" Zel? What’s going on?" He asked groggily, trying to sit up. Impa helped him up to his bed.
" You tell me. We found you on the floor." She replied worriedly, sitting down beside him.
Link remembered now. He had come back for the amulet, and had suddenly felt so tired, he had decided to stay and rest, but only after he had unsaddled Epona. But he had passed out. " I passed out." He felt a little foolish saying it.
" You passed out?" Impa asked in disbelief. The king also looked incredulous, but Zelda only became even more worried.
" Yeah. I came back to get something and I suddenly felt so tired. But Epona...Is Epona all right?"
" She’s fine Link." Impa replied, crossing her arms and frowning.
" I decided to rest for tonight and was going to unsaddle Epona when I just blacked out."
" Maybe you should see a doctor." Zelda told him, and he shook his head.
" Nah, I’m all right. I guess those few nights without sleep finally caught up with me." He scratched his head then rubbed his eyes, wiping the water away.
" So you think you’re okay now?" The king asked, and Link nodded.
" Yeah, I’m fine. I’m still a little groggy though. But let’s head to Delina. They’ll be expecting us."

* * *

It was about five days worth of travel to get to Delina, that is, if Zelda had been traveling with the soldiers like before, but just by herself, with Epona, she could make it in only four days. The two days on the boat across the sea could not be shortened, but Zelda took the time to think and remember. Link had been surprised that she would be going instead of her father, but hadn’t questioned why, and Zelda was too afraid of what he might say to ask him why he said he might not return. But she did ask him about the bad vibe he was getting. He said he didn’t know, but it originated in Delina, there was a darkness there that he didn’t know how to explain. She thought it was odd that she hadn’t felt it, but Link had shrugged his shoulders and replied, " Maybe I’m just paranoid."

They had been strangely silent around each other for the first few days of travel, but when they had gotten on the boat, an amusing conversation was started when Zelda saw how uneasy he was.

* * *

Zelda found Link at the bow of the boat, leaning on the railing. He looked pale, and somewhat anxious. Zelda approached him cautiously, and then prepared herself to talk to him like she had always talked to him, before her feelings had come to light.

" A little seasick, Link?"
Link turned to give her an uneasy grin. " I’ve had some bad experiences with boats."
" Fallen overboard?"
" More than once."
" I guess you’re not a sailor."
" I guess not."
" That’s too bad. I love men in uniform." Zelda replied, giving him a playful smile. Link straightened and turned his head to give her a grin.
" That is too bad. You don’t consider this a uniform?" Link asked, motioning to his Kokiri green outfit.
" Should I? You’re the only one who wears it with those pants." Zelda replied, making him laugh, which was followed very quickly by a yawn. " Tired?"
" Very, it seems, lately."
" I’ll say it again. Maybe you should see a doctor."
" I’m fine. I just need to catch up on my sleep."
" If you say so." Zelda paused. I’m going back to my room. I need to look over the documents my father was working with before we arrive in Delina."
" All right. I guess I’ll see you at dinner then."
Zelda nodded and smiled before turning to go. But then, when she reached the stairway to below deck Link said, " Maybe I should get a uniform, since I am your bodyguard and all."
Zelda laughed. " I’ll have someone get to work on it right away." And She proceeded to go downstairs. What she didn’t realize, however, was that Link was only half joking.

* * *

The boat ride to Delina was over and now Zelda’s next stop was the cemetery that her mysterious mentor had told her to go to. But the problem she had was that she had no idea where that was. She would have to ask someone. She stepped off the boat and onto the dock, making sure that her hood covered her head. She was unable to take all of the attention away from herself however, and several young men she caught looking at her appreciatively. She wished Link were with her. No one dared to look at her when he was with her. He was always by her side, a warm, strong force that kept her safe and happy. He was so good, so pure, so giving. He didn’t deserve to die at only seventeen. He hadn’t even lived his life yet. Zelda didn’t care now if he had never loved her and if he never could, as long as he found someone to love that could love him back, and he was happy. Then, Zelda would gladly give him up, set him free. And once she had brought him back to life she would do so, she would relieve him of his duties.

