Chapter 6 - Truth

So much had happened since Link and Zelda left Death Mountain that they both agreed spending the day in Engleton was a good idea. Not only did it provide them a chance to stock up on supplies, it was also nice to get a full meal and rest in an actual bed.

There was only one downside—Link never had the chance to speak with Zelda alone, leaving him in the dark over the full extent of what his mimicry had done to her.

It wouldn't have been so difficult to deal with if he hadn't noticed the injury she'd sustained. The blood at the corner of her mouth suggested his shadow had raised a hand to her, and every time Link considered it, his blood boiled.

Adding to his concern, Zelda had begun acting strangely around him, avoiding his sight and giving brief answers whenever they talked. It all suggested more had gone on in that home than a brief scrap, yet the chance to ask never presented itself.

Instead, between sessions of stocking up on supplies and receiving a few accolades from friends of Olnor and Betarro, they spent time talking with Kiama and the other girls from the wagon, including a young lady named Jada that resembled Zelda in numerous ways. She never spoke a word, and it wasn't surprising considering the horrible things those men put her through. Yet she did smile during their conversation with the others, and the pleasant expression was heartwarming—an angering thought.

The notion of a smile seeming miraculous was criminal in itself. Smiles should come naturally, and as Link considered it, he found his gaze drifting to Zelda. She continued to speak with the girls, unaware of his inner musings, and though she smiled sporadically, he couldn't help noticing a vacantly thoughtful expression on her face when someone else was talking.

The sight fed his already growing concern, and at least an hour passed before he realized he'd barely participated in the conversation. So he let the ladies continue their chatting and headed outside to clear his thoughts.

By then, the sun was beginning to set over the horizon. It was another cold evening, but at least it wasn't raining. Grateful for small favors, he leaned against the front wall of Betarro's home and considered their impending departure from Engleton when the sound of a match being struck hit his ears.

Glancing over to see a familiar cloaked figure standing on the end of the porch, the fire from the match he'd lit cast a soft glow against his hood as he pressed the flame over the bowl of his pipe and took a drag.

"Lyonel?" Link asked in surprise while stepping toward him. "When did you get here?"

"Not too long ago," his solemn voice replied, "and the town's been rife with gossip about what your mimicry did to Olnor and how you saved him, which I'm glad you did. Olnor's a good man."

Coming to a stop a few feet from the former royal guard, Link nodded in agreement, asking, "Do you want me to tell him you're here? Or Betarro?"

"No, that won't be necessary," Lyonel declined. "I haven't seen either of them in several years, so if they find out I'm here, they'll delay me trying to catch up, and I need to leave soon."

"Then … ," Link drew out, shaking his head. "Why did you come here?"

Exhaling a line of smoke, he replied, "I came to ask if you'd ride with me. There's something you need to see not too far from here."

"What is it?"

Stepping down from the porch and into the yard, Lyonel waved his hand in a silent gesture for Link to follow, answering simply, "Come on, I'll show you."

Though Link wasn't reluctant to accompany the man, he hesitated, stating, "I should let Zelda know. She might miss me and go looking if I don't."

"No, it won't be long enough for her to notice, not when she's busy chatting with so many ladies." A small, amused smile creased his lips beneath his hood as he added, "We both know how they sometimes get carried away."

Smirking if only because he knew the man was completely right, Link nodded and accompanied him to their horses waiting nearby. Only a few minutes later, they were moving through a glade of trees shrouding Engleton from a cliff side overlooking Lake Hylia in the distance.

Though several miles still lay between them, it was much bigger from their current vantage point than it'd been near the summit of Death Mountain. With the evening clouds reflected on the surface of the waterway, it looked as if someone had spilled a large bucket of shimmering, gray paint.

Lyonel stopped his horse near the edge of the cliff, looking back as Epona carried Link over, the wind whipping around them as he spoke.

"I know Myriad sent you here for the next step in your quest and wanted to ask if you've ever heard of Zora's Domain?" At Link's nod, Lyonel went on, "Like the rest of us, they're aware of the evil roaming the lands, which has led them to unleash one of their guardians to protect their home."

"Guardians?" Link asked curiously.

"Watch the lake, Link," Lyonel directed.

Obliging him, he looked back out at the waters, which were presently calm. Silence ensued, and while Link wasn't impatient, enough time passed that he nearly asked Lyonel to simply describe what he was talking about.

That's when the answer presented itself. With no warning, something abruptly emerged from the surface of the lake, tilting to land with a large splash before disappearing beneath the water once more.

