Disclaimer: SADLY I don't own TLOZ u_u

A/N I AM SOOOO SORRY GUYS I took forever to upload this chapter. Tests and working on a cosplay took a lot of time out of this chapter but is finally here! This is one of the longest chapters if not the longest. I want to remind you guys English is not my first language please bear with me. Feedback more than welcome I hope you guys enjoy it!

*Zelda's room*

Zelda felt disturbed. The way Link looked that afternoon. Because he was not able to see his friend, or at least it was not going to be easy to escape the castle without permission. Link had sneak in several times before but how were Zelda and Captain Orsen going to explain Link's absence for several days. Zelda wanted Link to see her friend, it hurt her inside, but she wanted him to feel the same way she felt when Link was around her. Having friends was nice and the princess did not wanted to deprive him from the friends he had made outside the kingdom.

*Backyard*

Several days passed after Zelda discover a new world outside the kingdom. She wanted to go again but if that meant Link had to think about the friend that he might not see again, then she would never ask him to go with her again. He had been acting normal around her after the night she found out about Saria. She wanted to make things up to him without mentioning to Link her name.

"ZELDA! Gooooooooooooood morning!"-Link came running towards her. His tunic full in mud and some red spots on his face. He had been training, really hard. He wanted to become a knight as soon as possible and he wanted to be the best.

Zelda rapidly snap out of her thoughts to answer Link's greetings.

"Good morning Link, how was practice today"-She hadn't spotted the red stains on his face.

"Oh my! Are you hurt?"- She would worry a lot about these little things, but Link had been through so much tougher stuff than these scratches.

"Oh these"-he brought his hand to his face to notice the blood on it.

"Just some scratches, nothing you should worry about Zelda"-he gave one of his it's okay smiles and sat next to her.

The day was beautiful, the temperature perfect. It was just a nice day to spend together or that is what Zelda wanted. Since that day, Link had been smiling around Zelda too much, she couldn't really tell if he was acting up. Link was a happy person indeed, or at least he seemed like one on the outside.

"Zelda….."-He got close to her. So close that Zelda could feel his bangs rose against her forehead. The butterflies they were back. Zelda blushed as a reaction of Link's scent. She was so nervous she could not say a word as hard as she tried.

She had finally admitted to her-self that she wanted Link more than just a friend. Yea she was not really familiar with the term but those feelings. She sure loved Link. Her first love.

"I talked to your father….Captain Orsen and I need to go to Kakariko Village and I asked him if you could come along….." -Zelda's eyes widen and took her a couple of seconds to realize what Link had just said. She then realized by Link's face, he was not joking.

"WHAT?!"-Zelda jumped from her place and stared back at Link with surprise.

"I told him that you as a future Queen needed to get to know more about your country and that you were old enough to go. Plus WE are going to be there."-Link stood up after Zelda's wild reaction and grabbed her hand to calm her down. The butterflies in her belly, Link grabbing her hand, Zelda finally was going to see the outsides of the kingdom. All of these thing made her happy and gave a smile to thank Link.

"Thank you….Link"-Zelda got close to him and put her arms around Link's neck. Burring her face into Link's chest. She inhale Link's aroma, sweat, grass, mud and blood. Oh how romantic. Aside from all of the terrible combinations of odors of training Link had a nice smell. The butterflies felt like they were going to rip the walls of her belly trying to escape. Her heart beat raised but this felt right and she did not care if Link noticed those things.

Link widened his eyes surprised by Zelda's hug. He thought about it for a moment and then slide and arm to her back and with the other free hand, brushed through her hair. Zelda always smelled good, of course she did she was a Princess. He just enjoyed the moment for a while before going back to training.

"We'll leave tomorrow morning"-Link whisper to her ear as he grabbed her shoulders to break that delightful moment that both of them had created.

Zelda nodded to Link's words as he ran towards the academy to continue with his training. She went back to the castle and did her usual routine with a smile on her face.

*On the way to Kakariko*

The sun hadn't rise and the morning was chilly. Sprinkles of water on the grass because of the rain last night. The smell of wet grass. Link was used to this, on the other hand Zelda stayed inside when it rained so she was going to experiment that for the first time as well. It also seemed that is was going to keep raining for the day.

Link woke up to the sound of the Captain Orsen knocking on his door.

"Yes, yes, I'm awake…"Link rubbed the sleepiness out of his eyes as Captain Orsen walked into Link's room. He had been staying at the academy for some time now. Link was almost a knight only a couple of years and he would finally be kneeling in front of the king to name him Royal Knight. A good title in society. Also he was going to be taking care of Zelda as a duty. Nothing make him happier than taking care of the girl he loved.

