Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny of a Hero ❯ Love ( Chapter 3 )

Chapter 3 - Love

The morning was dark and cold. A chilling wind bit deep into the few women that stood watch over the camp. They drew their cloaks tighter about themselves, trying to trap what little warmth they had.

In a small tent, a figure bolted up, forgetting where he was. His head darted from side to side, searching his surroundings with wild eyes. Slowly, the knowledge of where he was came back to him, and he reclined back into the hard pillow he had been given.

He looked over at the form of Zelda. She was sleeping soundly, soft sounds issuing from her mouth periodically. Link took a moment to stare at her in awe, but quickly shook himself out of his reverie.

Doubt began to cloud his mind. She would never want to be with him. She was of royal birth, and he was just a boy from the forest, trying to play the part of a hero. When they got home, she was going to marry a prince.

He tried to push his feelings for her aside. "I am nothing more than her protector," he whispered to himself, over and over.

Link pulled himself out of the warm comfort of the bed and walked outside the tent, leaving Zelda in peace. Haze and a few sentries were the only persons awake.

The sentries watched the area around the encampment with eagle's eyes. Link noticed that the brush and trees near the camp had been felled. Nothing would be able to get within one hundred yards before being seen.

Haze was meditating near his tent, an aura beginning to surround him. Deciding not to bother anyone, Link crept around the camp, exploring much of what lay inside it.

Link thought about the events that had happened in the past month since he had awaked in the Chamber of Sages. It had been going well until he had crossed paths with Ganondorf. Now his world had gone to hell. Everyone he knew on Hyrule was in great danger.

The images of the death and destruction came to him and he grasped his head. The tormenting thoughts threatened once again to overwhelm the fighter. A voice brought Link back to reality.

"Link; there is a man who might have the knowledge to get you and Zelda home. He is Deckard Cain of Tristram. He is last surviving member of the Horadrim, the mage heroes of the Sin War. He would surely know how to defeat the Three and he might know how to get you home. You must rescue Deckard Cain and bring him back here," Akara told him. Link thought for a second. "I will. If it means getting home, I'll do it."

"How long will it be until Zelda awakes?" Link asked, changing the subject. "By tonight she should be fine," she answered. "Good we shall leave tomorrow then," Link said.

"Akara!" a rogue with flaming red hair who was in heavy armor yelled, "My scouts have reported an abomination in the burial grounds. Blood Raven, she who was once my friend, is reported to be raising the undead. We have no time to lose; we must assault the graveyard and put an end to this!" She yelled

"'Kashya, please, you may be our greatest military leader, but I am the final authority. We do not have enough fighters to risk a failure. If it is a trap, we would lose entirely too many of our sisters," Akara said.

"You are much too conservative Akara. How many of our sisters have already fallen to the evil?" Akara remained silent. "We must attack now. Every day the demons chip away at our forces while they only gain in strength. We must put a stop to this now!"

"We have always withstood attack," Akara said. "This will not be any different," Kashya laughed. "We did not withstand Andarial. Face it Akara, the old ways are dead. They died as soon as Andarial assumed power."

"Now listen here," said Akara, her voice rising, "I will not have my orders questioned any longer. You can attack Blood Raven alone, but I will not send my sisters to their deaths."

Link cleared his throat and spoke. "My party will dispose of Blood Raven." Akara waved him off. "I couldn't possibly..." Link cut her off. "I insist," he told her.

Akara was about to speak again when Haze approached. "What is all this?" he asked. "The warrior Blood Raven has risen again and is serving Andarial," Kashya told him.

"Have you the warriors to root out this evil?" He asked. Kashya pointed to Akara. "She will not give me authority to use them." Haze pondered upon this. "I will personally see to it that this spawn of Hell is banished from the realm of the living."

*****

Ganondorf calmly dismounted from his black stallion. He walked with deliberant steps toward the ranch. His army parted, allowing their master to get through.

As he came within bow range, the Hylian archers loosed their arrows. Before striking the Evil King, they bounced harmlessly off a translucent shield of energy.

Ganondorf let out a laugh. "Surrender now Hylians," he called to those on the wall, "and your deaths will not be half as painful."

