Hi guys (and girls)! So, I've finally begun on my fan fiction... the one I've always wanted to do! Yes, this is my first fan fiction. No, I don't want you to take it easy on me or my style of writing. Come here to enjoy the story and fluff and lemony material and other enjoyables that will take too long to speak of at this time! For those of you familiar with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, as well as the franchise that this game (and story) revolve around, you will quickly notice that this is a SHEIK/LINK pairing, where Sheik is MALE and Link is MALE. I would like to mention other notices about my story: You will notice a few plotholes and misconstrued facts, as well as the odd change here and there. One of these such things is that I have portrayed Sheik as male and his own character. Another is that, instead of teaching all of the songs at different times and places along Link's journey, I have Link learn all of the songs early and then defeat each temple (all while traveling with Sheik). You will also notice a few odd and ends here and there, such as my OC's. Please, be patient and deal with it. I hope the story attracts you, and if not, I hope the smex does.

As you can tell, I'm not incredibly great with the happy-go-lucky, bubbly banter that some writers have before they begin the story. With that being said, I plan on this being a long(er) story, and I will try to include some humor, although some may be dry at some points in the story. I am a massively avid reader, so if you notice any statements that look like quotes... they probably are. One such allusion is to Samuel Taylor Coleridge: "And to be wroth with one we love... Doth work like madness in the brain!" Please be on the lookout for such allusions, as I try to include them for good reason. That being said, up next is my disclaimer.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, nor do I own any other Zelda game, character, or affiliated article. These belong to their respected owners. The quotes and allusions found in here are references to greater pieces of literary work and also belong to their respected owners.

Next, my warning.

WARNING: This is a Romance-based story that will have (more or less) explicit material. It will be YAOI, which means BOY on BOY. Or, so as not to misconstrue things, GAY content. If you are easily offended, under 18, grossed out by such material, or are just the occasional troll that hides under bridges (or rocks, since this is the modern world), please leave now. You have been warned.

Finally, my promise: This will be an excellently written story, though the plot may be disagreeable to some. If you would like to leave a comment or suggestion, I will take them into consideration and will (possibly) add some things to the story. Also, I will try to update on a regular basis and with long(er) chapters, so as not to bore you. Finally, I will try my best to get better at "Fangirl" banter (forgive the feministic remark - yes, I am a guy posting this). With all of this being said, please enjoy the current parts of the story (though I warn you, I do not have a beta reader yet, and the plot of the first few chapters might be a bit dry until things get going full swing).

~Arrundo

"There's so little you say of the life you have known; why you keep to yourself and why we're always alone. So dark! So dark and deep... the secrets that you keep!"

~Les Miserable

Chapter 1: Prologue

Again...

There are times in my life that I often question what I am doing and why I am doing it. I guess that makes me human... but the more I think about it, the more convinced I am that I am less than human. Sometimes I wonder if the goddesses have some sort of vendetta against my people. It's moments like this that I remind myself that this can't be true... after all, they provided the Hero.

Again...

But then, why do they have me here? How can I compare to the Hero? And more importantly, if they really cared, why do they let this happen over and over again? Though, I guess it doesn't really matter, so long as the Hero returns again...

Again...

The sun reflects off of the mirror-like surface of the lake jolting the young boy out of the reveries of the past and into the present situation. Brushing off his thoughts as if they were dust clinging to his clothes from his travels, he gets up and turns back to the looming structure behind him: Hyrule Castle.

If I hurry, I should be able to make it to the gate of the town before they begin pulling up the bridge. It wouldn't be fun to be stuck out here all night again... Besides which, I am sure Zelda has a nice, warm bed waiting for me. That and a good ass warming too for making her "worry so much"...

"Sheik! I swear to the goddesses! How is it that you can spend days - days - out in uncivilized territory and waltz back in to my castle acting as though you've lived here all of your life?!"

But... I have...

"I mean honestly, do you ever stop to consider what you are doing to others when you just get up and leave out of nowhere like that? And without telling anyone anything either! You are just like the Her-"

"Just like Link?" I interrupted with an agony filled countenance.

Zelda smiled sadly before taking a deep breath. "Yes, just like Link. Are you comfortable talking about him like this now? I thought you wanted me to only call him the "Hero"?"

I look away quickly. I know she is only concerned about me... but that attention makes everything only that much worse. I feel as though everything - all my emotions, all my thoughts, all my actions - are laid bare before her eyes. I feel weak.

"I see." Zelda whispers quietly. "Take your time, Sheik. Hyrule wasn't built in a day. Hell, it even took Link seven years to rid this kingdom of evil."

I continue looking around, finding the smallest things wrong in the rugs or walls to keep myself occupied. At the moment, I was busying myself addressing the concern of the slightly discolored oval in the center of the rug - A reminder of the times Zelda had paced the room during the nights, worrying over the Hero and myself. I tried to place myself in her shoes for just a second; I tried to imagine what she must have thought and felt at those times. Did she worry that he might not survive? Was she worried that I would get distracted, or worse, distract him? Did she envy me at all? I was sure that my face must've looked like the oddest mix of sorrow and thoughtfulness all at the same time - something like what a dying man might look like while he was pondering the meanings to life and love.

"Perhaps something else is in order... did you retrieve the information I asked you to get?"

I silently thank the goddesses for blessing Zelda with the ability and keenness of wisdom. I was beginning to wonder when the conversation about the Hero would end. Granted, I started it, but I couldn't help myself. Memories are, after all, all we have in this life.

"Yea. Everything seems to be ok up on the Lake, but with everything going out of control again..."

