"So…" Link awkwardly patted Zelda's back to signal that he wanted her to let go. "How've… things… been?"

"We've been… I mean, I've been worried about you. What have you been doing for the last two years, Link? I—I've really missed you," Zelda stammered, afraid that Link was still angry that she'd put him back in his own time. She'd convinced herself that it was the best thing for them all, but what she'd really done was to make him go back through his life without his friends or Navi. Only the Triforce wielders knew anything about the events happening in the alternate timeline, causing everyone to forget Link.

Surprisingly, Link's face broke out into his adventurous grin. He told her all about his adventures oversea, including his travels over Koholint Island and the residents there—but when he described Marin, he left out the fact that she'd reminded him so much of Zelda. He spent hours describing every last detail of each monster he'd defeated and the new lands he'd seen, the strange people of that strange island.

"After that, though, I was so desperate to come home…" he said softly, almost as an afterthought. "But I didn't expect the feeling in my head that told me that I had to come home, almost as if—" his solemn blue eyes searched hers—"as if someone was calling me."

Zelda's sparkling eyes widened and looked away from his prying gaze.

"It was you, wasn't it, Zelda?" he whispered, never letting his gaze falter.

"Y-yes. Yes, Link, it was me," she murmured, embarrassed.

Link finally dropped his eyes from her, and Zelda very nearly sighed out of relief. Link clasped his hands between his knees and stared at them thoughtfully.

"Why?" he asked, finally breaking the tight silence between them.

Zelda opened her mouth to speak, but all that came out was an almost inaudible squeak. "I—just—" Her mouth opened and closed, giving her the appearance of a gasping fish. "I was…" She heaved a sigh and steadied herself. "I was terrified that you had… that something had happened to you… I—I couldn't feel your piece of the Triforce anymore… you were too far away…"

Link's kitten eyes, so full of innocence even after all of the hardships he'd been through, narrowed in confusion. "Zel, you know I can take care of myself…" he began.

"I know," she snapped, cutting him off abruptly. Link didn't say anything more. "I'm sorry," she said softly. "It's just…"

"You don't have to explain, Zel, if it makes you uncomfortable…" Link said, and he reached out a hand and laid it across the princess's. She tensed and gasped suddenly, then her whole body went limp and she wept in his arms.

xxx

"Hyaa!"

Link's battle cries rang out across the arena as he sparred with the new Gerudo leader. His traditional garb had been replaced, giving him the appearance of an overgrown Kokiri elf once more.

"C'mon, Link—you can do better than tha-whoa!" Nabooru whipped around and dodged another of his well-aimed jump attacks, attempting to get behind the hero. His reflexes were that of a cat's, however, and he did a neat back-flip, landing squarely behind his adversary.

He poked his sword gently into the woman's back, grinning.

"Gotcha."

Nabooru grumbled, defeated yet again by the pesky boy.

"Fine. We'll call it a draw."

"Link! Get back in the recovery room!" Impa's voice came floating across the grounds, its tone implying that she was not happy with Link at the moment.

Link ducked his head sheepishly and he turned to face the overprotective caretaker. He was met with a dark scowl, which was quite scary coming from Impa. The strong woman crossed her arms and looked down at him reproachfully before snatching an ear and dragging him in the direction of the recovery room, ignoring his yelps of pain and feeble protests.

Nabooru giggled and waved at the 'tough hero' as he was dragged off by the nurse.

"Link, you know you are not supposed to be up and around until the bump on your head heals…"

"Yeah, I know, Impa," Link said resignedly. "But I'm going crazy behind these stupid walls! I want to get out and do something… go fight something…" he pouted, huffing impatiently.

Impa smiled slightly at this silly childish gesture coming from the nineteen year old boy.

"You'll just have to get used to it," Impa said half-mockingly, turning to leave.