Zelda touched her hand over Link's knee, and the patch of bloodied bone faded under a cover of skin again. Link slowly exhaled, having been holding his breath.

Zelda moved her hands away, inspecting his muddy legs, before choosing another place to tend to.

Link marveled at her in silence. He'd watched over a course of hours as she practiced Hylia's- her - healing abilities, starting with scratches, and finally skin. Zelda feared that his cuts and bone fractures would not heal properly though. Link reassured her otherwise.

The wound in his side was different than the cuts he'd received from crashing through the torrents of water. It was an evil wound. Plaguing him with dark thoughts and desires.

Luckily, Zelda did not seem to have a full hold on her abilities. She could only tend to his minor injuries on a whim. The moment of enlightenment had come in a situation of dire need, and would not likely be repeated. So she had not passed his knees yet, and Link would not let her see the ugly wound below his ribs. He would go to Skyloft soon…and speak with the Storm God, Levias. He would surly know how to remedy his wound. The ancient spirit had all of the realm's history memorized, and somewhere in it would be the answer he sought.

He watched as the cut above Zelda's eye closed. It took all those hours, but all on its own, it had scabbed over, then healed completely. More proof that she was celestial.

Link must have lost quite a few brain cells from his near-drowning. He decided that, because during the hours by the river, he was not silent. In fact, he had been talking so much, that he believed he'd been rambling.

But that was what Zelda needed from him. No more quick nods, or gasps to express his thoughts. If he ever wanted their relationship to move forward, he would have to start talking. He decided that was what he wanted.

And, with no prompting from his Zelda, he did.

At first, he scolded her again. And repetitively. His fear and anxiety that she would put herself in danger again was too strong not to. He begged and begged her never to do something so reckless again, but she never committed to the promise. She nodded and gave sideways answers, but never promised. And Link knew that it was his own fault. If he hadn't run off, she wouldn't have followed him.

The topics gradually changed, especially when Zelda took breaks from healing.

He confided in her what no one else knew. The events of his journey, away from the eyes of others. Away from assistance or praise. When sometimes, the only other things making a sound were monsters, crying out in the near distance. Many times he had been forced to sleep inside of a temple, and had slept in ten-minute intervals, woken by the sounds of the creatures lurking in the next rooms. He'd rested often in the fire temples, but sleep was impossible. It was too hot. There was only time for painful, sweaty breaks, before he moved on to reach the end as soon as possible.

"What took you so long in the fire temple?" Zelda asked. Link knew what she really meant. He'd seen the discarded chains.

"I'm sorry I didn't reach you in time. I only stopped to pour water over a burn, I swear." Zelda shook her head, but he stilled her face with a touch of his hand. His throat was tight, but he couldn't refrain from asking the burning question. "Did they hurt you?" She put her hand over his and closed her eyes…remembering.

She had sneaked her way past the monsters all the way to the doors of the temple, avoiding lava baths and sand slides along the way. Sometimes she wondered if it were a long-forgotten ability of hers. She was so good at blending in that it often felt as if the monsters could not see her.

She had waited until the scouts passed the doors, then hurried towards the towering entrance, thinking she could get inside before they returned. But the door was missing the opening device. She had encountered recess in doors before, but they had only ever been leading to the final room of the temple. She had tried forcing it open, but it would not budge for anything except the key. When she turned around again, a horde of bokoblins had her surrounded. She felt the sinking realization that they were going to kill her.

With her only weapon being the harp, they had easily knocked her over the head, and she could not remember much after that.

Zelda had briefly woken as they dragged her by the wrist, and realized that she had lost the harp. She woken again, from the painful constriction of iron chains around her ankles. The metal was hot, and burned against her skin.

Zelda felt Link's hand tighten over her cheek. Subtle anger. Overwhelming guilt.

She woke again, chains discarded, and no pain. She had jumped to her feet as a figure in black approached her. A slender woman, in odd clothing, offered her assistance for the rest of her journey. She disclosed her name, Impa, and promised that she was at Zelda's service.

Who sent you? Zelda had asked. Impa inclined her head, somewhat like a bow. She then offered her the golden harp.

The Goddess, Your Grace.

