The Good Fall Harder From Grace

by thewindsong

Murderer. Thief. Sheik's been called worse. It's just what he has to do to get by. But when a new job comes in from an unknown source to kill the Prince of Hyrule, Sheik's world falls. Schemes. Evil. An ugly past that won't quit haunting him. And all he has to face it with is Link: the stupid, tender-hearted prince he was supposed to kill and ended up kidnapping instead.

25. Triumphant

Disclaimer: I don't own any part of the Legend of Zelda. All other original characters belong to me.

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The Good Fall Harder From Grace

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Chapter Twenty-Four: Triumphant

"What am I doing?" Sheik muttered to himself, jogging up the stone staircase leading to the southern gate of Castle Town. "What am I doing? What the fuck am I doing? This is…" He shook his head, swallowing. "This is fucking crazy." He was running on pure adrenaline in that moment. That was all he had, because so many things in his head were screaming at him to turn around and run for his life. This was how he was meant to die, wasn't it? Doing some kind of stupid, heroic shit like this? He'd be recognized, for sure. Ganon didn't seem like the kind of man who'd forget a face, for as little as Sheik knew about him. Sheik was very afraid of getting caught; who wouldn't be? He had Nayru, and that made him the one thing Ganon wanted most in the world. If they weren't incredibly careful about this, he would have them both, Link and him; a package deal.

There are plenty of positive outcomes at the ready on this day, Son of the Sheikah, Nayru told him. This does not have to end badly. I am with you, beside you, and the Man of the Desert doesn't know you're here just yet.

But he will, soon? Sheik though, confused. He'd almost made it to the great wooden doors, which were slightly ajar. He wondered if that was normal, for them to be open like that.

He will, soon, she agreed. Once you start drawing attention to yourself.

Drawing attention to myself? Sheik asked.

There is a gathering, in the center of this city, she said. I can sense all of the beings, all of the souls, concentrated in the heart of all of this stone. He will notice you, before long, but not right away.

There was a gathering in the city square? That might explain why Castle Town appeared so deserted from the outside. And he won't be able to sense you? Sheik wondered. How can you manage that?

I can keep myself hidden, she told him. Is that not what I did before, when you travelled with the Prince? There was a bell-like sound in his head, soft and chiming. He thought it to be her laughter. If I stay dormant, I can keep them almost entirely blind to me. The Man of the Desert will only notice you when you begin to use my energy, Son of the Sheikah, and that will be the time for quick thinking.

"So Ganon can't know about either of us until the last possible moment," Sheik surmised. "I guess I had no notions that any of this would be easy." He came to a stop right in front of the open door, trying to peer around the corner. He was surrounded by stone on all sides—the staircase he stood on, the archway above. This entire city was made with stone, laid done brick by brick. He glanced over his shoulder, making sure he wasn't being watched. All of his senses were kicking in; all of his assassin instincts reawakening.

"May I ask you something, before we do this?" he whispered, realizing a little too late that there was no need for him to still be speaking aloud.

Of Course, Son of the Sheikah.

Sheik wrinkled his nose. He still hadn't gotten used to her calling him by that name, but he didn't exactly think it would be wise to correct a goddess. When… if I have to rely on you… on your magic to… to help us, how exactly is that going to work? Because every time Farore worked through Link, he was completely taken over, and I have to admit that I'm—

I will communicate with you, when it is time, she interrupted. But until then, I must stay hidden. I will work through you, Son of the Sheikah. You will be in control of my power. That is how it's meant to be.

That's how it is with Din and Lord Ganon, Sheik realized. A good amount of his power must come from Din. But then—how did he ever succeed in pulling all of you down from the sacred realm to exist in mortal hosts?

Dark magic is a powerful thing, Son of the Sheikah. The Man of the Desert uses Din, yes, and you will use me in a similar way. But you can never force me, like that dark mortal does to my sister. There was a definite tone of warning to her words.

W—will it feel like when we were breaking down the wall? he asked, still incredibly afraid of walking into this so blindly. He still hadn't made it past the door.

Yes, much like then. Her words were warm now, encouraging. It is time, she advised. I cannot say how the events of today will go, Son of the Sheikah, for I foresee see many outcomes. But I can say this. Sheik swallowed nervously, listening as she went on. History is being written by you and I; by the young prince and my sister, Farore. Even by the Man of the Desert and Din. Take your next step with faith.

Sheik sighed, letting her wisdom wash over him, trying to push his cynicism aside. It was his first instinct to snort and roll his eyes at her words, but he made himself think. Nayru had a point. Today wasn't written yet. They could still win this, no matter the odds. If he fought tooth and nail, he could win; he could run from this city with Link beside him. He had to believe in that.

On guard, Sheik said to her, taking one last deep breath and slipping behind the enormous wooden door, into the city.

I am ever watchful, was her reply, and then her presence faded into silence, though she left with him a sense of purposeful clarity. He may not have had a plan, but he knew what he was there to do, and even if it didn't seem like enough, it was what he had and he'd never have any more than that.

Link needed him.

After slipping through the door, Sheik looked around, eyes narrowed. This was the southern thoroughfare—he recognized it from his short stay in the city, in the days before he'd been planning to murder Link. If what William and Zelda said was true, and it was market day, then something was terribly wrong.

The street was empty. Sure, there were carts and stalls lined up along either side, stacked against the high-walled buildings. There were bags of rice and barrels of turnips and all kinds of things one might find in a large city's market. But there were no people. The street was completely empty of any living or breathing soul that Sheik could see, and he remembered this street as being clogged with buyers and sellers and onlookers. So crowded that he remembered avoiding it, because he wouldn't have been able to make it through without accidentally touching and being touched by many people, a thought that used to scare and repulse him a lot more than it did now. He supposed he had his own personal growth to thank for that, because he very much missed the hustle and bustle now. It would have at least been easier to hide in. Now, even though he clung to the walls and corners and shadows, it still felt like he was being watched.

There was some kind of a low murmur coming from up ahead; the further he moved down the street, and the deeper he got into the city, the more it turned into a dull roar. He used the roar to find his direction, figuring the noise must be coming from the plaza with the enormous fountain. Sheik didn't have an expert's knowledge of this place—all he knew was what he'd studied when he thought he'd have to make a run for it after executing the prince.

He frowned at that thought, picturing Link, small and vulnerable, bleeding out from his neck onto the polished marble floor of the castle. The thought made him stop, and he had to close his eyes for a brief moment and remember how he'd been willing and prepared to gut Link like a fish. He shuddered. What made Link so important to him now? What had changed?

Sheik's lips curled back, his brow drawing down low over his eyes. What was he thinking? Fuck that. Everything had changed. Absolutely everything was different now, and he—

Sheik stiffened, perking up and throwing himself against the base of a nearby stall, keeping himself low to the ground. He heard footsteps, approaching from the same way he'd come. The steady tap-tap-tap of boots on the cobbled streets weren't to be mistaken, and it was far too early for William to have started following him yet; nor did he think William would be stupid enough to make so much noise.

Sheik stretched up from his crouch just far enough to peer over the edge of the stall.

A woman was marching down the center of the cobblestone. She was garbed in black from head to toe, heavy fabrics clinging to her form in ways that suggested the need for maneuverability. Two large swords were strapped to her back in an X, and the bottom half of her face was obscured by a black scarf. It was unmistakably one of Ganon's guards. One of the women from the desert.

But patrolling the street? Why on earth would—

"You, there!"

Sheik hissed in surprise, hunching back down below the stall. Another one of the women was marching towards him from the other direction. How in the hell had he not seen her? She had swords strapped to her back as well, but they were not drawn either. Did they not see him as a threat? Did they… did they not recognize him?

Sheik stood slowly from his crouched position, his shoulders hunched in a defensive stance. He wasn't exactly sure what was going to happen, but he wanted to be ready for it.

"Avacyn, you stupid cunt," the woman who was approaching Sheik hissed, clearly talking to the other guard. "How could you have missed this one?"

"How was I supposed to see him through a fucking wooden cart, Vraska?" the other one sneered, jogging over to them and grabbing Sheik's arm. He just hoped they wouldn't notice the color of his eyes—he could pass as a Hylian in every other aspect but that one. "You're just lucky you passed by him first."

"And you call yourself a Gerudo," the first one retorted.

This wasn't the first time in Sheik's career that he'd been caught hiding where he shouldn't be. Luckily, he knew well enough how to play along. "I'm—I'm s-sorry," he stammered. "I just got scared."

The one on his left, who had spotted him first—Vraska—narrowed her yellow eyes at him. He tried to keep his averted to the ground, praying it would be enough. "Nothing to be scared of, but you heard the order just the same as the rest of the people, boy. Everyone is to be gathered in the plaza, King's orders."

Avacyn snorted behind her scarf, rolling her eyes. "Good King Daniel just has an announcement to make," she said, her voice like a whispering hiss. Both of them laughed together, leading Sheik by the arms down the street, closer to the center of the city. They made a turn, the high-walled brickwork buildings opening up onto the enormous city-center plaza. Only… every single square foot of it was filled with every Hylian that lived in Castle Town.

