She Bears A Triforce

A/N: Okay, as ever, sorry for the long wait, and I am ever grateful for the reviews I’ve gotten, it lends all the more encouragement to this writer. Lemme know what you think and remember all flames will be used in this week’s weenie-roast!

Chp8: The Probable Future

It was dawn, but the only birds around were not the kind to sing about it. Birds of prey were out now, hoping to find those few stray mice, lizards or insects that dared to go just far enough from the safety of their sandy homes. In fact, there was a red-tailed hawk, a lordly looking creature, perched on the stone windowsill when Link woke up.

It would have been nice to go back to sleep, but now that his eyes had opened, the sharp dawning light, the hawk on the sill staring at him, and maybe at Aurea too, it all refused to let him drift back to bliss. But the past night could not really be called blissful. They had both tucked into the bed long before what they usually would have. Link had not minded and figured that Aurea would most definitely need the rest for recovery sake. He was fairly sure that the woman who still lay sleeping next to him had not awoken all night. Even he, who was no expert in the methods of healing, was sure it was just the stress and pain and everything that had happened all finally coming down on her in one fell swoop; he knew how that felt. Link on the other hand, had repeatedly woken in the evening, during the night, and I the early-morning hours. His mind had not allowed him to sleep fully, working constantly all night.

His thoughts had only paused when his blue eyes opened and saw the hawk sitting there, like a sentinel keeping watch. Link lay there, with one arm around Aurea’s waist, and the other cupping her soft cheek; and he stared, or maybe glared, back at the hawk. The bird flicked its long rusty-red tail-feathers, as if brushing aside the young man’s look. Link’s grip around the woman next to him tightened a little more. His sparkling blue gaze broke with that of the bird’s yellow-orange eyes when he felt the warm feminine body next to him move, curling in, and snuggling up closer to him. When he looked up again, it was to see the hawk’s back to them now. There almost seemed to be sparks struck out by its sharp talons as it pushed off from the stone sill, sailing off into the sky, so pale blue as to be almost white with the light of day.

After this little event, the Hero of Time was certain he would not get to sleep at all for the rest of this day. But that was okay, he felt the need to be awake and think for a bit before actually getting up and doing anything, even bathing and dressing. He was far too comfortable at the moment to want to move, and far to awake to really pursue sleep. Right now, his mind was turned to something a little more pressing like what to do about Aurea’s injured shoulder.

The hand he had had on her waist had trailed up to her arm, and now the very pads of his fingers only dared tease the edges of the bandage. Guilt pecked at him again. Link felt that, if he had been a bit stronger, a bit more sensible, and far more in his right mind, he would have gone out for a blue potion last night, instead of lying here in a restless heap. At the very least a red potion would have initially helped close the wound and keep it from infection. Instead he’d stayed here like a sentimental idiot and…

And comforted her? Made her feel safe? He sighed, not wanting to listen to his more feeling side, even if it was right; it hurt like hell to feel, but lately having the option to feel was a nice one, when she smiled, teased, laughed, hugged him.

Another sigh passed heavily through his body. If he was being practical, the sooner he got that blue potion, the better off Aurea would be. If she had been given the potion immediately after receiving the wound, there would be no problem. But the slower process of healing had already begun, and thus the potion would not work as it normally would; it would take longer now. And he knew perfectly well, as he lay there, still snuggling with her that the more time he lost in this endeavor, the longer her recovery would be.

