Sheik lay on his back, his body almost entirely immobilized. It was hard to breathe. In fact he'd collapsed just before reaching the Zora woman's chambers. She'd had to help him the last few yards. He wasn't sure who she was, but evidently she was someone worth noting given that she seemed to have her own private warren all to herself. As soon as they'd reached her quarters she'd thrown him—almost literally—into what he assumed was her bed and given him something foul to drink and then laid him back down. If he'd had any real ability to resist he never would have let her put anything into his mouth, let alone allow her to take off his wraps. As it was, he had little choice in the matter. The good news was that the paralysis was wearing off and he was regaining some motor skills once more. He flexed his hands and feet, feeling relief flood through him as they responded appropriately.

"That's a good sign." he turned his head and looked at her questioningly, she smiled at him gently. "You can move your extremities. It means you aren't going to be crippled. The barb only grazed you so most of the venom didn't enter your body."

She stood there for a moment, regarding him quietly before she sauntered over to the bedside and ran a hand over his cheek with a mischievous smile. Sheik wondered at that expression and then got his answer before he'd even formed the question as she leaned in close and kissed him. His body gave a pitiful spasming jerk, the paralysis keeping him from resisting her curious lips as she explored his mouth.

She leaned back and smiled at the shock on his face. "I was wondering if you tasted as good as you looked." her smile became suggestive as she put a hand on his stomach. "You do," she giggled. "But you're a terrible kisser."

Sheik's face blazed like a bonfire, he worked his mouth for a moment before he could force it to form any words.

"What the hell!"

"Oh you can talk again?" her smile remained in place as she traced her finger over his stomach playfully. "I didn't think you'd let me do that when you could move again so…." she trailed off with a shrug.

Sheik twitched, he had enough movement back to raise himself on his elbows though it felt like he was sitting on needles when he did so.

"Who are you?"

"Ruto, you're obviously a Sheikah, do you have a name?"

Sheik said nothing, watching her cautiously. She sighed, reaching up to bat at a strand of his straw-yellow hair that had escaped his wraps.

"Well I suppose I'll just call you Blondie then." when he winced she giggled. "Well if you won't tell me your name what else should I call you?"

He had no answer for that and remained silent, she leaned over and looked up at him as he looked away from her.

"You're with the Princess aren't you, you're going to try and rescue her right?"

He met her gaze, still saying nothing as she continued. He wasn't going to give her anything more, besides it sounded like she could create her own reasons for him.

"My father made a very big mistake when he sided with the Mage King. No one that evil will ever honor any of his promises."

Sheik frowned. "Your father?"

She looked at him for a moment. "The Domani."

Sheik's heart leapt into his throat. This was the girl he was supposed to kill. She was also the one he owed his life to. He calmed the panic that rose inside him, crushing it down into his stomach and letting it disperse.

"Maybe I could talk to your father."

She laughed. "Why on earth would you want to do that?"

He shrugged, trying to sound earnest in his conviction. "I might be able to convince him that he's supporting the wrong side."

Again her tinkling laugh filled the room as she looked at him with sparkling amusement in her eyes. "Why would I let you, a Sheikah, anywhere near my father when you're on the other side?"

"Because it's either that or I kill my way to the Princess." he stated coldly, putting the deadpan tone his mother used so often to good use.

Ruto's expression flickered for just a moment and he sensed an in. "If I'm able to talk to him, I might be able to release the Princess and we'll leave without anymore deaths."

"You already killed someone," she pointed out. "Why wouldn't you kill more?"

"I'm not a killer," Sheik could hear his mother's laughter already. "If I don't have to kill anyone else I'll be happy. I just want to release the Princess."

Ruto regarded him for a moment. "You know I might just believe you, but even if I did, do you really think I'd trust you?"

"You saved me didn't you?"

"I didn't want to see you slaughtered like an animal."

"And I don't want to kill anymore of your people."

Her eyes narrowed, she leaned close to him, her gaze searching his face. Sheik wondered if she was going to kiss him again.

After a time she leaned back once more. "Alright, I'll take you to my father, on one condition."

He nodded, waiting for her to tell him the condition.

"That you won't harm him or anyone else in the domain, do I have your word?"

Sheik did his best to keep his face from smiling. This was going to be easy after all. Ruto was either very naïve, or very hopeful. He felt a pang of guilt in deceiving her but he had his priorities and she was not among them.

"You have my word."

She looked at him for a moment more, before she jumped forwards and planted another kiss on his lips firmly with a laugh.

"There, now you can't break your promise."

