Chapter 3

Anyone catch the joke? The Princess Bride?

Link still had a hold on Zelda's hand as they trudged up Death Mountain together. He led the way up the rocky path and pointed out any trenches along the way. They had decided that a walk up the mountain would allow enough time for her father to cool off considerably and it would give them a long while to be together before another day of pretending.

"What's he like?" He asked suddenly, stepping over a decent sized rock. He looked over his shoulder and saw the confused look on her face. "That new suitor."

The look of recognition was short lived and followed by a look of disgust and hate. She rolled her eyes and snorted as she too stepped over the rock and followed after Link. She now was even more thankful that she had not worn heels.

"He's real smug. I can tell he's going to be one of the ones who thinks every woman on earth is head over heels for him. Well not me." She muttered that last part to herself but Link still heard it. He grinned and turned his head completely around to look at her. She caught the wide smile.

"What?"

"You're amazing." He answered simply. This brought a smile to her face as well and the two paused a moment on the slope to kiss. He spun her around in a circle and could now see up the hill. Boy was he glad he had done that for at the moment he spotted a Goron rolling at a high speed towards them.

"Watch out!" He shouted, whirling Zelda in a complete circle before slamming her up against the mountainside, his hands pressing against the rock on either side of her head while he brought a knee up to rest beside her hip.

The oblivious Goron whizzed past them and Link pulled back to watch him disappear down the trail before turning back to Zelda. He looked at her apologetically and rubbed the back of her hand with his hand.

"What a carefree race. I didn't hurt you did I?" She laughed lightly at his first comment while shaking her head to answer his question.

The two continued their hike and soon reached the next level with a much narrower path. Link maneuvered Zelda in front of him, keeping his hands resting gently on her hips to guide her along the route while they continued their conversation.

"He saw me as Sheik. Didn't seem revolted or anything." She still couldn't believe that Garin hadn't screamed something about never marrying a cross dresser and hitting the road so fast that it hit back. Instead he had continued to stare as if he knew what she looked like naked. It made her feel uneasy.

"I think it's kinda sexy Zel." Link said amusedly, kissing the top of her head tenderly.

"Link!" She scolded, turning her head to the side with a fake look of shock on her pretty features. He laughed and buried his face into her neck, inhaling the perfume she had rubbed into her skin earlier.

"But you as yourself is even sexier." He murmured huskily against her skin. He felt the shivers roll through her and pulled back to nip at her ear. She nearly turned all the way around to have her way with him but knew it was impossibly narrow.

"I would hope so." She said in all seriousness.

"You're strong, outspoken, and funny, you're cute, and you have your own mind. You are the perfect girl Zel. How do you do it?"

"Well Link," she continued walking and face forward, sounding as if she were being interviewed, "I've had a great mentor."

"Ah I see – the brains behind the woman. What's he like? Level with me Princess."

"He's a very strong man you see, and incredibly good looking. I just can't stand it when he wears those open chested shirts. Why I would love it if he would just lay me out on that work bench…" She was only half kidding.

Link was quiet for a moment and he too was resisting the urge to find a place to make love to this beautifully sex-crazed angel of his. He finally restrained himself and answered, picking up on her hints.

"Noted my princess, I can set that up some time." He wasn't kidding at all.

She turned as they finally reached the top and grabbed a fistful of his tunic, tugging him down to her level. She bit his earlobe gently before whispering into his ear in a seductive tone.

"How about tonight?"

He gulped and tried to keep his insanity. Here he was, with the woman he loved on a fairly secluded mountaintop in the middle of the day. He was so crazy in love with her that every time he laid eyes on her his heart nearly exploded with the feeling. It was more than lust, so much more, but the tension between them was something strong as well.

"I don't know if I want you to risk it again. Remember what happened last time?" He held her at arms length, trying his hardest to ignore the way she looked up at him with those gorgeous eyes.

"It doesn't matter Link. It just doesn't matter. You said it yourself in the market place." She answered strenuously, sitting down on a boulder with a huff. She rested her chin on her fists and looked down at the rocky terrain with hate clear in her eyes.

"I love you more than I have ever loved another person or anything else. Why did I have to be born into royalty? Why couldn't I be a commoner? I envy them. I envy you."

"No Zelda no." Link sat down beside her and took her hands, holding them in his own.

"Listen to me. You are a wonderful ruler and Hyrule is blessed to have you as their Princess. You make life changing decision for them and help me and the Sages to keep the land safe. As for envying me…you don't. Do you know what it's like to see you with a suitor? Do you know how much restraint it takes to not pull out an arrow and send it flying through their chests? No Zelda, this is the perfect life for you." He leaned forward and kissed her forehead.

"And I love you too. More than anything in the whole world. Which is why I am looking out for you like this. Which is why we keep this a secret. But soon I will find a way that we can be together."

Zelda stared intently up at him and felt the love he felt for her overflowing his heart and flooding over her. It made her chest ache but in such a good way. A smile broke out on her face and she threw her arms around him.

"Oh Link. I will wait forever. I would. You know I would." She whispered into his tunic as he held her close as well. He stroked back her long locks with his long fingers and nodded.

"I know Zel. And I you." He tilted her chin back and captured her lips with his own and tasted the sweetness and the sincerity that coursed through her entire being. She told him no lies. She really would wait for him for the rest of her days and if necessary hide their love until they both died.

