Zelda was certain she would never grow weary of exploring Hyrule with her beloved knight. Nearly two weeks had passed since the couple had been secretly married in Tarrey Town, and their honeymoon had flown by. Link passively made the suggestion that they could venture through a region Zelda had mentioned wanting to see but hadn't made a priority since the Calamity's defeat. Needing only their food and camping supplies made it an easy choice to continue their adventures a bit longer.
She paused and slipped her fingers through her short hair, using a ribbon to tie it off her neck. Link had recommended that she wear lightweight garments while they were in the Faron region, and she was thankful that he had. From the moment they crossed the bridge over Lake Floria, the humidity had increased with no signs of abating. The loose, white cropped blouse she had purchased while in Lurelin Village served her well, keeping her torso from being overly soaked in sweat. Her pale purple short skirt stuck against her thighs but it was manageable.
Link turned when he sensed she wasn't behind him, and he grinned as he saw her tying back her hair. "Warm enough for you?" he teased.
"Quite so. But if I focus on the foliage and beauty surrounding me, I don't think about it, and it's not bad at all." Zelda explained. She pulled her waterskin off her hip and took a slow sip of the cool liquid.
"According to the map, we're in the Sarjon Woods. Once we cross the Floria River, it won't be too much farther until we come across the Zonai Ruins. We'll head north into the Damel Forest. If our luck holds, we'll reach the Spring of Courage by nightfall." Link lowered the Sheikah Slate and wiped his brow off. He'd chosen the short climbing pants, and a lightweight old beige shirt that Zelda made a mental note to add into the rag bag when they made it back to Hateno.
"May I see the map?" Zelda tucked her waterskin away before accepting the slate Link handed her. "What about those? They are Bokoblin encampments, are they not?"
"Mmm, good catch, Princess. Yes, they are. But there's only two, and it shouldn't take much time for me to eliminate the monsters that remain." Link brushed a kiss against her cheek. "It won't be much of a delay."
"I certainly hope not. But delays are better than risking potential injury or worse. There's a fine line between courage and recklessness," she reminded him. "You have more to worry about than simply your own safety."
He sighed, shaking his head slightly. "You say that like I could forget."
"Consider it a lingering concern that hasn't yet eased despite the knowledge you're not going to leave me again." She handed the slate back to him.
Warm arms wrapped around her bare midriff. "Take a deep breath, Princess. Things will go smoothly. You'll see," he whispered in her ear.
She exhaled, a rosy blush rising to her cheeks. "Thank you, Link. We should be moving on."
"Of course." Reluctantly, he pulled away from the embrace, and waited for her to take the lead on the path.
The couple only paused briefly on the bridge over the Floria River to admire the waterfall before continuing on through the dense forest. Zelda found herself relaxing, even enjoying the warm, swampy feel of the tropical air. The lack of people on the path was refreshing, a vast change from the busyness closer to Central Hyrule, or even the path to Hateno Village. Zelda slipped her hand into Link's, earning a soft hum of contentment from him. Public shows of affection were still new for the couple, but she found herself enjoying the ability to thread her fingers through his, or brush a kiss against his cheek. Words weren't always needed between the couple, yet another thing she loved about their relationship.
They rounded a curve in the path, and Link stopped them, silently gesturing to the towering Bokoblin encampment nestled between two mossy, stone statues three times the height of the Hylians. "They'll have scouts watching as we get close," he explained in a low voice.
Zelda nodded, pulling her bow off her shoulder and nocking an arrow. "Can you see the monsters yet?"
Link crept forward a step, his keen gaze sweeping over the wooden structure. Pointing with two fingers, he gestured to three Bokoblins on different portions of the platforms. He stepped back and whispered in her ear. "If you can take out those three, I'll handle the rest."
Zelda's response was to take aim with her bow, landing a perfect headshot on the closest Bokoblin sentry, killing it instantly. Her hand reached back to her quiver, smoothly drawing another arrow.
Link couldn't stop the grin that spread across his face. "Goddess, I love when you do that," he murmured, kissing her cheek after she eliminated the second sentry with a single arrow.