Sheik's cheeks burned once more and he scowled at her, which solicited further laughter from Ruto. This entire fiasco just kept getting stranger and stranger. He just hoped that the Princess was alright, the sooner he killed the Domani and his daughter—he looked at Ruto hesitantly as she stood and walked away—the better.

Malon watched as Link tended to Zelda's wound cautiously. She knew that there was little she could do if he were to lose control again but she still felt it would be foolish to leave him alone with the Princess. He didn't seem to notice her at all; he just continued to lick at the Princess' injury diligently. Insider her heart was a tumultuous storm of emotion. She'd of course seen the Wolfos fight before and she even seen Link half-crazed from pain and the horror of being pinned under a corpse for hours on end. What she'd just seen though was different, even when he'd been fighting in his Human form he'd never been bloodthirsty. Just now he had been. There was no other way to describe the look she'd seen in his eyes. He'd been crazed with bloodlust and hatred. She didn't know what had calmed him down after he'd slaughtered the guards but she was convinced that if he hadn't been calmed then he would have charged up the stairs and killed anyone that got in his way.

Zelda's breathing was steady as she rested in Malon's arms. Occasionally she gripped Malon's arm tightly when Link's attendance touched on a particularly sensitive spot. Considering that she had a gash running from her left shoulder to her right hip, Malon was surprised that the occasional sobs of pain weren't more frequent or agonized. Whatever Link was doing seemed to be working to some degree at least. Looking at him, she wondered if she still felt for him as she had. He'd seemed so innocent and vulnerable before, and yet he'd just proven that when push came to shove he was, of all of them, perhaps the most suited to the task they'd set themselves.

"Malon," whispered the Princess.

"Yes your Highness?"

"Are our things nearby?"

Malon looked at the bloodied hall beyond their cell's bars and swallowed. She couldn't see it from here of course. She'd have to go out into the gory mess that Link had left. She looked at him for a moment. He was still spattered with dark blue blood. If she ignored the smell, she could pretend that Romani had merely spattered his black and gray fur with blue paint.

"Malon," the Princess murmured again.

She snapped back from her reverie. "Sorry your Highness, no I don't see our weapons."

Zelda nodded. "Go look for them. If they're here then we should at least arm ourselves."

Malon looked at Link uncertainly. "Bu—"

"Malon, he's on our side." Zelda said reproachfully. "Go."

She hesitated for a moment more; Link didn't seem to be paying attention to anything that was being said. He merely continued to tend the Princess' wound. With a final uncertain nod, Malon stood and left them. As much as she hated to leave Zelda alone with Link, she was glad to have the chance to get away from him. Even if that escape was into the carpet of maimed bodies that Link had decked the dungeon with.

Zelda used her arms to support herself with Malon gone. Moving caused her pain but she gritted her teeth, refusing to cry out. Link moved, sprawling before her.

"Use me."

She nodded gratefully. "Thank you Link."

As she lay against him she felt her wound stretch and she let out a whimpering gasp, her hands gripping Link's fur tightly. He didn't complain though, and made no sign that he felt a thing. She lay there for a time, lying against his fur and feeling the rise and fall of his breathing beneath her.

"I'm sorry." she said finally, burying her face in his side.

When he didn't respond she looked towards his face, but he wasn't looking at her. His head was on the ground and he was staring at the wall.

"Link?"

"Why are you sorry?" he asked quietly. "I'm the one that lost control."

"Your people…if Ganondorf finds out that you're with me…." she trailed off.

"I killed them all." Link stated flatly. "And Ordon kept me from running off to kill the others."

Zelda winced at his tone. It wasn't his usual voice. He sounded forced, unsure. "Link…I trust you, and thank you…for both of us. I don't think I could have taken two lashes like that."

Link's ears twitched and he put his head to the side, looking at her with one blue eye.

"You shouldn't."

Zelda blinked, giving him a confused frown.

"You shouldn't trust me, I might lose control again."

She shook her head, and reached forwards towards his head. Her hand rested just behind his ear and she scratched gently. It took her a moment to realize that she was treating him like a dog and she jerked her hand away. The pain from the motion made her wince and catch her breath.

"Sorry."

"It felt good." Link replied.

She smiled, reaching up again and scratching the same spot. Link leaned into her hand affectionately. That his head was larger than any dog's didn't change the effect the motion had on his appearance. He looked like an affectionate hound. The thought brought a smile to her face.

"I've seen battle before Link; remember I was there that first day, and all the days after that. I've seen people hacked to pieces around me. In war, sometimes you do terrible things to survive. So long as you are my companion, I will not cease in my belief that you do everything you can to further our cause."

