Okay, I promise I have a good reason for not posting for a while. Other than the fact that I'm lazy

One of my friends and I have stared working on another fanfic, and yes it involves Link and Zelda. Can you guess what it is?

Yeah, It's Smash Bros. I'm actually pretty proud of it so far, and should have it posted sometime soon. Sorry for the late post on this story, I kinda got a writer's block.

And to:

Hero in the shadows1: Yes, there is something more, but it shall only be told when Link's pov comes around ;)

Guest: An extremely good guess, and actually not far-off.

Generala, Libby8980, Twilight16, ones above ^, and a handful of guests: Thanks so much for your amazing reviews and support!

I rode for hours and hours, until my legs were sore and stiff, and my back ached like hell. Finally I reached the light colored bridge and my steed's hooves clipped noisily against the platform. I passed the light spring and…

wait.

I backed Cloud up and turned her into the spring, behind a green-clad figure.

Link sat cross legged near the waterline, staring up at the sky. I knew he heard my entrance, but didn't respond. I dismounted and walked over to him, yet I kept my distance. "Link?" I said. He cocked an ear toward me, but didn't turn around. "Princess." He responded curtly. After the moments of uncomfortable silence that followed, he continued. "Sorry for leaving without notifying anyone." And that was all.

I know it's stupid, but tears stung my eyes at his lack of words and lack of emotion. How could I be so strong around everyone else, but feel like a child around Link?

Finally he turned around and saw me standing there, a tear streaking my cheek and another threatening the other side of my face. I opened my mouth to talk, but he had already risen and had stepped briskly towards me. He wrapped his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest. "I know." He murmured softly. "I know."

In those two words, I knew he understood that we could never be together. That we could never truly be with each other and be without trial. I couldn't be with someone who wasn't a noble, and therefore couldn't be king.

I said a silent prayer to the gods, and apologized to my father.

"I don't care." I practically sobbed. "Nobody has to know." I pulled away and looked into his eyes. "I love you. I can still rule and love you. I can." I pleaded.

Link sighed and shook his head. "I don't want us to be a secret. Even if it worked, even if I said yes, I would still be leaving the light realm."

He was still leaving? I didn't care about anything but him in that moment, and I was willing to do anything to make him stay. "Link. Please don't leave, I-I sacrificed the promise I made to my father on his death bed for you." I was getting angry. "Why would you lead me on like that?! What the hell is wrong with you?" I spat at him and backed away. He looked at the ground. "You still want to go to your twilight princess? Fine! Go!" I was shouting then, screaming.

"Zelda." He said firmly, then stepped forward and held my head in his calloused hands, looking deeply into my eyes. I opened my mouth in protest, but no words came out. He kissed me tenderly, his hands still holding my face. Tears were streaming down my face, bleeding onto his. I buried my face in his shoulder, still sobbing and not caring. "I could never love anyone like I love you." He murmured. "But I still have responsibilities. Its like I said, yeah? When I said I didn't want to die with regrets. And no matter the circumstance between us, I will still be the hero and you the princess. I will always be below you, and I will always serve you and the kingdom."

His words stung, but I knew they were true. I brushed away the tears and tried to stop myself from quivering. "I know, but I just…

"Just… promise you'll come back to me." I choked out. He nodded and held me close to him again. "I promise."

We stayed at the spring for a while, sitting together in silence as I watched him think to himself. I wondered what was going on in his head, wondered what he could be thinking and/or deciding. I got up and went to Cloud, adjusting her harness for the trip back. I peered around her large white body at Link. He hadn't moved. I was about to ask if he was coming, but another voice filled the air.

"Link!" The female voice cried, clearly full of emotion. I saw a girl with wide eyes, standing awe-stricken at the entrance to the spring. She ran forward at an almost impossible speed and collided with my hero.

"Link! Oh my gods, we thought you were dead! Why did you never come home?" She was sobbing now, into his shoulder. "It's been almost a year now! Why did you never come back?" Link pulled away from her embrace momentarily, looking her up and down. "Ilia." He breathed. "You look much different now." Link said meekly. "Yeah," Ilia snapped. "I'm almost seventeen now." Link looked down. "I-I'm sorry. I wrote-"

"I don't care if you wrote! I wanted to see you, Link." she paused. "But anything would have been welcome. We didn't get any letters." Ilia murmured. I took a moment to assess the girl. Link had talked about her before, but she didn't really look much like the girl he described. Well, a little, but even Link said she'd changed a lot. She was lovely.

I shuffled a bit, and for the first time, the peasant girl saw me. Her tear-damp eyes widened.

"Link," She breathed. "Is that..?" Link smiled and nodded once.

