Hello everyone...

Well, I'm back. With another late chapter. Posted during the middle of the week... Ugh. Sorry for being the worst.

But I'm hoping this read will be a good one. It came with it's challenges, but I had a great time writing it.

Thank you, times infinity, for all the support and understanding I've received as I make my way creating this story. The fact that I have so many of you eagerly wanting to read this, let alone liking the way I'm telling it, is incredible to me. So, thank you, thank you, thank you!

Disclaimer: I don't own LoZ; only my OC's and plot.

The tips of Link's fingers were cool on the back of my neck, the gauntlet covering his palm warm along the edge of my jaw as he held me close.

And his lips... His lips were hot, pressed firmly against mine.

But I was frozen. Frozen in place from shock.

The nerves of my mouth sparked, firing lightning into my being as he exhaled through his nose, the air caressing my upper lip.

Still, I didn't move.

My heart was storming in my chest, begging me to do something: reach for him, touch him, close my eyes, kiss him back- anything!

But my head warred against my heart, halting me with whispers of painful consequences if I did.

Impatient, my heart thundered over the sigh of my head, and won.

I closed my eyes, elated, ready to press back- when Link pulled away.

My eyes opened with a snap and my throat constricted, stopping my whine of protest from reaching his ears.

He didn't move as he looked at me with wide eyes. The blue of his irises were bright with emotion, and my heart leapt at seeing his joy and satisfaction. But as the seconds passed it started to plummet, watching as his eyes began to darken, the brightness now shifting to worry and sadness and… regret?

A blink was all it took for those emotions to cease to exist- replaced so fast with a look of cheeky triumph that I doubted at seeing any of them at all.

He released my neck and took a step back. Then he gave me an arrogant grin that was so unlike him all I could do was stare in confusion.

"How's that for a first kiss?" he asked, crossing his arms.

I stared. "F-first… first kis-" I attempted, dazed. My eyes drifted past his shoulder and fixed on nothing as I tried to process what he said.

Was… was that a joke? Did he do that just to save face from licking me as a wolf? If he did then… then it was insensitive…

I mentally rolled my eyes at that thought.

Insensitive, how? Insensitive to your poor little heart..? Come on, Del! Link doesn't know how you feel… Hell, you don't even know how you feel!

Besides, he was just overly happy about being Hylian again. He wasn't thinking clearly. I can't fault him for that!

I felt my mind darken a little.

You absolutely can fault him for that! He kissed you! And now, all you're going to think about is if he'll ever kiss you again...

No… no! I won't think that! The kiss meant nothing! It was nothing!

Wasn't it?

...dammit.

"What's that?" I heard Link say. My chest seized as I realized I must've whispered my small obscenity out loud.

Steeling myself against my own turbulence of emotions, I darted my gaze back to Link and gave him a tight smile.

"I said, it was slightly better than a wolf's tongue."

"Slightly?" he raised an eyebrow.

There was a brief moment where I saw a challenge flash in his eyes, but it quickly dissipated, his eyes returning to normal.

The pounding of my heart kicked into full gear, aching for his lips to touch mine again. Aching for another chance to kiss him back.

I needed to change the topic quickly before I took those matters into my own hands. I grinned devilishly as I leaned a little to the side and looked behind him. "You look good with a tail, by the way."

"WHAT?" he yelped, turning his spine left and right as he ran his hands over his rear. When he found nothing but a normal backside he paused, then snapped a glare my way.

Hands over my mouth, I couldn't contain my laughter anymore and snorted through my fingers.

"Not funny, Del…"

"Little funny," was all I managed to say between fits of giggling. The laughter felt good. It soothed the ache in my chest. And right now, I needed to do anything to make that ache- that growing longing- stop in its tracks. Or else I'd drown.

I took a deep breath to steady my breathing, then stared Link straight in the eyes, giving him a sheepish look that I hoped conveyed that I was sorry.

Link shook his head with a sigh, then gazed up at me with a half smile- a smile I barely registered as I got swept up by his eyes- the dark blue ebbing and flowing within me, pulling me deeper and deeper to him.

I mentally held my ground; but was suddenly shaken by the pricking sensation of being watched. I shifted my eyes away from Link's to see that Ordona was staring at me, head cocked to the side in curiosity. I stood up straight, unsure of what to do.

"You, my dear, have been gifted with power," Ordona stated, astonishment breezing around his words.

I looked at the Light Spirit, stunned. Then I nodded. "Yes... Yes, I was!" I said, taking a few sloshing steps into the water. I lifted my palm level to my chest and ignited a ball of shimmering white and red energy. I beamed. "From the Great Fairy."

I watched Ordona's reaction. If there's anyone who'd truly know about her existence, it'd have to be him!

I hope…

"A Great Fairy?" Ordona questioned.

My hope sank.

I heard watery footsteps as Link's voice floated from behind me.

"Del seems to think a Great Fairy was the one who gave her her magic," Link said gently. "We… we've explained that they don't exist anymore."

I glared at Link, who was now standing beside me. "If not a Great Fairy, then who?"

Link shrugged.

I sighed heavily, returning my gaze to Ordona, searching his wide opaque eyes for answers.

The Light Spirit tilted his head to the other side, his focus still on me. "How extraordinary…" he mused, then lifted his head to look at the sky.

My eyes followed, seeing nothing but clear blue. After a moment, I lowered them to look at Link, whose eyes were just as puzzled as mine.

Well… He never said the Great Fairy didn't exist, so… that has to count for something, right..?

I wasn't convincing myself. I needed to ask, just to be sure. But before I could, Ordona spoke.

"The villagers?" he said, lowering his head. "How are they?"

"Good. Safe," Link answered. "But they miss home. We all do."

"And I miss all of you."

Link smiled gently then let out a small chuckle. "They're going to go crazy when I tell them you've been here all this time."

An amused snort blew out of Ordona's nostrils.

Suddenly curious, I asked, "Why are you still here?"

Ordona turned his eyes to me. "Unlike my brethren, I felt as if my time in Hyrule was not yet over. As if I had another purpose to serve before I departed this world for the Sacred Realm." His gaze shifted to Link. "And I was right, for who was to arrive at this village but my goddesses' Chosen Hero. From then on I watched, waiting for the day when my help would be needed."

