Thievery

Disclaimer: Take a wild guess..... (And Weird One2, it's not the Link to the Past storyline – though I may steal ideas from there.....I've never managed to play it all the way through to be honest [lol].)

Hello everyone! I'm so sorry this took so long, but I was on holiday, and then when I came back, my computer had been decimated by a virus, so I had to disconnect from the net, and then reload my modem and argh! Has been awful, but I'm back now, and I'm going to give you the two chapters I scribbled out in my notebook in the spare moments during the blasted holiday of mine.

Alexis fell asleep by lake Hylia – and – uh, that's about all that happened last chapter [blush]. Sorry, that was a horrid one, I know, but this one will make up for it. [Squeals ever so loudly] SHEIK! [Giggles].

[] = Alexis' thoughts. Italics = memories

I awoke to a raucous cacophony of voices drifting from some distance away through the otherwise-still morning air. The last scraps of sunrise were eddying away on a brisk southerly breeze, and the sun could be seen in all it's glorious entirety above the waters of the lake, a yellow orb of brilliance. Sitting up, the first thing that really registered in the forefront of my mind was [Ow! My back is killing me]. I reached to the base of my spine, and rubbed some kind of feeling back into it - I also removed a few twigs and leaves I had overlooked the night before from where they stuck to my hair and clothes.

Looking around, I had to peer through the last dregs of mist from the night to try and determine from where the voices originated. As I had suspected, all the noise was coming from the jetty I had spied the previous day. The businessmen - for it was obvious that was what they were - were converged in a small group, laughing and talking genially like old friends. Which, I supposed by the wear on both jetty and boats, that they all must be.

It was as they started heading onto their own boats and readying oars and sails, that I realised I would have to move, and soon. Lest, of course, I was to be caught within this copse whilst waiting for the customers and tourists to leave. [Not bloody likely] I thought, and began replacing the saddle onto the new Nostawen. [I suppose a few tradesmen seeing me won't really matter in the scheme of things.] Slight panic rose up when an entourage of horses galloped along the shore from the pass, and I wondered just how early some tourists were willing to get out of bed. But, as I watched, I saw that only two of the entourage held riders. They reeled to a halt by the jetty, and one of the riders plunged a sign into the ground - I could read it easily from where I stood. 'Horse rides - five rupees/half hour.'

[Thank demons.....] I didn't really fancy dallying any longer, lest the tourists did turn up. So, after passing a last check over the saddle harness, so that it wouldn't slip as much as it had the day before, I led Nostawen a short distance away from the trees. There, I stopped, and placed one foot into the stirrup at her left flank, bounced twice to gain momentum, and swung my leg over the saddle to seat myself. The men around the jetty didn't seem to notice, and I kicked Nostawen into a steady gallop, "Hyahh!" As we went past, I felt a few pairs of eyes boring into my back, but didn't turn. [If you turn, they will know your face again,] I told the old adage to myself.

"Hey!" I almost fell from the saddle in shock at the exclamation. "You! Hey, the horse!" I finally had to turn, and realised that he didn't mean my horse, but one of the horses from the entourage seemed to have broken away. I wheeled Nostawen around to face the skittery horse, and cut it off. It reared and whinnied, to which Nostawen snorted and shook her mane. "Thanks - just keep 'im there and I'll be ri' over!" The horse didn't seem to want to go anywhere, and I just waited for the tradesman to retrieve it.

"Thanks for tha' - you saved me," he panted, reigning his own horse, and then tossing a lasso easily over the escapee's neck.

"Don't mention it," I said distractedly, and made to turn for a quick exit.

"Wai' a minute - don'tcha wan' to stick 'round? This is one o' the best spots in Hyrule."

"I don't like crowds," I said dryly, throat tightening as I noticed his red eyes; the Sheikah had indeed prospered.

"Me neither," he said, tone lowered. "Not me people's nature for crowds....."

"Sheikah you mean?" I queried politely, and he nodded. "Well, it's not my people's nature either." [Blatant lie, but he'll never know.] He looked a little bemused, obviously believing me to be a normal Hylian - damn. "And I have a long way to travel, so I must be going," this was another lie, and I was shocked at how easily it tripped from my tongue. [Though I suppose I've had a hell of a lot of practice.]

