Author's note: very important, so please listen to what I have to say! Okay, here we go! The first Sex chapter I ever wrote, and to be honest I'm quite nervous about what you, dear readers, might think of it. If you are a little confused about the first part of this chapter, and what happens to Link there, don't worry, it will all be explained. A little thing that might help you understand it better while you read: I called the first part of chapter 'In the centre of a depression' when I wrote it. And this is exactly what it is. So think in metaphors!

A little disclaimer for safety: this chapter contains mature Sex content, so all those who may not be accustomed to this or who are too young and should normally not be reading M rated fictions, read at your own danger. As I said before, this is no dirty and grotesque lemon, so there will be no shocking actions or abuse. For all those who are looking especially for that (don't know, because they saw 'sexual content' in my description or something like that), then you are at the wrong story.

For all those who want to skip the sex part, stop the chapter at this very distinctive sentence: ''This time, it had really started!'' You will not miss anything if you skip, don't worry.

Hope you like it anyway!

DR

Chapter 48 – The Power of Love

Silence. More there was not. Warmth perhaps, a stifling heat making him sweat. Or was it something else that let tiny droplets run down his forehead?

With a sharp intake of breath, Link sat up abruptly. Where was he? It was quite dark around him, only a few candles that were placed a bit everywhere lit the room in a warm orange light. He recognized the chamber, the place where so much pain had come to his life these past days.

Groaning, he straightened his body to sit on the edge of his bed, lifting a hand to his soaked forehead. He had been lying on his left side, the blanket covering him only to let the crushing warmth become worse. What happened? he thought dizzily. But it took not long before everything came to his mind again; the wobbling sensation in his belly, the crashing tightening that had let him fold his body, the blood he had coughed out, and then the infinite blackness … ''No!'' he gasped.

The Curse … was not broken.

He let his head sink into his palm as he stared with eyes wide to the wooden floor. He had a terrible headache and his stomach was still feeling quite numb and light. He couldn't tell if he was hungry for the sensation inside his belly was impossible to allocate.

But of one thing he was absolutely certain. There was pain, a slight twinge on his underbelly that was pulsating with every pounding of his heart. As he lifted his white shirt, he saw the bandage covering the still healing wound which, in fact, had not healed at all! It even bled a bit.

Why? was the only question tumbling and bouncing against the shaky walls of his consciousness. He couldn't believe it, he couldn't imagine that all the hope the Light Water had given him, all this torment he had been through during the painful healing process, was for nothing. Nothing! it screamed inside him. But why? Midna had said … it would heal me … He simply could not grab the truth that his body was still cursed.

An untenable urge to move gripped his extremities, and without really knowing why, he sprang up from the bed and took a few steps into the room. The moment he got up, his head began to spin again in a fit of dizziness, and instantly he regretted having moved so quickly without giving his body the time to inure his hopelessness. He had to lie down, but did not want to go back to bed, after all this time of useless resting. The rocking chair sprang into his view and instantly seemed begging him to come into its soothing embrace. But what attracted and convinced him the most to go to the armchair was something that stood on the small table just next to it; a beautiful, colourful little lamp.

Like mesmerized by its strong, calming aura of peace, he moved slowly towards it, seating himself on one leg which he drew up as he lowered his body down in the rocking chair. As if suffering biting stomachache, he wound his arms around his belly and leaned his left side against the back of the recliner, loosing himself completely to the dim light of the little lantern. It was presumably made of glass, with colourful straps of thin paper glued onto it. The candle inside was illuminating his face with a soft blue, orange, violet and red that shone in his darkened eyes.

Deep blight. That was all he felt at that moment. And a painful sting in his heart, even more intense than the stab on his underbelly. All the warmth around him seemed to have left the room, leaving behind only icy cold, doleful cold, a cold of death. He was even sure that his breath had turned into white, thick vapour as if winter had broken out in one second, letting him dither in snow and ice. He did not realize that the cold reigned only in his desperate heart.

The flame in front of him seemed the only source of light that he noticed, all others had gone out, blown into smoke by the harsh blizzard storming around his frozen core. Its water-drop shape was moving gently from left to right, making him rock his head along with it.

There was a faint whisper in his head, always present. It sounded strangely young and as if spoken from very far. He could not understand what it said, even when he tried to pay close attention and strained his ears as hard as he could. A soft patter of rain followed, along with the soughing of tree-leaves. Footsteps echoed on moist earth, the young voice ever hushing by without taking a pause to breathe. But it seemed to come nearer the longer it whispered, and bits of sentences he could pick up.

Got … go! Shut up … stop cryi … seless boy! Rope, where's the … can't any more!

It was a female voice. Young and hopeless. Her frantic murmurs were accompanied by crying that sounded like a baby. Only it was much too soft and weak, not like the babies he had heard crying until now. It was almost a moaning, clawing for life, desperate to hold itself above water. And the beating of its weary heart was like the woman's footsteps, echoing, slowing down.

Can't … about you, just stay … and die! I'll join you … if I could just … find that rope!

The footsteps came to a halt, reverberating in his mind like against the walls of a sombre cave. She went on whispering, however in a total mess of words and sentences. His head ached only more at her hissing becoming louder and noisier.

The voice was now very near, and a quiet thud followed by a feeble protest from the child met his ears. He had begun to tremble by now, for that scene was the one having always played in his mind ever since Rusl told him about his past. Abandoned as a child, cold and crying, on a wet rock near the spring in Faron.

Suddenly, a picture flashed up before his eyes. The flame of that little, colourful lamp shifted, twisted, and eventually morphed into a hunched, human shape. It was her, wrapped in a cloak, her child right beside her on the ground, and not on a rock. She was holding something in her hands that looked like a long rope, which she was fastening to a large stone. In the background he could see a little light shimmering on a black surface, which he soon realized was water. The absence of glowing told him this was just a random pond like there were hundreds in Faron, and not the sacred spring of Light.

His attention set once more on the figure working with the rope and rock. Her quivering, agile hands had made a thick knot in order to unite the two, and was now taking up her child which she held upright.