"Shouldn't you be sneaking up on the others instead of flirting with me?" she teased, a light smile on her lips.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Oh, don't worry, princess. I'm not going to let you have all the fun."
"Then perhaps you better hurry. I might choose to follow and see if I can assist with the other monsters."
In a flash, the Master Sword was in his hand, and he was at the base of the encampment, stealthily climbing the wooden spiral staircase. Zelda watched for a moment before taking her third shot. Her practice had paid off, and the Bokoblin fell off the platform to the mossy ground below, dead on impact.
Above her, an outraged squeal from a Bokoblin that caught sight of Link was abruptly cut off by the sound of a blade cleaving through flesh. Ignoring the mild nausea the sound induced, Zelda ran up the stairs of the platform. Surprisingly, the main platform was empty, save for the corpses of dead monsters and a wooden treasure chest. A second staircase led to a smaller, upper platform, and she could hear Link's grunt as he fought with an enemy, a Moblin judging by the heavy footfalls and snuffled breathing.
She tucked her bow over her shoulder and crouched to open the chest to find a bundle of ten arrows. A smile crossed her face and she tucked them into her quiver, replacing the arrows used to take out the Bokoblins.
"Find anything good?" Link asked, appearing behind the chest.
Zelda flinched and let out a yelp of surprise, falling hard onto her backside. "How are your footfalls so silent?" she demanded, a flush covering her cheeks.
"Practice." He flashed a cheeky grin. "What treasure did you uncover?"
"Ten arrows."
"Good. Can't have you running out of arrows." He took out a scrap of cloth and cleaned the Master Sword's blade before sliding it back in the sheath. "I got a Sapphire from the chest on the top platform."
Zelda took the hand he offered to help her back to her feet. "Are there more encampments close by?"
"There's one more to the left of Harker Lake, before we reach the Damel Forest. The Sheikah Slate doesn't show any others. However, I do recall there being several Lizalfos and a Moblin closer to the Spring of Courage." Link pulled up the Slate to verify, handing her the map.
"Were the two statues below the entrance to the Zonai Ruins?" Zelda inquired.
"Yes."
"Very well. I wish to use the camera rune to collect images of the ruins. Perhaps there are inscriptions in the ancient Zonai language. If we could find some manuscripts relating to them, we might be able to learn more about them." She followed him down the stairs. "It's a pity they've been gone for so long. A hundred years ago, we had reports of Hylians refusing to venture off the path here due to claims that the woods were haunted. Yet when we traveled to the Spring of Courage, we found no evidence suggesting that to be the case."
"A lot can change in a hundred years," Link commented.
Zelda was quiet, thoughtfully pondering over what they knew. It didn't take long for her to snap images of the mossy statues. She handed the Slate back to Link. "Pity the Sheikah Slate doesn't show the quantity of enemies concentrated in a given area."
"I've thought the same thing," Link agreed. "I even asked Purah. But the Sheikah technology can't actually track the location of enemies. It can only mark the areas where they are usually found."
"Even still, I cannot imagine how much more difficult it must be to traverse certain areas of Hyrule without the luxury of knowing when you might encounter bokoblins or worse," she mused. She allowed Link to take the lead along the makeshift path. It wasn't difficult to imagine that centuries ago, a dirt or perhaps even stone path had woven through the forest, now overgrown and teeming with life.
He stopped them again, pointing up. The second encampment wasn't merely Bokoblins, but Lizalfos as well. A solitary tower stood apart from the rest, and she could just make out the head of a monster at the very top.
"I'm going to scale the tower, and take out the Lizalfos that's acting as sentry. From there, I'll use the paraglider and land on the top platform of their camp. Take out the ones you can see without having to venture too close."
Zelda pulled him over for a brief kiss. "Be careful," she warned. "No falling off the tower."
He gave a lopsided grin. "Of course not. The Princess has given her command, and as her appointed Knight, I dare not disobey."
"How about you do it because your wife asked you to?" she gently corrected.
"That too." He kissed her more tenderly. "Anything for my beautiful wife."
"Go and eliminate the monsters!" she advised, pushing him away with a laugh, her cheeks rosy.
"As you wish." The smoldering look he gave her sent a shiver down her spine. She knew as well as he did that anything she wished for, he'd do his best to fulfill.