"As we walked to the cleansing spring, she told me that you were on your way." Zelda smiled, remembering the gush of joy that she had felt over the news. "I was so happy. But…she told me that you needed to get stronger, and the only way to do that was to leave you in the dark." Zelda moved his hand into her lap, and flipped it over in her palms. "I was so angry. I couldn't believe what she was saying to me. All I wanted to do was go home, back to Skyloft, and see you again." Link gulped. So she had felt this way for him, even before she knew she was the Goddess. "But…She said some more things, about Hylia, and felt compelled to listen to her. After I prayed there, I regained some more of my memories, and…" Zelda brushed her thumb over the top of his hand, smoothing out the wrist of his sleeve to see the golden triangles engraved onto his skin.

"Did the hero before me have the mark of the Triforce?" He asked. Zelda thought to ignore his question. What interest did he have in knowing that?

"No. The Goddesses didn't bless him. Only the Master Sword and I did."

"Goddesses?" Link echoed, confused at her reference. Skyloft only worshiped the Goddess. He'd never even heard of others. Of course, their history was one big cyclone. Even Gaepora had only believed there was a surface because of the ancient texts he read. Many of the instructors thought of it as a myth until the pillars of light appeared. So, their creation story was nonexistent. The Goddess was only ever credited with protecting Skyloft…so, since the surface did exist…who created that?

"Ah!" Zelda gasped, her hand jumping to her head. Link hovered over her, but she did not seem to be in pain. "Oh…that's a new one. A new memory." She shook her head. "I'm sorry…I don't know." Link brushed her bangs back, smearing away the remnants of blood where her cut once was.

"Don't feel bad about being kidnapped by the bokoblins." Link said. "You wouldn't be the only one." Zelda nodded instantly, but then frowned at him.

"Are you talking from experience?" She asked. He sighed, and scratched his neck. There was a dull ache in the base of his skull, probably from the position he'd been sitting in.

"When I returned to the Fire Sanctuary, the volcano had erupted. The air was unstable, and as I sailed down, I caught an updraft, and it blew me into the mountainside. The next thing I know, I'm waking up inside a cell, with a black eye and all of my items gone."

"The sword?" He nodded grimly.

"But Fi took care of herself. She somehow landed out of reach of the bokoblins, but she had to wait for me." Zelda nodded.

"I remember giving her that self-preservation data. She seemed to have followed it." Link nodded. "And then?"

"Oh…well, I dug my way out, and was able to sneak around their camp until I found all of my items." He suddenly had a new respect for Zelda's stealth. He'd rarely avoided monsters. Had the sword and shield made him too headstrong? "I hated it though…I felt really…" Zelda stilled herself, as if one false move would change Link's mind about sharing. "Bad." He said. Zelda sighed and nodded. "Weak. Useless. Vulnerable." She held her breath again. "And that's how I feel when you get hurt too, Zelda."

She flinched, both touched by his words, and offended. He'd managed to wrangle their conversation back to her earlier recklessness that had gotten them both into trouble. She tightened her hand around his, covering the Triforce mark from view, except for a glowing sliver that escaped between her fingers.

"I know. Of course I know. I feel the same way about you."

Link's legs seemed to be healed enough, and he found that the few hours of sitting did not immobilize him like the two days had before. He welcomed the tingling sensation in his feet, tapping them at the heels to spread it further.

Zelda followed him to her feet, and realized that her hand was still around his. More like, he had returned the force, so her fingers did not simply slide away when she stood. He may have not reached for her hand himself, but he was not letting it go once he had it.

He knew he could be making a mistake. So many of them. Denying Zelda from touching his wound…and then allowing himself to get closer to her still. Those violent thoughts were not his own, and he needed to rid himself of them. But not today…not now.

He couldn't ruin this moment between them. Not now. Not this time.

The sky had cleared, enough so that he didn't fear another storm for a while. They had time.

Link walked into the center of the clearing, and let go of her hand for just as long as it took him to tuck both fingers behind his lips and whistle. The sound echoed around the clearing, but didn't seem to penetrate above the trees. A dozen small birds landed at his feet instead, probably confused as to why they had been attracted to this spot.