"Oh! Goddesses forgive me, Princess. I was distracted. My apologies." I smiled at her and walked over. "It's alright. You must be Ilia. Link here told me much about you." Ilia blushed and smiled, then gawked as if thinking: is this real?

"Wow… Uh, sorry! I just can't believe you would actually come here… I mean, both of you!" She threw her arms around Link again and let out a squeal of pure excitement. "You should both come to dinner tonight! There'll be a huge celebration, we've waited so long for your return."

"And, of course, with the princess in your company." She added cheerfully.

We saddled our horses and were all set, beside each other. I cast a glance over at Link, who had a faraway look in his eyes and a clenched jaw. "What's wrong?" I say softly. Link looked over at the roots of a tree. "It's just… been so long."

Ilia stood by Link's horse, patting Epona's pelt. We set off slowly. "You sure you don't want to ride, Il?" He said. Ilia looked up at him. "I guess If it's okay, I'll ride."

"Just this once," She added. Link lent his hand to the girl, helping her swing up into the saddle in front of him. He held his arms in front of her as he steered the reins.

Normally, actions like this with Link and someone else made my cheeks warm with jealousy, but something told me it was more brotherly than anything, so I kept my cool. We rode through a small clearing with a tree house. "Link." I whispered. "Do you… Live here?"

He smiled and shrugged. "I did."

Ilia frowned. "We kept all of your things in place, and Uli even came in to clean sometimes. I mean, In case you want to stay for a while longer." She murmured the last part. I couldn't help but to feel sorry for Ilia.

Finally we arrived at the village, where Ilia leapt from Epona and shouted at the top of her lungs. "Link's home!"

After a few moments, a blonde woman with short-cropped hair rounded the corner of a huge tree formation to the left. She held a baby in her arms. "Link," She mouthed the word, and placed the child gently in the grass. Tears streamed down her face and she placed a hand over her mouth. The woman ran to us, stopping only before the newly dismounted hero. She threw her arms around his shoulders, sobbing silently. "I… We… didn't know what happened to you." She broke away and fiercely kissed the side of his face once. "Hi, Uli." He murmured to her softly. A boy stood by the baby now. He had matching hair like the first woman, but it was longer and a bit scraggly. Link's eyes widened. "Colin." A grin spread across his face. The boy, Colin, rushed forward. "Link!" He exclaimed.

"Hey, kid." Link said. "It's been a while. You're so tall and growny now."

Colin beamed. "I'm getting stronger, too! I've started to help Fado at the ranch!" Link's smile broadened. "Just like me," He mumbled cheerfully and rustled his hand through the boy's hair.

Link looked at me sitting upon Cloud, and his face dawned realization. He rushed to the side of my horse and held out his hand to help me down. I smiled, but I really wasn't being expectant or spoiled, I just had given him a few moments. He caught me at my waist, making me blush, and set me down on the ground gently. More villagers had arrived.

He smiled and called to them all by name, embracing many of them.

They all went to their knees to me, beginning to bow. "Thank you," I said. "but there's no need." They all smiled and murmured their welcome. "Where's Rusl?" Link inquired. The woman he called Uli shrugged. "He went to Hyrule again on business." Link looked utterly disappointed. "Well… tell him I miss him." Uli smiled at him. "He does as well." A happy light touched Link's eyes. A wide man pulled by Ilia shoved through the small crowd. I recognized him to be the Mayor, when he would present gifts to the throne and offered business. He kneels before be briefly. "Princess. What a surprise."

I smile. "I hope a pleasant one."

"Very." He shifts. "As long as he accompanies you," He added quietly. A stone dropped in my stomach as I realized what he meant. That if I came alone it would be with news, and not the kind anyone wanted to hear. I searched the gathered people for Link's immediate, but nobody really seemed to bear his features, and they were all human instead of Hylian like Link and I. "Where is your family?" I asked Link. "I'd like to meet them."

A few people's eyes grew wide with alarm. Link just chuckled and spread his arms out. "They are my family." I couldn't escape the twisting knot in my stomach.

A few children played in the grass, constantly asking Link to show off some of his learned skills. He seemed cheerful and obliged them willingly. I watched from the side, sitting on a rock near the small store. Around evening he came and sat beside me, watching the sun sink below the ridges. He leaned back on his hands, and his fingers crept over mine discreetly and hiddenly. I tried to hide my blush and smile. "Beautiful." He murmured. I blushed fiercely. "Um… yeah?"

He laughed. "I meant the sunset," He explained, and I was immediately embarrassed. He leaned over and whispered into my ear. "But I prefer you anyways." Link's warm breath sent chills down my neck. An involuntary smile snuck onto my lips. I wondered if he was this flirtatious with all of his flames.

