Author's notes: If you have been reading this story, then you will know of Sheik's breakdown in the previous chapter. This is mainly the after-effects of it, although there will be a little surprise towards the end. I hope you will enjoy it. Thank you.

Chapter 4: Sheik's clinginess and a shock for Zelda

When Link awoke the next morning, he immediately tried to stretch, but found that he was unable because of extra weight on his left arm. He craned his neck to discover what prevented him from stretching and saw Sheik nestled in the crook of his arm, with his head on Link's shoulder. Link gently eased Sheik off of him, which was made difficult due to the fact that Sheik seemed to have an iron grip on his arm.

Link climbed out of bed and went into the bathroom to shower. As the water was running, Link's thoughts turned to Sheik. Why was he so clingy today? Had Link done anything to depress him? These and others whirled around in Link's mind as he prepared for the new day. After he was finally dressed, Link went back to his bedroom to see if Sheik was awake yet. Sheik's eyes were closed, and one slender hand gripped the blanket as he slept.

Not wanting to disturb him, Link made for the door, but was halted by the sound of Sheik's voice calling to him.

"Link? Link, where are you? Link?" called Sheik.

Link went over to the bed and perched on the unoccupied side. "I'm right here, love."

"Oh, thank Nayru," said Sheik gratefully. "I thought you had left me."

Link planted a kiss on Sheik's cheek. "I told you last night I'd never leave you. I promise. And if I ever have to leave, you'll be the first one to know about it, okay?"

Sheik grabbed for Link's hand, holding it tight. "Do you mean it?"

"Of course," Link replied, smiling. "Would I lie to you?"

"No," Sheik answered. "But…"

"Sheik," Link said gently. "Look at me."

Sheik looked into those sapphire orbs questioningly. "Did I do something to upset you?"

"No," said Link. "But I want you to understand what I'm saying. I would never lie to you in a million years. I promise."

Sheik smiled. "Okay."

"Are you hungry?" Link asked, as his stomach gave a loud growl.

"A little," Sheik replied.

"Let's eat, then," Link said.

Hand in hand, the pair made their way to the kitchen. Link tried to pull his hand out of Sheik's, but Sheik would not oblige. He simply refused to let go of Link's hand.

"Sheik," Link said, "unless you want to go hungry, you will have to let go of my hand."

Sheik frowned, but gently tugged his hand out of Link's. Link went down to the cellar to get some fruit, but had barely set foot down there when Sheik called Link's name.

"Link, where did you go?" Sheik called.

Link climbed up the stairs and returned to the kitchen. "I am getting food for us to eat."

Sheik pouted adorably. "Don't you have food in here?"

Link sighed. What was it with Sheik today? First, he had clung to him all night while asleep, and then he had panicked when Link tried to leave his bedroom. Now he was refusing to let Link more than twelve yards out of sight.

"No," said Link. "Come with me if you must, I could use some help anyway."

Sheik followed Link down to the cellar and helped to bring up the fruit, milk, and eggs that were needed. Link told Sheik to sit at the table and wait while he prepared breakfast, but that was like making Sheik wear a dress: impossible.

"Do what you will, but please clean up your mess afterwards," Link said.

"Okay," Sheik agreed, and began frying eggs.

As the pair was eating, Link felt pressure on his unoccupied hand; Sheik was grasping it again. Link could not figure out why Sheik was acting this way. Sure, Sheik loved him, but was there a hidden emotion coming from him?

"Finish eating, and then we have to leave," Link said.

"Where are you going?" Sheik asked. "Don't leave my side!"

"Sheik, relax," Link said. "I said 'we,' not 'I'. "

"In any case, where are we going?" Sheik asked.

"We are going to visit Princess Zelda," Link answered. "She wants to hear about our wild adventures and maybe have lunch."

"Oh," said Sheik. "All right."

"Good," Link answered. "Let's go."

The pair went outside and mounted Link's horse, with Sheik in front of Link (at Sheik's request).

"Before we go, let's clear up a few matters," said Link. "I cannot hold the reins if I'm having to hold you, too. So, grab my legs if you must, but do not touch my hands."

Sheik pouted inwardly, but realized he was right, and off they went. As they were riding along, Link could not help but notice that Sheik's desperation to be near Link had only gotten worse. Currently, Sheik was leaning against Link's chest, with a vice-like grip on Link's knees.

"Sheik, love, you need to relax a bit," Link said. "I am not going anywhere."

Sheik loosened his grasp on Link's knees, but did not fully let go. "Is that better?"

"Much," Link answered. "Thank you."

They had arrived, so Link asked Sheik to let him go so they could visit Zelda. Sheik (very reluctantly, I might add) let go and dismounted, followed a moment later by Link.

"Now, Zelda doesn't know about us," said Link, "and I'd like to keep it that way."

"Why?" asked Sheik curiously. "Do you think she would hate us or something?"

Link blushed. "No. I just don't think she would understand."

"Understand what?" a familiar voice asked.

Link blushed again. "Zelda! We were saying that you would not understand this, uh, joke we have."

"Yeah," Sheik chimed in. "Totally complex; you would not get it."

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Come and tell me of your adventures."

Link and Sheik followed Zelda inside the castle and sat down. Zelda sat on her throne and offered them some chocolates, but they declined because they'd just eaten.

"So," said Zelda. "Tell me all that happened with Ganondorf."

Neither Link nor Sheik knew what to answer because telling Zelda would mean they would have to come out to her. Link gave Sheik a look that plainly said, "Tell her only of our captures and nothing else. If she asks why, wing it."

Link cleared his throat. "Well, Ganondorf had some things from the past to clear up with me, and that's why I was captured."

"And I was captured so I would not…uh…hinder with any evil plots," Sheik added.

"Oh," said Zelda. "Is he defeated?"

Sheik gave Link a look of anxiety, as if to say, "Now what do we do?"

Link sighed. "You could say that."

"He is not trying to take over the world again?" Zelda asked.

"No, no. Nothing like that," Link answered.

"That's good to hear," Zelda replied. "If he was, I'd have to send you off to defeat him, you know."

At that last statement, Sheik's eyes filled with tears and he silently began to cry. He really needed a hug from Link, but could see that it would have to wait. Luckily for him, Zelda was called by one of her maids, and she excused herself.

Link wrapped his arms around Sheik. "What's the matter, love?"

"Z-Zelda said she would send you off to defeat Ganondorf," Sheik sobbed.

"She won't," Link replied soothingly. "Ganondorf is not taking over the world, you know that."

But Sheik continued to sob into Link's shoulder, and neither of themnoticed when Zelda returned. Link began to give Sheik another back rub, since it had worked so well the previous night. Slowly, Sheik's crying ceased and he released Link and wiped his eyes.

They turned around—and saw Zelda. Link gasped and Sheik bit his lip.

"Zelda!" Link gasped, laughing nervously. "Sheik's back was sore, so I was giving him a back rub."

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Whatever. How long have you two been together?"

"For the past three weeks," Sheik confessed.

"It's cool," Zelda said. "I accept this."

Sheik gave Link a look of exasperation. "See? I told you she'd be okay with it!"

"You were right, Sheik," Link sighed. "I apologize."

"Don't," Sheik said. "It's alright."

Link kissed Sheik's cheek and motioned for him to follow, waving good-bye to Zelda. Hand in hand, the couple left the castle and rode back to Link's house.

I hope the ending wasn't too abrupt for you.