Yay to sym spidey for being lucky reviewer #200, and darkin520 for being #300! And an extra special thank you to IrishPanther for reviewing and giving me his thoughts on every chapter.

To all of my reviewers: Whether it was one time or several, you didn't have to review, but you chose to share your thoughts with me anyway. BIG group hug to every one of you guys, including the many people who have FAVORITED and/or FOLLOWED (also those on Author Alert). You all are the reason I update. To you guys and to my future readers/reviewers, a million times - THANK YOU.

Good job Guest (from chapter 26)! You were the first to decipher Link's ID number. As goddessharp guessed after (good job to her too, btw), on February 21, 1986, the first Zelda game was released.

Chapter 27

Send Her My Love: Part Two

Oh, we certainly have met…

Fi stood, her feet steadfast but her courage slipping. Her enemy was no more than five feet away.

Over the course of an extensive, full life, she had kept company with countless beings, many of whom were of different races. Shyness and self-consciousness – these had always been infrequent for her. The effects of intimidation were even rarer.

So why did she feel this way?

"I said," the stranger accentuated, stepping closer, "lower…your…weapon." His accent was foreign. Sophisticated. His r's were soft; his vowels were stringently pronounced. A mellow baritone.

Fi's hand remained raised, blocking all but the man's face from her line of sight.

Showing caution, the man lifted his arms. Just short of smiling, he held his stern yet unperturbed pose as Fi looked at his empty hands for several seconds. Without even the faintest glint of magic and no rapier, they were of little threat to her – for the most part.

Is this what he's suggesting…?

A peaceable gesture from a perfidious man.

As an empyrean, Fi was many things; fool enough to hastily trust one such as this, however, was not one of them. Or so she assumed.

She knew him, yet she didn't. As she gazed into eyes as agelong as the soil beneath her, she saw something recognizable, yet out of reach—like that of remote, fallow land.

The chill of the cold ground bit into her toes.

Poised to strike and reluctant to stand down, Fi studied him. As she clung to the defensive, the stranger drew his arms back as a raven folds its wings after flight. His hands tucked themselves behind his back, taking with them their inherent danger.

Vulnerable was the man's position; the position that he had chosen to take. Fi now had the upper hand, as well as a generous amount of befuddlement to contend with. Watching him over her fingertips, and despite her uncertainty, her tightness slowly lessened.

She knew that this man should not have been in the woods outside Hylia's realm. She also knew that she shouldn't have been there with him. In that moment, the only action fit to be taken by a stray soldier of the Goddess was to flee. Right then and there, she should have done just that.

But she didn't. Something was holding her hostage, yet it was not this mysterious man who was skulking around his enemies' territory. No, it was something else, entirely; something from within herself.

The demon's oversized step brought him closer. Fi's stare lifted to his. He was tall, but so was she. His height overtook hers by only three inches.

Questions – she had so many of them. In those murky woods, he would answer her, and more.

Her eyes communicated what her mouth did not.

His presence alone dug into her with an intensity that was impossible to escape. She shivered, noticing that he was even closer now, and unsure as to which one of them had taken a step; maybe both of them had.

What was it about this man?

In the dark, their garments were of the same hue; shadowy, almost achromatic. The azure of her skin and the white of his seemed to diminish. The evidence of whom each had pledged their allegiance to was fading, melting into the darkness.

As he had demanded – no, asked – Fi lowered her arm.

Nothing but silence then, cushioned by the delicate echoes of words unspoken.

What are you doing here? Where is he?

A joining of minds; a connection in the dark. When his fingers slid around hers, her eyes closed.

Eons old, his hands felt, just like hers. But his were assigned a much different task; such an antithetic existence.

He had killed so many like her. She could feel it. The guilt of his crimes – the deep satisfaction of his victories – seeped from his calloused skin to hers.

Standing there was wrong. She knew that she needed to leave, yet she didn't want to.

Blood from battles long ago…blood from this yearlong war… It mixed together.

They were mixing together.

But there was more. More to him. Layers, like the stratum of an ancient crag. They held secrets; unexpected findings; treasures, perhaps.

What did he want with her? And what happened to…

"Who are you talking about?"

She opened her eyes, doubting that she had even heard the faint query. Her face was relaxed and calm, as was his. He looked like a curious child, if only for a short time.

"You don't know?" she asked. A quizzical expression spread over her face. How and why were his thoughts penetrating hers?

Telepathy, while rare among the people of Fi's realm, was not unknown. When the phenomenon occurred, it did so between no more than two individuals – sometimes temporarily and sporadically, other times interminably and endlessly. Its meaning and function varied from case to case, but was never without purpose.

Every case, however, was linked with a form of intimacy that could be fathomed only by those fully willing to submit to the roles of giver and receiver. While these encounters were chiefly beneficial and safe, tainture sometimes intruded; there existed some of questionable intent who had no business joining with others in this way. Yet, they did.

Fi knew that the demon tribe shared in the gift of telepathy – some individuals dipped into telekinesis, even – though the differences in conduct between empyreans and demons remained a mystery to her. In the past, she had often wondered what it would feel like to connect with a demon, but it was mostly due to youthful, untrammeled imagination. The passage of centuries had planted in her a certain discretion; a caginess that replaced intrigue with prudence.

Fi's knowledge carried with it even more questions. She had experienced the extraordinary connection of telepathy with men before; several of them. She had even united in thought with another woman a few times over the course of her long life. But these connections and what had prompted them had made sense in those instances.

Why, right now, would this singularity manifest itself here, in this forest, between her and a sworn enemy?

Fi's lashes fluttered. She felt that if she wasn't careful, she might forget where she was, and who she was with. She wasn't completely sure that she minded.

Her brow rose as she realized what her mind was tending toward. She looked closely at the one in front of her.

Did he really not know who she was searching for?

"Where is Link? Why did you come here?" Fi barely stopped herself from mouthing the words.

"To see someone." The demon's posture straightened as his gaze remained invariable.

"To see someone? You're within a quarter of a mile of the Goddess. Even someone such as you…" Fi paused, considering what she knew of him – what she had seen, and what she had heard. This man's leader, his king, had been defeated. Surely his sudden guilessness masked some sort of ill intent. "Even someone such as you risks death by coming here. Did you come to seek revenge against Hylia, or her chosen one?" Her eyes flipped back and forth between the demon's.