But she had not wanted to be alone of this he was utterly convinced. That had been why she had not protested in the least to his climbing into bed next to her. He had to smile at this and mentally add, Especially when we’re in a room full of beds. When he had first met her- ages ago now it seemed- He’d bet she’d have almost literally handed him his backside if he’d even hinted at it. But now? Now, she might just…

Blue eyes shut with self-inflicted irritation. He had to go and get that potion, but he also needed to stay and be sure she was alright. The young Hylian’s agitation was broken when he noticed pressure on his lips. He blinked and looked down, realizing he had pressed his lips to her forehead in a gentle subconscious kiss. Had he wholly meant to do that? And now that he took the time to really look, there was a fait color if pink in her cheeks, and she seemed to be smiling a bit. He had all but dared himself to do it again, and Link was not the sort to back down from a challenge. Moving slowly, and carefully, he brought his lips to her cheek this time. A touch of something soft and warm light flower petals in the heat of the afternoon sun; that was the sensation on his mouth. His mind seemed not to want to really focus on anything but how warm and gentle the woman next to him felt. Fingers that were strengthened by years of fighting and hunting did not quite know how to interpret the feel of how a feminine hip curves. It was something new, and not in the least unwelcome. A palm that was calloused and always held a sword was now cupping a tender cheek, while a mouth that had almost forgotten what it was to give a kiss applied such to the opposite cheek. Eventually, Link’s lips found their way to Aurea’s mouth with a dull burning touch not unlike liquor as it goes down. It was a nice, inviting kind of burn. Strangely, he felt as one might feel after romping around in the snow and ice all day and then coming indoors, about ready to climb right into the fireplace. If that meant he would be burned, Link didn’t mind. While all these drugged thoughts and images were idling their way through the Hero’s mind, he did not immediately register the small movements next to him.

Aurea was sure she was dreaming- she had to be. Why else would she be laying there in a warm bed curled up against a wonderfully masculine body? There was one of his hands on her hip, and she could feel the other in her hair now. And his warm surprisingly soft lips were on hers. The kiss was not so rough as she thought it would be, hence she was sure this was just a fabulously realistic dream. Well, it was here dream, so she might as well enjoy it, not that there was much if anything to complain about. Aurea angled her head a bit, so they could meet each other with greater ease. Link’s hand on her hip squeezed gently. How she knew it was his hand, she did not know, and more over it didn’t matter. The young woman’s right hand- the one which was still intact- came up with her fingers and palm trails smoothly along fabric of the young male’s green tunic, up over his chest. Link’s hand in her hair slipped lower to the back of her neck, massaging softly. His other hand now rested in the small of her back, pressing Aurea’s body closer to his. Aurea’s hand traveled up along his neck to his cheek. Now she could feel the smooth skin, the metal earring in his left ear, the forever-scruffy blonde locks. Her other hand moved, to rub his chest, or to wrap around his ribs perhaps, but with a sharp stab she stopped.

Link’s eyes snapped open again when he felt the woman beside him recoil with a sound of pain emitted from somewhere in her throat. Blinking the bleariness from his eyes, he studied her form, trying to figure out what was wrong. The soft hand that had been caressing his face was now clutching painfully at her left shoulder- and there was the mark on her hand, the one that so resembled the Triforce of Power. One or two tears had jumped from her clamped eyes, but his thumb rubbed them away. Her eyes shot open then, as dazzlingly green as grass after a sudden burst of rain, the kind that was just enough to encourage life.

So it wasn’t a dream. That was her first truly coherent thought. And she couldn’t decide if she should be glad or disappointed, since the pain in her shoulder seemed to take nearly all her attention. The bandaged arrow-wound strung like fire, like ice, and a mixture of me scow and iodine with some salt and lemon juice just for spite. Aurea could feel her hand being pried off her bound up shoulder and looked up at Link again. He now looked very awake and sober enough for two people.

“Hey.” He said as his left-hand fingers stroked her cheek lightly. “I’d say good morning, if it was one.” Aurea’s only reaction was to look very puzzled, and wonder if he was referring to the session of making out, or the fact of how it had been disrupted. But no, it couldn’t have been the kissing that bothered him, not when he touched his lips to her forehead again, and smiled a little when they were eye to eye again. “Listen,” As if she had a choice when she was lying there, still injured, with his hand cupping her face again. “I’m going out. I’m going to get a blue potion for you, alright?”

Aurea blinked a little confused. “What for?” she asked, and elaborated when the Hero of Time looked surprised. “I’m not dying, or something.” This statement sounded weak to both the speaker and the listener. Link smiled at her again, and Aurea wondered what precisely was going through his head. That smile was so warm and gentle as to be just a bit sad.