Link bowed. "I can't thank you enough."

"It is my honor," Ordona bowed back. After a moment he straightened, shaking his large horned head. His ears twitched and he paused, a soft, peaceful look melting onto his features. "I believe it is time."

"Time? Time for what?" Link questioned.

"It is time for me to join the others in the Sacred Realm."

"You're leaving?"

I took a step forward. "But… what if we need your help again?"

Ordona took a moment before answering. "I do not feel as if I am needed in this world anymore. However, I will not depart without a blessing." He pawed at the water, creating delicate ripples across its surface. "This spring will forever be imbued with my light; a gift of healing for my villagers, both old and new to come." The ripples started to glow, soft at first, but then blazed with a golden light that had me squinting.

Then the glowing stopped and the spring returned to normal, back to its state of crystal clear water, belying its new form of sanctification.

"Ordona, I-" Link started but paused. I quickly found out why. Ordona was gone.

Wow… was all I could think as I let out a puff of air. I turned to Link and smiled. "How do you feel?" I asked.

He looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers. "Good. Like myself, again."

"And you weren't left with any enhanced senses? Sonic hearing, maybe night vision?" I toyed.

He sucked his teeth. "No. No, everything seems back to normal. But that reminds me…" He sloshed up next to my side and scooped me into his arms.

I stared wide into his eyes as I planted my hands onto his shoulders. My breath caught as my gaze lowered to his lips then back up. I swallowed nervously. "Link, wha-"

Then he dropped me.

I yelped as I hit the spring with a splash; the chilled water soaking into my pants and climbing halfway up my torso. A small wave showered over my head, pulling my hair limp to the sides of my face. I gasped loudly in shock.

Link spluttered a laugh.

"Wha- what was that for?" I screeched.

Link smirked. "That's for making me think I still had a tail."

"Oh, you jerk... I only said that to-" I cut myself off, my words replaced by a bitter chuckle. To distract me from the kiss, I finished in my head.

"To what?" Link questioned.

"Nothing," I shook my head. "Help me up."

He frowned but complied, offering his hand.

I reached up, before vindictively switching tactics, and lunged forward, wrapping my fingers around his calf and jerking his leg out from under him.

Arms flailing, Link plunged backwards into the water, sending another wave into my face. I was now thoroughly soaked, but it was worth it as he came up coughing, bangs dripping into his eyes and his hat skewed on his head.

I sighed contently as I leaned forward to rest my arms on my knees.

Link's eye twitched as he brushed his bangs out of his face, mumbling something incoherent under his breath.

"Truce?" I offered, giving him a genuine smile.

"Truce?" Link scoffed, pulling off his hat. "You just one-upped me!"

"I didn't think we were keeping score," I giggled. "How about a truce for today, then?"

A reluctant smile crept on his lips. "For today," he agreed, then rose out of the water. He offered me his hand once more, and this time I took it.

A light breeze swirled around the spring as we trudged back to the shore, making me shiver.

"Let's head to the village," Link said, wringing out his hat onto the sand. "We can dry off there."

"Okay," I smiled, loving the idea.

Link placed his hat over Epona's saddle then took her reins, ruffling his hair free of excess water as he led us away from Ordon Spring. As I watched I half expected him to shake his head like a canine.

I suppressed the urge to laugh as that was a thought I knew to keep to myself.

We started down the path in an easy silence; one I was happy to maintain if it meant the look of pure joy on Link's face went undisturbed. But as the minutes passed that was proving to be difficult. I really wanted to ask him what it was like being a wolf.

My curiosity was getting the better of me, so I bit my tongue for good measure.

Link's voice suddenly cut through the quiet. "I'm sorry," he said.

"It's just water. No big deal," I shrugged, trying to ignore the sinking feeling that he was referring to the kiss.

"No, that I meant to do," he pointed out. "I mean I'm sorry for, uh, licking you. As a wolf."

"Oh," I smiled, relieved.

Should I even be relieved? I chastised myself.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "It wasn't meant to be a kiss. Just a payback for treating me like a dog."

I pressed my lips together and nodded. "I know." I wrung my hands. "It was my offhand comment about "first kisses" that made it into something it wasn't. So, I guess I'm the one who should say sorry."

The corner of his mouth rose. He looked away, his eyes focused on the path as he thought about something. He turned back to me, ready to say something else, when I suddenly panicked. It was one thing to apologize for the lick, but I didn't want him to apologize for the kiss.

"What was it like being a wolf?" I asked quickly, cursing my growing distress over the issue. I wanted to yell in frustration at how pathetic I was being. It was just a kiss. A meaningless kiss!

Then why are you having a hard time letting it go..?

"Unsettling…" Link said, pulling me away from my inner turmoil.

I gave him a pitiful look. "Unsettling?"

He nodded his head. "It was uncomfortable and confusing. Terrifying, really. Like being in a waking nightmare," he confessed.

"It couldn't have been all bad?"

He paused and scratched Epona's neck. "No, I guess not. The stamina that body had was great. And the heightened sense of smell was something to envy..." he said, giving me a sidelong glance. The look confused me, but there was something about it that made my heart flutter.

"But the part I'll actually miss," he continued, "was being able to communicate with Epona."

"Right!" I exclaimed. "Tell me about that!"

"Well, it's a bit hard to explain. We didn't really speak the way people speak. It was more like… she'd make a sound and I'd interpret it with a word. And vice versa, if that makes any sense?"

I scrunched my nose. "Can you give an example?"

Link thought for a moment. "She had a sound for me, a soft sort of grunt. And when I heard it, it was always the same word: Mine."

"She called you "Mine"?" I looked over at the copper horse. "That's adorable."

Link chuckled and brushed his hand down Epona's nose. "Guess we know who's the real owner in this partnership."

I laughed.

"Did that help?"

"I think I get the gist of it."

Link nodded. Then his eyes lit up as he looked around. "Hey, we're close!" he said, taking off at a sprint, pulling Epona behind him.

"Close to where?" I called as I watched the two of them round a corner, disappearing to the left.

"My house!" Link shouted. But it wasn't in answer to my question. He sounded horrified.