You … water? I like … as well, and it … very quick and without much pain, don't …

Link could have screamed on the top of his lungs, but no sound passed his lips. He watched in horror how the woman wound the rope tightly around her child's entire body, making another knot for safety. It had begun writhing once more in its cream linen blanket, emitting feeble sounds of primitive, deep fear.

Goodbye … Link … have fun drowning …

And then she just tossed it right into the pond, shoving the rock in quickly after.

A sweet tickle stroked over his cheek, sending a shiver down his spine because it was so cold. As it crept on and on and passed his jittering chin, he felt the same sensation on the other side of his face, the moment his vision blurred with swimming fog.

He jumped when a sudden stab pierced his hand, but through the haze in his eyes he could not decipher the source of the pain. After a few seconds of breath holding, wherein he didn't dare to move, he realized that the prod was not pain, but another cold touch shooting its arrow at his vulnerable body. Just then he became aware of the fact that he was actually crying, that it had been a tear colliding with the back if his hand that had made him think it was an icicle goring his flesh. But why was he weeping?

The woman, and all around her, had quickly shifted the moment she had so brutally murdered her child. Instead, he now saw her from his place in the water, turning around and hurrying away from him. He tried to call back to her, but the rope she had tied around his entire body was gently pulling him down, cording up his throat to let no word or call for aid escape.

He could feel the frigid water of the ice pond move up his legs, embracing his thighs in a cold so mordant that his eyes watered. Perhaps it was because of this that he wept? Or was it something deeper, achier that released his grief in form of tears? He could tell by the thoughts coursing through his mind that he was disappointed, sad, even angry. But was it enough reason for the Chosen One to weep like the helpless child with the stone attached to it?

The Curse … was not broken …

No, this simply could not be true! There must be another reason for the blood pouring out of his mouth earlier.

But what about this wound? He could feel the ominous presence of something dark, malicious and full with hatred, all bottled up in the heavy rock that was pulling him down further and further. Could it be this curse that had tortured him for seven days with unbearable pain, driven him into madness and caused this horrible seizure? It couldn't be anything else. He knew its feeling, its pain, its dark entity haunting his mind all too well. The numbness inside him had not changed.

There was no mistake, and the horrible truth let his body sink even deeper into the icy lake of sorrow. Not much longer and he would be completely submerged by it, he suddenly realized with a shiver, and looked around frantically.

The dark water came nearer and nearer, closing in on him and already moving up his middle and chest. He was trapped, surrounded and unable to run away, for every time he tried to make a step out of it, he found himself incapable of moving. The bonds were too tight. No! He cried desperately. Let me go, please!

He was still cursed! The pain would resume like before, every time he woke up he would be greeted by its sour embrace that would cling to him like a parasite. No way to remove it, no way to tear it away from him!

Help me! He bellowed into the dark. Please help me!

No answer came to him, and the water was still sidling towards him. He tried to back away, but his legs would not budge. He panicked, breathing quickly, looking around in fear. The little light in front of him was fading to the point of being as dim as a flame could be, threatening to expire in the depths of the endless wintriness creeping around him. He tried to reach out to it, wanting to hold on to this little sigh of faith he had left, but his hand felt suddenly immensely heavy, like pulled to the ground by a hundred weights.

He wanted to free himself, and the ice was inching in impossible slowness its way across his shivering body, and he realized in horror that it already submerged him to his outstretched elbow. He couldn't do anything to fight against it any more, could only watch his end nearing with every second ticking sluggishly by. An ominous pounding moved its way up to his freezing senses so that he perceived it as a soft knocking inside his head. Somehow, he knew what it was that tugged at his soul, wanting to tear it out of his being. It had been there the entire week, infesting his belly and skin by preventing his fatal one wound to heal.

The very Curse he had believed had been broken, and where he had just witnessed the exact contrary.

The more the waves of misery closed in on him, the more tears streamed down his cheeks. As soon as they made contact with the chilling surface, white steam rose from the impacts and wafted around his head, blurring his vision in addition to the water conquering his sapphire pupils. Something else moved up his throat, a hoarse grunt of pain exiting his purpling lips that resounded around him in the never-ending, pitch-black abyss he was trapped in. And the water rose, past his chest and grazing his collar-bone, swallowing inch after inch of his snow-white skin.

The light before him was barely a stain in his fogged vision, and it faded still. His arm which was still outstretched towards it was clad in rime and cracked as he pulled it in again. It plunged into the lake of ice to disappear in its pearly shimmering depths forever, for he did not have the strength any more to rescue it. His stare was blank now, like his soul, with head hanging low, chin in the water. That would be his end, drowned in sorrow by a curse whose only intend was to do so, and nothing else.

But … what was that … what was that?

There was yet another sting stabbing directly at his eyes. It was of a pale orange, like the flame before, but it hurt his sight, so powerful and bright it was. Even if it was small and took in just a little part of his vision, he glanced at it nonetheless, with drooping eyes that had difficulties to focus. Then he heard another faint whispering, very far away, but clearly distinguishable. It sounded as if it called out to him, for he could discern the syllable of his name. But who could possibly come to his rescue in a place so dark and cold? It would not be the woman, for she had abandoned him just like seventeen years ago. If she had really been her.

His senses were numb, his head befogged and empty. Already the whispering was fading, declining from him. But he reached out to it, at least he wanted to. His arm, of course, did not move, frozen in the water around him.

That was when his mouth aspired something so freezing it felt nearly hot again. His twitching lips cracked under the intense cold, and he let out a feeble moan of pain at the liquid pouring into his mouth. But as he tried to close the entry to his core, his lips never touched, he simply didn't have the strength any more. The lake was slowly but surely emptying itself into him, burying him from the inside.

Everything then happened very quickly, although it seemed to run in slow motion for him. In one instant he felt like an invisible, horizontal line creep its way up his cheeks and upper lip, next moment he could not breathe. And it moved upward still, swallowing his neck and bridge until reaching his pupils. He closed his eyes as blackness came over them.