His brows narrowed at the sight, lips parting. Whatever it was, it was huge, reminding him of the whales he'd heard stories of, and it was difficult to imagine the kind of damage something that large could cause.

"That's the guardian," Lyonel started during his thoughts, adding in warning, "You may not be able to weather the lake without consequences."

"What is it?"

Leaning his arms across the pommel of his saddle, Lyonel exhaled low and replied, "That remains to be seen. Fish, monster, who can tell? Anyone unfortunate enough to get caught within its jaws haven't returned to tell the tale."

Shaking his head, Link glanced over at the former guard and asked, "Does Myriad know about it?"

"I couldn't say. She knows many things, but only if told to her or seen in visions. But you'll be able to consult her again before you travel to the lake as there's a stone in Misty Falls just past here. It's secluded, so you'll have to look harder to find it, but it's there."

Link nodded in understanding, knowing fully well why a Myriad Stone would be more difficult to find in Misty Falls. As a gorge of waterfalls and twisting paths leading through numerous caverns and rocky outcrops, it was the quickest way to Lake Hylia from the fields—if one knew how to navigate it. The maze of paths had caused many travelers to get lost, making Link grateful the Gerudo had obtained a few maps to help them with trade in the area.

Otherwise he'd likely never find his way through, much less locate any Myriad Stones.

"Thanks for letting me know," he replied.

"You're welcome," Lyonel acknowledged, and surprisingly began turning his mount to ride on without another word.

It drew to mind his claim of needing to leave soon, and the thought prompted Link to stop him.

"Lyonel?"

Slowing to a halt, he looked back and asked, "Yes?"

Unable to shake the suspicion that something was wrong, he inquired, "Why did you leave Roshala to come out here?"

Link watched the man quietly as he turned his hooded head away to look forward, solemnly relating after a moment of silence, "Trouble isn't one to sit and wait, Link. Once it's stirred up, it likes to spread."

Urging Epona closer, Link was ready to suggest he accompany them if trouble was following him. At least then, they might be able to help him avoid danger.

Yet Lyonel was quick to add, "So don't follow me now, Link, and don't ask me to go with you. You and Zelda have your own destinies, and I have mine."

"But you can't just live on the run until Hyrule is restored—Lyonel?"

As he spoke, the former royal guard goaded his horse away, making it clear that he didn't wish to discuss the topic. Yet Link was too concerned to simply let him leave and meet an uncertain fate, instantly urging Epona ahead to ride around in front of him and block his path.

As a result, Lyonel drew up on his reins to halt his mount from going any farther, and Link pointed out, "You have to go somewhere safe, somewhere you won't be found."

Grumbling, the older Hylian replied, "I'd hoped to avoid saying this aloud, but I have somewhere safe. I don't know if you've heard or not, but a revolt is forming that I plan on joining and even leading if it's necessary."

"I have heard of it, actually," Link returned. "I just don't know who's forming it."

With a nod, Lyonel took enough time to explain, "Many are average citizens, but some are trained fighters. You see, there were once several rumors flying about concerning the mind control Dragmire begot on the King and Queen, but the tales were eventually overshadowed by the belief that Myriad and the other Sages had turned their backs on us.

"So, uncertain of the truth and who to trust, the people waited. If Myriad awoke, they would know she hadn't abandoned Hyrule and the stories of the false king were true after all. Needless to say, now that you've drawn her from her long slumber, stories of the true child of Hyrule have resurfaced, and some people are gathering to rebel."

Listening to his story carefully, Link shook his head once he was done, asking, "You were just going to leave without saying anything?"

"Yes," Lyonel replied with ease, adding, "but only because I've already instructed Myriad to inform you of its location as soon as I'm there."

Link exhaled a sigh, understanding now why Lyonel wanted to leave without a word. If trouble was following him, he would risk revealing the location to prying ears and ruining the people's chances of making a stance.

So he prepared to move Epona from his path and allow the older Hylian to depart when another voice sounded from nearby.

"Well, if Myriad knows, then there's a chance Ganondorf can get it out of her, now isn't there, Lyonel?"

Instantly, Lyonel's expression hardened. Ten years had passed since he'd heard that voice, and Link looked left to an area a few yards behind his horse to spy the captain of Ganondorf's royal guards emerging from the trees.

"You!" Link exclaimed, immediately freeing his sword from its sheath.

