Chapter 2 - Matters of the Heart

The girls were finally heading to safety.

Zelda watched them go as morning sunlight filtered down through breaks in a few gloomy clouds above. The darkened sky promised rain later in the day over the wagon trail Link led them to, but thankfully, it didn't look as if it would be too severe for travel. So they parted ways with a few warm goodbyes, and she mounted Frost, confident the girls would reach Engleton without any trouble.

Now it was simply a matter of dealing with her own.

As Link watched the wagon depart, he couldn't help feeling guilty for not accompanying the ladies to town. Still, it was better not to complicate matters for them by taking a risk with running into soldiers, or even his dark half, and they'd be happier getting to Engleton as soon as possible.

As he had the thought, Zelda drew his attention by letting a low sigh. The morose sound called to mind his desire to make sure she was alright, and he turned Epona's reins and trotted over to Frost, getting close enough that his right leg brushed her left.

Once there, all it took was a single look at her face to know she wasn't okay, and he reached for her hand without a word. What happened to those girls hadn't been easy for either of them to stomach, but he knew Zelda's discomfort was worse than his own if only because she was a woman.

So he merely waited to see what she'd say now that they were alone instead of pushing her into talking about it—and she didn't hesitate to respond to his gesture of comfort.

Staring down at Frost's saddle with her hands clutching the pommel, Zelda watched as Link's fingers folded around hers, and something in the care he took with the simple gesture caused her emotional restraints to snap. Until that moment, she'd fought not to cry, unwilling to delay their own trip by forcing her friend to deal with an outpouring of grief.

Yet he'd just reminded her without words that he truly cared, and she couldn't hold back anymore.

"How could anyone do something so horrible!" With her exclamation given, she covered her eyes with her free hand, overwhelmed by sorrow for what those girls had to endure, and utter disgust at the men who'd put them through it.

The whole thing made her sick, and as she fought to take a slow, steady breath, she felt Link's hand leaving hers seconds before he clutched her sides.

Momentarily distracted, she looked up just as he lifted her over with a slight grunt, settling her across his lap in Epona's saddle. Despite her surprise, she didn't struggle, and reached up to hug him the moment she was sitting sidesaddle.

Burying her face against his shoulder, she let herself cry, not at all surprised by how comforting his presence was.

Rubbing a hand up and down her back to soothe her, Link related, "There have always been unscrupulous people, and with Ganondorf on the throne, they're finding it easier to exploit others for their own gain. It's the example he sets, which is just another reason why we need to keep going, because after you've claimed the crown, they'll think twice before trying something like this."

Still hugging him tight, Zelda gave a small nod, knowing he was right—and the gentle motion of his hands against her back was certainly calming her nerves. Once again, he was making her feel safe, and that was a sensation she sorely needed in that moment.

The thought brought to mind the way Rika told her how lucky she was to have a man like Link who cared about the well being of others. Like Kiama, she'd believed Zelda and Link were romantically involved, and there hadn't been a chance to correct her before they left. But it didn't entirely matter—right or wrong, Zelda appreciated the sound of it too much to care.

She also appreciated the way he was holding her, finding it too comfortable to immediately return to Frost's back. Instead, she stayed right where she was, recovering from her upset while focusing on how warm he felt.

Maybe it was a bad idea considering her pesky attraction to him, but she needed the distraction too much to care—and Link couldn't help thinking the exact same thing.

Zelda wasn't the only one dealing with emotions that needed calming, and holding her so close was definitely helping set his heart at ease. Not only was he saddened by the plight of the young ladies they'd freed, he'd been enraged as well.

Those girls weren't any older than Zelda, and if those men had gone to Kakariko and abducted Zelda like the others … .

His grip around her tightened at the thought, his anger renewed. Protective instincts flared within him, as did a heady sense of possessiveness. The mere thought of her being sold to a man for any reason had him sick to his stomach, and as he gazed down at the silky strands of bronzed blonde hair covering her head while she rested so comfortably against him, a surprising thought impulsively rose.

She's mine.

