A/N: I am sooooo sorry for taking so long to update! Please forgive me, I've been real busy. But enough with the excuses. Here is the next chapter, hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not, nor ever will, own the Legend of Zelda series.

Chapter 10: Forever Never Seems Like Long Enough

Link awoke to the sound of birds chirping and horses neighing. He rolled to his side, amazed that he could move at all. Be it the will of the Godesses, the Triforce on his hand, or something else. He was alive. That was all that mattered. He was alive and still able to help the world. Maybe not at the moment...but eventually.

But he did know why he was alive. It was because of Malon. Malon had saved him. When she had kissed him he felt a renewed energy flow into him. It was like an extremely hot fire...that didn't burn; an ice cold river that didn't make him cold. He turned his head and stared at the beautiful woman slumped in a chair next to his bed. Her ravishing red hair flowed down and around her face, like a small sillouette. She was the image of perfection.

And he loved her. Not for how she had grown into a beautiful woman...but because she had grown into a beautful woman with a strong, courageous and loving heart. One that was only capable of giving instead of recieving. Malon moved slightly. Link stopped moving and tried to lie as still as possible, he didn't want to wake her. She needed the rest after all that she had done the previous night.

Malon moved again. That chair obviously was not very comfortable, and Malon was starting to feel the affects. She yawned and then opened her eyes slightly. She closed them again...then reopened them when she realized where she was and what she had been doing. She looked to Link who managed to give her a loving smile.

"Hey, Fairy Boy. Good to see you awake," Malon said as she rubbed the sleep out of her eyes.

"Yeah, thanks about--for last night," Link said softly.

" Do you remember what happened?" Malon asked hesitantly, as if she was unsure of what to do or say.

She thinks that I said what I said only because I was near death! Tell her, Link! Tell her again! Link argued with himself. He had already told her the truth, why was he so afraid to say it again?

Malon looked at him expectantly. I bet he doesn't remember a thing. I bet he doesn't remember how I helped him get warm, how I made sure he stayed awake...how we kissed...how he said that he...

"Malon?" Link's voice shook Malon out of her thoughts. "I...I don't remember much, to be honest."

Malon looked as if she was about to cry. Great going, Link! Why didn't I just tell her? To be honest my butt, I completely lied to her just then.

"Oh...well, you're doing a lot better. Zelda brought you here and we managed to stop the blood loss and you made a remarkable recovery." Malon looked away.

"Um, yeah. Thanks." Link looked at Malon who was now staring at the wall. "You alright?"

"Huh? Oh yes, I'm fine." There was just a hint of sarcasm in her voice. Almost not even detectable. But Link knew it was there. Link knew it was there because he had put it there.

Link sat up, wincing slightly from the pain. He was healed, but still immensely sore. Malon saw him trying to get up and immediately snapped back into her usual self.

"Oh no, Mr. Hero Of Time. You aren't going anywhere. Not unil you're fully rested," Malon reprimanded him like a small child.

"What about you? It's obvious by the way yours eyes look that you didn't get hardly any sleep last night," Link said grinning victoriously.

"I wasn't near death," she shot back.

"Near death is a vast exaggeration," Link countered.

Malon shot him a cold look. "Excuse me? Exaggeration?"

"Yup," Link said simply.

"No, you're mistaken."

"Oh really?" Link leaned closer to her.

"Yes. You were bleeding terribly and cold as an icecube. You're lucky that I was here to help you. You were also delusional..." She said.

"Delusional how?" Link was egging her on.

"Why you were rambling on about..." Malon finally figured out where this was leading. He did remember! He remembers it all! Well, if that's how he's going to play it than bring it on.

"On about what?" Link asked innocently.

"Why, you said some of the most hilarious things." She paused as if recalling his exact words. "Something along the lines of that you loved Zelda and that you wanted to marry her and become king of Hyrule."

Link looked shocked for a moment. His mouth hanging wide open; he didn't remember any of this.