Yet Lyonel held up his hand to stop him without bothering to look back, knowing fully well it was Arden casually riding in closer to the scene.

Seeing his hand, Link slowly lowered his arm as Lyonel directed, "Don't get involved, Link. This is personal."

"Yes," Arden chuckled out, "this isn't your fight, kid, and the grownups have some talking to do. So run along now like a good boy."

Link sneered, but remained silent as Lyonel turned his horse to face Arden followed by leaning forward with his arms crossed over the pommel of his saddle as if to sit and chat with an old friend.

Regarding the Hylian with his duel colored eyes, Arden came to a stop, his large, black stallion snorting loudly as he remarked, "So, relaying secret messages to your wife, hmm? You know, I can't begin to imagine what Ganondorf might threaten to do in order to get it out of her once he learns what she knows."

Hearing this, Link stared at the back of Lyonel's hooded head in surprise. "Your wife? … Myriad?"

"He didn't tell you?" Arden chuckled out. "No, of course not. It wasn't important. As long as you become the hero we're all dying to see, that's all that matters, right, Lyonel? Ganondorf's a merciless, arrogant bastard, but you're just as predictable as he'd said, and so is Myriad."

Sending an icy glare in the Captain's direction, Lyonel asked, "Have you spoken enough yet, or are you no longer burning with the desire to pull your blade and have at one of your oldest enemies?"

"Oh, that desire never dies," Arden confirmed. "You'll experience the full force of it tonight. Perhaps even that kid will taste a bit more than what I previously showed him if he doesn't listen and run along to play with the other children."

Link scowled, just barely keeping himself in check for Lyonel's sake. It wasn't easy, but if the older Hylian considered this matter a personal affair, Link would respect his wishes, lifting his blade to push it back into his sheath.

Seeing him standing down, Arden smirked. "Good lad. Now, Lyonel, as you were saying?"

"The time for speech is over, Arden. If you're planning on telling Ganondorf what Myriad knows, then you'll simply have to be stopped, meaning the time has come to finish what was started ten years ago."

"I couldn't agree more," Arden replied, pulling his large broadsword from his back.

In turn, Lyonel pushed his cloak aside, revealing a long, slender cutlass on his hip.

Unable to interfere in their unfinished business, Link backed Epona away, unwilling to stick his nose where it didn't belong. No matter how much he yearned to assist Lyonel in this fight, it would only upset him, which could compromise his focus and cost him a victory.

That aside, Link was distracted when he heard a gasp nearby, looking back to see Zelda rushing toward the scene.

Turning Epona, he rode ahead to meet her, and she stopped next to his horse to look up with the question, "Link, what's going on?"

At the loud clash of metal, both of them looked over to see that Arden and Lyonel had engaged in battle. Judging by the first few moves, it would be a contest of Lyonel's speed against Arden's strength, and it was difficult to say who would win.

But Link only shook his head, reaching his hand down for Zelda with the response, "It's a long story, so I'll explain it later. Come on."

"But … aren't you going to help him?"

"It's not my business," Link returned. "Lyonel asked me not to interfere."

"Link, he could be killed! We should do something!"

Zelda looked up at him with that hopeful expression in her eyes he could never deny. The sight of it had him gritting his teeth in the knowledge that this was the one time he couldn't fulfill her wishes.

Instead, he directed, "Don't look at me like that. Just take my hand, Zelda."

Still, she hesitated, looking back over at the fight. A white glow had enveloped Lyonel's blade as he spun back from a hard swipe of Arden's sword. Using the momentum his movement provided, he sliced his cutlass forward at an arc, unleashing a surge of energy from his weapon in the shape of a crescent moon which slammed into Arden and knocked him backwards.

His show of skill helped waylay her concern, reminding her that Lyonel wasn't defenseless, and could handle himself. That aside, Arden's presence meant other soldiers could be lurking in town, making it imperative that they leave before more trouble could descend upon the citizens of Engleton.

So she obliged Link's request when he repeated her name more urgently, taking his hand to swing up behind him.

Waiting until she was settled before taking off, Link finally goaded Epona away from the skirmish and back to Betarro's home where Frost waited. There, Zelda dismounted Epona to transfer as Link asked, "Is there anything you need to get from inside?"

Once in her saddle, Zelda shook her head, knowing he wanted to depart as soon as possible. Too much had happened to the small town already, and neither of them wanted to be the cause of even more problems.

Still, she took a moment to mention, "I just hate rushing off without saying goodbye."

