Welcome to chapter sixteen! I really don't have anything to say, except thanks to my reviewers since I last updated- Spiritual Stone; adrian-air-fire; inuchick22; Kariah; Sakurelle; lilykat14; Ericketiting; shinsei101; Belle89; Ygfi; Omega87; TheGoddessKnight; Sheik's twin; Alli-dunno; Gir Crazy; The Al Bhed Princess; fantasymask; ME;) ; Futuristic-dudette; lilykat14; StarrNight; Silvara; Infernal Flame Zero (for two reviews); UlrichYumiforever (for two reviews); ezykial (for two reviews); Link fizzle (for two reviews); and sasukeuchiha180 (for four reviews).

Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda series, in whole or in part.

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"Yes, Link, it's me."

Link's eyes widened, and his mouth hung open as if in an attempt to speak, but no words emerged. He began to stutter, then finally took a deep breath. He swallowed hard and at last found his voice.

"Why...how..." he stammered. "Why did you do this? How did you change into a gypsy?"

"I did this to help Hyrule's lovelorn. Impa showed me how to make myself a gypsy."

"So Impa's in on this now, too? She's been helping you fool me?"

"Yes, she's helped me, but we didn't mean for it to get this far," I mumbled, looking down at the floor. I couldn't bear to look at Link's blue orbs, alight with fury. I'd never seen him so angry. Not at me, anyway.

"I...I'm so sorry. Maybe that doesn't help, but I needed to say it anyway."

Link didn't say anything. He simply continued to stare at me. I could feel his eyes boring through me; there was no need to look at him and confirm it. But I did look at him, for whatever stupid reason, as hot tears flooded my eyes and began to stream down my cheeks.

Link's countenance immediately softened. "Zel," he whispered, "I didn't mean... Please don't cry. I'm not as mad as I seem. I just don't understand all this," he explained, gesturing at all the effects about the room- the crystal ball, the spell books, etc.

Link pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to me, and I dabbed my eyes. I took several shallow breaths, attempting to calm myself. He stepped closer to me, bringing me into a warm hug. I put my head to his chest and held him tight.

"Shh," he soothed. "It's alright, Princess."

I pulled back momentarily and looked him in the eyes. Much to my surprise, he smiled at me. "I'm so sorry," I repeated.

Link actually chuckled. "I'm sorry, too, for getting so angry. But people do strange things when they're in love."

"Then it's true?" I gulped.

"Then what's true? That I love you?" Link grinned. "Of course it's true, Zel. I can't believe that you of all people didn't figure that out sooner."

"Like you said, people in love do strange things. I guess even the Triforce of Wisdom, omnipotent as it is, couldn't help me," I answered.

Link's eyes widened at that.

"That's right, I love you, too," I confessed at last. Wow, what a weight off my shoulders!

Or not. "But I have to marry a prince..." I frowned.

"Um... about that," Link started. "You see, your father and I discussed that the other day. And, seeing as how the suitors are kind of... well, dead...he sort of had a change of heart. And he chose someone else, according to the tradition Impa mentioned."

I started to sob again.

"Wait, Zel, you don't even know who your father chose yet!" Link proclaimed.

"I don't want to know!" I wailed. "I know I'll have to find out at some point, but right now, I just want to enjoy a few moments with the man I love so dearly. As far as I'm concerned, they'll probably be the last few moments of happiness I'll have in my life. Even having children will be hard, knowing I was forced to have them with someone I don't love. Maybe I'll come to love my husband someday, and of course I'll love my children, but I can never love another man like I love you, Link."

"I don't think you understand, Zel," Link said matter-of-factly. "Your father chose me."

Did he just say what I think he said? "Is this some sort of joke, Link? Because it's not the least bit funny."

In answer, Link picked me up and carried me out of the tent.

"I'll meet you back at the castle, Sir Cullen!" I called out in a hurry.

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Link didn't bother tethering Epona, letting her graze as she pleased. I breathed in the fresh air of Lake Hylia, enjoying the soft breeze as it whipped my hair. Link came up from behind and blindfolded me.

"What's this all about?" I inquired.

"You'll see," was all he would say.

I could hear Link rustling through the bushes, as if searching for something. After a few minutes, he sat me down on what felt like a piece of cloth, and removed the blindfold. I discovered he had laid out a picnic.

"I heard you went into town and went to find you and bring you here. I stopped in to visit 'Madame Hexe' for more love advice, and, well... you know the rest," Link explained.

"It's beautiful," I murmured, looking at the sparkling lake as the warm afternoon sunlight reflected off of it. I could feel my stomach growl as I turned my attention to the food spread out before us.

As Link made a plate for me, I suddenly realized that he not only seemed to know all of my favorite foods, but enjoyed them, as well. Once he got his food, he pulled me into his lap, resting his head on my shoulder.

"I love you, Zel," he whispered, picking up a wild strawberry.

"I love you, too," I whispered back, kissing his cheek.

We took turns feeding each other until both plates were empty. After we cleaned up, Link decided to go for a swim, while I sat on the dock, watching him and swinging my legs in the water.

Link swam near the dock, grinning at me. "What are you up to?" I asked, playfully kicking water in his face.

"Oh, nothing," he smiled. I took my eyes off him for just a second. Big mistake.

Next thing I knew, I was surfacing, coughing and sputtering to get the water out of my mouth. "LINK!" I shrieked, although I was laughing. "I'm going to get you for that!"

I hastily swam after him, and just as I was about to catch him, he suddenly went to the shore and got out, running away from me. I, too, emerged from the lake, but it was useless to run. My layers of clothing were so soaked that they were weighing me down too much.

As I stood there, wringing out my dress, Link came over to help me.

"Perhaps it'd be better if I got out of these wet clothes," I observed. "But don't get any ideas."

"Who, little old me?" Link inquired, trying to sound innocent. I reached out to playfully shove him, but he caught my hand and pulled me closer to him. Our lips collided in a heated kiss.

"Link..." I breathed, my head spinning. "Can you please help me out of this dress?"

He stood behind me and loosened the ties of my bodice. As I yanked off the dress, I started shivering from the cool water. Link fetched the picnic blanket and wrapped it securely around me, standing with me in the sunlight so we could both dry off.

"Better, Zel?" he asked, rubbing my arms to help warm me up.

"Much." Especially because you didn't gawk at me when you saw me in my petticoats, I mused.

"I'm glad, because I have one more little surprise for you," Link said, removing something from his pocket that I had seem him place in there when he grabbed the blanket.

Upon closer inspection, I quickly realized it was a small, velvet-covered box, with a simple white ribbon tied around it. He untied the ribbon and opened the box. My eyes widened at the contents.

"Link!" I gasped in surprise. Despite what he'd told me earlier, I still wasn't expecting this!

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