"Well, if you really 'ave to go....." he sounded a little downhearted, but I just couldn't stick around. I nodded, and was about to turn Nostawen, when the blasted runaway horse reared again, and this time it sent Nostawen into a short fury of panic. I was thrown from the saddle like I was nothing more than a rag-doll, and my glasses spiralled off and shattered.

[Not another pair!] I bought my arms up over my head to block any possible blows, and waited for the danger to pass.

"You all ri'?!" the rider thudded to the floor next to me, and bent down to help me up. "'e never norm'lly be'aves like tha'....." he slowed down drastically at the end of the sentence, and stared straight into my eyes.

[Damn glasses.] I bent down and picked up the wrecked frames from the ground. "Yes.....well. No harm done - I really must be going."

"Yes.....right," he nodded as though in a trance.

"Bye."

"Bye."

And I swung back onto Nostawen and kicked her forwards before he could regain his composure. As we raced forwards across the shore towards the pass, I whispered a few calming words into her turned-back ears. All that ran through my mind was a terrible sense of foreboding - which, no matter what I did, I could not shake.

After about half an hour, I felt as though I was a safe enough distance away to allow Nostawen some brief respite. The day was turning into a hazy one, and it was bound to get very much hotter before long. [What do I wear when the heat becomes too much to bear?] I wondered, and this was followed in quick succession by [It will have to make you fit in.] And, I could think of only two conceivable places from which I could get these new garments; Kakariko, or the Castle-Town. This didn't make things any easier.....

On the one hand, I had to take into account the importance of secrecy – it would be less likely that I would be spotted in Kakariko. [And yet – there are so many memories there.]

"We were just getting ready," Sheik said defensively.

"And we're ready now!" Link beamed proudly. I shook my head in disbelief.

The scene was something like this. Link was wearing the dress Eloise had made for him back to front and inside out. This meant that the white part was showing instead of the green. And, he had gotten hold of some of the stage make-up I'd purchased from one of the stalls in the out skirts. His eyes were painted a sickening green, and he had two spots of rouge on each cheek.

Sheik hadn't done much better. He had at least managed to put the dress on correctly, but his hair, which he'd obviously tried to braid, was sticking straight up. He'd painted his lips so clumsily that he looked like a clown, and the less said about the whiteness of his face due to powder, the better. Navi was laughing weakly, trying to draw breath, but failing, as every time she looked at them, a new tide of giggles took over. I picked her up, and set her down outside the door to calm down.

That particular memory still managed to bring a smile to my face. I decided, what the hell, there was no point worrying about the past anyway. The past couldn't be saved.....but the future could, and that was what I was going to do.

Nostawen didn't seem to tire at all, but I gave her a rest nevertheless. It wouldn't do for me to have a won out steed and be caught out if I needed to flee quickly. So I walked along beside the mare, silent as I thought about how by demons I was going to explain to this fifteen-year-old otherworld girl exactly what was going on. Each explanation started off well enough; 'Hello, I'm Blaise (or whatever alias I use this time), this is Hyrule, the land from your old legends – all of which are true by the way.' After that, it went downhill – how do you explain to someone that they are a tool or device to be used in order to save a world?

I had no idea how I was going to tell the poor girl; she'd probably be terrified out of her wits when she arrived. [I just hope she cooperates.] I wouldn't have the time to spare to play babysitter. Nor would I be able to stop worrying constantly until all of this was over. [Great – simply wonderful for my blood pressure.....] At least she'd be the only extra I'd have to worry about this time – and it's easier to hide yourself from one person's perspective.....

A chill passed through me suddenly, and the air around me was silent and grey – Nostawen seemed to disappear from my side, though I knew that a second before, I had been holding her reins tightly in my right hand. The chill began to spread, pulling a black wool over my eyes and forcing them closed. I knew this feeling, I was sure I remembered it from somewhere.....the trouble was.....all of a sudden, it was difficult to remember things. I swayed, and the world swayed with me, turning over as I fell, the ground replacing the sky in my blurred view.

