CHAPTER 4

Zelda looked at Link uncertainly, wondering just what he was doing. Then without warning, he stopped Epona. Zelda quickly stopped her mare as well, almost hitting Epona. She noticed that he hid his face in shadows.

Suddenly he started laughing, quietly at first but then it grew. When he raised his head she noticed that his eyes were once again warm like when she first met him at the Lon Lon Ranch. And before she knew it, she was smiling.

"I'm sorry I had to say such mean things to you, it's just, here I'm expected to act very serious and what if your father found out that we knew each other? He'd surely tell my mother and we'd both be in trouble." Link explained. "I didn't know you were faking it, I thought-" Zelda looked down sadly.

"You thought I didn't want to be around you. Don't worry about it, I only act that way when I have to. I didn't mean anything by it." Link patted her shoulder. Zelda smiled, hiding a flush. "Now, let's forget about all that for now and let's go see Malon." Link suddenly saw a small amount of disagreement in her eyes, the kind he knew very well. "Or would you like to just hang out with me?" He added. "Sure." She mumbled, still smiling.

Link nudged Epona into a walk. "Well come on then." Zelda nudged her horse into a run, passing Link by.

"So I gather you don't mind being a friend to a thief?" Link asked, smiling slightly as he watched the clouds roll by on a small hill overlooking the gates to Lake Hylia. Zelda sat up and tilted her head to the side.

"What?" She asked. Link looked at her out of the corner of his eye, a long sigh escaping from his mouth.

"So then Malon didn't tell you?" He added partially to himself.

Zelda's eyes widened as she remembered the conversation she had had with Malon only a week or two ago.

"Who was that guy and what was he doing here so late?" She asked. "His name is Link, he's Nabooru's son. He usually comes here at night but not that late, not like last night. Usually around nine or ten. Wonder why he was late. Anyway, he comes here to train his mare, Epona, since he's always on the road he needs to keep her active. Or so he says." Malon finished.

"Nabooru's son? Then that would make him-" Zelda began. "-The prince of Gerudo's" Malon added. "Wow, you should invite him to come riding with us." Zelda said, smiling. "Are you interested in him already?" Laughed Malon, seeing her friends' face go red. "Well I can't really do that. You see, he lives in Gerudo's fortress. Do you know how hard it is for anyone to get in there? Plus, he only seems to come out during the night." Malon added, continuing. "He isn't royal like you. He's not, er, proper I guess." She finished.

"What? What do you mean he isn't proper?" Zelda asked. "He's a thief." Malon blurted out. Zelda laughed. "Now now Malon, stop playing games." She giggled.

She had brushed it all off as Malon teasing her, it had seemed way to farfetched to be real, a thief prince. She had never heard of such a thing.

"So you really are a thief?" She gasped and quickly stood up, a deep frown apparent on her face. "You stole from me! That's how you knew where I lived! That's how you knew who I was!" She yelled, pointing at him.

Link turned his head back to the sky. "Naw, I've never stole anything from you or anyone else in your castle. Just a few glances. I only ever went there to-" Link's eye grew widened immensely and he stopped speaking.

Zelda gawked at him. "What did you go there for!"

He sighed. 'I had hoped to dodge this question. Oh well. I guess she should know.' He said to himself, sitting up and standing in front of Zelda. "The only reason I ever went there was to see you. But I didn't watch you while you were changing or anything perverted. I came during the night, just to watch you. Even now I'm not quite sure why I did that." He looked at the ground, choosing his words carefully.

"Sorry." Zelda replied. Link looked up in disbelief. "I shouldn't have yelled. I really don't mind you being a thief, but you scared me with uh. You watching me." She mumbled. The smile returned on Link's face and he bowed his head.

"I won't do it again if you don't want me to." He said. Zelda hid a smile. "Why don't you visit me next time rather then sneak around?" She asked. Link gawked at her. "You will allow me to visit you?" He asked. Zelda snickered. "Yes." A small flush appearing on her face.

They walked over to their horses grazing at the top of the hill. "And what kind of bow was that before?" She added.

Link folded his arms over his chest. "You should be honored by that. No Gerudo bows to anyone, well, except other Gerudo's." He replied, chuckling quietly. Zelda shoved him lightly. "You Gerudo's and your pride." She sighed.

As they mounted their horses, a shadow appeared in the bushes. A spear in one hand.

The River Dragon: Sorry my readers! I was banned from the computer for about a week and couldnt update my fanfiction! Please forgive me! Ah anyway, thank you for sending in your reviews, enjoy and i'll hopefully have the next chapter up by saturday.