Hey Readers!
Midnight here with a new genre. Finally, finally, finally, I am posting a LoZ piece. I have written drabbles here and there over the years, but nothing more than a few thousand words, and certainly nothing I would want to post for the online community. (Until now at least!)
This particular piece is from OoT, and was inspired by the gender debate of Sheik – a debate I didn't even KNOW existed (regardless my having played Zelda games since my childhood) unless just a few months ago – however as I was writing it out, the piece developed into something a bit more. This does portray Sheik as a female, taking Nintendo's terminology as Sheik being her alter-ego. The piece itself focuses of course on her, and the strained relationship between herself and our Hero of Time. I hope everyone finds it a good read, whichever side of the debate you fall on.
As always to my lovely readers, thanks for being here – Fav, Review, Subscribe or whatever, but above all, enjoy the read and have a wonderful day :)
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Sheik had always been careful to keep distance between herself and Link during their encounters. While she strongly felt that she was meant to guide him – she hadn't been given the Triforce of Wisdom without reason after all - she had to be careful to not attract the attention of the Evil King. Ganondorf could not know that she, Sheik, was Zelda.
For all intents and purposes though, she wasn't, not really anyway. Zelda, who was bound by royal duty, lace and rules and finer pleasantries, had fallen with her kingdom. Now, and for the past many years, she was indeed Sheik – elusive rouge whose fate was still bound to shadow and whispers on the wind. Sheik, who was free and held the heart of a warrior, was not Zelda. They would always be two sides of the same coin, bound due to being one entity – similar, but unmistakably different.
She imagined that after the Hero drove Ganondorf's evil out of Hyrule then Zelda would be born anew, ready to stand proud with her people and lead them into a time of renewal and prosperity, but until then, she would continue under the guise of a long lost Sheikah, guiding Link's steps as he continued on his fated journey.
It was because of this delicate balance that she had always been cautious during their meetings. She was always cryptic and inconclusive, gone just as quickly as she arrived. Her hair was unkempt and her eyes red, chest bound and body suited in armor to help hide her feminine physique. When she spoke, she had always used lower tones of her voice in a manner that demanded attention and reverberated authority. Most people believed she was actually a male, and while it hadn't been her original intention upon taking up her identity as Sheik, she found that there were certain advantages that came with people believing her the opposite gender and so the rouse continued.
For one, if people thought she was a man, no one would ever wonder if she was the lost princess. In general, she was seen as a soldier and someone to be feared – not a blue eyed damsel in distress.
That in and of itself was another large difference between the two parts of herself. Zelda – Zelda was that damsel; a damsel waiting for her Hero to come and save her from the world's evil. Sheik however, Sheik was not waiting – not for Link, not for the goddesses, not for anyone. Sheik intended to actively take a role in fate's design. She would shape and carve her very destiny if she had to, but she would not just sit uselessly.
It was that very mindset that had gotten her into trouble.
"So you're awake?"
She heard the Hero's voice vaguely, though her mind was still groggy as consciousness slowly came to her. She gave a light groan, pain shooting up her side as she slowly came to, causing her to grind her teeth and clench her eyes tightly. Slowly opening her eyes, Sheik took a ragged breath, still not quite aware of herself or surroundings – but feeling safe knowing that Link was there.
"Link…" she stated, bringing a hand up to her throbbing rib cage, mind still hazy and unfocused, "What happened?"
She was having trouble making any clear thought and her vision was still a bit blurry. How long had she been unconscious? She could feel cool rock against her and could hear rainfall in the distance, echoing and reverberating off the stone surrounding them. Were they in a cavern of some sort perhaps?
She could hear a light snort from Link, though his voice didn't seem to share his amusement as there was a hint of accusation in his tone, "I should be asking you that question Sheik. One minute I'm battling a hoard of redeads and the next, you appear out of no where, playing the Sun's song."
Sheik blinked a few times at the memory, still staring downward as she tried to gather her thoughts.
Yes, she did remember. She had a habit of tracking Link's movement in order to make sure she was always there at the right time should he need further direction. While she was always there to help guide him when the time came, Sheik knew it was not her destiny to fight beside him in the temples or fields; she had promised herself she would never interfere no matter how bad his circumstances became. She had to allow Link to refine his courage and strength through the challenges he faced, but as she watched him slowly be overtaken by countless redeads, her body betrayed her resolve and she had taken action.
