After a very long time, here's the third chapter. I hope everyone who wanted it finds it to her-or his-satisfaction.
Bold: Flashback
//Italic//: Thoughts
I Know The Truth: Chapter 3
Link crept into his bedchambers holding his boots in one hand. He should have known better. "Where have you been?" Link cursed under his breath. "Do you know how worried I've been?"
"No."
Zelda sat up, indignant. She tossed her hair. "You need to remember that you are held accountable for coming in late. Speaking of accountability, Father wants to know why I'm not pregnant yet." Link muttered something under his breath. "What was that?"
"So that's what this is about. You want a baby." Link undressed and climbed into bed. "We'll discuss it in the morning. How's that?" // Like I want my child to be the heir. I might as well chain myself to her wrist and toss the key in the Haunted Wasteland. // Zelda seemed satisfied with his answer, and went to sleep. Link, on the other hand, wanted to think, just a little, before sleep claimed him.
Sheik smiled, greeting the day as soon as it arrived, as usual. Most of the village was still asleep, and a few had just gone to bed, the new gravedigger for example. //Link was here last night and he said he loved me. It's like I'm living in a crystal dream. // But then another thought crossed his mind. //If he loves me, then why did he suddenly decide to run home to Zelda? Was it because I didn't sleep with him? Is that it? It's not like I don't want to, it's just that I don't want to rush things. Maybe he'll change his mind about me…// He left the window to dress, and decided to head out onto Hyrule Field. There wasn't much else to do, anyway.
"Link?"
//I swear, that woman has the *worst* timing in the world. I want to pay Sheik a visit. I wonder how he got that house in the village…maybe Impa gave it to him…can she do that? //
"Link!" He looked up. "You know, if you want to get out, you only have to do one more thing."
"What's that?"
Zelda smiled seductively, or so she thought. "I think you know." Link inwardly gagged. Outwardly, he smiled, and nodded. "Oh, Link, I knew you would do what you truly wanted."
//If I were doing that, I'd be out riding Epona right now…or Sheik could be riding-Woah, Link, down boy, you don't want Zelda to gain any confidence. // "How's tonight, then. I have some thinking to do. And planning. I promise I will be back as soon as I can."
"And I'll cancel anything that's scheduled for tonight."
Link smiled again, hoping it didn't like he was baring his teeth. "All right, see you then." //Aren't I lucky. //
"I can't believe I agreed to that. Talk about a waste of a night, huh, Epona?" The mare only snorted. "Yeah, I know that I'm stupid already. You don't have to tell me." Link looked around. As sharp as his eyes were, Sheik was nowhere in sight. "How am I supposed to find him? I already checked his house."
"For a hero, Link, you've got horrible eyes. Aren't legendary heroes supposed to have eyes on the back of their heads as well as in front?" Sheik vaulted out of a tree and landed behind Link on Epona's back, making both the horse and rider jump. "Give me a heart attack, why don't you? Sheik, you scared me!"
The Sheikah smiled apologetically. "Sorry." He softly kissed the back of Link's neck. "Forgive me?"
"If you do that again later." Suddenly, Link spurned Epona and she broke into a gallop, forcing Sheik to wrap his arms around Link's waist to keep from flying off and landing on his posterior. "You did that on purpose!"
Link grinned, even though Sheik couldn't see it. "You have a problem with that?" Sheik smiled. "No." As they galloped towards Lake Hylia, Link smiled to himself. He couldn't believe that Sheik was really there, warm and real and with arms wrapped around his waist. He still had the urge to pinch himself and see if he was dreaming. Something this wonderful couldn't be real-and Link was delighted that it was. As they jumped the fence and drew up besides the lake, Link asked, "Want to go for a swim?" Sheik smiled, though a little shyly, and both young men jumped off of the horse. Well, Link jumped. Sheik eased off. Link, with no sense of shame, stripped off his tunic and the hat along with it, tossing both to the side. He'd gotten to his boots when he noticed that Sheik hadn't removed anything, not even the scarf. "Sheik?" The Sheikah looked down at the ground, blushing. Link gently started to unwind the scarf, revealing Sheik's face. "There's no one here to see you but me." He traced the thin scar. "Don't be shy, Sheik." The flaxen-haired young man backed away, then tugged off his tunic, letting it fall to the side, fluttering like a purple-winged butterfly. Then off went the boots, and both young men stood in their hose. Link grabbed Sheik by the waist and tugged him into the lake. "Link-Ack!" Sheik popped up again, hair in his eyes. "That was not amusing."
