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Title: Treasure of the Yiga

Chapter 5: The Sheikah

Author: Sailor Song

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"Of all the names you could have picked," he lamented as we walked. "Where did you even hear that one?" His eyes suddenly grew very large. "Please don't tell me it was my father."

"I don't know where I heard it," I hissed at him. I didn't bother to tell him that Sheik was the first name that came to mind for an alias, before deciding it seemed just a bit too obvious of a fake.

"Keep up!" the Sheikah who Link had called Impa shouted back at us. Because of Link's long absence, he was being personally escorted to check in so he could give a full report of his recent travels. She was clearly not pleased about this.

"Well, anyway, your friends are just lovely," I said, in an exaggerated tone, trying to change the subject away from my apparently bad choice in self-naming.

He laughed, "I told you I annoy them easily too." I could tell something else was troubling him, but I couldn't quite figure out what it could be.

"You don't annoy me," I heard myself whisper.

I wasn't sure that he'd heard me, much to my relief, but a few heartbeats later, he voiced, "Give it time," and then as if to goad me, he added, "Zelda."

If his hearing was good, his eyesight and awareness were omniscient. I didn't even need to tell him about the Sheikah watching, studying me as we walked. They seemed to be waiting for any window of opportunity to cut in and split us up. He knew and stayed close to me.

… … …

We traveled the unstable path along the edges of a large body of water. I was astonished at its vastness and asked if it was the sea, only to be met with chuckles from the nearby Sheikah. But not from Link. He knew I didn't like being laughed at.

"Lake Hylia," he whispered, as though that should mean something to me. I actually did know the name: my people often were sent on missions to patrol the area, especially the bridge, which was good for gathering riches and supplies from unsuspecting travelers.

What dangerous terrors the Yiga Clan must be for a large band of Sheikah warriors to fear taking the easier road. At least, I tried to convince myself that was the case.

Once we'd reached the other side, we stopped on the banks of a river, coming to rest under a large tree which sheltered a small shrine nestled high above a thriving village. Upon seeing it, Link dropped down to join me on the grass, seemingly even more agitated than he had been earlier.

"We're nearly there. A couple of military outposts are very close by," he said, offering me a red fruit he had picked from on a tree nearby. "I didn't get you situated somewhere safe first."

"What do I do?" I stared at the fruit, but having grown up with only bananas, hydromelons, and voltfruit, I wasn't sure how this was to be peeled. Link produced a second one, rubbed it on his sleeve, and took a bite of it, skin and all.

"Just stay near me," he said. "I'm working on a plan. Speed or stealth?"

"Excuse me?"

"Which is your stronger skill? Are you better at running or hiding?"

"Oh, uh, the latter. Hiding."

"Hm… okay."

And that was all he said. For the rest of the break, we sat eating in silence. The fruit, an apple, was good.

I didn't hear him speak again until we reached the road. Link stopped abruptly, pointing at a nearby stone bridge. "We're going the wrong way."

"I'm not," Impa said. "Keep up!"

One of the soldiers gripped our collars and pushed us away from the bridge. Link, not wanting to leave my side, grabbed my hand and pulled me with him to the front. "There are no fewer than two outposts immediately in the other direction."

"I'm aware, Hero," she said, not looking back.

"Well?"

"A quick check-in for you is too little too late. We are stopping at my village for the evening, and then tomorrow, we are escorting you to the castle."

"What?" and "No!" he and I exclaimed in unison.

She rounded on us this time. "Hero, you are more than a week overdue. You reappear with a girl of unknown origin, and now, the Yiga are swarming the kingdom," Impa reasoned. "The circumstances are coincidental at best." She paused and gave him a menacing smile. "Besides, he wants a full account of what you were doing during your absence."

Link just scowled, leaving me to wonder aloud, "He?"

"The crowned prince," Impa replied with a weird smirk. "He likes to keep a short leash on his favorite pet."

Link's jaw clenched. Remembering that he was not immune from making bad decisions when his emotions ran high, I gave him a gentle nudging in the ribs.

