I had absolutely no idea how long this kiss scene would take to write! I managed to get to get to the 800-word mark pretty quick...and then hit a wall. I couldn't think of how to finish setting up the actual kiss in the kiss scene! Finally managed to figure it out tonight. Sheesh! I sure hope the next one isn't too difficult to write. Then again, it will be a Link/Zelda pairing, and those always the hardest for me to do. Welp, here's to hoping it goes smoothly!
Also, for any Lord of the Rings fans, the title of this story is a quote from Return of the King!
As always, if you enjoy this one-shot, or have any ideas for how to make these kiss scenes better, please leave a review down below! Thanks again!
It was a sudden rumbling of the ground underfoot that first alerted the four teenagers in Lorule Castle that they ought to flee. There was so much that all four wished to discuss in the aftermath of the absolute debacle they'd just come out of, but it couldn't be said now. Queen Hilda of Lorule knew all too well what these vibrations meant.
Loath as she was to be alone after everything that had happened, it was time to part ways with her new acquaintances.
"Come with me," she urged her companions. "We may only get one chance at this." And at her words, Link, Zelda, and Ravio bolted after her.
They rushed through several floors of the castle, following Hilda's lead.
As she guided them, she couldn't help but lament the entire lead-up to this point. She supposed that if her ancestors hadn't destroyed Lorule's Triforce, they wouldn't be in this mess to begin with, but she knew, too, that she was just as much to blame. Sure, the land was falling apart without a Triforce, but to steal Hyrule's was perhaps the most insensitive and selfish course of action she could have taken. Ravio had tried to warn her, but she hadn't listened.
Now the land was finally surrendering to the degradation of not having a Triforce, and beginning its final collapse. Soon, she and all of Lorule's people would perish. As queen, it was her duty to face the country's end with her people. But she could save Link and Zelda - and Ravio too, if he chose.
The four teens came now to a sizable monolith at the back of Lorule Castle. There was a shimmering, multicolored crack down the middle, courtesy of her rogue advisor Yuga's world-hopping magic. It was here that she could enact her final plan to ensure the survival of her friends. As they stopped before the monolith, Hilda turned to the others and explained, "There's enough time for me to send the three of you back to Hyrule. It's been an honor knowing all of you."
"The two of them," Ravio cut in, and all three of the others knew what he meant by that.
Hilda sighed in resignation and nodded once, then flourished her staff, capped with its replica of Lorule's Triforce. The shaking ground didn't break her concentration, nor did the fact that this was her first time casting the spell. Link and Zelda briefly glowed with a blinding light, before vanishing into the crack in the monolith.
Hilda staggered to her knees from the strain the spell put on her, leaning on her staff to keep from falling completely in her back. Ravio quickly stepped in to grab her arms, drawing her back up to get feet. For several seconds they stood gazing at each other, memorizing the other's features, knowing full well that it might be the image they'd take with them to the grave.
At last Hilda spoke, straining to make herself heard over the rumbling earth: "I wish there were still a way to save this world."
Even over the background noise, Ravio caught the bitter regret in Hilda's tone. "There's nothing for it, your grace," he replied frankly. "The world may be ending, but I'm not leaving."
Hilda couldn't help the small, sad smile that appeared on her face, seconds before she wrapped her Hero in a tight embrace, one he returned without hesitation. They stayed like that as the minutes ticked by, enjoying the warmth in each other's arms while the earth shook with ever-increasing intensity.
And then, rather suddenly, the shaking faded. The chilly wind that had been threatening to tear the two apart quieted to a breeze, and the air was warmer than Hilda remembered it ever being. The queen and her Hero parted, baffled by the sudden calm. It was Ravio who noticed it first, for Hilda saw his eyes widen and jaw drop as he looked over her shoulder. She turned to see what had affected Ravio, and her breath caught in her throat.
