...
To Love a Shadow
or
Passion and Prudence
...
Chapter 1 – The Dawn of Spring
"Keep a vigilant eye on Link, Sheik," Impa instructed firmly. Seated at her desk, a sturdy table littered with ancient tomes, she pivoted around to face her apprentice, regarding her with a rigid expression. "Do not allow him to stray from his objective. He is to only procure gear necessary for Zora's Domain." Her blood-red eyes, though stern, reflected confidence in the ability of her protégée.
"I understand," Zelda replied obediently, her own crimson eyes mirroring her mentor's keen gaze. The dethroned princess, dressed in the Sheikah guise that Ganondorf's tyranny necessitated her to don, was standing by the front door, on the verge of departing the house. While Link had stayed the night in Impa's former home to recuperate, he had risen early to explore the village, prompting his faithful guide to search for him. Having recently defeated Volvagia, the Hero of Time had been permitted to abide in Kakariko Village for a day to rest his fatigued and seared body. While the wounds that the fiery dragon had bestowed upon him were only mild, Zelda thought it wise to allow the overworked hero one day of vacation. Impa, however, believed that the idle day should not be wasted.
"He is to leave tomorrow at dawn," Impa commanded before turning back to her desk. While she felt a motherly fondness for Link, the battle-worn Sheikah was very aware of how easily he got sidetracked. Just a week ago he had squandered an entire day and fortune at the Kakariko Shooting Gallery, claiming he wasn't in the mood to climb Death Mountain. This tendency was exactly the reason she had allowed her disguised princess to become Link's guide, for he always require a watchful eye. His sojourn in the village had also enticed Impa to remain in her former house, occupying her hours with the study of ancient Hyrulean lore. "Ensure that he heeds my counsel and travels through the forest. Ganondorf has increased his number of spies, making it no longer safe to ride openly across Hyrule Field."
"He will," Zelda assured her mentor with a nod. Considering her instructions complete, she opened the front door, inviting bright rays and rural scents into the gloomy house. As soon as her eyes adjusted to the sudden brightness, she took a step over the threshold.
"And Sheik," Impa began, promptly halting Zelda's exit. Turning back towards the princess, she was met with a questioning look. "Keep Link far away from the shooting gallery," she instructed. Although her eyes were stern and humorless, a faint grin seemed to tug at her lips.
A hidden smile crept upon Zelda's veiled face as she assured her teacher that she would use all means necessary to do so. Although Link's previous dalliance had left both women thoroughly vexed, they now remembered the incident with a tinge of humor. Leaving a satisfied expression on Impa's face, Zelda stepped out into the bustling atmosphere of Kakariko Village.
The rural landscape, embellished with verdant hills, lush foliage, stone stairs, rustic buildings, red roofs, and a picturesque windmill, was brimming with life on that fresh spring morning. Villagers scurried about from shop to shop, chattering and laughing with one another as sprightly cuccos weaved through their legs. A flock of birds nested in the large tree at the center of town, jubilantly treating passersby to a symphony of tweets. A number of blue-clad carpenters meandered aimlessly through the grass while their colleagues built a wooden bench under the shade of a maple. Boisterous full-bosomed women huddled near the newly-constructed building, a tavern that was currently closed. Their elated gossip echoed through the town, intermingling with children's squeals and cuccos' squawks. Although the bucolic village scene offered countless sights and scents, Zelda had but a moment to survey her surroundings before Link appeared from behind a building, barreling towards her at full speed.
"Sheik! There you are!" he called, azure eyes glistening with excitement. With a huge grin adorning his features, he came to a halt directly in front of the Sheikah, causing her to recoil at their close proximity. Winded from the sprint, Link pushed back the bangs from his face, revealing on his forehead a burn he had acquired from battle. "I've been looking for you everywhere!" he panted.
Observing the warm temperature of the air and the hero's current breathlessness, Zelda grew slightly concerned. "I don't think you should be quite so active, hero," she advised, scanning his body. Possessing various burns and cuts from the fiery dragon, the Hylian feature multiple bandages on his limbs, bearing the rest of his scars proudly on his face, neck, and hands. The enthusiastic hero however, did not appear concerned about his wounds, beaming at her with an expression that challenged the stability of her aloofness. "You are still recovering from yesterday's battle," Zelda reminded him, resisting the urge to smile at his exuberance.