Link got off his bed after a couple of yawns and walked to the bathroom. A quick shower just too finally wake him up. Stepping out of the shower the breeze touch his body making him quiver a little because of the cold. Rapidly grabbing his undershirt and white tights to get rid of that cold sensation. A smile on his face and a sigh out of his lips. He was very happy because he was going to spend the next couple of days next to Zelda but that feeling was not to last.

Link walked to the horse stable and got his horse, Epona, ready for the trip.

"Good morning girl, did you sleep well last night in this rain?"-Link petted her and Epona responded to his touch by a growl. A sound from behind the stable gain his attention and rapidly grabbed the handle of his sword. After showing his skills with the sword Link was allowed to carry it around with him.

He slowly made his way to where the sound had come from only to find a couple of wood pieces messed around. He had spent a long time fixing them up only to find a royal little girl on the bottom of them. They were not as heavy but she was a little fragile and of course she was going to be hurt.

"ZELDA!"-Link rapidly got the woods of her and gave her a hand to help her stand up. She growled in pain and shook the dirt of her cloak.

As mentioned, it was cold and it was going to be a long ride for the princess so she wore a comfortable white dress and a red cloak. It was the first time she was going travel. She wanted to be comfortable but she wanted to make sure everybody knew the princess was traveling. She doubt about it by the reason that knowing this fact would attract thieves and probably ambush them but Link and Captain Orsen were going to be there so it was okay.

"Are you okay?"-Link seemed really worried about her. Zelda just blushed to his question and showed him a scratch on her knee.

"I just scratched myself…."-Zelda did not wanted to make Link worried besides it was her fault for peeking on the hero.

"Just a scratch huh... you are going to be fine. Not to mention I will have to fix this woods sticks after we come back…. Thank you PRINCESS"-that last word made Zelda upset giving link a deathful glare. Link responded with a sweet smile which made Zelda blush once again.

"So cute…"-Link said between his lips but it was loud enough for Zelda to hear. She did not feel like ruining his sweet comment by one of her princess attitude.

Link grabbed a piece of cloth and wrap Zelda's knee. The wound did not needed so much attention but Link wanted Zelda to feel secure. Not to mention he got a chance to peek up her skirt. He was a little boy but he was still a BOY.

"Come on it's time to go"-Link grabbed Zelda's hand and helped her get on top of Epona.

Epona was nor big or a small horse. Just the perfect size for them to fit. Zelda had ride horses before but Link did not know that and she was going to take full advantage of the situation. She wrapped her arms around the hero's waist and buried her face into his back. Good thing he had shower this morning. His smell was nice and fresh. The smell of grass already impregnated in him. Link widened his eyes to Zelda's touch but felt more at ease after he felt her face on his back. Smiling at the landscape ahead of them.

The sun rising but covered by clouds. People already walking through the market to start the day. Chatter started to get loud and looks locked at the hero and the princess.

A couple of minutes and they were already in the fields. Hyrule was a big country but everything was visible from the entrance of the kingdom.

Captain Orsen in front leading the other horses where to go and Link behind him accomplishing his goal of taking care of the princess. Link did not stop smiling by the touch of Zelda, until something caught his attention.

A green figure by the entrance of the forbidden forest. He turned his head just to make sure what he was seeing. Zelda noticed this rough movement and rapidly faced at the direction Link was looking.

"What is going on?"-Zelda asked with worry. The first thing that crossed her mind. Thieves. She then notice they were both looking at the entrance of the place where Link had grown up until a couple of months ago. Captain Orsen reacted to Zelda's words filled with worried. She had not yelled but he was not far from them for Captain Orsen not to be able to hear her.

"Nothing…."-Link's tone was deep and answer the question to avoid the princess grow worried. Captain Orsen turned back to the road. Link repeated after his mentor's action and kept on going down the road to Kakariko.

Link felt pain within him and he could not hide it. He wanted to go see his friend. Link had not seen Saria after that time at the Scared Realm where Saria promised him they were going to be friends forever. (FRINEDZONE) Link had kept his promise and wanted to show Saria that he was worried sick about her and wanted to make sure she was fine.

It was only a few hours trip from the kingdom to the village. By noon they had arrived to their destination.

People around them greeted to the Captain and Link. They have been there before a couple of times but as soon as they saw the Royal triforce on Zelda's cloak they bowed to the princess.

"I want to walk from here"-Zelda was tired of riding Epona. How could Link managed to ride her all the time.

Link obeyed to the princess request and stopped the horse. With an agile jump he was already off the horse and helped the princess down.

"Meet me at Impa's place at 7 Link"-Captain Orsen left with the other 3 horses towards the depths of the village.