Link continued, his voice holding an underlying tone of exhaustion. Sheik vaguely wondered if she had only made things worse in her attempts to 'help' him. "I'd venture to say you don't fight redeads too often? If anything, you seem to be best suited to speed - for evasion and survival, am I right?"
Sheik gave a slow nod, still not quite finding the strength to look up as her mind was still clouded by pain and an overall sense of grogginess, too tired to try and negate his statement. It was after all, quite accurate. While Impa had taught her to fight, they had always focused mainly on her speed and ability to disappear in a moment. In the end, she didn't need to win battles, she simply needed to survive them. What good would it do if Ganondorf was destroyed, but Zelda was not there to retake the throne? No, above all, Zelda had to survive.
"In any event," Link stated, the direction of his voice changing, as though he were looking upward, "If you're going to go up against a redead, I'd gear up with more than just a harp next time. You took a few of them out somehow, but when they unfroze, one came from behind and bit a good chunk out of your side." He laughed hollowly, "That's where a sword comes in handy, you know?"
"I'll have to remember that." Sheik whispered softly, finding that she was starting to fully become aware of herself and surroundings. Much to her dismay, that awareness only made her pain intensify as she could fully start to feel the burning and raw tightness at her side. She should have known better, she did know better ... but.
Sheik adjusted herself slightly, noting she could feel the rock she was leaning against, cool and damp on her bare skin. Carefully looking down at herself, Sheik felt her eyes widen. She wasn't wearing her normal armor top and instead of her bindings, a large roll of bandages and gauze had been wrapped around upper body, secured tightly on the side. She could feel her hair draping over her shoulders, and worst of all, she could feel air freely on her face. A small blanket of sorts had been thrown over her, but she still felt so exposed.
Her mask was gone.
Link's voice broke the silence, "Yeah, sorry I … you were pretty banged up and the bleeding wasn't stopping like it should." He shook his head, replaying the events in his head, "Normally I just teleport myself closer to a village or fairy fountain if all else fails, but I don't think I can teleport two people."
Link cleared his throat then, looking toward her, "I didn't do anything to you though, aside from the bandages and medicine over the injury." He gave a sigh, leaning back against the cavern wall and crossing his arms in a comfortable manner, "It's a salve from the Great Deku Tree that I've had for a while; I know it stings but it has medicinal properties so it should help fight infection. Farore only knows what diseases those things carry."
Link paused and a thick silence fell over the room as Sheik took in all the information, trying to deduce if he had recognized her as the Princess or not. Truthfully it wasn't likely. Link had only seen her twice during their childhood years, and she certainly was no longer a child. Aside from that, her skin was darker, hair was longer and wild, and her eyes were red. No, Zelda was still safe, still secret.
"I'm sorry Sheik; I just wish that I had been able to stop it from hurting you."
Sheik blinked a few times, finding his response one that left her feeling conflicted. It wasn't his fault at all, not in the least. She shouldn't have interfered in the first place, so if there was blame, it fell solely on herself.
"You bear too many regrets Hero." Sheik stated as she looked back at him, unable to hold his gaze for long in her current state. She took a deep breath, wincing only slightly as her skin stretched with her expanding lungs, "Besides, I've had worse. This isn't anything to worry about," Her tone of voice was low again, more akin to her identify of Sheik; it made her feel more like herself. With a final breath, she pushed a stray strand of hair out from her eyes.
Link quirked an eyebrow at her, the smallest of smirks pulling at his lips, "You're a good liar Sheik, but I know better. Sorry if this is wrong to say, but your stomach and all, did you know you don't have a single scar?" He paused, his smirk widening as he continued, finding her false bravery amusing, "Even the most skilled of warriors have a few scars here and there; that's just a price you pay when you are constantly in battle. Not only that, but with the fact that a redead took you out – well," a small chuckle escaped his lips, "You haven't really seen battle much before, have you?"
His voice was softer at the end, and when his eyes locked with hers, Sheik could only nod slowly once again. The Hero was more observant that she had thought. She felt her brows pull downward at this revelation. It wasn't that she thought he was dull or lacking in intelligence, but for years no one had seen through her disguise, or had even thought to question more than her outward appearance. No one had known her as anything other than an illusive, ninja like Sheikah.
No one but Link, so it seemed.