“I want you to feel better.” He was honest as his fingers still traced over her cheek and around her lips. Aurea just stared at him. Yes she’d gotten the firm impression he cared, but it was the blatant admission of it that surprised her. Before now, the two of them had only ever danced around the subject. As Link started to get up, Aurea’s uninjured arm shot out and caught the front of his tunic. Link had, of course, stopped to stare at her hand fisted in his clothing, and then at her face. Now she had a smile on her face again. The young Hylian had to steady himself as she pulled him back down on the bed towards her. It was a wonderful shock when her lips were on his again, this time by her initiative. They let themselves go in the feeling for a few moments; there was mutual fear of being caught, as though they were under-age children disobeying parents’ orders.

When Link stood up gain, it was to the sound of Aurea saying, “Don’t forget to wash your tights.” There was a smirk in her words, just a small teasing one. Link leaned over and tucked the blanket around her again, smiling more easily now.

“They’re leggings, not tights.” He corrected her tease. Aurea could only grin and shrug one shoulder.

“Whatever, they’re still slinky.” They both laughed at that. He leaned his forehead against hers, his pale bangs brushing over her face.

“I’ll be back before you know it.” He said as he pecked her cheek on last time before turning to wash his leggings and get dressed and get a move on.

“Oh, I’ll know it.” Aurea remarked loftily and not really sarcastic.

Link had cleaned the blood out of his leggings with the help of some of the strongest soap imaginable. The Gerudo had to have the strongest will among all living things, if they could make and handle soap that could clear away anything as strong as blood with just one washing. As it was, the Hero of Time was wondering if the skin on his hands might crack and fill his gloves with blood if he needed to pick up his sword; his hands ached that much. But these thoughts were temporarily put on the back burner, as he was just about to leave the fortress. There he was sitting astride Epona, ready to get going, when Naburoo of all people came jogging up to him, some length of cloth in her hand.

“Here, put it on.” She ordered as she held out what was now revealed to be a long traveling cloak.

Link had taken it, confused as to why he needed such a thing. “Why?” He asked her, and the leader of the dark-skinned thieves rolled her eyes.

“Well if you feel like getting snagged by the idiots they call guards, then be my guest. Otherwise just put it on, and KEEP it on until you get back here.”

“And, that’ll keep me from getting arrested… how?” He didn’t like being all wrapped up like this, but he was fastening the thing around his shoulders all the same. At least it hid the sword, shield, and quiver with the bow and arrows on his back.

“Oh Please!” Naburoo said impatiently. “Do you think they’re not out in the fields looking for you? You helped that girl escape, you’re an accomplice; at least you are by their logic.” She added with a scoff.

“And a black cloak will keep them from finding me?” He was sarcastic now, because he wanted to get a move on, get the damn potion and make Aurea well again.

“Take the road that goes by the woods and through the trees, it’ll be harder for them to see you that way and you can move faster if you’re not caught.” She explained with an irritated edge in her tone. Link had to admit that this was a good idea. Shadow and light usually melded together in the forest until a person couldn’t tell one from another, unless they knew what to look for, and how to separate light and dark. He’d bet his life that the guards had never even set foot on ground any closer then half a mile from the forests of this country. After fastening the section that was meant to hide the lower half of the wearer’s face, he waved to Naburoo- a gesture of both gratitude and temporary farewell- then nudged Epona with his heels and was gone.

Naburoo stood there for a moment and shook her head, her long vibrant red hair waving. That boy has fallen HARD! She couldn’t help thinking, a smile on her face as she walked away from the gates once they had shut again.


