Princess, Please! (GANONDORF)

It wasn't often that Link went anywhere else other than markets and town halls where everything corresponded to who was fighting with who and what happened with this country and that country. It was nice to take a moment of reprise and just hang above the world in a tree, scoping out the natural landscape below. Faron was definitely a comforting place, but not in the way most would expect. Link enjoyed just hanging out with everyone else and had no problems with solitude.

There was no Fi, Navi, no one. No one could pester him or irritate him or trod on his last nerve. It was just him, all by himself, in Faron Woods, hearing nothing but the songs of birds and the distant cries of Bokoblins. He was well armed and ready to defeat anything that could be thrown at him. With a peaceful sigh, Link leaned back against the trunk of the large White Oak and closed his eyes, hoping for a brief nap.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Someone please, save me!" For a moment the air seemed to stand still and Link, hearing the yell, opened his eyes and looked about wildly. Did his ears deceive him?

No, that must have been Zelda!

Zelda was in trouble yet again. She had decided now was the perfect time to go exploring in these damned woods for research. She darted between the trees as fast as she could with a less than pleased witch after her. Gods how she wished her mother was here. She could counter the witches magic! Or her father! He would end her with out a struggle! But neither of them were here so she did what she did best. Run. Her heart pounded in her chest and her mouth became dry from all the running she did. Try as she might it was not enough. She found herself cornered and turned to face the witch with tears in her eyes "Pl-please don't hurt me! I beg of you! I mean no harm!"

"Ah!" the witch said in a raspy voice "You would fetch a fair price for the slavers! Or the brothels! Or as ingredients for a potion!"

Link heard the voice and took off at a mad dash. Said mad dash led him to topple onto his face, which quickly (and smoothly) transitioned into a roll. He normally was not clumsy, but he had the hots for Zelda, and this was now of utmost importance. As he ran toward his beloved princess, Link quickly planned out what he would say.

Halt, evildoer! Thou shalt not harm the beautiful Princess Zelda! Yes, that sounded lovely! Link continued barreling forward until Zelda came into view.

"Evildoer, halt! Princess shalt harm not thou beautiful Zelda the!" Okay, that totally came out wrong. Now was not the time to be embarrassed. The blonde quickly took up his bow, loaded an arrow, and had it pointed at the witch. Curse his fumbling tongue, so much for being a charming hero. Why was he always so nervous around her? This was a problem.

Zelda covered her eyes and slowly slid down the trunk of the tree she was leaning on. She curled into a tight ball on the ground. She knew she was going to die at the best and become a simple tool at the worst. She accepted her grim fate, until she heard him. Link. She slowly looked up at him and smiled. She's forgive the awkward speech for she knew what he was trying to say.

"Eh who are you?" the witch asked glaring at the green fairy boy.

Link hadn't been expecting to find a witch terrorizing Zelda; he had hoped for some bokoblins, maybe a moblin, perhaps some crows, but an actual person changed this up a bit. He didn't want to kill her, but if he had to he would. "I am Link, hero of Hyrule and the Hero of Time with a part time job as an international ambassador along with being a missionary for the TriForce." Yea, that about summed it up. Hopefully she would have heard of him and his name would have struck fear into her heart.

Risking a glance toward the Princess, Link offered a slight smile and looked back toward the witch. "I highly encourage you to turn back now and return from the abyss from which you crawled." His voice was low, somewhat menacing, and withheld quite the promise. He still had an arrow pointed at the woman, just in case she wanted to make any sudden moves.

"oh?" the witch asked with a wicked smile "What if I don't want too? What will you do then fairy boy?" she asked with a snarl. She walked around link and examined the boy. She wasn't bad looking herself nor was she evil she was simply looking for a profit "I guess harming the princess isn't the best idea..." she mumbled walking away as quickly as she appeared.

Zelda sat there in silence still curled in a ball. She couldn't believe how easy link made this look. She honestly felt useless and stupid and cursed her existence. "Th-thank you link." she mumbled to herself.

"Why I'll have to do something I most certainly will not regret!" Link stated the fact boldly, not exactly knowing what he would do. The tip of his arrow followed the witch about, slacking as she walked off.

Thank the Goddesses, the witch had left! Link was left wanting to jump for joy, but instead he simply replaced the arrow back in its quiver and replaced the bow to its proper bag compartment. Placing a hand behind his neck he grinned broadly and looked to Zelda, visibly satisfied with himself. "You're welcome, Princess! It's the least I could do!" He wasn't this enthusiastic about everything, only when in Zelda's presence.

Zelda sighed and burrows her face in her knees. She hated being helpless and now was not an exception. "Link?" she asked quietly. Her tiny voice was nearly silenced by the wind In the trees. "Why..." she asked looking at him with tears in her eyes "Why am I so useless? My father is out fighting corruption my brother is fighting a war and my mother fought through abuse and torture! I can't even fight a weak witch off! I'm such a disappointment! I mean look at me!" she said motioning to her thin frame "I can't fight to save my life! Literally! I can't even..." she paused and broke into tears. She had experienced more than enough pain for a long time. "How could any one like me?"

