When Nabooru awoke, her amber eyes peered over the edge of her bed only to find Link was not lying on the blankets. Instantly she sat up and bounded out of her bed, wondering where he left but not sure if she should care about it or not. Last night was certainly something she would never forget, and she didn't even get to catch a glimpse of him to find out the truth on whether or not he wore clothes in his sleep. One would think lying next to him for the time that she did would give her an indication, but it had been too dark for her to really know for certain...

What was she thinking! Why did she care about Link so much, it was beginning to sound foolish and out of character. Hurriedly the Gerudo grabbed a hair tie before quickly tying her long flaming hair into the typical Gerudo ponytail. For a moment she glanced at her mirror on the wall, to see a young tanned woman looking back with pursed white lips and wearing ivory pants and a gold colored sleeveless top that exposed the contours of her smooth belly and shoulders. Nabooru despise the way her pants puffed out so much, and how her shoes curved upward at the tips like elf shoes, but nevertheless she was vain enough to think she was far better dressed than Link. Since the day she encountered him when he was a boy, he always wore the same forest green tunic and weird hat concealing his gorgeous strawberry blond hair.

Why did he want to hide his wondrous features, when he grew up to become such a handsome man? What in Hyrule's name was she thinking too, when she knew darn well Link was a lot younger than she. Or was he? Nabooru thought for a moment as she stood gazing at herself in the mirror, noting the fact she had not changed during the seven years of her armored imprisonment. Her skin was smooth, her frame tall and strong and her hair still shiny and flowing like silk. Slowly, though she tried not to, a smirk crossed her lips to think many women would beg to be able to take seven years off of their life and still look as youthful and beautiful as ever.

"I suppose I am drop dead gorgeous..."

She whispered to herself, flicking back the end of her ponytail when it fell over her shoulder at the turn of her head. Nabooru had her vanity like any other person, but she did not let it go to her brain very often like other Gerudos she knew. Occasionally she could not help admiring herself, and many other Gerudos were shocked by her humbleness and surprising lack of attention in regards to her appearance. Looks meant nothing to her, even if she did find Link as hot looking as the desert, she needed to focus on more important things – such as escaping from the Spirit Temple with her life and learning magic.

It wasn't her problem to care where he went, that was his problem. If he got lost inside the temple, which she certainly doubted because he had explored practically the whole thing, she would attend to her own matters and let him and his manly ways sort themselves out. Without another glance into the mirror, Nabooru swiftly made her way out of her room and into the depths of the temple - taking with her the book.

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POV Switch – Link

Sifting through the mountains of documents, Link found himself back inside the archives. Carefully the Hero of Time flipped through numerous books, searching for something in regards to the weaknesses of the twin sorceresses. Thus far, his search resulted in nothing other than a few pieces of parchment about what types of magic they used. In frustration, he angrily tossed one of the parchments away and said to himself desperately.

"Fire and ice. I already know that, they nearly burnt me to a crisp and froze me into an ice sculpture the last time I fought them! There has to be something more around this place, and if Nabooru hadn't taken that book..."

All at once, he found his thoughts were drifting to the young Gerudo. He couldn't believe that out of all the sages to be stuck with, the Goddesses had allowed fate to put him with rouge like her. The moment he thought that though, words spilled from his mouth as he muttered with slight relief.

"Oh well, it could have been worse...I could have been stuck with princess Ruto inside the Water Temple."

Nabooru was not much better though, or was she? He honestly had no idea, because the moment he pictured her tanned form and long red hair in his mind, he could not help but think about her fierce temper, constant questioning, irritating remarks and haughty attitude. She was difficult but not impossible like Ruto, because she wasn't some frightening Zora chasing him down everywhere. Link felt his golden bangs slip in front of his tired pale face, before he quickly brushed them away and shook his head as if trying to shake himself back into reality.

