OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! I apologize a million and a half times for taking sooooooo fricken long on this chapter! But no matter how hard I tired to make an end point, I just couldn't stop! On a the plus side (or bad, depending on how you look at it) this chapter is REALLY LONG! I mean it too! It's the LONGEST chapter I've ever written!

GundamWingFanatic90- Oh wow! Thank you so much! I'm very pleased to know you like it! Although, now I really feel bad about taking forever to post this chapter...:( Well, I hope you like it! Actually, I'm quite certain that you will ;)

Berlin's Brown Eyes- No worries BBE! See? I found another chapter just lying around in my room, ha-ha j/k! Awe! I'm honored to know it's one of your favorites!

LunaRyuu- Yeah, I tried really, really, really hard to match the fighting scene's description with the scenario in my head. Sorry, if it was difficult to understand :( Hopefully that won't happen again. Oh! You like Sheik? Yipee! Me too! Thanks for reading!

The hero of time 2005- Too short? Wow! I guess you're in for a treat! Enjoy!

umknown- Thank you! I guess I shall be waiting for you to read then! ;)

FanFictionFantom- Oh YAY! I'm getting excited again! I gave you ideas! FANTABULOUS! Thanks again for the R&R!

Zelda fan- Only the fans of Zelda do I continue...especially if you're a "Zelda fan" lol...sorry, now I look like a dork -- (bad me!) Thanks for reading! Enjoy chapter 5 my fellow fan! ;)

MageWriter14- Well wait no longer! Here's chapter 5! Hope you enjoy it as much as I writing it!

Bvv31389- Awe thanks! Yeah, I'm really, REALLY focused on the dialogue/dialect of characters. It gives a realistic setting to the story. Heh-heh-heh...you don't know me well, do you? (FYI: I have a tendancy to post late! Sorry!)

Forlorn Rain- I know! If there's one thing that bothers me most about reading a story, it's bad descriptions of accents in a dialogue or an unfitting dialect. I can't stand it! It drives me nuts when I read something placed in medieval times and the characters speak in modern tongue! Nuts I tell you! But then again, I'm quite a crazy person, so I guess that would make me...normal? Thank you! I will!

Some Say the World will END.- Yes, I could definetely relate to Zelda's troubles! Ha-ha j/k! But seriously, I could! OO! (ok j/k that time too) Thanks for reading!

Hylian Princess- Oh God! Brace yourself woman! You're gonna go FLIPPIN' CRAZY! I really mean it! You won't be able to contain yourself! And if you do, then you must be in complete shock, having a heart attack, and gone paralyzed...all at the same time! Although, I'm sorry to say, there's very little action in this chapter. More dialogue than action really, but since you like the formality, you just might enjoy it! Yipee! Okay, I'll shut up now, cuz I know that you've been waiting a LONG time to read this chapter! And HP, cuz you're such a devoted reader, I'm dedicating this chapter to you! Enjoy!

Okay! WOW! Thank you guys SOOOOOO much for your reviews! I feel so honored and happy! YAY! Oh! Btw, on my profile, I have an illustration of Chapter 4, but hopefully, I'll find one for Chapter 5 soon. The artist of that pic on my profile is Louisa Roy from she's VERY talented and I greatly appreciate and respect her work, so PLEASE do not take her work without HER permission! Thanks! Ok, enjoy your LONG chapter!

Chapter 5

Wishful Thinking

A single candle lit the entire space of the small dorm. Link laid on the bed, tossing and turning in his unwelcomed sleep until he felt the warm touch of a soft palm almost caressing his cheek. He gently tilted his face so that his lips would bush over the smooth surface. His eyes squinted to see the fair lady he had rescued, sitting at his bedside gazing only upon him. Her beauty was more divine than he could ever imagine.

"How did that happen?" Link, referring to his wound, found that he was wearing a soft white jerkin with bandages over his arm and rib cage. He started to sit up to see his wounds better, but she gently guided him on his back, keeping him in a comfortable position.

