Disclaimer: I'm to lazy to say it. Just read the last three chapter disclaimers if you don't quite get it yet.

Artemis: Oh! So sorry for taking so long to update. Thank you for all the reviews, and I'm really glad you like the character personalities. Shiek, Link, and Aryll are practically the hardest characters to give personalities to since the game never expands a lot on them. Link, most of all, since you play him and he technically never talks. But, I've always liked the slightly clumsy and clueless type of guys so that's how I've decided to make Link like. P

I plan this chapter to be pretty long, and I'm gonna work to make the chapter endings better. I mean, ending with bedtimes is getting annoying to me. How bout all of you? lol.

##############################################################################

Chapter Four: The Broken Harp

The first thing to cross Link's mind the following morning was ouch. His head hurt where he had hit the rock and his back and sides hurt from his roll and crash into the small fishing boat. There was also a painfully uncomfortable feeling on the side of his hip. Like he had slept on a rock. Sitting up and forcing his mind off the soreness, Link slipped a hand into his side pocket and pulled out the broken harp with a frown. He had completely forgotten about it the other night.

Stifling a yawn, Link looked around for his family and guest. Of course, the house was empty as always and the sun was high in the sky from his view out the window. Sighing, Link stood and dressed out of his wrinkled clothes. Why had he fallen asleep with his clothes on? His two worst habits, sleeping with his clothes still on and not waking up till noontime.

Wrinkled clothes aside, Link realized the only clean clothes he had left to change into was the green hero's tunic. Scowling distastefully at the heavy material, Link pulled it on and ignored the uncomfortable stuffy feeling. It would be cool and windy outside like normal, so he only had to deal with the heat inside the houses. Done dressing, Link ran a hand through his hair subconsciously and slipped on the green hat, then looked again at the broken instrument. He wondered how Shiek would handle the news of the harp.

Shiek.

Link grinned despite himself, his mind wandering off into mental images of the strange yet beautiful man. Who was he, what was a shiekah, and what brought him here anyway? Link had never met anyone like Shiek on his journeys. The girls were actually ok, but they didn't command his attention just by being in the same vicinity as Link. Thinking these things led Link to thoughts of his little sister, Aryll. Ever since Aryll had went on that one week escapade with Tetra, she'd been acting odd. Giggling at everything Link did or said and accusing him of being gay.

Not that there was anything wrong with that. In truth, Link did have an attraction towards boys. But he was also attracted to girls to. He wondered how Aryll had seen through his mask. Not like Link had ever before given her a clue to his tastes. Honestly, there weren't many good looking men on Outset Island...or anywhere for that matter. Wait a second! So that's where his journal must have disappeared to! And here he actually was stupid enough to believe Aryll when she had told him he had just misplaced it. Oh, in the name of the goddesses...

Link fumed for a moment and then went to Aryll's bed, lifting up her mattress. Sure enough, there was his journal along with several other things of Link's.

...Oh...she's gonna pay for this...

Retrieving his items, Link dug through Aryll's stuff in her chest and pulled out her diary. He snickered evilly and slinked over to the floorboards near the fireplace. There he pulled up a loose floorboard and stashed his stuff and Aryll's diary inside. That ought to teach her a lesson for snooping into his stuff. Extremely proud of himself, Link replaced the floorboard and headed outside to cool off and find Shiek.

Outside of his house it was windy and sunny as always, everything blowing north. Sue-bell was carrying her water jug on her head from the well as usual, Rose was taking care of her pet pig, and his sister was playing with her friends. Grandma was sitting on the porch in her rocking chair, knitting something out of colored yarn. Link felt a sinking feeling inside at how normal the morning was. He almost fooled himself into believing everything had been just a joke or dream or something. But the broken harp in his pocket reminded him that that wasn't true.

Cya, Grandma. I'm gonna go look for Shiek.

Grandma looked up from her knitting and smiled, Ok, dear. Be home for dinner.