Fed up with his lack of progress, he reluctantly put away the books he had taken out and walked swiftly out of the archives. Everything was so humid and hot inside the temple, not to mention the heat emanating from the burning torches along the walls. As he walked down a dimly lit and narrow passageway, his pace quickened the moment Nabooru seemed to shove her way into his mind like she always did everything else. Why did he keep thinking about her? She wasn't that interesting...really...just another Gerudo who thought she knew more than she actually did.

Beads of perspiration slipped down his from his forehead and over his soft flushed cheeks, and yet again he found himself having to brush it away with his sleeve. It was difficult to keep cool in such a place, especially with Nabooru lurking around every corner watching him and hoping he would take his shirt off. Secretly he felt flattered by her interest in his chiselled body, but finding her next to him when he was nearly half asleep the previous night was something that took him by complete surprise. What was wrong with her that she had to get his attention every second by doing such irrational things? He could have sworn she liked him, but did he actually feel the same way?

What was he talking about! Of course he didn't...like her...it was ridiculous. He was the Hero of Time, saviour of Hyrule and Princess Zelda; he didn't have time to deal with someone like her. Did that make him arrogant then? A frown crossed his smooth lips at the thought, not wishing to have a negative impression on others because far too many had judged him in his short-lived life. He was only ten years old when he was summoned to carry out the most important events in history, and as a result he grew up too quickly in body but only partially in mind. Nabooru seemed to have the same problem with aging; only she had been frozen and not altered since he broke the spell the witches cast. It was a strange and confused situation for them both, which made Link almost think they had a lot more in common than he originally thought.

Something had called him to this temple so far beyond civilization, beyond the comfortable life in Kakariko Village and Kokiri Forest. Link knew he didn't have to go out of his way to find Nabooru and warn her, he could have let her fall circum to the deathly fate that awaited her. Ganondorf and Kotake and Koume were indeed great problems and needed dealing with, and he was the only one who could help her. Still, now that he made it so far and finally told her, he felt compelled to remain not just for that reason...

Here he was, going on another thought rant of his that plagued him. No longer would he aimlessly wander through the passageways, he would go and find Nabooru and see what she was up to. Link imagined she was struggling to learn the spells from the book, but now that he reflected on how she took it from him it almost made him want to smile. Perhaps she wasn't as foolish as he thought, but he would not give her too much credit. The wounds from his past were deep; they hurt him even to think about it...to think about her. She was his first love, but he did not receive the same in return, and so it hardened his heart and mind into what it was now. Link assumed he would never change, not for anyone like he had for her, but Nabooru was different...

After a while of aimless searching, Link finally stumbled into the temple entrance, where upon he caught sight of the Gerudo sitting cross-legged on the floor at the top of the steps. At first he wondered what she was doing, especially since her back was to him, but when he caught sight of the corner of the book in front of her he knew she was concentrating on conjuring magical powers from within herself. For a moment Link considered going to her, until he realized she wasn't even aware of his presence.

An idea occurred in his mind, one he could not refuse. Nabooru didn't know he was there, which meant he would have a prime opportunity to get back at her for startling him so much the previous night. A mischievous smirk played across his lips, though his watchful icy eyes kept a firm lock on the unsuspecting Gerudo as she worked on her magic. To his surprise, a strange red glow erupted from her hands that quickly turned into tiny flames flickering from the tips of her fingers. Link was aghast she had learned magic so quickly, and using only her hands as well. He had gone through a similar process because magic came from within, though he used the power of the master sword, the mirror shield and other items to use it. Even though she was learning it quickly, that didn't change his decision to give her quite a startling...

Silently the Hero of Time crept forward toward her from behind, not caring she would most likely throw a fit for disturbing her. Perspiration continued to drip down his face and neck, making him feels slightly faint from the intense heat. The flames over Nabooru's fingertips were growing, though he was distracted with what he was about to do. It was so hot inside the temple; he wouldn't let her turn it into a sauna. The moment he was within a foot from her, he jumped forward and touched her shoulder – a big mistake.

