Evening had fallen by the time Link and Zelda made their way to the small inn near the lower part of Rito Village. The air was cold, and Zelda was thankful for the warm clothing she wore, despite the dirt presently covering it.

The innkeeper, Cecili, shook her head when Link asked for a pair of rooms. "I'm sorry, Champion, but we only have one room remaining for the night. We had some additional family come into town for the service this afternoon, and we don't have many rooms to begin with."

"Don't trouble yourself. I'm sure that one room would be perfectly adequate," Link assured her.

Cecili handed him the key. "Princess, on behalf of our village, I want to again thank you for your kind words this afternoon. They were much appreciated. Please, allow us to cover the cost for your room this evening. It's the least we can do."

Zelda's mouth fell open. "Oh, you don't need to do that for us."

"I insist, Princess," Cecili put up her wing when Link still reached for the purse holding his rupees. "It would do us no greater honor than to provide your accommodations to you."

Zelda looked helplessly at Link, who shrugged, wincing at the slight action. "Then we thank you kindly," she said finally, dipping her head in gratitude.

"It's the door at the far end of the walkway, and the largest suite we have," Cecili supplied. "Enjoy your rest."

Zelda followed Link down the hall, noting the stiffness in his back. "Is your back still causing you pain?"

"Some," he admitted. "Bending over to cook the noontime meal aggravated it, and it hasn't really stopped since."

"And you had no opportunity for me to apply a new poultice," she finished for him, pausing behind him while he unlocked the door. "We'll do that shortly. In the meantime," she gently lifted the pack from him, ignoring his protest. "I'm supposed to be carrying this, remember?"

He sighed, knowing better than to argue with her. He stepped past her into the room and held the door wide, getting a full view at the look of wonder on her face.

The room was indeed the largest one they'd stayed in yet. If Zelda had to hazard a guess, it was likely the size of Link's entire house in Hateno. A full-wall window on the far side of the room overlooked the lake far below them and the mountains of Hebra above the far side of the lake. To their left was the washroom and she could tell already the size of it rivaled the one she had in the castle attached to her bedroom. A large closet was situated beside the washroom. To their immediate right was an enormous four-post bed, and behind it overlooking the window was a full seating area.

Link gave a low whistle. "Either this is their suite for lovers or royalty. Regardless, it's the fanciest room I can recall spending the night in."

"Even when you were appointed as a knight watching over me at the castle?" Zelda's blushing face turned to him in surprise.

"Royal quarters don't always look fancy," he reminded her. "I had a decent sized room with a comfortable bed. Long as I had somewhere to clean up and lay my head at night, I wasn't picky."

"Well, we won't have an issue with you falling off the bed while I'm reapplying that poultice you need," Zelda chuckled awkwardly, and dug through the bag for the items she would need.

Link took that moment to close and lock the door behind them. "I'll stretch out on one of the benches when we head to bed. They're lined with furs already so it shouldn't be too uncomfortable when sleeping on my stomach."

Zelda made a sound akin to an acknowledgement, preparing the herbs that would go over his back. "Do we have any idea where we might be heading next?" she asked breaking the silence that had fallen.

"Not at the moment," Link replied. "Fi told me that she would be telling us tomorrow where we're needed. Before we head there though, we need to pick up the flame-resistant outfit Claree was preparing. I have a feeling we're going to need it soon."

"You mentioned there's a dye shop in Hateno? If we're so close, may we make a stop and dye my warm clothing, please? As much as I appreciate it, I don't think white garb is the best for me while we are on this venture." She gestured to her dirt and grime marked clothing.

Link gave a soft chuckle. "No, I don't think so. I doubt Claree was thinking about cleanliness when she chose that color for you."

Zelda made a face and straightened, the poultice ready. "I think you'll be more comfortable if you remove your boots as well as your tunic for this."