"When I was younger," she began, pulling a long lock of hair behind her, choosing her words carefully, "the world was a gentler place. I was never fully trained in combat until Ganondorf seized the castle. Like you said, I still favor evasion at this point. It's quite rare for me to actually engage in combat when I can avoid it."
Link gave a slow, perceptive nod, "So that's how it is then." He gave another long pause, raking a hand through his golden hair, struggling for words, "Well Sheik…To be honest with you, you weren't exactly what I was expecting."
Sheik felt her face heat up considerably and her gaze dropped to the floor, unconsciously holding the blanket tighter to herself, "Yes, I presume my being a female would come as a shock to you. I'm sorry."
Link looked over toward her, a surprised expression on his face that slowly melted into a crooked grin. He snorted, "Oh that?" He gave an amused shake of his head, looking upward, "Actually Sheik," he paused, his smile widening slightly, "I sorta always knew you were a girl."
"What?" she responded quickly, crimson eyes widening at his words, "But, but how?"
His words didn't make any sense - How could he have known? She really didn't look like a girl, especially from a distance. She had always been careful to keep a good number of feet away, just to be sure. She had always feared that if Link knew she was a female, he would be the first to make the connection that she was Zelda. After all, how many other girls in Hyrule would have known he was the Hero of time and had the knowledge to direct him across the lands to follow his destiny?
Link shrugged, grinning still as he continued to glance up at the ceiling of the cave they were harbored in, "Just small stuff I guess."
Sheik leaned forward as she prepared to speak further, though her body rejected the action fiercely and Sheik winced again, clicking her tongue and holding her ribs for an extended moment. Forcing herself to relax, she waited for the pain to subside before continuing, being careful to not upset the wound further, "No, I'm really curious. Please Link."
Link gave a contemplative sigh, "Well, how to explain…" He paused, rubbing the back of his neck as he sorted his thoughts, "Well, at first I didn't know. The first time we met I just assumed you were a guy, I mean with how you dressed and talked and all."
He paused for a moment, eyes narrowing as he recalled their brief encounters, "After running into you at the Sacred Grove though, I got so suspicious because while you look, and even talk like a guy…" Link paused, "Gosh this is so weird to say…"
Sheik shrugged, eyes wide, somewhat frustrated at his hesitance to tell her what could be vital information, "What?"
Link shook his head, "Well, I'd never describe a guy as… angelic. Just how you acted, so mysterious and complex – most guys are really simple and straightforward, but you'd keep my mind running for hours with how straight up confusing you could be. I mean really Sheik, what's so wrong with, 'Hey. You need the hookshot. Talk to Dampe so you can get it and then head to the Forest Temple. It's right above the Sacred Grove?' You know how much time that would have saved me?'
Sheik quirked an eyebrow, a small smile gracing her lips. The Sheikah remained silent.
Link gave a sigh of defeat, "Anyway, the more I thought about it, it just all clicked into place one day. Once I had known what to look for, it seemed obvious looking back. Appearances are deceiving sure, but honestly…" Link gave a light smile and shrugged, his eyes finding hers again, "You don't act anything like a guy at all."
Sheik blinked, taken back slightly at his explanation. Link continued, shaking his head as he spoke his thoughts aloud, "Like, the very atmosphere around you is serene and calming, nothing like what I would expect from a guy whose been fighting in the war for years like you claimed. When you move, you are so graceful – like when you jumped out of that tree in the Sacred Grove? You just landed softly, barely making a noise or impacting the ground or anything…"
Sheik pursed her lips slightly, rejecting his logic, "That? You jump off of things as well, I've seen it myself."
Link scoffed, looking at Sheik with wide eyes, "Not like that though! For you, it's like you're dancing almost. When I jump off ledges, I always land in a roll to not hurt myself. If I tried to jump and land like you do, I'd break my legs!"
Sheik rolled her eyes, "It's just my training, nothing more."
Her rebuttal was simply met with an amused stare, and Sheik pressed her lips together thinly, staring down at the ground in contemplation, "It seems you've been paying awful close attention to me Hero."
"Can you blame me? You wear a mask and never stick around. For a while, I couldn't even be sure you were my ally. Not paying attention to detail can be fatal for someone like me."
Sheik exhaled, falling silent. Point taken.
Sheik looked toward the entrance of the Cavern, trying to dismiss the issue, "My gender is of little consequence anyway. What remains important is the task at hand. Your focus should be on that, not me. I am merely here to help guide you."