Link nodded and started towards the island's watchtower. He got there with little trouble and climbed up to the roost. Once there Link pulled out his telescope and began searching the island for any sign of the other boy. He spotted Aryl and Joel, smirking when Joel handed her a flower with an embarrassed blush. Not far off, Zill waddled around like he had something up his butt. Link snickered in satisfaction, knowing Zill wouldn't be walking normally for a while after last nights wedgie punishment. Aryll had commented on how stupidly childish the act had been, but how could she possibly understand? She was a girl, after all. Girl's didn't understand guy things like that. Besides, Shiek seemed to have been amused by it so Link hadn't allowed himself to be bothered by her opinion.

A little bit away he spotted Mesa desperately trying to save his vegetable patch from the army of weeds growing in it. And just a little bit north above Mesa's house where the renewed bridge opened the path to the Forest of Fairies, Link spotted Shiek. Smiling triumphantly, Link put away the telescope and hoped down the ladder with ease. He rushed up the path and cut his way past the trees, hurrying to meet Shiek.

As he got to the top, he spotted Shiek heading across the bridge. S-Shiek! Wait up!

Shiek stopped and turned around, watching as Link hurried over to join him on the rather shaky rope bridge. Link saw that Shiek was again fully dressed so that half his face was blocked from his sight, making it hard to read Shiek's expressions. Shrugging it off as an unfortunate drawback, Link smiled and brushed his bangs aside nervously.

Good morning.

You mean, good afternoon? Shiek said and chuckled, making Link blush brightly.

Um...yeah. Good afternoon, Link corrected himself and fidgeted with his tunic.

Shiek once again looked Link over openly and tilted his head to the side in a curious manner, You're clothes are...different today.

Link looked down and coughed, blushing harder, Um, yeah...well. I didn't have anything else to wear. Um...so...what are you doing up here?

Shiek shrugged and started walking across the bridge again, I was exploring the village. I'm trying to find a friend of mine. I'm hoping she's in this small forest ahead.

Link stumbled after him, grasping the rope to help balance himself, Oh. A friend?

Yes, she and I are on a journey together.

She? Your friend? As in...your girlfriend?

The look Shiek gave him made Link wanna crawl under a rock in embarrassment. Girlfriend!? Hell no. Melody kill me if such a thing ever came to pass!

Shaking his head in disgust, Shiek entered the forest tailed by a confused and flustered Link. The inside of the forest was lush, green, and shaded from both sun and wind. Link momentarily forgot his embarrassment as he glanced around, remembering events that had taken place six years ago that had changed his life forever. Shiek seemed to admire the forest as well, looking as if he was off in some memory of his own. Link risked the moment to admire Shiek's lithe form, his mind soon drifting away with a familiar tune. The same one that had haunted him for many nights before this man had arrived. A soft tune with a hint of crispness, like ice in a watery cavern. For a moment, Link forgot he was in a forest. He forget he was even on an island. It was just him, the musical serenade, and the foreign but familiar smell of freshwater.

Shiek's voice interrupted Link's strange vision and Link came back blinking and looking a bit dazed.

Sorry. What did you say? I wasn't listening, Link apologized, feeling the blush return to his cheeks. He was starting to get used to it being there.

Shiek showed no sign of annoyance, though Link could of sworn the other boy was smiling, I said, is there a fairy fountain here?

Link grinned, finally seeing a chance to be useful, There is! Not that far inside. I'll show you.

And Link started forward with a hand on the hilt of his sword, struggling to shake off the strange vision of a lake. But it stuck to him like the mysterious tune, like a memory forgotten then rediscovered. It was silly. Link had never even seen a lake. Well, other then the one he had seen in the frozen world of Hyrule beneath the sea. After stumbling on several rocks and tree roots, and a nearly disastrous fall down a hill, Link managed to lead Shiek to the hole where a spring and a boulder has once been six years ago.

You're not a klutz, Shiek suddenly spoke up before Link could say whatever he had started to say. You just let your mind wander to much.

Link closed his mouth and adjusted his hat with a goofy smile, I've...had a lot on my mind lately.

Shiek nodded and gave Link an understanding gaze, before jumping down into the hole. Link frowned and followed after. How had Shiek known he was about to apologize for his clumsiness?

Underground, Link and Shiek followed a path and entered a small chamber filled with water. Fairies flew about here and there, giggling and shyly glancing at the two handsome strangers. Link smiled and waved at a few he remembered. Shiek stepped forward and crossed his arms lazily.

