Disclaimer: I do not own the Legend of Zelda Series or its characters. I also do not own "Beauty and the Beast", "Les Miserables", or any other musical or piece of music mentioned in this story. This story is purely for entertainment purposes only.

Thank you again for all of your support and feedback! It fills my heart with joy knowing that people are enjoying this fanfiction! Feel free to continue to send reviews my way! Without further ado, here's chapter 42! Enjoy!

Chapter 42: Reminiscing

Link's POV

That next morning I awoke in our room in the inn and glanced at Thomas and Gregory still fast asleep. Not all was quiet, though, for it was last night that I discovered that Thomas has the most obnoxious snore! Like the rumbling of Death Mountain it drew my attention so much that I struggled a bit to sleep last night. I turned myself and got out of bed, rubbing my eyes. I stretched and yawned, feeling a satisfying pop in my back. I stretched both arms across the opposite shoulders and then rolled my shoulders. Good stretch! I chuckled to myself. I walked over to my bags in the room and got dressed. I then grabbed my communication orb. 6:15am…I looked back at them still fast asleep. Hopefully those two wake up soon; I can't wait to start heading home today! I walked out of the room with my communication orb so I didn't disturb them while calling Sally. She answered. "Good morning, my love."

"Good morning, sweetheart." I replied. "Sorry if I woke you."

"You can wake me anytime." She paused and I heard a yawn. "I love to hear from you. How's your mission going?"

"We actually already finished the mission last night." I said warmly.

"You did?! That's great to hear!"

"When the gentlemen I'm with wake up we'll get ready to make our way back to Hyrule." I laughed.

I could hear her sigh. "That makes me so happy."

"This had to have been one of the easiest missions I've ever been on." I huffed.

"Are you bothered by that?"

"Well…no…I'm bothered by the fact that the King felt the need to send these two with me." I hoped she would drop the subject; I didn't want her to know the exact reason and the expectations being placed on us.

"Why did they send those two with you this time?" She asked.

"Uh…well…to…uh…guarantee my safety…" I mumbled nervously.

"I'm thankful they are doing that. Anything to ensure that my man comes home to me is something I'll always support!"

I slapped myself in the face, feeling like an idiot. Here I am feeling annoyed over extra help and "protection" and she's just thankful that I'm safe. I blushed. "You're right, Sally…"

"What about?"

"I wanted to be annoyed by the whole thing because I felt I could have easily completed this mission by myself, but I'm thankful that this mission wasn't as risky and that I'll get to come back to you so soon."

"I can't wait!" She whispered. "As soon as you get here I'm going to take you somewhere quiet and make out with you!" I audibly gasped, turning bright red. "Oh. Is that okay?" She asked.

I didn't want her to think she said anything wrong. "Yes!" I almost shouted. I took a deep breath and calmed myself down. "Of course it's okay, sweetheart. I was just really surprised and quite frankly, extremely happy that you said that."

She sighed with relief. "I'm glad it makes my smashing hero happy." My heart skipped a beat at how she emphasized the word.

"Oh, Goddesses I can't wait to come home and make out with you, my enticing songbird!"

She giggled. "You should hurry home!"

"I will, my love." I murmured in a low voice, attempting to sound sultry. "I'm coming for you, beautiful, and I hope you'll be ready for me."

It worked, for I heard a gasp and tittering. "I'll always be ready for you!"

I smiled. "Good. I'll be home soon. I love you."

"I love you, too."

I ended the conversation and turned off my communication orb. I clenched my fist and shook it. "Yes!" I whispered. I couldn't help but feel proud of myself for making her sound so infatuated.

I walked back in the room and saw that Gregory and Thomas were awake and packing their bags. They were already in their knight's garb as well. I went to put my communication orb away. "Did you talk to your fiance, Sir Link?" Gregory asked.

"Yes." I answered shyly.

He grinned. "I'm sure she's looking forward to having you home."

