Chapter Five
Early the next morning, I rose with the sun and stumbled sleepily from my tiny room in the upper barracks, rubbing my eyes as I walked. Though I'd been gone for a month, every stone underneath my feet was familiar to me as I exited the individual barracks of the king's century, past the less-luxurious double bunkers of the shining seven hundred, and after that past the long building that served as the barracks for the general soldiers on duty. As I hopped down the well-worn path, I stopped and turned, inhaling the scent of cooking smoke and looking around the corner of the courtyard that we warriors called home, referred to by many as the soldier's village. It hugged one of the large stone walls that made up the inner perimeter of the castle's defenses, sharing space with the statelier courtyard of the palace itself. Outside the walls that housed the army was another wall, the outer perimeter, which encased castle town, a thick wall with a mote on the outside, with only one drawbridge and multiple portcullises. The castle was safe.
Snorting a puff of white breath out my nose in the mildly chilly morning air, I turned, my worn leather boots crunching quietly on the path, and I continued making my way down to the large cluster of huts that made up the homes of the married warriors who chose to stay in the soldiers' village. In no time at all I was hopping down the pathway to Esten's home, knocking on the modest wooden door.
"Come in," I heard Damleda call, and I entered, pushing open the door to be greeted by the cozy sight within.
Damleda stood from the table, her long tresses swinging as she beamed brilliantly at me. "Link!" she cried. "I was worried you wouldn't come to visit me."
"Nonsense," I replied, grinning as she briefly embraced me. "I had errands to run last night, as I'm sure Esten told you. Er… where is he?"
"I'm in here," Esten called from the bedroom. "I'll be out in a minute. I'm wrapping up Rowan."
"Congratulations, by the way," I stated, turning back to Damleda and beaming fondly at her. She was as much sister to me as Esten was brother- they were my family. "You must be happy."
"He's a joy," Damleda gushed, eyes starry. "He'll accomplish great things one day, I'm certain. He'll probably be a knight, just like his father."
"The Royal Army will be in good hands indeed if he has half his father's battle prowess," I assured Damleda. "How many times have you saved the kingdom, Esten?"
"Forty two, and we're still tied if you didn't accomplish any amazing feats down in the woods," Esten said, coming out of the little bedroom, a bundle of blankets in his arms.
"Saved the life of the princess, believe it or not," I replied nonchalantly. "Nearly broke my neck in the process."
"Really?" Damleda asked, moving to take her son from Esten, smiling down at the little face in the bundle. "The princess?"
"Our horses were startled by two deer that rushed through," I explained. "Her horse bolted and I managed to calm Epona down enough to chase her. She fell down a ravine, I followed, and we got out by nightfall."
"Goodness! I hope you were both alright…"
"A few sprains, nothing major. I don't suppose you're going to introduce me to your son?" The change of topic was unintentional- nothing more needed to be said.
"Of course we are," Esten chuckled, sitting down at the table and beckoning to his wife, who came to take their son. "Rather, Damleda is. Leda?"
"He's hungry," she stated absent-mindedly, and then gingerly made her way over the rush floor to me, little Rowan cradled securely in her arms. "Here, Link. I'd like you to meet someone very important. This is Rowan, and Rowan, this is Uncle Link. Would you like to say hello?" Her voice was tender as she spoke with her child, and then, carefully, she held him out to me. "Here. You hold him."
"Um, okay," I stated, blinking in surprise and taking the tiny infant into my arms. "Let's see, Rowan. Are you as scruffy and ugly as your dad?"
"I'm flattered," Esten responded around a mouthful of eggs, but I didn't bother looking up at him- my eyes were too full of the child.
Rowan was a tiny little thing, though I assumed he was a little big for his age. The lightest bit of dark, curly fluff grew atop his head- ink black, like his mother's. He had his father's dark blue eyes, and his skin was the pale pink of the newly born. His little face was round and merry, smiling gleefully up at me. He gave a happy cry, squirming his little arms below the blanket he was bundled up in.