Sheik had never seen such a crowd. Thousands of people stood jammed together, shoulder to shoulder, chest to back. They were all facing north, towards the gate and bridge that led to the castle, where it looked like some sort of stage had been erected. The stage was empty of people, but it certainly looked like it was destined for something important. Red and gold banners were draped around the edge, and it was decorated with all manner of colorful flowers: roses and calla lilies, snapdragons and larkspur. It was a burst of color against an otherwise dreary and ominous backdrop, and Sheik immediately knew that this had been done on purpose. Whoever or whatever was going to be on that stage wanted the only source of color and brightness in the square to be associated with them.

"Alright, you," Avacyn, at his right, said. "Stay put here until the King is done with his speech, understand?"

Vraska, at his left, let go of him as well, pushing him forward against the back of the crowd, knocking him into several people. Sheik apologized all around, still trying to play his part, but as soon as the Gerudo women were gone, he put his head down and disappeared into the thick crowd.

He found himself more than a bit worried about the others, following after him in only a few minutes. He wasn't sure if William could handle himself when confronted like that in a situation, and what about when Zelda and Rowan followed after? Surely Zelda would be recognized? Sheik kept weaving his way through the bodies, thinking to find himself a good place to stand and observe the area until he could find out what exactly was going on. He was trying not to let his hopes and confidence crumble around him, because despite the adrenaline he was still running on that kept him bright-eyed and alert, he was growing worried.

Bodies were packed so tightly together that he was having a great deal of trouble making any progress towards the front at all, and he just couldn't see. Maybe if he—

The fountain. If he stood on the edge of the fountain, it might give him just enough elevation to see. People were already standing all along its edge, so it seemed like a good option. He kept working his way through the tightly-packed bodies, slowly getting closer, apologizing to everyone who turned and gave him a dirty look when he forced his way through. Everything was so loud—the plaza was filled with hundreds of murmuring voices, the occasional shout of one of Ganon's guards only adding to the din.

Sheik stopped moving for a moment to get his bearings, breathing hard from his struggling through the crowd. It had been well over five minutes since he entered the city, so William had probably already started following him. Sheik hoped he had the sense to keep from being captured.

"The hell are you staring at?" the man next to him grumbled, startling him. Sheik hadn't realized he'd been staring.

"Do you know what all this is about?" he asked, raising an eyebrow, trying to play the role of curious bystander. "I mean, they have us all penned in here—got to be something big, right?"

The man gave him a scathing look. He obviously didn't much like being stuck out there in the cold. "Don't know, but those women soldiers who look like that lord from the desert, they started banging in on all our doors early this morning, telling us that King Daniel had an announcement to make, and we were supposed to show up here." He glanced around them, looking over his shoulder. "We all got the definite impression it was mandatory, if you know what I mean. Those women warriors—Ge-ru-do, I heard people calling 'em—well, they're pushy."

Sheik nodded. "Right, okay. Thank you," he said, and the man nodded to him once. Sheik noticed as he continued to move towards the fountain that the perimeter of the plaza was ringed with one of Ganon's guards every ten feet or so. Their faces were all covered in black scarves, and all that could be seen of them were their yellow eyes, emotionless, keeping the crowd contained with ready swords at their backs. They looked strong, intimidating. More and more, Sheik was getting an eerie feeling about all this. If it had been Ganon's soldiers to force the people into the street, then it didn't seem very likely that this was just an announcement from the King.

He kept his head down as he reached the fountain, not wanting to draw too much attention to himself when he stepped up onto the already-crowded edge. He was trying very hard to stay near the center of the square, so he wouldn't be spotted by the guards along the edge. He'd been lucky enough not to be recognized by the guards who had caught him on the southern thoroughfare, after all. If he wasn't careful, or if he let anyone see his eyes, he could be in trouble.

"Hey," he said in a hushed tone, speaking to the woman next to him. "Do you know what all of this is all about?"

She shook her head sharply. "All we were told was that King Daniel had some kind of big announcement to make." The woman glanced around them quickly before leaning in closer to Sheik, speaking in a quieter voice. "No one's seen him or heard from him for weeks. We all thought maybe he'd took sick."

Sheik frowned in thought, looking back over to where the stage stood; however, the great stone Triforce that was the centerpiece of the fountain was obscuring it. He couldn't see well enough for his liking, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to press this woman for more information. "What's with this 'Lord Ganon' I've been hearing about?"

The woman gave him a funny look, but then snorted. "Not much to say about him, because no one knows much, but we've sure been hearing his name a lot lately. He isn't Hylian, or so I hear. It was rumored he was supposed to marry the Princess, but no one's heard from the girl in weeks, either." Sheik watched as she pursed her lips thoughtfully, pulling her shawl tighter around her sloping shoulders. "I've heard nothing but good things about this Lord Ganon, though. He supposedly came out of the desert to help us, and goddesses know that with that do-nothing King Daniel's reign, we're all wanting for a bit of reprieve. Gets old, being poor, doesn't it? Some people are desperate, willing to believe in anything."

Sheik tried to edge away from her—in her whispering, she'd been growing too close for comfort. "It certainly does," he agreed. "So this… Lord Ganon, he seems a good man?"

She nodded. "Seems so, though those women he had doing his bidding seem a bit suspicious, all done up in black like that. And why—?"

Sheik stopped listening, stepping back off of the edge of the fountain and into the crowd again. He wanted to make his way around to the front of the fixture, so he could stand on the edge and look over the crowd without the enormous carven Triforce obstructing his view.

He noticed, with some dread that a few Hylian soldiers dotted the perimeter of the plaza as well. Exactly how much of a pull did Lord Ganon already have over the people? Zelda had told them how he had already taken control of the city behind the scenes, so it was obviously him who'd called for this gathering. Did this man have Hylian soldiers doing his bidding now as well?

Suddenly, there was barrage of trumpets coming from near where the stage had been, though Sheik still could not see anyone standing on it. He hurried his progress, struggling to make it to the north end of the fountain quickly. The trumpets blared out a few more triumphant notes, and then a voice rang out over the now-hushed sea of people.

"Announcing!" The voice shouted, and Sheik couldn't quite make out where they were standing; but from the sound of it, they were somewhere near the stage. "His Royal Majesty, King Daniel of Hyrule!"

Sheik reached the north side of the fountain at last and hopped up onto it, ignoring the curses muttered at him for squeezing himself in where there was clearly no space. Sheik hated the close proximity to others, but he didn't let it bother him; this was the perfect place to stand. He finally had a clear view of the stage; he could see someone climbing the stairs near it. Someone familiar.

Even from this distance, Sheik could see that King Daniel looked to be in poor health. He was ram-rod thin, and walked onto the stage with a hunched, hollow-eyed presence. Sheik had to wonder if the woman he'd just spoken to had been right about him falling ill. The King found his place on the stage and stood still, surveying the crowd silently. He then visibly swallowed and turned around to look at the back of the stage, at the stairs. Someone else was climbing them now.

"Announcing!" the presenter shouted again, and Sheik's heart flopped in his chest, making him catch his breath as a very familiar shade of blonde hair started rising over the edge of the stage. All the world around him faded away into a gray blur of no motion and little sound, because all of Sheik's attention—all of his sight, his awareness, his hearing—all of it was focused intently and entirely on that stage. There was nothing else in the world but him and the person climbing those stairs right at that very moment; because as they climbed, that blonde hair gave way to a sallow, sunken face and tired, hollowed eyes. Even from this far away, Sheik could see it in him, see how badly he'd been hurt. He didn't look the same; he look staved and tired and beaten, and immediately, Sheik's blood started to boil.

The voice of the announcer brought the rest of the world flooding back into his senses. He didn't exactly welcome it. "His Royal Highness, Prince Link of Hyrule!"

Link reached the top of the stairs and limped his way over to stand beside his father, who was looking down at him with observable worry. Why wasn't anyone in this crowd saying anything? Something was very obviously wrong here—both father and son looked so sickly, especially Link. Didn't anyone else in the crowd see that?

But oh, goddesses. Oh, fuck. Oh, heavens above, that was Link standing there, as sure as the grass was green or the sky was blue. That was Link, his stupid little princeling, and Sheik could see him. He was right there!

Sheik needed to get to him now, while he was outside and in the open. What kind of luck was shining down on him that Link was standing a hundred feet away from him? Here he'd been thinking that he'd have to sneak into the castle and find his location through a combination of sleuthing and sheer luck. But there he was! There he fucking was! Something started hammering in his chest. Sheik wasn't sure whether it was Nayru or his heart, but whatever it was, it hurt. The tugging sensation he felt, trying to pull him towards that stage and to Link, what in the world was that? Every little bit of him felt connected to that boy, Nayru multiplying this feeling tenfold with her connection to Farore. How was Sheik supposed to save him when he couldn't even get his heartbeat to behave?