"No." His thoughts were direct, simple, and bound to a strange brand of honesty.

"Then, who?" Fi unwittingly squeezed his hands.

"You."

Fi could do little but stare. His admission sounded genuine but left her puzzled, if not initially and ever so slightly flattered.

"Me?" she asked aloud. The man's body language told her little, yet she was unafraid. He nodded. "What do you mean? Where is Link?"

"The human?" he asked, his voice surprisingly smooth.

"You do know who I mean, then," Fi said.

"Of course. But why imply that I know of his whereabouts?" Fi searched his features – refined yet masculine, pleasant yet rugged. Watching his pale lips move, she was thankful that the discussion had shifted from thought to word.

"He had vanished. A soldier informed me that he had seen him retreat into the woods. When I saw you, I just assumed—"

"Presumed," the man corrected. Fi's delicate mouth hung open a bit.

"Perhaps," she said with some hesitation. She turned her head, the sound of distant voices just beginning to reach her ears. "But…" She faced him once more, forgetting that their hands were interwoven. "Even if you don't know where he is…why come for me?" She wasn't sure if she wanted to hear his explanation. He didn't give it right away, but merely dropped his eyes. They trailed from her feet to where her thighs were hidden behind violet linen. She felt the probe of his stare as it moved on to her upper body.

From behind, she was obscured by a long, dark cloak. But from the demon's viewpoint her figure was plainly visible; thin and sleek, and hugged cleanly by a fitted robe. The shallow dip of her waist and soft curve of her hips presented themselves to him.

His eyes came back up to hers. Her breathing halted. She could have sworn he was trying to keep every trace of emotion hidden.

"I would ask, 'Do you remember our first meeting', but I know that you do," the man almost whispered. Fi's mouth snapped shut.

"Oh, yes," she replied.

"Seven weeks ago, exactly," he said. "A notably hot day, as I recall." Fi's hands started to sweat.

"Actually, I remember it being rather…cool," Fi said quietly.

"Late afternoon," he added. "Sky as crimson as rubies. Sun blinding like never before…" His voice trailed.

"I remember," Fi said.

"It was…" The man ran his tongue across his teeth. Fi caught a quick glimpse of its oddly dark color. "Scintillating." Her jaw dropped again.

"Yes, that day was…"She couldn't stop looking at his mouth.

What am I doing here? she wondered.

"Speaking with me," he retorted. Fi's eyes widened before she looked at her hands.

"Yes, but I shouldn't be." She looked him in the face. "And neither should you be here with me."

"And why not?" he asked, his deep voice rising.

"Because we're consorting with…" Her fingers tensed. "…the enemy." The beginnings of a grin tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Do we resemble enemies?" he asked.

"Yes," she said confidently. The incongruously mild feel of warriors' hands stopped her short. "No…" The demon lifted his chin and lowered his gaze.

"I thought not," he said. Fi looked away. "I do not routinely exchange prolonged looks with my enemies on the battlefield." She stayed still, knowing what he meant. "I fight them. I kill them. I care nothing for them."

"So, what you're saying about me is…?" Fi kept her head low as she waited for his answer. It didn't come. Her face came up once more.

His eyes were gorgeous. Moonlight tried its hardest to trickle through the thick cover of branches above them, providing a tiny sparkle in the demon's irises. His stare was all-pervading.

"What is your name, soldier?" Fi asked. He seemed amused.

"Do you not know?" She took a breath, passively listening to the rise and fall of his tone.

"I believe I've heard it," she said, her eyelids drooping in the darkness, "on a few different occasions." He cocked his head, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Is that all?" he asked, a 'tsk, tsk' nearly wriggling from his tongue.

"I've heard you discussed many times," she said, flinching as she stressed the 'many'. Her overemphasis caught him slightly off guard. His cunning smile grew. "But surely I don't need to say that a demon's name is a powerful thing." She said it as much for him as for herself.

She thought she heard someone calling for her.

"Do you know why?" he asked, grinning down on her. She felt his hands begin to massage her own. "Of course you do. You're a scholar, are you not?" She nodded. "With knowledge as vast as the Plain of Cana." He paused. "And as deep as the Ocean of Chaos." Fi's lip quivered, unsure of how to respond to what she believed to be a compliment.

"Saying a demon's name…" she began, watching his mouth again, "…is like a charm." She finally returned his smile.

"Tell me more," he said.

"A demon's name is a spell," Fi told him. His brow lifted in feigned incredulity.

"Really?" he asked through his teeth. She nodded again.

"A spell that affects only some."

"And who would that be?" he asked a little louder.

"Anyone predisposed to…" She shuddered as he inched closer. "…that individual's influence."

"But most would be impervious, correct?" he playfully argued.

"Yes, but why take the chance?"

"Of not being able to free your mind of his image? Is that what you mean, Commander?" Fi's smile lessened.

"Do you know my name?" she asked.

"I do," he said. "I've heard you discussed many times."

"Is that so?"

"Mmhm," he affirmed.

"Are you as wary of speaking my name as I am of yours?"

"Don't be silly," he droned, looking away for a moment.

"Why not?" she asked, catering to humor. "Who's to say that an empyrean's name isn't as powerf—"

"I already know that it is," he interjected. Fi stiffened at his conviction. "It must be, judging by the number of times I've uttered it, and how often I've…" He ran his bottom lip between his teeth.

Fi felt a wave of warmth. She gave a soft gasp. Self-awareness tried to fight its way past her infatuation.

"Why did you come here for me?" she asked.

"That I might fly away with you," he said, taking her by surprise. She shook her head.

"What?" Fi's face contorted with confusion. "I'm your enemy. I've dedicated my life to the destruction of your race. Dozens of your people have died by my hand in these past months—"

"I don't care," he stated flatly.

"Many more have fallen in battles long past, because of me," she insisted.

"I am aware," he said.

"Hundreds," she said forcefully, vying for his unease. "Hundreds have succumbed because of me. You have killed my people. My…" Her voice cracked. Warmth returned to her, but for a different reason. "My friends. My comrades. People I've known since…" Her shoulders lowered as her face reflected her grief. "…Since the dawn of our sentience."