More arrows flew from the wall, but Ganondorf raised his hand this time. The arrows shifted direction and with a wave of Ganondorf's hand, flew back at their senders.

Those soldiers that failed to duck below the wall were skewered by their own arrows. The sages, not being able to withstand the carnage, stood upon the wall.

"Ganondorf!" Impa shouted. "We shall not let you proceed with this madness any longer!" Ganondorf threw back the cape he had been wearing. "That is what your hero said before I killed him," he said, his voice becoming more menacing.

Ganondorf began to float in the air, his body swaying as his powers balanced him. His body began to glow with dark energy. A sphere of energy grew in size over his head.

"You sages have been nothing but trouble for me since the first. Now you will feel the wrath of Ganondorf!" He raised his hand and lowered it sharply.

The orb of glowing yellow energy flew at the sages with blinding velocity. The sages braced for the attack. They knew that their survival was highly questionable. They had given most of their power to Link.

The orb had been misaimed. Instead of striking the sages directly, the orb hit the wall of the ranch. A great release of energy tore a gaping hole in the wall. Those defenders that hadn't left the wall were instantly eradicated.

Impa and Daruina were thrown clear of the explosion. Ruto and Nabooru were part of the unfortunate caught in the explosion.

Impa and Daruina rolled into a standing position. "I never would have guessed he would be so strong," Daruina whispered. Impa steadied herself upon her sword. She watched as demons began to run at the open hole in the ranch wall.

"Daruina you must take a group of the soldiers and flee to the west," Impa said. "We can't just leave men here to die," Daruina said. Impa grabbed the goron by the shoulders. "Listen to me. I will stay here with a group of volunteers. We will cover your retreat. Now go!"

Daruina gulped and nodded, then hurried to carry out his orders.

*****

Link sat with Haze near his tent. "Link, I believe you are ready to learn the next set of skills. You will start now," Haze said.

For the rest of the day Link was trained in many aspects of Zakarum. He learned how to cast a holy bolt, a ball of pure fire energy gathered through prayer that would hurt undead and heal the followers of light.

Link was also taught how to call upon the ancient thorns to strike back the damage that was inflected upon him at his attackers.

It took Link awhile to grasp the new concepts, but even Haze was surprised at how quickly the elven warrior was learning. The training took all day, with only small breaks to eat and rest, and by the end, both of the men were dead tired.

Haze said, "In the morning we shall make for the graveyard. I have told the others. They are ready and willing to fight." Link was shocked at the bravery of the people on this world. Even through adversity, they stayed strong.

Link bade him goodnight and walked back to his tent. The warm embrace of the bed would be a welcome change from the drilling. He stepped inside, setting his sword and shield aside as he did so.

He sat on the bed and began to remove the blue tunic he was wearing. Link jumped off the bed spinning as a hand grabbed onto his shoulder. His defenses lowered as he saw who was sitting on the bed.

"Princess you nearly scared me to death," Link said. "You are so tense hero," she teased, a beautiful smile playing on her features.

"I have had nothing but things trying to kill me since I was ten my m'lady," Link said, his gaze lowering. "I think you can understand why I get scared easily. "Link, I didn't know," Zelda said softly.

Link looked up at her, staring into her eyes. When she gazed back, he once again lowered them. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "What are you apologizing for?" she asked. "Staring at you," he said.

She laughed suddenly. "What's so funny?" Link asked, confused. "You Link," she said through her laughter. "What? What did I do?" he asked quickly.

"Never mind. Link, do you think you can teach me how to use the sword?" she asked. Link groaned. "But Zelda, I have been training all day." Zelda pouted, disarming the elf warrior. "Please Link? For me?"

Link couldn't say no to that. He caved in. "Fine Zelda, but why do you want to use the sword?" He asked. She tossed a stray wisp of silky blond hair behind her shoulder.

"Magic can only go so far," she stated, "in close combat it is nearly useless." I need to have some knowledge on how to defend myself." Link, not being able to find any fault with her logic, grabbed the training sword Haze had given him and handed it to her. "We can start right now."

