I'm back again… yeah, that's right!
This is my… I think it my ninth entry! Nice!
Well, I hope you all had a happy Easter and that you'll enjoy this next story.
Character- Zelda/Sheik
Setting- Sheik is waiting for Link to come out of the Water Temple so that he can speak with him. The conversation that he gets, however, is more emotional than what he bargained for. (I know what you sickos are thinking, but it's not THAT kind of emotion.)
Speaking of Zelda…
I sit atop of the huge black tree.
I've been here for about fifteen minutes.
He should be coming out anytime now.
I know he must be finished the temple by now.
.
A rumbling noise distracts my thinking.
It's coming from the temple's entrance.
I jump down from my perch and walk over to the edge of the island.
Water is coming out from the temple and filling the lake.
.
Once again the lake is going to be full.
Finally.
How long has been since I saw this lake full?
I can't remember anymore.
.
So…
Link has succeeded then?
He must have.
That's the only way this could be happening.
.
I close my eyes.
I let the breeze cross my face.
It carries little bits of moisture now…
Now that the lake is here once again.
.
Then it is all going to end soon.
All that is happening will lead up to the evil King's death.
Already we have four sages.
Only two left until this hell is over.
Then I won't have to hide.
Not anymore.
.
A blue light reflects on the water.
I turn.
A long shaft is coming down from the sky.
I see Link descend within it.
He's finished with this temple now.
.
I turn back around.
I look out to the half-full lake.
Link walks up beside me.
"Did Ruto want to thank me?" I ask.
I already knew the answer.
She did want to thank me.
I did save her.
.
Link half smiles.
"Yeah."
.
"I thought so."
I look over to him.
He's smirking.
"What?" I ask him.
.
He looks out to the lake.
He sighs.
Then let's out a loud laugh.
"It's off." He cries.
.
What?
I have no idea what he's talking about.
I raise my eyebrows for him to elaborate.
.
"It's off." He repeats, "My stupid wedding is off. She cancelled it."
He laughs again.
.
Wedding?
He was getting married?
But I thought…
What about…
What happened to me?
Did he…
Did he love Ruto?
Then it is true…
All that I've dreaded.
Zelda, I, am nothing to him.
.
I try not to look distraught.
"But… You seem happy. Aren't you…sad about your wedding getting called off?" I ask, trying to stay composed.
.
"Of course I'm happy." He says, almost offended, "I didn't want to marry that bitchy fish."
He laughs.
.
Wait a moment.
He doesn't want to marry her now?
Then how did he get caught up with her?
I'll ask him.
"Why did you agree to it in the first place, then?"
.
He stops laughing.
His face darkens.
"I had to get this stone off of her. She had it and I needed it… To give to Zelda. She wanted it so badly. But Ruto wouldn't give up the stupid thing because she said it was an engagement ring. So… I agreed to marry her if she gave it to me. I was actually planning just to take it and never go back there again… But then this came up. Oh well. I guess it's all over now."
He casts his gaze down to the lake floor.
.
He got engaged?
To Ruto?
For me?
Just to give me that stone.
Wow.
Too bad everything collapsed…
Because he went through a lot just for me.
I'm not worth that.
.
The lake is full now.
Like it was seven years ago.
Silence fills the air between us…
Just like my secrets do.
.
"Once again, this lake is filled with pure water… All thanks to you, Hero of Time." I say.
The sun reflects off the lake.
It shimmers.
It's so beautiful.
.
"Sheik…" He says.
I look at him.
He smiles.
I love it when he smiles like that… Like he means it.
"You should have seen me in there." He says.
.
I raise my eyebrows.
I want to sit with him so he can tell me everything…
But I can't do that…
Well, I can… Sheik can't.
"Humour me." I say, trying to sound uninterested.
.
"That was probably the hardest temple I've done yet." He says, excitedly, "It was so confusing in there. I got lost so many times. Even though I got through it, I met the hardest enemy yet. And get this… It was me… Kind of. He was all shadowy. He was tough to beat. You should have seen me kick his ass."
I try not to notice his choice of language.
He sounds like a rambling child going on about their day.
But…
I like it anyway.
I want to hear.
.
"That bastard stood no chance against the real me. You should have seen the fight… Unlike anything, it was." He says.
.
I smile.
It's hidden by my bandages.
I wish everyday could be like this.
Carefree.
Fun.
…I wish he could see me smile.
Then I'll bet he'd know it was really me.
.
I look across the lake.
I'll have to leave soon.
