I noticed I didn't have the original chapter for this story up. Pardon any confusion that may have arisen. Hope you all enjoy this story.

The Timeless Shadow

"Lost time is never found again."-Benjamin Franklin

Prologue: Into Oblivion

Little by little
I've come to this point
on my own I've been searching my way

A grown princess could be noticed pacing around her room. Her smooth and long blonde hair blew lightly behind her. Her lean and long arms touched the frame of the window from time to time. She kept pacing around the room; it had already been a year since her long lost lover left on a mission sent to him by the Gods. She was worried; she didn't know how she had survived this terrifying year without her beloved. But that wasn't it; the Gods told all of the Sages, including her, that he would simply be gone for a year, and still no news of his impending arrival had come.

I lost you so early
the days went so fast
you don't know how I prayed every day

The worry the princess felt for her lover grew stronger every time she thought about him, it was consuming her. He was her light, he was always there, but now he was gone. Leaving a dark and aching scar in her throbbing heart, her eyes were open doors at this moment, she was indeed hurting. Normally, she hid away from the servants and helpers trying to hide her pained feelings, a façade that concealed part of her life. A future queen had to be strong for her followers and her wisdom told her she had to grow out this situation.

A song to remember
a song to forget
you'll never know how I tried

The princess looked over to her trusty body guard and helper. He was quiet, but his dark red eyes observed her every movement like a hawk on its prey. The bond between these two friends was always strong and evident, steadfast even in the worst of situations. The pressure she had been through was enough for her to retreat quickly to her quarters after a council meeting; to move far away from the group of men that kept a watchful eye on her. They wanted her to marry a prince from the far north, and unite the now divided land of Hyrule. However, she couldn't take such a risk, not when she was waiting for the Hero of Time, her Hero of Time.

To make you proud
and to honor your name but
you never told me goodbye

"Zelda," called her silent friend.

"Yes?" She answered while looking at him over her shoulder, her eyes full of sorrow.

"You had a vision, right?" He asked.

Now that you are gone
Casting shadows from the past
you and all the memories will last

There was a moment of complete silence. No one spoke, Zelda couldn't hold it in anymore, she ran to the arms of her most trusted friend. He gasped at the unexpected reaction from the woman whom he admired, she had crashed against him. The surprise of the moment passed soon after he heard a small sniff coming from the golden beauty in his arms, her face hidden on her best friend's blue vest. She was crying and it pained him to see her like this. The sudden reaction didn't stop there; he put his arms around her shoulders, his head leaning and resting on top of hers; he felt her pain. He felt the pain of loving someone and never once being able to be with his lover.

Don't you cry
or suffer over me
I will be waiting for you
don't you cry
Angels never fade away
I'll be watching over you
See you through

"Oh Sheik! Why him?! The Gods lied... they lied!" Her cries were muffled by his blue vest, but he still understood her words clearly.

Now I'm a man and
I'm feeling you still
could it be you were there all along

A time to surrender
A time to forgive
with solace I give you this song

"My lady, the Gods would never lie to you. There must have been a mistake in your vision." His voice quivered lightly. Would they truly lie to her? The thought had invaded him. "They would never lie to you… believe me." He said, trying his best to sound convincing, however doubt filled his soul.

Now that you are gone
Casting shadows from the past
in my dreams I hear your voice at last

He held her closer; savoring the moment he had with her. It was rare, he barely got the opportunity to get this close to his friend, and even if this was the wrong moment, he felt the need to be there. After all, he knew that his mentor, Impa, must have been worried sick, since the future queen didn't allow anyone but him into her quarters. Knowing the fact that the Gods shouldn't lie to them, he knew there might be a quest for him soon enough. Sheik himself wasn't so convinced that the Hero of Time's life could have ended so abruptly. However, only Zelda knew what she saw in those haunting and painful visions.

Don't you cry
or suffer over me
I will be waiting for you
don't you cry
Angels never fade away
I'll be watching over you

"Sheik, he's trapped somewhere, but I think it's impossible to get to him." She looked up at her now pensive friend, tears sliding down her rosy cheeks.

I can see you tonight
in the pale winter light
Father and son again
the bond of blood will never end

"No my lady, do not think that. Give me some troops; describe the place for me... I'll bring him back for you."

Don't you cry
or suffer over me
I will be waiting for you
don't you cry
Angels never fade away
I'll be watching over you

"What if I lose you on the way?" She held on to him, fearing the protection he offered would leave out the door and never come back. Just like him…

Don't you cry
or suffer over me
I will be waiting for you
don't you cry
Angels never fade away
I'll be watching over you

"It won't happen." His deep crimsons eyes stared back at his friend's blue eyes. His eyes spoke lies, but on the inside he felt that he was betraying himself, his future unknown. "I promise…"

The promise held by the two friends lasted but years kept passing by. The tears seemed to stop and nothing was left anymore. Zelda had grown in her last years and the day of her marriage came. Her simple yet extravagating pearly white dress stood out from the high quality silks of everyone in the church. The brim of her dress was adorned in small and incalculable stones, she was proud of wearing it, even to the point of having the air of the future Queen. She was indeed happy that day; she was marrying someone she learned to love, someone who had won her love.

