AN: I waffled around a lot with this chapter, and after some internal debate, decided not to include the Harvest Ball and make that it's own chapter. So, this chapter is short, but had I added the Harvest Ball, it would've probably ended up around 15-20 pages long.

The following two weeks were a flurry of activity. Wren took to the boomerang very quickly causing Link to decide to move on to other weapons, her training with Zelda was going well enough for the Queen to move the lessons towards summoning a proper Nayru's Love, and Sheik's telepathy and stealth lessons were moving slow but steady.

Like Sheik promised, these lessons were incredibly painful, worse than any training with Link and Zelda. Wren often left the lesson in tears due to the splitting headaches brought on by trying to force Sheik out of her head. More than once she had to be led over to her bed, a vomit pail by her side; it took two lessons for them to learn that they should do her training after Wren ate only a small breakfast.

Wren had been fitted for two half swords, smaller and lighter than a single sword, but designed to be used in tandem. She wouldn't be able to carry a shield, but when welded properly, the swords could provide enough coverage to ensure safety. She carried these crossed across her back and was currently working on swiftly unsheathing them as well as basic sword play.

Link and Sheik also made sure she was fitted with a utility belt. The wide, brown, leather garment hugged her hips and had several pouches and straps built into it. Wren could now store anything from bottles of potion, to her throwing knives, to a boomerang in a sling that hung loosely around her outer thigh. Her chainmail was also ready; the semi-heavy linked armor had been incorporated into her daily life to help condition her muscles. She wore it everywhere, and at night she found herself soaking in her tub, the warm water soothing her sore muscles.

Sha'Lyn had responded to Wren's letter. She assured her that she would be at the Harvest Ball and was quite thrilled that Wren had developed such a relationship with Sheik. She briefly wrote on more Bokoblins in the forest, but the focus of the letter was primarily on how proud she was of "her Goddess."

Sheik and Wren remained on a courting status. They still shared a bed, but not intimately, and they had done nothing more than kiss. This was a mutual agreement; they would move the relationship along after they felt comfortable enough with each other to do so. Until then, they would continue to court and get to know each other. Wren's nightmares had yet to abate, but they were easier for Sheik to control. He barely had to tap into Wren's subconscious to calm her down, the small light becoming easier and easier to find. Sheik could simply roll over, half awake, and enter Wren's mind to sooth her.

The knights had returned from their trek to the desert with bad news. They were unable to find the temple and the Gerudo's were less than welcoming to them. They were not hostile towards the men, but they wouldn't allow them to stay in their city. The knights were forced to camp outside of the walls in the elements. They returned to their King rather disheartened, and it was up to Link to bring morale back to his men.

The leaves on the trees had begun to turn from green to orange, the apples in the castle's orchards were ripe and nearly falling off the branches, and the farmers working their crops in Hyrule Field were bringing in their harvests for various vendors. It was Wren's favorite time of year; she could spend the majority of her time outdoors and the cool fall air brought a refreshing change to the usually warm training sessions.

Wren didn't have to go far to find a snack since the orchards and vineyards were bringing in apples, pears, and grapes by the barrel full; all of which were being turned into pies and other sweet treats by Henrietta and her kitchen staff. Pumpkins and other squash were also brought in to be turned into both sweet and savory dishes, as well as onions and turnips. Link even took out a small hunting party early one morning and returned with bags full of various fowl and two large bucks. These were processed into full meals for the knights and their families.

Castle Town was in a state of pleasant mania. The vendors had carts stocked full of various goods, people hustled and bustled back and forth to ensure they got the best deal on their purchases. Whatever was left when the day was done was donated to a local food pantry; Castle Town, as well as the majority of Hyrule, didn't have a poverty and unemployment problem, but it did have a large elderly population. Cooks and vendors would team up to ensure that Castle Town's elderly residence got a fresh, home cooked meal delivered to their doorstep each night, along with any groceries requested.

People were also preparing for winter. Hats, scarves, coats, and other heavy clothing were featured in many stores. Various persevering supplies also flew off the shelves; many home cooks were busy preserving whatever they could into glass jars, larders, root cellars, and ice chests.

The city erupted when Zelda sent out messengers announcing the annual Harvest Festival and Ball. Only a select few farmers would be invited to the Ball itself, along with dignitaries from outlying tribes, members of the court and their families, and the various Dukes that ran their own Duchies in the different regions of Hyrule. A carnival would be held for the citizens of Castle Town; games, entertainment, food and drink, along with random prizes were all planned.