I quickly ran to catch up, turning left and entering into a small clearing. Tall coniferous trees dotted the landscape, dwarfed only in comparison to the behemoth of an oak that reigned in the center of the space.

And there, built in the middle of the oaky goliath, was Link's treehouse.

My hand covered my mouth in pity as I looked at the sight. The roof was caved in on one side, and the front door buckled from its hinges. My eyes trailed down to see that the ladder, which led up to the outside landing, was missing a couple rungs.

I walked over to Link and placed my hand on his slumped shoulder. "I'm sorry about your house."

He sighed. "I figured there'd be damage. I suppose I was just hoping it'd be... less."

"Guess it wouldn't be safe to show me around," I stated, a little down. Seeing the inside of his place was something I was looking forward to.

A roof shingle chose that moment to fall, clattering into the house as emphasis.

Link groaned.

A breeze swirled into the clearing; and I was reminded of how wet my clothes still were as an icy chill raked over my body, sending my teeth chattering. I took a deep breath to calm them- but the noise had already caught Link's attention.

"Come on, let's see if we can find some clothes to change into while these dry," he said kindly, turning his back to his house.

I gave him a sheepish look. "Thanks."

We left his home, exiting back onto the main path. A few minutes later we reached the edge of the road. My eyes widened as I took in the sight of the vast valley ahead, rolling with small hills and encircled by walls made of sturdy cliffs. Houses of all sizes were scattered around the valley, while a thick river cut its way through the center.

I always enjoyed it when Parker wandered around Ordon in the game; the place being one of my favourites to visit. And now, seeing it in real life, it instantly became the first.

My chest began to fill with that feeling of nostalgia once again. That feeling of coming home.

"Welcome to Ordon Village," Link said, smiling as he looked at me.

I smiled back, elated to be here.

Epona started to pace in excitement, pulling at the reins in Link's hand. He tossed the leather ropes over her head, grabbed his hat from her saddle, then gave her rump a light smack, setting her free into the village. The copper horse kicked and whinnied in delight, racing up pathways and over bridges until finally settling in a large field of grass to graze.

Link led me through the village, beelining towards a house nestled at the far right of the valley.

"This is Rusl and Uli's place," Link pointed out as we walked up a small incline and approached the dwelling. It was a moderately sized, single level home, with an open deck attached to the front. We took the steps to the front door and paused.

Before I could worry about the door being locked, Link wrapped his hand around the handle and pressed the thumb latch, swinging the door open.

"Oh," I blinked in surprise.

Link looked at me with a terse smile. "We didn't have time to lock up when we left," he explained.

I nodded, following him inside.

The air was stale and the house was dark, save for the short shaft of light that came in through the door. Link quickly made his way across the main room, his shadowed silhouette navigating the darkened space with ease. I remained at the front, stepping off to the side to give Link as much sunlight as possible.

I heard him tinkering around the back wall, the sound of something made of glass being shifted. Then, with a spark and a hiss, he got an oil lamp started.

"I'm going to see if there's any spare clothes," he said as I slowly walked into the house. He disappeared through a door on the left, and I took the moment alone to look around.

The main room was a large circular space, made up of the living room and kitchen. A small pantry sat in an alcove to the right of the fireplace, while the kitchen sink and counter sat to its left. In the middle of the floor, placed in a semi circle, were a rustic looking couch and chair, and a dining table set. There were three doors in this house: one to the right, and two on the left.

Soft footfalls reached my ears, and I glanced over to see Link reemerge into the main room, holding a bundle of fabric.

"Okay. So, good news is, Rusl left some clothes behind. Bad news is, it's only one shirt and one pair of pants."

I snorted. "Well, it's better than nothing."

Link nodded, then asked, "You want the top or the bottoms?"

I gave him a look. "Seriously?"

His expression was innocent- for about five seconds before his demeanor cracked into a roguish grin.

"No," he said, tossing me the shirt.

"Ha ha, funny…" I said dryly, but chuckled in spite of myself as I unfolded the grey material, inspecting it.

"I'll set up the clothes line outside after I've changed. When you're done we can check Sera's shop for any edible food," Link suggested.

"Alright."

He walked over to the single door on the right, then closed it behind him. I took the room on the left.

The room was dark, but it didn't take long for my eyes to adjust to the faint light streaming through the wooden shutters. As I shucked out of my clothing (my leather armor taking the longest to get out of) I allowed my gaze to roam about.

Rusl and Uli's room was small and simple, decorated with only a bed, a dresser with a lamp, and a structure that resembled a crib.

I slipped the shirt over my head, my nostrils filling with the faded smell of old wood as I cuffed the long sleeves to a manageable length. The bottom hem fell a little short- about mid thigh- and I decided I'd feel a bit more comfortable if I kept my underwear on, damp or not.

I gathered my things and left, walking out into an empty living room. A rustling noise came in through the front door; and I exited the house to see a shirtless Link hanging up a rope.

I paused on the deck, my eyes raking over the bare skin on his back, gazing at his lean muscles bunching and relaxing as he moved his arms up and down.

He didn't seem to notice me standing there- or if he did, he didn't acknowledge it- as he continued with draping his clothing over the clothes line.

Turn around… I caught myself thinking. And, as if he somehow heard my inner thoughts, his torso turned towards me the slightest bit, just enough to see the definition of his abs and the soft v-line on his hip.

A wet thud sounded next to me, and I looked to see that some of my clothes had slipped out of my hands.

Jesus, Del! What is wrong with you?! I berated as I crouched to pick them up. It was one kiss… ONE kiss, and you're losing all control. Gods, it's not like you haven't been kissed before…

Not by him… my heart sang.

That doesn't matter... my head retorted.

Doesn't it..? my heart questioned.

I sighed at my inner strife as I stood. I looked back over to Link and froze, seeing him staring at me. I gave him a bashful smile as I secured my belongings into the crook of my arm. His gaze dropped to my bare legs then darted back up to my eyes. I felt my body warm despite the cool breeze whirling past.

A couple days ago I would've seen his look as something fun, something to flirt around with. Playful. Harmless.

But now, that tingling fun was shifting into an electric want.

