Forbidden flame: A Zelink story

Chapter 14

"Shit. It really hurts, princess." Link said as I held a tissue to his nose in my bathroom. I was still in my dress, he was still in his armour. "You shouldn't be doing this. You're the princess, I should be at the medical grounds."

"The blood's not stopping. It wasn't this bad earlier, it stopped almost immediately." I ignored him. I grabbed a new tissue, swapping them over as the other one was drenched in blood. "Thank you for doing this. Going through all this for me, I-"

"It's my job, your highness." 

I sighed. "Will you stop calling me that?"

"No. I have to."

I shook my head. "Not around me." I removed the tissue and smiled when seemingly no more blood came out of Link's nose. "Looks like it's cleared up."

I threw away the tissues as Link washed the excess blood off his face.

"So, Princess," He began as he turned the tap off and began drying his face. "Should I be off?"

I walked back into my room, taking off the cropped cape that still lingered on my shoulders and drooping it over the back of an armchair. "Well, it's up to you."

"If it's up to me, I'd like to stay." 

I smiled. "I'd like that too."

Link took his armour off as I sat on the bed, my skirt in a massive circle around me. Link sat infront of me and kissed me.

"You looked beautiful tonight." He smiled, kissing me again and laying me down as he did so. I wrapped my arms round his neck as he wrapped his arms round my back. He kissed my neck and underneath my chin before moving back up to my lips.

I wanted to stay in this moment forever.

We both heard the door open then, and Link and I sat up in shock.  Arabelle stood motionless in the door, her eyes wide and her mouth hanging open. She looked behind her before looking back at us.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sounding a lot more agressive than I had intended it to.

"I- I'm sorry, Your majesty, I just came to drop off-"

"Leave! Now!" I shouted, Arabelle nodding and closing the door as she left. I got off the bed and locked the door, leaning my forehead on it. "I'm so sorry, I forgot to lock the door."

"It's okay." Link reassured. "It's okay, Princess."

It felt as though my insides were shaking. We had been caught. I was terrified of what Arabelle could do; even mention it to someone else, and both me and Link would be in Great danger. "No, it's not. I put us in danger, and now we're both-"

"No, no, Princess, it's okay. It's all alright, it's fine." Link walked up to me and wrapped his arms round my waist from behind. "We're fine."

"What if we aren't?" I turned around to face him.

"She won't say anything, I'm sure. She's probably too scared to say anything."

"I hope you're right." I sighed, resting my head on his chest. 

"I'm sure I am." Link held me close before kissing me again. "Now, where were we?"

Link was fast asleep. I watched as his bare chest rose and fell to the pace of his steady breathing. His mouth was slightly open, his golden hair fully down; he had taken it out of its ponytail. His arms were clutching the pillow as his eyebrows twitched momentarily.

I lit the lantern beside my bed as a result of not being able to sleep. The soft glow barely lit up the room, making sure Link didn't wake from his sleep.

I gently ran my fingers through Link's hair. He looked so innocent when he was asleep. It was the only time of day when he wasn't on the lookout, the only time of day where he had nothing to protect.

I lay down beside him as he furrowed his eyebrows and shifted his position a little, closing his mouth. I wondered what he was dreaming about. 

I trailed my thumb over his cheek, careful to be light about it. I didn't ever want anything to happen to him. I loved him so much. I felt my cheeks grow hot as a tear fell onto my pillow. My Link. He was my pretty boy.

His eyes droopily opened as he looked at me. "Are you crying?" He asked. 

"I'm just so thankful for you." I wavered, my voice on the brink of a sob.

"I'm thankful for you too, Zelda." 

I rested my head on his shoulder as he held me tight, and before long, the steady breathing returned.