Racing hard over a beaten trail, which he suspected only the Gerudo and now he as well knew, Link wondered about all that had occurred lately. Ever since Zelda’s death everything he had known seemed wrong, his certainty in all things minor and major had withered and left nothing but questions. Bun since Aurea had shown up almost literally out of the blue, things had been turned upside-down again, leaving things in a right-side-up position. This confused the young male to no end. He had known things were thrown out of balance when Ganondorf- the former holder of the Triforce of Power- had finally been cut down, by Link’s own sword. The Princess had told him as much, and being the keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom, she would know such a thing. So naturally he knew, or at least suspected, that the balance was truly damaged when Zelda herself had died. For quite some time, Link had wondered if he would meet his end soon, and then there would be balance again by virtue of the fact that none of the three would be alive.

And then Aurea, the girl with green eyes, rounded ears, fair skin, long brown-and-gold hair, had shown up in Hyrule Field bearing the mark of the Triforce of Power on her right hand. But her power seemed nothing like that of the previous wielder of this strength. Hell, she didn’t even LOOK like Ganondorf, and Link felt a bit ridiculous for having ever entertained the idea. The two could not be more opposite. Ganondorf had been obsessed with gaining power and control over all that existed, and doing so by any means necessary. He cared nothing for those he would have to knock down in the process of getting what he wanted. Aurea was quite the reverse. She didn’t seem to give a damn about openly controlling others, or for that matter gaining some level of societal merit. Her power was of a more understated nature, the power to bend, to adapt to nearly anything. He had seen this for himself when he first stopped her from going out and sleeping in the stables instead of in the Inn room. Come what may, and let it be fire, tornadoes or torrential rain, she would survive it.

Link rode faster, and hoped her power would stay just as it was, that it could not be changed from what it was now, given her stubborn attitude regarding integrity. There were some rules, which could not be bent and therefore were never to be tested or broken.

And speaking of broken, why was his heart thumping as seemingly loud as it was? It was so loud in his pointed ears that it actually drowned out the sound of Epona’s hooves on the turf. And he fervently wished that this road wasn’t taking so long.


Aurea was both frustrated and bored, and it was starting to really get at her. She’d wanted to get to her bag and fish out one of her books to read, but she didn’t know where her bag had gotten to, and until she found it, she wouldn’t be able to occupy her mind with something other than the Hero of Time. It was irritating to know that she was worried about his well-being when he could clearly hold his own far beyond her own abilities.

Yeah, ‘cause that’s not an understatement. She grumbled at herself. When one of the Gerudo women came in and set a breakfast tray down in front of her, Aurea had asked about her backpack. But her inquiry was brushed aside as if it were a particle of dust drifting in the air. The woman had told her not to worry, and that she ought to be resting and getting her strength back rather that wasting her time reading stories.

Well, Aurea was surely resting- since there was nothing else to do- but her rest was anything but peaceful. Without a book, or anything else to focus on, she was acutely aware of the throbbing pain in her left shoulder. And for some unknowable reason, horrible images of Link being caught, or struck with arrows, or any number of other unpleasant things kept creeping up to the surface of her mind, when she wasn’t trying her best to think on something else. With a rush of air through her lungs, Aurea wondered what she wouldn’t give for some peace of mind.

And it was at this point that the door swung open. Aurea’s head snapped around so fast, that anyone else would have thought she’d broken her neck doing so; she was that high-strung. It was, of course, a Gerudo woman, but to Aurea’s eyes they all looked so much alike that it was difficult to tell one from another until you got to know them. It was the same way the typical American views an Asian, or vise versa, no ill will intended it was just a thought process.

“Hi.” She greeted, since there was no sense in being rude, and since she owed them big anyway.

“Good afternoon.” The woman returned the gesture with a smile as she came closer.

Aurea blinked. “Afternoon?” Had it really been that long since the morning?

“Yes.” The woman said as she took a seat on the edge of the bed. “I’m Naburoo.” She said by way of introduction. “We didn’t have the opportunity to meet yesterday.”

It took Aurea a moment to match the name to its proper meaning, but it startled her a bit when it finally clicked. “So, you’re the leader of the Gerudo, right?” It felt strange asking her this, like asking a celebrity if they had been the one who stared in some film or other. And then there was the polite nod, confirming her question had indeed sounded stupid. Even so, Aurea managed to regain some of her composure with a smile. “Well, just for the record, I owe you big.”