Zelda's eyes widened slightly at my suggestion. For a brief moment, I begin wondering if she is hoping for the same thing that I am hoping for. However, just as quickly as the fire sprang up, so too did it die again, and Zelda had her calm, passive look surrounding her again. She was the princess after all - it was required. "I'm glad everything was taken care of. Why don't you rest for the night and we can discuss what you found out early tomorrow morning?"

Zelda turned away quickly and began to set her affairs in order. Just as she went to pick up the last piece of parchment, there was a knock on the door and a short, bald, and rather rotund man stepped in. He made a move to bow quickly before setting his hands together and slightly fidget with his thumbs. Must be a nervous habit - I thought. Whatever news he has to deliver is surely something that he is afraid to tell Zelda.

"Your Highness." The remark was weak and feeble: the sign of an "unworthy" addressing someone of higher authority. "Lord Sheik."

"Yes? What is it, Midal? Why do you look so nervous? Has something happened this late at night?" Zelda inquired in a sympathetic ,yet inquisitive, tone. The man, though still continuing with his nervous habits, seemed to calm down slightly. He took an audible breath before launching into a tale of mysterious happenings around Kakariko Village, rumblings on Death Mountain, and increases in spirits on the plains of Hyrule. Zelda seemed unnerved, but did little to show it. If I weren't her as close to her as I was, I doubt that I would have even noticed the slight change in her attitude. I caught her eye, and as she nodded, I made a hasty retreat back to my quarters. The short man - Midal - was, I'm sure, still going on about different things: some significant; others not so much.

The night passed as any night hereafter could pass: in quiet agony. The nights, it seemed, never failed to bring back memories; and memories, no matter how sweet, were corruptions of reality. Memories doth work like madness in the brain! Like poison in the blood! They are, in essence, shadows - shadows left by time. And we are powerless to escape them...

It is often due to memories like these that I am kept awake throughout the night. It is no wonder people look at me in awkward ways; stealing quick glances, and spreading rumors as to whether the princesses "aid" is well. "Aid"... what good is an "aid" in times like these? Evil, it seems, never rests... even when good has settled it down.

Things change though. It isn't too bad. I still command respect to a certain degree. After all, I am one of the 10 Royals of Hyrule, and one of the two that people still see on a regular basis. The sages are royals in declaration only, seeing as how few knew of their existence to begin with. Zelda and I are constant in the public view. And Link... the beloved Hero. Even the public mourned - to a degree. Some questioned where he went; others forgot he ever existed. The answer was not given easily and, when given, was given in such a way as to give rise to rumors as to what may have really happened. The prevailing rumor to this day was that he had fallen in battle after defeating the King of Evil. Time, it seems, hasn't dulled the rumors anymore than it has dulled the memory of the Hero in my mind.

I can feel myself being caught up in the rush of emotions and amazement at what a short amount of time it has been. Can it really have only been 5 years since good overcame evil? Can it really be true? I sit on the edge of my bed in the small room pondering these things and wondering when sleep will finally give me release, if any, from my waking thoughts when I remember the Hero - Link... - saying "Don't go gently into the night, Sheik." The whisper is so faint at the time, but sitting here now, the echo crashes and resounds around me like thunder. And then... nothing.

"Comeon, wake up! How are we supposed to save Hyrule with you sleeping the day away. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to lay here and waste time with you, but even I know that I can't waste the entire day!"

I grumble and begin to roll over when I hear the one thing that will make me move faster than a bolt of lightning: "Hey! Listen!"

I open my eyes, only to find crystal blue eyes staring back into my own crimson red ones, and for a moment, I am lost in the perfection of everything. That, however, ends rather abruptly when said blue eyes move out of the way of the light, allowing the sun to hit me full force.

"You prick! How am I supposed to fight evil if I can't see?" I blink rapidly trying to clear my teary eyes of the light when the blue eyes reappear with an apologetic look.

"Sorry... I was trying to get my clothes on so I can be ready to leave as soon as I convinced you to get up..."

The blush that ensues is hardly suppressed before I quickly respond: "Yea. I understand. It's time to leave. I was just so exhausted. We've been moving non stop you know... It's easy to want to relax sometimes."

"I know. Trust me, I've got plenty of bruises that I would love to give time to heal, but we can't do that. Zelda is waiting on us to come and save Hyrule!"

"No," I interject "you've got that wrong. Zelda is waiting on you to save Hyrule. I've already done what I was raised to do. Staying is just out of the goodness of my heart."

"Sure it is. Either way, it's plenty past midday. We've got a lot to do before we can rest again. Theres always work to be done, isn't there? Don't go gently into the night, Sheik."

"Don't go gently into the night, Sheik."

The morning light floods into my room, greeting me with an unpleasant warmth. Memories of the previous night rush to the surface of my mind along with the bitterness left by my nightmare.

This is the last thing I need. I see his ghost enough when I'm awake! I don't need to be seeing him when I'm asleep too!

I yawn and stretch, trying to shake off the sorrow and hurt that the memories have left throughout the night. Zelda will be waiting in the drawing room to discuss the events of the previous night... and as my dream reminded me: We can't slow down. Ever. There's always work to be done.

So here's my opening chapter, sorry for the dryness. I hope that some people will stick around to find out what's going on in Hyrule, and what has yet to happen. Also, I hope you like the few references hidden in the story so far. Please don't hesitate to drop me a comment, or better yet, favorite me and watch for my updates. I AM LOOKING FOR A BETA READER WHO ISN'T AFRAID TO READ YAOI HARDCORE STORIES. Be on the look out for the next chapter soon!

~Arrundo