"You need to rest, Link," the cascades of blonde shimmer fell past her neck and over her shoulders as she adjusted his head on the pillow. He noticed how close their bodies were, which gave him sort of a warm rush through his veins. She was right there, only inches from her moist lips. His whole body ached and longed for his lady's lips to lock with his.

Finally, their eyes met into a star-crossed gaze, almost as if it was the very first time they had ever set eyes upon each other. The very tips of his fingers gently traced up her chin and then to the base of her jaw line as his thumb swept across her ivory cheek. He could feel her warm sweet breath at the very edge of his lips. Her body seemed to succumb to this passionate tide sweeping over her thoughts. Then with his last breath, Link did the most courageous thing he had never done before. As she was just beginning to glide her fingertips from his temples to his cheeks, Link engaged into a long blissful kiss.

Their lips locked as Link felt her body crawl on top of his. His strongest emotions were taking over him, he had little control, and very little patience it seemed. Link pulled his lover closer to him and rolled over on top of her so that she would be on her back. Not knowing what had come over him, he had soon realized that he hadn't any idea of her name, but his passion wouldn't stop him. He remained in their kiss until he felt the urge to hold the rest of her body. His hands journeyed on to caress every curve of her, but still, his thoughts pleaded him to know his lover's name.

After his hands enjoyed their little adventure over her body, he finally broke away from their kiss and looked down at her, but only to realize that she was no longer there. Instead, he found that the dim light was now brighter and he was no longer wearing the white jerkin or even his tunic, but remained only in his trousers. He looked to his side and saw his lady, Zelda, with a very concerned, yet almost frightened look on her face. It wasn't until then did Link realize that he had only dreamt the entire affair with Zelda. Disappointment simmered in his head.

"Are you alright, good sir?" Zelda asked, still with a very concerned look. Link knew that he could never tell her what he had dreamt of, so he thought quickly of something to say.

"Yes, I simply had a..." Link hesitated for the right words to come out.

"...A nightmare, perhaps?" Zelda finished, taking a few cautious steps towards the odd stranger. Link almost wanted to laugh at the thought of that being a nightmare.

"Oh no," Link tried his hardest not to smile, "It was a dream, but I'm afraid I can't remember it. It's nothing to be so worried about, milady." He tried to make himself seem less foolish, especially after she witnessed him carrying on a passionate affair with his pillow and bedsheets. At least this humiliation wasn't public, or was it?

"I see," she stepped closer, "But I would suggest keeping close attention upon what it is you dream of. You do know that some are sent for a purpose. That purpose may be a glimpse of your future."

"I certainly hope so," his smile cracked without hesitation, but Zelda ignored it, for her focus was on his abdomen. There were bandages, stained with blood wrapped around his lower rib cage. She picked up several clean strips of muslin and dipped them in a creamy blue goop, bubbling inside an iron pail. Zelda approached her hero with a smaller portion in a pottery bowl of what seemed to be his ointment and the strip of muslin that was once a light beige, now a rich blue.

Link hadn't any idea how long he had been unconscious, but somehow he felt it wasn't long. It was still night time, perhaps he had been out for an hour or two.

"How long have I been asleep?" He asked.

"Not too long," she replied, keeping her attention on her preparations. Link's curiousity turned to Zelda's medicine. What was she doing with such ointments? Only men or very old women were able to practice medicine.

"What are you doing?" Link questioned with a bit of apprehension in his tone.

"Mending this gash," Zelda answered, "If it's not treated immediately, I'm afraid it would become infected. Could you sit up, please?" Link did so, removing his warm blanket from his naked chest. Despite the fact that she was a young woman, Link noticed that she seemed to know exactly what she was doing. She took out what looked like a paint brush, but with much softer bristles; she then dipped it into a the blue potion, stirred it around, and pulled it out with a glob sticking at the end.