*****

She swung the sword awkwardly. "Zelda, you're swinging that like an insane fallen. You need to hold it like this," Link told her, showing her the correct way to position one's hand on a sword.

She swung at him again, and then thrust at his chest. Link parried the blow away. She lunged at him again, and Link leapt over her bent back. He quickly threw his sword from his left hand to his right and from behind, grabbed her sword arm at the wrist. He pulled her into a turn, pulling her off balance.

He wrapped his right arm around her waist, careful of his sword blade. He pulled her tightly to him. She struggled for a moment against his superior strength. "That was a dirty trick Link!" she spat. "You made yourself look open on purpose!"

She kicked helpless, which brought an amused smile to Link's lips. "Don't always be fooled by what looks like an easy kill. Don't over extend yourself," Link lectured, "You have good speed, but you press too much." Link gave her a quick kiss on the cheek and pushed her away.

Zelda stumbled forward, trying to regain her balance. When she did, she turned and yelled at him. "Rogue! How dare you do that to the royal princess of Hyrule?" Link snickered at her. "But Zelda, I thought we were friends." She was fuming. She advanced upon Link.

She launched a furious attack at him. Like a mad acrobat, Link dodged behind her and playfully swatted her on the rump with the flat of his blade. "Don't lose your temper, or you will be killed," he said, shaking a finger.

"Oh!" she yelled, spinning to face him. Her expression was one caught between anger and amusement. "You monster!" She held her sword at the ready, ready to bash him with it. Link began to stare at her lost in thought.

She was wearing a suit of leather armor that Francine had given her. In the seven years since Link had first met her, she had blossomed into a beautiful girl. Her figure had filled out nicely and her snug outfit bordered on scandalous.

Now at eighteen years of age, there was nothing about Zelda that was girlish. She had been hardened by the seven years of Hell that Ganondorf had gifted their nation. Her small feet silently plodded on the ground as she closed the distance between them.

Link was starting to enjoy this. It was letting him relieve some of the tension he had. He could feel them forming a bond of companionship, but he wished it to blossom into more.

Zelda caught him off guard and Link found a sword point at his throat. Link held his hands up in mock supplication, dropping his sword in the process. "My lady, I yield!" Link yelled playfully. She laughed. "What were you daydreaming about Link?"

Link gently pushed aside her blade. "I was thinking about how the royalty back home would be outraged about what you're wearing," Link said. She laughed. "I'm not used to wearing armor," she said. "It's very fetching," Link said, making a display of leering at the way it hugged her curvaceous body, "though I expect that is due to the wearer."

She blushed. "You are quite the flatterer Link," she said. With a chuckle, Link picked up his sword. "That's enough for today Zelda; I can only take that kind of embarrassment once a day." Her eyes widened.

"Oh! Shamed by a mere girl?" She asked threateningly, advancing with her sword. "How unseemly for one of royal blood to do this," Link laughed, bringing his weapon to the ready. "I don't need a commoner like you telling me how to act!" she yelled.

"Commoner!" Link yelled, leaping forward. She caught his blade upon hers and riposted, nearly striking. Link took the thrust on his blade, sliding his along hers. They stood staring at one another, their blades locked together.

Link seized her wrist with his free hand and sneered. "You never want to find yourself in this position." Before she could react, Link had tossed her to the ground. She looked up at him, pained that he had done such a thing.

Link offered her his hand. With tears streaming down her face, Zelda batted his hand away and ran.

*****

Link searched the camp for her. He'd meant no disrespect by offering her his hand at the end; instead, he enjoyed taking the moment to drink the sight of her sitting there on the ground, her blonde hair in a tangled cloud around her shoulders and her blue eyes spitting fire.

He had to look for about ten minutes before he found her, asking the other members of his party until one of them pointed out that she had finally made her way back to their tent. Pausing at the flaps to the canvas house, Link called out her name and waited.

Finally a voice barked for him to come inside, and he pushed his way beyond the cloth, into the dome of their quarters. She had her back to him when he entered, pulling the last remains of her armor from her legs. With all the leather removed, Link was free to admire the womanly curves the protective articles had masked.