Link repeated, his voice more firm as his previous tone of irritation crept back into his voice, "Help guide me? Well if that's the case, then I have some questions for you Sheik."
Sheik clicked her tongue. 'Some questions' was much too indefinite. "You just complained a moment ago that I never give you a straight answer, yet you plan to ask me for further information? I'm not sure I'm obliged to answer your queries."
"I never said your information wasn't helpful, I just said it was never straight forward. Some answers, even if they are confusing, are better than none."
Sheik shook her head stubbornly, remaining defensive, "I owe you nothing."
"You owe me your life!" Link demanded hotly, "I just saved you, did I not? And in fact, you owe me your future as well. The duty of the Sheikah is to the Royal family, and if it hadn't been for me, there wouldn't be a Royal Family left to serve."
Sheik gave a low sigh. She wasn't expecting him to be so adamant.
"Hero," Sheik began, "Know that I wish earnestly for you to succeed, but-"
"But what then?" Link stood up quickly, and started pacing the cave's entrance, "You expect me to just follow you blindly, fumble around while you leave poetic songs and confusing directions? How is it you know all of these things anyway? Just who are you exactly Sheik?"
Sheik schooled her expression. This was why she never stayed around too long. He was digging too deep, and she needed to get out. Now.
"You know that answer." She began; her tone clipped and guarded, "My name is Sheik. I told you that when we met. As for my knowledge, my duty, as you stated is to the royal family, not you, so again I'm not obliged to answer. Bear in mind that by helping the Hero of Time, I am serving the Royal family by correlation. My loyalty to them is what keeps me close; you are merely a means to an end."
Link tensed, taking a step toward her and looking down at Sheik with a hard expression, "Do you hate me that much Sheik? While I have made friends and helped people who now show me kindness, I don't have true allies. I don't have people who understand what I have seen, nor anyone who understands the full nature of my quest. I myself don't even know what lies ahead for me, yet you do, and you refuse to tell me the full picture. What have I done to scorn you?"
Sheik sighed, her tone tense as she tried to remain patient, "It has nothing to do with you Link. It's your destiny to walk this path, and in that, it is a destiny I cannot interfere with."
Link laughed, laughed at her words, dry and bitterly as he took another step toward her, "Destiny? Well let me assure you, that 'destiny' is not fighting those monsters, and it is not 'destiny' that battles through temples and time itself. It's been me every step of the way. I will serve where I can for the sake of Hyrule, but don't just write my peril off to mere destiny. I'm putting my life on the line day after day while you watch uselessly from the sidelines."
Link moved in front of her, half sitting on the ground as he stared at her, his eyes narrowed as he studied her, eyes aligned with hers, "I just can't figure you out Sheik."
The former Princess ground her teeth, attempting to sit up further and move away from the Hylian's close proximity, however her side burned and body ached. She gave a 'tch' and gazed back toward him, "Are you frustrated with me Hero? Do you feel you are being shorted - getting less than you deserve?" The Hylian took a sharp inhale and looked down to the ground, crossing his arms.
Looking away from the Hero, Sheik bit her bottom lip. It tore her to treat Link so coldly. Her words were cruel and empty. By all accounts, Link had every right to feel frustrated. She knew he deserved much more than his current situation provided. He needed more than a lost Princess for a guide, wanted more than a home that forgot his name, and deserved more from a land who knew nothing of his deeds.
It just wasn't fair.
Her voice was soft, "What exactly do you want from me Link? I may be a Sheikah, but as you mentioned my skill in battle will be of no use to you. If this event wasn't enough to prove it, then let me assure you that I'd only be in your way."
Link looked back toward her, his expression desperate, "Well if you can't take arms in battle then arm me with knowledge. At least tell me this Sheik - where is Princess Zelda? Surely you know, right?"
Sheik gave a long sigh, looking up toward the roof of the cavern, exhaustion lacing her tone for an extended moment. She always had to be so careful with her words. "Currently, the last remaining heir is in hiding. It is too dangerous for her to resurface with Ganondorf reigning over her kingdom, so until things change, I imagine she is in a place the Evil King would never think to look for her." Her voice dropped to a whisper, more speaking to herself then Link, "She does not want to be found. Not yet. And I…I must survive for when she ascends the throne."
Sheik paused again, looking back up at Link and speaking with conviction, eyes glinting with unfulfilled purpose, "She will need the strength of her allies, of that I am certain."
