Hey guys, so for being so dormant for a while. :( College is kicking my butt and I'm doing my best to keep my head above it all.

Alas, here is a VERY overdue chapter.

Enjoy! Reviews, favorites, and follows are always appreciated.

Stay beautiful! ~

QUICK NOTE: Antarasis, I'm flattered that you'd want to draw for this! I understand being busy (trust me, haha), but if your schedule clears up just PM me or something. :) Thanks!

I was only into the first chapter when I heard a knock and a "finished?" I told him to come in and folded a corner in the book and placed it on the table.

"You like fish?" I rubbed my hands together.

"I love fish. Are the markets open yet? It still seems quite early in the day."

"I caught them myself, so there's no dispute over how fresh they are." I smiled and got a knife and cutting board. I gestured for him to hand me the fish.

"I can't imagine you fishing," I said as he reluctantly handed me the goods.

"I have my own way. I can't imagine you know how to gut and prepare a fish," Sheik said with a hint of disbelief coloring his tone. I gave him a dry look. "I'm just saying, you're royalty and royalty isn't exactly suppose to know how to do these type of things."

"I was an ambitious child. I wanted to learn about everything and become proficient at it – that included cooking. And you may not have known me for very long, but you should know that I don't like being utterly dependent on others." He made an "mmm" sound as I placed two fish on the table next to me.

I did my best to remember the lessons the cook taught when I was younger, and the result was a little sloppy but presentable. I seasoned them with lemon and pepper before giving them to Sheik to cook. He was silent while doing so, so I just opened my book back up. When the fish were finished I washed down the table and then set it with two plates and forks. "Tea?" I asked before serving me up another cup.

"Sure." I poured him a cup as well and placed it on the table and he served us both a portion of fish. I sat down and watched him removed the cloth from his face. It was…interesting. There was what looked like red and white tattoos on his extremely tan face. He had a handsome face, but I found myself comparing him to Link and like all others, he fell short. I smiled to myself and ate.

"So, what do we do from here? Sit and eat until…?" I left the question open for him to finish. He finished chewing and swallowing before answering.

"Link said he'd come here once everything was cleared up at the palace. I was planning to powwow when he got here." I stared thoughtfully at my fish.

"I hope everything goes well. I can see some people from my Council giving him trouble about my whereabouts." Sheik just shrugged and glanced at the book sitting next to me.

"So you read lot, huh?" I nodded.

"Quite a bit." He tapped the table.

"Can you read ancient Hylian texts?" I looked up, intrigued.

"Yes. I was required to learn the language at quite a young age. Supposedly a tradition for the royal family to pass down."

"I figured. I'll have to bring you some old texts that I have in my possession. I'm not really one for reading but I assume you might get a thrill out of reading them," he said and finished the last of his meal. I wasn't sure if he was teasing or if he was serious.

"Thank you. I'd lik-" The front door opened and a tall green-clothed figure stepped in. "Link." He smiled tiredly and I saw Sheik return the cloth back over his mouth. I jumped up and walked to him resisting the urge to reach out to him. "Are you alright? How'd everything go? What did my Council say?" He rubbed the back of his neck and yawned. I suddenly felt guilty for bombarding him without regard to his well-being. Apologizing, I grabbed his arm and guided him to sit down next to my spot. "Here, relax first. Hungry?" He nodded. I grabbed another plate and moved some fish back to the griddle to reheat it.

"It smells delicious," he said, helping himself to the tea.

"Our Queen is quite the chef. She prepared it." I heard him shift in his chair.

"Really? Did you also happen to make that outfit while I was gone?" I turned and smiled when I noticed him examining the ensemble.

"No, Ilia did." He looked surprised. "She brought them over while I was comatose and left it here. Definitely a step up from what I arrived in. Sheik, give him the note." Link was reading it when I brought over the newly heated fish.

"Wow. I must thank her." I agreed.

"She must really miss you. Enough to make an outfit to lure me here." I grinned. He grinned too. He was looking at me, but I saw his vision kept sliding to my cheek. I placed a hand over it self-consciously; knowing my mark probably crept it's way onto my face. He frowned and forked a piece of fish.

"Sheik, when's the soonest you can attempt reverting the mark? Zelda really shouldn't walk around with that thing. I'd also feel better if it was less of a threat."

"As soon as she deems herself ready." They both looked to me. I pushed the chunk of fish around again before deciding I wasn't hungry anymore and set my fork down.

