Disclaimer: I do not own Zelda. This site IS called FAN fiction dot net for a reason ;)
Warnings: ...Angst? Some horror.
Link groaned as he woke up, not quite yet dawn. He rubbed his eyes but winced as he sat up, and the evening's events caught up to him. He blushed, but saw Navi glancing at a pedestal off to his left. Quickly looking around, he noticed that Sheik was nowhere to be seen and cursed lightly. The other had disappeared again! Just what did he have to–
"Link!" The fairy fluttered over to him, "What were you thinking! You should know better! Oh… Ruto will be so disappointed." The fairy shook her head, but then seemed to remember something. "Oh! Sheik is sorry he had to leave… he said something about Kakariko village, and also that you should erm… take it easy… and perhaps drink a red potion…"
Link was at attention, at least there was some explanation behind the disappearance of Sheik. Maybe he told Navi why, might as well press. "Did he say why?" When he earned a shake of disagreement he sighed and stood up, wincing yet again at the pain. Man… if the red potion was supposed to help… He shook his head and pulled on the clothes that were neatly folded beside him. He walked over to see what Navi was looking at and read the words.
"When water fills the lake, shoot for the morning light."
Link paused for a moment and thought, and Navi twinkled again, "Maybe when the sun rises shoot at it?"
"Hmmm I suppose…" He limped over and got his equipment. Dawn should be approaching soon. Taking out a red potion, he drank it and hoped his muscles would calm. Riding Epona did not seem like a pleasant thought right now.
Link waited for a few minutes and the sun began to rise. Standing at the plaque, he readied his bow and shot at it, watching as his arrow seemingly caught on fire and landed on an island not too far from him. Tilting his head, he dove into the water and swam to it. He saw an arrow encased in what seemed to be a red crystal, and heard shuffling which sounded too much like a gold skulltula. He looked over on the left pole and saw it beginning to burrow into the ground to escape the morning light. "Oh no you don't!" He said and struck at the creature with his sword. Then he took the arrow and Navi spoke to him again.
"The Fire Arrow… I've heard of it before… It's an arrow that will light your way and set fire to your enemies. Hey! What do you think you're doing Link! Put that ocarina down this instant! You are in no condition to be riding!"
Link chuckled, "Really Navi, a little ache won't hinder me." And he played.
.+++.
When he arrived in Kakariko Village, smoke was rising, buildings were on fire. The citizens were running about in chaos, but then he saw Sheik standing by the well.
He ran up to Sheik, only to hear the other command.
"Get back Link!"
As Sheik spoke the words, the wood on top of the well flew off, falling behind them. His eyes followed it before he turned and saw Sheik struggling in the air with an unseen creature. It flung him back and fourth, this way and that while the other fought back uselessly. Then, as if it became bored of its prey, it threw Sheik down the stairs. It moved up the homes, across the hills, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.
Link watched it, worry filling him as he ran towards Sheik. It appeared to be going in a big circle and was heading straight for Sheik! He wouldn't allow that thing to harm Sheik again! He held up his shield, hoping to stop it from hurting Sheik. The last thing he saw was dust before he saw black.
When he came to, he saw the grey skies, the rain, and then he heard Sheik's voice.
"Looks like you're coming around."
"Sheik!" Link exclaimed and stood up. How he wanted to hug the other, talk about what happened in Lake Hylia, but he noticed the professional stand Sheik had immediately taken once he stood up.
"Link… a terrible thing has happened. The evil shadow spirit has been released!" Link looked over to the well, now realizing what that thing was and let Sheik continue. "Impa, the leader of Kakariko Village, had sealed the evil shadow spirit in the bottom of the well… But the force of the evil spirit got so strong, the seal of the well broke, and it escaped into the world!"
There was a sense of urgency in Sheik's tone, and Link did not stop Sheik. This time he had actually witnessed the incident, and knew that something was immediately amiss.
"I believe Impa has gone to the Shadow Temple to seal it again, but… she will be in danger without any help. Link, Impa is one of the six Sages. Destroy the evil shadow spirit and save Impa." Sheik seemed to be pleading, seemed to be concerned for Impa's welfare more than any other sage, "There is an entrance to the Shadow Temple beneath the graveyard behind the village. The only thing I can do for you is teach you the melody that will lead you to the Shadow Temple. This is the melody that will draw you into the infinite darkness that absorbs even time… the Nocturne of Shadow." Sheik had pulled out his harp and began to play.
