Disclaimer: I do not own anything of the Legend of Zelda—characters, locations, plot, etc. It is all property of Nintendo. I am only writing a story based off the game.
This story is in the romance genre because of the romance between Link and Sheik

Chapter thirty-six

A Stone's Call Away

Sheik's bare feet touched down on the wet ground of the remnant camp. The spongy earth was a stark contrast to what had been under Sheik's feet mere moments ago. Instead of his feet being plunged in hot grains of sand, cold and wet grass stuck uncomfortably to his skin. His legs shook and he lost his balance, falling to his knees.

Sheik closed his eyes, willing his head to stop spinning—he was a lot weaker than he thought. He could hear voices around him, but paid them no mind. He inhaled deeply through his nose, picking up the scents of the aftermath of rain. The air here in Kakariko was heavier and full of a sort of life in comparison to the arid air of the desert.

The voices around him grew louder—shouts starting soon after, but Sheik still couldn't bring himself to care just yet. He felt he might be sick, and that hasn't occurred since the first few times he warped during his training. By traveling from the Spirit Temple to the remnant camp, almost completely across the country of Hyrule, Sheik had thoroughly exhausted himself.

"Sheik?!"

Sheik's head fell forward into his hands, his fingers digging into his scalp. He was going to be sick. How his head hurt. . .

"Sheik!"

A soft thud sounded in front of him and suddenly warm hands were on his shoulders, shaking him.

"Sheik! Oh, Sheik..." Then Sheik was being awkwardly embraced by Princess Zelda. "I thought you were dead... We all thought you were dead. Oh... Sheik."

Sheik lowered his arms so Zelda could hold him tighter. The rest after became a blur. Sheik couldn't remember how he got to his feet, but suddenly Zelda was half leading, half dragging him toward their tent. Her could hear her voice, sense her urgency from the tone, but he could not make out the words.

Then a new voice sounded: Impa's. He felt his aunt's strong hands on him and then Sheik was lifted into the air as Impa began carrying him. Sheik couldn't bring himself to utter even a word in protest. He swallowed roughly over and over again, trying to keep back the bile rising in his throat.

His world tilted as he could no longer find the strength to hold his head up. He looked up the navy blue clouds that blanketed the sky, and then all was black.

When Sheik came to, his tired eyes stayed close. He watched torch light flicker from behind his eyelids, all while focusing on the hushed voices surrounding him.

"—these scars on his face... They're new too."

Sheik felt fingers brush along the ridges of the scar under his eye, realizing he was not wearing the cowl the Hero had given him. Link . . . such a sweet man—

"Gifts from the Gerudo, I presume."

"He isn't wincing when I touch them. Maybe he's okay..."

"He may be traumatized by them, Princess. Do you recall his reactions to the scaring by his mouth? It's best to not speak of them until he does—until he is ready."

There was a pause.

"The tunic... where did that come from?"

"Judging by the material from which it is made, I am quite sure it is a heat resistant tunic Gorons distribute to humans venturing to Death Mountain."

"So you think... you think it may have come from the Hero of Time? Where else would he have gotten it?"

Sheik felt fingers entwine with his limp ones.

"He's so cold," came Zelda's whisper.

"The tunic does not retain body heat, Princess," Impa replied in a deadpan.

Sheik figured it was time he stopped feigning faint lest the princess worry more. Plus, there was a rather awful stench Sheik did not have to guess the source to. He then became conscious of how his greasy hair stuck to his forehead, and of the dirt between his toes. Suddenly he was repulsed by how dirty he felt and so cracked his eyes open.

His line of vision was immediately obscured by a shadow. As his eyes came into focus, he could make out the worried features on Zelda's face as she loomed over him.

"Sheik," she breathed, brushing his hair back. She then pulled away, leaning over to the night stand. "Here, sit up and drink some water."

The princess helped the Sheikah up, and Sheik silently accepted the glass of water. Zelda sat the empty glass on the small table and focused back on Sheik. Her questions died in her throat as she caught sight of him. The disheveled Sheikah was staring at his hands in his lap with a blank expression.

"What's wrong?" she queried instead, storing away the thousands of other questions.

"Aunt," said Sheik, looking up to Impa. His expression turned remorseful. "I'm so sorry," he breathed after he lost his courage and looked away.

"Whatever for?" Zelda asked before Impa, taking Sheik's hand.

A lump formed in Sheik's throat as he prepared himself for the excruciating scolding he was sure to receive. He had dreaded this moment for a long time. He hadn't even woken up properly, but the guilt was already eating at him. Sheik licked his lips nervously and swallowed hard. This was always so difficult, and even after all the years of knowing his aunt and loving her, Sheik still harbored a fair amount of fear for Impa, especially in times like these.

