Six

Ganondorf aims a punch towards my stomach. It lands, and a satisfying—to the princess—"Oof!" resounds from me. Again and again the hits come, and again and again I take them, grimacing. The princess holds up her hand, cutting off Ganondorf in the downswing. Ganondorf stops, but smiles and completes his blow. I see it coming and smile a bloody smile, putting all of my malice into it as possible. Zelda holds up her hand again, catching Ganondorf's forearm in it.—

I wrench my eyes open once again, anxious to forget the dream; the memory. Gwendolyn is curled against my chest and stomach, trying to keep warm. I am up one elbow up and leaning against my arm, half into a sitting position on my side, but my legs are extended to full length. I have one arm around Gwendolyn absently. She's awake, and she glances up at me as I start to move.

"Wait." she says.

"Why?" I question her thought, but stay still.

"This is nice."

I raise one eyebrow and say nothing so Gwendolyn explains, "This; doing nothing and relaxing. I feel so at ease here, in your arms." She smiles, and I reach one hand up to stroke her hair absently.

I sigh, still playing with Gwendolyn's hair. My fingers freeze in motion, realising what I am doing, and I clear my throat. I release the lock of and lower my arm, brushing Gwendolyn's waist. She shudders and sits up, allowing me to rise to my feet.

I walk over to where a small puddle is and I wash my face and hands with the cool water. Turning back, I see that Gwendolyn has not moved from the cave's floor. Sighing, I walk back over to her, I put on my signature coal grey hat, forgetting to put on a tunic before I do so. I put my hand out for Gwendolyn to grasp, intending to help her up; but she brushes off my hand with her own, in a sweeping gesture, and stands on her own.

"Well, fine then." I scoff, only half kidding.

Gwendolyn looks up at me. "I'm sorry. It's just..." She looks away, and I immediately understand, my expression losing all of the mocking.

I touch her chin with two fingers, gently forcing her to look up at me.

My lips part, but no sound escapes. Dropping my hand from her chin, Gwendolyn's eyes don't leave mine. She puts one of her hands on my chest, and my eyebrows go up slightly. A smile plays with my lips as Gwendolyn's face comes closer to mine. But the smile falters, now knowing what she intends to do. She stands on her toes and makes her face almost the same height as mine.

I take a half step back and freeze. I know that this is Gwendolyn's choice, but I am taken aback that it is me, and also so soon after the 'Cecil incidence'. Gwendolyn's face stays the same distance, if not closer, from my own. My own breath catches in my throat as I lean down, closing the distance between us, and brushing my lips against hers.

They're soft, I would tell myself later, but now, now I am in the moment. Now all I see, or rather feel, is Gwendolyn.

She presses herself against my bare torso, and her hands go around my neck. One of my hands comes to rest at her hip, and the other in her now clean, red hair; tangling in it, playing with it.

The kiss deepens and I see my mistake, although I do not try and correct it, and Gwendolyn wraps her arms around me tighter.

Although not too tight; it seems like she is need of comfort. This is not the way to achieve it, but I do not reject her, fearing she'll get more insecure. My eyes close, long after Gwendolyn's blue ones, and her kisses become hungry. I end the kiss there, not wanting it to go farther, although I do not step away.

Gwendolyn's breathing is ragged, she looks up at me. I softly kiss the corner of her mouth, making my way up her face. I kiss her nose, her cheek, her cheekbone. The corner of her eye, her forehead, and then gently hug her, disentangling myself from her hold. As I step back, Gwendolyn says, "We shouldn't've done that shouldn't we've?"

I shake my head, unable to speak. I've kissed on Zelda's orders before, to get into someone's head, to mess with them, but I've never meant it. I've not kissed anyone because I wanted to, for pleasure, in two years. I've never felt this... awestruck, since her. It's an odd feeling, let me tell you.

Giddy, I yank off my hat and put on my normal dark grey tunic. Putting my cap back on, I start to pace the length of the cave.

Why did you do that? my voice nags. I didn't think you took advantage of innocent girls anymore. You vowed, remember?

"Shush." I say aloud.

"What? I didn't say anything." Gwendolyn sounds genuinely confused.

