Chapter 1

Dark. Everything was dark. Zelda looked around she saw it.

Ganon.

No no no no… Zelda thought, no this can't be happening. Link and I sealed him away! Oh… no.. that never actually hap

"Zelda!"

Zelda's thoughts were interrupted by a strangely familiar voice.

"Zelda, wake up!"

Zelda shot up, shaking vigorously, cold sweat on her brow. Link looked down at her, concerned for her well-being. Zelda looked around, realizing it was only a nightmare, and memories of the nightmare came rushing back. The dam broke down, as she flung herself into Link, capturing him in a tight embrace. Link, for the second time that day, did his best to comfort her.

"I'm sorry… I saw… him…" Zelda whimpered, "It was… so… real..."

Link said nothing in response, causing Zelda's mind to start racing with thoughts.

Is he irritated by me? Does he wish he could just ditch me here and go back out to the wild? Does he not remember how close we were?

"You know," Link began softly, "I get them too. The nightmares. Only for me, the guardian was aiming at you, not me, and it killed you. I watched you die, and I was hopeless to stop it."

Zelda looked up at Link, locking her eyes with his deep cerulean ones.

"Sometimes I wonder, why us? Why did this have to happen to us? All our friends… our families… your memories… everything." Zelda said, voice breaking.

"Think about it like this," Link began, "if any of this never happened, then we wouldn't have met, and I wouldn't have a best friend."

Zelda just at that moment, realized something. This is the most he has ever spoke to me. Ever! The thought brought a small smile to her face, and Link looked obviously confused by it.

"Wait… where are we?" Zelda asked, out of curiosity and also to try and change this depressing topic.

"Nowhere really. When you fell asleep, I thought it best to start making way to Dueling Peaks stable. We are still somewhat in Hyrule Field at the moment" Link said as he began setting up a small camp.

Zelda watched as Link moved around their small encampment, clearing out an area, setting up a bedroll, starting a fire, shish kabobbing mushrooms and meat, everything he seemed to do, he did with so much grace, Zelda pondered. It's quite an attractive trait.

Realizing where her mind had wandered, she pushed the thought aside trying to hide the growing blush from Link. Link, much to Zelda's relief, didn't seem to notice.

"I have set up a small bed for you, your highness." Link said, putting up his stoic wall again, which Zelda noticed immediately.

No. We can't be doing this. After all we went through, Link still puts up his stoic exterior! I won't do with it anymore.

Zelda took a deep breath, going over the conversation in her mind.

"Link, we need to talk." Zelda began. Link looked over to her curiously. "Link, I want you to know you can be yourself around me. You don't need to put up your stoic wall around me. Please… just… be yourself. I can't bear to think about you shutting everything inside because you think you still must follow those oaths and vows you made all that time ago. Those oaths and vows died with the kingdom. You don't have to come with me if you don't want to."

Link started blankly at her. She tried to look him in the eye, but she couldn't stand the intensity of his gaze. All doubts she had were washed away when she saw him smile. A genuine smile. Small, but genuine.

"I'm not here because it is my duty to protect you, princess." Link began softly, "I'm here because I want to protect you."

Surprised by his response Zelda tried to collect her thoughts only to have them intruded by a very brash thought. Does he see me more than just his friend? Zelda brushed the thought aside, getting an idea.

"Link, drop the formalities. From now on call me Zelda. Please. There is no kingdom to be princess of anyways." Zelda asked, her voice getting softer as she spoke.

Link seemed taken back by the request, but he nodded his head in acknowledgement.

"Then say it."

"Pardon?"

"My name. Say it."

Link hesitated, but seemed to resolve his inner conscious.

"...Zelda." he said softly, looking her dead in the eye. "Your name is Zelda."

Zelda about jumped with joy, a smile spreading across her face, confusing Link even more. It was then that she noticed how famished she really was.

"Um… is the food ready?" She asked sheepishly. As if on cue, her stomach growled and then a strange unfamiliar sound echoed through the camp.

Laughter?

She looked at Link and saw him laughing. Link! Laughing! At what though? Oh... Oh… he's laughing at me… Zelda's cheeks started to take a dark shade of pink as she pieced the puzzle together.

"Of all the times you choose to laugh it's at me" Zelda stated sternly but with playfullness in it.

Link, who seemed taken aback by the sound coming out of his mouth, tried to regain himself, only to drop one mushroom skewer into the fire while spinning it over the fire. Link again seemed surprised by his clumsiness, backed away from the fire. At this point in time, Zelda was laughing so hard she was having trouble breathing.

"I… um… I'm going to go get a few more mushrooms..." Link stated, still confused on what was going on. Link picked up the Master Sword and his Hylian shield, and went off into the woods, promising to be back shortly.

A few minutes later, Link arrived with some mushrooms and a small bundle.

"What's that?" Zelda asked, curious on what was in the bundle.

"A present." Link said plainly, and seeing Zelda's eyes widen in surprise, he sighed. "Yes, it's for you, and no, you can't open it yet."

With dinner finished, Link set out four kabobs, two for each of them, both containing hylian shrooms, prime meat, salt and hylian herb. Zelda about squealed with joy when she bit into the kabob.

"This is amazing Link! When did you learn to cook like this?" Zelda squealed.

Link's cheeks took a dark shade of pink at her compliment. "I uh… kinda just… k-knew how..." he stated, obviously somewhat flustered. He just hoped the soft glow of the fire helped hide it. Minutes passed in comfortable silence as they ate away happily.

"So about earlier," Zelda said, putting the silence to an end. "Do you promise to be yourself by me?"

"Yes" Link stated hastily, not missing a beat.

"Well that settles it!" Zelda said happily, noticing a strange twinge in her chest. It was a strange feeling, but not unpleasant. Not in the least.

A/N: Well here is the first main chapter! Next chapter is when the good Zelink fluff will start to pick up. Expect it to be out in the near future. Again, constructive criticism is ALWAYS needed.

Now:

Thank you AndrewInevitable for your review! Your words mean a lot :)

Bye!