Excuse me ladies, have any of you seen a friend of mine? Her name is Navi.

Link felt something deep down inside of him stir at the name. Again a feeling of deejay vu came over him and Link raised a hand to his forehead, closing his eyes to will away the sudden stress of trying to remember something forgotten.

Navi? Yes, we have seen her, A voice like bells spoke over the suddenly chaotic chattering of the small fairies.

Shiek stumbled back into Link in surprise as a fairy, slimmer and much larger then the others, rose up from the watery pool. Link caught Shiek's falling form in his arms and tried his best not to laugh, remembering his shock when the Great Fairy had suddenly popped up before him for the first time. She floated there for a moment, waiting for Shiek to regain himself, then tilted her head slightly and looked at them with her expressionless face.

Navi spoke of you, Oracle Shiek. She said that if I saw you, to tell you she would be waiting for you and the Hero of Time at the Fairy Queen's fountain in the center of Mother & Child Isles.

Link blinked and frowned, looking at Shiek to see if the other man understood what the Great Fairy was talking about. Shiek's face was placid and he nodded, the only sign that he understood what she was talking about. Link sighed and ran a hand through his bangs, wondering what a Hero of Time was. Could it have some kind of connection to him, the Hero of Winds?

The Great Fairy suddenly turned her gaze upon Link, commanding his attention immediately, Shiek can not do this alone. Hero of Winds, for the sake of all this is pure and good, aide him on his quest.

Link nodded fervently, Of course! I'll do everything in my power to help him.

Link felt Shiek's eyes on him and bit back the usual blush, smiling brightly at his friend. The Great Fairy watched this and nodded, before healing both of them and restoring their magic. Then she sank back into the fountain and the smaller fairies flew out to once again hover around the water and send flirtatious looks towards Link and Shiek.

Link watched Shiek as they walked along the path back down to the village, questions threatening to spill out. He wanted to ask Shiek a lot of things, but didn't know where to start or what to ask without angering the man. Shiek also seemed distracted, having actually betrayed his unearthly grace by stumbling over his own feet on the way down. Link hadn't laughed or teased Shiek about it. He had actually felt a bit more relaxed, once he saw that even someone as perfect as Shiek wasn't completely flawless twenty-four/seven.

I'll need a boat... Shiek finally spoke up, breaking their relaxed but inquisitive silence spell.

We'll need a boat, you mean, Link corrected him and grinned.

Shiek glanced at him, then chuckled, Yes. We'll need a boat.

Will we go to Mother & Child Isles first?

Shiek answered, then paused hesitantly before continuing, I must find the Hero of Time. Or at least, his reincarnation.

Link realized this was a good opportunity to beginning asking his questions, What is a Hero of Time?

Shiek looked at him, but thankfully did not seem angry. He stopped and stared at Link thoughtfully, before sighing and crossing his arms, The Hero of Time is a warrior that wields the legendary Master Sword, possesses the power to travel through time, and is aided by the seven sages. He is...was...the only person capable of defeating evil which threatened all lands, including Hyrule.

Link took this in, immediately recalling the legends of old which spoke of a kingdom, Hyrule, and the triforce. Of course, how could he have forgotten the boy of legends who was titled with the words, Hero of Time. Link felt slightly stupid for not having paid better attention to the story. However, Shiek didn't seem to frown at his lack of knowledge on that matter and Link had a strange feeling Shiek wasn't telling him something. Instead, Shiek seemed on the verge of asking a question of his own.

You can go ahead and ask, Link said after a moment of awkward silence.

Shiek flinched slightly and Link swore he saw a blush light up the cheek below his ruby eye, I know this will sound slightly stupid. But what is...a Hero of Winds?

If any normal person had asked him that, Link would have blanched and then went off on them for not even knowing what was happening in the world around them. But Shiek had a perfectly good excuse. He wasn't a normal person. In fact, Link got the feeling Shiek wasn't even of the same world as him. So, Link told Shiek about his adventure six years ago. How he had battled against Ganondorf to save his sister, Zelda, and the world he lived in today. As Link finished he watched Shiek's face for any emotion that could give his feelings away. But as always his eyes were calm and his lower face was hidden behind cream colored cloth.