"Working on it," was all he said, and I knew he meant he was re-adjusting the plan to escape. Emotional, yes, but also focused.

… … …

We arrived at the Sheikah village as night was beginning to fall. It was cozy, charming, and full of lively children running around, playing gleefully. It was so… happy.

I hated it.

As we neared the heart of the village, I was gripped suddenly and tightly by the arm and led towards a large building, away from Link.

"No, absolutely not. She stays with me!" Link said, his emotions running wild again.

"Never fear, Hero," Impa said rather gleefully as we walked towards a large house. "This girl is my guest, and as such, she will be treated accordingly."

"Impa, don't do this." The Sheikah seemed to know what he was about to do, because three of them, perhaps more, appeared in order to hold him back while also attempting to try to calm him down. "I swear to the goddesses, Impa…"

Beside me, the Sheikah woman seemed to be enjoying herself. "I advise you to get food and a good night's rest. You have a big day tomorrow." She was insufferable, leaving no doubt in my mind that the Sheikah and my people were distant relatives. With a final dig, she grabbed my hand and gave him a wave before pulling me away. "Have a pleasant evening."

For as long as I could, I watched him struggle against the others, all the while his eyes were locked on me until we entered the house. As soon as the door had closed, I pulled my hand away from hers. "Ah, don't be sore, little girl. He'll be fine once he gets his head on straight. We just like to have our fun with the Hero."

I'd had enough of this bullshit, and I was sure to let her know. "He hates being called that, you know. You're no better than the rest who have bullied him all his life."

"He's a big boy; he can handle it," she said dismissively, but her eyes suggested I had told her something she didn't know. "Head on up the stairs, girl. I'll show you to your room."

I gave one glance toward the front door, but decided to do what she said at least for now. Once I had made it to the top of the stairs, there were different rooms. Before I could ask or even turn around to see where she wanted me to go, I was pushed through an open doorway.

"No, wait!" The door slammed shut and I was locked in. "Let me out!" I cried as I pounded against it. With one last hit, I spun around. Window! I ran over and looked out, but the drop down was straight into the water, making escape via this route impossible. After all, there were not many opportunities to learn to swim in the desert.

I was caged again. Chained to Link, imprisoned in a cell, trapped a lifetime in the Yiga hideout… I had spent more of my life locked away than free. I looked around for any other means of escape, but there were none to be found. Deciding that I did not want to make anything easy on my newest captors, I hoisted myself up to the room's rafters and situated myself on one of the higher beams. If I was lucky, I could sneak out by dropping behind them when they walked in.

That was my plan anyway, but I didn't account for how exhausted I would be after a long day of travel, and in the darkness of my hidden perch, I could feel my eyelids becoming heavy.

… … …

Falling, falling. Blackness was all around me. I reached out, and all around me was dirt. I was in some sort of tunnel, no, it was a pit. Was I back in the desert? Back home? Had I been tossed down into the bottomless pit and somehow survived?

I heard something wet sploosh down somewhere near me. Unable to see, I waited, oddly hoping the pit would fill with water before remembering that I couldn't swim. Not many opportunities to learn to swim in the desert, after all… hold up, hadn't I just thought that? Why?

Another sploosh and then another and another. The sound became consistent, like a timekeeping device, like sand falling in an hourglass.

Inevitably, one of the drops hit me, falling square on my arm. I couldn't see, but it felt like fire burning my skin. I tried to scream, but no sound came out.

A voice I recognized but couldn't place called down to me from the top. It was impossible from my position to see the owner, even when they held a torch, one they dropped down to my depths. My hole was suddenly filled with light, and I could now see exactly what was falling. It was a gelatinous, leech-like material in hues of purple, crimson, and black. One by one. A few more hit me, burning me when I couldn't scream. I grabbed the torch, hoping fire would save me, but it did not help. The fire only helped it, energized it. I looked up again, hoping beyond hope someone could help me out of this pit, but to my horror, a waterfall of the burning sludge was about to rain down, burning and burying me alive.

… … …

I thrashed and clawed in the hope I could escape, gasping desperately for air.