"It is fresh in your mind. I know."

"As it ought to be for you," she replied.

"It is but a game," he said quietly, carefully. "Do you not see it?"

"A game?" she asked, the heat lingering.

"Yes. War, battles, the clashing of realms, who wins, who dies… It is a game."

"It's not a game," Fi spat, gripping his hands. "You're…belligerent!" Her chest swelled with anger, but quickly deflated. Had she offended him?

She looked around. She suddenly felt the cold again. What was she doing here? Flirting with a demon?

Her breathing sped up. She felt disgusted. "You could've killed Za," she murmured to the ground.

"Pardon?"

"One of my men. A friend. He died in the field, cut up and drowning in his own blood." She gazed into the depths of the forest. "Who do you suppose will carry that message back home?" She turned to him again. "'Last time I spoke with him, a red froth was dribbling down his chin, both of his eyes were gouged out, his arms were severed, and he was mumbling and sobbing about not wanting to die. But, he sends his love'." The demon's face fell blank. "Do you consider that a game, sir?"

"I purely do as I am told by my superiors, by my king," he answered. "But my true loyalties lie elsewhere."

"Then you are a traitor," Fi said scornfully.

"You know nothing about me."

"Apparently," Fi quipped. "When did you decide to defect?"

"When I discovered that which has the potency to claim a loyalty as immovable as mine." His candor left her speechless for a moment. Still, she was uncomfortable. With the demon's clues becoming less and less subtle, she decided to end the rendezvous.

"This game is over," she said, turning away. She abruptly stopped as the top of her arm was seized. Shocked, she gaped at the forest floor.

"No," the demon said.

"Let go of me," she demanded.

"I need you," he said. She scoffed.

"Don't let your wanderings bring you this close to Hylia's realm again," she warned, pulling free.

Suddenly, she found herself skidding, spinning and colliding with the brawn of impenetrable arms. As one of the demon's hands gripped her hair, the other bound both wrists behind her back. Her hands instinctively lit, twisting, struggling and desperate. Her eyes were wide and frightened as two of her own reflections stared back at her.

"Please," the demon said breathily, "listen." Fi shook. She looked to the sky as she heard her name being called, but louder this time. She started to scream, but no sound was able to escape.

The demon's mouth swiftly covered hers, muffling her cry. A tongue, long and tepid, brushed the inside of her cheek as she felt the constriction of his lips. Her eyes opened even wider. The demon looked as astonished as she did.

"I'm not trying to hurt you," he said. Fi inhaled heavily. The mild scent of him was all around her.

"Then what are you doing?"

"I just want you to do something for me."

"Do something?" she asked. "What?"

"Say my name," he said. She grunted into his mouth and convulsed in his arms.

"I'm not saying anything! Let me go!"

"Don't you find it peculiar that we are able to connect like this?" he asked. She waited a moment.

"Please, just—"

"No," he inveighed. "You must answer me this."

"I… All right… Yes, it is peculiar."

"Then, please just do me the honor—"

"—of saying this for me," he said, pulling back. Fi's mouth gaped as she panted, grateful for the separation.

"Why?" she asked, her palms still alight.

"Because I have a hunch. And if that hunch is indicative of the truth, then I must ask something of you."

"What?" Fi asked, trying to catch her breath. She could scarcely believe what had just happened.

"That I will tell you afterward."

"I really need to leave," Fi stated. "This is…wrong."

"Will you do this for me?"

Fi's answer consisted of a twist and a pull. She glowered at the demon, leaning in the direction of the Sealed Grounds. The long flyaway hairs on his head wafted about, picked up by a frigid breeze. The air whistled through branches that were just starting to lose their leaves. A violent shiver formed in her spine before tearing through her.

"You're chilled," the demon said, looking her up and down.

"Of course I'm chilled. I came out here to find a friend, and instead stood here in the cold whilst my body temperature fell due to inactivity. No need to be a scholar to see that."

"I was simply calling attention to my concern for your well-being," he said.

"Concern for my well-being?" Not what she would have expected to hear from a captain of the enemy's army. The demon made no effort to defend his statement.

"Fi!" a familiar voice called. She turned toward the sound.

"Will you not say it?" he asked as she moved away. She slid to a stop, glaring into the trees.

"Will you leave me alone after?" she asked. She listened to the soft shuffle of his feet.

"If you wish."

Fi didn't have to see him to know how he appeared: motionless, ears rigid, eyes centered on her every move. She closed her eyes and breathed in.

"Ghirahim," she said in compulsion. The word flowed easily, and came forth louder than she had intended. It hung in the air and rang in her ears. It gave her a feeling that was simply…

Wonderful.

She opened her eyes. Time seemed to stop.

A change was taking place. A pleasant heat, stronger than what anger could ever hope to cause, spread from her chest to her limbs. Emotion engulfed her in that moment.

Fear. Amazement. Longing. A thousand deductions and a rush of reasoning. She had to make sense of it, to justify it… to reason it away.

In her contemplation he had sidled up to her. She didn't want to look up, but the sensation of his hands on her shoulders forced her to. The tingling increased with his touch.

At last, their eyes came together.

"As I suspected," Ghirahim said with a satisfied sigh. Fi's thoughts raced uncontrollably.

"How ridiculous my mind must look to you," she said quietly, her arms hanging down. The demon shook his head.

"Not at all," he assured her.

"Why do I feel like this?" she asked. "Have you…influenced me somehow? You are a magic user…"

"No," he answered.

"Why is this happening?"

"I knew when I saw you that day," Ghirahim said.

"You knew what?"

"That you are special, and that I had to pursue you."

"Me?"

"I am fascinated by you," the demon said, his voice heavy and sensual. "Were you not fascinated with me from the moment we met?"

"I don't…" Fi began.

"You must feel it more now," the demon said, his eyes hopeful.

"I…don't know what I feel…" Fi admitted.

"Commander!" someone called. A female voice. Fi tensed at the sound. What would her companions think if they saw her…?

"She is far off," Ghirahim said as if to soothe her. "Don't worry about her, or any of them."

