Chapter 14: I Can't Lose You

Link awoke days later in a small room with stone walls. He was back in Hyrule Castle. Zelda was by his side, sitting in a chair, with her head resting on the bed sleeping. Link had looked down at his wounds to see that they were cleaned and bandaged. Link carefully got out of bed, so he wouldn't disturb Zelda's sleep and not strain his wounds.

Link noticed a chair next to the door of the room that had his tunic neatly folded on the seat. Leaning against the front of the chair was his sword and bow.

Link walked over to his tunic and picked it up.

"This isn't my tunic," he thought.

This tunic was brand new. He saw in nearby trash-can, was his old tunic, and covered in blood and with various slashes on the fabric.

His fight with Brick went over much better than with Jason. The worst Link had after fighting Brick was a sore hip for a few days. Jason left multiple wounds that could have been fatal.

Something bothered Link though. Why was it that the Gorons housed him after he liberated them, but the Zoras sent him here, to Hyrule Castle? Was it that the Zoras were so scared, that they wanted to rid their domain of him and evil? Or was it that they didn't want Evil to return with revenge, and see them housing their adversary?

Link had begun to suit back up in his clothes. This became a big ordeal, because Link was rather stiff from lying in bed for so long.

Zelda shifted a little, turning her head so that Link could see her face. Her makeup was smeared from the tears she had been crying.

Link had shifted his thoughts from the Zoras, to why Zelda was so attached to him.

"We haven't known each other that long, yet she is so attached to me," thought Link. "But I guess I'm a little attached myself. After all, I did agree to use the Master Sword as a key to open Hyrule…to save her life."

Link had finished getting dressed, but he didn't leave. He sat in the chair that his clothes were on, and watched Zelda intently. She was different now, different than she was before the transformation. Before, she was easy going, and had a naïve sense around her. Now, she seemed much more wise, and determined.

Link began to analyze himself. He too had changed. Before, he knew deep down that he was meant to be something, but didn't know what it was. He used to be pushed around, and only fought back with insults, and avoided confrontation. Now, he was much more 'hands-on' with his problems.

Link turned his attention back to Zelda. He never paid much attention to her looks before now. Her skin was smooth, as was here hair. Link thought of her as pretty, but never took the time, or had the time for that matter, to really look at her beauty. Link the realized that he felt something greater than friendship for Zelda. Link thought that his kiss with Zelda before the transformation was a, 'fear of losing another loved one' thing. But now, Link began to realize it was more than that, it was something that has been over-shadowing it in his mind by Hyrule's current crisis.

Link walked over to Zelda, and caressed her hair with his fingers. He studied her face more, before he stopped, and left the room silently.

Outside of the room, Link met the Butler from a few days ago.

"Ah, Master Link, we surely thought you were going to die," said the Butler.

"Well, I don't think we could afford that," replied Link.

"Ah, the Zoras told us of your glorious battle," commented the Butler. "They spoke of how you refused to quit, even under the immense pain you were undergoing."

"Oh, so they brought be here?" inquired Link.

"Oh yes," replied the Butler. "They said, that the only reason they didn't keep you there in Zoras Domain, was because the Evil Jason and his lot depleted most of their supply."

"Really?" asked Link. "They've proven me wrong."

"About what?" asked the Butler, stroking his chin.

"Oh, that's not important," replied Link. "Are the Zoras still here?"

"Oh yes, they are. I'll show you to them."

The Butler escorted Link outside to the Royal Garden, where they saw the Zoras relaxing in the pond.

"Ahem," the Butler cleared his throat to get the Zoras attention. "Master Link has come to speak with you. And might I ask you to please stay out of the Royal Pond? 'Tis not a swimming pool."

A rather young female zora got out of the pond and walked up to Link, her skin was a light blue highlighted dark blue like most zoras.

"Well, this is a nice surprise," commented the Young Zora. "I am the new leader of the Zoras. My name is Rachel."

"And you already know my name," replied Link, holding out his hand for a handshake.

"Yes," acknowledged Rachel, accepting the handshake. "We all saw you fight that monster back home."

"Yeah, I'm sorry I didn't kill him," said Link, looking down. "He told me what he did to your previous leader."

"Yes, he did it in front of us all," said Rachel, in a deep mono-tone. "What he did to my father."

"And I did the same to him," replied Link, looking away to avoid eye contact.

"Personally, I wished to do that to him, for personal revenge," whispered Rachel. "But my father always told me, that revenge was just a way to feel better for a short period of time. And that those of have done bad things, they'll get theirs in the end. We know that Evil is trying to take over Hyrule, and I would love nothing more than to help you prevent it…to help you give them what they deserve."

"And now you're gonna say you can't?" asked Link.

"Sadly, we can only fight in the water, such as Lake Hylia," replied Rachel. "But they won't go near the water for fear of drowning. We are no good at battle on land. I am planning to have my people live in Lake Hylia though, so we can ambush any unsuspecting moblins and dark nuts to come near the water."

"I appreciate that greatly," said Link, smiling. "It's funny, everyone thought that your race wouldn't take any initiative, and the Gorons would at least do something."

"Yes, it infuriates me that they do nothing in their hole," spat Rachel. "But we loved our King, my father. And we don't take kindly to those who kill out leaders."

"Well, I'll be sure that if they're chasing me that I'll go to Lake Hylia."

"And we'll be ready."

Link nodded.

"Seeing as how you have made a very good recovery, I shall return to Lake Hylia."

"Farewell," said Link.

"And good luck to you mighty warrior. If all of the Hylians were as fierce as you, then Evil wouldn't dare step foot on Hyrulian Soil."

At that, the Zoras took their leave for Lake Hylia.

The days had grown shorter, and hotter. Like a reverse winter. The skies were blanked out by dark, ominous clouds that forewarned a storm.

Link walked back to his room, to see if Zelda had awakened.

Link had entered his room to see that Zelda was indeed awake. She was sitting on his bed, reading a book.

"You had me worried," she said in a somewhat frightened tone. "At one point, the doctor lost you."

"Well," was all Link could get out. Link walked over to his bed and sat down next to Zelda. "Now you know how I felt that stormy night in that field."

Zelda raised an eyebrow, "Don't use that against me, I've been through enough."

"I'm just saying-" Zelda cut him off.

"I forgive you, for doing what you did that night. At first I was hard on you, but seeing you in this bed on the verge of death, I knew that I can't be mad at those who try to protect me and my people from evil."

Zelda put Link in an embrace, squeezing him out of fear of losing him. "I thought you were gonna die, then I would be the one alone. They had sent me a letter, saying they killed my father that night."

"I'm so sorry," Link couldn't think of anything else to say.

"So now, you are the only one I have left. My father is gone, your parents are gone…you're the only one I have left." Zelda began to kiss Link passionately on the lips. "Friendship can be changed by many things, and I am feeling something for you. So please, I beg of you, don't get yourself killed."

"Alright, I promise," replied Link, giving Zelda a kiss.