Forbidden flame: A Zelink story

Chapter 10

"I think we should head back to the library. I have more research to do."

"Yes, princess." Link replied. The silence was almost awkward.

The lamps had been turned on, and our mess had been organized into neat piles on the table. The moon's light now shone through, compared to the orange glow of the sun earlier.

After not long, I felt a little pressure on my hand, and turned to see Link drawing on it.

"Hey!" I pulled my hand away. Link began to laugh the way I was now familiar with. "Just draw on paper, don't use my skin as the canvas, idiot."

"Hey, I am not an idiot!" Link protested, laughter still hanging on his voice.

"You are so stupid." I said, followed by a smile.

"Wow, okay, don't pull out the knife." 

I groaned, tipping my head back towards the ceiling. "This is hopeless. I am making no progress!"

"Really?"

"Yes. It's so annoying. None of the stuff in this book makes sense." 

"Maybe it's time you went to bed, princess."

"No. I need to keep going. Hyrule is at stake, I can't just turn my back."

I looked up from my book to be met with Link's deep eyes gazing into mine. The light emulating from the lamps perfectly shone on his hair.

I could feel my cheeks heat up before I looked back down at my book for cover.

"If you think that's best." Link said, getting up to stretch his legs. "Do you think I could reach that chandeleir if I stood on the table?" He asked.

"I don't know." I responded absent-mindedly.

A couple seconds later, my book leaped along with the table as Link's feet slammed down on it from jumping to try and reach it.

"Link, can you please just focus?" 

He looked down at me, then pointed towards the now swinging chandeleir. "Got it," He grinned.

"Okay, very good, but please just settle."

He sat down opposite me again.

"Listen to this," I began. "It says here that 10,000 years ago, the Calamity began infecting animals before people. This could mean that encouraging people to have a plant-based diet may decrease the risk of infection, don't you think?"

"Maybe. I don't know." Link said before looking back at his pen that he was balancing on the side of his hand. I began to laugh softly.

I began to think about all the sweet things he had done for me today. All the things that had softened the burden of studying. I had even forgotten about how much I hated having an appointed knight once or twice, because I was beginning to enjoy it. Having somebody to talk to, somebody to laugh with, somebody to...

Link looked up at me then, his smile as sweet as ever. He put the pen down and focused on my eyes.

put my hand on top of his as out fingers interlocked once more. The hollow chest feeling returned.

Both me and him looked up at each-other at the same time. 

"It's forbidden, princess." Link murmured, his eyebrows furrowing.

"It's not against the rules if my father never finds out."

"He will. Eventually. You know he will."

"I don't care, Link." 

Link's gaze softened we both drew closer to each other.

"I care about you a lot, princess." Link confessed.

"Then show me."

we both closed our eyes and leaned in closer, so close that I could feel his hair brush against my forehead, his nose against mine.

Then the door opened.

And the two of us instantly backed away. 

"My my, princess! It's getting late!" Arabelle exclaimed, beginning to dust the door frame. "You should probably head to your room now."

I stood up, furious. Why in God's name couldn't anything ever work out for me?

I made my way towards the door as Link followed behind. "Princess, wait!" He called out to me. 

"Link will take me, Arabelle." I declared through gritted teeth.

I stormed through the dark hallways, Link staying annoyingly quiet behind me.

"Are you okay?" I heard him ask.

"I'm fine. But I'm frustrated, that's all." I crossed my arms as I stopped walking, turning to face him. "I'm mad that I can't understand those books, I'm mad that everybody's always watching me. I'm mad that I can't get a moment to myself, or-"

Link kissed me.

I tried to back away at first, but it felt so good, I couldn't help but let him take course.

He wrapped one arm around my waist, using the other to support the back of my head. 

My heart was going beserk, but I loved it. I loved the rush.

Once he pulled away, he didn't let go of me. He touched my forehead to his as we both laughed into each other.

"Sorry. I thought you might need that."

"I did, thank you."

I placed my hand on his chest, feeling the rapid thumping underneath my fingers. 

"I've known you three days and already I'm-"

Link pressed a finger to my lips. "Just go with it, princess."

He kissed me again, and this time I wrapped my arms round his neck, fondling with his hair. I was drunk on him. I never wanted this to end. I felt as though I was inside a storybook, one I used to read when I was younger maybe.

We both pulled away before Link walked me to my bedroom, an arm still round my waist.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" He ensured once we were there, his eyes droopy with fatigue.

"Yes. Of course." I began to properly whisper, since my room wasn't too far from my dad's, and though the walls were thick in the bedroom itself, the hallways would echo rather loudly. I whispered in his ear, "Luckily."