Chapter Three

Midna panted a little, taking the shortest of breaks, getting her breath back from the first lift, before she refocused her mind. With a cry of effort, she threw her hands up. The sand seemed to detonate where she stared, exploding and flying upwards before coming back down in a single solid block to the side of the hole, about four foot deep and three foot square. Link smiled up at her gratefully. Sweat dripped from his brow, wiped away by a tired hand. He all but collapsed into the hole, curling up quickly against the cool sand wall as his exhaustion took over. Midna chuckled softly to herself. Poor thing...

The Twilight Princess shaped a mound of sand for herself, sitting down and watching him sleep. She marvelled at his endurance - even she had been feeling the exhaustion by the time he'd given up, and all she had to do was hover. She glared up to the west at the sun. I don't care if sunrise is beautiful, you're hurting Link. Big meanie. The childish thought didn't achieve anything, but it made her feel just a little better that the culprit had been chastised. She reached up, focusing carefully, re-shaping the sand and solidifying the block into one smooth stone wall, much longer and thinner, before toppling it over, using it as a cover. Finally shaping a sloping hole in the top, she nodded as the patch of sunlight suitably lit up the makeshift chamber. Link's eyes cracked open, and he smiled to her again. Midna felt her stomach flutter. What is that feeling?..

"Thanks, Midna..." The hero's voice was cracked and parched, a little weak from underuse through the journey. Midna had spoken little, not insulting her companion with false enthusiasm, and Link had done likewise, both taking comfort from that courtesy. Midna shook her head, fishing into her shadow space and taking out Link's pack, handing him the waterskin he'd had the foresight to fill in Lake Hylia.

"Drink. Just rest up. We'll carry on when you're not exhausted." Link cracked a slight grin.

"I'd almost believe you cared about me the way you're talking," he teased, taking a sip of water to wet his mouth. Midna blushed - thankfully, her dark skin didn't make it apparent.

"You're not much use if you're dead of dehydration," she sniped back, a little more sharply than she normally would have, turning away and watching the patch of light on the floor. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Link's mouth hang open, about to say something, before he shrugged and settled back against the wall, staring out the skylight.

"Sorry. I'll be ok. I promised I'd help you, remember? I don't break my promises." That fluttery feeling again. Midna shivered a little. That can't be normal.

"Just rest up and sleep, ok?" Link sighed, and nodded. Shifting more comfortably, he looked up to her, mistaking her shiver for cold.

"Come here." He patted the ground in front of him. Midna blinked at him, not fully comprehending. "It's cold at night in the desert. We can keep each other warm. Remember?" He explained patiently. Her gaze locked with his, crimson eyes falling into eyes the color of the ocean. Her heart skipped a beat. Woah..!

"O-ok." Link raised an eyebrow, but wisely said nothing about the stutter. Midna swooped in next to him, laying down. She tensed, another shiver rippling through her as he slipped his arm around her, cuddling close to her. Her heart rate quickened, and she shut her eyes, trying to calm herself down.

"Sweet dreams, Midna," Link murmured through a yawn, settling to sleep. Midna smiled a little, feeling her stomach flutter again. Slowly, Link's breathing slowed, finalizing his descent into slumber.

Midna turned around, watching him for a moment. His tousled, straw-blonde hair was slightly damp from sweat, his hat dropped carelessly to the side. She examined his face with an odd sort of fascination, as if seeing him for the first time. He's not bad, for a Light-Dweller, she admitted to herself. I can see why that girl likes him. That thought sparked an odd feeling inside her, as if she wished she were that girl. I'm jealous?.. she wondered. Why? I'm probably closer to him than she is.

But when everything's finished, it's her he's going back to. The Twili shook her head slightly, shaking the chain of thought. That's silly. I knew that all along, that doesn't make any difference... Her attention returned to Link, his eyes fluttering as he breathed a bit more raggedly. I wonder what he's dreaming about... Her eyes traced his features, trailing down his jawline, watching his lips. She didn't know why, but some small part of her mind overrode everything else - she couldn't help herself. Leaning in gently, she placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Sweet dreams, Link..."