It was the wee hours of the morning. The sun hadn't even shown itself yet. Link opened his eyes wearily to the sound of howling wind outside. He noticed that the burlap curtain was flapping somewhat against the ledge. The wind must have been blowing hard outside. Hr also noticed that the candle he had lit the night before had burnt itself down. He laid his head back on his pillow but just as he began to close his eyes he also noticed that Zelda was lying beside him completely uncovered. He then realized the reason for this was because sometime during the night he had managed to steal all the blankets from her. Through his sleepy eyes and the very dim light he could see chill bumps covering her skin and he wondered why she hadn't woken up cold and woke him up to get the blankets back. He immediately readjusted the covers and threw the covers over Zelda. He rolled over to the point where his face was resting on her neck. Her skin was definitely cold to the touch so she had been uncovered for quite some time. He heard her whimper slightly. Once again, just as Link was about to drift back to sleep he heard her moan sweetly but what caught him off guard was the fact that he heard Zelda utter his name as she sighed.

"What, honey?" he whispered to her softly. However, Zelda didn't answer. "Zelda?" he said a little louder touching her shoulder. But then Link realized she was sound asleep since she didn't respond at all. It was obvious Zelda was caught up in a dream…she wasn't even aware that the wind was howling outside nor was she aware of anything else for that matter. Since Link clearly heard her unconsciously utter his name he could only hope that she was having the hottest dream of her life. Link laid his head on her neck again and drifted off to sleep again with the lullaby of the howling wind.

The dawn had finally broken over the horizon four hours later. Zelda opened her eyes only slightly to see pale morning light sneaking in through the openings in the burlap curtain. She yawned and stretched her arms above her head. She turned her face to look at Link. She could see his bare shoulder above the edge of their fleece blanket. It looked like he was still asleep. Zelda wanted to get up and go to the bathroom to take a shower…but she was so warm and comfortable right now that she hated to move. With arms over her head, she closed her eyes and tried to motivate herself to get up. She heard Link breathe heavily beside her. He turned around only to see Zelda's sleepy eyes half open.

"Good morning, darling." Link said to her quietly as he reached his arms out to her. She rolled over into his embrace and dug her fingers into his hair. "Did you sleep well?" he asked her.

"Wonderfully." Zelda answered her voice a bit breathless and dreamy.

"Yeah, me too." Link answered her. "Are you sore?" She could feel Link's hand move down her body to her hip. Zelda smiled.

"Yes." She answered him tightening her arm around him. It was a fair enough question. She should have been. It wasn't like Link gave her everything she wanted to feel in two minutes. In fact, it took four times to wear them both out completely. Zelda was radiant this morning Her skin absolutely glowed and her brown eyes sparkled. Maybe it was because her hormones had been in a constant surge for twelve hours. Or maybe it because she had plenty of Link inside of her to savor. Whatever the case, Zelda could not have been anymore beautiful.

"You know, I know they are gorons and all…but I hope there are some clothes in that cabinet over there. I didn't plan this completely out. I didn't bring another change of clothes and I didn't tell you to bring anything else.

"Hmmm…that's a good point." Link also noticed that the wind outside was howling just as loudly as he had heard it earlier in the pre-dawn hours.

"It also sounds like it is going to be a cold ride home later today." Link told her.

"It may be but its okay. You can come stay with me at the palace, I'll keep you warm." Zelda told him pushing her other arm underneath Link.

"What?" Link, was surprised, he never ever got to stay with her at the palace. There was ALWAYS someone there: Impa, a horde of diplomats, Zelda's cousins, some important visitor or above all….her father.

"I told you…you're not the only one who's full of surprises. You're staying with me for a few days. No one's there. My father and Impa are gone, all the dignitaries have left. All that's there are a handful of guards." Zelda said. Link was definitely shocked and delighted beyond belief.

"Oh my god Zelda…this is…well this is huge! I can't believe…how long? How many days am I staying with you?" Link asked her with blue eyes ablaze. Zelda pushed her body up so that now she was hovering over him.

"Three days." She told him lowering her voice as if someone were listening. Zelda just watched Link for a moment. "Now, it's my turn to have some plans for you."