"I need to go," Fi insisted.

"I need something from you." The demon's stare stilled her fidgeting.

"What do you need?" she asked, wonder veiling her face.

"I need what you need," he said, his hand rising. He dragged two fingers down her cheek.

"To leave with me. Now." His statement was so firm.

"Why? You're my enemy." She couldn't say it enough. "I just met you."

"Months ago," Ghirahim said. "How many hours have I occupied your thoughts? If it is even a fraction of the time that I have spent—"

"It doesn't matter," Fi countered. "You're not making sense. Why should I leave with you?" She gaped at him. "Who are you?"

"There are rumors," Ghirahim said, his expression changing. Fi's relentless calculations slowed down. "Whispers that I have been selected for a position which…"

"You don't wish to fill," Fi said on his behalf, immediately understanding.

"Yes."

"How do I, a soldier in Hylia's army, have anything to do with that, or with you?"

"Plenty," he said with a thick breath. Fi eyed his mouth again. "What are you looking at?" She looked up in surprise, embarrassed that he noticed. "I believe what you're thinking is, 'If his name alone is enough to induce such a feeling in me…'" He pulled her closer. "...'then what must it feel like to…?'"

He stopped. Fi just stared. He was right. Telepathy – it was a double-edged sword.

She shouldn't have been there, but she was. She shouldn't have been in the arms of her enemy, but she was. She shouldn't have been raising her hands to grasp his shoulders, but she was.

She tugged carefully, guiding him to her.

When they came together again, there was no more hypothecating. It was pure sensation.

It was nothing but heat, the scent of the forest, the slickness of armor, the sweet taste of the demon's mouth, the sight of his face that was much too close but not unwelcome—

Harmony and need. It spread from her lips to the rest of her body. It was overflowing…

If this was love, then it had completely blindsided her. She had never felt better. She wanted more of it; more of him.

It had been years since she had made love to a man.

The drive came upon her like a flood. Built-up anger and hidden bitterness over the injustices of the war crept up to join her growing desire. It was heard in her voice and felt in her hands as she unknowingly demanded the demon's affections.

He eagerly released them to her. As she pushed into him, he did the same, wrapping his arms around her. As her mouth filled with him, she embraced him harder. On her behest, he tightened his grip.

Back, back Ghirahim pushed her. Her feet skittered until she felt the coarse surface of a boulder press to her back. She breathed in sharply, startled. The pair's eyes opened together. Still holding his shoulders, Fi felt his hands run from her waist to her hips, taking a leisurely route around her backside. She sighed, enjoying his touch.

It was dangerous. It was forbidden. She just had to have more. Her breathing sped up, mirroring the demon's.

"Commander Fi!"

The voice was louder now. It invaded their space as Ghirahim thrust himself against her. She flinched. The hardness of his lower body hurt her.

Surely he felt as constricted as she did. Their clothing was in the way.

Her thoughts left the demon tentative about nothing. She could tell that he knew exactly what she wanted. It was what he wanted.

"Mmm," she groaned, urging his eyes to open again.

"Commander!"

"Ugh," she sighed, this time in frustration. The demon withdrew, his slightly disheveled hair hanging over his shoulder.

"You can go if you like," he told her, regaining his breath. With her head spinning, she dithered.

"Go?" she asked. He nodded.

"Yes."

"But…"

She wavered, caught between what made sense and what was undeniably farcical.

She couldn't decide whether she was thinking with her head, her heart, or her body. Maybe none of them. Maybe she wasn't thinking at all.

She noticed that he was starting to grin.

Who had the upper hand here? She grumbled inwardly, dissatisfied with herself.

"I think I will go," she said, keeping her face as blank as possible. Ghirahim grinned anyway.

"I would like to see you again," he said, his hands dropping to hers.

"When?" Fi asked without a second thought. Yet again, her own response left her dumbfounded.

"Soon. We've a matter to discuss."

"You mean, the matter of us flying away together?" She lifted a thin eyebrow.

"If you would, please forgive my overzealousness," he said, bowing his head. His striking smile never left.

Fi's heart beat in her ears as he stared at her, resolute and determined.

"I will come back for you," he said.

"Maybe you shouldn't," she replied.

"Do you desire it?"

She grinned at his word choice. She simply gazed, silently sharing with him her opinion on the subject.

"Very well, then," he said, turning to leave.

She witnessed his departure through the trees. Into the gloom of the woods he disappeared. It was almost as if he'd never been there. She stood in the void, pondering whether he actually had been or not.

When she heard her name once more, she cleared her throat, shook out her arms and stepped briskly toward the Sealed Grounds.

It didn't take long for her to be discovered. As soon as she emerged from the undergrowth, two frantic female soldiers ran up to her. The ecstatic jabbering and rapid-fire questions of the two empyreans went ignored as Fi was barraged by her own wonderings.

What she had just felt in the woods…in that secret little nook…was it…real?

"Are you questioning the validity of your instincts?"

As Fi's companions chattered on and pulled her to Hylia's Temple, she peeked over her shoulder. She expected to see a tall figure standing at the edge of the forest. But, no one.

"I question the validity of everything." She faced forward. She didn't expect the reply that she would receive.

"To question is one thing. But to place faith where faith is due is another." Fi smiled to herself.

"And to what do I owe my faith?"

"Keep an open mind, and you will find out."

"Hm…" Fi murmured, paying no heed to her high-strung comrades.

In no time at all, the small group circumvented the chasm and approached the foot of the temple. With their distracted friend successfully retrieved and disinterested in talking, the soldiers backed away.

Looking at the ground as she traversed a daydream, Fi stumbled upon the jarring sight of two familiar leather boots. She stared for a moment, her mind entertaining a new wave of concerns.

In time, her gaze came up, making a slow and steady climb from woolen pants to a green tunic. It came to a sudden stop as it crossed the face of the one before her.

Link stood with torso twisted and right hand poised to grasp the hilt of the sword perched on his back.

Fi couldn't tell whether he was about to unsheathe his weapon or if he had just put it away. Based on his position, he could have been doing either. The expression on his face certainly was not giving her any hints.

What she could tell with confidence, however, was that the venerable saying was true, if only in that moment: the eyes were indeed the windows to the soul.