Pushing that feeling into a crevice somewhere deep within my being, I stepped over to the clothes line and started hanging my stuff. Tunic, pants, sports bra and socks all went on the rope while my leather armor and boots were placed on the grass, next to Link's.

"Hungry?" Link asked, the blue of his eyes enhanced by the sun.

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

"Okay. Well, uh, let's hope there's something to eat around here," he chuckled nervously.

I smiled and followed him back to the main road. We stayed to the side of it, walking along the grass to keep our bare feet safe from small rocks and debris. And as we made our way to the front of the village, Link started pointing out the other houses.

"That's Ilia and Bo's house, just on the other side of the river," he said, gesturing to the large house in the distance behind us. "And that's where Pergie, Jaggle, Talo and Malo live," he pointed to a small cabin on the right, then moved his finger to a tall building up ahead. "And that's Fado's place- although he rarely stays there."

"Where does he usually stay?" I asked.

"The barn. He likes to keep a close eye on the herd."

"That's sweet."

Link gave a soft nod. "About five years ago, the village was ransacked by a group of bokoblins. They slaughtered more than half the goats; and Fado has kept a vigilant eye on them ever since."

My heart sank for the Herculean man. "Gods, that's awful." I paused, then said, "I guess that's why Fado's always in the meadow at Kakariko." It just dawned on me that I rarely saw him around the village.

"He doesn't like to leave, especially after that lizalfos snuck its way past our barriers," Link explained, then chuckled. "I've seen Telma drag him by the ear a few times, just to get him to sit and eat a meal with us."

"Well, human interaction is important," I said with an air of teasing.

"Not Telma's…"

I laughed.

"This is the village shop," Link said as we approached the new building. It was by far the biggest- the front half being a single level unit, while the back half was two, maybe three, stories tall. A large sign, reading Sera's Sundries, hung welcoming over the front door. "The shop portion is in the front, and Hanch, Sera, and Beth live in the back," Link pointed out, confirming what I already thought. He reached for the handle, pressed the lever, and pushed. The door didn't open. He jiggled it a few times but the door remained shut. "Guess Sera remembered to lock up."

"Can you pick it?" I asked. My stomach was starting to rumble.

"I'll do one better," he said and reached up to a lantern that hung overhead, opening the metal frame and pulling out a rusty key. He inserted the key into the lock and turned. A pinging click and the door opened.

Like Rusl and Uli's, the place was dark as we entered. But Link quickly set about, locating some matches near the front and enkindling a few lamps along the walls. The shop came into soft focus, suffused in the delicate glow from the flames.

"Okay, let's see what we can find," he said and began searching the shelves.

I took a moment to look around before I started scanning the opposite side.

All four walls were covered in racks and shelves- an excessive amount of them for such a small shop- with the majority concentrated behind the cash desk towards the back of the room. Two open barrels sat on the floor, placed up against the front corner of the desk, and a few pots rested on top of the counter.

The shelves were pretty bare as I searched them, seeing only a few empty canvas bags and a couple sealed boxes. As I moved along the wall, I came across some miscellaneous items, like a glass-covered clock, an ice pick, and a leather wrapped slingshot.

"Find anything?" I asked as I reached the end of the wall.

"Sort of. I have a bag of dried fruit; and I know there's pumpkin seeds in the barrels."

"Great." I walked back to grab an empty canvas bag then went over to one of the barrels, inspecting the seeds before I began to scoop them. They all looked decent: pale in colour with little to no brown spots. I started pouring handfuls into the bag.

As I scooped, my eyes wandered up to the counter. I smiled, an idea forming in my head. I placed the bag on the desk, then threw a few seeds into one of the pots. I picked it up and turned to Link.

"Hey Link? Think there's any rupees in here?" I asked innocently as I rattled the pot, the seeds clinking inside. I gasped, pretending to be surprised by the sound.

His face deadpanned as he looked at me. "Rupees in pots… So stupid…" he mumbled as he walked over and grabbed the bag from the counter.

I smirked as I watched him blow out the lamps, pitching the shop into darkness once more. He waited at the front door for me, then closed it once I passed the threshold. I took the bags from him so he could lock up and place the key back in its hiding spot. Then he turned to me and smiled.

"Follow me."

I did.

He led me over a bridge, towards a tiny waterwheel house built onto the bank of the river. We walked to the other side of the structure and onto a small fishing pier. Link took a seat at the end, letting his legs dangle over the edge.

I did the same.

We each took a bag and dug in.

"Is it nice being back?" I asked, needing a conversation to distract my mind.

"Yeah," he confirmed, after chewing a few pumpkin seeds. "But if I'm honest, it feels a little… off, without everyone here."

"Like it's not really home," I added.

Link gave me a pensive look and nodded.

"I get it. Sometimes it's not the place but the people that make a home."

He smiled. "Tell me about yours."

"What do you want to know?" I tossed a piece of dried fruit in my mouth as he thought about his questions. My eyes widened slightly at the taste, the flavour close to that of a ripe peach. I dug through the bag for more.

"What does your house look like? And your village?" he asked. "Do you live in a forest, like here, or a canyon like Kakariko?" he added.

I chuckled as I swapped bags with him.

"Okay, first off, I don't live in a village. I live on the outskirts of a city- uh, like a town," I clarified, erasing the confusion in his eyes at the word. "And I guess you could say I live in a forest. Or close to one, really. My backyard is an acreage of trees and hills and small creeks. Not unlike here, actually," I realized, looking around with a keener eye. Of course there was no open valley on our property, but the trees and hills had a similar look. "As for my house… Well, it's not like these," I said lamely. I thought for a moment on how to best describe my place, and came to the conclusion that a drawing would work best.

I looked behind me and saw a patch of dirt just ahead. Standing, I walked over to it, picking up a short stick along the way.

"My house looks like this," I continued, gesturing Link over with my hand. I quickly drew a rough sketch of my home: Two stories tall, with peaked roofs and a rounded turret on the left-hand side, and a wrap-around porch that connected to the sunroom built to the right of the house. "My room is here, on the top floor of the turret," I pointed at my picture. "Parker's room is behind mine, at the back of the house. And this," I pointed to a square window on the right, "is our gaming room- where Parker and I would spend hours playing The Legend of Zelda video games," I smiled.