Floating above the monolith, as if in a divine vision, was the Triforce - Lorule's Triforce - point-down as a reflection of its counterpart in Hyrule. Above it, the smoky crimson clouds that had ever covered Lorule were rolling away as if fleeing its radiance. Hilda almost didn't dare believe her eyes, wondering if she and everyone else had already died and this was simply the afterlife. But, after mentally checking herself to ascertain if she still had her senses, she realized she was, indeed, still alive. She could feel the pinch she gave her arm; she could smell the sweetness of the clearing air; she still breathed and her heart still continued to beat.
Which meant this Triforce was real.
"They saved us again," Ravio breathed. "Link and Zelda...they must've made a wish on their Triforce."
For several seconds, neither of them said a word. The only appreciable sound from either of them was Hilda's breath, which came in great pants as her body came down from the adrenaline rush of knowing she was about to die.
Then, a quiet huff as the corners of the queen's lips rose. Another, and they rose further. Hilda's laugh started out soft, then rose in intensity as her smile turned into an ecstatic grin. Ravio was laughing along with her at this point, deeper and heartier than she would've ever thought possible from his light frame. Without warning, she turned and flung her arms round his neck again. He was ready for it, though, and wound his own arms tightly around her waist. So for the second time in the last ten minutes, they found themselves tightly embracing, but in joyful exuberance, rather than in their previous despair.
Ravio's breath caught once in the midst of his laughter, and Hilda felt a couple wet drops land on her shoulder, an instant before she felt her own eyes water. Yet neither of their tears went further than that, and their chuckles continued, softer now than at first.
At least, until Hilda's rose in a sudden sparkling peal, and in her exuberance she smashed her lips against Ravio's. There was nothing delicate about that kiss, just raw, unfiltered joy, and almost as soon as she'd started, she pulled away, her grin still threatening to split her face.
She saw that Ravio's laughter had been abruptly stilled as he looked right back at her, eyes bulging in an expression of nervous bewilderment, his cheeks suddenly ruddier than before. With that, Hilda realized her Hero hadn't at all been expecting the sudden kiss. She could practically see the conflict in his eyes about how to interpret it.
Her own laughter had quieted down now, as she rested her forehead against that of her Hero. She wasn't surprised at his nervousness; it was, quite honestly, Ravio's normal state of being. But just this once, she wanted him to throw caution to the winds. And so…
"Don't overthink it," she whispered, "just take it for what it is." And once again, her lips found his, gently this time; she wanted him to know she meant it. Yet it wasn't until one of her hands slid its way up to his cheek that it finally clicked for Ravio. And Hilda wasn't disappointed: she finally felt the hesitant opening and closing of his lips as he timidly kissed her back. Thankful that he was accepting - and returning - her affections, the queen took a chance and pressed her lips harder against his. His only response was a quiet hum as he pressed her tightly against himself.
A minute into it, the two became aware of a soft golden light nearly in their faces. Curious, Ravio pulled away, eliciting a small, discontented noise from Hilda's throat. Any further grumbling, however, was forestalled, when Hilda turned to see the Triforce right beside them, close enough to reach out and touch.
Ravio looked back at her with a cheeky grin. "You'd best not keep it waiting," he jibed, "go on, think of a wish."
Hilda, though, had other ideas. "I'm not sure I can think of anything off the top of my head," she answered slyly, an eyebrow raised. "I'll bet you've got an idea."
Ravio blinked. "Well, there was one thing…" he said bashfully, before leaning in and, in an undertone, whispering his idea into his queen's ear.
Hilda beamed at him, pulling him into another embrace. "I think it's a wonderful wish," she whispered in return, capturing his lips in hers once more, briefly this time. "Go on then," she continued, "All you have to do is touch it."
Ravio hesitated for a second, looking down, then back into Hilda's eyes. "Together?" he asked simply. Another couple seconds, then the queen nodded, and the two reached out with their hands.
As one, Hero and Queen touched the Triforce.
What was Ravio's idea? I know exactly what it was...but you'll just have to guess! Mwahahahahaaaa!
Anyway, I hope y'all enjoyed this one!