But to Aurea’s surprise, Naburoo shook her head, sending the long red ponytail swaying. “You were being hunted and injured, and besides,” Now her expression had faded form sympathetic to an odd combination of mischievous and proud. “You’re defying that idiot who calls himself Emperor.” No, that look was not exactly mischievous, it was a hint. “We need to stick together you know.” And she winded one sharp eye.

Aurea stared at her for a moment more, and then a slow smile washed over her face. “True, true.” She agreed with a look not unlike that of the other woman. “So assuming I’m not going to kick the bucket,” She gestured to her arm. “Or that I won’t die of boredom, what’s out next step?”

“For the moment, we stay quiet, and keep our eyes and ears open.” Naburoo could tell she was surprising the young woman more and more by the minute. “There’s a lot to be learned when people think they’re all alone. We might find some useful information.”

“Scout and spy.” Aurea muttered thoughtfully, then shrugged. “Best we can do at this point; I mean, without ding something stupid.” This conversation was long since circular, and they both knew it when a heavy silence settled like a thick layer of dust in a sealed and forgotten room. Aurea’s fingers lightly touched the edge of her bandages, and her expression turned sour again. “I’m losing my marbles.” She muttered, and didn’t seem to care that she was heard.

“And what makes you say that?” Nabooru asked, half-hoping this wasn’t going to be a long, drawn-out discussion of conflicting emotions. Thankfully, it wasn’t.

“I’m just going through a little more than I can handle right now. Wish I could find one of my books, then I wouldn’t have to break my brain over it.” Aurea still sounded sullen, and even a bit ill tempered, but not really angry. If Naburoo had been about seven years older, she would have said Aurea was just being moody, but she knew better. She’d been through it herself. At one point or another, she’d felt overwhelmed as if by a tidal wave, and had gone off on her own to train until she was ready to drop to the ground and sleep for a night and a day.

“Where did you leave them?” Naburoo asked, feeling sympathetic, almost maternal.

“In my backpack, but I don’t know where that’s gotten to.” Aurea sighed.

“You mean that odd pack you were carrying?”

“Yeah.”

“It’s at the foot of your bed.”

Aurea blinked and leaned as far over as she could without inflicting too much pain. Now she could see the strap of the bag around the corner of her bed. “Jeez, I feel dumb.” She remarked, as the Gerudo leader brought the ting within easy reach now. “Thanks.” Aurea said with a smile.

“Don’t mention it.” Nabooru said. “Area you hungry for lunch?” She asked more brusquely, remembering why she’d come in here in the first place.

“Yeah actually.” Aurea hadn’t eaten much that morning, since her mind had been so utterly focused on trying not to worry.

“I’ll go find something for you.” Nabooru said, having risen to her feet and now pausing at the door. She’d glanced back at the girl in the bed and had noticed her pulling a hardcover volume from the strangely shaped bag. She dimly noticed Aurea thanking her. She was more intrigued by the imaged on the front of the book. It was some sketchy drawing of a child, or maybe a woman with a set of wings that looked as if they’d sprouted right out of her back, and tears in her gray eyes and running down her granite cheeks. To her, it was a fairy of stone, crying forever more, and the image was a surprisingly striking one. Nabooru was out the door and far down the hall when she seemed to come back to herself, and wondered about the book and what it might contain. No magic books she’d seen had an image like that, not on the cover nor in its pages. Then again, she reasoned as she turned a corner, magic was never really her strong subject of study.


