When re-working everything out in his head, Link figured out that what he was about to do was hardly a plan, let alone a master one, but he had to try. For Zelda, it was worth it.

"So, let's go through this one more time." Ari said, "I-"

"No, no!" Link interrupted, "The more we go over it, the more I want to just not to do it. It's fine, I'll wing it if I have to."

Ari shrugged. She and Link had been spending the last hour trying to find the best way to impress the Queen of Hyrule. The ideas thought of were either too boring or just flat out unachievable. Link had suggested that he hurtled through the air and scattered Silent Princesses everywhere; Ari suggested that he take Zelda out for a nice stroll.

"Wing it." Ari sighed after a while, "What could possibly go wrong..."

"Everything..." Link mumbled, "I don't see why I can't-"

"Just think about it..." The medic said, "If she's mad at you, is this really the best time to be asking? You want her to be in the best mood possibly when you do, and now is really not that time."

"You're right..."

Ari peaked out of the window to see Zelda strolling along the path, seemingly going nowhere.

"Well, here she comes, its now or never."

"I-I can't... Maybe we need a break... Gosh, it's really hot i-in here."

Ari opened the door, grabbed Link by the shirt and threw him out of the medical room. The General stumbled over and fell into Zelda, who did not look very happy to see him.

"O-oh, what a surprise." Link stuttered, rubbing the back of his neck, "Fancy seeing you here."

Zelda eyed him up, squinting her eyes. Her lips were pouted in annoyance, and her arms were crossed. She was not happy at all.

"So-o, you wanna go somewhere more private?" Link asked mischievously, leaning in a bit closer.

"In your wildest dreams..." Zelda muttered as she barged past him.

"Hmph, I don't appreciate that attitude!" He called out, crossing his arms.

"Haha, really?" She replied sarcastically, "Well guess what: I don't care."

She stalked off, leaving Link slightly bewildered. He then took a deep breath, contemplating his life. What he was about to do was probably going to get him murdered.

"Hey, Zelda, wait up!"

He ran over to her, and without warning, pulled her in closer and pressed his lips against hers. He was expecting her to pull away and shout at him for being an insensitive idiot, but to Link's surprise, he could feel a slight smile spread on Zelda's face. She didn't exactly embrace the kiss, but she wasn't rejecting it either.

"So I figured that you automatically forgive me after a kiss." He stated hopefully.

Zelda was still scowling, but he could see that she was trying her best to supress a smile.

"What if you figured wrong?" She asked.

Link cheery face fell as he cast his gaze down to the floor.

"Look, I'm really sorry, ok?" He said, "I shouldn't have had a go at you like that. If anything, I should be thanking you because you saved my life... There, you happy now?"

Zelda allowed the smile to get the better of her as she pulled Link into a tight embrace.

"Apology accepted."

They stood there for some time, interlocked in a warm hug. The evening sun was now setting, and the stars were beginning to shine through the blanket of light. The late birds were still chirping and the dusk breeze whistled around them.

"I do love Akkala." Zelda whispered after a while.

Link pulled away and held her hand in his, then led her down the path, taking in the beautiful scenery.

"We'll set up a camp somewhere." He said, "All the beds have probably been taken by the workers, and we don't want to move them out, even if you're the Queen."

"Hey!"

"Come on! Even the Queen of Hyrule has to sleep out every now and again, especially with her General."

"Don't push it..." Zelda warned.

"We can make a move to our next destination tomorrow." Link carried on, "Hopefully you'll like this one."

They neared a large tree near the citadel, and Link inspected it, before deciding that they should rest there.

"Hang on..."

He cupped his hands to his mouth and produced a loud and clear whistle. He waited a moment, then whistled again, though this time it was a different pattern. Soon enough, Epona came thundering towards them, and hot on her heels was Winter. They both reared their heads and neighed, and sidled closer to their partners.

"I didn't know Winter responded to you." Zelda said as she stroked her white horse's mane.

"What can I say, I'm a horse whisperer." Link shrugged as he hugged his silver bay, "Isn't that right, Epona, my darling?"

Zelda chuckled and rolled her eyes. She watched Link affectionately as he mumbled some words of adoration to Epona, sometimes hugging her, and even resting his head on her. Epona sometimes swished her tail, or neighed in acknowledgement. There was no denying that the two had a strong bond.

"Are you going to carry on making love with Epona or are you going to set up camp?" Zelda asked after a while.

Link glared at her as he hugged Epona one more time.

"It's not my fault that you're jealous because I love Epona." He said hotly as he unloaded the bags, taking care with his bad arm, and emptied out the sleeping bags like a toddler.

"You are literally a man-child." Zelda laughed.

He turned his head and locked his electric blue eyes with her lush green eyes. They both stared at each other. Zelda felt like she was locking eyes with a child, and that one wrong move would cause them to wreak havoc.

"Gently let go of the bag and start a fire." She said slowly.

He did as he was told, and carelessly threw a bundle of sticks onto the ground, and attempted to make a fire.

"There's a good boy! Make sure you don't burn yourself."

As soon as Zelda said that, Link recoiled from the now blazing fire, clutching his hand.

"Owww!" He cried.

"First your arm, now your hand..." Zelda sighed.

"It was my bad arm, too." He whimpered.

"Is there any water anywhere?"

Zelda took out a flask and knelt down next to him. She took Link's hand and poured the water from the flask onto it. Link sighed with relief as the cool water trickled on his hand.

"H-How's your arm?" Zelda asked cautiously after a while.

She sat down next to Link, who stared at the fire in front of them.

"Hurts." He replied, "But I'll live."

He then shifted his gaze on to her, and seemed to have an anguished expression on his face.

"You know, you really shouldn't have come fore me." He said softly, "I'd rather get crushed by that Hinox than see something happen to you."

"I think the problem is that you underestimate me." Zelda said with a smile as s he rested her head on Link's shoulder, "You've been training me for years, yet you still feel uncomfortable with me even holding a sword."

"Well, you're probably the person who would trip on their own sword and impale themselves." Link chuckled.

Zelda gave him a scathing look. He then shifted uncomfortably under her gaze, then began to whistle nonchalantly.

"Ok, fine, it's something I would do." He admitted finally, "I must say, you were pretty good out there."

He could feel her nod slowly, as soon, Link could hear soft, gentle snores emitting from her.

"Night." He whispered, as he too felt his eyelids sag under the weight of his tiredness.

----------

Yay, Link redeemed himself. Here's hoping that he doesn't do anything else that's stupid so he can finally ask that bloody question.