I really don't know how Jo keeps conning me into going to these stupid church lock-ins with her. I'm not even Baptist....All the crying and insincere religious ecstasy really creeps me out...Ah well. I guess Tammy and Tiff are going, so it won't be so bad...We can all complain together! ^_^







It was mid-afternoon, so the village was fairly calm. The house was empty, apparently. Impa and Zelda must have left to run some errands, or something. Good. Sheik wasn't in the mood for conversation, especially since Impa hadn't had a chance to deliver her lecture yet, and he was much too tired to pay any attention to her anyway, which would probably get him into even more trouble. Stumbling up the steps to his little room in the loft, Sheik scrounged around until he found a change of clothes and some soap. There was a thermal spring near Death Mountain that Zelda had found about three years prior, and, by the goddesses, he was going to get a decant bath if it killed him.

Slipping out the back door to avoid any hylians who were out, Sheik slipped out of the village and into the copse on the northwestern side of the gate. The spring was in a shallow enclave in the rock, very convenient for holding in the heat. Sheik let himself soak for nearly an hour, falling asleep twice and coming dangerously close to drowning himself. Deciding that that was a subtle hint to finish up, he scrubbed at his hair and skin with the slightly unpleasantly gritty soap, rinsed off the suds, climbed out, and let himself dry in the sun for a few minutes before putting on the loose cotton breeches, hand-me-down shirt and pitifully worn-out sandals he'd brought with him. Taking another half-hour to wash his blue outfit and bandages, Sheik hung them on a nearby branch to dry; he could come back for them in a few hours.

Feeling considerably cleaner (and a clean sheikah is a happy sheikah), Sheik took his time walking home to admire the sunset. It was really quite lovely, though the view wasn't as good as it was in Taranis... Oh well; he'd always wanted to travel... Sheik tried to dispel this unexpected wave of homesickness by thinking about something else: food. Maybe Impa or Zelda had dinner ready... Maybe just Impa had dinner ready... Zelda was a competent young woman, but no one can be good at everything, and the only nice thing Sheik had to say about her cooking was that it was usually better than his. The sole reason Sheik didn't prepare his own meals most of the time was simple: he never ate poison. ...They had to be back by now...but then...why was the house so dark? [Hmmmm....Now, that's odd...]

It was at about that time that Sheik got one of those weird little sparks of intuition. There was no reason why Impa and Zelda should be out that late, was there? Sheik thought back to a few days ago, trying to remember whether either Impa or Zelda had said anything about taking a trip somewhere, or visiting so-and-so. No...nothing... And there was that nagging feeling that something wasn't quite kosher.

[It's probably nothing... They just lost track of the time, or got invited to dinner, or something...]

But it was difficult to convince himself of that theory. He rested his hand on the door handle momentarily as the standard worst-case scenario flashed through his mind. Had they been run out of town? Killed? ...Arrested? "No," he said aloud, more to comfort himself with the sound of a voice than anything. [I'm just over-tired and overreacting.] With that, he took a breath and gently opened the door, unconsciously steeling himself for a gory crime scene to unfold before him. He stood still in the doorway, taking it all in.

[It's....]

Untouched. Everything was just as he had left it the day before, if not a bit cleaner. [Well, that rules out a break-in, at least.] Unfortunately, it didn't rule out much else. He wasn't too worried about Impa, which may sound ungrateful, but she could take care of herself. Zelda, however, just might let something slip...Not that she ever had, but still...

[I'm acting like an old hylian...] Slightly flustered, Sheik walked out to the small kitchen/dining room/parlor. The kitchinglor. Rummaging through the cupboard, he came up with a hunk of bread, some butter, and a flask of goat's milk that... *sniff* ....smelled okay...but it wouldn't keep for very much longer.

[Better than what I've been eating, I guess.] It wasn't a meal, per se, but Sheik was too anxious over the ladies' absence to be very disappointed by his makeshift supper. [If they're not back by the time I wake up, I'll go out and look for them.] That decided and his bread and milk finished, Sheik set about searching for some kind of note that one of them may have left for him. Not that he expected to find anything; notes were dangerous if anyone other than the three refugees got a hold of one... Seeking long and arduously and finding nothing, Sheik resigned himself to sleep, and stumbled upstairs.

Flopping down on his bed, he was asleep almost immediately. As he drifted off, he reassured himself of his "family's" safety a final time. [They're all right; I'm just forgetting something because I'm tired...]

*Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz*

Sheik hadn't been asleep for more than a few paltry hours when he was rudely jolted awake by the sound of someone pounding on the door. His heart raced. [Who could that be at this ungodly hour...?] But he already knew who it had to be. [Best answer them before they force the door off its hinges...] Even so, it was surprisingly difficult for Sheik to stand up, walk downstairs, and open the door. Yet somehow, he managed. He paused by the door for a moment to calm down a bit and assume his "game face".

The stern faces of a three-man patrol in full armor just about ruined Sheik's act, and it took every ounce of control he had to look calm and unafraid. He hoped to Nayru that they hadn't noticed that he was shaking like a leaf in the breeze, and tried to keep his voice steady as he greeted them.

"Good evening, officers," He stammered just a little, hopefully they were as tired as he was. "Is there a problem?"

The officer nearest to him glared down at him, and if he was trying to hide his contempt for the carmine-eyed villager before him, he certainly wasn't trying very hard.

[Yeah, I love you too, Hylian traitor.] Sheik thought bitterly, praying that he couldn't tell how disgusted Sheik was. "Can I help you with something?" Sheik repeated, getting a bit nervous at the fact that they were just standing there watching him, or studying him... [I could tell you where to put that spear, if that's what you're confused over...]

Without answering or even looking at him, the taller man shoved past Sheik into the main room of the house, his two subordinates following and closing the door behind them. [That's not good...] Sheik struggled with the little bits of his brain screaming at him to either attack or run like hell; the worst thing he could do was put up any resistance, or even look like he was thinking about thinking of putting up resistance. He caught himself glaring at the lead officer; thank Din the man's back was turned. The man gazed around the room, making a subtle gesture with his hand. The remaining two drones moved between Sheik and both the front door and the hallway. [Good monkeys.]

[Get ON with it...] The hylian didn't speak right away, instead walking through the room, idly toying with the sparse wall hangings and furniture woodwork. [Live to work, I see.] While the majority of hylians did as they were told reluctantly out of an intense fear of their conquerors, a few took to the new regime like rats to bilge water. This turncoat obviously enjoyed terrorizing the populace, savoring every moment like a fine wine, giving his victims ample time to metaphorically turn to jelly. And Sheik had to admit, he wasn't doing a bad job of that... Finally, he met Sheik's eyes and spoke.

"Well, we've been a bit rude, haven't we? I expect my men and I have woken you and everything," he extended a hand to Sheik, who hesitatingly gave it a quick shake, afterwards inconspicuously wiping his hand on his breeches. The polite apology had caught him completely off guard. The man continued. "I'm Captain Dominic, and you are...?" His face had softened into a businesslike smile, but the playful malice in his eyes bespoke cruelty and ruthlessness underneath the faux amiability.

[Be polite...] "Sheik, sir." It sounded too much like an alias...
"And your surname?" Dominic thought he had Sheik trapped now.
[Saw that coming....Goddesses, think of something, quick!] He had no surname that he knew of, and that was dangerously unusual. He could feel Dominic staring at him, and it wasn't helping him think. "Arracht." Okay, so it wasn't the best he could have come up with, but it was the first thing to pop into his head.

Dominic quirked an eyebrow. "How poetic." He paced a bit more, feigning contemplation.

[What, aren't you going to ask me my star sign?] Sheik knew how tired he was, and he was certain Dominic could see his exhaustion as well. He had hoped that Dominic would be a poor interrogator, but those hopes were beginning to fade in the face of the man's poise and cool calm. [Better pay attention...]

"So, who else lives here?" Dominic said suddenly, turning to pin Sheik with that icy gaze of his.

[Is this a trick question?] Sheik's worry over Zelda and Impa came back with a vengeance. [Do they know? Is he just playing with me...?] Deciding that if he was, or if it was a test of some kind, he'd be screwed however he answered; Sheik decided to stick as close to the "truth" as possible. "My aunt and cousin. ...They're visiting family...in...Elmvale." The town was close enough to allow for their sudden return, but far enough away to assure him that no one would ask about them or go looking for confirmation. Hopefully they wouldn't waltz through the door in the next five minutes.