" Hey little lady, you look lost. Want any help?" Someone said, his voice rather high and nasal.
Zelda turned to see a big burly man in his early twenties looking at her. She though it rather funny that the voice could belong to him. " Excuse me?"
" I said, do you need any help?" The man repeated, his eyes wandering up her legs and stopping at her chest.
Since she could take care of herself, and she didn’t know where to start looking she decided to humor him. " Actually, is there a cemetery anywhere around here?"
" A cemetery? Now why would you want to go there?" " I lost someone very dear to me, and I believe that he is buried somewhere in Delina."
" What, was he your lover? Because I can fill that position, babe." The man replied, moving forward. Zelda didn’t bother moving backward, and answered, " Not quite. And that would be a no. So do you know where one is?"
" There’s a pretty fancy one back behind the palace, but not many are allowed in, so I doubt your boyfriend was buried there."
" Thank you very much. But actually, he was buried in the royal burial ground of Hyrule." Zelda told him, and walked away before the man could get over his shock. Now she would have to find a way to get there. She couldn’t tell the King who she was, for he would send her back in disbelief, but how else could she get there? She hadn’t even known of it till now, and that weird voice hadn’t even bothered to tell her where it was. But she couldn’t get too mad at it, for it had helped her in her search. Zelda sighed and walked into the fishing village.

* * *

With one black boot the dark stranger kicked a rock down the road, what he had of a heart pounding with emotions he had never experienced before. He was confused. When Link had died, he had been sad, and shouldn’t have been, he was free. All of his life he had wanted to break free of the chains that Link had cast, angry with blackness, and now that he was free, not only was he lost, he was helping Zelda resurrect the one who had confined him.

He could see now, why Link had loved her so, she was so easy to love. When he had been released, all of the anger and darkness he had held he was ready to turn on the world, to destroy, to seek revenge for his imprisonment. He had decided to start first with Zelda, to haunt her, and so used his powers to take over the forest temple to meet her and taunt her, possibly kill her if he so chose. But then after barely even five minutes with her, he had broken down, unable to accomplish what he had set out to do. And worse then that, now he was helping her.

The phantom shook his head in misery. Once Link was back he would be confined again, worse now that he loved Zelda. For Nayru’s love, he loved her. What had happened to him? He had no soul to love, barely a heart to keep him breathing, if that was what it was called in his case. He didn’t even think he was evil anymore, if that was possible. All of that had washed away in the warmth and light that Zelda had brought with her. Would she be able to tell that the next time he saw her? Could he even reveal himself to her, knowing what, who, he looked like? He hoped he wouldn’t have to.

The rock he was kicking suddenly veered of the path he was walking, the noise of its tumbling waking up two stalchildren. He almost laughed as the two searched for the cause of the noise. They couldn’t see him, not unless he wanted them to. But then, as the slow-walking terrors of the night returned to the ground, he did laugh. It started out as a quiet chuckle that soon turned to loud insane laughter that even scared him. He couldn’t stop laughing until he was gasping for air, falling on his knees on the path to Hyrule castle. When he had calmed down, he knew what he had to do. He had to help Zelda, even if it meant losing his freedom. He would go to Delina.

* * *

It was morning when Zelda, Link, and company reached the docks of Delina. While Zelda’s small army unloaded the boat, Zelda was left to look for Link, whom she had not yet seen. First she searched the deck, and upon not finding him, she went down to his room. She knocked on the door after finding it closed. There was no answer. She knocked again, banging it with all her might. There was still no answer. Now she tried opening the door. It was not locked. She opened it slowly, peering into the room. There was Link, sprawled out on his bed, still asleep. She sighed, and moved over to his bed.

