You were surprised at how little things changed. It had been several hours since you and Link had finally, finally, made yourselves official but so far, not much felt different. It was the next day; Link was napping, his head resting in your lap, while you were busy making something off to the side of your lap. It was business as usual for the two of you, for a lazy afternoon. The only thing that was different was that you now had a title and that everything was in the open.

You no longer had to hide your feelings, or be embarrassed about them. Everything could flow naturally now, without interruption. And you were more than excited to see what was in store for the two of you.

You were doing your best to replicate his paraglider. His fit the both of you, sure, but the added weight ensured that you didn't go nearly as far than if it was just one of you using it. So, earlier, you had carved two curved pieces of wood and now you were finishing up knitting the cloth that would fit between them. It seemed to be coming out alright so far- yours wasn't nearly as clean-knit as Link's was, but you blamed that on the fact that you were simply just a bit out of practice.

It was simple work and it kept you occupied while Link rested. You worked for a while in the relative quiet. The horses were nearby, grazing as per usual. The area you were in was peaceful and calm, but eventually, you grew bored. You were still in the same clearing you had camped in.

When you first woke up this morning, you had prepared to set out on the road when Link had woken up. Everything was packed up, and you had already put Epona's saddle on. You were fixing her bridle when Link rolled over and told you that he didn't feel like going anywhere today. You weren't very surprised, so you took her saddle off again and she nudged your shoulder with her nose as if to thank you.

You had then gone over and crouched down next to Link. Setting an elbow on your knee, you placed your chin in your palm and looked at him with an eyebrow raised. He looked up at you, his face still conveying to you that he was sleepy. He yawned, and you bit down on your cheek to suppress your smile. You asked him, when he was finished yawning, when exactly he was planning on saving the world. He shrugged before turning so he was lying on his side. He reached up with one hand and tugged on a loose piece of your hair absentmindedly.

Sighing, you had sat down next to him. He pulled himself into your lap again, and you looked down into his upside-down face which had a crooked smile stretched across it. He reached up and placed a hand on each cheek before he pulled you down towards him. He met you halfway, meeting your lips in a quick kiss.

You remembered that the gesture simultaneously sent shocks of electricity through your body and chills down your spine, but warmed your heart and cheeks. Despite the roughness of the conditions you often faced, his lips were soft and gentle. When he pulled away, your lips were met with a chill from no longer having his warmth there.

When he lowered back into your lap, you sighed and shook your head, though a smile graced your features. You had given in, knowing that he was going to, and had already gotten, his way. You had simply placed your hands on his chest around him, officially giving up. The sun had come out from behind some clouds after a moment, though, and he had grabbed your hands to block his eyes.

And now, he was still asleep, and you were still bored. You set the nearly-finished glider off to the side, deciding to finish it later. You poked Link's cheek, attempting to wake him up. His brows furrowed and he swatted your hands away, but his eyes didn't open. He mumbled something, but you didn't hear anything that resembled an actual word, so you poked him again. He groaned, turning onto his side so one of his cheeks was pressed into your legs. The unprotected cheek he covered with his hand.

"Link," you said, leaning forward slightly, "I'm bored."

"Then lie down next to me and take a nap with me," he said.

"I can't very well do that if you're using me as a pillow," you countered. He rolled off of you, and held his arms out to you, eyes open now. He had a small smile and you rolled your eyes. "And I said I was bored, not sleepy. I don't want to take a nap." Link frowned and let his arms drop to the ground. "What if we took a quick ride on the horses before dinner? We can race, and-"

Before you could even finish that thought, Link had already nodded and was jogging towards the horses. You followed after him, laughing slightly at his enthusiasm. He was running to fetch Nayru's saddle, but by the time he picked it up and turned around, you were already on her back, a hand in her mane and ready to ride. You smiled down at him and his eyes widened before he grinned, getting the picture.