"Nah, I feel great!" Link dismissed through heavy breaths. Upon waking that morning to find himself in Impa's house, his battered body had become invigorated with new life as he explored the village, eagerly seeking his sorely missed Sheikah guide. While he had seen her the previous day, he had barely been conscience, utterly exhausted from his climb down the mountain. The memory of his nighttime arrival in Kakariko, collapsing on the doorstep of Impa's former abode, remained only as a blur in his mind. It was certainly fortunate that his faithful shadow had tracked him to the village, bringing him into the house of her mentor to recuperate. A faint recollection of her masked visage remained in his mind, causing him to believe that she was responsible for his expertly-bandaged limbs. Although Link had been disappointed on not meeting her initially when waking, Impa had assured him of her imminent appearance. Since he had not spoken to Sheik since entering the Fire Temple, the Hero of Time impatiently awaited their next encounter. Gazing at his companion with glee, he added, "And besides, I haven't had a day to myself in months! I'm surprised you're not pushing me to go to Zora's Domain yet." His grin only expanded as he considered his Sheikah's dedication to the quest, a staunchness that at times proved both irritating and inspiring.
Although the hero's blue eyes reflected acute delight, the princess recognized the necessity for clarifying the day's purpose. Such rational reminders were her duty, regardless of how Link's happiness secretly pleased her. "We shall depart tomorrow at dawn and travel through the forest," Zelda informed him staunchly, adhering to Impa's stern instructions. "Today shall be used only for recuperating and restocking your supplies. I suggest we head to the Potion Shop first." Adopting the common pose of her Sheikah persona, she appeared completely indifferent to the man's blitheness.
After studying the guarded Sheikah for a moment, Link released a sigh. "Fine," he begrudgingly acquiesced, his smile diminishing. While he had been enthusiastically anticipating endless diversion with Sheik, he resigned himself to being content with one day of repose. The Potion Shop, however, was not at all where he desired to spend it. An occurrence on Death Mountain laid heavy on his mind, creating an intense desire to be alone with the Sheikah. With the bustling atmosphere of their current location, such a tête-à-tête would prove quite impossible, especially with their proximity to the group of gossips. While the spirit in his azure eyes began to dampen, it was soon rekindled. Eyeing the house behind Sheik, a scheme began to form in his mind. "But first I want to show you a treasure chest I found!" he exclaimed, stifling a roguish snicker.
Much to her bemusement, Zelda observed a very impish glint appear in Link's eyes. Brushing the golden hair from her face, she utilized her keen vision to scan the hero, searching for palpable signs of deceit. Before she could complete her scrutiny, however, Link took off, heading swiftly towards the back of Impa's house. With no legitimate reason to distrust the hero, she found herself following him to the alleged treasure, maintaining her walls of wariness. When they stopped in the shade behind the dwelling, Zelda scanned the vacant area suspiciously. Nothing more than a few irregular tufts of grass existed in the small dark alley between the building and the cliff. Turning in confusion towards the Hylian, she began, "Link, there's no…"
In a series of rapid movements of which any Sheikah would be proud, Link seized Sheik, pinned her against the stone wall of the house, tugged down her veil, and captured her lips with his own. His glorious conquest was short lived, however, for the startled warrior immediately used her Sheikah prowess to liberate herself, delivering a swift but potent punch to his abdomen. "Ow! Sheik!" Link groaned, hugging his midsection. Rudely transported from bliss to pain in one harsh second, he gaped at her in confusion and frustration, his lips pleasantly tingling as intensely as his abdomen smarted. "What was that for?"
Zelda hastily replaced her veil to conceal her blood-red face, regarding the hero with a stunned demeanor. The masked princess stood thoroughly frozen as her heart beat violently in her chest, assaulting her mind with a barrage of thoughts. The first coherent idea to emerge from the chaotic throng of words and images was a scene on Death Mountain, a particular event that her reason had imprisoned deep within her heart. Because of the oppressive chains her resolve had placed on the memory, only its words were liberated, releasing disembodied voices into Zelda's whirling mind.
"I love you, Sheik! Why can't you accept that?"
"Because my duty is to Hyrule and to Princess Zelda. I am to be your guide, nothing more."
"That's what your duty tells you, but what does your heart say?"
