Small warning: This chapter is focused more heavily on Zelink hehe. I was hesitant about focusing on their relationship this early on, but then I was like eh. Whatever. The more Zelink, the better. ;)

Reviews from Ch. 1:

guest: Aw, well thank you for giving my fic a chance :')!

Bnanas23: Eeeep thank you!

shnarf9892: Much appreciated :D

KoiAndJelly: YES! Akila appreciation 3 & wow! I am honestly shocked, that means a lot to me! Thank you so much :P

Aww, well thank you guys for the reviews :') They actually motivate me to continue, so there's that!

CHAPTER 2:

The jarring wind forcefully striked at Zelda's exposed calves as she relentlessly continued to sprint down the hill. The thoughts she had earlier that afternoon had come rushing back at full speed with no fair warning. The adrenaline picked up while the anxiety slowly dispersed through her entire body, separating through many passageways. Both were teaming up against the young girl and took advantage of her vulnerable state like the thieves they were. She clutched onto each of her clothed shoulders, mentally cursing at herself like the idiot she was for leaving in the first place. As soon as she found herself slowing down, she would catch herself back up to maximum speed. Running past thin, lifeless tree branches was the tricky part on the road back to the stable. Since Zelda told herself she was in a rush, she had no choice but to run right through them. She cried out in pain from the cut that slashed her upper right cheek bone. Huffing, she furrowed her eyebrows and continued dodging the rest in her way.

Once she exited the rather small forest, the princess bent over and rested her hands on her knees huffing from all of the running. Zelda managed to raise her head to the point where she saw the stable as clear as day. The first person she thought of was Link. Right away, Zelda guided herself over to the stable. As she grew closer, her strides were shorter. Glancing around in hopes of spotting Link, the only people in sight were complete strangers staying at the inn.

'Maybe I'm too late... He must have already left to search for my whereabouts.'

At this point, Zelda felt like she failed Link. He must have probably been tired of her reckless behavior, she couldnt blame him though. Sighing, the princess looked down at the grass.

"All I ever do is cause an uproar..." she silently murmured to herself.

Exhaling, she managed to trudge her feet along the ground in the direction towards her bed.

"That may be true."

The sudden voice caused Zelda to slightly jump in place before she immediately twirled around at the familiar tone.

"Link?!" She wasn't sure if she was confused or happy. Nonetheless, she began to spit out apologies right away.

"I-I'm so sorry! You see, I just needed sp-space to breathe. I didn't keep track of time until a friendly woman I met along the way remin-"

Link shot her a blank stare when she stopped herself from continuing on, "...was it something I did?"

Guilt-ridden, Zelda felt responsible for his now worried attitude. "No! It wasn't you, I promise!" she held her hands up in a 'surrendered' position.

Link studied her face before he closed his eyes and exhaled, "I searched for you around the hill for hours, princess. I just... I don't feel safe when you're wandering off by yourself." He opened his eyes and furrowed his eyebrows, "I gave you my promise 100 years ago that I would protect you at all costs. I know it's annoying having me following you arou-" Zelda placed her finger near his lips and hushed him from furthering his point. Clearly, she felt bad for quieting him since he rarely ever went on like this, but she couldn't take it anymore.

He was caught off guard by her abrupt action, "I'm sorry, Link. You're right. The least I could have done was warn you that I was leaving... even though you would've still followed me..." she quietly mumbled the last part.

"I care for you, princess... that's all," his voice was barely audible at this point. He gently took hold of her finger that was still near his face and pulled it down in a tender manner, before letting go.

The two stared at each other for a moment in silence until the breeze picked up. They headed back to the inn without saying another word.

