Author's note:

i'm too lazy to check which reviewer said it, but i know marth has kind of disappeared. i was begging to notice that myself and i guess he's not in here because he's a butt. he'll be back, though.

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"Wow," said Scarlett, who was rolling out a pound of dough. "I can't believe that it's already Christmas Eve!"

"I can, and I'm glad!" Sophie sang merrily, skipping about the kitchen adding spices to dishes here and there.

"Sophie can tend to get a little excited around holidays," Cody explained to Roy and Zelda in a whisper.

"Excited?" Scarlett asked, who had overheard the comment. "That's a bit of an understatement, don't you think?"

The four of them turned to look at Sophie, who was still bouncing around the kitchen singing a bunch of "fa-la-la-la-la's."

"Yeah," Cody decided. "It was."

It was about five minutes until Sophie actually realized that they were all staring ar her. She blinked. They blinked. Then she carried on singing.

Zelda stood up. "Well, I'd best be going. Malon's ordered me to brush all the horses today, and I might as well start it."

"You want a hand with that?" Roy asked, starting to get up.

"No thanks, it's fine," Zelda answered. "But thank you for extending the offer."

Meanwhile, at the front gate, the royals of Hyrule and Altea were busy greeting Queen Madeline's sister and her family. Queen Greer's family consisted of her husband John, her sons Nicholas and Jacob, and her three daughters: Jane, Irene and Margaret (that's in age order; oldest to youngest).

"Link!" Margaret yelled, running up to him and hugging him tightly. "I'm so glad we're finally here!! I'm so excited!!"

"Margaret's been looking forward to seeing you every day," Jane explained to Link with a smile.

"You're a few hours later than we expected," Queen Madeline said to her sister.

"Oh, don't get us started," Queen Greer sighed. "On the way to Altea from Baldenac, the captain of the ship and his first mate both started vomiting from some sea food they ate--food poisoning, you see--and most of the crew had it too, so the passengers were able to anchor the ship and go on land to find a doctor and a new captain."

"But they did take their time finding some," King John commented, rolling his eyes. "Unbelievable."

"And who have we here?" Queen Greer inquired, looking fixedly at the Atleans.

"Forgive me for not introducing myself," King Marcum apologized, bowing very low; kissing Queen Greer's hand and shaking King John's. "I am King Marcum of Altea, and my family's been staying here at Hyrule for the past few weeks. This is my son, Marth, and my daughter Malon."

The prince and princess bowed and curtsied respectively. Irene gave Jane a strange side-ways glance as her sister gleamed at Marth. Nicholas himself seemed a little taken by Malon, which made her feel slightly out of place.

"It's simply wonderful to meet you," Queen Greer laughed. "Now if it would be possible, dear sister, the King is feeling rather tired. Would it be all right if we could be shown our rooms?"

"Yes, of course," Queen Madeline responded. "I shall show you to your quarters, and have some of the servants retrieve your luggage."

"I'm not tired!" Margaret insisted. "I want to see Epona, Link!"

"Well, your parents may want you to sleep right now," Link said.

"But it's not even dark yet!" Margaret complained. "I can still see my hands!"

"Be that as it may, we should be resting: it's been a long and winding journey," Jacob told her.

"For some, perhaps. Come on, Link! Please can I see Epona?"

"Would that be all right then?" Link asked, not able to contain a grin.

Sighing, Queen Greer followed her sister into the castle. "It's fine, I suppose. Just don't come complaining to me, Margaret, when you're all tired out."

"The stables are this way, right?" Margaret asked, pulling Link's hand behind her as she walked to the left.

"Yes," Link answered.

As they neared the stables where Epona was kept, the cousins could hear someone singing softly. Link put his index finger to his lips to tell Margaret to be quiet, and she nodded as they walked silently closer.

Link felt his heart float up into his throat (a very awkward feeling) when he discovered that the person singing was Zelda, brushing Epona.

"She asked for the sunlight; he gave her a moon

And the sweet silver songs that he cradled her for

Carry on, carry on through the meek tender times as we

Silently, silently ask for the dawn. . ."

Link noticed that Epona was unnaturally calm while Zelda brushed him. Normally, she made a terrible commotion, especially when it wasn't Link that tried combing her. The words to Zelda's song seemed to sooth her like nothing else.

Suddenly, Zelda said, "Hello, Link." She turned around to face him and put the brush on a nearby ledge. "How long have you been there?"

Link fought to keep his mouth from dropping. "I, er--I've been, um....it'll, uh. . . you see, erm....I--uh......this is Margaret."

"So this is your cousin I've heard so much about," Zelda laughed, stooping down to Margaret's level. "I've heard nothing but wonderful things about you from Link. It's very nice to meet you."

Zelda straightened and curtsied slightly (she always felt strange doing this to royal children, but it would've been rude if she hadn't); and Margaret did the same.

"Are you Princess Malon's sister?" Margaret asked.