Link parted his lips to tell her he knew the feeling, but was interrupted by Kiama asking their names.

"Zelda? Link?"

Gazing over at the front porch, they saw Kiama exiting the home with a blanket wrapped around her shoulders and Nissa sitting on her head. Approaching them until she was only a few feet away, she stopped and asked, "Why are you leaving so suddenly?"

Realizing she'd heard their short conversation, Zelda frowned and explained, "Because there could be soldiers from Hyrule Palace coming this way and we don't want Engleton falling under fire simply because we're passing through."

Kiama frowned as Nissa inquired, "Did you see someone?"

"Yes," Link confirmed. "It was only one man, but we don't know if there are more. So if anyone asks about us, tell them we left for Hyrule Field."

Hyrule Field was in the opposite direction of Misty Falls, making it the perfect diversion for anyone asking questions. It would also protect Kiama, who didn't need to know the truth, and she didn't argue with their decision despite the dejected look on her face.

"We will," she replied with a nod. "So be safe, okay?"

Giving her a warm smile, Link returned, "Will do, and we'll come to visit you soon, okay?"

His promise put a happy smile on her face as she nodded. Simultaneously, Nissa lifted into the air and flew toward Zelda, admitting, "If you guys don't need me to come along, I'd like to stay here with the girls and help them recover. What do you think?"

"I think that sounds like a wonderful idea," Zelda returned with a smile, reaching up to pat Nissa with her fingertip. "I'm sure they'll get better much faster with you around."

"Thank you!" Nissa exclaimed, flying in to hug Zelda's neck, and then Link's before she returned to Kiama, directing, "You two take care of each other!"

Zelda nodded, and Link smiled, promising, "We will, and you do the same, especially for Jada. Tell the others goodbye for us, too."

"I will, and I forgot to mention, Jada will be staying with us, kind of like my sister," Kiama supplied. "So I actually got something very good out of this after all! Oh, and Zelda, you remembered to pack your dress, didn't you?"

"Yes," Zelda confirmed without providing an explanation for Link, but he remained quiet as she added, "I stored it in my satchel when I came out to find Link earlier."

"Good," Kiama replied with a smile, then returned to the front porch of her home and called, "Be well!"

Waving their goodbyes, Link and Zelda both turned their mounts, soon traveling away from the small town of Engleton just as suddenly as it felt they'd arrived. Yet Link wasn't fully focused on the matter. Instead, his thoughts were centered on Lyonel.

Finding out Myriad was his wife had been a punch to the gut, and for as saddening as the notion was considering her predicament, it was also nice to hear Lyonel planned to join the revolt forming and possibly even lead it.

Still, that all depended on the outcome of his fight with Arden, and Link could only pray he'd be victorious if for no other reason than to have one less problem to deal with. Yet even if Arden was defeated, Link got the feeling another problem would quickly rise in his place, and nothing would change until they stopped Ganondorf himself.

So he led Zelda to Misty Falls, hoping they could accomplish the next step in doing so soon now.

Zelda was grateful that Link had gained some navigational knowledge of Misty Falls from the Gerudo because the twisting paths and numerous caverns had her lost in no time.

Yet, for as confusing as the area was, the rocky walls rising high as towers and the fog created by various waterfalls gave the landscape a serene and mystical feel. The deep gorge leading to Lake Hylia was indeed beautiful, with only the song of birds and gurgle of water toppling downward into numerous streams making any sound among the scattered trees and plant life.

Sadly, the maze of caverns and tunnels provided several hiding places, meaning danger could've lurked anywhere. From monsters to soldiers and even simple thieves, they had to be careful during their long, overnight ride into the area, and only slowed their pace once dawn was lighting the sky.

By then, they'd gained a good bit of ground, though Zelda wasn't paying the natural beauty any attention. Instead, her mind was clouded by thoughts of what had happened in Engleton—specifically with Dark Link.

In their effort of putting as much distance between themselves and the small town as possible, they'd made only one rest stop during the night, and Zelda had cried the entire while she was alone. The more she considered everything that had happened in the dark with that evil mimicry, the more violated she felt.

Making matters worse, she was disgusted, and not simply with that shadow.

She was also disgusted with herself.

He'd kissed her, groped her, made her admit her feelings for Link, and she'd allowed it, even enjoyed it, unable to tell the difference between him and the real thing.

Knowing he was an entity designed to mimic Link in every way possible didn't help matters. She couldn't stop thinking there had to have been some way to know it wasn't her friend. Yet something deep inside wanted it to be him, her desire blinding her to the truth of the matter.