"Zee, I've got you." A gentle hand stroked the top of my head in a repetitive, soothing motion. "Take a deep breath. Open your eyes."

I did what he told me, staring at him next to me in the darkness.

"Link?"

He didn't offer me a smile or any other friendly gesture, just continued to try to calm me. As I fully became aware of my surroundings, I realized I was lying on the bed, no longer up in my perch, and night had fallen. Link was next to me, not touching me but for his hand on my head.

Memories of my dream returned, and without a thought, I pressed up against him, burying my face against his chest. The pain, the fear, it was all so real. It had been a while since I'd had these sort of nightmares.

Though he was reluctant to at first, he put his arms around me, holding me close while I sobbed myself to sleep against his chest.

When I next awoke, daylight was streaming in through the window. Link was still there, still holding me, still awake. I had robbed him of another night of sleep. Landon had told me his son either never slept or slept like the dead.

Death. Suffocating, smothering deep in a pit full of toxic sludge. In a panic, I choked as I gasped for air at the memory of my very vivid dream. Nightmare.

"You're okay," he soothed, helping me to calm down again.

After some time, my breathing had returned to normal, and I pulled away from him to stretch out muscles that were stiff from sleeping in one position for so long. Remembering I had been up high, I wondered how I was not sore or injured from some fall.

"What happened?" I asked, closing my eyes again, more or less to avoid his searching gaze.

"When they brought your supper and you weren't in the room, Impa sent for me. The first place I looked was here, to see if I could track which way you went, and right when we entered, you fell from the beam."

"I fell?" My dream, falling down the hole. Drowning in the murky substance. No, I needed to distract my thoughts. "Why am I not hurt?"

"There was a light; you were glowing. We couldn't see exactly what happened or what it was, but it slowed your descent and held you in the air long enough for me to catch you and place you onto the bed."

I looked around, realizing where we were. "So I'm still in Impa's?"

"Yes, but don't worry. She's not going to trouble us anymore." He sat up, taking his warmth with him, and a part of me wished to go back to the way we were. "When you're ready, I'll give her the signal and she's going to lead her search party out of the village so we can get away."

"You don't have to go to the castle?"

He twitched a little. "No. I don't want you anywhere near that place."

"Why?" Despite asking, I couldn't help but feel relief. Sooga had told me that Link would take me to the castle when he was done with me. I supposed for now that meant I was safe to continue my mission.

Link didn't answer my question. "And Impa agrees with me. That's why she's helping us get away."

"Why?" I asked again, more forcefully this time.

"Despite all appearances yesterday, she is my ally." He gave a slight chuckle. "And it seems you put her in her place. What did you say?"

"Nothing really," I replied, not sure how my one statement could have possibly made any difference to her. "She was being rude, and I let her know it."

He snickered. "Wish I'd been there to see that." A wave washed over him, and he became very serious. "I'm sorry I wasn't." There was a pause as he considered his words. "When you said you wanted to come with me, I was worried about something like this happening. That we might be separated, and I couldn't get to you. I know you are strong and capable of taking care of yourself, but that does not prevent me from feeling responsible for your safety. So before we leave here, I just need to know that this is what you want. My life if full of danger, uncertainty-"

"I'm ready. When do we leave?" I asked, hoping my question would be enough to assure him of my conviction.

He walked to the window, opening it and made a noise, something like a wolf's howl. "Now," he answered as he shut the window. "Let's go."

… … …

There was only silence as we exited the Sheikah's home. A pair of guards stood at the bottom of the stairs, but Link kept walking. His footsteps were incredibly stealthy, yet the wood still creaked slightly under his feet, but still he walked. I followed, just as silently, in his footsteps as he walked behind the guards. In unison, they both turned to their right, to look at a small shrine of statues next to the pooling water, away from the direction we were heading. They knew we were there. They were letting us leave.

"As long as they don't see us, they won't have to lie when they're questioned," he had told me before we had walked out of the house.

I followed him and him alone as we walked away, staring only at his back. It was day, there was light everywhere, but on he walked, confidently leading me up a hill and through a forested area that overlooked the Sheikah village.