"You're going to make me kill a spider aren't you?" Link teased her. He reached for her to pull her body to the point where her shoulders were even with his. Zelda laughed. "No, no I know you Zelda. There has probably been a spider in your bathroom for the past week and you probably have it captured under a bowl and when we get to the palace you're going to be all 'Link go kill the spider in my bathroom it's huge!' Then I'll go in there and take the bowl off and it will be smaller than an ant." Link said to her trying not to laugh himself. Zelda gasped.

"I do NOT exaggerate spider size!" Zelda defended herself. "You'll adore what I have planned for you." Zelda reassured him. Link pushed her over to the point where he was now hovering over her.

"I love you." He told her seriously. He pushed her brunette hair away from her face.

"I love you too." Zelda said resting her fingers Link's lips. Zelda predicted he would lick her fingers the minute they came to rest there; and she was right.

"We should go have breakfast with the gorons." Zelda said not really wanting to move. Link laid down on top of her.

"Zelda…this means I get to hear Darunia...I mean don't get me wrong Darunia is great…but I'm just not ready for his whole Link! My brother! Was the princess good!? I made up that last part." Link said. Zelda laughed.

"Oh really? I couldn't have guessed that at all." Zelda said sarcastically holding Link's head in her hands. "Here…go. I need to see if I can even move." Zelda said shoving Link off of her. She pushed herself up but that was as far as she got at this point.

"Alright, we're in luck. Here, this won't fit you but it will work until we get home. Link disappeared into the shower. Zelda took the clothes that he gave her and she slowly got dressed. Hell, why should she even bother trying to take a shower now? It would take her forever and if she waited a little longer she could take a hot bath when she got home. Zelda got dressed and began to stand up…slowly.

"Crap!" Zelda said out loud. "I have to ride a freaking horse today!" She had just remembered that part of the equation. Once Link was out and dressed he appeared to be thinking of something.

"Hold on…" Link told Zelda watching her fold up their blankets. He unlocked their door and stepped outside but quickly returned.

"Okay, don't put those away, we need them to get down the hillside…it's um…its cold out there. Here…" Link grabbed one of the blankets and wrapped Zelda up in it.

"Wait a minute…shouldn't we pack?" Zelda asked noticing their stuff…well everywhere.

"Yes…yes we should I completely forgot about that part. We are not walking all the way back up here after breakfast." Link said completely forgetting about everything they had brought with them. It didn't take them long to stuff everything into the bags that they had brought with them on this trip. With blankets wrapped around them, it was now time for Link and Zelda to join Darbua and Darunia and however many other gorons for breakfast. Zelda gasped once outside but it wasn't form the cold wind.

"Whoa, this is what this place looks like in the daytime!?" she asked as they began down the mountainside.

"It's grand isn't it?" Link asked her.

"Yes, yes it's….well it's fabulous." Zelda said.

"Wait…why aren't you freezing out here? It is really cold and you're not miserable yet." Link wondered. Zelda shrugged her shoulders.

"You're keeping me warm from the inside out." Zelda said keeping as straight of a face as she could.

"Oh my god I cannot believe you just said that!" Link said laughing at smiled and pulled the blanket tighter around her. The sights of Goron City in daylight were truly spectacular. It was amazing that these mountain dwellers were able to survive these rugged conditions. Zelda and Link came closer to where they had left the celebration the night before. They could see the flames of the goron fire torches blowing with the wind. It was a wonder that they didn't burn out. Before entering the hall where they had eaten dinner the night before Link stopped Zelda in their path. He stood in front of her as the air blew her hair everywhere and tried its best to tear her protective blanket from her. Link would have put his hands on her shoulders, but he was wound up in his own blanket. He got close to her to kiss her.

"You are so beautiful and so perfect. I can't wait to have breakfast with you." Link told her. Zelda smiled all over making her face even more radiant than it already was.

"You spoil me. You shouldn't do that I might start thinking I'm a princess or something." Zelda told him laughing.

"Come on you, let's go see what the gorons have made this morning." Link told her leading them back into the banquet hall. It didn't take long for either of them to be noticed by the gorons.

"LINK! MY BROTHER! DID YOU SLEEP! WELL!? COME! COME! HAVE BREAKFAST WITH ME!" Darunia bellowed standing up from the table and rushing over to Link.

"Darunia, yes…yes I slept well. Thank you for breakfast." Link told hinm before Darunia had a chance to shove anything in front of him.

"HERE! YOU AND THE PRINCESS SIT HERE! I'LL GET YOUR BREAKFAST!" Darunia shoved Link and Zelda into to chairs near him.