Beneath all her trappings, she had been dressed simply, a white cotton shirt that hung over tight breeches, and soft leather boots. The rough brown cloth of her pants clung to her sweaty legs, giving the vague outline of tight thighs and well-defined legs. She turned, and when her eyes caught sight of him, her features melted from angry to icy stone.

"What do you want?" Zelda seethed, her words dripping acid. Link nervously ran gloved fingers through his sweat-soaked blond hair. He fought a smile as he continued to stare at her.

She sat down on the cot to remove her boots. "I asked you what you wanted," she repeated again. "I came to tell you that I'm sorry," Link admitted. "I lost my temper. I didn't mean to"

"You'll pardon me if I don't jump for joy at your announcement," she announced dryly, pulling off one leather boot and busying herself with the laces on the other. "Is that all, or did you want to rub it in a little more?"

Link admired her spirit; even under the veil of blonde locks that partially hid her face, he could see that her cheeks were streaked with tears of frustration. It was a brave face she was showing, not wanting to admit how much he had hurt her; instead choosing to come off as a callous bitch to drive him away.

Instead he plopped down in one of the spare chairs in the tent, and set about removing the creaking armor Haze had given him. "You're not being very accepting of this, you know," he teased, pulling at the straps of his breastplate until the metal came free. "I did beat you fairly."

Zelda stalked over to where the wooden bowl rested, and dipped a rag in the cool water there to wash her face. "I want you to take your things and leave this tent, and never talk to me again."

She turned away from him and began scrubbing her cheeks, muttering "Bastard" under her breath. Link pulled the last of his armor off, and grinned. She was trying hard to ignore him, but he had no intentions of leaving the tent.

Zelda felt Link move behind her. "I think we started off on the wrong foot. Why don't we forget about training, and just start over as equals?" His breath was hot on her neck, teasing the little hairs that were still damp from her washing cloth. Zelda moved away quickly, fighting to summon the rage she'd been seething with before he'd arrived at the tent.

His charm was softening her up a bit; she didn't feel quite as angry as she had been. It didn't help matters any that his long blond hair hung messily in his eyes, making him look boyishly cute, or the fact that when he smiled, a dimple appeared on the left side of his smart mouth. "Why don't we not and say we did?" She mustered up, and asked him again to leave the tent.

"Now that's not a nice way to start things off Zelda," He said coyly, looking over at her. Link knew the effect he was having on her. He could see the doubt flashing in that sapphire gaze of hers, could see the flush that was dotting her pale cheeks.

Part of him was doing this because he knew he could smooth her ruffled feathers a bit, and another part of him was doing this because he was growing incredibly attracted to her. It was like being hypnotized by some great wild cat.

On the outside she was incredibly appealing, with her flaxen tresses and her big blue eyes and her milky skin. She smelled like a combination of sweat, leather, and soap, and the mix was intoxicating.

On the other side, she had a razor-sharp rage, and he didn't know whether this would lead to him tasting her passion or getting a mouthful of her temper.

His eyes traveled down the length of her body, making it apparent that he was taking in the sight of the white shirt sticking to the mounds of her considerable breasts, over the way the breeches molded to her flat abdomen and down her muscled legs right down to the slender toes of her feet.

More than once he saw her disobedient gaze wander over his handsome face, at the blue tunic he wore, down to the white leggings and boots. He walked over to where she sat on the cot and took the washing rag from her limp hand.

"May I?" Link asked, and without waiting for a response he grabbed the hem of his tunic, pulling the oversized shirt up and over his head. Zelda watched him as he tossed the shirt to the dirt floor of the tent and strode over to the washing bowl.

Link wet the cloth and ran it over his face and neck, his profile turned towards her. Oh goddesses, she thought. It was impossible not to appreciate the way the water ran in tiny streams over his muscular back and chest.

He must have built all that muscle during the adventure through Hyrule. He was cut and defined, from his arms to the ripple of muscle that disappeared into the waistband of his breeches.

Not more than fifteen minutes ago, I hated this man, Zelda mused. And now she felt only a fraction of that hatred, instead a new dawning excitement growing in the pit of her stomach.