Every member of the Royal Family was fitted for appropriate clothing for the occasion. Both Wren and Zelda would wear gowns in the appropriate color for the season, with Wren's gown allowing room for her to show off her swords (something Link insisted on and Zelda begrudgingly agreed to), and Link and Sheik were fitted for new tunics. Both of the men would wear chainmail under their tunics, guards on their heavy gloves, and their combat boots. Link would be armed with the Master Sword while Sheik would carry his sword, which Wren had never seen him carry, on his hip. Wren quickly gathered that this Ball was just as much about the Royals showing off their prowess as it was for merriment.

Early arrivals started to show up at the castle shortly after the invites had been sent. According to Sheik, this was typical, even though the Ball wasn't for three more days.

"Why though? What's the point of showing up so early?"

Sheik was escorting Wren to the training arena, a few early guests had gathered nearby to observe the knights and Link.

"They are here to show off just as much as we are. By showing up so early, they are hoping to gain favor with Zelda even though they don't really need to. Plus, some of the Earls and Dukes, the younger ones in particular, are hoping to get some insight from Link. Sheikah dignitaries will arrive soon, and they will want the same thing from me. They hang around the training arena all day to catch Link's attention."

"I don't want an audience when I'm training. The last thing I need is to make a fool of myself with weapons."

They were at the arena and Link was jogging across the training field to meet them. He was sweaty from the morning's exercises with his knights, but still energetic enough for a full afternoon with Wren.

Sheik continued on, "I can try to scare them away if you want."

"Would that be considered rude though? I don't want to offend anyone."

"No, no, not at all." Sheik turned and faced the growing crowd that was migrating towards the arena, "The Vessel has requested privacy in her training with the King. Please, find something else to occupy your time."

A few people grumbled, shrugged their shoulders, and moved away, while others stood their ground. Wren saw more than one person with the audacity to sneer at Sheik.

Wren no longer needed to touch Sheik to speak in his mind; she let the familiar warmth and his strong autumn taste flow through her, "Well, that could've gone better."

"Yes. I see most of them still don't respect me. That's a shame really."

"Anything we can do about it?"

"Not without ruffling more than a few feathers. It's not worth it, we could lose allies."

"So we just have to let them be rude to you?"

"Pretty much."

"Fuck that!"

"Wren! No!"

Before Wren could open her mouth to admonish what remained of the crowd, Link appeared, "Hey, you heard him! Sir Sheik is requesting privacy on behalf of the Holy Vessel. Go find something else to do! I will train with you when I see fit!"

Link's words and tone sent a visible tremor through the small group, who scattered in the most dignified manner possible.

He turned to Wren, "Alright, let's polish those sword skills."

Like Sheik promised, a small emissary of Sheikah diplomats arrived two days before the Ball. They took up the majority of Sheik's time, much to Wren's chagrin, spending their time between the library and the training ground with him. At least with this bunch, Sheik's rank was respected; the Sheikah he was training with were of importance in their tribes, but Sheik was still ranked above them. Wren was reminded of awkward first visit between Sha'Lyn, Sheik, and herself. Sheik carried himself with unmet poise around these half dozen people, and they all treated him with reverence.

These six Sheikah were all garbed differently. Two wore outfits designed for the desert or perhaps a volcanic region: light silken pants, loose tops, sandals, and their lower faces were covered by a handkerchief like garment that tied behind their head. Their hair had been shorn close to their scalps, making it difficult to discern male from female, and their skin was incredibly tanned from their time spent in the sun.

Another two arrived wearing heavy furs and boots designed for the cold and snow. They quickly changed their garb once they arrived the castle, but their dress still remained modest and they never took off their heavy boots. They wore white from head to toe; even their hair was white, bleached by the intense sunlight, and their faces were ruddy and wind beaten. This tribe opted to wear heavy goggles over their eyes; a practical disguise for life high in the mountains where sun light glared off of the snow, the fog colored tint of the lenses allowed the Sheikah to see and remain masked at the same time.

The final two dressed in complete opposite as the mountain Sheikah in tight fitting black clothing. They were an enigma to Wren. She couldn't place where exactly this tribe would have come from, only that they did their dealings in the dark. Their hair, what little could be seen from under their wraps, had been dyed black, and everything but their eyes were obscured by their cowls. They had the same red eyes as the other Sheikah, but they seemed far more intense, almost like they were judging everything around them. These two followed Sheik the closest, walking beside him instead of behind him.

