A/N:
Oh, wow. It's been a whole month. I feel so ashamed. :( So sorry. Hopefully by now you know my excuses. Not to mention my muses are still dormant! AARGH!!
Disclaimer: AArgh, I don't own LOZ, or have my own car, nor do I want to go to school ever again nor do I know where this list of randomness is going… O.o
Affirmations
It was amazing, really, how one person could completely change one's life; even their mere presence brings such joy that the heart is filled to the brim with happiness and contentment.
Zelda had never experienced such bliss.
She had never expected, in her wildest dreams, to have found someone with which she, surprisingly enough, had so much in common, such similar dreams and aspirations. Despite their differences and cultural gaps that had formed, Zelda and Link had formed an unbreakable bond that defied all logic. They couldn't stay away from each other.
Every morning, Zelda and Link would perform their set chores, as quickly as possible without risking Saria's wrath, and then just as quickly scamper off alone, sometimes to the Sacred Forest Meadow, sometimes to a clearing only a fraction of a mile from home. It didn't really matter where. Just that they had a bit of privacy from prying eyes.
The pair, initially, had just sat next to each other on the warm earth and talked for hours, of their lives for the past seven years, and other similar topics. But eventually kisses were involved; then more passionate kisses, until both would pull away, reluctantly, to attempt to salvage their earlier conversation. But the attempt would be brief; Zelda usually ended up in Link's lap most of the time.
Zelda really didn't mind the end results of their escapades. They were quite pleasant, if she did say so herself. And dear Goddesses, she had never thought she could become so attached to one person so quickly. It defied anything she had ever believed about infatuation. About love.
Curling up in Link's arms as they sat together in shade of the summer sun, Zelda closed her eyes a moment and pressed her ear against his chest, listening to the comforting sound and rhythm of his heart. He pulled her close and rested his chin on top of her head. She snuggled even more closely, feeling so secure that she never wanted it to end.
"Zelda, are you attempting to burrow yourself into my chest?" Link inquired, his voice lilting with silent laughter. "I am certainly not going to push you away, you know."
Zelda opened her eyes and toyed with his fingers upon her upper arm. Link's digits were calloused from his rigorous swordsmanship training; hers were, as well, although from gardening. Link had, however, kept his promise to teach her a bit of swordsmanship, and Zelda's arms and legs and every other muscle ached from the memory. She groaned aloud at the reminder.
"Something the matter?" Link asked softly as he played with Zelda's fingers as she toyed with his.
"Aye," she replied grumpily, "I am quite sore from yesterday's rigorous training, thanks to you. I feel as if each of my ligaments is going to fall off from my body, one by one."
Link laughed. "As I recall, it was you who had demanded that I teach you," he answered airily.
Zelda snorted before looking up into his eyes. "I did not demand. I merely requested."
"And I complied with your wishes."
Zelda harrumphed before laying her head back down upon Link's chest. He was so different from the little boy she had grown up with, she mused. Although, he continued to be as vexing as he was at that age, what with his teasing and mischievous personality. And despite training as a swordsman, he had retained a tenderness about him that Zelda had always loved. And now, she loved it even more.
"Link," she said quietly as she watched absently as he played with her hair.
"Hmm…?" His fingers brushed her ear and the sensitive skin behind it. She shivered slightly at the contact.
"When do you have to depart for the city?" she inquired, her heart contracting painfully at the thought.
"In two months or so. Why?"
Zelda sighed. "I merely wondered," she answered. "Do you have any particular plans?"
"I assume I will be sent on some type of assignment, most likely on the borderlands." He shrugged. "Who truly knows? Although I have been knighted, I do not have a permanent position in the military. I suppose I have to prove myself first."
Zelda bit her lip and gathered her courage. Gazing at the ground, she murmured, "I suppose I should clarify." She gulped audibly. "I meant, what is going to happen to us when you are forced to leave here?"
Link stilled his hand that was still intertwined in her hair. "What do you mean, 'what is going to happen to us?'"