Well, Link had certainly not been expecting this. He didn't really know how to cope with womanly feelings, but he knew Zelda wasn't useless. It pained him that she thought so lowly about herself. He had to channel some motivational speaker abilities as soon as possible, that was for sure.

"Please, Princess, don't cry." The fairy boy said as he knelt beside Zelda, smelling of fresh bread and pottery. "You're most definitely not worthless. You are the highly prestigious Princess of Hyrule. You should not undersell yourself so! You're beautiful and talented. You may not be the best fighter but that is not your calling! I don't know anyone who would see disappointment in you, dear." Link paused, rubbing her shoulder, face purely sympathetic.

"I like you being you are kind and thoughtful, always wise and well informed, and there is no one else who could assist me in the assertion of the TriForce better than you. You are a wonderful ruler. You should not think anything otherwise." Link finished with a warm smile, hoping this would help.

"Link..." she said trying to think of what to say to him. She had to thank him for the things he said bit simply couldn't think of words. "I-I" she paused and quickly hugged him and buried her face into his side. That had to be a good way to show her thanks. After all he did save her life it was the least she could do! "I'm just a princess.. So what. I-I" she paused and looked up at him "Why are you so nice to me? I'm not as pretty as Malon or Midna or anyone. But.. Never mind." she said shaking her head. She had no time or these petty thoughts.

It was a little startling when Zelda buried her face into his side, but Link didn't mind at all. He instead snaked an arm around her and pulled her closer. He was glad he could be a comfort. Sure, he couldn't answer many of her questions, but it was just nice to be a friend. "I'm just a man. I have no title of nobility, but nearly everyone knows my name." She was definitely not 'just a princess', that much was clear.

Link couldn't stop the faint chuckle that escaped his lips. "You know, Zelda, I've always loved a challenge. I could have had Malon or Ruto any day of the week, but all my life I've had my eyes set on you." Sure, Midna was hot, but she was usually pretty rude. He was attracted to her physically, but he would never be able to be with her from a mental or emotional stand point. Honestly, he'd choose Navi over Midna! Nevermind, that was definitely an overstatement. "You're not willing, readily available, you're wise and sheltered, and I've been striving for your heart since the day I laid eyes upon you. Sure, it's fun to flirt with other women, but you captured my heart and with you it resides." Super cheesy, he knew, but it was just the way the cards were being played.

Zelda paused and stared at link with her jaw slowly dropping. She was stunned to say the least. "Link I-I " she paused and stared at his beautiful eyes. This man could literally have any girl he wanted and he chose her? This was beyond surreal. "Link do you mean it? My mother... Izzy always said you liked me but I didn't believe her." she looked at him and smiled softly. She had to know more. Why do you like me link? I'm so plain."

"Of course I mean it. Have I ever been known to tell lies?" Link's tone was joking and light, as he really wasn't known to lie. "I really do like you, Zelda. You should have believed her. I didn't know I could be read that easily." That much was the truth. Link didn't act like this around people he barely knew and Isabel Kross was one of those people. It was odd that he favored her daughter so yet he didn't know much about the woman.

The blonde couldn't fight off the urge to shake his head to the plain comment, so he allowed himself to do so. "You're not plain at all. You're stunningly beautiful, much more so than anyone I've ever met. Perhaps that's your kind and caring personality that emphasizes your lovely face, I'm not entirely sure. You captivate me." His passion astounded him. He didn't know he could speak so fondly of anyone, let alone to their face. "That and I think it may have been the way the goddesses wanted it. The TriForce of Courage and the TriForce of Wisdom must unite to defeat the TriForce of Power." Why couldn't that unity mean marriage?

Ecstatic, over joyed, on cloud nine, words could not even begin to describe how the princess felt right now. Zelda's entire face was red with both embarrassment and joy. She brought her hands to her mouth and hid her face between her legs to hide the growing smile on her face. "Link you're so kind! "She said slowly looking up to meet the Man's gaze. " do you really think I'm pretty? I mean I'm flat as a board and skinny and and..." she paused, took a deep breath and smiled "Thank you link. I mean it! I honestly maybe kind of sort of..." she paused and looked away. She was definitely not good at feelings "Maybe I like you too."

"Boy, it sure is cute when you're all red." Link hadn't meant to say that out loud and he himself turned a light shade of pink. Curse his untamed thoughts. This simply was not fair. He wasn't trying to be kind, he was being honest, and he felt she knew that well enough that he wouldn't have to pointedly say so. "If you think your bosom is any smaller than Malon's or Ruto's, you're wrong. Besides, you're not that skinny. I think you're a great weight. Your hair is healthy and a beautiful color, your eyes shine vibrantly when you're enthused, you're just… you." Link's voice grew softer as he spoke, really loving this quality princess time.

When those so dearly recognized words escaped from Zelda's mouth, Link did turn red. Just as red as the Goron tunic was. Was she lying? She had to be. The affection had never seemed to be mutual… or had he just misread the signs? She had said maybe… was she sure herself? "Y-You do?" The two words were the only ones he could muster.