Her future husband waited at the end of the aisle. The sweat on his forehead was clear, he was indeed nervous about the big step he had to make. When he saw her walking down the walkway his legs gave out for a tiny and unremarkable moment. He had to admit with an open heart, he fell for this woman right away after looking at her portrait, her beauty had captivated him. He admired her wisdom and intelligence, but his father on the other hand wasn't so flattered about the woman's trait. That man of strong character would never accept a woman far more intelligent than him, but he also admitted she lived to her beauty.

The young and sometimes more naïve future husband checked around the room. He couldn't keep his eyes on her or he would have to give in to the temptation of running over to her. The light brown haired man in his formal attire gazed around in amazement. The security was tight every time he came here. However the man in his early twenties had easily noticed the weakness in its defense. His father had done well in teaching him the arts of war, and by looking at all the troops inside this single church, he was proud that maybe he could be the one expanding his future Kingdom. A Kingdom that would make any father proud of his son…

The beautiful and long ceremony had passed, but as quickly as it did, the now crowned Queen was taken away from her husband's side. An important and urgent message was delivered. The surprise of its proximity and how soon it came around made the golden headed scream from delight. Sheik had come, a little late though but came none the less. He, like always, was bearing his face hidden by the cloth but it didn't bothered Zelda.

He looked around and waited till no one was in the room so he could hug his best friend. It had been nearly five years since he had gone to look for her long lost lover. During his long and tiring quest he had found someone special. She was also a Sheikah, but would never be capable of filling the empty space of the real woman that captivated him many years ago. He was happy for the second chance the gods had given him; it was the opportunity to live with someone whom he had grown strong affections for. Zelda upon hearing this news she smiled, happy for her close friend. In her mind she knew he deserved a special person for himself.

"Umm, Zelda..." He hesitated, not wanting to take her happiness away, but thinking back on to the promise he made her.

"Yes?" Her smiling face looked up at him expectantly; she had forgotten of the promise made before his departure, her marriage overshadowing everything from the past.

"I-You look beautiful." He half lied, however he withholding his true reasons for his arrival at Hyrule Castle.

He didn't tell her the truth like he wanted to, like he needed to. But why would he destroy her day? She looked radiant, but that wasn't that the whole reason for why he came. It was her day to become as bright the sun, so he wasn't about to dull it, even if he had to leave with an aching heart. What he kept from her remained unspoken, until he confided his findings to his mentor, Impa. The white headed Sage was surprised at the sudden eruption of the news. Link was indeed alive…

A grown man was trying his best to fight off the demons that had overcome him. He grunted loudly as one of the demons got the chance to pin to his leg with his clawed hand and wound him. The monster hadn't let go of it but grabbed harder as the man tried to shake it off. He yelled loudly as a few more demons gained the chance to grab on to him, all of them had begun to bite him. His head lowered and he began to feel drained, he was trapped. He knew that the monsters were starting to kill him little by little, each one sucking away his life and energy from him. But he couldn't end here, it wouldn't end there.

"Ahh!" He yelled once more, this time his scream creating an echo throughout the small cave he had found himself in.

Suddenly a bright light had started to surround him and his body glowed white as snow. He yelled once more, the pain he was passing through being unbearable, he clenched his eyes in fear of how he was going to die. However, as the light calmed down he stopped feeling those strange and dark monsters that were feeding themselves of him, even the pain had gone down. He shook his head and opened his eyes to see more light.

What happened? He thought looking around the mountains full of snow. He tried to go back to where he was before arriving here but he stopped once he looked at his legs. He no longer saw his dark brown boots or his pants, now he could only see white paws. His eyes widened as he then noticed animal fur covering his legs, there were no longer his famous boots. He did a few rounds trying to stare where his green clothing was but only found more fur and a tail following his every movement. Now he grew even more scared of what might have befallen on him, he tried to find his voice and call for help but all he heard was the howling of a wolf.

No... This can't be. He thought his body backing away from nothing. As he tried to overcome the curse that those demons might have placed on him, he began to curse mentally. He didn't know where he was and to top it all he had transformed into a monster. After a few more minutes of sitting in the spot he stood up on the four legs he now had. He checked around the mountains of snow to see if there was at least an exit so that he could return to Zelda and check how to break the curse but as he kept checking he saw nothing.

There was a block of ice on the wall near him and he was sure that behind it stood the exit. He kept looking around and noticed that this place seemed to be hospitable since he could see a trail of recent human foot prints on the snow and somehow he could smell humans. He dismissed the thought on the smell and continued to walk keeping an eye on his surroundings. He noticed that there wasn't much in this place but the more he walked the more he saw movement and not human movement but animal movement.

He tried to hold back the instinct that had invaded him when he saw a small white rabbit in the distance but he was too late. He ran…