'Link may not be much of a talker, but he sure does have to think on his feet.' Sheik watched in awe as he slashed at her trainer again and again, his shirt forgotten on the floor in the heat of the day. Her trainer, to his benefit, was holding up as best he could against Link's startling speed and strength. But even if he held steady, he might be able to hold up an extra hour at the most. And Link's speed only seemed to be increasing. "Enough!" Sheik called out, and Link looked up timidly, as if expecting a scolding. Knowing he could see under her cloth, Sheik smiled secretively, in a way when she realized he still hadn't figured out who she was. "You did well, Link. But now, I think a real test of power is needed. You will fight… me… and then I will consider taking you with me to Hyrule." Link nodded eagerly, shoving his sweaty bangs out of his face impatiently. Moving forward slowly, Sheik flicked her wrists and four long, deadly blades emerged from in between her knuckles. Feeling her slender hip to make sure her claw was still attached, she charged at Link hurriedly, wanting to break the intense air.
He was ready for her, the first jolt of her blades against his made a loud clang, knocking Sheik back forcefully. 'Good thing he thinks I'm a man, Link would never have done that before.' Charging again, Sheik pressed more powerfully this time, wanting to test the Master Sword's attack skill. Link's eyes were narrowed in intense concentration, and he shoved upward, trying to yank the blades out of her hands. Clenching and tensing her wrists, it took all her power to keep her weapon. Using his shock that she was still upright, she rolled forward, grabbed her metal claw from her hip, and twisting it forward, shoved into Link's unprotected back. He spun around; grabbing the dull blade from his back, where it had came out from his navel. He grunted in a low voice, blood pouring from his wound.
Amazingly, he remain standing and waltzed forward again, only slightly shaky. Trusting his sword to her knee, he jerked it upward, tearing her clothes from knee to shoulder, exposing her protective gear. Blushing, she dropped her weapons and covered herself with her hands, worried he might see the gentle rising of her breastplate or the curve of her waist as that of a woman. Looking down, she realized she really didn't need to worry; her armor covered anything that might have exposed her. But there was no helping her slender form. And how she hated it at times, and the emotions that came with it. Looking back up at Link, she saw that was studying her body almost as carefully as she was, a confused expression on his face. Wanting to distract him, she cleared her throat, and then announced in her manliest voice, "You may come." Link nodded, politely removing his eyes from her as he saw she was covering herself. 'Stupid! A man wouldn't care if another man saw him.' But there was no helping it, these were the facts: She was a woman, and most importantly, she was Zelda, his childhood love.