And his soul was a pool of contrasts. It was whole, yet shaken from the events of the past year. It was unbreakable, yet cracked in places. Its edges were frayed. It was young in age but old in experience. He had seen far too much for someone so young.

He was innocent yet held the look of a grizzled man. His sidelong glance in Fi's direction made her nervous. It was as if he knew something.

Maybe he did. Perhaps he had seen her in the woods. Or maybe the vestige of the clandestine act showed on her face.

Fi sighed, convinced that logic and reason were dead-set on betraying her this evening. How could Link possibly know what she had just done?

She didn't feel like a scholar any longer. She felt more like a child who'd been caught sneaking away from a shameful activity…

No. I am empyrean. I answer to no human, she told herself, only making herself feel worse.

"Are you all right?" Link asked, his hand coming down to rest by his side. Now she would never know what he had planned to do with his weapon.

"Fine," she chimed. Link looked around, appearing on his guard.

"It isn't safe to go off alone," he said. "Not after what happened today. These woods are dangerous." Fi analyzed him, trying to read his intentions: to scold her, to make known his concern, or both. She decided on the first.

"I'm fine," she said again. Behind her orderly façade, she wrestled with her feelings. Guilt and a profound need for self-justification were among them. If Link knew, then she would have to explain herself. But, how?

And why was he the only one asking questions?

"Where did you go?" she asked, watching his head shift along with the topic. "I am well aware that these woods are dangerous, and that's precisely why I entered them tonight. You never came to dinner, so I started to fret. When a soldier told me that he'd seen you walk into the woods alone, I followed you. At least, I thought I'd followed you."

"I did go into the woods, but only for a few minutes," Link said. "I thought I' heard someone calling for me."

"Calling for you?" Fi asked.

"I could've sworn I heard my name," he said with a shrug. "Right after you left for the mess hall I searched the woods, but didn't find anyone. I thought that someone might've been injured, so I made my way to Faron Field."

"Did you find anything?"

"No."

"That's strange," Fi said. The pair watched quietly as a kikwi waddled past.

"I know. But I did come across an injured mogma on the path to the field. I helped him back to the temple. But when I asked him if he was calling for help, he said no."

"I see…"

"When I came back, all anyone seemed to know was that you'd gone off looking for me. It took us a while to figure out that you went into the forest. At that point, we started getting worried. A bunch of us grabbed our swords—"

"Yes, I heard my name being called."

"Some of us thought maybe you were kidnapped," Link said, looking down. "There're a lot of forest bokoblins around. The demon realm bokoblins are even more vicious. And the demons…" He fell silent as he looked into her eyes. "We thought that something bad had happened."

"Well, I'm fine," Fi assured him, holding her hands out as if to prove it. "We just kept missing each other. That's all." Link nodded. "I'm guessing you haven't eaten yet." He shook his head. "Well, come on." She wrapped an arm around him, mindful of the scabbard and shield which hung from his shoulders. "I'm sure there's still plenty to eat." Link slipped his hand under her cloak and around her waist, resting the crook of his arm against her.

Fi relaxed, convinced that Link knew nothing.

"I'm keeping my sword with me," he said, flipping the green tip of his protective headwear behind him. "The danger hasn't left yet."

….

The days succeeding the fall of the demons' leader contained no shortage of work for those in Hylia's army. Fueled by the satisfaction of a victory well-earned, the Goddess's soldiers bounded around, wholeheartedly completing whatever tasks they were given.

Most of the members of the surface tribes returned to their homes. Similarly, a portion of empyrean soldiers returned to their realm below the heavens, bringing with them their injured comrades. Several hundred stayed on the surface, however, committed to continuing the work of the Goddess. The war might have been over, but the labor of the soldiers was not.

As life on the surface entered a new phase, the atmosphere changed. Good had prevailed, and a new air of peace draped the land. More than ever, the people were happy to be there.

The dead were collected and prepared for burial in a designated area in the woods. The building of the Skyview Temple, a Deep Woods hideaway to serve Hylia for the remainder of her time on the surface, was well underway. The rebuilding of mogma villages near Eldin Volcano and kikwi communities throughout the forest kept throngs of men and women busy from dawn to dusk.

After observing the seemingly never ending busywork around her, Fi had to admit that the guarding of the Sealed Grounds was the most leisurely assignment she could have asked for. Naturally, she was disappointed when she heard that Link had turned down this stress-free job for a more hands-on task – freelancing between the multitude of building projects.

With varying jobs to do, Link was rarely around for Fi to talk to. But in the hours that he was there, she cherished him. The occasional dinner and infrequent conversation under a setting sun was what she would look forward to the most. Gradually, as more and more work was completed, their time together increased.

As much as Fi wished for him to take full advantage of his hard-earned right to unwind in Hylia's realm, she knew that he delighted in hard work. Nothing seemed to make him happier than to work with others toward a common goal, especially one that would reconstruct what had been unjustly taken.

Having had enough of sprinting from place to place, Fi gladly filled the post by the Sealed Grounds. It was solitary and uneventful. The demons had retreated to their own realm, leaving behind the devastation that their reckless king had caused. She would often look around and marvel, barely able to believe that such a bloody battle had raged in the very place that she now stood.

From time to time, when the sun was low and the darkness was gaining strength, she would hear Ghirahim's voice. Some days it was clear and robust; other days it was vague. She supposed that the vigor of it was correlated to the demon's nearness, or lack thereof.

It would explain the jolt that she would sometimes feel when the voice was loud and clear. It pranced through her head with an unmistakable vim.

At times, she was certain that long, pale fingers were going to coil around her shoulders. She could practically feel the warm mist of his breath as he whispered into her ear…

And the caress of his tongue as it flicked gently across her skin…

Then she would jump, immediately lurching back to reality, and nothing would be there; nothing but the carefree chirp of birds settling down in the peaceful gloaming.

As Fi stood guard, hours turned to days, and days to weeks. She began to wonder if the demon was ever going to come back like he'd said he would…

She was too preoccupied with him. Repeatedly, she reprimanded herself for it. But there was no denying how the voice in her head made her feel.

