Blind
Chapter Six
Zelda looked up from the paper she was reading when she heard a soft knock at her study door. Looking back to finish the paragraph, she figured she already knew who was at the door. Only one person she knew knocked so quietly, as if afraid of imposition. Getting up and walking around her desk to the door, she turned to the knob. Her stature softened as she was proven right, looking evenly into the blind-folded face of Sheikah General leaned on his walking stick with both hands, a small, nervous smile touching his lips.
"General, nice to see you again."
"Hello Lady Zelda," Sheik said as he bowed his head slightly. "I hope I'm not intruding."
"Oh please, come in," Zelda moved aside so Sheik could enter her study. The Sheikah swept his cane left and right in front of him, walking slowly before standing still at the very center of the room, right before Zeldas impressive dark oak desk.
Sheik turned so he was facing the direction Zelda's voice was, patiently waiting for the royal to close the door. "I wanted to say thank you, for letting Lin-my lover stay here. I know it must be difficult to replace someone like him when he's so needed on the border's," Sheik stammered as the unfamiliar words tumbled from his lips. "For allowing him some extra time here in the city."
"Well, it was a bit difficult, but I managed to re-arrange the scheduale," Zelda said as she walked back to her desk.
"But it did cause problems," Sheik stated bluntly as he remembed how it used to be when one of his captains suddenly needed a leave from duty.
Zelda wearily watched Sheik as she carefully said "I will not lie, Sheik. It's a bit hard having him here when he could be of more use somewhere else. But we'll manage."
"I just don't want to be a burdan; I don't want Link here simply for my sake."
Zelda placed a hand on her hip, saying "I'm not sure I understand what you are trying to tell me, Sheik."
"I'm just saying I think you should assign Link back to the borders. He need to be there more then here," Sheik bowed his head before turning at the sound of a door opening.
"Sheik, Sheik!" A little girl came in, blonde pig-tails bobbing up and down as she came running over to fist a small hand into Sheik's robes. "Look! I have a new dolly!"
Sheik bit his lip for a moment before saying "She is very beautiful, young Lady Ari." The small girl beamed at Sheik before turning to smile at her older cousin Zelda. A moment longer and she was running for the door again, skipping and skipping a common Hylian song.
"If you think you're sure, Sheik," Zelda said, watching her younger cousin close the door.
"I am."
"Then I shall take it into consideration," Zelda gently took Sheik's arm and began leading him to the door.
"And if you don't mind, Zelda, I would preffer it if you didn't talk about our little conversation here," Sheik said as he stepped through the door Zelda had just opened.
"It's between us," she agreed. In a low voice she added "Sometimes we must keep things from those we love when we must."
Sheik nodded his thanks before turning away from the door, still contemplating his now missing ring. Unconciously he ran his fingers over the pale skin where it had once rested for the better part of some previous years.
"Now Sheik, I've gone along with all of your schemes, so you have to do this for me," Link said as he nervously fidgeted with the end of the white table cloth as Zelda made her nightly announcements before dinner. despite having eaten earlier in Sheik's rooms, Link had convinced the other rather easily to join the rest of the house hold, guests and residents alike. Link held a spot at the main table with Zelda and other's, but there was always a few seats for visiting relations and honored guest's.
Only minutes earlier Lady Zelda had floated over and casually told Link he would be going back to the borders as ink was helping Sheik find a seat.
Tomorrow.
Leaning in close to Sheik, Link whispered not lover's words, but for only Sheik to hear "Sheik, please help me. I must admit I have become spoiled, not sleeping on the dirt or riding in the boiling hot sun or the pouring down rain." Link paused as he stroked the back of waist-long, wheaty gold hair lovingly. "Just..." Link's eyes widened a little as he continued "Just pout a little at dinner and make a fuss that I'm leaving tomorrow. Make Zelda think you'll miss me too dearly for now." Link leaned a little closer so his breath was ghosting over Sheik's ear. "Just a little longer, like for a month or so. You know, like our talk before, just a month, please Sheik-"
"Wine?" a young server asked, standing behind the pair. Link pulled away from Sheik long enough to hold first his cup for the wine and then Sheik's empty cup to the server. As Link lowered the two cups, one of Sheik's slender hands wrapped around his. Zelda was just sitting down as Sheik leaned close to Link, their nose's almost touching.
"Must you leave me so soon?"
"I-I'm afraid so," Link confirmed. He cast his eyes down sadly, sneaking a peak at the other table residents. The Hylian General set the wine on the table but Sheik had yet to let go of his gauntleted hand. "But I shall write you every chance I get."
"Everyday?"
Link had to surpress a smirk as he replied "Every chance I have, love." Link removed his hand from his goblet and raised Sheik's to his lips. "Every moment I shall think about seeing you again." The delicate kiss he placed on Sheik's ringless finger caught more then one Hylian's eye, filling the room with the whispers of what was going on between Link and Sheik.
"I'll miss you," Sheik said before swallowing hard before shakily raising his goblet and draining half of it in a few gulps. Setting the goblet back down, he tilted his head to catch the sounds of the first couse being served. He gave a sniffle as Link offered to butter his bread for him.
"Is something the matter, General Sheik?" asked one of Zelda's advisors, Lady Alhara.
"No, it's just that..." Sheik let out a small sob and reached for the napkin in his lap to dab away tears from under his white blind-fold. "It is just so hard, being on my own and all. It's been so long since I last felt like I truly belonged somewhere. With no one here for me, I shall once again fade into the background and - Link, I'm sorry but I must go back to my rooms. Join me soon, love?" he turned to face Link, making a show of his slightly trembling lip.
Link was back at Sheik's side in a moment, saying "I would rather us be togather, for my last night here. With you alone in y-our rooms. Lady Zelda, if you'd excuse us please." Link wrapped one arm around Sheik's slim waist as he held Sheik's hand in the other. Tucked close to one another, they left swiftly with Link leading a tearful Sheik from the dining halls.
At the head table, a miffed and confused Zelda stared after them until she turned to her advisor, who gave her a vicious kick to the shins with her heeled slipper.
"How could you do that to those two?" she demanded as she readied for another kick before being given one in return. "Oww... But none the less, it can't hurt as much as Sheik's aching heart as Link packs everything to leave in the morning. If I were you..."