAD!

"Wipe that grin off your face," I muttered.

"Aw, how'd you know I was smiling? What are you, psychic?" He asked playfully.

I rolled my eyes. "Why yes. Think of something, right now, and I'll tell you what you're thinking."

He paused for a long time before responding. "Okay, ready."

I furrowed my brow in a faked concentrated manner, rubbing my temples. "…I see…You are thinking that I'm not actually psychic."

He fake-gasped. "My my, very impressive."

"Yes, I'm a wonder child, why don't ya know."

I smiled slightly. I'm glad Dark stayed behind for me…. Wait,

"Why were you even in the castle? I thought you said—"

Dark snorted, "I've seen you trying to find your way out before, Link. I didn't expect any less if you couldn't see."

I frowned. "So, how long have you been stalking me?"

Dark chuckled. "Since you were born." He answered in an almost joking tone. I rolled my eyes.

His horse's galloping slowed down to a trot, and he stopped the horse soon after. He, once again, brushed his hand against my own, and brought them up to my waist, hoisting me down from the stallion he was previously riding. Then, I found myself flying forward, and landed with a jolt on his chest, from what I could feel.

"Oh, nice job, hero." I rolled my eyes and smirked.

"…Well exuuuuuuuuuuse me, princess, you're the one who needs to drop a few pounds."

I fake-gasped. "ARE YOU CALLING ME FAT?!"

"I speak no lies, my good friend."

Friend.

Did he just call me….

"Friend?" I asked, cocking an eyebrow.

He pushed me off of him gently. "Yeah, I kinda thought…."

I frowned. I could have protested to this, but I was terribly tired, so in response, I merely yawned.

A few seconds later, Dark yawned as well. "Those are contagious, you know." He muttered obnoxiously.

"I know." I said, fake yawning.

He stood up, pulling me up with him and walking me down the plush grass of Lake Hylia's surrounding landmass that connected to Hyrule. I heard a door open, and I paused briefly.

"Ladies first." Dark stated, still finding humor in my reactions. I smirked, pushing him through the door.

"Exactly."

"Lame." He responded back as I walked into the house, warm air replacing the slight numb in my body with a glowing feeling. He grabbed my hand, pulled me around for a few seconds, and paused. He grabbed my other hand, and with his palms on the tops of my own, he moved them to what felt like a set of rungs. A ladder.

I grabbed onto the bars and clambered up the ladder cautiously, sitting on the floor as soon as I felt it against my palms. He climbed up soon after and lifted me from the ground. He walked me around, and pushed me down onto something soft. "Sleep, fool." He stated. I heard some rustling, and he placed something worn and soft in my hands.

"I assume I don't need to help you with changing."

I rolled my eyes. "Of course." I yanked off my slightly mud-caked tunic, along with my undershirt and breeches, replacing them with the trousers and what seemed to be a T-shirt. I sighed in relief, glad to be out of the outfit I had been wearing for days.

"Thanks so much, Dark…" I murmured, smiling sleepily.

"Eh, no problem." He walked over to something, and walked back to the other side of the…bed….

Wait…. I'm sharing a bed…. With a guy who I just met?!

Dark must've noticed how uncomfortable I was.

"I'm sorry if you have to share a bed with me, kid, but I don't have anything else."

I yawned quietly and snuggled under the blankets. "Eh, it doesn't matter." I murmured sleepily, closing my eyes and resting my head on a pillow. "Night, Dark."

And I'm assuming that since I was half-asleep, I had imagined his response.

"Night, cutie."