"I meant," she stated clearly, now looking up at him, "once you leave here, will you forget all that has happened between us? Is this merely a summer love to disregard once we are apart?" Zelda possessed a sudden desire to leave his lap, but she forced herself to stay until he had answered her question. Her heart pounded within her rib cage, reverberating within her frame; anxiety washed over her.
Link's blue eyes seemed to darken to a deep sapphire as he regarded her silently. Gently, he lifted her chin with his index finger before asking, "Is that what you desire this to be?" His voice was surprisingly calm and nonchalant.
Zelda's eyes widened. "Nay! Of course I do not!"
"Then why would you even ask?"
"Simply because you are leaving and only the three Goddesses know when we will meet again," Zelda snapped, irritated at his patronizing tone. Abruptly, she rose from his lap and stood away from him, her arms crossed, her back facing him.
She heard him rise from the grass, the vegetation rustling as he moved near her. She felt him wrap his arms around her waist, enveloping her in his embrace that still caused her heart to beat wildly and her cheeks to flush.
Link moved her hair away from her neck and kissed her nape. She shivered. "Do you want to know the truth, Zelda?" he inquired softly, his lips roving toward her right shoulder.
Zelda couldn't think properly, due to the touch of his lips on her skin. Nodding in affirmation to his inquiry, she attempted to hold herself together. Unfortunately, she was failing miserably.
He continued to kiss her lightly, softly, now moving towards her throat and jaw. "I do not believe I could ever forget you. Nay, I know I could not, for certain."
Zelda began to tremble, to her embarrassment. Breathlessly, she whispered, "Stop, Link. I can't…"
Her voice trailed away as he gently turned her towards him and nibbled the side of her neck. "You cannot what?"
She attempted to push him away, to stop his kisses and the feelings he was causing her to experience, but it was half-hearted. "I cannot…I cannot think…when you do that…" she whispered.
"Is that so terrible?"
"Yes…yes, because…when you do this…I disregard...I forget…what I needed to say…"
"And what is that?"
"That…" As Link hitched a calloused thumb over her lips, she gasped slightly. "That…I love you…" she breathed.
He looked down at her, his gaze warm and tender. Wrapping her even tighter in his arms, he murmured, "I love you, also. And I could never forget about the woman I love, Zelda. Never."
The flood of joy was forgotten when Link kissed her on the mouth, his hands splayed across her lower back. Zelda, her heart pounding so wildly she feared it would explode from the adrenaline, wrapped her arms around his neck and responded just as passionately.
And when Link murmured "I will never leave you, Zelda," she felt overwhelmed with joy and euphoria. She loved him dearly, and he reciprocated those feelings. It was too wonderful to comprehend.
As they kissed in the clearing, the rays of the sun shining warmly through the tree tops, both vowed in words unspoken that they would never allow themselves to be parted. Ever.
When night fell and Link was lying on his bed in his old room, unable to sleep, he replayed the afternoon's events, remembering the feel of Zelda in his arms and the way she sweetly kissed him and told him much she loved him. It was amazing, really, how easily he had fallen in love with her. Every aspect of her was precious: her kind disposition, her occasional temper, her vulnerability, and of course her beauty. Never in his life had Link come upon a woman lovelier than Zelda. The way her hair shone in the sunlight and the way her eyes sparkled and the way her lips resembled the color of the reddest rose—it enchanted him. She had taken over his soul.
It was now, as he lay thinking, that he began to mull over the idea of how, exactly, he was going to provide a way to have her stay with him always. If she was willing to leave the village, to live in the city, she would be alone for months at a time as he would be stationed at all different areas throughout Hyrule. Not to mention that his salary was rather small for himself, and would most certainly be when providing for two people.
And, of course, if he planned to provide for her, that would obviously denote that he would marry her beforehand. Which was a rather staggering thought.
Link loved Zelda; there was no doubt in his mind about that particular aspect. But marriage? It would be an enormous step, one needed to be thought over carefully. And Goddesses only knew if it would truly even be successful. Love did not always signify an automatically happy marriage. Nay, such an idea would have to be mulled over for quite a while.
