By Rites. (alternate)

The not so crazy version.

By: Tikita

Jan\26\2007

In no way do I own Zelda or any of it's characters.

Where am I going now? Why does my life have to be constantly lead by what someone else believes I should do? Why do I follow?

They don't know who I am…

Getting tugged away from the odd examination man by the arm made Link wonder exactly what was going on. Shekan seemed happy about it what ever it was, and Link supposed he should be too? For some reason though he could not bring himself to do it. Blue eyes soon grew tired and he really only wanted sleep. The path under his toes was a bit rocky but still mostly covered in a rich dark earth, they quickly went along side the mansion rounding it and even getting onto a stone hewn pathway now. Perfectly trimmed grass grew on either side and it was beautiful.

Shekan would grip the rope which was a new addition to link's neck. He soon stops Link with a soft tug and he points to a structure at the edge of the grounds, which was a good half-mile away. "That is where we are going. Are you prepared?" The red eyed boy raises a brow and Link rolls his eyes.

"Of course I am prepared I don't exactly have a choice do I?" Quirky little smile never left the Hero's lips as he trudged along through the dirt giving Shekan a good yank this time. "Come on little one we don't have all day."

Shekan laughs and Link chuckles a bit, but for most of the walk they remained relatively quite. Link's eyes flicked about the fields to the gardeners who took care of the flowers and bushes. They seemed to take their work very seriously. Maybe that was the reason Link was drawn to silence. Each person in this place seemed so serious about what they did and they did it perfectly. His eyes scan over them drifting from one to another then to Shekan. Shekan was so different.

He seemed to be the only one in this joint who understood Link, and the Hero grew to like this man. Maybe in a brotherly love kind of way, he knew if the chance came, Link would defend him. Maybe he could even ask for the same from this boy. Loyalty…

Reaching the structure Link gazes up at it and he gasps. "What is this place?" The hero exclaims softly sideling up next Shekan.

Shekan merely laughs and pats Link on the back and leads him inside. "This is the bathhouse Link. We will bath and dress you here. Then you can have some more rest." Shekan flashes those pearly whites at Link subtly then he leads the hero through another door and down a corridor. The air about the building was sticky, humid really.

Link follows along his bare feet padding softly on the floorboards; a creak emits up every so often. At the end of the hall there was an open door and despite the thought of fresh air it just happened to get thicker and laden with oils and perfumes. Link brings one of those bandage-covered wrists to his nose and he takes a step back from the exit. "It smells like a woman Shekan, why?" The hero whines slightly to the Sheikah but the boy rolls those red orbs and ignores the protest and jerks Link forward carefully. He did not want to hurt his neck or anything.

The bath was steaming, thick fog covering the decorated hot spring. Black wet stones surround the water steam curling about them like ghostly claws. Link's brows both arch. He was surprised no doubt. He'd never seen something like this. Baths in Hyrule were normally either boiling basins in which you had to endure rather then enjoy, or lakes...Enough said. This, looked enjoyable. The rope about his neck would be lifted over his head from behind.

Without a moments hesitation he begins to remove his belt and he turns to watch Shekan's reaction. That of which always amused him, but to Link's further surprise he realizes Shekan had left him. And the boy had been replaced with a tall dark skinned woman with flowing red hair. "Uhh…" Would be the only sound to come from Link's mouth. Hers however, shocked link. Her lips remained together and she dared not part them. Link did not blame her. They were sewn shut with thick cord. Blue eyes remain wide and she bows silently before aiding Link in removing his tunic. The man flinches and as he does the woman winces and stares at him terrified. She'd all but turned into a statue when he moved. "It's okay…" Link reassures her. . "You did not hurt me, it's okay now."

Did she think she hurt him? Or damaged him rather? Either way she was not going to try anything to hurt him. She was obviously broken. It saddened Link to see a gereudo like this. Normally the ones he saw were fierce wild admirable women. This was pathetic, not that he could blame her. And so continues to strip down before her not really caring about what she thought of his body. It was not for her.

Once he was fully disrobed he glances at the woman and her face was somewhat horrified. Link arches a brow and then notices his body was covered in bruises and bleeding in places he did not figure was healthy. Now they say when you don't see the bruise or cut, it does not hurt nearly as bad, but once you look. "Ohh fer fuck's sake…" The Hero murmurs as he gives up on looking at his own gore and slinks into the steamy water. It was hot and made Link's face contort with pain. Each tiny cut screamed in agony, because he knew they were infected now. "Haaaaaaaaaaaaa…" He drawls out trying to keep from crying, man it hurt. The woman kneels down with a vial of soap and a wire brush. She grabs a small cup and starts pouring water over Link's head and then she washes his dirty blond mop. She was gentle, but firm. Then she began brushing carefully taking out all the knots. Now link's hair drifted down to his shoulders. Link remains silent.

An hour later Shekan would return with a very simple beige tunic and a towel. The gereudo woman bows to Shekan and then she quickly leaves. Link slowly rises and he watches her go with a tint of worry on his placid features. Shekan's face, however grew beat red but Link did not find it so funny anymore. His tall figure drips with wetness and he gratefully takes the towel from Shekan without a word. He quickly turns his back to the ruby-eyed boy and dries himself off. The hero then turns only a moment to snatch the tunic as well.