He's right there, he thought loudly, practically screaming the thought at Nayru. Fuck, he's right there! Look at him! He looks very bad! And so sick! He's wearing all of that ceremonial prince shit, but he looks like a fucking skeleton! What has that bastard been doing to him?!

Nayru's voice came to him with a wash of quiet, boiling fury. He has been torturing them, as a pair. The Prince and my Sister. With his evil desert magic. She paused, her wrath boiling. You should not speak to me. I should stay hidden.

I'm going to fucking tear his insides out through his mouth if he—

A third figure was making its way up the steps, daintily picking her way to the top. "Announcing her Royal Majesty, Queen Marguerite of Hyrule!" The Queen's face slowly became visible as she stepped out onto the stage. Sheik didn't know what he'd been expecting from her, but it was not what he saw. She was curvy and lithe as she glided across the stage to stand near her husband and stepson. Her long golden hair had been intricately woven back, and an opulent white dress hugged her pregnant belly well. Rose-red lips smiled adoringly out at the crowd, but it all seemed incredibly fake to Sheik. Her appearance could not have been more different form Daniel's and Link's, and it was pretty clear that whatever had been going on, she had not been receiving the same treatment as they had.

Sheik looked back to Link, swallowing painfully as he—

"Announcing!" the presenter said for the fourth time, and Sheik had to force himself to tear his eyes away from Link's small, beaten little frame to see that someone else was climbing the steps onto the stage. Someone tall and wide. Someone with hair that seemed as fire, red against the cool gray backdrop that the castle in the background provided. Someone who Sheik remembered being thrown to the ground and mocked by, once upon a time.

"His Grace, Lord Ganon of the Western Gerudo Desert!"

While there had been sparse, polite clapping for Link and his father, more of the people crowded together in the plaza seemed to make an effort of welcoming Lord Ganon. There was something closer to full-blown applause for him, which worried Sheik. It was like the woman he had just talked to had said—they seemed to actually like this man. Just what kind of a farce was he feeding them?

From the stage, Lord Ganon raised his hands, calling for an end to the applause. He was a large man—well-muscled and tall—and he wore extravagant and yet elegant armor of black and gold, an enormous cape of red, black, and gold spilling down from his broad shoulders. His fiery red hair was coifed back into a golden crown-like head piece, a great golden jewel hung on his forehead by fine golden chains. He looked more like a king than the hunched, hollow-eyed King Daniel. A terrible sense of dread was working its way up Sheik's spine. What was all of this?

As soon as Ganon had waved down the applause, King Daniel shuffled forward, his lonely, hollowed eyes scanning over the crowd. "Good people of Hyrule," he began, and when he spoke, his voice was slow and reluctant, bearing no sense of command or power. His words were dull, and fell from his mouth leadenly. It almost as if he were being made to recite lines.

"Thank you for gathering here today, and on such short notice," he went on. Sheik's eyes drifted to watch Link as he spoke, trying to take in every facet of his visage, every sign and signal that Link's body sent out. Oh dear heavens above, he looked so tired, so unhealthy and pale. His shoulders drooped and hunched, much the same as his father's, and he had his arms around his middle, holding onto himself as if to keep himself rooted in place. "I am sure you are all wondering why it is you were asked to gather here today, and furthermore, why I and the rest of the royal court, my son and daughter, my…" he glanced to his left, at Marguerite. "My wife," he finished. "Have kept so much to the castle and to ourselves of late. Why we've been largely ignoring the city and our people."

Daniel directly mentioned his daughter, but made no explanation of where she was or why the Princess Zelda had not joined her family on the stage. Did he or Link actually know what had become of her?

Daniel visibly swallowed before continuing. "I do not deny that these last few years have been… difficult ones for Hyrule, and for the Hylian people. I do not pretend to be blind to the poverty and hardship." Sheik could practically feel the crowd bristling. There were mutters all around him, simmering up from the people, anger and ire and resentment. Sheik watched, frozen, as Link turned his head away from his father to look out over the crowd with an abysmal expression, no doubt frightened by their reaction. Even Sheik wanted to recoil from the sudden sense of animosity that was bubbling up from these people like gas in a swamp. "But I… I…" Daniel cleared his throat, struggling. "I…"

"Go on, your Majesty," Lord Ganon rumbled from the opposite end of the stage. "Say your piece. The people are eager to hear it, and we've left them waiting out in the cold long enough as it is."

Sheik did not miss the way Link's head snapped up to stare in Lord Ganon's direction.

"Of course," King Daniel went on, his shoulders drooping further. "I have..." He was struggling with whatever his next spoon-fed line was, Sheik could tell. "I have failed miserably as a leader. That is apparent to me now. Many rumors have been spread about me, that I spend Hyrule's taxed rupees on secret war efforts, and that I send people to live in the streets when they cannot pay their dues, and perhaps worst of all that I… I use the people's money to ensure myself and my family a life of luxury in these hard times. It has been said that I do not care about Hyrule's people."

Sheik narrowed his eyes. King Daniel looked to be in such pain.

"It is true, that I have set taxes too high." A murmur of anger started working its way through the crowd, a few people here and there shouting at the King from where they stood. Daniel looked down at his feet, wringing his hands. "It is my fault that so many in my kingdom find themselves and their families homeless. I am to be blamed for many things, because I have f-failed you all as your ruler." King Daniel glanced over at Ganon for a brief moment, who was staring intently at him. "Because of my failures, I—I have come to a decision."

Sheik flinched back when Link moved suddenly, scrubbing his hand over his face, moving it back up into his hair, and raking his golden bangs off of his forehead. He looked so frustrated, so exasperated, and yet so weary. Sheik was mentally shouting at him to look his way, just notice that he was standing no more than a hundred feet away from him, waiting to help.

Son of the Sheikah, Nayru murmured, startling him. Sheik took a slow, deep breath, trying to calm his nerves.

Y-yes? he managed.

It is my sisters, she told him. I did not realize how many of their senses had been taken away by their bonds. Din is half-blind to the world around her, and Farore sees only darkness. She is in such a state that she may only perceive the world through the Prince's emotions. Before, when she reached out through the Prince to help you those times, it was because I was beckoning her. I have been keeping my light well-hidden within you ever since we entered this City of Kings, but I am going to try and make contact with Farore now.

Won't Din sense you? Sheik asked, alarmed. Won't Ganon?

Nayru seemed to pause. They may. I will wait, but not for much longer.

So far up to this point, Sheik had been blessedly able to stay hidden as one of the crowd, which was the only thing that seemed to be keeping him safe so far. What Nayru proposed doing would shatter his cover.

Throughout their mental communication, King Daniel had continued with his forced speech; and whilst he spoke, more and more murmurs of unrest were coming from the people. "—why I feel I've really no right at all to be your ruler. Lord Ganon, here, came to us in our time of need. He came to me and showed me the error of my ways, and the goddesses have shown me that he means to help you! I know that in the past, Hyrule has had… altercations—civil wars and battles of old—with other races. Namely the Sheikah tribe, as well as the people of the desert, but those were the fights of our fathers! We are new people now, a new generation!" He gestured to Lord Ganon. "He brings with him the wealth and ways of his tribe in the desert, and it is he who can save the people of Hyrule from this depression that I have resided over."

Every muscle in Sheik's body was tensed. He couldn't believe the King had mentioned the Sheikah. He suddenly felt like he stuck out like a sore thumb among the crowd, even though that was far from true.

Daniel sighed heavily, closing his eyes. "The goddesses have told me… They have instructed me with no room for interpretation that is my duty as King of Hyrule… to step down."

A collective gasp worked its way through the crowd. Everyone was taken aback by this news, Sheik included.

I must try to reach out to Farore, Son of the Sheikah, Nayru persisted, her insistence adding to the cacophony of alarm and confusion in Sheik's head from King Daniel's words.

G-Ganon will sense you, Sheik argued, furrowing his brow.

He has a watchful eye on the Prince, Nayru agreed. He watches the boy and my sister both, but I must try. He has already begun to sense my presence here as it is. I cannot hide myself for much longer. His desert magic is as a leech, drawing me out.

Just wait, Sheik pleaded. He wanted to make some kind of connection with Link first, even if it were just eye contact. Just so he at least knew Sheik was there, before it all went to shit.

You have a matter of seconds, Son of the Sheikah, Nayru warned, sounding more than a bit irritated. To think, a goddess irritated at him. His life had certainly taken a strange turn.

Ganon was speaking now—had been for several seconds, or so it seemed.

"—and I can assure the people of Hyrule that I will apply every bit of the knowledge and wealth of my people to make this kingdom strong and great again, as in days of old! As your new ruler, I will be for you all that Daniel was not—strong and just. All I ask is for your patience in getting all of my plans for this kingdom underway."