In fright, Nabooru cried out and turned, grabbing his tunic with her hand. Her golden eyes glared into his the second she realized it was him, before she abruptly got to her feet and said to him angrily.

"Link!!! Who do you think you are, just scaring me like that! Can't you see I'm busy learning spells to fend off those horrible hags?"

He wanted to burst out laughing at her, but kept his cool by resuming the same smooth smirk on his lips. His eyes twinkled while they bore into hers, sensing her secret surprise deep within her that she refused to admit to. For a while they stood glaring at one another, until her eyes broke their gaze and looked at him with widened shock and almost fear.

"Link...you're tunic..."

He didn't know what she was talking about, why did she continue to avoid what she must have been thinking? She was thinking about him, he knew it was obvious, but it annoyed him to find she wouldn't say anything other than mention his clothing. Perhaps she wanted him to take it off again? Of all the times for her to think about it-

"Link! Please just-"

She was being ridiculous as always, probably desperate for him to take it off and show her his muscles. He wasn't arrogant about his body, but did it matter that much to her? As he looked at her anxious face, her eyes trying to tell him something but his solid expression not allowing her, a strange smoky sensation filled his nose as a hot feeling swept through him, which caused him to respond to her exasperatedly.

"What Nabooru? I know you can't keep your eyes off me, but it's so hot in here all of a sudden, hotter than before. Your flaming fingers certainly haven't helped you know-"

"LINK!!!!! YOUR TUNIC IS ON FIRE!!!"

In surprise, Link couldn't believe what he was hearing, until he looked down at the front part of his tunic and saw embers burning through the fabric and smoke billowing from it. In shock he stepped back, unsure of what to do, before desperately trying to smack it out with his hands. Rapidly he attempted to put it out by shaking his tunic lose, and it seemed the harder he tried the further the flames spread until Nabooru suddenly threw herself toward him and began hitting the flaming area with her hands. All the while, he cried out in fright before realizing saving his tunic was a hopeless cause unless he wanted to become fried.

Without further hesitation, Link quickly pulled his tunic over his head and threw it onto the floor. His cherished green tunic became a charred pile, while he began stamping the flames out with his boots furiously. Before long there was next to nothing remaining of the garment, and a strong feeling of embarrassment flooded through him to find he only wore his white underclothes and that Nabooru was eyeing him with concealed rage. The flames must have been caused from her fingers when she turned around and grabbed him in surprise, and he had been too wrapped up in his thoughts about her to listen to her trying to tell him he was on fire.

"You're such an idiot Link! I tried to tell you, but you never said anything! You could have been burned or worse!"

Strangely, she didn't appear to be as mad as he thought she would have been, instead she seemed more or less concerned about him. Behind those glittering amber eyes of hers, he could see she was looking at his chest and legs with extreme intrigue concealed by a mask of rage. She was interested in him, which resulted in Link hinting to her coolly.

"I think you're the one who needs to have your flames put out, I was only trying to talk to you and then you just turn around and start my clothes on fire! Its no wonder I was afraid about giving you that book, you've already caused chaos with it-"

"I don't care what you say Link! I'm tired of you; all you do is criticize everything I do. If you think you have enough power to handle those witches, then go outside and demonstrate for me!"

Not saying anything more to him, he watched her turn her back to him and begin to walk hurriedly away. He couldn't believe she was in such denial, enough to simply turn her back on him and leave him standing there in an awkward state. A feeling of guilt tugged at him however, knowing he was always the one behind her frustration. He didn't understand why, nor did he really fully realize he reached out and put a hand on her shoulder. Abruptly the Gerudo stopped in place as if she had been struck by lightning, until she spun around and looked at him, her mouth gaping slightly in surprise to hear him say to her in a cold apology.

"Alright, it was my fault. I didn't mean for this to happen, ok?"