"You're wrapped up all nice and comfy now aren't you?" I asked him, unable to restrain a broad grin. "I bet that even if your Mom or Dad takes you outside, you'll still be nice and warm. It's chilly out there," I added, and then looked up at Esten and Damleda, both of whom were beaming.
"Sweet kid," I told them, walking to the table and sitting down at one of the little wooden chairs there, resting Rowan on my hip. "Looks like he's in luck- he's not cursed with many of his father's features."
"That may change, though," Esten said, eyes on Damleda as she bustled about preparing a breakfast. "He's going to be every bit as handsome as I am."
"And you are handsome, dear," Damleda replied absently, stopping by Esten and kissing him squarely on the cheek. "Even if our wonderful friend Link is a bit sarcastic about it."
"Sarcastic? Me? Never," I replied, faking offense. "Oh, shame. Looks like Rowan's got your smile, Esten. What a pity. Seems he's doomed to carelessly charm girls for life." Esten beamed at this, exposing his pearly white teeth. I looked from my friend for a moment to Damleda as she bustled around the small kitchen- her long, dark hair coiled elegantly down her back, the front half of it twisted up to stay out of her face as she went about her day's work. Her skin was pale from a life working as a ladies' maid, her dark and sparkly eyes alight with life. She looked much like a fey- her lithe form had taken almost no damage from the strains of childbirth, and her dark, mischievous eyes were only brighter with the addition of her son to her family. It was difficult for me to believe that this kind, loving, gentle and respectful woman was the direct descendant of a malevolent Gerudo queen- she was all but Gerudo in her looks, and her heat.
A quick, soft knock resounded at the door. "Come in," Damleda called merrily, still bustling around by the stove. Apparently, unannounced visitors at insanely early hours of the morning didn't faze her in the least, as proven by myself.
Cyssa the maid stepped in, nose and cheeks lightly pink from the chilly morning air. She shut the door quickly behind her and smiled around.
"You did invite me," she stated to Esten, who was idly examining his fingernails.
"That I did," Esten replied. "I figured you'd come. Damleda, make extras if you will…"
"What am I, your slave?" she asked her husband, walking over to whack him gently on the head with the back side of her spatula. "Who is this? A maid? I don't believe I've seen your face before…"
"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot about the glamour."
Cysssa sparkled briefly for a moment, and suddenly a very awake and mildly chilly looking Zelda was standing in her place. She beamed around at us all, and then took a seat at the table.
"Damlea, this is Zelda. Zelda, my wife, Damleda."
"Pleased to meet you," Damleda said, smiling at the princess over her shoulder. "Make yourself at home. Link, introduce Zelda to Rowan, will you?"
Was I the only one surprised by this? The princess had just walked in, and Leda had treated it like a normal situation. Then again, she had been a lady's maid for a long time, and knew what she was doing- probably. "Er, right." I looked down at the still-beaming Rowan in my lap, and then to Zelda. "Zelda, this is Rowan, who is my honorary nephew, or maybe my godson, or both, I'm not sure. Rowan, I'd like you to meet Zelda. She's a little crazy, but overall not too bad, especially considering that her maids chase her around with gemstone, pearl, and lace whips."
Zelda grinned at this, scooting her chair closer to mine to look down at little Rowan and his smiling face- and, of course, went to pieces immediately, like any good female.
"Oh, what an adorable little boy!" she exclaimed, looking down at him with tender eyes. "How old is he?"
"Two weeks," Esten replied from the other side of the table, grinning at Zelda and myself, eyes sparkling mischeviously. I gulped- I'd be hearing about this later, which could easily be either very good or very, very bad, or possibly both at the same time. "Two weeks and three days."
"He's precious," Zelda cooed, reaching a hand across my legs to stoke his little hair.
"Would you like to hold him?" I asked her, carefully dislodging Rowan from my lap.
"Oh, could I…?" Zelda's eyes were starry. Damleda laughed and Esten smiled, nodding.