"I thought it was. You really need a sense of humor, you know." Sheik, in response, splashed him with water, using a flicker of magic. Link splashed him back, and a water fight resulted, water flying everywhere, including at Epona, whom indignantly snorted and ran off to eat in a quieter area. Then, calling up a tentacle of water, Sheik tugged Link down, than up, then around, before dunking him rump first into the lake. Link sputtered his way back up. "That wasn't funny, Sheik."
"I thought it was."
Link flipped back to float. "No, I mean, it really wasn't funny." Sheik blinked in confusion. "Morpha." Link frowned and shut his eyes. "That wasn't exactly a nice flashback. Strong watery tentacles…."
Sheik winced and looked away. "I'm sorry… I forgot. Sorry." Link flipped cleanly back up and smiled gently. Touching Sheik's cheek, he said, "It's okay. It's over. And I'm here with you." Leaning forward, Link brushed Sheik's lips with his. Then, pulling back, he whispered, "Now let's enjoy ourselves, all right?"
Dragging himself back onto the bank, soaking wet, Link laughed. "Well, that was fun. Except now I have to ride back wet. I'm going to get saddle burn." He grinned at Sheik. "You get to go 'poof' and vanish into your nice warm house." Link looked towards the setting sun and groaned. "What is it?" Sheik hopped out of the water and walked over to him. "Are you hurt somewhere?"
Link shook his head. "I have to get back. It won't look right if I'm out this late." //To have sex with Zelda…wonderful…oh, I don't want to go back. //
Sheik frowned. "Oh, to your wife." Link realized what Sheik was thinking and pulled the Sheikah into his chest. "Don't be like that. Believe me, I'd much rather stay with you. Curl up with you in my arms, make love to you-" Sheik pulled away. "Sheik?"
"Then why do you keep leaving?" The Sheikah flopped back onto the grass, still managing to look graceful. "Stay with me."
"I thought you didn't want to-."
Sheik pushed hair from his face. "Did I say that we had to do anything?" He sat up, the setting sun shining on his bangs. "Just be with me."
"I have to go back and you know it. If anyone found out, Zelda would exile us both from the main land of Hyrule. And I don't think either of us would care to live among a race of fish, children, rock-eaters, or fighting women all our lives."
"I wouldn't care, if I could be with you."
Link sighed. "Well, after experiencing time with each, I would. Besides, I can't leave Zelda." //Until she finds another man to marry. //
"Fine. If you want to go back to her, go. Forget about me. Zelda's more eager." The Sheikah rolled over, turning his back to Link. The blonde warrior had never seen Sheik like this, and he didn't like it. "Stop acting like a brat, Sheik, you're being petty…" The Sheikah frowned, resentment in every line of his body. Sheik, I feel like we're not on the same page. Sure, Zelda's more eager, but-." Sheik's entire frame tightened for a moment, and a proverbial light went on in Link's head. //Oh. I'm an idiot. // Sheik, do you think I keep leaving because I want to…be intimate and you won't?"
"No, that's not it." //Not all of it, anyway. // "I'm annoyed with the fact that you can't seem to make up your mind. Because it seems that you want us both, something you can't have. I had thought you'd decided. Let me know when you've made up your mind."
"Sheik, I-" Sheik snapped his fingers and vanished. //Great…well, what would I have said…? 'You're being stupid' probably would have earned me a glare and a refusal to talk to me. He's acting like a jealous woman…// Link frowned and called Epona over. He had to fulfill his duty, or rather; he had to get Zelda to shut up. //All right, I'm going to be extremely immature for a moment. EWWWWWW! //
That night, under silken sheets, Link buried his face into the overly fluffy pillows. Zelda had seemed satisfied, though he certainly wasn't. It had taken some very strong fantasizing about Sheik to even get himself functioning, and it would have been much easier to call out the Sheikah's name than Zelda's. He had barely even got a little sweaty. Good, well, now she'd remain quiet for quite a bit. His only problem would be if she turned out to be pregnant. But if she did, maybe he and Sheik could run off together and forget about her. Sheik…him and Sheik together, living in peace without her, in a world all their own. Another world entirely, some place *really* far way, was sounding better to him. Zelda would never find them in another world. Oh, wait a minute, he was stupid! He had been to another world! With that last thought, Link rolled out of bed, tugging on his clothes and throwing a few others into his bag that still contained all of his items from his hero days, and pulled out his Ocarina. Putting to his lips, he played the Nocturne of Shadow. //Now let's hope Sheik's forgiven me for this afternoon. //
Sheik awoke in the morning to a warm body next to his. "Link?" The other blonde opened one eye and smiled sleepily. "I choose you."