It was not only the voice, but the image of his muscular form. The sight of the handsome demon wasn't disagreeable in the least.

The most powerful of all, however, was not the voice or the image, but the name. It was strange how one word could jostle her the way that it did. This mysterious force held by the demons was odd enough in theory; when its effects were actually experienced, however, it was enough to boggle the mind…

Utilizing her ability to distinguish between genuine feelings and those of prurience, Fi kept considering the possibility that her reaction to the demon and her fixation on him translated to something bigger – perhaps love.

She had loved and lost many times in the past, but, every time, those individuals had been empyrean. Never before had the object of her affections been the member of an enemy tribe.

Circumspectly, and maybe a bit impishly, she would speak the eight-letter word just to feel its aftereffects. The pleasant sensation seemed to strengthen with every repetition and surge with every subsequent syllable.

The only person able to whisk Fi's thoughts back to where they belonged was Link. In fact, conversing with him was the only thing that kept her mind off of the demon, and their meeting in the woods—

Especially when the pair would idly discuss Skyloft and Empyrea, and their plans for the near future.

Fi might have never been involved romantically with a demon, but she had never committed herself to a human, either. Both prospects were bizarre in their own rights.

As the crisp autumn weather gave way to the frigidness of winter, the demon's voice showed itself less and less frequently. Yet, his image remained. Fi continuously thought about him. But, in terms of her endearment, Link was a force to be reckoned with, as well.

After all, this human was different than any she had ever encountered. Not only did he not require her protection, but he avidly offered his own. He was one of the first true human warriors, ushering in the start of a new era.

Not only that, but he was the kindest individual she had ever known. This in itself was enough to secure her fascination. His physical appeal was simply surplus. And – unless it was her imagination – the weeks seemed to be adding inches to his height.

The idea of a human and an empyrean in a serious relationship was deemed odd by almost everyone. In truth, any relationship – even one of a purely sexual nature – was considered strange. In comparison to a long-lived empyrean, a human was like a puff of smoke, here one moment and gone the next. It couldn't be helped that the wealth of experience of an empyrean far outmatched that of even the oldest and wisest of humans. Out of death's reach in Empyrea, its people had the promise of eternity; an infinite amount of time to learn, to improve, to teach, to love, to win, to lose, and to live. What could someone who had seen the equivalent of dozens of human lives have in common with one who considered reaching centenarian status the ultimate achievement? A mortal joined with a semi-immortal – to most, the only possible result was disappointment.

Yet, when Fi looked at Link, she saw an already great person maturing into something even better; something that broke down the barriers between races. Put simply, even to someone as accomplished as Fi, Link was worth it.

As the sun set on one of Fi's final days on the surface, she watched him come, returning from another arduous day of work in the woods. As always, his shield and sword toed the line along with him. Leaving the dense forest behind, he stepped into the golden light. Dust was kicked up, swirling amidst the rays as he lifted a hand to run his fingers through his hair.

With the shadowy chasm behind her, Fi patiently awaited him. It seemed to happen in slow motion. The tall grass parted as he walked, sending harmless insects flittering in every direction. Both hands went to his chest where they began unbuckling the straps slung over his right shoulder. Soon, his scabbard slid off of his back, bringing with it the heavy shield. With arms full of iron, his contented grin grew into a full-blown smile. He had seen her.

Excitement bubbled inside of her. It couldn't be helped. This was the most pleasant time of day. And, amazingly, this would be Link's second evening in a row back at camp; two consecutive nights off – unheard of. He was even in time for dinner.

Admiring that clever grin that he was so well known for, Fi smiled back. She inhaled, feeling something. She wasn't sure what. Her smile left her. Things were beginning to feel…different.

It wasn't a bad feeling. Her instincts were simply picking up on a change, and she was reacting to it. The end of the dark period carried with it the sort of environment that allowed for hindered relationships to bloom. It enabled that which was stalled to become what it was meant to be. Finally. The evidence lay in the sheer amount of soldiers who were now enamored.

As Link came to a stop in front of her, Fi pondered. The winds of change certainly hadn't left her untouched.

"I think you take your sword and shield off sooner every time you step out of those woods," she said. "I'm betting that next time you'll already have them off before I even see you." Link slipped his shield under his arm.

"There won't be a next time," he said, his forehead gleaming with sweat and one side of his face smeared with dirt.

"What do you mean?" Fi asked with a split-second of anxiety. Link chuckled.

"The forest villages are coming together a lot faster than we thought," he said. "Skyview is, as well. It's almost finished."

"I can't believe it," Fi said with a sigh. "A few weeks ago it was just a foundation."

"It's incredible. Built right beside that mountain-fed spring. There's a statue of the Goddess being sculpted right now. It looks exactly like her, too. They plan to put it right at the head of the spring, where the water flows in."

"Sounds beautiful," Fi said.

"It is. You'll have to visit it before we…" He stopped, giving them a few seconds to stare at each other. "…you leave, I mean." Fi nodded.

"I will," she concluded. She observed as he fidgeted with his scabbard. He hung it on his shoulder.

"I should get cleaned up," he said, peeling his gauntlets off of his hands. He stuck them in the pouch on his belt.

"Oh, yes," Fi said. She pursed her lips, holding back the questions that she wanted to ask.

"See you in the mess hall?" Link asked, starting to walk away.

"Yes!" Fi replied, half-stuck in thought. Link gave her a grin before marching southeastward to a nearby stream. She shook her head at her overly enthusiastic response. She looked down at her dark robe. A change of clothes was in order.

As soon as the nightshift guards arrived, Fi rushed off. Jogging eastward past the mess hall, she made her way to the tents.

Bypassing the wonderful aroma of whatever was being prepared tonight, she waded through a quarter of a mile of brush. Popping out on the other side, she entered an enormous clearing. Four long rows of tents stretched out before her, separated just enough to allow for room to walk, as well as for small fires and makeshift racks for hanging uniforms.

Following the first row, Fi walked until she reached the sixth tent – her home for the past year. She ducked, pushing through two flaps of cotton canvas. Once inside, she straightened, narrowly avoiding brushing the roof with her head. Being a captain, she was fortunate enough to have a sheepskin rug to spare her bare feet from the unforgiving ground. It was woven from the wool of the wild flocks that once made up the livelihood of the surface-dwelling humans. The animals that had escaped the carnage of the pre-war attacks spread themselves out among the fertile fields and forests to the south of the volcano and to the east of the desert.