"Of course," my friend said, smiling amicably at the two of us as I carefully passed Rowan to Zelda. I was reminded of the tangle of arms the night before as Zelda passed Ancia to her mother, Elenra, and how badly that encounter had turned out- today, though, was looking as though it would be much better.
Tenderly, Zelda took Rowan into her arms, cooing lightly as she rocked the child back and forth. I watched, transfixed- the love in her eyes astounded me as she looked down at the child that was not her own. Watching her, I felt my heart melt.
In that brief, fleeting instant, the last of my resolve vanished, and I was wholly, desperately, terribly head-over-heels in love with Zelda. Worst of all, however, was the fact that there was nothing I could do about it.
&-
Days meshed into weeks. Each morning, I went to visit Esten, Damleda, and Rowan. Zelda often appeared, too, and the very day that Damlea resumed work at the palace, she was promoted to the princess' attendant, at Zelda's request.
One day when the mornings began to warm, the early sunlight found Esten and I practicing in the courtyard, exchanging blows with our practice swords and shields. There had been an enormous bustle going on in the castle all morning- there was to be a ball held that night. Neither Esten nor I had invitations, so we decided that, instead of getting underfoot, we'd fall back on our favorite past time of trying to beat one another up with swords. We'd been at it for fifteen minutes when Zelda and Damleda came along, the latter bearing little Rowan. Such visits weren't an uncommon occurance- the princess often took time off to "inspect the troops at practice, as was her right as their future queen." As usual, with a single glance, Esten and I agreed to mutual surrender, and then rushed over to greet the women in all our sweaty-knight glory.
"Damleda!" Esten greeted his wife warmly, hugging her gently, careful not to squish little Rowan, who was resting in a strong silken sash tied over her shoulder. "What brings you here? Surely you didn't feel the need for another review…"
As Damleda and Esten slipped into easy, loving conversation, I turned to Zelda with a grin. "So."
"So indeed," she replied, and we began to walk away. She didn't speak, only smiled widely in that irritating monarchial way of hers, that "I know something you don't and won't tell you unless you beg" smirk that I had come to both loathe and adore equally since making closer acquaintance with her. I suppressed a groan and submitted, knowing that she could hold a grin as long as she needed to and never spill her secret. She was very patient like that.
"Are you going to tell me what you're smirking?"
"Smirking? I'm not smirking." Said "not smirk" grew wider.
"Well you're looking awfully smug."
"Nonsense. I'm never smug."
Apparently, it was something big. I sighed, giving in. "Conniving wench. What is it you want?"
"I'm insulted!" Zelda feigned an expression of pain, pressing her hand against her heart. "So insulted, in fact, that I don't think I'll give you this formal invitation to the royal ball being held tonight."
"Whassa?" I asked, only having half command over my jaw, as it was determined to hang open. "What for?"
"Well, since you're not coming, it doesn't really matter now does it?" A taunting expression decorated her features, making me want to either walk away or kiss her in turn. But I could not kiss her. No. Bad Link. And I could never walk away. Defeated, I sighed.
"How may I make up my grevious insult to such a lovely, innocent snowflake as you?"
Zelda only grinned wider, and, taking my elbow, primly declared, "be my escort for the night."
All the muscles in my face went slack as, yet again, my maw dropped open, large enough for a bird to build a nest in. I was surprised that the chickadees hadn't already attempted to make a move on my bicuspids with their young.
"What?" I exclaimed in shock as I stumbled and nearly fell, would have fell, had the princess not heaved me back up on my feet, through muscle or magic I wasn't sure.
"I take it, then, that you decline?" she asked, a tinge of bitter disappointment seeping into her voice, audible to me no matter how hard she tried to mask it.
"No no no no no, not at all," I hastily clarified, shaking my head and putting my hands up in front of me, warding any stray blows. "I didn't mean that at all. I'm… shocked. An honored. And incredibly glad." My eyes met hers, a deep emotion rushing between us. "I would love deeply to accompany you to the ball."