Zelda marveled at his silent footfalls and almost graceful movements as he climbed the tower's ladder. She caught herself staring and flushed deeper, pulling her bow off her shoulder and creeping forward. Now was not the time to ogle her handsome blond husband.
It took only a moment to spot the Lizalfos on the varied levels of the wooden encampment, most armed with bows. Archers. Wonderful, she thought to herself. Archers made killing the monsters more challenging and dangerous, but not impossible.
She took a deep, calming breath, then exhaled, sending her first arrow into a Lizalfos on the middle level. It downed her target, but also alerted the two remaining monsters on the level to her presence. The Lizalfos raised his bow, while the Bokoblin raised a horn to its lips, alerting all in the area that she was there.
Zelda dodged the shock arrow sent her way and took out the monstrous archer a moment later. The Bokoblin sentry was next. A gust of wind overhead stole her attention. She grinned as she saw Link land on the top of the encampment, the Master Sword in his hand the instant his shoes touched the wood.
Electricity surged through her veins and she cried out involuntarily. Her muscles convulsed and the bow fell beside her while her knees hit the grass.
"Zelda!" Link saw her fall out of his peripheral vision. He let out a feral cry, rage blurring his vision. The offending Lizalfos was dead in an instant, followed by the remaining pair of Bokoblins. He leapt off the middle level of the wooden platform, absorbing the impact in his knees and rolling to slow the momentum before darting to his shaking princess.
"Don't fret over me," she growled, struggling to sit up. "It's my own fault. I allowed myself to look away, and thus I was open to attack."
"How bad is the wound?" Link asked, grabbing her bow off the grass.
"Mild." She gestured to the bloodied spot right below her right knee. "His aim was poor, ergo the arrow did less damage than intended."
Link used his waterskin to pour a bit of liquid over the wound, lightly washing away the blood. "It's shallow and shouldn't take long to heal." He paused and chuckled below his breath. His fingers worked quickly, tearing off the bottom section of his old shirt and wrapping it around the gash to protect it from the elements.
"What's amusing you?" Zelda inquired, cocking her head slightly.
"Something I remembered overhearing in an inn before I came to rescue you. The men talking referred to marriage as 'taking an arrow to the knee'. Now who would've thought the Princess would take it literally?"
She stared at him blankly. "Why would marriage be like taking an arrow to the knee?"
Link blanched, thought about it for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't know! I never understood it. I'm only repeating what I heard."
"Interesting. Will you hand me my notebook? I'll add it to my list of things to research when we return to the castle and assess the literature that remains intact enough to study from."
"Allow me," he instructed, not missing how much her hands still shook. He swiftly took down the notes then tucked the book back into her small bag. "At least the blood didn't stain your sandals."
"That is a blessing," she agreed. "Thank you, Link."
"Anything for you." He helped her to her feet, watching carefully as she began walking. "Are you in pain?"
"Minimal. It feels more stiff than usual however it won't do more than slow my ability to run, should the need arise." Zelda paused and took a long drink from her waterskin. "Every muscle in my body aches from the convulsions, however."
Link winced, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly. "I've felt that before, several times. Came too close to tasting lightning when I didn't have the rubber armor too. I don't recommend it. Do you need a break?"
She shook her head. "No. I'd prefer to finish our walk to the Spring of Courage where we can set up camp."
"You sure the tales said the princess carries solely wisdom? Because I'm sure you're courageous too," Link remarked in awe, earning a slight blush from his bride. He leaned over and kissed her deeply. A slight sad noise escaped her throat as he broke the embrace, earning a chuckle from him. "Much as I would love to take you right here and now, Princess, you just said you didn't want a break."
Zelda sputtered, her cheeks flaming. "I... well, I didn't… I mean…"
He threw his head back laughing, something she'd only witnessed a number of times she could count on one hand. "Goddess above, you're fun to tease." His blue eyes danced with mischief. "What does my princess request we do given this new predicament?"
Zelda wanted nothing more than to wipe the smirk off his face. He knew as well as she did how that kind of kiss affected her. Yet she had stated she didn't want a break, knowing they still had a ways to walk before they came to the Spring of Courage, and she wasn't about to go back on her word. She let out a soft growl of frustration in the back of her throat before pushing past him to follow the river deeper into the forest.
