Author's note: What the fuck, where has Liz been? Well, she's been playing FFXI. Don't buy the game—your life goes down the tubes but all you can do is want more! Erm, anyways, I went over this chapter today and it looks okay, so I decided to go ahead and put it up. I had totally forgotten it wasn't on FFNet yet...you could have had it months ago. I'm sorry! Please enjoy.

Chapter Eight: From Beyond the Grave

"It's time for you to go, Link."

"Go? Where?"

"Not where...when. Back. To the way you're supposed to be..."

"What? Zelda no..."

Tears started. She wiped them away. She couldn't let her feelings for him get in the way. He probably didn't feel the same, anyway...

"Link, you need to go back. Ganon is gone, and we're at peace now. So we need to take care of you, because you've done so much. You have to go back. It's what will be best for you."

"But Zelda, you have to rebuild. You'll need help."

"I'll manage." Crying harder now. What a lie.

"You can't just send me back in time..."

"I have to. Your life was ruined because of me. I dragged you into my problems. I'm the worst thing that's ever happened to you!"

Link stared at her.

"Is that what you think?" he murmured.

"It's the truth."

"No. It couldn't be further from it. Princess Zelda, you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. I won't go back, even if you hate me for it. Because you need me...and I need you. I love you, Zelda."

And before she could say anything back he had met her lips with his in a passionate kiss.

Zelda lay perfectly still on her bed, letting the sounds of the morning wash over her. It was a gray, dreary dawn, and her tears had finally stopped, and all she could do was listen.

Birds sang. She heard frogs. A light sheet of rain beat down upon the walls of the palace. The winds had picked up, brushing through the trees.

Someone knocked on her door.

"Princess, are you in there?" A servant girl.

"Yes, I'm here. I don't want to be disturbed."

"Very well."

The girl left, to report back to the king and Calhoun that Zelda still didn't want to come out of her room. The rain and wind got a little harder.

Several more people came. Zelda told them all to go away, getting less and less polite each time, listening to the storm get louder and louder. She listened to the win howl, the thunder crash; she saw tree branches fall and lightning strike a tree somewhere nearby, the fire put out by the rain. She saw and heard it all, but her mind was a million miles away. All she could do was think of her roses, the ones that seemed to stay healthy and alive, though much time had passed.

Finally, a little after lunch, there was another knock. Zelda, temper snapping, got up, walked to the door, and flung it open. A well-timed flash of lighting helped the dramatics.

"I said, I don't want to be—"

Her words died on her lips when she saw who had knocked. Of all people...

"Zelda!" Calhoun said, strolling into the room and putting his hands on her shoulders. She jerked away from him. Horror, fear, anger, and hate filled her. Anger was the worst one. Her thoughts rushed around in confused jumbles, everything blending into a spinning wheel of pain that was going so fast she felt sick. She wasn't thinking in sentences, sometimes not even coherent words. She didn't know what she felt towards him. All the negative emotions went into one bad feeling.

He killed Link, I saw him do it—

"I don't want to talk to you," she growled at last. "Go away."

He killed Link because of me and it's my fault—

"Zelda," he said again, his tone much lower. "You've been misbehaving. Not coming out of your room at all yesterday or today. Why? What are you up to?"

Of course. He thought she was attempting to run away again.

But it can't be for nothing, I won't let him die for nothing—I loved him more than anything—Link was my everything—so I will not run away—

I will never run away.

Because you took my everything from me forever.

"I'm not up to anything," Zelda told him coldly. "And I don't wish to speak with a murderer."

"I've told you time and again I had nothing to do with the death of the servant—"

"I'm not talking about Jesslyn. Jesslyn is fine."

Calhoun's face darkened.

"What exactly was in that letter?" he asked. "I'm sure you read it despite my attempts, because of the..." Here he hesitated, not knowing what to call it. "Tell me. Tell me what was in the letter."

"The letter burned," Zelda said, with savage satisfaction at this half-truth. "All I could make out was that Jesslyn was alive and well."

"Then I don't see why you don't want to talk to me. I'm not a murderer, I'm—"

"You are a cold-blooded heartless murderer," Zelda said, with conviction.

Calhoun stared at her, wanting her to back down, but Zelda stared back, defiant, remembering—

"They say if you die in a dream, you wake and die in reality as well..."