"You will feel a sharp pain, but I assure you, it shan't last long," she warned him, but without hestation, she removed the stained bandages and stuck the blue bristles into the wound so that his blood would absorb the potion. Link winced greatly in pain, but tried his very hardest not to yell out or even show his agony.

After a few seconds, she pulled back the brush and dipped it in the ointment batch. This time, instead of it entering the wound, she brushed over it, which gave Link a more pleasant relief. He no longer felt the pain. Zelda rested her brush and pottery on the small stand next to them. Her face reached to his gash's level. Link hadn't any idea what Zelda was doing. Was she checking out his wound? Or perhaps she was not done with her procedure? Then he felt a cool breeze against his skin. He found her gently blowing over the closing gash until she pressed it over with the blue muslin. While she was working on soaking other peices of muslin, she handed him the bubbling blue potion and told him to drink it up. Link obeyed, but with a little hesitation fearing it might smell foul and taste disgusting.

"How did you learn that?" Again, Link's curiousity kept stirring their conversation.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you," the Hylian lady smiled.

"Try me," he said almost with a daring tone.

"My nursemaid had taught me," Zelda answered Link as she dipped her brush into the blue gloop. She took it and spread the last of the blue ointment over the muslin.

"I could believe that," he almost chuckled.

"I suppose you could," she said leaving him hanging for an explaination. There was a long moment of silence, which made Link more and more anxious to know of Zelda's earlier statement.

"Well, why wouldn't I believe you?" He finally asked.

"It may strike you to know that my nursemaid is a Sheikah and all Sheikah are servants of the Royal Family," Zelda hinted, then finally exposed her identity, "And seeing as how you have rescued me, I think it best that you know who it is you have rescued. I am Zelda, kind sir."

"I am Link," he said as they locked eyes. Zelda never had the feeling of someone not fearing her name, which felt somewhat erie, yet very pleasant at the same time. She smiled and turned her eyes back to his wound.

Finally, after the blue liquid turned dry and clear over Link's wound, Zelda removed the strip of muslin from his body. She took a drenched washcloth and cleaned the ointment off his skin. Link noticed that his wound was no longer to be seen, not even a scar remained. He looked up at her astonished.

"How did that happen?" Link asked. Then he thought to himself, 'This all seems very familiar...', but he continued with his awareness of Zelda, who sat at his bedside.

"You need to rest, Link," she guided his upper body down on the bed. Link was getting de ja vu from his dream, which was giving him the same rush of warmth running through his veins, but Link didn't seem to have as much confidence this time. She then adjusted his pillow under his head. Link was certain that his dream was about to come true, but only if he wanted it to. Finally, he strung up whatever courage that beated inside his heart, for the closeness of her beautiful face was too tempting and he wanted desperately to give into such temptation. Link lifted his hand to touch Zelda's cheek as his face leaned closer to her's until...

...BAM!

"Is the little bugger awake yet!" The Bazaar man rushed in through the flying doors only to find Link trying to plant a kiss on Zelda without her knowing, "Hey! Didn't I tell ye to keep yer eyes off the pretty thing? An' look! Yer pillow an' lil' blankies be real jealous now!"

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be asleep in your home?" Link said almost hinting him to leave, but the vendor made himself comfortable in the room.

"Oh I was, boy," he started as if telling him a fairytale story, "It be the middle o' the night an' I heard a loud noise outside me quarters, so I grab me club an' peeked outside me wee window. Five rotten dogs for men were messin' about an' then I saw you on yer horse with the lass tuggin' the reigns an' I thought to me self, 'Hey! The lil' shrimp might be in trouble!' So I took out me last mixture of me blue potions an' gave it to the lovely miss here!"

"Thank you," Link still wanting him to leave, but felt more appreciative of his presence.

