That night, her motivation had peaked though she had no idea what they would be faced with next. The destination to which the water needed to be delivered wasn't far, and so they made their way out back to the Water Dragon. Night had already almost fallen over them when they emerged from the temple, so camping, to them, was inevitable. They didn't mind wasting the time because they'd let go of the only limit left for them. After they delivered to her, she relaxed further into her basin with relief, dismissing them after with a begrudgingly genuine thanks. She seemed the stern, proud type, so Tya figured that was the most they'd really get from her, though honestly, she noticed a theme among them that no one really appreciated what Link was doing. He was working hard for everyone around them, herself included, and yet she couldn't recall him hearing a single thanks for it, at least not a genuine one. In fact, all she could think of was the pressure being put on him for it all. Despite his heroism, strength, and most of all bravery, that Guardian of the Goddess still had the audacity to press him and declare that he wasn't good enough.

Of course Tya figured her mind had been somewhat changed with Link's prior act of saving her ass, but that didn't mean it wasn't aggravating. As she dwelled on that, she continued on to remind herself that such frustration was hypocritical for her to have, because while she hadn't been pushing him in the same way, she was subtly pressing on him for emotional support that he could barely even offer himself.

For the majority of this journey back to the Water Dragon, Faron, Tya was quiet. They moved out, and found a small relatively cozy place to set up camp in what they hoped to be a relatively secretive area. Absently, she continued on to help him put it together, her mind still entirely immersed. But as they finally stopped, Link collecting a few branches which Tya promptly set aflame, she turned her attention to him, her expression still thoughtful.

Her previous train of thought had prompted multiple things she wanted to express for him, but after taking in a deep breath, she settled on one in particular. "How do you feel today?"

The question brought a small smile onto Link's lips. It was a genuine one, though she could tell it wasn't really happiness behind it. His eyes were tired, and the way he was looking at her, while it wasn't bad, it was something she hadn't ever really seen before. "Okay." He answered, nodding his head once, firmly, before hanging it and looking down to his lap.

She bit into her lip softly, watching his behavior. "Is there a way I can perhaps repay you for the help you've given me?"

Her question was genuine, and the tiny hint of amusement laced into her expression suggested she was phrasing it like that for some odd, degrading joke, and Link understood that. He returned the look but only for a moment before it faltered and he asked with more seriousness "Is that the-that the only re-reason you wanna do it?"

She let out the breath she'd taken in before speaking and shook her head. "No."

He swallowed, eyes falling on her as he carefully studied her expression for any hint that she could possibly be lying or even saying it to redeem herself and keep from looking bad. When he found no such thing, he let out a quiet sound and slid himself closer to her. He leaned over against her shoulder, first without putting much weight, but as she slipped her arm around his waist, he actually did relax against her.

"I do believe I should offer you more support in response, but I do genuinely care for your wellbeing," she clarified, to which he shrugged and nodded as if that was fair enough. "The gist of my question was genuine though: Is there anything I can do to help?"

It was his turn then, to breathe in and hold, though he didn't keep it back for nearly as long. Instead he turned to hide his face against her, then after a moment of contemplation, asked "you've-you've got my back ri-right?"

She opened her mouth to respond, but before she could, he continued on: "I've been thinking-thinking- I tho-thought I couldn't handle those an-and you didn't help."

"I…" She started, trailing off as shame lodged itself in her throat.

"I'm not mad," Link said meekly, drawing off her a little bit but keeping his eyes down. "But, Tya, please don't-please don't say things just-just to make me fee-feel better…"

"I'm not saying that to make you feel better," she said quickly, getting him to shake his head and wave a hand to stop her.

"I don't mean that," he stated. "I don't m-mind if you can't pro-protect me, or if you're-if you're afraid to fight. But you told-told me you'd h-have my back, and if you can't- if you can't do that, please te-tell me. I need-need to know, like- really, not l-loaded, because if-if I think for two in ba-battle, and there's just one, I'll get killed. "

She softened, eyes on the ground as she recalled her own words and the reassurances she'd given. At the time, she was sure of herself and what she had said to help him, but clearly she was wrong in doing it because he was right. And now the question that came about was, if they were faced with those things again, would she be brave enough to follow through with it?