The breath left his lungs in a rush. It wasn't the first time he'd experienced such feelings, but it was certainly the most potent sense of possessiveness he'd had yet. The notion that his amorous feelings were becoming so strong also made it seem like a good idea to urge her back onto Frost, but he'd never push her away, especially not when she needed him.

He always wanted her to be this comfortable with him, to feel as if she could seek his help with anything. After all, this wasn't about his feelings for her, and he would stay true to his promise of avoiding complications in favor of making sure she was happy.

With the thoughts in mind, he brushed some of her hair over her shoulder and asked if she was feeling any better.

With a deep breath, Zelda slowly nodded and sat back to gaze up at his face. Seeing her tear stained cheeks, Link used his thumb and index finger to gently wipe them away.

The soft touch almost caused her to cry again. He really does care, Zelda thought, grasping his hand before he could pull it from her face to thread her fingers through his in a silent display of appreciation.

She did love him, after all. He was her best friend, and she provided a warm smile to prove it.

As their fingers laced together, something twisted in Link's chest, the sensation amplified when she cast such a sweet smile up at him. Her eyes were filled with the kind of love he'd seen a million times before—the love of a close friend, and he tried to return it to show he understood.

Yet the beauty in her expression was so dazing it was hard to know if he'd accomplished the feat. Perhaps his judgment was clouded by his attraction, but something about the way they were holding hands felt like much more than a friendly way of interacting with the girl he'd known since childhood.

So instead of allowing this to get to the point where kissing her was all he could think about, he denied himself yet again by stating the first thing that came to mind.

"Maybe I don't need to say it, but you know I'd never let something like that happen to you, don't you?"

Is it just me, or did that come out all wrong? He couldn't help feeling as if the comment sounded much more protective than he'd wanted, but then again, there was no way around it. Attraction or not, he cared about her, and he'd meant every word.

Thankfully, she didn't seem to notice, or she simply didn't comment on it, her gaze downcast at their joined hands as she confirmed with confidence, "I know you wouldn't, Link, and I'm sorry if I worried you by getting so upset. It's just so easy to see myself in those girls, and it … it scares me."

She didn't risk looking up at his face, too worried any kindness or concern she spied in his sapphire eyes might cause her to start crying all over again. Yet she wasn't oblivious to the way his arm tightened around her side as he responded, "I know, so why don't we get our minds off of it by getting out of here and starting our trip to Engleton? That is, if you're up to it."

Finally, Zelda turned her gaze up to meet his with a small smile curving her lips as she nodded. Still, she asked, "Would it be alright if I rode with you for just a little while?"

Nodding, Link returned, "I don't mind, and I don't think Frost would either."

"Oh, I forgot, Epona might–"

Link interrupted her by shaking his head. "She'll be okay for a while, and besides, I think she misses you."

With that said, he reached over to grab Frost's reins, which Zelda took to hold as Epona started moving at a casual trot away from the wagon trail and into the trees. On the way, he had to wonder if it was actually the horse that missed her, or himself.

Deciding not to voice that thought aloud, he instead focused on their ride through the forest as they idly chatted about whatever came to mind. For now, it was really all they needed, just to be close in a world of their own far away from the one awaiting their help.

Just as Link told the girls, the ride to Engleton would go a lot more quickly using the wagon trail. But he and Zelda didn't encounter any centers of civilization for the rest of the day—and it was a long trip.

Somehow, the ride seemed to go on forever before they finally made camp in a forest glen during a rain storm that started somewhere around noon and didn't seem intent on stopping. Tired, wet, cold, and hungry, a break was definitely needed, and they set up a small tent against the base of a large tree to keep the rain off their heads while they ate followed by getting some rest.

Side by side, they laid down with only a foot of room between them, the pattering of rain around them helping them relax despite their general discomfort in the dreary weather. Soon enough, they drifted off, resting as well as could be expected given the circumstances.

Yet, somewhere close to morning, Zelda began dreaming again.

It started plainly enough, and was actually rather humorous—she and Link had just reached Lake Hylia, and the moment he laid eyes on the large body of water, her friend announced his intentions of giving up the fight for Hyrule in favor of taking a boat out to fish.

