Blind

Chapter One

The beginning of summer brought warmth to the golden lands of Hyrule, bringing smiles to those who were outside to enjoy it. The castle of Hyrule's King's and Queen's was busy, servants bustling about as the royals and nobles miled about. Visitor's babbled excitedly with their guide's, who were actually residents of the grand palace. The highest ranking residents, the King and the royal family, were all busy as they directed the servants and prepared the garden's as more visitor's began to fill the guest rooms and the more expensive hotels throughout the city. Soldiers went about their business, some following around their charges as they finished errands and went about doing the will of the Highnesses.

Even those who preffered the indoors were outside, exploring the garden's and courtyard's in and around the city. Such a soul who frequently practiced this was sitting against a large oak, his long, slender and nimble fingers following along the lines of black letters across the pages of his book. The faint wind played with the waist'long tendrils of golden hair, bringing the scent of freshly baked treats from the castle's bakery. With the soft breeze he listened to the sounds of Caslt Guard pairs fight in an interesting game, where one had an arm behind his back and the other a blind fold to cover his eyes.

A small smile graced his lips as he tilted his head a little to listen to them better, some cheering on brothers, other's cheering on those of their own squadron. A particular pair caught his attention, their fight fierce and causing the other's to stand and watch while those who were fighting to take off their blind folds. Soon there was a large crowd circled around them, their cries becoming louder and clearer as they neared the solitary male's encloser.

"Stop now, Lhun," the one who had been holding his hand behind his back said, placing one to his sparring partner's chest as he looked down on the other male. "We are about to intrude on his lordship's lands."

"On such a sunny day, you still preffer to keep to your books," the one now known as Lhun teased as he took off the blind fold. A callused hand reached for the second book, intending to see what it was about before it was smacked sharply across the knuckles by the seated one's walking stick. He whined low in his throat as he sucked at the now burning mark, which was steadily turning into a solid red line. He dropped the blind fold and began to cradle the injured hand against his chest with his other hand.

"Don't touch, it's not your's."

"It's not like they have a use when you can't read them," one of the crowd said.

"Oh, but he does loves them," another said.

"I think he should marry them." The past Sheikah warrior sighed as he quickly tired of the guard's play, just wanting to be left in peace to be with his books.

"Can you imagine?" the one called Lhun asked as he poked the end of his sword at the robes. "That this one used to be a warrior?"

"However did he manage? What did he do, ride side-saddle as he shot down his enemies?" The crowd began to laugh, accompied by "Looks like a girl, rides like a girl," and "Side-saddle, like a lady." Moments later the leader as on his back, breath hitching as he realised it had been his stolen walking stick that had struck squarely in the chest. His peeps silenced as they looked nervously to each other and shuffled uneasily.

"I have half the mind to go find Link and see what he has to say about your behavior," Sheik said as he pulled the second book into his lap protectively, leaving his walking stick at his side.

Why would we care about that?" one of them said as the leader hurriedly scooped up the cane as Sheik realized his error in letting go of it. Standing, the fallen leader began to twirl the shoulder-height stick around his nimble, callused fingers around at his side.

"The General would probably laugh at your expense," the leader, Lhun, said as he knelt infront of the sightless Sheikah. "Why would he stop to talk to you? It's not like he has the time for someone like you."

"May I have my walking stick back?" the Sheikah ignored the question as he extended a small hand that had long, slender and nimble fingers.

The Leader stopped twirling the cane as he quircked an eyebrow. Nudging one of his companions, he said "Listen to that; he calls it a walking stick. It's a cane, a crutch. You want it back?" Sheik nodded as the soldier's pestering were exhausted. "Ask me nicely, just a little pleading will do," he continued as he noticed the other's snickering and snorting.

The little Sheikah sighed before he said "Why should I ask for something that is rightfully mine?" He began to feel his way up the tree with one hand, the other firmly holding his two precious books to his chest as he stood up. "So no, I won't ask you again. As I said before I shall simply tell your General what is going on when he is away."

"As if he has the time for you!" the Leader explaimed, tossing the stick back and forth between his hands. "He probably doesn't even know who you are."

"He does have the time, and yes, he does know who I am." Sheik hissed thw words as he moved his hands infront of him, feeling for where he was going as he began to walk away.

One shouted as he watched Sheik walk away "What is he your lover or something?"

"And what if he is?" Sheik replied without thinking as he continued walking towards the general area of where his rooms were. The group of guards immediately silenced as they all mulled over this new question.