"My heart is irrelevant. You have come too far, hero. Your efforts cannot be in vain."
"What does that have to do with how I feel? How will our love affect my quest?"
"I fear that Princess Zelda's safety will be compromised."
"That doesn't make any sense! What prophecy states that Ganondorf will immediately discover Zelda's location when the Hero of Time falls in love with his Sheikah guide?"
"You are to defeat Ganondorf and save Hyrule from his tyranny. You cannot do so when your thoughts lie elsewhere."
"I accept that challenge! Do you think rejecting me will make me think about you any less? Ever since I met you my thoughts have been on nothing else! You can distance yourself from me, you can disappear without a trace, you can ascend to the Sacred Realm, but no matter what, I will always love you! You can't change that."
"But I cannot allow myself to become a hindrance to this imperative quest."
"…Sheik, you haven't denied your love for me."
"…"
"Sheik?"
"I cannot…deny it."
Suddenly an image was liberated from the shackles of compunction, projecting vividly before her the tender kiss that had sealed her fate. Marred by Link's passion and bereft of further arguments, her resolve dissipated, leaving behind only the ardent heart of the princess. Succumbing to her true desires, Zelda cast aside all wisdom as she engaged in the affectionate exchange, forever altering the relationship between the hero and his shadow.
Guilt, anxiety, confusion, and joy thrust against the walls of Zelda's heart as she relived the scene before Link's entering the Fire Temple. She had attempted in earnest to refuse him, painfully exerting her aching heart to conceal her true bliss in discovering his love. Gifted with the Triforce of Wisdom, the seventeen-year old princess understood the importance of keeping her distance from Link. Yet somehow the hero had fallen in love with the mysterious Sheikah woman, regardless of Zelda's attempts to remain aloof. Link's honorable and affectionate heart had not allowed her to hide in the shadows, always goading her with playfulness to stay close to him. It wasn't until he had uttered the three forbidden words that she realized what a fatal mistake it had been to let her guard down. And once again, as Link prepared to face a perilous battle against a fire-breathing foe, Zelda had lowered her walls and permitted her foolish emotions to dictate her actions. Ignoring her conscience, disregarding Impa's thousands of lectures, forgetting that Link was in love with an invented Sheikah persona and was unaware of her true identity, and throwing away seven years of intense training, Zelda had opened her heart to the Hero of Time. All logic was banished from her mind as she shared her first kiss with Link, an odd but warm sensation that left her cheeks rosy for hours. It was very fortunate indeed that Link did not recognize her upon removing the veil, and Zelda still wondered why that was the case. It was possible that he did not see any connections between her and his vague memory of the young princess, for her features had matured, her face had darkened from long sun exposure, and her eyes had been rendered red by an incantation. Whatever the true reason, she attributed it to divine intervention.
"Sheik?"
The puzzled yet tender pronunciation of her alias promptly awoke Zelda from her musings. Raising her eyes to the green-clad hero, she detected both confusion and concern on his Hylian features. Although her mind was swarming with thoughts, she remained externally impassive to the situation, eradicating the shock from her eyes.
With his hand still on his bruised abdomen, Link sought some elucidation in the indifferent eyes of the Sheikah warrior. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he apologized, hanging his head in shame. "I just assumed that after what happened on Death Mountain…well…" A wave of humiliation crashed upon him, deeming his assumption utterly foolish. Having grown quite accustomed to Sheik's unpredictability and aloofness, he inwardly chided himself for not foreseeing this reaction. Regardless of how incomprehensible her reticent behavior appeared, she was Sheik; he should expect nothing less from the ambiguous shadow. Bereft of his previous boldness, the blond Hylian resigned himself to incoherent mutterings, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Zelda's body visibly stiffened as she struggled to retain the Sheikah composure that had been drilled into her for the past seven years. Inside her a battle was waging between the resolute warrior and the lovesick princess who adored the very ground on which Link trod. The adorableness of his embarrassment thoroughly tried her tenacity, beckoning her with his befuddled blue eyes. If not required to continue the masquerade, Zelda would have gladly taken the hero in her arms and imparted the sweetest of words. The conflicted princess grappled with this desire for a few more seconds before forming an appropriate response. "Forgive me, Link," she spoke, merging compassion and prudence. "This is all so…new to me." Lowering her icy guard down slightly, she took a step closer to Link, smiling beneath her veil.