People were actually clapping for him. Sheik scrubbed his hand down his face, frantically trying to think of what to do, how to do it. Had Zelda and Rowan followed William into the city yet? Where were they? What was he supposed to do? For all his knowledge in being an assassin and sneaking around to meet his means, he was drawing up blanks here. What could he do? What could he do?

"Riders have already been sent out to Hyrule's major cities, spreading the news of my succession, ordained by the…" he paused, his shoulders rising as he took a deep breath. "By the goddesses. I hope you will all put aside the lack of royal blood running through my veins." He gestured mockingly to Daniel and Link. "But really, where has royalty gotten this kingdom?" A few shouts of agreement rose up from the crowd. Ganon gesture mockingly to Daniel. "It was the selfishness of royalty that brought Hyrule to her knees! Hear me now, because I have made this so called King of Hyrule know the errors of his ways!" He was getting more applause, and Sheik could hardly believe it. More cheers. Up there on the stage, Link looked like he was about ready to die, his face buried in his hands. Did no one see him?! "There may be doubts and naysayers," Ganon went on. "But let me say this: I hope you will accept me as your new King, because it is about time someone brought an end to the suffering and poverty the Hylian people have known this past decade!"

This… this mess, this catastrophe, was so much more than Sheik had expected to be dealing with. This was madness. Why the fuck did Lord Ganon want to be king?!

A sudden idea came to Sheik, and he blinked several times, trying to convince himself that it was crazy. Oh, fuck, was it ever crazy; but it just seemed… right. It was drastic, but 'drastic' sort of seemed to fit the situation. And he needed Link to notice him.

Nayru seemed to sense what he was thinking, and sent up a whelming wave of encouragement.

Lord Ganon's voice rang out over the plaza again. "I would ask you this, members of the Hylian race: are you tired of hunger? Are you tired of living in filth? The Zora and the Goron tribes had the right idea when they abandoned the majority of their ties with your King! How scarcely we seem them now, in your streets and cities, when a hundred years ago they brought serious economic wealth to this kingdom!"

Sheik bit his lip, raking the golden hair from his eyes, trying desperately to work up a drop of courage. How should he do it? When should he speak up?

"As for me," Ganon said, softer now. "I have led my people in the Gerudo desert to glory and prosperity, and I only wish the same for you! I am a man who hates to see suffering, and there is little more to me!" He spread his large hands.

There were roars of applause now, almost deafening to the ear; and even the people standing on the fountain near Sheik clapped for him. But why was Ganon going through the trouble of taking over the kingdom in this fashion? Why lie to the people to gain their trust, rather than just taking everything by force? Maybe he didn't have enough of his female warriors to take all of Hyrule, but he—

"Please, thank you!" Ganon shouted, raising his arms again to bring people's applause to a stop again, his long cape stirring behind him. "I do not expect to be accepted by all so warmly, and expect that many of you have questions, but I—"

Fuck it—it was now or never.

Sheik cupped his hands over his mouth, and took a huge, gulping breath of air. "Hey!" he shouted over the crowd, planting his feet atop his place on the fountain's edge, standing tall. Oh fuck, he was going to have a heart attack. "I have a fucking question for you!"

It was frightening and alarming how quickly everyone grew quiet, and how quickly all pairs of eyes that Sheik could see searched for and found him. Included Ganon's. Including Link's.

Oh, yes. Link saw him, and the way his eyes flew open wide was enough to tear Sheik's heart open, raw and wide.

Sheik just stared at him for a moment, conscious of all the other hundreds of eyes on him. His heart thundered in his chest, his stomach squirmed. Link slowly cocked his head, his small mouth dropping open as he squinted at Sheik.

Sheik lowered his hands from around his mouth, cocking his head right back at him, his chest rising and falling in fits and bursts. Staring into Link's eyes, he forgot himself for just a moment.

Keep your focus, Son of the Sheikah, Nayru told him. I can feel Farore. She can feel me as well.

Link, now completely oblivious to everything but Sheik, took a limping step towards him, bringing him closer to the edge of the stage.

Lord Ganon looked at Link, and then back to Sheik, narrowing his dangerous yellow eyes. "Yes," he called loudly, folding his hands behind his back. He strolled over to Link, planting his large body partially in front of him, eclipsing him and making him look like a child in comparison. "As I was saying," he half-hissed. "I'm sure many of you have questions, but now is not…" Ganon trailed off, raising his chin as he regarded Sheik with an odd expression—one that was slowly turning to one of recognition.

Keep him distracted! Nayru hissed, making Sheik's heart jump.

"You won't even hear what I have to say?" Sheik called back, gesturing expansively around him. "For the love of the fucking goddesses, we all gathered here to hear you speak! Why not let some of us have a turn, if you think you'll be such a fine king!"

Ganon, his entire stance rigid and his expression murderous, opened his mouth to respond, but he was cut off when Link let out a loud shriek behind him. Ganon whirled around just as Link doubled over, clutching at his chest.

What are you doing to him?! Sheik internally screamed, poised to jump off the edge of the fountain, wanting to run to that stage.

It isn't I. Nayru's voice seethed back at him, sounding strained. It is Farore. She is—distract him! she shrieked.

"My question is!" Sheik screamed, causing Ganon to whirl back around to face him. "How fucking long have you been torturing them?!" He waved his arm at Link and his father, gaining traction. "I can see it from here—they're starved and sick! How do we know you won't do the same to us?!"

Murmurs of confusion started to rise, many people exchanging glances and furrowed brows.

"I'm sorry, but you are mistaken," Ganon said through his teeth, walking forward. Link managed to stand up behind him, but he was still clutching at his chest, a stricken look on his face as he stared at nothing but Sheik.

"Oh, I would love for you to prove me wrong!" Sheik called back, shaking his head. "But all I see are two hollow-eyed corpses up there! And do you know what I see out here?" he challenged, gesturing around him again. "I see thirty of your warriors blocking us in here!"

Ganon twitched noticeably, his fingers fidgeting at his side. What, was he going to do magic here, in front of this crowd? Surely he wouldn't dare. Magic wasn't exactly taboo to the common folk, but it was definitely mistrusted.

"What is he talking about?" someone from the crowd called out, their voice echoed by several more shouts of agreement.

"How do we know all you promise us is true?" came another voice, and even more cries of assent.

Sheik almost grinned; his adrenaline was pumping through him, and fuck, this actually seemed to be working. It was giving Nayru the time she needed.

"And where is Princess Zelda?!" Sheik demanded, knowing this question must be on a lot of people's minds. "I thought you were supposed to be married, and now she doesn't even show up to this event?! What did you do with her?!"

The next few seconds following Sheik's accusation felt like they took a lifetime to pass. Lord Ganon finally shook his head, letting a slow, dark laugh pass between his lips. "I see now," he called out, gesturing to him expansively. "Did you think I wouldn't be able to recognize you, Sheikah?"

Sheik swallowed as a jolt of fear racked through him. More people were looking at him now, scowling with suspicion. Fuck! Fuck, why hadn't he thought of a backup plan?!

"It took you long enough!" Sheik snarled back, tensing himself. Maybe he could jump down from the fountain, disappear into the crowd. But no, that wouldn't work, not with them all glaring at him like he was something dirty.

"Indeed," Ganon rumbled, tucking his chin into his chest, staring at Sheik like he was some kind of tasty prize. "And I see now that tucking you away in the prisons for safekeeping was a wise choice." He sniffed, raising his thick russet eyebrows. "To think you had that bitch inside of you all this time, under my nose! Did you think you could hide her away from me?!" Ganon pointed to him, looking out over the people. "Hylians!" he roared. "Do not listen to this naysayer! He is escaped from the prisons! He is dangerous, a criminal, not to be trusted!" Ganon reached into the air, snapping his fingers once. "Sisters, seize him!"

Sheik cursed, gritting his teeth. The people around him on the fountain, the people below him on the ground—the suspicion in their eyes had turned to vehemence.

"You're a Sheikah!" the man next to him hissed, lurching forward and trying to push him off the edge of the fountain.

"Someone, get him!" he heard a nearby woman's voice call out.

"Sheik!" That had been Link's voice. Sheik stiffened, his eyes flying back up to the stage. Link was at the very edge, staring at him in fear and awe and wonder. The Prince ran his hand back through his hair, taking the hand that was still clutching his chest and covering his mouth, shaking his head.

People were grapping at Sheik now, tugging him this way and that. The nearness of so many people was enough to make Sheik want to faint with panic, but he couldn't give up—not now! He had one chance to pull this off, and he'd never get another.

"Nayru!" Sheik screamed hoarsely, kicking and fighting for all he was worth, too panicked to remember not to speak to her out loud. "Nayru! I need you! I need—"

She brought his screams to a hush, sending him wave after wave of reassurance. I am with you, Son of the Sheikah. I am here. You may use me. Together.

Someone grabbed at Sheik's hair, tugging it back, and in the same instant, he was pushed from the edge of the fountain. Many of his limbs were already being pulled, but he had one free hand. He cast it out violently in front of him, not quite knowing what would happen, but sending as much power as he could think of with the gesture, the one word in his mind being off!