The sun had set, but that didn’t stop the Hero of Time from riding as fast as he could. The day’s events could not have gone more smoothly. He’d ridden up to the closest point where the forested ended and left Epona there. Steady, strong, and trusty as she was, a red mare with white mane and tail was sure to be noticed, which was the last thing he wanted. Nobody had stopped him on his brisk walk through Hyrule Field, and getting past the Castle Market Town gates had proved no difficulty either. It had taken a good deal of precious time to locate an establishment that carried what he hunted for, and a few extra rupees had ensured the shopkeeper’s silence as well. And yet, something was just wrong about it all. Even after he’d gotten his hands on a blue potion, never mind that it was expensive, he’d been uneasy. Why had security been so damned lax? Was it normal that they let in a cloaked and masked stranger, especially when he’d had to dress in drag just to get the hell out with Aurea? It still stung his pride thinking about it, but he could overlook that little incident and mentally write it off as that tired and ironic phrase, “a necessary evil.” And although he took the forest trail for the return trip, something was clearly wrong. Why weren’t the guards chasing him? Hell he hadn’t even seen any wanted posters of himself or Aurea for that matter. They wee being hunted, and it seemed that only they and their pursuers knew it.

It was a little after twilight when he could see the Gerudo Fortress again, he was nearly safe. Feeling worlds more at ease than he had all day, Link pulled the cloth mask from his nose and mouth, and yanked the hood back, allowing the wind to thread its way through his hair like fingers. The damned thing had kept him safe, though feeling closed-in all day and now at the Gerudo Fortress gates, he felt not only allowed to breath again, but also the need of it, like he’d been holding his breath for the whole day.

Once inside the gates, he waved his thanks to the women on the high walls, who waved back and a few of them even blew kisses. Not that he was paying attention as he dismounted and had to wrestle with the clasp on the cloak for a moment before the thing finally decided to give in and release the young man. His jog up to the infirmary was not as panicked as it had been the previous day. This was a little more relaxed, as though he had somewhere to be, but not urgently. Aurea was safe, in good hands. Nabooru, he was sure, would have seen to whatever she needed. He was quiet when he entered the place of healing, hoping he didn’t disturb anyone else who might be hurt. But luck still seemed to be on his side, since it was clear from a quick glance that Aurea was the only one here. Even so, he was taking soft little cat-steps over to her bed. Link’s long pointed ears had picked up the sound of her even breathing and from the relaxed look of her face, and also the fact that her eyes were closed, she was asleep. For the moment, his good sense told him not to disturb her. Carefully setting the potion down on the table next to her bed, Link took a seat on the edge beside her. The image before him was an odd, almost unnerving one to behold. He had only just now noticed the book she still held with its pages open against her chest. It was like seeing an actress in a play or a dream, watching her lying there with the book held to her heart like a lady’s silk fan, or like a shield with a lopsided crest. There was the picture of something, or someone looking out at him from the cover. A child or a woman with feathery wings unfurled from her back, crying her almost living tears out of eyes cast in stone. Strange how that sketchy picture rested right over the place where her heart was still beating.

It was impossible to say if he had been sitting there a minute or an hour once he’d shaken himself from his reverie. Priorities were priorities, he reminded himself. And even if he disliked the fact of it, he had to wake her to give her the potion. His hand seemed to reach out as if he were a numb puppet, and then he paused. He retracted it and pulled the rough leather gloves from both his hands. This served the dual purpose of avoiding any rougher-than-necessary awakening and to also allow him to feel her warm soft skin. It hadn’t been as hard as he’d thought, when he finally, really admitted to himself that Aurea was attractive and more over, that he was very attracted to her. Her looks were exotic for Hyrule, but it wasn’t just that. It was that invisible wall she’d put up around herself, and only let him see through a few times; he could understand the feelings she had constantly warring within her. He’d been dealing with the same conflicting emotions ever since the Princess had died; maybe he had been even before then, it was hard and painful to think that far in the past.

Awareness was brought back to the young Hylian as he registered the feel of her cheek under his fingers. From Link’s own perspective, his whole body felt rigid and clumsy. What was he so nervous about? It wasn’t as though this was the first time he’d woken her up, although it might well be the first time he’d managed it without physical injury. A set of blue eyes glanced down at the gook in her good hand again. It might just be best of he eased that way from her first, so she wouldn’t end up braining him with it out of pure reaction.