Initially, she couldn't believe his decision. Yet, as he walked away, her attention was snagged by two voices calling her name in succession, one masculine and the other feminine—her parents.

At the sound of their voices, she spun away from the lake to see the Palace of Hyrule standing in a field beneath a stormy sky. Their cries were coming from somewhere within the bowels of the structure, pleading with her to save the kingdom, to save them—and she could no longer stand idly by and do nothing.

Taking off at a sprint, she moved toward the palace, but no matter how hard or fast she ran, it always remained just out of reach. Laughter ensued, a low echo of mocking chortles that grew louder as the image of the palace faded into darkness.

"No … no!"

Her eyes opened as she shot forward, finding herself staring at the forest where she and Link had set up camp. Glancing left revealed her friend sleeping soundly next to her with one arm behind his head, the calm of night still upon them.

Releasing a pent up breath, she slumped forward, finding her clothing was only damp now after spending the day riding through rainfall which had finally ceased. The lack of pattering droplets left a low hum of crickets coupled with the rustling of leaves in the breeze, providing a serene atmosphere that stood in stark contrast to the hectic vision she'd just been given.

This was the second time she'd dreamed of her parents calling her to save them in addition to saving the kingdom. The first had been in Roshala when they'd stayed with Lyonel, and she now knew the change in her recurring dream was more than a simple reaction to learning more of her true identity.

It had meaning.

Laying back against the pallet again, she had the distinct feeling she knew what that meaning was as well. By telling her to save them, her parents were urging her to restore the proper lineage to the throne by actually claiming it. Perhaps there was more to it, something she'd yet to consider, but if so, her dreams wouldn't reveal more until she was ready to know it.

So she didn't focus on it, and endeavored to push the images from her mind in order to get a bit more sleep. Sadly, the temperature had dropped, making it difficult, and she only managed to rest for another hour before waking snuggled into Link's side.

With his arm around her back, the position was more comfortable than she would've liked, and a blush lit her cheeks. They'd slept just that way several times as children, but this was different, and she was grateful he didn't wake up while she untangled herself from his grasp.

Deciding it was close enough to dawn that she'd help them save time by ensuring everything was packed and ready to go, she tugged her blanket around her shoulders for warmth and left their small tent. After tending to her personal needs, she checked their satchels and removed some food so they could eat before setting off once again.

But before she commenced with preparing it, she made sure to give Epona and Frost some special attention in the form of grains and several pats on their noses.

"I guess you two have a tough job as well. Carrying us across the countryside can't always be fun, but I promise we'll take care of you."

Smiling when the horses snorted as if they'd understood, she turned away with the intentions of eating her breakfast, but was momentarily distracted. At the edge of the tent near Link's legs was his sword and shield. He'd placed them close enough to grab in case they were needed, and the sight of the idle weapon piqued Zelda's curiosity.

Leaning down, she brushed her fingertips over the hilt of the Master Sword, regarding it with the type of solemn respect it deserved. Link intended to help her learn how to use his dagger efficiently in a fight, and she wondered if he might teach her swordplay as well.

Impa had already given her the most basic instruction with a blade. It certainly wasn't enough to suffice in an actual fight, but it got her foot in the door. Still, it seemed pointless to try with this sword—the one that could only be wielded by the chosen—yet she wanted to see it more closely.

Gripping the hilt in one hand and the sheath in the other to lift it from the ground, she abruptly stumbled against an unexpected weight. Narrowing her brows, she tried again, realizing it actually wasn't weight so much as a negative force keeping it stationary, as if the weapon itself was resisting her.

Is that why no one else can wield it? Intrigued by the thought, Zelda tried once more, and did manage to tilt the hilt away from Link's shield, but it took every ounce of strength she possessed to do so.

Immediately releasing it, she fell back, her bottom smacking the damp ground. At the same time, she heard Link rousing with a low, sleepy groan just before he pushed himself up and exited the overhang of their tent.

