[REDACTED DUE TO RULES. REDACTED EXPLICIT SCENES ARE ON AO3]

The curtains were still drawn when Link woke up the next morning, at least to what he assumed was the morning. He had awoken from the deepest sleep that he'd had in months, and he wasn't disturbed by any visions or dreams. As he opened his eyes, his memories of the previous night came flooding back to him. Although he knew it was irrational, he considered that the previous night was an amazing dream.

He reached his hand forward, running his fingers over a warm body.

Rel was still lying beside him, though she was reading something now. On feeling his touch, she rolled over, meeting his bleary-eyed gaze.

"You're finally awake." she said in a hushed tone.

"Finally?" Link murmured.

"You've been asleep for around twelve hours."

"Really?"

"I thought you might have died at one point."

Unsure of why, Rel felt apprehensive and nervous now that he'd woken up. Her desire and longing were still present, aching harder than they'd ever had before. Like Link, she had her own irrational doubts. She found herself worrying that her feelings wouldn't be reciprocated.

Link, however, did not feel the same way. His hand came forward, brushing her stray hairs behind her ear. Rel leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as his fingers touched her skin. She still felt as though she was breaking some kind of rule, feeling the need to hide her yearning for him. Her fears were unfounded as Link made the first move, kissing her softly. Once again, she found herself at the mercy of her desire, climbing over him moments later.

Link pulled away.

"That fucking meeting." He groaned.

"The meeting?"

"I missed it last night."

"Oh-" Rel sighed. "I remember you said that."

"Apparently Dornan had something to say."

"That's the only thing I care about." Rel rasped. "I still stand by what I said."

Rolling off him, Rel stood up, giving Link a full view of her body. He watched as she threw on her clothing, making no secret of admiring her. Dismayed by her departure, Link conceded defeat and sat up in the bed.

"How am I going to explain this." Rel fretted. "I feel like a fucking idiot."

"Don't worry." Link reassured her. "I'll explain everything."

"I suppose we should get back…"

"Does that mean you aren't going to leave me?"

"Not for now." She smiled.

"I will dress reluctantly." Link groaned.

Standing back, Rel looked everywhere but at Link.

"Are you alright, Rel?" he asked concernedly.

"I don't know what to do in these situations. Usually, I would have gotten dressed before you woke up… Then I would never speak to you again."

Link laughed loudly. "Sorry."

"What do we do now?" Rel fretted.

"What do you mean?" he asked, pulling his boots back on.

"Do we just pretend that nothing has changed? She finally looked at him. "Was this just a one-time thing?"

"Do you want it to be a one time-"

"No."

Rel was standing in front of him a few moments later, slipping her arms around his neck.

"What time is it?" Link asked quietly.

"Almost midday. We should probably get back. I'm sorry if I've gotten you in trouble."

He followed her lead, resting his head against her before running his hands around her waist. She surprised him by sitting down on his lap.

"What's another day?" Link asked slyly.

"Could I kiss you?" She burst out. "If that's alright."

"You don't need to ask."

She pushed him down against the bed, kissing him passionately.

"How much time do we have? She whispered.

"How much time do you need?"

After spending another night in each other's embrace, they prepared to leave the following morning, hoping to get to the next village before the weather became too hostile to travel through.

Link had a second night of undisturbed, dreamless sleep and felt ready to conquer pretty much anything that could be thrown his way. The only thing he was looking forward to on his return was fresh clothing. Everything else seemed burdensome and difficult, especially the idea of even more meetings.

He knew that Zelda would be upset that he wasn't present for her discussion and for that he felt guilty. Link knew he would need a very good reason for his non arrival and he hoped that Zelda wouldn't question it. Both he and Rel were painfully aware that they would have to rehearse whatever story they came up with and get their facts straight. How they would explain themselves to everyone, they hadn't thought about yet.

Insisting that she needed fresh air, Rel stepped outside, leaving Link to settle the payment for the room. He laughed to himself, guessing that she had no intention of paying for it, given that she was planning on escaping on a ship once the snow eased.

The woman innkeeper was standing behind the counter, filling out the ledger, as she had on the night Link arrived.

"You stayed longer than expected." She observed cynically. "And here I was thinking that you would need your own room."

Link shrugged. "Do you have my sword?" He asked, trying to change the subject.

"I kept it safe and sound."

She bent down behind the counter, lifting the heavy sword from its hiding place. She placed it squarely on the flat surface. Link reached his hand forward. A moment later, she pulled it back toward her.

"It would be a shame if someone were to have seen a knight with a female guest." She smiled sweetly. "Its not a good look for someone who represents royalty."

"How do you know I'm a knight?"

"Your jewelry. From out west, aren't you?"

"You're observant."