Link followed with his Ocarina and felt the dark pull of the song, the sadness enveloping him. Thunder sounded in the distance and when he pulled his ocarina away, Sheik stood closer to him.
"I'm sorry you must do this Link… I know I told you to rest…" He offered a smile with his eyes and caressed Link's cheek. "I never expected this to happen, and for that I'm sorry. I wanted to stay with you at the lake, but I saw smoke coming from the village…"
Link offered a smile and leaned into the touch, of course there was a good reason behind Sheik's disappearance, "It's alright Sheik."
"However, there is something you must get in order to complete the dungeon Link, and for that you must go back in time. There is a song you learn from the man in the windmill, do so now and return back in time. The well contains the item Link. I trust you shall know what to do."
"Sheik! Wait!" Link felt like the other would leave yet again, and he did not want that! He wanted Sheik to stay, he wanted to other near him.
"Don't worry Link; let me take care of the village." With a soft smile, the other pulled down his cowl and gave Link a chaste kiss, "I won't leave, and I'm counting on you Link!"
Link nodded, and for the first time, he was the first to leave.
.+++.
Link had defeated Bongo Bongo, awakened Impa, and was now descending down onto the platform. He shuddered from the memories of the well and Shadow Temple, vowing to never enter those places while he still lived. The wall and floor masters, he could deal with, the gibdos were bad, redeads worse – but he could freeze those with the Sun's Song – what he hated the most though, were the dead hands. Those were utterly terrifying, a nightmare in reality. You had to be grasped by its rotting hands in order to lure the monstrosity out and just pray that it didn't catch you before you could escape from the clutches. He shivered again in memory, not wanting to fight one of those again.
Forgetting the horrifying temple and its accompanying dungeon, he jumped over the fence and out onto the graveyard, avoiding those eerie lanterns. He'd had enough with the undead as of late…
When he arrived in the village, he saw the villagers rebuilding the damage from the fire and the people happily milling about. He also smiled when he saw Sheik standing on an untouched roof. Using his hook shot, he moved to the roof and walked next to Sheik.
"People always tend to bounce back, don't they?"
"Yes they do." Link agreed with a nod and looked towards Death Mountain, the ring of smoke cleansed from evil.
"I presume all went well in the dungeon and the well?"
Link responded with a shudder. "Ugh! Don't remind me!"
Sheik chuckled and turned towards the other and pulled down his cowl, "We never followed up from Lake Hylia, have we?" Without waiting for a response, Sheik pulled Link closer to him and pressed their lips together.
It must be one of those rhe-something questions… The hero thought as he fell into the pleasure, wanting this moment to last forever.
"Sheik?" There was no response. "Sheik." Okay, Sheik was definitely ignoring him. It had been two days already…
…They had left the castle with little protest from Sheik, but the Sheikah seemed to be taking to being silent after he spent time with Zelda. He didn't look at Link, but that was no surprise.
The rode for a long time, but soon the unchartered terrain was too tough for even Epona, so Link had to let her free in Hyrule Field. They would get better ground while walking. Sheik didn't really talk either as they walked, he only took the map straight from Link's hands and guided from there. Sheik didn't so much as gesture Link in the right direction. Link had to simply guess.
Sheik only muttered a single word, and that was only when he had to. "Bathroom." Was the only word Sheik said to him so far, and that was just once. After that – Link just presumed that Sheik either had to go to the bathroom or wanted a bit of time alone. When they camped, Sheik tended to have his back facing Link, and Zelda was grateful enough to give them two separate bed rolls. When they awoke – Link felt eyes at his back, and carefully, he turned to see two red eyes staring widely at him. The Sheikah's hair was sticking out of his turban and before Link would even think the word why, Sheik had stood up and sped off in a pace that was not quite a run nor a walk.
When Sheik had returned, his appearance had changed and there was nothing rugged about him. However, he avoided looking at Link – or even glancing in Link's direction.
The next time they setup camp was no better either. In fact, Sheik chose to not make even a grunt. He was completely silent, and Link wondered why that way. It was as if Sheik had become madder at him overnight.
