Thanks to everybody who reviewed especially those who said the chapters were getting to short. My God, I could kiss you. I don't get helpful criticism very often. I hope this chapter is long enough, I stopped it here because I just wanted to show I'm still making chapters and it seemed a nice place to finish.

I retconned the last two chapters so to save you having to read it, basically all that changed is Link kisses Shiek. Having them at odds all the time was getting on my nerves.

If you don't like the chapter in any way, please say and it'll get edited.

And I finally have all my school work under control so I should be able to get another chapter out within the week.

Small questionairre: Do you want Link and Shiek to:

a) Work together

b) Continue with Link hating him and working alone.

c) Forced to work together but still with Link hating him.

These tangles are murder to get out!

"Link?"

Pausing in her eternal struggle against a particularly vicious knot, she pulled herself up to peer over the rim of the bathtub. Shiek was sat up in bed, swinging his arm slowly, testing it.

"How is it?"

His eyes, focused on the slipshod bandaging, snapped up; he hadn't actually expected her to stay around. He gave an experimental stretch and smiled.

"Good as new."

Content with the diagnosis, Link slid back into the tub and stretched her foot up, grasping the tap with her toes and turning, allowing a stream of icy mountain spring water to flow in. She lay back and relaxed, the top layer of scum lapping around her ears.

Shiek rose and crossed the room, drawing up a stool to seat himself beside the bath. Despite the situation, she wasn't as unnerved as she'd expected, mostly because the water was now so full of dirt it had the consistency of and was as opaque as gravy. He stared at his hands, gave a little cough, and said, "I thought what you did up that mountain was really, really great."

"Thanks. Nobody liked the Gorons much, did they?"

"I mean you showed real bravery and courage," Shiek continued. "And I realised that even if I took the Master Sword off you, you'd still try, you'd still try to save the world but you'd fail. But if I give you the Sword back at least you stand a chance. And I'll always be there to protect you, in case there's ever anything big and dangerous hurtling towards you."

He rose again, crossed the room, and picked up the Sword that had dropped from his hands when they entered. As he returned, Link's eyes grew wide. It was the Master Sword, or a very good likeness.

He held it out, hilt first. ""So I'm returning it to you."

From the base of the bath, Link dredged up her Master Sword, the green water sliding off its gleaming blade. "A nice offer, but I've already got the genuine."

"Deku. Deku! Come on! Snap out of it man."

The effects of solitary bottle confinement on the fairies mental state was again severe and they had to slap him around a bit before he responded. When he did, it was with the quiet and soulless voice of a tortured man.

"Hmm?"

"Deku, two Master Swords. What the hell?"

For a while, he just stared blankly at the two swords Link was holding out, then he shrugged in abject resignation.

"I don't know, but its very odd. I'll have to convene with the Goddesses a moment. Although I'm sure they wont be pleased."

Momentarilly, the fairy was silent and his aura dimmed. Then he was back.

" The Goddesses say the Master Sword is torn, both physically and mentally. It is unsure who is its master. You must both prove your worth to it and, when the time comes, it will chose its and become whole again. Only then will it have the power to defeat Ganondorf."

Link exchanged an uneasy glance with Shiek. Their brief moment of camaraderie was shattered. They were very much apposed again. Briefly she contemplated keeping the second Master Sword but decided not to: it was about time she proved she was still as good as her uncursed self had been destined to be. She hadn't Shiek his sword back and said "may the best man win."

"Oh, one more thing," Deku added. "The Goddesses also said that Ganondorf's army will be ready to march on Kakariko in seven days so they recommend getting a move on. Seven days, four temples. May the wind of Roc be behind you."