"I've never seen a house like that. It looks big," Link said in awe.

"I guess it could be considered big for a family of three," I agreed. "But this house was a wedding gift for my mom. My dad built it for her. So, it'll always be our home."

Link's eyebrows rose. "Your house was a wedding gift to your mother?"

I nodded. "She always loved this old style of architecture that was quite popular in another country. My dad designed and built our house based on that style."

"I think my father got my mother a bottle of perfume," Link stated.

I giggled. "I'm sure she loved it." I stood and wandered back to the pier. Picking up the bag of seeds, I shoved a handful into my mouth as a thought randomly popped into my head. "I wonder what Nobu would give Zelda as a gift if they got married?" I mused. "Maybe her own set of armor, or a lessened look of disapproval?" I made myself snicker.

Link raised an eyebrow. "Nobu and Princess Zelda aren't together."

"Oh, I know that," I waved my hand. "But it's clear that he has feelings for her. Probably even loves her."

Link's brow furrowed.

"You haven't noticed?"

"He's the Hyrulean Captain of the Guard. Her protector. I think you're reading too much into it," he smirked as he walked over to the house and turned on a tap anchored to the wall. A stream of water gushed out, bouncing off the dry grass below. Link cupped his hands then took a drink.

I quickly joined him. "So, you're telling me that you've never noticed the way he looks at her?" I asked after swallowing a handful of the cold liquid. It had a slight metallic tang, but I kept drinking. The pumpkin seeds were heavily salted and my mouth was parched.

Link straightened, wiping his mouth. The movement caused the tiny beads of water that splashed onto his chest to glint in the sunlight. I had to forcefully tear my eyes away to neutral territory: the water spout.

"Nobu just takes his job seriously."

It was my turn to raise my eyebrows at him.

"He's being vigilant," Link said, although his tone now held a modicum of doubt.

"Vigilant?" I scoffed. "Okay, if that's what you want to call it."

Link snorted.

I crossed my arms. "Alright, fine. When we get back to Kakariko, I'll show you there's more to Nobu's "vigilant" look when it comes to Zelda."

"If you must," Link shrugged.

I stuck my hand under the still running faucet and flicked water into his face.

He inhaled deeply as large droplets dripped down his chin. A mischievous look flashed across his face.

The smirk fell from my mouth as I eyed him warily.

He moved lightning fast, throwing me over his shoulder unceremoniously. I yelped in shock as my world turned upside down; lifting my head quickly to see what the hell he was doing.

"You've got to be kidding me…" I groaned as he made his way to the pier. "Nuh-uh! No way are you tossing me into the water again!" I shouted, kicking my feet to try and off-balance him.

He laughed, restraining my calves with his free hand.

"We. Called. A. Truce!" I cried, punctuating each word with a light pound to his back.

"Alright, alright! I'll put you down."

"Away from the pier!" I pointed, directing him back to the grass.

Still laughing, he walked away from the river and placed me back onto the ground.

"That wasn't funny," I huffed, resting my hands on his bare shoulders.

"Little funny," he said, his hands flexing around my waist.

Giving him an exasperated smile, I looked into his eyes. His rich blue eyes... slowly pulling me under...

I inhaled sharply; my cheeks warming as I realized how close I was standing to him. How easy it would be to stand on my toes, to close the gap between us. My gaze fell to his lips again, then back to his eyes. My heart started to beat wildly, suddenly overcome with a bold and foolish courage.

I had to know.

I spoke, my voice soft. "Will there only ever be a first kiss?"

I watched as his smile sobered and his eyes darkened.

I quickly dropped my gaze away from his. Not out of embarrassment from my question, but to hide the ache I was sure reflected through my eyes.

I should've expected this. It's for the best, right?

I started to move away from Link, but was halted as his grip tightened around my waist. My eyes darted back to his, questioning.

"No," he said, his voice low, then pulled me in and crushed his lips to mine.

I stilled for a fraction of a second before my body kicked into gear and reacted.

Closing my eyes, I pressed my lips firmly against his, sliding my hand to the side of his neck. He broke away, only to tilt his head to a better angle, wrapping his arms around my back as he deepened the kiss. Our lips moved in a feverish rhythm: testing, exploring, finding balance. Then he slowed things down, each new kiss lingering a moment longer than the last, which sent my stomach somersaulting.

After what felt like an eternity of bliss, we parted, breathing heavily.

A giddy smile grew on my lips as he rested his forehead against mine.

Oh my gods…

He inhaled as if to say something, but the sound of distant thunder seized our attention.

Link looked at the sky. "A storm's heading to Ordon," he said, his voice raspy. "It's still a ways off, but we should start making our way back to Kakariko." His eyes moved to the direction of the sun. "At this point, we'll be lucky if we reach the village before nightfall."

"Okay," I nodded, feeling deprived of his touch the instant he let go of me. But I was happy to note that his fingers lingered on my hips a moment before he walked over to the pier to pick up the empty bags of food. As he folded them and placed them in his pants pockets, I stepped over to the spout, my feet squishing in the flooded grass as I turned off the tap.

Link approached me with a lopsided grin. It set my heart racing again. I smiled back as we walked shoulder to shoulder, past the waterwheel and over the bridge to the main path.

As we continued down the road I felt his hand take mine. I looked up to see him gazing at me, tentatively.

I laced my fingers with his, holding tightly in the hopes of erasing his uncertainty.

His cheeks shaded as he let out a breathy chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck. "I've wanted to do that... for a really long time," he said.

My head tilted slightly to the side. "You have?"

He nodded. "I guess you never noticed."

I looked away, lowering my eyes to my feet. "No… I- I noticed something. But I just convinced myself it was nothing. I wouldn't allow myself to see it as anything but. I couldn't."

"Why not?"

I glanced up at him. "Because you're my favourite video game hero. In my world, you don't exist beyond that. And I'm trying to get back to my world…" I trailed, my voice hushed.

Link's flushed cheeks paled as he grimaced. "Ah- yes, right… I know that." He cleared his throat, looking away. "You know that…" he mumbled as if berating himself.