"I feel like you should rest first, Link. You need it more than I do." He finished the last bite of his fish but said nothing. He just looked…unsure. "I'll be fine. Just for a day or two while you rest then you can play babysitter so Sheik can go back to whatever he's been doing," I said as cheerfully as I could manage. I turned from Link to Sheik. "What have you been doing?

"I suppose I should mention," he said rolling his half empty tea between his hands, "the Sages had returned." I set my cup down and Link paused mid swallow. We both looked blankly at him. "There's nothing else to report. I didn't get a chance to truly speak with them. I was filling them in on what was happening on this side when I felt Zelda's distress. I left and obviously haven't been back since then."

"You should go now!"

"No," both Sheik and Link said at the same time. I huffed.

"Why not?"

"Zelda, I'm not fit for another battle like the one I just had. I need Sheik to look after you while I regain my strength." He yawned largely and sighed heavily. "I haven't slept in almost two days and it's starting to take its toll. You need someone who is able to defend you properly." I glanced at Sheik who nodded in agreement. I wanted to argue, but I knew they were right. It was frustrating, but we needed to think things through and be prepared for anything. As much as I didn't want to display patience, it looked as if I didn't have a real choice.

"Fine. I suppose a walk wouldn't be too much to ask for?" Sheik lifted an eyebrow but didn't say anything. "Let's allow Link some peace to rest, shall we?" I glanced at Link who was looking at me, but I couldn't tell what he was thinking. I cleared the plates and wrapped the leftover fish to into put in the chest with red ice so it wouldn't spoil. Sheik came up and took the package out of my hands before walking to the ladder in the basement.

"Zelda, a word?" I turned to Link who was looking more exhausted by the minute. I nodded, giving him my complete attention. "I understand that there's a lot of going on, but I know you've been avoiding me." I instantly averted from his gaze. "It's understandable to put off the less important things, but we do need to talk out what had…trespassed between us. It's not something to let be." What he said wasn't news to me, I knew that a discussion was in order but with recent things passing with Yuri I was scared. I cared deeply for Link but I was scared that I might have been entertaining a silly fantasy, stringing Link along as a result. I couldn't help but feel guilty.

"Link, I'm sorry. I've been…I don't know. I'm just sorry."

"Don't be sorry. As I said, I understand. I just want to establish that we can't put a hold on this forever."

"Yes. I know. We won't, I promise." He nodded and seemed to droop with weariness.

"Now that the sun is coming up, I do believe I'll go sleep for a while." I smiled, his little jest making me feel instantly lighter.

"Sweet dreams." He smiled softly as well. He reached out and squeezed my hand before removing his gear. Sheik reappeared when it was obvious we were done with our chat.

"Still up for a walk?" I nodded and finished wiping the dishes down. Link ascended to his loft as we slipped out the door.

I headed for the woods, Sheik trailing behind me. "Sheik?" I called. I heard an 'hm?' sound from behind me. "I've been practicing my magic, but I was hoping you could help me out. I know our magic is different but I figured any tips you could give would be helpful." I turned and he caught up, seemingly pondering my request.

"What have you been practicing?"

"Mainly fire-type works. I seem to be most adept at those, but I've been curious about healing and water-type magic." He raised an eyebrow.

"Unless you plan on facing your foes near a large body of water, you shouldn't focus as much on water. Fire is good, but you need to learn extreme control. Fire, unlike other elements, can spread by itself if you're not careful. Healing is better, probably a major asset to you right now." I nodded, taking that all in. I was going to continue walking when a crazy idea popped into my head. It was absurd, but not revoltingly so because I voiced the notion to Sheik.

"How about we spar? I want to practice using my magic offensively." He raised his eyebrows in surprise but then narrowed as if he were smirking.

"You're an intriguing royal, my Lady." He backed up and stood perfectly still, awaiting my attack.

"Just, no disappearing on me. Okay? I' not that advanced." He nodded slowly and that was good enough for me. I started by summoning my small flame. Doing what I had a hundred times the past month, I spread it out with my hands and maneuvered it. When I was sure I had control over it, I shot a bolt at an intense speed towards Sheik. He dodged easily, of course, and then countered with three spikes heading toward me I twirled out of the way, sending another wave toward him. Before he had a chance to attack again, I struck three consecutive flames toward him. Changing it up a bit, I focused on the rocks sitting near us. While swiftly moving from Sheik's assaults, I lifted the rocks and sent them flying towards him. He jumped, twisted and even flipped out of the way, sending my projectiles smashing into the stone wall behind him.