Naturally, each tribal dignitary was armed with his or her own special weapons. The desert Sheikah held specialized in spears, while the mountain Sheikah used chains and pick axes. The black Sheikah held no visible weapons, but Wren wasn't stupid enough to believe they were unarmed. Perhaps they specialized in magic? Or, more likely, they were experts in concealed weapons and hand to hand combat.

Either way, they took up all of Sheik's time, and because Zelda was preparing for the Ball, Wren spent most of the day with Link. She would have the following day to herself since Link was unable to worm his way out of entertaining the new arrivals.

She spent this day off between a solo training session made up mostly of calisthenics and weights, sitting alone in her room for an hour or two trying to summon a proper Nayru's Love (the one she produced was small, but it didn't burn her hand), and browsing the library to find a book to take to the orchard for some alone time. She settled on a collection of fairy tales, some literal fairy tales, but most of them stories designed for children.

Wren entered the orchard unnoticed; the workers were all busy with harvest or tending to the trees in one way or another. She found a secluded spot in a shaded grove, settled under a tree, and cracked open her book.

"I see The Guardian hasn't trained you very well if you aren't always alert."

Wren jumped, the book falling from her hands, instinctively reaching for one of the knives on her belt. The speaker, one of the black Sheikah, came out of nowhere; it seemed he (she?) materialized from the shadows. The voice was the true definition of androgynous, too deep to be feminine, but not low enough to be male.

"Ah, but he did manage to get some reflexes in you."

The Sheikah stood behind the tree Wren had been resting against, a bored hunch in his shoulders; he was taller than Wren by about a head, and entirely far too intimidating.

She stood, hand still near her belt, "Well, I don't usually expect to get attacked in the castle's orchards. I'll make sure to keep an eye open for wayward Sheikah's next time."

The Sheikah circled around the tree, placing Wren between him and it.

Finally, he broke the silence, "You should. I've been watching you all day, from the training arena, to the library, to here. You are incredibly easy to stalk. Far too unaware of your own surroundings. Weaker than I imagined too, I had an image of you all built up in my head as some ferocious Goddess but I find…. You."

Wren clenched her teeth, he was purposely trying to get a rise out of her, and she wouldn't let that happen, "Aren't you supposed to be with Sheik right now?"

Just what exactly is this guy's deal?

"The Guardian? He won't know that I'm missing, he's too busy with the Desert and Mountain Sheiks to notice a missing Shadow Sheikah."

"You seriously don't think he can count to six? He knows your missing. Perhaps you're just not worth his time."

That struck a chord. The Sheikah took a step closer to Wren, causing her to tense, ready to flee or fight at a moment's notice.

I could slash at him and run like Hell.

No, too risky, besides he could dodge it.

Well you can't just sit here and chat with him all day.

Then just run, or dismiss yourself.

And let him follow me?

Yes, straight to Sheik.

It's better than being alone with him.

"Believe me when I say this, I am worth his time. The Royals depend on the Shadow Sheikah to get rid of monsters you wouldn't even imagine in your darkest dreams. Trust me, a Guardian Sheikah would be nothing without the Shadow Sheikah."

"I don't believe that for a second. Not the bit about your job, I don't really care about that, but the last part about him being nothing without you. The fact that he hasn't come to hunt you down yet is proof enough. Or, perhaps he doesn't care. Who knows, he could think you aren't worth teaching."

She barely saw his arm twitch, hardly felt the throwing knife swish past her ear, and only registered what had happened by the dull thud from the knife into the tree behind her.

His next words were measured, patient, but also cold, "Remember, just because you are a Goddess's vessel, that does not make you immortal. Watch who you backtalk. Your devotion to The Guardian is admirable, but you are also weak, and easy to kill."

Wren had drawn one of her own knives without realizing it, the cool blade felt wonderfully heavy in her hand, "Then watch who you stalk. And, next time, start with something nice instead of insulting me."

She turned and grabbed the knife out of the tree; it was a beautiful weapon with spiraled designs forged into the handle, which would make it far easier to Sheik to identify.

"And I will be keeping this. Goodbye."