The notion left her so sickly ashamed she couldn't even look at Link during their journey. If he knew the truth of what happened, knew she couldn't tell the difference between him and that mockery … .

She gripped Frost's reins more tightly at the thought, and embarrassment over her mistakes wasn't the sole cause. Knowing her love for Link extended beyond their friendship wasn't making her shame any easier to handle, and now that she'd admitted those feelings to herself, it was impossible to go on ignoring them.

It made her wonder how nice it might be to actually kiss him instead of his evil mimicry, which only brought to mind the way the shadow had touched her in the dark, and she felt violated all over again.

Her only saving grace was knowing she'd tried to stop him before going too far. Of course, he'd already taken liberties by then, but it was comforting that she hadn't been so wanton as to completely discard all logical thought.

Still, her doubts followed her without cease as they traversed the paths of Misty Falls—and Link couldn't stand it anymore.

He'd caught sight of her face several times that morning, her expressions ranging from downtrodden to anxious, and even ill. Furthermore, she never once looked at him, never initiated a conversation, and it took little effort to puzzle out what was bothering her—Dark Link.

He still wasn't sure precisely what happened in that house, but the lack of answers combined with Zelda's behavior since her encounter with the shadow was worrying him endlessly. So the moment he found a suitable area to set up camp, he finally stopped Epona in her tracks and turned to dismount, allowing the horse to graze through the grassy floor quietly.

A cave was nearby and the sound of rushing water echoed from within, suggesting a waterway was located inside, making it the perfect spot to get some rest and clean up—but not before he got some answers.

Seeing his stop, Zelda tugged on Frost's reins and asked, "Are we setting up camp?"

Link didn't respond, and she got the feeling he wasn't in the best of moods as he approached her horse. His expression was neutral, but there was something determined in his gait that set her pulse to racing as he reached up to help her dismount.

Taking his hands despite her misgivings, she climbed off of Frost and looked up to see concern in his sapphire eyes. But before she had the chance to comment, he explained the reason for it.

"We need to talk, Zelda. You've been acting strange since before we left Engleton, and I know it's because of what happened with him," he enunciated, a fire lighting in his gaze as if the mere thought caused him an unspeakable amount of rage.

Proving it, he added, "So I want to know exactly what that bastard did to you."

Despite knowing he was angry on her behalf, Zelda's throat closed up, making it impossible to breathe. If he was this upset simply taking guesses at what his mockery had done, how upset would he be to learn the truth?

Shame scalded her, and it didn't matter that she knew Link only wanted to set things right. She simply couldn't get her voice to work, and the effort had her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

Seeing her fearful expression, Link instantly took her upper arms in gentle hands, feeling as if he'd been stabbed in the heart with a shard of ice. Maybe he'd spoken too harshly, or perhaps it related to her encounter with Dark Link, but she looked scared of him.

And that simply would not do.

"Did he lie to you about me?" he asked, his tone softer than before in urging, "What did he say, Mira?"

The name slipped out without thought, but he refused to correct himself. Somehow, using it felt like a reminder that they'd known each other since childhood, and were much more than mere traveling companions working together on a quest to save a kingdom. They were also family, had always been family, and she was the one person in the entire world he felt as if he could rely on when the stakes were down.

So the notion that she might be uncomfortable around him for any reason was intolerable, and he'd do anything to set it right.

Thankfully, some of the fear did fade from her violet blue eyes, and Zelda suddenly felt silly for keeping so much from him. At the thought, her tears finally streaked down her cheeks, and she lowered her face to her hands to let it all out. She hated being so emotional, hated seeing the worry in his eyes, and leaned into him with an apology.

"I-I'm sorry, Link, I just … just hug me for a moment."

He didn't hesitate, wrapping his arms around her in a tight, protective hug—and words wouldn't have sufficed in describing how reassuring it was just to have her seeking his comfort again.

The thought prompted him to state softly, "I don't want to force you to talk about something traumatic too soon, but I can't stand seeing you hurt like this, or feeling I'm nothing more than a painful reminder of what happened because that mockery looks like me. So whatever he did, I need to know so I can help set it right again."

She hiccuped once he finished speaking, clutching him in desperation to let him know he had nothing to do with her discomfort, at least not directly. Yet her voice still wouldn't work, proving she still needed a few moments to recover from her churning emotions before making the attempt.