"Princess, wait. I didn't mean to upset you." Link caught up to her in a few short paces. "I was teasing, nothing more." He grabbed her hand, spinning her to face him. "What's wrong?"
Zelda acted on impulse and yanked him close to show him just how his previous caress had aroused her. Her lips muffled his surprised cry as she pressed her overheating body against him. Neither pulled away until they were gasping for breath. "Does that answer your question?" she panted.
"Now, or when we've set up camp with a proper bedroll?" His eyes were closed, his forehead pressed against hers as he attempted to slow his breathing.
"Please don't keep me waiting, Link." Her quiet request had the desired effect. It took him no time at all for him to set aside their carried belongings and move them to a grassy knoll at the base of a large tree. Lust was strong for the newlyweds, and they swiftly lost track of time, paying little to no heed to their surroundings in their pursuit of carnal bliss in their lover's arms.
Zelda grimaced as she examined the grass stains on the back of her skirt. "I suppose it was inevitable. I don't believe I have a single outfit brought with me that has remained unstained in one form or another."
Link shot her a smoldering look that she felt down to the tip of her toes, pulling his pants back on. "We can replace anything you need, Princess."
"That won't be necessary. Thanks to the Sheikah Slate, we have the capability of returning to the house at any time. It's simply an observation, nothing more." She leaned over and kissed his cheek. "I have all that I need right here with you."
He smiled, silently pulling on his shoes and gathering up their belongings once more. He was patient as she rewrapped her sandals around her feet, offering her a hand to stand.
"Hear the water sounds?" Link waited for her to nod. "That's the Dracozu River. If we follow it north, it'll take us to the lake. The spring isn't far beyond."
Zelda attempted to look at the sky. The canopy of trees made it difficult to determine the sun's location. "Will we be able to reach the spring prior to nightfall given the break we took?"
"Before it's completely dark, yes." He handed her back the bow and quiver. "Remind me to show you where I found an unusual garment near the spring once we arrive."
"An unusual garment you found near the Spring of Courage?" Zelda asked in perplexment.
"Yes." He volunteered no further information, allowing her to ponder what he could possibly be referencing while they continued their walk. The stiffness from Zelda's bandaged knee did little to slow her. Aside from it being jostled in the attempt to swiftly remove clothing earlier, she took no notice of it unless she actively thought about it.
The river snaked through the forest, carving an easy trail for the couple to follow. Zelda breathed easier, the tension she'd unwittingly been carrying now gone with no signs of returning. Such was one of the benefits she'd noticed thanks to being newly married. Link was more relaxed too. She caught him humming below his breath when he thought she wasn't listening. No longer was there hesitation in the way he approached her or touched her. Her cheeks burned at the memories of his sensual touch. Those strong fingers wrapping through her hair, sliding over her smooth skin...
"Daydreaming about me again, Princess?" Link teased, catching sight of her flushed face beside him.
Zelda stumbled, being easily caught by her blond husband. "N-nn, what of it? And stop looking so smugly at me!"
He grinned. "You didn't deny it."
"Well…" she refused to look at him, feigning great interest in the moss on the trees they passed. "Oh, look! There's mushrooms here, Link! Shall we gather some to have with dinner?"
He stifled a snicker, following her lead. "What type of mushrooms are they?"
"Stamella mushrooms." Zelda crouched to gather them in her skirt. "These are larger than I recall them being before the Calamity."
"They grow more when they're off the main paths," Link commented. "The best ones I found were in Korok Forest."
The princess straightened, holding out the hem of her skirt to keep the mushrooms from falling. "Do you have space to store them?"
"Mmm. The Slate allows me easy access to a large storage system." Link tucked them away. "We can make mushroom skewers for our dinner."
"They have stamina-increasing capabilities, correct?"
A slight smirk crossed his face. "You won't complain about that, will you?"
"Link!" Zelda's blush returned in full force.
His expression changed and he raised a hand to quiet her down. She cocked her head, listening for the sound that caught his attention. The click of a Lizalfos close by drifted through the trees again, earning a soft sigh from Zelda. There was rarely a break from the monsters.