When it came to Zelda, Link definitely did not know how to read her mind. As much as he would like to comprehend what she was feeling, it was always different each day since Calamity Ganon's defeat. Shouldn't she be happy? He didn't know why, but Link always found himself trying to dissect Zelda's feelings every day in order to come up with a firm hypothesis of why she was feeling the way she was. Of course, he didn't know where to begin. Although Link was never the chatty type, it wasn't because he was shy. Hell, if he wasn't in the position as a knight with all eyes on him, he would probably be talking the night away somewhere far, far away. But because of the title he holds, he bears any burden in order to stay strong. He vaguely remembers telling Zelda this when her curious mind took over and asked him 100 years ago. However with her in particular, Link would find himself opening up rather easily. It surprised him because of how rarely he would do such a thing with anyone, period. Once he conceived his memories, things started falling into place. Recalling the most important thing that had returned to him would have to be the same solid feelings he still carried for her till' this day.

Link tossed and turned in his bed plentiful times. Anyone would have thought that Zelda was the only troubled soul here, but it turns out that our young beloved hero had dealt with a lot of grief as well. Shoving these thoughts out of his head to the best of his abilities, Link shut his eyes firmly and forced himself to get a full nights rest in preparation for tomorrows field day.

The princess had heard Link rustling around in his bed that night. Sighing, she too tried to fall into a light slumber.

"I sure do miss my horse," Zelda transmitted a faint smile at the flashback playing back in her head, "he was like my little companion." She chuckled.

Link simply smiled while he also had indistinct memories going through his head too. He was guiding Epona through Hyrule Field while the both of them were scoping out the areas for any remaining monsters who might have survived.

Things were a tad bit awkward at the moment for the two troubled individuals. Normally, Link was able to handle the princess being furious at him when she was having a rough day before, but since their reunion after such a long period of time, Link had realized his true feelings for her. He didn't want to do anything to jeopardize them. Zelda on the other hand was terrified to bring up anything regarding the feelings she held for the young man. She would sometimes tell herself that he didn't feel anything for her, but other moments she knew he must have liked her in shape or form. Bottom line, she had no idea what to do. Nothing has ever troubled her this greatly than the very boy that sat in front of her.

Hours have passed and currently Zelda and Link were both on foot with Epona and Link following closely behind. Zelda stared up in awe at the breathtaking sky that covered the broad horizon in wondrous hues of orange. Link stared at her for a moment, something he was used to doing. He soundlessly admired how the orange lighting hit her skin perfectly from the slight side view to his advantage. He got a better look at her face when he realized she was sad again.

He stood there stiff as could be and cleared his throat before he broke the silence, "...Princess...?"

Normally, Zelda would slightly jump at the sound of his voice since she rarely heard it, but this time she slowly turned as if her spirit was sucked out of her body. She instantaneously forced a smile that slightly tugged at the corner of her lips, "What is it?"

His heart sunk at the sight before his eyes.

Zelda stared at him confused by the sudden silence filling the air once again, "Link?"

Link clenched his fist at his side and began taking strides towards her with Epona following behind. He calmly took a hold of her free hand and began leading her in a completely new direction to which Zelda voiced her bewilderment.

"Wh-where are you taking me?"

He didn't say anything. Typical. Zelda looked back to see if Epona was following and quickly gazed forward at Link who still held onto her hand.

It felt... nice.

That didn't stop her from trying to release hand from his strong grip, "Link, let go of me-"

Link looked halfway back at Zelda and shot her a bold look, which was enough for her to quietly follow him without speaking. His hand never left hers throughout the entire way to wherever he was leading them.

It took about twenty minutes until Link's footsteps gradually slowed down. Zelda snapped out of her thoughts by his pace slowing down and promptly peered at the setting around them. He brought her to a cliff that extended over a body of clear water, you could almost treat it like a diving board. Finally releasing his grasp around her hand, Link sat on the cliff with his legs hanging over. She carefully caught up to him while watching her step, making sure she didn't fall into the water. Nervously, she sat next to him and gazed at the sight of the water beneath them.

He quietly initiated the conversation, "This was the spot I always found myself returning back to for some reason," he slowly peered over in her direction, "you know, when I didn't have any recollection of my memories."

The sea breeze reached Zelda with her hair flying accordingly in the winds direction, looking as graceful as ever. He couldn't drift away from the breathtaking view she brought. Her deep green eyes beamed breathlessly at his strikingly blue ones. An unforeseen gesture led her to warily allow her hand to rest on his knee before she asked her question.