Lifting his arms in a stretch followed by a soft yawn, he began rubbing the sleep from his eyes before turning to spy her on the ground next to his sword and shield. The sight of it had him lowering his hand in confusion.

"What are you doing out here on the ground? Couldn't sleep?"

"Sort of," she started, pushing herself up with the explanation, "I slept, but woke up because of a dream. What about you? I didn't wake you did I?"

"I started waking up when I felt you moving," he admitted. "Still, I wasn't all that comfortable anyway. So what have you been up to?"

Dusting herself off, she apologized for disturbing him. "I'm sorry, and I haven't done much aside from feeding the horses and admiring your sword which, by the way, happens to be quite heavy, sir."

Brows drawing together in confusion, he asked, "It is?"

"Mm hmm," she drew out. "I could barely get it to even tilt. There seemed to be a negative force to my movements, as if it was resisting me."

Regarding the blade, Link remarked, "I suppose that's why no one else can use it," as he leaned down and pulled it from the sheath with no problem at all.

After the effort she put in to make it tilt away from his shield even slightly, the simple action seemed miraculous.

"Feels light as a feather to me," he added, drawing the blade around in his fist in a manner that proved his claim.

"That's what I thought, too, and I was a little disappointed because I was hoping to learn a bit about how to use it."

Looking up from his blade, he smiled and sheathed it again with the words, "We don't need a sword for that. Just give me your dagger."

Looking down at her hip, she took the weapon and handed it over despite her uncertainty over his request. "You can't learn swordplay with a dagger, Link."

"No, but you can find the right tools using it. Just stay right here."

Confused, Zelda watched as he disappeared into the nearby trees. Sounds of shuffling followed, redoubling her bewilderment. What's he doing?

Waiting patiently, he finally seemed to find what he was looking for when the word, "There," came from the trees followed by his return with a medium thick branch in his hand.

Bringing it toward her while cutting the leaves from its sides, Zelda smiled brightly—he was making a wooden sword for practice.

Removing the blanket from her shoulders, she tossed it into the tent and walked over to wait until he was done shaving the thick branch down to size, then handed the dagger back to her. Returning it to her belt, she looked back up as Link moved beside her and took her hand, placing it on the bottom of the limb followed by putting her other beneath it.

"I carved a notch so you can see where the guard is," he pointed out. "Have you ever used a sword before at all?"

"Impa showed me some basics, such as the proper stances."

Parting her legs to show him that she was telling the truth, he watched with an approving nod, then moved behind her. Looking back, Zelda watched as he took her arm and moved it so that it was bent just slightly inward.

"Keep your elbows bent but close to your side," he explained. "That way it's harder for opponents to hit you, and you can lash out more easily."

Stepping back again, he asked, "What else did Impa show you?"

Zelda replied by turning the limb in a circle using one hand, and did it fairly quickly. "I've only practiced doing that much. I used my left too, just to make sure both of them were capable."

Nodding, Link commenced with showing her some basic swipes followed by making her perform them a few times, and she caught on rather quickly. A patient learner, she was easy to work with, giving the impression that she'd be at a basic level of swordplay in no time at all. Everything he showed her, she took in with interest and adapted, making him feel as if he were doing a good job teaching—a relieving thought.

The worry of becoming too distracted by something such as her beauty to keep his focus was prevalent. But though he wasn't oblivious to her feminine appeal, it didn't take his mind off of what they were doing as much as he'd expected—with a little effort, that was.

Whenever they got closer, he kept his gaze away from her face and helped her along without fault.

In the reverse, Zelda couldn't help but appreciate his method of instruction and how easy he made everything seem. If she made a mistake, he showed her exactly what she'd done and explained the reasons why it was wrong without becoming impatient. Furthermore, he never teased her, leaving her much more comfortable learning.

Still, she did find herself blushing every time he put his arms around her to correct her position.

Thankfully, he didn't seem to notice the pink staining her cheeks, too busy providing instruction by cracking little jokes like so if a cucco flew at you, what would you do?

Such comments had her laughing too much to immediately continue, and after spending an hour working on methods of using the blade, Link announced his intentions of showing her some basic footwork.

