Finally, I have updated chapter thirty-six! But don't worry... it's long. Hopefully it was worth the wait! ;) It doesn't have much action, but I hope it's good. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Six: Confessions and Declarations

ZELDA POV

"...Link?" she croaked, barely able to speak.

"I'm here," Those words comforted her more than anything else could, besides his fingers against her skin.

As she sat up, still coughing while her throat burned mercilessly, Zelda rubbed her head. She blinked a few times to try and clear up the blurry surroundings, and the brightness of the sun was, at first, disorienting. Within a few moments, she was able to realize the fact that a waterfall was flowing powerfully to her right, and she was sitting on a small, green patch of land. Beside her, Link was curled up, his eyes closed. The first thoughts and feelings running through Zelda's mind were ones of worry and fear, but she calmed down a bit when she saw his even breathing. The look on his face was tranquil, and Zelda saw him shivering just a bit. Then she noticed her own goose bumps and the lack of warmth around her.

Her wrists ached, as did her arms, and she was extremely confused. She squinted pensively, trying to recall the events that had occurred. Glancing back down at her savior, she smiled to herself discreetly, and put the back of her hand on his forehead caringly... He was going to be okay.

With a sudden rush of memories, Zelda remembered. She recalled the guardians forcing her to her knees before him, and then taunting them cruelly. She remembered them holding her over the waterfall, forcing Link to hand over the Orb... most distinctly, she remembered her thoughts of betrayal and disbelief when he actually did it. He had completely ignored her screams of protest, and she'd had the notion that he had actually been considering giving up the Orb for her. It had made her furious. But at the same time, it had made her heart flutter incessantly.

Then, Zelda remembered Link connecting the Orb. Images of bright lights entered her head, but Zelda couldn't recall anymore. For after that, she had fallen. It had been a never-ending drop, falling through the air freely, until the water collided painfully with her body. As she remembered her struggle to breathe, Zelda habitually swallowed and took a deep breath. After that, it had been black.

Link had rescued her; of that, Zelda was sure. More, overwhelming feelings of affection entered her heart, and she felt it swelling in her chest. He had proven that he was willing to do anything for his kingdom—and for her.

As Link lay beside her in a serene slumber, Zelda heard a soft splash. Furrowing her

brow, she looked up to find something floating at the bottom of the waterfall. She caught her breath when she saw the Orb, sitting ominously on the surface of the rippling water. It was still shimmering slightly, with the silver designs glowing brightly. It was black with a white glow, and Zelda sat up straighter. Glancing up to the top of the waterfall, she realized that the Orb had fallen and was now in the Zora Village basin.

"What about the guardians?" she whispered to herself, instinctively massaging her red, aching wrists. As if by magic, the water flowed and led the Orb right to the edge of the land that Zelda was sitting on. She shifted her position, leaning over the edge slightly as the Orb neared her. The tips of her fingers tingled when she reached out for it, and her Triforce almost immediately started glowing when she made contact with the Orb. She gently picked it up from the water, and it felt heavier than she expected. The silver designs glowed ominously as she examined it curiously. Still not understanding what had happened with the guardians, Zelda glanced up at the top of the waterfall where they had been. Then, her eyes moved to Link. What had he done...?

Suddenly, strange sounds entered Zelda's ears, and she furrowed her brow. Glancing down at the Orb, she realized that the noises were coming from the Orb; yet the object wasn't moving an inch as she held it in her lap. Then, her entire body went numb with fear and horror as she realized what the sounds were.

They were low, ominous, echoing screams.

The screams were being emitted from the Orb, and she stared at it with wide eyes. She saw something strange moving inside the Orb, but it was a large blur. The cries never ceased for the next few minutes, and then something even more horrifying happened. Handprints appeared on the glass, coming from the inside. Zelda gasped quietly, and her hands began shaking. More hands appeared, and the fingers clawed at the surface of the Orb, as if they were trying desperately to escape from their horrible, eternal confinement. Swallowing nervously, Zelda struggled to keep the Orb stable in her hands.