And then, a touch crushed his shoulder, a voice shouted somewhere above him. He felt the warmth come back to him so swiftly that he choked on air. He wanted to scream, but no sound came out. His lungs were squeezed by cold, but since this left him like fragments of a heavy armour, he felt life coming back to his body. At once, he lunged out of his frozen state and bellowed in freedom.

But the person that had rescued him still held his shoulder firmly, almost breaking it to pieces.

With a frightened cry, he flung his hand around the limb that had taken hold of him. He heard a painful gasp above him as his fingers crimped the wrist forcefully. ''Link, please, let go!'' someone shouted, but he only pressed tighter. His eyes stared at the figure standing in front of him without identifying it. His breaths came quickly in panic, but slowly his sight focused, the shape before him became distinct, transforming into the one of Renado wearing a pain-stricken expression. Link's look grew horrified the moment he recognized the shaman, and his hand immediately let go of him.

Renado breathed out loudly, relieved from Link's squashing grip. ''I – I'm so sorry, I … please forgive me …'' Link stammered, still staring wide-eyed at the healer's white wrist. He wanted to flee, wanted to sink into the ground just to not have to bear the shaman's fearful look, as he assumed him to carry. But Renado answered in a very calm, soothing voice. ''No no, its nothing, don't worry. Really, I grow accustomed to it.'' he added in a more ironic tone while he glanced quickly at Link's face to see if he would smile. But Link had looked away, winding his arms tighter around his body as he cowered in the rocking chair, furled up like a frightened dog who had made a mistake and wanted to flee his master's angry flaps. The healer was shocked.

''Link? Really, it's okay.'' he tried, but the Hylian did not react. Instead, he continued to stare at the coloured lantern with glistening, tear-filled eyes.

Renado had come back from a short trip to the spring as he had gone to fetch water. As soon as he entered the room, he found in horror that the bed was empty, but as he had glanced around the room he had found the disturbed Hylian cowering in the armchair. Link had been staring in front of himself like a person who just died, which had drawn the deepest fright into Renado's bones. But upon checking him he realized that he was still breathing, just trapped in some sort of trance. However it had been immensely difficult to rouse him out of his lifeless state, a fact that frightened Renado even more.

After a moment of silence, wherein the shaman not really knew how to continue, he decided to not try any other way to make Link happier and instead went directly to the point. ''Link, I wanted to ask you, ehm, how are you feeling?'' He did not want to begin too hastily, and asking this was a good start.

Link remained silent at first, seemingly still not believing that the healer was all right after he nearly broken his wrist. But Renado remained patient; he knew it would be difficult both for Link and for himself.

''Weak.'' came the soft answer soon enough.

''Do you know what makes you feel weak?''

''No.''

Silence again. Well, at least that's a start, he thought. But how to continue?

''But barely a minute ago, you nearly broke my wrist.'' Instantly, Renado regretted having said that, for Link moaned out and pressed his upper body even tighter against the back of the rocking chair. ''What I mean with that is that you are strong physically, Link.'' The shaman added to prevent him from feeling guilty. ''Please, let's try again. Take my hand and squeeze it.''

When he extended his palm, Link at first didn't react, didn't even look at it. But Renado insisted, and soon Link was holding his fingers weakly. ''Go on,'' Renado said in a cheering voice. ''Do not fear to hurt me, I'll tell you if it's too much.''

When at long last Link pressed his fingers together, however, his eyes grew wide as he held back a yell of pain. ''Okay, okay, that's enough!'' he groaned. Shaking his crunched limb, he stared unbelievably at his snow white hand. Link too, was eyeing it with drooping lids, breathing out a snort as if he wanted to say: It was your idea …

''Okay, you're definitely not weak.'' said Renado after having caught his wits again. Link briefly looked at him and turned away again to face the light once more. ''But why am I feeling like that, then?'' he asked silently.

Renado scratched his chin as he mused a while before saying. ''I would say that you're strong physically, but not mentally.''

Link did not answer.

''Can you remember what happened earlier on tonight, Link?'' Now it was out. He had decided to go straight to the point, he didn't quite know why, but the sooner it happened, the sooner they would find a solution. So he waited a bit more impatiently for his answer.

''Yes.''

Renado's heart jumped. At least, he would not have to recall Link these details.

''Do you want to talk about it?''

''No.''

Silence yet again. Apparently, this would not provide itself as easy as that. Renado was at a loss, searching fiercely in his mind for a subject of conversation that would elicit Link a few more words than ''Yes'' and ''No''. Because he had to make him talk, had to pull him out of his depressed state, and the only way to do that was to talk. He was still trying to figure out how he might do that, when the colourful little lamp sprang into his view.

''I see you like that light a lot, Link. Do you know what it is?''

Link shook his head, not leaving the lantern with his eyes.

''It is called a Light of Hope. What do you feel when you look at it?''

Accepting the usual time it took for Link to get an answer out of his lips, he waited uncomplaining for his reply.

Link then shifted a bit by pulling his arms tighter around his torso as if he held an invisible body in them. ''She is so beautiful … she gives me hope …'' came his soft, weak answer.

Renado gazed to the floor, smiling a bit despite the odd situation. ''That is what Lights of Hope are there for, Link. They give you faith in better times, times without pain, without grief. That is why I lit this one, it was to give you – ''

But he paused upon his last syllable, for Link was still talking. He was muttering some things, unable to be understood, but there was always the same word again and again. ''She … ''

''Link? Who is 'she'?'' Renado asked.

Link relapsed to silence momentarily, and after having taken a deep breath, answered in a feeble voice. ''Shadow. I see her shadow in it, her red eye, it is watching me.''

Renado knew all too well of whom he was speaking. ''Midna.'' he confirmed. Recalling the first words Link had spoken, his eyes grew wider when he noticed that Link had called her 'beautiful' in such a gentle, nearly longing way.

Link silenced for a moment, and only his slow, deep breaths met the shaman's keen ears.

''Midna …'' he then muttered weakly.

