III

It was a cold, crisp morning in Kakariko Village, and it was the sound of a constant barrage of tapping against the wall of the house that woke Sheik up. Shaking her head tiredly, she rubbed her eyes, trying to wake up properly.

"It must be a blasted woodpecker again… Now I remember why I didn't get much sleep as a child here."

She joked to herself, letting out a low chuckle as she got herself dressed. Slipping her mask back on around her neck, she decided to get dressed into one of the dresses that she'd brought home from Hyrule Castle. Surprisingly enough, it wasn't fancy, ornate, or anything of the sort. It was a simple low cut flower dress, which hugged her figure nicely enough; it was very modest, and came down just past her knees. Covered in many floral designs and prints, she always had adored it, and very rarely had the chance to wear it.

Heading outside, it was cold, but nowhere near as much as it was the night before. She breathed in the air, the smell of jasmine hitting her very subtly. Smiling now, she looked to the incense burner which was hanging from the top of the front decking. Sheik had never remembered it being so peaceful before. It was almost too peaceful. But right now, she wasn't going to complain. Heading back inside for a moment, she picked up a small watering can, matching her dress. Filling it up with some water, she closed the door behind her again, stepping out to the front garden.

As she began to water her flowers, she heard the laughter of children running around, the occasional shout of a merchant peddling their wares, and other parents chatting. Looking to her flowers, she smiled warmly at what she had; plenty of warm safflina, some hyacinth, armoranth, and her favourite flower, the Silent Princess. Truth be told, she didn't know if that was the flowers real name. She only remembered it growing outside the window of her room in Hyrule Castle. Whenever she'd asked what it really was, that was what she'd be told in response. So, she carried on the moniker that it carried. It was beautiful; it had pale blue petals, blue as the perfect Hyrule sky, which gently swayed in the wind.

"Silent Princess… come to think of it, I was often called that. After all, I wouldn't have said that I was a social butterfly by any means. Maybe they named it after me."

She sighed happily, picking one of them gently, before placing it in one of her pots that leaned upright against the fence. It joined two other flowers of hers, that she considered her favourites; roses and daffodils. It was near enough identical to the bouquet she'd been given the day before, aside from the Silent Princesses. Whenever she'd asked a florist about them, they looked at her as though she had three heads. It was as though it didn't even exist to other people.

Content at how the flowers looked, she took the watering can back inside, checking that off of her mental to-do list. She looked to the now closed book on her desk. It hadn't crossed her mind, as to whether or not she'd actually finished the book in one night, or whether she fell asleep whilst reading. Then she looked at a small stain, just on the edge of the desk. Feeling the side of her lip as a reflex, she felt her skin to be a bit more dry and flaky, raising an eyebrow.

"Yep. Definitely saliva. I must have been exhausted…"

She sighed, picking the book up, and placing it back on the shelf. Sitting on the edge of her bed, she took a moment to think to herself; not just about what she needed to do today, but also about her life. This wasn't exactly uncommon; meditation and taking a time-out in life was something she practiced often.

"The empty mind is often the most knowledgeable."

She'd learned that from Impa, and she abided by that through most of her childhood. Granted, growing up she never really understood the mantras of the Sheikah, or why they were as secretive as they were. But she remembered a few things from her childhood; the ability to meditate on the spot, partial clairvoyance, but most of all, the ability to keep a clear mind, at the drop of a hat. She remembered all of the conversations that her and Impa had, as if they had only happened the day before.

"Remember, Sheik. We are those with sight, who act as eyes for the blind. And when my time comes to an end here, you will be the new leader of-"

Her mind was brought back to reality with a knocking at her door. It wasn't exactly unheard of for her to get visitors. Though, they didn't know who she was. So she had to be careful. Gingerly approaching the door, she asked firmly:

"Who is it?"

Opening the door after a moment's silence, she was utterly shocked at who she saw. The woman in front of her had a pale blue complexion; she stood at least an entire head above Sheik. Red, scarlet eyes bore down into her own, bright ginger locks going well past her neck and shoulders. Wearing a fine obsidian black half-dress, adorned with many cryptic markings and designs, she was missing the headcrown that Sheik had been used to seeing her wear. The woman cocked an eyebrow, giving her hair a casual flip.

"Didn't miss me too much, did ya?"

"M... Midna?"