"It's your life or hers."

"So much for true love."

At first Calhoun and his crimes were all that were in her thoughts. But as she stood there, staring him down, she felt strong. Because she could remember Link, too, remember how much they had loved each other, and how Calhoun tried to take it all away—

But you didn't. He's still here, protecting me.

"I'm sorry...that I had but one life to give."

A gentle hand stroking her face.

"I love you, Zelda..."

Brushing the hair away from her eyes.

"Always."

Drawing her close, so close she could hear his heartbeat.

"Forever."

And meeting her lips with his in a tender kiss.

"I promise."

She refused to look away. So much for true love, indeed.

"You killed Link, you son of a bitch."

Calhoun took a step forward, as silent as a ghost.

Suddenly, letting on what she knew didn't seem like such a good idea. Great, he was probably going to get her too now. Zelda started looking around wildly as Calhoun advanced on her. Where in the world was Link? Funny how lately whenever she needed him he'd shown up but now when Calhoun was trying to murder her for what she knew (and possibly for the insult as well) her hero was nowhere to be fou—

Wham.

Calhoun hit the floor, groaning. Zelda stared down at him.

"You don't want to do that."

It wasn't Calhoun or Zelda who spoke. Calhoun's head jerked up, along with Zelda's, as they searched for the source. She knew that voice. he was here. Speaking. He was here. He was actually here.

"Who's there?" Calhoun demanded, scrambling to his feet.

"Oh, but don't you remember me? I'm hurt, Calhoun. I believe it's been a little more than a year, and I still remember you. Trust me..."

The next words came out in a whisper.

"I could never forget."

The voice was everywhere and nowhere. It sounded like a madman talking. Then Zelda felt it whisper in her ear.

"Don't worry, love. I'm perfectly sane. I'm just scaring him."

She knew Calhoun couldn't hear it but she froze right up, having heard that voice whisper words of love in her ear so many times before...

"Link?" she cried.

"He's dead," Calhoun snarled. "That pathetic little—"

Calhoun hit the floor again.

"Watch your mouth," the voice warned. "Didn't I warn you? I told you that you would pay."

Zelda felt a hand squeeze her shoulder gently, a touch so light Zelda was almost sure the hand was going through her. Though she looked over, there was no one there. Still, this was a big step up. Link had grown more powerful as a spirit.

Calhoun stood up again, slower. The hand left Zelda's shoulder, and she watched Calhoun. Something flickered before him, and she caught a glimpse of green.

"This is impossible," he said. "You're dead. You're dead. I killed you."

"I know. But I made a promise to keep her safe. And I'll be damned if you're the bastard who makes me break that promise."

The room flickered again. And Zelda saw him. Saw him flicker on and stay. There was Link. She could see right through him. But he was there. The same worn old boots, the same green tunic and hat, the same bright blue eyes and golden locks.

Calhoun turned white. And before Link or Zelda could stop him, he turned and ran out of he room.

Link didn't pause to watch him go. He turned at once, and his eyes searched Zelda's face. She was trying hard, so hard, not to break down into tears. She was seeing his face again. His face, that she hadn't seen in so long.

"Link..."

"I know," he said, and she believed him, only he would know every single bit of emotion she wanted to express, hidden in that single word. "We'll have to catch up later," he added apologetically. "You don't have much time...you've got to run."

"What?" Zelda asked.

"You've got to run. Calhoun was downstairs talking with his guards yesterday. He's planning to murder you and your father in the first moment he gets."

"Like he killed you..."

"Yes," Link said. He started to take her hands, but his just passed through hers, and all she could feel was the feather-light touch that was more imagination than feeling. "We're going to Gerudo Valley. You'll be safe there, with Impa and Sheik."

"Okay. How should we go?" Zelda asked, as she grabbed a cloak and donned it. The last thing she needed was to be recognized. "Are you solid enough to ride a horse, or...?"

"I'm a ghost, Zel. Horses spook way too easily for me to get near one, even if was solid enough to ride it. Sorry, but I have to walk. But we can save ourselves some time. Do me a favor and jump off the balcony again."

"What?" Zelda asked, astonished. She glanced outside. The weather was horrible. The earlier rain had turned into a raging storm.

