Now the long awaited fluff for Zelda and Link.

For disclaimers note chapter one.

The fountains found that spring did not come as swiftly to the Death Mountains as it did to Holodrum. March passed into April and April headed toward May before there was any real sign of the snow leaving. They had a week of nearly hot weather, where the snow melted into rivers of water, but then they had a blizzard again the last week in May. Not until the first week in June did Kakariko Village began to burst with new life, and when it got started there was no stopping it. Wildflowers bloomed in every direction, and the sight and sounds of local birds began to fill the air.

School was down to four days when Miss Impa Bradley gave the class an assignment. There were told to bring samples of the area's plant life to class for the following two days. They were divided into teams, and the goal was originality. Anything brought in that all the teams found counted for only a few points. Plants or flowers that just a few teams located were worth a little more. Foliage that no other team produced was worth nearly enough points to win the whole competition.

Agitha, Zelda, Aryll, Ruto, and Romani had been assigned to a team, and they came from the schoolhouse with plans to start the hunt that very afternoon. To everyone's delight, Link was waiting for them. He'd not been home for well over a month, and the girls were not only excited to see him but ready to enlist his help.

"We need you, Tag," Romani told him without any explanation. Link loaded to Aryll, who in her excitement, had let out many of the details.

"Aren't you supposed to do this on your own?" he finally questioned them.

"We will," Ruto explained, "but our mothers are never going to let us go up the ridge by ourselves. I mean, Agitha's with our team, but she might not be able to come. I know if you take us in the wagon, we can all go."

Link's eyes scanned the group. Romani's face was filled with entreaty. Aryll looked ready to argue if he said no, and Sari was looking at some of the boys who rode horses to school and were now leaving. Zelda hadn't said anything during the conversation but she was watching him with eager eyes.

"All right," Link said.

Shout and cheers filled the air, and as the girls climbed in Aryl began to give orders like a drill sergeant.

"Okay, Tag. We'll drop the Fountains at their house so they can change. Then we'll rush to our house so I can change. Then we've go to be sneaky or we'll be seen."

"Why, pray tell, do we need to be sneaky?" Link's voice was dry with humor, but his sister was utterly serious.

"Link! This is a competition. If the others see were we are going, we won't find anything unusual."

Link nodded, still not sure he understood. No one had bothered to explain the rules to him. He did as Aryll asked, however, and it wasn't more than 30 minutes before they were back to get the Fontaine girls. Sari was on another team and not all that interested in the hunt so she stayed home, but the rest had dressed in work clothes, and each had a basket. Blossom came out to wave them off and warn them not to be overly late.

Not until they'd pulled away from the house, though, did Ruto lean close and say, "We're not going to the ridge."

"We're not?" Link asked, trying not to laugh at her conspiratorial tone.

"No. We only said that to throw the other kids off track. We want to go way down the creek to the meadow."

"All right," Link whispered back to Ruto beamed at him.

"You're a good sport, Tag."

"Thank you, Ruto. So are you."

The plan would have been deal if several other groups hadn't thought of it. Link heard the girls sigh. He knew they were feeling let down. Surprisingly, Zelda, who usually said little in his presence, was the one to make everyone feel better.

"There are thousands of varieties out here, you know. We can go along the creek bed and probably still come up with something new. All of our houses are surrounded by plant life. We can always go home and try there."

"Yeah," Romani said. "Let's start here and then try at home."

With that they piled from the wagon and walked though the grasses that would be knee-high by late summer. Although she was very aware was very aware of Link's presence, Zelda did nothing to show it. However, he was suddenly beside her, the others now racing on toward the banks of the creek.

"How are you?" Link asked politely.

"I'm fine. How was your trip?"

"Profitable. The land was extensive, far more than the owner thought, and we found an extra rock outcropping, ideal for mining. "Which," Link added with delight, "brought in extra finances for everyone's pocket, including mine."

"So your schooling is all set?"

"Just about. I'll have to put in some time this summer, but it won't be outrageous."

"Where will you live?" Zelda suddenly asked.

"With my grandmother, as long as it works out."

"What could go wrong?"

They were at the creek now, and Link stopped by the water, a small tree at his back, his face reflective. "Nothing wrong exactly, but I'm not sure how far it is to the school, and my grandmother may have certain house rules that won't work for me. I'm not anticipating trouble, but I am trying to keep my mind open."