He had said the young imp's name as if referring to a distant dream, as if he thought of a wish that could never be granted. As if an amateur in painting watched his master bring to paper a magnificent drawing of a perfect landscape, and sighed in quiet longing for being as good as the old man before him. Or as if a child lay in a field, in the high grass, watching a flock of birds soar by, and wishing to have wings as well to fly with them, to debark on an endless voyage into a perfect land, an Utopia.

''Midna … '' he said again, his voice becoming quieter, still feebler.

''You seem to miss her a bit, don't you, Link? What would you say if I call her to us? She would be very –''

''No!'' Link gasped, breaking his constant stare on the flame and gazing at Renado with a horrified look. ''No! I don't want her to see me in this state!'' Renado closed his mouth again, and as Link hastily flicked his gaze back to the flame he cocked his head in confusion. ''What makes you think that?''

''I caused her already enough grief, I don't want to make her suffer even more. I don't want her to see me like this.''

Renado let his wise eyes rest on Link's pallid face, which looked very sad. ''Link, I don't think you caused her grief. That you got attacked and poisoned by this curse it not your fault, please believe me.''

Link shook his head nearly stubbornly while never shifting his gaze away from the flame. There had already been tears in his sapphires that he had desperately tried to hold back before, but now, his feelings had vanquished over him, letting the streams conquer his cheeks once more.

Without really wanting to, Renado let out a defeated sigh. Now he definitely was at a loss about how to continue.

''But I already saw you, Link.'' came the quiet, feminine voice from the doorway. Renado and Link jumped at the same time, Link staring at Midna standing in the doorframe. She didn't seem angry or upset, but rather worried. Her absent crown made her look so small and fragile, but to Link she looked like an angel.

Now however, he moaned out upon seeing her locking eyes with him, and turned around to press his body tightly against the chair, digging his face into the backrest. ''No, please …'' he pleaded. ''Don't look at me …''

Midna briefly glanced at Renado who wore a desperate expression, and started to walk into the room. ''Why should I listen to you? I have my own opinion about what you look like.'' she said in a calm voice. She noticed the healer make an astonished countenance but decided to carry on. ''I'm here to help you, that's all.''

Link inhaled deeply; apparently, he was in pain. ''You can't help me … no one can …'' he replied in a laboured voice.

The young imp waited a few seconds before replying, considering her answer carefully. She had realized that Link's state of mind was much worse than the shaman had foretold, and she had to be cautious to not aggravate his depression further. ''I'm not sure that's true, Link.'' she said, eyeing every move he made. As soon as she mouthed that, he winced slightly as if being stung. But he remained close to the back of his seat, forehead pressed against the wood. ''What I mean is that you helped so many people out of their misery. You saved them all, and you saved me, remember?'' she added in order to explain her first statement.

He was still motionless, but upon seeing the slight cocking of his long, pointed ears she was assured that he listened to every word she said. ''And now I'm here to do the same for you. Please let me help you. I beg of you, accept my aid so that I can return the favour you granted me.'' Near the end, her voice even took on a touch of desperation, which she quickly forced herself to suppress since she needed to feed Link the strength he had lost himself. ''Please …'' she muttered one last time.

For an instant that seemed endless to Midna standing still before the rocking chair, Link did not answer, did not even move. From the place where she stood, she could distinguish salty traces of tears on his cheeks, and according to the glistening in his eyes, he fought an internal battle with himself, or maybe something else she was too inattentive to notice?

At last, his weary sounding voice rang out in the crushing silence of the dimly lit chamber. ''I'm not sure if you can, Midna … even if I'm eternally grateful for your offer …''

Midna lowered her head briefly, exhaling in light frustration but soft enough so that Link would not hear it. He did.

''I don't want to reject you, it's just … I mean, I can't …'' he breathed, and Midna saw shimmering streams run down his cheeks again. She wanted so desperately to take him into her arms, to comfort him, but she didn't want to do something he didn't wish. So she resisted her desire and instead made a step backwards. ''Link, it's okay. I'm not thinking that at all.''

He seemed to relax a bit at that statement, and she purposely let tick away another moment before she continued.

''Link, perhaps you're not believing it, but I can to help you, and if its just to comfort you. But for that you have to trust me.''

Still no movement from Link. She hated it to see him suffer like that, to know that something inside him was badly wrong and hurting him. His answer came in a mutter going over to a whisper as he closed his eyes. ''I trust you, Midna. I could never say otherwise …''

Midna smiled at his short reply that was filled to the brim with truth. The same went for her as well. There was no way she would ever mistrust her faithful companion.

Still moving backwards, her back made contact with the edge of the bed, and she carefully climbed up onto the thrown back sheets. ''Then come to me, Link. Let's lie down in bed, it's much warmer here than out there on that armchair.'' Suddenly, a suffocating thought came to her. Quickly, she looked around in search for the tell-tale brown gown Renado always wore. But the shaman was nowhere to be seen.

Midna was slightly confused to notice that Renado had apparently left the room while she was talking to Link. Indeed, he had realized that Midna would be the better person to guide the downfallen youth on the right path to recovery again and had decided it would be better to grant the two companions a bit of privacy. After all, Link and the imp were already together a good time before they had met the Kakarikans, and even from there on they had been through all the trials and ordeals of the kingdom together. The Hero had saved her life, and she had saved his, in any case, more than once. Thus, they knew each other more than good enough to make an orchestrated move against Link's depression.

So Midna had nothing to worry about being disturbed by any one. That she thought a vital fact considering what she intended to try to soothe Link's burnt down state, and she felt a lot more comfortable now. There was just one more thing to accomplish; prevail on Link to lie down in bed, a feat she noticed was a bit more complicated than she had at first expected.

Link was still pressing his body against the back of the rocking chair, not budging an inch. Tears were now cascading down his cheeks like rivers, dripping from his chin. This startled her even more; he was really in a bad shape. But what scared her the most was what she saw in his eyes. Because they reflected an emptiness unlike every shadow she had seen before. They were like two lights gone out, as if darkness had invaded his very soul.

But their fire had not completely expired, for there was still a faint shimmer of strength glistening in them, like a last, desperate stand against Darkness. She knew that every wrong word could make this little supporting stone in the unsteady building of his soul slip away too, threatening him to break into thousands of shards that were once a strong spirit.