Our eyes had locked, something raw passing unsaid
"You flatter me, Link," she mumbled, and then looked up, glancing around the courtyard behind me, then looking around over her shoulder. Apparently seeing (or not seeing, as more was probably the case) what she'd expected, she leaned up and pecked my cheek, tucking a letter into my hand with her delicate fingers. "Thank you," she whispered softly, her sweet breath brushing sensuously across my cheek, and then she flounced away, calling Damleda's name and not looking back at the stunned knight she'd left behind.
I stood in total shock. The Princess of Hyrule had just kissed my cheek. Zelda, moreover, had just kissed my cheek. Kissed my cheek! Zelda!
I let out an exuberant whoop and ran to find Esten, turning a sloppy cartwheel on the castle's turf. The women had already gone by the time I reached him, and he was standing there with his arms crossed over his chest, smiling at me.
"I'm escorting her to the ball!" I exclaimed, jumping up in front of her and spinning in a circle, landing clumsily and rolling around on the grass at his feet. "Me! Escorting Zelda! And then she kissed me! Me! Kissed my cheek! Zelda kissed me!" I scrambled up and began dancing around Esten, grinning so wide I thought my face might split in half. "Do you know what this means? Do you? Do you know what this means, Esten?"
"You may or may not be exposed to public scandal as secret lovers and shunned if you continue yelling like that, not to mention you'll need a tailor to fix up something presentable for you since tthe princess spilled wine on your nicest doublet at the last ball, and... oh, for goodness sakes, Link, I can't continue being all calm and sarcastic like that when you're jumping up and down like, like... like a tektite."
I stopped mid-whirl and looked at him. "Do I really look like a tektite?"
"With the exception of having too few legs, not enough eyes, and not a bizarre color, yes. You look exactly like a tektite."
I lowered my arms and looked at him, watching him look passively at me. As something occurred to me, my eyes widened as I had the awful feeling of my stomach dropping out of my body.
"Esten..."
"Yes, Link? No need to look like someone died now. Looking like a tektite is better than looking like a dodongo... I think."
"What will the king think?" Before my legs refused to support me any more, I sat down on the grass and stared blankly across the courtyard a few feet to the left of an archway through which the other troops could be heard practicing.
"The king will approve. He likes you, Link. He thinks of you like a son."
"But does he like me enough to trust me with his daughter's heart is the question."
Esten sat down next to me, propping his arms up on his knees and looking at me seriously.
"Link, the only one who can entrust Zelda's heart to anyone is Zelda herself. It's not the king's heart to give, thus he must be content trusting both of you with your own decisions. He agreed to give Zelda a hundred days to find a man that would make her happy. Even if the man wound up being Ganondorf Dragmire-" we both shuddered at thoughts of the sniveling Gerudo prince- "if it fell within the hundred day mark, he would have to content himself. He knew what he was getting in to, and he likes you. You don't need to worry, Link. Everything will be fine."
"I hope so," I replied, and then flopped completely back on the grass, staring up at the sky. "Esten?"
"Yeah?"
"What am I going to wear?"
He chuckled, and pulled out a sheet of paper covered in Damleda's writing. "The princess will be wearing green. I suggest you dress to match."
I groaned, rolling over. "Esten, this love business is stressful."
"But worth it in the end," he replied seriously, standing up. "Come on. Let's get you to the tailor."
&-
"I'm going to die," I squeaked. This was worse than facing some horrible monster, worse than watching four thousand strong crest the hill and begin their charge, worse than all the horrors of combat and blood and battle. I was going to escort the princess- the princess!- to a ball. Formally. I'd rather be facing an angry dragon than the prospect of this. It would be a trial beyond trials, testing body and soul. And I knew without a doubt that I would fail, and my bloodied battered remains would fall to the floor, and all the courtiers would look at me and laugh, saying, "that silly Link boy thought he could love a princess"...
"Breathe, Link," Esten cautioned me. "You're turning blue."
