When Emery awoke, she looked to see no one by her side. She frowned slightly. She climbed out of bed, although she was a million times more sore than yesterday. The pain had really set in over night. She walked downstairs to find Link sitting on the couch. Of course he was reading his book. "Good morning."

"Morning." She replied quietly. He could tell by the way she was walking that she was in pain. It was something he knew all too well.

"Maybe you should lay back down? I don't think I'm going to Goron City today, anyways." He decided. He jumped up to help her back to bed.

"Really?" She asked. "Haven't we no time to waste?"

"He's been held off this long, right? It's a ticking time bomb, but I don't think one more day will test our luck." He assured her, giving her a small smile. She nodded and laid down into bed. He pulled the cover over her. "You need to heal."

"I don't want to hold you back." She whispered, a lump in her throat. Again, she felt like such a disappointment. He frowned at her.

"You're not. I'd much rather prefer to go tomorrow." He said. She gave him a look. "I promise."

"Okay." She mumbled. When he began to walk back downstairs, she freaked. "Hey, w-wait!" He turned towards her. "Aren't you going to keep me company?"

"You want my company?" He seemed surprised. She nodded. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I am." She said. She watched as he sat down on his side of the bed. "What are you always reading?"

"Stuff about Hyrule. All the legends of the hero. There are so many stories, I wonder if any of them are true or just variations." He spoke, and hearing him so fond of a topic made her overjoyed, for some reason.

"Have you read the one about the twilight?" She asked. He nodded.

"I think that one is quite interesting. It would be crazy if it actually happened. I don't know what I'd do then." He replied with a light chuckle.

"Doesn't the hero turn into a Divine Beast when he enters the twilight?" She asked. He nodded. "I bet you'd be a cute dog."

His face turned red, even if it was a poor compliment. "Uh, thanks."

"Sorry." She mumbled.

"Oh, no, it's..." He sighed as he didn't know what to say.

"Do you remember your childhood?" She asked. He shook his head.

"I don't remember much." He replied.

"What do you remember?"

"I remember my parents." He mumbled. "My father was a knight and I followed in his footsteps. My mother was nice, but I don't remember anymore than that."

"I'm happy that you remember yours." She gave him a genuine smile.

"Emery, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"It's okay. Don't apologize." She said. He nodded. He pulled his book out and began reading now. She laid on her side, facing him. She watched as he read quickly. Not wanting to interrupt him, she drifted off to sleep again. Before she knew it, she was being gently shook back to consciousness.

"Are you hungry?" He asked her as she rubbed her eyes. Of course, she nodded. She hadn't eaten in a little while. Now that she was thinking about it, it had been quite sometime. "Good, I made some food."

"Is it edible?" She snorted. He huffed as he walked down the stairs, completely forgetting about her condition. It was no big deal, as she didn't expect his help anyways. She hobbled down the stairs and to the living area. Taking a seat on the opposite side of the couch from Link, he handed her a plate. It was a lovely steak dinner with mushrooms and hearty radishes. "So, you're a good cook?"

"Uh..." His face turned red. She chuckled and he wondered what was so amusing to her. "Not exactly, I just throw it in the fire and hope it comes out okay."

"Well," She laughed. "That's a good method I suppose."

They ate in a comfortable silence. She ate slowly in attempts to not bloat her stomach too much. He ate quickly, in large amounts at a time. Apparently, he couldn't turn down a good meal. After they finished eating, she headed to the bathroom to take another shower. She was usually traveling, so when she had an opportunity to take a shower, she took it. Even if it was two nights in a row. After her shower consisted of yet another mental battle with herself. She just wanted the stitches out of her body, and she wanted to be beautiful. Like Princess Zelda, so Link would maybe notice her. What was with him? How was she suppose to know how he felt when he doesn't talk about how he feels? Why won't he just talk about how he feels? Although, she couldn't say much because she was the same way. It seemed they still had a long ways to come of getting close to each other.

She stepped out of the hot bathroom, letting a small sigh of content escape her lips. Now, she just needed to braid her hair. How was she suppose to do that when it hurt to put much pressure on her back? Although her hair was long, she couldn't get to it. She looked over at Link, who was once again reading. "Do you know how to braid?"

He looked up at her, wondering if she was talking to him. Then mentally cursed himself for being so stupid. There was no one else in the house, of course she was talking to him! "Uh, I feel like I do."

"Well," She walked over to him, sitting down next to him. "I'll explain it, and maybe it'll come back to you."

"Okay." He murmured. She began telling him what do, and the muscle memory of doing it soon came back to him. He finished it, tying the end of it so it wouldn't fall out. "I had a little sister. I use to braid her hair for her."

She turned to look at Link, giving him a frown. "I'm sorry, Link."

"It's okay." He shrugged. "I don't even remember her name, but I think she looked a lot like me."

"That would make sense." She chuckled gently, then trailed off into thought. Link wondered what she was thinking out. "I wish I knew if I had any siblings. Or even just about my parents. I wish I knew something."

"Maybe when we get to Zelda, she'll know something about your family. Maybe I do, and I just can't remember. If I could help you, I would." He put a gentle, warm hand on her thigh. Why did he always have to bring her up?

"There's no way we could trace some family back to me, anyways. Impa named me, I believe." She shrugged simply, putting her arms around herself afterwards. "It's no big deal."

"It is, you don't have to play your problems off. They're valid, you know?" He said. How did he always know the right things to say? He didn't even know what she was dealing with, yet he made her feel ten times better. For that, she wanted to hate him.

"Thank you." She mumbled.

"Of course." He nodded. There was a short silence between him.

"Don't you think Zelda is beautiful?" She just wanted to know his true opinion, even if asking the question was a bit awkward.

He laughed. "Do you?"

"Well, yes. She's the princess with the Goddess' powers." She replied.

"That doesn't make beauty, you know." He said wisely, but gave her a playful look. "It's about what's on the inside, the looks on the outside reflects what's on the inside."

"Well, then you think she's beautiful don't you?" She asked.

"I guess so." He shrugged. He'd never given much thought to it, at least not in this life.

"So, do you love her?" She asked.

"Not that I know of, and I can't see myself loving her. Why do you ask this stuff?" He asked curiously.

"Because everyone thought the two of you were in love." She shrugged.

"Well, I'm sure we cared about each other. I just can't see myself loving her like that." He said. His words gave her a sense of relief, and she didn't understand why. Or why she needed to know this stuff. Why did she even think about it?

"That's nice." She replied. He nodded, and went back to his reading. She itched at her arm as she sensed awkwardness. Link, on the other hand, paid no real attention to the true meaning behind her questions. He thought they were general inquiries. This was business only, yet she keeps letting herself go back to him. Every night, craving the feeling of him holding her. She couldn't let him do that this time, and tonight she'd take the couch. She was independent this many years of her life, and she'd continue to be. Getting attached to someone wasn't an option, especially when there was just too much to lose. If anything ever happened to Link, she wouldn't be able to live with herself. Besides, she didn't want to have to depend on someone else, it resulted in too much extra stress and hurt. She didn't want to hurt any longer, not like that. She'd lost too many people already. Whenever Link sees Zelda after all of this is over, she'll lose him. Zelda was a Goddess, and Emery was a small, unattractive girl with baggage and dead parents.