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Nabooru couldn't believe him. Of all the nerve, he just snuck up on her like that and nearly scared her half to death. What if it had been Kotake and Koume? She knew it wasn't possible because they couldn't enter the Spirit Temple, but it didn't matter. Although he succeeded in scaring her, hearing his words in an almost apologetic tone came to a complete revelation to her. Why was he apologizing? She never heard him apologize for anything, so what suddenly changed his mind? He didn't seem like the type who wanted to be sorry for his actions...

She didn't know how to respond to him, she didn't know whether or not to take his 'apology' as genuine. He interrupted her during a very important time when she nearly had a fire spell within her grasp, and startling her had caused her to lose concentration as well as the flames growing from her fingertips. Yet again she realized how childish he was by jumping her like that, and without words she pulled away from his touch and swept out of the room.

For the rest of the day Nabooru kept herself well out of Link's sight, hiding away deep within the temple. She wasn't sure what she felt toward him, it was difficult for her to understand even herself at such an intense time. Before long she found herself near the Temple's top floor, sitting in the open doorway of one of its many rooms eating a piece of bread she had taken from the storage supply. Before her was the great desert, darkened by the night's presence, while gusts of sand swept across its dry terrain. Within the night Nabooru could see she was near one of the great hands of the stone goddess carved into the temple itself. An open wooden chest near was her that she assumed Link must have found the Silver Gauntlets in she told him to get when he was a child.

Everything was at peace, save for the hooting of an owl in the distance. The moon shone over the sand and upon her face, her eyes adjusting to its comforting glow. Kotake and Koume were out there somewhere, and she could not set one foot outside without risking her life to their hands. A soft reserved sigh escaped the Gerudo's lips, as she wondered why fate intended her to be stuck with a man such as Link. He was cold, rude, arrogant and distant, and she could never understand him no matter how hard she tried. It was hopeless; her situation was hopeless...if they didn't learn to get along then they would never get anything accomplished...

An hour passed; before suddenly the sound of boots echoed from somewhere near where she sat. In surprise Nabooru looked behind her, only to find Link had just entered the room and was walking toward her with a confident stride and wearing the same serious expression on his face. Something was different about his eyes though; she caught the same apologetic tone in them as she had in his voice earlier, as if he was still sorry about what he did to her before. His green tunic and hat were gone, replaced by a fiery red coloured tunic and matching hat. Link appeared to be sweating less, because his tunic was protecting him from the intense desert heat to help him cool down. The sound of his boots disappeared when he stepped around the stone chair at the end of the room to get near to her, and in response to him appearing almost out of nowhere, Nabooru said to him in quiet surprise that became evidently clear she was less thoughtful about being angry with him, and more curious as to why he wanted to be in her presence.

"Link? What are you doing here? I don't care if you stay, go ahead but it isn't going to change the fact I think you are immature."

Her normally annoyed tone with him sounded now unconvincing, for her desperation to maintain her pride around him was failing due to her increasing emotion. She could not tell him to go away, her heart wouldn't let the words escape her mouth. Rather, she kept her snowy lips pressed tightly together out of fear she might say the wrong thing, while Link quietly stepped close to her and seated himself next to her casually on the stone floor. Nabooru wanted to think he would have rather sat above her on the chair to prove yet another stupid point that men were better, but she knew his thoughts were far from that ridiculous topic of gender superiority...

A strange silence ensued between them, probably for the first time since Link came to the Temple. Nabooru decided that if she didn't say anything to him, then she would show in action she wasn't about to be the first to give in to words. As effortlessly as she could under the circumstances, she turned her head away from him, allowing her ravishing red ponytail to sweep over her shoulder and brush against his white-sleeved undershirt. It was awkward to be seated next to a man who he she had previously seen wearing only his skin-tight underclothes, but as before she could not keep herself from enjoying every moment of his company. It was then as she looked at him from the corner of her eye that she realized he saw through her tough exterior, his face still serious though his words soft and whimsical as he spoke to her gently.