Suddenly, there was a face. She caught a momentary glimpse of that face as it pressed up against the Orb, its mouth wide and screaming. The cries got a bit louder, and Zelda couldn't help but drop the Orb when she saw the frightening image. But then, it was gone. And the screams died down, and the Orb returned to its normal, completely black state. She was breathing heavily, her hand on her chest. All of the blood had rushed from her face, and she was a sickly pale. What had just happened was unexpected and slightly traumatizing.

When she closed her eyes, the terrorizing face entered her mind yet again. This time, her wisdom helped her, and she was able to recognize the face. Her eyes shot open, and her jaw dropped. It had been the face of a Guardian of the Source. The guardians were trapped in the Orb. What the legends said was true: with the power of the Triforce, the Orb was able to contain the darkness of this plague. As she thought that, her Triforce glowed. Ironically, Link's did as well.

"His Triforce, the Triforce of Courage, has the power to contain the guardians..." Zelda said to herself, trying to piece together the puzzle. "But even mine and his combined won't be enough to contain the source itself. From the information we have, we need the entire Triforce."

How are we going to get it?

That question had been on Zelda's mind ever since she'd found out that they needed the Triforce. The answer was still unknown.

Suddenly, Zelda glimpsed something else in the water. She gently lifted the fragile piece of paper from the water. Looking over the soggy parchment, she realized that it was the paper she'd stolen from the Goron library. The words were still readable, but the ink was a bit smeared. She was grateful it had been left behind after the guardians were gone. It was an important clue to finding the cure of the disease that was plaguing her people. Sighing heavily, Zelda folded it up gently and then put it away. For a few moments, she just sat there, contemplating the recent events. It seemed as if this entire ordeal was going by in a blur, and she never had to time to stop and take a break. And then, she looked at Link... Again...

Finally, he shifted a bit, groaning. Zelda took a deep breath, relief washing over her as his eyes slowly opened. He rolled onto his back and stared at the sky blankly, completely silent. Zelda considered saying his name, but decided to keep her lips firmly shut. She watched his chest rise and fall with each breath he took, and his eyes blink. Slowly, he bent his knees and sat up, taking in a deep, cleansing breath. Zelda smiled, feeling her face turn hot when he looked at her. When his eyes fell on her, he smiled, as well.

"Um," she opened her mouth to say something, but everything she was thinking about saying rushed from her mind. She could only stare dumbly at him. He chuckled quietly, flashing those bright white teeth and giving Zelda chills.

"You saved my life," she finally managed, blinking and looking down. It was the first time she'd truly felt this fidgety around him. The butterflies were flying even more rapidly than
usual, and frankly, it was making her a bit uncomfortable.

"It wouldn't be the first time," he pointed out with a witty smirk. She couldn't help grinning widely and giggling at his little remark.

"Thank you," she glanced up at him, making sure her eyes were locked securely on his. "You risked your life."

He just looked at her, as if it weren't a big deal.

"...You would've done the same thing for me," he finally said. Zelda ran a hand through her tangled hair, brushing it away from her face. Link just watched in silence, and she felt her stomach do a somersault.

"You know you scared me up there," Zelda continued, changing the subject. He furrowed his brow curiously, but there was a hint at a smirk on his mouth. "I actually thought you were going to give them the Orb."

"Well you scared me," he replied evenly. Zelda diverted her gaze to the ground, her cheeks bright red.

"The kingdom always comes before its princess," she said, but she felt him moving closer to her. In truth, Zelda had been thinking that that moment would be the moment of her sacrifice. But it wasn't. All Zelda had to do was wait until that moment...

"Zelda," he whispered her name, and then he cupped his hand around the back of her neck. She looked up to find his face inches from hers. "You always come first."

She smiled, biting her lower lip. She could feel his warm breath against her cheek as he inched closer, and she gladly let him. The shock of the contact rushed through her veins when his lips met hers, but it was a gentle, momentary touch. When it was over, Zelda only wanted more. This time, she let herself kiss him first, leaning into him passionately. He put his hand at the small of her back, caressing her gentle frame. His lips moved to her neck as she lay back, letting herself lay down on the grass. He followed.

They pulled away for a moment, with Link's hands on either side of her head as he supported himself. The sun was shining brightly directly above him, creating a dramatic silhouette of his face. Zelda grinned at his perfection, and her failure to find a flaw in him. He leaned back in for another kiss, and Zelda lifted her head slightly.

