Chapter 14-

As the three of them fought their way out of Mirodo Palace... Link, Din, and Ralf hacked and slashed their way through the endless swarm of Vires that poured down on them. Each vire Link cut down split into two keese, and they were swarmed by more and more of the bat-like creatures. The Oracle of Seasons blasted them with wave after wave of Din's Fire at the tiny monsters, searing their flesh and boiling their blood. Finding an opening in the endless sea of enemies, Ralf made a dash away from the Palace, carrying the unconscious form of Nayru with him.

"Link! They're away!" Din yelled to the Hero. Nodding, Link held his sword back, charging the blade with magic... before unleashing the devastating might of the hurricane spin, cutting down dozens of the flying enemies that were in front of them, and clearing a path for Din to escape. It did not take long before the two of them were clear and away from the Ancient castle.

---

"That... was a close one." Link gasped out.

Din came over to the hero, and began looking him over. "Link... are you hurt? Did they wound you... or hurt you in any way?"

"No... I'm all right Din, thank you." He looked up at her strangely. "But... shouldn't we be worried about Nayru right now?"

Din blushed a deep red, turned away, and said nothing. Link merely shrugged, and walked over to where Ralf cradled the Unconscious Oracle of Ages in his arms.

"Is she going to be all right?" The hero asked.

Ralf nodded. "He has a few bruises, but once she wakes up, she'll be fine." He gave Link an apologetic look. "And I want to thank you for all of your help in rescuing Nayru. If it hadn't been for you and Din... I never would have been able to get her back."

"Don't worry about it." The hero replied, waving his hand dissmissively. "You two would have done the same for Din and I, were our roles reversed."

Ralf smiled. "Speaking of Din... I notice she just walked off when we started talking." He gestured away from the campfire. "I really think you should follow her, Link. Something tells me the two of you have some serious issues to discuss."

---

The Hero found Din waiting by a circle of trees father away from the encampment. She was looking away at the horizon, towards the fading glow of the setting sun. Link approached her slowly, unsure what to say.

"Din... are you all right?"

"I-I'm fine Link." She told him simply. "Just so terribly confused." She turned to face him. "I have something to tell you, Link... I-I'm..." She took a deep breath, and turned to face him.

"I'm in love with you, Link."

The hero was taken aback... not so much by the admission, but by the fact she had made it. He stepped forward, and put his arms around her. "I'm in love with you too, Din. I have been for some time."

Her arms came up to go around him, and they embraced. Pulling back, Din looked up at him with tear-filled eyes. "But... why didn't you say anything, then?"

"You... said somone had broken your heart once before....and you still seemed hurt over the experience." He replied softly. "I didn't want to cause you any more pain."

"Link...I was hurt.. because you didn't come back after you saved Labyrinia." She gently caressed his cheek. "When I first found you unconscious in Holodrum, I stayed by your your side until you awoke again. I had a crush on you then, Link, but through the time we spent together... and then you saving me from Onox... my feelings began to grow stronger."

"But... I only left to train!" Link replied defensively. "I had no idea your feelings were that strong!"

Din gave a slight smile. "You wouldn't believe how jealous I was, when Zelda gave you that kiss right in front of Nayru and I." Din shook her head. "And when you left... I found it hard to trust any man, ever again."

"Zelda is, was, and allways will be just a friend, Din." Link told her firmly. "Besides, I was going to come back... but that incident with the Wind Fish..."

She raised a hand to silence him. "I know, Link. I was acting like a spoiled child... and I'm sorry." She rested her head against his chest. "But now that I know you have the same feelings for me... it doesn't matter anymore."

They stood there like that for a few minutes, until Link finally spoke up. "But why didn't you ever tell me you felt this way before I left?"

Din Looked away. "You're a Hylian Hero, Link... I'm a half-breed Gerudo dancer. I didn't think..."

This time, Link stopped her. "Din... love is love. It shouldn't be dictated by race or scocial class!" Link looked her directly in the eyes. "I don't care who you are, or what other people think... that really doesn't matter to me."

"Oh, Link... I love you so much..." Thier lips drew closer together, and met each other in a passionate kiss. Time, space, and the world around them seemed not to matter, as they held each other tightly.

When they finally parted, Link pulled away, and went to look back down over the hill. "Looks like Ralf went to sleep already... we should head back."

He started down the hill, when a gentle tug on his sleeve stopped him. "Link... do we really have to go back right now?" Din said in a pleading voice. "We've already been through so much together... and Shadow Link's monsters have been hunting us like animals." She pulled him back into an embrace. "We could be dead tomorrow, Link."

Getting her meaning, Link turned a deep red. "B-but... I never..."

"That's okay." Din replied. "Neither have I."

Pulling Link back into a kiss, she pulled his shirt off, and ran her soft, delicate hands over his strong chest. Removing her Gerudo outfit, Link gently ran his fingers down the small of her back.

There, beneath the pale moonlight, the two of them expressed thier love for each other.