IS92: OMG! Ch. 7! I get that this little section seems very emo, but the oh-so-cute fluff will return in a few chapters. Perhaps even sooner. It depends on whether Sheik decides to agree with me or not, so I really don't know. It was hard enough to get Sheik and Val together. I wonder if it will be harder or easier to get him and the Hero together. Only time will tell I guess… So read on, dear readers!

Disclaimer: I don't own, so no sue.


Ch. 7

I returned to the Temple of Time, waiting for the Hero. I collapsed against a wall in a daze. The cool, smooth stone of the wall against my back did nothing to bring me to reality. His face still clung vividly to my mind. WHY?!! Why did his visage haunt me so? Those sad, ocean-blue eyes had shattered my heart. Why did he affect me so when I'd only met him twice? I leaned against the wall, playing my lyre until it fell from my hands as I finally found I could fight sleep no more.

I was awakened later by the sound of soft footsteps. I pulled myself together as quickly as I could.

As he entered the room, he had a sad smile on his face.

"You destroyed the wicked creatures that haunted the temple and awakened the sage…" I stated, unable to keep the joy that came with the hope he caused out of my voice.

"Yes! I did!" He said, unbearably excited. He seemed like such a child.

"But there are still other sages who need your help." I reminded him, making him settle down, "In order to awaken all the other sages, you must become even more powerful. You must travel over mountains… under water… and even through time… If you want to return to your original time, return the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time. By doing this, you will travel back in time seven years…" His jaw dropped. I guess the idea of traveling through time was impressive to him. I continued without hesitation.

"The time will come when you have to return here quickly… I will teach this to you for when that time comes… The song to return you to the Temple of Time… The Prelude of Light…" The sweet melody hung in the air, uplifting as ever. It managed to bring a smile to his face, a real one this time.

"As long as you hold the Ocarina of Time and the Master Sword, you hold time itself in your hands…" I finished, smiling slightly, "Link, we shall meet again!"

"Of course." He promised before I vanished in a flash of light.

I didn't go very far. In fact, I was just hiding in the shadows. I wondered whether or not he would go back in time. His eyes grew soft and he smiled, turning to leave the temple.

I followed.

I didn't want to leave him. However, it was forbidden for me to help him outside of my role as his guide. I had been ordered not to interfere; he had to finish this journey alone. It tore at my heartstrings once again to admit this, but I would probably only be in his way. I didn't want the Hero to end up like Val because of me. I shouldn't have thought that. That name opened up wounds that were too deep to heal. I forced the thought out of my mind and left. I returned to the forest just outside Hyrule's borders, where the Princess was hidden. I was lucky enough that time. There were no monsters to delay me.

I entered the small shack and sighed. At least the princess wasn't practically attacking me for news of her beloved Hero.

At that moment, I ate my words. She bounced up to me, excited as ever. As gifted with wisdom as she was, she still acted so childish.

"So, so? Is he alright? He defeated the monster, didn't he?" She asked. She obviously wanted to hear every detail I would give her.

"He has freed the first sage and I've taught him two of the melodies. I'm sorry Princess, but I'm afraid I'm not going into more detail than that." My tone fluctuated from calm to irritated and settled somewhere in-between as my eye began to twitch.

"Sheik?" She asked quietly, "Are you okay?" I sighed and allowed myself to fall backward onto a simple wooden chair.

"No, Princess, I daresay I'm not." I replied.

"Tell me what's wrong. And I thought I told you to call me Zelda."

"You wouldn't understand, Princess."

"Sheik, you're so stuffy! We're out in the middle of nowhere and you're still referring to me by my title! And how do you know I wouldn't understand? I've known you for years. And it's not like I'm a child anymore." I sighed, standing once more.

"I'll be outside if you need me." I replied.

I took my lyre outside and strummed a few chords. The soft harmony had always calmed me in the past, and the effect was still there, although muted.

That was, until a shrill voice started whining at me. Again.

"Sheik, please talk to me," The princess pleaded, "You're just pushing me and everyone else away because you're depressed."

"I'm always depressed, Princess." I replied, as indifferent as ever to her frustration.

"Yes, but it's worse than usual today." She said, "Something's really bothering you. If you talk about it you'll feel better…"

I tried to ignore her, grateful that my aunt wasn't around at the moment.

"Come on, Sheik. I want to help you." The tone in her voice, the pure sincerity of it, subdued my annoyance momentarily. I sighed.

"I don't exactly know how to explain this… I'm very… confused on the matter myself, Princess. I want to approach him, to get to know him as a friend even, but it is forbidden outside my role. I'm afraid I'm living a paradox between duty and desire." I chuckled mirthlessly as it dawned on me once again how ridiculously twisted the world really was.

"I realize I told you that he had to face the dangers of the temples alone, but I never said that you couldn't allow yourself to get closer to him." She replied, seemingly unaware of the true meaning behind my words.

"I speak not of my duty to you, your highness, but of my duty to myself and those I care about."

She stared at me, her face contorted into a lack of understanding. I returned to my lyre, strumming a few chords to relieve my frustrations. I could practically hear the click as the princess finally understood my reasoning.

"You love him." She stated, almost amazed.

Genuine fear shot through my stomach. Now that she knew, what would she say? One of the reasons I'd kept it a secret specifically from her was the fact that she could cause me all sorts of grief if I offended her. And I knew she had a crush on the Hero.

"He reminds you of the one you lost, and so your affections have turned to him." She said knowingly. I turned to look at her, all the while making sure I stayed out of arm's reach. "And you don't want to hurt him or yourself by letting your affections grow." The princess was getting far too insightful for my liking.

"If you need me, I will be resting for a while, Princess." I stated impassively, brushing her comment to the side, "I should have to if I am to reach the Hero in a few days' time. He has been working very hard lately, and I'm afraid I may not be able to report as often if he keeps up his pace." I tried to excuse myself gracefully, but she caught my arm and held to it tightly, erasing any possibility of escape.

"Approach him, Sheik." She said quietly, "You never know what will happen. If the Goddesses will it, so shall it be."

"If you say so, Princess." I replied, extracting my arm from her grasp.


IS92: So I realize I've been taking forever with this story. It's really long and I'd imagine kinda hard to read for some people, I apologize. I've had stuff to do and I haven't been able to access fanfiction for a while. Oh, and my other stories haven't died yet, for those who are reading both them and this, I just have more inspiration for this one than for my others. This one's heating up a bit and the others, well… I just haven't had all that many ideas for them lately. So if anyone out there is wondering when I'll work on the others, I really don't know. It could be right after I finish this one. It could be later; it could be earlier. I have writing ADD that way. I switch the story I'm working on depending on my mood. Plus I really have quite a bit written out, which my friend looks over before I post, so none of it is typed up. Okay, enough of my ranting. Anything to say, Sheik?

Sheik: Well, I realize I sound gloomy and depressed all the time right now, as I have for a while, but this point in my life was really bittersweet, so that's just the way it works. It's the way it happened. I promise it won't be gloom and doom forever.

Link: Why do I barely talk here anymore?

IS92: Well, You're more in the background right now, Link. Ok, peoples, please review! I'll get more up soon!