Best New Year Ever

author's notes: So, my first romance fic. I hope you all enjoy it.

Link woke up and felt the sun shining on his face. He looked out his window to see Castle Town starting its day: merchants coming from all over the land, foods beginning to be cooked, and people starting to come out of their houses and crowd the streets. But, it wasn't a normal day, today was New Year's Eve. There would definitely be some celebration at midnight.

Since Link saved Hyrule, he had been living in Hyrule Castle. Partly because he felt a commitment to Hyrule and wanted to protect the kingdom. After all that he'd been through, who wouldn't? He had his own special room in the castle which he filled with furniture. The king, with whom he had become friends with, offered to fill it for him and give him royal furniture to furnish his room with, but Link declined his offer. He was too used to the simple things, and so got a job at Telma's Bar as a waiter. He made enough money off of his job to furnish his room and by his own food, but he was still within the poor class. When the king learned of this, he offered once again to give him furniture and food, but again Link declined his offer. His room was essentially entirely his own house. Link technically had two jobs: one at Telma's Bar, and the other as a knight at Hyrule Castle.

The other half was because he wanted to get to know the princess better. Since the first time he saw her, he had always wondered what she was like and wanted to get to know her more. So, with those two reasons, he came to live in the castle.

Link had been living in Hyrule Castle for nearly two years now and had grown quite fond of the princess, and the princess had grown fond of Link. They were very close friends, and Link thought that he loved her. However, the times that they spent with each other were few and far between, so Link, at night, would sneak out of his room in the castle and go visit the princess. Sometimes they would even sneak out of the castle together and go some place. When he was around her, everything felt perfect and all of his troubles seemed to just disappear. Sure, he liked Midna, but they were just close friends, nothing more. He didn't love Midna at all. Wouldn't anyone be at least a little sad if someone they got to know and were close too left just like that and you might never see them again? At least, that's how Link saw it. All he knew is that he didn't love Midna.

Link sat up and yawned. He lifted himself off of the bed and got dressed, wearing the usual green tunic and hat. He strapped his Master Sword and Hylian Shield on his back and left the room to begin his day.

Link had hoped to get off of his job at Telma's Bar for New Year's Eve and day, but didn't want to ask. Link was just that kind of person: committed to his duty and job, so there was no way he was going to ask off.

Link heard a knock at the door and went to open it. What a surprise! Princess Zelda was standing there, looking beautiful as usual. She was wearing a velvet pink dress with golden jewels around the neck, wearing blue earrings. In her hair she had golden decorations. Link looked at her ocean-blue eyes and decided he could get lost in those forever. He smiled.

"Hi Zel," he said.

"Hello Link," she said, embracing him lightly, "Good morning." Zelda let go of him. "Are you coming to the Ball later today?" Link was startled, he had forgotten all about it. He mentally slapped himself for forgetting about such an important event. The entire city was going to be there for the early celebration of New Year's. ""At least I remembered about the fireworks at midnight,"" Link thought to himself.

"Yes," Link said happily, "my job at the tavern ends about a half-hour before it starts so everyone can get ready. The bar will be closed after that until the next New Year's Day." Zelda looked very pleased. In the past two weeks, the only time they saw each other was when Link snuck out of his room to go see her. They wanted to see each other some time safe when they didn't have to worry about being caught. Besides, Zelda had planned to tell Link about her love for him that night. She felt a strong affection towards him, and she figured New Year's was the best time to tell him. However, she was very nervous about that night.

"Okay," Zelda said, "see you then."

"See you then," Link replied and watched her walk off. Link stood there for a while, thinking about her beauty and how nice she was. She was kind and caring and respectful to all people. ""I have to remember to tell her about my love for her tonight,"" he thought, ""But how can I say it? I don't even know if she loves me back. Sure, we're close friends b..."" He suddenly snapped out of it and remembered his job at the tavern. A "Hurry you idiot! Hurry!" feeling came over him. He was going to be late! If he didn't get going, anyway. Link rushed out of Hyrule Castle and through the city, hoping he wasn't late. Luckily, he was right on time.

Link opened the door to the tavern, breathing heavily from the run, and peered in to see how busy it was. It was very packed, just like he anticipated. He walked in, making sure to shut the door behind him, and walked over to a table and began waiting to take orders.

He was exhausted by the time he got done. So many people had come he was beginning to get overwhelmed. Luckily, the time was up before he knew it, and he could go see Zelda in a half-hour.

Link slowly walked back to his room in the castle, not paying much attention to where he was walking. He was thinking about how he would confess his love to Zelda, and every time he thought he had it, something wouldn't feel right and he would have to start all over again. He just didn't know how to. He at least knew he loved her, however. He felt a strong affection towards Zelda. Link cared about her like he cared about no other.