He ran to Epona as you kicked your heels into Nayru's side, sending her through the forest at a canter. Link was quick to catch up, and the two of you weaved around trees and charged through underbrush in your mad dash to Hylia-knows-where.

You looked over at Link and sent him a grin. You received one back, but in your time looking away from Nayru's path you had failed to notice a large tree root coming up quickly. You made to swerve her out of the way, but your mare had other plans. She accelerated, letting out a defiant neigh. Just before the root, Nayru leapt, and you could feel the muscles under you flex as you seemed to float through the air. She landed easily and kept running. Patting her on the neck, you praised her.

Over the sound of the two sets of pounding hooves hammering along the forest floor, you could hear the sounds of a rushing river. You tugged gently on Nayru's mane, urging her towards the sound of the water. Link noticed you change direction so he followed after you, not happy to have lost his lead.

You brought her to a trot after she broke through the edge of the underbrush and out onto a small, sandy trail. The river was a few yards away, the water swiftly racing southward. Link and Epona exited the forest after a few moments, and you smiled him briefly before turning Nayru and racing her along the trail upstream.

The landscape rushed by as you raced. The passing trees were little more than blurs, and you could see glimpses of animals looking at you as you rushed past. Turning round a bend in the river, on the inside of the turn, you slowed. There was a good-sized pool of water here, likely the result of heavy rains causing the river to overflow. It reminded you of the tide pools you'd explore as a child on Hateno Beach. There was a wall of sorts protecting the pool from the rushing water.

Epona trotted into the pool, which was shallow enough for a stretch that they could walk around easily. You made to follow but saw the amount of water Epona kicked up, soaking Link's pants and boots. Swinging both legs to one side of Nayru, you pulled off your boots and socks and tossed them by the edge of the forest, and rolled up your pant legs.

You then let Nayru follow Epona's lead, and the two did their own thing for a few minutes. Epona was much more inclined to trot around while Nayru simply relaxed, letting herself cool down for a few minutes and drink. Link let Epona keep trotting around, but attempted to take off his boots as you had. He nearly fell off of her a few times, but managed to toss his boots and socks over towards yours.

Link fixed how he was sitting on Epona's back and grabbed a fistful of her mane again in one hand. Guiding her gently, he approached you with a smile. You turned Nayru away from him and brought her to a trot. Link trailed after you, and the two of you rode in a small circle around each other. The circle grew smaller until you were as close as the horses could comfortably allow, and they slowed to a walk.

The rhythmic movements and gentle rocking of the horses lulled you into a relaxed state. The sound of their hooves splashing the water and the rushing river nearby seemed to fade into nothing more than a dull roar as you focused on who was in front of you.

Link, the Hylian Champion and Hero of Hyrule, who you could safely say was yours.

He smiled warmly at you, his blue eyes holding in them a twinkle of happiness and, as usual, mischief. His hair, dirty and falling out of his ponytail, shifted in the breeze. His pointed ears stuck out of his hair, the earrings the same rich blue as his tunic. The deep blue colors of his eyes were matched neither by the sky nor the water, and not even the tunic he wore that matched your own. His body was toned and fit but it wasn't too burly. He was lean and agile and lithe, but still solid. You knew that despite his soft look, he was powerful. Though he was smiling now, you knew that his eyes could light with the fire of determination and courage.

You were smiling brightly at him, the light from the sun seeming weak in comparison. Your eyes, a rich color, held within them the galaxy and all the stars within them. Though you knew your hair was falling out from the way you had fixed it earlier from the riding, you didn't quite care. Of course, neither did he. The roughness of the wild had done little to disrupt your natural softness- your features still exuded kindness and a loving nature, though Link knew that you were as sharp as a knife and if looks could kill, those you disliked would have little chance of survival. Over the past months your body had grown stronger. You didn't have bulging muscles, no; you were lithe as he was, though while he resembled a wolf in his fierceness, you more resembled a deer.