" Link, you have to get up. We’re here. We’ve reached Delina."
" Mmhpph." Was the reply. Zelda sighed again and shook his shoulder.
" Link! Get up!" There was still no answer. Zelda crossed her arms, a slight pout on her lips, thinking. She glanced at the water on his nightstand. She shook her head. That would be too mean. And then, she got an idea, a very fun one. She backed up to the door, and got ready to run. She waited a second, just to be sure, and then ran full-speed to his bed and jumped on it with all her might. Link flew up off the bed two inches and came crashing back down with a loud ‘oomph’.
" Urgh, what is it Zel?" He asked, throwing one pillow at her and using the other to block his eyes.
" It’s time to get up, we’re here." She replied, but there was no response. He had fallen back asleep. She threw the pillow at him.
" Uhgh. What?"
" It's time to get up, we’re here."
Link threw his second pillow at her. " Already?"
" It’s eight in the morning. You missed breakfast." Zelda told him, catching the pillow and throwing it right back at him. It bounced off his head. Link sat up.
" That’s weird."
" I’m telling you, you should see a doctor."
" What, because I’m tired?" Link fell back on the bed. Zelda moved closer to his side, ready to argue.
"Yes. Look at you, you can’t get up. You’re probably getting sick."
Link closed his eyes and yawned. " I am not sick."
" I bet you are." Zelda leaned over him to get the pillow on the floor. Link knew what she was doing and prepared a counter-attack. Right when the pillow was in her hand and she started to lean back to her position on the bed Link grabbed her around the waist with one arm and snatched the pillow away with the other. Zelda shrieked with laughter as he pinned her beneath him to the bed, his movements so quick she was unable to do anything about it.
" Truce?" Link asked, hands below her shoulders, holding her to the bed as he sat over her, leaning down. Zelda didn’t answer, just bent her elbow so that she could reach the necklace that dangled from his neck and looked at it.
" This is the amulet I gave you." Zelda said after a moment of surprise. " You still have it."
" I’ve always had it. I just never carried it around for fear of losing it. But a couple days ago I had it attached to a chain."
Still holding it, Zelda looked up from the necklace at Link. He was so close; she could feel the warmth of his body. He held her pressed to the bed, his hands strong, but gentle, for he would never hurt her. She realized that for one split second her body had been against his, only the thin cotton of his tank and her dress between them. Her blood began to run hot, her pulse to quicken, and her mouth fell slightly open as her gaze wandered to his lips.

Link stared down back at her, not conscious of the look she was giving him as he gazed longingly at the golden hair that splayed across his bed, the blue eyes he always made sure not to lose himself in, and the full, rose-red lips he found himself needing to kiss so badly, as if he would die if he didn’t. His hands moved from her shoulders, releasing her, and at that, Zelda grabbed his left arm as if to push him away and escape, as he slid his right arm underneath her and around her waist and leaned closer to her

Zelda held onto his arm, feeling the hard muscle of his arm in her hand, as his arm went around her and his body moved closer to her. Using her other arm she slid her hand through his hair on the back of his head, waiting for him to kiss her. Their lips were mere millimeters apart, her eyes just closing, when the door to his room suddenly flung wide open, slamming the wall behind it. Immediately the moment was gone as both she and Link jumped clear away from each other, scrambling to either side of the bed.

Impa stood in the doorway, a look on her face that showed she was none too happy. Zelda bit her lip and Link cursed himself lightly under his breath. " I am not even going to ask what I walked into, but the boat has been unloaded, your highness, and it’s time to depart." Impa said, and waited. Zelda wasn’t sure what she wanted until she shot her a look.

" Oh! Coming." Zelda said, hopping off the bed and moving hurriedly from the room. Once Zelda was gone, Impa turned to Link, allowing a slight smile to form on her face.
" It’s about time, boy."
" What?" Now Link was confused.
" Don’t play dumb, you know what I’m talking about." Impa replied, and Link looked down, a little embarrassed. " I’m only curious about why it took so long for you to take some action." She finished, and then left Link alone in his room to change.

* * *

It wasn’t long before Link met the others outside on the dock; his steps slow and dragged. A few carriages had arrived to bring them to the palace and were already being loaded. Link looked over at Zelda but she failed to meet his eye. However, she was aware of him, aware of how tired and strained he looked and acted, and her worry over him increased. One of the Hyrulian knights helped her into the middle carriage and Link waited a second to be told what to do. It wasn’t long before Impa came over to him.

" You young man, will travel to the palace in Zelda’s carriage. You are after all, her bodyguard."
Link nodded and headed to the carriage, pausing a moment before he was given the go ahead nod by Impa. He opened the door and stepped into the carriage, sitting down diagonal to Zelda. She didn’t acknowledge his presence at first, but then said, " It should only be a few hours till we reach the palace."
" So what exactly is going to take place here?" Link asked, glancing out the window as the carriage began to move.
" We are going to make the final draft of the peace treaty between our nations."
" Shouldn’t your father be here to do that too?" Link yawned.
" In another year I shall be queen, and I know as well as my father what needs to be done."
" I know that, but does the king of Delina?"
" He was told originally that it was to be either myself or my father that would come and make the final arrangements, and he is prepared for both of us." There was a moment of silence in which Link did not answer. " Link?" She questioned, turning her head to look at him. She frowned worriedly when she saw that he was asleep once more.