"Can he hear you?" Zelda asked. Link wasn't sure. But he knew that it wasn't just the whistle that called his Loftwing to him. It was their bond as well, and he hoped that it could reach him beyond the clouds. He hoped his bitter desperation would carry his cry further.

The sounds of the forest returned. The excited birds, pecking at the muddy ground. A kikwi's shrill speech in the distance.

"I don't think-" A blur of red suddenly swooped overhead, tossing red plumage through the air. The bird circled, and finally descended before them- his impressive wingspan almost too wide for the small clearing. They both smiled as Link led her to his bird. His Loftwing knew the drill. He crouched low, splaying his wing against the ground as a kind of step, welcoming both Link and Zelda onto his back.

"Thank you." Link whispered to the crimson, before swinging his legs over his back. Zelda seated herself behind him, and held on ad the bird stood to his full height, gave a few experimental flaps, then took off.

They rose above the treetops in a second, then glided over them, making their way to the Sealed Grounds at a leisurely pace. He loved his crimson Loftwing. The bird was gliding smoothly, through a patch of sunlight even. He hadn't felt the rays since the rain had started, and neither had Zelda. Link moved his legs so he could turn around and face her.

"Zel?" She was already looking at him, waiting. She smiled in acknowledgement. "I want you to know, that whatever happens, I'll never feel differently about you." Zelda held her breath. How exactly did he feel? She could guess- it was written in every task he did to get closer to her during his journey, but there had always been a nagging worry that he was doing all he was to save the realm from destruction, and not just Zelda. A selfish thought, yes, but she would not deny it.

"Zelda…Hylia." He added, breaking her out of her thoughts. It had been far too long since Link had called her by her true, ancient name. And the first time he had used it as an endearment. "I want you to know that I need to take care of something, and I'll have to leave the surface for a little while." Her face paled in alarm. "No, no, just a day or so. Less. I just don't want you to worry."

Link's Loftwing was used to stopping at the Goddess Statue, but when Link ignored the spot, the crimson just rolled his wings and arced back the way they came.

"You're good enough with that bow to handle yourself." He said. "I won't be long."

"Why are you telling me this this way?" She asked. "It feels strange." He shook his head. There was no easy way to say goodbye, even if it would just be for a matter of hours.

"I need you to know how I feel." He said, struggling with his words. He swallowed multiple times before continuing. "I'm not running away from you again, I promise. But I need to do this myself." Before the impulse returned. He would not let her be there if, or when that happened.

She nodded reluctantly.

"You're not used to having help, I understand." He pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her hair.

"Oh, Zelda…I…" He should say it. "I…" He still had five seconds of Pipit's courage, didn't he? "Zelda, I-" His fingers dug into her back, so suddenly that she yelped.

"Link?" She tried to move away, but his arms were like the shackles that had once imprisoned her in the fire sanctuary. He gave a ragged exhale, and moved his hands to her shoulders, slowly pushing away. But there wasn't anywhere to go!

"No." He said aloud, his voice like a growl.

"What?" She asked, and he suddenly released her, his hands instead jumping to his head.

"No! I won't!" He shouted.

"Link!"

Kill her.

Kill her for our Master.

Link threw his head back and screamed, latching his hands onto his right side. His Loftwing felt the change, and tried to find a place to land, but it was too late. Link's back arched, and his mouth gaped in a silent cry, and he tipped over.

"Link!" Zelda's fingers caught his shirt, but her weak grip could not catch him, and he slipped off the red feathers and into the air.

The crimson bird squawked in shock, and dove after him, but they had been flying low, and Link had already disappeared into the green. The Loftwing circled the trees, until Zelda took a fistful of leather and steered him away, to the open ground. He protested her lead, but she did not need him to listen for long. She untied her sailcloth and jumped off the Loftwing. Her knees buckled when she landed, and she stumbled into a run.

She ran into the thick woods, trying to search for him where she guessed he fell. She heard a branch snap nearby, and followed the sound past a cluster of large mushrooms. She stood, and made a circle, trying to pick out some sound of his between the chirping birds and wind. She dashed forward, then retraced her steps, running with her head upturned. He'd not been wearing his green tunic at least.