Link sighed and gave up trying to read Shiek. He'd just have to trust the boy to let him know how he felt about certain things. Link shoved his hands into his pockets and glanced up at the sky, his right hand immediately coming into contact with the broken harp. Remembering his initial plans that afternoon, Link coughed nervously to get Shiek's attention.

Um...Shiek. When I, we, found you lying on the beach a couple of days ago...we also found this next to you, Link relayed and then pulled out the broken remnants of a harp, showing them to Shiek rather hesitantly.

Shiek's eyed the broken instrument for a moment before his eye widened impossibly big. Link could of sworn Shiek's mouth was gaping open, if only that annoying cloth piece wasn't blocking his view. Shiek reached out and took the harp from Link's hands, staring at it with a mixture of shocked horror.



Link panicked, and forced a reassuring smile onto his face, D-Don't worry! We can always get you a new one. There are plenty of trees here on the island for wood and we have some strings left over from what we used to make our own instruments. It'll be all right.

Shiek looked up at Link with a look that plainly said, are you really that stupid?' Link, this harp is not a normal harp. You can't just make a new harp to replace this one! This is the Harp of Songs!!

Link gulped and looked down ashamed, Oh...well...um...what is a Harp of Songs? And...can it be fixed?

Shiek sighed and held the broken instrument close to his heart, I'm sorry Link. Please don't look like that. It's just, you see. I'm not a normal person, Link. I'm an Oracle. An Oracle is a reincarnation of a bit of the soul of one of the goddesses. So, there is an Oracle for each goddess. They are a disciple and follow the will of their goddess. And each Oracle acts as a channel to which the goddess's power can flow into the world.

Shiek looked to make sure Link was following him and continued, Now, as far as people have always known, there are three goddesses. Din, Naryu, and Farore. There are three Oracles that serve these goddesses, and they coincidentally possess the same name as their respective goddess. Din is the Oracle of Seasons, and through her the goddess Din controls the seasons of our land, making sure spring comes before summer, summer before fall, fall before winter, and winter before spring. Naryu is the Oracle of Time, and through her the goddess Naryu controls time, making sure the day is followed by the night, and that time travel is kept away from the hands of those who would use it wrongly. Farore is the Oracle of Secrets, and through her the goddess Farore controls the secrets of the land, insuring that powerful items are kept out of evil hands, and led into good hands.

Now, Link. Understand that the existence of the Oracles is strictly kept top secret. If those with evil hearts were to know of the Oracles and their whereabouts, they could capture that Oracle and control the very power of that goddess. And that would be terribly disastrous. In fact, this is a known fact for such a thing did happen a long time ago. It was the cause of the first war, the civil war that tore Hyrule Kingdom to near pieces before the King stepped in and put a stop to it.

Link nodded, taking all this in and realizing at the same time the great amount of responsibility Shiek was giving to him. If the Oracles existence was so desperately top secret, then Shiek must really trust Link to reveal to him such information. And Link would not betray Shiek's trust.

Link suddenly thought about what Shiek had told him and about what the Great Fairy had called Shiek. Shiek...the Great Fairy referred to you as an Oracle. But...there are only three Goddesses and you've already told me of the identities of all three.

Shiek smiled, Link was sure of it this time. That, is something not even those with knowledge of the Oracles are aware of. You see, Link. There are really four goddesses. The three goddesses had a little sister. However, she did not take part in the creation of Hyrule. In fact, she did not interfere with Hyrule at all until the civil war. Her name is Melody, and she's a very loving and musical goddess. When the war took place, the triforce was merely three separate triforce pieces and the three oracles were split and fighting each other. Melody didn't like fighting and she decided to finally put a bit of her power into Hyrule at last. She chose to put a bit of her soul into me and she gave to me the Harp of Ages. Through me and the Harp, she filled the world with her music. It became apart of Hyrule. Each and every little thing had its own tune. Even now, if you stop to listen, you will here music on the winds. Her music stirred happiness, sorrow, hate, love, in the hearts of the people. It gave the races of Hyrule something in common. It stopped the war. She also created the triforce of love...