"Nabooru...I think we need to come to terms with our situation. Either we get along or we don't, and I'm the one who's been the fool for not wanting to make this easier on you. I don't know what it must be like to be in your place, to have the kind of pressures and responsibilities on your shoulders, and it's my fault for not wanting to ever think about how you feel. You're right, I am immature, and the only reason I can give is because I still haven't grown up yet...but even that excuse is overused..."

It seemed to hit her like someone had slapped her in the face, though it was a positive feeling that flooded through her. For another first time, Link was speaking to her calmly, not coldly, and his face seemed mellowed by the sincerity of his words. She couldn't believe it – Link wasn't being his usual cold self. Had something gone wrong with him? Just by taking another look into his icy blue eyes, beyond the coldness there she could see a deep pain reflecting clearly to her like the moon's light that was illuminated by the sun's reflection. It was clear, dim to the eye, but beautiful and mysterious and...lonely. A sensation of compassion filled her to realize this, and before she knew it she found herself turning to look at him fully and her equally soft words filled the air to her amazement.

"Link...its not all your fault. I haven't acted very mature either; there were many things I could have changed. I never really considered how you felt, I always thought you were cold and distant, and I think that's what caused me to act so stupidly in hopes you would open up a little more. You and I...we are more or less the same, as well as different. It's not your fault you sometimes do not act all grown up, because if you hadn't been sent through time you would have been able to remain a child and grow up more gradually. I on the other hand, have no excuse. I was frozen in time and would look older if not for that reason, but I still don't act my age either."

Link said nothing, appearing to understand the direction she was coming from when she said those words. Nabooru wondered what the definition of acting grown up was, especially if it meant changing her whole personality. She had never acted as her fellow Gerudos would have thought someone of her status would, she was outgoing, carefree and inquisitive – making her well liked around the fortress. As she looked at him within the dim glow from the torches in the room, the moon's light cast upon his face and seemed to accent his shimmering blue eyes and make his skin look as soft and delicate as porcelain. Maybe she didn't want him to change...maybe what she wanted was to know why he was so cold, so uncertain with his feelings. His emotions were as delicate as his form under the moon, as if its pale light was exposing who he really was for her to see.

"Link...sometimes I wonder if I can really handle this situation. You are so brave and courageous, you never back down from anything if it means protecting what you care about and defending this land. I would never admit it before, but I admire that and I know that I have to be strong as well."

His eyes continued to gaze at her, as if waiting for her to continue. Nabooru couldn't, she felt emotion overcome her and choke her words within her throat. Her hands began to tremble, and in embarrassment she hid them from view in hopes he had not seen. But he had. That terrible man who had betrayed her and her people, the same man who broke her heart, invaded her mind. She tried to make it seem as if she hated him all along, but it wasn't true, it simply wasn't. Link's words sounded in the air once more, softer yet still as his eyes never left her.

"Why...? Why do you want to be strong like me? I am not strong; I am nothing without the master sword. I was nothing before the goddesses chose me to carry out the protection of Hyrule, and I still remain as nothing now that it is over."

Nabooru knew he was searching somewhere within her, trying to discover the secrets she kept out of his reach. Yet again she was similar to him, for she too had pain that she carried within her heart and kept hidden from view out of fear of feeling exposed to another's scrutiny. It was all too clear to her why she had to be strong, why she had to keep on living without giving up. It was to protect Hyrule from that man as long as she could, and if it meant the opportunity would arise to help Link keep that man from breaking his imprisonment then so be it. She had to quit feeling so hesitant to talk about him, if she was more open with Link than he would be with her. Nabooru did not feel forced to tell him the secrets of her past in order to gain any insight on him, she was willing to discuss it if it relieved the pain she carried.

"I am strong because of Ganondorf. He is the reason I continue to fight those witches; he is the reason behind my nightmares and the disorder he created among my people from his betrayal. He defied everything my race is, he cast a permanent shadow over us to all outsiders and helped to brandish us as thieves and rouges. I have seen him kill people for no reason, his thirst for power and destruction is so strong I have to stop him from being unleashed in any way I can. But...he was not always that way..."