"I... I lost the map you gave me," he muttered, wishing to pull the blanket Zelda had covered him with over his head and hide like a child.

"Oh!" Zelda cried in realization, clutching Sheik's hand. "Oh, Impa, he just got back," she pleaded with her caretaker. Impa would most likely be very upset with Sheik. Zelda had never seen it the one he carried, but on that map were locations Impa had chosen as hideouts for them to keep the power Zelda possessed untraceable, and Sheik said he had lost it. If anyone were to find that map, they would be led straight to the locations scattered over Hyrule. How would Impa react?

Neither her or Sheik had expected what Impa did next. The old Sheikah chuckled.

"Don't look so frightened, my nephew."

Sheik's head snapped up and his mouth fell open. "Aunt?"

Impa stood, as did Zelda. The Sheikah took the princess's spot next to her nephew on the bed, a smile just for him ghosting her large lips.

"But— Aunt—! They took the map from me!" Sheik cried. "The map that contained your secret hideouts is now in the Gerudos' possession. How are you not angry with me? Did they find you?!"

"You are correct, Sheik. That map did contain our hidden locations."

Sheik opened his mouth, but Impa raised a hand.

"I was wondering if and when you would notice, but apparently, you never did."

"Aunt, I don't understand!"

"There are two very different types of ink on the face of that map. One type of ink circles the destinations I have chosen to hide the princess, while the other marks the fakes. Both appear naturally to you since the Truth is required to see the other," Impa calmly explained, smirking at her nephew's bewildered expression. "You needn't worry, Sheik. The Gerudos will be searching in wrong places if they've aquired the map."

"I... I knew that the map... destroyed itself after a week's time," said Sheik, recalling the time long ago when one of his forgotten maps burst into flame while still inside his pocket. "But I... I never guessed that. It never occurred to me that you did such a thing."

Impa patted his knee and stood, returning to her chair at the table. She picked up a quill and Sheik guessed she was writing a letter.

Sheik saw laying on the table the sword Link had given him, the red jewl incrusted into the handle glittering in the torchlight. He stared at it fondly while thinking. Ink that could only be seen by the Truth was not something new to Sheik, but he was not aware Impa had any in her possession. Drawing on the map with said hidden ink was a brilliant plan, but once Sheik looked past the brilliance he frowned. Why had Impa not told him? And was her trust in him really that slim? Yes, he had lost the map, but it wasn't entirely his fault. He'd never been careless or had it stolen, only when he was in the Gerudo cell did he lose it.

Zelda's voice interrupted Sheik's thoughts. "Tell us, Sheik—" she took her place on his bed again, "—what happened? Tell us everything."

"I will, Princess," Sheik assured with an embarrassed smile, swinging his legs over the bed. "But right now, I really do need to bathe."

Zelda threw her head back with a laugh. "Of course, Sheik. We'll wait."

Sheik emerged from the princess's bathhouse, braiding his slightly damp hair. He felt very refreshed and warm wrapped in the purple dressing gown Zelda had provided for him, and he couldn't help his mind wandering back to Link. The Hero of Time had already gone back in time, that much was in the bath, Sheik felt Link's presence get lost inside the Sacred Realm. The Hero's energy was still present, but he had fallen out of reach. Sheik felt confined within his own mind when trying to locate Link—it was a horrid feeling. He hoped Link was resting. If he was anywhere near as exhausted as Sheik, he would be.

—

Sheik threw back the flap of the the Princess's tent to be met with a delicious smell. Impa was no where in sight and was most likely on her nightly patrol of the camp. Zelda was perched upon her bed now in her nightgown. She looked up and smiled sheepishly over at Sheik.

"I had the kitchens heat up what they had left of dinner tonight. I hope that's okay." She gestured toward the table in the middle of the tent.

Sheik grinned and strode over to the table, sitting down in the rickety chair. "Princess, I've been living on bread and apples for the past three days—" he picked up the fork beside the plate loaded with mashed potatoes and various vegetables, "—it's perfect. Thank you."

Zelda went back to reading her book, knowing how self conscious Sheik became when people watched him while he ate.

"You know, I do believe purple is your color," she commented after a while, turning a page.

Sheik answered with just a laugh.

—

Once he had finished his small dinner, Impa came striding through the doorway. At the same moment, Sheik stood, staggering a little, nodding to his aunt when she gave him a pitying look.