Observing a palpable softening in Sheik's demeanor, Link's previous playfulness resurfaced, banishing his humiliation. Although her veil prevented him from beholding her mouth, he could discern from smile from her eyes, having acquired that skill from his many hours in her company. "No one has ever cornered a Sheikah before, huh?" A glint of pride and mischief sparkled in his eyes. Gesturing to his midsection, he added, "Now I know why."
Although Zelda stifled the audibility of her chuckle, its merriment shimmered in her eyes as she gazed at the hero. Her guilt consoled by his gaiety, she felt free to express some jollity in the form of a quip. "Haven't I always warned you against being so reckless?" she teased in mock sternness, folding her arms across her chest.
An effusive warmth pervaded Link's body as his lips stretched into a wide grin, reflecting his cheerfulness. Encouraged by Sheik's pleasant humor, he reveled in the new status of their relationship, feeling closer to the enigma than ever before. To express this joy, he continued in the raillery, enjoying every new glimpse of her heart. Gazing at her with youthful bliss, he considered her very Sheikah-like stance for a moment before responding. "Impa may have trained you to be a solemn warrior who sucks the joy out of everything, but there's something inside you that wants to let loose and enjoy life. I can tell." His eyes glistened with delight, inviting her to unravel her emotionless mask.
Thumping rapidly in her bosom, Zelda's heart fully understood Link's assessment. Although traveling across Hyrule in the androgynous garb of an elite race granted the princess physical freedom, her heart was very much imprisoned in the role she was forced to play. Dismissing the thoughts that always consumed her mind when idle, Zelda found herself taking another step towards Link, enticed by his alluring vivacity. "Fair enough," she responded with a shrug, feigning more pleasant indifference.
Link noted the glimmer in Sheik's eyes with a cheeky grin, sensing that it was safe to lightheartedly badger her. Perhaps he could use his adorable charm to completely crumble the enigmatic walls she had erected. Regardless of how effective it would prove, he most desired to witness her reaction, yearning for more delicious hints of her true nature. Could he be the blossoming spring that thawed the tenacious winter enveloping her heart? "Come on, Sheik, you don't have to resist me," he teased with a tantalizing smirk. "Don't pretend you don't share my feelings; I remember everything you said on Death Mountain... Which wasn't that much actually…" His voice trailed off as he reviewed the scene in his mind, recollecting no ardent protestations from the reserved Sheikah. He did, however, recall a particularly fascinating detail that colored his cheeks crimson. "But I remember what you did!" he declared, his smirk expanding.
Although she knew Link was only teasing her, Zelda couldn't prevent her face from intensely reddening. The manner in which she returned Link's kiss on Death Mountain had been less than proper for both a princess and a Sheikah. Feeling the blush creep further up her face, she fidgeted with her veil in an attempt to conceal it, struggling vainly to quell her embarrassment.
Because Link's playful brazenness was not met with vexation, its flame was stoked, prompting the hero to seek the intimacy he deeply desired. Closing the distance between them, the Hylian wrapped his arms around the Sheikah's slim frame, careful not to startle her again. When she didn't withdraw, Link felt it safe to continue his teasing. "Do I need to jog your memory?" Although he received no verbal response from Sheik, the absence of a physical attack encouraged him to proceed. With more tenderness and caution than before, Link pulled down her veil to reveal her face. While he found her features beautiful, he fortunately registered no connection between them and his memory of a ten year-old princess. He couldn't comprehend Sheik's reasons for concealing her face, and he made a mental note to pester her about it until she explained or threw a Deku nut in his eye. He held Sheik's soft ruby gaze for a moment before letting his lids fall closed, his face slowly inching towards hers. He could almost taste the sweetness of her lips…
"Hey! Listen!"
"Gaa!" Link grunted, jolting back from Sheik in alarm as a blue fairy flew out from his hair. Faithful Navi had certainly picked an unfortunate moment to awaken from her nap under Link's hat.