She turned and made it part way out of the grove, her steps were quick as she worked her way towards a bundle of workers, following them out of the orchard and into the common courtyard.

Sheik was, thankfully, working with the five other Sheikah nearby in the training arena. She got as close as she dared and before sending out her frequency to him.

"We need to talk."

"When?"

"As soon as possible."

"Something is troubling you—"

"You're damn right something is troubling me. We will talk about it when you can. Until then, I am going to stick around."

She caught sight of the Shadow Sheikah out of the corner of her eye. He was arrogantly leaning against one of the castle's walls, giving her an appraising look. He had quietly followed her; she hadn't even noticed him, she was in such a hurry to find Sheik.

"Sooner would be better than later."

Sheik immediately stopped his lesson, much to the confusion of his trainees, and dismissed them for the remainder of the day.

He exited the training arena and faced Wren, "What's wrong?"

Wren barely tilted her head toward the Shadow Sheikah and spoke in Sheik's head, "Him. He apparently followed me around all day and then ambushed me in the orchards. After insulting me for a bit he decided it was best to attack me."

Sheik tossed the Shadow Sheikah a quick look and faced Wren, "Walk with me."

He laced his bandaged fingers through hers and walked directly past the Shadow Sheikah, whose eyes widened slightly at the sight of the two before him, and into the castle.

Once they were in Sheik's room with the door closed and locked behind them, Sheik sat Wren down on the bed and perched himself next to her.

"I need you to tell me everything that happened. What exactly did he say? What did he do?"

"Well, for starters, he chucked this at my head." Wren took the dagger off of her belt and handed it to Sheik, "He was aiming to miss, but as a scare tactic, it was pretty damn effective."

Sheik examined the handle of the blade while Wren told him what had transpired.

When she was done, Sheik placed the blade on the bedside table, removed his cowl, and gently kissed her.

"He showed you that he could easily kill you and then threatened to do so. Fairly typical aggression really, especially for his tribe. The fact that he followed you around is more than concerning, and the very idea that I wouldn't notice him missing is laughable. I figured he had other affairs to attend to, and let him be."

Wren rested her head on Sheik's shoulder, "Who is he anyway?"

"He is the leader of the Shadow Sheikah."

"Know his name?"

Sheik shook his head.

"Of course not… any way we can get him out of the castle before tomorrow?"

"Probably not. The Shadow Sheikah are our chief monster and ghost hunters, and they also get to deal with the less than savory underbelly of Hyrule. They keep the peace amongst those who want to live as outsiders. It's a pretty thankless, and incredibly dangerous, job. They have to hunt down and dispose of angry Poes as well as any other vengeful spirit that happens to be roaming around."

"Great. So he sticks around."

Sheik reclined onto the bed, pulling Wren with him to nestle into his side, "Just stay close to me during the Ball. Sha'Lyn should be there as well, and her tribe is already weary of the Shadow Sheikah. Lots of bad blood there so she will be on her guard."

"Oh?"

"The Shadow Sheikah have reign over almost all of Hyrule, basically, they can take over an area and use it as they see fit; they have to have this right for their job, but that doesn't mean they don't sometimes abuse that power. Whenever they are in the forest, they tend to treat the Sheikah there as inferiors by ignoring their advice and treating them like servants instead of Sheiks. The Forest Sheikah tolerate it since they don't have to see them much, but they also don't go out of their way to ask for help from the Shadow Sheikah."

"Anything else I should know about him?"

"He is skilled in telepathy, it's one of the first things the Shadow Sheikah train for. He might try to get into your head to see just what he can find. If he does that, you send a message to me right away and fill your head with the nonsense I taught you."

"That's good to know."

Wren's eyes were starting to get heavy, she was exhausted from a mix of her lack of sleep and the day's events. She turned onto her side, tangled her leg with Sheik's, rested her arm on his chest and placed her head over his clavicle.

"I need a nap."

"Sleep then, I'm obviously not going anywhere."

"Promise?"

Sheik chuckled, "You know, that's probably the third or fourth time you've made me promise not to leave before you fell asleep."

"Hmm, I guess so. Not gonna stop by the way. I like knowing you're here. It's nice."

Sheik stayed silent as Wren nodded off.

His premonition would come true eventually, and he would tell her his name.

But, for now, he just wanted to let her sleep, her face serene, and her breath steady. The Ball would take place the following evening, and, especially after today's events, he would have to remain on his top guard.