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Warmth, to Midna, meant many things. Represented by thick blankets on cold nights, inviting hearths, and hot food that filled a room with tantalizingly rich smells, it was a feeling very familiar to the ex-princess.

But all of that felt so artificial to Midna now. Things had changed. Times were different. Warmth had a new meaning. It was the morning sunlight, soft on her skin. It was the safe, comfortable feeling of her head resting in the crook of Link's neck, as she was now. It was the pure, effortless love and the bliss that she felt in his strong arms, holding her close even as he slept. She didn't bother opening her eyes, for the want to stay in the moment forever was stronger than the want to get up and eat some breakfast.

But apparently her stomach had other ideas, and rumbled loudly.

Midna felt Link stir, just enough for her to know he was awake.

"Hungry?"His throat vibrated against her ear as he spoke. She opened her eyes and looked up. Their eyes, fire and water, met, and she smiled.

"Not as much as you are." As if on cue, Link's stomach growled, twice as loud as Midna's had. He grinned sheepishly and sat up, his eyes falling on the crumpled blankets and pillows over on the other side of the tent.

"Where's-"

"Making breakfast outside, like she's been doing for the past three days. It's the only useful thing she can do, after all." Midna scoffed. She couldn't help but feel ashamed for being jealous of Ilia. But he was always so concerned about her...

Link's face darkened, and he pushed her off of his lap.

"Because saving my life wasn't useful at all." He snapped sarcastically. He hated it when Midna took shots at Ilia.

"You knowI didn't mean that, Link. That's not funny."

"Nor is you treating her like she's some incompetent nuisance, because she's not." He replied coldly. "She's my best friend, and that's not going to change. So...get used to it." He threw the blankets aside, pulled up the leg of his pants and started to clean and re-bandage his almost-healed wound. Midna sighed, frustrated at herself for ruining the moment.

"Want some help?" She asked after a few minutes of silence, as a peace offering. He shook his head and slid on his worn brown boots.

"But if you want you can go down to the river and re-fill the water bucket. We're running low." He handed her the tin pail from the corner of the tent, then crawled out slowly, hesitant to put pressure on his weak leg. Midna followed.

As she emerged she was welcomed by a soft breeze, the breath of approaching autumn. The sun faded in and out as it moved behind the clouds that dotted the sky. The group's campsite on a hill provided lovely views of Hyrule's lush fields, the river leading to Lake Hylia, and of course, the castle, which towered over the hills and cliffs around it in Lanayru province. Behind them Death Mountain could be made out in the distance.

But still, there was a sea of purple-black fire that seperated them from Eldin Province and the lands around it. Since Ilia had come to the rescue several days ago Midna hadn't gotten through as much as the curse as she had wanted to. She'd been making up the lost time with Link. Ilia had done a miraculous job healing his wounds, and it would be mere days before he'd be in good enough condition to face Ruimte, whoever he was. Link and Midna hadn't yet been able to figure out why the two harps hadn't worked in the first place. They were sure that they'd done everything right, but...

"Remember when I was running to Ordon Village when I saw the cursed fire? After I'd talked to Coro?" He'd asked her the other day. Midna had nodded.

"Well, the spirit...spoke to me, sort of. It told me I wasn't ready."

"Not ready for what?"

"I don't know, that's what I'm trying to get at. I didn't pay any attention to it. My mind was focused on the village and the cursed fire, and eradicating it. I wonder...I can't stop thinking that, maybe the spirit was warning us or something. Maybe...maybe we did things in the wrong order." His eyes had met hers, and she looked down, ashamed. It was her job to eliminate the cursed fire, the pure essence of the Fused Shadows, which she could rebuild by collecting the flame's magic. She figured that, once she'd gathered up all the cursed fire and completely reformed the original Shadows, she'd be able to use them again. She'd shuddered: the Fused Shadows she had sought after so hungrily were both wonderfully powerful and frighteningly dangerous...

When Midna returned with the bucket of water Link was nowhere to be found. She set the bucket down near the tent, taking care not to let any spill over the edges, and walked over to where Ilia was cleaning up after breakfast.

"Hey."

"Hey." Ilia said back stiffly. There was an awkward silence.

"Link went for a walk. There's still some food left if you want any." She handed Midna a plate of fruit and eggs, then returned to re-packing her supplies.

"Thanks." Midna replied back in a cool tone. She took the plate and sat cross-legged on the crinkly grass. She raised a piece of sweet melon to her mouth, but immediately put it back down.

"Listen. I'm sick of fighting. I'm sick of tension. I just want it all to stop. So, can we call a truce? We don't have to be best friends or anything, but...for Link's sake..."

"I know what you mean." Ilia said quickly. The two girls stared at each other for a moment. They had no reason to hate each other. They simply had clashing personalities and different opinions, but they shared a deep love for Link.

"He loves you, you know." Ilia said suddenly. "The love was always there, even after you left him. He was never the same. He was himself, yet different, somehow. It unnerved me. And I told him that I...and...I tried...but..."

"You mean more to him than anyone else he knows." Midna cut her off. "He cares about you more than I thought. You should see the fire in his eyes when he talks about you. There's nothing but love and adoration...but...it's more..."

"Sisterly." Ilia finished for her. She smiled. "I know. The past few weeks have forced me to accept that. Sometimes I find myself wishing...but then...Chien..." Her voice trailed off, and her face flushed. "I'm just a little unsure about everything right now."

"Well...at least you have options. If I were back in my realm I'd be betrothed. My parents are dead, so the Council would have arranged it. I probably wouldn't have even known him."

"You talk as if it's a "could've been" type thing...does that mean you're not going back? I'm just curious..."

Midna froze. She hadn't thought of this. The mirror was gone. But, through the harp and through Space she could possibly return to the Twilight Realm. To what, she thought bitterly. What do I have to return to? A kingdom that believes I'd betray them, that I'm unstable. That, because of the whole Link ordeal that I'm going to threaten the realm...like Zant. She couldn't blame them. Because of the incident with her parents...the Twilight Realm had full rights to believe that the Light Realm was nothing but trouble, and Zant's actions had only confirmed those beliefs. But...if I were to go back...things would never be the same. My life would never be what I wanted it to be...it'd be without Link.

"HEY!!!!" A shout pierced the thin air. Ilia dropped her bag. Little bottles, medicines, and cooking supplies rolled around everywhere. Midna had jumped up and fallen over. She quickly pushed herself off the ground and looked for the source. There, half a mile down the river, was Link, his voice carrying well, as usual.

"There's fish all over this end of the river!" He shouted. "You guys come help me! Bring the rod! I need meat!"

Midna rolled her eyes. Typical Link. Ilia giggled.

"I swear, he must be some sort of carnivore or something. He eats more meat than anyone I've ever seen."

Midna opened her mouth, then closed it again, unsure how to respond. Ilia's statement was more accurate then she herself realized.

"Well...we might as well make it easier for him." She pulled out his fishing rod. "Let's go."

Ilia nodded. She and Midna had reached an understanding of each other. Maybe one day they could put their differences aside and become friends...it was too early to tell.

Love had ways of binding people, ripping them apart, and holding them together. It could be a dangerous battlefield or a safe haven.

To Midna it was both.