*** I started writing this story because my imagination ran away with me, thinking about how I would have liked Link and Zelda's lives to continue after the end of the game. It was my first serious foray into writing since I was in my 20s. At this point, it's just a feel-good story, but I'm trying to figure out a good ending for it. In the meantime, Larissa's Tale popped almost fully-formed into my mind, and it insisted that I drop this story and write it instead, and it turned out to be basically a prequel to this one. In light of that, I have done some rewriting of this story to have it fit with Larissa's Tale. I know a few people read the original version, but I'm hoping you might reread it AND read Larissa's Tale, and let me know how you like both of them!

Side note: I start this story with a bit of backstory for the benefit of my test reader friends who haven't played the game (or ANY Zelda games - what's wrong with them?). You can skip ahead a few paragraphs if you wish. ***

Chapter One - Back story, and attempted seduction

Link wasn't tall, but his diminutive stature never hindered him. His swordsmanship was without peer. Everything he learned, he learned quickly, and became the best at. He spoke little, but his gaze was intense and penetrating, seeing every detail in his surroundings. His silence belied his keen intelligence. Of course, before he was assigned to be my personal knight, that penetrating gaze just made me uncomfortable. I thought him sullen and angry, perhaps even a bit simple, but once we were forced to spend long periods together, he turned out to be very observant, patient, and dedicated.

His presence was a great irritation to me at first; I wanted to be left to my research and not have someone attached to my proverbial skirts. He hardly let me out of his sight. I admit I lost my temper with him a few times, even though – or perhaps BECAUSE – I knew he was acting under my father's orders. Eventually, however, his failure to appear either chastened or angered by my outbursts kindled my curiosity. I began to ask him questions, to try and get to know what made him tick, much like I tried to learn about the Guardians and the Divine Beasts. Except that HE was able to respond to my questions in a much more forthcoming manner.

His face could be quite expressive when I plied him with food and questions, and we even laughed together on several occasions. The look of disgust on his face when I teased him once about tasting a medicinal frog was most amusing. During our travels together to the Springs and to our allies, we spent numerous evenings cooking our dinner at stable cookpots and talking late into the night. But there were times... times when I would catch him looking at me with absolutely no expression, as if he had trained himself to reveal nothing of his thoughts when he wished them to remain secret. Those were the times I most wondered what he was really thinking. If only I could catch a real emotion on his face at one of those times, catch some clue as to how he felt about me. Did he detest me for not being able to fulfill my role, for not being able to access the sacred power that had been passed on to me from my maternal lineage? Did he pity me?

One rainy afternoon, our travels were interrupted by a surprise thunderstorm, and we sheltered under a large spreading tree. As I watched him gracefully practicing his swordplay to pass the time, I recalled a day when he had leaped in valiantly with that same sword and rescued me from Yiga foot soldiers who had attacked me near Kara Kara Bazaar, and I realized that what I really wanted was for him to desire me, as I found myself beginning to desire him. Had he rescued me solely out of duty that day, or did he truly care about me? In retrospect, I believe that day he stood between me and my would-be assassins was the day I first started to fall in love with him. Since then, I realized, our relationship had become more friendly than before; could it have been because we both had unspoken things between us?

The day I learned of his true feelings for me was a rather tempestuous one. Link and I stood upon the battlement between my tower study and my bedchamber, watching the Sheikah scientists learning to control and maneuver a Guardian. I was so excited that we were unlocking new secrets every day; I felt confident that with our newly-discovered knowledge we would be able to defeat Ganon once and for all the next time it reared its evil head. I was chattering away to Link about it, when my father suddenly appeared through the doorway leading from my bedchamber.

He was angry, as usual, accusing me of not doing everything I could to stimulate the dormant sealing power that would seal Ganon away without relying on the use of ancient technology we still didn't fully understand. I had visited the Spring of Courage, offered fervent prayers to the Goddess Hylia, but received no revelation whatsoever. But my father could not be convinced; he spoke to me coldly about what the gossipmongers were saying about me. Link had knelt at my father's appearance, and kept his head humbly down, but I knew he was listening to every cruel word. My father forbade me to have anything to do with the ancient machines from that moment on, and left me with a commandment to focus only on my training.