There was another snap, and she located the sound above her. She saw his figure swaying above a cover of leaves, folded over one of the uppermost branches.

"Link! Are you okay?" His arms twitched, and he started coughing. The branch had caught him in the chest, winding him. Something wet splattered onto her face. With a shaking hand, she smeared it away and looked at her fingers.

The branch snapped again, revealing more of the pale wood under the bark. It was only hanging on by a sliver now. Zelda paced back and forth, looking desperately for something to help her. She would catch him if she had to, but how could she help him if she were unconscious as well?

"Oh my…kikwiiii…what's this?" A shadow loomed above her- the large kikwi elder. He stepped up behind Zelda, moving with slow, lumbering steps. "I heard all of this commotion and…" The branch broke, and Zelda rammed the kikwi, and he toppled over onto his back. Link fell the twenty some feet and landed gently on the heavy animal's belly. He bounced once then was still. The kikwi elder was silent.

"Help me!" Zelda cried. "Get him onto the ground so I can see him!" The kikwi slowly stood, and Link rolled off his belly, smearing the pale fur of his chest red.

Zelda tugged up his shirt, and recoiled from the sight. His wound was tearing open, barley held back by the few remaining stitches, oozing a grey pus. Zig-zag lines of red and grey spread all over his torso. Some formed into the shapes of diamonds.

"What happened to you?" She breathed. Link groaned, as if trying to respond. Was he conscious? "Link?" She couldn't get him to form words.

She unwrapped the sailcloth, stretching it so she could tie it around his chest. Even then, she couldn't help but notice how his chest had broadened, and the new muscles made it difficult to wind the cloth all the way around. As she tied the knot, he arched upwards, and dug his nails into the ground.

"I know, I know it hurts." She stammered, tears flooding her vision. "But we need to get help…we…" She looked around. The kikwi elder was staring at the bloodstain on his fur, and he wouldn't have been help anyways. The trees were too thick for Loftwings…but not if she could get Link back into the open.

"Can you stand?" His breaths were coming in rasps now, his hands splayed over his wound. But none the less, he bent his knees, and with Zelda's help, stood.

Each step sent stabbing pains right to his chest. His ribs aches, his lungs burned, and his wound did both. He faded in and out of consciousness, and whenever his legs went limp, Zelda had to drag him forward. He was heavier now with muscle, but his frame was still light enough so she could pull his arm over her should and walk.

She spotted Link's Loftwing pacing outside the forest, leaping back into the air, then diving back to the ground at the entrance of the woods. When he saw them approach, his tail shook, and he held himself low over the ground in a threatening pose.

"It's us!" Zelda yelled. The bird cocked its head and gave a weak whine. He did not like it when Zelda helped Link onto his back, but Zelda pulled hard on the leather strap, drawing the bird back into focus.

They rose back into the air, but each time the bird flapped, Link voiced his discomfort. He was biting into his forearm, drawing blood. They would never make it to Skyloft. Zelda's eyes found the lake instead.

The crimson Loftwing could not fly into Faron's court. The entrance was too narrow, and Loftwings did not like confined spaces. They landed on one of the steps instead, and Zelda pulled Link off his Loftwing.

"Faron! Help!" A wave of water came from the mouth of the dragon's court, and Faron rose up from out of the tide. She slid through the shallows, arching above them.

"I do not usually respond when I am yelled at, but I have made an exception for you, Your Grace." Faron's hasty entrance had soaked them, and she shook her head to clear away her wet bangs so she could see.

"Faron, help, please, Link is hurt and…" She was breathless. The dragon held up a dismissive paw, silencing Zelda, and leaned over Link. Her whiskers prodded the wound, and Link curled onto his side to avoid the touch.

"This is not fresh." She said.

"It's from his fight with Demise. And, and it keeps coming back."

"I can see that, Your Grace."

"Can-…" She had to catch her breath. "…Can you help him?" She leaned away, humming uncertainly.

"I may." She suddenly dove underwater, and Zelda followed her shape as it blended in with the ripples returning to the Court. Then she resurfaced, holding the large bathing pot. She held it against the crook of her arm, then slid her other paw under Link's body. His face contorted in pain as she lifted him off the step, and Zelda reluctantly let her hand slide from his.