"Here," Impa said, stopping her nephew as he tried to pass her and return to his bed and pulling from her pockets a small bottle filled with green liquid.

Sheik eyed the bottle skeptically before realizing what it was with a gasp.

"We're running low, so drink just enough to get your strength back."

"Aunt— I can't—" He didn't need potion to restore his magic; all he needed was proper rest and he'd be fine!

Impa smirked. "You can, and you will," she said firmly, taking Sheik hand and pressing the bottle into it. "Keep it and drink more tomorrow if you need it."

Sheik sat on his bed and sipped the potion, feeling an odd sort of strength build up within him, and warmth spread from his fingertips to his toes. "Thank you, Aunt," he said to Impa as she sat back down.

"Now that you're bathed and have your strength back," she answered, "tell me and the princess where you were."

Sheik's story was a lengthy one, and that was with him leaving bits of it out too—parts the princess and his aunt didn't need to know. He sat crossed legged on his bed, staring at his hands for a majority of the story. As always, Zelda reacted accordingly to the right moments while Impa sat still as a statue. Sheik recounted how he had been caught. He skipped the details of what happened inside the cell he was held captive in and went straight to the part where he was found and rescued by the Hero of Time. He told how the goddesses protected Link throughout their journey, and how Link had protected him.

By the end of his story, shame had spread throughout his body.

"I led him all the way to the Spirit Temple—" Sheik buried his face into his hands, "and Nabooru wasn't even there."

Zelda had gotten up during Sheik's tale and joined him on his bed, her arms wrapped around him. "Sheik, how could you have known?"

Sheik's throat was dry, his voice as tired as his eyes. "The Hero is traveling back through time," he said while stifling a yawn. "He is already in the past. I can feel it"

Zelda gasped, letting Sheik go. "He what?!"

"He needs to speak with Nabooru, Princess, and that is the only way," Impa explained before Sheik could.

"But... it's very dangerous!"

"You don't think I know that?" Sheik grumbled as he rubbed his eyes, annoyance flaring up. He would never put Link in additional danger without reason. Even then, guilt weighed heavy on his chest. "You don't think I tried to think of something else?!"

The princess placed a hand on Sheik's shoulder. "Sheik, I wasn't accusing you."

"I know, but I already feel horrid enough for it."

Impa watched her nephew in his pursuit to fight back tears, and so rose from her seat. "I think we should discuss this more in the morning."

Sheik couldn't be more thankful toward his aunt.

Despite his utter exhaustion, Sheik laid awake. He started up at the canopy of the tent, hearing Zelda's deep breaths and wishing they were Link's snores. Sheik smiled as he thought about Link's snoring. The volume of the Hero's snores varied depending the position he was laying. If Link laid on his back, his snores were almost defining when in the confines of a bedroll with him, but if Sheik just gently rolled the Hero over, his snores reduced into deep breathing.

Sheik hitched his quilt up to his chin and longed for the blanket Link had allowed his Guide to sleep under. Sheik had been freezing at night in the desert, every night, but he would never allude to such a thing. Link had sensed how cold Sheik was, and since Sheik refused to change from the Goron tunic in front of the Hero, Link wrapped his Guide in the soft green blanket he said he carried from his home in Kokiri.

Sheik missed the Hero. Actually missed him. In the past when Sheik would part from Link, he would spend his time worrying for the Hero's safety. Now, on top of his worries, Sheik's heart ached. He wished to feel safe while falling asleep as he did when Link would turn over in the bedroll and throw his arm over Sheik's back. Every night of his life he fell asleep with a sense of fear and an instinct to be constantly vigilant. With Link, even out in the desert, Sheik fell asleep comfortably, putting all his worries in the Hero's hands just for that night. He wished to see Link smiling at him, laughing at him, to easily converse with the Hero of Time. No matter how close Zelda liked to believe she and Sheik were, the Sheikah still felt an air of nervousness as he spoke to the princess of Hyrule. There wasn't any doubt that Sheik loved Link. Sheik held a love for the Hero of Time since he swore his oath, but Sheik had never expected to love Link like he did now. Though, every time he thought of his feelings for Link, Sheik drove it from his mind with the argument of how dangerous it was as the Sheikah Guide to be in love with the Hero of Time. He knew the pain he felt now would increase a thousandfold by the end of the war, and so suppressed the feelings in every way he could.

