Hyrule

The article about Link is a great success, and Link has been sent out to more camps to fight monsters in the last couple of months, always with Leona there to report. Now Link doesn't take his time with the camps anymore; he rushes through them as quickly as possible because Leona and he always spend time together after he finishes.
The last few months they have spend a lot of their time together. Leona and Link not just enjoy each other's company but they also help each other up when needed. They've gotten closer and closer with time passing. 

Leona has also learned that she doesn't need to worry about getting hurt while Link is around, so she just gets closer and closer to the camps each time. Now she is always so close that they are talking to each other while Link is fighting monsters.

"Link, where do you want to go today? We aren't that far from Lurelin. Maybe we can spend the rest of the day there and head back tomorrow?"

Link stops in his tracks and almost gets hit by an incoming attack from a Moblin. He is able to dodge just in time. He then finishes the Moblin off quickly and still doesn't respond to Leona.

"Are you alright, Link? That was close. Why are you this shaken by my question?"

"Well, you see, I would really love to go to Lurelin with you."

"But?" Leona asks.

"But, I'll have to explain to my parents why I was gone the whole time, meaning we would make this kind of official."

"Oh, so you don't want to?"

"No, no I want to... It's just," Link looks at the sword on his back. "I have this burden to carry, and at some point, I might have to fight all day, every day, and I don't want to leave someone behind if I don't come back. My dad always told me that that is his biggest fear and what he fights for. When a battle seems lost, he keeps fighting because he knows that there will be people missing him. I don't know if I can do that if I can leave you knowing that we might not see each other again."

"Oh, Link, I understand. I get that it's difficult for you, but I'd rather be broken by you not coming back than be broken by the fact that you never got to me in the first place."

"Are you sure? You could look for a guy that doesn't carry this burden. The chances of him dying early are slimmer."

"I don't want that and I couldn't have that because that wouldn't be what we have. I would rather watch you die by my side than live forever with someone else."

They look at each other, both just taking in the presence of the other.

"Listen, Link," Leona gets closer. "I know, I haven't said it before, but." She leans in and kisses him. "I love you."

Link still has his eyes closed and feels what has just happened, but he doesn't need to think; his heart is telling him all that he needs to know.

"I love you too. Let's go to Lurelin, and when we get back, I will introduce you to my parents, okay?"

"Sounds great!"

And there it is again, the face of excitement on Leona. The way she is smiling and how her eyes are glowing and full of excitement. It feels warm and sincere, and for the last few months, Hyrule has been bright again, not just the Castle, but everything. Before that time, everything was so gray and lifeless, but ever since Leona showed up, life has been full of colors again. He recognizes that during his training and all the days working on himself, he forgot something. He forgot that life is a gift and that the world doesn't change that much, we do, and when he got older, life lost its colors. Now he has them back.

Nothing is gray anymore. Not even the big gray castle. All he sees now are the red banners and flags swinging and the colorful people walking the castle. But now they aren't in the castle or even in the city. They have almost arrived in Lurelin, and the evening isn't far.

"I've never been to Lurelin. Have you been here before?" Link looks at Leona.

"Oh yes, I was born here actually," Leona says. "But my family moved to Hyrule City a while ago. There were monsters here that tried to take over our home, and we had no chance. The army was too far away, and for a long time, Lurelin was captured by monsters. But at some point, a small army showed up."

"Who was leading it?"

"I'm not sure. I've only ever heard stories about what happened, but it was a great general. Someone from the Royal Guard. I don't know his name. Why?"

"I remember my dad telling me a story about something similar a while ago. I thought maybe it was him."

"Maybe. When we get back, we'll ask him."

"Yes," Link smiles, "we will."

Leona grabs his arm, and they walk towards the beach with the sun setting in the distance. They sit down in the sand, and she rests her head on his shoulder and asks him,

"Link, what gives you strength when you are struggling?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, when you feel like you can't do it any longer, or when you are scared, what do you do?"

"Hm."

"I almost forgot, you're the hero. What do you have to be scared or nervous about?" she laughs.

"Well, there are things I'm scared of. Mainly this burden that I carry, the fear of the calamity arriving at any point and not being able to protect the people I love."

"I'm sorry, I didn't think before I spoke."

"No, it's okay, I know what you meant." He kisses her head. "My family is there for me. When I doubt myself, I think about them, how they are always there for me and how they always have my back. Now I'm gladly also adding you to the group of people that make me stronger. Without my family, I could never do the things I do."

"That's nice, and I'll forever have your back and be there for you."

"Thank you."

Leona pushes Link into the sand and lies on top of him, and they start kissing. After a short amount of time, Leona gets up.

"You know, this is kind of public. Why don't we head to that inn over there and get a room?"

Link looks around, "Yeah, probably a good idea."

So they get up and rush to the inn.