"Ah! Anything for a steady customer an' a beauty who be of true nature!" The Bazaar vendor winked at Zelda as she smiled back at him warmly. "Well, I be off, now that I know you be not dead or actin' strangely. Though I well admit, I be very worried about yer dreams. Miss, have a lovely evening, and boy, have yer lovely miss. Oh and keep yer shirt on there, I know you be excited, but you kids ain't yet married!" With saying that the Bazaar vendor chuckled as Zelda giggled at his joke. Link however felt even more embarrassed to again realize his chest was bare and Zelda was present, which was considered very indecent for a lady to see such flesh. Not to mention, the vendor obviously saw Link tossing in his bed dreaming of Zelda indecently. He had never felt such humiliation.

"Well, I do believe it's past one's bed time, young man," Zelda teased Link looking back at him like he was a little child, but she found him blushing a stunning red.

"Oh come now," she eased up with a sly smile, "It was just a little jesting. I didn't really embarrass you, did I?" Link smiled and shook his head hoping his little humiliation wouldn't proceed any further.

"No, no, of course not," he said as his gaze shifted about the room looking for his tunic, "Um, you wouldn't happen to know where my tunic is, would you?"

"Yes, of course," Zelda remembered whipping back her blonde silky hair, "But to what purpose would you use it for?"

"Well, Miss Zelda, I think I just might want to wear it," Link smirked with a little sarcasm in his voice. Zelda's eyebrow lifted to see Link's sense of humor, which attracted and intrigued her a bit.

"Is that so?" She folded her arms, still smiling, "Well, I must apologize, Link. Your purpose for your tunic show no value to any lady's wild fantasy." Zelda joked quite boldly to Link's lack of clothing. Hopefully, her comment wouldn't make him think that she wanted to see his nicely featured chest. However, Link was well taken in by it, but with more of a confident feeling than taken aback. She giggled her joke off as if shifting over to another subject, but perhaps this was because Zelda had just realized how bold her comment was and how she noticed that she was beginning to flirt, which was very unlike her.

"You seem to have quite a sense of humor, milady," Link finally changed the topic, "Most women are not very comfortable around comedy."

"Well as you recently discovered," she started, "I'm not very comparitive to most women in Hyrule, but alas, I should say I am. I have not been well pleased with current situations my father persists upon me." Her smile faded and her eyes lowered to the floor. Link gently took her hand. Then Zelda suddenly realized what she was saying.

"Oh I mean not to confide to you, Link," Zelda's hand returned to her humble body, "That is to say, I know very little of you and these matters are greatly personal. Really, I wouldn't want you mixed up in my troubles, it would be dreadful."

"Heh," he smiled, "Oh, I don't care, Zelda." She glanced up at him with a weird look on her face. Link, just realizing that he should correct himself, "Oh no, I mean, I care greatly about your troubles, but...uh...I mean, you can tell me anything you like, if it pleases you. I know that I can trust you, but if you think differently, then I won't be offended. There are many women who don't trust men!" Zelda laughed once more, which gave Link a little more relief.

"Link," her voice calmed closely to its normal state, "I think I have more reason to trust you than almost anyone else, you have rescued me after all."

"Twice!" Link smiled as if gloating.

"Yes, twice," Zelda almost giggled behind her words. There was a moment of silence.

"You wouldn't mind me asking about what your troubles were, would you?" Link hesitantly asked.

"Well, in brief," she started, "I have responsibilities that my father had recently invoked upon me. Really, they're terrible! Though, I admit they're not terrible in the sense of terror, just simply that they hold no importance to me. And to be frank, if I carry out most of these responsibilities, I'm afraid you and I may never see each other again." Link was a little touched to know that she would want to see him again, but a little curious as to what she was to do.

"What are these responsibilities?" Link asked, "Surely they can't be so horrible to keep us seperated, can they?"

"Horrible?" Her voice nearly shaked, "I am to wed a complete stranger who's well over twice my age! Not to mention, my father is prepared to decieve me into this nightmare!"

"Oh," Link paused and looked blankly, "That is horrible."