So all she dared was pleading another time. ''Link, trust me, please come to me.'' She lowered herself on her knees, prepared to give her weary Hero the time he needed and just whispering one more time. ''Please come to me. I love you …'' Then, she lowered her head with her heart in her mouth, waiting.

That last sentence from her seemed to trigger something inside Link. Barely noticeable to the outside, his eyes widened a bit, and at once a thousand pictures and scenes flashed before his eyes. Images of a star-covered sky, water sounds ringing pleasantly in his ears, his back recognising pebbles of sand sticking to his skin. And a taste, a sweet, lightly bitter taste licking at his tongue, filling him to the brim with pleasure. ''I love you …'' someone whispers above him. He knows it, that she loves him, because he loves her too, with all his heart.

''I love you too.'' he mouthed mutely, closing his eyes to bear the strain of his following movements.

Suddenly, wood creaked rather loudly, letting Midna jump up in fright. She stared in front of her as if she had just seen a ghost, watching Link slowly move forward in his armchair, screwing up his eyes in effort and pain as he inched to the edge of the chair. She just then realized it; he really trusted her, he was coming to her!

A flood of happiness send tears into her eyes which she, however, forced back with all her might. She had to be strong in a time where Link was not, she had to support him and rescue him in his moments of need, so there was no room for tears. She had cried when he had been strong for her, now it was her turn to do the same for him.

She heard a groan as Link pushed himself up with his arms, his hands gripping the arm rests firmly. As soon as he was standing, he began to shiver slightly and wrapped one arm around his waist as he made a few unsteady steps towards her. But his legs were like pudding, and one step ended up in a dangerous bending to the side that threatened to let him crash down to the floor. Instantly, Midna was at his side, taking his free hand in hers and guiding him to the warm bed. He lifted his head and wanted to smile his thanks, but the grief still inside him forbade it. He let out a quiet moan as the pain in his belly resumed, as if to scold him for having attempted something cheerful.

But then he saw Midna looking at him from the front, smiling her little, worried smile with her single tooth gazing out from between her lips. Instantly, the pain was gone, and Link could easily walk the last few steps to the bed, not leaving her red and golden orbs with his fogged, tired blue eyes.

''That's it, Link. Careful now, lie down here.'' she said in a low voice, helping him sit down on the soft mattress. He grunted several times as the scars on his belly began to hurt again, but the squashy pillow on which he lowered his aching head elicited him a wavering sigh of relief. As soon as Midna sat down beside him, she saw how he stretched out his arm to grab the blanket, moaning out painfully. ''No, Link. Leave that to me. You just lie down and let me do.''

Feebly, his arm fell down next to him again, and he closed his eyes effetely. Already though, his vigour seemed to come back to him slowly, for as Midna pulled the woollen sheets over him, he lifted his eyelids again. ''Thank you.'' he said, his voice sounding stronger than before. Midna smiled cutely and stroked over his cheeks gently. ''No problem, Link. Are you lying comfortably?''

Nodding came for answer, followed by a light cough and a question. ''What shall I do?'' Midna softly pressed a finger on his mouth. ''Shush, I just want you to listen now.'' She cupped her palm over his cheek and gazed at him with a stern but gentle look. ''Link, it is really important that you trust me. If you feel the slightest doubt, or if I do something that is uncomfortable to you, please stop me, okay? I'm here to help you, but if it's too much for you, don't hesitate to tell me.''

Another mute nod from Link told her he had taken in the message. Were he in his normal state, he would have asked himself why Midna would say such a kind of thing. But now his mind was so fogged and mazed that he didn't care. All he wanted was the deep, nagging pain inside him to stop and leave him be. Midna seemed to be the rescuing angel coming to his aid, and he had no reason to mistrust her. So he asked a second time with a creaky voice. ''What shall I do?''

Midna leaned slightly forward and stroked once with her finger over his cheek. ''Close your eyes …'' she whispered, and watched him follow her request suit. His heavy eyelids fell almost instantly as soon as she told him to do so, letting her smile. Now she had at last a chance to pay him back for the aid and sacrifices he had made for her from the beginning. Now was the time to come to his rescue and pull him out of the black hole he fell in.

The chamber was dimly lit, pleasantly warm and hugging them in security. No sound could be heard except the raspy, ever-lasting breathing from the weary Hero as he laid under the sheets draped over him to keep him warm. His shivering had ceased and the pain emanating from his belly had completely disappeared. Despite his stabbing headache and light, tired feeling in his body, he felt good, for Midna's presence over him soothed him in his dejection.

Then, something brushed past his temple, wandering down from cheek to chin to graze his lightly parted lips. He made out Midna's minuscule fingernails stroking over his skin, and a shiver ran down his spine from her slightly tickling touch that wandered over his face. He never knew that such a simple move could please someone so greatly, and without realizing it, he let out a quiet moan of pleasure. By the little blow resounding over him, he could tell that Midna chuckled ever so quietly, making sure she performed her movements as careful and as gently as possible.

''Feel, Link … just feel …'' he heard her whisper above him, coming nearer with every breathed word. Then, he felt the wonderful feeling of his lips touching another pair, softly, so softly fondling his mouth that every nerve in his body let loose sparkles of blissfulness. By themselves, his lips answered to the mouth on top of them, moving together in a slow, regular rhythm. From his belly came another sensation, like thousands of insects scrabbling inside him and eliciting a relishing breath from his nostrils. This was not what he remembered from their last kiss, for this one was a lot more passionate, deep and powerful. That alone made him feel like being dandled in heaven above fluffy white clouds.

But suddenly, a loud moan resounded above him, and instantly it let him crash down to reality again. This groan sounded painful to him, and he immediately tore his eyes open and pushed the two arms that were placed next to him away. What he saw was a frightened looking Midna staring at him, and at once the pain inside his belly came back. ''Are you all right?'' he panted, scared to the core. Midna cocked her head. ''Of course I am, what's the matter?''