A vague shadow, that looked like something I knew came towards me. It was making a lot of noise, and more and more like it were joining in the advance. The sounds were just as blurry as my vision, and I closed my eyes to stop things spinning and concentrate on the sounds. ".....stuff's effective. Maybe too much.....?"

"Rubbish! She's down isn't she?" It was easier to listen with my eyes closed.

"Still, it better not do no damage!"

"If it does, then I'll.....fool!" The tone was excitable and menacing, but the words were fading in and out.

"The drugs are safe," this voice held perfect clarity – and now I could place the feelings I felt..... I'd been sedated with a dart to the back of my neck. I reached up to the nape of my neck to confirm this, with slow, wavering fingers. There it was – a small, feather-tipped dart – so tiny that I hadn't noticed it when it pierced.

"Hey.....awake!" words were phasing in and out again now, and everything sounded as though I were hearing it through water.

"Get her.....that horse too." Even the voice that had had perfect clarity was going now. Hands grabbed me firmly by the arms, and I was carried a short distance before being dropped down again.

"Check eyes.....don't want wrong one again.....not after last....." One of my eyelids was pulled up, and the sudden light burned into my unready eye. "Right one?"

"Aye, it's the right one all right!" I was picked up again, and flung unceremoniously into some kind of cart (or so I guessed). It began to move forwards, and I prayed to the Golden Goddesses – hoping that they'd listen to me – to help me through whatever was going to happen next.

"Another dart?" one of my captors asked to a superior.

".....alert still? Aye." I flinched, but was unable to move myself out of the way before another dart was ministered. "I hope he's happy with this." I took 'this' to mean me.

".....said their kind's dangerous – he'll be happy enough."

".....wouldn't want to get on his bad side.....!"

"Who would? .....Sheik we're talking about here!"

[Sheik?!] Blackness took precedence, and I heard no more.

The same thing woke me as had woken me in the morning – though, this time, the voices were hushed and quite nearby. I sat bolt upright, which startled the talkers into silence. "What in all demons am I here for?" I asked them, whilst studying my surroundings sleepily. I appeared to be in some crude form of jail, and there were iron bars between my captors and me. Both of them looked to be Hylian (judging by eye colour), and one of them was looking fearfully between his companion and me.

"T' boss said you kind was dangerous miss," the braver of the two answered. "An' he don't like dangerous people to be wanderin' 'round like."

"I'm not dangerous!" I protested.

"Ahh, but you would say that," he said knowingly with a grin. To my annoyance, I saw that my weapons had been removed from me, and were set on the floor beside the table at which the two of them sat.

"Fine – call me dangerous....." I muttered reproachfully. "Where's my horse?"

"Safely stabled – if you're given t' all clear by t' boss, you can get her an' go."

"Who's this 'boss' of yours?" I stood up groggily, and rubbed the sore spot at the back of my neck, where I had slept on it at a funny angle.

The man tapped his nose and grinned infuriatingly. I was about to pose the question again, when a door slammed open somewhere, and both of them on the other side of the bars turned their heads to the right. "You're about to fin' ou'." Both of them withdrew, respectfully bowing to the 'boss', and leaving the viewing square of the front of the cell. I straightened my tunic and flattened my hair, trying to arrange myself to look as un- menacing as possible.

The 'boss' was clad in simple brown and dark blue riding clothes, which were travel-worn and dusty. He swung a set of keys in one hand, and didn't even look at me as he moved to unlock the door. "I'm terribly sorry about this miss – my men are complete imbeciles, and I hope they haven't interrupted any important mission of yours." It sounded as though he had given this speech a thousand times. "Again, sorry for any inconven-" he finally looked up, and stopped mid-speech. I stared back at him with a mixture of shock, fear and a tiny uplifting flutter in my stomach, which I quickly quashed.

He swiftly removed the key from the lock (which was still keeping me in) and placed the ring of them on a hook on the wall behind him. Then, he stood directly in front of the bars, one gauntleted hand wrapped around him, and his head on one side. The years had certainly worn him down, but they had not been too unkind – though he looked weary, he was still as handsome as he ever was. [Sheik.....oh Goddesses.....] I looked down at the ground so that my face was as shadowed as it could be.

