Hello all! How are you? Hope you're well. I can't wait for this story to continue, it's getting so good, at least for me! Cause I know what you don't! sing song voice Anywho, I hope you like this chapter, I think it is pretty long… Enjoy!

Chapter 10

(The Black Raven)

Zelda tossed and turned in her sleep, she could hear her father screaming, begging, and then, before she could do anything, he was dead. Her eyes immediately flew open as she realized it was only a terrible dream. Before she even sat up, she could tell something was wrong.

She exhaled and her breath rose before her in a cloudy mist. She slipped her boots on, smoothed her hair down, and hugged her arms. It was cold, so much so that she was freezing. She carefully cracked the door just a bit, before letting it swing open. She blinked, and looked around, puzzled. Fog was everywhere, everyone else was doing their tasks, only they were all silent. It was a chilling atmosphere. The breeze was clawing at her skin, causing her delicate arms and legs to break out in goose bumps.

"Here…take this." She glanced up to see Sheik's face, covered as usual, as he handed her a cloak.

She took it gladly, and whispered. "What's going on?"

"Keep your head down and don't talk loudly." Sheik warned. "This is…dangerous territory." Before Zelda could say anything else, he was gone.

She wasn't happy about this. "How does he do that?" She wondered. She sighed rather loudly, ignoring the angry looks of the pirates. She approached the front of the ship, staring into the thick layer of fog as they cut through the seas, just like a knife slicing through melted butter.

She could just imagine a ghost creeping up on her, like the boys in her town used to tell stories about. She closed her eyes, and tried to shake away the sense of dread. She seemed to see a specter float towards her, reaching out a gnarled hand towards her…she screamed shrilly as something rested on her shoulder.

"Are you crazy? Are you trying to get us killed?" He glared at her, removing his hand distastefully.

"Well, I'm sorry, but you scared me!" she retorted, feeling she was justified. "What do you want, sir?" she asked, sniveling at the last word.

"I came to tell you as of now, you've been promoted." Zelda gaped for a moment. "You now, as well as your old chores, must take shift watching at the crow's nest, starting immediately." Zelda never had time to reply, for Link was interrupted from the rest of his speech by a voice above.

"Captain!" It was Siekken, who was currently lookout. Link glanced up, slightly annoyed.

"What now?" he snapped, obviously not in a good mood. "Didn't I say no loud talking?"

"Yes captain, sorry sir." He stammered hastily. "But you need to look off the starboard side!" he sounded frightened.

Link ran to the side and peered over. A series of startled gasps echoed from among the ship. "Get as close as we can!" Link commanded. They began to tie down the sails to halt the forward movement. Zelda ignored whatever it was, until her curiosity got the better of her. She joined Link, and could only stand there, awed and amazed.

Out of the mist, a ship came into view. It was torn apart, and pieces of it were burning. Everyone was deathly silent, until Link gave the command. "Slow down!" he yelled. The ship obediently slowed to a glide as the crew crowded to get a better view of the rubble.

Zelda stared at Link. His expression was brooding, but she noticed his eyes dart nervously about. All around her she heard the pirates whispering among themselves.

Link inhaled sharply, as a few dead bodies floated into view.

Sheik came up beside Link, and whispered, Zelda barely caught what he said. "Captain…it's…the Redead…and look there!" He pointed to another piece of wood, where words were visible on the floating wreck. "The dead hand." He whispered.

Zelda saw Link visibly clench his teeth, all the pirates were murmuring amongst themselves. A huge piece of the destroyed vessel came into view. Zelda violently turned away, gagging a bit. A few of the ship's inhabitants had been hanged, their mutilated corpses blowing about.

"No." Link's eyes widened in shock. "Take the lifeboats!" he yelled in urgency. "Sheik, go check for survivors, just in case!" He glanced towards Zelda. "Accompany Sheik!" Zelda balked, but did as she was told. "Sheik," Link put a hand on his first mate's shoulder. "Be careful…" Sheik flashed a quick reassuring look, and set off towards the half of the damaged ship with Zelda. Link watched the two of them, straining to see clearly.

As the two of them neared the ship and stepped onto the creaking wood, it seemed the very ocean had become silent. Sheik almost immediately spotted a crumpled body. He rushed over and knelt beside him to feel for signs of life. "Why would the captain care?" asked Zelda. "Why are we checking for survivors? He never seemed to care who lived on my father's ship, myself included."

Sheik turned to her for a moment, frustrated. "Because the Readead and the Dead Hand are his ships, that's why." He turned the pirate he was handling around, causing Zelda to shriek and sprint towards the opposite side of the ship.

Sheik sighed sadly. Truman was a good pirate. "I'm sorry Truman." He respectfully gave him a moment of silence, and then peered closer at the mangled body. The dagger that was protruding from his chest bore a symbol he knew all too well. It was a bird with a knife through it. His gaze wavered to the rest of Truman's body, stopping abruptly on his hand. In his right hand, a paper was clutched tightly. Sheik pried it out of his grip; his eyes quickly scanned it, immediately recognizing the handwriting.

Link, your luck's running out, the odds are in my favor. Two down, one to go…Tetra

Zelda stopped panting, and tried to shut out the image of Truman's dead body. It was no use…she covered her eyes with her frail hands as her shoulders shook with sobs. Suddenly, she was grabbed roughly from behind. This person was vicious, twisting her hands behind her back. The figure leaned over to whisper in her ear. The voice, raspy and threatening, made her shudder.