Link didn't help matters either when he gently pressed a hand to the back of her head and placed a light kiss against her crown. The affectionate gestures had her tears flowing even harder, and all she could think about was staying within the safety of his embrace and never facing the rest of the world again.

"You've always made me feel safe, Link," she heard herself whispering, and didn't try to figure out how she'd accomplished the feat. Instead, she continued, "I don't know if I ever told you that, but it's true, and it should've been enough to know … I-I should've known the difference."

Known the difference? Link didn't like the sound of that, and her next statement proved he was right to be concerned.

"But he had the silver gauntlets, Link, and pretended to be you in the dark, saying things you might say, and I couldn't see through it, like I don't really know you at all."

Hearing this, his eyes shut tight in the effort of keeping his anger in check, but it wasn't easy when he could feel her shaking and hear the tremor in her voice.

Yet he managed, responding sincerely, "You know me better than anyone, except maybe Nabooru, just as I know you like Impa does. Don't let yourself think otherwise just because a mimicry decided to play the part."

He could feel her head shaking against his chest and released her as she stepped back with the words, "There's more, Link. He told me he feels the same way you feel about me, and admitted to setting you up because he wanted to have me to himself, not because he was hoping to trap you like we assumed."

As she turned from him and wiped her eyes, Link couldn't say a word. It felt as if a battering ram had just found its way into his gut at full force, and the blows kept coming when she added, "He was kissing me and … took some liberties as well."

Despite the meekness of her tone, Link couldn't stop himself from approaching her with the question, "He touched you?"

"Please, Link, don't ask me about that, it's too … ," she trailed, obviously disgusted by whatever the shadow had done, and the notion only redoubled his ire.

"If he–"

"Please," she interjected sternly, though her following statements took on a softer tone. "I just want to stop thinking about it, okay? Besides, he didn't get the chance to go too far, I promise."

Her promise was enough to be reassuring, but it didn't ease his anger, and nearly all he could think about was postponing their trip to Lake Hylia in favor of tracking his doppelganger down to stop him for good. The bastard had already committed crimes that would fuel Link's enmity for a lifetime, but this?

He'd targeted Zelda, hurt her in ways Link wasn't even certain he'd considered, which drew to mind one of the first things the shadow said to him. I'm everything you fear.

For the first time, the comment seemed to hold weight. The notion that even a twisted copy of himself could hurt someone he loved so dearly in such a horrible manner was frightening. Making matters worse, knowing his true feelings for Zelda had motivated the mimicry to single her out from the start was intolerable.

Still, he couldn't focus on it for long when she finally turned to him and asserted, "I know it's selfish of me, but I need to ask if he was telling the truth so I can … put some of my doubts to rest."

More hesitantly, she then inquired, "A-Are you as … fond of me as he said?"

Link glanced to the side, unable to offer a quick answer. He had no reluctance to admit his feelings, and yet his shadow's actions had complicated the matter immensely. If she knew just how much he'd come to love her, would she blame him for the trauma she'd suffered?

Furthermore, he'd resolved to keep his feelings locked away if only because she had too much on her plate already. But now, she was giving him that hopeful look he had so much trouble denying, causing him to exhale a loud sigh.

She may well hold him accountable for what he was about to say, but if admitting the truth was the only way to console her, then he had no choice.

"It's true, Zelda, though the word fond isn't really strong enough to describe how I feel. When I first saw you again that day in Kakariko, I noticed things about you that I would've never thought of as a kid, and at first, I thought the relief of knowing you again combined with how attractive you are was making me feel this way. But ever since, those feelings have grown stronger."

Zelda nearly forgot to breathe, emotions bubbling to the surface so swiftly she could barely focus as he spoke. But she managed, watching a small, half amused smile curve his mouth as he admitted, "I even had a few dreams about you. The last was a few nights ago when I gave up the fight for Hyrule just so you'd never become the princess or have to give up all the things you want."

Turning to face her finally, he added without shame, "So yes, I do love you more than just as a friend, and I can't help it. I spent those years with the Gerudo knowing there was someone special to me somewhere in the world, someone I couldn't remember but hoped desperately to find and … I found you."

Pausing for breath, he looked down and shook his head. "My parents wanted me to have a friend when they sent me away, but I don't think they realized just how wonderful their choice was. Well, maybe it wasn't a choice, but it doesn't matter. I know you're more than they could've hoped for, Zelda."

