A/N: This chapter is more of a relaxing one and then it picks up again next chapter :) Your guys' reviews are very much appreciated, I wonder if we can reach 100? ;)

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda franchise or its characters, merely this story

Heroic Assassin

Chapter 10

"I'm sorry that I stabbed you," Blondie mutters, looking at my wound with guilt. I wave her off.

"I don't blame you, in fact, I'm glad you did," I tell her truthfully, hoping she's not beating herself up too much. After we made a side trip to retrieve the stones the queen had hidden we continued running until we got to Hyrule Field. From there we called Epona and rode far to the south, back into the woods bordering Hyrule. As far as we know, no one followed us, but we kept moving until the sun had risen fully to make sure we were far enough away.

Now we're sitting next to a small stream preparing to tend to both of our wounds. Blondie insists mine is more serious, but I tell her that I'm fine and that she should worry about herself first. I'm only a little light headed anyway. Through the duration of our ride out here, she was explaining to me what happened after I was knocked out. As she continued to tell the story, the more I felt like kicking myself. Repeatedly.

I had let Ganondorf get the better of me again. And the queen was hurt in the process again. Granted I was knocked out and couldn't sustain my mental barriers when unconscious, but I'm still not pleased with myself. In the end the only thing Blondie had to worry about was me attacking her.

And it happened. Again. Similar to last time as well.

The queen stands up suddenly and reaches for Epona, or more accurately, Epona's saddle bags. She digs around in them before conjuring up a roll of bandages, a clean, white rag, and a vial of what seems like red potion.

"You never told me we had medical supplies!" I exclaim in mock anger. She raises her eyebrow at me.

"You never asked." Right. Of course. She kneels down between the stream and me, examining the knife still lodged in my side. Without saying a word, she holds the vial of red potion in front of my face. I take it from her and look at it critically.

"What's this for?" I ask as I uncork the stopper and take a small whiff of the medicine. It smells bitter. I crinkle my nose at it.

"You're going to need it for your strength. I'm going to take the knife out of your side. I recommend taking the entire potion," She explains, wetting a corner of the washcloth in the stream.

"I'm strong enough," I remark, but there's no enthusiasm behind it, so it sounds deflated.

"I never said you weren't, but you're as pale as Epona's mane and you're losing blood. Now," She pauses as I down the red potion in one swig. It tastes terrible all the way down, but already I'm feeling more rejuvenated. "Take off your shirt."

"Excuse me?" I choke out, giving her a 'are you serious' look. Apparently she was, because her expression doesn't change as she repeats herself, if not with a more demanding tone. I comply, albeit cautiously, and start to tug my top off, but it gets snagged on the dagger. Before I can untangle it myself, the queen has taken the hem and rolled it up to avoid the knife. I ignore the way her fingers leave a trail of heat as they brush against my exposed abdomen. Once my shirt is off a shiver runs down my spine due to the sudden change in temperature. The queen lets out a faint hiss and when I glance to see where she's looking her gaze is settled on my side, her eyes remorseful.

"It's in deeper than I thought," She mutters, her gaze dropping to her hands.

"I'd rather it be this than have Ganondorf in my head. Cheer up, Blondie. We got what we went to the castle for. I just happened to come back with something extra." She laughs and shakes her head.

"Only you would say that a knife in your side is a positive."

"Well, when the other outcome is being forever manipulated, then yes, a knife in my side is a plus." She smiles lightly before reverting back to her stoic expression.

"Lay down on your back and I'll get this out of you," She tells me gently. I do as she says and ease myself down, letting my arms fall to my side. I watch her movements and note to myself that she seems comfortable doing this, that she's not squeamish when it comes to blood. Before I can say this out loud though, she's spread her hand out on my abdomen. I tense at her sudden, and rather intimate, touch, but her expression doesn't change.