"Good morning, princess. I hope you rested well. You its…" the female goron stopped talking and was staring at Zelda.

"What is it?" Zelda asked. The goron smiled at her.

"Your eyes…you must be the happiest woman alive with eyes like those." She said to Zelda. Zelda shook her head.

"I am….I am." The female goron just giggled and went back to her breakfast after Zelda answered her.

"HERE! EAT PRINCESS! IF YOU WANT MORE JUST ASK!" Darunia said shoving a bowel in front of Link and Zelda. Link didn't waste any time starting in on breakfast. However, Zelda wasn't sure about this wretched looking stuff in the bowl before her. But there was no was she would disrespect the gorons.

"Link….Link what the hell is this?" Zelda asked looking at the bubbly goo.

"Oh….yeah…I was scared of it too the first time I ever had it. It's like oatmeal, only a little sweeter and the texture is grosser. But it's very good. It has cinnamon, some milk, some other crap, and its good when you dip the scone in it too." Link explained to her. Zelda thought the orange scone looked much safer, but she knew Link would never tell her to eat something that was sketchy…so she tasted the gooey mixture.

"Oh…that's good! I'm surprised!" Zelda said taking another bite of the porridge-looking stuff.

"I told you it was good." Link reassured her.

"LINK! YOU AND ZELDA ARE GOING TO HAVE A COLD TRIP HOME TODAY! DON'T WORRY THOUGH I WILL PREPARE YOU AND YOUR HORSE FOR THE JOURNEY!" Darbus said.

"Thank you Darbus, I did want to ask you about that this morning but it seems you've already thought it through."

"IT SEEMS THAT AUTUMN CAME IN STRONG LAST NIGHT. THE TIME HAS COME TO REALIZE THAT THE SWEET SUMMER DAYS ARE GONE AND SOON AUTUMN WILL TURN TO WINTER." Darbus said.

"You want some more tea?" Link asked Zelda standing up from the table to get himself more tea.

"Yeah, if you don't mind." Zelda told him.

"PRINCESS! I HOPE YOUR STAY HAS MET YOUR EXPECTATIONS. YOU ARE ALWAYS WELCOME IN OUR CITY!" Darbus told her.

"It's been wonderful, really. Thank you for letting us stay here." Zelda reassured him. Breakfast with the gorons didn't last much longer. Link and Zelda had a lot of traveling ahead of them and it was time to head for the stables to retrieve Epona.

"PLEASE! MY BROTHER! PRINCESS! COME WITH ME! DARBUS WILL PREPARE YOUR HORSE AND I WILL BEPARE YOUR CLOTHES!" Darunia said. Link and Zelda did as Darunia instructed and followed him to a room outside of the banquet hall.

"NOW, KEEP YOUR BLANKETS WITH YOU. DON'T WORRY YOU CAN TAKE THEM WITH YOU." Darunia said opening up a closet and taking out a pile of things. "I DON'T HAVE ANY WARMER CLOTHES , I'M SORRY. BUT I DO HAVE THESE CLOAKES YOU CAN TAKE WITH YOU." Darunia draped one of the cloaks over Links shoulders and tied it around him. He did the same for Zelda.

"THERE! NOW YOU WILL BE READY FOR THE TRIP! LET'S GO TO THE STABLES!" Darunia said. The other goron elders managed to catch up with the three of them and follow them to the stables. There stood Epona. Bridled up with a heavy cloth and saddle over her back.

"SHE'S A VERY SWEET HORSE BROTHER!" Darbus said.

"Yes, she's a good horse…the best actually." Link explained. Zelda looked at Epona nervously wondering how she was going to get on this horse with as little pain in her thighs as possible.

"Hi girl." Link was petting Epona's nose. He could hear her nicker at the sight of him. He took her brush out of the pack that was attached to her and brushed her mane to start. "What has she had to eat?" Link asked.

"MOSTLY GRAIN, BUT SHE ALSO HAD SOME VEGETABLES LAST NIGHT." Darbus said.

"Good, good." Link said working his way to her tail. He also checked her shoes to see if he needed to get her fitted again when they returned to Hyrule. Link finished up her coat and gave her a good pat on the back before putting her brush back. Epona's ears were forward and gentle when Zelda walked to the front of her to stroke her mane.