The words ended there. Link appeared shocked by what she told him, she could feel his eyes never leave her while his interest intensified. Nabooru continued to reflect on her past, picturing the once handsome young Gerudo male in her mind, before his malicious tendencies twisted him into a vile looking monster. With a deep intake of breath, she continued quietly.

"Yes...he was not always that way. Ganondorf was once sweet, caring and compassionate. Some would find that hard to believe, but I knew him well enough before he changed to say that. I...loved him...at least who he used to be, and he loved me in return. I was even asked to be his wife, but I was too young for him and I knew it was during the time of his change. The past does not make up for the future though, and he must be punished for what he did, and I cannot allow my feelings to prevent that."

"Are you angry at me for what I had to do? For when I stabbed him and sent him to the evil realm?"

His question came at a complete surprise, for Link did not appear uncomfortable with the fact Nabooru had once been in love with none other than Ganondorf, the man who tried to claim his life on numerous occasions. She could see a sense of hesitation reflect on his face, within his straight thin lips that quivered slightly with nervousness. Perhaps he worried she hated him for what he had to do? It was the contrary. As the Sage of Spirit she had contributed her role in sending Ganondorf away, and she did not feel forced to do so in the least. It was her destiny, it was something she had to do and it was to save Hyrule. Trying to make him understand her anger was not directed to him, Nabooru spoke dismissively.

"Of course not. My love for the Ganondorf I knew before his change was endless, but the Ganondorf residing in the Evil Realm now is not the same man I knew at heart. I can't hold a grudge against you for that, you have done more for me and this land than I can ever thank you for..."

"I do not mean to ask your personal questions, but how did you come to feel that way about him?"

Link's next question was still hesitant, as if he thought he was treading on thin ice around the topic. Nabooru was unbothered, it was all in the past and nothing could be changed. She had long since gotten over Ganondorf, learned to accept his choices in life, but she did not honestly know how she came to love a man such as him. He was destined to become the next Gerudo King, she was destined to move higher in the ranks and manage the fortress during his leave. She laughed at the joyful memories they shared, she cried within at the pain he caused her from the things he did – or tried to do – without her consent. She understood why Link asked, because he must have found it unbelievable for her to love someone like Ganondorf. But he didn't know the man she did, he wasn't aware of what they had experienced in their lives...

When Nabooru said nothing in response to his question, Link looked away and shook his head apologetically, apparently angry with himself for asking her such personal things. In all honesty Nabooru didn't know how to respond to his question, because it happened such a long time ago in her mind. Pictures filled her most hidden memories; she could clearly see his face and his glittering golden eyes staring into hers as sternly as always. His smile was a wonderful but rare sight to see; though the moment she remembered such happy times the horrible ones bombarded her. As if it happened moments before, she could almost feel his rough callused hands grab her chin and turn her face to look at his, her eyes staring accusingly at the man who harmed her so badly. Then all at once, she could still taste his lips against hers in a forced kiss, before she pulled away only to find him trying to drag her back deep within the fortress where no one could see them. Nabooru hadn't wanted to go, and that time she managed to break away from his grasp. But nothing was ever to last...

When he turned to look at her once more, his voice was still filled with the same resolute softness as his words sounded from his lips.

"I must apologize yet again, that was none of my concern. Nabooru, I do not know of the love you had for him, but I dare myself to say that I...felt the same way toward someone at one time as well..."

Her eyes widened, she could see intense pain in his eyes, as if someone had burned him deeply and scarred the inner core of his heart. A rustling sound filled her ears, and she looked down upon his hands to fins he was wrenching them tearfully, as if at any moment he would spill to her the confessions of his hardened being. Why did it take so long until now for him to reveal such things to her, and for her to reveal things to him? She thought it would never occur between them, for they seemed like complete opposites. When Link spoke next, his words were slightly rough and chocked, clearly expressing the pain he contained within himself for such a time.