"Huh? Oh sorry. I'm kind of speaking to myself. Pay no mind." I shake my head, and reply to the voice, this time in my head. I didn't take advantage of her. She kissed me, moron.

Whatever makes you feel better. You still broke a vow. The voice seems to not want to leave me be, so I do not try and make it.

Sighing, I start to pace again. "No. We should not have done that. I should not've taken advantage of you like that."

Gwendolyn comes to stand in front of me, making me stop pacing. "No. I kissed you. None was your fault."

"You might think that, but I kissed you back. I should've pushed you away, stopped you." I bring my hand up to rub my chin.

"I acted on impulse. I didn't give you much of a choice." Gwendolyn shrugs. I must seem hurt a little for she adds, "No. I did act on impulse, but that doesn't mean I didn't mean it. I meant it all."

"That's not what I'm concerned about. I'm concerned about this," I gesture to Gwendolyn and then at myself, "going too far."

"I'm not; because it won't." Gwendolyn seems sure of this, but for me, there is still space for doubting.

"You don't know that." I run my hand over my face, and say, "We need to go. We've spent too much time in here already."

Gwendolyn nods, and begins to move about, gathering her belongings. I do the same, making sure my flask with the Great Fairy's water in it is still at my belt.

Why didn't it work? I ponder, referring to the water. She said to be thoughtful of how to use it. So how... Oh. I mentally kick myself for being so naïve, and take out the flask. I unscrew the top and put a drop on my finger, bringing it to my lips. Seeing that the water is sweet, I feel its magic working. I didn't take in very much so the effects are minimal. But, a small bruise I got from grappling with Gwendolyn's father, one on my wrist, disappears. Almost entirely, save for a small slightly colored spot, right at the center. Of course.

I punch the wall in my frustration and Gwendolyn comes to stand beside me. She takes my hand in both of hers and says, "Why did you do that?"

Shaking my head I say, "Because I am a stupid person."

She cocks her head to one side and asks a simple question. "Why?"

I sigh deeply and say, "You remember when you were passed out? And I had to cleanse you? Well I got the water from an enchanted spring."

"Oh... I've heard of it. But no one's ever seen her. Except a few." Gwendolyn cuts in.

I don't really mind, because she makes me wonder something. "Why only few? And only to them?"

Gwendolyn seems to not hear my questions, because she says softly, "The Great Fairy came to me once. I went for a walk after one of my father's beatings, and I came upon that pool. I thought it was so serene, so I sat by it and dipped my fingers in the water, cooling them. Before I could stand, a light overcame the water and the Fairy came to me. She beckoned me over and she said, 'Dear child, do not fret. Someone will come to you and free you of this life you have.' I wanted to say back 'Who? Who is to come? Why can you not save me?' but the Great Fairy seemed to read my mind and said, 'Quiet dear child. I cannot save those whom are fated to be saved.' I got more confused by this and more questions came to mind, but I bit them back and the Fairy kissed me, once in the forehead and once on the cheek, and she departed. Leaving me alone, by a still pool that is strangely calm."

I open my mouth to speak, but it seems that Gwendolyn is not done speaking and she says softly and mostly to herself, "I think that the Great Fairy of that fountain only comes to people who are in need of aid, not to those who go seeking it; because after that day, I went up to the pool most every chance I could, and all it would be was an uncommonly calm pool of water."

Gwendolyn's eyes look sad as she finishes, and I have a question, although I try to hold it back, "But I am in no need of aid! How is this that she came to me?"

Gwendolyn shrugs, and says, "I guess you were. But all I know is she was right about one thing." I give her a questioning look and she continues. She looks up at me and smiles. "Someone did come to save me. You did; I found a friend," she hesitates.

I nod sharply, agreeing with her, and I walk about, gathering our belongings.

Walking to the mouth of the cave, I look back to see Gwendolyn still in the same spot. "Well?" I sigh, "Are you coming or are you not?"

Gwendolyn shakes her head, coming back to reality.

"Oh! Yes." She walks by me and I hand her her belongings, along with a dress.

"What's this?" Gwendolyn holds up the light brown dress with disdain.

"A dress..." I say. A girl should know what that is.

"And.. What's-what's it for...?"

"Uhm.. You're supposed to wear it. So put it on." I say, turning around to offer her privacy.