Shaking off slumber, Navi hovered in circles around the two adventurers. Link appeared visibly flustered, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. The mysterious Sheikah, after hastily refastening her veil, stood silently, avoiding the fairy's questioning gaze. Fluttering dangerously close to Link's crimson face, she regarded the hero suspiciously. "Hey! I know that look! You were mocking me behind my back! You always do that when I'm sleeping! You think I don't hear you, but I do! I always listen! The other day you said I reminded you of a - "
"We weren't mocking you, I promise!" Link interrupted, all too familiar with Navi's tendency to ramble. Although his breath was labored and his face burned, he completely forgot about the kiss that the unsuspecting fairy had almost witnessed, an exchange that certainly would have flabbergasted her. He was currently engaged in soothing her ire, undesirous of his friend's unnecessary suspicion. Upon receiving an unconvinced glare from Navi, he turned to Sheik to request backup.
Deeming it incredibly prudent to conceal their relationship from the meddlesome fairy, Zelda buffeted her embarrassment to appear completely indifferent. "Link speaks the truth," she said simply.
Navi examined the two offenders for a moment before hovering closer to Sheik. "If so, then why does he look like he's hiding something?" she asked, gesturing a wing to the Hylian. Although the fairy hardly knew the enigmatic shadow, often wondering why Link appeared so cheerful in her disconcerting company, she trusted in the forthrightness of the Sheikah tribe.
Zelda released a frustrated groan at the sight of the red-faced hero awkwardly studying his boots. Appearing inconspicuous was decidedly not his forte, laying upon Zelda the burden of covering their relationship. "He stumbled upon a Fairy Fountain," she quickly invented, speaking in a nonchalant monotone. "He was hesitant to tell you because he fears you will spend the entire day in there chatting with fairies. He gets quite jealous when he's not the center of attention." Although she had replaced her veil upon Navi's awakening, the impish smirk she shot Link was reflected in her eyes. A soft giggle escaped her Sheikah mask at the look of indignation on the Hylian's face.
"Not true!" Link fervently denied, glaring fiercely at Sheik. Thoroughly puzzled by her accusation, the Hylian could not recall the last Fairy Fountain he had discovered, failing to understand Sheik's cover-up. The shadow warrior returned his glower with a satisfied nod.
Hovering around the Hylian's head, Navi fluttered her translucent wings irately, vexed at his offence. "Geez, Link, you're so conceited," she chastised. Once she had rendered him quite dizzy, she ceased her circling and flew back to the Sheikah. "So Sheik, where is this Fairy Fountain located exactly?" she asked in an intrigued tone, gazing upon the omniscient shadow.
As Link began jabbering incoherently in a vain attempt to clear his name, Zelda quelled the urge to laugh, retaining the composure Navi expected of her. "The graveyard," she replied over Link's perplexed babble. While Impa had required her to memorize every Fairy Fountain's location, it appeared by Link's confusion that he had yet to discover the one eclipsed by a tombstone.
Once Navi had politely thanked Sheik, she turned to Link haughtily. "I'm sure you can survive without my attention for a few hours," she huffed. Without granting him a rebuttal, the azure fairy immediately ascended into the sky, fluttering towards the graveyard with no intent to return anytime soon.
Once Link's companion was out of hearing range, he regarded Sheik with befuddlement. "I didn't know there was a Fairy Fountain in the graveyard!" he exclaimed, flailing his bandaged arms emphatically. "Where is it? Do I need to bomb a rock wall?" Turning from Sheik, he peered searchingly in the direction of the graveyard, futility attempting to discern its location.
Allowing a grin to again conquer her features, Zelda simply shook her head in amusement, content to let Link remain oblivious to her cleverness. Perhaps he would eventually realize that she had just obtained them the privacy he so obviously desired.
Having abandoned his feeble search for the Fairy Fountain, his azure gaze returned to the Sheikah before him. Realizing that Sheik was not willing to reveal her secret, Link accepted her aloofness, falling momentarily silent. A few seconds elapsed before his confusion dissolved, allowing his previous craving to promptly return. "Anyway…where were we?" he asked eagerly, an alluring grin adorning his visage. Eliminating the space between them, Link reached up once more to reveal her face.
Although their interrupted moment had left the princess desirous of intimacy, her conscience suddenly emerged from the flowery fog of delight, pushing prudence into the forefront of her mind. "Link, we need to talk," Zelda said solemnly, stilling his hand with her bandaged fingers. The many thoughts that had been tormenting her brain since their love confession returned with vehemence, resisting any more suppression. She needed to speak her mind, faintly hoping to find some solace in Link's words. He had persuaded her once; she now required that influence to ease her frazzled conscience.