Fi removed her boots for a moment to bury her toes into the lavish fibers. After scuffling through the tight space, she sat on her bed. The misshapen, straw-stuffed bag of linen was dreadfully uncomfortable compared to what she had in Empyrea; but, for most of Hylia's soldiers, it would have to do. More often than not, though, Fi would simply snuggle against her woolen rug to sleep.

But, right now, she was not here to rest.

Fishing through her wooden storage chest, she pulled out a comb. Running it through her long hair, she tried to decide what to wear.

According to what Link had said earlier, this was a special occasion. It deserved a nice outfit. Nice in comparison to her usual drab uniform, anyway.

She had two outfits from which to choose. Not a large selection, but suitable for a soldier on the surface. She had long ago given up hope that she would ever get the opportunity to wear her civilian clothes. This was rather thrilling.

After a few minutes' deliberation, Fi chose the fancier of the two ensembles: a form-fitting, emerald-hued, just-below-knee-length dress made of fine silken material, native to her empyrean city. She removed her blue cloak and robe, leaving the linen undergarment in place. She wriggled into the much thinner dress.

She peered down, running her fingertips under her collarbone, hoping that the top of the dress wasn't too revealing. It showed the very top of her chest, exposing only a hint of her modest breasts. She quickly determined that this was her only option, considering the alternatives. She shrugged, grabbed her cloak and slipped her shoes on. The leather boots didn't match her outfit, of course, but an array of shoes was not something she had at her disposal at the moment. If Link really wanted to see her at her best, he would have to come back to Empyrea with her.

With a little giggle over the coincidence of her choosing a dress that matched Link's tunic, she exited her tent and swung her cloak over her shoulders. Her smooth indigo hair caught the very last of the light. She watched her breath rise into the air, feeling the cold on her legs. Satisfaction settled on her face.

To her surprise, she was not the only soldier in her camp to leave behind her uniform for the evening.

There must be something about today, she thought.

Nearing the mess hall, Fi's stomach began to feel tight. Why was she nervous? Warmth from several fires and a hearty fragrance blanketed her, soothing her nerves.

She looked around. Contained fires blazed around the many tables, providing a much needed reprieve from the wintry cold. She shivered.

She looked for Link, but didn't see him. A sudden flashback of his disappearance from several weeks ago came to mind. She scoffed, brushing it off. How many times had they had dinner together since then? She had nothing to worry about.

Listening to the murmur of dozens of voices, Fi sat at a small table on the outskirts of the dining area. She rested her face in her hand and gazed into the nearby flames, transfixed.

Crackling and sparking, it kept her spellbound for several minutes as she waited. With each second that passed, she dazed, floating in a dreamlike state full of images of the young blond soldier. A smile played on her lips.

"Fi?"

Gasping, she bolted upright. Her soft purple eyes broadened. Rigid, she looked upon the person who had been occupying her thoughts all evening; or, more accurately, all year. She didn't say anything. Link leaned in.

"I just wanted to make sure it was you," he said. "You look different." Fi looked down.

"Oh," she said uneasily. "I thought I should wear something a bit more…elegant tonight." She gave him a demure look, hoping that he didn't take her honesty the wrong way. Humans were difficult to read sometimes…

The first thing he did was look down.

"I'm afraid I didn't have the same idea," he said with a regretful smile. His hands came up. "I'm not much in comparison to you."

"Are you kidding?" Fi asked without thinking.

"Um, no," Link said with a chuckle. He sat down next to her. Fi turned to him, tired of feeling silly about everything that was coming out of her mouth. She had never fretted excessively over every word like this, especially with a man. Now was certainly not the time to start. And, besides that, Link seemed amused by what she was implying.

She sighed. Perhaps it was time for a more direct approach.

"I've never seen you look bad," she said. "Especially in your uniform."

"What about after the fight at the Sealed Grounds?" he asked. "I looked pretty terrible then."

"Not at all," she said, scrunching her face a bit.

"You're just being polite."

"No, I mean it. You're…" Fi tapped her finger, not wanting to say the wrong thing. Coy was not the mask that she wanted to wear at the moment, either. No mask would be preferable. "Wonderful."

She swallowed. What did 'wonderful' have to do with how he looked the day of the Sealed Grounds battle?

According to the expression on Link's face, he was thinking. He also appeared flattered. Much better than what Fi was expecting to see – outright bewilderment.

So, she waited.

"I think you're wonderful, too," Link said, looking as pleased as Fi had hoped he would. Feeling a twinge, she made herself answer him.

"Thank you."

They proceeded to stare at the fire. People were darting to and fro all around them, but Fi hardly noticed.

"Um," Link said, breaking the silence, "we came here to eat, right?" Fi slowly shifted her eyes.

"Yes, we did." Link's expectant look was met with more silence from Fi. They gawked at one another.

My vocabulary is larger than most, Fi reasoned. Why is it so hard to find the right words?

"Maybe we should get our food," he said, his voice monotone. He seemed fixated.

"Yes," Fi repeated with a choppy nod.

"Or maybe we can go somewhere where there's less people," he suggested.

"Oh?" she asked, scanning their surroundings. "Aren't you hungry?"

"No, not really," he said.

"Oh…"

"Are you?" he asked. Fi shook her head.

"I suppose not…" she said.

Link nodded. She did the same.

"Well," he began, "I am hungry, I guess. But I just wanted to go somewhere to talk." Fi cracked a tiny smile.

"Me too," she said. They laughed together at their childishness.

"I think that makes us both liars," Link said.

"Perhaps," Fi said, relieved. She breathed in, surreptitiously relishing the way that the flames danced in his eyes. A breath that was heavier than she would have liked left her. Link rose to his feet. Fi looked up. He offered a hand.

"Want to go to the overlook?" he asked. Fi looked past him. Two empyreans at a neighboring table gave them an odd look. She refocused on him.

"I would love to," she said, taking his hand.

