The hero kept his eyes down, searching the ground like there was something fascinating to watch between the fire-lit pine needles and the pebbles on the ground. His stomach crumpled up as he contemplated just how presumptuous he'd been, bringing such a pretty member of royalty through the mud and the muck.

But then she settled closer to him, close enough that he could just smell something sweet and flowery, close enough that his cheeks brightened and his pulse quickened. He couldn't help it: the feeling was newly developed but nearly incapacitating. And the smile, when he looked up and saw it, only made it a lot worse.

"If you don't mind," he said almost begrudgingly. He didn't quite believe it, but he would do his best to--and by the time she finished her speech, he absolutely did. The smile he answered hers with was honest and relieved. "Although you don't need to do anything for me, or worry about any of that. I'm just happy to help."
All the same, his estimation of her rose. She was no shrinking violet--and attentive to her helpers, too.

"In that case, cooking is a great way to help," he acknowledged. "I'll give you any small tasks I can think of, and teach you to do some more--but mostly your company is enough." He smiled at her and scuffed the dirt slightly. "It's more than I usually get."

Link sniffed briefly, the cool breeze wafting gently over the cooking stew. "Wow," he said with wide-open eyes. "That smells amazing. Is it ready yet?"