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..|Chapter One: Sahair|..
There's something inexplicably sad about the fact that a child is needed to save the world. His body is that of an adult… but his mind slumbered those seven years, those seven lost years. He had to grow up in as many days as he spent years sealed away in the Sacred Realm.
Queen Zelda tells me that his swordsmanship and courage surpass that of others his physical age… but he is still a child emotionally and mentally. I know this is the way it must be, and I can tell Zelda does as well, but does not like it. She is in love with the boy, I know.
The way she speaks of him gives all away. Her eyes do not, nor her facial expression; she has been learning well all I teach her of how to be me. I also can tell she has come to love and hate her lessons with me. She enjoys learning in general, and enjoys the physicality of "being" a Sheikah. But I live in the desert, far from even the Goddess in the Sand, and she despises leaving Hyrule… and Link… for even a moment.
But soon, I will meet Link myself, for I am the only one permitted by the Goddesses to teach the warping songs; Link, under the watchful eye of Queen Zelda, draws nearer to the Sacred Meadow, and it is there that he will need to learn the first of six songs. Zelda seems quite distressed over this, but tries to hide it.
"No," I said sharply to Zelda. "Try again."
She sighs exasperatedly. "You're not even telling me what I'm doing wrong," she complains, straightening and turning to me. "How can I get better unless you help me?"
I smile mysteriously, though the motion is lost behind my cloth mask. No one has ever seen my face, after my father died and mother left when I was a little boy.
"Sheikah must learn to not lean upon their masters, for a time will come when I will not be here," I reply.
She lets out a breath. "Sheik… I am not Sheikah. I'm only masquerading as one to help guide Link."
My smile fades. I had momentarily forgotten she was not a true Sheikah. I would not have been allowed a student so young, even if I were not the last, adept though I am in Sheikahn skills. My eyes narrow briefly. Still, I should not have forgotten her true role, and that she is not Sheikah.
I bow my head the slightest bit. "My apologies, Queen Zelda."
I know she masquerades as me to do more than just guide Link; on more than one occasion, she has called on me for help, or suddenly appeared in my tent, having almost been seen when she should not have been seen.
"You take too many risks for one so unskilled," I told her.
"Then teach me," she replied, though she was angry at my remark,
I hesitated. "Very well," I said, against my better judgement. I was nowhere near old enough to teach. She, more importantly, was not Sheikah. But I suppressed my instincts and convinced myself it was best for the kingdom.
I hope my choice does not turn out to be ill made.
She relaxes. "It's all right, Sheik. I'm just… on edge."
She is fearful that something might happen when I go to teach the Hero of Time. There is no basis for her thoughts; I am much more skilled than she at Sheikahn arts, for obvious reasons, and I am not as reckless as she. Three years of age between us seems a larger gap than it should when she acts like this.
"We all are," I reply instead. "Seven years of nothing but survival instincts takes a toll on all of us." I purse my lips, but do not say that I hope this Hero of Time will not fail. There have been others who have tried…
"You do know what to tell him, right?" she asks for possibly the fourth time, breaking my thoughts.
"Yes, sahair." I specifically use the Sheikah word for a student.
She cast her eyes down at the term, and suddenly the Queen of Hyrule—rather, she who will be—submits to a mere Sheikah.
"I'm sorry, anahti," she apologises, calling me 'teacher'.
I nod slowly. "Do not worry. We are all tense; I will not forget what I must tell the Hero of Time, however." Were I a different person, I would have offered her a smile in comfort, but I am not that way, nor are my people. She must learn to draw strength from herself.
"Now, sahair," I use the term kindly this time, "sit and meditate. The days have been long and stressful, and your mind needs rest."
She obeys without a further word, and I hope she will be able to clear her mind of all things, including the Hero of Time. I somehow doubt it, though. She will find peace in sleep, though she has not been sleeping well these most recent months. Tonight she will find good dreams and a long rest. I will make sure of it.
Tonight, I leave to meet the Hero of Time in a week's time.
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A/N: Man, it's been a while since I've written, let alone written a fanfic. Shame on me. Anyway, this is technically my first Zelda fic, but I've tried writing one before (the story I was going to use I'm turning into a doujinshi, if I ever get off my lazy butt and draw), and kept losing it. Then I got this idea, and so I'm going with it. Slight AU 'cause Sheik is his own character.
Sheikah Language:
Anahti: Teacher, used exclusively for those who train others in the fighting and stealth styles of the Sheikah.
Sahair: A student of any kind.