Link lowered his head, somehow deeply ashamed. ''You moaned as if you were in pain. I … I thought I'd hurt you.''

Midna gasped in bewilderment. ''What? Me, hurt? No, I was moaning in pleasure, not in pain. I'm sorry, I should have told you before.'' She stood up from her kneeling position and pressed her hands on his shoulders. Her voice sounded calm and soft to comfort him. ''Trust me, Link. Don't hold your feelings back, let it all out. If you have to cry, then cry. If you have to moan, then moan. I'm here to help you get out of your depression, and I'm here to love you. Do with me what you want, kiss me, stroke me, do what your instinct tells you. Love me, Link, love me!''

With that, she dove head-first for his lips again, kissing them with the deepest fervency. Link's eyes widened briefly in surprise but soon fell close again as he was overwhelmed by her intense passion. Her words rang in his ears as he desperately tried to get a clear brain again. Love me, Link, don't hold your feelings back. Love me!

Suddenly, his muscles tensed up sharply, and his eyes sprang open the moment his upper body drew itself up. He barely caught sight of Midna looking abashed as he turned around, sitting now in front of her. Before she could utter a word of confusion, he jumped at her, letting her fall on her back as he pressed his lips on hers again. She just let out a breath of surprise before she caught her wits again, just realizing what he had done. Like a firework, her feelings exploded inside her, and she could not hold back the loud groan coming out of her mouth. This time, it had really started!

Link was kneeling on the mattress over her, holding himself up with his left arm while the other grabbed for her waist, stroking lovingly over it. She was nearly shocked at that move. Wow, he's quick, she thought, abashed. She would never have imagined that he would learn so quickly. Her long arms searched at his hips for the end of his white shirt and started to pull it to her. Link rapidly found out what she intended to do and pulled his lips away from her to straighten his torso. Staring deeply into her eyes, he brought both hands on either side of his shirt and pulled it over his head, letting it fall down on the floor next to the bed. Then he lowered himself down to her again, receiving new kisses from her.

Midna's nostrils caught a soft smell of dried blood form his scars, mixed together with a sweeter one, the latter driving her almost insane. While they kissed each other affectionately, she let her hands wander over his naked chest, making slow, massaging movements with her fingers and fingernails as she scratched his skin lightly. Link let out a soft growl of pleasure which only contributed to both their growing arousal.

Then, as they stopped shortly to get air, Midna cupped a hand over his cheek and looked him deeply in the eyes. ''Link, remove those distempering leggings of yours.''

The Hylian above her briefly stared at her, digesting the unusualness of her reply, but then he laid down beside her again and pulled the blanket, which had slipped down to his thighs, over themselves once more. Midna watched him with amazement in her eyes how he started to work under the sheets, knowing very well that in a matter of seconds, he would lie completely naked beside her.

Pulling them out from under the sheets, he threw his leggings out of the bed and pivoted around to face her again. She could only see his bare shoulders, but her hungry eyes begged for the sight of his entire frame, the curves of his naked legs and hips, touch all different parts of his incredible body. He looked at her with some kind of shyness, for the whole situation was very new to him. She smiled reassuringly and started to kiss him again, beginning to run her prying fingers over his back and sides.

And for a couple of minutes, she explored her lover's strong, scarred body. His skin was very soft, just like his face and cheeks, and radiated an agreeable warmth that licked pleasantly at her fingertips. As soon as she passed his belly where his navel was, he sucked in the air and winced slightly; apparently, he was quite sensitive there, Midna deduced with a smile. For some time, she continued to stroke over that special part, tensing up her fingers so that they stimulated his belly. He moaned and grunted several times in blissfulness, begging her to touch harder, which she did with the utmost pleasure.

Next came his arms, and she noticed that at a special point from his elbow to his wrist, his skin became rougher, but only on his right. His left that lay on top of him – for he was lying of his right side in front of her – was smooth like the rest of his body. This difference came probably from his former life, that of a wrangler who worked all day on the pasture. She remembered at the same time that his life had changed only a couple of months ago, which was not long compared to the seventeen years he had lived as a rancher.

''Turn around, Link. Let me fondle your body from top to bottom.'' she huffed, pushing on his left shoulder and forcing him to turn on his back. Link didn't resist, just let out a quiet breath of surprise. She started to caress his body by using the tip of her fingers, running them over his naked skin. Link moaned and writhed in pleasure, digging the back of his head into the pillow.

As Midna went on fondling his skin with her fingernails, she slowly moved down and down, past his navel, running the length of the longest scar until reaching the bandage. At that, Link opened his eyes again and lifted his head, looking rather worried at her. Midna noticed it, and she quickly moved her hand to the other side away from the last wound remaining, instead grazing his side. That made him chuckle slightly as he let his head fall back and closed his eyes again. Midna noticed that he was quite ticklish there, and for a minute, she teased him by scratching different parts of his body. Link soon laughed quietly, catching her by surprise as he did the same with her left armpit, eliciting a stifled scream from her.

Chuckling in her sweet, high-pitched voice, Midna bend down to kiss him again, relieved to see him a bit more relaxed now. Link joined in the kiss greedily by pressing his hand against the back of her head, longing for her lips. Soon they started to moan in pleasure again, and Midna decided it was time to go further.

Resuming her initial stroking by playing with his navel, she carefully moved down, feeling her own nervousness rising. With adrenaline drenching her in sweat, she worked her way down towards his bare legs, running along the right at first, then the left, and eventually moving to the inside, when suddenly she heard a gasp from her left. Turning her head she saw Link looking at her with a rather worried countenance, and she cocked her head. ''What's wrong?'' she asked in a soothing voice. Link blinked several times, then smiled a weak, apologizing smile. ''Actually I'm … I'm a bit nervous, you know …''

Midna widened her eyes briefly, then chuckled softly. ''Don't worry, Link. I'll make it very slowly. But if you're not ready, please tell me.''

