Right, thank you for the reviews, it's always great to read what you think! So please do! Now, I know this might not look like a Link/Malon fic but you should know that it's coming in later chapters. This is all to... build it up, so to say. I hope you like it! Read and review, please :D

And sorry for the grammar! Still learning ^^

And I do not own Legend of Zelda or anything of this at all no I do not no no no!

2. In the Gardens

Link's muscles where trembling from anger and frustration as he entered the castle grounds from one of the smaller gates. The King had successfully and yet subtly pointed out that the only reason Link had permission to even get near the castle, and the princess, was that he had fought some battles. That was how the King thought about Link's time travelling adventure: some battles. Link was just a commoner who had happened to stumble upon the Master Sword and with its help defeated Ganondorf. To the King, Link was no chosen one. Anyone could have done what Link had done, if they had wielded the legendary Sword. The reagent did of course not show this opinion of his out public, he had never even spoke of it in private with Link. He was a perfect gentleman and, like his daughter, always tried to keep any possible conflicts as far away as possible. This didn't hide the facts, though, not at all. If you knew the King at all you could easily notice his thoughts and feelings about Link. And Link liked to think that he knew the King a bit.

The grounds around the castle had always been beautiful, but during the years after Ganondorfs defeat they had become grand. The gardens were located at the back of the castle, away from the busy Castle Town and its bustling market. Link liked to stroll the hedge labyrinth, which he knew by heart, and sitting by the small pond, throwing pebbles in the water and thinking of the old days. The simple days. As he now sat down at his usual spot under a big willow he started to think about how funny it was that he actually was longing back to the days of Ganondorf. At least, he thought, those days had given him a meaning. Those days he always knew what he was supposed to do. Now he was just some sort of ex hero, loved and respected by everyone except for the King. And himself. Who was he now? A duke? A prince, even? Whatever he was he was no noble by blood, and he felt utterly alone in the society he had been pushed into. He felt extremely sorry for himself. And this day had started so good.

Completely occupied with his own thoughts, Link didn't hear the subtle steps on the gravel path behind him until the owner of the steps was just behind him. Link flinched with surprise but didn't bother turning around. By then he had already identified the perfume.

"Link," she said as she placed one hand on his shoulder. Link lowered his head, wallowed in self pity and sulked.

"Zelda," he replied stubbornly. He wasn't going to show weakness before she did.

She sat down beside him, their arms touching, and watched him silently. Link pretended not to notice and engaged a highly immature staring contest with the pond. They sat so for several minutes until Zelda sighed and leaned against his chest, stroking the back of his hand with her delicate fingers.

"You know," she started. "Father can be a real pain."

Link muttered under his breath, but Zelda didn't take notice.

"He's more of a royalist than anyone else in the castle, and we both know it. He's obsessed with pure blood. He can be a complete oaf sometimes, he doesn't really care much about other peoples feelings and at times he can be as charming as a Giant Skulltula."

She sat up and looked Link in the face. Link was determined not to let the pond win the staring contest.

"And yet," she continued. "And yet he is one of the most loved and respected rulers Hyrule has ever seen. Link, I know what you think of my father, and mostly I very much agree with you, but he is a good king and most often a good man. But he is old. And you know how the old ones are, they all have trouble handling changing times. Father is most certainly worried about me, about the Kingdom. He wonders what there will be next. Princesses don't marry Kokiri folk. They marry princes."

Links head sunk. His wife took it in his hands and forced him to look at her. He loved her eyes. He remembered the first time he had seen them, in the old gardens when he had sneaked into the castle for the first time.

"The thing is, Link, that I don't want to marry a prince. I want you, Link. Because I love you. I love you, I have since I first saw you, and I will love you until the Goddesses decides to break the world down again and I shall cease to exist."

Link couldn't help smiling a bit. Zelda laughed her clear laugh and kissed him fondly on the cheeks.

"I love you to, Zelda," he said and kissed her back. "You know I do. It's just… I feel so alone sometimes. With all the politics and all the treasure and pretty things and my own butler and everything. And your father… Sometimes I just feel so very unwanted."

Zelda sighed and smiled at him.

"The Hero of Time, finally brought to his knees! Not by monsters or evil kings…-"

"There is one evil king in this very castle, my dear!"

"- but by politics and pretty things. Really, Link, I'm starting to wonder if you really are the brave man I married!"

Link blushed and looked away. Goddesses, he felt silly. Here he was, feeling sorry for himself, when he really had nothing to worry about.

"And about not being wanted," Zelda continued while slowly positioning herself on top of him, putting her own face very close to his.

"I can show you right now how much… I want you!"

There was something in the back of his mind that kept nagging Link as Zeldas tongue wrestled his own, but he decided to let it go for the moment. The princesses bodyguards quietly moved away from the pond as her dress came off and Link began to fondle her pale breasts, stroke down her back, touching, kissing her body.

Yes. It could wait. Whatever it was, it could wait.