Tears blurred her vision. No one had ever told her anything so sweetly meaningful, and her heart ached over the sentiment if only because she felt the same way. Link may have been the only other baby in the palace at the time she was born and sent away, but he'd turned out to be such a dear friend that she couldn't help thinking the Goddesses must've had a hand in setting things up.

Perhaps it was true as well, but it didn't really matter, and the ache in her heart only grew stronger as he concluded his confession.

"Still, I wanted to keep my feelings for you quiet because of what we're trying to do. This isn't about me or how I feel, it's about the people of this land, and it's about you. Whatever else happens, I want you to be happy, and if I told you the truth, it would've only complicated matters and made it even harder for you to have what you want."

Zelda's breath left her in a rush. She knew her friend was humble, but hadn't quite realized how selfless he was until that moment. His confession was so heartfelt there was no doubting his sincerity, and he was willing to sacrifice his happiness to make sure she was content, unlike Dark Link, who wanted to steal her away because of his feelings.

But the mimicry acted on selfishness, and in a strange way, it helped her to understand her friend a little better—such as the fact that he would never take what he wanted unless it was offered.

And she wanted to offer it now.

As she approached him, Link tried to prepare for any possible reaction, and wouldn't have complained if she walked over and introduced his jaw to her fist. Yet his friend proved to be full of surprises because he was completely unprepared for her response.

Not to mention utterly lost because of it.

Coming to a stop right before him, she held his gaze with reddened cheeks. It was hard to say whether the coloring was due to anger or embarrassment, but it seemed safer to assume the former and offer an apology.

That's when she silenced him by reaching to cup his cheeks in gentle hands and leaned up to press her lips to his.

Her eyes had closed, but he continued to stare down at her in shock—not to mention excitement. It was a simple kiss, her soft lips brushing his in a chaste manner, yet it was full of feeling, and he couldn't resist.

Not this time.

Closing his eyes, he leaned into it, covering her mouth with a low groan that sent a spark through Zelda unlike anything she'd ever experienced, even when she'd kissed Dark Link under the assumption that he was her friend. It was intense, like being struck by lightning, her fingers digging into the sleeves of his jerkin as dizziness overwhelmed her.

He even held her differently, one hand at the small of her back while the other threaded into her hair. The movements were possessive but still gentle, even careful, as if he were holding something … precious.

She certainly couldn't say she felt anything less than cherished as he captured her bottom lip between his, tugging it slowly in a manner that had the world spinning around them. What little thought the act left her had her considering his skill at kissing once again, not that she had the capacity to wonder where he might've acquired such a talent.

Instead, she clung to him, her legs like jelly as they panted, and the sound of his erratic breathing gave Zelda the impression that he was only just getting started. Yet Link surprised her when he broke their kiss with a gentle groan, slowly lifting his head back to regard her with both curiosity and a great deal of affection in his sapphire eyes.

"What are you doing?" he asked on a soft, ragged voice, still dazed by their kiss—and he rather liked the way she was using him for support if only because it proved she was in the same state.

Her whispered response didn't help him recover, either.

"I love you, too. I realized it when I thought it was you with me instead of that … mimicry."

She spoke the word as if it might've been too nice to describe the shadow, and Link couldn't disagree. But he remained quiet as she continued, "Until then, I just thought I was being a silly girl who'd become infatuated with the hero so to speak. But I was dismissing our history, and the way you've always … ."

Trailing, she looked down and took a shaky breath before continuing, "You've been so good to me, and knowing you won't take anything unless it's offered to you—and maybe not even then—I had to kiss you for it."

Somehow, each word she spoke lifted a weight from his chest, and her confession was revealing. He'd been so busy trying to protect her from complications and blaming himself for selfishness over his amorous feelings that he hadn't realized he wasn't exactly alone in them, and the discovery had him feeling as foolish as he was relieved.

After the paths their lives had taken, and how they'd continually proven to be there for each other, why wouldn't they form a deeper love?

Still, he had to point out, "As much as I love hearing that, you are a princess, Zelda. So I'm not sure if we could … ."

He trailed when she began shaking her head, sending a serious look up at his face. "If a title comes between us, then I won't be the Princess, Link. Righting the wrongs done to my parents is important to me, and I'd be happy to wear the crown if it meant keeping order and peace in the kingdom. But the crown doesn't mean nearly as much to me as you do, and if you're not in my life, I'd be absolutely miserable."

"Zelda … ," he breathed the name with a shake of his head. "You know I'd feel terrible if you gave up the crown just for me."