And so Sheik's mind wander back to the night he spent in the desert cave. Sheik curled in on himself, pulling the blanket over his head. That night would forever be one of the most awful nights of Sheik's life. He could remember feeling all of the immense pain, all of the fear, and then seeing it through Link's cerulean eyes. He could remember screaming until his throat was raw whilst hearing the Hero's hushed assurances and pleads for Sheik to stop. But Sheik was unable to stop, unable to believe that only he and the Hero were inside the cave. Sheik could remember his attempts to warn Link after seeing the two Gerudo women standing behind the Hero. He could remember scratching and clawing, trying to protect Link from them. Sheik could have sworn he felt the cold hands of the Gerudo on him before they turned into the warm, rough, familiar hands of the Hero, cradling his face and begging him to wake up. And then Sheik woke up the next morning, wondering just what the hell that poison did to him, or was it the antidote?

When Sheik thought back to the night he wept into the Hero's chest he turned a bright shade of red under the covers. That had certainly been unexpected. After that first day with Link, being out in the desert gave Sheik a persistent longing to see his old home again. The grief and guilt he experienced the night in the hut hit him much harder than he assumed. Sheik knew he would never completely get passed his past out in the desert, but he thought he could at least stay strong for one night. How terribly wrong he had been. The moment the Hero began questioning Sheik, showing genuine concern, the grieve he felt could not be repressed any longer.

—

Sheik poked his head back out of the covers for fresh air and heaved a great sigh. He rolled over to his other side and faced the tent's canvas. If he snuggled deeply into the mattress and hugged his blanket in just a certain way, he could pretend Link was there with him.

The next morning Sheik rose early. Not that he intended to, but there were things he must do, and so he got out of bed and dressed silently. He slipped into one of Zelda's spare exoskeletons she gave him permission to wear until he was made a new one, then he found his extra cowl in her dresser. After securing the sword Link had loaned him onto his thigh, he looked sadly down at his chest, already missing his tabard.

He began his mission through the market in Kakariko. Then, with a basket full of various foods packed for the Hero and a slightly lighter wallet in the pouch attached to his thigh, Sheik made his way back through the village and to Impa's house.

Sneaking in through the window of the leader of Kakariko's home, Sheik set to work.

He rummaged through chests and drawers. He looked under the bed upstairs and under the bookcases downstairs, but he still couldn't find the thing he had promised to give Link. Finally, after resorting to standing atop a chair to look on top of the large bookcases, he located what is known as the Mask of Truth. He pulled it down and dusted it off as he stepped off the chair, all the while smiling victoriously. This mask was extremely ugly with an off-putting single yellow eye set in the middle, but if Link wore this around Gossip Stones, he could use their power. The Hero could speak with his Guide.

Not wanting to waste anymore time lest Link return to the Spirit Temple, Sheik gathered the basket from the kitchen table, held fast to the mask, and warped to the Triforce platform by the temple's entrance.

Kakariko was a relatively hot place. Being under Death Mountain, the temperature in the village was kind of a given. But warping from Kakariko to the desert made Sheik feel he somehow had walked into an oven.

The heat seemed to whoosh over the Sheikah, filling his cowl and making him feel as if he were suffocating. He instantly pulled the cowl down with his free fingers with a, "gah!", tossing his bangs out of his eyes while still holding the mask. He scanned the redstone valley before setting the basket down on the marble platform. Bending down, Sheik used a bit of magic to brand a Sheikah eye on the lid of the wooden basket, coughing slightly at the smoke that rose up from between his fingers. He'd considered writing a note before he remembered that Link could only read if someone was there to help him, so Sheik figured putting a mark on the basket would be the next best thing so as not to embarrass the Hero. Next, Sheik placed the mask by the basket and stepped back off the platform and into the sand. Summoning a bit of protective magic Impa had taught him, he cast it over the items he was leaving for Link, watching the magic form a sort of bubble around them.

Drawing a deep breath, Sheik took one more look at the Spirit Temple. He glared into the face of the colossus of Din, as if daring her to allow anything to happen to her and her sisters' chosen hero.

"I've done all I can," Sheik spoke to the colossus in a low, threatening voice. "Watch over him, Din."

He contemplated getting on his hands and knees and pressing his forehead into the sand like how the Gerudos worship, but their religion was not his, so Sheik just made to leave. He drew out of the pouch next to the sword bound to his leg the green potion Impa had given him last night. Taking just a small swallow, Sheik had the strength to conjure enough magic to warp back to Kakariko. Hopefully Princess Zelda and Impa would never even notice Sheik had left.

The next two days went by very slowly. Sheik needed to speak with Link, but the Hero had not returned to his own time yet. Not that Sheik could blame him; the Hero needed all the rest he could get, and rest was easily accessible a child Sheik supposed. Although, not being able to feel Link's location was slowly driving Sheik mad.

