Hello again everyone! I finally got around to writing a third chapter. I also upped the font a few sizes so you won't have to strain your eyes as hard to read the story.

Disclaimer: I know you all think I own Zelda. I don't. :0(

Er…Link and Arden had finished getting clothed and geared-up, and had finally agreed on something (that's probably a first, and a last).

"So we finally agree on something?" he asked. I nodded. "The only women I can't see myself respecting are the Gerudos, those thieves. Their leader, Nabooru, it alright, but the rest of them would slit your throat in a split second." I shuddered.

"So now what?" I asked, kicking pebbles underneath my feet. Link shrugged. I looked down at my hands, which were caked with dirt. "Can I take a shower?"

"A shower?" he asked. "The only showers we get are when it rains." I mentally slapped myself.

"Don't you people bathe?!" I exclaimed, following him outside of town. We walked back out into Hyrule field.

"Sure I bathe!" Link said, laughing. "I went swimming in Lake Hylia last week!" I stood there, blinking.

"I guess that'll have to do," I said, sighing. "Is there any possible way we could get there before sundown?"

"Sure," Link said. He whipped out his ocarina. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. He played Epona's song, but it sounded much better. It wasn't fake sounding, like in the game. We heard a neigh off in the distance, and soon, a beautiful horse raced towards us.

"Link, she's beautiful," I said, approaching the animal slowly. She reared when I got closer, and I ducked out of the way for cover. Damnit, I should have known to be more careful. I pushed myself up off the ground, and turned around to a laughing Link.

"Oh yeah, be careful," he said, inbetween laughs.

"Gee, thanks for the warning," I said sarcastically, brushing myself off. Jerk. But I should have known, because I have played the game before. He walked over to Epona and calmed her down. He took my arm, forcefully, and put my hand on Epona's back. She still seemed uneasy; maybe as much as me, but at I continued to stroke her mane, we both became more at ease. Link, realizing this, mounted Epona quickly, and pulled me up with a jerk.

"Ow, jeez, man, that killed," I said, grabbing my side. "Could you PLEASE be more careful and considerate? Do you not remember that I have a deep gash on my side?!"

*Link*
I cringed.
"Sorry," I said. "I forgot." I really should be more careful with a lady and all. But the only experience I've had with women was carrying around Ruto and occasionally talking to Zelda, Saria, and Malon. Navi doesn't really count, because, well, all I can see of her is a blue glowing light. I shouldn't have to apologize, though; I have to deal with wounds all the time! But maybe she wasn't used to pain...

"Can we go? Or are we going to just sit here all night?" she said from behind me. I pressed my heels into Epona and we lurched into motion. She apparently wasn't expecting it, because I felt her hands grasp my sides. "You alright?" I asked, turning my head a bit to catch a glimpse of her face.

"Yeah, of course I'm fine," she answered.

"Alright then," I said. I lead Epona towards the south, then went full force into a gallop. I heard Arden gasp, and then she clenched me tighter. She had her arms wrapped around my entire waist, hands clasped, and I could feel her head pressing against my back. I smiled. Her warmth felt so nice; her grip around me almost comforting. I had the greatest urge to take the reins in one hand, and hold her trembling hands with the other. What was I saying?! This girl was rude and obnoxious, loud and wild. Then why did I keep feeling these things? And why do I keep envisioning me holding her close?

As we continued to ride, she seemed to relax a bit, and loosened her grasp on my sides. I could feel her lifting her head up to see all that was around us. To me it was the same-old, boring Hyrule field, but to Arden, it must have been exciting. Maybe. I wonder where she came from, though. It seems weird that she just dropped from the sky one day, even for me. I've seen some pretty weird things in my day, but it must be worse for her. Oh well.

"Hold on!" I said as we approached the two fences that separated Lake Hylia and Hyrule field. She went back into the position she was before, and gripped me even tighter as we jumped each fence. We had safely made it to the lake, and the sun was just beginning to set. I stopped Epona, but Arden didn't let go. "Okay, we're here, you can quit freaking out now," I said, chuckling to myself. She let go of her grasp.

"Oh." That's all she said. So I jumped off Epona, and turned to help her, but she was already off. "Wow, this place is beautiful," she said, walking towards the laboratory, then to the bridge. "Where's a good place to go swimming?" she asked. I thought a minute.