But he wanted more for her. He wanted her to be able to have a big wedding with a breathtaking dress and a wealthy, loving groom who would take care of her and pick her up whenever she fell down. He wanted her to live in the castle and raise a family; her kids would be the loveliest in all the world. But Link knew in his heart that despite him being a commoner with little money, he could provide Zelda with the love she thirsted for and the support she needed. Goddesses he would die for this woman.

A low rumbling interrupted the silence and Link furrowed his brow, looking around for whatever had made the noise. He looked down and saw Zelda flushing a bright pink. He then knew what the noise had been.

"Hungry are you?" He asked with a laugh.

"I forgot to eat breakfast when…nothing." She was about to get up but he was curious now. He cupped her cheek with one hand while placing the other protectively on her thigh. Why he was getting protective at the moment he didn't know. Perhaps it was the tone in her voice, leading him to think that someone had upset her.

"What? What happened?" He questioned.

"Nothing. It's stupid." She muttered under her breath. He raised an eyebrow.

"If it's so stupid then why not tell me?" She sighed in response.

"Prince Erik said I had an 'icy personality' and then said something about it being easier to marry Princess Luna than me." She was surprised when Link broke out in a fit of laughter, a tear rolling from his eye. Zelda hit him in the arm like the wife had done in the market place.

"It isn't funny." She tried to sound hurt and got up, starting for the way down. His arms trapped her waist and he rested his chin on her shoulder.

"Sorry Zel but you an icy personality? Shows how much he knows. You've helped the homeless in Hyrule and kept everyone safe for years. You make friends with commoners and stole one of their hearts. Icy is the opposite of what you are." He nuzzled up to her neck.

"And Princess Luna isn't easier to marry. Trust me, I know."

"Oh really? How was the sex?" Zelda asked, raising an eyebrow of her own. She and Link both had matching grins and he lifted his head from her shoulder.

"Terrible. She couldn't stop looking at herself." They both laughed aloud, leaning forward to lean on each other's foreheads. When the laughter ended they both stood in the same position, both of them wrapping their arms around the other's neck.

"What will I do with you?" She asked quietly. He smiled crookedly, one of Zelda's turn ons. She eyed it with longing eyes.

"Make a man out of me. I'm still a boy at heart." He proclaimed innocently, trying to look as childish as possible. It worked out in his favor and Zelda stepped back to ruffle his hair like a mother would her kid.

"Aww. How sad. Well why don't you go and see Princess Luna about that." She walked away from him and started down the narrow path back down. She turned only once.

"Or rather, why not see Ruto? She's still single…" Link visibly paled at the princess's playful words and he remembered the fishy princess trying to marry him. He frowned, pointing a threatening finger at her.

"Oh you're gonna get it Princess." He promised icily, taking a half step forward. She turned and darted down the dirt path, dust and debris flying up after her. Link chased after her and the two ran all the way down Death Mountain, reaching Kakariko Village sweaty and ready for some food.

They were careful to put distance between themselves while passing through the village, making sure that they didn't touch once. Link mostly walked behind Zelda with his hands folded behind his back as if he were a wise teacher or something. Zelda tried to keep from laughing and he noticed.

"Alright missy," he yanked on her ear as they began down the steps, "you can laugh all you want at me but the mentor will punish you."

"What kind of punishment?" She asked curiously.

"One that requires a private room, candlelight, an open chested shirt," he bent down to her ear and whispered the last part, "and shackles."

"Eww! Link! That's so gross!" She shrieked after him as he jogged over the bridge. She followed after him and they slowly made their way back to the market place, keeping a safe distance once more, and finally reaching the castle.

"I have to go and change. My father is already mad about earlier and so I'd better freshen up this time." Zelda told Link in a hushed tone. She stood on the first stair leading up to the next level in the foyer. Link stood on the other side of the railing, holding onto one of her hands.

"Alright. But I want you to know that you look stunning just like this." She leaned down after he'd finished his compliment and they kissed quickly before the doors to the throne room opened. They pulled back and Link reluctantly let go of her small hand.

"Ah, Princess, I was wondering when I would see you as yourself." Garin strolled towards the two and either didn't notice Link's ferocious expression for interrupting the moment or ignored it. His eyes sparkled oddly as he looked at her.

"Yes well I'll be going to change. Have you met my mentor? Link?" She nodded towards the fuming young man, trying his hardest not to unsheathe his sword and cut this guy to pieces.

"Link. Well it is nice to meet you." Garin then turned his attention back to Zelda.

"When you have changed would you care to take a walk with me?"

"I'm sorry but Link and I were going to have our breakfast. Maybe another time." She started up the stairs when Garin spoke again.

"I know what that means. It means that you'll just keep telling me that until I go away. Well I think that you are too beautiful a woman and too intelligent to let go." He nodded to the both of them before leaving just as quickly as he had come.

"The nerve of that…" Link produced swear words that Zelda had never even heard of. She nearly returned to his side to calm him but instead blew him a kiss and attempted to ease him.

"I will be down soon." She promised, continuing up the stairs.

Link watched her walk all the way up and didn't move even after she had disappeared from his view. He waited for her to return but cast one look at the castle doors where Garin had exited. Something about him was creepy…