He shook his head, assuring that he was, but he seemed not very convinced. She decided to play a little trick on him in order for him to get a bit more comfortable, so she moved her fingers towards the certain place between his legs again, delaying her moves even more. Link's chest moved a bit quicker than before, and she saw how he squeezed his eyes shut as if awaiting some sort of pain. Then, at the last moment, she moved past it and scratched his inner leg instead, stopping on his right knee.

When she looked at him again, wearing a little, cheeky smile, she saw how he opened his eyes again, glancing at her rather confused. She could swear that his eyes wore a slightly disappointed look, and that thrilled her even more. When he saw her saucy expression, he let out a sigh and smiled. ''You didn't, didn't you?'' he said, chuckling.

''No, I didn't, but do you want me to?'' she replied, sounding mysterious.

Link, still wearing his smile, nodded before laying his head back onto the pillow. Midna had achieved what she had wanted; Link did not fear her touch any more, so now, she could let herself go. And that was what she did.

Suddenly, Link moaned out in astonishment as her entire hand wrapped around his member, feeling its hardness momentarily before starting to ream her palm up and down its length. Link stared wide-eyed at the ceiling, digging his own fingers into the mattress as he witnessed this sensation so new coming from every move Midna performed. It felt wonderful and frightening at the same time, for he felt as if he completely lost control of himself.

''What's the matter with me?'' he panted, still clutching the mattress tightly. His body was convulsing in pleasure, his eyes closed as he enjoyed the sheer bliss of her touch.

''You're sexed-up.'' explained Midna, her voice calm yet strangely pressed as if she was stimulated too. ''Don't fight against it, just let it overcome you.''

Link grunted in answer as her finger stroked over a rather sensitive point. He had never imagined that such a wonderful feeling existed, but there it was, licking excitingly at his insides. It almost hurt, but that pain was very different from a sting or a pinching. It was just so pleasant that it let his body feel as if he suffered the worst agonies.

He nearly screamed as something wet and warm suddenly encased his sex. He pulled his fingernails out of the mattress to lift the sheets, peering into the dark where he found, aghast, how Midna had cupped her mouth over his member, licking it greedily. Link wanted to make her stop, didn't want her to do such an abhorrent thing, but his throat was corded up, throttled by this dreadful blissfulness which let his body shiver and twitch. His hand lost its grip on the blanket as the consumption of her Love sent electrifying impulses through his being until he saw stars before his eyes. Every muscle in his body was tensed up to the limit, letting his back buckle as he dug his head into the pillow.

''Turn around, Link …'' panted Midna, surfacing once more from under the blanked to crawl to him. Link, after having caught his breath again, straightened his body and crouched on all fours above her. She lowered herself under him, lying on her back and receiving soft kisses from him as he leaned forward, running a hand over her forehead as he embraced her lips. She tasted strange, not like usually when he kissed her. There was an odd sweetness to her lips as if she had licked honey just before. ''Go on.'' breathed Midna between two kisses, spreading out her legs. ''Let's do it.''

Even if Link had never experienced Sex before, he knew by instinct exactly what to do. While his right hand dug into the mattress to hold himself over Midna, he reached with his other hand to the place between his legs, inserting his sex into Midna's and being as careful as he could. All that happened by itself, he didn't even know what he was doing, but his mind told him that he did everything right.

He heard Midna stifle a scream the moment his member moved into her, and she grabbed his arms at the upcoming bliss, kissing Link with renewed Love. When he leaned forward to meet her mouth, he tried as best as he could not to move his hips by fear of hurting her, but he had a strange feeling that told him to do exactly that. He opposed himself to it, though, clenching his teeth as the urge became stronger. That was when Midna moaned out.

''Move, Link, move …'' she puffed, pressing on his arms which she clutched tightly to make him go down. Hearing her, Link's oppression became nearly untenable, but he managed to stammer with a pressed voice. ''But I don't want – to hurt you.'' Midna sucked in the air through clenched teeth. ''You're not hurting me … I – I promise. Just move, please …''

Link could not fight his instincts any longer upon hearing her plead. So he lifted his upper body away from her mouth and slowly began to move back and forth, feeling his sex running in and out of her. He suddenly felt a new arousal exploding inside him which let him groan out in pleasure as he breathed in the same rhythm than his slow and deep motions. Midna did the same, but she panted more than she breathed, her sex stimulated so awkwardly that the bliss amassed and grew bigger with every move Link performed, until all let loose in an explosion of feelings.

The moment the climax burst out, she dug her fingernails into Link's flesh and gritted her teeth to hold back her scream of sheer pleasure. Link groaned as he felt her nails in his naked skin, but the slight pain he felt was immediately suffocated by his terrible arousal.

His member became more and more thrilled, and he began to move quicker, shoving his sex with more vigour into her. Her panting became harsher, her grip on his arms tighter, and suddenly she pressed her lips shut to hold back a second scream, tortured by another orgasm which was even stronger than the first one. ''Not so fast, Link!'' she wheezed, gasping terribly. Link immediately stopped, looking at her with terror in his eyes. ''Are you okay? Please forgive me, I – I don't know what … '' He could not bring himself to speak further, the sudden fear of having harmed her shooting an icy arrow into his heart. He wanted to pull himself out of her, but she held him back. ''Don't stop, please. Just go a bit slower, okay? Don't worry, I'm all right.''

Link didn't want to believe her, but the urge to thrust his sex into her again was way too strong to withstand. However, he restrained himself this time, ensuring that he moved with much less velocity. Midna groaned again, but it was calm and relaxed, voicing the deep pleasure she felt with Link's motions.

''Low and slow, Link.'' she said in a suffocated tone. Link responded by bending his knees low, shoving his sex deeply into her and letting her blow out all the air in her lungs. He, too, panted heavily as he tried to move as gently as possible. His entire body was heated up, sweat drenching his forehead and back, and he placed his left hand on top of Midna's right shoulder to push her even further on his member.

Midna's wheezes became harder and painfuller, however not coming from agony, but from the third strong climax she lived during her Love with Link. The moment the orgasm expanded over her, her entire body started to jolt terribly slowly, but deeply and powerfully. At the same time, her convulsing movements stimulated Link's sex even more, which let him throw his head right back as he clasped the upper side of the pillow and pressed the cloth together to make the arousing more bearable.