I smiled back at him as I started to pack the last of my belongings. The three of us checked out of the Inn and left town, mounting our horses for the journey back to Hyrule. We rode and casually chatted for a couple of hours, all three of us feeling satisfied with the mission. After a while we rode in silence and I got lost in thought. It's amazing how fate changes life so unexpectedly. I felt the late morning sun and took a deep breath, beginning to reminisce on parts of my life. To think that it wasn't long ago that I had no idea who she was; or her father for that matter. I thought back to a little over 5 years ago when Hyrule was in the middle of Ganon and Zant's torment.

Zelda, Midna, and I were talking with each other in the tall tower of Hyrule Castle where she was isolated from the world. She had revealed who she really was to us for the first time and explained why Hyrule had come to be covered in Twilight. Zelda sighed. "The initial attack claimed the lives of 30 townspeople, including children. It's been a horrifying time for our kingdom."

"This isn't good." I huffed angrily. "All of the townspeople have to be terrified, I mean, they could easily fall in the line of fire again. How do we protect them all?"

"They don't dare venture out now." She replied. "Many are hiding within their homes, but during the Insurrection of the Kingdom quite a few citizens of Castle Town actually fled for fear of their safety to the outskirts of Hyrule. I've heard that they don't intend to come back anytime soon, intending to make a settlement in the woods."

"So they chose to just start over?" Midna asked.

"Yes." She replied. "At least it's summertime, but camping long-term while establishing a village certainly doesn't sound pleasant."

"Yeah." I looked down, and then back up at her. "It's awful. This whole situation. Ganon has to be stopped!"

"Yes." She nodded. "I don't want any more citizens to cower in fear or feel the need to flee for their lives."

"You Hylians sure complicate things with violence and unnecessary bloodshed." Midna smirked. "You'd think you'd learn to conduct yourselves more peacefully."

"That's the hope, isn't it?" Zelda said poignantly. We concurred with her statement.

I then remembered a conversation I had with Princess Zelda in front of the Twilight Mirror, shortly after Midna returned to the Twilight Realm. By that time, it had been a month since peace had been restored to Hyrule, but tensions were still high.

I had begun going on missions for the Royal Family, mostly to quell civil disputes that were arising. I had already begun to work in collaboration with other knights and swordsmen in Hyrule as well. "Thank you again for all that you've done for your country, Link." Princess Zelda slightly bowed her head.

I bowed further out of respect. There was momentary silence as I rose from my position, making eye contact with her. "I won't lie, though…part of me feels terrible about all of this. All of the destruction, the lives lost, the lack of confidence in safety. There's so much that has been physically and emotionally damaged for the people of Hyrule."

"Indeed." She replied. "But not all hope is lost. There is some good news among all of this, Link."

"What's that?"

"Do you remember when I told you about the group of people from Castle Town who fled to the outskirts of Hyrule?"

"Yes." I said. "I do remember. What about them?"

"They have established a new village near Ordon Village, and they seem to be thriving." She smiled. "They're calling it Eldinaire Village."

I grinned. "I'm glad to hear that."

"There are a couple of swordsmen in Eldinaire Village that I'm sure you'll get to work with soon."

I remembered going on my first mission with Curtis just a few months after that. There was a very dangerous assassin on the loose that had already managed to kill over 20 people, so Curtis and I were assigned to work together to eradicate him.

I looked at the man trotting on his horse in front of me. He had to have been at least 25 years my senior. He obviously has to be good; there has to be a reason he was chosen to work with me. We stopped at the entrance to Eldinaire Village as he needed to grab some additional supplies from home. "I'll head in on my own, Sir Link." He dismounted his horse.

"Would you like me to come with you?" I asked.

"That probably wouldn't be wise." He chuckled. "Let's just say that one of my two children is a huge fan of yours. I don't want to cause a ruckus or embarrass you."

"Oh." I laughed, scratching my head. "Haha! I suppose that's a good call. I'm not used to being a 'celebrity' yet, I guess…"

"A title well-deserved." He smiled at me. "If you'll excuse me." I nodded and he unlocked the gate, walking into the village as I waited outside on Epona.