"I know."

Remembering what another innkeeper had said to him a few nights back, Link spoke.

"I know Ben."

The innkeeper's face changed completely. Her stern expression morphed as a softened smile crept onto her lips. She slid the sword across the counter willingly.

"You do? Why didn't you say anything?" She beamed. "You won't need to worry about anything, Mr. Hylian."

Link slid the rupees across the surface. As he looked down, he noticed a small coat of arms decoration hanging off the counter. It was a simple dagger and shield combination, though it looked off balance. He would have expected a second dagger to even it out.

His eyes traced the pattern of the dagger. It was familiar to him, and he couldn't place where he'd seen it before.

"See something you like down there?" The woman asked sarcastically.

"Nothing." Link paused. "Your decoration seems unfinished."

She leaned over the counter and sighed. "There used to be two daggers."

"Two?"

He squinted. After a moment, he remembered where he'd seen it before.

"It's a shame-" The woman continued. "It went missing in the first week of summer."

Link choked on his own laughter as the woman gave him a strange look.

"I guess you and your love made up." She said, breaking Link out of his laughing fit. "Won't you get in trouble for that?"

"If I cared, would I be out here?" He countered.

"You're a smart man."

On exiting, Link noticed that the sky was still dark and gloomy, though it appeared that the wind gust had eased. His eyes searched around until they landed on Rel, her cloak and hair standing out as a stark contrast against the white snow and grey ocean.

She stood a short walk away, where the earth became sand. The snow stretched out across the entire beach, only stopping where the waves lapped at its edge.

Her arms were folded as Link approached gingerly, joining her in watching the waves. It was as equally calming as it was hypnotic.

"You look worried." Link observed.

"I still feel like a fucking idiot." She sighed. "And I don't want you to be reprimanded."

"I don't care if I'm being honest." Link shrugged. "I can go as slow as you want."

"I don't want to go slow."

"Sounds good to me."

Rel's gaze shifted to the horizon.

Feeling bold, Link wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into a warm embrace. She relaxed as her back sat flush against his body.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked her gently.

"Home."

They retrieved the horses from the stable as Link led the way back.

Despite what he'd observed during their journeys together, Link was surprised to see that Rel was a competent rider. She could see him eyeing her curiously as they moved onward.

"She knows me." Rel shrugged, gesturing to Dornan's horse.

The journey back took less time than Link would have expected, the absence of the wind gust and heavy snow being responsible. Link found himself worrying despite the clear weather. Even with the absence of falling snow, he still worried about the horses. It was bitterly cold at night now. He urged Rel to ride for a little longer, knowing that they could stop at another inn.

As expected, they reached Ben's inn by nightfall.

As they entered through the front door, Ben greeted them with a smile. It took him a few seconds to recognize Link.

"You're back!" He shouted at Link, frightening Rel in the process. "I thought you had either given up or left on the ship!"

He scampered around the counter, patting Link on the shoulder. Ben then proceeded to get close to Rel, surveying her face.

"You must be Ren." He muttered to himself. "He's right. Really pretty… Tall tough."

"Ren?" Rel asked Link, feigning anger. "Who is Ren?"

"I have a room available tonight! Lucky you!" Ben grumbled as he ran off, returning a short while later with a key.

Using his arms, Ben ushered them into the dining room. Sitting them down at the table closest to the fire, Ben came back with three mugs. Link knew that he was about to be engaged in a long, entertaining conversation and he hoped that Rel wouldn't be put off by it.

She was happy to sit patiently and quietly, waiting for the men to have their conversation. She was admittedly entertained by their chatter, though she felt too exhausted to participate.

When they finally got to bed, Rel seemed frustrated, and it wasn't difficult to figure out why. She wanted to make the most of their time together, knowing that they were so close to being back to reality. Link made sure to hold her close until the morning, wondering how they would move ahead once they arrived home.

They reached the castle town walls by late afternoon the following day. As they approached, Rel started to feel sick, knowing that she wouldn't be able to hide her shame and embarrassment forever. She insisted on covering her face with her hood, though she couldn't tell Link who she was hiding from. Link suggested that Rel could visit Telma, but she insisted that she wanted to get home right away.

Link stowed the horses before meeting Rel at the stairs that led to their home.

On opening the door, Link and Rel were greeted with a pitch-black room. With only a few hours of sunlight left, Rel gingerly stepped toward the nearest window, wanting to enjoy the remaining light. She threw open the drapes, light pouring in.

Like a horrifying undead creature, Dornan sat bolt upright on his favourite lounge chair, rising out of the blackness.

"Where the fuck have you been?" He shrieked at Rel.

Rel jumped as she looked at the owner of the voice.