Eager to learn, Zelda followed his instruction to the best of her ability, but found this part of her impromptu training more difficult for a simple reason—the damp ground. The recent rains left the terrain slick with mud, though she didn't complain if only because fighters didn't get to choose their setting.

So she tried to be as careful as possible, but that didn't stop her right foot from sliding abruptly after making a turn.

"Whoa … are you alright?" Link asked.

Smiling, Zelda nodded and immediately corrected herself, then attempted the same move again and succeeded.

Seeing this, Link commended her and continued providing instructions on pivoting through example, leading her as carefully as possible. Just as before, she picked up on the movements easily, though neither of them noticed a small rock in her path, and at her next turn, her boot came down right on top of it.

Gasping as she lost her balance on the uneven surface, she stumbled backwards.

Instinctively, Link reached out, thankfully close enough to grab her waist and use her momentum to swing her around. Sadly, the wet ground didn't help him keep his footing, causing his own downward tumble as he held Zelda close and used his body to cushion her fall.

Once they landed, both fought to catch their breath, and Zelda swiftly lifted her head to stare down at him in surprise, then rolled aside and turned her gaze to spy the rock nearby that caused their mishap.

Grumbling at the sight of it, she mused, "Maybe we should take a break. There's no sense risking injury over training me to use a sword."

While Link had no qualms with continuing their practice, he could agree the risk of injury didn't seem worth it. But before he could agree, she suddenly started snickering and regarded him with mirth in her violet blue eyes.

"The look on your face."

Confused, he shook his head. "What about it?"

"You looked so concerned when I stumbled," she explained, then covered her mouth contritely with an apology, even as a few more snickers escaped. "I'm sorry, I'm not picking at you, honestly! I can't help it though."

Sitting up with her, Link smiled at the sound of her mirth, finding it much more enjoyable than the frowns and tears she'd shed the previous day after saving those girls.

Still, he excused, "I thought you'd hurt yourself, and besides, you would've gotten mad if I'd let you fall."

Zelda gave him an incredulous look, shaking her head as she tried not to grin while exclaiming, "I would not!"

"Sure, say that now," he teased.

"You're impossible," she returned, playfully shoving his arm with a few snickers before looking herself over with a regretful sigh. Their clothing was getting damp because of the rain-soaked ground, prompting her to state, "We should get up before we catch a cold."

Turning to get her leg under herself as he pushed himself forward with the same intentions, the simultaneous movements brought them closer together—so close their noses nearly brushed. Instantly, they stopped moving as their gazes locked, forgetting their intentions of getting off the wet ground completely right along with the rest of the world.

As if a magic spell was cast, some force held them motionless, as well as speechless in a barrage of erupting emotion, and neither knew how to react.

Link's breath left him in a rush, and with another inhale, he caught her scent, that floral aroma that always seemed so familiar. Every time he caught it, it felt like going home again, comforting and incredibly alluring. At the thought, his gaze dipped to her lips, his battle to ignore his attraction fading as he slowly moved forward until the tips of their noses met.

Still, despite the strength of his desire, he stopped, unwilling to go any further until he knew she wasn't feeling uncomfortable. All the while, the logical side of his mind hoped she'd pull away, he just couldn't remember why.

Not when this felt so … right.

But she didn't move—and when her eyes slowly closed, his breath hitched, heart racing at a pace that was matched only by Zelda's own frantic pulse.

Is he … going to kiss me? Her head swam at the thought, the world spinning as he'd leaned in closer, and she shut her eyes against the dizzying sensation. Each emotion that rose in response was more intense than the last, rattling her, and yet she knew deep down she was ready for this, wanted to lean up and take it despite the heat in her cheeks.

Yet she was frozen in place, fearing a single movement would cause everything to stop, and it would simply never happen.

But their lips were only a breath apart, the warmth of his—

"It is you!"

As if a wall had come down between them, Link and Zelda jolted apart at the excited voice coming from nearby and instantly looked in that direction. In turn, the purple glowing orb of light that was Nissa sailed over them, coming around at an arc, her wings chiming excitedly.