"I caught you once. I can do I again. And trust me, if we go the back way, Calhoun won't find us anytime soon. Hurry up, before you lose sight of me. I flicker on and off," he added in an explanation to her confused look. "Sometimes I'm really strong like this. Other times you won't be able to see or even hear me. Last time..." Link shuddered. "I couldn't talk yet, not like I can now. I was afraid you'd jump and I'd lose you."

"But you caught me," Zelda said, exiting the window to the balcony. She was yelling now to be heard over the wind of the storm. "How can you catch me, yet not put your hand on m shoulder?"

"I'm bound by my word," Link explained with a grin. "I can't scream at you not to commit suicide, or kiss you, but I can protect you from death. Or immediate bodily harm. That's how I'm able to punch the goons that keep trying to hurt you."

"What about the plates?"

"One time shot of strength. I was so tired after that I haven't been able to move anything heavier than a few flowers since then."

"I enjoyed the roses."

"I was trying to tell you I was here."

"I'm sorry I took so long figuring it out," Zelda said, climbing up onto the edge of the rail, getting ready to jump. "And I'm sorry you died because of me..."

"And I told you, I'm sorry I could only die once for you. You have nothing to feel guilty over. Come on, let's go. I'll pretend to hold your hand, okay?"

Zelda nodded quickly. She was soaked and freezing, and wanted to go. The sooner they got to hot Gerudo Valley, the better.

"You ready?" Link asked.

"Y-yeah..."

"Count to three."

Zelda started counting. A half second before she said three, Link plummeted down ahead of her, and Zelda had let herself fall before she realized he wasn't there anymore. She yelled with terror as she fell, but soon she caught up to Link, and he wrapped his arms around her as they fell together. Zelda closed her eyes and she almost thought she could feel his embrace.

Her fall slowed while he was holding her. Since he could float (somewhat) he was pulling back, pulling her up, slowing her down. By the time she touched the ground, she was going slow enough so that it didn't hurt at all. She and Link tumbled gently to the ground, rolling a few feet before coming to a halt. Link was on top of her, but he was now sort of falling through her. He stumbled to his feet, holding his head. That had taken quite some energy.

"You okay?" Zelda asked. Her heart was still pounding from jumping off eleven stories yet again.

"Hey, I'm dead. Not much else can happen to me. I'm fine, Zel, just a little...well, the feeling is hard to describe. But I'll be fine."

"That's a neat trick," she said, attempting to brush her wet hair out of her face.

"The practice run didn't go nearly as well," Link said mysteriously, leaving Zelda to wonder how close of a shave it had been to save her life the fist time she had jumped from that balcony. She started to stand and slipped on the mud. Link tried to take her elbow to help her up, but of course his hands passed through her arm. He cursed in frustration.

"I can manage," Zelda told him, trying to help him feel better. She carefully got to her feet again. "Okay, let's go."

They walked. They had to. They went around the back of the castle, narrowly avoiding Calhoun's men. After they got to the field, they were good to go. There was a thick fog and heavy rain, so visibility was limited. The only thing they had to worry about were their muddy footprints being spotted.

"Sometimes you make footprints, sometimes not," Zelda pointed out.

Link shrugged. At the moment he was still visible, so she could see it.

"One of the many quirks of being a ghost."

"You were the one last time it rained," Zelda said, remembering. "You wrote in the mud..."

"And threw rocks in the puddles. It was a good idea, and I can lift little things like that, so I helped."

Zelda kept walking on, looking own at the mud.

"What about the wedding?" she asked finally. "How did you do that?"

"I was just there," Link said. "At first whenever I went anywhere this huge wind started up. But I learned to tone it down. I just came in through the wall really fast, because I knew I had to get there in time even if I couldn't do a thing, and it fell all to pieces and everything blew everywhere. I was glad. I wanted it to. I couldn't let that...that...thing marry you."

"But I wasn't hit."

"No. I stood next to you, so everything blew around us. I was hoping you'd feel me there, but I guess at that point I wasn't strong enough for you to feel anything."

"I didn't even realize you were...you know...until I got Impa's letter. Thank you for saving it."

"Not a problem. All I did was stood in the fire. Fire can't burn where a ghost is standing, apparently."