"Oh yes. But that isn't the funniest part. You see, apparently Zelda had the same feelings for you and she took your offer as a proposal."

Link nearly choked on his own spittle. He started to doubt himself and wonder if he really did say any of those things. Godesses, I hope not. There is no way that I'd be able to get out of that one.

"Are you sure...that I said any of that?" Link questioned.

"Positive. You two are to be married in...let's see..." She raised her finger to her chin and tapped it gently. "I believe in a couple of days."

This time Link did choke. He sat straight up and fell out of the bed altogether. Malon rushed to his side immediately.

"Oh, Link. I'm sorry, I was just kidding!" she apologized sincerely.

"Oh yeah. A joke. Of course." He forced a fake laugh out. "So was there anything that I really did say that was important?"

"No...nothing, nothing at all," she replied curtly. "I'm going to go see how breakfast is coming along."

Malon rushed out the door. Link managed to stand up. He paced slowly, not to mention carefully, around the room. A bunch of thoughts running through his mind. I have to tell her...it's not that difficult. Malon, I love you. See? Not hard.

Link wiped a bead of perspiration off his brow. He continued to pace nervously. C'mon, Link. Be a man. Tell Malon how you feel. Tell her...

"Malon, I love you." He walked a couple more steps. "Malon...I love you." A couple more steps... "Malon,you need to know that...I love you." He kept repeating it as if he was testing or tasting it. He shook his head, frusterated. "I can do this...I can do this."

-----

Malon stirred the soup slowly. She lifted the spoon up to her mouth a took a small sip. Perfect. It was ready to be eaten. The soup was fit for a king...or a Hero of Time. She hesitated before bringing the soup upstairs. It was becoming more and more difficult for her to keep her cool when she was around him. They had always been good friends...but now?

Malon shook her head and forced herself up the stairs. As she approached, she heard the muffled sound of talking and sighing. She curiously opened the door a crack and peeked through. Link was up and about pacing nervously. Shaking his head again and again.

It was then that Malon heard it.

"Malon, I love you." Link walked a couple more feet.

Malon nearly fell over. He did love her and it wasn't that he was just delusional! Before she could move, Link was already through the door. He was holding her gently.

"Sorry...um, I didn't mean to scare you. Nervous habit." He stared at the ground unable to look her in the eyes. "How much of that did you hear?"

Malon leaned close to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "I love you too," she whispered into his ear.

Link never felt so relieved. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tighter to him. "I love you and I will, now and forever."

Malon smiled to herself and simply nodded. It was the perfect moment for the perfect new couple...but forever wouldn't be long enough.

There was suddenly a banging on the door and soldiers burst through. The tallest one spoke first.

"We have orders for Malon Lon's arrest." Link pulled her behind him.

"For what crime?" He said angrily.

"Negligence, attempted murder, and disobeying a direct order bu a member of the royal family," The soldier said matching Link's firm tone.

"This is ridiculous! You have no proof of any such activities!" Link shouted.

"We do and she needs to come with us immediately. If she refuses..." The soldier smiled. "She will be taken by force."

Link stepped menacingly forward. "You will do no such thing. You will not lay a hand..."

Malon stepped around Link, touching his hand gently and reasuringly. "I will come with you. There is no need for violence. There has been enough for a century."

The soldier nodded and grabbed Malon, securing handcuffs on her. Link was about to argue but Malon shook her head.

"Link, I love you. Everything will be alright." Link gritted his teeth together at an attempt to not choke the soldier to death. Malon was right. Violence wouldn't solve anything right now.

"I'll talk to Zelda about this." Link turned to the soldier. "I'm certain the princess would have room enough in her hectic schedule to talk to the Hero of Time."

A/N: Sorry for all the Zelda bashing in the previous chapter. I'm pretty sure that Zelda's in for it now. Hehehe...but all is not what it seems in the land of Hyrule...