"C'mon, I'll show you," I said, leading Epona across the bridges. I finally stopped at the island with the enormous tree, and stopped. "Here is good. The water is deep, and it's dark as well if you want to bathe."

"Okay, good," she said. I stood there, watching her, to see what she was going to do next. "Well, turn around!" she exclaimed as she began to take her weapons and armor off. I blushed, and turned around. I heard her unbuckle her belt and the sounds of clothes hitting the ground, and then I heard the splash. Now that she was out of view, I turned around. Her weapons were in a pile, and so were her clothes. If she was so obsessed with cleanliness, and if I was going to be spending time with her, I decided it would be a good idea to take a dip as well. Well, not until I tortured her a bit, heh heh.

"Oh, by the way," I said, walking towards the edge, "I forgot to tell you about what lives in the lake."

"What?!" she exclaimed in reply. I held back my snickers and walked to the edge. I saw only her head sticking out of the water and her wet hair stuck to her head. She looked up at me with fearful eyes. I almost felt bad for the poor thing.

Almost.

"Yeah, at about this time of day the…uh…lake monsters start to appear."

"Gimmie a break," she said, moving closer to the edge.

"I'm not lying! They look like fish at first, but as they get closer, you can smell a horrible stench, and almost hear their screaming." The look on her face was priceless. Thanks to the Lakeside Laboratory, which dumps its failed experiments right before dark into the lake, we had some sort of a pungent smell permeating the area around us.

"Link, do you smell that?" she asked uneasily, spinning around frantically in the water. "Oh God, Link, something just grabbed my foot!" I couldn't control my laughter much longer. Soon she'd need my help getting out of the water, and, jackpot! Instant water-logged-girl-with-no-clothes-on! "Link, help!" she screamed. She quickly disappeared under the water. I couldn't see anything. I panicked.

"Arden?" I called out. "Arden!!" She wasn't anywhere to be found. I knew there wasn't anything in there that could hurt her! But why was she gone? She could be dead! I ripped off my weapons and jumped in the water after her. She was still nowhere to be found.

*Arden*

I laughed to myself as I heard him call out my name, then the kerplunk of his body hitting the water. I quietly snuck around to the other side of the tiny island and pulled myself up. I got dressed in a hurry and sat down on a rock to wait for him. This'll teach him not to mess with me! Trying to scare me, hah. I could see right through his lies. After about five more minutes of torture, I walked over to the ledge.

"Oh, Link!" I called out to the soggy, frantic man. He turned and looked up at me.

"Arden! You're alive!" he exclaimed, swimming to the shore.

"Yeah, y'know, those lake monsters aren't as scary up close," I said, chuckling.

"I…uh…I thought you were dead! I'm glad that…" he stopped talking as my laughing increased. The look on his face was indescribable. I had pulled one over on him, big time.

"I got you, man. I got you bad," I managed to get out inbetween laughs. He walked onto the island, and his clothes were soaked. He was a dripping mess, and I loved every minute of it.

"You! Oh, I can't believe I fell for…you bitch! I thought that you…oh goddesses!" He was raging, pacing back and forth, and that just added to my joy.

"Y'know, you twitch a little when you lie," I said, smiling. He blinked. "I could tell you were lying the whole time." He blushed.

"Alright, alright, you win this one," he said, moving closer to me. I cracked up again.

"I loved hearing you call frantically for me, like you actually cared for me. 'Arden! Arden! My sweet beautiful Arden what has happened to you?! What has my stupidity done to you this time?!'"

"I didn't say any of that!" he exclaimed, inching closer to me. I backed up. I didn't wanna get close to him, he was all moist and droopy.

"Yeah, but you were thinking it!" I retorted gleefully, bursting into fits of giggles as he began to chase me around.

"No I wasn't!" he replied. He was on my heels in an instant. Man, he was fast. Before I knew it, I was up in the air, over his head. He had lifted me up with both hands, and was moving towards the edge of the island. I got an idea of what he was planning.

"Oh no, Link, please don't, I'm sorry, I really am! Don't, no! Please!" My pleading was futile.