After around 20 minutes, he came back out. "Alrighty! I'm stocked up on deku nuts and red potions." He threw something in my direction. "Catch!"

I held my hands out and caught a burlap sack that was tied. "What's this?"

"Homemade pork jerky from my family's farm. I thought I'd share some with you."

"Thank you." I opened the bag and took a bite. It was salty, but delicious. "Man, that's good!"

"It's all courtesy of my pigs!" He gave me a thumbs up while cracking a smile. "My kids have been very involved in raising them with me. I think we may someday sell some of this jerky in Castle Town."

"I'd be a happy patron!" I answered gleefully, taking another bite.

"Good!"

We trotted for a while towards Kakariko village, saying nothing to each other. "You said that you have two kids?" I asked, trying to get to know him a little.

He turned his face to me as we pressed forward. "Yes, I have two daughters."

I chortled. "I'm sure that's a handful!"

"You could say that." He burst out laughing. "They bicker with each other quite a bit, so needless to say it makes my life interesting!"

"Haha!" I shut my eyes from laughter.

His expression was more serious. "I heard that you're an only child that was orphaned at a young age…I…I can't imagine what you've been through."

I smiled slightly, a twinge of pain still in my heart. "It is what it is." I looked back at him. "At least Rusl and his family took me in. They have been so good to me."

"A man from your village, I'm guessing?" He enquired. "Or did you move there from Castle Town or something?"

"A man from my village." I answered. "I've lived there all my life."

"I see…" He said, his voice trailing off.

We continued on our adventure for a couple of weeks and grew closer to one another. I had never asked him any more about his family, figuring it was none of my business. There was one point in our mission that was quite perilous; we had cornered the assassin in the Sacred Grove and the rumors were true, he was incredibly fast and skilled. We were fighting him two-to-one and he was still quite difficult to defeat. I could tell Curtis was getting tired; we had been fighting him for three hours straight, after all. I was favoring a slash to my leg, but thankfully it wasn't too deep. Curtis had been severely beaten and knocked to the ground, struggling to stand up. He was on his hands and knees and wobbling. He finally collapsed. My eyes shot to him in alarm, thinking to myself: He's taken on too much damage! "Stupid old man!" The assassin cackled. "I'll kill you and then it'll be easier to take care of Mr. Hero here!" I hustled to Curtis as the assassin was about to stab him as he laid on the ground. CLANG! His sword hit my shield with great force, causing me to stumble. He slashed at my bicep and I screamed in pain, blood dripping from my arm.

"Link!" Curtis shouted.

"Damn, that hurt!" I cried out, turning to Curtis as I winced. I still managed a small smirk. "But I don't want your daughters to go without their father!"

"Be careful, boy!" Curtis yelled as I clashed swords with the assassin again.

"Don't worry about me!" I hollered, holding my shield up as the assassin tried swinging his sword multiple times to attack me. CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! "Goddesses, you're persistent, aren't you, asshole?!" We both retreated to several feet away from each other, preparing for the next clash of our swords.

"As are you, Hero of Twilight!" He howled, his chest heaving. He too was wounded, but he clenched the handle of his sword and let out a battle cry, running at me yet again.

I didn't want to do it, but the danger he posed to the public, his persistence and the risk to Curtis' life left me with no choice. I risked my life by rushing at him and dealt the mortal draw technique. It worked and he gasped for air, falling to the ground with a pool of blood by his neck. I double-checked and could tell he was dead. I put my sword away. I really didn't like killing anyone, and I still don't, but it is unfortunately sometimes necessary when their evil deeds are too great to handle. I strode to Curtis and checked on him. "Are you alright, Curtis?"

"Yes…" He flinched, struggling to stand.

I put myself under his arm and helped lift him up, letting him lean on me for support as we walked. "I think you may be getting a little old for this, Curtis."

He chuckled lightly. "Nonsense!" He started to cough hard, so I stopped us for a second so he could catch his breath. He turned his head to face mine. "Thank you for saving my life, Link. I owe you big time."

