The 8th Day of Spring
"This way, Sheik! Hurry!" urged the young Laigrethorne Bishop, or Leggy according to everyone but his birth document. The wind blew his long hair back gracefully as the nine year old boy ran through Faron Woods, but his strong, stalwart muscles carried the wooden shield and sword with ease. His invigorated legs were damn near impossible to catch up to for a young Rowark.
Lagging behind his friend by a wide margin already, Rowark had to quickly come up with some excuse to slow the party down before Leggy got too far ahead of him. "Hold on!" said Rowark to his best friend, "A mighty Wolfos stands in the way!" The seven year old withdrew his dual daggers to block the attack and then kicked outward at the imaginary beast in front of him. His thin frame guided the dull blade through the air and then through the flesh of the beast. One wolfos was down, but there were more closing in quickly. "I need help, Hero! There's too many of them!" He really did not require the assistance, for the Sheikah had a secret attack prepared for such an occasion.
Sheik kicked into a minion's mouth and used the momentum generated from his foot to spin around with his daggers extended, slicing this way and that way. Unlike the Hero's legendary spin attack, Sheik's vortex attack required no charge up but was equally as devastating. The first dagger may not necessarily fell the enemy, but the second one and third one always did. Because Sheik did not carry the Hylian shield, he was more vulnerable, so he had to rely on his superior mobility to overwhelm his enemies.
"HYAA" screamed the Hero as he unleashed his powerful jump attack. That took care of one beast in one fell stroke. The Master Sword was longer, heavier, yet as balanced as justice was. The Hero then painted a broad stroke with his weapon and followed his attack with another beautiful, powerful swing, cleaving the wolfos in half. Foe after foe fell before the Master Sword, and the Hylian shield stunted attack after attack without so much as a scratch or a dent.
Finally, the last wolfos fell to Sheik's onslaught. Dizziness first hit him when he stopped spinning, then his heavy breathing had finally caught up to him, and Rowark had to keel over not long afterward. "Hold on," he gasped in between breaths while attempting to stabilize his vision, who then sat a fallen log to rest.
Rowark's constitution was never on par with his siblings, even his twin sisters. To his face, his father had always called Rowark a strong boy, just like the rest of his five elder brothers and one younger. But behind Rowark's back, Rowark could only ever hear his father, the fearsome, bear-like guardian of Ordon Village, complain about his sickly health. Father did not like him and was ashamed of him, this much Rowark knew. It didn't just come from Father, though. How could such a weakling be born into the mighty Forester family? Rowark had heard whispers of shame from the entire village brought upon the Forester family for the girlish boy Father had raised. Of course, Rowark never knew what was wrong with being weak, but whatever it was, it made just about everyone in the village hostile towards him save a few.
Father's most agreeable solution was for Rowark to play with Leggy outside. It was no secret that whenever the two would recreate the adventures of the Hero and Zelda, Rowark always opted to play the latter character, and Leggy more than happy to play the Rowark because there was no other boy in the village who was willing to play the Princess so enthusiastically. Unlike every other boy in his village, Rowark's favorite hero in the great legend of Queen Zelda was Sheik. mostly because Sheik was a boy disguised as Princess Zelda, they were one and the same person. A deep part of him felt connected to Zelda's gender fluidity.
"You want some water?" asked Leggy as he handed his waterskin to his best friend since birth.
Rowark nodded and accepted the kind gesture. He squeezed a gulpful of refreshing water into his parched mouth. Times like these when he took a minute to catch his breath and enjoy the view with his best friend truly made him feel immersed in the ancient story. This must have been what it felt like to be Sheik and the Hero, traveling together through the dangerous lands of Ganondorf's Hyrule, all the while Sheik had a secret identity and a secret love for the Hero. But did the Hero love Sheik the boy, or did he love Zelda the girl?
"We got time, catch your breath," said Leggy to Rowark who was pacing back and forth.
"What time is it?"