"So...that leaves you to hold down the fort, eh?"
"Erm...Yes, sir." [Where is this going...?]
"Would you mind showing us around?" Dominic grinned in what was supposed to be a casual manner.
"Why?" Sheik immediately cursed himself. That was the wrong thing to say. [Idiot!] Apparently Dominic agreed with that sentiment, and in what was as graceful a movement as a hylian was capable of, he closed the distance between them and cuffed Sheik over the ear with a gauntleted wrist. While Sheik was still dizzy from the blow, Dominic caught hold of Sheik's jaw in one hand, forcing him, rather roughly, to make eye contact. [Ow...] That really made Sheik's blood boil, but he knew better than to fight back...Though Dominic's face was temptingly within spitting range... [I could nail him right in the eye, point blank...]

Dominic regained his composure and gave Sheik a bit of that glare he'd worn when he first came in. "We're just making sure everything's all right here," he explained coolly. "We've gotten some reports of some suspicious sheikahs living here, and it's our duty to check these things out. You know how jittery folks are these days," he sneered, "I'm simply making sure the village is hunky-dory and normal, that's all. It's my job to protect the citizens from criminals and radicals; checking for monsters in the closet." He smiled at his unintentional pun before tightening his grip on Sheik's face and continuing. "So, just give us the grand tour, quell our fears, sate our curiosity, and we'll be on our way." He pushed Sheik away from him and motioned for his men to keep an eye on their disgruntled tour guide.

Sheik rubbed his sore face and, sighing, bade them follow him. After they had poked about the front room to their hearts' content, Sheik led them into the kitchen. "And if you'll look to your left, you'll see a lovely pile of dishes. I'll take care of those later..." Sheik was finding it nigh impossible to keep the venom from dripping into his voice. The patrolmen peeked in cupboards, felt under tables and counters and sorted through the bookcase. [Or, you could just make yourselves at home and turn the place upside-down, whatever blows your hair back...] He made a displeased click in his throat that he disguised as a cough.

Ten minutes of snooping later, Dominic herded his men to the next doorway, and gestured for Sheik to "lead on". Next up was Impa and Zelda's room. While the two nameless thugs practically dismantled the beds and emptied the bureaus, Dominic walked over to Zelda's nightstand, and, taking the pictograph he found there, returned to stand next to Sheik. It was a bit bleached from sunlight, but it was clearly a family portrait of sorts. Sheik wondered why she had the boldness to have anything like that out for all the world to see. [Guess she thought it made the place more home-ish...]

Dominic seemed intrigued by it. "Is this one you?" he asked nonchalantly, pointing at Sheik's likeness standing on the left side of the picture.

[Well, I can't see how I could be either of the two WOMEN in the picture...] "Yes, sir."
"And the tall one is you aunt, I assume?"
"Yes, sir."
"What's her name?"
"Olga ....Wakefield, sir." He wasn't about to give Impa's real name. Neither of them; she was too well known.
"So, that's your cousin? She looks almost hylian..." Dominic smiled, admiring the girl in the picture, but admiring how well his search was going even more.

Sheik was thankful he'd given Impa a hylian surname. "She is half hylian, sir."

Dominic's lip curled in distaste. "And....her name is..."
"Ze-Zoe, sir."

Dominic gave Sheik a sidelong glance. "She's very pretty."
"Thank you sir. We think so."
"...She almost looks like the late princess, wouldn't you say?"
[Sloppy...] Sheik was ready for that one. "She'd be very flattered to hear that, sir."

Giving up on the pictograph, an undoubtedly frustrated Captain Dominic continued the search, going through the closets and Sheik's room with similar luck. At length, they came back to the front room and prepared to leave. "Well, thank you for your cooperation, Sheik. Maybe we'll see each other around the village, eh?" He ruffled Sheik's hair in a brotherly fashion. Sheik managed a strained smile. [Maybe not, and thanks for messing up my home, Cap'n.]

Dominic made for the door after his companions had already left. "Sorry for the inconvenience; let's see if we can't stop making the hylians nervous, hmm?" [Translation: I'm watching you.]

With that, Dominic shut the door, and Sheik was alone again. Collapsing into a chair near the kitchen window, he tried to stop himself shivering to no avail. That was too much. He took some deep breaths and ran his fingers through his hair.

[That's it. They've officially been gone too long.]

Waiting a few minutes to make sure the patrol was far enough away, Sheik silently crept out the back door, and had soon disappeared among the rooftops of Kakariko.






The chapters are slowly getting longer! I swear it! A small note: the "pun" about the monsters in the closet refers to Sheik's fake last name. "Arracht" translates to "monster" in Irish. Voila!