"Relax. I'm not feeling you up, if that's what you're thinking. I'm merely numbing this part of your body so you won't feel any pain." Her eyes refuse to meet mine and I expect her cheeks to color, but her determined expression remains constant.

"I'll take your word for it."

Blondie was telling the truth, because in no time the faint pain I was feeling before has all but gone away. I don't even feel her take her hand away. What I do feel though is a slight pressure when she grips the dagger, pulling it free from my side. She immediately has the rag in place of the knife, pressing down on the hole in my side. Her actions are fluid, graceful almost, as she securely bandages my wound, wrapping the gauze around the entire length of my abdomen. This all seems too easy.

"You're going to want to remain lying down. Sitting up is only going to irritate your side," The queen explains emotionlessly, washing the bloodied rag in the stream.

"What, you don't have any healing spells up your sleeve?" I ask humorously, trying to get a smile out of her, but it seems I've only put her in a fouler mood.

"Unfortunately, that's where my magic lessons stopped. A much bigger conflict arose and I had to abandon my magic lessons in place of Sheikah training. I never really picked up where I left off after everything was finished," She explains morosely. Her depressing attitude is beginning to affect me as well and I search in vain for another topic.

"You'd make a good nurse, Blondie," I say rather lamely, not managing to think of anything else. She keeps her eyes averted from my sprawled out form, focusing on the washcloth in her hands as she wrings it dry.

"I spent a good amount of my time in the infirmary when I was younger, watching the nurses and doctors preform minor operations. It always fascinated me: the human body and how it works. How it can mend itself over such a short period time." Now we're getting somewhere. I keep the conversation going, wanting to know more about her.

"Do you ever think about being something other than the queen?" I ask, truly wanting to hear her thoughts.

"No, I've never really thought about it, truthfully, because since the day I was born I was destined to become queen. It was drilled into my head every day and left little to my imagination. I guess I've always known that I could only be queen. I never had another alternative." She shrugs her shoulders indifferently.

"But let's say, hypothetically, that you could be anything you wanted to be—anything at all. What would you be?" She's mulls this over for only a moment, clearly not giving it much thought.

"I honestly don't know, Link. I don't know what I excel in other than leading a country and I'm not even doing a proper job with that either," She mutters under her breath. I frown and nudge her with my foot. Her eyes flash up to me for a brief second before returning to her twiddling hands again.

"Hey, we're not going down that path."

"Well, what about you then? What would you be?" She inquires. I ponder her question, realizing that I've never given it much thought either.

"I'm kind of like you in a way where all I've known is the assassin life. How to hunt and kill." I scratch my head. "That didn't come out right, but considering what I've been trained in I'd have to say I'd be a soldier or a guard." The queen looks at me form the corner of her eye, but otherwise refuses to look directly at me. Without thinking, I blurt out what's been on my mind since the moment I took off my shirt.

"I'm not naked, Blondie. You can still look at me, you know," I smirk when I receive the reaction I was looking for. Her blush reaches the tips of her ears, staining them a bright red.

"That's not why—Oh never mind," She huffs when I laugh heartily. The movement reminds me of the presence of my wound and I choke on my laughter at the pain it brings. I guess I'm not numb anymore. The queen goes to fix that, but I wave her off, figuring I can power through it. All I have to do is lie here anyway.

"Or maybe I should retire from the battlefield all together and not be anything at all. I could just wander the land in search of tasks to do. I'm open to anything," I add on once the pain has subsided. The corner of her mouth quirks up in a half smile.

"That actually fits your personality perfectly, Link," She says, her words holding a deeper meaning to them that I can't decipher.

"You think so?" She nods.

"You can never stay in one place for too long. You're always traveling, seeking adventure. It's like you were born to wander."

I smile widely, finding that her explanation fits me well. I'm in a relatively good mood and maybe it's got something to do with the red potion I took, but either way I feel upbeat. I pat the spot next to me before putting my arms behind my head as cushion support. Her aquamarine eyes are wary, but she seems to overlook her hesitation and lies down next to me, our shoulders nearly touching. It feels nice having her this close, comfortable even. Once she's settled in, I continue our conversation.

