I think about that night, when Zelda locked the door. For a second, she had turned to me, her hand raised to put the key in the lock. And in that instant, I had a strange feeling of almost-remembrance. I close my eyes, focusing furiously.

A dark figure stands in front of me, their hand raised. Suddenly a blinding flash of light erupts from their hand, and my head is filled with pain, as if it's clamped in a vice. The last thing I hear before I black out is a voice, female, desperate, and terrified. 'Zelda! No!'

That voice. Now that my amnesia is finally fading, the voice which before was distorted by pain, fear and magic, is now becoming clear.

'Zelda, no,' I whisper under my breath, just to make sure. Yes, that voice I heard, which I thought belonged to someone else, was in fact my own voice. Those words, which I thought were spoken by someone trying to help me, were in fact my own desperate words to my sister, begging her not to do it. It's as though someone has bathed the scene from my memory in a bright light. The dark figure in front of me is no longer dark. I can see Zelda as clearly as when she left my room earlier today. She cast that curse on me, she left me unconscious to lose my way in the woods and turn into a Stalfos. Zelda was the one who tried to kill me.

So that's why I remembered her name, I think, the mystery finally revealing itself. It was my subconscious. This whole time, I've been trying to tell myself what really happened that night, and I just didn't listen. I thought I remembered that name because it was my name, or maybe because it was someone important to me. I thought that, if I could only remember one thing, those would be the most important things to remember.

But in fact there's something that was even more important to know: the name of my attacker. That's why I remembered Zelda, because my subconscious was yelling at me that the mysterious figure, the one who cursed me, the person I had to avoid at all costs, was called Zelda. As I realise this, my breathing accelerates until I'm gasping for breath, leaning on the window for support.

And that's why I haven't been remembering much since I got here, I realise. Because all this time, I've been in the presence of the person who cast the curse; Zelda has effectively been blocking my memories without realising it. But the Deku Tree said that a strong trigger could still bring back my memories. And the idea of Link betraying me was a strong trigger.

Zelda took it too far that time; she'd earned my trust, even gotten me to believe that Impa was trying to kill me. But she underestimated the strength of my friendship with Link, she didn't realise that he's the one person I trusted more than her. That was her mistake. I look out the window, my frantic breathing calming again.

Link. He's out there somewhere. He might even have been trying to get into the castle to find me. With a start, I realise that that's probably why Zelda wanted Link's description: so she knew who she had to keep away from me. Link wasn't angry at me after all! I think happily. He's probably still in Castle Town. All I need to do is find him! And then I'll explain everything, and hopefully Impa will be able to explain a few things as well, like why in Din's name my own sister tried to kill me.

Despite the flurry of memories I've received, that's the one thing I just can't work out: why Zelda did all this. I'll have to get Impa to explain that to me. But that means getting out of the castle, without Zelda noticing. I stride over to the door, trying the handle. Locked, as I expected. But I'm not giving up that easily, and I look around the room until my eyes catch a small piece of wire half-hidden under the bed.

'Perfect,' I mutter, grabbing it. But as I turn back to the door, my eyes catch the roaring fire, and my subconscious twinges again. I think back to Zelda's behaviour as she lit it.

She piled on a lot of logs… it's not that cold, why did she want such a big fire? And when she got up… she pulled the hearthrug right up close to the fire. I didn't take any notice of that at the time, but… Suddenly my eyes widen, and I rush over to the fireplace. But I'm too late. A few stray embers roll off the heap of burning logs and onto the hearthrug. Within seconds, it's burning fiercely, and the fire is spreading.

-o-

I panic, watching the flames march across the room. Curtains, rugs, couch, bed, all very flammable.

This is what Zelda wanted! I think frantically. She failed to kill me once, but now she's trying again! She wants me to die in this fire! But I steel myself, and force myself to focus on more important matters. I toss away the piece of wire I was going to use for lock-picking; there's no time for that now. I bang on the door, half-hoping that someone will hear me, but even if they do, only Zelda has a key, and now that her plan is working she'll never let anyone open this door.

I look around for another escape route. The bathroom isn't much good; the fire will spread in there soon enough, and even if there isn't much to burn the smoke will easily fill such a small space. There's water in there, though… But I shake my head, knowing that I could never throw enough water on this fire to extinguish it.

The smoke is starting to billow out across the room to me, and the fire is still advancing. I have to think quickly, but it's getting hard to breathe. Suddenly I remember the window I opened before and struggle across to it, dodging and leaping through the flames to make it to the fresh air. After what feels like hours I make it, and gulp the fresh air greedily.