I smiled. "Don't mention it!"

"You don't need to be so humble, you know?" He joked. "I mean, look at your right bicep!"

I had nearly forgotten about my bicep, blood still dripping from it. "I guess I should bandage that, huh?"

"You think?!" He hollered in a kidding manner.

We took a break and he bandaged my bicep, rolling my sleeve back down when he was done. "Thank you, Curtis."

We later made our way back to Ordon Village and Eldinaire Village as the sun began to set. He was set to go back to Eldinaire, and I of course, to Ordon. Before we parted ways he gave me a comradely side hug. "Thank you again, Link. If you ever need anything, let me know."

My stomach growled loudly. "Oh geez! Guess I'm hungry!"

His voice boomed as he laughed. "Would you like to join my family and I for dinner?"

"Thank you." I said shyly. "I would hate to intrude, though. I will be taking my leave now. Have a good dinner with your family."

"Very well. Take care, Link."

"You too." I trotted away. I ate dinner alone in my tree house that night, like I often did back then.

I mentally kicked myself and chuckled, clenching the reins if only to stifle my laughter. If only I had taken him up on that offer! I would have met her sooner… "Everything alright, Sir Link?" Gregory asked me, taking me out of my daze.

I turned to him and beamed. "Yes. Everything's great. I was thinking of something funny."

"Were you now?" He laughed. He was quiet and took Samantha's handkerchief out of his breast pocket with one hand and kissed it, doing his best to control his horse with the other hand.

"Oh, just move to Termina, already!" Thomas teased.

"Don't tempt me now." He winked.

We all burst out laughing. We may have started on the wrong foot, but I now have a feeling I have made a couple of new friends.

Three days later and we were nearing home. I prepared to bid Gregory and Thomas farewell at Castle Town since they lived there. "Best of luck on your upcoming wedding, Sir Link." Gregory shook hands with me.

"Thank you. That means a lot to me."

He nodded. "Love is a beautiful thing." He looked at me and then at Thomas. "Promise me you'll talk to your ex-girlfriend, Tom?"

"I will." Thomas said resolutely, looking at me. "I have to tell her that I love her, and I thank you for helping me realize that."

"Atta boy!" I punched him in the arm. "I'm proud of you." We shook hands and the two men began to walk away.

"Don't have too much fun with your wife, okay?" Thomas shouted over his shoulder.

I blushed. That's the first time anyone's mentioned her as my wife. Of course we're not married yet, so he was a little quick to the punchline; but I was so happy to hear it. Sally…my future wife! I reddened more intensely as I mounted Epona. We have been separated for a week, but it has felt like a lifetime. I want nothing more than to hold her. I grinned to myself as I whipped the reins and had Epona go full speed across Hyrule Field. I arrived at Eldinaire Village and began making my way to Curtis' farmhouse. I was still 40 yards from the front door when I saw her sprinting towards me, unhindered from dashing at full speed due to wearing pants and a button-up blouse instead of a dress. Her boots went up to the middle of her calf. I stopped in my tracks and got ready to hug her, but she instead jumped into my arms, so I locked my arms together at the top of her thighs to keep her upright. I tilted my head back as she kissed me passionately, letting her legs dangle. I kissed her back and spun us around in a circle. She giggled as I set her down, my cheeks burning up when my hands brushed her rear end. "Sorry!" I exclaimed, feeling feverish from the interaction.

"I didn't mind it at all." She quickly pecked me on the lips and turned her head away bashfully.

I hugged her close. "Oh." I could feel my face getting hot but I wanted to take the opportunity to flirt. "I guess that's good to know!"

She laughed. "And what will you do about it?"

I picked her up in my arms. "I believe you owe me a makeout session?"

She softly squealed, obviously thrilled with the idea. She put her hand to her forehead and spoke softly. "Help! I'm being kidnapped by the most dashing gentleman ever to exist!"