"So you know what I would be. What about you, Blondie?"

She doesn't answer right away, contemplating. I wait patiently, blowing stray strands of my hair that threaten to cover my face away.

"I think," the queen starts, pausing to look for the right words. "I think that, if I was given the choice, I would still choose to be queen. I can't see myself being anything else. It's a foreign idea to me. With being the queen of Hyrule, I'm able to help so many people, my people. It's a demanding and stressful title to take up, but by the end of every day I'm thinking ahead to the future: what can I do to improve the lives of Hyrule's people? I'm always thinking, sometimes thinking too far ahead and not focusing on the present." At this she turns her head to look at me. I meet her gaze evenly, prompting her to go on by giving her a subtle smile. "You've been a witness to that flaw of mine and you pulled me back. You keep me grounded, Link."

"I can't believe Ganondorf persuaded me that you were a tyrant. You're anything but that. If anything, he's the tyrant." She laughs lightly at my realization and turns her head to face the sky again. She sighs deeply before continuing.

"I'm proud to be who I am and I wouldn't change for all the rupees in Hyrule."

I look at her profile. Her eyes are shut in relaxation, her breathing even. Her lips are curved up in a warm smile, reveling in the stress free moment. As I continue to observe her peaceful form, I feel a growing pressure in my head. Out of habit, I throw up mental barriers left and right, concealing my mind from the intruder. The queen laughs lightly from beside me, giggling almost.

"I was only checking. Good job, by the way. You have fast reflexes," She comments, twisting on her side to face me. I should be miffed by her nearness, but I just can't find it in me to move away. We lay in comfortable silence, basking in the sun that's shining brightly above us. I can faintly hear Epona nibbling on grass somewhere beyond my line of sight and the stream's babbles seem to quiet as if taking notice of our drowsy forms. Her eyes fall shut again and it's only a matter of time when mine follow suit.

We're lying side by side in the grass, the queen and I, staring at the infinite blue sky. Our hands are interlocked, our fingers twining together. I feel at ease, like nothing could possibly ruin this moment. She laughs at something unknown to my knowledge and I turn to give her a questioning look. She merely smiles at me, her eyes sparkling. I smile back, because who wouldn't? Her smile is contagious and she just radiates positive energy.

Without really knowing what I'm doing, I lean closer until our noses are touching. She laughs again and gazes at me imploringly. I smirk before closing the distance between us, my lips meeting hers almost earnestly. Her gentle fingers come up and lightly caress my face, sending prickles of heat in their wake.

It feels wonderful.

Mesmerizing.

Right.

.

.

My eyes snap open.

That wasn't a vision or a memory. That was a dream, my dream. It was all me, no super natural phenomenon.

I twist my head to look at her. Her head is pillowed on my arm which is wrapped around her slim shoulders, holding her closer to me. Her breathing is steady, indicating that she's still asleep. Oddly enough, I don't want to pull away.

Somehow, during this crazy and messed up adventure she has wormed her way into my heart without really trying. I don't like admitting it, even if it's not out loud, but I've acquired a soft spot for the queen. But looking back, it seems that I've always looked after her. I've just been too stubborn to realize it.

She's more than just the queen. She's her own person with her own unique personality.

…She's Zelda.

I sigh, in resignation, or exasperation I'm not sure, but one thing I am certain of is that I've dug myself a hole that I can't climb out of. And I'm not positive that I want to crawl out of it.

I run my free hand through my hair, ruffling the blonde strands away from my forehead. Doing this causes the queen to stir, shifting around until she's comfortable again. She's curled up even more into my side if that's at all possible.

I'm not awake for long. Already I can feel sleep tugging at my subconscious again, coaxing me back to my dreams. I fall freely, embracing the dreams with an open mind.

