Nintendo created all the characters and places and stuff. I just made the story up. The cover was done by Tavoriel of DeviantART.

Chapter eleven - First Date?

Link rose early. The sun had not even awoken yet. Colin was fast asleep and his ears told him so were Rusl and Uli. He jumped out of bed and quickly got dressed, a few times having to stop because Colin would turn over; he slipped a large bag on his back, clambered out of the window and rushed off into the little clearing before the Spirit Spring. Epona was awake already, chewing on the grass around her huge hooves.

Hello, Epona. Link neighed, rearing his head back till his long ponytail smacked him in the face. As memory to Lily, he tied his hair up. She liked it that way. Link withdrew some scraps of leather from his bag and a needle and thread. He crossed his legs and began sowing, his red fingers were already sore from days of needle work but he could not wait to be finished so he could show Ilia Epona.

Is it done yet? Epona asked eagerly

Nearly. Link whined as blood ran down his finger, even with the thimble, it still hurt. By dawn, Link was finished. Epona had her first saddle. She was quite proud of it, so was he. Link climbed on her back and held tight onto her mane, he was yet to make the reigns.

Link debated with himself. He wanted to ride out into Hyrule Field, yet he could not bring himself to do so alone; the last time he went out there on his own, he was an infant being carried by his late parents; and then there was Dark, the fears of him still haunted his nights. Epona sensed his nerves. So did Rinku. He and his Golden Mare were behind him. He was holding some reigns in his hand. Link's eyes lit up. Then the question came to where Rinku had gotten them from.

"He's gone again." Uli tutted closing the door

"He's been making Epona a saddle; he was nearly done last night." Rusl spoke handing Colin a slice of toast with pumpkin butter. "Epona's gone as well so they are riding. Hopefully."

The pounding of hooves echoed nearby.

"Fa, Ma, Colin, look!" Link's voice called from outside, Colin rushed out, splattering the toast on Rusl's front

"She's beautiful." Uli whispered stroking Epona's side, she had barely seen the beast Link had come to love.

"Fa, can I please go into Hyrule Field?" Link pleaded "I want Ilia to come with me."

"Out of the question!" Rusl shouted shaking his head "To dangerous."

"But, Fa!" Link whined "I will have a sword and I'm fourteen tomorrow! Isn't this what you wanted me to train for?"

"Rusl…" Uli whispered pulling on Rusl's sleeve, Uli and Rusl turned their backs, Colin began feeding Epona some apples, so Link wouldn't hear what they were saying.

"He needs a distraction for tomorrow. We need-" Uli whispered turning to see Link staring at her, his ears were flicking around, he was trying to make out her whispers. Nothing could be hidden from those ears.

"Go see Ilia." Rusl sighed pointing away from them; "I'm sure she would be pleased to see Epona." Link sighed and walked Epona forward; he stopped her just outside Bo's door and jumped down.

Wait here, I won't be long. Link muttered flicking his ears forward slightly to show his relaxation. Epona blew through her nostrils so a small puff of air came out

Be quick, I want to run. she sighed

Link knocked on the door. He could hear the sadness lurking around the home as he opened the door; Bo was sitting in the living room making himself a summer hat. He forced a smile at Link before going back to his sewing

"Is Ilia coming out?" Link asked, glancing upstairs. Bo gave him a thoughtful glance, one that he had never seen Bo give.

"She's hardly left her room in months, Link. I'm lucky to get her out." Bo sighed, Link's ears dropped, he knew Ilia was taking Lily's death hard, he was doing a rotten job of taking care of her.

"I was hoping to take her out to Hyrule Field. Can I go and see her?" Link questioned

"Go ahead. Can I ask you something, Link?" Bo mumbled

"Um, sure. What?" Link gulped

"Do you know what was wrong with Lily before she died?" Bo asked, Link's ears raised, he could only guess.

"Something was poisoning her blood. It had been for a long time." Link whispered, Bo blinked hard. He was correct. "It sounded horrible, an arrow with a poison tip."

"Stop! That's enough!" Bo screamed putting a hand over Link's mouth "How did you work out it was a poisoned arrow?!"

"I-I don't know! It's just what I heard!" Link wailed, slightly frightened. Bo relaxed.

"She's in her room." Bo whispered after an awkward silence. Bo was unnerved by Link, his ears were a mystery to him but Lily had learnt much just by watching him. He missed her.

Link knocked on Ilia's door and poked his head into the dim lit room. The sun was trying to get inside and was shining bright against her dark curtains

"Ilia?" Link whispered; she seemed to be asleep; her eyes were tear-sodden and painful. He shook her awake; she kicked him in the stomach

"Link! Sorry!" she wailed as he went down with a thump

"It's okay." Link grimaced

"What are you doing here? I told Father not to let anyone in!" Ilia growled pulling the covers over her head

"I'm here because I came to ask you something." Link spoke "Do you want to ride to Hyrule Field with me?"

