"Is there some enemy alive?" Spoke the prince, ridding on his horse near his knight. "Tell me if you find somebody alive"

"Yes, your highness" The blond soldier kept searching mounted on Epona for some signs of alive enemies. Some hours went on like that, the field covered in blood and dead bodies all around. Prince Marth just won the battle against their attackers, Crimea. Marth didn't know why the sudden attack but he couldn't allow Altea to fall into darkness again. The prince was proud that he was able to defend his kingdom this time. His loyal server, and personal bodyguard, not to mention best friend too; Link, always stood by the prince's side defending him with such courage. They had been always a nice team. But they didn't know that was about to change.

"Prince Marth…" Link almost whispered, knowing that the prince for what he just saw now. There was a person, lying on the floor, his head barely moved, and his eyes were closed tightly, he was trying to hold the pain. His body covered in blood as well, he had a lot of wounds, but no one seemed like it could cause him death. Link ran his finger through the man's blue hair. The man as he felt this tried to move his hand to grab Link's. The boy gasped at this action. When he heard a groan from behind him.

"So, you found someone… Why is that you did not tell me Link?" Prince Marth looked down at Link who was kneeling in front of the man, remaining silent. He looked up at the prince that seemed rater intimidating right there.

"Is that so? Then I order you to kill this man" Link's eyes opened widely at the order. The mysterious man whined loudly enough to be heard just by Link, at the same time he opened his blue eyes slightly to look at Link.

He just couldn't carry out that order.

"I must disagree, Prince Marth… If you allow me to, I would like to take care of this man" Link tried to lift the guy by himself, taking his hand.

"Hah! You must be kidding Link, he is from Crimea! He is an enemy" Prince Marth yelled at Link, taking out his sword from its hilt, directing it to the man Link was holding.

"Prince Marth of Altea, I beg you with all my heart, do not kill this man, we won the battle already… And I am asking you this as a friend, Marth" Link closed his eyes, waiting a reply from Marth.

"…Do you realize that those people killed my father when they had no right to? Why should I show compassion for a single man of Crimea then?" Marth looked at the man, and at how Link tried to protect him with all his effort. Marth sighed "You are weak Link; I will allow you to help him. But, he will remain on the dungeon, as a slave, I do not want a man of Crimea walking freely around my kingdom" Marth glared again at the man. Then saw a wide smile forming on Link's lips. Marth hummed and turned around with his horse, smiling slightly at Link's happiness.

"Thank you Marth!... I! - I mean… Prince Marth!" Link smiled nervously and carried the man to his horse, with too much effort; he put him up and got on his horse with the new man, now unconscious again. He was sitting in front of Link, covered by Link's cape.

They started to head back to the castle, people looking at them as they went on. Some people whispering as they saw Link and the man covered in blood and ripped clothes go together on the same horse.

Link tried as better as he could to ignore them, looking straight to the castle, his face did not reflect any emotion. People bowed as the cold prince rode through the streets. He lifted his hand to Link, making a signal to him for come closer, with a serious look still, Link saw it and hurried to his side, holding the man closer, wanting to protect him from the prince.

"Link, I do not want more people seeing that we took this man with us, could be suspicious, I order you to hurry to the castle, then, take care of this man, I will be with you later" Marth spoke coldly to Link. Link smiled softly, like thanking him. He rode as fast as he could to the castle, making sure that the guy wouldn't fall.

As Link concentrated on going faster, and keep the guy on his place, he passed through the protecting walls of the castle, then he thought that if he entered by the principal door everybody would be asking and maybe Princess Ellis would know about it. He didn't want to cause prince Marth too much trouble, so he would just enter by any entrance backwards, except the dungeons door. Because Marth told him that never enter to the dungeons, and as the loyal knight he was, he always carried out that order. So, the stables should be a fine place for entering. Link made Epona run faster, for evade those soldiers that always bothered him. They didn't even have time to question Link where was he going, because Link jumped them.

He was almost there, the zone wasn't really guarded, and Link started slowing down as he checked if the guy was ok. Link was about to dismount as he heard an odd but loud sound, that made Epona scared and she ran away, making Link at the man fall to the ground, the guy falling unconsciously on top of Link. The man was heavier than he appeared to be, it hurt him that he couldn't move the boy off him. And he was also wondering what was that sound.

Link was alone, with the man suffocating him. He kept trying to push him off, willing to don't hurt him even more. It was becoming hard to breath, with one last effort he tried to push, giving up, realizing that he wasn't strong enough, he closed his eyes. But now he felt like if the boy wasn't on him. He opened his eyes and saw the boy lifting himself on his arms. Link was impressed now. He just remained looking at the boy, how he could move without hurting himself. The boy opened his eyes slowly, whining as he got on his knees with his arms placed at Link's sides.

The man was looking at him, rather curious, when he saw Link's ears twitch showing that he was nervous, the boy continued looking at Link as his body started to feel heavy again.

Link couldn't help but blush, when…

"Stop it right there!" yelled the prince running at Link's side with some guard, who took the boy by the arms and moved him away from Link "Take him to a special cell! I will be there is some minutes" The guards who were curiously the same that always bothered Link, took the mysterious man to the dungeon as Marth ordered them. Link got into his elbows, and was looking at Marth confused.

"What is it Link? You must thank me… I just saved you" Marth crossed his arms proudly.

"You didn't save me Marth…and why are your clothes dirty?" Asked Link, getting up.

"Sure, I get it now, that's why your face is red… and I was attacked down there" Marth and Link always used to spoke more freely when there wasn't anybody watching.

"You were attacked!?!? How was that!? I should— w-wait! My face is not red!" Link turned away looking at the floor.

"Of course you are... Oh! And it doesn't matter anymore" Marth brushed the dust off his tunic with his hands "I just saved your ass Link"

"Such a language for a prince, huh Marth?" Link giggled.

"Nobody is watching us anyway, just as when we were kids" Marth hugged Link from behind, resting his head on Link shoulder "Anyway, I got to attend your friend, I'll see you in your room later don't worry" Marth licked the tip of Link's ear, making the boy laugh.

"I never liked when you did that Marth, not even when we were kids, but its fine" Link kept laughing a bit more, but his face turned more serious "Marth, please don't hurt him, I beg you" Link looked at Marth who was standing in front of him now.

The prince smirked, walking to the dungeons waving his hand to Link.

"We will see Link, we will see…"

.-.-.

TBC

-.-.-.