Link dropped the rag in the bowl and turned to face her, and she openly admired his half-naked body, the muscles dotted every now and again with a single crystalline drop of water from his makeshift bath.

Her mouth felt dry as she watched one tiny river of liquid run from the nape of his neck down across his left breast, and hang for a split moment over the pink nub of his nipple. Zelda went breathless, digging her fingers into the blankets of the cot to keep them from straying. She wanted nothing more than to taste that tiny droplet suspended there, to lick it from his tiny bud and feel it on her tongue.

She must have been gaping; he was smiling at her when she looked up and met his face again. Link walked over to stand in front of her, and with one finger lifted her chin up to stare into his face.

"Zelda," he began, but she brought her hand up to silence them. Her voice came out thicker and huskier than she imagined it would. "This doesn't change anything between us."

He took her hand and placed it on his stomach, his breath coming harder when her fingers brushed the wall of muscle there. "It changes everything between us," he groaned.

"I still hate you," she murmured, running her fingers up to the upper half of his chest, kneading the flesh there. He wound his hands in the mass of blonde locks that hung midway down her shoulder blades, feeling the damp silk engulfing his fingers.

"You'll learn to like me," he countered with a smile. "You may even learn to love me."

"Even if I do," Zelda barely moaned, "I'm still royalty, I can't marry you." She crawled up to her knees on the cot, and brought her mouth inches from his stomach. Her hot breath erupted from her lips over his belly, causing him to shudder at the feeling, and he growled low in his throat.

He managed to croak, "We'll cross that bridge when we get there," before her hands came up to grip his hips, and her mouth connected with his heated skin. She nipped and suckled and licked the flat planes of his stomach, exploring every ridge and nook, dipping into his bellybutton as her fingers curled into fists on his pants.

He let her explore, gripping her hair and then the sides of her face, pulling her mouth faster over his skin. Zelda leaned up and sucked one rosy nipple into her mouth, rolling it over her lips and tongue until it was a hard pebble against her gentle suckling. She treated the other with the same lavish attentions, until he pulled her head back with a ragged breath.

"Easy, Zelda, easy," Link begged, and lay down on the cot. Zelda crawled up to straddle him, both still in most of their clothes, and she bent to claim his mouth with her own. All the energy that she had put into her fighting, all the passion she had put into her hatred, she now poured into her kiss, until they were battling with their mouths. Their tongues sparred, meeting, caressing and retreating, while her hands ran over his tight, muscular arms and down to his hands.

It was crazy, Zelda knew. The tent flaps weren't tied, anyone could walk in on them at any given moment, but she couldn't care less when Link's hand curled around at the base of her neck, pulling her hair to the side so he could feast on the soft nape there. He flicked his tongue and lips over her throat, and she moaned her approval.

"Let me see you," Link begged her in an intense whisper, and he pushed on her shoulders until she was sitting upright astride his hips. Beneath the fabric of her breeches, she could feel the hard swell of his member, and she rocked back and forth over it lightly while his hands came up to untie the laces of her shirt. Zelda wore no bra beneath the shirt, her full breasts firm and plump beneath the white material.

She was, by nature's bounty, almost a C-cup in bra sizes, but even as full as her mounds were, Link's strong palms cupped them without overflowing much. "Goddesses," she managed to gasp when she felt his hips buck underneath her, meeting her rocking motions with a hearty thrust of his own.

Link pulled the white cloth free of her upper torso, leaving them equally only half-clothed, and brought his warm fingers up to caress the baby-pink circles of her nipples. He traced their centers over and over again, while their bodies teased each other with her mock-riding motions. Zelda leaned over just enough to make him strain to reach her breasts with his mouth, and let out a half-sob when the first swipe of a wet tongue passed over one.

"Goddesses, you're beautiful," he admitted, sucking and biting and pinching her abundant flesh until she was mewling for more. She stared down at him, loving the lustful look in his blue eyes as he watched his fingers coaxing her nipples to full erect points.

"I need more," Zelda begged him, and pushed his hands from her breasts. "Link, please, give me more," She shimmied down his thighs, letting him sit up. Jen started to roll to her back but Link grabbed her arm, keeping her on her knees.