"I'm sorry," she assured first, the arm around his waist tightening to draw him in closer. He complied with the movement, relaxing once more against her. As he rested his head on her shoulder again, she gripped tighter to his clothing and relaxed against him as well. In her usual fashion, despite the grime on him from the day's adventure, she buried her face against his hair, closing her eyes as she hugged him. "I meant it when I said that I wouldn't let you get hurt. I didn't show that today, and I'm so sorry for it…" Her mouth closed for a minute as she fully relaxed against him.

Was she at this conclusion because of her desire to be useful, or did she mean it? Could she even keep that promise? What if she couldn't? Link would hate her- No, not at all, Link would fucking die. She could live with him hating her. It would be terrible, but knowing he was alive was better than seeing him hurt, or watching him die.

On instinct, her free hand drew up, fingers pressing to his chin to direct his attention up to her as she drew away just enough to give him the space to do so. He moved, lifting to catch her gaze. It didn't hit her at first, the position she'd unwittingly put them in, only after a moment of watching him did it finally sink in. Even then, the urge she had to do something didn't really quite register as she studied him. It was there- she wanted to move forward and give him something, but her mind couldn't move beyond taking in every detail of his visage as if she'd somehow never be allowed to see it again. Somehow, as if his death and hers weren't complete possibilities.

She let her guiding hand move, fingertips brushing softly along his jawline and toward freckles so light she hadn't actually ever noticed them before she got this close to him. They were sprinkled over his nose and on his cheeks- and there was one in particular that was slightly darker just under his right eye, nearly a beauty mark. At this proximity, she could also really notice how tired he was… There were the beginnings of bags under his eyes. His lips were chapped, his hair was greasy, he had thick eyelashes, somehow the absence of facial hair, though now that she was actually touching him, she could tell that was partially because he kept it that way.

Despite how much she had taken in, she only kept herself like that for a moment, and the fact that it was stopped wasn't her own doing. Though she'd been that close, she hadn't really noticed the soft hue of red on Link's cheeks, nor the fact that he was studying her in much the same manner, and especially not the place his eyes had eventually stopped. She felt him let out a somewhat nervous breath, and he broke her curious gaze by leaning forward and brushing by so he could press against her cheek. First he had pressed his own to hers, but after just a second he impulsively moved, his forehead against her temple, then after another his lips to her cheekbone. It wasn't really a kiss- at least not from what she could tell- she really didn't know what it was, but somehow she was still enjoying it.

Even more so as one of his arms wrapped around her shoulder, and the other settled over top, bending so his hand could grip the back of her neck. His fingers dug into her hair, loosening a bit of her braid so he could grip into it while pulling her forward and keeping her in place. She could feel frustration in his grasp, though from what, she couldn't comprehend, even as he let out a small huff against her and hugged her closer, the angle causing her back to bend awkwardly. Possibly uncomfortable if she were to be forced into it too long, but at that point, it was just… Odd. But not unwanted.

She turned her head a bit as he kept against her in the same manner, breathing in and out methodically as if he was having trouble doing so. Feeling her shift, he released her hair, his hand spreading more softly over the braid and the back of her neck. She stopped as she noticed he wasn't going to move away and give her any distance to see him anymore, and only then did what she'd thoughtlessly initiated actually click.

She was.. She was doing terribly at keeping a distance to fight off that infatuation…

A soft sound of confusion left just before an apprehensive, flustered laugh, which seemed to catch Link off guard. He let out a breath, smiling as well, or so she assumed. He was pressed against her cheek still, so she couldn't completely tell.

She cleared her throat, her head resting against him as he kept in his spot, though he loosened significantly. "I... won't tell you this time that I'll be right by your side. I'll prove it to you instead. Alright? I won't let you down again…"

"You're not-not letting me down," Link replied, shaking his head as he finally made some distance. He stuck close, eyes half lidded as he kept them locked on her. "I'm not-I'm not upset. Or disappointed."

