Author's Note: This story is an attempt to describe the "behind the scenes" origins of Sheik while trying to remain as true to the original material as possible. I'm just adding rather than changing. I hope you find it interesting!

Chapter 1

"Wake up, Princess."

The Sheikah woman gently roused Zelda from her sleep.

"Impa? What's going on?" Zelda looked out the window to see that the sky was still dark. "Has something happened?"

"Get dressed quickly, my Princess. Ganondorf and his followers are attacking the castle. We must get you somewhere safe," Impa spoke quickly in hushed tones.

Fear struck through her, but Zelda knew to hold her questions. She got up and allowed her nursemaid to help her into a dress. Impa covered her with a dark cloak and they hurried down several flights of stairs to the outer courtyard of the castle.

There were small fires and broken glass everywhere. Screams and shouts filled the air, and Zelda saw Hylian soldiers fighting stalfos, men, and even several Gerudo women.

"Cover your face," Impa said, holding Zelda close to her side. Zelda did as she was told, pulling the cloak around herself and the hood over her head.

The two hurried along the edge of the courtyard, past all the fighting. When they made it through the castle gates, Impa whispered "Run!" and they began to sprint toward castle town.

There were no enemies left in the marketplace; it was clear that Ganondorf's followers had passed quickly through, killing or injuring all the guards and townspeople who had tried to stand in their way. Most of the people in the marketplace were in a state of shock, though a few were hurrying to help the wounded.

"So many are hurt," Zelda said, pausing to look at the crowd.

"Please, Princess, there's no time to help them," Impa said. She pulled Zelda even closer to her as they went into the back alley where she had left a horse for them. As Impa was untying the horse they heard a soft voice call out.

"Mother…"

Impa's eyes widened and she instantly turned in the direction she had heard the voice from. A lone body was slumped against the wall just a few yards away.

Could it be…?

Impa rushed over to the man, Zelda trailing close behind her.

"Oh, my son," Impa said, recognizing the man sitting there. She knelt beside him. "Are you hurt? Why are you in disguise?"

"I was h-helping the guards defend the castle," the man gasped. Impa looked down and saw his hands covering a bloody wound on his stomach.

"How deep-" Impa stopped, suddenly noticing the blood splattered on the wall behind him.

"Too deep," the Sheikah man said, his tired eyes meeting Impa's. Realization cut through Impa, more painful than any wound.

"You'll be all right. We'll take you with us," Zelda said, kneeling at the man's other side.

He smiled at her. "You are kind, Princess, but your horse can only hold two." He lifted a golden lyre from the ground next to him and looked up at Impa.

"I'm sorry, Mother…I won't be able to fulfill my destiny as planned. Someone else will have to teach the Hero of Time." He placed the lyre into Impa's shaking hands.

"My son, you protected the royal family. You have fulfilled your destiny. Rest now," Impa said. Her heart was breaking as her tears began to silently fall.

"Not yet," he responded. "I will wait here for the boy from the forest. I want to meet him before the end."

Impa reached out to take off the Hylian helmet her son was wearing.

"Leave it, Mother," the Sheikah man whispered, putting one hand on hers. "It would be better if I blend in j-just a little while longer…" He coughed several times, and a thin stream of blood spilled from his lips.

"You must go now. I will try to hold off anyone following you," he said. He looked over at Zelda. "Listen to your nanny, my Princess. She will take care of you."

Zelda tearfully nodded. Impa kissed her son's cheek, wrapping her arms around him.

"I am proud to be the mother of such a fine Sheikah warrior," she whispered.

Impa stood up and helped Zelda onto the white horse, then mounted it herself. With the reins in one hand and the lyre in the other, Impa looked back one last time at her dying son.

"Goodbye, Sheik."

It began to rain.

Impa dug her heels into the horse's sides and they galloped through the rest of the castle town. The guard at the front saw them and lowered the drawbridge, shouting, "Hurry, he's coming!" Zelda looked back to see Ganondorf on his black horse rapidly gaining on them.

"Hold on, Princess," Impa said. She urged the horse on, galloping across the drawbridge at top speed.

Then Zelda saw him. The boy from the forest. He was there, at the drawbridge, waiting for her.

"Impa, it's Link! What do we do?" Zelda cried. Impa looked back.

"We cannot stop, Princess. Throw the ocarina at the moat. The water will cushion its fall."

Zelda threw the ocarina with all her strength. It landed perfectly in the water.

"Now what? How will he know what to do?" Zelda asked.

"You must communicate with him the way I showed you, Princess. The ancient magic is strong in you. You must teach him the song," Impa said.

Zelda shut her eyes in concentration, visualizing herself with Link in the Temple of Time. She opened them a few minutes later.

"It's done. He's learned the song."

"Well done, Princess."

They rode through the rest of the night, and, though the rain had stopped hours earlier, Zelda still felt constant water drops falling on the back of her neck.

Thanks for reading, please let me know if you like it so far, or leave constructive criticism! :)

-Samuel