I was nervous- how could I not be? Esten had insisted that I look good, and even the snooty maid that Zelda had sent over to oversee my transformation hadn't seemed disappointed. But I just knew that I was going to embarrass Zelda in some way- return her favor of spilling wine all over me or something, and then she'd never forgive me ever again. I was doomed.
"Doomed," I echoed my mind. "Esten, what if I screw up? What if I humiliate us both in some awful way and she never forgives me?"
"You've been to plenty of balls before, Link," Esten said soothingly. "What's going to make this one any different?"
"I'm formally accompanying the princess!"
"Link, you're going to be walking her in, dancing with her once, maybe twice if you're feeling bold, and then you two will walk around, socialize, and the ball will end. It's nothing that you weren't going to do anyway- things are just slightly more formal this way."
"I'm going to die," I repeated.
"No you're not. Look, here she comes."
We were standing outside a back entrance to the main hall: I was fidgeting and pacing, and Esten weas leaning calmly against the wall with his arms crossed across his chest. Zelda and I had agreed upon this as our meeting place, so as to walk through the main hall and into the ballroom formally together. I wanted to dissolve into the stones, but Esten's surprised and pleased look over my shoulder made me turn and look at Zelda.
She was truly stunning in a gown of emerald silk, so shimmeringly dark that it was almost black. Sheer silver-embroidered panels of a lighter green extended from the imperial wasitline to graze the floor, and the bodice was embroidered in silver ivy. She wore gloves of the same dark green to match, and her hair was spun up in an eleaborate coiffure, decorated with strings of emeralds and pearls. A silver tiara and simple silver necklace complimented the outfit- from her golden head to her dark-slippered toes, she truly looked the part of a princess.
"Good, you didn't chicken out," was the first thing she said to me when she walked up, and then grinned at me, patting my cheek with her gloved hand. "You look good, Mr. Hoity-Toity-Knight."
I was speechless. My jaw worked furiously, but alas, to no avail. Damleda picked up the slack for me, though, rocking little Rowan as she talked. "Well, Esten, it looks like you've won."
"Huh?" This snapped me out of my temporary speechlessness (which seemed to be happening to me an awful lot lately) and I looked between my friend and his wife. "Won what?"
"We had a wager going on," Esten said, his penetrating gaze on his wife the whole time, who seemed immune to the dark intensity. "She said you'd cave and chicken out, and I said you'd stay. If she won, I'd cook dinner every night for a week. If I won, she'd come riding with me this weekend. Looks like you're going to be babysitting." Esten added, smiling at Rowan, who was out like a light on his mother's shoulder.
"Your support is greatly appreciated," I said sarcastically, shooting iron glares between husband and wife. Esten shrugged, Damleda only smiled, and Zelda put her hand on my arm.
"We've got to get to the ball. Let's go. Damleda, thank you for your help."
"I helped too," Esten said absently. "I took Link to the tailor."
"Thank you, Esten," Zelda replied, and then tugged. "Come on, Link. Let's go."
"Right, right," I said, and began to walk with her in the direction of the main hall, and thus the ballroom. "Thanks, guys."
"Good luck, Link," Damleda called to me.
"Don't do anything stupid," came Esten's cheerful addition. I heard Damleda reprimand him, and then Zelda and I were in the main hall and she was smiling at me in a way that made my heart stop.
"You three are so close," she said softly, her slippers making almost no noise on the floor as we walked amongst the last milling guests to the ballroom.
"Yeah," I replied. "I don't even really remember how Esten and I met Leda- we just kept seeing her around, I guess, until she became our friend. Esten and I met when we were recruited, though."
"Training partners?" Zelda asked me interestedly.
"Bunk buddies," I replied with a grin, and then stopped, looking at the big balroom doors in front of me. "Here goes. Zelda, are you sure you want me to escort you?"
"I wouldn't let anyone else," she replied firmly, and nodded to the servants standing in front of the doors. They pulled the towering double doors open, and we walked to the herald at the top of the small staircase. Zelda spoke to him briefly, and then nodded. He stepped forward, clearing his throat, and said loudly, "The Princess Zelda Harkinian and her escort, Sir Link."