Zelda nodded. She wanted to say more, to be witty and amusing-anything to keep him talking-but no words would come. Feeling suddenly very with him, she knelt and began to pull flowers from the ground. Link took his cue from her and moved off a little way to do the same. While he was working over the grasses, it came to him very suddenly and without regret that Zelda was not the woman for him. At time his heart had dreamed of her taking an interest in him and even growing old enough to know her true feelings, but now he could see it was not going to work.

Link thought about Malon and once again realized how he missed her. Although no in love with her, he did know she was the type of woman he was looking for. Maybe in a few years Zelda would be like that, but by then he would be away from Kakariko Village for most of the year. Depending on the available teaching positions, he might never live in Kakariko Village again. As he fingered a tiny bloom, Link felt an incredible peace steal over his heart. At one time he would have mourned not having something deeper with Zelda, but now it was all right.

He chanced a look in her direction and found her back to him. Link rocked back on his heels and just stared at the back of her. It was amazing, but now he felt utterly detached. Zelda could even fall in love and marry someone else right now, and Link would say noting more than congratulations. He still cared, but then he cared for all the Fontaine girls.

Link now looked over to see how the others wee doing and rose to join them. He hadn't taken tow step when Zelda cried out.

"It's in my collar! What is it? I'm going to get stung!" She was frantic in a matter of moments, and Link rushed to her side.

"What is it?"

"I don't know," she howled. "I'm afraid to touch it."

Link saw what looked like a flutter of wings at her throat, and risking the sting, her reached up and plucked at the insect's legs.

"A grasshopper," Link said with relief and tossed it to the side. "Are you okay?"

"What's the matter?" Ruto shouted from way alone the creek line. Zelda turned in alarm. Aryll and her sister had stopped to stare at her. She'd been screaming like she was on fire. Her face now reddened with embarrassment, and she turned swiftly away.

"It's nothing," Link, seeing her embarrassment, called to the others. He turned to Zelda. "Are you all right?"

She wouldn't look at him. "Yes, Link." She sounded angry. "I'm fine. Just leave me alone."

Link hesitated for only a moment. Turning to join the other girls, her realized he'd come to his new resolve just in time. He saw then that he'd been walking around Zelda as if on eggshells. Well, no more kid gloves. He was a kind, fair man, but he wasn't doing her any favors by putting her on a pedestal. From now on he was going to treat her like he did everyone else.

(&)

"I just don't understand," Aryll admitted to her parents when Link was out one week. "First he tries to be kind to her, and she hates him. Then she's kind back, but now Link acts like he doesn't care one way or the other. He's back to teasing her. Zelda laughs more than she ever has and watches him whenever she doesn't think anyone notices, but Link's not making any effort to get closer to her."

Uli sighed gently and made herself leave the dishes. Rusl was already to the table with Aryll, so she joined them.

"May I tell you something Aryll?"

"Sure, Mom."

Uli sat quietly for a moment and then began. "I think your father would agree with me if I told you that I'm not a very complicated person. I lived in the same house from the time I was born until I married you father. I had a father, mother, and brother who all loved me. I had my share of crushes on members of the male population, but nothing like what I felt when I met your father. I had some adjustments when he wanted to move from Labrynna to Kakariko Village, but our life here has been wonderful, I have you and your brother and I have god's Word and your father. Your father and I have remained faithful to each other, and God has repeatedly blessed us. It hasn't always been easy, but god has taken care of us and we've kept our eyes on him.

"I grew up next door to a girl whose name was Veran. Some of the boys from church were attracted to Veran, but she was always interested in the wild boys at school. We were fairly close, but she never wanted to talk about Christ or the things of the Bible. I realized later that my parents struggle with how close we were, but they prayed for me daily and with god to strengthen me I was spared much heartache.

"Veran and I haven't had any contact for years, but my mother used to keep me informed. Veran never married but had babies with several different men. She eventually left them all; her children include, and went to Termina. That is the last I heard, she'd committed suicide."

Aryll bit her lip, but she was still listening.

"Now, what's my point?" Uli continued. "I'll tell you. We are all responsible for our choices, but sometimes life is complicated. Sometimes we cause to the complication and sometimes others make it that way. I don't know why it was so different for Veran and me, except to say that I was a simple girl."