I have to move on.
Link has to go to the next temple quickly.
Silence once again comes between us.
.
"Sheik…" He says again, quietly.
I turn and look at him.
"Thank you." He tells me.
.
Thank you?
Why was he thanking me?
He really shouldn't be…
Not if he had known what I've done.
Not if he had known that I did this.
.
"For what?" I ask.
.
"For… For being here to guide me. I really didn't think that you'd be the one doing this… But I'm glad you are. You've done more for me than I can say… You've done more for me than Zelda has…"
His voice trailed off.
He turns his head from me.
.
"Zelda?" I ask.
I know that I shouldn't ask…
But I have to know…
I have to.
.
He faces me and nods.
"I thought she'd be here doing this… but she's gone now."
He licks his lips.
"I don't know what I did to her to deserve this." He says.
.
You…
You didn't do anything.
It was me.
.
"I don't know how she could just leave me like that… I don't get it."
He clenches his fists.
He punches his own palm in.
"No hints… no anything. She just dropped me, all alone. She had to… to die. I hate her for that."
.
He hates me.
I try to remain still.
I try not to fall to my knees.
I try not to cry…
He hates me.
.
What can I say?
I have to defend myself.
"She's still out there. I know that. I can tell you that." I say to him.
.
His eyes widen.
"What?" He asks, "But you said-"
.
"I said she was gone… not dead." I explain.
I feel his heavy hands grab my shoulders.
.
He pulls me close to his face.
His eyes are cold again.
"Don't tell me anymore lies, all right? Is she dead or isn't she?"
.
I shake my head.
He lets go of me.
.
"Where is she then?" He asks.
I don't answer.
"Where the hell is she?" He asks again, more slowly and strained.
I don't answer.
.
He bites his lip.
I see him clench his fist.
I think he's going to hit me.
He punches his palm again.
Relief.
I can't say I want to be hit by him.
.
"You seem to care quite a lot about someone you hate." I tell him.
.
"Yeah… Well… You wouldn't understand, alright?" He says with difficulty. "It's not like I hate her… It's just…"
He folds his arms.
"Whatever."
He puts his hand to his head.
He ruffles his hair.
He sighs.
"I knew that she really wasn't dead. I can… feel her. She is still here. I don't know how to tell you. You wouldn't get it."
.
Oh, yes I would.
I know exactly what you're talking about…
It's just…
That Sheik wouldn't.
.
"I don't know." He said looking up to the sky and laughing bitterly, "Maybe it was just me. Maybe I wished she was dead so I could believe that she didn't just leave me- or her land- on purpose."
He looks out to the lake once again.
"I wish you could understand what I'm trying to tell you better… But I can't really explain it… Not even to myself."
.
I look down to the floor.
I fight back what I know are tears.
I hold my composure.
"You have feelings for her then? For the Princess?" I ask.
I know I shouldn't.
I know I'm being too curious…
But…
.
Link looks at me.
He lets out a small half-smile.
He turns back to the lake.
.
My heart is pounding so loudly.
Can he hear it?
Why isn't he answering me?
Silence.
Silence.
.
"It was a dream. Nothing more. One that seems near impossible now… Now that this…"
His voice becomes quiet.
I know what he's going to say.
Now that she's gone or Now that she's betrayed everyone.
Because of how stupid I was.
.
I think about all that he has done.
All the fights…
All the tasks…
All the temples…
All the pain…
What for?
A girl who abandoned him?
Me?
.
I feel a tear run down my cheek.
But…
Boys don't cry.
They can't.
Sheik can't cry either.
I have to take my leave now.
I have to abandon him one more time.
.
I jump as high as I can into the tree above me.
I pull myself up on top of a branch.
I look down at him.
He's still standing there.
I don't think he knows I'm gone yet.
.
"Do think that she'll ever come back, Sheik?" He asks.
He turns around.
He sighs and shakes his head.
"C'mon Navi. Let's get going again." He says slowly.
.
I jump down into the lake.
I know he's seen me jump.
He can't be that stupid.
I dive down as deep as I can.
I swim over to where the Gerudo River feeds into the lake.
.
I'll stay here until I need to.
I need some time to think.
Will he…
Will he ever forgive me?
Seven years has changed us so much.
Will he ever love me?
Well, I hoped you enjoyed that one. It was, once again, a romance (For someone who doesn't like writing romance fics, I seem to be doing quite a few.)
Anyway, please review.
Send me your requests! I'll get 'em posted! Thanks!