"Stay here," Link instructed in a low voice. He drew the Master Sword nearly silently and slipped into the woods, his feet barely making a sound.
Zelda followed a few paces behind, drawing her bow off her shoulder. The occasions where they encountered a single monster were more rare than the Blood Moons. Better to be prepared than caught off guard.
The trees gave way to a large clearing surrounding the Dracozu Lake. A handful of wooden platforms were erected near the edges of the water. Lizalfos sentries sat atop each, their beady eyes watching for prey to approach the lake for a drink. Zelda counted a total of five scattered around the clearing.
Link paused, silently signaling Zelda to take the left side of the lake. He crouched and snuck to the right until he reached the closest platform. The rungs of the ladder were worn and weak, but if he was careful, he should be able to climb it without difficulty.
The telltale sounds of an arrow sinking into flesh gave him the opportunity he needed, and he leapt up the ladder, swiftly killing the Lizalfos on the platform with a single slice of his blade. He glanced over to where Zelda had been. Unsurprisingly, she had moved on, hiding in a cluster of trees further north. Her second arrow flew at her next target, dropping it as quickly as the first.
He pulled up the Sheikah Slate, throwing one of the round bombs at the next closest platform. The Lizalfos had only a second to acknowledge the projectile coming towards it before the bomb exploded, leaving what remained of the body toppling off the platform. Four down. One to go.
Zelda locked eyes with him, silently daring him to race for the final Lizalfos. Link's eyes narrowed and he leapt off the platform, landing easily on the balls of his feet. She was fast with her bow, but it still took her a few seconds to nock an arrow… enough time for him to get within bomb range of the final Lizalfos.
The arrow and bomb flew at the same moment, striking the oblivious monster with an explosion. Link whooped and splashed across the edge of the shallow lake to where Zelda stood.
"I believe that monster was mine," she said smoothly, sliding her bow across her back.
"Mmm, think again, Princess. It was a tie." Link brushed the strands of hair that had fallen from her ribbon away from her face. "You've got deadly aim."
"I had instruction from one of the most naturally gifted knights ever to serve in Hyrule Castle." She leaned in and let him tenderly kiss her.
It was his turn to flush, embarrassed by the compliment. He rubbed the back of his neck as he pulled away. "I don't know if I'd say that, but thank you, Princess."
She nodded, her eyes drawn to the stone carvings on the canyon walls. "Were these here the last time we came to the spring?"
"Yes." Link followed her as she stepped closer to examine them. "It's a continuation of the Zonai Ruins."
Zelda ran her fingers over the rough edges of the stone. "These symbols appear to repeat. Look! Here they are again. Perhaps it is some form of ancient language? The same curved, teardrop shape recurs in nearly every segment of the wall."
Wordlessly, Link handed her the Sheikah Slate with the Camera Rune prepared. Zelda took picture after picture, softly exclaiming about the similarities and differences in the runic carvings adorning the walls and fragmented pillars surrounding the lake.
The sun was dropping low in the sky as the couple approached the large stone statues that heralded their arrival at the Spring of Courage. Zelda couldn't stop the shiver that ran down her spine as she recalled the last time she had set foot in this spring. Offering prayers at each of the springs in turn, pleading with the Goddess Hylia for the power to seal away Ganon to awaken.
Link gently tugged at her wrist, bringing her back to the present. "Wait here. There's a Black Moblin that took up residence in front of the Goddess statue. I killed it once, but Ganon used the power of the blood moon and brought it back."
"Please be careful, Link," she instructed out of habit.
"Mmm." He nodded his assent, pressed a soft kiss onto her forehead. He turned to walk away, then paused, pulling up the Sheikah Slate.
"What is it?" Zelda asked, perplexed by his hesitation
"Black Moblins are especially strong. I'm going to change to the armor set that gives me more freedom to move and attack better," he explained.
"Which armor is that? I don't believe you've shown me before." Zelda watched as he pulled the clothing from the Sheikah storage. She still didn't understand how it allowed him to store so much, but she wasn't about to quibble over it.