"Hardest part is over with," Zelda mumbled to me out of the corner of her mouth as we slowly descended the small stairwell to stand with our fellow revelers. I gave a small laugh, and we began to make the rounds- Zelda greeted many different noblemen and noblewomen, and I soon lost track of who was who of what, just nodding, smiling, and bowing when necessary. After a long while, it seemed she'd greeted everybody, and I went to go get us punch as she spoke briefly with a lovely countessa who she seemed to be friends with- the woman's name was Lovina, if I remembered correctly, and she was the daughter of a southern lord, as attested by her pale brown hair and cinnamon skin.
"How can you do this all the time?" I asked her quietly when I'd returned, drinks in hand. "It's exhausting." Zelda smiled up at me, taking her punch cup and sipping from it briefly.
"How can you march steadfast into battle and swing a sword for hours on end without collapsing?" She replied lightly, beaming fondly from the countessa to myself. "I'd much rather socialize."
This earned a laugh from the countessa, who looked rather pretty in a simple but flattering raspberry velvet gown, with a teasingly modest heart-shaped bodice.
"Lovina, allow me to introduce you to my consort, Sir Link. He's one of my father's favored knights. Link, this is Countessa Lovina Dershire."
"Pleased to make your acquaintance," I said, bowing over her white-gloved hand with all the pomp I had. When I straightened up, Zelda was positively beaming at me.
"Are you fond of riding, Sir Link?" the countessa asked with an indulgent smile.
"Yes, quite, though I'm often too busy to go riding."
"A shame. I enjoy riding quite a bit, but I too rarely have time. Perhaps, though, I could make time..." the countessa turned eagerly to Zelda and asked brightly, "your highness, if you can spare any time within the next week, it would be wonderful to go riding."
"I shall see what I can do," Zelda replied graciously, smiling gratuitously all the same.
The three of us slipped into easy conversation for a while, until the countessa was pulled away for a dance. I caught the hopeful glance Zelda shot me, and asked her gallantly, "would you like to dance, oh glorious princess?"
"You flatter me," she laughed, and allowed me to lead her out onto the floor for a lively gavotte. By the time we finished, she was pink-cheeked and her eyes were sparkling. Unfortunately, one of her hopeful suitors appeared just as the dance ended, and led Zelda away for a stately waltz. Shrugging my shoulders (I'd known it was going to happen anyhow) I went to sit in a corner for a while and observe, as was my hobby.
Zelda was passed from partner to partner for several more hours, taking infrequent breaks for punch, always smiling at me when she did, only to be led away by some other hopeful young man. At last, though, the stream of those vying for her attention thinned, and finally died. She came and sat down to me, attempting to cool herself with a black lace fan, a fine sheen of sweat just barely visible on her glowing skin. Her cheeks were pink, and her chest rose and sank rapidly as she gasped for breath.
"I could use some fresh air. Escort me to the garden?" she asked me, and, hardly waiting, she stood and walked from the room.
By now, the majority of the party was too inebriated to note our less than proper departure, as the hour was drawing late and the punch bowls were never empty. We stepped out into the crisp, cool courtyard and walked along, the grass crunching quietly under our feet.
"Here, this way," Zelda said to me softly, slipping her small hand into my own and leading me through what seemed to be a maze of shrubs and flowers and statues. Though I could probably have navigated this treacherous eden during the day, during night it was a land strange and alien to me. Her little hand pulled me through twisting path after path, around corner after corner. Finally, she slowed as we reached our destination.
"This is my corner," she told me, looking around in satisfaction. Before us was a single concrete bench, surrounded with rose bushes and rosemary plants. She turned to me, smiling nervously. "Do you like it?"
"It's beautiful," I told her, though my eyes were fixated more on her face. As though the moon was enacting a strange sort of gravity on use, Zelda and I were drawn to one another, winding our arms around each other, sighing as our bodies made sweet, comforting contact. She rested her ear against my chest; I leaned my cheek against her brow. We stood there for what felt like a long time in utter contentment, until at last she pulled away, slipping her hand down and twining her fingers with mine.