"Now my pretty, cooperate and no one will slice your neck open." Zelda's eyes expanded, she nodded wordlessly, her breath choking off in terror. "I want you to come along quietly and give it to me."

Zelda mumbled, her voice barely understandable underneath his grubby hand. "I don't know what you're talking about!" she sputtered.

He yanked her hand out, and starred at her trembling fingers. "Come off it now, I want it, and I'll take it if necessary…" He pulled a large dagger out of his sheath and waved it in front of her face. "Now give it up." When Zelda once again did not produce what he was looking for, he threw her to the ground, rushing her with the weapon.

Zelda shut her eyes, waiting for the impact of the dagger, but it never came. Instead, she heard a loud crash, and saw Sheik plough into the other pirate, knocking them both onto the splintered deck. She watched the desperate struggle for a few endless moments, and then the pirates lay still with Sheik on top. "Sheik, you saved me! That's the second time…" All the joy and happiness in her heart suddenly died.

Sheik rolled off of the man, who had his own dagger in his chest, and looked up at her, his features revealed for the first time. He had a young, innocent face, wide, frightened eyes, and had his thin lips pressed together tightly.

Zelda gave a relived sigh. "Sheik, you had me worried…" she cut off in the middle of her sentence. "Are you alright?" She leaned in closer to him, examining his body for any obvious injuries.

As Sheik parted his lips to answer, small bubbles of blood began to appear.

Zelda reached a hesitant finger towards the red, and touched it. It was warm and sticky. She began breathing rapidly, and pressed her hand on his chest. She gasped, staring at the spots of blood that had begun to seep through his clothes. She bit her lip to stifle her tears and ran to the middle of the wreck, desperate to find a way to signal for help. Her eyes darted about, her heart pounded against her chest, as though it would break free from her ribs. In her rush to discover any way of possible help, she tripped over a jutting board, slamming her head into a mast and hearing a faint clang from above.

Her head shot upwards in confusion and shock. She realized, as a faint hope flitted in her breast, that she had run into the ship's bell. She scrambled up onto her feet, gripped the coarse rope, and pulled with all her strength, as a deafening clang filled the air.

Link was the first to hear the bell. Stiffening, he reached for a rope, and then swung over to the damaged ship without warning. He vaulted over wreckage, until he caught sight of Zelda. He approached her quickly, his heart secretly dreading something was terribly wrong. He didn't have to say anything, for Zelda had already grabbed his hand and was pulling him to where Sheik lay.

Link swiftly knelt beside Sheik, lifted up his head, and whirled vehemently towards Zelda, firing accusations and questions. "What happened! What did you do?" he shouted, putting pressure on the blood-stained parts of Sheik's clothes.

"I don't know!" Zelda was almost in hysterics, barely able to answer, and sobbing loudly. "I'm sorry!" She held her breath, cupping a hand to her mouth in her worry.

"Sheik! Can you hear me!" Link grabbed his friend's hand, squeezing it gently to reassure him he was there. "It's going to be okay…I'm here, Sheik."

The first mate's eyes flickered; he gazed at the two in front of him. The ripe red flare that used to shine in his eyes was now fading to a dull brownish color. He inhaled, and his voice was quiet and tired. "Zelda…" He reached a hand out weakly as it was snatched by her grasping it tightly. His eyes became tender as he looked at her. "It wasn't your fault." He shifted his head towards his superior. "It's…Tetra." He gasped for breath. "You have…to be careful." He held out the crumpled note.

Link lashed out like a snake, and threw it aside. "Be quiet!" he commanded. "You're going to be alright…just rest." He swallowed hard, tears beginning to brim in his eyes.

Sheik closed his eyes; his breath began to falter. He struggled to pull himself up to Link's level. Link helped Sheik, supporting him with a hand until he was able to whisper. Zelda could just barely make out what he said. "You've got to tell Malon." He choked. It took a few moments for him to continue. "About Zelda…I understand." he gasped. "Don't close your heart." He stiffened, and his eyes began to glaze over. Link tried to pick his friend up, but Sheik grimaced. "No…" He gripped Link's hand, and rasped. "I'll always be your best mate…Ca…" he paused. "Link." he faded out, closing his eyes.

It seemed as if they were there for hours, although only for a few minutes. "Sheik…Sheik!" Link felt a tear slowly slide down his cheek. When the crew arrived, they silently lifted Sheik's body onto the ship, and sailed again to the North. Zelda and Link both disappeared, shutting themselves in separate rooms. Link took Sheik's body, and wrapped it in one of his best blankets. No one spoke for hours…

Zelda shook violently, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Her shoulders heaved with every breath; she couldn't believe Sheik was dead.

Link made sure the door to his cabin was bolted, and then threw himself on his knees. He crawled over to Sheik; his floor was spattered with blood. The stream of tears began to pour out, he ground his teeth together, and slammed his knuckles into the wood of the bunk until they cracked and bled, adding to his friend's that had already tainted the floor.

As the hours passed into late night, Link had to struggle to keep his cries of the ultimate suffering contained in his room. The night passed drearily, both Link and Zelda were unable to catch a wink of sleep.

Well, hope you enjoyed that. One of my reviewers suggested the idea of Tetra, so triumphant music I accepted it. Can't say anything more…oh, and the other pirate's names and such are all my copyrighted names…one of you asked that a while ago too…Let's all have a moment of silence for Sheik…organ music plays, and fangirls cry