The knight left his boots by the door, with Zelda's following several moments later. She busied herself peering in the washroom while he removed his tunic. Her breath caught when she saw the huge, sunken tub large enough to fit several Rito. Or a couple on their honeymoon. She pushed away thoughts of intimate moments shared in such a setting, her cheeks flaming.

"Zelda?" Link called from across the room. "I'm ready when you are."

She startled, bumping the door of the washroom hard with her shoulder as she whirled. "Oww," she mumbled, crossing back to where he was waiting.

"Did you hurt yourself?" he asked, concerned.

"Just clumsy is all." She brushed it off, hoping he wouldn't notice her rosy cheeks.

He noticed, but decided not to embarrass her further. "Just be careful. We don't need both of us to be seriously injured."

"I will be."

Silence fell again while Zelda tended to the healing scar. Much of the redness had gone down, and his range of motion was nearly back to normal, much to her relief. The redness came back to her cheeks after she remembered how he'd said he wanted to kiss her earlier that afternoon. While she'd protested, there was no denying that she'd entertained that very thought before.

"You're more quiet than usual," Link commented, again succeeding in startling her into letting out a soft yelp. "What are you thinking about?"
She panted softly, her heart racing. "Did you mean what you said earlier?" she blurted out the question before she had time to second guess herself.

"I try to mean everything I say. What specifically?" he asked, peeking at her over her shoulder.

Not for the first time since she had Link cut it did Zelda wish she could hide her red face behind her hair. She opened her mouth, closed it, and looked away.

Link sat up and turned to face her, letting her squirm rather than guessing to take the pressure off of her. "Zelda…"

"... about how you wanted to kiss me." the words were whispered softly, barely audible even with Link's keen hearing.

A warm finger slid under her chin and turned her face towards his. "Why would I lie about something like that?" The temptation to cover her lips with his own was strong, yet he held himself back. They had no reason to rush things, even though his mind screamed that time was fleeting.

Her eyes fought to look anywhere else yet still ended up meeting his intent gaze. "... I don't know…" she said weakly.

He scooted closer toward her, blue eyes locked with hers. "There's many things I want to share with you. A kiss. Someday, a bed, and our future, if you'll have me."

She inhaled sharply, and he pressed a finger across her lips. "That's not a proposal, yet. But if you'll have me… someday it will be."

She nodded quickly, not trusting herself to speak with the butterflies in her stomach.

"It's my turn for a question." Link sat back, crossing his legs under him. "Have you given any thought into what my role will be once you're Queen?"

Zelda sat for a moment, pondering it. "Not really, no. Why do you ask?"

"Because there are several possibilities, the way I see it," he explained. "If we're married, then I will be… whatever they call the husband of the queen that has no power or authority. If we aren't at that place, then I'd be your knight and bodyguard, much like I am now. Or anything you see fit."

"But we're equals… I've never seen you as merely a knight," Zelda protested.

"Princess, how you see me doesn't change the way things are, or how everyone else perceives it," Link argued. "Even when you're crowned, it will be you making the decisions that will guide Hyrule into the future."

"I know," she said slowly. "That doesn't mean I don't want your support and encouragement."

"You'll have that. You already do," Link pointed out. "You did wonderfully facing the wolves, and the way you carried yourself at the service… your father would be proud."

She pulled up her knees and hugged her arms around them. "In that moment with Amali, I felt like I'd found my purpose. Like I knew what it would mean to be the queen. All day today, all I could think about from the time we arrived this morning, through those frightening moments with Turin and the wolves, and then at the service was how much I wanted to do everything I could for the Rito. And for you."

"It showed. Still does."

A small smile crossed Zelda's face at the compliment.

"If you had your way, what would the future look like, after we finish the tasks that Fi is leading us through?" Link asked gently.

Zelda scooted closer to him and rested her head on his bare chest before she could second guess herself. "I know the large coronation ceremony cannot be avoided. Impa and Paya are going to organize that. But I don't relish being the center of attention for crowds unless it's unavoidable. The solitude during that hundred years established that within me."

Link gave a mirthless chuckle. "I understand completely."

