Chapter Nineteen - Rainy Days
Link tossed his hat onto the counter and flopped onto the couch. "Home sweet home, eh Zelda? It's not much, but it'll do."
"It does just fine. Besides, it'll be like a campout," she responded cheerfully.
"You got a point there," Sarah replied, dropping a small bag on the table. "I'm gonna go out to the town and pick up some stuff for breakfast."
"You sure? It looks like a storm's brewing," Zelda warned.
"Don't worry, I'll be fine. I doubt I'll get rained out," Sarah replied as she left.
-
"Zelda, stop pacing and sit down. Sarah's fine, and you're making me antsy."
Zelda nodded and sat down next to him. "You think so?"
"I'm sure of it," Link replied, trying to reassure himself as much as he was Zelda.
"What would I do without you, Link?" she asked.
"Probably start pacing again," he replied, trying not to laugh.
She did laugh. "I was being rhetorical."
"I know. Luckily, you'll never have to know, because I don't plan on leaving," Link said, putting his arm around her shoulder.
They looked out as the sky darkened. Zelda noticed that Link, not usually the romantic type, still had his arm around her shoulder. She was surprised, yes, but not disappointed. Tired, she took advantage of the situation and curled up on the couch against Link, laying her head on his shoulder.
Link adjusted himself to accommodate her, wrapping his arm around her. He leaned back against the couch, making them both comfortable.
"Link, did you ever think we would end up here?"
"A few times, but I could fly and there wasn't as much rain."
"That's not what I-"
"I know, Zellie, I was just joking. And no, had someone told me a year ago that we'd be here like this, I would have laughed. But now," he said, "it just feels, well, right."
She nodded and stared out the window, watching as the rain that had started so suddenly continued to pour down. Straining, she could barely see the outline of the castle. Just as the rain drumming on the roof became almost rhythmical and soothing, there was a flash of lightning and the ever-present thunder.
"Link?" Zelda said, her quiet voice all but drowned out by the continuing thunder.
Link felt Zelda's body tense every time the thunder crashed. He wrapped his arms protectively around her. "Don't worry," he whispered as another thunderclap sent her shaking. "I've got you."
-
Link awoke quickly to a loud banging sound, as if someone had dropped a bag of metal on the ground. He blinked a few times to clear the blur that always seems to develop during the night from his eyes with no success, and as he did so, a weight shifted off of him, taking away the warmth. Mumbling, he reached out to pull the covers back on him, but instead of finding his thick, fleecy covers, he instead grabbed onto something that was remarkably soft and smooth. He moved, and the warmth returned with a thump upon him.
"Good morning to you too," Zelda said, sitting up.
Link opened his eyes. "Zellie? Wh…what're you…wait…what'm I…where…" he mumbled as he sat up and looked around for a second. "Wait…we're…you…did I…did we…" he grumbled in confusion before finally flopping back on the couch. "Too much thinking," he groaned as last night's memories flooded back.
"Sounds like you two had an exciting night."
"Sarah?"
"That's my name! Just got back from the castle. Of course, I walk in and see you two curled up together on the couch covered up with my blanket no less. To top it all off, you don't even remember what happened." She stopped, then let off a loud squeal as she rushed to Zelda. "Finally!"
Link stood up quickly. "I'm, uh, gonna go, um, anywhere but here!" he said as he dashed out of the house.
A/N: See?