"Perhaps we should go back in," she said softly, and rejection stung at my chest. As though what she'd just said hit her, she closed her eyes, shaking her head, and smilied sillily. "I didn't mean that, I meant I don't want us to be missed."
"Let's stay out a little longer," I said, smiling down at her and squeezing her fingers with mine as I studied her pertty face, which seemed to glow in the gentle moonlight. She nodded her agreement, blushing a little at my hungry gaze, but did not look away as I drank in the beautiful sight of her. As I gazed upon her, I thought of how she'd looked when she'd first sat down next to me at the campfire so long ago, and then how she'd looked when I told her I'd teach her archery... her bruised and disheveled appearance after we'd tumbled down into the ravine, her smirk when she'd first snuck into my room as Cyssa, the tears in her eyes whenever she confessed all her fear to me, her resigned expression when we returned to the palace, pain in her eyes after the servile rejection of Elenra, the joy when Esten and Amia had readily accepted her into their home...
I'd seen so many different sides of her, proud and strong and fierce and passionate, or cold, upset, angry, or friendly and happy and caring- and they were all beautiful. She was always beautiful, I thought, my heart swelling. Even when she was ready to beat the fire out of me.
"Zelda," I said, speaking aloud my thoughts, "you have to be the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes upon. You're such a wonderful, unique person- I wouldn't give away any of the times we've shared for all the money in the world."
"Even the time I nearly shot you in the foot?" she asked, a little abashed with a nervous smile on her face. Laughing, I lightly cupped the side of her face with my free hand.
"Especially the time you nearly shot me in the foot." We both snickered a little at the memory of me hopping around one-footed in panic, thinking I'd lost my toes, only to have Zelda whacking me over the head with the bow restore me to my normal mind. Even as our laughter died, we remained smiling, and our lips came together, closer and closer. Zelda's dark lashes dropped to touch her cheek as our lips met, and something within my soul burst with joy. Zelda tightened her grip on my hand, and then let go, bringing her arms to rest around my neck. I grasped her by the waist as I parted my lips, seeking entrance to her mouth. Eagerly, she complied, and I felt her gasp with pleasure, pulling herself closer. Passionately, our mouths warred, consuming, and then after a long moment, I pulled away as a thought occurred to me and something heavy in my chest dropped.
"Zelda," I whispered against her skin, shaking, "I'm sorry. I can't do this to you."
"Why not?" She was shaking too, her hands roaming wantonly across my back. My mind began to wander, but I forced it back to present with an unhappy lurch.
"You're a princess. I'm a peasant-knight. I have nothing to recommend myself to you except my blade, heart, and mind. I have no money or power to my name, and only my title to hide behind. Though that may be enough for you, that isn't enough for your people. What'll happen to us when your father forces you to marry some foreign dignitary?"
"It will be fine, Link," Zelda reassured me, looking into my eyes with sympathy. "I promise you. You know me: have I yet proven myself to be a thoughtless creature?"
"No," I replied, carressing her cheek with my thumb. "You've proven to be anything but."
"Then trust me. We will be fine." She stood on her toes, kissing my lips softly again, and grabbed my hand, smiling.
"We'd better go back now," she told me, kissing my fingers. "Before we really are missed, or before I have to force you to see things my way."
"Of course," I responded, a wry smile twisting across my face. We were halfway out of Zelda's corner before she turned to me, a serious expression on her face.
"Link, if I were a peasant..."
"I'd be every bit as knightly and respectful as I am now, and I'd feel exactly the same about you."
"And you'd still look out for me and protect me like you do?"
"No matter what, Zelda, I'll be there for you- even if you are forced to marry some smelly prince from the south, or are usurped, or anything, because I care. I promise," I added, kissing her cheek gently. "I promise I'll do my best not to worry about your throne if you promise not to worry about how much I care, alright?"
"Deal," she said to me, smiling. "Now let's seal it with a kiss."
I gladly complied.