For a moment, she wanted to refute that and go on to tell him that it felt as if she had, but it wasn't a relevant enough thought to mention. He had said that, and she understood that he could handle himself, but needed to know if he should. He wasn't lying, even if a part of her wondered if perhaps he was just to reassure her.

"We should eat and get to bed," she parted from him finally. He fell back to sit in his own spot, nodding in agreement as he looked around for the pack then tugged it over to himself so they could do just that.

That night it seemed exhaustion really caught up to them, because despite the discomfort of sleeping outside in relatively unfamiliar territory, both of them drifted off pretty quickly, and before they knew it, they were up again. It was similar for the both of them where they blinked and it was over- no dreams, no waking up to shift, just passed out and suddenly woke to find it day time.

When they rose, they tightly packed away their things again and made off toward Faron's sanctuary once more.

Upon entering, they were immediately met with more than they had expected to be. Somehow, being packed into that basin, she seemed so much smaller, but as they entered, they were quick to find that that must have been some sort of incredible magic. A massive serpentine blue tail swept passed them just before the dragoness circled herself properly back onto her pedestal, a snarl-like smile on her face.

The two made their way out to the platform, Faron's eyes on them as she cackled joyously and stretched her tail out.

"Good morning, Humans." She greeted as they came close, though her voice could have easily bellowed all across the hall. Her general being made it infinitely brighter. There was still an intimidating air about the place, but her excitement as well as her 'subject's' as they happily twirled in the water made it hard not to have their tired spirit's lifted at least a little. Faron raised herself straight, hands clasping one over the other beneath massive sleeves. "Behold, my majesty," her chin raised with clear smugness. Link smiled brightly in response, which Faron took note of, her nose wrinkling excitedly before she breathed out and took an expression of semi-seriousness. "You've done well to bring me that sacred water," she praised, head nodding. A clawed hand extended out gracefully to motion toward him as she continued with "you've certainly proven to me that you were worthy of wearing my scales around your neck. And as such, I will return to you the favor you asked of me, and lead you to the Sacred Flame."

Her sharp eyes narrowed briefly before she turned with a flourish and started out the end they'd just entered from, beckoning for them to follow as she did. Her good mood was clearly infectious to both of them, as Link started out happily, a bright smile on his face.

The entrance to the flame wasn't necessarily secret, as they stepped out the way they'd come in. From the path they'd come down, there was the sanctuary entrance, then a stairway that led down into a pond, just beneath the surface of which they could see the surface of a path that cut off almost like a small dock, or so Tya would have guessed if it weren't for the perfectly centered waterfall as well as the massive decorative pillars built into the cliffeside that cradled this area. It wasn't subtle, honestly, but as the Guardian took her place, hovering above the water and gazing at the waterfall, she guessed it didn't really need to be. If Ghirahim couldn't get passed her, she highly doubted much else could, for one thing, and as she let a massive hand extend out toward the fall, and at her command, the water parted around the grand entrance those pillars marked.

As it settled, the entrance lying open for them, she turned to look down at them. Her demeanor faltered a bit, annoyance once again wrinkling her nose as she said. "The Sacred Flame you seek lies within this place, and though my waterfall acted as a barrier it seems it hasn't entirely stopped enemies from flourishing inside. It'll be no easy task, but you are the Goddess' Chosen Hero," her smile returned, though it had indeed somewhat changed, a touch of pompousness behind it now. "It should be no trouble to you and your company. But with that, I bid you farewell, for the time being. I presume you and I will cross paths again soon enough." She started back toward her sanctuary entrance, calling back "until then, do not lower your guard!" to which Link gave no verbal response, just shifted on his heel to watch her, and nodded absently in acceptance.

As the dragon disappeared back into her hall, Tya turned her attention back to Link. As he turned to put his mind on the right track again, he stopped halfway to notice she was looking at him, and let his smile widen down at her just before starting on his way once again.