Gwendolyn shakes her head. "No.. I am not going to wear this." She walks over to me and turns me around.

"Well, you're going to have to. We are going through dangerous territory soon, and you cannot look like a man for now. So put it on." I say, and turn around again.

"Fine." Gwendolyn grudgingly agrees. I hear her clothes rustle as she dresses in the... dress. I snicker slightly, and Gwendolyn slaps me on the shoulder. I turn around and show mock hurt.

"It's not funny. I absolutely detest dresses!" Gwendolyn balls up her fists in the fabric, her lower lip quivering.

"Oh cheer up. It is necessary." I pull Gwendolyn's face up to my own and my voice gets serious. I whisper, "You're beautiful."

Gwendolyn blushes furiously, and pulls her face away. "Let's go," she mutters.

We walk to the horses silently, but before Gwendolyn can mount, I put my possessions on her horse, Keiken. Gwendolyn stares at me over the horse, foot already in the stirrup, so I say, "No. I am not convinced that you are well enough to ride alone."

Gwendolyn opens her mouth to protest, but I hold up my hand, a gesture that states I'm not finished speaking, and say, "No and that's final. Last time you fell off. We can't keep stopping like this just because you have to recover."

"Fine." Gwendolyn removes her foot from the stirrup. "Then what are we to do?"

"What else can we do? You're riding with me; let's go."

Gwendolyn pouts, but follows me to Arai.

"Up you get." I say as I try and boost her up into the saddle. She shrugs me off and says, rather coldly,

"I will do it myself." Gwendolyn mounts.

I roll my eyes inwardly, but allow her to do it herself. I suppose she's still a little upset. I should say something to her, to confirm that I'm not just blowing her off from her saying she is my friend. I am her friend, I just have no idea what to say to her about, having had no friends before, well before, and hardly any relationships with anyone.

I mount Arai behind Gwendolyn, and spur the horse forward, rather roughly, and she whickers, throwing her head back. I soothe her, and whisper in Gwendolyn's ear, "Why be upset towards me? I have done nothing."

Gwendolyn sighs and leans back, into my chest. She whispers back, "That is precisely the point. What you didn't do."

"I just met you. What do you-"

Gwendolyn cuts me off, "Expect? Really what was I supposed to say? I JUST KISSED YOU!" Every time she says another sentence, her voice gets louder.

"Shush. Just shush. You're going to burst my ears." I close my eyes to allow my hearing to return, relying on my horse to guide us through the forest that looms before us; the Lakir Forest. I open my eyes and Gwendolyn's face is hovering anxiously above mine.

"What now?" I say aggrievingly.

Gwendolyn gestures around. "Tell me, where are you?"

I raise my head and look around. Oh dear. I'm laying on the ground, flat on my back. "How did I get here?"

"Well... You closed your eyes, and... Wait. You do not remember?" She cocks her head to the left, and it looks... Well to be perfectly honest, it's adorable.

I shake my head; no, I don't remember.

"Well, you kind of just closed your eyes, and, plop. There you were, laying on the ground." Gwendolyn reaches her left hand up and scratches the back of her head.

"But..." I trail off.

"Yes?" Gwendolyn prompts.

"I don't... remember." I say this slowly, thinking as I do.

Gwendolyn looks down at me in concern. "But are you okay? Are you hurt?" She seems anxious, antsy, in case something hit me.

"No, I think I'm fine." I let Gwendolyn help me up, thankful for the hand. "Thanks. It's been a while since I've had a friend. Actually, a long while."

"That's because they're all afraid of you." Gwendolyn hits me lightly on the arm, teasingly.

I smile ever so slightly and wobble a bit, still unstable after my 'fall'.

"Maybe we should rest here. You look pale." Gwendolyn puts her arm around my waist to keep me standing, and I am glad of the reassurance.

"No." I shake my head and walk back to Arai. "We can't. We've only just begun and we have so much ground to cover."

"And what ground is that, where are we going?" I boost Gwendolyn into the saddle, and then I mount myself, this time having her sitting behind me.

"I will tell you that when we get going." I gently kick Arai into a quick walk, and lead Keiken by the reins. "Now, hold on, and tell me if you see something or feel something going bad, or anything, really."