Covering her head with the hood again, Rel scampered toward the direction of her room. Dornan was too fast for her, grabbing her arm.

"You didn't answer me!"

"Dornan just let her go." Link said calmly.

"And you!" He snapped at Link. "Sit down at the table!"

"Alright." Link muttered, scared by Dornan's tone.

Taking the chair at the end of the table, Link sat down, folding his arms in front of himself.

With his hand still gripped around Rel's arm, Dornan sat her down in one of the chairs before quickly taking the one beside her. His pipe was lit within seconds. He took a long drag, slowly shifting his glare from one to the other.

Neither Link nor Rel said anything, silently hoping that the other would speak first.

Dornan breathed out a thick mist of smoke.

"Where. The fuck. Have. You been?" He enunciated, taking his time to place emphasis and venom on every word. He glared snapped to Rel. "What do you have to say for yourself, Aurelia?"

Rel shook her head.

"Cat got your tongue?" Dornan jeered. "That's unusual for you."

"I brought back your horse."

"You better have!"

Leaning down, Link rested his face on his folded arms. He felt like a child that was being reprimanded by a parent. Dornan turned his attention to Link after seeing him move out of the corner of his eye.

"And what do you have to say for yourself?"

"I brought Rel back." He explained.

"I can see that. I can also see that you are almost three days late!"

Link recoiled at his tone.

"That meeting went well by the way." Dornan spat out, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "It was so nice having to explain your absence."

"How did it go?" Link piped up.

"How do you fucking think it went?" Dornan snapped. "Then I had to sit there and explain to Zelda that she's about to be driven out of that castle and I do not think there is a thing that can be done to stop it."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a usurper in the court. The red head." Dornan shrugged.

"Can we do anything to stop it?"

"I already said we cannot! The entire court is under his spell."

"We need to think of a plan."

"You don't fucking say!" Dorna shouted. "That's what that discussion was for!" Dornan pinched his nose and hissed out a breath. "I will fill you in on everything- I just need time."

Rel saw this as an opportunity to leave. She turned in her seat, looking at the clear line between there and her room.

"I suppose I should get some rest." Rel spoke as she tried to stand up. "I've been travelling for a while now."

With a firm hand, Dornan pulled her down by the shoulder. She didn't even try to struggle.

"Don't even get me started on you." Dornan paused. "You are a disgrace."

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry? Is this another act, Aurelia? You claim to be no good at the singing and the dancing, yet you are the most dramatic girl I've ever seen in my life!"

Dornan mimed a crown, pretending to place it on Rel's head.

"Here's your crown your majesty! Queen of the theatre!"

He aggressively waved his arms in Rel's face. She returned the gesture by slapping his arms away.

Watching them about to engage in another slapping or screaming fit, Link felt the need to intervene.

"And she's back now, does it matter that much anymore?" Link asked, trying to distract him.

"Does it matter!? You need to get up to that castle first thing in the fucking morning and explain yourself to Zelda. I suggest you both decide on a story and stick to it. Rehearse it more than anything you've rehearsed in your lives!"

Dornan stopped, taking another long drag.

"What is your story anyway?"

Rel tensed. She shrugged.

"Well, I guess you should probably start talking it out now! I had to sit in that meeting and try to convince them that you two weren't off fucking each other-"

Link and Rel made eye contact briefly. Dornan, ever so observant, caught the end of it.

"What was that look?" He asked.

"What look?" Rel spluttered.

Dornan looked at Link. "You look well rested."

"I had a good sleep."

His eyes drifting away, Link tried to zone out of what was happening. Dornan leaned toward Rel, until he was right in her face.

"That look."

The room became eerily quiet. Without turning away from Rel, Dornan pointed directly at Link.

"You, go to bed."

"Alright." Link mumbled as he went to his own room.

The sound of his door closing echoed throughout the walls.

"What happened?" Dornan whispered, his tone changing to that of a friend.

"Nothing." She shot back, her own voice hushed.

"Were you careless?"

"What could you possibly mean?"

"Were you trying to get back to Holodrum?" Dornan smirked.

"You know I was."

Dornan smiled devilishly. "I see, so what did he do to convince you to stay?"

Rel shifted uncomfortably in her seat before giving Dornan a shrug.

"You are not allowed out of my sight." Dornan goaded her. "First you, now Fienna."

"Is that all?" Rel asked calmly.

"No." Dornan inhaled. "I am staying here tonight."

"Why?" Rel burst out. "You don't need to!"

"Oh, I think I do. I saw that look."

Dornan set up a makeshift bed for himself in the loungeroom, giving him a full view of both the bedroom doors. After dismissing Rel and also sending her to bed, he stayed up, reading some books that Auru had managed to smuggle out of the archive.