In utter humiliation, I had changed into my riding clothes and run to the stables to take solace in spending time with my loyal steed. Cavalier, as I called him, had no knowledge of my failures as a princess, and would never judge me. I had had a private cry while changing my clothes, and felt drained, but was giving myself an inward pep talk and preparing myself for the journey to the next Spring, the Spring of Power, telling myself that this time, my prayers would be heard. I would receive my revelation, and redeem myself in my father's eyes.

I was grooming Cavalier and speaking sweetly to him as he munched contentedly on the apple I'd given him when I felt his – Link's – eyes upon me. Without turning my body, I stole a glance over my shoulder toward the doorway and was surprised to see him smiling softly, his gaze full of tenderness. I suppose my fondness for Cavalier was something he could relate to; Link had a way with horses, especially his dear companion, Epona. He had given me a few training pointers in the past. When I turned toward him, his expression turned neutral, but the memory of that sweet gaze emboldened me to do something I had never done before. After my father's upbraiding, I felt a strong desire to have someone, a male someone, be tender toward me.

I set down my curry comb and smiled coyly at him. "Enjoying the show?"

He had the humility to blush slightly, but otherwise did not respond.

"Surely not as much as I enjoy watching you practicing with your sword," I continued, swaying coquettishly toward him, watching his face carefully for any sign of reciprocation. "I honestly get butterflies in my belly watching you." Truly, I had butterflies at that very moment. I boldly stroked my fingertips down his bicep. "To be quite candid, I find you very handsome and... stimulating, my valiant knight." I boldly held his gaze as I spoke, and his face grew steadily pinker. His ears were actually bright red.

"May I confess something to you, Link?" He nodded almost imperceptibly, and I noticed that his chest was rising and falling quickly, and his composure was beginning to fray around the edges. "I'm becoming quite fond of you. In fact," and here I paused a moment for dramatic effect, "I believe I may be falling in love with you."

His eyes widened and his mouth dropped open slightly in surprise at this news, and I felt triumphant and excited. I took one of his hands in both of mine and lifted it before my bosom. I knew he would never presume to take the initiative, so I plunged ahead myself. "Dear Link... may I kiss you?" I leaned tentatively forward, still holding his hand.

He glanced around to make certain we were alone, then leaned toward me slowly, his eyes fastened firmly to mine. I smiled my most tempting smile and leaned toward him, my gaze sliding to his mouth as he nervously wet his still-open lips with his tongue. I closed my eyes as our lips pressed tenderly together. My heart jumped into my throat, and the excitement of my first kiss nearly choked me. His hand came up, seemingly involuntarily, and touched my cheek intimately, but he pulled himself away suddenly, as if he'd been burned. I was gasping for breath and nearly out of my mind with feelings that were alien to me.

"What's wrong, Link?" I asked, feeling a bit confused.

"You are a princess," he stated, rather shamefaced, "and I am but your humble servant. It is not right for me to take liberties such as this."

I still had hold of his hand, and I raised it to my lips and began kissing his dear fingertips one by one. "My dear Link, you are not the one taking liberties. I was the one who expressed my feelings. I believe you feel the same. I've never felt this way about anyone before. I would very much like to explore these feelings with you."

"If your father found out... I could lose my place not only as YOUR knight, but as a servant of ANY sort in Hyrule Castle."

An idea struck me. "Link, you're a good climber, right? How difficult would it be for you to climb to my study and then creep across the battlement to my personal chamber?"

"I would be betraying your father's trust." I thought I detected a hint of something in his voice that suggested he was conflicted, yet he had to maintain his honor; however, he said nothing more.

"What about MY trust? What about what I want? I want the pleasure of your company in a safe and comfortable place. We only get to be together when we're traveling, and we can never REALLY relax together."

He didn't answer, and his continued silence exasperated me. I am sorry to say I lost patience all too quickly; I felt I had needlessly embarrassed myself, perhaps misread him. "Go on, get out of here. I don't need an escort in my own stables. I'm sorry I said anything to you. I'm sorry I'm just a duty to you after all."

He set his face into that expression that was not an expression, stiffened his back, turned, and left without a backward glance.