Laid to the river
Midsummer, I waved
A 'V' of black swans
On with hope to the grave

Link looked up at the sky from his seat at the mouth of Zora's River. A flock of birds flew over head, gaining a small, sad smile from his lips.

With a sigh at his lips, the Hylean stood and called to Epona, who had been grazing just to the other side of the knoll.

It was strange, not having that voice at his ear consoling him and telling him everything was alright.

He really missed Navi.

And through Red September
With skies fire-paved
I begged you appear
Like a thorn for the holy ones

Mounting the white manned mare, Link spurred her into a quick trot, thinking to go to the lake and ease his worries with a swim, or maybe fishing.

Little did he know how well that would actually work…

Cold was my soul
Untold was the pain
I faced when you left me
A rose in the rain

As soon as he passed the gates signifying he'd entered the Lake's boundaries, Link dismounted Epona and sent her off to graze on the hills. Since he'd vanquished Gannon a year ago, all of the monsters had fled away to the deepest recesses of the land, bothering no one but their neighbors.

Pulling off his tunic, the Hylean sat down to remove his boots and felt something fly over his head. His neck made a soft crack as he rose his head sharply, looking around at the sky, half alert, half hopeful.

Nothing was there.

So I swore to the razor
That never, enchained
Would your dark nails of faith
Be pushed through my veins again

He sighed heavily, Link removed his boots completely and dove into the water from one of the pillars surrounding the secret entrance to Zora's Domain. For several long moments, he just swam, around and around the island in the center of the lake, thinking about how lonely he was now that Navi had left him.

Would he be able to find her again, he wondered hopefully. Would he be able to persuade her to join up with him again? Tatl was all right, but she had been annoying and bossy. Not like Navi at all.

Bared on your tomb
I am a prayer for your loneliness
And would you ever soon
Come above unto me?

"Navi…" the Hylean whispered, pausing mid-stroke to gaze up at the sky. "Where are you?"

A young man watched the blonde-haired Hylean as he swam, sitting with his back against a rock, his scarlet eyes dark and unreadable.

"What are you up to, Link?" he whispered, his voice a soft tenor.

For once upon a time
From the binds of your lowliness
I could always find
The right slot for your sacred key

Link gazed up at the shoreline, spotting someone he had no seen for a year. "Sheik?" he gasped, disbelieving, swimming toward his old friend. "What are you doing here, Sheik?" he asked in disbelief. "You can't have come to see me."

"You'd be surprised, Link, what a person would do for their friends," the Sheikah said, laughing slightly. His smile, seen only through his mask, faded, his eyes growing grave. "I have found something on your missing friend…"

Six feet deep is the incision
In my heart, that bar less prison
Discolors all with tunnel vision
Sun setter
Nymphetamine

Link jumped. 'His missing friend…' Navi!

"Y-you've found something on Navi?" he asked, shocked into disbelief stronger than the one he just had.

"Yes…I am…unfortunate to inform you that your friend…she's dead."

Sick and weak from my condition
This lust, this Vampiric addiction
To her alone in full submission
None better
Nymphetamine

"Navi's…dead?" Link whispered, giving his old friend the wide-eyed look of a man so far in doubt that he did not believe he'd ever trust again.

"I am afraid so, Link…" the golden haired Sheikah said softly, not looking at Link, knowing if he did he would see the one thing he never wanted to see: the Hero of Time, grief stricken and alone.

Wracked with your charm
I am circled like prey
Back in the forest
Where whispers persuade
Pour sugar trails
More white lady laid
Than pillars of salt
(Keeping Sodom at night at bay)

Link grabbed Sheik's shoulder, turning him to face him. "Please, Sheik! Please, tell me this isn't true!"

"You know I cannot lie to you, Link," the young man said quietly, not meeting the other man's eyes.

Link stepped back, falling to the ground, his eyes blank. Epona came up to him, nuzzling his arm in comfort, but that did not stir him from his stupor.

Fall to my arms
Hold their mesmeric sway
And dance her to the moon
As we did in those golden days

Sheik lifted his friend with ease, setting him on the back of Epona gently. He climbed on behind her, leading her toward the Kokiri forest. He knew Link would need to see the familiar décor of his home if he were to ever recover. Sheik also knew that he needed to send for Zelda and Saria; the only two people who knew the Hylean better than himself.

Christening stars
I remember there's a way
We were needle and spoon
Mislaid in the burning hay

After laying Link in his bed, Sheik left. He told Saria of what he'd learned, then Zelda. After that day, the Sheikah was never again seen in Hyrule for as long as Link lived. He forwent all that was left of his friendship with the Hero of Time to let him live his grief by himself with Saria and Zelda's help.

Sheik's one regret was that he did not tell Link that Navi had died to save Link's life…again.

Six feet deep is the incision
In my heart, the bar less prison
Discolors all with tunnel vision
Sun setter…

"Nymphtemine" © Cradle of Filth