A sun came out from behind some clouds, warming you and casting glares out onto the water. The brilliantly reflected light didn't distract you from your boy, however. You were surprised when Link suddenly smirked, the crooked, boyish grin looking out of place on his sweet face. Suddenly kicking into Epona's sides, he brought her behind Nayru and he jumped off of his steed, only to land behind you on your own.

You laughed, and he slid closer to you and wrapped his arms around your waist. The feeling sent shockwaves up and down your body, but you paid it no mind. You felt your cheeks grow warm but you smiled. Link leaned to one side to look at you, and when you met his eyes you saw so much adoration and happiness in them that you briefly wondered if he really was looking at you.

Acting on impulses you couldn't believe were your own, you turned your head and kissed his cheek, pretending not to notice the way his cheeks turned bright red and his eyes widened. As if too embarrassed to meet your eyes, he buried his face in the crook of your neck and tightened his hold on you slightly.

You laughed quietly, looking forward and kicking into Nayru's sides again. Leaving the small pool of water, you rode together along the edge of the river, Nayru's hooves kicking up a flurry of water with every step. Epona neighed and followed after you.

The wind blew through your hair and into your sleeves, chilling you. Your legs were cold from the water that had splashed them, but to be honest, you didn't care. Link kept his arms around you and that warmed you enough for the time being. Nayru whinnied happily, glad to be able to run freely like this.

Soon, the scenery changed. You were racing along the riverbank as the trees ended. Leaving the forest behind, you looked away from the river and took in the sight in front of you. You seemed to be looking at the whole of Hyrule in one landscape. The Great Plateau could be seen, as could Death Mountain, far in the distance. You could see the outlines of ruins and stables, and as you kept going, the Castle was uncovered.

No matter where you went in Hyrule, you were hard-pressed to find somewhere that didn't have a view of the castle. Hyrule Castle was surrounded by a swirling purple mass, and evil energy flowed from it. With each step closer to it, should your path ever lead you that way, you always felt it grow heavier. But you knew that soon, within your lifetime, the castle would be restored. Hyrule would be restored to its former glory and peace.

And then...you and Link could rest.

---

You padded carefully along the tree branch. It was wide and strong, and arched over the river, so you figured it would be a good place to rest for a while before you returned to camp. The horses drank water and rested on the river bank far below you. You sat down on the branch and looked down between your legs, watching the water crash over large rocks before continuing on when you heard Link approach.

He sat down next to you and set his hands in his lap. He turned his head and smiled warmly at you. You sent him one in return before leaning into his side, resting your head on his shoulder. He stiffened in surprise before relaxing and setting his hand on your waist.

After a quiet moment, Link spoke, albeit quietly. "You have no idea how much I missed you."

"I missed you too," you replied, just as quietly.

"I just...when I was on my own again I closed myself off again. It felt...odd. I was so used to it at first but now...I can be myself without worrying and when you're around, I feel like I can do anything so I don't fear the possibility of letting people down." He sighed. "Don't let me leave you somewhere again, because I don't like who I become when you're not here with me."

You let out a laugh. "I don't intend on leaving your side for a while."

"Good," he said.

Your heart took over in that moment. Acting on the moment, you lifted your head from his shoulder and looked at him. He met your soft gaze with a curious one, and when you began to lean in closer, his cheeks flushed red and he gulped.

Your eyes flickered between his eyes and his lips, searching for any sign of hesitation from him. His eyes were focused on your lips but he didn't move any closer. So he's gonna make me go to him? Screw that.

You grasped the front of his shirt near his collar and pulled him closer to you. His lips met yours and as soon as they did, a wave of electricity flowed through your body and you wanted nothing more than to bring him closer. Your hand released his shirt and instead was placed on his shoulder, tugging him closer gently. Your other hand cupped his cheek, your touch soft.