"Come – come forwards, over here – so I can – see," he said, seeming to find it hard to create a coherent sentence. I complied, head still kept stubbornly down, but I was now so close to the bars that he could see anyway. The smallest of smiles flickered over his face, before being replaced by an angry scowl. "Why are you here?" he demanded coldly, having regained himself after the initial shock.

"There's trouble," I answered in a similarly bland tone. "I'm here to clear it up."

"Oh – and what are you pretending to be this time? A concerned tourist who helps corral horses?" he asked bitterly.

"So that's how your men found me....." I mused aloud, dodging the question.

"Aye – well, if you will insist on sticking out like a sore thumb," another of the ghost smiles came to his face. "But why are you here? What more trouble could Hyrule be getting?" he looked concerned.

"Ganondorf," I answered simply, expecting him to scoff.

"I thought as much," he murmured. "The visions are the same as last time....." He glared at me. "How do you plan to combat him alone, and without the power of the Master Sword?"

"Can't say – just let me out, and you can go back to your perfect peaceful little life," I hissed the last part.

"Perfect? You think that this excuse of a life I have been given could be anything close to perfect? When I've seen people tortured and killed to die before my eyes? And I haven't been able to save them. And when I've been betrayed by someone who I-" he cut himself off and sighed heavily. "You're coming to the palace – Link and Thelia have to know."

"No – they mustn't!" I exclaimed desperately.

He raised an eyebrow coolly. "And pray tell, why is that?"

[Because I don't want them to know I may be the one to kill them] I thought. But, I said, "Because there's no point panicking people, when I can sort things out quietly."

"I would have thought you might at least want to see him," he said, and then growled. "Though, I suppose you care for him just as little as you did me." I bit back the immediate angry response that rose in my throat to say that that wasn't true, and blinked quickly to prevent myself from showing the hurt that one comment inflicted.

"Yeah – that's right. I didn't give a damn about either of you, and I still don't," I declared stoutly, staring at his twitching fingers around the bars. "So let me out, so I don't have to be bothered by your annoying whining!" [This would be so much more convincing if I wasn't shaking so much.....]

The lock clicked open, and he stepped aside to let me out of the door. I picked up my weaponry, and pushed past him without looking at his face. It was easy enough to find my way out, and the stable was just opposite the door. I stepped outside, stopped, and fought the urge to go back in. Footsteps behind me told me that Sheik was following. "Don't worry – I'll make sure Hyrule's safe, and then I'll leave this awful place," I called darkly over my shoulder.

His hand on my shoulder stopped me from making my quick escape. "Goddesses, you're a terrible liar," he said with a small laugh.

"I have to lie to be able to get anywhere," I shrugged the hand off and turned to face him. "Look, we're both grownups here, so why don't you just let me get on with my job, and you can get on with your life?" He didn't manage to find an answer, other than to fix me under a baleful glare. "Bye Sheik," I turned briskly and entered the stable block, walking along the stalls until I came to the one which held Nostawen. Luckily, she had not been unsaddled, so I was able to take her out and mount straight away.

He stood waiting at the entrance, and watched as I trotted out. "Bye....." he called quietly, but made no more attempt than that.

[Not that I blame him.....] I carried on without looking back, my knuckles going white and beginning to loose all feeling as I grasped the reins tightly in my hands. A slight sound of movement made me panic, as I didn't want to have to drag all the old feelings up again, and I urged Nostawen into a sprint out of Kakariko. It had grown and changed since I had last been here, so after a few streets, I had to stop to try and gain my bearings.

Eventually, I managed to find a sort of signpost system that had appeared since the rebuilding, and discovered I didn't have far to go – only a few more rows of houses were between the gate and me. So, I slowed Nostawen down, and plodded through the crowded streets, dodging stalls and beggars, all the time squinting to keep my eye colour hidden. As we went along, I strapped my weapons on again, which earned a few strange looks (which I pretended not to notice).

Finally, finally, I exited the blasted town, with all it's memories bombarding me, and was out into the vast emptiness of the field. And yet, I couldn't escape memories even here, and felt despair wash over me. [No where's safe – shit – why me?] I kicked Nostawen forwards again to put some distance between myself and the cursed village. [Loki – demons, I have to talk to him. A friendly face is what I need right now.] I decided to talk to him as soon as I found a suitable place, and the decision put some perspective on the situation, which calmed me a little.

