Artemis: Wow! The last chapter was ten pages in my Appleworks program. Well, I did give you all a long one as an apology. I'm so glad to have fans and I'm flattered by some of your comments. ) Honestly, though. I've read better Link/Shiek stories then my own. But that's probably just me critisizing my own work. lol

THANK YOU!!

P.S. I apologize for the shortness of this chapter. But there really isn't that much to put. They are on a boat, in the middle of the ocean. Yeah... But I'll update with the next chapter real quick so this will just tie you over till then.

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Chapter Five: Boats and Horses

Link frowned as Shiek convulsed again, throwing up what breakfast they had had that morning over the side of the boat. They had only been on the boat for a day and already Shiek had seemed to come down with a strange sickness. He didn't have a fever...and he didn't have a cough or sneeze. He was just very green...and he was thowing up a lot.

Beedle stepped out of the Ship's tent with a bowl in his hand, walking over to where the two boys were, Here. Drink this, it should help.

Shiek took one look at the bowl and turned an even paler green, adding a bit more of his stomach to the water below. Link whinced and took the bowl from Beedle with a hasty thank you, placing a hand on Shiek's back and rubbing it soothingly.

Come on, Shiek. Drink this. You can't die on the first day of our adventure!

Shiek sat up and took a few deep breathes, shutting his eyes tightly, Link, I am not dieing. It's this whole boat and sea thing. I can't take it! Up and down and up and down and up and...ugh...

Link jerked back as Shiek went for another round. Sighing, he placed the bowl aside and rubbed his hands on his green tunic. What should he do? He'd never had to deal with anyone who was seasick before!

Can I do anything? Get you some water maybe...or a washcloth? Link added with a frown at some of the mess that had not made it over the side of the boat.

Shiek glanced at Link out of the corner of his eye and forced a smile, Don't worry. I'll be fine once I get off this ruddy boat. Oh, how can your people stand this form of travel!? I much prefer horses and solid ground.

Link laughed softly and stared down at the water, before his mind took control of him mouth, What are horses?

Shiek stopped his second round and straightened, looking out across the water until Link realized he wasn't even looking at anything. His gaze seemed fixed on another time...another place.

They are beautiful creatures, Link. Beautiful, graceful, powerful, and gentle. They can do many things. They can work fields, serve as pets, inspire the hopeless, liven the dead spirit, and carry you and cargo across great distances in a very short time. They are the truest of all modes of transportation. You'll never find anything better.

Link gapped, loosing himself in the soft whisper of Shiek's voice as he described these horses'. Link suddenly wanted a horse. He suddenly wanted a wide open field instead of the vast ocean around him. He wanted to feel as though he was apart of the wind, flying across a land of grass, dirt, and trees into the sunset without fear of storms or dead winds.

Looking down into the water, Link imagined what a horse must look like and what it must be like to ride on one. What it must be like to live in a world where the only vast expanse of water you ever gazed on was a small pond or lake.

Hmmm hm hmm, ba da, daaa da daa, Shiek started humming, his eyes closed and his face raised to the sky.

Link's head shot up and he stared wide eyed at his new friend, What is that...that tune?

Shiek stopped his humming and openened his eyes, looking at Link in slight confusion, That? It's just a tune to sooth and tame a horse. Epona's Song, it was called. The Hero of Time used it often to call his horse, Epona, to him.

Link looked away. The tune was stuck in his head now...and somehow he knew the whole thing. The sound of Shiek once more losing the battle against sea sickness sounded and Link sighed.

Beedle, are we anywhere close to land?