My heart stalled, overcome with dread. I gripped my fingers tighter in his. "How about we leave that topic of conversation for another day?"

He relaxed, his eyes turning back to me. "Okay, yeah... Another day. Good."

I sighed in relief.

Consequences be fucking damned..! my head screamed- finally on board with my heart.

"If it's any consolation, I've wanted to kiss you too," I confessed to him; and admitted to myself. Because of course I wanted to kiss him! Hell, if I'm being honest, I probably wanted to kiss him since day one. Even when I thought he was a jerk.

I smiled softly. It was liberating to acknowledge the feelings that I'd tried to bury.

Link gave me a dubious look.

"What?" I asked with a laugh.

"I never got the feeling you did," he shrugged.

I paused, thinking about that. "Yeah, that's fair. I guess… I guess I'm better at feigning nonchalance than I realized." Something I must've perfected when Charlie and Calli started dating… I thought, scratching my temple.

"Better than you realized…" Link snorted bitterly. "A part of me is expecting to find that this isn't real. That I'm actually asleep and it's all a dream."

I pressed my lips together. "Well, you do like your sleep. It could be possible..."

Link's left eye twitched.

I giggled. "I don't know whether I'm having fun or feeling guilty for teasing you?"

"Guilty would be nice."

"Alright," I agreed. "Then let me make it up to you." I pulled him to a stop. Heart fluttering, I placed my hand to the side of his face, guiding it down to mine and pressing my lips to his. I felt his mouth pull taught into a smile, then loosen to kiss me back.

My body felt light, like the wings of a butterfly; in danger of being swept away by the simplest of breezes. But as Link's fingers flexed softly in mine, that danger vanished. I was held securely in place, tethered to the earth, tied by him.

After a beat, I leaned away slowly (aware there was a storm still heading our way), but didn't get much distance as Link put his hand to my cheek and ran his thumb under my lower lip.

"Not a dream?" he asked, his voice husky.

My heart melted. "Not a dream," I affirmed.

The thunder rumbled again- a lot closer this time- setting Link and I to quicken our pace back to Rusl and Uli's. We grabbed our dried clothing from the line; taking the same rooms as before to change. Once I was done, I laid Rusl's shirt neatly over the bed and exited the room, finding Link dressed and waiting for me by the oil lamp. He blew out the flame, then hand-in-hand we left the house, Link calling for Epona as we headed back through the village.

The copper horse whinnied, shaking her head as she trotted up to us. Link rubbed her neck before hoisting himself onto the saddle, then reached down, offering me his hand. I took it, swinging myself up behind him.

His hand still held onto mine as he wrapped my arm around his waist. "Hang on tight," he smirked, looking at me over his shoulder.

My body hummed as I snaked my other arm around him, holding firm.

Link's heels tapped Epona's sides and she dashed, streaking through the village with a speed that forced me to anchor myself to his back. Ordon whizzed past, each building disappearing in a blink.

An unmistakable patter sounded from behind us, and I turned to see a misty curtain of rain start to close in. But Epona outran it, the rainfall failing to keep up as she flew out of the village and back into the woods.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Link and I arrived at Kakariko just after nightfall, both of us tired and starving from the journey.

But instead of heading to the inn for a decent meal, we paused, standing side-by-side in the shadows of the mountain pass, arms crossed as we watched the scene going on before us.

"They're having a party…" I said flatly.

"Yup…" Link responded dryly.

"Without us…"

"Mm-hmm…"

"What- the- Calli!" I called as my friend materialized before us, dancing to a tune that only she could hear.

She stopped and turned, smiling as her eyes locked onto mine. "Del!" she cried and stumbled my way, the drink in her hand sloshing and spattering the skirt of a bright red dress she had on. "You're back!" she squealed, crushing her arms around my neck in a death grip.

"Hi," I choked as her grip tightened.

"And you!" she said, turning her head to look at Link. "You're not a doggy anymore!"

"I was a wolf," Link corrected her kindly.

"Yay!"

"So what's going on here?" I wheezed, prying her arms open. "Having a party without us?"

"Pff- no," she shook her head, then blinked a few times as the gesture made her dizzy.

"Really..?" I drawled.

"Okay, yes… But we didn't know when you two'd be back! We have a weapon piece and a nice night and a good reason for a party should never be wasted! That's what Bo said," she winked.

Link snorted. "Sounds like something Bo would say."

I raised my eyebrows. "You do realize there'd be no reason for a party if it wasn't for Link and I?"

Calli took a big gulp from her cup, ignoring me.

I sighed and my stomach gnawed. "Okay, I need food."

"Same," Link said.

"Food's over there," Calli beamed, pointing to a table sparsely covered in scraps.

I felt my irritation rise. And as it did, so did the sound of thrumming music.

"Ooh… Parker's playing again. I love it when he sings!" Calli exclaimed. "Del, come dance with me!"

I shook my head. "I need to eat."

She rolled her eyes, groaning "Lame!" then skipped off, proclaiming as she did that Luda would dance with her.

"Come on. Let's head to the inn and see what's in the kitchen," Link said, sidling next to my shoulder. A pleasing tingle shot down my spine from the contact.

We kept to the shadows along the perimeter of the mountain wall, both of us fearful of being hindered from our goal of finding food- until something important caught my eye. I threw hunger out the window and paused.

"Link, look," I prompted, pointing to the fire pit in the distance.

Renado, Rusl and Nobu stood together, the former two lost in a mirthful conversation while the latter remained quiet, sipping on his drink and making sidelong glances at the group of women sitting just off to the side.

Zelda sat in between Ashei and Telma, her hand delicately placed in front of her mouth as she giggled at something Ashei was saying. Then Telma spoke. Whatever she said had Zelda leaning back, her hand now pressed to her stomach as she laughed heavily.

Nobu's eyes widened, the corner of his mouth rising as he looked on in awe at the uninhibited princess.

"See! Just look at the way he's staring at her," I exclaimed. "Look at the way he's smiling! He never smiles. You know that."

"Huh…" Link voiced. "You sure he's not looking at Telma?"

I snorted a laugh. "Nice try, Link. But I won this debate." I gave him a smug smile.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're enjoying this, aren't you."

"Immensely."