[He didn't even ask me how I'd been.....where I'd been. Though, I suppose he can't much care after all that happened. Still.....I would have though he might have been a little more pleased to find me still alive.] I was caught by a cool gust of spring air, and thought back to the night of snow before it all came crashing down. [There's so much hurt between us; it could never all be set right. I'll just be happy that we're both alive.....]

I must have spent many, many hours lost in my thoughts and memories, because when I at last became aware again, it was only a couple of hours from dusk. And, by some strange chance, I had made my way back to the forest. I knew that I would be safe in the forest, and that I could hide there easily. Plus, it was a perfect spot for me to talk to Loki in. [Because I really need to talk to him.]

"Well.....it looks like I was wrong....." Loki rubbed the back of his neck and looked a little sheepish. "I didn't think the Sheikah were immortal, so I assumed that he – you know....." he heaved a great sigh, and looked out over the dappled forest-scape.

"Don't worry, it was just as much of a shock to me," I said. "Are you almost done with making me a new pair of glasses there?" He nodded, and completed creating the new pair in midair with his staff. "Thanks," I took them from where they hung in the air and put them on.

"I charmed them so they won't break so easily – but please, be careful with them this time! You've been through too many pairs."

"I'll try."

We travelled through the outskirts of the forest, watching the woodland flowers close as the sun retreated from the sky to the west. Every so often, I thought that I heard someone following us – a small shuffling through the leaves on the ground, the muffled cracking of a twig. But, whenever I turned, there was no one there – I put it down to pure paranoia, and reminded myself that there would be many creatures rustling around here.

A few minutes of calm silence passed, before the issues at hand pressed on my mind so much that I had to bring them up again. "What do I do? I just know that Sheik will tell Link I'm back!"

"Perhaps that wouldn't be so bad – he could help you, at least fund-wise."

"I don't really want to face a friend that I may potentially have to kill..... Damn, I thought I could do this without having to face them again!"

"You'll just have to stay as hidden as you can – if you like, I can try and alter your appearance here a little....." he fingered his Mithril staff with a guilty smile.

"You're definitely not supposed to do that on-world," I snorted. "But, we've broken the rules before on that anyway....." I looked at him slyly. "Don't turn me into a man this time though – that's not an experience I wish to relive."

"All right!" he laughed. "If I hadn't done that, you wouldn't have gotten out of Krystarl alive thought, so it was forgivable."

"Not with all those scantily-clad slave girls around it wasn't! Do all men's bodies have such a mind of their own?" I smirked, and he blushed brightly.

"OK! My bad for not checking the hierarchy of the place beforehand..... Anyhow, it won't be anything as drastic this time..... Just a change of hair, and maybe something about your eyes."

"Is that even possible?" I'd never heard of eyes being changed before.

"If I try very hard, then yes. What colour?"

"Huh?"

"What colour eyes do you want?"

I thought about it for a split second, and then grinned. "Red."

"Red?"

"Sheikah – it'd be perfect! No one would bother me, because they'd think I was a Sheikah mercenary in this garb."

"All right, but you can't just do the eyes – it's not enough. "The hair as well I think."

"I'm not changing the blasted colour!" I cried, remembering a hideous two weeks in which my hair had been an acid green due to Loki and David's indecisiveness over which clan I should be part of whilst taking students onto a trainee world. In the end, both clans had shunned me as a crossbreed between the blond 'Terra' and the blue haired 'Orca.'

"Well, if that's the case, all I can do is lengthen it." I groaned loudly, and even though I knew he was right, and also that the change would help immensely, I hated the idea of having long hair again – it always got in the way.

"Fine," I moaned. "But no longer than waist-length, or I'll kill you!" He nodded to the warning, and then sought out a place where we could stop, and I could sit down, so that I was as still as possible during the casting.

"Where do you think you'll stay for the next couple of days?" he asked as he made a figure of eight, closely followed by an oval in the air with his staff.