Triforce of love!? Link stammered, taken aback. This time he was skeptical about Shiek's story. After all, he had seen the triforce and there had only been three Triforce pieces from what he had seen. The Triforce of courage, wisdom, and power.

Shiek sighed and glared at Link, Don't interrupt. You can't see the Triforce of Love. It's of pure, flawless crystal rather then gold like the other three. It makes up the center of the Triforce, and binds the other three pieces together, unifying them and creating the actual Triforce in its whole.

Link blushed embarrassingly. He supposed that made perfect since.

Shiek shook his head and laughed, You're to easily embarrassed, Link. Anyway, now do you see? This was the Harp of Ages. You can't just make a new Harp of Ages from any wood or string. Only Seraph Wood and Dragon Heart string will work in making a new harp. And it must also be dipped in the purest of waters and blessed with song by Melody, herself.

Link was silent for a moment, then he smiled up at Shiek, Well. I know where to find the purest water...and you could get Melody to bless the new harp, since your her Oracle, right? So...all we have to do is find some Seraph Wood and Dragon Heart string! We could search for both items while looking for your Hero of Time!

This time, it was Shiek's turn to be surprised and slightly embarrassed.

So you have to leave again, Aryll's voice concluded with an solemn note to it.

Your brother will return, Shiek stated firmly, giving the young girl a soothing smile.

Link grabbed his Hero's sword and shield out from under his bed and started strapping them on, It's only for a little while. Shiek needs my help as a guide, a partner in finding this Hero of Time, and a helper in getting the items to fix the Harp of...I mean...his harp.

Aryll sighed and glanced at Shiek. She could almost swear he was frowning. It was quite obvious Shiek wasn't telling Link something important. Closing her eyes, Aryll chewed on her lip for a while before reopening them and giving her brother a serious look.

Right. After all, if anyone is capable of helping Shiek then it would definitely be you, big brother. Just...be careful. K?

Link smiled and wrapped Aryll in a big bear hug, nuzzling her hair, Don't you worry about me. You take care of Grandma and yourself, k.

Aryll nodded and hugged back, smiling brightly at Link, Send us a letter every now and then so we know how you both are doing.

Link nodded and turned to Grandma, hugging her to. She awed and patted Link on the head, giving him a wrinkly smile.

Take care, Link. And remember, if you ever want some soup I'll always be willing to make you some.

Link laughed and nodded, accepting the bottle of soup Grandma handed to him. Grandma then turned to Shiek and smiled as well, offering him a cream colored satchel with a golden triforce decorating its flap. Link then realized that that was what Grandma had been knitting that afternoon when he had left to find their guest. Shiek looked surprised to, but took the satchel with a polite thank you and bow. Grandma smiled again and motioned for Shiek to lean over, whispering something into his ear. Link pouted, unable to hear whatever she said but whatever it was, it had made Shiek laugh in embarrassment and blush.

Link and Shiek headed outside after that, walking towards the dock. It had taken them about a day to rest and ready themselves for the voyage ahead. A day not wasted though, for the following day was when Beedle's Shop Ship would be stopping by. Both boys decided that they would ride Beedle's Shop Ship till it stopped near Windfall Island. There they would look into buying their own boat for traveling as well as asking merchants about the items and looking for possible Hero of Time reincarnates.

Link smiled as he spotted Beedle's ship and he jumped up and down, waving towards it to let Beedle know he was there. The ship pulled up and Shiek accepted Link's hand to steady himself as he hopped on, frowning around at the boat. Link didn't notice Shiek's uneasy looks and turned to Beedle.

Hey, Beedle. Do you mind having some company for a few days? At least till you stop in Windfall? Link asked with an innocent smile.

Beedle smiled brightly, Of course not! How could I deny my gold card member a favor. Of course, there might be a few expenses even one with your shopping rep will have to consider.

Link pulled a pouch of rupees from his pocket and tossed the bag into Beedle's hands while rolling his eyes, A merchant through and through.

Beedle looked through the pouch and counted, nodding approvingly, That'll do.

Great, then we're off! Link cheered and smiled at Shiek, who had sat himself down and sent Link a thumbs up.