Faron dropped him into the pot with a small splash.

"And to think, he did not want to fetch this back for me...This lake water has healing properties already. But, as you know, the best water is found in your temple. He does not seem in the condition to obtain it though." She added, staring into the pot thoughtfully.

"I'll get it!" She quickly offered. The dragon nodded.

"His wound is serious, Your Grace. I would make haste."

And Zelda did. Her body was exhausted, but adrenaline kept her going. She did not even hesitate at the rope bridge. She filled every bottle she could carry, which was all four, though the dragon only needed one to imbue the entire pot full of water.

When she returned, the sky was rumbling with the advent of another storm. Faron had moved Link inside the court, and out of the rain that would soon come down in sheets. The water creatures had gathered around the edges to see what all the excitement was about, but swam away when Zelda's quick footsteps echoed through the chamber.

Zelda emptied the water into the basin, still flushed from her sprint to and back from the temple.

Only Link's upper face was surfaced. Enough for him to just barley breathe. He was pale and still. Zelda feared the worst.

"This will not be enough." Faron finally said. Zelda clutched her arms, jolts of panic surging through her like electricity. "Each bottle will last for a day. So you have four."

"Four days…to do what? I can't heal him myself…if the water doesn't work, then what will?" The dragon took a moment to reflect, and crossed her legs and sat on the edge of the island.

"My brother, Lanayru, may know. He was quite ill not long ago, but after a visit from Link, the old lizard is as lively as ever. The boy did something." Zelda nodded.

"I'll go talk with him." Zelda offered.

"He lives in Lanayru Gorge." She scoffed. "Named the place after himself." Zelda nodded again.

Impa had passed the spot with her on their way to the Gate of Time, though she did not recall meeting a dragon. But she still had a memory of him, as he had been one of the three dragons to help her fight the war. Faron took a hold of one of her scales between two claws and gripped it like a pincer, before tugging it free from her body, with a tiny gush of blue blood. She handed it to Zelda.

"I see he has given you one of my old scales." Zelda glanced at the necklace too. She'd forgotten about it. "He will need a new one. Tuck this under his tunic, and he will be able to breathe like a fish for a short while." Zelda took it, and leaned over the edge of the pot. She dunked her arms into the crisp water, and gently fitted it his shirt. As she removed her hand, he coughed, causing ripple sin the still water. His eyes fluttered open, and Zelda took his hand.

"Link?" He stared at her in a daze. "You're hurt. Sick. But I'm going to get you help. You'll be fine. Just stay here until then." He didn't seem to like that. He lifted himself part way out of the basin.

"Zelda…?" His voice was no more than a rasp. "Where are you going?"

"The desert." His eyes widened in alarm.

"It's dangerous to go alone- ow!" He flinched, and accidentally dunked halfway back under water.

"Stop it." She scolded. Knowing that Link needed her help made her strong enough to tell him to stay. She was afraid, but it didn't matter at all right now. "I can use the bow better than you can, and I'm going. Faron will watch you until I get back." He stared at her, his foggy mind trying to find reasons to fight her logic. But he couldn't stop her if he tried...no matter how much he hated the idea of the water dragon keeping him there. "I'm not running away." She said firmly. "I'm coming back." Link's shoulders rocked with labored breathing.

"Be careful. Please be careful…" She smiled and kissed his hand, right in the center of the Triforce mark.

"Of course I will! Now you sleep in for as long as you like." She instructed. She started moving away, despite Link's meek attempts to keep a hold of her. He suddenly felt as if this would be the last time he would see her.

And he hadn't been able to tell her yet! His empty hand dropped back into the water, and the warmth faded from his fingertips.

He tried to stand, but the feeling in his legs was gone. She was already walking away, and sleep was already taking him. His eyes rolled back, and the dark thoughts washed over him again.

If you can't kill her…then I will.

A/N~ duh duh duuuuuhh

So, I've had so many awesome reviews! Thanks to everyone! Some of you like angsty Link, others were worried for him, i just thought that was funny. Just so you know, this is all I've written ahead of time. I have nothing after this, so it may take me more than 2 days to update. Reviews help though :D