He rolled his eyes. "Are we going to find food or creepily watch Nobu watch Zelda?"

My stomach answered for me.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

We didn't find much in the kitchen.

Link managed to scrounge up some loaves of sweet bread and a pot and kettle for tea, while I pulled a bunch of fresh fruit out of a basket. Once the kettle was boiled, Link removed it from the glowing embers in the kitchen fireplace, and the two of us took our meal to a table in the dining hall.

Our dinner wasn't the meat and veggie and firm bread I was looking forward to, but it was surprisingly hitting the spot and I smiled, satisfied.

Link and I inhaled our dinner in a comfortable silence; placing our empty dishes in the kitchen sink once we were done. Then we left the dining hall and slowly wandered back to the atrium of the inn.

"Feel like going back to the party?" I asked.

He rubbed the back of his neck. "Not really… I'm a little tired to be socializing. Besides, I'm not in the mood to deal with everyone noticing I'm not a wolf anymore." He exhaled a tired sigh.

"Yeah, that sounds like a tomorrow thing." I bit my lip. "Do you want to call it a night, then?"

He took my hand. "No," he grinned. "Up for a walk?"

I nodded, unable to contain my smile as he led me out of the inn and down the ramp to the right. We wandered leisurely up the village road, walking past the row of silent houses, softly aglow in light from the lamps.

Once we reached the fork, Link started towards the path leading to the meadow, but stopped. He turned to me with a sheepish look.

"I didn't think to bring a lantern."

I gazed down the left-hand path, seeing nothing but darkness; the light from the three-quarter moon unable to reach within.

I snorted gently and raised my right hand, palm up. Link looked away, his eyes squinting as I ignited my magic; our surroundings saturated white until I lessened the power of my orb.

"Thanks," he said.

"No problem," I shrugged as we continued down the path. "If this whole "Companion to the Chosen Hero" thing doesn't pan out, I can always offer my services as a human flashlight," I joked.

"What's a flashlight?" Link asked.

I blinked.

Right, they don't have them here…

"A flashlight is like a torch in my world," I said, not seeing much point in explaining what it really is. At least, not tonight.

"I see," Link nodded.

Hands still clasped, we came upon the opening to the meadow. The faint echo of bleating goats filled the night air; and I paused, concerned.

"You don't think they're in trouble, do you?" I asked Link, remembering that I picked out the hulking form of Fado amongst the other villagers at the party.

"They don't sound distressed," Link responded. "But we can check if you'd like?"

"Sure," I said, curious if I'd catch a glimpse of the baby goat.

I let my magic fall as we stepped up to the rope lining the cliff. Here, the light from the moon went unhindered by the darkness, blanketing the cliffside and the meadow in its hazy glow.

I peered over the roped barrier and saw a bunch of shadows scattered about.

"They're safe," I heard Link say, and I looked up to see his eyes narrowed and focused as they searched the field.

I exhaled happily. "Thanks." I gave his hand a light squeeze before turning my gaze back to the goat-shaped shadows. "Oh, look! There's the baby," I exclaimed, pointing at the tiniest one zipping around the others. "Do you see… it…?" my voice petered as my eyes found Link's, burning in the moonlight.

My mind stalled as he swooped in, free hand cradling the back of my neck, while the other wrapped around me, fixing my arm to my back. I inhaled sharply as my heart took charge. I kissed him back, our lips synchronized- until I felt the tip of his tongue brush the bottom of my lip.

My knees buckled.

Link was quick to react- his hand releasing mine to tighten around my back, steadying me in place.

"Are you okay?" he asked, concern thick in his voice.

"Uh… yup, yeah. Yeah, I- I'm good…" I stuttered breathlessly, avoiding eye contact.

Oh man, am I in trouble…

"Are you sure?"

I nodded briskly. Not trusting my legs, I said, "I'm just going to sit a moment," and I lowered myself to the ground.

Link slowly sank down in front of me. "Did I do something wrong?"

My eyes snapped to his, wide. "Wha… No! No, of course not! I just-" I planted my face into my hands with an embarrassed groan. I took a deep breath then raised my head. "No, you did nothing wrong," I assured Link. "The exact opposite, in fact. That kiss, uh, made me weak in the knees. Literally."

His look of realization had me deadpanning. His smile started off as one of surprise, then grew into a cocky grin.

"Yeah, yeah…" I said, waving my hand. "How about you wipe that cocky look from your face and kiss me again."

He chuckled, wasting no time leaning in and covering his lips over mine. I was ready, wrapping my arms around his neck as he slid next to me to embrace my waist. His tongue brushed out once more, softly this time, asking for entrance. I parted my lips in response and his tongue danced with mine, sending electricity coursing through my body, accumulating into my core.

I sighed as my fingers brushed through his hair at the nape of his neck.

Link…

I can't believe I'm kissing him…

I can't…

I…

Something clicked.

Holy fuck, I'm kissing Link..!

I started to giggle, the insanity of it all hitting me like a ton of bricks.

Link exhaled heavily through his nose and pulled away from me. "What now?" he questioned, trying to sound irritated but failing.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This is just… surreal."

"I'm that good of a kisser, huh?" he said smugly.

"No. I mean yes... I- Ugh, never mind," I said, as I was sure that what I was about to tell him would only grow his ego.

"Tell me," he coaxed, gently.

I eyed him, then said, "Alright. But you gotta rein it in, cocky boy."

He nodded, trying hard not to smile.

I rolled my eyes, but continued. "I mean it's surreal because it's, well, you. My fictional hero come to life, and you're holding me and kissing me..." I gave him a small smile. "I think it's going to take a moment to wrap my head around."

The look in his eyes softened as they stared into mine, the corner of his mouth rising. "So… I'm still your hero?" he asked.

"That's what you got from that?"

He shrugged innocently.

I tilted my head to the side, trying to gauge whether he was teasing me or not, but finding it hard to determine in the hazy light from the moon. "Do you want to be my hero?" I questioned as I trailed my thumb along the base of his neck, eliciting a shiver. I grinned at his reaction.

Link cleared his throat, then released a long sigh. "You don't need a hero."