"You understand that your mother is not talking about intelligence, don't you Aryll?" Rusl cut in. "She talking about how simple life can be if we obey God; not easy, but simple."

Aryll nodded and Uli went on. "I would say that Zelda is hot a simple girl. Malon is. Here they are, sisters, raised in the same home and yet completely different. Malon trusted God for the man she loved, and she is able to give of herself. For reasons that no one seems to understand, Zelda guards herself carefully. If she were a poker player, I'd say she keeps her cards very close to her chest. She doesn't let herself out, not does she let anyone in.

"When you can't give of yourself, Aryll, your world is very small. Blossom Fontaine came to town, and I befriended her. I took a risk. For all I know, she could have hurt and used me in a terrible way, but she didn't. Zelda is now tilling to give of herself. She's pretty, so Link was probably attracted to her, but I think he's found that she's not the girl for him. Remember how you felt when Pastor Sahasrahla's nephew was here?"

Aryll was blushing, but she nodded.

"You wouldn't go out the door unless ever hair was in place. We were late for church all summer because you took so much time in front of the mirror fretting over your appearance. Do you worry like that when Kafei is around?"

"No," Aryll admitted with a smile.

"Do you understand what your mother is saying, Aryll?" her father wished to know.

"I think so. Link can relax now because Zelda's just a friend."

"Right."

"How do you know all of the, Mom?"

"Link has talked to your father off and on. His heart is so big and caring, but he wants a woman who will care as much as he does and not keep him at arm's length. Changes come with age, but by 16 you can usually tell what a person is going to be like. Outgoing, independent, shy talkative, bold, levelheaded..." Uli shrugged. "It usually comes to the surface by the time you're Zelda's age. I think Link is seeing this and feels that a relationship would not be what's best for both of them. Besides, he's leaving at the end of the summer. It will make it all the harder to leave if his heart is committed here in Kakariko Village"

Aryll nodded. It made so much sense. Her young heart had prayed many times about this, and now she understood.

Had she only know it, she would have continued her prayers for someone down the road who was struggling as well-someone much closer to Zelda than herself.

(&)

"I wish I understood, Ruto," Blossom said softly, trying not to cry. "I told Zelda that she couldn't be afraid of the risk, and now Link treats her like anyone else. For a while there I thought there might be something special. I think she's going to feel betrayed."

Ruto looked with compassion at her mother, but said, "She's having a better time with him these days, Mother. I mean, she's laughed more in the last few weeks than I've seen her laugh in a long time."

Blossom nodded. "She's missed Malon more than any of us do."

"And in all fairness, Mother," Ruto now spoke beyond hr years, "Zelda is very prickly if she gets embarrassed. She's also arrogant and sometimes behaves like a child when she doesn't get her way. It's a wonder Link even wants to befriend her."

Blossom burst into tears, and Ruto felt terrible. She went to her mother and sat close.

"I'm sorry, Mother; I shouldn't have said that."

Blossom took several minutes to compose herself. Ruto sat quietly, feeling utterly wretched.

"I'm sorry, Mother," she repeated.

"It's not your fault, Ruto. You spoke the truth, but a mother never thinks it's going to happen to her child. A mother never thinks her child is going to be the unlovable one. Years ago I knew a girl who was so inquisitive that no one wanted anything to do with her. She listened in on conversations; read our diaries if she had the chance, and then went home and told her mother everything. She was so intrusive that we just shunned her." Blossom sighed. "And now my own daughter is so hard to get close to that people won't ever give her a chance."

Ruto didn't know what to say, but a little bit of anger was kindling insider her toward Link Taggart. She knew it wasn't her fault exactly, but Ruto didn't want Zelda to be hurt.

"Have I upset you, Ruto?" Her mother had been watching her face closely.

"I feel angry with Tag," she admitted.

Blossom turned her daughter's face toward her and spoke gently, reminder herself that Ruto was rather young to be burdened with this. "As you reminded me, honey, Zelda is having a good time with Link right now. That means Zelda's hurt is probably bigger in my mind that in real life."

Ruto nodded.

"You won't say anything?"

"No."

"Good girl. We'll just keep praying, Ruto. We'll pray until we get this right."

I promised fluff and that is what you get. Please R&R