Comfort~ [Zelink]

1

"Her shrieks echoed through the inky sky. Clouds of smoke lingered in the air, engulfing the land in a deathly haze. I tried to move, but it felt like my joints were locked in place.Unable to do anything but shriek, I thought "Is it really the end?" I squinted through the smoke, which was getting thicker with each second wasted, and saw a horrendous sight. There she was, flames swallowing her and tears running down her face. Glowing brightly, they reached up to lick her golden locks of hair, charring it a deep brown color. She shrieked again, this time sending ravens soaring from the trees in fright. The flames began to engulf her face. Still unable to move, I just did the only thing that I.could. I screamed, "Zelda!!"

Link sat up in bed, flushed and panting like a dog after a long time of running. "W-Was it all just a dream?" He looked around, just to find himself in his room. There was no smoke, or fire, or screaming. Only the gentle ticking of the clock and a beam of moonlight seeping in through a window. The hero sighed a breath of relief and stared at the wall. Without warning, a figure appeared in the hallway. A wave of fear made him shudder, followed by a wave of relief. It was only Zelda.

A concerned and puzzled look spread across her face. "Are you OK, my hero?" Link nodded. "I'm fine. It was only a nightmare. Nothing to worry about". Zelda nodded her head. "Would like me to stay with you tonight?" The hero looked at her like she was crazy. "No thank you. I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine." He thought for a second and then said in a meek voice, "Yes..."

The princess nodded. "Link, you look quite flushed. Are you OK?" Link nodded, , not sure what to say. "Well....I'm fine...but I have a terrible headache." Zelda nodded. "Come here for.a.second." Link moved closer to Zelda, and leaned his head on her shoulder. The princess moved a lock of honey-colored hair behind his ear. "Mhmh..." Zelda stood up, and walked into another room. Link just waited patiently, not knowing what the Princess was going to do. Moments later, she returned with a bottle of red potion. "Drink this."Link was confused. "But, I'm not hurt. I don't need it." Zelda shook her head stubbornly. "Just drink it." Link shrugged. "If I must." The princess uncorked the bottle and handed it to Link, who drank the red liquid. Zelda nodded. "Good. Now rest." Link looked at Zelda again, confused. "But I thought you were going to stay with me tonight." Zelda replied, "I will. Just give me a minute." Link nodded, knowing that the Princess would not break her promise. Zelda left again, this time returning with another blanket. This, she wrapped around Link. Once again, he leaned his head on the Princess's shoulder, and she began to stroke his golden hair. He fell asleep to her gentle strokes.

Link awoke to a ray of sunlight shining in through his window, where the moonlight had been before. He sat up, and recalled what had happened last night. The hero shivered, as if a draft had blown in through the window. Link had a flashback to the nightmare of last night. The screeching, the fire...... Did it mean something? He hoped not. He flopped down on the bed and lay there, staring into space. He wanted to get up, but at the same time, he didn't. Finally, he decided to get out of bed. Shivering, he stood up and walked out of the room. The cold, stone ground chilled his feet as he trudged into the other room. A familiar smell was coming from the living room... kind of warm, and burnt....smoke...

Link continued walking, uneased by the smoke and the cold ground. Finally, he stepped into the living room, only to see that there was fire....but it was in the fire place, where Zelda alwAys had it on cold mornings. He sighed, relived that it was only the fire. Wait. Fire spreads... Zelda began walking into the room, only to stopped by the nervous hero. "You can't go in here", he said in a panicky tone. Zelda.was confused. "Why?" "You'll catch on fire!", the hero falsely informed her.

"Catch on fire?" The princess inquired. "I won't catch fire unless I touch it..." Link sighed. "Ok, you can come in..." Zelda nodded and sat down beside him. "Link, you seemed to be bothered by something. What's wrong? Be honest with me.....I'll help..." Link looked at her, as if he were going to confess something horrid to her. "I've....I've been having nightmares....", He.confessed. "And-And I'm cold... and..." He stopped there. Zelda nodded sympataetically. "Link, you have fallen ill..." Link just shook his head. "But..... that doesn't happen to heros...." Zelda sighed. "Must I remind you that you are a mortal?" Link nodded. "Ok, but what about the nightmares?"  "I do not know why those are happening, but I can tell you one thing. You need to rest." Link just looked at her fearfutly.Zelda, who seemed to understand what he was trying to tell her. He was.scared of whatever dreams he had been having. "Tell me about your dream. What happened in it that has caused you this fear? "Well....there was fire...and you were there... and...-and..." Link paused, and thought. "Heros aren't supposed to be scared... I'm such a coward!"  Without finishing his sentence, Link put his face in his hands and sobbed.

Zelda but her hand on Link's shoulder. She knew that he was scared, but she washed that she could help him. By now, the fire had run out of fuel and died down, and the room was getting cooler. Looking up, Link said in.a meek.voice, "Help me..." Zelda had depended on Link for.so long, and he had been through so much to save her Now he needed her help, and she wasn't going to let him down...

Without saying anything, the princess began to stroke Link's hair, in a comforting sort of way.  He whispered something between choked sobs. "It's going to be OK...", Zelda whispered. "I know.....but..." Link coughed. "I'm scared..." "I know that you're scared. But you shouldn't be. ", the princess assured him.Link nodded. "I know it was only a dream...but......it was scary" "It's OK.....even heros get scared sometimes." The hero leaned his head on Zeldas shoulder, and fell asleep. Zelda looked at the sleeping hero and whispered, "I'm here..."

~timeskip to the early next morning~

The princess opened her sapphire orbs and looked around. It had to be about 2A.M, and  the full moon was shining brightly. She stood up to check the clock. "1:53". Zelda walked back into the room, to notice that she was starting to get cold. And she wasn't the only one.

Link was huddled under the covers, shivering. Zelda placed a hand on his sweaty forehead and shook her head. His temperature was rising, and she had no idea what to do. But she knew one thing. She had to keep him warm, and the blanket wasn't enough... She took a glance at the fire place. It was the only way to help him…but he'd be terrified. She lit the fire, and sat down beside Link, whispering comforting things to him and occasionally stroking his hair affectionately. Zelda reached out and grabbed Link's hand. His hands were cold and he seemed to mumble things under his breath. Every once in a while, Link would move slightly, of turn his head. Eventually, the hero's eyes fluttered open. He immediately smelled the smoke and sat up. "Smoke!? Zelda, are you OK?! ZELDA!!" Zelda put a hand on his shoulder reassuringly.."Don't worry. I'm here, and I'm not on fire..."