Welcome to the third installment! I really don't know what to say, except that I am enjoying writing this story, and that I again want to thank all my reviewers since my last update- sasukeuchiha180; Lina; Lachlan; Spiritual Stone; Sakurelle; ygfi; Danza's Mystic Shadow; and Tenchi (for two reviews).

Disclaimer: I do not own any aspect of the Legend of Zelda series.

Link and I chuckled as we danced our way out of the ballroom, stopping to walk out into the courtyard. As I looked up at the glittering stars, I suddenly noticed that he was still holding my hand. I looked back at him, and he smiled, causing me to blush, as usual.

"It's a beautiful evening," he observed, as we sat near a fountain.

"Yes, it's perfect for this," I answered, playfully splashing some cold water in his face with my gloved hand.

"Hey, that's not fair!" he whined, sticking his hand into the water.

"You wouldn't dare splash a princess!" I squealed.

"No, but I would splash a friend who wet me first!" he proclaimed. As his hand swept through the water, I jumped up in a hurry, only to discover that he had been faking me out.

"Now that wasn't fair!"

"Hey, all is fair in love and waterfights," he insisted, grinning. Whoa- did he just say love?

As I looked at Link, stunned, it became clear to me that he didn't realize his slip-up, as he made a crack about me "standing there and catching flies." I finally closed my gaping mouth as he patted a spot next to him, where I'd sat just a moment before.

I looked at him warily. "Come on, I won't bite," he teased.

"It's not that. I'm afraid of getting wet."

"Well, if you can't trust me, your protector, who can you trust?"

"True enough," I admitted, sitting down.

Link and I began to talk about random things, but our conversation only lasted a couple minutes before...

"ZELDA!" my father bellowed. I looked up to see him standing under one of the archways, arms folded across his chest, his face bright red with fury. Impa was next to him, a stern look on her face.

"Uh-oh," I mumbled under my breath.

"Zelda, whatever were you thinking? Wait, I know the answer to that. You weren't thinking!"

"But, Father-"

"Listen to me, young lady. You know that it is your duty to court the suitors until you find a suitable husband. And what happens? I catch you out here alone with... with a peasant!"

"Father, he is my protector! You appointed him yourself, remember?"

"But not to romance you!"

"Link was not romancing me at all! We simply tired of dancing and decided to go outside and talk."

"Whatever for? You have plenty of people around the castle to talk to, much less the fine young men that have come all the way here just to seek your hand in marriage!"

"You just don't understand, do you?" I screeched, stamping my foot. "Link is the man in charge of protecting me from harm at all costs. Isn't it only fair to expect that we'd actually have to talk privately at some point?"

"Oh, so now you want privacy?" Oh, I hate how my father has such a talent for twisting things around!

"Please, Father, let me explain. With all the suitors around, I needed a breath of fresh air. It just so happens that Link and I were dancing together, for the reason he explained to you."

"So what's your point?"

"Well, Link and I stepped out momentarily, and I decided it would be a perfect time to fill him in on all that has happened since the suitors arrived. I believe that, as my protector, he needs to be kept up-to-date, should one of them turn out to be someone other than we were led to believe, or should any other sort of danger present itself." Okay, so part of that was true- I did want Link to know of the goings-on with my many romancers. But we'd become preoccupied with discussing other matters.

My father threw his hands up in the air. "Fine, fine. But no more of this, Zelda. Part of our agreement about you giving love advice to our subjects is that you wait until the suitors leave before you begin. However, due to your recent behavior, I am putting another condition on it. If you do not choose a husband by sundown on the last day of the festival, then the agreement is off."

"But that only gives me five days!"

"Then I guess you'd best start getting to know the suitors tomorrow. Good night."

Before I could protest, my father shut the door.

As I sat on my bed, crying, I heard a knock at my window. Wiping the tears from my eyes, I looked through the little slit between the drapes that weren't quite closed all the way, and saw a hint of a familiar green tunic.

I went to the window and opened it, and Link slipped inside.

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, still sobbing a little.

"I came to check on you, Zel. I mean, since your father got mad at us and all." Evidently he noticed at the moment that I'd been crying, because he somehow produced a handkerchief and gave it to me.

"Thanks, Link," I answered, referring to both the piece of cloth and his concern for me. "But don't you think it's too risky, you being up here after my father got the wrong idea about us?"

Link flashed me a toothy grin. "Don't worry," he insisted. "If anyone catches me, I'll simply explain that I was patrolling around and thought I heard you calling for me, so I came to see if you were in need of my assistance."

I breathed a sigh of relief. Handsome and intelligent, just like I've always wanted!

"Well, anyway, now that I see you will be okay, I guess I'd better get some sleep."

"No, Link, really, you don't have to leave yet. I mean, unless you want to, of course."

"I don't. I mean, not yet, anyway. I really enjoyed just talking with you earlier, and I was hoping we could talk some more. If that's alright with you, of course."

"Perfectly fine with me," I smiled. Somehow, the more time I spent with him, the more I came to relax. It used to be that the more I was around him, the more I'd make an embarrassment of myself.

I sprawled out on the bed, which was not an easy task considering the fact that I was still wearing the dress from earlier. Link sat in a nearby chair, looking at me thoughtfully.

"What's on your mind?" I asked, surprising myself.

"Oh, nothing."

"Okay," I shrugged.

"Okay, there is something, and it is very important, so please, listen carefully, Zel."

I drew a deep breath as Link reached out to me, taking my hands. "You see, Zel, there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time now. I-"

"Princess, what is going on in here?" Impa questioned from the doorway, hands on her hips.

"Nothing, Impa, nothing at all. Link just came to check on me because he thought he heard me calling for help. Please, don't tell my father."

Impa simply shook her head. "I'll let it slide, but this is the last time. From now on, if Link is caught in here with you, even with the most innocent of intentions, you will have to face your father's consequences."

I sighed as she closed the door. "Link, you had best return to your quarters," I said, taking my hands from his. "Good night."

"Good night, Zel," Link answered, bowing courteously as he took his leave. I went to the window just in time to see him make his way down the wall, then jump to the ground.

"I love you," I whispered into the wind.

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