He felt something leave him with that sweep of his hand—something big and grand. A great force of energy swept out from his palm with an explosive sound, a bright blue light that was thrumming with force, and it knocked all of the people between him and the stage completely aside. They were unhurt, but it was as if a bull had run through their midst, tossing them all away in a heap. They began to sit up, wide-eyed and fearful now. Even the people who had ahold of Sheik had been knocked three yards away, leaving him standing shakily on his own two feet with mercifully nothing but clear air separating him from the stage

Do not hurt them! Nayru hissed crossly. They are still my people!

"Yeah, well your people almost just tore me apart!" Sheik bellowed, too angry to communicate with her in thought. "Now help me, because I have no fucking idea what I'm doing!"

Back up on the stage, Lord Ganon was looking straight at Sheik with fury in his eyes, his large chest rising and falling in heaves. "Nayru, Goddess of Wisdom," he called, raising his hands in readiness. "Goddess of deceit, hiding from me!" He reached behind himself, grabbing a fistful of Link's tunic in one hand and yanking him forward. "I will put you and your gutless Sheikah host so deep into the darkness that you'll forget what the sun looks like!" Ganon raised his free hand into the air again, snapping his fingers. That was his signal, to his guards. "Sisters!" he roared. "Empty the plaza! Get the people into their homes, to safety!"

All of the sudden, commotion rose in the plaza like water boiling over. The dozens of Hylians that Sheik had thrown away from him rose, running past him to join the mass of people funneling out of the large square, the Gerudo woman helping to herd them out.

Sheik turned away from them, back to the stage to face Ganon. "You don't care about their safety, do you?" he spat, raising his hands, trying to keep Nayru's energy focused in his palms. "You just don't want them to see you for what you are!"

Ganon narrowed his eyes at him, likewise raising his palms in Sheik's direction. "He is a dangerous sorcerer!" he shouted at the escaping Hylians. "As your future king, I order you to go to your homes! Get to safety!"

"Link!" It had been Daniel to shout this. Sheik flicked his gaze over to the King as he stumbled out across the stage towards Link, only for Marguerite—who'd remained silent and passive until now—to reach up into the air and snap her fingers, much as Ganon had. At her command, two more of Ganon's female warriors ran up the stairs to tackle Daniel to the ground. One of the women kicked him in the ribs, the other grabbing his wheaten hair in her first and yanking him up to his knees.

"Father!" Link shouted hoarsely, struggling to free himself, but Ganon only jerked him forward again, and Link went limp.

Sheik shook his head slowly. "You must be afraid to face off with me, huh?" he taunted, having to shout over the din of escaping Hylians, hoping to stall for more time. "Yeah, sure, you have Farore all subdued, don't you? All trussed up? But that must be easy, seeing as how she's blind and helpless inside of him! You've subdued a seventeen year old boy, congratulations!"

"Be cautious," Ganon seethed. "You no not what I am capable of, and I would so hate to kill you before I siphon that bitch of a goddess out of you." He was losing his composure more and more, but there were only a few Hylians now, trickling out of the plaza. The only ones really witnessing this were Sheik, Link, King Daniel, and a few of his warriors. Ganon didn't have to pretend anymore.

"I heard you mean to kill them!" Sheik called back, striding forward, closer to the stage. "You pull the goddesses down from the heavens, you come here to the capitol, you torture the royal family, and for what? What is all of this for?!"

Ganon raised his chin, defiant. "And where might you have heard this?"

Sheik narrowed his eyes, a triumphant grin pulling at his lips. "Princess Zelda." He cocked his head. "She told me she gave you the slip. How long has she been missing from your halls, Lord Ganon? Days? Weeks?" He laughed, enjoying the smug feeling that came with seeing Ganon's eyes narrow at him.

Still in Ganon's grip, Link visibly perked up, turning to Sheik and searching his face for any sign that what he said could be true. Even Daniel, still held by the Gerudo women, had opened his mouth in shock.

"And so she did," Ganon murmured, blinking slowly. "But she had no real part in my plans, so it was not a great loss when she left."

Sheik's eyes crinkled in the corners as he grinned wickedly. "Is that what you've been telling yourself?"

You could never hope to understand my motives, Sheikah," Ganon replied, sneering. "I come here for my people; for my ancestors and for the sisters I lead today. I come here to Hyrule to punish the selfish goddesses who care only for their precious Hylians! The wretched golden goddesses who for ages showered blessings on the Hylian people! Who let them drive my race back into the desert, to bitter survival in an age gone by! I come to take their power, to annihilate them and take their home for myself! Do I mean to kill them? Yes. And in this age, with such a weak king left to guard the golden kingdom?" Ganon laughed, nodding back towards Daniel. "It was ripe for the taking."

Distract him, Nayru urged him again. His anger is his downfall.

"You're mad!" Sheik spat back, his voice echoing around the empty square.

"Am I so?" Ganon challenged, his deep voice softer now. "The Hylians of old did much the same to your race, my little Sheikah. They killed all but a few, and the few they left are fading into extinction!"

Sheik worked his jaw, but didn't let the barb hit him. "That is ancient history!" he called back. Keeping his palms raised, he jerked his head up towards the stage, towards Link and Daniel. "They are not responsible for it!"

Ganon shook his head. "But the goddesses are. There was never any divine intervention. They care only for their chosen race."

Sheik kept moving forward until he was about twenty feet from the stage, his hands still raised. I don't know what to do, he told Nayru, his heart hammering. He kept his expression flat, looking up at Link again, who was staring down at him like he couldn't believe his eyes. Ganon still had a tight hold on his shirt—how was Sheik supposed to get to him?

"I can feel Nayru probing the boy," Ganon said softly, shaking Link a bit. He laughed lightly, blinking his yellow eyes. He looked so pleased with himself. "You may want to tell her it will do no good. The frightened little bunny is hiding deep down in her princely warren—not even I have been successful in reaching her."

"You won't find me so easy to subdue," Sheik growled back. "Nayru is no frightened rabbit, and she is as aware of your treachery as I am! She is powerful and at the ready, you fucking desert rat! I wield her at my fingertips!"

Ganon chuckled slowly, but the humor did not reach his eyes. "Come then, Sheikah. Show me what she's made—" Ganon cut off, looking down at Link, who had been quietly trying to grab the dagger Ganon had belted at his waist. He grabbed Link by the wrist, wrenching him away, throwing him to the ground in a heap. "You little shit!"

I've got her! I've got Farore's attention! Attack him now, Son of the Sheikah! While he is distracted with the Prince!

I'm not staying for a fight, Sheik warned her, flexing his fingers out in front of him, and holding his breath. I am getting Link, and then I am getting the fuck out!

Ganon was in the midst of peeling Link off of the stage, hauling him into the air by his wrist. Link dangled there, kicking feebly, but even Sheik could see there was little left to him. He was still struggling, bravely but weakly; he wanted to fight, but he would not last long.

Maybe it was seeing Link—drawn and desperate and damaged like that—that set Sheik off the edge. Link had always been the strong one, the one who was sure of what he was and what he wanted. He wasn't meant to be beaten and broken like this. Watching Ganon handle him like a doll, throw him and grab him and restrain him… it reminded Sheik too much of his dark days. Of the prisons. When he looked up at that stage and saw Link, suspended by his arm in the air by a man that was bigger than him, Sheik saw all of the things that were done to him in the prisons. And he fucking hated seeing it done to Link. He fucking hated it!

Sheik drew back and then threw his arms forward again, screaming hoarsely, and a blast of blue energy shot forth from his hands. It ripped out of him like thunder, roaring out with such force that he had to brace himself to keep from being swept back. In his head, Nayru kept up with a constant chant of her sister's name, over and over. Farore, Farore.

Ganon looked away from his torturing of Link just in time to see the mighty wall of blue light coming towards him. He let out a roar, throwing Link to the ground again and threw out his arms, a whirlwind of red, flame-like energy blasting out from his fingers, meeting with the blue light in a tremendous roar that threatened to split ears open.

Sheik opened his mouth again, screaming, baring his teeth, trying to keep his connection with Nayru strong, to keep his concentration. He had no idea what he was doing, and he was in way over his head. He had—

Ganon screamed, throwing his head back and roaring into the air. His red magic—Din's red magic—faltered, sputtering as he lost his command of it. His concentration had splintered, it looked like. What had—?

Oh. Oh goddesses. Link knelt before Ganon, his hand wrapped around the hilt of a dagger that was embedded in Ganon's leg. Sheik knew in an instant what had happened. After Ganon had thrown him, whilst he was distracted fending off Nayru's magic, Link had crept over and stolen the dagger he'd been trying to reach before, stabbing him with it. He had given Sheik the chance he needed.

"You idiot!" Ganon roared, slamming his hand across Link's face, sending him flying across the stage several feet away where he landed in a heap and did not move.