It had come time for the Ball, and everyone was in the Ballroom. Link had reported with the rest of the Nobles and knights, and looked around to see a wide assortment of foods set out on tables on the left wall, and a dance floor in the center. A band was atop a stage at the back of the room and, of course, the king and his daughter, Princess Zelda, were standing at one end of the room. Link noticed that Zelda had changed from her pink dress into a white dress with golden designs on it and a symbol of the Triforce with the eagle below it in the middle of her chest. The walls were decorated with jewels and pictures.

The king clapped his hands loudly, and the room grew silent.

"This year has been good to us," the king said in his booming voice, "and I hope the next will be even better. In celebration of the new year, we have set up a Ball for all of us to have fun at and party. Enjoy it and have fun." He paused for a couple seconds and then said more loudly than before, "Let the Ball begin!" Everyone started talking, the band started playing music, and people were dancing out on the floor. Zelda was shaking hands and chatting with Nobles and citizens.

Link stood at a wall, obviously deep in thought.

"Want to dance?" he heard a familiar voice call out to him. He looked up to see Zelda standing in front of him.

"Of course," Link replied. They both walked out into the center of the floor and began dancing to the music. They both looked at one another and smiled. Link stared deep into Zelda's beautiful blue eyes as they danced, getting lost in them. He could've stayed there forever.

The Ball came and went. Link and Zelda had finished their dance and Link went to chat with the other knights and Zelda talked with her father, and the rest of the Ball was pretty much boring for Link. He hadn't done anything after dancing with Zelda and talking to the knights, he just sat at one of the tables.

Everyone was clearing out of the Ballroom and Link was watching for Zelda, wondering if they were going to be by each other for the fireworks in a couple of minutes. He spotted her coming over to him.

"Let's go to the hill at the end of town and get a spot close to the fireworks," she said, grabbing Link's hand and taking him along with her before he could say anything.

Link and Zelda were lucky to be one of the first ones out on the hill, because if they weren't, they likely wouldn't have gotten the amazing view they did. The fireworks were beautiful that night, spanning all different kinds of colors and explosions. They both rather enjoyed it.

"So," Zelda said as they were getting up off the ground and peering down the hill towards the city, "where are we going to go now?" Link thought for a moment. He was trying to think of the perfect spot to tell Zelda.

"Uh..." he said, "the Courtyard."

"Okay," Zelda said, knowing that this would be the perfect spot to tell Link. They both started walking.

Link felt a nervous feeling take over him, this would be the perfect time to tell her, and they would be all alone. ""How... how will I tell her?"" he wondered on the way there.

They both pushed open the doors to the Courtyard, each one wondering how they would tell the other of their love. They still didn't figure it out, and now was the chance they had to tell each other.

They stepped out into the Courtyard, glancing up at the sky. It was a very romantic night: all was calm, the full moon was clearly visible, the stars were out, there wasn't a cloud in the sky... everything was excellent. Link and Zelda sat down on the grass near a tree, not saying anything. Link decided to start a conversation.

"Did you have fun at the Ball and Firework Show tonight?" he asked curiously.

"Yes!" she said joyously, "it was lots of fun. Especially our dance." Link remembered the dance... and how he got lost in Zelda's blue eyes. Neither of them knew what to say next.

Zelda wanted to tell Link so badly, but couldn't say it. Every time she tried to muster up the courage, and was about to say it, her lips wouldn't move. Link turned his head towards Zelda.

"Zelda I... I've been meaning to tell you something," he began. Zelda turned her head to face Link. He had a desperate look on his face, as if he was trying to say something but couldn't find the words.

"Yes?" Zelda asked.

"I... I..." Link stuttered, "I don't know how to say this b... I love you, Zelda." There, he said it, and it felt so good to get it out. For a moment, Zelda didn't realize what Link just said, but when it clicked, she felt the happiest she ever had in her life to know that the man she loved, loved her back as well.

"I love you, too, Link," she whispered. Link let out a sigh of relief. It had been so hard to get that out, and to hear her reply, and the words she spoke, was the greatest thing that had ever happened to him.

They kept staring at each other, every second getting closer. They were so lost in each other, so happy. Before they knew it, their lips were locked in an intense, tender, affectionate kiss that felt like it lasted for eternity to both of them. Neither of them wanted that moment to ever end. When they finally did pull away, they looked up at the stars and the moon, laying down next to each other. They were both happier than they ever were in their entire lives. This was the best New Year's present ever for both of them. Surely, nothing could have gone wrong in that moment, and they both saw a bright future. There was just one problem: Zelda was a princess. They looked at each other knowingly, but never once did they say anything about it, knowing it would ruin the moment. Neither of them could imagine life without the other, and they would fight to be together, even if it meant breaking the law that a princess could only be married to a prince. The love and passion they felt was too strong, nothing could ever keep them apart.

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