The only way for Leggy to answer that question was by looking directly at the bright globe in the sky and judging its position, "Looks like the sun is just past mid afternoon. I'd say we got about another long hour before it's sundown."
"Aw, we don't got much longer. My father wants me home before then," lamented Rowark not wishing to return home at all. The outdoors would toughen up Rowark, supposedly, but trying to keep up with the more energetic Leggy only left him wanting nothing more than to lay down and sleep.
"If we make it up the hill, that will still give us some time to fight Ganondorf and then walk home! You ready?" Rowark nodded. "Ganondorf's castle is just up that hill! Let's go!"
Stowing the two wooden daggers onto his hips like the fabled Sheikah, they who were charged with protecting the Throne from the shadows, had once done, Rowark charged up the steep, inclined ground with full speed ahead. "Right behind you, Hero!" he cried through each step. All the towers full of Ganondorf's minions shooting fiery arrows at the Hero and Sheik could not stop them! Not even the Hero's own, poor stamina and his already fatigued body could stop him from reaching the top.
But heavy breathing caught up to him once again, and his pace slowed to a labored trog. At least the hill was steep enough that he did not have to lean far forward to crawl on all fours. A cool, autumn wind blew past his exposed skin, but he was impervious to the chill because of the sweat coming out of his body. The setting sun just up ahead seemed to be the only obstacle in his way. And yet, if each step he took felt like he had traveled hundreds of yards, then the peak felt like it was leagues away. The boy pushed forth one foot at a time, one hand at a time, one breath at a time.
When Rowark had reached the top of the hill, he had forgotten his imaginary role in their game. Rolling hills of forests stretched as far as the eye could see. The breathtaking view of the setting sun's golden rays cast a warm light over the waves of gold leaves, enough to make him forget about his exhausted body. Just below on the other side of the slope was a stream that would eventually run past their home.
It was also the physical boundary of Ordon Village. Rowark was given strict instructions never to cross the river at the bottom. What lay beyond was open to Rowark's, young imagination. Someday, he would grow old enough to journey east of the river and explore to his heart's content without causing his whole village alarm like he had done once before. The view gave him a beautiful skyline to gaze upon and powerfully inspired his imagination to fill in the forest beneath the sunny day.
Rowark's torso felt too heavy for him to stand upright, so he bent over and supported himself on his knees. Leggy's hand patting his back suddenly brought back Rowark back to his own fatigued reality. "You all right? You need some more water?"
"No, I'm fine," he said even though his lungs were gasping for air. He had to stay strong, just like ancient Hero's accomplice was, the beholder of the Triforce of Wisdom.
"Come on, walk around a bit with me. It'll help you breath easier." Rowark followed his advice and walked around to slow his heart rate, each beat pounding the bones in his torso like it wanted to break free. Only raising his elbows above his helped relieved the hunger for air. There was no end to the exhaustion, but the longer he rested, the less time he had to defeat Ganondorf. Leggy extended his waterskin to Rowark again, "You sure you don't want any more?"
Rowark waved it away and grabbed his own. First, he squeezed a handful of water into his mouth and poured the rest of his reserves in his hide waterskin over his face. The refreshing liquid washed over his face and down his mouth.
"Ready, Rowark?" Leggy, who was handsomely posed just like the Hero, was already prepared to take his next step towards Ganondorf's castle. In the legend, it was Sheik who led the Hero where he needed to go, to awaken the seven sages, Zelda revealing herself to be the seventh and the leader. Rowark felt ashamed that his constitution could not fulfill Sheik's legendary duty to protect and scout for the Hero. Thus far, it had been the other way around.
Once Rowark's breathing slowed to a comfortable rhythm, he nodded back to the Hero and wore his character once more. The beautiful, red sundown rays highlighted the dangers that flanked the Hero from all sides. Moblins, Stalfos, Wolfos, and of Ganondorf's minions shortened their distance from the Hero and were ready to attack. Not if Sheik had something to say about it.