Her next sentence came out as a whisper. "I want a small ceremony when we get married, before I take the throne. I want to be able to spend some time like this before the worries of overseeing everything at the castle take over again."

Link's fingers found hers and he intertwined her left hand in his. "Anything you want, my princess."

Zelda's face warmed against him. His voice had a huskiness to it when he spoke that sent a shiver down her spine. "How much more does Fi have for us?"

"I can't say. But once the major things are out of the way, we'll take some time before the coronation," Link promised. One question still nagged at the back of his mind, but he didn't feel like bringing it up just then. It had waited for awhile and would continue to do so without issue. Another opportunity to discuss it would arise.

To say that Claree was thrilled to show off the flame-resistant armor for the Princess the following morning would be a gross understatement. The Sheikah woman was nearly beside herself, gushing about how the pants would fit, and the lengths she went to for the tunic-style upper body piece. The only part of it that Zelda blanched at was the less-than attractive full helmet that hid all of her face except her eyes.

"Are we certain the helmet is really necessary?" she tried to ask for the third time. The question was ignored by the seamstress who was carrying on about the boots that wouldn't melt.

"Trust me, you're going to want it," Link muttered under his breath. "It'll keep your hair from being singed."

"Thank you," she whispered back with a slight huff.

"... but tell me, Princess, how was the warm clothing that I made for you? Was it warm enough? Have you had the clothes you've needed so far? Oh, you must tell me about your adventures when you have the time. Whooo! It must have been wonderful!" Claree's mouth was running as fast as it possibly could.

"It's been adequate, thank you. What do we owe you for the new flame clothing?" Zelda said politely, silently hoping that the conversation would be over soon.

The seamstress went off again, talking about it being a 'labor of love' and the number of attempts it took to get the stitching right. Zelda dropped her head into her hand and sighed, turning away completely. Not that the woman even noticed.

"I'll be outside," Zelda breathed in Link's ear before slipping out the door. The cool, quiet air of Kakariko greeted her and she heaved a sigh of relief as she walked down the stairs.

"Claree get to you?" Pikango asked with a soothing smile. His eyes met hers briefly before he returned to his easel.

"Is it that obvious?" she chuckled lightly.

"She has that effect on people. On ALL people. Not just you," he assured her.

"What are you… oh, that's lovely!" She exclaimed, catching sight of the painting he was creating. The hills that Kakariko was nestled in were depicted in stunning shades of green, with Mt. Lanayru in the background.

"Few things I've found as lovely as nature," the artist commented. "How is your visit, aside from Claree talking your ear off?"

"It's brief this time," Zelda said wistfully. "We're picking up the outfit I'll need for visiting Goron City, then spending the afternoon in Hateno before heading to Death Mountain tomorrow."

The old artist hummed in acknowledgement. "Quite the traveling pair. But Link has been as long as I've had the pleasure of knowing him. I gave him some information that helped him find some of the locations on that slate of his. It helped him get his memories back. These old bones of mine can rest knowing I had a small part to play in the fight to free you from Ganon's grip."

Zelda bit her tongue to keep from correcting him, giving a gentle smile instead. "Thank you. Truly." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "It's appreciated more than you'll know."

Link took the stairs from Claree's shop two at a time, jogging over to where Zelda waited with their bags. "Goddess above, that woman can talk," he grumbled.

"Good thing I tucked the clothes into the bag before I slipped out. Did you settle the price with her?" Zelda asked, a bemused expression on her face.

"Yes. Finally." Irritation still plagued his voice.

"Perhaps you should look at Pikango's painting to improve your mood before we go to Kakariko," Zelda suggested.

Link glanced at the painting, then gave it a longer look. "You keep getting better with each painting."

The artist grinned at the compliment. "Your praise is appreciated, but I'm not finished yet. I've got some detail work that needs to be completed before it's finished."

"If you'll allow it, Pikango, I should very much like it if you'd consider painting several landscapes to be hung in the castle," Zelda said suddenly. "Pictures like this will remind me of the beauty outside the stone walls on the days when duty forces me inside."

