The weeks passed and every night Link and Midna would pay a visit to Death Mountain. Some nights they would sit out in the open and gaze up at the stars, other nights they would lounge in the hot spring and talk to the Gorons, and on other nights Link and Gor Coron would go against each other in the sumo ring. Of coarse, Link always had help from the iron boots. But, every now and then, the Goron elder would get a lucky break and push Link out of the ring. The wrestling matches usually went on until sunrise. However, on this particular night, the match went on far beyond sunrise and into mid-morning. It was around that time that a guard came around on his weekly inspection.

"Elders, we have trouble," a young Goron announced as he rolled into the elder's chamber.

Link turned to face the messenger, which gave Gor Coron an opening. The elder shoved Link out of the ring. While the Hylian was pushing himself up, the elder addressed the young Goron.

"What trouble?" he asked.

"One of the guards is coming this way. I think he heard the noise from the sumo match," the young man explained.

Link looked over at Midna. Her eyes were wide with fear. They widened even more when the voice of the guard sounded from just outside the chamber.

"May I enter?"

Link felt his blood run cold. He scrambled to get the iron boots off.

"Just a moment," Gor Coron called.

Link finally managed to free his legs from the heavy boots. Midna opened a portal and urged Link to go through. The hero grabbed the boots and threw them through the portal. Midna and Link jumped through the portal just as the guard walked into the chamber. The Hylian guard caught a brief glimpse of the portal as it closed.

"May we help you with something?" Darbus asked, stepping in front of the guard, blocking the man's view.

"The usual business," the man replied, suspicion rising in the back of his mind.

"We have not seen your so called 'traitor'," Gor Ebizo spoke up.

"Very well. If you do happen to see him, notify the Royal Guard immediately."

And with that said, the man walked out of the chamber. The Gorons sighed.

"That was too close," Gor Liggs put in.

"I think we should inform Queen Zelda that guards are getting suspicious," Darbus suggested.

"Tell one of our Brothers down in Kakariko to bring the message to the queen. The guards' suspicions will grow even more if we send one from Death Mountain," Gor Coron instructed.

"Perhaps one of our Zora friends would deliver it," Gor Amoto said.

"Whatever the means, we must tell Queen Zelda," Darbus answered.

"That was too close for comfort," Link announced as he hurled the iron boots into the corner of the bedroom.

"We lost track of time. Even the Gorons didn't know," Midna reassured him.

Link ran his fingers through his now jet black hair. Midna hated to admit it, but it seemed like the ventures to Death Mountain had only sped up the transformation. The Twili doctor had been monitoring the changes. The Twilight Queen was almost afraid to go ask him what was happening.

"We'll lay low for a while. Wait until things cool down," the queen suggested.

Link made a strange sound in the back of his throat. It almost sounded like he was choking.

"Link?"

Link tightened his right hand into a fist. Midna saw the soft glow radiating through the leather of the gauntlet. The top triangle shone brighter than the bottom right triangle.

"Midna, I can't take it," Link hissed. "I can't live in this place for the rest of my life."

He turned to face the woman he had come to love. Now that he was living in her palace, the thought of being separated from her made his heart ache. However, the aching of his heart turned to panic whenever the Triforce burned his hand. He had already lost his human form, now he was losing something a lot more precious. He was losing his life. The transformation was killing him.

Midna walked over to Link and wrapped her arms around his waist. She pulled herself close to his chest, hearing the steady beating of his heart. It reminded her that he was still alive, that there was still time to find a way to save him. Link embraced his Twilight Queen and held her close. There had to be a way to stop it. The evil power that flowed through his veins had grown more powerful since he had made the Twilight Realm his new home.

There has to be a way to stop him, Link thought.

There was a knock on the door and the friends broke apart.

"Come in," Midna instructed.

The door opened and a young maid walked in. She curtsied to the queen and hero before speaking.

"The doctor wants to speak with you, m'lady," the maid announced.

"Thank you. You may go," Midna dismissed.

The maid curtsied again and left. Midna sighed and turned to Link.

"Will you be okay?" she asked.

"Yeah. I have to see someone anyway," Link explained.

Midna nodded and left the room. Link followed, but went in a different direction than Midna. The queen made her way to the doctor's room. The man got to his feet and bowed when she entered.

"I have good news and bad news," he said as he straightened.

"What's the bad news?" Midna inquired.

"The bad news is..." The doctor took a deep breath before continuing. "At the rate the hero's transformation is going, he will be dead one week's time."

Midna felt like she had been punched in the stomach. She collapsed in a nearby chair and gasped for air.

"A week?" she breathed.

The doctor nodded. "But, the good news is, I have found a way to save him."

Midna's horror quickly dissolved. She looked up at the man.

"What is it?" she asked.

Midna hurried through the palace. She had to find Link and give him the news. However, he was nowhere to be found. She asked the maids and servants she passed if they had seen Link. But, they just shook their heads and continued with their chores. Midna approached her faithful Captain of the Guard.

"Zepher?"

Zepher turned and bowed to the queen. "What service may I be to you, my queen?" he asked as he straightened.

"Have you seen Link?" Midna wanted to know.

"He was in the courtyard," Zepher replied. "Actually, he wanted me to tell you that he was waiting for you there."

Midna frowned. "Did he say what he wanted me for?"

"He did not," Zepher answered.

"Alright. Thank you."

Midna headed off for the courtyard. Link was sitting on a bench, his back to anyone approaching.

"Link?"

The young man turned around and smiled. He didn't say a word, but patted the seat next to him. With suspicion rising in her chest, Midna made her way over to the bench and sat down by the Twili Hylian.

"Did you want to see me?" she asked.

"Yes. First, how was your meeting?" Link began.

"It was...informative," Midna told him.

"What was the news?"

"You have a week to live."

Link's face darkened a bit. However, his eyes still held a certain sparkle.

"But, there is a way to save you," Midna quickly added.

Link held up a hand and she fell silent.

What is he doing? Midna asked herself.

"I don't want you take this as me trying to save myself," Link started. "But, I've known for a while what must happen for these changes to stop."

He paused, seeming to search for the right words to say. Midna waited in silence. He was struggling with something, and that made her nervous and anxious. Link shifted his position, moving himself to the edge of the bench.

"I've been wanting to do this for the past four years," Link whispered, shifting again, this time completely off the bench.

Midna held her breath. Link slipped down on to one knee and looked up into Midna's sunset eyes. He reached for something in the pouch at his side.

"Midna, dear Twilight Queen."

Link held out his left hand, only it was closed around something. Midna took in a sharp breath when Link opened his hand to reveal a small box. The former hero opened the box. Tears of joy filled Midna's eyes as she looked down at a small diamond ring.

"Will you marry me?" Link asked.

Well? What do you think? Good? Bad? Should I stop here and now? Or continue?

Reviews are appreciated, but keep the flames.