Feeling like the naive virgin in a bad romance novel, Sheik asked, "Link, are you sure?"
The Hero of Time nodded. "Of course. I love you, not her. I'm sorry that I've been bad at showing it. I realized that last night, so I put on some clothes and warped over. You were sleeping, so I just climbed in. Hope you don't mind."
Sheik chuckled. "I've never had a nicer awakening."
"So what do we do now? We can't stay here for long; she'll find us and try to take me back. I thought we could go to Termina but-."
"Hold on. Where?"
Link shifted himself a little closer to Sheik. "It's a whole other world. I went on some adventures there while I was looking for someone. I think. My memory's a bit foggy on that subject. The time is all screwed up. Sometimes it's hard to tell when something happened. It's a nice place anyway. I know how to get there, and I made friends." He smiled, thinking of Tatl, Kafei, and Anju. "But we might not be able to get back. What do you think?"
"No Zelda?" Link shook his head. "Then what are we waiting for? I don't have anything tying me down here; everyone else I ever cared for is gone. Let's go on our adventure before Zelda starts looking for us-well, you." //Even if it doesn't work-I'll be with you. // Link grinned, threw off the covers, grabbed his bag, and looked ready to run out the door. "Wait a minute. How about letting me get ready-and putting some clothes on? I've heard riding naked is really uncomfortable." Link chuckled and reached for the tunic that he had discarded the night before, while Sheik headed for his wardrobe.
An hour later, both young men were ready to go. "I'll call Epona once we're outside the town." Link turned to take in the sight of the little town. "Good-bye, Kakariko."
"It's not good-bye. We never really leave places that we loved."
Zelda opened her eyes to see the empty side of the bed beside her. Touching the sheets, she found it cold. So, Link had left early- earlier, it was now around noon, judging by the amount of sunlight in the room. Well, perhaps it was too much to hope that he'd stick around. Well, now that she knew she could get him into bed, convincing him to stay home would be easy. Especially if she had conceived, then Link would have to stay and raise his child. It would be a girl, with her graceful manner and Link's blue eyes… "Your Highness, your honored father wishes an audience." It was a little page, too young to appreciate her beautiful body. "Tell him I will come to him as soon as I complete my morning preparations. And bring wine to his chambers." The little page nodded and raced out of the room as fast as he could go. Well, now he had a story to tell the other pages. He'd walked into the chambers of the fiend-princess and was still alive to tell about it.
"Zelda. You look well."
The princess smiled a smile better suited to a small shark. "Father, you'll be happy to know that Link and I have consummated our marriage at last." The King smiled good-naturedly. "So perhaps I will have a grandson or granddaughter in nine months?" Zelda nodded. She reached for her wine, dusting off her fingers over her father's. "I suppose so." The old man reached out for the goblet that she held. "What?" she asked, disturbed. "If you are going to be a mother, you should not drink."
"Oh, of course." Zelda set the chalice down, smiling.
"Link, are you positive you know where we're going?" Sheik was never really a fan of extremely long horseback rides, and spending the night on Epona's back seemed very likely at this point.
"Yes…kind of…I told you my memory wasn't too clear on this subject."
"Well, you were never too bright to begin with," said a rather sarcastic, high-pitched voice. "Oh, shut up, Tatl-Tatl?" The pale yellow fairy chimed and landed on his shoulder. "So, you didn't forget me. Surprise, surprise. Nice to see you. And you're all grown up and handsome. Tael, come here!" A winged purple ball of light-also known as Tatl's little brother, Tael, flew over. "Hi!" Tael giggled, and flew in a loop-di-loop. He landed on Sheik's shoulder. "What's your name?"
"Sheik, what's yours?"
Tael giggled again. "Tael." Link frowned. He had some vague idea that the fairy was blushing. "So, what brings you here?"
"We were looking for Termina."
"What for?" Tael questioned, snuggling against the smaller blonde's neck. Link and Sheik shared a glance, then Link answered, "Because we want to live there." Tatl smiled, though through her glow it wasn't visible. "So, you're lost, is that it?"