The white-haired man took her hand in his and pressed his lips against the back of it. "Princess, I would be honored. Just tell me what you wish to see, and how much time I have, and it's yours."

"Kakariko, Hateno, and Lurelin would be my recommendation," Link mused aloud.

Zelda nodded. "If it's not too much trouble for you."

"It will take some time, but consider it done," the artist vowed.

The princess smiled graciously. "Thank you, Pikango. I look forward to seeing the finished works."

"It might be better for you to plan on staying here until the castle is cleared of monsters," Link pointed out. "We'll be coming back here when that task is completed anyway."

"That would be wise," Zelda agreed.

The artist gave a slight nod. "I'm too old to consider facing off against bokoblins. You can count on me for the paintings, Princess."

The Champion turned to her. "Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, I am," she answered.

"Be safe in your travels," Pikango waved at them.

Zelda followed her knight on the path that led down the mountain. "Are we walking the whole way?"

"No, it would take the entire day to do so, and we want to make sure we get there in enough time to dye your outfit. I just felt it was rude to pull out the Sheikah Slate and travel to the shrine in Hateno when you were talking to Pikango," Link explained, pulling the slate off his hip.

"What will we need for the dye shop, besides the outfit that I'm changing the color on?" Zelda asked, slipping her arm easily through his in preparation for the runes transferring them to Hateno.

"Depends on the color you want," he responded, selecting the shrine above the village. "We'll go over that when we get there."

She nodded, feeling the now-familiar sensation of being moved to the travel gate of the shrine. Link stiffened against her but didn't make any sounds otherwise as their feet solidified under them once more.

"How was that for you?" Zelda inquired.

"Not bad. If some stiffness is all I have to deal with, then I'm fortunate."

"I'm glad to hear that." Relief was evident in her voice as she faced him. "Are we going to the house first?"
"Yes. That way we can gather the materials you'll need to dye the outfit. Have you chosen a color?"

"I think a soft shade of blue would be rather lovely." Zelda's hand slipped into his once the Sheikah Slate was tucked away. "What do you think?"

"Blue is a good color on you," was his only comment as he lead them across the bridge to his home..

"Have you done a lot of dying for your clothes?"

"Some. Enough to get an idea of what items you'll need for what colors." Link waved at Bolson and opened the door of the house, allowing her to enter first. "You said you wanted light blue for your cold weather outfit?"

"I think so," she asserted. "Unless we are missing the materials needed for that shade."

"No, I've got them. Why don't you change into the outfit now, and we'll walk over," Link encouraged.

"Change into it? Why would I need to do that?" Zelda asked in confusion.

"Just part of the dyeing process." Link did his best to hide his amusement.

She shot him a suspicious look but still took the outfit into the washroom and closed the door.

The knight allowed himself a soft chuckle as he dug through the bag, gathering a few materials and tucking them into a smaller pouch. The dye shop was always entertaining, once you got an understanding of how it worked. But he wasn't about to warn Zelda about it. It would be far more fun to watch her face. He tucked an extra dress in the bag as well, under the materials, just in case.

"Now that I'm far too warmly dressed for a sunny afternoon, can we go to the shop?" she asked, coming out bundled like she was for Hebra.

Bolson raised an eyebrow at the pair as they left the house, but didn't stop them. Zelda folded her arms under her chest, feeling self-conscious about the way she was dressed. Fortunately, the Kochi Dye Shop was one of the first buildings when they entered the heart of the town.

"Myyyy! You've brought me another customer, hmmm?" Sayge, the shopkeeper turned when Link and Zelda walked through the door. "Come to dye, have you? I think it's a little warm for you to be dressed like that in Hateno," he teased.

Zelda blushed. "Yes, I'd like to dye it a light blue, please," she confirmed.

"You got the rupees and the materials?" Sayge asked, grinning from ear to ear.