While Link's initial reaction was to whine and grumble, his romantic intentions once again thwarted, one disconcerting glare from Sheik's blood-red eyes silenced him. Discerning the gravity in her partially covered face, the young man realized the need for maturity. While the reticent Sheikah had once again returned, he detected uneasiness in her usually impassive mask, stirring some apprehension in his own heart. "What's wrong, Sheik?" he asked gently, searching her eyes for elucidation. Genuine concern became his Hylian features handsomely.
Retreating a few paces, Zelda drew a substantial breath before releasing her thoughts. "This cannot happen!" she exclaimed, gesturing to the general area. Her tone was marked with a passion very uncharacteristic of her Sheik persona. While she recognized this, her thoughts were exiting her mouth at a rate too rapid to subdue. "We can't do this here! Impa cannot discover our relationship!" Immediately her eyes flew to the wall of house, startled by the unintentionally loud volume of her own voice.
Although the hero recognized Sheik's considerable anxiety, he failed to comprehend its source. Surely she could not be forbidding him from kissing her! How could she require such a cruel restraint from him? Or perhaps the location of their mischief troubled her. But what harm could possibly come from Impa? While the older Sheikah was a stern and adroit warrior, Link had detected in her a faint but significant motherly fondness for Sheik. Because he wasn't a debauched reprobate, he foresaw little trouble in gaining Impa's approval, if her consent was indeed what Sheik desired. Thus he returned the Sheikah's fiery gaze with a completely blank stare. After a few languid blinks, he dared to raise the question on his mind. "Why?"
Upon realizing the hero's confusion, Zelda's irritation at his indiscretion diminished. He was not privy to the knowledge shared solely between Impa and herself, namely her true identity, so he could not foresee any complications with the older Sheikah. He had not sat through innumerable lectures that stressed the necessity of remaining distant from Link. Taking a few moments to formulate an explanation that would not compromise her identity, Zelda quelled her passion to a flicker. "Impa strongly adheres to all of the Sheikah's fundamental beliefs. She has raised me to uphold our people's tradition. I am but a humble servant of the royal family, of Princess Zelda… of you, Hero of Time. If she were to discover that I have risen above my station, she would forbid me from further contact with you." As Zelda studied Link's face for a reaction, she thought, "Social class…yeah, that's a good reason…he should believe that."
"That's a stupid reason," Link responded bluntly. His azure eyes suddenly flashed with passion, ignited by the threat to the adventurers' budding love. "I don't care if you were meant to be my guide!" he expressed zealously, furrowing his brow. "You're so much more than that! You're not inferior to me! If anything, you're superior, especially in wisdom!" Pausing to catch his breath, he moved slightly closer to her, searching for further words to defend her merit. "If you hadn't warned me about that cliff on Death Mountain when I was demonstrating my sword skills to some Gorons, there would be no Hero of Time left!" As he shared in his beloved Sheikah's apprehension, he promised himself that he would fight for their relationship. He had desired this ever since his heart first fluttered with feelings for Sheik, and he would allow no one to sever it.
A warm sensation permeated her breast as Zelda realized the intensity of Link's affection. Although infinitely flattered by his fervent words, she concealed her smile and continued in solemnity. "Impa is very adamant," she stated soberly. Her eyes suddenly adopted an absent gaze as she recalled many instances of her mentor's tenacity, a resoluteness that had shaped the princess into the Sheikah warrior she was today. Returning to the present, she regarded the concerned Hylian with gravity. "Your words, no matter how eloquent, will not sway her."
Bereft of further words to counter the Sheikah's accurate description of her mentor, Link slumped his shoulders. After a silence had comfortably settled itself upon the pair, the Hylian's general optimistic demeanor returned. Sheik was a very clever woman who, upon occasion, exhibited much fondness for the hero; she would certainly discover a solution to their dilemma if he could not. Consoled by his faith in Sheik's brilliance, he was prompted to try a sally. "Maybe your words will?" he offered with a grin, trying to share his optimism with the shadow warrior. "They're certainly larger." Whenever a tough situation arose in Sheik's company, whether it was a nigh fatal battle or a difficulty in discerning the next task, Link would often resort to jesting about the Sheikah's advanced vocabulary.