"Mira, Link! I'm so happy to see you both!"

"Nissa?" Zelda drew out, still dizzy, though the fog of what just happened was quickly fading. The thought turned her cheeks an even brighter red, and when Link stood next to her, she looked up to see him offering his hand while clearing his throat—and something deep inside was screaming over their interrupted moment.

Still, she reached up and slipped her fingers into his, keeping her gaze away from his face the entire while if only to prevent him from seeing the embarrassment in her eyes.

"Yes!" Nissa responded, completely oblivious to their would-be kiss as the Hylians stood before her. She simply went on, "I thought I heard someone talking and laughing, so I came to see what was going on."

Smiling as the fairy flew in to hug her neck, Zelda reached up to pat Nissa's head with her fingertip.

"What are you doing out here," Link asked, striving to keep the irritation out of his voice—and it wasn't caused by Nissa's arrival.

Instead, he felt guilty for giving into his urge to kiss Zelda, for taking advantage of a situation without even stopping to ask how she felt first. The notion of it made Nissa's interruption feel welcome—in a way.

Still, he did want to know what Zelda was thinking at that moment, and whether she was uncomfortable at all.

Yet he had to push the thoughts away when Nissa responded, "Oh! I left Kakariko to travel home and tell my people more about what I'd learned from Impa. Then I used the Fairy Pools to travel to a fairy cave near here, and I was just leaving it when I heard you two."

Lifting into the air again, the fairy zipped back and forth between them as if looking them over before adding, "Link, you look so handsome! Oh! And you have the Master Sword!"

Rubbing the back of his neck, Link drew out, "Yeah, we've been through a lot since the last time we saw you."

"I'll say! Well … oh! I should take you to the cave! The fairy maiden there can help you both! They told me they would be happy to aid the two of you."

Hearing this, Zelda looked at Link for the first time since they'd almost kissed, inquiring as casually as she could, "Would you like to go there?"

"Why not?" he returned just as casually, asking Nissa, "How far is it?"

"Not too far! You won't even need your horses! Come on!"

As the fairy zipped away, they turned to follow, both unaware of the other's appreciation for her presence preventing an awkward situation after their interrupted kiss. After all, trying to explain away their actions would be difficult, and Nissa's arrival gave them time to consider things before making the attempt.

Yet, as they walked, Zelda could feel her heart skipping a beat every time she replayed the scene in her head, and found herself disappointed, not to mention confused. Was she a bad person for wanting to kiss her childhood friend so badly?

Perhaps not—after all, he was the one leaning toward her, so maybe he wanted it just as much as she had.

The realization that Link might harbor the same types of feelings had her blushing the entire way to the fairy cave. Or … was she just being a silly, infatuated girl? She had no experience to draw on where it concerned matters of the heart, and for all she knew, Link had simply been swept up in a random moment, considered her attractive enough to capitalize, but didn't truly feel anything deeper for her.

The notion brought to mind the way the women in Roshala had waved at him, even whistled as if he was the most attractive man to ever ride through town. But they didn't know the half of it. He was not only handsome, but also noble, kind, and compassionate.

Any girl would desire a man such as that, meaning Link could have his pick if he put his mind to it—and so many options didn't really bode well where she was concerned.

So no, the fact that he'd nearly kissed her wasn't an indication of harboring affection in a romantic sense.

That aside, her own feelings could be confused. She'd watched him fight like mad to protect her, and he always found ways to ease her sorrows. Such acts could easily lead to feelings of infatuation, but didn't necessarily indicate a true affinity.

Or that's what she told herself for the sake of her sanity.

Besides, the last thing she needed was to be so distracted from their goals, and he needed a doting woman about as much as he needed a flock of cuccos chasing him.

So she made up her mind, and came to a solid conclusion. If the topic of their interrupted kiss came up again, she'd simply tell him she hadn't been sure of his intentions and hope it sounded feasible enough to be believable.

As for the conclusion? Matters of the heart were definitely complicated.