Before Ganon could turn back to face Sheik, the wall of blue light smacked into him, and instead of passing through him, it seemed to collect around him, funneling into him through his chest. Sheik didn't waste the opportunity, throwing out his hands again and sending a spreading wave of the blue energy this time, moving towards the stage with a low, ominous crackling sound.

When it hit the stage, where Ganon was still being filled with the blue light, it did much the same thing as only minutes ago, when the Hylians had been attacking him. It sent Ganon flying off his feet, landing on his back five feet away, almost off the edge of the stage.

Ganon did not move.

That was when Sheik ran. He raced towards the stage, covering the last twenty feet in a mere few seconds, leaping up onto the wooden platform and sending one of the beautiful pots of flowers crashing to the cobbled ground three feet below.

The blue light had stopped filling Ganon, and he was beginning to stir again. Sheik ignored him, knowing that time was of the essence, and threw himself down on the stage next to Link. The Prince had looked starved and beaten from the fountain, almost fifty feet away. This close, only inches separating them, he looked like a skeleton. There was so much anger in Sheik's heart for what had been done to him, but now wasn't the time. He'd knocked Ganon down, but knew that it had been Link stabbing him that had distracted Ganon enough for Nayru's magic to get a hold on him. They needed to get out of the city, and fast.

"Are you alright?!" Sheik asked frantically, reaching up under Link's back and legs, pulling him into his arms. Sheik struggled to stand, even though poor Link couldn't have weighed very much anymore. His golden head lolled back against Sheik's chest, but his eyes were open, bruised and faded blue as they were.

"Are you real?" he asked Sheik, blinking.

"Of course I'm fucking real," Sheik groused, scowling down at him. "Whether I'm much longer for this world, we'll just have to see."

He turned, then, running for the edge of the stage and leaping down from it, almost falling and dropping Link when he hit the cobblestones. Link came awake a bit more, clinging to Sheik's arms, peering back over his shoulder as Sheik tried to run.

"P-put me down," Link said faintly, his voice little more than a hoarse rasp. He smacked Sheik on the shoulder. "Put me down! My father is back there! Put me down, we're leaving him behind! We can't—look out!"

Sheik dove to the ground just in time to avoid a ball of fire slamming into the back of his head. He dropped Link when he hit the ground and rolled, coming back up and throwing his hands forward, sending out another beam of blue energy to counteract the next fireball Ganon had thrown their way, marveling at what he was doing with his own two hands.

"Link!" he cried, whirling his head around to find him. They made eye contact, something unspoken passing between the two of them. There was no way they'd be able to go back for Daniel.

"He can't be saved, can he?" Link whispered, his eyes stretched so wide they could hold all of the stars within their blue depths. "We can't get to him."

Sheik stood up, throwing another blast of blue energy at Ganon, who was off the stage and steadily moving towards them now.

You must beckon to Farore, Nayru said suddenly. She's not quite able to find her way to the surface of this boy. Call out to her!

"Link," Sheik said, in a normal voice. He didn't want to shout. What he was about to say couldn't be heard by Ganon.

"He's going to die," Link murmured.

"Link," Sheik said again, more forcefully this time. "I need you to try and talk to Farore, okay? I need you to try and draw her out. We need her!"

Link blinked at him, sitting up on his elbows, confused. "It d-doesn't work," he stammered. "I-I can't do what you do, Sheik! I've tried! She never responds!"

Make him do it! Nayru ordered, the authority in her voice bone-shaking.

"Do it!" Sheik screamed at him, turning back just in time to send another bolt of blue energy into the air, where it collided with Ganon's fireball and sent it flying away, back towards him.

Link didn't answer him, and Sheik didn't have the time to look back at him to make sure he was doing it.

It seemed that Ganon had not expected his own magic to come hurtling back towards him. The ball of fire hit him square in the chest, and he fell to his knees, clutching at where the magic had impacted.

"Link!" Sheik urged, keeping his hands raised.

"I—I," Link stammered. "F-Farore, please. Talk to me. Help us. Do something—do anything!"

Inside of him, Nayru sang out right along with Link's cry, and Sheik felt something in the atmosphere shift. The air around him suddenly felt much more alive, teeming and buzzing with a new flavor of energy that felt… fresh, and hesitant.

Sister! Nayru sand inside of him.

And then, a second voice appeared in Sheik's head, quiet and faint, like it was being spoken through a veil. Nayru? It said. My sister? Have you come to deliver me, at last?

Protect us, sister! Nayru urged, her voice joyous and warm in his head. Protect us whilst I defend our hosts. We cannot face this Man of the Desert today!

"Sheik!" Link cried; and all of the sudden, a huge bubble-like wall of power erupted from Link, growing in size until it encased them both in a shield of shimmering green light.

Run, Son of the Sheikah, Nayru commanded. The Man of the Desert is strong, and has Din trapped too deeply. I know not how to free her without hurting her. We must run, while he is on his knees.

"Link," Sheik said. "Get up. We're running. I hope you have it in you, because we'll probably be running for a very long time."

Sheik turned and helped Link to his feet, taking his hand and pulling him as he broke into a sprint. Link dragged behind him, not able to meet his speed, but Sheik didn't look back. He kept pulling, and he kept running, the shimmering green light surrounding them as their footsteps echoed around the square.

"Quickest way out of the city is the southern gate," Sheik called to him as they ran, careening down the cobbled street, crashing into carts and crates that were in the way.

Link didn't answer. He was breathing too hard from the running. Sheik had to imagine that from the look of him, he hadn't had a proper thing to eat in weeks. Keeping this pace must be hell on him.

How are we going to get out?! Sheik asked Nayru.

Behind you, Sheikah! Her voice answered immediately, and Sheik turned just in time to see one of Ganon's warriors sprinting after them. The woman was quickly followed by two more, who slipped out from around a corner.

Sheik swept his arm back behind him without much thought, and a wave of wind-waking power rolled out from him, sending the women crashing off of their feet. He did this for every one of the women that appeared. They started coming in twos and threes; clearly Ganon had already rallied them in pursuit.

"Hey!" someone called. Sheik skidded to a halt, his head snapping to the left, down a shadowy side-street. It appeared empty, but it was for certain where the voice had come from. "Sheik! Over here!"

Sheik cast a look behind them, but he'd knocked down everyone in sight; so yanking Link along, he ducked away down the side street.

It was William.

"I never fucking thought I would be glad to see you," Sheik managed past his heaving breaths. "We have to get—"

"Out, I know," William interrupted, looking at them with wide, almost frightened eyes. "I guess you weren't lying about the goddess," he muttered, gesturing to them. "This green… light. It's weird."

"Yeah, don't I fucking know it," Sheik snapped. "We don't exactly have time to discuss it with you, you fuckwit!"

William scowled at him. "Yeah, well can you turn down the lights? You two are like a beacon. No wonder so many of his guards were tailing you. Did you get them all?"

Sheik nodded. "All the ones in sight." He looked over at Link, speaking more gently. "Tell Farore to lower her magic. She'll listen."

Link furrowed his brow, looking contrite. He nodded, though, closing his eyes, and the green light around them began to fade away.

"Good," William said, glancing at Link. "Now come with me. This place is crawling with Ganon's guards, but I know the city pretty well, and we found some horses. Everyone's waiting outside the gate for us."

The moved along the side street, keeping quiet. Sheik heard the occasional barrage of shouts and footsteps, but they remained unspotted. William led them further along the side street until they hit a connecting perpendicular street and continued south along it. "I'm taking us around the main southern street," William explained. "It's too likely we'd be spotted there. This street will let out just near the southern gate, and Zelda will be—"

"Zelda?!" Link gasped, perking up immediately. "She really is with you?"

"Of course," William soothed, glancing back at Link with a small smile.

"You were saying?" Sheik prompted.

"Right, sorry. I followed after you into the city, a few minutes behind, like we said. I made it all the way to the plaza without being seen, and stayed just long enough to hear you starting to make a scene. You're crazy, by the way. I cut back along the southern road, had to avoid a guard or two, and then I met up with Rowan and Zelda, who'd had the idea to free some horses they found in a stable, and they brought them to the gate. Rowan actually took out a guard with his magic, as I hear it. Anyways, they—"

Look out! Nayru cried, the suddenness and fierceness of her voice startling Sheik into jumping away, pulling Link with him.

Thwump.

William shouted hoarsely in pain as the arrow struck his arm, imbedding itself deep in his flesh. He lost his footing, stumbling back against the wall behind them.

"Shit!" Sheik hissed, looking up at the tall buildings surrounding them, trying to see where the arrow had been shot from. There was no one up there, on any of the balconies or looking out from any of the windows. How long until the next arrow? How long until there was a barrage of arrows, cutting them down?

Ganon didn't want them dead, though, did he? He wanted them captured. Maybe that was the key to their escape.