But the bliss continued to swell inside him, grew so much that it threatened to suffocate him in the pure delight he experienced. He breathed quicker, hastier, trying both to seal this horrible pleasure away and holding it back so that it could satisfy his unquenchable lust. As his eyes widened in growing anxiety about what would come, his breaths turned into gasps, getting harder and painfuller with every deep move his hips performed, until he nearly sucked in the air frantically as if his lungs did not possess the strength to inhale enough oxygen any more.

Midna was lying weakly in the bed now, terribly exhausted from her last climax, and her body moved limply along with Link's movements as she let her muscles relax in order to regain a bit of strength. But she noticed Link's growing arousal, listened to his speeding panting at this incredible feeling that overcame him, crunched him, drowned him in sheer pleasure. She could see it in his eyes, his wonderful, beautiful blue eyes; they had begun to glisten, to shine both in amazement and in panic of how far this blissfulness would reach. She could tell by the countenance of his face above her that it would not last long any more until the release would come, would free him from this dreadfully fantastic torture.

Suddenly, his breath caught in his throat, his mouth opened in a silent scream, and Midna closed her eyes as a new orgasm moved from her clitoris to her sex. Then, she heard Link gasp for breath, still not stopping in his motions, felt the heat of his naked body come closer to her face, and her eyes sprang open wide as the climax detonated. At the same instant, Link disappeared from her sight, but something brushed past her right ear, something soft, very hot that pinned her pointed auricle to the pillow. The moment her chords vibrated behind sealed lips to discharge the power of her orgasm, she heard Link's muffled voice beside her roar out a terrible shriek, one that was caught by the squashy pillow which absorbed and stifled the bellowing sound waves of his clashing scream of ecstasy.

With loud panting which still resounded in the pillow, Link stopped abruptly, rolling the rest of his body to the side and away from her, the motion pulling him out of her. Midna, too, was puffing and blowing as her mind vainly tried to put itself back into one piece again. She heard Link's wheezing melt together with her own as either recovered from the incredible outburst of feelings they both had lived at the same time.

When Midna had partially calmed down and was able to speak, she turned her head to the Hero who still laid gasping on his belly, his entire body trembling awkwardly. ''Link? Are you okay?'' she asked but noticed that her voice was nearly too shaky to be understood.

Link's head turned slightly to the right, away from the pillow, but his eyes remained closed and his panting heavy. ''Wh – what … was th-that?'' he puffed out, and she could hear his voice tremble with emotion. She only then noticed that his eyes were soaked wet, and his gasping was not only exhaustion, but also heavy sobbing.

His voice choked on a cry as she flung her arms around his neck to hold him tightly. He embraced her too, hugging her close and sobbing over her shoulder as he tried in vain to calm his stirred body down. ''It was an orgasm, Link.'' whispered Midna, also struck by her deep Love for him. ''It's the highest point of ecstasy the body can feel.''

Link's tremors were barely receding, so she grasped for the blanked that lay somewhere over his thighs and pulled it high over themselves. Instantly, the warmth radiated from his boiling skin and was caught by the woollen sheets, letting it heat up momentarily. Soon, they were both drenched in even more sweat from the intense hotness, but the warmth miraculously conjured the shivering from Link's body and let his harsh cries turn into silent sobs.

Midna had buried her face in his chest and was listening to his thundering heartbeat. The moment Link's post-coital declined to a feeble shivering, his heart calmed down too, letting his breaths become steady again. She laid there for a long time it seemed, holding him close to her tiny body. As she stroked with her left hand over his drying back to soothe him, she caught sight of the colourful Light of Hope standing on the bedside table.

Hadn't it been standing on the table near the rocking chair before? She could remember Link staring at it while Renado talked to him, just before she had stepped passed the doorframe. Why was it there suddenly, next to the bed where she and Link laid in? It was definitely the same, she was sure of that. Perhaps Renado had placed it there just before he left?

She felt quite odd that such a small detail had preoccupied her so much. But the moment she wanted to turn her attention on Link again, she noticed something about this light. She was absolutely sure that it shone brighter than before, the rays of the flame inside powerfully radiating through the coloured straps of thin paper covering the glass underneath them. She was right, but she could not explain it. Perhaps it was just a sign that Hope was on its way, that she had succeeded in helping Link out of his depression.

A faint smile ensnared in the corners of her mouth as she watched the flickering of the light.

Hope … That was all Link needed. Hope that the remaining of his curse would also be driven back from his exhausted body, that Renado and the Group, who had already beaten the unbearable pain caused by this malediction, would find out how to vanquish it completely. But for that, they needed him, needed his help and his strength to hold on. And he needed them to believe in a full recovery. Otherwise he would drown in the hopelessness she had found him in just before, or would slip again into this fear-stricken state he was in when trying to flee the pain of the first treatment with the Light Water.

She never wanted to see him suffer like that again.

Her look moved down again to the rosy coloured skin of his chest. She saw it move slowly and relaxed, not shivering any more. She wanted to hear his soft voice speak her name, wanted to know how he felt now, if he still was all right. ''Link?'' she whispered.

He didn't answer. Why didn't he answer?

A bit worried, she gazed up to his face, and found his head lying on the pillow, eyes closed, deeply asleep. He had been so overwrought by his feelings that he had fallen into dreams almost instantly, and that made Midna chuckle softly. She didn't blame him at all, he had done pretty well for his first time, and since his soul had been effete already before, his body had to follow soon after it. That was the way it went. Nature was a phenomenon of balance, always seeking equilibrium. And he had given the perfect example for it.

As she watched Link breathe silently in his calm sleep, she soon felt her eyelid become heavy as well. Before she could even think of shaking her mind loose from dozing off, she was already lost in dreams, still holding Link in her arms, and he her in his.

As they slept arm in arm, lulled in the warm blanked covering them, the Light of Hope shone on, guarding them under its vigilant eye of fire from the place on the bedside table, where it burnt tirelessly until dawn of the next day.

000