Link's brows visibly rose, "How can you be so sure the Princess is alive? …Most of the kingdom believes she's dead." Link shook his head, "I've been searching for her, but no one seems to really know what happened all those years ago."
"I know you've been looking." Sheik conceded, knowing Link's words again rang true. Perhaps the first thing he had asked her when he took up the Master Sword as an adult was the fate of the Princess, the fate of the same one he was unknowingly talking to. Only when she had mentioned that his childhood friend was in danger did he finally let the subject go, though he had never stopped his search fully. He asked every sage, every village, and was relentless in his pursuit to find her even though she was always so close.
Sheik held the Hero's gaze, her crimson orbs contrasting against his, "But you know she is alive, don't you Hero? You know it as I do. You feel it in the air you breathe and the sword you hold. You feel it in the temples you purify and the lives you've touched. Know that your efforts to save Hyrule are not in vain. When the land is cleansed from Ganondorf's evil, the rightful heir to the throne will surface."
Link leaned back from his previously forward pose, relaxing finally with a long sigh. For a moment, neither said anything, merely listening to the rain fall from outside the cave.
"So let me guess then, the second Zelda appears, you're going to ditch me and work for the Princess right?"
His grim words surprised her, though after quickly looking toward him, she found that his expression was a playful grin.
Sheik couldn't help but smile back, and she shrugged lightly in a noncommittal fashion, "Well, something like that. After all," Sheik continued, her eyebrow quirked as she looked toward the young Hero, "I could never work with someone who is so persistent and demanding, always trying to keep tabs on me and the like."
Link returned her gaze, his response holding a hint of mischief to it, "Is that so? Well that makes two of us then, because I could never depend on someone who is so gender confused and gives such poor directions."
She gave a small laugh, shaking her head at the small insult.
"Listen to that laugh." Link observed, watching the mysterious girl laugh musically, "I suppose it's a good thing I'm not all that funny, otherwise I'm afraid your secret may have been discovered even sooner. There's no way you can pass as a man with a laugh like that."
Sheik gave a shrug, trying to stifle her laughter though admittedly, it felt good to laugh with the Hero like this. It almost felt normal.
Allowing her a moment, Link paused before continuing again, "So how'd the whole cross dressing thing come about anyway? Since you know I know and all; I'm curious."
Sheik smirked slightly, her grin widening and matching the Hero's – his white teeth displayed in a perfect smile, "That's a story for another time Hero."
"You swear?"
"Only when the occasion calls for it."
The look he gave her was enough to bring her to laugh again, and it became vaguely apparent to Sheik that they were borderline flirting. The thought should have sent a cold shock down her spine – should have made her blood stop and make her start backpedaling to undo whatever damage had been caused – should have made her do something… however as she sat there, listening to him talk further about things he had done, odd things he had heard, she found she could only continue to smile and feel content in his company.
She knew things wouldn't be able to stay like this.
Tomorrow, she would leave at sunrise. She'd leave the cave and leave the Hero to his destiny.
Tomorrow, things would go back to the way they were meant to be. She would watch from a distance and speak minimally. She would resume the act as his elusive guide. A phantom in a mask and a mystery to her people.
Tomorrow, she would become a shadow once again.
Sheik looked at the blonde warrior, feeling herself smile despite herself. The same Link that she had conspired with as a child to protect Hyrule, the same Link she had desperately waited for for seven years -was the same Link who was slowly purifying the temples and vacating the land's evil – was also the same Link who was extending her much needed patience, and making her laugh, protecting her from redeads, and seeing through her perfected mask.
As she sat, the pain at her side she realized was little more than a dull ache. The pains of time past were finally starting to subside, and it allowed her mind to at last become clear.
Today, and if only for today, she knew she could not bring herself to leave.
Today, she wanted to stay with Link.
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And that's all for chapter one!
*laughs hysterically* That's right Faerie boy – talk! Sorry everyone, just the concept of Link talking still boggles my mind, even though I'm the one who wrote it. It's very surreal to try and put a voice to Link (without having read much of the manga and things like that, just straight game play)
Anyhow, thanks for reading.. Keep your eyes pealed for updates, because this piece is not yet complete! As for this particular story, I expect it to be a shorter/ish story, of maybe seven or so chapters? Maybe more maybe less. I plan to update once I've finished the next chapter fully, so expect an update nearing the end of June. Until then!
~Midnight