Link handed him a red rupee and pulled out the small bag he'd brought. "Here, Zelda. You'll hold these and then stand up there." He gestured to the second floor overlooking the main part of the shop.

She made a face when she touched the gelatinous masses of blue chuchu jelly and the pair of silent mushrooms. "Delightful," she mumbled under breath, striding up the stairs and taking her place on the platform. "So, what happens now?"

Link gave a wolfish grin. "Now the dyeing begins."

Zelda opened her mouth to ask what he meant, but the floor opened beneath her, cutting off the question with a high-pitched scream. Her body hit warm water, and she exhaled, popping her head up for air, sputtering at the unexpected bath. A puff of something she could only describe as dust of some sort blew in her face, sending her into a coughing fit. As her awareness returned to her, she heard an unfamiliar, yet somehow recognizable sound. Link had his head thrown back in laughter, clutching his stomach.

"You! *cough* You knew this would happen!" she accused him, snatching the towel that Sayge offered her to wring the water out of her short hair. She stepped out of the tub, seething and dripping.

"Would you have done it if I had told you what would happen first?" Link chortled.

"No, and for good reason! Surely there must be other methods available without such a… an undignified dunking!" Zelda stomped her feet, feeling water squelching between her toes in the soaked snow boots. Disgust covered her face and she scowled at her knight.

"I brought a new dress for you to wear, and we'll hang that outfit on the line when we get back to the house," Link offered, finally containing his laughter.

Anger still flashed in the princess's eyes when she took the garment and locked herself into the washroom to change.

Sayge turned to Link, shaking his head slightly. "You're gonna be in the doghouse with her for awhile, champ."

The blond shrugged. "She won't stay mad for long. I'm sure of that."

"Hope you're right. Glad I'm not in your shoes though," Sayge chuckled, earning a dark look from his wife who was busy mopping up the floor.

"I don't suppose you brought sandals or any kind of footwear for me," Zelda asked as she stepped out, gingerly holding the light blue clothing.

"I'm afraid not. But it's not that cold for the short distance we have to walk. I can offer you my boots if you'd like." Chagrined, Link sheepishly smiled at her. "Let me take the wet clothes."

She dumped them into his arms, throwing her boots on top and left the building without a backwards glance.

Link thanked Sayge and jogged to catch up with her. "Zelda. Zelda, I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what? That you made me angry or that you didn't warn me that I was going to have a bath, and not the most pleasant kind," she snapped at him.

He winced. "I… deserved that. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. I should have told you before we went how the process worked."

"It's a little late for that now," Zelda sniffed. "Tell me that my skin won't be blue for the next week."

"It won't. The dye works on cloth and washes out of anything else." He tried to assure her.

"Good. You're drawing me a bath when we get inside." She shivered from her wet hair and bare legs in the afternoon breeze.

"Of course. Will you want to practice cooking tonight?" Link asked hesitantly.

"Perhaps. I'll have to think about it," she said coolly.

Link fell quiet again, trailing a few paces behind her. She stormed into the house, slamming the door behind her. The knight took a few minutes to hang up the clothes on the line, earning a sympathetic look from Bolson and Karson.

"What did you say to make her so angry?" Karson asked, stopping him before he could go inside.

"Oh, I took her to the dye shop without telling her how it worked first," Link admitted sheepishly.

"And this is why I never understand women," Bolson lilted in his high voice. "Give me a good construction job, a fine tasting ale, and I'll be content."

Link politely nodded and let himself inside the house. Zelda sat on the stairs, looking irritable.

"I know I messed up. How can I make it up to you?" He knelt on the step below her.

Red stained her cheeks. "Do you know how embarrassing that was?" she murmured.

"I screamed like a little girl the first time too," Link admitted, red covering his own face. "I'm sorry again I didn't tell you."

She sighed. "I forgive you. I do want a bath here now."

"I'll draw one for you. And when we go to the Goron region tomorrow like Fi instructed, I'll make sure we stop at the hot springs before we leave."

"I have nothing suitable for that," she protested.