Link's ears twitched and his gaze seemed uncertain though he said nothing.

"Malon will be alright." Zelda assured him, guessing his thoughts. "She just needs time to come to grips with what she's seen."

Link bobbed his head with a grunt, laying flat on the ground once more. Zelda smiled and lay against his flank, closing her eyes.

"Link?"

"Yes your Highness?"

"I'm going to sleep now."

She felt Link tense for a moment, but he relaxed quickly.

"Rest well your Highness."

"Will you listen to my heart?" she asked with a smile.

"Yes your Highness."

Zelda nuzzled against him, letting the exhaustion brought on by the pain take her into a deep sleep. Knowing that Link would be there watching over her—listening to her—made her feel safer than any army would have.

Sheik followed Ruto throw the dimly lit passageway. She hadn't taken him by the main passages for obvious reasons. He had no hope of blending in with the Zora. So these back passages seemed their best bet. He did have a role to play here though so a few innocent queries were in order.

"Why are you showing me all this?"

"Because I think my father is being foolish, and you gave me your word. I think I can trust you…especially since you aren't one of Ganondorf's minions." Ruto looked over at her shoulder with a smile. "The Princess of Hyrule is supposed to be fair and good hearted after all. I'm sure her companions are just as trustworthy as she is."

Sheik would have loved to laugh at this assessment of his qualities. Considering what he was about to do, he had no doubt that Ruto would be doing everything in her power to stop him. As it was, she'd evidently been far too sheltered and had no idea what the real world was like. Part of him felt immense guilt about the rude shock and education he was bout to give her when it came to trusting others; especially in a war.

They came to a stop at a fork in the passage and she pointed to the right. "That way will lead you to the front gate and the dungeon." turning to the left she continued. "This will take you to my father's chambers and reception hall."

He nodded. "Thank you."

"Your promise?" she asked him, putting a hand against his chest.

"I'll not harm any of your people, I promise." he said.

It was only a half-lie. He wouldn't kill anyone but the Domani. Once that was accomplished he'd use the other passageway to open the gate and let in the Queen's soldiers. They'd do any further killing required. That he would be facilitating those deaths didn't make him feel like he was betraying his word in any way. What to do about Ruto though…that puzzled him. He could kill her; he owed his life to her in all likelihood. He stood there looking at her for a moment more, considering how easy it would be to slide his sword of one of his knives into her throat or chest. He bit his lip. No, he'd give her the chance to live. He owed that much to her.

"Good luck Blondie." she said with a faint smile. "I hope father listens to you."

Sheik said nothing as he headed down the indicated passageway. This was going to be interesting. He'd have to move quickly once the Domani was dead to maximize on the confusion caused.

Link listened to the gentle beating of Zelda's heart. Despite her injury, her heart was remarkably steady. He'd have expected it to be off tempo at least a little but it had remained completely calm except when the lash had initially struck and she'd screamed. He did his best to allow his own heartbeat to match hers, timing the rising and falling of his stomach with her inhalations and exhalations so that she could rest undisturbed. He heard Malon returning and cast an eye in her direction. She had their things. She tensed as she realized that he was watching her but approached quickly when she saw the Princess lying against him.

"Is she alright?"

Link closed his eye and opened it again in acknowledgement. "She's sleeping."

Malon laid their things out besides him, and retrieved her father's armor. She didn't look at Link as she re-laced the sides of the armor quickly before taking up her arms again. Even then she would not meet his quiet gaze.

For his part Link said nothing. There was nothing he could think of to make her feel comfortable with him. He wasn't entirely sure he was comfortable with what he'd just done either to be honest. Ordon at least seemed pleased by it but that hardly was a good indication. He resolved to say something and opened his mouth in preparation to do so when Malon leaned forwards quickly and examined the Princess.

"Her wound, its closing." she said in astonishment.

Author's Note: I'm not too happy with the whole Sheik aspect of this chapter, but I do what I can with the time I have. You've got another chapter, no complaints! I'll get to work on the next one shortly, but for now I'm going to sleep. Hope my American readers had a good Thanksgiving, and for everyone else, hope you enjoyed the chapter sorry if I missed your important holiday. In other news, a friend of mine proposed an amusing idea: that once I finish this, I convert the names and add additional lore et al and publish this story as something else entirely. It is a distinct possibility and I have begun to love the tale I'm weaving. That is of course off in the future, for now I must finish telling my story before I consider publication.