Link's hand that was on your waist tightened its grip slightly as he grabbed the fabric of your tunic. His other hand buried itself in your hair, his fingers quickly entangling themselves in your locks.

The two of you put in the same amount of intensity and you moved in sync. The feeling of his lips on yours was intoxicating and you wanted more. You had been waiting for so long for this- for the most part you had believed your feelings weren't reciprocated- but now you could make up for lost time, and you fully intended to do just that. So when Link made to pull away, you only allowed the two of you a short breath before you leaned forward, connecting your lips again.

He didn't object. Instead, he began to respond to you with greater intensity and passion and you almost struggled to keep up. Of course, almost was the operative word there.

He drew you in closer to him and you slid your hands to wrap around his neck loosely in response. It was only when Link took your bottom lip between his teeth that you began to disentangle yourself from him and pull away slightly.

You were breathing heavily and so was Link. He removed his hands from where they were and placed them on the sides of your face, just below your jaw. He pulled you in and kissed you on the forehead. You smiled and went to say something but the words were stolen from you as he kissed your cheek- then your other one- and then the tip of your nose. All the loving contact and the look he was giving you made you blush and you looked away briefly.

He was looking at you with soft eyes that seemed to glow in the fading light of the sun. His grin was irritatingly adorable and just as infectious; his cheeks were tinted pink but he didn't seem to mind all that much. He suddenly became shy under your gaze and his eyes flickered to his hands before you pressed a quick peck to his cheek.

He kept looking down but his smile grew and he licked his lips tentatively. He seemed so happy in this moment that you found it hard to believe that in just a few short weeks you'd be seeing him off to go fight the single greatest threat ever to attack Hyrule.

"What now, hero?"

He took a moment to think before answering. He met your eyes briefly before looking down again. "I think I want to kiss you again."

"Do you, now?"

"But of course," he assured as the two of you leaned in again.

---

"Let me help you, (Y/n)!"

You looked up from what you were doing and grinned. "We don't want the whole forest burning down, Link."

He pouted. "But I wanna help. And you promised to teach me to cook!"

"Alright, alright," you relented. "You're lucky you're so cute, otherwise I wouldn't have given in so easily."

The meal you made together was delicious. You taught him to peel vegetables and how to prepare the meat for cooking. He made the stew by himself and you couldn't help but admit that he seemed to have a knack for it. His last cooking attempt hadn't ended well, but this one certainly had.

While you ate, leaning back against a fallen tree's trunk, Link spoke up. "(Y/n)," he said as he swallowed, speaking slowly and tentatively, "when we left Hateno for the first time, did you leave any...significant other behind?"

You looked at him, wondering where the sudden curiosity had come from. You took another sip of your soup before answering. "If I had anyone at the time," you said, "then I wouldn't have left them to go on a dangerous adventure."

"Good then," he said with a smile as he took another sip. "I don't have to feel guilty then. I would've hated to have to go back to Hateno to have a talk with someone."

"Watch the testosterone, Link," you warned jokingly.

"I mean it," he said, looking at you. "I would've marched all the way back and asked what that other guy had to offer you."

You looked at him with a smirk. "And if he had something better than you?"

"Impossible," he scoffed. "He wouldn't have been chosen by the sword that seals the darkness, would he?"

"Yes, but maybe he'd be more handsome than you are."

"Another impossible feat," he said without missing a beat. "Just admit it, sweetie. I'm the best qualified for you."

You shook your head with a roll of your eyes and a smile. "Just shut up and finish your dinner."

Author's Note: just some more fluff <3

So, once again, sorry this took so long. I've been working on this ove the course of two weeks, doing what I could in the little time I have between school and dance and homework and sleep and- well, junior year is busy, to say the least.

But a few updates: yep, there are only eleven chapters left. i'm gonna miss writing for this story. but school and dance are both going well, and i managed to bag that boy, so hey. profit.

I hope you all enjoyed this one- the next one should be up soon- and I'll see you all in the next one!