* * *

Link wasn’t aware of how much time had passed when he woke up to Zelda gently shaking his shoulder. " Link, get up, we’re at the palace."
" Hnn." He replied sleepily, opening his eyes. The door to the carriage opened and a knight stuck his hand in to help Zelda out. She hesitated before taking it, then waited for Link to follow. After a moment he did, but as he stepped out, his knees buckled right out from underneath him and he almost fell. At the last second, the knight that had helped Zelda grabbed his arm while Zelda grabbed the other.
" Careful Link," Sir Dern told him, steadying him. " I never thought you’d need any of my help." He said with a laugh, and Link grinned. He and Dern had been friends since Link had come to stay at the palace. Dern had been trained as a knight, while Link had never had any training and remained the most skilled of all Hyrule’s knights. Dern let go of his arm and returned to what he was doing, while Zelda still held on, afraid he would fall.

Link felt so weak, so tired. He closed his eyes, allowing Zelda to steer him in the right direction and walk him into the palace. He knew that he was receiving stares from every direction after only opening his eyes once. Everyone was curious to know why the hero of Hyrule needed the support of their princess. But Zelda never let go of his arm, and soon they had reached the palace. Link forced his eyes open enough to see that they were walking down a red carpet that led to a huge set of double doors that two knights of Delina opened for them. He was also dimly aware that the knights were telling Zelda that she could only bring in two knights aside from her bodyguard. She chose Dern and Felk, brothers, and the best.

" Link, open your eyes." Zelda whispered in his ear, and he obeyed. Zelda also let go of his arm, slowly at first, to make sure he would be all right on his own. The king of Delina was seated upon a golden throne at the end of the steps, and he and Zelda were now before him, Dern and Felk taking positions nearby behind them.
" It is a pleasure, Princess Zelda, to finally meet you." King Dremin said, standing. Zelda smiled and replied, " As it is you, your majesty." She curtsied before him and he bowed.
" So tell me who this lad in green is, princess. He can’t be the famous hero of Hyrule?" Dremin asked, looking at Link with something of contempt in his eyes.
" He is."
" I assume he is your bodyguard as well, or he would not have been admitted here."
" You have assumed correctly." Zelda replied, disliking the tall, dark man who stood before her.
" He does not appear to be as brave and strong as I have been told. Weak, in fact, tired."
" Link is stronger than any man alive."
" Would you like to prove that, your highness?" Dremin asked, frowning at Link, who stared right back at him, not one to be stared down.
" What?"
" Oh, just a simple duel, a test to see who is stronger. My best knight against your bodyguard."
" I’m afraid that’s not possible, Link is not feeling very well today." Zelda told him. At this Link ignored the king and turned to her, as awake as he could be.
" That’s okay, Zel. If he wants a friendly challenge I’ll give him one."
" Zel?" Dremin repeated, to no one in particular.
" Link, you don’t have to. Please, it’s not necessary." Zelda pleaded, her first meeting with Dremin not going so well.
" As you wish, Zelda." Link replied, yawning.
" I think it is necessary, princess, if you are to confirm what you have said. Do not leave me waiting to see how strong he is."
Zelda felt that he couldn’t have called her a liar any stronger than if he had just said it. The words, I hate you, rose to her lips, but she forced them back and turned to Link. Link nodded and drew out his sword. " You have yourself a duel, your majesty."
" That’s what I want to hear. Sir Qazeil, show him how it’s done." King Dremin said, and at once a tall, strong, muscled knight strode forward, much bigger than Link. Zelda and Dremin backed away, as well as Dern and Felk, leaving the two to their fight.

Link was breathing hard, and looking as if he might fall over from lack of sleep, while Dern, Felk, and Zelda looked on worried as Dremin and Qazeil smirked in premature triumph. Link brought his shield out with his right arm, as Qazeil brought out both weapon and shield. Dremin began to murmur something beside Zelda and she looked over at him puzzled, and then back a Link as his shield clattered to the floor. The duel hadn't even started yet. Link’s right arm was hanging by his side, limp, but undamaged. Zelda looked back at Dremin in surprise.