The Sheikah guardian drew his two daggers and immediately chucked the one in his dominant, right hand, burying itself in between a monster's shoulder blades. Luckily, there were short blades laying all around him, so Sheik picked up another as soon as he threw the other dagger. The two fallen monsters drew the attention of Ganondorf's minions, and they split up into two groups, one to continue chase after the Hero and the other to end the Hero's companion.
With two new daggers in his hands, these ones long enough to be wielded as a short sword, Sheik begun his attack by stabbing his blades forth quickly. The unsuspecting moblin in front of the group fell before the piercing force, and the moblin behind him felt the cutting force of Sheik's follow through. Even though the bad guys were encircling Sheik, he was focused on his main mission, cutting through the swarm to protect the Hero's back.
Sheik sensed danger incoming from his left, so he lifted his foot to his side and kicked outward, straight into the Moblin's belly which sent the skeletal creature backwards into the incoming horde. That would buy him half a minute of time maybe. Without wasting a heartbeat, he turned back to the Hero and began his vortex of blades and kicks to pierce his way through Ganondorf's ranks, who fell before the Shekah's massacre like a knife cutting through a block of warm cheese.
The only problem was, Sheik's stamina could sustain the attack for only a little while. By the fifth time he had twirled around, he was struggling to stay on his feet, gasping for air deeply. The land violently bucked up and down, creating nausea in his belly. His body eventually forced him to slow to a very fatigued walk. Not giving up with his attacks, Sheik stuck his blade out when his arms had gathered enough strength to move, fulfilling his duty to the Hero to hislast breath.
Because Sheik's head was glued to the ground, he did not see the hand reaching out to grab his own. When he looked up, the Hero had stowed his sword and came back to help his companion. As unsuspecting as the assistance was, a rush of happiness burst forth through Sheik's heart and rushed up his face, forcing him into an endless smile.
"Hero," said Sheik weakly, "Go on without me." Sheik was too exhausted and too worn from fighting off the monsters to continue at the Hero's energized pace.
"No Sheik, the Hero never leaves a man behind!" he answered resolutely as he supported Sheik on his shoulder and then covered the two with his shield. "Ganondorf is just up ahead!" When Sheik raised his head, he could see the evil Gerudo King waiting for the penultimate battle.
Like a blazing fire atop his scalp, Ganondorf's hair covered the top of his moldy grey head. The Evil King of legend was said to have stood almost an entire yard taller than the Hero. Wearing the most sinister garbs and his most wicked of capes to protect himself, Ganondorf extended the tip of his greatsword of evil at the Hero and unleashed a powerful laugh of mockery and challenge.
The Hero drew his Master Sword and Hylian Shield and charged at Ganondorf's castle gate, where the vile villain met the Hero head on. "Follow me! Sheik, you distract him while I go for his weakness!" Circling around Ganondorf, the Hero jumped forth with a downward strike at the Gerudo King's unsuspecting back. But the Beholder of Power caught on to the tactic and suddenly drew his greatsword at the Hero! Using his other hand, Ganondorf used the Triforce of Power's magic to ensnare Sheik, who fell to his knees and never even had a chance to launch a single attack.
"Hero!" cried Sheik to his companion through heavy breaths, "I'm trapped!" It was part of the story and also an excellent excuse for Rowark to catch his breath again. He fell onto his knees, helpless before the giant villain.
With one hand concentrated on holding Sheik down, Ganondorf had to split his concentration with his weapon. But finishing him off was not going to be as easy as charging in for a strike, for the Evil King's clothes were imbued with dark magic, so powerful that not even the great Master Sword could cut through its blackened aura.
"Hero! I must tell you something! My name is not really Sheik! I am Princess Zelda!" Leggy did little to convey surprise unlike the Hero, who was discovering this for the first time. Rowark stood up and twirled around dramatically to convey his transformation. "Use the power of the sages to defeat Ganondorf!" The Princess threw a ball of energy towards the Hero, which attached itself to the tip of the Hero's arrows.