Oh shit… Did I… No! It couldn't be! Navi said that I never talked in my sleep! Link panicked. Did Sheik know? Did Link give himself away last night? He couldn't ask for fear and the fact that Sheik wouldn't even look in his direction.
In the morning, Link felt eyes on his back again, and this time he quickly turned to see…shock on what was exposed on Sheik's face. His hair was worse than before and almost completely visible from within the loose turban. As fast as Link looked did Sheik look away once he noticed that Link was looking at him. A lock of long hair fell out, and Link, in his surprised realization he did not notice when Sheik had left again.
…He never knew Sheik had long hair. He never actually managed to take off the turban that Sheik wore, and Link never took note of it until now.
Link sighed but forced his mind back to the question at hand: why did Sheik look at him like that? Link remembered his dreams, and it just involved a weird twist between Termina and Hyrule, Sheik wasn't involved in it.
Could it just be the fact that Sheik was really pissed off at him? No, that couldn't explain the expression on Sheik's face – the disbelief, the shock. Link couldn't figure it out but he wanted to. Somehow – something told Link that even if Sheik wasn't mad at him, Sheik still wouldn't tell him. It didn't stop him from trying…
…Link called a final time to try and get the silent Sheikah's attention. "Sheik!"
"I don't talk to liars."
Ouch – Link winced – that hurt. He should have known, no he knew, but he did it anyway. He lied to save himself, he lied to stop his feelings from getting out of hand, and he regretted it. "I'm sorry! It's just – I – uhh…" Yet, how could he put it without revealing his feelings for Sheik?
Sheik stopped dead and spun around. "You what?" His words were icy and his stares were colder. Excluding the glimpses he managed to sneak in the mornings, this was the first time he actually managed to see something other than the back or side of Sheik's head. It only made the look hurt even more, it only made it colder.
Link shivered. That definitely was anger in Sheik's tone. Link couldn't face him – physically or mentally – he looked to the ground. "I-I'm sorry… I mean it, but…" I can't… I'm sorry Sheik, but I just can't.
Sheik sighed and took a step towards Link. "Why are you so obedient to Zelda?"
Now that, that was a question Link never asked himself. He originally went to see Zelda on behalf of a dying tree's words. Of course it was no ordinary tree – no it was the Great Deku Tree, the one who raised him. He listened to Zelda because it seemed right. He saved Hyrule from being lost to darkness, but now they were in times of peace. Logic and common sense kept his mouth closed from the past, but even those reasons had slipups guaranteed. It was Royal – no Zelda's – orders that shut his mouth. So why was it that he listened? Was it because he thought Zelda was Sheik – no that couldn't be because he hated Zelda for that. Perhaps it was that he wanted to forget that Sheik ever existed – his heart froze, his throat clenched. Why did he even think that! (Because that was what kept him going until he realized Sheik actually existed, because accepting that Sheik was Zelda suggested that he loved Zelda while that was not the case. He loved Sheik, he was attracted to Sheik's male body. Zelda was too cowardly, too feminine for him.)
Link tried to look at the question in the other direction and it finally occurred to him: Why wasn't he obedient to Zelda? Because he listened to get before, he would listen to her again. He was a hero, yet most of his decisions – his actions – were based on what others told him and he obeyed.
Link didn't want to tell Sheik this, it felt like a weakness. Besides, wasn't Sheik the Sheikah – the one who was sworn to the Royal Family?
He still didn't answer Sheik's question – he didn't want to.
"Well?" Sheik prompted in an impatient voice.
Link kept his gaze lowered. He couldn't say I don't want to tell you because he has denied Sheik information too many times, not was it correct to lie again. Link swallowed and bit his lip.
"I've been waiting for you."