I look back at the room; it's filled with flames, trapping me in this corner. Out of options, I look back the other way, and I'm greeted by the sight of the roof outside my window. It's steeply sloping, and jumping onto it would almost certainly lead to me falling to my death, but at this point it's the only thing I can do.

And besides, I reassure myself as I prepare to jump, I used to sneak out to see Malon this way when I was a kid. If I could do it then, I can do it now. I take a deep breath, and jump.

-o-

I struggle to get my bearings as I hurtle down the roof, but I catch sight of a drainpipe to my right and grab onto it desperately. I'm just in time; a few more feet of sliding and I would have shot off the end of the roof and fallen four storeys, most likely fatally. I can feel my grip on the drainpipe slipping, but I grit my teeth and climb, agonisingly slowly, until I can pull myself up on another, mercifully flatter roof.

I glance up at the window, and shudder. My room has now become a roaring inferno, with flames reaching out the window into the sky. Below I hear shouts, and watch as a group of guards runs across the garden into the castle. Inside I can hear more raised voices, and decide that it's time to go. I'd love to go back inside and reassure Ciela and the Council and everyone else that I'm still alive, but doing so would also lead to Zelda hearing of my survival. For the moment, it's best if she thinks that her latest murder attempt was successful.

So I reluctantly get to my feet and head off across the roof, praying that the vines I remember from my childhood are still there. Apparently at least one of the Goddesses is listening, as I'm soon greeted by the welcome sight of the green thicket. I climb down to the ground, peering round the corner of the castle. But every guard in Castle Town has gone inside to battle the fire, so my way is completely clear.

Still, I sprint across the open space as fast as I can manage, feeling very exposed and vulnerable. I only stop and breathe once I'm safely in the shadow of one of the side streets in Castle Town, but even then I can't stop. Now more than ever it's important that no-one sees me; if they do, Zelda will find out about me. Checking behind me constantly, I head back to the inn I stayed at with Link the night before last. I don't expect he'll still be there, not with every guard in Hyrule searching for him and Impa, but it's the only place I can think of to look for him. I stand outside underneath the window, wondering how to get his attention without going inside, as I can't let the landlady see me.

Suddenly I'm grabbed from behind, a hand covering my mouth and a strong arm around my waist, dragging me backwards. I try to fight off my attacker, but they're much stronger than me. A door opens behind us, and I briefly catch sight of a dimly lit shop inside, with a bored-looking lady manning a counter, before I'm taken up a flight of stairs and another door locks behind me. At this point I'm released and I spin round, preparing to fight whoever kidnapped me. But my anger turns into relief and joy when I see who it is. I tackle Link to the ground in a hug, unbelievably glad to see him.

-o-

'I'm glad you're ok, Sheik,' he says when I finally let go of him.

'I'm glad to see you too – wait, how do you know my name?' I ask, confused. I'm so used to Zelda and Ciela calling me by it that it didn't register at first, but now I wonder how Link knows. He just smiles and nods at a someone behind me. I turn around, and gasp as I see Impa standing there. When our eyes meet she bows low to me, straightening up with a smile.

'Your Majesty. Sheik. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to see you safe.'

'What happened to you?' Link asks.

'You first,' I tell him, sitting down on a chair in the corner of the room. I'm exhausted from my daring escape, my sneaking through town and now my unceremonious reunion with Link, and as the adrenaline drains from my system my exertions start to take their toll.

'Impa showed up at the inn a few hours after you left,' Link tells me, and I look down at the floor, remembering how I broke my promise to him.

'I'm sor-' I begin, but Link shushes me.

'Don't be. I understand why you did it. I'll admit, I felt a bit betrayed at the time, but I've already forgiven you.' I sigh in relief and motion for him to go on with his story. 'Impa told me that you were in danger, and that we had to get to the castle immediately. On the way, she explained everything to me: your real name, the fact that you were Zelda's sister, and how Zelda had tried to kill you.' At this point he turns to Impa, who nods and continues the story.

'Sheik, how much do you remember about what happened with Zelda prior to your disappearance?'

'Not much,' I admit. 'My memories are pretty much back to normal now, I think. I mean, I remember more and more from my childhood, and as I look at you my memories of you are coming back.' I'm telling her the truth; I remember Impa now. She was always so much more than an advisor, at least to me. She was a surrogate mother figure, who guided me, supported me and loved me. I feel ashamed for ever believing that she could have been the one who tried to kill me.