Link grabbed Zelda's hand and guided her through the town explaining her the history of the village. What he had lived, Death mountain hidden secrets that no one would ever discover, not even the Gorons. One of the many races of Hyrule. Dampe hided a treasure under the graveyard ground. A dungeon under the village.

Zelda was fascinated by all of this. Learning all the story of a new place was way more interesting that the class she had to take with her instructor. Plus she was learning this by her best friend and first love of course everything he said was interesting.

The day passed by fast, they bought some groceries, met a few villagers and played around. The day had been fun for Zelda but for Link he had to go back to business.

They check in at Impa's house. Only a young girl and her brother lived there. Friends of Zelda's mentor maybe? It was a simple house but it was the only one they could stay in because it had separated and enough rooms for all people that were going to stay there for the next couple of days.

4 horses outside the house caught the attention of the villagers that were passing by. Captain Orsen and Link were headed to the guard's HQ located behind the well.

"The graduation will soon happen I am glad we get to see Link as part of one of us finally!"-One of the soldiers cheered with a beer on hand.

"We need to get back to business. I brought the guy to get experience for his final test"-Captain Orsen shut the cheerful soldier and extending a map on the table.

Link had more experience that the rest of them together. Strength, Intelligence, Strategy, he was going to pass that final exam like a piece of cake.

"We know that a group of Lizalfos have invaded Death Mountain leaving the Gorons trapped the dungeon."-Link smirked to the captain's words He knew this place by heart. He knew the combat strategy against those guys. This was going to be easy for him.

"Please Captain let me do this one! Take it as my final exam"-Link said standing up from his chair grabbing the handle of the sword.

The captain and the rest of the soldiers looked astonished by the boy's words. Captain Orsen knew Link had skills but was a little worried that he might not make it.

"Okay but we all are going to go. You have 3 hours to get to the bottom of this and solve it if you don't come back by then we'll go in"-Link looked at him as if he was challenging him and just laugh to himself.

"But if we have to go in, that means you fail the test and will graduate with the rest of your class"-Link was not worried at all. He was brave and strong.

"Deal but if I do, I get a special ceremony for my graduation as soon as we get back"-Link sure had confidence in himself.

After a plan and discussion of the mission Link, the Captain and a couple of soldier walked to the Mountain.

As expected 2 hours later Link was out. The soldiers surprised by the time record. Not even for an expedition they would make it within 2 hours much less for a mission.

"Well I got admit Link you've got some unbelievable skills, Congratulations I'll talk to the king as soon as we get back"-Captain Orsen said to Link. The boy brought an arm back to his head to receive all the compliments the soldiers were throwing at him. After all he was a humble person.

Not even midnight and they were finished with the mission.

Captain Orsen had ask the king for three days at the village for the reason his family lived there and it will give a little time for the princess to get out of her usual routine just perfect for Link's request.

Captain Orsen went to his house after dropping of Link at Impa's place. A light coming out of the window. Someone was still awake waiting for the hero to come back.

"Link!"-Zelda hugged the boy as soon as she saw him.

"What are you doing awake Zelda it's very late. You will get wrinkles if you don't go to sleep early."-Link smiled as he buried his face to Zelda's hair. Yea he was lecturing her but he was happy that she waited up for him to go back home safe.

"You sure are silly"-She giggled to Link's comments and looked to encounter with his eyes.

She had not noticed that within the silly comments that he made, there was still something bothering him. It didn't matter how much he smiled his eyes reflected the opposite.

She looked down to avoid feeling more guilt.

"W-What's wrong"-Link was confused by the sudden change in the atmosphere.

"N-nothing…. It is late we should go to sleep now."-She said giving her back to Link and started walking towards her room.

"Good night Link…."-Her voice was low and vanished by the sound of the door closing behind her. Suddenly leaving her friend behind her without any explanation or anything made her feel more guilty rushing towards the place where they were standing before only to encounter darkness and the boy gone.

A sigh escaped out of her longs and returned to her room.

"He went to sleep already, I don't think I should bother him."-Zelda rapidly fell asleep afterwards since it was past her bedtime.

*The next morning*

Zelda woke up to the feeling that she had made Link feel bad yesterday. It was very early, the weather was still chilly and nobody was up yet. She got the idea to make breakfast for the others or at least what she could prepare. It was simple tea and toasted bread. She was a princess after all.

The young lady and her brother had woken up and helped Zelda make breakfast but someone was still missing.

"Zelda can you go get Link please. He is a sleepyhead and tends to sleep in if no one wakes him up."-Zelda nodded to her request. She was the princess but she had asked them to treat her as a normal person while she was there just to get to know the feeling of being part of a "normal" family.

Zelda headed to the boy's room to find the bed empty with a note and a flower on top of it.