Leggy put away his shield and mimed the notching of an arrow, aiming it, and firing it. The Light Arrow flew true through the air and pierced the darkness than protected the Gerudo King. The Hero wasted no time in drawing his sword and shield from his back and ran in towards the vulnerable villain. All it took to bring Ganondorf down was a jump attack, followed by a shield block from Ganondorf's sword, and then a spin attack to cut the Evil King in half.
Instantly, Rowark felt some of his stamina return to him as victory was achieved, "You did it, Hero! I'm free!" Princess Zelda ran to the Hero and looked upon him with eyes of admiration and love, while the Hero returned the gaze, oblivious to Zelda's emotions.
"All right, Princess," said the Hero as he stowed away his weapons, "now that you have united the Triforce, you get one wish."
Princess Zelda's heart pounded loudly. "I get to wish this time?" The Hero nodded. "And it comes true, no matter what?" Legend had it that the Hero used the wish of the Triforce to return to his own time, but others told the story that the Princess returned the Hero with the Ocarina of Time. Whenever Rowark and Leggy got to this part, Leggy always got the wish, and he'd usually wish to do something fun like take a dip in the river, or build a treehouse, or just lay on the grass and rest.
"I, I…" There were so many things that the Princess could have wished for. She thought about her burning desire for love and declared, "I wish for my first kiss to be with the handsome Hero of Time!"
A silent surprised look hung on Leggy's face. Rowark's face hung in suspension, and his heart thumped loudly inside his chest. "B-bu," Leggy stammered with uncertainty, "But not really, right?'
Rowark looked down; this was going downward, fast, "You said the wish came true no matter what, though."
"Yeah but, you're," Leggy looked away in embarrassment, carefully picking his next words, "you're a, a boy,".
"Not right now, I'm not! I'm Princess Zelda!" said Rowark, desperately trying to pull the veil over their eyes again, "Just this once, Hero? Please? We always do what you want to do."
Leggy released the most hesitant of sighs, "Yeah, but you're also…" When the two boys' eyes met briefly, Rowark could feel his emotions bridging out to his best friend. Then, Leggy turned to face Rowark onward, as if to confront his promise. "Okay," he said uttered quietly, "Just this once. And we don't tell nobody."
Happiness and excitement continued filling Rowark's young body as he prepared to experience a once in a lifetime sensation. He had seen the adults like his parents pressing their puckered lips together and, even though he did not understand what gravity words like "love" and "marriage" held, understood that kissing made mothers and fathers happy. He lifted his head and puckered his lips out, awaiting for his long awaited reward.
As Leggy stood over Rowark and leaned in to seal the deal, Rowark closed his eyes to accept the gesture of love. Each heartbeat rippled through his chest and felt like minutes, but he would endure each strong, heart pulse patiently for his wish to come true.
"No…" came the sudden rejection of Leggy, "This is wrong, this is, Queer…"
"Oh, I didn't…" Rowark didn't know what Queer meant, but he had heard the word uttered occasionally during the bi-tendo sermons. He had never even questioned what it meant until now. With anxiety building from his jumbled thoughts, Rowark panicked an response, "I, I didn't mean to be… Queer… "
"Well, you did!" raised the voice of Leggy, "What you wished for is the most disgusting sin out there known to the Goddess Nayru, and she would never grant that under any circumstance!" Leggy had no idea he was frightening Rowark, who had never seen his friend suddenly behave this way, "If you were a girl, maybe. But you're a boy. So wish for something else."
Sin? Rowark had thought sin was an act detestable to the Goddesses, like killing or stealing. So then, what was so sinful about wanting to share an experience that was supposed to express love? If only there was something to wish for that could cheer Rowark out of his brutal rejection. His mouth slowly frowned into misery, and water began to fill his eyelids, "I, I wish to go home."
"Come along, then." They still had another half hour to spare by the time they made their long, silent trek home.