'I remember a lot about my relationship with Zelda, and how strict and cruel she was,' I continue. 'And I remember now that she was the one who cursed me.' Link and Impa share a look.

'I suspected as much,' Impa says, 'but I did not know for sure. I saw you and Zelda leaving Hyrule Castle together on the night you disappeared, and I followed you, but she quickly lost me. But when you did not return the next morning, well, given Zelda's behaviour in recent weeks, I guessed what she had done.'

So that must be when Ciela saw Impa. And that's why I wasn't with her: I'd already left with Zelda.

'What behaviour?' I ask, wanting to know more. Impa sighs deeply before speaking.

'Ever since the pair of you were children, Zelda has been jealous of you. She is the eldest, the heir to the throne, and in her own mind she is more perfect than you or any other mortal could ever hope to be. And yet, for some reason which she simply cannot fathom, you were always more liked. By the people, by the servants, and even by your own father.

The reason, of course, is that while Zelda was manipulative, arrogant and cruel, you were kind and generous, always eager to make new friends and help others in need. Indeed, many people often bemoaned the fact that you were born second; you could have been a fine ruler, the one Hyrule wanted and needed. But instead we had Zelda, a ruler no-one wanted.

And so for years we resigned ourselves to this fate, watching you grow stronger and kinder every day, while Zelda only grew harsher. That was why your father kept the two of you away from the public: he hoped that, without having to face the judgement of others, Zelda would eventually mellow as she got older. And while he had no qualms about you, he knew that Zelda would never consent to remain locked up in the castle if you were allowed to leave, meaning that you had to stay there as well. And so things continued.

But when your father died suddenly, we were placed in a difficult position. Zelda had not mellowed in the slightest, and now we were faced with the prospect of having her as our queen. In their desperation, the Royal Council formed a plan.

According to the laws as old as this kingdom, the Council cannot interfere with the line of succession unless they have a very good reason to. Zelda was the oldest, and so unless the Council could find a compelling reason for her not to become queen, she would be our next ruler. They knew that this reason would have to satisfy not the people (who would have been only too happy for you to replace your sister), but the Goddesses themselves; the legends speak of terrible consequences if the rightful ruler of Hyrule is prevented from taking his or her throne. And of course, the reason would in theory have to satisfy Zelda, but the Council knew there was no chance of that happening.

You see, ever since childhood, Zelda had known that one day she would be Queen. The idea of that not happening was inconceivable to her. The idea that she would be usurped by her own sister – a sister, remember, whose existence she could barely tolerate – would have sent her into a towering rage. The Council had to prepare themselves for this, but they still decided that it was a risk they would have to take. For the sake of the people, Zelda could not be allowed to become Queen.

There are very few reasons why a ruler can be declared unfit. But one of them, and the one the Council felt could best apply to Zelda, is being of unsound mind. Given her actions in the past, the Council decided that this could be justified. After all, even at the best of times Zelda was hardly very reasonable, and the pressures of ruling would have pushed her beyond her very limited self-control.

The plan was that the coronation would be set up as if Zelda were to be crowned. That way she would not suspect anything. But at the last moment, they would announce their verdict to the people, who would no doubt agree with them. Zelda would be shuffled off to one side, and you would be put in her place. The coronation would be over before anyone could do anything. That was the plan, and we all had great faith in it.

However, we underestimated Zelda. She eavesdropped on our meeting, and found out what we were up to. She seems to have thought that you were somehow responsible for this, despite the fact that no-one told you what was going on. You thought as much as Zelda did that it was her coronation. But Zelda decided that you had to pay, and the best way to punish you and stop you from interfering would be to get you out of the way once and for all.

My suspicious were first raised when she started spending long hours each day in the library. You were always a bookworm, but Zelda never liked books much. She once threw your favourite book on the fire simply because you enjoyed reading it, and she wanted to rob you of that joy. But I digress. One day after she left I looked at what she was researching so diligently. It was a curse, a very ancient one, which causes the victim to lose their memories entirely.

At this point I realised that she was planning something. But even if you only lost your memories, the coronation would be postponed until you regained them. I was not unduly worried, although I knew I had to stop Zelda from using that curse if I could. Unfortunately, that night I saw the two of you sneaking out the castle together. I realised that something far more dangerous was going on, so I followed you, but as I said I lost you. The next morning the castle woke up to find Zelda sound asleep in her bed, and you missing.