"I might just stay here – at least the Kokiri like me," I said, and blinked as a maddening itch developed at the back of either eyeball.

"Keep your eyes open!" Loki barked, and immediately my eyes began to water as I tried not to blink. "Will they recognise you like this?"

"Aye – if I put my glasses on, they won't know any different." [At least, I hope they won't.] "And if they do throw me out, I can try and find my way to the sacred forest meadow, and stay there."

"You can blink now," he said. "I don't think they'll throw you out. Not so long as your keep them entertained anyway."

"Yes – but how do I do that?"

"Tell them about some of your adventures – or some otherworld fairytales. Anything really, maybe play games with them and such-like."

"I suppose I can cope with that....." I smiled softly as I remembered the few times I had looked after the younger warrior students. [If I remember rightly, kids seem to find me likeable enough.] I really hoped that I did remember rightly.

"I'm almost done with this," he said, and with a few last gestures with his staff, he was. "There you are – I hope that'll be enough to make getting around at least a little easier."

"It should be," I assured him, and reached around to discover how far down my back Loki had caused my hair to be. To my surprise (and secret delight), I found that it was not much past my shoulders.

"I thought I'd let you keep it relatively short," he smiled. "After all, you're going to need to have the best vision you can."

"No joke there," I muttered. "Thanks for this – I don't know what I would have done if I couldn't have spoken to you."

"No problem – really! I'm just glad that I could help out 'lex." He reached out and ruffled my new hair. "Hmm.....I can still remember when you the most adorable ringlets....." he smiled, and I looked at him nervously.

"No Loki, don't even think it!" He blinked, and shook his head.

"Don't worry – I wasn't going to really," he chuckled.

"Loki!" Both of us whirled around to see David peering out of an unobtrusive portal, which he had made to blend in with the trees all around. "They need us back in council – those blasted unicorn hunters are wily, and you're the only one who can control them!" he paused, and looked at me. "Hey 'lex," he waved, using his other hand to push unruly strands of golden hair out of the way. "How're you doing so far here?"

"I'm doing all right," it wasn't a strict lie – I had managed to prevent Sheik from taking me to the palace after all. David just nodded, and I could see him twiddling his thumbs distractedly whilst he waited for Loki. Ever since he had been bought back, he'd always found it a struggle to wait for things to happen. He just wanted things to constantly be happening all the time, so that he could make sure he lived life to the full. (The struggle Loki had keeping up with him sometimes was proof enough of this.)

"I'm coming love!" Loki called, and then swooped down to give me a parting hug. "Good luck, and take care."

"Thank you, and I will," I said as my usual answer. Then, Loki picked his way over to the portal and stepped through. Both of them waved before they disappeared, and some legal jargon hovered in the air after they left, slowly giving way to the quiet of the forest.

A few birds twittered, and the leaves above rustled in a brisk breeze. Apart from that, there was little sound. It was beautifully calming as I walked back out to get Nostawen, and then began to trek deeper into the forest, in the direction of Kokiri village. The stars were now just beginning to appear in the purple/blue sky, and I had to drape my cloak around my shoulders to abate the chill in the air as night drew in. The breeze played with my new long strands of hair, and I had to keep pushing it out of the way as I went along. [I must invest in some twine to keep this back.]

Nostawen's warm breath billowed out beside me in twinjets as I led her along, and the last few flowers open were covered with warm dew as her breath condensed upon the petals. I stopped, and bent down to take a closer look at the plants. [After all, it's not like I'm in any hurry.] And, I may as well indulge myself with a few little pleasures before I had to get on with this quest of mine. Catherine was to arrive at sunset, day four.....

Ah, finally, we had a confrontation – well, OK, so it wasn't a really hell- fire yell-fest – but there's still time for that my dear readers. [Grins]. Oh yes – much, much more time. And, as I seem to have turned into some kind of evil child recently, I'm off to type up the next chapter right now. [Giggles some more] Oh, I like the next chapter I does!

Also, the bit with the sedated dart – does that actually make any sense? I was trying to convey how she was missing out parts of the sentences, but I'm not sure if I put in enough information to show what was happening, and the gist of the conversation. Any comments?

Till next chapter – RR dammit!

Soda XXX