"No, not exactly-"
"Yes, we are completely lost. Do you know the way?" Tatl laughed and jingled. "Naturally. We were heading home when we saw you. It's a long way though. So, I suggest we stop. It's getting late." Link saw the sense in this, and they stopped under the shade of a tree next to a stream. "Let's pitch camp."
"Thank Nayru," Sheik muttered as he slid off the horse's back.
"Sore?" Link asked. "I forgot you're not as used to horses as I am." Sheik answered this question by sitting down-slowly, Tael now settled in his shirt. "Fine, you sit. I'll get firewood."
"I'll help." Sheik dragged himself up, nearly shaking Tael loose, legs still aching. "I'll pitch a tent…."
Link waved away this offer. "No offense, but do you know how?"
"…No."
Link laughed. "Don't worry about it. See if you can find something in the packs for dinner." Sheik walked stiffly over to Epona and started opening one of the packs.
Link, followed by Tatl, went in search of wood. Once they were out of hearing range of the camp, Tatl asked, "How long have you been with him?"
"Am I that obvious?"
Tatl 'shrugged'. "Yeah, you just seem …close, you know? Not to mention you came on this journey with one horse rather than two."
"Sheik can't really ride, and we didn't really have the time or means to scrape up another horse. Zelda would have noticed."
"She's who you're running away from?" At Link's surprised look, she said, "Come on, how stupid do you think I am? It's easy to see that you and him had to escape something or you wouldn't have bothered coming back here and risk getting lost." She landed on his shoulder. "I knew you couldn't manage without me."
"I missed you too."
"And then he left, and we never saw him again until today."
Sheik sat, cutting up a ham that he'd found in the pack. If Link ever got back, it, along with some dried vegetables, would suffice for dinner. Tael had been explaining Link's last adventure in Termina from his new spot in Sheik's lap. "I'm hungry, and I wanna try your food. When is Link coming back?"
"Soon, I hope. I'm hungry too." The Sheikah was hungry, that was true, but he really wanted the other young man to return because he missed him.
"So…how far have you two gone?"
"None of your business."
"Oh. So you haven't slept with him."
Link frown-pouted. "How'd you know?"
"No blush."
The Hero of Time waved the fairy away from his face. "Shut up." With his load of firewood, he headed back to camp with Tatl following. Sheik had, apparently, found something to eat, as he was cutting something up. Tael was settled in Sheik's lap, chattering away. The setting sun illuminated the little scene, and made Sheik look very lovely indeed. Link smiled at the pretty picture his love made, and set the wood down a few feet from him. Sheik offered him the cut up meat and vegetables in a frying pan, grabbed a decent amount of sticks, and pointed at them. A second later, a cozy little fire was in front of the Sheikah. "Nice trick. I was going to go for the flint and steel-Din's Fire is a little strong for campfires." Sheik shrugged, took back the pan, and moved the food around a little.
Sheik rolled over. He'd forgotten how hard ground was, and it was difficult to get comfortable. He went to cuddle up next to Link, but his spot was empty. "Are you sure just running away is a good idea?" Tatl's high-pitched voice broke through the silence from some distance away, and Sheik assumed she was speaking to Link. There was silence, and then Link spoke. "We couldn't stay where we were-Zelda would have found out."
"So?"
"I didn't want to be exiled to some little remote place with people who I couldn't relate with. In Termina, I can just be Link, not the future king of Hyrule, or the Hero of Time. No one really knows exactly who I was, not to mention I was about ten."
"It's still running away."
"I've been fighting for what feels like my entire lifetime, Tatl. I'm allowed to run away this once, aren't I?"
"I guess. But you shouldn't have dragged him along."
"He came because he wanted too."
"He didn't look too happy on that horse's back. You sure you didn't bring him just to make a point to the lady that you didn't like?" Link didn't answer loudly enough for Sheik to hear, strain though he might. //Not that it matters…I'm sure he said he loved me. //
"Well, that's swell. Good night." Tatl's glow dimmed a little, and Sheik felt Link crawl back to his former spot. "Did you hear that?"
"Yes."
"Oh." Link planted a kiss on the side of the smaller man's head. "Night. Love you." Sheik cuddled against him, trying to melt into Link's arms and forget any lingering doubts.
No, this is *not* the end, nor is it the last time we'll see Zelda. I still have plans for her. I'm sorry to anyone who doesn't like the way I have Zelda behave, but as I've said I don't really like her. Well, thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed it.