Zelda sighed as her hands cupped her face, "What should I do?" Link couldn't tell if Zelda was asking him a question, or if she was woing and grieving. Nevertheless, Link stepped in.

"Maybe you should run away," he suggested.

"I already have," Zelda looked up with a bewildered expression. Link realized that this was Zelda's attempt to escape her troubles, but was it for the better?

"Well, are you satisfied?" Link asked. Zelda hesitated as she looked at him and smiled.

"A little," her smile was warm, which really lifted Link's spirits. A warm moment passed over them, which was probably the first that had touched them both at the same time. Link desperately wanted to kiss her or embrace her; anything that would involve touching her body was all that he desired that moment. Strangely, Zelda almost felt the same, but much more shy and coy to such temptations. Finally, Link had to give in. He started to lean in towards Zelda with much anticipation. Zelda's stomach fluttered, she felt like her whole body was stunned, for she knew what Link was about to do. Link lifted his hand to meet her rosy cheek as her hands journeyed from her lap and over to his bare chest. Her eyes glanced from his eyes and then to his lips until she started to barely tilt her head to welcome his breath and warm mouth.

'This better not be a dream!' Link suddenly thought to himself as he felt her hands trace up to his face. He felt them guiding towards her to meet her lips, which soon hastened Link's anticipation.

"OH NO!" yelled the Bazaar vendor as he rushed in again, "The princess, she be kidnapped! There be soldiers at every corner lookin' for Her Majesty!" A stream of disappointment flowed through every inch of Link's body. Then he realized what the vendor had been shouting about.

"Hey," he looked at them and their nearing bodies, "What you be doing to that young lass, boy?" The two immediately departed without looking at each other.

"Nothing, nothing," he trailed off, but Zelda got interested in the Bazaar's news.

"What's this about the princess?" She asked curiously.

"Oh, the princess be kidnapped," he started, "Poor lil' thing. Must be terrifyin' a great heap for the wee princess. At least there be an all out hunt for her. Everywhere, there be a man armed with searching eyes an' a sharp blade."

Zelda gasped, "Oh no." She peaked over the vendor's shoulder to see outside the room. There were guards everywhere! All were looking for the princess, but Zelda knew very well that if she was seen with Link, they might think he had kidnapped her and throw him into the dungeons without questioning the princess first. However, leaving him in the room would make him safe from such false accusations, but the thought of it depressed her. She didn't want to leave Link, especially in his condition; though he had been healed, his strength wasn't completely restored.

"I'm sorry, Link," her eyes showed all of her emotions, "But I must leave. Perchance we'll see each other soon."

"What are you talking about?" Link was completely confused. Despite the fact that he knew her name, he still did not know that she was the Princess of Hyrule.

"Good bye," she whispered. Quickly, she dashed around the vendor and through the door. She snuck in the shadows outside of the inn until she came to the end of the wall. Zelda peaked around and saw dozens of soldiers. The princess walked towards them and immediately, they surrounded her to protect their future queen.

"Your Majesty!" One of the soldiers proclaimed as the commoners around began to bow or curtsy in respect, "Are you hurt?" She shook her head, the soldier spoke, "Did you see your abductor? Your servant didn't know what he looked like, perhaps you do, Your Grace?" Now Zelda knew why they thought she was kidnapped. Fileen must have lied for Princess Zelda so that neither of them would be in trouble.

"No, I haven't any idea what he looks like," Zelda said pretending to have a stroke of amnesia. The soldier nodded to Zelda and started asking several other questions that would help them lead to a possible suspect, but all her answers were ignorant to details and provided no actual leads.

"Link, where you be goin' now?" Asked the Bazaar man. Link was up off the bed and pulling his tunic through with his arms. He fastened his belt and pulled on his boots.

"I'm going after her," he replied as he started running towards the commotion of the soldiers. Link looked around until he saw her face; she looked worried or frightened, but Link was too far away to tell. So he started running towards the group.