Sheik pulled Link to him, grabbing his elbow and keeping him within a couple of inches. William was bent over, his hand wrapped around the shaft of the arrow imbedded in his arm.

"Shoot again and I'll kill you!" Sheik called, not even sure if anyone was still around to hear him.

Down! Both Nayru and Farore's voices shrieked in Sheik's head. Link heard them both, too, because he gasped and fell to the ground right along with Sheik. William dropped into a twitching pile near them, still clutching at his arm as a second arrow clattered into the wall right where his head had been.

"Help me get this thing out!" William seethed, speaking through his teeth.

Sheik crawled over to him, keeping one hand firmly clasped around Link's elbow. "Link," he said without looking at him. "Keep talking to Farore, okay? Make her protect us. You can still hear her, right?" He needed both of his hands, so he let go of Link's elbow, instead taking his hand and guiding it to rest on his leg, where it stayed. He needed the connection between them to remain.

"Y-yes," he said. "I think so. I—"

"Good," Sheik interrupted. "Talk to her, Link."

He ripped open the sleeve of William's shirt around where the arrow was, inspecting it. It was deep—all of the steel tip was buried in his flesh, only the wooden shaft protruding. Sheik flicked his eyes up to William's, and then back down at the wound again. He licked his lips. "I can't remove it. The arrow is the only thing keeping you from bleeding out, and I—"

Link cried out behind him, his hand on Sheik's leg clenching into a fist. In the corner of Sheik's vision, he saw a green flash and heard another arrow clatter uselessly to the ground. And then another, and another. There were more of them, now. They'd been found.

"Sheik!" Link cried. "I see them! They're coming!" He fidgeted, pressing his back up against Sheik's.

Sheik met William's eyes again. He couldn't pull the arrow out, but neither could William run out of there with a bolt sticking a foot out of his arm. Sheik touched the shaft gently, ignoring the way William winced and sucked in air from between his teeth.

"Sheik, I can't hold them off!" Link said, panicked. I don't understand how to use this power! It's—it's not very strong! I can't do it properly!"

This had been a day of do or die moments, one after another. Sheik couldn't say he was surprised that they'd come to another one so soon. Without looking at William again or giving any sort of sign as to what he was doing, he wrapped both of his hands around the shaft and snapped it in two, near the base. In the same instant, he reached up and smacked his hand down over William's mouth, muffling his scream.

There were footsteps on the cobbled street again—not fast and running, but slow and purposed. They'd found them, Ganon's guards, but saw no reason to hurry their pursuit. They must have believed they had them cornered.

"S-Sheik!" Link stammered again, pressing into him. "I can't keep doing this! I don't know how! I need a sword, something bloody tangible! I—"

"Shut up and help me with him," Sheik commanded, letting the warmth of Link's back pressed against his leave him as Link crawled around to William, grabbing his good arm. Sheik helped as well, and together, they brought him to his feet.

"You two run ahead," Sheik ordered, letting go of William. "I'm behind you the whole way, alright? I'm going to drive them off!"

Link's eyes got big and frightened, and he lurched forward, towards Sheik, desperation in his face. "No! Don't let go of me! Please, Sheik, you—"

Sheik narrowed his eyes, kicking at the cobbled street. "I said go! Before they fire another arrow at us! Before one of us fucking dies!" The look on Link's face was enough to break a hundred hearts, it was so twisted in sorrow, so gaunt and weary. Sheik growled to himself, still operating on adrenaline and what was probably poor judgment. He stepped into Link's space, looking down at him for a moment before ducking his head and brushing his lips against his cheek. Link whimpered, his hands fisting in Sheik's shirt, but Sheik broke away from him, knowing there was no getting away from this. "Take him, William," he growled, keeping his eyes averted. "I'll be seconds behind you."

Sheik turned away. He couldn't believe he had kissed Link. It must be the adrenaline, the situation, or maybe just the desperation. Just thinking about it made his stomach squirm. William and Link had gone, though, which meant they were safe. He just had one last thing to deal with.

"What, are you out of arrows?" Sheik called out into the quiet, darkened street. He narrowed his eyes, still able to hear many footsteps approaching him from just around the bend.

He cocked his head, confused that they had not reached him yet. What were they playing at? Surely they—

Above! Nayru hissed.

The air was knocked out of him as something heavy landed on his back from above. Before Sheik could react, he was pushed to the ground, forced to struggle against whoever or whatever had attacked him. Where the fuck had they come from? They must have jumped from one of the buildings, because there had been no one in sight on ground level.

"Hold still, you fucking Sheikah!" his attacker shrieked. A woman's voice. One of Ganon's guards, which wasn't surprising, but he was infuriated that she had gotten the better of him. He couldn't see much of her through their wrestling, but her yellow eyes were blazing with fury, and she had a dagger clenched between her teeth. Sheik struggled against her on the ground, so intensely focused on their fight that he missed hearing the footsteps grow closer as more of the warrior women appeared around the bend in the street. They formed a tight ring around them, blocking out any escape.

Sheik's blood went cold.

With a strangled cry, he pried the woman's hands from him and turned them over, driving her down into the ground. He sat atop her, holding her wrists and breathing hard, scowling out at the fence of guards around him.

He bared his teeth. He knew it was probably important to appear unintimidated, even though he was terrified. But—oh, the dagger! That's right! Quickly, he dragged the woman's wrist down and kneeled on it, freeing a hand to rip the dagger from her mouth. Looking up at all of the women surrounding him, he bared the dagger to her throat, swallowing.

"Think you caught me now?" he challenged, addressing no one in particular. He watched them all carefully, and they all watched him back, their dual swords drawn and ready. "Try anything and I'll kill her!"

No one moved.

Is this one of the outcomes you were expecting? Sheik snarled at Nayru. Can't you do something?!

We have used much of my power already, Son of the Sheikah, she answered. I—I am not all-powerful. I am tired. My energy is all but spent. I cannot offer you enough to disarm them.

Sheik furrowed his brow, looking down at the woman underneath him, still trying to buck him off. You're not all-powerful? he asked. But—you're a goddess.

Nayru almost seemed hesitant to answer.

…We created the world, Son of the Sheikah. My sisters and I. We gave our all to make this place and its inhabitants, to give it light and land and order. We birthed it. …And we have never been same since. The Man of the Desert's meddling only served to further weaken us. I am giving you my all.

He looked up, and the ten or more women surrounding him on all sides. What could he do? He knew the more time he wasted, the more time it gave Ganon to recover and find him. At least… at least Link was safe. He wasn't much looking forward to taking his place as Ganon's prisoner, but… well, sacrifice was something Sheik was used to. He… he couldn't see a way out of this.

"Run, Sheikah!" one of the warriors shouted.

And then very suddenly, all was chaos again.

Sheik wasn't sure which of the women had said it, but as soon as the words were in the air, one of them swung the hilt of her blade to the side, knocking one of her comrades unconscious in one blow. Shouting ensued, all of them screaming at each other. "Traitor!" a few of them called, but mostly there were just incoherent shouts of rage. Another turned to confront the turncoat, but the defector swung up, jumping a side-flip in the air and rolling up behind her, knocking her unconscious as well. Then, before the rest of the warriors descended on her, the rogue Gerudo turned to him, ripping the scarf away from her face. "Run!" she screamed, before turning back and flipping away to face another of her sisters.

"Karametra! Traitorous snake!" the woman screamed at her, slicing forward with her deadly swords. "You will pay! The Master will make you pay!"

"Run, Sheikah!" rogue Gerudo called again, her blades clanging with her fellow warrior, the clang of steel on steel pervading the air.

Sheik jumped up, kicking away the woman he'd been pressing to the ground. He used the small blade in his hand to fight his way through the small crowd—punching, stabbing, slicing, jumping, kicking—relying on every bit of skill he had learned from his mercenary days. And damn the goddesses! Why hadn't Nayru told him that what she could do was finite?! He cursed as a blade sliced into his shoulder, opening the skin in a deep fissure. His arm became hot with blood, but he ignored it. He had to. He lost sight of the rogue Gerudo as he fought his way free, and when he finally made it out of the roiling group, running the opposite way down the street, three of the women followed him. He didn't have time to look back and see how his helper was faring.

He focused his energy on speed, pressing his hand against the gash on his shoulder to staunch the bleeding. The rogue Gerudo—she had saved his life, and was probably dying now for it. Who was she? And or fuck's sake, why?

Sheik turned the corner in the street, his feet skidding as he struggled not to fall. The side street had let out onto the main southern thoroughfare, near the southern gate, just as William had said. He and Link were nowhere in sight, and Sheik hoped that that was a good thing. He hoped that meant they had gotten out. Sheik ran for the gate, still slightly ajar. Just before he slipped through, he turned, hurling his dagger at one of his chasers. The blade imbedded itself in the leg of the first woman, and she went down, her comrades tripping over her body as she fell to the ground.