Slightly amused by Link's typical but unusually clever quip, Zelda allowed herself to visibly smile before continuing to advise caution. "Promise me you'll be discreet, Link," she urged softly. Witnessing the hero's perceptible relaxing helped soothe the princess' anxiety, leaving only pure wisdom in its wake.
Perceiving an earnest plea in both her words and eyes, Link decided it best to agree. Contemplating the necessity of keeping Impa ignorant of their relationship, he grew satisfied at his Sheikah's sage decision. Although it required some restraint, it wasn't wholly impossible. Perhaps being involved in a covert relationship would actually prove more exhilarating. "Of course. Impa will never know!" he assured her enthusiastically. Scanning the Sheikah's ambiguous garb, he deliberated the best way to feign indifference for his lover. "As far as she's concerned, I barely know you. Maybe I still think you're a man!"
With an amused grin, Zelda replied, "We don't need to go that far back in our acquaintance." The princess could not prevent the grin's expansion as many diverting memories returned to her, illuminating her eyes with delight. The most significant difficulties in continuing her masquerade had occurred at the beginning of their acquaintance, for Link's ignorance of her true gender had often threatened to elicit a blush or smirk. Recalling a particular incident in the Lost Woods, she gazed upon the hero with mischief, her impish side desiring to embarrass him. "I prefer not to be invited to bathe with you again, or be offered a dagger to shave my face."
Although the humor in Sheik's eyes was a welcome substitute for apathy or anxiety, the hero could not suppress deep humiliation, a bright blush creeping upon his face. "Well I didn't know you were a woman!" he argued, flailing his arms in the air. As his embarrassment increased, he struggled to subdue memories of the unfortunate misunderstandings he had created. Amidst all the inappropriate words he had spoken to the androgynous Sheikah, the most mortifying recollection was his deep and awkward confusion. Shortly after their first encounter in the Temple of Time, he began to grow very flustered and giddy in Sheik's presence, a feeling which thoroughly terrified the poor Hylian. His relief at discovering her true gender was immense. "It's not my fault you try to conceal your gender!" Incited by the topic, he found himself staring peculiarly at her, realizing how blind he had been to believe her male. Unaware that he was ogling her, he began to admire the undeniably feminine curves of her hips and legs. However, when he received an uncomfortable glare, he hastily removed his gaze, seeking a way to minimize the awkwardness. Discussing what had actually led him to discover her femininity was definitely not an option, prompting him to find another excuse. "But you need to work on your scream…" he began with a smirk. "And your fear of rats. That was kind of a dead giveaway."
It was now Zelda's turn to be embarrassed as she recalled the night in Hyrule Field when she was startlingly awoken by a rodent scampering across her legs. Seven years of rigorous training had not effectively quashed her fear of rats, inducing a very out of character shriek that night. Tugging the veil further up her nose, she struggled for a superior retort. "I have heard you scream shrilly upon a number of occasions, hero." Placing a hand on her hip, she eyed the Hylian keenly, raising an eyebrow.
Link could discern from Sheik's satirical tone that she was seriously questioning his masculinity. She had referred to him as a hero many times, but never before had she placed such ironic emphasis on the word. "I was being attacked by monsters!" he protested. When Sheik only rewarded his explanation with an unconvinced nod, he began to elaborate, envisioning every horror he could summon. "Real monsters! Huge monsters! There were at least twenty of them, probably more. They were all trying to rip my limbs off and drive gory swords through my body. And they were drenched with the blood and guts of their last victims!" While the hero acutely distorted the tale, his eyes glowed with vivacity as he made vigorous gestures, proving himself quite the storyteller.
Throughout Link's embellished narrative, Zelda's expression remained incredulous as she suppressed the laughter that bubbled within her. Finally she found it time to correct him, halting his description of enormous, blood-soaked teeth. "Link, there were only two keese!" As the full memory of the scene returned to her, complete with Link's horror upon discovering inhabitants in the cave he claimed his shelter, her hilarity grew too intense to conceal. Her perceptible mirth, which began as a few giggles, swelled into audible laughter at the contrast between two tiny keese and Link's invented abominations. Before she had recognized that a transformation of her demeanor had occurred, she began to experience true mirth in their playful conversation. The hero's lively humor was very adept at easing her from her mask, coaxing so inconspicuously that she often was unware of its effect.
