I don't own Legend of Zelda. If I did the games would tie in together better and there would be a few different ones added in.

Over 6,000 hits now. Wonder if I'll reach 10,000 before this is finished. I've still got a while to go before this wraps up.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Separated

Link:14 Romani:14

11 weeks left to break curse

As soon as he was done with his fight, Link heard the giant's booming voice. Tatl translated it and the message was "Find your friend soon." Link didn't need to be told that twice. The problem was how exactly did he do that. The giant was no help there. Link was nowhere near Snowhead Temple and didn't recognize his surroundings. The large domineering cloud had faded away and Link's curse mark had lost another piece. He was sure that meant that Romani had won her own battle with the other Twinbino, and he prayed she was safe.

Link figured that the best way to get back to Romani was first to check the surrounding area, then get back to the field. But because of what the giants said, he doubted that Romani was close by. Nevertheless, Link wanted to make sure. After a full day and night of searching in circles, Link concluded that Romani was nowhere near him. When he got exhausted from hiking in knee-deep snow all the time he set up camp. Tatl tried to keep his spirits up but it was tough.

"Don't be so worried. You taught her everything you know. She'll handle herself just fine." Link slightly nodded but his expression remained passive, so Tatl bopped his head. "Listen, you went out into the world with the fate of it on your shoulders, and you had barely any real training or weapons, right?" He nodded more vigorously this time. "And look what happened to you. You handled it all just fine. Better then most in fact. That girl was given all the advantages you didn't have when you were first alone. I'm completely positive she's in no harm."

Link smiled gently at his opininated fairy partner. "I agree. I guess I'm just feeling lonely. It's been so long since I've been without her it feels weird."

"Bet you're really glad now that you couldn't go home right away, huh?"

Link looked at the stars that now could be seen in the mountains. "Yeah. Sure, I was upset back then because I couldn't go home, but I gained a new one. One I'm glad I got to be a part of."

"But what about when the way back to your country opens up again? What will you do then?" Tatl asked.

Link chuckled. "Y'know, I haven't thought about that in years." He then got a serious look on his face, telling Tatl he was thinking of it now. "Well, I'm not sure what I'll do. Part of me says I should go back, but another part says Hyrule can do just fine without me for another five years."

If Link could see Tatl's face, he'd see a coy smirk there. "Sounds like you're going to let your girlfriend decide for you."

Link looked at the fairy surprised. "What do you mean by that?"

"Come on. If that redhead says she wants you to stay with her, you know you will. I know you will. You'll only go back to your first home if she makes you. And I'm betting you'd prefer it if she tagged along."

Link blushed, feeling embarrassed. Then he turned away and scoffed. "So what? Yes it would be nice if we could stay together. But what if she doesn't want that?"

Tatl hit him much harder this time. "Are you an idiot? In the past week I've been with you I could tell she loves you." The look on Link's face implied he didn't understand her. "It's a girl thing. That girl loves you, maybe even more then you love her. So why don't you two just admit it already?"

"It's not that easy."Link replied. "It's a guy thing. Besides, are you sure she feels that way? How do you know she doesn't see me as a brother?"

"Do you see her as a sister?"

Link shook his head. "No. The only ones I see as sisters are Cremia and Saria."

"Then what is Romani to you?" Tatl bluntly asked.

Link struggled to put his answers into words, and was tempted to not bother at the moment. But Tatl was a persistant one, and he'd get no rest until she was satisfied. "You're right on one thing for sure: I do love Romani."

"Then why not tell her? You're not a brother to her. She definitely wouldn't kiss you like that if she saw you that way." Tatl had caught the young pair making out a few times when they woke up or went to sleep. "Free advice, Link. The girl prefers it if the man says those three little words first."

"It's just not something I know how to handle. You know about my past. Love was never part of the Kokiri lifestyle, and I was too busy to learn how to deal with this in Hyrule." Link defended himself. He had heard bits and pieces during his travels about what couples did, but it wasn't until he moved into the ranch that he was properly taught. So he wasn't as ignorant as he'd like the fairy to believe.

Tatl saw right thru his statement. "Wow. Who'd of thought that a great hero like you would be shy?"

Link grumbled then ate and went inside his tent to sleep. The next morning he started walking to try and get to the field. Luckily the snow had thawed a little by now. Tatl knew better then to keep pestering him so she kept watch for any threats or allies. They ended up fighting a few random creatures like tekites and guays along the way.

A week later, still no sign of Romani, Link reached a familiar sight. Standing on a cliff, he saw the vast ocean at Great Bay. Under the cliff and towards his left, Link could see the Gerudo base and where they kept some of their ships. A few of the pirates could be seen working, but none of them could see Link.

"Well, at least I can get back to the field from here." Link said to himself.

"If you can get past them that is." Tatl added.

Link shot Tatl an irritated look. "You just had to jinx me, didn't you?"

"What? Think you can't?"

Link shrugged this off. "C'mon, let's get this done."