Shekan was a bit shocked at how Link was acting so he'd take a step forward as the man slide the tunic over his head. "Hey, Link, what's wrong?" Bringing a hand up to touch Link on the shoulder he gasps as the blond whips about and then grabs that wrist and twists it slamming Shekan against the wall.

His eyes were narrow and violent; they held the hunger for war they always had. The reason the Hylians placed him as a general to their army. Although despite his violent disposition he was normally kind hearted and soft, but his emotions could switch like a light. He would not hurt Shekan, but acting like a dangerous man usually helped get the answers he needed. "Why was that girl's mouth sewn shut! Will they do that to me as well to simply shut me up?" His somewhat imposing figure looms closer and Shekan stares at him terrified. Perfect, this is what he wanted, to know he was still in control.

The little blond boy's eyes remain wide and his mouth gets dry quickly. He licks at his lips nervously as those strong hands bind him against the wall. He stares into Link's eyes terrified and breathless, but not exactly with fear. He listens to those angry words spill from those perfect lips and he refrains from sighing. "Her?" Shekan winces and then shuts his eyes to keep from blushing, for he WAS staring. "She had disappointed our lord, and I had been meaning to talk to you Link, but I fear we cannot do it here." He strains softly against the older man's weight. "Please, let us go and we will speak of it. I can also explain what the examiner meant about your eyes."

Link remains there and he studies that youthful face that saw far too much torture then it deserved. A sigh passes his lips and he releases Shekan then steps back and nods towards the exit. "Lead on then." The Hylian scoffs softly as he watches those ruby eyes reopen and gaze at him. Link was worried as the Shiekah looked at him. He saw something in those eyes he could not yet place…But he would end up shrugging it off as Shekan nodded quickly and lead on and out of the bathhouse.

As they walked Shekan would take his chance to explain why the examiner told Link he was blind in one eye. "Link, I will explain why you were said to be lame in one eye now. Listen carefully because to be found out about giving this information would mean death for both of us." He takes a deep breath and leads Link along through the forest. "The examiner said left eye blind because he wishes to give you a fake weakness. Our Lord is a skilled fighter, but usually to speed things along he likes to get the relayed examination. Then he goes for the competitor's weak points." Link puts up a hand to stop the words from coming for a moment from the Sheikah boy.

"Why, why would you betray your own Lord?" Link's eyes narrow and he yanks back against the lead cord which dragged him everywhere nowadays. The rope goes taught and forces Shekan to look back at Link.

"We do this because our lord is corrupt, he is evil and we want a new ruler…" Shekan stares at Link honestly and awaits a response.

Link was a little shocked, they just expected him to kill their leader? "What do I get out of killing your ruler?" He furrows his brow and scratches behind one of his long ears.

Shekan blushes and then he tugs Link a bit and they continue on their way. The Sheik would remain silent as a stone despite Link's protests.

As they made their way to Link's new 'quarters' Link realized what he was told just moments ago could get his captor killed. Where Link was going, was to a very small fortress behind the bathhouse in the forest surrounded by a mountainous bay area. Thoughts of Shekan's well being were pushed aside for a moment because of this secret fortress' enormousness. The walls were high and of stone. Link swallows hard and audibly which earns a backward glance from the Shiekah. Ruby eyes filled with that awful emotion. Link returns the man's look with a questioning glare but Shekan silently turns away and sighs. Guards look down upon them ominously and Link returns the favor, his own ire burning continuously. Shekan ducks a bow to them as they pass through the great iron doors and Link's eyes narrow as he looks about. Anyone who was not Shiekah was in chains, and as the sun was setting they were all finding their way to their, cages. Yes that was what Link found them to be. Iron grates against holes in the mountainside. Link was tugged past them all and two a small house type thing at the end of the grounds.

"I am sorry Link…" Shekan would whisper without even looking back.

"For what Shekan?" Link's words were full of venom, he knew Shekan was getting softer then he should be. Link was only surprised it took so long to realize it. Blue eyes narrowed he walks behind the other purposefully.

Shekan cringes and then sighs before opening the door to the little dwelling. Iron door groans with the strain of having to open. Link arrogantly pushes forward and inside then looks back at Shekan. "I have no need for your words now Shekan. Go away from me. Maybe we will meet again on better terms eh?" Stupid kid, he was just going to get hurt if he showed his weaknesses, it hurt link to say these things, but Maybe if Shekan saw him as more of a threat he would not be so obvious. The sheik boy leads link to a compound a little ways from the bathhouse, it was like a cinder block plopped down in the middle of nowhere.

Shekan's eyes shut momentarily and he heaves in a deep strong breath. Good, get mad at me kid, come on. Link would think as he watched that beautiful face contort with a bit of anger. "Sleep well Link." He then responds simply before turning and shutting the door. The clinking of the lock could be heard then nothing, nothing at all.

Turning away from the iron door Link's skin crawls. It was such a crude room, reminded him of a time ages ago when he was younger. He was a brave young warrior in his heart, but he'd never seen the blood sail through the skies like a crimson mist. He only wanted adventure. Hero sighs softly and seats himself on the cot in the corner. Running a hand through his long rugged hair before laying down face to the ceiling he smiles to himself. Thoughts of Ganon and home ran across his mind vividly as he slept. Despite where he was, and what was going to happen, he knew for a fact Ganon would save him. Ganon would come to him, and love him.