He didn't answer, too busy pulling off the tattered shirt and climbing shorts he'd been wearing and dumping it aside into a pile. Zelda bit back the question that rose to her lips when he pulled off the snug blue underwear he wore as well, leaving him in nothing but the soft-soled climbing shoes he wore for travel. A dark brown loincloth swiftly covered his nakedness, while a pair of green hide patches protected his hips. He tightened the belt across his waist, fastened the Sheikah Slate holder in place, and went for the next piece, grabbing what looked for all the world like nothing more than sheepskin and hide.
Zelda gnawed nervously on the edge of a fingernail as she watched him pull the vest over his chest, securing it with a carved bone ring clasp over the center of his sternum. Fur-trimmed hide wrist gauntlets were pulled into place and tightened with leather laces. The last item he picked up was some sort of crimson headdress, and he turned away as he put it on over his head, allowing her to see the ornate braiding that covered his blond hair.
When he faced her again, she subconsciously took a step back. A white skull of some sort protruded over his forehead, with horns curving down towards his cheekbones. Though his face remained unchanged, there was something more wild about him. A primal fierceness she'd never encountered from her beloved.
"Link? Where did you get this?" she whispered, approaching him slowly.
"In the labyrinths. I've done two of them so far. I put off the last one because of its location, in North Hebra." He let her touch her the hide armor, shivering when her fingers brushed against bare skin, his face softening. "I don't have ingredients with me for the war paint I wear with it."
Zelda froze, her gaze fixed on decorative medallions dangling off both the vest and the loincloth. "Zonai. Link, those are Zonai symbols on your outfit."
"The Sheikah monks in the labyrinths called this the 'Barbarian' armor." Link slapped his hand against his forehead. "They were said to have belonged to an ancient race, from the Faron region!"
Her hands shook as she touched the roughly carved bone pieces. "How did the Sheikah Monks get their hands on armor from the Zonai?"
"I don't know." Link blew out his breath, at a loss for words. He looked down at the clothing he wore. "The armor is barely used."
"There must be a connection between the Sheikah and the Zonai!. That's the sole explanation for how the Sheikah monks from the shrines would gain access to the Zonai armor. Perhaps if we could speak with one of them-"
"Zelda. The spirits of the monks won't tell us anything." Link gently interrupted, shaking his head. "You saw my interaction with one on Eventide."
The princess deflated, the cold dose of reality setting in. Once again, they had more questions than answers. "Well, perhaps we can speak with Purah and see if she has any information about the Sheikah and their history."
Link nodded. "Stay here. I still need to kill the Black Moblin."
She stepped close and pressed a kiss against his lips, her hand ghosting over his warm skin. "Go. Be my fierce warrior. Eliminate the enemy so we might rest easily tonight."
She could feel the palpable change in his demeanor the moment the words slipped off her tongue. Muscles tensed beneath her fingertips, and the wild ferocity she saw when he changed into the outfit returned.
Zelda stepped aside, letting him stalk between the two massive stone statues. She'd never been given the opportunity to study them, not when the focus was solely on unlocking the power to seal Ganon away. Open jaws gave them a monstrous appearance. She wasn't able to discern a specific creature it resembled. Dragon was the easy first choice, given their proximity to Farosh. Yet she wasn't convinced it was intended to be a dragon.
She pulled her notebook out of her bag, writing notes down swiftly. A battle cry broke her concentration, and she ran for the entrance to the spring, stopping in the shadows of the statues. In the dim light, she could just make out the form of her husband, stalking in a wide circle around the lumbering Moblin that towered at nearly twice his height. The monster swung at Link, who easily dodged the attack. A low growl echoed off the stone walls, and Zelda realized with a start the sound came not from the monster, but from Link's throat.
She knelt low in the darkness, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched. He ducked under another attack, mercilessly striking the Moblin's back and legs with the Master Sword. The monster roared in fury and kicked at Link, missing by a wide margin. The Champion growled again, taunting the monster to bend and swing at his feet. Link rolled to the side, and sprung into a powerful leap, driving his blade through the Moblin's neck. Using his bodyweight as leverage, he wrenched the sword downward, putting an end to the monster and the fight with a single blow.
