Link and Zelda were now approaching the long bridge of Lake Hylia when Link remarked,
"Stay back here, there are several Lizalfos near that old fountain. I'll take care of them."
Link ran forward and started fighting the Lizalfos. It wasn't too difficult, since the Master Sword took them out in one hit. As he was fighting, he suddenly heard the familiar laugh of a Yiga archer, but it quickly moved around. Link figured he would just deal with him afterwards, like he had always done. Link had killed all the Lizalfos and the Yiga archer finally appeared before him, so he dealt with him quickly. The bridge was now clear of enemies, so he turned towards Zelda saying,
"See, no proble…"
But Zelda was no longer standing where she was. She had collapsed on the ground. Link quickly ran to her side with a panicked expression. Once he arrived, he saw it. Zelda had taken an arrow to her back. Link froze at the sight of it. Now holding Zelda, he regretted so much of what he had done—telling her to stay put, not making sure she was okay sooner—and worst of all—not even considering that she would be in danger of the Yiga archer. He knew before that he couldn't be without her again, but for her to die so soon at his own fault would lead to a lifetime of regret.
'A lifetime without her,' Link thought to himself, bowing his head and closing his eyes as tears landed on Zelda's golden hair.
"It is my pleasure." Link heard a voice say. He had heard that voice before, but he couldn't pin it down.
"Link? What's wrong? Are you…crying?"
Link was surprised to open his eyes to an awake Zelda.
"What happened," Zelda said as she sat up.
Suddenly realizing that his arm was still around her shoulder, he promptly took it away and tried to speak,
"Uh…I don't know…you…and I…and then…"
Link opened eyes wide and whispered,
"Mipha's grace."
"What?" Zelda asked, not fully understanding. Link's eyes were now full of sadness and something else she couldn't identify. He took her hand and spoke,
"Zelda…you took a hard hit…an arrow to your back…and somehow…I think you were brought back by…Mipha's healing power…but the one she gave me…" Link looked down at his own hands and continued,
"If I just hadn't been so careless…I'm sorry, Princess."
Link looked up at Zelda and said, "It's all my fault…I put you in danger I…" Link stopped when he noticed Zelda's expression. She was smiling, not a small little grin, but a beautiful, genuine smile.
"What?", Link asked, "I said princess, didn't I?…I'm sorry, Zelda…Is that not it?…What?"
"Link, it's okay…you saved me…thank you."
Zelda kissed him on the cheek and stood up, walking towards her horse. Link sat there for a moment, amazed, yet unaware of the blushing on his cheeks.
"Well are you going to sit there or are we going to get going?", Zelda asked, trying not to laugh.
"Right", Link said as he stood up and mounted his horse. As they rode together across the bridge, Zelda couldn't help but think to herself, 'Was he looking at me with love?', until thinking, 'How could he love me?'