Hyrule Castle Courtyard - Seven Years Prior
The moon had risen and the castle courtyard was dark, save for the tiny fireflies huddled near the abundance of plants and the
torches along the stone paved walkways. The sky was clear on this night, and the stars could be seen twinkling, shining in the
vastness above. All was quiet, save for a soothing yet lonely lyre, being plucked by someone in the darkness.
The instrument's song grew louder as Link approached the Sheikah underneath the gazebo in the center of the courtyard's garden. Sheik
sat on one of the perches, back against one of the frames, with a leg up on the banister and the other down near the floor swaying
gently. His head tilted slightly downwards, lyre cradled in his hands. Link crossed the steps leading into the gazebo quietly,
carefully closing the distance between himself and the Sheikah. Sheik continued playing his lyre until the song had reached
completion. He knew Link had arrived, but said nothing.
"Sheik." Link announced his presence softly.
The Sheikah began strumming his lyre again absent-mindedly. He gazed up at the Hero. It was dark but he could still make out his
outline and certain facial features. Light from the torches nearby reflected in the Hylian's eyes. Link smelled of something like
forest musk; earthy, fresh, and wild. His closeness was permeable; it brought a heat throughout the Sheikah's body. It burned inside
his chest.
"You've come," Sheik said quietly. He could make out a smile on Link's face as the words were heard.
"Since when do I disobey the words of a Sheikah?" Link teased.
Sheik turned more to face the Hero fully. Link leaned casually beside him.
"It is not about obeying words. It is about obeying the heart." Sheik's hand gestured to his own heart and the other reached out,
gently resting on Link's chest, the moment fleeting. Red eyes glanced into Link's with fierceness.
"Since when do I use my head over my heart? Have you known me to do such a thing?" A smirk. Link's closeness was becoming tangible.
"I have known your heart to make inane decisions, leading you into trouble and sometimes even close to death." The Sheikah set his
lyre down on the floor of the gazebo.
"Is that what you have planned for me here? A death trap?" Link surveyed the scenery sarcastically.
Shiek stood up from the banister, reaching almost Link's height in stature. "Would you rather die with a Sheikah by your side or die
as a lonely husband to the Princess of Hyrule?"
Silence.
Link pretended to ponder the question. "I would rather not die, thank you." He smiled again. It was intoxicating.
Sheik removed his glance from Link's eyes down to the Hero's chest, bringing one hand up again, fingers trailing gently on the fabric
of the tunic, beginning from the belt and moving upwards. "Does it pain you so much to be serious for once?"
"If I wasn't serious, I would not be here." Link took ahold of the Sheikah's wandering hand. Firmly. The Hero was feeling bold
tonight. "Is it painful for you to always be serious?"
Sheik met Link's eyes once more. He was familiar with the Hylian's playful banter. "I am only gravely serious about a few certain
things...
... my heritage, my duty, and you."
"Hmm.." Link contemplated, as he toyed with the Sheikah's delicate fingers. The space between the two bodies had closed. A sound
escaped Sheik's lips then that wasn't quite a word.
"Yes..?" Link had heard the slight gasp. He hovered over the smaller man's frame.
The Sheikah was losing control. Link was enjoying it. "You seem not yourself, oh wise and mighty Sheikah. Is everything all
right?"
"You seem to be seducing me, Hero."
"Is that what I am doing?" Link wrapped his right arm around Sheik's back and brought him into a tight hold.
"It looks that way." The Sheikah raised his eyebrows. Yet he didn't struggle. Link was strong, and it was arousing being manhandled
by the Hero of Time.
"Do you want me to stop?" Link's face was only inches away from Sheik's, the cowl really being the only obstruction.
Sheik had a second-long inner battle with himself. The lack of control was a bit infuriating. He had been so good at playing
nonchalant! Sure, they had spent years together and this wasn't the first time they had reached out for one another, but he felt like
at this particular moment, it was different. There was no excuse to be had. They weren't battle weary or fearful for their lives.
