GOS: LOOK! One more chapter is up! I hope this will make up for the total lack of chapters for the past few months. Oh, and I would like to mention to the few loonies who keep re-reading chapter twelve, you're really messing up the stats. Print it out or something for the love of the Goddesses! But we love ya! -huggles-

Shrimpy: I wrote the part where he says he first fell in love! I feel so cheesy. I wrote more than that, of course, but that's the only part I'm claiming. It's so nice to know you guys are still reading our story even though we were gone forever...We'd be nothing without you! Hmm...I just realized...We've taken thirteen chapters to get past two temples. This is going to be hooge.

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Chapter 13:

Duet

The chamber of sages was brighter than before, lit by the gently pulsing glow of three pedestals of the Sages now, rather than just the two that had been doing so before. It was silent and peaceful, and Link slumped heavily against Shiek in relief. The pedestal of Fire was occupied now by a wide and round figure who laughed gregariously at seeing Link, who despite his pained and bleeding state grinned lopsidedly at his old friend.

"Brother!" Darunia shouted a loud welcome, slapping his knees good-naturedly. His arms were like tree-trunks.

"It's good...t'see ya again...brother..." Link said, haltingly; the pain was distracting to say the least, and he was having a difficult time staying awake through the agony. Zelda, still disguised as Shiek, lowered him gently to the marble floor of the center dais.

"Normally I would give you a great big hug!" Darunia exclaimed enthusiastically, "But it doesn't look like you're up to it, Brother! You take this medallion, and I'll stay here in the chamber."

The Goron Chieftain flipped a shining red coin at Sheik, who caught it without moving from her crouched position of support at Link's side. "I'm hoping for your victory, Brother! And thanks, for saving my people yet again!" With a bow and a bright flash, Sheik and Zelda found themselves sitting, exhausted in the center of the Volcano, on a round pedestal emblazoned with the Triforce. Link went suddenly limp.

"Link!" Sheik cried, real concern in her face and voice. "Link, please don't die!"

"M'sorry..." He mumbled, lips barely moving. "...Think m'gonna...pass out..."

And so, he did. The Hero didn't see anything but blackness for what seemed like forever until he woke to the Princess splashing cool water on his arm and side, trying to sooth the angry burns there. Link moaned in pain, but didn't move. Zelda looked up at his face, instantly attentive.

"Link?" She inquired softly, trying not to wake him if he were still out of it, else to be gentle if he were not. "Are you awake?"

"...Yeah...not too happy about it..." He cracked open an eye, turning his head to take in his surroundings. They were in the cave-entryway between the secret Throne-Room entrance and the way into the Fire Temple. Zelda was both female and dressed in a stripped-down version of her usual gown. It was both thinner and looser than the original article, making for something that was much cooler for the wearer. The Goron-clothing was laying crumpled against the wall. "Hey...You're a girl..." He smiled softly up at her, trying to move as little as possible as he breathed.

"How are you feeling?" She asked gently. "You got beat up pretty bad."

"I'm not doin' so good, but I'll live." Link winced as the cold water dripped across a particularly sensitive exposed nerve. "...maybe."

"I feel really bad...I should have done more to help you! I should have..." Zelda twisted a section of her skirt in her hands guiltily. "You're always the one in danger while I just...support you. You're saving my kingdom, and I want to do more to help. It's...my desire to help you," She said innocently, leaning over him earnestly. "...I want to help."

Links eyes went wide, and he gasped, despite the continued pain. Zelda probably didn't realize that as she leaned forward she was showing Link more and more of her...chest...but Link was certainly aware of that little detail. His face went red and his mind went to the gutter. 'Oh, my god...she's not going to do something like that for real...is she?' He squeezed his eyes shut, face blossoming impressively.

Then, he felt a sensation which was at once numbing and soothing...and the pain in his side, arm and leg lifted with a feeling that was much like lifting a weight from them. Involuntarily he sighed, muscles tensed from the pain, relaxing comfortably. "Oh..." He mumbled, opening his eyes.

Zelda was still leaned over him, hands hovering over his wounds, glowing with healing magic. Her eyes were closed in concentration, so it surprised Link when she spoke. "I can't really heal them, I'm still learning...but I can hold back the pain for a while...When we get back into town, I'm sure we can find a trained healer to fix you...before we leave, that is."

Link nodded appreciatively, masking his slight disappointment in the outcome of that little encounter. "...Thanks. It's not easy to fake like you care when everything hurts like that."

Zelda opened her eyes, and the glow faded from her hands. Link winced, bracing himself for the return of the pain. It didn't, and he relaxed again. Zelda grinned. "It'll last about a day, Kappa-boy..."

Normally this would have had Link up in arms, but the way she had said it...it had sounded fond, almost an endearment. So, he let it slide, gingerly levering himself onto his feet with one hand. "Okay...We better go say 'hi' to a bunch of Gorons and get out of here. You don't want to be around when they break out the alcoholic drinks."

Zelda nodded and grabbed his knee to keep him from moving. "Let me wrap your leg first...you're still bleeding a little."

...A few moments and a bandage later, Zelda and Link made an appearance to a great crowd of cheering Goron. It took more than a few hours for them to push past the great celebrating throng of rock-eaters towards the door and their packs. The two had already begun to shoulder their burdens and be on their way when there was a great call for music.

Zelda looked at Link, puzzled, and he flushed and laughed, holding his arms up good-naturedly. "Brothers, Sisters! I couldn't possibly-" But he was cut off by a wave of shouts for 'the forest song' Link laughed, and Zelda smiled at his easy-going way of fitting in here.

"Alright...Alright! I'll play it!" A great cheer went up and Zelda looked sharply at him.

"Play?" She asked him softly.

"There's a song Saria taught me a long time ago...I'm not very good, but...they like it!" Link rummaged quickly in his bag before producing a scruffy-looking green Ocarina. "It's not hard..." Link hummed the first few bars to her. "...You can play countermelody, right? Play with me?" He smiled.

Zelda nodded decidedly, retrieving her own smooth and well-kept ocarina. The two of them took a place on a ledge above the crowd. The Gorons cheered and whistled, turning expectant faces up towards the two.

And then, they began.

In retrospect, Link never could remember how he had played, or if he made any mistakes...or if Zelda started playing by the second or third repetition. All he knew is that at some point he opened his eyes to find himself looking at the Princess with new eyes as they played the sprightly duet. She truly was beautiful, and although he wouldn't figure it out until much, much later...it was that moment when he really fell in love, for the first time.

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...of course the Gorons insisted on them playing it again...and then another song...then another. It was past Midnight when they finally managed to escape.

"Please! As the heros, you simply must stay the night!" A loud Goron woman exclaimed, looming over the two as they tried to make good their escape.

"It's alright," Link told her, smiling in a friendly way. "We have soft beds waiting for us down below!"

"Nonsense!" Cried the Goron, thumping them both enthusiastically on the back, sending both Link and Zelda to the floor. "I insist you stay!"

"Okay," He gasped from the floor, all breath knocked out of him.

And so they spent the night on hard rock slabs...'softest shale in town,' or so they were told. It was an uncomfortable and difficult way to spend the night.

But, then again, who can resist the eager hospitality of the Goron?

------------To Be Continued------------