It wasn't until we reached a huge, strange flower-like object that he turned back to me, shaking his head as if to warn me to stay away. It reeked of magic whatever it was, so it took little convincing to get me to agree.

A pale light caught my eye, pulling me towards it. A flower, small and fragile, blue and white, blooming in the most unlikely of places. I dropped to my knees to get a better look at it. It glowed in the darkness with some kind of brilliance I couldn't describe. I wanted to touch it, but I was also afraid that doing so would ruin it, that even my very presence might cause it to wither.

"Good. At least one escaped him."

I looked up to see Link leaning against the tree, looking down at the flower.

"What is it?" I had seen many strange flora and fauna during my short time outside the desert, but this was different than anything thus far.

Something crossed his face, an emotion I couldn't comprehend. "It's nothing, just a flower," he said brusquely. "Come on."

With one last glance, I pushed myself up to stand and chased after him. He'd left me behind; had I annoyed him? I was so worried that I didn't even notice when he stopped suddenly, causing me to slam into his back. He was tense, alert. There was a rustling noise and something large began running from behind the trees and straight towards us. Before I could react, my companion spun around, grabbing me and knocking me down to the ground. Over his shoulder, I saw a pair of creatures, each with four thin legs and brown fur, bound over us. I could only watch as they disappeared into the deep woods, wondering at the beasts.

I wanted to ask what they were, but after Link's response when I asked him about the flower, I worried I had done something to bother him. Keeping by his side was my assignment, not irritating him, so instead of asking, I just stared in the direction they went, even after they were long gone.

"Deer," he whispered as though he was reading my thoughts.

I realized the situation in which we found ourselves. My back was against the hard earth. Link was shielding me with his body, his firm hand nestled behind my head, having protected me from hitting the ground in the fall.

"Are they dangerous?" I asked, staring up into his blue eyes.

"No, at least, not intentionally, but they are all muscle," he explained. "Males have antlers that can be very sharp. They can be easily startled, and when that happens, they become very unpredictable. I didn't want you to be trampled or impaled." Even in the shade of the woods, I could see the tips of his ears turning red.

He stood, and for the second time that day, I found myself missing his warmth. Was I so desperate for the heat of my desert home, or was this something else entirely?

"I didn't hurt you, did I?" he asked, extending a hand to help me up.

"No, I was only surprised," I said as I stood and brushed the leaves from my legs.

He smiled, raising his hand. I thought for a moment he was about to touch my face as he had once before, but he reached past and pulled a leaf from my hair.

"Ready?" he asked, cocking his head to the side and giving a small smile.

My heart thumped against my chest. "Ye-yeah…" I stuttered.

We passed another traveler who gave us a wave as we passed and tried to talk about the weather. Link just ignored her and walked on, but I turned just in time to see her mouth 'We're watching' to me before disappearing.

I could feel myself shaking as I hurried beside him.

"Cold?" he asked, digging through his bag and pulling something out. "We're getting closer to the sea, so the air is going to be cooler and heavier than what you're used to."

"Yeah, cold. That's it," I lied as I accepted the cloak. "Why are we near the sea?"

"We should try to figure out what caused you to glow like that. Impa suggested starting with the Zoras. Aside from the Sheikah, they live longer than any other race, so they might have a better understanding of what's happening to you."

"Me?"

"People don't just glow and levitate, Zee. Magical as they are, the Sheikah and, by extension, the Yiga do not have that kind of power."

I looked down at my hands. They were normal. As a Yiga, my magical skills were undeveloped. One of the reasons they wouldn't let me leave was because I'd never mastered the art of transformation or the ability to use magical weapons. "I don't have any kind of power. Whatever you thought you saw, it was a fluke. I'm nothing special."

"Tell yourself that all you want," he said dismissively. "I spent years denying my calling. Didn't make it any less true."

I prodded. "Because you pulled a magical sword from a pedestal?"

"You think that's when I accepted what I am?" he asked with a hollow laugh.

"Wasn't it?"

He studied me for a moment, eyes searching my own for something for an uncomfortably long amount of time. "No," he answered abruptly before turning, walking on ahead without another word.