There was a faint clatter as bare, cold metal hit the marble floor.

The long blade of the Master Sword glittered among the rubble, abandoned by its master's hand.

Link was frozen. Aloarn saw the vacant look on his face and her heart stopped. The faint blue of those intense, fluorescent eyes was misting with disbelief, his thoughts halted to a sudden stop, his strength fled from his being. Aloarn could almost hear his heart shatter.

"Navi..."

Slowly, the Advisor backed away from his trembling embrace. Link's eyes roamed of their own accord around the Temple, disregarding the terrifying silence that muted the battle outside. Aloarn's eyes left him and fell to the broken floor. Guilt infested the green field of her gaze, voices were screaming in her deaf ears. Slowly her hand roamed to her belt and closed around the handle of a hidden knife. Link's daze ended abruptly and he leapt up, tearing through rubble like a mad man.

"No...no, Navi...no...Aloarn! Where -"

He spun for her help, but for the second time his heartbeat screeched to a stop. Her tangle of red hair was flown about her shoulders, her blond bangs strewed across her face. But her eyes were still fierce, green as emeralds, staring at him with a terror that matched his own. The knife at her throat shimmered slightly and a shadow ran through her eyes.

"I have lost you Navi," she whispered. The tone of her voice was too horrible for Link to bear, the faint glitter of the knife a stab in his chest. "I have shown fear in the face of a foe. I have betrayed the Code of the Gerudo."

"Aloarn," whispered Link. He stepped closer to her, barely breathing, his chest tight with fear. "Navi...and...no, Aloarn...please..."

"The Code is life, the Code is death, the Code is the way of the Gerudo. I must abide by it." The shadows were more defined now, clearer, staining what was flawless emerald beauty...the blade pressed harder into her throat and Link's mind finally snapped on.

"No!"

His hand was on her wrist before she had a chance to strike; she did not predict his speed until she was pressed against his chest, both hands pinned behind her back, his arms locked around her, inescapable. She fought away from him but froze when she met his eyes. For all the strength in his body, the fighting will of a destined Hero, his eyes betrayed his desperation. His weakness.

"Please Aloarn," he whispered, his voice shaking. "...please..."

His strength fled. His hands slipped off hers and fell limp as he gazed at her, his eyes dim with exhaustion. Aloarn felt her own fury, her own fear, melt away. For the second time, a blade crashed to the floor. Her arms found his neck and he gave into her.

"I'm sorry, Link..." she murmured against his ear. Link arms found her waist and he held her, close enough so he was sure she wouldn't vanish, wouldn't leave him. He swallowed as he felt her hands around his neck and realized his eyes were watering. But he refused to cry, to let it show. Desperate for something stable, he held her tighter.

"We will find Navi," whispered Aloarn against his ear. "We will save her. It'll be ok, Link."

Her words were comfort...were renewal...were assurance. And suddenly Link's focus changed. He pulled away from her suddenly, and the intensity og his eyes frightened her.

"Ganon."

She twitched involuntarily at his name before she could stop herself. Link saw it and gripped her tightly, though she turned away from him in shame.

"Aloarn...look at me."

Her mind screamed at her, betrayal, dishonor, weakness. But she met his eyes. Slowly, carefully, Link gazed at her, picked his words with a soft delicacy as Aloarn bagan to shake again.

"What did he do to you?"

Her throat caught. Her chest tightened. The very pulse in her veins seemed to freeze as she gazed at him, eyes all the green of precious emeralds. Link could see it without hearing her utter the words. Shadows were running through her eyes...terrified, screaming...shadows...

With a terrific blast, the doors of the Temple burst open.

Link instinctively stepped in front of Aloarn, but Aloarn had her sword before he even thought of it. But at the door was none other than a very exhausted looking Nabooru.

"D'iag u mye! The rebels have fled to seek their King," she said in disgust. She sheathed her sword and wipped the wet hair from her face. "And a coach has passed by. We're going to the castle. Now."