I immediately decided to search for you, and to my surprise Zelda insisted on accompanying me. At the time I thought that she was simply trying to ingratiate herself with her people, but now I realise that she must have come to stop me from searching somewhere she knew I would find you. More than once I suggested searching the southern forest, but she insisted that you were unlikely to be there, so we searched elsewhere. I curse myself for listening to her.'

'Don't blame yourself, it wasn't your fault,' I tell her kindly. Then I pause for a moment, trying to remember.

What happened that night? From the sound of it I went with Zelda willingly. What did she say to me to get her to go with her? I close my eyes and focus.

There's a soft knock at my door, making me look up from my book. I get up and unlock the door, opening it carefully. I know it's probably stupid to lock my door in my own castle, but I sleep better knowing that Zelda can't come in while I'm unconscious and can't defend myself. To my great surprise, it's my sister herself outside the door, and she looks nervous.

'What's wrong?' I ask.

'I can't explain it now. Sheik, you have to come with me,' she says, looking around the corridor.

'What? Why? Zelda, we can't go off somewhere now! Your coronation is in five days!' For a moment I think I see her expression harden, but if that's the case it's gone within a second.

'I- I found out something awful! Sheik, I think someone's trying to kill me!' Instantly my guard drops.

'What? Zelda, that's impossible!'

'It's true! I'm scared, Sheik. I'm… I'm going somewhere, to the southern forest. Father once mentioned a tree there who's very wise. Maybe he'll be able to help me. And… I want you to come with me, Sheik! I don't want to go alone! And you're my sister, you're the only person I can trust right now!'

'Wait while I get dressed,' I tell her, quickly readying myself for the journey. Once I'm done we sneak out of the castle to the stables, and I saddle up Zelda's white horse while she keeps a lookout for anyone following us.

'Ready,' I tell her, and she pulls herself up in front of me. We gallop away through the silent castle and town, towards the forest.

'Zelda tricked me,' I say slowly. 'She knew that, although our relationship was rocky, I still genuinely cared about her life. She told me she was in danger, knowing that I'd do anything, go anywhere to save her.' There's silence while we all think about this.

'I can't believe a girl like that is related to you,' Link says after a moment. 'Still, her true colours are out now. She's not going to fool you again.'

'I guess so. But what happened to you two, after I disappeared?'

'We went to the castle,' Link tells me. 'I waited out of sight while Impa tried to get in, but the guards wouldn't let her. They didn't say why, but she suspected that Zelda was trying to keep her away from you.'

'Yes, Zelda told everyone that Impa was the one who cursed me, and that you were helping her,' I explain. 'Don't worry, as soon as she tried to blame you I realised she was lying, but still she must have planned that from the start if you were kept away the same night I got into the castle.'

'I suspect she planned this ever since she first saw you again,' Impa says gravely. 'We decided that we could not risk getting caught, and since there was no chance of us getting into the castle we hid out here.'

'Speaking of, where is here?' I interject, looking around the small room.

'We're over the Bombchu Bowling Alley,' Link explains. 'The woman who runs it is the daughter of an old friend of Impa's. Don't worry, she won't tell anyone we're here.'

'We tried to get word to you somehow, but I did not know who we could trust,' Impa continues. 'I thought it would be best if we stayed out of Zelda's grasp, and hope that you somehow remembered what had happened for yourself.'

'Thank Farore I did, and just in time,' I say fervently.

'Yeah, how did you get away?' Link asks. 'A while ago everyone seemed to be rushing to the castle. I went outside to see what was going on, and that's when I saw you.'

'Zelda started a fire in my room and locked me in there. I got out the window, but it was a close thing.' Impa gasps softly when I mention the fire, and Link's expression darkens.

'So that's murder attempt number two,' he says angrily. 'How many more do you think there'll be?'

'None, if I have anything to say about it,' I reply firmly. 'I'm sick of Zelda's abuse. She was horrible to me when we were children, she kept me locked up in that castle when our father died, and then she tried to kill me, twice, all out of jealousy and greed. Well, I've had enough. The Royal Council is right, Hyrule can't have a ruler like that. And as citizens of this country I think it's our duty to stop that from happening. We can't let that coronation go ahead.' Impa smiles at me.

'You have your mother's spirit,' she tells me, making me smile too.

'Good. Then let's go stop my sister.'