"I got something appropriate before I left Claree's shop." Link shook his head. "I was planning on it for Lurelin at some point but this works."

She threw her arms around his neck, pressing her lips to his ear. "You take such good care of me."

"I still failed today," he argued, ignoring the shiver that ran down his spine from her warm breath on his ear.

"That doesn't matter."

"It does to me. Let me make it up to you, please." He reluctantly pulled out of the hug. "Starting with your bath."

Zelda fought the urge to sigh in the absence of his warmth, choosing instead to watch him go around the corner to begin heating the water for her bath. Her temper had cooled, and she understood that he was trying to have a bit of fun. In hindsight, it was rather funny to think about how the shop clerk dyed clothes, with people still inside them. A question came to mind, and she spoke aloud. "Hey Fi? I know you said Goron City is tomorrow, but what purpose do we have there?"

The blue-faced spirit floated in front of the stairs. "An Igneo Talus has taken residence on the main road in and out of Goron City, reducing tourism and creating havoc for those around the Southern Mine."

Zelda absorbed this information, thinking for a moment before asking another question. "What's the weakness for an Igneo Talus? Is it the same as a standard Talus, with that rare ore on its back?"

"You are correct, Princess. Due to the super-heated nature of the monster, climbing it and mounting it by normal means are out of the question. It is weak to ice arrows, and ice weaponry," Fi confirmed.

"But Link can't fire a bow yet…" Zelda mused aloud. "I can hit it with the ice arrows, and allow him to attack it once it's cooled enough to climb."

"Are you two strategizing without me?" Link stood at the base of the stairs, with his arms folded across his chest. "I thought we'd save that until tomorrow."

"The princess required additional information regarding this mission," Fi stated. "Her wisdom will aid you in this battle."

"I have no doubt of that. But Zelda, love, your bath is ready," he gently prompted. "It won't stay hot forever."

She stood and gracefully walked down the steps. "Thank you," she murmured, pressing a kiss gently across his cheek.

He almost stopped her then to ask a question, but thought better of it, allowing her to slip past him into the washroom. The door closed with a soft click, and he rubbed his hand over his face, busying himself by cleaning and repacking their large pack.

"The emotions the princess feels toward you have not changed over this afternoon," Fi commented. "My calculations have determined she has a 97.86% chance of accepting a proposal of marriage from you."

He sat perfectly still, his eyes drifting to the floating spirit. "What factors would prevent her from saying yes?"

"Fear and guilt are the only logical conclusions I have reached, Master. It serves no purpose, however, she feels undeserving."

He processed this, nodding slowly. He peered at the closed door, then back at Fi. "Can she hear what we're saying?"

"The princess is bathing and humming to herself. She hears nothing beyond the sound of her voice presently."

Link's ears turned red as he fought to keep himself from dwelling on that tantalizing thought. Chaste though he was, it was enough to stir feelings in him that he knew weren't right to act upon yet. "Right. Well… umm," he stammered, sitting back on his heels.

The question he'd had died as his mind struggled to find focus, failing completely until Fi prompted him again. "Master?"

"Right. Sorry. Ummm, what is there after Goron City?" he scrambled for the first question he could come up with.

"Ridding the castle of monsters will be the next priority. Those in the Faron region have no issues to speak of, nor those in Korok Forest," Fi responded, seemingly unaffected by his flustered state.

"Oh, that was my other question," Link said slowly, gathering his thoughts about all the areas he was familiar with. "Is Kapson still overseeing the inn and the religious needs for the people of Tarrey Town?"

"The Zora known as Kapson remains in Tarrey Town," Fi confirmed for him.

"Thank you, Fi. That will be all." He turned back to his bag, no longer focusing on the task at hand. The nagging thoughts and fragmented memories in his mind were back, warring with his plans for the future. He'd need to have that discussion with her sooner than later. But as with this whole adventure, the only thing he could do was take things one step at a time. And their next step? Braving the fiery heat of Death Mountain.