"Oh, no," Zelda answered, flushing slightly. "I--I'm only her servant. My name is Zelda."

"That's a nice name," Margaret said. She ran up to Epona and hugged her around the neck. "Oh, I just love horses! And Epona is so beautiful, too. I think she may be my favorite horse in the world!!"

"Yes, she's a great horse," Zelda answered.

At that moment, the three of them noticied two black cats dart pass the stable door; Peach right at their heels.

"FRED!! RYAN, GET BACK HERE!!!" Peach yelled, running in a very un- princess like way that would've made her mother faint. "SOMEONE HELP ME!!!"

"Oh, I'll help!" Margaret volunteered, giggling and running out of the stable to join the chase. She loved running after things.

After an awkward silence, Zelda picked up her brush and walked over to another horse. Link hesitated, then took a step towards her.

"What was that song you were singing?" he asked.

"Oh. . .well, I noticed that Epona got a little wild when I approached her with the brush, just as Princess Malon's horse does. I don't know what it is, but it always seems to sooth the horses, so I decided to try it."

"I think I've heard it somewhere before," Link said, a little unsure.

"I wouldn't be surprised if you hadn't," Zelda said. "It's. . .it's an old Sheikah song that my mother used to sing to me."

"Really?" asked Link, interested. "Then perhaps they were only the lyrics I read. I've just finished reading about the Sheikah in a new book I got."

Zelda raised her eyebrows at him, then quickly looked away. "Have you really?"

"Yes, it was very interesting. It may be the reason why I hold so much spite towards Malon and Marth. . .the Alteans were the ones who demolished their homes and their race."

"I know," Zelda whispered in a small voice that Link didn't hear.

"Um. . .I think that spot's okay now," Link said, taking Zelda's arm and lifting it up. She had been brushing the same spot over and over, though completely unaware of it.

Frowning, she lifted the brush and started combing the other side.

"You must answer this question for me," Link said, walking around the horse and next to her. "How is it that you are able to work so soon after Malon whipped you?"

Zelda shrugged. "I don't know. It was just some sort of miracle, I guess. Rather difficult to explain, I'm afraid."

From behind her, Link put his arms around Zelda's waist. He felt her stiffen up slightly, then relax. "That night it happened. . .you were asleep, and I did something that I don't think you really know about.

Zelda's eyes widened. 'He makes it sound so scandalous!' she thought. "What is it, Link?"

Grinning, Link whispered in her ear, "I know something you don't know."

"What?" Zelda asked again, smiling and turning around. She put her arms up around his neck, which turned out to look like a very quintessential position. "What did you do?"

Link looked down into her eyes, suddenly feeling very lost in them. He suddenly leaned towards her, kissing her lips gently, but with passion. His hands roamed along her back and neck as the servant stroked his hair adoringly.

Zelda was stunned. The last time she'd been kissed was by Marth, and it hadn't exactly been the story-book kind. She knew Marth was always carrying on small affairs with servants, but immediately she could tell Link was different. He was sincere.

The servant raised her hands to Link's face, taking it in and affectionately letting his lips explore her neck and her own mouth.

To steady herself, Zelda took a half-step back and bumped into the flanks of the blind horse she'd been brushing. Very spooked, the horse reared on it's hind legs and flew out of the stables.

Subsequently, Zelda crashed to the floor, Link right on top of her. She looked up at him in shock, and he returned her expression. He was about to kiss her again, when--

"HOLY NAYRU!!!" shouted Peach from about two acres away. "NOW PAUL IS LOSE!!! you know, Margaret, my blind horse--GODDESSES, WHERE'S DARRYL WHEN YOU NEED HIM!???"

Well, talk about ruining a romantic moment. Both of them blushing, Link helped Zelda to her feet. They were about to walk in seperate directions when they realized they'd both be heading towards the castle anyway. Feeling a little shy around the other, the two of them walked back to the castle together.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

a/n:

you must remember this.......a kiss is just a kiss, a siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh iiiiiiiiiiiiis just a siiiigh. the FUNDAMENTAL THIIIIIIINGS applyyyyyyyyy as time goes byyyyyyyy..........and when two lovers woo, they still say i love you......as time goes byyy.

sry, i just watched that movie and i love it!!!..............y'know, casablanca.

Irene: Wow, that's REALLY beside the point.

Zelda: Yeah, but the "fundamental things" part inspired the title of sawyerzelda's other ssbm story.

Link: It's true.

Sawyerzelda: i'm being stalked by my characters.

Zelda: no we're not, we're in your story anyway.

sawyerzelda: ..................what?

Lucy and Ethel: We're confused.

sawyerzelda: confused?? you're not even in this story!!

Debbie: I like eggs.

Lucy and Ethel: who's debbie?

Malon: Who're YOU?!

sawyerzelda: whatever. plz review, my readers!!

Random Quote of the Day:

"I don't paint my dreams. I paint my reality."

--Frida Khalo