Zelda ignored the blood and guts from the corpse and ran to where Link stood over the mess, his chest heaving from exertion. "Beautifully executed," she said, pressing a kiss against his cheeks. Her stomach churned at the atrocious smell but she pushed the feeling down, focusing her attention on her beloved.
"Stand back. I need to burn it." Link pulled the Sheikah Slate from his waist and within moments had a roaring fire slowly consuming the corpse of the Moblin.
"Why do the bodies of monsters no longer vanish as they did prior to the Calamity?" Zelda asked in perplexment, watching the flames dance from a safe distance.
"Only guess I have is they vanished because of something to do with Ganon. He did have the power to bring them back with the Blood Moon," Link replied grimly. He finished cleaning the Master Sword and slid it back in its sheath. He crossed the few steps to where Zelda stood and offered her a hand.
"Where are we going?" she asked, intertwining her fingers in his. He turned her towards him and pulled the bow off her shoulders, followed by her quiver of arrows and the satchel at her hip.
"Into the Spring." He pulled his shoes off and waited for her to bend over and do the same. "Besides, you haven't seen where they hid the shrine."
Zelda allowed Link to guide her down the steps into the cool water of the spring. The couple knelt in front of the Goddess statue, offering silent prayers before rising and quietly slipping through the open doorway behind the statue. The blue glow of the shrine bounced off the stone walls, giving the small room an ethereal feel.
"I had no idea this shrine existed when I was here!" she marveled quietly, afraid to speak above a whisper. She took a seat on the edge of the pool, keeping her legs in the clear water.
"Mmm. I had to offer one of Farosh's scales to the Goddess here for it to be unlocked." Link sat beside her, pulling her left hand up to his lips for a soft kiss.
"I must use the camera to take pictures tomorrow when the sunlight is coming through once more." Zelda sighed and rested her head against his right shoulder, being mindful of the curved horns on his headdress. "It's so peaceful now."
He removed the headpiece, setting it on the dry stone beside them. "I had an ulterior motive for wanting to bring you back here," he confessed.
Zelda lifted her head to look at him. "What was that?"
"I wanted us to give proper thanks to the Goddess Hylia. If it weren't for your courage in trying to save me from that Guardian…" Link refused to finish the thought. "Your courage saved me again in Hebra, and brought us together."
She leaned in and kissed him tenderly. "I think my knight is showing his wisdom again now. Thank you, Link."
Zelda was struck then with an urge, a compelling need that seemed to race from the tips of her bare toes in the water up to the top of her head. A soft gasp escaped her lips, and she slipped forward into the water, falling on her knees before the base of the Goddess statue. Her forehead pressed against the smooth stone as she whispered below her breath.
Link watched wordlessly, biting back the questions burning in his mind. Darkness had fallen completely before Zelda turned back towards him, silently beckoning him to join her in the water.
"Is everything okay?" he asked in a low voice, wading through the waist-deep water to join her.
She nodded and pulled him against her in a hug. "Yes. The Goddess smiles upon us. She has just spoken to me. You have done well to bring us here."
Link resisted the urge to do more than embrace her, mindful of their present location. "Do we need to offer prayers together?"
Zelda shook her head. "No. She requested a different act of worship." Her hands were cool, dragging across the warmth of his chest. "Make love to me."
He hesitated, wrapping his fingers in her hair to keep from touching her more intimately. "Here? But-"
"I'm aware. But she wishes to bless our marriage and future together. The best way to do that is to consummate our love before the Goddess, in the spring. Please, Link."
He groaned as her hand slipped below the belt holding up the cloth covering his loins, taking hold of his rapidly hardening member. "Promise we won't be struck with lightning where we stand?" he bit out, his composure wavering.
"Goddess Hylia wishes to bless us, not bring death upon us," Zelda assured him with a soft giggle. She brought her other hand in front and worked his belt free, allowing the loincloth to fall from his hips. Absently, she set it on the edge of the statue's pedestal.
He gave in and braced himself back against the statue, giving her all the access she required. Her attention never wavered from him, and she stroked him slowly from the tip of his shaft down to the base. A soft grunt of pleasure was her reward, and she repeated the gesture while using her free hand to tug her long-since soaked skirt and panties off.