They continued to talk, work out the details of Link's end of the adventure, all the way to Gerudo Valley. They were together again and neither of them could get enough of it. Despite the horrible situation, the pouring rain, and the fact that a murderer was after them, they laughed and smiled and had a good time. Because his company was worth more than she could say. All too often people said they'd give their arms or legs for just five more minutes with someone who was gone forever. Now Zelda was getting more than that, for free. It was worth everything to her to have this time with him. It was a miracle beyond anything she'd ever heard of, and she was touched his love was so strong that it had been able to bring about this phenomenon.

His love, she mused.

His love from beyond the grave.

x-x-x

The rains weren't in Gerudo Valley; they never were. But the skies were still a little cloudy, and the wind was worse here. Zelda shivered, cold. Link shot her a concerned glance. When he looked back before him, he froze.

"Oh, damn," he hissed. "The bridge..."

The bridge, in the recent winds, had been entirely knocked out. Since the had no horses, they couldn't jump it. There was no way across.

"Now what?" Zelda asked.

"I don't know."

"We could walk back and get horses. I'd walk mine."

"It'd take too long. Calhoun would find you and it'd all be over. I refuse to let that happen." Link's eyes were determined and set.

"Maybe I could jump down—you could catch me—and then I could swim across the river? Then I could climb back up."

"You'd never make it across the river, it's really fast. I could hardly stand it when I untied Jesslyn's ropes, when Calhoun threw her in. Even you did make it across the other side is just a blank rock face, no one could climb that...what?"

Zelda was staring at him in wonder.

"You saved her?"

"I only wish. Sheik really saved her. All I could do was untie her, so she wouldn't sink. I wasn't that powerful at that point. The further away I am from you, the weaker I am."

"I wonder why that is..."

"Because you're the one I promised to protect. Not Jesslyn. But I had to help her...she's my friend—or she was before I died—and I know how much she means to you. Besides that, Calhoun wasn't being fair. He had her wrists tied and all."

"Bastard," Zelda said bitterly.

"Yeah."

"So I can't get across by swimming and climbing, and I can't jump it. We can't go back and get horses. What else?"

Link thought.

"Well I can get across cause I can sort of float...so I could go tell Impa and Sheik to bring horses...but then...I'd have to leave you here alone..."

"Is there anything else we can do?" Zelda said, reasonably. Her logic was working. "Just go quickly. I'll hide, and they won't find me."

"Zelda, I swore to protect you. That's the entire reason I'm here. I can't just leave you..."

"You'll have to. It's the only way."

"I can't," Link insisted.

Zelda sighed, then smiled.

"You stubborn fool," she teased softly. "All right then, what's your plan?"

Link opened his mouth, shut it, then opened it again.

"Well...um..."

"The quicker you go, the further we stay ahead of Calhoun," Zelda reminded him. "So hurry up."

Link balked, stalled, and protested. Finally, though, (Zelda's) logic won out. There really was no other way into Gerudo Valley, short of walking back to Lon Lon Ranch and getting horses—which would mean running into Calhoun, and running into Calhoun spelled out certain doom for Zelda.

"Here, right here," Link told her, leading the way to a bit of shrubbery poking up from the dry rock and sand. "Hide behind these. And use the cloak to cover your whole body. You're harder to see that way."

"I'll be okay, Link."

"If he comes stay still and quiet no matter what."

"I will."

"Promise me."

"I promise."

"And if he finds you, kick and bite and scream. Don't let him hurt you."

"I'll do my best. I promise," she added, before he could ask.

Link grinned nervously.

"I'll be right back."

And he was gone, walking as though he was skating on air, swooping out of sight—

Then he was back.

"I love you, Zelda."

Zelda laughed, but the tears fell down her face as he said it. It'd been a long time since she'd heard that from him.

"I love you too. Now go."

Link was gone in an instant. He was pretty fast, Zelda thought. Not that he hadn't been speedy while living, but while he was dead he was even quicker.

Too bad, she mused, that he couldn't keep up with horses...

"I love you," she said again, clenching her fists. "I love you, Link..."

A/N: Put simply, I am too lazy to respond. But, thank you so much for reviewing and being patient. I love you all! Please review again. I can't promise a quck update, but DO promise that I will leave NO story to rot!