Almost as if his mouth had a mind of its own, his response to Link's question blurted out.
"No." So much for being the wiser.
There was a moment of surprise in the Hylian's eyes. Sheik had noticed this, and took advantage. He pulled his cowl down, and in one
swift motion grabbed Link's head with both hands, and met their lips together in a smoldering, violent kiss. Link's body was rigid at
first; arms stiff around the Sheikah, shock taking over all bodily functions for a moment.
If Link seemed surprised, even more so was the Princess Zelda. She had been watching. She wasn't sure if she should scream, cry, or
begin yelling. She chose the latter.
"SHEIK!" The Princess yelled out across the courtyard. She began running towards the two perched together under the gazebo. When she
got close enough, she yelled again. Out of breath."How could you?!" She looked at Sheik, then at Link. "Link.." her eyebrows knitted
together in sorrow and confusion, "why..?" A desperate question. "I thought.." She rambled on incoherently.
Link slowly went to the Princess, arms outstretched in panic. "Zelda.." he said.
"No," she responded, angrily.
Sheik remained silent, still leaning against one of the frames of the gazebo. He returned the cowl to its normal position. The
Princess had hidden feelings for the Hero. She had admitted this to the Sheikah many times. Even if her current state would pass, it
most likely would not bode well for anyone involved.
The scene played out before him; the Princess, throwing a fit. How selfish of her, he thought. He did not blame her for her feelings,
they were her's and she ultimately was completely entitled to them; one's heart does not always have the choice to whom it beats for.
The hero, admittedly not the most fluid of communicators, at an unsurprising loss for words. What to do..? The Sheikah thought
quickly for a way out.
"Princess Zelda", Sheik interjected. He stepped forth and placed his hands gently on her shoulders, turning her around delicately to
meet his eyes. If ice were a color, her eyes shone it in volumes. "It is I", he continued, "It is I.. it is my fault. If any soul
here should blame be cast upon, it must be my own."
Link stared, lips slightly parted, any words that were being thought in his mind were silent. His eyes pleaded. Confusion.
The princess, her mouth firm, eyebrows pressed together, eyes unwavering. Her head lifted, bravery, chin rising elevating her stance
to the Sheikah. "Leave", she said.
"Zelda", Link quickly distracted, but the princess continued. She turned to look at Link and raised a hand in silence.
"I no longer require your guidance, Sheik. I see now that you give but you also take from me. If I trusted anyone in this land, it
was you, and.."
"and your trust was not broken because I have not taken what was yours!", Sheik interrupted with slight exasperation.
Link reacted from behind the Princess, eyes opening wide. He brought a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes, bowing his head.
Zelda removed the Sheikah's hands from her shoulders violently as she spoke with a voice from somewhere deep within her anger-induced
state. "How dare you." "I..", she stammered, a teardrop down a cheek. She turned then, suddenly, leaving into the darkness of the
courtyard, skirt bustling atop the grass as she ran.
Silence for a moment, both figures at a loss.
"That was.. bold of you." Link searched for what to say.
"What else was I to do? I tire of being surveyed night and day by the Princess, unable to leave her scrutiny. Was I rather to blame
you, Hero? So you should be cast out, your name poisoned, forever doomed to hide in the depths of the forests? No, I am the last of
my kind, and even those before me have been looked down upon and misunderstood since the beginning of time. What have I to lose? A
lifetime of servitude? No. I would rather be sentenced to perish in the desert wastelands than have missed the kiss from your
lips tonight." Sheik turned to leave, but stopped short. He neared Link and grasped the green collar, pleading. "I once gave you
invitation to leave with me. You may do so still. The choice is yours, now."
And with that, the Sheikah disappeared into the black of night, leaving the Hero of Time alone, and for the first time in his life
was left with the hardest decision of his life. Not one of battle, of life or death, but one of the heart.