I kissed her on the lips and carried her out of the village. She told me that Curtis had dinner planned for us at 6:00pm, but I quickly forgot this detail. My mind was too wrapped up in her. I lifted her onto Epona before mounting Epona myself and we rode to my house. We climbed up the ladder and went inside. As soon as I shut the door, I began taking off my hat and my equipment, and then my overshirt and chainmail. She rushed into my arms and started kissing me, grabbing my undershirt and playfully tugging at it. I conceded and let her lift it off of me. She ran her hands over my chest and gently kissed it again. I lifted her up and carried her up the stairs to my loft as she stared into my eyes the whole time. I laid her down on my pillow and laid on top of her, kissing her with fervor. She wrapped her arms around me and rubbed my back as I put all of my weight on her. She shocked me by laying her hand on my rear end and giving it a slight squeeze. I drew in a breath in surprise and rolled us over, rubbing her rear end with my hand. "Oh, how I've missed you!" I said breathily.

"Me too!" She sighed. "This feels nice, just saying!"

"You're kind of naughty." I said softly, rubbing noses with her. "But I like it!" We laughed together, both panting from the excitement. She then laid on her side to the right of me and laid her head on my chest. I lifted my left arm and wrapped it around her, stroking her left arm with my fingertips.

"I'm naughty?" She looked up at me and kissed my cheek. "I guess I am!" She delicately pecked my nipple with her lips and then laid her head back down on my chest.

"Oh, baby!" I sighed as she tittered, feeling mildly aroused. I grabbed her and pulled her on top of me and rolled us over, kissing her deeply.

I moved my head and kissed her neck as she let out a soft moan. "Oh, Link…" I released my grip on her and she rolled over to my side again, once more laying her head on my chest. We appreciated the silence and napped for maybe half an hour when she shot upright. "Goodness! I was so caught up I nearly forgot!"

"What's wrong?"

"Remember Papa was making dinner for your return?" My eyes widened in reaction. "Oh goodness, what time is it?" She looked a little concerned.

"6:00pm." I responded.

"Gracious those 2 and a half hours passed fast!" She got up. "We are supposed to be there for dinner now!"

"Oh shit!" We both got up from my bed and she helped me get my undershirt, chainmail, and overshirt back on.

We arrived at the farmhouse at 6:20pm, both feeling nervous about how Curtis would react to how late we were. We knocked and prepared for the worst. "Hello, you two!" He smiled and winked. "A little late, aren't we?"

"Curtis, I am so sor–" I started to say.

He interrupted me. "Link, don't be sorry! You're exactly two months from getting married today." He grinned at us both. "I expected it, especially considering Link has been gone for a while."

I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding and Sally put her hand to her heart, also relieved. I spoke as we stepped inside. "I didn't realize today was April 1st!" I turned to Sally and grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Two months until you're my wife."

She then grabbed both of my hands and said delightedly, "two more months!" She gave my hands a loving squeeze.

"Let's celebrate that and Link's safe return with pork roast!" Curtis pumped his fist. "It's hot and ready to eat!"

We nodded, both eager to enjoy the delicious spread of pork roast, roasted carrots, and mashed potatoes. We sat down together and began eating while visiting.

"Link, your new house inside of Ordon Village is set to be move-in ready by next week." Curtis proudly bellowed. "Pretty exciting!"

"That's awesome!" I said. "I'll have to start packing to move in soon."

"I can't wait to see it!" Sally beamed, turning to me. "Let me know if you'd like any help moving." She blushed. "I'll slowly start moving my things there next month."

I bowed my head in acknowledgement, turning red at the thought.

"Young love…" Curtis sighed. "I'm so excited for the two of you!" He smiled widely. "And the prospect of grandchildren, of course."

"PAPA!" Sally yelled, turning a rich shade of crimson.

I choked on my bite of food and pounded my chest with my fist. Sally put her hand on my shoulder with distress as I took a gulp of water, swallowing and taking a deep breath.

Curtis laughed heartily. "Sorry to startle you two!"