His fingers moved along her spine, hovering on each vertebra, and she closed her eyes as his lips moved from her lips, to her cheek, and down her neck. She savored each moment of contact, praying that these memories would never slip through her fingers. She could hear the tranquil rippling of the water, and the beautiful sounds of nature. Each touch made her shiver, but it was addictive. She'd never felt this exhilarated, kissing him passionately as his toned arms cradled her figure, and her heart was pounding heavier than she'd ever felt it do so. Yet...

No... She thought as his fingers weaved through her hair, and her shivers became immune to her indifference. It's going too fast...

"Link, wait," she pushed him away gently, and he obediently pulled back. She put her hand on his cheek. "This doesn't feel right." She sensed his tenseness, even during their moments of intertwinement, and could tell that he felt the same way. With slight hesitance, Link nodded slowly after a few moments of deafening silence.

"I agree," he moved back as she sat up, sighing heavily and frowning subtly.

"But Link," she swallowed nervously as the words sat on her lips, itching to leave their confinement. Telma's words entered her mind, and she felt a sudden urge.

Tell him how you feel...don't let this one slip through your fingers...he's one you don't want to lose...tell him how you feel...

"I..." he gazed at her intently when she spoke, giving her all of his attention. She'd been holding this in for so long, praying that one day, she'd have the courage to utter these words. Finally, with a heavy sigh, Zelda let the words come out.

"I love you."

Link blinked, and he seemed a bit taken aback by her words. But then, his expression softened, and he leaned in again. Placing a small kiss on her cheek, he smiled and whispered in her ear.

"I love you, too." He tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ear.

Zelda had never felt so relieved in her life... and now, she was flying high. This was proof that their love was real. In the midst of her unbelievable happiness, there was also unbelievable pain. She was going to have to leave him one day...and that one day was coming soon, she could feel it...

LINK POV

Dusting himself off, Link glanced upwards toward the throne room. Ralis and Thalassa were surely still awaiting his arrival, and he frowned. There was no way he was going to get up there now, and he didn't have time to sit there and wait for them to come outside. He needed to get Zelda back to the castle, where they could work on putting the pieces of the puzzle together. Each time he looked at her, his heart throbbed. She had just admitted her love for him... And he had admitted his love for her. It was clear now that their relationship was a precious one, and Link found himself worried that one wrong move, and he would lost it.

Zelda sighed, glancing at him as he examined her. She smiled, making Link's heart flutter. Then she, too, looked up toward the throne room.

"What do you suppose we should—?"

"Link!" the silky voice came from a distance, and he narrowed his eyes as Thalassa's slim silhouette appeared at the top of the waterfall. In another second, she was diving gracefully downwards. Hastily, Zelda handed Link the completed Orb, which he put in his knapsack. Then, she crumpled up the piece of paper she was holding, put it in her cloak, and lifted the hood to cover her face. Link wished she would lower it, so that he could stare into her mesmerizing eyes all day. He didn't care if anybody saw. On the contrary, he wanted to show off the beauty that belonged to him.

"We were wondering where you went," the Zora popped up, near the edge of the island they were standing on. Link opened his mouth to respond, but in less than a moment, Thalassa's attention was directed on the cloaked figure. "...Who's this?"

"Uh," Link was at a loss for words, and Zelda drew in a deep breath. Thalassa furrowed her brow, looking from Link to Zelda, and then back to Link. Zelda stayed silent, and Link's mouth hung open dumbly as he tried to think of a decent answer. He didn't want to give away Zelda's identity, but he also didn't want to lie to Thalassa.

"I...was sent here to check on Link from Kakariko Village. I work for the shaman there," Zelda lied smoothly, the words easing their way off of her lips. Link swallowed, refusing to meet Thalassa's gaze. He was never a good liar.

"Oh," Thalassa seemed a tad surprised. "Um, okay. I guess you'll be leaving now?" she turned to Link. He hastily nodded, scratching the back of his neck nervously. He wasn't acting very discreet about his sense of discomfort.

"Thank you for everything," Zelda nodded, casting Link a side glance.