"And I'd feel terrible if you weren't happy," she countered. "So if you can sacrifice your happiness for mine, then I can do the same thing, and I will, and … and … ."

Trying to think of something meaningful to say, she finally blurted out, "You can't stop me!"

Each held the other's gaze for a solemn moment following her exclamation before abruptly snorting in amusement. Instantly, the weight of their moods lightened, leaving their lighthearted snickering behind as Link provided a mock agreement.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Laughing, she grabbed him in a tight hug—and he'd be lying to say he could remember a time when he felt more content. There were still problems on the horizon, and no way of knowing how things would end, but for now, all he could focus on was how silky her hair felt sifting between his fingers as he held her so close.

Resting his cheek to her crown, he reveled in that moment, in the disbelief that she loved him and the warmth of her body against his as her floral scent filled each breath, reminding him of home.

At the thought, he mused, "You know, I didn't realize it back then, but I've loved you since we were children. I know it was different because we were only children, but I noticed it most in the little things, like the way you'd take my hand without realizing it. That always made me feel good, like I was important to you, and I liked being important to you."

A smile curved her lips, one that grew when she realized taking his hand was a habit she still practiced. But she couldn't help it, confirming, "You are important to me, and it's also because you always make me feel safe. Like when Casimir was threatening us, I was never as scared as I probably should've been."

Her mood grew more somber at the thought of what happened after the royal guard attacked them, and she whispered, "That's one of the reasons I practiced with magic so much after your fall. I just felt so helpless, as if I were weak, and wanted to make sure I never allowed anything like that to happen again."

His arms tightened around her, and she returned the gesture almost instinctively, listening intently as he insisted, "I hope you're not still blaming yourself for that, Zelda, because no one could've prevented it and honestly, the more I think about it, the more I think it was actually meant to be."

Narrowing her brows, she turned a curious gaze up at his face, asking, "What do you mean?"

Releasing her, he turned with an arm still around her shoulders, leading her over to Epona as he explained, "I think we both needed time apart to become stronger and learn to survive on our own instead of growing up together. That way, we'd be more able to accept our true identities once the time came instead of refusing to fight for the greater good and clinging to the safety of the world we'd always known."

As he reached up for the blankets rolls tied to Epona's saddle, she couldn't stop staring while considering just how much sense his observation made.

So when he handed her one of the rolls, she took it with the question, "Are you sure you didn't get the Triforce of Wisdom?"

Scratching his head in thought, Link finally shrugged with a smirk and answered, "Nah, the Triforce of Courage just has a little of everything. Makes it the best one to have."

"Oh good goddess," Zelda drew out with a smile. "I do love you, but you can be so immature sometimes."

As he snickered softly, she shook her head. Still, her thoughts soon returned to their recent confession, and before they did anything else, she had to ask, "So what happens now? I mean now that we know our feelings for each other have grown, we can't ignore it, can we?"

"So we won't ignore it," he replied simply.

"But what about later, when I'm–"

She stopped when he started shaking his head with a smile and placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder, remarking, "Don't worry about it right now."

Somehow, the comment reminded her of Myriad's advice, and she qualified, "We should simply concentrate on what's right before us."

"Right."

Smiling, she regarded the blanket roll he'd handed her and asked, "Then what's this?"

"Towel."

"Towel?"

"Yeah, there's waterfalls and pools all around us, and I can hear water trickling in this cave." Motioning to the entrance of a moderately sized cavern nearby, he took a bar of soap from the pouch on Epona's saddle and asked, "Seems like a good time to get cleaned up, don't you think?"

Smiling, she nodded and stepped back, though her expression was more thoughtful than it should've been for such a trivial matter.

So he inquired, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she rushed out, her cheeks turning pink before she glanced away from his face and shyly admitted, "I was just wondering … where did you learn to kiss?"

Unable to help her curiosity, she looked back up to see his own thoughtful expression which was soon accompanied by a playful smirk.

"Well," he started, taking Epona's reins before continuing, "it all started in the Gerudo Valley with a girl named Masita."

Hearing this, Zelda stared behind him with wide eyes. Masita? She quickly recalled his sheepish talk of the mysterious Gerudo Nabooru had been teasing him about, making her more curious than ever. Yet Link simply began leading Epona into the cave as if he didn't plan on saying another word about it.

"Oh no you don't!" she called after him, grabbing Frost's reins to catch up before he could get too far ahead. "I want to know what happened between you two!"

Link chuckled, returning, "I'll tell you later, after we've gotten our baths."