Several soldiers noticed Link's hurried movements towards the princess, which gave them the thought that he could be a possible suspect. Immediately, they rushed to him to stop the hero from moving any further, but Link was too agile for them. He knocked a few over to the ground and some he had to use his physical strength to push them off of him. Finally, he reached a much closer distance from the princess, but this time almost all of the soldiers took hold of him, forcing him to stop completely.

"Hold him! Make sure he doesn't escape!" Many voices were shouting, but all Zelda could see were men trying to restrain someone. She couldn't see who it was exactly, but she felt a desperate need to know his identity. Zelda stepped towards the soldiers seizing the young man. He started to calm down a bit, but as he did, his capturers forced him on his knees and made him bow to Zelda's presence. She got closer to see the man.

"Please, Your Majesty," the head soldier behind her spoke, "For your safety, I would advise keeping a good distance from him; he seems quite dangerous."

Not paying any heed to the soldier's suggestion, she knelt down before him. His head was bowed and his breath was quick. She lift his chin at the tips of her fingers. The shadows shifted upon his face and light adorned it. Upon her eyes, she found Link.

"Release him immediately!" She commanded, and the soldiers did so with slight hesitation, "You're not hurt, are you?" Link shook his head, but rubbed his shoulders at the released grips from the soldiers.

"Never, under any circumstances, harm this gentleman ever again," Zelda ordered the soldiers as they stepped away from Link and towards the princess. Link kept his distance to adjust his tunic and the pouches tied to his belt, which left him out of the other conversation.

"A thousand apologies, Your Grace," the head soldier bowed as did the other soldiers, "But he approached in the a threatening manner and he was armed with a blade."

"But that blade was sheathed, was it not?" She folded her arms with a sort of stern look on her face. The soldiers barely looked at her in shame as they cast their eyes away. Link stepped closer to Zelda drawing some attention on him.

"I wish not a shameful presence of Hyrule's finest," she said, "I only wish to educate you. Know this man, his name is Link and we shall escourt him to the castle if he chooses so."

"With all due respect," the head soldier began, "But is he of any importance to the Royal Family?"

"He is a very skilled warrior," Zelda looked at her hero, "With noble ambitions. It is he who had rescued me."

Link smiled to the other soldiers as he mouthed 'twice' to them almost as if he was a little humble in his doings, but making some recognition of it. Zelda caught his eyes as she smiled and nodded.

"It my wish to give him a proper reward for his goodness, his bravery, and his wits," she announced to the soldiers. They all stood up from their kneeling, "Perhaps you all could learn similar traits to Link?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!" They all spoke in unison. Link's eyes were wide and completely in shock.

"Zelda?" He barely uttered, but Zelda still heard, "Your a...Majesty?" His shock to find out that Zelda was part of the Royal Family overcame his ability to think properly.

"Why yes, Link," she spoke, but was bewildered to Link's words, "I am Princess Zelda." Link was still stooped in his ignorance.

"Oh he's got wits all right," one of the soldiers whispered to another.

"Of course, I knew that!" Link nearly laughed his way out of his ignorance, hoping no one would notice, but Zelda simply shrugged the whole conversation off, so that Link wouldn't feel so embarrassed, especially considering he's dealt with enough humiliation for one evening.

"Come along Link," they all began to walk, but Link never left her side, "I'll show you the castle." Link smiled to Zelda as she to him, but as they walked out of Hyrule Market, Link noticed a particular stranger in dark garbs who did not bow to the princess. However, it was evident that the dark stranger had greyish white hair; maybe he couldn't bow. An old man, perhaps?

HOLY CRUD! That was LONG! How can you guys take it? It's like I'm feeding you guys butt-aches and you guys are lovin' them! j/k! Anyway, lemme know what you think of this chapter...yes, yes, it's very long! I know that! But other than that, keep me well informed otherwise! Okie-dokie, also keep your eyes out for Chapter 5's picture in my profile! Thanks again for reading! C/C/Q are welcomed 24/7! See ya!