"Yes, thank you. I appreciate everything you've done," Link added gratefully, and this time, he was completely honest. Thalassa cracked a smile, her cheeks turning slightly red.

"No problem," she replied. "But, in return, I'm asking you to find the cure to this plague, before the entire Zora population is wiped out."

All Link could do was nod, and he prayed that the promise could be fulfilled as soon as possible.

"Good," Thalassa flashed her teeth. "I'll be waiting."

After their good-byes, Link and Zelda began making their way down Zora's River, passing the small fishing pond and walking over the bridges. Once they were safely away from Zora's Domain, in Upper Zora's River, Zelda thought it safe to lower her hood. Link caught his breath; she was always beautifully breathtaking, no matter how many times he laid eyes on her.

"Who was that?" she asked curiously, her face serious.

"Thalassa," he mumbled. "She saved me when I was caught in the storm."

"Oh," Zelda nodded bluntly. That seemed to be the end of the conversation, a fact with which Link was glad. They continued in silence, but Link didn't need her voice. All he needed was her presence beside her to be happy. Instinctively, they both reached for each other's hands, and his fingers tingled as they weaved through hers. He saw a smile starting on her face, but she didn't look at him. He smirked mischievously, seeing past her proud composure.

In a few minutes, they climbed the stairs into Hyrule Field, and Link sighed in relief when he saw the castle in the distance. He had no intention on returning to Kakariko Village; at least, not yet. They began walking, a bit aimlessly, through the vast field.

"I suppose our destination is—"

Zelda began a few minutes later, but she was interrupted by a familiar scream. Link cringed when he heard it, and he groaned subtly.

"HEEEY, MR. LINK! WAAAAIIITTT!"

The postman.

Hurriedly, Zelda pulled the hood up as the footsteps approached, and Link turned around. He clenched his teeth while he watched the postman hurry towards them, his breathing loud and heavy. Though her face was hidden, he could tell that Zelda was suppressing snickers.

"Greetings, Mr. Link! I have come to deliver a letter," the strange man panted as he approached, and Zelda cleared her throat as Link lifted an apprehensive hand in greeting.

He pulled out a letter from his small mailbag, and made silly sounds as he held it out.

"It is a letter from the Royal Council," he announced, and Link furrowed his brow as he looked at the letter. "Well, my business is concluded! Onward to mail!"

As quickly as he'd appeared, the postman began once again huffing and puffing as he ran off. Link narrowed his eyes, still looking at the letter.

...The Royal Council? Why would they be sending me a letter? He asked himself. Zelda seemed just as perplexed as he was.

"Open it," she said, clinging to his arm. Taking a deep breath, he proceeded to rip open the envelope and pull out the crisp, clean piece of parchment.

Dear Hylian citizen,

This letter has been sent to inform you that here in Hyrule Castle Town, the Royal Council is facing a horrible predicament. Our beloved Princess Zelda has gone missing, and she is nowhere to be found. We have searched throughout all of Castle Town, and now we are requesting your aid. Should you see or hear from the princess, please report to us here in Castle Town. Any kidnappers of the princess that are found will be immediately put to death without trial, unless they return her voluntarily.

Please help your kingdom in returning its beloved ruler to her rightful place. Without her, we are lost. Troops of the Royal Guard will be sent throughout Hyrule in search of her, and we hereby give them the right to be housed with any citizen, provided with shelter and food. We appreciate your cooperation, but do note that his declaration is legal. Anybody found defying this law will be prosecuted.

-The Royal Council

Link sighed, reading the letter over again. He sensed Zelda become tense, and her grip on his arm became painful as her nails dug into his skin.

"I can't believe this," she seethed through clenched teeth. Link gazed at her sympathetically, also quite aggravated with the situation. "How dare they pass this act without my permission!"

"Zelda—"

She interrupted him by pulling down her hood and giving him a stern, cold glare.

"We need to get back to the castle... Now."

All right, tell me what you guys think? Too boring? Bland? Is it too rushed for her to confess now? Haha I hope not... it's the thirty-sixth chapter. Even I was getting impatient! Haha but yeah, be prepared to wait a while til the next update. Anyway, I'll be awaiting your reviews! THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU ALL :DD!