Then two days turned into four and if Sheik did not keep busy, he'd very nearly go out of his mind with worry. There was a Gossip Stone hidden away at the back of the camp, and whenever Sheik had free time, he spent it huddled against the stone and waited for something—for anything.

He was braiding his hair, tying the end of it when—

"Sheik? Navi, you sure I just... talk into it?"

The whispers were quiet, but enough to make Sheik yelp.

"What was that?! Sheik! Is that you? Are you okay?!" The deep voice of the Hero of Time was issuing from the Gossip Stone— The mask worked.

Sheik fell forward on his hands in front of the stone, beaming from ear to ear. "I'm sorry, Link. You just scared me."

"Oh... Sheik..." Link trembling voice was laced with relief. "It works."

Sheik looked over his shoulder, scanning the area behind him in case someone was watching him in his absurd position while speaking to a stone. The bustling villages went about their own business, not even so much as glancing in his direction.

Sheik pressed his forehead to the cool stone in an attempt to get as close to Link as possible. "Hello, Link."

"Hi..."

"Am I right to guess you feel a bit ridiculous speaking to a stone too?"

Link's rich laughter flowed from the stone. "Yeah, a bit. But I'm guessing you don't have to wear a mask like this. Navi won't stop giggling..."

"I'm sure it's a sight to see," Sheik laughed, then there was silence on both ends.

"How are you, Sheik? You doing okay?"

Sheik nodded before coming to the embarrassing realization Link could not see it. "I— I fine, Link."

"You sure? You stuttered."

"I nodded to answer your question, then realized you could not see it."

Link snorted. "Well, I'm glad you have to actually talk to answer my questions. It's so good to hear your voice, Sheik. I missed you."

Sheik was thankful Link could not see his face flush. Even with a cowl, he was sure Link could tell whenever Sheik was blushing. "We haven't been apart for that long, Hero."

"I know, but I got used to you being here, so it's felt like ages."

"In a way I'm there."

"Yep. You're safe in Kakariko, and talking to me in the desert! This is incredible!" Link voice grew excited and Sheik beamed.

"I could— I could... come and see you?" Sheik suggested. Once he heard Link's voice again, the longing for the Hero Sheik felt the first night back in Kakariko flared up and returned in full.

"No!" came Link's shout and Sheik pulled his head back in alarm. "I mean— yeah, I want you here, but... I'll meet you in Kakariko. I promise, I'll come find you. You went through so much out here, sweetheart. You just need to rest and recover for a while."

Sweetheart. There was that term again. This made it the third time Link had called Sheik the name. It wasn't entirely appropriate for the Hero of Time to be using such a term while addressing his Guide, but at the moment as his friend, Link used it, Sheik couldn't find it in himself to care. Link did not use the term lightly or in a terribly condescending way like Sheik had heard it from racist shopkeepers and various other peddlers who uttered it through their crooked teeth to hide their hatred of Sheik's race; caring too much about his money to shun him. Link used it because he cared for Sheik: his Guide and his friend. Hearing the term from the Hero felt too nice to ask him to stop. Hopefully Princess Zelda and especially Impa would never find out.

"I understand, Link."

Link's sigh could be heard from the other end before he changed the subject. "So... this basket's from you, too, right?"

Sheik smiled. "Yes, Hero. Fresh water, and food from the market here in the village. Also a few potions a brewed myself... just in case."

"You're a goddess-send, Sheik," said Link, his grin sounding in his voice.

"I would hardly say that."

"But I would. I should know, don't you think?"

"I am your Guide. It is my duty to protect you."

"Well, thank you." The Hero's voice was quiet.

Sheik squared his jaw and sat back on his heels, folding his hands over his knees. "Link?"

"Hmm?"

"I need you to tell me everything."

This chapter was nothing exciting, I know... I'm sorry. I just figured some of this stuff needed to be told. I'll get back to the excitement in the next chapter! I hope you all got what I was trying to explain about Sheik in his time not feeling the Link from his time's presence any longer after Link went back seven years. It was hard to explain what I was thinking, but I think I did okay. Despite this chapter being a bit of a bore, I hope you're okay with it. And, gosh, I'm so sorry for the awful pun for the chapter title. I couldn't get it out of my head, so I figured why not?

So apparently after everything that went down in the desert, Sheik has come to terms that he loves Link, but will it all end in heartache like he thinks it will?

Thank you to all you readers, favoriters, followers, and reviewers. You all are wonderful, and I still can't believe this story is read and enjoyed by people. Thank you!