"Here, you can walk her outside." Link handed Zelda Epona's reigns. Zelda took her reigns to lead her outside. Epona walked close behind her. Once outside the stables, Zelda stopped to turn around but instead she felt Epona's nose in the back of her head and on her shoulder.

"Awww, she's happy." Zelda said stepping in front of Epona to drop the reigns and get ready to leave Goron City.

"I'm going to need your help if you know what I mean." Zelda said softly to Link.

"Of course, come here." Link answered her putting his hands around her hips. "You ready?" Zelda jumped up and Link lifted her up enough for her to get on Epona. Zelda cringed a little as she swung one leg over Epona's back. Link handed over one of the blankets to Zelda. Link got up behind her and took the other blanket from Darbus. He covered up before pulling Zelda back against him as far as she could.

"Darbus, Darunia…thank you so much. We hope to come see you and your people again sooner than later." Link told both of the goron leaders before he and Zelda began the trip back to Hyrule.

"BROTHER! PRINCESS! OUR DOOR IS ALWAYS OPEN TO YOU! BE CAREFUL ON YOUR JOURNEY HOME!" Link turned Epona toward the path that would lead them away from Goron City. Zelda turned and waved to Darbus, Darunia and the other goron elders as they slowly departed. It was going to be a long ride home but Link secretly was so excited for a few reasons: first, he would be able to hold Zelda up against him the entire way home which because of the normally limited time they had together, was a delight. Secondly, the fact that he was actually going home with her to the palace was more than he could ever ask for. It would make the ride home all the more exciting. Once out of the mountainous range it was them against the wind.

Link and Zelda had been traveling for nearly two hours and a half. Mother nature had not given them a break but the palace of Hyrule could be seen in the distance.

"We're almost home, darling." Zelda said.

"Do you think the gates will be down for us?" Link asked.

"They should be. I told the guards to leave them down until I returned."

"Is it okay to leave Epona in the corral? I would like for her to graze a little before she goes in for the night." Link wondered.

"Sure, there's a keeper there who will put her away tonight." Zelda said.

"He doesn't change shoes does he? Epona needs a new set."

"Yes, he'll do it. In fact he will probably do it before he leaves the stables tonight. I'll take Epona to the corral and tell the keeper what she needs. When we get inside the palace walls you go ahead inside. I just don't want him asking too many questions." Zelda explained.

"Alright, I'll meet you inside." Link said. It didn't take long for them to approach the gates of Hyrule's beautiful palace. Link handed the reigns over to Zelda and slid off Epona.

"Here, take my blanket too." Zelda said handing over her blanket as the wind whipped underneath her cloak. "Meet me downstairs." Zelda said leading Epona away to the corral. Once there, she told the keeper everything Epona needed. Zelda wanted to hurry back to the palace not only because her cloak was no longer giving her any protection from the cold but because she wanted to get into her hot bath.

"This is a beautiful horse. If you don't mind me asking you; whose horse is she? the keeper asked her.

"She belongs to Link but you know…I told him…you were the best at shoe replacement so I offered to bring her to you." Zelda thought fast and it was a good answer and mostly true.

"Anything else for her?" the keeper asked taking the saddle and bridle off Epona and handing Zelda the bags that were also attached to her.

"No, just her shoes and make sure she grazes." Zelda said getting ready to walk away.

"You want me to shampoo her?" the keeper asked.

"I guess you could do that. You have a good afternoon. I'm going in for the day." Zelda said pulling the cloak tighter around her.

"Good day Zelda, I'll have her ready tomorrow. Please tell Link to come by so he can see her new shoes. I want to make sure he's pleased with them." The keeper said. Zelda smiled.

"I will." Zelda answered knowing that she needed to walk away or the keeper would talk to her the rest of the day if he could. She hurried back to the palace. Once inside she was relieved to be in the warmth of the castle walls.

"Your bath is ready for you." Link told her taking her in his arms.

"Thank you." Zelda said holding on to him.

"You go take your bath. I'm going to go boil some water to make some stew." Link said.

"No, you don't have to do that." Zelda said.

"No, let me. You'll like it. I promise. Go take your bath." Link kissed her deeply before letting her go upstairs.

"I won't be long." Zelda said reassuring Link that she would join him in the kitchen soon.

"Alright." Link said smiling at her. He was so happy with her, more than he could ever portray to her. Truly, there was nothing in the world more serene, more pure, more divine than peace in Hyrule.