"She was someone I thought I could trust, someone who I loved very dearly. Alas...some things were never meant to be. She did not feel the same way toward me, and so I was abandoned to remain alone..."

"Who?"

Now Nabooru felt as if she had switched the questioning over to herself, for she did not understand what Link meant in his words. He had loved someone else? By his serious and cold expression, she would have never imagined such a sacred feeling would enter his heart, but his words were so genuine and strained she could not deny his truth. Slowly Link took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling quietly, before he raised his head high and looked far off into the distance. Then, while surveying the dry desert landscaped bathed under the moon's glow, he whispered gently.

"The princess Zelda. She was the woman I cherished, the woman I fought for and risked my life for. I am a mere commoner in her eyes, no longer useful in her life, and as such I knew the consequences of my love for her. I knew she would never allow herself to feel the same way toward someone of my status, and so I created my own self-destruction. My greatest sin was hardening my heart to emotion from anyone else, and so I am doomed to be as I am now until I die. It is my punishment, it is what I deserve for falling in love with a princess when I knew it would never succeed..."

Link closed his eyes, his head lowered before another sigh escaped his lips. Slowly the hero of time turned his face away from the light of the moon, allowing it to become shadowed in the darkness surrounding them. The young Hylian's sun kissed blond bangs fell in front of his cheeks, though Nabooru caught a glimpse of his dulled eyes that glistened with suppressed tears. So much coldness, colder than frigid ice was what reflected in his pale blue orbs. Link was frozen by his own despair, frozen for eternity unless someone helped him. Nabooru knew that someone could be her; she had the fiery personality and willingness to defrost his icy heart...

Silence ensued between them, and Nabooru noticed Link appeared to be drifting into his own thoughts. How long had he kept his affections for Zelda secret? It seemed he never truly allowed his feelings to surface, but by how he spoke to her now he seemed to have acquired a deep trust for her. Why? She wasn't quiet, polite, reserved or patient like most would expect her to be. She was Nabooru, a hot-tempered sage of the Spirit Temple and ruler of her people. The same question she asked him the night before burned in her mind, and desperate not to continue the silence, she said to him quietly.

"Link...do you think we will get through this?"

Finally his head turned to resume his gaze upon her, his deep blue eyes appearing to become crystallized when hearing her words. Nabooru swallowed hard, not daring to breathe until after a brief pause a slow smile spread across his lips, not the smirk she remembered seeing from him almost all the time before. When he smiled, his face appeared lighter and more handsome than ever before, making Nabooru slide slightly closer to him until she could suddenly feel his arm wrap around her back and pull her in close. Then, Link moved his face close to hers and Nabooru rested her head on his muscular shoulder, allowing him to keep her there...hopefully for a long time. When they remained like that for what felt like an eternity, Link's voice filled the air in a sonorous peaceful tone that gave Nabooru a feeling of relaxation and assurance.

"Yes...I do. No matter what, I know we can...because..."

"You're not alone anymore."

Link looked down at her with his eyes, evidently surprised by her response, but relishing it nonetheless. He held her tighter, not wanting to let go, and Nabooru knew it was because he finally had someone he could hold on to without fear of rejection. As for her, she could finally be with a man who wouldn't betray her like Ganondorf...who would never leave her. Once again, the hero of time's voice spoke, and it was then Nabooru closed her eyes and smiled in return.

"I am not alone...and neither are you."

Author's Note: How was that chapter? A little bit of fluff, heartache and not to mention huge step in their interactions. I really hope you liked it, but for this chapter I won't be leaving any special thanks because that would make the page really long and it takes me forever to write them. Don't worry, everyone who reviewed last time will be thanked I guarantee it, once I write the next chapter and make it slightly shorter. Sorry if this one was overly long, it was important for me to emphasize on character development as well as a pov switch by request to what Link thinks. More will come in the plot in chapter 8 so don't miss it, and please review