Link froze. That voice, that tone No! It can't be! His head shot up and he looked at Sheik's eye where he saw that even the emotion was the same. His logic was slow to kick in, but it did and he realized that Sheik's words were phrased awkwardly into their predicament. The eye transfixed him as he remembered meeting Sheik for the first time in the time that never was. Those were the words that he first heard Sheik say to him. This has to be a coincidence! Link insisted. Yet… No, it's impossible! Link crushed the hopeless hope that was building inside of him, even as Sheik's words repeated in his head. Only Sheik could reignite a memory this strongly. Unknowingly, he said it the exact same way as… Link finally realized something. There was no his Sheik, there was no this Sheik. No, they were the same person, the same soul. His Sheik and this Sheik were really just Sheik – so why then, should Link deny him trust? Why should Link withhold anything from the person who, if never existed in the first place, enabled Link to win against Ganondorf? Link entrusted his life, his heart to Sheik before and would do it again in a second, so what was the harm in trusting Sheik with something as miniscule as a simple weakness?
Link took a deep breath. "I obey Zelda because I have before and because it seems right. I… I have never been given a reason to disobey her before, so I see don't why I should. I mean," Link's tone lightened as a small smile graced his face, "last time I listened to her I saved the world."
Sheik was quiet for a bit and when he responded his voice was soft. "Even if it hurts you?"
The question startled Link and he tilted his head. Sheik… Sheik knew that withholding information was hurting him, and that a lot of things Zelda said hurt him, but how? "What makes you think that?" Link asked slowly.
"Don't–" Sheik's eye widened and his words were cut off by a painful gasp. He curled over and his hands grasped at the fabric at his chest. The eye was clenched the next time Link saw it.
"Sheik!" Link exclaimed and rushed over to Sheik and supported him. What could have – "Oh Goddesses! I'm sorry Sheik! I forgot! I didn't–"
Sheik's chuckle was weak, but it interrupted Link's apology, and was soon followed by light coughing. "No, it's alright Link. I'm also at fault."
Why wasn't Sheik cursing Link like he usually did? No the real question is why did Sheik said it was his fault? Link didn't voice the questions formulating in his head, he did say, "Let's set up camp for tonight."
"Out in the open?" Sheik asked with a light chuckle and managed not to cough following it. "We couldn't. I know of a place nearby."
With Link supporting Sheik, the latter gave instructions. However, something quite cliché of something that Link really hoped wasn't the case was starting to form around them. The trees were leafless and black, and there were many guays flying around. However, the cliché stuck and they ended up in a place that Link hated more than anything else.
A graveyard.
What Sheik did not know was the one fear that Link had, the one thing that the Goddesses overlooked when they made him. Link could not stand anything that was involved with the undead. After facing the creatures in both the bottom of the well and the Shadow Temple (and if each dungeon by itself was not enough, they were right after one another) Link would avoid the living dead if he could help it. (Ikana Valley was a living nightmare)
Link had, unknowingly, tensed and his eyes darted around fearfully. However, if Sheik had noticed his change in demeanor he didn't speak of it. By the time they reached the grounds of the sleeping dead, Sheik had regained his mobility so he left Link's support and set up camp.
When Link frantically and clumsily crawled over to Sheik as he sat down, Sheik decided to comment on Link's odd behaviour. "Link?" Sheik did not look at Link, choosing caution over comforting. "Ever since we came here, you've been acting strange. What's wrong?"
Link's face took on a strange combination of sheepishness and worry. "Would you believe me if I told you that I'm terri – AAAH!" Link's eyes bulged and before he could even think, his arms flung around Sheik while he stared at the cause of his terror. Sheik would protect him, Sheik would save him. Anything but having to face that again.
It was the hands, the hands. Those putrid, decaying, spotted hands connected to those pale diseased arms. Not two, not four, but six. Grave soil crumbled down, getting stuck in rotted sores. Without touching, Link knew how squashy, how fetid, how strong those hands could be. He knew how it felt to grasp the arms and feel them liquefy to his touch. Only a wiff of the foul scent just enhanced Link's fears. He remembered being suffocated by death itself as another pound of that deceased flesh slid towards him, groaning in delight. He could never forget the smell as he tried to breathe through his nose, remembered as the flesh dripped on him. And six of those arms surrounded them in a circle… The creature never emerged unless it knew that its prey was caught.
A hand approached.
Had to lengthen this chapter! Sorry for the wait! I also had some family issues, which will more than likely be affecting me for awhile. Need to work from scratch for next chapter. I haven't even started it!
PS: I noticed an inconsistency in my story! So I've changed an earlier chapter. Link's age varied by two years. Oops!