He moved around behind her, reaching his arms around to unfasten the buckle of her breeches. She felt engulfed by his masculinity, feeling his body pressed firmly against her, back to chest, his steely erection pressed against the swell of her rear.

The waist of her pants went slack as he finished unbinding their closure, and he pulled the rough cloth over her hips and down her thighs. She wore no underwear, and he groaned, pushing urgently at the small of her back to make her topple forward to her hands and knees.

He lifted her legs gently one by one, pulling the last article of clothing from her body until she was naked. He moaned, looking at her from behind, at the swell of her round hips and ass, at the swollen wet lips that peeked out from below that.

Zelda's thighs were coated in moisture, evidence of her rampant arousal, and Link lowered his head to taste the sticky wetness. She panted his name, and stopped him when he would have brought his mouth to her sweet folds.

"Not that, not now," she ordered. "I'm too close to the edge already. Let's get right into it." Her sexy commands almost pushed Link over the breaking point of his control, but he fought hard to keep strong.

"Are you sure?" He teased; leaning forward and licking her earlobe, letting her feel the roughness of the clothes he wore against her bare flesh. Zelda growled a warning at him, and so he brought one hand between them, seeking out her hungry nether mouth and testing its readiness.

His fingers were calloused from sword-training, and when he traced them around the creamy center of her vessel, she almost screamed. He found her more open and wet than he dreamed, and he grabbed for the front of his pants.

The buttons proved too complicated to maneuver, so in a frenzy he grabbed the edges and ripped, sending the closings flying everywhere. He reached inside, pulling out his painfully erect member and stroking it twice.

"Tell me what you want," He tortured, and to further her agony, he rubbed the swollen head against her lubricated inner lips. "Oh my goddesses," she whimpered, her fists ripping at the blankets, her hips trembling with need.

"Link, if you don't put that in me now, I swear I will kill you." He chuckled, and guided the thick knob to her entrance. Zelda helped by reaching back, her fingers digging into her rear as she pulled the cheeks apart, opening her more. Link speared her on the first thrust, her over stimulated folds taking him completely to the hilt of his shaft.

Her cries turned to shouts, and she knew the entire camp must know what was going on in their tent but she didn't give a damn. All she knew was this man, this hard man who was pumping her in hard, long slaps, plundering her vagina as ruthlessly as he had battled her down.

Link's hands were leaving bruises on her hips; he was clutching her so hard. She reached down between her own thighs, sensing the quickening of his pace; wanting to reach the spiraling ecstasy she felt building in her lower abdomen.

"Link, oh goddesses, Link," she panted as she parted the nest of blond curls between her thighs, fingering her clit as fast as she could while he pounded her. "I'm going to come," Zelda rasped. "You're going to make me come!"

He reached around, and pushed her hand away, replacing her busy fingers with one of his. It sent her over the edge, and she felt the sweet quakes engulf her, spreading over her body like a warm wave, her vessel exploding into strong contractions around his thrusting cock.

She let him keep pumping her until the aftershocks were over, until he reached his own climax. Link pulled free and collapsed upon the cot. He lay down behind her, one arm wrapping possessively around her waist, his body making her feel safe and loved and protected. It wasn't long before they drifted off to sleep.

*****

Haze was returning from a nearby stream. He had stayed to meditate in the middle of the camp and was only now returning. He heard the sounds of intercourse from Link's tent and laughed quietly to himself.

"Zelda must be awake by now," he heard more screams of pleasure. "Hmm. Seems that Link really knows how to entertain a woman. Link will never know the true path of Zakarum. He is too much of an outlander. There is a certain something about him. Something alien."

He stopped to think for a time. "He is powerful, that much I can see. Something is wrong though. His power is different somehow. It is dark, yet light at the same time. I feel that I've only seen but a fraction of its true potential. I must try to awaken it. It might save us all."

More grunts of exertion came from Link and Zelda's tent. "Enjoy it now kids. Tomorrow you might be lying out in that field, demons defiling your corpse in unholy ways. These may be our last days of happiness." He continued to his tent.