Warm hands slipped under the cropped top she wore, pulling it up over her head and discarding it onto the clothes pile. Zelda shivered as her nipples met the cool night air. She couldn't stay cold for long however. Link's lips and tongue found her breasts, eagerly returning the attention she was giving to his throbbing member. She let out a mewling cry when he pulled his mouth away, and he chuckled, the sound low and seductive in the darkness.
His fingers fumbled with the ring clasp on his vest but maneuvered it free after a momentary struggle. Warm lips enveloped his cock, and he forgot how to breathe. "Z-zelda!"
The princess had crouched to kneeling, the water coming up to the top of her breasts while she lovingly licked from his balls up the shaft, swirling the tip with her tongue before taking him back deep inside her mouth. Link grunted, his fingers slipping through her hair, silently urging her to continue. Her hand assisted her tongue, keeping him where she wanted him to be, while the fingers of her right hand slid between her folds in an attempt to soothe the arousal and aching emptiness between her legs.
Link made a sound deep in his throat, then gently pulled her mouth off him. "Much as I love your mouth… I don't think the Goddess wants me finishing there," he rasped. He was so close, it wouldn't take much to have him coating her breasts, or her face with his seed. But tonight wasn't about solely him. This night was to please the goddess, and his princess.
Zelda whimpered her wordless plea, her fingers far from adequately satisfying her. Link uttered a mental apology to the goddess and picked up the princess, setting her on the edge of the pedestal. She shivered at the cold stone on her bottom, but promptly forgot a moment later when her knees were spread apart. His fingers gently pulled her hand away from her folds, leaving her exposed in front of him. Her face burned and she squirmed as she realized his intentions. She pressed her legs against his head, trying to close them, torn between arousal and embarrassment.
He chuckled and shook his head. The wildness she had seen on his face earlier returned, and he lowered his face against her most private area. She was given no time to do more than moan as he ravaged her with long strokes of his tongue. His mouth closed around her clit and he sucked hard. Three times was all it took, and Zelda was done, riding the high of her release with a strangled cry.
He gave her a few moments to recover, then pulled her up flush against his body and eased her back into the cool water with a murmured apology. It took two tries to adjust her weight to a comfortable position with her back against the base of the statue with his erection trapped between them, but Zelda didn't complain. Gentle kisses were exchanged and paired with sweet words of love and affection. Link pressed his hips against hers, relishing the breathy sound of his name on her lips.
Then he was inside her, the tight, velvety walls welcoming him back to what had become his favorite pastime. He moved slowly, setting a rhythm that would give both him and his princess the most sensation. Her head rested in the crook of his neck, and she kissed, licked and nipped at his skin to hear the soft sounds he made.
His hips found the sweet spot that made her cry out and cling tighter to him. He couldn't maintain the slow pace he wanted when her walls were contracting around him, begging him to give in and release. Zelda's cries of pleasure became louder, less inhibited with every thrust. He grunted louder, his own release imminent. She reached her second orgasm around him, his name repeated with sensuality and love he never wanted to forget. Only then did he allow himself to let go, spilling over deep within her. Their breathing came in pants and gasps, and Link leaned heavily against the statue, his knees wobbling from the exertion.
Zelda rested her head against his chest, feeling him soften within her. A calming warmth washed through her veins, and she smiled, sensing the emotions of the Goddess within her. "The heart of the Goddess Hylia is with us. No matter what comes in the future, her blessings will be upon us."
Link nodded, tenderly kissing his bride. "We are blessed indeed."
Few words were spoken as the couple gathered their clothing and made their camp for the night beneath the stars. Neither of the blonds noticed the three sets of eyes that watched them settle onto their bedroll a short time later, nestled in each other's arms.
In the morning, beside the smoldering remains of the fire built atop the Black Moblin, Link's forgotten Barbarian Helm was folded. Resting on the braids was a well-maintained ancient dagger set with a carved bone hilt. Below it was a piece of parchment from Zelda's notebook with a single sentence inscribed in simple printed letters, followed by a familiar symbol. The Triforce.
Beware the power that stirs below, oh bearers of wisdom and courage.