I laid awake in bed for a little while, staring at the ceiling. I wanted to tell him now, in case something happened on our travels. But after that one, initial, brave moment, I couldn't muster up the courage, not at breakfast or lunch or tea. I kept quiet, resolving to tell him while we were alone. Ruto's mood swings were more or less a constant factor. She would go from glaring and snapping at her few guards, to crying about how she hated her life, to flirting with Link, and back again. It was exhausting just to be around her, and so I kept quiet and complacent. Link was looking more and more healthy each day, and that was a great relief to me. Soon, we would be able to leave, and I could tell him how I felt.

I wandered by the bathing rooms the fourth night of our stay, on my way back from one. It felt good to have my hair fully combed again, and my skin was scrubbed until it took on a subtle glow. I was wrapped in a heavy, borrowed, cotton robe, with my hair half-dry and hanging loose down my back. On my way past one room, I saw Link inside, dabbing at his shoulder. He was bare-chested, with his back to the door, and sitting on a low stool. He wasn't quite able to make it to the cut, and instead would squeeze water over his back, which resulted in his breeches getting rather wet.

I knocked lightly on the door, and when he saw it was me, he waved me in. "Good eve, my lady," he said casually, dipping the rag in water again.

"Good eve," I responded. I watched him try again to clean the cut, and as he struggled, I stepped up and took the rag. "Here."

I crouched behind him and dabbed lightly at the cut. He hissed and swore, apologizing after. "It's alright, I would be in pain too." I carefully wiped the wound, wrinkling my nose as green droplets of poison welled up on his skin. I took my own wet rag and wiped them away. We sat in silence, and I privately admired Link's bare skin. He broke the hypnosis with a question: "If we're successful, what will you do after Hyrule is reclaimed?" I thought on it for some time. "I… will start to rebuild the kingdom, and try to find a suitable husband to rule alongside me."

Link nodded. I wondered what he would do if I kissed his shoulder, his neck, his hair. "What about you?" Link turned his head slightly to look at me. "I'd… go back to my parents' home, clean it up, fix it up, start their farm again." I nodded. "You wouldn't stay as my regent protector? Am I that much of a burden?" I grinned, teasing him.

"Well, if you get a husband, what's the point of me staying?" He sounded angry, and I went back to cleaning his wound. "Well, I just like having you around," I muttered. Link went silent again. "Ah." I finished cleaning his shoulder and handed the rag back, standing up. Link turned around, and his face was uncertain. "Zelda, I was always honored that you chose me to be your Regent Protector, no matter why you might have asked it of me." I nodded slowly, holding my clothes protectively to my chest. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, Link." I turned and walked out, hurriedly.

A few days later, the doctor declared Link fit for travel. Ruto hugged us both tightly as we thanked her and wished her health. "Promise me that if you need anything, you'll get ahold of me."

"We'll try," I promised, hugging her frail body tight. We put on the masks she gave us, sinking into the water with our parcels now wrapped in water-tight bags, and wearing the clothes we arrived in, so that our new things wouldn't get ruined. Epona wasn't right at the shore, but she came when called for. Link kissed her muzzle and stroked her mane. "Good girl, Epona," he murmured to her. He helped me climb up, and hopped up behind me, directing the horse due east. "Okay girl, to Death Mountain."

We skirted around the edge of the woods as we ran back towards the heart of Hyrule. I would sneak the occasional glance at the forest, trying to look for wolves and assure myself that they survived. Once or twice I saw yellow eyes, but not often. Link didn't push his horse too hard; I was worried she hadn't the opportunity to rest up as well as we had. But we made good time. By the end of our first day on the run, we'd left the ocean behind. The castle was a distant speck on the horizon, barely visible. Link settled us down and prepared a small fire after catching two small rabbits. I was glad to see some other form of meat than fish.

I wondered, dare I tell him tonight? Or should I wait? Link cooked the rabbits quickly and we ate them with our fingers, peeling the meat right from the bone. We spoke very little, Link staring into the fire and fingering the sharp edge of the Master Sword. It seemed to take on a holy glow, as if it were eager to fight and slay our worst enemy.

"A tool of the Goddesses," he muttered, looking at it. "Do you know the legend behind this holy artifact?" His eyes met mine.

"Yes." I replied softly. "And I know what that same sword is capable of."

He looked back to the holy blade, and set it down on the grass reverently. I looked up at the sky. The moon was out, a thin crescent among the stars. The warmth of the fire felt good upon my face, as the night was getting cold. Link unhooked his cloak and laid it on the ground. "I'll keep watch tonight," he offered.

"I'll stay up with you," I countered, looking at him.

He grinned a bit. "You should sleep, your majesty."

I rolled my eyes. "All I've done is sleep and eat this whole time. Not once have I fought for anything. I'm sick of being pampered."

Link nodded. "I can understand that."

I looked at him hard for a moment, before standing up, bringing my borrowed sword with me. "Teach me."

Link raised his eyebrows. "What?"

"Teach me how to use a sword. I don't really know how." He smiled and stood, holding the Master Sword at his side. "Alright." He rubbed his chin. "The first thing you should know about swordplay is how to hold it. Now, that sword is a one-hander because of the length o' the handle an' the length of the blade." He walked over and showed me how to grip the sword with one hand. "When you get ready to attack someone, you hold the sword out like this…" He showed me, and I copied as best as I could. Link put his sword down and moved over, fixing my posture. I couldn't ignore how gentle he was with me. "There, hold it like that…"

He was a good teacher, or at least, I thought so. Link was patient, willing to let me practice over and over again at different types of swings and thrusts. It didn't take long for my arms to get sore. I laughed and set the sword down, flexing my aching hands. "I am not much good with a sword yet. I'm quite out of practice." Link grinned. "No, no, you did fine. If you want, we can practice more tomorrow night. If you are not too sore, at least." I smiled. "Were you sore when you learned how to fight?" We both sat down again near the fire, which had turned to embers. "Yes," he admitted. "The captains that taught me emphasized good stretches. It didn't help much at first."

I laughed. "At least teach me those!" Link nodded his agreement, and I copycatted him again, able to feel a tense pain in my muscles already. "Hold it for a few minutes… and let go." After the stretches, my arms felt like warm butter. "They'll still be sore in the mornin', but blame only yer lack of sword use, not me." He looked into the glowing ash. "Go on to sleep, my lady. I'll keep watch o'er you." I'd been yawning without realizing it, and now that I did, I curled up under my cloak on top of his, using my arm as a pillow. "I'll see you in the morning," I muttered sleepily.