They promptly left the commotion of the mess hall. Fi glanced down as she was pulled, enjoying the feel of Link's hand as much as she had his eyes. She used her free hand to hold her cloak in place as it flew out behind her, the cold numbing her nose.

They quickly came upon the Temple of Hylia. Without a sound, they vanished into the foliage beside it. They followed the side of the building, practically running until they reached the edge. A glade opened up before them, displaying a scattering of trees before giving way to more forest.

A light squeeze to Link's hand stopped him. He looked back.

"Don't want to go to the overlook?" he inquired.

"Somehow, a high place affording a nice view doesn't sound terribly appealing at the moment…" Fi paused until he had turned to face her. "The view right here is…" Her eyes fell. "Just fine." She sensed his smile.

The two gravitated to the rear wall of the temple. They each rested a shoulder against the algid stone.

"It is breathtaking," Link said, laying the side of his head against the wall. Fi thought she saw him steal a glance at her chest. She tightened her fingers. When she took a peek herself, she saw that her dress had slipped down, exposing a more generous area than she was aware of. Her mouth dropped.

I hope he doesn't think I did that on purpose…

She cleared her throat, clinging harder to what covered her shoulders but left her chest bare. What she really wanted to do was adjust her dress, but Link was watching her…

"Why don't you just button it?" he asked, eyeing the part of her cloak that was being mashed in her hand. Fi's gaze came up.

"Oh, well—" But her sentence was cut off by the tender sweep of fingers across her chest. She let her arm drop as Link claimed each side of her cloak for his own, beginning to fasten it carefully below her neck. As he concentrated on his task, Fi stared at him, endeavoring to hold back the gasp that was threatening to erupt from her. As it was, her breathing was close to being erratic.

His hands tickled. It was a wonderful feeling. She had never been so grateful for a man's temporary lack of manual dexterity.

He couldn't seem to secure the button. Fi smiled as the tip of his tongue played at the corner of his mouth. Her own mouth gaped slightly as she studied his face. It twisted in thought. The harder he tried, the more he touched her.

She choked back a groan. Her eyes closed. She rocked on her toes and pulled her shoulders back, asking for more as imperceptibly as she possibly could. With her movement, the sides of Link's hands rubbed against her. There was no denying it – he had felt her breast.

Fi gave a little squeak. Link seemed to freeze in place. He stared at her chest as if he'd just set off a bomb.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, no longer fumbling with the button.

"No, it's fine," Fi breathed. Her warily excited respiring gained her another touch of his hand. As he was about to pull away, Fi took hold of his hands, pressing them to her. He looked up.

They stood quietly. Fi circled her palms against the backs of his hands. She could feel his toughened yet smooth skin against hers. Those hands – hardened by months and months of fighting – couldn't feel better. She curled her toes, wanting to feel more of the hands that had wielded the Master Sword for so long. They were special; unique. Stripped of leather gauntlets, they felt like they belonged on her.

Her eyes dropped again. She wondered what other forms of armor the young soldier had forgone under his fine-looking tunic.

"I'm not the best at buttoning things," Link admitted. Fi laughed.

"A strange irony, considering your extraordinary agility," she noted.

"I think it's my impatience. I'm also not the best at waiting for things…" They both grinned.

"Speaking of waiting for things," Fi said, "something's been pressing on my mind."

"What's that?"

"Your plans," she eked out, sidetracked by his touch. "I mean, what you plan on doing… Where you plan on going. Have you decided?" The scent of the forest swept past them on a breeze.

"I have," he said.

"Where will you go?" Fi asked rapidly. Her hands tautened around his.

"I plan on going to the sky." Fi gave a light sigh.

"I'm glad," she told him. "I've been so afraid that you'd choose the surface. Somehow I knew that you'd be happier elsewhere."

"The surface isn't for me anymore," he said. "Now that my village is gone…well, every village is gone, there's nothing here for me."

"Some of your people are planning on staying," she said. "Have you heard?"

"Yes. There's talk of a trip out west, to the desert. The 'wild frontier' is what they call it."

"Dozens of them are going," Fi added.

"Empyreans, as well," Link said.

"I thought maybe you would go with them."

"I might be more at home among other soldiers," Link said with a shrug, "but I think I need to leave this place."

"I understand."

"I'm surprised that they aren't heading to Empyrea," Link said. "Sounds much more hospitable than the desert. Especially with so many of the women being pregnant…" The conversation halted as the rather hitching topic was brought up. For the most part, people avoided talking about it. Fi nodded.

"I think they just want to make a fresh start somewhere," she said. "How accepted their children will be…" She shook her head. "No one can tell, you know?"

"I guess."

"They'll be okay." Link looked at their hands as more silence rose up.

"So…" he said softly. "What do you plan on doing?" His ears perked slightly.

"I…haven't made up my mind yet," she said, glancing away.

"No? You're not going back home?"

"Well, I will eventually," she said, dragging out the last word. She bit her tongue, hoping that he would catch her drift.

"All right, well…" Link said. "I don't know if I want to go to the sky, then."

"Oh? Why?" Fi's eyes grew.

"I do want to go to the sky, and all, but…" He gave her a stern look. "Only if you're going to come, too."

Thank the Goddesses…

Fi shut her eyes, feeling as though she may melt from the inside out.

"I don't necessarily need to stay there," Link said. "But I at least need to see what they've built, and how things are going for everyone."

"Definitely," Fi said.

"I'd love to see Empyrea, too… Experience your home…" His eyes shimmered.

"I'd be honored…" Fi tilted forward. "I'm so glad all of this is finally over."

"Me too," Link said, holding her hands tighter. He came nearer.

Fi swallowed. For approximately the tenth time, Fi's gaze made its way to Link's mouth, settling on his lips. They were inviting…

Oh, Din, if only I could… She blinked slowly. …See what he feels like…

Her eyes closed completely before she was able to see the look on his face. Each inched closer to the other. Fi opened her mouth just a tiny bit, and he did the same. She breathed in, anticipating the warmth and softness—

"Captain?"

The word rushed through Fi's head. She gasped loudly. Flinching, Link gawked at her.

"What is it?" he asked. She set her sights on the distant trees, whispering to herself.

"I had almost forgotten… How could I have forgotten about you?"