My eyes cannot leave her, try as I might to focus on something else. Anything else other then the sleeping girl. I know my growing obsession with the princess will only be a burden to her and I exist only to make her life easier and not more difficult. The fire I built some hours ago has calmed and burns low; the wood pops under the heat and small sparks flutter in the gentle nighttime breeze. Not very long ago a night like this would have brought only feelings of longing and strange loneliness as I would sit in uncomfortable silence and try to remember the knight I used to be over a lifetime ago. Golden hair tussles about her sleeping face as she shifts in her sleep and I cannot contain the smile from widening across my face.

It amazes me still how much life can change due to one person.

A small woodland fox approaches our camp curiously and takes pause across the glowing fire. Was her comforting presence enough to quell the fear of a skittish animal such as this to share this space with me? I continue to smile at the thought. The act of smiling still wasn't completely normal to me but the princess seemed to draw out this boy who I didn't recognize and this boy smiled constantly, oftentimes for no particular reason other then being with her. This boy had no problem being his best self and even difficult tasks were no match for his ability and boundless determination; no task was impossible if it was for her. This boy finally saw life as more then fighting and the kingdom and it's land as more then an obstacle to overcome and conquer. It was home.

This boy could not live without this girl.

During the beginning of my yearlong journey across the wild, I felt only bound to the princess by obligation and duty to a kingdom and people I had no recollection of. As I grew stronger and gained memories back of my previous life this feeling of pure obligation faded and it was more then my honor as the last Knight of Hyrule that drove me. Memories can make you strong, just as they can break you down. This lesson I learned quite well as the joy of remembering friends and loved ones was quickly overshadowed by the realization that they were long dead. I failed them and they died. Savings the souls of the Champions trapped for a century within their Divine Beasts brought me some peace, their power welling inside me, but my heart still broke.

It wasn't until she taught me love and how to forgive myself that I believe the heavy weight disappeared.

The fire in front of me had continued to grow smaller and it now smoldered in the simple pit I had constructed. The stars overhead were not masked by clouds of any kind and their light combined with a moon almost full shone down upon the sleeping girl, her pale face framed within the golden silk of her hair looking etherial. I reach down to brush some of her locks out of her face and she seems to press into my calloused hand unconsciously in her sleep, a small smile even pulling at her slightly parted lips. At this moment my heart feels so ridiculously full and I think back to a conversation I had with a large tree of all things.

"She has a smile like the sun," The tree had told me. "I would do much to feel it's warmth upon me once again."

I did't understand until she stood in front of me in the large, open Hyrule field, Ganon just being sealed. She called me a hero while her smile shone brighter and more beautifully then the setting sun above us. It was warm and basking in it seemed to melt away the constant weariness I had felt since awaking from a restless 100 year slumber. It was almost unfair how quickly I was rewarded for my efforts entirely in the form of her smiling face. After that I was addicted, doing everything possible to feel it's warmth upon me again, and again, and again. The Deku Tree really knew what he was talking about. I chuckled to myself at the thought. I noticed the small fox that had been resting nearby quickly rose and darted off quickly becoming lost within the forrest around us. The sounds of the night were gentle but clear as we were most likely miles away from any other people. I preferred to keep it this way for as long as possible; soon she would be Queen and would belong to Hyrule, but right now on this quiet night she was only mine.

Oh how I wish you could be mine forever. I gently place my hand over one of her smaller ones and speak nothing but the truth.

"I know you will soon belong to everyone. The citizens of Hyrule will come to love you just as I have and will look to your leadership to rebuild what Ganon has destroyed," I run by thumb over her skin relishing in the soft warmth, "But know this. I will always only ever be yours to own and command. On this night I swear this new life of mine again to you, freely and without obligation. I would happily lay down my life for you again although in my heart I hope it never comes to that as being away from you in the afterlife would be torturous." I smile openly and curse myself for not being courageous enough to speak this vow while she is awake. Its alright though, I meant the words whether she knew them or not.

Never fear Zelda, your knight will always be by your side.

Hello! Thanks for continuing to read this story of mine. This chapter I wanted to do completely from Link's perspective for fun. It doesn't necessarily happen after the events from the previous chapter, just during their travels together. I write when I can and attempt to get better with every chapter. I appreciate all your support and reviews, honestly they make my day! See you next time!