"Y'know, I really love to hear you beg." That's what he said before he dropped me over the side. The water seemed colder, and it was harder to stay afloat this time because I had my clothes on. When I surfaced, I climbed up the embankment, and stood there, arms crossed, facing a now laughing Link. Now we were both drenched. "That was great!" he exclaimed. "'Oh no, Link, please! Don't drop me! No! No! I'm a sissy, don't drop me!'" he said in his best, high-pitched voice. He was standing where I was before, and I walked up to him.

"Truce?" I asked, holding out my hand. He grabbed it.

"Truce!" he said, pushing my shoulder. I pushed him back. He pushed again, harder this time. I punched. He punched harder. So what did I do? I pushed that sucker back into the lake. Then I jumped in after him. "I thought we had a truce!" he exclaimed, swimming over to me. I splashed him in the face.

"Not anymore!" I answered, covering my face from the water now heading towards it. I attacked him, and pushed him under the water. He swam free, and pulled me under. We were fighting and kicking and yelling and screaming now. He had the upper hand, of course, Mr. Big Tough Warrior. But I fought him just the same. He had the knack of picking me up and throwing me down pat. It seemed like every ten seconds or so I felt his big, strong hands grip my waist, then toss me into oblivion. It was fun, though. I got on his back and gave him a super chokehold from hell, heh heh. He flipped me off for the last time, and this time I didn't go back for more. We could hear someone screaming at us.

"What in tarnation is going on around here?!" an elderly male voice said from across the lake. I opened my mouth to reply, but Link shoved his hand over my mouth quickly. "Who's makin' all that ruckus out there?"

"C'mon!" Link whispered to me, dragging me over to the far side, behind the island, out of view. The man continued to call, and Link had to keep hushing my giggles. We were close now, face-to-face. He was holding me with one arm around my side, his other hand out as to defend us or something. I don't think he noticed what he was doing, but I didn't mind. Not like I would have been able to get free, anyways.

"Who is it?" I whispered. I noticed his eyes were darting all over the place.

"It's the old man who owns the laboratory. He's getting grumpy in his old age," he whispered back. I giggled again. I was so close to his face and, well, his entire body. His breathing was quick, heavy; and his voice was raspy. No doubt from the fight he had put up with before. My gash started to burn again. His hand was right over it, and he was squeezing tighter every second.

"Link, I." He cut me off.

"Shhh," he said. We heard a door close.

"Link, you're hurting me," I said, now going limp under the pressure. He turned to me, and I think that's when he realized how close we really were.

"Oh, sorry," he said, releasing me. I exhaled with relief, but I was still in pain. He hopped out of the water, and helped he out. I sat down on the grass, holding my side. "I think we should change the bandages," he said, standing over me. "It's been a while." I nodded, and slowly unbuckled my belt around my tunic. I was embarrassed to take off my tunic, but he was going to act as a doctor, so I took it off anyways.

*Link*

I searched through my equipment, and pulled out some clean bandages and the extra oil the hag had given to me when I first brought Arden in. I had to remember to go gentle with her, she was a woman, and I needed to start going easier with her. I turned around, and almost dropped the items I had in my hands. She had her tunic off, and her eyes were closed. The moon was now out, and its light illuminated her entire body. I couldn't believe how beautiful she was. I watched her lay down, and I could sense her agony. I took a deep breath, and knelt down by her side. She opened her eyes, and smiled at me as I took the old bandages off. I wet a rag with the potion the hag had given me, and I placed it on her wound. She cried out in pain, and grabbed my hand. I knew the antiseptic must have been killing, but I continued to apply it. Her grip got tighter by the second. It was real hard to hear her whimper and cry, but I toughed it out, and finished the job. Her tunic was still wet, and mine was too. I grabbed some extra blankets off of Epona's back, and laid them down next to the tree in the west. I figured it would give us some shade from the sun in the morning. I took my tunic off as well, and laid it down next to hers. I took off her boots, and gently placed her down on top of one of the blankets. I took my hat off, laid down next to her, and pulled the second blanket over us. I could hear her sigh, then her light breathing. I could tell she was asleep, and in peace. I fell asleep to the rhythm of her heartbeat and the smell of her hair.

Well, what do you guys think? I'd appreciate some reviews; your opinions on what I have written so far. Personally, I like the story, and plan on continuing it, so keep checking once in a while (if you enjoyed it) to see if I've updated or not. Thanks!