"Ride?" Ilia sniffed, Link sat down on the bed and rubbed her back, she grasped his hand

"I have a mare. She's called Epona. Look." Link said with a smile pulling her curtains back. Epona was standing by the door. Ilia wrapped her arms around Link's neck and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Link blushed

"I'll get ready and see you downstairs." Ilia squealed pushing him out of her room so he nearly fell down the stairs

"You work miracles." Bo sighed folding his arms, Link rubbed his cheeks to stop his face from blushing. He could not stop smiling. The whole world was made of clouds and sparkles now.

He had fallen down the stairs.

"Ow." Link mumbled into the floor, maybe the world was not made out of clouds and sparkles right now.

"Don't go far out." Rusl ordered as Link saddled up, Uli had packed them a picnic lunch and had stowed it in a small saddle bag on the back of the saddle. Bo fought with a tent and gave them both capes with hoods to wear in case of rain. Link had not stopped blushing all day, no matter how much he tried; he could not get the red marks on his cheeks to disappear.

Bo had suggested they have a camp out in Hyrule Field, which Rusl had protested to yet; Uli had congratulated the idea before he could argue. They needed as much time as they could get and Link's ears never let him down. He knew something was up; they were in such a big hurry to see them off.

"Be careful." Uli whispered nearly pulling Link from the saddle to give him a mother's kiss, which at his age he made a fuss of.

"Ma!" Link whined as Ilia held his sheath to keep him on the saddle

"I've managed to get your Father to give you till sun set tomorrow night. Come home then. No sooner." Uli whispered with a wink. Something was up.

Link gave Epona a light kick in the thigh and trotted off; Ilia was holding tight to his waist, her heart beating slowly and smoothly in peace. He started blushing again.

"Are you alright?" Ilia asked making him jump, his silence was normal but this silence felt odd.

"Yes, fine. Ma is planning something she doesn't want me to be a part of." Link said smiling

"You're blushing." Ilia giggled moving her hands to his shoulders and moving closer. Link said nothing but put his left hand on one of hers, he twisted his head round to face her, she was blushing too. His gaze shifted from her red face to Rinku following nearby, giving them some space but in calling distance. He had seen Link's blushing over the years as he had grown. But he could not smile and be happy for him. He was carrying a sword more and more and called him less and less, he spent less time with the pack and barely howled anymore.

He was in love.

Rinku turned the Golden Mare around to go back into the woods, only to hear Link and Ilia pitch camp.

Why so upset, Rinku? Don't tell me you have feelings for the swordsman. the Golden Mare tutted

He's my grandson; I have the right to love him. But the day I leave him draws nearer. I don't know if I can tell him. He knows I'm dead, yet, does not know my regret. Or what it will do to him when I leave. I'll have to tell him. Tonight. Rinku replied sadly

He won't understand. He won't take you seriously. His head is too far in the clouds .He longs to kiss her and she him. the Golden Mare grunted biting Rinku's leg

You're right. Let him have his love. Perhaps I should tell him when it is closer. Rinku sighed

"Rinku!" Link shouted waving a hand "Want a pumpkin roll?"

"This is nice." Ilia said stuffing a pumpkin roll into her mouth; the soft and juicy cake was beautiful. Rinku and Link were toasting goat kebabs with cheese sauce; even though Rinku never ate, it felt nice to see Link again. Ilia shuffled closer to the roaring fire and wrapped her arms around Link's right arm, his cheeks darkened.

Bright red to the colour of tomatoes.

"Get a room!" Rinku scoffed as the last of the sun's rays vanished from the sky, Link lowered his head

"Surely you've been in love before." Ilia giggled putting a hand on Rinku's knee

"Yes. When I was a little older than you. Her name was-" Rinku spoke, folding his arms

"Grandma?" Link asked, clapping his hands. Rinku and Ilia dragged their hands down their faces. "I don't need to know. I have you."

"But, Link, I can't be by your side all the time." Rinku stammered, Link gave him puppy eyes.

"But I can always count on you…right?" Link mumbled, his blush toned down

"Ye-Yeah." Rinku stuttered, Link nodded and climbed onto Epona

"I'm going to fill our water bottles, I'll be right back." Link smirked dashing off in a cloud of dust. Ilia moved closer to Rinku as he cursed himself under his breath. Link did not understand.

"You're waiting for him to come of age, aren't you?" Ilia whispered startling him

"Wha-what gave you that idea?" Rinku spoke, reaching for his collar

"You and Link are going to part ways someday and it will hurt. You're just softening the blow." Ilia spoke "He won't listen. You're his grandfather, the only real family he has. You can't just leave him!"

"It's not that simple-" Rinku whined

"Is it? You're going to hurt him and I won't allow it!" Ilia shouted pointing a flaming kebab at him

"I'm under a time limit! I can't keep like this for much longer!" Rinku hissed smacking the kebab out of his face

"Try to." Ilia growled as Link came back, he could sense the anger between them hot as fire.

"What's going on?" he questioned, the pair folded their arms and glares were thrown, leaving Link confused in the middle.