An unspeakable evil had touched the Princess that fateful moment, though the outside world was sunny and full of life. Yes, it was undeniable the Princess had been licked by Death behind the walls of that Temple. She had held onto life by a single thread. Indeed, the Temple would surely test just how strongly the hearts of the Princess and Hero were bound. Were they willing to endure hell for the touch of the other's lips? Had they indeed found true love in one another? Or was this a terrible mistake?
Her head was pounding, her muscles aching. She moaned, opening her heavy eyes to the same ominous room she had left. There was the Master Sword's pedestal, glaring down at her from above. She weakly stood, noticing shakily that she was back to her adult form. She made her way to the door as quickly as possible, eager to leave the dreadful place.
She emerged from the building, her heart sinking as she noticed the setting sun. How long had she been lying there? She wondered this only for a second and began to sprint towards the exit of the town. I have to get to Lake Hylia!
It wasn't too far away, but it was dark when she arrived there. The water was calm as the moon shone over it, waves gently splashing onto the soft sand. She scanned the area for Link, but to no avail. Perhaps he was angry with her? She looked to the ground, angry at herself. She would have to leave him forever the very next day, and she had to ruin what was likely their last chance to be together…she felt the tears coming back to her.
“Zelda, entrancing, is that you?” The words threw her, she knew only one person who had a different word for every occasion on which he called her beautiful.
“Link?”
She jumped when she felt a hand on her shoulder. “I thought I was going to be the late one…”
“Oh, I…I'm sorry I~”
“Don't worry about it…” He turned her to face him, gently putting his hand to her cheek. “You're here now, and that's all that matters…” Suddenly he pulled a deep red rose from behind his back. “For you…”
She took it slowly, “Thank you…”
“Shall we?”
She nodded and he took her hand, walking her down to the beach. “I was worried about you; please tell me, what happened?” He looked at her, concern in his eyes as they sat on the bank.
“In the Temple of Time…I think I…collapsed…”
“Oh, Zelda…” He suddenly stopped and pulled her into a hug. “I'd hoped with all my heart that you wouldn't have to go through that…it was awful…” His lips gently brushed against hers as he let go. “Zelda, I love you…” His words were warm against her cheek, making her shiver.
“I love you, too…” The princess managed in her soft voice as they sat down next to the water, fidgeting with the rose in her hands. “Oh! But that wasn't the only thing that held me up!” She spoke abruptly, swinging her arms out and nearly stabbing Link with the flower.
“Here,” He said, sighing and taking the flower from her hands, “this ought to keep you from stabbing my eyes out…” He then carefully slid it into her hair. “Now, what is this all important other thing?” He smiled.
“I was kidnapped by a fat lady in a muumuu.”
“What?” He said through a laugh.
“It's true! I was in such a rush to get to the Temple; I forgot to prevent myself from being seen. The next thing I knew, I was being drug to the castle by this strange, fat, nearly bald lady who insisted that I was Princess Zelda.”
“You didn't get taken to the castle, though, did you?”
“No, she had to stop at her house so that she could make sure she looked good enough to be seen by my father, who she seemed to really have a thing for.”
“Wow,” Link skipped a stone over the moonlit water, “no offense, but how could anyone find your father even remotely attractive?”
“That's what I thought.” They both burst into laughter then, Link pulling her closer to him.
“That's not all,” she said, snuggling into the crevice by the soldier's neck, “her house was disgusting, it smelled like rotten fish. Then, from her pile of unwashed dishes and clutter on the counter, she pulled out this old, more then likely moldy grilled cheese sandwich and tried to feed it to me. The plate was dirty, too, by the way, partially covered in spaghetti sauce.”
“Sounds like you had quite the experience,” he ran his fingers through her golden hair as he spoke, “so you just left her?”
“Yes…I…feel a bit bad over it. Could you…could you maybe set up a date with her and Father one of these days for me?”
“Sure thing, I'd do anything for you, Zelda, even play cupid to your father and an anonymous, probably mentally damaged woman. I'd be careful, though, unless you want to risk muumuu lady being your new mother…”
Zelda smiled, “Yes, be careful. Keep a close eye on them.”
“I will.” He looked at her for a moment, “But, Zelda,” He said, “I know this might seem a bit ironic after that conversation but…I have a question for you.”
She sat up, turning to face him. “What…might that be?” Her voice was merely a whisper.
He looked surprisingly at a loss for words as he took her hands.
He let his gaze fall to the ground for a moment, beginning slowly. “Zelda…I know it's not possible, but…I…just have to know…” He forced himself to meet her eyes again, “If there were even the slightest chance, any way whatsoever that it could be…would you…” He nervously pulled a small black box out from the pocket of his tunic, “Would you marry me?”
She looked shocked for a moment, blinking in disbelief, the princess feeling him shuffle his fingers as they held her own, his eyes falling again, waiting for an answer.
A smile soon formed on her face. “Link…” He looked back up at her at the sound of his name. “I'd…love nothing more than to be your bride.”
After a moment, when it finally sank in, the soldier beamed brighter then the brightest star, she had never seen him so delighted. “Oh, Zelda, you don't know how much that means to me…”
He pulled her into a powerful kiss, pouring every ounce of the love he had for her into it. She let out a soft moan, thoroughly enjoying the most amazing kiss they had ever shared. She could feel him carefully pull the glove from one of her hands after a moment as his tongue explored her mouth, his powerful hands gently maneuvering a ring onto one of her delicate fingers. Once he was finished, she slid the hand to his chest, falling to the sand in the midst of the immense passion.
And so the Hero and his Princess lie together under the glowing moon, locked in a powerful kiss as the light gently danced over the water, their second day together coming to an end.
Back to Part 5 | Continue to Part 7