"I want to know something... you told me that you're memories of me had returned..."

Even though what she was saying was true, Link couldn't help but feel unsteady whenever a question about his memories were ever brought up.

Zelda broke eye contact with him and silently stared at the sunset straight ahead, "Were you telling the truth?" He heard her voice breaking by the minute.

Link immediately returned the same action by gently placing his hand on her thigh, "No-! N-no. I didn't lie about my memories of you returning to me. But..." Right when she held on to a slight bit of hope, his shaky voice near the end nearly put her back on edge. "I feel like..."

She saw how hard this was for him, he couldn't even talk about it without taking deep breaths in between. He clutched onto his hair while lowering his head, like he felt ashamed. Zelda gently squeezed his shoulder which shook him. Looking into her eyes once more, she flashed him a warm smile,

"It's okay. You can tell me anything, Link.

Link couldn't help but return a small smile before he fixed his gaze ahead at the sunset.

"It feels like a huge part of me hasn't returned. Though memories had returned, they were vague. I don't even remember growing up... I'm not even sure if I had a family, Zelda." This was the first time ever he said her name aloud without any formalities tied into it. His voice cracked like he was on the verge of a mental breakdown, it broke Zelda's heart. She felt so selfish always thinking about herself, not even giving a second thought to what Link was going through this entire time since their reunion. This poor boy... didn't even remember his father. All at once, Zelda couldn't take it anymore. Tears that she suppressed back earlier had refused to stay in and started rolling down her cheeks. Link was taken aback by this painful sight.

"Don't cr-"

Zelda lunged herself at Link and hugged him tightly. He was lying down on the grass with Zelda on top of him wrapping her arms around his neck securely while she tearfully tried to speak, "Idiot!" Surprised by how she responded, Link instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist trying to calm her down. Lifting herself up with her hands at each side of his head, Zelda's weeping expression killed Link.

Whimpering, she expressed anger at the same time, "Don't hold things like this in! I know you keep silent in order to bear any burden handed to you, but you need to understand that it is OKAY for you to vent to friends, Link!" he was shocked by her sudden outburst. In a whole new way, he was touched by how much she cared for him.

Link couldn't help but smile softly at the girl weeping in front of him. He reached his arm out and wiped her tears away with his thumb, "Why are you crying, Zelda?" Link realized he was still laying on the ground with Zelda on top of him. Gradually, he raised his body up with hers and the both of them were now in sitting positions with Zelda still clinging close by to him.

Wiping her eyes with her arm, Zelda furrowed her eyebrows. "You never express your emotions." She was sniffing uncontrollably in between her words, "I'm crying for the both of us." He chuckled faintly at her way of seeing things. "St-stop la-laughing at..me.."

Link stared at Zelda in complete admiration. He lifted his arms again to embrace her, Zelda happily returned the hug.

Pulling away, Zelda moved over to his side once more and looked down at the water. She felt butterflies in her stomach from what just happened and wondered if she was being inappropriate, a slight blush covering her cheeks. "I uh-... I actually liked it when you called me by my first name instead of "princess," she said while awkwardly playing with her thumbs.

Link's eyes widened when he realized that he had been calling the princess by her first name this entire time, "I'm s-sorry! I forgo-"

Zelda smiled at him, "want to know a secret? I actually hate it when people call me 'princess', 'my lady', or my favorite, 'your grace.' I like it when people can call me by my first name, as if we are equals."

Link hadn't realized the princess felt so strongly about this subject. Every time she would tell someone to call her by her first name, Link thought she was just trying to sound kind and empathetic. Turns out, she really did mean it. He smiled warmly at her and nodded his head gently, taking it as a command.

He watched Zelda admire the sunset slowly disappearing, waiting for the moon to take over. Without noticing, Link scooted closer to Zelda as they both gave their full attention to the night sky filled with millions of shooting stars.

This will be a night to remember.

A/N: TONS OF FLUFF HEHE, hope you all enjoyed!

Sorry if it's short, I was falling asleep while typing this out and knew I wouldn't continue tomorrow because of homework :(