Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of Zelda. Outta jokes, sorry peoples.
Chapter 10: To the Desert
Sunshine streamed through the windows of Castle Hyrule, waking the Hero. He yawned and stretched looking around his chamber as he did. After Zelda led him to one of the many guest rooms of the castle he had walked in, gone straight for the bed, and fallen asleep without so much as a glance at his room.
There was a desk in the far corner next to a dresser. Several lanterns hung on the walls along with several decorative tapestries and a painting of the original Castle Town. There were ornate nightstands on each side of the bed, which on its own was the size of the top floor of Link's home, and was just as decorated as the rest of the room. There were two doors, one of which Link assumed led to a washroom.
He slowly got out of bed and checked the sun's position, gauging the time, with some surprise, to be around nine o'clock. He'd only been out a few hours, though he'd felt tired enough to sleep for weeks. Link shrugged to himself and moved into the bathroom to take care of his morning necessities; shaving, washing, etcetera.
Upon returning to his bedchamber he found a servant waiting for him with a tray of eggs and bacon. The woman bowed and placed the tray on the desk.
"Good morning, my lord. Her Majesty, Princess Zelda, requests your presence in her chambers when you've finished, though she bids you take your time," she informed him, then bowed quickly and left before Link could thank her.
The Hero was not one to keep people waiting so he wolfed down the meal-- one of the best he'd ever had-- and set off for the Princess's chambers. It didn't take long for him to find as he'd spent enough time wandering the halls to have created a rough mental map of the castle.
Again he met six Phoenix Elites at the entrance-- some new, some old-- including Captain Ralon. He nodded his acknowledgement to Link and opened the door, having been ordered by Zelda to let him in immediately.
The Hero found himself in a sitting room lined with shelves upon shelves of books. In fact the only furnishing aside from bookshelves were three chairs and a low table toward the middle of the room. Zelda was sitting in one of these chairs reading a book entitled A History of Hyrule: The Goddesses, the Triforce, and the Realm Itself. Upon his entrance she placed it aside, marking her place, and smiled warmly at Link.
"Good morning, Link. I'm glad to see you're awake at last."
"At last?" he asked uncertainly. "But, Your Majesty, I've only been asleep for a few hours."
Zelda chuckled softly. "I suppose it would seem so to you, Link, but it has been far more than a few hours. Your slumber has lasted two days."
"Two days...?" No, he couldn't have slept so long... He'd wasted so much time... Zant could be ready to launch another assault by now... And Midna could be... Link gathered himself quickly. "I apologize for the delay, Your Highness. If my lady would be so kind as to provide a map to the desert, I shall set off at once."
"There will be no need for a map," she told him. "I know the way to the Gerudo Desert quite well, and it is my intention to accompany you their then onto the Twilight Realm."
"But-but it's too dangerous!" Link exclaimed, all thoughts of courtesy forgotten in his alarm.
"I assure you, Hero, I have been trained to protect myself. Now come. I've taken the liberty of having our horses packed and readied. They're waiting in the stables."
She stood, and taking the Hero by the arm, led him out of her chambers to the stable.
"It's 'Link'," he protested weakly.
_
As it turned out Zelda wasn't the only one coming with Link; Ralon was joining him as well. Link was about to ask about this when Zelda had said she had some last minute business to attend to and left him alone with Ralon. An awkward silence ensued and remained until the Princess had at last returned, though she no longer looked the part of the Hylian Princess.
Gone was her dress, a tight fitting body suit in its place. The suit was purple with a white cloth over it decorated by the Hylian Phoenix, an Eye of Truth, sigil of the Sheikah, and various other symbols. Her chest had been bound flat and she wore an assortment of bags at her waist. Zelda's hands were wrapped in a bandage of sorts, as was the top of her head and a scarf covered from her mouth down, all this appeared to be the same material as the emblem-laden cloth. Zelda looked more a man than a woman now, and in truth Link only recognized her now because of her eyes: as emerald as ever.
"P-Princess?! What are you-- Why are-- What?!" Link stuttered, but Ralon seemed unsurprised.
"Would it not seem odd, Hero, if the Princess were to leave the Castle in the company of a strange man and not return for a length of time?"
"Well yes, Your Majesty, but--"
"I thank you for your concern, Link, but I assure you there is no better way. And do not worry I have made plans for my absence and it will be said that I am merely visiting relatives in the Northern Continent." She paused. "Also, while I am dressed in this manner you must address me as 'Sheik', as my ancestor was all those years ago."
Link sighed unhappily, this didn't feel right, but having travelled with Midna he knew when he'd been beat. "Very well, Your-- Sheik."
"Ah-hem," Ralon interrupted. "I believe it would be for the best if we headed out now."
"I agree," Zelda said, forcing her voice into a more masculine, gruff tone. "Let us be on our way."
With that Ralon brought the horses out, giving an all white stallion to 'Sheik', a black charger with a white streak upon its head to Link, and keeping a roan for himself.
True to her word the horses were all packed with provisions and the like. Fortunately, none the horses would need to bear the weight of Link's collection of weaponry as Midna had made him a device of some sort that allowed him to reach into the Void where Midna had stored everything for him and grab whatever he was thinking of. She'd tried to explain it to him once, but Link had been lost soon after she'd started. She'd rolled her eyes and told him to think of it as 'Magic Storage'.
Link, Sheik, and Ralon mounted their horses and rode off.
_
It took the better part of the day to reach Lake Hylia; they made good time though as unlike Link they had the luxury of horses and the blocked path had been cleared while Link slept. There was little conversation during the ride; the Hero would have been fine had it been just him and Sheik, but he was uncomfortable around Ralon who felt the same way.
Some of the only words spoken were Link asking why it was necessary for them to go to the Lake. To which Sheik had replied that it would take far to long to climb the mountains separating Hyrule from the desert so they were going to take a shorter route.
The trio dismounted at the base of the Tower of Hylia. Ralon took the horses reigns.
"Now, Link I believe you have warped before, correct?" Sheik asked. He nodded. "That is what I intend to do now. We needed to be as close as possible to the desert because I will admit I am not as strong as my Twilian counter part. Are you ready, Hero?"
"Link," he corrected again. "As I'll ever be." He walked over to Sheik and took her hand. "Aren't you coming along?" he asked Ralon.
"Only here for the horses, lad. Farewell, you two."
"Good-bye, Ralon." Sheik concentrated for a moment then shouted, "Farore's Wind!"
In an instant the Princess and the Hero were transported to the outskirts of the desert, just as dusk began to fall. The two agreed to set up camp and continue their journey later.
Author's Note: Well here's the next chapter, and unfortunately Makokam was right as things are right now I won't be able to publish or even get on the computer for the rest of the week due to various school and personal crap. However because if this I'll try to publish 2 chapters on Tuesday, and if that fails... well give me the weekend after.
Anyway, before any of you even say anything 1) this will not turn into a Zelda/Link/Midna love triangle and 2) for this fic only shall I make Sheik a girl otherwise I say he's a guy and none of you better bring the damn gender war here.
Hope you like it.