Casting one last look at them, Sheik saw them trying to help her to her feet, rather than continue after him. He… he thought that was interesting. They'd almost had him, and instead, they turn to care for one of their fallen, probably even going against their Master's orders. Sure, more of them were probably only seconds from appearing around the corner of that side street, but all the same… Just how deeply did the bond between these women run?

Sheik pushed his thoughts away and flew out of the southern gate, skidding to a stop when he saw four horses at the bottom of the stone stairs in the distance, and four people sat upon them.

They were all there, Link clung to one, Rowan to another, and William and Zelda shared a third, him clinging to her from behind, unable to take the reins with his arm.

He couldn't believe they'd pulled this off. People had gotten hurt, and the king had been left behind, but that was Link there, sitting on that horse and staring up at him. That was Link. Link was with him, and he was going to be safe.

Sheik couldn't have asked for much more.

He flew down the steps, his coat flapping behind him and grabbed the fourth horse's reigns, a creamy white mare. She snorted and stamped when he mounted the saddle, almost rearing, but Sheik grabbed the reigns and drove his heels into her sides, taking off like a bullet down the rest of the stonework until they hit grass, climbing over the next hill. The others followed after him, and they ran with the threat of capture at their heels; with nowhere to go and the fear of being chased, they fucking ran.

---

Link's heart was beating so, so fast. So fast that it hurt him. He was still so goddesses-damned tired that all the events of the day seemed like they had happened in a dream. He still wasn't entirely sure that any of it was actually happening, to be honest. The only thing that proved this wasn't a dream was the hunger pangs—it didn't seem like he'd be subject to those if he were only dreaming.

He clung tight to his horse and he galloped after Sheik, shaking his head to keep his eyes from drooping. The last thing he needed was to fall off this damn horse.

How had that day even happened? The whole time, he had felt like he was watching his life happen to someone else, like he wasn't really there inside his own body. Ganon's address to this people in the plaza, and standing up on that stage like a doll made to look pretty. He'd been watching all that through a fog.

And then hearing Sheik's voice cut through the crowd was like a bolt firing straight into Link's gut. The way his heart and stomach fluttered in unison with a wild, impossible hope. And then he'd seen him—atop the fountain and so far away. But how could that be? Sheik was in the prisons. How could he be there?

And the magic—Sheik had come in blazing, blue light pouring from his fingertips, and he had looked so damn confident. He had looked like he was born to be there on that day, working the magic of the goddesses through him. He had looked so good.

…How had that even happened? Sheik got sent to the prisons and then came back weeks later as host to one of the three goddesses? Nayru chose him?

Well, not like it was that much of a leap. Farore ended up inside him, after all, and Link felt anything but brave. With Sheik's help, he'd finally made a connection with Farore, after weeks of begging her to help him.

Sheik had kissed him! It hadn't been much of a kiss, only on the cheek, but it had been his lips on Link's skin, and it had left his heart in tatters, wanting for more. Touching had been the biggest struggle between them before, but Sheik had come close to him like it was nothing. It had happened in an instant.

And Sheik had fucking stayed behind! Link hated that! Who was he to play the damn hero?!

Link had… he'd been so scared that Sheik wouldn't show up through that gate. He'd been terrified, shaking in fits and starts, because how fitting would it be for Sheik to be there for so short a time and then disappear again? How just like fate would it be for Sheik to come to his rescue only to get taken prisoner himself?

But he hadn't. He was there, and there was a good chance they were going to get away. There was!

It was odd, as Link thought about it, though. Sheik had… he'd come looking for Link. Sure, yeah, he hadn't been alone—he'd had Zelda, and Link hadn't even begun to process that she was still alive. But he'd thought that Sheik didn't want him. He'd deluded himself a lot in his dungeon cell, clinging to fantasies and memories and what could have been, but aside from that pained, almost angry parting kiss on their last day together, Sheik had acted like Link wasn't someone he wanted to deal with anymore. Link knew that it was because of his… of his problems, but…

"Link!" Link glanced up with half-lidded eyes as his sister rode up next to him, pushing her horse on. Her spectacles were missing from her face, but she'd probably done that so they wouldn't fly off. "Stay with me, okay?" she called. "Keep riding. We'll stop as soon as we can!" William, sat behind her, just stared at him with shadows in his eyes and a troubled expression. He had a faded bruise marring one eye, and though Link wasn't at all sure where it had come from, it looked very painful.

"Link!" Zelda said again, guessing that he was struggling to stay alert. "If you need to ride with someone else, let us know! We'll probably be at this awhile. I don't want you falling off!"

He nodded weakly, turning his eyes back to the front of their little procession, where Sheik rode next to Rowan, both of their heads trained forward. Sheik turned to Rowan and shouted something, but Link couldn't make it out over the rush of wind in his ears.

"W-what'd he say?" Link called, wincing at the sound of his own voice. It was rasping and throaty and barely intelligible.

"Who?" Zelda called back, looking up to the front. "Oh, Sheik?" How odd it was to hear her say his name. "Probably talking about where to look for Jack. Don't worry, everything's okay. We're getting you out of here, little brother."

"Father," Link croaked back, not sure if his words were lost to the wind or not. When Zelda's expression fell, he knew.

"I know," she called back, looking forward again. "I know. Just… concentrate on holding on, Link. We'll be alright."

How long would they be running? How long would he have to hold on? Link needed to sleep. He hadn't slept in… goddesses, even he didn't know how long. He could feel Farore faintly inside of him, but it wasn't like she could hold the reigns for him. Link felt stretched too thin. His eyes were drooping more and more each second, and even with Zelda talking to him, his thoughts were turning fuzzy. He'd been running on adrenaline during their fight with Ganon and his guards. He'd… oh goddesses, what if they had to ride for hours? What then? Link couldn't do it, he just couldn't. It wasn't a matter of force of will, it was simply the fact that his body had given him all that it could. It was failing him now, after trying so hard for so long. Link needed to close his eyes. He wouldn't be of any use to anyone starved and half-asleep like he was.

Zelda glanced over at him again, half-slumped over the neck of his horse, his fingers tangled in its mane. Maybe it was because of her intuition as his sister, or maybe it was just painfully obvious, but she seemed to know. She got it. Even if he couldn't say it for himself, she understood.

Zelda turned front again, kicking her heels into the horse to urge it to go on faster, catching up to Sheik and Rowan, leaving Link behind. "Sheik!" she called, her voice sounding distant and far away to Link.

"Sheik, stop!" Zelda called again, and Sheik pulled to a sudden stop, turning around in his saddle to look at her, and through his half-lidded eyes Link could swear that he saw light behind Sheik, illuminating him like he was the fucking sun.

Link's horse eventually came to a stop as well, near the others. He let his body collapse against the mare's neck, breathing in her warm, straw-like smell. It was comforting. The others were talking, he could tell, and their voices seemed frantic. He knew Sheik wouldn't kike stopping when there was no time, but he… no time… he…

Link shook his head to wake himself, struggling to focus in on what was being said.

"—s fine, Zelda. It's good you stopped me. I don't want him falling off and dying in the grass after all the trouble we just fucking went through trying to save him." There were footsteps in the grass, near Link's horse. "Rowan, tie his horse behind yours while I get Link in the saddle. Jack and Ben are going to need it, anyways."

"Aye, captain," another voice called, a chipper male voice, and Link thought he almost recognized it.

"Link?" Sheik's voice was very close to him. He could feel warm breath on his face, and then cold fingers ghosting across his cheek. It was nice, comforting. "Come on," Sheik said, sounding somewhat strained as Link felt hands reach for him, going under his arms, pulling him out of his saddle and onto the ground. He didn't open his eyes when he felt an arm go under his knees, lifting him into the air, and he didn't open them when those arms left him leaning against someone else as Sheik climbed into his own saddle. "Bring him over," Sheik said. Link did open his eyes for this, only as much as he could manage. Sheik was seated atop his horse, leaning over the side with his arms extended out to Link. His brow was pinched in worry and concentration, but all Link wanted to do was stare at him, look into his deep red eyes.

"Come on, Link." That was Zelda, and it was her hands that helped him stumble into Sheik's arms, and then Sheik was lifting him into the saddle, seating him in front, their hips sliding together. Sheik put his arms around Link to grab the reigns, and Link felt his body shift as he turned to speak to the rest of them. It just felt so good to have him close.

"Alright," Sheik called. "We keep riding. Keep a look out for Jack, and keep a look out over your shoulders for when they start to follow us." He paused, his arms tightening around Link, who let his head fall back against his shoulder.

"Just like the last time we ran away from this city, huh?" Sheik murmured into his ear, flicking the reigns to get the horse moving again. "With you half-conscious, slumped over me and my fucking horse."

---

Link-the poor guy. Oh, and our Gerudo friend who helped Zelda and William strikes again! I wonder what will become of her?

Don't worry about Jack and Benjamin. They haven't been forgotten.

I reeeally hope this update was enjoyable! Please let me know what you think, and once again, thank you so, so much to all of you!