Link fell into a deep slumber, his mind brimming with thoughts of matrimony and the woman he loved.
Well, this took me forever to get out. And it was short! But hopefully you forgive me since I provided all of you silly people with some major fluff. WEEEEEEEEE YEY, FLUFF! Now you peeps must review. YES! REVIEW! NOW!
Also, I wanted to mention that I have created an LZ community full of fluffy fics, and everyone is welcome to join! And if you'd like to be a staff member, just email me and let me know. Thanx! :D
Azure Raelin: Thank you! Glad you enjoy it. Sorry the update took forever and a day. o.O
jade04: Yes, the bird! I couldn't do Sleeping Beauty w/out the bird. :D
Glorfindel Silverleaf: I guess since you don't see anything to fix up that means it's good! Lol xD
Kat: Yeah, my spellchecker really doesn't like your user name. o.O But it really likes the shorter version. :3
PIRO the unforgiven one: Yes, I'm sure you look a lot like a made up bird… o.o Although I doubt it. :D
Perfect Soldier 01: Lol, I don't think I'd want that bird as a pet. He'd peck me while I slept or something. o.O Thanks for the compliments, as always! And unfortunately I do not think marching band could ever be considered fun….(groans) Oh, how I loathe it! :P
LostReyn: I'm glad you're back! I missed your reviews. :3 And thank you so much for such a nice review! I'm glad you've been enjoying this. Hope you're still able to review again! :D
sawyerzelda: Lol, thank you! And don't worry; I plan to be a novelist when I'm older. At least I hope so…. O.O
SmileBeHappy: Lol, you just review to tell me about your life, don't you? I don't really mind. I just think it's funny. BTW, the whole band is going to Orlando, FL on spring break and we're going to DisneyWorld! Woot!
Nagem: I hope those are circles due to happiness…xD
CrazygurlMadness: Haha, I guess you'll just have to wait and see, to be cliché. (evil laugh)
aslan-chic: Archaic English? Do you mean "aye" and stuff? I don't know if I would call that archaic, per se. I'm only using it b/c I like tinkering w/ diction. I think archaic would be classified as Elizabethan (thou art fair!), which I HATE. Lol But I don't hate you. I'm always open to suggestions. :D
Bvv: That's ok. Glad you're back! :D
ZeldaChik63: I guess you could say Farthnelda is the lizard guy…you mean the dragon at the end? Lol, you'll just have to wait and see. xD
Story Weaver1: Actually, this isn't ending too soon (especially since it's taken forever for me to update…), so don't be too sad! D
Fury: LZ all the way, baby!
princess of destiny: I can't wait for the next Zelda game! Do you know how awesome it'll be??!! (swoons) OMG my patience is running thin! O.O
nightwanderer: Yes, I blame school and marching band for this delay. :P UGH Oh well, at least I'm still trying to update, unlike some people…o.O Lol
AngelaM.: Thank you! I'm glad you reviewed b/c I really like hearing from everyone who has read my work. :)
La Dorada: You changed your name! But I haven't seen you around all that much, lately. Are you going to come back to ff .net? :( I'll miss getting your reviews. Please come back! ;(
Babydoll72489: Thank you. Yes, it's very sad that Z and L can't be together. :( But I think you'll like the ending I have in mind. :D
Midnight Starfire: It's been so long! I've missed your reviews! I'm sorry that ff .net won't let you review. That totally sux. :P But thank you for the compliments, as always! :D:D:D
chaosdragon326: You changed your name! At first I didn't know who you were, but I figured it out. xD After all this time I guess you'll be able to write your Zelda fic soon. Lol Sorry for the delay! :P
Greki: It's ok. I'm just glad you didn't review b/c my fic's gotten bad or uninteresting. o.O Lol
Tri: Thanks, I will! xD
Vampiress24: Glad you liked it. xD I'll definitely be having more kisses. Lol