Knowing her, she might just do it anyway. He thought with a mental sigh, and didn’t notice that his own lips were smiling, albeit wryly. With his free hand, he took a firm grip on one corner of the book and started to ease it away from her fingers. The young woman on the bed emitted a soft, sleepy kind of groan. But just when he though she would wake up and be furious, she merely turned her head and successfully pinned his other hand- which had been stroking her cheek- between her face and the pillow. The thought of just how ridiculous this was getting had just crossed his mind when he felt the flicker of eyelashes on his palm.

“… Hey girl.” Link said hesitantly as her eyes opened fully. Aurea blinked and to his relief, actually smiled.

“Not such a girl.” She was lucid enough to remind him. And Link smiled at that, knowing he was not about to suffer her wrath at having been woken up.

“How’re you feeling?” He asked, and felt a tad awkward when he kept his hand cupping her cheek; his other hand had abandoned the book.

“Honestly?” Aurea said with arched eyebrows. “I’ve been better.” She remarked as she set the book with its pages open against her lap and used her good arm to straighten herself up into a sitting position. For a time, there was a silence and to Link, it was a kind of uneasiness too. The young injured woman kept staring at him as though she expected to find something, some imperfection or other. Finally, she spoke. “Are you alright? You look odd.”

Link just shook his head and grabbed the potion off the bedside table. “You need to drink this.” He said as he passed the bottle into her right hand. To his surprise, Aurea took a moment to look at it. It was sort of fascinating every time he saw that confused expression on her face.

For herself, Aurea was surprised. She had a pretty good idea of what she was holding. Link had handed her a Blue Potion, the real thing, and it amazed her. Even after being here for as long as she had, it was a shock to know that she could still be surprised.

“Just one problem.” She said, handing it back to him. Link looked puzzled, and at the same time wildly disbelieving. Aurea smiled at this. “I need two hands to open it, you know that.” She had to hold in her laughter at the expression on this face then. Heaven help her, Link could be just hysterical sometimes. Quickly as he could without spilling any of its contents, the Hero of Time uncorked the bottle and passed it back into his companion’s good hand. When she brought it close to her mouth, her nose caught a whiff of the stuff. It smelled both sweet, and acrid, like burned sugar, with something spicy, green peppers perhaps, and something in the citrus family; maybe lemon polish had been added to it, or maybe it was orange-flower water.

“Just drink it.” Link urged, practically ready to go over the edge. “You’ll feel better for it.” At that, Aurea heaved a sigh, and made up her mind to just get it over with. It was lucky she poured the whole bottle into her mouth all at once, because he’d have never gotten her to voluntarily take the stuff again. The bottle was almost flung out of her hand, just as said appendage was slapped over her mouth. Tears had sprung into her grass-green eyes. Link had a feeling this might happen, so he placed his hand over the one she already had over her mouth. “Swallow.” He all but ordered. She was actually leaning forward into his right hand, while his left had come up and was softly stroking her back. After a moment, he saw the movement of her throat that indicated swallowing. “All of it.” He now DID order, not letting his hands up until she did. When she was finally through downing the horrid stuff, she had just enough breath to ask for water. Link had eased her back onto the pillows and poured some cool clear water into a cup, both of which he’d found at the other end of the room. When he returned, she was still breathing hard; clearly, the taste of the potion had gotten to her. Link tried not to smile, since he could sympathize on that, the stuff did taste awful. The young man leaned over and circled his arm around her waist, helping her sit up, his other hand pressed the rim of the cup to her lips. But Aurea, being the stubbornly independent person she was, didn’t sip. Instead, she brought her hand up and took the cup from his hand, tending to her thirst on her own, even if that was all she could do for now. When it was empty, he took it from her and set it on the bedside table before easing her down to the mattress and pillows again. For a long moment, staring at her, watching her breath, was the only thing he seemed able to do. But before too long, his gaze fell on the bandages still wrapped snuggly around her left shoulder. The Hero’s shaky fingers nevertheless made quick work of untying the bindings and the sling only to reveal the pale skin beneath. The only sign that anything had ever been wrong was the very palest kind of scar, the sort that looked faintly silver, when in full moonlight. Realizing this, he looked up, and out of the window, to see a fat, though not full moon still low in the eastern sky. Had that much time really passed? It felt almost impossible. With a sigh, he stood up from the bed, but only to remove his hat, sword, shield, and boots. Then, feeling a little suffocated, even under just his usual clothes, Link pulled off his green tunic. The moment he glanced back at the bed, color rose in his face. Apparently, Aurea had been watching him the whole time, since her beautiful eyes stayed on him even now. A soft smile played around her lips, and it just then occurred to him that he was smiling too, despite the feeling of unreasonable embarrassment. Why should I feel bad? He pondered as he lifted the covers and slid into the bed beside her. The young woman next to him immediately snuggled right up against him. Link was laying on his left side, while Aurea rested on her right side; the pair of them were facing each other even though nothing was really happening.

