She clutched desperately to his chest, breathing in the boy's calming scent. Tears gently streaked down her cheeks, clearing a way through the ash and grime.

"Are you alright?" Zelda looked up to see Link's blue eyes gazing at her worriedly. His thumb ran lightly over her face, pausing at the tear. The princess smiled briefly.

"Yes. Just overwhelmed."

"Don't worry," Link replied, "I'll get us out of here. Hang tight."

"What?" Before the girl could react, the hero scooped her up in his arms, stepped back, and leapt forward. Zelda had enough time to let out a small yelp before the duo landed roughly on the floor beside their beds. A shower of sparks lifted into the air and the princess buried her face in Link's chest.

"Ow." The blonde girl heard the hero mutter to himself. "Okay, that sort of worked." Then he sat up and raised his voice to be heard over the roar of fire. "Princess, are you alright?"

"Y-yes," she replied sitting back. "I am fine."

"Good." Link's eyes were determined, but he hesitated before he spoke. "I-I have an idea how we can get out of here, but it includes asking you to do something... kinda crazy."

"H-how crazy?" Zelda asked. The hero smiled weakly but didn't break eye contact.

"Crazy enough to jump out a window." He jerked his head toward the window above them. The girl swallowed, unable to think of a reply. "Zelda." She turned her attention back to the boy as he took her hands. "This is the only way. Please."

"I believe you." The princess answered without hesitation and stood. "Just tell me when I need to jump." Link's eyes grew warm and nodded. He stood and grabbed the window's sides.

"Princess, you'll need to cover your head," the boy called back. Zelda obliged and turned away. Link grit his teeth and pulled. It was several seconds before the window gave way, but when it did, it was sudden and gave violently. Slivers of wood shot backward, along with pieces of glass. The princess heard the hero grunt slightly and she turned back.

"Link? Are you alright?" she asked worriedly. The boy threw what was left of the window off to the side without answering. "Link?"

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just caught a little off guard," he replied. "Now come on. We have to get out of here before this place falls apart." Zelda nodded and stepped forward, but not before noticing a dark red liquid staining Link's glove.

"Link! Your hand!" She reached for it, but the hero pulled away, shaking his head.

"I can take care of it later. We have to get out now." As if in response to his words, the whole building groaned and a large crash came from below.

"But-!"

"I swear I'm fine. Please," Link pleaded. The princess sighed and bowed her head.

"If you insist."

"Thank you." The boy turned and leaned out the window. "HEY! WE'RE UP HERE!" he shouted. Zelda stepped forward, wondering who Link was speaking to.

"Link? What are you doin' up there?" The girl heard the response at the same time she saw who was speaking. The boy saw her too. "Ah, I see. Whatcha need?"

"What is he doing here?" the princess hissed. Link frowned.

"I'm sorry, but Delvin is the fastest and safest way we can get out of here."

"The safest? Do you not remember who that boy is or what he was trying to do to me? Is there no other option aside from trusting him?" Zelda asked. The blonde hero frowned.

"There are other ways, but all end in just one person leaving alive," he replied. The princess opened her mouth to reply, but nothing came out. She dropped her gaze.

"Oh. I see. I apologize. Let us go now." Link smiled slightly and took her hand, then turned back to the window.

"Delvin, I'll need your help."

"You know, I kinda figured," the boy answered.

The blonde hero sighed. "I need you to catch Eldaz for me." The princess glanced sharply at the red-head, expecting him to make some snide comment or refuse, but instead he merely shrugged.

"Okay. No probs. Send her down when ready." Delvin paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Although you might want to hurry. There's no tellin' when those goblins'll be gettin' here." Link nodded and looked to Zelda.

"Just tell me when to jump," she murmured. The blonde hero smiled and guided her to the windowsill. The princess took her heels off and, throwing them off to the side, carefully stepped up onto the wooden sill. She leaned against the wall, clutching the boards and Link's hand. The girl looked to the ground and suddenly realized just how high up she was. The ground shrank away beneath her, appearing to be much more than two stories. Zelda's breaths abruptly became rapid and fast and her body began shaking. She placed her head against the wall and clung to Link's hand, squeezing it like it would anchor her to the building.

"Princess." The girl glanced at the hero and was shocked to see him right next to her, somehow balancing on the window without pushing her off or falling himself. "It's okay. I'm just going to lower you down as far as I can and then Delvin will catch you. Alright?"

"I-I suppose," she stammered, still shaking. Zelda felt Link's thumb stroking her hand.

"I promise you'll be safe. Do you trust me?"

"Y-yes."

"Good." Without warning, the boy grabbed her arms and pulled her to his chest. The princess felt the air rush out of her in shock and she grew even hotter than she already was. And then they were moving sideways, the fire-lit sky rushing by. Zelda briefly saw the outside wall of the inn before she fell away from Link and flipped upside down in the air. The only thing she was conscious of was the hero's hands still holding onto her own. Suddenly she was upright, held only by Link, who was hanging upside-down, his feet hooked on the windowsill. "Ready?" he called down and the girl realized he was speaking to the red-head below.

"Haven't moved!" was the answer. Without another word, the hero released Zelda. She managed to catch a glimpse of the blonde boy's apologetic face right before she crashed onto Delvin. "OOF!" the boy grunted as the princess slammed into him. "Sheesh girly! Lose a few pounds, will ya?" Normally this comment would've earned Delvin a slap from Zelda, but she was too busy trying to deciding if she was still alive or not. After a quick check, she discovered that nothing had been injured. "Are you okay? Link'd probably kill me if you weren't, so I'd appreciate it if you weren't hurt," Delvin told her.

"I-I believe I am fine."

"What about your hand?" the red-head pointed out. Zelda glanced at her hand and was shocked to see blood.

"I-it does not hurt," she murmured. Then it dawned on her. When Link had guided her to the window, she'd been holding his hand. His blood must've gotten on her. Which reminded her... "Link?" The princess stood and turned her attention back to the window, where she could see the hero. He had pulled himself back up the window and was standing inside. The boy made a few motions with his hands and then disappeared. "Where is he-?"

"He's just gonna find a different way out or somethin'. There's no way he's jumpin' out the window. He'd never make it without somethin' to lower himself down with," Delvin explained. "Now let's get ya outta here before those goblin's arrive." The boy grabbed her arm and tugged. "Come on."

"What about Link?" the princess asked. "We cannot just leave him."

"He'll be fine. He's Link," the red-head sighed as if it were the simplest thing in the world. "Now come on." He pulled again on her arm and this time Zelda allowed him to lead her away. She turned from the burning inn and began following Delvin into the nearby woods. They had only gone a few feet when a frighteningly large crash came from behind the two. The princess whirled in time to see the fire from the inn double in size. And then the building itself collapsed. Sparks, burning wood, and ash flew everywhere. The crash was deafening.

"LINK!" Zelda screamed.

I'm sorry for not updating. I've been recovering from a cold and finally have recovered (mostly). I'll try to update more.

Thank you for the reviews!

I do not own any rights to The Legend of Zelda.