We ate at Mayor Bo's house with a few of Link's closest companions. Bo sat at the head of the table as I insisted, and Link to his right. I sat across from him. Link laughed and joked with the young man named Fado beside him, and I held a steady conversation with Uli. The baby girl, Faibel, was really cute and was happily mawing a fruit with her gums.

"Where will they stay tonight?" Colin asked. Link thought for a moment. "Well, we could make the ride back to-"

"Link! You expect Her Majesty to ride that long at night? It isn't safe!" Ilia said. I could tell Link was having to bite his tongue, but I knew what he would say. He is perfectly capable of protecting me, and I can offer protection to myself as well. Still, sleep pulled at my eyelids all the same. "Okay." He said eventually. "We could stay in my house." After a few looks of alarm he added: "I'll be on watch outside. Not like I sleep much anymore anyways."

The blush still climbed my face.

After the meal, they bowed and wished us well. Ilia hugged Link tightly. "Promise you'll come back. Or write. Do something." Link nodded and kissed her forehead.

Link led our horses up to his house, me in front so he could watch for danger. After we arrived he led our steeds into a small carve-out of rock that served as a stable pen.

He began to climb the ladder. I climbed up after him and took his hand when he offered it. Link opened the door to go inside. "Link," I gasped. He turned sharply, hand already going for his sword. I laughed. "I thought you said you were keeping watch outside. Did you lie?" He just chuckled, relaxing. "Hey, I haven't seen this place in almost a year." I smile and enter after him.

The room is fairly small, with pastel colored rugs and walls lined with shelves and various knick-knacks. There is a fire in the hearth and seems well looked after. Link stares at the fire, and I realize that he's holding the mirror shard in his hand. For a moment I think he might throw it in, judging by the look on his face, but he snaps out of his trance and crosses the room.

I look up the two flights of ladders to my left, then begin to climb. On the top floor is a large window, intricately shaped, and a bed overlain with light-colored covers. I sat on the bed, fatigue pulling at my eyes. I heard a slight clicking noise and saw my green-clad hero appear at the top of the ladder. I smiled at him, then removed the gold inlaidings on my dress and the Hylian flag designs that hang in the front, leaving my dress bare. I see his eyes lingering and fight the blush rising to my cheeks to no avail. "Um… can you?" I turn around and gesture to the gaudy chest plate fastened in the back. This time he blushes, but steps forward to help me. The plate falls to my hands and I set it on a nightstand.

I lay on the bed, pulling the covers up around me and Link sat at the foot. I realized now how aware I was to be here with him. Staying in his house and sleeping in his bed. I pulled the covers up over my head to hide the redness of embarrassing thoughts. "What's wrong?" I hear him say, concern lacing his voice. "It's… nothing." I see him tilt his head through the sheer coverings. "Zelda."

"I thought you were staying outside." I blurted without thinking. I started to apologize, afraid I'd offended him, but he just chuckled. "Ah. Yeah, I guess I should then." He turned to leave and I relaxed the covers away from my face. Link quickly turns and kisses me, and I allow him to.

I cower a little as his arm leans against the bed. He pulls away, concern touching his eyes, then hurt registers. He cleared his throat. "Oh. Uh… Sorry." Link turns stiffly to leave, and begins his descent. "Link," I call. He looks up to me with the same pained expression and I cut off. "Just call if you need anything." And he leaves.

I feel like kicking myself. What was my problem? Now it seemed switched between us.

I tug my hair down so that it falls freely around me on the pillow. Eventually I drift to sleep.

I am falling. Falling through air and space, maybe even time itself. An unimaginable surge of joy and adrenaline courses through me. I land on something with practiced grace and turn my eyes up. I see a glimpse of Link, riding the same strange animal as I.

I'm laughing with him, then falling in terror. I am running now, desperate for something but I don't know what. I am now trapped in something gold, watching Link pound at the shell with tears in his eyes. I am waking up. I see bits and pieces of things, sometimes just sounds or smells or feelings.

I am captured now, and all I feel is fright.

It's different, I am asleep somewhere and can't wake up.

It changed again. Now I feel like I'm looking upon something thats helpless, but I can't necessarily see it. An image flashes and I see Link, or a young version of him with some different features and lighter hair.

I am different, older but the same person. I feel myself shift inside, and I realize I am the same person, but different altogether. A disguise?

I feel victory, pure and strong, and I know it's because of him.

Then I am the same person as before, but all I feel is sadness and regret, looking out the window for someone who will never come home. A young girl facing grief.

I am myself again, watching my people die before me, and a very real scream tears its way from my throat at the shocking conclusion that I will be the young girl. Helpless to save him from his emotions and death, just as I was helpless to save my own people.