This was a surprisingly awkward kind of moment for both teens. For although they both wanted to say something, neither could think of anything to say, so no words came forth. Aurea was not looking the young man in the face. For whatever reason, she simply felt incapable of doing so. Instead her eyes stayed half-open and occupied by watching his throat move when he swallowed, and his chest swell and fall with his breath. Her mind was working in overtime, wondering what was going on, why she and Link were nearly killed, how she might ever hope to go back to the way things used to be, and what- in the name of all things sacred- she was doing here in the first place. The feeling of movement on her waist seemed to snap her out of her thoughts.

Aurea blinked and looked down towards her hips. There was Link’s arm wrapped tightly around her midsection. It wasn’t as though the limb was just resting there either, his hand was pressing warmly into the small of her back. As Aurea looked up to Link’s face, she both felt and saw his left hand move in between her cheek and the pillow. She stared up into his face, and it was clear that the gesture of tenderness was not lost on her.

Link was on edge, and about ready to fall completely over. He wanted any number of things: He wanted to feel her whole and solid in his arms, to let her know she was safe, to tell her that he cared, he gave a damn and make sure she’d sit in front of him anytime they went riding from now on. But there were things he also wanted to know. Link needed to know what was going through her head right now, to know what her reaction would be if he refused to let her go at any point this night, to know if she would let all of what had happened really break her. Most of all, Link wanted to know something deeply serious, something that was not even a substantiated possibility: If she could, would she go back to her home, to her country or whatever she called home? Just then, he felt her nuzzling her face softly against his neck; the sensation left heat burning in his cheeks. And what was her hand doing on his chest like that? Not that he minded her soft touches in the least. Link felt his own hand rubbing up and down over her waist and hip. What did one call these actions?

“Mmm, you’re cuddly tonight.” Aurea’s voice sounded sleep-fogged in Link’s long pointed ears. Cuddling, was that what they were doing? The concept felt foreign to him. But it was odd. The idea of curling up with someone like this had of course crossed his mind innumerable times before, but it had never actually happened; at least, it hadn’t until now, until Aurea fell into his life.

The young Hylian’s eyes slid shut as he pressed his lips to her forehead and deeply inhaled the scent of her hair. Vaguely, re noticed that Aurea was kissing his throat in return. When the real realization hit his brain, Link felt kind of shuddering rush go through him. It felt great, and he knew he’d want more. It would have been a surprise when he felt her left arm resting gingerly on his ribs, but his mind was a haze of pleasure, warmth and breath. Neither he nor the woman lying alongside him wanted to call a halt to this, it all felt so good- so very right.


Again Link was the first to wake the next morning, but this time, he found himself incapable of sitting up. All was immediately explained when he glanced down towards his torso and found a mass of brownish-gold hair obscuring his vision.

Alright, He though while grinning to himself, So I make a good pillow. And not wanting to wake his companion, Link resigned himself to just lie there and stroke her long hair. If experience had taught him anything about her, it was that it was best to let her sleep as long as she wished.

Thanks for reading, make sure to review, other than that remember to enjoy life!