Link, whose masculinity was mortified by the incident, was in the process of preparing a denial when he noticed the magnitude of Sheik's laughter. Hitherto he had only managed to draw a few chuckles out of her; this was certainly a triumph. Like a warm spring morning, Link's banter and true affection had succeeded in thawing one frosty layer of the Sheikah's disguise, revealing the vibrant rays of a joyous soul. As the hero joined in the merriment, discarding his embarrassment to fully appreciate his lover's joviality, laughter rang out through the backways of Kakariko for a few moments before diminishing into amused grins. "Maybe screams aren't the best way to determine gender," Link stated, not wanting his sex determined by the pitch of his shriek. Grinning widely at the shadow warrior, he moved an inch closer, discerning by her mood that she would not recoil.
Although she was normally very perceptive, the masked princess failed to notice Link's subtle advancement, intrigued by the topic at hand. "Then how are you so certain I'm female?" Zelda challenged curiously, raising an eyebrow. She had often wondered how he had seen far enough through her disguise to determine her femininity. Unaware of when the discovery was made, she was shocked one day upon overhearing Link's conversation with Navi, for the hero had referred to his Sheikah guide as "she." Hitherto the present conversation she had not possessed the audacity to inquire about it, but the influence of Link's charm was currently very strong.
A light blush crept upon Link's face as he smiled sheepishly under Sheik's inquisitive gaze, rubbing the back of his neck. The last thing he wanted to tell Sheik was that he had stumbled upon her bathing in the Lost Woods. The darkness had prevented him from viewing details, for only her back was illuminated by the pale moonlight. What he did observe, however, was undeniably not masculine. Fearing that the true reason would provoke humiliation or vexation, he decided upon a different response to Sheik's question. A roguish grin appeared on his face, baited by the delicious opportunity with which she had inadvertently presented him. The minimal space between them suddenly became very apparent as his nose brushed against hers. His courage bolstered by her uncharacteristically warm mood, he had no difficulty in palpably displaying his intense affection. "If I wasn't absolutely positive, I wouldn't do this." Gently pulling down her veil, Link drew the enigmatic Sheikah into an ardent kiss, cupping her soft cheeks with his calloused hands. Although he could sense her lithe body stiffen for a moment, she was soon pacified by his tenderness as he caressed her delicate features.
Upon initial contact with the hero's lips, Zelda's mind raced viciously with frenzied thoughts. Link had completely disregarded the discretion she had just requested! However, as the kiss persisted with greater passion, she found her cognitive abilities succumbing to a blissful haze. She cared not that there was only a wall separating their questionable activity from Impa's piercing gaze. Her dream – a fantasy she had first dared to consider at age ten – had finally been realized, at least in some form. At the moment it hardly mattered to the amorous princess that Link thought he was kissing a Sheikah warrior. All that she identified was the delightful way in which their lips collided, like two waves exchanging foam on the ocean shore. Her overwhelmed senses failed to taste the stale breath of the rugged adventurer, perceiving his kisses to be sweeter than honey. The eternal winter that her repressive disguise had cast upon her heart was melted by the heat of the hero's ardor.
Releasing a contented sigh into Sheik's mouth, Link reveled in the warmth of her embrace. In the blur of ardor his arms found their way around her waist as her bandaged fingers removed his hat, roaming freely through his golden hair. Both humility and triumph washed over him as he delighted in the sweetness of her lips. While he – if only for a moment – had thawed the icy exterior of the ambiguous Sheikah, he felt unworthy of accepting the affection bestowed upon him by such a goddess.
The world seemed frozen as the Hero of Time and Princess of Hyrule exchanged this predestined kiss. With a thrilling flutter their hearts beat rapidly in sync, furthering the sensation of complete unity. The simultaneous heat and shivers produced by the rapturous exchange created the illusion of complete solitude – they were the only souls in the universe.
However, despite that intense sensation of having stepped beyond the present realm, Link and the disguised Princess Zelda remained very much in Kakariko – a village that was currently bustling with activity as the sun reached its peak in the sky. While most of the population was scattered about the center of town, one fated individual happened to stray down the south side alley. The Cucco Lady, seeking one of her elusive cuccos, had inadvertently stumbled upon the scene. As swiftly as she had arrived, she departed, horror etched on every inch of her face.