I gazed at him, my chest warming as my grin turned into a tender smile. The fact that Link didn't see me as a damsel in distress but as someone who could hold their own- someone who could face the perils of the unknown at his side- had my spirit soaring. "Maybe not," I said. "But I do need you."

I was honest about that. I didn't know what tomorrow would bring. Or the next day, or the next. But what I did know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, was that this was a journey I didn't want to take without him.

He placed his hand to my cheek. "You have me."

My heart thundered in my chest as I fell into him, moving my lips slow and searing against his. My body was set aflame as he pressed harder; and, reluctantly, I knew it was time to pull away.

"We should probably head back," I rasped after a breath.

"Yeah, we should," he agreed, his voice low.

We untangled our arms from each other and stood, clasping hands after I summoned my magic once more.

"Not that this wasn't fun and all," I said with a cheeky smile, "but I feel the exhaustion settling in." I blinked a few times as the pressure behind my eyes started to burn.

"Me-" Link yawned. "Me too," he chuckled.

Our pace was a little faster as we walked down the path and back into the village; the lure of warm blankets and comfy beds attracting us like moths to a flame.

As we neared the inn, someone called our names. I looked towards the ramp to see Parker walking down it, followed by the unstable forms of Calli and Charlie.

I slipped my hand out of Link's in panic. He looked at me, surprised.

"Sorry, I'm not trying to hide anything! I just want them to be sober when I talk to them about… this," I explained, gesturing my hand between the two of us. I no longer had the mental energy to deal with anything tonight, least of all their drunken reactions. That thought alone had me wanting to curl into a ball on the village road.

A thoughtful look furrowed onto Link's brow. "That might be a good idea… Keeping this between us for a while. There are a few people I'd like to talk to before the whole village knows."

Malon… I thought, not envying that conversation. "News spreads fast around here?" I questioned.

"Like wildfire."

I chuckled- which turned into an "oof" as Parker slammed into me.

"Del!" he shouted, crushing my spine with his arms.

"What- is- it- with- you- guys- trying- to- crush- me- to- death-?" I hissed as I wriggled out of his iron grip.

Parker gave me a wonky smile- which fell as his attention was pulled elsewhere.

"Aww, you're not a wolf anymore?" he pouted at Link. "Wolf Link is my favourite playable character!"

I slapped my hand to my face. "Well, if I hadn't done so already, I'm pretty sure Parker just let our "video game" secret out of the bag."

"I'd have questions," Link confirmed.

"Del, when did you get back?" Charlie asked as he and Calli approached. Except it came out as a single drunken word: Delwhendidyougetback. It took me a second to interpret it.

"An hour, maybe two, ago," I shrugged.

"We missed you at the party! Where did you go?" Calli sulked.

"We just took a walk to the meadow and back," I answered truthfully.

"Just a walk…" Charlie grinned, wagging his eyebrows.

"Yes," I lied firmly.

"Nah, I bet they were making out," he snickered to Parker.

Link and I looked at each other then back at Charlie.

"What? No," I voiced as innocently as I could.

"Of course not," Link added.

Charlie's head whipped to Link, glaring. "Hey! You think you can do better than her?" he growled, his face splotching red.

"Oh gods… Charlie, how many drinks have you had?" I chastised.

He held up one finger, smiling like an idiot.

"How about you times that by ten, buddy," Link stated, crossing his arms.

Charlie looked at his finger then held up another one, presenting us with two.

"Not even close," Link shook his head.

Charlie turned to me. "Math is hard," he whined.

"I know," I sighed, patting his shoulder. "Let's get you to bed." I motioned Parker and Calli over to help take Charlie back up the ramp. "I'm just going to say goodnight to Link," I called as they stumbled through the double doors, cackling about something I didn't hear.

I exhaled loudly. "They are going to have a rough morning tomorrow. Hopefully someone will have that hangover potion waiting for them."

"I'll mention it to Uli before I turn in."

I looked at Link. "Won't you run the risk of the others bombarding you if you do?"

He shook his head. "I'd say the majority of the villagers are either too drunk to notice or have fallen asleep in awkward places by now."

I snorted. "Okay. Thank you."

Link gazed at me, his dark blue eyes almost black in the amber glow of the lamps. I faced him, rising slightly on my toes to press a chaste kiss to his lips.

"Goodnight," I said with a soft smile.

He brushed the side of my face, pushing a lock of my hair behind my ear, then rested his hand under my cheek. "Goodnight."

After a moment we parted ways, me to the inn and Link to Renado's hut.

When I reached the double doors I paused, needing to look back for one last glimpse of him. As I did, my breath hitched. He was standing still in the middle of the road, half turned, doing the same. I smiled as I gave him a small wave, then entered the dark body of the inn.

As I climbed the steps I couldn't help but think about everything that happened today.

…Okay, well, maybe my mind was focused on one thing in particular.

My stomach flipped as I ran my fingers over my lips, the memory of Link scorched into the layers of my skin.

I reached the top landing, expecting to see my friends still drunkenly making their way to the rooms, but was surprised to see the hall was empty. I quickly peaked through Parker and Charlie's door first, and was rewarded with seeing all three of them crammed into the small room. I chuckled as Parker lay halfway off his bed, while Calli was draped over Charlie's stomach like a blanket.

My body was turning to lead as I got ready for bed; and ten minutes later I was lugging myself under my covers, grinning like a madman for being on a mattress again.

As my eyes closed, my heart began to pound at the thought of Link; the sheer giddiness I felt threatening to keep me awake despite my protest for sleep.

Eventually my body started to settle, the buzz simmering to a hum, warm and all consuming.

I was drowning. And I couldn't be happier.

So, how'd I do..? Hopefully good, because those challenges I mentioned all revolved around romance...

Writing romance is haaaard! Which is crazy since what I read is basically romance, or romance- slash- another genre. But man it was tough, trying to figure out if what I was doing was too cheesy, not cheesy enough, too cliche, or just fine as romantic cliches are what set the heart pumping sometimes.

I'm hoping I didn't go overboard though, as this was a looooong time coming. Personally, I like more than one scene of characters being together in a chapter. It makes me happy, haha. So, I think I struck a balance, overall. Then again, that's just my opinion ;)

Comment, follow, and fave if you like what you read!

~lavender phoenix~