The first observation I make when I wake again is the sun has just set, slowly being replaced by the waning moon. The second observation is that the queen is no longer curled up beside me. And the third observation, I now realize, should have been my first.

I feel like absolute shit.

My whole body aches with the slightest movement and I'm drenched with sweat. I shiver involuntarily, my body trembling. Lifting my head is a major effort when it shouldn't be, but I succeed in raising it just far enough to look around.

Blondie's seated next to my side, her knees curled in on herself, head bowed, and shoulders shaking ever so lightly. If I listen closely, I can make out tiny sobs coming from her folded up form. I furrow my brows. Why is she crying?

"Hey, Blondie—" I cut myself off after hearing how hoarse my voice is. I cough once, trying to clear my throat, but my mouth is so dry it doesn't help. The queen's head snaps up when I speak and her cheeks are wet with tears.

"What up with the waterworks?" I ask, my voice scratchy. She shakes her head, biting back another sob. To my surprise, I take her hand in mine and squeeze it gently, noticing that its ice cold. Or maybe that's because I'm really hot. She calms down enough to speak clearly, wiping away stray tears.

"It's your wound. It's infected, Link and I don't have medication to clean it or know any healing spells to close it shut, and I don't know what to do! I feel so helpless!" She exclaims, rambling off everything that's on her mind.

"Okay, calm down and think rationally. You're too worked up right now to think straight. Deep breaths," I advise her, watching as she follows my directions.

"I'm so sorry, Link. If I hadn't stabbed you, none of this would be happening. It's my fault that you—"

"Hey, none of that now. We already established that if you hadn't stabbed me, Ganondorf would be parading around in my head. Now, think. Where can we get medical supplies?" I prompt, throwing a starting point out for her. She rules out both the castle and Castletown, settling on Kakariko Village or Goron City. She's still flustered and not too confident in her choices though.

"We're making progress. How long will it take to get there?" I ask and she frowns.

"Too long."

We're silent, both of us mulling over other possibilities. I haven't the slightest idea where we could go in such little time, but Blondie seems to come up with something because her face brightens up. She looks at me with a hopeful smile and I can't help but smile back, sharing in her glee.

"What are you thinking, Blondie?"

"I'm thinking of a Fairy Spirit. Not only will it cure the infection, but it will heal you completely!" she stands up, bouncing on her toes in excitement. I've vaguely heard of Fairy Spirits. The red fairies are said to heal any wound a person has to a point where no scar remains. I've only heard of them as myths and never actually seen one before. I voice my concerns to Blondie, but she isn't fazed by it.

"I know one location of a Fairy Fountain and it's close by too."

"Where would that be?"

"The Lost Woods."

"And how do you plan on getting through the Lost Woods? It's enchanted so that strangers wander around in circles until they go insane," I remind her.

"I can warp us to a closer spot via the Ocarina and then from there it's only a few steps away!" She's so excited, so hopeful that I don't try to reel her in even though what she just said sounded completely foreign to me. By now I don't see any point in arguing with her. Her mind is set and I'm just going to have to trust her which, oddly enough, I do.

I don't bother putting my shirt back on, explaining to her that my skin is so hot that it will only burn it off. I'm exaggerating of course, but I still don't want it on. She helps me up to a sitting position before pulling me all the way up, taking extra care with my bandaged wound. The instant I'm standing on two feet my vision sways and I'm falling harshly onto the queen's shoulder. I squeeze my eyes shut, attempting to ward off the vertigo I'm suddenly feeling. She holds me up, bearing more than half of my weight for me. I mutter an incoherent 'thank you.'

"This probably isn't going to help with your dizziness, but hold onto me tightly." With that said she brings the Ocarina to her lips and plays a rather cheerful tune.

I'm not sure if it's my delusional fevered mind playing tricks on me or not, but when I open my eyes enough to look around I see bright green light encircling us, spinning around until I feel the ground below us vanish. We're whisked away in the soothing green light as the notes fade on the wind.