"Nice. Now, time to get up close and personal," he said before bolting towards me. I panicked, not knowing enough to protect myself. I remember reading of a reflective shield; I never really bothered to learn how to engage it. Going back to fire, I set my palms ablaze as Sheik neared. He snaked a hand forward. I dodged and moved to grip his arm. He spun on his heel, twirling around to strike low with his elbow. Not jumping out of the way quick enough, I took the blow to my thigh rather than my ribs. It still hurt. To make things better, I heard the sharp shnk as he pulled out a small blade. Seeing the metal, I instantly thought of electricity. I had practiced some energy moves, but I needed to make contact with something that conducted electricity. Human and metal both fit that criteria, so I went with it. Charging my hands, I prepared for the next strike when I heard a blade being drawn and the sound of feet approaching quickly. I noticed out of the corner of my eye that Rusl was charging after Sheik. I quickly dropped my defensive stance and stepped in front of the path.

"Rusl, stand down! This man is not attacking me!" He skidded to a stop and seemed to gauge Sheik's presence. Behind me, he too had dropped his battle stance and was looking rather bored now that our game had been stopped. Rusl slowly lowered his sword and glanced to me. "We were simply dueling for the sake of sharpening my defensive skills," I reassured him. Still looking doubtful he sheathed his blade. Then he focused on my face. I gauged his initial shock, which turned darker as he continued to survey me.

"Zelda, what is this? What happened?" I grimaced at the revelation of my marred face, but I really had no other choice. I suppose if anyone was to see a member of the Resistance was better than a civilian.

"It's a rather nasty scar I had recently obtained. Not from a blade, but from dark magic." His face dropped of any confusing and seemed to take on a more understanding look.

"Is this why Link has been so vacant as of recently?"

"Yes," I concurred and brought my hands to fiddle with my orange belt. "I suppose I should inform you of things that have trespassed as of recently." He smiled grimly.

"You're no obligated to, but if there's anything I can do to help I'll need to be read in." I nodded.

"Shall we sit by the spring?" I motioned to the path leading to the gates and he nodded. I stepped forward with him following behind me; Sheik striding next to me. We passed through the gates and walked onto the small beach surrounding the pure water. I could feel the presence of Ordona stir –they've always been able to sense the holders of the Triforce, and I smiled. I said a quick prayer, before sitting before by the edge of the water and crossing my legs – not something I was able to do often seeing as I was always wearing dresses. Sheik stayed a distance back and Rusl came to sit right next to me, his knees bents and rested his elbows on his knees. I sighed deeply, content to bask in the Light Spring. My mood soured when I had to speak of everything that has happened. I did talk about everything: the attacks, the 'arrow' which in turn led to the black scar, the horrible pain I endured when the magician – who was my head contractor in rebuilding my home - assailed me, the deaths of Lenora and the guards, and how he attacked me in my own room which led to why I was hiding here in Ordon for the time being. I also introduced him to Sheik, saying he was my Sheikan guardian sent in my time of need and how he had been helping me find out where Lloyd was getting this dark powers – if he was indeed gaining them from Ganondorf – and why he was plaguing Hyrule. Also that he found a way to revert the mark therefore eliminating any possible 'possession' as I put it. I shared with him some new theories, such as the mark was possibly trying to reach my eyes or my mind, or possibly even my heart. Rusl added in that it was crawling down my arm and not towards my heart. I looked at my wrist in contemplation.

"Maybe he has no control over where the mark extends to…" I thought out loud.

"Or," Sheik interjected for the first time since Lloyd appeared, "he doesn't want to possess you just yet. Maybe he just wants you to stress over it for now." That made a lot of sense, and was most likely the more probable situation. I sat in silence for a while before Rusl spoke up again.

"Is there anything I or the Resistance could do?" I perked up.

"Now that you mention it, do you think maybe Shad could take a look at some of his old texts to see any mention of this? Of anything regarding possession and dark magic?" He nodded his head once.

"I'll make a trip out to Telma's today. Shall I inform them of this?" I nodded.

"Yes – I know Telma has seen some of what has been going on and I'm sure she would like to be fully informed. But as for others," he knew I meant the Ordon villagers, "if you could keep it from them for now. The less they know they better off they are."

"Of course."

"Thank you, Rusl. I am deeply indebted to you and the rest of the Resistance."

"There is no debt, My Queen. Just loyalty." I smiled a small but genuine smile, hoping he could tell how much that meant to me.

Not indicating if he did or did not, he stood up. "I suppose I should head out, while the day is still young. Good day, Zelda." He nodded to Sheik before stepping out and toward the village again, presumably to get the necessary gear to travel.

I watched him exit the spring area before looking at Sheik.

"Let's head back, I'm starting to get a headache again." He nodded and we headed back.